A Rebel's Journey

365 Days and counting

2011-10-26T00:42:00.003-02:30

Wow. An entire year and a bit has gone by and I haven't touched this thing. Maybe I just lack the self discipline to blog. I don't understand why it's so difficult for me to me keep up with. I really do enjoy writing.

I've actually started to write a story - an honest to god, legit4realz story. I've shared some of it with Tessa ( <3 ) and she seems to love it, although the woman is entirely biased 'cause she loves me, haha! But I digress. The degree of my implied awesomesauce-ness aside, I started to write this story ... and I guess in typical fashion I haven't touched it in like, a week or so. My mojo disappeared I think. Either that I'm scared that it might -actually- be good and I don't want anything to happen to this new found project of mine.

All my life I've wanted to write. Sadly, staying home and writing all the time doesn't necessarily come with the biggest of paychecks - unless one's last name happens to me Gaiman, King, and so on and so forth. I would seriously love to pick the brain of some of these authors and see what they think of it. Validation of self is important to me - although, a part of me doubts that I would really ever get anywhere with it. I mean hello ... Neil Gaiman -LIKING- something and some little nobody wrote?! Pfft. Yeah right. In an alternate universe maybe.

But, I like it. Which is the main part. I've come to learn slowly that you don't write things other people will like. You write what YOU like. And this idea ... I kinda like it. A monster living in the cupboard behind the refrigerator of my apartment? Although, I don't know reallyh if ever I'd be able to stick to the same genre. Yanno? When I was little I used to read these amazing Native American historical fictions by the Gears. Oh my god, they were so good. I even started to write my own story similar to that. A Native American murder-mystery. It was good too! I had pages and pages and pages written, plus oodles of notes and all the characters names and who they were in the village and how they were related, and what role they played. Gosh, I wonder whatever happened to that thing? It probably got thrown away - despite being a packrat and holding on to almost everything. I think I still might be clinging to old university and high school papers somewhere back at my parents house.

I need to begin by giving myself some goals. A schedule. A time table. SOMETHING to keep me focused and motivated and on -track. I have a job now - but, hold your applause because I'm not even sure I like it yet. As for right now, it's merely a means to an end to get me home for a bit for the holidays so I can at least see my parents, nephews, nieces and siblings before the New Year comes. God, am I really talking about Christmas?! But yes ... right. A job. I'm not quite sure how I feel about it yet. It's different and I'm totally out of my depth when dealing with electronics and cell phones and everything else. There is a silver lining though, and that's $$$$. It's paid on commission as well. So, the whole point of this job is to be able to BUY my own ticket home for Christmas and begin to be make some small dent in to the massive amount of debt I have - thank you, post secondary education. Why Post Secondary education isn't free yet, I have no idea. Why no one in Canada's government hasn't thought of it yet, I don't know. Perhaps the NDPs will get hold of the idea and run with - provided they can get Harper out of office.

But my political views are something else altogether, and such information I do believe is best left off of the interwebz for the time being. In the meantime I leave you with this. The few dear friends I have (who might by some chance be still following me) I encourage you to harass me every day. For writing. To exercise. To smile. To take a deep breath. To put one foot in front of the other. To love.

<3 <3 <3

Updates? 4srs?

2010-09-08T12:54:00.003-02:30

Yes, I know. I'm horrible at keeping these things updated. Really, I am. No doubt I have left you all wondering just where in the hell have I gone off to? A lot of places, metaphorically speaking - none, literally speaking.

Well, that's not entirely true. I've moved. Not far, and not to Toronto like I had originally wanted to - for the time being that plan is on a back burner. But I do swear and promise that someday, I will live there. I've mostly wanted to go to Toronto to escape the life that's here, and leave the tiny pieces of a broken heart here as well. But sometimes cliches have a disgusting habit of being right. You know how they say that 'time heals all wounds' well ... whoever coined that phrase was by and large right ... for the most part. I've stayed in this little town and put myself back together as best as I could. The past year has been ... revealing.

I've learned a lot about myself and the things that I'm capable of. I've remembered what it's like to have fun. I've learned to turn to other people for help and support when I need it. I've learned that sometimes ... Mom really does know what's best, despite the fact that I may hate to admit it. I've tried kick boxing and fell in love with it. My bank account, unfortunately, did not and ended the relationship. (On a side note, I did get an e-mail from a Bushido Camp that does ladies kick boxing twice a week for 60 bucks a month. I'm intrigued.) I've worn bikini's for the first time ever and have totally enjoyed it. I've let myself drown in books and have been taken on some pretty amazing journeys.

Odd Thomas ... I love you.

I've taken the time this past year to grow in to myself. I'm still learning things about myself, and there are amazing people on this journey with me who get to experience it with me. I've had a few stumbles along the way but I've found some really great friends who have been there for me along the way. I'm learning what it is I want in a relationship and that sometimes to get what you want, you have to say once or twice.

On a totally unrelated note .. I have food stuck in the back of my throat. It won't go away.

Murr.

A New Day

2009-09-25T16:21:00.003-02:30

Yes, internet a new day has dawned. And to continue the metaphor this bright new dawn follows a somewhat too long and too dark night. Okay, well it wasn't as bad as all that but there was a minute there when it all could have gone horribly awry. As it was, I had certain persons who shall remain nameless*coughkellycough* that I had officaly gone off the deep end.

I have been making adjustments to my new life. Not the least of which has been moving in with friend's of mine in Paradise - the town that I now call home. I love it. They are warm and genuine people who I love and they have the most darling little boy ever who I plan on stealing away in the dead of night, along with my niece and living happily ever after with in a faraway place that never gets cold! It shall be glorius, internet. We will live and laugh until our tummies hurt and drink coconut milk and tropical fruit bunch, and look at fishies swimming everywhere and have a warm, cozy house on the beach!

Right. Enough with the kidnapping. But srsly .. these children are beautiful. Soon enough there will be pictures. Maddox, who is only slightly older than my neice was getting ready to leave this afternoon to go to the babysitter's house. He looked at me, all dressed and ready to go waved and said "see ya later!" in his adorable little voice and ran over to give me a kiss! I melted internet. We sit and read stories about Mother Goose and Tonka trucks, which comes out sounding like "big cock!" when Maddox says it. He has beautiful blonde hair, and the most angelic chubby little face and gorgeous blue eyes.

Classes have also started again, which is beyond awesome. It gives me ample distraction from getting caught in the inevitable bad days that will come. I no longer listen to my Melancholy playlist on YouTube. I am done feeling sorry for myself. Done, done, and done. Even I can only stand so much wallowing and feeling sorry for myself, lamenting that I am now single. But, I'm getting used to it.

I'm flirting again, internet. And I love it! I have customers who come in at work (also another welcome distraction) who flirt and I shamelessly return it! It's bliss I tell you, bliss! I had forgotten how much fun it was to flirt - and an ego boost too! I unabashedly gawk at handsome men. It's wonderful! And, I think a lot of my newly found and formed state of mind has a lot to do with two... opkay three things.

One: My Tattoo. Srsly. I love it. I look at all the time and gush over how pretty and delicate and feminine it is and everything it means. And somehow .. I know that no matter what, I'm gonna be okay. I know that there's a little bit of Shakti in me - all I have to do is look for it. It's really a powerful word I have inked into my skin. I knew what it meant when I got it done .. but now internet.. gods, i do love it. It has become almost something spiritually profound for me. As a woman, I am capable of all things that Shakti means: creation, life, birth, strength, beauty - the epitomy of everything feminine. I think ,.. no, I know that getting this tattoo has been one of the best deciscions I have ever made. There are more I want to get as well, but they will have to wait. I am utterly broke right now.

