Me A-Z

So since it's New Year's Eve this morning, I figured I should do some kind of list. I don't know if I'll list a bunch of resolutions, although I think I'd like to do the picture a day. I'll try that one and see how it goes. For now here's my A-Z.


A. Age: 25
B. Bed size: Futon when I'm at school, fantastic Queen up island.  
C. Chore that you hate: Dishes, and dusting.
D. Dogs: Prince, Theo, Balu, and Chica for a while. But no more for a LONG time.
E. Essential start to your day: Breakfast.
F. Favourite color: Purple and teal.
G. Gold or Silver: Silver
H. Height: 5'4"ish
I. Instruments you play: Violin, Flute, Guitar.
J. Job title: Full time student, and nanny.
K. Kids: Once I'm done school, I'll be a free agent. But maybe I won't want to give up that freedom. J/K, in a couple of years.
L. Live: V.I.
M. Mother's name: Wendy
N. Nicknames: Chester to Jackie, and Babe as a joke, only a big inside joke.
O. Overnight hospital stays: Nope, knock on wood.
P. Pet peeve: Cracking knuckles, massive amounts of p.d.a, any p.d.a. actually, other people's dogs that aren't trained, the list could go on...
Q. Quote from a movie: "'Buddy the Elf, what's your favourite colour?'" I just watched it so it comes to mind.
R. Right or left handed: Right
S. Siblings: One full sister, 4 half siblings.
T. Time you wake up: 7:30 during the week
U. Underwear: No full bum, ever. Unless it's under a skirt or p.j.s.
V. Vegetable you hate: Mushrooms 
W. What makes you run late: Other people.
X. X-Rays you've had: Teeth, lots, and my thumb.
Y. Yummy food that you make: Baking, crepes, smoothies with lots of veggies in them.
Z. Zoo animal: Giraffe.

To Be Creative

This has been one lazy holiday. I have the urge to create, and instead I'm on the computer...looking looking looking. Gathering ideas perhaps. But I don't have the chance to use them. Once I have my own place again I can get back to creating. I am feeling a huge sense of relief since finding out almost all of this semester's tuition will be covered by the bursaries I earned.
We went snowshoeing two days ago and it was awesome. I want to plan and do a proper day long excursion with a picnic in the snow.
Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. I don't think we will be doing anything, but I am looking forward to the new year now. I will come up with some resolutions. I had one, oh yeah, going to the pool twice a week. And I am going to begin running. Woohoo new runners. I can't wait.
I should share the computer, off I go!

I Feel The Same Way

Sometimes I just love reading other people's posts when they so eloquently express exactly how I feel. Whoever this girl is, she's great. I think we would get along just peachy!

http://carynnmae.blogspot.com/2011/12/pinterest-puts-me-in-bad-mood.html

Effing pintrest, effing people who make fun of hipsters then turn around and act more hipster than any other, and plan these big days that really don't make a difference, except in their bank account. I don't think people understand what it's about. I think that I will come back from Kenya and have a hard time with all that I have. All that others have and take for granted. I hope that I continue to care for, and help, my students in Ulamba. I hope I never forget them, and what they go through. I hope to make a difference in their lives. And that will be enough.

From Penny

A few shots from Penny, W.'s new love. I am having a bit of a rough evening, learning things about friends that I suspected are true. Never fun. It's really not that big of a deal but deceit is lame. Especially because I wish I could say what's on my mind. Also, why do the best things to say come way after the moment has passed? I would love to say things but I can't, the time is wrong. So for now I will contemplate, love who I am, read books, and love people for who they are. As hard as that may be sometimes. 

A Hoe-Down at Dani's "Barn"

To end the semester off right Dani invited us to her place for a hoe down. She said she had a barn, but barn was not the most appropriate word for the place we were. It was nicer than our apartment! Everyone was wearing plaid (almost everyone, somehow I am lacking in the plaid department!). We all brought something to eat, chinese appetizers anyone? Oh man can our cohort cook.

