This morning I received word that one of my really good friends, Meghann's dad passed away last night from a heart attack. When I found out about the news I saw spots and got dizzy, this isn't supposed to be happening to the parents of my friends, it is supposed to be happening to our parents parents. He was 50 and active, he had a heart attack while playing lacrosse. The family is, as would be expected, devastated. Meghann is holding it together pretty well, I don't know if the reality of it has hit her yet, but she has decided she needs to be strong for her Mom and sisters. I spent a couple of hours with her this evening; there were so many people at the house so at least there are people around. The visitation is on Sunday and the funeral is on Monday, we're going and have also sent flowers. It's just so hard to believe. I feel horrible for the family, I know there isn't anything I can do except 'be there' but I still wish there was more.

Labels: Death

I took this picture especially for Jeanette, because it's a fish and I know how much she likes fish. My brother bought his dog, Monty (pictured below!) a pet fish, and since we are watching Monty we are also watching Duke.




I have been having a great week thus far (and it's only Tuesday!) and tonight I'm heading to Waterloo for a bday/good bye party. Have a great Tuesday all!!


Updated to add: I just got an e-mail from a boy that I am ridiculously in love with and now this week/day is even better... and yes, I've already started drinking (PRE-party drinking)

My parents have bought a new house and when they told me, I was incredibly juvenile and told them that it would never be my home and that I would not be moving with them. It's juvenile and I hate that I hurt my Mom like that but it's the truth. I am acting like a child, and maybe I should grow up and stop, but I can't. This is my childhood home, it is where I grew up and the only place I know. It's fine to say that your memories are not linked to a place, I know that is what I would tell someone but it's a lie and if you really thought about it you would agree. Certain things trigger memories, and eventually, if you aren't around those things you will stop remembering and they will slowly drift away. The big things, those will never be erased, but it's the little things that often make us who we are in life, that make us smile and make us cry.

I don't think that I am being selfish in wanting my parents to live here. At first I thought maybe I was, they don't have any children living at home full time anymore, and they don't really need this big of a house as a result. I'm sure it's a financial strain of some sorts, and so perhaps they should move. However, if all of these things were true, if at least one of them was true, I would feel guilty and maybe, just maybe would lighten up a bit. The house is bigger and therefore will cost more, much less a new mortgage as opposed to one that was almost paid off.

And then, I feel bad because I know how God damn lucky I am. It's somewhere to live, so many people do not have that, I should be grateful, I should be happy. It is this that I really cannot debate except to say that I am grateful for our current house.

Right now, this house is the only thing in my life that is stable. It is the only thing that I have been able to rely on constantly and return to with great certainty. That may sound ridiculous, someone may argue that it is the people within the house that make it as such, but people are never constant. I can travel the globe, I can go away to university and this house has always been there when I returned. I have sat in it while empty many a time, felt the wind come through my windows as I lie in bed, rays of sun cascading my bedroom. I know the creaks and the number of steps upstairs. I know that when I am sad or lonely I can always return home.

I'm being ridiculous and acting like a child. But I don't care. Maybe I should, but I just can't make myself. I'm an obsessive compulsive pack rat who gets insanely attached to material possessions. Admitting that I have a problem is the first step? In a way I hope that I come around, but I'm stubborn and even if I do, I know that it will never be my home it will always be my parents house.

Last night we talked until almost 2:00 in the morning on the phone. I guess for some things it is good to be home. I had missed our long and comforting talks, we used to have them almost every night. We talk about everything from the little to the big, listen to one another breathe and fall asleep in bed. It's funny how things work, it's funny how they function. It's good to be friends with someone like that, who will listen to the mundane and never say good bye.

With big brother Caden
Such a cutie!!

I'm sitting here with my boy, Monty, he's so cute, when I picked him up from my brother's house today he jumped me and licked my face all excited. I haven't been posting because I've been spending my days and evenings lying on the couch watching TV and sleeping in until 10am. I was supposed to start working this week, but decided not to, so instead I have no plans and I'm "relaxing" which by the way, is SO BORING! Tonight Mike called and I returned his message too late, he wanted me to go into Toronto with him, I guess that would have at least added one more thing to my very uneventful week. However, the week hasn't been a total wash. I moved home on Saturday and that night went out with some friends to the bar, Tom, Mike, Em, Christine, and Kylene.

On Sunday I went and visited my Grandpa, it was horrible and I don't want to go back. My Mom admitted that she has left in tears recently and hasn't been going in very often. He knew who I was which was strange, but it was still hard because he is not himself. He is violent and swears, all of these things he cannot control, which we know and understand but it's still kind of difficult dealing with it in person.

