Who is Laura?
Okay, Laura is the missing Katimavik participant from my group. Katimagroups originally start with eleven participants.
We only started with ten.
Laura was sick with mono, we figured she might join later. But no, she never showed up.
Laura is also a nickname for when I`m in a certain type of mood - according to the other people in this Katimagroup. It`s when I turn quiet and don`t speak very much, or something of the sort. It also represents all the girlish aspects of me - say, my long hair, my habit of using a straightening iron etc.
I don`t mind the nickname. It gives me a cover to feel the way that I feel - How are you, Laura?
Once people realize I`m in a Laura stage, I think I`m left alone more, which is good.
Work is going alright. I work with J now, since she`s done being house manager. We go into this beautiful snowshoe trail and clear branches out of the way. It`s boring and repetitive, but work is work, and we can clearly see the work we`ve accomplished by seeing the cleared path.
It does, however, get rather cold, because standing there cutting branches off doesn`t really keep me warm. I`m not moving enough.
And my feet kill me after spending a whole day in snowshoes.
We have this self-defence workshop tomorrow. Doesn`t sound very exciting - I grew bored of Karate class when I was younger. Twice.
I miss a certain someone.
20/01/09
16/01/09
Cold
Good evening madames et messieurs, this is my first blog post that I write from my new headquarters in Ste-Marie, Quebec.
Before I continue, I know many of you have been asking for a mailing address so that you can stop procrastination on those letters. Without further ado:
-Redacted-
Your deadline is March 20th, because that`s when I leave for my next rotation, which is, quite majestically, in Vancouver.
There`s also a phone number I can list, but we have a really cheap quality cord phone, which is conveniently located in the girl`s room. I don`t use the phone very much anyway. And besides, it`s really hard to get a hold of a Katimaparticipant, what with all the things we do.
So, first off, I gotta say, Ste-Marie is actually more exciting than Strathroy.
We don`t need to walk 25 minutes to get downtown, our house is pretty much there.
Of course, you know what I refer to when I say -downtown- in a 12,000 people city.
I live in a much smaller place than in Strathroy.
I say place, because it isn`t even a house, it`s in fact two apartments.
The bottom apartment is very small, it`s got a small kitchen, a little living room, a washroom, and two bedrooms, and I can get to any of those places within 2 seconds of each other.
The upstairs apartment is slightly bigger, with two bedrooms, a bigger bathroom, and a common space. Still very small.
To commute between these two apartments, one must go outside, climb the stairs, and go back inside.
Speaking of outside, do you know what the temperature these few days has been like?
I ought to inform you.
-30 without the wind chill factor.
Obviously, I came knowing that it would be very cold, but the cold, it`s...
You open your mouth, and you can almost bite into it, it is frigid.
My new project leader, Pascal, is very very cool. He is much better than our previous one. We have so many activities planned.
Tomorrow we`re going to the Musée des beaux arts, followed by a trip to the Québec Katimahouse.
Sunday there`s some swimming going down.
Next weekend we`re volunteering, along with seven other Katimagroups, at the Red Bull Crashed Ice! We`re gonna be right next to the action (we`re cleaning the mess up afterward) so tune into TSN or something and look for me (:
Oh, in case you didn`t know, the Red Bull thing is, of course, that giant ice-slide where these extreme badasses go down in packs of four at 70 mph on skates, trying to get to the finish line. Epic.
I work at La Municipalité de Ste-Marguerite.
I am very sad that I work there.
You see, I really wanted to work at Câble Axion, a local tv station. Everyone in my group thought it would be a perfect place for me to work. I thought so too. It was my number 1 choice. I didn`t get the work placement. I was really bummed out for a few days, it was depressing, and I still think it`s unfair, because the participant who got it only had the tv station as their 3rd choice.
So why didn`t I get my work placement?
Apparently, the work placements decide who works where, unlike Strathroy. It blows.
Ste-Marguerite isn`t bad, it`s half paperwork, half building a snowshow trail outside in the woods.
It`s just that the TV station would have been so perfect, I would have done some video editing, some reporting, some covering of press conferences etc...
Oh well.
I better damn well get my first work choice in Vancouver.
Other than that big deception, I`m still having a good time in Katimavik.
Oh, and at my work, between the hours of 8-9, 12-1, 4-5, I`m technically not at work, but rather at my supervisor`s house, because the building I work at is closed during those hours.
And I have nothing to do.
Free long distance calls though, and I get really bored.
-You- might get a call, if my boredom goes to an extreme, I might resort to a phone, out of loneliness.
Lots of things to talk about, but this blog is just too long, wouldn`t you say?
Karma Aspiration Linger Entity Iodine Darwin Overcast Ulysses Grievous Hawt Spectre Citron Ophilia Philharmonic Eyeless
Before I continue, I know many of you have been asking for a mailing address so that you can stop procrastination on those letters. Without further ado:
-Redacted-
Your deadline is March 20th, because that`s when I leave for my next rotation, which is, quite majestically, in Vancouver.
There`s also a phone number I can list, but we have a really cheap quality cord phone, which is conveniently located in the girl`s room. I don`t use the phone very much anyway. And besides, it`s really hard to get a hold of a Katimaparticipant, what with all the things we do.
