Reading List
Ok so I guess it's about time I've started reading again. I decided to take a leave of absence from the whole reading thing when I finished school. Don't get me wrong, I love reading, but after having to read ~5 novels a week/2 weeks for 3 years I got a LITTLE tired and worn out. So for the past few months I've been easing my way back into it, but I still find myself speed reading through the pages with the constant notion that "I have to finish, I have to finish!!! 1 minute/page is too long!" haha. I think I can safely say that I'm starting to realize that I have NO DEADLINE! I can take a MONTH if I wanted, wow I've never had this luxury of time, it's like a whole new concept! Ok, so maybe I'm being a tad dramatic! But it will definitely be nice to read books again at my own leisure; I'm hoping to eventually re-read all the books I read over my university career...ok maybe not Fairie Queen!=) For now I'm reading some books that were put on hold while I was in school. So here's the list of books I'm reading and books I've finished just recently:
Completed:
Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss
-pretty good for the first 100pgs or so, then it starts to get a little redundant, but I still recommend it
Night by Elie Wiesel
-an excellent read! He's one of my favourite writers
On-going:
A Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
-I'm on day 31/40, but so far its been pretty insightful
-it has definitely helped me answer some questions during some difficult times during the course of reading it
Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell pg 52/172
-I can't seem to get through this book, I keep picking it up and putting it down again
-it's like a bad version of a stream of consciousness style, and I already found it hard to get through Virginia Woolf, imagine a bad version?!
-maybe I've been reading too many scholarly novels?
All Rivers Run to the Sea, Elie Wiesel's Memoirs pg 42/418
-This is my most recent book and so far I'm loving it, but then again I might be biased =)
Happy Birthday
Jan 3 @ 10:51 am
Ok so it was my birthday on Monday, yes New Year's Day, yes I was the new year's baby (stroke of midnight baby!), and yes I was on the front page of the Toronto Star. That's usually how the conversation goes=). So another year has gone by; I don't feel different though, but I am a year older. I think my mom was a little shocked at how old I'm getting just because I'm the baby of the family, but I don't feel old and I don't think I'm old. 23 is still young, although I'm not getting any younger, but I'm ok with that because I'm happy with the position that I'm in in my life. I'm right on track:
1) My spiritual walk and relationship is stronger than ever and getting stronger.
2) I graduated and started working at the job that I wanted within a couple of months, well technically 2 days after my official convocation.
3) I'm in love with someone whom I plan on marrying (and who plans on marrying me=) )
4) I'm happy and I'm satisfied
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!
When I came back to work on Tuesday my co-worker played a slightly different version of a Happy Birthday song for me....I know they love me lol. =S
Here it is:
Once a year we celebrate with stupid hats and plastic plates
The fact that you were able to make another trip around the sun
And the whole clan gathers round and gifts and laughter do abound
And we let out a joyful sound and sing that stupid song
Happy Birthday
Now you're one year older
Happy Birthday
Your life still isn't over
Happy Birthday
You did not accomplish much
But you didn't die this year
I guess that's good enough
So let's drink to your fading health and hope you don't remind yourself
Your chances of finding fame and wealth decrease with every year
Does it feel like you're doing laps and eating food and taking naps
And hoping that some day perhaps your life will hold some cheer
Happy Birthday
What have you done that matters?
Happy Birthday
You're starting to get fatter
Happy Birthday
It's downhill from now on
Try not to remind yourself
Your best years are all gone
If cryogenics were all free then you could live like Walt Disney
And live for all eternity inside a block of ice
But instead your time is set this is the only life you get
And though it hasn't ended yet sometimes you wish it might
Happy Birthday
You wish you had more money
Happy Birthday
Your life's so sad it's funny
Happy Birthday
How much more can you take
But your friends are hungry
So just cut the stupid cake
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday
Dear (continuous names)
oops
ok so it's been a while lol. But I've been writing regularly on my facebook account instead of here for some reason. So here are some of the "notes" I've written there.
Wannabes
Dec 22 @ 5:17pm
So I understand that everyone goes through this period of 'finding themselves', but what I don't understand is why at the end of it they find 'someone else'? I don't mean a literal someone else, I mean they end up finding someone who is the complete opposite of themselves. Sure we all wish we could be a certain way: more outgoing, smarter, prettier, cooler, skinnier, bigger (muscular-wise), more articulate/eloquent, taller/shorter etc etc! The list goes on and on; as human beings we have insatiable appetites for 'improvement'. What we really need to come to terms with is the fact that we can't change who we are on the inside; we can try to change how we appear and how we act to those around us, but usually the truth of who we really are comes trickling through the gaps. I'm not saying that quiet people should stick to the shadows, because sometimes the quietest of people can be the most effective leaders. But what I am saying is that if you are quiet/loud then don't pretend not to be. Being either introverted/extraverted isn't a bad thing. I know I know, the grass is always greener on the other side, trust me, I KNOW, but the best thing you can do for yourself is ACCEPT who you are. Nothing is more attractive then someone who is confident about who they TRULY are. By pretending your someone you're not you're simply making a fool of yourself. You might get new friends, or a new boyfriend/girlfriend, but it's not real, because the friendship/relationship is based on something fake. Personally, the temporary high isn't worth it; why settle for temporary when I can have a lifetime. If you're looking for "True Love" "True friendships" try being true to yourself first. Sure you might stumble along the way; some people might hurt you, but changing who you are isn't the solution. The solution is waiting for the right relationships to come along, the one that accepts you for who you are, idiosyncrasies and all.
