Visual Storytelling

I went on a hiatus again, but the shortest one so far. I was reshaping my semester. Still busy. But less busy. And that gives me comfort and what I think may be happiness.

Sipping my bottomless, super sour smoothie. It has got to be the 0% all natural ingredients yogurt. Choosing to make healthy decisions tastes a lot of tweaking to the tastes.

Anyways, I still don't have my data cable for my camera. But I did transfer what was building up on my camera from my xD to roommate's USB, to my computer.

Thus, as opposed to the clauses you have gotten so so used to. How about a mini picture book?

The Olympic Torch! In Guelph! I probably could have held it as it was being passed around at that moment, but no one would have been able to take my picture anyways, because my camera died. The usual. I also keep forgetting the my iPod nano now records video, and pretty damn well too.

The ferry terminal in Comox. I went from snow, snow, snow to sunshine everywhere!

What happens now that I feel comfortable with my cooking abilities - experimenting. If anything, I am becoming a culinary scientist. This is stuffed squash - yum. Rice, cheddar, mushroom, green peppers, onions, baked for one hour (while I ran outside) at 400 degrees F.

My guitar. Missing the B and E string that I broke. It's complete now. But the B has to stay a little flat, because I thing it has a strong potential of snapping. I still have the blood blister from my first restringing attempt.

The last time I took a picture of our footwear was when Sarah and I went to Caddy Bay at the end of last spring. This is at my bus stop, way at the top of my hill. We didn't wear our heels until we got to the Casino Night. Until then, it was flats.

Where Am I?

I am somewhere in Colwood, still in B.C., this I do know. Visiting Sarah's new house. Trying to syke myself up to continue my neurogenesis journal review readings. My brain is fried from reading about the brain, and I only read two and half pages earlier. Alas, it must be done. And I do want to do it because this is a sick course.
The thing about fast food I feel is that the only enjoyment is the ordering, because at the time it really does feel like this is exactly what you want and this exact moment. But the before (deciding to go there in the first place) and after (being weighed down by yourself and what you actually, really did eat) is rather unexciting and shameful even. Oh well.
It truly makes up for the healthiest of healthy meals that I had for lunch today. Homemade avocado spread (avocado, milk, olive oil, sugar all mixed together) on chipmunk bread with a massive salad (romaine lettuce, kale, cilantro, parsley, pistachios (my secret weapon), green peppers, shittake-I-know-I-spelt-this-wrong mushrooms, old cheddar cheese, mixed bean sprouts). I didn't finish a corner of the bread and the bottom quarter of the bowl, which is my next being the difference challenge. Finish everything, especially when I made the portion for myself. I underestimate my appetite pretty often. At the end of the day, I still am a small, small girl.

T.G.I.F. 2

Got a great laugh off of this picture. Sorry if you find it disturbing, but for someone who travels a lot, and will be traveling again pretty soon - it makes sense...

Really cuts down on time spent getting through the gates, eh?

First day back to hot yoga. I would have to say it was my best class. I could breathe comfortably, or at least as comfortably as seemed possible for the hot setting. But I went through every moment, didn't have to lie down or half-ass it, and didn't want to get the hell out of there as soon as we started.

I know that there will still be days when it will be tough to get through class, but changing my attitude towards how I approach my life is really starting to make a difference for me. I'm starting to "be the difference" as people say.

Check it out for yourself:

http://www.bikramyogasaanich.com/

The only part about the class that made me a little nervous was zoning in on how fast my heart was beating (when trying to think of nothing at all, which is really hard to do). It was beating so fast and so forcefully; I could actually see my loose bangs moving to the beat.

Back In the Game

I would not say that I am completely without faults, angst, and worries. I'm still from Ontariario after all. But living a West Coast life.
But I'm ready to take on this semester that is so full of courses, volunteer work, and other interests, that I can't even work only once a week. So I'm constantly going into a deficit for the next four months. But moving forward and looking forward to The End of my undergraduate days.
I've also decided that tomorrow I am just going to go out and purchase a USB for my camera. I received three in the mail today (including a European Motorola cell phone charger) from my parents, and none were the right one. I overreacted and yelled at my mother, which I've been trying to get better at not doing.
Finally went out for a run. In this beautiful Victoria weather, there is no reason not too. Checked out the stairs by my house to see where they would lead. And they lead me to Christmas Hill! Which I've always wanted to find the path to. I started walking up it, but decided that was a bad idea for being alone.

