Random thoughts

The drive to Chilliwack is quite long which leads my mind to wander (sometimes a big problem as you may stop focusing on the road... which of course I don't mom so no worries Kay?). Today I saw a hitchhiker and here is what my mind began to question

1. Why Hitchhike? yes it is cheaper but really you have no idea what person is going to pick you up. Their car may stink on the inside (yes I am a girl and this concerns me) as well as they may not talk to you (not so comfy I would think). So I guess it boils down to cash. Ok I can accept that.
2. Have they thought about the danger of getting into a car with a stranger? Hasn't everyone seen a movie where you get picked up by a psycho (or is this just a girl fear again)? Either way the possibility of being beaten, raped or killed by a passing car just doesn't really appeal to me.
3. Have they thought that the person picking them up may think they are a killer? Conversation is definitely going to be strained don't you think. I mean you try to pull out a stick of gum from your pocket, they think its a knife. I don't know but accidents can happen that way. Some thing to think about.
4. Is there a hitch hikers website that tells you the best places to stand? I mean is 176th not good because of all the truckers but 264th better becasue of the border traffic (come on you don't wander these things)?
5. Is standing on the side of the road in all weather really that much fun? Sunshine good but rain wind and sleet while trying to look casual and harmless on the side of the road, not so good.
6. Is there tips on how big your baggage can be? I mean really, a big backpack is not going to fit in many of the cars we drive nowadays. Smart car definitely not. Is that a deterent to being picked up? Do you have to plan your packing because suitcase and packpack discrimination may happen? hey these are just thoughts, if you have answers let me know.
7. Does the Hitch Hiking is against the law effect whether you get picked up? I mean really you see a cop car, you dash in the bushes to hide but now you are all dirty from hiding and won't get picked up because people now see more of an axe murderer on the run (dirty clothes, possible scratches and you emerging from the bush at a run to catch a car) Kind of a catch 22 don't you think.
8. Last but not least, do you keep a boy with you when hitch hiking? I mean safety wise this is the best but do cars really stop for boys (possible axe murders like in the Hitcher)? Quite a canundrum (sorry don't know how to spell) don't you think? Safety or a ride? Safety or a ride?

Anyway as you can see driving for long times and possible hours does effect you sometimes more than you think. Could you imagine what would have happened if the drive was longer than an hour?

What can happen when Pill bottles are not read

Medication is a wondeful thing. In my case it is reason I am still alive as I am a diabetic and without my pharmaceuticals, good old Mik would be hanging out with the angels (instead I am a little angel for all of you to enjoy instead...lol). Problem is you can get in trouble if you are in a household of other people who may also be taking meds very similar to yours. Case in point, most of my family is on thyroid pills and so medicine bottles can look very similar.

Here is where my story begins, I am currently house sitting at my cousins..fun, fun , fun! (Seriously I have really missed hanging out everyday in the place I used to rent so this has been a great way to relax and help out a friend as well). Anyway, back to the point, when you house sit naturally you have to move a lot of your stuff in to make sure you can live and dress the way you usually do. This also means bringing the meds you normally use so life for all the people around you life is not filled with stress (or with one mean cranky blonde who should know better and take her thyroid pills). So packed up the car (an enormous task as I definately am not a light packer and seem to find all sorts of things rather than a suitcase to stuff my belongings in), full of grocery bags, backpacks and clothing. Yes you could say it was a rummage sale gone wild in the back of my car...bag ladies across the world would have been proud! In my personal purse/backpack was my meds. All I can say is two pill bottles and insulin, you shouldn't be able to screw that one up right? WRONG!

It was a Wednesday and I dragonboat on that day so I got to the house and thought man am I tired today I think I will just sleep for a half hour and then go. Well my half hour turned into 7 hours, waking up at 12am I realized dragonboat was definately over but man was I still tired. Went back to sleep and the next morning I was fit as a fiddle still confused why I slept soooo deeply. Did my morning routine, went to grab my thyroid pills and realized just as I was going to throw them down the hatch that they were the wrong color...a nice yellow a far cry from the violet I was used to (luckily I actually looked down for one sleepy morning second). I thought to myself, hold on what is this, checked the container, yup stupid blonde that I am had grabbed her fathers sleeping pills...HMMM perhaps that is why we felt so blasted tired the other day...YOU ARE SOOO DUMB! (You know you are in trouble when you start to talk and yell at yourself).

SO the moral of this story is if you live with others with the same last name as you, and you are in a hurry packing your self out the door take the time to read your pill bottles or you too may find yourself sleeping your life away! Imagine I am actually allowed to teach kids to swim and have saved lives...Scary isn't it!

