The B-House Blog

Pre-Midnight Post Party

2008-04-28T23:09:00.000-07:00

It's only just after 11pm and I'm already winding down.. Which is good. Need more sleep. I suppose having to wake up at 8am this morning to get Ziggy down to Langley would have something to do with being tired now..

That was the majority of my day. Cruising around in the grey and rain (fuck you blogger spellcheck, that's how you spell grey) getting maintenance done first.. That was actually pretty nice. I mean I had two hours to kill so I just walked to Willowbrook Mall, browsed around a bit and then just sat in the foot court eating A&W burgers for 2 hours while I read my book.

I drove right back into town to my autoplan insurance place thing.. Did a really crappy parking job and adjusted a few insurance things and headed home. Oh I forgot - I was going to treat myself at the end of this month. I thought of either buying some Arrested Development DVDs (god I love that show. i feel crappy, watch it, get cured) or a new camera bag. Turns out the camera bag is going to come later for several reasons.. And instead of DVDs I decided to invest in a good photography handbook that I've been reading tonight. (While watching Arrested Development, ironically enough)

On Wednesday I'm meeting dad and Leanne to discuss the whole saving/investing/financial future business. I'm actually pretty excited about it all. I won't be able to save much at first, but every little bit will add up and with good returns of interest, it'll eventually grow exponentially. Yay moneyz.

Besides that, I just gotta keep working hard, get my mind off womenz, get my mind on photography, and save money. I did a good job with my money this month, being able to modestly accommodate a $230 maintenance bill today, and paying back $200 of my debt to mum. Must keep going with that.

I'll be looking to build a portraiture portfolio soon. I think that business I keep meaning to start is actually getting closer to fruition. According to what I'm reading, going into business for yourself and manufacturing a product that you sell directly = money. Not easy money, but money.

Headshots mostly, to start. If you're reading this and want headshots, let me know. Actually I don't care, book a time with me anyway, I could use the practice whether anyone uses the shots or not.

In a month from now I'll be getting ready to make the move downtown and 25 stories up in the air. I'm a little scared about it (zomg what if i roll outta bed and fall out the window etc etc) but more than anything I'm excited. Nervous, and excited.

2008-04-24T00:41:00.001-07:00

And now my roommates are in the bathroom together again talking.. With the shower running.

One of the cats is in there too. Jesus.

What The Hell!

2008-04-23T23:57:00.000-07:00

Honestly, never any energy to get shit done and get active until it's late at night! What's with that?!

2008-04-22T21:08:00.000-07:00

So this is the view I'll be enjoying at the beginning of June. That's when I take over Kilian's room in his apartment, 25 floors up in the heart of downtown for less money than I'm paying now. I really can't wait, and honestly I'm not even going to get my hopes up of it really happening until it happens.

It's not too good to be true though, fact is, it's the smallest of the small apartments. Imagine.. A very small two bedroom apartment, with a little den and the living room. I get one bedroom, someone else sleeps in the other bedroom, the den is another person's bedroom and the living room is curtained off for yet another bedroom. My room will be tiny too, I won't be able to fit most of my furniture in there.

I don't really care though. I'll be downtown.

As I've been telling people, money has been good to me lately. Not like zomg I'm rich, far from it - I'm just making good money for the first time in my life, and I want to keep it up. It's nice to actually save money, instead of just slowly lose it as I did for most of the past 2 years. Some of those savings will go to fun times this summer, driving to Castlegar, Calgary and possibly Edmonton too.

I'm not in the best of moods right now. I thought writing would distract me, but it isn't. At least the new B-52's song is awesome. I'm still getting over a lot of things that have happened recently, I keep telling myself I should already *be* over everything, but I just ain't. I'm getting there though.

These past two days have just been me holed up in my room, recovering from a horrible stomach bug. That was such an awful night. Got home from a 15-hour shift at 2am, felt sick to my stomach all night, couldn't sleep for all the pain I was in and was absolutely freezing cold, shivering violently. Finally slept at around 7am and I've been trying to bounce back from that episode since.

Of course it's been beautiful out while I've been trying to get my head back on straight..

I think I just need to get back to focusing on work. It seems to be the only thing that keeps me sane these days.

C.H.

2008-04-16T03:41:00.001-07:00

God help me I need to get better sleeping habits. I just can't seem to help cruising easily through the day and then getting all my creative juices flowing at 2am. You can set your watch to it.

