I heart VBC!

Mortification at its finest

This week is our church's annual Vacation Bible Camp. It's always a really great time with adorable and energetic kids and something I look forward to every year.

This year, kind of by accident, I somehow became a part of the drama team.
I can not act. But the kids can't tell good acting from bad, really. And dressing up as a princess is kind of my calling in life.

After the skit was over this morning, I race downstairs to change out of my shimmery blue gown and wash off the makeup. The handicap bathroom seemed like the best option because of its privacy and adequate space. I guess I was in a really big hurry and didn't shut the door properly because (as my luck and timing would have it) as soon as I had the gown off and was in nothing but my underwear, the door swings wide open and a ten year old boy bursts in.

I scream. Loudly.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! PLEASSSEEEE CLOSE THE DOOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He shuts it and I lock it immediately, leaning back against it, hovering in my own private mortification for a few moments before going back to changing into regular clothes. Then, mustering up as much dignity as possible, I open the bathroom door and stride out.

The boy's group is sitting nearby having their snack and as I walk past, he peeks his head out at me and smiles the most adorable cheeky smile that I just can't help but laugh a bit despite myself!

(Later, I apologized for not locking the door properly and for screaming at him! But he was quite gracious about it really. Nothing was mentioned and his friends didn't seem to know about it and he didn't act all weird around me. So I'm lucky I guess, but I'm pretty sure I'm still scarred for life. )

The perfect night comes with your back cool against the pebbly driveway, hood and hands behind your head, singing quietly at the sky.

A star shoots.

(I saw two.)

I've been very... 'extro' lately (haha thanks jenni).

It's weird, really. It's like I'll want to hang out with people and do things all the time.

I hadn't really noticed until yesterday I said something like "really, I'm an introvert with extrovert skills! really i don't want to be around people all the time!"

Which is true! But then I felt kind of foolish, because lately, I really have wanted to be around people all the time.

People who haven't known me for a long time won't remember my hermit term. They won't remember weeks where I just wanted to stay at home and not talk to anyone. I worry that I'll get annoying... I'm annoying myself and I didn't realize it until last night.

I guess this happens when I don't want to face things within myself. Alone time gives you too much time to think. Time to pressure yourself to 'figure things out'. And maybe right now I'd rather just laugh and eat and not worry.

Love is sweet.

It's not that the other weddings I've been to haven't been absolutely beautiful and enjoyable, but there was something else about Bernice and Andrew's wedding that shone just a bit brighter. Maybe its the fact that I was close with both the bride and groom which rarely happens. It may have been because I saw the beginnings of their 'interest' in each other and then watched that grow gradually into this full fledged LOVE over the years. Or maybe its because I was closely involved with wedding thoughts, wedding plans, wedding rants-- it was just a joy to see it pull together into this glowing day.

Whatever it was, Bee and Andrew's wedding was full of this happy love. Love between the two of them, love between families, love between friends.

And love is sweet.

Mrs. and Mr. Tsoi

Table 13 baby! lol

*aside: it must be mentioned that we did have the best wedding table in the place (well, besides the head table of course ;) )

Early Bird

I slept over at Jenni's last night and bussed on campus with her this morning, arriving at DC library at around 8:30am. Surprisingly, I'm not exhausted. But that's likely because I've finished inhaling my Tim Horton's. Tim Horton's is a good breakfast coffee, but UW should really invest in a Starbucks.

I should really get to work before I meet up with Jenni for lunch (Caesars! :D) and the purpose of my coming here so early is defeated.



I have a growing list of things I want to do after I finish all this crap:

• read Pride and Prejudice, A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, and the other book I said I was going to read
• watch Gone With the Wind
• see Mama Mia, The Dark Knight, and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
• review all my ASL
• I'm sure there's more.
  

citylove*

Oh, I had a feeling this would happen.

I should have been back in loo yesterday-- but I'm still here. I'm sorry that you are now going to get a bit of a play by play.

