The unfealt

Tonight I experienced something I have never ever in my life experienced so strongly... the feeling of beauty.

Tonight I met up with some of my dancing friends for our annual Christmas reunion. As always, I made an effort on my appearance (at least more so than I usually do) and was sure to blowdry my hair and apply some makeup as you are always certain to be outdone by the beauty of the others in attendance. You see... my dancing friends are some of the most beautiful people that I know. Interestingly enough, I am (I think) one of the only brunettes in the crowd. The rest are naturally (and some not so naturally) blond, and I often feel like a bit of a "black sheep" in the crowd.

The thing with my dancing friends is that you can't go anywhere with that crowd of girls without turning heads. And tonight was no different. We met at a small little restaurant in OS called Jazzmyns and had a wonderful evening together. When the night was over and we were saying our goodbyes, other restaurant patrons at the tables around us were commenting on our group and asking how we all knew each other. They couldn't help but notice how beautiful the entire group was. Another lady sitting nearby piped in and said "why of course, they're Sheila Milne's (my dance teacher's) girls" . The other lady added a few more comments about the cuteness of my friends and made a point of specifically recognizing one girl in particular -- the girl in the glasses. To my surprise (and after glancing around the room to see who else might be wearing glasses), the lady was referring to me. I can't tell you how weird that feeling was. To be recognized like that was a whole new experience to me, especially being amongst those girls. Although I don't necessarily understand her rationale, it certainly did make me feel good and blush bright red in the cheeks.

Shania Twain's Greatest Hits

I just drove from London to Owen Sound and half of my trip was spent listening to Shania Twain's greatest hits CD that I got for Christmas. Her 21-song album is FANTASTIC! I could sing along with nearly every song on the CD and danced up a storm in front of my steering wheel along the way. If you are looking for an introduction to country music appreciation, go purchase this CD. You won't regret it!! Woo hoo!!

My very first oil change

Yesterday I experienced something I had never experienced ever before in my life -- an oil change. Since my "maintenance required" light came on a few days ago, I checked my trusty car manual to learn that the pesky flashing light meant it was time for my next (first) oil change. After pricing out my options and learning that you can get an oil change at Walmart for half the price of anywhere else, I opted to try out Mr. Lube for my very first visit. And what an experience it was! After pulling up to the garage, the bay doors opened up and some guy stood there waving me in. I pulled in, turned off my car and rolled down my window to be greeted with a complimentary paper and the offer of a warm drink. While I sat there enjoying my yummy hot chocolate, he promptly started his work under my hood and checking 21 other points in my car. 20 minutes later (and $48 later), I was finished and on my way. Now I call that express service!

I can't get over the new things I get to experience with this new car of mine. I wonder when the exciting and surprising things will stop. As long as my surprises are fun and inexpensive, I will continue to be happy :)

Catching up...

My subject line works on two levels. One being that I am catching up on missed blogging time (note that this is my third post of the day), the other leading me into my next story about catching up with an old acquaintance.

I got an "update" email from an old highschool acquaintance recently. Allison sent out a mass email letting everyone know of her new contact info and requesting ours in case she didn't have it up-to-date. When I responded, I gave her a small scoop on my life story and asked her a bit about hers. This is the response I got:

...I am doing good. I am engaged and living in Peterborough. I went an entirely different route and became a flight attendant for Air Canada. lol Math - Flying, go figure. I did a summer at Microsoft in Tech Support, and after that and the end of the program I really started to hate Math. I am considering Teachers College in the future, but for now I am loving flying around the world and getting paid really well for it. It's really funny how things turn out.

In all honesty, her story inspired me and struck me with a small bit of jealousy. I realize that I am only living from one day to the next these days and am looking for more inspiration. Although the flight attendant thing may not seem to fit into my life plan for now, it's definitely something I have added to my "To consider" list for the future. I can definitely see it as being a potential "retired" plan... :)

Life has too many opportunities available. The key is to select the ones that make you happiest at the time and go with what your heart tells you...

Curling

So this weekend I experienced TRUE Canadianism when I went to a Curling party... yes... that's right... I spent an entire Saturday evening "curling it up" at the Elmira Gold and Country Club with some friends. In total, I think that there were over 40 people in attendance. The strangest part of the entire night was not the fact that I was CURLING on a Saturday evening, but the fact that I knew over half of the attendees from totally unrelated experiences in my life. And we somehow all ended up being connected in one way or another at this party. I attended this party thinking it was going to be a big Christms reunion for Andrew and all of his engineering friends that I have met along the years, but was surprised to see many others in attendance too. I saw Matty (who I at one point in my life met through Steve Fyke) and his friends (Andy, Dylan, etc) and his fiance (who I think was one of the organizers). And there was also Steph Ho and her boyfriend (whom I met through my sister I think), and Mike Cohen (who was there with his friend Mike Brookfield), and another guy Phil that I have met through UW math, and last but not least, Corinne Shaw who I recognized from (go figure) Owen Sound who went to my highschool but one grade behind me. What a WEIRD combination! Totally unexpected, but quite a lot of fun.

The evening was a riot and although I came home with two huge bruises on my knees from my poor "technique" and a few slips on the ice, I can't help but feel somewhat patriotic and a bit geeky at the same time. The whole evening I just kept looking out over the ice, watching my fellow curlers, and thinking about how bizarre the whole scenario was. If anyone is looking for a live version of "Men with brooms" just plan a curling party and I'm sure you will experience a whole new level of hilarity...

Bad Policies

What's the deal with Suzy Shier? I was doing some Christmas shopping there yesterday and picked out a couple of items for my sister (I will leave it at that since I know Laura reads my blog sometimes) and quickly learned about their sucky policies. My usual shopping behaviour is to go overkill and get a few more items than I need in the off-chance that they either:
a) don't fit
or
b) are bad taste
When I got to the cash with two items I was kind of excited about, I happened to ask about their return policy only to find out that they do exchange only with no chance for a refund (not even within a week of the purchase). So after receiving this unexpected news and feeling the pressures of the mall closing and Christmas nearing, I opted to leave one item behind and buy only one of the two items. I hope she likes it!

How on earth can this store get away with such poor service? If I had the opportunity to rethink my decision, I think I would have, out of protest, said no thank you and continued on to another store. Never again will I EVER buy another gift for someone at that store!

Details

So I have been asked to give more specifics about my car... I think I am most excited about the novelty of just HAVING a car, but I guess I should show off the fun features that I got with it!...

