Mostly a movie review

My promised post is a few days late, but it is the holidays after all. I would have written last night after work, but I went and saw "Australia" instead. I thought it was great, and I will say that Hugh Jackman really lived up to his "Sexiest Man of the Year" title. Yowsers! He was dirty, bossy, emotionally unavailable for the first 3/4, then teary-eyed and driven by a sense of justice for the last bit. The movie itself was big and had elements western, romance, comedy, and war-time action. At times it seemed to be trying to be too many things, but on the whole, the central themes tied it together. I think I loved it so much because it reminded me a lot of "The Man from Snowy River" with its sweeping shots of the landscape, and the afore-mentioned combination of romance, action, etc... It definitely had some of Baz Lurhman trademarks, especially some of the camera shots, and the story-telling elements. I will absolutely be seeing it again.

Well, Christmas is over, and it is time to start a new year. I have finished my "Year in Review" cd, and will be posting a track listing next week.

Here is the poem that I mentioned in conjunction with the e.e. cummings. On another reading, it isn't as much like his poem as I thought, but I still think it was weird that I had never read his before I wrote mine. Maybe I am being too fanciful, and they are not similar at all. Anyway, I wrote this poem in December 2005.


Trees for Sale

Standing in lines
taller and tallerest
kings of the motley lot.
Missing arms and fingers
lend a desperate air
to their straight shoulders and spines
limbs, some bent and sparse,
reach out to embrace
someone for Christmas-
my throat catches at their dignity
especially the ones
who were missed last year
praying these twelve months
will only have made them more-
these are the quietest and heart-achingly proudest.

But it is the little ones
I love the best
standing beside the kings
with unformed branches
truly green
in this cruel buy and sell world
knowing they will never measure up
but plucking up chins anyhow
hoping that somewhere
they will appeal to
the small ones of the world
People like me
who also ride this life
rooted close to the earth.

If I had a house
I would take them all,
line them up in every corner
let them take off their strained
"please love me" smiles
and give them something shiny to wear-
anything to erase the bright
searing memory of the saw,
the screaming realization
of what it means to be chosen
(things they never told you)
and the slow death
of fulfilling their destinies.

JKO, 2005

...a Good Night

So here I am on Christmas Eve...my absolute favorite day of the year. There is a feeling of anticipation, the presents are still gloriously mysterious and full of promises, there is much baking and making of caramels, an appetizer supper, and a general feeling of relaxation because all of my presents are wrapped, and I have two days off in a row. Heaven!

Yes, my presents are wrapped, and they look glorious. I splurged and bought wrapping paper and wired ribbon from my favorite new haunt, Costco. Because the paper was a bit more expensive, it wrapped up a treat and creased beautifully in all the right places. It also helped that I took about 1.5 hours to wrap about 8 gifts. Finished off with the ribbon, the gifts look absolutely elegant. The paper is a textured gold, and the ribbon is a striped green and gold (go Golden Bears!)

Here is something kind of weird. Because Christmas falls on a Thursday this year, I was looking to resurrect the old Poetry day with a seasonal poem. I found a Christmas poem by e.e. cummings the other day that I really liked. The weird part is that I wrote a poem about three years ago that is really similar. Both poems are about Christmas trees, and there are some themes and lines that are too close for comfort. I had never read the cumings poems before, and I wrote mine while travelling on a greyhound bus, looking out at a field that contained rows of spruce trees. I of course don't have the poem with me, but I will post it tomorrow so you can see how it compares to the one I am posting today. Am I just crazy? Please read tomorrow and weigh in if you so desire.

little tree

by E. E. Cummings

little tree

little silent Christmas tree

you are so little

you are more like a flower

who found you in the green forest

and were you very sorry to come away?

see i will comfort you

because you smell so sweetly

i will kiss your cool bark

and hug you safe and tight

just as your mother would,

only don't be afraid

look the spangles

that sleep all the year in a dark box

dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,

the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads,

put up your little arms

and i'll give them all to you to hold

every finger shall have its ring

and there won't be a single place dark or unhappy

then when you're quite dressed

you'll stand in the window for everyone to see

and how they'll stare!

oh but you'll be very proud

and my little sister and i will take hands

and looking up at our beautiful tree

we'll dance and sing

"Noel Noel"

So, I am off to bed.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all...

Just when you thought you knew me

I really am addicted to these quizzes/questionnaires. So, if you will indulge me, here is a pretty fun one:

A

- Available: I think the real question is: when am I not?
- Age: old enough to know better
- Annoyance: sound of my high heels on the dry snow
- Animal: cat
- Actor: Christian Bale
- Actress: Kate Winslet

B
- Birthplace: Cardston, Alberta
- Best Friend: That would be my lovely roommate...Denise
- Body Part on opposite sex: legs
- Best feeling in the world: the one I get when I am singing
- Best weather: light jacket weather...it is all about the layering!
- Been in Love: Yes
- Believe in God: Yes
- Believe in Ghosts: Yes
- Believe in Evolution: I believe that things are always changing and evolving

C
- Candy: Rockets...ah, Halloween delight
- Colour: all shades of blue
- Cried in school: Almost everyday in Junior High. It is all about the bathroom.
- Chocolate/Vanilla: Vanilla
- Chinese/Mexican: Mexican

D
- Day or Night: Day
- Dream vehicle: a BMW
- Dance: when I get the chance
- Dance in the rain?: Not as of yet, but there is always hope
- Do the splits?: Uh, no.

