So I've already been grounded for 2 days, but have been hard at work and trying to debrief myself from my arguous journey. Okay, so maybe it wasn't so arguous but it was long and most definately overwhelming.
It's hard to say, exactly, how my trip affected me. Nothing bad came as a result, which was to be expected, but it seems as if so much good came of it that my brain simply can not digest all that happened. I felt connected. I have a family. I really, truly have realized that I am not alone in this vast world. I know where my laugh comes from, where I get my nose, my sense of humour, my wits, my passions, my strengths--my history. I know the story behind my own: where my folks come from, where Dad's uncle, Grand-dad's, and uber great Gran-dad's hail from and what amazing things they did with their lives.
Growing up I know nothing of the Tomlinson's (nor of the Mills') and now, I know fully that I come from a line of people who have done great things with their lives. Here I had always thought and been told that my family tree had been lazy bums, but that's not the case at all! I would like to thank everyone who set me straight. I'm proud to be a Tomlinson.
Anyway, the trip home was alright. I was excited to be going home as I missed some people a lot, but terribly sad to be leaving Ontario. I've also come to realize that I am as much and Ontario-an as I am Albertan. I was with complete strangers (despite the blood relations) and on strange turf, and yet was completely at home. Is that naive?
At the airport, after a lovely last meal with my Aunt and Uncle, I was forced to part ways with them. Going through security I was choking up, but managed to hold it in until I passed through. I of course had to call Dad from the airport and talk to him to feel grounded again, and there I was, blubbering the whole time. But not like, all out crying; tears just seemed to fall from my eyes on their own steam. Weird.
The plane ride home wasn't exactly comfortable either. I sat next to a lovely couple on their way to Vegas and enjoyed getting to know them, and out flight attendents were quite commical, but there was so much turbulence. At one point the Captain had to issue a warning vocally and turn on the seat belt sign and we were just tossing and bouncing everywhere. Coming into Calgary was the worst though. I've never gone through turbulence that bad. Despite that, I was laughing the whole time. Turbulence, so far to my experiences, is fun.
David and Curt picked me at the airport and we came home right away, much to my appeasement. However, I quickly learned that my homecoming would be one filled with work. Withing hours of touching down I was at work, and then worked another 10 hours the next day, and was supposed to today. Except today...it SNOWED! It snowed at the end of May; thick heavy snow that took off all the limbs from trees and our power lines. I thank God for my earlier-than-expected day of rest. The snow's already melting and the power is finally back on (came back around 5:30pm after going off at 10am) and my clothes are starting to dry. And I write this all now from the most comfortable place I know...
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Day Four, Five, and Six: The New World
The past few days have been unbelievably busy, and unbelievably short. Friday was spent mostly with Aunt Barb and Uncle Mark. We went for a bit of a hike in a beautiful valley, and just enjoyed each other's company. Later that evening we ventured over to Uncle Tim and Aunt Sue's for tea and cookies on our way out to Aunt Peg's and Uncle Don's (where I stayed for the night). I got to visit with my cousin Heather for a bit, met my adorable little cousin Sarah (who is actually 5), and hung out with her older brothe Eric, who was maybe a year old last time I saw him (8 years ago!). People have gotten older!
Saturday morning came bright and early with a 6:30am wake-up call. That's the earliest I crawle out of bed since I got here! Aunt Peg and I then went to pick up my Aunt Kathy and the three of us girls booked 'er out to the Tomlinson cottage on Gull Lake. We stopped in Little Britain and got these amazing, unwholesome treats called "Chelsea Buns," on our way. They were fabulolus.
We met Mark, Tim and Eric at the lake and so began my very first weekend of "cottaging." I loved it! The lake was stunning. It was a wee bit nippy so I didn't go in, but there were plenty of boat rides and fireworks, games and photo ops. It was so much fun! Except for the huge spider I brought in with the wood. Oh, and the cottage had been broken into sometime before we got there (which is weird because the cottage is on an island). And the fact that the place smelled of moth balls. But other than that, I loved it!
Kathy taught me how to play Chinese checkers and, with joint effort, she and Mark showed me up at crockinole.
Sunday I was taken to Minden and given the Kawartha dairy experience (similar to the Foothills Creamery out West), which was fabulous. In the evening, much to little Eric's amusement, we set of some fireworks (Roman Candles) and lit some GIANT sparklers. I love Ontario!
We came back to civilization yesterday. I was sad to leave to cottage, and even more sad to realize that the end of my vacation was fastly approaching. Peg and I stopped by an apple market and I picked up some Apple Butter (some for Mom and Dad too) and real maple syrup. I can't wait to have some back home. I was able to have a longer visit with Heather and Don yesterday too. Heather and I went on a bike ride all 'round Streetsville, which was rather exerting.
I was back at Barb and Mark's for supper and a quick unpack and repack. We drove into Toronto for the fireworks last night, and stood right across from the Expo and on the shore of Lake Ontario. It was breath-taking! The vast expanse, the fireworks everywhere, the view; it was amazing.
So this whole trip has been busy as ever, but definatly eye-opening. I've really learned a lot about my parents and where I come from. It's weird because, despite the fact that I have basically been away from these people all my life, we have the same antics, the same strengths, the same trains of thought, senses of humor....It has been amazing to see myself being related to people. It's been fascinating learning more about my parents and seeing similarities (and oh, how many!) between my Dad and his younger siblings. Even more cool is seeing just how functional my family actually is. I was blown away by how Dad's family actually loves him and how some of his younger siblings deeply care about him. I was humored by the Grandma Mills and how she is so funny (she has such a witty humor). These are people I was either terrified of or unaware of growing up, but really, they are all amazing people!
All in all, to this point, I have decided that I am a Tomlinson/Mills from Alberta/Ontario (and a little BC). I was expecting to be more one than the other I guess. But as Aunty Barb said at the airport: "You're a perfect blend of your Mom and Dad." Makes sense, now that I can actually see it.
