Arrrrgh!

OK, now I've got a conundrum. Canada Post just called. Postie school starts Aug. 11. I'm not scheduled to have a meeting regarding my current role in the LIS project until July 29. What's a girl to do? I also just found out that our contract is likely to be renewed with a $2500 retention bonus. F*@$!

Suggestions?

Oh, and I still haven't heard from the Medical Examiner's office, either.

Easy come, easy go

That's what it's like with holidays. Here one minute and almost gone the next. Egad! Where has my week gone?

July 4--D arrives from T-O and Mom & nephew and I meet up in Eau Claire for yummy dinner

July 5--D, Mom, Nephew, S & I all head to Heart Creek for a little mountain stroll, followed by picnic in Canmore. Picked up race package and start to freak out just a teensy bit. Why is it that a half marathon sounds like such a great idea...until the day before?

July 6--Up at 5 and out of the house by 6 to pick up C en route to start line. C and I have to stop at the Macs on Crack corner (anyone in Calgary knows exactly where that is) for Advil. Race starts and D, C and I are all in line for a port-o-pottie. New race strategy: wait for 8 minutes after the gun to start--there's no fighting with a crowd of 2000 people to claim your bit of road. D & I set off at a fabulous, quick pace but soon realized I could not maintain it for 21.1K. I did however, introduce her to the fine art of 10 & 1's (or as I do, run 1K, walk 1 min). Recovery is such sweet relief. D is the BEST pace bunny ever and we finished in my fastest time EVER: 2:38:56, a FULL 2 minutes better than Fun-couver in May. Went to cousins, S & L, for weenie roast and Stampede fireworks that night. Mmmm...s'mores.

July 7--Massage. Need I say more?

July 8--Space & Science centre and Calgary Tower with mom and nephew

July 9--Haircut (well, just a colour touch up), lunch (Thai) with Cath, then meeting with J re: yoga retreat. Couldv'e been better, could've been worse, but in the end, no retreat. Dinner with neighbour (sushi is so yummy!).

July 10--slept in, read trashy novel in bed with Kitty till noon, now enjoying chai and cottage cheese pancakes (1/3 c cottage cheese, 1 egg, 3 TB flour, 1 tsp baking powder) with jam. I'm going to my yarn store to finish off the baby blanket I made so that I don't feel guilty working on a new project!

And that, my friends, sums up the last week. Carpe diem!

Wednesday ramblings

So, my landlord assures me that her sister will be here at 6pm tonight. I am not holding my breath, people.

I took (and passed) my driver's test with Canada Post this morning! Now I continue to wait for the call to attend postie school.

I'm getting better at giving Kitty her antacid (sub-cutaneously, squirting it in her mouth did NOT go over well!).

Must create inventory of possessions for tenant's insurance to make sure I'm adequately covered.

Must tidy house, including laundry.

OMIGOD, I cannot believe the half is in FOUR days! Where did the time go? Hmmm....maybe I should brave the rain out there and try and squeeze in a run.

H-woman =)

You're kidding, right?

Finally heard from landlord:

"I'm sorry about C. not showing, wasting your time and waiting for her!! I asked her to do me a favor by going to your place with the signed lease agreement. I hope you will make time again for her to come by, please let me know what a good time would be to set up the meeting. Thank you for the photos and report I will take it under advisement. Thank you very much, K."

This is after I've sent her an inspection report I did by myself since her agent didn't show at the arranged time.

What would you do?

I don't think I need to take more time out of my life to do this. She has photographs of the place and a report that meets the criteria spelled out by the Landlord & Tenants Act. Is it my fault her sister is a flake?

H =)

Mwahahaha!

So I took photos of my place, including all the things that need attention and sent them with this:

The inspection of the premises was conducted on 2008June25 at 2000h by H-woman without the landlord or landlord’s agent being present.

Inspections should be conducted when the premises are vacant unless the landlord and tenant and/or their agents otherwise agree. This inspection was conducted at lease renewal (at the request of the landlord) with furniture present.

- The blinds in the kitchen are soiled due to the lack of kitchen fan and need to be replaced.
- The blinds in the living room are soiled from dust from the street and need to be replaced, ideally with blinds that open from the middle.
- The washing machine/dryer is not level and needs to be leveled.
- No other repairs or damage were noted.

Oh yeah, the best part: I emailed the landlord yesterday morning at 7am, and have yet to hear "Boo" from her. Maybe she's yelling at her sister....=)

H =)

OMIGOD, so yummy!

So my friend, Lisa Q. made this for dinner last night and I'm hooked! It's from the cookbook, Cooking Vegetarian by Vesanto Melina & Joseph Forest.

African Stew
4 c vegetable stock
1 chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 c peeled, diced yams
1 c cooked chickpeas
1/2 c brown rice
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 c peanut butter
2 c chopped kale
2 TB lemon juice
tamari or soy sauce (optional)
hot sauce

In large pot over medium heat, saute onion and garlic in 2TB stock until soft. Add remaining stock, yams, chickpeas, rice and salt; simmer covered for 45 minutes.

In small bowl, blend peanut butter and 1/2 c of liquid from stew to make smooth paste. Stir into stew along with kale and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in tamari if using.

Serve with lemon wedge and hot sauce.

Photo to follow!
H =)

MIA

Egad, I had no idea it had been so long since I last posted. I am alive and well (that's debatable--massive headache this morning and feeling every knot in my back that the massage therapist found yesterday)!
So....what have I been up to? Well, on June 7, I helped raise over $936,000 for cancers below the waist. Here's a photo montage:








What else? Hmmmm....still pondering career moves and applying for things. Still also waiting for a description of my role in project I have been seconded for (told about in March, seconded at end of May and 3 weeks yesterday I asked for something in writing). Good thing I'm not holding my breath!

Marveling at the stupidity of all the people. Get this: at the Underwear Affair, they had to announce over the loudspeaker,"if you have parked your car on the railway tracks, move it or the train will damage it." When we drove by after the race, there were tow trucks moving cars. Really?! The stupid ones are among us, my friends. Beware.

Going to first (and likely only) Stampede party tonight. Should be fun! Alas, I should go find some brekkie--my tummy is growly.

H =)