Friday 27 November 2009

The Return of... ... FRIDAY STATS!

Yes. Toady has become a monumental day. I have, for the first time in four months, just been swimming.

It's actually well over four months. In fact, one might project that it is closer to five months, if not over five months.

I can tell you.

It hurts.

I've taken 'breaks' from swimming before, but none this long. It usually does take one or a half session to wake up my muscles and have them remember what they already knew, but today was a painful trip. I actually had to get out the pool at one point and do some kind of muscle squeeze slap stretch thing because I was convinced I wasn't going to be able to walk again, and that was only after doing 200m of front crawl kick. It usually is difficult, but not that difficult.

Anywhere... here they are:

200m front crawl
200m breast stroke
200m front crawl legs
100m breast stroke legs
25m butterfly legs
25m back stroke legs
25m butterfly legs
25m back stroke legs
200m front crawl arms (with paddles
200m breast stroke arms (with paddles)
50m front crawl
50m beast stroke
400m front crawl with paddles and flippers
200m front crawl
100m swim down/fanny about.

80 lengths, 2000m, 2km in 68 minutes.

The pool was pure heaving with people as well, and there were some really rude guys. Seriously, I was in the 'medium' lane, and it ended up being filled with all these big guys that thought they were fast but not fast enough for the fast lane. I was seriously mad... they had bad swimming pool etiquette, and beyond that I was the only girl. So I had to hold my own and prove that was fast enough to be in the medium lane. It was actually not that fun, and I was in so much pain most of the time.

I've also decided that I need to stop going swimming with guys... I might start going to Ladies night or something because guys are gross and totally pervy. I suppose I check out their moobs, it's true... in more of a 'i'm repulsed, swim more way' haha.

When I was in the shower after getting out I starting craving thinly sliced roast beef. I'm not even kidding.

It's been ages since i've craved beef, and I've been fine with that, quite happy, but this is no coincidence that it happened immediately after tearing some muscles and wearing myself down. So I think it might be related, the breaking down of muscle is usually replaced with protein... hence drinking or consuming large amounts of protein while doing heavy work outs.

I took one of my beetroot blood builder pills that I got in Wholefoods and I also consumed, or rather, inhaled a Terry's Chocolate Orange bar that I conveniently bought at the petrol station when I filled up the car. The car is full. I think it's the first time the car has been full in a long long long long time. She's happy... cold, but happy.

I also decided today that if I ever owned a swimming pool I would put heated towel rails in ever locker. I need to go swimming more often because I always come up with fantastic ideas afterwards.

before heading out I got held up slightly because I indulged in some facebook chat with my totally awesome Bulgarian friend. She who is actually a kind of mutual friend/acquaintance of mine and Jon's, and she who kind of brought us together.

She's back in Bulgaria, and I totally want to go see her. I totally want to go to Bulgaria, that's a fact. When I watched Chitty Chitty Bang Bang when I was wee I thought the place they flew to was Bulgaria, but it's actually Vulgaria. It will always be Bulgaria to me, and when I go to Bulgaria, I will be where Chitty, Dick Van Dyke, his grubby children, Uncle Alfred, and the child catcher were.

Amazing.

My twilight defence

Right this is breaking my blog post fast.

I wasn't not posting... I was just not posting because I was too consumed doing other things.

I've been on holiday this week because I had to ask for the week off a month ago, and it was the last week that anyone could ask for holidays before the end of January. So I've been using the time to properly plan and prepare wedding, marriage and immigration stuff. Which has mostly just consisted of me kicking about in my 'in door clothes' with no make up on and cleaning things and throwing stuff out. I made a lot of progress on Monday but I've significantly got worse and more lazy since then.

yesterday though I took some time to go to the cinema with Claire... and of course we went to see Twilight: New Moon.