So I'm not sure of this apartment deal - I still can't get a hold of Kilian's landlord, Ricky, despite leaving 2 voicemails. I'll try again tomorrow. I'm also kinda getting cold feet because of the incredibly tiny space.. But honestly, if I have to lose some furniture I don't think I'll miss it. Especially once I can finance my laptop.

I had an impromptu lunch with dad and Leanne today, it was really awesome actually. I think I just really like talking about myself a lot.

I'm going to start a very daunting project soon. Like.. Tomorrow. Tomorrow, of course.. Technically being today. If I go to sleep now that's still over an hour sooner than last night. Hooray.

2008-04-15T03:07:00.001-07:00

I really want and need to use my camera more.

No more tomorrow what I did all day today, and yesterday. Gotta give the lenses some love.

And good god why does my creativity peak at 2am?

Coming Soon!

2008-04-12T15:45:00.001-07:00

"The pros and cons of moving into Kilian's apartment."

But for now, must go to work and hopefully make it through Saturday night food running.

Ouch.

2008-04-10T00:06:00.000-07:00

I just got kinda blindsided, I was having a pretty good night too.

I'm not used to being in a position where I'm asking forgiveness, but it's absolutely where I am now. I don't normally look at certain things that happen as mistakes.. Usually it's just what happened, for better or worse.

Is it possible to make a mistake and not regret it?

Maybe I don't regret what I did.. Well fuck, maybe I do now. I'm all confused because ..

Am I really that self-centered? Do I have such little concern for how my actions affect those around me? That's not how I want to be but I think that kinda is actually how I am. I don't know how I feel about that. I don't know what to think about any of this now.

2008-04-09T13:46:00.000-07:00

After spending all morning today bawling my eyes out, I feel so much better about things right now, and I might as well update this while I'm at it! Lots to talk about, yet not too much to say here.

Work is kinda kicking ass, or maybe I'm just kicking ass at work. Hopefully I'll become their main food runner soon and start making more of the awesome money I've been making lately. I can't believe how I completely bottomed out on money, and I've now bounced back so much. Must keep doing that. Save money, and be able to go out and do things (and BUY things!) that make me happy.

What else.. Things with Kristen have been sorted out really well, better than I could've hoped for. I think at the moment.. Everything is slowly back on its way up, and I have a feeling they'll get pretty high as time goes on.

The worst part is over,
Now, get back on that horse and ride.

2008-03-27T01:38:00.000-07:00

What an awful week. At least the worst is done.. I think. I feel like I'm slowly getting my self and my life back together, picking up the pieces and carrying on hopefully stronger than before.

I think if I write more I'll quickly go way over this blog's emo quota, so.. Nuff said. Stuff's getting better.

Only a few more days 'till Nels' birthday, with much beering involved! I can't wait. And I might even be able to afford a lil of it.. $63 in tips tonight, for just a wednesday night. It was crazy busy, and there was only one of me running around the whole place trying to hold it all together. It worked out though. And yes.. The good news is that I'll actually be able to afford my bills this month. Taking a week off was expensive.

Somebody buy that photo.

2008-03-08T11:41:00.001-08:00

Wow so I failed at this for a while now didn't I?

I've used my camera enough, just not posted anything. Maybe it has to do with my life including nothing more than going to work, sleeping in, seeing Kristen, and playing WoW.

Not that I'm complaining.

There won't be any posts for a while again, since Blanche arrives today and we leave for Haven tomorrow for a week! Then it's Tila's birthday bash!! Yay for partying out downtown at Richards on Richards! I can't wait. Plus I'll be fresh back from Haven so I'll be all.. In touch with my feelings, and hugging everyone. Woot!

2008-02-25T23:54:00.001-08:00

I finally completed my 6 day stretch. Nothing ahead of me but two days of chillaxing! And getting a Costco card, and a haircut. Woo!

Heavy on my mind right now is actually moving out. Ever since my busser friend Tyler told me about paying $500 in rent including utilities for an apartment near Yaletown.. I want that. I want to be closer to work, pay less, and not pay for so much food I don't eat. I'll have to work things out with the roommates though, I can't just leave them high and dry. Plus Paul needs to find a god damn job before he moves in anyway. Unemployed bastard.

Speaking of which I'm super excited for Kristen to get a place of her own. Even with roommates, not living in a homestay house will be win. It was a great way to get started in a new city but.. Yeah. When I go hang out there the odd time, it's always really awkward since it's really not her place, it's somebody else's home I'm in. I look forward to when she joins a sorority house with 10 other girls.

