101 Things In 1001 Days

With all the changes in my life this past year (new job, new house, engagement, impending marriage!) I figured it was time to take stock of where I'm at, and where I'd like to be.  With that in mind, I discovered the 101 Things In 1001 Days challenge.

Basically I am setting myself 101 challenges - things that I've always wanted to do, been meaning to do, or wanted to try... and I'm going to do them.  I refuse to live my life thinking "Oh, I wish I'd done XYZ".  So, no more excuses.

The list starts as of today (May 11, 2010) and I need to have them all finished by February 5, 2013.  Watch This Space.

K's 101 Things In 1001 Days:

Physical
1. Find a Dublin-based dentist and go once a year (at least)
2. Quit biting my nails
3. Lose those last 10lbs
4. Do a 3-week detox
5. Finish Bootcamp book (self directed Bootcamp)
6. Finally figure out my blood type
7. (personal)
8. Visit a Naturopath and/or Ayurvedic consultant
9. Try the Couch to 5K programme
10. Wake up at 6am every morning for a month
11. Join the Dublin City Roller Girls

Psychological
12. Leave work AT work from 6pm onwards
13. Have one dedicated “no TV night” per week
14. Have one “disconnected” weekend – no computers, TV or phones for a weekend (except for emergencies) per month
15. Read 30 “classic” books I’ve never read before
16. Watch 30 “classic” films I’ve never seen before
17. Meditate for at least 10 minutes every day
18. Write a letter to my future self
19. Find a “spiritual recharge” site in Dublin and visit regularly
20. Answer the 50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind
21. Make a playlist of all my favourite songs
22. Have a “me” day

Relationships
23. Get married!
24. Start a family
25. Write pen and paper letters to at least one friend every month
26. Send Christmas cards with a newsletter to friends and family
27. Host an actual Canadian Thanksgiving
28. Adopt a rescue cat from the Dublin SPCA
29. Participate in Postcrossing
30. Send a postcard to Postsecret
31. Create a family tree from our two families
32. Stay up all night with B and watch the sun rise
33. Have a fancy date night at least once a month
34. Write down / record some of my grandmother’s stories
35. Have a picnic in the Phoenix Park

Creativity
36. Learn to cook a proper roast dinner
37. Cook something with an ingredient I’ve never used before
38. Bake bread from scratch
39. Make a gingerbread house
40. Make a cookbook of our favourite family recipes
41. Make a scrapbook of our travels to date
42. Make a scrapbook from the weddings
43. Learn to knit
44. Learn to make jam
45. Complete NaBloPoMo
46. Take a dance class
47. Take singing lessons
48. Re-learn how to play chess
49. Complete a 365 day photo challenge
50. Make a playlist of my favourite songs
51. Edit, print and frame photos from our travels
52. Frame and hang the art / prints we have in the apartment
53. Try a new recipe at least once a month

Career
54. Get trained as an official medical (or e-med) records volunteer
55. Go on at least one mission a year
56. Progress from part-time to full-time employment
57. Attend the ISLC as a student sponsor
58. Attend one networking event per month
59. Get (re)trained in First Aid / CPR
60. Keep my inbox at zero for a month

Giving Back
61. Donate blood at least once a year
62. Participate in the Flora Women’s Mini Marathon
63. Donate old clothes and books to a local charity shop
64. Find a local food bank and donate food regularly
65. Make a renewable loan to a Kiva project
66. Donate money to 5 friends who are doing something for charity
67. Make a concerted effort to recycle (difficult in Dublin!)

Adventure & New Experiences
68. Attend the Taste of Dublin festival
69. Go to one free event or festival every month
70. Visit 5 places in Ireland I’ve never been before
71. Learn a new language
72. Learn sign language
73. Visit 3 countries I’ve never been to before
74. Learn to ride a motorcycle
75. Take driving lessons to learn how to drive (manually) on the wrong side of the car!
76. Visit random museums in Dublin (Georgian House museum, etc)
77. Discover 10 new bands / singers on the Dublin music scene
78. Go camping for a weekend in Wicklow
79. Rent a car and go on a road trip for a weekend
80. Go to a German Christmas market
81. Spend New Year’s Eve somewhere exotic
82. Discover 26 bands I’ve never heard of, each starting with a different letter of the alphabet

Financial
83. Create an annual budget and stick to it
84. Establish a PRSA and continue to contribute to my RRSPs
85. Save at least 10% of my income
86. Make a will
87. Cash in all our copper coins stashed around the house – add to savings account
88. Cash in Dublin Bus refund tickets and add to savings account
89. Research and avail of all tax credit entitlements
90. Get engagement ring appraised and insured
91. Figure out when Buy Nothing Day is and do it

Purchases
92. New mobile phone (trade in old one)
93. Sewing machine
94. A house
95. A car

Miscellaneous
96. Get all my broken shoes fixed
97. Mend clothes that need mending
98. For every new item of clothing purchased, throw out or donate one item to charity
99. Grow (and keep alive) a herb garden
100. Get a real Christmas tree
101. Send a message in a bottle

End of 2009 Survey!

Hi blogosphere!  Remember me?  Okay, so I had a bit of a crazy hiatus (again) but with a new year comes a New Year's resolution to be better at blogging.  And so I'll stick with tradition and present...

END OF 2009 SURVEY

What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
I went back to school (I'm now a Public Relations professional!), got engaged (!!), travelled to Ethiopia... lots of things!

Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't really make any last year.  This year it will definitely be to get smarter with the finances.  I can do that now I have a job again!

Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, this year seemed to be the Year of the Babies, and there were 2 new ones so welcome to the world, Hazel and Benjymyn!  I've already secretly paired you up as Canadian boyfriend and Irish/German girlfriend.  That would be super cute.

What countries did you visit?
Mostly Ireland and Canada, but I did have an amazing 5-day trip to Ethiopia at the end of November as the final result of my volunt-work.  It was absolutely incredible and I can't wait to hopefully get back there with The New Job (I really should stop calling it that).

What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
More holidays.  Last year was pretty lacking.  Even the trip to Ethiopia was for volunt-work.  Although this year most of our holidays will involve weddings and wedding planning.  Oh, and an excellent honeymoon, if all goes according to plan!

What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I'll go all soppy on this question and say the day that B proposed... aww...

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I'd have to say getting a job after 11 months worth of unemployment.  With a charity.  During a recession.

What was your biggest failure?
11 months of unemployment?  No, I won't say that, because I volunteered and went back to school, so at least it was productive.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not really, apart from the usual head colds.  Was finally diagnosed with IBS though... but that's manageable.  Oh, and I had wicked altitude sickness my first day in Ethiopia.  Stupid altitude migraine.

What was the best thing you bought?
Can't say I bought an awful lot last year.

Whose behavior merited celebration?
The board of directors who hired me!  Yay for them!  And B, for proposing!

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I can't seem to think of anyone.

Where did most of your money go?
Mostly on trying to survive unemployment.  Unemployment does a number on a girl's savings.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Wedding plans... squee!  :)  And The New Job.

