Random Nice Lady

So today I was waiting for the bus just outside of school and given that we're nearing the end of a chinook according to what I've heard it was rather windy and blustery. This van pulls up and a lady gets out and starts talking to me. She's the petit Asian lady and makes some comment on how windy it was outside. I kinda mumbled an agreement and then she asked if my bus was coming soon. And given that the bus schedule is not always the most reliable I kinda jokingly said "I hope so." (It was supposed to get there in about 5 minutes after talking to this lady) And then the lady basically suggested/offered to open her house up to me so I wouldn't have to wait outside for the bus but could wait inside. I didn't actually take her up on the offer as the bus showed up on time which was almost exactly 5 minutes after having this conversation. But it was nice of her all the same.

A Day of Random Adventures

So today held a few random adventures. Adventure number one was History this morning. Well ok, not really an adventure there but nonetheless. We had been discussing the Reformation and the aftermath (really interesting actually, too bad we're only given what I think is a brief overview, and yes I do know there's another class for that that the school offers...) so it led right into the Witch Hunts and coincidentally right into the first set of presentations. The one group failed to show up to class at all...not sure what all happened there...the next group had put a video on youtube except that while the video could be found and loaded, it didn't have sound...and there was no time to fix it as we were at the end of the class period. Yup.

Adventure number 2 today was trying to find people to go and rent skis to go cross country skiing this weekend. A friend and I wandered around the school for about half an hour trying to text or find people we knew who needed to go and rent skis. We ended up not finding either friends who we knew still needed to go somewhere. And so determined we weren't gonna go at all since we both needed to be back in time for a class. After said class I ended up going downtown with 2 other people who needed to rent skis. (This is getting a little confusing) And so we attempted to find MEC and were successful. However, upon arriving we learned that there was a possibility that the one guy would probably be the only one who could rent the full package of skis, poles, and boots. So me and my other friend (who still don't have gear) had to find another way to get equipment. We knew another girl was going out to U of C to rent her equipment and so we arranged that I could go with her after I ran another errand. So ya that was a good time. So we made it to U of C after taking what seemed to me to be a bit of a round about way of going there...though I loved the look of the houses in the neighborhood; they seemed to have more character than the ones by our school...anywho. So we finally got our skis and then I had to make it home somehow so I got to take the C train back into down town. Since I hadn't actually been that far out via C train so I was a little confused as to the different stops even though I was pretty sure I was headed back downtown. I like to be able to see where I'm going so I know when and where to get off. Ya fail there. With the chinook that's happening it melts the snow and makes things really dirty and so you can't really see out of the windows of bus or C train. I finally made it back into downtown and then got my bearings again to find the bus which I found ok. So I got on the bus and it starts heading out of downtown. Except traffic was moving sooooo slowly. I had to keep double checking where the heck we were since it moved at a snail's pace and couldn't really tell where we were since the bus windows were pretty much completely covered in dirt. It was a good time...It only took about an hour and a half to get across the city. Ugh. I am glad I don't have to do that everyday. And now I am home. There's something nice about saying that...

And yes in the end everybody got skis that needed them.

(And no this is not quite the full story but I thought I would spare the details of conversations with various people about information needed...)

alissa

24 Hours

I'm gonna live my life each day

Not let one moment slip away

I've just got 24 hours

24 Hours-Jill Hagan

Let the Studying Begin!

So it is the start of a new semester. And it looks like I get to have a lot of reading. Oh boy. Though the classes themselves seem like they're going to be fairly interesting. I'm just not thrilled with my Stats course...ugh. Math...Ah well, I will get through it. Kinda have to if I want my degree...Other than that, I'm actually looking forward to what this semester will bring. New classes generally mean different people that I would not normally notice or give a second thought about. Different people give more color to life. For now, I get to have an evening with a little (or a lot) of reading. You're jealous I know...

Free

So I went grocery shopping at Safeway the other day and they usually give you those Scratch n' Win ticket things. Usually I disregard them because it is so rare that you win anything anyways. So the other day at Safeway the cashier gives me one and I open it up and lo and behold I'm a winner! H'ray! I get one FREE Safeway Apple Juice the next time I'm in there between January 2 and February 10. How exciting is that? On a downer, too bad I don't really like/drink juice...

The Kindness of Strangers

Being stuck in miserable or desperate conditions seems to bring out the good in people. This afternoon or morning, I can't remember which, my mom and I were stuck on the highway with the intent to take me back to school, but because of an accident about an hour and a half outside the city were unable to really move anywhere for 24 hours. To conserve gas (we didn't know how long we would be stuck there) we turned our van off and would periodically turn it back on just to try and make sure we didn't freeze and the van didn't freeze, and thereby not start. This pattern continued throughout the night as well. We survived the night by bundling up in full winter clothing and an extra blanket and by turning the van off and on to generate some heat.

Things looked a bit better in the morning (maybe because of the light?). Late in the morning a guy on the emergency crew came around and was checking to see if we had enough fuel, etc. At that point we did for a while longer, and through more of the turning on and off of the van, could have lasted for maybe half the day. Then shortly after that, our neighbors, who had 4 by 4 trucks or suburbans decided to try their luck on the other side of the highway by going through the ditch. (The other side of the highway had been cleared). They successfully made it through, a little while later one of the guys comes back across the highway with a jerry can full of gas and asks us if we had enough fuel. We still did, but he offered it to us anyway which we gratefully accepted. These guys had periodically checked up on us the day before and had given us some information regarding the accident and what was going on in general. It was just really cool to see someone do that and for that and continued safety while travelling we thanked God. There were also some other guys who were driving a car and had gotten snow underneath and couldn't move really well. It didn't seem like they were incredibly prepared to be out driving in that kind of weather but whatever. So there were a few people who took some time to help dig them out or who offered a shovel so they could dig themselves out. So ya. It's just cool and interesting to see how different people respond to the forces of nature.

alissa

Revival of the Blog

So as the title suggests I have made an unofficial New Year's resolution to try and revive this blog since well I have it...I might as well write in it...And it has been about 2 years since my last blog post (yikes that is a long time) I've made an unofficial New Year's resolution to update this blog every so often...so it basically contains the happenings of my day amongst other thoughts.
Today...
Mostly spent in relaxation. I had the day off from work and things have finally calmed down from the holidays and being on the go pretty much since I came home. It's been good though. I've really enjoyed the time spent with the family I'm just happy it's finally quieted down for a week before school starts up again.
Then made brownies for quiz practice. They looked like they turned out pretty good though it was the first time I used that particular recipe. Eh the frosting tasted good. Not spectacular by any means, but good and will serve its purpose...I can only hope for leftovers...
Also went to the dentist. Gotta love that fresh from the dentist feel on your teeth when you know they've had a good cleaning. And no cavities for me. H'ray. Though they suggested I get a crown put on one of my teeth due to a stain that was on it presumably from drinking too much tea...
Oh ya. I played piano for a while today. I'm slowly trying to work my finger strength up to be able to do my grade 10. I can play for an hour without my fingers killing me by the end...kind of pathetic I know but it's a start right.....? and school has a tendency to get in the way of doing any serious practicing...ok I'll stop making excuses now...so ya. That was pretty much my day.

Have a good one!