Discovery

The great thing about the sleep deprivation is that eventually, and just in time for the deadline, you become so delirious that you're convinced your paper is AWESOME.

77 is the new 100

UBC Law has a grading policy. There is no required bell curve, but for classes of a certain size, there is a required average. This average has to be between 69 and 74. This leads to the phenomenon of our Regulatory State presentations having a range between 7.2 and 7.7 out of 10. My group got 7.6, and normally I'd be ready to stick my head in the oven after a grade like that, but given the circumstances, I guess I should be quite happy. It's above average, and really what more can I ask for? I just feel a little defeatist about it, though. I mean, why struggle so much for a good grade, when it might make 2 or 3 percent difference? It's just totally lame.

Violent Dreams

Last night, for the third night in a row, I had a dream where I was giving someone a right good beating. Seriously - hair-pulling, kicking, punching in the face. The first night it was a 20-something man in a 1980's style red jogging suit who stole my wallet, the second night it was an old lady who had broken in and was defiantly squatting in the his enormous house in which I was baby-sitting/house-sitting, and last night it was this big, fat, mobster looking guy, who was a hospital administrator who had refused to admit my pregnant and car-accident-injured friend, and she ended up losing her baby. Needless to say, in every instance I was protecting somebody, or at least trying to make two wrongs equal a right (is that better than randomly beating on people?). The dreams have been incredibly vivid and detailed and long (I've only put in a teeny bit of detail here), but in each one, I have wound up either sitting on the victims chest and punching them in the face or grabbing them by the hair, and banging their head against the ground.

I'm extremely disturbed by these dreams. I mean, I know they're just dreams, and better I beat someone up in my dreams than in real life, but it makes me wonder if it's something I would be capable of? Is there a part of me that is THAT violent? That angry? I know I've been pretty stressed out and all, but this seems excessive.

I used to think I was smart...

Well, it's not THAT bad. YET.But I am getting awfully tired of these exams.
Elisabeth asked me if this is worse than the SOA exams, and I have to say yes, for two reasons.
1) the SOA exams were ONE day. In total my exams/papers are spanning two weeks. Two weeks is a long time to eat poorly, sleep too little and stress a lot.
2) the SOA exams had right answers. Law school is just full of ambiguity. And ambiguity makes me sad. Right answers make me feel smart. I used to think I was smart.

I hate the spelling of the word "judgment"

Judge + ment = Judgment. It's like a magic trick. Where did the "e" go? Ohhh, pretty sneaky. So flippin' dumb. I get irrationally pissed off every time I spell it wrong in Word, and that little red wiggly line appears underneath it. Not only is it a stupid way to spell the word, you would think that Word would at least autocorrect this one.

Super-Hot Interview Shoes

I don't really have time for a post of any substance, so here is a picture of my super-hot interview shoes that I bought last week. I love them a lot, and shopping for them rekindled my dormant love of footwear, but also moved my love in a newer, sexier, and far less practical direction.



And these are not the only shoes I bought last week. I bought another, very impractical pair, which I can ill afford at the moment, but my goodness, I have wanted a pair in this particular style for about 8 years, and I figured it was about time. So, I have beautiful shoes now, but they don't go with the jeans and sweats I wear to the library. So sad.

too many heathers

Me

my room-mate, dentist heather

jodi's high-school best friend, london heather

3rd year law Rugby team-mate, tiny heather

2nd year law Rugby team-mate, heather p.

I guess that's only five. but it seems like a lot. when i was elementary school i thought my name was terribly uncool, because i was the only one, but there were two stephanies and three sarahs, and I think a few jennifers. where were all these people back in elementary?

just like home

Even though it is not a picture of Alberta, this photo made me really feel the deep down need to live in my home province again. There is something about the land, the landscapes, that simply makes my heart ache with longing. Vancouver is a beautiful city, but this what is what my true homeland looks like
www.dooce.com/daily-photo/2007/12/04/foothills
Sorry, I have no idea how to create embedded links, and with my Consitutional Law exam tomorrow, now is not the time to figure it out. Y'all will just have to copy-paste.

good things

Today was long day at the library, followed by more studying at home. It was not a fun day by any stretch of the imagination, but I can think of at least three things that made me happy today:
1) Miss Jodi-bean, my law-school-best-friend, who has become my closest classmate, and breaks up a long day at the library with lots of stifled giggles from occasion jokes on MSN.
2) SNOW - it snowed all day today, and it stuck around to make a beautiful feathery blanket. At 10 o'clock tonight Jodi and I tossed our work aside (metaphorically, of course, we work mainly on laptops which are not very forgiving when it comes to the tossing aside) and set out for a refreshing walk. It was corn starchy snow that squeaked under our feet as we strolled under the sugar coated elm trees that line my street. We ran across a playing field near my house, played at the playground, and threw snowballs. It was just the break I needed.
3) I get my new bed tomorrow. I could not be more thrilled that tonight is the last night for me on the floor.

sad

tonight i went back to my old apartment for the first time in over a month. mark moved into his new place today, and he is turning over the keys on thursday, so i have to get the last, last, last of my things out this week.
that empty apartment was very sad. and then i found this in and amongst the things i was collecting; a housewarming card from when we moved in:

"Heather + Mark! Congrats on shacking up...now for the next step!"

i am okay, i'm not spending the evening weeping into a bottle of gin, or anything. i'm just a little sad, but i think that's okay, i think it might even be a good thing, sort of. it wasn't a little thing, and to not be sad about it would just diminish it. so i'll be sad for a bit.

