Baby Snail July 28, 2010
Posted by gmbmfb in : miscellaneous , 2commentsI found a baby snail in my fish tank! Just one. I’m not sure how the little guy got there since I have one adult snail in my tank and it hasn’t laid any eggs … and the one live plant that I have was inspected thoroughly before I put it in the tank. It’s super cute though. I’ve already named it, so I hope it lives.
Speaking of living, that’s not what my fish are doing right now. I killed them all with high ammonia levels. I tried emergency cycles and doing everything I could, but the damage was done. Stupid new tank syndrome. So right now I have zero fish. I know, epic fail. But I’ve gotten the ammonia levels back down to close to zero. I want to test the water again, stabilize for a week, and then buy a couple of fish.
Happy Monday! June 21, 2010
Posted by gmbmfb in : miscellaneous , 9comments- I’ve read the first 2 of 3 Stieg Larsson books (just have The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest left to read). I really want to try to save the last one for Mexico, but it’s really difficult because I want to know what happens!
- Getting desperate for a computer upgrade. My computer barely runs CS3, and I need to upgrade to CS5 ASAP. Although I went with BF to Future Shop a few weeks ago and I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the new 27″ iMac. I would love that huge screen (3″ bigger than my current iMac), but I think in the end, portability is more important for me. Timeline for upgrade is probably going to be closer to the end of the summer. I kind of drained my cash flow to pay for the Hawaii trip.
- Yesterday BF and I went to the pet store to price out how much it would cost to get set up with a fish tank. I really want to get a cat, but BF is allergic. :( Cry. So fish it is! With the tank, starter kit, fish + snails, and all related accessories, we’re looking at around $150. Less, depending on how many decorative accessories we want to buy. My sister has had her fish tank for a few years now and said that’s how much she spent, but that we could probably save a bit more money if do a bit more shopping around. So that we will do!
- BF spent all Saturday counting and rolling coins from his HUGE coin jar (one of those big water jugs). He was collecting loose change for 5-6 years, and in the end he came up with $375+! Pretty impressive considering there were only 4 loonies and no toonies.
- Have been resisting the urge to start packing for Mexico. Must calm down. There are still 5 days left until we leave!!!
Thursday this and that May 27, 2010
Posted by gmbmfb in : miscellaneous , 10comments- I’m reading The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
right now. Usually I’m not one for mystery novels, but this one is really good! I can’t wait to read the other 2 books in this series.
- One month from now, I’m going to be relaxing on a beach in Mexico. Bliss!
- I’ve been perusing part-time job postings on Craigslist for the past few weeks. A few have caught my eye, but I have yet to apply for anything.
- My ‘work-out buddy’ has bailed on me 4 times in a row. Guess I should have seen that coming, as she is the same friend who consistently bails on me b/c of lack of funds – even when we plan things months in advance. Sigh.
- One of my 2010 Goals was to take a trip by myself. My original thought was Oregon, but that was a little too far for me to drive for just a weekend trip, and expensive! So when we were hiking the Juan de Fuca trail over the weekend, across the water was the Olympic Peninsula. And it reminded me of the time my family took a camping trip there when I was a child to Neah Bay. So I’ve decided that’s where I’ll go for a weekend by myself. Probably near the end of the year – more of a chance for storm watching. :) I’ve already scouted out the perfect place to stay right on the beach, and only $60/night.
- The student promo with Apple Canada has started! :) A free 8GB iPod Touch with the purchase of a computer. I’ll be taking advantage of this sometime in the summer I think.
- After my computer purchase, I’m seriously considering buying a super compact digital camera for taking pictures while hiking (probably not until the Boxing Day sales at the end of the year, if at all). I’d like something I can just strap to my hip belt (like BF has). My current camera is AMAZING (Canon G-10), but it’s just a little too bulky to carry on me while we’re hiking so I find that I’m only taking pictures during the camping portion of our hikes. I’ll have to do a ton of research though, as I’m really particular with cameras.
- Also speaking of cameras, I’ve been lusting after a couple Pentax K-1000 cameras (plus accessories) on eBay. They’re not expensive, but I don’t really have a use for it, except that they’re awesome. I just can’t justify buying it for so many different reasons.
iPhone Speaker Dock May 27, 2010
Posted by gmbmfb in : miscellaneous , 12commentsI want to buy a speaker dock for my iPhone (that obviously also charges my phone too). It’s to use at work. I like having background music playing – at a very low level. Sometimes when people are at my desk, they can barely hear my music playing. The graphic designer that used to work here, he had a speaker system rigged up in the marketing area so that everyone on this floor could hear his music. Sounds super obnoxious IMO. Right now I’m using Grooveshark streaming online, and that’s often glitchy. I’d love to use Pandora but it’s not available to Canadians. And I used to stream The Zone 91.3FM on my computer, but lately I’m finding that radio music just annoys me.
I thought about wearing headphones, but I find that makes me inaccessible to co-workers who I can’t hear, or because of the headphones they think I don’t want to be bothered. I don’t want to shut out the noise and people around me, I just want to listen to music. :)
A few years ago, my dad bought me a speaker dock for my iPod Video, but they’re not compatible with my iPhone (boo urns).
So, does anyone have a speaker dock (compatible with iPhone or iTouch) that they would recommend? Thought I’d throw it out there before I start doing my own research online. I don’t want anything too fancy, and I think I’d be looking to spend about $50-100. My dad spent about $75 for my old speaker dock, so I think that’s a reasonable amount. Although I would be willing to pay more for better quality (as I know my price point is pretty low), just nothing too outrageous.
