Surely these tales (some short, some long, some already shared) won´t be as funny for you as they are for me, but I like to share :)
(July 2007) A couple years ago, I briefly dated this guy we will call Joe. Actually his name really was Joe! Anyways, he had some great qualities but I wasn`t sure that I wanted to introduce him to everyone in my life. My friends are FOREVER - my boyfriends aren`t, so I have to be sure of them before I will bring them into my social circle. Besides that, Joe had jealous tendencies so that was even more reason to wait before introducing him to my friends, of which many are male. He particularly had a problem with my friend Oulton, who I ride motorcycles with. Anyways one day after spending a night in Joe`s city, I had to ride my motorcycle back to my town for work. Oulton had texted me and asked if I was going on any rides so I said yeah, nothing interesting... just to work, but you are welcome to join me. So we agreed to meet at this gas station on the way out of town. I was super late leaving Joe`s after we went out for breakfast with his friends. He was heading to his moms house afterwards but wasn`t in a rush like me. When I arrived at the gas station Oulton was drinking a coffee on the patio. I rode up, leaving all my gear on and staying on the bike, apologizing for being late and saying we had to jet. When he stood up and put his helmet and gloves on, I looked in my right side mirror and could not believe my eyes - Joe left shortly after me and arrived at the same gas station! He obviously recognized me and must have gathered that it was Oultons bike that I was parked beside. Anyway - without turning around, my eyes almost popped out of my head and I started to laugh while deciding how to handle this. Oulton saw my face and asked what was up, so I said "... that blue ford at the pump over there is Joe"... he started to laugh and said, what now? I said, I am going to fuel up (my already completely full tank), how about you go introduce yourself! (In hindsight that was kind of mean of me lol!) haha So Oulton looks at me and says "..Should I leave my gloves on!!!" lmao. I will never forget how priceless his expression was combined with that comment. I dont even remember what transpired, but Joe and I were history soon after this! Oulton and I remain the best of friends, just the way it should be. Thank God I have my priorities straight! Haha...I wouldn´t trade our times for the world. I can`t thank you enough for looking after my motorcycle either. How about the time when you were fixing the squeek on my back brake... you removed the pads to scrub them a little. I got bored while you were working, walked over to the bike and repeatedly pushed the back brake pedal down! Hahahah...when you went to put everything back together, you were stumped for a brief while until asking me "Hmm, things aren`t fitting. Did you touch anything?" HAHA, you are so patient with my lack of knowledge! Rockband,best spitball fight ever at Swiss Chalet, hanging out with the kids watching Hockey, spending the weekends with a house full of people AND DOGS, all of our rides especially 2 up, telling a guy hitting on Kim that people call her the "black widow"! HAHAHA! My dad saying "What about that new guy? I like him" lmao! YOU ARE THE BEST! Yup, thats right, I win!). Miss you buddy :)
(February 2009, I am sure I blogged about this one in the past, but I have to tell the story again) This one took place when my mom, dad and brother Goob took a trip to Vegas and LA. We got a hotel right near Disneyland when we arrived late one night, so that we could go in the morning to enjoy the park. Once we checked in, we were all starving. Goob brought along his inredibly helpful (which I now consider a road trip essential) new GPS. We discussed food and decided on Italian. Goob punched Italian into the GPS and it came up with various restaurants. We picked one that I liked the name of (Demicelli`s) and was within about 4 kms of the hotel. Goob drove and followed the directions from the female voice, and it landed us in this large parking lot with a blockbuster in the middle, and various 1 level stores in classic strip mall format. It was kind of dumpy and we were searching through all the signs to finally see the Italian restaurant. It was 9 pm so pretty much everything was closed except this restaurant, which had a couple cars out front. Goob drove up and trolled slowly by... you know when you are looking for a place to eat, and you start assessing whether or not you want to park and get out of the car? I think we were all doing that. I first looked to see that it was open, and that there were a few cars out front... always good. Then I looked in the door and saw the booths, which had lattice fencing above them with fake ivy intertwined. My mom breaks the silence with "I`m not sure, looks expensive!" l m f a o. (I am laughing so hard right now I can barely see what I am typing). Looks expensive? I immediately laughed out loud thinking it was joke... I dont remember what else was said but then I realized she was dead serious! I laughed so hard, I think I fell out of the car and stumbled into the restaurant. I still don`t know how the word "expensive" came to mind when looking at this place, was it the lattice work above the booths? It was empty except for a few people sitting in the booth right next to the kitchen. I laughed all the way through the meal, which was very well priced and excellent - the best Italian food I have ever had. Anyway when we left, the people sitting in the booth near the kitchen were talking to my Dad when he was paying. It was obvious we were tourists, and they ACTUALLY asked him "Why did you choose this restaurant?" so he told them about the GPS lol. Once back in the car, Goob punched in the name of our hotel (Holiday Inn), only to find out that there were 4 hotels with the same name all within 4 kms! We had no idea where we were, the exact name of our hotel, or the phone number. I said we should just drive to each one, since its only four kms it cant take that long. Turned out that we went to 3 with no luck, and it was the very last one we picked lol! The route from the 3rd Holiday Inn to the 4th (ours) was very strange because we had to go all the way around this massive area where Disneyland was... it was more like 7 kms instead of 4. We are driving down the final stretch, all very tired and happy to finally be close to the hotel when my dad says "There had to be a quicker way than this". lmao. My mom broke out laughing and that started the giggles again! Of course he was referring to the fact that we had to drive an extra few kms from the 3rd hotel to the 4th... but it sounded like he meant from Demicelli`s back to the hotel, which should have taken 5 minutes, not 45 minutes! We tried to sleep that night but all I could think of was my mom saying "looks expensive" and start giggling. I couldnt stop, so I tried to just giggle silently incase someone was already asleep. My brother heard me and asked what I was laughing at but I was laughing too hard to speak, all I could say was "looks expensive"...then he got the giggles. My mom heard us talking and got the giggles as well, which woke up Dad! It was infectious. It was compounded by Dads comment about how long it was taking to get back to the hotel. Sometimes I will be walking down the street, or laying in bed just about asleep when this memory pops into my mind... and I giggle just like I did when it happened! Aw man, hahaahaha. The grizzwalds... I love you guys! She stood there bright as the sun on that California Coast...they drove for miles and miles on those twisting, turning roads. And those Hollywood Nights, in those Hollywood hills!
(March 2009) At provincials in Cranbrook. Teresa, Jacqui and I went out for lunch one afternoon. We were talking to the waitress, telling her that the night before we had finished working late (reffing a game) and had trouble finding a place that was still serving food! Her reply: Oh, are you guys dancers? LMAO! I have been asked a lot of things in my life... but that is the one (and hopefully only) time that someone asked if I am a stripper! In the waitress` defense, the other two girls are tall, thin and pretty so the chances are better for them! Haha. All the humour shared, especially the road trip up there in the truck with Jamie and my favourite Jim! Who is patient now??? hahaha. Dancing to warm up, honking repeatedly (JAX) drawing the attention of the cops...who proceeded to let us follow him into town to show us where we could get food. Can´t wait for more good times James, Jax and Teresa!
(November 2008) With Kim on one of our regular restaurant visits. Somehow this waitress thought it would be okay to touch Kim - hahaha, but she did it with such confidence that Kim didn´t even get a chance to ask her what the Ef she thought she was doing! I kept a tally of how many times the waitress touched her and it was in the double digits. Priceless LOL. You would have to know Kim to really embrace how unreal that experience was! Dog walks at Dumont, ripping around with the stereo jacked, Starbucks, meeting at Liquidation World in the big rig, talking about dysfunctional relationships. Celebrating birthday #22 with some good old dancing with the Indian hahaha. How about when we met? You showing up at Oultons with a suitcase, a tupperware container full of dog food and 3 dogs! You had to share the pull out couch with me everytime I came to visit! haha I miss you! Keep an eye on things while I`m gone, keep a lid on things ;)
(Summer 05-08) Ball Hockey Provincials and Nationals! Always SUCH fun because there was no pressure. Every summer, hanging out at the rinks in Van and staying at Lolly´s in New West (countless nights spent in rink parking lots!), Judes or Auntie Kare`s on the west side. Making all my Vancouver adventures with Carter, Mica, Lolls, Judes, Duncan, Scott, Geoff, Marcus, Kes, Carla, JD, John, Keith! So many unforgettable days and nights! Especially the sad steaks, hahaha.
(March 2009) An amazing night out with Steven in Vegas!!! My friend from Alberta who has lived in Vegas for 12 years took me out for a night on the town when I made a trip to vegas in the Spring. It was definitely one of my favourite nights ever, roaming from club to club, each very kewl in its own way. Meeting all the fellow hockey players, hitting Fremont Street, watching the waitress spill the entire glass of water on him at Breakfast (4am)!!! Hahahaha. Truly a night I will never forget.
(Winter 2008) Spending every second week with Kevin & Jenn in Victoria! Their welcoming spirit and awesome senses of humour never fail to make my time in Vic memorable! Cannot wait to get back there for Winter of 09! Kev and I have lots of hockey to play, Jenn and I have lots of running to do! So stoked for this future! ... And she`s calling a cab, while he`s having a smoke, and she`s taking a drag!
(April 2009) Walking through Victoria with Leah H - we ran into this talkative bum who started the conversation with "I am willing to bet that neither of you girls have a cigarette for me"... we continued talking with him as we slowly strolled by and eventually he asked us our names... we answered, asked for his, and he replied "Jack Smack"! Lmao! For some reason, we found it hilarious... and it is now a term of endearment between us. Excited for the good times upon my return, lots of friendship to grow :) (and of course, pictures to take!)