I get my 2nd cheque of the month tomorrow, and things are adding up reasonably.. I'll be able to afford everything, but not by a large margin, by any means. This is a big reason the gears in my head are starting to turn towards thoughts of moving out. I can afford it here, but only barely.

I'm falling behind on my photo taking recently, and have been cheating by editing and posting older photos. I love this one that I dug up though, reminds me of one of the awesomest trips during one of the awesomest summers ever. Maybe I can get back on track tonight or during the 2 days off. Less WoW will help that. Less work will also help.

Randomly hanging out with Tila and Nels tonight was fabulous. Must do that more often. Especially when I move downtown!

2008-02-24T14:23:00.000-08:00

I had another dream about traveling last night. I wish I knew what they all meant.

2008-02-23T02:03:00.000-08:00

It's 2am.

I've been running around on my feet for 14.5 hours. I get to sleep for 6 hours before I have to wake up and go back to work.

And I still love my job.

2008-02-22T01:27:00.000-08:00

Can't write much, must get sleep for double shift tomorrow.

Highlights today include:

-Beautiful weather, perfect for getting some good shots around town.
-Training a new guy, meaning I don't have to split tips with him.
-Getting yelled at by Chef Charlie for bringing him the wrong kind of plate. As I ran off he said something about me acting like a donkey. Chef Charlie is cool though, verbal abuse aside.
-Canucks won.
-Guitar Hero night is cool.
-Getting screamed at on the street by crazy girls in a car only to realize it's Paul and Evelyn and Lissa who gave me a ride home.
- My manager Larry is coming back soon from a week or two of working at a different place. He's more fun.

That's about the jist of it. I realize tonight that work is somewhat taking over my life, since that's most of what I talk about. I spent all morning either playing WoW or walking around the house in a towel. I kind of like walking around in a towel after a shower.

Must do taxes. I want my $100 rebate.

2008-02-21T14:02:00.000-08:00

Nothing too new right now. I finally hit level 40 but I bet that's not nearly as exciting for you as it is for me. My felsteed rocks, just so you know.

I'm at the beginning of work week still. I'll go in tonight for a full shift, then be right back there in the morning for the day shift, and staying in the evening for my double. Must concentrate on the money.

Actually tonight I think I'll be training some new guy, which is fine. That just means he can do all the grunt work, and I don't have to split tips with him. Huzzah!

I'm still excited for the end of the month to pay off all my bills and see how much money I have left over. I know it's going to be much of anything at all, but still - I haven't actually *saved* a dime since.. Probably since right before I got the inheritance last year.

I also wrote in the request-days-off book at work that I'm unavailable for a week in March.. I told my manager Larry about it back at my original interview and he said it'd be fine, but I have a suspicion there might be some problems with that. We'll see.

Only two more days I think until poor lamp shade kitty loses his lamp shade and finally gets to go outside. I don't blame him for going nuts being in all day, it's absolutely gorgeous out there. I think I will go now, leave early, and give myself a chance to get some nice shots downtown.

Ta!

2008-02-20T00:39:00.000-08:00

To save poor Nigel the embarrassment of being photographed while he's a cone-head-kitty, selective blurring was used to save his dignity. Also, I fail at auto focus.

My two days off went by far too quickly, but maybe that's because they were uber fun. Last night Kristen and I went out to a tapas bar called Stella's (STELLAAAA!) on Commercial Drive and had all kinds of craziness: Calimari, lamb, and brie wrapped in a flaky croissant crust. It was easily the best food I've had in months, too bad our waitress was a putz. The drinks were fantastic too - Kristen said fuck you to her lactose intolerance and had a fantastic frangelico/bailey's/steamed chocolate milk combination.. (Which later said fuck you back to her) - And I had some sort of hot orange-y cider with black rum. I'd go back when it's less busy and we can get some decent service.

Then we went home and watched Across the Universe. As much as I love the music in that movie, I don't know if I can actually like the movie itself. I try so hard to like it too, but no.

We've both nailed down our morning routine together too: Wake up, go back to sleep, repeat for a good hour or so. Finally get up, go to the kitchen, run back to the bedroom, put clothes on, go back to the kitchen and make terrible coffee. Drink a cup or two of just.. Awful, awful coffee, then wash up and head to Kristen's school.

