tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67705510860332026942024-03-12T21:35:33.210-07:00Bird Couch Cuddles in the Huckleberry houseA little bit of all sorts of stuff.Kail22_1991http://www.blogger.com/profile/15968150754229723777noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770551086033202694.post-22638735093714491892013-11-10T13:01:00.004-08:002013-11-10T13:01:40.028-08:00A big change<div style="text-align: center;">
Forgoing prompt repayment of my student debts, I accepted a job for the summer in Vancouver.</div>
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Packed things up, spent a small fortune in a short amount of time and flew into a whole new world that was about as far away from everyone I knew and loved as I could get without leaving the country.</div>
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The summer was a whirlwind of new adventures, thrills, trials and sometimes challenges. This I could claim as my first true foray into the real adult world. I was renting an apartment (room), I was working a full time job, doing everything for myself and creating a routine and life for myself as I got to know the city more and more as I got out into it.</div>
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And I got to know it pretty quickly. There weren't too many parts to Vancouver I hadn't been to or knew about and that felt good. Sometimes I would forget that I'd only been there a few weeks, it would feel like I'd lived there for years.</div>
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And it was fun too. Summer is a beautiful time of year on the West Coast and we were spoilt by a rain free mild July.</div>
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Everyone I seemed to talk to when I went out were from somewhere else, either visiting or had come for a bit and ended up staying a long while.</div>
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And it was very exciting and I met some very nice people and did some really cool stuff.</div>
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The highlight for me was definitely getting to volunteer for the Illuminares Lantern festival, where I got to see the strength and connection amongst the residents of Trout Lake and Kensington cedar Cottage. It felt good to be a part of it all, something I am searching for for my life.</div>
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Everyone wants to feel like they belong to something.</div>
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I volunteered for the Folk Festival, attended meetups for coffee lovers, shy people, urban farmers, wandered about and tried some foods that I would never find here in Winnipeg (beef tendon in soup...so good!)</div>
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For 3.5 months I was a resident of Vancouver and for the month of October I was the volunteer housekeeper at the Great Bear Nature Tours lodge up in the great Bear Rainforest. It was a challenging but once in a lifetime and rewarding experience for sure.</div>
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The wandering and adventuring life felt good, but at the end of October I knew that it was time to go back, I needed my mum (proudly a mommys girl), and some structure and stability. That, and I needed to be somewhere where I could be for a while. You cant set roots if youère always coming and going.</div>
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While I loved Vancouver for all its neat places and convenient transit and cheap food...I wasnt sure if I wanted to make it my place. Victoria maybe, but I was lacking the energy to start home all over again.</div>
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So Winnipeg drew me back in again, despite the many times I have said I could not live there for what reason or another: The cold, the sprawl.</div>
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But after a 2 day 2 night train trip, that is where I find myself.</div>
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And Im liking it. There is a lot of treasure in this city if you are willing to take the time to look for it, such as music and art and culture. SO much, that you have to be very good at deciding what not to do because theres so much going on that you have to sometimes pick one thing over another.</div>
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Looking forward to being here for a while, even despite nervousness about the cold. Im not as well insulated as I once was so when the mercury drops to the negative double digits its going to be a toughy.</div>
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Challenge accepted!</div>
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Kail22_1991http://www.blogger.com/profile/15968150754229723777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770551086033202694.post-69387826582378463732013-07-18T15:15:00.002-07:002013-07-18T15:15:47.985-07:00Life on the West side...of the countryBecause I am a bad blog updater, a whole world of craziness has been going on and I have failed to document it. Even my written journal is suffering for entries. It's hard to take the time when there's so much going on! And then there's so much going on that you couldn't possibly write it all out in the stollen minutes you have between adventures.<br />
When this happens, I start to get towards almost a funk, where I write lists and daydream about spending whole days in parks or coffee shops just writing and organizing my papers. Bliss.<br />
It was something i got to do a couple of times while in Toronto this spring with K. He would chill and people watch and I would scribble furiously in my notebook. We'd both feel rejuvenated and calm afterwards, refreshed for the next adventure!<br />
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The biggest and most noteworthy event of life so far has been my move to the West Coast. On June 19th, at 5pm, I boarded a plane with my big backpack and a belly full of red-wriggler worms of nervousness.<br />
Was I seriously doing this? Picking up and hauling ass to a new province by myself for a summer job? Apparently I was.\<br />
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And I haven't regretted it one bit. While I've come to realize that Vancouver is not entirely the city I would like to settle in, the West Coast has enchanted me to no end.<br />
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I have found many a friendly new face and a lot of fun at my job, a non-profit summer day camp that teaches kids to love and take part in the protection of nature!<br />
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Though I haven't been feeling as well as I would like to, I've been trying not to let it get in the way of some good adventuring! But chasing after campers really tuckers an old body out!<br />
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But I've gotten a lot better at recognizing what I need to keep my energy up which has been a huge help<br />
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This weekend is the Vancouver Folk Fest as well as the Illuminares Lantern Festival in John Hendry Park. I will be volunteering for both, so it is sure to be a crazy couple of days! But I plan to take Sunday for rest and recovery for the next week of bright eyed campers!Kail22_1991http://www.blogger.com/profile/15968150754229723777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770551086033202694.post-39908310715663232782013-05-28T10:13:00.002-07:002013-05-28T10:15:15.943-07:00Headwaters gathering and learning to be present<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have always been someone who struggles with stress and anxiety. There is rarely a time when I am not thinking about the future and trying to figure out how to piece a plan together so that I am optimizing my time and doing everything on the list of goals. My teacher called me very passionate, but the problem is that it is also to my detriment. I am passionate about too many things, too many interests and directions all crowding and vying for space in my muddled brain. When you have too many options and ideas, I've noticed that nothing really ends up happening. Like a chicken without a head, there is a lack of focus to get anything begun and seen through to completion. That was another tidbit from this same teacher, who noted that what I needed most was a serious focus into my desires and where I wanted to take my life in the near future. I know this to be true, as someone only really able to see the full picture, details and specificity are nearly impossible.<br />
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This weekend, I was present at a gathering in the Beaver Valley near Collingwood Ontario, where people came together to discuss primitive skills, nature awareness and connection to others and community.<br />
My attendance to this gathering has, you could say, been a long time coming. I first learned about <a href="http://www.kimbercote.org/">Kimbercote</a> farm four years ago during my Katimavik days. I didn't know much about it at the time but I wrote it down as somewhere to check out one day. I also learned of Earth Mentorship run by Chris and Laura Gilmour, and Stix and Stones Wilderness school. But they sort of fell out of my mind and I didn't think about any of it for several years. I know that because of my Katimavik experience, I was led to choose Fleming College as my first post-secondary venture. From there I learned about various stewardship initiatives in southern Ontario. Getting involved in the schools Environmental Initiative club, had me making friends with people who shared my views and interests in sustainability and self-sufficiency.<br />
This spring, the schools eco initiative had their annual Back to the Roots gathering (started by Carly Jae of The Pine Project North) at Wolf Den Hostel and Nature Retreat. It was a hugely therapeutic weekend, and while there, I met all those individuals involved in the organizations I had heard about years earlier. They were mostly all Fleming grads! And all were connected through friendship and a network with Ben and his hostel. I hadn't known this before setting up my Field Placement with the Hostel.<br />
It's weird situations like that, certain encounters, compulsions or tugs on the dial of our internal compasses that point us in directions we didn't plan and ultimately can't predict.<br />
