2012-2013

Well this is it! Another year bites the dust!
Bye Bye 2012!
You have been good....not fantastic, but you did your job.

I started the year by going to be around 11pm so that I could wake up to 2012.
And now I started the year by going to bed around 11pm to also wake up to 2013.

To be honest, I haven't "rang in" the New year in a few years.

2012 started with me being "on call" for work....and so did 2013.

It's like i'm doing full circle!

Since my memory is fuzzy, i will go along with my facebook timeline to remember what happened each months.


January
In the second portion of my internship in Sturgeon Falls. This month was pretty unevenfull. My sister turned the big 3-0. My niece was barely 2 months old. And I started my resolution, the same one i make very year. The same one that last 2-3 months : get in shape! I started with the 30 days shred. It was hard but I saw myself to do something I never could before : plank and normal push-ups. I also started seeing a dietitian. She helped me understand the importance of vitamines...but that was pretty it. I ended up gainning weight in that period. hmmm. I also got a job interview for a funeral home in Toronto. But i ended up turning the offer down a few months later.

February
It started with me reading The Hunger Game, which i became pretty obsess with afterward. My mom and chris came for a visit and we celebrated my mom's birthday. By the end of the month, i went to a Girl's night out charity event for the Colon Cancer awareness event. We got to invade a hotel, wear our PJ's and drink all night as we got pedi, a magic show and a psychic show.

March
I got my job interview for the job I currently have. My sister, mom and niece came to visit and we went wedding dress shopping for my mom. It was a sucess because we found it in the first store after trying on the 7th dress. The movie Hunger Games came out, and i saw it twice.

April
I had a little trip down to Ottawa to meet my new employers and eat some St-Hubert. I started packing my appartment and was almost done my internship. I seemed to have discovered Pinterest then lol

May
Had it's ups and downs. I finished my intership and prepared my big move to Ottawa. I got to see an old friend (Nicky) and got to karaoke with him for a night. Started my new job in a prep center and quickly realized that this was what i wanted to do for the rest of my life. Then we had to say goodbye to Ucchi. She had a hard time to adjust to the new changes of moving and her condition turned for the worse overnight.

June
Went back to school to write my exams and passed with no problem. Also got to write my Board of Funeral Services licensing exams....stressfull! Got to spend a couple of days in my mom's pool as a graduate before going back to Ottawa. Got myself a brand new kitty : Bussan to keep Ozzy-chan company...but they don't get along...oops.

July
Well we had the Olympics!  But first, i got to spend a weekend in montreal with my cousin where we spent our time at La Ronde. Then I got my results from my licensing exam and I passed thus making me an official Funeral Director.

August
I'm 28....yikes! don't feel like it. I feel more like 21...Celebrated my birthday by going to Calypso waterpark! Loads of fun! Meanwhile, my sister and her family are in the philippines and Japan. My niece is slowly learning how to walk at 10 months old. The Eito Ranger movie is out in Japan. And I discover a small Japanese community in Ottawa.

September
I finalize my new tattoo. Got my hair done..and that's about as much excitment i got that month.

October
My mom and Chris got married. Beautiful wedding with lots of awesome people! My niece walked down the aisle too. My job decide that it's time for me to leave the prepcenter and move me to another location (quite upseting) my niece turns 1 year old so we throw her a big costume party! I was a garden gnome!

November
Ozzy-chan's health is deteriorating.  Get a visit from my family. My cousin Sandrine moves in with me, so we do a little reno and rip out the pink carpet in the living room so we can paint the wood floor chocolate brown. Slowly getting ready for the holidays.

December
The final month! Discover Buffy the Vampire Slayer and become addicted. Start preparing things for Christmas. Finish my shopping. Receive my cousins, their boyfriends and my aunt for Christmas eve. Work New Year's eve. Ozzy-chan is really sick with a cold...and the world didn't end!

And here we are!

2012 wasn't an overly exciting year for me. I feel like it was the year of ending. Like everything I had been working toward too for the past years, all came to en end in 2012 : Graduating from school, Finishing my internship, Getting my license, Preparationg for my mom's Wedding....ect.
They were big events...so now i feel like 2013 is lacking focus.

