I love Christmas

Apart from a couple minor items for mom and dad - I am done my Christmas shopping! Woohoo. I really hate the malls at this time of the year. I am not a very patient person, but the mad rush of consumers during the last few pre-Christmas shopping weekends would test the patience of the calmest person in the world.

As you'll notice, I got a little background spirit going on in the form of tunes. (The video is way down at the bottom of the page - check it out, it's got some important background highlights). I tried to archive some of those older posts so that the video wouldn't be so far down there - but alas, I couldn't figure out how. So if any of you know how I can archive my blogs so only this month's appear in the main screen, please let me know!

Anywho....the Trans Siberian Orchestra is who this song is by. My best friend pointed them out to me recently - he's into the rock/metal aspect of the band. Whereas, I'm totally into an orchestra, that totally has a contemporary feel, playing classical music. Every year I try to see some sort of performance in December that gets me into the Christmas mood. This year it was the Nutcracker. Next year, my goal is for it to be the Trans Siberian Orchestra. Sure I'll have to travel to see them....and apparently their shows are a hot item and sell out. But, I have a mission. So, lets see if I can actually swing locating and attending a performance next year.

One week until Christmas Eve - my favorite day of the year. (Yes, Christmas Eve and not Day is my favorite of the two).

Five Things

Okay, so my friend Scott posted on his blog "Five Things You Don't Know About Me" and I was disappointed because, I knew all five facts about him. Realistically, I know that the chances of all five facts being new to everyone you talk to is slim. But, let's see how I do:

1. After having taken a 5 week course, I now know that I'm definitely not passionate about watercolours. I have a real hard time doing art in colour - I made fun of Sarah for years for being colour blind and I guess it's backfired because I suck at mixing and using colours. Karma.

2. I love this time of the year...Christmas is my absolute favorite! I put a lot of thought into my gift giving and I get SUPER excited when I think I've found a great gift for someone. Like Qortnee's gift this year - I wish I could be there when she opens it!

3. I'm thinking about buying a house or possibly even building one. I love my apartment, but I want a place that's mine, a place that is totally my own where I don't have to listen to the annoying people upstairs. Also, recently and only because of conversations with a good friend of mine, I really want a tin roof on part of my house. My ideal...a sunroom with a cozy daybed with a tin roof so, on raining days I can relax with a good book curled up on the daybed listening to the rain.

4. I love to fly on planes, but I hate flights. Yes, I know that doesn't make sense. I love flying - it's my favorite way of travel. It really scares some people, but I love just getting into a plane and knowing that someone else is getting me to my destination and I can sleep to pass the time. But, I hate being on planes...and I'm sure everyone does. They're uncomfortable and sometimes flights seem to take forever. Like next month, I'm going to Edmonton...Excited to be travelling to Alberta for work, not excited to be on a plane for such a long period of time. Maybe that's because I often travel by myself and rarely with people who could make the time go much faster.

5. I often consider going back to school. I have had a goal to start my masters before I turn 35, which is plenty of time. And frankly, I don't think I'm ready for my masters yet. I honestly doubt whether or not I'm intelligent enough to be writing a thesis. Doubting my own intelligence is common for me. I'd prefer to have a few life years under my belt before I started this degree. I have always thought that my masters was the next logical progression in my education. But, I now think that I really want to look into some form of museum/conservation studies. Aspects of my current job truly fasinate me. Then again, I did seriously think about computer school today too.

Okay...five things. Is any of it new?

Holiday Stress

So, I think the holiday stress has hit me. I tried to distract myself - but I fell into a serious slump today. Why is it that we try so hard to make Christmas perfect, when realistically, is it ever?

I did, however, in my process of distraction, get my tree up and decorated (which I owe much thanks to my mom and especially my brother), got my Christmas cards signed and baked gingerbread men.

Thankfully, I have tomorrow off work as well. I'm planning on working on at least one art project and hopefully get out some concept sketches of a few others done. I really don't have too much else to blog about. Short to the point...if there is really any point at all. Oh yeah...don't stress. And in the spirit of gingerbread men - here is the dessert porn that we created at my office dinner party. Awww...we're classy...sigh.

