Poor Kitty...

I'm sure I've blogged about Minette's obsession with water but this one really takes the cake. Minette has a thing for drinking out of water glasses. I had a water glass which was about 1/4 full on my desk next to my laptop. While reviewing for neuropath, Minette decided to have a drink. She and I know full well that she can't reach the bottom of the glass so I let her try (still kinda keeping an eye on her to make sure she doesn't spill... water and laptops don't mix).
Somehow today she managed to get her head in the glass and drink! Being it was incredibly cute, I tried to take a picture but while turning my laptop to face the cat and water glass I must have hit something and it startled her. She lifted her head which was stuck in the glass, poured water all over herself, jumped back in surprise and fell off my desk with the glass still on her head, shook off the glass of water and ran a few steps and then sat there, stunned looking at me laughing my head off.
After I finished laughing (this took a few minutes) picked up Minette and dried her with my sweater. Poor thing was soaking. But it was way too funny. Poor Minette. It's not nice of me to laugh at her misery.

Neuropath and headaches

So I've got yet an other neuopath midquarter tomorrow. On Wednesday in sport treatment class we worked on the upper limbs and this included work around the upper trapezius muscle. My upper trapezius and the muscles around it (mostly levator scapula and supraspinatus) are filled with latent trigger points. The key word here is latent... essentially they're like sleeping dragons. It's best to keep them that way, not to piss them off cuz when they wake up then they cause a horrible mess. Alas, you've guessed it... they got worked on and ever since Wednesday I've had a horrible headache. I know it's a trigger point/tension headache because it's all along the referral pattern for the trigger points that were activated. What makes it go away? Nothing. Time. Stretch and ice probably would because it's an indirect way of treating them. Right now my neck is so sensitive that even my bra straps make my head ache even more. Bleh! Oh well I know for next time.
This has made it impossible to study! I can't focus. I get sidetracked so easily and when I try to think it hurts... Anyways I've got to find a way to buckle down and study because neuropath has been giving me a really hard time (which is why I always blog about it because I'm always studying it and trying to understand it).
Ok now that I've whined, maybe I can study. Or maybe I'll go to bed and wake up at 3am. My headache doesn't seem to start until later in the morning anyways (well 9am later).

Baah Baah black sheep...

The weirdest thing happened today! I got on the bus and there was an other girl my age crocheting! I'd never seen anything like it. So I sat next to her, pulled out my crochet stuff and we crocheted and chit chatted for the entire bus ride. She informed me that every Wednesday night at three bags full on main street (which is a shop I've been avoiding for fear that my credit card will fly out of my purse and will magically buy everything that I want and don't particularly need) there's a knitting and crocheting group. Hells yeah man count me in! Sometimes people even bring snackies! Hey it's the little things ok :P
Then this afternoon when Maggie came over to "study" (we ended up making cookies and crocheting... maybe I should be Martha Stewart or something like that) she asked me if I could teach her to crochet. Her brother's girlfriend (or fiance, I forget) is pregnant and Maggie's so excited she wants to crochet a baby blanket for the little one. So this afternoon I taught her how. She picked up quite quickly and made her first granny square with the left over white yarn I had from the baby blanket I made. Maggie and I now have a date to go to this crocheting/knitting group after our exams... but only AFTER our exams cuz we have to study.
Today was productive, but not in a studying sense. I saw the naturopath again, dropped off my Mac (which they now want to keep it because of some... heck I don't know but they're keeping it for a while and I need it to study!), went to the orthodontist, met up with Maggie, made cookies, watched hockey & crocheted & yelled at the TV (was worth it, we won! Luongo's a freaking superhero or something like that) then made lentil soup. Now on the PC trying to remember how it works... so ghetto compared to my Mac. I miss it :(
Oh well bed time now. Tomorrow I get to sleep in. I haven't slept in for about... 2 or 3 weeks now. I can't enjoy it too much because essays, projects, readings and studying all has to be done tomorrow. Ok so all I have to really do is study for my neuropathology midquarter which is on Saturday but it's a good idea to start/continue the other things.