Saturday morning came bright and early with a 6:30am wake-up call. That's the earliest I crawle out of bed since I got here! Aunt Peg and I then went to pick up my Aunt Kathy and the three of us girls booked 'er out to the Tomlinson cottage on Gull Lake. We stopped in Little Britain and got these amazing, unwholesome treats called "Chelsea Buns," on our way. They were fabulolus.
We met Mark, Tim and Eric at the lake and so began my very first weekend of "cottaging." I loved it! The lake was stunning. It was a wee bit nippy so I didn't go in, but there were plenty of boat rides and fireworks, games and photo ops. It was so much fun! Except for the huge spider I brought in with the wood. Oh, and the cottage had been broken into sometime before we got there (which is weird because the cottage is on an island). And the fact that the place smelled of moth balls. But other than that, I loved it!
Kathy taught me how to play Chinese checkers and, with joint effort, she and Mark showed me up at crockinole.
Sunday I was taken to Minden and given the Kawartha dairy experience (similar to the Foothills Creamery out West), which was fabulous. In the evening, much to little Eric's amusement, we set of some fireworks (Roman Candles) and lit some GIANT sparklers. I love Ontario!
We came back to civilization yesterday. I was sad to leave to cottage, and even more sad to realize that the end of my vacation was fastly approaching. Peg and I stopped by an apple market and I picked up some Apple Butter (some for Mom and Dad too) and real maple syrup. I can't wait to have some back home. I was able to have a longer visit with Heather and Don yesterday too. Heather and I went on a bike ride all 'round Streetsville, which was rather exerting.
I was back at Barb and Mark's for supper and a quick unpack and repack. We drove into Toronto for the fireworks last night, and stood right across from the Expo and on the shore of Lake Ontario. It was breath-taking! The vast expanse, the fireworks everywhere, the view; it was amazing.
So this whole trip has been busy as ever, but definatly eye-opening. I've really learned a lot about my parents and where I come from. It's weird because, despite the fact that I have basically been away from these people all my life, we have the same antics, the same strengths, the same trains of thought, senses of humor....It has been amazing to see myself being related to people. It's been fascinating learning more about my parents and seeing similarities (and oh, how many!) between my Dad and his younger siblings. Even more cool is seeing just how functional my family actually is. I was blown away by how Dad's family actually loves him and how some of his younger siblings deeply care about him. I was humored by the Grandma Mills and how she is so funny (she has such a witty humor). These are people I was either terrified of or unaware of growing up, but really, they are all amazing people!
All in all, to this point, I have decided that I am a Tomlinson/Mills from Alberta/Ontario (and a little BC). I was expecting to be more one than the other I guess. But as Aunty Barb said at the airport: "You're a perfect blend of your Mom and Dad." Makes sense, now that I can actually see it.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Day Three: The Five
Today was a little bit slower than the past couple, thank goodness; not nearly as much travelling!
I slept in this morning (although I am still not adjusted to the time difference, so my body thought it was waking up early) and went out for lunch with my Aunt and Uncle at this huge, and I mean huge, Chinese buffet. It was huge. On our way home, Uncle Mark took us for a quick stop at Erindale Park and the Credit river, and on a tour of "Millionaire's Road," which fully lived up to its name. How and why people can have houses like that bewilders me.
This afternoon Aunty Barb and myself went off shopping to the main mall in Mississagua, not so convieniently named "Square One." We decided to be big spenders and absolutley splurged on some $7 flip-flops and frozen yogourt. But I had a lot of fun hanging out with my Aunt.
Then, the coolest part of the whole day was the drive-on. We booked 'er over to a drive-in ttheatre just down the road and watched a new movie, "Next," which came complete with cheesy (and yet surprisingly cool) old promo's for the lobby and hot dogs, oh, and frozen dill pickles. Very bizzarre. But, overall, the whole experience rocked. And it was a butt load cheaper than the theatre.
Tomorrow is my last real day, that I am aware of, at my Aunt Barb and Uncle Mark's. Tomorrow night I move up to my other Aunt and Uncle's place (after visiting briefly with another Aunt and Uncle and wee cousins) for the night to visit with my cousin before moving up to the cabin for a couple of days. Then, Monday sometime, I'll be back in Mississagua for the night and flying home around noon Tuesday. So I guess my whirlwind vacation is far from being completed and I have at least another 13 hours or more of pure travelling before I reach my lonesome bed back in tiny ol' Linden.
I slept in this morning (although I am still not adjusted to the time difference, so my body thought it was waking up early) and went out for lunch with my Aunt and Uncle at this huge, and I mean huge, Chinese buffet. It was huge. On our way home, Uncle Mark took us for a quick stop at Erindale Park and the Credit river, and on a tour of "Millionaire's Road," which fully lived up to its name. How and why people can have houses like that bewilders me.
This afternoon Aunty Barb and myself went off shopping to the main mall in Mississagua, not so convieniently named "Square One." We decided to be big spenders and absolutley splurged on some $7 flip-flops and frozen yogourt. But I had a lot of fun hanging out with my Aunt.
Then, the coolest part of the whole day was the drive-on. We booked 'er over to a drive-in ttheatre just down the road and watched a new movie, "Next," which came complete with cheesy (and yet surprisingly cool) old promo's for the lobby and hot dogs, oh, and frozen dill pickles. Very bizzarre. But, overall, the whole experience rocked. And it was a butt load cheaper than the theatre.
Tomorrow is my last real day, that I am aware of, at my Aunt Barb and Uncle Mark's. Tomorrow night I move up to my other Aunt and Uncle's place (after visiting briefly with another Aunt and Uncle and wee cousins) for the night to visit with my cousin before moving up to the cabin for a couple of days. Then, Monday sometime, I'll be back in Mississagua for the night and flying home around noon Tuesday. So I guess my whirlwind vacation is far from being completed and I have at least another 13 hours or more of pure travelling before I reach my lonesome bed back in tiny ol' Linden.
Day Two: The Olde World
Yesterday was another day full of travel; I was exhausted by the time I got back to my Aunt and Uncle's place.
