Oh Mi Gato

That's all, folks!

2010-11-20T22:26:00.000-08:00

That's where the new blog is.

Goodbye Suckerfish?!

2010-11-19T11:44:00.001-08:00

I've been more or less snowed in for a few days now. Lots of time to sit and think and write. (And drink hot chocolate and egg nog, but that is beside the point.)

I am going to phase out of this blog. I am going to start up a new blog for myself where I can write about things with more... substance. I like to write. I think it is good for me. I think I am the most like myself when I am writing.

Yup, that is what I am going to do.

My Glass of Eggnog is Half Full.

2010-11-17T21:12:00.002-08:00

Brrr - cold tears.
This morning involved a car too cold to start and a subsequent emotional breakdown. I had my car plugged in overnight because it wouldn't start yesterday. It still wouldn't start this morning, so I had Sam try and jump-start me. No workey. And it's not even that cold yet.

So, as I often do nowadays, I started crying. Right there in my cold cold car. (I don't recommend crying outside when it is -15ºC.) It was all frustration. I worked hard at my crappy old job this summer to save up for a car that doesn't work in the cold. Living in Calgary, where it is cold for much of the year, this is frustrating. I can't get to school. Assignments are looming and I need to spend time in the library to complete them. Doesn't look like that's going to happen this week.

In my upset state this morning, I frowned at God and said, "What the heck?"

Accounting.
Job was facing trouble far worse than my own when he said,
   "If only I knew where to find him;
   if only I could go to his dwelling!
   I would state my case before him
   and fill my mouth with arguments.
   I would find out what he would answer me,
   and consider what he would say." (Job 23:3-5)

I often go to God feeling like I have a pretty good case for myself. It's easy to make myself out to be a hero. I worked hard to buy a car, so it should work. I put a lot of energy into school, so I should be able to succeed. If I could only find God's front door, I would knock on it and let Him know all of these things. Surely he would take my arguments into account and have something to say for Himself.

Right?

Well, no. It's not right. The reality is that God is not accountable to me. The all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the universe and author of my life does not owe me an explanation for anything. Who am I to discredit His justice? To condemn Him to justify myself (Job 40:8)? Am I adorned in glory and splendor, clothed in honor and majesty (40:10)? Heck no - I'm a filthy mess of a person.

Who I am not.
All around me are reminders that He is God and I am not. The mounting piles of snow outside my door, the big Rockies on the horizon, the holy book that currently sits on the counter. I do not understand all of the things of God; they are too wonderful for me (42:3). But I know that the simple truth of His goodness is worth putting my hope in.

When things come up and I find myself thinking, "What the heck?," I need to remember that He is God and I am not. He is perfectly good and I often just don't get it. It's OK, I don't have to get it. God gets it and He's working for my good. That is a good enough answer for me.

Today, something frustrated me and I reacted wrongly. I know that things can be much worse than having a stubborn vehicle in the morning, and I know that my reactions in worse situations tend to be proportionately bad. But, if I can learn to react to the little things in a way that rightly shows who God is, then maybe I will be able to react to the big things in similar fashion.

In sum, God is good.

My Relationship With Meat

2010-11-09T14:11:00.000-08:00

My relationship with meat is nothing like my relationship with coffee. Coffee is a lover with whom I rendezvous frequently, whereas meat is an ex-boyfriend who I never really liked in the first place. I was ready to end the relationship for a long time, I was just waiting for the right time.

Translation: I've been a vegetarian at heart for a very long time and only recently felt compelled to officially declare myself as such. (I think I'm actually a vegan at heart, but I'm still working on that one. Perhaps one day I'll tell you about my relationship with cheese.)

Not only is meat gross, it is less sustainable, environmentally evil, and not particularly healthy. Hooray for veggies!

Stargazing...

2010-11-05T22:52:00.003-07:00

One of the hobbies I picked up this summer is stargazing. (I'm really into hobbies, by the way.) When Sam, Kaila, and I were camping at Cypress Hills, I picked up a little book at the gift shop in Elkwater called National Audubon Society: Constellations (Pocket Guide) and have been hooked ever since.

I have grown quite fond of what is called the Summer Triangle...

The three stars that are circled make up what is called the Summer Triangle. They are the three brightest stars from three different constellations and, although their constellations are not incredibly easy to see with the naked eye from within the city, these three brightest stars and the acute triangle that they form is rather distinct.

Every time I look at it, I am blown away. Here's my favorite bit of information about the Summer Triangle:

Altair, in the constellation Aquila, is one of the brightest stars in the sky and is about 17 light-years away from earth. 1 light-year is the distance that light travels in a vacuum in one year. So, when we look at Altair, we are actually seeing what it looked like 17 years ago. Vega, in the constellation Lyra, is 26 light-years away from earth. Deneb, the brightest star in the Cygnus constellation, is 1500 light-years away from earth. FIFTEEN HUNDRED!

Think about that.

Mind blown yet again.

My Relationship With Coffee

2010-10-21T12:32:00.002-07:00

As you may recall, I have given up coffee a couple of times. It's a bit odd. I really like coffee. I find, though, that I treat it like a drug. Something that I need to have every day in order to feel good. Something that makes me feel like a terrible mess when I don't have it.

So, last spring, I gave up coffee cold turkey. It was tough. I had some killer headaches that encouraged me to supplement my diet with black tea for awhile. Eventually, I was free.

The beauty of not being a coffee drinker is that, when I do drink coffee, it is rather effective as an energy booster. I went back to drinking lots of coffee the week that my summer coursework was due in August, and I like to think that the coffee helped me ace the class. I can have a cup of coffee before youth events for an extra burst of energy (I'm serving as a youth director now). Or, as is the case this week, I can juice up on coffee to do a freakish amount of studying for midterms.

Coffee is also a real treat for me. Because I do like it so much, I will still make an effort to taste new coffees and drink it as a special treat once in awhile.

Sam makes fun of me because I claim to have given up coffee, yet I can still be spotted drinking coffee on occasion. When I stopped eating meat this summer, Sam asked if this was going to be just like when I "stopped drinking coffee." I'll admit, my sporadic antics can be a little strange, but I like to experiment with my diet and figure out what is good for me.

In sum, I guess coffee is still like a drug for me, but now I think of myself as more of a recreational user than an addict. Progress? I think so.

A Gorgeous Chunk o' Lavender (and Erin)!

2010-08-19T15:13:00.002-07:00

After a healthy dose of sleep on Saturday night, Gen, Bobby, and I woke up and got ready to go watch Erin and Will get hitched. The weather was looking a little gray, but a flash of blue showed up as we drove off of the ferry onto Vashon Island. By the time we got to the lavender farm, the weather was perfect.

At the farm, I meandered around for awhile and found some dear old friends to catch up with. What a gorgeous place to have a celebration with friends.

Strolling around the farm with Hilary. (I had to get nice shoes for the occasion.)

Posing with my old roomie Tammy, who got married the next day!

The wedding itself was just beautiful. Erin Lee and William got married in the orchard - everyone stood during the ceremony and it was really nice. Will got nice and choked up looking at beautiful Erin. After the ceremony there was some chill time involving delicious appetizers and more wandering around the farm. Then Erin and Will came out to the reception and it was great! I was very patient in waiting for my Erin hug. I know the day was supposed to be all about Erin and Will, but I needed an Erin Lee hug!

So much love!

I have to pause from the emphasis on happiness and friends for just a moment to say that the food was absolutely phenomenal. I have never in my life had such good food at a wedding. As I sit here typing, I am literally daydreaming about all of the food. Grilled veggies, roasted veggie ravioli, amazing salad, and so on. Topped off with a dreamy dessert that was so tasty I don't even know how to spell it.

OK, back to the wedding. Erin was beautiful, Will was handsome (and pulled off a fedora like nobody's business), everyone was spilling over with happiness, and it was all in all an awesome day. Plus it was at a lavender farm. How cool.

Workin' the new dress and sweater like it ain't no thang.

First Chunk o' Seattle

2010-08-17T13:14:00.028-07:00

Shopping Bag Advertising

Leaving Trader Joe's

After the basketball tournament, I caught a ride with my sister and her boyfriend down to Seattle. My purpose in visiting Seattle was to attend my dear old roommate Erin's wedding. She got married on an island in the Puget Sound, so I stayed the night with some friends in Seattle.

My hosts weren't home yet when I arrived, so I went for a familiar stroll from Wallingford down into the U-District. I love being a pedestrian in Seattle. There is always something interesting to look at. These are a few pictures of things I saw on my walk.

"Stop Whining" School Bus

The weather was a little dreary and I had packed a (new and awesome) sleeveless dress to wear the next day, so I wandered down to Urban Outfitters to see if I could find a nice button-up sweater to wear with it (are those called cardigans?).

I also hit up Trader Joe's to stock up on treats for my Canadian friends. Chocolate and coffee, mostly. Entirely, actually.

Eventually I made it back up to the place where I was staying and a few minutes after I arrive, Gen and Bobby returned. Yay! We had a nice evening catching up and playing games. We got to bed pretty early - we had a wedding to attend the next day!

Next chunk: Vashon Island!

Next Chunk... Sumas!

2010-08-12T13:30:00.000-07:00

After tensely waiting at the gate in Calgary to see if I would get a seat for my flight to Seattle (yeah standby!), I made it onto the plane and to the Emerald City.

First stop: Sumas.

My little brother (who is not as little as he used to be) was hosting a 3-on-3 basketball tournament in Sumas the next day and I had been recruited to monitor/referee one of the courts.

It poured and poured and poured, but it was fun. Until a crazy mom got all up in my grill and started yelling at me after one of the games. (Why does there always have to be a crazy mom?) Crazy mom yelled things like, "If you want to make it in the reffing world, you'd better listen to me," and, "You ruined that child's self-esteem for life." Oh well, she's probably over it by now. Or maybe she is having fun telling all her crazy mom friends about the awful referee at the tournament in Sumas.

I really don't want to make it in the reffing world, by the way. I reffed intramurals for a couple of years at UW and it really is a sucky job. Unless you like to be yelled at by people like crazy mom.

Stay tuned for the next stop: Seattle.

August In Chunks...

