A lot of excitement!!!

So this week has been a bit nuts as far as things out of the ordinary...some exciting...some not good at all...but yet unique experiences that have now been experienced...let me explain...

So Sunday was the trip to the states...the family got broke into...nothing was taken...apparantly, however, the next morning the thieves returned and stole some of the goods...while the family was still sleeping...nuts!!!

On Tuesday I was at work, and Tuesday's are day trips day...so me and another staff member and five service recipients usually head to vernon (45 minutes away) or Summerland (About 45 minutes the other way) or something and find an activity to do...This past Tuesday we went to Vernon and were going to go to the science center. I drop the other staff off at the bank to get money, and with no place to park I circle the block. As I pull into the alley to pick her up, guess what Happens?? Just guess....

As an intermission, I recently got a 26" Toshiba LCD TV...not gonna lie...it's great...

So back to the story...I pull over to a no parking zone, but out of the way of other cars...and voila, the radio becomes silent...the lights on the dash begin to fade...the engine stops!!! Wonderful...stuck in vernon, in a busy loading zone with five people with developmental disabilities...hmmm what to do...

So we call the office to get the BCAA numbers, as we did not have a card in the van...call BCAA...go through the touchtone voice only to get a busy signal...do this five or so times...it rings...the lady proceeds to hang up on me...jerk...we try a few more times and get through...

We eat lunch in the van...

Tow truck comes...boosts us...engine dies 10 seconds later...crum!!! His next question, "where do you want it towed??" We call the office...at least we were plus members and they towed it to Kelowna.

We walk 5 blocks to the science center...and we begin just as it begins to rain...another staff brings a big van and picks us up (I got to hold a snake at the science center...a baby anaconda).

Okay...next story...long post...sorry...

Wednesday, I'm at the Salvation Army staff and executive board dinner party (I'm on the board still). The outreach coordinator (The job I used to do) stepped out to go to the church and get the outreach teams set up for the evening...his wife is still at the dinner and it was her babies due date that same day.

So I get a call from the outreach coordinator saying that he had been pinched in between a van and the church and was in emergency...he asked if I could tell his soon to pop wife (is that an insensitive way to put it??) he asks if I could tell her. He also asked if I could go to the church and help out the outreach teams...since I have keys and that still.

So I pull his wife aside...and tell her...she thought I was joking, but once she found out I wasn't, so was obviously quite upset...the associate pastor takes her to the hospital...I go to the church and finish up with the outreach.

After seeing the dent in the van...and the hole in the church wall, he is definately lucky...all that is hurting on him is his one calf muscle and his other foot. He should be in a full body cast. I took a pizza to him yesterday to check up on him and his wife...and to move the tv into the bedroom...he is okay, and so is she....it was crazy though!!!

Anyways...like I said, a lot of excitement...not necessarily good, but definately noteworthy!! Hope all is well...

later

Jer

Road Trip!!!

So yesterday I went on a road trip. For a few weeks now some friends and I have been talking about taking a day trip to the states on a Sunday after church. The only snag in our plan is that one of my friends (well actually the couple) are having a baby probably as I write (Well, the due date is on Wednesday, but ya never know). So anyways after church I was ansy to do something, so I started bugging my one buddy to go to the states...he agreed...we then got a family involved (they are a fun family...two teenage kids, but fun)...so off we went...snow pouring down, knowing the roads were bad. It took us about 4 hours to do a 2 hour trip to Omak, Washington)

The trip was filled with much cheerful yipping, and freezing coldness...the dad likes the window rolled down during the whole trip...I didn't have a toque...my head was cold.

When we got there, we went to a mexican restaurant...unlimited homemade nacho chips, amazing salsa, and this cabbage stuff you put on too...it was good. I got the fajitas, which were the special that day, and were amazing...

Then it was off to walmart (they have a huge one)...I bought a movie (rudy) for 5 bucks, a shirt for 10, some leather gloves for 10, and a balaclava to keep my head a face warm on the way back for 2 and a pack of amazing gum for 1...but the experience was priceless.

We were unsure how much we were allowed to take across the border without paying customs at the border...we agreed it was 50 bucks a person. The family we went with spent about 600 bucks, so there went that...

