reinventing oneself

Whenever I get my hair done, I feel like it's a new me. It's kind of funny and cool that way. I panicked a bit because I'd never gone so late in the evening and found out that the elevator required a card to get up to the third floor. Of course, L'Oreal also disconnected their phone line so I couldn't call to reach anyone. So I waited for 20 minutes thinking I was late and that I was going to go home soon if no one came downstairs to get me. Luckily, I found a security guard to take me upstairs. I didn't realize I was the only model until I got there.

I really didn't need to be there so early - the class started at 7 and I could have easily gotten there by 6:45 with plenty of time to spare but alas. Tanya, the girl who did my hair almost a year ago, showed up and she did it again today. She commented that I needed a hair cut and I agreed...it's been over 5 months but I'm saving it for the show in May. We discussed colours. I liked the plum purple colour that I didn't get to have last time so we did it this time. It was great to take away the visible red; I was getting a bit tired of it! And then we stuck in two broad strokes of magenta but these are relatively hidden beneath, which is also probably a good thing considering that I want to move up at work and colouring my hair a bright pink probably isn't the way to do it! I was done by 9pm and had people coming up to touch my hair after it was shampooed, and after it was blow-dried. There were about 20 people in the room. The coordinator gave a lecture on Luo (a relatively new translucid colourant) and said there would be prize draws. A guy in the back joked and asked if the model was part of the prize so that was flattering (and this was before I had my hair done!)

So the coordinator asked if I'd be available in May for the ABA show. She wanted me to be a floor/presentation model (i.e. walking around the exhibit hall). She said that it was 'real work' and that they'd have to figure out a way to compensate me for it. I'll say. They paid so poorly last time (less than minimum wage) but I was only standing for about 3 hours a day, one hour at a time. We'll see; I'm afraid of what I may have to wear! She said she wanted me to be done the same - with the sparkly purple colour. What I like about this one is that my hair looks completely black in normal (flourescent) lighting but it is only under sunlight that you can see the purple; it's really more of a plumy-red. Which makes it that much nicer when the roots start to show - which they shouldn't except under sunlight.

reflections

I spent a lot of Friday afternoon feeling a bit sad...there was a heavy feeling in my heart to know that my boss is retiring. I hate saying goodbye and it's not like she's gone, but it's very bittersweet. There isn't a way for me to move up without her moving on and this is the only way it will happen unless I take another job elsewhere. I almost wanted to phone my mom right away to tell her the news but I held back. I ended up telling my sister first and she was shocked and her email was full of exclamation marks. Then I told my parents Sat. morning. I wanted them both to be around before I dropped the news so that they both could hear it from me at the same time.

Yesterday, I ended up not doing my makeup dance class but went in to do some OT at the office. It ended up being a full day - 8 hours. Then I waited for Bowen to call and she hadn't so I went to my cousin Ray's place for a bit to pick up a recipe book for my mom and kept trying Bowen's number a few times. It was interesting because when I did finally meet up with her, we chatted but there were times when I felt she was being quite stubborn about her points. I knew she always was but it showed up more last night since I hadn't seen her in a couple of years. She told me how she's drifted from some of her other friends as well and I can totally see why. I said she could drop by my work during the week for lunch before she goes back to Toronto so we'll see if she does.

Today was a busy morning. I didn't get home til well past midnight last night and then woke up to go swimming. It was much nicer in the mornings - much quieter without the little kids. And I saw the synchronized swim team do a routine - it was awesome and reminded me of Cirque's "O". *sigh* Then I went to my physio to work out some major kinking in my back and neck before meeting up with my friend Johnny, who I haven't seen in 10 years. Went to the local Starbucks for coffee and I handed the girl my starbucks card to pay for our drinks - he gave his visa, and the girl was so surprised at the new look on the card she ended up letting the cashier take his Visa. Then she exclaimed how she'd never seen it and asked where I got it. I replied, "Vancouver" and she commented that they hadn't received theirs yet. Anyway, then what was funny was that Johnny had to show ID because he hadn't signed the back of his card! We chatted for an hour and then he dropped me off at home since he had to go to work.

