Hey All!
I just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas (even if you don't celebrate it, have a great day!).
This morning I went to church, where the music was provided by the Appenheimer family -- kind of fun to play with mum, ben and liz.
I'll list my presents for you later, with links (just because that's fun...?), but for now...
I'm glad to be home, in the company of wonderful family and friends.
Thanks to Deanna for the phone call, reminding me of the beautiful people who are still alive and well in Lethbridge (and surrounding areas).
Peace, goodwill to all.
love,
m.
25.12.05
23.12.05
torn.
It's hard to know, from this standpoint, how to negotiate community, and living in 2 cities.
Being back at asap on Tuesday felt like home, but I am coming to know and love and be involved with churches/friends in Lethbridge as well.
Having friends in 2 cities isn't so hard, I can handle that. It's more the church thing.
I really like where asap is going, who's leading it, and the family I have there. I love the flags for dancing, the mood lights, the spontaneous shouts of joy, the awkward straining to stand, or to run or to jump...
So much growth, leading to transition and LIFE. It is something I've been able to totally connect with.
Lethbridge churches...nothing quite exactly the same. That's alright though, I wouldn't want a carbon copy...I don't see how that could be...good.
It's made for an interersting fall though.
I'm involved with 2 churches, at one with young adults/worship, and another just as a go-er. The first is smaller, maybe 200-300 on a Sunday morning? The second has 2 services, each with a couple hundred people, give or take (especially give me a break because guessing based on visual stats is not my strong point...at all).
As if numbers matter.
In the first church, young adults were some of my first friends, definitely some of my dearest. I am being known there, involved with the ministry, have coffee-d with the pastor.
The second church, as a of yet, has led to no meaningful relationships, except the ones I have with my sweet neighbour girls (and MA), and those have definitely been strengthened. Second church is going strong, with a focus and understanding of the work of the Holy Spirit, the importance of missions/evangelism, and a personal relationship with JC.
First church, love the senior pastor, how he speaks and teachers.
Second church, love the welcoming of persons with prophetic giftings.
On and on and on. The point is, I just don't know. Throw in my involvement (and executive position) with IVCF, interest in 'the Gate' (charismatic church, will go in the new year for the first time), and I'm pretty much as scattered in Lethbridge as I was here (BUC (dad's the pastor), asap, rock garden, worship invasion...), but without the rooting of a home community.
It's a post of questions, so let me know what you think. I'm not distraught or disheartened...I'm just wondering.
Merry Christmas Eve.
Being back at asap on Tuesday felt like home, but I am coming to know and love and be involved with churches/friends in Lethbridge as well.
Having friends in 2 cities isn't so hard, I can handle that. It's more the church thing.
I really like where asap is going, who's leading it, and the family I have there. I love the flags for dancing, the mood lights, the spontaneous shouts of joy, the awkward straining to stand, or to run or to jump...
So much growth, leading to transition and LIFE. It is something I've been able to totally connect with.
Lethbridge churches...nothing quite exactly the same. That's alright though, I wouldn't want a carbon copy...I don't see how that could be...good.
It's made for an interersting fall though.
I'm involved with 2 churches, at one with young adults/worship, and another just as a go-er. The first is smaller, maybe 200-300 on a Sunday morning? The second has 2 services, each with a couple hundred people, give or take (especially give me a break because guessing based on visual stats is not my strong point...at all).
As if numbers matter.
In the first church, young adults were some of my first friends, definitely some of my dearest. I am being known there, involved with the ministry, have coffee-d with the pastor.
The second church, as a of yet, has led to no meaningful relationships, except the ones I have with my sweet neighbour girls (and MA), and those have definitely been strengthened. Second church is going strong, with a focus and understanding of the work of the Holy Spirit, the importance of missions/evangelism, and a personal relationship with JC.
First church, love the senior pastor, how he speaks and teachers.
Second church, love the welcoming of persons with prophetic giftings.
On and on and on. The point is, I just don't know. Throw in my involvement (and executive position) with IVCF, interest in 'the Gate' (charismatic church, will go in the new year for the first time), and I'm pretty much as scattered in Lethbridge as I was here (BUC (dad's the pastor), asap, rock garden, worship invasion...), but without the rooting of a home community.
It's a post of questions, so let me know what you think. I'm not distraught or disheartened...I'm just wondering.
Merry Christmas Eve.
21.12.05
p.s. on the first day back.
i also got caught in several DOWNPOURS today.
talk about a vancouver welcome -- cheers.
talk about a vancouver welcome -- cheers.
first day home.
today i woke up, so comfy in my bed. i slept peacefully -- barely rumpled the covers.
i ate some breakfast, then drove my dad to work.
came home, and mended mikael's present. (plane incident).
went out, picked up jessica, bought a tunic from OQOQO (it's orange).
picked up zoe, bought groceries for an awesome dinner (me and jess cooked for my family), took zoe home, and then hit the homestead for dinner.
ate the awesome dinner, had awesome conversation on the way to asap, got in on some carols and good words and love.
bought anna's cd, reconnected hearts with friends, drove around listening to anna...cried.
basically -- i can't describe how good today was. i was excited to come home, not for the place, but the people. not the movies and games but the conversation and silence. not the parties and commutes, but the relief of being known.
i also realized how great lethbridge has been -- being accepted for who i am in a time when i couldn't even pretend to be anything else.
today was that and more and less and reminded me of why i love here and you.
i ate some breakfast, then drove my dad to work.
came home, and mended mikael's present. (plane incident).
went out, picked up jessica, bought a tunic from OQOQO (it's orange).
picked up zoe, bought groceries for an awesome dinner (me and jess cooked for my family), took zoe home, and then hit the homestead for dinner.
ate the awesome dinner, had awesome conversation on the way to asap, got in on some carols and good words and love.
bought anna's cd, reconnected hearts with friends, drove around listening to anna...cried.
basically -- i can't describe how good today was. i was excited to come home, not for the place, but the people. not the movies and games but the conversation and silence. not the parties and commutes, but the relief of being known.
i also realized how great lethbridge has been -- being accepted for who i am in a time when i couldn't even pretend to be anything else.
today was that and more and less and reminded me of why i love here and you.
20.12.05
awww shucks.
boo-erns...
Out-of-province students studying in Alberta, who filed a 2004 tax return in their home province will NOT be considered Alberta residents, and will NOT receive the $400 resource rebate cheque.
:P
Doesn't really make sense, because if you ARE an albertan, you just had to file a Canadian tax return -- federal tax returns don't change province to province.
IF I had moved to AB to live, I would get it.
BOO-ERNS!!
And also, merry christmas.
Out-of-province students studying in Alberta, who filed a 2004 tax return in their home province will NOT be considered Alberta residents, and will NOT receive the $400 resource rebate cheque.
:P
Doesn't really make sense, because if you ARE an albertan, you just had to file a Canadian tax return -- federal tax returns don't change province to province.
IF I had moved to AB to live, I would get it.
BOO-ERNS!!
And also, merry christmas.
buddies who like to drink
shout out to chonger -- seeing me on your blog illicited a gasp of joy and nearly a tear.
good to be here.
(it feels like home to me...)
experiences
westjet:
leather seats (not ucky upholstery).
EXTENDED LEG ROOM (plus only 2 peeps in my row, so empty middle seat = heavenly).
little screens for each seat/satellite tv.
snacks/juice...blah.
guys behind me:
drunk
horny
in vancouver to get laid and buy a car.
Taylor:
made the trip ok.
case is banged up.
i almost cried.
but she's ok.
I'm home. VERY OK. Call me.
leather seats (not ucky upholstery).
EXTENDED LEG ROOM (plus only 2 peeps in my row, so empty middle seat = heavenly).
little screens for each seat/satellite tv.
snacks/juice...blah.
guys behind me:
drunk
horny
in vancouver to get laid and buy a car.
Taylor:
made the trip ok.
case is banged up.
i almost cried.
but she's ok.
I'm home. VERY OK. Call me.
19.12.05
disappointed.
I will be home in ... 18 hours.
AHHHHHH!!!
THAT is NOT disappointing.
The disappointment stems from news that I probably won't be able to go visit my dear friend Luke over the Christmas break...he lives in Victoria, and sure it'd be easy to get there, but I'd have nowhere to stay....
*sighs*.
it's gonna be a'ight.
AHHHHHH!!!
THAT is NOT disappointing.
The disappointment stems from news that I probably won't be able to go visit my dear friend Luke over the Christmas break...he lives in Victoria, and sure it'd be easy to get there, but I'd have nowhere to stay....
*sighs*.
it's gonna be a'ight.
17.12.05
almost shaking
seriously folks.
T minus...41 hours and 45 minutes..
I think...
I'll be home Monday @ 7.13pm your time.
OHMYGOSH.
T minus...41 hours and 45 minutes..
I think...
I'll be home Monday @ 7.13pm your time.
OHMYGOSH.
15.12.05
yelling without sound.
I want to introduce you to a very special lady.
DEANNA MATCHULLIS!!
(she really likes this picture because her hair is long).
It's hard to know what to say, really.
I'd like to find a song to sum up Deanna, but that'd be tough.
One day, after repclass (that's when all my voice teacher's students get together and sing), Dee said "hey, keats camps, my youth pastor spoke there." (I was wearing a Keats Shred Shed shirt that day).
Long story short, his name is Andy, he did indeed speak at keats, and thus Deanna and I were friends.
That day, I think, I saw her walking home...in front of my house...and it turns out she lives 2 doors down! WHAT!?
This lead to adventures in...buying Cinnamon Toast Crunch @ safeway. Dee found this HUGE box, so I bought it, and then I would bring her a bowl every now and then, just to say hi. This also started the ritual of me knocking on her window when I came over...sort of freaked her out, but it was fun nonetheless.
It's because of Deanna that I became a part of the Amazing Race pool (our team, the Godlewski Sisters, totally lost...ugh), and the brilliant succession of Tuesday nights that have highlighted this semester.
Through Deanna I met Mary-ann, Evie, Mel, Steph, Adelle, Andrew, Mike...Reane, Dee's family, River of Life church, Lindsey, IVCF...
and on and on and on and on...
When I met her, I thought about how, being new here, I was really at the mercy of anyone to decide to accept and love me, or to turn me away. She decided to love me, and so did many of the people she introduced me to...the landscape of my life here would look radically different had she not first welcomed me.
*phew*
(Clockwise from top: Melanie Schaan, Evie Taekema, Mary-ann Leitch, Deanna Matchullis).
Deanna's just pretty much what you could call rad.
She likes Strongbad, and my old Ukranian baba accent (shout out to chonger?)...
aaand....she's been an amazing friend to me here.
Dee...thanks for everything. You made my life here worth coming back to. Love you.
DEANNA MATCHULLIS!!
(she really likes this picture because her hair is long).
It's hard to know what to say, really.
I'd like to find a song to sum up Deanna, but that'd be tough.
One day, after repclass (that's when all my voice teacher's students get together and sing), Dee said "hey, keats camps, my youth pastor spoke there." (I was wearing a Keats Shred Shed shirt that day).
Long story short, his name is Andy, he did indeed speak at keats, and thus Deanna and I were friends.
That day, I think, I saw her walking home...in front of my house...and it turns out she lives 2 doors down! WHAT!?
This lead to adventures in...buying Cinnamon Toast Crunch @ safeway. Dee found this HUGE box, so I bought it, and then I would bring her a bowl every now and then, just to say hi. This also started the ritual of me knocking on her window when I came over...sort of freaked her out, but it was fun nonetheless.
It's because of Deanna that I became a part of the Amazing Race pool (our team, the Godlewski Sisters, totally lost...ugh), and the brilliant succession of Tuesday nights that have highlighted this semester.
Through Deanna I met Mary-ann, Evie, Mel, Steph, Adelle, Andrew, Mike...Reane, Dee's family, River of Life church, Lindsey, IVCF...
and on and on and on and on...
When I met her, I thought about how, being new here, I was really at the mercy of anyone to decide to accept and love me, or to turn me away. She decided to love me, and so did many of the people she introduced me to...the landscape of my life here would look radically different had she not first welcomed me.
*phew*
(Clockwise from top: Melanie Schaan, Evie Taekema, Mary-ann Leitch, Deanna Matchullis).
Deanna's just pretty much what you could call rad.
She likes Strongbad, and my old Ukranian baba accent (shout out to chonger?)...
aaand....she's been an amazing friend to me here.
Dee...thanks for everything. You made my life here worth coming back to. Love you.
this is my life.
hey all.
i found this pic of the south side of the UofL fine arts building. it's from the website, hence all the type.
this is what part of school looked like last week, before the Chinook that melted all the snow, and left us with patches of dirty snow and ice....
and now it's -11 again, so i wish there was snow...
anyway..
PICTURE!
i found this pic of the south side of the UofL fine arts building. it's from the website, hence all the type.
this is what part of school looked like last week, before the Chinook that melted all the snow, and left us with patches of dirty snow and ice....
and now it's -11 again, so i wish there was snow...
anyway..
PICTURE!
14.12.05
stream of (un)consciousness.
Here's what I remember from my dreams just before I woke up:
I'm in shopper's drugmart, I want to buy this japanese-style tea set, and it's cheap so I will but then it's gone and the guy buying it is having to pay $72 so I guess it's alright. I leave the store, but I'm leaving Super Sam's, and Shopper's is over by the Duke (a bar), which is more normal...