Two: Kelly. My dearest and darling big sister. I love her so much. She has been one of the constants in my life, and been with me through every new boyfriend and every break up. She has shared my triumphs and when I felt as if I had gotten the shitty end of stick she's been there to take my side and swear at the nay-sayers. She has always told me everything in black and white - never grey. And I love her for it. She doesn't sugar coat anything for when .. even though sometimes I wish she would but am beyond glad when she doesn't. She said I needed to get back on the road to reclaiming myself. And she couldn't be more right. She usually is about stuff like that. So I have come to decide a few things after talking to her.

The first is that I am no longer going out to look for a man. I have done that for as long I can remember. SO, from now on if a guy wants my attention he's just going to have to come and make himself known to me and I will decide from there if I can be bothered or not to pursue it. I have plans that I've made, things that I want to do with my life and I absolutely refuse to compromise them for anybody. I've made my share of sacrifices to get where I am and I'm not finsihed getting to where I want to go. Sure, I could have not made the choices I made and have all the other things that I want, but deep down I know I wouldn't be happy. So, for the time being my personal life is just going to have to wait.

I've also decided to get a haircut. I don't know what .. and frankly, I don't care. I'm getting my friend, who's also a hairdresser, to do it. I've said to her already that I don't care what she does with it .. just do something. Cut it off, change the color ... do whatever you want. It's about time. I haven't cut my hair in a very long time and now that one chapter of my life is over, it's time to start the new one on a high note. A haircut seems like a perfect idea.

Three: Dee. I love this girl. She knows me so well, and knows exactly what music to put to use in any given situation. She makes me laugh until I want to pee my pants. She isn't afriad to be silly with me and she invaribly knows how to make me feel better. She has made new countless mixed CDs that I keep in my car and from them, I've collected a few personal anthems. One of which is Crazy Bitch. It's vulgar and raw and I love it! Another is Fuck You, by Lily Allen. I love Lily regardless but this particular song is perfect for when you're pissed off and you feel like flashing the world The Bird. Already Gone, by Kelly Clarkson is another. It's a little on the sad side but it fits me ...y'know? I could go on and on at great length about Dee and her music but it's getting near supper time and I'm cooking tonight!

So, on that note I leave you with Lily's Fuck You!

Reality Check

2009-08-27T00:40:00.002-02:30

Hello Internet.

You know I really don't like it when vacations end. I really don't. I especially don't like the ending of this particular vacation. Other family vacations I have been on, I was kinda glad to come home and whatnot, but this one? God I have never wanted to be anywhere else so bad before in my life.

Coming back home is actually a little stressful. I got this beautiful tattoo while in vacation (and it's healing wonderfully) and my parents are both twerked out about it and everything and generally trying to make me feel like shit about it. And then once I get off the airplane and back to the place where I was going to spend the night - and also where I had left my car during my week long holiday - at the ungodly hour of roughly 4am, I was really too tired to check on my car. So I did this morning. I woke up and sort've threw myself together to grab a quick cup of coffee with my girlfriend before I drove home to my parents house only to discover that my car.won'tmove.

Not at all. Not even an inch! It looks liek the rear right brake has seized up. Now. I have been awya for a week. I barely have clean clothes to wear. I have to return to work in the morning. And my only means of transportation is mildly fucked up. And because I went shopping every other day I have like ... zero cash to pay for repairs if it has to go for servicing. Apparently, seized brakes is one of those things that you can sort've fix yourself or some shit, I dunno. And I will be good and goddammed if I turn to my parents ask borrow money from them to fix the car.

Plus, I have other shit on my plate to deal with that I really don't want to ... I'm stressed out to be back home and I hate it.

-huffs-

Toronto Vacation - Update One

2009-08-22T04:06:00.002-02:30

So far Toronto is awesome!

The first day I arrived was pretty laid back and casual - although I did spend a few hours kicking around the airport waiting for my friend to come get me. Apparently, I'm a dumbass. Yes I know, this comes as quite a shocker to you - but even people of such high levels of greatness such as myself are not beyond pure and total levels of dumbassery. I told my friend Swati that I was coming on Thursday (aug. 20th) - when in actual fact I was coming on Wednesday (Aug. 19th). So you see now why I had to wait around the airport. But it was good though! There were limos outside that were available to people (and trust me, I was very tempted to get in one and just .. go). BUT, there were also dinosaurs in the terminal okay! Real, honest and for true dinosaurs! I couldn't just leave them there! They were hungry - they had wasted away to nothing but bones! Anyway, Swati comes to get me and we make use of the public transit system. I have to say ... it's puts OUR public transit to.shame. For real. This system is so organized .. and usually runs ON TIME!! I KNOW! Clockwork people. Clockwork. And, have I mentioned what a fabulous little place this is to just sit and people watch? There is never a dull moment.

And gay people - there are gay people EVERYWHERE!!! It's like they walk around in packs! But they're adorable! I even saw one today in cut off black denim shorts! Dee ... I couldn't help but think of you.

But anyway .. we get to Swati's apartment and then we wander out for food and groceries and we try this absoliutely fabulous Thai restaurant called Green Thai. Oh.Emm.Gee internet Oh.Emm. Eff.Gee. They had the best chicken curry I have ever tasted! Green curry is a little different than Indian curry and it has a coconut-milk type of base ... holy fuck. It was absolutely divine!

Then yesterday .. we shopped. All day. Right through thunder storms and torandos we shopped. It was fabulous. The heat gave me a bit of a headache but it was fantastic! I bought some KILLER clothes for not only me but my fam as well! And we shopped again today too. It was bad. I now officially love the Eaton's Center. There were 2 tornado's that hit though - which is a weird occurance for here apparently. And according to my Mom, NL is supposed to get by a hurricane on Sunday night, which thankfully I will miss because I will be soaking it all up here in TO!

We went into this store called H&M - I easily dropped over 200 bucks in there. But I got some great stuff though! I promise! I dunno how I'm gonna keep thw guys offa me when I get back home. I suspect I may haver to beat them off with sticks! After H&M we hit Dundas Square where there were all these different stalls and people were selling things. I bought a ring from stainless steel that has a purple cubic zirconia in it and had a time watching some BBoyz perform. Dee baby, don't worry. I took videos. Just for you. The sun was beautiful and deliciously warm and gorgeous and makes me not want to leave. I love it here. Despite it being such a big place wandering around downtown has a really laid back type of feeling that I love. The buildings are big and fancy and gorgeous which makes for a beautiful skyline. And there are so many different parts of downtown. There's the club scene, the shopping/food district, the business district, Young Street, Bloor Street, Dundas Square, Chinatown, Little Italy, Little India ... I love this city!

