Messenger is a bitch

Man, getting up early really is the worst thing in the world. I used to think of myself as a morning person, but sadly this is only a delusion. I am in no way suited to arise at anytime before 11am. If i do so, i get uber tired around 6pm and cannot function in anyother state other than a groggy sleep deprived one. Even right now, i'm as groggy as hell AND i've already had a 1/2 hour power nap!

Also, Messenger for Macs is a fucking bitch! i downloaded the new version for my mac and have been anxiously trying to get it to work for the past 50 min. The blasted thing refuses to sign me in while using a phone line. I managed to connect just perfectly at Lancaster, granted i kep getting chucked off it there, but i could always get back one. Here, using our phone line conncetion i keep signing in and getting the typical response: "Sign in to Microsoft Messenger failed because the service is not available to you or you may not be connect to the internet" I mean COME ON! i know phone lines are slow but this is ridiculous!

I don't really have much else to rant about so i'll just conclude with a recap of my week thus far;
-been waking up at 6am all week
-going to work and working until 4pm
-driving home and have fallen asleep at the wheel driving a grand total of 3 times (still alive to tell the tale folks, if this doesn't prove i'm not a morning person, i don't know what does!)
-watch an episode of 24 (season 2) every evening. Because i am that cool
-go to bed at 11pm and start the whole cycle over again.

They're After Me Lucky Charmes!!!

They're After Me Lucky Charmes!!!
Originally uploaded by Rob Rutherford.

This is a photo taken at the Irish display at Heritage days. A.J. and Erin are after his lucky charms.
sadly, there was no pot of gold at the end of their rainbow, but i did manage to snap this shot.

Folk Fest

Folk Fest
Originally uploaded by Rob Rutherford.

this picture was taken at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival. I was recruted by my uncle to deliver papers for the festival. In return, along with a hefty paycheque, i got an all access pass to the concerts.
i only really took in the show on the sunday night (it ran from thurs to sun)
Ryan Adams and Alison Krauss with Union Station were amoung the big names playing that night.
it was a lot of fun.

Heritage Days

Heritage Days
Originally uploaded by Rob Rutherford.

This photo was taken at Heritage days (for info on Heritage days, see below)
It is an authentic Native American dance. Of all the countries and nationalities on display, i figured this was one of the most important, considering that they've been here a lot longer than any other nationality on display at Heritage days.

Rob Tastes Edmonton

Rob Tastes Edmonton
Originally uploaded by Rob Rutherford.

This and the other photos in this group are of my visits to some of the various festivals that Edmonton has put on during the summer months.
This festival, "A Taste of Edmonton" the food, Ginger Beef (in case anyone was wondering)
My friend Jill was there as well, she had a frozen chocolate banana, which she enjoyed a bit too much! he he he.

Focusing on the Positive

I realize that, since my returning home, most posts on my blog have had a somewhat negative spin on things. This would have been because of the difficulties of returning home after such a high that living in Europe can be. As well i was kind of pouty because i came home and immediately resumed the life i was living before i left for England which suprised me bacause i had sworn to myself that things would be different this time around. instead i simply regressed to what i was before.

But life is not all that bad here in Alberta. Actually thing are going rather well. I'm getting lots of hours at the hospitals where i work. this is a good thing becaus it gets me out of the house, keeps my busy, gets me money to save up for school, pay off my debts and buy cool things to make me happy!

Last weekend i worked with my cousin Matt to deliver the Edmonton Journal (local newspaper) to the Edmonton Folk Music Festival and the Cariwest Festival (Cariwest being a celebration of the African and Caribian populations in Edmonton). I got to be a paper delivery boy. I handed out the free Journal to al the festival goers. It was a lot fun and i got to hang out with my cousin. Though i didn't like the early mornings! I had to get up at 5am to get tehre in time to hand out the papers to die hard Folk fans.

The previous weekend i met up with some friends to check out Heritage days. Heritage days being the big festival that showcases all the different ethnic groups that exist within Edmonton. There was ethnic food, dancing, bazarres. It was great. The weather was awesome, it was in the high 20's all day and the sun was shinning. My friends and I walked from whyte ave to Harwelak park, through the university in the sun. Couldn't have though of a better way to spend the sunday afternoon.

A few things i have to look forward to in the upcomming weeks are; My cousin's comming up from the USA for a visit. We always have great times when they are around, looking forward to that. University starts on the 8th of September, but before that i am volunteering as a peer leader at the international center's international student orientation, aug 31st to sept 2nd. Going to get the chance to meet many different people from all over the world!

So as you can see life back at home isn't all that bad. Actually it's kind of good.