To take it back to the beginning, it all branched from my poor high-school performance. Had it not led me to fail entry into University, I might be completing a useless degree in psychology right now. Or I could say the journey started when I chose to take my high-school coop placement at Parkwood Hospital, where I met kids who were doing the Katimavik program at the time.<br />
It's intuition I suppose,<br />
something I need to learn to trust and tune into.<br />
Which brings me back to now and my future worries and doubts and insecurities.<br />
These worries were present throughout my strange path from high-school to now, even though things have worked out so well and given me so much.<br />
So if I remember that and remember that I can trust what my gut compass is telling me, I can try to be more present and grounded and contented.<br />
Because, how do I work towards my goal of healing and helping others if I cannot focus enough to be productive and fully involved in everyday life? Present so that I don't sit back at the end of the day, scratching my head and wondering where the day went and how it was I didn't accomplish anything.<br />
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Headwaters helped. I knew that by going there I would be able to get in touch with people who I could speak to to learn and gain insight from. While there, I spoke with many people who were involved in many different initiatives in this province that while all were different, each was connected in some way to the heart of what I'm looking for.<br />
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So for right now, it's about doing what needs to be done right now. Job applications haha.Kail22_1991http://www.blogger.com/profile/15968150754229723777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770551086033202694.post-32386776563114782082013-05-12T07:47:00.001-07:002013-05-12T07:47:07.145-07:00Journal writing and taking time for ritualsA while back, I wrote the title for this entry but didn't put any content.That's one of the features of my personality, coming up with an idea and not beginning it. Writing things down is handy for remembering all the things I mean to start. So many things.<br />
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May 11, 2013<br />
Was the Toronto Comic Arts Festival in Toronto ON. I overdosed on journal comics and spent too much money on zines I only sorta liked and waffled about the one I really coveted. Why is that? I do it all too often with money.<br />
Haha anyways, It was inspiring to see the work of all the different artists and their different styles and words. I can't imagine how scary it would be to essentially lay yourself out on paper like that and have people walk by and critique it within a few seconds, pick it up, flip through the pages, put it down and walk away. Like many mini rejections almost. It would take some work I imagine to not take it personally.<br />
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I feel like I am not making sense at the moment. This past week has been a whirlwind of new things and new faces and I feel a bit of a cold coming on. But I am feeling the tug to be creative today. I will walk to a cafe after Ukulele class and sit and draw and daydream and write in my journal.<br />
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Idea one:<br />
Write my own hourly comic, or at least write it out<br />
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Idea two:<br />
Comics or a zine about my adventures<br />
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Idea three:<br />
One of the zine ideas I wrote down on that little green index card<br />
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Idea Four:<br />
Remember to do that thing with all my old journals where I pick out entries that are all from a single day from different years.<br />
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Idea Five:<br />
Write and take photos about daily routines/rituals. Or draw pictures of everyday objects<br />
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Hmm... Should really have written down what I thought of yesterday because the ideas have flown the coop that is my skull.<br />
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<br />Kail22_1991http://www.blogger.com/profile/15968150754229723777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770551086033202694.post-55190631430639134582013-02-19T17:05:00.003-08:002013-02-19T17:17:02.542-08:00Over the college hill<div style="text-align: center;">
It shocks me to think how quickly a major chapter of my life is coming to an end. I'm not scared or devastated. There's too much to do still to worry about that. </div>
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But to think that I'll be saying goodbye to a place that has been so good to me, shown me so much friendship and helped me to grow and recognize my potential as a person will be challenging. I know there are a lot of students that go to Fleming, and after their two years can't let it go and come back. A part of me really wants to do that. But my adventurous side wants to see what else is out there to do and discover. There are so many options if I work hard. </div>
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Sometimes I worry that I won't be able to get where I want to go, that I'll choose the wrong path and miss out on big and amazing things. Too many options is overwhelming...</div>
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But I have to remember that the present is where I need to be right now. Work for the future but take one step at a time.</div>
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So that means midterms. Four more from now and I will be free for a week. Though those days are likely to be work filled as well, I intend to fill them with art and friends and good long walks. </div>
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I guess all these thoughts tie into the fact that I will be 22 in a couple short days. Whether I'm ready or not, I am rocketing towards my mid 20s and need even more to remain focused on the things that I want and the places I want to end up in along the way. To not get stuck or settle. Most of the people I went to high-school with are graduating this year with university degrees. School at a constant since the age of four. Some of these people don't know yet what they want to do. While I'm just as vague in thinking, I'm grateful fo r having chosen a different direction that has given me so much experience and growth.</div>
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I just have to remember Balance. Keep things simple and balanced and everything will turn out just as it should</div>
Kail22_1991http://www.blogger.com/profile/15968150754229723777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770551086033202694.post-1559001039472884252013-01-31T17:12:00.000-08:002013-02-19T17:18:05.343-08:00A Summary of 2012Its always been important to me that after a large project finishes or a milestone or significant period of time has passed, I take some time to go inside my head. I do this for the purpose of a big mental spring-cleaning while reflecting on everything that has happened, good or bad, how I've grown or regressed and where I plan to take things from there.<br />
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Now that my third semester of Ecosystem Management at Fleming is finished, all that stands in front of me is another three months and then...I don't know. The thought is both giggle inducingly exciting or numb-assingly intimidating. At least I can say that there are a few possibilities I would like to explore, it's just making a first decision and hoping it's the right one that's the hard part. Work, more school, adventuring? What will things be like down the road? Hard times? Good times? Love? Loneliness? Madness?<br />
Focusing in the present is a necessity for the survival of a brain like mine.<br />
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When I do my periodic maintenance shut down, I get quiet. I say little and I stare into space alot. Solitary walks and trips to the coffee shop to sit and nurse a green tea become more appealing.<br />
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This year summed up has been one of polarity. There was a lot of happiness and fun and love, but also stress, depression and the grief and self-esteem blows that comes when someone you love tells you that you're no longer their favourite hat, or that they're just not ready to wear the captain's cap, but you're still a fine and beautiful sea-faring vessel.<br />
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I got the idea at the beginning of 2012 from a good blog<a href="http://rowdykittens.com/"> Rowdy Kittens</a> to pick a word to be the theme of your year. I chose to make it Connection. I realized that I really needed to work on connecting to the world around me and focus on it and less on my petty troubles and thought processes. I wanted to connect on a deeper level with people, family and friends, make new ones and maintain the old ones. I hoped to connect with the natural world, the community, and the strengths I have in my own self.<br />
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This year I was going to make the word Engage. Engage with the people and the world around me. Take action, stop planning and actually do things.<br />
But after talking to some insightful friends and noticing the challenges that seem to be cropping up in the last while, I realized that the real word to focus on is Balance.<br />
Balance in work and play,<br />
Socializing and studying.<br />
Balance between eating too much and eating too little.<br />
Balance between time resting and time moving.<br />
And so many other things. Life lived well is a life that is able to equalize in the face of change. To recognize excesses and deficiencies within and externally and make adjustments to make things better.<br />
So.<br />