Bee and Andrew's wedding rehearsal dinner was incredible- SewLungBao AND Peking Duck in one go. It compensated for the fact that I totally blew the song during rehearsal and how angry I felt about it. It's like... how do you spend hours and hours practicing and having it sound GOOD, and then, when it actually matters--you blow it? Life hates me like that.

I slept over at Alison's which was good laughs and good conversation, as expected. :) And we had brunch at Cora's! which I love. It gets me thinking about fall though. Because she was one of the people I spent the most time with in University... and come fall, I won't be able to. Fall's going to be an adjustment in so many ways.

After brunch I met up with Deborah and her mom invited me over for supper-- which was so delicious! I've never had Jewish food before! So it was quite enjoyable, and her family was so warm and friendly. We watched Alvin and the Chipmunks and went to a playground in the dark. Good times.

I meant to return to Waterloo last night. But by the time I got to Finch I knew I wouldn't make it downtown by 11:30. So Joanna saved me and let me crash at her place. And now I am here.

I just realized how everybody works here. So here is a song I love to help both you and I pass the time.:

Some books I want to read but can't because I have too much work to do:

- The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (no, I haven't.)
- Looking for Alaska by John Green
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
- A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith

I started what was supposed to be a daily 'comic' of sorts, but failed on the 4th day to think of anything to draw. Go look anyway?:

Jasy : Life in Permanent Marker

On futures looming

I don't do change well. But improving? Looking to the future is always a mesh of both anticipation and dread. I found a song that I'm dedicating to a friend (maybe more than one, but one in specific) because well, you know. When the words fit! Listen and read along:



There's too many things that i haven't done yet
Too many sunsets
I haven't seen
You can't waste the day wishing it'd slow down
You would've thought by now
I'd have learned something

I made up my mind when i was a young girl
I've been given this one world
I won't worry it away
But now and again i lose sight of the good life
I get stuck in a low light
But then Love comes in

How far do i have to go to get to you
Many the miles
Many the miles
How far do i have to go to get to you
Many the miles
But send me the miles and i'll be happy to follow you

I do what i can wherever i end up
To keep giving my good love
And spreading it around
Cause i've had my fair share of take care and goodbyes
I've learned how to cry
And i'm better for that

Sing how far do i have to go to get to you
Many the miles
Many the miles
How far do i have to go to get to you
Many the miles
Send me the miles and i'll be happy to

Red letter day and i'm in a blue mood
Wishing that blue would just carry me away
I've been talking to God don't know
If it's helping or not
But surely something has got to got to got to give
Cause i can't keep waiting to live

There's too many things i haven't done yet
Too many sunsets i haven't seen

Girl's Night In

One thing I love about Social Group Work class is that afterward, there is usually room for an excuse not to go home. Tonight that comes in the form of Jenni's gigantic, family-less house with Jenni and Krystel.

Pizza and chicken fingers. Fashion magazines. Lipstick. Sex and the City.

Procrastination and womanhood at its finest.

I miss ASL.

I think I'm going to email Doreen tonight because I feel like I have an ASL hole in my life right now and I don't have time to take a course in the fall. :(

I found this video on youtube and the song's just so much more beautiful with this language. (although, the thing's not done entire in actual ASL, I think there's sign english in there too. but still.)

An Asian girlband singing O'Canada. Wait... what?!?!

The embedding is disabled so go see for yourself:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=F0zggO07MNI

Yay Canada! Yay fireworks!

escape artist

Major forms of stress relief:

- Laughing over Morty's wings
- Baking under a night sky and mellowing out to Dave Matthews.
- City escape to a night of cocktails, flashing lights, and loud music, celebrating a bride-to-be.

Ahhhh. :)

Catching up with myself

I feel drained lately.
A bit bogged down with worries and wondering why I can't do enough fast enough.

It doesn't help when you drag your butt out of bed for a 10am group meeting and then nobody shows up and only one person bothers to let you know what's going on.
I can think of about 50 better things I could have done in that 1 1/2 hrs.

mm.. I don't know what else to say. I need a vacation from everything. (it's not that bad really. I just need better coping mechanisms.)

I remember!