E
- Eggs: omelet
- Eyes: blue

F
- First crush: His name was Dade and it was in grade three
- First thoughts waking up: Do people actually think first thing in the morning?
- Food: Anything Jess and Adam make that doesn't have the blue cheese
- Fear: the dark
- Favourite channel: Food Network

G
- Greatest Fear: finding a dead body...pretty irrational, I know!
- Giver or taker: A little of both
- Get along with your parents?: Yes
- Good luck charm: as of late? My sparkly Le Chateau shoes

H
- Hair Colour: brown
- Height: about 5' 2'' (on a good day)
- Happy: Yes
- Holiday: Christmas
- How do you want to die: not in any way that would be embarrassing to tell for the rest of eternity.
- Health freak?: I aspire to be
- Hate: being patronized...especially when people tell me to calm down. Try it. I dare you.

I
- Ice Cream: anything cherry
- Instrument: piano

J
- Job: facilitator with Inclusive Post-Secondary Education at Lethbridge College and peddler of the books at Chapters
- Juggle?: No

K
- Kickboxing: No, but I have always wanted to learn
- Karate: no
- Keep a journal?: yes

L
- Longest Car Ride: Lethbridge to Bryce Canyon, Utah
- Laughed so hard you cried: No, but definitely laughed until I couldn't breathe
- Love at first sight: no way...it is all about personality
- Last person out for dinner with: Travis

M
- Milk flavor: chocolate
- Movie: Just one? "The Man from Snowy River"
- Mooned anyone?: No
- Marriage?: Depends on who's asking
- Motion sickness: Yes. Oh, my yes.

N
- Number of Siblings: 4
- Number of Piercings: just my ears
- Never: date someone just because you're lonely

O
- Overused Phrases: Snappers
- One wish: to travel all over Europe
- One phobia: spiders

P
- Place you'd like to live: England
- Perfect Pizza: my mom's cheeseburger pizza
- Pepsi/Coke: Neither

Q
-Quote: "Be the change you want to see in the world" - Gandhi
"I don't understand the question, and I won't respond to it" - Lucille Bluth

R
- Reason to cry: broken heart
- Reality TV.: I. hate. it. so. much. I. could. punch. it. in. the. face.
- Radio Station: CBC 2

S
- Song: Seriously! Just one? "Looking for Someone" - Sarah Slean
- Shoe size: 8
- Salad Dressing: Dijon mustard vinaigrette
- Sushi: yes. Especially 7-11 sushi
- Scent: grapefruit
- Skipped school:yes
- Slept outside: is there anywhere else to sleep in the summer?
- Skinny dipped? Absolutely
- Sing well?: Sure
- In the shower? I always sing in the shower
- Swear?: only in my head
- Stuffed Animals?: a chicken and a Panda
- Strawberries/Blueberries/Raspberries: Yes/yes/yes
- Slept in a bed beside you? only Jessica

T
- Thunderstorms: both terrify me and make me happy
- Touch your tongue to your nose?: no

U
- Unpredictable: I don't think so. My friends and family seem to know what I will do at any given time

V
- Vegetable you hate: Brussel sprouts
- Vegetable you love: Everything but brussel sprouts
- Vacation spot: New York! Best trip ever!

W
- Weakness: men with a great sense of humour
- When you grow up: I will live in the city and have more shoes than I know what to do with
- Which one of your friends acts the most like you: I don't know if I would wish that on anyone
- Who makes you laugh the most: Jessica
- Worst feeling: waiting

X
- X-Rays: I have a vague memory of wearing a lead vest

Y
-Year it is now: 2008
-Yellow: love it

Z
- Zoo animal: giraffe
- Zodiac Sign: Taurus

- Zodiac sign: Taurus

"Hey, I can reach the tap now for the very first time today"

"I wonder if I'm growing, I wonder if I'm growing? My mom says yes, I'm growing, but its hard for me to see!" -Raffi

Not only do those lines from Raffi (including the title of today's post) make me tear up a little, but they equal truth. I have a hard time feeling like a grown-up most days, but as I started to write this post, I started to see some things about my life this year.

