Louamonster

It's been a WHILE!

2009-12-06T18:34:00.003-07:00

I know I haven't posted in approximately forever, and lots has happened!

Nattie and I went to Montreal and Toronto. Toronto was pretty cool but I fell head over heels in love with Montreal. Everything about it, in fact.

Then I was in Banff for this really awesome training thing for work, which was really fun and very interesting! It was mostly about marketing, which I'm really interested in.

Then we had to go to Winnipeg because my uncle died, which was really sad. I know this isn't really a nice thing to say, but it was really nice to see everyone. I'd rather not have been in Winnipeg and seeing everyone for that reason, but since it had to happen, it was nice.

Finally, the Christmas party was last weekend! It was a really great time!

This is a really weak post, but I'm on my way back into the blogosphere, ha ha, perhaps so I think that's why.

:)

Come full circle

2009-09-30T00:34:00.002-06:00

Those who know me well know that there are a few phrases/words that I plain old don't understand ("paradox"). There are also a great many which I kind of get but I really could never use in a conversation ("flaky") and some I just plain old don't like ("that has nothing to do with the price of tea in China"). I SHOULD understand these words/phrases, I think. I honestly (and I may be being cocky here) nothing about these things that is so far above my head that I can't figure it out, I think there are just some things that don't click with people. In any case, the phrase "come full circle" meant little to me until very recently.

I went to "Ask the Rabbi" with my dad last Tuesday and I was sitting there, very much enjoying myself, and thinking about myself ten years ago. I have to say, as an aside, that it makes me feel like infinity years old to be able to vividly remember ten years ago, but I won't really go there. Anyways, ten years ago (or at least very close, 9 at least), I would have been sitting around with my youth group having "Bible Answer Man" with Pastor Russ. I can't fully describe what it was like to sit there with a bunch of old Jewish guys and be thinking about my former religious life, but I really enjoyed myself. And I definitely got a real kick out of it.

Dad and I went to Yom Kippur services yesterday. I am not a good faster, but that part of it wasn't too bad. It was a really interesting day. Man did we pray. Well, I didn't really, because I honestly have no idea what's going on. I told my dad that and he said "sure you do" but I don't think he comprehends that, unlike him, I was not forced to go to an Orthodox Synagogue until my early twenties or late teens or whenever it was that he stopped going. I think he had a really good time though. He said he "got a lot of good feelings out of it", and I think that's what I was hoping for. The biggest drawback was that we didn't get to sit together (because it's Orthodox) and so I was all by myself with a bunch of ladies that I have never met, etc. I still had a good time though. It's funny how 99% or so of the ladies just go to chat. Very funny.

And dad got to carry the Torah during the service. I really had very little idea what was going on, of course, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that it's quite an honour to be chosen to do that. It was really cool to (kind of.... there's a serious barricade up between the ladies' and men's sides) see him up there. I think he was really happy. Afterwards he said that being chosen to carry the Torah is a "great honour". And he seemed pretty happy about it. So that's pretty darned cool.

<3

Lucky

2009-09-16T20:28:00.003-06:00

I have never really considered myself a super "lucky" person by regular standards. What I mean by that is just that I don't win the few times I gamble and stuff like that. Nattie and Matt and I went to West Ed last weekend for our annual waterpark trip and I had a GREAT time. We were so tired on Friday night though, maybe from all the cardio at the waterpark that day, but probably just because we're getting REALLY old. We were barely able to coax ourselves out of our respective beds after watching a really crappy movie (Observe and Report) for a fun post-mall closing walk. We eventually got to that little fountain thing with the cute little whale that you can stand in and take pictures in (I'm sure everyone knows what I'm talking about)..... I had some coins in my pocket because I had them ready to throw down the mall (one of my favourite hobbies, when it's busy people jump all over the place because they hear money. It's hilarious). Annnnyways, I handed out some pennies for us to throw in the fountain to make a wish. Nattie and Mattie tossed their pennies in with their wishes. It took me a REALLY long time to figure out something to wish for. This is not to say that my life is perfect, that I'm always happy or anything else kind of silly like that, but I just felt REALLY lucky and blessed and grateful that I couldn't think of anything to wish for.

That's all. :)

Oh wow.

2009-09-04T00:54:00.001-06:00

I stumbled on this by accident.

Need I say more?

2 days, 2 posts..... WHAT?

2009-08-26T18:48:00.002-06:00

I think I posted yesterday. Hmmm. Not really sure.

Anyways, I was thinking again (Nattie must be thinking "oh gosh, why").

When we saw Julie & Julia, I REALLY enjoyed it. I have to say it's one of my favourites. I knew it was a Nora Ephron movie and I knew that Nora Ephron was Jewish but I guess I never REALLY thought about it before we saw the movie. Anyways, I LOVED the movie so much. And then some. But I definitely had that Woody Allen/Kevin Smith feeling when I watched it. There's something about certain directors that makes me feel that way. Something else interesting that I learned on imdb is that Nora Ephron is in 2 Woody Allen movies, as an extra-sounding type of character. I just think there's something to that.

I wish I could articulate better the way I feel when I watch Woody Allen movies or Julie & Julia, but I can't because I don't understand it myself. They're not "Jewish" movies. Most of Woody Allen's main characters (in the movies where he is the main character) are Jewish, but I think that has something to do with the fact that it seems like most of those movies are kind of autobiographical. Or at least I think the characters are reflections of him. In any case, I found out that Nora Ephron also directed When Harry Met Sally, which many of you know is one of my very favourite movies. And Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail..... all of which I REALLY loved.

Not that I think it's fair to just say that just because she's Jewish I'm more likely to enjoy her movies. That's definitely not what I'm saying or thinking. I just feel like there's something there. I don't know what, and I don't know how it can transcend subject that way (if "it" does, in fact, exist). It's probably just a fluke. I mean, the fact that 2 of my 3 very favourite directors are Jewish doesn't constitute some demographic miracle or relationship. A LOT of directors (and other people in Hollywood) happen to be Jewish.

In Stars of David (one of my very favourite books), Abigail Pogrebin points out that Nora Ephron has been called a "Jewish humorist in the tradition of Woody Allen". So there's that, are they both Jewish humorists? Nora Ephron doesn't think so. She doesn't see herself as a Jewish writer anymore than she identifies as a woman writer. She says "Don't I make movies?". Which I totally agree with. I wouldn't want to be a "woman director" or a "Jewish director" or whatever, I'd just want to be a director. I happen to think that'd be a cool job anyway, but that's another tangent for another post.

I just think there's something to this though. She actually says something that I can appreciate about a certain Jewish type of humour: "one of the things that seemed very clear to me was that this thing that you call Jewish humor, whatever it is, partly comes from being ina minority. In my stereotype of Jews, one thing I love is how funny they are -- how funny at their own expense they are". I think that the "connection", should there be one, has something to do with Jews having a certain type of humour (or writing style or something. Could be anything), making something non-Jewish with that type of humour and then my interpreting it in a certain way. That definitely doesn't explain my love of Julie & Julia, When Harry Met Sally, or much else at all though. So that's great. I have a question and a totally irrelevant theory.

It was just something I was thinking about. In other happy news, I got a few books I ordered today. My new copy of Stars of David by Abigail Pogrebin, I Am Jewish edited by Judea and Ruth Pearl , and Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil by Hannah Arendt. YAY!

I should stop ordering books and start READING books though. My list is quite long!

<3

You really can't.....

2009-08-25T19:54:00.002-06:00

plan for life, can you. Not that anything unexpected has happened to me recently, it's just what I've been thinking about. I think I'm really frustrated because I misread a certain situation and then really fouled it up. That's all I'll say, but my one reader knows what happened. The details aren't important anyways.

Nothing too, too exciting going on otherwise. Enjoying some Jeopardy. I LOVE Jeopardy. Speaking of old people-like things that I am in love with, I caught up with a little Antiques Roadshow last night. Boy was that ever good. This one guy had this amazing collection of Hallmark cards (he worked for Hallmark) by Charles Schulz (sp?) as well as some assorted sketches, including Peanuts ones. It was pretty cool. I gotta say it gave me goosebumps a little. The appraiser said it was probably worth up to $150,000. Which is NUTS, especially because he didn't seem to expect it to be worth too, too much. It's just such a good show though. Has anyone else noticed that Jeopardy has changed their set dramatically? I think I know the answer to that question, ha ha.

I'm starving and don't feel like cooking anything. Brutal. I'd say there's a SERIOUS chance I'll be having KD pretty soon here. I made this spaghetti last night and it was quite good but it was so garlicky I tasted it ALL NIGHT so I don't really feel like having it again, even though I have 2 containers of leftovers. The garlic has probably just intensified by this time anyways. So I think I'll skip it.

The other piece of news is that I did a little bike shopping today. And I had NO luck. It was brutal. I was really interested in this one but none of the people at the store knew how to fold it and I didn't want to buy it without seeing how to fold it. I even tried to take the instruction manual out of the little bag hanging from the bike to figure it out but I just couldn't get it. I was really disappointed in the customer service I received there. I try my VERY best not to complain about stuff like that, but it was brutal. If someone asked me how to fold something when I worked at TRU and I didn't know the answer, I would ASK SOMEONE. So that really sucked. I'll have to bring a friend next time, I guess.

I had really good plans to read by the pool tonight but I'm so tired I'll probably just end up lazing around on my computer and watching TV. I have 2 good shows to watch soon, so I'm watching some The Doctors until the good stuff starts.

Annnyways, SUPER excited for mine and Mattie and Nattie's trip to Edmonton in a few weeks and then TORONTO AND MONTREAL pretty soon too! HOORAY!

<3

What a week.

2009-08-02T08:44:00.002-06:00

I know it's been FOREVER since I updated this but honestly none of the details are all that fascinating and Nattie, you already know them all so I don't really need to put them all in here. I just wanted to post something small because I have had possibly the most crazy week I've ever had in my life and I just wanted to get it out. Ha ha, in an outrageously public (but hardly ever read) forum.

Tomo and Elliott got married last Saturday and it was so wonderful! Congrats to them, they are so cute together and will no doubt live a very long happy life together! I so hope they get everything they ever dreamed of and more! I'm pretty sure they're still away on their honeymoon (I think they're going away to Disneyland later this year as well, how exciting, to have 2 honeymoons!) but Elliott has posted some pretty adorable and sweet updates since they've been gone.

I was also a little hungover on Sunday, oops. Molly and I saw the Ugly Truth, which was awesome and I had a great time with her even though I felt like total garbage.

I really don't want to be nonchalant about this but I feel like it's been a really long time coming and that's that Jordan and I broke up on Monday, I'm pretty sure for good this time. I suppose you can really never say never but sometimes you just can't make it work, no matter how much you love someone. And now I realize that and that's OK. We'll both live, just fine. And hopefully we can keep being friends and hopefully someday I'll be friends with his wife or girlfriends or whatever and we can just be really great friends who had a really great relationship a long time ago.

I've been thinking the last week or so though, about stuff and things, lol. And how damn lucky I have been in my short 22 (almost 23) years to have so many amazing people walk in (and sometimes out) of my life. I could never even attempt to make a list, but you all know who you are and I just wanted to say thanks. I don't think anyone reads this other than Nattie (and she'll die of shock when she sees that I've updated so she might not even read this far), but if you read this, please know that even though you probably don't realize it (even though you might), you've had more of an impact on my life and who I am than you could ever know. So a million times thank you. I'm just the absolute luckiest girl in the whole world: I've met more amazing people in these short 22 years (do I sound like a broken record yet) than probably some people do in their whole lives. I forget about that a LOT, I think, and I don't treat a lot of my friends like I should to show them how much I love and appreciate them, but I truly, truly do. Whether it's sharing laughter or tears, fun or sadness, in sickness in health, for richer for poorer (wait, how did I get here?).... just kidding. But seriously, thanks to everyone. I love you all so much more than I could ever say in person (because I'm a baby and am cold/dead inside) and especially online.

Sometimes you just can't plan for things, huh. I think I've had one of those weeks. And the constant in all of it is that all of my friends who have handled me until now and still stick around (tough, tough people, nice work) have stuck by me every step of the way, no matter what it was that I was learning at that particular moment. I also can't sleep but that's a totally separate story. :)

Also, could someone float me a little musical talent? I'm trying to play my guitar again today and when I sing it sounds like I've been smoking (I haven't been). And it's driving me crazy.

Seriously?

2009-05-17T15:24:00.002-06:00

For real? The last time I wrote in this it was FEBRUARY 22?!?!?!?!?!? Oh crap. Well there's just no way I can remember nor do I have time to write out everything that has happened between then and now. We moved in, seamlessly. My dad and his friend John gave us a real moving surprise and cancelled our need for the Uhaul by moving all our stuff in on Friday (except for Amanda's boxes, which she didn't have TOO many of). So that was amazing! And that was it! And I love it SOOOO soo much! Amanda is an amazing roommate (no big surprise, she's awesome!) and I love having Sugar around so much, he is one of my favourite 4 cats ever! I will post pictures soon, I was going to do it right now but I can't find my camera anywhere. I was going to wait until we cleaned up but that is NOT going to happen, so oh well. Ha ha. Sorry.

Otherwise, I guess I got a promotion (sort of) and definitely some more cash when Janey and I switched jobs in the middle of March. I really like being in the back instead of up front. And it's always fun to get to cover front for Janey when she goes out to do whatever it is she needs to do on her mall walks! And so that's sweet!

Other news.... Jord and I got back together..... I guess 3 weeks ago. So I'm real happy about that. It's good so far. Like really good. Weird a little because we have to figure out where we are or whatever. But it's going really really really well. And his sister, his mom and I bribed him to shave off his moustache on Friday so that's also REALLY good. I hate that thing. Tee hee.

I'm trying my hardest to finish my application to graduate as I type. And having little to no luck. It's quite very much driving me freaking crazy. OK, I think I got it. This is outrageous. Oh well. So, I get to graduate! And so does Nattie! And very appropriately, at the same ceremony. So that is super exciting. Hopefully we don't get lost on the train this time.

Anyways, I gotta get going. I have to tutor in 20 minutes and I've been updating myself to the online world since our internet is working again so my eyes are nearly bleeding. Next time, a story about one of my favourite books ever, tuesdays with Morrie.

<3

Lo.

Stuff stuff stuff

2009-02-22T14:30:00.004-07:00

Soooo.........

We got the house for sure! We've paid the down payment and everything, we'll get the keys on March 20 (see ticker at top). It's very very VERY exciting!!!! So we get to move in that Friday and Saturday, which is so so exciting!!!!

Um, otherwise not much is new! Unfortunately, the new food court opening is the Monday following moving weekend which is NOT exciting! We're hoping to find a roommate or two, but we can afford it on our own and we'd like to be able to show a potential roommate the place when we meet them, that would be much easier!

The other exciting thing is that I really don't have to buy anything else big! My mom and I were looking online today at beds and stuff at Sears. I searched for furniture/mattresses and then went to the bedroom section and something caught my eye. It said " 'Lauren' 5-pc bedroom set". And I was like, ha ha, wouldn't that be really funny.... and then I looked at it and LOVED it! So we went down to the Sears Home store and we were going to look around. I saw a bed (only) for the same price as the whole 5 piece bedroom set (bed frame, headboard, mirror, dresser and nightstand) and we also bought a queen sized mattress for it! It was a GREAT deal and I have a super cool bedroom set that I'm so excited for! It's going to be delivered (for free) the day after our possession date when we'll be doing most of our moving!

There aren't a lot of things left to do now, just set up the cable person (it would be nice if they could come Friday night, but we're not picky). And I think that's pretty well it.

Otherwise, I just can't think of what else is going on! I got an interview for a job that I applied for at Ivanhoe Cambridge, but I don't think I'll get it. That's OK though. Hopefully I'll be able to find something good soon!

<3

Outrageosity

2009-01-31T08:34:00.002-07:00

I stumbled on this little gem when I couldn't sleep this morning (notice that it's 8:36 on a SATURDAY and I've already been up about 45 minutes). Gross. Anyways, you know those moments when you're like "Is that.....?". I definitely did one of those double takes this morning when I saw this.

Oh wow, that was great.

Stuff

2009-01-27T21:25:00.002-07:00

Hola!

Yes, it's been far too long!!!

OK, so first things first. One lovely lady from my Women's Studies Class was so inspired by our class that she's going to Tanzania to volunteer. I am super super impressed by this, and I feel even more inspired to do my tiny bit as well. My thing that I picked up in class that I am doing is buying only fair trade clothing. Perhaps fair trade is a little intense. Anything new must be fair trade (and Lululemon counts, but should be avoided if simple). I will do my best to start with used clothing though. I have a second-hand-store outing planned with my mom for when she comes home. My mom has actually been very green for a very long time, and I just never saw it. Anyways, buying organic/fair trade/used clothing is greener and more socially responsible in my opinion. I will not throw out any of the clothes I have now but I will wear them until I dislike them (in which case I'll donate them) or I'll wear them until they're done for (in which case I'll fix them, make them into something else useful or donate them). For shoes, first priority goes to used and then fair trade, but I will buy new non-sweatshop free shoes if necessary. It's really difficult to find shoes like that. Food is too difficult, but I would like to change that also. It's in the future though. Clothing is tough enough. But I am buying organic food where I can. Same for hygiene stuff. I bought some deodorant today at Community Natural Foods and more shampoo and conditioner. I have some body shop stuff, which is fair trade, but I don't like how it makes my hair. Also, it's really expensive and you don't get much. So I'm excited to try this Canadian stuff I bought today!

Two other things:

First, Amanda and I have been seriously offering on this amazing condo really close to the mall. I really want to buy it. BAD. We looked at the bylaws today. I kind of think we should take both our clans to see it and have a giant discussion with our families. I dunno though.

Also, I went on a few dates with a new boy. His name is Jun and he's really sweet and interesting!

<3

The Second Sex, intro, translator's notes and the beginning of chapter 1!

2009-01-14T22:36:00.002-07:00

OK, so first of all: Go Nattie! Great choice, love this book ALREADY! It will probably take me years to actually finish because it is QUITE dense! I love love love love it though!

So here's a few mini-book reports I have on this book! Attention: the chapter one part is pretty explicit!

Intro/Translator's Notes

1) The intro is pretty interesting. I find it completely fascinating that the intro doesn't so much mention how so little has changed between 1949 (when the book was published) and 1989 (when this intro was written). I also found it interesting that the book was translated to English because the wife of a publisher thought it was a sex manual and should therefore be available to the American public. Wow. And then asked her HUSBAND to publish it. It's cool how the very thing that Beauvoir is discussing is so present in how her book became more widely available to English speaking women. Ironic, I think. It's like rain on your wedding day. ha ha.

2) The translator's notes are the funniest part by far. He (yes, he... I find that a little strange, but I guess it WAS 1952) keeps talking about all these strides that women have made. To think about that in 1952 terms based on what we know today, one would probably say "what strides?". Women couldn't even vote in Beauvoir's home of France until the late forties. In Italy, I'm pretty sure it was later that mid-fifties. Even in Canada, aboriginal women COULDN'T VOTE until like 1960. That blows my mind.

THE BOOK!

OK, so chapter one is about biological facts. So here are the two thoughts I came up with on my way home today:

1) perhaps that (what? I'm not sure, ghost subject alert) is why the sex act is so much more carefully considered by human females than males (in terms of general stereotype, certainly not speaking from my own experience or observation). First, according to Beauvoir, the sex act is a violation of the woman, decided upon by the man only. I personally believe this has limited physical truth in the society in which we live today, but that is DEFINITELY not to say that rape doesn't happen now (or then, especially rape within marriage and other relationships). Socially though, women (at least some) do tend to be compelled by some sort of ideology to be happily submissive sexual partners and pieces of relationships, I think. Second, the act of reproduction is more closely tied to her since she is attached to the potential offspring long after the sex act itself is over, whereas the male is independent of the sex act as soon as it has ended. Finally, the physical sex act in humans (in the case of intercourse) occurs internally in women but externally to men. I think this makes a big difference, but that's tough to dispute, I think.

2) For the human male, intercourse is almost a physical necessity, or at least it is boasted as one by many arguing against blue-ball syndrome (or whatever it might be called). As a man's "need" (or need, whatever), and perhaps therefore his inherent human right, sex is also necessary to the female even though procreation and propagation of the species then becomes her inherent RESPONSIBILITY. To the male, sex is a need that is relatively simply met (and on his own terms according to Beauvoir), but for the female the act which is assigned to her by another individual (the male in question) carries a great deal more weight (perhaps literally and figuratively).

She's definitely just talking about animals so far, so I shouldn't read so much into her analysis in human terms as I have, so this is definitely a long shot and is CERTAINLY based more on stereotype than a true analysis should be, but it was just my thoughts!!!

<3 L.

My Water Footprint.....

2009-01-13T21:22:00.002-07:00

.... is 1800 cubic meters per year. Not bad, hey? BUT if I stop eating meat it will be 909 cubic meters per year! I'm not sure that I can go cold turkey (ha ha, get it?), but it would make a big difference to keep it low low low! That's what I've been working on lately, but I'll definitely keep doing it! I feel even better about it since I made an oh-so-delicious 100% vegan meal! It was so good too!

I don't have much else to say. Ha ha, I started my reception job but it's just like you'd expect. I'm a receptionist. It's pretty fun though, I like it. And I like working at the mall!

<3

Christmas/New Years!

