Day 302: Journaling

Tonight I took a continuing education course on journaling. It took place at Van Tech. It was my old high school.

I expected the course to be more a creative writing course. It wasn't like that at all. The teacher taught us different techniques for thinking about journal topics / ideas. She taught us about four different techniques. Some are better than others. It was a three hour class. I wish the class was longer to have more time to work on the techniques she taught us. We only got to practice two techniques. You may see some of techniques used on my blog in future postings.

After class I just walked the hallways. On the first floor of the school close to the office, there are pictures of previous grad classes. I found my grad class. I was looking at everyone's picture and thinking of what they are doing now. There are some people on my Facebook list. Most of them are married and some with kids.

Just being there brought me back down memory lane. I saw the picture of my principal. I remember she was the only female principal in the history of the school. I remember she drove a Toyota MR 2. It's a little sports car. It was weird seeing a very tall 'proper' old school woman driving a 'cool' young sports car. The Boys Citizen Award went to my friend Chia. I am not sure what the qualifications are to win the prize. He won so many awards during his high school years. A few years after graduating, he is no longer with us. I can't believe it's been 16 years since I graduated high school. Only four more years till my 20 year reunion. At my 20 year reunion, I need good stories to tell them.

Day 301: The Reef / Sweet Revenge

Review: http://lisa-restaurants.blogspot.com/2010/09/reef-sweet-revenge.html

Day 300: Engrish Signs

I'm at my 300 post! I'm almost done. To mark this achievement, I've decided to post something humorous.

I think these signs were posted on engrish.com at one point. They were emailed to me and I've decided to share them with you!

http://lisasfunnies.blogspot.com/2010/09/engrish-signs.html

Day 299: Mexican words of the day / The Middle Wife

Mexican words of the day

http://lisasfunnies.blogspot.com/2010/09/mexican-words-of-day.html

The Middle Wife

http://lisasfunnies.blogspot.com/2010/09/middle-wife.html

Day 298: My first time selling Canucks 50/50 tickets

I was nervous because it's my first time. It's like starting a new job or new relationship. You don't know what to expect. The instructions told me to meet at a gate. I got there and saw some people waiting outside. I wasn't sure what they were waiting for. I walked thru the doors and told the guy at the desk that I was there to volunteer. He told me to wait outside with the other people. When I am nervous, I tend to talk to people to break the ice and to make myself relax. I started talking to this guy who looks very eccentric. He was wearing a Canucks flag as a cape, a sparkly blue wig and a hat. Once more people arrived, they were talking to each other so they have worked together before. We just waited outside the gate till a Canucks staff came outside to check us in. At that point, they asked us if they have any extra tickets if we are interested in watching. I said 'yes'. After all the volunteers were checked in, we went inside the arena. We hung up our jackets. We had to give them our ID's and they lent us a volunteer shirt. It's a red long sleeve fleece shirt with '50/50 volunteer' printed on it. After we got our shirts, we were split up into two groups; one group are the newbies, one group experienced people. Of course I was in the newbie group. In this group, we had a staff member explain to us about the 50/50 program, the tickets, how to sell them, some perks and basic housekeeping / common sense rules. They then assigned us a location to sell the tickets. I was located at Gate 2 tonight. There were four of us there. We sold tickets from 6-7 pm and at the first intermission. Then we submitted our money and our left over tickets to the staff.

After my first shift, I have learned:

- don't be afraid to ask questions. That's how I managed my shift. I didn't know what was going on and I just asked people around me.

- one perk is getting food at 1/2 price, as long as you are in your volunteer shirt. A White Spot burger is more delicious when it is $4.87 for a burger and fries.

- there is no quota. It's not like a sales job. You sell what you can.

- you get to enjoy the game when you finish volunteering. They only have certain amount of tickets per game. I think it is random on who gets the ticket. Because it's a preseason game, I think all the volunteers got a ticket. But once regular season rolls around, I think it will be more of a luck of the draw on who gets a ticket. I managed to watch the second half of the second period and the third period. That's ok for me. That is the exciting part of the game anyways.

Day 297: Union Gospel Mission Orientation

It took about three months before I made it to an orientation. My friend wanted to come with me. The orientation is only on Tuesdays. In July and August our schedule didn't jive to attend the orientation session. Finally we made it tonight.

We parked about 20 feet about the entrance to the building. Like usual, there is a line up outside the building. We went through the front doors and they directed us to the third floor. We went pass the second floor and it said 'do not enter'. Because it was of secrecy, we were more intrigued to find out what was on the second floor. We got there early and just hung out outside till it was time to sit down. We went into a small room with theater style seating. The seats are quite comfortable. It seemed like they were custom made because they had the table extension on them. The orientation was 1.5 hour long. There was a pamphlet on the table and they explained the information the pamplet.


I do understand that they have to clear out the weirdos as volunteers. There are pretty strict rules to follow. One of the guidelines is 'do not give out your address, email address, phone number or invitations to join Facebook to clients'. I understand about the address, email and phone number thing. It's a safety precaution in case they are weirdos. But the 'invitation to join Facebook'? Is a homeless person really a person I would like to add as a friend on Facebook? Will they respond to my 'friend request' or check my status to see what I'm up to? I do know they have access to the internet for free at the library. It's a sign that companies these days are aware of the impact of Facebook in our lives. Facebook is a form of communication like email or phone.

There are so many UGM locations with various activities at each one. They have locations from Mission to the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. Their services include drop in services, lunch meal, dinner meals and alchohol and drug addiction recovery programs. There is also a Mobile UGM. It's a van that drives around the Lower Mainland and provides homeless people with food and socks and other goodies. They also have special dinners where they need volunteers.

To be a general volunteer, you need to attend the orientation seminar, fill out an application form, go to an interview and sign an agreement form. This process is very extensive. There is also a 3 month probation period. It's like a job!

Day 296: Potential Volunteer opportunities

I have been looking for some volunteer opportunities for some time now. I haven't been actively looking, I think passively looking (if there is such a thing).

Tomorrow night I am going to the Union Gospel Mission's orientation. The volunteer position is serving food to the homeless in the downtown Eastside. I used to live by the downtown eastside and it was a scary place. Maybe it's not so scary anymore? Maybe you have to learn about the people who live there to be comfortable in their surroundings? A few years ago, my workplace had a group of them going to the downtown's soup kitchen. I didn't think that was practical volunteer experience. At that time, I wanted to volunteer somewhere I can gain more practical / office experience. But now I think it is a rewarding experience. I am getting older now and don't need to gain more experience. Volunteering to give food to the homeless is more about giving back to the community.



I am a Canucks fan. (In case you didn't notice my Canucks jackets, hats, jerseys, necklace and socks). A friend of mine, who is also a Canucks fan, told me about volunteering at Canucks games selling 50/50 tickets. At a Canucks game you can buy 50/50 tickets. The winner gets 50% of the money. The other 50% goes to Canucks charities. When you volunteer to sell the tickets, you are allowed to watch the game. The price of Canucks games have gone up from last year. Last year, I spent close to $100 on a game nite. It includes the ticket, maybe some mini donuts, maybe a drink or hot dog and gas / bus fare. As the price increases, the less I am able to go watch and support our Canucks. As a volunteer, I am supporting the charities and supporting the Canucks. I have sent the email to the volunteer coordinator with my contact information and availablity. I am waiting for their confirmation if I am accepted as a volunteer and what nites I will be volunteering.