So, first off, I gotta say, Ste-Marie is actually more exciting than Strathroy.
We don`t need to walk 25 minutes to get downtown, our house is pretty much there.
Of course, you know what I refer to when I say -downtown- in a 12,000 people city.
I live in a much smaller place than in Strathroy.
I say place, because it isn`t even a house, it`s in fact two apartments.
The bottom apartment is very small, it`s got a small kitchen, a little living room, a washroom, and two bedrooms, and I can get to any of those places within 2 seconds of each other.
The upstairs apartment is slightly bigger, with two bedrooms, a bigger bathroom, and a common space. Still very small.
To commute between these two apartments, one must go outside, climb the stairs, and go back inside.
Speaking of outside, do you know what the temperature these few days has been like?
I ought to inform you.
-30 without the wind chill factor.
Obviously, I came knowing that it would be very cold, but the cold, it`s...
You open your mouth, and you can almost bite into it, it is frigid.
My new project leader, Pascal, is very very cool. He is much better than our previous one. We have so many activities planned.
Tomorrow we`re going to the Musée des beaux arts, followed by a trip to the Québec Katimahouse.
Sunday there`s some swimming going down.
Next weekend we`re volunteering, along with seven other Katimagroups, at the Red Bull Crashed Ice! We`re gonna be right next to the action (we`re cleaning the mess up afterward) so tune into TSN or something and look for me (:
Oh, in case you didn`t know, the Red Bull thing is, of course, that giant ice-slide where these extreme badasses go down in packs of four at 70 mph on skates, trying to get to the finish line. Epic.
I work at La Municipalité de Ste-Marguerite.
I am very sad that I work there.
You see, I really wanted to work at Câble Axion, a local tv station. Everyone in my group thought it would be a perfect place for me to work. I thought so too. It was my number 1 choice. I didn`t get the work placement. I was really bummed out for a few days, it was depressing, and I still think it`s unfair, because the participant who got it only had the tv station as their 3rd choice.
So why didn`t I get my work placement?
Apparently, the work placements decide who works where, unlike Strathroy. It blows.
Ste-Marguerite isn`t bad, it`s half paperwork, half building a snowshow trail outside in the woods.
It`s just that the TV station would have been so perfect, I would have done some video editing, some reporting, some covering of press conferences etc...
Oh well.
I better damn well get my first work choice in Vancouver.
Other than that big deception, I`m still having a good time in Katimavik.
Oh, and at my work, between the hours of 8-9, 12-1, 4-5, I`m technically not at work, but rather at my supervisor`s house, because the building I work at is closed during those hours.
And I have nothing to do.
Free long distance calls though, and I get really bored.
-You- might get a call, if my boredom goes to an extreme, I might resort to a phone, out of loneliness.
Lots of things to talk about, but this blog is just too long, wouldn`t you say?
Karma Aspiration Linger Entity Iodine Darwin Overcast Ulysses Grievous Hawt Spectre Citron Ophilia Philharmonic Eyeless
31/12/08
Experiental Social Experiments
Yeah yeah, I know the title is redundant, it just sounded cooler that's all.
I have a new goal in Katimavik, this goal is perfect, because this is the perfect place to accomplish it.
Social experiments.
What?
That could mean many different things.
What I'm talking about is creating, observing, applying the scientific method to "experiments" in this household and to the people within it.
No, not laboratories, no strange chemicals, you could call them mind games.
What exactly am I doing?
I am devising ways of understanding humans!
Now now, you may think I'm rather egotistical, oh what's the word, I don't know, but I mean, why do I think I can take on such a massive and bold task?
Well, it's not terribly serious, it's mostly for kicks and for amusement, to make myself feel smart, I don't know, I just enjoy it okay?!
Get to the point, Gabe.
Okay, so far, I've experimented with the following things:
A, however, certainly had the stimulus to -feel- guilt. It's been hard to see his reaction though, he's quite the quiet one.
The third task is currently in progress. I hope to see results soon.
I might explain the experiments a bit better later on. Then again, I've promised so many things on this blog.
Evil, isn't it?
Karma Aspiration Linger Entity Iodine Darwin Overcast Ulysses Grievous Hawt Spectre Citron Ophilia Philharmonic Eyeless
I have a new goal in Katimavik, this goal is perfect, because this is the perfect place to accomplish it.
Social experiments.
What?
That could mean many different things.
What I'm talking about is creating, observing, applying the scientific method to "experiments" in this household and to the people within it.
No, not laboratories, no strange chemicals, you could call them mind games.
What exactly am I doing?
I am devising ways of understanding humans!
Now now, you may think I'm rather egotistical, oh what's the word, I don't know, but I mean, why do I think I can take on such a massive and bold task?
Well, it's not terribly serious, it's mostly for kicks and for amusement, to make myself feel smart, I don't know, I just enjoy it okay?!
Get to the point, Gabe.
Okay, so far, I've experimented with the following things:
- How a person feels guilt, how they deal with it, how they hide/show it
- How many times a person blinks in a minute depending on certain activities
- Jealousy. Why and how someone feels jealous of something, someone
A, however, certainly had the stimulus to -feel- guilt. It's been hard to see his reaction though, he's quite the quiet one.
The third task is currently in progress. I hope to see results soon.
