First of the First

My forst night of my first reading week, and I'm up, late, talking to someone on Skype because that's what mature, responsible university students do. They stay up until who-knows-when in the morning, doing very little that could be counted towards their degrees.

I think I like this life…!

Instant Connection

I saw an interesting post today—something to the effect that, while we are all random people in random places talking about random things…these are still the strongest relationships in our lives. For me, at least, this is true—my best friend and I haven't seen each other in two years, yet we're closer now than we were when we met, two years ago.

I'm curious about what it says about me, society, everything, that this can be so true, and for so many people.

Studenthood…?

I had a spectacularly unproductive day today, reading wonderful amount of wonderful plottfulness (and a final instalment to a series upon my awakening!), tumblring, and talking to interesting people.

Who says I'm a student…? Nah, couldn't be!

Chosen

I am so incredibly lucky in the friends I have. Those who are close, and actually have tajen the time to get past my rather prickly exterior…the ones that stay are amazing.

In the last twenty-four hours, I've had two different people, in different situations, offer their homes to me for the summer if I need it and cannot find another place to live. I am in awe by the love expressed.

For people to give this much, simply because I am struggling with my situation. I love the people who have chosen to remain a part of my life.

Missed Chance

I'm quite disappointed tonight—I was planning to go to a concert to support the local theatre, but due to our inability to find out whether tickets were available at the door or not, we weren't able to go.  A friend that was involved in the set-up sent us a message part way through that they were, in fact, being sold, but at that time I'd already settled down with tumblr and random stories to read, whereas the roomie was busy watching Japanese cartoons.

Pity. I even ironed a dress and everything for tonight, I was really looking forward to seeing the show. Next time, I hope!

New Friends…

I love meeting new people—and especially when we share such important traits. I'm going to go revel in my awesome new friendship now!

Room-mance

I'm finding having a roommate quite interesting—I've learned so much. Mine is very much involved in her religion, and it's been really good for me to be around that, I think.

I always thought of myself as a tolerant, accepting type of person, but being with K has really helped me be more honest in that—less lip service, if you will. She's always open to questions and semi-debates, which has really been beneficial.

(No, I don't know where I'm going with this. I simply figured I'd share a little love for my awesome roommate and her patience with me. Not everybody will spray you to wake you up, you know.)

R----

I need to take the time to say that I really, honestly have the best best friend ever. She's awesome, y'all. (No, this is not a hack.)

R…she listens when I cry, guides me through the most challenging emails I've had to send in a long time, and laughs about my weird tastes in music. She shares mainstream stuff that actually has substance, and is okay with me hating the rest. We talk about stuff for hours that would probably be TMI with anyone else (really, you have no idea!) and it's perfectly  normal.

My BFF (and that's best friend 5EVAH, for those of you out of the know) is awesome. I am so incredibly blessed to have her in my life.

Solstice Spending

Mmmh, I came back from shopping about an hour ago. Lovely Midnight Madness, I spent almost two hundred dollars.

What did I spend it on? (If my roomie wasn't sleeping, I'd take photos….)

I bought a --- -- ------ ---------- for said sleepy roomie, which I know she'll love.

I bought a --- --- for our floor exchange, and I'll stuff it with something small for goodies's sake.

I bought a ----, ----- ----- and ---- ------ ---- for my best friend. I walked into the store, and almost the first thing I saw was the ----,  and I knew it was perfect.

I also bought myself three dresses from this store called Bali—so cute! I'll be wearing one tomorrow, bright, very bright, red, and so comfy. Perfect for rushing about, prepping for a crazy concert! The other is this lovely golden colour, and the last is a really interesting cowl-ish sweater dress, with a pattern (for me, that's huge—I rarely if ever wear patterns. Yet two of my four sweater dresses seem to have heavy patterning…. Hmm) in brown, black and other neutrally-monochromatic-but-still-a-nice-brown scheme. The brown actually is nice, a warm golden if you get close.