2010-08-06T12:07:00.001-07:00

Well, chunk one of August is almost done. Zoe is still my favorite dog in the whole world. However, I would never want to live alone with just a dog. I will be glad to live with people again.

But before I tell you about living situations, I get to go to Seattle! I am really hoping that the trip down is not TOO interesting, as I am flying there standby, but I am always up for a little adventure. Last I checked, there were two seats available on the flight I will be attempting to take tonight, so hopefully everyone else in Calgary decides to stay home. Should I start rumors about the plane's mechanical problems when I get to the gate to discourage people from flying? Probably.

Erin, my UW roommate, is getting married on Sunday! On a lavender farm on an island in the Puget Sound. To my future friend-in-law William. (If you are my friend-in-law, it means you married my friend.)

I also get to spend a day with my family and stay with some good friends in Seattle. I'm mostly looking forward to all of the awesome people I get to see this week, but I have to admit I am also very excited about eating yummy food in Seattle. And hopefully hitting up Trader Joe's. Maybe eating some chocolate as well. Maybe? Oh, who am I kidding. Definitely eating some chocolate as well.

As for the rest of August, you will have to wait until we get there and hope that I find time to blog about it.

(Hene, I get bonus points for posting this, OK?)

Whirlwind...

2010-08-02T11:50:00.000-07:00

Wow! Is it really August?

It is? Oh good! I've REALLY been looking forward to August.

To start it off, I am dogsitting Zoe, my favorite dog in the whole world. She has a mohawk and likes to cuddle and I love her.

At the end of the week, I get to fly to Seattle to hang out and see one of my best friends get married on a lavender farm on an island in the Puget Sound.

When I get back, I get to pack up my stuff and move into Sam's new townhouse. I can't wait to unpack! I think we will feel like grown-ups playing house. Fun!

A few days after we settle in, another one of my greatest friends is coming to visit for a few days - we get to take a trip up to Red Deer to see a different awesome friend and her lovely new baby.

So much awesome!

GHANA GHANA GHANA!!!

2010-06-26T14:14:00.002-07:00

Deja vu? Yup!

Hooray for Ghana! I wish I could be there for the party!

Familiar

2010-06-19T22:01:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I like things, particularly edible things, not because they are good, but because they remind me of other things.

Sometimes when I have to work on a Saturday morning, I will treat myself to a Tim Hortons sausage breakfast sandwich on a biscuit. It might be my favorite food item on their menu.

I was eating one a couple of weeks ago when I realized that they don't actually taste that great. What I also realized is that they remind me of the biscuits and sausage gravy that Gram, my great-grandma who passed away a couple of years ago, used to make me for breakfast when I visited her as a child. Mmmmm, it was my favorite breakfast. Many Canadians do not understand how a person can consume such a heavy meal in the morning like that (many Canadians also do not understand the idea of donuts for breakfast, something that I can agree with), but my Gram was a true southern woman and that is what we ate at her house.

I think the only reason that I like the breakfast sandwich is that it reminds me of Gram.

Something that I am not particularly fond of is Nestea. To me, iced tea is made when you brew some tea, make it cold, then add some sugar and lemon to it. It does not come from a can. I've tried to learn to enjoy Nestea. I even started calling it "special lemonade" in hopes that I would forget that it had any relation to iced tea, but the stuff is just not very good.

One time, when I was working at camp, I was having a really bad day. I was sitting on the couch with Cassy in Sam's cabin (it was the summer before Sam and I shared the nurse's cabin). I think we were sitting in the dark, too, so that nobody would know that we were not working.

That summer, Sam and I took several trips to America to buy brown cream soda and our fridge was literally full of it. I love brown cream soda, so I figured that drinking one might make me feel better. So, I grabbed a can out of the fridge, opened it, and took a big sip.

Wouldn't you know, someone had put a can of "special lemonade" in our fridge. A single can of "special lemonade" amidst about 100 cans of brown cream soda. That is the can I picked, and it was terrible. It was so terrible that it was hilarious and it made me feel better.

Today I had a crappy day. I was bustling around work and got to thinking about the sausage biscuit and how it doesn't really taste good but I like it anyways because of the familiar feeling it gives me. I remembered that bad day I had at camp a few years back and how funny it was when I drank the "special lemonade."

"Maybe if I drink some Nestea," I thought to myself, "I will laugh and feel better."

So, I got my Nalgene, went to the fountain machine, and poured myself some "special lemonade." I drank it, and it was terrible, but I kept on drinking it in hopes that it would make me feel better. When I finished, I was mostly thinking about how terrible it tasted and how I needed to drink something else to get the taste out of my mouth. Then, I realized that my plan for feeling better was a little bit ridiculous and not very effective, so I chuckled at myself.

It didn't really end up making me feel better (arriving home from work did make me feel better), but it was kind of humorous.

World Cup!

2010-06-18T20:11:00.000-07:00

I love World Cup! It is so sweet to see Ghana right there in the mix, and there is a decent chance that Ghana will end up playing the US again, that is if both teams make it through the group stage. I think we all know who I'd be cheering for ;-)

How Familiar

2010-06-18T07:54:00.000-07:00

I often doze off during the long bus ride to school/work. It reminds me of childhood, when I would almost always fall asleep during car rides. I'm not talking about just my early childhood, I'm talking high school as well. For those of you who know me, this should come as no surprise. I have fallen asleep in places far more ridiculous than a comfortable car.

One of the things that always astonished me when I would fall asleep in the car as a kid was my consistent ability to awaken as we approached the house. As I felt the last few familiar turns before we arrived home, I would start to wake up. My body must have known that my mom had no intention of carrying me up a flight of stairs to my bed.

Today, I was met with that same sense of surprise as I opened my eyes from my little rest on the bus just in time to pull the cord for my stop. I must be getting used to this bus route.

I think it's pretty cool that we learn to perfom these sorts of autonomic actions that are beneficial to us. Of course there are much cooler examples than the one I used here, paricularly in the field of Biology, but it is interesting to think about nonetheless.

Do you think that normally voluntary things can become more autonomic by simple repetition? Does doing good things out of habit take any of the good out of it?

Where'd they put my bus stop?!

2010-06-13T21:35:00.000-07:00

Excuse my negativity, but getting to work/school SUCKS! I have to take two busses and a train to get there and it typically takes about an hour and a half. Well, it used to take an hour and a half.

They are extending the train line so that it goes near my school/work. Isn't that awesome? I would think so, too, if it was actually going to be finished sometime before I graduate. I guess it WILL be awesome in the future, but for now it is a pain.

The construction for this train line has closed the bus terminal that I used to get off at. The change makes it so that after I get off the bus, I have to take a half hour walk to get to school/work. Walking in the sunshine has been enjoyable these past couple of days, but I doubt it will be fun when it is -40 degrees out. My transit time since the change has averaged about two hours one way. Oy!

Dealing with the inconsistent transfers, the long walk when I am dead tired after a day of work, and being late for work if something goes wrong along the way are the sorts of things that put me in a grumpy mood. I hate being grumpy! (I know, who doesn't?)

I know, my attitude is terrible. I have to get creative and find ways to make the most of it. Any ideas?

Well, I should probably go meditate on I Thessalonians 5:16-18 for awhile and see how it goes tomorrow. Bye!

Better Late Than Never

2010-05-30T15:42:00.000-07:00

I suppose the title of this post could refer to me not posting anything on Wednesday, although that was not my original intention.

As it turns out, I have to take some fine arts credits in order to graduate. I registered for drawing, but then had trouble finding another good class to take. I soon realized that my only options were to join the school choir, take music theory, or take guitar lessons. To me, the answer was obvious.

So, yesterday...

I bought a guitar! I got it for a pretty good deal from some kid on Kijiji. I have always always ALWAYS wanted to learn to play guitar. When I was a kid, I put "acoustic guitar" on my Christmas list every year for quite a few years in a row (I don't think anyone took me seriously).

I am so excited that I am more or less being forced to learn guitar. It's one of those things that I would probably never buy for myself unless I had some good reason, such as graduating. Wahoo!

Hm. Today is Wednesday.

2010-05-19T20:31:00.000-07:00

I am not going to write much today. I am in the middle of a week-long class discussing wealth and poverty in the Bible. We meet from 9-4 everyday, which takes up most of my mental energy. Because it's pretty much all I'm doing this week, let me tell you a little bit about the class.

This is the first Biblical theology class I have taken and it is fascinating. I love reading my Bible on my own, but sometimes I feel a little lost. It is really nice to have an expert in the room to guide me and my classmates as we read Scripture and discuss its meanings, interjecting with contextual and cultural information as needed. He has given us so much information to look at that I think I could study this subject for a very long time without getting bored.

Well, it's about my bedtime, so that's all you get today.

Psalm 2

2010-05-12T07:00:00.003-07:00

"I have installed my king
   on Zion, my holy hill.
I will proclaim the decrees of the Lord:
   He said to me, "You are my Son;
   today I have become your father
Ask of me,
   and I will make the nations your inheritance,
   the ends of the earth your possession."
-Psalm 2:6-8

Lately, I have been thinking about metaphors. Likenesses between seemingly unrelated elements is one of those things that, to me, seems to be done by design.

As an interesting example, the Amazon Rainforest and the Congo River Basin are often called the lungs of the Earth. Since I have two lungs, too, it gives me a feeling of connectedness with the planet and makes me think that the force that brought my lungs about also had something to do with the botanical arrangement of the Earth as it exists today.

In the Genesis account of creation, God made people and entrusted them with the Earth. But, at the same time, it is from the dust that people were formed. We get this feeling of power, but we are a part of the planet that we are looking after, so we ought to take our responsibility seriously.

I don't have much else to say about this, I just think it is interesting to think about.

Waves (the coffee shop reviews are back!)

2010-05-07T14:33:00.002-07:00

There is a coffee shop called Waves next to the school I attend (Waves is located at 30 Springborough Blvd. SW, Calgary). I was down there today, so I figured I'd stop in for a drink.