Compared to this time last year, you are:
a) happier or sadder?  Happier, definitely!
b) thinner or fatter?  Actually a little thinner!
c) richer or poorer?  Poorer, unfortunately.  11 months of unemployment took their toll on my bank account.

What do you wish you'd done more of?
Getting out there, as always.  It was tough this year, as Dublin is a very expensive town when you're unemployed.

What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying.  I know everything always works out in the end, but it doesn't stop me worrying in the meantime.

How did you spend Christmas?
Up at my grandmother's, surrounded by family... exactly the way it should be... except no snow this year until the 28th.  No white Christmas for 2009.

How did you spend New Years?
Surrounded by my friends, and fussing over a baby.  You know... as you do.

Did you fall in love in 2009?
I think I fall in love with B a little bit more every day.  I'm so incredibly lucky to have him in my life.

What was your favourite TV programme?
Lost and Fringe, as always.  And the Amazing Race, but we have to watch that online.

Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No, I don't waste time hating people.

What was your greatest musical discovery for 2009?
Finding out that The Tragically Hip were playing in Tripod at the beginning of December!  Seeing Canada's biggest band performing in a tiny venue?  Best.  Birthday.  Present.  Ever.  Thanks B!

What did you want and get?
A husband-to-be?  :)  And a new job, and Stamp 4 residency (no more work permits!  Woo hoo!)

What was your favourite film of this year?
Hmm... I actually really liked Let The Right One In.  In terms of blockbusters I liked Star Trek, Harry Potter 6 and the most recent Saw.

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Aggh... I was 29.  Am 29.  Too close to 30.  I spent the day at work, and then taking care of my future father-in-law, as my future mother-in-law had to have minor surgery that day.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Nothing really... 2009 was pretty spectacular.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
As ever, the "I can't afford to go shopping but need to look professional" look.

What kept you sane?
Volunteering and going back to school.  I have to keep busy or I go a bit mad.

What political issue stirred you the most?
I'd probably say the gay marriage debate worldwide.

Who did you miss?
As always, my friends and family back in Canada.

Who was the best new person you met?
My new coworkers (well, they volunteer), the people I've met through my PR course, B's friends from college that I finally met at his friend's wedding... everyone's been lovely.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
Persistence pays off.

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"You're the best friend... That I've ever had"

I'm off down the country... here's a meme!

With The New Job and all, things have been a bit crazy and all over the place lately.  I'm really REALLY enjoying everything, but it's taken a while to adjust and find my feet.  As an attempt to unwind, B and I are headed down to Wexford to visit the sister-in-law-to-be and her family - you know, because nothing says "unwinding" like spending the weekend with 4 children under the age of 12, and an occasionally hyperactive dog.

In the meantime, here's a meme.

It’s not fall until:
The leaves start hitting the sidewalk, there's a crispness in the air (yet sunny), and the smell of peat fires follows me home from work.

Kelly Preston’s character in the movie For Love of the Game expresses her need to escape NYC because “Summer’s almost over, and I feel like I missed it.” What do you need to do in the waning days of summer for it to feel complete?
I need to try and get out as much as possible.  At home this would usually involve a road trip up to the Okanagan, but over here it's a bit different.  We didn't have much of a summer this year - no holidays, lousy weather, caught up in exams and course projects, etc - but I also like the arrival of autumn even more than the summer, so I'm pretty happy.

The US Tennis Open, one of four Grand Slam events in that sport, is currently in the quarterfinal round. If you could only attend one major sporting event what would it be?
The Olympic Men's Hockey final - but only if Canada was in it, obviously.  Failing that, the Stanley Cup Final, but again, only if the Canucks were in it.

Assuming that you write an anonymous or partially anonymous blog, by what non-physically identifying characteristics might you be identified in a bar?
Probably my laugh... I laugh a lot.  Like... All.  The.  Time.  Or my weird half-Canadian half-Irish accent.

Most blogs cover some sort of niche – personal, political, dating, culinary, etc. What topic, if any, would you like to address on your blog but doesn’t fit into your niche?
The Dublin music scene... there are so many great artists out there that deserve recognition.  But then, there are also excellent Irish music bloggers too, so they're probably better placed to write about the music scene.  I can content myself with writing about good gigs I've been to.

If you could manipulate the time space continuum and give as many as three pieces of advice to a younger version of yourself, what advice would you give and to what age of you?
Age 16:  "Don't bother with the science courses.  You're not going to end up being a doctor and it's the best decision you'll ever make!  Take history or law or something fun instead!  Who needs calculus?"
Age 21:  "Pretty soon you're going to have to make the hardest decision of your life, and break up with your best friend.  And yes, it will suck, and it really is a shame, but you've grown so far apart that you both realise it's just not working anymore.  And yes, you'll be sad, and years from now when you hear she's getting married and then having a baby, you'll really miss her... and that's alright too.  But you'll also make new, incredibly amazing friends who will always be there for you - so treasure them."
Age 25:  "Things will only get better from here.  I know this is the lowest of the low right now, and that you just want to pack it in and go home, but stick around and in a few years you'll be exactly where you want to be.  You'll surprise yourself with how strong a woman you really are."

How high are your walls? Who was the last person to scale them? What tools should would-be climbers have on their belt?
I'll admit they can be fairly high.  It takes a while to get to know me properly, because I can be a bit shy at first.  I'm often worried this comes across as me being snobby, and I hope it doesn't.  I suppose B was the last person, and I'm glad he did!  As for tools... well, being genuine, open and honest really helps.  I don't do fake people... I want to know REAL people.  And it helps if you're passionate about something... even if I don't share or agree with that passion, it's always nice to see someone care about something, and it helps me to learn new things!

The sexiest thing a man can say to you (or has said to you) is
"I'm so proud of you" - not in a parental type of way, but because it shows that he's had faith in me, believes in me and supports my dreams.

20 Questions

Tomorrow is our engagement photo shoot! (insert girly squeal here) So in light of all the imminent loved-up-edness in Watch This Space land, I thought I'd do this 20 Questions meme that's been doing the rounds in the blogosphere. I have it on good authority that I did well. Enjoy!

1. He is sitting in front of the TV. What is on the screen?

Depending on the time of year, it's Irish Rugby. Otherwise some sort of documentary on the History Channel, or Discovery or one of those. Or Bear Grylls.

2. You’re out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on his salad?

Salad? What is this "salad" you speak of?

3. What’s one food he doesn’t like?

Eggs. It's inexplicable.

4. You go out to eat and have a drink. What does he order?

Guinness. Or sometimes Corona (ugh).

5. Where did he go to high school?

Templemore.

6. What size shoe does he wear?

10? (edit - apparently it's a 9)

7. If he was to collect anything, what would it be?

Guitars. Oh wait... we've already got... I don't know... at least 3.

8. What is his favorite type of sandwich?

Breakfast rolls. Well, occasionally.

