Still alive!

Still breathing!

And yes...somewhat STRESSED!

Really, there's not much exciting news to report, unless you want to hear about the paper I am working on? Yes? Ok. And if you said no, then you can stop reading. Anyways, as a post assignment from the last intensive class I had, we can choose from a variety of topics, as long as it pertains to family and relationships.

So I chose to do my research paper on Interracial Couples, as I would like to find out more about the issues and theories revolving around them, and what sort of therapeutic interventions can be used. Obviously, I chose this topic because I am personally involved in an interracial relationship. Not that my relationship needs therapeutic intervention or anything!

Also, we started a new case study class on Monday, and it was amazing. I discovered that I am completely interested in both art and play therapy as a way of counselling clients, espcially children. I would like to explore these areas more, and try to find a practicum site in which I will be able to engage in these interventions.

Which is another reason I'm getting stressed...I'm freaking out about trying to find a practicum site. I'm having terrible thoughts and alot of "What if's"...like What if nobody calls me for an interview? or, What if I do get interviews, but nothing works out because someone else will get the position? , or What if it takes FOREVER to find something, because it's so darn competitive?! .

See people?! I'm freaking out! I know I shouldn't, but I can't help it. I worry too much, don't I?

Take a minute to think about this, because it is the TRUTH:

A wonderful Message by George Carlin (gross and mouthy comedian of the 70's and 80's):

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

George Carlin

Back in Business!

Just incase you were wondering what happened to my blog in the past week, it was hit by a bug. I fixed it up, with *alot* of patience required, as I am convinced that my computer has a virus on it. Everything takes forever to load up. Grrr.

Anyway, the past few days of the grad school intensive course were excellent! It was more fun than I anticipated, and hardly the stress that I expected. The prof was very laid back, and we had some awesome discussions in class. I thoroughly enjoyed it. We even got to get out early today, by half a day! Whoohoo!

Tonight, I went to this organic market called Planet Organic, where a cooking class on learning what foods cleanse and detox the body was being held. We got to sample some a detox salad, some organic bread and organic hummus with veggies. Everything was soooo good, too bad organic food's so darn expensive!!!

Anyway, the instructor told us we should chew about 50-60 times per bite, (until food is somewhat liquified in mouth), but honestly, I could only get up to 12 chews/bite until I ran out of patience!

So incase you're curious, the #1 detoxifying food is...wheatgrass! I've never tried it before, so I think I'll go get a shot of it at Booster Juice tomorrow! The instructor told us we should swish it in our mouths, until the sweetness dissolves, then to swallow. Dan told me that he's tried it before and that it's very potent. Anyone else have an opinion on wheatgrass?

So today was the big, scary presentation day...which actually turned out to be surprisingly, TOTALLY LAID BACK! Everyone (including myself) was stressing out over nothing! The prof was laid back, and she admitted that she didn't expect us to have both texts read by today because of the presentation. She acknowledged that it was unrealistic to have all the work done.

The class goes from 9:30AM to 5PM. For the first half of the day, we focused on theory, which seems dry, but actually I had alot of fun because we got to interact and do case scenarios in groups. Then, a couple of my classmates and I went out to a restaurant in Lacombe for lunch. We came back and the rest of the class were presentations.

I volunteered to present first, since I was excited and anxious to get it over and done with. Kam's dad had lent me his state of the art laptop and laser pointer to use for my presentation. It was the laser pointer that got me eager to present...that thing is COOL! Ok, now I'm known as the "ultra tech geek" in my class, but whatever. I think I ended up doing a pretty good presentation.

The stupid thing about the school is that we needed to provide our own laptop and adapter (for the TV, so that we could project Powerpoint onto there). Well, Kam went out and bought me this stupid little adapter thing, which costed me $18, but it actually came in handy. It's this tiny little thing that's the size of an AA battery, and it's $18! Ridiculous! I was not impressed, but I needed it in order to present. So I'm hoping it's not going to be a one-time use.

Overall, this course is not going to be as intense as I expected it to be, but I'm glad that I was overprepared, rather than underprepared. I'm looking forward to tomorrow. :o)

Why does my mom seem to think that if she keeps repeating something, that it will happen sooner?