A few years ago, I was at a Second Cup in Vancouver and ordered an Americano, joking with the barista that it ought to be called a Canadiano in Canada. I was surprised when I entered Waves to see that they had Canadianos on their menu instead of Americanos! After doing a bit of research when I got home, I learned that Waves is a coffee franchise based out of the lower mainland, which further convinced me that I came up with the name Canadiano. Anyways, I digress.

I ordered the Canadiano and it was very palatable. It had a smooth earthy-chocolaty flavor that tasted good with no cream or sugar. With cream and sugar added, it tasted like a yummy dessert. Although this may not be the place for a coffee connoisseur seeking the perfect cup of coffee, it is a great place to have a nice cup of coffee with a friend or perhaps a good book.

One of the things that I really like about this place is the partnership they have with coffee farmers through the One Harvest Project, through which they sell single-origin coffee that is sustainable (above Fair Trade standards) for the people who produce it. I didn't see any indication that the espresso I ordered was a part of this project, so I can't speak to the quality of the One Harvest Project coffee, but I'm giving it a plug here anyways because I like sustainability and Fair Trade. I didn't see the Fair Trade certification on the packaging, so I guess I'll have to take their word that they meet the standards. Actually, I think I'll email them and ask them why the coffee is not Fair Trade certified.

Which reminds me. Tomorrow is World Fair Trade Day! If you live near a 10,000 Villages, they will most likely have fun, entertainment, and prizes happening tomorrow. Have a great weekend, friends!

Psalm 1

2010-05-05T07:00:00.022-07:00

"Blessed is the man
   who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
   or sit at the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
   and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
   which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
   Whatever he does prospers."
-Psalm 1:1-3

Some seasons are more difficult to get through than others. Sometimes I feel like I am doing life completely wrong and, perhaps worse, sometimes I lose the motivation to do anything at all. In particular, there are times when loving God and loving others is especially difficult, but I keep at it anyways because Jesus wants me to. I am not saying I am good at it, just that I keep trying. Sometimes this feels counterintuitive. Why keep at it when it does not make the season easier?

Because it is good. When the time is right, good will come of this sort of faith in God's law, just as the tree planted by streams of water yields its fruit in season.

Wednesday already?

2010-04-28T19:35:00.007-07:00

I have been doing a healthy amount of writing over the past week. Feels good. Creativity in general feels good. I've been doing some drawing and other sorts of creating lately just because it feels good. I like to call these things "little projects."

One of the little projects I've been engaging in is digitalizing some admittedly not-all-that-incredible drawings I did a year or two ago. Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure I did them two years ago. Where has that time gone?!

The drawings were simple reflections on different Psalms. I think I only did the first six, but I will slowly continue to move through them. (At this rate I will finish a few years before my 100th birthday, haha.)

I will eventually post the final products with the verses that stuck out to me the most as well as a short commentary on what the drawing means to me. But, for today, I just want to show you a before and an after picture because it is kind of fun. The before pictures are terrible, they don't look that bad in real life. The scanner did a sad job of picking up the colors. I got to brighten and straighten it up, though, and it was fun even if it is not a masterpiece.

OK, here is your teaser!

BEFORE

AFTER

Write On

2010-04-21T20:00:00.003-07:00

It's a little late for New Year's resolutions, but what the heck. I have been so lazy as a writer lately and I am going to try to change that.

I need to write more. It's good for my brain and I like doing it, so I should do more of it, right? Right. Write.

I have a small work space set up (all that means is that I moved the junk off of my desk) and I have a lot of ideas. Add a couple of tangible goals and I should be in good shape. For now, my primary goal is to write every day. I don't necessarily mean blogging, but some stuff will undoubtedly end up on here. How about I shoot for a blog post per week? On... Wednesdays? Sure, Wednesdays. Today is Wednesday and I am blogging right now, so I guess that works for me.

OK. Here we go...

I know, Lent is over.

2010-04-05T14:24:00.004-07:00

A week or two ago I started thinking that it might be good for me to give up my coffee drinking habit. Now, I'm not talking about the occasional amazing cup of clover-pressed coffee that I like to enjoy at the Farmer's Market. I'm talking about the boring brew I find myself needing every single morning if I am to go on with my day.

Two days ago, I cut myself off. No coffee.

I've been drinking a bit of tea because I think I am having withdrawals or something. Tea has about 20% as much caffeine as coffee, so it is kind of like nicorette gum for coffee drinkers. I am craving it so bad, but I figure once it stops being a part of my routine it won't be so bad.

I am currently in the middle of writing a 10-pager that is due tomorrow night. With no coffee on the agenda, this could be a long haul.

To finish off, a poem entitled "They Drink Tea" by Gary Snyder:

There are those who love to get dirty
and fix things.
They drink coffee at dawn,
beer after work.
And those who stay clean,
just appreciate things,
At breakfast they have milk,
and juice at night.

There are those who do both,
they drink tea.

TV

2010-03-11T06:53:00.000-08:00

I don't watch a whole lot of TV, but I do have a couple of shows I like.

My math professor likes to show us random geeky video clips at the beginning of each tutorial class. Yesterday's was a clip from The Big Bang Theory and it was pretty funny, so this morning when I couldn't sleep I found a place to watch it online. I'm on episode 4 of season 1 already and it's not even 8 o'clock yet!

I surprised nobody has ever told me (me being the semi-geek that I am) how much I would like that show!

LYC

2010-03-07T20:30:00.000-08:00

This weekend there was an event called Legacy Youth Conference at the school I attend and work at. We hosted hundreds of youth and put on a sweet conference with the theme of "Simple." OK, so I was actually working in the cafeteria all weekend, not doing official conference stuff, but it was still sweet.

My favorite part of the weekend was some of the questions that the younger kids would ask me while I was working:

Q: "Is there anything I can get for a dollar?"
A: "You can get a day old muffin. That's it. Or You can have some peanut butter for free."

Q: "Why is this more than the sign says?"
A: "There is sales tax. And a bottle deposit."

Anyways, it was fun to hang around all the youth and see some live performances, especially those of some of my superly talented fellow students. Yup. Very fun!

A Bit of a Rant and I'm Glad They're Done...

2010-02-28T21:41:00.001-08:00

I had some fun watching the Olympics in my sweatpants during reading week, but I'm glad they're done. I love Canada for a lot of reasons, but Canadians have been acting way too American lately! What is with the spirit of domination? This week, I actually overheard a Canadian say in all seriousness, "People who don't cheer for Canada shouldn't be allowed to live here." That doesn't scream "welcoming country of great diversity" to me.

Also, the "Own the Podium" campaign was lame. Talk about eating your words, then spitting them back out and trying to rearrange them more favorably. How about simply treating your athletes well and then letting their performances speak for themselves?

Hockey I understand. Canada should be possessive and obsessive about hockey because it really is their game. And I'm glad they got their gold (I like to think that when my home country lost, it made me a more popular person here in Canada). Actually, I probably would have cheered for your team if the whole "Own the Podium" thing wasn't so annoying. Wouldn't be the first time I cheered against an American team, after all.

Anywho, a few positives to finish off... Canada, your athletes did great, your hockey team showed up when they needed to, and you showed great national pride. Also, I loved watching what the Americans did in dominating the podium, my favorite Seattle boy Apolo Anton Ohno for what he accomplished in his own medal count, and of the grit that our young underdog hockey players put into their games, not to mention Ryan Miller's incredible tournament in goal.

OK, now that I have conducted my own personal closing ceremony, I am DONE with the Olympics and I don't care how badly people want to talk about hockey tomorrow.

Brace yourselves, this is going to be a great post...

2010-02-24T19:42:00.004-08:00

Last night I was falling asleep, just as I do almost every night. Sam was still awake, but she was in her own room, down two flights of stairs.

As I was drifting off to sleep, I heard noises that made me think that Sam was coming upstairs to tell me something (footsteps going up basement stairs, basement door opening, quick steps through first floor, gentle steps up to the second story). So, I woke myself up a little, but then the steps went back downstairs. Sam saw that my light was off, so she went downstairs to check my calendar. Sam and her family made me make a calendar so that they know where I am most of the time.

After calculating approximately what time I would have to leave the house in the morning, Sam decided that she could wake me up without feeling too bad about it, so I listened again from my bed as she gently walked up the steps and towards my room. Sam gave a light couple of taps on my door then invited herself in.

"I know you're trying to sleep, but you really have to come to my room and see something that's on my TV."

Sam's always trying to get me to come see things and I really wanted to get some sleep, but she assured me that this one was worth it. She was pretty convincing about it, and she could barely contain her excitement, so I dragged myself out of bed.

I followed Sam down the first and second flights of stairs and towards her bedroom. She took a peek into her room, then let out a little giggle and instructed me to go look.

This is what I saw.....

......

......

...... wait for it

......

......

......

......

......

......

......

It's Robyn Roste on TV! And she's not even standing on the sidelines of a curling rink. Adlai, if you want to see Robyn on TV, you need to start watching Christian television late at night.

Ready, Break!

2010-02-18T14:51:00.000-08:00

Since I have to work all weekend, tomorrow is the last day of my five day reading break. I accomplished a small amount of reading, an even smaller portion of which was for school. I spent a good amount of time watching the Olympics in my sweatpants. I spent some time with some of the people who I have not been able to see much of because of my otherwise busy schedule.

To kick off my break, I went to a Valentine's Day party on Sunday night after work. That's right people, I went to a social event and it wasn't even because Sam dragged me along (she was on practicum that day). We played Battle of the Sexes and, even though us girls lost, I got to surprise everyone with my knowledge of the cultural sporting event that takes place in Pamplona, Spain.

One of the interesting things that has been weaving its way through my week is a bit of graphic design work, which is really fun. I'm creating a logo for a guy I know who is just starting to get into event planning. It's not a paid job, but I'll get into some concerts for free. Plus, graphic design is really fun! I haven't had much time for creativity since school started, so it was a nice addition to the week.

Days off?!

2010-02-12T20:30:00.000-08:00

I'm a little busy. It's a little different than my usual carefree pace, but it seems good.

I'm a full-time student again. I'm studying math, rocks, and history this semester. I love math!

I got a job on campus (that's the only place I'm legally allowed to work right now). I like it so far. I work with some fun and diverse people.