What am I looking forward too in 2013?.....not much really. I don't actually have plans for the next year. I work and that's pretty much it.

So i need to give myself goals.

Well for starters my resolution will be "to be happy". I feel like I have been lacking happiness in my personal and professional life in the last few years. And well, depression is playing a part in that. So i need to take care of that. I'm tired of feeling unhappy about things and unmotivated. It really took a big blow when at work I got transfered to do the part of my job that I do not like and got pulled out of the part of my job I loved. So now i need to find ways to be happy so I can enjoy working again and being around people.

Next, I would like to go back to school. I would like to go to University part-time so that slowly I can get myself a B.A. Since I already have a career, i'm just looking to take courses in something I enjoy, rather then something to get a job later. So i've been thinking of doing a Major in Arts and a minor in Asian Studies/japanese. Since I love painting and doing arts and I would like to learn how to properly speak Japanese. So i'm thinking of joining University part-time by September. I don't care how long it takes me, but I would really like a B.A.

I would also like to travel this year. I haven't traveled in 4 years, so i'm itching to go different places. Of course i'd like to go back to Japan, but it is getting ridiculously expensive...so I am looking to go to Orlando to spend some time at Universal Studio in the Harry Potter world. I'd also would like to go to England and see what goes on there.

Well so far that's about it for 2013. I hope it turns out to be a good year. I don't have much expectation for it, so it's not like i'm getting my hopes high for an awesome year, hopefully it won't be too bad ahahah

So bring it on 2013! Show me what you got!!

My Grown Up Christmas List

**NEW UPDATED!

This is what I would like for Christmas.
Everything on this list is there because I need it and I will use it.
If you want to get me something, well pick something on here :-)
If you don't want to get me something, I accept Christmas Cards (my adress will be posted as a comment on my facebook)

Everything is sorted by Stores, just click on the word to open a new link window to the product desired.

P.S don't buy me clothes, buy me a gift card to the store so I can buy myself the clothes.

CANADIAN TIRE
cookware
Sillicone bakeware
Hamilton Beach Stand mixer  or feeling more generous? Kitchen Aid stand mixer


 WALMART
Sunbeam Glass Jar Blender
Black and Decker Food Processor
Little green Machine
DVD : The Goonies, Harry Potter Collection,  Gone with the Wind, Kill Bill Vol.1-2, Planet Terror, Hair, Tommy, Les Boys and many more...

OLD NAVY
Frost Free Long jacket (black or purple XXL)
Quilted down short Jacket (navy or colourful XXL)
multi patterned sweater (XXL)
Slip-on socks
random plain v-neck or crew neck t-shirts (short sleeves, 3/4 or long) size L
PJ top and bottom


UPWARD DOG (yoga)
Classes packages 

GIFT CARDS TO VARIOUS PLACES LIKE
Old Nay
 GAP
 Sears
Walmart
Grocery Stores (Maxi or IGA)
Dollorama
 Spa (pedi/mani) (Massages)
 Amazon.ca

**Indigo/Chapters

**Shopperdrug mart/Pharmaprix

**Aubainerie

Paypal donation  here so I can buy stuff online

RANDOM ITEMS I LIKE (Stocking stuffers)
Scrafs, purses, ballerina shoes (flats size 8 or 9), I need a new wallet (sleek, can fit in pocket), Mitains and hats (fun colours or black, Falls wear or knitted for winter), Gift baskets from drugstores (shampoo and stuff like that), nail polish, lottery scratchers, hair clips, Chocolates, lip baulm

I'm back!

Well sorta!
to be honest, I had forgotten my password and was too lazy to do a reset. Didn't really see the point of writing a blog, it seems like my sister is the only one reading it (Hi Cath!) lol

Anyways, nothing much has changed since last time.
I finished my probation at work and I am now a full time licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer.
Recently they pulled me out of the preproom in order to "try" me as a Funeral Director.
So instead of having fun embalming people, using my creative side, I am stuck in an office, filling papers and talking to people *shudders*. I am bored out of my mind!!! But I have to do it. It is part of my job description after all.
It wouldn't be so bad if I was to to do both at the same time, not either, or. Well I have done 1 month, now I have 2 months to go until we sit down and figure out what's next.