Then, we walked down to the Harbour Front - which technically isn't a harbour at all. It's just the shoreline around Lake Ontario. It's beautiful though. The water is a little scummy but it's beautiful. And, do you know what? There's an island there and people LIVE on this island in the middle of the lake and they COMMUTE to the city via AIRPLANE! There's a fucking landing strip in the middle of the goddamn lake! I kid you not - I even took a picture. When Swati's friend Aman told me I didn't believe him.. but then I watched and low and behold .. it landed! On an airstrip! In the middle of the fucking lake! You see the coolest stuff up here - which makes me accutely aware of the fact that I come from a REALLY small place. There was this little food court type of thing there as well that had Thai, Carribbean, Egyptian, Mexican, and vegan places to eat. I had Egyptian Shawerma which was not bad .. a little different than the Indian version of it. It wasn't as spicy as what I would have like - well, to be honest it wasn't spicy at all but it took away the hunger so it's all good. And then, they have this stage area way from all the food stall and there were these Aussie guys playing. Holy Hell. It blew my mind. There are no words to describe the music these guys played. All they played was a flute, a slide digeredoo, and a face bass. Three guys in this band and one of them beat-boxed. It was fan-fucking-tastic!! And they are playing there all week end long too! And then, when we went back to the International Market there were Aussie Aboriginal dancers there doing different tribal dances - mostly to do with animals and stuff .. it was awesome! I took pictures and videos of that as well. And these concerts were free! It's amazing!

I took lots and lots of pictures! This trip has been phenomenal so far - and tomorrow I get my tattoo!!! I'm very excited! I almost got a different one tonight - i stumbled upon this tattoo parlour downtown and they had the symbols for Little Sister there ... I was tempted to get it but there were a few things holding me back. The first is that getting the sister tattoo is sorta something me and Kelly are supposed to do one of these days, and the fact that for a symbol that wasnt overly big .. it was gonna cost me like ... 150 bones sorta put me off. And I'm getting inked tomorrow so two tatts in 2 days .. probably not a good idea. Plus, I still have to go shopping with my Aunt Di on Monday - I kinda suspect I might be broke by then.

Swati and I are hitting up downtown again before I get my tattoo tomorrow. I think we're going to Chinatown and the Distillery. There's not a lot of shopping to do but I can take LOTS of pictures which will be good.

But .. it's late. So I should go to bed. Hopefully there will be more updates soon!!
xxoo

FMG - Not Foly Mucking God!!!!

2009-07-27T23:34:00.002-02:30

I have not neglected you. At all. I promise. I suddenly seemed to have possibly bitten off more than I can chew - maybe. Want a brief run-down? No? Too bad.

Thursday I'm in a fashion show - yes, I'm sort've a model .. I think. We'll see.

Friday I move into my boss's house for 2 weeks while she goes to Florida and I get to watch her gorgeous boxer Molly!

Four days after Jackie comes back I go to Toronto for five days and live it up with Swati.

Then, three or four days ater THAT I have another fashion show to do on the 30th of August!

Then, classes start back up at MUN again - for which I may not receive a loan because the government likes to jerk me around like that. October is gonna roll around and there's a HUGE fashion show coming up, with all proceeds going to the Canadian Cancer Society, then it's Halloowe'en .. and then ..-deep breath- it's CHRISTMAS!

oh.my.god.

I just said the dirty 'C' word ....

But yes can you believe it! I signed with a modeling agency! Listen to me .. I sound so vain. Really, it's not something I don't think I will actively pursue it's just really something fun to do. Dev has started doing it as well, so I look at it as more of something we can do together. Thursday should be fun - I will definitely be blogging about it, and will hopefully have some great pictures to show you all. I have a few other friends who are in the show as well, plus I think I've invited almost every one I know to this thing! The girls at work are STOKED! I can't wait for them to come and see me strut it on the catwalk! -giggles- I even know fashion lingo - how weird does THAT sound!?

Ok. I know it's short and sweet today .. but srsly.. my legs are SO itchy! I need a bath right.now. so I can go shave and relax! The fact that it's 12am is not a pertinent observation and of totaly insignificance.

Rebellion's Ultimate Macaroni and Cheese

2009-07-06T17:57:00.002-02:30

1 onion finely chopped
4-6 strips of bacon, fat trimmed and fried
I pkg of Kraft Tex Mex Cheese
I can of Cream of Mushroom soup
Bread crumbs
2 cups elbow pasta
Garlic powder
Parmesan Cheese

Trim the fat from bacon before frying – a (slightly) healthier option for those who want one. But, don’t worry, you’ll still have enough of the fat left to not even need any oil. I usually drain off some of the bacon grease when cooking, but this time I left some in the pan to fry up the chopped onions. When frying the onions, I also added a sprinkle of pepper.

In a separate saucepan, bring lightly salted water to boil – your going to add your elbow pasta to this. Meanwhile, in a smaller saucepan you’re going to start making your cream of mushroom soup. You can follow the directions on the can (the one I used for called for ½ can of milk and another ½ can of water .. but you can skip the water and use a full can of milk – using your can of soup as the measurement device). If you like a really creamy mac and cheese, you can add more milk as you like.

When your making the mushroom soup, you’ll need to stir it – a lot. It comes out of the can in giant congealed glops, and looks generally disgusting. It is not, I assure you, a reflection of the taste. Now, as your soup is cooking you can add some of your Tex Mex cheese and let it all melt together – and you can add your onions too!

Now, once that’s done your going to want to mix together your soup and macaroni in a separate, a slightly large dish. Be carful, the bowl is hot. I forgot this small piece of culinary wisdom and nearly burned my fingers when mixing my delicious and aromatically orgasmic ingredients together.

Now it comes time to put it altogether so it becomes one great culinary masterpiece of which epic tales of greatness will be told. People will come from near and abroad to get even just the tiniest whiff of this concoction. Don’t believe me? Sample what your cooking. See? Wasn’t I right? You are making something so ultra fantastic, amazingly delish, and chock full of uber awesome calories that your taste buds orgasms are having orgasms!!

Alright, now that you’ve mixed and churned everything together and are no doubt covered in tiny blobs of goodness it’s time to get it ready for the oven! Set your cooking device to its optimal cooking temperature and while your waiting for it to heat up, your going to put your mac and cheese in its baking dish in layers. Yeah, that’s right. Layers. You can, in addition and only if you wish, grease your baking dish. I didn’t. We’ll see what happens. Now your first layer is your macaroni – over this you add your bacon. Just remember to cut it in small bits because you want enough to get you through a couple of layers. And you also add more cheese. Then macaroni. Then bacon. Then Cheese. Now, once you’ve added your last bit of macaroni you sprinkle bread crumbs over top of it. And, as the final piece de resisitance you can sprinkle a little dusting of parmesan cheese and some garlic powder. Now, stick it in the oven to bake – uncovered - and tell me what happens!

In Memorium - Farrah Fawcett

2009-07-03T12:37:00.002-02:30

I'm a little young to really remember Farrah Fawcett - she rose to international fame during the 70s and 80s before I was even a gleam in my grand daddy's eye.

Farrah was perhaps most well known for her role in Charlie's Angel and her heart crushing good looks and wispy blonde hair. Her poster sales ended up breaking records, which sky rocketed the American Angel to international sex symbol status. But apart from Charlie's Angels, Farrah had an impressive acting resume - and the chops to prove it as she was a multiple time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Nominee. Her roles included films such as The Burning Bed, Poor Little Rich Girl: The Barbara Hutton Story, and Small Sacrifices.

Farrah also appeared on I Dream of Jeannie with several guest appearances during the 1968-69 season, as starred alongside Lee Majors in the Six Million Dollar Man, whom she later married and later divorced.