Why do we always have to break what's pretty

Damn I want to dance! For sport treatment class we had dancers come and perform then we worked on them. Though watching them did help a lot in understanding movement and how injuries can occur it also made me realize that I REALLY miss dancing! I miss ballet too! I used to do ballet... until the lady told me that I didn't have the body for ballet and wasn't slim enough. Fuck I was 5! I then moved on to ballet jazz and eventually to synchronized swimming (hey they're related). Ended up with synchro for 12 years. Hell once school's done I am going to synchro again and do ballet and salsa and and and... I'll just have all of this free time. All I'll have to do is work! Man I dream of the day!
Well winter has definitely rolled around. It snowed for the first time. It didn't stick but it was nice. I came to the realization that next week I have... 5 papers due. Damn. Somehow December snuck up on me and both October and November flew by. Finals are in two and a half weeks and I'm... surprised. Damn sneaky things.
Had such a good time on Monday night... planning on going to Joanna Chapman Smith's show at the Railway on Dec 9th. Maybe a bit less wine this time around. Lovin' Joanna's song Adrienne.
Found out that my cousin Joey will be moving to Vancouver in January for 6 months! Totally stoked! His girlfriend Christel will be coming as well.
2nd recipe of candied ginger worked out... but isn't as potent as 1st batch... oh well it'll be good for cooking.
Speaking of cooking... been thinking of going for pastry chef at VCC... heart isn't into massage at the moment and all of the back and forth has me thinking that this really isn't what I want to do. I am sure I am going to finish this program... but it's hard when you're not into it. Future seems uncertain. Went to VCC to check out their bakery and I just felt at home... it was familiar. I don't know what to do. Maybe things will change when I work as an RMT. Until then I'll wake every morning, thankful of an other day of health and happiness (despite the uncertainty).
Sleep now. Big day of appointments tomorrow. Naturopath, computer guy, orthodontist. Study as well.... either neuropath or assignments.

Everything looks perfect from far away

I need more nights like last night... I could do without the hangover I have today. Fuck. Last night Pam and I went to the railway club to watch T. Nile. Amazing show, as always. This time we were lucky, she played two sets :) I was also her merch girl, which was something different. CBC was also recording her so it added for a different twist. Eric wasn't there either and that was weird... first show without him there... kinda seemed like I forgot something.
Tee hee the song rambling from T. Nile is playing as I type this and that's how I feel. I can't form a proper thought. I was fine until about 10am then boom! it hit me like a pile of bricks. I've felt pretty rough since then. I still managed to pay attention in pharmacology and neuropathology... but let me tell you, those are not classes you want to go to hung over.
Had a fucking amazing time last night though. It was great to spend some time with Pam too! It had been a while since we hung out. Miss that girl! Soon we'll be in the same class again. Before going to the Railway club we cooked and I think this is something we should do more often. Pam and I are quite the duo in the kitchen. We have the same approach. Cook with passion and flare and always with a full glass of wine. Last night was just so simple and chill, it was great.
Ok I know it's 7pm but I don't care I am going to sleep! Maybe the elephant will stop doing triple pirouettes in my head. Ssshhh elephant.
Post title inspired my scribbles that I had/have on my hand... Tamara sang Such great heights from the Postal Service and it was amazing (listened to all the versions that I could find and none compared). That one and something better has been on repeat in my head today.

Sugar... Syrup... Sugar?

I'm on a ginger kick at the moment. Actually I've been on it since I came back from Maui and them little ginger candies saved me from an entire day of car sickness on the road to Hana (620 curves in the back of a van will do that do ya).
I decided to make candied ginger because I need it for a ginger snap recipe. Somehow my candied ginger didn't turn out that well (though it is amazing, it just... didn't work out). I followed the steps exactly as the recipe had asked. Somehow between step 9 and 10 something went wrong. It went from ginger in a syrup to... sugar. And really quickly too! Oh well now I have amazing tasting sugar (well it tastes like ginger) and shrively ginger coated in sugar. Maybe this is how it's supposed to turn out. Oh well. While looking for pictures to put on here, I found this recipe for candied ginger. I think I will try this one out tomorrow after work. The little Persian market is bound to have really cheap ginger.
I've found that cooking is one of the perks of going part time. I've been cooking so much and loving it! I'm also feeling much healthier as my diet is much higher in fiber :) anyways bed time for me now. Work tomorrow... before last day there :(

Passports n things

Today I went to the passport office and well... it was rather uneventful. Heck I was glad it was but I was ready to wait in like for 6 hours! I brought a shitload of crocheting stuff and figured that would keep me busy. I got to the Richmond passport office 30 minutes early and there were only 14 people ahead of me. The wait wasn't so bad, it was cold (-1) but I was dressed for it. Once we were inside, we went through pre-screening and the lady gave me a hard time because my signature changed. I kinda don't blame her, all the signatures were different. On my carecard it my mum had printed my name cuz at a few months old you can't walk, never mind sign. My passport and learners license were issued when I was 16 (yes my learners license is expired but most people don't notice) and my signature has changed since then. In the end she had me sign my old signature and I was good to go.
I managed to do 1/4 of a granny square when they called me up for the rest of the application. No hiccups there. From start to finish it took me an hour and 5 minutes. So if you're going to the passport office, go to the Richmond one, half an hour early on a cold morning.
So far today I've done that and I finished my first crochet project!!! I finished the baby blanket for Catherine's little one! It's so cute (and warm, I had it on my lap while I was finishing the edging). Pretty proud of this blankie :) First project and it looks good. Hopefully it'll stand up to the abuse that a little baby will put it through.
For the rest of the day I get to study neuropathology figure out some Canada revenue agency stuff (they say I owe them $2 000), tidy up old study space, make chili and then tonight go to Michael's to get a shit load of yarn and things for Christmas. Anyways better get to it. Things don't do themselves...