I'm at asap practice, and James is leading, but it's at udac (a church here, and it's going well, so we break for dinner, and I head out with Earl (? I think), and I don't want to go to dairy squeen, and then I'm back in shopper's for the tea-set sequence...
I head back to asap and I'm late! The prayer time is going, so I'm heading that way...I don't recognize the greeters at the door, but then there's Matthew wearing a dark grey army sweater, and he doesn't normally go to asap but he gives me a hug which feels like everything I hoped for in coming home. I just stay there and don't go to the prayer time instead I go upstairs, which turns into a shadow of my room here, and I go back to bed because I'm tired (this is where I'm semi-conscious), so I'm sleeping, then I get a phone call (my alarm going off), and it's this girl (who turns out to be a girl named Joanna from here) saying she's downstairs playing my Taylor on the worship team, and she's scratched it, and she can't even play at all, so I scream for her to put it down, and I get up to run down there, but I'm just wearing pajamas so I have to get changed, but I'm so tired and sluggish, I can't.
I get downstairs and take my guitar back, but it's not a Taylor, and it's not my Taylor, it's a...Fender dreadnought, actually. Maybe not a fender, but anyway, I start playing, or try to, it's hard to plug in because all the plugs are in weird places. James is telling me to hurry or something, but it's not him because he's in Australia...
The powerpoint is smoking so something's wrong and somebody calls my name, and I wonder if it's Matthew but I can't see him, then I see Jon Bentall, but he's on his cellphone trying to call the guy to fix the powerpoint...
THEN I got out of bed (for real) a decided to blog about my bizarre dream, which I will call...."home and back again but not really because nothing was as it usually is."
I'm in shopper's drugmart, I want to buy this japanese-style tea set, and it's cheap so I will but then it's gone and the guy buying it is having to pay $72 so I guess it's alright. I leave the store, but I'm leaving Super Sam's, and Shopper's is over by the Duke (a bar), which is more normal...
I'm at asap practice, and James is leading, but it's at udac (a church here, and it's going well, so we break for dinner, and I head out with Earl (? I think), and I don't want to go to dairy squeen, and then I'm back in shopper's for the tea-set sequence...
I head back to asap and I'm late! The prayer time is going, so I'm heading that way...I don't recognize the greeters at the door, but then there's Matthew wearing a dark grey army sweater, and he doesn't normally go to asap but he gives me a hug which feels like everything I hoped for in coming home. I just stay there and don't go to the prayer time instead I go upstairs, which turns into a shadow of my room here, and I go back to bed because I'm tired (this is where I'm semi-conscious), so I'm sleeping, then I get a phone call (my alarm going off), and it's this girl (who turns out to be a girl named Joanna from here) saying she's downstairs playing my Taylor on the worship team, and she's scratched it, and she can't even play at all, so I scream for her to put it down, and I get up to run down there, but I'm just wearing pajamas so I have to get changed, but I'm so tired and sluggish, I can't.
I get downstairs and take my guitar back, but it's not a Taylor, and it's not my Taylor, it's a...Fender dreadnought, actually. Maybe not a fender, but anyway, I start playing, or try to, it's hard to plug in because all the plugs are in weird places. James is telling me to hurry or something, but it's not him because he's in Australia...
The powerpoint is smoking so something's wrong and somebody calls my name, and I wonder if it's Matthew but I can't see him, then I see Jon Bentall, but he's on his cellphone trying to call the guy to fix the powerpoint...
THEN I got out of bed (for real) a decided to blog about my bizarre dream, which I will call...."home and back again but not really because nothing was as it usually is."
13.12.05
changes.
TODAY THE WEATHER HAS BEEN...
- a violent snowstorm.
- sunny, no wind.
- sunny and windy.
- cloudy with a little bit of snow.
TODAY I...
- sang my jury with moderate success.
- worked on my orchestration project.
- studied for my theory final.
- check my email lots.
- folded and put away laundry.
- didn't help clean house -- I was studying.
- started reading 'the Chrysalids'.
- practiced (voice).
- listened to music.
- ate 2 meals and a powerbar.
NOW I AM GOING TO...
- go to the gym.
- watch the 2 hour season finale of AMAZING RACE.
- study more theory.
- sleep.
WHAT DID YOU DO TODAY?
- a violent snowstorm.
- sunny, no wind.
- sunny and windy.
- cloudy with a little bit of snow.
TODAY I...
- sang my jury with moderate success.
- worked on my orchestration project.
- studied for my theory final.
- check my email lots.
- folded and put away laundry.
- didn't help clean house -- I was studying.
- started reading 'the Chrysalids'.
- practiced (voice).
- listened to music.
- ate 2 meals and a powerbar.
NOW I AM GOING TO...
- go to the gym.
- watch the 2 hour season finale of AMAZING RACE.
- study more theory.
- sleep.
WHAT DID YOU DO TODAY?
11.12.05
Franciscan prayer.
May God bless you with discomfort...
at easy answers, half-truths and superficials relationships so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger...
at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may
work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears...
to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and wars, so that you may
reach out to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you
can make a difference in this world, so that you can
do what others claim cannot be done.
Amen.
at easy answers, half-truths and superficials relationships so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger...
at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may
work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears...
to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and wars, so that you may
reach out to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you
can make a difference in this world, so that you can
do what others claim cannot be done.
Amen.
10.12.05
what the crap!
I wrote that in my Sociology 1000 textbook when I read this:
"According to Emile Durkheim society has an existence and power of its own beyond the life of any individual. In other words, society itself is godlike, surviving the deaths of its members, whose lives it shapes. Thus, in religion, people celebrate the awesome power of their society."
'nuff said.
more wine?
"According to Emile Durkheim society has an existence and power of its own beyond the life of any individual. In other words, society itself is godlike, surviving the deaths of its members, whose lives it shapes. Thus, in religion, people celebrate the awesome power of their society."
'nuff said.
more wine?
the internet is so bizarre sometimes.
Since MATTHEW -->
went to the trouble of advertising,
I thought I'd do some too.
here's kate:
here's mike:
They're doing some cool stuff...
Here's evidence:
I decorated my room for Christmas and ate a poptart.
went to the trouble of advertising,
I thought I'd do some too.
here's kate:
here's mike:
They're doing some cool stuff...
Here's evidence:
I decorated my room for Christmas and ate a poptart.
9.12.05
observances.
I'm pretty much a pedestrian in this city -- no more a part of the gas-guzzling, ozone-depleting automobile driven rat race.
It's an interesting position to be in, especially when it comes to WEATHER. For example, last night it was phenomenally windy, one of my first long, powerful wind storms in Lethbridge.
The snow here is very dry and light, so when the wind blows, in moves.
The wind last night piled the snow up into (in some places) 4-foot snowbanks.
Now, a person in a car might not notice how different these snowbanks were from the day before, but I sure did.
WHy?
Because on my way to the bus this morning, I had to run through them!
Landscape Appreciation...the new pedestrian movement.
It's an interesting position to be in, especially when it comes to WEATHER. For example, last night it was phenomenally windy, one of my first long, powerful wind storms in Lethbridge.
The snow here is very dry and light, so when the wind blows, in moves.
The wind last night piled the snow up into (in some places) 4-foot snowbanks.
Now, a person in a car might not notice how different these snowbanks were from the day before, but I sure did.
WHy?
Because on my way to the bus this morning, I had to run through them!
Landscape Appreciation...the new pedestrian movement.
8.12.05
news flash!
Today, justnow, I sat outside for about 10minutes...not dressed like an arctic traveller.
I think the frozen tundra of Lethbridge is thawing...the windy days of sunshine glory are back.
*Sighs*
no more hardcore prairie girl for me.
I think the frozen tundra of Lethbridge is thawing...the windy days of sunshine glory are back.
*Sighs*
no more hardcore prairie girl for me.
7.12.05
almost forgot.
I found 4 CD's of Rikk Watts' sermons in the IVCF office @ school. They're from a national student leadership conference a few years ago.
Neat, hey?
I put one in because I miss hearing the guy speak. Rock Garden...hold out for June. I'll be there!
That was ... I'm leaving.
Neat, hey?
I put one in because I miss hearing the guy speak. Rock Garden...hold out for June. I'll be there!
That was ... I'm leaving.
hmmmmm....
hi.
I'm a little bit stressed out. But not TOO much...just a little.
I had to buy breakfast and lunch at school today...ugh, gong show.
On Friday, 325's (house 2 doors down) justin timberlake marionette was all tangled up. Andrew (the one with the niece) couldn't untangle him, so I gave it a shot...and I did it.
Andrew said he has a whole new respect for me now...it's a big step forward in our relationship.
TRUE STORY.
I'm exhausted and all a shooken up.
This is my young adults group, called Connections, from University Drive Alliance Church.
Yep.
That's us.
I'm a little bit stressed out. But not TOO much...just a little.
I had to buy breakfast and lunch at school today...ugh, gong show.
On Friday, 325's (house 2 doors down) justin timberlake marionette was all tangled up. Andrew (the one with the niece) couldn't untangle him, so I gave it a shot...and I did it.
Andrew said he has a whole new respect for me now...it's a big step forward in our relationship.
TRUE STORY.
I'm exhausted and all a shooken up.
This is my young adults group, called Connections, from University Drive Alliance Church.
Yep.
That's us.
6.12.05
ha!
I definitely walked home today.
-16 degrees Celsius, plus windchill (or minus windchill...ie actually colder than -16).
Hardcore? Yes, I believe that is appropriate.
-16 degrees Celsius, plus windchill (or minus windchill...ie actually colder than -16).
Hardcore? Yes, I believe that is appropriate.
3.12.05
cbc opens my eyes.
cbc.ca/docs
Tonight was "SEX SLAVE$".
brutal. I will try not to use profanities.
500,000 women are trafficked into the international sex slave industry each year. This documentary focussed on women from Moldavia (I think), Ukraine, and other parts of former Soviet Union. The women in the story were trafficked to Turkey, England, and Toronto, Canada.
In Canada, there is an exotic dancer/stripper visa program. Isn't that great? Women can be trafficked here, completely within the law! A new life in Canada, as a sex slave. I really think we should advertise this as part of our tourism industry, this beautiful program that gives such a wonderful opportunity to impoverished women. Who have been manipulated, lied to, and often kidnapped. Women who will be beaten, raped, tortured, sometimes to death.
SO. What do I do now? With this information? Knowing that there are women my age, being tricked into sex slavery by traffickers (some of whom are also women!) who will take advantage of...
Women from the poorest countries in the world, who only want to provide for their families by sending home a few hundred dollars a month, and they end up being prostitutes.
Women from Ukraine often end up in Turkey, and when they are discovered in brothels during police raids, they are treated as prostitutes, and illegal immigrants. They are sent back to their homes, where the traffickers come and pick them up, and re-sell them to some other dirty pimp, where their hellish existence will continue without interruption.
And what is it that women's "rights" activists fight for here? The right to choose abortion? Oh, grand. The right to equal pay? To equal educational opportunities? Standing in solidarity with women around the world who are being oppressed, of course. Clearly. Rallies of solidarity and peace songs and nudity (freedom!), so meaningful to a woman being raped 50 times a day.
Seething, is how this should read. Completely seething with anger and frustration and hatred and bold, bold cynicism.
Do you want to know who I'll be voting for? For the politician who has the brain and guts, conviction and integrity to stand up and shut up and effin' do something beyond wasting his or her breath and my time playing games of mud throwing, name calling, and crap.
2% tax decrease? Please.
Take 2% of our taxes and send it to African nations who are being devastated by AIDS.
Send it to China, to help the underground church.
Send it to Ukraine, send a team, start an organization to end poverty.
Food to Canadian children who go hungry.
Send it to India, break the cycle of lies that keep the Dalit as lower than second class citizens.
Shut down and rescue women from one brothel.
Apologize to Canadian Aboriginals, who carry an inheritance of oppression. Admit that WE WERE WRONG. Inquiries and conclusions and judge's decisions mean NOTHING when racism continues to be kept neat and tidy in a glass box called "institution".
To chinese immigrants, forced to live in underground tunnels beneath the streets of moosejaw.
Buy out a sweatshop in a small community in Bangladesh, build a school for the children, pay the workers money that will bring meaningful life...
And at the risk of being too lazy to do anything ourselves, give money world vision, redcross, christian children's fund, christian medical mission (meds for lepers)... some people have hearts and understanding of what the world needs. They'll do all the work.
These tax cuts are supposed to mean $4 billion dollars? Or $4 million?
All this scandal about wal-mart, using child labour. They're doing the "honourable, right" thing, and cutting ties with these factories. BfreakinS. Stay with the factories, provide education for the kids, real wages for the workers...as long as you're there, freakin' wal-mart, you might as well make a difference.
Oh wait...that would mean...sacrifice. Loss of profits. Work. Mmm...sorry, no. Too messy.
Oh, you better believe I'm honest, and angry, and determined. I will change one damn thing in this world if it kills me.
Watch out.
Tonight was "SEX SLAVE$".
brutal. I will try not to use profanities.
500,000 women are trafficked into the international sex slave industry each year. This documentary focussed on women from Moldavia (I think), Ukraine, and other parts of former Soviet Union. The women in the story were trafficked to Turkey, England, and Toronto, Canada.
In Canada, there is an exotic dancer/stripper visa program. Isn't that great? Women can be trafficked here, completely within the law! A new life in Canada, as a sex slave. I really think we should advertise this as part of our tourism industry, this beautiful program that gives such a wonderful opportunity to impoverished women. Who have been manipulated, lied to, and often kidnapped. Women who will be beaten, raped, tortured, sometimes to death.