So, I have no idea why there are so many people opposed and total haters towards the movie and book series. Like really, everyone has an opinion... at least that's how my facebook status updates look just now. Everyone seems to have a hate or love opinion. It's actually starting to drive me insane. I don't mind twilight. Yes I read the books. It meant I actually read something. It's kind of like Harry Potter, I remember Adam Lang saying to me once that he thought Rowling should be given a massive award not for writing good literature (because in his opinion she didn't) but for encouraging children and people to read again. That's the same way I feel about Meyer. She has people reading. And so what if it's trashy, un-realistic, girl/teen fantasy stuff. Most stories and movies out there are utterly terrible, absolutely terrible. Take for example Transformers 2 and Jennifer's body (to name two that I hate). Those movies are total trash. Not to mention any other action movie that's come into existence, or those terrible disaster movies. Those are all trash in my opinion... un-realistic, rely on special effects, have no valid story line and either contain dodgey sex or nude scenes just for ratings. Like SERIOUSLY!

In the first Twilight the Blonde Rosalie chicka said the Oh My G, and that was it... that was all that could be deemed bad influence. The second movie was directed by someone who wasn't a desperate housewife (I watched the special features of the first Twilight movie and the director was a total weird perv... seriously), so it had a bit more conversation, storyline and build to it. There was no swearing, no over the top passion scenes... it was the kind of thing you wouldn't mind your kids watching... or yourself. Seriously. I don't want to defend the movie or the books because then it makes me look like a die hard fan, which I'm not, but they're entertaining, and enjoyable... and the books distracted me through a difficult summer (2008) that without which I might have gone insane. It was nice to worry about some one else's life and be involved with other people, in another place and land... even if it was poorly written.

And I just need to add that Miss Stephanie must have prayed a shed load. Seriously. Imagine, if you wrote a book, you'd want it to be successful. Well her prayer was answered. She must have paid her tithing too, that sneaky mormon lady. :)

Thursday 19 November 2009

Further disclaimer.

I would like to add that it was not the day Jon-himself proposed, I just used that image as a clue as to what the day really means, because for our first date we went to see Carrie Underwood (after I went to institute) and then drank slurpees. I'd gone swimming that day too, and actually eaten nothing all day but was too shy to actually mention anything about that. And I suppose slurpee was sufficient enough to keep me awake until after 5am.

Yearaversary.

This here day marks the one year year-aversary of me seeing Carrie Underwood live, for the very first time. Oh how she changed my life. I had my very first slurpee that night, therefore I claim this day as Slurpee and Carrie Underwood Day.

Sunday 15 November 2009

Twenty Six Nine Weeks and One day.

This week has been brought to us by

The Number: 30 Dollars and 240 pounds

The Letters: M I S S Y and D E N T I S T

The Words: Panic, wedding, and planning

and The Mathematical algebra equation:

Jon + Jon = 2Happiness

Jon + Jon/2 = Happiness

Jon = Happiness


This might make a lame geek, but I loved maths and algebra and equations. It was like English but with a right or wrong answer.

Saturday 14 November 2009

How Not To Spend Money.

The other day I was talking to a guy in work about iTunes and we somehow got on to the topic of the American iTunes store and I mentioned that I had a $30 voucher that I had never been able to use because I didn't have an American bank card.

He told me that with an iTunes voucher you can set up an American iTunes account by clicking the right places.

Surprise surprise I went home, clicked the right buttons and I now have $30 to spend at my leisure on iTunes.

Now, a bit of history. I've had that voucher for 21 months. I was actually scared that it had expired or something dreadful like that. To have it finally activated and not have to use someone else's account and to have the freedom to spend and download straight on to my own computer without transferring stuff feels wonderful. I'm debating over a big spend or lots of little spends. A big spend would be a whole series of a TV show like Buffy, The OC, or Dead Like Me. Lots of little spends would be albums I've been wanting for ages, or a movie here or there. I don't know what to do. It's too exciting. I keep spending it with my eyes but not going through with it. 21 months is a long time to wait to spend something, so the credit has to be spent with finesse and beauty. Almost like a whisky that has been left to distil for 15+ years. It has to breathe, it has to be enjoyed, it has to be relished. Every cent that I spend of that $30 has to be appreciated.

A little bit of further history.

The $30 gift voucher is actually a proper gift, it was given to me as a valentine's day present on February 14th 2008. It is, actually, the only valentine's day gift I've ever been given. Awwwwww... cue the tiny violin. Well I think I might have received cards before but in high school from one of my female friends as a joke. Actually that's also quite sad. It's a lame day anyway.