Much work to do in this year of 2013Kail22_1991http://www.blogger.com/profile/15968150754229723777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770551086033202694.post-87461246744294262602012-12-14T17:07:00.000-08:002013-02-19T17:17:32.292-08:00And third semester zooms by. Wave to it as it passes How is it that even though this semester is the same number of days as the semester this time last year, it feels about half as long. Does this sudden time speed-up sensation come with familiarity or routine I wonder? I feel like a broken record saying it so many times but I really think time is moving faster or I haven't been paying enough attention.<br />
The latter is probably correct, the last 6 months have been sort of a distracted hazy blob. I have had so much fun so far, meeting awesome new people and playing Quidditch on a team. My room-mates have been nothing short of heart-gladdening and while they are slightly bad influences in the eating healthy, sleeping at a reasonable hour and being studious department, I am lucky to be able to share a home with them.<br />
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<br />Kail22_1991http://www.blogger.com/profile/15968150754229723777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770551086033202694.post-27537499159618305362012-08-12T20:36:00.003-07:002012-08-12T20:36:26.101-07:00Another small happy- Love to some 5 toed footwear<div style="text-align: center;">
I love wearing my Vibrams, they are the most comfortable things I have ever put on my feet.</div>
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Being able to run and walk for hours is worth the weird stares I get on the bus.</div>
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Even though, they can get really really stinky after wearing them for a long time, I will pick them first over all my other shoes (All 3 of them).</div>
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The other day, I was out with my Dad running (in his case walking) on the conservation area trail near our house. When I looked down, I got a surprise.</div>
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That little lower caught between my toes just really lit up my day. Felt guilty for killing it though.</div>
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It's important to find joy in the small things and the mundane things. You can find art in house cleaning and walking down a road. Happiness can be found in so many little crevices. It's exciting to be slowly uncovering how to find them. Full steam ahead!</div>
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Joy is within grasp!</div>
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Was this post sappy? I think it was. Not sure where I was going with this one. It's hard not to jump in and want to inspire others when I read so many inspiring blogs by people who are changing lives and finding happiness.</div>
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I don't really have any wisdom of my own yet.</div>Kail22_1991http://www.blogger.com/profile/15968150754229723777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770551086033202694.post-79144009400783473302012-08-10T19:49:00.002-07:002012-08-11T15:18:42.811-07:00Little HappysThe title isn't grammatically correct.<br />
I was thinking about all the small things that make me happy, that brighten moments despite their mundaneness.<br />
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Here's a list<br />
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1. Sitting with a good cup of tea.<br />
2. Almond butter on a banana ( Seriously the most delicious thing ever)<br />
3. Walking and reading at the same time<br />
4. Opening an Avocado to find it is perfect inside<br />
5. A postcard in the mail (Haven't experienced this one in a very long time)Kail22_1991http://www.blogger.com/profile/15968150754229723777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770551086033202694.post-59993666854335798042012-08-09T19:03:00.003-07:002012-08-09T19:03:51.874-07:00August Aspirations and Bat rescuesMy aim for this month is to focus on Self care, and working through my troubles with stress.<br />
Anyone who knows me at all will know that I stress pretty easily and can be incredibly hard on myself in terms of my intelligence and abilities. I set impossibly high standards for myself and then feel bummed when things don't turn out.<br />
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This month I will be focusing on<br />
1. Walking and being active every day<br />
2. Limiting my internet usage to 2 hrs a day (yeah right)<br />
3. Get into a semi-regular yoga practice at home with a great <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Yoga-your-Type-Ayurvedic-Approach/dp/091026130X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344559166&sr=8-1">book</a><br />
4. Journal every day even if it is only a sentence or in point form.<br />
5. Work harder to keep in touch with friends through letter writing and postcards<br />
6. Curb my spending to only essential needs and be more frugal<br />
7. Practice mindfulness in daily life and eating<br />
8. Put time towards being creative (This I fell bad about not doing enough)<br />
9. Get better quality sleep<br />
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So lots of things to keep me occupied. If I don't manage to live up to all these goals, I'm not going to beat myself up about it. I'm human, as long as I know I made my best effort that's all I can do.<br />
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At the Visitor's Centre at work today, I found myself being the only one working from 10-12. It was a rainy day and therefore sure to be hella busy in the VC. Everything was going fairly smoothly and as it usually does, with people asking if they could register for camping (not here) and a lady looking for the London Science Centre she'd seen on the internet (the print out was for a museum in England *facepalm*).<br />
But then a lady approached me and asked if we kept bats in the gated area in front of the windows where we hope to keep our Painted Turtle. No...?<br />
I went over and stepped into the enclosure and sure enough, splayed out on a rock and soaking wet, was what I had at first thought, was a fake bat. But then its head moved. Nope. It's an alive bat.<br />
Frantically I called up my boss who I'm certain had been sleeping at the time.<br />
On his instructions, I managed to get the bad into a butterfly net with a phonebook on top and placed the screeching little creature outside where my boss would latter stick him up into a bat box.<br />
So it's now Kailey Trevithick,<br />
Soggy bat rescuer Extraordinaire!<br />
And then the day progressed as usual with conversation fodder for the next little while haHA!<br />
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One more day till my 4 day weekend!<br />
Hoping to have Shannon up to visit. Days filled with hiking and the Beach and canoeing.Can't wait!<br />
<br />Kail22_1991http://www.blogger.com/profile/15968150754229723777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770551086033202694.post-34462478998268928212012-08-05T21:47:00.001-07:002012-08-05T21:47:33.528-07:00Changes and working through a rutIt's been a couple months since I've touched this thing. I had started this with a lot of enthusiasm, with many plans and notes made on what I would write about. I had planned to maybe do a tutorial on how to do something, or have some sort of running theme.<br />
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Somewhere, in between fear of failure and a lack of motivation, I never got around to any of it.</div>
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Granted, there have been numerous changes in life since the leisurely days in Winnipeg which I naturally took for granted. The good part was that I finally obtained employment, the position I had wanted from the start. The bad this summer was, I lost a best friend, someone who I thought cared about me. I won't get into it, but the whole thing led to its own form of grief which startled me. I found myself thinking logically that I was fine and that I was over it, but emotionally I was a mess. Only I didn't realize it. I'm still not sure how much it's poisoning my psyche even now. More than one person has told me that it takes at least half as long to get over a break-up as the relationship was long.There are other factors to consider that would either shorten and lengthen that time of course.</div>
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But if all that has any smear of truth then I'm what...half way to half way?</div>
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Its taken a while, but I'm glad to be feeling like my old self again. The motivation is starting to return and I feel more happy. I've even begun looking and planning my potential future after college, something I couldn't bring myself to do for quite sometime. It's unbelievably scary, but exciting. I'm confidant that I'll be able to make a good go of things.</div>
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My summer job saw me working at a Provincial park as a Children's Programmer.Meaning, I get to read all day about topics that interest me and then I get to tell kids about it. What's awesome is the hoard if other nature nerds I get to hang out with.</div>
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Planning, and working on self-betterment are my two things of focus this month. I'm trying to stay as active as possible, take up a bit of yoga to keep my muscles from getting stiff ( sitting in an office all day is a bitch!), writing in my journal regularly and focusing on self care and well-being. It's way too easy to let the world and on its problems crush you with their weight. I hardly need the world, just dealing with my father's dysfunction and troubles is enough.</div>
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Finally bit it and purchased a cast-iron skillet. I've coveted one for ages and at the Home Harware they carried the line from <a href="https://secure.lodgemfg.com/storefront/product1_new.asp?menu=logic&idProduct=3924">Lodge</a> and I thought, why not it's an investment. I realized after that it's the sort of item meant more for people who stay living in one place and don't shuffle across province for school and such. Will make it work</div>