Last week I officially became an adult. How? you may ask. Well I will tell you. The answer is that I got a Costco membership. Yes! My very own!! No longer will I have to rely on the kindness of others (Thanks, Braden!) or wait until someone is going so that I can revel in the delightfulness that is Lethbridge Costco. Samples! Books! DVDs! Yam Fries! Occasionally, mini-doughnuts!! There are, of course good and bad points to this acquisition. The good points are all mentioned above. The bad aspect (o.k., there is only one!) is that I will spend way too much money there. I have a hard enough time controlling myself when I am not driving the cart. I will probably need some sort of supervision, so if you ever need to go, please let me know and we will go together. My only stipulation is that you have to at least attempt to discourage me from buying one or more of the following:

1. a Kitchen-aid (sp?)
2. the entire series of "Gilmore Girls"
3. a black-forest cake if there is no discernible gathering approaching
4. a life-size singing Santa
5. a trampoline
6. a box of chocolate bars
7. a Lobster roll

Getting the membership was part of my year long transition to adulthood. This year I got a new adult-type job, I bought a car, I travelled to Europe by myself, I moved to a Family Ward, and I am learning to wrap a present so it doesn't look like it was done by a blind man with only 3 fingers. Denise and I were talking about how the theme of 2008 was "Change the fate", and as I look back, I did just that. Pretty exciting. I often used to think that we have to become the person we aspire to all at once, that it would just happen. I am starting to realize that it is possibly an evolution instead of a transformation.

Thanks for all of the support in 2008, I really couldn't have gotten to where I was without your help. Here's hoping that we will all get the chance to grow a little more in 2009. If anyone has any suggestions for a title/theme for next year, let me know.

Here are some (pretty darn awesome) ideas:

2009

"The stars for me will shine"
"This year is mine"
"The journey is mine"
"This year will be fine"

Talk to you soon!

If you show it, they will come

I had a bit of an epiphany today...it all begins with a little story. I was watching a movie in the cave today with one of the students. There was not really any one else in there, but that was due, I am sure, to what movie it was. (I am too embarrassed to admit that I watched it, albeit, only the last half, so the title shall not be revealed) When it was finished, the (really tall and oddly attractive) guy from the Student Association came to put in the second movie of the day, and it turned out to be the brand-spanking-new release "The Dark Knight". As the movie got underway, I noticed an interesting phenomenon start to occur. Guys started appearing out of nowhere to watch. They just kept streaming in, and even bunched up on the couches together.

So, epiphany? If you want to find the men, go to the Superhero movies. The darker and grittier, the better. If you want them to come to you, you should probably buy the movie, and then casually let it be known you have it. If my calculations are correct, you will hopefully have the men-folk beating down your door within the hour. Try it out and let me know!

Once again it has been a disgracefully long amount of time since I wrote anything. (I do not count yesterday's post as it wasn't really original) Here is some of what I have been doing

1. taking the expression "mutton dressed as lamb" to heart. I attended Denise's Ward Christmas party, and semi-pretended that I was still young enough to be there. The food was great, but the entertainment was... interesting. I will not say more, but I will testify that there were many moments of unintentional comedy, which we all know is the best kind. There were at least 3 moments where Denise and I clasped hands in shared amusement/agony. I will say that I didn't know it was possible to sing the verses of "Leaving on a Jet plane" in 3 different keys, but the chorus always in tune.

2. working with a new student. She is a lot of fun, but pretty crazy as well.

3. eating at the Keg. Seriously, I have eaten there twice in the last 2 weeks. The first time was fraught with peril . We had to wait for an hour, I didn't get my salad, and my steak came well-done and then when I sent it back, rare. (I took it home and out it in the GF grill for about 4 minutes, and had the most beautifully cooked medium-rare steak for Sunday morning breakfast.) The second trip was with the Managers a couple of nights ago. This time my steak was delicious, and we were regaled with some quasi-risque stories from one of the ladies. Ah, it was enjoyable to watch Travis squirm upon hearing Jo's descriptions...

4. Going to Calgary to watch Cam in the "Messiah". She did a wonderful job on her solo, and Greg and I were treated to the delightfully disgusting sight of a boy throwing up in to his father's hands and the floor during the Hallelujah chorus.

5. Singing in the Telethon!! After Dad "lost his voice" on the morning of the blessed event, we had to completely re-work our program, and so it was a bit of a gong-show getting some numbers together. But, in true Olsen fashion, it came off with only minor hitches that we breezed right over. "Dignity. Always dignity."

6. Substituting one habit for another. I am giving "Scrubs" a break, and thoroughly enjoying "30 Rock", and "Sports Night" (for about the 4th time through)

Have a great week, everyone.

Kill me, another quiz...

Sorry for the "template" today, but work is really actually busy these days. Hopefully I will have some real live updates for you any day! But, in the meantime, here are a few things you might not have known. If you did, then too bad.

Where is your cell phone: On my desk beside me now… I just got 4 new messages in about an hour because my phone was on vibrate in my bag.

Your boyfriend/girlfriend: Is either dead or hasn’t got the memo yet.

Your hair: got a cut on Saturday and is looking particularly fantastic.

The room you're in: is my office. Bigger than Denise’s, but also windowless.

Your fears: the dark, finding a dead body in any natural body of water, spiders, needles, and the possibility of being under-dressed for any occasion.

