27 December 2005
Decision 2005
After thinking, mulling, considering etc, I decided that if I don't take advantage of this new opportunity, I'll regret it.
The painful part (accepting the offer online) is done. Then there is a 24 hour wait before I can register online for the class I want. The way I see it is I'll register for the one during work time but see if I can get into the after work one. If not, I'll talk to my supervisor/former roommate and see if we can work around it...it's been done before for others.
I feel tentatively good about this decision. We'll see how things go once school starts. The semesters are 4 months long...that seems really short although it's really not.
'night,
Erika.
The painful part (accepting the offer online) is done. Then there is a 24 hour wait before I can register online for the class I want. The way I see it is I'll register for the one during work time but see if I can get into the after work one. If not, I'll talk to my supervisor/former roommate and see if we can work around it...it's been done before for others.
I feel tentatively good about this decision. We'll see how things go once school starts. The semesters are 4 months long...that seems really short although it's really not.
'night,
Erika.
Holidays/Does life end at 30?
This past month has gone by in quite a blur. If I stopped for one second to update my blog, I woulda been flat on the keyboard, snoring, in seconds.
I successfully completed my first set of meetings for a new program at work. It was a huge relief to be done. My stomach was tied in knots for a week before they began. Seriously, everything was fine on Dec. 21st. The mind/body connection is a very real thing. I'd prefer to be reminded of this in a nicer way next time. I'm just saying...
The Christmas Fishballs turned out fabu! I got a lot of compliments and I'm already thinking of modifications for next year. Those goofy little fish faces gave me so much joy!
Today is the deadline for registering for classes for my English degree...really shouldn't have left it so long but the was short before the holidays. So now I'm trying to register and the only class I can take is 3 hrs/week, 1 1/2 hours on Tuesdays and Fridays, right in the middle of work time. I was hoping to avoid this interruption at work but I dropped the ball. What to do? Mull I guess...I hope I have until midnight to decide!
The amateur writer in me is loving this conflict. What will she decide? What factors will influence her decision? I wish I could skip a few pages ahead and find out what happens.
The devil over my shoulder is saying that I should put school off until next September. I would have nine months to work on my novel, enjoy life and maybe even do Art in the Park in June. But the angel (if you can call a workaholic an angel) insists that I should have this second degree by the time I'm 30. 30 is a big age for me. Does life end at 30? Is that when the babies are supposed to come? Does life end at babies?
On that note...I'm off to pace and tackle a mountain of dishes. Maybe that'll get my brain going.
Happy holidays,
Erika.
I successfully completed my first set of meetings for a new program at work. It was a huge relief to be done. My stomach was tied in knots for a week before they began. Seriously, everything was fine on Dec. 21st. The mind/body connection is a very real thing. I'd prefer to be reminded of this in a nicer way next time. I'm just saying...
The Christmas Fishballs turned out fabu! I got a lot of compliments and I'm already thinking of modifications for next year. Those goofy little fish faces gave me so much joy!
Today is the deadline for registering for classes for my English degree...really shouldn't have left it so long but the was short before the holidays. So now I'm trying to register and the only class I can take is 3 hrs/week, 1 1/2 hours on Tuesdays and Fridays, right in the middle of work time. I was hoping to avoid this interruption at work but I dropped the ball. What to do? Mull I guess...I hope I have until midnight to decide!
The amateur writer in me is loving this conflict. What will she decide? What factors will influence her decision? I wish I could skip a few pages ahead and find out what happens.
The devil over my shoulder is saying that I should put school off until next September. I would have nine months to work on my novel, enjoy life and maybe even do Art in the Park in June. But the angel (if you can call a workaholic an angel) insists that I should have this second degree by the time I'm 30. 30 is a big age for me. Does life end at 30? Is that when the babies are supposed to come? Does life end at babies?
On that note...I'm off to pace and tackle a mountain of dishes. Maybe that'll get my brain going.
Happy holidays,
Erika.
09 December 2005
En français, c'est...
I’ve got to unlearn the anti-Ottawa U chants that were bashed into my brain during frosh week’97, ‘cause I’m a GeeGee now! The word arrived today that I was accepted as a third year student in the BA Concentration English program.
(Mental note: never refer to yourself as a GeeGee again…) :)
This degree will (I hope) teach me to read critically, which will strengthen my editing (and self-editing) skills *and* expose me to a wider variety of literature than I have explored so far.
Balancing work, school, writing and my various craft compulsions (this evening I bought 16 Christmas balls to make homes for the school of Christmas fish that Joe brought me the night before) is going to be challenging but as long as the big picture remains in sight, I’m sure I can do it!
***
Are you in Ottawa? Looking for something to do on Friday night? Come by Avantgarde on Besserer to see the best jazz group in town the world: The CapCity Cohort. http://www.capcitycohort.com/
(Mental note: never refer to yourself as a GeeGee again…) :)
This degree will (I hope) teach me to read critically, which will strengthen my editing (and self-editing) skills *and* expose me to a wider variety of literature than I have explored so far.