I might explain the experiments a bit better later on. Then again, I've promised so many things on this blog.
Evil, isn't it?
Karma Aspiration Linger Entity Iodine Darwin Overcast Ulysses Grievous Hawt Spectre Citron Ophilia Philharmonic Eyeless
29/12/08
Drug of choice
I am a stupid, stupid boy.
I don't drink coffee, and I try to avoid caffeine things.
But you know what I did today?
Four cups, I just had four cups.
You know why? I was scared.
This self-induced "tripping-out" that's happening to me is to take my mind off all the drama that's happening in this house right now.
I know it's stupid, it actually aggravates the problem usually, I still took the coffee.
I can't stop shaking now, I anticipate hyperventilating soon.
I always have caffeine on the worst nights.
I can't stop myself.
Caffeine's a hell of a drug.
I don't drink coffee, and I try to avoid caffeine things.
But you know what I did today?
Four cups, I just had four cups.
You know why? I was scared.
This self-induced "tripping-out" that's happening to me is to take my mind off all the drama that's happening in this house right now.
I know it's stupid, it actually aggravates the problem usually, I still took the coffee.
I can't stop shaking now, I anticipate hyperventilating soon.
I always have caffeine on the worst nights.
I can't stop myself.
Caffeine's a hell of a drug.
28/12/08
Breakslow
Ah, Katimamornings.
I hate them.
I'm pretty normal though.
I think that a very normal thought to have in the morning when you're woken up by banging on your bedroom door is: "Oh god, let me throw something at them, let me find something blunt and heavy to THROW AT THEM".
I also hate it when D wakes up like five minutes before my personal alarm clock rings, and he's all like "Come on Gabe, time to get up. Slowpoke!".
I DESPISE it.
If he even lightly taps me to make me wake up one day, I swear, he is getting a Katimamorningpunch to the FACE.
Yeah, today's one of those mornings.
I haven't blogged very much in the mornings, and yes, I've just woken up, after being one of the last people to go to bed.
Ooh no I didn't sleep very well either, it was a -very- windy night, and I'm right beside the window in my room and it -whistles-. It was a bit scary, at about 4:30 am too.
Today is another day packed with stuff, we've been doing stuff every day for the past week since we don't work anymore.
A couple workshops today.
Our PL's birthday is today, and she's leaving for half of the day.
Ah, breakfast now, I hate breakfast, I never eat breakfast but since breakfast is a "group activity", I have to wake up and attend breakfast.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
I almost got a CTI for being a few minutes late for breakfast once. Mad.
I think I'll blog about my little Katimachristmas sometime, maybe, I'm never good at promising certain types of blogs.
Karma Aspiration Linger Entity Iodine Darwin Overcast Ulysses Grievous Hawt Spectre Citron Ophilia Philharmonic Eyeless
I hate them.
I'm pretty normal though.
I think that a very normal thought to have in the morning when you're woken up by banging on your bedroom door is: "Oh god, let me throw something at them, let me find something blunt and heavy to THROW AT THEM".
I also hate it when D wakes up like five minutes before my personal alarm clock rings, and he's all like "Come on Gabe, time to get up. Slowpoke!".
I DESPISE it.
If he even lightly taps me to make me wake up one day, I swear, he is getting a Katimamorningpunch to the FACE.
Yeah, today's one of those mornings.
I haven't blogged very much in the mornings, and yes, I've just woken up, after being one of the last people to go to bed.
Ooh no I didn't sleep very well either, it was a -very- windy night, and I'm right beside the window in my room and it -whistles-. It was a bit scary, at about 4:30 am too.
Today is another day packed with stuff, we've been doing stuff every day for the past week since we don't work anymore.
A couple workshops today.
Our PL's birthday is today, and she's leaving for half of the day.
Ah, breakfast now, I hate breakfast, I never eat breakfast but since breakfast is a "group activity", I have to wake up and attend breakfast.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
I almost got a CTI for being a few minutes late for breakfast once. Mad.
I think I'll blog about my little Katimachristmas sometime, maybe, I'm never good at promising certain types of blogs.
Karma Aspiration Linger Entity Iodine Darwin Overcast Ulysses Grievous Hawt Spectre Citron Ophilia Philharmonic Eyeless
21/12/08
You better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa is coming, to town.
So today's activity with the Katimagroup was to go Christmas caroling in a senior's home. And beforehand, me, M, & J formed this club of people who weren't very much impressed by the idea of going caroling.
But you know what?
I disbanded the club afterward.
I had a genuinely good time, I really did. My job was to hold the papers with the notes and lyrics to the carols in front of D., the local guitar shop owner who is quite a singer and guitarist, and for A1 who didn't seem to play guitar nearly as much as he seemed to want to. Turns out B Flats are chords unheard of to him.
But anyway, we dazzled through the hallways of this massive centre, distributing hot apple cider (because really cold apple cider is just so untraditional, you know?) and singing our lungs out.
Ah, the looks on all the seniors' faces, it was simply heartwarming, it was.
Hitting the high notes was quite amusing for A2, because she was noticing how badly I could hit them. Silent Night was especially gruesome.
Yesterday was one of my Quiet Days again, it was a sort of a mourning day for me, even though there wasn't anything physical to mourn over. I spent most of my day in my bedroom, away from all the zombies of this house.
