Moving/Birthday Weekend

Wow, what a weekend! I am still coming down from all the stress and events. We moved to Vancouver on Saturday and then Sunday was my 23rd Birthday. The move went really well thanks to all the great help we had. Unpacking is insane because this place is a little smaller than our last apartment. But slowly everything is finding its place. I had a very nice Birthday despite the move. Lucas' family came over for take-out which was really fun. It was nice to have such a quiet night after the events of Saturday. I really want to say Thank you to everyone who helped with the move and who made my Birthday as wonderful as it was. Thank you!!!

Moving Day!

Our new wonderful view!

My Birthday celebrations...just the beginning of them :)

St. Patricks Day 2007!

St. Patricks Day 2007! What a night it was!! I had an absolute blast at the Foggy Dew, the crowd at a St. Patricks Day celebration is always the best...I wonder if its because we're all wearing the same colour.....hmm good thing it's one of my favourites and my hair goes so well with it!! hahahaha anyway, enjoy the photos, we enjoyed creating them!

My Personality in Pictures

I found this on a friends blog and thought it would be fun to try myself. It is a visual personality test. I'd have to agree with the results. (the explanations are my own). :)

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

I'm Moving to Vancouver!

So it is final now, our house is sold and my Mum and I are moving to the city. I cannot believe this is happening, honestly. One second we had the idea that it might be a good time to sell our apartment, the next second (before it was on the market) people were looking at our place and then on the third second it was sold!! It was unbelievable, Mmy mum and I were just catching our breath as we found our new apartment building on 41st and Victoria Dr (10 min Bus from Commercial Dr.!!!!). The move-in date is March 30! SO fast! My Mum and I are very excited though, we both think this is a move in the right direction. We're are also both big city girls so couldn't be more thrilled to be closer to our beautiful city!!

Brandon's Surprise Party!

Saturday night we celebrated Brandon finishing his schooling and being hired as an air traffic controller. We had such an awesome time! Only thing...I have no pictures of Brandon...how did that happen? It probably had something to do with my date, Heiney :)

I'm not sure it gets better than this hahaha The top right photo is Lucas' first jello shooter! And does he not look like a priest in the other photo?? Couldnt be further from the truth haha

I had so much fun with my camera in Mandi's space, there were so many interesting things to snap photos of! Afro-dog is my fav!

More of the crazy stuff at Mandi's!

79th Academy Awards aka OSCAR NIGHT!

Last night the 79th Annual Academy Awards celebrated a year of amazing film. I was so impressed with the show last night, it was absolutely one of the best productions of the Oscars I have ever seen. Ellen was hilarious, the entertainment was just that, entertaining, from Will Farrell, Jack Black, and John C. Rieley performing a musical piece to the countless tableaus of the nominated films done by talented dancers behind an illuminated silk screen.
All of my favourites took the little statue home which I was most pleased with. I was happy to see the awards go to the right people. Jennifer Hudson winning best supporting actress was a wonderful moment, she deserved that! Best actress, of course, went to Helen Mirren for 'The Queen'. I personally am still in awe of that performance. And Forest Whittaker was my absolute most favourite moment. The second 'The last king of scotland' ended I said to Lucas that we would see him get the Oscar and he did! He so deserved that. And then on top of all these plesant surprises, Martin Scorsese was named best director and his film, 'The Departed' best picture! Lucas was most excited about this and I couldnt blame him. The Departed was my second choice for best picture, Little Miss Sunshine was my first. However, Little Miss Sunshine was not forgotten, it received best screenplay as well as a best supporting actor award for Alan Arkin.
I have never been so impressed with the Oscars as I was last night. The common belief of the Oscars being boring will disappear with more nights like this. Also, congratulations to Mr.Gore and his wins.

Watching Dad Sing

Last night the entire family (almost) was out in Maple Ridge to watch my Dad perform at a local cafe. Lucas and Michael came out as well. Michael got to finally meet Lucky, my Dad and Collette's HUGE dog(retriever/St.Bernard). We had an awesome time! Great singing Dad, I hope to be up there with you soon! :)

Valentines

My favourite new outfit! Saved it for the perfect occasion!

