So much to say and no brain to say it.

These past two days have been my "fall break". What a crock! Wow. TWO days off. awesome... especially since one of the days is Remembrance Day, so that means that I have to take time out to show my respect (which I am totally willing to do, don't get me wrong). It just sucks that it can't totally be homework time. Oh, and did I mention that I've gotten like nothing done? Well, I haven't. These two days were supposed to be uber productive. Instead, I've gotten like, nothing done. I did some research yesterday, changed my paper topic and have done like nothing today.

Kyle and I stayed up suuuuper late last night (I think b.c. we slept in so hardcore on Tuesday), and we had to get up early to get some brunch with his parents (like we did last year). Then we went to the legislature, hung out in the car for a bit because it was cold outside and the ledge was closed and we were there super early. I took this time to lay my head down and just relax. I didn't catch any zeez, but I'm okay with that. Then we walked down to the lower-grounds and watched the canons go off. I don't know why that event is not listed when you look up Remembrance day events i n Edmonton(or if it is, it's not as easy to find as others) but it is one of my favorite commemorations. Too bad there were so many misbehaved cub scouts. I mean, I know that most little boys can't stand still for that long when there's so much stuff going on (with the canons shooting off), but many of their parents didn't even try to shush them. Shame on you mama and papa bears. Shame on you.

When we got home, Kyle took a nap and I wasted my time before taking a half hour nap... for 3 hours. Dang. Since then, I've been reading Confessions From a Mormon Bachelor Pad. I am so fascinated. It is a window into the minds of dating boys. The way they think is just so bizarre. It's bizarre because sometimes, they think the same way I would think, but other times, they are way out to left field. Particularly, they are so sexually crazed it baffles me. I asked Kyle if mormon guys think about boobs and butt and all that other stuff and to my surprise (how naive am I), he says they think about it a lot. Anyways, I have to get back to telling myself that I'll start my homework ASAP. I highly suggest you check out the blog, but be warned, you may be on there for hours if you are like me.

I love watching/reading relationships blossom.

Blog hiatus

Hey!

Wow, it feels good to be blogging again. I decided to take an impromptu (obviously since my last post was the lead-up to a never published entry) blog hiatus. It's funny, because nearly every day this week I've been thinking "wow, this would be an awesome blog entry!", but never sat down to write it. So this time, I thought I'd just give an update.

Monday: I got a midterm back. Pretty sure I rocked it when I finished writing it. Well, it turns out, I got my lowest grade since like second year. It hurt the ego bad. BAD. So, I made sure to read the prof's comments and she does have a point, I just wish the mistakes I made hadn't have cut down my grade so bad. So for the whole class (since I picked it up at the start) and the few hours afterwards I was in a depressed daze. I have worked SO hard this semester and to get a blow like that was devastating. Y'know what happened later though? I was actually thankful for my French class! I have been sooooo bored in class and pretty much dread going every time. However, on this day, we were getting our graded translations back. Turns out, I got an almost perfect score! Yay!!! So he read mine (and a couple others') translations out to the class. Totally gave me a pick-me-up. It didn't cancel out my poor midterm grade, but it did help a lot.

Tuesday: Tuesday is now my day that I don't have work or classes. In short: it's my new favorite day. This Tuesday was not my favorite though. After I got back from an appointment at school, I started making dinner. Then, WHAM! I got super sick all of a sudden. I had to call the Primary Secretary to see if she could go to Ward Council for me (since the President has class and the Second Councilor is still learning English). Thankfully her husband had to go already, so he just filled in for the Primary. Yay!

Wednesday: I stayed away from school just incase I had something kind of contageous. I didn't feel so great, but I was able to do stuff, so I went to work and did my hours there. I'm sad I missed my History of Feminism class though, because we were having a guest speaker come in and talk about Virginia Woolf. Too bad. Overall, Wednesday was quite uneventful, so let's move on.

Thursday: Again, I did not go to classes so that I could feel better. I didn't do as much homework as I wanted to, but I did clean the house. That helped a lot. Not for my sickness, but for Friday. Friday's plans were for shopping! So..

