So. This is definitely the lowest point in the past year. After finding out about my eye monday and being told to reduce my stress levels I decided to cut out most of the caffeine from my normal routine which is going okay but I am tired. Today I spoke on the phone with the opthamologist about my eye again and we talked about the fact that I didn't stare into the sun and he explained that there were several causes of fluid build up on your retina and that it is a condition that usually affects young people and particularly males (I guess I don't quite fit the bill).
I also went to the dentist today and was told that I need extensive dental work. In response to this I burst into tears, mostly because I didn't need any more bad news (although he seemed to think it was primarily about the dental problems).
In any case these past three days have been pretty hard. I know my vision will probably come back but its frustrating to know that even if it does it might not be until 2011. I also know that my teeth will probably be fine with some work but I hate going to the dentist.
Anyway I am heading to North Carolina this weekend, hopefully that will bring some good stories.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Now with 20% more Blindness
So Friday night I noticed a red blotch in my vision, and then I noticed it again and again and it didn't seem to want to go away. Saturday, I was a little bit nervous and started looking up possible causes on the internet. By Sunday the spot was pretty much constantly there and my vision had become very blurry and a little bit doubled in my left eye. I was worried (and of course didn't tell anyone) but knew I had to go to the doctor.
When I headed for the walk in clinic this morning I was optimistic that he would send me to work saying that it was just eye strain. No such luck. Upon seeing me he suggested that I go to the emergency eyecare center at the hospital. When I got there they informed me that the doctor should have called in advance of my arrival but fortunately made an appointment for me anyway. I was seen about three hours later by an opthalmological intern who initially said he didn't see much but then called the ophthalmologist who said he saw a yellow spot on my retina. He said it was either the result of too much sun exposure or a hole between the macular and the retina and took a whole lot of images of my eye. The one was simply of my retina and the other showed the amount of fluid in my eye. As it would happen, there is a build up of fluid on my retina probably from sun over exposure.
Unfortunately my friend of a red spot is likely to be with me from a few weeks to a few months. I hope that the double vision goes away soon because my visual acuity in my left eye this morning was well within the range to be considered legally blind.
The doctor also said that I should try to reduce my stress since that for some reason could aggravate the situation.
UGH.
When I headed for the walk in clinic this morning I was optimistic that he would send me to work saying that it was just eye strain. No such luck. Upon seeing me he suggested that I go to the emergency eyecare center at the hospital. When I got there they informed me that the doctor should have called in advance of my arrival but fortunately made an appointment for me anyway. I was seen about three hours later by an opthalmological intern who initially said he didn't see much but then called the ophthalmologist who said he saw a yellow spot on my retina. He said it was either the result of too much sun exposure or a hole between the macular and the retina and took a whole lot of images of my eye. The one was simply of my retina and the other showed the amount of fluid in my eye. As it would happen, there is a build up of fluid on my retina probably from sun over exposure.
Unfortunately my friend of a red spot is likely to be with me from a few weeks to a few months. I hope that the double vision goes away soon because my visual acuity in my left eye this morning was well within the range to be considered legally blind.
The doctor also said that I should try to reduce my stress since that for some reason could aggravate the situation.
UGH.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
More Wanderings
So. It's been a while.
As you had probably guessed from my last post, I have been doing quite a lot of bouncing around Eastern Canada lately. I am going to attempt to describe the last month to you in the most succinct way possible. Its been amazing, yet exhausting.
31 May- 7 June "Congratulations, you got the job"
30 minutes away from Halifax, arriving by train from Montreal on May 31st, my phone rings. I can see that it's my mom. Not the call I am hoping for. You see I had interviewed for a student job with the Ministry of Public Safety on May 25th, and unsure of how the interview went I had convinced myself that I would hear on the 31st and it was already 5 p.m. Atlantic time.
However, I was also not expecting a call from my mom. I answer. Trepedation. She tells me that Helen from Public Safety called and wants me to call back. I try, I try again, no answer. I get home. There's an email. I got the job!
