I am having serious boy issues.  SERIOUS, I SAY!  ...to the point where I am being driven COMPLETELY MAD by a certain fellow who I shall from here on refer to as BoggleBoy (from a few posts ago)...  ....a certain cocky boy who is exceedingly amusing and who I have had warm n' fuzzy feelings and daydreams over ever since the beginning of school... a certain fellow who I get flustered over so easily when a simple word like 'hello' is uttered by him in my general direction.   AAAAAACCCK!!  It is so FRUSTRATING!  I am CONFUSED AS HELL right now. 

I remember the very first time he spoke to me on frosh week.  I remember every little thing he's ever said.  And then a couple days ago I received a Valentine's Day candy-gram from him with the funniest message ever.  It gave me one of those deep, full-body chuckles.  It truly made my day.  Then today, as I was sitting by myself, nibbling at a crappy, dry sandwich, he came over and joined me.  And then disaster struck!  I don't know what came over me but my brain was just so scattered by being in presence...I couldn't utter a single intelligible word.  I wonder now if he realizes that he's the only person who has this effect on me or if he's decided that I'm completely brainless.  I'm still shivering just thinking about it.  I hate how my body reacts in this way to guys I'm interested in....as if to sabotage any potential relationship. 

....so there's that.....combined with the fact that I don't even know if he likes me, already has a girlfriend, or even if he truly is my type.  I'm in love with his quirky/crazed personality but in truth, I hardly know the guy.  And just because I received candy and that he's talked to me a few times doesn't mean that he's hitting on me.  No sir.  Perhaps he's the type who flings compliments at every girl he runs into.  (Did I ever mention..?  Way back, I was convinced that AnimalPhysGuy was flirting with me which ultimately resulted in me writing a certain embarrassing email and in us dating.  He told me a month later - so casually - "I remember when I first met you how funny it was that every time I came by, you'd blush so red because I wasn't hitting on you or anything."  Made me feel like the stupidest person alive.)

...woe is me.... I am truly hopeless... 

....anyway I'd better stop thinking about this, lest I fail ALL my exams....which are in one week....toughest unit yet.. 

Christmas... it's supposed to be a time of love, happiness, family get-togethers.... but I find it overwhelmingly to be more about manic shopping and boundless stress...  aaack...  I just want to relax!

She is so photogenic!

- putting on PJs fresh from the drier - still toasty warm

- snuggling on the couch with Boo

- CANDY! 

- hot cup o' tea

- the smell of baking bread (and then swiping a tasteright when it's done! Shhhhh - don't tell anyone it was me!)

- hugs, kisses, winks n' smiles

- watching the first snowfall

- massages

- sunshine

- flowers!!

- glancing at the clock and reaslizing you still have a whole hour left to sleep!

- fuzzy, animal-shaped slippers

- mmmMMmmm pie!! 

- a good laugh - HAHAH!!

- ......SOUTH PARK!!!

- daydreaming 

- good ol' healthy competition - watch out, I'll kick your ass!

- the smell of brewing coffee

- biking! Yay!

- bubble baths 

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First set of exams = done!  Back to the regular heavy workload..

Parents = vacationing in Egypt - w/o Lizzy *sniff*

Brother and dog = at cottage

Me = lonely 

I seriously think they're trying to kill us all.  The beginning of the week was alright - like 6-7 hours of lecture/lab per day on average and then Thursday came like WHAM!!  TEN HOURS STRAIGHT OF LECTURE.  Not even a scheduled lunch break - and i'm not even joking.   By the end of the day, everyone was so giddy, from sitting still all freakin' day.  It's a miracle we all managed to survive....although I must give credit to the amazing profs who totally took pitty on us and tried to make the day as entertaining (and painless) as possible.  Kudos to them. 

.....then today I had to attend a mandatory conference - (((which was ALL DAY LONG))) - which included the most boring and useless presentations I have ever witnessed in my entire life.  I swear, it was so dry.  But on the bright side....there was free food....and a handsome, quirky, witty fellow sitting beside me.  New crush - WOOOOO BABY!!!!!  :D :D  Me likes!  We resorted first to doodling (see, they made the mistake of supplying everyone with pens and paper) and then to playing bogle (with...well...self-generated puzzles scribbled on paper).  He's competitive and seems to like to 'do stuff' - yay!      

