Since moving to Victoria, we haven’t had the chance to have many visitors. This is of course understandable–the majority of our friend base is a whole province away. This was not really much of an issue, we lived with Andrew, and being the somewhat social creature that he is, we always had people around.

Since getting our own place however, we hadn’t had any visitors. Again this is understandable. With Christmas, our trip to Edmonton and our hectic schedule, we really hadn’t had the chance to have anyone over. Of course this week that all changed.

Last Sunday we had our friend Sharron come and visit us from the mainland. She had the honour of being our first guest in our place. It was nice to finally have someone over to see where we live, and after being Sharron’s first overnight guest, it was nice to have her as our first guest. She missed out on being the first overnight guest though.

That distinction will get to go to Aaron and Christine. They will be coming in to visit us tomorrow evening. I have been looking forward to this for a while. Always good to have one of your best friends to come and visit, especially when you don’t get to see them often. We have arranged a bit of a larger get together on Saturday as well. An excuse to be huge geeks of course, but hey, that also means that they get to be here for our first party-like gathering.

~Dusk||

Victoria is so warm that if you try to skate outdoors, you have to have fake ice. I don’t know whether that’s funny or sad. The rink was little, was ontop of the Mayfair roof, and they had strung white lights across the top, which I’m sure would have looked lovely in the night. The view wasn’t bad, the sunset was all golden and lovely and we rented skates and they had good music, but the ice just wasn’t there. Literally. They made the rink look like ice, but it was like skating on a white cutting board with grease for glide. Couldn’t turn very well, couldn’t get up any speed-well, I could but then I went to turn the curve and then I have no speed. I had fun anyway, but it was just so ridiculous in the end. I never realized how much easier real ice is to skate on, I was expecting a grip and a smooth glide that just wasn’t there. Dev did much better than me, gliding round and round and round, and we stayed as long as we could but I mean really, it was just so weird after all. I’m definitely going to find a better rink for us, and I can’t believe I’ll be asking “so, do you have REAL ice?” when I call to ask when they’re open for public skating.

Sunday we watched some of the Olympics, mostly the skating competitions, and some of the skiing ones too. I was glad I wasn’t working on Valentine’s Day, for once. We got to relax and just enjoy the day, which was a wonderful treat. We went for coffee and ice cream later, and had a nice little walk.I thought it was just perfect.

I think working retail On Valentine’s Day has made me bitter towards the day. People get so greedy and fussy and they’re SO unbelievably rude I feel like being bitchy back, but of course you can’t. You just have to suck it up while they get in your face about the things you haven’t got because they came too late, and gee, we sold out, big surprise. They always think you’re holding out on them, that you’ve got a lot more product hiding under the counter and they think you’re secretly laughing at them. People think Valentine’s Day is a test they have to pass, and everyone fusses that “he doesn’t love me enough because he didn’t give me a big enough gesture,” or ” is it too soon to say I love you?” I can’t stand the crap people buy for each other; in a desperate attempt to “prove their love” they fling cheap ugly toys and uncomfortable lingerie, too much chocolate and expensive wilting flowers at their loved ones. It isn’t thoughtful, it isn’t romantic; and the gestures are meaningless when you start sticking a price tag onto the things you buy to show how much your love is worth. Sometimes I wonder if my customers ever asked their lovers what kind of flowers they really like, what colour is their favourite, what would be romantic to them? Valentine’s Day heaps on the stress, and I have seen so many people the day after St Valentine’s Day in tears or bitterly disappointed because “he just didn’t get it RIGHT, you know” and “how could he not know meeeeeeee?” I think, is that all you are doing? Holding up a metre stick to measure how successful your relationship is? Do you guys actually talk to each other? Do you know your lover at all or are you just thinking this is where you SHOULD be, and if you’re not there, why not? Do you reserve all your romance and sense of fun for one day only in the year and ignore your lover for the rest of the time? And you wonder why you’re breaking down and getting frustrated. Get real.

My Valentine’s Day was great: I didn’t have to deal with egomaniacs or fat greedy women or thin belligerent women or angry venomous men or any of the other myriad of people who hate everything and take it out on the girl behind the counter. I spent the day with my lover and it was a lot of fun, and very stress-free.

Had a good weekend. It is always nice to have a lazy day off. We didn’t do anything really big for Valentine’s Day this year.  Not having the car up and running made it difficult to do much. Instead we sat around and watched the Olympics and went for coffee. It may not sound the most romantic way to spend Valentine’s, but being the first Sunday we have had off together since our trip to Edmonton, it was exactly what we needed.

I have the car back up and running though. It felt really good to get behind the wheel after just over a month of not being able to drive. I missed it.

The next few weekends are going to be rather busy. We have friends coming to visit the Island both this weekend and next. Sharron will be coming in from Vancouver on the 21st, with Aaron and Christine coming the weekend after. the weekends will obviously be filled with good times.

On the 21st we will be attempting to go and see the festivities for Chinese New Year. Even though the 14th was officially the start of the new year, The parade and such was moved to this coming Sunday because of Valentine’s. I have never really been to one of the lion’s dances so I am looking forward to seeing it.

~Dusk||