(December 2005) My 19th birthday celebrations at Gabbys in Langley. LEAH, Jess, John, Kat, Geoff, Kevin and possibly some other people came to celebrate my birthday with me. This was a wednesday, so the bar was fairly empty. It was jam night so Geoff sang me a song and it was awesome. Anyhow on the dance floor there was this, and I am not kidding, 75-80 year old woman in a dress. She was tearing it up! Mostly doing stretch type exercises, but she could lift her leg over the height of her head and grab onto her foot with her hand! Impressive flexibility. She must attend many chair classes and participate in the "stand up" exercises as well. We were all having such a good time watching this unlikely entertainment when the lady (who we referred to as Dragon) turned towards us. We watched anxiously to see her next move. She walked with purpose right up to the bar in front of where we were sitting, and it became obvious that she was staring directly at my boyfriend Kevin! She grabbed his hand and literally pulled him around all of us and onto the dance floor. He looked back at us with such desperation... hahahahaha.. I will never forget the expression! Something like "Aren`t you going to get me out of this!!?!?!?!?" as we laughed. None of us would dare interrupt something so amazing! He is such a nice guy that he also did some fancy stretching moves that she taught him while the music played along. Lmao. Unbelievable. Keep your hands to yourself ;)
(August 2005) When Leah drove me to meet Geoff at Agrifair. LMAO! Classic! There`s a light that always finds a way to Shine On Me. It`s in your heart, it`s in your soul, and in my memory :)
(July 2005) Jess and I`s trip to the theme park near Seattle. On the way home we were having a good old time driving in my truck past the farms on the way to the border. Unfortunately a tiny piece of hay (that I am allergic to) flew into my left eye! I started to rub my eye and it got swollen really fast. It was red and watering, and almost completely shut. I was looking out my right eye to drive. We reached the border with no line up! Normally getting back into Canada is a cakewalk compared to getting into the states... but not when you look like I did! The border gaurd shined the light on me and inside the truck, and then asked a few of the regular questions. Then he asked if we had been drinking? Nope. Got in a fight? Nope. Taking any illegal drugs? Nope. What happened to your eye? LOL! Trying to convince a border gaurd that a piece of hay flew into your eye just before you arrived is pretty much impossible! Jess was trying to convince them, but they weren`t having any of it! hahahaha. Eventually we got through... that was just one of many run ins with the border gaurds that year eh mica! Jess and I had Math or French 10 together at Highland and our teacher was Mr Roach. He was completely bald. Everyone knows Dr Evil from Austin Powers...well one of us brought up the fact that he reminded us of Dr Evil. The light was bouncing off his head just like in the movie! Anyway then we started thinking about Mr. Bigglesworth (the cat) being bald and nicknamed Mr Roach "Mr. Bigglesworth". We were laughing so hard my abs were aching. I tried to contain myself but everytime I looked up at the teacher, it started again. Everyone else was working away and Jess and I were in stitches. Naturally it was me who got removed from the class room, which I was thankful for because it hurts your abs even more when you try to stop laughing!!! We had an unreal summer all around in 2008. Parties in North Van, Playland, Seattle, the Island! The shower... hahaha. Late night drive thru`s, hockey tournies, 8 rinks. The memories are seriously countless. It`s 3 am, not Sunday afternoon; would you meet by the water tonight?
(Summer 2008) Heather accompanying me to spectate at the Ball Hockey Nationals in Vancouver! She brought her friend Chelsea on the first night, who is very pretty but gets ugly fast when she shows her attitude towards life. Anyway I introduced her to my favourite buddies from Ontario... we were hanging out, when my (black) friend Bobby says to Chelsea "Are you part Indian?" LMAO!!! You should have seen the look on her face. It was truly a kodak moment. She was stunned and didn`t really answer, I broke out in laughter. Bobby says "What??? She has beautiful eyes, in Ontario the natives are known for having the most beautiful eyes" hahahaah.. I told him that I didn´t think that was a compliment for the average BC girl, and just to stick with "You have pretty eyes". We have had so many good times growing up Heath! Hanging out just to have naps, watching Friends over and over again, living together in an expensive bachelor pad! Make up exams, hockey tournaments, Merritt, chick flicks, you dying my hair blue, getting ultra dressed up for a new years party in my own house lol! Aw man, looking forward to us in the future! (L) Tim Mcgraw, Shania, Merritt roadtrip!
(February 2009) At the RE/MAX tourny, on the last night when we got back to the hotel. All the guys crashed my room, where I was staying with my kewl roomie Mary! We ended up telling jokes and laughing until we cried ... it carried on until 6:15 am...we fell asleep for an hour or so, before we had to pack up and check out. One of the funniest nights of my life hands down! Next door was a guy from the hockey tourney and his wife. His wife walked by me the next morning and glared at me like I was the devil... then the husband came to my car window with a smile on his face and I apologized for all of us keeping them awake. He laughed and said he so badly wanted to come and join in the laughter (obviously his wife didn´t like that idea), but instead he just listened through the walls. Too funny! Yay for Feb 2010 in Edmonton! Marmaleeze!!!
(All my life) At Point Holmes with the Websters! Motorcycles since we were 5 on the property, and now the rides together on the big bikes! Ben and I trying to spy on our older siblings, while also trying to collect baby ducks and chickens in ice cream buckets! All the homemade movies! Getting the giggles when Auntie Mare would try to put us to sleep... and she couldn`t get mad because she got the giggles too! LOL! Dancing with Jord! Grandma Pat asking me before I left "Is matrimony in your future deary?" LOL! All the card games with Grandma, Doris and Benny... and now Alana! Myrons Naked! *Shudder* hahaha. Goob and Jeff hiding and filming while Ben and I took the tabs of pop cans, shook them, and threw them at Larry who was chopping firewood with an axe, wearing a cast on his broken leg.... that part is just cruel.... but looking back on how fast he chased us up the stairs with a cast, while swinging the axe AND swearing, is priceless! I miss Larry! He is one of my favourite childhood people for SURE! LOL One time Ben and I made "mucky duck" (put a hose into an area with really nice dirt, made a nice consistency of mud that we could make great mud balls with), and had the genius idea of throwing it at cars on lazo road. We must have run out of good dirt, because this particular batch had small rocks in it. We smoked a brand new red SUV while standing on the pickle (the name we gave one of the hills at the front of the property). It hit the brakes, and we took off! Apparently the owner of the car got out, saw that his vehicle was scatched, and came onto the property to find our parents. We got spanked. lmao! Or the time when Ben and I had set up a lemonade stand at the top of my driveway. No one was stopping so Ben decided on a new strategy; stand in the middle of the road with your arm up signalling Stop! Lmao. One car stopped then told him to get out of the way... and as they drove by he gave them the bird!!! Hahahah. I didn´t even think he knew what that meant! I think we were 7, it was amazing. All the summers camping at the lakes were stellar..zee Microfilm! Drink, Swear, Steal and Lie ;) Chasing the mysterious Zorro, the root cellar, the creepy bear head, candle making! I am so thankful to have grown up with you guys so close! Here is a picture of Ben, Jeff and I on a ride before I left. I like it, I love it, I want some more of it!
(1997 or close to it) When Goob and 2 of his friends tied fishing line to one of my moms old purses, then put it on the main road by our house that goes to the ferry terminal. One or two of them would hide in the forest, while one was up in a tree on the other side with the video camera and a walkie talkie. People would stop to pick up the purse and just as they got close, the filmer would walkie talkie the boys to pull the purse away! Lmao. They had it all on film and I watched it over and over and over. I havent seen it for years, but sometimes I still replay the reactions in my mind and it gets me everytime!
(2000) Golfing with Auntie Rhonda at Longlands. Learning to golf also taught me how to swear. I think I hit everything except the ball! Lol. I failed to excel at golfing, but I always had so much fun with my aunte!
(Childhood Summers) In Vancouver with the Cooke`s! I always looked forward to Playland and Splashdown every year, and it never got old! Playing cops and robbers with cap guns was one of my favourite past times! I miss those adrenalin rushes! One time we were on the way to a wedding (I think cousin Jer in Lilloet 1994?), and we traveled with the cookes. In one van was the older siblings and our dads, and in the other was me, Dave, Jules and our Moms. We were telling jokes on a scary part of the highway somewhere passed Whistler. Dave couldn`t have been anymore than 8 years old when he busts out with a joke about 3 couples at breakfast... One says to his wife "Pass the sugar, sugar", the other says "Pass the honey, honey!" and the last says "Pass the bacon, Pig!" Hahahahaha. Auntie Karen laughed so hard she was crying, and the tears blocked her vision. We nearly drove right off the side of an enbankment into the river! It was classic! Really raw raps, rising up rapidly, riding the Russian radioactivity!
(Summer 07) My first trip (and only to date) to Jordan River. Zsolt took me out riding in Vic and we had an amazing day. JR is magical, so are the twisties... and him forgetting to tell me about the decreasing radius corner that I almost hit the gravel on! It`s okay... he went through the corner first then realized I hadn`t been warned... he almost crashed because he was watching in his right side mirror to see if I made it through! Haha. Just one of many great rides and times we have shared! Keep the shiny side up this season please so we can share lots more! :)
(December 1997) My birthday party in Grade 6. Actually all my birthday parties were awesome but this particular one was pricless. It was a sleepover, and my dad had completed the renovation of the green room so we were all playing upstairs. My mom said it was cake time (DQ Ice cream cake, yeah baby! I miss DQ) so Jess got up and ran to the stairs. Laura ran after her, but when Jess stopped to go down the stairs, Laura kicked jess in the back of the heel and broke her toe! LMAO! Laura is in the middle, Jess on the right.
(May 1998) Every year my friends Garth White and Garth O`Neill entered into the Tri-K for our age category. Garth O swam, Garth W biked and I ran. We always did quite well. Sometimes we would hangout after school, so one time the boys came over to my house and we were building a tree fort. We were nailing down the floor so we had loose 2 by 4`s with hangover on each side. Garth W and I knew only to walk in the centre when we were working, so we told Garth O to stay away from the edges. I guess he forgot and he stepped on the overhang... down he went! It wasnt that far of a fall, but he broke his arm! lmao. He got up and we kept working. Eventually he said his arm was sore and it wasnt until later in the night that he figured out it was broken. His mom never let him come to my house again! I guess she thought we must have pushed him off or something! Too funny.
(Summer of 1992) Goob had hockey school in Port McNeil so me and my parents went up there for the week. I quickly made friends with a cute little guy named TinTin. He was a year or two older than me, and had a brother in the same hockey school. We were pretty much inseperable. After a couple of days, we wanted to go swimming at the pool beside the rink. He went to see his parents to get his swim trunks and I did the same. My mom got me into my bathing suit and we walked back over to TinTin`s camper. He walked out and saw me, and with a horrified look on his face he turned to his mom and quietly said "Is this a joke??????" Hahahaha. One of the many times I was mistaken for a boy in my younger years! Mud on your face, big disgrace, kickin your can all over the place singin we will, we will ROCK YOU!
(March 2001) My mom rented the hockey rink for my friends and I to play on during school time, it was awesome! My mom is the best! Anyways she also invited David from Vancouver. I wasnt expecting to see him so I couldnt figure out who this random guy was on our ice! My friends and I were wearing full gear, but he only had skates, gloves and stick. Eventually we were introduced and we all had fun scrimmaging. I took a shot on net and he was backchecking, then I turned to curl up the boards and he was hooking me with a lot of strength. I spun around and released the weight causing him to loose his balance and his head bounced off the aluminum part that holds the plexiglass in place! We were skating pretty fast so I didnt really see it happen. Eventually we went to pick up the pucks and he leaned forward and Jess says "uhh.. you`re bleeding a lot" LOL! He hit his head hard enough that it concussed him... anyway we all left the ice and it turned out that one of the girls` dad was a doctor. He had a look and said David definitely needed stitches (and he hated needles!). The next day the whole side of his face was swollen and he had a black eye that was shut from swelling. The injury wasn`t funny... except when people would say to him "I would hate to see the other guy!" and he had to respond with "Actually, she`s fine!" lmao! How is that for making a good first impression? I left a mark, literally!
Is it disturbing that I get such a kick out of people getting injured? I am a sucker for slapstick humour! I will have you know that I also think its funny when I get hurt, after the fact of course.
(June 1992) We welcomed a new member into the family in 1991 - Bruiser! Our beautiful black lab. He was about a year old when my mom and I took him for a walk down to the mailboxes. I decided it would be fun to go for a ride on his back. It was pretty fun until we were trotting along and all of a sudden he looks up at this large stump and SPRINTS away! I flew off, landing on the dirt road. I wasn`t that hurt, but my mom started laughing and couldn`t stop! I was 6 years old and wanting my mom to see if I was okay, but she was laughing too hard so I got angry at her lol! I remember crying and being angry at her for hurting my feelings, but the whole event was priceless. I wish we had it on film!
