Shit

So, I went to the store. I decide to get cookies. So, I get those chocolate covered ring ones. Thinking they are the crunchy ones that I know and love. NO! They're like soft and mushy. And to top it off, I see some Lipton iced tea and go "oh, I've never tried that kind before" so I buy it. It's american iced tea!! Like, it's just COLD TEA! Fuck! So, I'm sitting here eating mushy cookies and drinking cold tea. Shit.

Hot Sauce!!!

Haha Daniel...how was that sub???

Coming Soon

There's something big coming soon!! Next week if all goes well. I can't tell you what it is, but you'll be excited when it's here!!

Something else big coming soon...my KW:OTT. If you don't know what that is, it's Klay World: Off the Table. It's a movie. There is an online flash artist known as Knox. He makes klaymations. He's the man who made the word claymation into klaymation. The funny thing is, this is only like a 17 year old kid. But he's insanely hilarious. And a hard worker. I mean really, this is 94 minutes of klaymation. 94 MINUTES!!! That's a lot. Done all by knox himself and in less than a year. And I'm sure this kid still goes to school. It's insane. He sold over 200 copies the first day it was out. And I'm proud to say, I was one of them. My first impulse buy with my new credit card. So, it has been shipped and I'm just waiting for it.

If you have never heard of Knox or have never seen one of his movies, I have to recommend these:

Ghost Footage (ok, this isn't a klaymation, but it's his first movie ever and I think it's hilarious)
Glass of Water (his best work ever!)

Posters

Ahhhh, the poster people are here. There's this company called Imaginus who goes from campus to campus across Canada and they set up their display of posters and you can buy posters. Last year I got one of The Muppet Show and one of Fraggle Rock. This year I got a Stewie Griffin one. Last year for Christmas, Andrew got me a poster of Stewie that says "Go to hell!" So this one says "You Suck!" So, I'm slowly getting myself a collection of posters of Stewie Griffin telling it like it is! And I also got another poster, but it's just a Christmas present for someone, so it's not important.

So, I just wrote a brutal midterm today. It could have gone more brutal, but it still wasn't good. Oh well, I'm hoping that I at least pass. I'm just really, really glad that it's over. Big load off my chest. Now to get ready for next week's midterm! Yay!

Anyway, isn't this weather great!? I have to say that I am LOVING the +15 weather right now. But seriously, the other day it was like +14 out and Preeti (she's from Nepal) was wearing a scarf and her winter jacket!!!!! I was like "what are you doing!?" And she's like "it's cold out" And I'm like "there's not even a wind!" and then I was like "you're a wuss" Haha. I think it's incredibly great weather considering it's like, October 26.

Exams

Well, the final exam schedule FINALLY came out. The way our university works is that in the middle of October, they put out a tentative exam schedule. You look at this schedule and if there are any conflicts, then you report them to the exam office and they'll fix them. Conflicts meaning that there is a rule that you can't write 3 exams in 24 hours. So, if you have an exam at 9am, 2pm, and 9am the next morning there is no conflict. But if you have 2pm, 7pm, and 9am the next morning then a conflict exists. So, once all the conflicts have been reported and the schedule adjusted, the finalized final exam schedule comes out at the start of November. This year they've had some trouble, so the tentative one just came out today. The first years are like "whatever" but all us upper years are like "it's about damn time!!" So anyway...

My exam schedule KICKS ASS. I only have 3 finals this semester which is amazing. So, I have one on the 8th, one on the 15th, and one on the 16th. In terms of having 2 in a row, I don't care. The first one is the easiest test to write, so all is well. Basically, if I can finish writing on the 16th, maybe work that weekend, then I could go home on the 19th which would kick ass. Of course, this all really depends on what the situation is at work. But I'm going to cross my fingers. Cause I want some time away from that damn Subway! And let's also cross our fingers that my schedule doesn't change...I've never had a change before between tentative and final, but it can happen. Let's hope if it does change, it changes for the better!!

Connections

Have you ever been told that it's all about what you know?? Well, it's not. It's all about WHO you know. It really is. Life, getting ahead, everything is connected to the people you know.

For example, I'm very interested in politics. I had to write a self-assessment in a class of mine. My prof was able to tell just from reading it that I am very interested in politics. So, she gave me a contact for an MLA here in town. So, I now have a meeting with an MLA to discuss women in politics. I guess she feels there's really a need for young women in politics, so my prof figured she could help me out. So, this is awesome. And it's all about who I know. You make so many connections in school. But don't think that school is the only place it can happen. You make connections at work, at the bar, through friends, everywhere. Use them. Treat people well and you'll be rewarded in the end.

On another note, I went downtown today to talk to another business owner for a class of mine. I didn't get the business owner, but I talked to one of her employee's who was very helpful. Unfortunately, the office was downtown. So while I was downtown I went shopping. I really needed new pants, so I not only got 2 pairs of new pants, but this really kick ass sweater that even Michelle will have to say is a great sweater cause it really is. And of course because I was in the mall, I had to buy a book. God I'm dumb sometimes.

Tai Shan

Well, I planned this blog for Monday, but stuff piled up and it just didn't get done until now.

For those of you who read my old blog, you'll remember a post about a new baby panda. Now, you weren't impressed, but he was pretty tiny and ugly then. He is now big and cute! This panda turned 100 days old on Monday!! Due to Chinese custom, pandas are not named until they reach the age of 100 days. This is due to the fact that so many young pandas die early, so they wait until 100 days because then they are sure that the panda should live. So, on Monday they announced his name...Tai Shan (tie-shon) which means peaceful mountain.




Here he is!!!! Isn't he cute!!!! I'm going to put more pictures further down too so you can see just how cute he is!!









He's now old enough that he's ready to play with his mom!!!















This is when he first opened his eyes!!!







Go check him and his mom out live on the National Zoo's webcam!!! (The National Zoo is in Washington, DC by the way)

National Zoo Webcam

Also, all these pictures are from the National Zoo webpage and are the property of the National Zoo. I'm just borrowing them to convince you all to go to their webpage.

If you want to see more pictures, go check out the Panda Cub gallery.

Panda Cub Gallery

Whiskey Jack's

Well, this weekend was the SADD conference. It ended tonight. I didn't stay for the dance, so I was home by 8:30 or so. So, I did a bunch of homework, which I am very proud of myself for. And then 6 of us met at my place....which meant I did the fastest 5 minute clean-up EVER. But just the living room. And then we all went to Whiskey Jack's to meet a whole bunch of other people. There were about 4 other people there from the SADD Board and then a bunch of other people's friends. So we had a huge group and danced and drank and had fun. I went home a bit early (2:30am) because I have to work at 9am. Plus, Cassandra was about to puke, so we felt we had better leave. So we went outside and sat on a curb until she was steady enough to get into a cab without puking all over the inside. So we got her back into her room and stayed a while and then I finally came home and here I am blogging.

Yup, I'm a bad influence. I'm not even a heavy drinker, but I have really little friends and I keep them out late and get them terribly drunk while I'm still fine. So horrible, but so fun. This was a Karaoke bar, so every 2nd song was Karaoke. Fun.

Anyway, I have to work in, oh, about 6 hours, and still need time to sleep and get up and shower and stuff. Should be interesting. I guess I'll just treat it as a nap, not a sleep.

Enjoy your day and I'll try and post again after work, tomorrow night!!

My Stride

I have hit my stride at the U of S. When I started, I was told by upper years that you really wouldn't make friends in commerce until your 2nd year. Well, that was totally true. I mean, I made friends, but it really expands in 2nd year. You are in so many groups that your network of friends and acquaintances just grows and grows!

And now in my 3rd year, things are great. I remember in 1st year walking down the hallways and thinking about how I just didn't know anyone. Now, I can't walk down a hallway without saying hi to someone! And not just in the commerce building. On any building on Campus I generally see someone I know. I get caught up in conversations so often. It's just great to know that you've made so many friends and contacts. It's a large campus, but it really feels like this big family, especially in Commerce. I have so many classes with the same people that you just have to get to know each other. It's great. I'm loving the social aspect of school right now.

On another note, Pilot posted a link to a blog called The Sneeze. He linked to Steve, Don't Eat That! Well, here's a link to the most recent blog update on The Sneeze. It's a cartoon and I love it.

The Sneeze

Blog

I have to say that I find it hilarious that Blogger doesn't have the word "Blog" in it's spell check. Just seems odd.

In other news, Shanna finally got her credit card. It's a Visa Classic II Student. Which means I don't have to pay a yearly fee! So yeah, it came with loads of "agreements" for me to read. So, right now, as I'm awake at 2:12am, I'm going to read them, in an attempt to fall asleep. I got my Visa so that I could build a credit rating. I've been told that now even SaskTel does a credit check before they will hook you up. So, I figure I don't have anything, not even student loans, so I'd better build a credit rating. And sincer I'm a student, it's the best time to apply as credit card companies are begging me to get their card. But I just went to my bank and said "I need a credit card" and they said "here, fill this out and get a Visa." It was really that simple. It took almost 3 weeks though to get it. But now that it's here I can start using it. For every $1 I spend, I get 1 reward point! Which I can use to get various things. So basically, instead of writing a cheque for tuition, I am going to pay it using my Visa so that I can get the points. That should rack them up fairly quickly. Other than that, I'll use my Visa for online purchases. It will not leave my house though. I will only make calculated puchases so as not to go into credit card debt.

Anyway, that's my rant about my new Visa which I am very proud of!! I know there are other stories about credit cards (many of them horror stories), so feel free to share!!

Wow, and now that I spellcheck this post, the word "Blogger" isn't even in their dictionary!! How crazy!!

A Poor Substitute

Well, it's Thanksgiving. My family is all gathered together probably eating turkey and homemade perogies. I'm home alone eating a cold turkey sub from work. I have to say, it's a poor substitute. And the people upstairs are eating turkey...I can smell it.