In 2006, Farrah was diagnosed with cancer and began intense treatment that included not only chemotherapy, but surgery as well. She was heralded by the Associated Press as being 'cancer free' shortly after her 60th birthday, but soon after that the cancer was back and Farrah pursued treatment in Germany. The cancer had spread, moving from the initial anal site, to her liver. She underwent a barrage o treatment, ranging to everything from a colostomy, to chemoemobilization, and laser ablation. It was during all of this, that Farrah began to document her battle with the disease that eventually took her life.

Wikipedia had this to say about her death:

Fawcett died at approximately 9:28 a.m., PDT on June 25, 2009, in the intensive care unit of Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California, with O'Neal and Stewart by her side. A private funeral was held in Los Angeles on Tuesday, June 30. Fawcett's son Redmond was permitted to leave his California detention center to attend his mother's funeral, where he gave the first reading.

The night of her death, ABC aired an hour-long special episode of 20/20 featuring clips from several of Barbara Walters' past interviews with Fawcett as well as new interviews with Ryan O'Neal, Jaclyn Smith, Alana Stewart, and Dr. Lawrence Piro. Walters followed up on the story on Friday's episode of 20/20. CNN's Larry King Live planned a show exclusively about Fawcett that evening until the unexpected death of Michael Jackson several hours later caused the program to shift to cover both stories. Cher, a longtime friend of Fawcett's, and Suzanne De Passe, executive producer of Fawcett's Small Sacrifices mini-series, both paid tribute to Fawcett on the program. NBC aired a Dateline NBC special "Farrah Fawcett: The Life and Death of an Angel" the following evening, June 26, preceded by a rebroadcast of Farrah's Story in prime time.That weekend and the following week, television tributes continued. MSNBC aired back-to-back episodes of its Headliners and Legends episodes featuring Fawcett and Jackson. TV Land aired a mini-marathon of Charlie's Angels and Chasing Farrah episodes. E! aired Michael & Farrah: Lost Icons and the Biography Channel aired Bio Remembers: Farrah Fawcett. The documentary Farrah's Story re-aired on the Oxygen Network and MSNBC.^[59]

Larry King said of the Fawcett phenomenon,

“

TV had much more impact back in the '70s than it does today. Charlie's Angels got huge numbers every week — nothing really dominates the television landscape like that today. Maybe American Idol comes close, but now there are so many channels and so many more shows it's hard for anything to get the audience, or amount of attention, that Charlie's Angels got. Farrah was a major TV star when the medium was clearly dominant."

”

Playboy founder Hugh Hefner said "Farrah was one of the iconic beauties of our time. Her girl-next-door charm combined with stunning looks made her a star on film, TV and the printed page."

Kate Jackson said,

“

She was a selfless person who loved her family and friends with all her heart, and what a big heart it was. Farrah showed immense courage and grace throughout her illness and was an inspiration to those around her... I will remember her kindness, her cutting dry wit and, of course, her beautiful smile...when you think of Farrah, remember her smiling because that is exactly how she wanted to be remembered: smiling.

2009-07-03T00:48:00.002-02:30

I haven't deserted you, internet I promise! I have been swept up in the tragic passing of Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Billy Mays, and Romeo LeBlanc!

And, my writing hand hurts. But I have no deserted you! I shall return hopefully soon with posts about our recently passed celebrities and news of my recent doings and wanderings!

You haven't deserted me, have you?

Several Mornings Later..

2009-06-14T15:54:00.003-02:30

... and I still feel the same. Turning 26 was easier than turning 25. Although, the thought of being another year closer to 30 makes waves of ice cold panic race through me. But I'll cross the inevitable chasm of turning 30 when I get there. -shudder-

Birthday's in the middle of the week have always been difficult to plan celebrations. Add to this the fact that I was working almost every day, and Dev was working two and three jobs almost every day so by the time we had any free time, we were more than a little tired. And, I'm still sick as well which sorta cramped our plans. Mom and Dad came in and took me out to supper, which was lovely. We ate at Montana's and despite it being a little rowdy and every second table having a birthday...

The lucky celebrant was crowned with moose antlers and a song was sung, turning every eye in the restaurant to this individual. I discreetly asked our server to skip the hat and song. I wasn't nearly drunk enough to allow an entire restaurant to join in the embarrassing song that announced my birthday. There would have been a song, cake and candles later that night but I wasn't feeling all that hot and by the time Dev, Jen, and Big P and I were all in one place I was asleep in Dev's bed with the book he gave me about Vito Rizzuto face up in my lap. The cake was delicious, made from vanilla and chocolate cupcakes and smothered with icing and Jen wrote 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISSUS' in tri-colored frosting on it!

Jen took one cupcake from one corner while I was asleep, and after I took the next one when I woke up, I decided I had better take a picture while it still resembled a cake and not a mass of mangled icing and sprinkles. I cannot even begin to tell you how good it was. Although, I'm sure my waistline has expanded an extra inch or two over the course of eating ridiculous amounts of junk food for four whole days.

I also received a few books for my birthday! Dev gave me one called The Sixth Family - it's about the fall of the Five Families in the United States and how it allowed for the international growth of a Sicilian Mafia family that was based out of Montreal, Quebec. I haven't gotten far enough in it to tell you whether or not I like it, but it's the third book about the Mafia that I've gotten my hands on so far. Not perhaps the most genteel subject for a 'lady' to be reading but it's beyond fascinating. My nephews also gave me another Neil Gaiman book called Stardust. Again, I haven't gotten far enough into it to give you any of the particulars but so far I've been introduced to a town named Wall, and a 6 foot opening in a vast granite wall (where the town takes its name from) that it guarded day and night to prevent people from coming and going back and forth to a mysterious and very large meadow. I follow Neil on Twitter so I am quite confident that in the very near future I will be giving him a rave review tweet about it. It's also bee made into a movie (the novel, not my epically awesome tweet to Neil) but from what I've heard, the movie isn't as good as the book; following in the footsteps of most book-to-movie innovations.

For now, that's all I'm going to say about my birthday. It hasn't been truly and drunkenly celebrated as yet. So, don't fret, for there will be other posts, and more pictures! In the meantime, I do believe that I need to get to cooking myself a proper meal. Chips and cupcakes don't really suffice. Although, I've no idea what to eat. I'll have to run to the grocery store tomorrow and pick up a few things. I do have to say though that some Chinese food would be wonderful. I'm already running through different menu options already. I wish I knew how to cook Chinese .. it'd be so much cheaper than take out...

When I was little, Daddy used to make Chinese food for us. I remember once he cooked us tofu with these delicious little orange crispy little noodles. The house would smell wonderful for the rest of the day. Even thinking about it now makes me salivate.

Right - off the bottom cupboard in the kitchen where Mom keeps the take out menus!

Girls Day Out

2009-06-09T21:09:00.003-02:30

Today was fantastic. I've discovered over the last few years how much I adore my mother. In some ways, she's like my best friend, and spending the day together like we did today was just one of the ways that I realize of just how awesome and important to me she is.

My mom can shop like nobody's business, and today was no exception. We left early this morning fueled by coffee and French Vanilla cappuccino. The first stop was at an arts and crafts shop where Mom picked out a new sweater pattern and some wool so that she has something new to knit. A friend of my brother is getting married, and his fiance is pregnant, so now Mom has something so adorably cute to knit for them. She knits like a fiend. Growng up, Mom always knit myself and my 2 older brothers a new sweater for Christmas, if we wanted them. I went through a phase where I had to have everything two sizes too big, and I'm sure that I could have fit another body underneath my sweater with me. It's probably still too big for me.

