Winter Wonderland!!!

Seriously, here on the Island snow is falling, and it's not stopping. I woke this morning to a fresh-looking world, and although it's nothing new to me, the fact that it's the first snow of the season and the way the Islanders react to it (not the hockey team; I'm talking about the people from Vancouver Island) because they aren't used to this much snow, makes it even more exhilarating than usual! :D Forget the fact that the bus was 40 minutes late and my wet, gloveless hands are barely able to type because they are still warming up ... YAY SNOW!!!!
Church this morning was pretty good, and we met more of the congregation, and there was a luncheon afterward for us to get to know more about Trinity's vision and such, which is important. As far as everything else goes, I have work and more work over the next few days, as it is the last week of class and things are wrapping up. And then ... HOME!!!!!!! Obviously I denoted more exclamation points to that because it is more exciting than the snow. :)
On the hockey front ... well, I have to say Wellwood was driving me crazy in the third (of the Bruins game last night) ... if a drop pass doesn't work for you the first time, then don't do it again on the same shift, and ruin what could've been another good scoring chance!! Especially not when you're a goal behind!!!! :@ Ah well, other than that it was a decent game when they started skating. Hope they can take them on Tuesday.

Editted to add: The University is closed today because of the large amount of snow that fell over Sunday night, and continues to fall this Monday morning!! :D

Nearing the end

of the semester, it is. I'm definitely looking forward to having a break from writing papers and doing research for a while. Aside from a few of the assignments, I have enjoyed the semester ...
This weekend was pretty good. Our hockey game on Friday wasn't so much, but last night's was much better (a 5-1 win). I've finally chosen a church, so I'll be going there for the one Sunday I have left here, and then again when I come back next year. A couple of people from school go there, and the atmosphere was lovely, the sermon was Bible-based and succint, and the hot chocolate afterward was delicious. :) So yeah, that was a pleasant happening, as neither my suite-mate or I were really sure what to expect before we attended.
Other than that, not much news, so I won't bother trying to come up with anything, when I have much more boring and tasking things to do.
Oh, and in case anyone was wondering, the church is Trinity Christian ...

Denman and more

So, Sunday was another lovely day sprinkled intermittently with rain. They were doing something with power lines that day, so we had no power in the morning, but thankfully had all been invited over to a neighbour's for pancake breakfast! Mmm mmmm!! It was delightful, and after we were all stuffed we went for a lengthy walk that began along the road, continued through the woods, and ended with a wind-blown, salt-sprayed sojourn along the beach. It was fairly uneventful, but enjoyable in it's simplicity. The forest part of the walk reminded me a bit of being back at Saugeen Bluffs. I miss Sammy.
The rest of the day was spent either in games (such as Boggle, which I owned! [;)]), eating (Camino chocolate is delicious (hot or bar) ...), or drawing on the birthday boy (after midnight, when it actually was his birthday), all by the comfort of a crackling fire.
We got up Monday, heavy with the knowledge that we would be leaving that day, and were soon on our way. The trip home was less anticipatory than the way there, but we enjoyed it nevertheless, with yours truly (meaning ME) providing the musical soundtrack, if not the prosaic (relating to prose) one.
In other news, I played goal at noon-hour shinny today and "PUT THAT DOG DOWN" so many times; it was awesome!!! The best save was when a guy had a break away, started deking to his back-hand and had me going across a bit, but then he went back forehand, and I managed to (while almost doing the splits) get my left pad on it. He got the rebound, and me being sitting down I started trying to wiggle across and block as much net as I could while he held onto the puck, waiting for a good shot. He finally shoots ... and it was going top shelf, but I got my goal stick in the way! It was just spectacular (and a bit lucky, possibly) ... Too bad I don't play like that all the time, but maybe the day will yet come. It was nice being able to play Thursday (as my classes today were cancelled) as there was another goalie, and enough guys for most of the time to play 3-on-3 with a sub each side.
As always, go Leafs go!!! I predict a 5-2 win over Boston today.
Editted to add: Okay, so I was a bit off in that prediction ... who'd have thought that Thomas could play 2 good games in a row?!?

Denman Island!!

