Telus love line

Since last week I've been obsessed with getting the Hockey Night in Canada theme for my cellphone. Now I've never been a fan of cellphones, but having heard it on one of my work collegue's phone, it was love at first ring.

And so, I spent all last night sending the bloody ring to my phone and I wasn't getting it. After a 2 hour wait, the little message still hadn't arrived so I called the Telus support line to see what the deal was...

Telus Guy: Hello, you've reached Telus tech support, how may I help you?

Miss Pow: Hi, I was wondering what sort of wait I should expect when downloading ringtones? I've followed the instructions on the website, and the little message won't get sent to my phone. Like I've already waited 2 hours.

Telus Guy: Um... it should only take a few seconds

Miss Pow: A few what? I've waited 2 hours! Look, I really need my Hockey Night in Canada ringtone.

Telus Guy: You like ...hockey?

Miss Pow: Hello! Of course! I've been praying for the strike to end for the past year. Now I must prepare for the return of the NHL.

Telus Guy: Oh I totally agree. Okay so I'll help you set it up. This is what you do...

[next few minutes involve me struggling to get the website up on my phone. I am technologically incompetent]

Miss Pow: Oh, oh okay, I've got it now... Yeah so after I do this the ringtone is mine forever? I've never done this before. Now I've got to get the Maple Leafs cover for my phone.

Telus Guy: Yeah, I've got the Hockey Night in Canada ringtone, and even Oh Canada

[I can hear his ringtones playing in the background]

Miss Pow: Oh that's cool. Maybe I'll get the Oh Canada one later. Yesh! The ringtone is set, yay hockey!

Telus Guy: Hey look... you're a Scorpio just like me! Only I was born in a different year... [ in a "Yes! We have stuff in common" tone]

Miss Pow: [frozen look on my face at the realization that he's going through my whole profile] Yeah.... that's nice. Uh... yeah.

[Note to self: do not want to connect with Telus man]

Telus Guy: So...

Miss Pow: Well thanks for your help.

Telus Guy: Err... yeah. Um enjoy the hockey season.

Miss Pow: I will, same to you.

Correction

Upon speaking to my family, they've noticed all of the watermelon I keep on eating. So on my previous blog entry, where I said that I'd probably eaten the equivalent of one large seedless watermelon, it's probably more accurate to say 3 within that past 2 weeks. Aiiiiiya!

WATERMELON VODKA

There's nothing more wonderful on a hot summer day than a bit of delicious watermelon! My mother has some trick she does and always manages to pick out the best ones of the lot. I've eaten so much watermelon on my own, it must be equivalent to one very large seedless melon.

Also very delicious is Jamie Oliver [mmmmmm....mmmmmm good]! Oh yes and not to mention his watermelon vodka. Recipe below. From "The Naked Chef Takes Off". Jamie Oliver naked? Yes please!

Watermelon Vodka

This is a really funny thing that I saw an American friend of mine make. Great for a barbie or party. Wish I'd known about this when I was going to school parties-- I could have walked in with my watermelon and got all my mates completely sloshed! Needs to be started three days-- even a week-- before you plan to eat it.

1 Large, ripe watermelon-- give it a smell and a slap to check for ripeness

1 bottle of best vodka (or even champagne)

Simply cut a hole in the top of the melon, wide and deep enough to insert a funnel. Make sure the funnel fits quite tightly or the liquid will spill out. If this happens, cut a larger hole. Pour some of your chosen alcohol into the melon through th funnel, leave to sit for a day and pour in some more. The flesh will absorb the liquid, so pour in some more the next day-- basically until it becomes saturated. When ready to serve, slice up into nice big pieces and get all your mates plastered on it!

Therapy through sewing.

The urge to sew has kicked in again. I've realised that my days of painting and sketching have passed-- I don't have the same skill or inspiration anymore to suddenly want to paint, or at least paint something that's meaningful to myself. But sewing... it's a hobby that seems to take me back to someone I used to be.

Every so often, I go through my collection of fabrics and I look, touch and study all of the samples and pieces I've gathered over the years. Scraps I've taken while exploring the textile district. Bags of fabric I secretly took from my mother's own collection. Some given to me by a friend who thought I'd make better use of her deceased mother's fabrics than the rest of her family. All of these pieces contain fragments of stories, promises and experiences. When I go through my sewing box, I also look at some of the projects I've abandoned. Purses and dolls I never had the time or sometimes lacked the motivation to complete. But when I feel the itch to begin sewing again, it's like some part of me feels lost or in a panic, like I need to go back to what I used to love to do and try to find myself again. I go back and I pick up all of those fabrics, comb through them again, and come up with an idea of how they should all come together.

Do people often go through cycles where they feel like they've forgotten who they are? Do people spend the time to just reflect on who they are now and where they thought they would be? When I was younger I always saw myself going into the arts and fashion. Now as an Engineer, I feel like I've cheated myself out of what I should have done.

In the past, after I've started a project I find that I become more at peace with myself because I'm able to balance everything I want to do and everything I need to do. I realize that in the end, I haven't really forgotten what I enjoy doing and that I can still pursue it. It's like making a handbag. I think of all of the different parts of me-- all of my past experiences, stories and promises I've made to myself and I piece them together so that they finally form a whole. When I crack open the sewing box tomorrow night, I can only hope that I'll be able to find some sort relief.