9. What would this person eat every day if he could?

I have it on good authority that he would eat nothing but profiteroles, given half a chance.

10. What is his favorite cereal?

We don't really do cereal for breakfast, so I don't really know. He did buy Cheerios the other day, so I'll go with that.

11. What would he never wear?

Pink. I know better than to even try.

12. What is his favorite sports team?

Ireland or Munster Rugby. Tough call.

13. Who did he vote for?

The good guys.

14. Who is his best friend?

Me? Aww....

15. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn’t do?

Snore? Occasionally belch? I maintain that's a compliment to his cooking abilities...

16. What is his heritage?

Irish. That one I know I got right!

17. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind of cake?

I made him these cute little Mr Men cupcakes. They were awesome.

18. Did he play sports in high school?

Rugby. There is a recurring theme here.

19. What could he spend hours doing?

Playing guitar. And he does.

20. What is one unique talent he has?

Music. I have no idea how he does it, but the man's a genius.

It's all about me... again

Because I haven't done one in a while, and because I am fast becoming the Queen of Procrastination, here is a meme!

1. What bill do you hate paying the most?
Any of them. At least until I have a salary again!

2. Do you miss being a child?
Sometimes, I suppose. I don't particularly miss primary or secondary school, but I do miss that freedom that you can only have as a child - not having to worry about finances, or unemployment, or recessions. That was nice.

3. Chore you hate the most?
Taking the garbage down to the basement. Last time I did, the bag dribbled on me. Eww...

4. Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner?
The little Italian place just around the corner.

5. If you could go back and change one thing, what would it be?
I don't think I would. Except maybe last year when all my stomach issues kicked off. That I could do without. And getting my wisdom teeth out. That wasn't fun either.

6. Name of your first grade teacher?
Mrs Loxton (I answered this already in another meme! Why is it always the first grade teacher?)

7. What would you like to be doing right now?
Anything other than homework and jobhunting. It's paying off, but when it's fairly warm and sunny outside I'd rather be anywhere than in the apartment. Like the zoo! Hmm... perhaps a plan for the long weekend...

8. What did you want to be when you grew up?
I went through a whole big list of things I wanted to be when I grew up - a ballerina, a vet, a psychiatrist, a lawyer, the Prime Minister of Canada...

9. How many colleges did you attend?
Hmm... the International Study Centre (UK), UBC, Keele University (UK), Trinity College (Dublin) and the European Institute of Communications (Dublin) - so... 5.

10. Why did you choose the shirt that you have on right now?
It was there, and clean. Plus it's fairly warm out lately so I thought I'd wear a tank top.

11. What are your thoughts on gas prices?
Well, we don't have a car so it doesn't really affect us at all. Although I've noticed that the prices are fairly expensive. But I think it's more of an incentive to bike, or walk, or take public transit.

12. First thought when the alarm went off this morning?
Annnnnd... snooze.

13. Last thought before going to sleep last night?
Why didn't I think of getting earplugs before now? This is fantastic! I can't hear anything! Especially the angle grinders outside! (it still took me a while to get to sleep though, because I was SO!! EXCITED!! ABOUT!! THE EARPLUGS!!)

14. What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
I'll have to go with the cliched answer of the Dalai Lama, because he is endlessly fascinating. Either that or Michaelle Jean - because she eats raw seal hearts. That's hardcore.

15. Have you ever crashed your vehicle?
Not crashed, per se... I did hit a wall once (a metal one, at Park Royal Shopping Centre - my dent is still there!) and I once accidentally reversed into a taxi. In my defense though, he was parked in a no parking zone on a fairly narrow street.

16. If you didn't have to work, would you volunteer?
Absolutely. In fact WHEN I get a job I'd continue to volunteer at events and such. It's good karma and I really enjoy helping out.

17. Get up early, or sleep in?
Okay... IDEALLY I'd be a morning person. I like having time in the mornings to get myself together before work. Now, with that said, you all know that I am unemployed at the moment. So needless to say, getting up early isn't something I do very often. But when I'm back in gainful employment, I'm definitely going to work on becoming a morning person again.

18. Who is your favourite cartoon character?
That's gotta be Stewie from Family Guy.

19. Favourite thing to do with your spouse?
He's not quite my spouse yet. Give it a year or so. Favourite thing to do with my fiance? Probably travelling. I'm so happy that we are able to travel well together. It's not easy to be with someone 24/7 in foreign countries where you don't speak the language and have to navigate all over the place, but we do it, and do it well.

20. Favourite lunch meat?
Ugh... none of the above.

21. What do you get every time you go into Wal-Mart?
Corporate, capitalist, consumerist-phobia?

22. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual?
I think that if you are lucky enough to find the one person who knows you better than you know yourself, and complements you perfectly, then it's wonderful to have a moment where you can share your love with friends and family in a way that is meaningful to both of you. What I don't agree with is spending gobs of money on frivolous things and events that don't reflect who you both are as a couple. Will not do it. (please remind me of this statement when I turn into a raging Bridezilla in a few months' time)

23. Favourite movie you wouldn't want anyone to find out about?
I always tear up during The Incredible Journey. I don't mind if people know it, though.

24. What's your favourite drink?
Coffee. It's helped me through many a difficult sleep deprived situation.

25. Who from high school would you like to run into?
I've generally done a good job at keeping in touch with friends who were important to me in high school. Unfortunately I missed our 10 year reunion last year and there were a few people in attendance that I wouldn't have minded reconnecting with, but I still keep in touch with quite a few people from back then.

26. What radio station is your car radio tuned to right now?
Don't have a car either... last radio I heard was Tipp FM, at the in-laws-to-be's house.

27. Sopranos or Desperate Housewives?
I've never really seen either of them. I'm more of a Lost or Fringe gal.

28. Worst relationship mistake that you wish you could take back, past or present?
I don't think I'd take anything back. Everything, even the bad stuff, is a learning experience and made me who I am today (ooh, that's deep). Besides, if I took anything back, I may never have met B, so all the mistakes and negativity of the past were worth it because now I have him.

29. Do you like the person that sits directly across from you at work?
Well, I don't have a job... so... no?

30. Have you ever had to use a fire extinguisher for its intended purposes?
Can't say I ever have. Although it makes me wonder what are the UN-intended purposes of a fire extinguisher?

31. Do you have a teddy bear?
I have several! Most of them are back in Vancouver, but I do have a small one here, nicknamed "Amster-bear" because he's wearing a little jumper from Amsterdam.

32. Strangest place you have ever brushed your teeth?
It's probably a 3-way tie between "in the woods", "on a ferry", and "on a train" - the first was whenever I went camping, the second was on an overnight ferry in Greece, and the third was on an overnight train in Turkey.

33. Do you go to church?
No... although not because I'm anti-religion or anything. It was just never something I was exposed to growing up, so it doesn't figure into my life in any way.

34. How old are you?
I'm 28... still safely pushing 30!

35. What is your favourite summertime activity?
Having barbecues with friends and family, going for long walks along the water, road trips up to the Okanagan... you name it.

