| Bet he's happy NOW that I didn't accept his boyfriend status on Facebook! |
[Sep. 30th, 2008|11:02 pm] |
Morgan is single. Not gonna FB it, but gonna say it anyhow. Dudes, breaking up with a guy is hard work. Did not like. Note to self: Next time you want to end a relationship, be a bitch until HE ends it, instead of blindsiding the super nice guy.
Dammit. |
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[Sep. 30th, 2008|04:03 pm] |
I'm going to be sporadically using this to blab about my general uncertainty and dissatisfaction with various things for a little bit, so I hope it doesn't get overwhelming.
I announced my job intentions, which was sort of weird, since it's so far in advance. Now I'm finding myself disconnecting from the job a bit, which is bad, since we're actually kind of busy. I've got this event I'm trying to organize, and I'm a little afraid it's going to be a flop. Hmmm.
Part of me wants to say, "nope, after Christmas I'm actually GONE," and then get a different part-time job if I need to, but that's dumb since I couldn't get something that pays as well as this again. It's just awkward, you know? And then in the summer. I dunno. Plus it's not like I'm actually IN the ed. program yet. I just got my nerves soothed a bit on that front, though. I was all freaking out because of conflicting info I was getting from the various institutes I need to be applying to, and was starting to think I'd need to take another full year, which would suck.
Also, there is a very strong possibility that we're going to be losing a contract in the next three or four months. Like, a contract that gives us 90% of our revenue. Which seems like a really shitty way to set up an organization, by the way..."Yeah, let's put EVERY SINGLE egg in that basket over there. Cool."
Usually nobody else bids on the job we do, but this year...yeeee. So everyone is nervous and tense.
IalsomaybebreakingupwithChristonight. |
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| I quit my job today. |
[Sep. 24th, 2008|09:54 pm] |
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Quit it, I say. |
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| ANGST! |
[Sep. 23rd, 2008|11:49 am] |
I think I'm going to enter a teacher training program next September. I've shifted back into the elementary mindset, however, so this means I need to get a bunch of prerequisites in order first...at community college, so I need to take what I can get, which means probably taking a few courses after Christmas. My mom came into work yesterday to say hi, and I walked her out and mentioned that I was going to the college to talk to someone from the program after work. My boss was talking to someone at the time, so I thought it was safe...but in the afternoon, and today, there's been a lot of talk about how she thinks we need to seek out some other training opportunities for me, to expand my job beyond the desk, and make better use of my skills. Soooo, I think she heard me, and wants me to stay. Which is making me more angsty. I haven't decided anything for certain, but I've been doing more of the usual soul-searching, and...blah. I can't handle desk job. It's occasionally brain-killing, and back-killing, and I honestly think I need to be entertained more. And be more engaged. and have more people around, maybe. I feel like shit though, because My boss is great, really a wonderful person, and the organization is fun, but I have issues with it and the job which I'll explain at more length if anyone wants to hear it. I may force it upon people in emails. But ALSO, all sorts of restructuring crap is going on, the outcome of which is uncertain, but is part of why I think I need to leave. It's at once a good and a bad time for me to leave, on a few levels, from work's point of view. Sigh.
I also really, really, really want to be back in school, working toward a definite goal. My brain doesn't...work like it used to. Has this happened to anyone else? |
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| I am, like, SO environmentally hardcore!! |
[Sep. 17th, 2008|09:48 am] |
:P
I just got confirmation that I'm on the BC provincial government's Citizens' Action Council on Climate Change ( I think that's it...). I get to go to Vancouver on Oct 9th for a meeting, then I spend a few hours a month meeting and doing stuff. It's rather unclear at the moment, to tell you the truth. I also have to laugh a bit at the fact that reps from regions all over the province will be FLYING to Vancouver for a one day meeting. Oh, well. I get to stay at the Fairmont, and everything gets reimbursed.
I also just got an invite to this opening gala of the Royal BC Museum's "Free Spirit Conservation Tour" stop in FSJ. The guy in charge of the guest list came in a couple of weeks ago, and was like, "Uhhhh...I have ta make this list? Aaaaaaand, I'ma put all you guys on it. Cuuuuuz....I dunno who else." Then he took a picture of me, which may or may not turn into a life-sized cardboard cutout. Then he told me event planning was frustrating in this town, because it's so incestuous. Heh. By which, of course, he meant that anyone who's on one council/committee/board is on two or three others.
