*Carless* - Day 4

Not much to report on this Friday. Got a drive to work and a drive back home. I did walk down to the local corner store for the first time...it's located past my place so I usually stopped at the Irving Station on my way home. Not that I hadn't stepped foot in the Needs store down the street before...I just usually drove to it (not from home but before going home)...actually I probably was driving to the chinese restaurant where they have a lunch special until 3pm. Ummm...I also picked up lunch today....ginger beef, fried rice and an egg roll for $5.50 +tax. ;-.)

Walking back from the restaurant and store (with a root beer popsicle melting as I ate it), I realized that I never really payed attention to my neighborhood. Home was where I relaxed and slept but I didn't stick around much otherwise. Will not having a car make me become more invested in my surroundings?? We'll see. Ahh..who am I kidding...probably not.

So, tonight I am invited to a BBQ. I probably won't be going because I have yet to check the bus routes/schedules and I'm not sure how late I want to be out. Staying home with a DVD and a beer sound pretty good and I do have leftover chinese food!!

*Carless* Day 3

Ok...I am officially exhausted. It is 2:36 pm and I have been up for 12 hours. I got up and left for work around 3:10 am. There was a bit of a false start because I realized at the top of the first incline after I left my parking lot that my bluetooth earpiece had fallen off! I backtracked and found it in the parking lot. It was a dark, foggy/misty ride but I had a headlight and a tail light, so I was pretty visible to the few cars that I did encounter.

As I predicted, it took half an hour to get to work. I used the extra 20 minutes before my 4 am start to change and cool down (my face was pretty red!). By lunch (9 am) I was feeling quite energetic....yay for exercise!!

Quitting time came at 1 pm. I got my stuff together and changed back into the workout pants I wore on the ride to work...in the process I misplaced my keys...panic ensued!! I searched my backpack, the washroom and one other room I stepped foot in...no keys. Ughh!! Panic sweats are setting in! After seaching everywhere three times...I found them...in my backpack where I looked but didn't see...PHEW!! Now...to ride home....

Riding home is a different experience. Yes, there is light...but there are CARS!! Love the bike lanes but not liking the road shoulders that are chewed up and storm drains are a different problem. Thank goodness I have a bike that can go off-road too...riding on the gravel wasn't much of a problem when it was necessary (and it was necessary at times). I had two chain malfunctions (my bike needs a tune-up) and there were a couple of hills that I opted to walk with my *jello legs* so it took longer than 30 minutes to get home....but I did get home before getting caught a a rainfall (I can hear it pouring outside right now) and headed straight for the shower.

I'm glad that I have a ride to work tomorrow. It means I get to sleep in another 45 minutes...and I have a feeling I will sleep well until I have to get up tomorrow! Zzzzzzzzzzzz.......

*Carless* - Day 2

In my haste to get outside before my friend, Tina, arrived to pick me up, I left my lunch bag on the floor beside the door. No big deal...I bought my lunch (although my packed lunch was much healthier than the sausage and fries which I ended up having). I should have taken a short lunch because I was rushed to get things done by 1 pm quitting time. If I had a car I would have stayed and gone over things a little more closely...BUT...I had to be ready for my ride home!! Alas, there were 2 glitches in my second day of being *carless*. I plan to go a month like this??

On the drive home I made of point of saying, "I must not fall asleep in the afternoon." After yesterday, I am tired but upon arrival I went straight to the storage room...dug out my 21 speed Jeep Comanche...pumped up the tires and went for a little test drive down the road.

It was HOT out and it took a while to stop dripping when I came back in. I almost fell asleep...so I ate the lunch that I had forgotten earlier (it was over 6 hours since lunch time at work!), popped in a DVD and hooked up the computer to

write this blog...and beer...I can't forget about the beer!

I had a conversation with my building's super outside earlier...she doesn't think I'll last a month without a car. Truth be told, I was rarely home...I always on the go. I've probably spent more time at home in the past month than the previous 6 months combined...this will be a challenge but I think I'm up for it. Hmmm....I must not forget to reset my alarm...I think I should leave by 3:15 am at the latest. (being early will be a plus so I can change clothes before I start work tomorrow...and catch my breath...that will be a necessity I'm sure!)

Goodbye Saturn...it's a new world for me!

Yesterday was a sad day for me...I returned my car after having it for a 4 year lease. It was my first *new* car...a 2005 Saturn Ion3. It had everything I wanted, 5speed manual, power windows/door locks and AIR CONDITIONING! Alas...GM no longer leases and that is why I find myself without a vehicle right now. If GM did still lease, I would have rolled into a new car lease but I will instead try to go without a car for a month. A friend and co-worker works the same shift I do and has offered to pick me up on the days we are both working (she works every second weekend so there are days that I work and she is off). On the other days...I will ride my bike. It's only about 7 kms but it is weird riding my bike that early in the morning (for those of you who don't know, I work 4 am to 1 pm). I have yet to pull my bike from storage...I'll do that tomorrow because I will need it for Thursday morning.

Dropping the car off yesterday took very little time. My friend, Tina, picked me up from the Saturn dealership and took me out for *cheer-up* sushi lunch before driving me home. It must have been a little more emotionally draining than I thought because I fell asleeep on the couch for almost 3 hours after getting home. That resulted in poor sleep last night but I managed to make coffee and toast a bagel for me and Tina who was waiting outside for me this morning at 3:45 am. Luckily I packed my gym bag and got my lunch prepared before bed last night!

