Somtimes I need to (bum bum) get away

I am currently in the vdot, and it is sunny and wonderful. I really do miss this place sometimes.

So far I've:

• had a surprise visit (and sleepover) with one of my youth
• been woken up early by the sound of blaring bagpipes (a recording) and yelling boys (not a recording)
• gone for a solitary, sun-filled stroll on the Drive
• run into one of my kids from the summer, her mom, and a new baby sister!
  
• shopped at Ten Thousand Villages
• eaten a pulled-pork sandwich

Still to come:

• a cursory glance at Missions Fest 2007
• more sunny strolling
• curling up with a good book at JJBean
• an Imax performance of Happy Feet
• a service at my Vancouver church
• more hanging out with aforementioned youth
• general merriment

It's early yet, but I predict that this weekend as a whole will be a tremendous success, and a wonderful break from the ordinary. And also an incredible drain on the wallet. But it's well worth it!

Sometimes I'm saddened.

I love reading. I have always loved reading. In fact, the only two elements of my dream house that have never changed and will never change are a large bathtub (for reading in) and a library with large fireplace and big comfy chairs (also for reading in).

That's why it saddens me that this semester is killing my love of reading. I'm being forced to read so much (oh my goodness, SO MUCH) that I can't seem to read for enjoyment anymore. And I'm realizing that there really aren't that many other great ways to relax.

Help me, please! I don't want to lose my love of reading!

Sigh...stupid school.

Sometimes I'm silly

Burnt my finger on a toaster at work today. Oh the perils of childcare.

Actually, I also put my back out on Monday on account of too much throwing the children around. Perhaps I should be checking in with WCB about these injuries at some point.

Or maybe I should just be a little more careful.

Sometimes people don't get it.

Migraines suck. Holy crap, do they suck!

And so few people understand this. So few people realize that there is a difference between a headache and a migraine. But let me tell you, until you have been reduced to spending the better part of a night curled in the fetal position whimpering, and then an entire day fighting nausea and dizziness, you have no idea what this is like.

Also, my job is probably not the best one to have while fighting the after-effects of a migraine. And yet, I still can't complain, because I still love my job! Hoorah! I'm hoping this never gets old, because it is so wonderful to enjoy going to work again. It's been a long time.

Sometimes tired is good.

And this is certainly a good tired.

Today:

• 7:30-9:15 Student Breakfast
• 9:30-12:30 School
• 2:00-6:00 Work (including much child-tossing and tug o' warring)
• 8:30-9:30 Aqua Fit
  
• 9:30-11:00 Hanging out with Amber and Lizzy (hot tub, tea and cookies, Skip-bo)

Not a bad day, I'd say. Prediction: best sleep ever tonight!

I'm off to test my hypothesis. Bonne nuit!

Sometimes it needs to be just me.

I'm all peopled out.

As much as I really, honestly, truly love all the wonderful people in my life, I can only spend so much time with them all before I start to really need some time to myself. I suppose that would be the introvert in me that I just can't seem to shake.

And it's funny how your mind seems to just kick into self-preservation mode when you don't take care of yourself the way you know you ought to. Tonight, for instance, I spent a few hours with some of my favourite people in the world, and found myself detaching to the point that I pretty much felt like I was just watching them all on tv. It was probably the most peaceful feeling I've had in a while. Perhaps that's a sign.

Unfortunately, I have yet to find myself a sanctuary to which I can escape when my life and house are full of those I love. Ordinarily I would find myself walking in the woods or on the beach, but at the moment it's too frickin' freezing!!! I don't even have the slightest clue as to where I can go just to be by myself for a while. Anyone have any suggestions? I will gladly pay you later*.

* author reserves the right to define the terms "pay" and "later". Please do not get your hopes up, as author is naught but a poor student in need of help. She will, however, love you forever in the event that you are able to aid her with the aforementioned predicament. Author also reserves the right to define the terms "love" and "forever".

Sometimes it just takes me a while

I finally did it! I bought a scooter! Let the geekiness commence.

I'm loving this. Pictures to come soon.

Sometimes I need a vacation.

I really, really thought that once exams were over, I'd be in the clear. The end of stress. The beginning of a blissful winter vacation.

But alas and alack, I neglected to realize that once my last exam was written (Tuesday night) that all of life that I'd been ignoring for the past three weeks would hit me full force. I feel about sixteen times more stressed out than before, and thus about sixteen times more likely to just drink an amaretto sour and go to bed straight after work.

So I began focusing on next week, when all the Christmas shopping will be done, the music practices will be over and work will be on pause for a full seven days. Unfortunately, that dream is already dead. The past couple of days have been filled with phone calls from people who want me to paint their houses and/or care for their children during my one week of bliss.

And I finally understand why people take vacations. I just need to get out of here and have a few days where literally nothing will be expected of me. If only I had some money with which to make this a reality. Sigh, someday I'll have a real break. Really I will.

Sometimes I wish...

I love postsecret.

Sometimes I wish I could just sit down and have a long conversation with the creators of some of these cards. I think it would be a balm for my soul. Or something like that.

Sometimes Christians are ok...

These are fabulous. Check them out.

Sometimes it's inevitable.

