One year Later

If you enjoyed PJ, you might enjoy this blog as well.

But I make no promises.

(500) Days of PJ

I mentioned in my previous post that PJ has reached a milestone.

I started blogging in grade 11 or 12, hopping around a few different places before settling down on Blogger, October '07. I've been writing fairly regularly since then, mostly just on random events and thoughts about my life...it has always been fun, and I've enjoyed having an audience of family and friends to share pictures, anecdotes, and stupid quizzes with. Reading the comments you guys leave for me is something I always look forward to- you are all so funny! My nerdy blogging soul is thrilled to have 13 "followers" and numerous lurkers to call my own...

I have a confession to make, though.
From the start, PJ has been a primarily selfish endeavor. I write for my own enjoyment. Even when I didn't think anyone read me, I wrote anyway...just for kicks. I write about stuff that I find interesting or funny. I mean, really...no one wants to see pictures of my warts up close. That is something I did because I thought it was hilarious and gross (I'm in the process of exterminating them for good, by the way...Dr Scholl's Dual Action Freezing kit might be the magic trick).

The moral of the story is this: I always knew that the day I didn't enjoy blogging would be the day I stopped blogging. I didn't really expect that day would come. At least not this soon.

A while ago I had a thought:

"Maybe I should delete my blog."

I considered it for a while, and decided not to. I figured when I got over the busy period in my life I would get back in the groove.

But...I started thinking along those lines more frequently. It was weird. I have never felt so apathetic about my blog before. I kept asking myself if this was just a "stage" that I was going through. I mean, everyone goes through the Blogging Blahs now and then.
But this isn't that.
My blog has become a chore to me. I feel guilty about not writing in it, but I have zero desire to blog about anything. I don't get any enjoyment out of it, and for the first time since I started, I'm okay with the idea of Life Without PJ.

So I guess this is it.

I have reached the 500th post on PJ...and it will be the last one.

Well, I won't say that. Who knows...in theory, I could have a change of heart and be back next week. But I don't think I will. In fact I seriously doubt it. I think this blog has run its course. Maybe one day I will start a new one, when I have something to say to the world...but for now, I'm going to pursue other hobbies and interests. Most likely I'll still be around, commenting on your blogs and keeping up with things, but this is the end of the road for PJ.

Its time for me to end this blog's slow and painful death. Its been dragging out too long already.
Its kind of sad, but kind of freeing.

I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing.
Its been fun.

Your bloggy friend,

PJ

Coming Soon

I'm allliiiiiiivvvvee! I survived these past 3 weeks of insanity, though I am a bit frazzled and frayed.
A few minutes ago I did my 3 internet stops: email, Facebook, blogs...and discovered that very little has gone on in my absence. Not that I've abadoned them entirely, but I've definitely cut back. Looks like I haven't missed out on too much.
Interestingly I haven't missed blogging much either. I don't know how I feel about that.
Lately I haven't had the energy to put any effort into it, so maybe now that I've quit my cleaning job things will begin to pick up around here. If not, well...I don't know.
I work tomorrow, and after that my schedule is up in the air. I'm hoping to get lots of work. But if not, there are plenty of things that have been neglected that could use some of my time.
This blog, for instance.
Have you noticed how this post is very disjointed and just blathers on and on? My brain has gone to mush. When I'm not at work I feel like I should be sleeping or making my lunch for tomorrow. Beyond that, my experience is limited....ha ha.
Anyway, moral of the story: I will attend to this lackluster little blog in the near future. I have some pictures of things I've done lately, an we're also nearing a rather large PJ milestone so I'll have to come up with some way to celebrate on here.
Until then...

J

A Quick Hello

Hello blog readers!

I haven't forgotten you! Here is a quick update:

*My computer is back up and running, though its not quite what it was. There is still much to be done.

*To be honest I enjoyed having a break from computers in general. It was kind of freeing somehow. I'm having mixed feelings about getting it back. Weird.

*Daylight Savings...is a terrible, terrible, idea. I think it should be discontinued. Today.

*My car is having issues. I talked briefly with my friend who looked at it for me today. Sounds like it could be quite bad. Or it could be ok...but, pessimist that I am...my gut is telling me I'll be hearing from Bad News Betty soon. And she'll be grinning from ear to ear. I don't like Bad News Betty. She is not my friend.

