A Simple Journey Within

6:11PM - should we care about marine biodiversity?

I started writing my marine biology paper and this is what came out. I realize that this has very little academic merit but it didn't feel like something that I could just delete. So here it is, on my LJ that I update twice a year. Enjoy :)

From the perspective of a university student who has grown up in a middle class home in the western world it is becoming more and more apparent to me that we, the western world, believe that we have the right to whatever we want. We do not have to experience first hand what effects our consumerism has on the environment and on other less fortunate people in the world. If we are hungry, we need only to drive to the grocery store and buy the item of our desire. Biodiversity and sustainability are complex issues that need to be addressed, however, the problems of over-consumption and environmental destruction and degradation can only be remediated if we, as consumers, agree to give something up today. It seems to me that it is simply easier to continue taking from the earth’s resources, knowing that our practices are unsustainable, knowing that we will at some point in the future be denied something we desire, than to admit we are doing something wrong and choose to change before it is too late. Making our planet sustainable is possible, conserving biodiversity is possible, but we have to choose to do so. Each and every person on the planet has the choice. What choice will you make?

12:44PM - BOOOOOOTIES!!! :D

It's been a long time since I've posted on LJ. I have lots that I could write about but it seems that in Thunder Bay I spend a lot less time at my computer (thank goodness) and I have less of a desire to LJ when things are going really well...so I guess no LJing is actually a good thing. There has been something that I've wanted to write about for a while though. A Christmas gift that I received and decided was the greatest gift ever and that everybody had to own a pair. What is this fabulous gift? BOOTIES. That's write...down booties. They're like sleeping bags for your feet. They're incredibly warm and have rubber bottoms (or even treds) so you can wear them outside if you're just stepping out for a minute or picking up the mail, or in my case...walking next door. They go on my feet the moment I walk in the door and I often sleep with them on too. Boyfriends out there, this is a must have for your girlfriends. They're not the most fashionable thing, but their functionality more than makes up for it! You can get them from many outdoor shops. Mec makes them and so does Sierra Designs that I know of so if you know of any stores that sell those brands...go get yourself a pair and get all your best friends a pair too. It's worth It! :) Here's the link to them on the mec website.

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_listing.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302734361&bmUID=1138471505426

If the link doesn't work just go to mec.ca and search booties. They'll come up :) I feel like a broken record rambling about these booties, but seriously. They're a beautiful thing :)

Have a great day!

Current mood: excited

1:06AM - Live music, a beer, comfy clothes and couch and a cozy blanket :)

Well, it's been a while since I'm updated so I figured I give a briefing on the events of the last week and where I'm at.

Chris and I drove up to tbay on tuesday and got here around 4pm. I had a phone number to call of a girl (Brenda) who was friends with a friend of mine and who had a few potential places for me to live. Brenda was surprised to hear that I had no place to go once I was here, but was incredibly welcoming. She had an empty room in her house but could not get ahold of her former roommate to see if she would sublet her room to me. It was pretty chaotic. Chris and I decided to stay in a hotel so that I would have a bit of a home base to put all my stuff. I'll make this story short, after a random turn of events I found a place to live. Brenda's boyfriend decided that he needed to leave Thunderbay to find work so he moved out of his room and I moved in with Brenda's friends Christy and Michelle. I have not yet met Michelle, but Christy is amazing. We all share food and cook together, it's been fantastic. Christy was a Ranger and is really good friends with a friend of mine from waterloo (randomly the friend who's room I stayed in for the last month of school). So, I have a room, a bed, a dresser, a desk, and a group of friends. I feel very much at home here.

Last night I went slidding with some of Matt's friends and hung out and had some yummy ice cream. Today I went out for lunch with Christy and her friend Shannon, did some shopping, and bought myself and two others tickets to Sarah Harmer in April. 4th row!!! :) WOO HOO. I'm so excited, but sad that I have to wait until April to go! This afternoon Christy's friend Emily came over and they jammed to the beatles. Christy plays guitar and sings and Emily plays guitar, the mandalin, and sings. Brenda came over and sewed and I lounged on the couch and finished my scarf. It was really relaxing and fun. This evening I enjoyed a beer, comfy clothes, a blanket, and live music care of Christy. She plays a lot of Sarah harmer and Kathleen Edwards and other such good music. IT was very enjoyable. Then we just hung out and watched a movie. It was a very chill day.

