I have about 2 weeks left in Canada now. In two weeks I will be spending my last day either with Tim and the family or packing the last of my life into a suitcase for Australia. I cannot believe how soon this feels--I'm excited/nervous and it still hasn't really hit me that in 2 weeks I will be getting ready to board a plane to the other side of the world without knowing if I'm even going to come back. It's made planning for packing difficult as how do you really pack something thinking "I better not leave that behind because I may never come back..." crazy.
Anyways, I handed in my one week resignation to my boss at Joey Tomatoes yesterday. I was really nervous because I hate quitting anything and felt like I was keeping a secret. My boss was really cool about it though and told me he's jealous that I'm about to go for the opportunity of a lifetime. I agree! So this week will be my last week at work. Hoping I can make some good tips so that I can pay my dad the remainder of my flight tickets in cash like a bausssss.
My plans for the last couple weeks that I'm here will be to go to Aussie Rules this wicked dueling piano bar that i got to go to back in April when I visited for easter. I also want to go to Ranchmans an authentic country western bar full of legit cowboys *drool*. Maybe do some shopping for last minute items like flip flops. Going to spend a lot of time with family, see Nana a few more times. My bmfff Tim is going to be coming to Calgary before I leave so we can finally reunite and do some fun stuff like yoga, hiking, etc. Gonna need a few more heart to hearts with Jimbo and probably kill a few more bottles of wine (sorry, i mean cases) before I take off. Gonna try and relax more and not spend my nights and mornings thinking about everything I need to bring, what its going to be like and just go with the flow...I can't stop thinking about it all and how soon its coming. AHHHH!
I will blog once more before I go to australia and from there the real journey begins...
Monday, August 29, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
22 Days Left..
After an incredible weekend in Jasper with my dad, brother, two half-sisters and bree's baby joey I realized my time in Canada is dwindling. With 22 days left in Canada, I have limited time to get my life together before embarking on my incredible journey to come. I feel as though I have been lucky to be able to spend half my summer with the greatest friends in the world in Ontario and the other half of the summer with my amazing family and beautiful scenery out here.
I want to take the time to give a major congrats to my fellow racers and best friends. Congrats to Amanda Switzer for the insane triathlon racing she's been doing. For those of you who don't know--she's kicking some major ass and will likely be on TV in the very near future for her speedy races and incredible athleticism. I also want to congratulate Tim Green for his excellent 10k road races and continuous improvements in running over the past year--so proud! As well as Kira Costello who is likely going to have a half marathon under her belt in no time! Lastly, I would like to give a major shout out to Kristen Kuzemko who recently completed a 30km night race in a fantastic time! You all are amazing and have made me realize I need to amp up my running again haha.
I got a backpack for my journey as my travel buddy has suggested this as a good method for when we're venturing off the traditional courses and perhaps Thailand specifically. I also decided I'm going to try and find patches to sew on to my suitcase for each location I visit. I already have got one for this past weekends visit in Jasper. I hope I'll be able to keep this up as I got the idea from the show Departures where they collected bumper stickers.
22 days...that gives me enough time to see my cousins, family and spend quality chatting time with Dad. Enough time to get any last minute clothing items, travel items, etc. Enough time to quit my job soon and collect my one and only paycheck from them before fleeing the country. Enough time to wrap up any existing burdens in my life and enough time to get packing for this great escape. I'm still trying to get used to the idea that there IS the possibility of me not coming back but I'm mostly excited to finally get that feeling that I've found exactly what I needed without the worries of tomorrow. 22 days left to really look at what we have here in Canada and our society--the way we go about daily life, the things we stress about and our values here...which are all about to change...in 22 days.
I want to take the time to give a major congrats to my fellow racers and best friends. Congrats to Amanda Switzer for the insane triathlon racing she's been doing. For those of you who don't know--she's kicking some major ass and will likely be on TV in the very near future for her speedy races and incredible athleticism. I also want to congratulate Tim Green for his excellent 10k road races and continuous improvements in running over the past year--so proud! As well as Kira Costello who is likely going to have a half marathon under her belt in no time! Lastly, I would like to give a major shout out to Kristen Kuzemko who recently completed a 30km night race in a fantastic time! You all are amazing and have made me realize I need to amp up my running again haha.
