I was thinking the other day how far I've come in two years but I can't take all the credit for my journey. I couldn't have made it without my family and friends. Then while driving home for easter I was listening to this song and just knew it had to be dedicated to all you wonderful people. Even when I was at my craziest or saddest there was someone there for me and I will be eternally grateful for that and for not giving up on me. I may still need a hand but I feel so much stronger and I want to remind you that I'm here for all of you. This also heralds a new name for the blog...don't worry the address will stay the same and I'm open to suggestions so leave them in the comment field.
most especially.... THANK YOU
Tuesday, April 19
Monday, April 11
Long time no write
Okay I have no excuse for my long absence but it's also a good sign. I'm getting out and connecting more with people in person, I'm living again and not hiding behind my keyboard. The semester is done, just a few finals to write that I'm not feeling very stressed about. On the academic front the big news is that I'll be speaking at my first professional conference. I'll be presenting my paper on multilingualism at the Sask TESL/ TEAL Sask conference. This is exciting for me and it's great for my future career path.
My family went for a family vacation on a cruise to the Caribbean. Everyone went including my Grandma and it was really awesome. We did the western caribbean so we saw: Grand Cayman Island, Honduras, and Mexico. It was a 7 day cruise and I had a great blend of busy and relaxing time. Our whole family went ashore in Grand Cayman and went to the beach together. In Honduras I went to a cove and swam with the dolphins a lifelong dream of mine. In Mexico I visited the Xcaret Park which was a mix of zoo, historical park, beach, and horticultural centre. I really enjoyed the mix of experiences. On ship I took in all the spa had to offer, swam in the pools, read my book, watched some shows and drank lots of yummy drinks. Everyone had a great time, got some sun and just relaxed as a family. It was perfect because you could do what you wanted all day and then we'd all get back together for supper. The timing was a little hectic because I came back and had to finish 3 final projects in 3 days but I got it done so that's all that matters.
An important date passed while we were away, the 2 year anniversary of Armin's death. It doesn't feel like it's been two years it feels like 2 millennium have passed since he died. I'm a lot stronger emotionally than I was but some days I still reach to his side of the bed looking for him. Last night was one of those nights, I've been pretty sick this last weekend with a stomach bug and all I wanted was to be held by someone. It's those little things I miss, the comfort of a touch, his smile, and the having someone next to you at night. Most days I get by because I don't think about it much, it's like a dream that lingers at the edge of your consciousness. Other days I close my eyes and try to escape back into that dream but like all dreams there's no way back. Don't get me wrong I don't hate my life but I do miss the life I had. Last night I cried and today I laughed and I guess that's what life is and what it ends up meaning.
Once my exam is over tomorrow I think it's time for some craft therapy.
My family went for a family vacation on a cruise to the Caribbean. Everyone went including my Grandma and it was really awesome. We did the western caribbean so we saw: Grand Cayman Island, Honduras, and Mexico. It was a 7 day cruise and I had a great blend of busy and relaxing time. Our whole family went ashore in Grand Cayman and went to the beach together. In Honduras I went to a cove and swam with the dolphins a lifelong dream of mine. In Mexico I visited the Xcaret Park which was a mix of zoo, historical park, beach, and horticultural centre. I really enjoyed the mix of experiences. On ship I took in all the spa had to offer, swam in the pools, read my book, watched some shows and drank lots of yummy drinks. Everyone had a great time, got some sun and just relaxed as a family. It was perfect because you could do what you wanted all day and then we'd all get back together for supper. The timing was a little hectic because I came back and had to finish 3 final projects in 3 days but I got it done so that's all that matters.
