It's like standing under the mistletoe alone...

December 20th, 2009.
Trying to get into the holiday spirit has come with sporadic vibrance for me this year. Still no 'good luck' per se (as discussed in previous posts) and a totally different perspective than previous years. One day I am all about the holidays - feeling all Bing Crosby, Good Deeds and Magic, the next I am truly the Grinch who is disappointed in the human race. I haven't put up my tree due to a lack of space in my new apartment and a combination of recession and being busy has had an affect on my entire family. My Mom took a second job for the holidays and us kids cannot be home for Xmas this year, so my Mom's immaculately decorated home isn't even the same this year. I don't blame her AT ALL - but it changes things. I guess it may be a sign of us all getting older and they way of things to come, but it's definitely difficult to get used to the change. For now I'll just keep on watching my Christmas Movies with hope and looking forward to a cup of holiday cheer with my family on Xmas Eve. Then off to work Xmas day just like any other day.

My Summer So Far...

So I've been gone a while from blogging, but it's been for good reason. Well, bad reason I guess. Bad Luck that is. You may remember me referring to this year as my year (My birthday is 09-09-09 this year). Good things happening and yadda yadda yadda. Since that post I have not seen an ounce of that anticipated good luck. I'm not saying it's not going to happen, but it's gonna take a whole lot to reverse this year so far.
So it starts with me getting into a car accident. My fault, stupid move by myself with no one else getting hurt. (There's the bright side there.) My car gets written off, insurance isn't covering it and I am learning about being charged with a highway traffic violation. Now to go to court. I face up to my mistakes, only to find that there's no record of me anywhere in the books. I'm told that they haven't properly filed the paperwork and that they can still charge me again within six months of the incident. So now I have taken the day off work. My sister has come from out of town to support me and drive me there (still no vehicle yet) and all of that was for nothing?? Some think this is a good thing, which it may have been, until the Summons Officer starts knocking on my apartment door and calling over and over again. So this leads to the charge being laid (yet again) and the long process begins. Plus I have to pay someone over $600 for assistance with the legal side of things.
Now I manage to find myself a vehicle (with my Dad's help). A truck that I'm excited about. It's differen't, a little bit bad-ass for a girl and I like it!
Two days before my one month Anniversary of owning my truck, the drive shaft goes on me while driving 110kms on the 401. I must say that I am pretty proud of my driving skills and ability to stay calm and in control in those few moments. So I managed to limp the truck to a garage. I couldn't afford to be picky, so I picked the first garage I could find. They kept my vehicle for over 3 hours while I wandered the mall (*SIDE NOTE: There's nothing more cruel than stranding a broke woman at the mall with nothing to keep her company but her willpower). Finally they called me to tell me my truck was ready. Now I have already wasted my entire day; I was supposed to go into work for a few hours, I was then going out of town for the long weekend. I paid the bill (which was an extra hour of labor more than he quoted me - because he didn't know what he was doing) and decided to leave it all behind me and be on my way. Within 10 mins of leaving the garage, the same thing happend for the second time that day. | took the truck back and they told me they tried to save me money before and so now they would need to change another part. This would leave me with no truck for the long weekend, ruining my entire plan. They would keep my truck for the long weekend, and fix it first thing Tuesday. Tuesday they call and tell me the part won't be in until Wednesday and they won't have the truck done till end of day Wednesday. Lovely.
So After spending a few months begging, borrowing and almost stealing for a ride from here to there and spending countless dollars on cab rides, here I am again. It's a sad state, feeling so damn vulnerable and losing your independance. I'm not liking it and it will likely change me in the future.
I normally look forward to summer and I LOVE it. This year, not so much.
Have you ever felt like you're in quicksand, and there's nothing you can do but watch the horizon slowly raise before your eyes??
Thats the best way I can describe it.

My $65 Mocha Frappuccino

So I've been all over the place, around and again recently. Finally moved into my new place, in a new city. Trying to get my way around while working shift work, and trying to have some semblance of a real life. It's going to happen. Slowly but surely I will make it happen.

So you know when you come across those things that make you smile, and think "huh, maybe there's something to that..."? Well, I had one of those moments today.

Every so often I like to check out my horoscope. I prefer to do it later in the day or the next day to see what was predicted for me the day before.

Let me rewind. I didn't sleep very well last night, not a rare occurance for me. There was a memo posted in my building that I would have to have my car out of the lot by 9am. With there being a lack of parking in the area, I thought I would wait until 9am to avoid the parking ticket for being on the street between 7-9am. When my alarm went off this morning, I promptly snoozed it due to a combination of sleep deprivation and temporary memory loss (why is this thing going off so early?). At 1045am I jolted out of bed to move my car. Since I was out, I figured I would go get myself a Mocha Frappuccino. When I came out with my java less than ten minutes later, I saw it. On my windsheild was a parking ticket. Now if I could have just stayed in bed folks, none of this would have occured, but no - I HAD to be up after going to sleep at 630am. Whatever. I am still learning this city, and I guess I won't be parking there anymore. $65 is one expensive beverage. This caffiene had better do wonders today.

So here's the cherry. I figured, I'd check out my horoscope while online today. It read as follows;

Virgo: Caffeine is not your answer. Seriously. Break that vicious cycle with water, air and SLEEP.

Guess I should have read that one just a little bit earlier.

Huh. Maybe there's something to that...

