Rotten but delicious

Image found here

I don't have fast food all the time, but every so often I get a really bad craving for an egg burrito in the morning or chicken nuggets after a late night of partying.

It's interesting when people say to me "Oh gross, how can you eat that stuff? Don't you know how bad it is for you?" It's like they think I eat it all the time or something. I may have it once or twice a month, if that.

It's a shame that so many people eat garbage food and think it's not harming their bodies. I know living off of frozen meals and take-out is fast and easy, but they're lacking a lot of nutrients their body needs to be healthy, plus it can cause health problems in the future, like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and so on.

On the other hand, I would never be able to count calories and fat content in my meals everyday. I know that eating a giant plate of nachos smothered in cheese and dipped into sour cream isn't going to be good for me, but that's why I don't eat them all the time.

Anyway, I suppose the point I'm trying to make is to not assume a person eats fast food all the time. We're all aloud to treat ourselves, right?

How often do you eat fast food? Do you avoid it like the plague or treat yourself once in a while?

Good ol' hockey game

You could possibly call me a typical Canadian, but there's something about watching a hockey game that gets me excited.

I love the fast pace of it, the fans are crazy and the athletes are talented.

A lot of my girl friends don't quite understand the game or why I love the Vancouver Canucks. To be honest, I never really watched hockey until about Grade 7. My (not really) step-dad is a crazed Canucks fan and so the game was always on.

Right now, I'm in hockey heaven. The Canadian World Junior team is doing very well in the IIHF World Junior Championship, the Canucks are managing to keep their socks off during their games, and the Olympics are coming up in just over a month, which we'll hopefully see both the men's and women's hockey teams bring home gold medals.

There may be many other countries that excel at the game of hockey, but I don't think any country shows as much passion for the sport as Canadians. If there's one thing that brings us all together, it's hockey.

What about you? Is there a sport that gets you excited? Do you enjoy hockey?

Passive Aggressive

New Year's always seems to be a time for moral dilemmas with parties and get together coming at you from every direction.

Usually I opt for staying at home and celebrating with a few close friends. I've done so for years now, so when people ask me to come out with them, I'll tell them that I'm just going to stay home. I don't leave people hanging and waiting for my answer.

I don' t like knowing that I'm someone's back-up plan if their "better" plans fall through. If you don't want to come over because you'd rather go to the bar or rowdy house party, tell me that. I really think it's rude when someone has told you they would come over but change their minds for something better in their eyes.

Other than people dicking around with decision making, I'm looking forward to having a nice little gathering at home. We're going to play boardgames and have drinks. It should be delightful :)

Do you have any plans for New Years? What are your thoughts on people who leave you hanging until the last minute or ditch you for better plans?

Quiet Time

It's interesting when you're home by yourself and you realize how much quieter things are.

Kyle's away for the evening, visiting his dad and grandma in our hometown and while my roommate is home, things are awfully quiet without Kyle here.

Usually the television is on some random channel or a video game is being played, but when Kyle's not here, you could probably hear a pin drop. He gets anxious almost when it's too silent in the house and there's always some sort of background noise, so when I'm by myself I like to just listen to the whirl of my laptop and hear my dogs snore.

Of course, when I'm by myself I always get paranoid that someone is going to attack me in the middle of the night, but thanks to my "alert" dogs (they wouldn't hurt anyone, only bark to let me know if someone's here) and my secret ninja skills, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't happen.

Anyway, it's calming, sitting here in the piece and quiet of things. I wonder if I'm weird for just shutting everything down and letting the thoughts in my head process for once. I would imagine not; I mean, who could live with constant noise? I suppose some people could.

The List

The year is coming to an end and while I'm awful at keeping to resolutions, I did learn many things.

There was a popular Note theme on Facebook this year where people listed 25 things that their friends may not know about them, such as weird quirks or family history.

Instead of doing that on here, I'm going to attempt to list 25 things I've learned in the past year:

1) While it was stressful at first, moving in with Kyle was the decision I've made. We feel more grown up and it's helped make our relationship stronger.

2) Cooking a roast isn't as hard as I thought it was going to be. Next challenge: A turkey! Maybe next Thanksgiving ...

3) Being done school is the most amazing feeling in the world ...

4) ... but the stress of trying to find a related job isn't so amazing.

5) Shopping for houses is also stressful, especially when you first need a down payment and housing prices are high. I've learned to broaden my desired areas to live in because a lot of areas are out of our budget.