More or Less

MORE
Sleep
Studying
Physical Exercise
Vegetables
LESS
Booze
Sugar
Facebook
Spending money

Guess what I am not doing today?

Running half a marathon!

Today was supposed to be the day I ran in the Fall Classic Half Marathon. Ha ha ha. My training went well at first, but with the two weeks of utter chaos that was moving into my new place, and the ensuing and ongoing utter chaos of running two weeks behind in law school, I just let it slide. Disapointing, but necessary, since I haven't yet mastered the fine art of not having to sleep.

I am still running a bit, but no where near the level that would allow me to go 23-ish km without dying. I still hope to try a half marathon in the not-too-distant future, but for now it is on the shelf.

In the meantime, I will continue to pursue other athletic pursuits, including Rugby, step aerobics and dancing up a storm at the bar, which is not, as you can see below, without its own hazards.

Drinking 2, Blogging 0

Another Friday night, another day of blogging sacrificed to my complete inability to have JUST 2 beers. I swear, 2 is my precise threshold for thinking that several more is a great idea. So after the beer-up at school, it just seemed like a super idea to head to Darby's with the rest of the Rugby team, and Jodi, my new partner in all booze-related crime. So, I am a little more tired than I had originally planned to be today, but I am still at the library plugging away.

Good News and Bad News

A few weeks ago I sent out a bunch of resumes to firms in Calgary for summer jobs (Calgary firms hire WAY more first year students than Vancouver, plus you know, I like Calgary), and today I got a call from one, Fraser, Milner and Casgrain, who wanted to schedule an interveiw in two weeks. Yay! I might get an incredibly useful experience and get paid lots of money.

I have to buy a suit.

Multi-tasking

Between 9 and 10 pm today I did all of the following:

- Had 3 simultaneous MSN chats (Dad, Keith and Jodi)

- Baked muffins out of black bananas

- Booked my flight home for Christmas (Dec 19 to Jan 5)

- Watched "Criminal Minds"

I feel like I accomplished a lot :)

You probably had to be there

Last week, on Friday I wore my hair in pigtails. At lunch that day I was hanging out wth some of my school friends, and we were talking about hilarious socks. I mentioned that I had a pair of socks with monkeys on them, and I promised to wear the said socks sometime this week. The converstation meandered on, and eventually I found myself talking about "The Life I used to Have"; which really just means speaking about all the enormous changes that I've gone through in the past few months. I didn't really mean anything by it, mostly when I bring up the LIUTH it is in jest. And so it was on Friday as I was complaining about the material comforts I had to give up for law school "For this I gave up a 22nd floor apartment with a view of english bay, fine leather furniture and big screen TV!"

"Yes, but now you have pig-tails and monkey socks," replied my friend.

And this was just about the funniest thing I ever heard.

Now I have pigtails and monkey socks.

New Work Schedule

When I first started my job, I was consistently scheduled on Fridays and Sundays, which sort of sucks since Fridays are Beer-Up nights at Law school. I politely inquired whether I was going to be working every Friday FOREVER, and my manager said that it wouldn't be a problem to change it. So, here it is a few weeks later, and I'm moved off of Fridays, so I now work Sunday nights and Monday nights.
Tonight was my first Monday shift, and now I am all messed up, and keep thinking that it's Sunday and I don't have school tomorrow. Which is sort of a bummer. But I get to drink beer on Friday. :)

A long weekend for you,

just another weekend for me.
I can't help but feel mildly cheated out of the whole long weekend thing. I mean I don't benefit at all. I realize you all want to throw bricks at me right now, but I'm just saying...

Do-Over

Tonight I begged off going out to the pub and actually gave myself a night to myself.
Microwave popcorn, root beer, and a favorite old book. And most importantly, I am going to bed in about 20 minutes.
I was going to try a do a little more reading (for school), but I just decided to relax and enjoy myself a little. Besides, I'll get more done tomorrow if I am well-rested. Right?

This is my friday post!

