Just finishing up few days off work, and while for many its an exciting time, for me its rather boring. I realized today that daytime television truly sucks ass. Nothing on, except shows like he View. Oh my God! These women, all talking at the same time, makes me think of a chicken coop, with hens cackling at each other. The noise is excruciating. Thats been another thing that bothrs the hell out of me. Noise, such as a cellphone ringing. Whats worse is when you're having a conversation with someone and suddenly their cellphone rings, and then they answer the phone, and chats for a half hour, all the while you're stuck there waiting patiently for them to finish talking about some mundane shit so they can get back to what we were discussing before. Or when you want to focus on something, and everyone around you is yakking on their phones. GRRR. I know I need a cell phone..but I guess I've been holding off the inevitable, and added extra bill I'd have to pay.
Now the funny shit is that a cell phone woulda been really useful to me last week when I left work. It was approximately 1pm thereabouts, and I was going to have a quick smoke as I walked the one block to the bus stop. A few out of towners stopped to ask for directions, and whn I finished with them, I waited at the corner for the light to change so I could cross the street. Suddenly I hear, "Hey! Hey come here!"..I turned my head to the right and notice 2 strung out women were advancing towards me. They didn't look just drunk. They looked like they were strung out on crack. And I knew they wanted one one of my smokes...two if they could get it. And ladies and gents....that was NOT going to happen. I work hard and I pay for my own habit. And I decided to turn left and walk down the street because the damned light wouldn't change. I hear a more frantic.."HEY!!! HEYYYY!" and I look back to find, with alarm, that they are breaking into a RUN. Fortunately, they didn't run very fst, and I started walking at a brisk pace..the whole time my heart is beating hard and fast in my chest. I realized that I was having a mild panic attack. I had to find a place to duck into, so I went into the Bargain Store. I explained to the clerk what was happening and she kept an eye out for me as I dissapeared down an aisle. A few minutes later I came out of hiding and seeing that the women had given up the search, I thanked the clerk for helping me out and went to go catch the bus. I was hyperventilating a little and the panic attack didn't pass until I made it to the West Side. So I think that if I'd had a cell phone on me I coulda called the cops, but even then what could they really do? It really pisses me off actually. And my panic attack was due to the fact that I'm mildly claustrophobic...I especially can't handle people crowding me. In fact the only people Ifeel comfortable standing close to me are those who are in my inner circle. Anyhoo..thats all the excitement I have to report at present. How was your week? Catch ya later!
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Updates and crazy drunk people downtown.
Hello all! Yes it has been a while. Miss me? Well, judging by the lack of comments I have to assume most people have switched their attention to Facebook. I have too, but I still want to keep a blog, so regardless of whether or not I get comments, I'm gonna blog anyways dammit. I'm still working like a mofo, and now that the Zoo is closed for the summer, I only have the odd catering job to do there and now I have the majority of my hours coming from my job downtown. I have finally gotten the hang of it, and I do love my work dearly. Plus, I work with an awesome staff, who are super nice, and went out of their ways to make me feel at home there, so that makes me happy. I am getting to know the regulars, and they seemed to have accepted me too. So all is good.
Since my hours have increased at the job downtown, I've seen some interesting characters, plus a couple of disturbing ones. For instance, last week, some tall Native guy comes in and asks my boss if he could have a glass of water. Naturally my boss said no...not because he was Native, but he was a fella that frequented the other side of the street, and was a known drug and chemical abuser. Plus, we aren't going to give someone water if they aren't going to buy anything you know? He stands there silent for a second, then shouts out (heedless to the fact a small child was in his prescence)"You're not gonna give me any fuckin water?! You want to get beat up?" My boss ignored him and the guy left. I looked to the back of the shop to see a police officer get up abruptly from his morning cup of coffee and go off after the dude. A short time later I see a paddy wagon heading down the street. Police vehicles are almost a daily occurance on 5th street, by the way. Then there was a guy the next day who kept walking past the front door, and looking in here and there. Then the guy comes in, and grabs some spoons and takes off, with my boss in hot pursuit. She catches him and makes him hand over the spoons, and she tells him hes not to come around the business again. We all had a good laugh over it. I thought it was good that buddy didn't run cause my boss runs marathons. Hilarious.
