Bébé

Week One

2010-11-13T06:58:00.000-08:00

My first week is complete!!!!!!!!!!!

Although I was warned that I would kind of be thrown into the job during a very busy time, and have lots of things to do... that hasn't QUITE happened yet! (Although from what I can tell, next week might be that way).

But I really didn't do too much until Friday! Monday-Thursday was spent cleaning my office, organizing it, reading through manuals, looking through old files to see what it was I will be doing... and trying to waste time! lol

There is one lady in the office who, from what I can tell, was getting a lot of emails with work that I would normally be doing and questions I would normally be answering... but since I only just got hired last week, the news hasn't totally spread around yet, and people didn't have my email or contact information or anything. So they were emailing her and calling her. Then she went away for 2 days! So I really had nothing to do because she couldn't forward me the emails or give people my contact information.

But on Friday some people started emailing me, and calling me, and I had some things to do - paperwork and emails and such!

So I think on Monday this will continue to pick up!

I will keep you all updated :)

Job/Life update!

2010-11-04T19:33:00.000-07:00

Well... as I'm sure many of you know by now (news travels fast!), I am officially a career woman! Yesterday morning, around 9:40 am (yes I am keeping track of the exact time), I was offered, and accepted of course, the position of Event Coordinator with Skate Canada - Central Ontario!! A very long job title!

I am VERY excited and ready to get started! And I don't really have to wait!!! I will be starting Monday, November 8, 2010... at 9am!

I have been "warned" (and I put it that way because they are saying they are warning me, but I am very excited about it) - that I will be thrown right into things and I will have a lot to do right away because there are a lot of competitions coming up. This is the super busy time for competitions... from now until about April.

I will be working Monday-Friday, 9-4:30... and it will be salary + benefits!

Here is the job description! So you can see some of what I will be doing!

Overall Purpose of Position:

Reporting to the Executive Director of Skate Canada-Central Ontario and working with Special Events Management Team, the role of the Event Coordinator is to provide operational and logistical support on all COS marketing and events initiatives, in accordance with policy and strategic directions set by the Board.

Primary Roles:

Orchestrate, administer, and efficiently manage all operational and logistical aspects of the COS’ marketing initiatives, as directed by the Executive Director.

Orchestrate, administer, and efficiently manage all operational and logistical aspects of the COS’ event initiatives, as directed by the Competitions Director.

Maintain day-to-day responsibility for the timely and effective implementation of Board approved policy and direction related to event coordination.

Expected Results:

Effective relationship management of external stakeholders, COS sponsors, clubs, members etc.

Provision of timely and accurate marketing & event information/knowledge to key stakeholders.

Represent and promote a positive image of Skate Canada – Central Ontario, Skate Canada and skating as a sport in general.

ADDITIONAL POSITION DETAIL

Core Responsibilities:

Marketing-Sponsorship Management

Administer negotiated sponsorship contracts.

Draft preliminary contract agreements with COS sponsors, and present for final signing approval to the President, and Executive Director.

Act as primary contact for COS sponsors; ensure COS contract obligations are met (e.g., signage, public address, product exclusivity, etc).

Communicate any contract revisions/changes to the President and Executive Director for file administration.

Working with the Executive Director on research marketing opportunities.

Prepare marketing/sponsorship proposals to the consideration by the Executive Committee.

Co-ordinate and organize all COS events as directed by the Event Management Team Chairman.

Schedule facilities as directed by the Competition Director.

Prepare protocol agreements and budgets for each COS event to include sponsorship and advertising.

Act as primary administrative resource for Host Committee.

Confirm and schedule sponsors and advertisers for COS events, upon final approval from the Competition Director.

Prepare P.A. announcements etc. for events in accordance with sponsorship agreements.

Act as host for sponsors at COS events.

Act as on-site coordinator for events as directed by the Competition Director.

Administrative Management

Working with the Executive Director develop and implement a short and long-term marketing plan in alignment with COS strategic direction.

Coordinate advertising materials for COS competitions.

Maintain competition hosting manual for COS clubs.

Coordinate all correspondence to sponsors as determined by the Executive Director, Competition Director and the Section Chairman.

Oversee and manage the coordination of sponsorship signage and maintain sponsorship boards.

Personal Development:

Keep up-to-date and notify others on all Skate Canada and COS Marketing policies, practices and programs.

Continue to develop and foster COS alliances and partnerships with sponsors.

Continue to personally develop and upgrade relevant skills.

Working Relationships:

Work in co-operation and partnership with the Executive Director, Board of Directors and selected committees.

Work effectively with any advisory groups/committees that may be established by the Board or other external organizations with which COS has a professional relationship.

Authority:

Approval authority within assigned events budget, as identified by the Competition Director, Board of Directors and Executive Director.

Other as delegated by the Executive Director, Competition Director and/or Chairman/Board of Directors.

Desired Candidate

University graduate. Formal training in Event Management, Communications, Marketing and/or Business/Sports Administration is considered of great value.

Minimum of 5 years experience in a communications/marketing positions.

Demonstrated event management experience.

Strong team player with the ability to develop effective external working relationships and partnerships.

Will take initiative and use sound judgment to resolve complex internal and external issues that can impact COS as a whole.

Current Ontario drivers license and vehicle are a necessity.

Able to originate new concepts using research and analysis to develop creative and innovative approaches and/or solutions.

Excellent command of the English language.

Has strong written/verbal/presentation skills.

Proficient with various computer software applications relating to the job (e.g., MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc).

Able to travel approximately 30% of his/her time.

Booda singing to his favourite song

2010-10-29T10:08:00.001-07:00

Booda is a very big fan of Lady Gaga.... Alejandro is his favourite song...

Booda Singing

2010-10-28T13:54:00.000-07:00

I don't know if I have told you before, but my dog LOVES to sing. We first noticed his singing when he would sing along with my mom when she sits at the piano and plays and sings.
Then he began singing to the radio - his favourite song was Lady Gaga's Alejandro.
Now his love for singing has widened and he has SEVERAL songs he sings to! (even commercials! lol... his standards have lowered)

Here are a few videos!

And there is another one on the way!!

The Double Down

2010-10-24T19:57:00.001-07:00

Just had a little note for a Sunday evening... The "Double Down"

I don't think much needs to even be said about this new, well I guess they call it a sandwich..? All I can say is it looks like a greasy disgusting mess.... and I don't think I ever want to try it, nor do I want to be around anyone who is eating it!

2 pieces of fried chicken... with bacon and cheese in the middle? Whoever came up with this is completely against the whole "get healthy" craze that we are trying to spread around North America, that's for sure!

I think some pictures will do enough of the talking for me....

(they can't even make it look good in the advertisement pictures!)

Okay... think that's enough grossness for one evening!

Night!

Quick update

2010-10-19T08:14:00.000-07:00

I emphasize that this is a QUICK update... because in 5 minutes I have to be out the door!

I'm heading to Toronto for day 2 of my production assistant experience with Geordie Sabbagh. He is producing some videos that are actually trailers for videos done by students of the Canadian Film Centre. The entire thing is being done voluntarily to help the students, so he asked if I wanted to tag along and see how things are done!

Yesterday I was a reader in auditions.... reading the other lines of the script while the person auditioned. And today I will be sitting in on some meetings with the art people, wardrobe, and the directors as they figure out the sets and everything like that!

So far it has been exhausting (hahah so far being one day, but still, it was a very long day!)... but I'm looking forward to today! And then I'm going back on Thursday and Friday to help "dress sets" - aka make them look the way the directors want them to for the shoots. Then I will be helping out on the shoots next week. Not sure what I will be doing... some running around, some cleaning up, who knows! Probably nothing glamorous but it's exciting to get involved a bit!

That's all I have!

Oh, and one of the directors names is Park Bench. Yes... first name Park, last name Bench. I have yet to decide if that is his real name, or if he got it changed to that - he is a bit of an odd ball, so either way I wouldn't be surprised!

Ok! Time to get my coffee and get on the road!

It's Been a while... new things!

2010-10-07T10:33:00.000-07:00

Well it has been a while since I have blogged on here. I haven't even been all that busy! I have been "tweeting" it up for mysk8coach.com, and updating their blog... and I have been working on my portfolio website (rebeccawarren.tumblr.com) so I guess that has kept me away from my personal blog for a while.

