No, I didn't forget.

Here's my past week or so summed up:

- My father's mother needs open heart surgery. They found a clot right above her heart. If they don't remove it, she might be fine, or it could pop and she'd drop dead. She's choosing to have it removed. My sister thinks she's insane for going through with it, but come on... this is grandma. The woman who almost died about six years ago because she had an infection. Months after that, she broke her hip and needed it replaced. Grandma's a survivor. I say go through with it.

- I had my first driving lesson today (finally). Apparently I'm really good for a beginner. I need help with turning.

- I stopped working Saturdays. I'm sick of getting up so damn early in the morning. I switched to Sunday nights. I'm playing around with the idea of learning Portuguese because I op for a two-hour show from this one couple.

- I started studying Buddhism. I've got a lot to learn.




Aside from all that, it's Halloween. This is my favourite day of the year. Actually, I'm sure I like it more than my birthday.

The Blogger's Guide to Better Communication - Part One

In this day in age, technology, along with general stupidity, has caused a devolution of the English language. I'm not sure about other languages, I only speak, read, and understand English, so that's what I'm talking about.

Inspired by chatboards, other people's blogs, and websites like urbandictionary.com, I've decided to compile a list of words that are commonly spelt incorrectly; in no particular order. It's disappointing because they're not even difficult words. I recommend looking up their definition on a website like dictionary.com, if you're in the middle of typing something and you come across a word that you don't know how to spell. Please be advised that this list will likely never be complete, just expanded upon until I think I've covered everything.

1. to
2. two
3. too
4. there
5. their
6. they're
7. basically
8. supposedly
9. necessarily
10. necessary
11. social
12. controversy
13. you're
14. your
15. we're
16. were
17. where
18. stupid
19. ridiculous
20. ludicrous (not Ludacris, like the rapper.)
21. congratulations
22. regardless
23. hypocrite

These are not just words, but phrases. I put them here because people often say could/would/should "of." That's incorrect. They are all seen as the contractions "could've, would've, should've" and in slang terms, butchered as "would'a, could'a, should'a."
24. could have
25. would have
26. should have

This is the first installment of what will likely be a collection of spelling corrections. More to come, I just don't know when.

So hare-brained, it just might work.

I have a plan.

Ever since I went on vacation to BC with my dad two years ago, I fell in love with the city of Vancouver.

I really want to go back to school, and as tempting as northern Alberta sounds (at least when it comes to money), I don't really want it anymore. I'd rather go back to school. Where? The University of British Columbia, of course!

I want to work my ass off for the next year, and move to Vancouver. End of story.

I don't care if I have to work three jobs to pay for it, I want to go. There really isn't anything for me here in Ontario, aside from my current part-time job, and that's not saying much.

So, if you're reading this, and you know me, it'd be great if you could help me out.

I'm thinking...

... of going back to school in a couple of years.

I might even be doing this a bit backwards.

I have a job offer in northern Alberta. I'm just waiting on a number... specifically the amount of money they're going to pay me.

I'm not really sure I want to be in radio for the rest of my life. I don't know what I want to do now.

I know I want to study at UBC. Basically, I know I want to move to Vancouver. I'm just on the UBC website to try and decide what I'm going to study. I have to wait because I don't have the money to move now, and I have an Ontario student loan to pay off.

No Direction?

Okay.

I went to college for Radio.

I came to a revelation, about the other careers I wouldn't mind trying:

- Nurse
- Interior Designer
- Clothing Designer
- Tattoo Artist
- Body Piercer
- Entertainment Lawyer
- Screenwriter
- Movie Director
- Pastry Chef
- Rock Star (I can dream, can't I?)


These are the ones I can think of. Basically my list of life's ambitions is starting to look like a course calendar for a community college. I wonder why that is?

What am I doing wrong?

Okay, I realize I'm young, but this is ridiculous.

I know three people (even if only in the online realm) that are around my age and have all recently gotten married.

I can't even get a date for Saturday night.

What gives?

Jill's Guide to a Happy Life.

I've generally been thinking a lot about my outlook on life.

Not necessarily mine, but for other people too. (These people will remain nameless, for their privacy and my safety.)

I think I've actually come up with a good way to assess your life. A guideline, if you will. Here's what I've come up with so far:

1. Make your own dinner. Experiment when you do so. Plus, you'll have a lot more fun than you ever would calling the local pizza place, and having them mess up your order.

2. Eat right. Most people don't, and openly admit it. This is a combination of the amount you eat, as well as what you're specifically putting in your mouth, plus when and how often you eat throughout the day. Word of advice, DON'T eat a steak dinner right before bed. You'll regret it in the morning. Small, healthy snacks throughout the day is a lot better for you than a fast food hamburger three hours after you should have gone to bed...

3. Get enough sleep. Even if you can't get a full night's sleep, take a nap. Seriously, it'll make you feel better. Remember when you were little? Exactly. Plus, people won't be telling you that you look tired. "You look tired" = "You look like Hell in human form."

4. Don't drink too much. This one's pretty self-explanatory.

5. Don't take drugs that you can't pronounce the chemical name of. Legal, illegal, prescription, or recreational, if you can't say its name, DON'T DO IT!

