Flying can be such a pain in the ass!

Traveling is something that I always look forward to because I love being in a different place for a short (or long) period of time. Getting away from where I live and changing up the scenery is always needed for me. Staying in Vic for longer than 4 months at a time is impossible, and so I try and fly as often as I can. However, the traveling part itself - going to the airport, checking baggage, boarding the plane, flying - is NEVER fun.

Take today, for example - I'm sitting at YYJ, waiting for my plane and I'm not happy. But I'm not happy because I'm *just* waiting for it - I'm unhappy because my flight has been delayed... again! This entire year has consisted of flights that have either been delayed or that have arrived early. Let's take a look at my 7 flights of 2009:

January 2009 - Calgary to Victoria: delayed by 4 hours. Once we got on the plane, the captain told us that something was wrong with the plane and we needed to get off and switch to another plane. On the plus, I got a $99 WJ credit.

April 2009 - Victoria to Toronto: flight was on time, but arrived like 30 minutes early, making me wait an extra 30 minutes early for my ride. Thankfully the weather was beautiful. Not so thankful that I hadn't slept at all the night before because I was out clubbing with friends. Oh, and I was still in my clubbing outfit. Nice!

May 2009 - Toronto to Victoria: delayed by two hours. A lovely rain/hail storm decided to hit Toronto at the time of my departure. It was raining and hailing so badly to the point that you were *literally* not able to see anything outside of the window. I'm not even exaggerating. Imagine sitting in one of those touchless car washes - you know when the water just pours onto your car and you can kind of see some objects? Well imagine not seeing any objects at all. Yeah - that bad.

August 2009 - Victoria to Calgary: delayed by an hour. I don't even remember why my flight was delayed - the weather was beautiful.

August 2009 - Calgary to Toronto: delayed by an hour. Once again, can't remember why. However, I notified my ride that I was going to be late and yet I arrived on time, making me wait for my ride again!

September 2009 - Toronto to Victoria: departed on time, but arrived late. Heading back to Victoria from Toronto is the longest flight possible in the world, and having the wind against us all the time never helps.

December 2009 - Victoria to Calgary: delayed by two hours. I'm sitting here, at this very moment, at the airport waiting for my plane to arrive and kick its passengers off so I can get on the plane! UGH!

This, by far, has been the worst travel year in terms of timing. And while I still stand by WestJet's amazing service and friendly employees, I need to say one thing: your timing literally sucks! I have flown with you all 7 times and for once I would like to leave on time and arrive on time. Actually, arriving early is a bonus - I just want to leave on time.

And there ya have it folks, my travel adventures for the entire year. Hopefully 2010 will start off better and I'll leave YYC on time.

Lots of love,
Lady S.

PS - oooh - almost time to board!!

#62 - The Penny Farthing

One more restaurant and I can finally cross of #62 from the 101 list. Anyway, went to Penny Farthing the other day and while the atmosphere was awesome, the food was alright. Nothing spectacular - just your regular pub fare.

So, there's my review on that. Next restaurant that I want to try - Japanese Village.

Love,
LS

Off topic, but just as relevant

Anti-gay law in Uganda would sentence homosexuals for life

I have to mention this because not only is it important to continue to raise awareness about gay and lesbian rights, but because this issue stated above is beyond immoral and inhumane. I can understand that some people do not agree with homosexuality and I understand that some people would not live that lifestyle and fine enough - to each their own. We all have our own opinions about life, how one should live their own life, etc. But somewhere along the way people got the impression that it's okay to impose their beliefs, their religion, their morals, their way of life on everybody else and that it's okay to discriminate against groups because they're "different".

Here's a piece of advice and my first point of this rant - they are not different. They are normal like everybody else. Just because they do not follow the same life style as you do does not make them different. They would rather chose to live a lifestyle that better suits them.

Second point - nobody chooses to be gay. Nobody wakes up one morning and says "you know, just to make my life a little bit harder, I'm going to be attracted to the same sex!" Honestly, and no offense to anybody that is gay, being gay (according to friends of mine) is a difficult thing, because not only is the gay community very small to the point of it being difficult to find a partner, but now you have to defend yourself against society and justify your actions... oh, and let's not forget trying to get your family to support you in your decision! Just like straight people can't describe why they are attracted to the opposite sex, the same goes for the gay community.

My third point - to those religious fanatics that like to throw bible quotes around saying that being gay is a sin, the mere fact that you yourself are criticizing the lifestyle of someone else, by saying that somebody is going to go to hell, by saying that God doesn't love them, makes YOU the sinner. Nobody on earth, according to God, has the right to determine who is living their life (almost) perfectly in the eyes of God. The ONLY person who has that right is God himself. If you don't like that, deal with it. But how about you shut up and stop trying to force your religious views on everybody else, because guess what - chances are that somewhere in your religious preaching, you're wrong. Religion is a personal thing. Period.

