Well, that sort of used to apply. I guess it does when I go to the Millar's. Anyway, back home am I, and it's been nice and relaxing so far. Friday, my last day of HelpDesk work completed, Mom and I successfully made it across the country (will a little help from a plane) and arrived on time in Toronto, meaning I made it to band practice on time! The weekend was a nice welcome back for me, and included some horseback riding on some out of shape (but not for long) horses.
It is great to be home, but at the same time, I feel a bit out of place. Not all the time and not with everyone, and definitely not with the environment (ie. nature), but I guess it's the sort of thing that's to be expected when you've been gone for a while, and even when you come back you, and everyone else, know that you're going to be leaving again. It's an interesting perspective, and one I never had for all those years that I was so entrenched in this community and involved with my family. Well, not so much the community, because I've never really felt like a member there/here. And really the family situation is just continuing on from where it was even before I left, because almost everyone seemed to be moving on except me, and that's part of the reason I figured it would be a good idea to get away. It's definitely helped me sort out some things and gain the perspective I believe I should have ... That's all a little abstract, sorry. But I am in psychology, so would you expect any less?
This week's been great, spending time with both my families and the animals :) I'm still sort of getting settled in, but it won't take much longer. Anyway, time to run.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Thursday, April 19, 2007
YOUR ATTENTION, PLEASE!!
This post has been certified “hockey free”!
*sigh*
So, now that the last meeting to wrap up my special ed course has passed, I am totally and completely finished everything school related (except for checking marks) for this term!! Feels good, it does. I’ve had a really good past week-and-a-half. I managed to get all the final papers done and handed in, on time!! As much as I love procrastinating, there is eventually a time and a place where it needs to stop, sometime. How many times can you say ‘soon, but not yet’? (I love Juba)
I've had a lovely visit with Mom so far (she arrived last Friday), and it’s been a nice conclusion to this almost 4-month stint in Victoria. We’ve done some hiking/climbing (low key) at Sooke Potholes and Goldstream parks, shopped downtown, walked along Dallas Road (by the ocean), and watched a couple of films at the IMAX (Greece: Secrets of the Past, and Mystery of the Nile; both were quite interesting, and I enjoyed the ‘magic of IMAX’), among other things. The weather has been fair most of the time, which was beneficial in allowing us to send a lot of time outdoors. Speaking of which, soccer this Sunday was pretty fun, and I even managed to sustain some injuries (especially noteable being the arm across the nose and the toe that is now purple). Fun stuff! I’m looking forward to getting back at it this fall.
Today's my second last day of work at the helpdesk, and glad will I be to leave the desk behind. It's been a pretty decent time, though, both as a source of income and as my first corporate-type workplace that didn't include a family member. This place is nothing like "The Office" of tv, thankfully. It must be said that if it were, I would not be the Gareth.
I am excited about heading back home (we fly out Friday evening) and seeing everyone again, and doing some fun stuff, like seeing Starfield 3 times (once with Hillsong United), playing tennis and volleyball, horseback riding ... maybe helping Dad with some stuff around the house, and being involved in a few other things (purposely unmentioned). Ah, good times to be had indeed. I’m still not sure what I potentially could be doing when I get back to Victoria, besides class, but there's still time to figure that out. At least I have a place to stay.
*sigh*
So, now that the last meeting to wrap up my special ed course has passed, I am totally and completely finished everything school related (except for checking marks) for this term!! Feels good, it does. I’ve had a really good past week-and-a-half. I managed to get all the final papers done and handed in, on time!! As much as I love procrastinating, there is eventually a time and a place where it needs to stop, sometime. How many times can you say ‘soon, but not yet’? (I love Juba)
I've had a lovely visit with Mom so far (she arrived last Friday), and it’s been a nice conclusion to this almost 4-month stint in Victoria. We’ve done some hiking/climbing (low key) at Sooke Potholes and Goldstream parks, shopped downtown, walked along Dallas Road (by the ocean), and watched a couple of films at the IMAX (Greece: Secrets of the Past, and Mystery of the Nile; both were quite interesting, and I enjoyed the ‘magic of IMAX’), among other things. The weather has been fair most of the time, which was beneficial in allowing us to send a lot of time outdoors. Speaking of which, soccer this Sunday was pretty fun, and I even managed to sustain some injuries (especially noteable being the arm across the nose and the toe that is now purple). Fun stuff! I’m looking forward to getting back at it this fall.