Why I go to work

Sometimes I wonder why I go to work and then a day like Saturday appears where lessons are running and the kids are fun, the lifeguards are trying their best and people are genuinely happy. WOW! But that's not all what day would not be complete without these things:

• Going into the men's changeroom (as we have no male staff on) to clean up a soap dispenser gone wild (sorry there were no naked girls involved just crazy kids)! Hey the looks on the men coming into the changeroom seeing a blonde playing with a hose is good enough don't you think?
• Listening to a mother tell me that we have had someone with SCABBIES swiming in our pool. What are Scabbies? Skin Lice don't you know...YUMMY! But for all you people suddenly crossing off our swimming pool for their choice of swiming destination those lovely critters cannot survive in chlorine once they hit the pool. Luckily we managed to get this individual out of the pool but it just makes you scratch thinking about it.
• Going into the men's change room again to deal with squirt guns loaded with soap and water (great idea for a wet T-shirt contest but not for changerooms). This time when I went in I had about 40 men staring at me as I asked where the two culprits were, and you know that any parent was going to rat these boys out which they did! (I love parents) Picture two very skinny teenagers surrounded by threee very big body builders getting changed, I say "hand it over" I get one gun and the question "why?" (stupid question but hey they are teenagers) after the explanation I ask where the other gun is. "I don't know" is the answer. Well two can play this game. I say "I can stand here all day boys" (not something the body builders wanted to hear) so three very big men start glaring at some very skinny boys who very quickly found that extra water gun (amazing what three big men can accomplish for you when inspired). And away I went leaving a whole room of men sighing in relief and able to focus on getting themselves dressed without the blonde in the room!
• Finally we end the day with a small quiet fire in the garbage cans outside. Anyone for marshmallows and weenies!

You gotta love that work is going to be a small adventure every day. Stay tuned as Chilliwack adn Kim get to know each other better, who knows what the future will bring.

AM I WACK?

I have a new job out in Chilliwack (well not really new just another move to another place in need of some direction). Anyway the drive to this centre is quite...LONG! Now I used to do this all the time but when you get used to a 10 minute drive to work, an hour feels like you are in prison (a very small black prison on wheels I might add). So what happens, your mind begins to wander and strange thoughts begin to pop around in your head.

• Wow that car is driving fast, I'm going 120 already and feel like I should be in the slow lane...maybe I need a new car (ya right as if you could afford that). Oh sorry I have to let you know these converssations become two sided after a while.
• Hmmm maybe I should move out to Chilliwack - gas cheaper, not so far to go, maybe I'll meet me a farm boy and raise chickens (OK Idiot! Slow down, first of all you don't like chickens and have you seen any farm boys worth striking a conversation with yet...its only been the first week)
• I want a cat. (no comment to this because like I said totally random thoughts)
• I should take up scuba diving again (You have no time lady between dragonboat, work and this drive) Very negative this second voice of mine I need to change that.

Well at this point I start to sing with the radio, drink another gallon of coffee, then remember that when I drink so much I have to go to the bathroom and then we start speeding more. SO the question is is the Wack making me Wack (yah I know the answer already).

One plus though is that the view is spectacular and I'm near Coast Mountian Ice cream everyday. Phew I knew there was a reason for this drive!

The 32 year old monster!

Wow back in the lower mainland and what awaits me but...re-certifying my lifeguard award. Not only re-certifying but I actually have to take the whole course over again. Interesting?...I think not, as you are thrust from the seemingly normal thirty something life (yah maybe its not so normal) into the life of 16-18 year olds trying to get their first job!

Now do you think I attack this program with restraint, self confidence and maturity...NOT! No, instead I try to kill myself competing in timed swims and picking up weights and saving a person single handedly without my buddy, because there is no way any teenager is going to beat me! Stupid, stupid Kim!!!! I swear I couldn't move for the next two days after the weekend as I was using muscles I forgot I had!

The best thing about the weekend was the comments that sprung up out of the blue from these lifeguards of the future:

1. "Excuse me what does your necklace mean?" says a young man pointing to my medic alert (remember he is training to be a lifeguard I am hoping this would be self explanatory). I reply "It means I am a diabetic" His face goes to total horror (diabetes is really not that bad) and he apologizes "I am SOO Sorry!" "That's ok I have been one for 22 years its not a problem" More horror on his face as I can see him beginning to calculate how old I must be You can never win.
2. "Nice swim professional lady, Way to go!" Should I be insulted or complimented by this, still confused.
3. "How come you are here? do you work here?" Good questions that I want answered myself but hey the company is paying so who am I to argue!
4. "You mean we are supposed to hide the yellow paddles as we are swimming and not look directly at them so they can see we are a victim?" To understand this you have to know that we were practicing scanning the water for potential victims. We were the victims each given a yellow paddle to put up in front of our face for three seconds so that the guard team could practice catching sight of us in a regular pool setting. SMRT! says it all!

On the whole a good bunch of kids, unlucky for them that they have the 32 year old monstor who has been a guard for 17 years sharing a class with them. Those poor unfortunate souls!