Sometimes "Round Two" Is Something To Be Proud Of...

After thinking about my life a lot lately I have come to an important realization:

"In order to succeed you must fail, so that you know what not to do the next time."

I am in the last 3 weeks of my second round of University and am currently taking two Educational Psychology courses which has got me to thinking a lot about life and the paths that we take (by choice or fate)

To be honest...I was one of those so-called "bad" teenagers. One of those "hormones gone wild" types who knew everything, was angry, would not listen to anybody and I have learned most things in my short life the hard way. I have not realized and accepted this until now as I tend to blame instead of taking responsibility for how my life has unfolded thus far. Bad choices I have made in many aspects of my life have held me back, have been a struggle, but have also changed me and made me the person I am now.

I have to admit that I am happy that I never quit nor gave up and am now finishing my second degree. This is something that makes me very proud because it would have been so much easier to just let everything fall apart and take the easy way out.

I believe I have grown up a lot in the past few years and it was a necessary step to take in order to be successful in life and grow as a person. I am pleased to say that I will be graduating with Distinction(I believe that I am 2 or 3 % short to graduate with Great Distinction) awww ;'( oh well, I will take Distinction:-)

I often joke that I have been going to post-secondary school for a decade now which really isn't true. Although it did take me much longer than most to "grow up", understand myself and my wants and needs I believe that everything has happened for a reason and that I have learned so much through school and also through life experiences and travel in these past 10 years and would not change a thing.

It is pounded into our heads in our classes, student teaching, and internships that reflection is so important and necessary. I agree with this not only in career situations but also in your life. When you look at where you have been you can take pride and be happy with where you are now or where you are going in the future and that is truly what life is all about. Learning continuously, growing, changing and becoming better each time.

The only thing I wish is that my Dad could have seen this success but I am sure he knows:-)

Our Summer Trip to Alberta

Well we went to Alberta again this summer...seems to be a good getaway for us and is not too far to go for a vacation. The reason we went is my Dad died on July 2nd and because it fell on a long weekend it was perfect time to jet off to our fellow province. I wanted to visit my Dad's grave and I hadn't seen my relatives in a long time so this was what we did! We had such a good time. Grandma is so funny. She is really into her sports so we watched many a game while we were there. I was also lucky to see my uncle, my auntie and one of my cousins while I was down. Going to the graveyard was pretty hard on me but I wanted to take Brian there and my Grandma came with us and was really happy that we all went:-) We had a great time going out for supper, watching football and baseball, visiting and playing Yahtzee(I have played that game with my Grandma since I was really little and the only time I play it is with her so it is always a good time and Brian got in on the action being the competitive guy that he is). Due to time constraints we only spent 1 1/2 days at Grandma's house and then Brian and I decided to go back to Saskatchewan through Calgary. We booked a hotel at the Acclaim which is absolutely magnificent. Brand new, 5 star restaurant, fancy, Japanese style rooftop hot tub and lounge and wonderful decor.We spent a day at Calaway Park(an amusement park just outside of Calgary on the Trans Canada). We had a blast riding the roller coaster and log ride and many others. We went on some water pistol bumper boats and while standing in the long line Brian befriended some little boys. It was so funny because it was like the goonies...they all seemed to look like and be like characters in that movie. Brian was chummy with them and asked them if they would all gang up on me while we were out in the water and they were more than happy to oblige him. It was warm out so I didn't mind getting wet but still wasn't happy that he did this as for the duration of the time in line the kids were super excited to get me soaked and gang up on me. They were cute though and that was the highlight of my day. The funny thing was...when we got out there my bumper boat was broken and it didn't move very fast and the pistol wouldn't shoot very far. These were perfect conditions to get them wet as I would drift over and shoot them at point blank range when all of their guns shot really far over my head not getting me wet at all. Long story short...I won! Me against 4 boys (this includes Brian). They all came out wetter than I! Great times! I really showed them;-)
After a great night at the hotel and a lovely dinner we slept and then went to the casino the next day where we played Blackjack and had brunch and then headed back to Saskatchewan. It was such a nice weekend. I had a great time with Brian showing him where I was born and where I had spent all my summers growing up and was glad he got to meet my Grandma. It was fun to go on rides and do some fun stuff too! Hope we can go again next year!

