and they say poetry is dead...

February Confessions

2012-02-01T23:02:00.000-08:00

It's February right? Now I can do a new set of confessions. It's a bit early for it I know, and I may have more to add, but I think I'm going to go for it.

1. This "Lion King Surrey" joke going around is kind of bugging me. Typically I wouldn't want to give a "reaction" because the angry reaction just makes you look silly. But here's the deal - to me it seems like the lowest level of humor joke, like "oh Surrey sucks" - as if this is a joke we've never heard before. I just think - Surrey isn't so bad, and you can do better than this kind of joke. Reach a little higher. Come on.

2. I am starting to have "Driving to White Rock" resentment. I never thought it would happen, because I love White Rock so much. But this week for example, I've had to drive there every night and it's kind of starting to irritate me. It used to be the other way around and I resented driving to Langley, but I'm afraid the switch might be occurring. I'm always happy when I get there though, so maybe I'll just try to remember that on the drives.

3. I think it's time for me to break up with U2. Yeah, I said it. I think it's over between us. We had a good 15 years together but I think it's time. When songs come on the radio, I switch them off. They used to be my first answer to "my favourite band", but I'm not sure they are even on the list. I hope this doesn't make me pretentious. It's just crept up on me and I can't deny it anymore.

4. One of the reasons I like house hunting is because you get to peek into other people's homes. That's kind of weird right? Or is this true for everyone? I sort of like thinking about who lives there, why they would have chose that sofa, or that colour for the wall. It's like this strange little insight into how people live, and I kind of like imagining their lives. This is either really creepy or a great inspiration for a book of short stories.

5. I like reading Bestsellers. I'm reading one right now, and really liking it. It's true - probably the last 5 books I have read have been Bestsellers. And sure, they got to be bestsellers for a reason, they're pretty addicting to read. But something about it makes me feel kind of cheap, like I should return to my English major roots and started reading something of "substance". But then I remember - that's just being pretentious and I go back to reading what I want.

There you have it - the first round of February confessions. I guess they're more statements than confessions, but it's a way to collect some random thoughts together anyway, and isn't that pretty much what blogging is?

January Confessions

2012-01-18T22:30:00.000-08:00

Inspired by a friend's blogged Januaryconfessions, I figured I'd do some of my own:

1.I've watched the last scene of the final "Sherlock" episode 4 times already. And it makesme tear up every time.

2.I've been on a low-carb, low-sugar diet now for 2 weeks and the thing I can'tstop thinking about is Cinnamon. So I've maybe had a few Cinnamon Swirl cookiesalong the way.

3.After watching The Descendants and The Golden Globes in the same weekend, Ithink I can safely say that my love for George Clooney is as strong as ever.

4.I've joined a Yoga class, and I find myself looking around most of the timewondering if they are all hippies.

5.I don't like Italy. There, I came out and said it. I know it's not reallyconnected to January, but the cruise ship incident has made me think of thatcountry often. And it's true. The police are mean, people steal things fromtourists and the food is overrated.

6. Since joining Pinterest a week ago, I've checked the boards about 5 times a day. I am totally addicted. As a result, I've also been thinking a lot about crafting. This is unprecedented.

7. I still watch Glee. And Will's proposal this week may havebrought a tear to my eye.

8. We got the Telus guy to come fix our internet, because itneeded to be faster to use our hacked program (Plex) on the Apple TV. We didn'ttell him that though.

9. We just cleaned the Lazy Suzan cupboard in our kitchen for thefirst time since Matt moved here 2 years ago.

10. Matt & I have been devising a plan for 3 weeks on howto move the abandoned vehicle parked next to me in our parkade. We're thinkingof pushing out in front of the fire hydrant. Any help you'd like to offer wouldbe great. Any takers? Ha.

And that's it I think. I know - they could have been a bit "juicier". I'll work on it for next month.

Film Review: The Descendants

2012-01-13T23:33:00.000-08:00

Well you know me - I can never resist the opportunity to see George on the big screen, even if the movie is terrible. Thankfully in this case, it wasn't.

The story is about a man living in Hawaii with two daughters, and his wife has suddenly gone into a coma. There is also this secondary (and very interesting) plot line about his decision whether or not to sell "one of the last pieces of unspoiled Hawaiian land" that has been passed down in his family for generations.

Now I'm going to be straight with you - it moves pretty slowly. You spend a lot of time looking at Hawaiian scenery and watching conversations with a person in a coma. It's from Alexander Payne (About Schmidt, Sideways), and you can definitely tell by the pace in which he tells the story. This man cares about detail more than he does about tearing through scenes. So that might scare you off right from the start, and if it does, well I understand.

But if it doesn't, you might want to give it a shot. I found the characters and the dialogue to be "real" in a way that is pretty rare to see on screen. The conversations get awkward at times, and you wonder the character would say something so stupid, or inappropriate. The reason it's so jarring is because we're used to things "sounding" nicer on screen. But I found refreshing. The plot line also takes a few turns towards the unlikely but somehow it didn't feel contrived. So if you think you can handle the pace, some tears, and some language go for it.

I think this reviewer sums it up best:

"And what The Descendants dwells on, better than any film in years, is how, just beneath the surface of that teenager who seems a shrugging idiot or that woman who seems an everyday mom, rustles an undergrowth of pain, or loss, or heartache".
-Brian Gibson

Let's try something new...review?

2012-01-04T23:12:00.000-08:00

I had a realization today, you know what would be great for the blog? Reviews! You can't do reviews effectively on a twitterfeed, or on facebook. It seems there might still be some things for which blogger is the best medium. So I'm going to try this - do at least one review a week. Not because I think my opinion on things counts so much, but because it will bring me back here and who knows I might even end up doing other blogging again.

Also, I've been toying with a New Year's resolution that goes something like this - "be more than your job". What if, when people asked you what you "did", you answered with more than just what you did at work all day? Because I don't know about you, but I think I'm more interesting than what I do at work, even though that can be interesting too. I think I'm just going to experiment a bit, start answering differently and work on having cool things to answer with.

So, here we go, my first review of something that I enjoy when I'm not working:

BBC's "Sherlock" (TV)

I know your mind is probably immediately jumping to Robert Downey Jr pretending to be Sherlock Holmes, which we both know he isn't and that's a review for another day. But what I'm talking about here is the the brilliant series released last year by the BBC starring the incredibly talented Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman (soon to be Bilbo).

Obviously it wasn't a very tough sell - being British Literature and all. But they've done something very interesting. They've set it in modern times - but maintained the spirit of the original. And somehow, it works exceedingly well. For example, Dr. Watson has just come back from fighting in Afghanistan in the original story, and same goes for the new modern tale. An old "timekeeper" is now a cell phone. The story is obviously so beloved by the creators, that they know how to make it work today without sacrificing the details.

I guess good reviews should be balanced.One downside is that elements of Sherlock's brilliance can sometimes be missed because he speaks quickly. Sometimes its a bit hard to follow, but then I'm not as quick as I could be sometimes. There is also an interesting "BBC visual effect" that shows writing on the screen when the character's receive texts. I found it a little distracting at first, but now I'm into it. And maybe a little too much makeup? That's all I've got.

So if you like mystery stories, cleverness, and British things, this show is for you. Even if you only like two out of three, you'll still like it. And you're in luck. The first season has three 90 minute episodes and you can find it on Netflix. The second season just started, and I've got them if you want them.

I heart Mumford...

2011-11-03T11:34:00.000-07:00

Well friends - it's been a while hasn't it? It feels like I'm always saying that on here. But the truth is, as much I disdained the thought of it - I've started to Twitter a lot. I'm not going to lie, it's pretty quick to post a photo and do a little 140 character post. Nevertheless, I still do value this blog. I've not forgotten about this fine medium. I promise I'll try harder.

As a reward for showing up - check out all of these videos for unreleased Mumford & Sons songs. I can't not even wait for the new album in February. It's a rare thing for me to sit and put "Youtube videos" on repeat, but Mumford merits that kind of idiocy.

Home
Lover of the Light
Ghosts That We Knew
Lover's Eyes
Hold On to What You Believe
Feel The Tide
Hopeless Wanderer

I can't even tell you which one is my favourite, because they are all really fantastic. But I have listened to "Hold On to What you Believe" & "Feel the Tide" about 30 times each on Rdio.

Brandon & I have bought our tickets to their Seattle show on the first week of December. I cannot wait.

Enjoy.

Fireworks

2011-07-05T11:34:00.000-07:00

I really love fireworks.

I will go to great lengths to see them - drive long distances, sit in the rain, wait for hours to get a good spot.

I'm not sure why exactly. I think might be one of those things that still inspires wonder in me. I've seen them so many times. Yet, I still can get caught off guard by a new kind that I haven't seen before, or the way they shimmer against the sky. Then if I tire of that - I watch the way they reflect on the water - suddenly the ocean lights up with green, blue, red.

If I'm really lucky, there is music too. And one lone firework shoots up into the sky during the opening chords of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". It's just so magical. And it just kills me.

I guess it's nice to know I can still get caught up in wonder - put all my cynicism and irony aside for a few minutes.

Last night we stumbled upon a wonderful spot by Peace Arch border, along the rocks and enjoyed the American's 4th of July offerings. There were fireworks going and there were trains passing. It was pretty amazing.

I can't even wait for the symphony of fire. Summer is here my friends.

This could really be a Good Life...

2011-07-04T19:51:00.000-07:00

Yes, I might be in danger of becoming that heavy-handed blogger who you don’t want to read anymore because every time you come here I’m ranting about some other social ill.

Hey – at least I’m thinking right? I promise I will write some ridiculous silly post soon that will remind you that I think about nice things too. Ha.

But today I’ve been thinking about entitlement – how we all have some of it in us, and how that comes out in what we think, what we say to each other, how we act.

It’s like when someone says to you, or you think yourself “ahh lame, you have to work tomorrow” when the weekend is ending and you start to feel bad for yourself for having to wake up and go to work on Monday morning. If I don’t watch it, you might escape the most obvious thought of all: I have a job to go to. Sort of like how our generation (namely me) is constantly on the hunt for a job that will give us meaning, purpose and satisfaction. I’m not saying those aren’t good things to pursue, but some days shouldn’t we thankful we have a job at all?

It’s like when you tell someone you can’t afford something (a trip, a night out with them, a new house) and they seem genuinely shocked, like they have never before encountered in their life the experience of not getting exactly what they wanted, when they wanted it because of some external circumstance. And hey, I’m not judging here. I’ve been privileged enough to rarely have been on the “wanting” side of that equation. But just when I start to feel bad for myself, I need to remember how many places I’ve been and things I’ve done already. Who’s to say we deserve all this endless “entertaining” we provide for ourselves anyway?

I guess sometimes it’s easy to lose perspective – to feel like we deserve a good life with education, work opportunities, inspiring travel, delicious meals on the table, and friends to enjoy it all with. And when I start to get the “woe is me” feeling, I have to be pretty careful how far I take that. Obviously it’s good to yearn for more, and to be passionate about moving beyond where you stand now. But I guess, like all things, it might also be good to also balance those thoughts out before we get bitter, or angry, or feeling entitled to more than we have.

Usually I don’t like pictures like the one below. They remind me of the kind of things I used to show my suburban high-schoolers to instil a sense of erm…gratitude? I’m not sure what we were trying to do exactly. Usually they’re just a guilt device. But given my recent thoughts this week, I saw this one a little differently. Maybe sometimes we do need to take a moment to just stop and be thankful for what we have – even if things might be more difficult than you wish they were. So just attempt this with me (it’s outside the box for me too) – try to just take it as a thankfulness reminder, one that helps you put things into perspective then next time you have one of those “woe is me” moments.

Good fonts too right? And yes, I am listening to OneRepublic right now. It's might be cheesy to say it, but maybe this really is a "Good Life".

Who are we?

2011-06-17T08:17:00.000-07:00

What a week it has been. As Wednesday approached, I knew there was some potential for sadness - after all, I had gotten pretty into it, and I wanted to see the Canucks win. But I don't know if there was a way to prepare for what actually happened.

As the days have passed, I've started to read the reactions to the Riot. It's very interesting to see the way the "blame game" has played out. Some of the reoccuring ones I read were

1. Intoxicated hooligans looking for a reason to behave badly.
2. Lack of police presence

3. The encouragement of violence in corporate hockey culture
4. Vancouver's unrelenting hedonism which promotes selfish agendas.
5. "Anarchists"

All of these things might have had some role, but it seems like we are always quick to find the "other". Someone we can blame for the dark and awful things happening out there.

I'm wondering if maybe we need to consider it from another angle. At least for me, I've been thinking - it's not as if I'm watching some atrocities that are happening thousands of miles away. They are happening here, in our city, in the culture that I live in, and I have helped create in some way.

A social media culture - where everyone wants to be a star, and will go to ridiculous lengths to do that. The "I'm in front of a burning car" facebook profile photos and the "couple in love in the middle of the riot" have all gone viral, and that just kills me.

A "violence" culture - in which we are constantly exposed to acts of violence in film, TV, sport etc. (warning, I might go all fundamentalist on you here) and its hard for me to believe that isn't affecting us somehow.

A culture of denial - it seems like we're so afraid of the violent and angry impulses that in exist in all of us, that instead of facing them, we push them deep down until we think they're gone. It feels like this is especially true for men, but since I'm not a man, one can only conjecture.

Obviously there are a lot of contributing factors going on. And I do hope justice is served for those involved. But I feel like this might be a lot bigger than that. I wonder if this might be one of those crisis moments for this city, where we start to ask the bigger questions about who we are.

I am proud to see that one of the things we are is hopeful. I woke up so sad on Thursday, feeling my love of "solidarity" and what we can do together might have been damaged forever. But then I started to see the images of the thousands of people that went downtown to clean on Thursday morning, of the "citizens pride" wall that started at HBC. And then there was the "#thisismyvancouver" tweets all day that celebrated what this city meant to be. And I'm not going to lie - it moved me to tears. There is some light breaking through the darkness.

So who knows, I would love to see this start a conversation, a re-evaluation of what we are and what we can be. Watch out - because I'm probably going to want to have this conversation with you.

"This is What We Live For"

2011-04-27T21:17:00.000-07:00

Last night was quite the game wasn't it? I've taken my seat on the bandwagon and it's a good seat. It was waiting for me from last year. Yup, I'm that kind of fan.

I've been thinking about this year's slogan:"This is What We Live For". It struck me the first time I heard it. I thought - how many people does that really apply to? How many people are waiting all season long for the playoffs, because this is really what they live for.

Now don't get me wrong. I was really into the game last night. My stomach was in knots. I really wanted them to win. I knew how sad I would feel today if they had lost. But then I started to read the status updates, and hear some "superfan" conversation and I realized - if the Canucks lost this game, it would crush these people. And I just wasn't sure what to think of that. I mean, I'm a superfan of a number of ridiculous things. So, on the one hand, I understand. I would be lying if I didn't admit I won't be crushed after July 15th when the last Potter film is released. I mean, it'll be the end of something huge for me. (Did I just compare the Canucks to Harry Potter? I sure did)

But then I realized something today. I'm kind of blue today anyway. Just one of those days where you feel the weight of things more heavily. And the thing is, at least today, it doesn't have anything to do with the Canucks. It has a lot more to do with what I really live for - and one of the biggest things is the relationships I have with the people around me.

This post is not meant to criticize the superfan, because there is one in all of us. There is one in me that will get louder as the playoffs go on. But sometimes it's just good to ask - what do we live for? Is it playoff season? The weekend? Our families? Our jobs? I went to a memorial service two weeks ago, where I was admonished to examine my priorities, and to re-align them if things had gone awry.

It might be crazy to say it - but I think every time in playoff season when I see that slogan I'm going to try and remember to ask myself: "What do I really live for?"

Day 27 in "30 Days of Blogging"

2011-03-22T21:58:00.000-07:00

Day 27: your day job versus your passion

Well almost three weeks have gone by, so I guess I have to admit that the 30 days of blogging did not in fact occur in 30 days. Ah well, I'd like to finish it anyway.

It's funny, because this topic is at the forefront of my mind most days, which you would think would make it easy to post about, when in reality it almost does the opposite. The thoughts are very fresh if you know what I mean, just coming to the surface slowly, and I'm not totally sure I'm ready for all of them to be public yet, but I'll give it a shot. So there's your fair warning, this will be pretty long, and still in pretty rough around the edges.

When I just told Matt the topic, he said "I guess at one time you thought your day job would be your passion" - meaning that I would bring my knowledge into a classroom full of beaming students ready to discuss the wonders of literature. Yeah, that didn't really happen. The full story is obviously more detailed, but that's more of a conversation for real life, or at least not for right now.

As my dad notably pointed out to me in a Las Vegas taxi this Christmas, sometimes its hard to determine how the things we love translate into the things we do. He told me he always loved cars, and is great at figuring them out, but doesn't want to be a mechanic (although he considered it). The same is true for Matt, who loves preparing food, but decided being a chef wouldn't allow the life he wanted (thank goodness!).

So now, I'm navigating the space beyond the obvious (loving English, and loving teaching, means you have to be an English teacher). I am integrating my passion for "education" and knowledge into my current job and I am finding spaces for growth and improvement there. I am considering what type of training might help me along in this "translation process" as I learn to combine my skills, my prior education and goals for the future. To be honest, it feels a lot less "determined" than I'd like it to. But, I want to take some time for the journey, and not just rush into another degree because it'll make me feel like I'm doing something.

I've just started reading "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years" by Donald Miller. It's been a long time since I've picked up a book by this guy. The book is about the process of making "Blue Like Jazz" into a movie (don't worry, this had me scoffing too), and how he started considering his life as a story. It made him wonder what kind of story he was living. I've heard this kind of premise before (DCLA anyone?) but it's been hitting home with me, given the context above. So now I'm starting to do the same.

Here's what I figured out so far:

- I'm passionate about people - I always have been. When I consider the situations I have loved most in my life, it's almost always to do with who's there.

- I'm passionate about growth - both in myself and in others. Although I'm usually afraid of change, I long for it, and I want to look back and see how I've overcome obstacles and grown from them.

-I'm passionate about ideas and learning - I love the process of learning. I love how new ideas can spark in us and cause us to imagine. I also love what good teaching can do, and having people along side to facilitate the process of learning.

-I'm passionate about relationships - with my friends, with my family, with my co-workers. While this might seem similar to my first point, I stress here the "relationship" part, meaning a long-view of what we're meant to be for one another, not just a one-off moment here and there.

-I'm passionate about stories - no, I just didn't write that because of Donald Miller. Although maybe a bit (credit where it's due) I wrote it because I hesitate to narrow it to "literature" or "books". I'm more interested in how what we read and what we imagine and that interacts with how we live.