It was my first time ever on the train, and the experience over-all was fabulous! I was completely in awe of the beauty of this place. The trip down to Kitchener was breath-taking; I tok so many pictures! Then, when the train pulled into Kitchener, I was not only greated by my second cousin, but even my Grandparents came to pick me up. It was so sweet! We promptly went back to Grandma and Grandpa's place and had chicken noodle soup. Awesome! I always wanted to go for chicken noodle soup at my Grandparents place! We visited for a while before my cuz and I had to depart. I was sad, but know that I should come back and visit them before long.
My cuz is pretty much the keeper of all knowledge about Kitchener/Waterloo. He took me on a tour (we were on foot thank goodness) of Kitchener: my mom's old old house, Victoria Park, WLU, where he works, the first house in Kitchener. He took me to his house and showed me a bunch of old pics of mom's family and his, gave me a couple books I'm looking forward to reading, and then out for supper at this old boat house in Victoria Park, convieniently named "The Boathouse." We killed a couple of hours there talking about pretty much everything under the sun and then, sadly, headed up to the train station again. My day went so quickly! I had taken so many pictures, walked so many km's, and I ended up where I had started none-the-less. It was a whirlwind, but insatiably fascinating trip to "Berlin," as it was formerly named. It truly is a beautiful city though. I mean, it obviously has it's problems, but it could easily wet the appetite of any creative mind.
It was my first time ever on the train, and the experience over-all was fabulous! I was completely in awe of the beauty of this place. The trip down to Kitchener was breath-taking; I tok so many pictures! Then, when the train pulled into Kitchener, I was not only greated by my second cousin, but even my Grandparents came to pick me up. It was so sweet! We promptly went back to Grandma and Grandpa's place and had chicken noodle soup. Awesome! I always wanted to go for chicken noodle soup at my Grandparents place! We visited for a while before my cuz and I had to depart. I was sad, but know that I should come back and visit them before long.
My cuz is pretty much the keeper of all knowledge about Kitchener/Waterloo. He took me on a tour (we were on foot thank goodness) of Kitchener: my mom's old old house, Victoria Park, WLU, where he works, the first house in Kitchener. He took me to his house and showed me a bunch of old pics of mom's family and his, gave me a couple books I'm looking forward to reading, and then out for supper at this old boat house in Victoria Park, convieniently named "The Boathouse." We killed a couple of hours there talking about pretty much everything under the sun and then, sadly, headed up to the train station again. My day went so quickly! I had taken so many pictures, walked so many km's, and I ended up where I had started none-the-less. It was a whirlwind, but insatiably fascinating trip to "Berlin," as it was formerly named. It truly is a beautiful city though. I mean, it obviously has it's problems, but it could easily wet the appetite of any creative mind.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Day 1: Landing in Unfamiliar Territory
I'm in Toronto!!! And guess what, I'm dealing with my very first (ever) bout of homesickness. That's right, I miss home and I have only been gone for a couple hours! This is so strange for me!
Anyway, I'm enjoying the Toronto bit so far, despite missing my bed and friends. And my sweet new mirror. It is 11pm here, insanely humid, at least 20-some degrees, raining (thunderstorms actually), smelling lovely and everything is so green. The tulips here are like 3 feet tall! This place is just breath-taking. Everything is so green, Lake Ontario is right close, beautiful parks, houses, perfect jogging terrain...if it weren't for the fact the most of me is a West Coast girl, I would move here in an instant. I mean, I'm in the middle of Mississagua and I feel like I'm in a village somewhere, a small one. With really rich people.
My Aunty Barb and Uncle Mark picked me up from the airport this afternoon with no problem. In fact, I had no problems at the airport what-so-ever. The flight was long, but chekcing in, security, baggage--it all was taken care of within 25 minutes. A serious blessing. And landing and recognizing people I haven't seen in nearly a decade from across the room; I was trillled to see that I have some sort of magnetic pull towards my family members. They promptly brought me home, fed me yummy spaghetti, and took me out to a church ladies meeting which focused on how to minister to Muslims. I wonder why God brought me all the way to Ontario for me to hear that; to have it primarily be my first activity in this undiscovered land seems more than coincidential. In fact, on every vacation, my first activity at m destination is always something to do with a church. Coincidence???
Tomorrow morning requires some day travel though, so it is in my best interest that I retire. It has been a long, long, long day.
Anyway, I'm enjoying the Toronto bit so far, despite missing my bed and friends. And my sweet new mirror. It is 11pm here, insanely humid, at least 20-some degrees, raining (thunderstorms actually), smelling lovely and everything is so green. The tulips here are like 3 feet tall! This place is just breath-taking. Everything is so green, Lake Ontario is right close, beautiful parks, houses, perfect jogging terrain...if it weren't for the fact the most of me is a West Coast girl, I would move here in an instant. I mean, I'm in the middle of Mississagua and I feel like I'm in a village somewhere, a small one. With really rich people.
My Aunty Barb and Uncle Mark picked me up from the airport this afternoon with no problem. In fact, I had no problems at the airport what-so-ever. The flight was long, but chekcing in, security, baggage--it all was taken care of within 25 minutes. A serious blessing. And landing and recognizing people I haven't seen in nearly a decade from across the room; I was trillled to see that I have some sort of magnetic pull towards my family members. They promptly brought me home, fed me yummy spaghetti, and took me out to a church ladies meeting which focused on how to minister to Muslims. I wonder why God brought me all the way to Ontario for me to hear that; to have it primarily be my first activity in this undiscovered land seems more than coincidential. In fact, on every vacation, my first activity at m destination is always something to do with a church. Coincidence???
Tomorrow morning requires some day travel though, so it is in my best interest that I retire. It has been a long, long, long day.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Two Days!!!
May: glorious May. What a month it has been to date. I mean, the past two weeks have been something else. I have been frantically trying to get everything in order for my trip down east, syaing good bye to a lot of friends, and some are coming back to me (and oh how I have missed them!!), planning course schedules for college, as well as racking up an impressive long distance cell phone bill between calls to BC and Ontario. Crazy!
I am quite pleased to say that life is going swimmingly at the moment. I've been doing a lot of self-reflection (as I have learned is important from time to time) and been making some positive changes in my life; all in all, I have firmly realized that right now, I am exactly where I want to and am supposed to be. I am thrilled about connecting with my family, my job, my friends...everything is the way it should be. Awesome.