The lady who trained me is the cutest Polish lady I've ever met. Not that I've met many Polish ladies, but she's great. Her name is Jadwega, and if you can pronounce that right on the first try then you are doing better than I am. She is a super-cashier and knows pretty much everything there is to know about our small store.

I also have a friend at work from Ghana, so I am being called obruni once again. That's Twi, one of Ghana's national languages, for white person. It's fun to talk about Ghana and the places we've both been. I can't wait until the FIFA World Cup rolls around so we can cheer for Ghana.

One of my bosses is a total goof, which makes things fun. The other day I looked into the kitchen and he was serving food with the head of a mop under his hat, like a wig. It looked so funny.

Hmm... what else? I spend ridiculous amounts of time on the bus/train. It takes about an hour and a half to get to school/work, which makes for about three hours a day in transit. I don't mind, but some nights I am only home for seven hours. That does NOT leave enough time for sleep.

But this week I am on reading break. I have to work tomorrow and Sunday, then I have five days off to get ready for midterms and just relax. I think those five days are exactly what I need to recharge for the last eight weeks of winter semester. Yay!

Whoa!

2010-01-28T09:49:00.000-08:00

This morning I was frying up some red pepper and onion to put in my omelette. I added some tomato and cilantro and it turned into yummy salsa! I was amazed, but now that I think about, I guess it's not that surprising.

Salsa is one of my favorite foods. When I was a kid I would put salsa on everything. My specialty was the cheesy salsa hot dog.

Anyways, I just remembered that Ghana is playing Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations right now! Go GHANA!!!

Haiti and Stupidity

2010-01-15T03:22:00.006-08:00

"I also want to say a word about God and evil. Pat Robertson said that Haiti’s earthquake was caused because of the country’s “pact with the devil.” I don’t even know what he means, nor do I care. But I want to say this: My God does not cause evil. God is not a vengeful and retributive being, waiting to strike us down; instead, God is in the very midst of this tragedy, suffering with those who are suffering. When evil strikes, it’s easy to ask, where is God? The answer is simple: God is suffering with those who are suffering."
-Jim Wallis on his God's Politics blog (read full article here)

When I was in elementary school, my younger sister and I went to a day home after school. One afternoon, in the midst of an intense game of cops and robbers, my sister fell off of her bike and scraped up one of her knees. My sister went and sat on the edge of the sandbox to examine her wound.

The rest of us kids joined her, offering consolation and promising that she could be a robber in the next game. One kid, though, wanted to help her clean up her knee. His idea was to cover the wound with sand so that it would stop bleeding. So, he threw a bunch of sand onto my sisters bleeding knee. Not only did this cause my sister increased pain, it did nothing to help. In fact, scabs formed over the sand and she later had to have the skin on her knees cut open again to get it all out. Kids are stupid sometimes.

So is Pat Robertson (but I guess the White House beat me to that observation). Why would someone throw sand on that? Something is wrong when a response to suffering is so damning.

"Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another."
-Romans 12:15-16

God, I want to be right there with you, suffering with those who are suffering. I pray that, as a church and as people living on this planet together, our response to great suffering would be genuine empathy. Help us to cling to your goodness and your love even when awful things happen.

World Juniors

2010-01-06T13:54:00.001-08:00

It's kind of too bad that the American hockey team won the World Juniors. I think it's safe to say that most Canadians (at least the ones I know) were at the very least interested in the tournament. A lot of Canadians could probably tell you who Team Canada beat on their way to the gold medal game and would perhaps be able to rattle off a couple of statistical comparisons between current player Eberle and former player (and current NY Islander) Tavares.

The average American? "Huh? What hockey tournament?" Oh well, I'm sure they'll (we'll?) pay closer attention when it is time for Olympic hockey.

This town is CRAZY.

2009-12-29T14:43:00.000-08:00

Here in Sumas, I cannot go to the bank to exchange my money. I have to do it at the grocery store.

Odd.

Sumas

2009-12-27T14:44:00.000-08:00

I made it back from a cabin on the Spokane River in Idaho, which was a really awesome place to spend Christmas.

Sumas for two more sleeps, then I get to go back to Calgary! I'm so ready to go back.

Tomorrow is going to be SWEET! I am getting a visit from my favorite creepy friend!!! We are going to have Tim Hortons and do all sorts of other things to make Sam and Jen wish they could have been here, too.

Way to go, Idaho!

2009-12-22T12:10:00.000-08:00

I'm going to Idaho for Christmas! I'm leaving today, in about 20 minutes, and coming back on Boxing Day. My grandma rented a cabin in Coeur d'Alene and a bunch of my family is going out there for the holidays. Should be fun!

The transition continues...

2009-12-18T14:52:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was my last day at work and it went pretty well. I was working at a daycare, so I tried not to get too attached to the kids because I suspected I wouldn't be here for very long. I managed to make it through three months of work with only one kid that I will miss A LOT - a 4th grade troublemaker of a boy who also happens to be the only other Calgary Flames fan that I know of in this city. We've had lots of fun talking hockey and sorting out all of the trouble this kid gets into.

Wrap-Up

2009-12-17T09:49:00.000-08:00

Things are starting to wind down here in the US of A. Today is my last day at work - I have a sneaking suspicion that the kids are throwing me a going-away party that has so-far been disguised as a Christmas party. Kids aren't the awesomest at keeping secrets, haha.

On Tuesday I'm leaving Seattle and heading to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho for Christmas. It is a little random - my grandma, who lives in Palm Springs, CA, rented a house there for the week for all of us to stay in. I'll be back in Sumas late on the 26th, then I fly back to Calgary on the 29th.

I will miss my friends here, but I'm really excited to go back to Canada and back to school!

The official "I get to go back to Canada" blog.

2009-12-03T11:31:00.000-08:00

There is a Canadian Consulate General in Seattle.

Yesterday I woke up at 5:30 and left the house at 6:45 so I could be downtown before it opened at 8:00. I was the third person there and the eighth person to get a number. I was very prepared and had a pretty good idea of what to expect.

I waited for my number to pop up on the screen, then handed my application to a lady who said that another lady would call my number so that I could pay. So, I sat down and waited for my number again.

When the screen flashed my number, inviting me to give money to Canada, I went to the cashier's counter and was informed that the price had gone up $10 since I last checked the website (two days ago!). There's a bank machine downstairs, she told me, and agreed to wait for me.

I went downstairs and paid a $3 fee to take out some money. The lowest denomination the cash machine gives is $20 and I needed $10, so I also had to go buy a juice. The Canadian Consulate does not give change.

I went back upstairs and paid the lady, who told me to sit down and wait for my number to be called AGAIN. When my number appeared on the screen for the third and final time, it directed me to interview booth 7. Interview booths in Seattle are not as friendly as interview booths in Calgary. In Calgary, the interview booth's are nice little desks with boxes of tissue in case you cry. In Seattle, the interview booth is a small room with some chairs, which is separated from the interviewer by glass. No boxes of tissue.

In interview booth 7, I was told that I had not been out of Canada long enough to be eligible for a study permit.

I sort of "went off" on her, quoting Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and basically refusing to accept her reasoning. I couldn't help it, I love Canada and the words just started spewing out of my mouth. After I was done talking, I immediately became really scared that she would not like my attitude. Maybe she'd rip up my passport right in front of my eyes or tell me that I was never allowed back into Canada.

Instead, she read the portion of IRPA I had quoted and agreed that I had, in fact, been out of Canada for long enough. After the technicalities of the law were sorted out, she asked all of the normal study permit questions and issued me an acceptance letter (I get the actual permit when I cross the border).

Welcome to Advent

2009-11-29T06:00:00.005-08:00

Sadako Sasaki

2009-11-25T13:38:00.001-08:00

Located in Seattle's University District, Peace Park is a memorial to Sadako Sasaki.

Sadako was 2 years old and living in Hiroshima when the atomic bombs were dropped. She consequently developed leukemia and, in the hospital, began making paper cranes.

The Japanese saying is that one who folds a thousand paper cranes will be granted one wish. Sadako only made it to 644 before dying. She was 12.

Sadako's story is a symbol of the perils of nuclear war and has been used to promote peace in many parts of the world. The paper cranes that people draper over her statue symbolize the yearning for peace that exists in this world.

Bohemian Rhapsody + Muppets

2009-11-24T12:27:00.000-08:00

= AMAZING

Flip Side

2009-11-16T00:49:00.002-08:00

A little while ago I wrote something for Insight for Living's LifeTrac blog. In a nutshell, it was about how our prayers sometimes go unanswered and that we should be ready to pray "your will be done" and actually mean it. Sometimes that is a really difficult thing to do.

Anyways. I bring that up because I want to balance it out a bit. Today I want to talk about something related but different, something joyful. It involves a small piece of the story of my life, which I'd like to share...

I started following Jesus when I was 11 or 12 years old. Since then, I have probably spent more time talking to God about my mom than any other subject. I don't intend to do any mom-bashing, so suffice it to say that she has had some really wild years and that some people, herself and myself included, have had some painful experiences during those years. She comes up a lot when I talk to or listen to God - I have always just felt like I need to pray about her more than other people.

God, I want my mom to know peace that passes understanding. It exists, I've experienced it. But can we please find a way to let her experience it, too? ... I want so badly for her to know how much she is loved. That she is loved far more deeply and completely than the world tells her she is. ... God, I want to believe that amazing things can happen, but this seems impossible. Maybe she won't ever know that you are the source of these things. Can you somehow make it so that she can feel your peace and love, even if she doesn't know it's you? Please?

I have said these sorts of prayers over and over, with great sincerity, for the past 12 years or so. Then, a few months ago, in mid-August, something kind of crazy happened. My mom simply yet profoundly realized that nothing in this world compares to the love that God has for his children. She completely restructured her life around the love of God and she has an inexplicable feeling of peace about her new life. In a day, 12 years of prayers were answered and continue to be answered.

All of this has left me with my jaw on the floor, completely in awe of God. It blows my mind every time I think about it. I think it will for a long time. It is just so good.

I guess what I'm getting at is that God is good. And he has good plans. We can join in on all that goodness when we talk to God about stuff. How sweet is that?