2008-12-30T14:21:00.002-07:00

I don't know what to post in here about Christmas and New Years! They were both so much fun and I so enjoyed myself!!!!!

My gift that I'm most recently enjoying is David Suzuki and David Boyd's Green Guide. I bought it with my book money from my AD! I had a feeling when I read, like, the first page that it might change my life and I still think so. It talks about all these amazing things that you can do, in every price range, to help the environment. For instance, for a greener house you can make sure to turn off your lights and appliances when they aren't in use; you can put a $20 insulating jacket on your water heater; you can ask your utility company if they provide green energy; or you can just be super hardcore (and with some cash in your pocket) and convert your whole house to its own solar heating. I just started the food chapter today and I'm super interested. I already learned about the resources that it takes to produce meat compared to the resources required to produce plant based proteins. It's amazing though, and I think everyone should read it. Another really cool thing about it is that (even though he spells cheque "check", grrrr), it was printed on environmentally friendly paper in Canada and only has one price on it (the Canadian one). Go Canada!

Otherwise, I'm unemployed right now and it's already driving me CRAZY! The lady from HR at the mall called me though, and so I think I got the reception job!!!!

<3

Christmas #1

2008-12-21T22:41:00.002-07:00

Tonight Nattie and Mattie and I had Christmas together!!!!

I had completely forgotten (or maybe just disregarded) how close Christmas was, but tonight when Nattie texted to see if I was still up for a Twinkle Tour and said that she wanted to exchange gifts tonight too!!! I hadn't even wrapped hers and Matt's gift!!! So I said yes and that I hadn't showered or changed all day..... so the extent of my changing was to change my overtop jammie pants (I left everything else the same, I hope I smelled OK ;)) and then I wrapped their gifts!!!

And then I went over and we actually cancelled our twinkle tour but went on two short drives: me and Nattie went to Superstore and had little luck finding what she needed and Matt went for gas and coffee (YUM)!!!

And then we had present opening festivities!!! We got each other the same gift!!! We both (by both I mean both parties: me and Matt/Nattie) received Seinfeld Scene It!!!! They also got me The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir, which I'm stoked to read and a lavendar-scented pink ribbon campaign magic bag!!!!

Speaking of magic....... I'm really excited for Magic'n'Miracles on Saturday, which is part of Nattie and Mattie's Christmas present!!! I just have to find a date!!!!

<3

Too Long!

2008-12-16T12:10:00.004-07:00

Oh wow, I haven't updated in such a long time!!!! Today was the last day of school!!! For my whole undergraduate degree! EEK! I'm pretty excited now, but Nattie kept asking if I was excited earlier today but I just wanted to come home and get back into my jammies due to being sick, but I am quite excited now that I am in my jammies!!!!

I'm pretty bummed about the Sylvan thing though. I spent a whole shift there yesterday and I really didn't like it. Luckily I haven't signed anything yet and so I have some time to think about it, but it just isn't what I expected. I'm not really sure what to do, so I definitely will think about it, but I definitely felt the same as I did when I worked at Second Cup for 3 days (ha ha). I kind of felt like I just didn't fit in really. It's also pretty much done for you, so it's a job that anyone could do, which isn't really what I wanted. They just need someone who can sell stuff (which I don't think I'm very good at), do administrative work like entering schedules, comments, accounting (which I am good at but don't really want to do). I would like to do the parent conferences, I think, but I'm just not very stoked on the whole operation, so I'm just thinking, thinking, thinking.

Of course it also sucked because I felt so sick, but I had walked over from Gold's (about a 10-15 min walk) so my lungs were burning and when I got to Sylvan I was so excited to see the door because it was so cold! And when I went to open it.........it was LOCKED! I was so mad! I was right on time, so I went over to Co-op to get some cough drops and stuff but then I got back, at like 11:40 (I was supposed to be there at 11:30) and she still wasn't there! I loitered in the doorway of the walk-in clinic for a while, but then I went back and she still wasn't there. I went back to the clinic one more time and then went back and she didn't actually get there until 11:50!!!! So that clearly wasn't very good and it kinda bummed me out about the whole deal. I honestly was so close to calling my parents and asking them to come get me. At 12, I probably would have.

So I dunno. I'm spending my sick day (I called in sick to work) looking around but I might check if that job at the mall is still available while I'm looking for something else. I think I might be done with the Sylvan thing.

Anyways, I'm done!!!! I bought myself Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, which is pretty exciting! I really like The Golden Compass so I'm pretty excited to read the books! The movie is only made from the first book, so I should be able to read all three before the second and third movies come up (I hope) and the book is always better than the movie!!!

So, otherwise not much of anything is going on. Me and Amanda have been talking about buying a house together and so that would be exciting, but I think we have a lot to talk about. It might be better if we didn't, because we'd be making a commitment to be friends and stuff, which would be tough. So I think we need to talk about it more, but I'd definitely still like to do it!

Tonight's the finale of the Biggest Loser AND Law and Order SVU is on AND I think House is on too!!! Guilt-free TV watching, here I come!!!!!

I can't believe it. Today is my first day being free (when the freedom will last more than 2 weeks) since September 2007!!!!

Lazy!

2008-11-26T15:31:00.003-07:00

Yes, I am VERY lazy and I haven't updated in an extremely long time!

Firstly, I know this is old news, but I hope that everyone watched Barack Obama's acceptance speech because it was amazing!

I can't think of all the things that have happened since that day, so I'll just post on two very recent things.

The first recent thing is that I saw Hairspray last night at the jubilee! It was so much fun, the show was SO good! I'm even more excited to go see Chicago with Alex in January!!!! The bad thing about last night though, was that we went to Chili's for dinner and we waited an hour for our food until we couldn't wait any longer and so we had to go to the food court. The other problem was that yesterday was animal rights day or something like that so I wasn't eating meat, so all I had for dinner was french fries and I was SOOOO hungry. Anyways, whatevs! The show was REALLY good!

The more recent happening was that today I finally got my butt back to Golds, which was so awesome! I so enjoyed myself, but I was really excited because the pool is finally open!!!! Unfortunately, I couldn't swim in it because....
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...someone POOPED in it!!!!

HA HA... there were signs up about how a pool has to be closed for at least 8 hours or something after it's been infected with diarrhea. Oh my gosh, it was ridiculously sad and upsetting and FUNNY. I just feel hella bad for the poor sucker who had an accident in the pool.

Anyways, I've been thinking about blogging about more important things as well as the boring happenings of my weeks and such, so I hope to come out with some more socially conscious posts. For now, just my ramblings about the silly stuff that happens in life!!!

<3

EDIT 1: OMG, I can't believe I forgot to say what happened on Sunday while me and Matt and Nattie were watching the Amazing Race! A Superstore commercial came on (with Galen Weston), and it went something like this:

Galen Weston: "You can deck your halls, your tree, your table,......, even your dog!"
Me: "You should deck Lucy" (to Nattie)
and then we all laughed! It was pretty funny, but I'm glad that nobody will deck Lucy!!!

EDIT 2: 19 days, 17 hours, and 28 days left of fall semester!!!!

The big day...

2008-11-04T15:54:00.002-07:00

So here we are. Election Day! I really should have cared more about ours and less about theirs (the Americans, I mean), but it's an exciting day for the world one way or the other, I think.

I'm really pulling for Obama. Partly because I think he has the capacity to make change, which I think they sorely need down South and partly because I really do think that a vote for McCain is a vote for W. (thank you, SNL Presidential Bash). Anyways, we'll see for sure. I've been thinking lately "they'd be crazy to elect McCain" (I'm not fully sure why, I'm sure he's not as bad as I'm imagining him), but it honestly couldn't be any crazier than when they elected Bush II for the second time, because they were already fully aware of what a crappy president he was. So we shall certainly see. I remember the last one well though, I coloured my agenda into an American flag in Physics 211 and hoped for Kerry. I'm always HOPING for the Democrats, I hope they win one for me this time!

Me and Nattie get to go to the HOCKEY GAME tonight though! I'm super excited and we will have so much fun! I know we will though!

I can't wait to see some results, the first polls are closing right NOW so there might be some soon! I wonder if I can convince someone to tape the Jon Stewart/Stephen Colbert special for me!

Go Obama! Go FLAMES!

<3

Did you know....

2008-10-30T23:27:00.002-06:00

That women AND men are from earth?

Seems like a pretty crazy realization, right? No, I know it isn't. Me and Nattie read that in a textbook today and both almost lost our s*^# right there in class! It was so funny.

I really don't have much to post about! Tomorrow is halloween and I'm pretty excited, especially for work because me and Amanda get to do the fun things in centre court together! It will be very fun!

What else, what else? I went to talk to Dr. Wong today and he said that it would NOT be a waste of time to apply to grad school and that he would write a reference letter on my behalf when it's time! I'll have to see though, I may have to retake SOCI 313, 331 and 333 to improve my marks (those are research methods and 2 theory courses). I'd definitely be willing to retake them too! I'll have to see though.

I'm so thirsty I feel like I could drink a whole river. Maybe I should work on that! I think that's about it though! Happy halloween everyone!

<3

"They paved paradise, and put up a parking lot"

2008-10-22T15:45:00.002-06:00

I heard on the radio the other day that the City of Calgary bought out the Cecil Hotel and is going to make a parkade out of it. It either made me think of the song including the title line or they played it, but that song has been stuck in my head for like 2 days already! I do get a good chuckle out of it though, because the Cecil Hotel is NOT paradise. I still get a good laugh out of it.

Today I was volunteering at the WRC annual awards and fair trade show. It was really fun but I ate something that didn't agree with me and I thought I was going to throw up so I had to leave! I'm home now and I feel mostly better, which is good. I still feel a little sleepy and stuff, but it's probably just because I WAS sick. That can really take it all out of you, which is kind of silly!

The Calgary Sexual Health Centre is starting a new program in November or something like that so they'll be hiring! I'll have to make a trip down there to drop off a resume, this is NOT one that I want to email. I would SO love to work there! So far in my life I've met 3 women who work there and I find all three of them so charming and interesting! I bet it would be the absolute coolest job/place to work!

Ummm, about what else was I planning on posting?!?!?!

I had a race relations talk with my dad just now. He asked me, as a sociologist (HA!) what I make of it when black people say "aks" instead of "ask". I honestly don't know what I think of stuff like that, but I'd like to figure out what I think of it. I'd like to know what the big deal is though. So what if someone says "aks" instead of "ask"? We all know what that person means, right? Maybe we should worry about bigger issues. Whatever though. I dunno.

Oh yeah, the other thing I wanted to share that I learned at school was how thankful I am that I live in Canada! In the US, where people with their limbs falling off get turned away from hospitals because their insurance isn't that particular HMO or whatever; they spend 15% of their Gross Domestic Product on health care (by they I mean the federal government). In Canada, we spend 10% of our GDP on universal public health care. I know that we sometimes complain that we wait in lines too long or that there's a shortage of family doctors and all other kinds of things. Nobody is saying that nothing can be improved, because of course we could always improve our healthcare system, but I am just so thankful! My prof also said that 16% of Americans have NO medical coverage, including something nuts like 9.4 million children. That makes me so sad. If those people have a heart attack or learn they have cancer they will go bankrupt or die, those are their choices. It's so scary. I was watching TV a little while ago and I saw a commercial for Cancer Treatment Centres of America. While I appreciate that they can probably provide the absolute top care available in the world, I was just sitting there imagining what it would be like to be watching that commercial and hearing about how amazing the care is at these places and not being able to access the best care for my hypothetical cancer. It broke my heart. You just gotta feel bad for those people. I sure hope that Obama can bring in universal health care. Oh yeah, I think I heard on the TV or something that a decent health care plan costs about $8000 (per year, I would imagine). OUTRAGEOUS! I'm happy to pay taxes for mine!

Dat Phan is coming here! I'm so excited! I just called the Comedy Cave back to finally buy the tickets I've been trying to buy for a few days! The guy keeps saying he's driving when I call! It's very strange! Anyways, I'm really excited! Me and Nattie will have so much fun!

<3

Ditto.

2008-10-21T23:33:00.000-06:00

Me too.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

<3

Too long!

2008-10-16T16:22:00.003-06:00

I just realized that it has been a WHILE since I updated this baby! I really don't have all that much to say though!

I'm so excited for Survivor and hopefully ANTM catch-up tonight!

I honestly don't have anything else to say! Me and another girl named Nadine made a poster for the WRC's booth for Women's History Month though!

That's mostly what it looks like, but they changed it around just a little bit. It was printed on this huge paper though, like a real poster! I'm actually really proud of it, because we both wrote the captions and I made what you see by basically copying and pasting stuff to Microsoft Publisher! It was my first time using that program and I actually really enjoyed it! It was fun to be creative without having to draw, because I SUCK at drawing!!!

On the Jordan front, we had our little meeting on Tuesday and decided to just stay friends, which is fine by me. We'll just see where it leads us, though that will most likely be exactly nowhere else.

<3

An eventful weekend....

2008-10-07T21:34:00.002-06:00

As I'm sure everyone who reads this already knows, me and Jord broke up on Sunday. Yes, this sucks, but I feel so much better already. There's definitely some tough things to look at and stuff still, but I have a vague idea of how this works. Plus, I think we're both pretty committed to staying friends, so this is a good good thing.

On a happier note, I'm enjoying the Biggest Loser right now! Hooray! I really have started to LOVE this show, which is so exciting! It's actually pretty inspiring for sure! Even though I shed a good buck-thirty on the weekend (ha ha), I wouldn't mind getting rid of the spare 25 pounds or so that I've got here. Anyways, I was sick for a good week and today and yesterday I just didn't feel like going to Golds, but I'm psyched to get my butt back there! I think one thing I should do in order to ensure that I go more often is to bite the bullet and buy a car. I would really like to keep on relying on public transit, and even with a car, I'd still do it as much as I could, but I oughta save up some cash and just get a car.

Otherwise, school is going pretty good! The volunteer training thing has gone really well! I really like all the ladies I've met there so far and even though my team lead's emailing skills are not as speedy as some might like, I really enjoy both of them!

But anyways, I feel so blessed for all of my wonderful friends and all their messages by phone and email and mostly facebook and blogger. I wish I could send as much love back to each and every one of them that I feel right now but I just can't track everyone down. I am just oh so lucky!

<3

Swimming to the Other Side

2008-09-25T11:15:00.002-06:00

{Refrain}
We are living 'neath the great Big Dipper
We are washed by the very same rain
We are swimming in the stream together
Some in power and some in pain
We can worship this ground we walk on
Cherishing the beings that we live beside
Loving spirits will live forever
We're all swimming to the other side

I am alone, and I am searching
Hungering for answers in my time
I am balanced at the brink of wisdom
I'm impatient to receive a sign
I move forward with my senses open
Imperfection, it be my crime
In humility I will listen
We're all swimming to the other side

{Refrain}

On this journey through thoughts and feelings
Binding intuition, my head, my heart
I am gathering the tools together
I'm preparing to do my part
All of those who have come before me
Band together and be my guide
Loving lessons that I will follow
We're all swimming to the other side

{Refrain}

When we get there we'll discover
All of the gifts we've been given to share
Have been with us since life's beginning
And we never noticed they were there
We can balance at the brink of wisdom
Never recognizing that we've arrived
Loving spirits will live together
We're all swimming to the other side

{Refrain}

My women's studies professor was playing this song (by Pat Humphries) at the beginning of class the other day and I liked it so much I downloaded the entire album off iTunes. It's a really pretty song but it's really folky so those of you who dislike folk wouldn't like it, but it's pretty true I guess. Anyways, I just really liked it and thought I'd share!

Otherwise, life is pretty good! I'm sick, but what else is new? It's probably because of touching the train, ha ha, yes Nattie? There's an election coming up and I may or may not be voting green! But I just found out that I CAN vote green, which is exciting!!! Now I just have to decide!!! I think maybe Alex and I will look into it soon! It'll either be NDP or Green though, that's for sho! :)

The exciting-est news is that you are reading the blog for the newest volunteer at the U of C's Women's Resource Centre! I have training next week and then I'm probably going to help with their Beyond the Sheets program! I actually WANTED to volunteer at the Calgary Sexual Health Centre after my Human Sexuality course but now I can sort of do both! I'm always amazed in Women's Studies when she talks about being part of social change movements and stuff and I think I want that, so here's my first shot!

Anyways, I have to do some quick research about media and elections, so I think I'll cut this one short (I also don't really have anything else to say right now)....

<3

99 days, 3 hours, and 50 minutes....

2008-09-11T11:39:00.001-06:00

until my degree is over for good. This is crazy crazy crazy to me! 99 days left! I knew I would miss this as soon as it was over and right now I'm trying my best to savour the last few months of it as best I can but it sure is difficult. This may also be my most labour-intensive semester ever. He outlined our assignments for Canadian Studies today and it looks like a LOT of work (the OUTLINE for one is 16 pages long). Anyways, I was just thinking about how I am always challenged at school, and I sure will miss that. Maybe I'll miss it so much that I come back, I'm not sure, but I definitely will miss it. The work really is worth it, especially when you feel like you've really learned something about life by accident. So, I'm going to try my best to keep on top of things, which I've been doing a much better job of lately, and try my very best to get 3 As this semester, even though I don't think it will happen. I really have to go get some work done, but I just wanted to say how I am always challenged here.

Love/Hate

2008-09-07T21:54:00.002-06:00

I wanted to update my facebook status with this but didn't want to put it up because I didn't want anyone to be grossed out! So, if you have a super weak stomach, DO NOT READ ON!

The thing I love is Big Brother. There's nothing gross about that.

The thing I HATE is puking! Ew, gross, I know! But I felt I just had to share this with the world! Thank God for my job, but I was STARVING yesterday (Saturday) when I got to work so I went to Cafe Supreme and figured I'd better get a lunch-ey thing because it was noon and I knew I'd be hungry otherwise, so I got my very favourite (not anymore) thing from there, the Chicken Avocado wrap. I KNOW that there's a little cheese in it but I've eaten many of them and it's never bothered me before, so I figured why not! I'll tell you why not. It will make me sick for sho. I spent like an hour sitting in the back and walking to and from the washrooms and I ended up buying alka seltzer from Shoppers and it made me throw up. In the back of the booth. In the garbage can. Luckily at least half of the people there have thrown up in the garbage can at work, but I was the one to christen the new booth. Anyways, I still felt really bad because I had wasted so much time but I felt 100% better once I was done. Sorry to gross you out.

My OTHER puking story is that tonight Jordan must have forgotten that milk is no good for me. To be fair, I've only thrown up due to milk once before this weekend, so it's not as if this all could have easily been predicted, but still. Anyways.... he was dishing out dessert and gave me this HUGE piece of something with so much whipped cream I can't even explain and he said "it'll be OK if you just scrape it off, right?" and I was sitting right in front of his mom and so I felt embarrassed to say no (another bad idea). Anyways, so I just snacked on the raspberries and did my best job of scraping off the whipped cream. This did not work as I totally tossed my cookies on the way home at the lights on 22X in the turning lane for McKenzie Lake Blvd. I hope none of you have to come across it. Oh yeah, and all over Jord's car.

Anyways, it was awful. I really should have more interesting and less gross things to post about, but right now all I can think of how starving I am, due to no longer having eaten anything.

If this is too gross, I sincerely apologize and hope that you all had excellent weekends which included much less puking than mine.

<3

Long time no post

2008-08-21T12:59:00.002-06:00

Holy cow I can't believe my last post was on my birthday!!!

I had a wonderful birthday though! As always, I made sure I had many celebrations with all different friends!

Jord, Matt, Nattie, and I all went to my birthday movie (Pineapple Express) together on the Friday (I think it was Friday) and it was so funny! I really enjoyed it anyways! And we saw it at Westhills due to overcrowding at Chinook and I really liked it! Westhills really isn't that much further of a drive than Chinook and I think it's worth it because there aren't as many people there and it's just a really nice smaller theatre! The only bad thing about it is that it doesn't have as intense of a slant in the seating so it's harder to see by a little bit if you're short! Still fun though, I would DEFINITELY do it again!!!

On Saturday the girls from work all went out for mine and Kristen's birthdays (Kristen's is the day after mine) to the Bull and Finch (a.k.a. the Pub and Finch, for some reason) for name that tune!!! It was really fun!!! Matt and Nattie came out too, which was really fun! I think we all had a great time anyways, and we won! Hooray!

Then, on the Sunday, my parents made me dinner and Molly had McKenzie come over and my parents invited Auntie Marillyn and Uncle Rob! We played Apples to Apples together after dinner too, which was OH SO MUCH FUN! Apples to Apples is just the best game ever!!! It was such a good buy, thanks to Amanda for introducing it to me!!!

And then the birthday fun was pretty much over and I had to get back to business! The last week of summer school was pretty busy, but I was really happy that I had been able to finish my second history paper much earlier than it was due! I handed that in and got B after B in soci which was obnoxious because he doesn't actually grade anything, he only marks on a curve! I could have killed him! I'm just glad it's over, and a B+ in the course is really nothing to be upset about (even though I am kind of but I feel bad about it)....

I'm still not sure what my history mark is, but I JUST emailed my prof, so maybe she'll email back my grade!

It was oh so nice to be finished! I definitely didn't think that I would ever finish, but it was really good! I really can't believe that I ever did it, took summer school and now I'm looking forward to 3 weeks off!

