I know, I know!!!!

I bet you never thought you'd see the day when I updated my blog, lol. My excuse is working too much and when I'm not working I'm usually sleeping. Some people wonder why I work so much and I guess it's because I need the money. I do try to have a life too. I've been to so many concerts this past year... Band of Horses, Broken Bells, Angus and Julia Stone, The Decemberists, The Morning Benders, and a few others. Next week I'm seeing Bright Eyes!! Tamara you have a week to get your butt over here! I've also learned how to play pool, apparently I'm a natural. I joined a gym. I've never gone on my own yet, I usually go with my friend Yuliya to different classes. The classes are so intense, I can hardly walk home after. My goal is to loose 15 pounds by July. The reason for this sudden urge to get in shape is because Amanda's getting married!!!!!!! She has asked me to be her maid of honor so I must look good :) It kind of sucks not being in B.C. right now to help with the wedding plans so I have planned out my Summer vacation already. End of June is My Grandpa and Grandma Wiebe's 50th wedding anniversary!!! So I'm heading to Saskatchewan for that. I miss that place. After, me, Leah and my bros are going to take a little road trip to Seattle and then back to Terrace. By then it will be the beginning of July giving me three weeks to help Amanda before her big day. I'm pretty excited.
If you haven't heard, I turned 25. This was the first time in my life I was ashamed to tell anyone my age. It's so depressing. I've decided I need to make some major changes in my life but I can't tell you what. I leave you with some of my Europe pictures of Germany. Bye!

Europe Summary

I'm back!!! My trip was pretty awesome. I don't think I will post any pictures here, probably just on facebook. Everyone always asks me which country was my favorite, I honestly can't choose. England was England, cool accents, cool taxis, something to see around every corner, and the best looking men in my opinion. France was exactly how I imagined it, all the stereo types were true. People really do walk around with baguettes in one hand and a cigarette in the other. Nice might have been one of my top favorite cities. Sitting at the beach at night eating Pringles was one of the best moments of my trip. Italy was like France but with more people, more history and more sun. Wine was so cheap in Italy, we went to a fancy restaurant and on the menu there were different prices for wine, I assumed the one for 2 euros would be a glass but they ended up giving me a huge jug!! Austria is one of the most beautiful countries ever. Rolling hills, huge mountains, amazing lakes and beautiful trees. I would live there. Vienna was also top of my list. Germany reminded me so much of BC. except their beer is cheaper than water. Oktoberfest was the craziest thing I have ever witnessed!!!!! I'm determined to keep learning German and go back some day. The Netherlands was amazing too. If I had to describe The Netherlands in one word I would say BIKES!!!! I have honestly never seen so many bikes in my entire life. Amsterdam was in my top cities. We met with my friend Elizabeth and her BF there and hung out for a couple days. Belgium... the waffles really are amazing. Belgium by far had the nicest people in Europe. As for Hostels, I was surprised how good they really are and how easy it is to meet people. The trains were pretty good too, we only ever had one minor problem. I'll try do another post more about my trip soon.

The Day Has Come

So I leave tomorrow for Europe! I'm not even excited yet, maybe it hasn't hit me that it's really happening. I haven't really started packing yet either. It's funny, whenever I go away on trips I get sick right before I leave but I wasn't getting sick this time. I kept waiting for it to happen but nothing. Even at my soccer game last week I was like... this is when I sprain my ankle or get injured so my trip is ruined, but nothing. Then it finally hit me Friday. At work we're calling it the Cineplex flu. Every one in the office is getting hit by this virus and finally it was my turn. So anyways, I don't think I will blog while I'm on my trip but I'll put up pictures when I get back... If I decide to come back. Avior!!!

Less Than a Month!!!

OMG, OMG, OMG!!!! In less than a month I'm going to Europe!!!!!! This may not be that big of a deal to some people but all I've done for the last 4 years is work my butt off and I'm in need of some adventure. Our plans have changed a couple times but we're pretty sure of where we are going now... London, Paris, Disneyland in Paris!!!!, Nice, Rome, Venice, Vienna, Munich (maybe? long story), Berlin (maybe?), some little German villages, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Bruges, and Brussels. The reason Munich is a maybe is because of Oktoberfest. EVERYTHING is booked!! I've searched for probably more than five hours, talked to a travel agent and even Leah's dad helped search for hours.... nothing. We're most likely going to stay outside of Munich and make a day trip or something :( When we're in Amsterdam we're going to meet with my friend Elizabeth who's backpacking too! I'm ready for the most part, I got my plane tickets, my different train passes, and my youth discount card. All I need is my backpack and a few other little things. I've been working 5 days a week at one job and 6 at my other job. I've also started selling my possessions on craigslist! I'm a little worried about money but I think I'll be ok. Anyways, there's a little update.