SO. What do I do now? With this information? Knowing that there are women my age, being tricked into sex slavery by traffickers (some of whom are also women!) who will take advantage of...
Women from the poorest countries in the world, who only want to provide for their families by sending home a few hundred dollars a month, and they end up being prostitutes.
Women from Ukraine often end up in Turkey, and when they are discovered in brothels during police raids, they are treated as prostitutes, and illegal immigrants. They are sent back to their homes, where the traffickers come and pick them up, and re-sell them to some other dirty pimp, where their hellish existence will continue without interruption.
And what is it that women's "rights" activists fight for here? The right to choose abortion? Oh, grand. The right to equal pay? To equal educational opportunities? Standing in solidarity with women around the world who are being oppressed, of course. Clearly. Rallies of solidarity and peace songs and nudity (freedom!), so meaningful to a woman being raped 50 times a day.
Seething, is how this should read. Completely seething with anger and frustration and hatred and bold, bold cynicism.
Do you want to know who I'll be voting for? For the politician who has the brain and guts, conviction and integrity to stand up and shut up and effin' do something beyond wasting his or her breath and my time playing games of mud throwing, name calling, and crap.
2% tax decrease? Please.
Take 2% of our taxes and send it to African nations who are being devastated by AIDS.
Send it to China, to help the underground church.
Send it to Ukraine, send a team, start an organization to end poverty.
Food to Canadian children who go hungry.
Send it to India, break the cycle of lies that keep the Dalit as lower than second class citizens.
Shut down and rescue women from one brothel.
Apologize to Canadian Aboriginals, who carry an inheritance of oppression. Admit that WE WERE WRONG. Inquiries and conclusions and judge's decisions mean NOTHING when racism continues to be kept neat and tidy in a glass box called "institution".
To chinese immigrants, forced to live in underground tunnels beneath the streets of moosejaw.
Buy out a sweatshop in a small community in Bangladesh, build a school for the children, pay the workers money that will bring meaningful life...
And at the risk of being too lazy to do anything ourselves, give money world vision, redcross, christian children's fund, christian medical mission (meds for lepers)... some people have hearts and understanding of what the world needs. They'll do all the work.
These tax cuts are supposed to mean $4 billion dollars? Or $4 million?
All this scandal about wal-mart, using child labour. They're doing the "honourable, right" thing, and cutting ties with these factories. BfreakinS. Stay with the factories, provide education for the kids, real wages for the workers...as long as you're there, freakin' wal-mart, you might as well make a difference.
Oh wait...that would mean...sacrifice. Loss of profits. Work. Mmm...sorry, no. Too messy.
Oh, you better believe I'm honest, and angry, and determined. I will change one damn thing in this world if it kills me.
Watch out.
2.12.05
stupid short-term memory
Ok kids, I had this great blog idea, and then I forgot about it.
And just now, eating ma dejeuner, I remembered...and now I've managed to forget again.
SLICK?
I think so.
Thus, in lieu of my awesome post....you get this crap-post, consisting of me berating my memory for being what it is.
IN other news, I had to use the downstairs shower this morning. I used a little bit of someone's 'hemp bodywash', and it smells really strong, and is making me sneeze.
Choir concert tonight. Watching out...for greatness. And also...I don't have to be in stupid Vox Musica anymore. Argh. Hooray.
Ok. Well. Bye.
And just now, eating ma dejeuner, I remembered...and now I've managed to forget again.
SLICK?
I think so.
Thus, in lieu of my awesome post....you get this crap-post, consisting of me berating my memory for being what it is.
IN other news, I had to use the downstairs shower this morning. I used a little bit of someone's 'hemp bodywash', and it smells really strong, and is making me sneeze.
Choir concert tonight. Watching out...for greatness. And also...I don't have to be in stupid Vox Musica anymore. Argh. Hooray.
Ok. Well. Bye.
1.12.05
lethbridge frustrations.
ARGH!
I am a music major, and often my assignments require me to listen to music.
The library here has a decent CD collection...BUT WAIT....WE CAN'T BORROW CD'S FROM THE LIBRARY!!!!!
ARgh.
So I'm bringing my computer to school so I can rip music from the library.
--
Still no meaningful snow plough action around here. Not that it matters to me. I walk everywhere.
--
(not frustrating).
My friends surprised me last night...in the best way. I was having a difficult day...and as I walked to school for an evening concert, I was...
anyway, I got to school, and they'd saved a seat for me! Such a small, but awesome thing.
--
There was something else, but I don't remember what it was.
I'm heading into the orchestration project of doom, right alongside the theory project of doom.
--
peaceout.
I am a music major, and often my assignments require me to listen to music.
The library here has a decent CD collection...BUT WAIT....WE CAN'T BORROW CD'S FROM THE LIBRARY!!!!!
ARgh.
So I'm bringing my computer to school so I can rip music from the library.
--
Still no meaningful snow plough action around here. Not that it matters to me. I walk everywhere.
--
(not frustrating).
My friends surprised me last night...in the best way. I was having a difficult day...and as I walked to school for an evening concert, I was...
anyway, I got to school, and they'd saved a seat for me! Such a small, but awesome thing.
--
There was something else, but I don't remember what it was.
I'm heading into the orchestration project of doom, right alongside the theory project of doom.
--
peaceout.
29.11.05
snow snow snow snow snow snow snowsnow snow snow snow
it's snowing here in Lethbridge Alberta.
I guess this is what people mean when they say it's unpredictable. As lately as a week ago, it was 20 degrees outside, warm, sunny, perfect for running, walking, playing in the fields.
TODAY it is -10 (with windchill...as guessed by Deanna and I when we were walking home today), and snowing without any signs of letting up.
Thus, I am looking into purchasing some winter footwear.
I guess this is what people mean when they say it's unpredictable. As lately as a week ago, it was 20 degrees outside, warm, sunny, perfect for running, walking, playing in the fields.
TODAY it is -10 (with windchill...as guessed by Deanna and I when we were walking home today), and snowing without any signs of letting up.
Thus, I am looking into purchasing some winter footwear.
28.11.05
a lil' more missy.
But time has changed nothing at all -
you're still the only one that feels like home.
I've tried cutting the ropes,
tried letting go but you're still the only one
that feels like home.
- missy higgins.
it's been snowing here...snowed on saturday night, i walked to church on sunday IN THE SNOW, and it's still around.
pretty neat. i definitely like it.
EXCEPT -- i don't really have any kind of suitable "snow shoe"...no boots...and i'd be way more hardcore about walking to school if i did. i don't like having cold, wet feet. but that's ok. i just take the bus.
FUN FACT: lethbridge has NO snow ploughs, and very few sidewalks have been salted.
so much for prairie snow skills.
you're still the only one that feels like home.
I've tried cutting the ropes,
tried letting go but you're still the only one
that feels like home.
- missy higgins.
it's been snowing here...snowed on saturday night, i walked to church on sunday IN THE SNOW, and it's still around.
pretty neat. i definitely like it.
EXCEPT -- i don't really have any kind of suitable "snow shoe"...no boots...and i'd be way more hardcore about walking to school if i did. i don't like having cold, wet feet. but that's ok. i just take the bus.
FUN FACT: lethbridge has NO snow ploughs, and very few sidewalks have been salted.
so much for prairie snow skills.
new words.
You were blessed by a different kind of inner view: it's all magnified.
The highs would make you fly, but the lows make you want to die.
And I was once there, hanging from that very ledge where you are standing.
So I know
I know
I know,
it's easier to let go.
- missy higgins.
good music.
The highs would make you fly, but the lows make you want to die.
And I was once there, hanging from that very ledge where you are standing.
So I know
I know
I know,
it's easier to let go.
- missy higgins.
good music.
27.11.05
GOOD NEWS!!!
There's an asap on Dec.20...THE DAY AFTER I GET HOME!!!
SO...I WILL BE THERE!!!
HAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! HUZZAH!!! WOOT!!!
Praise God. I miss that community so much.
p.s.
this is
natalie,
mac,
and jon.
SO...I WILL BE THERE!!!
HAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! HUZZAH!!! WOOT!!!
Praise God. I miss that community so much.
p.s.
this is natalie,
mac,
and jon.
26.11.05
you give me mercy, you give me grace.
I had a few home-moments today. I was thinking about a friend back home, then looked out the window of the bus, and realized I was in Lethbridge...
We watched a film in sociology, and I couldn't wait to get home and talk to my mom about it...
My heart breaks and is anxious for the camp I have served for many summers...
I would've given a lot of things to hug zoe...
or eat junk food, not worry about the cost (cuz it was in the freezer)...
I went for a run with Lynnae today, out into the road beyond my neighbourhood. We were running through fields, basically. And we talked about a lot. We talked about Mormonism, because I had questions, and she had answers.
My knees are sore, all of me is sore, and I'm ready for bed.
Lord, I wanna yearn for you
I want to burn with passion
for only you.
I am the 2006 Prayer Director for IVCF Lethbridge.
Please, lift me up. I can't do this alone.
We watched a film in sociology, and I couldn't wait to get home and talk to my mom about it...
My heart breaks and is anxious for the camp I have served for many summers...
I would've given a lot of things to hug zoe...
or eat junk food, not worry about the cost (cuz it was in the freezer)...
I went for a run with Lynnae today, out into the road beyond my neighbourhood. We were running through fields, basically. And we talked about a lot. We talked about Mormonism, because I had questions, and she had answers.
My knees are sore, all of me is sore, and I'm ready for bed.
Lord, I wanna yearn for you
I want to burn with passion
for only you.
I am the 2006 Prayer Director for IVCF Lethbridge.
Please, lift me up. I can't do this alone.
24.11.05
E-X-E-R-C-I-S-E spells 'I'm tired.'
This is MIKE and DEANNA. Mike has appeared on the blog before, but Deanna has not.
About a month before I moved here, I thought to myself, "I wonder who my first friend will be in Lethbridge?" I thought that most weeks before moving here, just on and off, whenever I thought of moving to Lethbridge.
Well folks, I'm glad to tell you....DEANNA WAS MY FRIST FRIEND! We're in the same Studio (ie have the same voice teacher), and...it turned out that she lives 2 doors down.
She isn't a huge fan of this picture, so my real Deanna post will be later, with the picture she really likes. But, I like this picture, and I thought it would be a good pre-introduction, just to get you ready.
In other news, I went to an exercise class with roomie Carmen tonight. It was...intense. It reminded me of...my third week of running. GOod times.
I have to go type up my theory homework now.
23.11.05
Changing times.
I think I'm becoming a more (physically) healthy person than I used to be. By that I mean...
when I was a kid (ie 6 and under), I got a lot of infections (ear, throat, lung, bladder), and I was often on antibiotics.
When I was 7, doctors "discovered" that I had a host of allergies, which were spinning my immune system into a constant state of turmoil.
When I was 8, I had my tonsils and adenoids removed! This put an end to the 4-month bouts of tonsilitis I'd been experiencing every winter.
IN PLACE OF TONSILITIS, I often ended up with bronchitis in the winter, but maybe only one 2-week run of it, not 4 months of agony.
When I was 12, I had a month of severe asthma in the form of bronchial spasms. My bronchial tubes would close off for 10-seconds (in the midst of a coughing fit), and then would re-open. Asthma testing was inconclusive, the cause of the spasms was never specifically identified (although moldy leaves were thought to be the culprit, as this all occured in the fall of grade 7, and one of my "discovered" allergies was mold).
Tracking my medical health through high school, I was the only kid I knew who had an allergist, a chiropractor, and ear/nose/throat specialist (though I haven't seen him for years), and a GP who I saw once a week. That's right, age 13 was a banner year -- I started "allergy shots", because oral antihistamines were no more effective than sugar pills. I was still pretty regularly sick with bronchitis, ear infections...ugh. Throw in all the hormones and blabhblah social crap of high school, and ages 13-18 were a barrel of fun.
TODAY: age 23. Serious or chronic illnesses don't follow me so closely. I get a crazy cold/cough/throat/nose blech thing late-fall/early winter (ie, right now), and my allergies flare up in the spring, or at camp (uh, moldly cabins, dusty carpets, lots of grass and flowers...), but I am more or less healthy. I don't see a chiropractor very often, I enjoy quite a bit of physical activity (running, walking, chasing the bus), and I eat well...
BUT TODAY, today I went to the clinic at school to see a doctor, because I just can't kick this cough/cold that's been sitting on my head for a couple weeks. And it hurts to swallow. Boohoo.
Most people who aren't paranoid about infectious things probably wouldn't think twice about CHILLING OUT and letting it pass, but not me. I need to make sure that I am OK.
*sighs*
The good news is that I don't have bronchitis, I just seem to be prone to wicked colds.
woot, woot?
when I was a kid (ie 6 and under), I got a lot of infections (ear, throat, lung, bladder), and I was often on antibiotics.
When I was 7, doctors "discovered" that I had a host of allergies, which were spinning my immune system into a constant state of turmoil.
When I was 8, I had my tonsils and adenoids removed! This put an end to the 4-month bouts of tonsilitis I'd been experiencing every winter.
IN PLACE OF TONSILITIS, I often ended up with bronchitis in the winter, but maybe only one 2-week run of it, not 4 months of agony.