Friday: As I was walking to class Friday morning, I had this lucky feeling. The feeling I get before I go shopping when I just know I'm going to find good sales. Classes went well (I guess) and then I went to work. After work, Kyle came and picked me up and we were going to go home, clean frantically and eat dinner. Well, instead, Kyle did his part of the house cleaning while I made a terrible dinner. The dinner tasted good - I thought - but it was not healthy! I made home-made fish and chips. Kyle and I have been eating a lot better lately, so having a piece of fish fried in oil (albeit not a lot of oil) did not settle well in our stomachs. By the time we were ready to go for shopping, it was already 7:00! Terrible! And we hadn't done our managerial cleaning yet, which meant that we couldn't enjoy ourselves as much while shopping. And now I'd lost my lucky feeling. Apparently it was the earlier feeling that was right though! First we went to the store we always go to first: Banana Republic Factory store. This is the best thing to happen to Edmonton since... the Henday! I don't think I bought a thing over $20! Not only had they put half the store on clearance so they can make way for the winter collection, the clearance was 30% off!!! No way!!! I definitely controlled myself though, so I didn't spend too much. On average, we spent $13.60 per item, and that included sweaters! And for the record: Kyle spent more than me. That's right. It was funny though, he bought a shirt that he's already owned... twice. Kyle loves a red polo with white stripes and since we've been together, he has now owned three. I think one of them got a blotch on it, and the other one has been so loved that it is super faded. When I saw it at the till, I made fun of him and told him that was his third. He down-played it and said it was only his second. Later, he admitted it was his third, but that he loves the shirt no less. I still didn't buy what I need most: some skirts, dress pants and cute flat black shoes. Oh well. Guess that means I just have to go shopping again.

Well, I think that should satisfy your blog appetite. I think I'll pick back up on Monday, with something more topic-oriented.

See you then!

XOXO

Not a real post

Hey!

This is just a little post to say that I am going to a play tonight, then going home to do more homework. Tomorrow's post will include a synopsis and little review of this (hopefully) cool play.

B

Canadian History

Anyone who knows me well knows that I am very patriotic. I love this country. For my degree, I study a great deal of Canadian history and it has led me to admire this country even more. Right now I am reading a book by Nellie McClung for my History of Feminist Thought class. While she had her faults, McClung did a great deal for this country and women, and I admire her for that. She advocated for more moderately sized families (which was like, 6 kids in her day. Whoa.), for equal wages, greater economic independence for women and for increased appreciation of motherhood and women's work at home.

Looking back on women who lived through the two great wars, I admire their courage and determination. My Nanny (Grandmother) is Newfie and grew up and married in Newfoundland when Newfoundland was not yet Canadian. She said that she hadn't seen a banana in person until she was sixteen because of the War and the Depression. Kyle's grandmother was also raised during the depression and every once in a while we'll hear about how they went without. The war years were difficult for Canadian women. Much like American women, they left their homes and entered factories for the needs of not only their country, but their country's allies. While the wars were deadly and I hope wars like that will never be repeated, the sacrifices made by our countrymen during that time was very admirable.

As the son of a German immigrant, I'm sure the war was very difficult for my Opi (pronounced oh pee. a.k.a. my Grandpa), but he and his brother-in-law inlisted for the Canadian army anyways. While only my uncle was sent overseas, it took great courage for them to stand up to Germany and fight for the only home they've ever known - Canada. I love that Canada is a nation built upon a great diversity of persons. Aboriginals, French, English, Irish, Scottish, German, Ukrainian, Chinese, Polish, Jamaican, Haitian, African, Japanese... the list goes on and on. I've heard of people coming here from homogenous places like Korea and saying that they are shocked at the diversity of peoples here. I am proud to live here... even though I'm a socialist who loves the Queen. There, I said it... KYLE. I have freedom of speech, religion, education, everything I feel that I need to evolve and grow as a person, as a woman and as a Canadian. Land of the Free and Home of the Brave? You have nothing on my True North Strong and Free. (Okay, maybe you have a little bit on us, but I still way prefer us.)