I'm not going to give a play by play of my pathetic week, mostly because I hate those posts even though I do them ALL the time. Just the highlights: on Monday my Dad surprised me with tickets to a Leafs game, which I went to on Tuesday with Tom. It was SO MUCH FUN! It was the last game of the season and they played their hearts out! The score was 5-3 for the Leafs and there was one serious penalty (following a good-ish fight) where Belak got thrown out of the game. Cindy Klassen was even there, so that was cool. Before the game I met up with K, which was awesome because I hadn't seen her in months (literally). We had dinner at Marche and drank enough to get red in the face and giggle like school girls. I know this is kind of flipped around... but, in the train station after the game while waiting for my train to arrive there was a fight between one Pittsburgh fan and about six Leafs fans. The Pittsburgh fan won.

And that's all my news... exciting! YAY!

Here is a picture of our cat, his name is Tubs: He has done nothing to catch our mice. I'm okay with the mice, I'm not okay with killing them. My roommates don't like them at all, but they are okay with killing them. So they set the traps and I don't tell them when I see a mouse run across the floor... it works out well :)

My friend Leanne had her baby the other day. A little boy named Joel born 6lbs 14ounces. I'll post pictures when I have them.

Labels: Australia, Emily, Family, Friends, Hockey, Mike, Nephews, Pictures

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schultz, the creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip. You don't have to actually answer the
questions. Just read the e-mail straight through, and you'll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.



2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.



3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America.



4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.



5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winner for best actor and actress.



6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.



How did you do?



The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners .



Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.



2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.



3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.



4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.



5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.



Easier?



The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones who care.




"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia." (Charles Schultz)

HAPPY EASTER!

Okay, well that's mostly true. I am technically done my final exams! I have to do a research project but other than that I'm done for the year. The project does not count as an exam which is why I say technically, while I still have work to do the pressure is off and today/tonight I relaxed.

I dropped my last final off at 11:30 this morning, and at the same time, met with some people from my advanced stats class to talk with our professor about the research assignment. He was incredibly helpful, which I love about him. After that, I came home, allowing myself to dawdled in the beautiful weather (16* and sunny!!) then waited until Heather showed up. I cleaned my room, had some cheese and crackers then watched the last half of an episode from Grey's Anatomy. When Heather showed up we laughed, we talked, and then, we shopped. I got nothing, but I am reconsidering this top I looked at and might go back to pick it up. After the mall we watched TV, had dinner, went and bought a bottle of wine (each), watched more TV, looked at pictures, played with the cat, and then watched House and Gilmore Girls (the highlight of our night, by far). We have been sprawled on the couch since then, a bottle of wine (each) will do that to you.

Now, I'm getting ready for bed... BEFORE 5am :O!! I will post something more substantial later, especially since I don't think I mentioned before we even had a cat... oh and mice, we have mice (which PS. I'm oddly okay with, they don't even kind of bug me, I like them alive much better than dead in a trap!!)

I thought I should update. It's currently *looks at clock* 4:17am and I am ridiculously wide awake, which is good because I am writing papers, and oddly happy despite the papers and stress. I think I'm just feeling good because I'm not overly screwed with all this work. It will be done on time and despite a couple of snags it should be done relatively soon. Tomorrow morning I am going to wake up and read over my two papers for Sociology of Religion, I will edit them and add a conclusion. Then I am going to write my second paper for Race and Ethnic Relations and write the conclusion for my almost finished (this is where the snag comes in... it's over the page limit and I have e-mailed him asking if this will dock me marks) paper. And that's that. The Sociology of Religion paper is due tomorrow, and since it's pretty much done I'm not even stressing a little bit. The Race and Ethnic Relations paper is due on Tuesday and I really don't think that will be a problem. So all in all, while it was a completely pathetic weekend where we sat in a computer lab instead of enjoying the sunshine it was incredibly productive.

Bet nobody thought I'd be this happy at 4:21am... oh yeah, I haven't even had caffeine!! Craziness!!

The last person just left the building, we are once again the most pathetic people on campus.

*UPDATED TO ADD: It's now 4:55am and I'm home... finally. I'm still not tired but I'm going to crawl into bed and watch episodes of ER on DVD until I fall asleep. I saw a bunny on the way home, it was cute.

Well that was a stupid post, but this won't be much better... Shirley posted this picture and so I am going to too because it's cool and while everyone else is on a Saturday night at the bars (I saw them so I know it's true) we're in a computer lab working on papers therefore we too are cool (that was one long sentence... wow)

So here:



























Yes, she's my pimp and I'm her bitchwonderful woman.