6) It's been really hard for me to get my butt to the gym and get a good workout in. I'd really like to go three times a week but my body disagrees. Twice a week seems to be my usual thing.

7) Budgeting and giving my self an allowance has worked wonders, so I really need to get back on track. I take $40 out of my paycheck and make it last two weeks. It's hard, but I tend to have back spending habits. Kyle hides my debit card and I only use my credit card for emergencies. Some people don't think it's right that he hides it, but I know it's for the best and I'm okay with it, which is all that should matter.

8) Twitter isn't as evil as I thought it was.

9) Living in a house without air conditioning is horrible and having a pool in the backyard doesn't help.

10) Watching people search for parking spots at Costco during the Christmas shopping season is hilarious.

11) Not being engaged after seven years is okay because we have bigger priorities we want to fulfill first. (See #5)

12) I found that I don't enjoy going to weddings or reading about people planning them because it makes me jealous that I don't have one to plan of my own. (But again, see #11)

13) Running is an amazing way to make my anxiety attacks go away. They're refreshing and when I take my dog she benefits too!

14) I love my friends and hanging out but I really appreciate my "alone" time.

15) Mac computers aren't so bad after all (except when they're running on an old OS).

16) You can't throw up in public gracefully.

17) Copy editing is harder than it seems, especially when it's your own work.

18) The North Shore businesses have a whole different attitude than Downtown businesses.

19) There is no comfortable way to pee in the woods.

20) It's really hard keeping track of everything I have to do at work plus several things other people have to do all at the same time.

21) Deleting people I never talked to in high school off my Facebook is okay.

22) Mice are very tricky creatures and shouldn't be underestimated.

23) Two large dogs poop more than you could imagine.

24) Performing world-class cannonballs into the pool is a sure-fire way to lose your bathing suit top.

25) I am perfectly happy with where my live is headed and I wouldn't change a single thing about the past year.

The wait continues ...

As some people may now I've managed to dislocate my shoulder six times in the past. This morning, I added +1 to that total.

When I was 15 I decided to try out skateboarding with my little brother. He told me to stay away from the quarter pipe because I wasn't good enough. Of course, I didn't listen and I went down it, bailed and dislocated my shoulder.

That was eight years ago and now my shoulder likes to dislocate at the slightest bumps. For instance, once I had my arm on the back of the couch, sneezed, and it dislocated. Another time I was swimming underwater and it dislocated.

This morning, I went to roll over in bed and it dislocated.

I've been on the surgery wait list for a year now but because it's not knee or hip surgery, it's a long wait. It's tiresome and I just want my shoulder to stop dislocating. It hurts when I do it, it aches afterwards and it's a pain in the ass.

Damn you Interior Health pushing knee and hip surgeries. Why should I have to wait while others get pushed through?

Ten on Tuesday

So I may be a Blog stalker, but I'm really trying to make this lame-o blog of my a bit better. Heck, I'm thinking I may even rename it. Who knows. I do a lot of these survey-like questionnaires on Facebook but dear Amber has some nice little shorts ones. Today, I present to you Ten on Tuesday, which Amber got from Roots and Rings.

1. When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I really wanted to be a veterinarian but then I changed my mind and wanted to be a doctor, then a pyrotechnician then a marketing specialist then a journalist. I didn't decide on a career until half-way through my first year of university! I was in the Business degree program at TRU but had Journalism as a back-up plan. It's a good thing too, I was horrible at figuring out economics.

2. Name 3 of your irrational fears.

1. Having the wind pick up a tree and hurdling it into my house. Needless to say, I'm afraid of windstorms.
   
2. Spiders. Just thinking about them gives me the heebie jeebies. I can kill the little tiny ones but I can't get within 3-feet of the bigger ones. (Think anything bigger than a pencil eraser)
3. Semi trucks and trailers. I hate passing them, I'm terrified of merging in next to them and I really don't enjoy it when there's one in front of me and one behind me.
   

3. If you had a $200 gift card for any store, what would you want it to be? (Nothing responsible allowed. Can’t be used for groceries or anything.)

Lululemon! I would only be able to buy one pair of pants and one sweater, but I love that store! Kamloops needs one!

4. What is your most (blog-friendly) embarrassing moment?

Being so drunk I was delerious in front of Kyle's best friend's parents. It's a good thing they're easy going.

5. If you were only allowed to eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would you choose?

Carbs. I love pasta and rice to death. I know a lot isn't good for me, but it's delicious.

