Friday, October 26, 2007

Vancouver

Dear Vancouver,

It's me, Margaret. Ok. I'm not Margaret....but considering what I'm about to tell you, an alias might be helpful. I've found the best way to begin hard conversations is just to jump in, so here we go.

I'm over you, Vancouver. SO over you.

Over your noise, over your general sketchiness, over the immense hassle it is to even breach your city limits, over your skytrains (which aim to kill me every time I near...an impressive feat since I spend all of 30 seconds on them), over the PCL busses that bring me to you, over the endless and always substantially late ferries (which actually bring me nowhere near you; hence the PCL hating), over your well dressed and suspiciously beautiful population, over your hostels (where people walk into my room at 1am. Really, is it too much to ask to not assign rooms twice? Apparantly so, in Vancouver.), I'm over your sea-to-sky factor (even though it has nothing to do with me), and I'm over your crappy Subway. That's right, even your franchise sub shop sucks big ones, to be eloquent about it.

I like my island. I like the sketchiness in moderation, ease of transportaion, lack of skytrains (ok, maybe that's a lie. They'd be kinda nice). I like my hippie-polar-fleece-wearing semi-gorgeous mountain folks (who are still suspiciously beautiful, but somehow granola makes it all better) and my own apartment (with it's locks that no one else has keys to). And most of all, I like my still-below standard but predictable crappy island Subway.

I know it's been a short courtship; some may wonder if I've even really given you a chance. But Vancouver, here's the truth. I've learnt all I need to know. You're just not for this island girl.

I'm not one to mak rash decisions, however, so listen up, Vancouver. You've got six months. That's right, six months. Six months to fix your transit nightmares, move geographically closer to Victoria, solve your generaly sketchiness, find some ugly and poorly dressed people to populate your boundaries, teach me how to teleport, and most importantly of all, deal with your sub sandwich crisis.

You may think this is a bit of a challenge, and maybe it is. But hey, perk up...It's something to take your mind off of all that Olympics business.

So, we'll see Vancouver, we'll see. This is your warning...I've got other suitors on the horizon!

All the Best,
Margaret (aka Molly.)

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

RITE EXACTLY WHATS ON YOUR MIND, AND DON’T CHANGE IT

1. Your ‘ex’ and You= I wish
2. I am listening to= my stomach making weird noises
3. Maybe I should= take some advil.
4. I love= yes, yes I do.
6. I don’t understand= why there can't be 27 hours in a day
7. I have lost my respect for= A lot, this month.
8. I last ate= won ton soup.
9. The meaning of my display name is=right now it's springsteen lyrics
10. God= "is watching us" (song lyrics...ahem.)
11. Someday= Over the rainbow...
12. I will always= swim.
13. Love seems to= lift us up where we belong (more song lyrics)
14. I never ever want to lose= My control of the Free World Order.
15. My facebook is= addictive, invasive, and generally bad. bad facebook, bad.
17. I get annoyed when= I have a headache for two months.
18. Parties= are non-existant in my life.
20. Simple Kisses= as opposed to complicated ones?
21. Today I = worked. and then worked some more. Oh, and worked.
22. I wish= I could spend a whole day sleeping. But not really. I wish I could go on vacation.

IS YOUR/ARE YOU
01. is your hair wet?: no
02. is your cell phone right by you?: in my pocket
03. do you miss someone? Mmm kinda.
04. are you wearing chapstick? Yes, actually.
05. are you tired?: Beyond tired. Whole new kind of tired.
06. are you wearing pajamas?: haha yes. I'm doing my "I'm tired and cold and sad so I'm wearing pajama bottoms under my jeans". No, seriously. I am.
08. are you mad? Kinda.
09. are you upset? Moderately so.

HAVE YOU
01. recently done anything you regret? Yes, but it wasn't my fault.
02. ever lied? of course, who hasn't at one point or another.
03. ever stuck gum under a desk?: probably.
04. ever kicked someone?: Maybe.
05. ever tripped over your own feet?: Nope. Well, maybe once. or twice.