Then occasionally we see a Native guy who comes in for coffee, and he'll sit by himself, and then he'll start talking under his reath, but by his actions it looks like hes having a conversation with someone in the empty chair in front of him. I can never hear what he says, but the guy is harmless, and the conversations hes having with his invisible friend seem, on the outside, pretty deep, and then hes done and he leaves.
Anyhoo..just wanted to share all that with you. I start an 11 day stretch downtown, so I'm sure that I'll see lots of interesting things to share with you. If you ever do get a chance to go to Lethbridge, and somehow find yourself on 5th St. S, don't bother lighting a smoke..that is if you do smoke. Always someone bumming smokes off you, and if you say you're smoking your last one, they'll boldly ask to have the rest of it. Pisses me off actually, but I don't say anything. If Pizzaslinger was here she'd tell the deadbeat to buy their own, and launch into a tirade of how she works to buy her own, and then..if buddy still doesn't get the message, she'd do a fancy yet deadly spinning flying outward crescent kick, knock the smoke buddy just bummed, catch it on landing and deftly shove it up buddy's nostril. By the by, Pizzaslinger enjoyed her advanced training with the pizza Master and is now taking a bit of a Sabbatical. She says she'll come back when she feelslike it, which may be sooner than you think. God, I just love my alter ego. I can ust see her now, kicking asses all over the world, and creating order in the midst of chaos with a few well-placed kicks and snappy comebacks. She'll be back.That I promise you.
At any rate, that is my post. The only blogger question I have for now is...where are you? Time for a roll call. If you haven't found me by now, I will assume it if you haven't posted a comment. If you do happen by, say hello. Don't be a stranger. Cheers!
Since my hours have increased at the job downtown, I've seen some interesting characters, plus a couple of disturbing ones. For instance, last week, some tall Native guy comes in and asks my boss if he could have a glass of water. Naturally my boss said no...not because he was Native, but he was a fella that frequented the other side of the street, and was a known drug and chemical abuser. Plus, we aren't going to give someone water if they aren't going to buy anything you know? He stands there silent for a second, then shouts out (heedless to the fact a small child was in his prescence)"You're not gonna give me any fuckin water?! You want to get beat up?" My boss ignored him and the guy left. I looked to the back of the shop to see a police officer get up abruptly from his morning cup of coffee and go off after the dude. A short time later I see a paddy wagon heading down the street. Police vehicles are almost a daily occurance on 5th street, by the way. Then there was a guy the next day who kept walking past the front door, and looking in here and there. Then the guy comes in, and grabs some spoons and takes off, with my boss in hot pursuit. She catches him and makes him hand over the spoons, and she tells him hes not to come around the business again. We all had a good laugh over it. I thought it was good that buddy didn't run cause my boss runs marathons. Hilarious.
Then occasionally we see a Native guy who comes in for coffee, and he'll sit by himself, and then he'll start talking under his reath, but by his actions it looks like hes having a conversation with someone in the empty chair in front of him. I can never hear what he says, but the guy is harmless, and the conversations hes having with his invisible friend seem, on the outside, pretty deep, and then hes done and he leaves.