(January 1998) I had got a NERF gun just recently as a birthday present. It had soft foam darts with rubber suction cups on the end to stick to windows and such. Darryl came over (friend of my brother Mike) and was checking out the nerf gun. He shot one of the darts at me and hit me right in the eye - I was stunned so I paused, and then it started to sting so I started crying. To this day, Darryl imitates me getting hit, pausing, and then beginning to cry. Lmao. Heeeyyyyyy Marianne, what`s your game now, can anybody play!
(1997) Speaking of eyes... during the latter half of the 90´s, our house was over run by big flying ants every year! They were freaky and super annoying... but Goob found a way to make it fun! We used to get elastic bands out of the junk drawer and shoot them at the ants. We developed pretty good aim after a while! Our ceilings downstairs were textured with gyproc... so sometimes part of the ant would remain hanging off the roof. Surely that sounds disgusting, but it was kind of like a trophy for us. We were proud of them, we even named one "Ant Horker", I am not sure why lol. Anyways one time we shot an ant above us on the roof and the guts flew into my eye! I think it is pure acid inside those little devils! LOL. Anyway thats another one that wasnt funny at the time but makes me laugh now.
(May 2005) Leah and I went to the liquor store on a Tuesday night in abby and as we were leaving, these two guys pulled up. The one guy was trying to get Leahs attention and we were laughing... somehow Leah started talking to the guy and he told us they were getting alcohol and having a party. We had no bad vibes about it so we went to the quiet guys house...sure enough, we were the only ones there! LOL! We had fun though. The more talkative of the guys was named Cam, and the quiet one was Glen. Cam told Leah he was "so amazed with my eyes that he just HAD to see them again". He was hitting on her in one breath and then in the next, he was telling her he was on a sabatical due to the messy breakup with his ex! HAHAHA. Anyway, Glen was super kewl, I was apparently his Tiny Dancer. He had multiple autographed hockey sticks from NHL players! I think he was going to give me one but I didn´t take it, he was drunk lol. We had so many good times in Abbotsford! One other time, we were at a Country Music Awards show because Geoff sat on the board and got us tickets. We were dressed up in our cowgirl stuff, and somehow this lady in the line up took offense to Leah. We weren´t doing anything but standing there so I would have to conclude she just didn´t like Leah being young and so pretty! Anyhow, the lady ended up telling Leah to "Go back to work on her corner" lmao!!! Leah looks as much like a hooker as I look like a stripper! I often think of our times together... from camping at the lakes every summer, to our Campbell River roadtrips in your white car and singing to the Dixie Chicks at the top of our lungs, to getting back in touch after years and living together...Keith Urban roadtrip to Seattle! Sneaking me in (underage) to the Voodoo for your birthday in CR, Toothless Joe at mill lake (lmao), 302! Lmao, Leah reminded me of this so I have to tell you one more side story. For some reason, Leah had her cat "kitten" in her car. The cat somehow managed to climb INTO the dashboard of the vehicle and we couldn`t get her out! Leah was severely panicked and I wasn`t quite sure what to do, so we decided to call this guy named Scott who originally was hitting on me and then switched to Leah. Hahaha. He showed up with tools and took the dash apart to get the cat out. It was priceless. I don`t think either of us spoke to Scott again! haha! CANADA DAY celebrations with Jess, 2 massive bottles of wine, Canadian flag tatoos on our foreheads, a stolen sign, fireworks, and pictures of camero Dave in the waistband of my pants. HAHA Unreal. Our alberta trips, being your one and only Piffer Peach, your wedding, and now our Calgary randomness. Haha. You are the bestest friend I could ask for! So if anyone asks, not that they would...we`ll be down in Mississippi, and up to no good! MY PHONES ON VIBRATE FOR YOU!
(June 2008) Training with some special people for our Canada Day Belly Dance Performance!!! We had a couple practices weekly in my living room when I moved into the beach house. It had nice hardwood floors and no furniture, so it made the perfect studio! Anyhow, we were partially in our costumes as we got closer to the performance to make sure everything was fitting properly, and wouldn´t move while we danced. We wore decorative bra´s with jingles attached. One night, my landlords from Edmonton were in town and came to the house to introduce me to their daughters, but we didn´t hear the knocks because of the music. They went to the front yard to look into the living room, but they were shocked by our lack of shirts so they weren´t sure how to get our attention. LOL, eventually one of the dancers said "Uhm, there are people waving on the lawn". When we went to the window to look out, Don was waving but keeping his arm over his eyes because he wasn´t sure if he was supposed to be seeing what was going on! Hahaha. We ended up inviting them in and explained what was happening. That preparation was worth it, as we had a great performance on Canada Day at the Sid! My parents, Mike & Judi and my cousin Jord all came to the show! After everything I have done in my life, I smile when I think that it took a belly dance performance to make my Dad proud of me! Oh well, its a good feeling even if it was an unlikely event! It was great fun performing dance on a stage, in front of a GREAT audience! I am sad about missing this year, but glad to hear it went well! And thank you to the girls for making my costume, you are great!
(2009) Living at the beach house with Goob, Danika, Mike, Judi, Hannah and Braden! Hahahaha, 3 fun parties (I said ooh girl, shock me like an electric eel!)... some funny events I won´t mention. Fitting 20 plus people on the awesome, massive bed that Goob made! Emptying a 40 pounder into the blender with Judi Juice! Eating wonderful food prepared by Judi & Danika! Hannah & Bradens little voices at the bottom of the stairs, "Can we come up?" haha, Bradens crush on Danika! Goob and I chipping away the ridiculous amount of ice that created a 3 inch sheet over the driveway. Always shovel your driveway before the snow turns to ice and you have to use ice picks, crow bars and torches to make the driveway useable! Haha. Mike trying shut off the burner where he had been warming up soup for Mom, but instead putting the burner on High and then going out... and in turn boiling it dry, then lighting all the wooden/silicon utensils on fire! Again, not funny at the time. My first experience putting out a fire lol! I am so thankful for the memories!
(Forever) Visits with auntes, uncles, cousins, and my grandma`s! Pondering life with my auntes and uncles is always fun, and I try to get regular visits in if I can. Visiting with uncle Ray and Auntie Glady, laughing til I cried about the time they went to watch this band play. The musicians were so old that one of them actually FELL ASLEEP during the performance, and the other ones were in such deep concentration that they didn`t even notice! LMAO! Catching up with Uncle Brad Webster by fluke in Victoria and enjoying some catch up time! Grandma Kitty seems to get funnier all the time, especially when she isn´t mad at me for taking the front seat of the car, or for some other form of disrespect I showed lol. All the Turkey Dinners at home and in Port Alberni, Christmas` through the years with the Cooke`s, Family reunions are ALWAYS something I look forward to - and 5 years is just too long! Yay for 2010! Just take those old records off the shelf, sitt and listen to `em by myself... todays music ain`t got the same soul, I like that old time Rock n Roll!
(1991-1993) Having Mrs. Sutcliffe as a teacher THREE YEARS IN A ROW and our mutual dislike growing with each year! I am pretty sure I got booted into the hall way at least three times a week. Looking back, I am not sure what I could have done so frequently to deserve to be removed from the class room. Perhaps it just became a habit - rather than dealing with me, just ship me off to the hallway for a while. I didn`t mind, school wasn`t my strongpoint lol!
(Summer 06, 07, 08) All the weddings that Geoff and I went to together! Hahaha... At the first one, his Mom tried to get information out of him about the nature of our relationship NINE TIMES before the ceremony had even started! He successfully changed the subject each and every time! It was priceless to watch the reactions. We thought that wedding 2 would be a good time to put a pillow under my dress, hahaha, until Geoffs brilliance brought up the fact that I wouldn`t be able to drink if we went through with that prank! Amazing times - sorry I can`t join you this year, hope you find a good replacement ;). Camping & Boating with Jeremy and Tyson! Great times up at Golden Ears, and out on Pitt Lake getting sun burnt, getting to know your amazing family... enjoying the serenity with you guys! I will truly miss it this year! I don`t think you know the value of your smile, how that one small gift can make the worst day seem worthwhile ;)
(1999) My dad decided that I had to do 2 years of Piano Lessons with Mrs. Purvis *shudder* to give it a fair chance. I have always been sure about what I like and don`t like, but I respected him teaching me that sometimes it`s not enjoyable to become more well rounded all the time. Let me tell you though - the only thing that got me through the last few months was the fact that my mom let me drive the green caravan on the back roads to and from the lessons! Hahaha! Mostly it was on the dirt roads out by the Huband gravel pit, but it really doesn´t matter whether its dirt or pavement when you are ripping around on the roads at 12 years old! HAhahah Mom you are the best! This brings me back to the time that Ben and I (11 years old) had the Ford Escort up the back along with grandmas old Datsun and played "Hide & Seek" in vehicles instead of on foot.... until one time we were near the houses and our parents came in the driveway! Lmao, game over.
(December 06) Teaching Don Nicholas how to play wickets while reffing a really boring midget girls game in Burnaby. Hahaha - here is some brief history: Don is definitely over 60 and wears glasses with coke bottle lenses, he is affectionally nicknamed Mr. Magoo. Wickets is a game we play as refs, with the object being to get the puck to go between your legs and points are awarded. You lose points if you miss a call because you were trying to get a wicket lol. Anyways, I was surprised that he was catching on so quickly! He got more into the game of wickets than the actual game we were reffing. At one point, he actually turned his back (a big reffing no no) to the play AND missed an offside call just to get a point! LMAO, I was laughing so hard that I couldn´t blow my whistle to call the offside for him! One of many fond reffing and wicket memories for sure!
(December 2007) Heading up to Fort St John while Snowflake had his spleen removed! They actually cut his abdomen open from 1 inch to the right of his sternum in an arc to his left hip!!! As soon as the surgery was done, I was able to visit. He was pretty messed up on morphene. The nurses told him that the body heals better when your brain isn`t aware of the pain, so he had to take the morphene. If he didn`t push the button himself, then they would put him on an automatic drip lol! Anyways he would try to talk but fade in and out of conversation, it was kind of funny! Eventually when reality struck, he showed me the cut. They literally STAPLED the massive cut closed! Normal, metal staples. I could not believe my eyes! I have never seen someone recover so quickly from surgery. Snowflake you are a MACHINE! Shooting a handgun for the first time at the range in Edmonton... laughing uncontrollably at the comedians, watching hockey games, hanging out in Vic, bodybuilding show in Van! I admire your dedication to the sport and your discipline, it`s inspiring! Such good memories! Can`t wait until we train together! The scar shrunk considerably :)
(April 2004) Waking up from a nap in Coquitlam... walking into the kitchen and seeing the sweetest little Black & White baby rabbit hopping under my kitchen table! My sweet little Neko boy!!! David and I lived in an apartment so we couldn´t get a pup. I am so glad I got my Neko instead! I spent hours and hours with him everyday. Eventually he followed me everywhere I went, and was annoyed if I ever shut the bathroom door without letting him in. Haha. When I went back to school, my mom and I picked out a friend for him in Campbell River for company. Another little gray rex named Pebbles! When they first met, Pebbles kicked him in the face... but 10 minutes later they became best friends and remain that way! What is it with relationships starting with such violence and then turning out to be so good? hahaha. I love and miss my little bundles of love! I need some distraction, oh beautiful release! Thanks for looking after them Mom!