Julie Anna: sleeping anywhere and everywhere since 1985.

I had two naps outside my own house today. Who needs to pay attention in Physics class anyway?

Sometimes Victoria is so silly!

First off, I should apologize for my pessimism of late. Whining is no fun for anyone. Except maybe the whiner. Anyway, I apologize and will attempt to refrain from such childishness for . . . a while at least.

That said, I should also mention that my good friend EJ and several others have managed to persuade me that the snow isn't all bad. I've even made some observations about the effects of said snow on my fair town. I am convinced that only in Victoria:

• does eight inches of snow shut down the entire city for a full day
• can you observe someone scraping snow off their car . . . with a kayak paddle
• does removing snow from the street mean piling it up two feet deep on the sidewalk
• do you see more adults frolicking in the snow than children
• does the front page of the paper feature scores of excited sledders, and the news turn into an hour-long weather report

Victoria is so funny. Anyone have anything to add to the list? The same probably goes for all you Vancouverites also, but at least you have more than two snow plows. I wonder when I'll be allowed to drive again . . .

Sometimes it sucks.

I hate snow. Sure it looks pretty out there, winter wonderland and all that crap, but snow just sucks when you have things you want to do.

Seriously, whose idea was this anyway? Since when does it snow in Victoria in November? Whatever happened to global warming? Yeesh.

Sometimes I want to quit.

It's 3am. I must be lonely.

Or frustrated.

Six GIANT cups of tea, zero hours of sleep and seven hundred and seventy three words later, I just want to quit and take a really crappy mark on my paper. But I shall persevere! And why? Because I put altogether too much stock into the numbers my instructors award me at the end of each semester.

Sad, but true.

Tomorrow, I shall sleep again.

Sometimes I can see the light!

I am beginning to see the light in so many ways!

1) Yesterday I went on French radio for the last time this semester.
2) Today is my last day of work at the crappy job!
3) Tomorrow at this time all major assignments for this semester will be complete.
4) This time next week I'll be scooting around town instead of walking in the rain (hopefully).

I am so almost there. Let's hope I can make it all the way!

Sometimes things change.

I just sent a letter of resignation to work. It was about three lines long. And I don't care. I'm going to be so happy when I'm done with this job! I was really tempted to tell them all about how I was leaving them for someone who would pay me more and give me better working conditions, but I refrained.

Meanwhile, my new job starts Friday, and I'm really excited. It's kinda in the middle of nowhere, however, so to get back and forth I'm thinking of buying one of these:

does that make me a total geek?

As for other fun things happening in my life right now: tomorrow I have two midterms and next week I have two papers due. Sure haven't started working on any of that stuff. On the more positive side, I wore rubber boots to work today. It made me happy, and reminiscent of the trek from the Guest House to camp. Oh the Guest House.

Also, today on Wheel of Fortune there are a lot of words ending in an apostrophe. What's up with that?

Sometimes now is not what I want.

I've never been good at living in the now. Especially when it's Monday or Tuesday.

Every week this semester at precisely 11:30 Sunday night, I have succumbed to an anxiety that makes me unable to eat, sleep, or enjoy life at all. I live through the following two days thinking only of Tuesday night at 9:30, when I can collapse on Kathryn's king sized bed and spend time with the girls.

So now it's Monday night. I'm half way there. The good life begins in less than 24 hours. I can do this.

(Julie desperately needs a different school schedule. What was she thinking???)

Sometimes my big brother is amazing!

Robby just read me his first ever poem, and I was completely blown away!!! It's inspired by a book that I got him for his birthday, called Confessions of an Economic Hitman. I wish I could put the whole thing up here, but I didn't ask him for permission, so I likely shouldn't do that. I just wanted everyone to know how proud I am of my big brother!

And, even more exciting: his mystery girlfriend is coming to visit in less than two weeks! I guess she's not that much of a mystery since he never stops talking about her, but none of us have met her yet. So that should be good fun. Anyone have any good ideas about how I can embarrass him? Besides bringing out all the photographic proof that he never wore a single pair of pants before the age of six...

Oh, I just can't wait!

Sometimes it's ok to be irresponsible.

Yesterday was a wonderful day of irresponsibility. After going out for lunch with all the church peeps, I went to the mall and spent all kinds of money I don't have on things I don't need. I did, however, buy a pair of jeans that were the same size that I wore in junior high. I love it when stores do their sizes differently! From now on I'm buying all my pants at Ricki's.

I've never been a therapeutic shopper before, but I think I might become one. After a rough Saturday, yesterday made me feel great!!!

Also, today is the one year anniversary of the beginning of this blog AND the one hundredth post! How's that for coordination?

Also also, it's COLD outside! When did that happen? I'm going to have to figure out how to dress myself for this new weather. Yeesh.

Sometimes it's just so good

Is there anything better than the feeling you get right after a particularly stressful midterm? Ahhhhhh.....that's all I can say.

Also, I really like how much time I've been spending with the girls these days. And just the friends in general. I'm so much less lonely this year! Here are some pictures of the people I'm enjoying this year:



















Also too, I'm going to the vdot this weekend and I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone again! Life is good today. I wish it was like this always!