Days off!

What a crazy few weeks it has been. Since September 21st, I have had all of two days off (September 29, October 5). Let me tell you that I am SO ready for these next two days off work. Although I did go fill it up with games that I will be refereeing, that's a lot different than spending 8 hours in the office where we're overwhelmed with: rosters, waivers, photo IDs, league starting, discipline, organizing refereeing courses, etc.

Tomorrow I am running the line on an ACAC Championship game and then acting as the 4th official for a second. Then the evening off before heading to refereeing some co-ed games. Saturday I am running the line again on an ACAC game and then refereeing some CUSA Preseason games. Sunday it's back to the haul and mentoring and running a training session for the referees. Maybe one day in the future when I get a day off, I'll really use it as a DAY OFF!

On Monday Bobbie-love starts his dog obedience class. He has been pretty good recently considering how bored out of his mind he must have been! I've actually been really proud of him and have done my best to find time to take him out for walks. I still need to find a doggy daycare for him - that's the best for any energetic 18 month old dog!!

Other than work... not a ton is new. Off to Toronto in less than a week - I am SO excited! Will have to post about that soon :)

Oooooh am I ever bored!! What kind of Saturday night is this? Last time I was this bored, I happened to be at work and ended up ordering a $70 bottle of Smirnoff North from Santorini, Greece. Luckily tonight the most I've spent online is $32 and it was ordering from Devon's RBD site - so I don't feel so guilty.

Another productive note is that I found a training school for Bobbie to go to. It's a 6-week "beginner" course as it covers things that the Brad Pattison course never did - such as down! I think my dog is so bored being at home right now, that I feel guilty about it. In the morning I put him in his crate for the day, then am home for a few hours in the evening before going to bed again. I am still on the look out for a good doggy daycare for him, but the closest one is a Pet Planet about 10 minutes from my work. Might be my only choice, just sucks as it's pretty far out of the way (even if it is only 10 minutes!!). Plus it's a $400 investment for a 20 day pass so... we'll see.

Anyways, off to find something else to perhaps stimulate my bored brain. Can't imagine how my dog feels after days and days like this!!

Saturday Night Geekfest

I am so incredibly bored and at home doing a hell of a lot of... nothing. Then I remembered that I started this blog before leaving for my Greece trip and haven't updated it since!

While tonight is super boring, last night was a good one. Met up with my best friend and roommate around 10:30pm and a bottle of wine later and a few beers later... well okay I don't remember a ton past that. I'm so thankful for the Wagner's who always let us crash at their house; but every time I drink with Stephen and Graham it gets messy. Mostly because they'll start in the afternoon and I always have to play catch up!

Even though today has been fairly quiet (as I have been suffering from a self-inflicted headache), I'm looking forward to the upcoming week. Ryan (from my Greece trip) is coming out for Stampede so I have lots of things planned for the foreigner. Everything has actually fallen into place really nicely - McKenzie is hosting a pancake breakfast the morning he's here, there was an extra rodeo ticket and I actually made it to Macs in time this year to get the all-day midway passes. Haven't quite sorted out what we'll do in the evening but I'm hoping Saltlik because I haven't been there in forever and I love it <3

Then on Thursday I drop Ryan off at the airport and then Graham and I are driving home to Vernon. We'll be home Thursday - Monday, so I'm really excited for a weekend of beach, booze and boating! I know we're going to hike Enderby Cliffs and renting a boat on the Sunday on Okanagan Lake. Might have to go visit Ryan at his work and float down the river in Enderby, but I guess it depends on the weather.

After this trip, I'm back in Calgary for a few weeks and then back to Vernon at the end of the month for the August Long Weekend and Wakefest. It's going to be a fantastic summer!!

Opa, ouzo and sangria

In three hours I'm supposed to be at the airport: checking in for my flight, going through security and boarding the plane for London, England. I leave Calgary at 9:30PM, arrive in London at 1:30PM, have a 7 hour layover until approximately 8:30PM when I return to Heathrow, board the plane for Athens and arrive in Greece's capital at 2:30AM. Awesome timing hey? Hahah

I'm actually sick to my stomach. I'm so nervous traveling alone. I know I should be okay but I think it's a mixture of being really exciting, not believing this is actually happening and feeling completely unprepared(!!!).

Last night while doing laundry the washing machine broke. FML. So I had to emergency txt msg the ex-bf which was really awkward and I was certain he said no, but he actually let me come over and finish my laundry. I read a book. He played WoW. There was very little interaction which is kinda sad but maybe one day in the future we'll actually be legit friends. Nonetheless - laundry is done and I'm (hopefully) ready to go.