This is beyond ridiculous. No government should intervene in an individual's life and no government should inhibit the rights and freedoms that a person deserves and should have without having to fight for it. We are supposed to be living in a modern society, where we accept one another for who we are regardless of whether or not we like it. But here is the thing - if you don't like it, nobody is forcing you to live a lifestyle that you don't agree with. I fail to see how the gay community is personally affecting your life. No, I would not date a girl. No, I am not gay and I could never see myself having a relationship with a girl. But that's my personal choice because that's who I am. If one of my friends discovers that he or she is gay, by no means is that ever going to affect me.

So, to summarize, grow the fuck up people and get over the fact that the world isn't going to be shaped in your ideal way. Get used to it.

Lady S.

Pooh Bear

Isn't he adorable? All cute and fat and sweet? Yes, he is very cute, but I'm not going to ramble about how adorable he is. Rather, I'm going to put up quotes that he (or another character) has said.

You see, one thinks that his movies are just for children and that there really isn't much meaning behind them. But if you pay close attention to the story line and the lines that are said, some of the quotes are just so... meaningful. And yes, I may sound like a sap right now, but my roommate agrees with me and that's all that matters.

And so, here are my nine favorite quotes that make life just a little bit better.

Lady S.


---

"If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you."

**

"And by and by Christopher Robin came to an end of things, and he was silent, and he sat there, looking out over the world, just wishing it wouldn't stop."

**

"Pooh, promise me you won't forget about me, ever. Not even when I am a hundred."
Pooh thought for a little.
"How old shall I be then?"
"Ninety-nine."
Pooh nodded. "I promise," he said.

**

"Some people care too much, I think it's called love."

**

Pooh sidled up to Pooh from behind.
"Pooh," he whispered.
"Yes, Piglet?"
"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw, "I just wanted to be sure of you."

**

"Promise me you'll never forget me because if I thought you would I'd never leave."

**

"Well," said Pooh, "what I like best --" and then he had to stop and think. Because although eating honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called.

**

"I wonder what Piglet is doing," thought Pooh.
"I wish I were there to be doing it, too."

**

"The hardest part is what to leave behind ... It's time to let go!"

#62 - Brentwood Pub

So, the BFF left yesterday after being here for 6 days for my birthday. Naturally, I hate goodbyes, so I was sulking at home feeling sorry for myself when I got a text message from a friend to join her for some drinks and food.

So, restaurant number 3 is Brentwood Pub, located in Brentwood Bay. The pub is located right by the ocean, but unfortunately it was night time and I was not able to enjoy the view that the pub offers. The atmosphere is so relaxing, yet with a touch of classy so it's perfect for a person like me that loves to dress up for dinner. Along with the great atmosphere, the service was incredible! Our server was very nice and was very attentive without being at our table every 5 minutes. So that in itself is a bonus.

The food was pretty good as well, although nothing spectacular. And, in case you're wondering, the prices were a bit on the pricey side, especially because the majority of the items on the menu were just regular pub items.

Anyway, that is my "critique" for the restaurant. And yes, I would go back again.

Love,
Lady S.

#87 - The Bell Store Man

Before I start this post, do you know how hard it is to include a picture with every post that I write? I'm sure you're thinking that I could just stop posting pictures, but then the blog would look boring and who would want to read a blog that has no pictures to look at? Oh, and let's not forget that I need a picture that at least goes with the theme of the post. So, if you're wondering why there is a picture of a cell phone, you're about to find out.

Number 87 on the 101 list was to speak with a random stranger for 10 minutes. The story is as follows:

A couple weeks back I went into a Bell store to get my phone fixed/replace/what not because it wasn't working properly. The guy at the bell store recommended that I upgrade the software on my phone. Two days later, I followed his advice. Big mistake. My phone went on the fritz and stopped working. Now, for those that know me, my phone is like my life line - without it, I might as well not even exist! So I panicked and was up for the entire night into the next day with a bell tech assistant trying to fix my phone. No luck. Monday rolls around and I miss school because I *need* a phone. I walk into the Bell store and there is the guy who told me to upgrade the software.

I'm pretty sure he was ready to run and hide because not only was I pissed off, I kept glaring at him. I let him know how his advice killed my phone and how Bell was not going to do anything about it. My only option was to buy a new phone. To his credit, he did call Bell to let them know that it was his advice, his wrong doing, and that something should be done. Unfortunately, Bell is another blood-sucking, money-robbing, who-cares-about-customer-satisfaction company and decided to do nothing (other than offer me 100 free long distance minutes for the remainder of my contract. Um, hello! How does that help me when I can't even place a call?!)