Yay for Denman (the link is to a photo album of this weekend - check it out!)!!! ... the rest of last week will go unmentioned save to say that I'm glad to be through it, and to finally not be falling asleep as soon as I stop moving. This past weekend I had the pleasure of being invited (with a group of other people) to a friend's family property on Denman Island.
I had never been there (actually, besides the friend and his dad, only one person had) and I was definitely very happy I went, for many reasons, the view from their back deck being one of them. We saw many a deer out in the fields.
We got there Friday night (we didn't make it on the first ferry ride ... a whole 18 minute-long ride), and arrived around 9pm, just in time to start a fire and have a late supper. Mmm mmm. The food the whole weekend was fantabulous. A group of us went down to the beach that evening and got a fire going for a bit, but didn't stay long as it was a bit chilly by the ocean.
Saturday we actually got to see the beauty of the island, no matter which window you looked out of. It started off with a game of Settlers of Cattan, as every weekend should, with late breakfast being a delicious interruption. After breakfast we took a walk around the property, visited the cows and the dogs, and then headed back to stack wood for the planned bonfire that night. We got back in just before dark, and some people played another game of Settlers, and there's proof.
The fire turned out rather well, and the fireworks were enchanting, and I also have proof of that!! Somewhere in there I watched the Leafs game, and although it was fuzzy, I enjoyed it very much (especially as someone there was cheering for the Habs). Boo-yah! :D So, the Leafs are still playing well, despite the loss of the captain, but I hope Raycroft comes back soon (he is expected to) because otherwise I think they'll be in tough against the Devils next Saturday. The Bruins they'll beat no matter who's in net! Mwahaha!! Go 4-game winning streak!!!
I'll write about the rest of the weekend later ... supper needs to be made ...

"Lots of cows, trees, rocks, dirt. Moo moo moo"

Hockey was great last night; so far in playing out I've gotten 4 points (3-1) in 2 games, which is not too shabby. And how about that Leafs game on Saturday night?!? They totally owned the Sabres, and as much as I love the Sabres I was okay with this since Buffalo's above them in the standings (though not for much longer, I think! ;)). T'was the first time Buffalo lost in regulation this year. The only bad part of the game was Belak's crappy "fight" with Peters. Seriously, if you're going to be in the box for five minutes, make sure you did something to deserve it.

Alison and I went to Saanich Community Church on Sunday. It was pretty good; I appreciated the diversity of music and the straight-forward message, and the congregation was very nice as well. We're still trying to decide, and I think we're going to be trying out at least one more church.

I'm going to my first ECHL game this Thursday evening, watching the Victoria Salmon Kings play the Fresno Falcons! Should be a good time, finally seeing some live hockey again ... Muchos kudos to anyone who can figure out (or bothers to try) why I chose to see them play Fresno.

Finally school work is slowing down a bit, and next week's reading week, so I'll be able to take a breath or two without feeling guilty that I'm not reading textbooks or typing up some paper or assignment ... oh, the anticipation!!! Denman Island, where I, Alison, and a group of other people have been invited to for the coming weekend should be a really great time also. the best part? We'll be on a farm!! Man, you can take the girl out of the country(side), but you can't take the country out of the girl. And I imagine that would really hurt, so please don't even try.

Just liked these lyrics so thought I would share them ... it's a nice sentiment:

I am the sound of love's arriving
Echoed softly on the sand
Lay your head upon my shoulder
Lay your hand within my hand
I give you all that I am

The 11th month ...

To some it feels like the 11th hour, I'm sure, or the beginning of the end. I will have to work at not wishing this month away, as for each day of it that passes I am one day closer to being back at home. So, every time I look at this post I'll be reminded to appreciate each day as it comes ...
This past weekend was quite lovely, entailing of: staying at a motel on the ocean, being the MVP of a couple of the hockey games I played in, and coming across a book sale in the mall adjoining the arena. It was a bit harder coming back to all the school work I have for this week (I actually managed to get a bit done while at the tournament), but I'm slogging through. Last night was the least Hallowe'eny I've ever felt on October, but then I don't ever remember working or playing tennis on Hallowe'en before. And what is with all of the fireworks?!? It's a weird West coast of Canada thing to set off fireworks over the weekend before Halowe'en, and the actual night, apparently. People don't even seem to know why they do it, mostly just because the fireworks are available to buy, so I've been told.
Anyway, hope everyone reading this is able to enjoy the continued changing of the season, and anticipate the approaching winter with at least a bit of excitement ...

Below is a poem I wrote for a friend who abhorred November, in an attempt to help her see the warmer side of the month:

Unconditional Love
Smile back at me
Crisp wind
For I know your chill
Is not personal
And thus am I pleased

Fall down on me
Rain of this grey sky
For I know you will soon
Be strikingly white
And thus am I pleased

Curl and dance higher
Smoke of the fires cheery
For I know that inside
Someone is being warmed
And thus am I pleased

Bring forth all that you can muster
Oh sweet November
For naught can I be turned
From loving you
For what you are