During the last week of school, Jord's Aunt Barb, Uncle Ian and cousin Melissa were here! I finally got to meet his Uncle Ian! It was VERY exciting because I had never met him before!

And then, the night of my last exam, Jord's brother Cierin got married! It was a surprise and it was oh so sweet!!! They got married on the S.S. Moyie, the boat at Heritage Park! It was really nice and me and Jord and Fev and Steve hung out with Ben a little bit, which was so much fun! All of Cierin and Carla's boys are sweet, but gosh is Ben ever funny! He and Steve call each other Buttercup, which is pretty darn funny.

And then, the day after the wedding, we went to Edmonton with Nattie and Matt! We went to the waterpark on Sunday and had a lot of fun! Jordan pushed me under water and made me hit my head on the bottom of the pool! I was so mad at him but it was an accident, so whatever! And then after that we all went back to the hotel room (Fantasyland, hooray!) and showered and got ready for dinner! We were starving and we went to Boston Pizza! I had a pizza and didn't feel sick at all, and then we stopped for ice cream and I still didn't feel yucky! I was sooooo happy! After dinner, we went back to our room and played Apples to Apples for a few hours! Then we shopped on Monday and came home around 3! We got stuck after an accident on Deerfoot and all four of us wanted nothing more than to get home! It was really just fun though, the whole trip!

And that's pretty much it to be honest! I've just been working since I got back and it's definitely nice to be home and back to normal. I've gotten some sleep which is nice and I hope that I will stop feeling tired before school starts again in September, but I'm sure I will, because I even feel so much better today!

Phew, I think that's it! I've had lots of fun and am so excited to be done school! Yay!

<3

long enough?

Bombed

2008-08-06T14:49:00.001-06:00

Yes, I bombed my "discussion leader" project in class today. I just had stupid questions and two of them were the same and a couple of the guys looked at me like I was some sort of idiot. I'm kind of upset about it but don't care all that much (I guess)

cause it's my BIRTHDAY!

I've already received lots of nice emails and facebook things and phone calls and text messages and I feel so blessed, so I'm not even worrying too much about my discussion leader thing! I spent some time reading in the sun and decided to not skip in favour of Warped Tour because I will just miss too much!!!

Whatever though! I hope everyone else's day is as lovely as mine has been so far!!!

<3 <3

James Lipton

2008-07-30T15:43:00.002-06:00

Today I watched almost a full episode of Inside the Actors Studio and I saw exactly Will Ferrell's character of him. He's so accurate and "scrumtrulescent" in that performance, I can't even explain how. He's so funny to watch though, super super pretentious and really interrogative..... I wonder if he ever had therapist training, he reminds me of the therapists on TV and movies! Very funny though, and it made me want to watch Ralph Fiennes (not sure if I spelled that right) movies!

Also, today Alex and Sean actually left, so they're on a plane right now on their way to Europe! Have a safe flight y'all!

I'm very excited to go to Edmonton in a couple of weekends (exciting, yes, and I've been to Edmonton twice already this summer, but this is all good)... it actually IS very exciting because we are going to the waterpark!!!!! HOORAY!

I really don't have much else to say except that waiting at school for my other class to start feels like it takes FOREVER and I always get so hungry! I had a lot of food just now though and so hopefully I won't be hungry later. I have a couple small snacks but if I'm hungry around 5 or so I might hit the food court and feed my craving for Chinese! I think next week I might go to my Safeway mall and go to the library there and get a book or have dinner at the food court or go shopping or whatever!

Anyways, today is much better than Monday (when I thought I might die) and I have a partner for my project who seems really cool, so life is good!

Thank goodness Jordan works so much or else I'd probably be skipping a lot of school!

Oh yeah, and speaking of school, I emailed a draft of my second paper to my history professor and she looked over it and said it was really good and that I said really smart things in class when I decide to speak. It was really happy, and I don't like to brag, but I wanted to say it because it made me so happy! I really like that class a lot, and maybe I could have figured this out on my own, but I could have just as easily have been a history major if that's what someone awesome was teaching, so I'm a little bummed I never took more history classes! Darn science options!

<3

So long Alex and Sean!

2008-07-27T10:55:00.002-06:00

H'lo!

I couldn't really think of a title for a while, but since this is an entry partly about Alex and Sean's way fun going away party the other night, I figured I'd put that in! On Saturday after we went to S's birthday party, we went to the Bull and Finch to say a goodbye to Alex and Sean because they are leaving for Europe on Wednesday! I'm sure they're super psyched and I'm sure they'll have so much fun, so even though I will very much MISS having Alex around at work, I'm quite excited for them anyways!!!

I'm really excited also because we finally figured out a way to go to Edmonton for the waterpark this summer!!! We're all going to take a Monday off and gooooo!!! I'm also excited because we're not going until summer semester is already over so I won't have to worry about all the stuff I should be reading or writing while we're gone!

In fact, on the school front I'm not all that worried right now! I'm way ahead for reading for history, I've got the second book read and an outline started for my paper and for soci I've already found 10 articles that we can use for our presentation!!! Hooray!

I really have nothing else to say! :)
<3

Edmonton

2008-07-23T10:18:00.002-06:00

How many posts do I have that are titled Edmonton? Probably a bunch! Apparently it's my very favourite vacation spot! On the weekend, Tomo, Jordan and I went to Edmonton to see Motion City Soundtrack and the Spill Canvas! We went to Tomo's parents' house for lunch when we got there, then watched The New Guy and then went to the show! (OK, I just tried to link The New Guy to its site on imdb.com, but had no luck because I am on Jord's computer and don't know how to copy and paste on a mac!!!) The show was SO good! Motion City Soundtrack and The Spill Canvas are both REALLY good live so it was very very exciting!!! After the show, we went to Tomo's dad's restaurant in St. Albert called Lazia, and it was SO good! Then we went bowling! After that, we slept at Tomo's parents' house and then his dad made us Eggs Benedict for breakfast in the morning, which was also oh so delicious! Then we went to the mall and walked around for a short amount of time and then we saw The Dark Knight! It was soooooo good!

All in all it was a great weekend, I had a lot of fun! Yesterday my mom and I went to the mall and I bought a new swimsuit which was pretty exciting! Apparently my mom (and sort of my) old friend from work last summer has some extra tickets for Hairspray the musical!

Last night me and Jord went to his soccer game and he watched with me because he can't play since he had a tattoo appointment yesterday! It was so much fun! We heckled the ref and the brutal other team! It was just a really good time! I wish he could always watch with me and not play, that was so much fun!!!

Anyways, I really don't have anything else to say and I'm watching What Not to Wear! I was so excited to catch Wipeout and Big Brother with Jordan yesterday, I love those shows!

<3

"Apparently the Johns don't know a mechanical fish when they see one"

2008-07-15T21:43:00.002-06:00

So I'm watching Wipeout (so excited) and they had this qualifier called "The Dreadmill", which is a giant treadmill that one has to run on for as long as possible while wearing flippers and walking past floatie pool toys on the treadmill. They had one of those obnoxious singing fish on once and the host/commentator guys (or at least one of them) said "oh, a real fish!" or something to that effect and the show put one of those little ticker things on the bottom of the screen that said "apparently the Johns [the host/commentator guys] don't know a mechanical fish when they see one". It was just great. I just love love love this show! The other nice thing is that I couldn't decide whether I wanted to watch Wipeout or Big Brother and then I discover that Big Brother is on RIGHT AFTER Wipeout! Hooray! I love how so many of my posts are about TV!!!

Also, I read almost my whole book today (Looking Backward by Edward Bellamy) because the paper on it is due next Monday! AH! I didn't realize how quick it was coming up until Monday! So I'll have to write the paper on Friday. I would sort of like to start on it tonight but I just don't feel like it! I hope I can do a good (and fast) job of it on Friday! Maybe I'll go to the library!

OH my gosh, this guy just QUIT wipeout!!! OH my gosh!

Anyways, what else, what else... I really think nothing! Jord was too sleepy to drive me home after wings last night so I just slept at his house and then he brought me home this morning, I showered, read for 2 hours or so, had a quick nap (about an hour), ate lunch, read for another couple hours, had another nap, ate dinner, watched a movie with Molly (Penelope, which was pretty dec), finished off my book and now here I am! I've already eaten like 12 snacks though and I feel so sick! Good thing I don't have any more snacks in my bedroom! I also cleaned up my bedroom a little and tossed in a load of laundry, so it really was a pretty productive day! I SHOULD make my lunch for tomorrow tonight, but I guess I could do it tomorrow... eh, I dunno...

I obviously have nothing else to say!

<3

Stampede!

2008-07-14T08:40:00.002-06:00

Thank goodness the greatest outdoor show on earth is done for for this year! Work has been so crazy busy and people have been so angry and upset with us, usually based on their own mistakes, so I'm really, really happy it's over! I went to the stampede with some girlies from work and Jord and Nate yesterday and it was definitely fun, but it was weird to look at it and see what all the fuss has been about! A lot of people tried to pick up their tickets too late and I realized exactly how easy it is to just get them at the grounds when that happens! Whatever though, like I said, it's OVER! Hooray! Or, Yeehaw perhaps?

At the stampede we saw some interesting fashion choices which was pretty fun, and far too many stilettos for me to think this world HASN'T gone crazy! Went on a couple rides, walked around the roundup centre, ate some mini donuts, it was pretty fun for sho! And then me and Nate and Jord met this interesting older dude on the train, which was fun fun fun!

And now I'm at school! I only have like 17 minutes til class starts so I should get this show on the road, but apparently I feel really sick to my stomach! boo! Whatever though!

Molly and I watched a movie on the weekend called Breakfast With Scot, and it was so good! I wanted to see it anyways because it has Ed (Tom Kavanagh) in it and I love him, but my APSY professor recommended it and they had it at Blockbuster so we rented it! And it was really, really good! The kid was such a good actor in it too! And it had a really sweet ending!

Anyways, I oughta get my butt to class immediately!

<3

Maury

2008-07-11T08:33:00.002-06:00

I feel like I've called a thread "Maury" before, which is pretty brutal that I blog about Maury, but whatever....

First, and more importantly though, my phone broke :( which is so brutal! I dropped it for the last time, that's for sho. I wonder if it's still under warranty, that would be cool! But it probably isn't, I'm sure this isn't covered but they'll maybe fix it anyways, I'll have to find out.

I really don't appreciate Maury's best efforts to coin his catch phrase as "Now that's what I'm talking about". I just think he's such an ass. But I sure do like his show sometimes! Think of all the time I waste watching Maury that I could be reading! Oh geez that's bad!

Illinois

2008-07-10T19:15:00.003-06:00

So today I was on the train, on my way to the university to meet Nattie and I met the most interesting, fantastic train friends! They got on at Victoria Park Stampede station (shock, right?) and they are from the great state of Illinois! I recognized that they had an accent the second they started talking, but I couldn't figure out where it was from. I knew it definitely wasn't Southern and that it wasn't Montana or something right below us, but I figured it was from the middle of the country somewhere. Then they asked me if Earls was a good restaurant and I said yes and they asked if it was very expensive and I said it was maybe a little more expensive than other restaurants like it, but that it was very reasonable. And we talked for a while and I asked them if they were visiting anywhere else while they're here and they said they were going to Banff and Jasper and maybe to Drumheller as well. I said they were both great, great day trips and they asked me questions about the climate and asked when summer starts here (ha ha, not funny) and I told them that it was pretty decent all year and that this is usually our hottest week of the year, blah blah blah. Anyways, I really had fun talking to them, and I didn't even get their names! It was a woman and her husband (whose name was Bob: I know this because it was written on his coat) and their other friend. And they asked me if I was a college student and if I had ever been down to Illinois or the midwest in general and I said no, but I've been to ND and SD and WY and Montana (whose abbreviation I don't know but I probably should). It was just a great time. And then they wished me good luck when I got off the train and I told them to enjoy their visit and stuff. They were just fun fun fun!

The second thing I must post about is that I have a new link on my page! It is to Alex's (my good buddy from work) blog. She is going to Europe soon so it shall tell of her wild adventures! Hooray!

<3

EDIT: I forgot to say that Jord's tattoo appointment went quite well but it was still bandaged up when I saw him so I didn't get to take a peek at it! I saw a little bit of the top and it looked pretty cool, so I'm very happy for him! I still miss his arm but I'm getting used to the tattoo idea really fast!

Little to say...

2008-07-09T21:47:00.003-06:00

Yo sup. I really don't have all that much to say today, but I wanted to type out a little something while it was still half in my mind. I always think about things I want to blog about later while I'm in class and most of the time I forget it. Which I have today, at least for the most part.

The thing I was thinking about in class (well, actually while I was doing some reading on the train) was what a shame it is that people don't vote. I know, I know, you probably feel like you've heard this from me before, and this is most likely true! I just don't get it though. The reason I was thinking about it was because I'm doing a little reading on the origins of the civil rights movement in the US in the sixties (I'm leading a discussion on this on my birthday in class). And those poor people had to die and be arrested and beaten and fired and evicted and shot in their homes and dragged out of their homes and lynched JUST SO THEY COULD VOTE (well, so they could register to vote), among other things of course. And so many people don't feel like voting is worth the trouble. I just don't get it I guess. I suppose that probably has a lot to do with the fact that so much of politics today is all the same (they'll all screw you or whatever), but I just think that's why you HAVE to vote. Whatever though. I would love to be able to fix that, but I wish I knew how.

Otherwise, let's see here! I do like my history class quite a bit. I'm the only girl in my class (did I say this already, I think so). Today we had our first two discussions and I liked them a lot, it's fun to sit around and talk about stuff. There's this idiot in my class though and today we were talking about Native Americans and the Dawes Act and the reservation system (and so on). Anyways, he said something about how he's surprised the English never put the French on reserves in Quebec, and ha ha, we all got a little laugh (this is Alberta after all) and someone else said that would definitely be the best way to deal with them, blah blah blah. And then the first guy goes, I'd really like to know why they never tried that. I'm like, SERIOUSLY?!?!?!? The first thing that popped into my head out of the laundry list of why that wouldn't work and makes no sense whatsoever was that the French (of the France variety) probably wouldn't like that very much and would probably be super upset about that. Anyways, I couldn't believe he said that, it was just the most ridiculous thing I'd heard in a while! Maybe I'm nuts, maybe it would have worked out that way if the English had decided to go for it, but I thought it was pretty flipping nuts.

Tomorrow is Jord's first tattoo appointment and I know that I've told him a thousand and a half times, but I'm really going to miss his arm. I don't know why I feel sad about it, but I sort of do. Anyways, I'm excited to see it (probably Friday).

Stampede is SOOOO busy at work! It's just crazy, crazy, crazy! The lineups at TicketMaster are just unreal! It's somewhat nice that it's busy because then there's stuff to do and that makes the days go faster at least in some ways, but I will be pretty happy when it's done for!

I really have nothing else to say! Happy summer! Happy Stampede!

<3

Golf

2008-07-03T21:26:00.002-06:00

I went golfing with Jord and his parents yesterday and boy was it fun and boy does it hurt today! Pretty much every single muscle in my body is in pain! It was a great time though and I actually hit a couple not too horrible shots! Good gracious can Jordan ever send that thing flying! I swear he should have been a golfer instead! His parents are highly, highly good golfers too! I had a great time though, and hopefully me and Jord can go golfing on some of our Sundays off together this year, like we always say we will.

For the first time in probably five years, me and Nattie will NOT be spending Thursdays together like we usually do! Tonight she'll be able to make it over after class so we can watch Last Comic Standing, but I'm sure there's no guarantees for the rest of the summer! The first three weeks she has class from 6 til 9 and the last three weeks of summer semester I have class from 6 til 9! So it will NOT be business as usual on Thursdays!

I can't really think if there's anything else to write about! The only funny thing I have to share is this link that I came across today thanks to the Zboard. It's about people putting in write-in votes for George W. Bush. Goodness gracious I hope they do in order to hopefully split the Republican vote a little bit! Go Obama!

The One-hundredth!

2008-07-01T12:00:00.004-06:00

This is my one-hundredth post!!! I really don't have a lot of important things to blog about, but my last two were kind of depressing so I wanted to break the cycle! And what better way to do that than to write a one-hundredth post!

The first thing to be excited about is that spring semester is done! I wrote my Italian final yesterday and did the oral part of it on Thursday, so it's all done! So now I'm enjoying my semester break. And by that I mean the one day off that I get! Whatever though!

Secondly, Sandy put up the schedule yesterday for the rest of the summer (until August 30) and she gave me quite a few shifts! I'm very excited about that because I will get to make some CASH! That also means that I don't think I'll be able to make it for my great uncle's granddaughter's bat mitzvah. I think that makes her my third cousin or something, but I won't be able to go, which kind of sucks but it's OK. But I got my birthday off! Hooray!

Third, Molly is home! Hooray! I think today we're going to the mall to get her cell phone all set up and then I don't know what else. I think we might just rent a couple of movies and watch them here. Maybe we'll grab some lunchies at the mall too!

And finally, the "piece de resistance": not only am I registered for fall, but my degree navigator says that my program is done! Take a look:

"BA in Sociology
F06

20 of 20 full course equivalents are complete

6 of 6 requirements are complete
Program status : Done"

That's so funny that I said "take a look" because at the moment I said that, so did Maury! Oh Maury, how I love thee.

Oh yeah, and Aaron's wedding! It was pretty fun! It was also a little weird, just because AARON GOT MARRIED! It was fantastic though and I'm oh so happy for him! They just looked so happy! And she was very, very very oh so beautiful! I can't wait to actually hopefully spend some time with them once things settle down a little! The only bummer was that Jana didn't make it!

I'm sorry that my one-hundredth post was nothing too exciting!

Just for Jord, let me post a link to Bo Burnham and also one for myself: Wipeout (everyone should watch Wipeout on Tuesday at 9)!!!

<3

Slightly strange week.

2008-06-27T14:11:00.004-06:00

Greetings!

I hope this message finds you all well! I've been having a strange week! It was somewhat busy with school just because we presented our team teaching presentation on Wednesday, so there was some work and stuff to do with that. Yesterday was Mr. Munro's funeral and it was very very sad! I went by myself because I was just going to sit with Kim Baty and her mom but they couldn't come, so I was sitting by myself and then I saw Angela (my very best friend from grade 5 and 6) and her momma and so I followed Ange to the bathroom and then we all sat together. It was really, really sad though. And we saw Mr. Dougherty there (he was kind of Mr. Munro's teacher buddy, you know when classes do lots of stuff together) and he had the exact same haircut! It was excellent! Anyways, it was a very sad thing and my eyes are totally raw from Kleenexes (of course, I'm such a crier). And today I expect to have even rawer eyes because I will probably cry at Aaron's wedding too, which is today! I'm very excited! It'll be a really fun time and I'll get to catch up with Jana too, which is also very exciting!!! Plus I had a nice time wrapping their gift and writing in their card! It will be a great time! I'll try and take a few pictures and post them!

<3

EDIT: Jord and I were talking about wedding registries and he asked if Aaron and Nicole had registered for a TV and I said no because that's tacky but he said he doesn't think it's tacky. My mom agreed that it was NOT tacky, but I just wanted to know how others felt. Opinions?

Sad, sad news

2008-06-22T17:41:00.002-06:00

Hello all!

I just thought I'd post a little something about a thing that I found out yesterday. I got an email from facebook that said that my sister had invited me to a group called "In Loving Memory of Mr. Munro". Mr. Munro was my most wonderful teacher ever: I had him in grade 5 and grade 6. So, anyways, I guess he had a heart attack on Thursday. So I thought I'd post about it. I think I'll go to the funeral if I can make it (I really just shouldn't miss my final, probably anything else would be missable). Anyways, it's really sad because he was such an awesome teacher and I saw him around a few times, actually just a couple of weeks ago he was at Ticketmaster and we talked for a little while. I'm really glad for that I guess. I thought that maybe I'd toss a few things that I learned from him up here, just for fun:

1) There's no better way to spend post-recess time than on the carpet listening to a book (whether it's amazing like "Where the Red Fern Grows" or that icky pirate book that he read us about cannibals).
2) There's no better way to spend recess than in a fun game of football.
3) You should do your best work every time. And if you don't and you get a chance to redo it, you should do your best a second time.
4) Oldies make work easier.
5) If you act like an idiot, you'll have your desk set up right beside the teacher's desk. I don't think Stephen Lewis got to sit anywhere other than right beside the teacher's desk more than 4 or 5 days that whole year.
6) Learning is better done creatively than via lecture (Academy Awards of writing, presentations, "Home Alone" project)
7) and finally... licorice is the absolute most fitting reward for any good deed, especially participating and helping clean up after school (this was not my idea, but I did it anyways sometimes).

Anyways, there it is. It's a darn shame, that's for sure. I wish I had a picture, and I probably do, I just don't know where......

<3

"I have an art tattoo and I'm not the most pretentious person here"

2008-06-17T15:54:00.008-06:00

Today's title is a quote that a friend said a few weeks ago and I just had to share it. It made me so happy and was so funny, so I just had to!

I have to tutor in approximately 5 minutes, so I'll definitely have to save this and then come back to it when I'm done!

