I've got my life back...and a pen...

Exams are done and I feel like I've finally got my life back. Despite the fact that I have to write a 20pg paper in a week when my brain has already been fried, I'm feeling pretty good.

Exams were hell as per usual. I had 3 last week but at least I got a lot of time to study between the end of school and the start of them. That was a relief. Exam weeks are not exciting for me. I'm usually up by 5:45 am, at SUB on campus by 7:30 am and studying on campus till 10-12 at night. It's super exciting and super fun.

My Intro to Greek history went ok I think. It was a fairly vague test which kinda bugs me because I'm not entirely sure what the prof thinks is an acceptable answer. Intro to Roman History went a bit better I think, though I was so stressed out before it. I needed to formulate an essay, I thought my test started at 1 not 2, and my mechanical pencil blew up at 12:33. It was not fun. I think I did alright though.

We went to the Archenemy concert at the Starlite room on Sunday. It was an awesome concert. It's really cool to see a female lead singer of a death metal band. She's awesome - her vocal range is ridiculous!

My psych test was awesome! It was 60 multiple choice, which usually is a great thing, but Dr. Wardell's multiple choice are really hard. I'm used to them because this is my 5th class with him. I knew how to study, though it took me longer than I had planned because I was brain dead, and I know how to write his tests. I was done in 45 minutes and I'm feeling pretty confident about it. That was my last psych class I'll be taking and my last class with Dr. Wardell. That's sad.

After my last test I walked Tessa to work at the used book store and I didn't buy a book. That's a miracle! Then Ben, Yannick, and I went over to the Jens' house to watch hockey and drink. It was super fun! Ben and I brought 2 very tasty bottles of wine, they had pizza, I had sushi, we watched hockey, goofed around, and then they played Trivial Pursuit. I was super tired, so I was antisocial and snoozed on the couch. I didn't feel too bad, though...it was past midnight, and I had just finished my exams.

Yesterday, Ben and I slept in! What a novel idea! I haven't spent time with him in so long! We had to go over to the Jens' house in the morning because Brown Jen (the Jen with Brown hair, Blonde Jen has blonde hair) was moving out. She's done her Ed degree now so she's moving back to Calgary. We went over and helped her take her bed apart, etc... It's weird knowing that she's a 'real person' now!

Then, Ben said he was buying me a 'school's out present'! I was super excited. He wouldn't give me any hints, but I knew what he was buying me when we pulled up at the store. We went to Colours Artist Supplies (the link's on the side) and Ben bought me a fountain pen! It's awesome and looks like this:


I'm super excited. I've always wanted one, but not one that is too flashy and obvious. This is just a really nice, simple, sleek pen! Yeah! I feel like a real academic now!

Afterwards, Ben and I went to A&B Sound, he bought an armband for his Ipod for when he runs. It barely fits on his arms, but it should work. Then we went to Mum's house, went out for supper at a tasty Vietnamese restaurant, had tea at Steeps, and watched "A History of Violence." That was an excellent movie, in my opinion!

Whew...that's been my life!

Yummy Dinner

Since today was the last day of classes, I usually try to get everyone together for a dinner out somewhere to celebrate before the insanity of exams. This time, everyone else was busy, but Blonde Jen and I went out to this super tasty restaurant.

It's Parkallen Lebanese restaurant here in Edmonton. It's the greatest restaurant ever, though I may be a bit biased! My family is part Lebanese, so I have a lot of great memories associated with eating Lebanese food, as well as sitting in Parkallen for hours. My great aunts always tried to pass off Parkallen's food as "home cooked" when they were too busy to cook, especially Nedima!

Anyway, we had a great meal. Their wine is insane, and they have the largest wine menu in Edmonton. The food is amazing and we (as usual) ate way too much. We split plates of kubbi, fatayer, kafta, and arek wriesh. I had baklava and Lebanese coffee for desert and Jen had ismalyia. It was sooooo tasty.

The link for the restaurant's website is on the side. If any of you guys are from Edmonton, you must eat there (I recommend anything!) and if you aren't from Edmonton, but are ever here, you must eat there (I, again, recommend everything)!

Yumm.... until later!

New Picture

I finally found a picture of me! I had to pilfer it from my sister's blog because I don't own a recent picture of me. That's kind of sad, but oh well. This is a picture of Ben and I infront of his new 2006 Mazda 3 sport. It's an awesome car!

Tattoo Number 2

Ok, so to update you all, I got my first tattoo when I was 17, at Bear Skins Art. It is the Japanese character for 'death.' I love it and I finally got enough money to get a second one, thanks to the Klein government!

