I would walk five hundred miles

Alex arrives in 53 days, finally getting close! This also means 53 days for me to get in running shape...

Being the thoughtful Internet savvy girl that I am, I researched how to beginning a running program and found this guide. I am definitely already in the 20 minutes/3 days a week walking zone, which is awesome.

So far I've been doing 4-5 days a week of cardio in the form of either:
a: walking briskly for 20-30 minutes or
b: playing DDR (dance dance revolution) for 20-25 minutes

(Incidentally a made a DDR group on ravelry if anyone wishes to join!)

I hope that by next week, I can start to add a bit of light jogging to my walks. What I will try as a small goal would be to jog down to a coffee shop for tea, and walk home. I'm always more interested in exercise if a reward is provided. Apparently tea is reward enough.

So! There you have my getting in shape plans. Who knows, I might kick Alex's butt at running by the time he arrives.

***

I have felt a bit flighty lately. Not that I'm actually a flighty girl, it's just my focus has been off. I have these amazing ideas and plans running around my head, and I cannot seem to find that motivation to put them into motion. I'm sure it's partially because I'm not in classes at the moment, and I'm grumpy being far from my honey. Basically I'm ready to be at a different spot in my life than I am, and it bothers me. I will push through though, and I will have classes in around 30 days, ah, that ray of light.

I have managed to get some things ready for an Etsy shop, and I'm super excited about that. Just waiting now on a charger for my camera and I'm ready to go! We'll see how that experiment goes.

***

My Yavie socks are almost complete, and although they're simple enough, I'm still going to write up a little pattern for them.



My only issue was that working with Noro made me a little batty with the colour changes and my need of symmetry. I really needed them to match, and I could not handle harsh lines between each colour, it just involved some planning and careful splicing. My other yarn issue was that the Kureyon caused a callous on my index finger which I use to hold upcoming stitches on the needle. I really do not like it.

My Mum's mother's day gift is coming along as well. Gail shouldn't take that much longer to finish, and I really have no other option because I need the cable off of those interchangeable needles for something else. I used woolie silk 2-ply by Fleece Artist, I honestly love this yarn! One of my favourites to work with.


Off to do domestic things around my house.

Love, Zsanica

Oh Greenboro, we did not get off to a good start.

I was punched at Greenboro station tonight! You heard correctly: punched.

I was on my way to visit Lisa tonight for some geeky fun, but ended up being a tad early causing me to catch an earlier train. As I was crossing over the transit way, some guy punch my arm rather hard, and kept on walking. I was stunned, very stunned, so by the time I thought to get angry about this, he was on the train leaving the station! Some jerk in an aqua hoodie.

Thankfully I was wearing my puffy down coat that acted as padding, so I don't think it will bruise.

This is now the third incident I've seen like this. I was not expecting it to happen to me however.

At Billings Bridge, I witnessed a man being shoved around by two hoodlums (awesome word, thank you Leanne!), after they left him alone, he opened doors for me...

Downtown one evening, my friend Seul was body checked by a girl. Seul moved out of the girl's way, but the girl moved over and slammed her shoulder into Seul's.

Now... me. I wonder how many times in the city people run into these small acts of.. anger?

Some people really are idiots.

***

On happier notes: I had fun knitting with wire today. I made a pair of earrings with beads, and I love them!


-Z

The Adventures of Kureyon Socks

Yesterday, after enjoying the balmy 9 degree weather (which was oh so nice!), I sat down to finally tackle the heels of my currently named "Yavie" socks.

I desperately hoped that a harsh line would not be left between the orange and aqua. Only time would tell.

Which brings me to today. I'm ripping back the heels and adding three more rows to compensate for the colour changes..

What can I say? I'm picky visually.

-Z (Hmmm...dim sum?)

I am in desperate need of spring.

It is my favourite time of the year, I swear the scent of spring is intoxicating to me. I get deliriously happy having my windows open letting in the refreshing air. However, it is a balmy -3 outside right now, so there is no bloody way the windows are being opened. I have gotten into the spring cleaning buzz though. My desk has been de-cluttered, my shelves organized, the floors vacuumed (as I scared my kitty *cackles*), my inspiration board revamped, and my wool has been sorted (how did I gather up so much?).

