Rec contr' Amor non es guirens lai on sos poclers, s'autra.

Short work day today, which is good.

I lost most of my weekend to furniture shopping, and then furniture assembly. Oh, and work. I worked for five hours at Coles yesterday (did I mention that they asked me to stay on? I'm still there, and will be at least through March, according to the schedules. yay!)

Anyway, after work today, it's off to do laundry, then to Ikea, again, to pick up a few more pieces. I've decided to go with matching bookcases, finally. They have one on for pretty cheap, and I like the way it looks, so.....might as well do it now.

I don't think I'm going for the tattoo today. I just don't have time, what with everything else I need to do. There's no rush, so maybe I'll head there on the weekend (although, I'm working most of the weekend) or next Monday.

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I'm going to countinue to defile my body, by getting more tattoos. Maybe two more, maybe just one, I haven't decided yet.

I've been known to get two tattoos in a go, so it wouldn't be unheard of. I'm thinking of possibly heading down Monday afternoon (ie around 2) to see about getting inked, anyone want to tag along?

Here are the ideas, so far; a stylized Russian double-headed eagle on the back of my calf, right down near my ankle (but not on the back of the ankle itself.)

The second idea is more intricate; a "vine" starting around (really, wrapped around) the gecko that I already have on my back, and winding its way down to my hip, and ending in a Celtic knotwork 'A', which has a serpent's head poking out of one of the legs (I have a really cool drawing of it, but alas no scanner.) Basically, the "vine" would pick up right from the 'A,' as if it were the serpent's tail.....

The third idea is a very amazing Celtic Tree of Life, where the branches form knotwork with the roots. The only issue I have with this one is that it's circular, and I'm not really a circular kind of person. I'm more angular, really. I just can't think of any spots on my body where a circular tattoo would work.

I'm leaning towards ideas one and two.

I swear all this deep-freeze weather is pay back for the plus-awesomeness we had in late December/early January. I'm not enjoying it at all, let me just say. I need warmth! Sunshine! Warmth! I don't deal well with the cold.

It only serves to remind me that I'm single.

Only a month or so left. A month and a half or so. Maybe 2. 2 months, tops. 2 and a half at the very latest.....silver lining.....silver lining.

Seriously, how can I dress all oh-la-la with this weather? It's more "uh-wha-curves?" right now. I'm a small-ish pile of fabric. Gah - summer is so much better for this whole entering the dating arena thing.

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Have I mentioned how much I dislike the cold?

About a month or so ago, my mom bought a winter jacket at Sports Experts. Or whatever that store is at Bayshore. Anyway, they gave her a $50 gift certificate, which she promptly passed on to me.

I'd been thinking about taking up running, but couldn't really bear the thought of paying $100+ on ugly shoes. I have a hard enough time shelling out $40 for pretty shoes, and I put off buying sensible shoes until I have worn out my old pairs. Actually, even then I continue to put off buying a new pair. I am just not a very good shoe shopper, ok?

So today, I sucked it all up. I bought a pair of 'sensible' sneakers - very retro Champion sneakers that were on sale at Payless. Then I headed up stairs to Sports Experts (or whatever that store is at Bayshore) and bought a pair of runners - ok, cross-trainers actually. Originally $139, on sale for $85, and I got $50 off with the gift certificate. Basically, these runners only cost me $46, which I can handle. Are they the best shoes out there? No, of course not, you get what you pay for. But I don't know if I'm going to like running, I don't know how often I'll be using these shoes, and I figure a trainer set of shoes is probably a better investment that shelling out the big bucks for the frickin' awesome shoes.

Now, I'm going to try and get a hold of my friend who took up running last year, and borrow her book on "how to run" - or rather, how to start slowly and build yourself up to running.

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I got my eternity ring back!

I searched my sister's car. My sister searched her car[1]. My mom searched my sister's car[2]. Nothing.

Then last night I get a text from my sister saying she had found it. Then she called and said "I went out to get a sweater, and it was sitting in the middle of the floor mat in the back seat." I figure it must have rolled out from under the seat when she braked[3] at a red light.

yay!


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[1] which is basically, opening a car door and looking at what's inside. Not actually moving anything.
[2] which involved cleaning the car out. Completely.
[3] 'braked' here meaning 'screeched to a halt an inch from the other person's bumper.'

fuck.

I just lost my marcasite eternity ring, that I've had for 6 years. Dropped it in my sister's car, and it has now disappeared.