I'm actually so pleased that I get to spend it now, it's been burning a hole in my email inbox for too long.

In other random news I hate that Fox chick, i've forgotten her first name. MEGAN. Megan Fox. I hate Megan Fox. After work I called Claire to see if she was in town and she was just heading in, so I browsed some shops and tortured myself over my jacket again in Urban Outfitters. I went to American apparel and smelled the smell of Helvetica, and I went to Frasers and ended up in the bridal section looking at huge meringue dresses with sparkles and princess looks. I left with a smile. I like sparkley things. And it was a totally laid back department. I've actually not been in one bridal shop since I got engaged so it was pretty cool to just immerse myself in materialism and crazy girlishness for just a second. Nothing in that place was me, nor would I wear it in real life, but it was pretty to look at and ooooo over.

I met Claire and we continued mini non buying shopping time and then took up some seats in Borders Starbucks (sorry Toni) and then we ended up in the Cinema. We also went to the new H&M in the Buchanan Galleries bringing the H&M count to Three stores in the one shopping centre. That's messed up. haha. Yeah, so outside the new H&M was a queue of people waiting for the launch of the Jimmy Choo H&M range. Dedicated or what.

The cinematic choice was ruled by time and trains and Claire and I ended up seeing Jennifer's body. It was far from my choice, but it was okay, I hate Megan Fox and everything she stands for, and the movie was just a bit weird. It was almost like a parody horror like the Evil Dead but it wasn't. It was actually funny, a little scary, and almost definitely irrelevant.

On my way home on the train I was thinking about a lot of stuff, like swimming, and design work and what not... I was also scripture reading, and I started thinking wouldn't it be crazy if I was to look up and see I was in my station but about to leave the station and I would have to do a train dive and maybe my bag would get stuck in the door and I would have to leave it behind, or what if my shoe got caught and I had to wriggle out of it or die, or even my jacket. Then I started looking at the pages of the Book of Mormon and wondering if there was more I could do to incorporate the style of scriptures into the design of the Mormons Photography Book I've been doing for Mark. I then looked up and realised I was in my station, and I actually did have to do a train dive. It was flippin scary. On the way I dropped old tickets from the back of my Book of Mormon which were my book mark and I stopped to get them thinking they were important. It was a close one, but I made it off the train.

Thursday 12 November 2009

Redemption.

Today redemption comes in the form of a Blue ford Ka called Missy.

She is alive, and legally allowed back on the roads. Yes.

Her underbelly has been given new metal and she has one new tyre and some new wiper blade and gosh is she happy.

I am even more so because it means I can drive to the dentist rather than get the train and walk, and it means I can drive to various other locations.

And it all cost £195 plus the £45 MOT last week. Which means the MOT was not a waste of money Hooray! All is well once more in the last of Vizzle M and her Missy.

I'm pleased that I didn't have to just get rid of her, if I'm selling her and giving her up, I need some last adventures with her, she is awesome, and we have spent some terrific wonderful times together. And now I get a few months, legally, more.

Wednesday 11 November 2009

While it's fresh.

I just had a dream.

It was 30 minutes until I was due to get married.

I was, for some reason, getting married in Glasgow, in Anniesland Church... to be honest I don't think Anniesland has a church, but that's where I was going.

My dress was lying on the floor of the cultural hall in the LDS church in Glasgow, and I had parked my cousin's mini on the stage in the hall.

I was totally stressing about dress colour, size and whether it had been ironed or not. My mum just kept saying well why haven't you tried it on yet, and I would keep saying, can you iron it in 30 minutes.

My hair, face and everything else was not done. I'm pretty sure there was no flowers and there most definitely a lot of worry about bridesmaid dresses.

There was also some kind of live general conference happening in Glasgow that I had to sneak out of with my mum to get the dress.

When we got to the cultural hall my little cousin miriam was sitting in her mini asking how to get it off the stage so she could drive to the church.

Before we could help her out she drove it straight off the stage and it landed nose down on the floor, with glass and metal everywhere.

It landed an inch from where my dress was lying and we ran over and she as holding and rubbing at the dress. There was a massive brown stain on the left hand side from where she had burned and melted the lace from her car falling. I stayed relatively calm on the exterior and she kept saying sorry and that it was fixable. And I said 'no no, it was my fault, I shouldn't have parked your car on the stage.'