Last Night: 2 Things

2009-11-06T09:28:00.001-08:00

1. There was a storm and it was SO loud! Erin and I couldn't even talk to each other for awhile because the noise was so massive. HUGE house-shaking thunder, HUGE lightning, TONS of hail, TONS of wind, lights flickering... it was awesome!!!

2. I had a slumber party with my bestest friend in the whole wide world. I love Skype! (And friends.)

Slums are real....

2009-11-04T12:34:00.002-08:00

http://www.theplaceswelive.com/

This website is pretty incredible... it takes you on a tour of the homes of different people who, for one reason or another, have had to make lives for themselves in slums, which are housing a higher and higher percentage of the globe's population every year. Life in the slums is very real and I think it is worth our time to take a look at the way over a billion people are living today.

Stirring

2009-10-25T21:35:00.001-07:00

I used to really ache for those who suffer. I would literally lose a lot of sleep crying for and praying for those who live in extreme poverty, those who have little freedom, those who are suffering from the world's injustice. I have been lamenting the lack of that sort of empathy in my life for several months now. I want to be compassionate, but I feel so hollow. I don't know where that part of me, which seemed so abundant in the past, has gone.

The other night I was reading a book called Gracias: A Latin American Journal by Henri Nouwen. One of his journal entries stirred my hunger for justice back to life a little bit. The emotions I went through when I read this section gave me a taste of what I used to feel like nearly all of the time. It is a tough, good feeling.

True prayer always involves becoming poor. When we pray we stand naked and vulnerable in front of Our Lord and show him our true condition. If one were to do this not just for oneself, but in the name of the thousands of surrounding poor people, wouldn't that be "mission" in the true sense of being sent into the world as Jesus himself was sent into the world? To lift up your hands to the Lord and show him the hungry children who play on the dusty streets, the tired women who carry their babies on their backs to the marketplace, the men who try to forget their misery by drinking too much beer on the weekends, the jobless teenagers and the homeless squatters, together with their laughter, friendly gestures, and gentle words - wouldn't that be true service? If God really exists, if he truly cares, if he never leaves his people alone, who is there to remind him of his promises? Who is there to cry out: "How long will you frown on your people's plea? . . . Turn again, we implore, look down from heaven and see. Visit this vine and protect it, the vine your right hand has planted. . . Let your face shine on us, and we shall be saved" (Ps. 80)? I feel that in a world rushing to the abyss, the need for calling God to the task, for challenging him to make his love felt among the poor, is more urgent than ever.

A friend of mine was talking today about how convicted she feels to do whatever she can to help the "least of these." She was so passionate and spoke with such conviction. It reminded me of my former, better self. I miss the old Ashley.

Mr. Spots!

2009-10-25T15:12:00.001-07:00

I finally made it down to Mr. Spots Chai House in Ballard. Mr. Spot's is the original home of Morning Glory Chai. Morning Glory is such a tasty spicy chai. I'm not exactly sure why they call it Morning Glory, but the first time I drank it, I had such pleasant dreams that I woke up feeling really great. Morning glory! The Chai House is pretty great. When I walked in there was a lady in one corner with a massage chair set up - she was giving free back massages. I also got a free slice of homemade pizza because it got a little too crispy for them to sell.

This is a great place to come on a drizzly Seattle Sunday afternoon.

While I'm on here, I suppose I will take a moment to share the little piece of writing I did for Insight for Living's LifeTrac blog (coordinated by the one and only Robyn Roste). Anyways, the writing piece... Here it is!

The coffee is very necessary this morning...

2009-10-24T08:46:00.004-07:00

I had to be up earlier than usual to make it down to the lower Queen Anne neighborhood for a class I am taking today. I made it with some time to spare, so I found a spot for breakfast and a triple shot Americano (I am not used to waking up this early!). So, here I am at Citizen Coffee. It is a really fun little spot, close to Seattle Center but not so close that it has any sort of touristy feel. The building is really cool, as are the employees. The coffee is nice and rich and strong, just what I need this morning! My breakfast sandwich is AMAZING. Mmmmm... eggs and bacon and tomato and and fresh basil on a yummy savory biscuit. They also serve wine and make crepes - I think it'd be fun to come here some evening and indulge in those.

Maple Leaf

2009-10-22T11:35:00.008-07:00

This morning I have been sipping coffee and working on a research project at a place called Cloud City Coffee, in the Maple Leaf neighborhood. After reading the Wikipedia entry on this neighborhood, it just might be my new favorite neighborhood in Seattle. Here is an excerpt...

A popular story is that in the early days of Seattle's settlement the neighborhood was "so far north, it might as well have been Canada", and was named "Maple Leaf" as an inside joke.

Aw. That just warms my heart right up. Anyways, this place is pretty sweet, plus it's close to where I'm staying right now. The coffee is locally roasted, and cheap. Their drip coffee is self-serve and next to a pile o' mugs and a little piggy bank in which you put your dollar. It has a very familial feel to it - lots of people chatting it up on comfy couches, kids playing make believe, people enjoying good food together. Very nice.

Bus Instincts and Free Time

2009-10-21T09:10:00.006-07:00

I am getting good at knowing when I need to hurry for the bus. Actually, I've probably just been getting lucky with catching the bus lately, but I'm going to call it skill. Somehow, for the past couple of days I have just known when I need to run to the stop so that I don't miss the bus. I'm always a little bit proud when I get to the stop just in time. I'm also always a little proud when I decide I don't want to run, and the bus is a few minutes late.

Today I am in Greenwood getting a head start on next week's schoolwork at Wayward Coffeehouse. I found this place when I tried to get a job here a month or so ago and, even though they didn't hire me, it looked pretty sweet. So, here I am! The barista really liked my Charmander shirt. I mean, who wouldn't? (Sam wouldn't.)

I am getting tired of having so much free time, but at least I am getting some changes of scenery and getting to know Seattle a little better (Seattle really is a cool city).

It is amazing how having free time can suck the life out of me. I mean, I'm not doing anything, but I have little energy and am superly moody. I'm trying to get over this, to make things to do for myself and trick myself into thinking that I have to get them done. It is weird to find myself being somewhat driven by success/accomplishment. I always think and say that following Jesus transcends those things. Yet here I am with all the time in the world to spend getting to know Jesus better and all I can think about is how I'd rather be doing more work/school/anything. I'm such a hypocrite!

Further Adventures

2009-10-18T15:08:00.011-07:00

Couch surfing aside, I am having an adventurous time in Seattle. I am still looking for more work and anxiously awaiting the study permit application/decision, but there are cool things for me to do in the meantime.

Since I am a student, I got a little bit of a deal on a transit pass. So, I have one of those that is valid until right around the time I leave. I am doing my best to utilize the transit pass by choosing different neighborhoods to study/read/hang out in. It's pretty fun. Right now I'm in Capitol Hill by myself, sitting upstairs in a coffee/crepe shop called Joe Bar and sipping on an Americano, listening to some Supertramp, doing some people watching, a little reading and writing. Life is good, it seems, when I put in a little effort.

Seattle has so many nooks and crannies. Places to explore. Lots of water and hills and other things that you don't find in Calgary. I don't think I'll ever know all of the ins and outs of this city, but it sure is a good time trying to figure some of them out. If I get really adventurous, I will embark on a ferry adventure or two, just for kicks...

If you want to try and figure out where I've been couch surfing, I think the map on the left is pretty fun. Right now I'm in Northgate. Before that, I was in Green Lake and, before that, Wallingford. I work in Windermere. Do any of the neighborhoods you see on the map sound interesting to you? I'm still thinking of where I want to explore tomorrow....

Couch Surfer Heaven

2009-10-14T20:47:00.009-07:00

I have hit the jackpot...

FUTON!

I have been couch surfing for 5 full weeks. I came here to Erin's place on Sunday and it's pretty stinkin' great. Erin is great - she and I were roommates for a few years. That was back in the University days (well, technically I am still in my University days, but it's not the same). It is so sweet chillin' with her and catching up on the last couple of years.

Did I mention she has a futon? I can sprawl! It is glorious. Also, Erin is a muffin maker (I call her the muffin man... I'm not sure if she knows I call her the muffin man). She makes muffins on Wednesdays. Breakfast was good today, my friends.

On a completely different topic, I am already starting to feel the pressure of my re-application for a study permit. I'm planning on applying in early December, so that is only about six weeks away. I am trying to stay busy and avoid thinking too much about it until the time comes to start getting paperwork together. Yet here I am blogging about it. Silly American.

Movin' along...

2009-10-04T21:42:00.004-07:00

I am into my fourth week of couch surfing. Actually, I was floor surfing this past week. I have been sleeping really well on the floor, but I have had crazy dreams almost every night. Also, I am finding some large knots in my back. I think Lindsey got a couch delivered to her apartment today, though, so it should be a little cozier tonight.

Overall, Seattle has been a good time so far. I am getting a lot of chill time with some of my favorite university friends, I am enjoying the randomness of the University District (yesterday a girl walked by a window i was sitting next to with a cat perched on each shoulder), I am eating a lot of good food, and I am getting a lot of work done in the class I am taking, Philosophy 101. I am actually enjoying the class more than I expected to. It is not as floaty as I thought it would be and I am really loving that it is online. I am more articulate as a writer than I am as a speaker, so that works for me.

There are certainly ups and downs to the whole deal, but there are ups and downs everywhere. I am mostly doing OK. Having been pulled out of a place I love is still hard to handle some days, but I am discovering that I haven't been transplanted to a bad place. It is good. It is not what I wanted, but I didn't ask God to give me what I wanted, I asked him to give me what He wanted. Now I'm trying to want what He wants, but it is hard to get past my own agenda.

Surfin'

2009-09-24T11:04:00.004-07:00

Well, I have made it through 2 weeks of this couch surfing Seattle adventure with about 14 weeks to go. It is kind of fun living life week by week, taking people's generosity as it comes, doing my best to reciprocate, and staying wherever there is a space for me.

Arriving in Sumas on Wednesday, September 9, I made myself a little nest out of sleeping bags in the corner of my mom's living room and slept there until leaving for Seattle four days later, a Sunday. It was good to chill with my mom and bro, to see that they are doing OK, and to join them in looking forward to better days.