People are always doing stuff here. This weekend a group of people went on an overnight ice climbing trip, others went camping, others went skating, and some went boarding/skiing today. There is always active stuff going on and people are very very nice. Everybody knew the guy who's room I moved in to and most people had/have no idea that he left so everybody I meet seems to have heard about me and all my random connections to people here.

I'm looking forward to having a term of fun and activeness (and some school). School stuff has been ok so far. Is still have to figure out one last class for sure, but so far I'm liking it. Brenda is in three of my classes and amazingly enough I knew somebody in all of my classes.

This has gotten longer than planned. I hope everyone is doing well and had great holidays and new years.

Current mood: peaceful

2:51AM - apparently i haven't been that nice...NEW dear Santa

Dear Santa... Dear Santa, This year I've been busy! In May I donated bone marrow to stangerous in a life-saving procedure (300 points). In June I turned quikchange in for spitting (3 points). In April I broke backguy's X-Box (-12 points). In October I ruled Asscrackistan as a kind and benevolent dictator (700 points). In July I committed genocide... Sorry about that, rue_spuc (-5000 points). Overall, I've been naughty (-4009 points). For Christmas I deserve a moldy sandwich! Sincerely, simplejourney

1:21AM - Dear Santa

Dear Santa... Dear Santa, This year I've been busy! In July I saved a busload of nuns in Angola (326 points). In November I got in line at the supermarket at the same time as someone else and I didn't yield (-8 points). In August I put gum in flyingg's hair (-12 points). In June I gave chris_nordlund a wet willie, then I took it back (-5 points). In January I gave rue_spuc a Dutch Oven (-10 points). Overall, I've been nice (291 points). For Christmas I deserve a toy train! Sincerely, simplejourney

Current mood: content

12:26PM - Forum raises $600 at Dons expense!!

All last week we set up 5 bins, each with a picture and name of each of the 5 dons. Students were to put money in the bucket of the don that they most wanted to see get a pie in the face. $200 meant that the top don would get a pie, $300 meant that the top 2 dons would get pies, and $500 meant that all 5 dons would get pied. Well, the fundraiser was a bigger success than I anticipated. We raised $600 and Graham Brown also stood up to the cause and took a pie aswell. It was actually a lot of fun. One of the first years here came up with the idea. So, if any of you are trying to come up with a successful fundraising idea I'd recommend this one for sure.

The money is going to Chandru's family. Chandru lived at St. Paul's 2yrs ago and he and his brother we killed in a hit and run in Waterloo about a month ago. His family is very poor and set up a fund for people to help contribute to the funerals. Jeanine was his don.

11:48AM - Giving in to Peer Pressure

If you read this, if your eyes are passing over this right now, even if we don't speak often, please post a comment with a memory of you and me. It can be anything you want, either good or bad. When you're finished, post this little paragraph on your blog and be surprised, embarrassed, etc, about what people remember about you.

7:23PM - raining in waterloo....again

Today I had a very exciting moment. I was sitting in class and the sun started shinning right on my face :) It made me so happy. Usually i'm not one to enjoy being blinded by the sun, but lately I've been feeling deprived of sunlight. It seems like every day when I walk outside the sky is grey. It hasn't really rained that much, it's just continually grey. Anybody else having issues with this?

4:38PM

I don't want to wish my life away, yet I can't help it be anxious for Dec 22ndish 2006. By this date I should have completed my undergradate degree. At last, this chapter of my life will be done. There are many different perspectives that I could take on this, but I think that overall, I will be relieved. I look forward to finding purpose in my life, purpose beyond lectures, labs, projects, and readings. I have involved myself in many extra-curricular activities during my time here, but, underlying it all has been due dates and tests. I love to learn, but I don't like the learn how the university teaches. I love to learn through experiences. I love to learn without being graded.