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Sleepy time.</div>Kail22_1991http://www.blogger.com/profile/15968150754229723777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770551086033202694.post-54039980022254716812012-05-21T20:27:00.000-07:002012-05-21T20:27:01.552-07:00Mother's Day, and interesting find and a Geocaching adventure!The degree of my laziness and lack of motivation shocks me. To get to any of the tasks on my to-do list is a monumental task. Here and there have been some notable events.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We celebrated Mother's Day with a daughter-made breakfast and a visit with Nana, who was able to rouse herself from a doze towards the end of the visit. So we at least got a glimpse of her still lovely eyes.<br />
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<u>A Fascinating Find</u></div>
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On my walk down town one day I stopped off in a small park near our neighbourhood to read my book and enjoy the ever-present sunshine. As I was leaving I saw a van parked on the street at the park's entrance. One guy got out and tossed something onto a bench before getting back into the van and driving away. I was pretty weirded out. Drugs? A bomb? I had to know. Upon investigation, it turned out to be a book inside a plastic bag. To my shock it was a <a href="http://www.bookcrossing.com/">bookcrossing </a>book! I had known about bookcrossing for a couple of years but had never really gotten into it because there wasn't much of a community for it in London, Ontario. Super exciting find! An in to a new hobby!<br />
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A search to the Winnipeg section of bookcrossing showed that there's a particularly avid individual responsible for the release of nearly 2000 books into the "wild" of the city. I will try to read this book and set it free to a new location!<br />
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Everywhere the many lilac bushes are starting to bloom and the smell is almost able to get through to my clogged sinuses. I have been put away in bed with the first and only bad cold of this year. I've found it odd that the only colds I've had in the last two years have been soon after arriving in this city. Stress at the change of scenery? Different stuff in the water? Who knows? Colds suck eggs though. You forget how awful they are until they happen and then it feels like you'll be sniffling and achy for ever!<br />
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Finally planted something in my garden beds. Asparagus and onions. It's anyone's guess if they will actually grow. I'm told the next door neighbours have their lawn sprayed for weeds which may explain the pathetic results of my gardening attempt last year. The compost is looking good though. Heavy rains over Saturday have drowned my lettuce and Parsley flats so I fear nothing will ever come of them. But it was fun to attempt. I just have a death-thumb I suppose<br />
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After 4 years of dutiful service, I was finally ready to say goodbye to my brown Sketchers shoes. They've seen me through two years of highschool, class trips to both Chicago and New York, visits to Winnipeg and nearly a year of Katimavik in Quebec and Labrador. So these things have really gotten around. But when they began to give me foot back and knee pain and ripped on the sides, I knew it was time for them to retire. Into the garbage they may go for their final adventure unless I can find some way to recycle or give them away.<br />
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In an effort to say we accomplished something this long weekend, mum and I spent the day at the Fork's Market and tried out Parks Canada's Geocaching challenge. We learned about the Fur Trade and the uses and history of the Forks, the meeting of the rivers Assiniboine and Red in Winnipeg. We learned a few things and I got to show off my GPS skills learned from college.<br />
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It was really a very beautiful day. Most days in this city are clear and sunny and not too hot. Perfect.<br />
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We enjoyed a unique lunch at the market. Bison stew. For the price, it never fails to fill me up to satisfaction. I wish could have avoided all the plastic waste, but it was darn good stuff. You can't go wrong with stew.<br />
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This weekend was Asian Heritage week and we were able to enjoy some dances while we had our afternoon coffee.<br />
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I received an email on Saturday from the NHE leader of Lake Superior Provincial Park, one of the places I was hoping to be employed this summer. They requested an interview with me sometime this week for a position to start on the 28th of May. Which is in a week. I was dually excited and freaked out. A week? Such short notice. And what if I wasn't to hear from the Pinery until perhaps the week after? That was my first choice. And to leave so soon would mean cutting short my visit to Winnipeg and all the things I had hoped to accomplish while here. I can't help but get ahead of myself, I might not even have the job! But it's something that is sitting heavily on my mind. The upside of that job would be that I would be employed for 12 weeks rather than the 8 I was thinking I would get. More money and more time away from things that are very good at getting my money from me (coffee places and thrift stores). The other upside would be that the contract would finish two weeks before September rather than at the very end of August. That would mean time to visit again with mum, time to get ready for college and time to visit with friends and Sweetbean.... Ah conflict!</div>Kail22_1991http://www.blogger.com/profile/15968150754229723777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770551086033202694.post-41134081756599095442012-05-11T21:22:00.000-07:002012-05-11T21:27:54.811-07:00Wheels acquired!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I think I am in love. With Sweetbean. Well I already knew that and its been going on a while. But there's gonna have to be some space made in my heart for my shiny "new" set of wheels.<br />
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I have been hunting for a bike for a couple of weeks now. I'd gone to several bike stores with the intention of purchasing something new. I had prepared myself to spend a bit of money for something half decent, but it was still painful to my frugal sensibilities. So though there was a great bike at one store that I found, I held off, decided to sleep on it.<br />
Super glad I did, because I got a steal on this bike. found it through Kijiji, where bikes seem to have a super fast turnover. If you want it you need to make your move quickly. In a desperate search to avoid having to pay so much I checked Kijiji with low expectations. But there it was, only having been posted a couple of hours before. I emailed, went to take a look at it the next day, and concluded that it was the most comfortable bike I had tried out in my entire search. Now my wallet is empty, but not nearly as much as it would have been.<br />
Which means that I have a bit of scratch to put into installing a rear rack and panniers.<br />
After the transaction, I flew around the neighbourhood squealing with a shit-eating grin on my face. This bike will open up so many opportunities for adventure.<br />
Now it's just about deciding where to start!!<br />
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This weekend is set to be absolutely chock full of adventure. Our city is holding its yearly Free Day. People place unwanted things on the curb and treasure hunters collect it. There's nothing I really need other than a desk or a little bookshelf for the comic collection, but the thrill of the hunt and anything involving free stuff is too much to resist.<br />
There will also be a zine fair, which I intend to attend (heh) with much enthusiasm.<br />
Thankfully that is the only event of the day that will take away from my piggy-bank. Zines are really a terrible weakness of mine.<br />
And if those two events aren't exciting enough, the Museum of Manitoba is offering free admission all Saturday. This cheap student says "whoooop!" Free stuff rocks.<br />
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P.S. Thanks to the lady who bought the bike for exercise then realized she would never actually put use to it.<br />
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<br />Kail22_1991http://www.blogger.com/profile/15968150754229723777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770551086033202694.post-66304483554912064372012-05-09T09:30:00.001-07:002012-05-09T09:30:01.301-07:00Motivation and downer feelingsI learned once a way to motivate myself to do things I didn't really feel like doing. I would consider the ways in which I would benefit in doing it then. I came up with the values in completing the task. This helped immensely with house cleaning and homework. Sometimes there's so much that you want to do, that your brain freezes up like a five-year-old Apple laptop and you can't do a damn thing but sit there. I noticed after my first semester of college that, my motivation levels were tapped dry. I didn't feel like doing work, or seeing people, or volunteering, or being involved in school stuff. I wondered if I was depressed. Maybe I was, but then I felt I was just plain burnt out. Because I have this amazing knack for getting worked up over school stuff. My greatest fear in life is to be considered stupid by other people, and myself. Maybe it's my self I'm more worried about. Doing something wrong or not understanding a concept just makes me think that maybe I've been living in a huge illusion about myself all this time. Insecurities are a bitch.<br />
I've learned to tell those little whispering bastards to shut up. I know I'm an intelligent person on some level, and I know that I am capable of way more than I realize. Inferiority complex from high-school maybe? What a barrel of laughs those four years were. How can you not feel s if you don't have two braincells to keep you warm when so many of your classmates will be sliding easily into careers as Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers and all those occupations that parents wish their kids would succeed in. I never wanted to be any of that though. My ambitions are much more relaxed and vague. Do right by other people. Work at something that impacts peoples lives in a positive way however small. Right Occupation it's called.<br />