*UPDATED TO ADD: It's now 4:27am, I just sat down at my desk at home, Shirley and I were on campus this whole time working... hours upon hours upon hours on campus. We were the last ones there, and the last ones on the street. I saw one other car while driving home, it was a taxi, and one person, he was drunk. It's official, we are pathetic and take-home finals suck.

*UPDATED AGAIN TO ADD: It is now 4:31am, I just looked over at my bed with longing only to see the laundry that I folded this afternoon sprawled across the covers. This is the laundry that I cleaned last Saturday but didn't have time to fold before the party so I left it in the dryer until Sunday afternoon then threw it into my closet where it has been sitting on the floor for the past week. It is very wrinkly, and while I am considering throwing it on the floor once more so I can climb into bed, I think I had better put it away since the drawers are only 2 feet away. Or else I can just throw the clothes into the dirty laundry hamper... either way.

I am just posting so Shirley will stop bugging me about updating :-p

Only two rules-- and you MUST follow them.
1.You can only say yes or no.
2.YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO EXPLAIN ANYTHING!!!!.

1. Taken a picture naked? -- Yes.
2. Painted your room? -- Yes.
3. Made out with a member of the same sex? -- no.
4. Drove a car? -- Yes.
5. Danced in front of your mirror? -- Yes.
6. Have a crush? -- Yes.
7. Been dumped? -- Yes.
8. Stole money from a friend? -- No.
9. Gotten in a car with people you just met? -- Yes.
10. Been in a fist fight? -- Yes.
11. Snuck out of your house? -- yes.
12. Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back? -- Yes.
13. Been arrested? -- No.
14. Made out with a stranger? -- Yes.
15. Met up with a member of the opposite sex somewhere? -- Yes.
16. Left your house without telling your parents? -- Yes.
17. Had a crush on your neighbour? -- No.
18. Ditched school to do something more fun? -- Yes.
19. Slept in a bed with a member of the same sex (non sexual)? -- Yes.
20. Seen someone die? -- no.
21. Been on a plane? -- Yes.
22. Kissed a picture? -- yes.
23. Slept in until 3? -- No.
24. Love someone or miss someone right now? -- Yes.
25. Laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by? -- Yes.
26. Made a snow angel? -- Yes.
27. Played dress up? -- yes.
28. Cheated while playing a game? -- Yes.
29. Been lonely? -- Yes.
30. Fallen asleep at work/school? -- No.
31. Been to a club? -- Yes.
32. Felt an earthquake? -- No.
33. Touched a snake? -- No.
34. Ran a red light? -- No.
35. Been suspended from school? -- No.
36. Had detention? -- No.
37. Been in a car accident? -- No.
38. Hated the way you look? -- Yes.
39. Witnessed a crime? -- No.
40. Pole danced? -- Yes.
41. Been lost? -- Yes.
42. Been to the opposite side of the country? -- Yes.
43. Felt like dying? -- Yes.
44. Cried yourself to sleep? -- Yes.
46. Sang karaoke? -- No.
47. Done something you told yourself you wouldn't? -- Yes.
48. Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? -- No.
49. Caught a snowflake on your tongue? -- Yes.
50. Kissed in the rain? -- No.
51. Sang in the shower? -- Yes.
52. Made love in a park? -- Yes.
53. Had a dream that you married someone? -- No.
54. Glued your hand to something? -- No.
55. Got your tongue stuck to a flag pole? -- No.
56. Ever gone to school partially naked? -- No.
57. Been a cheerleader? -- No.
58. Sat on a roof top? -- Yes.
59. Didn't take a shower for a week? -- Yes.
60. Ever too scared to watch scary movies alone? -- Yes.
61. Played chicken? -- No.
62. Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes on? -- Yes.
63. Been told you're hot by a complete stranger? -- No.
64. Broken a bone? -- Yes.
65. Been easily amused? -- Yes.

Oh, 66. I shall hunt you down.

67. Mooned/flashed someone? -- Yes.
68. Cheated on a test? -- No.
69. Forgotten someone's name? -- Yes!
70. Slept naked? -- Yes.
71. Gone skinny dipping? -- No.

Where are you, ooh ooh, ooh ooh, 72?

73. gotten drunk? -- Yes.
74. Played a prank on someone? -- Yes.
75. Gone to a late night movie? -- Yes.
76. Made love to anything not human? -- No.
77. Failed a class? -- No.
78. Choked on something you're not supposed to eat? -- No.
79. Played an instrument for more than 10 hours straight? -- No.
80. Cheated on a girl/boyfriend? -- No.

81, verily, where art thou?