Aaaack... and tomorrow I need to get my CPR + first aid recertification - D'OH!  It's gonna take all day too.  Oh well...

Wish me luck...

ooOOoo... and tech clubs are so much fun... but i get teased for being little.. heh... 

....into a million pieces with chunks flying everywhere... LOOK OUT!! AHHHhhhhhhHHHhhhhhh.....

Same old story I guess!

I'm finding solace in surrounding myself with students who are visibly stressed. Yes I thrive in other people's gloom - I'm so evil! Makes me feel like my own stresses are like peanuts in comparison i suppose. I'm even finding myself kinda crushing on this particular fellow with craggy features, unkempt hair.... I've studied next to him in the library a couple times as he fidgeted and sighed to himself. I felt like giving him a big hug to make it all better. heehee..

My professors are all AMAZING! I don't think there is a single one I don't like. They are all so animated and clearly enjoy what they do!

I'm back in school for another *gulp* four years! ...and I'm finding it a bit hard adjusting to all the freedom and stress-free living over the past year being swallowed up! Acck. I survived week 1 which is surprising because the first day was 8hrs of lecture with only a one hr break (ie: 9hrs total!)!!! The following days were only a wee bit lighter. So in my mind, I've been constantly flip-flopping b/w "I don't know it I can do this" to "oh..this is a piece of cake...so much like undergrad." We'll see. There are a few other issues I know I'll be facing later on.

Orientation week was wicked fun!! Met a lot of nice people...and a few other people who i don't particularly like... It's a miracle that I've remembered the few names that I did. I called this one fellow by entirely the wrong name! I was so sure too!!

...so overall....feeling quite tuckered out and trying to get myself organized....

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In other news....

I'm still facing the dilemma of odd odd weird crazy random guys on the street hitting on me. It's not like I've even bothered fixing myself up lately. As I recall, everything was distinctly clashing. He began by saying, "you look like an intellectual." I wasn't expecting anyone to talk to me and kinda startled...so I go "...uhhhh... thank you." He says my IQ has to be way up in the hundreds and was clearly being flirtatious. Then he proceeded to tell me in detail about his vegan, religious, environmentalist affiliations, being one with his body and nature crap... I don't know why he carried on as long as he did. Perhaps the expression on my face. I was so weired-out that I think I was smiling/laughing. He pulls out a necklace from his shirt saying "i wear this amethyst pendant because it's supposed to fill me with positive energy. You wouldn't need to wear one because you're already so positive," all while I was thinking, holy shit this guy is a maniac!!! How do I get rid of him!?!! ..."...and this earring is my birthstone....and these other three earrings are for good luck... you must be a really nice person because you're wearing heart-shaped earrings." He's like, "what do you believe in? you're not into that science crap are you? i've just become a Christian." I tell him I'm atheist. Then I had to define the word trying hard not to offend him. I mean, he was pleasant and friendly, just completely weird. In parting, he told me i have "pretty dimples." I don't have dimples.  (Pimples maybe...but definitely no dimples)

Whew!! So what does one do in that kind of situation? Do ya take a quick glance at the ol' watch and hope that he catches on??

Fire = sexy!  (....as with thunder storms and sunsets....) Is it just me or do you see a few scary faces and arms extending forward?  I took a number of shots and I see faces in all of them.  Cool

Silly-looking horsies... don't ya wanna just reach out n' pet their fuzzy noses?!  More to come later..

Blog is in dire need of quality written material.  It's been a long time.  That's what a year off school does i suppose. 

Lucky-boo..... we took a boat trip out to see an island and saw a bunch of ducks.  I was hanging on to her tightly and Dad was like "Why don't you let go and see what happens."  So I let go and this is what happened....  LOL... she jumped straight out of the boat and then swam after them for several minutes.  We had to fish her out after...  She didn't catch any though.... poor doggie...

...and some pretty pics..

Haven't been writing much cuz sooooo busy!  Next week I must remember to take the camera to work and get some pics of my horsies.  Lately I've been leading around the little tyrant, Merlin.  I think I love him because he's crazy.  Reminds me of my dog.  He has escaped from the paddocks of few times (not under my watch *phew*) and when he wants the grass, there ain't a thing that'll stop him!    

Haven't updated in ages cuz it's been just so busy! 