(September 2003) Playing for the Steelers in Vancouver and meeting one of my very best friends Katie! Attending Nationals together in Calgary in 04 and losing at the end of Double OT to miss our chance at the bronze medal game. That tournament was SUCH a blast! My Mom and Auntie Rhonda came to cheer me on. Our weekends at the Whistler Tournie, meeting up on the island for a night on the town in Vic... and deciding that since it was 4 am there was no point in paying for a hotel. We started to drive back to Nanaimo but I got tired and we slept in the car for a couple hours haha! Meeting up in Van, picking up Leah on the side of the highway and trying to get her attention while she waited in "the" Camaro! Hahaha. Our crazy weekend on Galiano when the storm knocked the powerpoles and transformer into the roof of our cabin. Aw, I miss you, come back from the US! We need to race around on the rockets. Maybe some snowboarding in Colorado is on the agenda for the winter ;) You`re on my heart just like a tattoo
(March 2009) Mike & Judi re-introducing me to the the beautiful west coast after more than 15 years since my one and only visit! Great roadtrip, lots of interesting stops, amazing beaches, a trip to the look-out (courtesy of Goob & friends), seeing the Innchanter, getting great pictures! Lots of time to be spent here with you two in the future... Hot Springs cove, Cougar Annie´s garden! Or maybe the Streets of Philadelphia!
(December 2008) The night Jer made me dinner at his new house. We ate, had more than a few drinks, then went snowshoeing around the neighbourhood!!! That was my first experience with snowshoeing, and it was hilarious. Maybe because my coordination wasn´t at its best, and I kept sinking into the snow and falling instead of gracefully walking on the surface! When we first left the house, Jer slipped off one of those 3 foot mounds that the snowplow made! I was walking slightly ahead of him, so he thought I didn´t notice. I purposely delayed my laughter until he was on two feet again! LMAO! All the fun times helping me train for ball hockey! Countless games of frisbee and aerobie at Louis Park, bike rides, the nightmare of purchasing your house! I am very sad you are posted but I have faith you will be back so we can make some more memories!
(July 1997) My brother Mike taking me tubing on an air mattress down the Puntledge river from the fish hatchery! I got introduced to going through rapids which are referred to as "washing machines" lol. Mike loves thrills so I had no choice but to join in the fun! Looking forward to going to a six flags with you in the future bud! Perhaps you are the only one who would enjoy the rollercoasters as much as me as an adult. Although at California Adventure Park, Goob and I had a blast sitting at the front of the biggest coaster there! Zero to 60 faster than I thought was possible lol!
(June 1999) Goob took me on my first ever ride on a sportbike (black & yellow Honda CBR 600) being his first passenger ever! Looking back through the chapters of your life, searching for the story line... I decided then and there that I would own a sportbike at some point and sure enough, I made good on that promise to myself. So much fun! Especially when the helmet was too big, wind got in the sides and pulled it backwards off my head! Good thing I had the chin-strap done up so it could choke me while the wind filled the place my head should have been! Lol!!! I am still sad about the time we tried to go camping together on one of the islands... but me, mom and dad crossed the rough waters on the sea doo and it was too rough to go back and get you :( I hung out on Russ Nelsons boat (I think???) but it definitely wasn´t as fun as our camping mission would have been. Good thing we did lots of camping up at the lakes! Haha speaking of camping - that time we went as a family along the Sunshine Coast and took Bruiser dog with us. He got out of Goobs tent in the middle of the night, went down to the water and was persistently barking at the Otters!!! Somehow Goob managed to get him back and in the tent(soaking wet) before the guy in charge of the campsites came by to find out if it was our dog causing all the trouble! LOL! Goob insisted it wasn´t - "Nope, our dog is right here in my tent. He has been sleeping here all night"! Hahaha. And on the same trip, we went golfing... Mike hit a ball on a hole where the green was through some trees. We thought it was safe but Mike hit further than he expected, so he yelled "Fore" and all we heard was "MOTHER F&/(&·ER" etc! Lmao! My favourite golf moment! Glory days!
(October 2007) Taking Hannah & Braden through the woods where I spent so much childhood time building forts, hacking trails, playing cops & robbers. The kids were awesome and fearless, treading through the trails and climbing up the steep hill that we needed to use rope for assistance! I felt like I was 8 years old again, in the same woods where Dustin, Kyle and I built tree forts... building trails with Ben with saws and other dangerous sharp items... when we somehow disturbed a bees nest! We ran like stink to get home but the bees were persistent. I think we ended up with 3 or 4 stings each! Thank goodness (but surprisingly) that was the only bees nest we angered! Spill the wine
(Summer of 1989) We had a good family friend named Grant Wilson. Apparently I had a crush on him. One time he came over to the house to go fishing with my Dad and probably my brother Mike. I thought I was going, and when told otherwise, I think I threw a fit! He made it up to me by taking me to DQ and getting me a chocolate dipped cone. I ate it in my highchair with a massive grin on my face. Could this be when I fell in love with DQ, down on the boomdocks!!! haha :)
(August 1995) On our way to a family reunion, we had borrowed my Grandma´s van because it had air conditioning. Coming down the big hill by Trail, something started to really stink! We thought it was the city itself... but when we got to the gas station, we realized that it was the smoke from the brakes in our van! hahaha. It must have been around this same time that we went to Keremeos and couldn´t get the hide-a-bed out to sleep on. We went to buy produce at those markets. At one, I got a chocolate milk. We went to the other market for some better corn, and the cashier made us pay for the chocolate milk, even though it was almost gone and I bought it at the other store! Hahaha. A classic moment on one of our road trips!
(August 2005) Dad taking us out on his boat to visit Ford Cove & Tribune Bay. We took Grandma Pat & cousin Diane from Saskatoon. Another awesome trip to the same place when we had Auntie Rhonda with us as well! Countless fun times out on the boat. One time we all got stuck on Denman because it got too rough to go home. We dug clams and cooked them over a fire on the beach... everyone promised that I would like the clams dipped in butter so I tried one - nope, sure didn`t like it! Haha. I will always remember the trips here with the Harbottle`s. They really loved Henry Bay! We may lose and we may win, though we will never be here again...so take it Easy!
(Summer 1996) When Ben and I went to Victoria to stay with Uncle Al & Auntie Joyce! Auntie Joyce buying us lottery tickets, renting "Hear no Evil, See no Evil" (because I promised that my parents rented it for me even though it was rated R)for us so we could watch it over and over again, eating junkfood! The best part was riding the train home on our own, but with "supervision" from Wendy Langdale, who was sitting away from us looking after her own two kids. Auntie Joyce bought us these sling shots that shot koosh balls, attached to stretchy rubber so that hooked onto the slingshot. This guy in the section of seats across the isle from us was asleep with his mouth open snoring. We were trying to shoot the koosh balls and land them in his mouth! Hahahaha. Best time ever on a train!
(October 2006) My first opportunity to do photowork with Jules! He wrote a couple stories about Real Estate and took some pictures for the newspaper. Lots of fun, adventurous times between us and some great art produced! While we were at the beach walking along with my mom, this doberman came towards us barking. Mom & Jules high-tailed it lol! I waited until the dog got within 15 feet and then she stopped and looked at me. I called her, she came over so I bent down to say hello. Jules is always in focus and managed to snap one of my favourite pictures ever! You rock Jules, truly talented! You are in my thoughts along with little Tassja, the only JRT I have ever liked!
(October 2007) "Dressing up" as the HULK for Halloween and going out with Carter! hahaha. She deemed it the best Social Experiment she has ever participated in... and what an experiment it was! Best Halloween Ever!
(October 2008) The start of my life on Couchsurfing! It is such a wicked project. I have hosted, surfed, met wonderful people from all around the world! My awesome parents have even hosted for me since I left for Europe. Here is a picture with the nice French boy from when my parents took him on a boat trip with Hannah & Braden!
(March 2006) Getting back in touch with one of my favourite boys ever! I am so happy for where your life is right now! It makes me smile to know that you see enough in me to forgive me, when you could have easily dismissed me for my mistake. Thanks for that, and teaching me that sometimes second chances come along! You are frrrrrresh Aar in my life! And I can`t make it on my own, because my heart is in Ohio ;)
(November 2008) Reffing an old timers game at SC2 one night, this crazy charming guy kept goofing around on the ice. I knew everyone on both teams except for him! During the handshake I put my hand out, he skated up slowly and went to shake my hand but instead yelled "AHHHHHHHHHHH" and picked me up! Hahaha, it scared the crap out of me. That was my introduction to the one and only REV! Building a friendship has been awesome and so was the training all winter at your gym! You are very special and have an incredible power to influence people in an inspiring way. I am excited for you this year, it is going to be big. Here I go again on my own, going down the only road I`ve ever known! Miss you tons! xoxo
(Summer 2000) My parents took me and the boat camping at Deep Bay. My brothers didnt join us so I was allowed to bring a friend. I took Becky Crawford who I had been in the swim club with years earlier. We were out on the Sea-doo in the open waters, and my parents were in the boat. I had the safety for the key clipped onto my lifejacket, so that if we fell off, the key would come with us. I was doing donuts with the craft and then going into the middle of all the waves... one big wave ended up tipping us off! Unfortunately, the safety clip came off the zipper of my lifejacket and the key remained in the machine! The Sea-doo was idling around in the water by itself, hahaha. Luckily, Becky is a quick thinker. She ditched her life jacket, swam to the Sea-doo (which was doing large circles, when I fell off I turned the handlebars to the left) and hit the kill switch. Many good memories! When we first got the Sea-doo, my dad rigged it so that I could only make it go up to a certain speed. I remember when he took off the restrictor... the throttle was controlled by my right thumb. I hit a wave which caused me to grab tighter on the handlebars and my thumb gave the thing gas! I quickly realized why it had been restricted when I was younger haha. Remember the good times? And least you forget; we have no, no regrets!
(December 2004) Realizing that there are people in my life who will drop EVERYTHING to be there for me when I need them. The time doesn`t matter; day, night, giving me your undivided attention for as long as I need. Letting me use your shining light when mine went out. Knowing that I need you even when I haven´t said anything. You are an Angel and the only person who has faithfully been there for me everytime I have needed you. He was always there to help her, she always belonged to someone else... and she will be loved. Thank you!!!