Too much to do, too little time

Natalie, a co-worker of mine, put it best when she said, "if there was 30 hours in a day I may be able to get everything done." That's exactly how I feel lately. I really need to get my arse in gear with Christmas shopping. I'm having such a hard time this year finding the right gifts for people. The only gift that I have to give that I'm super excited about is actually the gift I have for Qortnee. So, Q...consider yourself extremely lucky. I wish I could be there when you open this gift - but I'm sure I'll hear from you right away. That's how cool this gift is. I'm also being smart and not sending it for another couple weeks....cause I know you too well.

I have a few art projects on the go and I'm hoping I'll have time to complete them. I'm hoping that I can spend next weekend focussed totally on art. This weekend is a write off for me - working at the Christmas sale at work tomorrow then heading to Halifax on Sunday for a three day conference. But it'll be fun - I love tourism related events.

I had an extremely fun evening out last night however. Our office staff went out to a dinner theatre for our Christmas gathering. I, of course, flirted with the geek in the cast. What is wrong with me lately and having a serious attraction to those geeky guys? Christa would testify to that comment. (She hates the fact that I think Chris Garver is the hottest on Miami Ink when in her words "he's the biggest geek ever") My argument...I'd much rather have someone with intellect who I can converse with, than just another pretty face.

Speaking of pretty faces....check out my dates from last night. Yes, I said dates. Scott, Devin and I were all going solo, so I made them my dates. Too bad that I was just their stand-ins for their girlfriend and wife. In the end - I'm the pathetic single one who pretended to be on a date with the only two men in my office who were only solo because their significant others were unable to attend. Suck it up Princess....at least I can now say that in one evening I had two hot dates.

Newfies and Nature

On Thursday I began my weekend with a wonderful night out with an old friend of mine- Jake was home from Alberta and he and I went out for karoke. No, he didn't convince me to get up on stage and sing. I let him do all the singing. And I must admit...he was my favorite singer of the evening all biases aside.

Well then I made my first ever trek to Newfoundland and I must say....they have a beautiful province! The drive from Deer Lake to Corner Brook, I'd have to say, is to date my favorite drive. The highway that runs through the Humber Valley is so beautiful. I'd love to see it in the autumn. I guess I'll just have to save my pennies so that next fall that may be an option. As much as I was relieved, I was also slightly disappointed I didn't see any moose.

Martha and I had a wonderful weekend living a completely opposite life that the normal newfies must lead. This fact was only reiterated when we were at the checkout at the grocery store talking about what we would be drinking if we did go out and the lady working the cash commented on our groceries: "Cooked roast chicken, ready made salad and ice cream for dessert. My kind of ladies - not wasting any time before you get to drinking tonight." I busted a gut thinking, who goes to Newfoundland and doesn't go out drinking??? Me and only me! Okay, so we did have drinks over dinner on Friday night, but other than that it was totally relaxed and a weekend of complete rejuvenation. Exactly what I needed.

Quiet night in....

I've come to realize how much I love doing nothing. I am having a quiet night in, all by my lonesome, and I'm honestly loving it. Not that I dislike the company of my friends. But occasionally we all need a "me night". Sure I have things I could be doing, but instead, I'm laying on the couch, cuddled with a blanket, doing nada.

Speaking of blankets. My family has just decided to do something really special. As my few readers may know, we lost my gram this summer. Well, my uncle found someone who makes quilts and he and my mom put together a bunch of my gram's clothes and every family member who wants one can have one of my "gram's" quilts made for them. I think this is so touching and such a great idea. I always wanted a quilt made out of fun tshirts, but this is a much nicer idea.

So, I started watercolour class this week and obviously enjoy it enough to go out and buy some supplies. It's actually refuelled my dwindling artistic ambition. Now, I got big game plans for Christmas art projects. And I even seriously thought today that maybe I should start selling some of my art. Turn some of my photography into cards or something snazzy like that. Who knows.

I got a big honour this week. My friend's blog is always about the latest and greatest in technology but he decided that the "smile-its-halloween" gift I did for him was worthy of a non-techie blog. I decided to carve for him an Alice Cooper pumpkin. Why Alice Cooper? Well, because my friend is a fan and also because Cooper is creepy and what could scream halloween more than creepy? I am special (not in the short bus kinda way either).

Well, I guess that's it. I know....holy boring.

It's almost November!

