national do not call list

Hey there,

If you hate telemarketers interrupting your dinner as much as I do, take literally less than 180 seconds and register your phone number on Canada's National Do Not Call List. Apparently, it went active on September 30, and the sooner you register the sooner you can eliminate those annoying phone calls...

www.LNNTE-DNCL.gc.ca

time flying by... again

So, I love to read other people's posts, but consistently don't take the time to update my own blog. Shame on me! So, here goes (sorta)...
I can't believe Thanksgiving weekend is already here! It's absolutely crazy how the time goes by so quickly. I have no classes on Thursdays, so I am volunteering on Thursday mornings at a local school in a Grade 1 & 2 class. I have volunteered with this teacher for 2 years already and I think we get along really well and she has been an amazing resource. I also LOVE working with the kids in her class - they keep me sane and give me hope. I often get discouraged in my classes because they are very much theory based. We learn all about how the brain works, how children develop, and what makes them tick, but we never actually see or do anything in real life with real kids. That is one of the most discouraging and disheartening things about university classes. But being able to spend time in a classroom totally re-energizes me.
Anyhow, there is so much more to say, but it's already past midnight and I need to get up early (I'm about as much of a morning person as a bear is during winter-hibernation). So I'll go for now, and hopefully you'll get another update (or at least another post) soon.

feeling left behind

So, today I had to say goodbye to a good friend of mine. He is headed to school in Toronto for the next few years. Now, some of you may be thinking "Toronto isn't so far away from St. Catharines" - and you're right, it isn't. However, circumstances being what they are, travelling to or from Toronto is not going to happen as often as I would like. So we spent the evening talking and watching an old movie (Charade with Grant Carey and Audrey Hepburn). It was a nice evening, but now he's gone and I am sad. I guess that's my biggest objection to summer being over - there are so many changes to my life that I have no control over. Friends I have made over the past few years have graduated and are moving on. This is a good thing and I am very happy for them, but it means a change in the way we interact with each other (or at least how often we can get together). Like always, it seems just when I get used to being around certain people and develop friendships and trust people, something happens to change the dynamic of our relationship. For me, that is a really hard thing to deal with. I have some fairly major trust issues to begin with,and then to have to feel like I have to start fresh again just throws me for a loop. I HATE that!!! So right now I'm typing, rambling and crying because it feels like I'm being left behind as my friends are moving on to other stages in life. Yeah, if you asked me "How are you?" right now, I'd say "not good". Thanks for reading and putting up with my rant.

where did the summer go?

Where did the summer go? I can't believe that school starts again next week! I thought I would have more time for things (like writing on my blog), but it turns out that life has been extremely busy and I haven't written nearly as much as I wanted to. That being said, life has been busy but fairly good. I've been tutoring several children this summer and that has been encouraging. It has renewed my desire to finish my program at Brock and to continue my dream of becoming a teacher. I have also been a bit of a homebody - gardening, laundry, bookkeeping - but that's ok. I was in desperate need of some "down time" and I think this did the trick. I have still been dealing with many headaches and migraines, but I'm not sure that there is anything that can be done that hasn't been tried (medications, massages, acupuncture, chiropractic treatments, new lenses). So that is gonna be tough this year at school and I hope I can handle it. Na ja, this is all I have time for right now. I would say I'll be on again soon, but at this point I can't guarantee that. So I'll be back - sometime.

summer is here!

According to the calendar, summer is officially here. The weather seems to have trouble making up it's mind - we've had quite a few freak storms (thunder & lightning, tornado warnings, hail). However, the weather doesn't dicate the schedule - the spring semester is done, my niece graduated from preschool, my other niece is graduating from SK, the soccer season has started and a good friend of mine has graduated from university. It is amazing to think that this year is half over! The time really seems to fly. Let's see, what else has happened...
*a good friend recently celebrated her Ist wedding anniversary
*my brother & sister-in-law celebrated their 9th anniversary
*a good friend turned 25 and travelled in Europe
*my sister purchased and moved into her very own house
*my parents celebrated their 35th anniversary
*I had another birthday
*the Strawberry festival is happening today in Niagara-on-the-Lake
*my nephew will be turning 2 next weekend
Yup, lots of stuff happening here and it doesn't look like it will slow down any time soon.

I score a 38

Human resource department

This is a real test given by the human relations department at many of the major corporations today. It's only ten simple questions, so... Grab a pencil and paper and keep track of your answers.

