This past Saturday, I went out as part of my resolution to get out and meet more people. And while I have been doing that more in my first month back, I have noticed something in that time as well. Women in the city seem to have a thing about height. Meaning, there seems to be a limit of how far they would like to look down, or up, whatever the case may be.
A couple of weeks ago, one young lady told me "I look cuter sitting down" another this past Saturday gave the look of disapproval, giving the impression that I should put myself on the rack and grow a couple of inches before stepping up to the plate. Now this not something that you can fix, like losing weight (which I did) or get in better shape (which I did), height is something that going to keep coming back to me. Now being only around 5"6, there is only so much that I can do. I will not wear lifts (I don't think that extra 2 inches will really do anything and with my balance problems, especially after a few pops, it is probably not the best idea), so what is a man like me to do?
Well, my best bet is to roll with the punches and see if I can find someone who is not so strict on the height issue. It has been interesting, it has been like being a kid again, where I couldn't get on rides because you had to be this tall. I expect the next woman I speak with, to look at me and put her arm up and say "sorry, can't get on this ride!"
Monday, January 23, 2006
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
How Can Snow Be This Troublesome When You're An Hour Outside of the Mountains?
This was one of those days. This morning, I had to get up and drive a few brochures for work to a section of the city that I have never been to. To prepare for this, I got a map and directions from the web, and prepared for it to be a least double the time it said on the paper (it being 7:30 am, and it being rush hour), low to my surprise, another factor would come into play - snow. Never said anything on the weather about snow, but when someone says it's snowing in a panic voice, I assume to be getting somewhere over 10 - 12 cm, not a brushing of snow.
Now, coming from Ottawa, where a few cm of snow is something we just shrug off, I'm still perplexed as to why it causes the city of Calgary to "lose it". They are an hour outside the mountains, and it seems that no one seems to know what this white stuff coming from the sky is. The radio station I had on in my car made it sound like a storm. So this was just one item of my trip. The 2nd major factor was because of some construction going on, they took down the sign name for the main street that I had to turn down. I was going against traffic, so time wasn't a big factor, but because of this wonderful mistake on missing signage, I had to drive 4 km out of my way, turn around to get stuck in traffic, and add 25 minutes to my trip. Due to the combination of rush hour and snow, people were speeding at a pace of 4 - 6 km/h, I almost couldn't keep up.
After dropping off the boxes (and being treated like a delivery guy who was getting in the way), I jumped back in my car from the parking lot by the building back to the parking lot on the streets. One item I have to learn in this city is shortcuts, and how to get to different areas with the least amount of slowdowns.
Not that I totally believe in conspiracies, but in luck (bad, good, dumb) - I do believe someone got in touch with some people in Calgary and told them if you are ever in front of a red Mazda, make sure you brake going through a green light - he likes it. Either that, or that same unknown bylaw exists in both Ottawa and Calgary. Nice to have somethings that remind you of home!
Now, coming from Ottawa, where a few cm of snow is something we just shrug off, I'm still perplexed as to why it causes the city of Calgary to "lose it". They are an hour outside the mountains, and it seems that no one seems to know what this white stuff coming from the sky is. The radio station I had on in my car made it sound like a storm. So this was just one item of my trip. The 2nd major factor was because of some construction going on, they took down the sign name for the main street that I had to turn down. I was going against traffic, so time wasn't a big factor, but because of this wonderful mistake on missing signage, I had to drive 4 km out of my way, turn around to get stuck in traffic, and add 25 minutes to my trip. Due to the combination of rush hour and snow, people were speeding at a pace of 4 - 6 km/h, I almost couldn't keep up.
After dropping off the boxes (and being treated like a delivery guy who was getting in the way), I jumped back in my car from the parking lot by the building back to the parking lot on the streets. One item I have to learn in this city is shortcuts, and how to get to different areas with the least amount of slowdowns.