So that's a start - maybe a vague start, but a start nonetheless. When I read the beginning of this post to Matt, he said he wasn't sure I really addressed the topic, and maybe I haven't, but the truth is, it's because:

I'm working on it.

Day 26 in "30 Days of Blogging"

2011-03-04T10:02:00.001-08:00

Day 26: list 10 things you are thankful for

1. Having a Job: not only having a job, but having a job where I can wake up in the morning, and be happy that I'm going there. I also get to see people I love there everyday. Not bad.

2. Health - I used to think this was a very abstract thing to be thankful for. And it mostly only appeared on lists of people over 45. But since last fall, I am very thankful for a functioning, healthy, recovering body. It's a scary thing when that is taken away from you even for a few weeks, so I'm glad I have it back.

3. Matthew - I'm not sure how I got so lucky, but I really love that guy.

4. The Lower Mainland - We're an Olympic city. We have beautiful cityscapes - mountains, valleys and ocean views. I love having so many options - so many places I can explore without ever getting tired of it.

5. Friends - I've always known it, but it became very clear to me again last year how great my friends are. So many people helped out us out with various aspects of the wedding, and then continued to support us all the way through the crazy fall we had. I feel extraordinarily blessed by our friends.

6. Travelling - sometimes when I consider how much travelling I have already done at the age of 26, I feel a bit silly. It seems like an embarrassment of riches. I feel very fortunate to have seen so many places already. I am also thankful for people around me, who help make these dreams possible.

7. Education - I had the very rare pleasure of doing an undergraduate in something I love very much (English). If I didn't have to worry about paying the bills, I'm pretty sure I would be a student forever. That's the great thing about studying something you like. You don't ever really have to regret it - because you loved it while you're doing it. Hopefully I'll get to do more in the future.

8. Family - I've said in this blogging list already, but I sure do love my family. I see them every day and I still like them - that's pretty good right? But seriously - I am very blessed to have supportive parents (on both sides).

9. My Straightener - yep, I just put that on the list. It was starting to look a little too "canned". Like I typed "thankful list" in google or something. So I thought I'd throw this one in to keep you awake. Sometimes when I look back on photos from the past (as I did with Lavonne yesterday), I wonder how anyone was ever friends with me pre-straightener. That little device is a fantastic invention for those cursed with wavy hair.

10. Matt's Roast Beef & Yorkshire - or pretty much anything that man cooks. He made that delightful meal on Sunday, and I'm not sure it could get much better. Somehow, I found someone to make up for my vast deficit in cooking skills. It's a good thing I have other qualities to make up for it.

Well it started off a little slow, but at least it got a little crazy at the end right?

I'm going to get through these 30 days yet!

Day 25 in "30 Days of Blogging"

2011-03-01T20:57:00.000-08:00

Day 25: what would we find in your bag

1.Altoids - Matt has convinced me that Peppermint can cure many ailments, so I always like to have it on hand now

2. Moleskine Journal - I like smaller size with the elastic on the side, no other journal has really ever compared.

3. Vanilla Frosting Lipsmackers - been going strong with this flavor for a good 12 years

4. Coupons - this one feels a little silly to admit, but I usually have a good number clipped out, and saved in my purse for when the occasion arises. It's just such a satisfying thing when you pay less for something you were going to buy anyway.

5. Pens - I love having a good assortment of pens in my bag. It's pretty much a panic situation if I need to write something down and I haven't got one in there. Right now, I am loving the "Seven Year Pen" that I got as a gift from my friend Aimee.

Day 24 in "30 Days of Blogging"

2011-02-28T22:27:00.000-08:00

Day 24: your favourite quote and why

Favourite? It always seems to be "favourite" with this blogging list doesn't it? Such pressure all the time! Let's go with: "quotes I like". Yeah, I can deal with that. How about "top five quotes I like" - even better.

“All experience is an arch where through gleams that untravelled world, whose margin fades, forever and ever as I move”

– Alfred Lord Tennyson “Ulysses”

“I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of stars makes me dream”
-Vincent Van Gogh

"Friendship needs no words - it is solitude delivered from the anguish of loneliness"

- Dag Hammarskjold

"The best moments in reading are when you come across something - a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things - which you had thought special and particular to you. And now, here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out, and taken yours"

- Alan Bennett from "The History Boys"

- Oscar Wilde

Day 23 in "30 Days of Blogging"

2011-02-27T22:37:00.000-08:00

Day 23: something you crave a lot

Okay, so maybe I have failed here. It hasn't really been 30 consecutive days exactly. I was hoping to finish within the month, but it looks like we'll be a few days over. It should have been pretty easy to keep it up on vacation, but it turns out blogging isn't really the top priority when the beach is a few feet away :) But alas, now I am back in snowy/rainy Vancouver and I'm going to finish this thing off!

So when I asked Matt what he thought I should write, he immediately responded: "company". As in, I always crave the presence of other people. This was an excellent answer, and very true. I am rarely able to spend 4 or more consecutive hours alone without needing some human contact. But I sort of already went into that in the last post, so we'll leave it there.

So then I started thinking of food, and while I might have chosen chocolate a few years ago, that craving comes and goes now. I think the most consistent food craving I have is: butter chicken.

This is actually quite a shocking conclusion for me. As a kid (and maybe even now), I was what most people would consider a pretty picky eater. I ate from a very limited menu. The thought of eating Indian food was way out there for me. Then one day, Matt got a gift certificate to Vij's downtown, so I went with him. I tried it, and was blown away. True - I started with the best, but after that I wanted more. I know Butter Chicken is pretty much the most basic you can get, but I love it.

We have a delicious local place (Ashoka Indian Cuisine), so I try to hold off as long as possible before I have to go pick up some delicious butter chicken and naan. Mmm. It's a good thing it's 11 pm right now, or I'd be driving there right now.

Day 22 in "30 Days of Blogging"

2011-02-24T11:14:00.000-08:00

Day 22: what makes you different than everyone else

This is sort of a funny question, and I've never really gotten on board with the "I'm sooo unique, look how cool my uniqueness is" thing. Especially when I was a teenager, and that was all the rage. I was usually pretty aware of how similar I was to everyone else. But as I get older, I have noticed a few things, and they are mostly in my bizarre personal paradoxes.

1. I am English Major who loves books, but also loves being with people (bookworm socialite): Maybe these things don't seem contradictory to you, but they seem to be for me. I always want to embrace a night of "at home reading" but then somebody calls me and I rush out. I come home and see my book lying on the table and feel regret.

2. I am easily paranoid and worried, but I crave adventure (anxious optimist): I worry about the future a lot. I constantly ask Matt questions about what will come. I worry about every potential eventuality about the choices I make. But at the same time, I want to take on new adventures. I want to backpack and travel. I want to meet new friends. I want to take courses and learn new things.

There are probably other things too, but I have trouble identifying them for myself. Any additions?

Day 21 in "30 Days of Blogging"

2011-02-23T16:33:00.000-08:00

Day 21: a picture of something that makes you happy

I am in Hawaii (right now!)

I am on a beach.

Yup, that makes me pretty happy. I don't when it happened, because I know it wasn't the case when I was younger, but now, beaches just make me so happy. The sound of the waves crashing and the feel of sand in your feet.

And I'm not a fair-weather beach lover either. Oh no! I will go to the beach in the cold, and sometimes even the rain. In fact, I sometimes even like winter beach better, because you have it all to yourself.

Two weeks ago, I was driving into White Rock, and I caught sight of the water. I don't know what it was, but it almost brought tears to my eyes. (Okay, it did) Somehow living in Langley, I had forgotten how much that view just kills me. And it just caught me off guard. The sun was glinting, and I was just affronted by beauty.

And on that note, I think I am going to go down to the beach right now and do some tanning. I heart vacation.

Day 20 in "30 Days of Blogging"

2011-02-20T20:20:00.000-08:00

Day 20: write a letter to someone

Dear Nick Hornby,

So I have just finished "How to Be Good". Excellent work, as always. I am not sure why it has taken me this long to read it, since I seem to read just about everything else you put out within days. It had so many truisms, and so much look-you-in-the-face honesty about what it means to be good, and how we attempt to answer those questions for ourselves. Thanks for being willing to take that on, and doing it with humor.

I've always wondered - what is the genesis for these characters? Are they people you know, made into a fictional form? Are they aspects of your character, or those around you, put into a more understandable and readable context? I always feel that they are so bang-on, and that makes me wonder how you develop them. I guess that is the age old question to the author isn't it? Yet, I still wonder.

About a year ago, I heard you speak in Seattle. Someone asked you if you were an optimist, and you talked about how you think redemption is in the little things - the situation doesn't necessarily change, but maybe the way we react to it can. You said that sometimes people criticize you for having that kind of "hope" in your art, but that you'd rather be criticized than be hopeless. Maybe it's weird for me to summarize your own words back to you, but they stuck with me.

I think about those words often, and especially as I read this book. Moments of hope are sometimes hard to come by - so we need to hold on to them when they do, even if our circumstances don't change. Sometimes I feel like it's impossible to beat back the cynic inside me, and it seems like that is true for a lot of your characters too. Cynicism is usually "first nature" and often pretty funny. But, sometimes they also realize that the cynicism is kind of poisonous to themselves and their communities.

Thanks for putting that all into words, and into characters. I doubt I need to say it after a letter like this, but I really appreciate your work. Thanks for doing it.

Sharelle Dayco

*For some context, and the reasons why I love Nick, and the time I met him, check out this post.

Day 19 in "30 Days of Blogging"

2011-02-20T12:41:00.000-08:00

Day 19: write a sweet memory from your past

I am writing this post, whilst looking at this:

So I hope that explains the lack of posting for the past couple of days. I'm not really expecting sympathy exactly, but there you have it. We are with my family in Hawaii at the Marriott Vacation Club. Yup, life's pretty good.

To be honest, it's also been this post subject that's been stumping me. Partly for the ambiguity of "sweet". By this, do we mean something really fantastic, and super cool (that car is sweet)? Or something sentimental (ahh, that was really sweet of you)? Tough to say. I think I am going to go with the former. And I am in travel zone right now, so it'll be a travel story:

Matthew and I were in Munich. I wanted him see the classic "Hofbrauhaus". It is a beautiful classic beer hall where many historic events (including Hitler's Beer Hall Putsch of 1923) took place. The place is pretty touristy, but you have to see while you are there. So we agree to just go for a beer, and then grab dinner after.

We sit next to two younger guys, but don't talk to them for a while. One of them gets out to go the bathroom and tries speaking in German to us (this happened a lot). Then the other one did the same thing. They say something more substantial in German, to which we have to say we don't understand (shoot!). And then they do the customary "where are you from?" thing. (Nice guys).

We say we are from Canada, and one of the guys says: "You are kidding me! Let me introduce you to my friend Guenter!" And it all began.

Turns out Guenter - a graphic designer from Cologne - was in love with Canada, and he had just recently returned from a trip to Vancouver for which he had saved his pennies for years to go on. He was pretty certain Vancouver was one of the best places on earth, and he went on to show us his drawings which were inspired by his visit (see below). We continued to talk of Canadian music that he loved (Emily Haines) and so much more. Patrick, Guenter's old friend, was very similar to Matt and they had lots to talk about because he ran a hotel. After about a hour of talking, they asked if we wanted to go for dinner, so we went, and they took to us to a fantastic authentic German restaurant where Matt and Patrick ate Pork Knuckle. It was pretty much the best night of our whole trip, but it was such an unexpected delight.

Even now, Guenter and Patrick keep in touch (through the ol' facebook). They said we need to come visit again, and we invited them to come here too. A pretty great night which started at the most touristy place you can imagine. And that is why I love travelling.

"Maple Man" - credit to Guenter.

He also created "Maple Cat". Awesome.

Mother Mother

2011-02-17T13:29:00.001-08:00

Last Friday I went out to West Vancouver to catch a free Mother Mother concert. I was pretty tired when Friday night came around, and part of me thought it was crazy to go stand outside in the rain for a concert. But I had a few people crazy enough to do it with me (Shout out to Robby P, Kira and Gagnon).

So we went anyway, and arrived at a woodstock-esque mudpit filled with excitable concert goers.

And the show rocked. The rain held up for about 40 minutes while they played their set, and the sound was killer. I even discovered a new favourite song of theirs thanks to Rob Peacock.

So now, I send this one out to you. I am seriously considering going to their show again in May - this time indoors. Nothing quite like being in love with Canadian artists. It brings joy to my heart.

(Can you tell I just learned how to embed videos? Whaaaat a keener. ha)

Day 18 in "30 Days of Blogging"

2011-02-16T20:21:00.000-08:00

Day 18: plans/ goals/ dreams you have

That is a pretty vague assignment right there. I think I am going to match the vague assignment with a vague answer:

I'm a little unsure of the plans these days.

Not the plans about how I want to live, or what kind of wife/family member/friend I want to be. Those goals are always very clear to me.

The thing is, I've always been a planner. I made plans leading up to university to get there. I made plans when I was in university for what was after. I made plans about teaching. Now I'm not really sure what plans to make.

I feel like I need to sign up for some more courses, do some more training, get myself onto another path. But luckily my husband slows me down a little sometimes, and asks me to stop for a little while before I rush into my third degree (yikes).

I'm not sure how long this season will last - this one without trying to make a million plans. But I am going to attempt to rest in it for a while.

Portlandia: Have You Read It?

2011-02-16T11:29:00.000-08:00

Have you seen this show? It's a pretty funny commentary on hipster culture. Probably at least three times in the past two weeks, something has happened and I have said: "Have you seen Portlandia?" because it is so relevant. The one below is my favourite so far. I have totally been satirized. And I love it.

Day 17 in "30 Days of Blogging"

2011-02-15T23:13:00.000-08:00

Day 17: someone you want to switch lives with for one day and why

I debated long and hard about this one. So much so that I got another day behind. Oh shoot!

Seriously, I think my most truthful answer would be:

First Year University Student

I know, that is maybe the dumbest thing you've ever seen. Why wouldn't I choose someone famous, or fabulously rich, or extremely talented?

I've been thinking about it a lot this week for some reason (a talk with Laura, a visit to TWU) and I just loved that time. The time where I was at the start of it all. There wasn't really career pressure yet, because you were only 18. You had so many choices for classes, and so many yet to take. Some days you didn't wake up until 10 AM. Then when I did wake up, I would read novels and poetry, and then go discuss it in a group.

I know, a highly romanticized portrait of university life - but that really was my day sometimes. And then other days I had 4 papers due, and had to stay up until 4 am to finish them. So I realize that not every day in the life of a freshman would be magical, but I am just saying:

some days truly were.

Day 16 in "30 Days of Blogging"

2011-02-13T21:52:00.000-08:00

Day 16: a picture of yourself

This picture is on the coast of Ireland in a town called Doolin. We went exploring and found all these beautiful rocks with etchings and crevices. It's amazing what the ocean can do to solid rock.

Matt wanted me to pick a picture where I was "trotting away from him" as I was prone to do on our travels. Often I would start trucking off in a certain direction so fast, or weaving through a crowd, and it would take him a few minutes to figure out where I'd gone, and he'd have to scramble to catch up. A bit of a metaphor for our relationship in some ways :)

And see, there I am, only a few minutes later.

Day 15 in "30 Days of Blogging"

2011-02-12T11:59:00.000-08:00

Day 15: put your ipod on shuffle - first 10 songs that play

Okay, I did it again. I posted twice in a day. It's difficult sometimes okay? My excuse this time is that yesterday I was at a (free!) Mother Mother show in West Vancouver and I got back late. It was a pretty fantastic night, and deserves a post of it's now. But for now, it will serve as a fantastic lead-in for today's assignment.

I don't have an ipod. I have an iphone (c'mon blog assignments, get with the times), so I'll use that. And I'm going to do it on "Recently Played" and not the whole iphone. This gives you a better idea of what I'm actually listening to these days.

1. "Weighty Ghost" - Wintersleep

2. "Emerald Lake, AB" - Said the Whale

3. "Vagabond" - Wolfmother

4. "Here Comes Your Man" - Meaghan Smith

5. "Out of the Shield" - Said the Whale

6. "One Day Like This" - Elbow (shout out to Mel, that one is thanks to your mix)

7. "40 Day Dream" - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

8. "Quelqu'un M'a Dit" - Carla Bruni

9. "America" - Simon & Garfunkel

10. "Heart" - Stars

And there you have it.

Day 14 in "30 Days of Blogging"

2011-02-11T11:59:00.000-08:00

Day 14: a picture of your family

.The Drewlos.

Well it turns out having a wedding was pretty useful for these blogging assignment photos. There is my family - looking pretty good I might add. I'm not sure how I got so fortunate - I have parents I can talk to, and a brother and sister-in-law who are also my friends. How great is that?

I'm pretty lucky because I get to see four out five people in this picture every day (wish I could see you every day too Lindsay!). I love working with my family because it's amazing to see what they can accomplish with each of their unique skills.

.The Daycos.

As if I wasn't lucky enough already, I married into this fantastic family. It's really a gift to feel so welcomed into a family, without pressure of having to be one thing or another. I feel very grateful for them and how they have supported us every step of the way.

And that's my family.

Day 13 in "30 Days of Blogging"

2011-02-10T19:39:00.001-08:00

Day 13: your five favourite books and why

This assignment is fantastic and difficult at the same time. I'm supposed to narrow it down to five? What if I miss one? I feel an immense amount of pressure.

So I am going to do my best. And it's likely I'll miss something good - sort of like when I didn't have a John Donne table at my wedding. It happens right? It's hard to make a list.

Here we go.

Top Five Favourite Books (not necessarily in order)

1. Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger

The first time I read this novel, it was a communal copy read by the CP's at Capernwray. I don't know what I loved most - Holden Caulfield's sass, or the notes in the margins. Either way, it was one of my favourite reading experiences. Ever.

"What really knocks me out is a book that when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours, and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it. That doesn't happen much though"

2. The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde

This book made me fall in love with Oscar Wilde. From the very first quote on artists, I knew it was going to be love. I read this book on the trains of Europe, and it dazzled me. Such wit, so well executed.

"You are a wonderful creation. You know more than you think you know, just as you know less than you want to know"

3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K Rowling

Did I just put HP on my top 5? You bet I did. This book represents the culmination of a beautiful journey back into reading. After graduating, I didn't read for almost a year. I think my degree had brought on reading "overload" Then J.K. Rowling brought me back. And it was a beautiful thing.

"That which Voldemort does not value, he takes no trouble to understand. Of house-elves, and children's tales, of love, loyalty and innocence. Voldemort knows and understands nothing. Nothing. That they all have a power beyond his own, a power beyond the reach of any magic, is a truth he has never grasped"

4. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

It might seem like an obvious choice, but I put it on here because it represents the beginning of this world for me. It was my first, and probably still my best. Ohh Mr. Darcy.

