The view from a taxicab

So much is happening lately! I feel a little wrung out and nervous, since I haven't been sleeping well, I've been really busy, and I'm climbing the CN Tower today! Wowee!!!

Guess what? I just got a part-time job (to supplement my full-time job!) at a great little coffee shop near my house. I started yesterday and even went to a staff meeting last night, all in one day! With work and Bible study in between. It was certainly a full day.

On Tuesday morning, I had gone in to the coffee shop because they had called the day before, and we arranged for me to come in the following morning for an hour. Because I didn't leave myself much time, I had to take a taxi to work, which I don't like spending money on, but it turned into a blessing in disguise. I had to pay 50 cents to call the taxi from a pay phone- guess I won't call from there again- but as we drove to work, the driver had the Christian station on, and it was Charles Stanley or one of these speakers. The message was forceful and to the point, about not letting sin get an edge in our lives because we'll never be satisfied by it.

I asked the driver, "Are you a Christian?" He said yes, and asked me where I worship. It turns out we know some of the same people because I knew some people from his church.

This encouraged me so much that I couldn't help but see my workplace and coworkers in a different light as I walked in. It's not just me in my bubble- there are people around me that I want to be open about Jesus with, because He's a huge part of my life that I don't want to hide.

In addition to challenging me in my daily perspectives, this encounter affirmed once again the presence of God in my life, and the way He works and speaks, so kind in His persistence. It showed me that He is integral in my life, and that I can't change that. It also gave me hope that worrying about my future won't get me anywhere, because in London, one taxi driver plays the Christian station all day so that his customers will have something to think about, and this to me speaks more strongly of the love of Jesus than anything else from that day.

Thanks for reading, I just wanted to share this because it really changed my morning and hopefully I'll remember this later on.

Easter Weekend (Part 2)

Kristen recounted the legend of Kitchikewana to us on this rock, as we sat by the Giant's Tomb. Here's the story in a nutshell, from http://www.abouthegreatlakes.com/gbay.htm:

Huron Indian legend tells of a god called Kitchikewana, who was large enough to guard the whole of the Georgian Bay. Kitchikewana was known for his great temper and one day, in a fit of rage, he dug a giant hand into the ground and flung the dirt he pulled up into the Great Lakes. Thus the 30 000 Islands were created. The indentations left behind by his fingers form the five bays of Georgian Bay: Midland Bay, Penetang Bay, Hog Bay, Sturgeon Bay, and Matchedash Bay. He then lay down to sleep and sleeps there still as Giant's Tomb Island.

Kristen, gnawing on a tree

What caution tape?

The trail we were on stopped at one point, with caution tape and signs about maintenance, but we didn't let it stop us. We thought, what's the worst they could close the trail for? It turns out there were a bunch of stairs missing on the downhill part, but we proceeded with some trepidation and made it just fine.

It was wonderful to be outdoors and to enjoy being by the water for a few hours- very refreshing for the spirit. It was great to hang out with Jenny and her family and be in their home for the weekend.

I took the bus home on Sunday afternoon, then hung out with a few friends for a while. A full weekend all around!

Happy Easter!

Easter Weekend (Part 1)

Aaahhh, how gorgeous is this view, don't you think? I could have sat here all day except for the wind. On the weekend, I visited my former roommate Jenny at her family's home on Georgian Bay (part of Lake Huron). I've never been to this part of Ontario so it was fun to travel through, north of Barrie (north of Toronto). From her living room, you can see the bay just behind the cottages across the road, it's so close. Her family often goes for a dip on this weekend but this time they didn't. I was not so inclined to freeze myself when I saw shore ice still at the water's edge!

On Saturday, Jenny, her sister Kristen and I went for a hike in Awenda, a provincial park nearby. The trails were still covered in snow but I wore thick socks with my running shoes and was able to enjoy the whole thing with relatively dry feet:) We lost the trail for a while but Kristen found it- if I was left to my own devices I would have been so lost, as my instincts pointed in the other direction! Thank goodness for people who know the woods!

Kristen's centerpiece for dinner

Kristen and Jenny, the lovely sisters:)

With Kristen's friend Steph

Jenny, being an old man

I love these shadows

Nearing the end of our hike, our feet were dragging, and, instead of sludging through snow, we decided to scale a steep, wooded hill. I definitely thought I would lose my grip and slide down the hill a few times, but we made it!

More to come soon...

Of shoes and ships and sealing wax

Since last post, I was determined to take some photos before posting again. This turned into many days, and my batteries died after only a few pictures, but I have managed to get some.