When I was 12, I had a month of severe asthma in the form of bronchial spasms. My bronchial tubes would close off for 10-seconds (in the midst of a coughing fit), and then would re-open. Asthma testing was inconclusive, the cause of the spasms was never specifically identified (although moldy leaves were thought to be the culprit, as this all occured in the fall of grade 7, and one of my "discovered" allergies was mold).
Tracking my medical health through high school, I was the only kid I knew who had an allergist, a chiropractor, and ear/nose/throat specialist (though I haven't seen him for years), and a GP who I saw once a week. That's right, age 13 was a banner year -- I started "allergy shots", because oral antihistamines were no more effective than sugar pills. I was still pretty regularly sick with bronchitis, ear infections...ugh. Throw in all the hormones and blabhblah social crap of high school, and ages 13-18 were a barrel of fun.
TODAY: age 23. Serious or chronic illnesses don't follow me so closely. I get a crazy cold/cough/throat/nose blech thing late-fall/early winter (ie, right now), and my allergies flare up in the spring, or at camp (uh, moldly cabins, dusty carpets, lots of grass and flowers...), but I am more or less healthy. I don't see a chiropractor very often, I enjoy quite a bit of physical activity (running, walking, chasing the bus), and I eat well...
BUT TODAY, today I went to the clinic at school to see a doctor, because I just can't kick this cough/cold that's been sitting on my head for a couple weeks. And it hurts to swallow. Boohoo.
Most people who aren't paranoid about infectious things probably wouldn't think twice about CHILLING OUT and letting it pass, but not me. I need to make sure that I am OK.
*sighs*
The good news is that I don't have bronchitis, I just seem to be prone to wicked colds.
woot, woot?
17.11.05
here they are!
ben and ashleigh.
so good looking, it's ridiculous.
so sweet, i can't even eat chocolate in front of them.
16.11.05
from whence I came.
Melinda Joy, 23. Joanna Marie, 21. Benjamin James, 18. Elizabeth Anne, 15.
This is my heart.
This is my heart.
15.11.05
a little piece of...space?
The University of Lethbridge may or may not be an alien institution.
You decide.
You decide.
I thought you might like another post. Aren't I sweet?
I've got another introduction for you...Miss Jenessa Donahue.
Hailing from Canora (sp?) Saskatchewan, she moved to Calgary last spring (? my facts may not be as exact as I'd hoped), and now she's blingin' it up in sunnywindysnowyrainy Lethbridge.
She's in room no.6, down in the quasi-basement. It's a little bit above ground, enough to have windows, and it's not really an entire floor...more a half floor. Like in being John Malkovich, the 13 and a half floor...?
Bizarre movie references aside, Jenessa is stealing her way into my heart. For those of you who know nicole thomason, Jenessa is kind of like her, in terms of attitude and spunk and fire...with a soft heart.
Jenessa and I just confessed last week to our first impressions of one another. I was scared to meet her, mostly because her emails were tagged "super bitch". She thought I might be a crazy house-dictator, because I have the master bedroom, and am technically "head of house". It was good to get that out, and truthfully, I think we've been pleasantly surprised by each other.
What else? Jenessa gave me a bunch of books to read...Flowers for Algernon, The Chyrsalids, When She Hollers, The Giver, and Pay It Forward. So...she's good at sharing.
Her boyfriend is Kyle, and he's rad. He visits us, well her, every other weekend or so. He hasn't been around in a while, and I'm starting to miss the little guy. He's pretty funny, and I often serenade he and Jenessa when they're here. Nice to have musical appreciators around. If only they were rich enough to be my patrons...
Jenessa will (hopefully) read this, so I'll say something genuine...I love this girl. She's definitely exploded into my heart, and I'm glad she did.
Keep on making the world better girl, one heart at a time.
Hailing from Canora (sp?) Saskatchewan, she moved to Calgary last spring (? my facts may not be as exact as I'd hoped), and now she's blingin' it up in sunnywindysnowyrainy Lethbridge.
She's in room no.6, down in the quasi-basement. It's a little bit above ground, enough to have windows, and it's not really an entire floor...more a half floor. Like in being John Malkovich, the 13 and a half floor...?
Bizarre movie references aside, Jenessa is stealing her way into my heart. For those of you who know nicole thomason, Jenessa is kind of like her, in terms of attitude and spunk and fire...with a soft heart.
Jenessa and I just confessed last week to our first impressions of one another. I was scared to meet her, mostly because her emails were tagged "super bitch". She thought I might be a crazy house-dictator, because I have the master bedroom, and am technically "head of house". It was good to get that out, and truthfully, I think we've been pleasantly surprised by each other.
What else? Jenessa gave me a bunch of books to read...Flowers for Algernon, The Chyrsalids, When She Hollers, The Giver, and Pay It Forward. So...she's good at sharing.
Her boyfriend is Kyle, and he's rad. He visits us, well her, every other weekend or so. He hasn't been around in a while, and I'm starting to miss the little guy. He's pretty funny, and I often serenade he and Jenessa when they're here. Nice to have musical appreciators around. If only they were rich enough to be my patrons...
Jenessa will (hopefully) read this, so I'll say something genuine...I love this girl. She's definitely exploded into my heart, and I'm glad she did.
Keep on making the world better girl, one heart at a time.
14.11.05
Introducing...
This post should include a picture of Mr. Mike Hazeltine (and me). He used to live here, in Lethbridge, and I'm friends with his friends, but now he lives in Abbotsford, and is attending Trinity Western University.
Mike's a cool kid. I met him when I was home for thanksgiving--my last long drive in the now no-more little red. *moment of silence*. Zoe and I drove out to meet him at a starbucks/chapters, and I'd say it was a successful meeting.
That's really all for now. It snowed today in Lethbridge, and we are expecting a Chinook later this week.
My cold is going away.
I cleaned my bathroom.
The last of mom's lentil soup (which she made for me when she was here in September) is gone. I defrosted it last week, and had several excellent meals.
THe end.
13.11.05
1-250-....who the heck is calling me?
My phone read: 1 New Voicemail, 1 Missed Call.
The Caller ID showed that I'd missed a call from a 250- number...BC, outside the lower mainland.
I thought, "could it be luke stones? or emily? andrew dean?"
I quickly called my voicemail, and was surprised to find a message from andrew...snyder. He was calling about theory, but still, I was surprised. And glad, actually, because I had theory questions for him too.
For those of you reading this from home, you should know that andrew snyder is pretty sweet. He's probably reading this, so I'm not sure exactly what to say...
A bunch of us watch 'amazing race' at andrew's house every tuesday -- it's one of the things the "group" has welcomed me into. Anyway, last week, andrew's team got out -- it was pretty tragic. But, I know andrew is strong, and his team made real headway as a family -- it was a beautiful thing to watch.
Andrew has recently become an uncle to a gorgeous niece named Calista Mae. I might try and put a picture on here for you...but as we all know, I don't really have picture skills. Although he and I aren't super close (yet?), I was so proud and excited for him, and when the baby finally arrived, it was huge. The baby wasn't huge, but the event, the arrival, that was huge.
I don't know what else to tell you. Andrew has a beautiful tenor voice, which won him a spot in a sing-along 'Messiah' this Christmas.
Andrew is, obviously, a guy, which makes for an interesting friendship. A lot of my friends at home are guys, and I'm pretty close with some of them. Making new guy friends is more difficult than I would have assumed -- especially with christian guys, there's a lot of boundaries, and healthy ones, but still, I don't always expect them. I think that for the guys, it comes out of a respect for the ladies they know, not wanting to lead any of them on (this stems from what I think is an epidemic amongst christians girls...our desire to define relationships, but ultimately, our tendency to think that every good looking christian guy we meet must be MR.RIGHT(eous), and must be told of his new status...), but it also means that the guys tend to keep their distance. I guess that's healthy in a sense, but I also think that some friendships aren't all they could be...
Maybe that's enough about Andrew for now...I'll do a series of posts, introducing my friends here.
Uh...hey Andrew, was this awkward?
The Caller ID showed that I'd missed a call from a 250- number...BC, outside the lower mainland.
I thought, "could it be luke stones? or emily? andrew dean?"
I quickly called my voicemail, and was surprised to find a message from andrew...snyder. He was calling about theory, but still, I was surprised. And glad, actually, because I had theory questions for him too.
For those of you reading this from home, you should know that andrew snyder is pretty sweet. He's probably reading this, so I'm not sure exactly what to say...
A bunch of us watch 'amazing race' at andrew's house every tuesday -- it's one of the things the "group" has welcomed me into. Anyway, last week, andrew's team got out -- it was pretty tragic. But, I know andrew is strong, and his team made real headway as a family -- it was a beautiful thing to watch.
Andrew has recently become an uncle to a gorgeous niece named Calista Mae. I might try and put a picture on here for you...but as we all know, I don't really have picture skills. Although he and I aren't super close (yet?), I was so proud and excited for him, and when the baby finally arrived, it was huge. The baby wasn't huge, but the event, the arrival, that was huge.
I don't know what else to tell you. Andrew has a beautiful tenor voice, which won him a spot in a sing-along 'Messiah' this Christmas.
Andrew is, obviously, a guy, which makes for an interesting friendship. A lot of my friends at home are guys, and I'm pretty close with some of them. Making new guy friends is more difficult than I would have assumed -- especially with christian guys, there's a lot of boundaries, and healthy ones, but still, I don't always expect them. I think that for the guys, it comes out of a respect for the ladies they know, not wanting to lead any of them on (this stems from what I think is an epidemic amongst christians girls...our desire to define relationships, but ultimately, our tendency to think that every good looking christian guy we meet must be MR.RIGHT(eous), and must be told of his new status...), but it also means that the guys tend to keep their distance. I guess that's healthy in a sense, but I also think that some friendships aren't all they could be...
Maybe that's enough about Andrew for now...I'll do a series of posts, introducing my friends here.
Uh...hey Andrew, was this awkward?
11.11.05
Adventures in Taekema Country.
So exciting have been my adventures in Taekema Country, that I don't know what to write.
We definitely went shopping, and I scored. Yes, yes I did.
No luck with finding pictures online, but never fear -- all will be revealed in time.
I have to tell you that a highlight of my day has been Evie playing birdcalls on her recorder.
More on adventures in Taekema land later.
love,
the one and only.
We definitely went shopping, and I scored. Yes, yes I did.
No luck with finding pictures online, but never fear -- all will be revealed in time.
I have to tell you that a highlight of my day has been Evie playing birdcalls on her recorder.
More on adventures in Taekema land later.
love,
the one and only.
10.11.05
showing and telling.
I wanted to show you all my rad little bass-playing brother, and my rad fellow-cook and friend Ashleigh, who is also Ben's girlfriend.
But I can't get blogger images to work.
SO...that's the end.
But I can't get blogger images to work.
SO...that's the end.
8.11.05
six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
I am craving discussion. Deep discussion. The kind that delves into your mind and heart, challenging what is found there. Sometimes, it frightens you, but it's exciting at the same time.
Not my best post, I admit. More just a thought than an entertaining posting.
Today, I hung out with my friend Mary-Ann a lot. We (along with about 7 other people from our class) were working on our Orchestration projects -- arranging a piece for string orchestra and harp.
OH CRAP! I have to write in some more stuff...oh shoot...ok, I gotta go. peace out.
Not my best post, I admit. More just a thought than an entertaining posting.
Today, I hung out with my friend Mary-Ann a lot. We (along with about 7 other people from our class) were working on our Orchestration projects -- arranging a piece for string orchestra and harp.
OH CRAP! I have to write in some more stuff...oh shoot...ok, I gotta go. peace out.
7.11.05
flattened.
I just watched "born into brothels" a documentary about kids born into brothels in Calcutta, India.
more later.
For now...my heart is wrenched.
more later.
For now...my heart is wrenched.
6.11.05
changes
sunday afternoon, snow is melted.
my brother got in a car accident. totalled the car, but he is ok.
yikes.
my brother got in a car accident. totalled the car, but he is ok.
yikes.
5.11.05
adventures
I went to Save-On Foods this morning, because I left some goods on my cart the other day. They hadn't been turned in, so I just got new ones. Thank you Save-On Lethbridge.
HOWEVER...in the parking lot, I saw this guy with the hugest nose I've ever seen. It was like a lightbulb on his face. I tried not to look but it was hard. Huge nose.
FOr reals.
HOw's that for excitment? (excitement? I dunno).
HOWEVER...in the parking lot, I saw this guy with the hugest nose I've ever seen. It was like a lightbulb on his face. I tried not to look but it was hard. Huge nose.
FOr reals.
HOw's that for excitment? (excitement? I dunno).
2.11.05
a day in the eyes of...
TODAY:
got up @ 8.32am. 57 minutes after my alarm first went off.
ate breakfast! (revolution, man).
got a ride to school with Tony & Sarah. Talked about transfer program.s
had a pretty sweet voice lesson. Go head voice, go!
read some stuff.
went to theory -- interval cycles...
ate some lunch.
talked to andrew and phil about...checks and balances in society, and are people fundamentally good or bad...ie would you steal, etc if there was no fear/shame/chance of getting caught.
sociology 1000 with lynnae...and 298 other kids.
took the bet down to $1 if kayleigh wears her devil tail to school for a day (it was $7.50 for her if she wore it all week).
practiced my song for the recital tomorrow. also, some ear training.
left school.
waited for the bus.
