Monthly Archives

September 2015

Life

A new couch.

Posted on September 27, 2015

Out with the old, in the with the new!

That’s how the saying goes right? What they don’t tell you is how hard it can be to let go and get rid of something that’s old and how stressful it is to get something new.

Especially if that thing you are trying to get rid of is a couch. Let me tell you of the last few weeks of my life and couches.

The old.

The old.

Here’s a little back story on how I managed to get this couch.Here’s a little back story on how I managed to get this couch. It was super squishy, I knew how to sit in it so it would eat the other person, It was a great place to sit when people where over for board games and best of all, it doubled as a bed when someone stayed over. I loved that couch.

With that said, I also hated that couch. It was old. The back cushions where more like sausages that only came out when I had more people over then the couch could fit. So they lived in the hallway. As a result, I had extra blankets draped over the couch a million pillows to make yourself comfortable.

It was a love hate relationship with that couch, but so many memories were made around and on that couch. This couch outlasted all of my romantic relationships and I made friends with brilliant people around that couch.

I have said for years, “It’s time! I’m getting a new couch!” I would go out, look at couches and have the realization that couches are very expensive and not then not actually buy a couch.

So when I finally did it, I figured I would just post it to Craigslist for free.
*The couch was given to me free, so I felt it should go free to a new home* 
I also thought that the last week of August would be the best time to post it. New students where going to be coming into the city, so I would have hundreds of offers to take away my free couch.
Or so I thought!

Turns out people want you to deliver your free couch to them or find someone to take it from your house to theirs for them. It was on Craigslist for 5 days before 3 young college kids came and picked it up.

What I wasn’t ready for, was to actually let go of the couch. Watching some random strangers literally pick up my couch, load it up and drive off with it, was actually really hard to watch. But new couch meant making new memories and new friends. So I turned around and walked back into the house and said “Look at all this space for activities!”. My house echoed, it was weird.

At the end of August I went testing out couches with the Italian. That turned out to be an adventure of its own because he didn’t care, because after all “a couch is just a couch”. I did end up picking out a couch that I loved! However, the color I wanted wasn’t in stock so it would be 2-3 weeks before it arrived.

Begin the 2-3 weeks of stressing out because I didn’t measure the couch before I bought it!

When it finally arrived, the two movers had it in a box and I flat-out said “I hope it fits threw the door because I forgot to measure it”. I was completely 100% ready to take apart this couch, and reassemble it myself inside. However, It did fit! They assembled the legs, took away all the packaging and off they went. Turns out I stressed out for nothing.

The new!

The new!

Lessons learned from buying a new couch:
– Getting rid of old things doesn’t mean you are getting rid of the memories and friends that you made along the way.
– Make multiple ads on Craigslist if you need to get rid of something.
– Measure, measure, measure! But keep in mind the feet do usually come off!

All the best,
Bailey B.

Transit

The Skytrain part 2.

Posted on September 11, 2015

As many of you know, my method of transportation around Vancouver is our lovely public transportation! So with that in mind, I think its time for another blog post about my adventures with it!

My route to work includes a bus, a skytrain and another skytrain. I’ve got my travel time to and from work down to about 20-30 minutes. Compared to what it was 3 years ago, I’d say its pretty great. With that said, I still see a crazy amount of things.

I took the Skytrain home after closing at work. Everything was pretty normal, I didn’t meet anyone on my way to the Skytrain from work. Their was a fair check going on at the top so Vancouver Police where present for Fare evaders. However, on this particular evening they were doing construction on the tracks, so the platform was only open on one side. Essentially this means you have to wait a little longer to get on a train in the direction you need to go. It usually goes, 2 eastbound, then 2 westbound trains. I have learned to wait for the second eastbound train because its much less crowded.

Cue first train going Eastbound.

Cue everyone trying to get on & off at the same time because people think they wont get to where they need to go.
With that said, there always seems to be that one person who forgets they need to get off and tries to get off before the doors close.

Cue drunk guy who has just realized this ^. Now add to the fact, people are already ready for the doors to close. Then add the fact Drunk guy also has a stroller with a baby in it. Now everyone is trying to get out of his way in an orderly but hurried fashion, including a guy who is in the process of moving his backpack off the ground and stepping out of this train to let the guy off.

Then it happened.

Drunk guy has started using his stroller as a battering ram to get people out of his way. He ends up hitting backpack guy with his stroller and getting wheels caught on that tiny gap between the train and platform. *In this moment I thought to myself “Mind the Gap!”*. He mistakes this as the backpack guy trying to prohibit him from getting off the train. Drunk guy than smashes his stroller him one more time and the stroller goes falling over and on to the platform.

And then the fight started.