My future is very uncertain, but I find comfort in that. Come January 2007 I have no idea where I'll be. Bolivia maybe? Fernie BC maybe? Kenora? who knows. Some people find comfort in security and will obtain their degrees and dive into a full time job and seek to get married and start a family. No view is better than another, but for me, nothing is more terrifying than the idea of starting a career and family right after graduation. I need some adventure before I settle down. I need adventure right now actually...but for now...I must press on through this university education.

Soon I will be free :)

Current mood: Peaceful

4:16PM - Lucky

Dear Friends, you make my world a better place :) Thank you (L)

12:45PM - Back to School

Well, I had an amazing summer....so amazing that I neglected to write in my LJ. I really took advantage of what Kenora has to offer and managed to do lots of camping, biking, kayaking, and climbing.

This term I am living at SPUC as the Penthouse/Alcatraz don. This will be a new exprerience for me which I'm sure will carry lots of challenges along with it....some of which have already surfaced.

Friends who pray please pray for me these next few weeks as these weeks will likely determine how the entire term is going to go.

I know this is a short entry but I think it's going to take me a while to get back into the LJ groove.

ttyl

Current mood: discouraged

4:12PM - Life's just too damn short sometimes.

When things like this happen it's easy to get down and depressed because the situation is terribly sad, unfortuate and upsetting. But When we experience death I think it is important to use the situations to re-evaluate our own lives and to remind ourselves that life is short and that it can be taken away at any momemnt.

What have I been doing with my life? Have I been having fun? Have I been living, loving and laughing? and most importantly, have I been living how God would want me to be living? Carpe Diem. Sieze the day, sieze the moments. We spend much of our lives working our asses off to get a degree, to get a good paying job, to get money because this is how society measures success and happiness. But at the end of the day, when all is said and done, what is it that really mattered? We stop ourselves from doing things that we want to do out of fear out of lack of belief in ourselves, out of a personal inability to step outside of our comfort zones. Take chances, live the life that you want to live, do the things that you love to do and dream of doing,tell the people that you love that you love them, step outside of your box, have faith, and LIVE...you never know when it could end...

Tara was 22 years old. Smart, funny, just a great person to be around. I did not know her very well, but I am still affected by her passing on. We lived in the same building for only the first 4months of our frosh year but still, the memories I have of her put a smile on my face and bring tears to my eyes. She was a mathy, a very bright girl who loved to have fun. I can still hear her trying to pursuade everybody to go out to the bar with her "Come on...you don't need to study...it's a friday night...it'll be FuuuUn, come on..." Always with a great big smile on her face. Then there were her "I KnOW"'s, those I will never forget. Mostly because the boys always mocked her for them :)

The last time I saw her was last summer when Lindsey and I were at the CIF gym. She was bubbly and happy and very chatty (as usually :) ). She was a talker, smiler and laugher, the kind of person who was just pleasant to be around. Although I did not keep in touch with her very well I am sad that I will never again randomly run into her on campus. Seeing her always lifted my spirits.

She spent the last 2months of her life trying to recover from a car accident. I wonder how she spent the months previous to those. I hope that she got to do some of the things that she dreamed of doing. I pray that she made her peace with the Big Guy upstairs, and I hope that someday I will see her smiling face in heaven.

Tara Quach- you will be missed, I hope that you know now that you touched many lives without even realizing it.

Current mood: sympathetic

2:41AM

There are two types of people in this world. Those who believe that things happen for a reason, that miracles do happen and that we have a purpose in this life and then there are those that believe that everything is a coincidence, that stuff doesn't matter in the end and that there is no reason to have hope. I fall into the first set of people. I am constantly reminded that God exists and is watching out for me. Although this summer I have neglected my bible, my devotionals and even prayer, I am still thankful. I know in my heart and in my head that I need to make time for God. He is the reason that I am having such a great summer. He is the reason that the pieces fell where they did. When you owe somebody so much it's unbelievable that it is possible to be so rude in return. Yet this is what I am doing. I'm taking what I was given and running away with it, not looking back. When will I look back? Once the good that He has given me dissipates? is that when? Life comes in waves. Right now I'm riding the fun and happy wave. Is there a balance? will I ever find the balance? I need to. Everything is still so new and exciting though it is difficult. When i'm not with him I want to be with him.