82. Thrown strange objects? -- No.
83. Felt like killing someone? -- Yes. (okay, not literally)
84. Felt like running away? -- Yes.
85. Ran away? -- Yes.
86. Did drugs? -- Yes.
87. Had detention and not attend it? -- No.

The Crazy 88 has gone missing.

89. Made a parent cry? -- Yes.
90. Cried over someone? -- Yes.
91. Had sex more than 10 times in one day? -- No.
92. Dated someone more than once? -- Yes.
93. Had/Have a dog? -- Yes.

94 sucks because it is missing.

95. Own an instrument? -- Yes.
96. Been in band? -- No.
97.Drank 25 sodas in 1 day? -- No.
98. Broken a CD? -- Yes.
99. Shot a gun? -- No.
100. Had feelings for one of your best/good friends? -- Yes.


Let me know if you do this too... and just as a note, I did not write the little things about missing numbers, someone else did and I thought it was cute so I left it... don't even remember where I stole this from!!

Oh.. and I can explain ALL of them haha

There is SNOW on the GROUND! It's APRIL and there is SNOW on the GROUND! It has been snowing for two days and it is actually STICKING AROUND!! Yesterday I got my stuff ready to leave for the gym, walked outside (at 11pm) and my car was COVERED in SNOW! There was NO way that I was brushing my car off in APRIL to go to the gym! The one thing I am standing by (and yesterday when we went to get veggie burgers I stuck by this) is that I will not put on socks until November. Sandal season officially began and I'm not willing to end it for a little snow. I will wear them to the gym... because otherwise that's just gross.. but there will be no socks worn until November.

I'm working on take home finals right now and studying for a final. We had our last day of classes on Monday and I will be finished by next Tuesday. That's my life right now... write... study... write... study... etc.

Stupid snow.

The stories from Saturday night are just starting to emerge.. and are they ever fantastic hehe.

Instead of sharing with words, allow me to share with pictures (because I'm lazy... sorry)
Carmen came up for the party, with her boy friend Martin. I love it when Carm comes up, she is great with people that she doesn't know and it removes pressure off me. Also, Carm is always fun and makes me laugh. She came up early and we had dinner together (with wine) then watched the game while people arrived (first ones at like 7:35... just as I was getting out of the shower!!)
Our old roommate Nancy also came, it was great to see her... Kim came too (another old roommate, but by then I was a little too drunk to take/remember to take pictures...)

Christina and I tried to take this picture multiple times.. it is within the first hour or so of the party... most of the pictures are within that hour for reasons stipulated above!
Eventually, Hayley, our soon to be roommate showed up. She will be moving in come September, and is actually a friend from home! Hayley climbed out on our roof at one point. I tried to stop her... but then just let her do it, because if she wants to do it now then what's stopping her from doing it when she lives here?

Renee and Dayna also showed up at one point with Dayna's friend Michelle. I was in res with Renee and Dayna in first year, but haven't really seen them much since.
By this point, Carmen and Martin had passed out... on my bed. Yes, my bed.
Eventually, everyone was in Derek's room, it seemed to be the hot spot for drunken passed out people. His floor was covered by them. These are just some of the people at the party... by this point a bunch of them had disappeared to random places... you know, after peeing off our balcony and fire escape and throwing up in our bathroom. They came back eventually.

Thursday improved a bit, which is good because I wasn't really up for a nervous/mental breakdown this week. I got home from my last class of the week (in which my Prof cried while saying good bye to us, super cute) plopped down on the couch next to one of my roommates in my foul mood, curled up under a comforter, and watched Gilmore Girls. After it was over Derek convinced us to go play catch with him, we did. We laughed at ourselves which helped... then practiced hitting the ball with a broom stick. After that, Christina and I decided to have wine with our dinner so we walked down to the LCBO (2 blocks away) and picked up a bottle of white. And so began "Interesting Adventure #1 of the weekend": we didn't have a wine bottle opener. I told this to Christina in the store but we decided to use a knife... well... it didn't work. It took us approximately 20 minutes to get the cork out with of all things, a screw driver. There were a few pieces of artificial cork floating around in the bottle, but we were able to handle that. Apparently we drank too much of said wine and were giggly girls for the rest of the night. The day turned around and I woke up much TOO happy on Friday morning. I went to my 9:00am meeting, had some lunch, went to the gym, had a nap and a shower, went to my 3:00 meeting, went to the mall, came home and had dinner. It was a rather productive day... AND I even got sunglasses!! Mine snapped in Georgia and I've been looking for a pair to replace.

Anyways, tonight is our party, so I should be cleaning. If you're in the Waterloo area msg me for details and/or stop by!!