(January 2007) Kelly and I were at a RE/MAX function in Kelowna, but we both had our own hotel rooms. We went for dinner in the hotel (which was awesome), and we kept noticing this group of big guys loitering at the entrance. There was a couple guys behind me, a few tables away that Kelly kept looking at. Eventually she says "I am pretty sure that big guy on the left is an actor in a movie". I had my back to them, so I turned to look and both the guys looked right back at me, I turned back around. "I don`t recognize them.." so a few minutes go by and she says "Yea, he is in that movie with a whole bunch of little kids, and Steve Martin". I hadn`t seen it so I still didn`t get the reference. Each time I tried to catch a peek, they both looked over in sync! We found out afterwards that there was a Snoop Dogg concert playing next door that night, and he was staying at this hotel. Apparently he had taken over the entire 4th floor, but both Kelly and I were on the sixth. Later that night (1 am)Kelly was wandering around the hotel in her PJs (that had cowboy boots on them, HAHA!) because she couldn´t sleep. She ended up meeting the guys we saw at dinner, who started talking to her and said they saw us keep looking at them. Kelly told them she thought that the one guy was an actor but her friend (being me) didn`t recognize either of them. Turns out it was Ice Cube! Oops, guess I should watch TV more often! She ended up hanging out with them for the night, drinking Gray Goose Vodka straight lol. She said he had a wicked hotel room and the guy with him was his friend/body gaurd. Since there was two of them, Ice Cube was telling Kelly to go get her "daughter" (hahaha, that would be me) with the blonde pony tail. Kel knew I was sleeping so she didn`t call me. I just about slapped her the next morning lol! After a few minutes, she says to me "I really should have called you last night, I would have been more comfortable if there was two of us!"... THANKS GENIUS! Hahaha. We had such great times at all the conventions, and working together!
This trip has taught me some new things and also reminded me of how blessed I am! There are many memories that fill my head but of course I cannot share them all. I hope you all know (including people/memories that weren`t mentioned here) that you have had an impact on who I am, and I am thankful for that.
I would love for you to comment here with any of your favourite memories! Hope you enjoyed the long read :)
A small update!
A little update for you! Unfortunately there have not been waves here since last Sunday! Apparently when the seasons shift, the waves slow down... and then pick up again. Right now we are between Spring and Summer so things suck. Oh well, it is giving me a chance to get in shape which will make my surfing easier then the time comes!
Right now Victor is gone to his sailing competition, and Maria and Arancha have gone as well. It is just me and Jesus in the house (I smirk to myself whenever I write a sentence involving him lol!) so it is nice and quiet. Perhaps we are equally athletic, so we don`t see each other too much between our sports!
I have been faithful with my morning exercise and my evening stretching, so my body is feeling great. The sun here combined with the fact that I stopped picking at my skin leaves me with a perfect complexion, I am very happy. Today is the first day that I was able to get up with the sun. It has taken me almost 2 weeks to transform my lifestyle to where I can get up early and feel good! I changed everything at once - diet, exercise, activities, home... so it took me a while to also transfer my sleep schedule. I should be on this schedule for good now, since I feel so good in the mornings. Today was my best workout yet and I felt like I could run a marathon afterwards! And this was all before breakfast, hah! My life rocks.
Yesterday was my first trip into the city. On the ferry I met a really nice young Swedish couple, Henrik and Stella. Turns out they are actually here to go to the same surf school as me, I just haven`t been going because there has been no waves! We spent the day wandering around, doing some shopping. I bought the fattest book I could find for the least amount of money lol. I can`t workout all day so I need something to keep me entertained! Perhaps tonight I will meet up with the Swedish kids and we will make dinner together here in my kitchen. They are Vegetarian and staying in a hotel with no kitchen... so I asked Jesus if it would be okay if we made dinner here. They are having a hard time finding food since I dont think Spain has many vegetarians lol. Plus they dont speak Spanish so it is even more difficult for them! When I left them yesterday, they were going to order a Vegetarian pizza and Stella said to me with a smile "It should be interesting!" haha. I laughed and wished them luck!
I have updated my Santander photo album with my adventures and pictures of the scenery around where I live. If I haven`t shared my public gallery with you, comment here leaving your email address so that I can share my photos!
Hope everyone at home is well. I think time is going to fly by now that I am into a routine and I will be home before I know it!
Right now Victor is gone to his sailing competition, and Maria and Arancha have gone as well. It is just me and Jesus in the house (I smirk to myself whenever I write a sentence involving him lol!) so it is nice and quiet. Perhaps we are equally athletic, so we don`t see each other too much between our sports!
I have been faithful with my morning exercise and my evening stretching, so my body is feeling great. The sun here combined with the fact that I stopped picking at my skin leaves me with a perfect complexion, I am very happy. Today is the first day that I was able to get up with the sun. It has taken me almost 2 weeks to transform my lifestyle to where I can get up early and feel good! I changed everything at once - diet, exercise, activities, home... so it took me a while to also transfer my sleep schedule. I should be on this schedule for good now, since I feel so good in the mornings. Today was my best workout yet and I felt like I could run a marathon afterwards! And this was all before breakfast, hah! My life rocks.
Yesterday was my first trip into the city. On the ferry I met a really nice young Swedish couple, Henrik and Stella. Turns out they are actually here to go to the same surf school as me, I just haven`t been going because there has been no waves! We spent the day wandering around, doing some shopping. I bought the fattest book I could find for the least amount of money lol. I can`t workout all day so I need something to keep me entertained! Perhaps tonight I will meet up with the Swedish kids and we will make dinner together here in my kitchen. They are Vegetarian and staying in a hotel with no kitchen... so I asked Jesus if it would be okay if we made dinner here. They are having a hard time finding food since I dont think Spain has many vegetarians lol. Plus they dont speak Spanish so it is even more difficult for them! When I left them yesterday, they were going to order a Vegetarian pizza and Stella said to me with a smile "It should be interesting!" haha. I laughed and wished them luck!
I have updated my Santander photo album with my adventures and pictures of the scenery around where I live. If I haven`t shared my public gallery with you, comment here leaving your email address so that I can share my photos!
Hope everyone at home is well. I think time is going to fly by now that I am into a routine and I will be home before I know it!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Santander... YAYYYYY!
Hello from the North of Spain!
Sorry for the delay on writing this one. I have been slacking with the blog since I arrived here a week ago. Anyway, things are fantastic!
I slept in the airport last Saturday night... with about 100 other people! I fell asleep at 3:30 and woke up at 5:37. I should have set my alarm for earlier because I almost missed my flight! I frantically packed up my sleeping bag, and went to the Ryanair baggage drop area. They told me that I first had to have my passport stamped at the ryanair desk, so I ran there... the lady worked slowly and was not very bright. She checked my passport and ticket, and I asked her where to go next and she said go to security. I had a 30 pound backpack on my back, which she clearly saw. So I was standing in line at security and by now it was 5:55. I talked to someone in line who asked if I was taking my big bag on the plane and I said no, but the ryanair lady sent me here... so then I had to run back to the original ryanair baggage drop that I was at, where my bag only made it on the plane by 1 minute. I ran back to security and was in a large line at 5:58, and my gate for the plane closed at 6:00! The system was efficient in the airport so I was through the large line by 6:03, and then had to look at the screens to figure out where my gate was. I sprinted to the gate, which was the VERY LAST ONE and arrived at 6:08. They were just boarding, so I got on the plane. Phew.
Arancha picked me up at the airport in Santander. We were both tired when we got back to the house, so she showed me my room, I had some breakfast and then had a 3 hour nap. When I woke I met Jesus and eventually the 12 year old boy, Victor. Later in the afternoon when Arancha arrived home, I met the daughter Maria who is 9.
We all had lunch together and the rest is history! On Monday I was invited to surf lessons with Maria. There is a small group of mostly girls (about 8) who surf from 4-6 during the week through a program with their school. I have been attending the lessons where all the gear is supplied. The first week I went Monday, Thursday and Friday. This week I will go Mon, Tues Wed and then start my own private lessons at the end of the week. It is awesome!!! I love surfing! I was able to stand up on the board on my third wave, because I have such a low centre of gravity and good balance from my other sports. Sometimes it takes patience because you have to know when to paddle before the wave, wait for the right wave, stand up quickly, not get the leash tangled in your legs when you are trying to stand! Anyway I am loving it very much and am very excited to get better! Being in the ocean is so refreshing. It is 18 degrees here and we are in full wetsuits so it is perfectly comfortable.
Other than that, the family is great. They got a bike for me to use with a helmet, and I am using Aranchas rollerblades. I also have the use of their water sports equipment which is awesome, I look forward to using that when we spend more time together as a family. Maria is just finishing up school this coming week so things are still busy. This week we attended 2 of her dance recitals and a meeting with the other 4 families who go on vacation in the Mountains in July.
My job here is to speak English with everyone. I play card games and monopoly with the kids, and play other games like ping pong! Hopefully when all the other sports are wrapped up, we will go for bike rides and do more activities at the beach. Everyone snorkels across the way to a small island where the beach is less crowded!
The beaches are AMAZING here! I live 22 kms from Santander on the north coast of Spain, so it is the Bay of Biscay that we face. There is a group of 7 small villages. Three are coastal (Somo which is where I live, Loredo, and Langre I think) and 4 are in the mountains. They are all very close together, I have been to 4 so far by bike. The beach that stretches along the 3 coastal villages is 4 kms long and pure sand! My surf school is in Loredo which is about 1.5 kms from the house.
I have cleaned up my diet and am into a good exercise routine. I hope to lose 6 kilos (14 pounds) by July 22nd. That is my goal, so about 1.2 kilo per week over a 5 week period. I am off dairy products and sugar, and have very little bread/pasta so I will keep this up and see how it goes!
I just put my clothes on the clothes line with wooden pegs! haha! It has been years since my mom used to hang our clothes out on that clothes line that was held down by cement in the middle of a rubber tire. I never thought I would be hanging clothes with wooden clothes pegs but it is quite fun!
Tomorrow Victor goes to the national sailing championships in Valencia and on Thursday, Arancha and Maria are flying down to see him. Perhaps I will have some time to go take the passenger ferry (30 mins each way) into the city of Santander to check things out. I met one nice girl in the surf shop where I got my flipflops so I will also go see her and see if she wants to hangout. I keep pretty busy, and care more about my health than my social life, so I dont mind not having people to hangout with.
I have posted the pictures from my trip, some on Facebook and a bunch of webalbums through Picasa.. but I have to figure out how to share the link with everyone. I will ask my brother today so check back to see pictures!
Lots of love to everyone at home! Miss you too Leah!!!
Sorry for the delay on writing this one. I have been slacking with the blog since I arrived here a week ago. Anyway, things are fantastic!
I slept in the airport last Saturday night... with about 100 other people! I fell asleep at 3:30 and woke up at 5:37. I should have set my alarm for earlier because I almost missed my flight! I frantically packed up my sleeping bag, and went to the Ryanair baggage drop area. They told me that I first had to have my passport stamped at the ryanair desk, so I ran there... the lady worked slowly and was not very bright. She checked my passport and ticket, and I asked her where to go next and she said go to security. I had a 30 pound backpack on my back, which she clearly saw. So I was standing in line at security and by now it was 5:55. I talked to someone in line who asked if I was taking my big bag on the plane and I said no, but the ryanair lady sent me here... so then I had to run back to the original ryanair baggage drop that I was at, where my bag only made it on the plane by 1 minute. I ran back to security and was in a large line at 5:58, and my gate for the plane closed at 6:00! The system was efficient in the airport so I was through the large line by 6:03, and then had to look at the screens to figure out where my gate was. I sprinted to the gate, which was the VERY LAST ONE and arrived at 6:08. They were just boarding, so I got on the plane. Phew.