Anyhoo..just wanted to share all that with you. I start an 11 day stretch downtown, so I'm sure that I'll see lots of interesting things to share with you. If you ever do get a chance to go to Lethbridge, and somehow find yourself on 5th St. S, don't bother lighting a smoke..that is if you do smoke. Always someone bumming smokes off you, and if you say you're smoking your last one, they'll boldly ask to have the rest of it. Pisses me off actually, but I don't say anything. If Pizzaslinger was here she'd tell the deadbeat to buy their own, and launch into a tirade of how she works to buy her own, and then..if buddy still doesn't get the message, she'd do a fancy yet deadly spinning flying outward crescent kick, knock the smoke buddy just bummed, catch it on landing and deftly shove it up buddy's nostril. By the by, Pizzaslinger enjoyed her advanced training with the pizza Master and is now taking a bit of a Sabbatical. She says she'll come back when she feelslike it, which may be sooner than you think. God, I just love my alter ego. I can ust see her now, kicking asses all over the world, and creating order in the midst of chaos with a few well-placed kicks and snappy comebacks. She'll be back.That I promise you.
At any rate, that is my post. The only blogger question I have for now is...where are you? Time for a roll call. If you haven't found me by now, I will assume it if you haven't posted a comment. If you do happen by, say hello. Don't be a stranger. Cheers!
Saturday, April 14, 2007
I guess I took a bit of a hiatus there....
Hello my Blogger friends! My apologies for not blogging in the past month. It truly has been super hectic here for me, but, I think I'm handlng everything quite well. I started a second job a couple weeks ago..so I am now a baker. I still cook at the Zoo..and my boss has given me a few catering jobs to do for her. Although these jobs are in no way whatsoever related to theatre, I thouroughly enjoy working at my jobs, and I'm happy to report that I'm making almost as much money here per month as I would had I gone to the oil patch as a medic. Plus my social ife has improved slightly.. I say slightly because I'm working an average of 12+ hrs a day with the 2 jobs. I do get to go out on occasion with friends..I might play a board game one night or go to the movies or mini golf another night. Its been great.
Of course it is difficult to witness things here that are virtually non existent out in Ontario. For instance, across the street where I work is where the bad section of town starts, complete with prostitutes and poorly dressed young men slouching up against buildings, or worse patrolling their side of the street, intimidating passersby, which inevitably results in the Lethbridge police stoppng by to clear the area. Apparantly these downtown crowds are severely addicted to crack cocaine, alcohol..anything that'll get them high. Some prostitutes have to make 400+ a day to feed their habit. And they all look like hell. But at least they stay on their side of the street..its rare that they bother people in the nice area.
Another thing that takes getting used to is seeing ambulances, or fire trucks, or the police rushing to one accident or altercation. I'm so used to it being completely silent, with only the chirps or calls from various forms of wildlife. I guess its a different type of jungle out here.
Still another thing is that everyone (except me) have cellphones. I need to get me one soon. Mainly for security..I should have a phone in case of emergencies. I should get one soon..tho I don't care much for the phones with all the bells and whistles. And I don't give a shit about text messaging. I just think its stupid to waste more time punching your phone keys sending a text message, when you could get thejob doe much faster by just calling your buddy. So I don't care to have something like that. Plus I need to get a good plan. When I get a freakin day off, I got a lot of things I need to get.
I have to get going right now, but I will blog sooner, and fill you in on more of my life here in the coulees. Oh, and thanks to all who've read my blogs in the past couple of years. Hope all is well with you. Send me a comment and let me know how lifes beentreating you. Until next time.....
Of course it is difficult to witness things here that are virtually non existent out in Ontario. For instance, across the street where I work is where the bad section of town starts, complete with prostitutes and poorly dressed young men slouching up against buildings, or worse patrolling their side of the street, intimidating passersby, which inevitably results in the Lethbridge police stoppng by to clear the area. Apparantly these downtown crowds are severely addicted to crack cocaine, alcohol..anything that'll get them high. Some prostitutes have to make 400+ a day to feed their habit. And they all look like hell. But at least they stay on their side of the street..its rare that they bother people in the nice area.
Another thing that takes getting used to is seeing ambulances, or fire trucks, or the police rushing to one accident or altercation. I'm so used to it being completely silent, with only the chirps or calls from various forms of wildlife. I guess its a different type of jungle out here.
