Happy

I have been thinking about what it takes to be happy - and have decided that sometimes it is not much.

On Friday morning I taught my last class for one of the courses I am teaching. This course has been very stressful. It was on a topic that I am not overly familiar with and that has nothing to do with my research. It was a large class. It was a 100-level course, meaning that there was a huge variety of people in the class - from 4th year Psychology honours students to 1st year Chemistry students. I was always behind with it too - finishing lectures at 1, 2, or even 3am the night before. Ugh. But at 12:30pm on Friday it was over (except for the final exam, but it's not hard to get a computer to score 80 multiple-choice questions).

I had planned to take Friday afternoon off as a reward (a great idea because I only got 4 hours sleep the night before), and had finally booked a haircut, something I have been trying to fit into my schedule for 3 months now. My hair was LONG! And if you know me (which you all do) you know that I have an insane amount of hair. So I hopped on the bus and headed downtown. It was a nice temperature on Friday - sunny, and jean jacket weather. I went in to the salon and everyone was commenting on how much hair I have - it was ridiculous. So I chatted with the stylist about what needed to be done (cut a bunch off and thin it out - as usual) and so began the most relaxing hour I've had all week - maybe even all month. Exactly what I needed. I left the salon feeling like a million bucks. Still sunny outside at this point, and I was going to walk home, so I stopped at the Starbucks on the corner and got a Frappacino. Then I walked the 5 blocks home sipping it, listening to my iPod (yay for the Stars!) and enjoying the sun.

I still don't know where I will be living next year. I still don't know when my thesis will be finished. I still don't know when I am moving.

But that Friday afternoon - that my friends, made me happy.

me and julio

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

"Wherever you go and whatever you do,
May the luck of the Irish be there with you."
Irish Blessing

525,600 minutes...

If you have seen the musical Rent, then this number should mean something to you. Or even if you haven't seen the musical or rented the movie you have likely heard the song Seasons of Love. But if you're still confused - 525,600 minutes = a year in the life. Now let's multiply that by 10. Ten years = 5,256,000 minutes. Somewhat alarming, but I do have a purpose for all this math.

As I was walking home from the bus today, I realized that if I do start a postdoc at McGill this summer, it will likely begin on July 1st. What's special about July 1st? If I move to Montreal on July 1st, 2007, I will be moving back exactly 10 years after I originally moved away. Yup, on July 1st weekend 1997, my family (minus my little brother who came later on) packed up all our worldly goods and moved out East. That was such a hectic weekend. It was incredibly hot, and we had the dog with us:


While my parents went from the bank, to the lawyer, to the real estate office, the dog and I sat in the car, sat on the curb, even sat in the office a few times. I was 19 years old and starting my undergrad degree at Mount A that September. Now I will be 29 years old (scary!), have defended my PhD dissertation (or at least have done my departmental defense), and will be starting a post doc. I've now lived in three other provinces, have met all kinds of new people, have lived in 8 houses/rooms/apartments with 7 other roomates (in various combinations), have acquired a cat (see exhibit A)

Made some of the best friends of my life...

Strange coincidence? Yes...exactly 10 years to the day - 5,256,000 minutes. I have decided it must be a good sign! Julio agrees - he thinks he'll like Montreal - his Spanish should help him learn French :-)

Bonne nuit,
me and julio

P.S. Update re: Jon Stewart stand-up gig - I BOUGHT THE TICKETS! I still may not be able to go, and probably won't know if I can for a long time - but I just could not pass up the chance. Thanks to #1 Labmate for agreeing to come with me :-) I am beyond excited!

Cool stuff...

Okay, so I know I have been over-relying on hokey web quizzes for my blog entries lately, but Munchkin Mom #1 sent me a really cool link today (thanks!) and so I am sharing it with y'all. It was just something a little different that I enjoyed doing. Here are my responses and a link.

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

In other cool news...guess who's coming to Canada? Do you give up? JON STEWART! He is going to be doing a stand-up gig at the Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls (on the Canadian side). I am beyond excited. There are a few obstacles to my seeing him though: 1) it is expensive ($90 - ouch!), 2) it is the day I am supposed to move out of my apartment. Now there is no reason why I need to actually leave London that day, but it may pose a scheduling problem. When I first proposed the idea to my Mom, who will likely be aiding in the coordination of the move (wherever it may be) she seemed less than impressed. But here is my response to these obstacles: it is Jon Freaking Stewart!! When else will I get to see him? And it is stand-up too. I have heard his stand-up and I think it is hilarious. I'll keep you posted on what is decided but given that tickets go on sale Wednesday, I have to move quickly. It could be my big reward for finishing though - a very motivating idea :-) I promise to work really, really hard!


'Night!

me and julio

Feeling a little old...

Yup - I am actually blogging for real. Thanks for your patience folks. Life got a little out of hand and blogging was not so high on the priorities list. Life is still a little out of hand - but it is Sunday evening and I seem to find myself with a few free minutes so I thought I'd check in with you fine people.

