News, strawberries, and weekend plans
Hokay. Writing an lj post while sitting waiting for my GO train to come. I knew I decided to bring my work laptop home for a reason.
Most important news: I have a job!! My boss today offered me a year long contract after my internship is finished, which I have accepted. Assuming I do well enough, and manage to learn the skills that I don’t currently have, it may very well be extended beyond that. But a year is a long way off, so I’m not going to worry about it too much at this point. Especially since I’m too busy being happy that I have a job!!! This is a huge weight off my shoulders. I know there’s a lot I have to learn, and I have to continue to work very hard to do so, but that’s all to the good. A steady paycheque + interesting work = happy Bootler.
This also means that moving out in September is a much more feasible proposition than it had been. Yes, I was already planning on doing it (would have gone back to the bank if need be), but now I don’t have to worry about being able to make rent and such. Still have to find a place, of course, but I’m sure Ashley and I will be able to figure that out. We’re relatively clever people, after all.
That’s the important news. Other than that I have fluffy “this is my life” stuff to babble about. (Okay the above was “this is my life” stuff too, but it wasn’t overly fluffy….)
So. Had a pretty awesome couple days last weekend. Saturday I spent camped out on the couch in front of the TV. Watched “Studio 60”, “Find Me Guilty”, “Harrison Bergeron” (which may very well be spelt incorrectly), and “Blood Diamond”. All very good movies that I would highly recommend to people. Also saw “The Good Sheppard” on Friday, but unless you like really long, slow movies, then I’d give it a pass. Went to bed early Saturday night, because I needed to get my sleep before Sunday.
Sunday! Sunday was a trip to the “Healy Compound”, also known as Shawn’s family’s strawberry farm, which is in Bracebridge. Woke up early for a Sunday (8:00) so I could catch the GO train to get over to Mimico where I was meeting Ashley, who was the driver for our little expedition. Got picked up safely and then we went to the Royal York subway station to get Shawn, without whom the trip would have been a bit difficult. Had a bit of an adventure trying to find a gas station, but eventually got on to the highway and we were off.
Good times in the car. Listened to lots of music (Ashley’s mp3 player), chatted a bunch, complained about the lack of air conditioning. And made it safely to the strawberry farm around 1:00. Met Shawn’s parents (very nice people), did the chatting thing, then went off to pick strawberries.
Strawberries!!! So very good. Since I was going back on the train that night I only picked one basket for myself, but I helped Ashley and Shawn pick a bunch more. We also played catch for a while that afternoon (joined by Shawn’s brother, whom Ashley and I met a couple times over the course of the year). It turns out that while I haven’t forgotten how to throw a softball, I’ve definitely forgotten how to catch one. Either that or I never really knew, because I definitely hold my glove the wrong way. I always end up catching so that the softball hits the ball of my hand. Ouchy. Still, fun times in the sun.
Then went down to the basement to cool off/watch TV/mock the sleeping Shawn. We had originally planned to leave at 5:00 so that we could get back to the city before too late, and maybe try to sneak past all of the traffic coming back from the Muskoka region. Stayed for dinner instead, which I think was a good trade-off. Very good food, and actual conversation, which is kind of different from eating in front of the TV as my family tends to do. Eventually left around 7:00; strawberries, sunburn, and all.
The drive back was also excellent times. In an effort to keep Shawn awake I turned my iPod over to him to play dj. Turns out there’s a lot of good music on there that I don’t listen to very often. More chatting, more complaining about lack of air conditioning. Actually managed to avoid most of the traffic by taking back roads instead of the 400, and I got back in time to catch the 10:00 train to Whitby.
All in all, a pretty fantastic day.
Other than that, things have been pretty calm. Went out today to get ice cream with some folks. Organized it yesterday because I knew I’d either have something to celebrate (getting a job, yay!) or I’d need cheering up. Had lots of fun with Sab, Jamie, and Ashley (check it out Jamie, a timely post!). Went to a sushi place for dinner, where I wimped out and had beef teriyaki for dinner. Then we went to Ben & Jerry’s where I had some pretty awesome ice cream, although we lamented the fact that “Americone Dream” (Stephen Colbert’s flavour) isn’t available in Canada. Discussed the definition of cheating, then headed off for home. I made it to Union just in time to miss the 8:13 train, which is why I’m now sitting here killing time until the 9:13. (Of course even if I were on the train I’d still probably be doing this update, although I’d likely be writing it down instead of typing it).
Coming up should be a pretty great weekend as well. I have the day off tomorrow, because my company kicks ass. Saturday I will either be kicking around the house or going shopping for a birthday present with Ashley and Shawn. Sunday I will possibly (hopefully) be going to a Ren Faire during the day, and then a birthday party in the evening. Crashing at Shawn’s that night (yay couch surfing!) and then back to Whitby on Monday to catch up with my parents and aunt and uncle, and possibly see “Live Free, Die Hard”.
Uhm…yeah. There wasn’t a whole lot to that. However, hopefully in the near future I will have all new fiction to be posting. The story that I’ve been working on for the past few years (the one I promised to Jamie with the undead army) is nearing an end. While it will probably require some editing after it’s finished, to smooth over the bumps between when I started writing it and other people started reading it, I’m relatively happy with how it’s turning out. So I’ll likely be posting that, and comments are always encouraged.
That’s pretty much it for now. Still some time to kill, so I’ll be moving to Penny-Arcade podcasts. Geek? Me? No idea what you’re talking about. Hugs and howls to all!
