Family 'Hair'Loom

The streets are filled with Christmas cheer
At least it's only once a year...
I heard those lyrics in a Barenaked Ladies song, and was terribly disheartened. There are actually people out there who dread the coming of Christmas? Who are you, and why are you so sick?
I realize that it's not quite December, but working in a bookstore as a seasonal employee has me in the Christmas spirit. Even the fact that I'm seasonal - meaning I'm employed for the Christmas season - ergo, it must have started already.
Saturday marks December first, or what I like to call ADVENT CALENDAR DAY! Heck yes, I still get an advent calendar. And it's a home-made one: Mama (and her minions) fill it for me every year. Lucky, you say? I know. And Emily, who has the opportunity to likewise receive one of these calendars, chooses the ninety-nine cent calendars full of waxy chocolate from Shoppers. Yet another sick child.
I am decorating my room this weekend - my new Christmas tree, and my Christmas house (from Maam and Bamps last year) and my snowmen **. I'm pretty stoked.
I also work a ridiculous amount, which is nice (as well as tiring) because I get to wish everyone a 'Happy Holiday' - unfortunately, 'Merry Christmas' is bound to slip out. Hopefully I don't get fired - stupid political correctness. I'm sure a Jewish person wouldn't take offense if I wished them 'Merry Christmas'. It truly is the sentiment that counts.
Merry Christmas, all.

**PS - Mama has since notified me that she didn't give me a cob web snowman, she gave me the family 'hair'loom - haha get it. Cause its hairy. Yessssss. And you wonder where I got my wit.

Birthday Week

Since my last post, my nineteenth birthday has come and gone. I've taken the bus to Barrie and back, and am now in the same place as I was a week ago; on my bed, laptop on my knee, listening to country music.
My birthday was great. Monday night, Auntie Ro and the girls, Maam and Bamps, and Aunt Janice all came over for cake and icecream. It was awesome. Got some very exciting new things. Tuesday I worked - both jobs - and then went out for dinner with Kyla, Ashley, Rachel and Jess - once again - very exciting new things, including a half-pound chocolate bar, and four Bacardi Coolers( what am I going to do with those? ;))
Visiting home was WONDERFUL - lots of quality time with Mama, Dad and Emily. Jordan was working all weekend (sad) but I saw him for a while on Thursday. Oh well - only a month until I go and visit again. And then it will be CHRISTMAS.
Mama bought me a two-foot Christmas tree and decorations for my bedroom. She also snuck a few snowmen into my suitcase. Put up your hand if you're aware of Mama's snowman fetish. Know the one made out of cobwebs, that's super ugly? Oh yes - I have it here, with me, in Ottawa (it was hidden in my purse - yessss)
That's all for now. I work like crazy this week - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday.
Wow. Hopefully I SURVIVE until Christmas.

Time Flies

So, recently, I have been eaten alive by work. Not homework, which is always a good thing, but work in general. My hours with Leo at Counterpoint have been upped to 1.5 hrs a day, and Coles is scheduling me for a minimum of 20 hours a week (part time, I understand, but STILL...it's a lot to handle).
On the upside, I'm enjoying being busy. Today I sat down and did nothing for the first time in two weeks, and I realized that I DIDN'T REALLY MISS IT that much. Not saying that I'm purposefully becoming sleep-deprived, but you know. It's always good to be occupied.
My birthday is in two days, just in case you didn't know. I work both of my jobs that day, but then a bunch of friends and I are going out for dinner. If you are a) my friend, and b) in the Ottawa area, and I haven't invited you, I'm SORRY. Please come. It'll be nice.
If you are c) not my friend or d) not in the Ottawa area, then I promise I will not hold a grudge if you don't show up.
Especially if you're not my friend.
Going home to Barrie on Thursday. I am VERY VERY excited - it's been a while since I've been home. I miss everyone!
That's all for now, I think. Going to finish studying for my history exam tomorrow, and then read "Pour Your Heart Into It: How Starbucks built a company one cup at a time." Yessssss!

MINOR Panic

So, even though I'm halfway through my second year of university, I am ALREADY thinking about tecaher's college. I know that I want to end up as a teacher, but I'm not quite sure how to get there. Recently, I've been looking into requirements and things, and I think that, as much as I enjoy working with little kids, I might want to be a high school history teacher. I mean, there's little that I love as much as history, and I honestly think that without a great high school history teacher, I would have hated it. Seems to be true of most people: good teacher, good experience; bad teacher, they hate history forever.

There must be something I can do to get more people interested in history.

So, I'm looking at what I need to get into teacher's college to be a high school history teacher. I need six credits in one teachable, and three credits in another teachable. Easy, you say? Well, I've already chosen classes for last year and this year, which gives me two years to fit in enough courses to complete my major, my minor, AND three courses in some completely different subject!

I hear you all say "Duh....why not English?" Yes, I understand that English is the logical choice. However, that means that, on top of my FOUR history courses next year, I'll need to pick up an English or two.

Yeah. It's a good thing I don't HATE ESSAYS....because that will be my entire life.

So, in short, I'm thinking about taking a course via correspondance this summer. That way, I can work at day camp, be at home, and still maintain my sanity by getting one English course out of the way.

Any thoughts??

Rings True

I was walking to the bus stop from Auntie Ro's yesterday, and the high school on the corner had just let out. I was in my grown-up clothes, because I was going to work. There was a group of four or five boys standing right in my way, in the middle of the sidewalk. As I walked by, one of the guys stepped out and said "Hey baby, what do you say? You and me?"
Trying my very hardest not to laugh (he had to be maybe fifteen or sixteen), I held up my left hand (which has my silver purity ring on the ring finger) and said "I don't think my husband would like that very much."
The boys all laughed and punched the guy who used his extremely witty line, and I walked away. I started laughing as soon as I was out of earshot.
You gotta wonder who actually responds positively to "Hey baby, you and me?"
Yeah, that;s right.

Busy Week

I know I haven't updated in awhile. There's a surprising amount of news, however, it's all OLD news now.
Last Wednesday, Jordan came to visit. It was a blast, I really miss having that boy around all the time. He keeps reminding me that Tyndale (his school) also has a history program. And I keep reminding him that Tyndale costs $12,000 a year. Yeah, not thinking so.
Last Wednesday, Grandpa Joe had a heart attack. I found out on Thursday, when Mom called me and told me that she was in Ottawa. Grandpa Joe's okay, I'm sure you all know more details than I do.
Thursday and Friday Mom AND Jordan were visiting. It was great. Wonderful. I love visitors.
Saturday, I started my new job at Coles bookstore in Chapters. It was wonderful as well.
Sunday I did not much, other than homework.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday - I've been at Auntie Ro's, staying with the girls while she was away.
Tuesday I worked both jobs.
Wednesday I went to school.
Today I worked, and went to school.
Tomorrow I work, and work, and go to school, and work again.
Absolutely the end.