Doesn't help that the car is beyond a mess. I pulled everything out, searched everywhere, and nothing. All I have to show for it is an incredibly bruised hand. fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck.

Thank god tomorrow is cottage party day. Thank god. Maybe that will make me feel slighly less bitter.

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When I moved to Austria, my mom paid off my OSAP loans. It was about $6000 in total, give or take a few hundred, but not much more than that. (Yes, I was lucky in that that was all I owed, and that she paid it off for me.)

When I moved back home, she lent me money, about $1000, so that I could get an apartment. Over the past two years, she's lent me money here and there, bought me groceries, whatever.

So now, I figure I owe my mom roughly $9000. It's not a lot, I know, but the debt is there and I'd really like to start paying that off. She's been really generous, but she's also worried about money, so I'd like to be able to help her not worry.

But now, she wants to buy me glasses. My glasses aren't cheap. I have exceedingly horrible eyesight. My optomitrist, who works in a retirement community, and sees a lot of elderly people, says "You don't have the worst eyesight I've seen, but you're certainly up there." The frames are generally cheap, it's the lenses that are the kicker. The last time I got glasses, the lenses were $600. I have to get fine ground lenses, and anti-reflective glare coating on them, just to make them wearable.

I don't wear glasses, ever. I feel like I'm stuck behind a wall, and I can't interact with people properly. I have no periphery vision, and that kind of freaks me out. I don't like glasses, period. And I've explained this, and still she wants to buy me a new pair.

I say, buy me contacts! Buy me three pairs of contacts! But me....shelves and glass jars (my new decoratin theme, but that's another entry) and other bits and pieces that I want! Buy me anything else, but don't waste over $600 on glasses that I will rarely, if ever, wear.

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Broke my necklace at some point between taking it off to put aloe on[1] and putting in on this morning.

Guess that means I'll be spending my afternoon trying to find some place that sells 16" silver box chains.[2]

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[1]I actually have a sunburn! On my shoulders and my neck (basically any place on my upper half that my tank top wasn't covering)
[2]I used to buy my necklaces at Dilemme, but it closed down back in December, and I have no idea where to go now.

I have to go shoe shopping this afternoon. If anyone is free around 3 and wants to help my indecisive-mind, please feel free. But leave a comment here, or email me, as I won't have my MSN or phone on. I'm hoping to go around 3-ish.

After that I have to do my laundry, otherwise I'm either going naked or smelly on my date on Wednesday, and I'm pretty sure that while the first one might be appreciated, the second wouldn't be, and they both might get me into trouble.

Thursday, I have to do an "ecoute cassette." See, when people are tested for the language levels in the government, they're taped. And if someone doesn't agree with the level they get (if, for example they get a B and they think they should have a C) they can argue it, then one of the teachers (in this case, the guy took his English levels, and there's only two English teachers....) gets to listen to it with the guy, and point out his mistakes. Fun.

I bought a creme egg the other day. I honestly don't know if that should go in my regular journal, or under my sex filter. Heh.

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I just spent an obscene amount of money on new boots, that are hideously ugly, but oh so me. Actually, I spent an obscene amount of money, period. But I got a lot of new stuff, so I'm happy, content, and clothed! Oh, and I bought books. *blush* This is what I spend my income tax refund on. I got "necessities" mostly -- except for the books (but keeps me a)literate, and b)my mind in tip-top shape) and the boots. Everything else -- pants, shirts, skirts, sandles, I was in need of. I figure the old stuff was a little ripped and falling apart.

I'll justify the expense of $650 any way I can, ok?!

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A customer left me a package of two bite brownies today. On purpose. He was going to mail two packages, decided on one, and left me the other 'cause I said I liked them. Or, could it have been because my co-workers and I were talking about my rack? Either way, I proceeded to eat half the bag, then got a stomach ache. Ah well, that's the way it goes.

My mom's birthday is coming up in two days. I'm taking her to the Psychic fair at the NAC on Sunday as her present. It's not as cool as the time I adopted her an elephant, but still it's cooler than a kick in the teeth, which was the other option. Ok, no, it wasn't, but that sounds cool.

I'm getting over $500 back for income tax -- I'm going clothes shopping! I still haven't, and I do need a few things. I think I'll go tomorrow, if it's not raining, or threatening to.