Well...I tried to update, but I'm really tired. I'll try again tomorrow. Goodnight LJ

Current mood: tired

10:08AM - it is not the destination...it is the journey

I feel like I have not taken the time to write public or private entries in this journal. I have been busy. It is very hard for me to slow down and reflect. I think about doing it a lot, but usually end up...busy. I need to stop and remind myself to be thankful for what I have, where I am, and what I've been doing. It is too easy to rush through life packing in as much as you can into as little time as possible. This is no way to live. The other day while biking Amanda Marshall reminded me in her song "Gypsy" that in everything in life it is the journey that counts...not the destination. I had been racing, trying to go as fast as I could, go as hard as I could and just get the ride over with so that I could move on to the next thing in my day. Hearing those words got me to slow down and I just had to smile. Looking at the beauty which surrounded me. I was riding down a road under a canopy of bright green poplar trees. I probably wouldn't have even noticed my surroundings if it had not been for the song.

This past weekend I went camping and had yet another opportunity to just relax. Usually when I make weekend plans they involve a destination, either a hiking trip or a paddling trip. Rarely do I ever make plans to just go out into the bush, pitch a tent, and hang out for a few days. After this weekend I think that will change. I experienced some of the most beautiful and peaceful moments of my life camping this weekend. The weather was gorgeous, camp fires amazing and conversations were meaningful. Couldn't have asked for a better weekend.

This is kind of a cliche, but it really is true that it's the little things in life that make life worthwhile. Live in the moment. Take time to observe. Take time to appreciate and be grateful. Life's too short to be in a rush all the time. Enjoy the journey :)

Current mood: happy but tired

2:38AM - just can't turn it off!

It's now 2:38am. I have been laying in bed since about 11:45pm. I have to get up at 6:20am. These are very unfortunate circumstances.

I just ate a piece of toast, will that help? I'm not sure. My mind is racing, I can't turn it off. Tonight I have thought about anything and everything. Stuff that doesn't matter, stuff that hasn't happened and stuff that probably won't happen. I've been dreaming, I've been creating situations in my head, I've been driving myself craZy. Maybe writting will help.

So what are these thoughts that have been keeping me up all night? Well, my summer has been really good so far. I've had lots of fun, and lots of laughs thanks to a new friend of mine. He's kept me very busy, we see each other pretty much every day, and when we're not together, we're chatting on msn. We're going camping this weekend. I'm so stoaked to be away from the computer. It's supposed to be really nice this weekend and i'm looking forward to just chilling and relax'n. I'm going to bring a book and some knitting with me. Reading and knitting are two things that I haven't done nearly enough of since being home. This is kinda sad, but usually when I'm home I have lots of time for "me" stuff like reading, knitting, guitar playing, sewing, re-organizing my life, etc. But not this summer...not yet. Chris and I are going to bring our bikes out camping this weekend, which should be pretty sweet. I bought a new bike today (yesterday)...it's SOOO nice. Wow, lots of tangents in this post already. So, I"m really excited about camping, I'm excited to get away. Chris and I hanging out so much has created a fair bit of turmoil in this small lil ktown. It will be nice to get away from everybody. We still have a fair bit of planning to do for the trip. THis has been keeping me awake...racking my brain trying to remember the very important "thing" that we seem to be overlooking. Does this "thing" exist? probably not.

What else has been keeping me awake? A project that I have yet to complete for J. Steckle Heritage Homestead. I did this project last term but need to modify it before I'll feel comfortable submitting it. I'm an overacheiver and like to create more work for myself apparently. I need to finish it

I need to call my moderator for the DE course that I dropped. Not a hard thing to do, yet I haven't done it.