But I went to sleep happy, very happy indeed, so today I woke up feeling content, not as ecstatic as when I went to sleep, but enough to have a most pleasant day.
Ah, I really do have something concrete to look forward to after Katimavik, I'm so happy about it. It's just such an awesome idea, it fills me with joy.
What is it, what is it?
No, I can't reveal it, it might jinx it from ever happening.
This idea will give me things to think about when I have nothing else to think about except losing The Game.
I lost.
On that note, goodnight, sleep in time for me tomorrow, and work is done for another three weeks when I will find out what I'll be doing in Ste-Marie!
Karma Aspiration Linger Entity Iodine Darwin Overcast Ulysses Grievous Hawt Spectre Citron Ophilia Philharmonic Eyeless
Santa is coming, to town.
So today's activity with the Katimagroup was to go Christmas caroling in a senior's home. And beforehand, me, M, & J formed this club of people who weren't very much impressed by the idea of going caroling.
But you know what?
I disbanded the club afterward.
I had a genuinely good time, I really did. My job was to hold the papers with the notes and lyrics to the carols in front of D., the local guitar shop owner who is quite a singer and guitarist, and for A1 who didn't seem to play guitar nearly as much as he seemed to want to. Turns out B Flats are chords unheard of to him.
But anyway, we dazzled through the hallways of this massive centre, distributing hot apple cider (because really cold apple cider is just so untraditional, you know?) and singing our lungs out.
Ah, the looks on all the seniors' faces, it was simply heartwarming, it was.
Hitting the high notes was quite amusing for A2, because she was noticing how badly I could hit them. Silent Night was especially gruesome.
Yesterday was one of my Quiet Days again, it was a sort of a mourning day for me, even though there wasn't anything physical to mourn over. I spent most of my day in my bedroom, away from all the zombies of this house.
But I went to sleep happy, very happy indeed, so today I woke up feeling content, not as ecstatic as when I went to sleep, but enough to have a most pleasant day.
Ah, I really do have something concrete to look forward to after Katimavik, I'm so happy about it. It's just such an awesome idea, it fills me with joy.
What is it, what is it?
No, I can't reveal it, it might jinx it from ever happening.
This idea will give me things to think about when I have nothing else to think about except losing The Game.
I lost.
On that note, goodnight, sleep in time for me tomorrow, and work is done for another three weeks when I will find out what I'll be doing in Ste-Marie!
Karma Aspiration Linger Entity Iodine Darwin Overcast Ulysses Grievous Hawt Spectre Citron Ophilia Philharmonic Eyeless
18/12/08
I just had to say
Yes yes I know it's unconventional for me to blog one day after the next, let alone blog twice in a day, but I just had to say that I am listening to the corniest songs on the local radio station while covering front desk as receptionist.
I am terribly bored, but this office is pretty sweet so I'm not letting my Katimacoworker take over (:.
Listening on the messages left by people on the giant phone switchboard-thing is pretty interesting too.
Obviously, I don't answer the phone, with regards to my very slight phobia of them, especially strangers on them.
Oh man it's ringing right now.
NO I WILL NOT ANSWER, LEAVE A MESSAGE THANKS.
"1, 2, 3, 4 tell me that you love me more la la la!"
Okay so that's not as corny anymore, but most of the time it is, okay?
MY FM?
More like...
YOUR FM.
...
Final presentation in three hours, we're gonna rock the Senior's Centre.
Good day folks.
Karma Aspiration Linger Entity Iodine Darwin Overcast Ulysses Grievous Hawt Spectre Citron Ophilia Philharmonic Eyeless
I am terribly bored, but this office is pretty sweet so I'm not letting my Katimacoworker take over (:.
Listening on the messages left by people on the giant phone switchboard-thing is pretty interesting too.
Obviously, I don't answer the phone, with regards to my very slight phobia of them, especially strangers on them.
Oh man it's ringing right now.
NO I WILL NOT ANSWER, LEAVE A MESSAGE THANKS.
"1, 2, 3, 4 tell me that you love me more la la la!"
Okay so that's not as corny anymore, but most of the time it is, okay?
MY FM?
More like...
YOUR FM.
...
Final presentation in three hours, we're gonna rock the Senior's Centre.
Good day folks.
Karma Aspiration Linger Entity Iodine Darwin Overcast Ulysses Grievous Hawt Spectre Citron Ophilia Philharmonic Eyeless
Let's touch base on flow charts, okay?
Courtesy of XKCD. Thank you for making my second last day of volunteer work at Search comprehendable.
17/12/08
Sha la la la la la, Strathroy
Ohhhh don't I feel like a bad boy for taking time to blog while I'm at work.
I'm technically supposed to be calculating all the hours that I've done here, and writing down everything that I've done.
That has proven harder than I thought.
I also had a hard time yesterday putting down a job title for what it is I actually do here (for this resume writing workshop). Err.
They make me do everything, sometimes I'm with the counselling team, sometimes the administrative, usually the Community Support team, and a lot of time is spent in the activity section of the building.
I got destroyed when I tried to play pool with a client yesterday...
After this work week is over, there are big plans for the christmas break.
We're going christmas caroling on Saturday.
Yes, and I'll just sit at the back of the group (under the excuse that I'm the tallest, therefore I should be at the back) and "sing".