My "first" meme...

Ok, I'm using a meme as filler today because 1) it's Friday the 13th, 2) I'm trying to find/edit a new photo so WTS can have a new spring-ier layout, and 3) I think my hayfever is kicking in so my thought patterns are a bit woozy. Plus I've been reading a book I found on Scientology (an insider's view) and it's scaring the life out of me, so no one really wants to hear a blogging rant about that, I'm sure!

Enjoy!

1) Who was your FIRST prom date?
We only had "senior formals" at my school. My first date (in grade 11) was my boyfriend at the time. By the next one we'd split up so I went with my girlfriends.

2) Do you still talk to your FIRST love?
Not really, no. Most of my relationships didn't end on the best of terms, so I'm not really on speaking terms with any of them.

3) What was your FIRST alcoholic drink?
My parents had this rule that you could try wine with dinner (fancy dinners only, like Thanksgiving and Christmas) when you were 16. I didn't like it very much. Probably because it was white wine, and I've never been a huge fan of white wine.

4) What was your FIRST job?
I was a babysitter from age 9 onwards. I rocked at babysitting. But my first "proper" job was as a warehouse assistant for a retail fashion company. You know those hanging price tags on clothes? They don't just put themselves on the clothes, you know. I am a whiz with a tagging gun.

5) What was your FIRST car?
The first car I drove was my family's Dodge Caravan. It was like driving a tank, and utterly terrifying for a then-16-year-old me. My first actual car was my grandad's old Toyota Tercel, which was called the Zenmobile (the licence plate was XEN).

6) Who was the FIRST person to text you today?
Nobody's actually texted me yet. I think B is out of credit. Plus he was in meetings all morning.

7) Who is the FIRST person you thought of this morning?
Probably B. His phone is broken so he's been using mine as his alarm clock. I can sleep through his, but mine always wakes me up... so my first thought is usually "Shut that alarm off and let me go back to sleep!"

8) Who was your FIRST grade teacher?
Mrs Loxton. She used to call me Ingrid. I never did figure out why. I remember exactly 2 things from that year - one, learning the days of the week in French. Two, the poor woman trying to explain how our class hamster could have babies when there wasn't a daddy hamster.

9) Where did you go on your FIRST ride in an airplane?
Hawaii, when I was 7 (I think). My dad arranged a limo to take us to the airport as well. I remember getting a load of cool toys and stickers from the WardAir people, and having an entire middle row to myself on the way back so I could sleep.

10) Who was your FIRST best friend and do you still talk?
That was probably Joel, since we practically grew up together. Our families are still close so yes, we usually see each other at Christmas for the traditional inter-family pre-Christmas dinner.

11) Where was your FIRST sleepover?
I have absolutely no idea.

12) Who was the FIRST person you talked to today?
B when he got back from his meeting.

13) Whose wedding were you in the FIRST time?
I was a flower girl at my uncle's wedding when I was 2 and a half. He still maintains that everyone was watching me and the ring bearer (also 2 and a half) instead of my then-aunt-to-be. Stealing the show, even at that young age...

14) What was the FIRST thing you did this morning?
Had coffee. I have a morning routine.

15) What was the FIRST concert you ever went to?
Apart from the Children's Festival in Vancouver? The first one I really remember is Edgefest 98. I got kicked in the head in the mosh pit, and lost my best friend for at least an hour. Totally worth it.

16) What was the FIRST record/tape?
The first CD I ever bought (I can't recall buying a tape... maybe the Blues Brothers soundtrack?) was C&C Music Factory. It's still a good CD. Good old early 90s techno.

17) FIRST hospitalisation?
I don't think I've ever been in overnight, but I know I was in and out of hospital for ear infections when I was little. I had to get tubes in my ears a few times.

18) FIRST foreign country you've been to?
I suppose it'd be the US (how exotic). Or Mexico (we only drove across the border to Tijuana). Other than that I guess it would be England, when I moved there for first year uni.

19) FIRST movie you remember seeing?
I remember watching ET on video (Beta, I believe!) with my aunt, but I doubt that's the first movie I ever saw.

20) When was your FIRST detention?
I was generally a little goody-two-shoes in school, but I do remember getting detention at least once in grade 6 for talking instead of getting my work done. It was a substitute teacher too, and the whole class thought he was mean and awful.

21) Where did you FIRST meet your spouse/partner now?
In an internship interview. Ha ha ha. Oh dear.

22) Who was your FIRST roommate?
A girl called Steph, in first year university. I remember she didn't like sharing a room (with anyone, not just me!) so she paid extra to move out into her own room. I had a bit of a complex after that.

23) What did you do with your FIRST paycheque?
Probably something sensible, like putting it in the bank and using it to pay for university. I'm financially boring that way.

More of my iPod making me laugh...

It has a weird sense of humour, I swear.

Here's the music meme... also known as "how to get K to avoid filling in tedious questions on job application forms"... enjoy!

Directions:

1. Put your iPod, iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc, on shuffle
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer
3. You must write that song name down, no matter how silly it sounds

(K's note - I followed these instructions to the letter... some of them are uncanny!)

IF SOMEONE SAYS "ARE YOU OKAY?" YOU SAY?
Suddenly Strange (Bic Runga) - well yes, with the way my stomach's been... probably.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Help (Howie Day) - oh come on... I'm not THAT bad...

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A GUY/GIRL?
No Thang On Me (Snoop Dogg) - ah ha ha... darn right!

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Perfect Circle (REM)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
The Old Main Drag (The Pogues)

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Without You I'm Nothing (Placebo) - needy co-dependence at its best. Or... to get a bit sentimental... it's true. I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for the support of some wonderful people. You know who you are.

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Everything You Want (Vertical Horizon) - aww... thanks guys!

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Long Day (Matchbox Twenty) - I was NOT that bad... was I?

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
When You Were Young (The Killers)

WHAT IS 2+2?
Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine (The Killers) - ha ha... I sound like Ralph Wiggum.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Sandstorm (Darude) - well she is a bit mad, but that's why I love her.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Roll Into One (Bic Runga) - we do go pretty well together!

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Radio Free Europe (REM) - pretty much. Don't have a radio... live in Europe... right on.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Jump Jive An' Wail (Brian Setzer Orchestra) - I totally do.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Gone (Jack Johnson) - I hide from him. Hah.

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
U + Ur Hand (Pink) - umm... isn't this song basically a girl telling a guy (quite bluntly, might I add) to get lost? Perhaps not the most romantic choice of first dance songs...

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
These Wooden Ideas (Idlewild)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
The Canada Song (The Arrogant Worms) - it's secretly why I moved to Ireland... I'm Canada-phobic.

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Kody (Matchbox Twenty) - oh man... nobody was meant to find out!

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Wonderful World (James Morrison) - aww... you guys ARE wonderful

SONG THEY WILL PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Diggin' A Watery Grave (Morcheeba) - now THAT is eerie...