TODAY HAVE YOU:
01. have you cursed?: Mmm I don't think so.
02. have you gotten mad at someone? Gotten mad? no. Maintained being mad? yes.

-RANDOM-
Q: is there a person who is on your mind right now?: Unfortunately.
Q: do you have any siblings? Not so much. Well, one that I've adopted as such.
Q: do you want children? That would be a no.
Q: do you smile often? I try to
Q: do you untie your shoes every time you take them off?: hahah no.
Q: do you like your handwriting? It's kinda immature looking.
Q: are your toenails painted?: YES, miracle of miracles.
Q: are you a friendly person? I think so
Q: who’s bed others than yours do you sleep in? I sleep in lots of random beds. Well, that sounds bad. I travel a lot, ok? hotel beds are my friend. Especially when they're big. and squishy.
Q: what color shirt are you wearing? Gray
Q: what were you doing at 7pm yesterday? working
Q: I can’t wait to: not be sitting at my desk. (yes, i'm at work. I'm on a lunch break. And I worked on my day off. Like I have for the past 4 weeks. Blah blah.)

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Oh my.

Hmm. Well I guess I didn't blow the interview with NextUp as badly as I thought I did; they offered me a spot. And I'm taking it. And I'm insane.

Here is an example week:

Monday Nov 5th - Work 9am-2pm. Catch 3pm ferry to Van. Bus into Downtown. Meet from 6pm-9pm. Spend the nite (somewhere in Van...).

Tuesday Nov 6th - 9am ferry. work 11-6.

Wednesday Nov 7 - Leave for CR with Outspeak.

Thursday Nov 8 - Workshops in CR

Friday Nov 9 - Workshops in CR.

Saturday Nov 10 - 7am ferry to Van. Meet 10am - 9pm. Spend the nite.

Sunday Nov 11 - Meet 10am -6pm. 9pm ferry. Get home 1am ish.

Monday Nov 12- Work 9am-2pm. Catch 3pm ferry to Van. Bus into Downtown. Meet from 6pm-9pm. Spend the nite (somewhere in Van...).

Tuesday Nov 13 - Bus to 9am ferry. Work 11-6.

Wed Nov 14 - drive to Campbell River.

Thur Nov 15 - drive to Courtenay

Friday Nov 16 - Drive to Victoria

Sat - Sun Days off

Mon Nov 19 - Work 9am-2pm. Catch 3pm ferry to Van. Bus into Downtown. Meet from 6pm - 9pm. Stay overnight.

Tuesday Nov 20 - 7am ferry to vic. Go to work. Drive to Port McNeill.

Wednesday 21 - 3 workshops in Pt. McNeill.

Thursday 22 - 3 workshops in Pt. Hardy

Friday 23 - Workshop in Campbell River. Drive home.

Sat 24 - 7 am ferry to Vancouver. Meet from 10am-9pm. spend the nite.

Sunday 25 - Meet from 10am-6pm. Catch 9 ferry home. Bus home. (1am ish)

Monday 26 - Work 9am - 2pm. 3pm ferry to Van. Meet 6pm-9pm. Spend the nite

Tuesday 27 - 9am ferry. Work 11-6.

I have two days off between Nov 5 and 27. Two days in Victoria.

I have lost my mind. I have lost it.

Sunday, September 30, 2007

Went to Vancouver yesterday for my NextUP interview. It was a 13 hour day for a two hour meeting...I don't know if that's something I want to do on a weekly - and sometimes twice weekly - basis. We'll see. I find out if I get offered a spot by tuesday.

The interview itself was interesting...There were 7 of us being interviewed by 5 interviewers. I was waaaay out of my league; 3 masters students, one law student, one PhD student, and two holders of multiple post doctorate degrees. Scary.

We played the temperature game...with questions about leadership, politics, climate change, social justice, and other really difficult questions. Then we had to justify all of our answers.

Individual interview went less than spectacularly....I talked my head off, and I don't think I actually said anything. Who knows. It could go either way.


Sick....I'm so sick. I've been sick for a week, and I feel no better than I did the first day. It's nasty.