*I went to the first wedding of the year, today! Please notice my updated tally.

*8pm Monday morning I begin my job at the hospital...nervous and excited! Mostly I am dreading the daily parking space battle. Anyone know where I can get free parking downtown, that is close to the hospital?? That is assuming I have a car to park.

*I am really, utterly, exhausted right now. I am going to bed now. At 8:35 pm. It is sad, and it is true. But considering that its actually sort of 9:35 pm, that makes it a teensy bit better. Also the fact that I will be getting up much earlier this week, and my brain will tell me its even earlier than the clock reports...I think I better stock up on sleep while I can.

*Goodnight.

Viruses, Books, and Scrubs

I'm sorry I've been so neglectful of my blog this past week!
Besides having no ideas, my computer has been laying down the hate on me. It got a virus, and then a day after that was fixed (thanks to my awesome brother, Paul!) a blue screen popped up and wouldn't let me on...my Dad tells me that windows needs to be reinstalled or something. Its all gibberish to me. So, at the moment, I am without a computer of my own...I have to bum off everyone else (when they aren't on theirs...which is not as much time as you might think!)
I don't know when this problem will be resolved.

In the meantime, I've gone to library and taken out a whole bunch of books on WWII to occupy myself. I even reread Things We Couldn't Say and sniffled my way through the last chapter. I don't usually cry over books, but that one pulls my heart strings. Its up for loan again if you're interested!

I also have some great news!
I am officially employed by the hospital in food services! Its such a relief to have a job again! I am on-call to begin with, but by the sounds of it I will be getting a lot of hours. Next Monday I begin with my orientation, and then I'm going to be training in all the different positions. I'm always a little nervous starting new jobs because there is so much to remember, but I'm sure in a month or two I will be totally fine.
I am also hoping to keep my cleaning job, seeing as I will never work past 8pm at the hospital, which still leaves time open in the evening to do my 3/4 hours at the office.
I'm excited to finally be able to do some serious saving for school, though I don't know how long I'll be able to keep up 11-12 hours work days! I guess its just making up for these months of slacking off!

Katie and I went shopping for my scrubs yesterday, which was fun! I've secretly always wanted scrubs, but I never had any reason to buy them, and I never, ever, EVER, expected to be working in a hospital...seeing as I have a debilitating fear of them. I think I'll be ok in the cafeteria though.

Anyway, that's what's new...I'll try and be good about blogging, but after next week I make no promises. I might not be as frequent as I have been these past months when I had nothing to do all day!

I Remember This

While attempting to clean up and streamline some bloggy stuff, I came across this post that never got published...until today. Man, that was a bad morning.

Merry Christmas from PJ!

To my lovely Readers, Friends, and Family...
Most years I am running about frantically at this time on December, grabbing anything and everything that people "might like" because...that's what we do at Christmas. We buy people things that they don't really need, but its "nice" and "polite" and we're "supposed to". And I like giving gifts, I really do. But meaningless, obligatory gifts don't really float my boat.
So I decided to do something different this year.
I got onto the World Vision Christmas catalog site, and purchased clean water for a family...just for you! I know its not chocolate, fancy bath stuff, or sweet-smelling lotion...but I think you'll like it.
I think its the kind of gift that will last a long time, and bring a lot of happiness.

Merry Christmas!

The Results Are In!

Well, it seems true that everyone has an opinion on eggnog. An unprecedented number of PJ readers (18!) participated in the The Great Eggnog Debate Poll, and here is what we found.

10% believe eggnog is a vomitous concoction, invented by sick and twisted minds. They get the heebie jeebies just thinking about it!

21% think eggnog is ok, and they'll drink it if its mixed with a lot of milk.

42% find eggnog a delight! They love having eggnog as a special treat during Christmas! Mmmm....

26% are passionate about their eggnog! They drink it straight, and they like it nice and thick. Why don't they keep this stuff in stores all year round?!

My own personal opinion is not that of a raving fanatic, but falls into the category that truly enjoys eggnog, but likes to keep it special by indulging only at Christmas.

