The Month of May

Okay, its been an eventful month! I always love the month of May....warm weather, no school and most importantly-my birthday! I can't believe I am turning 24 already. I think back to when I first moved to Calgary and everything that happened over the years.....I can't believe I am turning 24!
I took off to Vernon the first week of May. My grandparents just moved there and they have this wonderful spot on the lake and it was bloody hot while I was there! 33 degrees but trust me, four margaritas will cool you down fast! I spent four days in Vernon and then my grandparents drove me home (I flew down). I think I gained 10lbs while I was there, my grandmother cooked all my favourites for me-ribs, chicken, cheesecake, caesar salad, etc. It was great. The best thing of all was that my parents drove down to see me for one afternoon/evening! It was a surprise and I was so happy to see them, especially my dad because I hadn't seen him since Christmas. We had a really good visit. My grandparents stayed in Victoria for 4 days, visiting the family and travelling to Nanaimo, before heading back and taking my great grandfather with them (he lives here).
I have eased into the grind of full-time work and I am busy! I love being busy, but having deadlines puts a little stress on you. We just launched version 2.5 and I think everyone in the office is breathing a little easier now. We celebrated with cheesecake.
I got really good news last Sunday night. My best friend Jyoti (since grade 2) called me up and told me that she had decided to move to Victoria to take Law at Uvic. I am very proud of her for getting accepted (Uvic is one of the top two law schools in Canada) and super excited that she is moving here. We are going to be roomies (of course) and already I am busy looking for a place for us to live. Kristi is going to drive around with me tomorrow to help me look. I can't wait! It is rather funny that this is happening because when Jyo and I were about 10 years old, we used to sit in her room and talk about how we were going to go to Uvic and live together...14 yrs later -BAM! ha ha ha , its pretty cool, not everyone's dreams come true.
I met a cute guy....that is all I am saying right now because there is really nothing else to tell.

We have had great weather lately and I am already tan! Burnt my legs accidentally as they were the only part of me I forgot to re-apply sunscreen to in the afternoon...paying for it now-ouch!
It was so nice last Sunday afternoon that I hit the beach. I took some pictures of interesting things because Wayne always does and I want to copy him. Our pictures will be very different though...bet you dont have one of these Wayne!

Anyway....long time since I have wrote in here and now I have babbled on. I think I will go and put on a movie. Ciao.

Evolution!

Oh my GOD! I hate to take the name of the Lord in vain...oh wait, no I dont. Anyway...
Okay, here is a funny story. I was invited to go out with my friend Rachel and a couple of her girlfriends to a club called EVOLUTION last Wednesday night. I had to work the next day but it was a celebration of the fini of finals and I so desperately needed a night out. It was girls only and we had so much fun. Rachel told me to meet them at the club at 9, which I thought was early and she told me this at 8:15 when I wasn't even ready! So in record time I was downtown (okay, 9:15pm) and walking the 4 blocks or so to get there. Now, several people told me it was in shady part of town...I didn't meet a single person and it didnt look to shabby. Yet I have been in the best of places in Calgary at night and you meet the scariest individuals. Whatever, I'm a city girl now and nothing can scare me! Anyway, I got to the club and no one was there!! I don't just mean my friends, I mean no one.It was kind of weird. The club had just opened and there was no cover before 10, so I walked in and met no one. The music was going (yeah retro night!) ha ha and there were lights and smoke and all but it was the smallest club I have ever seen! Once again, being accustomed to the multiple level clubs in Calgary....

