My Top 3

Hey all,

So I rarely feel the need to write about serious things but am feeling inspired as things around me are changing at a rapid pace. I wanted to explore what got me to where I am, so I've decided to put together a top three life changing moments. There is gonna be a fair amount of sap in these next few paragraphs so if you are allergic to mushy feelings and nice things, click the back button now. Otherwise sit back and get to know me a bit more.

1) Car accident the summer of 2006.

Yup I was sitting right there on the passenger side. Lucky me, huh? I won't get into all the gory details of the injuries sustained, but lets just say I was broken. I don't actually remember the accident or even the next week or so, but the experience still had a major effect on my life. To this day I have problems with my knees, my hand, my lungs, and have major anxiety when driving in a car. The fact that it happened still makes me angry sometimes. I get mad when I think about the fact that I have been using my knee brace increasingly more often, and will most likely develop arthritis far before I should. I hate the fact that I haven't been able to drive a car once since I moved to Montreal and that I am the worst passenger in the world because of my anxiety. I hate that I have scars that won't go away. I hate that I don't have proper turnout in dance class because of the rods in my leg. And I fucking hate that I cant open a stupid jar of salsa.


There are lots of things that suck about that moment in my life, but I also think it's the main reason I am where I am today. It was this shitty circumstance that allowed me to move to Halifax with my best friend and have the best summer of my life! It was that summer that I met the most important person in my life today. Which leads me to number 2...

2) Meeting the love of my life

Now let me set the stage for some serious romance here...


There I was on the outskirts of the sticky nightclub dance floor, strobe lights flashing, smoke machines blowing, empty shot glasses to my right, and a new JT track pumping from the speakers. Suddenly I spot him, a brown haired hottie dancing with a bunch of girls. Girls I obviously felt did not deserve his attention seeing as I approached with this gem of a pick up line, "So I was just wondering when you were gonna dance with me?". God I was smooth, who could resist such a beautiful pick up line? Obviously not this guy. From what I'm told the night was just a blur of romance, deep conversation, and love at first sight. Or dance floor groping, make out sessions, and him buying my friend and I water without vodka. Same thing...


Okay so maybe the first meeting was a little more Jersey Shore than The Notebook, but since then its been all love and kittens. Honestly though, I couldn't be more lucky. This guy treats me like a princess and loves me in a way I only thought possible in the movies. I didn't know there were actually people as nice as this guy. I would never use the word perfect, because let's face it there really is no such thing. But damn does he come close! And those dimples... *Sigh*


I won't go all over the top lovey dovey on you all so I'll stop here.


But good god I love that boy.

3) Moving to Montreal

After a year of long distance I finally made the trek to Montreal to live with that cute boy with the dimples. How cliché eh? Girl meets boy, girl drops life and runs to be with boy. I'll have you know, I finished my degree and then move to be with him. Can you blame me though? Long distance is hard. Like really hard, but we made it work and since I came here things have been even better. Not only has my move to Montreal strengthened my relationship, but it has also changed me as a person. I am definitely not the same person I was 3 years ago when I first came here. I showed up in Montreal a small town girl terrified of everyone who lived here. The first time I went on the metro I was sure I was being followed. Although to this day I still believe that to be true! It was crazy to me that I could walk down the street without stopping to talk to at least three people I know. I never knew what language to speak because no one spoke the same one. I was scared to take the bus, and shopping was a terrible experience with far too many options and a terribly scary amount of people. I was a lost little girl.


Nevertheless I am now proud to say I have grown into a full blown city girl. I can navigate the public transit system like a pro, and now know that it's appropriate to put your headphones on and ignore every single person you pass. However, I am still true to my small town roots and am polite even when I don't need to be. Believe me you're allowed to be rude, sometimes it's even necessary! I mean I still complain about rude people, and pushing on the metro, but sometimes its just survival! Really.


What I like about living in Montreal is the culture. Let's be honest guys, everyone in P.E.I looks the same, and for the most part thats the way everyone likes it. I'm glad I've been able to see a new perspective on life, and really appreciate the way other people live. I've met people here from all over the world, heard countless languages, and have learned to love cuisine I didn't know even existed.


I'll always love P.E.I. The beaches, the seafood, the friendly people, my family, and of course the potatoes. However I am fine without the gossip, the rumours, the cold, and the teeny tiny mall! P.E.I will always be my home and will forever be the place I go to catch a cold, and drink too much. But without Montreal I wouldn't have incredible sushi, an amazing dance scene, and amazing new friends.




Jessica
Remember the name.

Transit Etiquette

Hey all,

So Ive been in Montreal for 2 years now, and during this time I have taken my fair share of public transit. In this time I have realized how important "transit etiquette"is. I like to think I have very good transit etiquette, but I wish I could say the same for the most-part of my fellow Montrealers... It would be easy for me to rant about this for the entire afternoon, just ask my poor boyfriend who hears about it everyday (he's actually the one who suggested I write a blog about it. Maybe he's hoping this will get it out of my system for good).

I have decided to narrow down my little vent to a few certain types that really grate on my last nerve. So let's get this started...

1)The lazy bastards: You're sitting there at the front of the bus, and in comes...

a) an elderly person

b) a pregnant woman

c) a person with crutches, knee brace, etc...

Your response? Stare at the floor like you didn't see them so you can continue sitting without looking like a bastard. Don't kid yourself bud, we all saw you look up and quickly look to the floor. I know you saw them, just get your lazy butt up and offer your seat. Sure you may be tired, but it's good for your karma...just get up!