I had these great plans for tonight. I was going to study until 6, when the library closed, and then head home, go for a run, have a bubble bath, watch a movie and have an early bed time. Have a little "me" time. It was going to be sweet.
And I did study. But as I was making my way to the bus stop I felt this magnetic pull towards the Pit, the campus bar, where a few of my buddies, and the next thing I know, I am downing the better half of a pitcher. Then the next thing I know, I am at the UBC film society's Big Lebowski "beverage" garden. And the next thing I know I am at a bar on Broadway downing the better half of another pitcher.
So, I failed to post before midnight, which I guess means I failed the NaBloPoMo challenge. But I submit, that I have posted validly for Friday, since I haven't been to bed yet. It is technically still my Friday.

Gaining some momentum

I am finally working hard. 13 days of classes to go (because I don't have school on Mondays), and I am finally doing my readings and reviewing my notes. My goal for the next few days is to total 32 hours of studying for Thursday through Monday. So far, today, I have knocked 6 hours off. The key is sadly, as I have concluded many times before, but always wish weren't true, if that I have to stay at school and work in the library. My focus at home just sucks.
So, this weekend I will be at the library. A lot. But a lot of other people will be there too. I'm not the only one.

My Stereo ate my CD

My car stereo is refusing to eject the CD that is currently in it. This is problem, because commercial radio makes me want to drive my car straight into a brick wall after about 10 minutes, and while the CD in the stereo is a great one (Picaresque by The Decemberists), I do not fancy listening to it every singe time I drive for ever. I'm not sure what to do. I am temped to try and extricate the thing myself. But I should probably get a professional. I'm not sure who to ask. Subaru? Do they really do the stereo? I'll bet this isn't covered under the warranty.

My Weekend on a Disney Ride

I distinctly remember shortly after I moved to Vancouver, feeling very much like an outsider, because I hardly knew anybody. Back in Calgary, run-intos were pretty common-place. You could rely on running into somebody you knew at the club, at the mall, downtown or where ever, maybe one time in a month. When I first moved to Vancouver, I remember thinking, “I’ll never run into anyone I know again”

Well, this weekend was an absolute freak show of running into people. In addition to the run-into mentioned in the previous post, I also happened to run into an old actuarial buddy outside the bar on Saturday night. Furthermore, on Sunday, the girl who I was relieving at the store had her friend come by and meet her as she was leaving. Turns out her friend is also a friend of mine and the wife* of a friend from Hewitt. So random. I had even met the girl from the store before, years ago at a poker game, although neither of us had remembered it.

[* I cannot believe I am reaching a point in my life where I have to refer to people as “wife” instead of “girlfriend”]

Unexpected

Yesterday, on the way to work, I bumped into a friend of Mark’s on the bus. I was a little nervous as I called his name to get his attention and say hello. You know, the ex’s friend - it could be a little awkward. Maybe he’d even be a little mean, a little cold, out of loyalty to Mark. I would understand, I suppose. You stick by your friends first, even in the most amicable of splits.

He HUGGED me. It was so unexpected, and it was so nice. I think it says a lot about a person when his friends are the kind of people who can be so gracious.

The muscle I strained the most

I woke up this morning, swallowed and thought, "Uh-oh". For a brief moment I thought I was getting sick.

Then I remembered yesterday. Being one of three players out of ten who knew where bodies ought to be meant that I yelled a lot. Constantly. With the yelling. So that alone would have made my throat a little raw today.

But couple that with the fact that I then spent the better part of 8 hours at a bar last night with loud, loud music playing and I am pretty sure that 90% of my communication yesterday was carried out in my "Outdoor Voice".

So in addition to not moving very fast today, I am also not speaking much.

Saturday is a Rugby Day

Today the UBC Law Women's Rugby team had our season opener. In the relentless drizzle we turned 8 rookies and 3 veterans loose on the pitch, and the results were outstanding. Let me say upfront that yes, we lost, 20-10. But still, for an extremely inexperienced team, that's an amazing score to lose by. First off, we scored two trys! Amazing. And we held them up time and again to keep them from scoring more than the 4 that they did.

I had one of my best Rugby days ever, managing to touch down one of our trys (but it was what I would call a "team try" as the whole team was working their butts off to get me over the line) and I was named "Man of the Match." I've never been Man of the Match. It's like the MVP of the game, and you have to get up a drink a boat (beer) race with the MoM from the other team (we won the boat race, thank you). So it was like , my best Rugby day ever.

Now I am going out for more beer. Assignments be damned!

She used to work at Hooters

Here at Law school we refer to our final, comprehensive notes in each class as Consolidated Annoted Notes, or CANs for short.
This handy acronym led to me uttering the following last night about a certain upper year student:

"She's famous for her CANs"

One day I hope to be famous for my CANs.

Want to play trains?

Like many of my law school friends, I have joined a wonderful organization at school known as the Law Student’s Legal Advice Program, or LSLAP. LSLAP is a free legal aid society run by law students and two supervising lawyers. We handle legal issues that run the gamut from landlord-tennant issues to ICBC insurance claims to criminal charges. Some of my class-mates have already been to court and represented clients at trial.