To be honest, I want to return in my cave (aka the preproom). I may be good with people...but doesn't mean I am a people person.

Since I left theatre school, I somehow became a recluse. I don't go out, I don't hang out with people, I don't like having mindless conversation (specially with strangers), I feel uncomfortable in situations where I have to deal with people. I guess years of working in retails and living in big cities made me dislike people. So I really loved being in the preproom. When I meet people, it is usually on a very short term social contact, I work with the same 3-5 people (who are pretty awesome), I do my thing, which includes using my head and hands. And I like that.

I'm not the type of  person who strive to be at the top. If i like something, I wanna stay there. It's pretty hard for me to find something I like doing. I have a short attention spend. After a while, I get bored easily and I want to move on. Usually I drop things and do something completely different....or I run off somewhere (like Japan) for a change of scenery. But this time I had found something I enjoyed. I have been doing it for almost 2 years now and I'm not bored of it...so I was happy in the preproom.
Now I was changed places, and well i'm already starting to dislike my job. The people I work with now are great! don't get me wrong, but the work itself is boring, unsatisfying and now when I wake up in the morning, I actually feel like it's a drag to go to work.

2 more months to go and I hope I will be able to go back in the preproom.

On a slightly different subject, I have been thinking for a while of going back to school.
I would still be working, but I'd like to go to University part-time starting September 2013.
I feel like in life now, it's a good thing to have an University degree and i'd like that.
As anybody that knows me, I'm not a school-person, even the fact that I graduated (twice) from college is a big deal!!! Well this time, I have my eyes set on University. I wouldn't be going there in order to get an education to find work, but more like going there for myself. Like a personal achievement thing.
As I am in Ottawa, I have been looking at U of O and right now I know for sure I want to do Asian studies. They have either Chinese or Japanese, so I would be doing Japanese of course. I really want to study it properly and re-learn how to speak/read/understand it. Since I have been back almost 4 years ago, I have lost probably 70% of my japanese, and it makes me sad.
The problem is that it is only given as a Minor, and if I want a B.A, I need to studying something else. I could probably do my studies in Religious Studies, mainly because it would be relevant with my work, but i'm not overly excited about that either...or I could take some easier course like Theatre, since I already have a Performing Art diploma, so this wouldn't be as hard and I kinda miss doing theatre....or I could do my studies in Visual Arts since I love painting, so I would be studying something I enjoy doing and it can't hurt being more artistic if one day I want to be a great embalmer/restaurer and then, there is a General Arts B.A I could do for, it's not focus on anything specific, I could probably get credited a few of the classes too.

So I'm thinking after the holidays of going down the the University and sitting down with a counselor to see what my options are.  I don't care if it takes me 5 years to get my B.A part-time, I think I really would like to do it....plus if i'm back to school, I might finally be able to meet new people and make friends?! No offense, I love my cousin and cats ...but I think I need "real friends" lol

I can't wait until 2013 is here. Although technically 2012 was a good year (doesn't beat 2009-2010 though), I'm kinda over it and I can't wait for the new year to start. First of all, I can't wait to finally have paid vacation time! I haven't been on a vacation in 4 years.When I came back from Japan, 3 months later I started school, then a week after school, I started my internship, then 4 days after my internship I started my new job and now here I am! I itch to get out!!
I have narrowed down my possible vacation places for next year. I don't have much money, so that's going to be the major factor that will decide where I go :

Japan: It's been too long, I miss it, I need to go back...but we're looking at almost 3,000$ to go there for a week.

England: I have always wanted to go there ever since I was little and pretended to be in Oliver Twist. It's not as expensive as I thought it would be, plus I do have a friend getting married in June so it's a good excuse to go. Also, I do believe I remember some English chaps I met in Japan saying they would take me out of a pint if I ever went there (and a place to crash)...so I'm holding on to your words boys! lol

Vancouver: Although my family is all going for the X-mas Holiday and I'm not (no time or money), I'd like to go just to visit my best friend. I haven't seen her in 3 years, beside I have never been to that side of the country. I do know people who lives there, so I could possibly have a place to stay. Can you believe it is the same price to fly either to Vancouver or London? Flying within your own country shouldn't be so expensive!!