On the way back, the roads were a lot better...it appeared to have warmed up a bit. The balaclava came in very handy...my face and head were toasty warm.

When we got to the border, the dad had to show the receipt of purchases..we then got pulled to the side (this was new for me...I've heard of such things, but never experienced it)...the dad went in...had to pay 60 bucks for customs, or duty or whatever...he then came out, and we thought we were on our way, but he said we all had to go in...I'm not gonna lie...I was excited...my first time in a search. We all piled in the building (no frisking...what kind of search was this...I should have cracked a drug joke)...she took the keys and went out to the van...searched through all the stuff...seemed to spend a lot of time looking through my jacket...nothing in it, but there are small holes in the pockets...perhaps she though I was stashing stuff. A few minutes later she came back. I asked out of curiousity how much we are allowed to bring back without paying...she said nothing for just a day trip...if you spend a night it's different. I mentioned I had gone to Mariner's games before and bought souvenir's and she said it was up to the officer's discrection. Okay...now you and I know. Moving on...

We got back at midnight...the dad of the family walks up his steps to the front door and immediately says, "phone the police, someone broke in"...we thought he was kidding, as he often jokes this way...so I walk up the steps and see that the door had been kicked in...interesting...

The dad says, "I think he's still in there" we all stand at the door expecting a murderous beast run out with a pocket knife flailing...nothing happens...the mom phones the police...

The dad and kids proceed to go into the house...I tell them to stay out, but follow them in...some of the rooms had been rooted through, but nothing appeared to be missing...a typical smash a grab job...the mom says the cops tell us to keep out...I leave

The dad stays in the house, and the kids...we all yell at them to get out...we are still waiting for the psycho to run out slitting throats...

Four cop cars come....only one male and one female cop go in...hands on guns, flashlights in hands...we here them yell "police" and bang around a bit...it was like a scene from CSI...except no killer...the snow indicated there were footprints going in, but none going out...interesting...

So in the end there was noone in there...the cops don't do much...what can they do? But it made for an interesting end to a road trip...

Jer

Suspense ended!!!

Well, my friends, the suspense is over!!! I am writing a new post on my blog. Sorry for the lapse. I don't know why I find it so hard to blog...perhaps it is laziness, perhaps it is selfishness, perhaps I feel like what I have to say is not nearly as important as I think it is...but I think the biggest reason is the stupid thing called TV, which for the last few months has successfully turned my brain to mush.

So rather than give a huge update on what's been happening in my life...I figure I will just start new. See the reason that I feel the need to blog, was the fact that I was just checking out Dan's blog (sorry, haven't figured out the whole link thing) and noticed that my blog was on his neglected blog list...

Well, Danno, you can take me off that list, and pretty sure I'll jump right up to the top 5, just for calling you a cool guy...

By the way Dan Peters...you are the coolest.

Also, after reading Nater's Updater, I realized that my voice should be more than a comment...and since he is saying such ridiculous things about movies (Mainly that Transformers is a good movie) I figure that there has to be a better voice of reason on the WWW...

Okay Nate...I think your blog is great!!!

So how's everyone doing???

Two days ago, I was going to stop in at Starbucks to try their Eggnog Latte that I've been hearing about. As I was driving, I was also thinking on how much foolish money I spend...(since my drive home from work is across town, and takes approximately 15 minutes to get home, I often struggle whether or not to stop and pick up something to eat, or to grab a coffee...if I am successful, I make it home without spending a dime, and make dinner when I get home, or make coffee. If I am unsuccessful, I stop for food, or coffee....then I sulk when I get home that I spent money....)

Anyways...eggnog latte...so as I was driving, I was having this internal struggle whether or not to stop to fulfill my unhealthy desire for this hot beverage. Instead I compromised. I stopped and bought a two liter jug of Eggnog (I love the stuff) and made coffee at home, heated up the eggnog in the microwave and mixed the two, and voila, my version of an eggnog latte...I was just missing the nutmeg...but I saved myself 4 bucks or so (well, I spent a few on the eggnog, but think how many eggnog lattes a two liter can buy!!!)

Well that's it for now...I will do my darnedest to write again tomorrow, and then at least a few times a week...we shall see how this spontaneous act of re-commitment might last!!!

I got a mandolin...thanks mom and dad!!! (25th birthday present)

I want a Mandolin...