Since then I have been sleeping on Gen and Bobby's couch. Gen and Bobby are two good friends from my days at University of Washington. I was a bridesmaid in their wedding a couple of summers ago, the same summer that Jen and Cassy got married (not to each other). I have really enjoyed staying with these two, mostly because I have missed spending time with them over the past few years. They have been so generous in sharing their apartment with me and have joined me in going with the flow for a couple of weeks.

Gen and Bobby's lease allows them to have guests for up to 14 nights, so I will be leaving here on Sunday and moving to Lindsey's apartment. Lindsey is the twin sister of my best friend from elementary/middle/high school, so we grew up together. We both moved to Seattle right after high school and have helped each other out with a couple of different housing situations. Since her lease lets her have guests for up to a month, Lindsey is going to let me stay on her floor until the end of October. It'll be nice to be in one place for a whole month, and to have my own set of keys (Gen, Bobby, and I have been sharing 2 sets of keys).

From there, I'm not sure where I will stay, but I'm not too worried about it. Things have had a pleasant way of falling into place since my immigration interview. I really couldn't ask for a better situation while I am here.

It has been so good to know, to really know, that God is taking care of me in a beautifully communal way. That God is letting all of us, near and far, take care of each other in community.

I am...

2009-09-20T23:01:00.001-07:00

Here is a quote from my first day back at rich kid daycare...

2009-09-14T20:43:00.002-07:00

"Oh, I have that game on my iPod touch."

-boy in kindergarten

Bum

2009-09-12T08:09:00.002-07:00

Last night I took my brother out for pizza and, as we were leaving, they gave us two free large pizzas. I'm taking it as a sign that I will be very good at being a bum this semester.

Motion Movement

2009-09-10T19:20:00.002-07:00

I'm in Sumas right now, being reminded that there is not much to do in Sumas. The house my mom is renting is literally 2 blocks from the border that I cannot cross without convincing an immigration official that I won't stay in Canada illegally.

I go to Seattle on Sunday and start work on Monday. My living arrangements are still being sorted out, but I think I might just couch surf and, if there are a few gaps, I can always bunk at the young adult shelter that exists in the basement of the church I go to in Seattle (don't judge - I think it would be adventurous).

As for my mental state, it is a little shaky, but experience tells me that I will survive. I am generally flexible and easygoing, but I put a lot of energy into getting ready to go back to school this semester and most of that got thrown out the window after my immigration interview last Tuesday. That still stings.

I will admit, though, that my stress level actually went way down after my interview and I am really glad that it is finally over. Even though I am still getting over what happened at the interview, I've at least had the motivation to figure out what to do about it. This summer was really rough and I am so glad it is done even though I am not where I was expecting or hoping to be.

I am ready to full-out tackle these next three months with whatever strength I can muster up. I'm going to work my face off, ace my classes, and do everything I can to get ready to apply for a study permit at the consulate in Seattle. I know I will have days where I won't be this motivated, where all I will want to do is hop on a flight back to Calgary, but right now I have to force myself to be excited about everything (rejoice always, right?).

I get to take a couple of classes that will transfer. I get to go back to a job that I loved. I have some incredible friends in Seattle who aren't going to let me be miserable for three months. These are things worth being excited about.

Puzzle Pieces

2009-09-05T21:39:00.005-07:00

Things are working out.

I have a flight to Abbotsford booked for Wednesday. I'll spend a couple of days with my mom, then head to Seattle.

I'm going to take 2 classes this quarter at a community college in Seattle. I already got a letter guaranteeing that they will transfer to the university here in Calgary. I'm about 95% sure that I will be back in Calgary for winter semester. (The 5% is intended to account for the unpredictability of immigration officers.)

I got rehired for my old job at the daycare! The current daycare director doesn't know me, but the principal likes me a lot, and her recommendation was enough to get me that job.

The only hairy thing remaining is housing. I'm looking into what is described as a "small sleeping chamber" that is ridiculously cheap and in a kind of cool sounding cooperative living house. The room itself sounds... primitive (I think that is too nice of a word), but I'm not picky and it'd be really nice to save some money by living simply. We'll see if that works out after I actually see the place in about a week or so.

I really REALLY want to sincerely say thank you to everyone who has offered encouraging words, their couches in Seattle, prayers, phone calls, text messages, hugs, spontaneous visits, advice, and lots of love. What started out as a really crappy week actually turned out to be not so bad and, even though I'm gonna miss Sam and Co. like crazy, I think I'll be OK.

How are you guys so amazing? It blows my mind.

The interview

2009-09-02T20:02:00.004-07:00

I went for my interview with immigration on Tuesday. I presented all of my financial information and it was going really well. I was ridiculously prepared, I looked professionally awesome, and I even bothered to take my eyebrow ring out for the occasion.

Then, at the very end of the interview, the officer totally caught me off guard. She told me that there was almost no chance she'd be able to grant me a study permit. Apparently, the course I took last semester as a visiting student was not a class that you can take as a visiting student. I honestly still don't fully understand the rule I was breaking, but she informed me that I had violated the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

When you violate the IRPA, you can't receive any sort of permit or visa for 6 months from the date of the violation (which, for me, is in mid-October). You also must leave Canada as soon as possible.

So, the night class that I took at Ambrose last semester got me in trouble. I had no idea that I was doing anything wrong and still think the information on the immigration website is misleading, but ignorance is not a good excuse for these sorts of things.

That is my story.

If you ask me how I'm doing, I will most likely say that I am OK. I'm really not OK, so I am sorry if I've lied to you about it. I'm trying so hard to be cheerful but I absolutely hate all of this and I am honestly a total wreck. I don't really want to go into why this is so hard for me right now, so I'm just going to end here.

Age old question...

2009-09-01T10:49:00.001-07:00

Where can I find a sweet job with amazing pay?

(I am leaving Canada.)

Fight!

2009-08-25T16:09:00.003-07:00

Things today are a little bit crazier, but a little bit more promising. I am therefore a little bit less of a mess. Thankfully.

My interview is now happening before school starts (in about a week), so that is a huge improvement on yesterday's situation. Now I just have to scramble to get a whole slew of paperwork together to convince them that I will be a good, financially responsible student here in Canada.

Here we go.

Fight or flight?

2009-08-24T18:29:00.003-07:00

Today I came face to face with the fact that I might be leaving here really soon. Instead of a study permit, I have been given an interview time where I will have the chance to show whether or not I have sufficient funds to be a student in Canada. The interview is not until September 17, which is after school starts. My savings account is not all that impressive and I fully expect to be rejected for a study permit on those grounds. I should be more optimistic than this, but I'm not having an optimistic sort of day.

I could do everything in my power to stay here in Calgary even though I'm almost sure I can't stay here as a student. I might be able to find some sort of job here and get a work permit, I don't know.

I could go back to the states and find a job. That seems like the easy answer but it is also the answer that I hate. I love it here and am really torn up by the prospect of leaving.

I don't know what to do and I'm kind of a mess.

New Pledge of Allegiance

2009-08-22T05:00:00.005-07:00

I pledge allegiance to God,

Who created all people in all nations and all the earth,

Who loves all of His children extravagantly,

Who forgives generously,

And whose kingdom lasts forever.

Upside Down Pt. 1

2009-08-21T16:15:00.001-07:00

I think it's a good idea to question some of the things that people expect you to accept, even if doing so might put you against the flow. The first time I remember really questioning something that was the status quo was in grade 8/8th grade.

Something that you may or may not know about American public schools is that the students stand and say a pledge of allegiance every morning. It is just one of those things you start doing when you're five years old and don't really question.

A friend of mine who happened to be a Johovah's Witness would never stand or say the pledge of allegiance, so one day I asked her why. She told me that she only pledges her allegiance to God. That made so much sense to me! But, being a new Christian, I wasn't sure whether or not I should say it. All the other Christians stood and said the pledge of allegiance, so I kept on doing it, too, even though I started feeling weird about it.

Then, one day in high school, I stood for the pledge of allegiance and just couldn't make myself say it. I had become convinced and convicted over those couple of years that pledging allegiance to a flag is pretty blatant idolatry, so I just stopped doing it.

The Pledge of Allegiance

I pledge allegiance to the flag

of the United States of America

and to the Republic for which it stands

One nation under God, Indivisible

With liberty and justice for all

My point is not that we should all stop saying the pledge of allegiance, rather that we should think about the things we are doing and, if they seem wrong, then maybe they are wrong and maybe we should stop doing them.

Choke

2009-08-19T21:56:00.003-07:00

I've had a problem with my yawns lately. For some reason, every time I yawn, I start to choke on my uvula. Then I stop yawning, have a little cough, and I'm fine. So I guess it's really no big deal.

Blog

2009-08-17T20:44:00.009-07:00

I really enjoyed that month off from blogging. I'm not actually sure if I like blogging anymore. I guess I'll give it another shot and if I still don't like blogging I will call it quits.

I went to BC last week with Sam! It was fun. Blackberries were out in full force. Before we left Calgary, I was starting to dislike blackberries because the ones you can buy at the store here are just not good. But I rediscovered my love for them by eating lots and lots of them right off the bush. I was so excited by how good those blackberries tasted. From now on, I think I'll only eat them if they are fresh-picked.

Anyways, the trip was good. I had a couple of "rough" days, but I have such great friends that I was thankful for those days, too.

VBS and back to the real world

2009-07-17T20:06:00.004-07:00

I was having so much fun at VBS this week that I kind of forgot that things are a bit of a mess right now....

... my car is not operational, is rather expensive to fix, and needs to be transported back to Washington in a few weeks. Then it needs to get sold in time for me to pay for school.

... But then again it may not need to get sold in time for me to pay for school because I am STILL waiting for my study permit. How lame is that? It has been 5 months now, and it is only supposed to take 2 months. Also, you cannot call to ask about these things. I am definitely starting to feel the pressure of not having that little piece of paper. As in, what the heck am I going to do if it does not come in time? Or what the heck am I going to do if I am rejected?

