boobs

I went out Friday night with a bunch of friends. I was wearing a bar shirt I've worn to the gunroom (mess) before. When I got to the bar one of my boob obsessed male friends asked when I had my boob job. Apparently my boobs looked extra perky and booby Friday, and in fact looked good enough to be fake. Superficial and more than a little weird, but it made my night.

Ack Ack

Ok, my friend Cleo tagged me and now it's my turn to answer the questions...

1. What inspires you?
I don't really know right now. Which isn't really a cop out, it's just I'm sort of at a crossroads in my life, and I'm not feeling particularly inspired. I think determined is a better word for what I'm feeling right now.
2. What is your favourite fairy tale/folk tale?
'The Paper Bag Princess' The princess is faced with a challenge, and not only does she meet it, but she also rescues the sniveling Prince Ronald from the dragon and then tells him where to go.
3. Which historical figure (real or fictional) would you like to have dinner with?
Queen Elizabeth II. Like the one right now. It'd be awesome to sit with her and ask her about what it was like for her to grow up in England during WWII, and what it was like to be crowned Queen. That, or some heroine from one of my historical romances who had to face some challenge, did so bravely, and then managed to get the handsome and caring lord/laird to fall in love with her.
4. Which of your personality traits is your favourite?
Probably my ability to laugh at anything, even the big stuff. Or my ability to wear rose coloured glasses when looking at the past. My inability to hold a real grudge or really hate people.
5. If you were about to be exiled and could only take one memento from home with you, what would you take?
Oh goodness. This is not a good question for packrats and overpackers like me. I am the girl whose room in Afghanistan was full of way too many momentos, including pictures, notes, flowers, pashminas, Christmas decorations and my ratty camp blanket. Right now, if I had to bring only one thing with me into Exile, it would probably be my picture of my Dad and I in Afghanistan. Not only does it still amaze me that I had the opportunity to go there as a civilian, but it means more than I can say that I got to share the experience with my Dad. It was like a window into his other life, the life that always took him away from my life growing up.

I'd tag someone else to do this, but I'm pretty sure the only person who reads my blog has already done one of these. But that my friends (or friend) is a peak into the world of Erica.

nesting...

That's right, I have begun my next stage of apartment nesting. After living here a year it's time to rearrange all the furniture and pictures, now that I know how I live here. So, today I gave away my super tall bookshelf that I've had since highschool. Next up - buying a desk and putting up new pictures.

I've joined weight watchers again to get back into the routine of proper eating. This evening's plans, a trip to the grocery store to buy fruits & veg and other healthful things.

I booked my plane tickets and hotel for my trip home at the end of July for Jodi and Drew's wedding. I'm not really a big fan of weddings, since I always go alone and end up a table with some weird family members of the bride or groom, but I am excited to see everyone I like from the Soo again. Jodi - if you're reading this, please don't sit me with crazy relatives!

And...the hole in my leg's from the bike accident is almost all healed up!

Adventures in mountain biking cont'd...

Ouch!

Adventures in mountain biking

Um, I went mountain biking yesterday with one of the mechanics from work after he was commenting that my bike is too nice to be relegated to just street biking. It was awesome.

Even though the mountain bike trails are by a dump, the scenery was unbelievable. Everything was so green and mossy, the trees were huge and old, there was a small lake/pond with water shimmering off the waves and bald eagles diving for fish. Breathtaking.

It was also nice to get out and learn about mountain biking, since it's been years since I've biked on anything other than road. For instance, I learned that going up hill it's best to be in low gear, sitting down, and bent as far forward as possible. I also learned that it's no good put all your weight on one foot, because that makes the pedal too close to the ground. Most importantly, I learned you don't squeeze the front break when going down a hill with rocks and branches nearby.