"I cannot fix on the hour, or the look, or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun"

5. High Fidelity - Nick Hornby

I'm a little unsure about this choice. But Nick had to be represented. I love that I am putting this book on a Top 5. Rob Gordon would be proud.

"I'm tired of the fantasy, because it doesn't really exist. And there are never really any surprises, and it never really....'Delivers'. And I'm tired of it. And I'm tired of everything else for that matter. But I don't ever seem to get tired of you"

Day 12 in "30 Days of Blogging"

2011-02-09T23:12:00.000-08:00

Day 12: write a poem to someone you love*

(a haiku to Matt)

My computer screen

glares onto your sleeping face

Wow, you must love me.

*Seriously? Two ridiculous assignments like this in a row? And in one day? Oh boy.

Day 11 in "30 Days of Blogging"

2011-02-08T22:47:00.000-08:00

Day 11: write a bucket list of things you want to do before you die

Oh my readership. I have let you down. I missed my post yesterday.

Here's the thing - its probably okay to miss one post- if you are out living your life right? We had the lovely Jenny Whims over to eat Swiss Chalet and watch Glee, and the night ran away with me.

So, now today I have to make up for it, and unfortunately I might have the two worst assignments possible. Why did I decide to do this again.

Warning: this bucket list is going to be a feeble "It's 10:51 pm and I still have another post to write" type list okay? I may add to it more later...

The (Very Brief) Bucket List

Live abroad with Matthew - it doesn't have to be for long, but I probably want it to be in Europe.
Teach Something I Love to People Who Love it Too - this one is kind of vague, but I realized again yesterday how much I love teaching when I taught a seminar at work. What I don't love is marking, and nagging, and beating something over people's heads. I don't know when or how this goal can be achieved. But nevertheless, its on the list. I'll probably have to get creative. And I'll probably have to do it for free.
Own a House - I have to tell you, if you had asked me even a year ago for my bucket list, this item would not have been on it. But in the past few months, I have realized the delight of having a space to call "ours" with Matt. One day, I'd love to have a whole house to share with our family and our community.
Travel Eastern Europe - I've traveled a lot in Western Europe, but I have yet to take on Eastern Europe and I've heard great things.
Learn how to cook/bake - Let's face it, I mostly mean bake, because I live with a pretty excellent cook.

I think that's all I've got for now my friends. I'll think of more I'm sure, but its late and I'm done for now.

I think I might have already done some things on my bucket list without realizing it though. That's pretty great right?

Day 10 in "30 Days of Blogging"

2011-02-07T20:02:00.000-08:00

Day 10: songs you listen to when you are happy, sad, bored, hyped.

.Happy.

-"Time to Pretend" - MGMT

- "You Make My Dreams" - Hall & Oates

- "Wouldn't It Be Nice" - The Beach Boys

- "Here Comes Your Man" - The Pixies

- "The Ghost Inside" - Broken Bells

- "Dog Days are Over" - Florence and the Machines

.Sad.

- "Flightless Bird, American Mouth" - Iron & Wine
- "Falling Awake" - Gary Jules

- "Skinny Love" - Bon Iver

- "Quelqu'un M'a Dit" - Carla Bruni

- "Cant Get it Right Today" - Joe Purdy

.Bored.

- "Human of the Year" - Regina Spektor

- "Help I'm Alive" - Metric

- "Don't Stop Believin'" - Journey

- "Find Me a Place" - Jupiter One

.Hyped.

- "Here It Goes Again" - OK Go

- "Home" - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

- "O My Heart" - Mother Mother

- "F...orget You" - C-Lo Green

- "Marry You" - Bruno Mars (it had to be done)

1/3 done!

Day 9 in "30 Days of Blogging"

2011-02-06T21:24:00.000-08:00

Day 9: something you are proud of in the past few days

I think I am going to do a little list.

Going to water running on Thursday (by myself even!) when I really didn't feel like it.
Driving a big Novacom truck on Friday - even though it was only around the corner.
Getting the courage to talk to someone about an idea at church this week.
Cleaning the storage room with Matt today.

I thought this one was going to be pretty hard, but it turns out I had a couple once I got going. Now if I could only get going on Biggest Loser instead of eating Chinese food. Hmm...

Day 8 in "30 Days of Blogging"

2011-02-05T09:28:00.000-08:00

Day 8: short term goals for this month and why

1. Find some good books to read - We are going to Hawaii in two weeks (!) and I want some quality reading for vacation time. I always seem to mess it up, and bring books I don't actually want to read. I love having an excellent book when you have time to read it. Any suggestions?

2. Get ahead on "The Biggest Loser" - Novacom started doing a "Biggest Loser" a couple weeks ago, and I was doing really good at the start, and had a great steady pace. I want to get that pace back, even though the loss was slow, I was getting somewhere. Right now, I am stalled and I want to change that.

3. Blog for 30 Days - I know it is kind of silly, because you are reading my 30 day post right now, but this is quite a commitment, and I want to stick to it.

4. Condo Cleaning Overhaul - two rooms in our condo need a serious cleaning overhaul (again) - the storage room and the spare room. It's killing me.

5. Thank You Cards - I am slowly making my way down the list, but you probably haven't gotten yours yet, so please accept my sincere apologies. We had quite a few setbacks in this household the fall, but we are getting back on track, and I am finally getting these out.

I feel a little bit daunted by seeing those all in print, and then showing them to all of you. But I suppose that is probably the point - "exterior" motivation and all that.

Day 7 in "30 Days of Blogging"

2011-02-04T20:06:00.000-08:00

Day 7: a picture of someone/something that has had a big impact on you

Okay kind of an obvious choice* I realize. I thought about other things I could choose, but let's face it, this is the right choice.

This man has given me something very rare. He has helped me learn how to love in a space filled with acceptance, grace and kindness. He has given me space to try, to fail and to try again and then learn from that process.

I am very, very grateful for him. I'm often in awe of the gift I have been given in the form of Matthew Fraser Dayco.

*Just for the record, this kind of unabashed relationship gushing is a little difficult for me to do in public settings for fear of sounding overly confident and just plain irritating. But I figure once in a while I just need to go for it right?

Day 6 in "30 Days of Blogging"

2011-02-03T17:56:00.000-08:00

Day 6: favourite superhero and why

Google-Image Searched for Superman and found this. Superman in a 70's Photobooth. Amazing.

Superman has always been my favourite. I think it's the whole Clark Kent transformation thing. I love the quiet newspaper man saving the world.

I was also pretty obsessed with Lois & Clark as a 12-year-old. I watched every episode and was in love with Dean Cain.

Somewhere around that time, I came to love superman kitsch - vintage Superman in particular. I have water bottles, vintage postcards, journals, pens and keychains. I don't really go for it too much these days, but I can't say the sight of a superman themed toy doesn't still make me stop in my tracks.

Word on the street is - there is going to be a 2012 Superman movie, with a young British actor. Hey, it worked for Batman. Sounds good to me.

Day 5 in "30 Days of Blogging"

2011-02-02T18:15:00.001-08:00

Day 5: a picture of somewhere you have been

I couldn't pick one place, so I picked 5. Just figured, I'd go for it.

Describing the pictures from left to right. Click on the collage to see it bigger.

1. Capernwray Hall - England - what is there to say? One of the best years of my life was spent here. I learned so much, and made friends that still enrich my life to this day.

2. Wallenstein Gardens - Prague - Brenda and I stumbled upon these gardens one day while walking through Prague, and they filled me with that unparalleled travel joy of discovering something delightful around an unexpected corner.

3.Tintern Abbey - Wales - visiting the site of one my favourite Wordsworth poems was a dream come true. We sat on the lawn and read the poem, and it was perfect.

4. London - England - London with Matt. One of the best cities in the world with my British-loving husband. Can it get better than that?

5. Cliffs of Moher - Ireland - Matt and I came around the corner to see the cliffs and I shrieked. It didn't even seem real it was so beautiful.

Okay, maybe a little over the top, but who can resist a trip down travel memory lane.

Day 4 in "30 Days of Blogging"

2011-02-01T22:19:00.000-08:00

Day 4: a habit you wish you didn't have

I am always late.

When I think of how long it will take me to get somewhere, I always go on the absolute quickest time I have ever achieved, as opposed to the longest (which would make much more logical sense). So my time estimates are usually pretty off. GPS has helped this problem a bit, because its hard to fight with "Jane" when she tells you it'll be 30 minutes, not 15. But I still think "nah, I'll beat that".

This year I told a friend, who is always very punctual that my New Years resolution was to be on time for her specifically. I thought I'd start small and then extend outward once I mastered it. So far, its only kind of working.

Since being with Matt, I have improved slightly at this bad habit when we attend events together, mostly because he loathes being late. And I must admit, life is much less stressful when you haven't alloted the minimum amount of time to something. And let's face it - we could all use a little less stress.

The funny part is - I really don't like being early. And when I try to be on time, I tend to be really early. It's extreme either way for some reason. To me, its always such an awkward time that I don't know how to manage. I suppose I've never had to learn how because I'm always late. Yikes. Maybe I'll just start aiming for that optimum 5-10 minutes before time.

So, let this be my apology to you, for all the times you have sat waiting for me, and know that I am aware of it, recognize it's a problem, and I'm slowly getting there.

Day 3 in "30 Days of Blogging"

2011-01-31T21:09:00.000-08:00

Day 3: a picture of you as a child

It was a bit of a difficult assignment today, because I don't have too many digital photos of myself as a kid. This photo may have been featured on the blog before, but it was a long time ago.

That picture is pretty classic Kid-Sharelle in a lot of ways. First of all, I have my pigtails, which was one of my favourite hairstyles. I often got referred to as "Pippy Longstocking" when I was a little girl. My hair was so red then, I had lots of freckles and I was always wearing pigtails.

The other thing that characterizes me in that picture is my bear Scotty. I think that is Scotty 1.0, and now I am on about 4.0. Yes, I still have a teddy bear. Poor Matt. It actually really affects how well I sleep, which is bizarre but true. My current Scotty is falling apart at the seams (literally) so it might be time for me to finally move on.

And that's about it for today.

Day 2 in "30 Days of Blogging"

2011-01-29T22:41:00.000-08:00

Day 2: the meaning behind your blog name

When I originally thought of what I was going to write for this post, it was going to be simple. But then I did some research (shocker).

I got the name from an advertisement I saw for liquor a long time ago. It had the tagline "and they say poetry is dead", insinuating that poetry lived on through their liquor.

The tag line stuck in my head for some reason - the way the words were strung together and the connotation that many people do believe that poetry is dead. It was especially poignant because at the time, I spent a good part of my days reading and analyzing poetry, so it was very "undead" to me.

As I was explaining the story to Matt yesterday, he started looking for the advertisement. And then through the wonder of the google machine, there it was (or at least a variation of it).

Kind of silly right? The funniest thing is that the reason we could find the image was that people absolutely hated the ad. The white space! The copy text! They ranted and raved, but thanks to them, there it was.

The final piece of irony in all of this researching, I found an online journal called Poetry is Dead which is actually centered in Vancouver! Their main goal is to keep poetry from actually dying. I scrolled down to read some articles, and there was this fantastic essay from a couple weeks ago about poetry's death. One of the main reasons cited:

Advertising.

Poetry is not linked to economic gain, or dollar values. It is about slow reflection and savoring words in detail. That process isn't really valued in our social media, twitter-paited, 30 second clip culture.

And I got my title from an advertisement and I used it because of how much I love poetry.

What lovely irony. Almost poetic even.

Day 1 in "30 Days of Blogging"

2011-01-29T11:16:00.000-08:00

Day 1: a recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself

On a recent visit to Seattle to see Spiro and the Harry Potter Exhibit.

Well they really start ambitious don't they? Okay here we go.

1. I secretly (or maybe not secretly) have been loving Bruno Mars recently. I don't know what it is - but it's been Top 40 glory for me recently.

2. I love the sound of laundry tumbling. I find it very comforting.

3. Matt and I's first purchase as a couple was a record player. I am still learning how to make it work properly but I really love it.

4. I love the "outside comes inside" motif in decor. Trees, leaves, forest being represented in furniture and prints. Amazing.

5. I love the sound a spoon makes when it hits the side of a teacup. Sometimes I give an extra stir to hear it one more time.

6. Matt and I have a cross-stitch picture by our front door that says "God Bless Our Home and Empire". Lindsay found it while cleaning out my Grandma's apartment and figured it should be bequeathed to us.

7. I read Harry Potter two years ago, and I was captivated. I am so, so sad that it all ends this year.

8. I really like M&M's but I think Smarties are over-rated.

9. I have a deep unexplainable love for Britain, and I'm not British.

10. In the past two years, I have switched my base colors from being brown/neutrals to black/grey. I feel good about it.

11. Green is my favourite color.

12. I love warm orange, brown tones in light. I hate bright white light.

13. I was tomboy when I was growing up. To this day when people buy me things like clutches, nail polish and makeup I am so thankful because I never think to buy it for myself but I love it.

14. I always mess up "complicating" and "complicated". I don't know why.

15. I am pretty obsessed with having straight hair. The straightener is both a delightful invention and a vice to me.

30 Days of Blogging

2011-01-29T11:07:00.000-08:00

This week I was thinking about the time a couple years ago when Ang did "things I love" leading up to Valentine's day. I had this blogging goal, and I ended up writing everyday for two weeks.

I was thinking I might do it again this February, and then I saw that my friend Spiro's sister started "30 days of blogging". A bigger goal yes, but I'm going for it.

As you know, comments are always appreciated, or if you'd like to start it yourself, check out the 30 days blogging list.

Here we go!

"Best of the British Oldies"

2011-01-25T21:47:00.000-08:00

Thanks Ashley for the "Promo Pic"

Two weeks ago, Lavonne and I went to Water Running at South Surrey Pool. As we walked in, the front desk lady shouted "are you my aquasizers?" and enlisted us for a special event that was coming up in a few weeks from then. She didn't have a hard time - we had seen the poster on the way in and we already were sold.

So tonight (along with the lovely Ashley Gagnon) we went to "Candelight Aquasize" at South Surrey Pool. But better than that, it was "Best of the British Oldies". We walked in to see British flags everywhere, Beatles posters, British collages, and blue, white and red balloon clusters. Inside, there were giant balloon arcs, and tiny candles lining the pool. The pool was packed with at least 50 people of surprisingly varied ages. Before it started there was spontaneous cheering.

The instructors were super keen - wearing themed t-shirts, and jumping around. There was an excellent compilation that included the Zeps, the Beatles, the Ramones. At one point, one of the instructors came to the edge of the pool in a trenchcoat. It "suddenly" came off, and she was in this crazy nude colored swimsuit. She wrapped herself in the flag, and strutted around the pool. Drama even!

I just love thinking of all the staff at the local pool blowing up balloons, cutting out flags and creating little dramas for a night like this. And I love that people go for it - get involved and sing along, dance around in a pool and generally just make fools of themselves. There are few places these days without irony or cynicism, just pure enthusiasm. It's nice to find them sometimes.

Winter Shoes...

2010-11-29T22:22:00.001-08:00

So today I was talking to Lavonne about winter shoes. And I was happy to discover that someone else finds it to be a predicament like I do.

Until about the end of the September, I am on a steady rotation of flip-flops, flats, TOMS and converse. Then suddenly it starts raining every day, and you are looking at your shoe rack, wondering "what now?".

I wonder if I can carry on with the TOMS and the flats. But I might need socks, because its the winter and bare feet get cold. And then I can't determine whether that is lame or not. So, of course there are boots. But some days you don't want half your leg covered in shoe.

So what do you do? Just let your feet get cold in your summer shoes, or is there some type of shoe that I am missing here?

Let me know what you think.

And also, expect more random posts like this. We've had some crazy developments this week (perhaps another post is in order), and now I have much more alone musing time on my hands.

Some Observations on Halloween....

2010-11-02T12:49:00.000-07:00

Doing my best to get in the spirit, we went to carve pumpkins on Friday night. But of course, I didn't carve one. I never do. It's something about the knives I think.

I've never really liked Halloween. I'd say without hestitation it's my least favourite "holiday". In fact, I am not sure I'd even call it a holiday. I don't really like any of the things associated with it (costumes, spiders, zombies, scary movies).

Nevertheless, there are a few funny things this year I liked:

1. There was a man walking down the street in White Rock carrying a 24 pack of Corona...in a priest's collar. I thought to myself "that's funny" and then realized "he's walking to a party, it's Halloween". Might have been funnier if it was an actual priest but still, the image was pretty great.

2. Matt and I went to Canadian Tire on Sunday to cut a key for our condo. We push the buzzer and a kid shows up wearing a FULL Michael Jordan basketball ensemble - Jersey, Shorts, Sweatband, but then also massive headphones. He obviously worked there because he started cutting our key. The whole time I could not figure out why this kid was dressed this way. "Was he a stock boy, just coming out from the back to cut keys?" or what. Then it dawned on me for a second time, "oh it's Halloween". Funny thing was - same thing happened to Matt. Either that was the best costume ever, or the worst. I'm not sure.

3. Yesterday, Halloween mark downs were in effect. There was a giant plastic container of gummy spiders - so I bought them. It said $1.00 in big black marker, and for some reason I thought that was the best price ever (but it was bulk candy, so this is not likely true). I also almost bought 1/2 price chocolate bar boxes, but then I realized that if I bought 72 more mini chocolate bars, I would end up eating them all.

4. Whilst eating some of mini-chocolate bars today I thought to myself - why is it okay on Halloween to eat so much chocolate? There is no regular week where I would eat 1-2 full chocolate bars a day, but I eat like 6 mini ones. Odd.

So there you have it - even I can find some saving grace in Halloween. And of course, now we get Christmas. Oh yes.

Gleek True Confessions....

2010-10-06T13:32:00.001-07:00

Now I don't know if you watch Glee. I sure do.

It's probably the only show that makes me think having cable is worth it. From the moment they sang "Don't Stop Believing" last year, I knew. I was going to be hooked on this show. It just brings me so much joy.

What I have loved is watching the slow revolution. At first people are like "a musical TV show about singing high school students, that sounds kind of lame". And yes, I suppose it kind of does. And then slowly, people keep falling and admitting to me that they love it too. I remember when the same thing happened with Lois & Clark in high school.

So here are my "Gleek" true confessions:

1. I listen to the songs constantly. I own almost all of them. I have about 65+ songs in my itunes library. Not joking.

2. This week I bought People "Glee special edition" and I have read it cover to cover for factoids.

3. I wish that the Glee tour would have come here, because I would have paid to see those guys sing.

4. Thanks to my excellent Novacom co-workers, I now own season one, and have spend a considerable time watching DVD extras like "Glee Jukebox" and "Glee Karaoke".

