It All Catches Up

The last couple of weeks have been amazing and crazy, and all this running around, trying to do a billion things at once has made me sick.

I didn't want to miss work so soon, having just started about a month ago, but I know me, and when I get sick, I need to take a day off to get better, otherwise I will just get worse: I woke up Monday morning with a swollen and soar throat, but other than that, felt ok. Yesterday my throat felt worse, and I felt a bit feverish.

What should you not do when you have a soar throat? Call Bingo. I work in the marketing department, why the heck was I playing the role of caller? The marketing team (which consists of me and the marketing manager) have been setting up booths at local events to attract new customers. This past weekend we were at the Dragon Boat Festival (I went Saturday, and she went on Sunday). Yesterday was Aboriginal Day: we headed out to Trout Lake and set up a booth and ran mini bingo, the winner receiving Planet Bingo merchandise.

I thought being outside, in the fresh air, would help, but by the time I got home I was wrecked. I didn't end up calling most of the games, because my throat couldn't handle it and by the evening I was achy and feverish. I decided to see how I was when I woke up this morning, but I am still not feeling 100%, better than last night, but I decided to stay home because I know that is the only way I will make a quick recovery, and with my wild wedding weekend coming up I need all the energy I can get (I will explain in a moment).

So What of Whistler....

Remember I went to Whistler a couple of weekends ago? A trip away with Colin and our friends - well it didn't exactly end up as I anticipated, but that wasn't such a bad thing. For six weeks the wool had been pulled over my eyes and an intricate web of secrets had been created to keep the fact from me that the weekend in Whistler was my stagette...

Poor Colin had to take me being mad at him for not wanting to miss martial arts so I could leave Vancouver after work - he was never coming up in the first place. He offered to have someone else take me up and meet me there later... little did I know that Devon was planning on taking me up the whole time.

Vicky and Anita were late leaving Vancouver so Devon had to stall getting me up to Whistler. First, we didn't leave my office till almost 6pm. I wanted to head out before 5:30pm as there are only 3 people in on my Fridays I have to work and they were gone by 5pm, so I was itching to leave work.

I thought I had it all figured out by Lions Bay, however: I had taken my car to work so I could go out and shop for prizes for upcoming promotions. Around lunch time I returned home and Colin dropped me back at work. I had lots of luggage to bring up with me (as I usually do - you think with all the traveling I do, I would have learned the fine art of packing lightly...) and I didn't want to take it all to work, so I asked Colin to bring it up later - he said he couldn't. Now that was odd. So by the time we hit Lions Bay I started to think about Colin's strange behaviour and then it hit me - he wasn't coming this weekend. But by Squamish I had changed my mind back...

It took 4 hours - 4 bloody hours - to get to Whistler. Devon had to stall at all cost, and I guess, lucky for her, some idiot had been speeding southbound down the Sea to Sky, crashing into a guard rail, which stopped traffic for about 30 minutes.

When we arrived in Squamish we first went to the liquor store: we were actually IDd and Devon had left her's in the car. The women eventually let us buy our alcohol, but then Devon ran back into the store to show her license - one thing to buy time. Usually I go to Taco Bell or Timmy Ho's for a quick bite to eat, but Devon suggested we go for a sit down meal at White Spot.

We took our time at dinner and Devon even asked me about bingo to buy more time, but half way through the conversation I realized how stupid it was and suggested we leave, but she had to make a pit stop first. She was in the bathroom for 10 minutes - when she finally came out, she said that some woman has been throwing up and she was helping her - she was actually on the phone with Lisa, who was already up in Whistler. Then it took forever to get out of Squamish: First, Devon needed to fill up her car, eventhough there was enough gas in it to get to Whistler and back to Squamish. Second, we had to pick up ice, which, for the life of me, couldn't understand why: Lisa's cabin is in Creekside, about a 30 second drive from the Husky station. Of course it was all part of an elaborate plan to stall me. We finally left Squamish, but we forgot the ice; Devon wanted to turn around, but I insisted that we keep on going.

On the last leg up to Whistler, Devon began to drive very slowly and let a tonne of cars pass us, including ones that were way behind us that would not have been incovenienced by our slow driving. Then I saw Anita's car drive by. How did I know it was Anita's? I can't imagine there are too many blue jettas out there with a fuzzy worm coiled around the rearview mirror - but luckily this didn't spoil the surprise. By this point I was back to thinking it was going to be a regular weekend in Whistler and that it was pure coincidence Anita happened to be heading that way too - luckily I didn't see Vicky in the car with her.

For one last stall, we ended picking up ice from the Husky and finally made it to the cabin by 9:30pm. When we walked in the door, I was met with my surprise - Lisa, Thalia, Vicky and Anita - it was my stagette weekend.

That night we drank and painted our nails (a good girls' night) and on Saturday Anna, Tracie and Kerri joined us for an "Amazing Race" in Whistler that Lisa and Devon had put together. It was awesome. That night we headed to Garf's for some partying and to see me do some crazy stagette stuff, all within reason, though. I wasn't too wild about the "penis" crown, but donned it for a little while, but Anita was more than willing to wear it for most of the night (I believe she wore it on her stagette).