Balancing work, school, writing and my various craft compulsions (this evening I bought 16 Christmas balls to make homes for the school of Christmas fish that Joe brought me the night before) is going to be challenging but as long as the big picture remains in sight, I’m sure I can do it!
***
Are you in Ottawa? Looking for something to do on Friday night? Come by Avantgarde on Besserer to see the best jazz group in town the world: The CapCity Cohort. http://www.capcitycohort.com/
06 December 2005
The Fab Four
Fish with Merry Hats
If there's anything cuter than a plastic goldfish wearing a merry hat, I don't know what it is.
The dream began at least a month ago, when I saw the plastic jar of little plastic souls for sale for 50 cents a-piece. Then I thought: whoa -- fish with Christmas hats would be just the thing! Fish (and other underwater creatures) are generally under-represented in Christmas ... um ... art.
Two Sundays ago, I went to Michael's Craft Store to turn my dream into a reality and had a near-nervous plotzdown fuelled, I'm sure, by a double espresso and the manic crowds of Martha Stewart devotees.
I let my vision fall to the wayside so I could do other things like travel for work and finish a novel.
Today, after a long, hard day at work, I bought four fish and made them little red and white hats out of pipe cleaners. I spent about an hour making them and a half hour taking pictures of them.
It was a very long, hard day at work.
All was worthwhile when I saw the fab four staring blankly at me from upon a blue baking dish (thank you, mudder!). Once I find the wire for the camera to download the pictures, I'll add them to my blog and you can see them yourself.
***
It's been an interesting couple of days. Last week, I was in London Ont. on my first business trip ever. It was pretty ok. I liked seeing how things work behind the scenes.
Our flight was cancelled on Friday morning due to massive and festive amounts of snow. We hung out at the airport for 6 hours,waiting for the next one. There isn't much to do at the London airport, but magazines and Rummy 500 help a lot.
On Saturday, Joe and I met a fabu group of old friends for lunch at the best Chinese Food Restaurant in town. Seriously, the food there is Sooo Good! I got an amazing, good feeling, hanging out with my smart, funny and creative friends. Fun was had by all!
Saturday night was the amazing SJG's White Ball! The lads did the house up in lights and tinsel...there were holiday treats and Christmasy drinks. It was the first bash of it's kind of the season and it was a smash!
The second holiday bash of the season took place on Sunday at Joe's mom's place. Their house was done up beautifully...The main room was so warm with the dark woods and lots of rich red and deep green. There wasn't a fire in the woodstove, but the room generated that feeling regardless.
This holiday season, I'm not going to let myself get carried away in bad stuff. No distress over shopping + money, weather or work. I'm going to focus on the good stuff like family & friends, good music, great food, and goldfish with santa hats.
Have a nice, snowy night,
E.
The dream began at least a month ago, when I saw the plastic jar of little plastic souls for sale for 50 cents a-piece. Then I thought: whoa -- fish with Christmas hats would be just the thing! Fish (and other underwater creatures) are generally under-represented in Christmas ... um ... art.
Two Sundays ago, I went to Michael's Craft Store to turn my dream into a reality and had a near-nervous plotzdown fuelled, I'm sure, by a double espresso and the manic crowds of Martha Stewart devotees.
I let my vision fall to the wayside so I could do other things like travel for work and finish a novel.
Today, after a long, hard day at work, I bought four fish and made them little red and white hats out of pipe cleaners. I spent about an hour making them and a half hour taking pictures of them.
It was a very long, hard day at work.
All was worthwhile when I saw the fab four staring blankly at me from upon a blue baking dish (thank you, mudder!). Once I find the wire for the camera to download the pictures, I'll add them to my blog and you can see them yourself.
***
It's been an interesting couple of days. Last week, I was in London Ont. on my first business trip ever. It was pretty ok. I liked seeing how things work behind the scenes.
Our flight was cancelled on Friday morning due to massive and festive amounts of snow. We hung out at the airport for 6 hours,waiting for the next one. There isn't much to do at the London airport, but magazines and Rummy 500 help a lot.
On Saturday, Joe and I met a fabu group of old friends for lunch at the best Chinese Food Restaurant in town. Seriously, the food there is Sooo Good! I got an amazing, good feeling, hanging out with my smart, funny and creative friends. Fun was had by all!
Saturday night was the amazing SJG's White Ball! The lads did the house up in lights and tinsel...there were holiday treats and Christmasy drinks. It was the first bash of it's kind of the season and it was a smash!
The second holiday bash of the season took place on Sunday at Joe's mom's place. Their house was done up beautifully...The main room was so warm with the dark woods and lots of rich red and deep green. There wasn't a fire in the woodstove, but the room generated that feeling regardless.
This holiday season, I'm not going to let myself get carried away in bad stuff. No distress over shopping + money, weather or work. I'm going to focus on the good stuff like family & friends, good music, great food, and goldfish with santa hats.
Have a nice, snowy night,
E.
