Delurk, I demand you!

Okay, so I feel like I've been neglecting this blog I started, for which I had high hopes. I thought I would be a literary genious, writing wittily about my everyday life and everyday opinions. However this it has not become. And I think it's because of three things. Firstly, because I'm quite frustrated with Blogger. Maybe it's more my frustration with my lack of internet blogging skills. I wish I knew how to write my own scripts (is that the right word even?). It's just that with blogger most of the work is done for you - you just write and post - which is great, but it seems like ever since I got my Mac I can't do certain things - like centre my photo titles, and add links. Just writing them now sounds silly - like they're no big deal, but they are a big deal. The other culprit waging against my blog is Facebook. Facebook is addictive, and unlike what your momma might tell you - yes, everybody's doing it. And, it has been a long long time since anyone really posted any comments on my blog, so I feel like no one reads it anyway. On Facebook however, there's comments all the time! Mostly on old vintage pics of us all looking stupid (and young, which isn't so bad). So should I abandon this blog of mine? Should I try to commit wholeheartedly to Facebook and see if there's a way to have the best of both worlds on one site? With this dilemma in mind, I am proclaiming this week Rhonda's delurking week. Let me know if you read my blog, and if you think I should commit to blogging better - and, by the way, if you know of a better host that blogger - or maybe you just have internet blog tips.

You know you're not a student anymore when....

...you spend $40 on an air freshener.



And the refills cost $24! But wait, it's not just any air freshener, it's a "Lampe Berger."

Go ahead do a search. Check out http://www.firelight.ca/Lampe-Berger-Information-p-5.html

Actually, I've been scoffing at these things for awhile now, mostly out of ignorance. I've seen them in the shops on 4th ave and in Steveston, where I bought mine. I thought they were ridiculous, and ugly, and who would ever buy something like that for their home... It's a gigantic overly decorated perfume bottle. I really didn't know what they were. At one point I had decided they were just that - gigantic perfume bottles with no purpose whatsoever. So me and my friend Andrea were walking around Steveston and head into one of my favorite shops, The Monkey Tree, and as we're browsing (that's right, just supposed to be browsing), we come across the display of overly priced gigantic perfume bottles and immediately start making fun of them, in true Andrea fashion. I guess the lady running the store heard us because all of a sudden she comes over and starts explaining that they're all the rage, and they've been around for over a hundred years and people in Europe use them all the time and they're just starting to become popular in North America. Well, of course, learning about a trend before it's a trend piqued my interest. She began to explain the antibacterial and deodorizing properties of these things and did a demo for us. Wow, the aroma! It was so cool! She told us it actually gets rid of odors and doesn't just mask them, and it will cleanse the air. Her husbands uses one when he's in the bathroom, and when she goes in after him, the scent is breathtaking! Imagine that!

So, of course we each bought one after spending over 30 minutes sniffing the different scents several times over. And get this, I bought the cheapest bottle! That's why it's clear and you're probably not thinking much of it. But seriously, there was one there for a THOUSAND dollars! It was called Hot Love, and if I were a richer woman I might have actually bought it. The average price is about $100 and they're all like little works of art. My apartment smells good, but most of all it's fun to light, and blow out. What have I gotten myself into?

Projects - finally!

A couple of weekends ago I bought a new adirondack chair for my deck. I put it together all by myself and painted it my favorite colour. I bought one a few years ago and have been looking for a matching one ever since but was not able to find one. So I bought this one that's a bit different, and even has a foot rest.


(I can't figure out how to make them upright!!!! Any tips??? I think I'm going to look for a new blog site)

And just yesterday I finally started a knitting project. It's a shrug, a very small one. And it's my first project on circular needles. I don't even know if it's something I'll be able to wear, but that's how it goes. If I could figure out this blogger thing I'd post the link to a photo but I can't so I won't. I used to be able to make a highlighted link but for some reason I can't do it anymore, or rather I've forgotten how. So here's a picture of the start. I'll post more as I go.

SNL Molly Shannon -

No Landscapes....