Today's my second last day of work at the helpdesk, and glad will I be to leave the desk behind. It's been a pretty decent time, though, both as a source of income and as my first corporate-type workplace that didn't include a family member. This place is nothing like "The Office" of tv, thankfully. It must be said that if it were, I would not be the Gareth.
I am excited about heading back home (we fly out Friday evening) and seeing everyone again, and doing some fun stuff, like seeing Starfield 3 times (once with Hillsong United), playing tennis and volleyball, horseback riding ... maybe helping Dad with some stuff around the house, and being involved in a few other things (purposely unmentioned). Ah, good times to be had indeed. I’m still not sure what I potentially could be doing when I get back to Victoria, besides class, but there's still time to figure that out. At least I have a place to stay.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
School season's over, a different season starts
Well ... I had a long post here about having trouble getting excited about the NHL playoffs, and was quite poetic about the Leafs loss .. but then the Internet screwed up and deleted it. I made predictions for each series with explanations, and I don't feel like explaining again, but I will put who I think will win (it in each case being the team I want to win ... strange how that works out).
In the East: Buffalo in 5 or 6 (depending on who wins the OT game); Devils in 5 (who plays goal for Tampa again? Exactly.); Atlanta in 6 (because I don't like the Rangers, except Callahan and Prucha); Penguins in 6.
In the West: Calgary in 6 (boo Detroit!); Anaheim in 5 or 6, as long as Backstrom doesn't put on a clinic every game (because I don't like the Wild, and because the Ducks have Peeeeeeeeeerryyyyy); Canucks in 5, because Dallas has nothing, as long as Vancouver stays away from shootouts (because they are my 2nd favourite team! Go Luongo, a.k.a. El Stoppo, and no, I didn't come up with that nickname); and then the series when I'm not sure who to cheer for because I sort of like both teams, but I'm leaning towards cheering for the Sharks ... anyway, there's a good chance of this series going to 7, especially if the games stay low scoring. I realize Nashville had the edge in the head-to-head meetings this year, but 2 of those games were during the little slump SJ had, and as well all know from the Leafs-Sens history, who beats who in the regular season doesn't necessarily reflect on who wins in the playoffs. :D
I forgot to mention that last Thursday was the last day of class of the semester (I had my last class Wednesday), which is kind of sad and kind of nice. I was ready for it to be over, and although it's sad that a lot of people are getting ready to leave and head off to various places, I will see most of them next year. On top of that, I'm looking forward to heading home in a week-and-a-half!
This weekend was lovely; I have always enjoyed Easter. I went to a simple but potent service on Friday morning, and that evening went to Mustard Seed Street Church where they were showing the Passion of the Christ. I hadn't seen it since it was in theatres, and I definitely found it just as painful and intense this time. I was glad I watched it again. Saturday up until 4pm I worked on a paper and half-listened to the Canucks game. Then, from 4-6:45pm I almost collapsed about 4 times, and had my heart beating like I was running a series of short sprints (for those who have no idea what I'm talking about, that's when the Leafs-Habs game was on). It was crazy!! Didn't end up mattering, but in the words of Paul Maurice, at least they get to keep that game to look back on. *sigh* Sunday morning, I, like McCabe (;)), went to church, after which a group of us got together for a lovely potluck. That was a nice gathering, as was the soccer game out in the rain afterward. Only 6 of us showed up for that, but we had a great time!
Monday I just didn't know what to do with myself, as it was the first time in a while I had some spare time that wasn't begging to be eaten up by hockey or school or some other happening. It was kind of nice...
* 1st note: The Canucks will be able to stay away from the shootout, because it doesn't happen in the playoffs ... that was subtle humour
* 2nd note: the predictions of the Pens-Sens series, Atlanta series, and the gibe at the Stars were intentionally biased, and therefore not as analytically based as the other predictions.
In the East: Buffalo in 5 or 6 (depending on who wins the OT game); Devils in 5 (who plays goal for Tampa again? Exactly.); Atlanta in 6 (because I don't like the Rangers, except Callahan and Prucha); Penguins in 6.