My neck and back hurt so much though! I cleaned my bedroom today which was pretty nice because I was kind of dying to do it. Well, I was dying for it to be done, and I'm the only person who will do it! So I have 2 loads of laundry left to fold and then that's all! I have pictures, but I just don't have the time to get them right now, so they'll be on this post. Probably directly under this paragraph.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I feel like I have very little to say! Spring lectures will be over in 8 days, which is pretty darn exciting! Then I have an oral exam for Italian (I was thinking French) on the 26th (Thursday) and then the written final on the 30th (holiday Monday, thanks a lot U of C).

I just finished tutoring though. And I'm enjoying a Jumbo Mr. Freeze. It's delish! I really shouldn't, but I may have another one after this. I don't think I really have anything else exciting to report on! It's been a VERY long time since I wrote something and I got nothin! How embarassing!!!

Molly's coming home VERY soon! Only 13 days, 2 hours and 46 minutes left!!! I'm pretty excited!!!

<3

Watch-tacular!

2008-06-01T17:47:00.005-06:00

Hola!

Not too too much has gone down this weekend, but what the heck, I'm on the computer anyways, so I might as well post about it...

On Friday, Amanda, Katie, Amanda's sister Laura, Laura's friend Katie and I went to see the Sex and the City movie. It was very good and is recommended to allllllllllll SATC fans by me! It was quite quite enjoyable. And very long! It started at 10:30 and went until about quarter after 1. It was nuts! And so good!

Then I worked Saturday and me and James went over to Nate's for a while for a party.

Then today, I went to Tim Horton's and studied during soccer and then we just did little random things like go to chinook and for lunch and stuff like that.

HOWEVER, we went to Spareparts. I bought a....and Jordan got some......

Although that isn't exactly the colouring of them. They have a Von Zipper logo sort of pattern thing. From a distance it looks very similar to the Louis Vuitton pattern because it's a tan logo over and over on a brown background. They're pretty BA. I've also been looking at and desiring that watch since a really really long time ago, so I'm thrilled to buy it (AND IT WAS ON SALE!!!!).

It was sweet and I also got my travel Alberta holiday card (which supposedly saves you lots of money) and AARON'S WEDDING INVITATION in the mail today. The invitation was the most exciting thing! I'm very psyched for the wedding (reception). It will be a really nice time I'm sure and I'll get to catch up with Jana, who I haven't seen in FOREVER! I'm excited! It should be great!

Anyways, I gotta get a little studying done for my test d'italiano tomorrow. I hope it goes almost as well (or equally as well) as my last one (which I got 97% on!!!). That would be so sweet.

<3

Mmmm, stuff!

2008-05-22T11:16:00.003-06:00

I'm sitting at home today before I have to work (weird, I know.... it's Thursday, I'm supposed to only hang out with Nattie on thursdays!).... I'm not entirely sure how long I will be able to stay here because my pops is driving me to work (well, the library) and I don't know what time we will be leaving, so I may finish this later. Hopefully by then something extra interesting will have happened! Though, I suppose that exciting things have happened since I last wrote!

We started conjugating a couple of verbs yesterday in Italian and that was kind of fun because I was kind of wondering how long it would take her to get there. It was fun though. I was so tired yesterday though, I woke up early (6:15), even though I knew I was going to have to but I had had trouble sleeping last night. Anyways, so I was very tired all day and I'm in class from 9 until 4 with about a total of a half hour of break time in between. Anyways, I shouldn't complain. It was fine. I spent my afternoon learning about genitals which was funny sort of. Especially because my professor doesn't know how to pronounce most of the stuff he was talking about, I think, so he just kind of mumbles through it. I'm pretty psyched for it to turn into the "psychological" issues or whatevs part. (and aside: my dad and I are sort of watching this hour has 22 minutes and they have a little "commercial" about how smoking is bad with some guys doing stuff like play instruments after they had had trachiotomies (sp?). Yuck.).

Annnnnd I'm back! I'm enjoying a little bit of my very, very favourite TV station! Right now Family Guy is on, Seinfeld is next!!!! And Seinfeld is just my favourite! I also bought some Kernels popcorn today (which I've been doing far too much of lately, but oh well), which is also pretty darned exciting! Kaila is coming home soon which is highly exciting also!!! Really much more exciting than Seinfeld being on soon or having Kernels popcorn, but it's all exciting at this moment!!!

Ha ha, I really have nothing to write about! Jord and I got F some t-shirts for her birthday on Saturday from Johnny Cupcakes! I would post them but I'm far, far too lazy!

Ooh, also coming home (on SATURDAY) is Kristen from work!!! i'm so excited for her to come back!

Anyways, as usual, I've spent PLENTY of time writing about nothing, so I'll sign off now. School tomorrow, I'm off to enjoy Seinfeld (only 5 minutes left!)....

<3

Ciao!

2008-05-15T13:51:00.002-06:00

Sup? Who likes my molto italiano title? Me! I do! Ha ha, just jokes. I do like it, but it's just good times. I can introduce myself, ask you how you are, where you're from and say some other fun stuff like l'alfabeto and numeros! Good times! I just got back from the lake, which was sooooo much fun! I ate before I left and now I'm STARVING again! I have to have a show-show though still so I can do that first! Anyways, as you can tell I have nothing to write about, as usual!

The lake was really spectacular again today though. I think I may have a tiny, tiny start on a tan too, which is super duper exciting! I like a good natural tan! Actually, I LOVE a good natural tan!

Me and Nattie are going to see a movie tonight because Survivor is over! I hope it's super duper good!

Nothing else (nothing at all) interesting to write!

<3

Not much, not much

2008-05-13T18:48:00.002-06:00

School starts tomorrow, hooray! (or not, but whatevs)... ha ha ha..... I had a fairly unproductive day. I woke up, cleaned my bedroom a little, filled up my bike tires, went to the lake and took out a kayak (and made it around the lake in like 15 minutes which was kind of nice) and then messed around until J got here for tutoring! It was lots of fun because she's awesome and easy to teach (new from last week). My daddy brought a sub home for dinner and then he took me for a trip to get some lunchies snacks! Hooray!!!

Oh yeah! How could I forget!?!!?!?!?! My dear wonderful friend Aaron is getting married!!!! June 27! So soon! I'm pretty excited for it, it should be awesome and I'm so excited for him!!!!! It's definitely kind of strange though because he's my first friend to get married! It's just all very exciting!

Right now I'm reacquainting myself with Will and Grace which is pretty fun! I haven't watched this show in such a long time! It's been fun! I had an enjoyable day off though. It's been nice. I wish I could do this every day.

<3

Edmonton, etc, etc...

2008-05-06T15:20:00.002-06:00

Greetings! Wow has it ever been a while! I hope this isn't too long, but I did have a very exciting and fun and information filled trip!

I got all my marks from school! I got an A in both stats and work, an A- in race and ethnicity and a B+ in corrections! I'm really psyched about that, and I got my term paper in the mail today from Dr. Wong and am thrilled! he said it was an excellent term paper, which was music to my ears! I think I might go talk to him next semester or something and ask him if he thinks my work is good enough for grad school. Ha ha, he'd probably say no, but who knows! Whatever though. I'm just really excited about it all... I wonder if Linda will tell me what I got on my stats exam though. It had to be pretty good, so I'll maybe go see her in the spring.

Anyways, I don't want to think/talk about school anymore!

EDMONTON!!!

So, we left on Wednesday (the 30th) at about 2. Our first task was to get gas, slurpees, and 5-cent candies. We went to the seven eleven by Beaverbrook and got gas and candy, but their slurpees were NOT in good shape! So we kind of spent a few minutes looking back and forth from one another and the slurpee machine and eventually we said we'd find another one. Neither of us could think of where a seven eleven was on Deerfoot north so we just went to the one in Queensland, which is super backtracking, but it was fun! We also decided that it would be the best place to live because there is a condo complex right across from a seven eleven, next to a pizza place, next to a liquor store. Plus, it would be right on the bus line to get to the mall, so we could work at the mall and drink slurpees and beer and eat pizza and amanda could smoke lots forever and so easily. It was a most excellent fun time. Anyways, once we were finally on the road we had a great time! We talked the whole way there and then totally got lost because of my stupid mapquest directions! We were a few kilometres away from St. Albert when we decided to turn around. We kind of drove ALL the way back to where we had started and tried again. Then we found our way and met Sandy and Brenda for dinner. That was lots of fun, and then we went to Brenda's room and all watched America's Next Top Model, Criminal Minds, and American Idol (Brenda is in love with her boyfriend, David Cook). Anyways, then we went to sleep and Amanda and I talked for like three hours, which we did every single night even though we had to wake up at 6.

Anyways, I won't share ALL the details, but it was a good time, we talked a lot and drank a LOT of coffee and ate a LOT of squares and had a LOT of smoke breaks. It was a great time, and they fed us so much I can't even explain! We learned a lot too, and I really hope that people start utilizing our "travel counsellor" services.

Some things that I really want to see, some of it because of this weekend and otherwise because I have wanted to see it anyways: Blackfoot Crossing, Head Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, Telus World of Science in Edmonton, the Edmonton Zoo, and lots and lots of others.

At the very least, I learned that this is a truly spectacular province to experience, even for those of us who have grown up here. There are so many cool and unique things to see and do, and I think we're really fortunate to be so close to all these super cool attractions and things.

Anyways, it was a good but super exhausting trip, and it's SUPER awesome that we got paid for learning all this cool stuff! Soon we are going to teach all the stuff we learned to the rest of the girls (and Brady of course), and yesterday we were working on it!

It was a great time, and I'm super excited to watch last week AND this week's Survivors!!!!

Amanda and I had a LOT of conversations about the state of the world and the thoughts that I've been thinkin' lately about the song "All U Can Eat" by Ben Folds.

Anyways, I'll leave this novel at this point. I was reading a really cool article about Bill Cosby pretty recently so I'll probably post it soon with my thoughts :)

<3

A quote

2008-04-21T14:23:00.002-06:00

A quote for all my online friends:

"Back in the fifties when all the women were, like, burning their bras for the right to vote or whatever".

This was said by a guy on the train who had just been talking to an old crazy man. This is how the original conversation went:

Old crazy man: Nice day today, eh?
Young stupid man: Yeah. Great out (he was reading at the time).
O: Do you mind if I ask what you're reading?
Y: No, it's a textbook.
O: Oh. What do you study?
Y: Computer Science.
Me: GAAAAAAAAAGGGGG! Computer Science is brutal! Poor guy! (in my head)
O: Oh. I employ a lot of computer scientists.
Y: Oh yeah? Doing what?
O: I'm the idea man.
Y: What do you mean?
O: I come up with ideas and I get paid for it.
Y: Wow. That's pretty cool.
O: You ever heard of the internet?
Y: Yeah, we study it.
O: I'm still waiting for my money on that one.

And I figure he'll be waiting a long time. Anyways, after the old guy got off the train, a friend of the younger guy sat down and that's when I overheard that gloriously hilarious quote! I just couldn't believe it and was so excited I wrote it down on my article that I was reading!

I'm going to try my best to round up all the quotes I've written down in the last couple of years and I'll try and share one here every once in a while. I love seeing comedy like that everywhere. Life is just so much fun.

Anyways, I wrote my 421 final today and then I handed in my 475 take home final! I thought about going home to work, but figured I'd get more work done here. And it was a good day! After I dropped off my stuff to Dr. Wong, I went for a swim and then came down here to work after I had something quick for lunch. Gosh was I ever hungry! Anyways, so I was working away and I was having a bit of trouble with one of the articles so I sent my prof. an email asking her if she would be here today. She said she was here right now and so I went up to see her and then I ran into Linda!!!! That means I saw my three favourite professors from my whole university time all in one day! Dr. Wong, Dr. Wallace and Linda are easily three of my favourites of all time!

Anyways, I should get back to work on these notes for my final essay in work (Dr. Wallace's class). I have notes to write about 4 more articles, I think and then up to 10 pages to write! Here's hoping it goes well! And I REALLY REALLY hope I can do killer on this one like I did the first one, not just decent like the second one! I know I shouldn't complain about 80% (and I'm really not) but it does hurt a little after getting a 95%!!!!!

Enjoy your week everyone! In 3 days, 0 hours and 28 minutes I can say goodbye to this whole semester!!!

Oh, additionally... Layne and I are going to try and convince Brenda that we could have a Head Shave event at the mall! Layne and I would both shave our heads again! I think that would be great fun!!!

<3

What if firefighters ran the world?

2008-04-17T19:15:00.002-06:00

AHHHHH....

I finished the assignment that I was looking forward to the least (my Greenfingers movie review), and I think I did not do it as well as I should have! Anyways, I don't care anymore... it's been handed in already! Just 4 more things left! And I've taken down all the notes I need for the next thing I need to hand in, so that's good!

Today me and Nattie finally went to Oh Canada! It was actually pretty good, except that they put BUTTER on their MONTREAL SMOKED MEAT sandwich! That is totally unnatural and sacreligious and I did NOT enjoy it. Otherwise, it was fairly delicious! And they served a pickle with it which was delicious, the fries were quite good and the coleslaw was also good! Coleslaw is so underloved and I COMPLETELY loved mine today! Mmmm mmmmm mmmm! I was very Montreal-an, I even ate my french fries with mayonnaise! I think they do that in Montreal! I hope to go there someday soon!

And now, to share the inspiration for the title of this post! It's Sprint's latest Nextel commercial (YOU MUST CLICK HERE AND WATCH IT, IT'S HILARIOUS!) and it's just great! And so true!

Anyways, enjoy your day/ night, I'm off to write about the "dark side of transnationalism"!

<3

On my mind......

2008-04-11T14:14:00.002-06:00

Well, here we are. Only a week left of classes and it'll be over for a beautiful 2 weeks or something! For some reason, the ends of semesters make me think think think. I suppose this probably happens to a lot of people, but it happens to me too, so I thought I'd write about it.

I think the centre of my big debate about what to do after this degree is finished is "how can I actually do something useful with my life". And please, please, noone say having babies is the best way to do that because that is NOT what I mean (though this is what my mother thinks it means to do something useful). I don't want to waste my life in a sunny office with a couple of plants and a never ending/never changing workload to shuffle through. As much as I LIKE sunny offices and plants and that kind of always-the-same work stuff, because it's easy and whatever else.

Grad school would be so much work. But what if I could do it? And, really, what if I could do it and I DIDN'T. I really don't want to move away and I really want to get something going here, like a house and whatever else, but what about grad school. Do I think I could do it? I really have no idea. I haven't the slightest clue what it entails. But really though, what if that's my chance to do something useful. Teachers do useful things too, though. I wonder how long an impact like that lasts though, and the thing I love most about tutoring is when you get to talk to them like a real grown-up person with interests similar to yours (which never happens because I tutor MATH) who actually care about what they're learning (hasn't happened yet, but I've felt close before. I will really know joy when someone thinks math is "cool" or something, which will probably never happen).

Anyways, I've been reading articles for my term paper for Soci 475 and thinking about how cool it would be to meet some of these people who wrote these papers. Specifically Morton Weinfeld. I'm pretty sure he works at McGill though, which is far away (and I'm not ridiculous, so clearly it won't happen). It would be cool to know what their lives are like.

Anyways, I think I might try and take a journalism class or two. Do they even offer that at U of C? I'm not sure. We'll see though. I'm really happy that I accidentally saved all my options until my last year though, so I can explore! FUN FUN FUN! :)

Anyways, I'll continue pondering while trying to get my term paper done without all of my resources that I stupidly left at home (gosh darn). Maybe that's why I ponder, because there's so many papers to do and I need something else to think about! :)

So close and yet so far...

2008-04-09T21:26:00.003-06:00

I'm so very excited today for the end of this semester. Today I feel so VERY excited because I REALLY want to move out.

My mom opened my mail yesterday. I just hate it when they do that. My mom has said before that she opened Molly's mail thinking it was my dad's, but there's seriously no excuse for opening my mail. Noone else in my house has a name like me. Whatever. It's just dumb.

Anyways, on to happier news! The night that I wrote my last post, Lexi had the babies! They had 2 boys, Levi and Tristan! And today, my Baba called to let us know that my other cousin, Sheryl had her baby girl! Her name is Eva! Soo soooo cute I think/hope/know for the boys! I'm psyched to hopefully see them in the summer!

We did the consultants' challenge on Tuesday at school and I had a great time! We got some questions and some data and just had to answer the questions as best as we could. It was a great time! Me and Seychelle worked on one major question and Aliece and Matt did the other! It was a great time! I think we did a good job, but it's impossible to say for sure, of course!

Anyways, that's really all I have to post about!

And for the first Flames/Sharks game in these playoffs..... Flames: 3, SJ: 1 (so far, almost at the end of the second)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Only 14 days, 17 hours, and 17 minutes left until the end of exams!

Not much to say

2008-03-27T17:22:00.003-06:00

I don't have any exciting news by any stretch of the imagination, but it will probably turn into another long-winded post about nothing (yes, I can hear that sigh on the other end of this...). Ha ha, I hope not really.

I'm excited for school to be over for sure! There's only 21 days, 20 hours, and 27 minutes until BSD and 27 days, 21 hours, and 37 minutes until exams are over! Then I have a glorious 2 weeks off or something and then Spring semester shall begin! For spring, I'm in Italian 201 and some Applied Psychology course about human sexuality that I may switch out of. I'm not sure yet though, maybe it would be a valuable option to try to get into Ed. school with should I go. It's hard to say. I would NEVER teach sex ed though. NO WAY! I'd be horrible at it! For summer, I have a soci course about genocide and terrorism and a history course about the USA from 17-something until some other time. I think it should be good because I like history and American politics, so it should be sweet. I'm actually kind of excited for my spring and summer courses. I think they should be fun. I'm so anxious for the fall timetable though, because it will be my last semester!!! Hooray!!!

Anyways, in life.... not much is going on! I'm trying to start working on my second essay for that class that I got a really good mark in last time. I really want to be able to get a sweet mark on this one too, so I'm really nervous about it, which makes it tough to work on. Anyways, I think I'll go do that instead of wasting time.

Ooh, on another note, I finally got Greenfingers from Blockbuster! I'd been stalking the staff at both Brentwood and Kensington Blockbusters and now I have it! Hooray!

<3

EDIT: Oh yeah! There's a really good chance my cousin's wife is having their babies right now! Hooray!

Some movies and Easter Bunny times

2008-03-24T22:20:00.002-06:00

Just thought I'd post about a couple o' movies I've seen lately and also on my fun fun fun Easter weekend!!!

Movies first!

On Friday, me and Jordy rented No Country for Old Men and Joe Rogan Live (or something like that). We thought that No Country for Old Men was super boring and turned it off after like 10 minutes or something and watched Joe Rogan (who was way too vulgar for my liking).

Then, we actually WATCHED No Country for Old Men at his house after a delicious dinner on Sunday night and REALLY enjoyed it. I'm actually watching it again with my pops right now. It was really fun and James and his mommy made popcorn and it was lots and lots of fun!

After No Country for Old Men, we watched Dan in Real Life, which we rented last weekend or something. It was pretty good, though somewhat cheesy. Still good good good though. I was talking to Jord (and Nattie today) about how I find it difficult to be all like "Oh, Steve Carrell is my hero" when he's playing a more subdued role that something like in The 40 Year Old Virgin or The Office. Still very good though.

And THEN, tonight me and Mattie and Nattie went to see Horton Hears a Who! It was also fun fun fun, and I definitely gasped at one part! It was sort of embarassing! Funny though. "Don't bother looking for him, he's invisible" is a line that I thought was just hysterical!

Anyways, the weekend was good! I sat on my bum on Friday before James came over to watch movies. I had a 2 or 3 hour nap in the afternoon and then fell asleep very early...well, earlier than usual! And then Saturday me and James both worked and then we went out for Mel's birthday at the Point, which was very fun! Then, we had brunch at my house for Easter, went on a date to Market Mall and then had dinner at Jordy's house! It was so delicious! TURKEY! I couldn't even believe it!!! I was very excited! And it was very very delicious! It was also lots of fun because Jord's mommy's friend Debbie drove down from Red Deer! Debbie is lots of fun and this time she called Jordan Antonio and his dad Rico. It was funny too, because she kept asking "Who is that", "What is he doing there", etc, etc, all through the movie. It was great fun! When we all went to Baker Creek for Jord's mom's graduation last year or 2 years ago, Debbie and I were roommates! She's very sweet and fun!!!

All in all, it was a lovely weekend! Oh, then I skipped my first class today and then I went to Stats and came home! Good good times!!!

<3

Ahhhhh

2008-03-19T12:10:00.002-06:00

So midterms are FINALLY over! Hooray! That's DEFINITELY not to say that I don't have tons of work left to do, but it can all wait at least a couple of days, and that's precisely what I plan on! As I told Nattie, I'm not even going to OPEN my backpack tonight! I might try and go over to Blockbuster and rent a movie for my movie review though, and maybe I'll watch it while Nattie's in her late class today. I'm pretty sure that the topic I think fit in with the movies I picked is due next Friday so I should really get a jump on that. After that, I only have 2 more papers for 493, 1 paper and 1 "take home final" for 475, 1 more exam, 1 lab, and the consultant's challenge for 315 and 1 exam and that movie review for 421. So, let's see... that's..... only 8 things left to do!!!! Plus a bunch of reading. Anyways, I'm just glad that the weekend from hell is over! I worked Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday and had midterms on Tuesday and Wednesday! I haven't really relaxed in almost a week, except for a little last night! I'm so sleepy though, and so excited to sleep in on Friday!