Morning commute

Most morning I take the same bus with the same people that go to the same job or school and do the same work at the same time and then we all come home and take the same bus... you get the point. Welcome to the rat race. Too many of us go about life, not looking around and realizing the beauty of the space we live in. Yesterday morning I decided to capture my commute in photos. Only problem was, I didn't give myself enough time and was almost late for sport treatment.



































I'm fortunate that on my way to school I get pretty amazing views of the mountains. These pictures don't do them justice but they really are amazing. This week we had our first dusting of snow so they were breath taking. I don't think there are too many cities that have mountains as their backdrop.

Lullaby

May you find solace in the gentle arms of sleep
Despite the wolves outside your door
In time you will see them all as harmless
And their idle threats easy to ignore

And if ever fate should choose to smite you
Stand your ground, never walk away
Please don't ever let the world defeat you
Don't get buried in its decay

As you drift into the gauzy realm of dreams
May you take comfort in the thought that you are safe
For it only takes a fraction of a second
For all of this to change

Return to me
When slumber's fog has lifted
Return to me
Stronger than before

As you sink beneath the soothing streams of time
May you be thankful that you had another day
For there comes a time when each of us will enter
A sleep from which we will never wake

And if ever fate should choose to smite you
Stand your ground, never walk away
Please don't ever let the world defeat you
Don't get buried in its decay

Close your eyes now, if only for a moment
For it's time you get some rest
The wolves are gone and nothing here can harm you
Let go of your fragile consciousness

Assemblage 23

Brain stem, Brain stem!

While hanging out with a few friends of mine, we came across this video on youtube. I thought it was absolutely hilarious... the others not so much. I guess this is what happens when you study neuroanatomy. It has become a bit of an inside joke between my brother and I as well. Every time I say something related to anatomy or physiology, he says "Brain stem, brain stem..." Anyways I am sure you had to be there...
Otherwise lately I've been keeping busy.
Worked the past two days.
I haded in my letter of resignation at work.
I've been going to the gym a lot (found out that my fitness pass works at Kits! Totally stoked about that!).
Celebrated my brothers birthday yesterday with him! Happy 19th Stephy!
Still cooking amazing dishes. Tonight tofu stir fry.
Helped Craig and his roomies paint their new place. That was fun, got to see Etie, Carla and Sean. People I hadn't seen since... 3 or 4 years ago or so.
Learnt a new word/have a new favorite word: Lactarded - being lactose intolerant.
Minette has been great, she hasn't puked or pooped (other then when my brother had the party) anywhere so I am really proud of her!
The place is clean, the plants are alive and the garbage is taken out. My bro and I have been able to keep things running smoothly despite the parents disappearing and everything we've been doing. Steph's been a great help though so it's nice.
And best of all! I've been doing lots of homework :)
Been enjoying the natural light from where my desk is now. I'm next to an east facing window so I can also see the sunrise while studying in the mornings.
175 days until Maui.

I heart lentil soup

Wow that's freaking amazing!! Again here's the recipe. I strongly recommend it if you're wanting a great dinner. We used green lentils and they worked just as well. We also didn't have fresh coriander so we used the regular spice. For the chutney, we used tofu instead of the fresh coriander and the spice. That worked out well. Both versions were good (we couldn't decide which one is best, with or without the "chutney").
Now to make asparagus soup and fig Olson. Next little bit of the week is quite hectic so leftovers will be great... and cheaper :)

