Pre-wedding Weekend

This weekend is probably going to be a bit of a shit show. It’s Sarah’s bridal weekend, which means lots of partying, drinking, eating and celebrating. Sarah is my heterolifepartner. We met in Grade 8 math class (Ms. Barisoff….*shudders*) and just kind of instantly clicked as soon as we met. Like most friendships, we’ve had our ups and downs and after high school we went our separate ways and kind of fell out of touch for a few years. Fortunately, we found each other again and fell madly in love all over again. When she told me she got engaged I was elated because I was so happy that she found someone who accepts her for who she is and loves both her and her kids. Now their wedding is planned for May 29th in which I am the maid-of-honour and I have accepted the responsibility with pride that she would ask me.

Anyway, back to the weekend ahead of me! Yesterday I went with her and Mike to bring her two kids to soccer practice. Holden was a bit of a superstar and had fun, but Grayce wasn’t really finding her niche in the sport. She’s more into dance and swimming and stuff like that. I also think that she may have been overwhelmed by the whole experience because there were A LOT of kids there, and it was the first practice of the season so it was a bit of a gong show. Thirty-something 3 and 4 year olds running around a field trying to kick soccer balls…it would be a bit crazy for the first time.

After dropping the kids and Mike off at home, Sarah, her mom and myself all headed first to Sarah’s grandma’s house to pick up Aunt Leslie and Rosie (two more bridesmaids) and we all headed to the Oasis Hall where the bridal shower is being held tonight. For a couple hours we decorated the hall in a style that would only reflect a bridal shower for Sarah. Unless you know the girl then you probably have no idea what I mean, but let’s just say that the place has a definite “Sarah” feel to it. Lots of red, black, white and silver, with candles and roses and goth-like decor. I think it looks quite rad. Basically tonight there will be 40-50 people all gathering together to bring presents and eat lots of food and cake and celebrate the engagement. She’s nervous about the party because she’s not one to like being the center of attention (definitely not a Leo), but after she gets a good amount of wine into her system, I’m sure it will all be no big deal at all for her. Plus I’ve got her back.

Tomorrow is the bachelorette party! Now this could get sloppy. There’s a school-girl theme to the party which is no big deal because I already have an outfit (Jo’s wedding last summer had a theme in which I was a school-girl). Very convenient. It’s starting off at Aunt Leslie’s house where there will be a “sex party”, or whatever you want to call it. Normally they’re called Fantasia parties but it’s a different company involved so technically I can’t call it a Fantasia party. After that is done, I think the game plan is that we’re hitting the town. Considering this is Trail, there’s a good chance we will end up at a dodgy bar where they’re playing crappy music and the only people in the bar are drunk old men who either don’t want to go home to their wives or are life-long bachelors and have nowhere else more important to be. This could prove to be a very interesting weekend.

Hip Hip....Horray!

Just a quick little blog to make a small announcement. Today we had a bit of a revelation at the house. When I got home from my walk with the dogs, I was greeted by Cadance since my mom is going to be babysitting her for a few hours today. Ever since I got here a few days ago she has been calling me “Paaa”, which is her name for my sister Pam. She calls me “Aunty Paaa”. All Aunties are named the same I suppose in her 2 year old brain. Plus she doesn’t know me very well and she knows I’m an aunty of some kind…it’s just the name that’s a bit confusing. So, even though this is incredibly cute and she seems quite determined that this is in fact my correct name, we have all been correcting her relentlessly by saying, “no Cadance. Aunty Adrienne!” (or Aunty Age, or just Age…anything except Paaa). Her response to this is a little giggle and “Paaa!” while pointing at me.

Like I mentioned before, today was the revelation for my little niece. When I came in the door, she heard me come in and came running for the door. My mom said “who’s that Cadance?” and instead of calling me Paaa she called me “aunty” and went on her way. Then when we asked where aunty Pam was, she looked up at the picture of Pam on the shelf instead of pointing at me. So this is great news! I am no longer Aunty Paaa! She may not know what to call me anymore, but she has officially figured out that I am not Pam but am a whole different name of aunty. I feel like this is a small step for man, one giant leap for aunt-kind.