Anyhow. I have nothing else to say.

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Everything in my body says not tonight
Everything in my body says no
What will bring me home?
What will make me stay, stay?
What will bring me home?

I travel around the block
And I'm not looking to my right
I feel the glass against my cheek
And I can't see you in the light
I break my heart around this

Tell me that you know
Another way to get it done
It's not me
But it's a different situation
A different situation

Tame me.

Thursday, July 5, 2007

If anything should happen, I guess I wish you well
A little bit of heaven, but a little bit of hell
This is the hardest story that I've ever told

Thursday, June 28, 2007

there's a solstice in my skin. and an equinox in my chest. still you wonder why the weather changes. and still i look at that sky in my head and ask it if.

Thursday, March 1, 2007

Cold....Bloody[ insert litany of nasty words here ]-ing cold!

Ok. So if you're reading this and I like you, you need to move to Australia.

Yes, you read that right.

I need to move to australia, therefore all of you do. Because I can't live there and have all of you living on a different continent, now can I?

So yes, the australian immigration website is very easy to find on google. I recommend getting on that, because we need to move pronto.






Ok. now that that is out of my system. Wow, it's freezing here. There is snow. It is 25 degrees celsius cooler here than it was when I left Melbourne. (Which by the way was, oh, 6 hours ago. hahahahaha. try 27.)

I am sitting in the vancouver airport, deliriously tired but not asleep...because I'm FREEZING.

why oh why do I live in this godforsaken snowy wasteland. (aside from the fact that I love it)

Anyhow.

I'm going in search of the first non-airplane food I'll have seen in just about 30hours. yum.

xo
M
I officially detest the Los Angeles airport.

It is confusing, maze-like, loud, crowded, smells bad, full of angry people, and involves airplanes.

This part of the trip sucks. I'm sad that I'm not in Australia, I'm so freakin' tired I can't cope, I'm in LA of all places...the list could go on.

Plus, I'm in hour 31 of 42 hours that will be March 1st for me. It's like that movie groundhog day, where I just keep living the same day. I haven't even left melbourne yet, according to the current time...since I left at 1:55 on March 1st, and it's now 12:24 on March 1st...But I've travelled 13,00 km in -1.5hours. argh.

anyways, I'm going to go have a quick cat-nap before I have to get on yet ANOTHER plane.

xo
M

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

noooooo. back to winter.

I don't want to come home!!!

(I love you all, but it's warm here. And I love it.)

Anyhow, after that little rant.

I'm about to hop on a plane here in Melbourne at 12:55pm on Thursday, Mar 1. I arrive in Van at 4:55pm on Thur, Mar 1. some 30 odd hours later, in my world. Aaaaaaaaaargh.

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Queensland

Phew, what a crazy five days it's been! I've been in Melbourne, the Gold Coast, Tweed, Cabarita Beach, Culangatta, Rubina, Brisbane, South Bank, Noosa, Pomona, Cooroy, Melany, Mapleton, Montville, Kenilworth, Eumundi, Rainbow Beach, and Noosaville in the last five days. It's been a little bit hectic, as you could imagine, but so much fun.

Pictures will do it all far more justice....








Warning signs for people who are driving 4x4's on the beach. (Which is perfectly legal; as long as you stick to the posted speed limits!!) It was so much fun...absolutely gorgeous. Ask me to see the video when I get home if you want to.


The lagoon at Rainbow beach. This is where we drove to when we were 4x4ing...the black stuff you see is black sand. Stunning beach. Went snorkeling and saw a sea turtle, two stingrays that were over 3 feet (1 metre) wide with huge pointy thick bits on their tails, lots of brightly colored fish, and a number of other underwater creatures.


Check out that watch tan...serious business! It's Hot hot hot here!


The man-made beach in the middle of the central business district in Brisbane. Gorgeous, a great way to cool off, and free! You can see the Brisbane river (which has fast powered catamaran service up and down it) and the freeways in the background.