The entire cluster is coming over for christmas eve, aw yeah!
But you know, they want us to wear our "ugly sweaters" for ugly sweater night.
I'm not going out to buy an ugly sweater.
I'm going to wear my nice purple sweater that my grandma knitted for me a while back, thank you.
In case you didn't know, my next rotation is in Ste-Marie, QC, and I've looked it up, and it looks -so- much better than Strathroy.
They actually have a usable gymnasium, and there's a badminton league!
I am definitely going to go play there, hopefully every week, hopefully for free!
`-`-`-`-`
According to Katimavik, there are four "stages" of group living:
Introducing
Norming
Storming
Performing
Which is supposed to be some sort of cycle. We're definitely past the introduction stage, and we've already been normed, so it's a cycle between storming and performing.
There's no massive storming, where everyone just loathes each other, it's mostly tidbits with certain people sometime, at least for me.
One thing which gets to me in Katimavik is the need to share everything.
If you're feeling down, you're totally supposed to go out there and explain why you're feeling down and blah blah blah, and I'm really not like that at all, so I don't do it. People tell me I'm not supposed to do that, but I don't care, I don't like sharing like that, especially with all these people around.
Even right now, I feel I'm sharing a little too much, but obviously, blogs are a rather different form of information sharing, yes?
The other thing that gets to me in Katimavik is the whole "we do everything as a group" thing.
For example, on Tuesdays, we have this free tai chi class that this guy has been giving us for the past few weeks. Everyone seems to enjoy it.
Personally, I'm not feeling it.
But I can't not go, so I show up, do the tai chi, and leave.
I just don't like it, that's all, I don't feel the "chi", nor do I feel the need to "feel" it. Others' experiences will vary.
So that's that.
I'm having a good time in Katimavik though, don't get me wrong, and I certainly don't see myself quitting.
No one has left in my group yet, which is a bit surprising, considering some of the circumstances that I shan't describe here (at least not for now). And I've been googling katimavik, and a lot of groups seem to lose members within the first months, so we're doing alright!
That is all, back to work, zug zug.
Karma Aspiration Linger Entity Iodine Darwin Overcast Ulysses Grievous Hawt Spectre Citron Ophilia Philharmonic Eyeless
I'm technically supposed to be calculating all the hours that I've done here, and writing down everything that I've done.
That has proven harder than I thought.
I also had a hard time yesterday putting down a job title for what it is I actually do here (for this resume writing workshop). Err.
They make me do everything, sometimes I'm with the counselling team, sometimes the administrative, usually the Community Support team, and a lot of time is spent in the activity section of the building.
I got destroyed when I tried to play pool with a client yesterday...
After this work week is over, there are big plans for the christmas break.
We're going christmas caroling on Saturday.
Yes, and I'll just sit at the back of the group (under the excuse that I'm the tallest, therefore I should be at the back) and "sing".
The entire cluster is coming over for christmas eve, aw yeah!
But you know, they want us to wear our "ugly sweaters" for ugly sweater night.
I'm not going out to buy an ugly sweater.
I'm going to wear my nice purple sweater that my grandma knitted for me a while back, thank you.
In case you didn't know, my next rotation is in Ste-Marie, QC, and I've looked it up, and it looks -so- much better than Strathroy.
They actually have a usable gymnasium, and there's a badminton league!
I am definitely going to go play there, hopefully every week, hopefully for free!
`-`-`-`-`
According to Katimavik, there are four "stages" of group living:
Introducing
Norming
Storming
Performing
Which is supposed to be some sort of cycle. We're definitely past the introduction stage, and we've already been normed, so it's a cycle between storming and performing.
There's no massive storming, where everyone just loathes each other, it's mostly tidbits with certain people sometime, at least for me.
One thing which gets to me in Katimavik is the need to share everything.
If you're feeling down, you're totally supposed to go out there and explain why you're feeling down and blah blah blah, and I'm really not like that at all, so I don't do it. People tell me I'm not supposed to do that, but I don't care, I don't like sharing like that, especially with all these people around.
Even right now, I feel I'm sharing a little too much, but obviously, blogs are a rather different form of information sharing, yes?
The other thing that gets to me in Katimavik is the whole "we do everything as a group" thing.
For example, on Tuesdays, we have this free tai chi class that this guy has been giving us for the past few weeks. Everyone seems to enjoy it.
Personally, I'm not feeling it.
But I can't not go, so I show up, do the tai chi, and leave.
I just don't like it, that's all, I don't feel the "chi", nor do I feel the need to "feel" it. Others' experiences will vary.
So that's that.
I'm having a good time in Katimavik though, don't get me wrong, and I certainly don't see myself quitting.
No one has left in my group yet, which is a bit surprising, considering some of the circumstances that I shan't describe here (at least not for now). And I've been googling katimavik, and a lot of groups seem to lose members within the first months, so we're doing alright!
That is all, back to work, zug zug.
Karma Aspiration Linger Entity Iodine Darwin Overcast Ulysses Grievous Hawt Spectre Citron Ophilia Philharmonic Eyeless
14/12/08
One of my wishes
One of my sincere wishes is to one night have a war movie marathon with a big bowl of chicken/rice curry. Maybe even with Jezebelle for the pure irony of it all, and the hatred of such an event.