I had such a lovely cultural weekend, it was so exciting for me:) Last weekend, I had been wandering around downtown, as is my favourite weekend style. I did my taxes, then wandered around the library, then the market for a while, since Liz was sleeping and I was trying to let her actually sleep. (You know how you try to be so quiet and end up being noisier than usual? That's me every day, heheh.) I'm turning into such a grandma or something- at least, I have a strong suspicion that my pastimes are quickly becoming those usually had by empty-nesters! Oh well, I'm fine with it.

Anyways, I was getting a coffee at this sweet local coffee shop in the market, and this guy comes up to me with a card in his hand. "I saw you at the library too," he says, and hands me the card. I did remember seeing him there when I was perusing the earth day activities- the card was for a show for the Lola fest here in London, an indie music event I think. I thought, "Sweet," and put it away.

So, to actually get to the point, I invited my friend Sarah to come along and check it out with me. As it turns out, this was a pre-launch event to the actual Lola fest in the summer (London has some pretty good festivals in summertime), held at Museum London. There were three different bands from Toronto, performing on a variety of instruments (sitar I think, accordion in a box!, cello, drums, even recorder), people could sit at the tables and mingle and eat.

I have always wanted to get acquainted with the arts community in London, this elusive element, but thought I would always be on the fringe, since I didn't go to university here and don't have those connections. All of a sudden, here I am getting a personal invitation:) Well, not that personal, more like random, but I was happy.

At the event, I ended up meeting a guy that works at the coffee shop I frequent, and he was super nice- we even had some friends in common. I have to say, it was a great feeling to attend a concert with an eclectic mix of people and actually know someone, not in a church group or sports team or anything. It makes me feel like I do actually know some people in London, in the sense of running into people that you know. The organizer was really cool too, I met him as well.

On Saturday, one of the leaders at work was having an art show at his house, so a coworker and I went to check it out. He has a lot of Aztec and Native influences, and a lot of bright colours. I quite enjoyed it and wished I could have stayed longer. It left me wanting to rush home and paint something. (I didn't- instead I wandered through two different used bookstores downtown.)

Without further ado, here are my few pictures I took in the park near my house- a glimpse of spring before the snow came back the next day:(

Spring flowers

The infamous Grosvenor where runners like to train for hills- you can't see from this angle but it's quite steep

Our plant table by lamplight. Slightly creepy-looking.

I absolutely love these colours together, even on such a grey day. Cool eh?

Pretty gnarly tree, don't you think? (haha, I couldn't resist)

It seems I've actually run out of things to say (I can hear an audible sigh of relief!) So with that, I'll sign off. Tata for now!

Open the window, sweep out the cobwebs...

Yes, I did just title an entry from a song from the Anne of Green Gables musical:) I'm a nerd. I'm guessing no one else that reads this knew that, heheh.

I haven't posted in a while because, quite frankly, I've had nothing interesting to say! That hasn't really changed, I just thought I should post something.

This morning, I filed my tax return- at least, I took it in to a tax place to do it, that's more my style. (Not really, next year I'll probably do it myself but it makes me nervous. I take inspiration from Nat though.) :)

It's a gorgeous day, and work is really slow, and I am stuck inside, but that's okay. It's Friday, tomorrow I have soccer, and tonight I'm doing stairs to train for the CN Tower Stair Climb in April. (That should be...interesting...) I keep injuring myself- same injury as from my marathon- so hopefully I can avoid going to physio more than once before the event.

Lately, I feel as if I'm having a quarter-life crisis. Seems fitting, since I'm 25. I think I don't take enough risks or accomplish enough, but other days I feel so drained from doing too much with my time; it's inconsistent, really.

I'm contemplating working abroad for year, but then I still have no "skills" - at least, professional ones- and the degree I have is not so helpful in the "real" world, although I'll never regret getting it. So I'm in this cycle of indecision- should I go back to school to get education that will give me a profession so I can work at what I love, or should I work in what I love but be lacking in the education aspect, or should I just run away to Africa and take care of babies. My interests are being yanked in all directions, maybe worse than in high school.

Oh well....

I just had to put that out there. I'm not freaking out that much about it today, but yesterday I was getting anxious. Part of it, I think, has to do with Liz being more settled in what she is doing, and making travel plans-slash-aid work plans in Africa, whereas a year ago it was more I in that position. I'm so excited for her, though- what an experience. Jealousy is a horrible green monster and I don't want it around! Begone, you.

Now I'll go back to perusing Kijiji to look for an apartment-sized piano that is affordable and can fit through our doorway...one can always dream, right!