5. Today I researched Kurt mini-me double in the last episode, because it was bugging me so much. Was it killing you too? Check out my results.

So there they are - what are your Glee true confessions?

It's my birthday...

2010-10-03T22:45:00.001-07:00

Well what do you say really, when your last post was June 3, 2010. Exactly four months to the day. Sort of timely then I suppose.

I guess I do have some pretty adequate excuses:

a wedding
a honeymoon
and now unfortunately, a surgery.

So maybe, now that my excuses are over (mostly), I can't defend my lack of posting any longer. I remember a time when something really excellent or noteworthy happened, I would shout "that should be a blog post" and then I would make a mental note. Now it just turns into a facebook status. That's pretty lame - I'm going to try bringing those thoughts here again okay? See if I can break this "soundbite" generation thing.

This week has been unusual. I have spent the majority of it sitting in my condo (hey, I live in a condo now, with my husband!) trying to build myself back up to normal activities. Things are progressing, but its still hard not be frustrated when senior citizens pass you in the street (yes that actually happened) Whilst in the hospital, someone also stole $500 from my bank account, so I worked on getting that back. And then on Friday, I thought I had lost all of the documents from my computer. Like literally all of them.

So I had a little breakdown, where I got all existential and wondered if any of it mattered ("but I did all that work on all those lesson plans and papers and they're gone"). Mostly a "final straw" moment, where I wasn't sure what else I could take. Luckily, I have a very wise husband who calmly ushered me out of the condo and into Home Outfitters to spend some wedding gift certificates (thank you my friends for those).

In the end, I got both the money and the documents back (hurrah!). But even before I did, I realized that I have an embarassment of riches here. I have a husband who loves me and takes care of me after surgery and I have a community that cares about me - one that will fly across the country for my wedding, do silly wedding tasks, visit me when I am stuck at home. I don't think I could ask for more.

So, on this 26th birthday I feel incredibly blessed.

(and hey, I'm going to try and blog more okay? please keep coming).

Mumford & Sons: The Concert

2010-06-03T23:21:00.001-07:00

So, after that debate, I decided to go the concert. I mean, the people might be onto something right?

And oh - were they ever.

It was an unbelievable show. One that I'm pretty sure I'll always remember.

The day was pretty much "Mumford" from start to finish. It began with Lavonne and I rushing downtown to catch the FREE "Mum's the word" show in the Yaletown outside. It felt like the Olympics again - being out in the street and taking in a free concert. We sang along with hundreds of strangers outside in the open air and it was delightful. The funniest moment had to be when they asked "Who's coming to the show tonight" and only us four girls cheered. Then, we got booed, by probably about 600 people. Yikes. We had some coveted tickets I suppose.

So, we decided to carry this enthusiasm into the evening, and we ended up being in the first 10 people in line. I don't think I have ever done that in my life. We waited outside for so long, that we even made friends with our line-mates. Something amazing happens though when you're at the front of the line - you get to stand wherever you want. So, of course we picked front and centre, and we were an arm's length away from the band.

And then we sang. We sang lyrics rich with meaning and inference. Me and hundreds of strangers (including my new line-friends standing next to me). We sang lyrics like these ones:

Love it will not betray you
Dismay or enslave you, it will set you free
Be more like the man you were made to be
There is a design, an alignment, a cry
Of my heart to see,
The beauty of love as it was made to be

It's difficult to describe - the feeling you get when you experience this kind of solidarity. The depth of lyrics (and the blatant Shakespeare references) were fantastic. Sort of like thousands of people singing "40" at the end of the U2 Vertigo concert. You're standing there wondering - are all these people really singing Psalm 40? Something about it always fills me with awe.

And that is why, in spite of my aching feet and my lack of sleep, I will continue to go to concerts. They're just something about seeing it live.

Waiting for the show to began, and our new friend Chase. He was nice to us after everyone booed us.

Mumford playing outside. A few people came.

There was a lot of standing, walking and waiting. I gave up and sat on the floor.
Pretty Rock n' Roll right?

So we were really close. No zoom required for this shot.

See what I mean?

Bonnie even touched a stage guitar! And took all these fantastic pictures. Thanks Bonnie!

If you haven't heard them yet - go take a listen. I'll even burn you a CD if you ask. Everyone should have some Mumford for the drive home.

Listening...

2010-06-02T11:39:00.000-07:00

So I've been thinking a lot about listening lately. More specifically the art of listening to someone when they give you "input" on some situation in your life.

Matt was telling me the other day about a friend who "wouldn't listen to what anyone had to say to her, she was just going to do what she wanted either way". And it was funny, my first response was "well, wouldn't you?" or "wouldn't I?". And then it started this bigger conversation, where I started to ask people - "who do you actually listen to? and why?". It seemed like the common demoninator was often that we listened to people who had been through the same things as us, and that we trusted. But not necessarily. For example, our parents might have been through something and we may "trust" them, but we still don't want to hear their opinion. We want to act for ourselves.

And the more I talked about it, I wondered - is this our generation? Were our parents more willing to say "no, that's wrong, don't do that" (for better or worse sometimes) Are we too afraid? Have we reacted to them and gone too far in the other direction? Will we never say it? When I talk to a friend, I often hold back some of my thoughts if I think they sound "judgemental" in my head. I don't want to be that person. I want to show my friends I love them no matter what.

Sometimes, I think that is right course of action. You can hear in their voice - they have been judged, or hurt by a lot of "do's and don'ts" thrown at them by parents, or friends, or whoever. And you are just there to listen and love them.

But other times, I am not so sure. I wonder - should I have said (in love and with a lot of caveats) that I was worried abut them? But would it make a difference? Or would it just lead to friendships ending because we hate hearing this kind of stuff. I have to admit that I tend to spend more time with those that agree with me.

These are just some thoughts - spinning my head, and I just wondered what you thought - if you think we're all like this, or if you think you can take it. I know - sort an intense post. I'll try to make the next one lighter - perhaps about the Bestseller I just finished. Yep, it's true.

Clancy's Tea Cosy...

2010-05-02T21:37:00.001-07:00

On most Saturdays I go for tea. It's become such a frequent event, that now the tea ladies know us by name. One in particular, a lady named from Wilhemena, who started the tea shoppe and named it after her Irish husband.

She brings us so much delight week after week. We tell her stories, and she remembers our order. When only one of us comes, she waits for the other to arrive before bringing the teapot. After travelling in Europe, we came back and told her that her tea shoppe was superior to many that we visited in the UK. She went into the kitchen and we could hear her tell the other ladies that "the girls thought OUR tea was better than Europe". We were the girls. Fantastic.

And then, the first week of April something terrible happened. She annoucned she was leaving - forever. She had worked there for over 14 years, and she was ready to have her freedom (and her Saturday's back). While we did feel quite bad about the Saturdays, we were very, very sad.

It's like one of those things you just count on - like the seasons changing, or Christmas every year. And when it changes, it's kind of shattering.

So last week we said our goodbyes.

And this week we couldn't go back. It was too soon. Maybe next week.

Mumford & Sons....

2010-04-30T11:23:00.001-07:00

Currently, I have in my possession two tickets to two separate sold-out shows that I paid a total of $25 dollars for. One is Dan Mangan and the other is Mumford & Sons.

Thanks to my obsessive contest entering (I'd say I enter about 10 contests a week through Georgia Straight and the Peak...crazy right?) - I have won two sets of tickets to shows in the past year. Well three actually, but I couldn't go to one. How rad is that?

But now I am faced with a very strange situation. Somehow the Mumford & Sons tickets went on sale, and then like one week later they got really popular. Yesterday, I looked online and I could sell my $25 ticket for $90! What?!? That is a crazy return. So the question is - is it worth it to keep them?

It's sort of like during the Olympics when people got crazy good tickets in the draws. One person at Novacom could have gotten $2500 for her $200 speed skating tickets, but she went because she figured it would be worth it. Obviously, not quite as extreme...but still.

I think I am leaning towards going. The people must be on to something right? (But I guess the same could be said for Justin Bieber...did I just compare Mumford to the Biebs? Yup). But seriously, these guys are pretty awesome. They're British, their music is fantastic and their lyrics are very compelling. Go take a listen.

And check out these lyrics:

"It seems that all my bridges have been burned/

But you say that’s exactly how this grace thing works/

It’s not the long walk home that will change this heart/

But the welcome I receive with the restart"

(From "Roll Away the Stone" Mumford & Sons)

So, what do you think? And are you loving Mumford?

coupons....

2010-03-21T21:26:00.000-07:00

So I don't know how you feel about coupons. I know that some people hate them, and some people swear by them. Matt used to always get upset when I went to use the Entertainment Book. This one year at Kelsey's, he missed his Sales Goal because of that book. I'd usually get away with it anyway. I would just have to work hard not to be an irritating coupon user (tip on the whole bill etc).

But now, my friends I have discovered a whole new set of coupons. And they are just showing the Entertainment Book how it is done.

It's called Traveller's Deck - a set of cards for the various districts of Vancouver (Gastown, Granville, Commercial Drive etc). They are created by local Vancouverites who picked their favourite places in the city. Each district has a few restaurants and a few shops. The cool part is - you can't pay to be on the list (like in the Entertainment book), you have to be selected. Each card has a little write-up about the shop and a discount. So not only do you learn about cool places, but you also get a deal. The whole pack is only $12.

Now you might think this is sounding like a sales-pitch. But my friends - this is really a Public Service Announcement, because tonight we got the best deal ever.

Matt's parents came with us to Nood Furniture in Gastown, where we got 50% off two couches. Yes, you heard me. Fifty Percent. Two Couches. That by far, is the best discount I have ever received from a coupon. I still don't even believe it.
I didn't think I could ever be this excited about coupons, or couches. But I am. Maybe this is the true initiation into adulthood.

A delight...

2010-03-01T22:13:00.000-08:00

Matt & I both laughed out loud.

To get us both - that's quite the feat. Bring some joy to your post-Olympic life.

www.isnickelbacktheworstbandever.com

Check it.

Olympics Top 10...

2010-02-27T11:49:00.000-08:00

So the Olympics came to Vancouver. We talked about it a lot before they came - and I think it would be pretty safe to say they lived up to the hype for me. Either that, or we just created a lot of our own hype. Probably the latter. And yet still - there were some great times.

So, now here's my Olympic top-ten, lest we forget the fun as we pay for it in taxes over the next ten years.

10. Waking up at 4:30 in the morning to see the torch: Arnold Schwarzenegger

9. Watching Ladies Moguls with collective cheering, and dancing in the rain: Richmond Ozone & Bedouin Soundclash

8. Snagging Victory Ceremony tickets at the last second: Barenaked Ladies

7. No line-ups and excellent music: Hot Hot Heat

6. Watching an opening band that got a standing ovation, beautiful melodies and a seat to call my own: Hey Rosetta & Stars

5. Singing O Canada with thousands of strangers: Jon Montgomery Gold Medal Ceremony

4. An unreal outdoor concert with non-stop favourites: Sam Roberts Band

3. Creating a new record of four free concerts in one night - all with great friends: Hey Rosetta (yes again), You Say Party, We Say Die!, Tokyo Police Club and Mother Mother

2. Geoff's sign that read "Get your photo with a Canadian - Free!" and the crazy pictures that ensued: Downtown

1. Sheer joy after Canada's huge Gold Medal Hockey win.

Well - it was a pretty unreal two weeks. So much Canadian solidarity, and fun times. Part of the joy was experiencing this with so many different friends. So thanks to everyone that was Olympic keen with me.

I have that feeling like the day after Christmas or something - so much build-up and then it's over. I suppose I should get used to it because the wedding hype is just about to get into full-swing.

Ahh yes - the wedding. 2010 is going to one for the record books.

Solidarity....

2010-02-08T19:24:00.001-08:00

I've blogged before on how much I love community solidarity. Let's just come out and say it - I like being part of the cheering crowd.

So today, everyone at Novacom packed up for half-an-hour and went to see the Olympic Torch pass through Cloverdale. I wore my Olympic mitts, and all of us paraded down the street with joy. It's not everyday you can get that much enthusiasm out of seven adults. The streets were packed all throughout Cloverdale, and people "cheered on the flame" when it passed.

And I think I'm going to go again tomorrow. (Southpoint 6:15 or Semihamoo Mall 6:36 if you're interested).

Moments like these are rare - where we all come together for something. The cynics might say that we should come together for something more...erm...community-building. But I think this is a start.

Maybe you're an Olympic hater - or maybe you're an Olympic lover. I don't know. But I do know this - our city is about to have a big (free! well sort of) party, and you should come join me in it.

feb 12 - PPAC Opening Ceremonies

feb 13 - Bedouin Soundclash/Hey Ocean (Richmond Ozone)

feb 17 - Hawksley Workman (Richmond Ozone) OR Hot Hot Heat (Surrey Holland Park)

feb 19 - The Stars (The Orpheum)*

feb 20 - Hey Ocean/Said The Whale/Mother Mother (Holland Park Surrey) OR
Sam Roberts/The Arkells (Livecity Downtown)

feb 21 - Great Lake Swimmers (Ontario Pavilion)

feb 27 - Wintersleep/Tokyo Police Club/Hey Rosetta/You Say Party, We Say Die (Surrey Holland Park)

Check all the free concert listings yourself

Check out all the other free fun events (Russian Tall-ships, Ziplines, Country-houses)

So are you convinced? Do you want to Olympic-party with me? Love it or hate it - those tax dollars are paying for it - so let's enjoy!

*only paid show in the list. all others are FREE!

three month lull, and then FLASHMOB!

2010-01-28T10:43:00.000-08:00

On January 23, 2010, I danced in a flash-mob.

During the practices I realized: "this was something I wanted to do before I die". I didn't even realize it was on my "bucket-list" until I was doing it. Aren't those the best kinds of things?

So now, for your viewing pleasure:

Flash Mob For Haiti Youtube

I run in at 1:45, in case you wanted to see me. ha. Geoff Stewart (the organizer) had this idea that maybe for every view (we're hoping for a lot), organizations will donate to Haiti. We'll see what happens.

When you're done watching, check out these flash-mob classics.

But maybe watch ours first, because we aren't "proffesional dancers" or anything:

T-Mobile Dance Liverpool Station London
Sound of Music - Belgium Train Station

Yes, it's true....

2009-11-30T17:41:00.000-08:00

I am engaged to be married to Matthew Fraser Dayco.

On Saturday, November 21st Matt proposed to me in Portland. What follows is the (quite detailed) story of our engagement, starting from Friday onward. I guess if ever there was a time for a long blog-post, this is it. But be prepared, it is quite long. I'm sure I am breaking every rule of wedding-etiquette there is by posting this here. But I'm okay with that.

If you want to "skip to the good part" go down to Saturday. Here we go....

.Friday.
In early October, Brandon and Lindsay told us they would take us on a trip as a combined birthday present. So, we decided on Portland. On Friday, we all met up at their house and headed out. On the way, we stopped to get gas (yes, this is a significant detail). We were about two blocks from the border when we see a man yelling at us from another car: "All your suitcases just came out at the intersection". And he was not kidding. At 8th avenue and 176th street, all of our suitcases had flown out of the back of the truck into the middle of the intersection. Somehow, the we had failed to close the back of the truck at the gas station. (see, told you).

Matt runs out into the middle of the road, and rescues the suitcases. But that's not before one gets run over by a Semi-truck (ouch! good thing it was the empty one). But my suitcase is nowhere to be found. So, we start looking, and we can't find it anywhere. We decide to drive all the way back to the gas-station at 64th avenue. We drive along 176th with the windows open in the pouring rain looking, and we cannot see it. We look again at the 8th avenue intersection and Matt runs down the side roads to check. Nothing.

So, we give up.

We head back down 8th towards the apartment, so that I can get some things to make it to the next day. As we're driving I say to Matt: "Do you think there is any point in still looking?". I am literally finishing my sentence when Lindsay yells: "There it is!!!" And there it was, my suitcase which had been dragged 1/2 a kilometer by a car from the intersection. We run out into the road, and by some insane miracle, everything was there, soaking wet in a beat-up suitcase, but all there!

The whole way to Portland, we would turn to one another in delight and say "All our bags are in the back!"

And that's day one.

This is my "we found our suitcases, I can't believe it" face.
Notice the rain-drenched hair.

.Saturday.
On Saturday, we all woke up and went out for breakfast. Matt suggested that we should take Brandon and Lindsay to my favorite bookstore - Powell's City of Books. Yes, that is the name because it is 1.6 acres (a full city block, four stories high) of books.

As soon as we get there Matt says he has to go to the bathroom and leaves us for a few minutes. I walked around with Brandon and Lindsay and looked around until Matt joined us again. He comes back and tells us there is a "special event" happening in the Antique Books Room upstairs. Now, you have to understand. This is my favorite room in the whole store. It's filled with first editions, and beautiful antique books. I obviously do not see it coming, so the on the way up I'm telling my brother all about this room. He is smiling nicely and laughing in his head at me.

We get up there, and there are three musicians playing. There is music and books and it's all very lovely. (But I'm still not getting it). There are two chairs set up by the musicians, so Matt and I sit down there. I listen for one song, and then I get antsy - I need to look around of course. Matt's not having any of that. "Just hold on a minute" he says as I get up to look to around. I am a little suspicious but think its probably a classic case of Sharelle not being able to stop and enjoy anything for more than two minutes.

The song finishes and Matt says "I just want to grab this book I saw on the way in". So he gets up and I'm thinking "so you get to look at books, and I have to sit here?" And then the wheels start turning, and it all starts to click together (finally!).

He comes back, and the daze starts. I see him kneel, and open a Wordsworth book. Inside it, is a ring box and he says those four sublime words. I don't think I answered him for at least a minute, just dazed. We hug, and I'm trying not to cry. One of the musicians shouts: "Is that a yes?" and I come to my senses enough to say "Yes".

And then, they play "All You Need Is Love". And then the people cheer. And just like that, I'm engaged.

It couldn't have been more perfect. Brandon and Lindsay were there to celebrate with us after too. And we got two days to revel in the joy that is the first days towards Marital union. I am very, very happy. I can't even put the way I feel now to words. Its like somewhere in that two minute daze, a new kind of love developed. One that I didn't even know I was capable of. And it's pretty amazing.

Looks like a yes to me.

There's my ring, and Matt's musician trio behind us.
(they were fantastic, he made an excellent choice in them)

Celebrating at Deschutes Brewery.