I still need to find Solstice gifts for one…two…three…four…five(?!) people, plus my siblings and S.

The last three will be most challenging, I think.

Or maybe the friends….

I can send cards to the 6AC, and something memento-like.

Ugh.

Why did I have to be generous (read: susceptible and complacent to the capitalist system we are all operating under) this year?!

To India And Back

Time to boast about my wonderful uni life, my awesome friends, and my great love of sharing obsessions. 

J, my Indian-from-Kenya friend has taught me the art of sari-making. I've talked about how I love Doll Divine before, I do believe, but I'm quite set in my ways, and matching is one of the largest. So…in the sake of spontaneity, J and i spent the evening with friends, first discussing tattoos, then Hinduism, and final (somehow!), we arrived at saris, and the dress-up doll at DD.

Both were modelled after myself (I'll have to get J to do herself soon!), and I thought I'd share.

Our first doll, that came complete with sari-wrapping lessons performed on my old fuzzy blanket.

I was surprised by the purple-ish tone J picked—I can't wear that shade IRL, as it completely washes me out. Nice to dream, though!

Our second, in the style of a modern/traditional Indian wedding. I love how red is used so much—my favourite!

Wedding Mahara. J loved the incorporation of green that she picked, for my own accent I think I might pick a golden/caramel brown, or a teal, perhaps a paler, yellower green if I were to do this over.

Here's the Doll Divine site—I highly recommend spending precious, valuable and productive time there.

Club Lag

This weekend was interesting—I went out both Friday and Saturday nights, as a sort of belated birthday/we-miss-you event, and was immersed in the culture that is clubbing.

Ha!

I couldn't keep a straight face while writing that, how about you, reading?

So…drunks, dirty-dancing, spilled drinks, shouting, ringing ears, sub-woofers, freezing-while-waiting-for-a-cab…. 'Bout sums it up. Of course, I don't actually drink, so I get to alternately laugh my pants off and worry for the sanity of our race when I watch others do so.

I don't really know what else to say on the topic—but going out twice in as many nights isn't good for me. I can do one night/day of five sleeping hours, but not two! I usually make sure to go to bed early after a late- or all-nighter.

Which is what I'm doing tonight. I've been in my PJ's since 1800h, waiting for it to be a respectable enough time to crawl into bed and be done with today. I think that time is about now….

Cramming

So, a month. All too often I seem to be doing the 'it's been too long' speech…so I'll leave off it this time. I do feel like a general update is in order, though.

I recently switched to veganism, after nearly two years of vegetarianism. I found it was no longer ethically enough to soothe my conscience. Research into it—how chickens are the worst treated animals on the planet, for instance. Or how 'they' get that dairy cow to produce your 2%. Or what the fashion industry does to foxes for the one piece that is desired for a finished product.

It's sickening. Compassion and empathy over profit and greed, any day.

What else? My family is moving, so while I have my semi-permanent home on my university campus, they'll be hauling all of their things hours northwest of here to settle in a tiny town of four hundred people (that jumps up to nine hundred in the summer).

Wow. Crazy, yes?

I've fallen in love with the uni lifestyle—definitely something I'm glad I did. I'm currently on a break, and (shh!! Don't tell my folks!) visiting my hometown. I'll swing by my old place on Sunday, surprise them all.

Speaking of surprises, yesterday I had a delivery made to my Mommy (the librarian I used to work for, and who I've adopted…) that was me, with a bow stuck to my face, carrying a pen. She was surprised, and we spent about four hours or so together, going out for supper, looking at photos, and talking, talking, talking! (Turns out local pizza is way better than chain! So much flavour!)

A friend of mine put me up last night…at his grandmother's. I know, ridiculous, right? We had to get out of town by 0730h to be on time for his 0830h class, and I had set my alarm for 0630h. It didn't got…. His grandmother, lovely woman, came down at about 0705h, asking if I was going in with N today, and if so, I better get up!