Although the link I posted below describes all the bells and whistles, here is a summary of my favourite features:

• colour: black
• black leather seats (no worrying about food and stains!)
• heated seats for my cold tush in the winter
• power windows/locks
• keyless entry
• CD player
• AC
• moonroof
• tinted windows (not sure what I think of these... I'm of the opinion that it looks punky)
• manual transmission
• good on fuel!
• lots of leg room for backseat passengers with an entirely flat floor (no hump in the middle)
• it even comes equipped with a leather zip case for my manual!!

Although I purchased it with 96,000 km, I am not too concerned. Given the reputation of Acura (Honda) I anticipate owning this car for at least another 100,000k! I managed to put it on my student line of credit too so until the bank notices, I'm content at paying only 2% interest above prime.

Last night I played DD for my brother and his friends after a work Christmas party (I owe my siblings big time!) and we tested out my car's ability to fit 6 people. It worked, although Laura may have a bit of a kink in her neck today ;)

I can't wait to take everyone for a ride in it. I think my car is going to be getting a few extra kilometers the next while...

WHAT?! I own a car!!??

So I think I spoke too soon... after posting my somber message yesterday about facing the fact that I may not find a car for another while yet, my luck turned. As of yesterday at 11am, I now own a 2001 Acura EL 1.7. Well, technically I still have to sign the papers, but it's mine! The dealer I was working with decided to go to the auction yesterday on a whim that it might be a good day. There was one and only one EL 1.7 to bid on, and after a few phone calls back and forth, we won the bid and the car was mine!

I'm sooo excited. This is by far the biggest purchase I have ever made! I'm so happy that I found this deal -- the car is exactly what I was looking for. I really can't ask for more. It's black with black leather interior. Even comes with heated seats and a moonroof! I got to see the car last night and it is SEXY!! You can read more about what it comes with here.

Wooooooooooooooooooooo hooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!

Girls Night Out!

This weekend we celebrated the end of Andrea's un-wedded status and took her out on the town for her Bachelorette party. It was a BLAST! Sooo sooo much fun! Although the evening was a sudden realization that we are getting old (each time I explained to someone that I was out for my friend's bachelorette party), it was simply so much fun! Andrea was a riot and we met so many hilarious people along our adventures. We made Andrea carry the ever infamous Penis cup and the rest of us joined in style by taking Penis straws along with us to each of the bars. Andrea had no fears and our new friend Ian made the night extra special at the end by giving her a private Dirty Dance on the tables at McMullen's ;)

Check out my pictures here. They're great!

Still no car...

So I have done a complete 360 in my car searches and am back where I began - going to buy used. While this process has definitely been a good learning experience, it is starting to really stress me out. As the weather begins to get worse and Christmas nears closer, my depsperation for a car is really setting in.

My brother Mark has finally stepped up to the plate and he is assisting me with my searches. He has recommended his well-trusted mechanic to help me find my car. I am down to choosing either a Honda Civic or an Acura EL. My price range is tight though, so I'm hoping he can find what I want. Only thing I have to understand is that it may take a few weeks before he finds the car for me for the price I want. After much discussion about this last night, I'm willing to wait. More biking to work, taking the Greyhound, and carpooling for me. I can do it!

Bonus: now I can take the time to save up some money for a downpayment!

Country Music

Yesterday I discovered JUST how much I love country music. I had set my alarm to wake up at 7:30 so I could have time to get ready for my weekly Sunday run with the Running Room. I took a few minutes to just lay in bed listening to my radio cause it feels so damn good on the weekend. I was starting to consider staying in bed for a while longer, possibly skipping the run, when all of a sudden Shania Twain appeared on the radio. They were playing her latest song "Party for two" which also happens to be totally cheese. What totally blew me away was my reaction to the song. All of a sudden I got a HUGE grin on my face and I soon found myself dancing and grooving to the song while laying in bed. All the while I was considering how bizzare and psycho this moment in my life was, but that I didn't care cause it was making me feel sooo good and happy. That being said, I was up right after the song and pumped to go for a 12km run!

Offbeat oddity: For night-vision like an owl, you'd need eyes the size of a grapefruit.

Good point: Appreciate what you have before you haven't.

Two random independant thoughts

1) Today I learned that 4:20 (420 or 4/20) actually has a significant meaning. Correction -- no one actually knows what it's supposed to mean, but in some way shape or form it relates to drugs. How on earth this "expression" came about, I have yet to discover. There are a lot of myths out there, but no-one has been able to prove the origin of this.
(Side note...how this discussion came about: my boss sent an email today indicating that she had to leave at 4:20 for an appointment. My coworker started cracking jokes. Given my naivety, he had to explain.)

2) What is up with Solaris' naming convention. Today I discovered that one single OS can have 3 -- yes -- that's right -- THREE different names: Solaris 2.8 --> SunOS 5.8 --> Sun Solaris 8. What's the deal. How on earth am I supposed to know what platforms Maple is supported on when each platform can have any number of names! No wonder I feel there is so much to learn! Don't even get me started on my thoughts about Mac OS...

Man... this job is turning me into a huge geek!

More Bush knocking

I realize that the topic is getting old, but I had to share the latest piece of information I received today. Someone has been so kind as to gather statistics on the American voters and how their IQ ties to who they voted for. Check out http://chrisevans3d.com/files/iq.htm for the results! I probably don't even need to tell you how they compare....

Congratulations Kelly!

Congrats goes out to Kelly McCoy - the next one of my dancing friends to get engaged! Wonder who it'll be next?! :)

Car shopping

This weekend I experienced a new feeling for the first time in my life: the excitement of test-driving and shopping for a car. Yes... after over 5 long years of "semi-independence" and "pre-adulthood", I am starting a journey into a brand new world. This new world will bring a new sense of independence. No more mooching rides from others and no more having to run all over the city on my bike!

Although I began my car shopping Saturday afternoon with little direction and knowledge of what I wanted, I feel I am a more educated person in the car purchasing area (after several hours of entertainment for my sister and Mike). I've even learned about the benefits of leasing and have discovered that it may be the best option for my financial situation at this time.

I still have more research to do and some more budget tweaking to determine what I can and can't afford. However, I hope to soon be prepared for the arrival of our first snow-fall and the end of my daily bike ride to and from work.

Almost Famous!

Congrats to Andrew for making the University edition of the Maclean's magazine this year. Check out page 52 for his full page pic or visit http://www.macleans.ca/universities/index.jsp to catch a glimpse. Andrew was even successful at getting his trademark items into the picture: his bike helmet and his Nalgene.

Wedding Showers

This past weekend Kristy and I planned a wedding shower for Andrea. It is soooo crazy to think that this is just the first in many more to come over the next many years of our lives. It was a fun afternoon with "Crazy Hats", the "advice" game, and "Andrea & Graham" trvia. A totally girlie day! We are so excited for Andrea and Graham and wish them the best. They are eloping to Antigua on December 24th to wed. It will be such a beautiful day! I have posted pictures from Andrea's shower here.