Then, after that we hit up Winner's. I found the cutest little outfit for Leah - and at 15 bucks it was a steal. I decided she simply had to have it. It's this beautiful little sun dress, that has flowers and gold colored embroidery all over it. And it has matching bloomers! I will have to take a picture of her in it, and show you all.

Then, it was time for lunch, so it was off to Swiss Chalet! We were there for about an hour or so, chatting over soup, salad, bread sticks and chicken. We met a friend of ours there as well. We sat around like a group of little hens talking about everything from the kids, to camping trips when we were all younger, to teeth! There were plenty of hugs and kisses to go around afterwards. And then it was off to the mall to get some serious shopping. I actually bought a shirt for myself! Something I rarely tend to do. But, it's purple and cute and I love it! Next, we went to Bootlegger where Mom picked up an early birthday gift for me - a totally kick.ass raspberry colored BENCH jacket. Yeah, you heard me. I have a BENCH jacket? Are you jealous? You should be. I also had a coupon for Bootlegger that gave me 20% off any item in the store - which makes my jacket that much better! I almost never got the coupon though! It took three tries, with three different printers to get the stupid thing printed off but an early morning phone call to Dee and it was a done deal. Dee -so-saved my ass this morning, so I told her that she could borrow my jacket sometime.

Next, we hit up Eddie Bauer - where I work! Mom to got to meet my 3 managers, which was nice. I picked out another shirt for Dad for Father's Day - which happens June 21st just inc ase some of you have forgotten - and got Mom 2 new shirts! All using my kick ass Employee Discount! I tried on a few things as well, but unfortunately I just wasn't feeling it when I tried it on. The shirt is beautiful, and has embroidery done around the neck, hem and cuffs in this amazing shade of blue that has a camisole dyed to match. The colors are beautiful but I don't think it suited me quite as nice as I wanted. I also tried on another shirt and a pair of capri's but they didn't fit right either. But, I do have 2 polo shirts from work already, plus a new dress - which I will also have to show you. I love the dress. And not only because it's amazing . but because it's a size 10 and I love that I can still fit into a size 10!! It makes the tragedy of not fitting into my other dresses a little more bearable.

Next, it was off to RW &CO where Mom found herself this stunning new shirt. It's salmon colored, with a very attractive square neck that is trimmed with a little bit of white, and a light pony brown color. She looks amazing in it. There were also a million and one jackets she saw that she liked, and a pair of dress pants. Her birthday and anniversary are coming up in August so she left me with lots of great little ideas for things to get for her.

A short trip to the bookstore and the coffee shop and McDonald's and we were driving home! The weather was miserable, but we had such fun I don't think we noticed it very much! And now, I think I might go climb into a nice hot bath. Too bad I'm out of bubble bath though. But I think I have some Johnson's baby wash which will suffice. I really must remember to buy some more bubble bath at The Body Shop the next I'm at the mall - which will likely be tomorrow.

Right, so a bath and my book are my big plans for the rest of the night. I've started reading another Diana Gabaldon book called A Breath Of Snow And Ashes. She has another one coming out too and I'm very excited about it. Not to mention the slew of books that Neil Gaiman has coming out! And Jacqueline Carey is due to have another one out, and Laurell K. Hamilton has her 17th ( I think) Anita Blake novel coming out soon! Can you imagine ... writing 17 books? I find it difficult enough sometimes to write 17 blog posts let alone entire books. That woman is a machine! I foresee a long, sun shiny summer filled with lots of good books!

Convocation 2009

2009-06-03T20:00:00.009-02:30

Well internet, I have finally done it. I have graduated. I realize that this one is a little late in coming but I've been sick since convocation. Turns out that it's a toss up between bronchitis or sinusitis - either way both options suck. I have been given some medication though, which has both its pros and cons. The pro, obviously, is that I'm getting better. The con (KHAAAN!!!!!!!!) of all this is that it leaves the taste of rubber bands and sweaty gym socks in my mouth. The taste I can definitely do without - getting better makes it almost worth it. But on to convocation.
The day started with hair appointments for Mom and I. They were threatened to be ruined, given the fact that it was snowing that day. Yeah, you heard me. Snow. On May 26th, it was snowing. Wet, and cold nasty little flakes that melted instantly but gave no sign of giving up and going away. Mom and I both had our hair curled, and while it came out nice, neither one of us got the look we wanted. I wanted big loose curls done with those ginormous rollers, and Mom wanted hers done the way it had been done before the last time she had been at this particular salon. Instead, Mom came out with a look that was a mild throwback to the classics 80s high hair - which she was able to fix rather quickly by just coming her hair a little to each side. My hair, while not what I wanted like I said, still looked nice with curls everywhere. Our hair survived the day of wet and windy snow, thankfully.

Then, we came home and got dressed. Mom looked lovely as usual in a beautiful chocolate brown blazer, and deep brown dress pants. The blazer was stunning, with ivory border around the lapels of the jacket, which looked amazing with the cream colored blouse she wore. I had intended to wear a dress I bought in Florida.

Unfortunately, since the dress was bought two or three years ago I have made somewhat of a pig out of myself, and the dress unfortunately doesn't fit anymore. This revelation was the cause of a near state of panic and hysteria - well, okay ... so I'm exaggerating a little. But I did have myself prepared to go out shopping for a new dress two days before convocation. However, this was avoided as it struck me that I still have the dress that I wore to my neice's Christening last year - which thankfully still fit.

This isn't a very good picture, but the point is that it fit. Thank God for dresses made from polyester.

Then, we drove to St. John's and went to the Arts and Culture Center where the ceremony was held and set about the business of getting our tickets, picking out a frame for my degree and picking up my cap and gown. We were allowed to keep out hats, but the way I looked at it, it was just one more thing to have around the house that would be a glorified dust collector. I have enough of those thank you very much.The ceremony wasn't as awful as I was predicting. I had myself prepared for a long, onerous ceremony full of old fuddy-duddies droning on and on endlessly about things that didn't really hold the interest of roughly two hundred young twenty-something year olds who have shelled out 30- 40 thousand dollars for piece of paper. But, it didn't go like that at all. Before the ceremony started the Marshall (he even had the pointy star shaped badge that looked liked he belonged to the Texas Rangers than briefing us graduands over the protocol of the convocation ceremony) who was amusing as he gave a brief walk-thru of what we could expect during the ceremony. He was a pleasant man, and kept us giggling and chuckling as he made his short 10 minute spoiler. He was actually a high light of the ceremony. The other highlight being the honorary degree of Laws being given to Dr. Inkpen. Her speech was amusing, and the woman who introduced her was a lovely little British woman who could give any male orator a run for their money.

Anyway, once the graduands were called on to be conferred their degree, I felt my heart start to pound, my palms got sweaty, and I kept telling myself "Don't trip. Don't fart, and for the love of God don't fall off the stool." I never did any of these things, thankfully and I never lost my cap either, unlike a few people during the ceremony.

During the conferring of the degrees, they asked for the audience to hold their applause until all the graduands had been given their degree, but they did understand and realize that some members of the audience might not be able to contain themselves out of sheer joy and pride of seeing their special graduand receiving their degree. Some graduands received various hoots and hollars as their name was called, and as they got closer and closer to my name I began to wonder if Mom and Dad were going to give various exaltations. I was half expecting to hear Mom let out an ear shattering whistle and for her and Dad to break out into a dance of joy in the aisle seeing me walk across the stage. They were able to contain themselves though, but only barely I think.