Definitely check out some of the pics I have put up on my portfolio site! Some of them have turned out really well...I am very impressed with the new camera and I just wish I had more opportunities to use it!!! I need people to take pics of! Not a lot of people want to volunteer for photoshoots :( So for now I have been taking pictures of my puppy Booda... and of the trees outside which are an incredible colour right now... and the night sky the other night was incredible!

I got another new toy the other day as well... my new phone! It was needed because my cell phone wasn't working as a phone - I had to yell into the phone for the person on the other line to hear me normally. So I got an early upgrade to the new blackberry torch, and I have been spending the past 24 hours fiddling around with that. It's a change... but it's AMAZING! The speakerphone part of the phone works better than my regular phone on my old cell!! I had one mishap however. I set a password on the phone so I could lock it and not randomly dial people's numbers from my pocket... and then it seemed to freeze on me or something, but it locked me out of my own phone!! But I got that all sorted out!

And lastly, I wanted to share with you my newest obsession - although I have known about them for a few years now, I have started listening to them again and I just wish I was still skating so I could skate to their music. They are called Escala, and they are a string quartet... and they are gorgeous! So it just adds to the effect! lol (4 women by the way... all could be models). Their music is amazing!

go to www.escalamusic.com and click on music and you can listen to their CD.

Okay! That's all for now!

No news on the job front :( still working part time at the Gap. And now I am coaching skating in Richmond Hill on Sundays for a few hours to get some more money! Hopefully that will help pay some of the bills - as I found out today I am NOT covered by my parents insurance plan anymore... so my dentist appt today cost $200... WONDERFUL!

Keeping the TIFF spirit alive

2010-09-22T09:51:00.000-07:00

Well, I thought I would keep the TIFF feeling going, and I went to the movies last night. I FINALLY saw Inception.

WOW.... what a crazy... crazy GOOD... crazy AMAZING... movie!

I was told that I was going to be confused and thinking the whole time... but I think since I was told that, I wasn't as confused. And I was told in advance that the idea was that he can go inside peoples dreams... so the opening few minutes would have normally been quite confusing but I kind of got the gist of it all.

Although sometimes I had no idea what was going on because I couldn't understand some of what they were saying.... they either were talking about very important things very fast, or it was the asian guy who not only had an accent but also talked pretty quietly... so I'm sure I missed a few things! (Perhaps this is not a bad thing because I'm sure a lot of people felt that way thus giving us all a reason to either go buy the movie, or at least see it again).

The ending, as I was told, is crazy! And it makes you think... it makes you sit and try and figure out what could be going on, but it also made me think about my own life. The whole movie kind of does that I guess. What if we are living a dream?... What if nothing is real? (Although I don't believe this to be true but, it could be I guess)... and if it is.. if it is a dream... is that really so bad? If it's what we want, and we are happy with it?

Thought provoking. Craaaaazzzyyyy good movie! Definitely a must see and I think I will buy it on dvd when it comes out!

Forgot one

2010-09-19T08:11:00.000-07:00

I forgot that I also saw Judy Greer at the airport... I wasn't the one who greeted her though so I didn't talk to her. She was very quick to get to her car though... didn't stop to talk to anyone.

The TIFF stars

2010-09-17T11:26:00.000-07:00

Alright... so it has been a crazy week... lots going on! Although sometimes I will get sent home from a volunteer shift early, I have still been crazy busy with all this TIFF stuff!

I don't even know what I can tell you.... I'm sure all that's important are the stars... so I decided to just put up some pics of who I have seen/met.

Barry Pepper

Jon Levitz

Ryan Phillippe

Lee Pace

Ryan Gosling

Marion Cotillard

Okay I think thats everyone.... I have met some directors and Editors and Producers... but no one that anyone would really know.

The First Few Days of TIFF

2010-09-13T07:56:00.000-07:00

So my first day of TIFF consisted of handing out magazines in Yorkville for 2 hours. And.... although we were in Yorkville, there were no sightings of any stars... just the very expensive cadillacs with stars in them - tinted windows of course so that wasn't exciting.

The next day though, I didn't start until 4pm, so my friend Cara and I were able to go see a movie before my shift. We went and sat in the rush line to see Daydream Nation, starring Kat Dennings. We were slightly worried that we wouldn't get in to see it, but our entire rush line got in!

The movie was really good! It had a twisted kind of love story in it, where you kind of knew what the ending would be, but it didn't just go directly that way... there were a lot of unexpected twists and turns before it got to what we all thought would be coming at the end. But that's what made it good - and the cinematography was reallllly good, I really liked it! It was like a mixture between a Hollywood movie and an indie kind of movie.

My second shift I got sent to the Scotiabank theatre - where I saw Marion Cotillard!!!!! She is GORGEOUS! Her film was premiering in the theater across from the theater I was placed at, so we saw her come out, the cameras flashing, and then she walked past us!!

That has really been the only big star sighting so far.

I worked at the airport yesterday morning though, and I got to meet Lee Pace. (I didn't know who he was at first, but his movie at TIFF is called Ceremony, with Uma Thurman! So that's pretty awesome). He is from the show Pushing Daisies (now over). But most importantly, he was sooooo incredibly nice! We had to walk him to where his car was picking him up, and he talked to us the whole way, and then he had his phone out, and I was like omgosh! That's the blackberry Torch that I want, but Canada doesn't have yet! And he started explaining the phone, and showing us how it works, and all the apps and stuff.... such a nice guy! He was so cool.

Tonight I work at the airport again...from 6:30-11pm. Apparently there are 2 daily flights that come in from LA at 8pm and 11pm... and thats normally the flights that the bigger stars take. Soooo I'm hoping that tonight I will see some more celebs!!!!

Until then, I'm going to relax at home, give my poor feet a bit of a rest. Standing and walking all day gets tiring!

Thats all for now!!

(Here's a pic for ya!)

TIFF TIFF TIFF TIFF!!!!

2010-09-10T08:25:00.001-07:00

Well TIFF officially started yesterday... but my volunteering starts TODAY!!

My first shift is this afternoon at 4pm. It's called an ACE shift, which means I head to the TIFF office and they will send me wherever I am needed. I think it will probably be at one of the theaters but I'm not sure.

I'm just going to do anything and everything they ask and need! Time to get this resume building and be on my way to a career! (Maybe at TIFF?) I hope so!

Here goes nothin'!

2010-09-08T18:48:00.000-07:00

Just starting to understand my new cam and take some amazing pics.... well not yet - except for this one of my Booda.... it's pretty awesome

More TIFF

2010-09-08T14:05:00.000-07:00

Not much more to tell you about TIFF.... But I decided to book off a few more days from work so that I can get the FULL TIFF experience... aka going to see some movies as well as volunteering.

AND .. I just bought myself a new camera - digital slr (Canon Rebel)... so hopefully I have it all figured out by my days off and I can get some SWEET pics! (Of all famous ppl of course)

TIFF UPDATE!!!

2010-08-26T10:17:00.000-07:00

SOooOOOoooo....

I have been confirmed as an Airport Greeter for TIFF.... ANNNNDDDD I can volunteer at venues also!!!

I am restricted to tell much about the event... anything I can tell you is on the TIFF website... but I am working at the airport for 4 days and then I am volunteering at the venues and stuff 4 other days... so I will be there A LOT!!! Which I am SUPER excited about!

Unfortunately I can't take any pics when I'm working.... but once I'm all done and I take off the volunteer shirt I sure can!!! So hopefully some good opportunities come up for that!

If not, you will all have to take my word for the stories I tell you about the people I see and meet! Especially at the airport!!

More to come soon!!!

More about TIFF

2010-08-20T12:13:00.000-07:00

The films

2010-08-20T12:11:00.001-07:00

CLICK HERE to see some of the films that will be showing at the festival

Toronto International Film Festival 2010

2010-08-20T12:05:00.000-07:00

Well as some of you may know, I am going to be volunteering at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) this year - tomorrow is my orientation day where I will sign up for things and find out what exactly I will be doing there.

So I thought I would bring you all up to speed on this years festival. I am SUPER excited about this opportunity and I have always wanted to volunteer, but I haven't been able to because it is always during the first week of school.

Of course my not-really-existent work schedule and with my schooling done (for now), I have the opportunity to do this and I am getting reaaaaallllly excited!

Here's an article from the star that kind of explains who will be there this year. (And here's to hoping I get to meet/see some of them!)