Where did you hang out last night: At the “First Presidency Christmas Devotional” broadcast, playing Pres. Monson bingo with Denise (she won with “widows”, whereas my choice of “Canada” was completely overlooked), and then to “The Keg” for a manager’s dinner. Ah, Crème Brulee…they name is indeed delicious.

What are you not good at: wearing appropriate footwear, brushing the snow off my car (...although, that could have something to do with the fact that the brush cost 2.99, and was purchased at 7-11), turning off the t.v. when I am watching Scrubs, cleaning my room, giving up on a hopeless situation

What are you wearing: my uniform, as of late: a black cardigan, camisole, and jeans.

Your mood: cautiously optimistic

Missing: a few signatures from instructors for students’ audit forms

Your car: is a blessing in the winter. I do not miss the bus.

Your favourite colour :is pink…"Think pink!”

What is your salad dressing of choice: either Asian sesame, or a mustard vinaigrette I made myself

What food could you eat everyday and not get sick of it: Sandwiches

What are your pizza toppings of choice: cheese, cheese, cheese

Which of your five senses you think is keenest: Smell. I could really take this “talent” on the road and be a superhero by smelling things like chemical warfare or dirty villains

When was the last time you had a cavity: probably right now…I really need to go to the Dentist

What colour do you think looks best on you: either Royal blue or a very vivid fuchsia

Where to now: if I knew that, I would probably already be there…

"What more could there be..."

"...than people in a room, singing unafraid the same tune" (P.K. "Carried Away")

If you are a follower of Denise's blog, then I am sorry for the similar post today. But. But.

Peter Katz. (thank heavens he will never read this and know of his crazy stalker. It's true. I even watched him get out of his van from my car last night!) The show was incredibly intimate, funny, emotional, breathtaking, heart-breaking, friendly, basically everything you could want in an evening. We sat right up close, and there were not a lot of people there. I guess this was pretty sad for Peter Katz, but fantastic for us. We sang along with all of our favorites, and delighted in the new songs. He mentioned a few times how much he was enjoying the small show, and we cheered him to the end. After his set, and after we got the chance to meet him (and hug him!!), he did another 40 minutes of requests from the audience. We talked to him again before we finally got out around midnight. It was late, but the time went so quickly, and I could have stayed there all night listening to him.

His music was filled with every emotion, and he radiated with a love for what he was doing. He is such a kind and compassionate man, and it came through in everything he said and sang. He let us know how grateful he was that we were there to support him, and I am surprised that he was not more taken aback by our great excitement to talk with him. Did I mention that he hugged me?

Back to the real world today, I think I had some kind of music hang-over all morning. I was also still under the PK musical spell, and couldn't really focus on anything. So...not a great day for the work. Tomorrow I am attending a training session that will enable me to teach Abuse Protocol. It is aptly named..."Train the Trainer". It goes from 9:30am-4:00pm, and there will be lunch provided. I don't know whether I will be able to contain my excitement or not. However, it will be nice to get a break from the school for a day. I really do like my job, but it is pretty stressful right now.

I think I will end my post with a little segment I will have running until Christmas Day. It is entitled "Things I don't want for Christmas":

1. A blanket that has a picture of my family on it...or really any picture.
I have to see said blanket every time I venture out to the Walmart (I know, the best solution would be to stop going there) and it creeps me out every time.

More to come next post!!

Listen to Peter Katz...you will not be sorry. Find him at www.peterkatz.com, or of course, on Youtube.

Why I will never be an elementary teacher...

So, here is the news for the day. I have been writing here on the blogger for 2 years this month. I looked back to my first posts, and realized that 2 years ago this last weekend, I went on my first and only preference date. (If you were not a reader then, check out the story from November 2006...it's a gooder).

Last week was extremely busy, and here are a few of the things I was doing:

1. Working at Chapters on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Monday and Wednesday were pretty slow with not a lot of customers. In fact, on Wednesday, we were supposed to sell about $ 17, 000 (for those of you who do not have to attend Chapters meetings, that is a ridiculous amount to come up with on a Wednesday not in December!), and we made about 10, 000. I was actually a little afraid that I was going to be fired because that is the furthest from the budget we have probably ever been. Yeah! Friday and Saturday, however, were absolutely insane with Christmas shoppers out in spades. And, along with the Christmas shoppers comes some of our favorite things at Chapters Lethbridge: cranky people, line-ups, books that no one can find, messes around the store of gargantuan proportions, complaints about the U.S. / Canadian price differences (really? really?), and cranky people.

2. Work at the College is pretty insane right now with new students, old ones leaving, trying to pick out classes for students when they say no to every class you suggest (*$%@...), trying to compile schedules that don't conflict with everyone else's, tracking down instructors to sign audit forms, assignments to help finish, tests to study for... Come January, things will certainly settle down, but right now I am just counting the days until Christmas.

