Summary

It's been a wonderful day today—new music in choir ( a Cape Breton lullaby, which is absolutely gorgeous!), a great pasta salad for supper, and wonderful company of wonderful people.

I also discovered a book-selling site with free shipping and discounts off store-prices. I shall have to avoid that for a while…!

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!

Setlist

I'm really looking forward to choir this semester—a quick list of the titles I egt to sing:

Erghen Diado
Lake Isle of Innisfree
Duleman

There's more, but it's time to go to sleep. I'm excited, though.

Sin Auld Lang Syne

I was researching today, in a very modern and lazy manner, the meaning of Auld Lang Syne. I've always been interested by the song,  as I identify fairly strongly with my Scottish roots (M. Mac Tavish was my great-grandmother) and always want to learn more about it. When I was in Edinburgh a while back (incidentally one of my favourite cities to be in), I purchased swatches of my clan tartan to have shipped back to Canada after I returned. I'm quite proud that I'm the one of my family to return to Scotland after Great-Grandma left, decades ago. 

Anyway, Auld Lang Syne. It's really a beautiful poem—I've discovered I seem to quite like Robbie Burns. Here's a (Wikipedia-sourced) copy of the lyrics, and translated into modern English, too. (It tends to make sense if you sort of mouth it along in a Scots accent, but the translation is helpful for clarification.)

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind ?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

and auld lang syne* ?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my jo,

for auld lang syne,

we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp !

and surely I’ll be mine !

And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae run about the braes,

and pu’d the gowans fine ;

But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit,

sin auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae paidl’d i' the burn,

frae morning sun till dine ;

But seas between us braid hae roar’d

sin auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere !

and gie's a hand o’ thine !

And we’ll tak a right gude-willy waught,

for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind ?

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and old lang syne ?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we'll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !

and surely I’ll buy mine !

And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,

and picked the daisies fine ;

But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,

since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,

from morning sun till dine^† ;

But seas between us broad have roared

since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend !

And give us a hand o’ thine !

And we’ll take a right good-will draught,

for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

I think it's lovely. I definitely would like to get in the tradition of singing it, and the customary circle as well. 

 

Confirmation

First choir concert complete…one more to go! A friend video taped us, and we actually sound decent. Not that I didn't think we would, but it's nice to have the confirmation, yeah?

I'm really looking forward to the next one, for a few reasons—one, I actually have people coming on Sunday (today…?!); two, I know now how to hold myself to look like I'm not being stopped with a hot poker; and three, I never have to sing these songs again.

I suppose there is a fourth reason, but that's even pettier than the third…I'm so sick of the drama of nearly thirty women of various ages, skill- and self-absorbtion levels 'getting along.'

(People look at me so oddly when I say I don't like working with a female majority, but I really would rather an even split. Women, myself certainly included, get so awfully exhausting to be around!)

Jazz Hands

This technically counts as last night's post, as I haven't been to bed yet. (0250h, and not a bit of school work in sight!)

I helped…host? (read: bouncer duty)…an event today with my Ambassador team, through our Alumni Office, which is jointed with us.. (As an aside, I seem to collect vases from all the Alumni events I work. I promise, they were freely offered!)

I got to bitch quite lovely-like at some visiting jocks during the reception, and eat veggie (the best carrots in the world), and listen to an awesome concert (Ethiopian Jazz, anyone?!). All in all, a great night.

LBDing?

I need to go shopping soon—but I'll be going against everyone's advice, and buying black clothes. All black, in fact. Why? Choir season is coming up! I want something that I can wear equally for the afternoon and the evening concerts, and the winter and spring ones.

With that in mind…I will become a fashion blog!

Which do you prefer?

A few suggestions—anything you have to offer up?

Bring Me Down

This song. In a few ways, it has no relevance to me…but in others…to put it bluntly, this song makes me feel lost. I have a person that I want to be beside, all the time—a person I crossed the Atlantic to move on from, and found myself constantly wishing for. My time with her was limited, but prolonged, as she's still one of my dear friends. 

I think that hurts the most. Knowing I talk to her…and can't ever say the words that are always there.

Finality

The final post, before I leave for a month. I'll be back…but right now, one of my favourite songs. It always reminds me of the Encounters With Canada crowd, and I think of them every time I hear/sing it. I'd like to believe I'm taking a bit of them with me. Plus, from a band I listened to in my childhood….

Also, for documentation's sake, here's a 'Before' photo, so we can compare the (potential) difference in a month:

Between me and the vast internet, I'm not one hundred percent sure I'm ready to leave. I guess it's too late to turn back now….

Wish me luck. I hope my camera, journal and mind is filled with France to share with you when we next speak. (Is this my version of 'Have a good life?!')

