second semester

i have some time here so i thought i'd write a bit about my classes. i was inspired by carmen's comments about wanting to know what else i am taking, and also by megan's blog, who wrote about a very weird experience she had involving spicy chick peas and a professor who decided not to wear the costume he brought because it showed to much skin. ahem. very interesting?! those trinity westerners...... they pay 3 times the tuition but they sure get interesting learning experiences!

my classes are not nearly as eventful. as we all know i am taking my third course in spanish which perhaps i should take a new and more positive view on. the prof spends most of the class moving from person to person asking them questions that everyone else seems to know the answer to, except for me and the girl beside me. i should sit with someone more spanish smart. i am gonna try a little bit harder from now on, and make sure i do my homework and study.

secondly i have world religions which i don't really have anything to say about.

thirdly i have cultural anthropology which is going to be okay i think. we don't have an actual textbook, but instead, three novels written by anthropologists that are about three different cultures - natives, inuits and drug dealers in east harlem. our midterm is a take home book report on these three books. how easy is that? i've started the drug dealer one and its quite good. definitely a different world view, that's for sure.

i am still in history of the third world. first semester was all about events that have happened which didn't seem to have anything to do with development, but this semester we're getting into the goods, like economic theory and people/institutions who have shaped third world policies, and the underdevelped world, and why we think half the world is in poverty and if we think development is working. very interesting stuff, i'm loving this class this semester.

finally i am in a sociology class, women and development. there are only 16 people in the class, which is great and bad at the same time. i like to hide out in class and take it all in, but as years go on, i am put in these types of situations where i have to have an opinion and i have to be part of the discussion or else i am viewed as the girl who doesn't have any opinion... which is not really a good rep to have among your fellow students in university, and also not true of me at all. i do have quite an opinion on the things we talk about, but in my first two years of university i didn't have much opportunity to express it, and suddenly this year, so many of my classes are discussion classes, and here i am, not so good at presenting and not so hot at discussion. well i gotta get used to that, and i gotta get used to it fast, b/c i have plenty of presentations coming up. i'm getting better. anyway its a night class, and not only is it a night class, it's a THURSDAY night class which means no more O.C. and no more ER. unless i find someone to tape it for me... luckily, Survivor and the Apprentice are over for this season so i won't be missing out on them.

so that is my semester. i have been using time wisely, and i have 2 hours on mon, wed and fri to go to the PAC gym which makes me feel good about me. they gym will do that to you, you know.

i wish i had something terribly interesting to say about my classes, like megan did, but unfortunately my saskatchewan educational institute just doesn't do it like trinity!!!

Some Christmas photos

I love this little kitty, her name is Blue. So sweet.

I love kittys and Christmas trees.

(RIP Edwin hehe)

Jeff and I at dinner on New Years Eve

The "little-ist" and the "biggest" grandkids - me and Destiny
(and her Bratz doll of course)

espanol RANT and RAVE!

oh MY school has started again with a big bang boom. i started it all off with fricken SPANISH of alllllllllllll classes. i am DREADING IT!!!! i've already failed it once!!! first of all, it's at EIGHT FREAKING THIRTY in the morning. second of all, the one friend that i have in this class was not there this morning. this fact terrifies me . thirdly, he went through the class asking random questions and i have no idea what he is saying and all i can do is look down and pray to God he will not ask me how big my family is or what my major in school is or how i'm freaking doing today!!!!! AAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHH! i can figure out the question and i can answer it, but it takes me 18 minutes to do it before i'm ready to answer!!!!!!! fourthly of all (hehe maybe i should take an english class) i thought i was so awesome because i was gonna borrow lynnel's text book from her 114 class which SHOULD be the same for 117 except this year he decided to CHANGE it and i just went and spent $145 on a new TEXT BOOK for a class i DESPISE!!!!!! i'm just dying people, i don't think i'm gonna make it. again.

that is all i have to say for now.

After thoughts

My sister wrote a fabulous overview of our specatacular trip to New York, so please go to her blog to read all about it!

www.insidejennashead.blogspot.com

I do have to say that it was seriously AWESOME! What a place!!!! Could be my most favorite place I've ever been to. Someday maybe I will live there. Hey, if there's a place for midget's on Broadway, I'm sure there will be a place for little miss me (nothing against midgets of course. i pretty much am one!). Yes, New York is the place to be. I think they must spend millions and millions of dollars on decorations there because there was extravagence EVERYWHERE. Beautiful decorations, lights, wreaths, everything. What a place.