Arancha picked me up at the airport in Santander. We were both tired when we got back to the house, so she showed me my room, I had some breakfast and then had a 3 hour nap. When I woke I met Jesus and eventually the 12 year old boy, Victor. Later in the afternoon when Arancha arrived home, I met the daughter Maria who is 9.
We all had lunch together and the rest is history! On Monday I was invited to surf lessons with Maria. There is a small group of mostly girls (about 8) who surf from 4-6 during the week through a program with their school. I have been attending the lessons where all the gear is supplied. The first week I went Monday, Thursday and Friday. This week I will go Mon, Tues Wed and then start my own private lessons at the end of the week. It is awesome!!! I love surfing! I was able to stand up on the board on my third wave, because I have such a low centre of gravity and good balance from my other sports. Sometimes it takes patience because you have to know when to paddle before the wave, wait for the right wave, stand up quickly, not get the leash tangled in your legs when you are trying to stand! Anyway I am loving it very much and am very excited to get better! Being in the ocean is so refreshing. It is 18 degrees here and we are in full wetsuits so it is perfectly comfortable.
Other than that, the family is great. They got a bike for me to use with a helmet, and I am using Aranchas rollerblades. I also have the use of their water sports equipment which is awesome, I look forward to using that when we spend more time together as a family. Maria is just finishing up school this coming week so things are still busy. This week we attended 2 of her dance recitals and a meeting with the other 4 families who go on vacation in the Mountains in July.
My job here is to speak English with everyone. I play card games and monopoly with the kids, and play other games like ping pong! Hopefully when all the other sports are wrapped up, we will go for bike rides and do more activities at the beach. Everyone snorkels across the way to a small island where the beach is less crowded!
The beaches are AMAZING here! I live 22 kms from Santander on the north coast of Spain, so it is the Bay of Biscay that we face. There is a group of 7 small villages. Three are coastal (Somo which is where I live, Loredo, and Langre I think) and 4 are in the mountains. They are all very close together, I have been to 4 so far by bike. The beach that stretches along the 3 coastal villages is 4 kms long and pure sand! My surf school is in Loredo which is about 1.5 kms from the house.
I have cleaned up my diet and am into a good exercise routine. I hope to lose 6 kilos (14 pounds) by July 22nd. That is my goal, so about 1.2 kilo per week over a 5 week period. I am off dairy products and sugar, and have very little bread/pasta so I will keep this up and see how it goes!
I just put my clothes on the clothes line with wooden pegs! haha! It has been years since my mom used to hang our clothes out on that clothes line that was held down by cement in the middle of a rubber tire. I never thought I would be hanging clothes with wooden clothes pegs but it is quite fun!
Tomorrow Victor goes to the national sailing championships in Valencia and on Thursday, Arancha and Maria are flying down to see him. Perhaps I will have some time to go take the passenger ferry (30 mins each way) into the city of Santander to check things out. I met one nice girl in the surf shop where I got my flipflops so I will also go see her and see if she wants to hangout. I keep pretty busy, and care more about my health than my social life, so I dont mind not having people to hangout with.
I have posted the pictures from my trip, some on Facebook and a bunch of webalbums through Picasa.. but I have to figure out how to share the link with everyone. I will ask my brother today so check back to see pictures!
Lots of love to everyone at home! Miss you too Leah!!!
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Mad!
So I really have nothing to tell you about the city of Madrid! The last time I updated the blog I had just checked into the MAD hostel. The best part about it was the fact that it was very lively and I had the opportunity to meet great people.
I ended up meeting 2 really great girls right at the start with whom I spent lots of time hanging out and talking with. There have also been a couple kewl guys who we hung out with as well. The conversations with people from other countries about their way of life, careers, studies, politics etc. has been very interesting for me. I realize how lucky I am to have my life in Canada and all the opportunities that I have been given from my past and my future.
That has been the extent of my time here. I didnt go out and see the monuments, museums and parks. Even at 11 pm in a tank top and shorts I am sweating so the weather has played a part in my lack of desire to venture out. It has been a long time since I could just lounge around and ponder life with my friends, so I just made new friends and have really enjoyed my time here.
Today it is 38 degrees. There is no water around Madrid and no wind! The low is 21. I will head to the airport tonight on the metro. It turns out that the airport is open 24 hours so I will probably lock up all my big and important stuff and then go find a place to sleep outside.
Expect an update from my summer home in the much cooler Santander soon! Perhaps I will have more to say!
Oh ya, one more thing. Last night Patricia and I hopped on the metro to go to the bus station, so that she could buy her ticket to Barcelona for sunday. I was just thinking about how tame my experience had been in Madrid. We were sitting next to and facing each other on the metro, when the train slowly started to take off from the station. I had thought that one of the young guys had his arm up against the window while he was running to try to open the door... but when I looked twice, he was mooning us with his ass pressed right up to the glass!!! hahahaha. As the train took off, his skin was sticking to the window so he had to do progressively faster side shuffles to keep up with the train before jumping forwards. It was soo funny to see the reactions. The funniest part was Patricias face. In our train car in that section it was us and 2 other young girls who were sitting by themselves. Hahahaha. It was entertaining. The guys thought it was pretty hilarious. He had white skin and blondish hair so I would imagine he was a tourist as well. That is about the only funny interesting thing to happen besides the kewl friends I made and all our conversations!
I ended up meeting 2 really great girls right at the start with whom I spent lots of time hanging out and talking with. There have also been a couple kewl guys who we hung out with as well. The conversations with people from other countries about their way of life, careers, studies, politics etc. has been very interesting for me. I realize how lucky I am to have my life in Canada and all the opportunities that I have been given from my past and my future.
That has been the extent of my time here. I didnt go out and see the monuments, museums and parks. Even at 11 pm in a tank top and shorts I am sweating so the weather has played a part in my lack of desire to venture out. It has been a long time since I could just lounge around and ponder life with my friends, so I just made new friends and have really enjoyed my time here.
Today it is 38 degrees. There is no water around Madrid and no wind! The low is 21. I will head to the airport tonight on the metro. It turns out that the airport is open 24 hours so I will probably lock up all my big and important stuff and then go find a place to sleep outside.
Expect an update from my summer home in the much cooler Santander soon! Perhaps I will have more to say!
Oh ya, one more thing. Last night Patricia and I hopped on the metro to go to the bus station, so that she could buy her ticket to Barcelona for sunday. I was just thinking about how tame my experience had been in Madrid. We were sitting next to and facing each other on the metro, when the train slowly started to take off from the station. I had thought that one of the young guys had his arm up against the window while he was running to try to open the door... but when I looked twice, he was mooning us with his ass pressed right up to the glass!!! hahahaha. As the train took off, his skin was sticking to the window so he had to do progressively faster side shuffles to keep up with the train before jumping forwards. It was soo funny to see the reactions. The funniest part was Patricias face. In our train car in that section it was us and 2 other young girls who were sitting by themselves. Hahahaha. It was entertaining. The guys thought it was pretty hilarious. He had white skin and blondish hair so I would imagine he was a tourist as well. That is about the only funny interesting thing to happen besides the kewl friends I made and all our conversations!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Madrid
So the arrival to Madrid was very smooth thanks to great directions by Francisco, the most recent couchsurfer to host me!
My last day in Seville was ok. Since I have worn out my shoes, my days have been a little boring because I cant walk around like I could at the beginning of my trip. Six months is too long for shoes that I wear everywhere, everday... and my orthotics need replacing as well so its a double whammy.
I ended up walking to this hair place not far from the hostel. Not one person in there spoke english but I manage to communicate so its okay. I got this really cute little spanish girl to wash and cut my hair. There are only 2 moments this trip that I have felt panic. One was at 7:57 am in Dublin where I had to catch my 3 day tour bus by 8 and could not find the station... and the other was when I thought the hairdresser was done cutting my hair then she put some hair in front of my face and CUT TWO MORE INCHES OFF! haha! I said "woah woah!" and grabbed it to see if it would go back in a pony, and she laughed and pulled all my hair back to where I would have a pony to show me that it all fit. I have to give her full credit - it is exactly the length I wanted, with all the bad ends cut off, layered around my face, and every bit fits into the pony tail! Pretty good for the fact that we didnt speak the same language! All that and it only cost me 12 euro!
Not long after that I headed for the train station. I arrived there by bus and then paid for my ticket. My train left a half hour after that, it was a high speed AVE train so it only took 2.5 hours! The main train station in Madrid also has a big metro station, and because of the great directions from Francisco I made it exactly to his workplace early... so I killed time until he was done work.
Most of the people I have surfed with, I have been chatting to for a while. I like to get to know them a bit before I stay with them, that way we develop a friendship and it is more fun. Unfortunately the people I had contacted earlier from Madrid were busy or away, so I ended up contacting Francisco rather last minute who agreed to take me for 2 nights! He lived about a half hour from the city centre in a newer area right next to a big mall. I just hung around there during my stay with him because its not comfortable to walk far and I have done so much lately! I just wanted to relax. Him and I have a ton in common, he is a really intelligent and interesting guy. We talked for hours! I am sure I will see him again at some point. This afternoon he flew to Poland for a trip. He has travelled sooo much, we will have to talk more so I can hear more of his experiences abroad.
Today I moved to my new home for the rest of the time in Madrid, the Mad Hostel! It is fantastic. Very very clean, kewl atmosphere, great common room that is full of people right now. Free internet access!
I just went for a wander for a couple hours through the centre of Madrid. It has a very very nice vibe, its lively but not chaotic. Tomorrow night I am going to an international exchange through couchsurfing where I will meet some other people.
Saturday I plan to be homeless for the night, sleeping on a bench by the airport because I fly out so early on Sunday. The forecast for the next 3 days is 34, 37 and 38...... and this city doesnt have any beaches! The low for saturday night is 21 degrees so I am sure that I will be thankful to sleep outside instead of in a hot room with 5 others!
Perhaps this entry was a little boring but I must go and read my english book that I was so excited to buy. Now I wont be as bored! My mom bought and shipped me some shoes yesterday and I am SOOO excited to receive them! And hello to Indigo Eve, Bazette, Momo and Auntie Kare! Thanks for the comments, glad to know you are out there keeping tabs on me!
My last day in Seville was ok. Since I have worn out my shoes, my days have been a little boring because I cant walk around like I could at the beginning of my trip. Six months is too long for shoes that I wear everywhere, everday... and my orthotics need replacing as well so its a double whammy.
I ended up walking to this hair place not far from the hostel. Not one person in there spoke english but I manage to communicate so its okay. I got this really cute little spanish girl to wash and cut my hair. There are only 2 moments this trip that I have felt panic. One was at 7:57 am in Dublin where I had to catch my 3 day tour bus by 8 and could not find the station... and the other was when I thought the hairdresser was done cutting my hair then she put some hair in front of my face and CUT TWO MORE INCHES OFF! haha! I said "woah woah!" and grabbed it to see if it would go back in a pony, and she laughed and pulled all my hair back to where I would have a pony to show me that it all fit. I have to give her full credit - it is exactly the length I wanted, with all the bad ends cut off, layered around my face, and every bit fits into the pony tail! Pretty good for the fact that we didnt speak the same language! All that and it only cost me 12 euro!