I didn't want to look like an idiot sitting by myself in a deserted club so I went over and started chatting it up with the (very cute I might add) bartender. His name was Joe and he has been working there for 10 years, even thought he is only 24. I bought a drink and a friend of his walked in. Now, his friend was a very intimidating man on first look. He was older..30ish maybe and he had long hair, he was big and looked like a bouncer. Joe invited me over to talk to them and so I sat down. I discovered that the man was J-man and he owned the tatoo shop accross the street. Well, that explained the tatoos of the naked women on his arms! He was really sweet though and made me feel comfortable right away! I met the DJ, the other bartender (Vinny) and the server (Jennifer). I chatted with them for an hour before my friends came (apparently they were waiting outside for me...oops!) I thanked them kindly for keeping me company and we went and sat down at a table. Two minutes later Jennifer brought me over a drink from Joe and J-man! I met Rachel's friends and they were so nice and we had a lot of fun together. I made sure to stop by the bar and say hi to J-man, Jennifer and Joe occasionnally. We danced for hours and everytime I went to the bar, my drink was on Joe. I know he has a girlfriend but he was really kind. I tipped him really well at the end of the night and he took my hand and asked me to come back. I promised I would and I will. It was a great night and made me feel really good to have made some friends. I think the whole night was halarious and so unlike me. I dont just approach people and start chatting it up with strangers in a club. That's not me! But I guess it was that night and it worked out ok! I recommend you do the same! All in all, it was a really great night.

Panning for Gold!

Okay, I had Jamie all day Friday and we really had a blast. I forgot how much energy kids have and she tired me out! We started our day out swimming for two hours and Jamie is a good swimmer. After some lunch, we headed to Sydney, a really pretty little town 30 min north of Victoria. Its right on the ocean (of course) and we were blessed with good weather. I took Jamie to "Mineral World and Scratch Patch" where she looked at pretty gems, visited the kids interactive area, panned for gold and collected rocks. Jamie loves rocks and has her own little rock collection in her bedroom (don't all kids?), so I knew she would love it there. She really enjoyed panning for gold and I had fun helping her. I took her for ice cream after that and of course she got the wildest flavour with blue,red and yellow. It was yucky but she ate it all! ha ha ha. We wanted to go rollarblading when we got home, but it started to rain and so we played Spyro on PS2 and ended up falling asleep together on the floor! All in all it was a great day. I gave her her Easter present and some American money to spend at Disneyworld, where the family is now. The house is a little silent, but I was out last night and I will be again tonight, so I dont notice it as much right now.
I took some picture of Sydney because I thought they were pretty and showed a bit of Syndey.

Relieved/Relavado/Soulagé

Okay! Classes have ended and I am almost home free. Almost. The last day of my Greek History class, my professor brought in wine for everyone. That was the first Greek History class I enjoyed!! I have had one final so far and it was a piece of cake. Call me a freak but I love finals. Its my chance to prove how much I have learned and I work well under pressure. I have three more, wish me luck.
The picture above represents the peace and relief I feel inside that my classes are done. I worked my ass of this semester and I will (hopefully) never take 5 classes in one semester again! It's demanding!

www.urbandictionary.com and their #8 description of what school is: an inhumane experiment where the governments tries to throw as many people as possible together in the same building and f-with them without getting sued for it.

Donde esta la biblioteca? Okay, now that summer is almost here I am happy but also cautious. I buy too many books. No, I buy an absurd amount of books. It was great back in the day when I had time to read them but now I am now a full summer behind my reading list which includes: Diary of Ann Frank, 4 Canadian History books, Dune:Chapterhouse, Harlequin by Bernard Cornwell (he's fantastic-wrote the excalibur series about King Arthur)plus others. I blame the summertime because my favourite thing to do in Calgary was to visit a Chapters...at any time of the day. Late in the evening was the best because it was quiet and gorgeous outside. I would browse for an hour or two and then hit the bargain section hard. I have bought many bargain books because they looked interesting and they were cheap! I dream of owning a library one day and filling it with books. I know its rather corny, but I dream of having a library like the one in Beauty and the Beast. Do you remember the look of joy on Belle's face when she saw that place? I do because I had the same one. I still dream of that library. Now, living where I do, the only Chapters is downtown and a pain in the ass to get too. This may help curb my book buying fetish but we'll see. I will probably just make up for it by buying more shoes or purses...love purses.