My cleaning has contributed even more to the improved atmosphere of my apartment. How I feel living here has changed so much since the early fall; it feels so relaxing sitting here rambling, and sipping on a cup of green tea. Also feeling a little like a voyeur or... listen-eur because I swear I just heard my neighbours downstairs "getting lucky". I feel like Amélie...

Amélie mène une vie simple ; ayant abandonné toute relations sentimentale après des tentatives ratées, elle prend goût à des plaisirs simples comme faire craquer la crème brûlée avec une cuillère, se promener sous le soleil de Paris, faire des ricochets sur le canal Saint-Martin, essayer de deviner combien de Parisiens avaient un orgasme à chaque instant « Quinze ! » et laisse libre cours à son imagination.

I suppose I do relate well to that movie, there is a reason it's my favourite.

***

I have not been sure of what I want to do "when I grow up" for a long time now. While I do understand that there is no rush, and that it is more than okay to be uncertain, I still have not enjoyed lacking a career goal. I have flitted around in schools and programs for longer than I have wanted to, and it is only within the past year that I have grasped motivation. Really though, I thought that a Masters was out of my league even though I have found the idea of having one very appealing.

Enter the MLIS (Masters of Library and Information Science) program. After this program was briefly mentioned last Thursday at the Bridgehead, it has not left my mind. It just keeps rolling around. Basically: I am very interested in this program. After some research I found out that one of the universities that offers this it is in Denver. Bonus! I also found out that I would have the correct GPA for applying once my Bachelor is complete.

Very exciting!

***

Today has reached the 80 day mark until my honey arrives for his visit, as a dorky tribute, I have decided to read Around the World in 80 Days!
Yes, I am a dork. But a very happy dork!

He actually proposed something interesting this week. He already planned to take a year off to work before going to Dentistry school, but he thought, why not work in Ottawa? I am so hopeful that there is a job waiting here for him for the year. If anyone has suggestions let me know (he's a physics engineer). Yes, I know, it sounds kind of strange that he's going from that to dentistry.

If he could find a job here, I can stop my search for a new roommate and look into getting a different appartment for the next year. Oh my goose excited!

***

I have rambled long enough, but I will leave you with knitting, and my blurry cell phone picture of the completed scarf for Monsieur Alex's Mum.


Much love,

Zsanica

I have been back in Ottawa for nearly two weeks now, and I admit, it's lovely to be home. Although slightly lonely; I am after all still in need of a new roommate.

On returning here, I had the pleasure of going out for lunch and eating yummy dim sum, and enjoying brownies there after. With knitting of course! What did surprise me though was a certain ad that was up in the bus shelter. Apparently a radio station in Ottawa was taken over by a new company, and this is one of the adds of their new promotional campaign:


While I realize that whether good or bad, publicity is publicity, and that by posting a picture of said ad, I could potentially "spread the word" of said radio station. The problem is that I feel like they went very wrong with this concept.



Does this add actually affect me? Well no, not really.
Do I have a daughter? No, far too young for that.
If I had a daughter, would I lock her up? No, she would be able to make wise decisions, on her own.
Am I likely to shag an ageing rock star? Definitely not.
Even though I would not shag one, if I hypothetically did, would I forget protection? God no, who knows where they've been!
Would I let my parents "lock me up"? No, I definitely make my own decisions.
Do I make poor decisions without my parents? No, I'm quite self sufficient.

So no, this add may not be relevant to me per say, but as a woman, it still bothers me that someone decided this was okay to publish. I'm not even going to get into how depressed the girls look in the ads, or the household chores.

***

I had a pleasant Valentine's day. It really was one of my favourites! Alex and I spent some time together, watching The Office over Skype, and getting annoyed at our attempts to take over Arathi Basin (it's a player vs. player match in WoW).

Also! My lovely surprise for him arrived on time! Which is a first (his birthday gift took almost three weeks to arrive, but it was a week late). I had knit and felted a fortune cookie, which contained my very own fortune for him.


It was then packaged in the little take out box, which I covered in black paper. It had to be covered, the box was hot pink before! My Valentine card was styled after one of my favourite xkcd comics, and I sent a bunch of tiny Smarties boxes. Over all, I was giddy about it.
(NB: the pink and grey scarf in the picture is one that I received for Christmas, I love it!)

Looking forward to chai lattes later this week!

-Z (Oh, here's a fun game I found "The eyeballing game". My best score so far is a 2.36! Although, I've some perspective drawing, I think this gives me a huge advantage.)