It's also a little amusing, because they're totally freezing out the native groups, which is awkward because it's part of the BC 150 celebrations, where we, you know, celebrate our history. But BC Hydro and Native groups don't really get along very well, go figure.
Oh, and my brother got married. And I'm getting married soon, because I caught the bouquet, and that's like a contract. |
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| Hey Board of DIrectors! |
[Aug. 15th, 2008|01:38 pm] |
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Guess what? Yup, I know that you all have lives and jobs, but when you ALL know that my boss is gone, and two of the three of you that have signing authority for cheques up and leave town without letting me know, it's super uncool! It means, actually, that I can't pay the federal government our source deductions! And it means that I have to resort to the super-secret, only in case of dire emergencies toolish and unprofessional looking handwritten cheque. Balls! |
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| EC results! |
[Aug. 10th, 2008|11:25 am] |
So, I did the race in 3 hours, 16 minutes and 9 seconds! (unofficial time)
20 km of hiking/running, woo! I wasn't going to run any of it, since I'm uhm...not a runner, and at the beginning my goal was to qualify as a finisher, meaning under five hours. This stayed my goal through the first five several km, because it's the hardest part, and you spend the whole time going, "oh my god...oh my god...20 km of this?"
But then about halfway through, I was like, "I can totally do this in under 4 hours," and then in the final few km, I was like, "Holy shit...I'm going to do this in under 3:30!"
Like I said, I wasn't going go run (jog) any of it, but there were certain parts where it just seemed stupid not to run. I know I did two full km sections (marker to marker) running, and all told I probably ran around 4.5-5 km of it, which definitely helped with the time.
It was so beautiful up at the top, you guys! We were actually in the alpine for a bit of it, and the view was gorgeous. Chris tagged me in a couple pics, so depending on what his facebook security settings are like, you might be able to see some of the other pics he took.
My goal for next year is to finish under three hours. That means a silver medal instead of bronze! I think that this is doable if I do a few things...one, TRAIN for it, including running a bit, yeeesh...two, run more sections, three dress better (depending on the weather of course), four run at the beginning, so I'm not stuck in a pack during the steep narrow sections at the beginning. This was a huge problem for everyone...the first few km are on these narrow twisty trails or in this steep rocky gully, and you're sort of forced to slow down and keep single-file. Oh, well. |
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| The Emperor's Challenge: Pre-Show |
[Aug. 8th, 2008|03:43 pm] |
So, in about an hour I'm headed out to get a hair cut, then over to Chris', then we hit the road for Tumbler Ridge again(we have to stop going there...as much as I loves it, THINK OF THE EMISSIONS! THE EMISSIONS, MY GOOD GOD!). We are going to...
CHALLENGE THE EMPEROR!!
...at the Emperor's Challenge. This is a 20km(half-marathon) race in the mountains, which I must run/hike in under 5 hours. I am a little leery of my ability to do this...but I'm told I'll be fine? Still, the lake we went to last weekend was 24km in, and there's no way in any sweet hell that I coulda done that in like, 6 hours or something. I guess the terrain on this one is different, and we won't have those pesky packs on, but still. NERVOUS!! I obviously am not looking to place or anything, but it would suck to cross after the 5 hour mark (no medal!), or to be one of those unfortunates that's been judged too snail-like to possibly finish, and get manhandled onto and ATV for a ride down. How embarrassing!
Apparently there are massages at the bottom. And food and drink and hot tubs.
On Sunday, we're going to try out bouldering. This is not quite rock-climbing, but it still may cause me to wet myself. We shall see.
It's 33 degrees here. WTF. This is around...8 degrees too hot for Morgan.
Wish me luck! (real luck, not this "break a leg" business...seriously, that would be aweful! I'll be on a mountain!) |
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| I am WOMAN. Hear me kick ass. |
[Aug. 5th, 2008|01:05 pm] |
Ugh, folks. I just finished my first backwoods backpacking hiking trip. I went with Chris to Monkman Lake, in the Tumbler Ridge area. I'm blabbled about TR before--wonderful land of hikes and waterfalls. Anyhow, this was around 50km round-trip, plus 5 or 6 km in side-trips. With pull packs, and boots that didn't like my feet. And a therma-rest sleeping pad that didn't hold air. And a sleeping bag that had really bad temperature rating. BUT STILL FUN!
