Tuesday 19 July 2016

Saskatchewan Part 2

This post isn't exactly how I wanted it, but I promised you guys. I had a slight emergency this morning (one of my cats is now at the vets with a possible broken leg, he thought he could fly this morning)so that is why the post is later than I had originally promised. Hopefully I can make it up to you guys with an awesome post later this week! 


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Tanner was shorter than I had expected. Everyone had talked him up so much I was expecting a tall extremely good looking hunk of man and I was sorely disappointed on the height factor. What I really mean is he is extremely short. I'm barely over 5' (OK lets face it I'm only 5') and he isn't much taller than me. Although I'm short I prefer my men over 6', I need to have someone around that can reach the stuff I can't. Tanner was a cocky asshole, again exactly my type. If you factored out the height issue he was hot. Light brown hair, muscular body, chiseled features and gorgeous blue eyes.  If he had been taller I'd be drooling.

"Can I buy you a drink?"

"Sorry but no." I rolled my eyes and thought to myself- Here we go.

"Come on, why not?"

"I just prefer to buy my own drinks."

"Fine. Will you at least play a game of pool with me?"

"I'll whoop your ass in a round of pool."

Now I love playing a game or two of pool, but I honestly really suck. Some days I'm on fire and actually rock at it.My average game was usually a complete and total disaster, it was embarrassing. I was really hoping that today was going to be one of those very few good days, I need to back that sass up somehow.

" I doubt you will."

"Don't under estimate me."I fired back. I was more determined to play a good game now that he had doubts.

Fortunately I was having a great day, well a fantastic day (sorry I needed to brag a little bit about that).I was sinking almost everything, even making shots that were extremely difficult, well difficult for me. I think all the booze I had drank so far was helping to be honest.. I ended up killing it for  two rounds. Apparently loosing twice to a girl was enough for Tanner because he quit and went to sit down. I played a few more rounds with a couple of other people, losing terribly might I add, before I decided I needed to focus more on my alcohol consumption.

"Finally decided to quit eh?"

"Yea, the rye needs some more attention. Plus it seems like more people are clearing out now."

"You're right."

"Apparently I can only beat you tonight in pool. So quitting before I embarrassed myself further seemed like a good idea."

"I wouldn't say it was that embarrassing.... Never mind you're right it was pretty embarrassing."

Our conversation flowed easily from there. We talked about anything and everything. Things with Tanner was super comfortable and easy. I learnt that Tanner worked in the oilfield, owned three rental properties, but still lived at home (guys that still live with their parents is pretty big turn off for me because I am so independent, so he was now on strike two sadly). In general the only thing we had in common was our love for hockey and Dodge trucks. Not that I was even looking for any thing further than a few drinks and some conversation, I just don't do relationships anymore, casual or serious.  Next thing I knew Joe, the bartender, was putting a round of shots down in front of us.

"To new friends!" Joe sang out.

It wasn't until after all three of us took the shot I realized we were the only ones left in the pub. I was a little too drunk by now to care though.

"Josie, I closed your tab. The rest of the drinks tonight are on the house."

Oh boy I'm officially in trouble now- I thought to myself.

" I can't do that Joe. I need to pay for my drinks."

"Your only in town for one night, we want you to come back. I won't take no for an answer."

"Josie, jut let Joe buy you a drink or two since you wouldn't let me buy you one." Tanner piped up.

"Fine, but not too many! I need to be on the road early. OK well before noon."

One more drink turned into a few more. Then it turned into tequila shots. Eventually it led to being drunk enough that I was dancing on the pool table, and then the bar. Wild child Josie was coming out in full force. When I finally checked my phone to see the time I couldn't believe it was 4 am!


"Guys I really need to go, otherwise I will not be able to function once the sun comes up."

"Josie we are having so much fun though!' Tanner called out.

"Yea, what Tanner said!"

"For real. I have to be in Alberta in a few days and I want to be unpacked and settled before I start work on Monday,"

"Fine. But at least give me your number."

"Tanner just put yours in my phone. I only give out a fake number, and your town has the crappiest service ever." I handed him my phone so he could do just that.

"So how do I know you will text me."

"You just will have to wait and see."

With that I walked out of the pub to make the trek back to my uncle's. 

Monday 18 July 2016

Posting Schedule

Hey guys! I had planned on having another post up by now, but my weekend was crazy. In short my horse impaled himself, which is causing me to have to spend a ton of time at the barn tending to his wounds. My boyfriend surprised me with another cat, so I spent my time at home this weeeknd breaking up fights between my two other cats and the dog. 


I have a ton of posts ready, I just need to edit them. I wrote these posts a couple years ago when I was first going to start a blog but chickened out. I had also wrote them very quickly so they need a little bit more added to them because I feel a few are short. For now I will say I will post once a week, with hopefully a bonus post in there if I can find the time. I can't promise a specific day each week because I honestly don't know what each day is going to bring me. But the next post will be up later today, and if not then first thing in the morning tomorrow. 