CLICK HERE to read it!!!

I'm slacking

2010-08-11T20:31:00.000-07:00

Okay, it has been way too long since I have written anything... however I haven't felt that I have had anything to write about. I haven't gone on an amazing trip somewhere... I don't have a job to complain about or brag about... And my summer hasn't really consisted of too much... I guess I also am just not sure who all is going to be reading this... probably no one? So perhaps there is no point in updating every little thing.

I have been thinking about what I am going to focus my blog on.... and I think I am going to start mostly posting things for myself... things that I want to remember, or be reminded about in the future. Maybe some news stories that I will want to remember in the future or something.

I will write about trips and things like that as well... anything worth remembering... no rants or rambles really need to occur here.

So I will start this soon... although I probably won't keep up with it too much... not until I get back into the swing of things and feel like I have things to share.

I did just go to Toronto on Saturday though for a fun-filled day and night. Brandon and I went with another couple to the Steam Whistle brewery for a tour and samples... then we headed over to the Rogers Centre to watch an AMAZING Jays game - the score: 17-11 Jays. And our new catcher Arencebia hit a home run on his first pitch in a major league game.. then he just kept hitting more balls and more home runs! The Jays got something like 9 home runs!!

After the game we went back to the brewery, got another sample, and then picked up our 6 pack of beer each that we got with our tour! (Pretty awesome! and all for $15! I think we should make it a yearly thing!).

After picking up the beer... we headed to our hotel - The Hilton - no we didn't pay full price for it! haha Thank you priceline.com! Once at the hotel, we got into the room and started cracking open the beers. Had a few then headed out for a late dinner and then went to Hooters to watch UFC.

Although we didn't stay up too late.. and we didn't see the final fight... (we were all exhausted) - it was a really great day!!

In the morning we opted for Tim Hortons, rather than the $26 breakfast at the hotel!

On the way home, Brandon and I stopped at IKEA and got him some stuff for his new place.

Wow... writing it all out makes it seem like quite the jam-packed weekend! But it was AMAZING! tons of fun and we will definitely do it again next summer!

Boyce Avenue

2010-07-16T13:03:00.000-07:00

Just heard about these guys the other day... they are very good and easy to listen to.

They have their own cd as well as a bunch of covers of some really good songs. (Search them on youtube- Boyce Avenue)

Here is one of their songs, Every Breath.

If only my car would last this long

2010-07-15T19:27:00.001-07:00

Sugarland

2010-07-08T10:10:00.000-07:00

Just some lyrics from a Sugarland song. I was just listening to it and it made me smile. No matter what I have going on in my life, I really do have someone who loves me more than words can say, and I love him the same, and that puts a smile on my face.

Whenever I am feeling down, I just need to think of that. And although sometimes it is hard to find faith, if you just think about all the blessings in your life, and the special person in your life that brings you so much happiness, it's crazy to think how you found that person, and everything you have been through that makes you the people, and the couple you are.

I got someone who loves me more than words can say
And I'm thankful for that each and every day
And if I count all my blessings, I get a smile on my face
Still it's hard to find faith

But if you can look in my eyes
And tell me we'll be alright
If you promise never to leave
You just might make me believe

A bit of the week in review

2010-07-07T19:27:00.000-07:00

Although this isn't reaallllyyy the week in review.. there have been some crazy things in the news this week.

Lindsay Lohan has finally been sentenced to jail! 90 days in jail and then 90 days in rehab. It's about time!!! She has come up with so many ridiculous excuses for everything! If she had gotten away with it this time, who KNOWS what would happen next! Of course her father seems to be soaking up a lot of the "glory" - making an appearance on Larry King Live to talk about it all, and getting very "emotional" (maybe he's the better actor in the family!). Of course Lindsay's mom says that it's not fair and she shouldn't be going to jail. I don't know how blind you have to be to see that she was clearly lying to get her way out of any trouble and to get out of her alcohol meetings and such.

Usually I wouldn't be one to encourage a celebrity story to be on the news, but when it comes to someone finally getting what they deserve and not just getting the celebrity treatment, it's a different story.

Although, I have read that she will probably, and most likely, only serve about 23 days in jail, at least she got it handed to her in court! She finally realized that her excuses aren't enough and her crying, sobbing, and pleading wasn't going to work!

I must add, she didn't seem to get herself all dolled up for her court appearance. Sure she wore a black dress with a jacket over top, but her hair looked quite disheveled, and, although she seemed to get her nails painted, she decided to get the words 'f*ck u' written on her middle finger nails - probably not the best decision when you are heading to court! It made it worse when she tried to tell the court and the judge that she has complete respect for them and the judicial system and that she never did anything out of disrespect for the judge or the system. hmmmm I don't know about THAT one!

Anyways... on to something a little more newsworthy. A couple days ago, in the US, a 4 year old girl was snatched from her front yard when she was playing with her brother. Her parents had been watching them and had just stepped inside to start getting dinner ready when she was taken.

Her brother ran inside and told his parents what had happened, and the mother frantically jumped in her car and started driving the direction the boy said the car went - she had no luck... she had no idea what she was looking for.

Everyone was searching, and they had a description of the car and a small description of the man.

The next night, at a car wash in a town about 80 miles away, the girl was found. Witnesses heard a very loud car at the car wash which drew their attention and they saw a young child wandering around. They thought it was a young boy, and then proceeded to call 911. When police arrived, they realized that it was the young girl that had been taken from another town the day before. The girl was taken to the hospital to be checked out, and was reunited with her parents.

Then the search was on for the car, and the man, who had now gotten away.

Today, the news is that police had a man of interest and when they approached him to question him, he pulled out a gun and shot himself. From what I can tell right now, he was killed, but they have yet to confirm this.

Such an action seems to prove that he was guilty, and knew what he had done, and knew that he was in trouble. I guess you could say, if this much is true, that he got what he deserved. But at the same time, he will now not be able to be questioned, and we will never know why he took the little girl, and if he would have apologized for what he did.

The case is still unfolding, as is the Lindsay Lohan case (she may get in more trouble for her obscene words written on her nails!), so I will keep you updated if I find out any more info!

Bit by the acting bug again

2010-06-28T18:32:00.000-07:00

Well, I had been thinking about it for a while, but I have finally gotten myself back into acting. I had stopped because of university - went on a few auditions for some skating roles but that's all. Now that I have graduated, and still haven't found myself a job, I have decided to pick it back up!

Went to meet with my agent today, had to read some different scripts to her and another agent at the company. Then they had a little chit chat about me among themselves while I was out of the room (THAT was nerve wracking!). She called me back in and then told me that I seemed a little nervous and a little rusty, but it has been several years so she understood... then she went on to say that if I have a script or a role that I am nervous about or unsure about, that I should go see a coach about it, and go over the lines with him. That was when I was like PHEW... "when you get a script" aka I am going to re-sign you.

What a relief!! Out of all the jobs I have applied to and haven't gotten, and the interviews I have gone to and been turned down, it was a good feeling to finally have a good interview and be hired!!

So I signed the contract, she's looking through my pictures, and soon enough (I hope) I will be heading out to auditions!!!

Keep your fingers crossed!! :)

Twitter?

2010-06-22T08:07:00.000-07:00

Twitter just told me that it was over capacity and that I should try again later....?

Doesn't that just defeat the purpose of me going on twitter? Because I have something to tweet right now... but if I go back later then it wont be relevant anymore.

(This is my little twitter rant... because I clearly have nothing else to do right now. It's raining outside... I did my job hunting this morning... all I have left is to watch soccer and tweet about it... now I can't even do that!!)

Wow! Incredible guy!

2010-05-11T05:10:00.001-07:00

Kanye's moving

2010-05-09T07:21:00.000-07:00

Kanye West is moving!! For only $3, 995, 000, you can be the owner of this ritzy place! 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms... walk-in dressing rooms! Not too shabby. Kind of looks like a museum though.. cold, empty... not very "homey".... but hey! If I had 4 million laying around I might want to buy this place!

"OMG"

2010-05-09T07:18:00.000-07:00

Drake's reaction is pretty funny!!! And you thought rappers have seen it all... apparently not?

Unemployed

2010-04-22T21:07:00.000-07:00

Well, I am almost done my undergrad career... and things have not gone as planned so far.