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I've had a headache for nearly a week now. I know it's not dehydration -- I've been drinking two liters of water a day, roughly. I think it's lack of sleep. I've had several late nights lately, and too many early mornings going along with them. So, my plan of attack? I'm going to bed _early_ tonight (again!) and sleeping in tomorrow -- no alarm clock. I'll still get up at the same time (I always do) but I think I'll feel more refreshed without my alarm blaring at me.

Then, tomorrow, I am pampering myself. I'm shaving my legs (hello, scary yeti woman!), painting my toe nails (I just did my finger nails), and going shopping. I am going to actually go clothing shopping! Whippee!

To buy:
summer sandles (hopefully)
a black t-shirt
a black tank top
jeans
a skirt (roughly knee length)
bermuda shorts

That's easily going to be too much money. I'll hit Old Navy for the tank and shorts, the Gap for the jeans, Rietman's for the t-shirt, and no idea on the skirt. Guess I'll be going to Bayshore -- it has all of the above.

Hopefully, this will make me feel better.

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....in love, with the leather pants that I just found on-line at the Gap. I know, it's the Gap, but leather pants! To go with my leather jacket! Only the pants are black! I will sigh and drool at the same time. Thankfully (for my wallet at least), they don't come in anything resembling my size -- only a 16.

....my family's travel bitch. My brother leaves on Monday for Munich/St. Anton, Austria, and needed help finding a place to stay. Meaning: I had to schlep all over the 'net to find him accommodations in a small town that is beset this time of year with skiers, and is nearly fully booked up. The reason this wasn't done sooner? He just got his ticket. Needless to say, he's paying $80 a night for a room. And there are three nights that I couldn't get accommodations for. Sucker. Tomorrow I have to go down to the passport office to pick up his passport, and go to the bank to get him Euros. Any thank you's will, of course, come from my mother, but hey! She birthed me. I can't say 'no' to her.

.....strong! I just not only deleted, but blocked, someone from my MSN contact list, for dicking me around for several months. I also deleted their number out of my phone. Success! The bitch is back. But only in that good way that everyone loves -- meaning, it's not directed at any of you.

....back in the dating game. I have a date on Monday, and am in negotiations for another one with someone else.

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What an exciting day I've had! Woohoo!

Ok, not really that exciting, but terrific nonetheless.

I picked up a poncho at work. It was originally $95, but went on sale for $38 (that's 60% off for you non-maths folk). My mom picked up one for herself in black, mine's blue. They're hand knit out of pure cotton.....not that any of you really care.

Anyway.

That was after brunch at the Glebe Oak. We tried to go to Ikea after Dilemme (my store), but the traffic was insane -- meaning, the traffic in the parking lot. There were dozens of cars just tootling along, looking for parking, that we decided to try some other time, perhaps some weekday night. From there, we headed to Bayshore Shopping Mall, for some clothes shopping. :) I was (notice the past tense!) in desperate need of a new winter coat -- I've had my sheep for going on six years now. (maybe even 7 or 8 years, I don't know), and I got it second hand. It's falling apart. There are holes by the pockets that I can actually put my arm through. (Not that my arms are all that big, but still.) Anyway -- got two tops at Reitmans (two for $24), and a black wool 3/4 length coat at the Coat Co. (on sale at $99, with an extra 20% off, so just over $79), and.......drum roll......a red leather winter jacket, with a removable insert. *drool* and *sigh* It is....sizzling. I'm so in love right now. It was originally $525, but was on sale for $179 (that's 66% off, rounded up to the nearest dollar).

While at Bayshore, I ran into Bundy (I bought a book from him! I will call the head office and complain about the service. ;)), and into a friend of mine that I knew in high school (but didn't go to my school.) Then I had to go home, 'cause I had spent a lot of money. But I'm well clothed at the moment!

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I thought I'd walk to work today -- 'cause you know, it's good exercise (it's about a 1/2 hour walk) and yesterday was so nice out, that I thought today might be similar. And it's sort of a New Years Resolution -- get exercise when you can.

But it's -13 today. It feels like -20 with the windchill. So, maybe I won't walk. If I bus, I can wear my new kick-ass boots, which have been described as "those look like something an East German secretary would have worn in the 50s or 60s." Very pointy, very tall, stilettos....mmmmmm......

Back on topic, if there is one. I was going to wear my old boots, then change at work, but maybe now I can just wear these boots, take the bus, and show them off!

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