Parties that slap you in the face with the fact that time has passed

This last weekend, some organizer-type people I once knew kindly organized a meet to celebrate 20 years since we finished high school.  My high school experience wasn’t the traumatic experience it was for a lot of people, so nosiness won out over laziness and off we went.  (My husband came along, because he’s a good sport and also he knew at least two other people who were going.)

It was at a bar.  No one really dressed up, I don’t think.  Although I did put on mascara.  Because I’m classy like that.  There were pub appetizers and desserts from somewhere like Costco.  The bar was kind enough to play hits from 1997, including some screens with the videos, which was amazing.  (Hi Spice Girls!)

Taking it Back

I quit my job.

This was a big thing for me.  I’ve been with my employer for over eight years.  There has been so much that is positive that has happened over that time for me there: I’ve learned a lot and built confidence; I’ve explored leadership, which was an unexpected treat; I’ve developed relationships with so many wonderful and talented people; and I’ve spent the past five years under a great mentor and role model of a boss whose lessons and example I will always remember.

Sometimes I really love humans

Yesterday I was supposed to go to a meet-up thing at a park. Of the 30-something people who were supposed to be there, I only knew two, so I was expecting to get there and not know anyone.

When I got there, there were two girls sitting on the grass, so I introduced myself and sat down with them. We had been chatting for about twenty minutes when I said, “Wow, everyone else is really late, hey?”

They didn’t know what I was talking about. It turned out they weren’t with the group I was meeting. They were just really nice people who let me crash their picnic.

And the living is easy.

Oh god, I love summer.  I think I tell you this every summer, but I really do.  Today was hot.  And yesterday was hot.  And the day before that was hot.  Like 30 degrees hot.  (Which is some hot number in the American system.  I can’t be bothered looking it up.  Sorry.)

I made these. Ha ha! No, I totally didn’t. I don’t have that kind of attention span. Someone did though, and kudos to them.

Some people complain about this, but the thing you have to remember about summer in Vancouver is that you have approximately two weeks to soak up your vitamin D for the entire year, so when they complain they get slaps from Stephanie.  Actually, that’s not technically true.  I’m anti-violence.  But they get mental slaps.  Because the rest of the year it rains.  It is hard on the soul and these few weeks are the only thing that get most of us through it.

All in the Fullness of Time

When I was almost half way through grade 12, I was informed that despite stellar grades and an unnecessary number of academic credits, I was not going to graduate because I had misinterpreted what counted as an “applied skill.”  So in the second semester, I dropped whatever I’d been planning to take (History, maybe?) and registered for Foods and Nutrition.

At the time, I was pissed off about it, because I took school very seriously, but it ended up great.  It was a super easy class, I got a Food Safe certificate for taking it (necessary if you want any kind of food services job in my hometown), I learned possibly the only practical things I learned in all of high school, and on double-block Wednesdays, I’d have banana bread or whatever to share with my friends at lunch.

I promise not to turn into a Mommy blog, but this happened and it was kind of intense, so I’m going to tell you about it.

So, as those of you who have both read my last few posts and can do basic math may have realized – I had a kid.  And I survived.

Well then.

Good Morning 2014.  Here you are.  And here I am.  I’m not sure I was quite ready for you yet, but I’ve noticed that the way time passes is rarely affected by what I am and am not ready for, so I suppose it’s no surprise that you arrived anyway.  You were right on schedule after all, according to my calendar.  I saw you in last night, if only just, and without a bang.  Try not to take it personally.  I was sleepy.  So far you are not raining, which I choose to take as an excellent omen for the year ahead.  Thanks for that.

The Attention Span of a Newt

Hi!

Remember me?

I’m not hurt if you don’t.  I’ve been neglecting the hell out of this blog.  For any of you who may have been emotionally invested in my ramblings, I am deeply sorry.

I have an excellent reason though: my brain no longer works.  (Pregnancy brain – I thought it was an excuse people made for poor work performance and that it wouldn’t happen to me, but seriously you guys, it is real and pretty freaking humbling.)  Specifically, I cannot stay focused on anything for more than a couple of minutes. 

When Does the Penny Drop?

This whole pregnancy thing – I don’t know.  It is just not sinking in.  I mean on one level, yes, I know this is happening.  Clearly.  I am not stupid.  And I planned this.  And I’m an excellent planner.  But my brain – it’s just not processing the information in the fully aware way I would have expected it to.

Mars or Bust

I’m not really sure why I just heard about this, but it has recently made it onto my radar that a company in the Netherlands is recruiting volunteers to help colonize Mars.  I gather they made some kind of announcement in January and then started actively advertising that they wanted volunteers in April.  And thousands of people have already applied.

Whoa.

First those little robot vacuums and now this?  I think we can safely say we live in the future, my friends.