Here are a bunch of pics from last weekend at the cottage.  It seems that Lucky just LOVES swimming...so much that she actually wags her tail above the water while swimming.  The cutest thing ever!  Doesn't she look as happy as a pig in poop?

oh.....and we saw a loon!

As a new-ish doggie owner, I have made a few strange observations about my Lucky-boo:

1) She is fine meeting most other dogs so long as they are not sufficiently small to be akin to a squirrel

2) she actually likes running around outside in the rain but hates being cooled off with the garden hose

3) she has been stealing veggies from the garden!! she particularly likes lettuce

4) she is a sweetheart to other dog owners but barks relentlessly at 'loose' pedestrians who try to give her attention

5) she loves bugs! she'll get fixated on a fly and won't settle down until she has caught it

6) she'll spontaneously go nuts and start racing around the house whilst gRR'ing and she sometimes crashes into things

A couple funny things she has done recently:

This one was quite surprising actually. Lately I'd been neglecting my piano partly because I've been focusing my energy on teaching myself guitar. But a few days ago, a friend visited me and we ended up playing piano duets for quite some time. It was so much fun!! Anyway....later on that evening as I was resting in my room, minding my own business, I heard random piano keys being played. So I raced downstairs to find *gasp* my doggie sitting on the piano bench with her paws on the keys. I was hysterical! HAHAHA... the cutest thing ever!! I called her down and she followed me upstairs and then five minutes later, I heard notes being played again. Three times I called her down before I realized what was up. See...I thought that she was amusing herself by emulating two great pianists - *brag brag brag* - when in actual fact.....her favourite chew toy was on top of the piano and she was trying to get it!

This one happened just yesterday. Last Tuesday, I went to a potluck dinner in which I prepared some baklava for... you know, that SCARY SWEET flaky dessert? There were still a few squares left on the table in a big casserole of which I'd been avoiding for fear they would kill me. But anyway.... upon returning home from volunteering yesterday, I noticed that someone had finished off the baklava (about 3 or 4 large squares). My initial thought was that my brother ate it but upon closer inspection, I could see that the casserole had been licked clean and there were sticky paw prints on the table! Naughty naughty dog!!! .....and believe me, she was quite wired all day!

My dog is cRaZY.... but on the odd occasion that I do meet a dog more maniacal than my own, I feel good....

God....I hate it when my parents take off for trips.  And why is this?  Because I'm stuck alone w/ my goddamn grinch and slob of a brother who feels that he can command me slave for him.  Hell with that!  He should be a grown up by now and be able to look after himself.  Or if he'd like me to do something for him or help out, he should at the very least be reasonable and ask me nicely.  I don't respond well to "GO DO THIS NOW!!"   I need to feel appreciated.  But instead I am frightened by him because he grabs my arm roughly and with a psychotic expression, barks orders at me. My parents don't realize what he's like when it's just us.   I refuse to bow to his every whim.  They've only been gone for like one day.  I have to survive this for two weeks.... 

*sighhhhhh...* 

I'm back from Paris and I had a fabulous time! We spent four full days in Paris and took a day trip out to Versailles.... It was absolutely beautiful (aside from the chilly weather though ;) )! We bought the four day museum pass so we got to see a lot of the highlights but skip the lineups. We went to the Louvre and saw the masses of people gawking at the Mona Lisa hahhaa. OMG that place is HUGE! The architecture was very impressive as well. ......and we saw the Musee D'Orsay w/ all the lovely impressionist paintings, the musee Rodin, the Notre Dame (plus all those cool gargoyles!!!!), the army museum, the wax museum, chateau de Versailles, the conciergerie (and Marie Antoinette's cell), the Arc of Triumph.....

....and of course we went up the Eiffel Tower cuz when you're in Paris, you just *have* to do that! :D :angel: ...had a leisurely river ride and we saw a couple shows...

The people we met were super nice (and smiled at my terrible attempts to communicate in French)....the food....was not so great and quite pricey. LOL I guess we just had bad luck picking out places to eat.

Overall an amazing trip!

Gargoyles!!!!!!  :) :)

heh heh! I must be crazy!

I forget what artist painted this but I thought it would look AMAZING in mosaic. So I went to the glass store with mum yesterday...the bill came to $46. Expensive hobby! The original plan with doing mosaics was to use up all the spare glass from stained glass projects but inevitably, we always need to buy more to get the right colours... The tool on the top of the pic is what I use to make the little squares. First I use a glass cutter to make strips of glass (from the sheets). Then I use the mosaic tool to snap the strips into squares. It gives you STRONG FOREARMS!! hahaha

Leaving for Paris to 2 days!!!!!!