I don''t think I've every really looked forward to November before. Okay, maybe when I was organized and knew what I was buying Qortnee for her bday, or when we had a party planned for the Q, Tamzin and Amy. But, other than that...no. But, this year....boy am I ever! We are moving to our winter hours at work, which means every evening and weekend are mine without the fear of interruption! And....I also get to go to Newfoundland in Nov! My first trip to the rock and I can't wait!! I also get to see one of my many boyfriends in concert in Nov. I bought mom and me tickets to see Matt Dusk in Halifax. Woohoo.

What else is happening in the life of Crystal D? I start a watercolour course next week. Time to get back into art again. I desperately need the inspiration and since I'm paying for it, I'm sure to make the time! hehe

In less than two months it'll be Christmas!! "It's the most wonderful time of the year". Sure, that means I need to seriously start my Christmas shopping list and get on the go with any art projects. Sigh...something to fill my evenings and weekends (although, I would honestly much rather it being filled with a whole lot of nothing.)

Exactly what I'm going to do right now. Nothing. Evening off, phones off, computer off, lights off, and maybe a bath. Ahhh....sounds like the most amazing night ever.

Okay, that's the story morning glory. Nothing insightful, nothing educational...but you love it.

Drive by potato'ing

As you may have guessed from the potato reference in the title, I was in PEI last week. There were potatoes all over the place - falling out of vehicles in front of my car (I even drove over one....poor lil spud). I was invited to attend a Parks Canada conference and was given a couple speaking opportunities. It seems so weird sometimes to think of myself as the person who has been invited to sit on a panel to speak about the care of museum collections. I would've busted a gut laughing if someone told me 10 years ago I'd be this big of a geek when I grew up.

Other than that, I've been doing the regular. My life has become pretty ordinary. I work, I sleep and rarely have ambition to do much of anything else. I seriously believe in the depression that professionals say people are susceptible to during this time of the year. They say that the reduction in daylight hours, the dreary weather, the fading of the brilliant autumn colours, are all factors leading people into a slump.

Lately it just seems acceptable to come home from work to a dark and cold apartment, grab a blanket and sit on the couch in the dark, avoiding the phone and internet. I wake up each day in the dark and return just as it's getting dark. I've only been out walking like one day in the past month and that makes me totally sick. I need motivation to get my arse in gear again. I came up with this wonderful master plan that I'd change at work and go out walking right after work. That lasted all of one time. Then I let life and my lack of motivation get in the way.

I sound so pathetic. The only thing that's truly stopping me from doing the after work walk is me. That's it...I'm starting back at the routine. It'll only make me feel better and the only one I affect by not doing it, is me. Ok...just as I get myself motivated to do something, I'm gonna go to bed. It's after 11pm and I have a meeting first thing in the morning. Sigh.

Thought I'd throw our new family picture in here though, just cause I love it so much. Kayne is growing up so fast. Dad asked for a pic of the kids - so we did just that. :D This does make me happy.

Quiet times in Truro

Life has been about work lately - like that's actually something new. I had a quiet day at the office today actually...spent 80% of my day just getting my desk organized. Sounds boring to most people, but I love stuff like that. I know, I know...I'm a geek.

It's actually been a pretty decent week. I got pampered Monday night...came home to the service of the door being opened for me, a wonderfully set table, and incredibly delicious dinner and a DVD as a gift. It wasn't a special occasion - just because. But, I certainly did feel special! It's not a common occurance for someone to go completely out of their way to do something so great just for lil ole me. *BIG SMILES*

I have a "blue tongue date" with one of my favorite co-workers tomorrow! Scotty2hottie, as I affectionately refer to him, and I have established that there is an obvious need for (at least) bi-weekly outings that involve cold lagers or fancy smancy drinks. The blue tongue reference came from blue candies which we got the last time we went out and the questions that later followed when Scott and I returned to work with matching tongues. So, in the spirit of office bonding (sure it's just a fraction of the office - whatever)....BRING ON THE MARTINIS BABY! hehe

Other than that....nothing. I have my last weekend off for awhile coming up. I have no idea what I'm going to do. For some reason or another, I think my Mom told me of something I had to do. But I don't really recall. So, because I'm oblivious and it's not written on my calendar. Technically, I'm free to do nothing. Sigh...and I think that's exactly what I'll do. I had considered spending a day with my lil cousin Christian cause he cracks me up so much. Maybe, just maybe, I'll arrange for a little bit of family fun time. We'll see.

Ciao for now baby! Hope you, April and the whole animal fam are doing well, Q-bee!