Anyway, after a few apologies and the phone call he made to Bell, he helped me pick the Blackberry Tour (pictured above.) While setting up my phone, we actually had a really good conversation! From school to places where we've lived before, we talked for quite awhile about everything. Not only that, but we had a lot in common (ie, he's from Toronto and loves it and I want to move Toronto because I love it. And our hatred for Victoria!) In the end, walking out with $450 more on my Visa wasn't so bad, but only because the conversation was pretty amazing. And let's face it - it's the Tour. The phone fucking rocks!

And there is my story of how Bell sucks and how I acquired my new phone.

Moral of the story: don't sign up with Bell!

Loves,
Lady S.

#97 - 301 to 400 things that I love

So, this part has taken awhile for me to post, but mostly because I have completely forgotten to continue the list. Randomly, tonight, I remembered, and I was only able to complete up to 342 without repeating myself or having my mind go blank. I'll update this list to 400 once I have completed it.

Loves,
Lady S.

*NOTE: I completed the list today (being the next day from last night when I posted the first half.) Only 100 more to go and I can scratch this off my 101 list. Not only that, but I have the comfort of knowing that soon I know I will discover that there really are 500 things that I love other than money and material objects. Doesn't that just give you the fuzzies?!


---

301 - 400 Things That I Love

301. building forts
302. watching movies in a fort
303. ooh la la cupcakes
304. hope
305. learning about international development
306. yawning in the morning
307. playing Halo with the roomie
308. speaking in Spanish
309. listening to old songs
310. remembering the lyrics to old songs

311. the opera
312. musicals
313. a working cell phone!
314. automatically cliquing with a stranger
315. watching children movies
316. short hair
317. kitten heels
318. dying my hair black
319. coloring books
320. crayons

321. pink crayons, to be more specific
322. hand writing (when it looks good anyway)
323. 7:14 (am or pm)
324. board games
325. green leaves
326. Georgia font
327. back row seats at the movie theatres
328. “accidentally” locking people out of the car
329. funny waiters
330. wet-naps

331. using rock, paper, scissors to settle things
332. having 5 pillows on my bed
333. electric toothbrushes
334. people that are shorter than me so I look superior
335. a good parking spot at the mall
336. pulling into a parking meter stall and seeing there is time left on the meter
337. a fresh, new tube of toothpaste
338. sleeping in on Saturday
339. sitting a the booth in a restaurant
340. completing a puzzle

341. sneaking candy into the movie theatre
342. magnetic poetry
343. discovering new things on my BlackBerry
344. product (RED)
345. boycotting Tim Hortons
346. Winnie the Pooh and his adventures
347. when the sun comes out after a gloomy day
348. hearing the birds chirping when the sum comes out after a gloomy day
349. seeing a dog pretending he/she is running while dreaming
350. learning to play a new song

351. cue cards
352. having cookies turn out the way they are *supposed* to turn out
353. watching clouds go by
354. having a nice tan
355. funny emails
356. Barbie (yes, this is the kid inside of me!)
357. becoming re-addicted to old games I used to play
358. magazine subscriptions
359. a new hair cut
360. how my hair looks two weeks after a get a perm

361. doing movie marathons
362. getting an assignment done on time
363. new emails in my inbox
364. get-well messages
365. knowing there are 365 days in a year, so you can make the most out of one year
366. post-it notes!
367. arriving early to my destination
368. speeding past a cop and *not* getting pulled over
369. having Karma on my side when I do the above (or anything else)
370. countdowns

371. BlackBerry messenger – I live by it
372. when people throw in free things because they screwed you over and made you buy another BlackBerry at a ridiculously expensive price because you had no choice (Bell man – this one is for you!)
373. feeling great after being sick for days
374. gift boxes
375. on-sale items
376. free shipping and handling
377. getting the bigger slice of the pie
378. having someone offer to take a picture of you and your friend
379. when it stops raining after it’s been raining for so long
380. Chinooks in Calgary

381. my mom’s cooking
382. my sister’s cooking
383. when I fix technical problems on my own
384. breakfast food
385. the people at Shaw – they are so friendly!
386. the possibility of having cell phone companies coming to Canada so we’re not forced to pay ridiculous amounts of money two three companies that suck balls
387. finding treasures in the sand
389. singing in the shower
390. seeing music download ultra fast

391. getting popsicles from the ice cream truck (this one is for T.F.)
392. vegetables fresh out of the garden
393. tequila shots! oh right!
394. peeing after holding it in forever
395. the fresh, crisp first page of a new coil notebook
396. cracking your back after you have been hunched over for hours
397. digging out an old yearbook
398. laughing at my ridiculous fashion sense in that old yearbook
399. point out constellations and being right
400. knowing I’m only 100 away from finishing 500 things that I love