Happiness is a fish, and I caught it.

Today has been full of ups and downs.

It's my brothers birthday. He is 20. I wish him the best today, as he has significantly improved his well being in the last year. I am proud of him. Although there is still far for him to go to become a independent person, he's made great progress. He is off hard drugs (although he does smoke weed on a daily basis, but no one is perfect), he has a full time job (and his boss trusts him), he is looking for an apartment, he is considering his options for going back to college, and he even has a few dollars to his name. Gold star.

I also emailed a professor Dr. Paul Taylor in England (Lancaster) and told him that in due to finances (and offers of money from SFU) I would be unable to work with him this year for my Masters. I let him know I would love to continue collaborating with him in the future, as I know he has a lot of knowledge to offer me. Today I received his response. He was disappointed, as he looked forward to working with me, AND he suggested I go to England in the summer and RA for him (a paying job!) for a month or so. I was flabbergasted. I realize now that going to SFU has not closed the doors to England. I just need to find out whether he meant this summer or Summer '09. I have SO much planned this summer - I am not sure if going to England for a couple of months would be wise.

I am beginning to believe that this is actually is my calling. People have told me before that I am smart, etc., but I cannot say I truly believed I could make it to grad school. Now every door is opening, and I am starting to believe those that have supported me. Thank you all.

In other news. I started my gym programme. "6 week fat loss programme". Should be fun. I am totally motivated to do this, and hope it works...drugs have prevented me in the past from losing weight, and then motivation. So, I am hoping having a trainer behind me to keep me motivated will help. I have already lost 2.5% fat (yay muscles!), and that was without help. I have the eating down (1200 calorie per day is easy for me!), now to just get the gym part into my schedule.

Life is too perfect. Being the pessimist that I am, I wonder when the wall will begin to crumble. Have great options for my education, my health is great, and a new boy that is super caring. Now I know what it feels like to have those rose tinted glasses :)

Second Post

So my house is sold. I'm pretty happy for my parents, as it takes a lot of stress off of them. I think my mudder should be a 'Flip that House' personality, as she's got a knack for selling our houses quickly. Ottawa sold in 3 days, Colby sold in 2 weeks, BC sold in 2.5 weeks, and Timberlea sold in 8 days, etc. Looks like her obsessive cleanliness is paying off.

Looks like I will be leaving for NS on June 10th, and then will come homeless on June 24th, as my parents are moving June 16th. I will most likely stay with close family friends. Although they are super cool people - I have a sweet deal! They are going to Newfoundland from June 14th until August 2nd - so I willl have their house (sharing with thier daughter Julia - who is 24) all to myself!

The other option, is my dad is going to delay their leaving Ottawa until around July 15th - and in that case the family would move to a hotel for a month, then I would go to John and Pats (family friends) in mid July.

I don't know about you NS folk, but we definitely had snow here this morning. Although, I am a lover of the mystical and beautiful snow blanketing the ground ... we've had snow on the ground since November, and it's April now (6 months, for those of you who do not want to count). Although, I have noticed that the snow that has melting is receding backwards (like a mans hairline) much more quickly than melting down. Interesting.

And in even happier news than the house selling ... I finished my thesis! It needs to go through one more revision with Craig (thesis prof), then it's all done.

I find so much is changing in my life, that I am not sure if I am truly digesting it all. I am happy, but I think that when I get to BC and life slows down, the reality of everything will hit me. Hopefully it will all be smooth,fond memories, rather than a whirlwind diaster

Here's to hoping.

First Post

Seems like this is the new blogging spot. Thought I would try it out, especially knowing this summer is going to be a whirlwind of cross Canada adventures.

I want to share my experiences of "moving on up to the [West] side, as I've finally got a piece of the pie"

As long as I am not accepted my MUN (in which I would have to re-evaluate my decision). I plan on road tripping to Toronto in May, Halifax in June, hopefully head to NL in late July, then on August 15th I am packing my stuff and going to drive myself to Winnipeg. From there my father and I are going to Vancouver (hopefully with extended stays in Calgary and the Rockies).

I am sure there are going to be many interesting stories emerging from these trips, and my time in Ottawa.

Then starting in September I will lose all aspects of a "social life" and be a slave to a man name Eric Beauregard, and SFU for two years. But, I look forward to this.

And so ends my first entry.