Lucas' modesty is always so humbling. I'll wear this with a lot of pride!!

Us, getting ready to leave, and for me, to be blindfolded for the drive to my favourite restaurant!

My favourite flowers in my favourite colours

At the end of the night I posed for just one more picture. This one is for my Gran. Thank you so much for the most beautiful coat. I think it makes the outfit!

Let the Healing Begin!!

Well, that's it, the surgery is over, the plate and screws are out and the real healing can now commence!! Yesterday morning I went into surgery. The whole thing was done on Local Anesthetic which was sooooo traumatising!!! I was completely awake. I could hear everything, including the doctor ask the nurse for a screwdriver!!! How many people can say that a screwdriver was used in their surgery?!?!? Not many! I think the worst part (light stomachs beware) was that I could feel some of the things that were happening to me. The local was not completely effective at first and I felt the first cut. Also, bones cannot take anesthetic so I could feel the screws being taken out and the plate pried off the bone which was the very worst part. I don't think I'll ever forget that. Anyway, the most important thing is that it's all out and it's all over. I am so happy to finally be starting the real healing process.

Happy Valentines Day

Three of the most talented musicians today, all on the same stage. It does not get much better than this. Happy Valentines Day!

Me

I have very strong political views and I will share them with you if the occasion arises. I will tell you when you're wrong (or when you're right) and I will not scarifice my beliefs for anyone or anything. I find that people either love me for this or they hate me for it. Tonight, as I stood up for something I believed in I received strange looks, rolled eyes, and side smirks. I won't lie and say that that did not effect me, of course it effects me. What it does not do, and never will, is effect me so much that it causes me to step down.
The reality of me, is that I study one of the forbidden topics. Politics is right up there with religion as one of those topics you are never supposed to talk about over the dinner table or in various other social arenas. Well, too bad when it comes to me. Politics is what I study, it's what I do, day in and day out, I read it, I watch it, I analyse it, and I critique it. This ability and interest of mine is giving me a degree in June so it can't be that bad. And, believe it or not, that degree means that I know one or two things about the subject. Again, you can either love me for this or hate me for it but you cannot deny that it is who I am.
Tonight I stood up for something that was important to me. I chose not to participate in something I found to be racist and ignorant. Some people will not understand my reasoning, others will think that I am taking things too seriously. That is fine, everyone is entitled to their opinion. My opinion was not going to let me do something that in my life would be hypocritical. I am proud of myself tonight for not stepping down.
What I am not proud of is telling two girls beside me that they should not take political science because it tends to ruin some of lifes mindless pleasures. I 100% revoke this comment. I would rather be aware of what occurs in the world around me than go through life oblivious and blind to the reality that is our world. I would not trade my political science degree for any Disney movie, crude TV show, or summarised news.
So that's it, that's me, well a part of me, a big part of me. Take it or leave it.

Word Cloud

My friend Joseph sent me a link to this awesome site where you type in the name of your blog and it gives a word cloud from the content. I think mine picks out the most important words. Here it is.

An Awesome New Saying!!

Hey all you transit users out there, do I have news for you! They have invented a new phrase that one can use often on public transit. I know how fond you are of cool new catchy phrases and I promise, this one will not disappoint!! Are you ready? Here it is:

'Excuse me'!!!

Now, isn't that wicked!? Not only will you look cool using it, you will sound cool using it too. Not to mention it's useful!! You know those instances where someone happens to be in your way, you use this new awesome phrase and chances are they will move out of your way!! Also, by using these two small words you can rest assured that the person you're pushing out of the way will not turn around and "accidently" hit you back.
So, transit users, my dear close friends, I'm telling you, try this new phrase out, you may find that it improves your day as well as the days of other fellow transit users. Good luck and do let me know how it works out for you!!

like like Like Like LIKE!

Let me set up a scenario for you, you are sitting in class, lets say this class is a political science class on the Canadian Government. Lets say that it is the first day of classes and the Professor asks the class to divide into two groups and the task is to come up with one or two sentences that sum up the situation of the Canadian Government today. Here are the sentences from the two groups, word for word:

GROUP 1
"Stephen Harper is like the Prime Minister of Canada, which like means that the like Conservatives have like a majority in the like House of Commons. The Government is currently a like minority government with the like Liberal Party as the like official opposition".