"Let's take some ring pictures" - Lindsay.
"Can I do it with my cappuccino?" - Sharelle

"Look, there's a ring on my finger"

I really want a famous blog...

2009-11-15T18:39:00.000-08:00

I mean really.

However, seeing as I haven't updated my blog since October 13th - it's probably not a realistic dream at this point.

I often read popular blogs and think "I could have written that...". But hasn't this always been the dilemma with art (yes, I just classified blogs as art), I didn't do it.

I'm not giving up hope though. Maybe one day I'll find a niche. And then I can stop working a 9-5, and when people ask about me, you can say "oh yeah Sharelle - she has a famous blog now". Here's hoping.

Until I get famous, go check these out:

The People of Wal-Mart - this little gem chronicles the many different people that walk through the doors of everyone's favorite mega-store. I've always loved people watching at Wal-mart. Too bad I didn't start a blog about it right?

1000 Awesome Things - This is a good one if you need a little pick me up. A Vancouver Sun review: "it’s a countdown of life’s little joys that reads like a snappy Jerry Seinfeld monologue by way of Maria Von Trapp" (again, I DO Seinfield monologues, and I enjoy a lot of things)

That's all I've got. Stay tuned for more "my weekends are fun" posts. ha.

Mr. Nick Hornby and one of the best moments of my life...

2009-10-13T22:27:00.001-07:00

(Warning: this story is a bit long, and includes not one but two dialogue parts, so you can't say you weren't warned)

One of the great luxuries of not spending my whole life stuyding or teaching, is that I get to spend time pursuing other "interests" - like reading. So this meant, that last week when the new novel "Juliet Naked" by Nick Hornby came out, I had bought it and read it in two days.

Just for a little background - Mr. Hornby has been my favourite living author for a few years now. Ever since "High Fidelity" and "Top 5's" at Capernwray, I had a feeling I was was going to be into this guy. Then I kept reading, and had this strange, reoccuring feeling that he was inside my head. So much of what he wrote felt like something I had just thought, or felt. And so we clicked, Nick and I.

And then I pretty much read everything he wrote - his novels, his short stories, his literary essays, his music-criticism. If the man put pen to paper, I had to read it.

So when I heard that he was coming to Seattle in October, and I wasn't bogged down by lesson planning, or marking, or writing papers, I knew I had to be there. So I got in my car on Friday and headed to Seattle Public Library to hear him speak. I waited in a ridiculously long border line-up, and then got there five minutes after it had started. I ran up to the door, and the conversation goes like this:

Security Guard: "it's full, and we've already turned over 100 people away".
Sharelle: "But I drove all the way from Canada!" and then "please.please.please..." (shameless, unrelently, emabarassing begging)
Security Guard: "oookay...I'll get my manager and we'll see"

Head security guard comes to the door, and says "come with me". As we go up the escaltor, he confesses that he hadn't even heard of Hornby until the day before. "And you drove all the way Canada..." he said, so shocked. I didn't bother telling him that Canada isn't really that far. I thought he had fair reason to feel bad, I mean you work at a library man.

So I sit in the back, unable to see him for the first half while he reads. Then for question and answer, I snuck to the side, and watched him speak. And I was so, so happy to learn that he was as brilliant in person as he is on the page. It felt like his rants were my rants. He talked about being an adult and having interests, the importance of hope in art, and the necessity of having a laugh while you're reading. And my heart beat wildly in my chest.

And then I realized I forgot to bring my book in for the signing, so I get in the book buying line. Only to take 8 years, and then end up at the very back of the book signing line. By the time we get to Nick, he has signed 100's of books. But the event organizers (who now know me quite well as "the Canadian") tell Nick of my lengthy trek.

NH: "All the way from Canada..." (I didn't correct him either) "I hope it was worth it" (with a grin)
Sharelle: "Definitely worth it"

And then we talked about his new movie screening in Vancouver ("I already have tickets" I gushed), he side hugged me, and took a photo. It may be one of the best moments of my life.

Thanks for sticking out that lengthy story. Now when I start to launch into in real life you can say: "Oh I read it on your blog". Which is why, I almost didn't post it here in the first place. But really, how could I resist?

And there we are:

Given all the context above, please resist the urge to comment on how he looks like a creepy British man. ha.

my long weekend...

2009-09-10T08:42:00.000-07:00

(in a rare feat of creativity, I made a collage, or rather, the computer did, and I rearranged. click on it to see it larger)

confessions of a shopaholic & pimms lemonade with lavonne.
wedding with greek dancing
secret garden tea room
slip and fall
seattle outlets
forever 21
pints with spiro
compline with singing monks.
pretentious seattle coffee shop (endearingly of course)
waking up to a view of seattle – 19 floors high
bumbershoot music festival
mango lemonade
slip and fall.
new hipster hats (matt and sharelle)
franz ferdinand
pizza
american microbrews
houndstooth scarf
metric

an excellent weekend (in spite of the double-fall clutziness). it's the kind of weekend to send out the summer with.

What's your favourite era?

2009-09-03T21:21:00.000-07:00

I really should not make blog promises that I can't keep. I think I promised a lighter post. I'm not quite sure what this one is.

So today, I delivered a tender at Kwantlen. I've described this tender closing process before. It's sort of like the "spy" part of my administrative assistant job. I stand in a room with four strangers, and frantically scramble down a price, hoping I have the lowest one (so that we get the job). I am very careful that no one overhears my price, and steals it. Then I relish in the results, and stare down all the people we beat. Today, we got second place, so someone else got to stare me down. That was a full paragraph of context right there. On to the real story:

I am driving into Kwantlen, and this wave of nostalgia overtakes me. I saw all these students, on this, their first day of university, scrambling through the parking lot, arms loaded with books. It's that mix of anticipation and fear in their eyes. You sort of want to stop them and say: "it's only Kwantlen, you'll be fine". They have conversations like this one:

Student 1: "I am sooo tired, I was up so late last night"
Student 2: "Why, were you studying or something?"
Student 1: "Oh no, I was just on facebook"

That was real. Fantastic (Tragically, that still is my life sometimes. ha). But really, the whole thing got me thinking about my own university-era.

I think I can say, without fear of regret, that university was my favourite era.

I mean, obviously there will other great eras - there is no denying that. Some people want to choose High School, but I don't think so. In my opinion, University is so much better. You get the social environment of high school, but with more freedom, and ability to develop identity outside of a fishbowl. You get to learn, and even though you feel busy (and you are), you also have daytime hours off. I mean, obviously I am biased because I have always enjoyed school. But, I can't even be accused of "rose-colored glasses" for the past, because I felt this way during university.

It's sort of a strange thing, to realize an era you loved so much is over. But maybe it doesn't have to be? I guess we'll see about that. What about you, what would you say is your favourite era so far?

some Clive wisdom...

2009-08-27T23:17:00.000-07:00

So I've been reading Clive Staples "The Four Loves" this week, and I am in awe that I have never read it before. I am just about finished, and I am quite certain, once I flip the last page, I will turn back to the first one. It makes my mind spin with ideas...(as Clive is wont to do). So here is a quote from today, because it's a good one:

There is no safe investment. To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket - safe, dark, motionless, airless - it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell.

- C.S. Lewis from The Four Loves

Don't worry, I'll probably try and lighten the mood for the next post. I see the direction this blog is taking. ha.

Here we go...

2009-08-13T12:22:00.000-07:00

Normally, this isn't something I would post on the blog, for fear that it might be misintepreted.

So I offer this disclaimer:

I am neither advocating nor rejecting the claims in this article. Instead, I am attempting the impossible: to present the article without my opinions attached. I will tell you this - there are parts I agree with, and parts I don't (oh shoot, I already ruined it, didn't I?)

Just read it, and see what you think. Just by reading the title, I am sure some of you are already gasping and calling me names. I hope not. Mostly, I am just interested in this conversation on having and not having children. And I am interested in the way society treats this issue. If you are too, take a read. If you want to punch me, please reconsider.

The Case Against Having Children - Anne Kingston - "Maclean's Magazine"

*And one more disclaimer - if you are a mother, I respect and admire you. You are doing something amazing and selfless everyday. I promise, I just like the conversation.

summer music...

2009-08-04T19:50:00.000-07:00

I always love a good soundtrack. It's a good way of pretending you know what's hip & cool, by listening to the songs that other music-loving people pick.

And now, we have the soundtrack of Summer 2009. (500) Days of Summer*

The entire track-list is good. That is not an exaggeration. It is a rare thing to be able to say that. It's got some of my favorites (Regina Spektor, Feist, Simon & Garfunkel) and some new things. Two new ones I am loving are "Sweet Disposition" by The Temper Trap and "Here Comes Your Man" Meaghan Smith. And Zoey Deschanel sings on there too. Pretty great.**

So, you should probably go check it out. I am pretty sure I will be listening to it on repeat for the rest of August.

*Just to be clear, I am not necessarily recommending the movie here. I am still kind of undecided about it. Originally, I was pretty sure I didn't like it. And that's not because of the anti-romance ending (no, I didn't give anything away there, its in the preview). It was something else, their relationship or something. But it's inspired quite a lot of conversation. Which makes me think I might be starting to like it. Now I sort of want to see it again.

**I have been doing some serious music geeking, and have gone to another blog where Marc Webb (the music director) discusses all his music choices, both on the soundtrack, and just on the film. It's actually quite a funny little dialouge about cynicism, and tug-of-war between pop and indie music. If you are interested, take a read.

I usually wait until I am inspired to write....

2009-08-01T15:33:00.000-07:00

No. this is not my photo. but it was titled "Back to the Future" in White Rock.
Thanks Flickr.

..but the inspiration seems to come in bits and pieces. And never whilst near a computer. Sometimes, I write random things in the moleskine, and then it never seem to make it to the screen.

Today, I saw on some one else's blog-roll that it's been four weeks since I have written. Although that is probably the worst motivation I can think of, it is causing me to write this.

So, I'm home.

I have been for a while now. But in truth, I am still coming to terms with it. It's strange really. Because most times I come home and I am ecstatic. The first sight of YVR makes me grin ear to ear. I don't know what was different this time. I don't love home any less, but it just seemed too soon or something. Or maybe that I had more "real life" to return to.

That being said, quite a few moments this week have signaled the return of

White Rock Love:

.being "missed" by my tea shop lady at Clancy's Tea Cosy in White Rock.
(this is a great story, more later perhaps)

.sunset at crescent beach.

.sunday morning farmer's market with locals selling fresh fruits & veggies.

.outdoor movie yesterday on the beach with the train passing in the background.

.flowers planted around the base of a lightpost at the beach.
(acutally, that was Laura's, but it's a good one isn't it?)

I feel quite consoled that it's returning. I am not loving suburbia yet. But, I am loving the suburbia August long weekend events happening this year. I think it's quite safe to say, I'll been back to normal in no time at all.

From Ireland...

2009-06-28T16:07:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, there is no B & B owner with an i-phone in Ireland, so I didn't take that picture. But I swear to you, my pictures look almost exactly like that. Truth is, I will probably be posting my (not so perfect) pictures for the next 3 years to spice up my WR life. ha.

When I left you last I was with the girls in England. From there, we spent some lovely (and slightly nerve wracking) days in Wales, with a vehicle weaving our way through the countryside. I have one really great story of human goodness and a tire blowing. But I'd like to tell you that one in person. With considerable sadness, I left the girls in Wales. We really had some lovely adventures.

I went to meet Matt in London, and it was such a surreal moment to see him standing in the Heathrow before me. Even now, its hard to believe some days we are having this adventure.

Some highlights so far:

London...
We saw "Waiting for Godot" with Ian & Patrick and it was pretty unreal. We were in the very back row, I mean the last possible row in the theatre, but the magic made it to there. I suppose its not a shock to say it - but those guys can really carry a scene. We also met my family friends "The Suvans" for dinner in their London flat. It was so nice to be in a home, and enjoy home-cooked food and vist with friends. On our last day, we had high tea at Fortum & Masons. It was really the height of the tea experience. They did everything right.

Ireland...
I wanted to write about each city, but I can see that the hotel owner is looking at me strangely for hogging the computer so long. So I will just say this, the coastlines in this country are magnificent. See the picture (that I did not take...haha) above. I have really been over-taken with awe. Sometimes, when you travel this really horrible thing happens to you where every cathedral looks like the one before, and it all blurs into one. But then, you see beauty like we did in this country, and you literally can't help you shriek when you come around the corner because it's so beautiful. I love that feeling.

I should go, his looks are getting more persitent now. I love travelling, but think of you all often. Send me lines & let me know you are. They mean a lot "out here". ha.

From the UK....

2009-06-15T06:08:00.000-07:00

Well hello everyone. As the title suggests, this post comes to you from the UK. I am sitting in Bath - en route to Wales with the Laura and Rita Van Dyke. Its not the most expressive picture, but our B & B owner snapped it on the ol' iphone and sent it this morning, so I figured I might as well post it. We are in Wells there, the smallest town in the city in the UK (most well known for the filming of British Movie 'Hot Fuzz' which I love).

London
This country does indeed hold part of my heart. We started in the bustling London, where we stayed at a very Hogwarts-esque hostel with wooden beds and massive staircases. We were sort of theatre gluttons, we watched The Phantom of the Opera and Romeo & Juliet in one day. It was preeetty great. We also went around the city, wandered in Hyde Park, went to the Poet's Corner to converse with our dead kindred spirits. It was quite lovely. We some transportation nightmares because the tube went out of service. We had to find our way back to the Swiss Cottage on random buses. We also went to Dover (to see the White Cliffs) and Cantebury for the home of the Chaucer's tales. Dover was a bit of a dissapointment, because the beautiful white cliffs were blocked by a massive port, but we read our poetry anyway. Cantebury was quick but lovely, and I had my first real English Roast while here, and it was perfect.

Oxford
Next, we headed to Oxford to visit the graves of some great authors (Tolkien & Lewis) and visit their pubs, and Colleges. It was quite a crazy town, with students in robes everywhere. We saw also saw Harry's banqueting hall, and of course LVD & I were in raptures.

Glastonbury
From Oxford, we headed to Glastonbury (no, not for the festival). Laura insisted that we go on this pilgrimage to see the 'beginning of Christianity in England' and where the Arthur legend begin. I was skeptical, but it was quite a interesting town, full of hippies, mystics and those interested in other worlds. It was pretty great being in small-town England again, and made me think so much of Capernwray.

Now, we are in Bath, here for a few short hours, en-route to Wales. We have been judged considerably, for our decision to go to Wales, but we are quite excited. Tomorrow, we go to Tintern Abbey and read Wordsworth's famous lines. I cannot wait. It has been a joy to travel with English Majors, who have a poem or some lines for every occasion, and are ready to read them with me. And yet, I also think of so many of you, the ones I lived with here, the ones I travelled with here, and I remember all the great times travelling brought us.

Please send me some thoughts of home. They will be much appreciated on this side of the ocean. You are missed & loved.

five reasons why I am happy in spite of the canucks...

2009-05-12T12:50:00.000-07:00

(Photo by Kristina Vbvv..and not me, obviously)

There is no shortage of things to be sad about at the moment. I mean, the canucks lost, and there is an economic downturn. So, I figured it was time to post about some things that have me happy in the past couple of days. Why not try to turn the tides a little?

#5 - solidarity
The very fact that our most of our city is sad today shows that we are still capable of some kind of solidarity. It almost feels like "football" in England. Just to know that about 80% of the city is doing the same thing as you, hoping for the same things as you and now feeling the same sadness as you, makes it all a little better right? If you want the truth, I mostly watch hockey for solidarity. I like talking about it at work the next morning. ha.

#4 - the approach of summer
As I drove to the ferry to pick up Spiro yesterday, the sun was setting in the clear sky, and it felt a lot like the start of summer. I realized that some time the past two years, I started being affected by seasons. I never much cared before what season it was (probably because I was in school for all of them) But now, different seasons mean different things, good things. I thought of fireworks, and summer sunsets, and long evenings, and it made me smile.

#3 - cp's
Spiro was here this weekend, and we went to the island to visit Kristina and her husband Johannes. I was amazed again that here we are 5 years after Capernwray, and we still like each other this much. That is fantastic. We walked everywhere in the sun, sat on the balcony, listened to music and generally enjoyed one another's company. It was pretty fantastic, and kind of felt like a little preview of Europe.

#2 - Europe
This week I had a multitude of emails from people travelling in Europe, and it made me realize that it's going to be me in less than a month. It still doesn't feel real. Booked tickets to see "Waiting for Godot" in London with Sir Ian McKellen & Patrick Stewart (Yes Magneto AND Xavier). Ohhhh man. X-men and Shakespeare in one city. Best city of the world - no contest.

#1 - White Rock White Spot
Yesterday, I was at home doing laundry and watching game #6 when I decided I needed to get some food. We all know how bad I am at preparing for food for myself, so I thought I would go pick up some White Spot. I get there, and I look over to see Stefanie & Heather sitting there watching the game. I asked the waitress if I could eat my take-out in the restaurant. She looked a me a little funny, but I went for it. And it was fantastic. I mean, really, when does that happen? So classic White Rock. We sat with a couple random guys and cheered and booed at the appropriate times. That is some great solidarity there.

I guess it all comes back to solidarity, doesn't it? So there is mine, how about you? There has to be something that is making you happy today.

Two Top 5's in a row....Yup.

Top 5's...

2009-04-07T17:33:00.000-07:00

When I was at Capernway, the cp's were usually doing one of two things: listening to Tiny Dancer or making a Top 5 list.

And it's back - now through the wonder of the World Wide Web - they are at it again. Making Top 5 lists. And since I now know that my readership depends on "frequent posting", I will post anything I have.

So, don't think of it as a survey on a blog, no no, it's a "Top 5" - and that is MUCH cooler. And hey, maybe go post your own. Some might call it a product of our ego-centric culture. I think those people are wrong.

Top 5 meals you've ever had:
1. Jack Daniels Ribs & Asparagus - Cactus Club (yes, a chain restaurant - suck it up)
2. Schnitzel at Schnitzelwert Schmidt in Austria.
3. Last night's steak and shrimp dinner at Matt's (I love dating a chef)
4. Lamb Popsicles at Vij's Indian Restaurant in Vancouver
5. Tacos with Matt- tenderized beef with special seasoning. Mmm....

Top 5 reasons you're glad for where you are:

1. The ocean
2. The mountains
3. People I love near me
4. My church
5. Free rent - its silly living with your parents, but being able to is pretty great, and having money for things like Europe.

Top 5 reasons you can't wait for what's next:

*
3. Because I am going to Europe in June - first meeting two amazing English majors, and then meeting Matt after. I can't even believe it, even as I write it. So excited.
4. Harry Potter 6!!! (why is this the only thing with exclamation marks?)
5. A summer without the guilt of school is going to be unreal.