I have also posted my pictures from Halloween weekend. Here you can see the makeshift costumes that Andrew and I pulled together from my costume box for handing out candy to the kiddies, Andrew's parents new Honda S2000 (red leather interior!) and the haircut that I gave Andrew before he left!

Mixed Blessings

I woke up this morning to the sound of someone scraping the ice off their car windows outside my bedroom window. It's funny how much my excitement for the winter season has changed this year. Any other year I would have jumped out of my bed to scramble to the window in hopes of finding a good 3 feet of snow before me. Today I groaned and dragged myself out of bed keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for the best (ie. minimal snow cover). It's amazing how much depending on my bike to get me to work these days has changed my hopes for the white stuff. I lucked out today as it was only a small ice covering on the cars and a thin snow cover on the roofs (rooves?). I think I'm gonna have to start looking into cars ASAP! Any suggestions? :)

In my excitement/anxiety about today's weather, I forgot one essential item when packing my bag for work. It's amazing how much forgetting one's bra can have an effect. Luckily I happened to pack a cardigan along with the t-shirt I planned to wear today and combined with my serious lack of chest, I was able to get away without the otherwise essential piece of clothing. It certainly is a strange feeling to go all day at work like that!

Big question...

What on earth am I doing!?...

Christmas is coming!

I just saw my first tv commercial for the year that reminds us that Christmas is coming! The ad was for a cell phone company advertising their package deal for two picture phones. The couple was trying to pick out their Christmas tree and the husband was out in the forest taking a picture of the tree he picked while the wife was sitting at home criticizing the dwarfy tree. Now, ignoring the fact that that is NOT how one gets into the Christmas spirit (sitting at home while you send your hubby off to fetch the tree), it still makes me VERY excited! The countdown is already on and I can't WAIT! I love Christmas!!

MarryAnAmerican.ca

Hahaha... so I heard about this website today on CanadaAM (my favourite news broadcast of choice in the morning). It is called marryanamerican.ca. I forwarded the link to my cousin and her fiance (living in Florida these days) in an attempt to cheer them up after the US election. This was her response:

Thanks for the sympathy. It is still hard to believe that he was re-elected. We are so depressed. We both know people that voted for Bush and none of them can tell us why they did it. They have nothing to back up there vote. It is almost like they have been brain washed and put into a cult. It doesn't help our frustration either that most of them are uneducated, red neck, racists who care more about banning gay marriage than having a job or health care.
Time to move North, in either country towards educated people.

So true... and as I will repeat from yesterday, so scary!

Four more years!!??

So I don't usually use this space to share opinions, but I guess I have to start sometime...

I am completely awe-stricken by the results of the recent US presidential election. I honestly thought that the results would go the other way. Apparently the votes have proven otherwise. I am floored at the fact that close to 60 million Americans still think that George Bush is the best man to represent their country! I feel so sorry for the remaining other (close to) 60 million that have to endure the next four years of his continued leadership. Maybe I'm uneducated, or maybe I've just been biased by the Canadian version of US politics that I watch on TV and read in the papers, or maybe it's just that I've been watching too much of Michael Moore's stuff, but how do people of the United States think that George Bush can be a good thing for their county?! This is a scary scary time...

On a different note. Here's my offbeat oddity for the day:
Snake's fangs fold inward when they close their mouth so they don't bite themselves.

My daily planner

I absolutely love my daily planner. It is what keeps me organized. If I was to name the single most important thing I have learned to keep me on track, it would be to carry my daily planner with me every day and use it on a regular basis. It works!

I managed to score myself a free planner from my dad who sweet-talked the principal at his highschool into giving me one (hey! I saved myself close to $20). The best part is, it comes complete with motivational stuff and really hokey sayings and stuff. I think I will start to share my favourites!

Offbeat oddity #1: The average life span of a major league baseball is seven pitches.

Business cards

I received my business cards today for work. It feels funny getting them. Mainly because it just feels like a grown-up thing to own "business cards". Secondly because who the heck am I going to give my business cards to???

My weird sleep story

I don't think many are aware but I have been having some issues for the past year of my life with regards to my sleep. The fact is that I can't seem to get enough of it. When my condition reached a point where it really started to impact my every day life (napping for 2-3 hours during the day, not being able to stay awake at the library, falling asleep in every movie I watched, falling asleep at the bar, and barely being able to stay awake past 8 or 9pm), I decided to discuss it with my doctor. After an overnight stay at the Sleep Clinic lab and then a few more months of keeping a sleep log, I was diagnosed with "Idiomatic hypersomnia" which basically means "unknown cause of excessive sleepiness." From my diagnosis came an offer for the chance to participate in a clinical drug trial for my condition. Basically its for a medication that they use to treat narcoleptics, but also for people with a milder condition, like me. I accepted and here I am.

Today I spent the day in the Sleep Lab going through a series of tests where every 2 hours they sit me up in bed and have me sit in a dark room staring at a nightlight for 20 minutes trying to stay awake. Since I am all hooked up to monitors via electrodes on my head, they are able to measure my behaviour and identify when I start to fall asleep. The tests today were pretty much a torture test because as much as you start to feel sleepy and want to fall asleep, they won't let you and instead wake you up via an intercom stating "please open your eyes and remain awake'. Last week I was in for another study which was equal in torture nature where I was given the opportunity to lay in bed for 20 minute intervals again and this time with the intention of trying to fall asleep. As soon as they identified dream patterns from my brain, I was woken up and that was it for the next 2 hours until the next cycle began again.

Today I met a guy who is a true narcoleptic and has been for 25 years of his life. Over dinner I learned about his fascinating stories while we sat in our pjs with funny looking wires all hooked up to our heads. He told me about how he can fall asleep on the job while drilling holes in the mine and waking up just in time to reverse the drill due to a change in the vibration patterns. He also told me some interesting stories about driving while half asleep, getting kicked out of bars on numerous occasions from bouncers who thought he was drunk, and falling asleep in bed with a woman! Although his stories were entertaining, it was also really sad to see how his condition affected his life so much. He believes it is the reason for him never ever marrying. He tried medication years ago but due to its infancy, it was too severe of a dose and he decided he’d rather go without. He is now regretting his decision since he feels as if he has wasted so many years of his life.
This whole experience certainly has been an interesting one and I look forward to learning more as I go. I start my study drug tomorrow and am interested in seeing the effects. I just hope I don’t get stuck with the placebo… :(

Goodbye Dr. Corday

I can't believe how much the cast of ER has changed in the past while. Yet another great character has found a way to be written off the show. Tonight was what looked to be Dr. Corday's last episode on the show. I cried enough when Dr. Green left that I got most of my tears out of my system then (let me tell you... it was not a pretty picture! ...even after my 3rd time watching that episode!), but tonight I even shed a small tear when I realized what they were doing to Corday.