Now I know that it's not always a simple task, and I too am one of the ppl who ask themselves, "is that person really old? is she pregnant, or just a little fat?" I know how touchy of a subject it is, but here is a simple solution...Just get up and stand without saying anything. Better to give your seat up to the chubby chick then to look like the jerk who won't stand for the pregnant lady.

2) The Rosa Parks syndrome: It's 2010 ladies and gentlemen, we are past the days when the front of the bus was reserved. I don't care if your black, white, brown, 4 years old, 7 feet tall, or horizontally challenged, take your butt to the back of the bus!!! You see all those people in line to get on the bus? Yeah those people have somewhere to be too! You parking your inconsiderate ass at the front of the bus so we all have to squeeze past to stand at the back where there's room for at least 10 more people makes me want to throat punch you.

3) The Eager Beavers: Alright

so this is for all of you people standing directly in front of the metro door when it stops. Lets

think about this for a moment. Yes I am fully aware the door stays open for a limited amount of time, but you see all those people inside the metro? They need to get out! Some of us are polite, and would rather not have to push you out of our way just so that we can exit the metro. So to you narcissistic, me first personalities standing in my way when I get out, I am gonna

give you a reason to get out of my way...

The more people that can get off before you get on equals more room for your large ego filled head to find a seat. :)

On a side note, if you are in the metro and everyone behind you is trying to get off, could you kindly step off the metro to make room? I guarantee you that you will be able to get back on before the door shuts. I promise :) If you get locked out I will buy you a consolation cookie and wipe your tears. Also, check out the picture I have provided! Those lovely people at the STM have decided enough is enough and have kindly provided you with bright yellow directions. Please use them.

Although there are many more things I could say about my public transit experiences I feel I have provided the basics of transit etiquette. Use these helpful tips and your fellow travellers will no doubt be less aggravated and therefore nicer to you. Public transit saves the environment, so lets all stand up, move to the back, and get out of the way all in the name of monther earth. Oh and my sanity.

xoxo Jessie

I like to roll with hot chicks

Hey there,

So after being in the city for 3 months now I expected to be nothing less than a celebrity. Not so much. Any of you who have moved away from home and all your friends will agree when I say, making new friends in a new city after the age of 20 is NOT easy.

I've come up with what I feel is a pretty accurate depiction of how the process tends to unfold. Okay so take yourself back to your 6 year old self. You're just starting school, all new people, and a completely different atmosphere. You see another kid; you think they have a cool shirt or toy and you say to them "Hey, cool (insert impressive belong here) wanna play?" At 6 years old you have a 98% chance the other kid is gonna say "yeah!". And a 2% chance they'll say "mine!" and proceed to hit you and run away. Its that simple.

Fast forward 18ish years, same thought process different actions and outcome. I have noticed since Ive moved here that I have that same young mentality. It starts out the same, I see someone with a cool shirt or a sick pair of kicks and I think to myself "nice style, I bet shes a cool chick". Of course it's not always about the clothing (Im not that superficial) but it's the 1st thing I notice. Plus I wont lie, I like to roll with hot chicks. Anyways be it their style, or through a short exchange I find them cool. On the prowl for a new crew I find myself always thinking "this is exactly the type of person I want to be friends with!" The difference between myself now and when I was 6 is that those previous quoted statements would never come out of my mouth. Lets be honest, I would sound like a lesbian or at the very least desperate.

The more I think about it finding a new group of friends is kind of like dating except harder. If I wanted to pick these girls up I would say those previously mentioned lines and it would be acceptable. When all you want is someone to party with the lines are not clearly drawn, and I have no idea what im doing!

Its not like Im picky...I just want some hot girls who have great style, can dance and like to party. This is Montreal, it cant be too hard! Guess my PEI friends just set the bar too high ;)

xoxo
Jessica

And So It Begins...

Hi All,
So I decided to follow in the footsteps of my fellow PEI escapee Keely and start a blog for all you beautiful people. Its been frustrating to not have a phone set up and no internet (unless of course you buy a latte and then sit at the coffee shop for 2 hours as I have tonight).

Im going to be perfectly hontest. Montreal is slightly terrifying. I have no idea why there are so many people on the streets 7 days a week. What do these people have to do all the time? My way of life will have to change from, as Rhianna would say, 0 to 60 in 3.5. I have to say im doing very well...How urban am I sitting in a coffee shop alone with my latte and laptop? Very hip. Work needs to be done on the fashion front however as I feel like the paper bag princess among all these beautiful, super trendy people...Note to self: Shop. Soon... I do however still give myself about 20 cool points at this exact moment because I look like ive been writing a novel since ive been here so long. And everyone knows your not a real writer unless someone sees you writing...Anyone catch that family guy reference? hah. Either that or I look like I have no life...ahh

It may seem to you all that I am slacking as I have yet to get a job, but the truth is...I am training to become a professional Wii player... In the past I have sat by and watched others play nintendo. But I have found my calling and am in the process of perfecting my craft. Paper Mario is my specialty, although my real challenge is Trauma Centre. Its a surgery game, I told you Id be a doctor someday Dad! Dont judge. I have a backup plan but it involves less clothing and when I mentioned the idea to my boyfriend he gave me a look that I think meant "Thats not funny." I wasnt trying to make him laugh...

I have much more to share, but have to get out of this coffee shop before I get kicked out...aLthough I think its 24 hours...
Stay tuned till next time for exciting stories about Ikea (I know you all wish you could shop there) and convincing the boyfriend to buy a puppy :)

xoxo Jessie

JG8D69D