It's only been 5 days

and I already miss you :(

I count down the days till you're here again. 19 more days till you land in Abbotsford. Then you get to spend 10 days with me. I can't wait.

We've been apart from each other for 5 days, but it feels like forever. I miss our random adventures. I miss holding your hand. I miss attempting to watch a movie at night (key word is attempt! :P). I miss everything about you.

Truth is, you make me a better person. You make me feel whole and always make sure I appreciate life and all the finer things in it. To always give 110%.

You said it best in the e-mail you sent me after the very first time we met. "You're the partner in crime that I need". Now, I'm not saying I plan on living a life of crime with you. But you're the person in my life that I know will be crazy enough to live life to the fullest. To go to places less traveled, to help those who can't help themselves, to not only make ourselves better, but make those around us better to.

I can't wait for the adventures that are planned for us. Our vacations to different destinations, the time spent in Vancouver/Calgary, and the random "grab some clothes and just drive" journey's we're bound to have.

I can always count on you to be there for me when I need it most. You're the best girlfriend a guy could ever ask for. I really am lucky to have you in my life the way you are. Not only because I can call you my girlfriend, but also because I can call you my best friend. Someone who would do anything possible to put a smile on my face no matter how down and out I may be.

Thank you for everything you've done in the past, and thank you for everything you'll do in the future. It never goes unnoticed. <3

Ashley & Jon

Well, my sister is getting married in 3 weeks from now. That in itself is somewhat scary. Three weeks till she's married... crazy. It seemed like not too long ago that the parents and ash/jon were in Hawaii where he proposed to her.

Everyone always asks me "How do you feel about your sister getting married?" I think I baffle most people when I say I feel indifferent about it. I mean, they've been living together in the same house for years. They go on vacations together, they come home to each other every night. For all intents and purposes, they're already married basis common law (though I do believe you have to file for that at city hall?). So what is really going to change after March 17? Nothing really. They'll live together, go on vacation together, etc. All the same things that they do now.

Don't get me wrong, I'm 100% happy for my sister and Jon. I'm glad she found someone that makes her happy and who she can see spending the rest of her life with. Marriage these days is a scary thing, especially with how high the divorce rates are and the issue of a pre-nup if you go that way, yadda yadda yadda.

But, I don't think that's anything that they'll have to worry about. I can see them being together for the long run. Scary to think that within a couple years I may be someone's uncle... Uncle Travis... Hmm. I'd say I would be the cool uncle that always gives the kids candy and things like that. But as Lindsey has pointed out to me, what goes around comes around. So, assuming I have a kid/s one day, it will all come back to bite me in the ass.

So yeah, the wedding/reception is on March 17. Which is St. Patricks day. Which is also my grandpa's birthday (dad's side). Both Ash and Jon said that they had a few dates they were thinking about but chose the 17th because they figured it would be a nice gesture to have on his birthday. Though, I'll be interested to see how my grandma acts on that day (assuming she even shows up? :/)

Wedding is going to be at a golf course nearby. Though I'm still not 100% sure on the transportation arrangements. Like... chances are more than likely that everyone will be drinking, and well, the availability of cabs on a Saturday night anywhere in Vancouver is crap. I should really figure that out before the day so I can make arrangements if necessary.

I think in total there's suppose to be 80-100 people coming. It should be a good time. :)

I still have to put a speech together. I told myself I would get started on it this weekend. I guess I really need to research what goes into a wedding speech. How long am I suppose to talk for? Maybe I shouldn't have opened my mouth about doing a speech without figuring out all the details first. Oh well, I'll be able to wing something together, I was always told I was a good public speaker by my instructors in college.

Also putting together a photo slideshow. Nothing extravagant, just photos of Ash/Jon when they were little then growing up then finally pictures of them together. Nothing special, but apparently they wanted it, so I told them I'd put it together, just need some more photos and to figure out a song and it will be good.

Lindsey is flying in on the 15th for the wedding. Apparently all the girls in the bridal party are partying/staying here Friday? I'd like to see where they're suppose to sleep if they're suppose to be spending the night. Ever since the bedrooms turned into offices, there has been no place to sleep minus the couch. So yeah, that will be an interesting experience.

Lindsey is staying for 10 days this trip! Can't wait. Planning a trip down to Seattle for a couple days and do some shopping, get some clothes for Hawaii!

Oh, I'm also suppose to be Ashley's witness and sign the documents. It's nice she asked me to do it as usually it's always the maid of honour that does it.. I think anyway.

So yeah,

3 weeks today till my sister becomes Mrs. Levett.. Levitt? I should really figure out how to spell his last name one of these days.