And a total WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MORGAN! experience. This is what went on:
Friday: Left town around 5, got some dinner on the way, got to the trail-head around 9, hiked in the dark for 6.5km, made camp. Easy-peasy mac n' cheesy.
Saturday: Slept very little. Woke up to realize that we had had a serious miscommunication regarding who was bringing what foodstuffs. Chris looks a little perturbed (skinny guy with hyper-active metabolism. Hmmm.)We set out for the lake, which is at km 24. We get to the 17km marker (around there)and see a side-trail called "Cascade Loop Trail" which is supposed to be 1.5 km, taking you by the Cascades (AMAZING series of waterfalls) and then back to the main trail. We take it. Around 4 km later, we have managed to navigate the poorly maintained, disgustingly steep, badly marked and non-scenic trail, and are now at the "hub"--a place off the main trail that has a bunch of trails off it leading to the different waterfalls. This hub is only about 1 km down the trail from where we took the "loop trail." We try to get to a waterfall, but Chris is starting to look like he's concentrating very very hard on things other than his stomach. So yeah, we eat lunch. Then we re-find the trail, and get to the lake. 24 km IN ONE DAY, BITCHEZ! Lots and lots of sustained steep parts! Craggly rocks! Ridge-walking! Sub-alpine! ARIGHT! We have tasty reconstituted meal.
Sunday: Managed to sleep. Heels have started to look like something from a horror film. I find a magical combination of gauzes and tapes which will actually stick to my feet and not sweat/rub off, thereby making things much much worse. We hike 18 km back to the campsite we stayed at on Friday night, by the Murray river. The campsite turns into a gong-show. Two couples traveling together have set up already, and we're joined by a very bedraggled threesome who're also on their way out. Nice conversations are had. Despite protestations from my skin, I keep the magical tape combo on the heels, for fear of not being able to replicate it. I sort-of sleep.
Monday: We get up, and eat literally the last scrap of food we have. The bedraggled threesome have severely over-packed, and are trying to foist extra food off on others so they don't have to pack it out. I'm fine, being a person with a normal metabolism, but I try a couple of times to tactfully suggest that Chris take a granola bar or two. He says several times that he'll be fine. We hike out, again easy-peasy etc, drive to Kineuso Falls (big, big, big beautiful touristy falls) then go to TR for some food. It's almost an hour away. Chris is getting that concentrating look again. I am getting better at this girlfriending thing, so I refrain from reminding him that he could have taken some food. Good for me. We get to TR, go to the INN for eats (there are like 3 places to eat there). Chris is a veggie, he orders a veggie burger. They are out of veggie burgers. Chris looks pained. :P We ended up surviving. Girlfriend Morgan makes a note to carry emergency rations whenever we'll be more than 30 min away from food from now on. I happen to think that Chris looks cute when concentrating, but hunger limits his conversation to grunts and hmmms.
Oddly enough, I was kind of pleased that we had this slightly tense situation arise (honestly, it WAS only slightly tense...we weren't going to have to set squirrel snares or anything). I had been waiting for something like this to happen, to see how he acted when not in the best of moods. I'd only seen happy happy Chris up to that point.
Oh. Hah. And my "lady time" started on Friday. And normally, I act like a human being during this time, but something about having screwed up the food, nearly starving my boyfriend, having achy feet, being all sweaty and not having slept made me a little emotional. This all came to a head when we finished our misguided waterfall tour on Saturday, and I needed to go "change", and...it had malfunctioned ( you know how mosquitoes flock to you while peeing in the woods? try changing a leaky tampon in the woods and see what their reaction is), and I pretty much started to cry the second I got back to the packs. And then he had to ask what was wrong. And then I had to be pissed off because I was being a girl. But yes.
When I got back last night, I stumbled to the video store, rented disc one, season one of "Dresden Files" (kinda okay so far, I like magic...) got back, showered, ate leftover curry and drank beer, and slept like a dead woman.
