Author Archives: Kara

The List

Posted in Life, Lists by
The year is coming to an end and while I’m awful at keeping to resolutions, I did learn many things.
There was a popular Note theme on Facebook this year where people listed 25 things that their friends may not know about them, such as weird quirks or family history.
Instead of doing that on here, I’m going to attempt to list 25 things I’ve learned in the past year:
1) While it was stressful at first, moving in with Kyle was the decision I’ve made. We feel more grown up and it’s helped make our relationship stronger.
2) Cooking a roast isn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be. Next challenge: A turkey! Maybe next Thanksgiving …
3) Being done school is the most amazing feeling in the world …
4) … but the stress of trying to find a related job isn’t so amazing.
5) Shopping for houses is also stressful, especially when you first need a down payment and housing prices are high. I’ve learned to broaden my desired areas to live in because a lot of areas are out of our budget.
6) It’s been really hard for me to get my butt to the gym and get a good workout in. I’d really like to go three times a week but my body disagrees. Twice a week seems to be my usual thing.
7) Budgeting and giving my self an allowance has worked wonders, so I really need to get back on track. I take $40 out of my paycheck and make it last two weeks. It’s hard, but I tend to have back spending habits. Kyle hides my debit card and I only use my credit card for emergencies. Some people don’t think it’s right that he hides it, but I know it’s for the best and I’m okay with it, which is all that should matter.
8) Twitter isn’t as evil as I thought it was.
9) Living in a house without air conditioning is horrible and having a pool in the backyard doesn’t help.
10) Watching people search for parking spots at Costco during the Christmas shopping season is hilarious.
11) Not being engaged after seven years is okay because we have bigger priorities we want to fulfill first. (See #5)
12) I found that I don’t enjoy going to weddings or reading about people planning them because it makes me jealous that I don’t have one to plan of my own. (But again, see #11)
13) Running is an amazing way to make my anxiety attacks go away. They’re refreshing and when I take my dog she benefits too!
14) I love my friends and hanging out but I really appreciate my “alone” time.
15) Mac computers aren’t so bad after all (except when they’re running on an old OS).
16) You can’t throw up in public gracefully.
17) Copy editing is harder than it seems, especially when it’s your own work.
18) The North Shore businesses have a whole different attitude than Downtown businesses.
19) There is no comfortable way to pee in the woods.
20) It’s really hard keeping track of everything I have to do at work plus several things other people have to do all at the same time.
21) Deleting people I never talked to in high school off my Facebook is okay.
22) Mice are very tricky creatures and shouldn’t be underestimated.
23) Two large dogs poop more than you could imagine.
24) Performing world-class cannonballs into the pool is a sure-fire way to lose your bathing suit top.
25) I am perfectly happy with where my live is headed and I wouldn’t change a single thing about the past year.

The wait continues …

Posted in Health, Life by
As some people may now I’ve managed to dislocate my shoulder six times in the past. This morning, I added +1 to that total.

When I was 15 I decided to try out skateboarding with my little brother. He told me to stay away from the quarter pipe because I wasn’t good enough. Of course, I didn’t listen and I went down it, bailed and dislocated my shoulder.

That was eight years ago and now my shoulder likes to dislocate at the slightest bumps. For instance, once I had my arm on the back of the couch, sneezed, and it dislocated. Another time I was swimming underwater and it dislocated.

This morning, I went to roll over in bed and it dislocated.

I’ve been on the surgery wait list for a year now but because it’s not knee or hip surgery, it’s a long wait. It’s tiresome and I just want my shoulder to stop dislocating. It hurts when I do it, it aches afterwards and it’s a pain in the ass.

Damn you Interior Health pushing knee and hip surgeries. Why should I have to wait while others get pushed through?

Ten on Tuesday

Posted in Lists, Misc, Ten on Tuesday by
So I may be a Blog stalker, but I’m really trying to make this lame-o blog of my a bit better. Heck, I’m thinking I may even rename it. Who knows. I do a lot of these survey-like questionnaires on Facebook but dear Amber has some nice little shorts ones. Today, I present to you Ten on Tuesday, which Amber got from Roots and Rings.

1. When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I really wanted to be a veterinarian but then I changed my mind and wanted to be a doctor, then a pyrotechnician then a marketing specialist then a journalist. I didn’t decide on a career until half-way through my first year of university! I was in the Business degree program at TRU but had Journalism as a back-up plan. It’s a good thing too, I was horrible at figuring out economics.

2. Name 3 of your irrational fears.
  1. Having the wind pick up a tree and hurdling it into my house. Needless to say, I’m afraid of windstorms.
  2. Spiders. Just thinking about them gives me the heebie jeebies. I can kill the little tiny ones but I can’t get within 3-feet of the bigger ones. (Think anything bigger than a pencil eraser)
  3. Semi trucks and trailers. I hate passing them, I’m terrified of merging in next to them and I really don’t enjoy it when there’s one in front of me and one behind me.
3. If you had a $200 gift card for any store, what would you want it to be? (Nothing responsible allowed. Can’t be used for groceries or anything.)
Lululemon! I would only be able to buy one pair of pants and one sweater, but I love that store! Kamloops needs one!

4. What is your most (blog-friendly) embarrassing moment?
Being so drunk I was delerious in front of Kyle’s best friend’s parents. It’s a good thing they’re easy going.

5. If you were only allowed to eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
Carbs. I love pasta and rice to death. I know a lot isn’t good for me, but it’s delicious.

6. What was your favourite toy growing up?
Probably my Fischer-Price kitchen. I had that and a McDonald’s add-on for it with a visor and drive-thru headset. It was amazing. I used to put my cat in the “oven” though … Oops.

7. Do you have a “go to” outfit? What is it?
My Gap jeans, a comfy shirt, my TRU sweater and my Uggs. I’ve had my Gap jeans for three years now and they are still perfect! I guess that’s why they were so expensive.

8. Who was the best teacher you ever had?
Mrs. Russell-Martin for grade 3 and 4. She made learning fun and she has such an outgoing personality. Ms. Gould, my grade 12 English teacher was amazing too. She had a passion for literature and proper grammar.

9. If you could buy any car right now (something at least SORT OF within the realm of reality…so, you know, a Rolls Royce may not qualify), what would it be?
I’d love a Volkswagen Jetta or Golf TDI. The new models are sharp looking and they’re quite zippy. I do love my car though. It’s quite lovely.

10. How do you reckon that Chelsea comes up with 10 of these questions every week? It was hard! What’s your theory on how she’s so creative? Are you going to help her?
I have no idea. I know I certainly couldn’t do it.