All in all it was good weekend, but I was exhausted by the end. I did eventually catch up on my sleep, but I guess the new job and being busy with the wedding finally took its toll.

The Weekend Ahead
So, I mentioned that this upcoming weekend is my wild wedding weekend: what on earth does that mean? This friday I will be attending Thalia and Todd's reception. They were married in Greece in May, but are holding a reception here for local family and friends, many who could not make it to Greece (including myself). On Saturday, we are attending a wedding of one of Colin's fraternity brothers. And on Sunday I am attending the first of two wedding showers. This one is for my family and Colin's family (females only), thrown by my aunt and cousin. I believe the one with my friends is taking place July 23.

Hopefully it won't be such a long break between now and my next blog entry, but we shall see.

Time

Well, I am officially jumping on the bandwagon for more hours in the day: Since I've started my new job, I've barely sat down. Now, if you know me, you know this is a good thing, and it has been unbelievable to see how much energy I really have. But with less time in the day, things have become more rushed, and I haven't been able to do some of the smaller things, like writing my blog.

This week has been as crazy as last week, but I feel less tired and run down after work: On Monday I was in the door and out to go to Curves, and then decided to go to Safeways afterwards to pick up some ingrediants for a taco salad, so by the time I got home and made dinner and sat down it was 8pm. Tuesday was also a scramble: went to Curves, then headed out to Metrotown, as it is the only mall open late on Tuesdays. Colin and I went to Thomas Cook travel, but they weren't that helpful - looks like we've gathered all the required info needed to book a honeymoon in Hawaii or New Zealand.

Then yesterday, my boss called a meeting at the end of the day - so I didn't leave work until 5:45pm - usually not a problem, but in order to keep up going to Curves three times a week, I absolutely had to go last night. Only problem is, they are only open to 7pm (at least the Marpole Curves is) and the latest you can start you workout is 6:30. I got in the door around 6:15 - amazingly, I didn't speed and was back out again, just in time.

Last night was far too rushed - I love to be busy, but I hate being rushed.

So why can't I go to Curves today, tomorrow or Saturday? Today I have a dress fitting, and tomorrow I am heading up to Whistler for the weekend... hopefully a relaxing one...

Time to Breathe

Wow! What an insane week it has been. I started my new job on Monday: once I get used to it I think I am going to have a lot of fun. I decided to take the flex hours, so I have every other Friday off (starting with today) by working an extra half hour a day. A pretty sweet deal. Working till 5:30, however, is tough. I am hoping I will be able to come in at 8:30 and leave at 5:00pm, but we shall see.

On top of starting a new job, I think this has been one of my busiest weeks since I left BCIT. Because I work till 5:30 I don't get home till 6pm. On Monday I had a VAPA (Vancouver Alumnae Panhellenic Association) meeting at UBC at 7:30pm. Tuesday I went to Curves and then out for a Sushi dinner with Colin and his dad. Wednesday Colin and I went over to my parents' house to celebrate my birthday. Yesterday I went to Curves then Colin took me out for a wonderful birthday dinner at the Boathouse. Originally, he had planned on taking me to Dem Bones, which we were both looking forward to since we haven't had ribs in a long time. But it was closed for renos. What's up with us going to restaurants that are closed? Before we went to dinner, we went to Richmond Centre to pick up a christening gift for Mylene and Colin looked at some gifts that he could give as attendants gifts. After dinner we returned to Richmond Centre and saw Madagascar - very cute and funny.

Like I said, I had today off (and so did Colin) so we had a lazy morning in bed, then headed over to West Van to have lunch with my Grandparents and go to Park Royal. We went to the Bay to buy a wedding present for Thalia and Todd. I hate the Bay!!! You can never find a damn thing. So why did we register there too? Probably to repay the hell our friends have put us through over the years trying to find a gift... The Bay is good when you are the one putting the registry together, but good luck trying to find anything.

Colin was taking his time at HMV (and bought 5 CDs), and realized I hadn't returned from the Bay yet; so he came to find me all pissed off and flustered. I had gone in knowing exactly what to get them, but they didn't have it (and neither did the Bay in Richmond). So I bought something entirely different and wasted an hour at the Bay.

So at this point, I haven't really sat down in 5 days...

In order to keep up going to Curves three times a week (which I have been doing since I joined in February), I went after we arrived home. After that I walked up to the library to pick up some travel books I had reserved. Then I decided to go for and eyebrow wax, and then decided to go to my tanning salon.

When I got home I put away the laundry, did the dishes, cleaned the kitchen and bathroom and vacuumed the whole apartment.

Then I made dinner.

And then I sat down... for the first time since Sunday...

And now here I am, writing this Blog entry

I am sure things will get a little less crazy as I get used to my new schedule. I am a little concerned, as we head into the last two months before the wedding, that I might go crazy though. My next flex Friday I will be working at the Dragon Boat Festival, and will be working the Saturday and Sunday as well. And next weekend I am up at Whistler.

Life is busy, but it is good.