Life's a beach

Vancouver isn't known for it's white, sandy beaches. Really, most of them are cliffs (all the fjords, yo!), or just rocks, with random sandy bits. West Van is no exception. It's cool though, since it has all these hidden little coves, and some actually have sand! So, today, K and I hit up one of the random little beaches.
Stupidly, I totally didn't bring my camera.
But, I will tell you, my blindingly white flesh was on display (I'm the palest person I've ever met), and I didn't even end up with sunstroke! (It happens at least once a summer-I've had bout one already.)
AND I went swimming. Which is a bit of a big deal, since I can hardly doggy paddle. Luckily, K's a smartypants and had brought a skim board for me to float around with. I love that girl. I was able to actually go out into water over my head without freaking out or getting tired.
I did, however, get stung by a bee. I was in the water playing around, and all of a sudden I felt something pinching my arm. I looked down and saw a bee attached to me! I dropped my arm into the water, and the bee ended up floating away, dead...
After the beach, we hit up the gym, so I'll definitely be getting to sleep tonight (hopefully, I will stay asleep!)

Dear Universe

...I wasn't hired as an admin assistant, so please tell the president and the executive director of the non-profit I work for to stop treating me like the office bitch.

...I don't particularly enjoy being stuffed up and exhausted when I have plans-please cancel my sickness, and while we're at it, I'd rather not have to wake up every hour to pee.

...My 18 year-old neighbours having a party when I'm sick is not funny and not cute. What is, though, is one of the other neighbours phoning the police to get the party broken up!

...It would be nice if my dad was actually within cell-phone range on Father's Day.

...Living in this awesome place, and not being able to find a stellar, career-type job, is a bit disheartening. I like my current job fine, but it's not what I want to be doing forever. Or even for 5 years. Having it on my resume, though, will look pretty fantastic. This time next year I'd appreciate it if the stars would align and provide me with a career-type job, one that pays more, as well.

...I don't appreciate the fact that the sunflower my friend gave me as a grad present isn't growing. I thought I'd planted it in a really good spot, but it's sorta getting shrivelly :(

...Having a cuddly kitty lying on my when I'm sick is nice, but not when I have to pee and he's being too cute to move.

...Having 3/4 of the most important men in my life at my grad was lovely, but damn, did it ever make me miss my older brother :( Can a trip to see him and my sister-in-law please be arranged?

...Having BBQs in the British Properties at my best friend's parents' house, is fantastic. Can it happen again, please, before they move?

...And finally, can some time please be arranged for me to knit all the baby blankets for pregnant people that I've decided need to be done??

Supporters Anonymous part 2

My friend and I went to a the other night. We saw Envy on the Coast, Anberlin, and Taking Back Sunday at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver.
It was a fantastic show (even though I didn't get home 'til nearly 2, and I had to get up at 7 the next morning for work-and I'm not 18 anymore!), but what was the most amazing was the fact that my friend, an alcoholic, was strong enough and safe enough with me and our other friend to not drink.

I am so incredibly proud of her. I can't even imagine how hard it must have been for her to be in a bar and not drink. At one point during the evening, she said that she wanted a beer, but I think that having me and Shar around not drinking helped. Also, we weren't with our normal show-friends-who are all about the drinking and drugging.

I've read that you need to change your habits to help break your addictions. In the case of drinking, in 20somethings, it's pretty hard to find non-drinkers. I know that becuase I'm not a big drinker, and I've always been the lame friend who is driving, or leaves early, or whatever. In my friend's case, she was often the one inviting me out to drink or even just hang out. I honestly never really thought that she had a "drinking problem", I just thought she drank a lot. It was only after she ended up in the hospital a couple times for her depression, and entered a treatment program, that how much she was drinking became apparent. She's been working incredibly hard to break her addiction, and one of her most amazing accomplishments, is her new-found interest in going to the gym, doing yoga, and taking her doggy for really long, intense walks.

I like to think that we're good influences on each other, since I give her moral support in the sober department, and she forces me to join her on Wednesday nights for Bosu and yoga classes. We also spend way too much time together, playing gin rummy and drinking coffee.
All in all, we're good for each other, and I'm still proud of all the strength and hope she embodies. Her dedication to her health, both physical and mental, also helps my mental well-being, just by being such an inspiration and role-model.

I'll see you tomorrow night, friend!

Done