6. Use a condom. It's amazing how few people do. Keep that in mind.

7. Cut the drama from your life, and don't sweat the small stuff. Putting up with small, trivial things isn't worth your time. If it's unnecessary, you don't need it. If someone's making your life miserable, get rid of them! Cut the dead weight. You'll be surprised how much metaphorical weight is lifted off your shoulders.

8. Don't procrastinate. Trying to rush and do everything at the last minute will just make it worse. Plus, when you're done everything ahead of schedule, you can take a few minutes and have a nap.

9. Prepare. If it's for cooking dinner, or a job interview, you'll find it's a lot easier when you've already thought things through. If you do decide to procrastinate, this is what you should be doing while putting everything else off! Be ready.

10. Be a good person. You'll be surprised how far you can get by NOT lying, cheating, and stealing. Karma is king. Negative people attract negative energy.

11. Make some time for you, and just you. I think it was actually Ozzy Osbourne who once said "If you don't have an hour out of your day for just you, you're doing too much."

12. Variety is the spice of life. Okay, we've all heard it, we all think "Yea, I'll remember that," and never do. Don't let yourself fall into a rut. Try a new recipe, listen to different music, watch a movie that you've never seen before. Even if it involves watching an action movie when you normally watch comedies, you'll be surprised what you'll learn. Try something new. Even if it doesn't work, it gives you an opportunity to try again.

13. Have an opinion. People who don't have them look stupid. I'm not kidding.

14. Be aware of your surroundings. Pay attention to what's going on. Watch the evening news, ask people you care about what's going on in their lives, find out what that weird smell is coming from inside your fridge.

15. Work hard, but don't work too hard. It's one thing to focus your attention on the big project, but if it's starting to interfere with other aspects of your life, back off.

16. Smile. Go ahead, do it now. Fell better already, don't you?

17. Live with passion. Do something you love, and do it well!

18. Be nice. Whether it's to your siblings, or your asshole coworker, at least you tried.

19. Never stop learning. It could be to find your niche in life, it could be the eight easiest ways to cook a turkey, it could be Cosmo's 20 Hottest Bedroom Tricks.

20. Deal with it. Once you deal with it, you don't have to waste your energy trying to avoid it. Swallow your pride, and get over it. Don't hold it in, bottle in up, or sweep it under the rug. Get it out there.

21. Spend time with people you love. Romantically, or platonically, it doesn't matter.

22. Have fun. What good is it if you can't?

23. Read a book. Expand your vocabulary and learn something new.

24. Listen to music that makes you feel good. Is there any other kind?

25. Dance, even if you can't. Even if you look funny trying, it'll definitely make you feel better.

26. Stand up for yourself. Life is better when you're independent.

27. Take care of something. Even if it's a gold fish, a hamster, or a potted plant, you'll feel better when you actually help it fulfill its lifespan. It may not be around forever, but while it's here, help it do its thing!

28. Be responsible. Do your share. Don't try and blame something you did on somebody else. Do it right the first time.

29. Mind your money. Don't assume just because you have extra cash now, you'll always have it. I'm not saying never spend money and indulge a little, but if you get paid on Thursday and you're broke by the time you go to be on Monday, you need to rethink your habits. Just set a little aside, so when you suddenly have to, say, buy a new set of tires for your car, you aren't freaking out because to do so, you'll have to go without groceries.

30. Listen to YOU, and only you. Don't hinder your creativity or sense of adventure. Listen to your body. Don't bother worrying about what other people think.

A quick post from work.

I love this whole post by e-mail thing.

Granted, when I originally thought to post something, I figured I'd have had more to talk about.

Anyway, it's Thanksgiving weekend, I'm working, my sister now gets weekends off. She woke up with a migraine this morning; she hasn't had on it three years, since we made the link between her migraines and her food allergies. Not only was she in pain, she was screaming and crying about it. She ended up going to the hospital because when you go to the ER with a migraine, they run you and I.V. and give you a warm blanket and leave you alone.

Side note, we don't bother with Thanksgiving festivities anyway. We enjoy the food, and that's about it. I justify having made that roast chicken last week to substitute the dinner that so many people are sitting down to tonight and tomorrow night. Ha.

Ontario election and referendum coming up! I don't know why I'm making such a big deal out of this. Probably because I like voting. Beyond that, it's not that big a deal when actually voting because all you do is mark and X in a circle. All this build-up just makes it funny.

Not much else. I need to push some buttons in a few minutes, so that's it.

Something not food-related!

So it'll be a couple weeks before I hear how much money I'm going to make and the radio job I've pretty much gotten.

However, I'm getting restless. So I applied for a job with a cell phone company. They want me in Calgary on Tuesday. Problem: I don't have any money to get there. So, I asked them to postpone it, I haven't heard back.

Another dinner success!

Pulled pork sandwiches with a homemade barbecue sauce.


Plum crisp for dessert.

I own.

Mmhmm.

I can cook. I made a roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, mushroom gravy and asparagus.

I'm all proud of myself now, especially since I've never made a whole chicken before. Go me.

I'm still waiting to hear back from that job offer. I'm literally going crazy here.