Things That End in -co

Who goes to a movie by themselves? I do. I love the cinecentre at UVic, and I have a 10 movie pass that I really should make good use of. So my number three movie was attended today - Coco Avant Chanel. We become familiar with iconic designers like Chanel just by listening to the media enough. Their names are staples in the fashion industry, but I did not know her story (or at least the events that led to her success as an innovator of fashion) until today. And I was not going to let being alone stop me from doing so.
I really don't mind being alone (but that doesn't mean I never get lonely- I feel that sometimes, but I am talking about the state). It's just been so taxing this year when I am really along with myself and my thoughts, because they always settle on the same person (but that is a personal sadness I like to keep with me, inside).
I want to end this conversession by encouraging you to be more mindful of the environment and how we can positively impact our ever-changing earth by making eco (the other word ending in -co) decisions. I really got to thinking about what I do every day to make a change for our future at the Environmental Sustainability session I attended as a part of my Leadership Conference yesterday:
How Katrina reduces her ecological footprint (a short list to help you get started):
-unplugging all cables from outlets when not in use
-recycling
-using reusable bags for all shopping
-taking public transit, walking, or biking (I will likely own a car in my future, but only for trips out of town)
-finding ways to use both sides of paper (if not really suitable for printing, then I cut up unused paper and use the other side for notes - this way I reduce my consumerism by creating my own notepads in a sense)
-choosing products made from recycled materials
-buying as local as possible
I hope that this green movement is one that I can look back on when I have children of my own, and feel happy that I contributed to securing a sustainable future for them.

TGIF

I was probably the most productive today. Today was just rather eventful in general.
Started my first of four doses of Typhim in preparation to be immune to disease in Honduras.
Started my first ASL class, movin' on to units 3 and 4 for this semester.
Attended Molecular Endocrinology, of course.
Went downtown to pick up my 704b boots (ones that don't echo all over the streets!), and a spork (for eating emergencies!).
Readied myself for Black and White Casino Night, a GMB fundraiser for Honduras with Sarah, of course.
In the process of getting ready, Thomas M. sent me my commemorative video of, yes, my tongue. This is the most non-invasive academic study I have ever been a subject for. I don't even need to explain it to you - see it for yourself:

Learned a little bit tonight about placing bets in Blakjack, but I just don't have the skills to count cards or not laugh at myself when I bust. Got hit on by some fellow student who claimed to have signed up for the karate class silent auction (no one had even signed up) and then walked away from me in his non-themed attire. Excuse me, but jeans and a white and blue striped t-shirt do not fit into the category of black and white semi-formal attire. Maybe he's colour blind, and I should not be so judgemental. Maybe I should give the guy a break. But I'm still not interested.

Had to use my clear nail polish for a purpose other than strengthening my fingernails. To mend my stockings :( My new, beautiful Italian stockings with elegant flower designs on them. Someone's velcro on their winter jacket got caught on BOTH knees when I was doing coat check. the good thing. I actually was wearing them backwards tonight, so when I wear them again they will actually be on the back - and hopefully not as noticeable when I sit cross-legged. As long as nobody watches my lower backside.

Signing off at 12:15p.m. I went out tonight, yet I am already going to bed and buses are still running?

Delayed Inspiration

Something my uncle sent to me for the New Year that I did not read until today:

HANDBOOK 2010

Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did in 2009 .
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything..
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come..
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Rock the Boat

I can't deny that I do miss rowing. Although I know I am better off without it, a large part of my last three years has been dominated by it. So it's not a surprise that many of the emails i have kept over the last two years involved rowing. Yup, I'm currently sorting through 2 years of emails that I have not dealt with (printed, saved, whatever). Here's a link to an article from one of my regattas as coach and coxie:
http://www.mississauga.com/sports/article/78045--don-hosts-regatta
We were the crew that was supposed to win.

I Just Wanna Dance

Second semester last year I signed up for Jazz - Level 2 at UVic on Monday nights. I attended maybe 3 classes before my fractured rib overtook my body. This time, Tuesday nights, it's contemporary ballet. I have not taken ballet itself since I was four. Apparently I hated it and cried at every class, so I really can't ever blame my parents for not allowing me to be involved when I was a youngin'.
I have a weekly date also on Tuesdays with Sarah to knit. I made a mistake today that I know I will never repeat. Forgetting to wind up my skein. Usually I always buy ones already wound, but today I walked out of the store with an unwound one. And when I went to knit, I ended up unknotting for an hour. And the works not done yet. If only I had stayed an extra 5 minutes in the store. If only I had remembered in the first place.