Shahin grating chocolate over his and Emma's delicious tarts...

 Emma got stuck with this beauty, Taylor wanted nothing to do with this hat...

 We tried to do a stair shot, I'll have to edit it and see if I can make it brighter in the back.

A wonderful group shot. Love these guys.

Delicious home made oreo's and the famous tarts.

 "Rabbit rabbit carrot carrot" never heard of this before. I can't remember if this was before or after all of the line dancing. I have many incriminating videos, but I'll save those for later.

 Boots, crate, and wheel.

 Dani was box head at the end of the night.

 Oh Rachel, you're so pretty!

This was such a fun night. We ate so much food, and I even brought some desserts home for later. This cohort of mine is so great, and we are already talking about how sad it will be to graduate and have to leave each other. I never thought that university would be so awesome.

A School Round-up

I have some pictures of a few of the things that I have done so far at school. Soon I'll post the awesome pictures from the Super Scooper Championship.
Here are a few of my art class creations...

Georgia O'Keeffe inspired blending painting. 

Plaster carving, it was much harder than I thought. This was on the same day as the Bake Sale so I was not very into it. The next week was painting, and it was really hard to make a colour that resembled cork.

My plaster went from my hot air balloon idea to a decorative wine cork. Quite sad.

My bean mosaic. Self explanatory. 

A few art class friends...

Serious plaster carving...

Shahin and Emma helping us with our Cohort Christmas Tree...

Gerome the Giraffe begins to take shape...

Teamwork. Our cohort is seriously amazing. Brianna brought us gingerbread cookies, and Jayne had made brownies. We went to burger and beer at the Grad Lounge, then decorated the tree until about 9:30.

The somewhat finished tree. We ended up moving it into the hallway and Nadine made paper lights. The best part? We won the competition. $885.00 for the students in Ulamba.

Awesome.

Fundraiser

So we had our fundraiser at Felicita's. Not as many people came as we had hoped. But everyone that was there had a good night. We were the only ones dressed up, but oh well. Emma was the one person who won a door prize, Anna and C. won draw prizes. So that made the night a bit better. The Lush basket went to someone who I know will use everything and really appreciate it. So here are a few photos from the night.

Sarah had sold tickets for an event at Social the night before, but she was a real trooper and manned the door all night. Jayne was a dealer from Vegas, I wore my yukata, and Mel was a Portugese Dancer.

Shahin and Emma, too cute...

The Archer's Rocked. Weak Patrol was also awesome but I didn't get any good shots of them unfortunately.

The fab five...Oh Anna you'd better come.

For some reason W. is eating my face. The progression of shots up to this is pretty awesome and self explanatory.

YAY LUSH!

W. and Janna to end the evening!

It was a good night. We will be sending about $1500.00 to Margaret for the kids for Christmas. That will be my Christmas gift to everyone, letting them know they've donated to the Kenya fund!

One More Day

Well, I'll probably be at school two more days, and then every day after that to look after James, but only one test tomorrow. Then one more e-portfolio reflection, finish the website, and I'm done. Whew. So studying went out the window today. It has been a really lazy day. I went to Thrifty's and that's it. Last night was a lot of fun. Not very many people showed up, and we made less than we did at the bake sale, but it was fun. Everyone who was there had a good time. So I guess that's what matters. The bands were great. The Archers were amazing. Weak Patrol rocked, and people danced. Which was nice! I have a lot of pictures which will come soon. I will take my computer to school, maybe on Tuesday, and upload the videos and pictures. Now it's time to watch more t.v. brush my teeth and go to bed!

5 Days Left

Only 5 days of school left in the semester. This has been the fastest one yet. I can't even believe that it's over. I have met so many awesome people, we're always telling each other how surprised we are at how great we are! haha. I love them all. A couple of big projects left and we're off for a month. I am really excited, but a bit bummed that I won't see everyone. It will fly by too I'm sure. There's been a lot going on lately. Too much to write about here at the moment. But because it's Thanksgiving in America this weekend I figured I could write down a few things that I am thankful for too. You can't have too much gratitude can you?