To Do For France

It is literally a week until I leave for France. I leave at 0540, Friday the twenty-ninth of June. Holy freaking cats, that's soon. Here's what I have to do before:

• Contact my exchange family
• Clean my room
• Find space for my partner
• Gut my closets and wardrobe(s)
• Be ruthless
• Take undesirables to Thrift Store
• Purchase and load MP3 player with Zumba songs to choreograph
• Scholarship/Awards/Transcript/Residence forms filled out and mailed.
• WRITE MATH DIPLOMA
• 'Bonding Time' with my mother
• Grocery shop for the needed snacks 
• Rehearse my (trite) French phrases
• Make bed ready for return
• FINISH SCHOOL PROJECTS
• Two FAS (Fashion) modules
• One Art piece
• SLEEP
• Transition to Parision time
• Apron for my 'Mommy'

Well? Any strategies…?!

Glee

So, the last while I've been slowly working my way through Season Two of Glee…. I admit, there's been some jump-up-and-say-no moments, some 'awwwww'ing, some glares. All in all, it's okay.

I still wouldn't hang off it once a week, waiting, though!

Stick To The Rivers

For those of you who know any TLC, you probably know their most radio-played song (at least where I live!), Waterfalls. You also know I linked it yesterday, after I disregarded the ladies' advice, and chased a waterfall. Today? I stuck to rivers.

Literally—I paddle through a river-mouth, right off the ocean. We did our Stand-Up Paddle (SUP) lesson today, and it was great. I literally lost count of the times I fell in, but it was great. Aside from nasty tasting water, it was absolutely fabulous.

This trip is growing on me!

don't go chasing waterfalls…please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used too…I know that you're going to have it your way or nothing at all, but I think you're moving too fast…

Chasing Waterfalls

Today was an amazing day. As a whole, it was a 'meh,' but there was one part that made everything so much more fantastic. To really appreciate it, though, you need a bit of background.

For one, I'm fairly severely nearsighted—without my glasses, I can't even read what I'm typing. I'm also a relatively poor swimmer, despite loving water and being in it. I simply do not have the strength or stamina to hold myself up and move. I've always had an issue with floating, too. Lastly, I have a fear of new things. I want them, but until I do it, I 'm terrified (though I usually love the experience).

What does this all have to do together?

Waimea Falls

See that swimming hole there? It's measured at over nine metres deep, and the falls are such a force, pushing anything that comes near, away. There is a strung current, and undercurrent, leading away from the white water…which pound down quite heavily, and is relatively high right now in terms of volume.

Despite this, at the end of our walk up…I got in the water, hideous sunburns and all, and swam out to the falls—twice. My first time, I didn't quite make it, but after that, I conceded that I needed a floatation device (read:foam noodle), and used that for the next two times.

I made it all the way out, and even sat in the falls, water pounding over me.

For me, it was such an amazing accomplishment…despite my poor depth perception and ability to see ahead; my struggle to stay above the surface; my weak upper body strength, I did it. I fought the current, and made it through.

I don't know if I can impress what a huge thing this is for me…how deeply (no pun intended!) moving and almost spiritual.

This is definitely a recommended trip!

(On the offside, the only thing running through my head as I reached the falls was this song. It's one of my favourites, but the chorus was all I could hear. And I didn't heed. I'm glad for it.

REPO! The Genetic Opera

I watched one of my favourite movies again tonight—yay, knowing nearly every line!—and found more to love. I will have to introduce it to a friend of mine, she's never seen it and I'm pretty sure she'll love it. As for you, here's my favourite song from the movie!

Hallelujah

One of the songs that was really important to me when I went to EWC (Encounters With Canada) last year was Hallelujaah. Despite any and all religious references, it's a beautiful song, and I love it. It's also one of the ones we sang in the lunch/dinner lineups, with someone on the piano, and a group of us around him singing.

Then, a few days ago, a dear friend of mine (who happens to be an EWC pal and 6AC member) sent me this link.

I LOVE this version of the song, how it builds, and becomes this amazing amazingness throughout!

Definitely playing this video over and over and over and over….

Nong Toom, The Beautiful Boxer

So, I spent a lot of time on YouTube this evening, unwinding before an fairly hefty exam tomorrow (not another Diploma until Friday, though!), and I rediscovered my love of Dido. More specifically, I looking into the video for It Comes And It Goes….

The woman who stars in this video, a short film about her life…amazing. First off, she's stunning to look at, and I wish I could kick that high, and powerfully.
Second, the strength it takes to realize your gender is not what it ought to be…and go through with the change—her life is truly an inspiration. Especially seeing as she was supporting her family while kickboxing, and was turned down for a sex exchange a few times…the perseverance and dedication…the self-knowledge!

Nong Toom is definitely one of my ne heros, and I'm slightly in awe.

For her to go on with her life, too…continue boxing post-operation, adopt a daughter (stay in such amazing shape!). Wow. I've definitely been blown away.

I also discovered there is a film, The Beautiful Boxer, that is about her story…I will definitely be looking for it!

So today I want to know…who is the most newfound inspiration to you?