bye for now

Today my morning is filled with nothing but last minute packing for camp. Yes, that's right, I'm going to camp!

The bff Karen and I are going out to Camp Omagh for the week. We are counselling ages 11-13. Karen has been going to this camp since she was born and I first went in 2003. I did 5 more summers of being a camper then 3 years a go transitioned to be a counsellor.

Its a busy busy week but so worth it in the end. The day is full of God worshipping, laughing and smiles (cheesy..I know, but true.)

This is a picture from last year. karen and I

*I won't be around at.all this week. There are no electronics at camp and this year I will try to follow suit. I will have my cell but I'm bring my laptop therefore I can't read blogs! I'll catch up when I come back.

**Please nothing BIG happen when I'm gone!

work re-cap part deux

Work this week wasn't as crazy as last. Since I'm going to camp (tomorrow's post) tomorrow I'm only guarding 12-8pm. I worked monday-wednesday and today till 8.

We've been having a problem with the dirtiness of the water. Each day around late afternoon we start to notice the water getting very murky and cloudy. In the end we have to close the pool because we can't see the black circle from 9 meters away. Basically people don't shower (which is the law) and their oils are brought into the pool. It also doesn't help that families are putting sunscreen on and hopping in and out of the pool all day long. Now, a guard has to sit outside the change rooms and ask people to go back and shower to keep the pool clean.

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When it gets really really hot the city extended's pools that have lights hours till midnight. This week we had to have late swim because its so hot out! Yesterday felt like 48, (118 for you americans.) I wanted to work the extended hours because a) more money and b) I've heard it gets pretty crazy! I worked till 8 as i said, so at 8 I would rush over to monarch pool and guard till midnight.   Nothing big happened while I worked. Usually people come in drunk and do stupid stuff. Yay for 12 hours days!

happy friday!

crazy pool stories

During the week I find myself sharing work stories to my family. I got some pretty good ones from the crazies who hangout at the pool all day.

Tuesday, I was guarding the deep end test area and all of a sudden thought, "why don't I pick one day a week and blog about the crazy week at Riverdale pool?"

So friends? Friday will be dedicated to my work stories. :)
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In the change rooms, there are lockers. It's like the grocery store where you pay .25 and when you return the key you get the money back. A lot of times people forget to talk the money. Lately, I find myself "doing walk thru's" of the change rooms and collecting the money! Since monday I already have found $7.75 in quarters!  I feel bad for taking it, but finders keepers!
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My pool and my house is about a 15 minute bike ride. And those that come swimming live in the neighbourhood. I was talking to this really sweet mom on wednesday and found that she lives down the street from me! It was to cool. Small world! And yes, I did tell her that I babysit.
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For some reason we have to deal with a lot of smokers. They have to leave the pool deck and go outside. But? Not all people do. You see, theres this big bush that if you hide behind it, its hard for people to see you there. Not when Sarah's on deck. Monday I've caught 3 different people smoking in the bush! Funny thing is, they think its a new sneaky spot to take a cig but since forever, its been a "hot" spot to smoke! Us lifeguards know everything!


happy friday!

recent finds

I am so in love with the awesome site that is etsy. If you have no clue what it is, its a website where people sell homemade vintage items. It's similar to ebay but everything is made my people around the world in their little crafts rooms.

I've bought a headband from a friend who has since closed her shop back in january. Though, a few weeks I wanted to look around for a heart shape ring and turned to etsy for help. Sure enough they had lots.
After weeks of waiting stupid mail strike *this* ring came.

I love it so much. It's really light, sometimes I forget its on but its what I was looking for. Best of all? $25 bucks ain't bad!
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Thanks to pool hoppers, (people who hop the fence each night after pool hours to party) us lifeguards find the best stuff in the morning. Money, beer cans (all empty of course) and jewelry. The other day i found a pair of earrings. After a good week of them not being claimed, I brought them home.

Now before you start, I cleaned them with rubbing alcohol and regular earring cleaner.

I used to think big earrings weren't good on me because I thought they didn't fit my face type..but I was wrong! I wore them out on saturday and love them! Thank you pool hopper.
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A few years a go my aunt gave my family a big outdoor chair as a present for babysitting my ten year cousin who was like 2 for a few weeks while she worked. Summer after summer the chair got worn out because of weather. This weekend my dad bought some paint and fixed it up!

 I love the colour. Why? I picked it out! I wanted something bright and summery.

happy monday friends!

my crazy day

Yesterday was a crazy day at work. Like pull-my-hair-out crazy. Okay, not really but this was my first week working 8:45-5pm and by Friday I was DONE!

I woke up on a happy but mostly kinda sad note. I usually don't remember my dreams but Thursday night I had the best dream. It was pretty simple, it was me and my two cousins Meghan and Eric from Alberta (yes,the ones I visited.) We didn't do anything special in the dream, just talking about Eric's IRL (in real life) new girlfriend and that cowboy I met. I woke up re-playing the dream and being happy that I got to "hang" with my cousins. Then? Out of no-where, I got sad. Sad because I can't just "hang" with the two of them whenever I want. Sad because I miss them. Sad because I love them and want to spend time with both of them. Is it a coincidence that yesterday was july 08 and aug 08/11 their coming here for a visit?! I think so.
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I do teach swimming lessons in the morning. I do like it. A) I'm outside, in the beautiful water when its not to hot out. But? (I hope I don't get in trouble for saying this) but some of the kids drive me crazy!

