80s night

80s night
Originally uploaded by Jadine.

L-R, F-B: Rachel, Victoria, Me (just in case you didn't recognize me with the big hair), Cheryl, Elaina, Jessie, Jesse, Catherine

My house...in spring!

My house...in spring!
Originally uploaded by Jadine.

Yeah, so it's been spring here for over a month now...but I couldn't resist taking a picture of the magnolia tree. I have always wanted one of these...

In my room

In my room
Originally uploaded by Jadine.

I took this with the Pod Kevin gave me for my birthday, but I used it wrong. Afterwards, I realized that the screw on the Pod, screws into the thread at the bottom of the camera...genius!

Happy West-er (I mean East-er)!

It's funny not being home today...I have been trying to call my dad all afternoon but I keep getting a busy signal. Strange. Hmm...I wonder what they are eating tonight, and who is going to be there. I feel like I am missing out. It's a bit sad...sigh...holidays...It's not that we are particularly religious in the Thom household (or at all religious for that matter). But Easter has always been an excuse to make (and eat) lots of food with loved ones. It's a bit strange not to be there.

But do not worry about me! I DO have plans for tonight. I am going to Britta's aunt and uncle's house in North Van for dinner. Should be fun. Apparently they often take in "strays" like Britta and myself who are without home for the holidays. Gosh...I probably should have bought them something...Ugh...I feel like a bad guest...

So, what have I been up to. Apart from the usual studying and trying to keep my head above water not a whole heck of a lot.

Things seem to be shaping up for my move to Winnipeg. I have been corresponding with some people via who may just let me move into their places for the summer. Rent is much cheaper than it is here and in Toronto. I'm looking at about $350 for a fully-furnished shared accomodation including utilities (phone, hydro, internet) and living in the Annex/Kitsilano equivalent (so I gather) neighbourhood in Winnipeg (which I guess is Osbourne Village). And if I get it without having to travel there first...all the better. It's the beauty of this technological age...bringing the world closer together.

Speaking of a small world...I ran into this guy on the bus the other day who worked at Marche with me a couple of years ago. We weren't really that close, but his OFSAA shirt caught my eye. He was pleased that someone out here new what OFSAA is...AND, I am at the point where I know enough people that I am running into them at sushi restaurants. (Of all the sushi restaurants, in all of Vancouver, you had to waltz into mine...) Funny that.

Ooohh...and to celebrate birthdays and no school on Friday we went out on Thursday night to this club downtown. I use the term club very loosely...perhaps lounge is more appropriate. Nothing like a club you'd see in downtown Toronto anyway. The bathrooms at Devil's Martini are probably bigger than this whole place! Anyway...it was 80's night. So we got dressed up. (See the evidence of the costumes above.) I got my hair crimped. Fun fun times...

And a big shout out to Paule and UK who for my birthday bought me a ticket to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in April. Not only do I get a healthy dose of classical music (Mozart and Bach piano concertos) to inspire me, but I also get to see it at the Chan Centre. The Chan Centre is a Bing Thom building AND I recently found out that my Acoustics and Vibration prof also had a hand in the design as well. Triplely exciting!

I have no words of wisdom to part you with...so...enjoy your Easter ham/crown roast/turkey/lamb.

Still alive...and now employed!!

Sorry I have not written in awhile. Between Jess arriving in Vancouver and homework and lab reports and job interviews and my birthday, it has been a pretty hectic past couple of weeks. And the best/worst is yet to come as the end of the semester approaches. The best news of all, which I found out today, is that I now have a job for the summer and I know where I will be living for the summer. Although my first choice was GlaxoSmithKline, I ended up getting my second choice, the Public Health Agency of Canada. http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/new_e.html Not the end of the world. I get the benefit of working for the government (and all the cushiness that comes with that) and it will be an excellent opportunity to rub shoulders with the employees of one of the most important laboratories in all of Canada. And I get to move...again! This time to Winnipeg, which is nice and not so cold in the summer. (Summerpeg?) I am a bit concerned about the bugs though...they love my Asian blood...I still have scars from my weekend at Randy's cottage last summer! I guess I should explain what I will be doing there. Basically, the Public Health Agency has this lab in Winnipeg called the Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health (CSCHAH) that handles and does research on things like West Nile, Mad Cow disease, SARS, TB, etc. My job would be to do a biorisk assessment of these hazards and come up with a strategy for handling them. I assume they already have something in place, but it probably just needs updating. So it should be an excellent opportunity to learn something new, meet some new people, try out a new city (where to next?) and...I get security clearance! Neato! And I might also get to present at a conference, and publish a paper. Fun!

Ok...now that I have gotten that out of my system, I shall now make dinner. I have this horrible stats paper to write this weekend. Yucky...I hate stats...

P.S. Thanks for the b-day cards and happy b-day wishes...makes me feel less lonely. Missed the double lobster dinner with dad and kev, but the faculty bought me cake and ice cream. And I got flowers... :)