Monday, August 29th, 2011

Got a lot done at work today, but still struggling with a few tasks that I can't understand.  I'm in the process of hunting down some answers.

It was a hot day again today - when I went out for a walk at lunch time, it was scorching.  It would've been a nice day to go floating on the Bow or Elbow.  After work, it was over 30 degrees when I got into my car.  I went home and did some re-organizing of my clothes.  I realize I need more hangers.  Have you ever heard of Jane's Addiction?  Well the picture below is actually my Jeans Addiction.  Yep... those are all my jeans (and there may be more in the laundry hamper, too)!  I realize I may have a problem.  Is there a support group for that, do you think?

I probably should've gone somewhere since it was so nice outside, but truly I'm exhausted.  I had a short nap (while a kid ran and stomped around upstairs), then talked to Lurline on the phone.  She and Dave just got back from a short staycation at Pigeon Lake.  Apparently she was very ill with some kind of bug.  That sucks when you're supposed to be enjoying a summer holiday!

I also sent another email to my landlord stating that I'm now going to give notice on September 1st - with a litany of reasons why he'd better accept it and give my damage deposit back and let me break my lease.  I'm awaiting his reply.

I'm watching "Friends With Benefits" online before I go to sleep.  Wow!  It's quite risque at times.

Monday, August 15th, 2011

Rain today.  It probably rained for a few hours.  It was good, since everything was starting to look pretty brown and dried out.  I went out to Okotoks for work today, and it was a nice and productive afternoon.  After work, I just made dinner and chilled out.  I downloaded the first season of "Game of Thrones" and so I watched episode one.  So far I like it.  

I have a date to call my bestie and chat on the phone.  We haven't had a chance to catch up and I feel like I need some Lisa time!  

I also found out that this moving company might be able to move my stuff from Vancouver to Calgary for $1050!  The first company quoted $2000, the second one quoted $14-1500, and now just over $1000!  Amazing!  That's definitely do-able!

The family that lives upstairs is already driving me crazy.  I couldn't stand the constant banging and jumping, so I finally went up to "discuss" the situation.  The father, who barely speaks English (he's Turkish), apologized for the noise, but told me that "Helen" is hyper and there's nothing they can do about it.  They don't want to use violence, but she doesn't listen to them.  The entire time we're talking about the noise, Helen and her younger brother are jumping and stomping on the ground ... and smiling at me.  The father says that they go to bed around 10:30 or 11 at the latest.  He kept saying that there's nothing he can do about the noise.  It didn't look like he was going to try, either.  Who puts their 2 and 4 year old to bed at 10:30pm or 11pm??!  What ever happened to kids in bed by 8pm??  SOMEBODY GONNA GET A HURT!  To be continued...

These are my front steps leading up to the building.  Good thing there's a back entrance!  It's quite a climb.

Sunday, August 14th, 2011

I had a few more things that I needed today, so I headed over to the Raposos to borrow some tools, picture hanging supplies and a couple things I left behind.  Then, Lurline, Talia and I headed to Canadian Tire and Wal-Mart.  Talia and I bought some shoes for work - we both needed closed-toe shoes.  Then we all did some grocery shopping.  Afterwards, Talia came to see my apartment.  She read her Cosmo magazine while I puttered around doing some odd jobs.  Then, she tried on some of my dresses and shoes - she's looking for stuff she could wear to the bar when she goes out.  I told her she could borrow whatever she wanted until she got some of her own dresses.  Every girl should have at least ONE little black dress, right?

Lurline and Dave came to pick her up a little later.  Afterwards, I did some laundry and a little more cleaning and organizing.  It's kind of a challenge that I don't have internet or TV, so I've been doing a lot more reading.  I couldn't update my blog, so I've been writing everything and just saving it on my hard drive for when I get connected again.

This is how bare my apartment looks.  It echoes.  I got some nice stuff, though.  The sofa was $40, the solid oak table with four chairs and glass table top was $100, the chair with foot stool was $12, the lamp was $10, and the 2 white end tables were essentially free.  I even got the clock on the wall from Value Village for a couple of dollars.  I'm thrifty.

Saturday, August 13th, 2011

I had some trouble this morning booking a moving truck.  I left messages and emails for various companies and nobody got back to me.  It's making me a little nervous.  It kind of put me in a bad mood.  I guess I wasn't very pleasant to deal with - according to the Raposos.  Oops!  I didn't mean to take it out on others.  I have to be more conscious of that, I guess.