Oh be joyful, cuz that shit spreads

I'm happy. I have been for the past 2 days. For some this might be normal but these days I've been finding it hard to feel content and happy. So far I'm on a roll (yes, for me two days is a roll). When I came home from my not so good day, I was ready to fall asleep and wait until tomorrow comes along hoping it'll be a better day. But I decided to make dinner with my bro hang out with him instead. Our dinner was pretty good! The stir fry turned out to be more of a pasta dish (well a stir fry on top of pasta...) we didn't have time to cook brown rice and we didn't want to have white rice. It was fun cuz while we were cooking, we were singing along to French tunes. This isn't something that we usually do while Mum and Dad are around. It's good to just hang out with my little bro.
After that we went and did some grocery shopping. We picked up things to make curry lentil soup, vegetarian chili (I've never had chili, ever) and other yummy healthy vegetarian recipes. The came home to make 4 liters of apple sauce.
The following day (yesterday), was great... I had my first sport treatment class and Ben taught the class to salsa dance! Oh I was stoked :P And yes there was a relation to why he was teaching us this... it was as an example for classifications of sports (salsa is a type of serial skill, but a salsa step can be a discrete skill.) During break Ben and I also danced a bit. All steps that I hadn't learnt before but he taught me and he's a pretty good teacher. It's hard to dance in Vans (those are the ones I have) but it was great to do a few salsa steps anyways. It made me realize how much I miss it.
For pharmacology, we went on a field trip to Chinatown to look at all sorts of things that they use for Chinese medicine. It was pretty amazing! There was everything you could imagine there. Dried shrimp, krill, sea anemones, star fish, sea horses, ginseng sea cucumbers, lizards on a stick (I wish I had my camera for this, they were awesome... yet I kinda felt bad for the dead little lizard). Anyways though it was kinda smelly - not surprising though, dead dried things smell, it was great to see this alternative.
Yesterday I also got my mark for my neuropathology exam. I got 101%! I think that's my first 100% that I've gotten in an exam. I also got to go to the dentist, which I didn't particularly mind. It's a time where I get to lay there and take it easy. After that I hit the gym with Craig and then we went for coffee. A long day but it was fine, I was content. I noticed a change... I actually laughed a lot and smiled a lot.
So far today, I've gone to the naturopath, picked up a present for Stephy's birthday, got my passport pictures taken (and they're not that bad), filled out my passport application, had a two hour nap and am now going to start dinner. Today is my organizing/cleaning day and my a bit of homework day.
I've decided to be less anal with my school work. I've fallen behind and I am always trying to catch up... with catching up, I fall behind in what I am presently doing. A vicious cycle really. So I decided to put away the stuff for the classes that I am not in at the moment and I can take care of that before boards. It'll be great review.
Oh and the cells are precancerous... found out today. Not overly impressed but there's a cleansing and things that I can do to that might make the abnormal cells go away. The good thing is, they're only a 1 on the abnormal scale. 3 being malignant (cancerous).
Anyways it's time to start dinner. Lentil soup tonight with a little salad. Yum!

Please don't bite my head off...

I don't appreciate it. After spending a morning studying for neuropathology, I went to school for my afternoon class. I wasn't even in the school when the Dean asked me where I was this morning and why I wasn't in sport treatment. Well lets see, I thought sport treatment class started tomorrow, not today, my mistake. That would be why I wasn't in class. I apologized and turned to leave and he said "You better be there tomorrow.". Uh! Anyways I know this is completely my fault and I'll lose the 2%, that's fine. But don't be an ass about it!

Changes and good music

Last night while trying to fall asleep, I was thinking of homework and how I can be more effective at doing it. Something that I find rather frustrating is my itty bitty study space. Then I had a thought (it happens)! When board exam study time comes around, I should move my study space from the basement kitchen to my little massage area. It'll be in an area with less traffic and I'll be able to put an other desk next to mine for more space. Then the wheels were turning and i thought about how I can do it, where I can get a new table... you know stupid thoughts that just keep you awake.
Now while studying this afternoon (because it took me forever to get going today, I just wasn't motivated! I was sick too so that didn't help things) I decided why shouldn't I just do the switch now? I don't really see that many clients and the ones I do see I can massage in the living room. When I told Stephy about my idea, he said I could use his desk. He doesn't need it because he's no longer in school. He also said he'd help me. When a break time rolled around (we got together and did the swap). I am so happy with my space! I can spread things out and I don't have to use my lap as a book holder (my neck is thanking me already). I'm so happy in my little space that I even studied until 11pm (which is unheard of! I am usually in bed by 10 and up with the birds - or before - to study).
On a completely different note, I added links that I felt deserved mention. T. Nile and Elaine Ryan. Now you've all heard about Tamara and how awesome her music is but I hadn't put up her link yet. Elaine Ryan is an other folk/acoustic/blues artist. When I first heard her music it was back sometime in late spring, when I met Eric for the first time at Granville Island. We were supposed to meet at the main busking area, in front of the french bakery but there was a mix up and Eric was at the courtyard. It worked out because we did end up meeting and I got to listen to Elaine Ryan's music while I was waiting. Her music was absolutely amazing! So good that I bought her CD right then and there. Since then I've been enjoying her music and it wasn't until earlier this week that I thought I should go see her play. I don't think my monthly live music fixes are enough.
Ok bed time now. SO tired!

