Blueberry Pie is Best with a Pinch of Crack*

Passing Time
My first few weeks off school haven't been as enjoyable as I'd hoped. I find myself with less work than anticipated, my friends are all either working or in school, and I lack the motivation to do anything. Lately I feel like I've been walking around with a cloud of depression over my head and I'm grasping at ways to lose it. However, life isn't as dismal as I realize I'm making it sound. This week has been filled with events, from my Saturday night downtown excursion to the film festival. I was very pleased with my film choices last night and anxiously await the last two I have. I could be going to the gym, but even that doesn't interest me lately.

Repeating Subjects
I watched Sharkwater last night at the film festival, hoping it would provide me with the insight I require to get over a hidden, but very real, fear of sharks I have. A while ago I posted a blog about Shark Finning and received some comments comparing it to other forms of slaughter that is more westernized. I encourage everyone to see this documentary about the world's most misrepresented species. As I sat in the dark, full theatre last night listening to the director talk about the importance of sharks for the survival of the human race, I fought back tears of shame, disgust, and sadness as I watched shark upon shark be stripped of it's fins and thrown bitterly back to the ocean to drown or be eaten alive. It is very difficult to view these creatures as the man slaughtering monsters that society has made them while you watch a man on the ocean floor touching, feeding, and swimming with them. The director, Rob Stewart, talks of the existence of sharks going back over 400 million years and how they've set the evolution of their prey. How the ocean supplies 70% of our oxygen due to plankton regulation, vegetation that Sharks feed on. He stresses the importance of these magnificant creatures and how fast they are becoming endangered. I was floored to learn that on average, 100 million sharks are hunted and killed for their fins annually. I struggled with tears when I learned during the 88 minutes of that documentary 15,000 sharks were killed. And most of it is done illeaglly.

I hope that many people see this movie, and many people take action. Like Stewart said, people are so concerned with saving the bears, whales, seals. What about Sharks, the one thing that can potentially save us?

*in reference to a scene from Prison Break, Season Two

Sometimes, living at home isn't all that bad.

Conversations with Mom and Dad this morning.

While I was in the shower
Mom (curiously): Did you have a good time last night?
Me: Yup, I did.
Mom: Where'd you go until 6 am?
Me: We got some pizza afterwards.

While drying my hair
Dad (teasingly): Are you hungover today?
Me: No, not at all.
Dad: Out until 6 am in the morning.
Me: I know (laughs)
Dad: I heard you. Why is your hair so curly?

Happy 31st Tawny!

This picture was taken last year at Tawny's 30th birthday party, where I was an honorary guest. Unfortunately I was unable to attend such festivities this year, but I'm there in thought. I'm sure she's having a blast, drunkenly knocking the socks of people if they're playing poker. As she says, no one can tell if we're bluffing because of the alcohol!

She's a wonderful sister and she deserves the very best :) I hope she had a blast today!

Movies Galore!

...well, not really.

So next week begins the Atlantic Film Festival. I've always been jealous of Tawny's adventures whilst meandering around the Toronto Film Festival, and where I know it's definitely not the same thing I'm still excited. My wonderful co-worker Shari managed to score free passes from C100 and allowed me to make my selection. For free I will be seeing:

• Sharkwater (a documentary about sharks)
• That Beautiful Somewhere
• Opal Dream
• Candy

I have to purchase tickets for The King and Half Nelson, but considering the rest are for free, the film festival will only cost me $30. Can't beat that. Let's just hope I can get those 4 nights off.

Hair anyone?

It's been my opinion (and that of numerous hair dressers) that 2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioners are not good for your hair. I've run out of my regular stuff, and rather than buy some more, I figured I'd just use up what's left in the bathroom. Well. I now believe what hair dressers say. My hair is wirey, frizzy, and just plain unruly. It has to be washed every day. Clearly, what they say is not a total myth.

On to other news, I've been really itching to dye my hair lately. I keep convincing myself not to because it's been over 2 years and my hair is finally all one, natural color. I get many compliments on it, would I really want to do it? I'm over hilites or foils, so it would be a full head color, and I'd want it done professionally because I'd need to buy like 5 boxes what with all the hair I have and I don't want to risk spots. I definitely would not go darker because I'm too fair for that. So I was thinking a lighter brown, or maybe a dark blonde (Don't yell at me! I realize it would be horrible which is why I'm talking myself out of it!).

Anyways. Enough about that.