GROUP 2 (shockingly they thought of the same two sentences!)
"Stephen Harper is the Prime Minister of Canada which means that the Conservatives have a majority in the House of Commons. The Government is currently a minority government with the Liberal Party as the official opposition".

Now, let me ask you something. Which of these statements sounds more intelligent? Group 1's or Group 2's?? I hope that you answered Group 2!

The point of this scenario is to point out just how unintelligent people sound when they litter their sentences with the word 'like'. I understand that in the English language this word is a 'filler word' much like 'um' and 'uh' and that sometimes it will be used but there has got to be a limit!! When a student is trying to get a point across and every third or fourth word is 'like', their point becomes less and less interesting and more and more frustrating. I cannot stand the constant usage of this word! It makes classes frustrating for me to the point that I would like to interrupt these people and ask them if they are aware that they are in University and that they are currently sounding as though they should either be back in High school or worse, not in school at all. If I am sounding harsh, good. I mean to be harsh about this because I know that the people who use this word in my classes are generally not unintelligent and do in fact deserve to be there. What they are failing to realise is that they do not sound as though they belong there sounding as though you belong in University is just as important as their ability to receive good grades. Can you imagine the presenter from Group 1 in an interview for, say, Law School, talking to the head of the criminal law department saying, "I think I would like really enjoy working in the courtroom. I like believe that like everyone deserves a like fair trial and I hope to like help provide that." Rejected! I would not want that person representing me let me tell you that!!
The bottom line is that using the word 'like' in your sentences in places that it does not belong makes you sound EXCEPTIONALLY unintelligent and it makes people around you not want to listen to what you are saying.
So, PLEASE stop doing it!!

Clerks II

Last night, Lucas and I finally got to watch Clerks II and I must say that I liked this one a lot better than the first. I laughed more, the conversations were more engaging, the new characters were full of life and exceptionally quirky, especially Elias. Kevin Smith is awesome and never ceases to amaze me. I loved the story line of Clerks II, there were more dynamics to it for sure. It was awesome to see that Dante and Randal hadn't changed at all. They were hilarious. Anyway, I could go on and on I'm sure. The point is, you should see it. If you loved the first one and were reluctant to see the next one, don't be afraid, it does not disappoint.

Pan's Labyrinth

Yesterday afternoon Lucas and I went to see 'Pan's Labyrinth', a Spanish Language film about a young girl who escapes the trials of her life through her vivid imagination. She enters a world full of fairies, a faun whom you're not sure is out to get her or help her, demon-like creatures, and giants toads, this is a world in which she is seemingly the princess. Parallel to this story is the story of what is going on in her real life; her mother is pregnant and remarried to a captain in Franco's army, an absolutely vial man, she misses her father a great deal and wants nothing more than to leave the captain's house and go away with her mother.
I enjoyed this movie a great deal, I was very glad to have Lucas there to bury my face into during some frightening and graphic parts of the film. It is a wonderful story and is full of amazing visual effects. I think this is one of the best movies to come out in a long while. It must must must be seen on the big screen!! A TV will give the visuals very little justice. This movie is worth seeking out and seeing, it is not playing at major theatres yet but is playing downtown. Hopefully it will be released to those theatres soon and you can all go see it because it is very very worth it!!

Surgery Date, FINALLY!!!

I am finally going to be getting rid of this silly plate in my ankle. My doctor's office called me this week with the lovely news. It is a really minor surgery compared to the first one and should only keep me off my feet for a couple weeks at the most. It is truly time for celebration. Perhaps this time next year I will have nothing to complain about and can enjoy the snow like everyone else. February 15th is the day and I cannot wait, 32 days and counting!!!

