There's a storm brewing...

Yes, it's been awhile since I have written. With all the excitement of starting school again and all the responsibilities that are attached to that, I haven't had much time. That and I just got internet installed on Monday afternoon. So far things are not super busy on this end, and I'm not sure that it will ever get as stressful as it was last year. I consider this to be good news...

My classes this year are Ergonomics, a group practicum and Business and Professional Ethics. Ergonomics seems fine, pretty straightforward common sense information being presented. Rumour has it that the prof is a tough marker though, which could end up pulling my GPA down. Don't think I really care, so long as I am above the average. Our group practicum is a workplace hazard assessment at a fibreboard and woodmat manufacturing company in New Westminster. Should be interesting. Business and Professional Ethics is a Distance Education course. The readings are interesting and less "sciency" than my usual work.

Kirsten, formerly known as my German penpal, is now in BC/Washington state. We have gotten together a few times during her stay. The first night I took her out for sushi and got her addicted to yam rolls (another one bites the dust). On Friday Jesse and I met her at UBC for a cheap concert (Wide Mouth Mason and Finger Eleven). Both were lively performances. Afterwards we went for drinks and cheesy nachos at Darby's. Then Saturday I took her to Granville Island and the less touristy Commercial Drive. She is in Seattle now, and will get back today/tonight.

On Monday night we had a welcome back BBQ for the students in my department. We filled ourselves with burgers and munchies and then rolled ourselves into the living room for an evening of karaoke. I love karaoke...so it was a good time.

Jenn's family has to evacuate their home due to the threat of Hurricane Rita. They live between Galveston and Houston. It remains to be seen what they will do with all their domestic animals (4 dogs and 9 cats) and the animals that her mother has rescued (mostly birds I'm guessing). A bit ironic that she has saved them from one disaster and has to save them from another.

Speaking of hurricanes, there was a poignant article in my Macleans last week. http://www.macleans.ca/topstories/world/article.jsp?content=20050912_111925_111925
I was feeling pretty choked up by the end of it. Really makes you pause and wonder what you would do if there were ever a natural disaster up here. It seems like Southern Ontario is pretty sheltered, but Winnipeg could suffer another flood and there could be an earthquake in BC.

Flux

Have you ever returned to a place you once lived and expected everything and everyone to be exactly as you left them, but then they weren't? That is pretty much how I felt on my recent visit to Hamilton and Toronto. For instance, has Toronto always been so noisy, busy and overpopulated, or did it become more so over the past year? Maybe it's me...maybe somehow over the course of the past year I have changed so much that I can no longer appreciate the big city life. Or maybe it's the city that has changed on me. There certainly were a lot of changes, so maybe we have both changed. But really, we are all changing aren't we? Constantly. We are in this state of flux where we can never, no matter how much we want to, return to where we once were. I'm different now; my view on life and my expectations of it have changed. The city has changed; it's not as I left it. And my friends and family have moved on, seemingly without me. Sure I miss them, and they miss me...but, that time that once was, is gone. I don't mean to sound wistful or sad, although in some cases this is understandable, because change is good. It means we are evolving, becoming better versions of ourselves. Does this make any sense to anyone? Or am I just rambling?

Anywho...I won't go into a lot of detail about my trip home, because most of you were there...so you know what happened. Essentially, there was lots of eating (I don't think I went hungry for the entire 7 days), lots of laughs with friends and family who I haven't seen in a while, and in general good, happy times.

So, now I am back in the 'Couve. I don't have internet at home yet as I am waiting for Shaw Internet to call me back. But, this is not so dire, as I don't have a monitor for my computer yet anyway. I abandonned my big, clunky, old one in Winnipeg and will soon purchase a new, sleek and slim flat-screen monitor. Yay! Other exciting purchases that are in the works: steel-toed boots (OOoooOO), tuition and textbooks.

Jenn and I have moved back into our cosy basement suite. I rotated my bed to give me a different perspective. The result was me waking up very disoriented the other night. The sounds in the house are familiar but they are coming from a different direction now.

Kirsten (formerly my German penpal) is here on vacation with her friend (name forgotten). We went out for sushi last night. I had yam rolls, chopped scallop rolls and California rolls, and edamame. Mmm...so good...

School starts on Tuesday and things will start to get busy soon. Until then I will enjoy what I am predicting will be my last free weekend in 8 months.

Have a good one...