Ha ha ha. I had to include this picture becaues it makes me smile everytime I see it. This is Kristi, Jamie and my mom at the breakwater. Its a walkway that goes out into the ocean and is very enjoyable to walk on a nice evening. As you can see, it was a bit windy that day. We had to hang onto Jamie because we were afraid she would blow away!

Question #2: What would be your dream job?

My answer: Marine Biologist or Historian
That's all for today, buenos tardes mis amigos.

Babies

Tonight I went to the hospital to visit my cousin Colin's wife, Janice, and their new baby girl Georgia. I love babies and we have waited for this one. Georgia was almost two weeks overdue and it wasn't easy labour for poor Janice. She did great though and both are healthy. Paige is their first daughter and has waited with great anticipation for the arrival of her new "baby sister." Georgia is a beautiful baby, two days old and she lacks the red, wrinkly, ugly look of most new borns. She is truly lovely, with dark hair, nice skin and tiny little fingers. She is just sweet. Of course I cannot wait until the day when I am blessed with a child of my own. I think children are special and unique and I have wanted them since I was 13 years old. I am quite good with kids and I get along better with them then most adults! I love how kids are honest and always make you smile. They're definately great. Of course not all people agree....(I think they are weird)! Georgia has been named after the father of all families-my great grandfather George C. He is truly a great man and we love him to pieces. George couldn't be named for a greater person. I don't yet have a picture of Georgia, but above is a picture of my other cousin Nicolas, who is 9 months old. Isn't he adorable?

On another note...essays are done! I feel so relieved and I have never written so much nor worked harder than I have this semester. Obviously I grossly underestimated the amount of work that would be required of me. I guess going to school, working, volunteering and spending quality time with my family is a bit overwhelming at times....but I love it!

My mom was here over the weekend and boy was I glad to see her! No matter how old I get, I will never not need my mom. She is always supportive, great to shop with, easy to talk too and she is just....a really great mom. I love her and miss her already...mom come back!

Anyway, I have to do some readings for tomorrow and work on a presentation. Salude mis amigos.

Explanation

Okay, my apologies everyone. I should have stated that yes, I did write the poem, but no-that is not how I am feeling presently. The poem is an expression of how I felt when I was suffering from a thyroid disorder and didn't know it (2002). I suffered with it for more than a year and your thyroid controls everything in your body from hormones to cholesterol to-everything! It slowly took control over my body until I no longer had control. That is what the last line in the poem means. I reached a point where I had a mini-seizure and I almost blacked out after my whole body shook and I had no control. that was when I knew I needed help and I immediatly went to the doctor. No problemos as I am fine now. I take medication everyday to increase the amount of hormone in my thyroid and I am perfectly healthy. Sorry if I freaked anyone out. If you would like more information, visit http://www.endocrineweb.com/hypo1.html
Thanks for your concerns! ciao

Hypothyroidism

Drowning
I'm drowning and its so quiet
No one sees me drowning
Even though my hand is up
I'm so heavy
Sinking,sinking, sinking
Into the sheets of my bed
It's getting dark
My legs are like lead
They fizz with pain
So I don't move them
I just let it be
My face is frozen
The water must be cold
I can't laugh or smile
Even when I want to
Still I sink further down
Pulled by my depression
Weighted by my health
I don't think it can get worse

And then I start to shake

Crunch Time

Okay, so I have 3 more essays to write in 2 and a half weeks...no problem! Never mind the fact that they are history papers with mandatory 10-15 pages, the hours of research I have done and will continue to do-plus library time! (believe it or not, there is a difference between them!)

Okay, panic attack time!
Its not that I don't love history-I truly do! But it is a lot of work and I just wish I had more time to get it all done. I'm not ignorant-I know there are other students in the same position as I am....its just feels better to complain about it. And believe it or not....I like writing essays! I guess I'm pursuing the right profession then.

