Amberism

Ucluelet!

One of our New Year's Resolutions was to see a new part of the island every month. A couple of weekends ago we drove out to the West Coast to the fishing/tourist town of Ucluelet and just poked around.

Man, there's a lot of development out there since the last time I was there. All these huge houses that while beautiful, seem excessive.

We took a little detour on route to Ucluelet up to a campsite at the base of Kennedy Arm in Barkely Sound. It was a gorgeous area and seemed like a fabulous place to start a kayak trip when summer comes round (which is getting closer and closer! hee!). The drive up to the campsite was a bit annoying since it is along a forestry road and driving forestry roads is hard on your ass. A lot of bumping around.

We walked along the Wild Pacific Trail for a bit, checked out some of the beaches, and had our picnic lunch at the lighthouse.

After lunch we took another detour to Port Albion to see what's there. Nothing, in case you ever feel the urge to go there, don't. It's just a fishing town and reserve. Although it did have this gorgeous abandoned boat on one of the beaches, and I'm a sucker for an abandoned boat.

Of course, since we were on the West Coast we couldn't go home without first talking a stroll on Long Beach. I just love Long Beach, its always breathtaking and always something interesting happen. This day was no exception as we got to watch a seagull attacking a crab. My heart ached for the crab, but it was still fascinating to see.

Making True on the Occassional Promise

I don't know if I mentioned this or not, but just after Christmas Steve and I treated ourselves to an adult bedroom. After years of sleeping on the floor and mis-matched hand-me-down furniture we took the plunge and spent the big money. I don't know about you, but I find it painful to spend money when I have things that are working just fine. Even if said things are ugly.

Behold our new bedroom. Its all matchy-matchy. I had a really hard time with the matchy-matchy at first because nothing in my house is that matchy. Its a little like sleeping in a show home.

Clearly I need new lamps as this furiture makes my current lamps look like toys.

Also before Christmas I kept telling you that I'd been knitting. I have been, but in typical Amber fashion I gave away most of those projects without taking a picture. I did remember to take a picture of the wool sweaters I knitted for my friend's twins. They turned out super cute, although the grey one was a bit warped and I sort of wished I fixed it, but didn't.

oy.

well, will you look at that - I was right, it is a Minority Conservative government. Me smart.

Of course, me not so smart when it comes to school. I buggered off to Calgary for a week and neglected my studies which means I neglected ordering this stupid video I need to watch by Friday for my homework that is due on Saturday. Sometimes I annoy myself. Why didn't I order the damn thing at the beginning of the semester?! I also just noticed that staples are a big no-no and my last assignment was stapled. Who the FUCK puts the kibosh on staples and requests paperclips? Honestly? I'll probably lose marks for that, too.

So, now the question is, do I cancel my Thursday dinner plans to drive all the way to Victoria to watch this video, or do I just suck it up and read the notes about the video online and make do? For the record, Victoria is a 2.5 hour drive. One way.

Today is the end of all those annoying commercials. Hallefuckinglujah.

So Canadians, I know its annoying to have to go vote again when it feels like we just had a federal election, but it's a small price to pay for our democratic freedom.

GO VOTE

Now that's a scary looking page!

Which I suppose means I have to update!

My trip to Calgary was good! I didn't have a car, and often didn't have internet access, so I was a bit out of the loop. Sorry Sab and Christine, I didn't get your number until it was too late! I was thinking about you on Tuesday, though, Sab! Hope you had a wonderful birthday! And Mom drove me by the outside of your new place on the way to my eldest step-sister's house - what an amazing neighbourhood! And the condo looked fantastic on the outside!

Now that I'm home, I have a million errands to do, so I'll update something more interesting later.

The laziest week, like, ever

Steve has a cold and although I'm not one who will normally catch a cold, much to his dismay, I've decided that I do catch the bug and react differently. Instead of getting all the usual symptoms I just get tired. Super tired. Which means that I had a very unproductive week and considering I don't work at all, its a little embarassing how little I accomplished.

I did get Grandma's new cell phone set up. How cool is my Grandma? She has a digital camera that is nicer than mine, and a cell phone. heh. I also attempted to explain to her that Fearthainn did a shout-out to her in her latest fiction. Its very difficult to explain what a shout-out is - try it.

In other news... oh, wait, there is no other news. I can't work the election like I had anticipated because I'm going to be in Calgary from the 12th to the 20th. I've yet to tell anyone this so it may come as a surprise to everyone in Calgary :). The election lady called me and since I'll miss the training, no extra money for me. I was looking forward to working it, I thought it would be interesting and I'd meet some of my neighbours but maybe in another two years since I predict yet another minority government (I'm guessing Conservative minority this time) and another election in no time flat.

I know, all boring, but I thought the blog needed a new entry.

The Year 2006

Dear 2006,

I trust you and I will be great friends. I have big plans for us, plans that include more travel than what 2005 and I had. Much more travel. I don't know, I guess 2005 and I simply couldn't get it together. A clash of personalities I presume. We will explore more of my (still new to me) home town because there is nothing like being a tourist at home, and we'll spend more time volunteering within my community together. It'll be good for us, I think we'll both enjoy it.

We'll get to know some different people out here better. Perhaps we'll even become great friends, even though I am already surrounded by such great people that it's still hard to imagine that more could possible exist.

We'll send birthday cards this year. A resolution I've made together with previous years, but that was all empty talk. This year, 2006, will be different. How do I know this? I already bought the cards. You can't fail if you come prepared right?

We're going to learn to be a lot better with money, you and I, because with you, 2006, I have no choice. Alberta and the previous years money fell from the sky it seemed, but in BC and 2006 that doesn't seem likely to happen, but we'll find riches elsewhere. I can feel that with you, you can teach me the value in that around me.

I know being 2006 years old is nothing to my mere 32 that I'll celebrate soon, but suddenly finding myself two years into my 30s is shocking, and past dreams and plans are going to be put into motion this year. I doubt they will be fullfilled this year, but we'll start. All the wise people who have told me repeatedly that time speeds by so much faster as you age were right. I plan to enjoy the time much more.

And we'll read, you and I. This isn't really a resolution but I have so much I want to read, so much available to me, and a friend here who wants to start a book club of sorts so it deserves to be written down.

Speaking of writing, we'll write more too. Perhaps not in this medium because this medium is far too restrictive, but we'll write more. Not because we desire to be writers, just because I think it healthy.

Speaking of our health, we'll work on that together, with Steve, too. We're always working on it, but there is always room for improvement.

And maybe, just maybe, we'll put Vegas in agility classes. He'd like that if we get around to it. I'm still not sure on this.

What do you think, 2006? Deal?

Love,
Amber