ON THE BUS: a girl whose foundation was @ least 4 shades lighter than her skin...how bizarre. Like me wearing a medium brown foundation.
home for D.philz.
goals: homework. read a sociology chapter. do the theory assigned today. ipa for french songs. something about orchestration...madness. I'm so behind in that class.
walk/run/breathe in the coulies this weekend.
tunes: mozart, selections from 'don giovanni'.
peace out.
got up @ 8.32am. 57 minutes after my alarm first went off.
ate breakfast! (revolution, man).
got a ride to school with Tony & Sarah. Talked about transfer program.s
had a pretty sweet voice lesson. Go head voice, go!
read some stuff.
went to theory -- interval cycles...
ate some lunch.
talked to andrew and phil about...checks and balances in society, and are people fundamentally good or bad...ie would you steal, etc if there was no fear/shame/chance of getting caught.
sociology 1000 with lynnae...and 298 other kids.
took the bet down to $1 if kayleigh wears her devil tail to school for a day (it was $7.50 for her if she wore it all week).
practiced my song for the recital tomorrow. also, some ear training.
left school.
waited for the bus.
ON THE BUS: a girl whose foundation was @ least 4 shades lighter than her skin...how bizarre. Like me wearing a medium brown foundation.
home for D.philz.
goals: homework. read a sociology chapter. do the theory assigned today. ipa for french songs. something about orchestration...madness. I'm so behind in that class.
walk/run/breathe in the coulies this weekend.
tunes: mozart, selections from 'don giovanni'.
peace out.
31.10.05
30.10.05
I told mike (hazeltine) that I'm leading worship next Sunday night, a prospect both neat and intimidating, and mike said,
"awesome. that's a good combination, neat and intimidating.
it implies...growth...opportunity....experience...
and the possibility for
TOTAL FAILURE."
(quoted with permission)
it implies...growth...opportunity....experience...
and the possibility for
TOTAL FAILURE."
(quoted with permission)
religion and atrocity in our time.
That's the book I'm reading, by Marc H. Ellis.
I'll keep you informed as to how it changes my life.
RIGHT NOW is Sunday afternoon nap time.
Mmm...Pretty excited about that.
I'll keep you informed as to how it changes my life.
RIGHT NOW is Sunday afternoon nap time.
Mmm...Pretty excited about that.
saving daylights.
Just read an email from one of the coolest guys I know....three cheers for luke stones.
Also, today, it was windy in Lethbridge.
I've had 2 days in a row where I was up for @ least 18, if not 20, consecutive hours.
I'm going to bed.
Also, today, it was windy in Lethbridge.
I've had 2 days in a row where I was up for @ least 18, if not 20, consecutive hours.
I'm going to bed.
29.10.05
...*breathes*...
I was asked to head up front of house for the U of L's genocide colloquiam, or weekend of discussion...
I thought, sure, some work hours, that's cool...
Didn't expect my world to be shaken.
That's all...
I thought, sure, some work hours, that's cool...
Didn't expect my world to be shaken.
That's all...
28.10.05
waiting for life or letting it happen. aka "I love my feet"
Hi.
It's 3.22pm. I work again @ the theatre @ 3.30pm...so I'm pretty much killing time.
3.23pm.
Shoot, I was going to tell you something...maybe something I learned today? Well...now I've forgotten.
Shooot.
It's 3.23pm and it feels like 6 or 7pm....UofL campus gets really quiet really early in the afternoon on Fridays...kinda neat.
aww crap. I totally thought of something to blog about and then forgot.
Oh well.
so...OH! my next "midterm" is nov.9....way freakin' sooner than I thought and totally in line with my orchestration (strings) project & quiz, learning a song for the english repetoire recital, and this weekend, being INSANELY busy with church and choir and work.
Aiiya.
3.25pm. out.
It's 3.22pm. I work again @ the theatre @ 3.30pm...so I'm pretty much killing time.
3.23pm.
Shoot, I was going to tell you something...maybe something I learned today? Well...now I've forgotten.
Shooot.
It's 3.23pm and it feels like 6 or 7pm....UofL campus gets really quiet really early in the afternoon on Fridays...kinda neat.
aww crap. I totally thought of something to blog about and then forgot.
Oh well.
so...OH! my next "midterm" is nov.9....way freakin' sooner than I thought and totally in line with my orchestration (strings) project & quiz, learning a song for the english repetoire recital, and this weekend, being INSANELY busy with church and choir and work.
Aiiya.
3.25pm. out.
27.10.05
no.968
I hope to hit 1,000 posts by the end of this year.
Today I woke up late, and decided not to go to Orchestration -- instead I slept, ate lunch, and now am going to spend a few hours just blitzing my homework. I'm working at the school's theatre tonight, doing Front of House for the Genocide conference...should be interesting.
I'm also stressing out a little, because my roomie who had a van (which she let me drive all the time) is back, but her van is dead and buried in Lacombe...just makes me ever more bus-bound.
Okay kids, that's all.
Today I woke up late, and decided not to go to Orchestration -- instead I slept, ate lunch, and now am going to spend a few hours just blitzing my homework. I'm working at the school's theatre tonight, doing Front of House for the Genocide conference...should be interesting.
I'm also stressing out a little, because my roomie who had a van (which she let me drive all the time) is back, but her van is dead and buried in Lacombe...just makes me ever more bus-bound.
Okay kids, that's all.
25.10.05
thoughtful mind.
I'm listening to a Damien Jurado song..."Lord do me a favor, it's wrong but I ask you...take my brother's life."
It's got me thinking...well I should say maybe, that I had a dream last night in which I felt so securely embraced, and that feeling has been haunting me all day...just wanting to find it again.
My dad's brother died in umm...2001, January, during the recording of my album, "life worth living". Wayne, my uncle, gave me my first guitar, which I played for 1 song on the album, and the whole project was kind of dedicated to him. In the year before his death, my dad's mom, and his brother-in-law had also died...it was a couple years of intense grieving for my family, for my dad. I never really felt all that much about it...
It was really hard to watch my dad grieving, and I felt a lot of regret about the lack of relationship I'd had with my uncles and my grandma, but I don't know that I felt a whole lot of grief myself. I made a pact with myself, I guess, at that point, to keep in touch more with my family. I speak so highly of my mom's dad...my heart swells with pride and love when I think of him, but I don't think he or my step-grandma know that...very few people in my family, I think, really understand how much they mean to me.
My uncle Wayne struggled with a lot of things in his life, which I won't speak specifically about here because they're private things, not for public consumption in this manner...
I have a friend who struggles with a lot of the same things, and he um...this friend, I'm not sure that he knows that I know exactly what it is that he is facing. I wish he knew, because it's very similar to what my uncle struggled with. (It isn't criminal or anything, just an illness with a stigma...again, a private thing). But everytime I see him...for days afterward, I just want to be near him, to talk to him...but we're both busy, and currently we live in different provinces, so it's not really a possibility.
He's just one more person who I really care about, and I hope he knows. And knows that I...see this thing, but also don't see it at all. It isn't everything he is.
Stirring up emotions...ah, life.
"Jackie, come save me, the doctors, they'll kill me!
no they're here to help you straighten out your mind."
It's got me thinking...well I should say maybe, that I had a dream last night in which I felt so securely embraced, and that feeling has been haunting me all day...just wanting to find it again.
My dad's brother died in umm...2001, January, during the recording of my album, "life worth living". Wayne, my uncle, gave me my first guitar, which I played for 1 song on the album, and the whole project was kind of dedicated to him. In the year before his death, my dad's mom, and his brother-in-law had also died...it was a couple years of intense grieving for my family, for my dad. I never really felt all that much about it...
It was really hard to watch my dad grieving, and I felt a lot of regret about the lack of relationship I'd had with my uncles and my grandma, but I don't know that I felt a whole lot of grief myself. I made a pact with myself, I guess, at that point, to keep in touch more with my family. I speak so highly of my mom's dad...my heart swells with pride and love when I think of him, but I don't think he or my step-grandma know that...very few people in my family, I think, really understand how much they mean to me.
My uncle Wayne struggled with a lot of things in his life, which I won't speak specifically about here because they're private things, not for public consumption in this manner...
I have a friend who struggles with a lot of the same things, and he um...this friend, I'm not sure that he knows that I know exactly what it is that he is facing. I wish he knew, because it's very similar to what my uncle struggled with. (It isn't criminal or anything, just an illness with a stigma...again, a private thing). But everytime I see him...for days afterward, I just want to be near him, to talk to him...but we're both busy, and currently we live in different provinces, so it's not really a possibility.
He's just one more person who I really care about, and I hope he knows. And knows that I...see this thing, but also don't see it at all. It isn't everything he is.
Stirring up emotions...ah, life.
"Jackie, come save me, the doctors, they'll kill me!
no they're here to help you straighten out your mind."
24.10.05
The Modern Singing Master...
Introducing....Cornelius L. Reid.
Well, not really introducing him, just to you guys. My voice teacher, Tony, is trained in the Reid school of vocal pedagogy....genius, if you ask me.
Here's some stuff...
"There is a vast difference between "natural and habitual" and "natural and correct." When a student is instructed to sing naturally he is really being told to sing, not correctly, because no principle has been applied to establish this as a functional reality, but in a way that is merely "habitually natural." ... What the singer has really been told when instructed to "sing naturally" is to go along with habitual faults which have become natural to him ... Constructive vocal training cannot proceed effectively as long as "natural" is confused with "habitual." Nor can the student hope to change a faulty technique by any method based on this error."
-- Reid, The Free Voice
I'm reading about Reid second hand, in an essay by Pedro de Alcantara, called "An Alexander Teacher Reads The Free Voice, His Mouth Agape." It's in a book called "The Modern Singing Master: essays in honor of Cornelius L. Reid".
"...Today, eight hours a day, Monday through Friday, passersby on 86th Street and West End Avenue in Manhattan can hear singing wafting from an eighth floor window, the product of the teaching of a Galileo of vocal pedagogy, Cornelius L. Reid. Claiming to have rediscovered the science and the craft of the bel canto maestros, this modern singing master researches and he teaches -- researches as he teaches -- and he invites voice students, voice teachers, and voice scientists to look at what he has found."
I'm looking, learning, listening. In this singing world, "each lesson is another opportunity for discovery".
Worth the move to Lethbridge, to learn this, to sing like this.
Well, not really introducing him, just to you guys. My voice teacher, Tony, is trained in the Reid school of vocal pedagogy....genius, if you ask me.
Here's some stuff...
"There is a vast difference between "natural and habitual" and "natural and correct." When a student is instructed to sing naturally he is really being told to sing, not correctly, because no principle has been applied to establish this as a functional reality, but in a way that is merely "habitually natural." ... What the singer has really been told when instructed to "sing naturally" is to go along with habitual faults which have become natural to him ... Constructive vocal training cannot proceed effectively as long as "natural" is confused with "habitual." Nor can the student hope to change a faulty technique by any method based on this error."
-- Reid, The Free Voice
I'm reading about Reid second hand, in an essay by Pedro de Alcantara, called "An Alexander Teacher Reads The Free Voice, His Mouth Agape." It's in a book called "The Modern Singing Master: essays in honor of Cornelius L. Reid".
"...Today, eight hours a day, Monday through Friday, passersby on 86th Street and West End Avenue in Manhattan can hear singing wafting from an eighth floor window, the product of the teaching of a Galileo of vocal pedagogy, Cornelius L. Reid. Claiming to have rediscovered the science and the craft of the bel canto maestros, this modern singing master researches and he teaches -- researches as he teaches -- and he invites voice students, voice teachers, and voice scientists to look at what he has found."
I'm looking, learning, listening. In this singing world, "each lesson is another opportunity for discovery".
Worth the move to Lethbridge, to learn this, to sing like this.
20.10.05
pilfered.
This quotation comes from the blog of one andrew synder.
Each of us has contact with hundreds of people who never look beyond our surface appearance. We have dealings with hundreds of people who the moment they set eyes on us begin calculating what use we can be to them, what they can get out of us. We meet hundreds of poeple who take one look at us, make a snap judgement, and then slot us into a category so that they won't have to deal with us as persons. They treat us as something less than we are; and if we're in constant association with them, we become less.
And then someone enters our life who isn't looking for someone to use, is leisurely enough to find out what's really going on in us, is secure enough not to exploit our weaknesses or attack our strengths, recognizes our inner life and understands the difficulty of living out our inner convictions; confirms what's deepest within us. A friend.
-Leap Over a Wall, Eugene Peterson
thanks.
Each of us has contact with hundreds of people who never look beyond our surface appearance. We have dealings with hundreds of people who the moment they set eyes on us begin calculating what use we can be to them, what they can get out of us. We meet hundreds of poeple who take one look at us, make a snap judgement, and then slot us into a category so that they won't have to deal with us as persons. They treat us as something less than we are; and if we're in constant association with them, we become less.
And then someone enters our life who isn't looking for someone to use, is leisurely enough to find out what's really going on in us, is secure enough not to exploit our weaknesses or attack our strengths, recognizes our inner life and understands the difficulty of living out our inner convictions; confirms what's deepest within us. A friend.
-Leap Over a Wall, Eugene Peterson
thanks.
bureaucracy at its best.
As many of you will be aware, the BC Teachers are on strike, in protest of many things (a forced contract, the elimination of collective bargaining for issues such as class size and composition, as well as no meaningful wage increase since the early 90's). My mom is one such teacher, and I couldn't be more proud of her. The day after they went on strike, she turned our kitchen calendar to October, and saw a picture of Tommy Douglas -- Canadian champion of free health care, social welfare, and other programs. He was an essential part of Canada becoming the nation it is today, and his policies were based on Biblical principles -- to take care of the weak, the sick, the poor, the widows, the dispossessed, and also the idea that we are all children of God, and therefore equal, and deserving of the same treatment and care.
