Jealous of the rain

So, I'm not sure I've ever actually posted my age on this thing, but seeing as my first post came way back in 2008 and it's now 2018, we can correctly say that I'm ten years grown - 100% matured in many, many ways, but still very much the same. I went from being a high school girl, to a college girl, a part-time working girl, to a full time working girl - perhaps woman. But there's a lot of changes that come with all of that, stuff that I've skimmed over or forgotten to mention... that's what sucks about never updating this! I forget all the important stuff. I almost forgot one of the more important things - and that's marriage!

Not my marriage, you crazy people! My best friend's marriage - Kimberly and Donald! Frequent mentions of them crop up on this blog in many past posts, and when I was reading through them, I was reminded just how crazy we've come... literally, these two met in high school, I remember it all so acutely,  and now they're getting ready for the big old union! I can't believe it.

It's their engagement dinner this Saturday, just the first joint celebration of their family and friends since getting engaged in December, and I can't wait. It's the first real taste of adulthood (other than my job), that has me realizing things are getting serious. We're at that age, where we can get married sensibly, have children, buy homes.... I'm 100% not ready for any of that, despite already having bought a home with my sisters, but this one is just another thing on the list that makes me, forevermore, an a-d-u-l-t. I still feel like I'm in high school. It's crazy!

It's also the first wedding where I will be heavily involved, since Kimberly happens to be one of my best friends, and for better or worse I have been part of her relationship with Donald both on the sidelines and the front line! The things we have been through -- I think if I'm her maid of honour, I know what I'm going to say. I mean there's also a good chance I won't be her MOH, since she doesn't want to hurt anyone's feelings, but if I am -- oh, boy, I better start writing.

I wonder more and more about what's to come, when things like this happen, and I read my old posts and see just how grown we all are. This blog is like a freaking time capsule sometimes, I swear. I look at my old posts where I had lists, wrote my homework down, and just detailed my day-to-day life. I think I'll try and do that now, just so that a future Gelina can look back on this time and vividly remember how she used to live in this particular moment!

On A School Day:

• I set my alarm for 6:15AM. I try to wake up and turn off the alarm before it goes off, and usually I do. It's not a big deal when I don't. Then I lay in bed and contemplate the meaning of life for 15 minutes, and eventually roll out of bed at 6:30AM. I always need those 15 mins to situate myself.
• At 6:30, I head to the bathroom to take my morning poop. Then I wash my hands, face, brush my teeth. Then I pick my outfit for work (usually I know what it'll be the night before, so I can just dress right into it, but sometimes I still look through the closet). Brush my hair, take my Vitamin gummy, my apple cider vinegar pill, and get to packing.
• All of this is done by 7-7:15AM. After that, I have the next five or ten minutes to pack my lunch (which is usually already prepared from the night before, I just need to stick it in my lunch kit). I pack my lunch container (usually a salad), my recess snack (yogurt or granola bar or crackers, whatever), and my breakfast for that morning (instant oatmeal). 
• I'm out of the house by 7:25AM to scrape ice off my car or warm it up. I'm always finished first because Genina takes 20 million years to get out the door.
• We roll out, no later than 7:30AM, sometimes earlier than that. On days where Genina is already prepared for her day or doesn't need to be at school before 8AM, we can even sometimes leave at 7:35AM. What a treat!

Then we have the school day which starts officially from 8:30-3:30, and it's rinse and repeat for the next four days unless we have a long weekend! After school, if Genina is already prepared for her next day or we have nothing else to do, we tend to have plans with Kim or Amanjyot, usually Kim, and we either go out for pho, do our grocery shopping at the mall, have a wedding movie marathon, or work out. Genina and I try to work out 3-4 times a week, thanks to the Planet Fitness newly opened near our house! I've lost 15 pounds guys. I should feel accomplished but I don't, mainly because I'm starting to plateau, and until I reach my goal weight, I'm still gonna feel like a piece of poop.

On a weekend, don't get me started. I tell my coworkers, I absolutely live for the weekends. I work so hard during the work week, I load up the weekends with fun things to do so that I always have something to look forward to during a gruelling work week. I can be up to anything, from being a mall rat, going to the movies, having a foodie adventure, pretty much anything fun you name it, I'd be down for it. I have FOMO and like to make the most of my free time, which is partially why I feel so broke at times, haha. Oh well, it comes with the the territory of a salary pay, I feel like I can spend when I probably shouldn't be! Lololol.