Orlando, Florida : Mainly for Universal Studio to go see the World of Harry Potter and drink a butterbeer at the 3 broomsticks! If I get more people with me to go, we could drive there, it's a 24hr drive, with 4 drivers it's 6 hrs each (same distance I drive on my own from Ottawa to go visit my family). Then once there, you get a cheap hotel, doesn't have to be close to the park since we would have a car and split the hotel by 4. So it is the cheapest option so far.

The last option, which is also a cheap one would be New York, to go see broadway shows...but i've done NY a few times.

If I plan carefully, I may even be able to go on 2 trips, but I don't want to get my hopes high! Let's start with one. Orlando is the most plausible one, now I just need to find my 3 other drivers/Harry Potter addicts to come with me.

Kisarazu Cat's Eye : Busan

I totally forgot to post about this!
Well as you know, last May I had to say good bye to Ucchi.
Ucchi was my sister's cat who came to live with me for 3 weeks before her kidney failed.

Now it was just Ozzy and I.
I could tell Ozzy was bored at home by herself all day, so i thought perhaps I should go and get her a friend.

One Friday afternoon, I went to the Humane Society to have a look. I had read in the papers that they were begging people to come and adopt their cats since they were over crowded (they even had a buy 1 get 1 free deal) but i knew that taking in 2 more cats was a bit borderline.

Well I spent a little over 3 hours there, visiting each cats, spending time with them seeing which one was nice, which one liked to play, which one would fit nicely in my home. I had the idea of going in and getting a kitten.
I was lucky there were 13 kittens to adopt...but after seeing all the people visiting the humane society stopping in to see the kitten, play with them, leaving and ignoring the older cats, I felt bad. Maybe I should adopt an older cat, like we always do. Give them a chance, Kittens don't stay long in those places, but older cats do.

So I spent time with a few of them, first there was Bobby, a big, but very big 8 years old black and white cat. The first time, he came running to me, meowing and rubbing himself on my legs. When I sat down, he jumped on my lap and started purring. The second time I went to see him an hour later, he completly ignored me...I guess it wasn't love at first sight after all.

I then saw this beautiful red long haired cat with a pointy face named Fox. He was all by himself at 11 months old. I sat down and quickly he layed down on my lap and stayed for a good 15 minutes. He was very cuddly and very gentle. But not really playful and I was afraid that if he was by himself in this room, was probably because he didn't get along with other cats.

Then in the last room, there was Malakai. This grey and white 6 years old male. He was really excited to see me and started meowing and rubbing himself agaisnt me. I had seen him with another person a few minutes earlier and he hadn't reacted the same way with them. He got up on his hind legs, so i took him in my arms, where he proceeded at head bumping me and giving me kisses. It was hard to resist.

I went back and forth between Fox and Malakai, I just couldn't make up my mind!! Don't give me that much choices, i can't decide!!!  I took pictures and sent them to my sister who proceeded to say that Malakai was prettier.

After a few hours, I realized that I kept going back to Malakai. He was playful and affectious. And every time I went in his room, he gave me the same welcome. So I went at the front and signed the papers and shed out a few bucks, then by 5pm, I was briging home Malakai....who was now renamed Busan!

Busan is from Kisarazu Cat's eye (same as Ozzy and Ucchi) It is a japanese drama that is hilarous that my sister and I really like. Busan is the leader in the drama, he is a bit hyper and lazy, clumsy and and smart. Living his life to the fullest (because he is dying of cancer in the drama)...and I though "Malakai" was just like that.

So now it has been 3 weeks since Busan is living with me and Ozzy. He is a pest!!! but i love him.  His play time is usually between 1am to 5am and normally i wake up to cat toys all over the place and things knocked off tables and bookshelves.  He likes to suprise attack Ozzy, who doesn't seem to enjoy this little game and he eats and poop none-stop lol  He loves to bite softly when playing, which my toes are not enjoy at 2am. And he is very vocal, always making some noise or another and talking to the walls.

Ozzy and him are getting along slowly. They don't share beds or food, but they coexist in the same room without pissing one another...except when Busan jumps on her out of no where. I hope they become better friends in the future. Maybe once Busan calms himself down a bit (note to self : do not give him catnip..he will be high for 24hrs)

So there you have it.... Busan and Ozzy are now my babies <3

The results are in.

