My Happy List

Several years back, while visiting a friends house at lunch I noticed this book called the "Happy List". Inside was just a list of all sorts of things that helped bring a ray of sunshine into the author's day. A while later, I was have a hard time. I don't remember why, but I was down and depressed a lot. So I made myself a happy list. I've since put it away in my desk drawer, and forgotten about it. It came to mind yesterday and I thought maybe I would share it with you! It definitely helped bring a smile to my face in a time of need, and I encourage you to try it someday!

lightening, thunder, cellphones, ipods, tree-forts, hammocks, tree swings, sunsets, sunrises, stars, snowmobiling, sand castles, canoeing, leather couches, mascara, chocolate covered almonds, oreos dipped in peanut butter, car fresheners, brand name clothes, Jones soda, fuzzy sweaters, talking on the phone all night, dolphins, view from mountaintops, high school band trips, water fights, scavenger hunts, iced tea, snowball fights, snow angels, corvettes, fireplaces, hot chocolate, disneyland, the ocean, white water rafting, hot showers, bubble baths, waterfalls, rock walls, jellybellies, hockey, blue eyes, islands, squishing mud between your toes, God's love, my best friend, my boyfriend (at the time), friends in general, family, high school, graduating from high school, cars, swimming, snowboarding, mountains, sunglasses, dresses, sweatpants, chocolate, roses, daisies, springtime, summertime, fresh rain, the smell of rain, buttery popcorn, asparagus, chicken, ice cream, strawberry sundaes, ice cream on cold days!, teddy bears, Stitch (Lilo & Stitch), apple cider, sleep, cuddling, holding hands, kittens & cats, puppies & dogs, pirates, music, acting, musical theatre, drama, movies, babies, lava lamps, snooze buttons, accessories, hats, shopping, paydays, shoes and boots, dancing, dizzy dancing, making snowmen, board games, MSN, shiny objects, candles, trampolines, romance novels, cologne, bowling, mini golfing, autumn leaves, lipstick & lipgloss, sleepovers, big screen TVs, dinner by candlelight, haircuts, weddings, birthday parties, bridges, roasting marshmallows, smores, campfires, camping, beaches, soda pop, thanksgiving dinner, FOOD, card games, class spares, Dance - salsa, tango, music, blank pages, acing tests, burps, black & white pictures, pillow fights, sledding, ice cream sandwiches, rainbows, poodle skirts, exercising, monkeys, archie comics, clear skin, lunch dates, window shopping, smell of spring, slippers, physics class (really?!?! I think it was my teacher), "boring" testimonies, fancy hotel rooms, surround sound, baking cookies, Mike's (my youth pastor) bad drawings, the picture of me in Jesus' palm - safe and sound, kisses, wildflowers, apple pie, cheesecake

Wow, that was a long list. Some of those things are definitely outdated, but they applied at the time. I think if I were to write a happy list again, less than half of those things would still be on there. Maybe I'll have to do that...maybe for my 50th post, which I noticed is coming up soon!

Rants About Nothing

To be honest, I probably shouldn't be on the computer at all. But when you are studying, you inevitably come to a point where your brain says "enough!" I have two exams tomorrow, I'm not ready for them, and Thursday is "TV night"...and here I am, on the computer again. At least it isn't gorgeous weather today, like it has been all week. It's funny really, Southern Alberta got snow, and we got +30C. I even managed to burn my shoulders already. Speaking of gorgeous weather, we really could use some rain to help the grass and trees turn completely green. So far, only the grass has begun greening, but its too dry. Anyways, yesterday I went in to school early for my exam, just so I could sit outside in "Quad" to study. Quad is just a big open grassy space between buildings. On a nice day, there are more students out there than there is grass. Haha. I have three exams left, two tomorrow and one on Tuesday. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but the only thing trudging towards that light is that ticking clock in the background. Of course, I can't wait to be done, but I can't be done until I write these exams...which I should be studying for right now. My brain is so fried already, I don't know how I am ever going to make it. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. Think about summer, think about camping, think about the beach...ouch, sunburn; think about green grass and frisbee...think about anything but your procrastination. There really isn't anything else interesting going on in my life right now. Studying is my normal, until next Tuesday. I sleep in, eat breakfast, study, eat lunch, study, eat supper, study, sing songs about going crazy, and go back to bed. Yep, that's what a normal study day looks like for me! "I am slowly going crazy, 1-2-3-4-5-6 Switch! Slowly going am I crazy, 6-5-4-3-2-1 Switch!" Coming to terms with the fact that I really shouldn't be on the computer, this is me signing off until next time. And this is you realizing, that you have, indeed, wasted a whole 5 minutes reading my rants about nothing. But you probably have a smile twitching at the corner of your mouth.