Van Gogh's "Starry Night" in mosaic..... heheh...I started this about a month ago, lost interest/had no time, then decided to finish it yesterday.  My camera screwed up the colours a bit.  It looks really cool when natural light is shining on it cuz everything kind of glistens and you can see the different textures in the pieces of glass.  Mum is working on a mosaic too...  Now I'm trying to decide on my next mosaic project...something with brighter colours.  Anyone have ideas?

Aren't tulips pretty?  I love tulips.  Our garden this year has some really interesting variations....

OOooo... and our little magnolia baby actually had a couple flowers - yay!  Unfortunately they're all dried up now... they don't last long!

Guitaring is coming along... but... fingers HURT!!  Owwwy!! 

Classical guitar! OOOooo baby! A friend got me really excited about this when she bought herself a guitar (on a whim!!!) a few days ago. She figures that since she has a music background in piano, it will be easy to teach herself. I've decided to do the same - except that I already have a guitar. It's been hanging out in our closet for years. Mum used to take guitar lessons and the guitar belonged to my grandpa when he was 15. It's actually a lot smaller than regular classical guitars but its tone is so pure and beautiful.... I just started playing yesterday and oooOOoo it's so much fun! His name is "Bub" (as of 2 days ago). It will be so cool to play guitar duets with my friend!

It's apple/cherry blossom time... so pretty...  I went for a bike ride this afternoon and it snowed pink n' white petals on me...

...busy as a bee... Where has all the time gone!?

I've been running around like a mad woman with a billion errands!   Medical tests, nagging  people for reference letters, volunteering like crazy...  I also got offered a summer job which should be starting in a week or so.  Yippee!  Have a Paris trip planned for the end of May with my auntie.... so excited!  We both realized about a week ago that our passports had expired!  Haha... but that's all settled now..

Spent the last couple of weekends at the cottage.  It was so gorgeous and Lucky really loved it too.  It's her first spring so everything is so new.  She's so funny!  She's not sure what to make of the lake yet.  I think she must think it's alive or something cuz she was running back and forth along the shoreline barking and snapping at the minute waves lapping against the shore.  HAHAHA!!!  Silly dog!  A couple weekends ago, she also encountered a goose as it was swimming in the beaver swamp.  Poor dog - she wanted it SOOOo badly!  She even jumped in after it several times!  ....and *we* had thought she was afraid of water - *shaking head* - with all the trouble it is to wash her... 

...finally something to stop the trend of really really bad luck....

I've got an ACCEPTANCE BABY! Of all times, they chose to call my cell whilst surrounded by barking dogs and I could barely hear anything... She's like "hi it's so-and-so from such-and-such school." I thought, "..oh great... what the hell do they want? They already rejected me...they want me to answer a stupid questionnaire...?" I was mentally preparing myself to tell her to GO TO HELL!!! YOU TOOK MY MONEY, NOW YOU WANT TO WASTE MY TIME??!! but instead i found myself pleasantly surprised. And of course, right after she said that there's a position available for me, my crappy crappy phone sputtered and lost the connection! Damn malfunctioning technology! I had to phone her back and all is well now. My position is secure... yippee!

But alas.... this is only my backup plan. So the pressure isn't all off yet! No sir! I'm gonna do everything in my power to keep this positive trend going. I've had my face slapped with $h!t way too bloody many times! I know I'm good enough and deserve to live my life doing something that I'll love doing. No one should decide my future for me!

Ahhhhhh... i feel so much better....

I'm really enjoying this course.... I can now analyze everything that's wrong with everyone I know....

Let's see.....

Ex-bf: delusion of grandeur, narcissistic personality disorder, attention deficit disorder...

MidnightStrollGuy: he professes to have a sleep disorder, also lacks significant brain cells

Victim#2: should I even begin to list them all? haha!

LatestCrush: haven't discovered anything wrong with him yet ;)

Me: *cough* marginally obsessive compulsive, perfectionist, internet addict, shy but getting better :) ~ shoot! I'm a nutter!

Lucky: attention deficit disorder, obsessive compulsive, jump-aholic

heheheeee.... that was fun!