Visitation Rights

I have some exciting news. My boy is coming to visit me! Tomorrow!!
That's right. He is taking the train here, to Ottawa, to stay for two days.
I am so excited!
In other news, I've finally finished the first draft of my essay on the French Revolution. I am planning my nineteenth birthday party. I have gotten half of my Christmas shopping finished.
Um, that's all.

Grade-A

I know I've been writing a lot recently, but it's because I have a lot to say. This is just a short post to let you know that I'M EXCITED.
I just got marks back on my History of the United States paper, and I got an 82%.
I just got marks back on my History of the United States test, and I got a 93%.
Hooray for good marks.

No Witty Title

Got a phone call last night, asking me to come into Coles (bookstore) at Bayshore for an interview. Scheduled it for today, and went in at three.
Small segue here to detail my adventure getting TO Bayshore.
Those of you who know Ottawa understand just HOW SIMPLE it is to get to Bayshore from my house. You take Greenbank, turn onto Richmond, and you are THERE.
So, I take Greenbank. Check. Get to the lights. It's some bizarre three-way, no-turn, where-do-I-go type intersection. So I did the logical thing, and turned right.
Fifteen minutes later, I check a street sign, and realize that I'm NOT ON RICHMOND ROAD. No, it has turned into Wellington. And it's a really nice area (the kind of cute shops I love), but it WASN'T Bayshore.
I call Dad, he doesn't answer. I text Ashley, she doesn't answer. So, I turn around, and decide that I probably should have turned left onto Richmond. No problem. I get to Bayshore, an hour early (instead of two....I had wanted to go shopping).
Now, the interview.
I go in, talk to the lady, and she's super-friendly. Asks me all sorts of questions about myself (what I like, my favourite book, my favourite colour). Nothing pertaining to the job. Then she asks if I have any retail experience. I said no. She said, ' Okay. I'll just skip the interview questions then. Tell me about your work experience'.
Just like that, shrugs off the interview questions. Asks me a few key ones like ' How would you react under stress?', or 'Tell me about a time you've gone above and beyond'. I answered. It was good.
Then she asked how I made decisions. I told her about my pro-con lists, and said that, if it was a split-second decision, I'd go with my gut.
Then she said, "Well, I have a decision to make, and I'm going to go with my gut, and hire you right now."
Oh yes, I got the job.
$8.10 an hour, 30% discount, and a STORE LENDING SYSTEM ... I get to borrow books from the store!!
I start next Saturday. I work for the Christmas season.
I'm so excited.

Final Conflict

Final exam schedules for December were posted today. Good news - I only have one final! Bad news - it's on December 17th. So, like last year, I finish class on the 2nd of December, and have two weeks off. This means that it's up to my family to decide: Should I come to Barrie December 2nd to 17th, or should I stay in Ottawa until the 27th and then come home? This question is directed generally towards Mom, Dad, Jordan, and anyone else who will be in Barrie for Christmas. If you're staying at home (in BC......), then your opinion doesn't count.**
In other news, I applied for a seasonal job at Chapters/Indigo. If I get it, then I can work just for the Christmas season, and make money, and be able to relax (a little) next semester, when I have SIX COURSES.
Give me your feedback. I'm a glutton for comments ;)

** Well, it counts, just not this time.

Stark Raven Mad

Went to my first Carleton basketball game tonight. Rachel, who has a mad crush on one of the players (and also likes basketball), convinced me to come with her. So I did. And, while the first quarter consisted of me staring, eyes glazed, at centre court, I was soon enthralled. The Carleton Ravens are actually pretty good (ahem...5 time CIS winners....). I enjoyed the game, the Ravens won, and Rachel and I had a blast, as always. Perhaps I've found a sport I could actually get into.
Or perhaps, it was a delayed sense of school spirit kicking in.

Rollercoaster Ride

So, my self-proclaimed wanderlust turned into something amazingly more substantial. After deciding first to transfer to the University of Guelph-Humber, and then deciding against it in a matter of two days, I thought my desire for change would be quelled.
Apparently not.
As of six hours ago, I was all set to co-sign a lease with Rachel for a one-bedroom apartment on Riverside Drive.
Don't believe me? Oh yes. Last night, we searched, and called, and emailed and visited apartments all across the central Ottawa area. Our last stop, Riverside Towers, proved successful when we both fell in love with an adorable apartment on the fifteenth floor. The kitchen had all new appliances, the bedroom was BIG, the livingroom was gorgeous, and the balcony had an awesome view. It was (almost) affordable....$795 a month (divided by two), and we were going to go back on Saturday to take pictures and sign the lease.
Had a nightmare last night that I fell off the balcony because all of Rachel's things were filling up the apartment.
After some persuasion (Dad, Mom....) I called Rachel and let her know that it was a no-go.

Things are (almost) back to normal.

Turkey-Give

I figured I would edit this post, because it really didn't express the activities of the Thanksgiving weekend.
Friday morning, Grandma and Grandpa Joe and I drove from Ottawa to Barrie, and when we got there, Mom and Jordan were waiting for us. Had a good dinner, played cards, went to DAIRY QUEEN (would you believe that they had a Pumpkin Pie Blizzard? That's right. It was incredible).
Saturday we went up to Jordan's aunt's cottage in Minden....it was a blast. Cottage on an island....which means it involved a boat ride - fortunately, I got over it.
If you've ever seen Gilmore Girls, chances are you've experienced 'A Deep Fried Korean Thanksgiving' (episode something, season something....Ask Emily). And if you've seen this episode, you know that after a few beers and some fancy cocktails, the residents of Stars Hollow begin throwing EVERYTHING into the deep fryer - turkey, vegetables, pie, shoes....
Now transport that image to a cottage on an island, take away the fancy cocktails and shoes, and make everyone there a member of the same family.
That was pretty much Thanksgiving dinner at the Van Velsen cottage.
Needless to say, dinner at my house was slightly less eventful. Mom and Grandma made an AWESOME turkey (Dad would say he made it, because he sliced it...) and Grandma McLeod brought pumpkin pie and pecan pie.
Episode Two in the Pumpkin Desserts saga*** was Mom's attempt at pumpkin mousse. Jordan and I pretended to enjoy it for all of one bowlful - Grandma and Grandpa Joe weren't quite so tactful.
All in all....great times.
*** hands up if you remember the Episode One of the Pumpkin Desserts saga - Mom's infamous pumpkin squares, that had the texture of steel wool, and the general size and heft of a brick.
No offense Mom....pumpkin just isn't your forte.