The psychic I interviewed today thought I was Australian. Maybe it's a sign. I did talk to Robyn last night about taking a jaunt to Surfer's Paradise last night...

A post for all the people who say I never post anymore

My new room is a disaster area. I switched rooms in order, in part, to escape the disaster that was my previous room. But then I spilt water on my bed, tripped over my dvd player and had it fly across my room and knocked a plant over, breaking its stem and adding dirt to the water on my bed. Oh, I also bought a bird, whose idea of amusement is throwing seeds out of his cage and onto my desk.

On the plus side, this room is sunnier and the window closes all the way which means it's warmer without costing me an arm and a leg in hydro.

In other news, I have grave concerns about the sunflower seedling I gave Quinn. I may be a poor mother to my plants in that I knock them over and also let my bird eat them, but at least I water them.

And now I must go to bed because tomorrow is coming up fast.

I met a bunch of my new neighbours this morning.

Quinn had lent me his jeep for the day, but when I went out to start it this morning the battery was dead. This was not actually a surprise. The battery is often dead. And let's face it — it's a friggin cold day out there today.

Anyhow, some nice man named Dave was standing out on his second floor balcony, smoking. He called down and offered to boost the jeep. First, though, we needed to push it out of the parking space so he could access it. Luckily, some girls on the third floor looked out their window and observed our struggles. Alana and Jessica came down and helped us push it out.

Dave then boosted the jeep using his shiny black jeep. I'm guessing HIS jeep cost more than $900 and starts just fine on cold mornings.

...By the way, thanks for lending me the jeep, Quinn. I really didn't want to walk to work this morning. And it's a very nice jeep. Really.

I'm filling out a bunch of paperwork, right now. I've been gainfully employed by the same company for three months, now — yeehaw! Anyhow, as such I now qualify for benefits. being employed by Black Press for three months also, of course, means I've been residing in B.C. for three months now, which means I have to switch over my medicare and my drivers lisence. It is all very confusing, and a huge pain in the patooey: for example: all the forms ask me how long I've been in B.C. They then ask, "Is this a permanent move?" How am I supposed to answer that? I've been checking yes, but feeling mildly guilty about it, since permanent, to me, suggests forever, and all I can really guarantee is the upcoming year.

And get this! All you non-B.C. residents will be shocked and horrified by this, I know. I now have to enroll in the B.C. Medical Services Plan. It's mandatory, as a resident of the province. And, I get CHARGED for it. What the hell? Isn't the whole point of being a Canadian that I get free, basic medical coverage? Isn't this why I pay taxes?

In other news, I've found a place of my own to live — an advancement I am very excited about. It's like I'm becoming a real adult or something. ...Or something, likely. Anyhow, I am now the proud renter of a spacious two bedroom apartment. Right now, that apartment's sole piece of furniture is a bed, but I'm sure that'll change. A TV is soon to be added, as well. Of course, I don't have internet, as of yet, so it may be a while before you see me online again.

I'm still alive

...just almost completely drained of my urge to write in this blog, due to work-obligated writing, including a column that (I hesitate to admit it) bears the same name as this blog. God, if only I could go back in time and name this thing something other than 'Adventures in Katieland.'

Life's pretty good, all in all. The days are too short, though.

...And now to end this in true journalistic style (as I learned earlier this week):

-30-

art

I've been thinking for a while that I need to get back into my artwork, and I'm pretty sure the time to do it is now. Or at least, now, as in during the time I have off from work during Christmas. I was looking at some pictures I took today of a girl, Lisa Conway, and there's one I really like of her standing in this nook of a building, all huddled up in her coat, looking off at something outside of the frame. It's not necessarily a newspaper shot, but it is a shot I could work with in charcoal. There's another one, a profile shot I took at the recent Red Hat Ladies tea, that I had similar thoughts about.

boo! It's almost Christmas

You will be happy to hear I have had no new spaghetti issues in the past six days.

I did, however, turn around yesterday and discover that Christmas had snuck up on me. Thirteen days from now it will be Christmas Day. Oy. Maybe it's time I sent all those Christmas cards, eh?

I think I may have made a record in photography sales. At the Interior News, we make $8 whenever someone comes into the paper and buys one of our photos. I sold 12 the other day! I wish I could say it was my amazing photography skills, but I'm pretty sure it mostly came down to luck. I did an 'Our Town' profile on a woman with Down syndrome here in Smithers, and her mother bought the photos I took to send to the relatives for Christmas.

Speaking of 'Our Town' profiles... The things are a major pain in the patooie. I have to do one a week. The paper has been running this feature, and a virtually identical one called 'Our Sports Town' in the paper every week for the past two years. You do the math... How many more interesting people can there be in the Bulkley Valley for me to interview?

I did get a refreshing break from it this week. This week, I interviewed Mrs. Claus about Santa's high blood pressure and her fondness for Tim Rice Lib Tech snowboards. It was an entirely factual and accurate piece, I assure you. I got her number off a friend of a friend and phoned her up in Santa's workshop on the North Pole.