The rest of the dream is a little hazey, I think I had reached my capacity for stress at that time and my brain was moving my thoughts in a different direction to avoid having a heart attack in my sleep or something.

The gist was, the dress was burned, and unfixable, and I 30 minutes until I was getting married. Totally lame.

Monday 9 November 2009

Monday Blah.

Quotes of the past week:

Don't send a left hand to do a right hand's job.

Why is there a large barcode stuck to my sunglasses.



I'm going to bed, because I have a long shift tomorrow, and I want a subway sandwich, I'm not hungry, I'm just miserable because I've not had enough of something in my life today. Lame.

I tell you what though, I've decided that rather than sell everything I own I'm going to give some of it away as christmas presents... yes I am tight, and being somewhat practical. The money I made from selling stuff would just go towards presents so I might as well give some of it to people that would love it. Don't worry it won't be trash, I will only give stuff that people will enjoy. Seriously. I think it's a full proof plan.

Tomorrow's the 11/11/09. It's also a Wednesday, I'm contemplating playing my 9 and 11 row of lottery numbers tomorrow, hmmm. Should I shouldn't I? I should call upon the power of the 11. To sort all of mine and Eilidh's financial woes.

I'm just typing for the sake of typing when I should be doing nanowrimo or something. I had such a good idea, but I just didn't feel it. The desire to write is gone. I just want to mope instead.

Sigh, seriously the past four months have been crazy, it's almost 4 months and one week. It's a weird kind of miss and sadness, because it's almost identical to a breakup, but it's not, because there's hope and happines, and still constant contact, but every now and then it's a similar pain that usually would be filled or ignored by 'moving on' but moving on isn't allowed in this scenario because it's hope, and happy imagination filled future that's in store. I think the only thing that is really not letting distance effect the relationship is the fact that he is most definitely worth it. There hasn't been more worth in any other endeavour that I've ever followed. Seriously. Love helps too :). But it will all most definitely be worth it, because he is worth it, and there's no one in the world that I could ever imagine myself with or that I would ever want to be with. It's actually almost like a storybook movie the way we fit together and work. Definitely worth it.

Bed.

New People Rant.

Several new people have started after me.

A high percentage of them are rude and can't fathom a please or thank you, and can't wait for answers when they ask questions, they just take.

Numbers Rant

I have a mentor at work... He's meant to help and assist.

He pretty much shows me my financial figures and then berates me, and then tries to work out how to make me better.

Here's the thing.

I am 12th in the store for sales.

I have a high percentage of apple care add ons.

I have a low percentage of one to one add ons.

Every store in the world has been challenged to reach 50%.

The more computers I sell without one-to-one means that the store average is affected.

People that want it, will buy it, I don't tend to get the customers that want it.

90% of the people that come to the store to buy have had pre-intentions.

A lot of them are students.

I tend to get the students, the young guys that already technically minded and the foreign people.

I don't mind this.

But, the people that would benefit from one to one never want to talk to me, never want to interact and always end up talking to the young boys because 1. Boys know technology, and 2. Older women love little boys.

My Mentor enjoys showing me my figures every chance he gets and likes saying 'is there anything I can do to help?' or 'this is your percentage, look at everyone else's'.

The thing is, everyone else's is either drastically below mine, or just a little bit above. But for the sake of not arguing I just nod and go yeah, crazy, terrible isn't it.

The problem is, when you start a shift and you're being made to feel like crap (even although you're twelfth in the store and you only work 16 hours a week compared to the full timers or high contracted people in the top 11) because you can't sell one to ones, then I tell you, you don't want to even sell any computers to anyone because if they don't take one to one then you're percentage will be messed up.

It's totally messed up. I hate it actually. And I actually think I'm at my capacity with my mentor, the next time he shows me my freakin' numbers I might actually not give him the happy, life is awesome answer. Seriously. So mad. It bothers me. If you can't tell.

I mean I get it, I really do get it, the thing is, apple has asked for 50% most likely assuming no one will really get that amount and that they will actually keep trying for it and get 40-45%.

Uptight.