... I have a whole corner of my not-too-big room devoted to stuff I'm trying to sell on Craigslist. This is related to the whole paying for school thing. I am a little worried about it because I need to take a certain number of classes to be able to get a work permit. But I can't take that certain number of classes if I don't save up enough money. A bit of a catch 22 there.

Anyways, I am going to take a whole month off from blogging, effective immediately. Just because I feel like it. You will hear from me again on August 17, right after Sam and I get back from the trip we are taking to BC. Bye for now!

Africa Can

2009-07-11T16:04:00.003-07:00

If you really don't like Obama, just skip the first 15 or so seconds... this short video is about the African success story that is the country of Ghana. Thanks to Obama's visit, Ghana is getting a bit of well-deserved attention today. Really makes me miss the place and my friends there a lot. Anyways, enjoy the video!

The Law

2009-07-10T09:32:00.002-07:00

Me: "Annie, you're cute. It's illegal to be that cute."

Annie: "Noooooooooooo... it's illegal for kids to drive."

this week is NONSENSE!

2009-07-08T07:02:00.003-07:00

When I moved here, I had heard that the city is very proud of its cowboy atmosphere, and that Stampede is the best time of the year.

Turns out that Stampede is the ONLY time of the year that this city even so much as resembles anything that has anything to do with cowboys. The cowboy image is such a facade! For one week out of the year, people wear jeans and cowboy hats to work, eat large scale breakfasts together, and talk about chuckwagon races. It is a huge act for all of the out-of-towners. It is so ridiculous. I hate Stampede! (But I like the free food... I think they should do that all year.)

Somehow Calgary even earned the nickname Cowtown. Now, I'm sure there were plenty of cowboys kicking around back before Calgary was such a big city, but nowadays there is nothing about the city that leads me to believe there are any cowboys anywhere, aside from a couple of bars that try to look like they are some modern sorts of saloons. Oh, and the sign that welcomes you to Calgary when you come into the city from the airport. Any real cowboys would have had to leave the city because there are now cows here, or adjust to city life.

Does Calgary make you think of cowboys, the wild west, or anything of the like? I just don't get it.

Oh Well

2009-07-06T08:32:00.003-07:00

So, this friend of mine suggests new places that she and I should go on vacation just about everyday. I like to humor her (and myself) a bit because it really would be nice to get away, but the conversation usually ends with her saying something along the lines of, "you need to get a job that pays big money."

She will typically start off suggesting grand getaways. "Oooooh, let's go on this 10 day cruise of the Caribbean!" or "Let's fly to Greece and lounge around the Mediterranean for a week!" I don't even ask how much things cost anymore.

I counter this friend's incessant travel temptations by compulsively entering contests where the prize is a trip... somewhere. I don't really care where. Or what. One of the contests is for fans of some video game I've never heard of. You "get" to go see the studio where they make the games, which might be interesting for about 5 minutes. I'm so desperate that I would gladly travel.... somewhere.... to look at some video game studio.

Anyways, I really am itching to get away. Part of the problem is I can't even leave Canada until my study permit shows up. I'm channeling positive energy into the mailbox, hoping it will come today (I'm not sure what that means). I have trouble praying that it will come today, because I really just want the study permit to come when God wants it here, even if it psyches me out a little bit having to wait so long.

Opposites

2009-06-28T19:51:00.003-07:00

Sam and I are SO opposite... she loves to bake treats, and I love to cook meals! It is amazing that we are even friends, really.

The Hair Update

2009-06-26T23:03:00.009-07:00

I guess it's time to show you how my hair is growing in. More like growing up... it does not go flat, it just sticks straight up. But I don't mind, I like it. It is just now getting long enough that I will get a messy spot where my head touches the pillow when I sleep.

Annie is IN LOVE with my head. She no longer gives me a hug and kiss when I leave. Instead, she wraps her arms around my head and gives it a little rub when it is time to say goodbye.

I think Sam likes my hair more as it gets longer because then she can pull it easier when I am being annoying. Also, I think she was a little afraid of the dreadlocks. And after seeing all the dandruff that was stuck in their middles when we cut them off, I really can't blame her. (Overshare? Undershare? There are pictures of it, if you want.)

Sam's dad no longer calls me Sideshow Bob and no longer charges me a "Bohemian Tax."

I don't think my mom has actually seen either of my recent hair don'ts, not even in pictures. Also, I think she was so excited when I told her that I got rid of my dreads that she didn't quite catch on to the fact that all of my hair was gone, too.

Nasal Irrigation Cont'd.

2009-06-25T23:25:00.002-07:00

I ran more saltwater through my nasal cavity today.

Sam didn't even have to make me! She wasn't even there! She won't even know about it until she reads it right here on my blog!

I didn't even gag! Or cry! Or freak out at all!

Good for me.

Oh, the things I agree to...

2009-06-20T18:54:00.003-07:00

Today, while I was sipping a water bottle, Sam came up and squeezed the bottle so hard that water came out my nose. I'm pretty sensitive to water being in my nose, as in it really scares me and obviously hurts, so I started to cry a bit.

The water coming out of my nose reminded Sam that some people pour warm saltwater into their noses when they are congested. I happen to have quite a cold at the moment, so she decided that we should try it. She was SO excited by the idea of pouring something into one nostril and seeing it come out the other. (I think it is something like Cassy's fantasy of me snorting rice up my nose and spitting it out my mouth.)

I explained to her that warm salt water makes me gag worse than just about anything else, but she insisted that we try it out, first with freshwater to get me warmed up, then with saltwater. I was and still am skeptical about how much she knows about this method.

Anyways, I was SO scared. I was totally freaking out, weeping, etc. It really did hurt, and it really did go in one nostril and out the other just like Sam thought it would. The saltwater really did make me gag, though it did seem to loosen everything up. Or dilute it. Or something.

Oh well, at least Sam got to do her little experiment. And I... well... I guess... I faced my fears? Came closer to the ability to snort rice up my nose and spit it out my mouth? Submitted to a ridiculous request from someone other than Jen?

Monopoly...

2009-06-18T19:28:00.009-07:00

Sam and I played Monopoly today and, when I started to get down on my luck, she was merciless! If Monopoly were real life, I think today would have gone something like this...

Sam: "Ashley, you owe me money."

Ashley: "I don't have any money, but you can have my computer."

Sam: "Pshhh... no way, your computer is used... practically worthless"

Ashley: "Are you kidding me??!! It's only a few months old, it's still under warrantee, and I paid a bunch of money for it! I'll Even throw in the carry case and printer."

Sam: "No, that's not enough."

Then I would proceed to sell all of my possessions on eBay and give all of the money to Sam.

Getting back to real life, I just want to say that I got the Nintendo version of Monopoly a few weeks ago and it is really fun. Some of the correlations to the original Monopoly are a bit of a stretch, but it's still sweet. Even when Sam "The Crazy Capitalist" Thomson gets Mario and Luigi within the first couple of rounds around the board, then proceeds to take me for all I'm worth as quickly as possible. It was even really fun the first time I played Nintendo Monopoly, when Jen took away the use of all of my fingers and both of my eyes in order to drag out the game for as long as possible. I think I suck at Monopoly.

Live vs. Not Live

2009-06-15T12:00:00.017-07:00

When I saw the David Crowder Band play at YC, I LOVED it. They were fun, folksy, they had so much energy, and, I mean, look at the guy...

He just looks cool, ya know what I mean? (Or maybe you think he looks crazy, but I think he looks cool.)

I had listened to an album or two before seeing him live, but I never really jumped on board. So, after I got back from YC, I gave him another chance. Though I really appreciate his music now, I STILL can't get into the albums. I think he's just one of those guys who is really really awesome live, and listening to his band any other way just doesn't compare. Maybe I will be able to enjoy the albums more when the concert isn't so recent an event in my mind?

Kind of the opposite of Taking Back Sunday. I saw them live before I had ever listened to any of their music and they were so terrible that I don't know if I'll ever give their albums a chance, though I have been assured by a couple of reputable friends that they are excellent. Whenever I think of Taking Back Sunday, I just want to pose like any of the four guys in the background.

Twinkle Toes

2009-06-12T21:10:00.003-07:00

I have something to blog about that might sound like a lie.

I got a PEDICURE. As in, somebody cleaned my feet up and painted my toenails.

When asked if I wanted to get a pedicure, I was hesitant. I used to have a pretty ridiculous foot phobia, not to mention the fact that being pampered is not really my thing. And I don't think my feet were in all that bad of shape to begin with.

But I did it. Can you believe it?

Phone

2009-06-11T19:07:00.006-07:00

The doors were open this evening as I was eating my cheese and crackers. I heard a familiar buzzing noise, so I went looking for my phone, which I knew was on vibrate. I was surprised that it was vibrating for so long, but I continued looking. In the spirit of the hot and cold game, I followed the noise. It led me to the front door, which revealed the neighbor weedwhacking in his yard. Sure did sound like my phone, which was actually in my pocket the whole time.

Poll!

2009-06-07T14:44:00.004-07:00

I made a new poll! Care to vote?

--> --> --> --> -->

Sam to Peru

2009-06-03T23:11:00.010-07:00

Sam is going to Peru tomorrow night.

Sam is an absolute MANIAC when she is packing. She has containers in containers in bags. She is prepared for all emergencies - everything from her shoes breaking to having 4 pens run out of ink. If the 4th pen ran out of ink, she would be glad she brought 5 of them. I'm not sure what she'd do if the 5th one ran out of ink. Hopefully she does not read this and then go straight to her room to pack another pen. 5 should be plenty. Anyways, watching her pack has been good entertainment tonight. If I didn't like her so much, I would wish that she would go away more often so I could watch her pack all the time.

In all seriousness, though, I think it's pretty sweet that she gets to go use her mad EMT skills way down in Lima. So, if you think of it, keep her in your thoughts and prayers for the next couple of weeks and join me in being glad that there are such useful ways of serving.

Hair, Lack of

2009-05-28T11:00:00.004-07:00

My favorite part of having no hair is watching it grow in. It changes every day. And it's kind of like velvet - soft in one direction and rough in the other. I've been rubbing my head like crazy. I also like figuring out which sections of hair are growing in which direction. It's kind of like a fingerprint.