Anyway, below is an email from my dad in response to my asking what was happening with the strike.
"Vince Ready, the 'facilitator' appointed to try to bring an end to the dispute has apparently declared an 'impasse' today. So, Mom, who said she predicts they'll be back by Oct 31st, may be right. It's disappointing. The government doesn't seem to be budging.
The supreme court is to rule tomorrow regarding what further penalties to apply to the union. (they have already frozen all of their assets--physical and financial--and no strike pay can be given members). And the Crown Prosecutor is considering whether or not the teachers are still only in 'civil contempt' of court or 'ciminal contempt' of court. When he will rule on that, I don't know.
The whole LM is expected to 'shut down' tomorrow as all public sector unions (except hospitals, care homes, and likely bus drivers) strike or respect pickets.
It's no fun. That's for sure." (LM stands for Lower Mainland).
It's disappointing and disenchanting, I suppose, to realize that our BC Liberals don't really care about the people in the province. It's a real slap in the face for people living in a "democracy".
The teachers, and now other CUPE workers, who are striking are public servants. The teacher's I've spoken to are much more concerned about the declining quality of public education than they are about the wage increase. In BC, we are being led by a government that would support a private/public system of education, not to mention health care. It is a system that benefits the rich, and punishes the poor, one which Tommy Douglas and other Canadian politicians fought hard to do away with.
It certainly leaves me disillusioned, and not knowing what to do. As a young person, a student, perhaps an idealist, I have lost a lot of respect for Gordon Campbell and his party. I think many people our age are disgusted with the current political system, and thus refuse to engage in it. This particular current event illustrates the hopelessness that one can feel in today's system. In many ridings in BC, the Liberals won less than the majority of votes, but the Liberal candidate was elected, because the majority of votes were split between the Green Party and the NDP. I thought this would cause the Liberals to wake up, and pay attention to what people were saying, but apparently it hasn't.
In my family we've been praying first and foremost that the hearts of our politicians would be softened towards God....that's the only place we believe change can come from.
Anyway, below is an email from my dad in response to my asking what was happening with the strike.
"Vince Ready, the 'facilitator' appointed to try to bring an end to the dispute has apparently declared an 'impasse' today. So, Mom, who said she predicts they'll be back by Oct 31st, may be right. It's disappointing. The government doesn't seem to be budging.
The supreme court is to rule tomorrow regarding what further penalties to apply to the union. (they have already frozen all of their assets--physical and financial--and no strike pay can be given members). And the Crown Prosecutor is considering whether or not the teachers are still only in 'civil contempt' of court or 'ciminal contempt' of court. When he will rule on that, I don't know.
The whole LM is expected to 'shut down' tomorrow as all public sector unions (except hospitals, care homes, and likely bus drivers) strike or respect pickets.
It's no fun. That's for sure." (LM stands for Lower Mainland).
It's disappointing and disenchanting, I suppose, to realize that our BC Liberals don't really care about the people in the province. It's a real slap in the face for people living in a "democracy".
The teachers, and now other CUPE workers, who are striking are public servants. The teacher's I've spoken to are much more concerned about the declining quality of public education than they are about the wage increase. In BC, we are being led by a government that would support a private/public system of education, not to mention health care. It is a system that benefits the rich, and punishes the poor, one which Tommy Douglas and other Canadian politicians fought hard to do away with.
It certainly leaves me disillusioned, and not knowing what to do. As a young person, a student, perhaps an idealist, I have lost a lot of respect for Gordon Campbell and his party. I think many people our age are disgusted with the current political system, and thus refuse to engage in it. This particular current event illustrates the hopelessness that one can feel in today's system. In many ridings in BC, the Liberals won less than the majority of votes, but the Liberal candidate was elected, because the majority of votes were split between the Green Party and the NDP. I thought this would cause the Liberals to wake up, and pay attention to what people were saying, but apparently it hasn't.
In my family we've been praying first and foremost that the hearts of our politicians would be softened towards God....that's the only place we believe change can come from.
18.10.05
moral of the story is...
the moral of the story is, don't listen to insecurities. I actually just re-read the last few posts, and I might edit them, and comments, on the off-chance andrew's ever on here...because shoot, I can really assume the worst about people when I want to.
I apologize for that. Just to...you.
Umm...here's to God's grace, for helping me work through all this, and for forgiveness and second chances and all the goodness of Abba's love.
peace out.
I apologize for that. Just to...you.
Umm...here's to God's grace, for helping me work through all this, and for forgiveness and second chances and all the goodness of Abba's love.
peace out.
retraction.
Jim's name is Andrew. I picked Jim because it's a name I don't really like.
So, me and Andrew worked on theory tonight for a few hours -- he even checked over my work for me and found some pretty significant mistakes.
It was fun hanging out tonight, and I was like 'hmm...we're totally friends...maybe I don't need to mention that I've been upset', but then on the way home, I did.
And he was like "did you think I wasn't joking? Cuz I never would've invited you over if we weren't really friends".
*phew*
We talked for a while actually, lots about how moving here as a transfer student is hard, and making friends is hard, real friends, not just surface ones....
SO...I'll keep it real, and leave the posts....but just so you know. It's better. I got bold and looked fear and shitefromthepast in the face and said "eff off -- you can't wreck this friendship"...and it worked.
Mhmmm.
So, me and Andrew worked on theory tonight for a few hours -- he even checked over my work for me and found some pretty significant mistakes.
It was fun hanging out tonight, and I was like 'hmm...we're totally friends...maybe I don't need to mention that I've been upset', but then on the way home, I did.
And he was like "did you think I wasn't joking? Cuz I never would've invited you over if we weren't really friends".
*phew*
We talked for a while actually, lots about how moving here as a transfer student is hard, and making friends is hard, real friends, not just surface ones....
SO...I'll keep it real, and leave the posts....but just so you know. It's better. I got bold and looked fear and shitefromthepast in the face and said "eff off -- you can't wreck this friendship"...and it worked.
Mhmmm.
17.10.05
lighter fare.
I'm at school, using the free computers. They're all stand-up email stations, so no nice sitting break like at Cap.
This morning, my bus was like...6 minutes early, I clearly was not yet at the stop, so I had to walk to school.
No biggie, it just meant I had to book it in order to be on time. I arrived at my 9.30am voice lesson @ 9.32am. NOT BAD!
[Walking here is hella exercise, because you aren't just walking, you're also (more often than not) fighting against a crazy wind....today the wind was 50 (knots, I assume?) gusting at 70. I don't really know what that means, so...yeah.]
THEN I went back home, made a sweet omlette (seriously, if I wrote about it, you'd want to come visit, just so I can make you food).
THEN I went back to school. For Sociology 1000. And also for voice masterclass no.3 or possibly no.4...I forget.
Great day, just going to go read for sociology. Working on theory with "jim" later -- watch for a post of celebration after I talk to him about...well, you know.
Here's to mountain fresh water and sunny days --
This morning, my bus was like...6 minutes early, I clearly was not yet at the stop, so I had to walk to school.
No biggie, it just meant I had to book it in order to be on time. I arrived at my 9.30am voice lesson @ 9.32am. NOT BAD!
[Walking here is hella exercise, because you aren't just walking, you're also (more often than not) fighting against a crazy wind....today the wind was 50 (knots, I assume?) gusting at 70. I don't really know what that means, so...yeah.]
THEN I went back home, made a sweet omlette (seriously, if I wrote about it, you'd want to come visit, just so I can make you food).
THEN I went back to school. For Sociology 1000. And also for voice masterclass no.3 or possibly no.4...I forget.
Great day, just going to go read for sociology. Working on theory with "jim" later -- watch for a post of celebration after I talk to him about...well, you know.
Here's to mountain fresh water and sunny days --
16.10.05
deleted part 2.
uh yeah.
conviction...and stuff....I guess I'm human....but that isn't always the best excuse...
conviction...and stuff....I guess I'm human....but that isn't always the best excuse...
DELETED!
GOOD NEWS: I went back to the Alliance church's young adults thing tonight, and my friend Dennis (real name), was like "oh man, you're here. I was wondering what happened to you. How've you been?". Dennis was a breath of fresh air, reminding me that people I meet are prone to care about me, and that my presence or lack there of is noticed, and matters.
peace out.
peace out.
a practical introduction.
The title really means nothing, unless you, in your poetic genius cause it to mean something. Yes.
While imr will not be rocking the socks off of all Lethbridge residents anytime soon, I did go to Calgary and hang out with them yesterday. Phew. Thank goodness for roommates. (My roomie Carmen was going to Calgary, and she tooketh me with her).
I guess I can say I didn't hang out with "IMR", but I did hang out with ash, andwer, ryan and steve. It was a day when I was reminded that we're friends, and I'm so thankful for that.
TODAY has also been great. I went to church with my friends Deanna and Mel (they live 2 doors down), and Mary-ann was there too.
I was really...I don't know, both moved and disturbed during the sermon. I...was struggling with what the pastor was saying, not that it was wrong, more that it was a message that really caused me to think about what happened this summer at Keats...
anyway, after the service I went up for prayer, and my friend Mary-Ann was there, and we were both in tears, so we talked for a bit...and then this guy Brian came and said he had a word for her, so they prayed together, meanwhile I'm just sitting, crying, wondering what...just what I can even pray for myself. Then...THEN Brian has a word for me, and ... WOW.
God is faithful. And he knows who I am, and what my heart is longing after. He understands better than I do the feelings that I struggle with, and that, this morning, was made clear to me again, and I am overwhelmed by it right now.
I think it's too personal to post on here, and also it would be very trite ... but what I would desire or attempt to communicate is this sense of awe at who God is, and the intimacy with which he knows me, and the gentleness with which he speaks to me. And as he softens my heart, and removes my defenses, I do not feel condemned, or just beat up and destroyed, but in the midst of it, and over all of it, I know that I'm loved.
That's all for now.
tunes: shane and shane.
While imr will not be rocking the socks off of all Lethbridge residents anytime soon, I did go to Calgary and hang out with them yesterday. Phew. Thank goodness for roommates. (My roomie Carmen was going to Calgary, and she tooketh me with her).
I guess I can say I didn't hang out with "IMR", but I did hang out with ash, andwer, ryan and steve. It was a day when I was reminded that we're friends, and I'm so thankful for that.
TODAY has also been great. I went to church with my friends Deanna and Mel (they live 2 doors down), and Mary-ann was there too.
I was really...I don't know, both moved and disturbed during the sermon. I...was struggling with what the pastor was saying, not that it was wrong, more that it was a message that really caused me to think about what happened this summer at Keats...
anyway, after the service I went up for prayer, and my friend Mary-Ann was there, and we were both in tears, so we talked for a bit...and then this guy Brian came and said he had a word for her, so they prayed together, meanwhile I'm just sitting, crying, wondering what...just what I can even pray for myself. Then...THEN Brian has a word for me, and ... WOW.
God is faithful. And he knows who I am, and what my heart is longing after. He understands better than I do the feelings that I struggle with, and that, this morning, was made clear to me again, and I am overwhelmed by it right now.
I think it's too personal to post on here, and also it would be very trite ... but what I would desire or attempt to communicate is this sense of awe at who God is, and the intimacy with which he knows me, and the gentleness with which he speaks to me. And as he softens my heart, and removes my defenses, I do not feel condemned, or just beat up and destroyed, but in the midst of it, and over all of it, I know that I'm loved.
That's all for now.
tunes: shane and shane.
15.10.05
*sighs*
The boys of in medias res, some dear friends of mine, were maybe sorta possibly going to come through Lethbridge, rocking out and eating all my food along the way.
Sadly, it looks like that won't happen.
I do mean sadly, because I don't know how the piss I'd get to Calgary at this point (at least, not on my budget), and I was kinda getting used to the idea of seeing them, and seeing them here, and having them see me here.
Alas, such is life.
?
Sadly, it looks like that won't happen.
I do mean sadly, because I don't know how the piss I'd get to Calgary at this point (at least, not on my budget), and I was kinda getting used to the idea of seeing them, and seeing them here, and having them see me here.
Alas, such is life.
?
9.10.05
peeps. all around me.
This morning, I was all ready for church, so I headed outside to jump in the car, and drive to church.
Pretty standard stuff.
My family was already gone, which is also pretty standard. They'd left me the van to drive, because it was first in the driveway, hence, last to leave.
So I'm walking out to the van, I see it....I see my keychain...I recall giving my little brother the key when I moved to Lethbridge...
I sighed and stomped and walked back into the house.
I called EVERYONE to try and alert them to my predicament.
Joanna came to get me.
Hollerrrrrr.
Pretty standard stuff.
My family was already gone, which is also pretty standard. They'd left me the van to drive, because it was first in the driveway, hence, last to leave.
So I'm walking out to the van, I see it....I see my keychain...I recall giving my little brother the key when I moved to Lethbridge...
I sighed and stomped and walked back into the house.
I called EVERYONE to try and alert them to my predicament.
Joanna came to get me.
Hollerrrrrr.
5.10.05
Air Canada loves me.
Dear Melinda Appenheimer
I saw the season’s first southbound geese this morning and it gave me pause: Maybe our feathered friends have it all figured out. What better time to pack a bag and check out Bogotá’s burgeoning cuisine scene or zip over to Vegas? With myriad new ways to earn Bonus Aeroplan® Miles and a wealth of route expansions, now’s the perfect time to head south.