6. What was your favourite toy growing up?

Probably my Fischer-Price kitchen. I had that and a McDonald's add-on for it with a visor and drive-thru headset. It was amazing. I used to put my cat in the "oven" though ... Oops.

7. Do you have a “go to” outfit? What is it?

My Gap jeans, a comfy shirt, my TRU sweater and my Uggs. I've had my Gap jeans for three years now and they are still perfect! I guess that's why they were so expensive.

8. Who was the best teacher you ever had?

Mrs. Russell-Martin for grade 3 and 4. She made learning fun and she has such an outgoing personality. Ms. Gould, my grade 12 English teacher was amazing too. She had a passion for literature and proper grammar.

9. If you could buy any car right now (something at least SORT OF within the realm of reality…so, you know, a Rolls Royce may not qualify), what would it be?

I'd love a Volkswagen Jetta or Golf TDI. The new models are sharp looking and they're quite zippy. I do love my car though. It's quite lovely.

10. How do you reckon that Chelsea comes up with 10 of these questions every week? It was hard! What’s your theory on how she’s so creative? Are you going to help her?

I have no idea. I know I certainly couldn't do it.

Eek!

My house has mice in it - more specifically, the kitchen has mice in it, somewhere.

It all started last week and while we thought we caught the one and only mouse, I found poop in our silverware drawer on Wednesday. Siiiick. We caught one more mouse, but somehow three of our nine traps are missing its bait (Nutella). I don't know how the bait is missing without the mice being dead, but we're going to have to go with more drastic measures.

As much as I don't like them we're going to have to buy some sticky boards because if they keep getting the Nutella off the traps, it's not helping. I'd rather have the mice die quick and painlessly. Oh well. Right now I just want the mice to go away.

I never thought I'd have a mouse problem, because we're not dirty, messy people. I feel gross living in a house with mice.

Just the two of us.

Kyle and I just celebrated our anniversary a couple days ago and while it was low-key, it was absolutely fantastic.

To make my blog seem less boring, I've taken the following from Amber.

What are your middle names?
Michele and Thomas

How long have you been together?
Seven wonderful years. People keep asking us, "When are you going to get married?" and really, we're tired of being asked. We have other priorities to sort through first, like buying a house.

How long did you know each other before you started dating?
Since grade one/two. We're the same age, but Kyle was a grade ahead of me.

Who asked whom out?
I told him that if he were to ask me out, I'd say yes, so he did.

How old are each of you?
We're both 23.

Whose siblings do you see the most?
Together we probably see his sister more, even though she lives in Williams Lake.

Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?
There have been many situations where it's been hard. High school was tough because it was high school, but right now it's finding a house to live in where we're both comfortable financially and domestically.

Did you go to the same school?
We sure did - the joys of living in a small town! We both attended TRU as well, Kyle for a little bit of the Business program before switching to welding and I took the journalism program.

Are you from the same home town?
We sure are. When I was little I lived less than a block away! Then I moved across town, but it was still only a 5-minute drive.

Who is smarter?
Haha - Well, we're both smart in different ways. Kyle really knows his math and mechanical stuff, and he knows a lot of random trivia. I'm more handy when it comes to writing and current events and I know lots of trivia about music and whatnot. Overall I think Kyle's smarter though.

Who is the most sensitive?
Me, by a long shot. It's called hormones and I have a lot of them!

Where do you eat out most as a couple?
That's a good question! We like to eat at a variety of different places, but usually we go to a place that serves steak. We do love Greek food though!

Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
Vancouver last summer for the Top in Trades awards. It was an amazing trip together! I can't wait to travel with him again :)

Who has the craziest exes?
I don't think either of our exes are crazy. We don't talk to any of them any more.

Who has the worst temper?
We both have bad tempers, but in different ways. I get mad at stupid little things like the cable being out during my favourite show and Kyle gets angry and the ridiculousness of Kamloops' drivers.

Who does the cooking?
Kyle does most of the cooking, but he's an amazing cook! I do my best but Kyle is more talented in the kitchen by far.

Who is the neat-freak?
We both seem to go through random spurts of "OMG WE NEED TO CLEAN!" One day I'll randomly gut out the panty and fridge and sometimes Kyle tidies the counters and coffee table.

Who is more stubborn?
I am.

Who hogs the bed?
Probably me. I like to sprawl across the bed when Kyle leaves for work in the morning.

Who wakes up earlier?
Kyle does during the week, but I do on the weekends, only because Kyle needs his rest after a hard week at work. I dont' blame him though, I'd need it too.

Where was your first date?
As I recall, we bought a bunch of 5-cent candy from the convenience store and then went back to his place and playing online computer games. It was fun!

Who is more jealous?
Probably me.

How long did it take to get serious?
You'd have to define "serious". We didn't move in together until a year ago, but we were too busy with school and wouldn't have been able to afford it. But I think we got more serious when we both finished high school and didn't have drama that goes along with it.

Who eats more?
Kyle eats more than me at one sitting, but I eat way more throughout the day.

Who does the laundry?
I do some laundry on Wednesdays when I don't work and we both pitch in on the weekends. I think we both hate doing laundry.

Who’s better with the computer?
I think we both have equal skills but neither of us are nerds. We usually end up asking Dave for help if we can't figure something out. Kyle's better at Excel than me though. Excel makes me want to cry.

Who drives when you are together?
I usually do because my car is better on gas. Sometimes Kyle drives though, usually when we're going down a dirt road. As much as I like to think that my car has 4x4 capabilities, it really doesn't.

I've come to realize that ...

... my blog sucks. Oh well.

Music

I wrote about it for my column next week, but I really do love music.

It calms me when I'm having anxiety attacks. I just let it pour through me and it eases my thoughts. Concentrating on the lyrics, hearing the beat ... it's soothing. I can't help but feel happy when I listen to music.

Don't ever take it away.

Oddity

I find it slightly odd that I'm not offended by all the disgusting guy talk that goes on in my house. If I was a "normal" girl, I would freak out and tell them to shut up. However, I laugh on the inside. Maybe I'm a little bit of a perv.

Joining the bandwagon

Hurray for joining the Twitter bandwagon. I fear I'm going to regret this. Like I need another addiction.

Follow me here: http://twitter.com/karachow

I created one for work a while ago, but I never update it. Vasey indirectly convinced me to create my own by telling me to follow her, or something. Oy.

There's no escaping it. At least I never fell victim to MySpace.

Remove foot now

It was a Thursday. The girl who helps the Echo's delivery girl was wishing it was Friday. I told the girl to take a mental health day. The delivery girl has mental health issues. FML.

I'm 99% sure she didn't hear me.

Boo

Boo to having big hopes and dreams but being broke. Boo to having a job in an industry that's falling apart. Boo to having your boyfriend be an amazing welder but getting laid off because his industry is slow as well. Boo to life right now.

Boo.

Congrats and all but ...

... if I have to read about someone's wedding plans one more time, I may punch them in the face.

Why do people think that everyone else wants to know every single aspect of their wedding planning journey? I don't care if your invitations are white with pink roses, that you're having a hard time deciding between the country club or the destination wedding or that you know who's on your guest list. And please stop announcing how great your fiancé is, because I don't care.

Maybe I'm a little bitter. I don't know. I know Kyle and I will get married when the time is right. I know in my mind who's coming to my wedding, what kind of flowers I'd like to have, who's going to be in my bridal party and that the man I'm going to spend the rest of my life with is amazing.

Really, I think all those little details are just best kept within your close friends. The 200+ people you're "Friends" with on Facebook probably don't care all that much and out of the 5 per cent of the people who do care, 90 per cent of them probably aren't invited.

Okay, I'm done bitching now. If I ever irritate you with wedding details when the time comes, please tell me and I'll shut up. Hell, Superman punch me in the face if I talk too much.

Video killed the radio star

It's funny, the first "real" job I applied for was at the NL radio station, and while I got an interview, the guy who interviewed me wanted me to do a whole bunch of other stuff as part of the application process. (Voice recording, broadcast writing style, etc.) I guess I just kind of lost interest in wanting to do broadcast, or maybe I just didn't want to have to do all this extra crap just to maybe get a job. Oh well. As it turns out, I got a job in print media.

Anyway, the funny thing is, now that I'm working at an amazing publication, I've been exposed to so many different aspects of media. Like on Friday, I was on TV, which was crazy-insane. I never thought that working at a little paper would get me behind a camera. It was quite surreal. Heck, I've only been graduated from J-School for a couple months or so now and I've already hosted a seminar to tell people about print media.

It's funny the way things just kind of work out for you in the end.

Oh why ...

Do I torture myself by trying to keep up with my blogs?