Remember that stroller had a baby in it!  So enter Drunk guys girlfriend screaming MY BABY MY BABY!”. Well Drunk guy and backpack guy where throwing punches. Once Drunk guy realized the VPD where on the platform, he grabbed his kid from his girl and started yelling at VPD that Backpack guy threw his stroller and baby to the ground, so he had to defend his kid. 

Well, everyone else on that train and platform saw and said otherwise. They held the train to get statements from people and or pull them off for questioning, then let that train go.

All of this happened in less than 5 mins. It was crazy to watch and completely bizarre. This was actually the first time I’ve seen a fight break out in front me. It was also the first time I’ve seen someone use their stroller, equipped with baby, as a battering ram to move people.

Now arrived the second eastbound skytrain, and lo and behold, it was much less crowed then the first one. Of course I got on that one and begun the rest of my ride home.

Taking Transit in Vancouver is an adventure of its own and this is just one of the reason I find I feel that way,These are the Other Reasons.

Do you have any exciting stories about transit in Vancouver? Or am I the only one! Let me know in the comments below!

All the best,
Bailey B.

Travel

Italy.

Posted on September 9, 2015

Let me start off by telling you I that Italy was never on my bucket list. I had originally bought it as a surprise gift for my boyfriend, The Italian*.  About a year ago, we had a conversation about what were on our bucket list. I remember asking him what was on his and getting the reply “I would like to go to Italy”.

So with much planning and the lovely help from the team at Contiki, I was set to surprise the Italian with the greatest Christmas present ever!

However, he said

No.

Who says no to a free trip to Italy?

I have learned from my past travels with Contiki is that life is about no regrets! I wasn’t going to let buying a trip for someone to someplace that wasn’t on my bucket list be one of mine.

So, I went to Italy all by myself!

I actually enjoy traveling by myself. I get to move at my pace, I’m not rushed to get from point A, to point B. I get to see what I would like to see. Although, getting to Italy was its own adventure, but that’s for another blog post.

The people I met on this tour where amazing. The places I saw where breathtaking. The food I ate was plenty and delicious. The memories I made because of these I’ll remember Italy forever.

Sometimes it’s simply not where you’re going that makes the destination, but the rather the people you had met along the way the destination a memory to last a lifetime.

These are just a couple of people I met along the way. Each person I met on this trip was absolutely fantastic and helped create awesome memories of Italy with me.

One of my favorite moments was the last day of our trip where it POURED buckets and buckets of rain in Rome. I refused to buy and umbrella or poncho from the many venders selling them. I was soaked. I didn’t care. What did I do? I handed off all my electronics to Pooja, and started jumping in puddles all over Rome. BEST TIME EVER! Again, Eleri, I’m so sorry I got you wet! I honestly didn’t think the puddle was that big!

I got to put my feet in the Mediterranean Sea. I did a wine tasting in a beautiful vineyard. I rode a gondola threw Venice. I got to see the roman Colosseum. I saw the statue of David. I visited Juliet’s balcony in Verona. I visited the Cinque Terre and saw some amazing buildings.

The buildings in Italy are a sight of their own. The amount of craftsmanship that went into them just blew my mind. The churches I visited where fantastic, but I don’t have many pictures of the insides because a lot of them ask you not to. I’m OK with that. You will have to visit Italy to find out why everything here is so spectacular.

Would I go back to Italy? Yes but not by myself. I feel like I need an adventure buddy to visit Italy again.
Would I buy a trip for someone else and surprise them with it again? I probably will, but not for a while.

As much as I love to travel by myself, my next adventure will have to be with a travel buddy!

All the best,
Bailey B.

*I call him The Italian because he is Italian, his family came from Italy and he was the 1st Italian I had ever met.

Relationships

Unforgettable

Posted on September 7, 2015

Some people who pass through your life are unforgettable and even when you wish them to be forgotten. However, due to events, they will forever hold a moment in your life. Whether you like it or not.

Let me tell you about this relationship I had with Donald*.

I met Donald off a popular dating website about 3 years ago? I remember going “Wow, he’s easy on the eyes!” So the attraction was instant. We went for coffee and got to know each other. Things clicked right away, he was kind, he loved being active and going on adventures, my kind of guy!

Donald and I began that weird dance of dating. You know, that dance you do after so many dates, where neither of you have actually said you are exclusive with the other, but you assume you are? Yeah, that dance.

Donald was a great guy, I could see myself going somewhere with him. He made me laugh, we had adventures, conversations were had. But most importantly, I was happy and having fun with someone. Although with that said, he had his own things he needed to work out. How did I find out about all of this? Well let me tell you.

We had been “dating” for a few months, and he had stayed over at my place a few times previous to this night.

This is important question. Have you ever asked someone a question or said something that triggered that person to have a panic attack due to anxiety? Well apparently, I did this particular evening. However, Donald never said anything to me all evening, even when we went to bed together. I remember cuddling and then falling asleep next to him at about 11pm.

