I hated this about myself

I've always been incredibly shy and awkward, for as long as I've been around. So 23 years, give or take. 

It was especially annoying back in my school days. I had a hard time making new friends, and still do. Once my family stopped moving around so much, I finally made real friends. I'm glad to say I'm still friends with a lot of these people that I met back when I was 13-16 years old. But I was still shy. 

I had a hard time talking to anyone who wasn't one of my friends. I especially had a terrible time with small talk, which I guess is why I had a hard time talking to non-friends. In school, when they put us in groups to work, I would barely utter a word. I'm sure my classmates though I was crazy, to put it nicely. 

Strangely enough, when I moved away for university I managed to talk to some people, but I didn't put the effort in to make actual friendships. My first job (at Wendy's, go me) was the first place where I got comfortable talking to co-workers. 

Still, I was mostly as awkward as ever. Relationships never went too far because of it, new friendships never happened much. 

I got a job back in summer '08 working at the front desk of a cottage rental spot. I loved the job, and it was where I finally started getting a little more comfortable making small-talk. Just a little. It was only when I got my current front desk job that I really got comfortable with it. 

Finally, I find myself being able to chat about the weather and other random things with complete strangers. But this job is kind of great - because some of those people who are still strangers, don't really feel like it anymore. 

It's a nice feeling to have someone rushing up the stairs to their room, but notice me working and slow down to say hi to me. It's great to have friendly chats with regulars who always stop by to talk after they have their dinner. It's nice when people come up to me and know me by name without reading my name tag, people who's voices I recognize on the phone before they even introduce themselves. These people - all still basically complete strangers to me - made it that much easier for me to become comfortable with my shyness, and overcome it a bit more. Now I don't think of it as much as being shy. I don't feel shy anymore. Most of the time if I'm not talking it's because I just don't feel like it, not because I'm uncomfortable doing it. 

That's one thing I hated so much about myself before but I absolutely love overcoming it. 

I wish the new me could go back to high school and college and live it as I am now. But no point in having regrets, right? Besides, I love where I am now so why change a thing?

What's something your love or hate about yourself? I'd love to hear it. 

My Best Friend

My best friend - Day 6

I am one of those lucky people. In a way.

I don't have a lot of friends and acquaintances. I don't have someone that I can say tp 'Let's go out for coffee?' or something short notice like that. It leaves me a bit more bored and lonely than I'd like to admit at times.

But that's okay. I don't need a lot of friends. I am more better off than that. I have best friends, and I have more than one. I haven't given all of my best friends the recognition they deserve, but still I'm going to focus on just one friend, simply because we are being reunited this weekend.

I have introduced A. before. This is her blog, and this is the story of how we met.

So this is A. One of my closest friends for the past few years.

At first it was all just fun. We'd go out for random coffee dates or movie dates when we still lived in the same city. Now, sadly, we live two hours (and an expensive bridge drive) away from each other and our visits are a lot less often.

But no matter how little we see each other or even how little we talk, she's there for me no matter what. She's one of those friends where when something's wrong, I don't need to call her to talk because she'll find out, and she'll try to get a hold of me first. She'll listen to me complain about anything, no matter how redundant it is, and will still listen to every word and give me great advice afterwards. She's the one person I can vent to, without worrying about her judging me, or spreading it around.

She's the most forgiving person I've ever met. No matter how much someone hurts her, she can still forgive them in the end and still treat them like they are her best friend. She so often takes on the role of 'the bigger person' and will still be genuinely friendly to someone she knows doesn't like her, or says things behind her back. I truly admire her for this, because I could never do it. She's got a heart of gold.

She the type that cares more about her family and friends than trivial things. She's going to make an amazing mother today, and already is a great teacher. I'm so lucky to have her in my life.

Day 01 – Introduce yourself

Day 02 – Your first love

Day 03 – Your family

Day 04 – What you ate today

Day 05 – This week

A Life Update..

Day 05 – This week

This week was very routine for me.

Get up

Go to the hospital

Go to work

Go to sleep

Repeat

I wrote the other day about my grandfather having a stroke.

I've been really enjoying going to the hospital everyday to spend time with him and watch him get better, very slowly. I always look forward to going, and the time flies when I'm there. It's the only thing that keeps me sane since it happened.

They had him on bed rest because his heart rate was low, but he's back up and running around again. We found out that at some point he had a silent heart attack. There's no way of telling when it would've happened. It could've been last week, or 10 years ago.