Alas, the show will continue and I'm certain another new favourite character will arise. We'll miss you Elizabeth... Thanks for all your hard work!

(footnote: yes, I realize that I am WAY too into this show!)

I love my digi-cam!

I just have to say that I absolutely love my digital camera. I take it everywhere with me and am able to capture some great things on film. Not being restricted by the cost of film is the best bonus EVER! I have posted my pictures from Thanksgiving and Oktoberfest which are amusing to say the least. www.imageevent.com/hledwards/fall04

Hope everyone else had fun celebrating Oktoberfest wherever they may be. I certainly did. Maybe too much fun. I think I experienced the second hangover of my life. But for the record, it only lasted an hour ;)

US Politics

In honour of the upcoming election and the Bush-bashing fest that took place this weekend (I have a cousin living in the US who shared her own opinion of American politics these days), I am posting one of the many video clips that we managed to come across while googling for some fun.

Enjoy...!
http://www.netlaughter.com/funpages/view.cfm/5031

Family

There is something so awesome, yet so indescribeable about the sound of family chatter throughout our warm house on Thanksgiving weekend. While in the computer room seeking solitude from all the craziness for just a brief while, I am listening to the random conversations throughout the different rooms in the house crescendo and decrescendo, and often erupt with laughter. These are the sounds of my cousins and aunts and uncles and brothers and sisters and in-laws and parents share stories and fun and truly enjoy and appreciate the chance to be together at this time of year. Family is one of the greatest things in life and I'm so thankful for the wonderful one that I have. Happy Thanksgiving all!

There’s someone else like me? :)

I have been told by many that my habit of highlighting text onscreen to help me follow along while reading is one that is particularly annoying for others to watch. Self-admittedly, it’s a rather obsessive compulsive behaviour that I honestly can not ditch. Depending on the intensity of what I’m reading, sometimes my mouse and cursor can dance wildly across the screen in a clicking frenzy!

I have recently discovered that I’m not the only out there with this freakish habit. Matter-of-factly, my co-worker, Jason, does the exact same thing! You can’t imagine the joy I experienced when I first saw his similar behaviour while he was reading me something off of his computer. Given that we sit side-by-side in our office, maybe we can start making clicking harmony as we read along together throughout the day!...

Am I getting younger??

I have been noticing a definite trend lately in the number of people who have been estimating my age to be WAAAY younger than I actually am.

While in Italy, people were always asking Dana and I how old we were everywhere we went. And every time I responded with "how old do you think we are?" we were usually told about 18 or 19. One guy even went as young as 16!! Just tonight, while at my first session of Reading Buddies at the Kitchener library, the co-ordinator was talking to me afterwards and couldn't believe my age. She thought I had just graduated highschool!

Now I'm not sure why this phenomenon may be happening, but I theorize that it could be for one of the following reasons:

1. For some reason, this phase in life is causing me to encounter more situations that require others to question my age.
2. I'm hanging out with people that are simply too old and can't properly judge my age group.
3. I have a freak condition that actually reverses my aging process and I'm actually losing years off my face by the second -- 24, going on 6!
4. I need to start wearing make-up.
5. I need to re-think my wardrobe.
6. Who knows...

Oh well. I guess I can only be thankful because eventually I will hit a point in my life where I would give anything to look like a teenager again :)

Shattered Glass

Wow! I just finished watching a movie that my sister and Mike rented from the library this weekend, and man was it ever good. Based on a true story, Shattered Glass tells the tale of a young journalist who triumphs in his career at The New Republican magazine by fabricating his stories one after another, meanwhile developing the mind of a pathological liar. In the end it comes crashing down in a an exciting showdown where his career is totally burned as a result. No joke! It's true! And it was a fantastic movie. Highly recommend this one.

Conclusion: I think I watch too many crime-filled tv shows as I nearly peed my pants in the end waiting for a totally twisted and evil turn of events only not to happen.

My first week on the job

So I have successfully completed my first week of work at Maplesoft and the verdict is good so far. It’s funny, though, how different it is getting used to a new environment – this company is quite small (not more than 150 people) and the culture is different from other coop jobs. But once the adjustment is made, I’m sure I will like it there.

My first day was definitely interesting. I got the full tour of the building and found out about all of the sweet perks. Once I made it to my desk I had the very quick realization that I am no longer in a marketing department and socialization will be a bit more difficult. However, it doesn’t have to stay that way! I think the guy I sit beside will be fun once we get to know one another. He’s a bit strange in that he likes to sing heavy metal songs (or rather scream them in a soft whisper) while at his desk. It’s not uncommon to hear “mother fucker” followed by the sound of him doing air guitar noises with his mouth at random times of the day. Very strange indeed!

I am also discovering what it’s like to be in an organization that receives spam on a daily basis. When I got to work each day I have about 30 spam emails from the night. My junkmail inbox is now over 500 at the end of my first week. I would have thought that the company could have better control over that?

The company size is definitely the most noticeable thing. It is so bizarre when I meet some random in the cafeteria while we are getting coffee and they ask “oh… you must be Heather, right?” I look at them with a blank stare and think “how the heck does this person know my name”. It kind of feels good though :)

Here are just a few of the fantastic perks I get:

• Onsite gym with all the equipment I could need. If there is need for another piece of equipment, they buy it for us. The company just recently bought another elliptical cause there were lineups for the 2 that were already there, and they bought 4 new bikes to include in the “spinning circle” so more people could join at the lunch time spinning classes.
• Towel service is included so no need worrying about my own dirty stinky towels. This is especially good for me since I will be showering every day after my ride to work in the morning.
• Indoor bike racks for commuters. Sweet deal! No need to drag my lock with me each day (yes… the little things make me very happy!).
• Free juice, coffee, tea, etc. We even have a cappuccino maker for brewing espresso and frothing milk. I have yet to figure out how the thing works (yes! I DID work in a coffee shop all summer) but once I do, I think I will make it part of my daily routine :)
• A health-bar filled with free snacks throughout the day – including basically unlimited granola bars of all sorts and baskets of fresh fruit. (I love this one!)
  

A new change

I thought that I'd go along with this new change in my life (read: employment) and switch up the colours in my blog. I like this new template. It's kind of fun! We'll see how long this one lasts (I was very tempted to go for the Barbie pink one that was a close 2nd to this one). I forgot to save all of my personal links in the change though, so I will have to get those back up when I get a chance...