I fell. I was going down the hill when I found myself flipping over my handlebars and landing face first in a shrub, just inches from a huge-ass rock. At first I thought my biggest worry would be scrapes to my face, since my thigh hurt, but just like it would bruise later. But nope, after biking I went to the bathroom and found a puncture hole in my upper thigh. So, without mentioning to my male coworker that I needed stitches, essentially in my crotch, I turned down lunch and opted to be dropped off at home. Where I changed, and then hobbled to the walk-in clinic across the road for 10 stitches. I've been lazing about, icing my groin, ever since.

Would I do it again? Not for a couple of weeks, but hells yeah!

a chink in the armour

I had a medium-sized break down today when I found out that the plan really is for me to be in Victoria another 3 years. The whole am I really where I wanted to be in my life, and am I doing what I wanted to do??? Compounded by a crappy day at work, and it led to a crying call home to my mom. Guess it's time to grow some, and just learn to love it. New project...write down one thing I like about being here every day...time frame, until I've fooled myself!

And now back to my regularly schedule life...

I got back from Borden Friday night...well, Saturday morning really. We were an hour late getting off the ground in Toronto because of hte sever thunderstorms...and then my luggage never made it all the way to Victoria. But it doesn't matter, because now I'm home!

I spent all day yesterday sleeping and unpacking. I got up early today (I blame the time difference ;) ), did some laundry, read outside in the sun, went for a walk all through downtown Victoria and then went for a bike ride on the Galloping Goose. It was a great day. In fact, it might have even made me glad I live in Victoria...shhh...don't tell anyone ;)

les vacances en Montreal...

Last week was probably one of the craziest weeks I've had in Borden. We had a huge road move exercise, and then an airfield recce...with tons of extra paperwork thrown in just for 'fun.' We'd also had a fair amount of crap through the week (think lots and lots of car washing and wasted time), and I was so excited to be getting off the base for the weekend.

Especially when getting away meant heading to Montreal for the weekend to see a friend from KAF. I'd spent basic just outside of Montreal last spring, but had always been too tired to really check out the city. This weekend I got to check out the old city, the harbour, the lookout at the top of the city, and more restaurants and bars then I can remember names of. It was also really awesome to hang out with Andy. He's in the military, so I got to chat (bitch) about stuff and he understood, but he's not my trade so I got some perspective.

Seeing how much Andy had embraced Montreal during his short posting there made me realize that I need to do the same with Victoria when I get back. It's time to just get out there. I already have plans to check out the Scottish festival the first Saturday I'm back, but I think it's time I stop using my bachelor apartment as an excuse, and just start having people over (especially since it's summer and I can use the patio). Victoria IS a beautiful city with some awesome stuff to do...so look out world, I know I've said it before, but I mean it this time, I'm gonna kick some Victoria ass and move in!

She shoots...she scores!

After playing floor hockey almost every week for four months, and slowly making the move from all defense to slowly playing above the centre line, I finally scored a goal today! Made all the sweeter by the fact that I scored on my arch-nemesis. I also managed to walk out with a bruised pinkie finger (making this typing hard), and a whopping ball hockey ball sized bruise on my inner arm.

Jason and Melissa

Yesterday I went to my cousin Jason's wedding.

It was nice to see Jason and Melissa having such a wonderful day. The weather was good. All of their friends and family were there. The service was short but sweet. The reception was good...although the little tater tots saying knock-knock-jokes were a little less than awesome. The cake was beautifully done by Melissa's mom. I think my favourite part was watching Melissa whisper to Jason during the ceremony. Adorable.

It was nice because for once I'm in the same province as my family at the same time. I managed to see all my aunts and uncles from my mom's side, as well as most of my cousins.

Other points to note...apparently the trend in the family is to have the younger siblings get married before the older sibling. It's happened to Tim, Dennis, and Shaun. And if what my mom says is right, and my sister is thinking of getting married next summer, it'll happen to me too.

Jason and Melissa's first dance

Tracy, Christina, Shaunacey and I

Jaimie's little cutie Kamryn munching on some cardboard