Well I haven't updated in a while and lots has happened since.
First, I finished my internship in SF After a year of learning my trade, I was officially done, and since SF was now the place where I wanted to establish myself, I got a job in another city.

At the end of May, I moved across the province, 5 hrs away from home and family, with the idea of starting my new job and my new future. I got to do the 1st part of my licensing exam, which was a practical exam (aka an embalming), I got the result as soon as I was done which was : PASS.

2 weeks after, I had to return to Sudbury for my 2 weeks review and part 2 and 3 of my licensing exams.
Meanwhile, we had a boursary dinner, where I won 2 boursaries, so that was nice. I got one for having the highest grades in the Northen Ontario and one for leadership after taking the initiative of doing a fund raiser for Japan's earthquake when I was in school.

Then at the of those 2 weeks, it was the moment that was going to decide my future. We had 2 days selected to write our exams. The first one was a multiple choice exam, which over 300 questions all raging from the History of Embalming to Biology, Law and Chemistry to Business and Psychologies. The second exam was a short answer exam with questions about our legistation and law of funeral services, a few forms and contracts to fill in. But for those, i had to wait for a few weeks before getting my results.

Then it was back to my new city, working while waiting for my results.

Well now i don't have to wait anymore, because I got them this morning. Sorry it's blurry...but I PASSED! all 3 exams, which means I am officially a license Funeral Director!

I have to admit, i cried when I saw it. All the stress of the last month, came out in the shape of tears. Then I called my mom right away.

I'm very happy and proud of myself. I always had trouble finishing things I started or sticking to it in a long term plan. I usually give up half way...but this time I stayed and made it through and I succeeded.

So the next thing I did was paint the second eye on my daruma. DAISEKO!

Good Bye Uchi

 UCHI

MAY 23, 2012

Uchi was a rescued cat my sister took in.
Unfortunetly, she didn't get along with the other cat my sister already had.
Uchi had been bullied by the other cat and developed stress and anxiety because of that.
When my sister's baby was born, Uchi wasn't allowed to be in the master bedroom since that's where the baby slept. So she lost her safe place and started becoming more anxious.

I got a new job in Ottawa 2 weeks ago and my sister and I thought it would be best for Uchi to move in with me.
I already have a cat, but she is scared of her own shadow, so not much a threat to Uchi.
The first week went very well. Uchi showed progress, being more social and acting like a normal cat.
We thought she was getting better.
The second week is when I moved to Ottawa.
The first day didn't  go well, she started (again) having blood in her urine. But we figured it was the stress from moving and probably developed some ulcers since the next day after she seemed fine again.
All week she became more social, adventuring out of the bedroom into the new house, even watch TV with me on the couch.

On May 22, when I came back from work she was sleeping in the spare bed. When I went to check up on her, she looked sleepy, but didn't think much of it. She then threw up in the bed. Which I also didn't think much of it since my other cat is a threw up cat.

On May 23, I woke up and got ready for work. She was still sleeping, so i didn't bother to wake her. but I did give her a kiss on the forehead.

When I came back from work that day, she was laying in my dirty laundry and didn't look well at all.
She had drool coming out of her mouth and a bit of foam on the side. I thought she was perhaps struggling with the heat, so I went and got her some fresh cold water, but as soon as I placed the bowl beside her, she threw up again, twice. This time it wasn't normal threw up. It look yellowish and foamy.
She then got up and tried to walk away, but her legs kept giving in and she would stumble around the room. She couldn't walk anymore.
I knew she hadn't been drinking or eating in the past 24hr...which is really bad.

I called my sister and we took the decision that it was probably better to get her check.

After lots of worrying and searching the internet for her symptoms, I called a 24hr Emergency Pet Hospital and described to the vet what was going on. She suggest I bring her in.

at 11pm, I took Uchi in. The vet came back with a diagnostic that wasn't good at all.
Kidney failure, ulcers and infection in her mouth and heart murmure.
The vet told me that she was in very bad shape and may not make it the night. She was in a lot of pain and her kidney were about ready to shut down.
I asked the Vet to get me an estimate for the cost on treating her and just to keep her in the ICU for 3 days was going to cost 2,500$ +.....that's without the physician and treatments.