So, to sum up, I saw some of the most amazing scenery in my life, had a great great great, rewarding experience, and I feel pretty good about Chris. |
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[Jul. 29th, 2008|11:16 am] |
Tonight, I will assemble my pack for the trip to Monkman Lake on the long weekend. I will also watch a "Survivor Man" special on sharks. Sharks? Really, Les Stroud? Okay! My legs still feel like painful, steely ropes of pain from the mountain on Sunday. I hit Murray Ridge again with Jim--I made sure we got our Daddy-Daughter-time hike in before he buggers away to Retirement Island. On the way there, we passed Chris and his climbing buddies headed to the gigantic craggy rock-walls they foolishly clamber around on, and by the time we were down off the mountain they were wrapping up. So I watched some insanity, and then we went to a pub in Chetwynd for kinda bad food and fun convo (biologists are fun to talk to).
This place's menu offers "Veggie Burger: add bacon, $1.50."
Chris told me last night that his mom was diagnosed with advanced cancer. I felt completely at a loss...she's this cool artsy woman who travels around and does fantastic stuff despite already having health issues. Life is very unfair sometimes. |
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[Jul. 23rd, 2008|10:15 am] |
Dudes, I hate to channel a broken record here, but biking ad kayaking are SO good! I did that bike, kayak, bike thing again (with company this time, very nice) and MAN that makes you feel good! On the way back, Chris decided to show me a nicer route, since the highway is being worked on right now, and my current route is quite hilly, but...this other one has a gravel stretch, and it had JUST been freshly graveled...and I have road tires on my bike right now, not heavy tread ones. Yeee. True about the hills though...
Yay for exercise. |
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[Jul. 21st, 2008|12:35 pm] |
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When I am watching Batman, I don't want to hold anyone's hand. Except Batman's. |
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| Snoopin' |
[Jul. 17th, 2008|03:22 pm] |
Yesterday, Cate and I took Grampa a cake, and then a doctor came over to poke at the old people, so we went downstairs to give them privacy. I'd never been there. We snooped, found his old War training binder (it's like a leather "Note-Tote") and found all sorts of letters and tickets and scraps in the pocket...and a leave notice, and then a telegram telling him to leave Darlington at once and report back to base. Darlington is where my Gramma was from! History! History of my genetics!
And we found a cute cartoon someone drew of people screwing around in training, and one looks like my Grampa!
And then we found a box full of photos that nobody else int he family has. What the hell, gramps? Hoarding! |
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[Jul. 16th, 2008|10:36 pm] |
I'm sitting here putting my shoes on (good ol' apple bottoms...they are still hangin' in there, I give them another few miles on asphalt until the flesh of my heels starts bleeding), and I'm realizing what a toolish hippie aesthetic I'm rocking at the mo'. For your consideration:
1 green hemp shirt
1 hemp purse made in patagonia or something
2 ratty old kicks
1 pair of brand new (to you) jeans. I struck thrift store gold today...slightly bell-bottomy pre-fadey silver-brand jeans for 5 bucks Chez Salvation Army. Niiiiiiiice.
Somehow, I'm not wearing any wooden beads. This is, of course, not par for the earthy course.
No socks. |
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| Everything Works Out For Morgan |
[Jul. 14th, 2008|10:27 am] |
Aaaaaaaah. I forgot that everything works out for Morgan! :P
Well, for the most part, anyhow. I've had a sort-of discussion with Chris (not the convo I'd been rehearsing and rehashing for two weeks, which is most likely a good thing) and he's admitted that it was very very soon, but he has a tendency to "fall hard and fast"...which I guess is okay? Whatever. He bought me a large stash of gifts on his trip: A Haida environmental parable, a wrist-warmer thing, a necklace, some dried mushrooms and some pickled chipotle garlic. I am most appreciative of the garlic and the wrist-warmer thing. I am least enthusiastic about the necklace, which is too bad...I need to somehow mention that I'm really really picky about jewelry. This one's got a nice Argillite hummingbird pendant, which is nice...but then the necklace itself has amethyst and purple pearls. Nggggggg... Would it be uncool to take the pendant off and string it on a plain black cord?
So anyhow, I had a pretty awesome weekend. Friday was balls, since I had a boo-urns work day, but then I put on my "woman o' the woods" cap and biked to the lake, shouldered the kayak into the water all by me onesies, toodled around for an hour or so, then biked back. I saw some dramatic weasel interaction on the shoreline. Only problem there, I think I may have strained my upper butt muscles while lifting the boat. Whoops.