I remember now why I love Dr. Dan's exams-- they are so FAIR!

haha-- no tricks.

I aced that baby for sure.

Cramfest

Cram session number 1 of this term.

Social Policy has entirely too many definitions.
Subway makes me sleepy.
I need more coffee.

But I'm learning that study buddies are good!-- it really helps having Krystel here. She's focused! And it forces me to stay awake!

(*Sigh* Blogs are such a wonderful method of procrastination. )

Ready, set, scream.

Today's general annoyances (and it's only 11am.):

1. People who adopt chauvinistic attitudes that seep into all their thinking and opinions-- even if their opinions can't possibly be informed yet! When you know literally NOTHING about a social movement group you can't already have the opinion that the group takes an angry/violent approach.
(If you just took a slightly closer look, you'd see that the group's method is satire and drama. Oooooh, fierce.)
(Honestly? I think you just don't really like women.)

2. When people ask you questions as if you haven't already just told them the answer. An example of such a conversation is as follows:

Person A: Hi, I'm done class.
Person B: WHAT??!?! you're done class??? already?? are you sure???

How does Person B expect Person A to respond? "...well no, actually I'm not done class. I just made that up to see how you would react. Because I have so much time." .. HEL-LO!!!

3. WHY can't I enroll in REQUIRED courses?!?!??!!?!!?! SCREW YOU STATS.

Ok, so I'm having an angry sort of day. Bite me, Friday.

Give me my goat cheese!!

I love goat cheese. ♥

Recently though, my love for it was dampened because of being given some incorrect nutritional information about it.

I can't remember who I was talking to, saying "isn't goat cheese is better for you?" and they scoffed at me and said something like "What! NO! Goat cheese is even more fattening than regular cheese!"

Well for your big fat information, according to the Food Network:

Goat cheese is rich in protein and contains potassium, vitamin A, thiamin and niacin. Significantly lower in calories, fat and cholesterol than cheddar or cream cheese, some people may also find it easier to digest than cheese generated from cow's milk.

Yes I looked up the nutritional value of goat cheese. You would too if you tried the thing at the keg where they give you little crostinis and goat cheese and special salsa and you spread it all around and becomes the most perfect combination of crispyness and meltedness you've ever experienced and then somebody told you goat cheese wasn't good for you!

ARGHHH!!!

I slept in this morning and my prof called me to tell me he'd be 10 min late.
I rushed to school and took me a million years to pay the cab driver because my cash was buried in my bag.
I lost my eyeliner.
I attended a really pointless meeting.
I got frustrating news.
I feel like I've been accused of being an unreasonable person.
I am NOT an unreasonable person!!! I EXPLAIN things CLEARLY.
I CARE about the feelings of others.
How can someone know you but then act like they really don't know you at all?!

I want to give people a piece of my mind. I want to display LOUD amounts of emotion.

But what's the use?

The sophomore slump is an uphill battle and someone said that ain't my scene.

I should be reading. And I will continue in a second but first I must share about a very exciting discovery!-- I found the most adorable coffee shop on campus today! God knows why I've never heard about this place before-- it's at St. Jerome's which is right next to Renison where I have all my classes. (Really, I shouldn't take credit for this discovery. My classmate Lyle told me about it.)

It's a quaint little shop, tucked against one side of an underpass. Its name is printed in white along the front of its glass entrance. Campus-heaven. Well, no. But that's what it should read.



The Atrium is its real name.

The whole place is very clean and modern. Impressionist and abstract paintings line the walls. The tables and chairs which are expertly arranged around a fireplace are a sleek, pale wood. Student minded, there are electrical outlets in convenient locations and campus Wifi is accessable.

I didn't have much time to examine the menu in detail. I really was just in and out with a coffee. But I did note: three flavours of Ritazza brand coffee, three roasts. Decent tasting. A selection of grilled sandwiches, soups, and salads. Cold drinks. Pastries and icecream. What more can you ask for really?

And its basically the only establishment on campus that accepts Interac. About time!

That place is going to be seeing a lot of me this summer.