Freak out:
This job seemed like a great opportunity, much better pay than the clinic, less stress, back to Ottawa. It also had its down sides: Putting off my thesis yet another semester, moving, quitting my job. Woah stress. I am excited, but start wondering if taking the job is the right decision.
I center. I take the job.
The next day I go into the clinic knowing that I have to quit. I have never quit a job before, and the timing couldn't be worse. I am helping to organize a conference for June 30th and I have come back with a lot of new ideas from Montreal.
I break the news to Julie, this is already a high stress time for her, I am not sure if she absorbs it. But I assure her I will come in every day for the rest of the week since I have to leave on Monday for Mississauga and my mom's retirement party.
I spend the rest of the week. I tie up loose ends, I find someone to sublet my room, I pack and say goodbyes. I also work dilligently with four refugee women, conducting interviews about their experiences as refugees and taking pictures of the places which make them feel most like home in Halifax. This is for a multimedia project for the conference. I put it together and it is done two weeks later. Beautiful
Saturday night I have another going away party. It's mostly friends from swing dance (Pluse Valerie from school and Chloe from the clinic). It is amazing how much swing dancing changed my experience of Halifax. I never imagined I would have so many new friends to miss when I went back.
Reflection: I can't believe the last four months were so much better than Sept '08 to August '09.
June 7- 13th: The Retirement Party
I had to leave Nova Scotia in a bit of a rush because I had bought a plane ticket months earlier to come home for my mom's retirement party. This is scary, my mom is retiring. What is her life going to look like now? How will things change? Will she be happy?
So many questions.
Tuesday I meet with friends. Wednesday is the party. Its cloudy but the weather holds. Good thing, the party is outside. There are speeches, presents and a whirlwind of socializing. A wonderful occassion, but mom's nerves are frayed. She's not so sure about retirement either.
My mom has always been a teacher, it is how she defines herself. I can't imagine having to step away from that.
June 10th Day Trip to Guelph:
This isn't really separate from my trip to Mississauga but it was delightful. I went to visit my friends Dalbir and Sarah who I met at the masterclass in Montreal. We had such a great time. I never remember hitting it off so well with two people that we could simply sit down and talk without realizing that time is passing. Hope to see them again soon
Rest of the visit: Visited with friends. Delightful. Anticipation is rising.
June 13 - June 30: Coming home or starting again?
The train gets into Ottawa. I hop in a cab. We get closer to the place I am subletting for the summer. Worry. I have not yet seen the place in person. I look out the window. I see my friend Josh sitting on the patio of a cafe. I see my friend Josh sitting on the patio of the cafe?!
I arrive at 91 Russell. I am greeted, I go in, see the room. It looks nice. I park my bags, walk back out and find Josh, still sitting on the patio. Catch up (not ketchup). Flow of ideas. Amazing.
First Day of Work: Everyone is super friendly. It seems like the Center for Mitigation Excellence will be a nice place to work. I am too new for anyone to talk to me yet though.
First week: I become certified in Basic Emergency Management, I get a box full of office supplies, get to know my coworkers, write a research proposal. In the evenings I visit with friends who are all anxious to see me. It seems the universe is coming together and bringing everyone to me who I have missed for so long without me having to move a finger. Even people from outside Ottawa. I run into Madut from my program who is working at Citizenship and Immigration Canada, on the same street as my office. Even Kai and Judy, Niko's room mates from Halifax are in town for a wedding. I drank a lot of Sangria. I try swing dancing for the first time and it is totally worth it.
Second week: I settle in at work. Still getting to know colleagues. Monday there is a fire alarm and we are evacuated down 17 flights of stairs earlier than we should. This does not bode well for Emergency Management. Two days later there is an earthquake. We evacuate again. Let me tell you, you do not want to be on the 17th floor of a building when there is an earthquake. Terrifying. But, I can't wait to tell my grandchildren some day "When I was you age, I started a job with the emergency management division at PS when there was an earthquake!" what an adventure. My socializing dies down. It turns out that all of my old friends are now occupied with boyfriends and girlfriends. I wonder how much longer I will have to wait before I find a boyfriend of my own. I am also getting to know my knew room mates. They are a couple and just bought a kitten. They are really lovely people. I get more into swing dance. Its lovely, but not quite the same feeling as in Halifax.