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But man, things are going really well for me right now. But the little voice in my head that makes critical remarks is saying I'm not doing enough with my time, not working hard enough to find an awesome job, not doing all that I could do. But whatever, just have to take it a day as it comes and fill my time with talking to people and spending time with those I care about and getting out of the house. I'm happiest when I have good people to talk to.<br />
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Which confuses me. As an introverted person at heart, I find I have in fact a strong need for human interaction. Loneliness is really the greatest poison. How can you want both at once? Solitude and company?<br />
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Lots of sad-sack thoughts signals it's time I got out into the sunshine.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Wish Sweetbean would call. It always brightens my head.</span></div>Kail22_1991http://www.blogger.com/profile/15968150754229723777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770551086033202694.post-2358626547852748472012-05-08T21:20:00.002-07:002012-05-08T21:20:21.029-07:00Bike Quest! To overtake Coffee QuestTo say I'd like a bicycle would be putting it mildly. I NEED WHEELS!! I want a bike so badly that I dream about them. I watch people biking on the street and Grand-theft-auto 4 type ideas surface in my head.<br />
I had hoped to find something for oh, max, $200. Welcome to the land of reality, if thats all you're prepared to shell out, you best be shufflin ass to Walmart or hope something good and not stollen winds up on Kijiji. Having had bad experiences with used bikes, and without the skills or tools to work on a fixer-upper, I began the hunt for something brand-spanking new. (My wallet is crying and I don't even have a bike yet) I sought out a couple of places with good reviews and set out with a week-long plan of assault. First stop, St. James-Assiniboia region (Portage west of Osborne) On the way, I ended up at a couple of places I hadn't heard about. Saw a very nice shiny red Raleigh hybrid. I wished that I knew what to look for in terms of quality in a bicycle. My main concern was price. After three places in a day and many many bikes taken for test rides, I came to a sad conclusion. If I wanted something of any quality, that would be worth fixing, or wouldn't need constant fixing, I would have to up my budget. So Monday left me with a couple of bikes in mind, the only thing stopping me from a purchase was the bulky manliness of a Giant Revel mountain bike. I'm not a prim girl or anything but it was just such an ostentatious thing. Something similar. The Giant was a decent price for sure.<br />
This morning I checked out a place that was closer to home (walkable) and offered life-time of free tune-ups if you purchased your bike from their store. They carried different makes of bicycles so it was good to see some different brands. They sold primarily Specialized and Trek cycles. Tried riding a few and came to the more solid conclusion that mountain bikes are more for me. Hybrids seemed the practical logical choice, but after taking one out with front suspension and everything, I could feel every bump and jitter in my whole upper body. Nope. Maybe that style of bike is something that you have to get used to, but what if you don't?<br />
I wasn't particularly thrilled with the service I received at this place, they were kind of all egotistical assholes, but I found a bike I actually really liked. So do you get the more expensive bike you like and just swallow the sub-par customer service? Or do you get the cheaper but slightly lesser quality bike from the people who didn't try to get you on the most expensive bike or make you feel weird for asking to sleep on it.<br />
Sigh. I wish I had someone bike-savvy to help me out with this.<br />
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So prettyyyy.</div>Kail22_1991http://www.blogger.com/profile/15968150754229723777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770551086033202694.post-32264230558842061482012-05-08T20:29:00.001-07:002012-05-08T20:29:29.240-07:00A Wander in the ParkI've heard a lot of people say that while there are people that will leave Winnipeg, they will usually come back eventually.That has definitely been true in my mum's case. And it has been in mine too since going away to college. To those who've never been, or don't know much about Winnipeg (most if not all in Southern Ontario, seriously it's more than snow and flatness :P), it can be hard to see how much is going on here. And even if Winnipeg is the city you call home, you have to do a little homework to find all the hidden gems the city has to offer. So when I returned from college in Ontario, I was caught by all the events scheduled and reminded of the cities strong arts community. This place is great!<div>
What I was really able to appreciate this weekend was the beauty of Assiniboine park, a massive place, where there's a zoo, an English and sculpture garden, museums, a skating pond, and a giant stage where the Royal Winnipeg Ballet does demonstrations in the summer time.
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After a visit to Nana's, we wandered around the park. We checked out the new Nature park built for children. It looked fun. Only it was a bit weird that they had boarded up one of the slides. Kids were using it anyway.<br />
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Pretty flower I wish I knew the name of</div>
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Unfortunately, the museum was closed for an event that day ( a wedding I think). Got a look at the menu for the restaurant in there. Real swanky stuff. The fanciest food I've ever seen (even more so than La Cachet with Sweetbean in Niagara on the Lake)</div>
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The English garden was beautiful, even though the flowers haven't been put in yet.</div>
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Sculptures of bears by Leo Mol. This guy really liked bears apparently (There were at least six more sculptures)</div>
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Sat and had our coffee. As if I needed a second one at 3 p.m.</div>
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Mystery plant. So delicate and pretty.</div>
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John Diefenbaker</div>
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The Mr. A.Y. Jackson. Didn't realize who it was because they had spelled out his name in full. That throws you when you're used to initials</div>
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Angry Moses</div>
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The last time I visited this garden the gallery was closed too. One day, we will know what lies within! That and the gallery in the Pavillion!</div>
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Sun dials are so cool! This one was an hour behind by my watch. Or my watch was an hour ahead.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGlzAcjT5RB8ClFKBApIr3Ujb7ypNTmVsC6d4fu5cs7RJahYMoKHvj0jCpS_uXhKodWvF4M4AUP9vZA7GKhQZArKWAqfuLO-Mr9AI9SysVdd1S34S9_AiUerdnq1g7V7L3PfFZhb4lnkXx/s1600/DSCN9464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGlzAcjT5RB8ClFKBApIr3Ujb7ypNTmVsC6d4fu5cs7RJahYMoKHvj0jCpS_uXhKodWvF4M4AUP9vZA7GKhQZArKWAqfuLO-Mr9AI9SysVdd1S34S9_AiUerdnq1g7V7L3PfFZhb4lnkXx/s320/DSCN9464.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Rummaged around in my sock drawer and found this thing. It brought me back to the horrible time when my thumb got infected, and I had to do a lot of waiting in various hospital waiting rooms before finally being admitted into a community IV program for 5 days of antibiotics. Glad that's done! All my cuts will be disinfected to within an inch of their lives now.</div>Kail22_1991http://www.blogger.com/profile/15968150754229723777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770551086033202694.post-64667743666176051752012-05-04T22:09:00.002-07:002012-05-04T22:09:38.706-07:00Norman Rockwell and maximum caffeination!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Was sitting around in my skivvies, reading weird manga and turning on the tea-kettle after forgetting it again, and realized that I ought to be doing something more productive or at least physical. It wouldn't do to squander the bounty of free time I've been given so it seemed like the best time to start on my quest for a <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-good-life/200912/happy-places-third-places">"third place"</a>. A concept I learned about from sweet bean. The library would be alright, but the trouble is they don't have good coffee there. My other mission being, to find the best espresso in the city. It seemed a good idea to combine the two. So off we go on a mad caffeine adventure! With bouts of art galleries and second hand stores in between! </div>
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The city of Winnipeg is very large and spread out which required picking an area to focus my coffee hunt on. This first quest took me to the beautiful exchange district, full of gorgeous architecture, art galleries, cafes and hipster fodder.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bike lust. I'm so desperate for wheels that I'm photographing other people's bicycles</td></tr>
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I was able to see finally the result of the massive fire that consumed an empty chinese restaurant, music store and neat hippy clothing place. Nothing left but bricks.<br />
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I remembered seeing a movie staring Renee Zellweger that had a scene filmed in this restaurant. All the dust was sort of creepy.<br />
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<b>Java Quest Stop #1</b></div>
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I began the quest for good java at the well reviewed<a href="http://parlourcoffee.ca/"> Parlour Coffee shop</a> on Main Street. It was near mom's office so I invited her along. </div>