She keeps bugging me to ask my school to get a letter of confirmation that I am enrolled, so that my dad can send it to his work, for me to be still covered under his healthcare benefits. I told mom that the school would write one up this week, and she again repeats herself not only another time, but at least three more times. Ridiculous! I swear she thinks it will happen at that moment if she constantly repeats herself. I'm hearin' ya mom! I just can't do anything about it right now, at this moment! It's NOT in my control! Is this a Chinese thing, or do other people's moms do this too?

After spending almost 3 whole days on just my presentation alone, I am back to reading one of the 500 page text books. I'm only on page 34, I just do not like skimming through books that I paid over $100 for. Just doesn't seem justifiable.

Anyways, I wanted to write a quick post about the odd dream I had last night. I dreamed that not only was *I* pregnant (and it FELT SO REAL!) but I dreamed that all my close girlfriends were preggo too!!! That's right, Suzy, Jenn, and Michelle! You guys all had "belly bigalows!!!!". Susan, I'm not sure why you weren't pregnant! Well, I think Jenn had the biggest belly of all, and that's funny because she's the smallest of us all.

I just remember feeling really torn between being happy that all my friends and I would go through 9 months of the beautiful pregnancy process together, and being extremely nervous, guilty and afraid because I was not married yet, so my parents would be EXTREMELY angry and disapproving.

I woke up and thanked god it was a dream! Wow, what an intense one it was though!

Taking a study break

Stress level from 1- 10 (1 being calm as a bird and 10 being suicidal): a surprising 3! (I keep telling myself somehow I will make it through all this)

I'm just going through an old psychology textbook from my Personality course that I took as an undergrad, about two years ago. I think it will help me lots with the presentation I need to do on Monday, as the required text books (see picture below) do not seem to give much insightful information to the questions we're to answer.

Anyways, I went for a blood test this morning (regular check up procedure). As I sat in the chair, waiting for the lab tech to get my tubes ready, I noticed a super cute lab tech guy standing beside her. She says to me, "We have a student here today (super cute lab tech guy), is it ok if he POKES you?". I had to hold back from laughing, as I heard her ask me that...sounds too much like a sexual innuendo! Anyway, it turned out that I was his third person to 'poke' and he did a good job (thank god). Not that I was nervous or anything....

Ok, that was my mini-break...back to work!

Tuesday : So I started another class for grad school today. This class runs every Tuesday for the rest of the semester. However, every 3rd week, this class doesn't exist because in place of that, is an intensive course. Much like the one I took two weeks ago, where a whole semester is squished into FOUR days.

Now, TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THAT PICTURE. I found out TODAY, that these are the two textbooks I need to have read by THIS COMING MONDAY. AND I FOUND THIS OUT TODAY. NO, I didn't make a mistake about finding out too late...as the rest of the people in my class found out today as well. Why couldn't the school have warned us last week, when I had so much time to read!?!?!?!

Not only do we need to have read both these 400 page text books, but on top of that, we need to have chapter summaries written out. As if this wasn't enough stress or work to do, we need to have a 15 minute graduate level presentation ready to present on the first day of this class, which is 45% of our mark. And we haven't even had a chance to BE in this class yet!!!! Pretty much all the classmates I've talked to are freaking out.

So as you can see, I will probably not be posting much on here...except maybe some lines of me going crazy, and obsessing about how much hair pulling there will be in the next few weeks...or rather, months! But don't stop coming back! I WILL post when I have free time!!!! Right now, I don't have free time, I'm PROCRASINATING!

Yesterday (Monday), I bought some shoes from ALDO that look similar to the Diesel ones, (but ALOT cheaper). However, they seemed to be too tight when I tried them on again at home. So today, I exchanged them for these cute, pink swede boots (ok, I know, bad lighting!)

On Monday, Quang took me for a ride on his friend's bike...man! Makes me wanna get a motorbike...a pink and silver one! ;o) And ladies, if you're wondering...Q's single and supa sweet (and no, he didn't pay me to write this!)

Dan and I painted the rest of his place on Sunday. We started out with a paint color called "Sandrock" (think sand on a beach color), but it didn't show up very well, and we were quite disgusted by the color. So we switched it to urban putty, which was the color I had ORIGINALLY suggested he use (this is the same color he used for his bathroom). We both loved it. The place isn't done yet....