The Guy who sits in the cubicle next to me:
The guy who sits in the cubicle next to mine read my blog and demanded to know why I hadn't mentioned him, knowing full well that my last blog post was written before I even arrived in Ottawa. We made South African Chicken Curry for a potluck, and get in trouble for talking too much. Thanks for keeping me occupied Suresh :).
On the 30th there was a picnic for Public Safety. We went, we ate, we won a karaoke competition. What more can you ask for.
July 1st- 4th Canada Day.
I come home by train the evening of the 30th. The morning of the 1st my mom is upset. Yesterday was her last day as a full time teacher. Having just left a job, and trying to adjust my identity from "Kirsten Van Houten, overworked intern!" to " Kirsten Van Houten, assistant policy analyst!" has been somewhat challenging. If this is challenging, I can only imagine what my mom is experiencing is 50 (million) times worse. I worry.
Canada Day evening I go over to Claire's house and have dinner with some of my favorite people. We roast marshmallow. The conversation drifts to politics, fatal error but I recover beautifully. We canoe down the credit river to watch the fireworks sitting in our canoes. Happy Canada Day!
Friday evening I meet with my life-long friend Karen. We have dinner with her boyfriend, whose companionship strangely is a catalyst for both he and I to become more than bonkers (in a good way) and we bounce around. That evening blues dancing. I have only been here once before but I recognize some faces. Martin. Kyle (the one who we met in Halifax) joins us. Awesome. I have to drag myself away.
Today, more catching up with friends, with a slightly more urgent tone. Tomorrow back to Ottawa.
Heavier Things
I realize that my words seem heavier than normal. Moving around takes its toll. I find it incredibly hard to say goodbye to people and worry because I am still not sure where I belong. I know I will always have a place in Mississauga which comforts me. Yet, when I think about the autumn I am not sure whether to return to Halifax or remain in Ottawa. There are really pros and cons to both. Not to mention that I keep mixing up Ottawa and Halifax, I say the name of one when I am talking about the other.
I am also left with a mild sense of loneliness. It has been 2 years since I was in any sort of stable relationship. I am so happy for all of my friends who are in wonderful relationships but when all of your friends who live in a particular city are dating (or married) to someone except you, it kind of starts to weigh on you.
Lighter Things
I am so very blessed inded.
The last year has just been amazing (incidently it was just over a year ago that I started this blog) I have seen so many things and made so many beautiful and wonderful friends, and I have got to spend so much time with the old ones too. I have been to new places experienced new things. I could never have imagined that such a life changing trip would be followed up by a position in Halifax that would challenge my patience and courage but have me come out swinging on the other end and then see me move to Ottawa where I think I could easily be working with the nicest group of people who I have ever had the pleasure to share an office with.
Wow. Enough said.
What an adventure.
If you're reading this, chances are I am missing you a little bit right now.
Hope you like the new design.
As you had probably guessed from my last post, I have been doing quite a lot of bouncing around Eastern Canada lately. I am going to attempt to describe the last month to you in the most succinct way possible. Its been amazing, yet exhausting.
31 May- 7 June "Congratulations, you got the job"
30 minutes away from Halifax, arriving by train from Montreal on May 31st, my phone rings. I can see that it's my mom. Not the call I am hoping for. You see I had interviewed for a student job with the Ministry of Public Safety on May 25th, and unsure of how the interview went I had convinced myself that I would hear on the 31st and it was already 5 p.m. Atlantic time.
However, I was also not expecting a call from my mom. I answer. Trepedation. She tells me that Helen from Public Safety called and wants me to call back. I try, I try again, no answer. I get home. There's an email. I got the job!
Freak out:
This job seemed like a great opportunity, much better pay than the clinic, less stress, back to Ottawa. It also had its down sides: Putting off my thesis yet another semester, moving, quitting my job. Woah stress. I am excited, but start wondering if taking the job is the right decision.
I center. I take the job.