Catch Up

I will start with an apology for letting my blog become "stale" so early. It's been a little crazy with hunting for a new home and trying to execute a move in record time. Then add a few hiccups, and things get interesting (and not in the great way).
So I'll catch you up. I got the apartment. Decent place, not too big, not too small, in a building (which I like). Sounds like it's in a good area, from what "they" tell me. It's a new city that I've never lived in, so I have to go with the majority of people's opinions.
I work shift work, and it's a busy time of year for me; this means getting a few days off is pretty hard to come by. I managed to get a few days off in a row, which was supposed to work out perfectly. Originally, I was supposed to get the place for the 15th. This changed to the 20th, then to the 23rd. I was planning to move tomorrow (the 25th). Today I was told I cannot get into the place until Monday the 27th. Oh, and if I want to go in Monday - I have to work around the painter, because they haven't plastered or painted the place yet.
It's hard enough to find people to help you move - let alone people that can stand by to move you on an on call basis.
What to do now?
I was going to just shell out the money to hire movers. It's cheaper than paying for two places in one month. This way, you have a business relationship with the people moving you - and you don't have to beg for help. Problem solved right?
Then my roommate told me that was a stupid idea, and I should be more forceful about getting help from my friends. Even cheaper still. Here is my problem with that... can you really ask someone for help when you haven't picked up the phone to call them in over a month? (For the record it's not that I didn't want to.)
What to do? What to do?
Gotta figure it out soon. The clock is ticking.
I feel like time is moving, and I can't catch up.

My Year

Consistently trying to be an optimist is something that I would consider one of my qualities. Don't get me wrong, no one is perfect (that would be no fun). I absolutely have my grumpy days like everyone does, but I believe in finding the silver lining to pretty much any situation.
Now that you know this about me you may be able to understand the rest...
I've got all faith that I am correct when I deem this year "My Year". You see, my birthday is 09-09-09 this year, and the stars must be aligned for something really fabulous to happen. What exactly that is, I don't know. I'm not sure I want to know until it happens.
I will be patient.
There are still 264 days left.

Pillows: The Deadly Weapon

I came across this story yesterday on a legit news website:

Featherweights: Detroit police halt pillow fight
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DETROIT - Police in Detroit have ruffled some feathers after they cracked down on an organized pillow fight at a downtown park.
The Detroit News newspaper reports police at Campus Martius Park prevented the feathery fight Saturday by disarming pillow-toting participants.
The bout was part of a worldwide event organized on social networking websites.
Michael Davis says police confiscated the 32-year-old man's pillows but returned the cases.
He says he was told he needed a permit.
Scott Harris of Ferndale told the News it's "not illegal to own a pillow."
Detroit police spokesman James Tate says cleanup was the issue.

I've been to Detroit. Now I don't know for certain, but Detroit seems like the kind of place where police could find more things to do than chase down a few folks carrying pillows in public. What I would really like to know, is what happened elsewhere in downtown Detroit while police were hanging out at the park targeting those people just trying to re-live their slumber parties of youth? Then... to confiscate the pillows because they were carrying them without a permit! When did pillows become the new dangerous weapon of choice in the U.S.? To end this report, the DPD Spokesperson claimed the reason they were involved was because "cleanup is the issue". I'm thinking there are quite a few homeless individuals in downtown Detroit that would love to have a pillow, even once.
Maybe we need to look at the bigger picture here people.
Honestly!

FOR RENT: Keep an Open Mind

I have been looking for an apartment for myself for almost two months now. I really didn't expect it to be so difficult this time.

Let me start by saying I'm not a rookie at this. I've moved pretty much every year for the last several years. My family is starting to hate helping me move - actually, they really hate it - and my friends refer to me as their very own Gypsy. {I love you all and thank you for your constant help and support.} I take offence to none of this. I wish it wasn't necessary to enlist everyone's help when I do find the newest home to add to my list, but that is the nature of the beast.

So anyhow, back to the apartment hunting... It really is amazing how much people will ask for a little hole in the wall. It seems as though the pending economic times are forcing people to request obscene amounts of money for a room barely large enough to put a bed into, a toilet and a kitchen sink. Forget having a balcony or even windows that open.

I knew where I wanted to be and how much I wanted to spend and started there. Pretty soon, the price became a wider range. After all you do pay for quality, right?

Now I have to broaden my search again. I am looking where I never thought I'd be living. Oh well, it's only another spot on the map right? Besides, I can say I've lived in 4 different cities in the past two and a half years. Is that really a good thing? Just trying to stay upbeat here.

The next thing that had to change was the type of apartment. I am looking at anything and everything... it's all got potential if you look at it right, no? Even with my attempt at a positive outlook, I was starting to wonder if I was just becoming a snob.

Finally, I came across this place tonight. Decent size, decent price, security. What's the catch? Oh wait ~ that's not the open mind I've been trying to keep...

Maybe things do happen for a reason.

I have a tight timeline, so I hope it's meant to be.
Wish me luck.

Twisted Leopard's Tail...

"The leopard (lɛpə(r)d/; Panthera pardus) is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera; the other three are the tiger, lion and jaguar.

The species' success in the wild owes in part to its opportunistic hunting behaviour, its adaptability to a variety of habitats and its ability to move at up to approximately 60 kilometres (37 miles) an hour. The leopard consumes virtually any animal it can hunt down and catch. Its preferred habitat ranges from rainforest to desert terrains."

So she's strong,
adapts well to her habitat,
and likes it fast...
She sounds about right.