3. This past Saturday I taught the first session of a two part class through the Family and Life Studies here at the College. The class is called "Home Alone" and it is for children ages 8 - 12 who are going to be alone at home for whatever reason. It goes over safetly issues, leisure activities, nutrition, responsibilities and then first aid and the test are next week. I prepared for it all last week, and I was pretty nervous as I didn't really know what to expect. It went...o.k, but the kids were pretty crazy, and when they weren't crazy, they were really whiny. I found that 5 hours was a long time to have them for. Fortunately, next week there will be more activities, and I am going to make the test review as fun and as interactive as possible. It has been a good experience, and it is also great to get myself known here at the College in case I want to move to another department,

4. I attended Emily's baby shower and I got a chance to hold little Max, who is absolutely adorable. It was great to see Emily again, and spend a little time with her. I really do need to get together with her and tell her all the news.

This week I don't work as much, but I am going to see Peter Katz tonight at "The Slice" AWESOME!! He is so wonderful live. On Wednesday, I am going to Kade, Erinn, and Cam's Christmas concert at Southminister, and on Thursday we go out to Cardston for the Telethon. Telethon!!

Enjoy the week, everyone, and look for a PK review tomorrow!

Local spinster makes good

Before I explain what the title is referring to, I have a warning for all of you who are currently featured on the facebook. Don't do anything, ever, without at least considering the possibility that someone will be there with a camera to capture the moment, and then display it to the virtual world. I have had a few experiences lately with this, and I have just had to reconcile myself to the fact that my extremely non-photogenic face will probably be featured at any given time in someone's album. I mean, they weren't exactly beating down my door prior to Facebook, so it's not like it is hindering my dating chances. However, please consider the fact that whatever you do, and wherever you go, there will probably be someone wielding a camera close by. You may not even know it until 3 days later, when you are regretting saying the things you did, or wearing the shirt that you did.

So, if you are tired of being caught unawares, here are a few things that you can do to avoid future regret.

1. Take a page out of Denise's book, and never, ever, go into public without your face on. This includes late night visitors to your house, early morning pop-ins, (and now that I have a camera Denise, really any time you are not in your room. And that does include the possibility of me waiting out in the hallway for you to come out of the bathroom)

2. Don't say anything that could be taken out of context, misunderstood, make you sound boy-crazy, or really anything at all. Many cameras have video recorders on them now.

3. Un-tag yourself in any picture that comes up on your profile. This is time-consuming if you are a social person, or just friends with someone who loves to take and display pictures, or really, if you leave you house at all. So, quit your job, and stay in to be there the second a picture of you goes up.

4. This next one may seem drastic, but follow my example and just don't go out at all. If you are not where the cameras are, you should be safe.

5. Pull an Alec Baldwin or Russell Crowe, and just go beat the crap out of the paparazzi scum who tried to photograph you in a bad pose. Although, remember that you are not a celebrity, so you may not be treated with the kid gloves by the law.

6. Get off Facebook. It's just another popularity contest, High School nightmare, way to be rejected kind of place anyway. (O.k., yes, the hypocrite is coming out in me here as I will probably be ion Facebook for awhile to come!)

7. Just go with it.

O.k., onto the title. Last night I went back to the 2nd Ward to sing some War-tyme music for their Remembrance Day Fireside. It went very well, and people were quite pleased to see me back. I really enjoyed it because I got to sing my favorite songs from that time period, and as I looked out over the audience, I could see people singing along, or smiling as they remembered hearing that music back in the day. I, myself got a little choked up when I finished the set off with "The White Cliffs of Dover"

Have a great Saturday everyone, and if you want to see me, come in the Chapters. I will be there all day...

"We lived our lives in fear!"

November 12th, 2008.

Last night I had the opportunity to watch one of my all-time favorite movies: Strictly Ballroom. For those of you who do not know of this movie, contact me immediately and I will lend it to you, for you must see it. It focuses on the ball-room dancing community in Australia, and it is worth watching for the costumes, the delightful histrionics of the different women in the movie, some great dancing, and some really crazy characters. It is directed by Baz Luhrman, and it predates “Romeo and Juliet” and “Moulin Rouge”. If you didn’t like these movies, you should still watch it because it isn’t as drug-induced as R and J, or as obnoxiously loud as MR.

I was talking with my parents about movies you can find that are real gems. My mom and I discussed the argument that if you have never heard of a movie, it might be an indicator that it is not overly awesome. This point has been proved probably hundreds of times, specifically when my Dad goes to the library to pick movies. He will come back with titles you have never heard of, and they are usually the worst movies ever made. However, in favor of hidden gems, I thought of “Cold Comfort Farm”, and “Persuasion”. Both of these I discovered by accident, and both are absolutely wonderful. They are both British movies, and quite independently made, so that may explain why they were virtually unheard of here.

Any thoughts or examples for either point?