In the West: Calgary in 6 (boo Detroit!); Anaheim in 5 or 6, as long as Backstrom doesn't put on a clinic every game (because I don't like the Wild, and because the Ducks have Peeeeeeeeeerryyyyy); Canucks in 5, because Dallas has nothing, as long as Vancouver stays away from shootouts (because they are my 2nd favourite team! Go Luongo, a.k.a. El Stoppo, and no, I didn't come up with that nickname); and then the series when I'm not sure who to cheer for because I sort of like both teams, but I'm leaning towards cheering for the Sharks ... anyway, there's a good chance of this series going to 7, especially if the games stay low scoring. I realize Nashville had the edge in the head-to-head meetings this year, but 2 of those games were during the little slump SJ had, and as well all know from the Leafs-Sens history, who beats who in the regular season doesn't necessarily reflect on who wins in the playoffs. :D
I forgot to mention that last Thursday was the last day of class of the semester (I had my last class Wednesday), which is kind of sad and kind of nice. I was ready for it to be over, and although it's sad that a lot of people are getting ready to leave and head off to various places, I will see most of them next year. On top of that, I'm looking forward to heading home in a week-and-a-half!
This weekend was lovely; I have always enjoyed Easter. I went to a simple but potent service on Friday morning, and that evening went to Mustard Seed Street Church where they were showing the Passion of the Christ. I hadn't seen it since it was in theatres, and I definitely found it just as painful and intense this time. I was glad I watched it again. Saturday up until 4pm I worked on a paper and half-listened to the Canucks game. Then, from 4-6:45pm I almost collapsed about 4 times, and had my heart beating like I was running a series of short sprints (for those who have no idea what I'm talking about, that's when the Leafs-Habs game was on). It was crazy!! Didn't end up mattering, but in the words of Paul Maurice, at least they get to keep that game to look back on. *sigh* Sunday morning, I, like McCabe (;)), went to church, after which a group of us got together for a lovely potluck. That was a nice gathering, as was the soccer game out in the rain afterward. Only 6 of us showed up for that, but we had a great time!
Monday I just didn't know what to do with myself, as it was the first time in a while I had some spare time that wasn't begging to be eaten up by hockey or school or some other happening. It was kind of nice...
* 1st note: The Canucks will be able to stay away from the shootout, because it doesn't happen in the playoffs ... that was subtle humour
* 2nd note: the predictions of the Pens-Sens series, Atlanta series, and the gibe at the Stars were intentionally biased, and therefore not as analytically based as the other predictions.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
No April showers yet
I could probably write for about half an hour and not get down everything I have going around in my head right now. Therefore, I won’t bother trying. Because nothing sucks worse than trying and not succeeding. Actually, that’s not true. Trying and losing a limb would be worse. Although likely that would coincide with not succeeding. The dreaded double-whammy!
Alright, on with it. Last weekend’s tournament in Campbell River was kind of crappy, because although none of us going really thought about how the team chemistry would be affected by having so many non-Spits playing before we got there, we definitely thought about it while we were there. The first game was a bit rough, the second better, and we did win the third game, definitely having gelled somewhat by that time. I wasn’t playing really well in goal. I’m finding it increasingly difficult to adjust back and forth between the pace of the women’s game and the pace of the afternoon shinny at the ISC. Maybe I shouldn’t have this problem and it just means I need more practice or more solid technique … Regardless, it’s still nice to be on the ice. The weekend ended well with a spontaneous outdoor soccer game, organized by myself and my roommate
On the food front: My roommate’s mom performed the profoundly thoughtful deed of sending enough chocolate and other assorted secular Easter-related treats for her to share with me and others … yes, my chocolate is all gone and it’s not even the weekend.
The London Knights made it through to the second round with no problem, sweeping the Attack. This was definitely due in part to the stellar play of Steve Mason (the Knights left-handed goalie, yay!), especially in game 2, where he stopped 61 of 62 shots!