Black Cat and the Mirrors

So...I have broken two big mirrors this in the past year (the last one a couple of weeks ago) and had to clean up shattered glass all over the floor. Then today I had a black cat cross my path...not only cross my path but turn and look at me deep in the eyes with it's crazy bright yellow eyes. I don't think of myself as superstitious BUT all these omens are starting to take it's toll on me... I am happy and healthy right now but am waiting for something crazy to happen to ;-)

Love love love...

Musicians sing about it
Writers write about it
Actors act it
And people live it....

"Love is the only shocking act left on the planet"(Valentine's Day movie)

Love is the only thing that can make you act crazy. Love makes you stronger, love makes you feel special, love makes you feel accepted, love makes you feel honoured, love makes you feel safe, makes you feel needed, love makes you optimistic about life and love makes you feel like you are the centre of the universe. Love is what keeps us all sane and happy.

I hope you all have found love...

Absolutely Amazing Neighbours!

NOT!
Ok so our neighbours below us in the condo have been complaining about us non stop for months now. Whether we are here or gone or quiet or loud...they have a problem. The landlord said they have a problem with everything and make a fuss constantly and it is horrible. Anyway, about 15 minutes ago the police came to my door. I started bawling as I had just received a nasty letter from them 15 minutes prior to the police raid. He was laughing because he thought he got called to a party or loud music or something but it was me sitting here at my computer in a super clean house doing absolutely nothing wrong...that is the problem. We are never doing anything wrong and they call the cops on us which a waste of the police's time and makes them look like freaks...which they definitely are. This is very reminiscent of my first apartment in Japan where they hated me and made my life a living hell because they didn't want me living there! Anyway, I am angry and hurt and sad and I hate them. I am trying to be all Buddhist about it and not get upset but it really pisses me off that we cannot win with them no matter what we do. I am sorry I vacuumed today and ended up with cops at my door. ugh neighbours
I love this condo, love the view, hate the neighbours. Oh well...we will move at some point soon.

The Price of Beauty

"It is the heart of a woman that makes her beautiful" OPRAH

Beauty is an illusion and beauty differs from country to country. In India, you drink cow urine to become beautiful, in Japan you go in a fish spa where the fish eat the dead skin off of your body, in Morocco you do a tea dance with a tray of various teas on your head. In China, they attempt to look like Barbie when genetically they could never look like her so they are aspiring to look like something they could never be. Women around the world try liposuction, tummy tucks, breast augmentation, leg lengthening, face lifts, face masks, botox, saunas, tanning beds(except in Japan where they bleach their skin because dark skin is considered ugly) The Burmese elongate their necks while African women stretch their ears. Native Americans find their hair to be the most beautiful. There are even countries where stretch marks and obesity are considered incredibly sexy. In China, women are getting plastic surgery to get their eyes changed so that they look more "American" instead of "Asian" They change the shape of thier eyes and put steel rods in their legs in order to be taller. The pressure that women feel to be beautiful and the pressure women feel to be( here in North America and in many other countries) thin and perfect is unfair and, most of the time, unrealistic. In the world, the amount of money spent to look and feel beautiful is unbelievable. The media puts so much pressure and it is unfair to all those watching it and wanting it. Women should define beauty from the inside. The beauty industry alienates the majority of women and the idea of beauty is hard to attain. Various sizes and looks should be celebrated.

That which is striking and beautiful is not always good, but that which is good is always beautiful. ~Ninon de L'Enclos
Beauty isn't worth thinking about; what's important is your mind. You don't want a fifty-dollar haircut on a fifty-cent head. ~Garrison Keillor

All of the crap I see makes me incredibly sad, I don' t know if I am just a feminist and taken a bunch of Women and Gender studies courses in University or have traveled and seen things but I do not think that it is fair that we are always expected to look a certain way and be perfect. It only makes us feel terrible about ourselves and turns us into people that judge others based on their looks and more importantly, judge ourselves. I really don't think that women will change until men change. If men want it, the women do it. The more the media shows certain types of women...the more men think that is real and want that. Either way, I think if you use your wit, brains, humour and empathy, personality you will show that you are beautiful and one by one we can change the world view of what beauty REALLY is. I think that the all of the little girls of the world should not feel this pressure... I know when I have a daughter I would die if she did not feel happy and beautiful and those of you with kids or having kids probably feel the same.

The thing is I don't know what to do but I want to do something. Women have come so far in the past 40 years and they are strong and able to run things and still looking great! Dove has a great campaign and also I worked with Girl Guides this year and they have a similar message. Anyway, you are all beautiful, smart, funny and special and I love you!