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The place was very nicely decorated, in a sort of minimalist style that wasn't cold and stark like the old modern style. Lots of wood and metal. White walls. It was a hipster wet dream. And boy were there a lot of ugly moustaches, bangs, ray-bans and people "writing". Though 'a lot' is not technically accurate because there wasn't really anywhere to sit besides a few completely occupied stools lining the front and sides. Granted it was a small space. Mum and I had to settle for the benches out front which wasn't too bad.</div>
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Mum tried a cappuccino </div>
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I went with my old faithful go-to: double shot Americano. Double shot because there are times when it's too diluted and you might as well just have coffee. In this case, it was pretty much just two espresso shots and maybe a tablespoon of water. But ugh, bitter. I like a strong espresso, but this seemed almost burnt. Bitter in an icky way that didn't leave your mouth for a while. This place had one redeeming feature, the very nice special coffee brewing equipment for sale. Pricey but some of it I hadn't seen in other places.</div>
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A very wonderful discovery: Only the most amazing toy store I have ever been to. Miles of amazing toys, some that I didn't know they still made. Dolls and dolls and the best selection of children's books!</div>
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The best part? the extensive dollhouse building supplies. I was in miniature heaven. Tiny representations of living environments have always tickled my fancy. I remember my head nearly exploding in the Thorne miniature rooms section of the<a href="http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/thorne"> Art Institute of Chicago</a></div>
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*drooool*</div>
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Squeee!!! Tiny dishes!!!</div>
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Immediately thought of Sweetbean and his love of trains.</div>
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<b>Java Quest Stop #2</b></div>
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Changing the original plan of hitting up Mondragon Cafe on Albert St. I went next door to <a href="http://urbanforestcoffee.tumblr.com/">Urban Forest Coffee house and Lounge</a>. The atmosphere seemed just right. Comfortable, not pretentious or commercial. Enough people to make it happening but not crammed to the ceiling with laptop dwellers. I made the delicious mistake of ordering what they called Shot in the Dark. Basically a shot of espresso in a cup of coffee. It was really good but, halfway down, I really started to feel the caffeine in my veins. by this point I am at three espressos and a cup of coffee and it's not even three yet. Overall I really liked the place and it seemed friendly. Found my new third place/espresso hang out? Maybe. But it's too early to tell.</div>
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Took a detour to the fantastic store the Haberdashery. This place carries some really gorgeous hats and accessories of fantastic quality. Beautiful ladies hats. None of which fit. The guy inside was sympathetic, and kept directing me to men's hats. In particular, fedoras. Fedora's not being my groove, I left in defeat but with the potential hope of finding a decent replacement to Sweetbean's disintegrating <a href="http://www.natashascafe.com/html/sailorcap.html">Greek fisherman's cap</a>. </div>
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<b> Java Quest Stop #3</b><br />
After meeting up with mum, we decided to catch some dinner at Stella's Cafe for a bite before checking out the Norman Rockwell exhibit at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. I decided to go for an espresso. My fourth of the day. Smart.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was pretty good. Will be returning for my next fix.</td></tr>
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I tried out the grass-fed beef chili, which was fantastic.</div>
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Mum had the chicken curry. It came with a banana! How cool is that?</div>
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For a couple of hours we examined an exhibit of Rockwell originals on loan from the Norman Rockwell Museum. This is the first time that an exhibition of his work has come to Canada. And Winnipeg is its only venue. Definitely not an opportunity to miss. When I was younger, I never really liked his pictures, they seemed sort of tacky on first glance. But taking a closer look and seeing the stories of everyday life and evolution of a countries people, and learning about his complex and time consuming process, I was really able to appreciate his work and see the beauty of it. So much detail in every one. my favourite had to be The Problem that We all Live With, painted in 1964. Hearing the commentary on it, I felt myself becoming emotional. So much anger and hatred that was directed towards children during the racial desegregation of public schools.</div>
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It was nice to talk to Sweetbean at the end of the day. Though I seem to get really over-emotional whenever I talk to him. Talking seems to remind one all the clearer, how far away we are from each other. And as much as you enjoy hearing the other person's voice, that reminder really bums you out. It adds to the uprooted feeling I have sometimes. I'm loving my time here, but now it feels more like I am simply a visitor. Though my mother's house will always be my home as she assures me, it feels like I am just visiting. It's strange that that never happened when I went away to Katimavik. It could be because I never had time to set down roots in our host communities and the places we lived were not those that I could call my very own space. My little sunny dorm room in Lindsay was that. It was the first place I could truly call my own and somewhere I made into home. Sweetbean became an everyday part of my life and those home feelings are wound around him with all sorts of other feelings. So phone calls and skype are hard to keep level about. I miss too, all the other friends I've left behind in Ontario. Thankfully being out of school has allowed me to talk more with Shannon which always leaves me in a good mood</div>
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Just a bucket full of hormones and caffeine I seem to be. </div>
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Eww...The cat is flatulent and now my room smells like Kentucky fried chicken...Kail22_1991http://www.blogger.com/profile/15968150754229723777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770551086033202694.post-80871836898734059502012-05-04T07:24:00.002-07:002012-05-04T07:24:51.781-07:00Making a wallet.With free time coming out of my ears, I realized that I have been given a rare opportunity to do all the creative and fun things I usually don't have the time or energy for. One of those things is DIY, in particular, sewing. How can you not catch the bug with all the blogs of people and their amazing creations! But there's a bridge between wanting and doing that's kind of a challenge to cross. It would be nice to be a sewing machine whiz, you have these visions in your head of fantastic creations flying out left right and centre. So when my friend A offered to show me how to sew a <a href="http://darnkat.wordpress.com/quilted-fabric-wallet-tutorial/">quilted wallet</a> I thought, "sure that seems easy enough". Think again. It was by no means an effortless breeze, and after nine hours of sewing, seam ripping and resewing, I was about ready to through in the needles. But quitting is not an option, and with many "Aaaaaa help! It's doing something, how do I fix this? The thread's not in it any-more!" It did get done. Feeling quite proud. Next stop, dress?<br />
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<br />Kail22_1991http://www.blogger.com/profile/15968150754229723777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770551086033202694.post-44728929490914857492012-05-03T17:32:00.000-07:002012-05-03T17:32:03.772-07:00Change and happenings<br />
I'm a bad blog keeper. On my ever-long to-do list I would write "Make a blog post". But never would I get around to actually doing it, the list entry would just skip along to the next days list and the list until I forgot about it entirely. There have been many happenings since whatever it was I wrote in the last post. Man I still need to think of a better blog title for this thing. Oh wait I was writing about happenings:<br />
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<li>Finished my first year of college with some sanity intact and decent marks to show for all the anxiety </li>
<li>Tooled around Montreal with the roommates for our second reading break. It was super cold there but we had a blast and didn't even fight once though I'm sure there were some tense moments at times.</li>
<li>Finally got my apartment for next year all paid for and sorted out, which is a mega relief.</li>
<li>Packed Sweetbeans car with nearly all my worldly goods because for some reason there was absolutely NO room in the apartment to store some stuff.</li>
<li>Had a wondrous weekend adventure with Sweetbean, and witnessed for the first time the hilarity that is WholeFoods. (There was a guy in line in front of us with head phones on and a tank top that talked about why he does yoga and he was telling the cash girl that he was working on his album that was a mix of gerbil squeaks and elderly flatulence or whatever. We got a good laugh out of it)</li>
<li>Danced at Guelph's Saturday evening funk night with my sweety. Unfortunately it wasn't the most wonderful of DJ's that night but still fun. Our second time going out dancing together!</li>
<li>After a couple of days in London with Dad and Matt, I hopped on the train for Winnipeg. In a berth! Riding fancy I was. (Pictures soon)</li>
<li>Shocked myself with the quantity of crap I left behind when I went to college</li>
<li>Bought a wedge heeled sandal for some reason</li>
<li>Finally met the adorable baby of my friends Tyler and Amanda! They seriously cooked up a cute one. it's crazy because when I left he was still a roast in the oven but now he's a wiggling little person, putting everything and anything in his mouth!</li>