Cortona, Italy

I may have mentioned in a previous post somewhere, that I had a desire to do a semester of school abroad. When I backpacked Europe with Colette last May, I fell in love with Italy. I fell in love with every place that we went, but specifically Italy. The University of Alberta offers a study abroad program in Cortona, Italy, and since I had a few arts options to complete for my degree, I applied to go. Well I got accepted! The above picture is of a little hillside town approximately halfway between Rome and Florence called Cortona. This is where I will be spending winter in 2011. So prepare yourselves, because Cobblestone Chronicles will be revived as I embark on this exciting journey!

Marine Animals

I've decided that when I secure a teaching position as a high school biology teacher, I am going to have a "touch tank". And a saltwater aquarium at my house. Allow me to explain! I am taking a zoology course on invertebrates this semester, and I've discovered a passion for echinoderms! Echinoderms = starfish, brittle stars and sea urchins (among other creatures). They are just so cool! We have a touch tank in our lab, and I'm pretty sure I spend a solid 20 minute holding and playing with a sea urchin. When you hold it in the palm of your hand it starts waving its little spines all over the place, and slowly tries to escape. Brittle stars, when antagonized, can lose an arm and regenerate it in a matter of weeks-months. Starfish, as slow as they are, as voracious predators. They have slowly consumed almost all the mussels, barnacles and crabs in our tank. Here are some pictures of some creatures I DEFINITELY need to own (either in the touch tank, my own aquarium, or both).

Sea Urchins

Brittle Star

Starfish - see the difference from the brittle star above?

I'm so excited! I just love this class, even the dissections are cool! The creatures are all so unique and fun! Anyways, thats all for now. Ciao!

Mid-Semester Blahs

I'm in the season between reading week and the beginning of summer holidays. It's the hardest part of the entire school year. The majority of campus gets the blues and every day feels, well blah. I'm trying to keep motivated and trudge through with the homework and studying but it's hard.

As a byproduct of the mid-semesters blahs, I'm feeling a little emotional. Not sure what I'm feeling emotional about though. Maybe it's also a byproduct of the lack of socialization that comes along with forcing yourself to be somewhat diligent. I'm lonely. I'm stuck at home on a friday night, studying here and there, and wandering around this empty house the rest of the time. I would so much rather be elsewhere. (It doesn't help that Marmot Basin just got 20cm of snow.)

Below is my new favourite song. Download it! It is beautiful, and I could listen to it over and over again. I wouldn't say that it describes me - although I definitely know the pain expressed in this song. I think the line that I relate to is "I'm all alone and I need you now." I don't have anyone in specific that I need, but I'm all alone and lonely.

Need You Now - Lady Antebellum

Picture perfect memories, scattered all around the floor

Reaching for the phone, 'cause I can't fight it anymore

And I wonder if I ever cross your mind

For me it happens all the time

It's a quarter after one

I'm all alone and I need you now

Said I wouldn't call but I lost all control

And I need you now

I don't know how I can do without

I just need you now

Another shot of whiskey, can't stop looking at the door

Wishing you'd come sweeping in the way you did before

And I wonder if I ever cross your mind

For me it happens all the time

It a quarter after one

I'm a little drunk and I need you now

Said I wouldn't call but I lost all control

And I need you now

I don't know how I can do without

I just need you now

Guess I'd rather hurt than feel nothing at all

It's a quarter after one

I'm all alone and I need you now

And I said I wouldn't call but I'm a little drunk

And I need you now

And I don't know how I can do without

I just need you now

Maybe, after all.

I think maybe there IS purpose to my pain after all. I remember right after Jordan called off our engagement, suddenly there were all these people around me who had gone through the same thing I did, telling me I'd make it through. I had no idea that these people had been engaged before finding the love of their life. Who knew? Here I thought I was the only one. Regardless, it was still hard. I was angry at God for letting me suffer. Why should I have to endure such pain? To me, it wasn't fair. I was also told regularly, that maybe someday I could use my experiences to help someone else.

Well I think that time has come sooner than expected. I mean, I'm still healing! How could I possibly help someone else already? A girl I work with was recently dumped by her long time boyfriend, because he said he "didn't love her anymore." She's crushed, and is clearly still very much in love with him. The two of us had a long heartfelt chat about the healing process. She sees me, knows my story, and sees hope. She sees that she can and will make it through. I left work both sad and hurting for her, and happy that my suffering was not futile. I think this is the first of many times I will re-live my experience for someone else's benefit - and I'm glad.

There IS hope, and there IS purpose to my pain. I will be okay, and I will be able to help others move forward because of it. Thank you Lord.

Cleaning My Room

It doesn't take long for my room to get totally trashed, and then it takes so long to get it clean again. Couldn't it be the other way around? Anyways, this has been a long time coming - I started this "project" almost two weeks ago. In that time it got partially clean, totally trashed again, and finally cleaned all the way. Even vacuumed! Wonder how long it will last...

Before:

After: