Looking Back

Weeks like this one where I have a radio package to produce and an article to write, I wonder why Journalism? And truthfully, I am not so sure.

I guess it started back in my final year of high school when I was asked with a good friend of mine to be the high school newspaper editor. Without hesitation we said yes. What we published that year was less than successful. The editions were short and far apart and lacked any sort of substance. Also I was one of those kids who took double art... not physics and chemistry. So when it came time to apply to Cegep science was out of the picture and my lack of mathematical capabilities made commerce less than desirable. Therefore, I went into Cinema and Communications and found myself in a program I hated. I thought about switching but I was too much of a chicken to let myself fall behind a semester. There were some perks to such a program. I never had more than four days or school or more that two classes a day. The best part though, was becoming friends with everyone else who hated it. As you can imagine, we developped quite a large clique. When University applications came around many of us lacked any creativity or ambition to apply to anything besides communications. That of course was my second choice, Journalism being the first. Getting accepted felt like such an accomplishment and spent the summer excitingly awaiting the fall. Now I find myself already in semester two and totally unsure if I want to pursue Journalism at all....

There was really no point to this story but I was hoping conjuring up some nostalgic memories would help inspired me to get my homework done...

High Expectations

So in an attempt to make the most of my time at University, I decided that I would minor in Political Science because I thought it was a good blend with journalism. This semester I am in Western Philosophy... we are reading Machiavelli the Prince. Not the easiest book to understand but our teacher does a fair job of explaining it. Last night this teacher sent us an email entitled "Midterm Exam." Well really what it was was a two page warning on the exam's difficulty.
This was what was written under the heading Expectations:

- As noted at the beginning of the semester, the mid-term will be detail oriented. The questions are very specific, and to do well you must have a firm grasp of the details of the arguments in The Prince. - Having only a superficial understanding of the material will be of no use and will only lead to a very poor, or, as is more likely, a failing grade. To get a good grade, you must have a detailed grasp of the material. - It is impossible to “improvise” (otherwise known as B.S.) your way through my exams. The questions test your knowledge of specific aspects of the material and only a firm grasp of this material will earn you a good grade. Attempts to improvise are completely obvious and will earn you an F, so don’t make the mistake of thinking you can get by without studying hard.

It doesn't end there but I didn't find the need to share his study/test writing suggestions. I just want to add though that our class is an hour and a half...not very much time to answer 2+ essay questions in prefect essay format. The exam is two weeks away but it looks like studying should start...now?

Snow-bored.

I am a pretty big fan of winter....Which is pretty depressing to admit especially in this -20 weather Montreal is calling a 'cold spell'. The truth is I associate winter with all things fun like wearing layers, wearing scarves, going tobogganing, lactose-free hot chocolate, Nuit Blanche, skating, fireplaces and especially snowboarding.

Three weeks ago I bought brand new snowboard boots trading my old ones in for a mere $10.... however,the new ones are still in the box. This is pretty depressing since Montreal has had snow since like November. The only wintery thing I have done so far was sugaring off/Tire d'érable which barely counts because it was done indoors at school... I didn't even need a jacket.

Therefore, I am planning to escape this cold during spring break and head out to Florida...something I unstereotypically haven't done since I was maybe 5. I figure that I no longer owe my loyalty to winter and instead I will shed the layers, whip out the summer scarves, drink iced tea and go boogey boarding but come back just in time for Nuit Blanche! (aka Montreal's all nighter).

UPDATE

Supervisor bonding weekend has been changed! YAY!

Friday the 13th

I wasn't the superstitious about the horror of Friday the 13th until...

So for my summer job as a camp supervisor I am required to attend a weekend up north with the other supervisors. We play games, eat, and mainly bond with each other in preparation for the summer. Attendance at this weekend is MANDATORY.

Anyways my friend Lisa's program is offering a ski weekend the weekend of her birthday February 13th- 15th and I decided to go on this trip with her. Seeing that the date was mid February I was hesitant because I had a feeling the supervisor weekend would be planned around then like it was last year. So I emailed the camp director asking for dates before I signed up and paid for the ski trip. He insisted that the dates would arrive shortly. They didn't so I decided to risk it and sign up for the ski weekend giving McGill an $100 dollar deposit.