The most exciting thing happened yesterday though! Last week, Kristen called me from work and asked if I wanted her to put my name in the hat to go to this training thing for Tourism Alberta (customer service is getting into the tourism stand business), and I said yes of course! I also told her that I didn't want to step on anybody's toes or anything, and she said it was fine. Then, on Sunday at BEST training, Brenda mentioned that she was going to choose the people to go by seniority, so I was like, very cool, Amanda and Katie or someone will go and they'll have fun! I was totally fine with it though! So, yesterday, Amanda called me from work and said, "don't worry, I'm not asking you to come in, I just have good news for you" and I had NO clue what the news was, and then she told me that I'm going to Edmonton for the training thing with her! WAY COOL! We'll have so much fun! And Amanda is thinking of driving up there herself and so we'll just have so much fun! It's 4 days too, which is way cool! It's May 1-4, which means that I leave more than a week after my last final and come back more than a week before Spring semester starts, so it'll be the perfect little vacation (plus work training) ever! Anyways, I'm super excited and I feel special that she picked me! I have no idea how that happened, but I'm excited for it for sure!!!!

Also, I have 2 new tutoring students this semester! A just came for the first time yesterday and is so awesome! She's a friend of N's, from last semester! And the other girl who started last week is really young and seems pretty fun so far. She (M) is coming tonight to see me and hopefully we'll have lots of fun! She's only in grade 7, which is not as much fun as highschool, but it should be a good time!

I think that's all for now! I feel like I have other good school-related news but I guess not. :)

<3

Stuff.

2008-03-13T17:45:00.004-06:00

A few things to update about today, I guess!

The first thing is that Nattie is mean because she gave me spring fever! And also Kaila, because her facebook status was something about blue sky! It's been real nice here the last little while, but will be kind of icky until at least Wednesday, according to the online weather network! So boo!

I just finished my stats lab, thank goodness! The assignments in that class are brutal! I think I'm just being a stats snob, but I feel like she stresses the unimportant things. I know that she knows best, I just am not yet seeing that rationale. I always feel like I've learned SO much in a Linda class, just not for this one. Whatever though, it's OK. I just hope to do better on the second midterm next week than I did on the first one! It's not that 79 is bad, I just know that junk backwards and forwards and am disappointed with my stupid mistakes and upset about her trick questions. No worries though, I'll just study differently!

I'm pretty psyched to start working on my essay/term paper/ movie review assignments because of what happened on Tuesday!!! We have kind of a student teacher right now, for the second section of our course (second of three)... she was sick on Tuesday so our regular teacher was there, but she would have been anyways because she was handing back our essays. I was NOT happy about this, because I really had NO IDEA how I did! She said that there were 7 A's out of the 20 of us and at this point I'm thinking I'll for sure find a C+ or something on mine. So, she's handing them back alphabetically and I was pretty much freaking out because I was so nervous. So, I take a deeeeep breath and open my paper to the last page. Wow. Oh WOW! A 95!!!! That's an A+!!!! UNREAL! I just couldn't believe it! I was so happy!!!! When she was all done and everyone was leaving, I had a few formatting-type questions for her (should I use I this, I think that, etc? and did I cite the papers correctly?) and so I walk up to ask her my questions. "Excellent paper," she says, which she had also written on the top and which was so sweet, "best in the class". WHAT?!?!?!?!?! My mind was SERIOUSLY just racing! I said thank you, but I was kind of like, "REALLY?" And oh it just made me so happy! Especially because Marina (who I hate) and Chris (who is SOOO smart, I think he reads academic journal articles for fun) are in my class! I was considering that maybe she just said it to be nice or to blow smoke up my you-know-what or something, but I've come to the conclusion that that just isn't very likely. She would have no reason to do that. I just couldn't believe it. It's made me think seriously about my future and maybe going to grad school. When it comes down to it, I love doing this junk. It's painful, and long and sometimes REALLY boring, but I know why I did well on that assignment. Because I was so darned excited to do it! It was like a science lab from my chemistry days, but about something that I CARE about. And not even something that I consumingly (is this a word? I don't think so...) care about like how people act about religion or why Jews are so successful sometimes against all odds, etc, etc, but something I care about (the topic was asymmetrically permeable work-family boundaries for men and women, basically work and family role conflicts). But I seem to find sociology so darn fascinating. I don't know though.

So what to do? I posted earlier (I think even earlier this month) about the three things I'd like to do if I could choose anything at all.
1) Teach. Probably social or math (or both would be fun). I do love tutoring a LOT, so this is definitely a possibility.
2) Make movies. I was so inspired by that darned documentary a few years ago. This would be a way to do sociology but for the public, not in such an academic way. I'd go to SAIT for film and video production for this probably and hopefully start out at the CBC or something. I emailed the director of that documentary from a few years ago and she sent me back her phone number so I could ask her some questions about what she does and stuff. I think I'll call her as soon as I get up the courage!
3) Go to grad school. In some ways, I think this is the best way to do everything I want: teach and do research about stuff I'm interested in. I don't see why a person who just has graduate degrees couldn't make films, so I'd kind of be finding a way to delay my decision between numbers 2 and 3, I guess. I emailed my grad student cousin (she almost has her PhD, WOW) and asked her about grad school, so I'm sure she'll give me the inside scoop, and I think I might also go and see the student teacher grad student from my class, the regular teacher from that class and Dr. Wong to see what they think about whether or not I'm good enough for grad school and how much work it is, etc, etc, etc. *disclaimer: I KNOW it's a LOT of work, but I'm interested in how the day to day stuff goes.... if that makes any sense.

Soo..... if everyone who reads my blog EVER wouldn't mind, if you can see one of these 3 options you think I would be best at, PLEASE comment! Even if you are a lurker, you can even post as anonymous, I totally don't care! And don't be afraid to be brutally honest! If you think I'm way to stupid and lazy for grad school, say it!

EDIT: Oh, for anyone who reads this, I'd rather my family not know about stuff if I can avoid it. I don't know why I like to keep things from them, it's weird, but I don't want them to make fun of me....

Thanks all! Lots of love and appreciation for your future responses!!!

<3

To Jordan

2008-03-06T18:19:00.000-07:00

This post is dedicated to my lovely boyfriend because he got into Mt. Royal's broadcasting program!!! Hooray for James! He was pretty excited and so am I!!!! Congratulations, boy!

Don't blame me....

2008-03-04T08:43:00.002-07:00

I voted green. And so says the sweet button I got yesterday!!!! I went to the green party election night party to volunteer and actually had a really great time! I met a girl named Arden who actually ran as the green party's candidate in Calgary Glenmore, which is either Jordan's riding or the one just North of him. I think it's the one North of him, where Palliser and Pump Hill and all those fancy places are. She was afraid she wouldn't get any votes at all, but she came in third place! They didn't actually get any seats, but they got 5% of the vote, which is 2% more than the last AB election, so it was very exciting! I also got to meet the leader of the party, George Read (who I was not expecting to see, I figured he'd be in Edmonton) and apparently I was on the news! It was a good time all around though. Arden and I hung all the streamers, thank you very much and it was a lot of fun!!! There was also talk of a federal election being called on Friday. It would be cool if the greens could get another federal seat (apparently they got one in BC at some point)....

The weekend was good too, I didn't do that much, but Friday James came over for a while and then on Saturday I worked and then we went to Tomo's house for Justin's birthday which was lots of fun, everyone was there including GIRLS! There are almost never any other girls around when I hang out with those boys, so it was very exciting that Joslyn, Kate, and Kate's friend Christine were all there! It was nice too because Jordan and all his guy friends got to be gay together without me hanging around! Tee hee, it was a really fun time though, and it's always fun to wish Justin a happy birthday! I can't believe he's 22! That means I'll be 22 soon! EEK! Ha ha, I don't think I care..... Then on Sunday I just hung around at home with Molly and watched the second season of Big Love (so good, but so upset it's over and I have to wait, like, a year for it!).... which was fun, and then me and Jord and Fev went to see Semi-Pro. Not so good. Not at all actually, though it did have a couple of moments here and there that were funny, so that was good. It was a nice weekend though.

On a less fortunate note, my papa left for Winnipeg (or Winnie-peg as Nattie's most favourite person at work says ;)) because my Baba is in the hospital. She thought she just had a cold but apparently actually had a small heart attack and fluid on her lungs. She'll probably be good as new right away though, I think they were having lunch in the cafeteria yesterday when my Dad texted me, but I'm not sure because he doesn't know how to use T9 so he just shoddily texts me using alpha, but says stuff like "wer r u" or I M In Caftria Havng Dinr WI Baba Eats She Liks Pics Sed Moll Lost Wate" (an actual quote). Anyways, he'll probably have fun visiting anyways. I think he kind of wishes we lived in Winnipeg, and sometimes I would like that too, but I dunno. I think it would end up like a bad situation, because people who live in Winnipeg sometimes sound like they're stuck there in some ways. As much as I love my Baba, she's hard to deal with and the 2 grandkids who live there get a lot more crap from her than the rest of us do because I think she expects more from them (and their kids), which is tough.

Anyways, have a lovely day/week!

Only 45 days, 4 hours, and 50 minutes until BSD!

<3

Back...

2008-02-28T15:20:00.004-07:00

First week back to school! I guess I sort of posted about that already. It actually wasn't too bad. I was expecting an oh-so-horrible week and it turned out OK. It was fairly boring though, I guess. I'm really excited to graduate lately. I know it won't happen for a little while yet, but a year from now I could be done classes, though there's no way I'll convocate before June 2009. That said, I WILL convocate June 2009 no matter what. At worst, I'll take classes in Winter 2009 but that would be the end.

Today me and Nattie got stuck on the train for over an hour because of an accident at 39th Ave. This was good and bad for a few reasons:

Bad:
it was a pain in the rear end. I missed my midterm (but will be able to make it up). Mostly it was bad because Nattie somehow threw out her back yesterday and so it hurt her to stand up the whole time. I should have asked someone if they could spare their seat, but I didn't really think about it at the time. I also doubt it would have worked, "excuse me, would you mind giving up your seat so my friend (who looks extremely young and healthy) could sit down?". Somehow I'm not so sure.

Good:
I didn't study for that midterm because I was working on something else. I will probably get to study in the next week, so this is good. I don't think I have anything else due next week, so this actually works out to be an advantage on my part (though I would have gladly written it today to get it over with).

The thing I was working on instead of studying for my midterm was basically a fake research article. I was kind of excited to write it and it was a good assignment that I enjoyed, but I'm not entirely sure how proud I am of it. I'll know better for the next one though (we have 3 in the semester). Oh well though. I'm usually not one to stress about things that I've already done or handed in so I'm over it.

On a sad note, L is NOT going to be coming to see me anymore. She's being switched out of her regular math program. I think she'll still technically be in grade 9 math, but won't take the provincial and just go into Math 14 and 24 in high school. I will definitely miss having her come over and have lots of math fun with me, but she might come back in highschool if she needs help.

I am pretty certain I have a new tutoring student though. I don't know her name yet and I forgot her mother's name which is so bad and I'm so stressed out about it but I'm sure I'll figure it out when they come see me next Wednesday!

Also, today on the train me and Nattie kind of met up with this girl Gemma who we went to our highschool and was a year ahead of us. She dated someone in our grade (and still does actually) and I'm pretty sure we have a mutual friend. ANNNyways...she was talking about how she's in the ed. program and I asked her if junior high falls under elementary or secondary and she said elementary but that she could teach junior high math because she has a bunch of math courses. How many courses does she have? (I asked). 5. EEEEE!!! I have 4, so if I took one more there might be a possibility I could do the same! I'll have to see though, but I would be HIGHLY interested. I just have so many things I want to do and only one lifetime.

Laying it all on the line, there are three things that I'm interested in doing:
1) Teaching. High school for sure, but math or social, I wouldn't care, I love them both.
2) Grad School. Kind of self-explanatory, but I don't think I have the work ethic or motivation at this moment. I'd take some time off though, buy a house, and then go back one way or the other (actually I'll do this no matter what kind of school I go back for).
3) Documentary making. I thought about taking broadcasting (and felt embarassed because that's exactly what Jord is taking), but found something better at SAIT called Film and Video technology or something. I was really inspired a bunch of years ago by a documentary called "Mixed Blessings" and this is definitely something I'd be interested in doing. I think I could probably get my foot in the door by working at the CBC and that's something I'd be interested in.

Anyways, I know there are pros and cons to anything that someone chooses to do, I just wish I could make a decision. I have time though. Maybe not much, but some. I am graduating fairly early in my life(-ish, anyways). Whatever though.

Also, on a lighter note, me and Nattie just took quizzes on the internet to see what party we should vote for in the 2006 federal election and we both got NDP. She also got 100% conservative, so riddle me that, but whatever! Ha ha, she tried to send Matt a text saying about how she's a communist but neither of us get signals in this computer lab....

I'm pretty excited because on Monday I'm volunteering at the Green Party election party night thing! It's the first real political action I've ever done and I'm pretty excited! I hope someone actually gets elected, but I think it might be a long shot.

EDIT: I made an online to-do list. The link is to the side with the rest of my links. Check it out if you're bored or if you care (I don't expect anyone to care... ;))

<3

Reading Week

2008-02-24T20:41:00.003-07:00

is over.... :(

I'm so upset that it's over so soon! In only 11 short hours I will be on my way to school! The good news though, is that BSD is only a short 53 days, 17 hours, and 9 minutes away. Yes, this sounds like a lot, but once things get moving again and I forget to check my phone countdown for a while it will not be all that bad. It's less than 2 months too, which is good. The only thing I don't like about this semester is that I may not have exams but I have a couple of big papers due exam week, which will be no fun. Whatever though, I'm just plain old excited for it to be over! Hooray!

Last weekend, we went to Edmonton to see Maile, Cam and Rylan! It was lots of fun except that Maile, my mom, auntie sharon and me all got sick! It was no fun, but it was a good weekend and even when I had the stomach flu I had a decent time because some of my favourite shows were on! I got to watch some American Idol Rewind which was way fun and the finale of American Gladiators and a new Family Guy! It was all a good time!!!

Otherwise, the week was fairly uneventful... we came home on Monday, I worked on Tuesday, did a little homework and didn't tutor so watched Big Love on Wednesday, went out with Nattie for double feature date and then watched Survivor and the Apprentice (so awesome!) on Thursday and had a lovely lovely date with Jord on Friday and then went out for dinner with my family to celebrate my mommy's new job on Friday night to the Redwater Grill!

Going back to school really isn't the worst thing in the world. I'll be very happy when this week is over though, I have to hand in a term paper outline on Monday and then I have a max. 10 pager due and a midterm on Thursday and probably a stats assignment due on Friday. It'll just be a good weekend. Plus I should get Sunday off because it's new schedule time and I told her I couldn't work on Sundays in March and April. I hope this turns out as well as I imagine that it will because I am very very very excited to hopefully have a day off a week! It's hard to have to wake up for one thing or another every single day of my life!

Something pretty unexciting is that my lovely tutoring student L might not be coming to see me anymore, but I'm not sure! Her teachers are switching her math program because she for sure plans to take math 14 and 24 in highschool instead of applied or pure and if she doesn't still come to see me I will definitely miss her!!!

Well, I'm off.....

<3

All things

2008-02-12T12:06:00.001-07:00

Today is an "all things" post.

Molly says "all things" a lot because she said it once and it was hilarious...

M: I'm going shopping
L:For what?
M: Skirts, shorts, all things.
(and she said it a few times in the same conversation. Very very funny).

Annnnywho...

Firstly: Today feels like spring. It has that birds-chirping, sunny but chilly, snow-melting wonderful atmosphere. There is nothing I love in this whole wide world like the first of real spring... of course we get many of these in Calgary because of Chinooks, so I often get to experience MANY of these favourite days of mine. I just checked the weather and it will supposedly be nice for the rest of the week. Hooray!

Secondly: on the weekend, Jord, Neil, Lindsay and I watched High Fidelity. I saw this movie probably just after it came out, maybe 2001 or so, in Winnipeg with my cousin Maile and remember liking it. I just plain old L-O-V-E-D it this time though. I really think I understood it more. I also realized that it's a book that I will have to track down ASAP....

Thirdly: As usual, I'm wasting time that I do not have to waste. I SHOULD be reading or studying but do not feel like it, but whatever. I'm not too concerned about it. It's almost reading week and so I will have some relaxing/catchup time and I don't have to work much (at the mall I mean).... I'm excited for Edmonton though....

Fourthly: A really good quote by my really cool cousin: "everything we write doesn't have to be about saving the world"-Jennifer

(I'm going to save this and finish it later)...

OK. Fifthly: I got air-assaulted by prison weapons today in class. You see, my teacher brought in some examples of weapons that people can easily make in prison and I just always sit in the front on her side so I was most convenient to pretend assault. It was fun stuff. She swung this club thing at me and I wasn't paying attention and everyone laughed cause I just about got hit. It was actually very funny!

Sixthly: I am now at home and CANNOT concentrate on reading this really boring article. Maybe I should go elsewhere. I am listening to CBC radio to drown out the rest of the noise but there's lots of talking this time, whereas there's usually just music which helps, but the talking does NOT help. Plus this is one of the most boring articles of life.

Seventhly: I'm pretty sure my last couple of -lys are NOT words, but this is OK. I had my first stats midterm today. It was lots of fun.

I think this is all I have to say today! I hope I can finish reading this darned article, because I'm hoping to do some TV watching later.

<3

Survivor 16: Day 1

2008-02-07T18:07:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited for Survivor to start tonight! Fans vs. Favourites is so exciting!!!! Only 2 hours and 52 minutes left as of right now! I may have to just save this and "publish" it later, so then it might be already over but I'm just so excited!!!!! Me and Nattie are even going to go all out and have chips for a snack! Eek! Also, I haven't had a slurpee since the last Survivor finale, so I'm pretty excited for that also!

Tomorrow I'm going to see Juno again with Molly and I expect it to be quite a bit of fun!!!! She's having lunch with our Aunt first and then meeting me and I'm excited for it!!! It's so flipping freezing in this computer lab right now it's difficult to type, but oh well!

I'm still sick but whatever. I felt like CRAP this morning and just after lunch and after my last class but now that I've been sitting in this lab physically doing nothing for a few hours I feel a lot better! Maybe it's just sheer excitement for Survivor or something though, I'm not sure! I will sleep like a log tonight though, that I know for sure!

I wish I had a million blogs to read kind of. But I wish they all belonged to people whose lives I actually super super cared about. Those are the best ones to read! But anyways, it doesn't matter! I really need to lower the level of procrastination in my life a LOT anyways, so the less blogs the better, really.... I applied for a summer student job at a place called Enerplus, but I don't super care if I get it or not because I love my job at the mall and would like to do that this summer but also because I'd like to take spring and summer courses this year. If I do that, I could definitely graduate next year. If I take 2 in spring AND summer, I'd have no winter semester even! I think I'll try and finish out a math minor though. I know it's crazy and I always have a good reason to stop taking math courses, but I also have an even better reason to start again: I LOVE math! And I would really like to be a math teacher. So I'm gonna give it a try. What about a tutor? Nattie said today, and I've never thought about that! It's so dumb to not even think about it! So, I looked online today on the U of C tutor lists and found someone who tutors discrete and I already emailed her to see if she's tutoring in the summer this year, because I'm registered in discrete mathematics for that semester! I think I'll still take Italian though, I'm just dying to learn it, and if I hate it, so be it! I also need 1 more 400-level soci course which I had forgotten about until now!

I gotta go though, Nattie's on her way... I wanted to complain about how much I miss Boston Public and Ed today, but I shall write about them another day!!!

<3

Sick sick sick!

2008-02-06T12:14:00.001-07:00

Today I am staying home sick! I never stay home sick as soon as I get sick, and so this time I'm trying it out! I feel a little better now than when I woke up first thing this morning, but still not great! Anyways, I had a great great night last night! I went to a crave cupcake party and had so much fun! We just ate cupcakes and played Taboo and Electronic Talking Dream Date! It was a lot of fun though and I don't get to giggle that much all the time and it was lots of fun! Anyways, I really have nothing to say! Ha ha!

<3

Lose-lose situation

2008-01-31T18:06:00.000-07:00

I really don't have TOO TOO much to say today... yesterday we went to the hockey game for Nattie's birthday and we all had lots and lots of fun! Ha ha, as far as I know we had lots and lots of fun anyways! Tee hee, it was a really good game though, the Flames won, but the Sharks definitely gave them a run for their money, particularly at the end! Also, I finally (think) I know what the offside rule is, so that's pretty exciting!

As far as today's title goes.... I was a little depressed sitting in class today because we were talking about how women are always depressed when they have children (or at least more depressed, in general than men). Being a housewife is no good because you are kind of isolated and have no independence (read: no income) and have to rely on your husband for money "now" and later in life when you have no pension (or too small a pension). Full-time working moms aren't happy because they have too much on their plates and part-time working moms feel like they aren't good at anything. Ha ha, real selling points for the propagation of the species coming from my class, hey?

This isn't necessarily to say that I'm dying to have babies and now I'm upset because it's obviously not a very good choice.... it's just kind of a bummer I guess, that if I hypothetically had babies (or baby, whatever), I wouldn't be very happy day-to-day.... I'm not sure how accurate this study was, it was kind of exploratory, and you never know what works for every person in the world, but it was still a little bleak.