It's a gorgeous sunny day out - just like spring. But I still can't help thinking how odd and strange it will be without Anne. She was my boss, but a great mentor. I will miss her. And I wonder if I could ever fill her shoes.

spring = new lease on life

or at least a different path. I just got out of my review...yes, it was a really long one. We went over my review and then we went on to discuss how the local association was falling apart and then she went on to talk about her husband and how HIS (travel guide) association's president quit or got dumped or something...and that how HE is now the new president! And then she dropped the bomb. That she sent in her resignation and is retiring at the end of June. It was actually a bit funny - I started tearing up and she said it was sweet of me and then she had to give me tissues because she said, 'I don't want the others to see you leaving my office like that.'

review

I spotted two blue herons on two separate (side by side) posts in the inlet this morning. It is very grey, rainy and windy. There were tons of seagulls soaring around Canada Place, along with a lone eagle. They kept chasing it around. My review is today and I'm really nervous...

my four leaf clover

I have been told that four leaf clovers aren't as rare as they are made out to be. Seems like I've had a bit more luck this month in terms of contests. I entered a contest last week for my city and a lady phoned me during lunch hour to tell me that I had won the weekly draw! I won a $50 gift certificate to Anducci's, a local Italian restaurant. I was going to ask if she could mail it to me but I held back and she told me it would be like last time - I'd have to go in and take a photo when I collected the item. How ironic. She remembered me and asked, "Weren't you the one who won a camera?" and I said yes. She said I was quite lucky since there were so many entries. I had no idea how many entries there were, so I guess I am. Hmm..maybe it has to do with the fact that I've lived in the city for so long and never won anything? (Apart from the summer win of my camera in which I pretty much had to pour the whole cost back into *sniff*). Anyway, I did spot an eagle this morning on the trainride that was sitting on a post and actually pecking (is that the right word?) at something and I am going to enjoy the ride. It's nice to win once in a while (or ever!)

doughnuts again

Mom called me at work today and asked what type of doughnut I liked. Apparently a co-worker had brought in two dozen Krispy Kremes! This after my morning doughnut!! So I got another doughnut today - a cinnamon one with apple jelly in the middle. It was good but I still prefer the devil's chocolate one. :) I figured it would be ok since yesterday's aquafit workout was pretty brutal. Gotta keep going so I can at least build some stamina!

The weekend will be a busy one - chiropractor tomorrow am, and then Claudia's (my cousin's daugther) first birthday. Her real birthday is March 27 but she's probably celebrating that on her dad's side. Anyway, it will be a bbq at my uncle's home. Sunday will be a brunch with Mun Wai and Jasmine.

OD'ing on doughnuts

Is it possible to overdose on Krispy Kreme? Definitely but I guess I haven't hit that point yet, which is a good thing. Today was another busy day at work. We got Krispy Kreme doughnuts to entice users to come to the training session. We still had very few takers - only 4 people. Which meant all the more doughnuts for us! I ate 2 and brought a 3rd original glazed home which will now be my breakfast tomorrow. My boss had never had one before and didn't understand the fuss. Now she knows what I'm talking about. The other co-worker pretty much pounced on me when I returned to my office to see whether there were any left over. Word got around pretty fast and people trickled by to ask if there were any left. Nope. We gave one out to a student and another to a secretary and that was all. My other co-worker found it way too sweet and only ate a quarter. She gave it to the one who pounced on me and he ate the rest of it.

I'm off to swim tonight...good thing I have Alisia to be my motivating factor. More fun with friends too amd I definitely need to work off those 400 calories of pure sugar and fat!

good food, good times

This week is killing me. Yesterday after work, I went straight to a goodbye dinner for Teresa. I was so wiped I didn't want to go over to her place to hang out one last time. This morning, getting to work around 7:45am, I worked all day long, hoping to get off early but it was not to be. *sigh* My co-worker came in, extremely surprised to see me at my desk and on the phone so early. In fact, she thought SHE was late an hour!! That bit was funny but the work I was doing was not.

Mun Wai and her husband came to the office at 5pm and since it was pouring, we tried to figure out where we were going to eat. I suggested a couple of places on Robson and they asked if we could walk there. I said yes, but it would be pitch black by the time we left, and it was also so wet out! (They were in jeans; I was in nice work clothes). So we decided on the Cannery Seafood House where I chose a coho salmon dish and we had a lovely time catching up. Alister and her treated me, which was extremely nice of them. We drove by my house and I suggested grabbing a coffee to continue chatting...so we did so at the local Starbucks until 10pm. It was a really long day but fun (from 5pm onwards...)

linkages

I spent most of Saturday with my cousin Teresa. She's visiting from Houston and I haven't seen her in two years. We hung out in the shops in Yaletown and Robson and headed back home. It was a nice day out so we grabbed some smoothies and hung out for a bit on the patio. Waiting for her friend to arrive from Seattle, I went home to get some things done and then we headed out to Tony Roma's, famous for ribs. Well, her friend arrived quite late so we didn't eat til nearly 8pm. Our waiter looked so familiar to me I couldn't place him at first and then realized I had gone to senior high with him! I didn't say anything and he didn't recognize me. When we got the bill, I verified it was him by the server name. Then I went to chat with him for a while to catch up. I had to say my full name because he was looking a bit blankly at me...then he recognized my name. That was a bit funny. Got his card and am planning on catching up at some point. It's been 10 years... wow. To think this is the first time I met him since then because I'd never gone to the restaurant, even though it's so close to my home!