An important date passed while we were away, the 2 year anniversary of Armin's death. It doesn't feel like it's been two years it feels like 2 millennium have passed since he died. I'm a lot stronger emotionally than I was but some days I still reach to his side of the bed looking for him. Last night was one of those nights, I've been pretty sick this last weekend with a stomach bug and all I wanted was to be held by someone. It's those little things I miss, the comfort of a touch, his smile, and the having someone next to you at night. Most days I get by because I don't think about it much, it's like a dream that lingers at the edge of your consciousness. Other days I close my eyes and try to escape back into that dream but like all dreams there's no way back. Don't get me wrong I don't hate my life but I do miss the life I had. Last night I cried and today I laughed and I guess that's what life is and what it ends up meaning.
Once my exam is over tomorrow I think it's time for some craft therapy.
Tuesday, February 22
Reading week
Well so far no reading has occurred on this reading week but that's not really unusual. I don't think I've ever read on reading week. It's so nice to be in Edmonton and so far I've had a lot of nice visits with friends and family. It's great to catch up with people but it's been quite a few late nights and busy days. This trend will just continue for the rest of the week...I'll need another week to just recover from this :D but that's the sign of a great vacation.
I'm so grateful to have so many wonderful people in my life. Friends and family are truly treasure beyond worth.
I'm so grateful to have so many wonderful people in my life. Friends and family are truly treasure beyond worth.
Thursday, February 10
Craftiness Again
Well I've done a lot of talking about me and my life but I have managed to do some crafting...not much but I'm hopeful to change this. I've got a few girls interested in crafting and we're trying to get together on Friday's to craft. This helps get my creative juices flowing and I find during the week I'm spending more time working on my art journal.
This is a simple puppet set I made for a swap I'm in. It's the 3 little pigs and the big bad wolf (ok he's not so bad). This is one of my favorite fun little puppet ideas and cheap I just go to the dollar store and get utensils.
I found this cool origami paper so I started folding and playing and made this cute little bouquet. It did need a little glue to make it solid enough that if Tyb pushes it over it stays together.
This is just an altered board book I've been playing with. I think it still needs something but I was thinking it would be a great housewarming or wedding gift so it might not get finished until I go to a wedding or something.
There we go a little eye candy to make your early February better!
Tuesday, February 8
Suddenly it's midterms and cellphones!
After weeks of quiet and just readings to do. Suddenly it's midterm season. Papers are due and tests are next week. That's okay I'll survive but suddenly the pressure is on and higher this semester. I made the dean's list last semester, something I'm quite proud of myself for doing. However, now I want to do it again which means maintaining an 85% average. I raised my bar and now I'm not sure I can keep clearing it. We'll just have to see how it goes.
On the weight loss front I'm doing really well, as of today I've lost 15lbs and it's been relatively painless. I've been helped by my goal to eat more local organic food. The only downside is that local organic food is expensive. So I've been balancing this with just eating more veggies and less meat. Come summer it'll be easier when the farmer's markets are full of produce but in winter in Canada local and organic is hard to find. Eating healthier is a lot easier when you live by yourself, you only have to please yourself and there's no one sabotaging you by eating yummy junk.
The shopping is not going quite as well. I have made improvements but I still have been buying things and I have a hard time packing my lunch for Tuesday and Thursday's. That's okay there is still time to keep working on it. I have been doing better about resisting impulse buys and online shopping. I only shopped once this month and I took my Michael's gift certificate with me. Of course I went over a little and then we went to Michael's where I did buy a new pair of dress pants and a sweater. I could've lived without them and probably didn't need them so it wasn't the smartest decision but they will get used with me doing a lot of fieldwork this semester.
On that note fieldwork is awesome. It eats up a lot of my time but I love being with the kids. I spend Wednesday mornings in a grade 3/4 classroom of 29 kids of which 18 are EAL so while I'm supposed to be observing I'm actually getting a lot of hands on time. In the afternoon I go to a french school and assist the English teacher with EAL (english as an acquired language) students, they are generally in grade 6/7 and I do one on one tutoring with them. I also spent an afternoon at a local prekindergarten which was really great and my favorite experience so far. Then starting soon I will be volunteering at the RCMP Heritage Centre here, I think I'll be doing class tours but there will probably be other things to do as well. Due to being in the field so much my coursework seems to be lighter with most of the courses having one midterm, a final or final paper and a reflection piece based on the fieldwork.