I decided on 'death' of all things because we are all mortal. That may not be the most uplifting news ever, but it's true. I believe that North American society is way too in denial about this, and so this is one way for me to remind myself of my mortality. I have been intruiged by death, society's reaction to it, and people's reaction to it since I was a toddler so I thought it was the most appropriate tattoo for me to get. I also couldn't get something 'girly' or 'cliche' like a flower, etc... (the list goes on for ever!). Sorry to all you who may have a tattoo in this category!

The process of getting my first tattoo was quite extensive. I was only 17 (underage by 1 year) and so Mum had to come along to sign for it. That was no problem on her part, she totally supported me (and continues to support me in this!). Bear, on the other hand, wanted to make sure that this wasn't some teenage rebellion things. Both Mum and I argued vehemently with him for almost 6 months! Then, after we sorted out that issue, he had to make sure that I really wanted it on my arm (I love tattooing my arms, and plan to be reincarnated in my next life as a super-huge buff guy with massive arms). We again argued about this for quite a while. He was concerned that it would be too visible, but I'm always cold and so people rarely see it! I ended up plastering my house with the image of my tattoo around 6 months. There were little ones, big ones, and medium ones everywhere in the house, all over my locker, and all of my binders! I got it, though, and it kicks ass!

I've been eyeing this quote from Plato's Apology since grade 11 or so. I finally decided to get this quote in particular, and so now I'm doing it! Yeah! I won't post the quote up until I've got my tattoo, but it continues the death theme, which I love. I'm also going to get it on an arm, this time, it'll cover most of my right upper arm! It'll be ancient Greek text on a tablet, wrapped around my arm!

Mum, Ben and I went to check out the artwork that Bear drew, yesterday. It kicked ass! It was exactly as I was picturing it! I can not wait to get it and have been obsessing about it daily! I'm trying not to wish my summer away, but I can't wait till mid july!

Also, it's going to hurt like a bitch, but at least I know what that feels like now!

TTFN!

You know what chaps my ass...?

...not having enough hot water to take even a reasonably long shower, that's what! For the last couple of days I've had no hot water...grrr.... I do shower last, but I wait more than an hour (today it was 2) between the last person and me. This sucks...it's my version of coffee in the morning and also having a cold shower ruins my day! I didn't even have time to wash my hair for gods' sake!

Anyway, now that I've bitched about that, I can continue on with my (cold) day!

Weather Addiction

I added the weather forecast for here, so people can see what the weather's like in Edmonton...ohhh...exciting.

TTFN!

I am a super-genius!

I just figured out how to post my "Upcoming Events" on the sidebar right now. I should really be doing something 'useful' like homework, but this was way more fun and a total ego boost!!

Until my next super-genius moment...

The Excel Society

Hey, while I'm on, I thought that I'd post a link to the Excel Society - on the side, still.

It's an organization that runs Personal Care Homes for adults with mental illnesses, brain injury, aging-related disorders, and developmental disabilities. If anyone (in the Edmonton or Calgary areas) have any questions about such things, you should check out their website.

On the other hand, even if you don't have any questions about stuff like that, check out their website! It may come in handy at some point!

TTFN... and pass the word around about them!

Famous Puppet Death Scenes

I just got back from the most amazing, macabre, moving, and entertaining play I've ever been to (mind you, I don't really go to a lot of plays). It was called Famous Puppet Death Scenes by the Old Trout Puppet Workshop at the Catalyst Theatre and it was really thought provoking.

My description will not do it justice, but unfortunately it's sold out and it only runs till this Sunday. The play consisted of 24 death scenes from fictional plays. Between some of the episodes a little naked old-man puppet (Nathaniel Tweak" would come out and narrate. His narrations were not directly about the next group of scenes, but were indirectly related. At one point he was talking about being lonely and the next scene was "The Last Whale" by Grover Bailiwick; this lonely scene was of a huge whale-eye that you saw between the curtains, it blinked once. It was probably the loneliest scene and Tessa found that it effected her the most.

I thought the play was sad, but I get really attached to inanimate objects that are human-like. I'm weird that way! I like the fact that the players used this medium to talk about death. I think our society/culture need more of these discussions, but I can be morbid sometimes. If it is ever running near you, or anything by this theatre company is, and you get a chance to see it go (but buy tickets in advance)! It's definately worth it and it is so well done.

The puppets were beautiful. Some were super funny, like these little triangle-shaped puppets (Bipsy and Mumu), and some were movingly beautiful like this tree-person in The Ballad of Edward Grue. Ahhhh....it's left me in a melancholy and small kind of mood...

...but I'd better do some homework today...

Anyway, I posted the link to the production company on the side because I'm not quite good enough to integrate it into the text yet! That'll be a project for another day.

TTFN!

Ok, so, bear with me while I get this place up and running, and looking semi decent! I'll try to update regularly (maybe not often though!)

Chase - my Mum's adorable dog!