Most important news: I have a job!! My boss today offered me a year long contract after my internship is finished, which I have accepted. Assuming I do well enough, and manage to learn the skills that I don’t currently have, it may very well be extended beyond that. But a year is a long way off, so I’m not going to worry about it too much at this point. Especially since I’m too busy being happy that I have a job!!! This is a huge weight off my shoulders. I know there’s a lot I have to learn, and I have to continue to work very hard to do so, but that’s all to the good. A steady paycheque + interesting work = happy Bootler.
This also means that moving out in September is a much more feasible proposition than it had been. Yes, I was already planning on doing it (would have gone back to the bank if need be), but now I don’t have to worry about being able to make rent and such. Still have to find a place, of course, but I’m sure Ashley and I will be able to figure that out. We’re relatively clever people, after all.
That’s the important news. Other than that I have fluffy “this is my life” stuff to babble about. (Okay the above was “this is my life” stuff too, but it wasn’t overly fluffy….)
So. Had a pretty awesome couple days last weekend. Saturday I spent camped out on the couch in front of the TV. Watched “Studio 60”, “Find Me Guilty”, “Harrison Bergeron” (which may very well be spelt incorrectly), and “Blood Diamond”. All very good movies that I would highly recommend to people. Also saw “The Good Sheppard” on Friday, but unless you like really long, slow movies, then I’d give it a pass. Went to bed early Saturday night, because I needed to get my sleep before Sunday.
Sunday! Sunday was a trip to the “Healy Compound”, also known as Shawn’s family’s strawberry farm, which is in Bracebridge. Woke up early for a Sunday (8:00) so I could catch the GO train to get over to Mimico where I was meeting Ashley, who was the driver for our little expedition. Got picked up safely and then we went to the Royal York subway station to get Shawn, without whom the trip would have been a bit difficult. Had a bit of an adventure trying to find a gas station, but eventually got on to the highway and we were off.
Good times in the car. Listened to lots of music (Ashley’s mp3 player), chatted a bunch, complained about the lack of air conditioning. And made it safely to the strawberry farm around 1:00. Met Shawn’s parents (very nice people), did the chatting thing, then went off to pick strawberries.
Strawberries!!! So very good. Since I was going back on the train that night I only picked one basket for myself, but I helped Ashley and Shawn pick a bunch more. We also played catch for a while that afternoon (joined by Shawn’s brother, whom Ashley and I met a couple times over the course of the year). It turns out that while I haven’t forgotten how to throw a softball, I’ve definitely forgotten how to catch one. Either that or I never really knew, because I definitely hold my glove the wrong way. I always end up catching so that the softball hits the ball of my hand. Ouchy. Still, fun times in the sun.
Then went down to the basement to cool off/watch TV/mock the sleeping Shawn. We had originally planned to leave at 5:00 so that we could get back to the city before too late, and maybe try to sneak past all of the traffic coming back from the Muskoka region. Stayed for dinner instead, which I think was a good trade-off. Very good food, and actual conversation, which is kind of different from eating in front of the TV as my family tends to do. Eventually left around 7:00; strawberries, sunburn, and all.
The drive back was also excellent times. In an effort to keep Shawn awake I turned my iPod over to him to play dj. Turns out there’s a lot of good music on there that I don’t listen to very often. More chatting, more complaining about lack of air conditioning. Actually managed to avoid most of the traffic by taking back roads instead of the 400, and I got back in time to catch the 10:00 train to Whitby.
All in all, a pretty fantastic day.
Other than that, things have been pretty calm. Went out today to get ice cream with some folks. Organized it yesterday because I knew I’d either have something to celebrate (getting a job, yay!) or I’d need cheering up. Had lots of fun with Sab, Jamie, and Ashley (check it out Jamie, a timely post!). Went to a sushi place for dinner, where I wimped out and had beef teriyaki for dinner. Then we went to Ben & Jerry’s where I had some pretty awesome ice cream, although we lamented the fact that “Americone Dream” (Stephen Colbert’s flavour) isn’t available in Canada. Discussed the definition of cheating, then headed off for home. I made it to Union just in time to miss the 8:13 train, which is why I’m now sitting here killing time until the 9:13. (Of course even if I were on the train I’d still probably be doing this update, although I’d likely be writing it down instead of typing it).
Coming up should be a pretty great weekend as well. I have the day off tomorrow, because my company kicks ass. Saturday I will either be kicking around the house or going shopping for a birthday present with Ashley and Shawn. Sunday I will possibly (hopefully) be going to a Ren Faire during the day, and then a birthday party in the evening. Crashing at Shawn’s that night (yay couch surfing!) and then back to Whitby on Monday to catch up with my parents and aunt and uncle, and possibly see “Live Free, Die Hard”.
Uhm…yeah. There wasn’t a whole lot to that. However, hopefully in the near future I will have all new fiction to be posting. The story that I’ve been working on for the past few years (the one I promised to Jamie with the undead army) is nearing an end. While it will probably require some editing after it’s finished, to smooth over the bumps between when I started writing it and other people started reading it, I’m relatively happy with how it’s turning out. So I’ll likely be posting that, and comments are always encouraged.
That’s pretty much it for now. Still some time to kill, so I’ll be moving to Penny-Arcade podcasts. Geek? Me? No idea what you’re talking about. Hugs and howls to all!