Here's to hoping they have a wonderful wedding, enjoyable honeymoon and a never-ending adventure of a life together!

Me, Myself and I

Everyone has their own little "demons" or their insecurities. Some are more noticeable than others, whereas, in my case, people only notice them in the simplest cases.

Weight, for me, has always been an issue. I was never super obese, I had a gut and was overweight. It never seemed to bother me too much. I was active in sports, enrolled in two PE classes at school and regularly played hockey/soccer/basketball/baseball with friends after school. I wasn't simply coming over after school and sitting around doing nothing, despite my addiction to the computer/games now, it wasn't like that when I was a kid!

Some days were more difficult than others. Despite being in the "popular" group at school and having my fair share of people whom I could call friends. The names of "chubby" and "fat ass" were still being thrown my way. And you know, I usually brushed it off without thinking twice. I knew I wasn't "average" and knew that I could afford to lose some weight.

Due to me going to college and having issues with my ankle, I dropped out of soccer (still regretting it). My activeness dropped. Friends went away to different schools, people were getting jobs, and life was just getting busy. I still got together with friends, but not nearly as often as we use to. Weight started to gain on me. Again, I wouldn't put myself into the "obese" category, but according to my BMI I was (and still am I think... let me check! - Damn! still obese by .4!) obese.

I started going hard to the gym, going on nearly a daily basis. The results were showing! I was losing weight, people were complimenting me.. it felt good. It was reassuring to see the results of me losing weight and everyone noticing.

Work got busy during the summer (lots of traveling) and my ankle was bothering me every time I tried to work out. So the gym started to fall from a number one priority. Weight came back on.

It wasn't till this past summer (2011) that I really kinda focused and not so much busted my ass, but just tried to lead a healthier lifestyle. Hardly drinking soda anymore, fast food has become a thing of the past. Back in June/July I was 248lbs. Right now I'm at 224lbs. By the wedding (24 days) I'm hoping I can get that down to 210-215.

It's not going to be easy, but it's possible. Just have to up my water intake, be very careful with what I eat and when I eat, and just go to the gym with determination and focus on the end goal.

Need to be in good shape for myself. I care about my life, I don't want to leave my family, stellar girlfriend, or friends behind any sooner than necessary because I didn't take care of myself. Assuming things work out with the fire dept. I'll need to be in shape for that, and also, I need to keep up with Lindsey. She gets hotter every day! Need to make sure I'm looking half decent when I walk along Waikiki beach with her in May!

Another trip.

I know I said that my next blog post would come last weekend after I finished my first aid test, but things were hectic with work and obviously my first aid test and then Lindsey came to Vancouver for the weekend (till Monday). So I'm just getting to this now. I'll write a post in more detail about my First Aid (which I passed by the way!), tonight's post will be about her. <3

I said before, she's said before, it never gets easier. I think every time that we get together, whether me there or she here, it makes us fall in love with each other just that little bit more. The "I'll see you soon" 's get more tough to say as you hold back a tear from trailing down your cheek. Trying to be strong. It will never get easier. This weekend was amazing. I love when she is in town, my family absolutely loves her and she gets along with everyone so well.

It was Jon's Stag and Ashley's Stagette, so Saturday we spent most of the day apart, that's really the only crummy thing of the weekend is that she flew out here to spend time with me and we weren't able to spend much of Saturday together, but oh well, we survived it. Sunday was a relaxing day, went to the mall etc. Then the parents took us to a Giants game and then to the Boathouse for dinner. Today (Monday) I brought her down to the border crossing so she could have her interview with Nexus. The line that we were waiting in to get across the border just made me realize how happy I am that I have Nexus, and how grateful I am that Lindsey got hers, just because now I'll never have to sit in that long ass line again. Spent over an hour sitting there, slowly idling forward.

Took her to Bellis fair (which actually wasn't anything all that amazing), then we went to Sonic's Drive In. Tasty!

Headed home, had dinner here and then I took her out to Abbotsford airport :(

She's back in 23 days.... and she's going to be here for 10 days :)

All today, the thought that she was leaving me today didn't really sink it, maybe I wasn't thinking about it too much, or maybe I just brushed it off my shoulder. The drive out to the airport, there were times where no words were spoken, but we were holding hands. For some reason, that was tough. Knowing that in an hours time, I'd be doing that drive and not having her soft, warm hand holding mine.

It never gets easier. The emptiness I felt when I got home, to walk downstairs and not see her suitcase, not see her clothes laying on the ground, not seeing her bolt for the fireplace to turn it on. It scares me. I sit here, on my computer, and wish I could turn my head and see her laying on my bed on the iPad. Or randomly here a "dum de dum" come out from her.