This is a good example of what I do to pay tuition. I am currently debt free and that is how I will graduate. This is a rare happening. Most university students graduate with tens of thousands of dollars of debt. I fortunately have escaped that. A few things have happened to make this happen:

• Hard work in high school - for this I received approximately $16,000 in scholarships when I graduated.
• Luck at birth - I was born into a middle class family with parents who are able to support me.
• Hard work now - I go to school 12 months a year and work a minimum of 30 hours a week on top of this.
  

So, in order to pay tuition and remain debt free, I need my job. Which means I can't go home on all the holidays. Pretty much just on Christmas. But it's ok. I get paid time and a half tomorrow, so that cheers me up. It will be all worth it when in 20 years I am in a good financial situation because of my hard work now.

Anyway, enjoy your turkey (bastards!) and have a happy Thanksgiving!!

A BLOGGING SCANDAL!!!!!!

So, it has recently come to my attention that there is a contest happening on Pilot's World. However, this contest is DISCRIMINATORY. The basis of the contest is that you have to blog is different areas. Many of these areas are not possible for a lot of people to get to. Here are examples:

First, this list is of places you can blog from only if you have a cell phone or blackberry, both of which cost money which many people don't have!
- From a cell phone
- From a blackberry
- From the woods
- From a rooftop or exceedingly high place
- From a public bathroom
- at a concert for a major act (like on a major tour, they should have a nationally distributed album, I'll be the final judge of the act's appropriateness)
- From a government proceeding (parliament, legislative assembly, council meeting, court)
- During a historical event (on location) - Large Disaster, Inauguration of a world Leader, Large Protest

Here are some that only people with a lot of money and time can accomplish:
- From another continent
- From a submarine
-From an airplane

And here are some that only computer-geek-smart people can do:
- Using Linux
- Using DOS
- Using any other operating system (a point for each one)

Those are just some of the problems.

Now, I realize that the point is that not everyone is able to blog from all these points. But when I start out with that many that I can't do (and trust me there are more that I can't do) that discourages me right away. And realizing that I can't do some because I don't have the money or I work/go to school 7 days a week, so I can't go on, say a plane trip, makes me realize that this is discriminating me. It's also discriminating to people who haven't had the computer training to know how to use Linux or DOS.

Therefore, I am boycotting this contest. You may all continue to enter, but I refuse.

Packages

So, I got a package from mom today. Gotta love the packages. Packages always mean something good. So, in this package was:

This Christmas card kit from CARE that mom I guess didn't want and thus gave to me. It has some very cute bunnies on the cards.

A whole bunch of coupons for Dove products. And I mean a WHOLE BUNCH. Seriously...they expire on the 31st and I'm going to have trouble using them all up. I haven't even used up the Pantene Pro-V coupons I got last time I was home. But I'm glad for them anyway. I only use Dove products because it is the only soap with a pH of 7. Except for my hair. I just can't quit the Pantene...my hair is just too damn nice and I think it's cause of the Pantene. So anyway, I will eventually use these coupons, even if I have to stock pile the Dove products.

And last of all, I got a letter from Sask Health. This included a new sticker for my card which previously expired at the end of this year, a organ donor sticker, and organ donor card, and some stickers with the Health Line on them. Now, I was all like "Awesome, I've never had an organ donor sticker before!!" Until I take my card out and actually look at it and go, "Oh, I guess I have" There it was, my organ donor sticker. Well, I replaced it with the new one. And I know for sure that I have never had a card to keep in my wallet saying I was an organ donor and which organs I wanted to donate. So that is cool. As for the Health Line number...let me tell you. It sucks. I phoned it once, they like have to get all this information from you which takes like 20 minutes. And when you finally get around to the advice, you KNOW they are just reading from a computer screen. So my advice, go look it up online. I'm sure you'll find whatever ails you. If you can't, then I doubt they would have helped you anyway, so just go see your doctor.

Oh, wait, that wasn't last of all. I just remembered. It also came with this very cool "Card Holder" Basically it's a little plastic thing where I can either keep my credit/bank cards or maybe people's business cards. Seems like a good place for me to keep ID and money when I go to the bar. So that thing is very cool.

Here's a question: What should I put in my card case?

My Arms Hurt

So, today I went to work at 8am to help my manager with a big order. Then at noon I helped my boss deliver it on campus. I have to say...my arms are sore. Carrying all those sandwiches and drinks. I can barely type. At least we got a parking place close by...trust me, the way campus parking is, we are very lucky we weren't like 4 blocks away.

Anyway, work is crazy this week. We have yet another new girl whom I have to train. And I'm working overtime. Oh, plus going to my regular 5 classes. Isn't this fun!!??

So, today is a long day. I was at work at 8am and I have class until 10pm tonight. I'm probably just going to basically pass out once I get home.

Anyway, I really don't have much to talk about today. I just felt like I owed everyone an update. So, maybe later I'll update again with something more interesting.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!l

So, today is my little brother's birthday!! He's a big boy now and can vote in elections!!!!! So, to commemorate this event, I'm going to post a couple pics of him from the past!!










OK, I went a bit overboard. But he's so damn cute, I just couldn't help it!!! Sorry to those of you with shitty computers.

Links

Well, the blog links are up. In an effort to be fair, I just ordered them in alphabetical order. So if you don't like your position, well that's your own fault for naming your blog whatever you named it.