On Saturday, we had the Paddle for the Peace. There is a plan (getting closer and closer to being reality) to dam the Peace River for a THIRD time, which will wipe out this huge beautiful section of the valley, forcing all sorts of people off of the land, not to mention animals, drowning lots of farm land, woodland, and getting rid of our pretty river. So, for the third year in a row, all sorts of people get together and paddle down the river. It was great, there were around 160 boats, and 380 or so people. The river was really high, and there was a tail wind, so the whole thing took less than 2 hours, which was a little disappointing, but then there was a feast hosted by the West Moberly First Nations (pretty much ALL their land will go into the drink if this happens) I ended up with a nasty and puzzling sunburn. I had sunblock on all day, but I'm bright bright red in a couple of strips on my right side. Happily, though, I am TAN on most of the rest of me! Woooooooo! I don't usually have tan on anything other than my feet and forearms. I guess this is what happens if you wear tank tops.
I also scammed dinner on Sunday. I was supposed to be paddling with Janice, my ex-boss and pseudo-mother #1, but Chris showed up, and he and I paddled while she lounged in the middle (we had a shitty borrowed boat, btw, so with three of us , we had about 6 cm of free-board. not comforting) and she invited us to Sunday dinner. Manicotti crepes yum yum and rhubarb pie yum yum yum.
This meant I got to spend some time with her delightful daughter. She's the most...I dunno...she's twenty, has a touch of Asperger's, and flits around in her own Madeleine universe, generally being wonderful. Oh, the conversations one can have with that kid!
In conclusion, if you ever desperately need to nap, pop some robaxacet.
Oh, and watch the french film "Delicatessen" if you can find it. |
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| Morgan is weirded out. A lot. |
[Jun. 27th, 2008|09:23 am] |
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Two weeks...officially TOO SOON for an L-bomb. WTF!!? |
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[Jun. 22nd, 2008|10:54 pm] |
Sooo, I seem to have a BF now...
He (Chris) cooked me delicious indian food the other night, and we watched a crazy art film, and then vintage batman...and he lends me comics, and we listen to some fun music, and today we went hiking in Tumbler Ridge, where we saw amazing waterfalls and canyons, and dinosaur fossil foot prints.
On Friday, he's leaving for two weeks for a solo bike tour of the Haida Gwai on Prince Edward Island. I'm leaving around there for vacation for about the same time. But then we're going to do an extended 3 day hike to Monkman lake.
Sigh.
Teeeeee! |
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[Jun. 18th, 2008|10:14 pm] |
Dear Alan _____, of Random Oilfield Technicians Inc.(ROT),
When you send me several faxes addressed to Clinton __________, subcontractor to Section B of ROT, with "important" flags on them, and labeled things like "ASAP", I think I'm doing a really decent thing by calling and letting you know that the fax number you're using is wrong. Turns out, I'm not a meddling douche who's gone into your contacts database/Rolodex and substituted NEAT's fax number for subcontractor Clinton of Section B. Turns out I have nothing to do with you whatsoever, and I was just trying to be a boyscout. Fuck you.
Sincerely,
Morgan Peltier
Executive Assistant
Northern Environmental Action Team
Fort St. John, BC
*Please consider the environment before printing this fake email* |
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| Fun With Boys. |
[May. 30th, 2008|09:48 am] |
Know what's fun? Hangin' out with boys. No actually, it's super fun. I usually don't have large quantities of friends who are boys, but lately, I'm getting to shake things up with more testosteroni than normal. Last night, for example. I played like 4 hours of Rock Band. I was on drums for a lot of it, which is super-awesome fun, except after exactly two and a half beers, I have not motor skills. I almost killed my band. Bad news bears. I also knocked a beer over with the neck of my base, and it spilled onto someone's laptop. He took it very well, I thought.
I also got to do a Gaiman Exchange, and talk about comics. Which happens rarely enough to make me really excited when it does. So I get to play more Rock Band, and watch Battlestar. wooot. Boys. |
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[May. 15th, 2008|11:30 am] |
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What kind of a person wanders into your office at 10:30am, chats a bit, and offers almost guaranteed funding for your slightly struggling concert? Do I have a personal god, my friends? Do I? Am I sacrificing animals to it in my sleep? Huh? Yay for wind-power generation company representatives! And thank you, anonomous mildly hindu-esque kitchen god. I will leave some milk out for you in a dish. |
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