I'm thankful for...
The opportunity to go to Africa, a dream come true, as cliche as that sounds.
The people I'm surrounded by, family, friends, everyone really.
Even though I can't buy any material things, I can eat whenever I need, whatever I feel like.
My education, the things I am choosing to learn.
Organizing parties, and bake sales, and fundraising for Africa. So crazy and busy but so worth it!
Popcorn and movies, which is what I'm going to do right now, so I'm off!

A Twenty-Sixer for a 26er

It was W. and P.'s birthdays this weekend. It turned out to be a pretty epic birthday weekend. We went to Tofino for the weekend. Lovely J. drove me up part way so that I didn't have to bus. The roads were okay until we were in Nanaimo, at which point it seemed to be snowing like mad. 

It took a while to get through Nanaimo, but it was still faster than taking the bus.

The beach was gorgeous, covered with these little "trees".

A little sandy forest.

Winter boots on the beach, in the snow.

Ah, the flattering wetsuit.

Obligatory Group Shot.

W. received the Olympus Pen EP-1 for his birthday. It has Pop Art...

and Pin Hole effects, to name a few. 

We surfed, blew up some fireworks, drank rum and eggnog, and went for a ride in Relic. All in all a pretty successful birthday weekend.

The Best Bake Sale Ever

Yesterday we were up at 6 and on the road by 7am. We loaded up Mel's car with all the baked goods from Anna, Ooh La La Cupcakes, the signs I made, and all our other Bake Sale paraphernalia. We went to the pool to get tables and chairs, then to Bubby Roses's to pick up their donation. Next was Moka House for coffee and carob bars. We were at school exactly at eight, and drove right up to the building. (Yes I urged them not to because I'm a chicken!)
We began unloading the car and we found, to our surprise, four of our friends sitting, waiting to help us set up and to donate their baking. We had so much more food than I ever anticipated.

Shahin buying some treats from Jayne.

I don't know why my face is blurry, but oh well, everyone else is cute!

Lauren, you are amazing. Dr. Suess quotes to make my day.

Ooh La La Cupcakes!

Thrift Score

Today is done. YES! I am so excited for tomorrow and the rest of the week. Today I had a psych test and I didn't even read one chapter. Yet, this one was way easier than the first one. After that I had J. and he was just a doll. I went to the pool, got some poster board, then went downtown. I had an amazing thrift moment. I found multiple packages of Ilford photo paper. Most of it was ruined but I got one unopened box for $1.99 and a package full of developed photos as well. The photos were all from around here but the cars all seemed pretty old. I was thinking 70s or 80s.
In another package I found someone's hand-written poetry, sketches, and letters. I put those into the developed picture package and read one on the way home. It was written in June 1980! Oh I love peeking into the past, someone's intimate moments. How awesome. I love hand-written letters too. They are so much more personal than emails. I should be writing W. letters so that we have them to look back on and laugh. But I guess in a way that's what this blog is.
Now I'm on to making Bake Sale posters, and packing for the week. Oh Reading Break how I love thee.
Here we are, the Kenya girls. We are going to have an amazing time.

A Walk in the Park

Today Anna Jayne and I went to the park to take pictures. Anna's in a photography class at school, and she needed to take a bunch of pictures to develop tomorrow. I am going to go into the darkroom with her and she is going to show me how to develop film! I am so excited. I have wanted to do this forever and didn't think that I would ever get to. Here are some of the awesome shots we took.

Just out for a casual stroll...

Only Jayne would ask to climb on the fire truck...

This is going to be on our Christmas Card!

A few model shots.

It was a really fun afternoon. Hopefully some of the film shots worked out. We will find out tomorrow.