MEHBLEH?

Right now I feel like my head is going to explode. You know that place you get to where you have so much to do but you have no idea where to even begin to begin and so you shut down and just don't do anything? That's me. Right now.

Masquerade, Painted Faces on Parade

On a shorter note, Jay and I are hosting Banquet on Saturday and we were just informed that we have to come up with 4 ideas for giving away some door prizes. I haven't the foggiest right now. Ideas anybody?

In Every Step

You know, I wake up most every morning expecting not to know what I am doing with my life. For some reason, in the past few days, I feel like my life is suddenly starting to come together and make sense. Maybe this is because I have been devoting way more of my energy into being with the Lord and I always find that that clears the fog of confusion and uncertainty from my mind. In the past I have been angry with God: "Lord, where were you all my life? Did you even care about me? Why can't I look back and see you with me?" And all of a sudden, I see those fingerprints so vividly in my life. One small example of this is how I am going through all of this education stuff to be a teacher. That has always been something that was just kind of like...yeah, I can do this. It's kind of cool. Then, I remembered how when I was little I always dreamed of being a teacher. I remembered how I would subject all my friends to spelling bees and I would "mark" math tests and put little gold stars that my mom bought me on their work. I remember how I used to actually buy those books that teachers would use for photocopying exercises out of and I would just go through and do the assignments and mark them for myself, putting comments on my work.

Then, in high school in grade nine my math teacher asked the class to consider whether they wanted to take general or advanced classes. I chose general (never expecting to be the "University" type) and she took me aside and strongly urged me to take advanced classes. Had she not done this, I would not have been able to go to University. Later, I wound up taking co-op because I wanted to get out of class in the afternoon. I started off being a directors assistant and that didn't work so I was transported to a kindergarten classroom. I fell in love with that class. Then the following year I somehow wound up in a grade 4 classroom. I loved that too. Now, as I am considering teacher's college in Nova Scotia I find a school that is, first of all, beautiful and second of all, requires a liberal arts degree for entry and not just that but mostly Social Studies courses (which is my major) and I was worried that Social Studies would not even be considered a teachable. And they have a special Graduate program in Leadership and Counselling which is something that has always been in the back of my mind.

The thing is that I am amazed at how even when I was not a Christian, I can see now that God was walking beside me and orchestrating every detail of my life. I feel a peace washing over me that I am doing exactly what God is calling me to and I see it all coming together. He truly is concerned for every step we take and does not let us go astray when we trust and sometimes even when we don't; that is a great comfort, don't you think?

Ukulele Urge

In the past few months I have been thinking an awful lot about what instrument (if any) I would really, really enjoy learning. I have found that piano and guitar are both wonderful instruments, but I have a hard time getting into learning them. I have discovered that I have a love for the ukulele. It's true. And Jay just downloaded Israel Kawaoliokemekaokekiome'kwe (that is not his last name but it is something impossible like that) and that doesn't help matters any since he is (was...unfortunately he passed away in 1997 at the early age of 38) an amazing vocalist and ukulele player, and was a deeply respected musician in Hawaii. That and Jack Johnson plays the ukulele. Jay and I talked about it tonight and we have decided to save up in the summer to buy me a ukulele so that I can begin learning it. I can't believe how excited I am about this.

Check this out. I am hoping it will be my baby by August.

And some cool history...the word "ukulele" is thought to mean "jumping flea" after the first ukulele player, Juao Fernandes, arrived in Hawaii and played the instrument with incredibly rapid finger movement and natives there said it was like watching jumping fleas.

P.S. Jay just told that Israel's last name is actually "Kamakawiwo'ole." He's worth many a listen. Some of you may have heard his version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

Tagged a long time ago...just getting to it now..

Four Jobs I have had:

• Clean-up crew for a cottage resort after Ice Storm '98
• Dish Pit for Pelican Catering
• Serving at Parkwood Estates (I'm bragging but that is where X-Men, Billy Madison, and the Tuxedo were filmed...and you probably already know that, because i have probably bragged to you about it before)
• Receptionist at a hypnosis clinic
  

Four movies I could watch over and over

• The Wedding Singer
• Lord of the Rings
• Princess Bride
• Shrek
  

Four books I could read over and over

• Lord of the Rings
• The Cloud Sketcher
• Cat's Cradle
• Life of Pi
  

Places I have lived

• Sarnia, Ontario
• Sharbot Lake, Ontario
• Parham, Ontario
  
• Bethany, Ontario
• Peterborough, Ontario
• Campbellford, Ontario
• Kingston, Ontario
• Bowmanville, Ontario
• Indian River, Ontario
• Ancaster, Ontario
• Hamilton, Ontario
  

Four Places I've been on Vacation

• Finland
• Estonia
• Nova Scotia
  
• A ton of places in the U.S.
  

Four Websites I visit daily

• gmail
• blogspots
• canoe.ca
• job bank
  

Four favorite foods

• Turkey
• Scalloped potatoes
• Strawberry Shortcake
• Ice Cream
  

Four Favorite Drinks

• Strongbow
• Finnish Cider
• Wine (Two Oceans, Hungarian wine)
• Long Island Iced Tea
  

Four favorite non-alcoholic drinks

• Chai Lattes
• Apple Cider
• White hot chocolate
• Orange Juice **quite conveniently all of these could be made alcoholic...
  

Four favorite musicians

• Jason Legg
• jack Johnson
  
• Eric Clapton
• Growing love for Thelonious Monk
  

Four places I'd rather be right now

• The Sistine Chapel
• The Louvre
• In a hut on a beach anywhere tropical
• Praying in the garden of Gethsemane
  

Last 4 books I have read (or reading):

• Lord of the Rings
• Scribbling in the Sand
• Bearing Fresh Olive Leaves
• Captivating
  

Last 4 movies I have seen:

• The Constant Gardener
• Forever Young
• Memoirs of a Geisha
• Lord of the Rings
  

What's on my desk right now?
Mug, lip chap, speakers, pens, papers, globe, tacks, card, stapler, hair elastics

bloggers i tag:
rich osterhoff
laura stewart

What's cuter than kittens?

Here are a few pics of our newborn kittens. They still kind of look like rats, but I think they are adorable. Keep in mind...one of them could be yours for not such a low price but fully vaccinated, fixed, and with the gift of your conscience celebrating that you have helped rescue an otherwise homeless (or worse) kitten from an almost euthanized mother cat! And they are SUPER CUTE!!!

P.S. I am in the process of applying for what looks like a fantastic job at the McMaster University Club doing banquet serving etc. Prayers would be greatly, greatly appreciated.