It's weird not having him around all the time. He's got his own life now, shocking isn't it? We've gotten really close in the last year, and it's awesome. I miss him like crazy and can't wait to have him home!

He is one of the funniest guys I know. I remember when we did this comedy routine for our parents. We were like 5 and 3 and had seen it on tv and thought our dad would particularly enjoy it. We were right. I was the straight man, telling a not so funny story, and Lance was in the background, interrupting me with silly comments and dumb questions. Dad was old back then, and I seriously thought he was going to have a heart attack. Tears were streaming down his face and he was on the floor, his body convulsing with laughter. To this day, I have not seen my dad laugh as hard as he did during that skit.

So Happy Birthday Lance! I hope that you do something crazy/special for your day and that you enjoy every minute of it!

I LOVE YOU!

A couple posts ago, I talked about how I wasn't sure what relying on God looked like. Well, I got my answers.
I have a few loose ends I need to tie up before I leave. What this really means is I have to pay for things that I don't really have the extra money to pay for.

I had to buy out my membership for curves because I'll be gone for longer than the 'vacation time' is. This means $10 x 6 = $60. So I went into sign all the forms, and when I came to the amount for the buyout, I asked how much I was to put down.
"Oh, don't worry about it," was the response. Sweet!
Then I asked when I could use the gym til.
"Well, usually it's until the first of the month...but you can use it until you go." Double Sweet!

I also thought I had to buy out my cell phone contract.
14 x $20= $280
I went to the telus store to see what my options were.
"You can put your phone on vacation mode, and the months you don't use it get attached to the end of your contract."
"How long is vacation mode?"
"6 months."
Heck...yes.
On top of that, I got a cheque in the mail for $100...which I totally forgot was coming!

So after 'saving' all that money, I finally rented a movie I've been dying to see for months now. I ended up watching it with my family too, so that was cool. It's called Water. It takes place in 1930's India, and it' the story of this girl who was widowed when she was 8. It was really sad, but really moving and good! I'd probably buy it...after I get back from my trip ;)

I put some new pics onto flickr...more to come in the next couple of days

I don't get stressed out. Let me re-phrase that. I used to not get stressed out. I used to enjoy being frustrated, I would look forward to it.
The level of stress and frustration that I am at right now, is like nothing I've ever experienced. It just means the feeling of accomplishment at the end will be that much more gratifying, right? Let's hope so...
I hate complaining too, so I'm going to keep this short. Just when I've got something figured out, something else comes up. My loan went through, which was a huge weight off my shoulders, but I got an email saying the my schools fees have gone up...about $1000.
yay.
I was already about that much in the hole.
I've contemplated not traveling for 2 months in New Zealand. But that's not supposed to happen.
I'm trying really hard to rely on God to supply me with answers, after all He is the reason I'm doing this. Trying to rely on God has made me realize I don't really know what that looks like. He keeps giving me little pictures in my dreams of what I will do while on this adventure and it gets me excited! But I'm having a hard time deciphering where relying on my own abilities stop and where His begin.
Anyone have any ideas for fundraising?


Things to be thankful for:
-my dad who will do anything to make my dreams come true
-my mom who will keep me grounded and remind me to be realistic
-my God-given outgoing personality that allows me to ask strangers if I can sign their cast
-my loan going through :)
-being silent and still having fun
-water and ice cubes
-plans never working out the way I planned them...makes life more interesting
-getting lost because I can't remember left or right
-friends who take my mind off my worries and remind me to have fun
-really good wonton soup
-meeting a person who went to a Stargate convention...Damien, you are now my hero
-still being able to listen to the hockey games while in NZ and AUS....yay for internet!
-my iron
-tough questions
-people who make me smile without having to do anything
-6 months and still hurting on and off, but knowing that means my heart isn't rock hard
-going through and re-packing old boxes and finding old diary entries...good times
-God still being there no matter how many times I screw up

Danielle and I finished housesitting this morning! I was so ready to get out of there.

Danielle bought all the seasons of CSI on DVD and we've been watching them non-stop. I think watching it so much has had an effect on me though. This morning, I was walking to work and this guy was working on his motorcycle in his driveway. He kinda caught me off guard. I didn't see him and all of a sudden I hear a "Good Morning". Maybe it's just me, but he looked a little sketchy...
I'll take solace in the fact that while a motorcycle would be a good get away vehicle, it by no means has the capacity to transport my lifeless body, therefore making it easier for the CSIs to identify my killer. Enough said.

We were a little over zealous when booking our tickets a couple days ago. When I looked into it I realized it just wasn't going to work money wise. So I was up late last night trying to figure it all out online, to no avail. But this morning I called the travel company we booked our tickets with and now it's all good! I saved myself about $1000 and Danielle about $400. YAY ME!
Mark it on your calendars people! Here are the dates and times:

Leave Vancouver on Sunday October 22, 2006 @ 3:55pm.
Arrive in LA @ 6:45pm.
Leave LA @ 11pm.
Arrive in Auckland on October 24, 2006 @ 7:45am.
Which means that October 23 doesn't even exist for us! How cool is that!
I can't even imagine what the jetlag is going to be like...fun fun!

Dayna's applied for a credit card.
I'm afraid of the power I could hold.

2 and a half months until I leave for NZ and AUS!

I told my boss yesterday that I had been accepted. I was so nervous about his reaction and I felt bad because I have only been here for a few months, but it went well. He told me that when I come back and there was a position available, he would like to have me back :).

I got a few vaccinations yesterday. Three shots in total...have I mentioned how much I hate needles. I don't mind getting them, in fact I quite enjoy it...I just can't watch them go into other people, it freaks me out! So last night and today my arms are oh so sore, and poor danielle, I've been milking it for all it's worth.

I'm getting kinda stressed out about not having enough money. I know God will provide, but it's really hard to trust in that.

Danielle and I's trial run is going well. We've been living together for a week now and have only had one fight. It wasn't even really a fight, more of a putting each other down in the most hilarious way. As we were making fun of each other we were laughing so hard we couldn't stand or breathe! SO funny! I love her to pieces.

Hey guys, I just got accepted to a SCHOOL! One in which I am GOING to! Please tell me that that is THE coolest thing you've heard in a while!

Obviously, the whole idea of me going somewhere else and doing something about my future has not entirely sunken in yet.

WHOO HOO!! SO EXCITED!

I was sitting in bed last night, reading this 4 page long email they sent me on what I need to do next. Danielle asked me what I was reading and I told her. I started to explain all things needed when I started to feel a little overwhelmed...I was in the middle of my sentence when I stopped and said "I need to make a list."
She just laughed.

On Monday I get my vaccinations...I'm going to be full of like 6 diseases. I bet I'll be feeling pretty good after that.