Still another thing is that everyone (except me) have cellphones. I need to get me one soon. Mainly for security..I should have a phone in case of emergencies. I should get one soon..tho I don't care much for the phones with all the bells and whistles. And I don't give a shit about text messaging. I just think its stupid to waste more time punching your phone keys sending a text message, when you could get thejob doe much faster by just calling your buddy. So I don't care to have something like that. Plus I need to get a good plan. When I get a freakin day off, I got a lot of things I need to get.
I have to get going right now, but I will blog sooner, and fill you in on more of my life here in the coulees. Oh, and thanks to all who've read my blogs in the past couple of years. Hope all is well with you. Send me a comment and let me know how lifes beentreating you. Until next time.....
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
More good news in Strangers camp!!!
Yeah....seems kinda funny...when I was in the Back Forty nothing seemed to go right for me..and now, all these good things have been happening which is super cool. For instance, recently I had received a huge compliment from the bosses at work, saying I'm a asset, and there's already talk of giving me a raise. Then yesterday, I had a job interview at a local coffee house here in town, cause lets face it Blogger family, this Stranger likes to keep herself busy, plus its always nice to make a bit extra coin if I can. I got a job as a baker..starting wage is 11.50/hr and in 3 months renegotiate my wage. AND I get to learn from a chef who has his papers! Those who know me know how much I love to bake, and so this job is just perfect! Anyhoo, now I need to get a apartment downtown as this job starts at 5am, and no busses run before 6am, and I don't see myself taking a bloody cab every day you know? So I called a place the other day...turns out they have an apartment that'll be available for April 1st for 450.00/month, so I'm gonna call them and tell them I'll take it....regardless of how it looks cause its only like 2 blocks from the coffee house. Its run by an older couple, so I know it'll be well maintained. Oh, and the baker job pays weekly..direct deposit, so lucky me will always have coin on her. I figured with my full time job with the Uni, plus baking job(at present will run 20-25 hrs a week..mor in the summer), plus part time catering jobs, I should be clocking in cool 3 g's after taxes. Damn....I'll be laughing! As long as I keep myself healthy, cause the way my schedule will run, I will be working 7 days a week. No matter. Not like I had many days off living at home. Like 10 days off all last year. Wish me luck on all this eh?
In other news...I'm still fasting for Easter...some good friends I work with laugh and say, "Ooh..that looks good eh Stranger? Wouldn't you just go for a steak right now?" A little less than a month to go on the vegan diet, but it's all good. In fact I'm getting to that phase where thinking about eating meat turns my stomach, which is wierd, cause I looooove cow!!!! I'm looking forward to returning to my former carnivorous state. In the meantime I have to make sure I eat a lot of fruits and veggies and lentils to prevent my weight from going into a free fall. But, the weight has stabilized, and has remained the same for nearly a week now. Thank god!
I also got a wedding invite from my friends K and V up in Edmonton, tentatively set for September 2...so looks like I might be whooping it up there for a weekend. I'm pretty stoked.
Kinda wierd to haveall this good news to tell ya..inmy other blog I'd be bitchin about everything...I'm sure after Lent I'll have lots of stuff to gripe about, but right now I have to be positive....which I'm sure for my loyal readers is a nice change of pace.
Since I'm in a good mood..heres my Blogger question.... what put you in a good mood this week? Even the smallest, seeminly insignificant thing to outsiders..doesn't matter...let me know. OOh and another question...whats the weather been like in your neck of the woods this past week? Here it was super warm on the weekend..then yesterday we had snow in the morning, followed by a chinook wind a few hours later, and today it should be warm again. Well, the oft quoted expression in my neck of the woods is this,"If you don't like the weather in Lethbridge........wait a few minutes..it'll change." Have a super week!!!
In other news...I'm still fasting for Easter...some good friends I work with laugh and say, "Ooh..that looks good eh Stranger? Wouldn't you just go for a steak right now?" A little less than a month to go on the vegan diet, but it's all good. In fact I'm getting to that phase where thinking about eating meat turns my stomach, which is wierd, cause I looooove cow!!!! I'm looking forward to returning to my former carnivorous state. In the meantime I have to make sure I eat a lot of fruits and veggies and lentils to prevent my weight from going into a free fall. But, the weight has stabilized, and has remained the same for nearly a week now. Thank god!