(Endnote: I wrote this post in advance and scheduled its publish time, so me posting this right now does not necessarily mean that I decided to get my butt out of bed today.)

On Thursday

2009-05-27T22:01:00.004-07:00

I have nothing to do tomorrow.

Should I sleep all day, or should I get my butt out of bed and go for a fatty bike ride?

2009-05-25T19:34:00.002-07:00

What's under my hood, you ask???

Nothing!!!

AHHHH

2009-05-20T21:57:00.004-07:00

Any tips on putting up with Sam's antics? I cannot STAND them anymore, maybe I should move out?? Does anyone have a place for me to live?

Hairy Mann

2009-05-20T20:17:00.004-07:00

I went to school with a boy named Hairy Mann. I just thought of it because this post concerns my hair, although I am not a Mann.

Dreadlocks are a lot of work. It takes weeks to get them in and they require a lot of maintenance for the first few months. It takes like 15 minutes to wash them properly and it is best done in a bath rather than a shower. I am used to taking only 15 minutes to get my whole self ready, so it's quite a hassle. You don't have to wash them every day, but I wash mine at least every second day. There is also a dandruff issue. Conditioner is a no-no, so my scalp is super dry. Chelsea (Shanghai) says that dreads are allowed to be dandruffy, but it drives me crazy.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with the way mine turned out, save for a few in the back that haven't gotten enough love. They're fun and they make me feel way cool, but I still think I'm gonna cut 'em off within the next week or so. Part of the excitement of putting them in was knowing that eventually I'd get to shave my head. I don't know about you, but I've always wanted to know what my head would look like naked.

I'm thinking of making it into a fundraiser to benefit Future Island by selling the right to cut each dread for $10. Because I have 33 of them, that'd make $330 for Future Island. I think it'd be kind of cool to have 33 different people cut my hair. There is also a possibility that I will just give Jen and Sam each a pair of scissors this weekend and let them go to work. We will see.

Lucky!

2009-05-17T15:43:00.006-07:00

The other day, while Annie and I were walking across a field, she suggested we stop to look for 4-leaf clovers. I found one within the first minute of looking! I was so shocked and Annie was so mad, haha. She had a little tantrum right there in the field because I found one and she didn't. It was the first time I had ever found one, I always thought they were mythical or something. Have you ever found one before? What does one do with a 4-leaf clover? I pressed it... now what?

TV

2009-05-16T21:17:00.004-07:00

I used to rather enjoy being one of those people who just doesn't watch TV. When I was in elementary/middle/high school, I watched a ton of TV with my brother and sister. But, I gave it up when I moved to Seattle. I didn't start watching TV again when I moved to Canada, but since moving to Sam's house, I have begun to watch more and more of the ol' tube.

It was easy to resist at first. I'd watch the Flames play once in awhile and that was enough. But then I started gravitating into the TV room after supper, then occasionally in the afternoon. I probably watch about 2 hours of TV a day - that is over 7% of the awake part of my day!

I haven't even got to the worst part yet... I have watched multiple consecutive episodes of the same show. As in, I have a show. It's not even a comedy (like The Office - which I love, yet never watch). The show is... I can't believe I'm admitting this... Grey's Anatomy. I'm so glad the season finale was this week so I can forget about TV for the summer.

And the new hobby...

2009-05-15T21:50:00.012-07:00

with 33% of the vote...

is...

SEWING!

Okay, let me be straightforward with you and confess that I changed my vote from wandering to sewing on the last day. I was afraid that running would win. I don't really like running that much and I'm not really sure how it got shortlisted to begin with.

Also, I'm really glad busking didn't win. I don't really know what sort of skill I would busk. My juggling isn't impressive to anyone over the age of 10. Again, how did that make the list? I personally made that list and I'm not sure why half of the things on there sucked.

Wandering would have been good, but I'm always wandering around anyways.

Sewing will be great! I think my first project will be a Perry the Platypus stuffed animal.

Should I go with Perry as a secret agent, or Perry as a pet?

Bike Ride #1

2009-05-14T23:00:00.000-07:00

Today I went for my first real bike ride in Calgary (biking between Sam's house and her aunt's house and Nan's house doesn't count because they all live within ten minutes of each other).

My original plan was to bike from my house to Ambrose, the school I'm hoping to go to in the fall. If my study permit comes, I'm going to try to bike there and back on the days I have school (twice a week). It's 21 km, that's 13 miles, from my house to the school.

I made it a little less than halfway. There was freezing rain falling from the sky and I could see one of my favorite coffee shops from the bike path I was on at the time. I was also pretty tired. I got lost once or twice or maybe even three times on the maze-like side streets, which must have added a good deal of extra mileage to my trip. A hot cup of coffee was way too tempting.

I stopped, had my coffee, and made my way back home. Getting home was way easier, it took me 50 minutes to get home compared to the 100 minutes it took me to get to the coffee shop. Getting home was also way colder and way wetter. I was SOAKED. It rained/sleeted/snowed the whole way home. Haha, maybe that's why I got back so much faster.

Anyways, I don't think biking to school will be that bad. Maybe I'll make a real trial run on a sunny day.

I have to slowly work up my hardcore-ness, although I still have no intention of ever riding my bike in -40 weather. I tend to wear ear warmers even when I ride my bike on warm days. My ears are SO sensitive to wind and cold, and bike riding involves wind. If I were a superhero, my costume would definitely include ear muffs.

"I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant!"

2009-05-13T23:00:00.002-07:00

That is the name of the TLC documentary that Sam, Sara, and I were watching tonight. One of the featured ladies said that her only symptom was mood swings. As soon as the lady said that, Sam became convinced that I am pregnant, but that I don't know it. (As it turns out, I can be a teensy bit moody with Sam.)

Now, every little idiosyncrasy I exhibit is proof that I am pregnant. She is trying to figure out who the father is. She is even planning play dates for my unborn child and Avery, Sara's little girl (Sara is Sam's older sister).

I'm thinking maybe I should just run with it. Like, if Sam thinks I'm pregnant, maybe I could get her to do stuff for me. What kinds of things do people do for their pregnant friends?

(edit: just to clarify, I am NOT pregnant. Haha.)

Reactions

2009-05-13T18:59:00.002-07:00

After Sam read about Perry the Platypus, she decided that I had no reaction that she liked. So, she hacked into my blog and added "retarded." I don't like that word, so I changed it to "foolish." Sam likes both of those words, so she shouldn't have a problem with it. Actually, it's my blog and I can do what I want! So stick that in your pipe and smoke it, Sam.

Perry the Platypus

2009-05-13T17:51:00.003-07:00

I am not supernanny, so sometimes cartoons are on the agenda. My favorite is Phineas and Ferb. They have a pet platypus who looks really really stupid, but who doubles as a secret agent. His name is Perry the Platypus. He's pretty awesome.

Allowance

2009-05-11T09:15:00.002-07:00

So, I've started giving myself an allowance. Not that I was living any sort of frivolous life to begin with, I just wanted to be aware of how I'm spending my money.

Last week I gave myself $10 and all I spent was $4.25 for a game of squash at the leisure centre. This week I gave myself $8.53 because I had it in change, and it left me 9 more dollars for next week.

The only thing I'm not sure about is gas. I use my car to pick up Annie and take her places that are too far to walk. I also use it to drive to church every other week or so, and to the occasional social gathering. I don't go to social gatherings often... is it awkward to refer to them as social gatherings? Anyways... I'm trying to get into the habit of riding my bike places, but I haven't ventured out of the neighborhood. I need to learn where the bike paths are.

Ummm... I think this has turned into a disorganized ramble, but oh well.

It's not all about saving money. Being resourceful is probably a better description. Like, seeing the significance of little acts. I've never been one to leave the water running while I'm brushing my teeth, but what about while I'm washing my hair? It takes me a LONG TIME to wash my hair, and I realized the other day that I was wasting A TON of water. By the way, wouldn't it be cool if there were some way to put your bath water into a tank and use it to flush the toilet? I read that idea in Jesus for President. That book was really great.

Basically I'm trying to start a dialogue here on ways to be resourceful. We really aren't short on resources here in Canada, but that is no reason to be wasteful. Thoughts?

Human Right #10: The Right to Trial

2009-05-08T07:00:00.002-07:00

Have you ever been accused of something you didn't do? Maybe took the blame for something simply because your reputation implied that it could have been you? Or because you were in the wrong place at the wrong time?

I was a total punk ass when I was a kid. I was always getting into trouble, usually for things that I did do. But there were a couple of times when I got busted for something that I didn't do. Once I was accused of flipping off the bus driver, and once I was accused of yelling in the library. I pled each case with fervor, but it was my word against that of the bus driver/librarian. In both instances, I got sent to the "Solution Center" (the place for bad kids). Maybe I should have demanded my right to trial?

Obviously my situation wasn't serious. At all. The point is, what the accusers think happened isn't always true. We are human - sometimes we make mistakes and sometimes our senses trick us - so sometimes it takes a lot of good evidence to prove that something happened one way or the other.

I, for one, am glad that it would take more than one pointing finger to put me in jail, even if it could put my elementary-school self in the desolate corner of the special education room known as the "Solution Center".

I know...

2009-05-07T21:19:00.001-07:00

I am probably going a bit overboard with the Blogger features today, but I'd also like to draw your attention to the "reactions" you can choose from. These are found below each post. Sam had them on hers and I was jealous, so there you have it.

Poll

2009-05-07T12:03:00.003-07:00

Hi. I just want to direct your attention to the poll I have posted on the right ----->

It's going to be a real drag of a summer if I don't find something fun to do with all of this free time.

Saving

2009-05-04T19:00:00.004-07:00

I've got to be quite frugal if I'm going to pay for the classes I want to take in September. Plus, there are some habits I've developed over the past couple of years that I'd like to break. There were, after all, days when I had no car and lived primarily off of dumpster bread.

So far I have effectively cut out buying coffee, and eating out in general. I've been using my bike instead of my car to run errands. Would suspending my cell phone for awhile be too much? Do you think Sam would go for taking the bus/train to church?

Human Right #9: No Unfair Detainment

2009-05-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

Number 9 is all about imprisonment. The UDHR says you can't lock someone up without a reason. Fair enough.