I need to go bathingsuit shopping tomorrow. Unfortunately I work until 8pm, won't be home until 9pm and then...where will I go? Wallmart :S

I have an environmental meeting on friday. I need to go over the minutes and come up with a few ideas.

My aunt is coming on friday. I need to clean my room.

Biking, I want to bike to rushing river, I want to buy a bike computer, I need to get info on a hiking trail at westhawk. I need to drive more and let Chris drive less.

Marni emailed me back about the mantario trail. We're doing a 60K hike in 3 days in aug. I'm really really excited but we still have lots of planning to do. She has a car, I have a car, this makes life so much easier because we can park a car at either end of the trail, which means that I don't have put anybody out for a ride. Lots of planning to be done for that trip

My mom and I are doing a kayak trip in august too. Need to figure out where we're going and plan that.

I want the yoga to go book. I want to go to winnipeg, mmm sukothai restaurant.

Rollerblade marathon in august. I miss my brothers and Kim (mike's girlfriend). I need to see them soon. I need to talk to Kim about the marathon.

School in the fall. I picked my classes today, did I pick the right ones? Donning, still haven't signed anything, need to plan. Lots to do for that.

I got 5 real e-mails today. I need to respond. I need to respond to past e-mails that I've neglected. Not enough time.

Holy Randomness. This is why I cannot sleep. Anybody have any quick insomniac cures? It won't help me right now, but maybe in the future.


Well...what now? I think i'm going to try to read a bit and hopefully fall asleep. 3hrs till i have to get up for work. I"m biking in the morning. I'm going to die :P Well...before I go I think I'll just tell everybody about how incredibly DIRTY I got today. It was fantastic :D Every tuesday night there's a lake of the woods bike club that goes out biking. They usually do about a 3hr bike ride. It's been raining all day, and was misty when I left my house at 6pm, but I HAD to go try out my new bike (it's so pretty! :)). I have never been so dirty and tired in my life! Now, this bike club is made up of pretty hardcore riders, and tonight, because the weather was crappy, the less hardcore riders stayed home (smart kids). Chris and I still went :D We did 30K in an hour and it was rainy and mucky pretty for most of it. There was about 5K of pavement the whole way, the rest of the ride was gravel. I was covered in dots of mud, my front, my back, my face. It was rough not having glasses either cause the mudd would fly right up into your eyes. IT was really a lot of fun. I was lagging a bit though. I was good at keeping up if there were lots of downhills, but the up hills really slowed me down. They didn't have to wait for me much though, thankfully :) I say I held my own pretty well considering I'm no pro :P When I got home I hosed myself and my bike off before entering the house. I showered with my clothes in the tub because they were too muddy to just use the washing machine. I love my life :)

Wish I could sleep...3:09am

1:41AM - A day of goodbyes

Today was Linda's last day on Mawkwa :( I'm really happy for her despite the fact that I feel so sad. She wasn't happy on Mawkwa and the night shifts were really hard on her. Mawkwa isn't the most welcoming crew, I don't feel welcome, Linda was my company. I guess this is an opportunity for me to force myself to step outside of my Linda comfort zone and find my niche within mawkwa. I've been given a new mentor, Chris Pencoff...not the same Chris that I have a crush on :P I guess I'll find out how that goes in the shifts to come.

I also lost my eyebrow barbell today at work and couldn't get one in once I got home...so...it looks like i'm saying goodbye to it...for now. I'm sad, I really liked it and it's still new. The thought of spending another $50 to get it repierced doesn't really sit well either. I'm pretty bummed out about it..although i'm sure there are some that are happy to see it gone.

Chris and I watched finding neverland tonight. It's adorable, I fell in love with little Michael. It's a happy movie that brought me back to my childhood. I want to go fly a kite.

Right now, I need to go to bed.