My experiences thus far have been significantly less gratifying. I am assigned to a clinic in south Vancouver, in a relatively “nice” neighborhood, that doesn’t seem to offer up much in the way of complex legal problems. I’ve had two clients, neither of which had a bona fide legal problem, and one of whom almost yelled at me when I tried to explain that with only 2 lawyers on staff it wasn’t exactly priority one for us to deal with her trivial issue (even though it wasn’t a solid legal problem, everything still needs to be reviewed by a lawyer before it goes out). So it’s not exactly taxing, but on the other hand, I am not really contributing much, or gaining a ton of experience.

Overall, I’ve been having second thoughts about participating in this program. A lot of people have suggested to me that most law firms could not care less about participation in LSLAP. It’s yet another thing I have to stress about when I have a client issue I need to deal with. It’s one other night I could be looking after my own needs, getting readings done, or seeing my friends. But despite that, I have been making the effort, and hoping that I will be assigned a good case, leading to solid experience.

But seriously, this is the final straw. The community centre we run our clinic out of has moved us out of the room we usually use and into the day care centre. I know we are a free legal aid society and we don’t have to keep up much in the way of appearances, but this is ridiculous.

Better than nothin'?

In an effort to ensure that at least a tiny window into my life gets opened on a regular basis, I am considering joining this little game: www.nablopomo.com

I think it sounds like a nice idea; a little challenge to myself that will result in me dedicating at least a few minutes a day to expressing myself and reflecting on my experiences.

In actuality, it will probably lead to the most inane one liners imaginable and a lot of saying "hey, this is cool." and linking to somebody else's work, as I try in my usual half-assed manner to live up to some arbitrary and pointless commitment I've made to myself.

But at least my readers will know I am still alive.

Priniciples

So. One of my classmate posted a photo on the UBC Law Group in Facebook. It is a supposedly funny little collage suggesting that if one of our profs slept with Mr. Dress-up, it would've led to Casey (the puppet).

Clever, maybe. But I don't think it is very nice. If it were me, I would find it hurtful, rude and in bad taste. And knowing the power of the internet, I know there is good chance she might see it someday.

So I posted a comment on the photo, saying what I thought, and that I though he should take it down.

And then I deleted my comment.

I feel conflicted. It's none of my business, really. Should I speak up? Should I be worried about the feelings of my adult professor? Opinions? You can see the picture on Facebook. I am pretty sure it is an opne group.

Good News Either Way

So, since I don't have enough to do with school, work, Brownies, LSLAP, and Rugby (as my Mom sighs and shakes her head, knowing that her daughter is her own worst enemy), today I successfully ran in the LSS (Law Students Society) elections of first year representatives. I will be representing my class on the Law and Business Society executive.
Even though I know I am a fool for taking on another commitment, I was very pleased with my win. The way I see it, I was either the most eloquent and qualified candidate, and truly deserved to win, which is awesome, or it was just a popularity contest, and I won because I am pretty and fun and well liked, which is, also, awesome.

About my least favorite way to start a day...

Seeing 7:22 on my alarm clock, when I was supposed to have been at work at 7.

Note to self Re: washroom breaks

I must always remember to take a washroom break during the half hour break between my 9:00 and 11:00 classes. 12:30 was a very difficult goal to reach this morning.

A new friend I like very much...

"I'll have you know, I take my studies very seriously." - beer in left hand, yo-yo in right.

So much fodder, so little time...

After two days of Law School orientation, I could easily write a 2,500 word post. I could tell you about all the great profs I've met, all the fun clubs and organizations I want to be a part of, all the cool people I've talked to so far, and how excited I am for the next three years. I could write about how I hate public transit with a passion, and cannot believe I've condemned myself to three years of it (I am totally applying for campus housing next year). I could tell you about the only obnoxious person I've met so far, and how much I made fun of him with a much cooler individual the whole time he was talking (about himself, naturally). The cooler guy and I did a lot of eye widening and eyebrow raising. It was GLEEFULL.

Frankly though, it has been a little overwhelming, and I can't really get my head around it all quite yet. I also want to hit the hay early today, so that I am in top condition tomorrow for the afternoon beer garden and the Law Rugby Club party following. And for the valuable information provided at the orientation. Of course.

Suffice it to say that I am happy. Life is good. It's not perfect; certain circumstances could definitely be better. And I am still apprehensive about all the challenges that lie ahead. But deep down, I feel pretty damn good.

Pavement Pounding

Not long after I set out this afternoon to inundate the entire restaurant and cafe industry on Denman Street with my resume, I started composing in my head a very bleak and annoyed post about how much I hate looking for a job. I hate walking into the place and talking like every sentence is a question: “I saw you were hiring?" "I wanted to drop of my resume?" I hate filling out application forms that ask for all of the information that is ALREADY ON MY FLIPPING RESUME.