Anyway, Tristan helped me move a load of stuff in my car.  He's been a great helper over the past two days.  Then we went back home to meet Lur and Dave - they were just finishing up doing marriage prep work.  I loaded up my car again, while they went to grab some lunch.  They said they'd put some big stuff in Dave's SUV and would meet me at the place.

As I was unloading my car, there was an incident with a guy (and his wife) who live in the building next door to me.  He was shooting a magpie with a beebee gun.  The bird was injured, but not dead.  The guy went back into his house when he saw me.  A few minutes later, he came back outside with his wife and a cat.  I confronted him about what he was doing, and he replied that he was killing a magpie.  We had some words about it, and I told him I didn't think he should be killing wildlife.  He didn't seem to care what I thought, and proceeded to tell his wife to let the cat finish the bird off the natural way.  Obviously the cat didn't manage to kill the bird, either, so he went back inside.  He came back out with a shovel and smashed the bird to death, then threw it into the dumpster.  What kind of psycho goes around killing magpies because they're a nuisance?  Is it even legal?  Should I be worried??  What's your opinion?  Anyway, I related the story to Lurline and Dave, and they were in agreement that the neighbours must be a little "off".  

Lurline helped me clean and put stuff away.  I scrubbed the bath tub for probably close to an hour to get it clean.  This place needs an overhaul, but I think it's definitely going to look nice once I've got it fixed up.  Dave, Tristan and I spent probably 30 minutes trying to figure out how to manoeuvre my sofa into the apartment.  It was interesting to say the least.  These old buildings don't really give you much room to bring in large items.  This is the celebration of our ingenuity, and trust me, it really took some brain power and calculations.  We're NEVER getting that sofa out of here again.

Friday, August 12th, 2011

I think I got a speeding ticket this morning.  I've only ever had one in my entire life and that was just after I got my new car and I was driving between Calgary and Vancouver back in 2008.  I don't know for sure if I got one, but they have these SUVs parked on the side of the road around the city and as I drove by, there was a flash behind me - looks like it took my picture.  What happened to the good ol' days when cops would actually pull you over and do the work?  I don't think it's fair that they can just take a picture and mail it to you.  I really don't even think I was speeding, but maybe that's because I wasn't paying attention (my bad).  

Anyway, I got off work a little early because I start earlier on Fridays, and when I arrive at the Raposos - my temporary home - I'm locked out of the house.  That's right, I was never given a key.  I called Dave, and he told me to call Tristan.  I guess Tristan left to get his hair cut, and was on his way home.  However, I sat on the front step for an hour - and it was HOT outside.  I also hadn't eaten all day, so I was starving, so I was a little cranky.

I met the guy from the property management company to do a walk through of my new place.  There are definitely things you should always ask before signing a lease.  You'd think I'd know that by now.  While we're going through everything, the noise in the apartment upstairs is SO loud.  I find out that it's a family of four - two small kids.  They like to run around, and when I told the dad that they were very loud, he replied with "it's an old building".  Great!  I'm going to have to buy some ear plugs.

Anyway, I got my keys and then Tristan and I went to grab an ice-cream from My Favorite Ice-Cream Shoppe, near where I used to live.  It's very close by my new place.  It's fantastic to be back in the same neighborhood, and also so close to my job.  I guess it's a small moving day tomorrow.

Sunday, August 7th, 2011

I took a "me" day today.  Stuck around the house in the morning and had a few pancakes with the Raposos, then got ready and headed out.  I went to get my hair cut first ... just got a trim, so nothing too special.  Then, I went to a car wash to finally get my car clean.  I washed it last week, but didn't do a very good job.  After that, I had my camera so I went for a drive heading South.  I only got as far as De Winton just outside Calgary.  I drove some back roads and took some photos of random things.  It's absolutely gorgeous in Alberta in the summer.  There are fields, hills, amazing skies, sunshine, hay bales, and old structures scattered all throughout the province - like old grain elevators, farm equipment and barns.  I just love going for these types of random journeys to see what I can find.  The picture below is just one of many that I shot that were so naturally intriguing.

When I got home, I finally heard from the property management company regarding the 2 bedroom apartment.  He wanted me to go drop off the deposit and fill out some paperwork.  So, I headed to the far Northeast corner of Calgary - Falconridge - and paid my deposit, 1/2 August rent, and September rent.  My bank account is taking a big hit!  I told him I'd move in on Saturday, so we'll do a walk through that morning to check everything over.  Yay!  I finally officially have a place to live.  Phew ... I wasn't sure I was going to find anything, and best of all I love Bankview area.  It's very close to where I was living before.  I love it when a plan comes together.