I went to Whistler last weekend with some friends. We were all excited to go as the weather in town was hot so we packed up our capris' and flipflops and headed for ...(screech)... the mountains. That's right - once we got there we remembered why people ski there - it's cold!!! So I put on as many layers as I could, which ended up being a hoodie and my jean jacket and walked around the village. Turns out we didn't stick out - although there were people wearing their ski gear, there were also girls wearing nothing more than miniskirts and t-shirts. But thank goodness for their Uggs otherwise I don't know what they'd do (note: sarcasm). We had a nice weekend. It was good to get away and relax, away from the ordinary. Here's a few pics - you'll notice we didn't do anything athletic or wildernessy. I'd like to try the ZipTrek next time.



wanna be wicked


mmm...learning to be wicked


Only Jason's really wicked


In the moooo-d

Ferry Pictures

It was hard to leave. I've begun to feel really sad everytime I have to leave my parents place. I don't know if it's the fear of going back to work, or if it's the fact that I've begun to really value my parents and the love I've come to have for them as an adult. I don't know what I will ever do without them. My mom has talked of moving back here so that I have family close by and wouldn't be lonely. I'd hate to see my parents leave such a beautiful place to come back to the city. I could never ask them to do that, although I do miss them a lot.

Here are some picture of my ferry ride home. Believe it or not, I actually took these with my computer! I love the coast.

Boredom has struck (and...another two bite the dust).

So I've got 4 days off, and I'm bored. So bored, that I'm going to visit my parents again tommorrow. And I've already started to rearrange my furniture, which some of you might remember was a favorite pastime of mine before I went back to school, and has been on hold...until now:) The rearranging will have to wait until my next set off to be totally finished as I have a shelf to put up and I don't think my neighbours would like to hear me drilling into the wall at 11pm, the time it is now. (Although, don't get me wrong, I did consider it for more than a few seconds). I don't think I've been bored in a long time. Truly bored I mean. There are different kinds of bored for me. Like when I was in school I would get bored and lay on the couch and watch tv, even though I had a ton of homework to do, so it was more like an avoidance of something I hated kind of bored. But now I really am just bored, with nothing to do. (well, there's always something but I have more time to do those things and of course I procrastinate). I was actually excited when Dawn from staffing called and asked if I wanted to pick up an overtime shift next week. Of course I accepted. I guess this is what hobbies are for, which I remember writing about in my very first blog entry but have just not seemed to be able to get started. I think once my furniture is rearranged I will start a knitting project. I also need to get off the couch and start exercising, because my bum is showing the effects of my love for Safeway donuts. I also remembered today that I sort of made a vow to get in shape before my 30th birthday and I haven't started yet. I thought I had lots of time left but it's April already.... uh oh.

On Sunday my friend Christopher got married. The wedding was a lot of fun. Here are a few pics.



Congratulations to Christopher and Michelle.



Some of us girls, most of us single (well, all, except Kyla on the end)



Some Asians (don't worry, they don't mind...)




Some crazy dancing pictures. The blurred effect makes us look like better dancers.

Happy Easter, from The Bunny.

Isn't he cute?! He doesn't belong to me :( He's my friends Tanis and Scott's, and his name is Luke. I can't wait to see him in person. I'm hijacking their Easter wish to give to you all, from me.

Last weekend...

Last weekend I went to Vancouver Island (Duncan, as in Drunkin Duncun) to a friend's wedding. It was a great wedding, and it was good to see catch up with my friends Sheila and Andra from school. Here are some pics of the happy couple - Natalie and Kurtis. (And who doesn't love a chocolate fountain?) I also spent some time with my parents on Salt Spring because they only live a short ferry ride across the narrows from Duncan. On the ferry on the way home to Tswassen (I can never spell it) these guys just got up and started playing their instruments and singing. Their band is called Headwater, they're from PEI and were on their way into Vancouver for some shows. They made the ferry trip go super fast and it was awesome just sitting back and relaxing and listening to quality live music - one of my favorite things in life. "Tractor Jazz" is their genre. I think that's funny - rednecks with class??? Anyways, I like them - kind of like Bluegrass really. I bought their cd cause they were selling them, and I can add them to my itunes party shuffle. Check them out at www.headwaterband.com