Top 5 fears:
*
2. That I will end up alone.
3. Being away from academia too long that I become incapable of completing any further education.
4. That I won't be able to see outside of myself enough to love those around me (Matt, Friends, Family, Kids...ummm....)
5. Having kids - there I said it - I have crazy womb anxiety. It's true. But the fact that marriage is NOT on this list is a minor victory, so at least we are getting somewhere.

Top 5 things you are great at:

1. Ranting
2. Being a friend (I hope...)
3. Knowing where to get good fast food, in any given situation.
4. Apologizing
5. Starting conversations with strangers

Top 5 smells:
1. My grandma's cinnamon buns
2. BBQ's
3. Coffee
4. This cologne Matt wears - Joop - love it.
5. Clean laundry.

Top 5 buildings (whether you've stepped foot inside or not)

1. Capernwray Hall
2. Wordsworth's Cottage
3. Shakespeare's Globe in London
4. Childhood places. We moved a lot - so there is really no one place, but as a collective they are lovely.
5. Chatsworth Manor - (The Pride & Prejudice House) - 4 of my 5 are in England. That is ridiculous.

Top 5 purchases you've ever made:

1. Plane tickets- I calculate almost every major purchase in my life as where I could have gone with that money.
2. My travel backpack - it's pretty great.
3. My converse - but they were given to me, so maybe it doesn't count.
4. U2 - the best of 1990-2000.
5. Antique John Donne in York.

Top 5 things that have annoyed in the last week:
*
2. The amount of planning it takes to create a good lesson.
3. Not being able to be everything for everyone at the same time, and then feeling like crap about that.
4. My own incapacity to be alone - always driving somewhere because I hate being alone. So silly.
5. Always pulling out the wrong key when I have 12 things in my hands.

Top 5 things that have inspired you this week:
1. The sun coming out for the beginning of spring.
2. The fact that I made it through my first full week of "real" teaching (and got paid for it!)
3. How I seem to love Matt more as time goes by.
4. Travel plans for Europe coming together.
5. Starting to read again - and things I want to read...

So there you have it - this week's "Top 5" - maybe go write one. It's a fantastic waste of time if you have something more important to be doing. Or maybe just because....

*Some things have been removed, in the interest of not writing my entire soul on the internet. But you all read it already anyway...right :)

Talking to Strangers....

2009-03-28T17:04:00.000-07:00

Confession: I really like talking to strangers.

Well, not all strangers but most. I don't know when it started, but I suspect it might have been the years as a Barista. The options were either having a mind-numbingly-boring shift (working at the slowest Starbucks in White Rock) or striking up conversations with random strangers. So, I usually opted for the latter.

And now, I do it without thinking. I will start talking to the person behind the till, or next to me in line, and it seems totally natural. Sometimes, strangers even come up to me and start conversations. It's almost like if you classify yourself as a person that talks to strangers, they start to approach you. At times, it can be awkward. But usually it is hilarious, and makes for fantastic stories, especially while traveling. Both Brenda and Lavonne are fantastic "stranger-talkers" so it made for some great travel stories.

But today I dropped the ball.

I was at having tea at Clancy's in White Rock, and this young guy comes up on a Motorcycle. He wanders in, takes off the helmet, and proceeds to buy some loose tea. I think that might be it, and he would just leave after that, but no, he sits down, at the table next to us, and has a cup of tea, by himself, A BIKER. And not like a scary biker, but wearing glasses, and friendly looking. I was so shocked by this obvious "strike-up-a-conversation" moment, that I couldn't do it. I totally froze. I couldn't think of any opening line that wouldn't seem like a come-on, or too cheesy, or keen. So, I said nothing. I mean, this guy even smiled when we said something funny. He wanted to talk, and I couldn't do it.

We left, sure that somehow "fate" had cheated us. Or something. The question is this...would you have started a conversation with this guy? And no, not to necessarily to flirt, but just to be nice, or would you (like me) have sat there wondering what to say, or just not said anything at all for fear of being over-keen? What would your line have been?

Sims Wisdom....

2009-03-23T17:39:00.000-07:00

This weekend in a lengthy, and somewhat over the top blog conversation (yes, I have those) - it was determined that a good blogger is a frequent blogger. I am not so sure about this, particularly because the accusation came from a NON-blogger, but I suppose there is some merit to the admonishing I received.

So, here we go. I always say I will blog about things, and then I don't, so this time I am keeping true to my word:

Remember when you used to play the "Sims" (circa about 1998 for me), and you had maintain all those little areas like health, and friendships, and work etc. So you would go hang out with a friend for an afternoon, and you'd be doing really good on the relationship front, and then bam! you're health was way off, or your career success. So, there you were navigating your little character around, scrambling to keep all your "levels" in the green. And it was hard to do right?

I think the Sims might have been on to something. Yesterday, I had the distinct sensation that I might have to "get used to the idea" that on a day to day basis, I am probably going to have to let someone down. I know, that sounds really defeatist, but I think its going to be freeing for me. For example, with TOC'ing - people start requesting you, and then two people request you, and you have to reject one, and you feel really bad. And then you realize "sometimes, I am going to have to let people down".

Now, I am not saying we should let ourselves off the hook when we really do need to feel bad, but I am saying that we need to have a little perspective. I've been told I have a pretty over-active "guilt-complex", that is, I apologize for too much, and even things outside of my control. So maybe this post is just a little pep-talk to myself, and anyone else with the same complex, just to say - you have to do your best, and you won't make everyone happy all the time. Too defeatist? Nah....

Today was a good day for blogging....

2009-03-03T19:11:00.000-08:00

Not for me necessarily for but for everyone else. Because I have this fantastic new "blog-roll" now, I can see who posted today, and I had a lovely read tonight.

I wish that I could add to this collective joy, and post something magnificent, but I don't know if I want to contend. So, when I fail to come up with good words myself, the inevitable conclusion is that I steal from someone else, or direct you to them, which I am about to do.

Nick Hornby from today's post entitled "My Waterstone's Writer's Table". It's a long list of book recommendations. But at the end, this wonderful diatribe about the books we love. Go read it. It's Nick Hornby in good form.

It can happen anywhere: a dinner table, a pub, a bus queue, a classroom, a bookshop. You have struck up a conversation with someone you don’t know, and you’re getting on OK, and then suddenly, without warning, you hear the five words that mean the relationship has no future beyond the time it takes to say them: “I think you’ll like it.” This phrase is presumptuous enough when used to refer to, say, a crisp flavour; if, however, you happen to be talking about books or films or music, then it is completely unforgivable, a social solecism on a par with bottom-pinching. You think I’ll like it, do you? Well, it has taken me over fifty years to get anywhere near an understanding of what I think I might like, and even then I get it wrong half the time, so what chance have you got?

And not to suggest that I am only talking about British writers, some other blogs that you should go read today.

Margaret: "And Now for Something Completely Different"
The Monty Python reference says it all. There is a quote from Winnie the Pooh. Great stuff.

Spiro: Lupe Ontiveros: "I've given every maid I've ever portrayed my soul and heart"
In classic Spiro style, she pulls out this fantastic quote, which makes you think and makes you smile. I might even say "heartwarming" but that might turn some away. Or it might take away from the great post that this is.

And maybe, if you know her, go click on Bec Shulba's blog. She might be mad I said that. But she kind of went for the gold with this one post. Just putting it out there.

Days like this convince me even further, that blog haters are just that - haters. Maybe the people who hate blogs and perceive them as mindless drivel don't have the kind of insightful friends that I do. (Did I just refer to Nick Hornby as my friend?) That is my conclusion.

Mmm...Ice Cream....

2009-02-20T13:18:00.000-08:00

I could really use some ice cream right now.

In the summer, the ice cream truck comes into the Novacom parking lot. Where is he today I wonder? At home sleeping probably, because it's Feburary. Too bad.

***Warning: There is some language in this thing. But its prettty funny*****

my flourishing bridesmaid career...

2009-02-19T19:24:00.000-08:00

In the past month, I had the pleasure of being a witness as two of my favorite women in the world made sacred vows and commitments. Significantly, they are two of the strongest, most fiercely independent women I know. So it was even more special to see them both make this step.

As a result of these two weddings (and the aptly timed PPAC Sermon series), marriage seems to have become a theme in my life recently. It is everywhere. Which on some days is great, but on others is a little difficult.

But it has got me thinking. It has made me realize, that maybe Leonard Cohen nailed down one of the greatest truths of all time.

"Love is not a victory march. It's a cold and its a broken hallelujah"

There it is again. I just can't escape it. In both of these weddings, I saw so much more than the "victory march" that weddings can so easily become. I saw the second part, I saw the whispered hallelujah. I witnessed the inevitable sacrifice, the loss, and the coming together again. And it was beautiful.

And you had me pegged as a wedding cynic.

round six.
Bonnie & Caleb
(CP Reunion)

Sort of a random pic, but the "wedding pics" aren't in yet.

On the final day, we played "Tiny Dancer" and no one left with dry eyes.

round five:
Geoff & Lavonne

Geoff & Lavonne in the Newspaper Photo. It's a little blurry, but check out that marquis.
Amazing.

Two Drewlo's in a wedding party. Loving that.

The ladies in the "second dresses".

I like a man in a sweater vest. Also I have ribbon in my hair.

So there you have it. I would like to say that I am going to retire. but who is kidding who? That is never going to happen. I guess if I want to friend on the tombstone, this comes with the territory.

twenty five facts...

2009-01-29T22:54:00.000-08:00

I always feel this pressure, when I have things that I actually want to blog about. I feel like I need to write about them well. At the moment, these things include the start of the TOC life this week, and Lavonne's wedding on the weekend. I am pretty sure both posts will come in due time.

But not right now.

Now, I am going to follow the facebook-trend and post 25 random facts about myself. An incredibly lame thing to do, I realize, but it's a post, and I have to get past the pressure.

1.I have a teddy bear called "Scotty". There have been two versions before him. One got crunched in a garage door on a childhood sleepover. Yes, I still sleep with a teddy-bear, and not afraid to admit it.

2. I live my life with equal parts fortune and misfortune. I often lose things, but they are usually returned to me in very serendipitous ways.

3. I think it is a very horrible thing to show up at an event wearing the wrong outfit. I have even said it is the "worst thing". It obviously isn't the worst thing, but MAN do I hate that feeling.

4. I am an English major who doesn't read. I mean, I do read, but way less that I want to. I happen to also really like people. Its' hard to combine these interests (but not impossible. ha).

5. I don't like Dickens. (There I said it - judge me all you want, but he just goes on and on, and I don't like the million characters, I just find them irritating. I am going to live to regret saying this...)

6. "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey (circa 1981) is my current theme song. Thanks to Spiro. For the very reason she put forward: : I need a voice that is singing: "don't stop believing", and I need it "now more than ever".

7. I love Nick Hornby. I will read anything he writes. He is like the voice in my head, only "more accurate and with a better vocabulary" (10 points for that movie reference)

8. I like Harry Potter, and I mean a lot.

9. I love dancing at weddings. It's the multi-generational thing I think. It gets me every time.

10. I have zero sense of "interior design". I am counting on people wanting to come to my house to eat Matt's cooking.

11. I have never broken a bone. But I am very afraid that I will.

12. I love my converse. I feel like a whole different person every time I put them on.

13. I miss the "ding-dong" sound of the door opening in tiny shops in England. And I miss eating Cornettos from these shops.

14. I think that Fresh Ink cards are the best cards out there. If you ever feel down, take a trip to Hallmark and just read a few. You'll feel better, I know it.

15. As I get older, I discover more and more that I actually like foods that I thought I hated, only because I ate really bad versions the first time.

16. I eat a lot of fast-food. Way too much actually. It's a tough habit to break though.

17. I once had a t-shirt with overalls attached that had smiley faces on them. It was neon. I loved that shirt.

18. I find a lot of satisfaction in crossing things off lists.

19. I want my tombstone to say "friend". (Yup, I just went there)

20. When I don't straighten my hair, I look like a 70's boy.

21. I love Watermelon sour straws. When I buy them, I eat the whole pack in about 30 seconds.

22. I am an English teacher, who isn't very good at grammar.

23. When I was a baby, I had red hair. Sometimes you can still see a little in the sun.

24. I have a lot of rules about things, like "not drinking starbucks coffee in major city centers", and "always giving cards with christmas gifts". There are really too many to list here.

25. I am standing on the precipice of the rest of my life.

Whew. That was long, I am pretty impressed if you are reading this right now.

Okay, the idea is, if I tagged you on facebook, or if even if you are reading this on the blog - you go write your own 25, and then tag more people. I know, sort of just a "survey" and on my blog no less. But you kind of want to do it, don't you?

What do you think?

2009-01-17T14:58:00.000-08:00

"I've seen your flag on the marble arch.
Love is not a victory march.
It's a cold and it's a broken hallelujah"
- Leonard Cohen

Thoughts?

the new look....

2009-01-15T09:14:00.000-08:00

Well I had been holding out for a year almost, not wanting to switch to blogger beta because I didn't want to lose that old template.

But then I started looking, and found that there are some beautiful people out there who can convert templates from wordpress to blogger. I didn't want to switch to wordpress, because I didn't want to loose everything. Now, I can have a nice looking blog (let's face it, wordpress templates are much cooler looking), AND keep my archives. Sounds good to me.

So what do you think? Any comments, ideas, suggestions?

I don't quite know what to do with that top box where I have the quote. I could put my title there, and put something else on the side. What do you think? Also, when you read my blog, can you see the "editing wrench" icon on the side?

**The beautiful people are: www.btemplates.com

In case you didn't catch it the first time...

2009-01-03T03:05:00.000-08:00

A few months ago, Bec posted about Vancouver's new radio station: The Peak 100.5 FM.. At the time, I was lost in PDP-land, and did not read it. But then, I read it a couple of weeks ago and have been listening ever since.

So, I thought I would go ahead and post about it again. Because this has probably been one of the greatest discoveries in a long time. I consistently can't believe that I am listening to the radio when it is on, because it is actually good music. Now, don't get me wrong, I enjoy top 40 just as much as the next guy, but not because it is actually good music. On this radio station, I hear Arcade Fire, Metric, Snow Patrol, Jason Mraz and wonderful new independent artists, that I can't even find on itunes yet. The best part is, these guys are not covering the "Canadian Content" with Nickelback. In fact, I have never heard Nickelback played on this station which is a small wonder for this city. Instead, they play new interesting artists.

I have found myself at least three times, looking up artists that I heard and trying to find more of their music. I think that is what radio was intended to be. So go check it out, its definitely worth a listen.

Top 5 Songs I am enjoying on the Peak:

1. O My Heart - Mother, Mother
2. Never Miss a Beat - Kaiser Chiefs
3. You are the Best Thing - Ray LaMontagne
4. Boys with Girlfriends - Meiko
5. Take Back the City - Snow Patrol

Why I am switched into "off" mode....

2009-01-02T12:09:00.000-08:00

You know that moment? It's the one right after high school, when you are standing there, looking out at the world, and it seems so vast and you wonder: "what am I going to do?" and it feels so overwhelming. Then, the next thing you know, you have signed up for some program in a post-secondary institution and your life is again dictated for you for another four years. You write the papers, get the grades, and then you graduate.

And then it happens again.

University is over. And again, you are staring out at the big bad world, and you wonder: "what do I do next?". In my case, I signed up for yet another program. This time, with a "practical career focus". Once again, you do the program, jump through the hoops and figure out what is required of you.

And now, I am here again.

It's a little different this time. The thing that I am "supposed to do" is quite obvious. But at the moment, that doesn't seem to make it any less scary. In fact, it almost seems more scary. I keep joking that I am not sure what scares me more: that I WON'T get the job, or that I WILL and then I will have to face all those crazy high schoolers all over again.

As I write these words, I wonder if I should post them. There seems to be a high possibility of misunderstanding. You might think that Sharelle must "not want to teach", or something of that nature. I don't think that is it really. I think it is more about transition. It's that point where your life shifts, and you are forced to move with it. Those are hard moments for me.

So I thought I would send these thoughts out into the void, and see what you thought, if maybe you identified. Ohh blogging...

Rom-Coms....

2008-12-20T17:26:00.001-08:00

Well hello friends. It has been a long time hasn't it?

Once again, I feel the pressure to create an epic post since all this time has passed. But it's not going to happen. Instead, I will post about Romantic Comedies, affectionately known as Rom-Coms.

It's no secret that I am big fan of romantic comedies. There was a time when they were probably the only movies I watched. Then one day, I had a horrible realization: these movies were messing with my mind. I had written journal after journal pondering the "love" presented in these movies. Were the movies right? Were they presenting something I was missing?

Then, in conversation this week, this BBC Article came up. It described a study that was done on Romantic Comedies. This doesn't really come as a shock, but the study found that "Rom-Coms create unrealistic expectations when it comes to love". Probably my favourite part of the article is that it actually calls them Rom-Coms (it is Britain after all, where I picked up the term in the first place).

The article also found that "fans of films such as Runaway Bride and Notting Hill often fail to communicate with their partner. Many held the view if someone is meant to be with you, then they should know what you want without you telling them"

Apparently, people who watched the films were more likely to believe in fate and destiny. Also, the article stated that "Films do capture the excitement of new relationships but they also wrongly suggest that trust and committed love exist from the moment people meet, whereas these are qualities that normally take years to develop." I thought that was an interesting point. Can you think of a romantic comedy where they had an awkward "determining the relationship" conversation and then refused to call the person their boyfriend for six months? Because I haven't. So basically, romantic comedies are not mirroring my experience. ha.

So, what I would like to know is this: do you agree? Are Rom-Coms essentially problematic? Can we continue to watch them anyway, aware of their flaws and unrealistic portrayals of love, and just enjoy them for what they are? What are your thoughts? Have you ever had a moment where you thought that these movies might be messing with your mind?

Remember Hugh? Now we have Colin...

2008-10-19T22:24:00.001-07:00

This week - this little gem was discovered. Colin Firth- dancing. Enjoy.

Because I was getting sass....

2008-10-19T22:16:00.000-07:00

Well tonight I got sass all the way from Costa Rica about not posting on the blog. So even though I don't have anything great to say at all, I thought I should post. As my accurate friend has rightly pointed out, I have not posted since August 14th. Yikes.

Things I like right now:

1) The Fall - right now, as I drive down the street, or walk on the path and the leaves crunch under my feet, I am reminded how much I love this season. It really is the most beautiful season in my mind. And I get to wear sweaters, and jackets. Try taking a drive down 16th avenue one of these days.

