So I know I've been writing only about every 3 days lately, and it's only been a day since I wrote last, but I felt the need to write this today.

For EWB, we had 2 guest speakers today, Bill & Karen Butt, who have been living in Mozambique for the past 8.5 years. It was super-interesting, and I can't even imagine some of the lifestyle there - a lot of their work is with AIDS education. Teaching people new skills, and getting them to use these skills to teach others about AIDS. The other main thing, that Karen mainly does, is work with young girls. Teaching them new skills, in order to boost their confidence. A lot of them have such low self-esteem that they don't stay in school, they sleep around A LOT and thus, obviously are more susceptible to AIDS/STDs. Also, a lot of them used to get married by age 12. However, with Karen's work, a lot of them are now staying in school, and are doing things that will help them. It's wonderful! But still, some of the pictures & stories they told are scary - things I could never imagine here in Canada!

Another point they brought up was global warming. Here in Canada, obviously we hear about it, but really, I don't see much effect of it, other than the warmer weather this winter. However, in places like Mozambique, they border the Indian Ocean I believe, and the ocean is so hot, that the water evaporates, but then it doesn't cool down enough to condense & rain, so they have major draught b/c of global warming! As such, the women who walk like 5km to get water for their families every day now could have an extra 3km to walk, and there's not nearly as much water.

Wow. Just wow. I'm learning so much from EWB this term - it's amazing. Scary, but amazing.

♪Hip to be square...♪

Hello all!!

Or maybe I'm hip to be a triangle? :P

I'm not sure if anyone actually checks this still, or if people gave up on me. But oh well - if there is anyone out there, this one's for you ;)

Life = busy. Fun, but busy. But really, it would be boring otherwise!

I guess the biggest news of this past week was the birth of my new niece, Emeline Jane, to my brother Jon & my sister-in-law Danya. Born in Singapore on January 13, 2007 at 12:34am, at a weight of about 8lb and a length of 21.5". The entire family is doing well :) And yes, I am Aunt Jill again :D

Other than that, busy week! As per usual, when it's me. EWB is going to be busy this term, but fun!

Thursday night was fun - went to Laurier's place for Grey's Anatomy, then we were chilling out & chatting. Some good, interesting conversation, as per usual when it comes to Laurier! I love friends that I can talk about almost anything with - there aren't a whole lot of them, but they rock!

Friday night, a bunch of us went to the Ranch in Guelph. Now, somehow, this is the THIRD weekend in a row that I've gone to a country bar. WTF is going on?? LOL. I actually don't mind country bars though - they're a bit less crowded, and not as creepy. And I'm getting more used to the music. I predrank pretty well, so didn't spend too much there. I wasn't drunk at all, but definitely pretty tipsy! HOwever, at like 12:45am, it suddenly hit me that I was exhausted, and almost fell asleep in the bar...oops.

Saturday I went for lunch with Ashlee :D Ashlee is my longest friend, since we were 3! And one that I only see once every couple of months, but definitely one of the people that I can tell everything to! And we haven't seen each other since August, so it was great to see her :D I introduced her to the wonderful world of Thai food - my Pad Thai was AWESOME!! I think she enjoyed it. Then we hung out at her place that afternoon & looked at pictures, since I took my laptop over b/c I knew she wanted to see pics of Calgary. I love that girl!

Saturday night, I went to a Cookie Party at Grace, Vicki & Kevin's house. It was fun...more fun than I expected. It was a nice, laid-back night with friends :) We ate cookies (and other desserts!) and played Cranium & Mafia, and some of us chatted when others left till close to 2am! Some people there that I haven't really seen since August, so it was great.

Yesterday was supposed to be a day of work, but unfortunately, it wasn't. I got up late, and when I went downstairs, Mom asked if I had time to go to a hockey game with Dad. A friend of his (and well, all the family) Fred had gotten tickets to the Kitchener Rangers-Ottawa 67s game, but couldn't go. (BTW, this is OHL hockey, which is Junior A - basically 17-21-year-olds, some of whom go on to play in the AHL & NHL) So Dad was offered the tickets, and I went with him. It was good times - just like old times. Dad used to be a teacher at Eastwood, which is a local high school where all the Rangers go to school when they're here, playing. So, Dad also used to get free tickets to most of the games, and back 10 years ago or so, he & I used to go to the games every Friday night. But we haven't gone in years, so it was nice to go (plus you just can't go wrong with watching hockey!!) They've changed parts of the arena around, and of course, I don't know the players anymore. But we were looking at the picture of the old teams, when I used to go all the time - some of them have made it to the NHL, and some make me wonder where they are now. But it was a great afternoon :)

Today was a SNOW DAY! Moreso b/c it was quite icy out. So I didn't leave the house all day. Did some work here though, which was good.