Next up they face the Soo Greyhounds (read as “The Knights will make it to the third round ...” :))
Steven Mason (and I think Solomon)
The Leafs are still in it, and as long as they win tonight, Saturday’s game against the Habs is going to be something else. I’m finding that a lot of people around here hate the Leafs, but not because of anything to do with the actual team or their players or their play, but because the team and the city are talked about as if they’re the “centre of the universe” and the Leafs are the only hockey team that will ever matter. This is not my fault, I don’t feel this way, and I would be fine with TSN covering other teams at the top of SportsCentre once in a while. I do love the Leafs but I am not biased when it comes to officiating (referring to what I think should and shouldn’t have been called), and I think sometimes the refs make more calls against the Leafs, to make up for the number of people who claim that they are favoured. Mostly I think that there are some bad calls both ways, with certain games maybe favouring one team over the other, and that’s just the way it is. One part of the game (possibly the only part, besides cheap shots) I could definitely do without is the stupid fans who harass the officials. I like the fighting as long as it’s consensual, and if you really don’t want to face the risk of getting hurt (as a lot of talk of eliminating fighting is based around guys being bigger and stronger, so throwing more damaging punches), then don’t fight.
I liked the post my friend Kate made on marking undergrad stuff, and finding that a lot of the papers suck. When you make it to 4th year university and can’t even write a proper sentence maybe you need to reevaluate just where you should be focusing your learning experience. I understand that some people can’t spell amazingly, which is fine, that wasn’t where most of the problems were. I know also that many people do not know all of the rules grammar, which too is fine. I wasn’t being that nitpicky, but I do expect the tense to remain constant throughout a sentence, and verb-subject agreement. And coherence is always a plus.
P.S. It didn’t rain last Thursday, so I got to play tennis outdoors in the sun! YAY!!! It had been a while. I need to get my racquet restrung.
Alright, on with it. Last weekend’s tournament in Campbell River was kind of crappy, because although none of us going really thought about how the team chemistry would be affected by having so many non-Spits playing before we got there, we definitely thought about it while we were there. The first game was a bit rough, the second better, and we did win the third game, definitely having gelled somewhat by that time. I wasn’t playing really well in goal. I’m finding it increasingly difficult to adjust back and forth between the pace of the women’s game and the pace of the afternoon shinny at the ISC. Maybe I shouldn’t have this problem and it just means I need more practice or more solid technique … Regardless, it’s still nice to be on the ice. The weekend ended well with a spontaneous outdoor soccer game, organized by myself and my roommate
On the food front: My roommate’s mom performed the profoundly thoughtful deed of sending enough chocolate and other assorted secular Easter-related treats for her to share with me and others … yes, my chocolate is all gone and it’s not even the weekend.
The London Knights made it through to the second round with no problem, sweeping the Attack. This was definitely due in part to the stellar play of Steve Mason (the Knights left-handed goalie, yay!), especially in game 2, where he stopped 61 of 62 shots!
Next up they face the Soo Greyhounds (read as “The Knights will make it to the third round ...” :))
Steven Mason (and I think Solomon)
The Leafs are still in it, and as long as they win tonight, Saturday’s game against the Habs is going to be something else. I’m finding that a lot of people around here hate the Leafs, but not because of anything to do with the actual team or their players or their play, but because the team and the city are talked about as if they’re the “centre of the universe” and the Leafs are the only hockey team that will ever matter. This is not my fault, I don’t feel this way, and I would be fine with TSN covering other teams at the top of SportsCentre once in a while. I do love the Leafs but I am not biased when it comes to officiating (referring to what I think should and shouldn’t have been called), and I think sometimes the refs make more calls against the Leafs, to make up for the number of people who claim that they are favoured. Mostly I think that there are some bad calls both ways, with certain games maybe favouring one team over the other, and that’s just the way it is. One part of the game (possibly the only part, besides cheap shots) I could definitely do without is the stupid fans who harass the officials. I like the fighting as long as it’s consensual, and if you really don’t want to face the risk of getting hurt (as a lot of talk of eliminating fighting is based around guys being bigger and stronger, so throwing more damaging punches), then don’t fight.
I liked the post my friend Kate made on marking undergrad stuff, and finding that a lot of the papers suck. When you make it to 4th year university and can’t even write a proper sentence maybe you need to reevaluate just where you should be focusing your learning experience. I understand that some people can’t spell amazingly, which is fine, that wasn’t where most of the problems were. I know also that many people do not know all of the rules grammar, which too is fine. I wasn’t being that nitpicky, but I do expect the tense to remain constant throughout a sentence, and verb-subject agreement. And coherence is always a plus.
P.S. It didn’t rain last Thursday, so I got to play tennis outdoors in the sun! YAY!!! It had been a while. I need to get my racquet restrung.
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