Having food in the morning has become optional.

Wednesday sees me start 6 days of work. Highlights will include Guitar Hero night on Thursday, working a double shift from 10am-midnight on Friday, and me hopefully making bundles of money.

Now I go sleep.

2008-02-18T16:52:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Kristen came over earlier on in the day (early for me = noon) after viewing a potential suite. The suite was no good but at least it was an absolutely amazing day. She dragged me outside in the sun - Once my eyes and skin adjusted to this new source of light, it was actually pretty awesome.

We went to Starbucks for coffee. Then we went to JJ Bean for coffee. Then a retro rock clothing shop; but not for coffee. Commercial Drive is actually pretty sweet for stuff like that.

Work was actually pretty chill for a Sunday. I'm making lots of money too. Well, "lots" being a relative term.. Relative to my previous income of $0. I got another beer pin too! Rumour has it that we *may* be changing policy so that every employee is entitled to one free beer after every shift. How badass would that be?

I told you my job is turning me into an alcoholic.

2008-02-17T03:32:00.000-08:00

Well I made it home from work about a half hour ago. What a night. Highlights include:

- A list of reservations half a mile long, including five or six birthdays.
- A huge stack of new dishes suddenly falling off the counter in the kitchen, making an enormous crash. Broken porcelain everywhere.
- The dishwasher was blamed and yelled at for the accident, supposedly the plates were stacked wrong and tipped over.
- The dishwasher walked off the job without a word and one of the cooks had to take over his duties.
- For some reason someone in the kitchen made a shitload of halibut in curry sauce for the staff.. It tasted amazing, like everything else there.
- I got $79 in tips, plus $20 I was owed from a previous shift.
- I took the night bus home at 2am through Hastings and had an old guy who was drunk off his ass mumbling at me the entire ride home.

Now I am home, writing at nearly 4am, talking to Dea who I haven't seen in ages.

*Yawn* Goodnight.

Bloops?

2008-02-16T16:01:00.000-08:00

Well I didn't take a single shot during all of yesterday. Oh well. My excuse is that I worked 10 hours straight, and then went drinking with Paul.

Some guy from Toronto woke me up this morning to tell me to pay my cell phone bill. I wonder if he knew he was talking to a somewhat hungover customer. Either way, I paid it online. That sort of thing is easier when you have a job!

I'm working again tonight during the hockey game. I hope they finally do a pool or something, we'll see.

My roommates are weird. More on this at 11.

V-Day

2008-02-15T00:40:00.000-08:00

Holy Hell I'm sleepy.

Worked 10-5, stayed after for dinner, had a giant burger and a giant beer. Really hits the spot after a shift. I picked up a rose on the way out for Kristen from a shop - Remind me to never ever pay for something that came from a shop in Yaletown. It'll cost 150% more than what you'd pay anywhere else.

Anyway, we had a super romantic iced capp at the Metrotown foodcourt before quickly returning home and hitting the bedroom (right after a quick pizza dinner and another trip to the vet. Poor Nigel.) to play with chocolate and honey body butter.

I'd keep going, but they'd flag my blog as having adult content. :(

Meowth

2008-02-14T00:34:00.000-08:00

Tuna is just mad he doesn't have a Valentine

Nothing special here, I'm just up late playing with my chompy kitty and wanting to post on my fun new blogz.

I work tomorrow during the day, then it's off to see Ms Bailey at Metrotown to go shopping! We're gonna get a cover for the duvet I gave her. We'll get something nice but nothing will beat my chocolate and cream coloured bed.

It's like sleeping in a giant ice cream sandwich.

Martini Madness

2008-02-13T22:49:00.000-08:00

Well about a week or so I finally got some of my friends to come check out my work. All it took was Paul and Kristen both already being downtown on seperate errands, and the promise of 3 martinis for $10!

We had a fantastic time. It took a while to get going but we killed time with beer - Especially me, but what can you do when one of your work buddies keeps fueling you with freebies?

That's Paul drinking Hill's Special Wheat Ale, and my Downtown Brown. You can't see Kristen to the right in her business suit!

Unfortunately I have no pictures of the actual martini night fun, because by that point I was too drunk to be wielding such an unwieldy camera. For anyone who's interested in joining us next time, it's the 1st Thursday of every month, 3 martinis for $10! It rocks.

First Post!

2008-02-13T22:39:00.001-08:00

Let's get this business going. :D