Perhaps it was a pipe dream but... the plan was that I would have a "real job" lined up by the time I was finishing up my last exam ... then I would be able to find a place to live ... so I would be out on my own (renting of course), and I would have a "real job."

I sent out probably somewhere around 50 resumes... I have lost count... and I was feeling quite discouraged. Then I had 2 possible jobs within one week. I had a phone call where I set up an interview followed by a telephone interview for an internship in Toronto.

Both interviews ended up going well... or so I thought..... I didn't get either job. I had gotten my hopes up for something to come from them... I had even gone so far as to get all stressed out because I didn't know which one I would pick if I had to choose. Clearly that was silly!!

Now I have begun my search and application process to some "not so real jobs" - aka more like summer type jobs, or jobs that aren't really what I went to school for.

At first I was kind of bummed to be doing this... but I guess graduating at 21 leaves me some room to figure it all out. I guess I don't NEED something right away.

I had always heard of people having lots of trouble finding jobs after they graduate... and I had seen it happen to friends... yet I still had my hopes up that I would be able to change this and get a job right out of the gates.

As of yet this has not happened.

I guess the story continues... and we will wait and see!!!

Update you soon

xoxo

House of Dereon

2010-04-15T20:42:00.000-07:00

While on my imaginary shopping spree... I also found some dresses I would like

The perfect shoe

2010-04-15T20:34:00.000-07:00

I am very disappointed to say that I have been looking for the perfect shoe for a while and I have yet to find it... let me explain

I think that the perfect shoe... the one set of heels that every girl needs... is a cream coloured, closed-toe stiletto. I have searched and searched and cannot find a store that sells one... just a plain, patent, cream, closed toe shoe... not white... not bedazzled, or with a zebra print on it.. just cream!

I went to Aldo a week or so ago and they had the shoe! it was right there at the front of the store... but not in my size... only in 6 or 9... I was very disappointed but I was excited that it was there, and it was new so it would be around for a while!

However, I was just on the Aldo website and the shoe is nowhere to be found. I don't know if it is just missing from the website (although this is basically impossible because they have every shoe ever made on there) orrrr if they are just sold out everywhere? I'm not sure

Sadly... my hunt will continue.

Hopefully I can find the shoe before I get a job... which is hopefully soon... because it is the perfect work shoe! I need it for my first day! (It's either that or a hot pink one!)

I know I should clearly be studying right now... but I just felt the need to go on a shoe hunt.

I hope school will pay off and I can get a job that will be able to support my shoe addiction!

some changes

2010-04-14T11:18:00.000-07:00

Made some changes to the look of my blog... I like it better! so hopefully you do also! :)

Me to a T

2010-04-14T11:11:00.000-07:00

I have decided that this is me to a T.... almost! lol

Funny every time! So if you need a good laugh just watch this video! And men, if you feel like this is your girlfriend and her friends, just make her watch this video, it will make her laugh ... and you won't have to get mad at her for all the questions she asks, she will realize it! haha

Severely behind

2010-04-05T12:50:00.001-07:00

Well it's that time of year again.... exams, papers, etc.

I have been severely lacking in my activity on here, and on twitter... although I have been up to date on my facebook use! Facebook is the best procrastination tool... and then comes tv!!!

I am making progress though on my essay that is due on Wednesday... still not enough progress but that will come tonight or tomorrow I guess!

I have a few more essays and then some exams to study for before I am completely done my undergrad! It's going to go by very fast, but at the same time the studying is going to go by painstakingly slow!

Bare with me as I will not be on here much... I guess its not like I have recently... but I will do my best to post some of my funny videos, etc. that I find during my procrastination!!!

I'm behind!

2010-03-24T21:58:00.000-07:00

Just so you know... I haven't forgotten about the Vancouver videos! They will be updated as soon as I have the time to go through and figure out how to change them and then edit them and make them into something viewable :)

LOLs!!!

2010-03-24T21:56:00.000-07:00

video footage

2010-03-11T08:18:00.000-08:00

I have a TON of video footage that I took on my trip .... but when I transfered it to my computer it is in some weird file that I have to convert and THEN figure out which program to use to make it into something viewable.
I have a feeling this is going to be more like a summer job... because I do not have time right now with school and such. But I WILL have a video of some sort made at some time lol, I promise!!
It would be a waste if I didn't do something with it all.

In the meantime.... I have made a book of a bunch of my pictures with i-photo and I am going to order that soon. So if I see you in person then I will have something to show.

Until next time,

Keep dreaming! :)

The Shangri-La

2010-03-01T22:03:00.000-08:00

As I told you before in a previous post, my friend Julia is friends with a girl named Karen whose parents (and her) live on the top floor of the Shangri-La. I got to go up there on two different occasions, and got a tour of the place... it is SPECTACULAR in every sense of the word!
I got some of it on video and I took some pictures of Vancouver while I was up there, but it was night time so I didn't get any good pictures of the actual apartment.
This link talks about the Shangri-La and has some pics also!

Check it out!

CLICK here!

Wow... what a celebration

2010-02-28T20:40:00.000-08:00

I KNOW you all watched the hockey game this afternoon and I sure hope you all watched the closing ceremonies.

I was at the campus pub for the closing ceremonies and boy was it packed! It was like I was back in Vancouver with people all dressed up in red and white... flags everywhere.. beers in hand just so excited for the game. And what a game it was! Just when we thought we had it all wrapped up... and everyone in the pub started singing and cheering and getting all excited - except for me, who has learned that in sports it isn't over until that timer says 0:00!! The shock that went through the room as everyone realized what had just happened... the U.S had tied the game!

I think that was the first time that people seemed a little bit worried that Canada might not actually win the game. Everyone got a little quieter; conversations became oh no, what if we don't win! It will be so heartbreaking!

As the period started though, everyone got excited.. chanting "Go Canada Go!" and cheering every time we got the puck out of our end. "Luuuuuuuuuu!!!" was a common chant of the evening - you could tell who weren't followers of hockey when they would look around and wonder why we were booing our own goalie!

And then, almost out of no where, the winning goal! Scored by no one more fitting than Sid the Kid assisted by the captain. Just perfect! Everyone was yelling, clapping, cheering, singing Oh Canada, the black eyed peas! Everything! I felt like I was back in Vancouver for a minute!

I was at home to watch the closing ceremonies and although I have to criticize the French of the one speaker... yikes! The rest was AMAZING! (and funny!) - starting with the raising of the fourth pillar of the torch that didn't raise during the opening ceremonies and the lighting of the torch by Katrina Lemay Doan who didn't get to light it due to the malfunction! Gotta love Canadians when we can poke fun at ourselves! These jokes continued all night with the parading of maple leafs, lumber jacks and beavers, mounties and hockey players, and Michael Buble singing first in a mounty outfit and then on top of a mounty hat. Just hilarious!

The speeches that were done by William Shatner, Catherine O'Hara, and Michael J. Fox were quite hilarious - again poking fun at Canadians

Although the concerts started out alright with Neil Young and Nickleback (I know some of you won't agree)... it continued on a lesser note with some not-so-popular-anymore singers like Avril Lavigne and Hedley. But I must admit - it seemed the Japanese were LOVING it! And everyone knew the words so I guess that made it all fun right?

Of course CTV presented a montage of Olympic moments at the end, just to make me cry - and yes I did cry, I'm a sap!

It's hard though... in a way I fulfilled my dream but in another way it never came true! I wanted to be at the Olympics in Vancouver, and I was! But I wanted to be competing and now that chance is gone :(

It did make me want to just start skating again though!

Sochi 2014? lol

Thank you to everyone who helped me get to Vancouver and supporting me in my skating, in my schooling and in my dreams! It meant a lot to me! :) <3

What a day for Canada!

2010-02-24T21:03:00.000-08:00

Wow!

Canada wins a bronze and silver in speed skating.... gold and silver in women's bobsleigh ...and our hockey team beat Russia!!! WOOOO!!!

What a great day! So excited for the rest of the Olympics! I don't see how I am going to get any work done with the Olympics on!

The weather... Onterrible

2010-02-23T22:24:00.001-08:00

As the people in Vancouver call it, I am back in Onterrible.

I got off the plane and it was snowing/raining and below zero degrees. The weather in Vancouver was amazing... sunny and warm - somewhere between 9 and 15 degrees every day! I don't know how I am going to make it through the rest of the Winter here! I might just have to stay inside as much as possible and pretend it's nice out! :(

Enjoy the pics! I will add more!!