Soon I'll take more photos so you can have some visuals. All type and no pictures is only fun for a while:)

Yesterday, I wrote a French poem. It's a little shaky though, but was fun to compose. I'm not sure how far that will go, but it's something. My short story from Christmas went nowhere fast, because I just can't find an ending. Story of my life!

Well, amigos, I've rambled long enough today! Ciao, have a great weekend.

Looks like winter is back

This morning, I overslept (while dreaming about missing the bus), and slipped on the ice in the parking lot on my way to work. I managed to fall on my butt and my knees somehow (without spilling any coffee, heheh); I'm still not sure how I pulled that off! So I was a little grouchy to begin with, but to top it all off, a taxi driver in the parking lot watched the whole thing.

Oh well, if you can't laugh at yourself, other people will anyway, right!

I have a strong feeling that Roll up the rim is a conspiracy hahah...but I'm still a sucker for it because I'm going to win that car! :)

Lately, I've been thinking of writing more seriously (as in, making a point to write, not writing about only serious things:P), not because other people have commented on my writing, because a few friends have mentioned wanting to do this themselves. As someone who enjoys writing, I fully support these friends, and if I had lots of money, I'd invest in their work, however that works:) Alas, that's not my lot in life at the moment, and it's probably better that way!

Anyway, the thought of actually writing a book or even a handful of poems or short stories fills me with something akin to terror, so this might not be on the immediate horizon. Besides that, I have a pretty evident addiction to putting little happy faces at the ends of sentences, which is basically a bad habit I've developed. What can I say, I'm a visual person, and that's how I get around the starkness of type. Maybe one of these days, I'll get around to posting something that I've written, if I ever finish one of my projects!

Don't you working people wish we could get a March break too? (Or spring break, for you out west.) Some friends of mine who are in med school and teacher's college get a March break as well as reading break- must be nice:)

This weekend, my sister is going to Montreal to visit our friend/former roommate Leyla (you may remember her from my first post) who has gotten married to a French man. I have yet to meet this fellow but he must be a gooder if he landed Leyla:) It's a little sad when someone close to you gets married, in my opinion, because you experience a loss of friendship to an extent. At least I'm confident she has a good head on her shoulders and didn't marry someone strange, as far as we know, heheh. Liz is going with Jenny, our other former roommate, and I'm a little jealous, but it will be good for the three of them, they are close and they need this reunion.

I'm hoping to take a trip there myself in April maybe, to visit my friends Diana, Paola and Daniel who were in London before, and Leyla too. We shall see.

What are everyone's weekend plans? I get paid tomorrow, and I think I'll have to bite the bullet and use that money for glasses, once I get my eyes checked. I'm going to go see «Les Ch'tis» on Saturday with my friend Shona- I saw it on the plane coming back from Paris so it might be nostalgic but it's pretty funny. Other than that, our soccer team has to sit out this week, which is a downer, but I'll probably climb some stairs with my team for the CN Tower. Woo hoo!

If I can get over my disappointment at the snow and cold being back, I may take some photos to post. This blog needs some pictures.

Have a great day, my friends!




Well

Finally, Friday...

Today is a bit overcast, but I love this weather, other than the melancholy feelings I get from it. Already this morning, I am faced with people's pain, in my job, in my friends. Why are we bent on hurting each other? Or why does the course of someone's life take a turn for the worse in a matter of seconds? I just want to wrap my arms around the world and hold everyone tight, I guess because I'm a huggy kind of person. I wish that could make everything better.


With some coworkers, I've signed up for the team CN Tower Climb, to raise money for WWF Canada. I'm pretty excited but have already managed to injure myself, the same injury I got last year from running 25+ kilometres, I've now gotten from running only two or three times, short runs too. In light of people's actual problems they're dealing with, mine look pretty minor...yesterday, in a Bible study I'm doing with a few other women, we talked about dying to self, and this is something I haven't assessed in my life in a while, and it makes me pretty uncomfortable to see all the ways I do everything but die to self. It's not a popular concept and I don't enjoy the process but I know it is necessary for me to grow closer to God.

I just found out that Urbana is on again this year, a huge missions conference in the States that I've been wanting to go since the last time when I wasn't able to, I think it was 2006. I am not approved to get the time off work but I'm on the waiting list- if God wants me to go, I think He will work this out!

Hey, do any of you know Ricardo? Well, not actually the guy, but his cooking show? :) I guess this is more for the francophones out there (Jared, you should check it out)- my friend at work subscribes to his magazines and they're fantastic, best recipes ever. Well, I haven't actually made any of them yet, but they look delicious:)

Well, I don't have much else to say at this time, so have a great weekend!