I hope you all enjoy some delicious eggnog this season, and I also think the haters should give it another try. Blackwells eggnog is not too thick, and it doesn't have that off-putting yellow hue, so that could be your first step to discovering what it is that the rest of us like so much :)

12:00 AM

I wanted to blog on the 18th, but apparently I missed my opportunity.

Under The Weather

I'm afraid my blogging spree was cut short this weekend.
On Saturday I had the pleasure of doing many fun things, which extended until 10PM, and then suddenly and inexplicably became ill.
On Sunday I didn't get out of bed until after 12PM, still felt gross, and then went to work at 3:30.
Got home at 10PM, and went to bed.

Today I feel fine, and am enjoying this cool, rainy day.
Yes...I like the rain. It reminds me of the Island.

Since I left off on Comment Karma Day 2 last Friday, I will resume as if today is Day 3, and hopefully get the momentum going again!

I do have to get some other things done first though, so don't hold your breath...but DO keep watch for a comment coming to a blog near you!

Comment Karma

Well, it appears that it takes more than a bloggy birthday and the promise of delicious cookies to get comments out of you stubborn lurkers.

So here is what I propose...

Its new. Its daring. And it will promote bloggy goodwill everywhere.

Its also an experiment! I am excited, aren't you?!

See, I think that when you comment on a persons' blog, they are more likely to return the favor, and comment on yours.

I call this...

Comment Karma!

Karma: the concept of a system where beneficial effects are derived from past beneficial actions and harmful effects from past harmful actions.

Let's start a comment revolution!

Here's how its going to work.

You begin by commenting on..lets say...five...different blogs.

They can be the blogs of someone you know, someone you don't know, a blog you've read for a while but never commented on, or a blog you just stumbled across this minute. Or whatever. My point is, it can be any blog. But I think it will work better if you comment on more personal blogs, rather than huge well-known blogs that get 1000+ comments every day.

For those of you unused to commenting, it doesn't have to be anything profound! I think comment content is what scares people off commenting the most. Honestly now, if you have a blog, have you ever got a comment that you just thought, "Wow that is a stupid comment, why did they even bother writing that?". The correct answer is NO! If you are anything at all like me, you will be so excited about actually getting a comment, comment critique will be the last thing on your mind!
So go ahead, type out a quick, "I totally agree! By the way, I like your blog", and you will make some blogger very happy. Eventually you can move on to more interesting comments. Baby steps, remember?

Back to the C.K. program here.

The next day, drop off four comments. Any blogs. Doesn't matter. The catch is, if you got any comments in the last day you have to return the comment karma, given the commenter has a blog. This can be included in your four required comments if you are feeling stingy.

Still with me?

Next day: 3 comments. And you still have to karma comment to every comment you have received.

Day after that: 2 comments + comment karma.

And after that: 1 comment + comment karma.

After that....well hopefully everyone will be commenting away that the comment karma will be on such a roll that no one can stop it!

I'm kinda stoked about this. Think it'll work?

I'm Baaaack!

I've gone practically a week without internet access since our Modem died last Monday, and then I was away over the weekend.
It wasn't actually that hard to do. I thought it would be way worse.
I did get some awesome blogging ideas during the week, but of course I couldn't post them, and now I've forgotten them. Maybe it will come back to me...
I'll write a little bit about my weekend adventure as well! But not now. I am too sleep deprived.
I think I need some coffee.

Can't Even Think of a Good Title

Its over.
I've become that Boring Blogger.
I'm inconsistent, and when I actually hunker down and rap out a few words, its dull and uninteresting even to me...especially to me. I couldn't string together a few funny sentences if I tried, which I am just too unmotivated to do. The only reason I'm writing anything now is because of this cloud of blogging guilt that is hovering over me, raining down a storm of oblogation (hey I just came up with a new blogging term...maybe this was worth it after all?) whenever I sit at the computer.
Its not like I've been busy. And most of the time I blog best when I have waaaay too much time on my hands, and nothing really big is happening. Its the little things that can be fun to blog about.
Now I'm just sitting here, staring at the screen, willing it to inspire me.
Uuuuuuugh.

Its not working.
Sorry I wasted your time. But did I really? I mean, if you are here reading this, you know how meaningless my blog is, and you probably weren't expecting much anyway. You probably WANT to waste some time, right? RIGHT?
Is it worth clicking the little orange publishing button? I'm tempted to just delete this whole thing, and leave my blog un-updated until I actually have something to say.
But that would be against my policy.
I'm not quite sure what that policy is, but I am sure that deleting useless posts is against it.
So it is decided.