Well I wrote my last final exam this morning. It took me a total of 21 minutes, and nobody was allowed to leave until 9:30, so I wrote out a list of things to do before I had to be at work at 12:00. Yes, it may have been the easiest/simplist exams I have ever written. Sample questions are as follows: What continent has the most developing countries? ummm.... Africa?........... What is one consequence of deforestation? uh, endangers biodiversity...... like geez, no wonder I only went to 7 classes in 2nd semester. I was the first one out of the entire PAC gym. 600 people are stuffed in there, as there are about 5 different exams being written at the same time. So I don't know why nobody else was done as fast as I, but it didn't matter because I had stuff to do!!! I also got back an assignment today, which I got 96% in, my highest mark in an assignment ever I think. That was a nice early Christmas present.

I think I am all ready for Christmas, as of 12:00 today! I did all my shopping yesterday and today, in between final exams in the morning and working at 12. Crrazzzzzy I tell you. I'm really happy with everything I'm giving to people, which makes me feel so happy and excited to give. I even accidently bought somebody two presents... I don't know what I was thinking, but now I have an extra pair of men's pajama pants to give to somebody!!! My mom said she got my dad some for Christmas, so maybe I'll give them to Jeff or one of my brothers. Maybe I'll take them back and exchange them for some girly ones for me? No, I already did something selfish today... I couldn't pass it up.... Bridget Jones' Diary 1 and 2 for $19.99!!!! WHAT A DEAL!!! I can't wait to watch them over and over and over. Hmm and I haven't even seen the first one, just the 2nd one but I loved it so I'm sure I'll love the first too. So seriously girly. All I need now is the Titanic and the Notebook and I am all ready for major girls night out, I mean in. Actually the only time I will ever watch the Titanic ever again is if it's on TV some night and I will have to be THAT bored. It's a good TV movie on a cold winter evening.

Tonight is our department staff Christmas dinner so we are all going to the Granery for a delicious dinner, can't wait. Afterwards, going to Jeff's so I can wrap all mine and his presents for people, and tomorrow evening is Christmas at the Eagle's house, so we're opening some presents. Christmas Eve morning (which is also Jeff's 28th birthday), we're driving to Calgary for a few days, and we are also going to go to Banff on Boxing Day, and home on Tuesday.

For New Year's, I do have to work Friday the 30th, but then I don't have classes or work until January 4th, so I have a few days off there too.

There you have it, my schedule for all the world to see!!!

Merry Christas everyone!

Frank Sinatra sings it best...

start spreading the news.... i'm leaving today... i want to be a part of it...

new york, new york...

these vagabond shoes... are longing to stray... right through the very heart of it,

new York, NEW YORK!!!

i want to wake up in a city that doesn't sleep! and find i'm king of the hill! top of the heat!

these little town blues... are melting away... i'll make a brand new start of it, in old New York!

if i can make it there i'll make it anywhere, it's up to you,

NEW YORK, NEW YORK!!!

i want to wake up, in a city that never sleeps, and find i'm number one, top of

the list, king of the hill, a number one!

these LITTLE TOWN BLUES....... ....... ohhhhhhhhh they'll be away.......

i'm gonna make a brand new start of it, in old new york!
annnnnnnnnndddddd... if i can make it there, i'm gonna make it anywhere,

its up to you,

NEW YORK, NEW YOOOOORRRRRRRKKKKKKKKKK!!!

How's this for an update?

I started working full time this morning! I completely forgot what traffic is like in Saskatoon at 8:00 am... I'm more used to 10:00 on my way to school! Big difference. So I was almost late, but not quite. those phones start ringing right when we open them, 8:30 am. Anyway my point is that I'm happy to finally be making some money just in time for Christmas.

Speaking of that, I have not started my shopping except for Kayden's gift. Furthermore, I hardly have any idea what I'm getting anyone. Even worse, I'm not sure when I'm gonna have time to do it! I have an exam Thursday, and then all weekend I'm in Winnipeg, and then next Thursday I leave for New York, and then the week after that I have two more exams and then it's CHRISTMAS! Okay so writing that all out made me realize I have to do it early next week, Monday after Winnipeg, and done before Wednesday so that I can pack for NYC. I also have Friday night this week. That would be a good shopping night, the malls are usually less busy that night. But Friday night is Elim's musical...It'll have to be later. boy oh boy.

I have another hair appointment Saturday morning... I think I want to go darker once again... just lowlights, nothing too scary... but I feel my hair needs to be slightly more bold, a little more drastic... we'll see.

Back to the shopping thing, I still don't have a dress or an outfit for this weekend's fancy Christmas party at the golf and country club in Winterpeg. I am starting to feel that the dress thing may not be a good idea afterall and may go for my usual black pants and fancy tank and pretty heels. Still worried, again, I don't know when I'll go shopping for something. Thursday I guess. It'll be hard to give up my Thursday night TV to go shopping. Survivor is down to the bottom 5 this week, the Apprentice at the bottom 3, The O.C., well I can't miss it, and I missed the last half of ER last week so I don't know what happened with the whole marriage proposal thing. These are important shows to me. JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW.... for the record.... Thursday is officially the ONLY day I watch TV anymore. So that is why I allow myself the four shows.