After the ceremony, everyone was scrambling for pictures. And while we didn't take as many as I had thought, we still came away with some really nice ones. One of my favorites is the one of Mom, Dad, and I.This one was actually the subject of a mildly disgruntled parent, standing opposite us. There was actually a line up to get pictures taken at this spot, but since we were among the first ones there, there wasn't a line up and we were due to get our pictures taken after the rather tall, and very proud man who liked he was from Africa somewhere. Anyway, the photo's we took here were quick and few so that said disgruntled parent from loosing her shit.

Anyway, we took several more before we went out for supper at a lovely restaurant called Merlot's Press and Bean. It was divine and I gorged myself silly on food. There was a huge bowl of steamed mussels as an appetizer, followed by a main course of pan-fried salmon served with long grain and wild rice and some vegetables. I asked for some tartar sauce to have with my salmon and the chef made some up, specially for me. It was hands down the best tartar sauce I have ever had. Then, for dessert I had a fresh fruit crepe, which was again utterly divine. We also had the most fabulous server, who took a group picture of us all.

All in all, it was a pretty good day. Dev and Daddy both bought me the most beautiful roses. Half are sitting in a vase on a mantle in the living room and the other half is in another vase sitting on my dresser. The kids also gave me a beautiful gift: a matching watch, necklace, earrings, and bracelet. Mom and Dad also gave me a new white purse and Class of 2009 picture frame; Ern and Kel gave me a gift certificate for the liquor store and a beautiful frame. Jen and Pathy gave me another gift certificate for Second Cup, a lovely little cafe in the mall where I work and an awesome card that plays Bad To The Bone and has turned out to be an endless avenue of entertainment for Leah. She opens it all the time and sits there, half bounding half dancing too it in that adorable way babies do. There was also a wide assortment of cards from other people and Mom and Dad also said they would either buy me tickets to Cirque du Soleli , or a flight to Toronto. It's an agonizing decision to make because I want to do both. I'm having a most terrible time in figuring out what to do.

Anyhoo, I should go along my merry way. I'm nearly finished my book. I've spent most of the day reading it, cuddled up on the couch under my favorite blue blanket.

Cheers!!

xxoo

2009-05-22T12:21:00.003-02:30

Today is absolutely gorgeous! Right now, as I am tying this I am sitting on my mother's front deck, with a half drunk mug of coffee, a lukewarm bottle of water and my laptop (obviously) wearing my new sunglasses soaking up all the warm an ddelicious sunshine! The dog is napping blissfully on the small worn mat by the front door and everything is right with the world.

Well. Almost everything.

The stunning dress that I bought two years ago in Florida doesn't fit and I was planning on wearing it to the graduation ceremony on Tueday - ohmygoshitsalmosthere!!! It was a slighty traumatic experience. I will have to find a picture of the dress and show you. It really is quite something. It seems that I've obviously put on weight over the last two years. my favorite pair of camoflauge shorts don't fit me properly anymore either. I've realized that I'm starting to suck in my small protruding belly to get into ym clothes. It does not please me. At all. So I've been trying to diet.

Notice I said trying. Portion control is my biggest obstacle. you see.. for many years now I have been having a mad, love affair with food. I do love it so. I could eat and eat until I explode. So now my biggest problem is trying to cut out th eunhealthy snacks .. or at the very least substitute the big bag os LAYS poatoe chips for a smaller helpng (14 to be exact) of multigrain nacho chips and a few slices of cheddar cheese. And fruit. Lots of fruit. This morning for breakfast I had a whole wheat grilled cheese sandwich and a bowl of fruit - strawberries, pinepple, cantelope, and honeydew melon. There was also whipped cream .. but I didn't take any. I'm also trying to get obn the treadmill regularly. I should probably get on today before I get ready for work. I haven't been on in the last couple of days - my legs have been a little on the sore side. I guess half an hour of running is bound to take a toll somehow, right?

I am simply in awe of the sun right now. Srsly. I'm here sitting and overlooking the whole town - the benefits of living on a hill. The harbour is a beautful shade of sapphire, the leaves on the trees, which normally aren't out this early in the year, are the deepest most stunning green. The grass isn't fairing so well yet. It could do with some grass seeds and a gentle sprinkle of rain. Hear that Mother nature - I said gentle. Gentle warm rain. Romantic rain. There isn't a single cloud in the sky and it's a perfect blue canvas. Cars are freshy washed, and as the drive along the main road across our meagre little beach they are dazzling and sparkling. The trees on the hill on the opposite side of the harbour and thick and full of green, and even the cliffs and pastures for animal grazing look beautiful to me today. Normally, I would dismiss them with a sigh of irritation but on days like this you can daydream about pirates and caves filled with hidden pirate teasure - a notion which isn't too far fetched for this little town is home to one of the most romantic pirate legends of all. the pirate Peter Easton and his bride Princess Sheila NaGeria! I will have to look up their history and tell you about them.

The kids are outside today as well. Matthew and Anne just took Adam and Leah to the playground. It's such a beautful day, with just the right amount of a breeze for it not to be sweltering that spending the day inside should be considered a crime against nature. I was even awake early enough this morning that I've been able to spend at least two or three hours outside sitting inthis glorious light. Of course, my 9.30 am rise might been slightly attributed to the fact that I was in bed and asleep before 10.30 last night. A mild shocker to anyone who truly knows me. Normally, getting to bed before 2am is considered early. But given that the two days previous I had been woken up before 9am (8.10am one day, and 8.45 another) meant that an early night was necessary. I even napped on the sofa last night after stugffing my face with home made fish cakes!

Srsly .. my Mom makes the best fishcakes known to man. They are given a light dusting with some flour (not Gluten free I'm afriad so those of you with wheat allergies.. sadly, I cannot give you a suitable receipe. Gluten free flour is something hard to come by from what I understand)
abd fried in a hot pan. I can't remember if there was oil used or not. Truly, I am living the life right now. I feel totally spoiled living with my parents. There are BBQs every other day, fresh green salads that I make .. endless amounts of fruit and a hot cup of coffee either from McDonalds or Tim Horton's every morning! Now, if you haven't tried McDonalds coffee .. srsly - you have to. It's is really, really good. It's made from Arabica beans - or so it says on the cup.

I'm also loving Twitter. Lady Gaga of Poker Face fame is now following me. I am that cool that I have celebrities following me! Forgive me if my ego runs away with me temporarily. I've also tweeted P. Diddy, John Mayer, Ashton Kutcher and Ellen DeGenerous in hopes of luring them to Tweet me back .. but all attempts have thus failed. I do love Twitter. It allows for a certain degree of anonymous internet obession that is perfectly socailly acceptable. I love it!

I've also discovered FoxyTunes! if you don't have it by now .. you really should get it you know. It's a wonderful little add on to your brower (Firefox in my case) and it allows you to tag your internet posts with what music you are listening to. They even have a feature for Twitter clled TweetTunes, which I have so far resisted in downloading although the TweetPic is starting to look more and more appeaking to me. Coldplay puts up about a billion pics everyday and some of them are really quite stunning. Chris Martin looks absolutely sirresitable in some of them.

But, the time has come in which I think I have babbled on long enough and while I feel energized enough, I should really get in on that treadmill and flick of either MuchVibe or BPM.TV and get in a workout before I shower and depart for my last shift of work! I'm a little exicted about that prospect.I wonder if I'll cry. For some reason, I don't think so. And at some point this week end there will be dancing!