Well, I guess I should getting going. The girls and I are going on an Ikea run this afternoon. Now, if that doesn't make us domestic, young women, I don't rightly know what does!
I am quite pleased to say that life is going swimmingly at the moment. I've been doing a lot of self-reflection (as I have learned is important from time to time) and been making some positive changes in my life; all in all, I have firmly realized that right now, I am exactly where I want to and am supposed to be. I am thrilled about connecting with my family, my job, my friends...everything is the way it should be. Awesome.
Well, I guess I should getting going. The girls and I are going on an Ikea run this afternoon. Now, if that doesn't make us domestic, young women, I don't rightly know what does!
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Say What??
So, just when people are strating to get on my nerves and when I am starting to doubt that I'll actually make it to college in the fall, God has a way of surprising me. Seriously. I started to panic a little again last night over the whole college thing (which still totally doesn't seem like it will actually happen), and this afternoon when I went into work, I was informed that a kind hearted patron o the coffee shop left me a hefty tip in my "Rebecca's Global Grounds Scholarship" jar. I almost started to cry. I mean, the cheque was enough for a textbook or so, but seriously: the fact that people are willing to tip large amounts of money for a cup of coffee boggles my mind. At recent count, the tips in the jar have amassed more than $250 in only three weeks. And this is at a small town coffee shop. It's impressive to me. Not just impressive, but astonishing! People rock. I just wanted to thank people, in general, for being nice. I like it when the world spreads a little luv.
Friday, April 20, 2007
Slip n' Slide
So last night I was privilaged enough to have a new experience. Curt and I, on a mission to gorge ourselves on donuts, were on our way to Olds to raid Timmy's when suddenly the slush took Curt's car and pulled us right into the ditch. We slid, and slid, and slid, until we were nearly in a farmer's field. No injuries occurred, and Curt's car managed to survive mostly unscathed. However, while we waited for Clarence to come fish us out, all 806 passer-bys took a moment to treat us as their newest spectacle. I couldn't help but laugh, even though I know i probably shouldn't have. I mean, jeez! We were in the ditch. Opps, there I go laughing again. Guess that was God's way of making sure we stick to a healthier diet.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Casquenette
I find it somewhat ironic that as I am reading about "Louis the Goose," my old neighbour comes into the shop and starts talking about his wife and my mother. Mr. Koch's wife suffers with Alzheimer's; my mom, a genetic disease known as Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy, and this terribly sweet elderly man says "Well, we just have to learn to how live through it." Although seemingly common knowledge, I've been hearing this same thing said to be for days now. All the time. it's like in Shakespeare (I'm a nerd, I know): when things are repeated, the author is trying to get a message through to you.
Here I am, sitting and fretting about going away in the fall for thousands of reasons, when really, even if I am here next year, even if I work my tushie off in the next five months (five months already!!), whatever happens will happen regardless of whatever I do; it is in fact what i do with the outcome that is really going to affect me. I mean, Mr. Koch is married to a woman who is slowly forgetting everything that makes her her and forgetting who he is (I can only imagine it is painstakingly difficult to have to watch someone you love drift away from you so slowly), and he is ok with that. I mean, he is not okay with it, the man tears and has deep love for her after all, but he is okay with it! He is just dealing with it, and what he has to deal with is a great deal more to deal with than I will as a result of going away to school. Serisouly, how long have I been this daft?
Here I am, sitting and fretting about going away in the fall for thousands of reasons, when really, even if I am here next year, even if I work my tushie off in the next five months (five months already!!), whatever happens will happen regardless of whatever I do; it is in fact what i do with the outcome that is really going to affect me. I mean, Mr. Koch is married to a woman who is slowly forgetting everything that makes her her and forgetting who he is (I can only imagine it is painstakingly difficult to have to watch someone you love drift away from you so slowly), and he is ok with that. I mean, he is not okay with it, the man tears and has deep love for her after all, but he is okay with it! He is just dealing with it, and what he has to deal with is a great deal more to deal with than I will as a result of going away to school. Serisouly, how long have I been this daft?
Friday, April 13, 2007
Lucky Friday the 13th!
Well, it is Friday night and I have never been happier to be sitting on my couch at home with a beverage. This week has been awesome! Aided mostly by the fact that I have been living in the beauteous sunshine, but needless to say, a great deal has happened.
It's been a week of incredible insanity. I've recently found out that my cousin is pregnant, which is awesome, and that Sam Magee was not actualy cremated in the midnight sun up north, but rather burried outside of my old hometown of Beiseker in their olde cemetary.
Last weekend was the huge paint job at the coffee shop. I think Laura, Meg, and myself clocked in probably close to 30 hours or so in there over the Easter weekend. Insane! But it looks good.
Also, I now officially have a dorm room at the University in Abbotsford. I registered and they accepted my application all in one day! Amazing! Now I just have to wait for a room assignment.
My roomies and I have also decided that we are now officially moved back into our duplex. It has been quite a rollarcoaster ride of hightened emotions over the past month, but thank goodness it has started to dwindle down. Or sink is empty, our house smells clean, the lving room livable, the TV watchable from all angles and each seat, and even our kitchen table is cleaned off. This is a feat in and of itself! We even ate a meal at our house today. BBQ even! The first one of the year.We ate on our back deck too. Awesome. They were simply the tastiest home made burgers ever! I guess this means we can have people over for suppoer again. Wonderful!
Along with the wonderful weather, my roomies and I have begun setting dates for all of our wonderful adventures this summer. We have a week long road trip through some States and BC, a weekend at the lake in Montana, and moving me out to Abby. Of course there will be hiking on the weekends we're home, more laking, badminton, Odessey driving...this summer is going to be absolutly flipping diddley-awesome!
It's been a week of incredible insanity. I've recently found out that my cousin is pregnant, which is awesome, and that Sam Magee was not actualy cremated in the midnight sun up north, but rather burried outside of my old hometown of Beiseker in their olde cemetary.