Always Excuses

Not being in school, or really having any place to be at all, makes me lose all sense of time. Just trying to figure out what day of the week it is can be a bit a chore these days. I guess the jet-lag doesn’t help either. Ok fine. I can’t even blame my slight retardation on that either. For some reason, this is the first time I have not had jet-lag when flying to BC. Usually I am all over the place and unable to stay awake past 8pm when I come here…but this time it doesn’t seem to be affecting me. Maybe by practically skipping sleep during the first 48 hrs I am here was a good way to go. It might have to be a new tradition.

Yesterday was a semi-productive day. My mom, sister, niece and I, all went to do some shopping together in the morning. I guess it’s a weekly ritual for the three of them to do a big shop together, head to the mall so that Cadance can play in the ball-room, and then go out for lunch. I got to join the trio, so I guess that makes me a bit special to be worthy of joining their weekly group. My mom was looking for something to wear to Sarah’s wedding (at the end of May), so while she was trying on clothes I also wandered around the store and tried on a few items. I picked up one shirt, as a complete joke because I thought that it was ridiculous, and tried it on to show mom and Amy. To all of our surprise, it was actually quite fabulous so I ended up buying it. Totally couldn’t afford it, but since it was the only one in my size, I figured that I had to get it at the chance of someone else snatching it up. Plus I am trying to live more by my newish motto, “never hesitate”, so that was my other reasoning for buying the shirt… I like to find multiple excuses when justifying purchasing clothes I don’t need.


After dropping Amy and Cadance off at their house, Mom drove me up to Pam’s house and dropped me off with nothing but a raincoat and sheer determination. Pam lives in upper Warfield and I’ve been wanting to walk Splash down to where my parents live to see how long it takes to do the trek. It poured all day, but after eating the huge lunch that I devoured, I really needed the long walk and of course to put my curiosity to rest. I walked down the main highway for a while but then cut down onto Thunder Road and eventually made my way down the mountain towards Rivervale. It was really weird to walk that trail alone though. Growing up we always walked that mountain quite regularly, but I had never done it by myself before. This time it was just me and Splash, breaking trail and enjoying the great outdoors together. I had to take my hood off because I wanted to able to listen for any animals that may be around…even though the worst we’d ever run into on that mountain were deer and coyotes (but only once). So that got me good and extra wet. Plus when I went to put the hood back on, the hood was filled with rainwater so that was a nice surprise when I pulled it back over my head. I got to the house exactly one hour and thirty three minutes later...shoes full of water and mascara running down my face.

There is a kid singing Journey on Ellen right now and he’s rocking my world.

When my dad got home from work, we sat down together and finally did my taxes (last possible minute at that). He has been the one who does my taxes every year, but this year he was a bit stumped on a couple things so he put off doing them until I got there…plus he wanted to show me how to do them so that I can one day do them myself (more excuses). It’s not as though it’s a hard task to accomplish, Dad just always did them for me. So we hashed them out together this year. Done and done.

Way To Go BC!!!

So on the news right now they’re talking about a new law that is strictly enforcing anti drinking and driving. BC now has the strictest and most aggressive drinking and driving laws in all of Canada. Way to go BC!!!

They have now dropped the legal limit of alcohol that you can have in your bloodstream to be able to legally drive a vehicle. Something a low as one drink in your body can be enough for some drivers to be unfit to drive. If you are caught with the minimum amount of alcohol in your bloodstream, 0.05-0.08, you will get a 3-day driving ban and a $200 fine (if your first offense). If you register above 0.08 then you will get a 90-day suspension and a $500 fine. Also, drivers who blow even just once above 0.08 or three times within five years between 0.05 and 0.08, they have to participate on a rehabilitative driver program and also for one year use an ignition interlock device (think Leslie Mann in 40 Year Old Virgin).



What does everyone think of this? Now I know some people that are totally not good to drive after only have one drink. I once dated a guy who got tipsy after half of a cooler. No joke. I once stopped drinking for about a year, and when I started again, after only one beer I would not allow myself to drive because it hit me so hard. For some people, like smaller men or many women, just one 8oz glass of wine is enough to send you in the range of 0.05-0.08. Sounds crazy, I know! Imagine losing your license from drinking one glass of wine.