Sometimes life gets in the way

Life has been a little topsy turvy lately. Sadly, my Gram passed away last week - so that pretty much shook my world up for a few days....and technically still is. Then I got sick with an awful cold and all I want to do is lay in bed and sleep. My body is craving sleep and if I start going to bed any earlier, I'll have the same bed time as my 4 year old cousin. Pathetic and funny all at the same time.

My friends have been great though...makes me appreciate them more than they'll ever know. I've been able to call my good friends any hour of the day, got cookies delivered, people to keep me company and I know without this, I'd be totally lost and not near as strong as I was to get through the rough patch.

All the supper dates, the phone calls, and the fab lunch date with my CB friends were icing on the cake. I must say...my friends are great!

But right now, boy do I miss being at school. Uggh...the frustrations of September. How I crave being in a classroom at this time of the year. I think I must be still sick. HEHE!! We'll that's it for now. Ciao xo

Extremely short post

The title says it all...I just got a new picture of Kayne and I love it. Had to share :D

Feeling out of sorts

I don't know what it is lately, but I haven't been feeling like myself. I took a sick day this week from work cause my body wasn't feeling up to par and that seems to have since recovered. But, my mind isn't feeling up to par lately either. Normally on my days off, I'm total get up and go, things planned, lots to do. Not yesterday....I spent all day doing nothing. I had a list of things that I should be doing, but no desire to do them.

I just feel so blah. Like I'm totally in a rut and need to be rescued.

I wanted this blog to be longer, but I just got a call and I'm needed at the office. So, here goes another day.....I have Monday off. Maybe I'll run away Sunday night.....maybe.

Land of Potatoes

Well...as Staind would say, "it's been awhile". Things have been a lil wonky lately. I don't know what wonky means, but I decided I wanted to use it. I went to the island over the weekend with a good friend of mine and boy was it nice to get away. Sure we didn't do anything spectacular...but that's the best part about PEI. You can do nothing and no one cares. That's why I'm so excited for my next big trip there next month....Woohoo to seeing Q (oh and the Black Eyed Peas). It's gonna be a grand old time!

Other than that, life hasn't changed much....work, eat, sleep, work, eat, sleep. My computer is MIA - I think it hates me. Its in the shop getting fixed, so I had to borrow an old laptop from work which I'm starting to feel isn't worth the headache. But, I needed it to stay in touch with the guys in Toronto. Our good friend Jason got hurt really badly in Korea a few days ago, he's still hanging on, we just hope and pray he fights all the way through this. Nothing worse than knowing someone close to you isn't doing well and you'd do anything to take away their pain and hurt, but know the reality of that is impossible.

That's how I felt last weekend too...my friend who went with me to PEI was in agony and it was apparent with every move he made. He probably got really sick of me saying, I wish I could make it better. So, I always debated the question, if I could have one super power what would it be.....my response tossed between being able to read people's mind or to be a fly on the wall. I've realized that I would much rather it be the power to heal. This is one power that could truly be considered a burden, but when I see or hear about people I love being hurt, the burden aspect would totally disappear.

Okay...enough of a tangent. I have to get some rest. I have an interview tomorrow morning for TV. I'm so Sam Jones....gotta love public relations. Ciao xo

Long time coming

Wow...for the first time in a while I'm so happy to say that, I had a great day today! Work went smoothly...I actually had a chance to hide away in my office with very few distractions; I had my evaluation today, which went well and I received a raise today; I attended a gathering at Mom's house tonight to meet all the new members of mom's soon to be step family; and tomorrow is the first of 3 days off in a row!

Ron and Mom hosted a family gathering -which Ron ensured Mom need not lift a finger and therefore hired the most incredible caterer....the food was yummy! And I got to sit around and listen to my cousin Richard jam with one of the world's most foremost classical guitar players, Don Ross (who also just happens to be my future step-brother). There ended up being 45 of us in attendance....small family gathering....the Ross' making up 11 of that number and the rest being my family (Qortnee, I know you understand!) HAHA....good times.

And the past few days at work have been incredible. I met some wonderful people this week - even got asked to go on a road trip to Newfoundland for the weekend by a group of visitors! Gotta love it!

Well, I'm off...to veg, and enjoy my first night of "mini vacation". Tomorrow.... shopping, hairdresser's and drinks with the ladies. Sounds like a good start to me! I've also included a pic of me and mom, the happy new bride-to-be!