A pelican. Large bird, enough said


A group of people on horseback at Rainbow beach with some 4x4's in the background


The view from at a lookout somewhere around Maleny. It was very humid and tropical that morning.


Me at Rainbow beach. Muahaha I'm tan.


Jeanine, Xris, and Leigh at Leigh's house. We made a fabulous dinner.

Xris gesturing at a dragonfruit, some lychees, and a passionfruit. All of which were very, very tasty.


Crab at the State Library in Brisbane.


Crab hiding amongst the paper I was ripping up for the composting toilet at the farm in Pomona.


The group at lunch at Rainbow beach. From left: Wave, Ned, Leigh, Sharon, Me, Xris, and Jeanine.
the flowered arches of a walkway in Brisbane.

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

the sunshine state

it's 10:13pm on Tuesday night and we just decided that we're going to Queensland (Brisbane, Gold Coast) tomorrow. Yes, tomorrow. At 5am.

Insane? probably. Oh well.

Queensland is the sunshine state, so apparantly it's going to be hotter there than it has been here. argh.

Won't have my computer, so you won't hear from me again until monday more than likely.

hope you all are well.

xo
M

Monday, February 19, 2007

Great Ocean Road


Apollo Bay, Great Ocean Rd. Spent a number of hours at this beach..it was paradise.


Check out the dragon!


Me and Crabbypants at Cape Patton


Drive on left in Oz


Part of the blowhole


Johanna Beach . there are surfers, but you can't really see them.


Cape Patton! look at the VIEW!!!


Part of the twelve apostles. (Twelve rock formations...well, now only 9..some collapsed)

The Helicopter that I went in. that's right, I went in it! and it flew!


beautiful sky


Helicopter view of some of the twelve apostles.


A secluded beach we spotted from the helicopter...we were the only ones there!


More aerial shots.



Ok, seriously, how beautiful is that?? It was 40 degrees that day. The beaches were amazing. I can't even begin to explain how awesome it was.

Thursday, February 15, 2007

river pictures

xris texting in the yarra river with crab
a kookaburra!
Crab at the yarra river
a tunnel in the river
a platypus sign..they're creepy!
me in the yarra river
a tree at pound bend park during a storm
an info sign
Xris and the crab at the river

all is well down under...very hot today, 38 degrees celsius. Having a mellow day thus far. Internet is down at home, so probably won't have pics up for a few days.

going away for the weekend, not sure where to yet, but I'll be back on Tuesday...which is your monday.

I've got just under two weeks left down here...time flies! I've only been away from Victoria for 10 days...seems like much longer!

miss you all

xox
M

hot hot hot...

As the title implies, it was hot here today. it got into the mid thirties, supposed to hit a high of 38 tomorrow I think. Went for an absolutely wonderful swim in the Yarra River today about 30 minutes outside of the city centre. Gorgeous river! found a tunnel, and the water was so warm... I was a happy camper. Then, as soon as we got out of the river, it started to storm. So bizzare, 30 some degrees out and it was raining and thundering...but the sky was still very bright. it was brilliant. Saw a koala today, too far away to get a picture; but I did get a kookaburra! the site I host my pictures on is down for maintenance for a few hours, so I'll put it up tomorrow morning. Probably heading off sometime tomorrow to go to Great Ocean Road. supposed to be fabulous!

Am having a wonderful time; summer sun, fantastic people, and lots to see and do!

miss you all.

xox
M

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

...and yet more pictures

Melbourne sunse
Xris and the crab in a wig
the crab met some kangaroos!
the giant clock in the biggest mall I've ever been in in my life...300 shops.
Flinders St. Station
Another sunset shot
A pretty famous sculpture in Melbourne called...yep...cow in tree

A store devoted to socks.
Xris' son and a friend reading the paper.
the outside of a tram
a tea store in the mall
Minky, the cat who bites me

Monday, February 12, 2007

..and more pictures

Palm trees in the park
Sheep with long tails!
A mosaic, a dark chocolate blackberry muffin, and an organic sparkling apple juice
a cockatoo...seriously frightening
look at the blue sky!!!!!!