Anyways, otherwise the week has been decent. I'm so excited it's Thursday today! And I think we're having Tim Horton's chili (from the good Timmie's in Douglasglen) for dinner today, which is just what the doctor ordered because of the flipping cold! Also, Survivor starts in 7 days, 2 hours, and 47 minutes! After that, I've got nothing in my countdown! I definitely should put the Thrice show in there, but that's just 2 days after Survivor starts, so I'll have to make some other exciting plans! Well, I guess going to Edmonton and reading week are exciting, so there it is I suppose!

<3

A quick one!

2008-01-24T15:28:00.000-07:00

I really think I'm going to try and be speedy on this one, because I may be going to wait in line while Nattie's in class for the Lululemon Warehouse sale! Hooray! I hope it doesn't get too cold if I do go out there and wait. Smart people should be selling hot chocolate and coffee today but who knows if anyone in this city will be doing so! I could have sworn I had something else important to say, other than that IT'S THURSDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOORAY!!! I'm so excited! I don't even care what we do, cause it's THURSDAY! I kind of hope we go to the Lululemon warehouse sale, but we shall see! Anyways, I think that's all! It's flipping cold in this room! I wonder how much reading I could get done while waiting in line for a few hours!

<3

Things

2008-01-23T21:14:00.000-07:00

A few things, mostly less happy than I would like, but here it is.

Firstly, I have to copy what Linda said today in class. Not that I'm a big Heath Ledger fan or anything, but it's totally weird that he died. Linda's right, no 28 year old should die. It just isn't fair. I dunno though. I guess these things happen. Anyways, that's most sad news.

Also, I don't know what to do about something. I shouldn't put any details on the internet because I wouldn't want anyone to find out and get offended, but there it is. I just wish I knew what to do. So there it is.

Anyways, on to happier things. It was a pretty good day! I get to sleep with my mama's magic bag again which makes me so happy because it keeps me warm! I'm watching Wife Swap and it's the same ol same ol and it's brutal. One family is clean and the other one is messy, one family won't let their kids pass the stop sign and the other kids can stop cars they don't know in the street and give them a fake speeding ticket (which was really freaking cute). My stupid course pack is at the bookstore for my class now so I'll have to read a bunch of it. It sucks big time. Whatever though!!! Ha ha, I wonder if I'm going to fall asleep at like 9:30 again! I missed a lot of one of my favourite shows, The Biggest Loser! Annnyways, I wish I had more exciting things to write about today! Almost time for the Flames game next Wednesday though! And also, tomorrow is Thursday! Hooray for Thursday!!! I love Thursday!

<3

Chewing

2008-01-22T11:37:00.000-07:00

I HATE the sound of chewing. I just H-A-T-E it! There's this friggin girl in this computer lab right now and she's eating rice crackers (which also happen to smell awful) and dropping crumbs all over the floor. It's flipping disgusting. Oh wow she just opened another package. Kill me now. Tee hee, plus I'm a little hungry so I'm jealous even though if I had to eat whatever it is she's having I'd say thanks but no thanks anyways.

OK, so I wrote that a few hours ago and I have luckily escaped the horrible chewing! I have an hour left to work now, so a little more time to mess around and so I'm going to finish this up.

School's been OK so far. A lot of reading, but whatever, it happens. Work is going good with school together which I'm very very thankful for! Tonight I get to go out for dinner to Caesar's steakhouse and am very excited because the food there is muy delicioso! And I'm still hungry (no big surprise) even though I already ate my lunch :(. Anyways, I really can't stay long, I have to finish up some work, but I had to rant about the chewing. It was just awful.

<3

My newest google.ca/images search! And an unfortunate event.

2008-01-16T09:32:00.000-07:00

First, for the unfortunate event. I really have to be QUICK with this post because I have class in exactly 27 minutes and it just moved so I don't want to be late. ANNNYYYWAYS.....

On Monday, I was taking the train from school to work and I was in the front car (of course) when the train hit a person. It was absolutely terrifying and the driver was obviously totally and completely in shock. It was so brutal and luckily (for me) all I saw was the driver freaking out. I think the woman is still alive but I'm pretty certain she meant to do it so that's got to be a highly unfortunate situation.

Now for my latest images search!!! I got a new phone yesterday!!! Hooray!!!! It's a slidey one and I really like it a lot. It's very small though, and I'll be very very afraid to lose it, at least for the first little while!

Anyways, that's really about all. Otherwise, the semester (of 2 days) is going well so far. Yesterday Jordan took me on a wonderful date because of being together for three years and it was low key (as always). I took the bus to Mt. Royal to do work until 6:30 when his class was over, but it got cancelled so the second I sat down and got all cozy in the library (which is soooo much nicer than the U of C's, by the way) he came to get me cause it was already time to go. Oh well though, it was fun to hang out extra! Then we went to Chinook Centre to waste a little time and had a snack with Nate and Skuce (who were on their way to work at Aldo). Then we had a delicious dinner at Chianti and we really tried to see a movie but NOTHING worked for us, so we rented Mr. Woodcock (which was OK but kind of stupid), watched a little Seinfeld, and OH! we tried to play Super Paper Mario, cause we rented it but my Wii didn't like it! I'll have to try and clean 'er off and see what I can get done there. Anyways, I should go because it's almost time to go to class! With one of my very favourites, Dr. Wong! All in all, my teachers are very good this semester (I half know, half think). Dr. Wong and Linda are two of my very favourites and then my Soci of work teacher seems amazing and then my fourth one seems pretty good even though she's a little pretentious (which happens).

<3

Three.

2008-01-10T13:13:00.000-07:00

I have three important things to talk about today! A list! Hooray!

1. My week off

Today is pretty much the last day of my lazy-time off! I actually didn't have that many lazy lazy days but it was good anyways. I know I'll be cursing it soon enough when I get no paycheque in two weeks, but it's been pretty worth it. Hard to believe that it's been almost two weeks already though! Or maybe I will get one week's worth in two weeks. Hmmm. I'm actually not sure. Whatever though, I'll work it out. Oh, by the way, I'm watching Maury right now and there's a piece of tape from the show Cheaters, which I WISH you could see in Canada (or at least on the channels I get)!

2. Molly's car

Tomorrow Molly and my dad are going to Edmonton to probably buy a car. I will probably go with them to pick it up! This is not a very exciting thing, but that's OK. Well, it's exciting for Molly! I hope we play Animal on the way home. HA HA!!!!

3. SURVIVOR: FANS VS. FAVORITES!

Firstly, yes, I know I spelled "favourites" wrong, but since it's an American network, that's the way they spell it so I figure it would be inappropriate for me to spell it the correct way. Anyways.... I'm SOOO excited! Some of MY favourites are coming back! James, Jonathan, Jonny Fairplay AND Yau-Man are ALL going to be in it!!! Plus, Ami, everyone's favourite self-righteous homosexual!!!! I was reading some stuff online though, about how people are pissed about the Jonny-Fairplay-grandma's-dead-incident and I think they can unclench. He made a hilarious and brilliant move! It was awesome! I hope he sticks around for a WHILE and that Amanda gets voted out FIRST! I'm so so so so excited! Only 28 days, 7 hours, and 38 minutes!

Actually, there is more to talk about! I've been watching Big Love lately and have started to enjoy it. The characters are rich and funny and quirky and I've really started to enjoy it. Anyways, I think I will keep on watching it. I kind of like how he loves his first wife best out of all of them. It's just a really good show.

OH WOW HOW COULD I FORGET THIS!!!!!!!!!!

We're going to Banff this weekend! I forgot about that and I'm such an idiot! I'm so so so excited! We're leaving at like 9 or something on Saturday morning and staying over on Saturday night! Oh, of course "we"= James, Lou, Mattie, and Nattie! We're going to the hot springs, which I'm super excited for because I love the hot springs! Plus a nature walk and maybe a movie or something and some shopping! I'm just very excited for the whole thing.

OK, now I'm really done.

<3

Nattie's birthday!

2008-01-07T17:15:00.000-07:00

On Friday, we went out to see Juno for Nattie's birthday! The movie was amazing, and everyone liked it which was good! And then we went to Humpty's for our usual after-movie breakfast (or chicken fingers in Matt's case) which was fun and mostly good, except my bacon was kind of gross cause it was like 60% fat, so I just ate the good parts, but whatever! Annnyways, then we came back here and me and Jord were so excited to give Nattie her present that we did it in the middle of the night! We hid it beside my water softener and I made a treasure map for it at work on New Years Day (we were obviously very busy that day... ha ha, this is what I got paid time and a half for!) and then she had to find puzzle pieces based on the clues that we gave her! It was really fun, and then after she put the puzzle together she found her Flames and Sharks ticket for the 30th of January! I'm so so so excited for the game and so extra super thrilled that Nattie liked it and is also excited! Now, I shall include the pictures!

So hilarious!

2008-01-05T18:00:00.000-07:00

Today we went to have our pictures taken out by Strathmore today and when we were driving back we were talking about how insufferably bored we all were and Molly suggested we play a game called Animal. What's that? We asked... and as it turns out, "Animal" is just "20 Questions" except that you have to pick an animal as the thing you're thinking of. Anyways, here's how it went...

Molly: K, you just have to pick an animal and then other people ask you 20 questions to try and guess what the animal is, like Is is a carnivore and stuff like that.
Lauren: Are you ready?
Molly: Yes.
Lauren: OK, is it a carnivore?
M: Oh wait, I'm not ready yet.
L: OK.
M: Now I'm ready.
L: Is it a carnivore?
M: What's that?

--which was hilarious, of course, because it was her example! It was hilarious! But then there was more!

(I was choosing)
(*it had already been discovered that it was a domesticated animal...)
M:Does it have fur?
(*it was a horse)
L: Yes.
M: Is it an elephant?
(funny for many many reasons)
L: No.
M: Is it domesticated for its ivory?

(Molly was choosing again)

L:(among other questions) is it a mammal?
M: What's a mammal
Momma (K): An animal that gives birth to its young.
M: OK, yes.
(and then we got down to the last questions and I still couldn't guess it)
L: K, what is it?
M: HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I got you!
L:So what is it?
M: An Ostrich!!!!!!!!!!!!

And then we told her how an ostrich was a bird, and she goes, no! It gives birth to its babies, it lays eggs! It was just flipping hilarious! It was just way too much fun!

Anyways, on another note, I flipping love mangoes. I just ate a whole one and I wish I had another!

Me and James gave Nattie her b-day present yesterday and I'm very excited to post pictures! Maybe I'll do it in a little while!

Those were the days....

2008-01-05T02:52:00.000-07:00

I'm just enjoying the beginning of my brand new All In The Family, season 1 DVD that Nattie got me for Christmas! (which was sooooo worth the wait!) and I was just thinking about how much I like to see the pilot of some sitcoms (this one in particular) and how the actors play their parts in the beginning, after seeing how it turns out. What I mean is that you can sometimes see a difference from the way they play it in later seasons because you can sort of tell that they ended up settling into the part in a different way as they started playing it. I really like to see the beginning of stuff, it's very cool. One of my favourite parts of this pilot is that Archie is the same pretty much the whole time and I just love him, even though the character is an ogre. Gee whiz I love this show!

A product of one's surroundings.

2007-12-24T21:27:00.000-07:00

Not a whole lot to say. Merry Christmas, this is all. What if everyone liked to spend time with everyone else? Yes, this is it.

For reals, Merry Christmas everyone

or Happy Holidays

:)

"It smells like..............Gaspe"

2007-12-20T23:21:00.001-07:00

Tonight Nattie and I went out for dinner at Original Joe's and then saw Lars and the Real Girl. It was very very very fun!!! The food was delicious and we had dessert and now I won't eat for a month I don't think, and then the movie was excellent! Except there were these dumb obnoxious girls in front of us and the one right in front of me was flipping her hair and over over giggling the whole freaking time! It was sooooo annoying!!!! Anyways. I wish I could write lots and lots of lovely things but I'm way too sleepy. The only thing is that I must say that the Plaza and the Uptown (and probably the Globe) are all movie theatres where movies are played the way they're supposed to be.

<3

Wonderful Wonderful Wonderful (First Christmas) Weekend!!!

2007-12-17T00:50:00.000-07:00

Wow. Wow. Wow.

I wish I could explain in mere words how happy this weekend was! Friday was pretty fun but very tiring and busy! I worked all day, then came home and baked for like 4 hours and then finally me and Jord wrapped presents for about an hour. It was a long day! The baking turned out fairly well though, I made shortbread cookies and then dipped them in dark and milk chocolate. The reviews are pretty good from Jordan's and my families but I'm not personally crazy about them. That's OK though. I just think I'm not so crazy about shortbread like I used to be. Anyways, I fell asleep fairly early considering what I wanted: to stay up and hang out with Jord! So, anyways, that was pretty fun overall.

Then on Saturday, I worked 9-5 again and then Jord came and got me and we went to his house! I was so happy because I thought I had found pretty fun gifts for everyone and I was so excited to give them to the people (especially Jordan's Dad's potato cook book and brush that I've picked out in, like, June)!!! Anyways, it was much fun! The company was wonderful and the dinner was, as always, fantastic! It was really really nice! I felt totally comfortable (which I often don't) with everyone and I even got a chance to talk to Ky a little more than usual! I most often feel slightly awkward with Ky because I'm just not entirely sure how to act best with him! And I had lots of fun watching the little boys get into trouble! They're all very excitable and have a LOT of energy, but they're all very sweet! Annnyways, I had a great time and I felt soooo sooooo sooo at home! Jordan's mommy even told me to stop with the Mrs. Hunter and Mr. Hunter stuff. Which I'm sure I will find awkward in due time but gosh it felt nice. I really felt like part of the family, which I have in the past, but not like right now. I even was A-OK to shower at Jord's house which I do not usually want to do at all!!! So anyways, it was totally lovely! And I still feel good even today! Soooooo good!

This morning, we woke up somewhat early-ish and went to watch Jordan's half-nephew (ha ha, ??) Aidan and his kind of step-brother, Jackson (both of whom were at Christmas of course!) play hockey! It was really fun to watch and hang out with Cierin, Carla, Fev, Ethan and Ben! Ha ha, and Jord of course! Then, Fev, Jord and I went out to the Pfanntastic Pannenkoek Haus for brunch! It was soo soo delicious! Then we went back to James's for a little while and then came home to my house for a while and then went to O'Sullivan's for dinner and then watched the SURVIVOR FINALE!!!!! It was pretty darn good! And my pick from day 1 won this one! It was so very exciting! And of course the show was great! Next up: Survivor Micronesia! It's going to be fans vs. favourites, which will be fun!

And I have nothing else to say, except that I'm so very very happy! I hope the rest of my break is pleasant like this! Ha ha, it won't be, but man did I have an amazing weekend!

<3<3<3 Merry Christmas! :)

Tired!

2007-12-11T20:12:00.000-07:00

I am very sleepy! Tomorrow and Thursday I get sort of days off and then on Sunday I get an actual day off! Hooray! It's been a WHILE since I've had a day off! I just typed out a bunch of this stuff for this entry but then my computer did something funny and it deleted it all!!!! Boo! Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnyways... Sunday will be a lovely day off because Jordan's family's Christmas is Saturday, which I'm very psyched for and then on Sunday I think we're going to Beowulf with his parents! Fun fun fun!!! Ha ha, I've even read that play (for the most part)....

Speaking of movies made from books... my work took us all (and a guest) to a movie on Sunday! We saw the Golden Compass and I liked it a LOT! I even asked for the books for Christmas! It was really really good! Kelly (a lady at work/a lady from Peace) told me that it was an attack on God, but I found it was an "attack" on the Catholic church if anything. I'm really hungry right now! Oh boy! Again, annnnnnnnnnnnyways.... I don't really have a lot to say! Our new booth opened last Thursday and I've mostly been working in there and it's very very nice! Otherwise, I have pretty much all my Christmas shopping done, just a couple little things left to buy and then I'm done! I really didn't have that much to buy though, so that was kind of nice! I'm kind of bored right now though. Looks like my mom and sister already went to bed and my pops is watching the Sopranos and the writers strike really throws a monkey wrench in my watching-SVU-and-House plans, so boo. I think I'm going to make some popcorn though. I need something to do! So enjoy all! Happy Hannukkah (which is now over) and Merry almost-Christmas!

FINALLY!

2007-12-07T13:14:00.001-07:00

(almost)

Anyways, today is the last day of school!!!! And I finished the 5 page paper in time for Tuesday and my 8-10 (even though I thought it was 10-12) pager for today with lots of time! I'm even happy with it!!! I'm so happy with it, in fact, that I'm giving her a stamped self-addressed envelope so she can send it back to me with all her comments! Today in math I really wanted to go to (soci) grad school, so if that's what I end up doing, having her send this paper back and then going to talk to her later might be a good way to start getting good references if I want to do that! ANYWAYS... I really don't have that much else to say. On Tuesday, I thought I had completely bombed my quiz, but I didn't! I got 58%, which isn't that bad! Plus, our final is worth 50% and I have one exam and almost a week to study! So... hopefully I can pull this one out of the air! It would be REALLY nice to do really well in this course!!! I could use a GPA boost in the worst way!!! I really honestly have nothing else to say though. Happy last day of classes!!!

<3

Shoot.

2007-12-03T20:17:00.000-07:00

I have a LOT of work to do and exactly zero motivation to do it with. The Hills is on so I'm kind of just watching that but I just can't seem to do my take home final exam. I think the problem is that the issue he assigned us to write on is just so darned huge. The topic is how race and gender effect lifelong learning and how lifelong learning affects race and gender. It's very very difficult and complicated. Anyways..... in other (much better) news, I'm coming to you from my brand new laptop!!!!!

I'm very excited about it!!! I've been saving for a laptop since the summer and so I finally got one!!! I bought it at Best Buy and they didn't have any at the Deerfoot Meadows Best Buy, so Jordan drove us alllllll the way up to Sunridge to the other Best Buy to get it!!!! So I'm VERY excited!!!! Finally!!!! Anyways, I'm having LOTS of trouble getting this stupid thing started! Well, it's started, but it sucks big time. Anyways, I'm going to do that Christmas survey:

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate?

Hot chocolate, I suppose. Can I just choose tea?

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?

Wraps them!!!

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?

White, unless they're, like, those lighter LED ones. I really don't like those loud multicoloured ones.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?

Definitely not. Where does one even GET mistletoe?

5. When do you put your decorations up?

Approximately December 23rd. And by 'decorations' I mean tree. We don't decorate.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?

Stuffing. Nuff said.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?

How Molly and I always slept together on Christmas Eve in the basement but we could never ever ever sleep so we'd watch TV or play games or just talk. I also remember one Christmas when we slept on our parents' floor when my Grandma and Grandpa were here and my grandpa woke up in the middle of the night hacking up a lung and I was pretty certain that a dinosaur was coming to kill us. Ha ha.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?

I really don't remember. I do remember having a fight with some boys about it in grade 3 and I was saying he did exist. Boy is that ever embarrassing to think about now.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?

Never never!

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?

Mostly with crap that Molly and I have made over the years. There's a couple nice things, but mostly crap.

11. Snow: love it or hate it?

like it. I hate driving in it too though.

12. Can you ice skate?

I'm able to but I have no skates!

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?

My alphabet roadway from when I was 3 or something. Nattie's right though, there's something new every year. I just happen to know that I was obsessed with that roadway!

14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you?

not sure. I dunno, spending time with people I guess?

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?

Shortbread. Or my regular favourite, brownies!

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?

We used to sing Christmas carols, that was fun. Now we watch inappropriate movies. That's fun too!

17. What tops your tree?

My mom used to have this brutal dove. I think we have an angel now though.

18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?

I like both! I like giving most, especially when you think you've picked out the perfect gift!

19. What is your favorite Christmas song?

O Holy Night. I'm not a huge fan of most though, I find a lot of them annoying. (sorry)

20. Candy canes:

Only mint!

21. Favorite Christmas movie?

Probably Christmas Vacation. I'm going to watch Shrek the Halls soon though!

22. What do you leave for Santa?

Used to be milk and cookies, I think. Now, nothing. Nobody in this house needs more sugar, as my mom would say.

I guess that's all for now though!!!! Happy December! I hope I can do something decent on this stupid paper thing though!!!

Freezing!!!

2007-11-26T09:24:00.000-07:00

Holy cowabunga batman is it getting cold out! I know I'm just being a complainer, because it's only like -14 or something today (even though the windchill takes it to -24)..... but still, coldest day of the winter so far for sure and it's no fun! Oh well though. I'm really really really excited for Christmas this year which is REALLY strange because I usually am not excited for Christmas until, like, December 24! BUT.... I think my parents threw out the trailer tree last year, which is really really good!

The old tree...The new tree... (I think)

These aren't MY trees, but ones that I think are pretty similar.... in any case, the one I found a picture of that's like the old one doesn't look quite as trashy as ours was, but it was serious trailer park boys stuff. And even worse in the dark. Anyways, I really hope the "new" tree picture is like the one my parents bought last year, so I'll just have to hope hope hope!!!

Otherwise, it's flipping freezing out!!! I can't find my favourite scarf and I have this really nice one that Jordan's parents gave me for Christmas two years ago but it's too itchy! So this is no good! Anyways, whatever I suppose.