2) "And Then You" - Greg Laswell. This is a lovely song from Grey's Anatomy that I am listening to non-stop. I don't know why - but it calms me down. Its not amazing, but it seems to be what I need.

3) UBC Education Library - the lovely people of UBC education library post their unit plans online, for the mutual edification of all. It's a wonderful thing.

I can't think of anything more. My life is ridicolous. In all my university years, I don't think my life has ever been this ridicolous, which is really saying something.

But the PDP slogan is this: "I can do anything as long as it's temporary" or in the long lost words of Brenda and Gina at Lehigh: "I can do anything for two months". And that's all I have left. Here we go.

Maybe at the end, I will be fun again, and post random things. We'll see.

It's Game Time....

2008-08-14T22:42:00.000-07:00

Was flipping through my photos tonight, and found this one. It took me a second to realize what it was a picture of. Then I thought - time for a blog game - it has been a while hasn't it?

So, you guess: what do you think that photo is of? If this were "Z-fx" or something, you would get a sweet prize. But let's face it - "Z95.3" no longer exists, and I'm not very good at giving out prizes. But blog recognition - that's gold....

C'mon, let's play. What do you think?

Portland....

2008-08-12T00:48:00.000-07:00

So my summer school semester ended, and I figured it was time to celebrate. So Matt and I took a little trip down to Portland. We discovered that this was the city for us. Basically, it can be summed up in these two words: books and beer. The largest bookstore in the Northwest, and scores of mico-breweries. We were basically in paradise. This city has the coolest culture, and was so fun to explore. We felt so at home there, like it was "our kind of city". That's a good thing to find.

Some Highlights:

.the sign which greets us upon our entry to America (in Lynden no less!).

This is some art work from the "McMenamins Kennedy School". This place is a school built in 1915 that is converted into a "resort". The Mcmenamins family owns these heritage buildings, and converts them into hotels/restaurants etc. These buildings are so perfectly executed with wonderful artwork and culture, paired with their own great tasting beer. Check out the website. These are cool places to visit. We are for sure going back to stay hit up more of these places.

Matt made me swing hold onto this trellis while he took a picture. I am not going to lie - it was uncomfortable, and the picture is sort of dorky, but the point is to showcase the beautiful brick building and detail in the place we stayed.

Sharelle at Powells Books
or
Sharelle in Heaven.
Four city blocks of books. A whole room dedicated to the classics.
Tess of the D'ubervilles - 1891 and Les Miserables - 1862.
My head spun, literally. I couldn't even focus. Beautiful, cheap books all around me.

Matthew and I in "Detention Room" - one of the converted school rooms which is a little sitting parlor. I posted this one because of his sly look.

All in all, a great trip. It's wonderful to re-ignite the travel spirit in your own backyard. I love exploring and finding new delights. And this trip certainly provided them.

Windows Down....

2008-07-19T00:21:00.000-07:00

I wasn't kidding about the rotation ("attempted artsy" then ridiculous) Get ready for the most useless piece of reading you will do all week.

.Windows Down.

Okay, so it's a hot day, and you are driving, and your windows are down. Air conditioning or not, we all do it from time to time. Now, you might put your arm out the window. And my big question here is:

How do you put your arm out the window?

Do you sort of let that arm hang on the side, do you keep your hand up? Do put your hand straight out?

The reason I ask is that I was driving around the other day, and I saw a person with their hand in a straight up "stop sign" motion. Even more tilted than the diagram, like they were actually telling you to stop with their hand. I thought this was a little unusual, but then within five minutes, I saw the exact same motion again! And then, I wondered, maybe I am the crazy one? Is the "stop sign" hand out the car window normal? I need to know.

"Stop Sign" Hand

"Normal Hand"

Okay, these diagrams are far from perfect. They are meant to teach Irish drivers how to signal. (Hence the opposite side of the vehicle driver) So there doesn't necessarily need to be up and down movement. The point is that your hand is slack, and that it either rests on the side of the car, or in some "downward" motion.

I've always thought that the arm out the window is such a wonderful pose. Relaxed, disinterested. And then, boom, I am confronted with the reality of these stop sign hands, all rigid and firm.

Does it really matter? Well obviously not really, but I just thought a poll might be fun. I'm not here to judge, what do you prefer? I'd like to know...

.and one more thing.

why do people wait in drive-thru lines in their cars, when they could get out, breathe some fresh air, and wait in a line up half as long inside? It constantly astounds me. That being stated, if you are said people who sits in their car, please continue to do so, because you make my inside line shorter. Thank you.

Sharelle Drewlo: Theatre Critic....

2008-07-01T23:07:00.000-07:00

In the past two weeks I have gone to three plays, so I figured I better put all that "theatre-going" to some good use, and do a few little reviews.

.King Lear.
Bard on the Beach

I am usually a really big fan of Bard on the Beach. I mean, how could I not be? Shakespeare in the park overlooking English Bay. I'm not going to lie though. Watching "King Lear" was well...interesting. As usual, they did a modern re-invention, so the great King Lear was pushed in a wheelchair. Normally, I am all for interpretations, keeps it interesting. But this one was pretty "art-house". There was even music. I was so undecided when I left the theater that I went home and read all six reviews written. They pretty much fell on all sides of the spectrum, both love and hate. "Those who hate it are calling it "King Lear: The Musical". Then others loved the play and thought the interpretation was brilliant. It's like watching a movie you love on screen. It's always tough seeing it being portrayed through someone else's eyes. That being said, Christopher Gaze (Mr. Bard on the Beach, and my favorite local celebrity) was an unbelievable King Lear and rocked the final scenes with all the grace and passion I could have hoped for. So should you go see it? Maybe, I'm not sure. I'll let you know after I watch "Twelfth Night" next week, which of the two is a more of a "crowd pleaser". Shakespeare as a crowd pleaser? You better believe it.

.The Back Kitchen Release Party.
Arts Club Theatre: Granville Island Stage

All the conditions for watching this play were right. I had just spent a lovely date day on Saturday with Matt, and we got student rush $20 tickets. (if you are a student, and don't know about student rush, you better click on this link) So I was already in a good mood. Then, this little play pulled out a big surprise and really delivered. It's about a traveling band from Newfoundland working its way across Canada to honor a deceased band member. I know, I thought it sounded a little lame on the playbill as well. But the actors/musicians really draw you in with their songs, and their story. It was charming, heart-warming, and funny. That's a pretty good combination in my books. So maybe go, (and if you do, let me know, because I can get you five dollars off) or get your parents to go. But heed the Arts Club warning: "Warning: There is offensive language in the play (but not too offensive because it is spoken in a charming Newfoundland accent). Oh that made me chuckle. I really do love the Arts Club. At this play, I also won free tickets to a play in the fall because I raised my hand. Some guy shouted out, but he lost. Yes, that's right. So, maybe it was the night that was awesome and not the play? Hmm.. No, it was the play too. I'm going to go ahead and say it's the "sleeper-hit-of-the-summer". Best phrase ever.

.The Producers.
Arts Club Theatre: Stanley Industrial Stage

On Sunday, we went to this play with Jenny and Nathan. And it delivered. Big time. This play is so off-the-wall and has Mel Brooks in every inch of it. The premise is that two producers are looking to find a play that will flop so that they can make millions. They find "Springtime for Hitler". There's some context for you. I laughed pretty hard. The production of it was really well done. Lots of singing, dancing, choreography that make musicals the great thing that they are. I was impressed. I was especially happy because it means that when these folks put on "Les Miserables" next year, we might be in for a treat. But as for this play, if you can take a little blurring of the appropriateness lines, and appreciate Mel Brooks, you are in for a treat. But your pocket book will take a little hit. I had to warn you.

So there you go, a few theatre reviews. I get that they might be a little accessible than the ol' movie reviews, but I figured, hey why not? And expect a full Bard on the Beach report after Sunday, whether you like it or not.

Go see some Vancouver theatre.
It's a good time.

Really?

2008-06-27T17:49:00.000-07:00

I like to do a little rotation on the ol' blog. After I post a "thoughtful post", I like to post a little bit of nonsense, just to keep people like Bec happy. That way, I can't be accused by either camp of being too "artsy" or the opposite. (what is the opposite of artsy?)

So here we go:

Some sights that caught my eye this week and made me go "really"?!?

As I walked up to my car in the SFU parking lot, I glanced down at my tire and saw this perfectly outstretched piece of gum. I don't know why, but both Marissa and I had a pretty good little chuckle.
So, is the moral of the story to not spit our gum out in parking lots?
I don't know. It does look pretty cool.

The next day, I stumbled upon this little gem in the Peninsula Village parking lot.
Does this strike anyone else as extremely ironic?
An SUV advocating clean air!
I feel like a bike rider, or a scooter, or even a YARIS could have this plate.
This guy - not so much.
Do you think he is trying to be ironic?
I guess it's possible.
Only in White Rock.

(Side note: As I took the photo, I turned around to see someone walking straight at me. I was SO SURE it was the owner, about to ask me why the hell I was taking a photo of their vehicle, and then I would awkwardly explain. It wasn't the owner. Thank goodness.)

*Update: Brandon Drewlo (Mr. Car Trivia) has told me that this is indeed a hybrid vehicle. But I still hold to my original claim - that is ridicolous. And makes no sense. A Lexus SUV Hybrid. I mean, just the existence of that vehicle is an oxymoron.

Failing by Default....

2008-06-18T00:11:00.000-07:00

“You might never fail on the scale I did, but some failure in life is inevitable. It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all - in which case, you fail by default”
–J.K. Rowling
(Commencement address to Harvard Graduates 2008)

This quote has been knocking around in my head all week. At first I couldn't place it. Then tonight, I realized:

Maybe Rowling has identified my biggest current fear.
Now it stands glaring me in the face.

And it just made me wonder: How much do we all fear failure? Rowling concludes that what she feared most in her 20's was not poverty but failure. And I think that's true. I don't really worry that I won't find a job and pay the bills. I am relatively sure I can do that. But what about teaching? And I am talking about actually teaching, like teaching that makes a difference. That seems like such a lofty goal. Seeing as this is a public forum, people will probably feel the need to give random affirmation. That isn't what I am looking for here. Because in the end, you are the only person who actually knows the full weight of your own limitations and possibilities.

What I want to know is this: do you fear failure? or poverty*? or both? Do you ever wonder if you will just not attempt things because fear immobilizes you?

I know, these are very personal thoughts, and this may be a far too public domain to discuss them, but its a question to get you thinking anyway. And hey, if you are feeling brave, post some thoughts. I'd love to hear them.

*Poverty in a very "North American" sense of course. I am sure we can never know real poverty, but to the extent that we could on this continent. Which one might argue, could be very little, and yet we still might fear "financial failure". Perhaps that is more "user friendly" term.

.monday.

2008-06-16T15:36:00.000-07:00

Cold, cold water
Bring me round
Now my feet won't touch the ground
Cold, cold water
What ya say?
It's such…
It's such a perfect day

- Coldplay
"Strawberry Swing"

I am not going to lie. Having Monday off is a little weird, but it's also kind of awesome. So, on what was supposed to be a productive homework day, I took a little break and went down to WR beach with Stef. It was pretty much impossible not to, with the weather so perfect.

Then I came home, and listened to the new Coldplay album "Viva La Vida" which by the way is unreal. Go take a listen. I think they've taken it to a good place.

One thing is for sure. I won't be singing this happy tune in July when everything is due. Then you can all go to the beach, and laugh at me. Deal?

Mr. Harry Potter...

2008-06-10T20:36:00.000-07:00

As usual, I am indecisive, and can't figure out if I want to change the blog.

So, on to new things. There gets to be this point with blogging where so many wonderful things have happened, and you have been out "living" your life, and not necessarily writing about it, and then suddenly, you don't know what to post anymore.

In order to get the juices going again, I am going to post on my current reading:

I can hear some scoffing out there, and I am okay with that. I am not going to lie to you. A few brief weeks ago, if someone had said "Harry Potter", I would have had a vague image of Daniel Radcliffe in my mind, and dismissed the thought entirely.

But now...

I have read books 2, 3, 4 & 5 in a matter of two months. It is absolutely ridiculous. I am so lost in the world of Harry, Ron, Hermione, Dumbledore and all the other wonderfully constructed characters. I hate to admit it. But I am a Harry Potter convert. You will now find me on a regular basis pondering such questions as "Is Snape really evil?" and "What is J.K. Rowling's moral framework?". I laugh at Harry Potter jokes. It's like some torrid love affair, being sucked in so fast.

I justify it on this basis. There is a lot going on here, and I want to bring that to life if (and when) my students read these books. There is a yearning for truth, justice, and above all good. I don't know how many books are doing that anymore.

and now for the fans:

.recent favorite passages.

And now Harry, let us step out into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure (credit to LVD on that one)

"But for heaven's sakes...you're wizards! You can do magic! Surely you can sort out..well...anything!"
Fudge, who really did manage a smile this time as he said kindly:
'The trouble is, the other side can do magic too Prime Minister"

"You have not asked me, for instance, what is my favourite flavour of jam, to check that I am indeed professor Dumbledore, and not an impostor"
"I didn’t..." Harry began, not entirely sure if he was being reprimanded or not.
"For future reference, Harry, it is raspberry…although of course, if I were a death eater, I would have been sure to research my own jam preferences before impersonating myself."
(I am not joking when I say, I laughed out loud to myself for a good five minutes at this one)

.a Harry Potter joke.

(bumper sticker found on a car in seattle, saw it, laughed out loud, and made spiro take a picture)

.and for the REAL keeners.

a link to J.K. Rowling's commencement address at Harvard, which is nothing short of magical.

So, if you have made it this far, you are probably a fan.
Some queries:

What is your favorite passage?
What do you love about HP?
Do tell.
Let's have some solidarity about loving this stuff eh?

of the myriad of things that deserve to be posted...

2008-05-20T23:13:00.000-07:00

....this is not one of them.

So many lovely things have happened over my break. There are even pictures to accompany these adventures. I promise, they will all get posted in due time. But first, I need some opinions.

I am seriously considering changing the blog template. Now, to some this may not be a big deal, but to me, its pretty serious for this reason.

Once I change, I can NEVER go back.

This is not just me being over-dramatic (which I am), I actually can't. The only way I can get the new template I want is by switching to Blogger Beta. Now, if I switch to Blogger Beta, I can no longer have this current template (my "Scribe" template on Beta looks awful). So, here is what I ask.

1. Click on this link.
2. Look at the template*
3. Give me an opinion if I should change (keeping in mind, it would be permanent), or not. I am looking for your honest opinion here. It's okay, if you say you hate it, and I choose it anyway. I just want to know what the people think.

*If you are thinking "wait a second, how can we go to a link to look at this blog?" and you look up at the URL, yes you will discover that I actually created a fake blog to test it out. I AM that ridiculous.

.the peg.

2008-04-18T21:37:00.000-07:00

This weekend Matt and I went to Winnipeg. We visited his family, and I got to see one of my wonderful CP's, Bonnie Dowling. Matt grew up in Winnipeg, so we took a little tour of his childhood spots. I must admit, my affection for the town is growing. The buildings are lovely, and the people are well, inexplicably great. However, not so great - getting almost blown over by the wind, and literally EATING dirt that blew into my mouth.

That being said, the words, and the laughter were irreplaceable.

*Disclaimer: to those expecting to see photos that point to some artistic glory, or even a shred of photographic thought (you know who you are...). Just forget it. I am not the photo taking CP. I never have been. These were a last ditch effort, twenty minutes before we left to at least have SOME pictures of our trip. We can't all have the same skills now can we? And the partially good ones - were taken by Bonnie*

Is that Bonnie and I "rowing" in front of the "Rialto" bridge in Venice?
Perhaps, or it could be the painting on the "Daly Burger". You choose.
Either way, I'm keen.

Are we still posing in front of the Rialto? Yup, we are. I don't even know....

I've always wanted to take Matt to Venice.
And now here we are, caught in a manufactured candid moment :)

Let's Play...

2008-04-17T19:53:00.000-07:00

Its my two week break. I have time to do dumb things, so I stole this from Spiro....

Pick 15 of your favorite movies.
Go to IMDb and find a quote from each movie (or quote them from memory).
Post them on your blog for everyone to guess.
Fill in the film title once it’s been guessed.

These are the players’ rules:

No Googling or using IMDb search functions (don’t cheat!).
Leave your answer(s) in the comments.

I pick the quotes; you guess without internet aid. If someone has answered it already, its in bold at the end.

Thank you to everyone that played. I am truly impressed at your movie knowledge !

You guys did so good. I am impressed!

1. “Maggie, when you grow up and are incredibly beautiful and intelligent and possess a certain sweetness that's... that's like a distant promise to the brave, to the worthy, could you please not beat to a pulp every miserable bastard that comes your way simply because you can? Could you not do that?” - One Fine Day (why no one guessed this sooner is shocking to me! George - my "favourite movie...c'mon...haha)

2. “Love is not a feeling….It's an ability” -Dan in Real Life

3. "She was in Spain, people do stupid things when they're in foreign countries"
"Yes, they buy leather jackets for much more than they're worth but they do NOT fall in love with fascist dictators!" - You've Got Mail

4. "Have you no consideration for my poor nerves"
"You mistake me, my dear. I have the utmost respect for your nerves. They've been my constant companion these twenty years" - Pride and Prejudice

5. "Love gives you wings. It makes you fly. I don't even call it love. I call it Geronimo. When you're in love, you'll jump right from the top of the Empire State and you won't care, screaming "Geronimo" the whole way down. I love her so bad, I just... whoa, she wrecks me. I'd die for her" - Conspiracy Theory

6. "Let's go get the shit kicked out of us by love" - Love Actually

7. "We need a witness to our lives. There's a billion people on the planet... I mean, what does any one life really mean? But in a marriage, you're promising to care about everything. The good things, the bad things, the terrible things, the mundane things... all of it, all of the time, every day. You're saying 'Your life will not go unnoticed because I will notice it. Your life will not go un-witnessed because I will be your witness'." (I don't LOVE this movie, but this is one of the most lovely quotes) - Shall We Dance

8. "You don't have bones of glass. You can take life's knocks. If you let this chance pass, eventually, your heart will become as dry and brittle as my skeleton. So, go get him, for Pete's sake" -Amelie

9. "People say, You must have been the class clown. And I say, No, I wasn't. But I sat next to the class clown, and I studied him." - Waiting for Guffman

10. "You see? That is just like you. You say things like that, and you make it impossible for me to hate you." - When Harry Met Sally

11. "Sitting there, alone in a foreign country, far from my job and everyone I know, a feeling came over me. It was like remembering something I'd never known before or had always been waiting for, but I didn't know what. Maybe it was something I'd forgotten or something I've been missing all my life. All I can say is that I felt, at the same time, joy and sadness. But not too much sadness, because I felt alive. Yes, alive" - Paris Je'Taime

12. "I dunno, he must be a king"
"Why?"
"He hasn't got shit all over him" - Monty Python and the Quest for the Holy Grail

13. "Little did he know. That means there's something he doesn't know, which means there's something you don't know, did you know that?" - Stranger Than Fiction

14. "In my opinion, the best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what have you, the right person will still think the sun shines out your ass. That's the kind of person that's worth sticking with." -Juno

15. "Maybe that's all family really is. A group of people who miss the same imaginary place." -Garden State

So now that you have read them, and know what they are, post in the comment box saying which numbers are which movies.