She wrote on my whiteboard before she left... and she said that "something big is planned for us, or we wouldn't have ended up this way" and it's absolutely true. Everything that we've gone through these past 7 years. The laughs, the struggles, the tears and the celebrations. We experienced it all, and despite the tough times, the hard times, it brought us that much closer.

She's my best friend. She's my girl friend. She's everything that I hoped I could find in a girl. Little did I know the girl who would make me feel complete and inspire me on a daily basis, was in my life for this long already.

Distance sucks, I'm talking with her on Skype right now, seeing her lay in bed and would do anything to have the opportunity to be laying there beside her. We've been through so much, and we're getting so close to having something people wish they had. We just have to continue on, hold our heads up and not give up. Great things are coming our way. This I know. Despite the obstacles and our set backs. The heart ache and the lonely nights. I still love her with all my heart, I'd do anything for her, and I'm going to always put 110% into this relationship.

Thank you for an amazing weekend, thank you for the new adventures and memories that come with them. Thank you for being you, I wouldn't change a thing about you. You're amazing, just the way you are. ;)

Hawaii 2012

Ok, so it may be a bit premature as we haven't officially booked anything. But it's pretty much a done deal.

Looks as though May 4 - 11 will be spent in O'ahu! It's been 3 years since I've been, and it will be Lindsey's first time. She's been to Maui before but never O'ahu so it will be nice to show her something new!

Figured I would make a list of things that we should see/do.

1. Hike Diamond Head
2. Go to Dole Pineapple Plant
3. Go to the North Shore
4. Surf Waikiki beach (will probably be an everyday thing :P)
5. Pearl Harbour??
6. Hanauama Bay for snorkeling
   
7. International Market Place
8. Disney Resort
9. Watch the sunset while sitting on our boards
10. Rent a car (convertible??) and drive around the island
11. Turtle Bay
12. Picnic on the beach

I'm excited already! I'm making her into a travel expert slowly.

Though... This means I now need to buy her a neck pillow from the airport..

Nearly a month since my last blog post. No biggie... well... actually it kinda is since I don't seem to remember much of what I did in January. My last post was on the 7th, I left to Calgary on the 19th. So that leaves 12 days that I'm pretty sure consisted of nothing more than going to work and studying for my first aid. I remember there was a power outage one night. That's about all I remember though!

So yeah, headed to Calgary on the 19th, went to Banff on the 20th. Stayed at the RimRock which was a nice hotel, though I was expecting a bit more. The room was nice, but the bed was harder than a rock. I didn't sleep too well, I don't think Lindsey did either.

Had dinner with her dad/bro at a Mexican place then went to watch Brad's soccer game. Was a nice relaxing night full of laughs. The next day we had breakfast club so went out for brunch with a bunch of people. Went to the mall and wandered around to burn off the brunch. (I had eggs benny, she had banana fosters waffles - AMAZING). Then headed to her moms place for dinner. Was good to see her family again. I think they approve of me and it's great seeing them and talking with them.

The week, as far as I remember, we didn't get up to too much. She worked and I studied. The evenings were fairly low key. Usually just dinner then watched tv/movies.

Saturday we went to the Keg for dinner then headed over to Melrose which is like.. a bar/restaurant. Met up with a few people from twitter while there and stayed there till 1:30ish or so. Was good times, good company and good music.

Last day I was there, we drove down south since I had to go to the fire hall to drop off my personal history statement, immunization records, drivers abstract, background check, high school ged, college transcripts, first aid stuff etc. etc. Suppose to be a couple weeks before I hear back from them. Will be interesting to see what happens with that.

Flew home, and had quite a delay with Westjet so didn't get back to my house till 12:30am or so. Was up at 7am to start my level 3 first aid. It's a two week course, I'm now one week in... pretty intense. Was pretty much what I was expecting, but at the same time there are so many small things that have to be done, if you don't do them during the exam, you fail the course. Lots of pressure to do well, don't feel like spending another $850 to try again. So I have to keep my head in it and make sure I do a good job. Though packaging someone onto a spine board in 5:30 when the estimated time is 15:00 makes me a bit more comfortable with everything. But still a lot more to learn.

Will probably write a blog post once I take my practical/written and go through everything and talk about all the classes and the exams and such.

This weekend, had Matt over, his sis came by to watch the Canucks game... relaxing tonight. Tomorrow is super bowl Sunday so having some people over for the game. Well, my uncle and Matt are the only people who have been invited. Not really super interested in the teams playing so I couldn't care less about whether I have a big party or not.

On a side note, since I haven't really said anything much of it in this blog....

..I'm falling more and more in love with Lindsey as the days pass. Bought her a pretty nice ring while I was there ! :P