XOXO

Bi-Ped

I'm baaaaaaack... kind of

Hey!

So I'm just doing a suuuuuper quick entry because it's already 12:40 and I have a new goal! I'm apprehensive to share it with all of you (four readers), but I will anyways. My goal is to stop homework by midnight so I can go to bed. Melissa, you probably think I'm a wimp. Well, this is my United States of Whatever, so whatever. I've done this because I know that I'm not gonna last a lot longer with my current study habits.

Anyways, like I said, it's late. Sorry for being absent this weekend. I'm sure it broke your heart... Melissa.

XOXO

Bi-Ped

(Wow! Three shout outs in one post Melissa! Craysseh!)

Your mom!

I love my mom. Tonight on the office, Michael Scott started dating Pam Beasley's mom. How horrific. But it inspired me to write about my mom.

My mom has taught me a lot. How to be kind, how not to find, how to be charitable. She has such a fun personality. When Kyle met my family, he quickly realized that we did things differently; we spoke to each other differently, we interacted differently, we ate differently. My mom can seem like she's critical - usually within the first two minutes she has said something to me about my hair, outfit or weight that is not definitively positive - but she never does any of it out of spite or to criticize. That is just how my mom interacts and shows that she cares. She certainly has a lively personality to her. I would say that a large part of my personality comes from my mom. She is fun-loving. However, you wouldn't know it when you first meet her. It doesn't take long but it does take some getting to know her to see just how fun she is. Some of my favorite stories about my mom involve her curling adventures. She goes to curling bonspiels and one time - drunk on paralyzers, don't judge - she had just curled a good rock. To celebrate, she did a lunge, rubbed her chest and threw her arms in the air like "Superstar". Sorry mom, I had to tell it. This story epitomizes my mom's attitude.

At the same time, my mom would sacrifice anything for others. Growing up, my parents weren't home very often. This did not bother me as much as it would have others because I knew that my parents loved me and that the only reason they were working so hard was so we could get the things we wanted and needed. When my granny got sick, my mom moved out to the farm. She'd come home and she made sure we were taken care of, but by that age, we could cook for ourselves, so we were okay if she couldn't come home that night. I can't imagine the level of strength she had to sit beside her dying mother night after night. She was there when she passed and I get tears in my eyes just thinking about it. When my great-aunt got sick, she took care of her in a similar way. Every single evening she went to the old folks home. She drove my aunt places and even played cards with her when she was almost totally blind. She would tell her what cards were in her hand so she could play crib. My mom shows me what is important in life: family and kindness.

I'd like to thank my mother for everything she has done and everything she does for me and others. And I'd like to thank all those other mothers who think first of their children and then of themselves. You really are what mothers are supposed to be and everyone - everyone - is indebted to you.

I love you mom.

(Feel free to leave a comment about a specific characteristic you love about your mom. But please, call her today and tell her that you love her and that you are grateful for all that she has done for you.)

Secret Place

You know when you find that perfect study space? I've found mine. I'm reluctant to blog about it, but I will do it anyways.

Second floor Telus building, North-West corner. There is a little area with three clusters of couches and chairs. These couches don't look so great, but they are surprisingly comfortable. And the chairs are big enough that you can comfortably sit sideways. Bonus: few people go there! There was no one there but me from 5-9 yesterday. Wow! But there is enough noise of the building that you don't fall asleep from silence. I have been finishing so much homework there. Tonight, I opted to stay home. This made me realize just how important/magnificent that little space is! I bet you I'd be done my homework and headed to bed right now. Yesterday, I was ahead in my regular schedule (which meant that I had a manageable amount of work left for my seminars). Now, I am the same place as usual. Sigh. Anyways, I'm so glad I found myself a secluded place, that few people go to. I will be there Monday, Tuesday and likely Wednesday evenings. Do you remember your favorite place? Where you were most productive? My brain just clicked there. Ah, true academic love...