I also remember waking up in bed the next morning at 6am, a little cold. I rolled over realizing I was very much

Alone.

I assumed he had fallen asleep on the couch because I sometimes like to starfish and take up all the bed. But never bothered to check the couch. So I went ahead and had a shower. Once I got out of the shower, I figured I would wake Donald up and see if he wanted to go out for breakfast.

I walked down the hallway and saw my front a jar. The couch was empty and Donald was nowhere to be found.

No note. No text message. Nothing!
And to top it off, my front door was open! (Turns out for about 4 hours)

I do not wish what I felt that morning on anyone. I still remember the feeling of rejection, the lack of respect and the immense amount of fury all at once. It’s an awful feeling when someone you care about leaves you in the middle of the night.

Turns out my question to Donald triggered a panic attack and he couldn’t sleep. He thought the best course of action was to leave and sleep in his own bed at 2am.

Every redhead has a temper, this is a fact. I will admit, mines not the greatest and even I don’t like it. With that said, in that moment, I decided to not give him another moment of my time. I didn’t text him, I would wait for him to make his move. I would give him the time he needed to process what was going with him, and I would simmer.

He did eventually text me apologizing. He asked me to coffee to explain.

We had coffee, he explained that he has anxiety and that can result in panic attacks. He said he was sorry and he wished he could go back and re-do that morning. I remember telling him

I don’t accept your apology because you have hurt me more than you can imagine, you broke my trust. How can I jump to back to how we were, when you have broken my trust? I don’t know if you will be there for me when I wake up.

Donald created baggage for me that particular morning. It was a while before I could share my bed with someone I cared about. Trust is a big thing for me because without trust, what kind of relationship do you have?
Sometimes you meet people in your life and you will remember them forever, sometimes you meet people you wish you could forget. But this is how life goes, people come in and out of it and you grow from it.

All the best,
Bailey B.

*Name has been changed.

Relationships

Fireworks.

Posted on September 5, 2015

It’s no surprise that I’ve been on a countless number of dates. Mostly bad ones, but I’ll be honest with you, I would go on those bad dates again. Going on bad dates has taught me what I liked, what I didn’t and most importantly, what I was looking for in a partner in crime.
It’s also no surprise that I’m in an age where internet dating is a thing. But have you ever go on an awful date and you know instantly it isn’t going to go anywhere? However, you don’t want to come off as a bitch because you realized this in the first 5 mins?

I’ve been there MANY a times.

I had a Facebook friend post this and it showed up on my feed. I instantly replied.

Ugh. Awful date. His pictures made him seem so much more attractive. Now I have to let him down somehow.

I totally get that a picture doesn’t do a person justice, or they only post they only post one type of photo. I also understand that if you aren’t attracted to them, then why waste your time and their time? I feel you need sparks to make some fireworks.This was my response

“I’ll be honest with you, I feel like we aren’t going to work. I don’t feel a spark and I don’t want to waste your time and lead you on. Okay, thanks Bye”.

This was my go to -holy-crap-need-to-run-away-now-but-don’t-want-to-hurt-your-feelings- exit speech.

Yes I had an exit speech. I went on a few dates with guys where it should have ended after the first date, but they seem to be enjoying themselves and I didn’t want to be mean or rude. But by doing that I was leading them on in hopes that these dates would become something. I also was wasting their time, not to mention mine.

On a date where you know it’s not going to go anywhere for you? Be honest with them. I’ll be cliché here, Honesty is the best policy. If they feel like you are being a rude, mean or a bitch because of it, well then great. You dodged a bullet there.
For me dating was awesome (bad dates and all) because I got to understand what I wanted, needed and deserved: Respect.

If you aren’t enjoying yourself on a date, then how can you enjoy a relationship with them? This is a great question, dates are supposed to be fun and you are supposed to enjoy yourself. If by the end of the date you realize this person isn’t for you, let them know. You might not want to do it right away, because it can be scary. But let them know eventually.

DON’T just block & ignore them or use a rouse you saw on t.v.
DO  respect them as a human and be upfront & honest with them.

In the end someone might be hurt but they can’t fault you for being honest and true to yourself.

All the best,
Bailey B.

Life

Time Flies.

Posted on September 2, 2015

Holy wow, when you are busy, time flies!

In the last two weeks I’ve been so busy with work and getting ready for Mel and Erics wedding that I just didn’t have a crazy amount of creative energy for a few blog posts!

5 days ago I got to watch one of my best friends marry her super awesome other half. It was a beautiful wedding full of adventure, love and Kleenex. No trips to the ER!

I promise you new blog posts are coming! Including more awful dates, transit stories and now wedding adventures!

All the best,
Bailey B.