It's hard out there for a nurse

So I guess it's about time for an update on this blog thing I started. I've been wanted to write up a new post for a while but have just felt like I had nothing interesting to say. Life's been rather boring, what with working full time and all. It's been an adjustment - realizing that this ISN'T a practicum and it's NOT going to END any time soon. I feel quite alright with work. Everyone has turned out to be very nice (so far...I'm still waiting for the hammer to fall from some old Nurse Ratchet, but so far so good - phewy). I've been brushed by thoughts of why people have to suffer etc - but I can't go there. There isn't really a sufficient answer to that question and I know I will go crazy if I try to find a suitable one. That's just the way life is, and honestly, some people haven't taken care of their bodies or have ignored doctor's advise. So why are they surprised or embarrased when they end up in the hospital having some young nurse like me wipe up their incontinence, or put antifungal cream on their jock itch? I've realized I'm not getting any younger and I too need to give my body what it needs in order to last me into my old age. I heard a woman on tv say today that if you want to be able to walk when you're 80 then you have to do exercise now. And it's true. I remember when I was working on the island over the summer there was this old lady (really old) who was so nimble and quick. She would get into bed in the most awkward way, something like how a two year old would do it. And when we asked her how she kept so limber she told us she played sports all her life. Anyway. I'm back to work tommorrow. I've been fighting off a migraine for about a week now. And I know it's due to the change from the job, the wierd hours, and not eating well at all. I don't feel like cooking ever, cause I'm either getting home late or tired and waiting to go to work. And I'm definatley not drinking enough water because if I do, then I have to pee, and well there's just no time for that. But the good news is I passed the RN exam and am now officially a Registered Nurse. I just have to shovel out another $300 to get my permanent licence and sign some form in front of a notary which I'm sure will cost me as well. "Sigh." But, it's good to feel part of the world. I like working and having free time, and I feel better about myself now that I'm not a student and can say "I'm an RN" when people ask me what I do. It's a good feeling.

Things to look forward to:
~ Natalie's wedding this weekend
~ Going to Salt Spring (the wedding is in Duncan, a short ferry trip across the narrows from my parent's place)
~ Spring! It's finally sunny here - hopefully it will last. I turned my furnace off today, hopefully for the summer.

Come on Sunshine!

Diner 45

Another year, another youth fundraising dinner. This year's theme: the 50's. It was a lot of work, but a lot of fun in the end. The money raised goes to helping the kids have a fun weekend away at a nearby camp.

Another [two] bite the dust

Congratulations Brenda and Tyler!

I didn't want to go...

but I'm glad I did. Here are some pictures of my graduation. I was a "left behind" after I broke my wrist so a lot of my close friends from school had already graduated a semester ahead of me. But, here are some pics of some special people.



Me and Kirstin



Kirsten, me, and Julie



nurses waiting around



the Kirstin's

Only totally inappropriate men find me attractive - episode 2

I'll keep it brief. I was on the ferry, unshowered, frizzy haired, no makeup, and wearing workout pants. This guy, and his two friends, who were all obviously very hungover from the night before, sit directly in front of me - facing me. I look up and the guy is totally staring me down - right in my eyes! The freak that I am freaked out and looked away, went completely red in the face, and reverted to reading my book. The guy then proceeded to ask his friends for a "style report" to which I didn't hear the answer, and when I put my book down at one point I heard his friend say, "there's your opening." From eavesdropping I learned the guy was actually quite intelligent and I think an Accountant. So maybe not that inappropriate. I tried to make eye contact with him again but I guess I blew my chance. I seriously need an in-service to build this skill. I know that one day it will all work out just fine.

How I'm Feeling / Work's kinda sucky

It's 5:18pm, and I have to leave for work at 6:00pm. I have to say I don't want to go at all. I've been waiting all day to go to work, and I'm already tired. It's my second night shift and although I'm orienting, I just get so nervous and anxious. Nursing is not an easy job, and I'm not saying that just because I am a nurse. I really look up to those who have done it for years and years. Apparently the nervousness doesn't really go away - ever - and you never ever know everything. Great.

My memory sucks. I don't understand much of what I do, and I feel totally stupid when people (patients and doctors) ask me questions and I don't know the answer - either because I can't remember the answer (like someone's blood pressure from 3 hours earlier) or I really don't know the answer and haven't had a chance to look it up (yesterday this guy asked me about every pill he was going to be getting LATER THAT DAY which I hadn't even looked at yet because I was too busy trying to keep up with the present meds etc)

I just have to vent. The next 6 months to a year are going to be brutal and I have to convince myself that I can handle it. My apartment is already a mess, I haven't cooked a proper meal in a long time, and I miss my friends. 12 hour shifts seem to go on and on. Last night at work I actually had a moment where I didn't know if it was 6 am or pm. It was only a brief lapse, but still significant. And when I got home at 8pm, I walked into the lobby of my apartment building and it was all torn up - and I thought "just how long have I been at work!?" I'm very certain it didn't look like that when I left at 6:20am.