Today I went for a swim after dinner. I invited Teresa along. She didn't have her swimsuit so she worked out in the gym. It's convenient that it is spring break this week!

race to cabo

So I decided to invite Elaine along; I figure that she could do with a meal so we headed over after work on a cold but sunny evening. I waited at the lobby for her and then we walked down a few streets to the restaurant. It was a set menu and Mexican-themed to match the "Race to Cabo" theme. Of the six finalists, one would win a grand prize all-inclusive trip to Cabo San Lucas. How wonderful would that be? And what would the likelihood of it be? So 1 in 6...I still consider myself not to be that lucky and am amazed I even got into the final six!

Our party was in a little hidden private room where we took over 2 tables. I was pretty nervous in anticipation - hoping for the best but not wanting to be disappointed. Dinner was quick - the food just ok. It's a club/grill so I didn't expect that much. Appetizers were taco chips and salsa. We had cold ahi-tuna for the main course with Yukon potatos which was pretty good. Dessert was the best - coconut flan. Then came the draws. They cycled through one item at a time - gift certificates, a pair of sunglasses, car rental. My name still had not been called by the 4th draw so I knew it was either the rental or the sunglasses. I got the rental. It's hard not to be disappointed...I had told myself that I should be happy that I had even won. In fact, I had a hard time sleeping the last couple of nights because I was so excited at the possibilities. The sunglasses went to the woman at other table. And when they drew the name for the trip... it went to that same lady. Now if only I had been that last name eh? Ah. So much for that. Just as well as I can console myself in knowing that I've already been to Mexico. They had given away a trip to New Zealand and Thailand the previous two contests and that would have hurt much more. Besides, I don't have a beau to take with me so it will all work out. I'm still wondering when I will be doing the snorkeling thing that one of the readers saw me do...

tru calling

They were filming out by my office - near the old Shepperds shoe store, which of course has now been gone for over a year. Jason Priestly was one of the stars. I had not realized he was so short! Well, short as in around my height. He seemed very relaxed and laid back. Walked past the filming and when my co-worker and I returned from shopping, they were wrapping up and I saw him take a photo with a group of other 'stars' (i.e. I didn't know who they were). I was quite tempted to ask if I could get a photo with him also but then...I decided not to ask. We ran into another co-worker who was staring sort of star-struck and we snapped him out of it and chatted a bit. There was barely a crowd gathered around...maybe because it was late in the afternoon. Now, if only I could figure out my true calling...

good things come

to those who wait? I got a call yesterday at work from the radio station; I had entered a contest and made it to become one of six finalists! I am guaranteed a prize - gift certificates to the Shark Club Bar and Grille, or sunglasses from Iris Optometrists, or a weekend Discount Car and Truck Rental. I only need to attend the dinner at the Shark Club this Friday and can bring a guest along. So now I've been debating who to bring! I've listened to this station since its inception over10 years ago and have not won a single thing through them so this is a great change!

rainy spring

Well it's not quite spring yet but there are days when it feels like it! The sun is out but so is the breezy cold wind!! Today is my stay-at-home day as the rain continues to pour on outside. I can't believe it's already been a week since I last wrote but believe me, the days themselves were definitely slow. The most eventful thing this week was dinner Incendio's, probably my favourite little Italian joint in Gastown. Their food is awesome and the selection is great although I have gotten the same pasta every time I have gone (for the last 4 times). In case you're wondering, it's the Mango, Bango pasta, a scallop and veggie pasta in a mango butternut squash and basil sauce. Went with Tim and Walter. I haven't seen Walter in a year and a half so it was nice. He looks the same since I last saw him! He was also kind enough to drive me home or else we wouldn't have been able to even go out for dinner.

Yesterday, I went downtown to the Imax theatre to watch Ocean Oasis with my parents. It was a pretty good film although my dad was nodding off during certain parts of the movie. Then a quick lunch and then off to the hospital to see my godfather, who was doing EXTREMELY well compared to the last time I saw him. He was sitting up in a wheelchair and very coherent. My godmother was there, along with my godsister and her husband.

I'll be having lunch shortly and then sticking around to do some things around here.

bong, bong

It's been a slow day at work, relatively speaking...apart from my ongoing project that never seems to end. To add some excitement to the day, a fire alarm was pulled on the 4th floor and the bell is going off with the same slowness the day is passing. On the bright side, it's beautiful and sunny out, reminding me so much of spring (though much too cold for that!)

Yesterday was another gorgeous day which I spent relaxing at home. I watched bits and pieces of the Oscars. Lord of the Rings won all of the awards it was nominated for, and tied with Ben Hur and Titanic with 11 awards. *sigh* Back to sitting here watching the firetrucks arrive.