Speaking of doing fun things and spending when I shouldn't, I have planned a Whistler weekend getaway with my college girlfriends (worthy of mention - Britt, Liz and Tanya), and I cannot wait! We booked an Airbnb, it looks so beautiful and cozy. We are really just going up there to have a *wink wink* good time, but we're also going to possibly go tubing and try out this forged axe throwing activity, which has really good reviews and sounds fun. The first night will be us just having a relaxed girls night in, cooking dinner, drinking wine and playing board games, while the next night will be dedicated 100% to that *wink wink* good time. I teach students now, so I feel very hesitant to even describe or allude to it in anyway, but it's obviously what any young adult would do on a young hip vacation, lmao.

Can it be believed that I've updated this thing so soon since its previous post? I think I'm just feeling nostalgic for the writing, and am once again, giving future Gelina something to read and reflect upon. She will thank me for this, one day! 

I've written too much already, though I know I could simply go on. I think my fingers deserve a break.

Goodnight sweet world! The lyrical title of this post belongs to the song Jealous by Labrinth. Such a beautiful and heartbreaking tune. Give it a listen!

Yours always,

Gelina

Now it's gonna be me and you

I only have two words...

Holy. Crow!!!

It's been ages - and really, ages - since I last wrote on this, my invisible blog! I am feeling so nostalgic and excited at the same time to even be writing here. I don't know why I suddenly feel the need to do so, but seeing as I've literally had this since some time in high school, I guess I like to look back on the small stuff with the big updates. Just for posterity's sake.

I always have to start with what's new - because let's face it, so, so, so much of my life has changed! I can't even begin to go into detail as to how and when these things occurred, but they have. So, for the big three, I'll start them off in chronological order of when they happened.

What's New With Me - The 411

1) I got my first ever big girl job - salary position and all. I'm an EA at a private Catholic school!
2) I got my driver's license FINALLY. (This one was a real game changer folks.) And...
3) Me and my sister's BOUGHT and now CO-OWN a freaking house!!!! (Okay, it's a town house, but a house all the same!!!)

The job comes first, because it's the first thing that has truly made me feel like an adult. I know I've had previous jobs doing the whole 9-5, but this one is the real deal because I've got benefits to go along with a salary! Can you believe it? I love it there. And I get along with my boss, who of course is the Principal! And although having a work family is nothing new to me, since I've been at other jobs before and gotten close to the staff, this is a really constant work family that for the most part, I really like! My day to day is working like a TA in the classroom but also pulling aside those students who really do need the extra help. Some days are more frustrating than others, but mostly they're great. I have a heart full of love for all the kids I work with, and today (to be explained later) was extra special with them!

After trying and failing for my license, I am now the proud owner of a Driver's license and a nifty 2004 Toyota Echo! Driving was a huge obstacle in my life, it made me feel inadequate and like a crappy friend because I had to bum rides everywhere, but now I drive everywhere! To work, to my friends', to the gym, you name it (as long as it's in Surrey - ha). This one really has changed a lot for me, because I can be relied on for a lot more and I'm not as limited as I once was. Of course it also means I have to deal with car payments and fix other car problems that come along with the territory, but so far so good and, if you can believe it or not, I still pray everyday for a good driving day. Haha!

Finally, a HOUSE. The most recent change in my life. It almost happened so quickly that I forget the details, but my parents' and sisters have all been thinking about it. We never really acted until this great place so close to our current home was on the market, and it was too good to pass up. We went back and forth for a bit about whether to take the plunge, but it's happening, and I can't wait. We take posession in May, and the best part I hope, will be the moving in and decorating and just finally having a little independence. It's close-quarters right now, so I need the space! Whew.

So beyond those three things, life's just been dandy. Straight forward. Going with the motions. What else can I hope for? I'm blessed to work at the school I do - it's brought me closer to a bunch of great people, and most importantly to God. I thought it would be tough getting back into the religious swing of things, but it in fact has been quite easy and very refreshing. I like starting off my day with prayer and really seeing the students do that too.

Today was the last day of school before Spring Break. It was AMAZING. We ended it with a hip hop performance for the whole school, and the staff even did a dance as well! I was part of it and like to think I had a good amount of rhythm. The main thing is that I didn't embarrass myself, haha. There were some parts of the whole hip hop assembly, as each grade performed, I felt truly in awe of the situation. Every student was laughing and having the best time, all the parents were so proud of their kids, I just couldn't believe how lucky we all were. It's so cheesy, but I actually felt like crying (tears of happiness), just because it was all so freaking happy in that gym.

I can't say it enough. So much has changed - so much has happened! I'm not doing this entry justice. I just think it's worth knowing that I've been through a lot and even though I don't always document it or remember it, I'm happy with how things are and am always hopeful for what's to come. I hope the invisible reader can understand me - I feel so blessed. That's really the main thing I want to convey through this update.

Even though I've been listening to some great new music lately, the title for this post is from an older track that's been playing through my mind lately! Call Your Girlfriend. Message is kinda weird, but the song makes me happy!

Always here, and always yours --
Gelina