On another note, my firefox just spell-checked "windchill" as incorrect. How does it not know that word? That is very strange. I really hope my regular math teacher is back today, but I kind of get the sneaking suspicion he won't be back which is no good because our new one sucks!!!! He's a really nice guy but he's not a terribly good teacher. His quiz was easy though, so I guess I could handle him being our teacher for the rest of the year if I had to. Anyways, only 11 days, 5 hours, and 26 minutes until the last day of class and 17 days, 7 hours, and 56 minutes until final is over!!!! I'm excited for that!!!! I think I will drop my math course and pick up two socis so I can graduate in June. And I'm gonna go see if I can find Linda (or ANYONE) to see if she (or anyone) can help me decide what to do!!! Me need help!!! EEK! Frick it's cold! I'm even wearing my boots! I wonder if I just need to get some wind-resistant pants to help me through the winter. I think I even have some decent ones. I would really like to take a ski lesson or two this winter but I also do not want to pay 1,000,000,000 dollars either. I don't think COP is so bad for a learner. Oh well though, it's lame that they don't have any prices on their website. Lame lame lame. I miss Wintergreen!!!!!

Annnyways.... I gotta go print and pay and go to class!!!! Have a nice blustery day everyone!!!!

Lists.

2007-11-23T12:57:00.000-07:00

Meg always used to make lists when she used to work at Blue Funk and TRU when she was bored. Today, I will attempt 2 for sure (maybe more if I think of more).

A short list of things that drive me bonkers:
1)Tiredness. Nattie and I watched Sicko last night and now I am quite sleepy because we finished it at 1 am. I woke up just after 7, so this is why.
2)My nervous stomach. I have a midterm today and I studied precious little for it. I still have an hour left before I have to go write it, but my tummy is trying to commit suicide or something and it's driving me nuts.
3)Coldness. It's flipping freezing in this school even though it really isn't all that cold outside, and this makes little to no sense.
4)The fact that my nose literally can't contain itself. It's been running non-stop for like a week now, but I bought some more kleenex today so it's not that bad.

A short list of places I'm dying to see:
1)Montreal. This is the easiest place on my list to travel to. I'd love to go there. I'd like it if I could actually speak French when I go, but I'm certain they'd recognize my accent in a second and just speak English to me.
2)NYC. I want to <3 NY.
3)Ireland. Please! So pretty and green! And my favourite accent on this globe. Please!
4)France. I would still really like to see France. Sicko also made me want to visit because it looked amazing!!! Again, obviously French would be an asset.

There are more things that drive me crazy and more places I'd like to visit, but these are the things I was thinking about today. Ha ha, along with my midterm. I kind of half don't think it will be all that bad, but I'm still worried about it. I would like to get started on my Race and Ethnicity term paper today so I should get my bum moving in printing out my articles. I have 1 that I haven't finished reading yet but I think I should print the other three that I haven't read yet. Running on 1 read article when it's due in, like, 2 weeks is not good. I would also enjoy it muchly if I could hand it in early because if I have to hand it in the day that it's due I'll have to skip out or something on work when it's my availability mistake, so that would suck big time. Anyways, that does not matter. I kind of feel like applying to grad school today. I wonder how much it costs.

<3

Monday.

2007-11-19T21:39:00.000-07:00

My weekend was fun. Again, I didn't do much because of being sick. Really all I did was play monopoly with Nattie and James on Friday and then worked and watched TV the rest of the week. My nose has started running incessantly and it's driving me nutty. I'm watching The Believer for a second time with my pa right now. I can't decide if I like it or not. I find it pretty unbelievable for some reason. And I'm not so sure that it's within the obvious contradiction in the fact that he's a Jewish Anti-Semite. Whatevs though. I can't really understand it, I guess. Of course he's a self-hating Jew, but that isn't really enough to explain it. I get how he got his "questioning" religion thing, from his Dad. But still. I guess there isn't a strong enough connection for me. Maybe I'm just dumb though. Both of those things seem to go something like halfway in explaining it. Anyways, today we watched a documentary in class about the Chinese Head Tax and it was pretty darned depressing. I feel sad that people can be so stupid and closed-minded about things.

Anyways, today was pretty good otherwise. I've gone through like a whole box of Kleenex over the last few days, since Thursday maybe. Fun fun stuff. I don't have to be on Segway anymore either which is very very exciting. Booth for me!!! Hooray! I have a math quiz tomorrow and I think I'm going to bomb it! Hooray! And a second midterm for Race and Ethnicity on Friday. Tough stuff. I'll be glad when this week is over. Actually, I'll be most glad when the semester is over. Only 23 days, 19 hours, and 38 minutes left!!!!!I'm definitely freezing my bum off right now. And it's only going to get worse!!! I accidentally left some wet things in a bag for....well.... a while..... (OK, too long)..... and so my bedroom smells a little...... mmmm....... like dirt. It's not good. That's for sure for sure. It will not be pleasant sleeping in there later. This is for sure also. Oh well though. It's my own darn fault. I love how I've rambled this long about nothing. NOTHING!

<3

Happy

2007-11-16T09:27:00.000-07:00

Today I just feel great. I'm still very sick and thought I was going to die on the bus, but after I almost cried (there were actually tears coming out of my eyes) I just feel awesome. I can't really say why, but it is what it is. I don't have that empty feeling in the pit of my stomach of wanting something, whether I know what it is or not, I'm just happy. People are being really friendly too today.... some random lady was smiling at me at the train, I saw Tara and Lindsey on the train!! (Hooray!).... this lady who stopped for me to cross was smiley, a nice boy held the door for me, the cashier at Safeway was really nice (and pretty good looking! Bonus!).... I know I'm way behind in school cause I haven't been here in a while and I'm a little upset that I couldn't go swimming today cause I feel so awful, but none of it matters. I'm just plain old happy. And that's it. :)

Not in the mood to post right now.

2007-11-14T16:09:00.001-07:00

Eh. Still sick, don't feel like doing anything, even posting on the puter! I went to the doctor with my ma today and she gave us each a puffer and some antibiotics but of course I don't feel better yet. I really tried to go to school today but I was too dizzy and winded in the shower to go so I stayed home. I probably should have stayed home even longer when my mom did errands before our appointment, but oh well. This is what happened! Anyways, I have to go tutor tonight and last night someone new called about tutoring!!! Hooray! I'm excited about that! I think I should call her soon because that is muchly exciting!!!! Annnnyways..... House was really good last night and so was Law and Order SVU. I also watched The Tudors for the first time and it was really good! Jordan's mom was singing its praises the other weekend, and even said it has a lot of good sex in it. Ha ha, funnie story there actually, because then Jordan asked what bad sex was and Jord's mom said "fat people" (and then a little later) "ugly people". It was pretty funnie. Pretty strange too because I am definitely not used to hearing Jordan's parents talking about sex, good OR bad! Ha ha. Oh well. I'm quite sleepy though and already can't wait until Thursday even though I've done NOTHING all week! I am going to be in major trouble when I actually go back to school!!! EEK! Anyways, I should go because I have to tutor soon.

<3

Future.

2007-11-04T21:30:00.000-07:00

I'm not really in the mood to elaborate on my whole weekend, but I'll say that it was fun and I'm still sick so I didn't do much, just worked a lot and hung out with people.

Tonight, I met with my group for Soci 401 (lifelong learning) for our big group presentation on Tuesday. There are four of us in our group, Aliece, Elisa, Ice, and me! I've been in classes with Aliece and Elisa before, so I knew them-ish.... but anyways, I've really enjoyed our projects but today was really frustrating. Elisa wasn't letting Aliece and I be nitpicky about things and that was really bothering us both. I'm just a bit of a stickler for good sounding grammar and wording and such. Anyways, it doesn't matter. E is happy with just getting a 12/15 on our presentation or something, and I'm not crazy about working hard and shooting for 12. I would like to shoot for 15. Anyways, A feels the same and it's very frustrating. E wants to dumb-down everything, which is not appropriate for this presentation. Our audience is other soci 401 students. We can assume that they know the word disparity. Whatevs though, I guess. This is my group and I am happy that we've done well so far. Annnnyways.... I'm excited to get our presentation so I can nitpick and add the main conclusion that we came up with and then do the presentation on Tuesday and have it out of my way!!!! I did, however, remember that I have some graphs to make for it, so I will try and be fast with this next part.

Aliece drove me to my car tonight and we were talking about how it would be nice if there was an interview portion of the application for an education degree. Neither of us are thrilled with our GPAs and so we would both like it if we could show whoever it concerns that we are passionate about teaching and would make great teachers, etc. Anyways, and I was wondering on my way home if I could ever get "stale" as a teacher, which is one of my greatest fears about teaching high school. When you teach university, you are always active in your field and you do research, etc, so it's much harder to become stale about it. How many "stale" teachers did you have in your school career? I'm guessing many. Anyways, I don't think I could just because I feel very, very passionate about teaching math. Anyways, long story short, the Renert centre at school has been advertising for math and science tutors for months, and so I'm going to check into it tomorrow (unless I stay home tomorrow to try and get better and then I'll go on Tuesday). Anyways, I can't wait to see what they say. I even have resumes in my bag, I just have to check if I can use a couple of people for references. I would love to get involved with Renert or something.

Teletubbies?

2007-10-31T12:08:00.001-06:00

Yes, my friends, this is a picture of the "Teletubbies" being arrested (or given stern talkings-to by the cops). This happened on our pub crawl as we were leaving Tequila. I thought it was very funny!

Counting down the minutes until Saigon!!

2007-10-30T08:12:00.000-06:00

The weekend was pretty fun!!! In fact, it feels like it was a long time ago and I hardly remember what happened. Hmmm. Let's see. On Friday, me and James did.... something...... and it lasted until about 10 (but I can't remember what it was to save my life)..... oh my gosh, why can't I remember. This is so bad!....NATTIE JUST REMINDED ME! We watched the hockey game! Well, Jordan watched and I slept. It was good though! Well, anyways, when we were done whatever it was that we had done, we called Nattie and saw a movie with her!!! We just rented one, but it was good. We rented..... oh yeah, we rented The Believer. It was pretty darn good but a little confusing. It's about this Jewish Anti-semite (yes, you read that right), played by Ryan Gosling (who does a phenomenal job of it). Anyways, the movie is pretty long but very good and I liked it, but I think it would be a good one to see again to see if I actually get it. I really liked the parts that they show of him as a kid in Hebrew school, arguing with his teacher and his friend(?) Avi. I think because the kid makes me think of my dad (not because my dad is an anti-semite). I just imagine that that's what he was like when he went to parochial school. One time, he punched his teacher in the face because the teacher had ripped my dad's shirt (I imagine grabbing him out of his chair for misbehaving) and he knew he would be in trouble when he got home. Did he punch the teacher in the face or kick him in the nuts? I do not remember exactly now, but I think it was a groin kick. Anyways, it's a funnie story. My dad was a real badass in his childhood for sure.

Then, on Saturday, we went on a pub crawl with Nate, Skuce, Felipe, Jason, Jackie, Ian, the Dans, and some other people that I had never met before. Also, I finally got to meet Miguel! It was pretty exciting, because I've heard stories about him and I knew he existed but I had never met him, so that was definitely fun and exciting!!!! The pub crawl was pretty fun for a while, but it's not really mine and Jordan's scene. Plus, clubs are more fun for single people we think. I was also feeling pretty darn sick so we decided we should bail. Anyways, we called Nattie again and grabbed a quick bite to eat and then saw another movie! We went to The Heartbreak Kid, with Ben and Jerry Stiller. It was sooooo funnie! I thought so anyways, I'm not 100% sure Nattie thought it was as funny as I did, but there was a guy in front of us who must have thought it was GREAT!!! He kept clapping, and at one point he actually stood up out of his chair and clapped! It was half the fun just to watch him!!! Anyways, it was a very good movie! I'm not 100% sure I'd buy it, but it would be really nice if it were out on DVD for Christmas, then it could be my family's Christmas movie, I just don't see it happening. I'm sure we'll find something though...

Anyways, after the movie, we all just went home (well, sort of, I ended up sleeping over at James's)... and me and James were going to watch SNL but we just fell asleep!!! It was a long and exhausting day!!!

Then, on Sunday... me and James hung out for a while, had lunch with Nattie at Burger Inn, which was highly delicious! Then we played some Mario Party 8 and then Jord had to go get Nate from work! So, me and Nattie played a little Nancy Drew and then I went home for dinner. Then, after dinner, I went back over and hung out with Nattie and Mattie!!! It was exciting that Matt was back from his cruise, and I learned that he wants to move to the Caymans and become a pirate! I think this is a fine plan, because if Matt moves, Nattie will probably have to and if Nattie does, I may as well! Then Jordan could come too and we could all live in the Caymans! Tee hee, I don't think I would really want to live there, but it's a nice thought!!! We watched Heartland, Nattie's favourite new show and a couple of episodes of The Office from season 3. It was really fun!

Not too too much else to report! Nicole came yesterday for tutoring and she stayed for 2 hours. It was really good. Right now I'm waiting for my math lab to start and I am NOT excited for it! Math lab is always such a royal pain because it's soooo boring!!! We have computers, but we can't really go on them and have fun because it's loud and disruptive. Anyways, I also found out when my only final this semester is! It's on Dec. 13, so after that I will be able to work more hours and get lots of moneys!!! Tee hee, definitely not lots! But still, it will be nice to work a little extra and pick up a little extra cash. I'm a little excited for Christmas now. I bought a present for someone yesterday and that made me a little excited. Apparently, this lady that Nattie works with already has her Christmas tree out though. Maybe not up, Nattie couldn't remember, but it should still be in the basement!!! I absolutely draw the line at Halloween!!! You CANNOT have your tree out of your basement before Halloween!!!! It's just not allowed! I seriously don't get why anyone would want to look at that darn thing for more than, like, 2 weeks!!!! Whatevs though. I guess if you're not really a grinch like me you would want to. I just don't get it!!!

Oh, yeah, Judge Judy yesterday! It was so crazy, this woman was suing this other woman (the wife of a guy she was seeing) because the wife had beat up the mistress. It was a pretty good case, but the wife had a countersuit for emotional distress or whatever. So, Judge Judy found in the mistress's favour on the claim, for her medical bills, etc ($4000!!!!) and then they got to the counterclaim and she granted the wife the same amount for "alienation of affection"... I also saw this on Dr. Phil the other week, where if someone cheats with your spouse, they can be held liable for it! The lady on Dr. Phil had to cough up $50,000 for it!!!! I think that's the worst, craziest law ever! It's the husband's fault, NOT THE MISTRESS'S!!!! Anyways, I was blown away.

And, finally... my title.... me and Nattie go to Saigon Y2K, a really delicious Vietnamese restaurant almost every Thursday. Last week, we went to Swiss Chalet instead, and while it was delicious, it leaves a great hole in my heart where Saigon usually goes! So I'm extra excited for Thursday! And I was really hungry yesterday and it got me thinking about it! I even tried to find a picture on the internet so I could post it here, but alas, no such luck. Only 2 days, 8 hours and 43 minutes until Saigon time!!!! (thank you, cell phone countdown!)

Sicky day

2007-10-22T21:01:00.001-06:00

I stayed home sick today because I felt like death most of the weekend and so I thought today would be the best day to have to stay home because I definitely can't stay home tomorrow! I wish I could, but I can't!!!

Anyways, the weekend was good. I did a lot of mall stuff though. I worked in the booth on Thursday (hooray! SOOOOOO much better than Segway), and then Friday we had this course thing and then I worked Saturday and Sunday. Sunday was ALL in the booth and Saturday was about half and half. I changed my clothes SO many times on Saturday though it was insane!

Anyways, on Friday after the course me and Nattie and Mattie all watched the Office! I was very tired though, I think I kicked them out at like 10:30 which I felt pretty bad about, and sad because I was having a lot of fun! But it is what it is I suppose. Then work was pretty good, Jord and Mel and Kyle came and sat with me while I had lunch and then after I went to Safeway to meet Jord and then waited for what seemed like forever for him! Plus, Starbucks was closed and I had looked forward to my non-fat, no-whip cafe mocha ALL DAY! Anyways, again, it is what it is. I bought a red bull instead and that was pretty decent. Then, we went to Mel's house and watched the game and ate some pizza and then we went to ScreamFest. We kind of knew better too, but we went anyways. And it was pretty much as lame as last year. Oh well though, it was nice to hang out! And then we went to my house and watched SNL. Well, tried to. It was a repeat from 2 weeks ago. Nice work, SNL. Tee hee. Oh well though. We both fell asleep pretty early and then Sunday I went to work again and then we went to The Spill Canvas at the warehouse with Tomo and Nate. It was pretty fun, but I was very sick and realized about halfway in that I should have asked Felipe if he wanted to take my ticket and have Jord drive me home. I ate so many cough drops that I made myself sick to my stomach too which was not good. Plus, there's a smoke machine there and for some reason I'm very sensitive to smells so that made it worse. Whatever though, it was fun and I do like the Spill Canvas so it was good!

And then I stayed home today!!! Nothing too exciting, huh? I'm pretty choked I missed math though. I have a feeling this will not bode well for me. I'll have to find someone to ask for notes. I have exactly 0.00 friends in that class and the same amount of people that I talk to. So whatever I guess, I'll figure something out!

Ooh, one exciting thing that I had forgotten about!!! Jennifer and I went out to the Den for lunch on Friday and we both ordered hamburgers (which were very good, but I'd probably order something different the next time, this also made my tummy upset)... anyways, it was taking a long time and so Jennifer asked how long the waitress thought it would be (not awkwardly, really normal...I would feel awkward asking, but it was good).... and so the waitress apologized profusely and so her manager brought out our lunches and said it was on her! It was very sweet and unnecessary! But a nice treat for sure!!!

Today, Nicole came to be tutored and she got hit by a car outside her school last week! That's so brutal and scary!! I hope she gets better soon! She was pretty lucky though, it looks like she only injured her knee (which is definitely bad but much better than many alternatives) and so hopefully she'll get better very quickly!!!

Wow.

2007-10-16T08:52:00.000-06:00

Today me and Nattie are sitting in the elbow room doing work and dicking around, all at the same time. I went into my blogger account to update (right now) because I did not do it last night (my homework from Nattie).... and all of the written stuff is in Chinese characters. Or maybe Japanese. I can't tell the difference. It looks like this --> 粗体 Hmmm. Very very strange. Nattie is updating her blog too, so if you read mine, you should go read hers too!!! :)

Anyways, now for the important stuff. Actually, there's isn't much important stuff. I got a 92 on my race and ethnicity midterm though!!! Hooray! And I am always so upset that my phone doesn't know the word "midterm" so when I type it in a text, it always comes out "niftero".... which isn't a word anyways, as far as I know! Whatever though. It is what it is. I have another niftero this afternoon. It will last 2 hours, which sucks big time and a half. I also hope we get our last quizzes back in math today, because I'm really psyched to know what I got! Today me and Nattie came to school quite early and had bagels and they were very delicious!!! Hooray!!! Hmm. What else? I enjoyed one of my first study dates ever with someone other than Nattie. We have had many study dates, most of which were productive for approximately 10-12 minutes. Perhaps I'm underestimating a little, but I know that we studied for our chem 30 final together for something in the neighbourhood of 30 minutes and then went to the lake. We also studied the ear for bio 30 for approximately 30 minutes and then I'm pretty certain that we went to do something else more fun, but I can't remember what that was to save my life. Also, for our chem 351 final, we did a pretty good job, because we split up the topics and each learned about half of the course and then taught it to each other. But right after that (which probably didn't take more than an hour or so), we walked to the mall for teen burgers. They were delicious though, that's for sure. I suppose it's sort of fate though, and something that we should have noticed then and not later: that neither of us cared about chemistry in the slightest. It was sort of a godsend that we failed that course or else probably neither of us would be doing something we liked. We would still be miserable, taking science courses!!!

Anyways, about my study buddy.... Aliece and I are in the same group for our lifelong learning class and we were also in theory together last year. I really like her a lot and I think we're fairly well matched to study together. Also, I don't know her like I know Nattie and stuff so it's easier to sit and study because I can't think of 1,000,000,000 things we should be doing instead.

On Sunday, after studying with Aliece, my mom and Molly and I went out for lunch and my mom was having a migraine and then she said she was having a stroke. Then she started slurring her words and making bizarre sentences and she didn't remember who Dwight from the office was! Also, her mouth went numb and stuff. It was real weird and scary but she wouldn't let us take her to the hospital. So she ate something and she felt better, but it was still weird and scary.

I think that's all that is new! I get to start being trained in the booth at work this Thursday and that's very exciting because segway is SOOOOOO boring!!!! So I'm glad!!! :) <-- (me)

<3

I want to go home!

2007-10-10T13:21:00.000-06:00

Today I very very much want to just go home and hang out with my family!!! Molly just had her boobies sucked out so she's sitting at home and recovering and my mom got laid off, and my dad's always home during the day, so I have to be out and about while everyone else gets to hang out at home!!! I'm soooooo jealous!!!

Anyways, on a happier note... yesterday I went to buy a bottle of Aquafina (yuck, but I had no other choice)... and I put my toonster in the vending machine and pressed the water button and when I looked down there were 2 bottles there!!!! Hooray!!! It was very very exciting! At least until Nattie reminded me of a couple weeks ago when the vending machine ate my toonster when I was trying to pick up a DP! So I guess I broke even, but it was still exciting yesterday!!!