25 Valentine's Things

Alright... so I've been tagged in this meme quite a lot lately, but for the life of me I cannot come up with 25 interesting things about me (I'm stalled on 16). So instead, I thought I'd shake this up a bit and in the spirit of gushy soppiness that is Valentine's Day, I give you 25 things I love about B.

Note - those with weak stomachs or who are prone to cavities from excessive sweetness should probably not read this post!

1. I love that he is always willing to travel to new and exciting places. We've had some incredible adventures together, and will hopefully have many more! I also love that he wasn't terrified of my driving in Greece, even in the frantic rush hour traffic of Athens city centre.

2. I love that he humours me when I go into fanatic holiday research mode. Yes, I do actually care about the reviews a potential hotel got on Trip Advisor. It's never steered me wrong!

3. I love that he goes along with silly plans of mine, like bringing Bert and Ernie to Paris with us and taking photos of them at every important tourist site.

4. I love the way he gets lost in his music, that he gets incredibly nervous before a gig, and that he is incredibly giddy afterwards. I love how passionate he is about music. It's infectious. I love that the band are actually good, so I don't have to pretend that I enjoy their gigs, because I genuinely do!

5. I love that while I'm writing this, he is totally oblivious, sitting in the living room, yelling at the Irish Rugby team who are playing Italy in the 6 Nations.

6. I love that he wasn't afraid to take a potentially work-inappropriate risk and actually start up a relationship with me. Office politics be damned, says I!

7. I love the way that little kids are either completely fascinated by, or absolutely terrified by him. There really is no middle ground on this one. They either stare wide-eyed, mouth hanging open... or bawl incessantly.

8. I love that he came home and met my entire family (and all my friends) in the span of about 2.5 weeks over Christmas. That's a lot to try and take in, but it was really important to me. And to him.

9. I love that I don't think he fully understands how I can read an entire book in about 2 days. I also love that he's had about 5 books on the go for the last little while, and has yet to finish any of them.

10. I love that he usually understands when I need space because I'm having a rough time of things, or because I'm a little bit homesick, or because I'm having a bad day, without taking it personally.

11. I love that we have so many common interests, like religion (curiosity about), conspiracy theories, human rights, photography, etc.

12. I love that he says my lasagna is better than his mom's. Even if he's just saying it... I love that he says it.

13. I love to watch him work. He really cares about the people he helps, and treats everyone the same, regardless of the importance of their cases. I love that this reminds me of my grandad... one of the nicest, kindest people I've ever known.

14. I love that one of his favourite writers is often mistaken for a crazy homeless man. I love him too, I think he's brilliant.

15. I love that any gift he's ever gotten me is so well thought out that it shows just how well he knows me, and it's absolutely exactly what I wanted even if I didn't know it.

16. I love the way he laughs when he thinks something is really funny. "Giggles like a schoolgirl" seems to be the general consensus on how to define it.

17. I love that he talks about "our future".

18. I love how supportive he's been through my whole unemployment ordeal. I don't think I'd be anywhere near this calm and collected if it wasn't for his support.

19. I love that he moved heaven and earth, and used every contact in his arsenal to get me my Stamp 4 residency. I also love that it worked!

20. I love that he occasionally has frantic cleaning moments. Especially how sparkly and clean the apartment is when he's finished.

21. I love that we are just as happy to sit and home and watch DVDs as we are when we go out and do exciting things like going to gigs, or the theatre, or various festivals in the summer.

22. I love that he always tells me how beautiful I am, even if I've got a rotten cold and feel like death warmed over.

23. I love how close he is with his family, and how much they mean to him.

24. I love that he makes me happy every single day, and that I can't think of one single thing I'd change about the way we are.

25. Mostly I love the thought of how much this will embarrass the life out of him.

(us on a boat in Symi, Greece - June 2008)

5 Questions

Yay another meme! This is what happens when your brain is too fried from job applications to think up a proper post.

Anyway... my 5 questions come courtesy of Chris over at Geek Philosophy.

Here we go...

1. The few times I've travelled, I've been surprised by the selection in convenience stores - I always think there's something from Canada that would sell well there (hello, Smarties!) or something from there that I'd love to have here in Canada (mmm, Chipotle and Chorizo corn chips). Is there anything you'd find in a typical Canadian 7-Eleven that's not sold in Ireland that you think would go over well? Alternatively, is there some sort of Irish snacky-cake or choco-yum that you think would totally rock the Canadian market?

I've never heard of Chipotle and Chorizo corn chips! They sound awesome!

It's funny that you asked this question, because our main convenience stores in Dublin (called Spar) have little Tim Horton's sections in them, including coffee (from machines, unfortunately) and doughnuts. Weird, eh? But excellent for battling the odd bout of homesickness. And for DIY improvised Canada Day festivities.

From Canadian 7-Elevens I definitely miss proper Slurpees. I love a good Slurpee and Seawall walk (Ambleside or Stanley Park) in the summer. Those slightly sour Fuzzy Peach gummy candies are good too. And a more varied chip selection - I like the Jalapeno ones, or Dill Pickle. And Kraft Dinner... if they sell that at 7-Eleven.

From Irish Spars... well, B suggested quite a few things, but high up on the list would be breakfast rolls, the Irish hangover cure-all. Basically take half a baguette, fill it with bacon, eggs, sausage, black and white pudding, hashbrowns, etc and you're good to go. So unhealthy but it really does clear up a hangover better than anything else! I also like Minstrels (kind of a bigger, nicer tasting, not-coloured Smarties), Lucozade... and we can get proper Red Bull over here. I know that'd go down well in Canada, even though I don't like it myself.

2. Do you find jet-lag worse flying from Canada to Europe, or from Europe to Canada?

Believe me, I've done my fair share of flying in the last... 11 years, and I can state unequivocally that the jet-lag from Canada to Europe is infinitely worse than the jet-lag from Europe to Canada. This of course all depends on the type of person you are. When I fly home (to Vancouver), I actually enjoy waking up early (around 6am on average) and going to bed early. That way I can gradually stay up later (midnight or so) and wake up later (8am) - and I can still get a lot done.

Conversely... when I get back to Dublin I am a mess. My internal clock does not let me get to sleep until approximately 5am, and when I wake up (around 12pm), instead of feeling refreshed I am exhausted the entire day, until around 8pm when I perk up again. I waste the day feeling sleepy and lethargic, and only by having a job to go to (or by having B drag me out of bed before he goes to work) can I get my internal clock turned around. Nightmare!

3. Which country in Europe that you haven't been to would you most like to visit, and why?

You know, it's strange... I've lived in Europe for years now and yet despite the abundance of cheap flights I feel like I haven't been anywhere!

I suppose first on the list, in a typically touristy fashion, is Italy. Yes, I know it's "right there" but I just haven't got around to it yet! I'd like to go for the history, the art and architecture, the language, the scenery, the food... you name it. I'll get there one of these days.