My Last First Day

Today is an odd day for me, today in my last first day of school at SFU. I cannot believe that I am finally here. My first first day at SFU was in September 2002 and I remember being so scared on the bus ride up and pleasantly surprised everyday since. To be honest, I think I'm more scared today then I was in 2002. Throughout the last five years I have grown to realise that a university degree is simply not what it used to be. Unfortunately, almost anybody can get one which means that graduates are no longer a class of their own. Employers know this as well and are thus scepticle of you despite the letters behind your name. Further training is what is needed now, further training and really taking the extra step to prove yourself. The favourite question of all who learn that I am graduating in June is, "What are you planning to do AFTER graduation?" The dreaded question all of us graduates fear the most. Why do we fear it? Well, because I'll say roughly 90% of us have no answer to this question. At one time university was the place where you figured that out, you took classes that trained you to become your chosen profession. This is simply no longer the case. Today, university is just another step in the right direction. It is a step towards knowing what you want to do. And, in the worse case, it is nothing but a step, a step that is not always in the forward direction, but sometimes sideways, or backwards even. For me? Well I think it has been a step forward and to the side. I'm pretty certain only other graduates will understand what I mean. I do not want to sound as though I am advocating NOT going to university, I wouldnt trade the last 5 years for anything. I am just saying students should be wary of what they expect to get from university. The cold hard truth is that there is no wonderful job just waiting for you after you graduate. You are not yet qualified for high paying, high profile professions. Your degree does not mean that you are more intelligent than anyone else. Your degree will get you one foot in the door and it is up to you to prove the rest. 95% to 100% of us will need further education for whatever it is we want to do next. Do not however, let this get you down, because getting to the next level is half the fun! So today is the beginning of the end for me and I am happy to say that I have no disillusions of what the end is or means. I am going to thoroughly take the time to enjoy every second of the end because it is my first and last opportunity to do so.

Welcome 2007!

Kelly, Shawn, Lucas and I brought in 2007 in the most relaxing way. Sharing drinks, laughs, and playing games the end of 2006 and the beginning of 2007 was completely stress free.

Just before midnight the four of us rushed to the art gallery to celebrate with all the others who found themselves on the streets of Vancouver to bring in 2007. We didn't make it to the art gallery and ended up having our new years kiss on Robson and Burrard, equally as wonderful. The bottom right photo is to document Lucas wearing his awesome pink floyd pjs out on the streets of Vancouver. :)

The four of us at the Vancouver Art Gallery

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUCAS!!!

Happy 21st Birthday Lucas

Last night we all went to the Marine Pub in Burnaby for Lucas' Birthday. It was an awesome time! Thanks to everyone who came for making it a great night!

All the boys: Alex, John, Lucas, Cam, Sean, and Phil

Christmas 2006

Christmas Morning!!

I got my favourite drink from Scotland in my stocking; my Irn-Bru with the tree in the background; Lucas and David tackle their lego; Mum and Lucas at their best

Candy enjoying the present opening festivities; Mum finishing the trifle with Lucas in the background; David still working on his lego; the Christmas ornament I got for Mum and pepsi hoping to be in the photo.

Christmas Dinner!!

Dinner was amazing! I love the look on Lucas' face upon his first bite of Mum's fabulous lamb; Me and Mum with the traditional cracker hats on; Brittany and David enjoying dinner conversation; Mum and Adrian laughing.

SCIENCE WORLD!

Lucas and I took his little brother Michael to Science World yesterday and we all had so much fun!! Lifting hippos, playing harps with no strings, sliding through garbage, and testing the abilities of the human body. Science World is so much fun, it actually gets better as you get older I think.

December Nights

December is turning out to be a great month. I love this time of the year for spending time with the people you love the most. Over the past few weeks I've done such fun things as having a night out downtown, a Christmas get together with my best friends, and wrapping presents with my Mum. I can't wait for the rest of December, it's turning into a wonderful Christmas time!!!

Lucas, Mandi & Me in gastown and at the Irish Heather, ooo good times (don't order the bread)

Thursday night I had a Christmas get together. Thanks to everyone it was a wonderful time!

Last night Mum and I wrapped presents, it was so much fun we've decided to make it a tradition!