I know I'm not really saying anything that hasn't already been said, but it just bugs me. I've come to terms with the fact that I'm loud, sometimes obnoxious, and snobby (some ppl out there will get it haha). I may not be the same person I was back in high school, but at the centre of it all I'm still me, just less self-conscious about it; I broke out of my shell, I didn't jump into an entirely different one. I'm not going to change who I am because you might not like it, just as I wouldn't expect you to change who you are if I don't like it.
If you got through this entire rant, or whatever it is, then congratulations that's quite a feat and thanks for taking the time.
My Opinion
If you don't like computers, don't become a Computer Engineer or IT person
If you don't like science, don't become a doctor
If you don't like math, stay away from engineering and accounting
If you don't like dealing with people, don't become a CSR
If you don't like helping others, don't become a pastor.
It you don't like doing a lot of work, don't become a leader.
Seems like a pretty simple concept to me. Yeah? Apparently not! If you've chosen a certain path for yourself, then stick to it; give it your 100%. No one forced you into the position that you're in (if indeed you chose it), if you don't like it, then quit! Everything in this world requires team effort, excuse the cliche, but "no man is an island". You have a certain task to perform, but if you don't like it then let someone else take your place, because you're pulling down the rest of the team. The worst is when the leaders of a team are the lazy ones, the ones sitting back expecting everyone to come to them; thinking that they've done enough; it's not their responsiblity to recruit people. That's just plain selfish.
I think politicians and pastors have a lot in common: Public Image
If you can't handle it, and if you're not willing to step up, then step-down because you're making the rest of us look bad.
Politicians represent certain parties
Pastors represent certain religious denominations
Politicians are expected to act a certain way to represent their party favourably
Pastors are also expected to act a certain way to represent their congregation favourably
What happens when a politician fails to pay attention to the citizen's needs?
They lose votes
What happens when a pastor fails to pay attention to the church members' needs?
They lose followers
What do we do with a politician we are unhappy with?
Vote them out of office
that's what i'm talking about!
I'm a Dodge Viper!
You're all about raw power. You're tough, you're loud, and you don't take crap from anyone. Leave finesse to the other cars, the ones eating your dust.
Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.
yeah baby! haha
where should YOU be?
YAY i'm right where i belong...well except the psychology part.
| You scored as English. You should be an English major! Your passion lies in writing and expressing yourself creatively, and you hate it when you are inhibited from doing so. Pursue that interest of yours!
English | | 92% | Journalism | | 92% | Linguistics | | 83% | Philosophy | | 75% | Theater | | 75% | Dance | | 58% | Sociology | | 58% | Mathematics | | 42% | Psychology | | 42% | Engineering | | 42% | Anthropology | | 42% | Art | | 33% | Chemistry | | 17% | Biology | | 8% |
What is your Perfect Major? (PLEASE RATE ME!!<3)
created with QuizFarm.com |
a thot...
we all travel on this road called Life and at more than one point in our travels we've come across a fork in the road. I know this is so cliche, and i'm not one for cliche's but it's the easiest way to put this. I'm sure most of us have heard the poem by Robert Frost, The Road Less Travelled, but can you actually say that you took the road less travelled? the road that you weren't sure where it would lead you, u weren't sure if there would be other forks, potholes you could fall into, traps along the way that could hurt you. Would you still want to take that road? What if i said that in taking this road there is a GUARANTEE that everything will work out, maybe not the way you want it, but still work out.
But then there's the other option, option B, the road more travelled. The road which every sign points towards, the road that most of your friends have told you to take. you basically know where it will take you, you know the generally route; potholes, traps, hidden intersections because you've been told. Now which road will you take?
But what if you knew that option B could end up being a dead end, will this affect your decision?
Let's review: we've got 2 choices
Option A: The road Less Travelled. The road where you have less control over what happens, but that comes with a guarantee that things will work out in the end.
Option B: The Road More Travelled. The road which most ppl have told you about, so you know most of the route, you know what could happen, you know that it could lead to a dead end. This road comes with no guarantee.
Why is it that most of us still choose Option B? Why not go with the option that comes with a guarantee? Why are we willing to take the risk of coming to a dead end?
Which road have you chosen?
are you willing to live with the consequences of your actions knowing that there was another road, another option that came with a lifetime Guarantee?
Don't get caught standing over a hospitable bed, sitting through a funeral service, sitting in a courtroom being charged for manslaughter, or even listening to your parents yell at you for breaking the rules wishing you had taken the LIFETIME GUARANTEE. the guarantee that says things will work out in the end; terrible things still might happen, but eventually you'd be able to accept them. Time can heal the wounds of sadness and pain, but no amount of time can wash away the GUILT, that can last a lifetime.
i've painted a pretty gruesome picture, are you still ready to live with the consequences?
R u a loser...
Do the test and let me know. Leave a comment!
stoopid snow!
grrr there's snow in my apartment AGAIN! but i'm not inviting anyone over to go tobbogganing! i've now resorted to putting packing tape all along my windows to keep out the cold winds from outside! my windows are closed for the season, literally.
i'm procrastinating as usual. i've got my last TWO exams on monday, so i'll be writing exams from 9am-4pm OH GOODY! after that i've got some CRAZY packing to do since my flight is at 9am the next morning! gotta pack for 2 different seasons: Vancouver and Mexico! i can't wait to see my adorable niece!
so i fly out to Van on the 20th,
then fly out of Van on the 24th to Mexico,
fly out of Mexico on the 31st back to Van,
then finally fly out of Van back here to Ottawa on the 6th.
WOW that's A LOT of flying!
Christmas in Mexico, definetly something different, but i can't wait. i LOVE family vacations!
oh yes and i'm on my way to becoming a rock star! My baby bought me my own beginner's drum package! although i haven't had anytime to really play with it=( but i can't wait to start BANGING away hehehe.
ok back to studying!