Saying NO

I've decided to slowly reveal my New Year's Resolutions as I manage to accomplish them, so here is one of them: Learn how to say no. You don't even have to know me well to understand that I am the type of person who has something to do on the hour every hour, over-commits, and spreads herself too thin. It's my over-achieving nature that has started to bite back. So today I actually gave up my only shift at work so that I can have more of a regular schedule with room for studying. And gave up the hip hop Live yoga class (with LuLuLemon giveaways!) that my boss was hosting. I even passed up going to see Zombieland for only $2.50 at UVic Cinecentre (by myself, because I just don't care anymore). All because it's time to prioritize and set myself up for success for this semester.
What I should not have done today though was not go to church in order to get all this organizing (which currently is getting through all the emails I've not attended to over 09 and earlier even), because I just ended up napping anyway. Oh yeah, that's another resolution. No more napping, except for weekends. Check :)

Rainy Weather

(My apologies that there may not be pictures to supplement my posts for a week or so, because my xD does not fit into the sD slot on this new netbook).
It rains in Victoria. It does not take one long to figure this out once you've lived here for a bit if you don't already know this when moving here. Yesterday was by far the best of the rainy days of the week. It got progressively heavier as the day progressed. I started the day by breaking my 12.99 umbrella which I would have had for the year and a half. Black birds on white background. I ended my day with a new 9.99 umbrella (white polka dots on black background), so now time will only tell how long this one can last. I was glad for the heavy rain, as my mother has said in the past that a storm is a good indication for someone who has died on their funeral day. So I know that Kuya Jon received all the proper rights he would have desired over in Ottawa.

Onset of Cravings

I officially started my volunteer work in the Behavioural Medicine Lab today. I enter study participant's food descriptions (from a three-day food log) into this program called Food Processor. I noticed my progressive desire to eat throughout the two hours, and by the time my Business Law class that I attended afterwards ended I had eaten both my oatmeal bar and my chicken sandwich. Now all I have had left to get me through the next two hours is a miniscule box of raisins (which I have not eaten yet somehow).
Food has always been an issue for me. I can never will my body to stop demanding something at least every two hours, which conflicts with being a student going from class to class or writing a three hour exam (the later the most daunting of scenarios).
Food will become even more of an issue now that I have committed firmly to making appearances (and actually working out) at the gym. Somehow I have become the fifth member of a gym posse consisting of four other rather grown men. Should be fun.

Balmy Weather

I've decided to remove my msn message to all of : it's pretty much summer over here. I upset a good friend from Guelph and decided my work was done. It's like the second I stepped off of the plane onto B.C. soil and breathed in the fresh B.C. air that my cold symptoms began to clear. I haven't worn my Thermaloft North Face parka since. Today I finished off my Tuesday without a toque or a jacket (just my vest). So compared to the -16C I left behind in Ontario, the average 7C here truly is like summer, at least on the island.
Perhaps I may transition into a night owl in terms of managing my studies. I'll try out this in bed before 11/11:30, up by 5/5:30 - go for at least 6 hours a day, and no naps. No naps. At least during the school week. Okay. Maybe at least during Mon. and Tues. when classes run pretty well all day, although pretty nicely (if you choose to look at it that way) spaced out.
I think I've accepted that it really is not feasible for me to return home for family and personal affairs this weekend. So I will stop looking at flights home and focus on how to be a good person from afar. I'm starting to embrace what I did have with my lost loved one while he was here, as opposed to what I can no longer have and what will be missed.

Kicking off 2010

4 days into the New Year and I've already done a substantial amount of travelling. A flight from Toronto to Calgary to Comox on the 1st followed by a ferry ride from Comox to Powell River to visit with my cousin and the bird. Still craving my number 13 meal from the Thai Dal Zone (isn't that a clever name? I was impressed.) that I forgot to bring home with me - I always take home leftovers these days. On the 3rd, another ferry ride from Powell River to Comox, then the train from Courtenay to Victoria. My first trip on a train (The GoTrain in Hamilton and T.O., and whetever they would have called it in Germany do not count) so I was excited for this scenic tour of the island - that lasted for two hours, when the sun went down and then I took advantage of the opportunity to sleep. I think it helped to defeat most of my cold, although the cough did make me almost vomit again on my walk to the bus with Rob this morning, and did force me to leave mass on campus for a bit this afternoon.
It seems that most of my blogging will be done while eating dinner (at least until I get too messy with my food, which I usually am not). I purchased a rather healthy meal today - veggie chili in a bread bown with rice (the healthy kind from the looks of it) and fresh garden salad (yes, there is dressing). If I choose to stay healthy with my meal choices as a New Years Resolution, which I probably will torture myself with, my choices will be limited, but I know I'll feel awesome (at least that is the hope). I may have to make one exception and just limit the intake of sweet potato fries though...becuase I love them, and they are better than regular fries. The reason for eating out is the long day that every Monday will be with class at 10am and my final class ending at 9:30pm. Hopefully I will not have to purchase every week as I am a starving student - I just have only been back in Vic for less than a day and need to find the best option for purchasing fresh fruit and veggies for myself. Right now I have 20 dollars of food to live on for the week.
Which is nothing compared to the 288 I spent on textbooks today (and there may be one more to purchase) and the 620US I will somehow have to come up with for my in country expenses for Honduras. Such is life. And I hope to do a better job of living it this year.