Twenty Six Eight Weeks and 2 Days.

This week has been brought to us by the:

Numbers: I Don't Care About Stupid Numbers and 45

Letters: F-R-I-E-N-D-S

Words: sad, glad, mad, bad

Events: My mum's birthday

Movies: This is it, Ghostbusters, Groundhog day, Darjeeling Limited

Songs: Anyone Else But You - Moldy Peaches (from the Juno Soundtrack)

A Strange Twist of Fate

Last Thursday I started flicking through the yellow pages because they were sitting on my bedroom floor after using the pages as packaging in a box to protect Eilidh's iPod.

I decided to look up garages that weld and I found one in Anniesland, called them and wondered if it was per chance the very same garage that Wee John, whom I met on the train two years before, worked at.

The Story of meeting Wee John.

Anyway, in some kind of strange twist of fate I have now left my car, indefinitely with Big and Wee John. Wee John didn't remember me. The blokes all seemed relatively lovely and in actual fact Missy will be back with me and in working order sooner rather than later. I'm excited to go swimming again, and to hang out with friends, and to go to the cinema late at night, and to spend Christmas and New Year with Eilidh with the car she helped me find, and I'm also pleased that Jon will most likely get to meet the wonderful little beast that is Missy.

Yayy all around.

So, if you live in Glasgow, I 100% recommend the wee garage off Crow Road in Anniesland, above Morrisons. Best garage I've been to to date. Seriously.

Friday 6 November 2009

Thursday 5 November 2009

Fireworking it

Remember remember the 5th of November.

I ended up working tonight, and didn't get to see the fireworks in Glasgow for the 4th year in a row. Seriously. I can't remember the last time I was there.

I was in Utah the past two years, and running YSA errands the year before that, and in Dundee other years. Gosh, it's been a long time.

The most amazing one I ever saw was one that looked like a normal circle firework but then turned into 30ish tiny parachutes. It was incredible.

Today, as well as being Guy Fawkes, marks 4 months... the day, it's not 4 months to the hour yet, but at this stage, who's counting. It still sucks.

I had something else to say, I've no idea what it was. But oh how it was good... that was it... I was watching a small snippet of the Daily Show and Jon Stewart mentioned our favourite Beck, at which point I wanted to confirm that I still really dislike that man, and don't mention it because I can't access the daily show how I used to any more, they put a country lock on it, which means I can't share what I've not seen. Lame. I have to watch it through UK poor methods and slow servers now, even more lame.

Forty Five Pound Walk in the Park

Today's plan was to

1. Change my dentist appointment next week

2. Reclaim some bank charges

3. Get one of the tyres on my car fixed (and change a wheel for the spare in order to do it)

4. Go see this is it with Kate.

What really happened:

1. I slept really late and had some crazy dreams

2. Changed my dentist appointment

3. Looked up used cars online to gauge prices and make sure it was worth fixing my car

4. Decided it was worth it

5. Started changing my flat tyre/wheel

6. A random man did it for me because I couldn't get a bolt undone and I looked like a damzel in distress. I can change wheels and pretty quickly too.

7. Got a new tyre for one at the wheel place

8. Was recommended a new MOT specialist

9. What I heard was MOT and repair

10. Took it there immediately and found out they only did MOTs

11. Got a little confused and kept it there for an MOT

12. Had to wait in Dalmuir (ie. Nowhere) for 1.5 hours

13. Went to a local park that I used to go to as a kid

14. Picked up leaves, saw swans and squirrels and played on the swing

15. Got an inner core chill

16. Picked up my failed MOT car and found it hard to get advice from the guys

17. The list was significantly less than the first fail because the first fail was done by a rookie

18. Almost cried

19. Tried to find out where I could get the body work fixed

20. Drove home

21. Caught the train

22. Saw This is it (amazing)

23. Cried a little... well I welled up, no tears though. Had I allowed tears then I wouldn't have been able to stop them for ages.

24. Came home

25. Ate dinner while watching How I Met Your Mother (the episode about Lilly and Marshall's wedding)

26. Wished I could get married sooner

27. wondered why on earth I paid £45 for something I already knew.