The next day I go into the clinic knowing that I have to quit. I have never quit a job before, and the timing couldn't be worse. I am helping to organize a conference for June 30th and I have come back with a lot of new ideas from Montreal.
I break the news to Julie, this is already a high stress time for her, I am not sure if she absorbs it. But I assure her I will come in every day for the rest of the week since I have to leave on Monday for Mississauga and my mom's retirement party.
I spend the rest of the week. I tie up loose ends, I find someone to sublet my room, I pack and say goodbyes. I also work dilligently with four refugee women, conducting interviews about their experiences as refugees and taking pictures of the places which make them feel most like home in Halifax. This is for a multimedia project for the conference. I put it together and it is done two weeks later. Beautiful
Saturday night I have another going away party. It's mostly friends from swing dance (Pluse Valerie from school and Chloe from the clinic). It is amazing how much swing dancing changed my experience of Halifax. I never imagined I would have so many new friends to miss when I went back.
Reflection: I can't believe the last four months were so much better than Sept '08 to August '09.
June 7- 13th: The Retirement Party
I had to leave Nova Scotia in a bit of a rush because I had bought a plane ticket months earlier to come home for my mom's retirement party. This is scary, my mom is retiring. What is her life going to look like now? How will things change? Will she be happy?
So many questions.
Tuesday I meet with friends. Wednesday is the party. Its cloudy but the weather holds. Good thing, the party is outside. There are speeches, presents and a whirlwind of socializing. A wonderful occassion, but mom's nerves are frayed. She's not so sure about retirement either.
My mom has always been a teacher, it is how she defines herself. I can't imagine having to step away from that.
June 10th Day Trip to Guelph:
This isn't really separate from my trip to Mississauga but it was delightful. I went to visit my friends Dalbir and Sarah who I met at the masterclass in Montreal. We had such a great time. I never remember hitting it off so well with two people that we could simply sit down and talk without realizing that time is passing. Hope to see them again soon
Rest of the visit: Visited with friends. Delightful. Anticipation is rising.
June 13 - June 30: Coming home or starting again?
The train gets into Ottawa. I hop in a cab. We get closer to the place I am subletting for the summer. Worry. I have not yet seen the place in person. I look out the window. I see my friend Josh sitting on the patio of a cafe. I see my friend Josh sitting on the patio of the cafe?!
I arrive at 91 Russell. I am greeted, I go in, see the room. It looks nice. I park my bags, walk back out and find Josh, still sitting on the patio. Catch up (not ketchup). Flow of ideas. Amazing.
First Day of Work: Everyone is super friendly. It seems like the Center for Mitigation Excellence will be a nice place to work. I am too new for anyone to talk to me yet though.
First week: I become certified in Basic Emergency Management, I get a box full of office supplies, get to know my coworkers, write a research proposal. In the evenings I visit with friends who are all anxious to see me. It seems the universe is coming together and bringing everyone to me who I have missed for so long without me having to move a finger. Even people from outside Ottawa. I run into Madut from my program who is working at Citizenship and Immigration Canada, on the same street as my office. Even Kai and Judy, Niko's room mates from Halifax are in town for a wedding. I drank a lot of Sangria. I try swing dancing for the first time and it is totally worth it.
Second week: I settle in at work. Still getting to know colleagues. Monday there is a fire alarm and we are evacuated down 17 flights of stairs earlier than we should. This does not bode well for Emergency Management. Two days later there is an earthquake. We evacuate again. Let me tell you, you do not want to be on the 17th floor of a building when there is an earthquake. Terrifying. But, I can't wait to tell my grandchildren some day "When I was you age, I started a job with the emergency management division at PS when there was an earthquake!" what an adventure. My socializing dies down. It turns out that all of my old friends are now occupied with boyfriends and girlfriends. I wonder how much longer I will have to wait before I find a boyfriend of my own. I am also getting to know my knew room mates. They are a couple and just bought a kitten. They are really lovely people. I get more into swing dance. Its lovely, but not quite the same feeling as in Halifax.