I love curry.
War movies are intense.
Together, they make something wonderful.
I actually have a growing list of things that I want to do when I come back to Toronto, this is definitely on it.
Karma Aspiration Linger Entity Iodine Darwin Overcast
Ulysses Grievous Hawt Spectre Citron Ophilia Philharmonic Eyeless
I love curry.
War movies are intense.
Together, they make something wonderful.
I actually have a growing list of things that I want to do when I come back to Toronto, this is definitely on it.
Karma Aspiration Linger Entity Iodine Darwin Overcast
Ulysses Grievous Hawt Spectre Citron Ophilia Philharmonic Eyeless
12/12/08
White freezies suck
"When I was a kid, I had a rice box, instead of a sand box."
The best trip of your life, the best trip of your life is when your white freezie is poisoned.
Spontaneity is the life essence of any blog, according to Kaylie and I.
She's feeling bored, so I asked her to talk at me you see.
I went back to the centre of the universe a few days ago - I saw fireworks you know. And the Katimacrew started a dance party in the very middle of Nathan Phillips Square.
I feel a bit pressured to write this blog, I hate that.
But at the same time I hate leaving a blog for too long, like I have now.
Oh how indecisive I am! Screw it, I want to write this blog, otherwise I wouldn't be writing it.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
Your task for today, reader, is to repeat that mantra as many times as you'd like. If you wouldn't like to read it, well then, obviously, don't, but after repeating that mantra for about an hour and a half, I can tell you, it's got some magic.
You know what? Even better. Gather a bunch of your wily friends and together, you repeat that mantra. Together. I dare you. Or actually, go to Toronto Sprouts on Sundays from 6-8, it's worth it. The whole Katimacrew enjoyed it, and you will too!
Mantras mantras mantras.
What else, well, this is my second last week of work.
I'm already done a third of my Katimavik experience you know! The time is flying.
Psst, I'm supposed to be working right now. I think I have to go cook Lasagna for some clients soon. Raaah!
Oh, our water at the Katimahouse has been brown for the past couple days, and yesterday it turned milky white. Yay!
More writings, more details to come, most definitely.
BFN
Karma Aspiration Linger Entity Iodine Darwin Overcast
Ulysses Grievous Hawt Spectre Citron Ophilia Philharmonic Eyeless
The best trip of your life, the best trip of your life is when your white freezie is poisoned.
Spontaneity is the life essence of any blog, according to Kaylie and I.
She's feeling bored, so I asked her to talk at me you see.
I went back to the centre of the universe a few days ago - I saw fireworks you know. And the Katimacrew started a dance party in the very middle of Nathan Phillips Square.
I feel a bit pressured to write this blog, I hate that.
But at the same time I hate leaving a blog for too long, like I have now.
Oh how indecisive I am! Screw it, I want to write this blog, otherwise I wouldn't be writing it.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
Your task for today, reader, is to repeat that mantra as many times as you'd like. If you wouldn't like to read it, well then, obviously, don't, but after repeating that mantra for about an hour and a half, I can tell you, it's got some magic.
You know what? Even better. Gather a bunch of your wily friends and together, you repeat that mantra. Together. I dare you. Or actually, go to Toronto Sprouts on Sundays from 6-8, it's worth it. The whole Katimacrew enjoyed it, and you will too!
Mantras mantras mantras.
What else, well, this is my second last week of work.
I'm already done a third of my Katimavik experience you know! The time is flying.
Psst, I'm supposed to be working right now. I think I have to go cook Lasagna for some clients soon. Raaah!
Oh, our water at the Katimahouse has been brown for the past couple days, and yesterday it turned milky white. Yay!
More writings, more details to come, most definitely.
BFN
Karma Aspiration Linger Entity Iodine Darwin Overcast
Ulysses Grievous Hawt Spectre Citron Ophilia Philharmonic Eyeless
24/11/08
Q: When is a vampire not a vampire?
A: When it goes out in daylight, sees itself in a mirror, doesn’t drink human blood, and still manages to suck.
Twilight.
P.S. If you didn't know, I'm living with a billet family for ten days in Strathroy. I'll post a better entry soon.
Twilight.
P.S. If you didn't know, I'm living with a billet family for ten days in Strathroy. I'll post a better entry soon.
17/11/08
Post-Apocalyptic Strathvegas
O god, why have you forsaken mini Sin City?
So apparently, it's a normal thing that the town floods every year.
The local park with swings and soccer park is, I kid you not, SUBMERGED in water.
I had to walk to the grocery store today (yes, I am a house manager this week) and anything lower than the road is -flooded-. It's so cool.
I want to build a raft and pretend I'm in Venice and drift along with all the geese and ducks (who still haven't left for some reason).
Saddest point of my day:
I'm walking along, and the lake next to me (which used to be a small-ish forest) has got a bunch of geese drifting along happily (even though the water must be terribly cold). And on a whim, they all start flying away!
Ah, almost all of them fly away.
One goose is left behind, and perhaps because of some injury, it is unable to fly! It flaps its wings helplessly, and bellows out this horrifying cry of despair while the other geese fly away. And everything was silent except for this one goose crying desperately over and over again. So depressing.
In other news (much happier, I must say), I met my billeting family today!