I figure like last year I will have several dates to choose from or worse comes to worse I am out a hundred dollars. Months go by and still camp has yet to send out the dates. I am beginning to get annoyed as the rest of the money for the ski trip is due very soon. I email the director again and was told that we will get the dates ASAP. Once again no email was sent out and the payment deadline for ski trip was the next day. I pay for the ski trip and hope that it won't be an issue and that there will be other suitable dates. Obviously I am not so lucky.

So on Friday January 9th, Lisa gives in my second $109 dollars to the ski trip committee at around 9:30 am. On this same Friday at 11:30am, I get an email from camp saying that there is only one weekend that works for everyone and it is Friday 13th-14th. OBVIOSULY this is the same weekend as the skip trip I JUST hours earlier paid for - no money back.
So it seems that Friday the 13th seems to be a very unlucky date for me. Either I lose out on my $200 or I am fired from camp neither of which I would like happening. So now I am stuck with both a frustrating situation and a frustrating new superstition surrounding Friday the 13ths.

Actually? or not...

So as per usual my father went to Florida for winter break and left me frost bitten in Montreal. This of course left me very bitter especially since he was staying inches away from some of my friends. Pre-Florida departure, my father explained he didn't get me a chanukah present because he was hoping to find one while he was a way. Legit explanation.
Anyways, half-way through his sun filled vacation he texted me that I am the hardest person to shop for and that he can't find anything he thinks I would like. So he asks me if there is anything I NEED. Well being the sarcastic person I am, I replied to his text message with a simple "I need gloves and a hat." This reply was SARCASTIC and an attempt to guilt trip him for leaving me behind. Well my father called me back questioning my sanity: "Who asks for a hat and gloves from Florida?!" Seeing this as another great opportunity, I explain that the Abercrombie, Delias, Hollister, etc websites all advertised winter gear. So he is now completely convinced that I am serious in my request.
Note: I am not expecting winter gear from this 'tropical' location'.
Clearly my father misread my sarcasm for truth and told all my friends who he was evidently seeing on a regular basis that their friend/his daughter is nuts. On my facebook wall Alissa goes "and I see joy and your dad every day on the beach and today we discussed how you wanted gloves hahah" and Lauren goes "Hahhaha lol I hear u wanted gloves and a hat for chanukah lol". Oh gee thanks.

Well, currently my father is on the plane ride home and I am anxiously waiting to find out if my request for winter gear was fulfilled. Only time will tell.....

After all the anticipation I received a tshirt, socks and bracelet... no winter accessories! tsk tsk. Also I mentioned to my father that I was into peace signs. AKA each gift received was a peace sign. But overall the gifts were good, no complaints.

2009 is Divine

I feel that a new years post is almost mandatory for bloggers considering all 3 people I follow posted one. This new years post should also probably include some major epiphanies and resolutions I have for the coming year...

Pretty much as I mentioned earlier I realized that I am too negative of a person so my first attempt at a resolution was being more optimistic aka being excited for this party I was planning on attending. And guess what? I had a great new year's eve and hope that is a sign of good things to come (this thought too is an attempt at more optimism). Keeping with this theme of happy thinking, I also want to be less nervous about life. For anyone who knows me, they know EVERYTHING makes me nervous, even breathing.
So as to not disappoint myself I will refrain from any more resolutions like working out and eating healthy because I know it is only a matter of seconds before I break those.

Thought it might be fun to share how I spent the first day of 2009:
Well for starters, I didn't leave my house. I woke up earlier than I wanted in a desperate thirst. Probably the result of one too many drinks last night. Barely had an appetite but was made waffles and ate one anyways. Watched the Rose Bowl Parade - super exciting. Watched a bunch of TV I taped all semester. The next part of my day had to be the most exciting... I painted. See for chanukah my mother bought me a scarf. As you already know from my previous blog, I wasn't exactly thrilled. So I explained to her I wanted something more creative. And what does she do? Buys me a paint-by-numbers sort of activity. So here on new years day I began my acrylic painting of a fence and flowers. Monet better watch out. Then I had family dinner where we played scattergories and whoonu. Then I watched more TV and finally ended the night with this post. Not the most exciting day, but not so bad either.

The one thing I just cannot muster up the happiness for is school.... 4 ish days. left of vacation But then it will be study break soon enough and will hopefully get to travel out to visit a friend in Santa Barbara though she isn't aware of this plan yet (another optimisitc thought generated by my new years resolution for more positive thinking)!

Happy New Year's Day
I greatly enjoyed Google's very artistic festivity