Ma petite soeur is turning six tomorrow and I find it amazing at how much she has grown in the past months. Her reading has improved dramatically and she loves hanging out with me (flattering to be sure). Being around her makes me smile and I'm very thankful to have her in my life.

The featured picture above is an aerial shot of my school, the University of Victoria. The circle that surrounds it is very distinctive and is famously known as "ring road." Its a one-way road that leads you to any and every part of campus. The amount of bunnies boggle the mind and its amazing how fast you get used to stepping around them. Spring is here and already little babies bunnies can be seen whipping through the bushes. They are so fast!

My mom will be here in two weeks and I cannot wait! I hope the weather stays nice for her because I plan on taking her everywhere!

Fact:"Canada is the world's second largest country with an area of 9,970,610 km² (3,851,809 sq. mi.).

My favourite song right now is "Afterglow," by INXS and I can't get it out of my head! I love JD Fortune's voice and I replay it on my nano over and over and over again.

I wish there was full moon tonight. I always think better when I have the moon watching over me. Its mysteriousness just captures me.

Okay, my favourite game to play is called "The Question Game," (I made it up) and there are practically no rules to this game. You can ask any silly question and really get to know a lot about your friends. Please participate by posting your answers on my comment page. Today's question....What do you wish you had invented?

(I would have to say zippers because they are so handy)

I guess that is all for tonight. Buenos noches mis amigos. Ciao

What is a blog?

Alright, I have had several people ask me what exactly is a blog? It is a weblog or a journal you write in daily (or whenever) which keeps your friends and family up to date. Its a good way to keep each other informed when conflicting schedules prevent communication. And its fun!

Big thanks to the THREE people who commented on my first blog. Seems like it was a HUGE success. (lol)

Talked to my brother the other night and he said he almost hit a moose. I have never seen a moose up close before but apparently they are monstrous. That one must have been because it scared him and he was driving a one-tonne! Does anyone have a good picture of a moose?

Today the boys at work were trying to convince me to move back into the other office with them. Besides Friday hot-dog day, they said I was missing out on excellent conversation. It was this precise moment that Mr.Glazer chose to set off the electronic whoppee cushion. Not surprisingly, their attempt was unsuccessful.

Today's feature picture is Vancouver Island, or what I call home (big smile). Last week the weather was actually nice enough for me to head down to the beach to do my readings. I had to remind myself that it was only February which is hard to believe when you drive home under trees filled with blossoms and your garden is sprouting tulips and crocuses. But hey-I'm not complaining!

Anyway, it may be reading week but I have a ton of essays to complete. 2/7-the countdown is on. Wish me luck!

First Blog

Okay, I have finally decided to start a blog because Wayne has convinced me. (Congratulations Wayne). I have MYspace and thats pretty cool because I actually remember to add to it every now and then. Lets see how well I do with a blog. What usually happens is that I forget my user name or password-or both!! hmmm...what is it again?
Anyway....how to start. Well, I am living in Victoria attending UVic and trying to get my Phd in History....check back with me in 4 years! I have to stop changing my mind! mom, dad-I swear this is my final decision! Meanwhile, I am patiently waiting to see if my best friend Jyoti decides to take the plunge and move here. Come on Jyo-roomies!!! Oh, by the way she got into law school (you rock girl!)
I am officially on reading break and dying because I have to write 6 essays in the next 4 weeks! Oh why did I take 4 history (300) classes and an english class? Yeah, still trying to figure that one out. Most difficult and time consuming........but loving it! Yes, I am insane!
RILEY! That would be my cat driving me insane! He keeps meowing and trying to flop on my laptop-hair everywhere. Ah, my spotted little kitty needs to learn patience! I hear its a virtue!
Anyway, Desperate Housewives is on in a bit and Jamie and I just finished making cookies (smellin so good). I've been enticed to try one. Til next time.
Adios amigos