Not long after that I headed for the train station. I arrived there by bus and then paid for my ticket. My train left a half hour after that, it was a high speed AVE train so it only took 2.5 hours! The main train station in Madrid also has a big metro station, and because of the great directions from Francisco I made it exactly to his workplace early... so I killed time until he was done work.
Most of the people I have surfed with, I have been chatting to for a while. I like to get to know them a bit before I stay with them, that way we develop a friendship and it is more fun. Unfortunately the people I had contacted earlier from Madrid were busy or away, so I ended up contacting Francisco rather last minute who agreed to take me for 2 nights! He lived about a half hour from the city centre in a newer area right next to a big mall. I just hung around there during my stay with him because its not comfortable to walk far and I have done so much lately! I just wanted to relax. Him and I have a ton in common, he is a really intelligent and interesting guy. We talked for hours! I am sure I will see him again at some point. This afternoon he flew to Poland for a trip. He has travelled sooo much, we will have to talk more so I can hear more of his experiences abroad.
Today I moved to my new home for the rest of the time in Madrid, the Mad Hostel! It is fantastic. Very very clean, kewl atmosphere, great common room that is full of people right now. Free internet access!
I just went for a wander for a couple hours through the centre of Madrid. It has a very very nice vibe, its lively but not chaotic. Tomorrow night I am going to an international exchange through couchsurfing where I will meet some other people.
Saturday I plan to be homeless for the night, sleeping on a bench by the airport because I fly out so early on Sunday. The forecast for the next 3 days is 34, 37 and 38...... and this city doesnt have any beaches! The low for saturday night is 21 degrees so I am sure that I will be thankful to sleep outside instead of in a hot room with 5 others!
Perhaps this entry was a little boring but I must go and read my english book that I was so excited to buy. Now I wont be as bored! My mom bought and shipped me some shoes yesterday and I am SOOO excited to receive them! And hello to Indigo Eve, Bazette, Momo and Auntie Kare! Thanks for the comments, glad to know you are out there keeping tabs on me!
Monday, June 8, 2009
A couple random stories
The night I arrived in Seville I met the 3 couchsurfers - my host Nani, and the other two surfers Maria and Julie. We went across the road to buy the fried fish and then went back home to eat it.
We finished the whole greasy batch, but at the end Marie was complaining that something got stuck in her throat. For a while we just hungout then she started to get worried about it, and said it was really uncomfortable. We offered her every solution we could think of - drink water, eat something, cough, try to get it out with your hands etc. but nothing was working.
After a half hour she figured out that she could feel it with her finger, apparently she has no gag reflex... but she couldnt get it out. So she borrowed my sim card to phone her dad in Germany who is a doctor. He said that either she goes to see a doctor, or someone in the house looks down there and pulls it out.
The other girls were having none of those options, so I volunteered to take it out. Haha - maybe that made her nervous... she got up and managed to get it out with her own hands. It was pretty sharp and uncomfortable looking so we were all glad she was okay and didnt need to go sitt in the hospital all night! That would have sucked.
Story two takes place in a beautiful park in Seville.
On Saturday night (after a great nap) I decided to go for a stroll through this amazing park in the south of spain. All the buildings are from 1929, they are Museums now but apparently they were built for an American Exposition.
There are beautiful plants, trees, ponds etc everywhere. It had just rained all day so everything smelled so fresh and was very vibrant.
After about 25 mins of being there I am just wandering around and this shy looking dorky kinda guy with a backpack (that means hes a tourist) looks at me kinda funny. There were people everywhere, running with their dogs, tourists etc. The place was packed so I was not concerned for my safety. I could have taken him anyways he was fairly thin haha. Its a look that people give when they want to talk to you, but are too shy so they just keep looking in hopes that you will say something first (or so I thought...).
He started to sort of stalk me, he would go look at things and then time it to come back when i was walking by. I would slow down and speed up to make sure it wasnt a fluke. I had my headphones in and didnt feel like talking to anyone so I avoided making eye contact with him for the most part.
This went on for a good 10 minutes. He was a bit strange but in a harmless kind of way, I didnt want to deal with him so I slowed down until he got a little ahead of me, then i dodged out this gate on the left hand side to the street to get out of the park. I knew the ones up ahead were locked so that put him on the opposite side of the fence.
Still he kept up a bit...finally I got to this big intersection where he wouldnt be able to follow me, because the park ends. I am walking along and through the other side of the fence I hear something but I had my music on so I dont know what he said. Anyways I pull one headphone out of my ear and turn towards him and say "pardon?" then I looked down and he has his PANTS AND UNDERWEAR down and hes jerking it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahaahahahaha. I actually stopped in my tracks, briefly said "what the F%&$" under my breath purely out of shock, and started laughing. I was sooooooooooooooooo shocked!!!!!!!
I turned away, put my headphone back in my ear and walked over to a bus stop where 10 other people were standing. I faced away from where he was and laughed ... and laughed... I almost wanted to hang around and ask him what he thought he was going to gain by that? Haha... maybe I should have just said "Put the mouse back in the house" like Pheobe. I have to conclude that he couldnt have been all there.
Anyways, I am off to Madrid today so I have to go book a train. Bye bye Seville!
We finished the whole greasy batch, but at the end Marie was complaining that something got stuck in her throat. For a while we just hungout then she started to get worried about it, and said it was really uncomfortable. We offered her every solution we could think of - drink water, eat something, cough, try to get it out with your hands etc. but nothing was working.
After a half hour she figured out that she could feel it with her finger, apparently she has no gag reflex... but she couldnt get it out. So she borrowed my sim card to phone her dad in Germany who is a doctor. He said that either she goes to see a doctor, or someone in the house looks down there and pulls it out.
The other girls were having none of those options, so I volunteered to take it out. Haha - maybe that made her nervous... she got up and managed to get it out with her own hands. It was pretty sharp and uncomfortable looking so we were all glad she was okay and didnt need to go sitt in the hospital all night! That would have sucked.
Story two takes place in a beautiful park in Seville.
On Saturday night (after a great nap) I decided to go for a stroll through this amazing park in the south of spain. All the buildings are from 1929, they are Museums now but apparently they were built for an American Exposition.
There are beautiful plants, trees, ponds etc everywhere. It had just rained all day so everything smelled so fresh and was very vibrant.
After about 25 mins of being there I am just wandering around and this shy looking dorky kinda guy with a backpack (that means hes a tourist) looks at me kinda funny. There were people everywhere, running with their dogs, tourists etc. The place was packed so I was not concerned for my safety. I could have taken him anyways he was fairly thin haha. Its a look that people give when they want to talk to you, but are too shy so they just keep looking in hopes that you will say something first (or so I thought...).
He started to sort of stalk me, he would go look at things and then time it to come back when i was walking by. I would slow down and speed up to make sure it wasnt a fluke. I had my headphones in and didnt feel like talking to anyone so I avoided making eye contact with him for the most part.
This went on for a good 10 minutes. He was a bit strange but in a harmless kind of way, I didnt want to deal with him so I slowed down until he got a little ahead of me, then i dodged out this gate on the left hand side to the street to get out of the park. I knew the ones up ahead were locked so that put him on the opposite side of the fence.
Still he kept up a bit...finally I got to this big intersection where he wouldnt be able to follow me, because the park ends. I am walking along and through the other side of the fence I hear something but I had my music on so I dont know what he said. Anyways I pull one headphone out of my ear and turn towards him and say "pardon?" then I looked down and he has his PANTS AND UNDERWEAR down and hes jerking it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahaahahahaha. I actually stopped in my tracks, briefly said "what the F%&$" under my breath purely out of shock, and started laughing. I was sooooooooooooooooo shocked!!!!!!!
I turned away, put my headphone back in my ear and walked over to a bus stop where 10 other people were standing. I faced away from where he was and laughed ... and laughed... I almost wanted to hang around and ask him what he thought he was going to gain by that? Haha... maybe I should have just said "Put the mouse back in the house" like Pheobe. I have to conclude that he couldnt have been all there.
Anyways, I am off to Madrid today so I have to go book a train. Bye bye Seville!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Faro & Seville
When I got off the bus in Faro I had a couple hours to spare before my next bus. As soon as I stepped off, the station seemed seedy... there was a guy there who looked like he had been wearing the same clothes for weeks with no shower. He had a white phone in his hand that was beat up and he was trying to sell it to me. I just kept on trucking - I had to get lunch and find somewhere that would cash my travellers cheques.
Faro is a kewl little town. Perhaps I will end up back there if I decide to venture over to Africa. I find that since my budget is limited, I end up going for food that is reliable to me (which is usually crap, but it fills me up and doesnt make me sick). It isnt very cultural of me but eating is more of a neccesity (sp?) than a hobby. I got half of my cheques cashed with not too much of a comission charged so that was good. I love having cash. Cards are not reliable, since a lot of places especially in smaller towns dont take them!!! I have run into that problem at least 4 times so far so I think cash is king will remain my motto.
I barely made my bus! He left a few minutes early for one, and I think the clock I was looking at was a bit slow when I was judging how long it would take me to get back to the station. I think I was the last one on, and the guy who tried to sell me the phone was on there. I didnt have time to buy gum and water so I was pretty dehydrated and looking forward to the next stop.
It ended up not being too far down the road, where the smokers get off the bus to smoke because they dont know when the next stop will be either lol. I ran off the bus and bought two bottles of water and went to get back on.. but the door was shut and the driver was gone! Then I hear this guy yelling and he runs around the corner and waves at me, then motions me back the other way - oops, I was trying to get on the wrong bus. He smiled and I thanked him. It was the same guy who had tried to sell me the phone earlier!
We made another stop once we got into Andalucia, which is the southern most province of Spain. I didnt realize we had crossed into spain because we didnt go through any kind of border. The bus stopped there for 20 minutes so I got off to pee and grab a snack... but inside that bus station the womens bathroom was broken. Once again I saw the phone guy who told me to wait and he went and asked a guy working there in spanish where we go, then he came back and told me. When I went back to the bus he was standing outside smoking and there was a big line of people boarding our bus and a new (female) driver. I saw one guy who was sitting in front of me try to get on the bus and there was this big argument going on, so the phone guy laughed and pulled his ticket out of his pocket and pointed at it. I reached into my pocket, since it was a new driver she was checking everyons ticket. My ticket was gone! I thought maybe when I pulled the tp out of my pocket that the ticket fell out in the bathroom (always carry your own TP, the bathrooms are out more than 50% of the time!). So he said Uh oh, and I spotted the old driver so I went over with phone guy and he told him in Spanish that my ticket fell out but he knew I had paid to be there. The guy gave me a look of disapproval but told me to go with him... so we passed everyone in the line and went into the bus where the guy sitting in front of me was still fighting with the woman driver who was adamant that he have his ticket. The male driver started giving the guy crap as well but pointed me passed them to my seat lol. Once I sat down, phone guy followed me and I started checking my seat for my ticket... there it was sitting under my backpack. He took it up to the front for me and told them I found it.