"A little bit softer now"

If anyone tells you that I am a prolific blog writer, it is a lie and you should not believe him or her. Push this person down and tell him/her to stop lying. I could say that there are good reasons that I have not written in a while, but that also would be a falsehood. We all know that lying is bad, and I really want to go to the picnic at Barry's farm, so I will tell the truth. Here are the reasons: I am lazy, I have not been to the computer lab with the students at work lately (which probably means I have actually been working), my life is extremely boring with the only drama being semi-real (really, more imagined); there were brunches to plan and wow people with, episodes of "Bones" to watch, First-Aid courses with kind of adorable instructors to take, Irewards contests to win, a nursery to get organized, a roommate to make time for, and let's not forget staff meetings, getting stood up, Haunted houses to go through, costumes to make, and flirting to do.

So, I apologize to people who read my humble entries, but I don't have any excuses at all.

I am taking advantage of the holiday today to update, and also to stay out in Magrath...in the fantastic bed!! Today is Remembrance Day, and as the College is closed, I am enjoying my first day off in a couple of weeks. This morning Denise and I prepared a brunch for our friend Amy's birthday, and if I do say so myself, it was quite a success. We had bagels and cream cheese, mini muffins, fresh fruit, and a frittata. It had been some time since we had hosted any kind of gathering, and I remembered my love of being a hostess. I am already thinking about doing a Christmas party, so if anyone has any ideas for one, let me know. I was just invited to a Christmas party on the facebook, but I declined due to it being named an "Adult-only" party. Now, I know it was only thusly named so that people won't bring their young children, but I just couldn't bring myself to attend. Plus it is being hosted by a married couple, and I get enough of that at church.

This last Sunday I was standing outside the Bishop's office, waiting to be set apart, and I was surrounded by a goodly number of ward members. The executive secretary, who is an older man, came up to me and asked/yelled "Do you have a husband here?" I replied "no, no" as quietly as I could while simultaneously trying to fade into the wall. Now I know that he was just seeing if I had some family to be there for my setting apart, he didn't really know who I was, and he could possibly be the new poster-child for low-grade voice immodulation, but I was not overly thrilled for the reminder.

Anyway, I am feeling a terrible desire to read some "Pride and Prejudice", and I think my laundry is about done.

Please, everyone enjoy the rest of your holiday.

I am terrible at picking titles

It has been way too long since I posted something of my own creation, but I just have not been able to write any poetry. Maybe my life is going too well, and as we all know, most poetry is fraught with misery and heartache.

About 3 weeks ago, I had an idea for writing poetry that involved looking up a word in the dictionary, and then writing a poem around it. The word I looked up at that time was maelstrom. I have tried to write for the last 3 weeks, but nothing would come. The word maelstrom has been jumping around my brain the whole time. Then, last night I was laying in bed when a phrase came into my mind. I immediately jumped up and wrote it down, knowing I would forget it if I didn’t. (It is the last 2 lines of the following poem) So, with both these preparations in place, I sat down today and wrote. To warn everyone, I have been reading some pretty flowery love poems as of late, and I am sorry, but it shows in the poem.

Anyway, as always, enjoy; or don’t.

Opus

There are a thousand songs
I have written about you
I sing them
I am singing them
I do sing them.

My favorite one is about your smile-
how it burns and breathes
and brings me back
from the maelstrom that is
Your indifference.

There is anther one in my repertoire
about the magic
that still pervades your voice.
When you say my name
I am drowning in your words.

These songs-
They are legion
But they all end like this:
“You finish sentences
I started with my eyes.”

-JKO

Apparently it is not a quiz

For any of you wanting to know me a bit better, here is a little questionnaire I borowed from my dear Denise.

Last Movie I Saw In A Movie Theater?: “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Boo. I am way too old for that movie…

What Book Are You Reading? “The Twisted Root” by Anne Perry (I just love me some Victorian Mystery) and “The Shock Doctrine” by Naomi Klein. Can never read just one book at once.

Favorite Board Game? Hello!! “Boggle” me baby! Even after the serious trouncing I received from Chris this Thanksgiving. I think I need to practice.

Favorite Magazine? Definitely either InStyle or Entertainment Weekly.

Favorite Smells? Mint and Lavender tea brewing, The laundry soap I’m using right now, Cinnamon buns in the oven, the smell of rain on the sidewalk, the cologne I helped Braden pick out

Favorite Sounds? Rain outside my window at night, my nephews laughing, Travis’s beat-box, music I love!!

Worst Feeling In The World: your heart breaking

First Thing You Think of When You Wake? How warm and comfortable my bed is, or a dream I just had

Fast Food Place? Lethbridge College Cafeteria…oh my gosh, that half-pasta combo is my nemesis of life…

Future Child’s Name? I only have girls names: Zoe and Charlotte

Finish This Statement—“If I Had a Lot of Money,” I would travel all over Europe.

Do You Drive Fast? I do on the highway…especially in my new red car! Yeah, Baby!

Favorite place you have visited? Definitely New York City, and especially Fifth Avenue at night.

Storms—cool or scary? Both…but anything worth experiencing should be cool and scary.