I also got a wedding invite from my friends K and V up in Edmonton, tentatively set for September 2...so looks like I might be whooping it up there for a weekend. I'm pretty stoked.
Kinda wierd to haveall this good news to tell ya..inmy other blog I'd be bitchin about everything...I'm sure after Lent I'll have lots of stuff to gripe about, but right now I have to be positive....which I'm sure for my loyal readers is a nice change of pace.
Since I'm in a good mood..heres my Blogger question.... what put you in a good mood this week? Even the smallest, seeminly insignificant thing to outsiders..doesn't matter...let me know. OOh and another question...whats the weather been like in your neck of the woods this past week? Here it was super warm on the weekend..then yesterday we had snow in the morning, followed by a chinook wind a few hours later, and today it should be warm again. Well, the oft quoted expression in my neck of the woods is this,"If you don't like the weather in Lethbridge........wait a few minutes..it'll change." Have a super week!!!
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Long time no hear eh?
Yes my Blogger family..I'm back. I didn't swear off the 'net permanently..I've just been super hella busy working and clockin in the hours. Money has been fantastic, and already I've gotten amazing compliments on my work and I've settled into a routine thats fastpaced, exciting and most of all, profitable...cause lets face it...Stranger has to pay her bills. Its weird cause I feel like I've finally woke up from the small town induced coma I experienced in the Back Forty. Lethargy has been left choking in my dust man....and it feels good to be finally back in my element again. I recently joined the Goodlife Gym for women, and I've been working out at least 3 days a week. Also I'm lining up a second job here shortly. I'll work my ass off for the insane money I'll make. Aside from having sore wrists (fucking Carpal Tunnel) I'm doing great.
The weather has been fantastic too! 15 C today..felt almost like summer. No snow anywheres either. Soo happy! And now that weekends have meaning for me I can hang out with friends for say coffee, or go work out. Its all good!
Well shit this first post isn't going to be long like my average post from the Back Forty, but I'm sure my future posts will be more interesting, and maybe a Pizaslinger tale thrown in here or there for good measure. Oh in case your wondering where the heck Pizaslinger dissappeared to, shes gone to Rome to train with the Grand Master of Pizzaslingers, and also to help break in some wannabe 'slingers. She should be coming back with some more super powers, and the ones she does have will be even stronger. I can't wait for her to return so we can sit and have a slice of her famous pizza with a shot of ouzo. She does send her regards...and to all the evidoers out there who would attempt to thwart her efforts to bringing her pizza to the masses, she has this to say.."Your time is coming...better get a head start and run now."
Hmmm..now I don't want to leave you all hanging withoutsome Blogger questions..here goes...How are you? How was your week? And...Did you miss me? Cheers!
The weather has been fantastic too! 15 C today..felt almost like summer. No snow anywheres either. Soo happy! And now that weekends have meaning for me I can hang out with friends for say coffee, or go work out. Its all good!
Well shit this first post isn't going to be long like my average post from the Back Forty, but I'm sure my future posts will be more interesting, and maybe a Pizaslinger tale thrown in here or there for good measure. Oh in case your wondering where the heck Pizaslinger dissappeared to, shes gone to Rome to train with the Grand Master of Pizzaslingers, and also to help break in some wannabe 'slingers. She should be coming back with some more super powers, and the ones she does have will be even stronger. I can't wait for her to return so we can sit and have a slice of her famous pizza with a shot of ouzo. She does send her regards...and to all the evidoers out there who would attempt to thwart her efforts to bringing her pizza to the masses, she has this to say.."Your time is coming...better get a head start and run now."
Hmmm..now I don't want to leave you all hanging withoutsome Blogger questions..here goes...How are you? How was your week? And...Did you miss me? Cheers!
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