I have a job! :)

As of 2pm today I officially accepted an offer of employment from Maplesoft in Waterloo. I will be starting next Monday in the position of Technical Support Analyst. Apparently I have to know a little something about math!? ;)

I am definitely looking forward to routine and structure in my life (I learned these past 4 months that I can't handle having no plan). A steady income is probably a good thing too. The brand new office has indoor bike racks for easy commuting, showers, and an onsite gym with spinning classes over lunch. Woo hoo! Time to get back into shape!

I will be moving into my sisters' place on Friday. Looks like I will shack up with Laura and Mike for a bit. It's nice that we can help each other out in this situation -- they can give me cheap accomodations while I can help them a bit with their own cash flow.

I can't wait to get started!

There is hope!...

I just got off the phone with my mother in a painfully slow task of trying to teach her to upload something to my yahoo briefcase account. (I am currently in Montreal right now visiting with Andrew and working on job searches and applications from here). Realizing I needed a cover letter that I had saved on my desktop at home, I had no choice but to call mom and step her through the process. After her first attemt at typing in the url appended to the 'http://www.cbc.ca' that was already in the address bar, we managed to log in. From there, teaching her to navigate to the relevant documents was certainly fun, and waiting for her to use the scroll bar to get to the bottom to hit the upload button was excrutiating. But with 1 minute to spare on my calling card, we managed to achieve the desired result. I'm proud of my mom for her attempt to use technology and can't wait until the day when we can chat on MSN between emails.

Pictures up!

I have posted some pictures to my new online scrapbook. You can access them at www.imageevent.com/hledwards. I have opted to password protect the scrapbook out of paranoia -- I realize it might be a bit unnecessary, feel free to let me know if you think it is. For now though, I will post my password for everyone's viewing pleasure: heatherpics. enjoy!

Michael Jackson

This weekend I met a guy with the honest-to-goodness, no-lie, given birth name of "Michael Jackson." I thought that was pretty funny. He was born in '79 though, so there was no intended link to the popstar as we know him today. On that same night I also learned that my sister's boyfriend, Mike, has the given name "Michael Jackson Nevill." Interesting...

As far as I know though, neither one of them are child molestors ;)

Bike ride to the beach

On Tuesday my parents were heading out to our cottage at Sauble Beach and wanted me to go with them. I decided to join them, but opted for a bit of a challenge that day and biked out to meet them there. The trip normally takes 25-30 minutes by car (approximately 32 kms). I decided to take the "less travelled" route to avoid heavy traffic and failed to look at our Ontario atlas beforehand. 2 hours and 15 minutes later I arrived, but discovered that I had added on close to ten extra kms in the process of avoiding traffic. All in all it still felt good. I'm severely out of shape right now, and my ride has inspired me to try and "get back into it". I will have to try that ride again and shave some time off next time.

On a side note, I have pictures from my Algonquin trip posted on my friend Trina's website. You can check them out here. I am still in the process of completing my evaluation of which site I am going to use to post my pictures. Being unemployed, I have the time to complete all the investigations I would like to complete to help make such an *important* decision ;)

Photo sharing

So the choices are narrowed down:

1) http://www.imagestation.com
2) http://www.imageevent.com/
3) http://www.flickr.com

Positive thought for the day

I was walking down Yonge Street yesterday (yes... I'm in Toronto right now), probably off in my own world of thoughts, even more likely dazed with some dorky expression on my face. When I came to the corner of Yonge and Wellesley, some guy sitting on the side of the street made eye contact with me and held up his cardboard sign displaying the phrase "McHungry" and then gave me a totaly weird look. To be honest, the guy kind of creeped me out a bit, but I still smiled cause it seemed like such an odd sign for him to be holding and I seriously wondered if that helped him to get more food than others with the traditional "need money for food" signs. The guy liked my reaction and yelled out "keep on smilin' -- it makes the whole world wonder what you're thinking!".

I have to admit -- it made me smile even more as I realized how entirely true his statement was. I kept on smiling for the rest of the afternoon.

Close Encounters of the Moose Kind

So I just got back from a canoe trip this weekend with Trina and her friend, Tim. We went up to Algonquin as an "escape" from reality -- and boy did I need it.

Although we left 2 hours later than expected since Tim had an emergency concussion to deal with at work that afternoon, we arrived to the access point around midnight. After learning we couldn't camp there without a permit, and afraid of what the consequences might be, we opted to find a car camp site just back the road a bit. $29 for 5 hours of sleeping for the 3 of us, we were on our way.

Starting from access point #3 we traveled through Hambone Lake, to Daisy Lake, across the Petawawa River and into Misty Lake. Dinner that night was a wonderful chicken dinner with fried veggies. Yum yum! And we had Bannock with dinner that night too -- it took me way back to the first (and last) time I tried it in Brownies. If anyone is going on a camping trip again soon, I HIGHLY recommend trying it. So simple and so good. You can cook it on a stick right over the fire and slather it with PB and J! My fav!

The next day was adventure filled with more portages and a moose encounter. While travelling down the Tim River, we encountered a moose stopped for dinner in the middle of the narrow, boggy river. After freaking out at first, we were in awe at what we saw. We took lots of pictures and even some videos (thanks to my swanky new digital camera!) and then started to wonder how long this moose would block our path (going around him was no option). Banging on the canoe and yelling at him didn't do a thing. Finally, after Trina started "nagging" the moose, he started to move forward and climbed up the embankment. We made a "run" for it with our canoe, and while Trina prayed for our safety aloud, we bolted past -- the fastest I have EVER paddled in the my life. The moose stood atop and watched us pass by. I swear to God I could have cried at that moment I was so scared. Just a wee bit short of peeing my pants!

After that excitement I helped to drag our canoe through SEVERAL shallow parts, and then we finally made it onto the big lake. By this time it was dusk and the sun was shining low, and the water was beautifully calm. We encountered a mother loon with her baby. I don't think the baby knew how to swim and the mother was calling out as if she were afraid of us. We continued on to our site and had another yummy meal and an early night to bed.

Although the next morning was totally crappy and overcast, we packed up quickly and had a nice paddle out of the park. Arriving home early, I got a yummy salmon dinner at Trina's place and then went to catch the bus to Waterloo to visit my sister. After inconveniently missing the bus after it pulled up, dropped off 2 people, and pulled away without taking any new passengers on, Laura and Mike came to my rescue by picking me up and taking me to their place.

Today I got to eat lunch with my two sister-in-laws and cute little nephew. Andrew really is adorable. I think I am the proudest auntie out there.

That's all for my random stories today. Better go help with dinner since it's free tonight.

Italy again?