But unfortunately for my irate rant of a post, I got the exact job I wanted, only an hour after I started out. Earlier this week I had seen a "We're Hiring" sign at my favorite, favorite coffee shop, Delany's. Even though it was my first choice as a place to work, I actually went there last, since I wanted to buy a coffee when I stopped in, and I don't know how kosher it is to drop off a resume at a coffee shop while holding a cup from another place.

I went in, and asked if I could drop off my resume. Right away the manager asked if I would like to stay for an interview. And even though I had to fill out the requisite FLIPPING REDUNDANT APPLICATION FORM first, it was a great interview. He was totally friendly, and I felt so comfortable. And at the end, he said he would like to offer me a job, and I could start next week.

I am totally pumped. I've always liked that place, and now I will get paid to be there. Not paid nearly enough, that's for sure, but I don't care. This is the job I want. And this is the era of doing what I want. Not doing what I should. So I will be making coffee. It's not glamorous, but I think I will enjoy it.

I WORK HERE NOW!

Charity

My dedicated readers may have noticed a new item on my blog, the 1/2 marathon training list. Since Law school doesn't seem like enough of a challenge, I have also been toying with the idea of attempting to run 13 miles in a 2 hour period. Before officially registering for the $65 event, I thought I would try sticking to a training schedule for around 3 weeks, and if I could do it, I would make the commitment. So far I think it is going pretty well. 8 runs in 16 days is not bad, especially considering that I was away on the Island with my parents for 4 days and wasn't really into taking time out to run. Now I just need to start gradually ramping it up and by November 18, I should be good to go.

* I didn't actually run the last half km on my run today, because of tremendously painful abdominal cramping. That is why my time sucks so much.

When my parents were here, I mentioned that I was thinking about trying to run a 1/2 marathon, and my Mom asked if it was a charity event. I replied, "Yes. The worthy cause of reducing the size of my big fat ass."

She said she would donate.

Clarity

I was walking back after getting my coffee this morning, and all I could think was "I should have done this a year ago". I expected to feel really different, being unemployed. And I do feel different. But not in the way I expected. I thought I would be more worried. But I have a clear direction now, and the desire to follow this new path with all of my heart. And I know for sure, that even if the unthinkable happens, and it doesn't work out, I will be fine.
At twenty-five, I am actually far more secure than many people my age. I have a safety net of education, finances, family and friends. With all this behind me, and the job I hate no longer in my way, I have never been more certain. And I love it.

Officially Official

This email just came out from my manager:

I am sorry to say that after 4 years with Hewitt, Heather has decided to leave and move on to a different challenge. She will actually be leaving the workforce (temporarily) as she returns to university in September, to attend Law School.

Heather's last day in the office will be August 10. I am sure you will all wish her good luck.

I am hyperventilating. It's a little scary to see it out there in black and white. After today, only 7 work days to go.

Selling it

Buying gifts for my Dad is hard. He is a down-to-earth kind of guy who seems to not want for much, and what he does want for he usually just buys at Canadian Tire/Home Depot (ASIDE: Shortly after my parents moved to their new house, my Father returned home on evening and announced to my Mom: “Guess What! I found a short-cut to Canadian Tire”. Canadian Tire is less than 5 minutes away, without the “short cut,” but my Father’s new route shaves valuable seconds.)

So, because I always have a hard time buying him a gift I feel like I have to get creative. As a result of my “creativity” I have noticed a strange habit on my part of trying to “sell” the gift as he opens it. “It’s for____________!” I’ll exclaim, or “You can use it when you_______.” I can’t just give it to him and let him figure out on his own why I chose it. I’ve got to give him a REASON HE’LL LOVE IT!

I picked up his birthday gift at lunch today. I think he’d like it if he is willing to try it, but he might think is hippie and new agey and girly. This one might be a tough sell. Wish me luck.

Racism Roulette

*I actually wrote this last week, but in the rush to get ready to go to Vegas I didn't have time to post it. But it is still funny and worth sharing. Incidently, I did not win.*

Last Thursday Taleen stopped by my desk to giggle and squeal over how we were leaving for Vegas the very next day, and she mentioned that I should rub AM’s five-months pregnant belly for luck before we left. So later that day, while I was chatting to the three co-op students, AM came by to see one of them, I remembered to ask, and got in a quick rub . Then, in a flash of brilliance, I asked her due date thinking that after the belly rub, the due date numbers would be a sure thing on the roulette wheel. The following exchange took place:

“AM, what’s your due date? I’ll play the numbers on roulette.”

“October 31.”

“October 31. Good 10, 31”

*a pause as I recall the gambling wisdom I overheard at Taleen’s shower: always bet on black.*

“Black”

*another (pregnant, if you will) pause, before as the 4 people gathered around R’s desk explode into laughter, and I collapse on the floor in a combination of embarrassment and uncontrollable laughter. *

AM and her husband are Jamaican.