2010-02-23T22:19:00.000-08:00

Some pictures from the drive back to Vancouver from Whistler. Beautiful

2010-02-23T22:05:00.000-08:00

Simon Ammann - Double gold medalist in Ski Jumping 2010 and double gold medalist in Ski Jumping 2006
The gold medals!
He let us hold one! AMAZING!

hmm

2010-02-21T23:40:00.000-08:00

Well I am all packed and I am going to get a few hours sleep before I head to the airport for my 7am flight... :(

I don't want to leave yet! I know that when I get home I will be glued to the tv to watch the rest of the olympics and I won't get anything done haha

I guess the one thing about being here is you miss a lot of what is seen on tv... interviews and all that so it will be good to see all of that on tv at home.

Speaking of interviews though... well I have 2 things... first off I was up at Whistler again last night... a friend of Julia's has a place up there so we went up to party a little bit. We ended up walking past a swiss tv station that was doing in interview... we got right up to the front... and I was on tv for almost the entire interview! lol ... they were interviewing the Ski jumper Simon from Switzerland who won both ski jumping events and as far as I know he won both last year as well! Anyways.. we kept talking to him in between the interviewer asking him questions.. he loved us! And he let us TOUCH AND HOLD ONE OF HIS OLYMPIC MEDALS!!!! It was AMAZING!!!! And we got a picture with him! Soooo crazy!

My second thought though... is I have now seen 2 of our athletes apologize for their non-podium finishes and I have heard that Patrick Chan also apologized. I know that we want to do well at our own Olympics but since when is a top 5 or even a top 10 finish not good enough? Since when do athletes need to apologize to their country because they didn't win? This should not be what the Olympics are about and I think thats what the media is making it out to be. The atmosphere here in Vancouver is nothing but excitement.. and no one is disappointed in our athletes finishes. Sure we feel sad, but thats more for them! Because we know they perhaps wanted more. Our media needs to change its avenue and the way that it is reporting our results... top 10 or top 5 is not a "disappointing finish for Canada"

Only at the Olympics

2010-02-20T09:45:00.001-08:00

Well I have no more event tickets.... could try to get one for today but I think it will be too expensive. I might be headed to Whistler - Julia's friend has a place up there and they didn't rent it out so we will stay there.

Yesterday was a pretty weird day/night. I went shopping for a bit in the morning and then I found a nice restaurant called Earl's and sat at the bar for a few drinks. They had TV's and projector screens all playing the Olympics so I figured it was a good choice!

I ended up meeting a woman and her boyfriend and his brother at the bar while they were waiting for a table. They started talking to me about pin trading... yes pin trading. People buy Olympic pins and then trade them for other ones.... it's actually a HUGE thing at the Olympics! People have pins from other Olympics they have gone to and it's just insane.

Anyways, they invited me to sit with them at their table, so I did. We got some appetizers and shared them all and then 2 more of their friends came and joined - one was a thai masseuse and I was really tempted to ask her for a massage!

We were there for a few hours - we had the best seat in the house! Right at the corner of the restaurant which is at the corner of the street and you could see all the people walking buy. We ended up wracking up a pretty big bill... I'm pretty sure it came to a couple hundred dollars - at least over a hundred for sure - and they only made me pay $20! Because I'm a student and they didn't want me to be spending all my money!

One of the girls had a friend who was having a few ppl over at an apartment downtown... and at this point Julia was driving around trying to find parking so I decided to stay with my new friends and walk with them rather than walk alone until I found Julia. They were really nice and made sure that I got a hold of her and that I knew where I was going and everything. Somewhat of a sketchy situation normally, but at the Olympics its just what everyone is doing! You walk around and meet people and hang out with them for several hours... then you will never see them or talk to them again! It's crazy when you think about it.

I took a cab to the Shangri La - where Julia was meeting her friends. And I had to go to the concierge and say I was going to the 61st floor. They were like "Oh yes, mister michelsons, right this way..." - I felt so important! They open the elevator for you and push the button for you and everything! lol

Anyways I found Julia and her friends... and then we went to walk down Robson street - the main street - and wow... I'm glad I did not walk that alone! Drunk people everywhere... the streets actually looked like a giant mess, it was so dirty! Cops walking in groups of 5 or 6.. and they were all about a block apart... walking up and down the streets. By this point it didn't seem like the Olympics anymore - just a massive party. But it was actually very dirty! This is the part of the Olympics they DON'T show on tv!

We only stayed for a bit and then walked back and got Julia's car and came home. A crazy weird night.... only at the Olympics! haha

2010-02-19T10:54:00.000-08:00

2010-02-19T10:50:00.000-08:00

2010-02-19T10:45:00.000-08:00

How could I forget!

2010-02-19T10:33:00.000-08:00

Wow... I don't know how I forgot to tell you this part......

After the skating was over I walked around to close to the CTV booth.... David Pelletier was there, Elizabeth Manley, Marie-France Dubreil and Patrice Lauzon. Everyone was talking pictures and asking for Davids autograph... I took a picture from afar. But Elizabeth Manley came out and was talking to some people and then they started talking about the performances and how it all went down... and all of a sudden I'm in there, talking to Elizabeth Manley...asking if she thought that, coming into the Olympics, if Plushenko was going to win it all. She said she did and then I told her I didn't think he was going to or that he should... and I was talking to her about the new system and how he is old system!! Then she told me about the marks and that Lysacek actually got the same scores as Plushenko for the components score and he beat him in the technical.... I was shocked and I was talking to her about it and she was talking to me about it...and I think I was even arguing a bit with Elizabeth Manley! hahaha.... after I got a picture with her and I told her that not in a million years did I think that I would be arguing with Elizabeth Manley! She said oh we aren't arguing! I agree with you!

Then I walked over and found Scott Hamilton and a journalist was interviewing him... then after I asked him if he thought that Plushenko was going to win... and he starting talking to me about what he thought!

What a day...and night!

2010-02-19T10:11:00.000-08:00

Wow.... well I tried to get on here and write last night but I fell asleep doing so hahaha. Yesterday was such a packed day!!

I had curling in the morning with my friend Julia - It was the round robin #4 and Canada was playing Sweden. Three other games were also going on including the USA vs. Denmark. Canada's game was over first... and we won of course! The atmosphere in there was crazy though - not what you would expect at a curling game!!! People were cheering, chanting, doing the wave! The place isn't very big, so although our seats were right at the back we were really close and could see everything!

After the Canada game was over I thought most people would leave but almost everyone stayed. By the end, it was only the USA vs. Denmark game left and of course there were a lot of people from the states there so they were cheering pretty loudly for them - which meant that all of a sudden all the Canadians - us included - were cheering for Denmark! We were yelling Go Denmark - chanting Denmark!, Denmark! .... it was insane! Never did I ever think that I would be cheering for Denmark! And throughout all the games - people would cheer if there was a good shot.... it would go silent if it was a big important shot... and as the curling stone moved down the ice, people would start to stand up and watch it go down - it almost created a wave effect.... just crazy! And so cool!

After the curling was over we headed back to Julia's to get some food - I finally didn't have to buy my food!!! (Although I got the most AMAZING crepe the other day... expensive but wow... nutella, banana and strawberries!).

After we ate, Julia walked me to the bus stop and I got on the bus that would take me downtown so I could get on another bus that would take me to the skating! Of course I had my sign with me (Chan's Turn for Victory!) - everyone loved my sign!

I got to the rink and got to my seat.... pretty close to the middle and not too far up. It was a good view! I had my sign sitting beside me and a woman came and asked if she could take a picture with me and my sign (this has been happening a lot lately - I am quite famous at that rink! Even the volunteers remember me from Tuesday!). Anyways.... this woman starts talking to me and tells me that she is friends with Patrick Chan's mom - plays tennis with her! So I tell her that I trained with Patrick for a few summers and she got all excited that I "know" him and she got her husband to take a video on his camera of us saying hi to patrick and good luck - and they were going to show it to him after!

After the first flight of men, I started to make my trek down to the lower bowl to get a better seat in hopes of my sign being seen on tv. I got moved around a few times because people came to sit there.... but then while I was walking around the woman found me again and had just been visiting Patrick's mom so she took me over there because there were some extra seats! Well it turns out that people showed up for the last 2 groups (I hate when people do that - they are so rich that they just buy close seats and then just show up for the last 2 groups of skaters - they don't even know anything about figure skating!). Anyways... I moved just a section over and started talking to a couple sitting there. They said that the people sitting where I was weren't going to come back and I could stay there.