Not that I totally believe in conspiracies, but in luck (bad, good, dumb) - I do believe someone got in touch with some people in Calgary and told them if you are ever in front of a red Mazda, make sure you brake going through a green light - he likes it. Either that, or that same unknown bylaw exists in both Ottawa and Calgary. Nice to have somethings that remind you of home!
Monday, January 09, 2006
First Full Week Back
As this is the first in a number of posts, rants, whatever you want to call it, I should start with a beginning. While this is a look at a year in the life, I have been in Calgary for about five months. At times, I will go back and show some of the hardships that I went through, some of the discoveries that happened, and look over what I did wrong and right in my first little while here. But the majority will be a look at how I survive a full year out west!
What can I say about coming back and getting into the full swing of things. It's not always what you think it would be.
I wrote a blog last Monday when I arrived home (yes, I'm calling it home) but somehow I made it disappear when I changed something - still trying to figure out how this works.
So to begin, let's just try and go day by day:
Monday:
I booked an early flight from Ottawa to come back to Calgary that was to leave at 7am (next time I'll pay the extra $40 and fly out later in the day), but I thought, at this rate, I'll be in my apartment by 10 am, and have the whole day to get myself back into being back in Calgary. The flight was supposed to leave at 7, for some reason, which they never explained, we flew out at 7:40. I don't know about you but I really enjoy sitting on a crowded flight, not moving, being told to keep my seatbelt on because we could be leaving at any moment. At least I was smart enough to take all the free papers that they have to offer, but couldn't they have turned the TV on? I don't need to see on the screen where the plane is, I can just look out the window and see the groundcrew to figure that we haven't left yet.
After a fairly uneventful flight, I got back home and was happy to see that my apartment was still standing. Took the rest of the day getting adjusted to being back, different weather, different time zone, different enviroment.
Tuesday:
Woke up feeling someone had dragged me down a street. Was this a cold or a retroactive hangover? I did do a little partying when I was in Ottawa, but not enough to have my body get back at me three days later. Went into work and got back into the swing of things. Took about an hour before I realized, I'm back and I'm already a week behind. As every minute passes, it feels like I'm falling behind another day. I'll get caught up as the soon as I can stop time.
Wednesday/Thursday:
pretty much the same, trying to find a way to get caught up but not seeing a light at the end of the tunnel, but I didn't expect it as I know the next two to three months will be the most hectic for me. These days were a blur...
Friday:
Until Friday that is. My cold was the worst of the week the entire day. So bad was my cold that I ran out of tissues over lunch and had to go a drug store to purchase some. Of course they only had large boxes. So picuture if you will - I'm standing in line, when the woman in front of is returning an item (at 12:52 on a Friday), the line-up behind her, including myself, is very pleased to be waiting while she asks every question she could think of (I thought it was good that she had them written down). While this was going on, I started to have a sneeze attack. I'm holding a box of tissues, that I had to tear open, after I turned around to see a very cute girl behind me give a look as though I was two-year old eating in front of her. I really know how to impress the ladies. After tearing out far too many sheets, I got to the cash and was told by the sales lady, "you're paying for that whole box, you know?" As my image was already shattered by my dripping nose, I thought it was not in my favour to come across as cheap. I shook my head and politely thanked her for pointing out my faux paux. What would I have ever done without this lady. I didn't think my face could get a red as it did, but mirrors don't lie.
Saturday/Sunday:
Just tried to keep my head from exploding. Spent Saturday watching Hockey Day in Canada, and watching as the Sens handed the Canadiens a win, the Leafs beat the Oilers, and the refs hand the Canucks a win over the Flames. All in all, a good day, but basically stayed under a cover and just relaxed. Sunday, nothing really changed. You know you're not feeling well when you watch a movie and start to think about things you may done right or wrong previously as to pertains to the story, then quickly shake and think "what the f**k"
My first week back wasn't a full blown get back as I may have wanted, but it was something to get myself back into the swing of things. For this year, I have decided that I need to do somethings for myself. I have to get out more, meet more people and put stuff in the past that I may have focused on too much and not worry about it. I have to realize that I am living in the west and what was in Ottawa is just that, in Ottawa. So, it's starts now - and I will keep posting not just for those who may read it, but for myself, a diary to progress my growth, or my slips.