Anyways, to keep things positive, here are some things I'm looking forward to:
1) friday morning - 7am (I will then have the weekend off)
2) The Amazing Race - saturday - a 12 hour fundraiser I'm doing with Lindsey - all over Vancouver on transit - hopefully we'll still be friends on sunday
3) Sunday - a whole day off to myself, except for church in the morning. hopefully I won't get too anxious thinking about work on monday.
4) Spending more time at my parents place - whenever I can.

P.S. I got a new computer! A mac! So I haven't posted any pics because I can't figure out how to - yet. I have some pics of my grad to come.

Sunday afternoon blues

I've got the Sunday afternoon blues. I don't want to go to work tommorrow. At all. I'm starting to get stressed out thinking about it. Two days off is definitley not enough. I have to say for this reason I'm glad I'm a nurse. Once I'm done orientation I'll get 2 to 4 days off and will never be at work for more than 4 days in a row. Mind you those are 12 hour day and 12 hour night shifts...but I can handle that as long as I have some time off to enjoy my new "time off."

This morning was wonderful. I went to Tenth Ave Alliance and it was awesome! Ken's message was just what I needed and the music was great. I love that place. Then my friend had her birthday lunch at this really great restaurant in Yaletown called Glowbal. I had eggs benny with panchetta, fries, and a salad. Fabulous. Now I'm at home, in my pyjamas (at 5:40pm) and I'm not wanting to go to work tommorrow. I still haven't cleaned up my stuff from cramming for the exam and I was hoping to start some sewing projects this weekend but that's going to have to wait. I'm in the middle of doing laundry, have to cook my meals for the next two days, and... Work sucks. I wish I could just stay home and have fun all the time.

Fog

It's been really foggy here lately. Unusually so. I don't remember fog like this ever before, for such a prolonged period. And it's been coming in really fast. I have even heard the foghorn in Steveston blowing a few times in the past week. It's kind of a nice sound.

I think fog is a good thing.


One afternoon last week I was walking on the dyke with a friend and took this picture. Usually you can see the ocean and mountains in the distance. This section of the dyke is where some cows from an adjacent farm pasture. Sometimes when you're walking you have to stop to let the farmer lead the cows to the other side. It's totally old-school Richmond - living off the land naturally.

So, I'm supposed to be studying for my RN exam which is coming up quickly on wednesday. It's an 8 hour exam which covers everything I've learned in the past 4 years. Kind of a hard thing to study for eh? And I can't imagine failing - it would be very embarrasing and a total waste of time and money. I'm just going to do it, and trust that everything will all work out. It always does doesn't it. I'll be very glad when it's over and I can enjoy moving on. Starting a new job has been stressful, and with this exam looming over my head it's been an even more unenjoyable time. I often find myself thinking about how I'd like my life to be. Daydreaming of all the things I'm going to do when I'm free from school once and for all...being able to focus on work when I'm there, and focus on my own life when I'm not.

It's kind of ironic how fog forces you to look at only what immediately surrounds you. I have the image in my mind of walking on a path and looking at something up infront of me where I'd really rather be. But I realize that I've stopped walking and can't go on, because there's a huge log at my feet that I have to deal with. I could stay there forever, focusing on the distance, groaning and complaining and stomping my feet because I don't have what I want, but if I'd just do what needs to be done, if I'd just bend down and move the log, I'll be able to move on a whole lot faster. Why commit ourselves to suffering by wanting something immediately unattainable when there are things for us to accomplish in the here and now?

I guess I'm trying to say that fog can be a blessing. It forces us to look down at our feet and see what life has given us in the present. By wanting something different we miss the learning opportunities and joy that exists in our immediate surroundings. Trust that the life that exists before us, in the fog, will begreat, and enjoy it as it is revealed to us while continuing to walk steadily.

Only totally inappropriate men find me attractive

That's right. 4 days into my new job (actually working on the ward) I get hit on, I think, by yet another totally inappropriate man. I don't mean that he was BEING inappropriate, although he definitely was, but rather that he is inappropriate for ME. Some of you have heard my stories, like during my practicum on the psych ward, and the m*st*rbtr on the island (can you figure out my code? God forbid some sickos would come across my wee blog looking for **r*).