It's raining it's pouring...

And it's really freaking windy too! From our house, I can see many trees and fences in the neighbourhood knocked down, several garbage cans and other yard things strewn about in yards and in streets... it's madness! Since yesterday afternoon we've had some pretty intense winds. It reminds me a lot of last year when we had the series of wind storms that flattened Stanley Park. Which got me thinking... poor Stanley Park is probably flattened yet again! What's sort of ironic is that the sea wall (around Stanley Park) was going to reopen in 4 days. It's taken them 11 months to clean up and rebuild. Now with this storm, it'll be interesting to see whether it will open up or if more damage will be done. Ah well, on the plus side, the yucky weather makes me want to stay in and study (which is what I am going to do for the rest of the day).
Last night went relatively well. After I finished my entry, Rick, Andy and Tex (friends of mine) dropped by to make sure everything was going alright. When they left, Rick told me not to worry, that they seemed to be a good group of kids but to be careful because they'll start throwing up in half an hour or so. Half an hour went by with no one throwing up. I went downstairs to go to bed, lay there for about 15 minutes until I heard commotion. Initially I wasn't too sure if it was outside my window or downstairs. I thought I'd check anyways just to make sure everyone was alright. Sure enough "Buff Matt" was downstairs throwing up lookin like a champ. Poor guy. His buddies were telling him to suck it up and go back upstairs so I told them to go away and I'd take care of Matt. After all I've known Matt since he was... 5 or something. Eventually I found myself going from one washroom to an other, taking care of Foy and Matt both cuddling their respective toilets. The other guys were having a good time. They'd come and check in on the guys every once in a while and tell them to get over it and be tough. By 1, everyone was out of the house, even Matt and Foy.
I had to chuckle though... two hours of drinking and three hours of puking. Man I remember the days. Then I learnt to pace myself. Now most nights don't end in puking. Yay. Anyways all of the cleaning up is done (I took care of the basement... it wasn't as bad as upstairs but still had puke in the living room, kitchen and bathroom) and I'm ready to start studying. I really really don't feel like studying. I just kind of want to write this one off. But I did that with my last neuropath exam so I have to bust ass with this one. Bleh!

Well then...

Yesterday Stephy asked me if it was ok if he could have a few friends over for a get together. I figured sure why not, the rents are gone, they're in Maui now and having friends over never hurt anyone. Not only that, I remembered Stephy's friends to be cute little munchkins when they were in grade 7. Oh boy was I wrong!
I was kinda hoping to go to sleep early so that I could have a nice full day of studying tomorrow. Not going to happen I think. Techno music, blaring, there's a bunch of 17 - 19 year olds drunk upstairs, some outside smoking up and the cat is scared for her life, hiding downstairs. I've abandoned the idea of going to sleep because I think it would be best for me to stay up just in case something happens (we're two hours in, one guy has already stabbed himself with a knife while making an apple bong - thanks to Aaron and crew for teaching my back in the day how to make one, I completed it and it was a damn awesome bong, one's spilt salsa all over the white carpet - a tarp would have been a good idea, there are many broken glasses and the kitchen is sticky with pepsi and rum. Oh well!
It's good to see my brother having a good time. Everyone else seems to be having fun as well too. If my neuropath mark suffers cuz of this, I'll be fine with it. My brother's worth all this.

Lest We Forget

Our battle-fields, safe in the keeping
Of Nature's kind, fostering care,
Are blooming, - our heroes are sleeping, -
And peace broods perennial there.
~John H. Jewett

Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand,
the spines of others are often stiffened.
~Billy Graham

Well that didn't work!

So I went to the gym. I took a cab cuz I am really afraid of fireworks and they're setting them off all around little India (which is where I live, it's Diwali today... big celebration). I got to the gym only to find out they close at 8:30... 30 mins to work out. Craig calls and says he's in the change room and should be out shortly. 10 minutes later, I call him cuz he's not out. Turns out he's at Kits community center and not Killarney. Fuckity fuck. Defeated I bussed home to catch the end of 2nd period and the canucks are winning. So a low key evening it is :) GO CANUCKS GO!

Tough decision!

Damn the Nucks are on AND I said I would go to the gym! Canucks or gym... Maybe watch the nucks at the gym... that could work. Not the same tho. GO CANUCKS GO!

Damn you atypical squamous cells!