Last weekend was the huge paint job at the coffee shop. I think Laura, Meg, and myself clocked in probably close to 30 hours or so in there over the Easter weekend. Insane! But it looks good.
Also, I now officially have a dorm room at the University in Abbotsford. I registered and they accepted my application all in one day! Amazing! Now I just have to wait for a room assignment.
My roomies and I have also decided that we are now officially moved back into our duplex. It has been quite a rollarcoaster ride of hightened emotions over the past month, but thank goodness it has started to dwindle down. Or sink is empty, our house smells clean, the lving room livable, the TV watchable from all angles and each seat, and even our kitchen table is cleaned off. This is a feat in and of itself! We even ate a meal at our house today. BBQ even! The first one of the year.We ate on our back deck too. Awesome. They were simply the tastiest home made burgers ever! I guess this means we can have people over for suppoer again. Wonderful!
Along with the wonderful weather, my roomies and I have begun setting dates for all of our wonderful adventures this summer. We have a week long road trip through some States and BC, a weekend at the lake in Montana, and moving me out to Abby. Of course there will be hiking on the weekends we're home, more laking, badminton, Odessey driving...this summer is going to be absolutly flipping diddley-awesome!
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Technicolour Easter Bunny
I am so exhausted. This whole long-weekend I have been living at the coffee shop, as is usual. We got to paint the brains out of that place and boy, does it look cool! I love it. The colours were originally lavender, periwinkle and a green, but are now red, brown, grey and white with accents of silver. Sweet! The one wall that is red also has a giant white damask painting on it. I love it. I think the boss likes it too, which is the most important part.
I just want to go to bed now, but should probably go put the place back in order. I can't wait to see everything so fresh and new. We even bought the boss these cute little whitish and yellow flowers called "lemnesia" or something strange like that. They smell so delightful.
I just want to go to bed now, but should probably go put the place back in order. I can't wait to see everything so fresh and new. We even bought the boss these cute little whitish and yellow flowers called "lemnesia" or something strange like that. They smell so delightful.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
7:11 Wake Up Call
Well folks, it is Wednesday morning and although our house still has walls that are a little wet, there is carpet back in our basement. We're not moved back in at this point, and will remain as such unitl the baseboards go back on, but I'm thinking of sleeping in my room at home tonight. It is just so much easier to get to work if I do it that way. Mmmmm...home.
It just feels so weird to be living independantly one day and not the next. Man, is that weird. I didn't want to move back home for that reason, but here I am, living dependantly off of my roomies and their family. Not a bad thing, just really weird.
In other news: I'm going to Toronto!!! Well, that is kind old news now I suppose, and it isn't for a while yet either. I'm flying down mid-May for a week of catch-up with my families and just planning on taking some time off; I'm not financially set for school or anything so taking the time off does worry me a little bit, but I know that I need a break again and that I would regret not doing this. Especially if all the weeks leading up to my departure are like this one has been: working 7-9 hours every day at the coffee shop alone! Ane then off to the Cousins, and then cleaning...and floods....
It just feels so weird to be living independantly one day and not the next. Man, is that weird. I didn't want to move back home for that reason, but here I am, living dependantly off of my roomies and their family. Not a bad thing, just really weird.
In other news: I'm going to Toronto!!! Well, that is kind old news now I suppose, and it isn't for a while yet either. I'm flying down mid-May for a week of catch-up with my families and just planning on taking some time off; I'm not financially set for school or anything so taking the time off does worry me a little bit, but I know that I need a break again and that I would regret not doing this. Especially if all the weeks leading up to my departure are like this one has been: working 7-9 hours every day at the coffee shop alone! Ane then off to the Cousins, and then cleaning...and floods....
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Just Like a Child
So this whole 'growing up' thing is so far a giant pain in the derierre. It seems everything gets a whole gosh darn more complicated in the first year out of high school! But I knew that already.
So I am officially now an adult! I've got my income taxes all done (with the help of my wonderful accountant!), post-secondary plans figured out (though the acceptance letters keep pouring in), and a place of my own (which I have to share, WHEN we actually live there!).
Two in and we are still homeless. Can you believe it? Our landlords have been in an out every day and taken on the labour of fixing everything themselves, but seriously, that is just how bad the flood was. However, they did put the carpets back in today! The walls are still drying out though; w should be able to move back in by mid to late week. I can't believe it. We should have a re-house warming party!
I got a package in the mail this week that told me that UBC had accepted me; I found this quite contradictory to their previous rejection letter. It seems as though UBC wants me to attend their school...in Kelowna rather than in Vancouver (where I wanted to go). Their sudden and unanticipated acceptance, however, does not alter my plans for the fall: I'm going to UCFV. This is all just getting so confusing though!
Today was the first semi-rain storm of the year, and it was beautiful. Freezing cold and half snow mind you, but gorgeous none the less. I was sitting in the empty coffee shop watching the little kiddies run around in the rain when I suddenly realized how much I missed being a kid. Not that life isn't fun now, but when I was younger, I seemed to see life differently. I've noticed that I have started veiwing situations, realtionships, random moments...everything, so selectivly. You know, like selective hearing, only instead of hearing, it is my sight which is affected. Stupid I know, but hey, I am a human being.
Most of it stems from a series of hard 'life-lesson' moments last summer, after which I decided (from some ridiculous reason) that life really wasn't as good as my 'naive' mind thought it was. Well, now, almost a year later, I am sitting here thinking, "What if it was my 'naive' mind that had it right?" Life really is, or is at least meant to be as breath-taking as I had thought it before. The days when my mind seemed a lot clearer (though not always happy) were the days before I decided to filter what I saw, heared, felt, said, or did. I guess it might just be part of that desire to control, or feel like I have the possibility of controlling what happens to me in life and where I ultimatly end up. I don't do I?
I think I had a revelation today. I am so... adult!
So I am officially now an adult! I've got my income taxes all done (with the help of my wonderful accountant!), post-secondary plans figured out (though the acceptance letters keep pouring in), and a place of my own (which I have to share, WHEN we actually live there!).