Thank you guys all for reading, I hope you have enjoyed everything so far. :) 

Josie 

Wednesday 13 July 2016

Saskatchewan Part 1

My drive was boring. My first day I manged to miss the storm completely by taking the truck route through Northern Ontario. Stretches of this drive were beautiful but for the most part I just saw a lot of rocks and trees. My first stop was in the town of Nipigon after an 18 hour stretch of driving. I sent my aunt a text to let her know I was OK.

I'm in Nipigon. 

                                        Glad to hear! Mark just asked where Nippy had gone too. Love you! xoxo

LOL Love you too!

Mark was my youngest cousin and the funniest. I was going to miss him so much. That text alone almost had me turning back. But I knew that I needed to push myself on.

The drive thru the remainder of Ontario and into Manitoba was extremely uneventful. I found myself having to change the radio station. I was starting to get bored with country music. I needed to do one more stop in Manitoba just outside of Brandon. My first day had drained my energy. I manged to find a cute bed and breakfast for the night.

The B&B was fantastic and really quaint. I was the only guest for the night. The owner and I got along famously, after she realized that I too was a horse lover. I was introduced to all of her fur babies and was even offered to go for a ride the next day. Unfortunately I needed to keep a pretty tight schedule if I wanted to stop and see my Uncle in Saskatchewan.

Bright and early the next morning I was on the road. The weather was starting to take a turn. The wind was so strong my poor Jeep was almost blown off the road a few times. By the time I made it to Uncle Sam's I was exhausted. I had only planned on stopping in for a quick visit and getting on my way, but my uncles wife talked me into staying the night.

After a nap I awoke to news that it was my uncles night to cook, so that meant going to the local pub for wings and beer (exactly my kind of meal). Uncle Sam sent me down with the order for everyone as he had to make a quick pit stop along the way. Upon entering the pub I immediately met with stares, my uncle lives in small town Saskatchewan, and it caused me to feel really uncomfortable. The bartender was the first to approach me.

"Hey Josie. You are Josie right? Sam has told me so much about you"

"Yea I'm Josie" I laughed, "Hopefully he has only told you the good things!"

"Only good I promise. I'm sure you've had a long drive, are you wanting a Rye, Gin or some good old Pilsner?"

"I see Uncle has already told you my favorites. A rye and coke please and thanks."

"Sam brags about how you like all the same things as him.... Well except Caesars, your Uncle loves his Caesars."

"Ugh please never set a Caesar in front of me."

"Tonight is Sam's night to cook, I know what him and Ruth get.  I just need to know what you want."

"Just some wings, in your BBQ sauce please!"

Within the next few minutes Uncle showed up. We ate dinner and laughed with some family friends. Everyone had heard all of the really embarrassing stories of me when I was a baby. Some I had apparently even met when I was younger when my cousin got married. This is probably when I should mention my parents decided after my older sisters were grown up and moved out they wanted more. I have a sister that is 24 years older, 20 years older and then my younger sister who is a year younger. Most of my first cousins are married and have kids, Minus my Aunt Sandy and Uncle Gavin's kids.

Uncle Sam and Aunt Ruth eventually left, but I decided to stay mostly because I was starting to feel my Rye's and wasn't ready to end the party yet. Eventually in walked Tanner. I'd heard bits and pieces about him all night since he and I were the same age and I knew enough to know he was a hockey player (crushing on the hockey players is such a Canadian thing, sorry guys). I knew right away he was my type. Tanner walked over grabbed my sunglasses and said "Is it too bright in here or what?"

I couldn't hold my sass back, as much as I tried.

"It was until you walked in"

"So I guess you're Josie."

"And I guess you're Tanner."

This was when I knew I had found trouble in Saskatchewan. Or was it that trouble had found me?




Tuesday 12 July 2016

My Hometown

Before I get to into my story there is one thing I have to tell you. My hometown is seriously beautiful. I'm not even joking. I grew up in Cottage Country in Ontario, need I say more? I wasn't far from a fantastic beach and even closer to ski village.

Coming from a lake community I am used to something always happening and always, I really do mean always, being outside rain, shine or even snow. People joke that you can go from skiing in the morning to going for a round of golf in the afternoon. My journey took me to Alberta, to an oilfield town to be specific. Some of you probably think that Alberta is beautiful and you know what your right. Parts of Alberta are breathtaking. But I must tell you if you plan to visit please do not stop in an oilfield town, you will be extremely disappointed, and you also may loose all hope in humanity. 

Now don't get me wrong there are some great parts about living in an oilfield town and I have honestly met some great people. But compared to Banff, Jasper, Calgary, any part of BC and Cottage Country its a huge disappointment. When people find out where I am from they can't believe I left, and they always question why I won't move back. Through my story you'll understand why I can go back to visit but that I can never go back to live there permanently no matter how badly I want too. 