Happy Friday!!!

Well then...

2009-05-18T19:06:00.000-02:30

... things haven't gone exactly as I had planned over the last little while. Korea still tends to be the sleeping giant of possibilities in my life right now. I can't help but think that I was getting led down the garden path by them, to be honest. I sent them my application via the school's website and never heard from them for a couple of weeks so I sent them an e-mail letting them know I had applied. Not even an hour has passed before I get an e-mail from them saying that their reviewed my application and wanted to set up an interview. Now, due to the difference in time zones scheduling an interview was going to be a bit tricky and they told me that they would reschedule for some 'next week.' Well, next week has come and gone, and has turned into an entire month. A month, I say! So. There you have. I was rejected before I even had a chance to get a bid on acceptance.

Rejection in any and all forms sucks. And I've come to learn over the last little while that I don't take rejection very well. Here I am, a grown woman and I can't cope with rejection. But, I will say this though. It's Korea's loss. I have other things on my plate to deal with right, and not the least of which is quitting my job that lasted a month shy of 4 years.

Yes, I am leaving Please Mum. At the moment, there are details that I don't wish to discuss because things could get rather messy. But in time once I've gotten settled with a new job (I've yet to confirm any possibilities and/or opportunities with anyone) I will sit down and enlighten you all as to why I left. For right now, I will say this. Please Mum is a great company, but store management leaves some things to be desired. Dee baby, I know you keep tabs on me and you of all people will appreciate that sentiment. You know, I really should tell you all about Dee. She is quite simply 'my Dee.' I love her. Truly. She makes me laugh all the fuckin' time. I think that over the almost year -gasp!- that I've known her, we've have maybe .. and I'm being generous here... two serious moments between us.

A typical day for Dee and I starts and ends with talking in British accents, which we do quite well, thank you. She has also mastered 1940 black and white mob talk. We dance - all.the.time. It helps that the music at work is from a 1980s dance party. We rock. She does the Running Man. Sunday, it was hilarious. I can't quite remember how the conversation went, but it ended with Dee and I shoulder to shoulder singing "The Heat Is On" together on cue and both of us acting independently of the other. It was beyond awesome. She also does, on occasion, bring in the most divine of all treats ever to be created involving chocolate. A skinny Chocolate Chiller from SecondCup - a little coffee shop that's right across from where we both work at the moment. Srsly. It's divine. It's powdered chocolate over crushed ice and milk with whipped cream on top. Oh.My.God. She also made me a fantastic CD featuring Kayne West and LMFAO, which I -being a complete dunderhead (yes, I said dunderhead)- went and left at work. Could I be any more of a douche? I'm so looking forward to it. Dee's CDs always rock. For two white girls, we should have been born a little more black. I think our love of hip hop is borderline blasphemous.

Of course, not that that is all we listen to. Dee is a die hard Kelly Clarkson fan. "My Life Would Suck Without You" is a current favorite track of mine. Of course, it does have stiff competition from Amy MacDonald's "Poison Prince."

And, on a completely unrelated topic - I'm addicted to Twitter. Even moreso now that I've downloaded TweetDeck. It keeps all my notifications in one nice neat little package and I can actually keep things organized. TweetDeck keeps track of not only Twitter updates, but Facebook too! I'm in such trouble. I actually spent most of the day on Twitter, looking at pictures from Lance Armstrong and Coldplay, and streaming video from Ashton Kutcher on the set of his new movie with Usher called Five Killers. It keeps me so occupied, it's rather scary.

I've also done some blog-creeping today as well and added a few blogs for you all that also provide endless hours of enjoyment and amusement for me. The only thing wth blogs however, as you may have noticed, is that I don't commit to them regularly. I forget to read them, and I am even worse at trying to remember to write in them. But I am trying. I promise. If you read - you must comment.

If you comment, I shall write!

Different Options

2009-05-06T19:35:00.000-02:30

Today was incredibly productive. I sometimes amaze myself. I was at the bank talking about a tax-free savings account ( I know, how grown up does THAT sound) and we ended up talking about me potentially going to Korea. Now, one of the women who works at the bank, her older daughter who I went to school with was over there for 3 years teaching with a different school. She was in Seoul and -loved- it. So, now I'm considering applying to the school she was with YES Youngdo.

I also cleaned out my car today too! And washed it! I know! And it was sunny outside today and warm and beautiful and so lovely! And now my car is all clean shiny! The hinges were even greased in the doors, and I used windex on the windows, and I even washed and cleaned the sideboards and everything else! I couldn't believe how grubby, messy and dirty it had gotten after all winter. My problem is, is that I don't take care of things. I filled a plastic shopping bag with garbage and various bits of debris that all came out of my car .. mostly tucked underneath the seats. But no, my little red beauty is stain (mostly)! The spilled coffee is gone from the driver side door, the spare change is nestled lovingly in my pants pocket, and all that's left out there is a quart of oil, the windshield scraper, and a spare pair of shoes as well as various CDs.

Mark, Adam, and Leah spent time outside with me too and I had a chance to take some really cute pictures of them all. Mark has been getting awful nosebleeds lately, and it seems nobody knows why. He had one today during supper. It was surprising that he didn't let it drip all over his BBQd hamburger - which were so delicious! But anyway ... half a box of tissues later and we had the nosebleed under control. Mark needed to get talked into finishing the rest of his hamburger but it was either leave it unfinished and no bedtime snack, or eat it all and get a lunch. So, he ate it. Adam on the either hand ... was a little more contrary and didn't want any and made it clear he didn't want his bedtime snack either. So he kept his hamburger for him .. maybe he'll have it later. It isn't very often that Adam doesn't eat all his food. If anything he eats and eats and eats! Mark is the picky eater in the family, so it was a real victory today that Mark ate all his hamburger without too much fuss.

Leah has an appetite like Adam. She eats everything! She just recently turned one, and she's the most precious angle ever. During supper tonight she had her banana's and custard babyfood, some soft cheese, and some of my green salad - which included muchrooms, cheese, ham, and salad dressing. She loved every bite! She's such a pleasant baby. I'm so glad on days like these that I moved home to spend time with them. It makes life worth it, it really does.

I really never meant to gush in and one about my nephews and niece, but sometimes I can't help myself. Talking about them today seemed a whole lot easier then going on and on about Tax Free savings accounts and ESL Schools in Korea. I did look Wonderland's website up again on the internet though, and I found a number for them. So, perhaps I'll call them myself. I need some advice there though. I don't know if calling them is the right thing to do .. does it make me look too forward? Too desperate? This is all so confusing sometimes. But still, I feel like I'm taking control of things in my life. I don't know how well it's going to work out in the end but at least I'm doing something, right?

I've also had a sort of revelation lately. I'd forgotten how much I love to write. I've gotten back into some great stuff lately and it seems that my day really isn't complete unless I can spend an hour or two writing. I have exercise books FULL of old writing stuff, that I started when I was young. I think I started a murder-mystery story once but it revolved around a tribe of Native Americans. At the time I was really into the books by W.Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear. They really are wonderful books - I used to really love them but I've gotten out of them over the last few years. Stephen King is a fabulous read too .. Diana Gabaldon, Jacqueline Carey .. and my new favorite Neil Gaiman! -swoons- I found him on Twitter.