So I "re-lived" Italy all over again tonight as I visited a local Gelateria in Toronto. I'm visint Andrew for the evening and figured that since I had little opportunity to do souvenir shopping with such short notice of my return home, I figured this was close to the next best thing. A true taste of Italy. Mmm.... so yummy!
I had my favourite flavour: Pistachio and mixed it with a wonderful fruit flavour called Wild Berry. So delicious! BUT... I have to admit... It just wasn't as good as the *real* Italian thing... ;)

So after some quick calculations, I think I have close to 200 pictures from my trip (as short as it may have been). I am looking for the best AND most cost-effective method for me to post them to the web to share with others. Given my lack of knowledge and desire to build something in java script, I am looking for advice from others on where to look. I have heard that Imagestation might be my best bet, but am looking to see if anyone knows of anything else that may be better or more user-friendly. Any comments or suggestions are much appreciated.

Change of plans

One thing in life is certain: You can never predict everything to come. This is one of the many lessons that have been reinforced during the last 12 days of my life.

I am now home from my journey, cut short by 16 days. My return stemmed from a sling of bad luck turned especially sour when Dana's pack was stolen from an Internet cafe in Florence. This pack not only contained our tickets to the Olympics but just about every single other thing of value that was required for her to begin grad school in Norway (something that was supposed to happen upon the conclusion of our trip).

After contemplating the possibility of staying behind on my own to travel Greece solo, the decision was made for me to come home. In this case the majority ruled that it was too unsafe for me (a small, defenseless female) to be traveling Greece by myself. It was such a tough call and a decision that had to be made quickly. Although I am still pretty bummed that I had to return home, I can only look forward to the next time that I may get the opportunity to travel.

I'm off to bed now. Just got back from a friend's wedding reception that I otherwise would not have had the chance to be at if I were still overseas according to plans.

In Italy

So my adventures have begun... Despite getting to check my email a number of times, this is the first opportunity I have had to actually send an update.

Dana and I arrived in Italy (Milano airport) at 10am on the 3rd of August. We quickly learned that our luggage did not make the connecting flight from Heathrow so we had no choice but to spend the day in Milan. £10 return bus trip later, we spent a beautifully warm and sunny afternoon taking in the sights and smells of Italy for the first time. Milan is apparently a city to shop in but being the broke students we are (or were), we settled for a nice authentic Gelatti cone. yum yum! so cold and refreshing. Later that afternoon we went back to the airport to discover that our bags were late, and that another package Dana had sent still had not arrived. After deciding to move on, we ended up going to Bologna for the night with our American friend Vince that we had met in the 2 hour baggage line. Our train ride there was hilarious with a 3 hour trip trying to speak broken Italian with some crazy Italians trying to speak broken English (after 36 plus hours of no sleep and a long hot train ride). The Italians particularly loved the "love" section of the Dictionary in our Let-s Go travel book! Bologna is old and historic but a relatively small quaint town. It was a nice start to the trip.

The next day took us to Levanto to go see Cinque Terre (as I have learned to pronounce "Chinqwuh Teaaadeh"). A beautiful, mustsee for everyone in Italy. It is a hike along the north west coast along 5 old cities. So beautiful. A mixture of vinyards and lemon trees scattered with olive treees, apple trees, flowers, and ramdon coniferous. If anyone understands how they can grow grapes for wine along the coast without the salt damaging them, please let me know. We are curious. On our hike we stopped at the 2nd city to have lunch and cool down from the very warm day. We also stopped in the last city for a final cooldown. It was here where my wonderful luck brought me my first ever jellyfish sting. It really hurt but was just more so scary cause I didn't know what else it might do to me other than sting my elbow really badly. We found some local guy renting boats and gave the universal symbol for "jellyfish" and he understood right away. He grabbed some amonia from his store and wiped my arm clean with it. It was only then that I finally gave in and cried. I was ok though... the stages of the bit are kind of cool the next few days. I got a picture of it the first day!

Our next day took us to Florence. After having some more trouble with the trains, we finally found our way and met up with some Americans that we had met the day before on the trail. Zack showed us some really cool card tricks (can-t wait to try them at home) and Stephan showed me how to use my digital camera features (that I am still trying to learn). Arriving in Florence was quite an experience and we learned a very important lesson: arrive early to find accomodations and look at the place before paying. At the first hostel we tried, it was booked, so a lady across the street at a "tourist information center" called us over and told us about a hostel for £18. We thought great. When we arrived it looked alright and paid our money. It was only then that we found out we had to go next door and through some sketchy hallway to arrive to a very dark, dirty, unfriendly looking place (empty of all human sign of life except for about 25 beds scattered about with a bunch of backpacks all over) with one unkept bathroom (so illegal in Canada). We decided to spend as little time possible there and headed out to see the town. Florence really is a big city with just tonnes of people. There is a beautiful canal to walk along and so many old buildings and winding streets. This first night we ended up meeting an American and his friend that was teaching English in Italy through some mission program. We chatted with them for quite a bit and learned a lot about the city and Italian culture.

After surviving the night at the sketch hostel (and having some laughs with every single other person staying there that felt they got screwed), we met up with the Americans again to go see the Science Museum. This was a very cool museum that I coud have spent hours in. Dana and I went on to see the Uffitzi (famous museum filled with old historical art), the 3rd largest church in the world called the Duomo, and then checked in at a much nicer, cleaner hostel called Archi Rossi. After a much needed shower, we head up to the Piazza Michalangelo to get a magnificent view of the city by night. So gorgeous. Since we spent the evening with our American friends once again, they showed us the nightlife and we hit up a pub in the old city. Even tried a "Sex in the Duomo" which as you can imagine was quite like a "Sex on the Beach" with tequila. Quite tasty!

I better run since this is already a long update. I will try to keep them coming.

Getting back into it

I participated in my first highland class last night for the first time in 5 years! It was absolutely awesome. I have always known that I missed dancing, but being a part of the class last night reminded me just how much I missed it. It was surprising how much I remembered, but also surprising how difficult it was for me to point my toes. I was blown away by my cardio shape. I was able to do a 2&1 sword through with the music without dying. I guess that training was good for something!

Although the Go train/bus adventure there was certainly an "adventure" I am gonna do it again next week. It is so much fun. The teacher is not only fun, but a really good teacher (the daughter of my teacher from Owen Sound). Plus some of my old dancing friends are in the class too. I saw Melissa Riseborough for the first time in close to 6 years and the craziest part is, she hadn't changed a bit!

Now... my muscles are just going to have to get used to this, cause my body is SORE today!

More pics from my race!

So I found out that there is yet another link to pics from the race I did in Ottawa. You can check it out here.