See you in the skies,
Lauren Wells, Editor
onAir, the Air Canada e-zine for people on the go.
I saw the season’s first southbound geese this morning and it gave me pause: Maybe our feathered friends have it all figured out. What better time to pack a bag and check out Bogotá’s burgeoning cuisine scene or zip over to Vegas? With myriad new ways to earn Bonus Aeroplan® Miles and a wealth of route expansions, now’s the perfect time to head south.
See you in the skies,
Lauren Wells, Editor
onAir, the Air Canada e-zine for people on the go.
4.10.05
2.10.05
oowww...my stomach lining...
I had kfc for dinner tonight. the glorious greasiness was more than I was expecting, perhaps more than I can handle.
there was a reason why I got into salads and whole grain breads. this feeling was it.
ugh.
tunes: jonathan inc.
thoughts: school of rock is a pretty sweet movie.
there was a reason why I got into salads and whole grain breads. this feeling was it.
ugh.
tunes: jonathan inc.
thoughts: school of rock is a pretty sweet movie.
1.10.05
this is Lethbridge.
Today, I went out for breakfast with the girls from 325 Ojibwa.
Then, I came home, called Lynnae, and she came to pick me up for our run.
We ran in the coulees, which are the hills that lead down to the river. I guess the coulees are made up of the trails, trees, spaces between the hills...hmm...any geography majors?
ANYWAY, they are beautiful. These pictures don't do justice, but they give it a start.
Now I'm sore but happy, eating some chocolate...heh...and waiting for the shower. My first shower-use conflict in a month, and I live with 7 girls, 2 full bathrooms. Not bad.
peace out.
tunes: tobymac "welcome to diverse city"
luke says: "your little bro is one serious dude."
Then, I came home, called Lynnae, and she came to pick me up for our run.
We ran in the coulees, which are the hills that lead down to the river. I guess the coulees are made up of the trails, trees, spaces between the hills...hmm...any geography majors?
ANYWAY, they are beautiful. These pictures don't do justice, but they give it a start.
Now I'm sore but happy, eating some chocolate...heh...and waiting for the shower. My first shower-use conflict in a month, and I live with 7 girls, 2 full bathrooms. Not bad.
peace out.
tunes: tobymac "welcome to diverse city"
luke says: "your little bro is one serious dude."
new friends.
I headed out for a run around 5.12pm today. I called my new friend Deanna on the way out the door, just to see what she was up to tonight. She, and some other friends, were going to a concert tonight, so she invited me.
I thought about it on my run, and even though $10 is a bit steep for one with no cash, I decided to go. I decided it would be good for me to go!
SO...I went! With Deanna, Mary-Ann, Mel and Andrew (who is my blume = flower...that's another story). It was sweet. First off, Mary-Ann paid for all of us...wow. Blessings.
The girl we went to see, amanda falk, was so good. I was really impressed, and moved, by her. She finished her show with worship (it was at a church), and it was the best worship I've been in since I moved here. I was just on my knees, weeping. Crying out everything that's been stuck inside. Wow.
After the show, we talked with her for probably half an hour, hugs all 'round (my first hugs in 27 days were tonight! From Deanna and Amanada -- more amazing a blessing than I can tell you. Except maybe you'll understand when I say that the last person to hug me was my mom on Sept.3/05 when she left Lethbridge). So yeah. Amanda said we totally blessed her in the worship time...we were in the front, just givin'er, plus we're all voice majors, just letting go to our Father. We're gonna keep in touch with her, which I think is rad. And to be honest, if I were her, travelling around, and I met some girls who I actually connected with, however briefly, I would totally want them to email me, and keep in touch.
THAT WAS MY NIGHT!!!
Deanna and some other girls live a few doors down, actually 2. We went there after the show, and hung out, and Deanna played with my hair, and we listened to Amanda's cd, and I cried some more...man.
I'm supposed to run with Lynnae in a few hours (@ 7.30am or so), and then I'm going out with the neighbour girls for breakfast. Also, my roomies are awesome, Jenessa's boyfriend Kyle is here, he's really fun. We're ordering KFC tomorrow -- so greasy and gross.
I'm checking out some new churches this weekend -- for sure sunday morning @ River of Life Community Church, with Deanna and crew.
So that's my update. Weird to tell you guys about new friends, but also rad...my heart is expanding and filling with more love. Wow.
peace...
"It's been so long since I have met you here, since I have said these words or cried these tears. And like a child would come I run into our secret place. And s the music fades, the tears are rolling down my face.
I am alive in this moment, in this moment I am found. I belong."
-- starfield.
I thought about it on my run, and even though $10 is a bit steep for one with no cash, I decided to go. I decided it would be good for me to go!
SO...I went! With Deanna, Mary-Ann, Mel and Andrew (who is my blume = flower...that's another story). It was sweet. First off, Mary-Ann paid for all of us...wow. Blessings.
The girl we went to see, amanda falk, was so good. I was really impressed, and moved, by her. She finished her show with worship (it was at a church), and it was the best worship I've been in since I moved here. I was just on my knees, weeping. Crying out everything that's been stuck inside. Wow.
After the show, we talked with her for probably half an hour, hugs all 'round (my first hugs in 27 days were tonight! From Deanna and Amanada -- more amazing a blessing than I can tell you. Except maybe you'll understand when I say that the last person to hug me was my mom on Sept.3/05 when she left Lethbridge). So yeah. Amanda said we totally blessed her in the worship time...we were in the front, just givin'er, plus we're all voice majors, just letting go to our Father. We're gonna keep in touch with her, which I think is rad. And to be honest, if I were her, travelling around, and I met some girls who I actually connected with, however briefly, I would totally want them to email me, and keep in touch.
THAT WAS MY NIGHT!!!
Deanna and some other girls live a few doors down, actually 2. We went there after the show, and hung out, and Deanna played with my hair, and we listened to Amanda's cd, and I cried some more...man.
I'm supposed to run with Lynnae in a few hours (@ 7.30am or so), and then I'm going out with the neighbour girls for breakfast. Also, my roomies are awesome, Jenessa's boyfriend Kyle is here, he's really fun. We're ordering KFC tomorrow -- so greasy and gross.
I'm checking out some new churches this weekend -- for sure sunday morning @ River of Life Community Church, with Deanna and crew.
So that's my update. Weird to tell you guys about new friends, but also rad...my heart is expanding and filling with more love. Wow.
peace...
"It's been so long since I have met you here, since I have said these words or cried these tears. And like a child would come I run into our secret place. And s the music fades, the tears are rolling down my face.
I am alive in this moment, in this moment I am found. I belong."
-- starfield.
30.9.05
cry in my heart
what do i have if i don't have you Jesus? what in this life could mean any more? you are my rock, you are my glory, you are the lifter of my head.
-- starfield.
-- starfield.
24.9.05
seems like...
The weekend always seems so loooooooooooong and full of promise. This week I took so much comfort in knowing that I could do my orchestration homework, my theory homework, my studio (singing) homework -- not to mention reading several chapters for sociology -- this weekend. And of course, being the organized, motivated, early to bed girl I am...
I stayed up late, watched tv all afternoon (after doing a workshop at school all morning), and now am blogging.
Heh.
yeeeaaaaaaah homework.
I stayed up late, watched tv all afternoon (after doing a workshop at school all morning), and now am blogging.
Heh.
yeeeaaaaaaah homework.
iceland is icy.
I just watched 2 Sigur Ros videos.
One had children marching through a somewhat desert-esque countryside, and then jumping off a cliff and flying....
and the other had children playing in ashes falling like snow.
I think a child died, or was near death, in each video.
yeah.
have fun on tuesday...big city jerks-- I mean beneficiaries.
One had children marching through a somewhat desert-esque countryside, and then jumping off a cliff and flying....
and the other had children playing in ashes falling like snow.
I think a child died, or was near death, in each video.
yeah.
have fun on tuesday...big city jerks-- I mean beneficiaries.
23.9.05
You read it on Zoe's blog first...
"But what man, in his natural condition, has not got, is Spiritual life- the higher and different sort of life that exists in God. We use the same word life for both: but if you thought that both must therefore be the same sort of thing, that would be like thinking that the "greatness" of space and the "greatness" of God were the same sort of greatness. In reality, the difference between biological life and Spiritual life is so important that I'm going to give them two distinct names. The Biological sort which comes to us through Nature, and which (like everything else in Nature) is always tending to run down and decay so that it can only be kept up by incessant subsidies from Nature in the form of air, water, food, etc, is Bios. The Spiritual life which is in God from all eternity, and which made the whole natural universe, is Zoë. Bios has, to be sure, a certain shadowy or symbolic resemblance to Zoë: but only the sort of resemblance there is between a photo and a place, or a statue and a man. A man who changed from having Bios to having Zoë would have gone through as big a change as a statue which changed from being a carved stone to being a real man.
And that is precisely what Christianity is about. This world is a great sculptor's shop. We are the statues and there is a rumour going round the shop that some of us are some day going to come to life."
-C.S. Lewis.
Props to Zoe "the best-named girl I know" Biggs for posting this quotation on her blog first. I post it here because it shook my heart.
And that is precisely what Christianity is about. This world is a great sculptor's shop. We are the statues and there is a rumour going round the shop that some of us are some day going to come to life."
-C.S. Lewis.
Props to Zoe "the best-named girl I know" Biggs for posting this quotation on her blog first. I post it here because it shook my heart.
19.9.05
to all daughters and sons.
well, well, another week begins.
I did a lot of my homework...theory and studio (that's my voice lessons), but I still have lots of reading for sociology. And I have to figure out what the heck is going on in orchestration...
to that end, I will now be going to bed.
peace out.
lethbridge...word.
I did a lot of my homework...theory and studio (that's my voice lessons), but I still have lots of reading for sociology. And I have to figure out what the heck is going on in orchestration...
to that end, I will now be going to bed.
peace out.
lethbridge...word.
18.9.05
because the Holy Spirit over the bent world broods...
and because I steal gold from comments.
The loss of joy does not make the world better -- and, conversely, refusing joy for the sake of suffering does not help those who suffer. The contrary is true. The world needs people who discover the good, who rejoice in it and thereby derive the courage and impetus to do good.
We have a new need for that primordial trust which ultimately faith can give. That the world is basically good, that God is there and is good. That it is good to live and be a human being. This results, then, in the courage to rejoice, which in turn becomes commitment to makng sure that other people, too, can rejoice and recieve good news.
Cardinal Ratzinger, Salt of the Earth, pp. 36-37.
props to thea for posting comments that contain more than my midnight ramblings.
I gotta start reading more stuff.
pace (that means peace).
The loss of joy does not make the world better -- and, conversely, refusing joy for the sake of suffering does not help those who suffer. The contrary is true. The world needs people who discover the good, who rejoice in it and thereby derive the courage and impetus to do good.
We have a new need for that primordial trust which ultimately faith can give. That the world is basically good, that God is there and is good. That it is good to live and be a human being. This results, then, in the courage to rejoice, which in turn becomes commitment to makng sure that other people, too, can rejoice and recieve good news.
Cardinal Ratzinger, Salt of the Earth, pp. 36-37.
props to thea for posting comments that contain more than my midnight ramblings.
I gotta start reading more stuff.
pace (that means peace).
ice, ICE...baby.
robert van winkle...
better known as VANILLA ICE (ice, baby) shook the walls of the DA Electric Barn @ lethbridge community college with his bad-ass beats tonight.
yeaaaaah.
housemate theresa won 2 tickets, and took me along as her lucky guest.
could have been the dousing us with water, or the effin' eff this and eff your mother effin shite eff you eff the effin mother effin shite eff this eff man effin effshiteyeah, OR the masturbatory use of a mic stand...but at some point, i decided i wanted to leave. theresa agreed.
LUCKY for theresa and i, the fifth song was the old skool klassik -- "stop! collaborate and listen....", so we stayed (this was, after all, the moment we'd been waiting for), and then he pulled the hoochie-mamas up on stage, and somewhere in the grinding and water throwing and fog machine effin glory, theresa and i found the motivation to heave...i mean, leave.
hollerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!
leth-bri-dge!
better known as VANILLA ICE (ice, baby) shook the walls of the DA Electric Barn @ lethbridge community college with his bad-ass beats tonight.
yeaaaaah.
housemate theresa won 2 tickets, and took me along as her lucky guest.
could have been the dousing us with water, or the effin' eff this and eff your mother effin shite eff you eff the effin mother effin shite eff this eff man effin effshiteyeah, OR the masturbatory use of a mic stand...but at some point, i decided i wanted to leave. theresa agreed.
LUCKY for theresa and i, the fifth song was the old skool klassik -- "stop! collaborate and listen....", so we stayed (this was, after all, the moment we'd been waiting for), and then he pulled the hoochie-mamas up on stage, and somewhere in the grinding and water throwing and fog machine effin glory, theresa and i found the motivation to heave...i mean, leave.
hollerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!
leth-bri-dge!
15.9.05
let loose your inner pirate!!!
LET'S BE PIRATES!
Monday, September 19, 2005.
International TALK LIKE A PIRATE day.
Get excited.
Get pirate.
Monday, September 19, 2005.
International TALK LIKE A PIRATE day.
Get excited.
Get pirate.
14.9.05
heh...
I locked myself out of my room this morning.
After some worth group-effort attempts at breaking into my room, I called Wendy (landlady #1), to let me into my room.
Heh.
After some worth group-effort attempts at breaking into my room, I called Wendy (landlady #1), to let me into my room.
