Addendum to "...deader..."

No condolances necessary. We weren't exactly good friends, Shamgar and I; he was more like a live toy for Emma (and NO, that is NOT how he died --- she was always very gentle). The fact that he was noisy and messy need not be mentioned... but now I have mentioned it.

But he made cute babies - I'll say that for him.

A list of animals who are quite a bit deader than they were yesterday

1. Our dear hamster Shamgar. Rest in pieces, little buddy.

My roommate is home!

This is good news. My roommate Lynnette has been gone for a whole week in NFLD. I think this was a stupid idea, because I'm not going to be living in Saint John for much longer; she should have waited until AFTER I moved, so we wouldn't have wasted any of the time we could have spent hanging out with each other. She is selfish that way. But I love her :)

As expected, my GSR-ship has settled down; I'm right on schedule.

I broke down today and called to order the VIP package on Rogers Digital for the final month that we're here. I don't watch a TON of TV, but it seems like every time I'm ready to veg I flip through the channels and find something I'd like to see. Then I hit "OK", only to be told that I don't get that channel. No more Rogers for me once we move - ExpressVu was way cheaper for more channels, and the system was less user-surly.

I had lunch with Megan Stephens today --- we go to a place in Quispam called "Angelo's" (well, we've gone three times now in as many weeks). Meg and I have been "peer mentors" of sorts since our first year of college. She was there the night I got saved (she is so special to me because she shared that experience) and has been there ever since. We often joke that we suck as friends, because even though we live really close to each other, we don't see each other enough. But Megan is the kind of friend that even if you haven't seen her in a year, you pick up right where you left off. I value her more than I could ever express.

Speaking of not seeing friends for a year: I need Selinda to come home right now. I'm not one to ever be homesick for HOME, but I am certainly homesick for SELINDA. Which I guess makes me Selinda-sick. But that doesn't sound very nice.

When Sel and I were in college, in our fourth year, we began a toothbrushing tradition (Selinda may have to correct me on this, but I'm pretty sure it didn't start until then). In the evenings, we would go into the bathroom and sit on the little chairs in front of the double sinks and big mirror (this was in TP, obviously) and turn off the light. Then, while brushing our teeth in the light of the glow in the dark stuff hung all over the walls, we would catch up on our day, or share about other random things. We became very good at understanding one another, causing me think I might make a good dentist.

This was a very special time for me. I was dating Paul during most of this semester, but I would leave him out in the lobby often to come and in brush my teeth with my roommate. This of course left my breath kissably-fresh when I rejoined him, but that's beside the point.

Later that semester we began to invite "special speakers" to our toothbrushing times. We would brush, they would talk. We would sometimes ask questions. These speakers were often humourous or enlighting. For example, from Andy Walker we learned of the life of the RA (he was our special speaker during an open dorm). And from Patricia Korves we learned about apple bongs. Suffice it to say these times were enriching.

Since college, Selinda and I have continued this tradition whenever we could. I miss her. Brushing my teeth can feel awfully lonely some nights.

My right foot hurts like nobody's business. On Saturday I bought flip flops for the first time in... well, a very long time. And I wore them for two days straight. Perhaps this was not the best idea. However, I'm happy to report that I have no blisters at all --- I stopped wearing flip flops because I could never find a pair that didn't cause much blistering and bleeding between my toes. These have caused no such problem; my foot actually seems to be bruised on TOP. This may not even be related to the sandals, because my other foot is fine. But I'm going to give them a rest for a few days, until the pains stops.

We're starting to look for houses to rent in Woods Harbour. We might eventually want to buy, but resale sucks there, so I want to take it slow. I'm hoping we can find a nice rental place to settle down in for at least a few good months. I'm too young for a mortgage... at least on the inside.

Roommates not mentioned above that are also missed and loved: Tina, Sanda, Alison, Jen. Roommates' roommates: Sarah, Missy, Courtney.

I've been getting headaches, which I never get, except for when I have a sinus infection. Today I had a headache nearly all day long. Don't like it - not one bit.

Sometimes I read Tolstoy

Not the one people brag about, though. In high school I read Anna Karenina in one day for an ISP. It is a large book, not meant to be read in one day. I'll admit it was more of an indepth skimming than a reading, because I had a million other assignments and readings to do, and just needed to get it done.

I've read it many times since. And today I was looking through some of my old files and found a QUOTES page. (Which is strange, because at the time it was created I should have already have been told that it's QUOTATIONS, not QUOTES.) I used many of these quotations as headers for creative writing back in the day.

One quotation was from the above mentioned book, though I don't remember it from the book: "Hypocrisy in anything whatever may deceive the cleverest and most penetrating man, but the least wide-awake of children recognizes it, and is revolted by it, however ingeniously it may be disguised."

Good word, Leo. Good word.

Another equally good word recorded in the file was from Brooke Shields: "Smoking kills, and if you're killed, you've lost a very important part of your life."

A smattering of reflections

I started walking again. The weather is good, so I walk to work. We recently purchased an mp3 player (2 Gig RCA Lyra), and I've been putting my Napster-to-Go subscription to good use by listening to two songs over and over again during said walks: So Unsexy and Simple Together, by Alanis Morissette.

