Hallo again.

I recently thought about how unfair it was to anyone who reads this to only have to read about times when I was feeling depressed or unhappy.

Things have been great lately. I've been busy with the new store, working with some fantastic new baristas, learning a LOT about interpersonal relationships, and generally turning into the 'lifer' that people always thought that I would become. My job has its moments. I get frustrated, but only with my own deficiencies.

*TM* and I went to Les Miserables today. It was his birthday present, and we went after a delicious breakfast at Locus with the breakfast club. I haven't seen this show in more than 10 years and it was interesting to see the musical after so many years of change and living. Mostly, I was hoping that *TM* would enjoy it, being a new experience for him, but I also found myself enjoying the thankless roles a lot more. Surprisingly, my favourite singers were Enjolras and Javert, characters that I never even thought about when I saw this musical for the first time ten years ago.

Will probably update again sooner. Am not less happy. Am feeling like maybe I haven't been sharing the right things these past few years.

... but I once told someone that when I'm happy, I don't write as much.

And man, THAT was a birthday weekend I'll not be forgetting any time soon.



Thanks, everyone!

Photo by: the talented Christopher Evans! Thanks, Chris!

Am updating with a wad of toilet paper stuffed into my nose. My allergies are out of control thanks to the arrival of Spring, and my head has been leaking continuously for two days.

Hmm. Here's what happened in two and a half weeks:

- Reconnected with *TM* and ended up spending an entire day walking around in the sunshine with him. It was kind of a relief to see him again after all this time.

- Found out what store I'm being transferred to as an ASM, as well as what my raise is going to be.

- Played two days' worth of Magic. On separate weeks, of course. Though I haven't had time to go through and mess with my decks, I seem to be getting more into the game, as evidenced by my frustration and occasional anger when losing.

- Thought about joining an Ultimate team, especially after *CSel* insisted that much of the game is just running anyway.

- Calibrated my Nike+ and ran my first 10K. I came in at one hour and one second. =P

- Summoned up some courage and got my OWN free beer from the Wolf and Hound on its 2nd birthday. This, I think, is probably the accomplishment that I'm most proud of, because it required me to get over some of the insecurities that I've developed over time.

- Went for breakfast with friends at Bert's on Main and the Three Lions Cafe.

- Slept a LOT.

- Tried to put in a deposit for the Pole Dance Studio but didn't manage to cash the cheque that I needed, then was a little irritated to find that the Studio was now requesting $60 more than they had originally quoted. All in all, I think that my life would have been perfectly fine if I'd never had to deal with these shiny, plastic-y people. I definitely could have done without being flashed by the instructor in tattered, stretched hot pants running up the stairs. To be quite honest, I'm pretty disgusted with the whole thing and would like nothing better than to spend the $30 or whatever it's going to cost per person on something tasty from Bin 942 or Two Chefs and a Table. *sigh*

Last night, my Nikon FM lens was smashed beyond repair. I'd left my bag on the back of a couch and it got knocked off, resulting in the lens cap being driven so far into the lens that I couldn't even pry it off to see the shattered glass, which I could both hear and see.

Shocked, I tried desperately to pull everything apart, even though common sense told me that it would probably result in something pretty terrible, especially as the lens cap was the only thing protecting my bare hands from a shower of broken glass. *nep* stood by, ready with a garbage bag, but in the end, he suggested that maybe it would be best if I didn't get the cap off.

I relented, and shrugged it off. "It's just a thing." I sighed.

Then, even though it was around 11:30PM, I walked from *shanebee*'s house at around 1st and Main to Broadway and Oak, which gave me time to think about whether I really believed what I'd said.

As I walked, I thought about the things that I'd done that day.

( In which I lead a charmed life )

...but polls are part of the package deal that LJ provides its paying customers. You know, like Voice Posting (ha ha ha ha ha). Anyway, I like polls, and I'm curious.

Poll #1369187 The Laundering Dirty Laundry Poll
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 10

Have you ever purchased new undies to avoid having to do laundry?

I just ran 8K. Like THAT explains anything.

Thanks to iykwim's podcast, Radio Potluck, I just re-lived some great moments from highschool. Namely, the one where I was dressed as a baglady, sang about 2 solo lines, then sat on the edge of the stairs and watched a guy inside a giant plant costume for 2 hours, for 5 or 6 shows.

Anyway, my life seems to be moving out of the realms that I am familiar with.

- I was successful at my interviews and will be transferred to a new store in a week or two.

- My cousin has declared that she would like to do some pole dancing as part of her bachelorette party, and so I have been assigned the task of getting that together - which generally involves going through pink and purple websites and trying to guess which nightclub I would hate the LEAST should the evening require us going to one.

- I went to see Watchmen last night, mere days after it opened and on cheap movie night - a night that I have avoided like the plague for years and years because I don't generally like sitting in crowded theatres.

The rest of my time is split between trying to maintain my health while not developing an eating disorder and finding time to meet up with friends. Whoo. Never a dull moment.

It really feels like I'm moving forward with my life, which seems odd seeing as everyone keeps telling me how bleak things are in the world these days.

My last three fortune cookie fortunes:

A TANTALIZING NEW PROSPECT WILL COME YOUR WAY.

MONEYWISE, YOU ARE LUCKY THIS MONTH.

YOU SHALL SOON BE REWARDED FOR YOUR ENDEAVORS.

Self-esteem, you haven't always been around for me, but I fully expect you to come out and help me rock this interview today.

(The photo is of a Chinese knock-off of Howl's Moving Castle. The movie is dubbed into Mandarin and Cantonese, but the subtitles are from this little gem, which has resulted in a hilarious, sometimes confusing plot.)

... to say that I'm starting to feel a bit stressed out.

I feel like I have so much to write about but none of the time to do so.

Working three days a week at my old store has been both fantastic and disastrous for me. I am re-energized by having an outlet for my abilities as a competent employee, but exhausted by the shift back to waking up at 3:30AM SOME days. Also, having to deal with three times the volume of my home store three days a week makes the two days of working at my home store tedious and irritating.

The running is going well. Remember when I calculated that I was running 5K 3-4 nights a week? It MIGHT have been 6K. Google Pedometer says 5200. Nike+ says 6100. Not sure who to believe.

Am encountering the 'Are you feeling okay?/Don't lose any more weight/Just don't become gaunt' comments at work. The photo is to assure you that a) Yes, I am feeling okay b) I don't really plan on losing any significant amount of weight in the future c) I don't think that I'm in danger of becoming 'too thin' any time soon. I suppose I should be thankful that people are showing that they care, but to be honest, if no one was willing to point out that I was obese, I don't see why they should be so concerned now.

Am also encountering the 'You're looking great!' comments at work. Those, I can live with. =)

Went for a run in the rain tonight and came home soaked. It was great.