Canada Day

I had a pretty good long weekend. I wend out after work with a bunch of people to a Karaoke bar... I didn't sing, I would never sing! I didn't get home until four in the morning. On Saturday I went to Woodbine Beach with some friends. It was my first time ever going to the beach in Toronto. It's so nice there but a lot different then the B.C. beaches I'm used to. People here don't go to swim, they go to parade their perfect bodies around. There must have been 300 plus people on the beach and I think I saw three people go in the water. I got burnt pretty bad. I put sun tan lotion on three times and I guess it wasn't strong enough. After that we went and watched the Spain vs. Paraguay game, what an intense game. It was fun, everyone in the restaurant was screaming and running around with their Spanish flags. Then yesterday I played soccer in the 40 degree heat. I thought I was going to pass out. The ref was good, he kept giving us water breaks. Today I got a new room mate, an older middle aged lady. Seems nice. I kind of liked having the place to myself but that's not the kind of place I live in. As for work, my hours at the club have been cut in half because of summer. It sucks, so I've been working at the theater almost 6 days a week. I haven't seen any new movies recently, I've just been watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 2, LOL.
I survived the G20. My workplace was OK, even though most of the protests happened right in front of it. They told us not to come to work on the Friday it started. Monday, after the g20 weekend I walked around to see all the damage and there were so many places boarded up. Most places were corporately owned businesses like McDonald's, Starbucks, Banks, etc. My friend Darmaine took some really good pictures, here's his web site http://www.darmainequillao.com/ (go to portfolio, documentaries, G20).

G20

As most of you know I bought my plane tickets, so it's official, I'm going to Europe for a month!!!!! I'm so excited. I still have lots of stuff to get ready. I need to buy a Euro rail pass, research all the cities we will be going to, find places to stay, learn the languages, buy a backpack, and figure out how I'm going to pay for everything. Yah!!!
So the G20 summit is effecting me because I work right in downtown Toronto where all the action is. Streets are being blocked, buildings are getting giant plastic shields, sidewalks are boarded up, traffic is a nightmare and vandalism has already started. People are saying during the G20 you shouldn't go downtown but if you do you shouldn't wear nice clothing because you might become a target. My workplace is shutting down on Friday because they say it's too dangerous. Day off :)
The World Cup!!! One of the greatest things about living in Toronto is how obsessed everyone is about the World Cup. During a game every bar is packed. There are so many people watching that some people have to stand outside and watch through the window. Everyone gets so into it, they wear their jersey, they celebrate, they have flags on their cars, I love it.
So Kevin had his surgery, apparently it went well. Poor kid. Then there is Lauren who is past her due date. I'm anxiously awaiting a text to let me know she had her baby. The best part is no one knows if it's a boy or a girl. Whenever there is life there is death. I had to go to a funeral yesterday. Actually it was a viewing. Michael's grandma died, they were very close. It's so hard to know what to do and what to say when someone dies. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this update.

Concert :)

I'm back from New Brunswick. I had a pretty great time relaxing and hanging out with Amanda and her family. We were near a town that was completely french. All their signs were french, and everyone in the stores spoke french. I had no idea New Brunswick had little towns like that. I tried to teach Trey how to walk while I was there but he wasn't quite ready.

After I got back from NB I went to a concert, Broken Bells and opening for them was The Morning Benders. I bought my first band t-shirt!! It was funny, after buying the t-shirt my friend and I wanted to pick something out for our other friend who couldn't make it, so we chose a Morning Benders tote bag. The guy selling it was like "Oh my god, are you serious!!!! You're really going to buy that? You'll be the first ever!!!!!" and I was like "whatever, it's not for me. I would never buy that." Later when The Morning Benders came on stage, there was that guy who sold me the tote bag on bass guitar. I'm such an idiot. Over all the concert was pretty cool, we were right in the front pushed up against the stage.

The Morning Benders (below)

Cineplex has started a soccer league within the different theaters and I am kind of organizing our locations team. It's been so much work and we haven't even started playing yet. First of all I had to try convince 23 people to join the team, come up with $700, find uniforms, find a place to practice, organize practices, organize meetings, organize rides to Mississauga (where the games are), convince our players to be referees too, and be on the committee that meets way out in the middle of no where. I don't think I will look for a third job now. On top of all this soccer stuff, I am still on the Woman's league.

You should see my thumb now. It's looking pretty gross, too gross to put a picture up. Basically the whole nail is turning black, not just the bottom and it's trying to push it's self out so there's a big gap in between the nail and the cuticle.

All my fish have died now. Oh well, they lived longer than expected. I might get some more one of these days. That's all that's new with me. Your turn.