Diamonds and Drama

Well...this has been an exciting week for the Dorey family. Mom got engaged this week to a great man who treats her like gold. That's right...Mom's getting married!! It looks like it might be a December wedding, if we can figure out where she's gonna have it....long story short she can't get married in the church without an annulment of her first marriage and that could take over a year. And these two crazy kids in love wanna get married right away. He wants a summer wedding...hello it's July. And I've convinced Mom that a Christmas wedding would be beautiful. We'll see. Either way, I get to help plan my Mom's wedding!! And she's gonna look so amazing. SMILES

The drama portion, is of course the ownership of her house. It's being given to me. That's right - I own my own house now. But, I don't want to move in until my lease is up here - which is May. And have to have the unfortunate conversation with Christopher on what he's gonna do. I know myself, I could never be a good roomate for Chris - I'd smother him worse than Mom would. But, I also don't want my brother living at home free loading off of me - cause really, who could afford that. But, I just keep telling myself...he has about a year to figure his stuff out, including learning how to afford to live in the real world. Afterall, that kid does make more money than I do, but spends 3 times the amount that I do too.

Well, I guess that's it for now. There's more drama - but I don't wanna blog about it. Ask me Q, and I'll tell ya. Toodles

Time to get some rest

So, Grand Opening is over and it's time to get some much needed rest! I used some of my overtime to take the weekend off....two weekends off in a row! Nothing beats it! I have a friend from the Cape in town this weekend, so it gives me time to catch up with him...and plenty of time to veg out, get caught up on some much needed rest. I'm so looking forward to it!

Life has been pretty mundane lately. I got a new feature added to my bedroom thanks to the help of one of my good friends. Now, now Q...dont' take it as something completely dirty. I saw a sign awhile ago in a store here and fell in love with what it said, but it was a lil too country for me. But thanks to the world of ebay, I found exactly what I was looking for! It makes me so happy everytime I walk into my room. It's now what I like to refer to as being the only rule of my apt. I tried to take a picture of it....but its doesn't turn out that well in photos....but on the wall above my bed it says, Always Kiss Me Goodnight. So so cute.

And just because that photo didn't work, I thought I should include a photo nonetheless. Here's a recent picture of the boss. Yep, my nephew Kayne! He's getting so big....and look at his ears Q...just like his dad! hehe

Congrats Mommies!

I just wanted to send out a big congrats to the new Cape Breton mommies! Q and April, I'm sorry our date didn't work out - that just means I really need to get my arse up to visit you now! But, I hope you and the boys are having a great time with lil Brixx. It's almost as if you guys have your own petting zoo. HEHE....so really...I'm gonna contact you Q and although I've been saying it for awhile, I'm coming to visit. Enough of this work-all-the-time crap. I need time for fun and only good old fashion roomate bonding will cure that!

Alright...back to reality. Sigh....escaping for a moment, albeit brief, is nice.

Happy Birthday to ME!

Well yesterday was my bday and I had a blast....thanks to all my Truro friends who came out to party hardy with me...and to all my away friends for the well wishes! I don't have too much to write....but here's a couple of pics...one of the girls at Chevy's and the other is of my birthday present to myself. I'm in love with my new bed!

Old and grey...

I'm old. It's official....I'm days away from my birthday and I've never felt older than I have lately. I'm excited when I can have early morning shifts and I get to go to bed early. I need something in my life to make me feel young again. Maybe my birthday night on the town will do that for me. As long as I don't do the "let's drink like we did in high school" night again....right Q?!?! We've learnt that's never a good idea!! EEEEEKK....I'll never touch Tropikiwi again in life.

Hehe....other than that life is pretty quiet. I been spending my evenings this week quiet at home watching movies....nothing beats curling up on the couch after a long day at the office. It certainly makes me happy.....or at least satisfied....happy would be warm summer weather and actually getting to see some sunlight.

I have scheduled myself a long weekend...and boy am I excited! I think I'm gonna go somewhere fun during the day Saturday. Mom and I are doing a birthday brunch, then maybe I'll take a mini roadtrip somewhere for the afternoon....gotta be back for my bday celebration! I'm sure there will be plenty of entertaining stories after the weekend....I'll blog again then! Toodles :)

New schedule & time off

Well, starting May 1st we opened our doors to the public 7 days a week. So my work schedule for the month is totally messed up. I can't wait for June when I go to a normal two week rotation. Because I had to do the May schedule in March trying to forsee where we'd need the most staffing, it was rough...and I'm bounced all around the week. Ugggh...it's not leaving me enough time to get things done.