My sister and I decided to put an end to her suffering.

At 11:30pm on May 23, 2012, Uchi passed away peacefully in my arms.
She was an amazing cat. A bit weird and antisocial, but she loved to sleep at your feet and head bump you for kisses.She loved to play by herself in secret and would stop as soon as you would look at her.
She was such a good cat. All she wanted was to cuddle and be loved.

We tried to make her life easier and I hope she was happy with the time she spent with us. I'm sorry I couldn't do much more to save her. I loved her so much even if we didn't live together for long.
She must have been in so much pain in the last 24hr for her health to turn for the worse so quickly.

She will be buried in my sister's garden in Barrie soon.

I'm sorry Uchi and We loved you. Your Suffering is over. Rest in Peace.

Long time no see : A little update chronicle

Hey everyone (who reads this blog, which is probably 3 people),

I don't remember when was my last post or what it was about, so this mean it has been some time since I did a little update.

Well at the beginning of April I got a job offer. I made the decision of to move to Ottawa in order to start my career, exciting isn't?

I'm excited, and I'm scared, and confused, and happy, and lots of emotions.
It's weird to explain. In less than 2 months, I will be writing my licensing exams and hopefully most likely will become an official Funeral Director.
It's kinda weird to say this but I feel like this is the start of my adult life. My own life.
Sure I have been living on my own and doing my things for a little while, but now I will have a career.
Not a job. A career. This is what I will do for the rest of my life until I retire hopefully.
I'm happy with my choice. I like my job, it is challenging at times, but it is also very much "my pace". I get to work with people, and I also get to work on my own not being bother by anyone. I think it's a good fit. There is always something interesting every day and I never know what to expect when I start the day.

So I decided to leave this little town where I have been doing my internship and set myself free in the big city.
I had an opportunity to work in Toronto, but it wasn't really what I was looking for. Then this opportunity came and it seems more fitting for what I am looking for.

I have never lived in Ottawa. I have visited plenty of times, having family there, I used to go every summer when I was a kid, but now it's different. That's where I am going to live and perhaps settle myself.

The company I am working for, is a corporation in the funeral industry. They own many funeral homes all over North America. There is a lot of advancement opportunities and transferring opportunities for the future. So I am not limited to one thing.
Since I am someone who can't seem to stay put in one place and do one thing for ever...this is a good thing for me. I can stay in the same company, but have the chance to do different things or move to different cities.

I guess right now I am anxious to get things going. But first I need to finish my internship (15 days left), move to Ottawa, write my licensing exams (50 days left) and hope that everything goes well meanwhile!
in 50 days I will be officially done school and hopefully for ever lol

At this moment, I feel like there is so much I need to do. My house is pretty much all packed, except for daily stuff I use and some kitchen stuff. I'm looking around for a moving companies, I'm getting my cable/internet settle, studying for my exams, working..and other things I seem to have forgotten.

A couple weeks ago, I went to Ottawa and signed my contract, at least that's done! lol
I also got an appartment.
I'm going to be living above one of the funeral homes the company owns. It's not the one I will be working at, but it is like 5 minutes away.
The place looks very old and dirty, but nothing a good clean and coat of paint will do.
And it's very cheap too. So I will be able to save up money and pay off my student loan.

I am aiming that in 2 years (by the time I turn 30) I will be able to put a down payment on a house. give and take.

On a slightly side note, I decided yo get a tattoo for when I finish school / get my license.  A couple years ago i designed a tattoo and i'm still gonna get that one (for my birthday) but I decided on another tattoo.
hmm how to explain it, it's a branch of a Cherry Blossom, tree with 2 little birds on it and another bird flying off. It will be on my feet. On one foot the branch and the 2 birds and on the other foot the flying bird. Kinda to represent myself setting off on my own. It will also be only the shadow of birds, no details and the cherry blossom's flowers will be coloured.

Well that's about it for now. I will try to update when I have official moved.

Please leave a comment if you read. I'm still trying to figure out how to reply to those comments lol