I am very glad that they are cracking down on drunk driving. I mean, it’s just such a stupid thing to do and this will probably be a major eye-opener for a lot of people who have a drink or two and think they’re good to drive. Yeah sure, they probably are completely fine to be behind the wheel, but the next guy who has one or two drinks may not be ok and that law may take those people off of the road, even for a little while and teach them a lesson. A drunk driver took away mine and my sisters’ chance to ever meet our grandpa Kotyk, and that wasn’t fair.

Tip of the Day: Don’t drink and drive people. Wouldn’t it be nice to not have to watch out for the other guy anymore?

Back In BC

*Note. This blog was written yesterday but the internet kicked out so I couldn’t send it until today*


3:30 am was my official time of arrival this morning. The trip was long and boring, but I guess an uneventful trip is a good thing to report. The last flight from Vancouver to Kelowna was quite horrid because it was in this tiny tin-can of a plane that was so loud that my iPod couldn't even drown out the noise at all. Plus the guy sitting behind me smelled sooooooo bad. I think it was a combination of stale cigarettes, dirty skin and bad breath which just about sent me over the edge. Landing in Kelowna was such a relief. My dad was waiting for me...well, technically he was hiding behind a pillar in the waiting area, trying to be sneaky...but he's not very sneaky of a guy. I love him anyway. The 3.5 hour drive home was quiet except for the massive amount of deer which were hanging out all over the roads. My dad had to drive about 20kms slower than usual for a lot of the drive because he was afraid of hitting one. Unfortunately I was sleeping most of the drive so I missed out on the majority of the deer he was steering away from. But I desperately needed the sleep.


I woke up this morning about 9am and was welcomed to sunshine. My dad and I took Riz and Splash for a walk and we played down by the river for a good long time, throwing sticks and rocks for them into the water. Whoever named Splash got her name bang-on. She is such a Splash it's ridiculous (just as I typed that she nudged my arm with her snout and gave me one of those wonderful Splash looks). The dog literally knocked me on my butt and attacked my face with licks when she saw me this morning. Nothing like a push to the ground and a face covered with dog snot to start your day off right.

After the walk, me and dad built a giant fire down below the house to burn a whole bunch of twigs and sticks that he's had building up down there for the past couple months. What is it about a giant fire that is so satisfying? The burning, the smell, the extreme heat and the loss of arm hair are all things which are very enjoyable. We also found some wild asparagus growing down below, so I got to munch on some while we continued to feed the fire. Yum yum. I love how much BC is in full Spring swing right now. It's easily about a month ahead of PEI at the moment. Tulips are open, lilacs are nearly there as well and the fruit trees are blossoming. The apple trees over on the flats are starting to bloom which is my all-time favourite part of spring. Five trees all grouped together...and when they bloom, the smell is just absolutely intoxicating. I wish I could bottle it up and keep it for myself to enjoy all year round.


After unpacking my room, going for a 4.5 mile jog and shower, we're now heading up to my sister's for dinner. YAY for dinner!! I’m looking forward to hanging out with the whole Kotyk clan again (plus Jer and Graham).

Cookie Quandary

So here I am, sitting in the Vancouver Airport, twiddling my thumbs and eating snack foods which don't rate too high on the healthy eating list, waiting for flight #3 to get underway. On my last flight I was sitting next to this dude and we got chatting about health, nutrition, Canada's Food Guide, Michael Pollan, organic foods, local growing...etc...so I felt like I had to set a good example in my travel snacks while sitting beside him. My first food was a pear, which was good. The second was some carrots and red peppers that I cut up before I left the house this morning. Also good. As the hours trickled by and two fairly boring movies later, all I could think about was the Tim Horton's chocolate chip cookie which I bought at the Toronto airport that was sitting in my backpack at my feet. So I start weighing the pros and cons in the situation before me. He knows I'm a nutrition student and that I'm all for eating healthy and saving the planet from obesity and heart disease; therefore eating a calorie filled cookie from a franchise which is taking over the country and making people fat with their donuts and cream filled coffees would be a bad thing. On the other hand, it's a cookie...cookies are delicious and I love cookies. The dilemma burned on for a while longer. Eventually I decided that the cookie would win over. What can I say? My love for cookies is just too strong compared to my ego. Damn weak ego. I figured it would be best to be human and eat the cookie in front of him then wait and wait until I landed and devour it in a bathroom stall where no one would see me. Isn't that a lovely picture (just so everyone knows, I am not this neurotic at all. The vision on me eating a cookie hiding in the ladies room was just too funny to not bring up.)