Rough times

My ezcema is killing me. I'm like one, huge rash. My legs are cracking their so dry, and cream just makes them itchier. My eye lids are drying out on me again, cracking and stinging from the salt when they water. I don't even know if I should bother with the tanning beds because when I was going I wasn't getting any color at all. I just want to not have to scratch my legs to pieces!

Sometimes, old is better.

Tonight was spent down in the good old Mill Cove Plaza, working in the theatre. I remember the days when Dad used to take John and me, or my friends and me to see a movie. I remember the stops at Sobey's and the backpacks filled with our purchases, scared we wouldn't be allowed and thus forced to smuggle them in. I remember having to sit in the seats by the wall because Dad brought his book and needed the lights from the walls to read it while we waited for our movie. Some of the movies I can clearly remember are Beauty and the Beast and Toy Story. The first summer I started working for empire, Tawny was home for my graduation and her, Jods, and I went to Bedford to watch Bruce Almighty. I remember sitting there with my sisters, scared we were going to wet ourselves laughing at Steve Carell as he tried to read the news. Last week Krystyna, Cameron, and I stopped in to visit a coworker who was there that night, and I was reminded of why I loved that theatre. It's lack of vandalizing, screeching teenagers; the curtains that squeak as they are pulled up to reveal the screen; the non-stadium seating which doesn't make a difference because hardly any one goes and people sitting in front of you is not a problem. It's quaint, quiet, old school, and I love it. We're not sure how much longer it's going to last so I won't complain when I have to work there. I might even take the extra ten minutes and drive there instead to enjoy it while I still can.

God, we're adorable!

Thursday night after Krystyna and me dropped Cameron off, I went to drive her home. As we pulled onto Glendale behind an ambulance I started talking about how my First Aid training a few weeks ago peaked my interest in taking the Paramedic course, my only hesitations are it's something like $10,000 and the HARDEST medic program in the country. As we approached the Cobequid intersection, I assumed the ambulance would go straight in the middle lane to the new emergency centre, so I went into the right lane to get ahead of it. However, it went last minute into the left turning lane. With a whole lane empty between us, Krystyna looks over, and says "Hey...you're a cute paramedic." With windows rolled up, the driver must have read her lips cause he started beaming from ear to ear, which only increased when I looked over, smiled and gave a flirty little wave. We continued this smile conversation as the medic in the passenger seat sank down into his seat, me between looks at the light. How embarassing it would have been had the light turn green and me not notice.

Or, an even scarier thought as Krystyna was fearing--what if I stalled?

But naturally I didn't. Cause I'm a super good standard driver. We honestly are too adorable. This is why we love us :).

New Look for my Blog?

Well, not really. I did however, with the help of Meg, add some excitement to my sidebars. I will try to keep it up to date, so if you ever want to know what I'm reading/watching/listening to, take a look on there.

However, I have developed a slight obsession with Prison Break, specifically with Wentworth Miller, so that won't be changing anytime soon.

Work, work, work!

I've been working like crazy! This week I'm at the theatre EVERY day. All seven days. But, on Thursday night I get to work in Bedford which is very exciting. Derek wants to get me comfortable with that theatre as well because all their relief managers are also in school. Go me!

Admist all this working I am hoping to find time to attend some movies at the Atlantic Film Festival with Dawn and my friend Shari from work who happened to win tickets to whatever movies she wants for her and a guest. She told me to pick out a few and she'd be happy to take me.

School Info

While I was taking Statistics last year I mentioned to my lab instructor that I had interest in being a Teacher Assistant the following year. A position that is paid for by the University, I thought it would be a great way to gain experience, a wonderful asset to my resume, and fun because I'm a big geek who loves Stats. Actually I just think I love anything I'm overly excellent at without really trying, who doesn't??

I digress.

I didn't apply over the summer, and last week my instructor actually emailed me. She remembered my enthusiasm to help out and is looking for a student on Tuesdays from 1-330. I emailed her and told her that I wasn't going back until at least January. However, if I don't have to be a registered student I would love to do it. But if I do, to keep me in mind for any openings in the winter she might have. She responded telling me officially I do have to be a registered student, but where I'm returning in January she might be able to make an exception. In the meantime, she did have to look for a registered student to take the position. She also asked if I really wanted to come in one day a week.

I discussed this with Mom, Jods, and Krystyna, and we've all agreed that this would be good for me. It would keep one foot in the door, keep me at the school and thinking about school. I will tell her this and explain that I understand her need to find another student, but if she cannot and they can't take a nonregistered student, I'd be more than happy to volunteer for the position.

I think it's the wisest thing for me to do in my case :).