Another more obscure destination is Lithuania which, I have it on good authority, is beautiful - mountains, trees, much like home only more... former Soviet. The "good authority" is the possibly-slightly-biased Lithuanian embassy, by the way, who invited me to the celebration of their national day last year and held a photographic exhibit to entice people to come and visit. It worked.

I'd also like to go to Iceland. Because... you know... it's there.

4. What's your idea of a perfect weekend in Dublin? Nothing like "spending it on the couch with my boyfriend" - let's say, if you had two friends flying in and wanted them to really get a feel for the place and see the best bits. Where would you eat? What sites would you see?

Just a weekend? I'll assume for a laugh that it's a nice weekend, perfectly wonderful sunny weather and all. Hey, a girl can dream, right?

I'd start by going to Kilmainham Gaol (jail). The tours give you an excellent, if fairly bleak, overview of the history of the country. Plus it's right across the street from our apartment. I also like walking through the grounds of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, now home to the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA), just down the road. From there I'd get the hop-on-hop-off tour bus, which also provides a good commentary, history and kind of hits the highlights of the city. I'd get off near the Ha'Penny Bridge and head in to Temple Bar to stroll through the Farmer's Market which happens every Saturday in Meeting House Square (and is home to the Best Hotdogs in the World... Ever) for lunch. Then I'd probably go to Trinity College, my most recent alma mater before settling in for afternoon/evening drinks at one of Dublin's "proper" pubs. And by "proper" I mean an authentic pub that ACTUAL people go to, not one of the Temple Bar tourist pubs with their horrible Irish sing-a-longs. Ugh. I mean somewhere cozy, with character and excellent Guinness. Yes, I know of several such places. :)

The next day I'd recommend hitting up the Guinness Storehouse and Jameson Distillery or... for the more adventurous maybe a day trip out to Newgrange or down to Glendalough. This is definitely weather-dependent! I love Newgrange and its mystical history (older than the pyraminds) and Glendalough is beautiful on a nice sunny day. It's always nice to get out of town and back to nature.

As for eats, well there is Johnnie Fox's... the highest pub in Ireland. They do excellent more-or-less traditional Irish dinners, with the added bonus of a dinner show as well (think low-budget but still entertaining Riverdance). Plus the views across the city are amazing. Otherwise I'd suggest Cafe Irie for breakfasts/brunches, Juice if you're in the mood for vegan/vegetarian, Leo Burdocks for the best fish and chips around (except I'm sadly allergic), and one of any number of excellent Indian restaurants in town. Oh, and El Bahia for to-die-for Moroccan food. Just get there early before the bellydancing starts. Yikes.

5. For the last question, something different - what's your favourite character in a movie, and why? Doesn't have to be someone from your favourite movie, but a particular character that you really like.

I'd have to say the character that stuck with me the most after watching a film is Derek Vinyard, Edward Norton's character in American History X. Having done a bit of acting in university, I can't even begin to imagine how difficult that character would be to portray, particularly in the initial murder scene. The crazed, hateful look in his eye is absolutely terrifying, and is made scarier again when you think that there are people out there who actually think and feel that way about other human beings. Ultimately I liked the transformation he undergoes throughout the film - from a man so consumed by hatred to one who realises the error of his ways, but never in a preachy or patronising way, which lends the character credibility and most importantly believeability. In the hands of a lesser actor the character could become hokey and completely cliched, but in the film he is identifiable and realistic.

If that's too "Introduction to Film Studies 101" I also like Wall-E. Because... you know... he's cute.

A New Year...

Happy New Year everyone!

I must admit that at this point in time jetlag is wreaking havoc with my system, so I'm afraid a detailed post of "How B and I spent our Christmas vacation" will have to wait, but I promise it will come. With photos.

In the meantime, please enjoy this "End of 2008" survey and my new blog photo, courtesy of B and his fancy new camera. It's from the lake in Osoyoos, BC on a day that was colder than should be felt by a human being. Note to self - must stop taking Canadian vacations in the middle of winter. Too cold.

END OF 2008 SURVEY

What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?

I moved out of my old apartment and in to a gorgeous new one with B. I also took him home to Vancouver with me for Christmas (more on that in a future post), and it was amazing.

Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Well thankfully I only got halfway through my 2008 resolution to get some financial responsibility. I did check out my options for creating a savings plan, but now with the recession and overall financial mess of the world, I'm glad I didn't invest in anything! As for this year, my goals are to walk more (aiming for 1.5 hours a day) and get a new job. Hopefully not TOO unreasonable!

Did anyone close to you give birth?

Two of the girls at work, but none of my close friends. Thankfully no one seems to be at that stage yet.

What countries did you visit?

Ireland, Canada, our big holiday to Greece (amazing), and France (only Paris, but also amazing).

What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

A job? Okay that's not entirely fair, I only lost my job at the end of October 2008. But still, a new job would be nice. Also, more financial discipline... but I still don't trust those banks.

What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Probably the day of my grandad's funeral. He was an amazing, incredible man and I really missed not being able to see him this past Christmas.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Being okay with being unemployed. I thought I'd go stir-crazy or be dying to get back to work, but it's actually given me the time to think about what I'd really like to get out of life.

What was your biggest failure?

So far? Not being able to find a new job. Although like I said, I'm sort of okay with this, so I don't really consider it a failure.

Did you suffer illness or injury?

A few colds, and the mystery of the recurring stomach problems - hopefully to be resolved once I find out the results of the pH monitoring test I did (see previous post). Should know in February.

What was the best thing you bought?

Not really "things" as such, but our rental car in Greece (so much fun whipping around little Greek mountain roads!) or our cooking class in Paris (learning to cook sinfully delicious desserts in one of the food capitals of the world? Yes please).

Whose behavior merited celebration?

Once again, everyone who has helped me get through the tougher times by having faith in me. You know who you are, and I hope I managed to let you all know how much I appreciate your support. Also B... I don't know what I'd do without you some days. You're too good to me, and I'm so lucky to have you in my life.

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

I suppose they might know who they are... and I wouldn't say "appalled and depressed"... I'd say "extremely disappointed".

Where did most of your money go?

Rent and flights. Same old, same old.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Our holidays (Greece and Paris), and coming home for Christmas. Being able to show B where I grew up (and also why I get homesick sometimes) meant the world to me.

Compared to this time last year, you are:

a) happier or sadder? Happier in some ways, sadder in others.

b) thinner or fatter? A little bit fatter.

c) richer or poorer? Richer, both financially and spiritually.

What do you wish you'd done more of?

Getting out there. B and I were kind of homebodies in 2008.

What do you wish you'd done less of?

Letting people get to me. It's just not healthy.

How did you spend Christmas?

With B and most of my family up at my Gran's in Oliver, BC. It was perfect.

How did you spend New Years?

Jetlagged (we only got back to Dublin at 7pm on the 31st) and watching the BBC countdown with B, then calling my family to say Happy New Year.

Did you fall in love in 2008?

No, but I'm still in love.

What was your favourite TV programme?

Lost... definitely. Although I also like Fringe.

Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

No, I don't really believe in hating people... it's a waste of energy. As with last year I've lost respect for people who have let me down or disappointed me, though.

What was your greatest musical discovery for 2008?

A renewed appreciation for old school legends, like James Brown, Johnny Cash, Stevie Wonder, John Lee Hooker, etc. And the Blues Brothers. That film is amazing.

What did you want and get?

I wanted a career (check, for most of the year, at least!), a work permit (check, came through in January), and a feeling that Dublin is "home" now (check, although I must admit that being home at Christmas has raised interesting new questions).

What was your favourite film of this year?

Wall-E... how cute is that robot? And The Dark Knight. The Joker is the best psychotic villain since Hannibal Lecter.

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 28 (the big 3-0 looms ever-closer) and went to work, and then out for dinner with B at a cool Japanese grill in Rathmines. B also created "K Week" in which he gave me little presents every day. God I love that boy.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Not being let go from work. Although even that in its own way has been satisfying...

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

The "I don't actually like shopping and didn't really buy too many new clothes" Look.

What kept you sane?

Daydreaming.

What political issue stirred you the most?

For most of the year I'd say immigration (it was my job) - but for the last part of 2008 it was elections... mainly the Canadian ones but also the American one.

Who did you miss?

My grandad... and all my friends in Canada that I only ever see once a year.

Who was the best new person you met?

I like everyone I've met this year.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:

Never give up.

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

"Don't stop me now, cos I'm having a good time"

Another year older...

(edit: Birthday was actually yesterday, but between work and birthday dinners I didn't have time to post! Mmm... Tippenyaki)

So this is what my "late 20s" feels like. Not too much different, to be honest, except for an increasingly nagging feeling that I should be "settling down" and "growing up" - whatever that means. Some days I feel like that ad... "I don't know what a tracker mortgage is!"

But I digress.

I thought I'd take the opportunity to find out random things that happened on my birthday in past years, courtesy of the good folks at Wikipedia. Enjoy!

The Official Birthday Meme:
1) Go to Wikipedia
2) In the search box, type your birth day and month but not the year
3) List 10 events that happened on your birthday
4) List 5 important birthdays and one death
5) List important holidays or observances (if any)

Ten things that happened on my birthday:
42BC - Roman Republican Civil Wars - Second Battle of Philippi - Brutus' army is decisively defeated by Mark Antony and Octavian. Brutus commits suicide.
1694 - American forces, led by Sir William Phipps, fail to seize Quebec
1812 - Claude Francois de Malet, a French general, begins a conspiracy to overthrow Napoleon Bonaparte, claiming that the Emperor died in Russia and that he was now the commandant of Paris. De Malet is executed on October 29.
1915 - Women's Suffrage - In New York City, 25-33,000 march on Fifth Avenue to advocate their right to vote
1917 - Lenin calls for the October Revolution
1929 - The first North American transcontinental air service begins between New York City and Los Angeles, California
1946 - The UN General Assembly convened for the first time, at an auditorium in Flushing, Queens, New York City
1958 - The Smurfs, a fictional race of blue dwarves later popularised in a Hanna Barbera animated cartoon series, appear for the first time, in the story Le Flute a six schtroumpfs, a Johan and Peewit adventure by Peyo which is serialised in the weekly comics magazine, Spirou.
1973 - A UN sanctioned cease-fire officially ends the Yom Kippur War between Israel and Syria
2001 - Apple releases the iPod

Five important birthdays and one death:
b.1698 - Ange-Jacques Gabriel (French Architect)
b.1940 - Pele (Brazilian Footballer)
b.1942 - Anita Roddick (founder of The Body Shop)
b.1954 - Ang Lee (Taiwanese-born director)
b.1959 - Sam Raimi (director) and "Weird Al" Yankovic (musical parodist)

d.1950 - Al Jolson (singer and musician)
d.1957 - Christian Dior (French fashion designer)

Holidays and Observances:

• Chulalongkorn Memorial Day in Thailand
• Day of the revolution in Republic of Macedonia
• Mole Day (not the animal, the chemistry term)
• National Day (revolution of 1956 and the proclamation of the Republic of Hungary in 1989) in Hungary
• RC Saints - Saint Giovanni da Capistrano, Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius, Saint Anthony Marie Claret, Saint Ignatius of Constantinople
• French Republican Calendar - Celeri (Celery) Day, second day in the month of Brumaire

100 Things About Me

...because everyone else seems to have done it, because I'm home alone and it's Sunday afternoon (edit - it took longer than I thought, it's now Monday afternoon), I've cleaned the apartment top to bottom and now I'm bored... I give you my 100 Things About Me:

1. My name is Kirsten, or sometimes just K

2. Nobody calls me Kirsty except my family (and my hairdresser)

3. I've got one little brother

4. He's been taller than me most of our lives

5. In fact, most people think he's older than me

6. I look a lot younger than I am

7. This has led to me being IDed at bars (frequently)

8. And once when I tried to buy "A Very Long Engagement" from Wal-Mart

9. I live in Dublin, Ireland

10. But I'm originally from Vancouver, BC

11. I've also lived in Herstmonceux, England

12. And Newcastle-Under-Lyme, near Stoke-on-Trent, England

13. Until last year I hadn't lived anywhere for more than a year since I was 17

14. Needless to say, the thought of settling down can still freak me out

15. I've travelled quite a bit, including Japan, France, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Andorra, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, the UK and Ireland

16. I currently have no free pages left in my passport

17. I am inordinately proud of that fact, even if it drives immigration officials mad

18. I have what Dave Gorman calls "Wandering Accent Syndrome"

19. This means if I'm in a place long enough I will start to sound like the locals

20. I have learned to use this to my advantage, especially with Dublin taxi drivers, who tend to overcharge you if you sound like a tourist

21. Despite living in Ireland, I gave up drinking (alcohol) last October

22. For a while everyone thought I was pregnant

23. I'm not pregnant

24. I just don't enjoy being drunk

25. I'd rather save my money and watch everyone else get drunk instead

26. Based on past experiences, I may have had one of the less spectacular love lives out there

27. Until now, that is

28. My boyfriend, B is fantastic, amazing and incredibly supportive and patient

29. Which is extremely important, because I can sometimes be quite difficult

30. This comes from a pretty strong independent streak that I've been proud of my whole life

31. I sometimes think I'm not the best girlfriend

32. But then I think I must be doing something right!

33. B and I both work worked for the same NGO (edit: I got laid off at the end of October 2008 - hooray for unemployment!)