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I remember back when I thought my town was so large. I thought there was no greater place on earth. I am as my aunt calls me a "sun baby". I will spend as much time as possible out tanning and reading a book, swimming in the lake, or playing with the animals. Although when I say that it makes me sound like I'm pretty boring, but I have a wild side. I am the wild child in my family, also the klutz. Wherever there is a party or trouble you could always count on me to be there and you could pretty much guarantee there would be some crazy story about what I did, or how I hurt myself this time. I was known for holding my own and not backing down from anything. I could drink most people under the table, not exactly something I'm proud of but it was just the way I was. 

My family thought that when I met Jeremy that I had finally started to settle down. As with any small town I met Jeremy while we were in High School. It was when we were 17, I know in a small town we should have met before that but my parents sent me to a private school for a while in hopes of gaining more control over me. I rebelled hard against my parents when I was younger. They starting treating me like the problem child so I became one, if the shoe fits why not wear it?

I don't remember everything from when we met as I had a boyfriend at the time. But what I can tell you is that it didn't take Jeremy long to convince me to leave said boyfriend to be with him. Soon I was riding around in his pick up truck and meeting his family. Jeremy was the male version of me. Full of crude jokes and sassiness, not sure if I can call it sassiness when applying it to him but whatever. Things were great, so great in fact that I took a year off from my university plans because he convinced me that saving money would be a better plan. I didn't realize until it was too late that really he had other plans for that. 

My Mom and Dad loved Jeremy, more than they had ever loved me. My siblings were all even the same way. When my cousins piped up about their concerns my parents always defended Jer to no end, and usually ended up pinning it on me. I never gave anything a second thought. My parents always hated me, it was just how things were and Jer and I were happy. I was happy with myself and my life for the first time that I could remember. 

During my year off my career path changed. I made the decision to stay in Agriculture rather than do Premed like I had planned. There are very few places in Ontario you can study agriculture, but I made the decision to do a two year program rather than a full four years under pressure from Jeremy.  I am stubborn as a mule and was going to go to no matter what was said, but I at least compromised or so I thought. When I went to University finally, things changed and they changed for the worst. 


Monday 11 July 2016

The Adventure of a Lifetime

“Josie, I know your scared but I truly believe this will be good for you.”

“I’m honestly not sure. I'm so worried about this drive. What if I hate it out there?” My composure was finally cracking. The entire thought of moving across the country was finally becoming real and I wasn't sure it was a reality I wanted.

My Aunt Sandy was my absolute best friend. I can't remember a time she hasn't supported me. Honestly if it wasn't for her I would never have had the balls to do this. Here I was 22 years old moving across the country by myself.

“Just think of it as an adventure. You never know what will happen along the way. But I know this will be great!”

My aunt was the optimistic one in the family. I'm not sure how she maintained it to be honest. Life had knocked her down hard, repeatedly. Through everything she always remained positive and upbeat. Well unless I did something stupid (which happens often). I wanted nothing more than for her to come with me.

When I first told her about my idea I thought she was going to tell me it was crazy,or that my health wasn’t up to it yet. But to my surprise she was ecstatic about it. She was ready to start packing right then. Her enthusiasm made me excited (it's contagious I tell you!). I needed to slow her roll. I needed to do more planning and I needed to wait for clearance from the doctor. Cops here may have been ok with me driving while in crutches, but cops outside of our town most likely wouldn't be.

During the weeks I was supposed to be on bed rest we got everything organized. We found a job for me. My aunt contacted some friends of my mom, which I wasn't overly happy about but that's a story for another day,  and found me a place to stay. Even my bosses were happy for me, although very sad about having to find a replacement which would be very hard, I set the bar high but I had also turned their business around for them. Everything was falling into place. The ease of everything told me this was the right choice.

People thought my move was because of my ex fiancé. And maybe they were right, I'm still not sure what made me think of this crazy idea. What I do know is I'm still not over him. Jeremy and I had broke up a year ago. No matter how hard I tried I could not move on. Everything in our hometown reminded me of him. No one knew that I still loved him, I hid it well. Not even my aunt knew. Everyone in town had their own ideas on what happened, but no one knew the real story. I just let them think he cheated on me, which was a pretty easy conclusion for everyone to jump to since he had a new girlfriend within a week. I guess this drive would help me figure out how to finally get over him.

I'm not sure why I felt like today snuck up on me. I knew that it was coming. Now that it was here I was panicking. My aunt and I crammed the last of my stuff in my Jeep and I was fighting hard to hold back tears.

“Josie don't you start crying now. You never cry. Just remember home will always be here. We all love you and are so proud.”

“I'm not sure what I'm going to do without you guys though. You, Uncle Gavin, Sean. You keep me sane.” I was really close to breaking down now. “I’m not even getting to say goodbye to everyone.”

“They will understand. If you don't leave now you'll get caught in the storm. So stop stalling and get your butt in the car!”

After saying our I love you’s I got in. I set the radio to the Highway and watched as my home town faded in the rearview. My new adventure was starting, as scary as it was.