Eventually after fighting through over an hour of stop and go traffic (because of a Horse and Carriage Festival that closes main streets), we made it to Seville. It wasnt the station that I wanted it to be, so I grabbed my bags and said bye to phone guy. I walked up to information and asked how to get to Prado de San Sebastian and the lady directed me to catch bus 4. Phone guy was getting on the same bus! So were a few other people from our trip. He was also getting off at the same stop as me so once we hopped off the bus he asked me where I was going and I said I didnt know. He walked with me and asked people in spanish... bus drivers, who directed us to the cops, who also didnt know... but they directed us to the taxi drivers. They were right, but since everyone was saying different things I decided to go to a payphone and call Nani to tell me. We did that and she answered... I asked her but she wasnt explaining it very well so I said Hey, why dont I put you on the phone to my friend who speaks Spanish. She said, I dont speak Spanish!!!! What? You dont speak Spanish? You ARE spanish!!! So then she said again, no I dont speak spanish. I was in disbelief but whatever, I said okay tell me again how to find your house from this station... then I can hear two girls laughing in the background and a bunch of talking... and she says to me "I speak Spanish" I said, okay I thought so, here is my friend. They chatted and while the time ran down I put more euro coins into the machine.
After we got off the phone I asked my friend his name. He said Rui, which rhymes with Louie but roll the R. I cant roll the R lol. He told me to go with him where we proceeded to get on bus number 25. We got off next to the university and walked up to the burger king. After that we had to start asking people again and despite the fact that the street was only a 5 minute walk away, people didnt know! Its because the names of the streets are long and they change regularly.
Finally after being pointed the wrong way a few times, we made it to Nanis. The building she was in was kind of like town houses, but there were no numbers on the doors so I was wandering, looking in peoples windows lol. She opened the door by fluke while we were outside. I said goodbye to my incredibly good hearted friend Rui who took me all the way there which was out of his way. I asked him why he was trying to sell me his phone earlier in the afternoon and he said he needed money to pay for his bus ticket to get home. I would have paid for him if I knew that! I thought it was stolen! Everyone in europe carries two phones so he sold his nicer one to get on the bus.
I wanted to give him something but he just said bye to us, my friend thanked him in Spanish for delivering me, and then he left. He was going to work the next day so I hope he got money for food and stuff there.
Once in Nanis I met the two girls I had heard laughing on the phone. Julie was from France and Marie from Germany, but they go to university together in London. They slept on the futon in the living room and I had a single bed in the spare room. It was my first ever female couch surfer host and I think the first two female surfers I had met! So once I got introduced, I had to ask about the confusion over why my host said multiple times that she didnt speak Spanish! Apparently when I say Spanish, she hears "Danish" pronounced Dan-ish... and even when I repeated it, she still heard Danish! The girls were laughing because they figured it out, then told her "She is asking if you speak SPANISH, not Danish"... then she came back on the phone and said "I speak spanish". hahaha. We went across the road and bought a series of different kind of fried white fish. The one prepared with lemon was the best, I had a few pieces of that.
The next day (Friday) was spent on the computer booking all sorts of things for my stay in Sevilla and figuring out what to do once I got to Madrid! I found a host, Francisco, who will take me on Monday and Tuesday nights! Wednesday I will have to find another host or find a hostel.
Friday night we all went out together for a typical Spanish night of Tapas. We walked to the centre and then went from bar to bar and order tapas. After that we had Seville ice cream and then walked to a bar where there was Spanish Music, called Flamencito. The singer was awesome but it was not dancing music. They smoke inside the bars here so I had to stand by the door at both the music place and the disco.
Eventually we just walked home. None of us wanted to or could afford to drink so we carried on. It was after 2 by the time we returned and it was great to see how they operate here.
The centre of Seville is beautiful. I will take lots of pictures on Monday, because tomorrow I am hopping on a bus to Cadiz which is a ways south of Seville! I am excited.
Nani had another couch surfer arrive tonight and 2 more tomorrow, so this morning she took me and the other girls to our next destinations. I am at a hostel which is nice, in a room on my own (I had a great nap already!) but it has no kitchen, so now I will go find dinner.
Heading to Madrid on Monday I think and then flying up to Santander on Sunday morning very early. I am sooooo excited to get there, be in one place for a while, fix my diet and fitness. Meet the family! Yayyy!
If you are reading this, please leave a comment so I know who is keeping tabs on me! Thanks :)
Faro is a kewl little town. Perhaps I will end up back there if I decide to venture over to Africa. I find that since my budget is limited, I end up going for food that is reliable to me (which is usually crap, but it fills me up and doesnt make me sick). It isnt very cultural of me but eating is more of a neccesity (sp?) than a hobby. I got half of my cheques cashed with not too much of a comission charged so that was good. I love having cash. Cards are not reliable, since a lot of places especially in smaller towns dont take them!!! I have run into that problem at least 4 times so far so I think cash is king will remain my motto.
I barely made my bus! He left a few minutes early for one, and I think the clock I was looking at was a bit slow when I was judging how long it would take me to get back to the station. I think I was the last one on, and the guy who tried to sell me the phone was on there. I didnt have time to buy gum and water so I was pretty dehydrated and looking forward to the next stop.
It ended up not being too far down the road, where the smokers get off the bus to smoke because they dont know when the next stop will be either lol. I ran off the bus and bought two bottles of water and went to get back on.. but the door was shut and the driver was gone! Then I hear this guy yelling and he runs around the corner and waves at me, then motions me back the other way - oops, I was trying to get on the wrong bus. He smiled and I thanked him. It was the same guy who had tried to sell me the phone earlier!
We made another stop once we got into Andalucia, which is the southern most province of Spain. I didnt realize we had crossed into spain because we didnt go through any kind of border. The bus stopped there for 20 minutes so I got off to pee and grab a snack... but inside that bus station the womens bathroom was broken. Once again I saw the phone guy who told me to wait and he went and asked a guy working there in spanish where we go, then he came back and told me. When I went back to the bus he was standing outside smoking and there was a big line of people boarding our bus and a new (female) driver. I saw one guy who was sitting in front of me try to get on the bus and there was this big argument going on, so the phone guy laughed and pulled his ticket out of his pocket and pointed at it. I reached into my pocket, since it was a new driver she was checking everyons ticket. My ticket was gone! I thought maybe when I pulled the tp out of my pocket that the ticket fell out in the bathroom (always carry your own TP, the bathrooms are out more than 50% of the time!). So he said Uh oh, and I spotted the old driver so I went over with phone guy and he told him in Spanish that my ticket fell out but he knew I had paid to be there. The guy gave me a look of disapproval but told me to go with him... so we passed everyone in the line and went into the bus where the guy sitting in front of me was still fighting with the woman driver who was adamant that he have his ticket. The male driver started giving the guy crap as well but pointed me passed them to my seat lol. Once I sat down, phone guy followed me and I started checking my seat for my ticket... there it was sitting under my backpack. He took it up to the front for me and told them I found it.
Eventually after fighting through over an hour of stop and go traffic (because of a Horse and Carriage Festival that closes main streets), we made it to Seville. It wasnt the station that I wanted it to be, so I grabbed my bags and said bye to phone guy. I walked up to information and asked how to get to Prado de San Sebastian and the lady directed me to catch bus 4. Phone guy was getting on the same bus! So were a few other people from our trip. He was also getting off at the same stop as me so once we hopped off the bus he asked me where I was going and I said I didnt know. He walked with me and asked people in spanish... bus drivers, who directed us to the cops, who also didnt know... but they directed us to the taxi drivers. They were right, but since everyone was saying different things I decided to go to a payphone and call Nani to tell me. We did that and she answered... I asked her but she wasnt explaining it very well so I said Hey, why dont I put you on the phone to my friend who speaks Spanish. She said, I dont speak Spanish!!!! What? You dont speak Spanish? You ARE spanish!!! So then she said again, no I dont speak spanish. I was in disbelief but whatever, I said okay tell me again how to find your house from this station... then I can hear two girls laughing in the background and a bunch of talking... and she says to me "I speak Spanish" I said, okay I thought so, here is my friend. They chatted and while the time ran down I put more euro coins into the machine.
After we got off the phone I asked my friend his name. He said Rui, which rhymes with Louie but roll the R. I cant roll the R lol. He told me to go with him where we proceeded to get on bus number 25. We got off next to the university and walked up to the burger king. After that we had to start asking people again and despite the fact that the street was only a 5 minute walk away, people didnt know! Its because the names of the streets are long and they change regularly.
Finally after being pointed the wrong way a few times, we made it to Nanis. The building she was in was kind of like town houses, but there were no numbers on the doors so I was wandering, looking in peoples windows lol. She opened the door by fluke while we were outside. I said goodbye to my incredibly good hearted friend Rui who took me all the way there which was out of his way. I asked him why he was trying to sell me his phone earlier in the afternoon and he said he needed money to pay for his bus ticket to get home. I would have paid for him if I knew that! I thought it was stolen! Everyone in europe carries two phones so he sold his nicer one to get on the bus.
I wanted to give him something but he just said bye to us, my friend thanked him in Spanish for delivering me, and then he left. He was going to work the next day so I hope he got money for food and stuff there.
Once in Nanis I met the two girls I had heard laughing on the phone. Julie was from France and Marie from Germany, but they go to university together in London. They slept on the futon in the living room and I had a single bed in the spare room. It was my first ever female couch surfer host and I think the first two female surfers I had met! So once I got introduced, I had to ask about the confusion over why my host said multiple times that she didnt speak Spanish! Apparently when I say Spanish, she hears "Danish" pronounced Dan-ish... and even when I repeated it, she still heard Danish! The girls were laughing because they figured it out, then told her "She is asking if you speak SPANISH, not Danish"... then she came back on the phone and said "I speak spanish". hahaha. We went across the road and bought a series of different kind of fried white fish. The one prepared with lemon was the best, I had a few pieces of that.
The next day (Friday) was spent on the computer booking all sorts of things for my stay in Sevilla and figuring out what to do once I got to Madrid! I found a host, Francisco, who will take me on Monday and Tuesday nights! Wednesday I will have to find another host or find a hostel.
Friday night we all went out together for a typical Spanish night of Tapas. We walked to the centre and then went from bar to bar and order tapas. After that we had Seville ice cream and then walked to a bar where there was Spanish Music, called Flamencito. The singer was awesome but it was not dancing music. They smoke inside the bars here so I had to stand by the door at both the music place and the disco.
Eventually we just walked home. None of us wanted to or could afford to drink so we carried on. It was after 2 by the time we returned and it was great to see how they operate here.
The centre of Seville is beautiful. I will take lots of pictures on Monday, because tomorrow I am hopping on a bus to Cadiz which is a ways south of Seville! I am excited.
Nani had another couch surfer arrive tonight and 2 more tomorrow, so this morning she took me and the other girls to our next destinations. I am at a hostel which is nice, in a room on my own (I had a great nap already!) but it has no kitchen, so now I will go find dinner.
Heading to Madrid on Monday I think and then flying up to Santander on Sunday morning very early. I am sooooo excited to get there, be in one place for a while, fix my diet and fitness. Meet the family! Yayyy!
If you are reading this, please leave a comment so I know who is keeping tabs on me! Thanks :)
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