Well, I just read a fantastic book, Memoirs of a Geisha, now a major motion picture :) It was so good, I read it in about 3 days. I can't wait to see the movie. I love love love reading a book before the movie. I have read In Her Shoes, The Constant Gardener and now this one in the last few months, and have only seen In Her Shoes. Which I loved too. Book was better of course, but still a good fun movie. I'm looking for another good read for the Christmas holidays after my exams, so please, suggestions come my way. It doesn't even have to be a movie either ;)

So my car is a problem once again. I have zero heat or defrost about 50% of the time. I LOVE THAT IN SASKATCHEWAN. FRICK, HOW ABOUT I JUST WALK IN -23 CELCIUS???? I'd love that too. Anyway it is being fixed tomorrow. I hope to top it all off it costs me $300 (knock on wood). Wow I can't believe how superstitious I just was... I actually knocked on my desk! Haha, wow I'm shocked with myself.

Lynnel, Chad and I drove to Moose Jaw on the weekend, and we went and saw the tunnels and had a lovely supper and then went to the mineral water pool! It was so much fun! The pool reminded me of the hotsprings at Fairmont or Banff. Half was inside and half was outside and it was a perfect night for sitting in the hot pool outside with the snow all around. Chad met some friends there, so me and Lynnel considered it our little day together basically. We had some funny moments. One I can't say on here because it's bad. Hehe, maybe I'll tell you if you ask me. We didn't get home until 3 am on Sunday morning, so it was a very full, but fun filled day! I like Moose Jaw. Such a funny little name. Sicamouse is a funny little name too. Those moose must have been running rampant back in the town-naming days!

Well I best get back to studying for my crazy hard exam on Thursday morning. Environmental Geography. Should be interesting to see my mark go down by a million percent seeing as this exam is worth 40%. Too bad...I'll have to work a little bit harder and not be distracted by blogs!!!

Happy belated birthday Alison! We all love you so much.

Don't forget Elim Christmas Presentation this weekend! It's gonna be amazing!

Love Kristin Anne

yah so...

ah yes a new blog today. it's about time, right megan? it's been too long but not too long compared to kristy-anne. ahem. anyway, life has gotton a little bit easier lately. i am finished all my esssays, projects and assignments, except for one little group presentation on wednesday afternoon. i'm not worried about this because it's not academic at all, it's simply talking about my volunteering experience this semester. i'd like to say in my presentation "i am so happy i did this because it will look so good on my resume" but i think i'll refrain and just state that here on my blog, for the record. yes that is a smart idea.

well let's see what is new. hmm i need to buy a new dress in the next few days. unless someone out there has one i could borrow for a night, that'd be great too. i need it for jeff's christmas banquet in winnipeg next next weekend. i want it to be just right... oh sigh, so much pressure. a girl at work here says she has one for me, problem being she is a little bit teeny tiny, so unless the dress has an umpire waist, i can probably kiss that goodbye. oh the issues of being a GIRL! i also need new fancy shoes/sandles, as the ones i had that i loved got washed away, along with most of my shoes and other things.

i guess thats what the insurance cheque is for (i thought it was for shopping at H&M in Manhattan).

hmm well sorry to disappoint but i just don't have anything else to say. lame post, i know. i'll try better next time!

i heart new york!

yes it's true folks, i'm really going there! my parents are taking my sister and i there from december 15 - 18, four short but going to be VERY filled days! can you imagine, new york at christmas? it's gonna be absolutely beautiful. i don't know why but remember in "home alone 2: lost in new york", well there's this scene that i've always remembered, where the kid is running from the bad guys and he hides out in this HUGE toy store right in times square and its all decorated extravagently for christmas, and i've always remembered that scene b/c i thought it was just so beautiful.

well now i get to GO there! our hotel is in times square too, half a mile from the ed sulliven theatre. we are trying to get tickets for david letterman on thursday night. friday morning we are going to radio city music hall christmas extravaganza!!! and friday night we are going to the brooklyn tabernacle christmas production!! and then saturday night we are gonna go to a broadway show but we haven't decided on one yet. and sunday we have to go home which is so sad, but hey at least we get a few great days to enjoy!

so yah i just wanted to shout it to the world :) the week i get back i have two final exams to write which absolutely SUCKS but hey, it's almost CHRISTMAS!!!!