They started asking me if I knew about the scoring and everything.... that's when I became the commentator for the 6 people sitting around me! They started asking me questions about everything and asking what I thought about each performance and if the people were judged fairly, etc. They loved me! hahaha

And then it was time for Plushenko to skate... and I had already ranted a bit to them about my thoughts of Plushenko... they laughed... and throughout his performance I was getting more and more frustrated because he was being so cocky. Well I told the people around me that if he won I wasn't going to watch figure skating ever again!

AND THEN EVAN LYSACEK WON!!!!! It was the greatest moment ever!!! Everyone was cheering and clapping - except the russians of course. There was a section of other russian athletes and coaches (I think - they were all wearing the uniforms and had official looking tags). They were pissssssed! And so was Plushenko!

They did a bit of an awards ceremony after... and I don't know if they showed it on TV but Plushenko went to shake the hand of the third place skater and then instead of walking around to get to the second place spot on the podium... he stepped over the first place spot on the podium - completely acting as if he should be there! In the video of it you can hear me getting so mad!

Anyways... that was amazing... and then I headed back downtown - met up with Julia and her friends at the Irish house! So fun in there! And they have tv's all set up showing the Olympics stuff from the day.

After that... we took a cab with one of Julia's friends to see her apartment... well her families apartment... aka the PENTHOUSE of the SHANGRI LA! aka the tallest place in Vancouver! The view was AMAAAAZIIINNNGG! I took video of it.... wow... just incredible. You can see part of the torch and you can see the Olympic rings... wow... amazing!

All this in one day - it explains why I passed out so fast last night! But wow.. amazing!

I can't believe it's already Friday!

Today we will be walking around - well I will be. It's Julia's mom's birthday so she is going to stay around the house and I'm going to go downtown and wander. I want to find a place to sit and have a drink and watch some of the Olympics!

I will let you know what happensss!!! :)

Day Two!

2010-02-17T09:30:00.000-08:00

Wow... yesterday was a full day!

Got up early and headed into Vancouver with Julia. We got coffee and some breakfast at Starbucks downtown near Robson Square (which is where all the streets are blocked off so people can just walk around). There was a radio station doing a live broadcast while we were there! It was pretty cool!

Then we walked through Robson Square - there was the ice skating going on and the zipline across downtown. Pretty neat idea...and it's free! (if you want to wait 5 hours to go on it!) We saw some people doing yoga in the middle of all the touristy stuff!

Julia had to work at 11:30 so around 11 she left for work and I walked down to BC place to pick up my tickets for the figure skating at the will call window. When I got there, there was a side of the booth that said purchase tickets here. When I was at the luge people were walking up and just buying tickets to the event while they were there - even though you couldn't buy anything online anymore unless it was a re-sale ticket. So I went to the booth and I asked if they had any tickets left for the men's long program for Thursday....and they did!!!!!! So I got a ticket for thursday! And it's a good seat too!!! Close to the middle! I was so excited - called my mom and Brandon to tell them the news right away! lol Then I picked up my ticket for the men's short and started to head down to where I get on the bus to head out to Pacific Coliseum. On my way I found a dollar store. I got some bristol board and some markers so that I could make my sign for Patrick Chan.

Downtown Vancouver is a very busy place with everything going on and I had no idea where I was going to find a place to make my sign! I found a little mall... walked in the front doors and put my stuff down on the floor.... and that is where I started drawing out my sign! People kept walking buy and looking at what I was writing. Once it was all done I had a sign that read Chan's Turn for Victory (with the C, T, and V, in the colours of the tv station CTV - so I could maybe get on tv!)

Then I went to find my bus. There were a lot of people on the bus also going up to the figure skating - and they all loved my sign! One couple started talking to me because I said I didn't know where to get off the bus! They knew where they were going so I followed them! They were from Quebec - one woman was a fan of figure skating, the other was not so much but came anyways. I ended up walking up to the Coliseum with them... waiting in the line before they opened the doors with them, and walking around the Pacific Coliseum for a few hours with them before the event started. We got a beer together and walked around taking pictures. And my sign became famous at the rink.... tons of people wanted to take pictures of it! Patrick Chan's equipment manager was walking around taking pictures for him and took a picture of me and my two new friends with my sign and their canadian flag! His daughter is friends with Patrick and some of them are making a scrapbook for him!! He took our emails and said he would send us the picture.

Once we got close to the start of the event, we went to our seats. I wasn't sitting too close to the couple I had met - although they were just a few sections over and down. I never found them in between the flights or during the flood :(

But, as I was walking up to my seat - Janice's mom (my skating coaches mom) was sitting there! She was only a few rows ahead of me!!! And a friend from school from the cheerleading team was only a section over! It was crazy.

My seats were right at the back of my section but it was a good spot. The Coliseum isn't that big so I wasn't far back at all! Had such a good view of everything! It was amazing to see everyone skate!!!

The event was 4 hours long and after I walked around to where the CTV section was - although it was all blocked off for media only - I could see Elizabeth Manley and David Pelletier right on the other side of where it was blocked off!!! Then they tried to make us all leave - didn't see Kurt - but when I turned around, Tracy Wilson was walking in! I got a picture with her (and my sign! haha) and then I left!

The line up for the bus was HUGE! And was going to take hours - I walked another block up to where there was another bus stop where no one was going to and I waited for about 10 minutes and got on a bus back to downtown Vancvouver.

Then my troubles began - I tried to find my friends but I had no clue where they were!! And then my phone died! So I walked up to the main street where there were TONS of people in the streets because of the hockey game that had ended and everyone was celebrating! I asked a police officer where a payphone was and he said I could use his cell phone. So I called Julia and we picked a meeting place. SOMEHOW among the thousands of people.. she found me!!! I met some of her friends and then we walked to see the torch!!! It was AMAZING! Although there is a fence in front of it, it was still amazing to see!!

Then we walked to the German House and got a beer. And after that we headed back home!

A long day but wow it was so cool! Just the people you meet here is amazing!! And there is so much going on even just in the streets!!!

I will upload pictures!!

Today I am doing the walking around thing and seeing Olympic Village and stuff. No event tickets so I will find a place to have a beer and watch some stuff!!

VANCOUVERRRR!

2010-02-16T08:40:00.000-08:00

Well... So much to say but so little time to write it all down!

I'm just getting ready to head into vancouver with Julia. She is working today at 12 so we are going to walk around a bit and get some food before she heads off. Then I have a few hours to kill before the men's short program - but it will easily be filled with walking around and seeing all the cool stuff that is set up down there!

Yesterday I saw the luge. I spent the day up at Whistler - well it takes 3 hours to get up there first off and then I walked around a bit .. got my tickets... then headed up the gondola to go to the sliding center for the luge!

I don't have enough time to tell you all about it right now! But everyone is really nice up there! I stood beside some people - an American couple and a Canadian couple who were there watching together. The American couple's niece is good friends with one of the American lugers and came over and was saying how a group of them were there and they have been with her over the past few years - going to lake placid with her to watch her train and stuff. Very neat story!

I was standing at what I was told is a crucial turn in the course...once the lugers wizzed by we could turn around and see them go around the last turn in the track as well so it was really neat! And it was a good thing too because they go by so fast!!!

There were a few kids that were standing there... they loved it! And there was a group of us trying to get pictures as they went by - there were cheers and claps if someone got a good picture (I got a few!).

Anyways... I ended up turning around at one point and my friend from school was there! So I walked around with him and his friends and got on a bus that took me back to Vancouver (a better bus than the one that brought me there - which I had to get in Burnaby - so I had to take some public transit there).

Anyways! I have to get ready to go! BIG day today! I have taken some awesome pictures and video taped some stuff! It only rained last night on the bus ride home and I don't think it is supposed to rain today!

Talk soon!

TONIGHT!

2010-02-14T08:47:00.001-08:00

TONIGHT! TONIGHT! TONIGHT!!!

Well I am in the process of packing... making sure I have all my Canada stuff and my camera and video camera... my tickets! Making sure it's all in the bag and ready to go!

My flight leaves tonight at 9:30pm and I will be getting into Vancouver at 11:30pm (Pacific Time).