Oh, and also... I forgot to put my shampoo and conditioner back into my shower basket at school yesterday and it's gone! So I guess I have to buy new shampoo and conditioner, but oh well! I'm a little happy because now I get new shampoo and conditioner! The old stuff never made my hair feel really clean! So whatever. It just kind of sucked today because I used shower gel in my hair and now it feels pretty darn icky!!! Anyways, I'm kind of excited that I get new stuff!!!

I don't think I have much else to say today! It is my mommy's birthday, and she's turning 50 so I guess that's kind of exciting!!! Especially cause I think they might be ordering dinner tonight, and that's always a good time!!!! I have to go soon, so I can go to class, so I suppose I should do that now. It was fun wasting time today though, instead of doing homework on my break!

I felt really bad yesterday because we had (my group for my class) agreed to all find an article so we could narrow down our topic, and I hadn't done it yet yesterday in class so I felt like a real jerk, but I feel much much better today because I found a bunch and emailed the links to everyone else! Hooray for catching up!!!

Anyways, I'm actually outta here this time, the lab is getting sort of full, and I don't need a puter! Plus I have to go to the bathroom before I go to class!!! Too much information? Oops!

<3

Philosophical thoughts during monopoly time....

2007-10-08T23:51:00.000-06:00

So, Jordan and I got the newest "Here and Now" version of monopoly, which has Canadian spaces (mostly ontario, of course, but including the Calgary Stampede!!!!), "new age"-type playing pieces (a segway!, a cell phone, flat screen tv...), and CREDIT CARDS! instead of cash! Anyways, as fun as the little credit card machine is, it's a very busy job being the banker!!! Because you have to take 2 cards everytime there is a transaction and it just takes up all your playing time! Anyways, I was thinking about how true to life that is! We think that by using credit (and debit) cards (in life, but I thought this about monopoly) we will eliminate the hassle that we get with cash, but the "easy way" takes X amount more work than using cash does! Sure, in life there are other benefits to using plastic over cash, but I just thought it was interesting and indicative of how life really works. I know it's lame... who thinks about real life and stuff while they're playing monopoly? Still though, I enjoyed it. And thanksgiving was very good! I had turkey on Sunday and steak at Jordan's house tonight! On a scarier note, there was a shooting up the hill from me today (apparently, I was in woodbine at the time), and one of the guys involved went to beaverbrook and RT with us.... so that's weird and scary and such. Anyways, I gotta go, it's VERY late (almost midnight) and I have to leave in 6.5 hours with Nattie!!!! Hooray!!!!

<3

Weekend!!!

2007-10-01T21:49:00.000-06:00

The weekend was fairly uneventful but lovely. I spent it with Jord and even though I spent almost all of it doing (listening to/unwillingly participating in) football and Halo 3 stuff it was still super fun to hang out with Jord and Tomo and Justin and Adam.... And then we went to Fev and Steve's for dinner (Steve actually was at work), and it was really fun! We ate Pang Pang (chinese food) and Jord took some allergy stuff so he was Claritin clear of allergies to Fev's doggie, Philip!!! It was fun though, and we tried out Fev's hot tub and it was really nice! Their house is SOOOOO nice!!! And the whole weekend made me want to move out so bad! Granted, most do! Oh, also, when I was at work on... Saturday, I think.... I saw an ad in fast forward about wanting a female vocalist for a band. I thought about calling. I can't get it out of my mind actually. It happens though. I guess there's no pressure about a phone conversation. I don't know. Who has time for that sort of thing. And, with my luck, even if I called and the guy said sure and I was good enough, they're probably all in, like, the NE or something totally unaccessable to me. Anyways, not important... SNL was super good on Saturday! It gives me much hope for the future!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=303-YIYo1JY

It's great. There were lots of good ones though. During weekend update, Keenan Thompson (sp?) was supposed to be OJ and he said "What happens in Vegas, you must acquit!" It was really really funny!!!!

Anyways, I don't have any good rantings today (as usual), but Nattie wanted to have somethign to read, so I figured that since I'm here I might as well. Ooh, Iron Chef America is starting RIGHT NOW!!!

Gosh I want to move out. I wish I could afford rent ANYWHERE! Ha ha, anywhere in Calgary I mean. But not in the NE. Well, I'd probably live in the NE actually.

<3

Lou.

2007-09-25T09:33:00.000-06:00

Today I was thinking about how much I miss the times when everyone called me Lou. It was just fun, you know? It was all about fun.... just going to youth and hanging out with people that I absolutely loved and just having a good time, with all our drama and "dating" and all the awesome friendships that we ha(d/ve)..... not necessarily that being called Lou is what made those times so good (of course it wasn't, it's just a coincidence).... but it's nice to see Brendan and James (and Carson a couple weekends ago!!!) and have them call me Lou. Brings up real nice memories.

Anyways, on another note, the temperature outside went below 25 so it's now approximately 6 or 7 degrees inside the school. It's SO COLD!!!! And I lost my vest. My NEW vest, that I bought to replace the one that was lost in the movie theatre incident. It def totally sucks.

Doesn't really matter that much though. It's cold, I'll get over it. Today I am going for my first swim of the year though, right after my math quiz and I'm so psyched to do it!!! I love swimming so much and I brought all my stuff today!!!! I'm curious to know what is involved in a triathlon. Maybe I could pretend to train for one, and then I would have some sort of a goal. Like, see how much swimming/biking/running is involved and then see what I can do. Who knows though. I'm not really that concerned. I'm still having fun going everyday, although my attendance has been a little spotty since I was sick last week and Jord took me out for lunch yesterday!!! Anyways, must go to math, quiz starting soon!!! I hope this is enjoyable for you, NAttie!!!!

<3 Lou. (tee hee)

Pennies.

2007-09-21T09:36:00.000-06:00

I just asked the lady at the printing desk if she took pennies. How stupid is that? Of course she takes pennies. Pennies are money still, right? I think so. Sure, noone really likes them, but they still count. I just thought that was a really funny dumb thing I did. I love it when I do dumb things and I get to laugh at myself. I think today will be a good day.

Tutoring

2007-09-19T09:31:00.000-06:00

I was thinking this morning about how very lucky I have been to get to tutor kids in math! I just am so darn lucky! Sure, I'd love to keep on teaching math to kids for the rest of my life, but if I can't, then I've had a darn good run at it, and really enjoyed (pretty much) every minute of it. Anyways. I should get back to school time now. Oh, and also, I'm thinking of joining the campus greens. I thought about joining a club last year but didn't due to great fear, but what the heck. May as well, and that's pretty much the only group for me.... I would have maybe liked to have joined Hillel, but I'm just not really Jewish, so it wouldn't count. Plus I'd look like a total idiot considering I know little to none about Judaism. Oh well. Campus greens is good. And something I really believe in, luckily!!! Anyways.... sorry for the side note. I hope I can keep on tutoring, and I get to start with someone new on Monday!! Hooray!!!

Tuesday.

2007-09-18T11:13:00.000-06:00

Ha ha, this is very weird, this is the same lab where I used to update last year on Tuesdays!!!! Actually, I guess it's not that weird, but still. I have very little to say today, except that so far it's been a really good day. Except for still being kind of sick. I'm not even that sick either, so it's very weird, but yesterday I woke up with a VERY sore throat and I did NOT feel good at all! So I definitely thought I would be sick for a long time. Luckily, today I'm feeling much better! My throat is still a little sore, but no more than usual really.... it's sore most of the time, probably because of how dry it is.... so anyways, I feel much better! Hooray! But math was really good today. We had our first lab, and the textbook scared me very very much about how hard this class will be, because it is highly scary. The lab was A-OK though! And I knew how to do all the questions she did in class, even though I made a small mistake on one of them. It was no huge deal though. Also, I got a new tutoring student yesterday!!! Hooray!!! Her name is Nicole and I'm pretty sure I've met her before. She's a friend of Marnie's, and I'm pretty sure I met her at a barbecue or something at Steve and Wanda and Marnie's once, so that's very cool! Anyways, she's in grade 12, I forgot to ask if it's pure or applied, but I'll find out soon enough. I really hope it's pure though, just because I never took applied and so I'm not really sure what there is! Anyways, I'm hoping for pure, but whatever. I get to meet Nattie soon for lunch, and I'm very very excited about that! I have some reading to do though, for race and ethnicity. Or at least I'm supposed to read it, I'm pretty sure she just summarized exactly what the article says in class yesterday, so it very well may be a waste of my time, but whatever. I'll finish it anyways, I think there's only like 10 or so more pages for me to read, I read a bunch on the train this morning. It talks about Gaspe though, and that's always exciting for Nattie!!!

Oh my goodness!!! I just found out how to do a whole bunch of cool stuff on my blog!!! (sorry, that was so random...) I'm sooooooo changing the colour of this post though!!!! Anyways, I really honestly have little to nothing to say today!

Tonight is the finale of Big Brother 8 and I'm sort of interested to see who wins, but I also greatly don't care, because I hate Dick and Daniele pretty much equally, and I don't want either of them to win. If I had to guess, I'd say it'll be Daniele because everyone hates Dick so much. I'd say there's a possibility Dick will win though, because he actually seemed like he was playing the game a little more, so maybe if people vote based on strategy, they might vote for him. Who cares for sure though. But Survivor starts on Thursday, and I'm REALLY excited for that!!!!!!!!!!!! I honestly cannot wait!!! Hooray! America's Next Top Model starts tomorrow too, and I'm excited, but not nearly as excited as for SURVIVOR!!!!!

Yuck.

2007-09-12T15:22:00.000-06:00

So, I still hate the U of C. Not as much as last year today though, but yesterday was NOT GOOD! It was just because we had to put together groups and this girl from my soci of work disaster group is in my class and at first she said she would be in our group but then she ditched, and I know exactly why. Oh well though, she's really no big treat to work with anyways, I'm a little happy today she ditched but yesterday it just brought back so many unhappy memories of that big disaster. I still hate that that biznatch totally won, and probably because she is 40 and I'm 20. Oh well though, it's so over but I just can't remember that ever!!! Tomorrow I get to start my new job driving a segway (look down) around the mall!!!

The other cool thing about that is that I know the person who's training me! His name is Alex and he goes to Peace! I'm pretty excited about that, even though he probably won't remember me!!! Anyways, other than yesterday, the first 3 days of school have been OK. I've been keeping up with the tiny amount of homework that I have thus far, and we have a presentation next week in soci of lifelong learning already! It's going to be pretty boring to prepare for I think, because we have to look at this public policy statement on lifelong learning from the UK and so far it's a little dry. Oh well though, no biggie! I hope lots of people update their blogs too! It's so much easier to update during the school year!!! Anyways, for those of you who read this who went back to school, good luck and for the rest, have a nice day! (why should today be different than any other day?) Ha ha. I'm feeling silly right now for sho.

The exciting thing today is that I get to go to a play! My cousin Jennifer had an extra ticket so she invited me!!! I'm very excited about it! I love plays so much!!! I think I'll have to leave this computer lab though, because I get no cell phone reception here and I'd hate for her to phone me and me not answer!!!

Almost skool!

2007-09-04T16:38:00.000-06:00

Hola!

It's been a LONG time since I wrote in here for sure! It's a lot more difficult to keep on top of blogging during the summer for sure! I went to Winnipeg though, and that was really fun, I got to visit all of my family who lives there which I haven't gotten to do in about 3 years really, I was there for an actual vacation the year I graduated and then just quickly for Maile's wedding, so it was exciting!! Jordan came with me too and I think (HOPE) that he had a good time too! We even stayed with Baba which was interesting and pretty taxing but good nonetheless. Today was my first day of mine and Nattie's week off together! It was lots of fun, we went to Walmart to buy the newest season of desperate housewives and then up to the U of C so I could show her around and stuff. We also got our U-pass stickers and books, so it was a very productive day! Then we went to Market Mall and grabbed some lunch, chinese food, though it was like 2, so I use the word lunch fairly loosely and some popcorn from Kernels for our DH watching, but the guy who worked there was a real dink! Didn't matter though, it was all good! I also got a Flames T-shirt with Huselius's name and number on the back, so that was exciting!!! I'm psyched to get back into working out at school, and I think I'll have lots of time to do that too, so that's sweet! It's kind of a bummer though, because I won't be at school on Thursdays to do so, but oh well. days off are good, not bad! Maybe when I get a job I can work during the day on Thursdays, like an 8 hour shift or something! That would be really sweet! I really hope I can get a job at Sears!!!! I really want to sell baby stuff again!!! :) I wrote this a few days ago and it didn't post! Silly! PS-today we went for a double feature and saw Surf's Up and Knocked Up, both pretty cute. We'd seen knocked up before and it was OK the second time but not nearly as funny! There was this whacked out woman who had three young kids with her though! That movie is SOOOOOOOOOO NOT appropriate for youngens!!!

Boring August?

2007-08-13T12:46:00.000-06:00

Ha ha, NONE of the blogs I read have been updated in the last little while and it's making me so bored! I figured I'd try and start a trend though, and maybe other people will feel inspired! (hopefully).... anyways, it has not been a boring August! I just realized that I never posted about my birthday!!! I feel like being a dork and making separate paragraphs today (unlike always, which must be obnoxious to read), so....

FRIDAY!
I got to go home early from work (at lunchtime!) and help get stuff ready. We had a BBQ at my house cause my Auntie Sharon and Uncle Joey were here with Auntie Sharon's mom (aka grandma Pinette, I always get in trouble if I don't call her grandma and I like it!) and Gail! It was a fun time and we had Jeanne's cakes (2)! Plus, Janet and Jennifer and David came too and so did Mattie and Nattie and James! And one of Molly's friends too! Then we went and saw Shrek 3 (me, James, Nattie, Mattie) and it was really good! The baby shreks were soooo cute!

SATURDAY!
On Saturday, we went to Calaway Park in Matt's topless Jeep! It was really fun! I even went on Chaos, which I'd never been on before cause I was always too afraid! And we had frozen lemonades which were so delicious! And me and James played minigolf in less time than it took Nattie and Mattie to wait in line for the bumper boats! It was nuts! This year we really put our seasons passes to good use though, and that makes me happy! We only went twice, but it's extra worth it even then! I should have written about this before cause now I forgot what else we did! Oh yeah! We went out for dinner and then we went to the Keg for dessert and it was really delicious but made me so sick that everyone had to leave right after the movie we rented later (Relative Strangers. It was not that good anyways).... in any case, I should have known that a "brownie sundae" would have a LOT of fatty milk products in it. It was a bummer, but oh well!

SUNDAY!
On Sunday we went shopping at Designer Depot in the North and that was really fun, and I bought a fun dress! And then we had another BBQ, and instead of Janet, David and Jennifer, we traded for Maile and Cam and Mia (their puppy dog) and it was really fun! I didn't really want to say anything because I wanted to be polite, but Maile's put on a little weight... tee hee, I kid, she's pregnant... anyways, then we went and saw Hairspray and it was really fun and then we had food at Humpty's! And we seated ourselves! It was really busy and only 1 waitress was working so she just handed us menus and pointed! It was funnie! We felt bad for her though because lots of people were being rude and impatient! And, at Humpty's, Nattie gave me my b-day present! It was a beautiful purple TNA zipup and I love it soooo much! I'm so upset that I got something on it though, because I wanted to hold off washing it until it was pretty dirty so it would still be all soft inside! That's OK though! I love it so much! I also got some money from my Auntie Sharon, Uncle Joey, Maile and Cam and a best buy gift card from Gail! It was so very nice of them (and unnecessary!)!

MONDAY!
Monday was my actual birthday! James took me on a date and we upgraded the ipod that my parents gave me to a video ipod, which I love now, but I will get so much use out of it come schooltime!!! I'm excited! I just have to buy some software so that I can put movies and stuff on it from DVDs!!! Anyways, this has been a VERY long update, I hope everyone else follows suit!!!

Wonderful Wonderful Weekend

2007-07-30T07:06:00.000-06:00

I can NOT stop smiling! It's sooo embarassing! I just had the most magical weekend! Friday was fun, my pops took me and Nattie to a baseball game and it was approximately 17 billion times more fun than I expected! Then, on Saturday, I hung around at home for the morning and then James came to pick me up for lunch and we went out to banzai (which I really don't like that much anymore, I'm sorry to say) but it was OK... then Jordan's coach and his son hosted a soccer windup party in honour of last indoor season! It was soooo much fun and I got to hang out with Jackie (Jacqui? mmmm. not sure) and Angela and I met Claire, which was exciting, cause I've seen her a lot, but never introduced myself or anything.... and the guys, of course, on Jordan's soccer team, and BD's mom was there too!!! Anyways, I got pretty darn hammered and started singin away with Nate and Skuce (which is always fun)... but usually, when I'm less drunk than I was that night (which is every time) I'm usually more reserved and I stay much quieter, but Saturday was a different story... I was BELTING it out (which I'm sure was plenty embarassing, at least I thought so) but Jackie and Skuce and Felipe and Nate said I had a pretty voice and they basically kept on saying it over and over and over again. It's so silly, because people have told me that before, but I think it means more coming from people who have no obligation to me... my parents and Nattie and Jordy will of course tell me I sound good, but for some reason it seems realer coming from people that I don't know that well. I know that's the stupidest thing ever, because it of course MEANS more to have people I know/love the most in the world tell me stuff like that, but I know what it's like not wanting someone to fall or thinking they're awesome anyways and seeing something through rose coloured glasses or something.... I dunno, it was just so nice and fulfilling and I wish it could be my life to sing in front of people (and I wish I could be braver at it) but that's all a totally different story. In any case.... I'm still smiling about it... ha ha, and me and Skuce and Nate are going to start a band (I wish). But even though I'm fairly serious about wanting to do that, I don't know how much more than a drunken "that would be awesome" thing it was. I feel like I could conquer the world right now though, but I know I should know better. I just would like to bask in that feeling a little longer, and that's exactly what I plan to do... although Libby will be here soon, and goodness knows she'll recheck something that I already checked or something, and that should remind me that I can't do anything right... ha ha... I don't think even she could bring me down today.

Edmonton!!!

2007-07-24T16:12:00.000-06:00

Me and Jordan and Nattie and Matt all went to Edmonton last weekend to go to the waterpark and it was soooooooooooooo much fun!!!!!! We went to the waterpark on Saturday at about 10, we left home at 6:30 and got gas and donuts for the road! We had a bit of a competition with this jerk in a minivan who was driving like an idiot and kept speeding ahead of us and then slowing down. It was silly....anyways, so we went to the waterpark and had tons of fun then we went back to our beautiful hotel room at the fantasyland hotel!!!!!!!! And we had planned to go out somewhere and drink a little, but we were gonna do some predrinking first, but the predrinking was a drinking game and jordan drank way too much and then we went to a movie and he got sick in the bathroom and i had to take him home like a baby (tee hee, sorry hun).... anyways, then on sunday we woke up and got breakfast and did a little shopping and went home!!!!!!!!!! we wanted to stop in red deer and grab some mcdicks but they were closed due to a staff shortage and then we had to go to innisfail and the service and food was pretty bad there. Anyways, then we drove home and watched big brother! It was a really fun and relaxing weekend!!!!!!!! If we get itchin for another waterpark vacation later this summer we might hit sylvan lake, which would also be wicked fun!!!!!!!! Anyways, I'm at work and I have to go soon to catch our ride with Nattie's mom!!! Hooray for driving instead of taking the bus!!!!!!! Anyways, I can't wait for big brother and iron chef tonight! Oh shoot! Except that they're on at the same time! BOO!!! Hmmm. Anyways, FUN WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!

Wishes

2007-07-17T21:18:00.000-06:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_aAMGl8rEA

I WANT this now.... why couldn't I have decided sooner...... yes, I did do this on facebook too....

Drumheller 2007!

2007-07-06T14:39:00.000-06:00

Last Saturday, June 30, Natalie, Matt, and I took a trip out to Drumheller! It was really really fun and I was amazed by the scenery on the way (I didn't know Drumheller was a valley) and it was just so different than Calgary, it was like being in a different country or something! It was just so cool! I wish I could post ALL my pictures, but I just don't have that kind of time, so I'll post 1 picture from each time period that I took.... they have this thing where you walk through a pathway that goes from the beginning of time until now (for the most part). It's way cool!!!

The biggest dinosaur in the world! You can walk up stairs to get to the mouth and look out, but we didn't....

This was a real, live, soft-shelled turtle! I L-O-V-E turtles!!!

Matt likes to hunt, so I took a picture of him in front of some primitive hunting tools (or primitive Matt tools, as I called them...)

There was no human display, so Matt and Nattie made one for me! Nattie is being a philosopher and I think Matt is being a hunter/gatherer type. He looks a little angry anyways....

I know this is kind of lame-ish, but it's how they end the museum, so I figured, what the heck!

Anyways, it was a really fun trip and we missed Jordan, but stuff happens I guess! He had fun at Fall Out Boy too, so it worked out! After Drumheller, we went to the football game and saw awesome fireworks and then to The Kilkenny and then we all slept over at Matt's house! And then on Sunday, we went to the lake and then tried to see the fireworks, but I met Jordan and so we missed most of them. What we saw was still cool though! It was an awesome weekend! And I hope for another awesome weekend this weekend! We're going to see Transformers tonight (I have to go pick up our tickets soon) and so hopefully it'll be a great weekend! I spent today at the lake and now I might go back even though I already showered, but I think I might go back, I haven't really decided yet.... Anyways.... I hope everyone else has as awesome a weekend as I did last week!!! I hope whoever reads this enjoys the pictures!