They are so awesome.
They have a pet snake, and some kittens.
They're all a happy family, they have a young daughter, and the dad is a gamer!
Oh em gee, after two months of almost no video gamez, I can ease my cravings with the latest technologiez in gaming! Yeeeee!
And they're gonna be taking me to London - to CIVILIZATION!
We might even go see a movie - bear in mind Strathvegas doesn't even have a movie theatre.
It's going to be an awesome ten days.
I leave Thursday.
Farewell in joyfulness,
So apparently, it's a normal thing that the town floods every year.
The local park with swings and soccer park is, I kid you not, SUBMERGED in water.
I had to walk to the grocery store today (yes, I am a house manager this week) and anything lower than the road is -flooded-. It's so cool.
I want to build a raft and pretend I'm in Venice and drift along with all the geese and ducks (who still haven't left for some reason).
Saddest point of my day:
I'm walking along, and the lake next to me (which used to be a small-ish forest) has got a bunch of geese drifting along happily (even though the water must be terribly cold). And on a whim, they all start flying away!
Ah, almost all of them fly away.
One goose is left behind, and perhaps because of some injury, it is unable to fly! It flaps its wings helplessly, and bellows out this horrifying cry of despair while the other geese fly away. And everything was silent except for this one goose crying desperately over and over again. So depressing.
In other news (much happier, I must say), I met my billeting family today!
They are so awesome.
They have a pet snake, and some kittens.
They're all a happy family, they have a young daughter, and the dad is a gamer!
Oh em gee, after two months of almost no video gamez, I can ease my cravings with the latest technologiez in gaming! Yeeeee!
And they're gonna be taking me to London - to CIVILIZATION!
We might even go see a movie - bear in mind Strathvegas doesn't even have a movie theatre.
It's going to be an awesome ten days.
I leave Thursday.
Farewell in joyfulness,
Karma Aspiration Linger Entity Iodine Darwin Overcast
Ulysses Grievous Hawt Spectre Citron Ophilia Philharmonic Eyeless
15/11/08
Penelope
Penelope!
Who are you?
I don't know who you are!
Do you know what's sad, Penelope?
The corn, the cornfields! They're RAZED! GONE! All I see are small cut stalks, an endless field of cut stalks!
WHY?
There is no cover anymore!
You can't drift into the corn, you can't get lost there!
All there is: flat.
Flat, you can walk through it, but what's the point?
All around you, all you see, is flat, with bits of corn stalks lying there.
Penelope, you must fix this at once.
Or maybe, maybe, Penelope, I should walk to the farther corn fields.
Maybe the farmers there are lazy, or are considerate of my feelings for corn.
Hey Penelope, I sleep under a corn, you know.
Yes, yes you know what I did?
I green taped a corn to the wall next to me.
It has no face - it's empty.
But that's alright, the corn is devoid of a face, but that's because the corn is my canvas.
I sleep beside a canvas.
Maybe in the morning one day I'll wake up and see into the corn, and instead of a blank corn canvas, I shall see it filled.
Penelope, one day, that corn will be a completed canvas.
But until then, it's just a piece of corn plastered with green tape stuck to a wall, which one day will fall while I'm having a nightmare and will no doubt save me from my worst trip yet.
Who are you?
I don't know who you are!
Do you know what's sad, Penelope?
The corn, the cornfields! They're RAZED! GONE! All I see are small cut stalks, an endless field of cut stalks!
WHY?
There is no cover anymore!
You can't drift into the corn, you can't get lost there!
All there is: flat.
Flat, you can walk through it, but what's the point?
All around you, all you see, is flat, with bits of corn stalks lying there.
Penelope, you must fix this at once.
Or maybe, maybe, Penelope, I should walk to the farther corn fields.
Maybe the farmers there are lazy, or are considerate of my feelings for corn.
Hey Penelope, I sleep under a corn, you know.
Yes, yes you know what I did?
I green taped a corn to the wall next to me.
It has no face - it's empty.
But that's alright, the corn is devoid of a face, but that's because the corn is my canvas.
I sleep beside a canvas.
Maybe in the morning one day I'll wake up and see into the corn, and instead of a blank corn canvas, I shall see it filled.
Penelope, one day, that corn will be a completed canvas.
But until then, it's just a piece of corn plastered with green tape stuck to a wall, which one day will fall while I'm having a nightmare and will no doubt save me from my worst trip yet.
Karma Aspiration Linger Entity Iodine Darwin Overcast
Ulysses Grievous Hawt Spectre Citron Ophilia Philharmonic Eyeless
10/11/08
From the Centre of the Universe to the centre of Nothingness in four hours.
Back in Strathvegas.
I'm feeling pretty good.
I had a most marvelous time in Toronto with my lovely friends.
Toronto is amazing.
A cliche is once again reborn: You never know what you've got till it's gone.
Toronto is AWESOME.
The high rise buildings.
The streets, the many many streets.
The people, the diversity.
THE AMOUNT OF THINGS OPEN AFTER 8:00 PM.
Toronto really is a wonderful city. I've missed being in the centre of the universe. It was a breath of fresh air to see so much activity, even if it was for only 48 hours.
I guess this makes Strathvegas look like a shithole.