I got a backpack for my journey as my travel buddy has suggested this as a good method for when we're venturing off the traditional courses and perhaps Thailand specifically. I also decided I'm going to try and find patches to sew on to my suitcase for each location I visit. I already have got one for this past weekends visit in Jasper. I hope I'll be able to keep this up as I got the idea from the show Departures where they collected bumper stickers.
22 days...that gives me enough time to see my cousins, family and spend quality chatting time with Dad. Enough time to get any last minute clothing items, travel items, etc. Enough time to quit my job soon and collect my one and only paycheck from them before fleeing the country. Enough time to wrap up any existing burdens in my life and enough time to get packing for this great escape. I'm still trying to get used to the idea that there IS the possibility of me not coming back but I'm mostly excited to finally get that feeling that I've found exactly what I needed without the worries of tomorrow. 22 days left to really look at what we have here in Canada and our society--the way we go about daily life, the things we stress about and our values here...which are all about to change...in 22 days.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Sore feet and penguins
My tickets have arrived! I was able to pick up my plane tickets from AMA the other day and I now officially hold the key to my adventure. Waaaa hooo! I also finalized my first stay at Backpacker's Resort in Brisbane where I will be staying for 2 weeks before meeting up with Emily, Curt and Stewy. Pretty stoked and it was cheap as hell.
I started my serving (in training) at Joey Tomatoes which has been absolutely exhausting. We have to wear HIGH HEELS which is just brutal torture and since we're in training we work split shifts every day. It's so frustrating because we only get a couple tables too so my best day yet has had me walking out with $70 in tips for the entire day and feet so sore it feels like I was walking across hot coals. Can't complain too much because at least I am working, even if it's for pennies right now.
Saw the movie Crazy Stupid Love with dad last week and loved it. Ryan Gosling is a babe and a half and naturally Steve Carrell is hilarious. Great movie, definitely recommend it. Also got dad to watch Limitless which he loved, my second time seeing it and I would still take the pill like Cooper.
Big plans this upcoming weekend. Dad, Steven and I are driving up to Jasper to meet up with my half sisters Bree and Elyse. Bree is bringing her adorable baby boy Joey so it will be my first time meeting my nephew in person. Pretty excited! Jasper is also crazy beautiful and so unique. Mountains everywhere and not touristy like Banff. It's like a hidden gem. I'm really looking forward to the weekend because it'll be dad's first time with all his kids again in a long time and I haven't seen Bree or Elyse in person for years. Should be a really good bonding weekend.
Major friend withdrawals lately....and Barneys. I miss the nights out on the patio with beers and stumbling back to Picton with the boys. Also miss the GoodLife MED crew and sharing our stories about ridiculous members. It gets lonely here sometimes but I try to keep my eye on the prize...the prize being Australia. Not long now, less than a month! Still haven't got health insurance yet so I will spend today googling how to make my own IV bag and manually fix broken bones if it comes down to it. Jokessss.
What I'm going to leave you with today is this...my travel agent told me about a place in southern Australia where penguins come up on the beach looking for food at night. Apparently they're really tiny and adorable and only come where its really quiet but if you don't scare them they'll come right up to you! I have to see this place and these cute little tuxedo bastards. lol.
I started my serving (in training) at Joey Tomatoes which has been absolutely exhausting. We have to wear HIGH HEELS which is just brutal torture and since we're in training we work split shifts every day. It's so frustrating because we only get a couple tables too so my best day yet has had me walking out with $70 in tips for the entire day and feet so sore it feels like I was walking across hot coals. Can't complain too much because at least I am working, even if it's for pennies right now.
Saw the movie Crazy Stupid Love with dad last week and loved it. Ryan Gosling is a babe and a half and naturally Steve Carrell is hilarious. Great movie, definitely recommend it. Also got dad to watch Limitless which he loved, my second time seeing it and I would still take the pill like Cooper.