Yes. I joined Twitter. I am of the tragic. I really shouldn't have. Srsly. It was a bad move. I have enough vices on the internet as it is . Twitter is the devil, and Facebook is it's hot, underage daughter. I blame Dee. Srsly. It's her fault. If I become a shut on and start reading Twitter and mumbling incoherently to myself .. blame her. She introduced us .. against her better judgment I might add! -huffs-

Where are they?

2009-05-04T23:09:00.000-02:30

Well, I'm starting to get a little worried. There hasn't been any word yet from the Wonderland School about my interview. I haven't heard from them since April 17th!

I wonder what happened. I know the time difference is a terrible thing to try and get around, but it's really awful sitting and waiting over here from some indication from them all the way over there on the other side of the world.

I am compulsively checking my e-mail. I check it now like 8 billion times a day. Maybe I should try giving them a call. I think I remember seeing a telephone number on their website. Or would that be like .. really weird - even rude? I have no idea what proper procedure about all of this is. It's all very exciting and nerve wracking.

Mom, on the other hand, wants me to apply and finish my Social Work degree before I go to Korea. Social Work is something else that I need to get on the ball about. I just finished one degree, and now I'm planning to do another. I must be crazy. On the upside, I won't b undertaking another degree with MUN - thank god. For starters, they don't have a fast track program, which means I would have to plug away at another 4 or 5 years to get a Social Work degree. Retarded. You can apply to the Social Work faculty straight out of High School and go right in to the degree program, but if you had a degree already, they don't give you the option to get the degree done faster.

The Fast Track program in New Brunswick in only a year. And there are a bunch of different fields that you can go in to as well, judging by a short read over their website. The application process though, look monstrously complicated. It actually scares me a little at all the paper work I would need to do and submit for their program. Don't these people know that I am the world's leading procrastinator? I think I need a secretary to do all the trying paperwork for me. Volunteers anyone?

But seriously .. look at me. I'm an adult. I don't feel very much like one. Am I supposed to? Things were SO much simpler when I was a kid. When did my biggest problem stop being making sure that my toast was cut in squares ( and it was so delicious. With peanut butter and honey.) to making sure my paychecks cover my bill and trying to save money for trips and stuff. I'm not organized enough to keep track of money, let alone save it. I have too much fun spending it. Someone needs to take my money from me and give me so much at a time. I'm so terrible at being responsible with money. I need an accountant. Volunteers anyone?

Baby Steps

2009-04-29T20:25:00.000-02:30

So, I have finally taken the plunge. Well, to be honest, I took the plunge a little while ago but I've been to afraid to really post in here yet just in case I jinx myself and ruin my possibly job ooortunity. But, about a month or two ago I applied to teach in a school in South Korea. It looks like such an amazing opporunity. I have a few friends who have done it, and they absolutely.loved.it.

At this pont in my life, I think I owe it to myself to do something a little life changing. I just completed my very last semester of University, coming out with a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology, with a Psychology Minor and a Criminology Certificate. It only took me roughly six years to do, but that is a whole different story. But since you are probably -dying- with curiosity I'll give you the Coles Notes version of it - two semesters in to an English degree I realized I didn't know what I wanted to do. I quit the day beore final exams and moved home the next day. I tried to mend a drowning relationship with the boy I was dating at the time - it failed several months later in a wild love affair with a much older boy. Heartbreak. I worked a few awful jobs (kiddie camp counsellor, Subway, Smitty's to name a few) before I finally moved into with my new boyfriend near the Univerity and discovered what it was I wanted to do with my life. I got a new job at the mall and worked, helping to pu tmyself through school and hopefully decrease some of the student debt I would no doubt incurr. Recent estimates put my total at roughly 50 thousand dollars. Now, at the ripe age of 26 -cries- I am an official graduate.

Wow. That didn't turn out to be so short afterall did it?

Anyway, I applied to Korea. Although, the circumstances surrounding my application are somewhat convoluted and tied up with my graduation. I had applied for graduation back at the beginning of term which started in January. I think my application for graduatio went in aroundthe 15th of the month or something like that. I never heard anything all term until March 17 - two weeks before final exams started and well after the final date in the semester to drop or add any courses. It was a letter from the MUN administration telling me that I didn't meet graduation requirements and was short one elective! Now, prior to this I had had at least 2 if not 3 Academic Audits done, and meetings with 2 different academic advisers and neither of these two individuals told me that my Criminology courses were "non credit" courses - meaning you can't use them towards your B.A. But wait .. the story gets better. The person responsible for student graduation .. MaryKay MacFarlene, doesn't even look at the applications for graduation until -after- the date to drop and add courses have passed. She did this because she doesn't want to write a letter to one student one day, and then three days later have to write one to someone else. She wanted to write them all at once, and send them all out to make it easier for her. Well. I was NOT impressed. Anyway, MaryKay 'swore on a stack of Bibles' that she told me my criminology courses were non credit. To which my response was .. well, if I had known then I wouldn't be in this situation now would I? Anyway, she was no help at all.

So, then I turned to the Student Union, and the Dean of Student Affairs and Services and stated my case. There was no way I was going to let this slide. If it had been any other semester then it might not have been such a big deal ... but this was the last term I was able to get any sort of financial support from the government so I simply HAD to graduate and no one was going to get in my way. The Student Union was helpful, but ultimately a dead end and advised me to appeal my graduation status. The Dean was awesome! I told her everything - about the different meetings, the audits and career plans.

I had applied during the term to go to South Korea to teach English as a second language to small children, like I already said. So, assuming that I was going to graduate I didn't see any snags in the application process. All that they need is a copy of my degree to give to the Korean government so they can issue a work permit and so on and so forth. So, I told the Dean this as well (and MaryKay but she was totally unsympathetic to my case). The Dean also pointed my in the direction of the MUN Calender where it supposedly states that Criminology courses are non-credit. So, I did some more investigating. The calender does not explicitly say that criminology courses are non-credit. Under the requirements for Criminlogy certificates, it lists all the credit courses that MUN offers that can be used towards the certificate, plus the three Criminology courses (two of which you have to take) but it does not say they are non credit. Then, under the Course Descriptions for the Criminology courses it gives a general overview of the course but does not say that they are non credit. It is mentioned, under a general heading that any of the certificate program courses - like criminology - cannot be used towards any required degree course. Now, for your BA there are a certain number of courses which you are required to take .. so many Math, so many Research and Writing, so many Languages and yadda yadda yadda. Electives are essentially shit little courses that bring your credit hours up to 120 - the required number your supposed to have to graduate after completing 40 courses. But, it doesn't say that you are unable to use these certificate courses to fill an elective slot. Hence how I got the shaft. So, while I had to pay tuition to take the criminology course (and as a result I've done the 40 courses for my degree) because it can't be applied towards by degree .. I was short those 3 credit hours. So .. people failed to tell me this in BOTH interviews with advisor's and I was ripping. So anyway, I sent in a 2 page appeals letter and now .. I'm graduating!! woo Hoo!

AND... I have a job interview for Korea some time this week. The time difference is retarded so God only knows what hour of the day it will be .. but, still - it's exciting! I have e-mailed them a few times to keep in contact and whatnot plus the most recent one was about my change of address since I took -another-plunge and moved back in with my parents to try and save myself some money and just drive the hour to work every other day. So far .. we're all still alive. Which is -such- an accomplishment. So. There we are.

First post is a success!