Needless to say, I rushed through my toilette, and was ready and waiting by 0730h. (He was a few minutes behind.)

Now I'm sitting in the café in his (used to be mine, too!) college, waiting for the Winners to open so I can spend the gift card that I can't at home, and then go to Fabricland for the same reason. A crazy day ahead of me, that's for sure!

Conflicted

I feel so conflicted lately.

I'm guilty—not writing here, not able to provide the supports for a dear friend who seems to need them.

I'm frustrated—nothing inspiring to write, a lack of words to say to said friend.

I'm hurt—can't seem to move 100% past the pain that has been dogging me for months.

I'm scared—worried for my friend, worried for my heart health (again), terrified of the abyss that is university.

I don't really know what to do right now. I'm going to remind myself to get back to blogging regularly, though.

With that on my mind, here's what I've been up to.

News Flash

I have a lot to say, but not many words to use. My French partner and I (the one I was living with, and came with me to live hear for a month?) have parted ways sooner than expected. While it hurts for me not to be able to fulfill the role I expected to fill, I know that this is better for everyone involved.

She can get more of what she wants out of the experience, and I can sink back into my familiar routine, knowing that I had an amazing time in France.

In other news, I went to a party last night at a friend's place, and due to scheduling, stayed the night. As such, we spent the day together, going to lunch at this little place in his town, then to a movie in the 'city' we live close-ish to. The Campaign. Not my type of humour, but it was okay. Started a half hour late, though, for whatever reason…that was odd.

Also, I'm going back to work tomorrow, and jumping right in with a nine hour shift. I'm ready to use my newfound experiences to enjoy my nest two weeks before I move!

Speaking of which, I really do need to pack my stuff up….

Strut

Another fashion day—I modelled pretty much straight from five through ten, though the catwalk was only for a portion of that. I wore clothes by the label for the whole time otherwise, though. As I told some friends: I must have looked good, or the photographer probably would have left me alone!!

Anyway, as I'm technically talking about yesterday now, I think it's time I went to bed. I eventually have to get back into the 'school' rhythm!

Blessings

I get to do so much tomorrow…OSEF meeting, watch my brother's football game, check my sewing machine (and maybe purchase it?), watch a movie with friends….

I am damn blessed.

Turn Around

It's been another crazy day…. I'm sort of conflicted right now. There's this person—R, we shall say—who I'm feeling quite caught up on. We'd once tried to be a couple, very briefly, but we came to the conclusion it wouldn't work. Despite that it was a mutual agreement, more or less, I still wish for more. I still wish I could be completely open about how I feel, how I want to try….

I know it won't work. I know she probably will never, ever see this. I still hope for a turnaround, though.

Pack, Tidy, Eat

Another day of now knowing what to write. Hmm. I'm finalizing my stuff for Hawaii, as I leave Wednesday night, but it's not real yet. I still have things to throw in my bag, and a carry-on to pack and load into the vehicle. Then I have to tidy this my room, where a friend of mine, who will play house-sitter, will be staying. Other than that…make the bed, tomorrow I'll sleep on the couch so the sheets are fresh for her (read: freezing with not-ever enough blankets).

Anything else? Oh, yeah, I tried a new sandwich today for lupper, it was soooo good! Soft  Laughing Cow  cheese, finely sliced English cucumbers, and Indian na'an bread. Yum! I saw a friend put it together at our mutual Zumba® training, and decided to try it, because I know I love all the ingredients. It was so good! I have enough to make it for the rest of the week that I;m in town, so I din;t have to eat the meat-lunches that work serves. (Ick.)

Hopeless

So, apparently I don't know what flirting is…so a very dear, dear friend on mine is teaching*coughbashingintomyheadcough* some general rules. I had no flipping idea. I really didn't. Sometimes I think I am hopeless…!

Tee Hee

I love practical joking. That's random, I know, but for a person or two it wouldn't be. Hee-hee.