However, you'd expect me to be thrilled about a day off, right? Pretty well all my classmates are. However, I'm a little disappointed. First off, I have no classes on Mondays, so really, I don't miss class at all. Secondly, I was supposed to meet my friend/semi-classmate Moo to work on yearbook. I say semi-classmate b/c we are technically in different classes, but her class & my class have had about 85% of our classes together over our university years, so we're all basically one class. Anyway, Moo is doing the pages for her class, so we were going to work on our pages together, and also figure out the software together. We have deadlines for this, and are going to need more than just one day to do it, and today was the best day for me to start working on it :S

So instead, I stayed home & tried to do some work here - did some, but not much. Plus I didn't really get anything done yesterday. I'm starting to feel a bit overwhelmed (thank goodness for not doing FASS!) As well, my parents were looking through old pictures - some from when I was a kid in the mid-80s, some from when my brother & sister were kids in the mid to late 70s, some from when they were kids in the 40s & 50s, and some from when my Grandparents were younger, in the 1910s-1930s. It was pretty funny! Some of the hair, and the clothes, and the glasses - so funny!

Anyway, not much more to say. I need to go review the stuff that we did in the summer for our fourth year project, then likely read a bit & go to bed. I'm so tired lately, which sucks. I wish I wasn't, so that I had time to get everything done more. Haha. B/c my life is always busy, and I wish sleep wasn't so important :P Then again, I do have a kickass immune system, so at least I haven't gotten sick like everyone else yet! *knock on wood*

♪You're just too good to be true...can't take my eyes off of you♪

Ok, so it's been a long time since I updated this thing! With a real entry. However, one of my New Years resolutions was about my writing - where I'm trying to write in my paper journal every day (which I started writing in again, after years of not!), writing in my friends-only blog every couple of days, and keeping up with this one once a week. We'll see how it goes.

So today is Monday the 8th. Already. I've obviously come back from Alberta, celebrated Christmas & New Years, and started school again. So, a brief update of those things.

Alberta. I loved it, and was saddened to leave, especially the mountains. Speaking of which, one highlight since my last real post (towards the end of November! Oy!) was skiing in Banff, at Sunshine Village. Now, a lot of you know that I'm not much of a skiier, mainly b/c I'm scared of steep hills, but I stuck to the green runs, and actually had a lot of fun! It was BEAUTIFUL!! And I'm actually thinking that if I settle one day in a place with winter, I may take up skiing :)

Other than that, not much else that was super-exciting happened in Alberta - finished both jobs, said good-bye to people. The flight home wasn't too exciting, although I did enjoy the WestJet mini-televisions! Good to see my parents again, and friends & other people back in Ontario - that was one of the main things I missed, were the people. Still lots of people to see though again!

Great Christmas - I flew back late on the 19th, then my parents & I drove to New Hampshire on the 23rd to return on the 27th. We celebrated at my sister Jenn, brother-in-law Mike & nephew Henry's place, with Mike's parents, George & Louise. Henry turned 1 on January 2nd, so it was his first Christmas. Of course, he didn't know much of what was going on, but still got spoiled! Although I think he liked the boxes better ;) As well, since I hadn't seen him since July, when he was 6 months old, it was awesome to see him (and Jenn & Mike of course!) again. Henry's grown so much! We also had a mini-birthday party on Boxing Day, where cupcakes were made, and one was just put in front of Henry in his high chair (wearing just a diaper & a onesie) with garbage bags underneath, and he just went at it! It was fun to watch :)

December 30th brought my dear high school friend, Sarah's wedding to Mathieu, in St Catharine's. It was a morning wedding with lunch afterwards. Lovely wedding, good food, and lots of great people that I haven't seen in awhile! It was a great time :) That night, I returned to Waterloo for my Dad's side of the family's Christmas party, which is always fun! I'm a lot closer to that side of the family, and they're a good time! Also, I got to meet my cousin Peggy's new son, Ben for the first time, as he was born in September - beautiful baby!

Obviously this leads us to New Years, where we predrank at Amanda L's place, then a bunch of us hit the Stampede Corral. Great times that night!

School started last Wednesday. 4B already - wow! Classes seem good - only 12 hours scheduled a week! When I'm used to 20-30, I almost have problems wondering what to do with my time! Actually it'll be a busy term - I'm doing dance, playing hockey, got involved with EWB, playing squash in my spare time, and doing my class' "fun yearbook pages." Plus fourth year project, other courses, and partying b/c it's my last term ;)

Speaking of hockey, we started last night. We have a campus rec team, on which I know almost everyone I think (not everyone showed up last night) Last night was just a practice/scrimmage amongst our team. It felt good to get out there again, after 4 years of non-hockey. I'm excited for games - should be fun :) And somehow, it appears that I might be the Enforcer of the team, even though I'm one of the shortest people! :P

Ahh...back to my busy life...I love it :D But for now, back to either Japanese homework or bed! :P Till next week (I hope) take care all! ♥ (that is, if anyone reads this :P)