Big plans this upcoming weekend. Dad, Steven and I are driving up to Jasper to meet up with my half sisters Bree and Elyse. Bree is bringing her adorable baby boy Joey so it will be my first time meeting my nephew in person. Pretty excited! Jasper is also crazy beautiful and so unique. Mountains everywhere and not touristy like Banff. It's like a hidden gem. I'm really looking forward to the weekend because it'll be dad's first time with all his kids again in a long time and I haven't seen Bree or Elyse in person for years. Should be a really good bonding weekend.
Major friend withdrawals lately....and Barneys. I miss the nights out on the patio with beers and stumbling back to Picton with the boys. Also miss the GoodLife MED crew and sharing our stories about ridiculous members. It gets lonely here sometimes but I try to keep my eye on the prize...the prize being Australia. Not long now, less than a month! Still haven't got health insurance yet so I will spend today googling how to make my own IV bag and manually fix broken bones if it comes down to it. Jokessss.
What I'm going to leave you with today is this...my travel agent told me about a place in southern Australia where penguins come up on the beach looking for food at night. Apparently they're really tiny and adorable and only come where its really quiet but if you don't scare them they'll come right up to you! I have to see this place and these cute little tuxedo bastards. lol.
Monday, August 8, 2011
MOVE
I found this link today:
http://vimeo.com/27246366
Though the video doesn't say much I don't think it really needs to. After chatting with my soon to be fellow traveller Curt, we discussed the idea of settling down in careers right now and how it totally isn't something we want to do right now. It reinstated my thinking that while obviously "life is too short" and such, the major thing is that I cannot see myself signing a contract to a job at the age of 24--a job I may be in until I'm in my 40's, bitter, and wishing I had done more with my life while I was young and free.
The good news is since I have already taken the steps to do this, it's no problem. It just got me thinking that more people should be doing this. Maybe that's why people are unhappy later in life, because they're the ones saying "Oh man...I wish I had done that when I was your age." So thankfully, I am happy that I will not be one of those people. Instead, I will get to be "Oh wow, when I did that when I was 24..." etc.
The tattoo is really meaning more and more to me as I think about it. It's crazy to think in 36 days I will be taking off to Brisbane. I have been in contact with a hostel called Backpackers and will be staying there for the first 2 + weeks of my stay. I am really excited, even bought a new bathing suit online today! I start working at Joey Tomatoes serving full out on Wednesday so I'm super excited to start making some tip money.
This post won't be long...found some great pictures online this week while embracing sharkweek on discovery channel. This one happens to be my favourite
http://vimeo.com/27246366
Though the video doesn't say much I don't think it really needs to. After chatting with my soon to be fellow traveller Curt, we discussed the idea of settling down in careers right now and how it totally isn't something we want to do right now. It reinstated my thinking that while obviously "life is too short" and such, the major thing is that I cannot see myself signing a contract to a job at the age of 24--a job I may be in until I'm in my 40's, bitter, and wishing I had done more with my life while I was young and free.
The good news is since I have already taken the steps to do this, it's no problem. It just got me thinking that more people should be doing this. Maybe that's why people are unhappy later in life, because they're the ones saying "Oh man...I wish I had done that when I was your age." So thankfully, I am happy that I will not be one of those people. Instead, I will get to be "Oh wow, when I did that when I was 24..." etc.
The tattoo is really meaning more and more to me as I think about it. It's crazy to think in 36 days I will be taking off to Brisbane. I have been in contact with a hostel called Backpackers and will be staying there for the first 2 + weeks of my stay. I am really excited, even bought a new bathing suit online today! I start working at Joey Tomatoes serving full out on Wednesday so I'm super excited to start making some tip money.
This post won't be long...found some great pictures online this week while embracing sharkweek on discovery channel. This one happens to be my favourite
Anyways, the free time I've had has allowed me to get a solid tan going so far and spend a lot of time at the gym (surf prep). Really hoping I'll be able to find success in surfing as I think it's incredible. As long as I don't drown...or get shark attacked lol.
More to come in the future...
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