Nice weekend but no productivity. This upcoming week is the last one of classes but that just means my papers are so much closer to being due! Ah!
I baked banana bread again and did laundry and went out for a friend's birthday. These are the times when I wish I worked 9-5 because then my weekend would've seemed productive and great rather than as an elaborate scheme to procrastinate.
Also, Google Wave. I'm trying to learn it. If you want an invite, let me know.
29 November 2009
26 November 2009
Happy Thanksgiving, America!
I am having a peculiar celebration of my own. BLTs and soup for dinner, followed by watching a hockey game. Typical Canadian Thursday.
19 November 2009
In Class
I am teaching assistant for a class called "Theories of Myth". It's fascinating stuff to me so even though I'm not required to attend class, I still do. I'd even say it's my favorite class right now. Anyway, the students aren't aware that I'm the TA because all I really do is mark exams so to them, I look like just another student. This is fine with me.
Sitting in my usual spot in the back of the room, I get to observe a lot. The other day, I was fascinated by what one gentleman was doing on his computer. First, I should point out that his desktop is a picture of a barbell, you know, the big weightlifting kind. He spends a great deal of time on Facebook, most frequently he seems to be perusing the profile of girls. But today he out-did himself. I looked down at his screen and saw him looking up the lyrics to Jay-Z's "H to the Izzo". Good choice, sir, good choice.
Sitting in my usual spot in the back of the room, I get to observe a lot. The other day, I was fascinated by what one gentleman was doing on his computer. First, I should point out that his desktop is a picture of a barbell, you know, the big weightlifting kind. He spends a great deal of time on Facebook, most frequently he seems to be perusing the profile of girls. But today he out-did himself. I looked down at his screen and saw him looking up the lyrics to Jay-Z's "H to the Izzo". Good choice, sir, good choice.
My Bus Stop
Fall/winer has set in for Vancouver. It's cold (not snow and ice Iowa cold, but cold still) and some heavy storms have led to consistent rain over the past few days. Not just a regular on and off drizzle but heavy rain with strong winds too. Looks like it'll be this way for the next 4-5 months. It takes a little getting used to but with all the right gear, it's not so bad. The recent winds have been hard on the umbrellas though; everyone's been giving up and just relying on raincoats and hoods instead of umbrellas.
But the change in weather has made me notice some new things. The bust stop I frequent near my apartment to get to school is on a fairly busy corner of 4th in Kits. Standing here every morning, you get used to it. But the cold weather has brought something clearly to my attention. As I was huddled under my umbrella one early morning, I suddenly had the scent of fresh bread and pastries in my nostrils. After one whiff it was gone again into the cold air. Perked up by this, and fairly hungry, I realized something I already knew: my bus stop is directly across the street from a bakery. I go to this bakery all the time but somehow it seemed like a revelation that morning. Every time someone walks in or out, the doors swoosh open and let out the delicious air. It's just that now, it's making its way across the street to a cold, wet, and tired crowd over at the bus stop. It's wonderful and tortuous at the same time. The worst is when the busses are so crowded that two have to go by, fully packed, before one with space stops. Then I just stand there looking over at the bakery, thinking it offers a much more tempting option than a crowded bus.
But the change in weather has made me notice some new things. The bust stop I frequent near my apartment to get to school is on a fairly busy corner of 4th in Kits. Standing here every morning, you get used to it. But the cold weather has brought something clearly to my attention. As I was huddled under my umbrella one early morning, I suddenly had the scent of fresh bread and pastries in my nostrils. After one whiff it was gone again into the cold air. Perked up by this, and fairly hungry, I realized something I already knew: my bus stop is directly across the street from a bakery. I go to this bakery all the time but somehow it seemed like a revelation that morning. Every time someone walks in or out, the doors swoosh open and let out the delicious air. It's just that now, it's making its way across the street to a cold, wet, and tired crowd over at the bus stop. It's wonderful and tortuous at the same time. The worst is when the busses are so crowded that two have to go by, fully packed, before one with space stops. Then I just stand there looking over at the bakery, thinking it offers a much more tempting option than a crowded bus.
11 November 2009
Remembrance Day
Today is Remembrance Day here in Canada, known as Veterans Day in the U.S.A. It's the same holiday, celebrating the armed forces on the day of the armistice for World War I. In British Columbia, it is a statutory holiday which is lovely for me because that means I don't have classes, but I also appreciate that this puts this holiday on par with other holidays that everyone likes so much (I'm thinking Labor Day).
I've noticed a difference between Remembrance Day in Canada and Veterans Day in the U.S. For the past two weeks, people have been wearing poppies (I just tried to put a footnote about this, thanks, grad school) and there have been memorial commercials, I guess that's what they're called, on TV. As for those poppies. In 1915, a Canadian military physician wrote a poem called In Flanders Fields that commemorated the men who had died in war there. (I've included the poem at the end of this post.) The symbol of the poppy was picked up from it and became a national symbol. England, as well as other commonwealth countries, followed suit. I don't recall anything particularly significant about Veterans Day. The best I can do is some liturgy/memorial service held way back when I was in 4th grade, or thereabouts, because I did a reading and that's when I learned the word 'armistice'.
Anyway, it's nice to see a stronger presence about why we're celebrating the day and who we're honoring. Prince Charles and Camilla just did a tour of Canada so they had both Canadian and English versions of the poppy on their lapels. I think they participated in some memorial events as well. That was new for me, a lot of press coverage of the royals because indeed, Queen Elizabeth is sovereign and head of state in Canada. I didn't realize they were going to be hanging around (they were definitely right in my neighborhood!) otherwise I would've gone to catch a glimpse.
So, this is my cultural post of the month (maybe year?). Another little thing I appreciate about Canada.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
-John McCrae (1915)
I've noticed a difference between Remembrance Day in Canada and Veterans Day in the U.S. For the past two weeks, people have been wearing poppies (I just tried to put a footnote about this, thanks, grad school) and there have been memorial commercials, I guess that's what they're called, on TV. As for those poppies. In 1915, a Canadian military physician wrote a poem called In Flanders Fields that commemorated the men who had died in war there. (I've included the poem at the end of this post.) The symbol of the poppy was picked up from it and became a national symbol. England, as well as other commonwealth countries, followed suit. I don't recall anything particularly significant about Veterans Day. The best I can do is some liturgy/memorial service held way back when I was in 4th grade, or thereabouts, because I did a reading and that's when I learned the word 'armistice'.
Anyway, it's nice to see a stronger presence about why we're celebrating the day and who we're honoring. Prince Charles and Camilla just did a tour of Canada so they had both Canadian and English versions of the poppy on their lapels. I think they participated in some memorial events as well. That was new for me, a lot of press coverage of the royals because indeed, Queen Elizabeth is sovereign and head of state in Canada. I didn't realize they were going to be hanging around (they were definitely right in my neighborhood!) otherwise I would've gone to catch a glimpse.
So, this is my cultural post of the month (maybe year?). Another little thing I appreciate about Canada.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
-John McCrae (1915)
09 November 2009
H1N1 at church
Maybe I'm reckless, but when I'm at church and it's the sign of peace, I'm going to shake your hand. People looked at me like I was crazy this past Sunday and gave me these weird little half-bows instead of a regular old handshake.
If you're that concerned, bring some hand sanitizer and douse yourself in it after you shake my hand. I wouldn't come to church and try to touch you if I had swine flu. I'm not that kind of person.
If you're that concerned, bring some hand sanitizer and douse yourself in it after you shake my hand. I wouldn't come to church and try to touch you if I had swine flu. I'm not that kind of person.
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