It's not that bad here, really. Obviously it's a big change, but well, it's not like I'm choking 24/7 because I'm in the middle of the nowhere.
I certainly would NOT be able to live here permanently. I'd get sick of it, sick sick sick of it. I don't think I'd ever get sick of Toronto, it's massive. And awesome.
Have I ever told you how much I've missed Toronto?
I'm feeling pretty good.
I had a most marvelous time in Toronto with my lovely friends.
Toronto is amazing.
A cliche is once again reborn: You never know what you've got till it's gone.
Toronto is AWESOME.
The high rise buildings.
The streets, the many many streets.
The people, the diversity.
THE AMOUNT OF THINGS OPEN AFTER 8:00 PM.
Toronto really is a wonderful city. I've missed being in the centre of the universe. It was a breath of fresh air to see so much activity, even if it was for only 48 hours.
I guess this makes Strathvegas look like a shithole.
It's not that bad here, really. Obviously it's a big change, but well, it's not like I'm choking 24/7 because I'm in the middle of the nowhere.
I certainly would NOT be able to live here permanently. I'd get sick of it, sick sick sick of it. I don't think I'd ever get sick of Toronto, it's massive. And awesome.
Have I ever told you how much I've missed Toronto?
Karma Aspiration Linger Entity Iodine Darwin Overcast
Ulysses Grievous Hawt Spectre Citron Ophilia Philharmonic Eyeless.
29/10/08
The Corn Bandits
Strathvegas gets old real quick.
Solution: Corn.
Lots of it.
We're surrounded by cornfields.
And the corn isn't getting picked.
So when L came over we first hid corn all over the house (people are still finding some to this day).
Then with that corn, we drew faces and became the true corn bandits.
The field.
One of our first targets - the hostage corn strapped to the chair in someone's front yard.
The 'ol "sneakers on power lines" trick - except with corn.
The pirate corn on his mast - the Strathroy-Caradoc fountain.
Corn on the tracks. With the wind blowing just right, one can hear the corn's tortured screams yelling "Save me, save me!"
Gangster corn and me having an awkward conversation in the Strathroy Train Station - which is a cabin smaller than the room I'm in at this moment.
"You've got mail."
New meaning to "baby corn".
"Hmm, let's go check out the local dreamhouses... Why, that's rather silly of me, I shall just live in a cornfield for the rest of my days instead!"
This bike is quite literally powered by pure ethanol fuel.
... Er... A corny house? Yes.
"Corn merging ahead".
Oh we got stopped by the cops too. Apparently we're not allowed into the local parks after dark. Summary of conversation:
Cop#1: Hey, you guys know you're not supposed to be here after dark right?
One of us: Oh. Uh. Sorry officers, we didn't know.
Cop#1: That's alright, and we stopped you because we thought you were someone else. We still want your information though. Got ID?
All of us: (Inward sigh)
Cop#2 (While #1 collects our information): So what do you have in those bags anyway?
One of us: ... Corn.
Me: Yeah man just corn, not drugs or anything like that! *Nervous laugh*
*Officers look inside bags*
*Gives us weird looks*
Cop #1: Alright, all clear. Thanks.
All of us: Yes, thank you.
*Cops drive away*
All of us: %@#$#$!@!
Strathvegas 4 lyfe.
Check back sometime. More corn banditry every weekend.
Solution: Corn.
Lots of it.
We're surrounded by cornfields.
And the corn isn't getting picked.
So when L came over we first hid corn all over the house (people are still finding some to this day).
Then with that corn, we drew faces and became the true corn bandits.
The field.
One of our first targets - the hostage corn strapped to the chair in someone's front yard.
The 'ol "sneakers on power lines" trick - except with corn.
The pirate corn on his mast - the Strathroy-Caradoc fountain.
Corn on the tracks. With the wind blowing just right, one can hear the corn's tortured screams yelling "Save me, save me!"
Gangster corn and me having an awkward conversation in the Strathroy Train Station - which is a cabin smaller than the room I'm in at this moment.
"You've got mail."
New meaning to "baby corn".
"Hmm, let's go check out the local dreamhouses... Why, that's rather silly of me, I shall just live in a cornfield for the rest of my days instead!"
This bike is quite literally powered by pure ethanol fuel.
... Er... A corny house? Yes.
"Corn merging ahead".Oh we got stopped by the cops too. Apparently we're not allowed into the local parks after dark. Summary of conversation:
Cop#1: Hey, you guys know you're not supposed to be here after dark right?
One of us: Oh. Uh. Sorry officers, we didn't know.
Cop#1: That's alright, and we stopped you because we thought you were someone else. We still want your information though. Got ID?
All of us: (Inward sigh)
Cop#2 (While #1 collects our information): So what do you have in those bags anyway?
One of us: ... Corn.
Me: Yeah man just corn, not drugs or anything like that! *Nervous laugh*
*Officers look inside bags*
*Gives us weird looks*
Cop #1: Alright, all clear. Thanks.
All of us: Yes, thank you.
*Cops drive away*
All of us: %@#$#$!@!
Strathvegas 4 lyfe.
Check back sometime. More corn banditry every weekend.
Karma Aspiration Linger Entity Iodine Darwin Overcast
Ulysses Grievous Hawt Spectre Citron Ophilia Philharmonic Eyeless.
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