The Guy who sits in the cubicle next to me:
The guy who sits in the cubicle next to mine read my blog and demanded to know why I hadn't mentioned him, knowing full well that my last blog post was written before I even arrived in Ottawa. We made South African Chicken Curry for a potluck, and get in trouble for talking too much. Thanks for keeping me occupied Suresh :).
On the 30th there was a picnic for Public Safety. We went, we ate, we won a karaoke competition. What more can you ask for.
July 1st- 4th Canada Day.
I come home by train the evening of the 30th. The morning of the 1st my mom is upset. Yesterday was her last day as a full time teacher. Having just left a job, and trying to adjust my identity from "Kirsten Van Houten, overworked intern!" to " Kirsten Van Houten, assistant policy analyst!" has been somewhat challenging. If this is challenging, I can only imagine what my mom is experiencing is 50 (million) times worse. I worry.
Canada Day evening I go over to Claire's house and have dinner with some of my favorite people. We roast marshmallow. The conversation drifts to politics, fatal error but I recover beautifully. We canoe down the credit river to watch the fireworks sitting in our canoes. Happy Canada Day!
Friday evening I meet with my life-long friend Karen. We have dinner with her boyfriend, whose companionship strangely is a catalyst for both he and I to become more than bonkers (in a good way) and we bounce around. That evening blues dancing. I have only been here once before but I recognize some faces. Martin. Kyle (the one who we met in Halifax) joins us. Awesome. I have to drag myself away.
Today, more catching up with friends, with a slightly more urgent tone. Tomorrow back to Ottawa.
Heavier Things
I realize that my words seem heavier than normal. Moving around takes its toll. I find it incredibly hard to say goodbye to people and worry because I am still not sure where I belong. I know I will always have a place in Mississauga which comforts me. Yet, when I think about the autumn I am not sure whether to return to Halifax or remain in Ottawa. There are really pros and cons to both. Not to mention that I keep mixing up Ottawa and Halifax, I say the name of one when I am talking about the other.
I am also left with a mild sense of loneliness. It has been 2 years since I was in any sort of stable relationship. I am so happy for all of my friends who are in wonderful relationships but when all of your friends who live in a particular city are dating (or married) to someone except you, it kind of starts to weigh on you.
Lighter Things
I am so very blessed inded.
The last year has just been amazing (incidently it was just over a year ago that I started this blog) I have seen so many things and made so many beautiful and wonderful friends, and I have got to spend so much time with the old ones too. I have been to new places experienced new things. I could never have imagined that such a life changing trip would be followed up by a position in Halifax that would challenge my patience and courage but have me come out swinging on the other end and then see me move to Ottawa where I think I could easily be working with the nicest group of people who I have ever had the pleasure to share an office with.
Wow. Enough said.
What an adventure.
If you're reading this, chances are I am missing you a little bit right now.
Hope you like the new design.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
The Nomadic Life
So those of you who follow me on facebook (which is nearly all of you) know that there have been some recent changes in my life and also that I have had a few adventures along the way.
I will start by saying in mid May I was contacted for an interview for a position with the Department of Public Safety under the Federal Work Experience Program. The interview consisted of four questions, the first of which was "If you were to be stranded on a deserted island what are the three things you would want to have with you?" To which my response was 1. clean water/food 2. Shelter or the means to build shelter 3. a communication device.
After completing the interview I was a bit unsure of how it went.
Two days later I left for Montreal
Montreal
I decided to travel to Montreal by train because the day which I found out that I had been accepted to the masterclass on human rights at Concordia happened to also be the day that VIA had its seat sale, and I had discovered that airline tickets to Montreal were a bit expensive. So for a lower price than an airplane ticket I took a sleeper car to Montreal and economy class on the way back.
So on the way too Montreal about three hours into my trip I take a little walk down the coridor of the train to the lounge area when I bump into an adorable six year old playing with her stuffed bunny rabbit. Naturally I start playing along. After some hopping I started talking to the little girl's mom and a conversation something like this followed
Mom: I was in Halifax for my daughter's convocation.
Kirsten: Oh at Dalhousie?
Mom: Yes, my daughter was studying international...
Kirsten: ...development studies?
Mom: Yes
Kirsten: What was your daughter's name?