Other than that....I attended the huge Saltscapes Expo a couple weekends ago in Halifax. Its the big tourism expo where NS gets to promote itself. It was so much fun....mind you I was so tired of smiling all day...but, I really love the tourism industry. AND I got to meet Michael Smith, (he's a Chef with shows on the Food Network from PEI) one of my two fav chefs!!

I had my first real dinner party in my new place - 6 friends came over and we had lots of food and lots of laughs. It was great. I so love entertaining. Ok....I just love not being alone all the time. hehe! I did however spend some good alone time on my day off, Saturday working on a painting. It was my first time working on a canvas...I was so nervous....and my second time working with acrylic...so I had no idea how it would turn out. I still don't know how I feel about th piece...it's starting to grow on me, I think. Q, you know...I'm just far too critical of my own work. But....here it is....this is my first canvas piece.

I passed!

We got our exam results back today and I passed! I won't find out my mark until Friday, but regardless...pass, pass, pass. Woohoo....and today our artifacts came. So I got to spend the day watching pieces of a few hundred years of Mi'kmaq history being installed into our exhibit cases! Great day at work. I'm exhausted.

I'm looking forward to the weekend eventhough I have to work Saturday promoting the centre at an expo. But, hopefully it will be fun.....Saltscapes....huge tourism expo in Halifax. And my dream man, Michael Smith, is going to be doing some cooking demostrations. Maybe I'll pick myself up a man....sure he's married, but minor details considering he's a chef. heehee

I'm absolutely loving having my own place again...isn't it great Qortnee! I feel so grown up again. Grown up and ready for bed...time to hit the sack. Why is it, when we're young we want to stay up late, and when we get older, we wish we could go to bed earlier? Fun being an adult! G'night!

Got a new home!

So, I finally found a place! That's right boys and girls...Crystal D has herself a bachelorette pad!! Yeehaw. I've started moving in a few odds and ends but will become an official resident by the end of the weekend. So so so excited. I'm quickly finding out how expensive it is to get a grown up apartment though...ugghhh...I'm gonna be broke for awhile, so I'm going out partying now. LOL

Q...I can't wait to show you the pics...I'm such a young professional now...and I have the digs and business cards to prove it. hehe

Ok...that's it for now. I have an exam on Thursday for national certification in Heritage Interpretation...I know...a whole lot of jargon. But, it's a big test that's extremely important to my job. Gotta study...Ciao Amigos!

Fast approaching...eeekkkk!

So the date that we have scheduled for the offical opening of our doors at work is fast approaching. May 1st is when we will be open to the public....when I have to have all the programming in place...rehearsed, tested and ready to go. Can we say full plate?!! Needless to say I'm a bit stressed and finding out there's not enough hours in the day. I had hoped to schedule an evening to stay in the office and work, but my next free evening is Saturday....and I am not spending a Saturday in the office....no way, no how.

I've made an official decision that I'm going to start actively looking at apartments instead of just talking about it! HAHA....I know, right now Q you're busting a gut laughing at me. But you probably know me better than most people and know that is so something that I'd totally do. Sure, living at home for free is great....but I so need my own space. When mom starts joking about what I do for extra-curricular activities, it's time to get my own place!

Other than that...life is pretty much the same. I would like to take a mini-vacation before I start in full swing in May. So we gotta start planning Q....ask the roomies if I can come crash! Boozefest 2006...it's been far too long!

Travelling bunny

I've just returned from a business trip in Quebec City on Aboriginal Tourism. So great. It was so cool being at a conference where I was part of the crowd, the discussion....not just there cause one or both of my parents had to attend. LOL I feel like such a grown up now.....networking, handing out business cards. So exciting. I landed safe and sound late Wednesday night and then woke up to the most amazing Thursday.