I'm looking forward to reading week and I'm planning on heading to Edmonton so that should be good and since I have some extra time this visit I hope I can see some people. I called my Grandma today just to chat and it turns out my Dad was there visiting with her. So I got to talk to both of them, which was good. I will also have to spend some time with Grandma when I'm home since I won't be able to be back for her birthday the next weekend. In order to make this trip better than my last which involved my car getting stuck like 3 times, a trip into the ditch because of black ice and a tow once again from CAA I've got the car going in for a check up and new tires.
I'm also going to get a cellphone .... yep I'm giving into the technology. I'll probably only carry it when traveling to Edmonton for two reasons: if I get stuck and so I can get in touch with my friends even while I'm out and about town. The big debate is what cellphone to get so I'm asking for input. Should I spend the cash for the iphone or do I get something else. If I got an iphone I probably would carry it with me and use it but mostly as a ipod which I already have so it would be redundant. If I go with another option then what do people like.
Leave me your feedback and I'd be grateful.
On the weight loss front I'm doing really well, as of today I've lost 15lbs and it's been relatively painless. I've been helped by my goal to eat more local organic food. The only downside is that local organic food is expensive. So I've been balancing this with just eating more veggies and less meat. Come summer it'll be easier when the farmer's markets are full of produce but in winter in Canada local and organic is hard to find. Eating healthier is a lot easier when you live by yourself, you only have to please yourself and there's no one sabotaging you by eating yummy junk.
The shopping is not going quite as well. I have made improvements but I still have been buying things and I have a hard time packing my lunch for Tuesday and Thursday's. That's okay there is still time to keep working on it. I have been doing better about resisting impulse buys and online shopping. I only shopped once this month and I took my Michael's gift certificate with me. Of course I went over a little and then we went to Michael's where I did buy a new pair of dress pants and a sweater. I could've lived without them and probably didn't need them so it wasn't the smartest decision but they will get used with me doing a lot of fieldwork this semester.
On that note fieldwork is awesome. It eats up a lot of my time but I love being with the kids. I spend Wednesday mornings in a grade 3/4 classroom of 29 kids of which 18 are EAL so while I'm supposed to be observing I'm actually getting a lot of hands on time. In the afternoon I go to a french school and assist the English teacher with EAL (english as an acquired language) students, they are generally in grade 6/7 and I do one on one tutoring with them. I also spent an afternoon at a local prekindergarten which was really great and my favorite experience so far. Then starting soon I will be volunteering at the RCMP Heritage Centre here, I think I'll be doing class tours but there will probably be other things to do as well. Due to being in the field so much my coursework seems to be lighter with most of the courses having one midterm, a final or final paper and a reflection piece based on the fieldwork.
I'm looking forward to reading week and I'm planning on heading to Edmonton so that should be good and since I have some extra time this visit I hope I can see some people. I called my Grandma today just to chat and it turns out my Dad was there visiting with her. So I got to talk to both of them, which was good. I will also have to spend some time with Grandma when I'm home since I won't be able to be back for her birthday the next weekend. In order to make this trip better than my last which involved my car getting stuck like 3 times, a trip into the ditch because of black ice and a tow once again from CAA I've got the car going in for a check up and new tires.
I'm also going to get a cellphone .... yep I'm giving into the technology. I'll probably only carry it when traveling to Edmonton for two reasons: if I get stuck and so I can get in touch with my friends even while I'm out and about town. The big debate is what cellphone to get so I'm asking for input. Should I spend the cash for the iphone or do I get something else. If I got an iphone I probably would carry it with me and use it but mostly as a ipod which I already have so it would be redundant. If I go with another option then what do people like.
Leave me your feedback and I'd be grateful.
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