But he is getting better, and he's still in great spirits, which is nice to see. I think this would be a lot harder on everyone if he didn't seem to happy.

Besides spending time at the hospital, I helped my boyfriend move in the middle of the week. Some of you asked if he moved far - the answer is no. I could walk to his new apartment in about 10 minutes. It's a nice little spot. A bachelor, but it has a nice pantry in the kitchen, a linen closet, a closet that you could use as a small office, as well as two more closets. So it's got a lot of storage space, as long as you don't mind living in just one room.

Otherwise, it's been a fairly normal week.

Tell me about your week.


Day 01 – Introduce yourself
Day 02 – Your first love
Day 03 – Your family
Day 04 – What you ate today

Donair Pita Pizza!

Day 04 – What you ate today

Today I am supposed to talk about what I ate today. You probably don't even want to know the sadness that have been my meals lately, but I will share with you one awesome thing that I've been eating lately, and had for lunch today:

Quick and Easy Donair Pita Pizza! 

You need:

 - A package of pitas

- Grated mozza cheese

- Donair meat (spicy, regular, strips, round shaped, whatever you like)

- Donair sauce

- An oven or toaster oven

1. Spread donair sauce on the piece of pita bread

2. Spread donair meat on top of the donair sauce

3. Sprinkle with as much grated cheese as you like, and I like a LOT

4. Bake in the oven or toaster oven at approx 375 F until the cheese starts brown a little in spots

5. Enjoy the amazingness that you have created. 

Stolen Donair Sauce Recipe

2/3 cup canned evaporated milk

2/3 cup sugar

1/4 cup white vinegar

1/2 tsp garlic powder

Stir canned milk, sugar and garlic powder until sugar is dissolved. Add vinegar and continue mixing. The quicker you add the vinegar and the less you mix (I usually give the spoon 3 or 4 turns around the bowl), the thicker the sauce will be. Let sauce sit for at least one hour in refrigerator before using.

[ Recipe found here. ]

Try it. It is amazing.

Curious about other things I ate today? Special K Chocolatey Crunch bar. So yummy. 

Day 01 – Introduce yourself
Day 02 – Your first love
Day 03 – Your Family

My Family

Day 03 – Your Family

I have what you would call one of those dysfunctional families. I am the oldest child in my family. My mother and had me in 1987 with my biological father, R. In 1991, R had another daughter with his current wife. So I have one half-sister.

My mother also gave birth in 1991, to a set of boy and girl twins, with her then boyfriend, J.

J also has a daughter and son from a previous relationship, who are both just a little bit older than me. There are half brother and sisters everywhere in my family.

I have no full brothers or sisters.

I grew up living with the twins. I don't really consider them to be half brother and sister, even though they are. I don't consider my nephew to be my half nephew. Family is family.

Anyone else have one of those hard to explain families?

My grandfather, not part of the craziness, but still family. 

Day 01 – Introduce yourself
Day 02 – Your first love

My First Love

Day 02 – Your first love

I met my first love on January 8, 2008. 

He is my nephew and I don't think there is any other kind of love like the love I have for him.

Until I have my own children maybe. 

But I believe him to be my first love. 

Day 01 – Introduce yourself

30 Days of Truths

Day 01 – Introduce yourself


Hi, I'm Venassa and I'm doing what I am going to call '30 Days of Truths'. I found it somewhere in blogging land, but can't remember where. 


Most of my readers have been around for awhile, and this will all be no news to you, but there are a tad few new people around here who may be reading. 


But this is me, not that long ago, while at work. Seems I'm always at work, since that's where I am now. 

I work front desk at a hotel. I can be a fun job, but it can also be really challenging and hard on the nerves. Have you ever had to put up with a large group of boys running wild with mini hockey sticks? Well, that's how I spend my weekends for most the winter while at work. 


I am 23 years old. I can't believe it. I just won't stop aging so quickly. 


I live in Canada. It's a great place to live, although I wish I didn't live in such a small place. It's nice to be so close to family and friends though. 


A little more about me? I'm basically obsessed with photography. I love reading, writing, pigging out on junk food, watching tv shows in marathon form and more currently: hanging out with my grandfather at the hospital or playing The Sims 3. 


This is sort of the exact same stuff you would find on my about me page, but whatever. Here is is again. 


Nice to meet you : )


Ps: Happy December 1st!