While waiting for a flight, I was watching one of the giant TVs that they have at the airports, and there was a program on CNBC about Google called Inside the Mind of Google, and it basically made me want to drop out of school and somehow get a job for Google. Of course I will need to learn how to use computers properly and somehow enjoy working on a computer, but it would be worth it! First of all, has anyone seen where these people work??? It's incredible! The main headquarters is in Mountainview California, and the place is massive. And I mean MASSIVE! Google made a 4 billion dollar profit last year, so I guess I would have a ginormous headquarters made for me as well. Anyway, there is no dress code for all 20,000 employees, so if you roll out of bed, unshaven and pull on your rattiest jeans and t-shirt and head to work shoeless, no one would say a word about it. When the Queen went to visit the place, it showed some guy giving her a tour and he was wearing faded jeans and a baggy green t-shirt. Man...that's the life. Oh, and another thing! The place has something like 9 gourmet cafeterias in which all of the food and beverages are free. FREE! Gourmet chefs preparing gourmet food for you, and no cost. Google was created by these two young grad students who created it as a project...and now they are basically running the internet as we know it. Everyone loves and uses Google. I have a tab opened right now which displays an image search I recently did on Google. I have no idea how I lived before Google existed. How did we search for things anyway. Unfortunately I had to board my plane before I could watch the rest of the program, but it was really interesting to learn how Google is quickly taking over the world. As soon as they (Google) finish figuring out how to perfect androids (which they are doing as we speak), then it's all over. They have won.

I'm excited to be sitting here in BC. Leaving PEI this morning was hard. Even though I know I am in Vancouver right now, over 4,000 miles from where I was this morning, it still hasn't sunk it yet that I'm not going to Charlottetown again until September...over 4 months from now. The unfamiliar somehow became familiar and my old familiar was forgotten for a little while. I will be very happy when it returns :)

Panic Packing

I've officially decided that packing sucks! I began the whole packing process yesterday, but it mainly consisted of unloading my desk and my winter clothes which will be staying at the house while I am away...so that part was easy. Today I began tearing apart my closet and dresser and deciding which things stay and which stuff comes along. My first realization was that I have a lot of useless junk. I'm not a hoarder of any king really, if fact I generally throw out as much stuff as I can because I really don't like clutter (especially when you have a jail cell bedroom). I think what got to me was the shoes. I have somehow accumulated quite a few pairs of adorable shoes, all of which I want to bring back with me. I know that I will probably not wear most of them even once for the entire duration of the summer, but because I am a girl and am complete rubbish, I always have the nagging voice in the back of my head saying "but what if I need those shoes at some point!?!?!" and then I start to panic at the thought of not having that particular shoe waiting for me in my closet. Why do I have to be such a chick sometimes?

My second realization when packing is that I am going to have to leave some crucial articles of clothing behind. The first one was my lovely Tool t-shirt that Shawn got me for Christmas a couple years ago. I love that shirt and I wear it quite regularly here, but I know that when I get it home to BC that I will rarely wear it because of all of the dog hair that will cover it...which will get me all flustered because I don't want my black Tool shirt all covered with white hair. So I have had to part with a lot of clothes so far which is giving me some major anxiety (note the shoe dilemma mentioned above). What I don't want is to bring more than the 2 allowed pieces of baggage onto the plane, so trying to get all of my useless junk into two suitcases is proving to be much more difficult than expected. Was everyone else aware that Air Canada is now charging $100 for every extra piece of luggage that you check?? And why do I own so many pairs of socks and underwear anyway? How did this come to be?

My third realization is that packing sucks. Oh wait. I already mentioned that. I guess there wasn't a third realization...packing just sucks and I wanted to say it again one last time. I cringe at the thought of finishing it.

So in exactly 24 hours I will be probably sitting in the airplane, waiting to take off from the Charlottetown airport. Hopefully my 2 pieces of luggage will be safely stowed in the aircraft with me and all will be well. I guess this will be my last blog from PEI until September. Hopefully my loyal PEI readers will continue to read this to see what kind of shenanigans I get up to over there. I bid you all farewell for now.