Andrew even managed to sneak in a few pics too!! Hope that lady isn't too mad! ;)

Sushi in Toronto

I worked my first morning shift today at "the cup". 8am-1pm and loved it! I got to work with the infamous nazi-ish Frank (who likes his store ever so perfect while on shift) and was kept busy from the time I walked in to the time I left. Also made $5 in tips which was nice for a 5 hour shift.

Today I came home to a locked house, and without a key and the backdoor being locked, I was forced to rollerblade up and down Yonge Street to entertain myself and find something to fill my terribly hungry belly. I found some random store/deli/whatever-you-want-to-call-it that sold sushi for $2.99 (6pcs). It was actually pretty good given the price I was paying! yum yum in my tum!

When I came home, my house was still locked (Colin had yet to arrive back from work) so I sat outside and read the Metro. After realizing there had to be a way in, I found a window that was unlocked and I managed to break in. It was actually a bit too easy. I looked around before jumping through cause I didn't want anyone to call the cops on me, and especially didn't want some random person to see my trick and try it out themselves someday.

I'm going paddling tonight down at the docks. I'm filling in as the "fourth" for Andrew's AR team while they train for their next race. Aren't I a good girlfriend? ;)

My first half-marathon!!

This past weekend I traveled to Ottawa to compete in my first half-marathon. After 5 months of training it all came to a close on Sunday morning after completing the race (21.1kms) in 2 hours and 28 seconds. You can see me cross the finish line at 2:06:18 on the official clock (I am on the left hand side in a yellow tank top and Andrew is just to the right in his bright orange shirt).

The race was definitely a challenge as I was pushing hard to hit my 2 hour time goal. The weather was a bit warmer than I was used to training in, and my adrenaline rush set me out a bit faster than I maybe should have in the beginning. I was feeling great up to the 10km point and started to fade around 13 or 14. By 18kms I was ready to start walking for good but kept on pushing. I am pretty sure I was close to hitting the wall but I persevered to the end and was very pleased with the outcome. My legs literally felt worse than jello after crossing the finishing line but I think I would be upset with myself if I felt any better.

Now I'm looking forward to next year when I can start the training all over again. Time to beat my current record (and my sister's first time of 1:59:47)!

ps. congrats to my sister for finishing her first full marathon this year in a time of 4:04.

And the Olympics too??!!

Funny how things work... I met up with a couple of friends today that I literally have not seen since we left highschool. We have stayed in touch through email occasionally
(ie. a few times a year) and somehow found out we were all in Toronto this weekend so we decided to meet for lunch. It honestly felt like we hadn't changed a bit. So weird.

Craziest part is, I was somehow talking about my ideas and options for where to travel this summer and asked them if they had been traveling themselves... As it turns out, my friend, Dana, responded with "why don't you come to Athens with me to see the Olympics?" Apparently she bought 2 sets of tickets last year when they went on sale and figured she could find someone to join. So... as it turns out... I'm thinking about joining her on that trip too!

Crazy how things come about...

Traveling to India?

I have an opportunity to travel to India with a friend for 3 weeks. She is going with her church to Calcutta where they are going to do work in Mother Theresa's home (freedomizeindia.com). She has to come back to work afterwards, but I believe that some others plan to stay and travel while they are over there. I am seriously considering this opportunity. Although I have yet to be hit with the travel bug, I am told by many that this is an opportunity that I should jump on and take it while I can.

A new erra... working at Second Cup?

Well, this is it I suppose. I am done school, and have "entered" the real world. Only thing is, I'm not sure I'm ready. I know that I'm glad to be done with the looming deadlines, numerous tests and stressful guilt each weekend I used to sit on my ass and do nothing when I really should have been doing something -- but I'm not so sure I'm ready to start with the next phase of my life.

One thing that I am sure of is that my degree has certainly left me with a broad range of options to choose from in a career. The biggest problem is that there are too many to choose from! Right now, as I search the internet for my "dream job" I realize how little focus I have. I am experienced and qualified to do a variety of jobs, and am also interested in a significant number of them as well. What I am trying to figure out is what it is that I really WANT to do and what I will be most happy doing. I'm still trying to figure out how to find the answer to this one.

For now, I have found myself a job working at Second Cup in Toronto. I interviewed last Monday and started 3 days later. So far it's going well -- lots of fun, I get all the free coffee and funky drinks I want, and I'm working my way to becoming a qualified barista! It's a great way to make a little extra cash while I hang out in Toronto with Andrew and make up for some lost time over this past year of our crazy lives.

If anyone can see into my future and give me some advice as to which direction I should head with my career, please send me the vibe!

Who knew graduation would be this confusing??!!

AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!

I WANT TO BE DONE!!!! NO MORE SCHOOL!!!!!! ONE MORE DAY TO GO!!!!

Perfect Egg?

Does anyone know how to make a perfect soft boiled egg? You know... the kind that has a solid outside and a perfect inside that is just starting to soften but is still a bit runny? I tried, but failed miserably. It turned out a wee bit too runny for my liking...

Diagnosis: Piriformis Syndrome

I visited the Waterloo Sports Medicine clinic today for an assessment on my running style since I have heard it’s a good thing to do when doing any sort of long distance running. I have also been having some nagging injuries that don’t seem to be going away, so I figured it would probably be good to check them out.

My diagnosis: Piriformis Syndrome (AKA: tight ass).

Now I get to look forward to spending all my money on physio, massage therapy, and even some $400 orthotics! Yippee!!

Goals

It's amazing what you can do if you just set a goal for yourself. Last fall I was in such bad shape, I struggled at the concept of even a 20 minute run. I tried to get back in shape, but my motivation level wouldn't let me. I decided to sign up for a half marathon clinic at the Running Room starting in January and now I am running up to 16kms on my Sunday mornings. Running and Cross Training 5 days a week is supposed to prepare me for the National Capital race in Ottawa on May 31st. Although I really didn't think I would finish my training run yesterday, I pushed through and did it. If you've ever thought about doing anything significant that requires a bit of work beforehand, I highly recommend giving it a "go". Once you make your initial commitment by signing up, it's harder to back out afterwards. It's amazing what you can accomplish by setting a goal. I certainly didn't think I would ever be doing what I am doing now!

Goodbye Mr. Yeo… :(

I’m sad. Last night I received news that one never ever wants to hear. The kind of news that sends stinging tears to your eyes -- the kind of tears that brim at your lids, and hesitate to emerge because you aren’t ready to believe the truth. The kind of news that sends chills down your spine as the reality begins to set in.

Yesterday, a close family friend of mine died at the age of 87. Although he lived a full life of happiness and many accomplishments, and was “fortunate” enough to have cancer rapidly take over his body instead of the Alzheimers which, most assuredly, would have debilitated him for many long years, I am still saddened. You see, Mr. Yeo was like a grandfather to me and will forever hold a special place in my heart.