I had the rare opportunity to spend an hour with Ruth Whitehead going through the artifacts that the Nova Scotia Museum has in storage. For those of you who don't know, Ruth had devoted about 40 years of her life to studying Mi'kmaw History and has been a curator for the NS family of museums and had published many books on the topic. I got to see up close and personal (not behind a glass barrier) Mi'kmaw basketry, quillwork, and birchbark items dating back some 200 years. AMAZING is the only thing I could say. I know, some may think I'm a total geek....but it is an incredible feeling to be standing in the presence of so much history knowing that these things were made by my ancestors and are even more beautiful up close then one would ever imagine.

Other than that....when I'm not emmersed in something tourism related, then I'm apparently living up to my new name as Truro's bar star and I'm partying it up at Chevy's. LOL.....gotta keep life entertaining in this quiet town. And don't you worry your little heart....I've been doing a friggin good job of keeping it entertaining....just ask my friend Christa...she could probably write a novel at this point in the game! LOL.....ciao amigo!

Painting and partying

So this weekend was one of my favorites in a long time. I woke up Sat am and thought....I want to paint today. So I went into town and bought some wall paint and all the other important things. I spent the rest of the day Saturday painting the main bathroom. That evening the girls called me and asked me to hit up Chevy's with them. Of course I said yes...and am I glad I did. I had a blast!! One of my favorite times at Chevron's...no doubt. I barely knew anyone there...and I don't know what made it so over the top great...but it was!

Then on Sunday, I finished off the paint job. Attached is the picture of the finished product. I love it and am so exicted that it turned out as well as it did. When I went into the project Sat am....the walls were white....the entire bathroom was just white. I wanted to try the faux stone wall look...and it turned out better than I could've ever imagined. Ok...enough of a blog for tonight...I'm tired. Good night....

A million freakin bucks!

I got my hair done today and I feel like a million bucks....hense the title of the blog. Just a trim and some foils (they're basically black, but have fixed a hair colour that I was hating!) There's nothing I love more than when nothing seems to be going your way, to spend sometime being pampered. I love going to the hairdresser....no doubt.

I'm having a pretty good week. I hung out with my old friend, Sharkey, who I haven't seen in about 5 years. It was wonderful catching up....and finding out all the secrets behind the culinary world. I also got a lot of my chest by venting to a friend last night (thanks Steve....if you're reading this). Somedays you just need to know that someone is listening...there was nothing he could do, but just knowing that I could clear my mind helped. What would I do without my friends?? Well, really...I'd just keep a lot of things bottled up....that's what I would do.

Q, I friggin miss you. Especially when I was looking through my memory box the other day and found some great things from VH. An invite to a sleep over, the stupid story book, pics of my 1st yr party with the headbands, this list could go on for awhile really. But you know what I miss the most? Bedtime stories. I ask people to tell me stories all the time, but none compare to you. So, sometime soon, we're gonna have to get together....I'm coming to visit baby! We'll make plans for a visit...sound good? Ok, enough for now...venting....sigh....I love it.

It's been awhile...

I have been so busy with work, that I haven't had time to think about anything else. All I want to do when I get off at 5 is sleep...and usually that's exactly what I do...take a lil cat nap.

The job is fun though...getting lots done and been given more projects. I'm heading to Quebec City in a couple weeks for an Aboriginal Tourism Conference!! Gotta love business trips! I'm also working on the PR for a few items (I feel like Samantha Jones from Sex and the City...heehee). I got to make out with a dummy last week...HAHA...CPR/Emergency First Aid training. Literally a dummy, not so literal on the making out part. And went on a tour of the North Shore of NS...museums, galleries, shops, and a winery (nothing beats getting paid to sample wine)!!

Been spending a lot of my free time doing art work (yah!) and doing some comparison shopping for the new TV I have to buy. Thanks to a couple guys I know, the decision is becoming harder and harder...too many choices, too many things to consider....I joke, they've both been great at offering good advice. Major decision...DLP or LCD...in the end I've decided LCD....for girly reasons and I stand by them. (Crystal D is in the name....why wouldn't I choose that option?)

Well, I guess that's it for now. Nothing interesting, nothing educational....but it's a post.

Quotation....simple

No major blog....nothing new to say. Life is all about work. So instead....this is a quotation from Sex and the City that I love. And...I think it's totally me right now....outside of work.

"Later that day I got to thinking about relationships. There are those that open you up to something new and exotic, those that are old and familiar, those that bring up lots of questions, those that bring you somewhere unexpected, those that bring you far from where you started, and those that bring you back. But the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you find someone to love the you you love, well, that's just fabulous."

