AlterFocus365 is my attempt at completing Project 365 (a challenge to take and post a photo every day for a year)and is a way for me to change the focus in my life. I want to always try to appreciate the little things, and I want every day to contain something photo worthy. I am also anticpiating a lot of changes in the next year, and I feel like this will be a great way to document them and look back when everything is over. Hopefully throughout this project I'll also become a better photographer, and you'll enjoy witnessing the process!
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
Day 114: September 22, 2012
Aquarium day!
So took the bus for the first time since actually living here, which is sort of pathetic. But in my defense, I can’t make transit time productive because I can’t read on buses or trains. Can’t do it. So while other people can fill their commutes with fantastic worlds, or productive homework reading, basically all I can do is listen to stuff and look out the window. Which is why the 45 minutes I would sacrifice taking transit to school rather than driving is important.
Anyway, I’ve never actually been on this skytrain before and it was sort of awesome. For reasons. One of which is, I can make it from my house all the way to the heart of Vancouver on transit in 40 minutes, when driving there is supposed to take 35. Also not awesome for reasons, such as getting chatted up by a middle-aged Indian Harry Potter (pointing out that he’s Indian because his accent was really thick and I couldn’t understand and accidentally said he could give me his number and omg young woman alone on transit why?)
So yeah, did that. Met up with Emma and we found our way to Stanley Park and then to the Aquarium. Wherewebothboughtannualpasseswhat. Yeah. That was super fun. Basically just turned into LET’S TAKE PICTURES OF ALL THE THINGS. Then at 3:30 it got ridiculously crowded and we can go back whenever, so we left to explore the rose gardens a bit. So gorgeous at this time of the year. Did that until we both decided we were hungry, and then ventured back downtown. Emma told me about this place that had $5 everything, so while searching for that we got chatted up by some guy who lives on the street. Which is always the funnest.
Found The Warehouse, it really is $4.95 for all of the entrees. It’s pretty great. So we ordered a bunch of stuff and split it and yeah, lots of food that was actually pretty good.
Then I accompanied Emma to Urban Outfitters, where we did not find what she was looking for. Said goodbye because there was a direct bus to Emma’s house outside the store, and then I started walking back to the station. When I decided it was a gorgeous Saturday evening, and I had nothing to do at home so I was going to walk downtown Vancouver.
Explored this adorably amazing (and expensive) boutique that had the nicest sales associate. Finally saw the Vancouver Public Library, wow Calgary, step it up. Found a giant bull statue. Got stuck on this massive overpass/bridge outside of Rodger’s Arena- btw, what is up with the new roof?
Contemplated walking through China Town and decided to not because the sun was setting. So instead I watched that over the water by the Telus World of Science (come on Telus, you don’t think people travel between Calgary and Vancouver? You couldn’t name it something different?), which was gorgeous and amazing and check out more pictures here.
Then I took the skytrain home, less weird people this time. Got the bus with a ridiculously nice bus driver. Skyped with the Mark.
Day 74: August 13, 2012
I woke up this morning and just felt like death. Back problems back (ahahahahaha, but seriously. sucked.).
Mowed greens with Gary in the morning and was basically just in a horrible mood.
Then went to lunch and didn’t really talk to anyone.
But then, for some random reason, totally felt better in the afternoon. And by random reason I totally mean the hort girls.
Look at our sign!
We deadheaded Hawk 2/weeded there. Thennnn Allie and I went to cut 200 rudbeckia stems for the Charity Classic gala. Dinner. Thing.
Felt way better by the end of the day.
Day 59: July 29, 2012
Today was movie day with Mark. In exchange for watching three movies of my pick, I made him cookies.
They were delicious and, like a cliche “hipster,” I totally instagram’d them.
So yeah. We… watched… movies… that’s actually it.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Remember Me
500 Days of Summer
And some Firefly.
I knew you were curious.
Happy now?
Day 55: July 25, 2012
So I was in bunkers this morning.
Got bored, so I made some bunker art. Because it’s more fun that way.
It was actually a pretty decent morning, chill, quiet.
The afternoon was super stressful, just because it seemed like “One of those days” for a couple of people, and other people were being frustratingly unhelpful to us again (but it actually worked out okay).
We mulched a huge area on the new front sign, during which I cut my knuckle pretty bad (I have a picture, but I didn’t want to spoil the bunker ones by including it), and then got it covered in mulch hair and dirt and figured I should probably go get a bandaid before stuff got in it.
Then we cut the hedge, which just, blahrhrjhbfg. For reasons. One of which, but not the only one, is that I hate hedge trimming days. I just really don’t like it.
I feel like I probably just came home, disinfected my knuckle, and went to sleep after work. Or something. Who knows?
Day 49: July 19, 2012
So this morning was really bad for reasons that involve specific people, so I’m not going to talk about it. I feel like it’s going to be a rule to not talk bad about specific people on here because it’s not nice normally, but it’s even worse when it’s posted somewhere on the internet where anyone could run into it without them knowing.
Anyway, tournament day: I was done mowing by 7:30. Woohoo. Did the basket program, and then we planted this pretty bed! Especially exciting because it was one of those last minute “Boss man asked us to plant but we didn’t order plants oh hey the greenhouse is giving us free plants okay” beds, and it just really ties into the banana leaf circle.
Really liking the new area.
And then rapeseed on the drive home is just so beautiful because I live in Alberta. Which is one of the best and under appreciated places you could live, I think. (I am definitely biased there though).
