Happy Belated Bday Dad

This past weekend I celebrated with my dad for his birthday. I headed up (over) to Goderich on Saturday morning (in the freak snowstorm - what's up with that? Easter is supposed to be about getting a new skipping rope or bike, not about shoveling the driveway). Dad, Sue and Rach met me at Grandma's and we all made dinner and chatted. It was really nice. Jason had sent me a new game and we tried it out after dinner. It was quite fun and my Aunt Karen even beat my dad (at two different card games).

This week I am working crazy hours at the Casino. I am training people on the software I'm implementing and have to hold session throughout the night as well as the day. Today I was at work for 8am. I had two four hour sessions, checked into the Hilton across the street (did not get any sleep) and was back here for a 9pm four hour session. My next session starts at 2am and goes until 6am. So far I am still awake, but I may just have to go and get some hot chocolate or one of those triple chocolate donuts from Tim Hortons (damn Starbucks for closing at 8pm - I missed them by 15 mins). Tomorrow I am off to the doctor to find out about my stupid cyst. I'm finally getting in to see a gynocologist (hopefully he can figure out what is going on and make the pain stop). After that I'm meeting up with Liz to go to the travel agent to book the trip to Nunavut (woo hoo)! Then back here for another set of training through the night. It is just totally crazy. I hope my cats are behaving and not wrecking my couch or my bed (their new thing).

On the change front, I finally found a penny today at work in the women's change room. I hadn't found anything in weeks.

More Pennies

Well, actually, one penny. I keep finding pennies near the change rooms at the casino. I guess everyone cares about their changes, except pennies (probably because we don't have any slots that take pennies).

Last night I watched Memoirs of a Geisha. I read the book a number of years ago. I thought it was an excellent read except for the ending. The ending came out of no where. It made no sense that she ended up with the guy that she did. In the movie, probably because they have to get through everything quickly, it made more sense that she ended up with the guy. The movie was so long, though. Other than the dance sequence (with the snow), I really wasn't that impressed with movie. It wasn't that there was anything wrong per se, but it certainly wasn't as mesmorizing as I found the book.

I did begin watching 'The United States of Leland' last night (had to go to bed before the end). Can I just say that I love Ryan Gosling? Now, he doesn't look as good in this as he did in Murder by Numbers and The Notebook, but he is very intriguing in this movie.

Star Sighting

I had my first star sighting at the casino today. Englebert Humperdinck! He is performing two shows at the casino this weekend. He was being led around the basement of the casino this afternoon. Of course, it didn't register who it was until I had already passed them.

What I am most excited about after this sighting, is that Gary Sinise is going to be at the casino at the end of the month with his Lt. Dan Band. I kind of want to go. Who knows, I may still go by myself. Maybe I will get to see him in the hall. I would definitely have to stop and get his picture. He is damn sexy.

Lisa, Sandra and I have tickets to see Jon Stewart in June (very cool). And I just found out that Huey Lewis and The News will be here in June as well. When I was in Grade 8 (I believe) my dad took us to see Huey at the CNE Stadium. It was awesome (except for when dad got knocked out by flying addding machine paper - one minute he was standing next to me dancing and next he was on the ground bleeding from his head, it was rather scary). Huey is an awesome entertainer. Tickets are at most $50, well worth it and it is during the week, so I could just stay after work (hopefully get a comped room and work late / early).

On the change challenge front, I found another penny after the sighting of Englebert.

Change Lost

I had been keeping track of my found change on Julia's blog, but all of my comments were lost when she updated her blog site. So, I can't remember how much change I found and where. From now on I will definitely keep those details here.

So, originally I had found 3 cents while walking around the mall with Julia.
I found a dime outside of the women's change room at the casino.
Yesterday I found a penny on the floor of the jewellery store I was at (really shouldn't people in a jewellery store have better change falling out of their pockets?).
I found a penny on the floor of the mall.

Unfortunately, that is all I can remember today. Hopefully I will find more tomorrow at the pub. I'm falling behind.

Change, etc

So, on the change challenge I found 3 pennies today. Of course, I was with Julia and she found 12 cents. She is totally going to kick my ass on this challenge.

Julia and I had a nice lunch at Moxie's today. She is also the first person, besides my dad, to see my beautiful new floor. The apt is starting to get back to normal. I have a ton of stuff to give to goodwill. I really shouldn't be allowed to buy things.

I watched the BBC miniseries 'Pride and Prejudice' today. It was so good. Now, I know I had heard it was really good, but I was very impressed. Of course, the mother and Lydia were even more annoying on the screen than they were in the book. I really hate stupid people and stupid women even more. I was screaming at the tv for them to shut up. I'm now watching Jeopardy, yeah smart people.

The Challenge

Julia and I have decided to have a 'change challenge'. That's right, who can find the most change. The challenge goes until Canada Day. I don't believe any of the change I have found so far counts. So, keep watch on how I'm doing. I already have a large change jar at home, I'm hoping this will help it grow.

On the challenge front, I am also in another challenge. This one is with Christi. We are doing a weight challenge. The challenge runs for 15 weeks and we are "attempting" to stick to the weight watcher's point system along with an excercise challenge. For every day that we do 20 mins of excercise and stick to our weight watchers points for the day we can receive up to 2 challenge points. At the end of each week the person with the fewest challenge points puts $10 into a kitty. At the end of the 15 weeks we are hitting the spa.

So far, I am not doing so well. I am definitely trying to watch what I eat, but I had forgotten how easy it is to go over those points. It also didn't help that my hockey game and skating class were cancelled this past week. Luckily, the cafeteria here has a veggie soup everyday. I'm attempting to really limit my lunch intake with a nice hearty bowl of soup (and sometimes a side of veggies). I find that it is harder here at the casino, though. At ESI I had Annie's support to keep me on track. I guess I will just have to find some inner strength :)

Change

My friend Julia has a link on her blog to another blog about change being found. I am strangely fascinated by this blog. I keep going back to it, to see how much change they have found. It has a running total, as well as monthly stats (and you know how I love those stats).

So, now I find myself picking up the change that I find and wanting to comment on it. (We shall see how long this lasts.)

Last week at hockey practice I found 2 pennies, but I only picked up one. It was really gross outside and the one penny was stuck in the mud. Today I found two pennies on the casino concourse floor when I went to the caf to get some water. I felt weird each time bending down to pick up the pennies because there are always eyes watching you at the casino. Total so far is $0.03.

I did find a loonie as well, but I'm pretty sure it fell out of my coat, so I am not counting it.