It's been a month

It's been a whole month since I started this job....and guess what...I LOVE IT!! I'm having so much fun, meeting great people and learning so much. I was just offered the opportunity to help coordinate the publicity for regalia that is being repatriated from Australia. It's unbelievable to be part of such an amazing event....bringing home a Chief's regalia from the 1800's to be housed in our exhibits.

Other than that, things are randy dandy here on my end. 2006 is starting off pretty darn good....I wish I had more time to do art work. But I've realized, I need to start making the time. So I think tomorrow afternoon will be my "cut off the world and do some art" day. LOL...I know, I'm a geek. But I need some veg out, totally me, totally creative time. I was sketching out an idea last weekend for a floorcloth (Q....why aren't you closer so we can make one together this time) and it gave me an idea for a complete original design which I've sketched out and am so excited to try!!! I know that I won't get to that tomorrow.....but maybe another weekend.

I hung out last night with a completely new crew. People I've grown up knowing, but never really hung out with. Fun times, let me tell you. I really had a blast! I'm glad that Mise'l agreed to go with me to the party....he's always partied with them and since we've known each other since we were tiny tots, he was my comfort zone. Sure we got the 20 questions when we left together....but that's just part of the entertainment aspect.

Ok...time to go do something productive like re-watch Memento. This great guy I know said it was a must see and lent me his copy. If you haven't checked it out, do so...he was right. I think I need to watch it a second time...it's presented in such a unique way that I feel like I missed something.

Stupid Future Shop!

So, I took my laptop into Future Shop before Christmas because the burner wouldn't work and there was something wrong with the plug. Well, they sent it away to be fixed and I finally got to pick it up last night. Buddy at the counter was really proud and impressed with the work done both by FS and the HP repair company. His words, "they really went above and beyond what we sent it in to be fixed for. I was impressed that the put the extra work into it!" And of course I said, "extra work?? Whatta mean?" He replies with, "Oh, they put a new keyboard on, replaced your hard drive and there's a note here that you have to restore it. OH wait...nevermind, I already took care of that for you!" Yah...you can hear the enthusiasm in his voice as my heart drops and I look at him and say, "You f*&%in did what?"

Crystal was not a happy camper, by any stretch of the imagination! Everything lost. He's like well, you shoulda made copies of everything before you brought it in. While shrugging his shoulders. And I'm thinking, HOW COULD I HAVE MADE COPIES OF EVERYTHING IF MY BURNER WAS BROKEN, HENSE THE REASON FOR BRINGING IT IN....but all I could get out of my mouth, was.... J - f'in - C...f#&k, s&*t, F#&K....over and over again. I questioned why they didn't inform me before they made such huge work changes, and he said "sometimes we call the customer and sometimes they don't." It took everything in me to keep myself from jumping over his counter and leaving sneaker marks in his forehead.

Great Friday night...now I get to spend all weekend trying to recoup my losses while trying to get organized for work on Monday....spotlight time begins. Thank heavens I've planned to go out tonight...I need a drink already!

Work, work...and work

So, I started my new job and so far so good I guess. Somedays I leave there so completely overwhelmed and other days smiling. Good thing is, regardless of how my day ends, I'm still really excited for the project. Being a "boss" seems strange. Sure, I have no super powers in my position, but it looks like I will have 4 employees that I'm responsible for training. That's what makes me nervous. They start on Monday, and I'm hoping that come 5pm Monday, everything will look like it will flow as smooth as butter.....if not....I'll be needing that vacation to come see you in CB a lot sooner than expected Q. Hehe

Other than that....there's been a few ups, downs, twist and turns in the daily happenings of Crystal D....but nothing I can't handle, adjust to, or ignore. LOL I'm going out Sat night for a good old night on the town with a few Truro ladies....so let's see how messy it gets. Kinda bland....but I'm tired....I haven't been in the mood to blog lately...but don't worry Q-bee...you're not gonna lose me yet. HAHA

Oh yah....this is a pic of my new nephew!!!

I'm an Auntie!!

Chris and Gwen had a baby late last night!! A little boy named Kayne (like Dean "Superman" Caine...not the Golddigger rapper). And I can't wait to meet him! She had him in the Miramichi and should be down this way on the weekend. I started my new job today, so I couldn't necessarily ask for time off already! LOL

That's it for now...not in the mood to write!