I think up until grade 11 or 12, I had barely experienced death. Since then, it is scary to think about the number of funerals I have been to – all ages in fact. The worst part is that no matter how “experienced” I am getting at it, losing someone never gets any easier.

For now I will take hold of the fact that Mr. Yeo is now in a beautiful place and is living in peace. I’ll miss him dearly, until we meet again…

Family Monkey Traditions (weird as it may be!)

Here’s a little taste of how strange my family can be…

A brief introduction: My entire family (grandmas, aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters, parents) owns a collection of stuffed monkeys. The key concept, however, is that these monkeys apparently inherit super-human powers when adopted into our family. Each one is named after a Russian hockey player, and they like to drink booze and poop a lot. They also like to get into trouble and can get away with just about anything at family functions (including hanging my grandmothers bra from the kitchen light, displaying my fathers underwear beside the television, and speaking profanities to just about anyone).

The reason for this crazy tradition started with my “crazy” cousin Jennifer when she adopted her first monkey, Gorbi (actually named after Gorbachev since he has a similar disfiguration on his head). Shortly thereafter, Iggi joined the crew (named after Igor somethingorother) and the collection has grown ever since.

It’s actually really hard to describe in words exactly how these monkeys fit into our family, but if anyone has been around at Thanksgiving or any other large family gathering, they quickly see how hilarious the whole scenario can be.

Today I received an exciting email from Jenn announcing a new member to our “cousin” family. I thought I’d share it with everyone… (yes… I am very proud of my heritage!)


Hello everyone !

We are just sending out an e-mail to let you know that Gorbi has gotten married. "Unkie Geoff and Ant SwHeila" purchased the Gorbster a Russian mail order bride who arrived just a week or two ago.

Mike and I have our concerns about our three year old getting married and are referring to her as "Gorbi's friend" but she is here to stay.

The rest of our boys are really giving him the business about this and Gorbi himself is not very happy. To quote him, "She is always nagging at me, and trying to make me share my booze."

I am attaching the letter of agreement that she arrived with (make sure to check out small print at the bottom) and some photos of the bride. It should be pointed out that Geoff and Sheila provided Kristiana with her first clothes (thong and bra top) and did her make up for her arrival. She is something to behold.

Hope all of you are well.
Love, Jenn

Bad Luck

Boo hiss! I am only 1 for 5 in the Tim Horton's Roll Up the Rim contest! I think I deserve to win more!

Everyone’s Story

Yesterday I went to my business class at Laurier as per usual. Showed up 5 minutes before the class started, and sat down in my regular seat. Started to prepare myself for the “negotiations” our class was about to engage in.

When my prof entered the room, something was different about him – he had totally buzzed his already balding head. It wasn’t until closer inspection that I noticed some smaller bald patches all over the one side of his head. Confused, I wondered if that was normal for bald spots to appear like that on someone’s head. When he turned around, I noticed a significantly larger bald spot on the other side of his head that was emphasized from the smooth and shiny skin exposed. It wasn’t until I pieced things together that I realized the exact reason why he went for the drastic hair change – he is on chemotherapy and starting to lose his hair.

It was actually a really weird experience sitting in the classroom that morning. In a sense, it was like my professor’s day to “come out” about having cancer. He had managed to teach an entire term without anyone finding out, but he reached the point where he could not hide it anymore.

My reinforced realization that day was that everyone has a different story, and we often have no idea about it. It’s so true too. Every day, we are quick to judge others since it is our natural way, but we always forget that there are often very personal reasons why someone might do or say things that we don’t understand. What’s your story? I know I’ve got a few…

Evil Soup Diet

About a week ago my roommate introduced us to this silly diet called the Soup Dieta. We all decided it would be fun to try. So Thursday night we prepared a gigantor batch of soup and started the diet the next day. Current status: 1 never started, 2 have dropped out, I have cheated – actually more than cheated since I took Andrew out for a fancy Italian dinner on Friday night, and 1 is still holding strong. Andrea is definitely deserving of a medal for even making it to the end of day 2 having not yet caved into the pressure of temptation!

I honestly had no idea that food was this important to me! But man… it’s ALL I think about now. Today, on my way home from babysitting for a friend, I drove past a whole slew of fast-food places and my mouth drooled at the site of each one… Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Dairy Queen, Wendy’s, Benny’s (mmm…. breakfast melt’s!), and even Blockbuster (thinking about the popcorn that goes with the movies!).

I don’t know how much longer I can last! This is seriously a form of self-imposed torture. I don’t really need to lose weight, so it’s more so the challenge of finishing that’s pushing me to keep going. We will see how much my dignity even cares about it tomorrow…

Happy Birthday Andrew!!

It's Andrew's 24th today, and even though his day started off on the wrong "foot" with the worst back pain ever AND a crappy cold, I still think it's turning out ok for him. Looking forward to tomorrow! I have some surprises in store, but Andrew doesn't know what they are!... :)

So I can't believe how easy this whole Blog thing is. I learned from some friends that adding Comment text was supposedly pretty easy, but I really didn't believe it until I did it. It is literally a few cut and pastes, and before you know it... PRESTO! The comment feature appears with next to zero effort or skill on my part. Wicked!

I have been playing serious catch-up lately with some friends that I have not had much time to hang out with this term. Funny thing how there NEVER seems to be enough time in a day. Laura P and I got together for lunch and a game of squash (that we had been meaning to play since 1A) and it was awesome! Although Laura still kicked my butt, it was great fun. It took me back to our childhood and reminded me of a one week squash and raquet ball course we took in elementary school (man... we were geeks then too!) I got a good workout today and am looking forward to a good case of "squash butt" tomorrow.

Tonight is "Hills" in my half-marathon clinic. I think we are going to learn some proper technique and the strategy behind them, and then we will go out to practise what we learned for a half hour or so. Andrea and I started hills last Wednesday though, so I know what is in store. It's gonna be a fun night! Combined with my squash butt, I will be lucky if I can even walk tomorrow! Here goes...

So I missed posting my official "first post" last night since I got involved in a rather hilarious conversation outside my bedroom door in the hallway with my roommates. A whole mish-mash of topics actually. Quite enjoyable!

I don't really know what I'm going to say on these things. I suppose I will just see how it goes with time. It's funny cause I feel this imminent pressure to write something totally deep like I'm going to be the next famous philosopher of our time or something. Don't think it's gonna happen, but we'll see.

So I went and saw "The Passion of our Christ" yesterday with my friend Trina (who also happens to be Christian). Now talk about deep... I think that movie may have changed my life forever.

So it really is this simple...

Cool!