This time, this big middle aged tattooed biker guy who I can assure you with utmost positivity has links to a well known "club," and, after he tells me he's spent time in prison, used to "smell" illegal substances (if you catch my drift), and has a brother in prison for murder, looks at me and stops mid sentence in whatever mumbo jumbo is was rambling on about and says to me, "Please don't take this the wrong way, I don't want you to be offended, but, you're very pretty." He then goes on to assure me that he won't stalk me and that the only stalking he could ever do would be on a city bus cause he's too sick to actually stalk....

Please...all you normal guys about my age....I don't know...if you think it...say it maybe...?
You never know. What are you afraid of?

I already ate the hugs, kisses, half the gum, and I'm sucking on the mint as we speak.

Not because I needed it, but just because it was there. You know on Christmas morning you open your stocking and sometimes get good candy or a magazine or something, and the first thing you do is sample a little bit of everything? Take a bit of that toblerone, read a few pages of the magazine or book, toss the orange aside (of course) and maybe file a few nails with the new pack of nailfiles you got, all while lying on the carpet in front of the fireplace, only to return later in the day to check all your loot out again. Well, I do that with a lot of the new things I get.

I was given this yesterday at work by the Spiritual Care Services worker. Otherwise know as a Chaplain. (Apparently the Pope deemed that only males could call themselves "chaplain" so this equally educated and ordained woman has to call herself a Spiritual Care Services worker, or I think she said she goes by "Reverend." Whatever....)

Back to the posting. The "this" that I'm talking about is my new "Life Survival Kit." Take a look at it in the picture.

Enclosed within is a note explaining the contents. I think it's kind of cute. Here it is:

Life's Survival Kit

TOOTHPICK - to remind you to pick out the good qualities in others (Matt. 7:1)

RUBBER BAND - to remind you to be flexible. Things might not always go the way you want, but it will work out. (Romans 8:28).

BAND AID - to remind you to heal hurt feelings, yours or someone else's. (Colossians 3:12-14).

PENCIL - to remind you to list your blessings everyday. (Ephesians 1:3).

ERASER - to remind you that everyone makes mistakes, and it's okay. (Genesis 50:15-21).

CHEWING GUM - to remind you to stick with it, and you can accomplish anything. (Phil 4:13).

MINT - to remind you that you are worth a mint. (John 3:16-17).

CANDY KISS & HUG - to remind you that everyone needs a kiss or a hug everyday. (John 4:7).

TEA BAG - to remind you to relax daily and go over your list of blessings. (1 Thes.5:18).

I like it. I think it's a good idea.

A good piece of flannel is hard to find

(there's supposed to be a YouTube clip here but it's not showing up and I've got to go to bed...it's late and work awaits early tommorrow.)

Okay, so I figured out how to download / upload (whatever) from YouTube, but I did this like, three days ago and it finally showed up on the blog. I can only vaguely remember why I even tried to updownload it. I think it went something like this. I'm all done school, and I don't know what to do with myself "when I'm alone." I stand or sit or stand again in my apartment and don't know what to do. I'm also more aware of my aloneness. I've heard this country song on the radio a few times that talks about a soft place to land, and I finally understand what that means. Coming home after work and not having anything in particular to do has magnified the stillness of just me in my apartment. While being busy (alone) doing BootCampIT homework at home (alone) my hobbies all fell by the wayside and I've had to try to rummage through all that nursing knowledge in my brain and find my memories from when I once had a life long long ago. Don't worry, since then I've gotten really excited about being done. Yesterday Lindsey and I went to Steveston and we were walking down the sidewalk and I felt this sense of relief and enjoyment come over me that I do not recall feeling before, well maybe in Mexico I did. I was actually enjoying myself without any worries of having to go to work, write a paper, perform in the hospital.... It was strange, unusual and good.

I've always like to sew, and I haven't sewn much the past few years. I'm also on an environmental awareness / sense of responsibility kick and so I'm really into "repurposed" items and buying things that won't fill up a garbage dump. So today I went to Value Village and bought all these old pillow cases (for the fabric) from which I am determined to make something useful and awesome looking. Perhaps I'll even be able to sell them on Etsy. I've thought about funky aprons, headbands, bags, etc. Here's a picture.

So maybe I'll show you what I've done once I've done it. I am supposed to me studying for the RN exam that is in 2 weeks (yikes) so I will have to set myself aside once again and just finish this whole school thing once and for all.

Here's pic of Kyla about to dig into a really great Rolo ice cream cake from Boston Pizza. Don't worry, I had my fork ready too - a bunch of us shared it.

It was good.

P.S. Happy Birthday Luke, again.