28. It now takes me about half a week to make £45, before it would take me half a day.

29. I hate myself for spending money unnecessarily. I'm not sure what I was doing, or what I thought I was doing. I am such a freakin' tard.

30. Watched a bit of the green wing while looking up garage services and used cars.




There seems to be no logic in fixing my car, or buying another one. I can't afford it. But the money I put in I will get back in 4/5 months when I leave. (Hopefully 4-5 months.) But I'm still paying £14.50 a week on train fare regardless. What will I really use a car for in the next few months. Getting to church on time, going to the cinema really late at night, driving about for new year and christmas when public transport isn't running, when Jon comes so we don't have to get the train everywhere, for the fake reception wedding in Glasgow when things need to be done and I can't depend on lifts, for delivering items I sell.

So yeah, not a lot that can't be replaced by public transport.

I don't know what to do. I have two weeks to have it fixed and back in for another MOT otherwise it's another £45.

But yeah, the park. I ended up going to the park and I paid £45 to do that. I could visit another country on ryanair for less than that. Why am I an idiot.

On the plus side there's the awesome photos and things I seen today that were free and that I would never have done if I didn't have to stay in Dalmuir for hours.

This is a random video of some swans that were asking over and over again for food. Someone finally came and gave them food. The thing is, bread is bad for swans. True.



There were so many pretty leaves.

I love that nature makes death look so beautiful. It's spectacular. This is the later end of the death of leaves now, so they're all richer darker colours. But I did find an odd green leaf here and there that was fighting and holding on to pigment for dear life. Utterly stunning.

The sun was getting quite low as well so there were many light opportunities too. I didn't have my big camera with me, so this is just my compact. The photos are still pretty awesome though. It must be the touch screen function that does it.

I also played on the swings, and random elephant that had 'wanker' written across it's head. Kind of sad.

The best part though were the squirrels. At first I thought it was rare to see one squirrel but then I came across a dray or scurry (yes, I looked up the collective noun) of the little blighters. I remember being young and my gran telling me how evil grey squirrels are. I kind of like them, they did bully and breed out and murder the red squirrel though who is always painted as an angelic creature in comparison.

The movie at the end shows off my iMovie and garage band 06 skills of putting a movie together. Wooo. It's all about my squirrel friends. They all got scared off by a dog. I big panting butch dog. Just like Up. It made me laugh slightly, as well as be annoyed slightly because dogs drool and squirrels rule.









































Sunday 1 November 2009

Hallowe'en Visual Stimuli

Back when I was at art school Hallowe'en was a huge deal. It was all about out doing each other with the creative art ideas. Now I don't really care. Before art school I didn't really care either. I'm not a fan of dressing up purely because if my costume isn't perfect I don't feel comfortable.

Yesterday/last night when I got to church for their event within 5 minutes I saw my niece pressing her face against a piece of glass on a door dressed as snow white, with her friend Soren dressed as superman at the other window on the set of double doors.

I remembered I had found my red camera and later managed to get only a couple of shots, nothing amazing. It's costumes like those that I love. Ones that are of real characters or people. Love them. I think it appeals to my juxtaposition/oxymoron side of life — where I like seeing things out of place.

Amie and Soren:











I also had the fantastic opportunity to take this small video. Immediately preceeding this Soren and Amie were spinning in another part of the hall. They started going pretty fast and Amie disappeared from sight into some tables and chairs after Soren couldn't hold on to her any more.

I was sad that I didn't get that video, it would have won me money on You've Been Framed. That's for sure.






Today for work I dug out my Emily Strange Cat Ear Hoody which was actually amazing because it was so warm. It has been in the boot of my car as a 'spare jacket' for years. I don't have a working spare tire but I do have a blanket, cushion and spare jacket. I am a girl.

Today I was an iCat. It was awesome.




I then had some random hallowe'en awesome with Zero. It is her night after all. She was born the way she is for tonight.

And I caught a sighting of Zero the Ghost Cat. See how she's invisible.







And yes I have bright orange converse that I got in Paris that I dreamed about days before, then found through a random circumstance involving mashed potato, missing a train, and having an odd size of foot.

It's a semi entertaining story (like all my stories) I should write about it sometime.


And as a final thought:

Long live the apostrophe in Hallowe'en.