<li>Skyped with Shannon and shared the awesomeness of Eggplant <a href="http://www.cookiesfromitaly.com/recipes/eggplant_fricassee.htm">Fricassee</a> from the silverspoon cookbook. I seriously miss that girl too.</li>
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It was a bit difficult at first, adjusting to the idea that while I'm in Winnipeg for the next month or two, I'm not really doing anything. No job, no school. Mom has to remind me that this is vacation. Though I'm constantly wishing for more time to do things that I like to do, I'm not really good at vacations. Too much time to fill. And I was worried at first that I wouldn't have anyone to spend time with while I was here, though I do like time for myself, the knowledge that there's no one around to keep you company when your mom's at work really brings you down and makes you lonely. Plus, I miss the crap out of Sweetbean. It's only been a week but it's a severe shock to the system to go from everyday visits to nothing. Like ripping off a bandaid with most of your skin ripping off with it.</div>
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Just have to remind myself that I finally have the time to work on my creative interests. Crocheting, sewing, drawing. Reading all the graphic novels in the library and biking my face off (still need a bike)</div>
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Gah! Now I'm excited with all the fun potential adventures!</div>
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I won't waste time!</div>
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Huzzah</div>Kail22_1991http://www.blogger.com/profile/15968150754229723777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770551086033202694.post-75518418987604781012012-05-02T08:56:00.001-07:002012-05-03T17:30:25.341-07:00Adventures, Holidays and a Whole Jar of Garlic Green OlivesWow. A major update is in order. I am in the very bad habit of procrastinating on blog posts then doing big giant entries every now and then. Maybe I should make regular posts my New Years resolution. If I try to trust my brain to remember everything I'm bound to forget stuff before I am able to write it all down.<br />
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Let's work our way back from today.</div>
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Today was Christmas day in my family, though we don't really do much in the way of celebrating it. This year I felt I owed London a Christmas and didn't fly to Winnipeg to be with mum and her clan. Plus I knew that it wouldn't be possible for Matt to come to with his job, and I love when we play music and watch movies. </div>
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I don't really consider Dad's side to be my family. I see them one or two day's a year and other than that they aren't heard from. It's not a close sentimental family. There's a great void where emotion and affection typically live. Our holidays are basically: laugh as if what other people are saying are funny, eat the food and drink a fair bit, make weak small talk about other people and houses, eat till you nearly pop like a boil, bestow unneeded and useless gifts on the grandparents to win yourself a spot on the will, go home and breathe a sigh of relief that it's finally over and done with.</div>
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Thankfully I've gotten to the age now where, I could choose where to go for Christmas, and I have other friends and things I could do. </div>
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I've spent the last few days feeling a great deal of anxiety about this holiday, it has absolutely no significance to me either spiritual or sentimental because I haven't had the close family aspect that is the point of the holiday. So I have this warring feeling that I hate Christmas and I don't want anything to do with spending time with people. But I want so much for there to be a special period at this time of year where I can gather with those I am close to and there can be cherished traditions and I can feel a sort of spiritual connection to something, be it the changing seasons or family togetherness or whatever. I enjoyed celebrating the solstice with Shannon and Dylan because I was with those I cherish, doing enjoyable activities and laughing. That is what I have wished for all along. But the candle ceremony felt like a joke. But hey, new traditions have to start from somewhere hey?</div>
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I feel as if I sound a bit of a downer. Maybe I am, I've never been giddy about Christmas or any of that stuff from my associations with it. But spending time with Matt and Dylan and Shannon has kept my spirits up. I'm going to chalk it all up to hormones and annoyance at my creeping holiday weight.</div>
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The previous weekend after exams wrapped up, Dylan and I set off on our umpteenth Toronto adventure. This time we brought Jackie along and Shannon met up too at the ROM.</div>
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Man, the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame is seriously my favourite part of that museum. Who knew there were rocks in crazy blues and purples or ones that looked like furry hair. My mind blew open that the Earth could create such delicate and beautiful rocks and minerals.</div>
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Another filling meal at <a href="http://www.saladking.com/">Salad King</a>, one of my favourite places for coconut curry. The prices are super reasonable and you leave absolutely stuffed though you don't think you will be. As a creature of habit I always end up with the Green Curry with chicken. Nummy nummy.</div>
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That Saturday evening saw Dylan and I driving our way to Guelph for the night. I had apprehensions about meeting Dylan's family and very much wanted to make a good first impression. But they were very nice and accommodating and I felt very welcome and comfortable there. I've always found it interesting to see people propped up against their families. I quickly saw that Dylan is very much the strange one in his family but then again they are all strange. And I say that in a nice way. </div>
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I know D as a (fairly :P) mature 22 year old, but with his family, he doesn't revert back to being a kid per se, but you can more easily imagine him younger. Maybe I'm not saying it right, it's hard to put the surreal feeling into words. Basically, he's adorable in every way and it adds a new dimension to him :P</div>
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That Sunday, we set off for a letter-box hunting expedition. I had tried to hunt one down in the summer time with no luck, and had had no opportunities since. We picked out two and spent the day roaming around looking for them. We were only able to find the one (though just the lid to the box and nothing else) but just getting out and seeing Guelph and spending time together was pleasure enough.</div>
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And holy dinah! Guelph has a serious Addam's family house!! It was so spooky and Gothic! </div>
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D was certainly a trooper with my constant exclamations of "Look at that house!!! I love that place!! Oh this city is awesome!!!!"</div>
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I get excited about houses fyi.</div>
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The wee sea monkeys are not quite so wee as they were. There aren't as many as there were when there was a boom hatch but that seems for the best otherwise they would be too much for the little jar. Super cute little critters they are!</div>Kail22_1991http://www.blogger.com/profile/15968150754229723777noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770551086033202694.post-2474215420921467642011-12-09T10:03:00.000-08:002011-12-09T16:41:46.074-08:00Holiday Cheer and Exam Stress<div style="text-align: center;">It's holiday music time! I'm not much for Christmas stuff but I do love the classics.</div><div>Matthew, the sentimental one in our family, loves Christmas music, and it could be heard from his room all through the month of December. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Charlie Brown Christmas, Rocking around the Christmas tree. *sigh* Being at college, far from family and friends, it was nice to see that Matty had put up one of his 30 mins of selected music podcasts in a holiday theme <a href="http://http//mtblog.ca/post/13856024147/30-minutes-of-music-episode-3-christmas">here</a>. I admit, I got all warm and fuzzy inside remembering Christmas morning greasy breakfasts and giving presents to the cats who indifferently turn their butts to the very fetching harness and leash set in red. I remember all the hours spent in front of the tv during the school break watching holiday specials. A Christmas Story, Muppets Christmas...so many.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="http://200movies1woman.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/A-Christmas-Story-Ralphie-Soap.jpg" /></div><div>(Blegh)</div><div><br /></div><div>Here at Fleming we are now getting full swing into Exam season.</div><div>For most people, exams are taken online in the Computer Testing centre, a very small place compared to the number of students who have to write tests in there during the week.</div><div>This morning after a weeks worth of on and off studying, I waited 5 or six minutes in a very long line-up to take my Ecology and the Environment final test. I was surprised it was only 50 questions of multiple choice (all of our tests have been multiple choice so far), a bit of answer guessing and it was bing bang boom done and out of my head! Goodbye Ecology! It's a good feeling to get these courses finished one test at a time. Chomping at the bit to get into the meat of our program. Wildlife Observation Skills? How fun is that going to be!