Yeah so when I saw my naturopath today they told me that them damn little abnormal cells were back. Fuckers! I don't know whether it's ACS-US or ACS-U but either way they have to be checked out because of my history. Anyways I have to go for a colposcopy (not a colonoscopy) which usually leads to a biopsy (anyways it did the two other times...). Colposcopy... ok. Biopsy... not ok. Not looking forward to that. Would like someone to come and hold my hand when that's happening but fat chance for that.
Otherwise every thing's good. I made a unbelievable dinner yesterday. Yep cooking calms my nerves... and yeah I should have been studying but it wouldn't have been overly productive. I made thick pork chops with apples and raisins, wild rice pilaf with pine nuts and lemon zest and broccoli. For desert I made a brownie... but not any kind of brownie... I made one with tofu! It was really yummy.
I had a bit of a surprise yesterday. During baby fair I entered my name in to win a trip for two to Florida, then a cruise to the Bahamas, time in the Bahamas and then more time in Florida. Yesterday I got the call that I won. I was SO stoked! Until they gave me the details. It was a three week holiday that I had to use within the next year. Lets see... I have school for the next year with no more then two weeks off between terms. -2% for every class missed... missing a week would be -20%. The shitty (yet understandable) thing was, that I had to tell them then if I wasn't the one going. If I couldn't go then it would go to the next person. So I passed it up. Foolish me! I should have taken it and said fuck it to school. But I was reasonable. Damn reason. And yeah, I even knew who I was going to take... Maggie my best friend cuz she went to baby fair with me and has been there for me since... a long ass time. Oh well. Some other lucky person is going.

Here we go again... but it's ok I've been here before.

Whether it was the blogging or the shower I feel much better. Like I said in the previous entry, I've gone through this before and I can do it again. The first time all of this happened I was in the Blue Mountains in Australia, backpacking on my own when I got the call to go to a hospital as soon as possible. I then had to go through all of the hoops and stuff like that all on my own. Scary stuff, but I think that's when I realized that I'm ok on my own. I can get through moments like these no matter how scary or stressfull. Since then life has thrown me off course a few times and every time I was able to get back up and continue on my way.
I can get through this. This won't make me run away or drop into the fetal position (though it is tempting at times).

Here we go again.

You might not want to read this but I just have to get this off my chest.

Right now I'm numb... only because I was so angry a few minutes ago. I was studying quietly when the phone rang. I answered it. It was the doctors office. The receptionist had booked an appointment with the gynecologist for some time in January. I asked why I was going because I hadn't gotten the results and the naturopath hadn't either (the results were supposed to be forwarded to them). The receptionist told me that I had seen the doctor on October 16th (which I hadn't) and I was told why I was going at that time. I still don't know why I am going but knowing my history it's probably due to abnormal cells from my last Pap test (which was in mid September). The only way I can know why I am going to see the gynecologist is by booking an appointment. The soonest available time is in a week and a half from now. I asked if they faxed the results to my naturopath and she said it's been faxed somewhere but she doesn't know where. I should call the naturopath and see if they have it... if so that is where it went.
So now I'm scared. I probably shouldn't be but I've been through this before. The possibility of pre cancerous cells scared me before and the second... no make that third time isn't any easier. Luckily the gynecologist is nice. I guess they have to be when they're getting that close to people. It's just never pleasant when someone is taking bits of my insides out. UH! This frustrates me so much. I thought this was over and done with.
I think I am going to take a shower, hopefully I can clear my head and get back to studying. After all I have a systemic pathology final on Friday.

Hot Damn!

Yesterday I played around with the setting on my Mac and changed the desktop image (to some this might happen quite often but I think this is the first time I've changed it since I got my MacBook a year ago). Now every time I minimize an application and look at my desktop I think "Hot Damn!". Hell now I like my Mac even more!

Maui Romancin'