Then Wal-Mart for a contact fitting and that was shit. Basically my appointment was at 2:30 and the fitter came in at 3:20. So fuck you WalMart, where the hell is Rod?! (Old fitter who was really fucking awesome.)
Then basically nothing else happened because I don’t really have a life.
(Actually I do and it’s really fucking awesome and I’m just trying to not make you feel bad.)
(But I still didn’t really do anything else.)
Day 39: July 9, 2012
My office.
Holes 9 and 5, actually. The weather at 5:30-8AM this morning was amazing. Then it got really hot.
I also, technically by myself but some help, mowed 10/18 holes. Yes. Annoying. Oh well.
The afternoon consisted of some weeding and some mulching.
It was, overall, a much less painful day than I had expected it to be.
Day 37: July 7, 2012
Today was pretty fantastic. Bought some books in the morning to start replacing all of the ones that moulded and- oh wait, that totally doesn’t matter.
Because I went to Awolnation at the Stampede and it was an absolutely fantastic concert.
Minus the fact that the person I went with ditched me after, like, the third song (non intentional ditching?). But still definitely the best stampede concert I’ve been too.
It was also Sydney’s birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY BREWSKI), so after that I made my way down to Commonwealth, where shenanigans happened.
Well, not really. Mostly dancing and some awkward guy encounters. But it was still pretty grand.
Day 34: July 4, 2012
Today was actually a pretty decent day. Only normal work day of the week. We double cut all the things in the morning, and then spent literally four hours weeding the island at the clubhouse. (They’re doing construction up there, and we spent our five minute snack and water break watching them work).
And then another hour weeding other things.
I don’t even remember what I did that night, I was so exhausted from not sleep by the time I got home.
I do remember being so excited to shower that I didn’t end up going to say goodbye to Alix.
Then sleep.
Day 30: June 30, 2012
Today I went to Waterton National Park! I’ve never been before, and ohmygosh, so insanely worth it.
You can see my “actual” photos here, I’m just going to post some of my ridiculous vacation-y pictures (meaning all of me) here for fun.
Day 26: June 26, 2012
This is how my day started.
(Sorry, I took this out my car window while driving, illegal, yes, shutup.)
Mowed in the morning. Moved the rocks from the bed we took apart yesterday in the afternoon. Raven Starter looks amazing now. It rained steadily for most of the afternoon, and about and hour before we left I got such a bad chill that I couldn’t shake.
Best part of the day, by far, was hanging out with Mark again. Watched Firefly ep. Our Mrs. Renoylds and Jaynestown, which are always good. Found out my back is made of knots. Talked about things. And basically just had a lovely time. Stayed up way too late though. (10:30- ohymgosh.)
Day 25: June 25, 2012
Monday morning was super pretty.
Mowing by myself, I got this nice bruise. Massive piece of my thigh is swollen and [still] throbs when I walk. Beauty.
In the afternoon, we dug up one of our beds because they are doing consturction there. Moved all of the plants, and actually made the clubhouse look amazing. So something good came of it, and it was a very productive afternoon.
Then I came home and feel asleep at like 6:30pm.
Day 24: June 24, 2012
This morning was full of fog and mist. Not rain, but mist all over the course.
I mowed, and did horticulture stuff, then went home and had a power nap before going to work a BBQ.
BBQ with 400 steaks and 600 pieces of corn. With very, very annoying people.
Also where I managed to cut my thumb with, no not a normal kitchen knife or anything actually dangerous, but with a plastic knife.
Yes. One of those ones you get at fast food restaurants.
I don’t know how I function.
The event was on the hill behind downtown though, so I stopped on my way out to admire the view and take a couple phone pictures. If I had really realized where I was going, I would have definitely brought my camera.
Day 23: June 23, 2012
Working weekend. Raining hard. So I got off super early, which was nice. Hung out with Alix, which was nice. Saw the Markface for the first time since beginning of May, which was super super nice.
However, I also found out that my stepmother’s father passed away this morning. When sad events happen in realms close to you, it throws some perspective over everything. Appreciate the time that you have, make time for those you love, and find happiness where you can.
Sincerest condolences.
Day 22: June 22, 2012
Nothing particularly eventful happened at work today, except double cutting all 18, and the sky looked super cool.
Then, I came home and napped.
Ran some errands (including returning a failboat of a coat and buying cheese buns).
Some wonderful person got home and was textable again.
Then went to see Brave with my sister and her boyfriend. It was really good, and we were both super embarassed taking this picture.
THIS IS WHAT I DO FOR YOU, TUMBLR.
Day 21: June 21, 2012
So today was basically the best day ever. Went to the zoo with Jennifer (she has more pictures of the day!). It was a Thursday, so it wasn’t too busy, and the weather was perfect.
Got to see the new penguin exhibit! It was actually ridiculously awesome and cool. You are so close to the penguins and just ahhh. If you live in Calgary, go. Go right now.
Did not get to see the tiger cubs though.
Anyway, walked around, did all the zoo things. They’ve done a lot of rennovations in the past couple of years, so got to see those.
Yes. I am a massive zoo nerd.
Also saw the elephants before they’re gone.
Had a picnic in The Canadian Wilds, consisting of my new favorite sandwich.
AND THEN, just because we needed even more awesome, we went up to Peter’s Drive Thru, where Jenn had her first ever Peter’s milkshake. And where we also witnessed a couple of EMTs and a Calgary City Bylaw officer stop and get milkshakes. Because it’s just that good.
Then I went shopping with my sister and bought some really sweet clothes.