Have a nice day.

Oops...

Sorry its been so long since I've blogged!!!
I've been away for a couple days, and also just been busy. I've completed Project #1, visited my parents, and done something to my physical appearance that may surprise you...
but you'll have to wait for pictures :)

I promise I'll be back soon!

Jill

Internet Deprived

The internet has been down at Strathcona for the last couple days, and since I was away Sunday night to Tuesday morning, I have been without Facebook, email, or blogs for nearly 5 days...
and I'm starting to feel the withdrawl symptoms.
Thus, I am at Karissa's house in Courtenay, using her computer.
How sad am I?
I have a lot to blog about, but it requires pictures, which are on my laptop back at the lodge. So you will have to wait til they fix the internet connection. poor you.

Announcements

#1. I have written a proper post, but because I uploaded the picture on the weekend, it was published to an earlier date. Therefore you need to scroll down to read it. Its pretty exciting, so you should do that. Now.

#2. This is my 400th post! hooray!

#3. If you have trouble acheiving satisfactory high-fives, as I have all my life, you will be interested to know that if you focus on the recipient's elbow, your high-five will be successful every time. Isn't that EXCITING?? Its made my life sooo much easier.

I Have Arrived

I don't have any pictures yet...mostly because it has been downpouring since I got here and all you would see is RAIN!
Its a beautiful spot...way closer to the road than I expected, and I haven't seen all the property yet either. I've been stowed away in the staff housing up the hill called "the Annex". Its a pretty bare bones little building, and I'm sharing my room with a girl from NZ named Catherine.
The people here are cool, and pretty hardcore outdoorsy type! I keep thinking that this would be the perfect place for Mike.
The Chef's name is Jessie. He is probably late twenties, early thirties, with a beard and ponytail. He seems pretty laid-back, and excited that I am a "real" cook....now I'm scared! Haha...he seems really nice though. I start in about an hour.
I am really regretting not bringing more warm clothes! I guess because it felt so much like summer in Kamloops, I thought it would be the same here. They said it might snow this week!!!
I slept in my sleepingbag under my duvet last night to stay warm :)
Other than the cold, and just the general "newbie" feeling, I'm doing well and looking forward to being here for the next couple months.
As you may have gathered, I DO have an internet connection up here. However it is notoriously unreliable, especially in bad weather, and there are dozens of staff who want to use the same computer, so I don't know how often I will be able to get on.
Anyway, I love to have lots of little messages from people when I do get on, so drop me a line here or facebook and you will make my day!
I will put up pictures as soon as weather, time, and computer-access permits!

Where Am I?

I wont be updating my blog very regularly for the next 4 months.
Don't know if I mentioned this, but I'm doing my practicum at Strathcona Park Lodge, an outdoor education/adventure resort-ish thing about 45 minutes away from Campbell River, on Vancouver Island.
Apparently there is no internet connection or cell phone reception out there, so I will be cut off from the outside world!
I drove all the way to Horseshoe Bay this morning, caught the 12:30 ferry, and I am now enjoying the company of the wonderful Epp family in Comox. Tomorrow I head out to the Lodge to get settled in, and I will have my first day of work on Tuesday.
I am hoping to get lots of pictures and update my blog when I head into town on my day(s) off, but I can guarantee nothing.
So if you are wondering where I have got to...I will be working my butt off in a sweet kitchen, and enjoying the beautiful Vancouver Island.

Exam Results

So, I did it.
And what's even more important: I passed.
Squeaked by, really. It was a hard day, and I'm not going to lie to you: there were some tears shed.
Especially when I found out that my best little buddy, Lin, did not pass. She was her usual calm and composed self, and took the news well, but I was pretty upset. She laughed at me. "Why are YOU crying? I'm the one that failed!" She said.
I will have more details for you at a later date, but I'm falling asleep as I type. I am physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted.

Also, I would like to point out that this is my 25th post of the month, breaking the record of 24 posts in November '06. I am on a roll!

Happy Easter

Enjoy the holiday!
But don't eat too much turkey.