Two in and we are still homeless. Can you believe it? Our landlords have been in an out every day and taken on the labour of fixing everything themselves, but seriously, that is just how bad the flood was. However, they did put the carpets back in today! The walls are still drying out though; w should be able to move back in by mid to late week. I can't believe it. We should have a re-house warming party!
I got a package in the mail this week that told me that UBC had accepted me; I found this quite contradictory to their previous rejection letter. It seems as though UBC wants me to attend their school...in Kelowna rather than in Vancouver (where I wanted to go). Their sudden and unanticipated acceptance, however, does not alter my plans for the fall: I'm going to UCFV. This is all just getting so confusing though!
Today was the first semi-rain storm of the year, and it was beautiful. Freezing cold and half snow mind you, but gorgeous none the less. I was sitting in the empty coffee shop watching the little kiddies run around in the rain when I suddenly realized how much I missed being a kid. Not that life isn't fun now, but when I was younger, I seemed to see life differently. I've noticed that I have started veiwing situations, realtionships, random moments...everything, so selectivly. You know, like selective hearing, only instead of hearing, it is my sight which is affected. Stupid I know, but hey, I am a human being.
Most of it stems from a series of hard 'life-lesson' moments last summer, after which I decided (from some ridiculous reason) that life really wasn't as good as my 'naive' mind thought it was. Well, now, almost a year later, I am sitting here thinking, "What if it was my 'naive' mind that had it right?" Life really is, or is at least meant to be as breath-taking as I had thought it before. The days when my mind seemed a lot clearer (though not always happy) were the days before I decided to filter what I saw, heared, felt, said, or did. I guess it might just be part of that desire to control, or feel like I have the possibility of controlling what happens to me in life and where I ultimatly end up. I don't do I?
I think I had a revelation today. I am so... adult!
Monday, March 19, 2007
I Am Noah
Oh what a weekend. I swear, God has the sickest sense of humor.
It is now Monday afternoon, and guess what: my roommates and I are STILL homeless. It's pretty dumb, but I guess our house was built rather poorly and not really up to standards. But anyway, there is a funny story about our weekend.
My roommates and I were staying at their grandparent's house across the street from our house. But, sometime on Saturday (after I had a shower, go figure) Henry and Martha's hot water tank called it quits. No joke. I swear, I am bad luck for water tanks! So anyway, Sunday afternoon, Laura, Curt and I moved out to their parents house in the country. Since we aren't expecting to be back in our house anytime soon, we packed up the matresses and literally, moved in. However, Laura's Dad (though joking, of course) has fobidden me to take a shower in their house. From my point of veiw, he has good reason. I'm sleeping in the basement though, so if the place floods or tanks explode, I'll be the one to notice and have to deal with it.
Other than that, I've been fighting a rather dumb head cold again, and as a result was twice late for work at the restaurant on two consecutive days; I didn't even know I was working! I was not happy.
Sleep has still been eluding me a wee bit, but I did manage to get a refreshing hour and a half in before work this afternoon. Someone must really be praying for me too; I've had the energy to get through the days and have been feeling a lot less unhappy, which has been simply wonderful. It truly is amazing how much we, as humans, can let the runnings of life take control of us.
It is now Monday afternoon, and guess what: my roommates and I are STILL homeless. It's pretty dumb, but I guess our house was built rather poorly and not really up to standards. But anyway, there is a funny story about our weekend.
My roommates and I were staying at their grandparent's house across the street from our house. But, sometime on Saturday (after I had a shower, go figure) Henry and Martha's hot water tank called it quits. No joke. I swear, I am bad luck for water tanks! So anyway, Sunday afternoon, Laura, Curt and I moved out to their parents house in the country. Since we aren't expecting to be back in our house anytime soon, we packed up the matresses and literally, moved in. However, Laura's Dad (though joking, of course) has fobidden me to take a shower in their house. From my point of veiw, he has good reason. I'm sleeping in the basement though, so if the place floods or tanks explode, I'll be the one to notice and have to deal with it.
Other than that, I've been fighting a rather dumb head cold again, and as a result was twice late for work at the restaurant on two consecutive days; I didn't even know I was working! I was not happy.
Sleep has still been eluding me a wee bit, but I did manage to get a refreshing hour and a half in before work this afternoon. Someone must really be praying for me too; I've had the energy to get through the days and have been feeling a lot less unhappy, which has been simply wonderful. It truly is amazing how much we, as humans, can let the runnings of life take control of us.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
48
I am absolutely frustrated with being frustrated. Today, and yesterday for that matter, has simply been 'one of those days.'
Lat night, I think I managed to get four hours of sleep. I was at the duplex until near midnight, helping my landlords and ladies rip out our basement carpet (my fingers look like I tried to play with a psycho cat named "Fritz" because of the tack strips), moving furniture across the street to the grandparent's house (where we have been staying and will be for a number of days yet), removing baseboards, doors, and cutting an inch off of the bottom of the drywall so we could spray fungicide all up in there. I, being that I was not working until early this afternoon, stayed behind to help until the job was done. This came at around 11:15pm last night. I was up again by 6:20am this morning and on the go.
At two, when I went to work at the coffee shop, I found that my boss is disappointed in me and that my shift would be done by four, due to an emergancy power failiure that shut down the whole town for an hour and a half. So, I left at four and came home to find one more of our fishies (Laura's unnamed white and orange moora) dead because the filter had stopped and the water too warm because our house is very hot. Now, I'm sitting on my couch, looking at a TV that isn't working and wanting to work on entering some data for the coffee shop but completely unable to find what I need to start. By the way, my house is completely uninhabitable.
So now, simpy because of being frustrated for so long, I am frustrated with being frustrated and I think I might either cry or simply break into one of my "happy/sad" fits of shear laughter and sorrow.
I feel like donkey from Shrek when he says: "I need a hug!"
Lat night, I think I managed to get four hours of sleep. I was at the duplex until near midnight, helping my landlords and ladies rip out our basement carpet (my fingers look like I tried to play with a psycho cat named "Fritz" because of the tack strips), moving furniture across the street to the grandparent's house (where we have been staying and will be for a number of days yet), removing baseboards, doors, and cutting an inch off of the bottom of the drywall so we could spray fungicide all up in there. I, being that I was not working until early this afternoon, stayed behind to help until the job was done. This came at around 11:15pm last night. I was up again by 6:20am this morning and on the go.