The countdown begins....

I turned 29 years old the other day. I can't believe it. At all. So that means I now have less than a year before I turn 30. But it's not all bad. I'm actually quite excited to see what happens in my life from now on. (But I am disappointed that it's happening at so late an age. Why couldn't I have done this when I was younger?)

I just finished nursing school in December and I am in my second week of work in a specialty unit at a hospital downtown. Supposedly, the world is now my oyster. Working downtown is exciting. It seems like everyone's got style. Walking down the sidewalks I see people with cool sneakers, cute coats with matching hats, and attitude (pleasant, don't get me wrong, the kind of attitude I'd like to develop for myself). When I sit in the cafeteria I can see the ocean, and today when I was being taught by the educator I looked out and saw the big freight ships anchored out there and the sun reflecting off the water as it rose. It was beautiful. Today my self confidence also increased a bit. I'm being oriented with this woman from the UK who has something like 14 years of nursing experience. And she was more nervous than I was! Maybe it's cause I'm used to being observed and not knowing what I'm doing, but she was a nervous wreck and I had to tell her it would all be okay. It was strange to be on the other side as I am usually the insecure one. But I do understand that her situation is kind of different than mine, as she is expected to know stuff, and I am not (I can still hide behind the new grad label). So I do feel for her as well. Anyways, back to my birthday, because as Luke put it about himself, "it's all about me" (2007, email invitation to cypress mountain).

Last Saturday my parents came over and we went to see the Bodyworlds exhibit together and then they took me out for lunch. Then on Sunday night a few of my girlfriends and I went to Cactus Club for dinner. It turned out great. I'll put a few pics below. I appreciate them all so much, and each for very unique reasons. Thanks gals! And on my actual birthday Andra made me the most delicious dinner with candles and wine. It was great! Maybe one year it'll be a guy sitting across from me. No offense Andra, I know you feel the same way. Thanks also to my long lost but never forgotten friends who I don't talk to very often but who I carry in my heart every day, for remembering me (Teresa and Violetta). It turned out to be a great 29th birthday. Onward and upward.

The 6 of us

Lindsey, in all her photogenic fabulousness

Lindsey, Me and Katherine

Brenda, Amanda, and Kyla

My beautiful roses - thanks Katherine!

I don't know what's going on next door...

but it sounds like someone's stuck in a really big bathtub.

You know the sound the tub makes when you move your bum along the bottom really fast? Well that's the sound I'm hearing from the supposedly empty apartment next door, except on a much larger and louder scale. And the little old lady who lived there, who was about 95 years old, died a while back and the apartment has been empty ever since. ...as far as I know the for sale sign is still hanging outside. Since she died I have not heard a sound...until now. You see she was a very sweet and quiet lady, except sometimes she had baths in the middle of the night and I would often hear her bum squeaking the bottom of the tub at the most unusual hours and I always wondered what that was all about?

Please understand. The sounds right now are quite unsettling. It's as though the apartment is one large bathtub and someone is...well. Could it be the ghost of Mrs E?

1st Day of Work

Well, I started my new job, as an "RN" today. I'm actually not an RN yet but it was nice to see "RN" on my "hi my name is..." namebadge. I was going to take a picture of myself leaving for work but decided it would take too much time as I would have to do it myself, and I was rushed as I had to leave at 7:15am (which I haven't had to do for a while now - it was hard - ugh). Maybe I'll take a picture when I go in my uniform. A picture - you know like your parents used to take when you went off to your first day of school?

Today was just general orientation with all new staff to the health authority. I was nicely surprised to see 5 of my fellow classmates there too! We're all getting scooped up quickly! So the day wasn't too bad with all 6 of us sitting together, and some of the speakers were funny which kept us awake. AND, we got a free lunch [just sandwiches and juice, but it was free which to a recently former student is greatly appreciated, especially as it was food that I didn't have to buy or cook for myself]. It was also nice to hear about the values of the health authority. They explained how it was started by the Sisters of Providence and how the organization's values that exist today are based on the values of the Catholic faith. Even "Jesus Christ" is mentioned in their mission statement. It's interesting to hear because the medical system often dismisses spirituality of any kind, except as an acceptable adjunct to treatment that isn't taken seriously by professionals; it is never a prescription. Anyway, so I have a full week left of orientation and then I guess I start the real orientation on the unit itself, where I have to dress in my scrubs and try to act like I understand what's happening. At least I'm getting paid now, and no more schoolwork (except for the RN exam which I now write in less than a month and I haven't started studying yet). Yikes.