34. I initially thought this would cause more problems than it has

35. He used to be my boss when I was an intern

36. I thought it was funny to refer to him as "Mr Clinton"... for obvious reasons

37. I have a lot of food allergies - but the worst ones are fish and nuts

38. Most of them I discovered the hard way

39. I get annoyed when healthy eating guides tell you to eat fish and nuts as they are good for you

40. My favourite type of food is Japanese

41. The irony that I love sushi but am allergic to fish has not escaped me, but many places in Vancouver do excellent veggie options

42. I'm currently being very careful with what I eat

43. This is because I thought I had a peptic ulcer earlier this year

44. The doctors say it's just damage from acid reflux

45. I get to take really strong acid blocking tablets

46. I hate being on pills of any description

47. I'd rather find dietary changes or natural alternatives

48. I'm really interested in alternative medicine

49. Especially Ayurveda - I think it's fascinating

50. Lately I've also been interested in conspiracy theories

51. Not in an "I think everyone is out to get me" kind of way, more a general interest in what people think and why

52. The same goes for my interest in religions - not a believer as such, just curious as to what people think and believe

53. I did ballet for 13 years of my life, from age 3-16
54. I also did tap, jazz, and classical Chinese dance
55. I quit because I was scared of the pressure to become anorexic, which hit some of the girls I was close to in my dance class
56. Some days I regret giving it up
57. I have been referred to as a Grammar Vigilante
58. Even though sometimes I slip up and make my own mistakes
59. Like the fact that most of this list is made up of sentence fragments! Ha ha.
60. I sometimes think I'd like to become vegan
61. But I don't know if I could live without cheese
62. My lifelong dream is to visit every single country in the world
63. My next "to visit" countries are mostly in the Middle East
64. Which is kind of intimidating, but also exciting
65. I'd also like to learn to ride a motorcycle
66. This is mostly so I can copy Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman's "Long Way Down"
67. I love watching horror films, especially Japanese ones
68. My favourite film of all time is Life is Beautiful
69. I don't really have a favourite type of music
70. But I love to sing
71. I will not sing in front of people, unless it's something cheesy like karaoke
72. I'm always surprised when people say they want to hear me sing, or catch me singing and tell me I'm good
73. The person I would most like to be like is my grandfather
74. I can be strangely old fashioned
75. For example, I love to cook, I'd like to learn how to make jam, and can fruits and vegetables, I like to scrapbook, etc
76. I love reading Martha Stewart Living magazine
77. I don't readily admit that, since it usually results in massive teasing
78. The teasing usually stops when I make amazing dinners
79. Some days I think I'd like to pack in my life and go and live and work on my grandfather's orchard
80. I'd like to turn the house there into a B&B
81. I often don't understand why people sometimes think my life is so exciting
82. I am terrified of leeches
83. And being buried alive
84. I can't even watch films where a character is buried alive - I have to leave the room
85. I only have a fear of heights when I'm in a high building
86. This means I can go rock climbing, skydiving, bungee jumping, etc and be (almost) totally fine, but if I look down from a high window (in a hotel or office building, for example) I will freak out
87. I miss having pets
88. I had a combined total of 3 cats, a budgie, an iguana and some fish as pets (not at the same time though)
89. Even though I was allergic to cats and birds
90. I'd definitely get a rescue cat if I could
91. I still get giggly and childishly happy when it snows
92. Gerbera Daisies are my favourite flower
93. I feel slightly agoraphobic if I'm not surrounded by mountains
94. My favourite place in the whole world is Whytecliff Park in West Vancouver
95. I like the feeling of isolation and remoteness I get there, even when there are 100 other people there at the same time
96. I often wish that all my close friends were really close by, instead of spread out across the world
97. But I also know how lucky I am to have good friends that remain good friends no matter where in the world we are
98. Some days I really want to make a difference
99. But then I think that just by being me, and interacting with people, and being nice, can sometimes make all the difference in the world
100. Thanks for reading!

The A to Z of K

Well, I decided things on Watch This Space were getting a bit down and depressing, so in an attempt to lighten the mood, here is a meme. :)

A - Age you lost your virginity? - 19

B - Band listening to right now? - Franz Ferdinand (iPod is on random) - lately though I've been listening to Entheos (part and parcel of being in a relationship I suppose - thank God they're good!), Kila, and whatever B decides to sing at the top of his lungs while I'm trying to watch online episodes of Lost. Usually Johnny Cash.

C - Dream car? - I don't really need a car at the moment. It might be nice to have an electric one, though.

D - Dad’s name? - Wayne

E - Easiest person to make me laugh? - Any of my friends... generally it's not too hard to make me laugh.

F - Food you miss most? - Living over in Dublin, I really miss the good cheap sushi you can find everywhere in Vancouver. Seriously. I nearly had a heart attack when one menu said that an avocado roll was €7.50... that's nearly $10 Canadian... for one roll...

G - Any encounters with ghosts? - I thought I did at work, but it turned out to be an office-wide power surge. But seriously, the lights flickering in a windowless bathroom at work? Scary.

H - Person most hated at the moment? - As much as I may complain about some people at times (or even most of the time), I don't really dislike them enough to say I actually hate them. That's far too strong a word.

I - Interesting unknown fact about yourself? - I'm sure any unknown things are pretty mundane. As for interesting... well, a psychic once told me that I have "psychic eyes" and that my powers would develop strongly when I'm in my mid to late 30s. Well... I thought it was interesting! :)

J - The first letter of the last person who broke your heart? - R

K - Kissing with eyes opened or closed? - closed.

L - Last time you did LSD? - Never, I'm not a big one for drugs.

M - Most memorable moment you can think of in a minute? - Waking up with B as the sun was rising in Istanbul, looking out our window for the first time and seeing the Blue Mosque. Come to think of it, that whole trip was amazing.

N - Nicknames? - K, Kirsty (not if you value your life!), Woman (courtesy of my Polish friend Jo... always makes me laugh).

O - What’s the most valued possession? - My passport (material) or my spirit (independence, stubbornness, determination, etc).

P - Poison of choice? - I'm not drinking anymore due to potential peptic ulcers, but it used to be Bulmer's cider... mmm....

Q - The last quote you heard: - "No Gods, No Masters" - after watching Pan's Labyrinth, B has a newfound obsession with the Spanish Civil War... although after a bit of searching this quote seems to have more to do with anarchy in general.

R - What are you allergic to? - Everything. Or so it seems most days. Let's see: fish & seafood, nuts (except cashews and macadamias), dander, dust, pollen (hayfever = seventh layer of hell), etc. I'm sure there's more.

S - Song you sang last? - She'll Sing: Emma Wall (again, iPod on random). She stayed in my house when I lived in Barkerville.

T - Time you woke up? - 11am - I love Sundays

U - Fav. pair of underwear? - My push-up bras from Victoria's Secret. Even though I'm sure I don't actually need anything pushed up. :)

V - Vegetable you hate most? - Cucumbers. Red Onions (raw). If I want to make a Greek Salad I have to make some serious modifications!

W - What are you the most afraid of? - Failure. And bees. And leeches.

X - X-rated love life? - Well... not recently. If you've read previous posts on potential ulcers, moving house, and imminent job loss, you'll forgive me for being less than X-rated over the last little while.

Y - Year you were born? - 1980

Z - Zodiac sign? - I'm on the cusp of Libra and Scorpio. Apparently this makes me a nymphomaniac hippie. I like that a lot.