Weekend To Do List May 14, 2010
Posted by gmbmfb in : miscellaneous , 1 comment so farThis weekend I don’t have much planned. I want to workout really hard both days, and I might help BF with his ongoing renovation project. But other than that? Not a whole heck of a lot is going on here. So I’ve compiled my usual Weekend To Do List. :)
- Go to the gym on Saturday & Sunday – at least 60 min cardio each day, as well as weights, abs & stretching
- Go on a walk (at least 1 hour long)
- Do laundry
- Go to the library – need reading material!
- Clean up desk area
- Clean up kitchen
- Put away all clothes
- Book a hair appointment – haven’t gotten my hair cut since February
- Book 6 month car check-up
Book doctor’s appointment- Book massage therapy appointment
- Wash car
- Do research online (Craigslist, eBay) to see how much I could sell my computer for
- Do research on if getting my BCRPA certification is feasible (also, my First Aid ticket)
Happy Friday! May 7, 2010
Posted by gmbmfb in : miscellaneous , 15commentsI have packed my lunch every day for the past 3 weeks (mostly salads, but sometimes hummus/cucumber/pita), and I have just been eating at my desk while reading the news on my computer (and by news I mean Perez Hilton and ESPN). It’s always eerily quiet. Everybody goes out to eat for lunch. Barely anyone brown bags it … and I don’t get invited out for lunch (I did once and that was my “welcome” lunch that was paid for by the company), but nobody seems to be going together either. It’s like they all meet up with outside people or they eat alone? Which I find weird because everyone is super social and nice.
In other work-related news I forgot to mention that we also earn bonuses if we hit our company targets for the year. I don’t know how much the bonuses are, but apparently we either all get them or we all don’t. It’s a team effort.
And lastly, I’m on the hunt for a new wallet. My current wallet has been bugging the crap out of me for like a year. The button that closes the wallet is located right on the plastic window where your ID is supposed to go. Well the metal bit digs into my ID (or whatever card is in that slot) and chips away at it. My driver’s license is mutilated. NOT COOL. So I’ve been putting my business cards in front of my ID as a buffer. But it’s not practical and it’s annoying. Plus, my wallet is a little on the small side.
So last night I browsed through 8,000 wallets on eBay (no joke, I seriously did) and only found 3 that were acceptable to me. And out of those 3, they all had something wrong with them. A weird colour, or placement of things was weird, or it was a little too big. I’ve never found The Perfect Wallet, I’ve just found ones I could deal with. But I think I’ve found the one I want. It’s actually EXACTLY what I want, it’s just big. I usually buy bi-fold wallets with some sort of closure to them, but I think I’m going to go with a cheque-sized wallet. I’m not sure how I feel about having a wallet that’s twice as long as what I’m used to, but I’m sure I’ll get used to it. Although why couldn’t they have made a version in a smaller size?
Oh and if you think I’m totally over-thinking and being too picky about my wallet purchase? Maybe you’re right, but having a great wallet keeps me organized and it holds all of my money and credit cards and receipts, etc. It’s much more important to me than a purse. Just like finding the perfect pair of black skinny pants, the search for the perfect wallet seems like a never ending quest.
Random Tuesday Thoughts May 4, 2010
Posted by gmbmfb in : miscellaneous , 7commentsThis will be kind of a random post.
Over the weekend I bought my first tinted lipgloss ever. L’Oreal Colour Juice Sheer Lip Gloss (#240 Cherry on Top), if you must know. :) I’ve never even tried lipstick before (except for when I had my make-up and hair done for my grade 12 grad – and hated it). I’ve always been a chapstick kind of girl because my lips are really full – I always thought that anything too dramatic on my lips would make me look like a clown. But I look pretty good! A lot more put together than just chapstick, and the colour is very subtle. So I’m pleased.
Fitness-wise, I’ve worked out 6 of the past 9 days. It’s been pretty easy to get my workouts in because BF is never around anymore. He’s working super super hard during the day, and on top of that he has a really tough course coming up that he’s studying for and doing pre-testing. So he leaves the house when I do in the mornings (which is early!), and then I don’t see him again until close to midnight. But, you have to work hard to get what you want. And what we want is to buy our own place and have a good life together. :)
I’ve also been thinking of getting back into mystery shopping, but the only thing holding me back is that they are really annoying to drive to. It’d be fine if they were close to where I live, but to drive for over an hour roundtrip just to make $10-30? No thanks. So I’ve been perusing Craigslist for a part-time casual job. Not really for the money, but to do something fun with my time and to meet new people. I could bid on a bunch of design contracts that I see, but I’d rather get out and do something interactive. I spend enough time inside on a computer as it is. So we’ll see what turns up. Probably nothing. Whenever I have the urge to find a part-time job, I usually just end up forgetting about it.
Also, I just finished the book Shanghai Girls
Sunday To Do List May 2, 2010
Posted by gmbmfb in : miscellaneous , 9commentsYesterday BF and I went for a walk in Stanley Park. It was such a gorgeous day. We then walked into downtown, ate cupcakes from Cupcakes, and then went to Guu in Gastown for dinner. It’s not a restaurant we’d normally go to because it’s expensive, but delicious ($35 each for 7 dishes plus drinks, after tax/tip) … and we had been wanting to go back since we went there for our 2nd date ever. We were celebrating my new job and BF had just finished an exam. :)
Today BF is working, and I have a lot of things I’d like to get done:
- Get 2 pairs of jeans taken in at the waist (!) & pockets sewn shut on a skirt
- Wash car (only if it stops raining)
- Deposit $30 into my bank account
- Do laundry
- Go to the gym
- Go grocery shopping
- Return movie (we watched A Serious Man last night – I was not impressed)