At two, when I went to work at the coffee shop, I found that my boss is disappointed in me and that my shift would be done by four, due to an emergancy power failiure that shut down the whole town for an hour and a half. So, I left at four and came home to find one more of our fishies (Laura's unnamed white and orange moora) dead because the filter had stopped and the water too warm because our house is very hot. Now, I'm sitting on my couch, looking at a TV that isn't working and wanting to work on entering some data for the coffee shop but completely unable to find what I need to start. By the way, my house is completely uninhabitable.
So now, simpy because of being frustrated for so long, I am frustrated with being frustrated and I think I might either cry or simply break into one of my "happy/sad" fits of shear laughter and sorrow.
I feel like donkey from Shrek when he says: "I need a hug!"
Monday, March 12, 2007
Two by Two
Our basement flooded this past weekend. So much fun. Actually not so much. I don't think I have slept an entire night since Friday.
On Saturday I think there was a total of 15 people cycling through our house all night (right up until 1am, with the time change) and gallons of water taken out of our basement carpet. Now, all of the beds and miscellany are upstairs in our duplex, the fans have been going for days, the dehumidifier pumping away...the heat cranked up and the water turned off. The walls are wet 2 feet up and the capets feel like they should really be changed. My roommates and I found alternate lodging for the last couple of nights (Curt and Laura at their Grandparents, I was with the wonderful Thiessens and their absolutly gorgeous new shower!) and tonight might be the same story. My room, which is dryest, has boxes and a couch piled up on my bed, so even I can't stay here. For the bathroom we are foced to wander across the street to my roomie's grandparent's house.
So that was my weekend. My landlords rock, as they have been here every day dyring the place with towels and fans and helping us out.
I think our neighbour in the other half of the duplex had it harder off though. Fortunately, the Holdemens have been really helping thier own and have been taking care of her, and even hlping us by giving us blocks to set our furniture up on.
Other than that, the weekend was all right. On Friday night, four of us moved Curt and Laura's cute little Great Aunt Helen into the lodge here in town. That was fun. I felt usuful. She is the sweetest, most agile 80 or-so lady I have ever met. And happiest. No doubt the happiest. And she is about 4 feet tall, so she is adorable and I felt tall standing next to her.
On Saturday I think there was a total of 15 people cycling through our house all night (right up until 1am, with the time change) and gallons of water taken out of our basement carpet. Now, all of the beds and miscellany are upstairs in our duplex, the fans have been going for days, the dehumidifier pumping away...the heat cranked up and the water turned off. The walls are wet 2 feet up and the capets feel like they should really be changed. My roommates and I found alternate lodging for the last couple of nights (Curt and Laura at their Grandparents, I was with the wonderful Thiessens and their absolutly gorgeous new shower!) and tonight might be the same story. My room, which is dryest, has boxes and a couch piled up on my bed, so even I can't stay here. For the bathroom we are foced to wander across the street to my roomie's grandparent's house.
So that was my weekend. My landlords rock, as they have been here every day dyring the place with towels and fans and helping us out.
I think our neighbour in the other half of the duplex had it harder off though. Fortunately, the Holdemens have been really helping thier own and have been taking care of her, and even hlping us by giving us blocks to set our furniture up on.
Other than that, the weekend was all right. On Friday night, four of us moved Curt and Laura's cute little Great Aunt Helen into the lodge here in town. That was fun. I felt usuful. She is the sweetest, most agile 80 or-so lady I have ever met. And happiest. No doubt the happiest. And she is about 4 feet tall, so she is adorable and I felt tall standing next to her.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
Linden: A Break in the Space-Time Continuem
The Hat (from the aformentioned road trip)
Shelly and Dave at Melissa's Misteak (from our Banff trip)
L to R: Me, Curty, beautiful Bailey at Melissa's Misteak
Heaven!!!! In Banff, there is a cute, tiny candy shop and it has a wall of lollipops.
The beautiful weather of our Banff trip. Despite the cold, it was undeniably beautiful.
Nothing has happened since my last entry. Well nothing much anyway.
Laura and I went on one our regular road trips up to Three Bumps. Those are always fun. We found a hat on the highway so I made he back up so I could get it. Kind of a dumb truker hat, and I have no idea where it is now, but it was a souvenir. On the way home we took random roads (some of which I don't actually think were full flegded dirt roads) and it took us about a hour and a half to get back home from a place that is 25mins. away. Good times.
Last Friday we kidnapped Laura's little sister from school and went shopping in the big city. That was fun. Bailey came too. We have a lot of girlie days. I bought a really cute brown bikini, and whilst amoungst Deerfoot rush hour, I was surveying the bottoms. Sitting shotgun, I held them up; the young, kind of hot guy in the giant pick-up seemed to find this interesting as a repeatedly did double takes. Funny, and kind of embarassing for some reason.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
And The Winner Is...
I'm going to BC, woot! I'm going to BC, woot! I'm going, woot! I'm going to BC, woot! I'm going to BC, woot! I'm going to BC, woot! I'm going to BC, woot! I'm going to BC, woot! I'm going to BC, woot! I'm going to BC, woot! I'm going to BC, woot! I'm going to BC, woot! I'm going to BC, woot! I'm going to BC, woot! I'm going to BC, woot! I'm going to BC, woot! I'm going to BC, woot! I'm going to BC, woot! I'm going to BC, woot! I'm going to BC, woot! I'm going to BC, woot! I'm going to BC, woot! I'm going to BC, woot! I'm going to BC, woot! I'm going to BC, woot! I'm going to BC, woot! I'm going to BC, woot! I'm going to BC, woot! I'm going to BC, woot! I'm going to BC, woot!
So, I'm going to BC. Woot! I'm excited, as I'm sure you can tell. And yes, I was doing the happy dance in my head while I wrote that.