Mom: Stephanie...
Kirsten: Stephanie Smith...?
Mom: Yes...?
Kirsten: Oh my gosh I was your daughter's teaching assistant last year!
Mom: Really? Oh really? (Somewhat incredulous partly because I am a few years younger than her daughter and the statistical unlikelihood of this encounter occurring is astronomically high)
Enough said. On the train I also met a Sweedish woman who was also attending a conference at congress (which the masterclass was a part of) who was a forensic anthropologist) insert interesting discussion here.
I arrived in Montreal around 9 the next day and dropped my things off at the Grey Nuns, the Concordia Residence where I was staying. I then checked my email/ facebook to discover several other people I knew were also in town for congress and made plans.
I then ate brunch at eggspectation and proceeded on a walking tour of downtown Montreal guided by a guide book.
Al though it was a hot afternoon I realized I still had quite a lot of time on my hands so I decided to climb Mount Royal, Montreals Mountain. I used the stairs which are the most direct route up the mountain, however I took the winding foot path down, both of which were interesting routes.
The view from the top was quite magnificent. Also on the mountain I stopped at Lac Castor (Beaver Lake) where I was hit on in French by an icecream truck salesman. I was impressed both because the individual did not choose to switch to English while speaking me and that I understood that I was being hit on.
In the evening I met up with Matt Scribner from Carleton who was one of the people who were in town for Congress. We had a delicious meal and a restaurant whose name I can't even begin to remember. Following this I went Swing Dancing at Cat's Corner where I ran into Matt Tufts a Swing Dancing friend from Halifax and learned how to do six count swing dancing (or at least tried to).
The next day was a masterclass and WOW what an experience. If I could stretch that day over the rest of my existence I would die a happy person. There were so many people there of different ages and different backgrounds all studying issues at the graduate level on issues relating to human rights. There were two other girls with human rights degrees from Carleton and one girl who did her Masters at Dal in IDS a few years ago. The presenters included 3 women presenting on issues relating to child psychology and the rights of the child, Jane Stoyles from the Candian Center for International Justice (who responded to my paper at a conference last year, so exciting ahhh), Reza, a photo journalist from Iran who has won many awards and has deicated his life to photographing the sufferring of civillians in war (I couldn't but buy his enormous book) and finally a presentation by Kyle Matthews (who incidently went to highschool with my cousin Laura) and Frank Chalk on the will to intervene (which made me consider doing a PhD at Concordia).
That night most of the masterclass participants went out for dinner.
and then some of us went to listen to live jazz music at Upstairs which was amazing!
The next day I got up early, checked out from Grey Nuns and went to breakfast with James and Britta who were visiting a relative who was in town for the conference (I hadn't seen them in over a year!). I then went up with some of the masterclass people and went on a refugee guided bus tour of the city which was part of the life stories project and advertised at the masterclass. It was a really amazing experience to see the projects that people working on refugees in a bigger city had the resources to do.
On the anecdotal side of things for part of the bus tour we went up Mount Royal to the Oratory, where we were told if we were there for the first time we could make a wish and that it would be granted. When we first arrived there Dalbir, one of my new friends said that he wished they had icecream. At the next bus stop it was announced (fairly randomly) that there were ice cream vendors there.
In my case I found out that I got the job with public safety in Ottawa when I arrived back in Halifax the next day.
So I packed up and left town, first for Mississauga for my mom's retirement party, then on to Ottawa. The adventures never cease. But that's another story.
Tomorrow I am off to Guelph to visit Dalbir and Sarah from the masterclass!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
A Minor Celebrity at Dalhousie Law School?
So I went to Tom's Little Havana in Halifax to meet my room mate and her friend for a beer. I stood waiting for a seat for some time and after a while approached a table where the three patrons looked like they might be preparing to leave and asked if I could sit down. They said yes and so I sat. After a while we got to talking, I introduced myself, and they introduced themselves. It turned out that one of them, Natalie, was in first year law school at Dalhousie. I excitedly responded "Oh, I took a couple of law school courses last year" and explained that I had completed them as part of my M.A. The girl the looked at me incredulously and said "So you're the girl who fought her way into law school classes..." And I said "excuse me?" and asked her to explain. Apparently the law school has been quite firm with its policy this year to not allow outside students to take their courses and cited the example of a girl last year who fought her way into two courses.