Heh.
12.9.05
sttronger..........
first voice lesson of the year!
it was really good!
only 30 min long, but i get 2/week, so that's good.
anyway...two thumbs up (so far) for anthony radford.
yeah.
so today is club day. frats. sororities. lots of other clubs.
join it up.
it was really good!
only 30 min long, but i get 2/week, so that's good.
anyway...two thumbs up (so far) for anthony radford.
yeah.
so today is club day. frats. sororities. lots of other clubs.
join it up.
11.9.05
it's real.
encouragement!
i went to church today -- that was good.
went to a young adults kick-off tonight -- also good.
i even made some acquaintances which i think could be friends.
got a ride home with 4 nice boys from saskatchewan...one of them asked me to be praying for his car.
a joke, but also not. so i will.
so things are looking up. i came home with a wok (!), and a feeling that i could be at home here. that's weird to say, because in so many ways, nowhere will be home like a hug from zoe or a rock garden banquet, or a north shore sunset. it won't be the same to drive with nice boys from saskatchewan as it is to drive with my favorite ones -- ben and dad. no other scientists love ballet, nobody else will mend my jeans and make me a skirt, and no one sings like the littlest sister who could.
BUT...this will be good, and these people will make their way into my heart and i will hold them dear, finding that my heart can hold more than i thought possible. it will burst again with joy.
the best part is...
well...i think it's that God is amazing, and he knows me, and as he says, "trust me", and i do so with much fear and trembling and tears, he gently, so gently shows me that my trust and my hope will not be let down.
anyway.
LOVE. no matter who i meet that is new and neat and exciting, never forget that you are always in my heart.
i went to church today -- that was good.
went to a young adults kick-off tonight -- also good.
i even made some acquaintances which i think could be friends.
got a ride home with 4 nice boys from saskatchewan...one of them asked me to be praying for his car.
a joke, but also not. so i will.
so things are looking up. i came home with a wok (!), and a feeling that i could be at home here. that's weird to say, because in so many ways, nowhere will be home like a hug from zoe or a rock garden banquet, or a north shore sunset. it won't be the same to drive with nice boys from saskatchewan as it is to drive with my favorite ones -- ben and dad. no other scientists love ballet, nobody else will mend my jeans and make me a skirt, and no one sings like the littlest sister who could.
BUT...this will be good, and these people will make their way into my heart and i will hold them dear, finding that my heart can hold more than i thought possible. it will burst again with joy.
the best part is...
well...i think it's that God is amazing, and he knows me, and as he says, "trust me", and i do so with much fear and trembling and tears, he gently, so gently shows me that my trust and my hope will not be let down.
anyway.
LOVE. no matter who i meet that is new and neat and exciting, never forget that you are always in my heart.
9.9.05
desperate times.
Today, I almost wanted to run down the hall shouting, "I do have friends!! I do!! Good looking, talented, kind, generous people like me!! SO COME OOOOOOOOOON!!! Give me a freakin' chance here!"
But I didn't.
I just kept walking along, pretending to be oblivious to stares which constitute a choice to ignore me.
But I didn't.
I just kept walking along, pretending to be oblivious to stares which constitute a choice to ignore me.
7.9.05
Introduction to Post-Tonal Life.
Walking to school was pretty much 30min from my door to my class room.
beeaaaaaam!
Lots of cute boys with blue eyes....hooray for Alberta.
I look pretty good today. Wore light blue to show off my tan (much of which has come from walking around Lethbridge the last couple days).
All my roommates are at the house now. 7 girls...almost like ywam.
HMm...I've had Theory V so far -- Introduction to Post-Tonal Theory. Basically, everything I've learned so far is good, but when it comes to 20th and 21st century music, calling something its tonal name doesn't make sense anymore. You see, up until now, everything in a piece of music was named according to its function. NOW, most of those functions, based as they are on a tonal system, have no place anymore, as the music is POST-tonal.
PHew.
So that's good times, eh?
beeaaaaaam!
Lots of cute boys with blue eyes....hooray for Alberta.
I look pretty good today. Wore light blue to show off my tan (much of which has come from walking around Lethbridge the last couple days).
All my roommates are at the house now. 7 girls...almost like ywam.
HMm...I've had Theory V so far -- Introduction to Post-Tonal Theory. Basically, everything I've learned so far is good, but when it comes to 20th and 21st century music, calling something its tonal name doesn't make sense anymore. You see, up until now, everything in a piece of music was named according to its function. NOW, most of those functions, based as they are on a tonal system, have no place anymore, as the music is POST-tonal.
PHew.
So that's good times, eh?
6.9.05
derek webb says...and i say...
don't give me medication
i want the real sensation
even when living feels just like death to me.
i want the real sensation
even when living feels just like death to me.
5.9.05
i've got a reputation with everyone, but i don't want one with you.
today, i walked to school with kayleigh. i got a bunch of stuff done, then headed home, buying squirrely bread, canola oil, and stoned wheat thins on the way.
before i got home, i stopped to check out nicholas sheran (i think) park, which is about 15 mins from home, and is huge!!! it has a small lake in the middle, and the whole park is really an ultimate (disc) golf course.
i lay under a tree in sun and shade and read for several hours.
perfection.
before i got home, i stopped to check out nicholas sheran (i think) park, which is about 15 mins from home, and is huge!!! it has a small lake in the middle, and the whole park is really an ultimate (disc) golf course.
i lay under a tree in sun and shade and read for several hours.
perfection.
4.9.05
solutions.
I stuck a magnet against the switch in the air vent to block the AC flow ... TOO COLD.
I soaked little bits of paper towel with windex and shoved them in the tiny holes at the bottom of my window frame -- that seems to have cut down on the flies.
I'm going to try and get SKYPE.com for my compy, so I can talk on the phone without talking on the phone.
I got 2,000 flushes for my toilet, so it will stay clean.
I got drugs for my sick and food for my pantry so I can be healthy.
A lot of things are getting fixed.
There's a little sadness and loneliness in my heart, but that I can live with. It reminds me of you.
Shout out to rachel -- beautiful english maiden.
I soaked little bits of paper towel with windex and shoved them in the tiny holes at the bottom of my window frame -- that seems to have cut down on the flies.
I'm going to try and get SKYPE.com for my compy, so I can talk on the phone without talking on the phone.
I got 2,000 flushes for my toilet, so it will stay clean.
I got drugs for my sick and food for my pantry so I can be healthy.
A lot of things are getting fixed.
There's a little sadness and loneliness in my heart, but that I can live with. It reminds me of you.
Shout out to rachel -- beautiful english maiden.
unwanted guests.
So I'm here in Lethbridge, a little overwhelmed at the hugeness of this all, but I'm trying to take some calm time before bed....
BUT...
the left side of my desk is being INVADED by TINY FLIES!!!
I think they're attracted to the lamp so I turned it off, but a few foolish ones still dared to land...so I killed them.
What is it with insects and light? Well, I guess it's heat.
note: saw part of "gangs of new york" on tv tonight. GORY.
ps. a fly just tried to land on my compy...so I killed it.
anyway. it's time for bed.
help.
BUT...
the left side of my desk is being INVADED by TINY FLIES!!!
I think they're attracted to the lamp so I turned it off, but a few foolish ones still dared to land...so I killed them.
What is it with insects and light? Well, I guess it's heat.
note: saw part of "gangs of new york" on tv tonight. GORY.
ps. a fly just tried to land on my compy...so I killed it.
anyway. it's time for bed.
help.
3.9.05
in lethbridge.
i'm here.
i'm kinda sick. *cough, cough*
i can't find my cell phone charger.
i talked to jessica today.
my mom is here and great.
my landlords are nice -- they mow the lawn and buy cleaning supplies, and want to have us a bbq.
i have grapes, apples, oranges, pears, water, dq pop and allergy serum in the fridge.
my stuff is here, i am here....life is here?
i loveyou.
i'm kinda sick. *cough, cough*
i can't find my cell phone charger.
i talked to jessica today.
my mom is here and great.
my landlords are nice -- they mow the lawn and buy cleaning supplies, and want to have us a bbq.
i have grapes, apples, oranges, pears, water, dq pop and allergy serum in the fridge.
my stuff is here, i am here....life is here?
i loveyou.
29.8.05
all things new.
New computer. New outlook. New hope. New vision. New music. Newly clean clothes. New confidence.
because you came, we have victory.
it's only by your blood, we can be set free.
so i will give my life and abandon shame,
for i know i'm yours -- because you came.
-jon bentall
first post of new.
many more to come.
carryeachother.
because you came, we have victory.
it's only by your blood, we can be set free.
so i will give my life and abandon shame,
for i know i'm yours -- because you came.
-jon bentall
first post of new.
many more to come.
carryeachother.
25.8.05
burning things.
so august 31 is the day that i leave.
leaving on august 31.
august thirty-first. i'll be gone. some of you i won't see again until Christmas, and with the way things sometimes go, perhaps not even then.
woah.
so...that's life.
love.liberty.disco (worst newboys album ever).
leaving on august 31.
august thirty-first. i'll be gone. some of you i won't see again until Christmas, and with the way things sometimes go, perhaps not even then.
woah.
so...that's life.
love.liberty.disco (worst newboys album ever).
18.8.05
did you ever...
did you ever notice that in order to post on one's blog, the direction or title on the webpage is "create a post"?
I never say, "I'm going to create a post now." I always say, "I'm gonna blog....".
Just a little something to whet the appetites. Recording my new hit single tomorrow. Spur of the moment sort of thing. Singing partner moving back home to England sort of thing.
love.
I never say, "I'm going to create a post now." I always say, "I'm gonna blog....".
Just a little something to whet the appetites. Recording my new hit single tomorrow. Spur of the moment sort of thing. Singing partner moving back home to England sort of thing.
love.
21.7.05
mmmmmmmmmmm[blech]mmmmuffins...
today I was in the kitchen for 15 hours. Ooookay, maybe 14.
BUT STILL.
3 of those hours were on making FREAKIN' muffins.
arrrrrgh.
I am frusteraterated.
but i love you. especially zoe.
BUT STILL.
3 of those hours were on making FREAKIN' muffins.
arrrrrgh.
I am frusteraterated.
but i love you. especially zoe.
16.7.05
weary
i cast all my cares upon You
i lay all of my burdens down at your feet
and anytime i don't know what to do
i will cast all my cares upon You.
i lay all of my burdens down at your feet
and anytime i don't know what to do
i will cast all my cares upon You.
10.7.05
stars.
"ask friends about the people and places that shaped them, and summer springs up quickly when they tell their story: their first kiss, first beer, first job that changed everything."
-- nancy gibbs
i miss eating asparagus whenever i want to. but i do love summertime.
write to me:
keats camps
box 284 gibsons bc v0n 1v0
-- nancy gibbs
i miss eating asparagus whenever i want to. but i do love summertime.
write to me:
keats camps
box 284 gibsons bc v0n 1v0
9.7.05
today i shall go to a wedding.
today is the day for nate + leah.
Whooopeeee!
it's also the first day of Anvil camp 2.
a quasi-devastating coinciding of events.
today is also a day for me to have cramps, and want to sleep aaaaaaaaaall day, but instead, i must rushrushrushrushrush around because that's what days down in "the city" are all about.
more later.
(hi leigh)
Whooopeeee!
it's also the first day of Anvil camp 2.
a quasi-devastating coinciding of events.
today is also a day for me to have cramps, and want to sleep aaaaaaaaaall day, but instead, i must rushrushrushrushrush around because that's what days down in "the city" are all about.
more later.
(hi leigh)
30.6.05
for the peace of leigh.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!
hello.
I'm back from keats for a day, and hence...a post! yay.
It's an...interesting...time so far. My dexterity with a vegetable peeler is increasing, and I'm getting up early early early every morning.
I need to go shopping today.
- jersey sheets
- big fluffy duvet
- chocolate
- nothing else.
Well. That's all for now. I guess I'll write again soon. I certainly have more to say, so I'll write some extra posts to tide you over.
love, melinda
ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!
hello.
I'm back from keats for a day, and hence...a post! yay.
It's an...interesting...time so far. My dexterity with a vegetable peeler is increasing, and I'm getting up early early early every morning.
I need to go shopping today.
- jersey sheets
- big fluffy duvet
- chocolate
- nothing else.
Well. That's all for now. I guess I'll write again soon. I certainly have more to say, so I'll write some extra posts to tide you over.
love, melinda
19.6.05
17.6.05
there's no 'C' in billie holiday! (holliday?)
I organize my cd's like my inside organizer would like to organize my whole life. Or, inner compulsiveness shows on the outside.
ANYWAY...
CD's are alphabetical, then chronological.
SO THEN what was 'billie' doing in amongst the 'c' cd's?
HMMMMMMM!?!?!?!
WHO HAS TAMPERED NOW MUST PAY!!!!
ANYWAY...
CD's are alphabetical, then chronological.
SO THEN what was 'billie' doing in amongst the 'c' cd's?
HMMMMMMM!?!?!?!
WHO HAS TAMPERED NOW MUST PAY!!!!
16.6.05
mmmmmm....swiss army hemp bracelet.
IS THERE ANYTHING CUTER IN THE WORLD THAT A ONE-AND-A-HALF YEAR OLD GIRL WITH RED HAIR AND BIIIIIIIIIG BLUE EYES...ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE IS WEARING A FIREMAN HELMET????
no?
good.
i didn't think so.
no?
good.
i didn't think so.
