Guilt, shame, indulgence and a whole lot of happiness

I’ve been putting off updating my blog, I keep sitting down to write the epic update, and then nothing of supreme genius spurts out and I’m left with nothing. So I’m biting the bullet and posting something lacking in wit & functionality…. Of course, isn’t that what the header of my blog promises?

Okay, apologies aside. I’ve been away. I spent 2 weeks in Mexico, came home, quit my job and then took off for a week’s surfing in Tofino. Mexico was amazing, Derek and I stayed at the Bahia Principe Tulum in Akumal (The Mayan Riviera). It was delightful, all you can eat… all you can drink and all you can stomach of sitting on the beach in the heat watching the waves crash in front of you. It was our second time at the resort, and returning felt like visiting an old friend….. I can’t wait for our 3rd stay.

Tofino was also great, Derek and I stayed with his family in a rented Beach House on Chesterman Beach. We surfed, walked, ate waaaaaay to much and generally enjoyed the company of his family.

Ohhhh and yea, I quit my job. I spent a good portion of Mexico fretting about returning to work, and by fretting… I mean crying over it. I returned home, and incident and went down with work, and I quit. I couldn’t take it anymore, and I’ve never been happier. I’m honestly excited for the future, and although there is the stress of finding a new job, paying rent and other bills, I stand 100% behind my decision to leave, and not once have I though it may not have been the right decision for me.

Anyways, enough reading for today…. Here are some photos from September. I haven’t had time with Photoshop yet, so they’re all raw and un-edited, but I’ll get there.

George & cakes

I’ve been laugh-crying all morning thanks to discovering Cake Wrecks, a blog dedicated to cake decorating travesties.

But firstly, I’d like to confirm the power and awesomeness of my Christmas wish list, Due to a lack of editing skills, I accidently placed a ‘George Forman G5 Grill’ twice on my list, apparently emphasizing how badly I wanted it. Poof last night Derek gave me my birthday gift and BAM, it’s a G5 Grill. I can’t wait to cook amazing things in it.

My mom called me this morning to discuss moving some furniture, and I mentioned that Derek bought me the G5….. This is exactly what my mom was on her way to purchase me. Sorry mom, but I did give her tons of other ideas, so I think it’s all good.

How come the technique of really emphasizing a want by placing it twice on your list, never works when I ask for a puppy? I’m going to have to revise the list now in time for Christmas, I’ll be sure to add Puppy twice!

Anyways, here are some of the cakes from Cake Wreck… ch-check ‘em out.

Gift ideas

Hey mom,

You were inquiring about what to get me for my birthday? There's a delightful birthday wish list created on May 29th - Scroll down slightly, and click on May... or just click on this link 'You can never be too prepared for Christmas'

As discussed on the phone 'Safe boating courses' are not gifts... they're punishment for daughters whom you no longer love. If you need to get Derek something, just get him something from my list and hopefully he'll fork it over to me.

Also I accidently chewed a peice of walnut this morning, I didn't swallow it and spit it out as soon as I realized..... does that win me a sympathy gift?

love you.

Say NO to Gustov!

My next big problem? A German is threatening to ruin my Mexican Vacation.

Currently Hurricane Gustov is bearing down on poor Haiti, who is still reeling from last week’s major flooding. There are several tracking models out there predicting Gustov’s path…. which will either hit the Yucatan Pennisula (where we’re staying) or turn northward slightly to pass between Cuba & Mexico.

We do have a few options if the Hurricane lands Sunday; we can reschedule before December, but will have to pay the difference on the vacation (which could be several hundred more each), we could go somewhere else that Sunquest is flying, but have to pay the difference (and neither of us want to go to Puerta Vallarta/Pacific Coast)…. Or if our flight is cancelled and doesn’t fly within 24 hours of the scheduled departure, we can take a full refund

The newest updated model is looking better for us, but things change so quickly over night. We’re in wait and see mode. I’m terrible at waiting, I stress to the max, and last year we had a similar problem 1 week before we left, I lost 5 pounds because I was so nervous…. So perhaps this is not all bad? If the current prediction model holds true (which is won’t, no one really can know) we’ll most likely be delayed several hours or a day…. But that’s why we go for two weeks….. a few days of rain doesn’t ruin a 2 week vacation.

Hmmmm maybe Disneyland IS in our near future.

Mexico is only 6 days away

Life tends to move very fast – I feel like I’ve been put through a washing machine and been tumbled around a bit. I can’t even keep up with my own issues. It’s been a very emotional and tumultuous week…. I’ll leave it at that. However below is a quick update.

My roommate told me she was moving out a few weeks ago, which is fine – but she still hadn’t found anyone to take her place and I wasn’t excited about living with a stranger from Craigslist – so yesterday I came home from a busy Business trip and all her stuff was out of the apartment…. I was super frustrated… but randomly an acquaintance called me this morning looking for a place to live. Nice. So she’s moving in tonight. One problem solved.

My next problem hasn’t solved itself yet…. I had yet to give Derek an anniversary gift and his birthday was coming up this week (the same day we leave for Mexico). His camera died slowly over the past few weeks and I got the great idea to buy him a new digital camera and give it to him on the flight to Mexico. I thought I had convinced him not to buy a new one, but I come home last night and discovered that he purchased a new camera. He couldn’t understand why I was so upset.

So yea…. Back to square one with gifts for Derek – I really truly have no ideas once again, and have almost no time before we leave for Mexico on Sunday.

Below is me at the BMX track in Victoria.... I'm debating racing indoor this year, I started going around the track for the first time (putting effort into it) and really liked it.... it has a good combination of skill, speed & crazyness.

No time

It has been a stressful week.

I haven't had any time to myself, or any time to edit any Victoria photos. Below is all I've managed.

I'm away on Business (back to Victoria) Friday-Sunday, so hopefully I'll have downtime in the evenings (and internet in my hotel) to post. I am gearing up for Mexico though... 10 more sleeps

Minnie & Mickey = tru luv 4 eva

Derek is an amazing guy in so many ways…. Except one… he doesn’t like Disneyland, and swears the poorly built, unsafe rides will lead to his untimely death. For me, Disneyland may be the most magical place on earth. I love most things Disney and run around the park like a mad women pushing small children out of my way as I climb on ride after ride.

So yea, the Derek not loving Disneyland thing has always been a sore point in our relationship, and it bothers me greatly. Until last night…. that’s right… Mr. Disney-hater himself said one day he would think about going and riding rides with me!

He wouldn’t commit to a date, but just said maybe one day, and that’s good enough for me =)

Now if he only would buy me a puppy, It would be true love and I could start writing ‘D.G + K.H = tru luv 4 eva’ on everything I own.

We head out tomorrow for an anniversary weekend away. I still haven’t thought of a gift, but I think he’s stuck too… because he’s decided that we’ll just go shopping together in Victoria and it’ll be more ‘romantic’ that way…

I’ll take lots of photos and post on Monday. In the mean time, this is Derek and I back in '05 on August 16th - how could I say no to a man in a toga?