Unless you are actually that important, knock it off. Otherwise, get a helmet.

I witnessed a Blackberry-related collision in my building’s lobby this morning. I was standing waiting for the elevator with guy #1, when guy #2 comes around the corner, head down thumbing away and, BAM, runs right into guy #1. It was hilarious. I had heard about the perils of the mobile workforce, and now I can bear witness.
I’m a little over-tired from an unpleasantly busy week, so I ordered an extra large coffee at Tim’s this morning, and now I am shaking slightly. I wouldn’t do it often, but it is actually kind of fun.

You cannot consider yourself an adult…

…if you have to bring vodka coolers to your softball game. Either learn to drink beer like a grown-up or don’t bother at all. Seriously, it is called a BEER LEAGUE. Grow up.

I played softball for the first time in YEARS last night. It was awesome, although I didn't get on base once and I missed two line drive catches. I was subbing for a team that a bunch of people at work play for, as well as a former co-worker C. C is moving to Seattle, and we'll all miss her lots, but I am pumped that I might get to take her spot on the team! :)

One down, five to go

With 8 straight days of hiking looming only four weeks away, I have set myself the goal of doing the Grouse Grind 6 times between today and July 12. So, tonight was climb number 1 with a time of 1:07:08, which is a great improvement over my most recent effort (apparently chatting and singing at the top of one's lungs does slow you down a bit). It was a beautiful evening, and I actually enjoyed the hike quite a bit. I don't think I've ever done it by myself before and, as nice as it is to have company, I sort of liked that I could get into a nice rhythm of my own. I'm almost, sort of, a bit looking forward to next time. Kinda.

Just finished making a pie

Spending the night in tonight. Mark is off at his 10-year high school reunion, so I am on my own. And on a Saturday night at home, what do I like to do? Practice my eye makeup and engage in domestic chores, of course. So I did up my eyes very dark and sultry and then made a pie to take to Mark's sister's tomorrow evening. Peach-raspberry. Then I did the dishes and folded some laundry. All I need is a tiara, and I'll be ready to do some vacuuming.

All by myself

Mark left yesterday morning for Toronto. He has a seminar to attend on Monday, and he headed out early to visit his friend and her family (including the two month old baby!). So I said good-bye before I headed off to work, and when I got home at the end of the day, the apartment was empty. Except for the big bouquet of roses of course. And he had unloaded the dishwasher! Love that guy.



So this weekend I am all by myself, with minimal commitments. So I made a great plans to spend all day being good to myself. In a few minutes I am heading to a step class with an instructor that I LOVE. Then it is coffee time and a good stroll around the neighborhood, including a stop at Book Warehouse. In Victoria last weekend, I rediscovered reading and last night I finished my book. I don't read much at home. I think it is because I am always thinking about the messy house. Anyway, the kitchen is quite clean, (see above), and last night I tidied up in the living room, so after I run a quick vacuum I can enjoy a lengthy afternoon of tea and books.

It is going to be a wonderful Saturday! Even though I miss Mark. :)

Before Huey's Head Explodes

Here's a nice picture that shows my new haircut. Although it is a bit flat because I didn't wash it today. I took this while I was trying to make a passport sized photo to send to UBC along with my registration confirmation (I guess they need it for the Law directory and for my new student ID card - exciting!). But our printer isn't really good enough, so I will have to go get a proper passport photo taken. Which will inevitably look really, really bad. So unfortunate.

Benton Fraser, Royal Canadian Mounted Police

One of the best things about finally having cable and PVR? Daily repeats of Due South, recorded and waiting for me when I get home each day. Say what you want about the quality of the show, but this face is worth 45 minutes of cheesy dialogue, bad Canadian stereotypes and implausible plot twists. And then there's the uniform...Now there's a country that knows what to export.

Haircut Poll

I have an appointment with my new stylist on Saturday at 4:00pm and I am currently soliciting opinions on what sort of cut to go with. Voting is open until noon on Saturday. I reserve the right to ignore all your opinions. But I sincerely appreciate any input you care to give. So, which one do you like best?

a) A very short, playful flip, sported by Christa Miller during the early seasons of Scrubs


b) a sleek and sophisticated bob like one of these




c) my old standby Cynthia Nixon flip

It never rains, but it pours...

What sort of cosmic joke is this? I mean seriously. How much can a girl really take?
First of all, I had a marvelous weekend up in Whistler skiing with my parents. Which is great of course, but they're gone now, and I always have a tough time saying good-bye for who-knows-how-many months at a time. So I'm a little down because the weekend is over.
Then we have the wretchedness that is daylight savings time, robbing me of an hour of the precious sleep that keeps me sane.
Today also happens to be the hormonal roller coaster that is the day before my period starts.
These three circumstances have created a perfect storm of making me unhappy and depressed. And then I sat down to watch Corner Gas and oh my. When Lacey was leaving and Blue Rodeo was playing, I was just bawling.
On the plus side, at least I have 3 perfectly rational good reasons to be sad, and perhaps I am not actually going crazy, and I can have hope that tomorrow I might not spend the day on the verge of tears.
I also used the melancholy as a good excuse to have chocolate macaroons for supper. And I stand by that decision.