I am interested in the fact that almost half my quotes were about love. I guess I will always be the perpetual English Major Romantic despite my cynicism....

Ch-Ch-Changes....

2008-03-18T17:53:00.001-07:00

Seeing as the "I just about died" post has been on the blog a good six weeks now, I suppose it is time for "new" news. And let me tell you, there are things to report.

Now, let's just play a quick round of "let's make obvious statements about ourselves".

I don't like change.

But that has not stopped the world from changing on me. Since the people have demanded (yes demanded!) a blog post about the recent changes, I figured it was time to post.

.the sbuckles.

Yes the time has come. It is actually hard to believe. It has been four years. This summer I am going to work for Novacom, and PDP is pretty mental. So it was time.

I really couldn't have asked for a better minimum wage workplace to spend my university years. White Rock I Starbucks really has been good times. We have had ridiculous parties, crazy late night closes and stories that I don't even believe myself. I can't say I won't miss it, because I really will. But is also the end of the era. I can feel it.

So thanks to of you White Rock One Baristas who made it great. And thanks to everyone else who paid me visits. I probably wouldn't have made it through all those closes without you (this is starting to sound like an Oscars speech). I do technically have one more shift, but I am giving it away because....

.the move.

My parents finally sold the house. And now we are moving. As of Friday, I will officially be a White Rock resident. We are moving to a condo on "George" street which translates to about 154th and 14th. Its going to be pretty tight, with me and the parents transitioning from this massive house to a two bedroom condo. We'll get to know each other real well. hehe. But hey, its free rent AND I'll be closer to the beach. Let's focus on the positives right. So I am in the midst of packing my room and finding all kinds of things I didn't even know I owned.

.the car.

Yes, the car is at the top. It is a 2009 Toyota Matrix. I know, "2009?". I don't get it either, but it smells new, and looks good, so I'm happy. The drive is amazing. The salesman had me where he wanted me, and he sold me on four wheel drive, and all the other safety features. I mean really, "post-ditch" I wanted to buy it all. At least I won't get stuck in the snow again. I do have one complaint though. When the back door opened, some rain water dripped on the seats and they stained! How weird is that? I took it to the dealership to show it to them, and they all joked that they would upgrade to "free leather". I say, no joke, DO IT! We'll see, I'll keep you updated. Matt is still defending his Toyotas. They can do no evil in his eyes.

So those are the changes. I keep telling myself that in three weeks, it will all be over, and I will have a three week break from PDP. For now, life will be a little crazy....

"Lucky"....

2008-02-06T18:27:00.000-08:00

Well I suppose it is time to tell the story. I didn't really feel up to doing it last week, but this way I have to tell it less in person, so here goes:

Last week Wednesday I had a snow day. I was home doing homework when my mom called, asking me to pick up something for Brandon and bring it to the office. The roads seemed okay, so I decided to go. I was driving on 40th avenue, towards 168th (about 5 minutes away from my house), when I looked down for a second. When I looked up, I had crossed the center line. I saw a vehicle farther down on the road, so I swerved. On the slippery road, my vehicle lost control, I spun out, and my car flipped into the ditch in the reverse direction. So somehow, my car did a 180 spin, and flipped.

The next thing I remember, I was inside my car, mud and water all around me I was freaked out. It seemed like an eternity trying to find my window to get out. I got the window down, and climbed out the window onto the bank. My pants, my shoes, my hair, my face was all covered in mud. The people on the other side of the bank seemed shocked to see me standing there. Someone came running around to help me. They laid me down in the backseat of a truck. Then the fireman and ambulance arrived. The paramedics put me in a neck brace, and made me lay on the stretcher and told me not to move my neck or my back. In the ambulance I started crying my eyes out, realizing what had happened.

When I was wheeled into the hospital, the nurse asked my name and the paramedic responded:

"Lucky....her name is Lucky"

The hospital was pretty emotional. My dad, my mom and Matt arrived. Eventually, after six and a half hours, I got the results from my bloodwork, x-rays etc. By some unbelievable miracle, I am okay. I have muscle stifness, neck and back pain, and I suffered a mild concussion. But that is it. When you look at the car, its hard to believe:

just looking at that makes me shudder.

Looking at those pictures, it becomes very clear to me:

It wasn't luck.

I know that it was a miracle. I know that God protected me. I know that my life was spared. It seems crazy to believe, that God would intervene on 40th avenue, for me. But I see no alternative. I wish I had some other miracolous revelation to share. But it still hasn't come. I sure hope it will.

Two more things. One: could you email me your phone number? The phone was killed in the crash. Two: in case you were wondering, yes, it is a write-off. Good-bye Phantom...

Can you deal with silence?

2008-01-03T17:22:00.000-08:00

I have a question to pitch to the blogging world:

Do you always listen to music (or something) while you are driving?

Do you ever just drive silently? Listening to nothing but yourself?

*Now, I just need to make a note here, that I am NOT referring to those who have no options of listening to music, because say, they drive a beater car or something of that nature. I mean, you guys probably have the whole 'silent driving' market cased. What I am really talking about here is choosing to turn off your radio, or other noise making device. *

I realized today on the drive home that I always have something on. I always have this little battle with turning something on, whether it be my ipod, the radio, just something. Even today, with a minor headache, I still needed something on. So odd. The thing is, I consider myself a reflective person. I like thinking about things during my day, probably too much most of the time. But I don't really drive silently. Is it that I am afraid of what I might think? I think a therapist might go crazy on me.

The point of this post is not to beat ourselves up, we do that too much in the new year already. It's just a honest query. I wondered as I manically turned on my radio today, "does anyone drive silently anymore?" I am interested....

"I don't run"....

2007-12-11T22:56:00.000-08:00

*warning: what follows, is a very long post, essentially about nothing, but somewhat amusing if you enjoy imagining me looking ridicolous*

When we were in Europe, Brenda would randomly turn to me as we were walking somewhere and say "want to run?". For no good reason. I would turn to her point blank and say: "I don't run". Sometimes, we had to run...with backpacks on, in flip flops, across roads and train stations. And in this scenario, I could do it. But just for no good reason, absolutely not.

It makes me think of Lynn: "I don't run for the bus". One time we missed the bus in Guelph, and we walked in the cold for another twenty minutes, just because Lynn didn't run for the bus. Which always makes me wonder now, who is the type of person who runs for the bus?

All of this to say, the past week and a half has been filled with frantic running:

Bid Closing Sinclair Centre
About a week ago, I closed a tender downtown at this horrible building. It has about four different towers, with seperate elevators. What does closing a tender mean (the construction lingo)? Novacom has to submit an estimated price for a project we hope to do. This price only comes in about 10 minutes before it is due, so someone is meant to be sitting waiting for the price, and then run it into the office. But no, I was not sitting abd waiting. I was running, and yes I meaning dodging people in the streets through downtown Vancouver. Then up the stairs of the wrong tower, then down, then up again. Eventually I found an delightful old security guard who calmly told me directions before I booked it away from him. I did get there, but it was literally stamped at the last exact minute it could be there.

Granville Island
This weekend, we went to "Its a Wonderful Life" at Granville Island Stage (which by the way, I absolutely loved...you must go see it, sooo well acted and delightful). Matt had to work in the morning and we got the wires crossed on the time to meet. So we get to Granville Island at 1.54 (the play starts at 2.00 pm). I got out of the car, ran to the parking lot, secured Matt a spot (stood in it, while other cars drove by thinking I was crazy). Then Matt and I ran to the theatre...pretty much the whole way. In dress clothes. Brandon and Lindsday (who were later than us) actually saw us running. She said it was a sight to see. She considered rolling down the window to yell at us, but did not follow through on the impulse. She figured running people might not want to be yelled at. Good call on her part. We got there, as the doors were shutting, into our seats for the whole play.

Bid Closing Linden Architecture
Today, once again, I found myself running down Vancouver streets. This time, picture me, carrying a christmas basket, all tied up with a bow, a tender envelope, and holding my cell phone for directions. At one point, I put the phone in my pocket to run across six lanes of traffic. I had the wrong address to start with, so I drove to two different locations in vain. By the time I got close to the correct address, I just started to run with my mom giving me a play by play of where to go next. It was crazy. People must have thought I had gone mad. Delievered the tender in the nick of time.

You might not have wanted to hear my frantic running stories, but there you have them. The point that I am shocked by in all of this is this : sometimes running actually makes a difference. You actually make it there quicker, and save those few short minutes you really needed in order to make it there on time. I mean, there isn't a lot of dignity in running clad in full dress clothes downtown, but it got the job done.

Maybe Brenda is onto something...

"Something in the way she moves...."

2007-12-02T22:08:00.001-08:00

I know, the album cover is a little odd. But honestly, if you like James Taylor at all, you need to get this CD.

Normally, I am not into the 'live sessions' thing. But the acoustic sound in this one is just unbelievable. At work, we have this joke, because one day I caught Trevor just staring out the (foggy) window. I said "Trevor, what are you doing?", and he was just lost in the music. He says "I don't even know how he does that...." and just trails off in wonder. I sort of laughed at him, and then...

It happened to me.

I just got caught up in it. I know this is probably a function of nostalgia as well as James Taylor. That, and I am a sap. But still, it really is incredible. It comes on, and just makes me stop where I am. Some sounds and voices are just classic. And to me, this is one them. Go listen to it.
Better yet, come in to Starbucks, and I will put it on for you.

"The Anxiety of Authorship"....

2007-11-26T22:56:00.000-08:00

I am not going to lie.

I don't know what to blog anymore.

I mean, I went to Europe, and I posted stories, and they were very dramatic. We visited foreign countries, saw unreal sights, met up with friends, jumped out of trains (okay, Brenda jumped out of trains, but the blog told the story). And now, here we are.

So, I keep thinking "what will be the first post?". What could be epic enough to follow up Europe? And then I realized, nothing will be. So, I am going to post about Mandarin Oranges, in an attempt to salvage the whole blogging process. I won't lie to you. I have been on facebook for the past twenty minutes, and it provided me with nothing more, so I came here. I don't know why that is. But there are some things for which blogs are better, and one is this, random thoughts:

Why are all my mandarin oranges so small this year?

Yes, I know, it was my facebook status, so its old news. Let me just explain though. When I was a kid, I couldn't even finish a mandarin orange. Now, I have to eat two. I don't know if this is a classic case of things looking different on the 'other side' of childhood. Or, are they actually getting smaller? I seriously want to know. Your thoughts please. Let's try this blogging thing again shall we?

Euro Photos....A Teaser....

2007-09-11T12:12:00.000-07:00

Prague, the beautiful.....

Brenda in Prague...I realize this one is sideways. I am doing the best I can okay...haha.

Glamorous... hehe. Me in Prague Gardens.

Vienna...with our friend Stephanie (not pictured here)

So I lost our first two weeks of pictures (camera error or something). So we will need to get some more from Brenda later.

But the people demanded pictures, and I am demanding replies. What is the deal with NO COMMENTS. People I am in Europe..come on....

But no, seriously, please comment. I would love it...

You know you are a backpacker when....

2007-09-10T13:22:00.000-07:00

-you watch lavonne produce a small spoon she has packed with her since italy in the grocery store in order to eat her yogurt. she resolutely states: you just have to keep one with you at all times.

-brenda asking the gelato lady for a sample AFTER she is already eating her cone, because she needs a yogurt spoon

-the first thought in my head after getting an espresso is...hey that spoon is little and useful.

-you walk over to a cardboard bin IN YOUR PACK, and start rifling through for a box that would be suitable to send across the ocean. hey, its free and its on the street, fair game right? i defenitely did this and brenda was shocked to see me leaning over a bin..

-putting your money on the table in the room without locking it up is the best feeling in the world (yay for the russells)

-you sit in a train stairwell and are pleased because you have a seat...(this happened to me yesterday), but i made a german friend and thats the main thing

-you adopt of the attitude of 'no problem, another train will come in a little while' when trains are missed.

-a meal of bread is well received, and a meal with bread AND nutellla is celebrated.

-a homecooked meal (graciously provided by the russells tonight) is the greatest thing of your life

-a shower where flip flops are not required calls for celebration

-free internet is considered a gift...such as right now, at the russells again. i am so grateful....

backpacking is wonderful, but an entirely different culture. you meet a city, and take in on in only a few days. as soon as you figure out the transit, the street names, the language, you pack up and leave. its an odd feeling but it certainly teaches you ingenuity. its a whirlwind tour, but right now, at this stage of life, i wouldnt have it any other way. we are meeting so many people in the hostels and i am loving it.

Our adventures in Wien and Munchen....

2007-09-08T15:19:00.001-07:00

Its been a while hasnt it, since I left you with us jumping off trains in Prague. And now, here we are, having gone through Vienna and finishing Munich. Its crazy how fast these cities go.

.Vienna.

Well I always say that I love Austria, and I still do, but we sure did get rained out. The first day we experienced some pretty schizophrenic rain. We went to these beautiful gardens and the weather just couldnt decide how it wanted to go. There was sun, rain, then torrential downpour. Hail and everything. But nevertheless, we enjoyed the Royal Gardens. Brenda and I are both shocked at our love of gardens. Who would have thought we would come to Europe and look at Gardens...but these my friends are beautiful gardens. LIke small theme parks. And dont we all love a good theme park. In fact, on this trip we have been accused of being 'typical North AMericans who treat Europe like a theme park'. I tried to deny it, but its true, I love getting the passport stamped, when the man comes through the train. THen Brenda and I peer at the passport pleased at our new stamp. We are theme parkers through and through. And I am okay with it. Small tangent, but the point was, the gardens were beautiful.

In Vienna, we also took in a music event, which I am going to leave for telling in person, because you cant know all the stories through the blog. We also went on a random 'underground tour' which Brenda thought would be a good idea. We saw a lot of bones and preserved bodies. Very creepy.

All in all, Vienna was enjoyable but we returned our hostel both days very very wet. Climbing uphill to the hostel in the rain is never a good time. But we are Europe, so I will stop complaining. We were in Austria after all. And we did have a great hostel mate, Stephanie, who became our friend and came around with us. She was in Austria to teach German, so she could actually speak to the locals which was wonderful. Particularly on the day we went for Wiener Schnitzel (no, this is not a hot dog, go look it up). Best meal so far. Loved it.

.Munich.

I think a love affair may be starting with Munich. I love this city. I dont know if it is our amazing hostel (three cheers for Wombats with an indoor garden, a private bathroom, wonderful amenties and nice rooms), the amazing location our hostel (in the city centre), or the city itself, but I am loving it here despite the rain. We went on a great tour with the hostel yesterday, in which a man took us around in the city in lederhosen (how do you even spell that word?). He was a wonderful, silly, Canadian, black man. (yes its true). So people stared at him a lot which was pretty funny. He was so informative and showed us so many great spots. At the end of the tour, I loved the city. Now that is a good tour guide.

The environment of Munich is great. Being the capital of Bavaria, it has a very traditional feel. The stores actually sell Lederhosen and people buy them. Today I saw a man finding his size. They are also staunch Catholics which is interesting considering it is the beer captial of the world. Brenda and I have enjoyed being out in this city where people are willing to meet us and have us join in.

More on Munich later...this silly 'easy internet cost' is killing me. Tommorow, internet is hopefully free as we join Karlin and Charles for a very nice break in Basel, Switzerland.

Continue to keep us in your thoughts, prayers, and emails....hehe. But no seriously, send some our way, its nice to hear some words from home, no matter what they are.

Bourne Movie #4: The Trip to Praha

2007-08-30T15:55:00.000-07:00

We are safe and sound in Prague...barely.

Now I wish that were entirely a joke but it isn't. Here is the skinny of what happened today. We missed our bus in the morning so we ended up running, yes literally running for the train to Prague from Berlin. Picture us in flip flops, huge packs running through train station. Once safely on the train, we breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed for a couple of hours. As we arrived at our destination we had some confusion about the stop. See, in the past couple of cities there has been two stops in major cities. One is the main train station, and the other a little station. We wanted to get to the main one, so we didnt get off. I know this seems odd, but almost all trains stop at both. In any case, this train didnt, which we realized about two seconds too late.

So there we were on the train going past Prague and wondering how to get back. We end up having to buy a return ticket from the next tiny town. This turns into its own adventure as we get off thre train in Kolin. We go into the shop and start doing the conversion on the prices. And they are soooo cheap. You know those Eastern European stories you hear, where people become gluttons - well that was us. We start throwing choclate bars, ice cream, pop, chips, candy, and other random items on the counter. And the funniest part, Brenda is leading the show, saying "get it" because its so cheap. The lady ends ups laughing at us and giving a bag for ALL our stuff. So silly, so North American. But wonderful.

So now were are headed back to Prague. We get to the station and are gathering our stuff to get off. Standing in the doorway the train begins to shut for leaving. Brenda says "no way" and I say "go". Brenda starts to leap off the platform and the trains begins to move. She falls onto the platform with the door hanging open, backpack hanging off. She is laying on the ground and I am freaking out. I manage to pull the bag off the door where it is caught and wonder if Brenda is ok. I get off at the next stop, hoping to find a way back. I go to the board to find a return train with no luck. The information man says the only way to get there is the subway. So I go find it and I am standing there, trying to determine if I should go or stay, angonizing over what to do when Brenda comes running up behind me. We just stood there for a minute hugging because I was shocked she was actually there. Brenda is doing okay, but she thinks a bruise on her leg is forming. I can't believe she is alright and we were reunited so quickly.

You might all be judging us right now for our poor travel skills, but I am telling you, these things happen and we had the presnce of mind to figure it out. We defintely did thank God for our safety. And we decided no more train jumping:) Today, someone at our hostel, upon hearing the story called Brenda "Jason Bourne". Pretty true. Keep praying for us, we will need them for safety. But I promise we are good travellers...really:) Love and miss you all. I said it once, and I will say it again, send email, probably to my hotmail right now, or both, because Gmail is being weird.

And once again, I promise, Brenda is fine. Not just Brenda fine, but really fine. That and Prague is beautiful, we are looking forward to seeing it tommorow. All is well.