Look to the left

Not too far... just look at my profile.... check out what it says next to "occupation".

I'm employed! Somewhat. I've been hired to write some stuff for Nunavut tourism. How cool!!!! I'm actually getting paid to write! I had to submit samples of my writing and everything. I used blog entries. Nothing too recent of course, that's all been pretty crap. But I took a few choice entries from China and my travels. And he liked it, yay!!! So now I must write copy for a travel planner, something to inspire you to journey to the great white north. Experience the magic of the arctic! I've never been there, but I'm sure I can make it sound fabulous. This is so damn exciting. YIPPEE!!!!

As of yet I have neither written anything, nor been paid. But all in good time. I figure the first step to embracing my newfound profession is to adopt some eccentric habits and quirks. Perhaps I will only ever write wearing an old housecoat. No, that's overdone. I could start smoking a pipe? Nah, too gross. Maybe I need an odd pet, like an armadillo or a bat. Or I need to have a plate of assorted cheeses next to the computer - scrap that - typewriter. I could start wearing ratty old camel-hair ponchos, carry a beaten notebook around in which to constantly scribble notes, drink copious amounts of coffee, and make bizarre word choices like calling glasses spectacles and movies "the pictures", all while slipping in and out of some inconsistent, affected accent. And of course have a pencil on hand at all times, either behind my ear or stuck in messy hair.

Yes.... gotta get these important character details sorted out first before moving on to the trifling penning of words.

Nope. Nothing.

No title.

No words.

I don't even know if I have a proper thought. Someone i knew was killed in Afghanistan. I keep having these jolts as I remember and hear the words hit me again: "he died". Nope, that's not right. I remember us going for nachos and bowling and parties and lazy old hanging out. He's not dead.

He wasn't even someone who was that close to me. One of my best friend's ex boyfriends. I knew him for years. The two of them, and Theran and I, we went on some double dates. I just don't know what to say.

I saw his picture in the paper. And I saw it on the news. They showed the soldiers caskets being carried and I thought I might throw up knowing he was in one of those boxes.

They were handing out candy to local kids. That's all, just giving out treats. And some guy comes along with a bomb on a bicycle. One minute passing around candies...

And now he's gone.

Belly dancing class no. 1

Instructor: "Are you guys beginners?"

Jennie and I: "Yes"

Instructor: "Oh.... see, this is level 2. You might want to try the earlier class."

Faaaaaaaantastic. Just to let you know, we didn't join level two because we thought we were so talented we deserved to skip intro. The guy who  registered us said both times were the same level. But yay, I sure was eager to look like a moron in front of 18 other people.

And I did. Luckily, I always look like an idiot when I dance, so I was used to it. We had no idea how to do any of the moves and just ended up shaking our butts around while laughing. The instructor did all these little dances: wiggling, shimmying, and swooping seductively, while we flopped and spazzed about like dying fish. Soooo sexy, lemme tell you. Good thing there were no mirrors; I would have been unable to resist myself.

On the up side, all the laughter was a great ab workout!

Brrr

It is so cold! What the hell happened? Just a few days ago it was nearly 30 degrees and now it's freezing and rainy and the ground is covered in fallen leaves. I'm not ready for summer to be over. I missed it all, sitting in my dull, grey cubicle.

Unemployment is treating me well. Just taking it easy, going for lunches, going for drinks, staying up late on school nights. Can't complain. Except for the fact that I'm spending money at an alarmingly fast rate with no income to replenish my account. Pffft, no worries.

And now that it's fall, I've got a couple of classes to look forward to. Belly dancing starts tomorrow and kickboxing on Saturday. How fun. First I will entrance you with my exotic shimmy shimmy shimmy, then HYAH! a powerful and unexpected punch punch kick! Or.... I ridiculously jiggle without an ounce of coordination, then pull a muscle while attempting some feeble move. Yep, it'll be a good time.

chilllllllll

So, I have been feeling the pressure of, I dunno, life stuff, bearing down on me. I hate all this uncertainty. Stress has been building up since my job ended, and lately it just feels like my heart is going to burst through my chest, leaving shattered ribs to pierce all my vital organs. Ow.

So today, feeling overwhelmed with anxiety and on the verge of a serious panic attack, I resorted to an old pharmaceutical aid to alleviate my pounding heart. I took the one, and felt mildly appeased, but not quite. Still too much tension in the belly and head and chest. So I took another one. The pack does say one to two, so it's not like i went overboard.

And now I am feeling very relaxed, all loopy and limp like a wobbly cooked noodle.

Mmmm... noodles.

I can't concentrate anymore. Time to go flop in a chair and not think about... about anything.

mrs robinson, you're trying to seduce me

I think I may have officially become a dirty old lady....

and it's just as much fun as I thought it would be.

My last blog

From work, that is.

 

Yep, today is my last day, and I'm feeling sentimental about everything. Everything I do is accompanied by "aw, that's the last time I'll...". That's the last time I'll say good morning to so-and-so. That's the last time I'll get my coffee. That's the last time I'll log in to my email. That's the last time I'll read a final report. That's the last time I'll play darts in the copy room. Sigh... so sad.

 

Just got back from my farewell lunch. I'm always up for a free lunch where people say nice things about me and how I'll be missed. Yay, let's celebrate Amanda! Hip hip hurrah! Hip hip hurrah! Okay, I may be paraphrasing a wee bit. But the general sentiment holds true, I'm just adding a bit of oomph. Amanda Amanda, rah rah rah!!!

 

So, on to other things. Other things being loafing, lazing and an occasional bout of lollygagging. Wow, my ambition is astounding.

 

Well, that's it for now.

 

 

 

Aw... that's the last time I'll waste time by writing my personal blog on government time.

lazybones

Hmm, five o'clock and time to go for dinner at my dad's.... I guess I should get out of my pyjamas now. Damn. I managed to avoid getting dressed so well, even went out in the jammies and slippers to pick up my mom. Oh well, it's a long weekend so I'll resume idling tommorow. And of course I'll have plenty of pj days after Wednesday.