I teach this little girl named Mary (not her real name) for a 30 minute private class from 11-11:30. The first day she left 10 minutes in because the water was "to cold." Whatever, extra 20 minute break for me. The next day she "forgot" how to do "bobs" (submerge under water, come up) after 5 minutes of her crying, I gave up and told her that we were moving on. The last 3 days as soon as something gets difficult or she becomes tired she cries and goes and talks to her mom. This happens in last couple of minutes of class so they go home early. Today, we had a good 15 minutes of "bobs", diving for pennies and side swim. When I asked her to do front crawl she freaked out and yes, cried. I didn't let her get out as fast to talk to her mom and finally she did. I told her I would  stay here and wait for her to come back. She did come back, with 3 minutes left of class.

Its not that bad, more annoying than anything, until the mom came and talked to me as the family was leaving. She asked  "whats going on?" and I explained that once Mary decides she can't do something she shuts down and nothing I say or do can get her back. The mom says "we've never had this problem." Oh no you didn't! Well, I said "I've never had this either. Yes, two can play this game.

It bugs me that this mom thinks its my fault that her daughter shuts down and says "but I can't" 5 million times a day.

Oh and don't ask your nephew from Ireland who just so happens to be a lifeguard what else I could do.

I do believe it has something to do with the fact that she babies Mary too much. Just my opinion, don't hate.
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Skip forward a few hours. Its 5pm. One hour left till home time (I had to stay till 6.) I'm sitting at the deep end chair watching these grade 8 boys push each other in the water for the tenth time since I've been here. When all of a sudden I get the strongest whiff of some marijuana. I calmly turn around hoping to catch who ever is doing it when I see two ladies and a man sitting to the left of me in the grass no less with a puff of smoke around them. I get down and walk over, say hi guys, theres no smoking here, you'll have to leave the pool deck to do that. The man says "we're not." Okay, no worries I think. I apologize for accusing them and start to leave. Don't ask me why the trailer trash women mocked my hand jester when I said "sorry, I thought it was you." And yes, I told her not to mock me.

I go off and tell the other guards what happened and the SHALLOW end guard says "I smelt that too!" Crazy.

I do believe they  lied to me but whatever.
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I'm glad for two days off.
Come Monday, send a prayer my way would you? Pray that Mary doesn't come to her lesson  I have a good day.

yes...I'm alive.

Once again I'm sorry for the lack of posting. Nothing really exciting going on.

I started work at the outdoor pools two saturdays ago. I have the sickest (other guards words..not mine) shift ever. I teach from 8:45am-12pm then guard 12:30-5pm. I'm home by 5:30ish and did I mention I have weekends off?! Ya, its sweet. I also make more money than the other guards who just..guard hehe.

It's nice to be outside all day. My tan? Oh goodness, its good! Trust me, in two months I'll be black :)
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I'm still my the 30 day shred. Day 47 I think. I do that plus I bike to work which is 20 minutes away.
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Being on ww and working? Hard! All the other guards buy fast food and share. Like yesterday? A girl bought two med pizzas and this guy went to tim hortons and bought timbits for us. I had a slice and three timbits but it can so get out of hand. I bring my lunch so that helps with not buying junk all the time. Plus, I'm cheap and am not spending $20+ a week for food. Not happening.
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I'm planning my trip back to Alberta next may. I'm thinking of going back with my uncle/aunt/cousins when they leave (may 13ish) (they will be here for my bros wedding) and I'll go back home a little more than two weeks after that. Again, I have to talk to my aunt and see what she says, but I'm her fav niece so I shouldn't be a problem! Just kidding...sorta.
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I'm not sure if its the summer heat or whatnot but I really want a tattoo.  I love this style of writing, its different. I would have it say family. If you've been reading since the start you know family is so very important to me. Why not put in writing?

I've been thinking about this for a while, just making sure its not something I'm going to regret later. I *almost* got a tat last summer. Had the drawing, made an appointment and chickened out. I'm glad I didn't go through with it, I'm pretty sure I would hate it now.

If anyone has tats, how did you know it the right one?

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Teen mom came back on last night! Loved that show since the start!

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happy tuesday, friends!

happy birthday Canada!

Today is Canada's birthday. 144 years ago today, Canada broke ties from Britain and became "Canada." 

Every year my dad and I would wake up early on Canada day to walk down the street and watch the big parade that was put on. It was the biggest one in my little area within Toronto and many locals would be in it. We haven't gone in a few years since I used to work at 9am on Canada day. 

Today I am working ::yay for time and a half!:: but will meet up with the rest of my family around 7pm when I get off work. My Grandma made a tradition of having a backyard BBQ. It's a nice time.   Family and food! Can't get better!

*My aunt and cousin (who I went to visit in may) are travelling to Europe (well yesterday) and I ask for prayers while they are there. For those prayer warriors out there, could ya say a quick one? Thanks!*

                                    Happy Canada day to all my fellow Canucks!