Only 188 days before I set off for Hawaii once again. This time will be a bit different then the last but it should be good none the less.
Maja and I are going to take the train to Seattle then depart from there. We fly to Honolulu where we're going to meet and stay with Frank. We met Frank last vacation. He had a weekend off and decided to go to Maui (he works and lives on Oahu... lucky bugger). We're going to stay two or three days there before we fly off to Maui for 5 days. There we're going to enjoy little beach (the nude beach, first two pictures... second is on a sunday which is the big party day at the beach)... among other things I am sure but little beach is really the place to be. I am not really one to lay on the beach and do nothing all day... but this beach is freaking awesome. You can spend an entire day body surfing the waves, laying on the beach, having a few beers, making sand sea turtles, scrambling on the rocks and then on Sundays watch the fire dancers and listen to the drummers as the sun sets. Really there's no beach like it. Last time we could see whales from the beach, hear them under water and we could even see some sea turtles swimming by the rocks.
Last trip, I went there to find myself and to have a good time with the girls. So you could imagine my surprise when Shawn, a fellow hosteller, pulled me aside and asked me to come up to his room because he had something for me (no I did not clue in). Once at his room, he gave me a lei and kissed me. Needless to say I was quite caught off guard but hell I enjoyed it. I spent the rest of the trip with the girls but Shawn was there too (The Brazilian was there too but he wasn't mine). It was great... a little unexpected romance was thrown in there. Since I came back, we've probably e-mailed back and fourth four or five times. I let him know that I'll be back in Maui and he said he'd meet me there. Funny. We'll see what that brings.
After our stay in Maui, we're back on Oahu for two or three days before we leave the wonderful paradise that is Hawaii. It will be interesting to see what Oahu brings. I've been there once before but only for a week, in Waikiki. This was on my way to Australia. I enjoyed it back then but that's probably because it was the first time I was traveling alone. I don't think I'd like it now because it's WAY too commercialized and touristy. Ah we'll see how things go :)
This is the carrot at the end of the stick... it reminds me that I should hang in there, that a break will come soon and that it'll be a damn good one when it gets here. I'm stoked! I can't wait to be laying on the white sandy beaches of Hawaii.

Cuz I'm smart like that...

Alright so it's silly but I'd already been on hold for 30 minutes and my neck was getting sore. This was my solution (as I made the mistake of giving my bluetooth away).
I called Simply Computing and the lady there told me that the cracked case was common among 1st generation MacBooks and if I called Apple, I could get a case number and get it fixed for free, eventhough I don't have the AppleCare plan. Of course Mac keeps you on hold FOREVER! I'd experienced this before... after 30 minutes of waiting, I became creative and the above is my solution. I think it's brilliant! I just don't think I'd go out in public with it.

My Mac has a bobo :(

Ah damn my Mac has a bobo! Though I love my Mac, it's had more then it's fair share of problems. Being it is a first generation Mac, it had so many issues when I first got it that it was in and out of the shop for the first two months that I owned it. Since then it's been working like a charm! You'd think with all of the issues I'd get the extended warranty. I didn't. So now I am ultra hooped.
There's a crack in the top case. I don't know how it happened it just showed up! So now I have got to get it fixed before dust and other foreign particles end up inside my Mac. I called Divine Mac (they did most of the work when things went wrong with it initially) and they said it would cost a little over $200. $200 freaking dollars! I am very tempted to put some tape or Krazy glue to stick it back together. If I chose this option, it could only cost me a few cents. Anyways I now have to make a decision as to what to do about my poor little Mac. Anyone have any suggestions?

Tonight, he plays and every note takes me away

Parents always have their own way of putting their children to sleep. My parents did many things, Dad sang to me, he'd play piano, sometimes he'd take me out in my stroller and walk until I fell asleep. Sometimes we'd go for a drive.
Tonight, Dad is playing piano. He's been playing for the past hour or so and I've enjoyed every moment of it. Every time he plays there's a certain kind of peace that washes over me and I feel comfortable and at ease. As I sit here, I think of my children (cuz I'm weird like that) and what kind of experiences I will be able to offer them. Will they one day be sitting in a cozy living room with a fire in the fireplace, a cat curled up in front of it, their siblings and mother around them being lulled into a kind of dreamy state of mind while their father or Grand Papa plays piano. Or will it be entirely different?
For now it doesn't matter, these are just thoughts dancing in my head. I love listening to Dad play. There's no way that I could capture the beauty of his music... but then again, maybe it means so much to me because it is my Dad playing the music or maybe it's because of the memories that every song holds or a combination of both. I don't know. But it's absolutely wonderful and I feel very spoiled to have a Dad like mine.

Well that wasn't so bad...

I got up early and instead of studying, I did notes... which is kinda like studying but not as intense. I wasn't going to do the exam and figured I'd just lose the 10%. But once at school I had a change of heart and I decided no matter how embarrassing the mark might be (3/35 was a possibility) I'd do it anyways. My own fault for not studying ahead of time. In the end I got 21.5/35. That's 61%. In no way it is a pass but it's better then what I thought I'd get.

Damn Damn Damn

Bah! I have a neuropathology mid quarter tomorrow that I haven't started to study for and all of today I haven't been able to study. I just sit there and look at the words, go cross eyed for a while and then space out! Bah! On the plus side it's only worth 10% of my final mark... ummm I can make that up right? I did get 9.5/10 on my quiz last week... Maybe if I keep that up...
Oh I got my marks back for A&P. I got 83% on my final exam (Yay) and passed the class with 82% (double yay).
Maybe if I go to bed early and wake up extra early (by extra I mean before 6am... perhaps 4) I can study then. Ick! I better have energy left in me for when I go to the gym after school. Maybe I can have a nap during break.