Current mood: sleepy

10:01PM - sad day at work :(

Today Linda got some great great news. She got a job with the mill support team. YEAH!! very exciting. I'm happy for her, she won't have to work night shifts anymore..it's straight days, 8-430. I know it's what she wants and I know she'll be happier there. She starts thursday :(

I was so grateful to work with Linda this summer. She's the greatest person I've ever known..not even kidding. I don't click with anybody else in my area...and now, i'll be all alone. I am very sad. From about 430-730 I spent my time trying NOT to cry. I shed a few tears when ever she brought up me needing to decide who I wanted to be my new mentor :(

God has a plan for me and He also has a plan for Linda. I was meant to be on Mawkwa, I was meant to be with Linda...at first. Now she's meant to work straight days and be happy. I'm left on Mawkwa, but there is a reason for it. If nothing more than me getting to meet and befriend Chris and Ericka, I am there for a reason. I have learned that good usually comes from everything. Although I'm sad now...someday I'll understand why things happened the way they did.

Current mood: sad

4:15PM - partying after a night shift? who does that?!

So I work with a craZiest group of people! Yesterday morning after our second night shift one of the guys had a party. Nobody had to bring a thing, he supplied alcohol, food, music, everything. I was very skeptical about going, but since Ericka and Chris said they would go, I agreed. I went home after work, showered, and called to tell Ericka I would pick her up in 5. She bailed. She said that she wasn't feeling well. I still had to go though because I told Chris I'd be there. So I drove there, went around the block two or three times, looking for Chris' car, finally stopped, sat in my car for about 5min, and then FINALLY got up the courage to head over at around 9:30am. Awkward is me. Those of you who know me know that I have a bit of social anxiety sometimes and am not really a fan of large groups of people unless I have a few people that I feel comfortable with and can stick to.

Anyway, I did it. I was there all of 2min before I had a drink in my hand, polished it off too quickly and had another prompty put in my hand. I was drinking blue coracao, sour puss, and lemonade...mmmm far too yummy :) I sat next to Chris and didn't venture too far away from him. He was the only person there that I was really comfortable with. Awkward. We stuck together until about 1-130pm when he headed to the smoke shack; the gazebo where all the smokers were hang'n out. Well, I had felt tied to his hip the whole morning, and didn't really want to go in to the jam packed smokey gazebo, so I sucked it up and socialized with the people that he had left me with. It wasn't so bad. Most of the people were pretty drunk so I didn't have to say much...just smile and nod a lot and be entertained :)

I drove home at about 230pm. Yes, I drove. I finished my last drink before 11am, and I had only had 3 drinks...don't worry folks, i'm responsible :)

Overall, it was awkward, but I'm glad that I went. I got to talk to some people on a non-work level, got to meet some people who don't work in my area, and I think i'll be more comfortable with more people at work now. Good old alcohol :P I'm not condoning drinking excessively like my coworkers did/do, but the fact is, they're going to do it whether I like it or not and so, I'm just going to sit back and be entertained by it :) They had some pretty hilarious stories that's for sure. Lots of craZy, craZy people on my crew!

Anyway, I survived physically and socially, so it's all good. I thought for sure i'd be out of there by 11am....of course, at 11am I couldn't drive.

Man, on a totally different note, I'm so incredibly happy I feel like I'm going to burst. It's been a while since I've felt like this. I'm walking down the street by myself and I just feel myself smiling. I need to get a grip!

Life is Beautiful, Kenora is Amazing, Happy is me :)

Current mood: bouncy

9:08PM - First public entry

Dating Quiz care of Kat Froese care of Matthew Davidson :) As for my results, I guess they seem fairly accurate. I think adventurous should move up a few notches on my match though. I'm a little surprised at how high weathy/ambitious is on my list as i don't feel very wealthy or ambitious. Maybe it's because I bought a new computer :) maybe that's skewing my results. I'm surprised that "outgoing" is on my list rather than "shy" cause i definitely feel more shy than outgoing. haha. Oh well.

Take the quiz everyone, it's fun! :)

Current mood: happy

8:25PM - Dating Profile

Current mood: exhausted