Stop All the Fighting

I am unbelievably disappointed at the fighting and the anger I am witnessing this Christmas season. We are all taught from a very young age that Christmas is a season of joy, laughter, warmth, love, caring, generosity, and compassion. With just over a week until the big day, the apparent lack of all these things is quite troubling.
Last night Lucas, Mandi, and I were coming home from a wonderful night downtown sharing pints and a few good laughs. While waiting for Brandon to come and pick us up, a young man (no doubt very intoxicated with drugs or alcohol) came up to Lucas and proceeded to pick a fight with him. The reason? Lucas looked at the young man momentarily as he stumbled up the stairs of the station. I am still very proud of how Lucas handled the situation, staying very calm and responding with no anger or frustration to the young man's comments. This in turn gave the man nothing to be angry with and he eventually stumbled off.
Tonight, again, at the skytrain, Lucas and I witnessed a heated argument between a cab driver and young man on a bicycle. We don't know why exactly they were screaming at one another but it was unnecessary I'm sure. It ended with them both exclaiming that the other should return to "their country". I was shocked (and honestly at the same time not shocked at all, sadly) at their racism.
These examples are just two out of a hundred I'm sure. I've witnessed useless bickering in the malls. Unfathomable rudeness. Complete lack of consideration. No kindness. Utter unthoughtfulness. Hate. Racism. Anger. Stress. Scowling. . . The list could go on. And quite frankly I am disgusted. What has happened to this season?
Start switching the channels through the old Christmas movies on television right now and you see beautiful scenes of towns coming together to help a man in need, little girls realising that miracles really are possible, happy families laughing around a piano sipping eggnog, or hilarious families realising the true meaning of Christmas amongst a deranged extended family and enough Christmas lights to light a small town. What has happened to this Christmas that we love to watch on television?
I know that we all have our own ideas of what has caused this and for this reason I will not preach all of my beliefs. I only ask that you think about these things. And try to be one happy person in that store this week, a kind driver to people who are just as desperate as you to get to their destinations, or a smile that a grumpy old man may need in order to find it within himself. This season, do not be one of these rude, ungrateful people, realise what this season really means to all people of all races and creeds.

DONE for 2006

This week I finished my last exam and I am officially done my second to last semester ever! how frightening! Because this was my last winter semester I took my camera up and took photos of the trees that they decorate with lights every year up at my school. They look so beautiful! That night I went to the pub with Mel (that's us in the centre) to have a final drink which was always great fun. The other pics are of last night, when Lucas, my Mum and I decorated the house for Christmas with the help of our favourite Christmas drink!

Kid's Christmas Party @ Mum's Office

This past weekend my Mum's office had their Kids Christmas Party. Mum and I were there to work at the different stations, and Lucas brought Micael along to participate in all the crafts and games. It was so much fun! It was so neat seeing all the kids excited to see Santa and make different crafts. I was so impressed with the staff that had put the party together (Mum included!), this kind of this is such a wonderful thing to put together for the kids. I was almost in tears seeing all the kids react to Santa arriving, they were all so excited! It reminded me of when my Grandad used to take me to his work Christmas parties and Santa would be there, and I would have so much fun!

Clockwise: Michael decorating his loot bag; me sitting at my station, kids came to me and had to sing a christmas carol in order to get their ornament and some candy, it was so adorable watching little kids sing 'jingle bells' and 'rudolph' especially when they were too shy to sing and I would have to help them; Santa arrives with gifts for everyone; the kids sat patiently waiting as Santa went down his list of names.

Mum had a great time calling bingo numbers; Michael won a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle action figure from bingo; the three of us at the end of the party; Michael receiving his basketball from Santa, and good job Santa, Michael had actually asked for a basketball this Christmas!

Happy 1 Year Anniversary to me!

At this very moment last year I was sitting in a hospital emergency room with a growth the size of a baseball on my left ankle. I had been snowboarding that day and fractured my ankle. I will never forget sitting after my xrays waiting for the doctor to come and tell me that I would need a cast and that I would be going home some time that night. Unfortunately, instead of telling me this he came to me to tell me that I would need surgery as my fracture was a spiral fracture and would require a plate and 2 screws to hold it together. I laughed and asked if he was joking, turns out he wasnt and two days later I left the hospital with metal in my leg. And it is still there today. And it is still super annoying! Luckily the surgery is set to happen this month to take it out. Also lucky for me, I'll get to give my arms a wonderful workout once again with those wonderful crutches I loathe so much.
Anyway, the moral of the story... Snowboarding is not my thing, buy expensive boots, and cherish the fact that you can walk on Christmas and that you do not have metal in your ankle that feels like someone is holding icecubes to your skin in the cold!!!