</div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately, exam stress has a way of making you cast off all your past activities and hobbies in a big heap under the bed. Literally and figuratively that's where they are right now. Books unread, embroidery thread not stuck through white cotton and yarn not turned into presents. That's something to, holiday presents. I had the ambitious plan to hand make all my gifts. Failed, however, to factor in the reality of school and eating and sleeping and finding the motivation. As long as Dylan's mittens get done I'll be satisfied. Have the first cuff finished so it's looking good.</div><div><br /></div><div>A sudden burst of festive spirit left me with the craving to make snowflakes and decorations for the winter season. It's what you need when the cold, grey gloominess is all you ever see out your window. I was able to find a tutorial for the neatest <a href="http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/beautiful_paper_snowflake">star/snowflake</a> to hang in the window. A rather good way to use up scrap paper from school. Afterwards I plan to blend it all and make up some new paper as soon as I get together some wood and screening.</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgrG3z6zNMwIsPUO7BHF6c_1kwe2I4SBrx1MCwWMwFXrXkkc52vYyNxlnbCJhIH7anXub-yaplMVVyfh3uAFq81uXdGt6UY9-AM4oo0G7w0rKmeM20TqynvH_r4j6QDknhVj6ivLpsFxK/s320/DSCN8888.JPG" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdu6pLSw8RfVIDQrZSLMKHz1XDSeZz58aFBtLYwqdWg4rSb-OeRd-SjwGFLUvg4-cCUs84b5UfOJtiMDKYqhBnf0nDzDoFAHchSUaQVZQq8S8Nq3VZ1vAIkBrZxZ99LAl6wyrdnaHG09y_/s320/DSCN8889.JPG" /></div><div><br /></div><div> Jackie got in on it as well and soon the room was littered with tiny bits of paper, with some nice results. Steve certainly looked fetching.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our creative endeavours don't end there, oh no.</div><div>We were presented with an Amber with the desire to look like Cindy Lou Who for a Christmas party. Couldn't really remember how she looked in the new movie but I vaguely remembered very tall hair with braids. So this is what we got</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCk1DO5QfQSS7hANVtyDE5porwPihOBtTKqgtAaMjqvt17colgwTdM0_nXFd5MBBzslT0evHmQF6YG97E8yRe2fiHL7ukSKpfmemUsSFhEDrNpVCCnDgZ6HEEUQM18uFlufi65PaaHYzF/s400/DSCN8891.JPG" /> There were Christmas present bows and other additions later but I forgot to take a picture. All it took was a small plastic cup on her head that the hair could be wrapped over. </div><div><br /></div><div>Here is the "inspiration"</div><div><img src="http://lasiostudios.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/cindy_lou_who_taylor_momsen.jpg" /> I didn't realize till today that this is a young Taylor Momsen, the young women who loves to look like a starving Racoon.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jackie and I decided to get in on it too but the effect was...not quite the same</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCO-uNugxmY5H2e4FH_9PzQZ-UhZ2z33vUcS5zsXONPc-UBT_fxXddTzG1DWMTiiOvITXG0WGAXIE7-wFq_jzi3WLmpRJX52iUZ8r9pdgU3rDcHrUf-52TsR3SH1YaHx9qtU7_BQsEqHZP/s400/DSCN8897.JPG" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQIPHYLw3n_6mKFP3qtOFbZQgPZeTbxew1ymv25Uztkfn8cNUF8IujuVudL4H3btAuqMN6aBPh91ozOuJmGG-l4kBG5UbGqvd1hJnkF6PZv0DT0heV5Wd5-vly6Z2GKg59GmrX-GtRIqj/s400/DSCN8907.JPG" /> <img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhU35bNtUYZqcBnUhO8mVuVZQhA77bNkIyFDgF640XlQ-cFs3gRc9QclgC6nFKfUrNEf0X6VVcjcWDGKSnG_WI7p5u3LOgUAUhJ23v-BtlF3yAOIUHhaRxTIMnCHqq6_f5b7oKOnzoTX5p/s400/DSCN8905.JPG" /></div><div>Off to swim this evening after a surplus of cashews and mixed nuts!</div>Kail22_1991http://www.blogger.com/profile/15968150754229723777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770551086033202694.post-31190503108206672462011-12-03T12:46:00.000-08:002011-12-03T13:29:05.006-08:00Double date dinners and computerstaches<div style="text-align: justify;">Today is the day I properly start a blog. Hoorah!</div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Not sure what I'll be putting in it but I will try for twice weekly posts to get used to writing in it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Today is also the day I experience what a double date feels like. The idea of it seems so...grown up.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Being in a relationship too. That whole thing still feels odd to me.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Yes this is my boyfriend Dylan"</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Boyfriend? What a weird word to say. Dylan found it weird to to introduce me as his girlfriend.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We thought about it, boy and girl seem rather juvenile, so we tried saying "Lady Friend" and "Man Friend" Those were even weirder to say. Lady Friend sounds like it is designating a female escort.</div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Scratch that. So we went with "partner" which always seemed sort of pretentious to me but was comfortable to say for both of us so that was the end of that.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Part of this double-date entails we all make food for dinner and eat together in my dormitory sweet. Only, I haven't any food at all save for the forgotten apples Dylan and I picked late at night in the yard of an adult education centre near our Residence Building. It was good to finally get them used up since they had been sitting in my crisper drawer, taking up space for like two weeks. The only thing I could think</div><div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> of was an apple crisp.</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwd8CXdsFJc_6yFRi5_few4NX4FM_V0YLd8LKYPi9WaHioisHZMZBEhrCu-c_JtAC-nkJy14MwK8u8T5Ijs7R-DehzOxEANjJg3kTiHtdEyk5pVlA26qVF56uNaPor4ijSkNliNtxaQA0/s1600/DSCN8883.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwd8CXdsFJc_6yFRi5_few4NX4FM_V0YLd8LKYPi9WaHioisHZMZBEhrCu-c_JtAC-nkJy14MwK8u8T5Ijs7R-DehzOxEANjJg3kTiHtdEyk5pVlA26qVF56uNaPor4ijSkNliNtxaQA0/s320/DSCN8883.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682011553747455458" /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></a><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I gave it a little nibble but I think I didn't add enough of pretty much everything, but the almond flour crust seems pretty good. Hopefully Kristen and her lady aren't picky eaters.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We're coming to the end of this semester, my first semester of college, and it blows my mind. Has it really been 13 weeks that we've been here? How is it possible that time has moved so fast? Fun that's what. I've definitely been enjoying myself. Not so much the hysterical stressful moments over left-to-the-last-minute-projects. Its been nice though getting back into academics again after two years of gradual mental decay. I mean, I get to learn how to use a compass, and GPS and fish identification and tons of other super awesome stuff from some super awesome teachers and a really nice bunch of classmates. Still, there's this nagging stress that I haven't been involved enough, haven't done all I said I was going to, am not smart enough to go on to next semester and next year. I know all these thoughts aren't true, I've done a lot at this school, I've made some awesome friends and I've done more than most students at this school. I guess I can't stand to be lazy and idle though I find it hard to get started on anything. A bit conflicting huh?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now that we are into December, it's going to be time to get one's nose to the grindstone to get through all the exams and tests coming our way next week, plan the tree weeks of holidays proceeding and organize for a whole new bunch of courses.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And better than that, no more dirty moustaches! Movember is done! In Geospatial Analysis this Wednesday, Amanda and I found a sad little abandoned moustache on one of the computer screens. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwd8CXdsFJc_6yFRi5_few4NX4FM_V0YLd8LKYPi9WaHioisHZMZBEhrCu-c_JtAC-nkJy14MwK8u8T5Ijs7R-DehzOxEANjJg3kTiHtdEyk5pVlA26qVF56uNaPor4ijSkNliNtxaQA0/s1600/DSCN8883.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggKVZd8elS19VxbJr4PWvrw335aISsA7ho0XH24wsI6cwWXmuKbJMJ1aqhmxVsoqDr9XftG-pVnvOLpRQ3NPnjfoq7xWNQ03gYfDMokjZ9T9_KMS0Z9wCHjMff4LGetxvh3Fudq1TO2suG/s320/DSCN8882.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682015091003772978" style="text-align: justify;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Reminds me somewhat of Jack Layton's moustache. His was the greatest of all moustaches and I don't even feel worthy of wearing a crappy replica on my face.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well that's all, hopefully I will make a regular habit out of this.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My writing skills are so rusty they resemble the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz after a rainfall.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Happy Saturday!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Kail22_1991http://www.blogger.com/profile/15968150754229723777noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6770551086033202694.post-77849956868758726402009-01-04T15:06:00.000-08:002009-01-04T15:26:22.399-08:00BeginningsI've spent several years living in the digital age feeling downright incompetent, and I got a little tired of it. My brothers grumbling still rings in my head after all the "how do I do this? Matt it won't load...matt what do I do? I need pictures of platypuses. Can you make me a slideshow? What's a firefox?"<br />I realized, about a week or so ago, that I needed to get my act together if I ever expected to survive in the digital world, which grows every day.<br /><br />It's rather sad that I only just discovered how to use the internet at the beginning of highschool (3 and a half years ago) and discovered that you could find just about anything on the interwebs whether I wanted to or not ( 2 girls one cup what the heck is that a tea party? Do I want what enlargement??!)<br /><br />So here I am. After years of meek surfing, I have become one of thousands. A blogger<br />I like the feeling<br />Through this I can document my trek through the internet and my life away from the screen. (I hope I don't get addicted like my brother hehe)<br />So read if you wish, if not cool. Although I love making new friends<br /><br />KailKail22_1991http://www.blogger.com/profile/15968150754229723777noreply@blogger.com1