This morning I called home and my dad answered the phone and sounded sad, he never sounds sad - but I didn't really think anything of it. Chatted to him for a bit then talked to my mom who was also sad. I didn't get it. Why so sad first thing on a Saturday morning!?

My parent's really good friend passed away.

But it's not even like, "oh we knew it was coming". Andy was young, active and when you looked at him you wouldn't think "he's one of those guys who'll die from a heart attack". The doctors still aren't sure of what happened. I didn't know Andy as well as my mom and dad, but at Christmas we had so much fun playing Cranium and wii (he made fun of my awesome bowling skills). Andy's sons are my age. I can't imagine my dad ever passing away - especially with no warning.

It just reminds you that tomorrow isn't a promise.

Last Exam; Unofficial U of C Alumni

I am so excited! Yesterday I wrote my exam for CNST 451: Culture of the Calgary Stampede. It was my last exam. Ever.

After four long years in University and swearing I would never make it to the end - I did! My amazing brother who has been an incredible support the last four years always told me that some point during writing the exam, I would a certain point where I would realize it was my last exam. He was so right! The feeling of leaving that exam room and knowing that I had accomplished a challenging, difficult, University degree was an awesome feeling.

Now I'm off to Vancouver this weekend for the BC Soccer Conference. I return on Sunday only to leave on Saturday May 9th for my Contiki trip to Greece and Turkey. So excited!

Sunburns and snowfall

Sometimes I wonder why people are even surprised by Calgary weather anymore. On Monday it was absolutely stunning out - in the mid-20s. As I was writing my English paper I was also working on my sun tan outside and enjoying some additional Vitamin D. I even reffed my first soccer game on Monday afternoon and reminded myself why I LOVE refereeing, soccer and the sunshine.

Then Wednesday comes along.

And it snows.

But not even a little bit of snow. Like A LOT of it. It has blanketed the houses, the roads, the sidewalks, the backyard and everything else it could cover, it did! Now it's windy and it's cold. Typical Calgary.

I was supposed to referee soccer this weekend: Saturday at a high school tournament and Sunday for McKenzie Lake. I'm guessing that the games will be cancelled since the weather forecast isn't for anything much above freezing, so I doubt the snow will melt. Too funny.

In other news, I'm off to Vancouver in a little over a week. I still have to book the hotel. Note to self. I'm going from Friday May 1 - Sunday May 3 for the BC Soccer Conference and CMSA is covering the costs for me. I'm really excited for it. Plus it'll be nice to see my brother, sister-in-law, and a few friends that I have down in Vancouver.

But in even BETTER news, I'm off to Greece on Saturday May 9th. From booking the trip in January to now, it has gone by so fast! I can't believe in just over two weeks I'll be boarding the plane. I'm so excited.

Finally, I lost the mail key for the mailbox. I have no idea how to get a replacement key... which is an issue. I know I have a cheque in there from ASA which I need for my trip, plus all my trip documents. Stupid keys!

Easter Sunshine and Homework

On Thursday night I was feeling really lonely and sad. I think a lot of it has to do with the overload of course work I have on my plate right now as well as the huge amount of work demands. It's been a challenge the last few months balancing the two and finally on Thursday I had a serious melt-down! I decided Thursday afternoon that I needed a break from Calgary so Bobbie and I drove home (!!!) first thing Friday morning.

How happy am I that I made that decision!

Right now we're at the Merritt house doing homework as dad is on call here this weekend. The sun is so warm through the front window so I moved the laptop onto the floor so I can bask in the sunlight. If the couch wasn't so heavy I would've just moved that, haha. It's a good thing he's on call though because this morning a semi-truck rolled over and both directions of the Coquihalla are closed down! Suckers.

I'm actually being really productive too - for hating schoolwork, that is. I have two research paperes and a self-evaluation due in the next week. Today I finished the self-evaluation and the research for my INDG 201 course. Now just to write the paper! Since it's on indigenous people, I am writing on the Westbank First Nations which is an incredibly successful group of Aboriginal people. I'm writing on their successes and juxtaposing it against the difficulties most other bands/reserves endure. Did you know they are a self-governing body? So under the Federal Government the WFN is actually considered their own government. It's pretty cool! They create their own taxes, laws, etc AND even cooler is that the Indian Act (racism act?!) doesn't apply to their People.

Anyways - back to the sunshine. It's incredible and it's only April. That's why I love the Okanagan so much. How can you hate life (hate school?! haha) when it's warm, sunny and blue skies outside? It makes me miss the fact that I don't live here full-time anymore as I really do miss waking up to good weather and spending the majority of the day outside because you want to. Hopefully it's even more sunny in Greece and Turkey when I head there at the beginning of May!

Enough procrastinating... I better get to writing that research paper.