I am so smart, S-M-R-T

In all honesty, if someone asked me to name what I consider to be the defining pop icon of my generation (oh, if only someone would ask), I would say, without hesitation, Homer Simpson. Or if I could more broadly select a media product or event I would choose the Simpsons as a whole.

Think about it. In terms of sheer volume of references per day, I am sure The Simpsons has infiltrated my life and lexicon more than anything else. I’m sure I hit at least one Simpsonism per day. “D’oh”, “Excellent”, “Boo-urns”, “Sweet Merciful Crap”, “The Boy”, “I hope I didn’t brain my damage” “The Ultimate Behemoth” “Mmmm, doughnuts” and the good old Marge-grunt that defies onomatopoeic description are all constantly heard amongst my family and friends. If you speak to my Dad about my brother, the name Keith will never come up. It is always “the boy.” If Huey is mildly annoyed about something, “Boo-urns” on it.

Actually, I had already drafted this post before we went out tonight, and during the course of conversation, one of our friends called another friend "Gamblor." Which as everyone knows is Homer's name for the monster enslaving Marge when she becomes addicted to slots at the Burns Casino. I was astonished that my theory was being proven right before my very eyes, mere hours after its formulation.

Anyway, back to my original point: I am so smart. I got a 169 on my LSAT, which put me in the 97th percentile. I am well aware and confident that I could have done better, but in consideration of how under-prepared I was, at least compared to the crazy keeners that I overheard whining before the test started, I feel fairly satisfied.

Happy Pancake Day!

God knows I am a far cry from Catholic. And there is no way you'll catch me giving up booze, sex, chocolate, coffee or any of my other precious vices for the next forty days. But there is one tradition of those who hold the next two months as the holiest of days that I observe with a religious zeal that the Martyr St. Somebody-or-Other would be proud of. Pancake Tuesday, the last day before the beginning of lent, which is also known as Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras. I have no idea why, but somewhere along the line, my mother let slip that Pancake Tuesday was a special day, a tradition. And since then, I cannot remember a Fat Tuesday that was not observed in my household with Pancakes. Even now that the kids have left the nest, my Mother tells me that Daddy pouts if she tries to get away with not having Pancakes.
The Pancakes I made this year turned out awesomely. I made whole-wheat banana pancakes, which had the advantage of being delicious, reasonably healthy (until the maple syrup deluge, that is) and using up two of the ugly black bananas on the counter.
If you didn't have pancakes tonight, but would like to in the near future, I highly recommend the following recipe:

Mix in a blender until smooth:
2 very ripe bananas
1 and 1/4 cup of milk
1 egg
1 tsp of vanilla

Add 1 cup of ww flour, 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour, and 2 tsp of baking powder. Stir gently to moisten, and then blend very briefly on low power to mix more thoroughly.
Pour onto a hot pan.
Blueberries may be added to the pancakes as they cook, and add a very nice touch.

Enjoy. Happy Pancake Tuesday!

The Answer - It's a Llama!

Andy and Huey got it right. The answer is (c).

This is because when the male monkey is selected, it forbids selecting a female ostrich or a female panther (condition 3). Condition 1 tells us that at least one panther must be selected, or else both ostriches must be selected. But we have eliminated the femal ostrich as per condition 3. So we have to select a panther. The female panther is forbidden by conditions 3, so we know we have to choose the male panther. And, based on condition 2, if we want to select a male panther, we must also select a female Llama., which is answer (c).

Big Giant Bruise (Mom don't look!)

I have the coolest bruise from Rugby on Sunday. It's four days old, and still violently indigo. Check it out:

The return of the Monday Quiz, brought to you by plagiarizing Kaplan

In honour of me writing the LSAT on Saturday, I have decided to share a sample of the fun questions I was practicing to get ready. Keep in mind that I was studying from a study guide called "LSAT 180 - Intensive Practice for the Toughest Questions" (180 is a perfect score). Well, I like to set reasonable, attainable goals always. So here's a question from the "Logic Games" section. Hopefully I don't get sued for copyright infringement. :)
A zoo curator is selecting animals for the zoo's exhibit. Exactly one male and one female of each of the following types of animal are available: hippo, llama, monkey, ostrich, and panther. The following restrictions apply:
- If no panthers are selected, then both ostriches must be selected
- a male panther cannot be selected unless a female llama is selected
- If a male monkey is selected, then neither a female ostrich nor a female panther may be selected
- at least one hippo must be selected

