From Ireland...

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....

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...

(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...

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....

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....

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....

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....

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...

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...

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?

"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....

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...

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....

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....

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...

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

Because I was getting sass....

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....

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....

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....

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.

Theatre Critic....

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?

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....

“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.

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...

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...

....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.

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...

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....

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"....

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...