Tomorrow I am heading up to Whistler! Going to see the Luge which will be an interesting thing to see after the unfortunate accident the other day. I'm a little bit nervous but excited to be up at Whistler!

I can't wait for the excitement! There is so much going on out there! And not just the olympic events!

SOOOOOO EXCITED!!!!!!

Now back to packing!

LUGE!!!!

2010-02-09T21:29:00.000-08:00

UPDATE!! UPDATE!!! UPDATE!!!! UPDATE!!!!!

I just purchased a ticket to see the women's singles Luge qualifying event! It's for the 15th - which is the first full day I will be in Vancouver! Unfortunately I will be missing out on the pairs figure skating event - however the tickets have been around the $750 mark and don't seem to be coming down at all and this luge ticket was only $99! And you have to have a ticket to a whistler event to get up there so I needed something to guarantee me a trip up there!!!

They recommend that you take the Olympic Bus Network up to Whistler... however that will cost another $45 which I am going to try and avoid. I believe you can take regular transit there - it will probably just take longer, I'm not sure. So that is what I need to figure out next!!!

I'm getting so excited!!!!!

(technically only 4 days now!!) ahhh!

SIX DAYS!

2010-02-08T15:21:00.000-08:00

So close to heading out!!! My excitement is building with each day!!!

I have one last test tomorrow and then I can really start focusing on my Vancouver preparations! The mens long program tickets seem to be going down in price, although I am nervous that those tickets will get sold and I will be left with only the very expensive tickets - of which I will not be purchasing - and then I will be left watching the mens event from somewhere else... cute cafe maybe? lol

Tomorrow I will start writing down what I need to bring - start packing! ahhh!!!

I am heading home to Barrie on Thursday.... getting my hair done on Friday (a very important thing to do before I head out obviously!)... and then I will be spending Valentines Day with the boy and heading out Sunday evening!

Hopefully I will have a good update before I get to the airport about having some new tickets - but if I do not then I will be writing from the airport! Camera and video camera in tow!!!

Can't wait till I hit the hour-by-hour countdown and then VANCOUUUVVERRR!!!!

This is really happening! ahh!

How Much?!!?!

2010-02-05T16:03:00.000-08:00

I understand that some people want to make money off of their Olympics tickets... and I understand that some people will pay a lot of money to get some really good seats... but check out the prices for these tickets for the Men's Long program for figure skating at the Olympics!!!

INSANITY!!!!!!

okay, I have a feeling you might not be able to read that.... so here is a summary of what it says:

9,000 for 2 tickets

10,000 for 4 tickets

10,050 for 3 tickets

I don't care what section they are in or where they are in the stadium....TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS?!

Olympics Gear

2010-02-05T14:31:00.000-08:00

Well here it is!!! The new Olympics gear that I will be sporting throughout my trip.... tourist-y enough?! hahaha.... now picture all of this... a red knapsack (hopefully it will say Canada, not sure)... a camera, a video camera... all while wandering around Vancouver hopefully not getting lost! hahaha

I think people will be taking pictures of me with the caption Canadian Tourist underneath :)

and a close up....

countdown

2010-02-02T07:25:00.001-08:00

TWELVE DAYS until I leave for the Olympics!

The excitement is building! I will be heading to the mall this week to buy some more Canada gear!

Is the jacket too much? lol.... and this scarf is from Roots, it's not the olympic scarf from The Bay. I will be looking at that one first... probably best to go with an Olympics scarf!

The knapsack will be needed for my day trips into Vancouver when I will have no idea what I will be doing! :)

Vancouver - Olympic Rings

2010-01-31T19:20:00.000-08:00

This is a little delayed.... but here is what vancouver looks like now with the Olympic rings lit up. Won't be long 'till I get to take my own picture of it!!!

TICKETS!

2010-01-25T10:37:00.000-08:00

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE!!!!

I have my curling tickets.... well, they came in the mail and were delivered to my house in Barrie. I went to my grampa's birthday party yesterday and my mom brought them with her so I could see them but I didn't bring them back to London with me because I will be going home to Barrie before I leave.

I will upload pictures of them soon!!!

The excitement is building!!!

Survival in Haiti

2010-01-22T10:03:00.000-08:00

This story is amazing... after 7 and a half days buried underground, this little boy is rescued with the BIGGEST smile.

Don't forget to donate to Canadian Red Cross or another organization to help those in Haiti.

2010-01-22T07:31:00.000-08:00

Check this out.... kinda scary!!! And I'm sure none of us had ANY idea that any of this was even going on!

Haiti

2010-01-18T14:58:00.000-08:00

It's amazing how we can feel like we have had the worst day ever... or we are worried about what to wear, what to make for dinner, am I going to go to class today or not. We get mad if it's raining outside and we have to walk to class. We worry about what is essentially nothing, and we completely forget or just ignore the worse things in life, like the earthquake in Haiti.

I have caught myself turning off the television when coverage of the devastation, destruction, and horror that is Haiti comes on... when stories of the death toll are being reported... the smell is apparently so bad that you can barely walk for very long through the streets. Dead bodies are rotting and more people are dying, stuck under the rubble.

For those of you who are Christians, or any other religion that believes in a greater being that us, it is amazing to see the destruction that can be done. I don't know what exactly I believe in terms of why these disasters happen. Some people turn to (a) God, and some turn away. But nonetheless, through the destruction and death, it is amazing to hear the stories of survival, and the great help that pours in from all over the World.

I have decided that I want to donate money this week. I don't know if I will donate to World Vision, the Red Cross, or some other organization. I am going to look into all of them and pick which one I think is best. Although I know that any of them are better than doing nothing at all.

I hope that you will also decide to help. Every little bit helps. Even for those of us here in Canada who feel like we have no money... I was told last week that those people in Canada who are on Welfare, are still in the top 5% of the wealthiest people in the world. That means that 95% of the world is poorer than the least wealthy in Canada.

Just some food for thought.

Canadian Nationals

2010-01-17T17:26:00.000-08:00

Well it has been a long weekend.... Nationals was here in London!

Friday I saw the junior free dance, and the junior men's final. There are some very promising future champions there that's for sure! Two triple axels in one program.. and an eleven year old on the podium!

The senior events were also exciting, unfortunately somewhat political I think. I probably shouldn't weigh in on it toooo much... but some marks were extremely high for what shouldn't have been. However, most of the marks given at a nationals championship are quite high because we want to make our skaters look good to the rest of the world... every country does it!

I have to say, I wish it was Weaver and Poje (dancers) who were going to the Olympics. Their Original Dance program was AMAZING!!! If you haven't seen it then you MUST watch it.

Dube and Davison were on their game and I am so happy for Annabelle and Cody for making it to the Olympics! They have been through a lot over the years, and of course they train in Barrie so I am very proud!

Patrick Chan was incredible of course - again I think his marks were elevated a little bit, he got the amazing marks on his footworks and such - not that I don't think he deserved it buut the marks were very high. I love watching Vaughn skate, he is sooo fast!!! He had an amazing skate tonight and finished second.

Cynthia Phaneuf is definitely back in the game! Her program was amazing and she was almost perfect. Just a few mistakes, so unfortunately (for Cynthia) Joannie Rochette was able to skate perfectly clean in the long program and take back her title.

All in all it was an amazing weekend....great skating and a lot of battles!

I am EXHAUSTED and I will probably read this over later and find more stuff I want to add later.... probably some pictures alsoooo!!

2010-01-13T18:40:00.001-08:00

I just bought a ticket to the men's short program.... I am a little in shock right now at the price and the fact that I actually bought it... so I am not able to talk about it much right now.

Here is a picture of where my seat is.... however, I hope to move down into the lower section and find a seat that no one is sitting in. It worked at a few Hilary Duff concerts and at World's!! So I hope it will work at the Olympics!

VLOG 2

2010-01-13T12:02:00.000-08:00

My update... as well as a much better vlog this time around :)

A comment

2010-01-12T21:16:00.001-08:00

I would just like to comment on how horrible that video makes me look before you press play hahahha... it has a freeze frame at completely the WRONG moment.

I promise I will look better in future vids

Vloggginnng

2010-01-12T16:38:00.000-08:00

Okay, sooooo this is the first of many of my entries to come. Basically I will be video taping a lot of stuff when I go to the Olympics in February. If you wanna see coverage that you WONT see on TV... well then you can watch it here! It will be awesome.