Birthday Girls :)

Well I haven't had the time to blog about last weekend. Now it's too far away and to go on an on about it kinda seems pointless.
Maja's birthday was a blast! I had school in the morning, clinic in the evening and between all of that I managed to get her a birthday cake. The pole dancing was a surprise for Maja. We had a great time pole dancing and lap dancing. This is something I'd definitely want to do again. Most of us were naturals, which was great to see. No one injured themselves and everyone looked sexy. After the pole dancing lesson I decided to go out with the girls. The only problem was that I was not ready for a night of clubbing (I was wearing my jeans, winter boots and a beater... not quite club wear). I borrowed Maja's shirt, tucked my jeans into my winter boots and I managed to pull off a style that was... well acceptable but not at all comparable to the girls who had had their hair done, make up done and were decked out in very stylish clothes.
Ah well! Off we went to Crush for a night of drinking and dancing. Once in the club, Brit used her charm to get us all into the VIP area which was fantastic because the girls got to rest their feet (I was glad for the winter boots now, no painful feet due to high heeled shoes). There was also a fan that was nice to sit under (or cool the inside of your shirt) after a bit of dancing. After a lot of dancing and quite a bit of drinking I headed out and went home. After all I did have to get up at 6am to go to work the following morning.
4 hours of sleep later and I was dragging my probably still drunk ass out of bed to go to work. Work was rough that day. Not only because I was in the state that I was in but also some work shit was going on. Not cool! I went home early in hopes to study and sleep a bit. After my nap, I woke up in an even worse state. I am not too sure how this happened but I spent the rest of the day looking over A&P and laying in bed. I also had carrot cake and opened my birthday presents. Man was I spoiled :) My brother scanned my camera and made a duplicate of it (except it was cardboard) and said I could wreck my POS camera (he also said he'd get me a new one but I don't think I can accept that). I haven't squished it yet but I thought it was so clever. He knows how much I hate that thing.
The following day I went back to work and things at work had settled down. Work was work... I had quite the challenge when I had to decorate a huge ass $150 cake! In the end it looked amazing! I took a picture of it with my camera phone because I was so impressed with my work. I even had the creative geniusness (new word) to dye star fruits with raspberry juice. Anyways I was proud of myself.
After work, Maggie came by my place to give me a carrot cake that she made for me :) It was so sweet of her to do that! It was delicious too! Later that evening I met up with Darla, Jerry and Eric at the Cascade (my favorite restaurant on main street). We had a pretty good dinner (actually the drinks are better then the food) and then Darla and Jerry went home. Krista met up with us after dinner and we went to the Railway club. There Aaron, Craig and Joe met up with us. It was a small group but we had some good laughs. It was laid back, the music was great and so were the people that were there so really I couldn't have asked for more.

No Ho Ho

OK so I know Halloween just passed but that does mean it's Christmas time soon! I can't believe that there are already adds on TV for Christmas things. It's should not be ho ho time right now, nor should it be for the next month (at least)! Then we can unleash the corporate bullcrap.

Good times, great memories

Well it's that time of year again. This seems to be an annual thing... I am not too sure when it started but it seems to be that every October I go through my pictures, sort them and get the ones that I like printed. Yesterday I spent 6 hours sorting pictures. I deleted over 2 000 and managed to narrow it down to 279 to get printed. Today I went through Eric's photos and realized that I have an other couple hundred photos on the old clunker (the PC I used to use before my Mac came along).
I'm surprised as to how many photos I have! I thought that being I am in school, I wouldn't have that many. But I've done many things in the past year! I've been to Maui, to Bowen island several times, to the Oakanagan twice, Winnipeg, my cousin Michelle has come to visit, along with my auntie Rose and the Tinkler family. Oh and we can't forget the underwear affair! Not to mention all of the things that I've done around this beautiful city.
I'm quite fortunate to have done so many things while in school. I realize though that now I am doing less because I don't have a boyfriend. That's ok though.
After looking through all of the pictures that Eric and I took, I realized how many things we did together. We made many fantastic memories. There's one picture that I particularly like. I believe it was taken after Eric and I finally went to Las Margaritas (I say finally because we tried many times but there was always too long of a wait or something like that) we went for a walk down to Kits, tossed around the frisbee and lay in the grass and just enjoyed the summer evening. I find the picture captures the moment... either that or I must really remember the feeling (I remember feeling so happy... one of those perfect moment type of feelings).