20 April 2007
Normal People Get Spring Fever
Normal people get spring fever but I've got spring mania. It could not be a more beautiful day. I'm up early and I've got a bowl of oatmeal in one hand, a coffee and an orange juice in the other, and I'm taking pictures of my Wicked progress to post here before she's banished to the Basket where I won't be tempted by her while I'm studying. Which I'm supposed to be doing right now.
But I've got so much to say!
This semester has been a whirlwind. I've read and learned so much at school. One of the things I learned is that I like school. I like writing essays and I like getting decent grades. A few weeks ago I went to a talk given by the department: What Can I do with My Degree in English. There are so many jobs that I didn't consider. I never thought that the skills I was absorbing would come in handy in the workplace. But they do! After I spooled the information from the talk and after I got teary-eyed in every single Last Class of the year, I realized that I didn't really want this ride to end. So yesterday I met with the school's academic advisor and registered for the Specialization program in English Lit. Once complete, this degree will pave the way for me to get my Masters. I need 27 more credits, which adds up to 9 half year courses. I'll be doing the degree part-time while working. My plan is to take the first half of this summer and the fall semester off for wedding planning and the wedding itself and then wrap up the degree in December 2009. But I've got 12 years to finish the degree if something comes up in between now and then.
In the knitting world, I found my doppel-Wicked! Someone knit it in the exact same yarn and the exact same colour as I am. This gave me a much needed boost of confidence in my yarn and colour choosing skills. Hers looks great! I'm enjoying Wicked but I've had to restart 6 1/2 times. It's nothing to do with the pattern and everything to do with the yarn. More specifically, it has everything to do with my joining and twisting skills. I'm using Manos del Uruguay which is variegated and the colours tend to pool. In order to prevent this, you're supposed to buy two skeins and alternate between skeins every second row. All that joining and carrying of yarn created an ugly ridge that went all down the centre back. I'm trying not to be too much of a perfectionist but I do want to be able to wear this sweater outside of the house. I think I've gotten a handle on the problem so hopefully it'll be smooth sailing from here on in.
Maureen Fisher is hard-working and prolific member of the Ottawa Writer's Group. The book launch for her first novel, "The Jaguar Legacy", is taking place on Saturday afternoon in Nepean. Check out her website for more details: http://www.booksbymaureen.com
Last night I volunteered at the Ottawa Writer's Festival and caught the Puritan guys and Ben Barry. The Puritan is a new literary prose magazine in Ottawa that was started by three students in my program at school. The second issue of the magazine is available all around Ottawa and of course, at Ottawa U. Check it out: http://puritan-magazine.com/home/home.html. Ben Barry is an entrepreneur (originally from Ottawa) who started his own modeling agency when he was 14. He read from his book, "Fashioning Reality". Barry is a vocal campaigner for breaking down the beauty myth in the modeling world. He represents models who are charismatic, unique and real. Have a read:
http://www.benbarry.com/ (click on 'The Book' for information and an excerpt of his book)
Guess I should take advantage of the day and crack open my books. My soundtrack: the Temptations and the Born Ruffians. Have a fun weekend!
Erika.
But I've got so much to say!
This semester has been a whirlwind. I've read and learned so much at school. One of the things I learned is that I like school. I like writing essays and I like getting decent grades. A few weeks ago I went to a talk given by the department: What Can I do with My Degree in English. There are so many jobs that I didn't consider. I never thought that the skills I was absorbing would come in handy in the workplace. But they do! After I spooled the information from the talk and after I got teary-eyed in every single Last Class of the year, I realized that I didn't really want this ride to end. So yesterday I met with the school's academic advisor and registered for the Specialization program in English Lit. Once complete, this degree will pave the way for me to get my Masters. I need 27 more credits, which adds up to 9 half year courses. I'll be doing the degree part-time while working. My plan is to take the first half of this summer and the fall semester off for wedding planning and the wedding itself and then wrap up the degree in December 2009. But I've got 12 years to finish the degree if something comes up in between now and then.
In the knitting world, I found my doppel-Wicked! Someone knit it in the exact same yarn and the exact same colour as I am. This gave me a much needed boost of confidence in my yarn and colour choosing skills. Hers looks great! I'm enjoying Wicked but I've had to restart 6 1/2 times. It's nothing to do with the pattern and everything to do with the yarn. More specifically, it has everything to do with my joining and twisting skills. I'm using Manos del Uruguay which is variegated and the colours tend to pool. In order to prevent this, you're supposed to buy two skeins and alternate between skeins every second row. All that joining and carrying of yarn created an ugly ridge that went all down the centre back. I'm trying not to be too much of a perfectionist but I do want to be able to wear this sweater outside of the house. I think I've gotten a handle on the problem so hopefully it'll be smooth sailing from here on in.
Maureen Fisher is hard-working and prolific member of the Ottawa Writer's Group. The book launch for her first novel, "The Jaguar Legacy", is taking place on Saturday afternoon in Nepean. Check out her website for more details: http://www.booksbymaureen.com
Last night I volunteered at the Ottawa Writer's Festival and caught the Puritan guys and Ben Barry. The Puritan is a new literary prose magazine in Ottawa that was started by three students in my program at school. The second issue of the magazine is available all around Ottawa and of course, at Ottawa U. Check it out: http://puritan-magazine.com/home/home.html. Ben Barry is an entrepreneur (originally from Ottawa) who started his own modeling agency when he was 14. He read from his book, "Fashioning Reality". Barry is a vocal campaigner for breaking down the beauty myth in the modeling world. He represents models who are charismatic, unique and real. Have a read:
http://www.benbarry.com/ (click on 'The Book' for information and an excerpt of his book)
Guess I should take advantage of the day and crack open my books. My soundtrack: the Temptations and the Born Ruffians. Have a fun weekend!
Erika.
Labels: kniticisms, school, witticisms