What Was Your First Car? Dodge Omni. What? You have never heard of those? Shocking. It was the oldest piece of garbage any human being could ever drive. It used to stall/die everywhere, my favorite place being the intersection of 4th Ave and 5th street (right by the Alec Arms) where a homeless guy pushed it on to the side of the road. The man who sold it to me warned my Dad not to buy it, buit I would not listen. Ah, memories.

Favorite Drink? Cranberry juice. Anyway I can get it.

Finish This Statement—“If I Had the Time, I Would…” learn Italian, hang out with my roommate more, actually prepare for Nursery, practice the guitar, sleep for a week in the awesome spare room bed.

Do You Eat the Stems on Broccoli? Yes, and it you peel them, they are even better!

If You could Dye your Hair Any Other Color, What Would It Be? Red…no I am just kidding. Probably blue.

Favorite Sport to Watch? I don’t watch sports as a rule, but if I have to, then probably Hockey.

What’s Under Your Bed? Luggage and socks

Morning Person or Night Owl? I can barely stay up past 11:00 pm, so definitely Morning person.

Over Easy or Sunny Side Up? Scrambled or omelet. Always mix your yolks and whites!!

Favorite Place to Relax? Libraries. All libraries.

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor? Anything with cherry

If I tried, it would probably just turn into an Irish one...

I am supposed to be cleaning up the office in preparation for a visit we are having on Friday, but the 15 minute "warm-up" I did about an hour ago has tuckered me out. I put the word warm-up in quotation marks because the instructions for said activity featured words like "suicides" and "lunges" (Usually the only deep-knee bends I do are the ones I perform to get my freshly laundered pants to fit). This was followed by a rowdy game of volley-ball which has left my arms pleasantly pink and speckled. So, I am sitting here in the office, and mentally planning where I am going to put everything so that when I actually do start, it will only take half the time. I know, I know. The logic is astounding!

The person whose visit we are preparing for is our very own MLA, Bridget Pastoor. (Every time I say her name, I voraciously r-r-r-oll the r. *I hope that I do not do it when she is here...I don't think I could keep a fake Scottish accent going for very long) She wants to know what Inclusive Post-Secondary Ed is all about, and we are going to dazzle her with our knowledge, and our (hopefully) organized office.

Enjoy the rest of your day, everyone!!

"I don't understand the question mark, and I will not type it."

Yesterday I took my life into my hands (well, at least my hair and eyebrows). I was participating with one of my students in her Therapeutic Rec class, and we were making "plaster-type" masks, using our own faces to do it. (I know Leita is remembering the good times right now!) I had originally planned on only doing my student's face-mask, as I wasn't really feeling the idea of letting someone else cover me in Gypsoma. So, I got C. down on the floor, slathered a ridiculous amount of Vaseline on her face, wetted the strips of Gypsoma, and went to town. We finished quite early, and somehow I was convinced by both C. and the instructor, Donna, to get one done too. So, I laid back, and prepared for the worst. Thankfully, Donna helped my student to "mask me up", and I emerged with all facial hair intact. I now have a mask to decorate next week!! Yay!

Sunday night, I had a great visit with friends, and after talking to them, I decided to be as positive as I could be. So, I woke up Monday morning, leaped right on to my knees, and said a prayer that I would be able to be positive, and spread positivity like a virus. So, although every little thing went wrong at Chapters, I somehow maintained a smile, and I kept all my Chapters peeps happy too. Seriously, though. One of the till printers broke, one wouldn't print receipts, a shelf broke, the fax machine wouldn't work, we were way under-staffed so I just ran around all night, I couldn't find books, and one of the new computers wouldn't type a question mark (?). But, we were somehow able to laugh about it all, albeit somewhat nervously. Anyway...the point of this little rant is that prayer is a powerful force in our lives. I felt sustained all day, just because I asked for it.

Try it.

This Friday I am going up to Edmonton to get my new car!! I paid for it last week, and I will be insuring it and registering it in the next couple of days. The only negative part of this happy scenario is that I have to go up either on the bus or with Erika on Friday night, and then drive back Saturday morning to be at Chapters for 4:30 to work. Fortunately, I do enjoy the highway driving, and I am thinking about buying an audio book. (It really is about time that I read "The Secret") So, when you see me next week, I will be driving a new red car. If I do have to take the Greyhound up, please say a prayer for my safety. It's pretty hard to drive your new car if you don't have a head.

Enjoy your Tuesday, everyone!

"I called you, but not on the phone...so you probably didn't hear me.

I am not sure if this blue is obnoxious or not...I will create a little test for all of us to determine if it is o.k. So, if after a few viewings you feel any or (heaven forbid) all of the following symptoms, please contact me immediately.

1. Do you feel "funny" inside?

2. Is everything you look at now blue?

3. Does it give you neuritis?

4. Are you now about 80% sure that you live in the ocean?

5. Are you uncontrollably shouting at people?

6. Are you lulled into a state of oblivion?

7. Are you constantly singing a certain song by Eiffel 65?


I guess only time will tell.

Have a great Monday!

This blog will remain titleless...