To be honest, change is hard for me. I tend to get down and anxious about it and have high expectations for myself to be perfect. Sometimes I wish I could just have a simple life where I'd live on a big piece of land and do crafts all day (does anyone remember that movie "Baby Boom" where Diane Keaton inherits a baby and moves to the country and ends up making millions off of her home made apple sauce?) Well, I wish that could be me. But my mom told me tonight about a line from the movie "Parenthood" that she watched "for the first time." I'm sure she's seen it before as I've seen it many times during my adolescence, but I decided it wasn't worth arguing over. The old grandma says to stressed out Steve Martin, "Life is like a rollercoaster. There are ups and there are downs. But I'd rather ride a rollercoaster all my life than a merri-go-round" (or something to that effect). And it's true. Life would be boring if we just did the same old thing all the time and never had any real excitement. So I have to force myself to get on that rollercoaster and ride up that first slow, big, noisy hill and head on down over the edge. I really don't want to, but I'm already stuck in line.

"Blood Diamond"

I went to see the movie "Blood Diamond" last night with my friend Andra. And I have to say that it is a movie that EVERYONE should see. It was very violent and disturbing, but spoke the truth about the lives that people in Africa have to live on a daily basis. The movie is about a diamond smuggler (the handsome Leonardo DiCaprio) who meets an African man named Soloman whose family is torn apart by the rebel militia (RUF). This man had found an enormous rare diamond while held captive in a diamond mine. Leonardo figures out about it and convinces Soloman that they can go back to the mine to get it. The movie tells of the two men's struggle to stay alive in the middle of civil war. I won't tell you much more, but the story, although I think it is ficticious with regards to the characters, tells the brutal truth of what people, and children, have to suffer through in Africa. Not just severe poverty, but rape, forced amputations with machetes, villages being burned, child soldiers (who are ripped from their parents, given machine guns, iv drugs, alcohol, brainwashed...) the threat of death at any time. It reminded me of the current brutality in Darfur. These things actually happen. How does the developed world allow this to happen to people? There's a part in the movie where the two men come across this old man in one of the villages they walk through on the way to find the diamond and the old man says something to Soloman along the lines of, "imagine what would happen here if they found oil?!" And it made me laugh. Would it be different? Worse? Another Iraq? The U.S. would sure be over there. Anyways, go see this movie - it will change you, and give you and your friends a lot to talk about.

My First Felted Project

Here is my first attempt at felting. It wasn't all that complicated, and it turned out almost as I had expected, except with a bit more vertical shrinkage than predicted. So now I just have to figure out how to put it together. I bought these metal rings at Michael's today and they're not the size I really wanted but I think they will do. The other option was to buy some old belts and "repurpose" their hardware. But, I didn't. I was a little lazy and am also hoping for something actually usuable [by this I mean not too homemade (not too embarrassing or poor looking)]. Do you think I should line it with some fabric? I'll show you the finished product in a couple days, or maybe even tommorrow.

A New Year - A New Blog

I've done it! I've started a blog. I've been wanting to start one for some time now, but have thought that there's not much point to a blog that doesn't have photos - so, thanks to the parents, this Christmas I received a digital camera and now, January 1st 2007, I am starting a blog. I don't know how long it will last, but I'm doing it. I've recently gotten myself immersed into the world of knitting blogs. So, part of this blog is my attempt to present myself as someone worthy of having a knitting blog to call my own. However, since I've never actually made another more difficult a scarf, I do not feel worthy enough to actually label myself as a knitting blogger. I would also be quite embarrassed if someone like knitandtonic or the infamous yarnharlot were to somehow come across my so-called knitting blog. (FYI - these are my two favorite knitting blogs that I check somewhat obsessively and, admittedly, I do get quite upset when I go to their ites and there is still the same old posting from the last time I checked) So, I am starting my own blog to tell you all about my very important opinions and show off my oh-so-fabulous social life, but it will also covertly be a showcase for all my crafty wares. I've named the blog "legacy" after a song by Nicole Nordeman that challenges me to think of how I will be remembered on this earth, what will I do that makes a difference, what sets me apart, makes me unique in other's eyes. For 2007 I am expecting a lot of changes (which I will tell you about soon enough) so I am also using this blog as a way of journaling my new life. I hope you enjoy it, and I hope I do too.