Dan moving his unsturdy desk in the most peculiar way...hmmm, nice butt though! ;o)

Saturday With my very pregnant friend, April (who, of course, didn't drink), at the Druid Southside on a pubcrawl to fundraise for diabetes. Umm, unfortunately, I do not know how to pace myself when it comes to drinking, and I had to call it a night after hitting the second bar. I managed to hurl all over Dan's hallway of his condo floor JUST when we were THISCLOSE to his door. Poor Dan had to clean up the mess, and his hallway didn't smell so nice the next day. Yes, I went out and got some Shout to lesson the putrifying odor. Dammit! This is the second time in a row that I have not made it through a pubcrawl!

Today Kelly and I went shopping pretty much all day at West Edmonton Mall. I was on the hunt for new shoes, ones that you can wear with dressier pants or casually with jeans. However, no luck. I did however, manage to buy a bunch of yummy smelling lotions from the Body Shop! Anyways, I'm surfing online right now, and these are so cute, pretty much what I want:



Tomorrow Kel and I are going to a spa to get facials done...for CHEAP! They are student apprentices, so we only pay half of what a normal spa would usually charge. I'm quite excited, as I have never really gone to get a "professional" spa treatment of any kind done in quite awhile. I'll have to stop by Whyte Ave to check out some shoes too!

On another note, I've been breaking out in hives lately, in random areas on my body! It's not fun having enormous, red, bumps all over your body, especially at the gym! Kam, being in the nuitrition field, advised me that it's probably spleen related, which means I'm not getting enough enzymes in my body. This basically means, I must eat more raw fruits and veggies. I noticed that these rashes did start occurring when I stopped making smoothies about a month ago, and they have just been getting worse. I guess I'll have to go back to smoothies for awhile, and see what happens!

September 5 NIGHT TIME


It was Cory's (middle) birthday (who happens to be a friend of Byron's). We celebrated at The Druid downtown. It was an awesome night! The best line I heard that night was when Cory said that his glasses was his "birth-control" method! HAHA!

Cory's sambuca shots! Yow-za! He was already RED before taking these shots!!! It's not a surprise that he had to "go home early" due to too much alcohol consumption!

Best buds, George ("my big brother") and D. It was so awesome to see G because he works out of town, and only comes in every 3 weeks. D and I hadn't seen him in quite a while.

Andrea, Michelle, Kelly and Roz: all sitting pretty.

Dan and I pointing out each other's numbers for the "find a mate by number" game they had at the bar. We obviously did it for fun, and I used it to my advantage to write cute notes to my friends. The way it works is if someone finds someone else attractive, they can write a note to that person (by addressing the number they are wearing) and put it in a mailbox for them to pick up anytime during the night. Quite fun, especially if you're single!

It was a "screaming" good time! (I know, I'm a geek).

Kelly and I. I like how our eyes are the prominent focus of the picture

September 5

Dan and I babysat his niece, Amanda today.


Here I am cooking a late breakfast snack, making omlettes. Amanda requested I wear the fuzzy bunny ears...don't ask!

Dan and I raided Carolyn and Dave's fridge to see what we could put on for toppings to a very plain cheese pizza...and TA-DA! It's our own creation of a veggie pizza, with toppings of veggieburger pieces, chickpeas, cucumber, pepper and alfafa! It was actually QUITE delicious...and of course, healthy!

Silly Amanda!

Here's Amanda posing for the camera!

Saturday, September 4


Dan and I finished painting his bathroom. We went with "urban putty" (a nice, light brown) and "mocha" (think coffee chocolate color). See my cute lil' message I painted? We didn't keep it though....awwww, I don't know why! ;o) The bathroom looked awesomely sophisticated! We're in the process of picking out colors to paint the rest of his pad.

August 30th

YAY! First week of grad school! Here's a mini-tour of the things I encountered this week:


This beautiful (one of the two on campus) building is the admin building for Canadian University College (CUC). Of course, on the CUC website, they show this building because all the other ones are old-school and ugly...you'll see what I mean next.

...this is the UGLY building for my program at Loma Linda - most of the buildings are this ugly, or worse. They aren't so bad inside though.

...but this is the sweet computer lab we got to spend our classtime in. Look at all the work space we get (versus the tiny, cramped up ones I had in university), and check out the awesome LCD computer screens. They were sweet!

some classmates walking towards the canteen for lunchtime.

This is the first gym I went to work out in in Red Deer. Well, actually, it's the woman's locker room. I had to take a pic of it b/c it was really nice (well nicer than the gym I go to anyways).

I tried for an "artistic" mirror shot in the change room...which I thought turned out neat.