My decision was made last night, after I recieved a reply to my inquiries from one of the student advisers at UCFV. I emailed her asking for some more specifics on their courses because I want to be sure that I am able to emerge as a college grad with a career, a job, and get on with meeting my goals. I want to teach ESL in Latin America right? So, I need to take courses that will get be there. And, as it turns out, UCFV offers a course which teaches me to do that exact thing (had I known this, my decision would have come about a LOT sooner!), not to mention their kick bum linguistics course and study aborad Latin American Studies. Oh, and their English program too. I mean, how perfect can things get? This is so perfect for me; Grant MacEwan, though closer and more easier on my pocket, offers nothing that can compare to this (no TESL course, which is pretty much the cherry on top of the icing on top of the biggest flipping cake you've ever seen!)
The only thing that makes this transition scary for me is the fact that in 6 or 7 months, I'm going to be in an entirely different stage of life, and I know it. I am currently in point 'A,' and the road to point 'B' is particularly challenging and unknown to me. Frankly, I haven't the foggiest idea of how I am going to make all of this work. Though I guess it hasn't been 'me,' persay, making things work up to this point so I shouldn't try to start now.
Another bonus is that we are painting the coffee shop! That rights folks, no more gross pinky stuff and badly painted green in the bathroom. Laura and I came up with a brilliant colour scheme, Wendy added her wants, and together, the three of us came up with a flipping swet design. This place is going to look unbelieably different! I've been wanting toleave my mark here and now I have the chance to. The original date for the change has been set for Easter holidays, though my fingers are crossed for a closer date. I'm just so excited! It is going to look soooooo good, and not like any other coffee shop you have ever been too!
So, I'm going to BC. Woot! I'm excited, as I'm sure you can tell. And yes, I was doing the happy dance in my head while I wrote that.
My decision was made last night, after I recieved a reply to my inquiries from one of the student advisers at UCFV. I emailed her asking for some more specifics on their courses because I want to be sure that I am able to emerge as a college grad with a career, a job, and get on with meeting my goals. I want to teach ESL in Latin America right? So, I need to take courses that will get be there. And, as it turns out, UCFV offers a course which teaches me to do that exact thing (had I known this, my decision would have come about a LOT sooner!), not to mention their kick bum linguistics course and study aborad Latin American Studies. Oh, and their English program too. I mean, how perfect can things get? This is so perfect for me; Grant MacEwan, though closer and more easier on my pocket, offers nothing that can compare to this (no TESL course, which is pretty much the cherry on top of the icing on top of the biggest flipping cake you've ever seen!)
The only thing that makes this transition scary for me is the fact that in 6 or 7 months, I'm going to be in an entirely different stage of life, and I know it. I am currently in point 'A,' and the road to point 'B' is particularly challenging and unknown to me. Frankly, I haven't the foggiest idea of how I am going to make all of this work. Though I guess it hasn't been 'me,' persay, making things work up to this point so I shouldn't try to start now.
Another bonus is that we are painting the coffee shop! That rights folks, no more gross pinky stuff and badly painted green in the bathroom. Laura and I came up with a brilliant colour scheme, Wendy added her wants, and together, the three of us came up with a flipping swet design. This place is going to look unbelieably different! I've been wanting toleave my mark here and now I have the chance to. The original date for the change has been set for Easter holidays, though my fingers are crossed for a closer date. I'm just so excited! It is going to look soooooo good, and not like any other coffee shop you have ever been too!
Monday, February 26, 2007
Iced Out
I am not a believer in karma or any of that, and not really a believer in bad luck either. I don't usually have 'bad luck' with anything, but there is one recurring issue that someone might resolve as 'bad luck.'
Over the course of the past two years, I have been without hot water in my house three times. The first time as a result of my family struggling to make ends meet and it having to be cut off, the second time, shortly after my folks got the hot water back, our tank violently exploded in the middle of the night (this was humerous. I woke in the middle of the night to hear what sounded like a rushing waterfall in the furnace room next to my bedroom. After checking it out and seeing water shooting everywhere like 20 pressure water hoses, my first words were: DAAAAAAAD!). Then, yesterday, in my own house, about a year later, the hot water tank blew only this time significatly less violently. But none the less, the flipping hot water tank ran out of hot water while I was in the shower.
It seems that I am fully versed on how to deal with living on cold water; I hate it, especially when I want a hot bath, but I know how to get by. Besides, it is cheaper and betters for your darks if you wash you clothes in cold water!
I take my experiences as learning experiences. After all, I am planning on living in 2nd and 3rd world countries for a good deal of my future. Who is to say I will always have hot water available?
Over the course of the past two years, I have been without hot water in my house three times. The first time as a result of my family struggling to make ends meet and it having to be cut off, the second time, shortly after my folks got the hot water back, our tank violently exploded in the middle of the night (this was humerous. I woke in the middle of the night to hear what sounded like a rushing waterfall in the furnace room next to my bedroom. After checking it out and seeing water shooting everywhere like 20 pressure water hoses, my first words were: DAAAAAAAD!). Then, yesterday, in my own house, about a year later, the hot water tank blew only this time significatly less violently. But none the less, the flipping hot water tank ran out of hot water while I was in the shower.
It seems that I am fully versed on how to deal with living on cold water; I hate it, especially when I want a hot bath, but I know how to get by. Besides, it is cheaper and betters for your darks if you wash you clothes in cold water!
I take my experiences as learning experiences. After all, I am planning on living in 2nd and 3rd world countries for a good deal of my future. Who is to say I will always have hot water available?
Thursday, February 22, 2007
And the Irony Abounds...
Okay, now I don't know what to do. I got in UCFV in Abbotsford. I wanted to go there, it was ranked one below Grant MacEwan on my list, but that was when I had confidence that I would get into UBC. I wanted to be in BC so badly next year, but since I found out that Vancouver was not next for me, I had gotten used to it. And Edmonton has its benefits. However, I was thrilled at my acceptance to UCFV. Anyone know what the college is like? And where I could find a place to live in Abbotsford? Or how much dorm-living costs? I think the basic schooling is about the same. I don't know what I am going to do. BC or Alberta? both have so many pros and so few cons. This is unfair.
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