The Last King of Scotland

In even just thinking about writing about this film I am at a loss for words. . . . It was simply incredible. The Last King of Scotland is a movie about Idi Amin, the genocidal dictator that ruled over Uganda in the 70's and his relationship with a young Scottish doctor that visits Uganda to make a difference and break out of his boring routine at home. They meet by chance and develop an immediate relationship due to Amin's love for Scotland. This scene is quite funny because originally Amin thinks the young Scot is British and Nicholas quickly corrects him by showing him a Scottish football jersey and Amin laughs and asks for the shirt for his son Campbell. Amin exclaims how he loves the Scottish, that if he were not Ugandan he wished he were Scottish (except for the red hair he says). The next day he invites the Scottish doctor to be his personal physician and with some reluctance Nicholas accepts the offer. The movie follows their relationship from the good moments to the very very bad moments.

I think what was most interesting and equally disturbing for me was seeing all these atrocities surrounded by Scottish traditions. Amin had two sons named Campbell and Mackenzie, he wore a kilt at times, had african choirs singing Scottish folk songs, and had bagpipe processions in Ugandan streets. I had heard stories about his fascination and love for Scotland but did not expect what I saw.

I also must talk about the acting in this film. I was in awe of Forest Whittaker who plays Amin. What a performance. Again, I am at a loss for words here. I was literally scared of him, not once was he out of character. I could have been watching Amin on screen. If he is not nominated for an Oscar I will be shocked; I'll be equally shocked if he doesnt win it. James McAvoy, from Glasgow, plays Nicholas Garrigan and also does a wonderful job.

I strongly suggest seeing this movie to everyone, all those here in Canada as well as in Scotland. It was a very difficult story to watch at times but the story is worth knowing. If you dont like watching these types of movies on the silver screen at least remember to rent it when it comes out in a few months. (Just for those who aren't familiar with it, this story is based on true events and people)

Papers & Exams

My friend Joseph sent me this wonderful photo in trying to describe how he's feeling with all the papers and exams at the end of the semester. I thought it was such a perfect picture to describe this that I had to share it. Luckily for me, the worst is over after today. Nevertheless, I know a lot of us are still feeling like this right now. Good luck to everyone! And remember (as corny as it may be) WW always wins against all these bad guys and we will too!

Casino Royale

Last night Lucas and I went to see the new Bond flick, Casino Royale. We were so impressed. We are both Bond fans and were looking very forward to seeing how the new man in the job would do, and let me tell you, he was AWESOME! We were so impressed with him! Daniel Craig makes the shoes look easy to fit into. He does James Bond proud, I think. He is handsome, rugged, smart, and funny, everything a man needs to be a womaniser and the most famous spy in the world. Who cares that he has blonde hair!

The movie was great, there was a lot of really entertaining action, the kind of action that is intelligent, that you're not sitting staring at and thinking "yeah right". The story line was also very entertaining. I loved the villain, he was everything a Bond villain should be, scary looking yet handsome with an eye that wept blood. And the Bond girl lived up to standards as well. She was beautiful and smart. I have to say I didn't like the heavy make-up on her, she looked far more beautiful in the scenes where she was wearing very little, more natural looking make-up.

One of my very favourite parts of Bond films is the opening. Casino Royale also delivered in this. Chris Cornell wrote the song (which Lucas and I have mixed feelings on) and the animation was great.

And of course, what is a Bond film without the cars!

Dion Takes Liberal Leadership!!

Today was the final day of the Liberal leadership race and Stéphane Dion has won. As a card carrying Liberal I was able to vote for delegates to attend the convention and vote on my behalf for the leader. I was supporting Michael Ignatieff and am sad that he has lost. I am however happy that Dion was the one to win over him. He was my second choice and I do believe that he can become the next Prime Minister and I look forward to that day and wish him much luck in the days to come.