Well, today I am all alone here at the College, as the rest of my staff are presenting at a conference in Medicine Hat. I was supposed to go, but my presence, and more specifically, my key holding/mastering abilities are required at the Chapters this evening. Oh, to be dispensable again…

So, I am in the computer lab this morning with one of the students and I am trying my best to think of something to write today. There is a guy just down the way who is coughing up a lung, and all I want to do is yell at him to “have some compassion for my nerves!” I am sure if I did that, he would echo Kitty’s sentiment that he doesn’t cough for his own amusement. It seems as though everyone is getting sick these days. At least half of our students have caught the cold that is going around, and I count it as a miracle that I have not yet succumbed. It has been a pretty quiet week, as one of my students was sick almost every day, and the other one couldn’t get here because her “husband’s” van wouldn’t start. (I put the word husband in quotation marks because she is living with him, but they are not married. And he’s creepy.)

I am pretty excited because I am watching my new movie tonight – “Mystery Science Theatre 3000: The Movie”! I used to watch it quite frequently about 10 years ago, and I just ordered it from Chapters. For those of who you who do not know of it, it is a guy and two robots watching an old really terrible sci-fi movie called “This Island Earth”, and giving a running commentary the whole time. Is it as nerdy as you can get? Heck Yes! Will I enjoy it as much I used to? Absolutely.

Have a great weekend, everybody! Here is a shout-out to all the ladies in the Victoria Park Ward who are attending the Relief Society Retreat this weekend. Eat many, many wine gums just for me. And, maybe tell a few questionable stories.

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)

The Distance - Cake

Sorry to everyone I am friends with on Facebook, but I wanted to post this note here as well. It was a lot of fun, didn't really make sense mostly, but was frighteningly accurate a few times.

Anyway, try it out if you get the chance!!

1. Put your iTunes/Ruckus/Napster/etc on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Tag 10 friends who might enjoy doing this as well as the person you got it from. (I won't do this part, but I seriously enjoyed doing the rest...Thanks to Zach for the fun!)

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Last Year's War - Sarah Slean

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
She is - The Fray

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Sleep, Please Come to me - Matthew Barber

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Life On Mars - David Bowie

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
In the Bleak Mid-Winter - Sarah McLachlan

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
City Girl - Tegan and Sara

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Come Downstairs and Say Hello - Guster

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS?
The Smoking Guns - The New Amsterdams (I am not a murderer...I promise)

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Even an Ugly Man - Hawksley Workman

WHAT IS 2+2?
House of Cards - Radiohead

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
While my Guitar Gently Weeps - Beatles

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Mamma Mia - ABBA (Yowsers!)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Kill - Jimmy Eat World (I am sensing a theme...)

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Wild Honey Pie - The Beatles

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
The Henny Buggy Band - Sufjan Stevens

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Tina Toledo's Street Walkin' Blues - Ryan Adams (A killer and a prostitute!! Ha!!)

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Cosmic Girl - Jamiroquai

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Medicine - Guster

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Brand New Pair of Roller-Skates - Melanie Safka

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?Rocky Raccoon - The Beatles (Don't tell Denise...)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Key - Devics

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
No Blue Sky - The Thorns

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Videotape - Radiohead

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
A Long December - Counting Crows

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Take a Chance on Me - ABBA

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Don't Pass me by - The Beatles

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Everyone's in Everyone - Patrick Park (Huh?)

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Alone Here - Hawksley Workman (Now that is illuminating...)

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Hear You Me - Jimmy Eat World

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
A Case of You - Joni Mitchell

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Step Back - Royal Wood

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
The Distance - Cake

poetry day!!

Here are some gems...enjoy!


Opal
by Amy Lowell

You are ice and fire,
The touch of you burns my hands like snow.
You are cold and flame.
You are the crimson of amaryllis,
The silver of moon-touched magnolias.
When I am with you,
My heart is a frozen pond
Gleaming with agitated torches.



Faults
by Sara Teasdale

They came to tell your faults to me,
They named them over one by one;
I laughed aloud when they were done,
I knew them all so well before,—
Oh, they were blind, too blind to see
Your faults had made me love you more.



Failing and Flying
by Jack Gilbert

Everyone forgets that Icarus also flew.
It's the same when love comes to an end,
or the marriage fails and people say
they knew it was a mistake, that everybody
said it would never work. That she was
old enough to know better. But anything
worth doing is worth doing badly.
Like being there by that summer ocean
on the other side of the island while
love was fading out of her, the stars
burning so extravagantly those nights that
anyone could tell you they would never last.
Every morning she was asleep in my bed
like a visitation, the gentleness in her
like antelope standing in the dawn mist.
Each afternoon I watched her coming back
through the hot stony field after swimming,
the sea light behind her and the huge sky
on the other side of that. Listened to her
while we ate lunch. How can they say
the marriage failed? Like the people who
came back from Provence (when it was Provence)
and said it was pretty but the food was greasy.
I believe Icarus was not failing as he fell,
but just coming to the end of his triumph.