I am feeling a little old today. Not so much in mind, but certainly in body. On Friday night, Pokey's Dad organized a little dodgeball action at an elementary school that his sister works at. It was very fun, and a pretty good workout as well. But, as many of you know, I am not a huge fan of the sports where one throws and catches things (the one obvious exception being ultimate frisbee - but I maintain that my primary role during that game is actually knocking the frisbee down as a defender, not actually throwing or catching it). And so, because I don't typically play sports like that, my arms are a little sore. But, what really did me in was this crazy game we played using these trolleys:


As you can see they are pretty close to the ground. The game involved two teams, all on trolleys. It was kind of waterpolo-ish, with one team trying to knock over the other team's pylon with a rubber ball. You had to pass the ball back and forth, and manage to stay on your trolley at the same time. Also, if you are carrying the ball, members of the opposing team are allowed to try and knock you off your trolley. So picture a bunch of 25-35 year olds pushing themselves around on these things on a Friday night. Hilarious and lots of fun - but I am so sore today! My back, my neck, my arms - ugh. My knees are also killing me, but I think that is largely a result of my soccer game yesterday (which we won - hurray!). So yeah, I am feeling the aches and pains and am wondering if I will be crippled by 40. Let's hope not.

In other news, I may soon be a Montrealer again! Nothing is for sure yet, and I am trying not to get too excited, but I have applied for a post-doctoral fellowship with the CRLMB to work with this guy. I have no idea how many other people have applied, but I think out proposal looked really good. So cross your fingers everyone. Also, if I don't get the fellowship, Fred has hinted that we might still be able to work something out, if we can find some smaller grants from other sources, and if I maybe teach a course per semester at one of the universities or CEGEPs. That would be fine with me - so I am saying there's about a 75% chance I am moving back. Woohoo! One of my high school friends pointed out to me tonight that I actually moved from Montreal 10 years ago. Amazing how much has happened in those 10 years. I have completed a BA and an MA, I have lived in 3 other provinces, I have had numerous roommates, I have been to many weddings and met many new babies. And while I have certainly enjoyed my time here, and will miss many, many people very much - I have to say that the idea of a change is pretty exciting! I am currently thinking of living in either the Plateau or the NDG/Westmount area but am open to suggestions from my more knowledgeable friends...


But in the meantime, I really need to finish my thesis. I am trying really hard to spend more time working on it, and things are starting to move a little faster, but my is it a struggle. I think it is a combination of teaching 2 courses, still having data coming in, and just being kind of tired of the whole process. I mean I even know what I want to write for most of it. I just can't make myself sit down and actually do it. But I am trying to be disciplined, and I give myself ridiculous little rewards for accomplishing things, like watching The Amazing Race (I CANNOT believe that Rob and Amber were eliminated this week! I guess now I am cheering for Ozzy and Danny), calling friends, eating chocolate...whatever works at the time (I need to watch the food rewards though or I am not going to be able to play any sports at the end of it all!). I am handing in a chunk of it to my supervisor tomorrow and I think I will feel good about that. It's kind of like running a marathon I think - and I just have to make it through the final stretch - and I know there will be people cheering at the finish when I get there :-) Oh, and speaking of races - congrats to StephK from the 'Guay for finishing her first ever half-marathon! She was faster than her expected time and seemed to come out of it none the worse for wear. Woohoo!

I know I had a few other things I wanted to blog about but they seem to have left my mind at the moment, so I will sign off for now. Hope you're all enjoying the extra hours of daylight...I know I am! I even had to wear my sunglasses for about an hour this evening while sitting at my computer - but I am certainly not complaining. And here is a funny clip from The Daily Show about all the hoopla surrounding the change to daylight savings time, aptly titled Aclockalypse Now. Teehee!

Night!

me and julio

Edit: Okay, so the Comedy Central link does not go right to the segment I wanted it to - but you can find it if you scroll down the right side. That whole episode was pretty funny, so really anything you watch from there should be good - but then again, I am kinda biased...

More silliness...

Thanks to effamy for more fun stuff to post...although she and I do not seem to match up at all (except that I was a Bert too!)

Your Brain is Yellow

Of all the brain types, yours is the most intellectual. You crave mental stimulation, and your thoughts tend to very complex. Your thoughts tend to be innovative and cutting edge, though many people don't understand them. You tend to spend a lot of time thinking about science, architecture, and communication.

What Color Is Your Brain?

Your Brain's Pattern

Your brain is always looking for the connections in life. You always amaze your friends by figuring out things first. You're also good at connecting people - and often play match maker. You see the world in fluid, flexible terms. Nothing is black or white.

What Pattern Is Your Brain?

Your Brain is 80% Female, 20% Male

Your brain leans female You think with your heart, not your head Sweet and considerate, you are a giver But you're tough enough not to let anyone take advantage of you!

What Gender Is Your Brain?

Here are two more silly ones, just for fun (there are a million of them!)

You Are Strawberry Ice Cream

A bit shy and sensitive, you are sweet to the core. You often find yourself on the outside looking in. Insightful and pensive, you really understand how the world works. You are most compatible with chocolate chip ice cream.

What Flavor Ice Cream Are You?

Any chocolate chip out there??

You Are Guinness

You know beer well, and you'll only drink the best beers in the world. Watered down beers disgust you, as do the people who drink them. When you drink, you tend to become a bit of a know it all - especially about subjects you don't know well. But your friends tolerate your drunken ways, because you introduce them to the best beers around.

What's Your Beer Personality?

Awwww - Bad Influence would be proud :-)

Off to bed...something of more substance this weekend perhaps...


me and julio