Now what actually happened was that the professor invited into his Intellectual Property Law II course as international development study MA students, and the law school was obliged to accept us. At this point I was informed that I would only be allowed to take 1 law school course despite the fact that I had the permission of the graduate coordinator and the instructor to take a second course in International Criminal Law second semester. I accepted this but when I mentioned it to the chair of the department, she went into a blind rage and demanded that the law school allow me to take the second course (I do have a substantial background in law after all). In any case the law school obliged. I am happy to report that I got an -A in both classes and that this is how I became a minor celebrity at Dalhousie Law School.
Now what actually happened was that the professor invited into his Intellectual Property Law II course as international development study MA students, and the law school was obliged to accept us. At this point I was informed that I would only be allowed to take 1 law school course despite the fact that I had the permission of the graduate coordinator and the instructor to take a second course in International Criminal Law second semester. I accepted this but when I mentioned it to the chair of the department, she went into a blind rage and demanded that the law school allow me to take the second course (I do have a substantial background in law after all). In any case the law school obliged. I am happy to report that I got an -A in both classes and that this is how I became a minor celebrity at Dalhousie Law School.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Future Dating Columnist? I think not
So I haven't blogged in a while and there are a million better things that I could write about but here I am writing about this. The precursor to this story is that I remain woefully single and maybe a tad desperate.
What you shouldn't do to get a guy's attention:
So today I was sitting in Starbucks with my friend Irenee, when a voice from behind me says "Hi Irenee", I turn to look and see a rather attractive young man to whom Irenee responds "oh hi John", as he walks away I ask her who he is. She explains she knows him from choir, to which my response was "is he legal" (meaning over 19) at which she burst out laughing (who could blame her). After some consideration I scrolled my name and number in bright pink sharpie on a napkin and asked her to deliver it to him at choir practice, which was proceeded and followed by more giggling. Don't worry he won't call.
What this did achieve was possibly the best-worst pick up line ever.
Are you legal? Because it should be a crime to look so good!
Anyway next weekend I am going to Montreal, there should be some good blogging material from that.
What you shouldn't do to get a guy's attention:
So today I was sitting in Starbucks with my friend Irenee, when a voice from behind me says "Hi Irenee", I turn to look and see a rather attractive young man to whom Irenee responds "oh hi John", as he walks away I ask her who he is. She explains she knows him from choir, to which my response was "is he legal" (meaning over 19) at which she burst out laughing (who could blame her). After some consideration I scrolled my name and number in bright pink sharpie on a napkin and asked her to deliver it to him at choir practice, which was proceeded and followed by more giggling. Don't worry he won't call.
What this did achieve was possibly the best-worst pick up line ever.
Are you legal? Because it should be a crime to look so good!
Anyway next weekend I am going to Montreal, there should be some good blogging material from that.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Leaving me raw.
So while I was home in Mississauga I went out for my traditional dinner with Claire, Tina and Sherry (Jen was in Montreal), instead of going to one of the limited options at Square One, Tina suggested we go to a Raw food restaurant. I was skeptical. Did I really want to pay restaurant prices for some cut up vegetables? I have to say I found myself pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food at Raw Aura, it certainly wasn't what I was expecting. So as I was eating I thought to myself "Hey, this could be really healthy" and I wondered whether it would be possible to live off of a raw food diet for the week (It turned out after I did a bit of research that apparently people just live on raw food diets).