Weight Loss-a-thon

Hello my friends...

Everytime I write a new post, I tell myself that I will write at least once a week from now on. It has been more like once a month. So, needless to say, I suck. So here's a recap of my last month and a bit:

-I have been working full time in my temporary full-time position at work. It has been going well, and i have been enjoying it;

-I went camping with my brother, sister, and nephews at Cultus Lake...it was a great weekend;

-At the start of June, two guys from my church and I decided we are going to do a fundraiser linked hand in hand with our need to lose a few pounds. So on May 31st we weighed in, and began receiving pledges from people in the church. They commit to paying a certain amount per pound lost between the three of us in the month of June. The first two weeks I did well, lost about 5 pounds, ate healthy, hit the gym and played a lot of tennis and Softball. This last week, I have still been hitting the gym and playing tennis, however, I have not eaten so healthy...I just love pizza.

-A couple of weeks ago I applied for a permanent position at work...I did not get it, which even though it was, more or less, a matter of seniority (we are unionized), it is still somewhat disheartening as I was anticipating being hired.

-I have been very busy...between work and working out...and some days are just tired...but it's a good tired.

-The Jays just gave up five runs in the 8th to blow a lead...wait...six runs...dang!!!

-Long distance relationships suck. Most of you won't know what I'm talking about, but trust me, it sucks.

-I'm done. I will try and post more. My main problem is coming up with ideas to post. I want to do more than write about myself...but I think tv has friend my brain. I need to stop watching tv, start reading....and writing.

-It took me three tries to get the word verification right!!

Later,

Jer

Tests and Cd's

Okay...so it appears that it has been nearly a month again since my last post...it's not my fault, the time just flies by. So here's an update on what's been happening in the exciting life of Jerthom!!!

a couple of weeks ago I applied for a temporary full time position at work. There were two of us in the running, and on Wednesday last week we were approached by the Manager and asked to write a test for the position. I was asked to do it on Friday (as that worked better with my schedule) and the other girl asked if she could do it on Thursday.

Soooo....Here's what happened....

Thursday I'm at the house called 925. It's a day service that is a little smaller then the big center. So one of my coworkers get's off the phone and turns to me and says

"Susan (my supervisor...the manager was sick) said you have to go do your test in an hour"
I says "WHAT!!! I'm supposed to do it tomorrow...Crap...I haven't studied at all"
"you can go look at the policies and procedures manual right now if you want"
"Okay"

So I procede to study for the next half hour...not much good considering it's like taking a test and the content is a foot thick binder....and studying for a freaking half hour!!!

I bombed the test. No word on who got the job yet though!!!

*Editor's note: I got the job....the manager said I did great on the test. Who knew I still had my college BSing skills...hehe!!!




So this afternoon I took my class 4 road test. It was scheduled for 2:30 so I spent the morning studying the book and making sure that I know how to the pre-trip inspection. Even though I spent hours on it, I still got five demerits on the pre-trip...however you need 7 demerits to fail...booyah...the road test was awesome...the guy was cool, very relaxed and we just chatted about life and that. Not an anal guy at all...I was happy. I passed.



So I get home from the road test, kind of tired cause I've been studying and sort of stressing over the test (for apparantly no reason, it was easy) and I find a package by the door. It's from Christian Marketing Canada. I'm thinking, sweet, my parents bought me something, or someone sent me an early birthday present...a book or something. Open the package and booyah...the complete 8 album set of Jars of Clay. The reason I received this is because a couple of months ago I entered an online contest from Sendthefire.ca, which is the Salvation Army youth site. It was a simple contest. All I had to do was listen to a podcast of an interview with the Jars of Clay lead singer and answer a couple of questions. The prize was a the new CD Good Monsters from Jars of Clay....signed. I thought sweet...I like them, and want their new CD. So turns out the guy who got the signed albums lost them...so the courtesy prize was the entire Jars collection. Works for me.


Anyways, this is my life this last week. Life is busier lately which is good. We have a 23 year old guy staying with us from Switzerland so I have been showing him around a bit, and took him shopping...I will write more about him later...this post already has three stories...and that is my limit.


A shout out to Kathleen as she travels to Costa Rica today...Happy trails my friend!!!

Peace,

Jer