My tastes have changed a lot over the years, but I think that my appreciation for Alanis has lasted the longest of anything.

Heroes is over. I liked the idea, but the execution blew. Some swears.

I ship GSR again, and it's getting embarrassing, even though until I said it here, I think only Lynnette knew. And my husband, but he doesn't count -- he's seen me ship all sorts of pairings over the 3 years we've known each other. Anyway, I'm embarrassed of myself, I guess.

Today I had a worship team practice with just Paul and Gayle. For as much as I will be glad to be done, I can see more clearly than ever now how cool it is to have people I've worked with musically for so many years now that we just KNOW. Gayle is super talented, and I will miss her very much.

Paul is also super talented, but he will be coming with me.

Did I mention that I ship GSR? There's a website that has all just GSR clips, so I've been catching up on CSI just from the vantage of their relationship. Embarrassing. At least I've started obsessing now that the season is over, and there'll be nothing new to fuel the fire until October. In other words, I give this a week before I stop caring.

I enjoyed a meeting of the BBC 2004 senior class executive on MSN the other day. I can't believe it's been so long since we graduated. Our class advisor was Dave Klob, and he and his wife have popped out two kids since then. Time is passing so quickly.

Lately I have enjoyed excellent customer service experiences in many places. Today, at the dentist. Millidge Place Dental Offices - props to you. My mouth hurts like nobodies business, and I have 2 fillings to look forward to (ugh), but the service was great, and my teeth are feeling quite clean.

The Facebook Song (thanks, Jess)

I Recommend

Demetri Martin finds Clearification, all 6 episodes, on YouTube.com or at www.clearification.com

I especially enjoyed episode 4. I related to how he failed in "Hole Avoidance" and "Pinata Diplomacy".

Good clean fun.

P.S.

Paul accepted the job in Woods Harbour.

Thursday Season Finales

Grey's - Wish I had watched it last, because it was awesome. I'm glad Addison gets her own show. The Burke thing I didn't see coming. I'm starting to think that Meredith doesn't deserve McDreamy. Don't care for McDreamly flirting in bars with Meredith's half-sister, nor the prospect of her being the NEW Grey on the scene. Poor Cristina. Poor George. Poor Miranda. Poor everyone. Great show.

ER - Watched it because it was between Grey's and CSI (don't watch it every week - only if Lynnette wants to watch it at my house). Don't really care much about these characters any more (I used to watch it back when Anthony Edwards, George Clooney, Sherry Stringfield etc. were on - I kinda cared back then), but it was interesting. Considering how many seasons they've run, they're not doing that bad.

CSI - I don't know why I still watch this show - I mean, TPTB are kind enough to throw me a bone every episode of late, but must I REALLY endure the 40 minutes of NON-Grissom/Sara related stuff just for the 2 or 3 minutes of GSR they DO throw in? *sigh* And now the big kerfluffle re: whether or not Jorja Fox is coming back. If she doesn't, I'm going to be mad. I DO like the show for the other parts --- I think I should just not watch it until I know what GSR is coming first. Then I won't be let down.

I don't really care. It's just TV. But it's good entertainment. I'm amazed by how deeply you can be made to feel by these fictional situations. I admit that I miss feeling that way in REAL life; it feels like it's been awhile. Of course, the "deep" feelings produced by television are usually related to characters experiencing incredible pain and emotional hardship. If that's what it takes in real life, perhaps I'll pass.

Paul is looking forward to the Heroes finale. I'm kind of indifferent, but I will enjoy it with him. Liz - you are not alone :)

A list of people who rode horses this weekend

1. ME.
2. Other people.

I wasn't expecting it, but boy, what a blessing! I was in Woods Harbour (Paul was doing the candidating thing), and I told Jill, a gal about my age that I met at the potluck they held on Friday night, that if we were to come to Woods Harbour one of my goals was to take horseback riding lessons. Well, she says something to the effect of "Why don't we go to George's tomorrow and go riding?" (George is the vice-chair of the LBA). Well, if I didn't perk right up. Jill talked to George, who said, "It's not going to be a nice day".

Well, it WAS a nice day! A perfect, beautiful day for horseback riding! I was fidgety for hours beforehand, and giggled with glee for at least a half-hour after it was over. I LOVED IT!

On notice

Thanks, Kirk, for pointing me to http://www.shipbrook.com/onnotice/ I can see that this will have a myriad of uses over the weeks and months to come.

And yes, Alison - YOU are on notice!

Briefly

I'm trying to process "Jesus Camp". I expected it to disturb me more than it did, but make no mistake: I am disturbed. I'm just not sure by what. More thoughts on this to come, but I'd like to hear what other people took from it.

In other news, I recently cleaned out my Yahoo!, reducing the size of my Inbox from nearly two thousand messages to less than two HUNDRED. I wish cleaning my office were so easy; my floor is one big chord chart recepticle, and the more I work on it, the less carpet seems to be visable. I gave up working in my office several months ago, when I got the laptop. Soon, however, I will be moving on. So soon I'm going to have to finish the cleaning process whether I like it or not.

Paul is candidating in Woods Harbour this weekend. I shall report in due time.