Here is to the year!
What can I say about coming back and getting into the full swing of things. It's not always what you think it would be.
I wrote a blog last Monday when I arrived home (yes, I'm calling it home) but somehow I made it disappear when I changed something - still trying to figure out how this works.
So to begin, let's just try and go day by day:
Monday:
I booked an early flight from Ottawa to come back to Calgary that was to leave at 7am (next time I'll pay the extra $40 and fly out later in the day), but I thought, at this rate, I'll be in my apartment by 10 am, and have the whole day to get myself back into being back in Calgary. The flight was supposed to leave at 7, for some reason, which they never explained, we flew out at 7:40. I don't know about you but I really enjoy sitting on a crowded flight, not moving, being told to keep my seatbelt on because we could be leaving at any moment. At least I was smart enough to take all the free papers that they have to offer, but couldn't they have turned the TV on? I don't need to see on the screen where the plane is, I can just look out the window and see the groundcrew to figure that we haven't left yet.
After a fairly uneventful flight, I got back home and was happy to see that my apartment was still standing. Took the rest of the day getting adjusted to being back, different weather, different time zone, different enviroment.
Tuesday:
Woke up feeling someone had dragged me down a street. Was this a cold or a retroactive hangover? I did do a little partying when I was in Ottawa, but not enough to have my body get back at me three days later. Went into work and got back into the swing of things. Took about an hour before I realized, I'm back and I'm already a week behind. As every minute passes, it feels like I'm falling behind another day. I'll get caught up as the soon as I can stop time.
Wednesday/Thursday:
pretty much the same, trying to find a way to get caught up but not seeing a light at the end of the tunnel, but I didn't expect it as I know the next two to three months will be the most hectic for me. These days were a blur...
Friday:
Until Friday that is. My cold was the worst of the week the entire day. So bad was my cold that I ran out of tissues over lunch and had to go a drug store to purchase some. Of course they only had large boxes. So picuture if you will - I'm standing in line, when the woman in front of is returning an item (at 12:52 on a Friday), the line-up behind her, including myself, is very pleased to be waiting while she asks every question she could think of (I thought it was good that she had them written down). While this was going on, I started to have a sneeze attack. I'm holding a box of tissues, that I had to tear open, after I turned around to see a very cute girl behind me give a look as though I was two-year old eating in front of her. I really know how to impress the ladies. After tearing out far too many sheets, I got to the cash and was told by the sales lady, "you're paying for that whole box, you know?" As my image was already shattered by my dripping nose, I thought it was not in my favour to come across as cheap. I shook my head and politely thanked her for pointing out my faux paux. What would I have ever done without this lady. I didn't think my face could get a red as it did, but mirrors don't lie.
Saturday/Sunday:
Just tried to keep my head from exploding. Spent Saturday watching Hockey Day in Canada, and watching as the Sens handed the Canadiens a win, the Leafs beat the Oilers, and the refs hand the Canucks a win over the Flames. All in all, a good day, but basically stayed under a cover and just relaxed. Sunday, nothing really changed. You know you're not feeling well when you watch a movie and start to think about things you may done right or wrong previously as to pertains to the story, then quickly shake and think "what the f**k"
My first week back wasn't a full blown get back as I may have wanted, but it was something to get myself back into the swing of things. For this year, I have decided that I need to do somethings for myself. I have to get out more, meet more people and put stuff in the past that I may have focused on too much and not worry about it. I have to realize that I am living in the west and what was in Ottawa is just that, in Ottawa. So, it's starts now - and I will keep posting not just for those who may read it, but for myself, a diary to progress my growth, or my slips.
Here is to the year!
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