After work today, Tina and I went to the gym. She left after 40 minutes of cardio. I stayed...did 20 minutes more, worked on my arms and legs a little (and I do mean a little), sat in the sauna for a bit before showering, etc. I left the gym and am enjoying a booster juice while I write this and anticipate #twushi at 7pm (a little over 2 hours from now). I have yet to check the bus schedule for return trip home but the bus will leave from the plaza that the sushi restaurant is at so that is a plus...may be a late night but #twushi (sushi with twitter friends) is worth it.

Day 1 without a car? So far so good...and my drive will be there tomorrow morning...we may even go to the gym again. I'm healthier for not having a car already!! LOL

The Carleton? Where's that?

That is the question that I was asked when I said that I was heading down to to meet the #halifaxchicks at the Carleton on Thursday. OK...I also had to explain what #halifaxchicks is. Truth is I knew WHERE the Carleton (as I explained to my friends, it is on the corner of Prince and Argyle...just up from the Press Gang) was but I had never actually BEEN in the Carleton. I'm glad that has been remedied.

5:00 pm Thursday, July 2, 2009. I arrive at the Carleton after securing a sweet parking spot on Argyle Street (those of you from Halifax can attest to this being quite a coo) to meet up with a bunch of awesome ladies. The first thing that strikes me is the decor...it is actually nice in there! I had this preconception that The Carleton was another bar that catered to the university crowd and that it would be dank and smell of beer. O Contraire mes amis!! The Carleton is pleasingly cozy and I like the stone wall effect in select areas. There were 3 tables reserved for the #halifaxchicks of which 2 are occupied and though the 3rd table is used briefly, the two that we pulled together (much to the visible dismay of the waitress) turns out to be sufficient as some #halifaxchicks arrive late and others had to leave early.

I tried my best to remember everyone who attended:

@Aine_Caitriona

@aliasgrace

@bessyn
@cr8tiveCandy
@laurenoostveen
@mariamcgowan
@michellemccann
@myogis
@nicolacourtney

@nataliejoan
@randommind
Mrs. @RyanDeschamps (aka Wanda)
@sburgwin
@spennell
@withbite

@wryandginger

But even with the nametags supplied by @spennell, I fear I have missed someone.

Though I didn't order an entree, the food was pretty good. I had the Shrimp Torpedoes and a Caesar salad accompanied by a Crown Float which is a drink made with cider and Guinness (I must say that while tasty...I'd never had a Crown Float before...they do LOOK better at The Foggy Goggle). Dessert was another matter. I RARELY order dessert but after seeing the cheescake wrapped/baked in phyllo pastry that @sburgwin and @laurenoostveen had ordered, I convinced @michellemccann to split one with me...it was heavenly! I will return to the Carleton.

Good food, good drink and AWESOME company as always with a #halifaxchicks meetup. I look forward to them every time and can't wait to mark the next one on my calendar! CHEERS!

Happy Canada Day #142

Yay! It's Canada Day!

I'm trying to be more excited about it but at the moment I'm sitting home alone watching Regis and Kelly (Bryant Gumble is there for Regis), sipping on coffee, checking on twitter now and then and, of course, writing this. I did make some homemade pancakes (can't/won't do the ones out of a box) and I will go to visit family and friends later so I guess I will feel the rah rahs when I am around other people! My day got off to a late start because I fell asleep on the couch and woke up to a Mel Brooks film that ended close to 3am.

OK...this worked...I just clicked a link on a twitter account @connect2canada that had a link to Canada Events going on in the US which played O Canada....the patriotism is starting to swell. They also had a link to a cute youtube video, Canadian, Please.

Wow...142 years...still pretty much one of the new kids on the planet...and yet...one of the best places to live in the world! (it would be THE BEST were it not for our winter, Harper and choice of cellular service providers).

So...I'm trying to think about what I love about Canada...here's a list off the top of my head:

• Freedom - of choice, of speech...
• Space - There is more wilderness in Canada than populated areas.
• Water - need I say more
• Medical Care - I may have to wait sometimes but it won't cost me to see the doctor.(my wait has never been that bad)
• Democracy - At least we know the politcal party we want to get rid of was voted in legitimately.
• Multi-culturalism - I just went to multi-fest last week-end...Celebrate and embrace different cultures.
• Education - It's true...though some take more advantage of it than others.
• Humour - We can tell a joke and take a joke...well, other than Harper and a few others.
• Security - Sure there are some areas of the city to avoid but for the most part I feel safe walking around at night.
• Charity - They say it begins at home but there are lots of Canadians looking out for others around the world as well!
• Peace - OK..so our troops are at war in Afghanistan...it started out as a peacekeeping mission...they are trying to rebuild and train not destroy. And here at home, other than people who hunt and police/military, I don't know anyone who owns a gun.
• Arts - So much talent here in all aspects (music, dance, visual art, acting, etc.)

I've probably left out some important points but that's OK...I just wanted to say that I'm proud to be Canadian! I love my country, my province, my city and, above all, my family and friends!

(If you really want to know more about Canadian History click here.)

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

I think I'll go enjoy it now (despite the weather...

hope I can find my Canda Flag t-shirt and temporary tattoos!)

(please note that I did not use the words eh, beaver, mountie, aboot, igloo, canuck, or any other word that the rest of the world 'stereotypes' Canadians as saying/using/being/living in....etc)