1. When do you feel your best? a. In the morning b. During the afternoon and early evening c. Late at night 2. You usually walk a. Fairly fast, with long steps b. Fairly fast, with short, quick steps c. Less fast, head up, looking the world in the face d. Less fast, head down e. Very slowly 3. When talking to people you a. Stand with your arms folded b. Have your hands clasped c. Have one or both your hands on your hips d. Touch or push the person to whom you are talking e. Play with your ear, touch your chin, or smooth your hair 4. When relaxing, you sit with a. Your knees bent with your legs neatly side by side b. Your legs crossed c. Your legs stretched out or straight d. One leg curled under you 5. When something really amuses you, you react with a. A big, appreciative laugh b. A laugh, but not a loud one c. A quiet chuckle d. A sheepish smile 6. When you go to a party or social gathering you a. Make a loud entrance so everyone notices you b. Make a quiet entrance, looking around for someone you know c. Make the quietest entrance, trying to stay unnoticed 7. You're working very hard, concentrating hard, and you're interrupted. Do you.. a. Welcome the break b. Feel extremely irritated c. Vary between these two extremes 8. Which of the following colors do you like most? a. Red or orange b. Black c. Yellow or light blue d. Green e. Dark blue or purple f. White g. Brown or gray 9. When you are in bed at night, in those last few moments before going to sleep, you lie a. Stretched out on your back b. Stretched out face down on your stomach c. On your side, slightly curled d. With your head on one arm e. With your head under the covers 10. You often dream that you are a. Falling b. Fighting or struggling c. Searching for something or somebody d. Flying or floating e. You usually have dreamless sleep f. Your dreams are always pleasant Points: 1. a. 2 b. 4 c. 6 2. a. 6 b. 4 c. 7 d. 2 e. 1 3. a. 4 b. 2 c. 5 d. 7 e. 6 4. a. 4 b. 6 c. 2 d. 1 5. a. 6 b. 4 c. 3 d. 5 e. 2 6. a. 6 b. 4 c. 2 7. a. 6 b. 2 c. 4 8. a. 6 b. 7 c. 5 d. 4 e. 3 f. 2 g. 1 9. a. 7 b. 6 c. 4 d. 2 e. 1 10. a. 4 b. 2 c. 3 d. 5 e. 6 f. 1 Now add up the total number of points. Over 60 points: Others see you as someone they should "handle with care" You're seen as vain, self-centered, and who is extremely dominant. Others may admire you, wishing they could be more like you, but don't always trust you, hesitating to become too deeply involved with you. 51 to 60 points: Others see you as an exciting, highly volatile, rather impulsive personality; a natural leader, who's quick to make decisions, though not always the right ones. They see you as bold and adventuresome, someone who will try anything once; someone who takes chances and enjoys an adventure. They enjoy being in your company because of the excitement you radiate. 41 to 50 points: Others see you as fresh, lively, charming, amusing, practical, and always interesting; someone who's constantly in the center of attention, but sufficiently well-balanced not to let it go to their head. They also see you as kind, considerate, and understanding; someone who'll always cheer them up and help them out. 31 to 40 points: Others see you as sensible, cautious, careful and practical. They see you as clever, gifted, or talented, but modest...Not a person who makes friends too quickly or easily, but someone who's extremely loyal to friends you do make and who expect the same loyalty in return. Those who really get to know you realize it takes a lot to shake your trust in your friends, but equally that it takes you a long time to get over it if that trust is ever broken. 21 to 30 points: Your friends see you as painstaking and fussy. They see you as very cautious, extremely careful, a slow and steady plodder. It would really surprise them if you ever did something impulsively or on the spur of the moment, expecting you to examine everything carefully from every angle and then, usually decide against it. They think this reaction is caused partly by your careful nature. Under 21 points: People think you are shy, nervous, and indecisive, someone who needs looking after, who always wants someone else to make the decisions and who doesn't want to get involved with anyone or anything. They see you as a worrier who always sees problems that don't exist. Some people think you're boring. Only those who know you well know that you aren't.

single and lovin' it... most of the time

So, yeah, I guess I'm a bit jealous of my friends who are married, married with kid(s), getting married, or having babies. Yup, it seems that there's a lot of that going around. Friends at church, friends at school, friends out West (yup, Cory & Lisa and Joe & JoLane are expecting and Andrew is getting hitched)... and the list could go on. I am currently single. As much as I enjoy my 'singleness', I am not where I thought I'd be in life. I am single, in my 30s, a university student and living at home with my parents to make ends meet. I had always planned that I would be married with children and have a job I enjoy (or at least be in a relationship and living on my own) by the time I was 30. Most of the time I am satisfied with the way my life is right now, but there are days (like today) where I just feel frustrated that I don't know exactly when (or if) I'll get married and have a family. Anyhow, thanks for reading my 'vent'.