Sorry if this video isn't very exciting...it was the first one... a little nervous just because I don't like hearing myself talk on videos lol... you always hear yourself and its not what you think you sound like! BUT... I thought I would get a jump start on the video making now since I will be posting many of these in the future!

Versace!

2010-01-12T16:16:00.000-08:00

Ok. So while I am a fan of many runway shows and a lot of the clothes that are in the runway shows, they are mostly clothes that I just cannot see myself wearing on a regular day. It's not that I don't have the money for them - okay well I don't have the money for them, but that isn't the reason I don't see myself wearing the clothes. Even when I look at the ready-to-wear clothing, a lot of it just isn't something that I am ready-to-wear (hahaha pun intended).

However, today I came across Versace's Spring/Summer 2010 collection... and WOW... I NEED ALL OF THOSE OUTFITS!

Again I am stuck with the price point... I don't even want to know how much each dress costs! But I just need every single one! (okay ALMOST every single one)

And, being the nerd that I am, I have to point out how impressed I am with Versace's website. It is pretty amazing! To look at the collection, the fashion show goes on and as each model is coming out in each outfit you can then zoom in on it and see a picture of it. So you watch the entire runway show! LOVE IT!

***Check it out: www.versace.com ****

Crazy Baseball Bat Trick

2010-01-10T13:36:00.000-08:00

This is pretty cool!!

Check it out

Chanel spring/summer 2010

2010-01-09T10:47:00.001-08:00

Not only is this collection amazing (and I want everything in it!).. but the set and the show itself is very creative!

Like it all!

Skip to 3:40 mark for Lily Allen performance!

Lohan joke... and lots of cocaine

2010-01-09T10:39:00.001-08:00

Saw this posted on Perez. Many of you may have seen it there, but if you didn't well here it is!

Please note the Lindsay Lohan joke at the :40 mark

Olympiiiicccs

2010-01-06T19:37:00.001-08:00

Okay....

So as of right now I have tickets to curling... I am actually pretty excited about it! BUT I neeeeed to get tickets to some skating events!!! I'm thinking I am going to get a ticket to the men's short program for 300 bucks and then try and get some other tickets while I am there... but at least I will have something!!!

I am also taking a video camera with me!! So you WILL get to see what I see!!!

2009-12-30T19:25:00.000-08:00

AMAZING!!!

DARNIT

2009-12-30T08:26:00.001-08:00

So I was mistaken... there is a contest that I want to enter... and it would have been AWESOME! buuut unfortunately it has already closed... it is the american contest that is still open.

I am not pleased. But I have not given up!

I have decided I will be making videos anyways... and I will be a mobile explorer for my blog anyways!!! I am still going to try and find another contest that can get me there... you never know!!

ANOTHER CONTEST!

2009-12-29T08:30:00.000-08:00

Okay... so from what I can tell I didn't win or come in the top 10 for the Globe and Mail contest. Bummer, yes, BUT.... I have found another contest... being put on by Samsung. They are going to send 5 teams of 2 people to take videos and pictures and blog and tweet at the Olympic games!

So this is my new endeavor for the next few days.

They pick 5 teams... and so far there are only like 15 entries! Deadline is January 11.... So I will be busy the next little while making a video or something but I NEED to get it done!!

I will post some updates as well as the video once it is done!

Brittany Murphy... dead at 32

2009-12-21T14:17:00.000-08:00

Such sad news!!!

Brittany Murphy has died from cardiac arrest at age 32. Of course she has battled eating disorders and drugs, etc.....seems like everyone in Hollywood does at some point. Yet she wasn't very known for this... when I think of her I wouldn't think of those things. I think that makes it even more of a shock!

I remember her most from Clueless and Uptown Girls. I didn't even know it but she was the voice of Gloria in Happy Feet! I remember her song Faster Kill Pussycat.... so talented.. and so young.

The Necky

2009-12-17T16:37:00.000-08:00

Designer Leopord!!

This looks like a bib.... they should have used that in their advertising. Not only is it a scarf, but it can be used as a bib with messy dinners!

What will they think of next... It will have something to do with feet.

stylish!

2009-12-16T19:05:00.000-08:00

I was web-browsing today.... found some awesome Christmas gifts (that no one could ever afford to give me..nor would I be able to purchase myself).... now I will go web-browsing for replicas lol

This tie is GENIUS!!! Apparently sold-out everywhere though... I can see why!

This dress is amazing... and I need it... the designer is Jovani

Some hot leather gloves that I could never afford

My sparkly new years dress perhaps?

Officially on Christmas Holidays!

2009-12-15T07:42:00.001-08:00

Well I just handed in my final paper for my celebrity class so I am officially on Christmas Holidays!!!! Although I have been home for the past few days, I can really now focus on Christmas!

My mother already has me painting the house though lol.. Have to be ready for the relatives you know!

Anyways, I think I am going to go Christmas Shopping today... picture with Santa? Maybe...

Just hope it doesn't look like this...

2009-12-10T15:13:00.000-08:00

Just some pics from Nationals like I said I would post! :)

National Champs!

2009-12-06T20:51:00.000-08:00

Well this will be short and sweet because I have a lot of sleep to catch up on... but we won our cheerleading competition! We are national champs!!!

Our open team won... as well as the Western University team and Fanshawe college team!

It was all an interesting experience.... the actual competition was the best part. Glad I did it and I can say that I did it... but that will be my last experience as a cheerleading. Figure skating is definitely my sport... not cheerleading!!!

Pictures soon to follow!

But for now I need sleep!

The news today... ridiculous

2009-11-28T09:56:00.001-08:00

Just wanted to share my frustrations as I watched the news this morning. I'm sure you have all heard that Tiger Woods was in a car accident the other day... well it was a single car accident, and he went to the hospital and was released in good condition. End of story right? NO! We are soooo obsessed with celebrities that we have to know why it happened... why was Tiger Woods driving away from his home at 230 in the morning. WHO CARES?!

He was released in good condition.. that should be the end of it!

The news anchor spent a good 15 minutes talking about what he was possibly doing leaving at 230 in the morning - heck they had someone they were calling on the phone to talk about it! "There could have been a fight with him and his wife"..."Sometimes he works out at that time"...."Maybe, and hopefully he was getting something for the baby"...

Honestly?!

If this were me in this car accident, A. it probably wouldn't make it on the news and B. if it DID make it on the news they would say there was a car accident at 230 in the morning, but it was a single car accident and the driver was the only person in the car. The driver was sent to the hospital and released in good condition. END OF STORY

Do you believe?

2009-11-16T12:56:00.001-08:00

As many of you know (probably because I have harassed you all to get your votes!), I am participating in a contest with the Globe And Mail to win 2 tickets to the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver!

My story is a bit different than the other stories that are being entered in the contest. Many people have taken the "reporter" approach and gone to a sporting event, writing a play by play kind of article... quotes an all! But my story, although it does include a sporting event, does not focus on that event alone - it is a story about my love and passion for the sport of figure skating.

Basically, after training for many years with a goal of being at the Olympics, competing, I realized that at my age and stage, education is the most important, and that, although I am a talented figure skater, there is a certain level of talent, dedication to training, and of course money that is involved in becoming an internationally competitive figure skater.

I went to the World Figure Skating Championships with my mother after I had decided to retire as a competitive figure skater and found my love for the sport again.

The old man that sat in front of us for almost the entire competition was my greatest inspiration. Him and his late wife used to watch figure skating together - she loved it! (I'm assuming he didn't always want to watch it as much as he does now). But now, he goes to as many competitions as possible! He would ask me questions about the jumps and spins and field moves that the skaters were doing - he didn't really know any of the technicalities - but he was so fascinated by their talent!

For all those figure skaters out there..... try watching figure skating without being jealous - you know you all do it! - and appreciate the time, dedication, and talent of the figure skaters!

The Real World

2009-11-15T12:54:00.000-08:00

Well, I decided it is time to join the "real world".... these days that means how many online me's can I make?

Well now I have a Twitter Becca, a Facebook Becca, I think the MySpace Becca is still out there, and I have my Blogging Becca!!

More and more ways for people to figure out all my inner thoughts ... kinda creepy if you think about it!!! But, that's the way it is these days! Perpetuate what you want into the "real world"... and then possibly shock people who think they know you just from these online versions of you!

Alright, enough of my deconstruction of the online world!

Time to get back to studying