So last Sunday I only ate raw food (with the exception of a chai latte as I had decided to allow myself one Chai Latte a day during this little experience). Day one I felt a little funky but it wasn't so bad. I didn't cheat. By the second day I was getting a little bit hungry but I had discovered that you could make something reminiscent to noodles by peeling a zucchini. I did cheat that night by having a desert, but it could have been worse. In fact it did get worse everyday I would make exceptions but I tried to make healthy ones. For example Wednesday I had sushi for lunch in an attempt to eat something with protein. I did not cheat on caffeine. Unfortunately I started to get an upset stomach on Wednesday which lasted until the end of the week. Friday night I failed rather dramatically by eating a hamburger and fries for dinner but I had decided I would still try to stick it out until the end of the day Saturday when I had been invited to both a Bread and a Nacho party. However, when I woke up Saturday morning I discovered that my room mates had eaten the fruit I had put aside for my breakfast and gave up. I have to say the raw food diet left me with a very upset stomach and very tired. It definitely was not a healthy choice for me however it did introduce me to some new recipes which I am sure to return to in the future.
Back to the subject of Mississauga I guess the only other thing to talk about is Blues dancing. I guess I never shared with you readers that I had enrolled myself in swing dancing classes in Halifax. Coupled with regular social dancing I have to say my dancing ability is coming along and that I am getting pretty okay at it. In any case coming home I found myself somewhat disappointed because I was missing the final swing dance lesson in Halifax but in a stroke of genius I remembered that my oldest friend Karen had also taken up swing dancing and concluded that we should go swing dancing together. So on Friday night of Easter weekend Karen, her boyfriend Lionel, my friend Adam and myself headed out to a blues dancing lesson and social dance (Blues dancing is essentially the same thing as swing dancing with a less complicated step). It was really fantastic to get a chance to dance with new people taught by different instructors. I found the dancers in Toronto to have a bit more of a creative streak, to the point that Karen's Boyfriend and I included making faces at each other in our swing dance routine, which was embarrassing for Karen and Adam but fun for us.
Finally, bad news about my thesis. I am still planning on having a first draft done by the beginning of June but I have discovered that my supervisor is having hip surgery and that as a result I won't be able to defend until late August. Well shit.
Til Next time,
Cheers
So last Sunday I only ate raw food (with the exception of a chai latte as I had decided to allow myself one Chai Latte a day during this little experience). Day one I felt a little funky but it wasn't so bad. I didn't cheat. By the second day I was getting a little bit hungry but I had discovered that you could make something reminiscent to noodles by peeling a zucchini. I did cheat that night by having a desert, but it could have been worse. In fact it did get worse everyday I would make exceptions but I tried to make healthy ones. For example Wednesday I had sushi for lunch in an attempt to eat something with protein. I did not cheat on caffeine. Unfortunately I started to get an upset stomach on Wednesday which lasted until the end of the week. Friday night I failed rather dramatically by eating a hamburger and fries for dinner but I had decided I would still try to stick it out until the end of the day Saturday when I had been invited to both a Bread and a Nacho party. However, when I woke up Saturday morning I discovered that my room mates had eaten the fruit I had put aside for my breakfast and gave up. I have to say the raw food diet left me with a very upset stomach and very tired. It definitely was not a healthy choice for me however it did introduce me to some new recipes which I am sure to return to in the future.
Back to the subject of Mississauga I guess the only other thing to talk about is Blues dancing. I guess I never shared with you readers that I had enrolled myself in swing dancing classes in Halifax. Coupled with regular social dancing I have to say my dancing ability is coming along and that I am getting pretty okay at it. In any case coming home I found myself somewhat disappointed because I was missing the final swing dance lesson in Halifax but in a stroke of genius I remembered that my oldest friend Karen had also taken up swing dancing and concluded that we should go swing dancing together. So on Friday night of Easter weekend Karen, her boyfriend Lionel, my friend Adam and myself headed out to a blues dancing lesson and social dance (Blues dancing is essentially the same thing as swing dancing with a less complicated step). It was really fantastic to get a chance to dance with new people taught by different instructors. I found the dancers in Toronto to have a bit more of a creative streak, to the point that Karen's Boyfriend and I included making faces at each other in our swing dance routine, which was embarrassing for Karen and Adam but fun for us.
Finally, bad news about my thesis. I am still planning on having a first draft done by the beginning of June but I have discovered that my supervisor is having hip surgery and that as a result I won't be able to defend until late August. Well shit.
Til Next time,
Cheers
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