Question: If a male monkey is selected, then which of the following animals must also be selected?
a) Female hippo
b) Male hippo
c) Female llama
d) Female monkey
e) Male ostrich

Adding a link or two

So, rather than just throw up a bunch of links from my site, it has always been my intention to add links, and at the same time talk a little about them and why they are meaningful to me.
1. Timothy McSweeney's Internet Tendency - www.mcsweeneys.net
I check this every weekday morning before begin the relentless tedium of my job. The site features a daily humour piece as well as new additions to one or two of its feature sections. The features include Lists, Open Letters to People or Entities Unlikely to Respond, Reviews of New Food, and McSweeney's Recommends. A recent piece called The Americans Who Voted for George W. Bush Wish to Return Their Television was very good. Enjoy!
2. The Company Bitch - www.thecompanybitch.blogspot.com
She hates her job. I hate mine. If we ever met in real life, I am sure we would bond.
3. Environment Canada Weather Office; Vancouver - www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/city/pages/bc-74_metric_e.html
I like to know if it will be sunny on the weekend.
4. WhistlerBlackcomb - www.whistlerblackcomb.com
I like to know if it will snow this week.
5. My Amazing Girl Friends! - www.relishtheride.blogspot.com, www.hollywooded.blogspot.com, www.hykwok.spaces.live.com
6. CBC News - www.cbc.ca/news
I like to read the news and pretend I care about national and world events.
7. Rick Mercer - www.cbc.ca/mercerreport
The funniest man on earth. I am coveting the Made in Canada DVD and hoping they will put the whole series on DVD someday (the first disc is only the first six episodes)

WTFWJD?

I saw this on a t-shirt yesterday, and I thought it was hilarious. I am well aware that this parody has been probably been floating around for ages and I have just now caught on, but I don't care. I just love it. WTFWJD?
What I find most amusing is this: as a blaspheming atheist, "What Would Jesus Do?" has never meant much to me. But now that someone has made this sacrilegious joke about the WWJD thing, that joke might actually have the effect on me that the original acronym is meant to have on Christian type people. It's like this - in a difficult situation, you're supposed to think, "What would Jesus do?" and ultimately take the most charitable action. So now, in a difficult situation, perhaps I will have the thought "What the fuck would Jesus do?" and I will chuckle inwardly, cheer up a bit, and then maybe, be in a better mood to deal charitably with the confrontation.

"An arrangement"

Okay, this is too funny not to share. It really brightened my dull Friday afternoon. The email read as follows:

"...Through an arrangement I have with Cupcakes here in Vancouver, we (the investment practice) have been sending small 'thank-yous' to clients/prospects we've been meeting with (i.e., 6 or 12 cupcakes). We have received very positive reviews through these follow-ups and have spent relatively little effort/money in doing so.

If you're interested, I will put you in touch with the corporate order desk at Cupcakes for your respective clients/prospects...just let me know..."

The man who sent this is currently dating (and in all likelihood screwing) one of the owners of Cupcakes.

"...relatively little effort..."

I laughed long.

I joined a cult...

...is just one of many reasons that I could have form not blogging for so long. The truth is I am just crazy busy at work, and am also committed to a curling team, a Rugby team, and 8 little girls in pink shirts. The only reason I am getting this up now is because I just realized, at the last minute, that curling is starting at 7:30 tonight, instead of 7:00. I only realized it about 2 minutes before I was all set to leave, so I am really glad I remembered, or I would be sitting at the North Shore Winter Club very pissed off for half an hour.
Some highlights from the last little while:
- Mark and I found a very good Vietnamese restaurant. I had almost given up on ever finding some decent bun and pho in Vancouver, so I am surprised we actually bothered trying this place, but it was good, and I am quite pleased.
- I commenced my role as a Guider for a Sparks unit at a church in the West End. The girls are so cute. Well, except for one. She's a little pain in the ass and I don't like her.
- Went to see "Beauty and the Beast" on stage at the Stanley theatre. It was my (and Mark's and Mark's parents) Christmas gift from Mark's sister and brother-in-law. It was pretty good. For a stage version of a Disney movie. I mean, really.
- Constructed a balsa wood rainbow as a centrepiece for circle time at Sparks. I was going to take a picture of it, because I was very proud of how crafty I was in making it, but I forgot.

Okay that's it. I have to go. My time is just not my own right now. Sighs and pity.

I'm Worth It! (sort of)

I was looking at my work-out wardrobe recently and I was appalled. Old, worn out t-shirts, shabby and discolored; one decent sports bra that is constantly being quick-washed in the sink and hung over night to be used again the next day; and a choice between two baggy pairs of running shorts. It'’s pathetic. I am a committed and earnest exerciser and I deserve to go the gym looking at least slightly better than a hobo.
So today I went to the Lululemon Factory Outlet Store and treated myself to a new pair of shorts and a top from the flawed factory seconds. After all, I'm worth it.
Baby steps for my inner cheapskate.