I love love love NEW YORK!

poor molly, she is upset because matthew is practicing the trumpet right now. just what i love to be listening to at 10:16 pm when i'm trying to wind down. urrgggggg, the joys of living at home. she is snuggled right down beside me laying at my feet, keeping them warm. and as most of you know, molly and i aren't even the best of friends. oh good mom is making matt going to bed.

well i had an extremely busy day yesterday, and today i made up for it by sleeping through my first and second classes. sunday night i was so worried about this week that i tossed and turned in bed until about 2 am before finally deciding that i would make myself wake up at 6 am monday morning and get some work done really early. so i did. i was up at 6, showered and ready for the day by 6:45, and on the computer working on a powerpoint presentation before 7 am. i'm telling you, getting up early is a really great way to start your day. for me at least. i am so much more efficient, and i can get all the things i am worried or stressed about out of the way so that my day goes by so much better.

so anyway when i got home from work on monday afternoon, i started a completely different assignment, and it was the dumbest assignment i have ever done. it was about saskatoon's wastewater treatment system. i.e. sewage. oh yes it was lovely. we had to write as though we were writing to a politician about what needs to be changed about our treatment system, and believe me i had a few things to say about the june 29th sewage back up!

take a wild guess, who do you think has the best sewage treatment system...
victoria, calgary, saskatoon or regina?

in case you were thinking about writing your politician about the quality of your clean up, i'll have you know that Saskatoon has a grade of C+, compared to Regina at a C. now people, i don't know about you, but i always thought regina was a "dirty" city... yet it seems they are doing a better job of keeping their water nice and clean than pretty little saskatoon is. as for who has the best treatment system in Canada, it's calgary. they rate an A+. yee haw.

alison you would be so proud to know that victoria has the worst sewage system in all of canada. in fact it went from a F- in 1999 to completely "suspended" in 2004. i don't exactly know what suspended means but i know its not cool! more than 34 billion litres of raw sewage are discharged back into the ocean every year, and they only do preliminary treatment, which isn't even technically treatment at all, which is just nasty. NASTY!!!!!!!!! don't go swimming in the ocean. and maybe invest in culligan.

that whole class has absolutely nothing to do with my major, it just is my natural science class requirement that i absolutely must pull through.

tomorrow is my presentation on development and global health. its a good topic. once i get over my nervousness, i'm sure it'll be a really great presentation. i'm quite proud of it actually because its the first time i put together a powerpoint point presentation, and after hours of work i think it looks fabulous. pictures, clip art and everything. but unfortunately i don't get graded on a red-hot powerpoint. i get graded on if i do a good job speaking. i'd rather sing a song in front of 2000 people!

my jeff is working in toronto and in surrounding area this week. him and his coworker are travelling down to detroit on thursday night to watch a hockey game which he is seriously stoked for. haha, instead of stoked i wrote "stocked" and then i started laughing at what that could mean... he is all stocked up for the game.... beer came to mind, and then i laughed.

well i went to young adults this evening and i have to say i really enjoy some of these girls that i have gotten to know this year through sunday night cell at charmaine's house. i love going there sunday nights because her house is so calm and warm and always smells like baking, and she always has smelly candles lit, and its just a really nice way to spend a sunday evening with some really fun and sweet girls that i just love. so yay for charmaine for putting up with us for the last year or so! and for baking cookies or bread with homemade jam or cake or whatever it is you have every week!

this blog is long enough. i'm going to practice my presentation to myself in front of the big huge mirror in my bedroom.

i can't wait for the week that i get to just reeeellllaaaaaaxxxx. its out there somewhere, i know it is......!

it's friday!

jann arden was AWESOME. i just loved her. she is so funny and a great performer. she sounds better in concert than on her albums. she is very down to earth. even jeff had a good time. he liked the fact that jann recognized her audience was mostly women and made a few jokes about the men that were dragged there. we had lots of fun and it felt nice to dress up and do something a little bit different. i wish i took some pictures.



denver's spooktacular party is on saturday night and i don't have a costume. i am hoping he will accept me dressed up as a stressed out student. yep that sounds good to me!

i'm done midterms but now i have a 4 assignments (which are each 6-8 pages, basically 4 essays), a presentation and two 12 page research papers to write in the next 3 weeks. that's insanity at its worst. i think i'm just gonna go to sleep and wake up when its all over.

let's get happier.....

things i am excited about
(in order of appearance from now until jan 1/06):

-spooktacular extravaganza 2005

-kristy-anne coming to visit next weekend

-nov long weekend when i get to go to a wedding and wear a pretty dress and have fun

-Cats

-december when classes are over and i get to make some money (even though working sucks)

-december in general b/c i can truly be excited for christmas

-dad's christmas presentation

-alison & leon coming to visit

-a weekend in winnipeg for jeff's staff christmas party, all expenses paid

-CHRISTMAS!!!! in calgary and in porcupine plain (thats gonna be a hard one to work out this year...)

-new years eve

-semester 1 ending, semester 2 beginning (i love brand new classes)

that's all i can think of at the top of my head, but i have to admit it made me feel better!

have a great weekend...
kristin anne