Work stinks.

Ever since we got renovated, it's been a hell of a lot busier! We're short of staff, and there's more tables than before...

All the old people seemed to have disappeared, and White Spot has suddenly attracted all the young people. It's kinda fun, actually, because younger people means the servers have lots of fun telling each other where all the hot guys/girls are sitting, and we all check them out and judge. The renovations has also included a change in booths so that the..erm...larger?... people can't fit in them anymore, so that gets them kinda pissed. I imagine it must be really embarassing for them, and it's really pretty sad. A few days ago it was especially sad because the lobby was full of people waiting to sit, and I noticed the next people on the list were overweight, and I doubted they would be able to fit in the booth. What was I to do? Assume they didn't fit and then seat the next people so that when I was asked why people were seated before them, I'd have to tell them they were too large? The other option was to just try and seat them anyways, and if they didn't fit, I could tell them that I'll give them the next table with chairs available, but they'd have to wait a bit. I went with the latter. They didn't fit, but at least I had an excuse for making them wait longer. It's sad, really.

Today one of the servers was not bussing any of her tables, so I flat out refused to bus them, and she wound up getting no tables till she cleaned her own.

And then, some other servers refused to bus their tables, so I said to myself, "If they're not gonna bus their tables, I'm not gonna bring their tables cutlery." The plan didn't work out too well because the other hostess, who thinks she's in charge, was bitching at me to get the cutlery. What could I do? People needed forks and knives to eat.

One of the things that bugs me most is when people make me get a cloth to wipe down their seats because they find one teeny tiny grain of salt on it. C'mon people! The grain of salt is probably cleaner than your ass so stop worrying about it!

*sigh*

I have to get back to writing my sociology essay. Silly sociology. It thinks it's a science.

I have the best boyfriend in the entire world!

TOMORROW IS MY BIRTHDAY!!!!

01. Bought everyone in the pub a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said 'I love you' and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Done a striptease
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long, and watch the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Touched an iceberg
20. Slept under the stars
21. Changed a baby's diaper
22. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
23. Watched a meteor shower
24. Gotten drunk on champagne
25. Given more than you can afford to charity
26. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
27. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
28. Had a food fight
29. Bet on a winning horse
30. Taken a sick day when youfre not ill
31. Asked out a stranger
32. Had a snowball fight
33. Photocopied your bottom on the office photocopier
34. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
35. Held a lamb
36. Enacted a favorite fantasy
37. Taken a midnight skinny dip
38. Taken an ice cold bath
39. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
40. Seen a total eclipse
41. Ridden a roller coaster
42. Hit a home run
43. Fit three weeks miraculously into three days
44. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
45. Adopted an accent for an entire day
46. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
47. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
48. Had two hard drives for your computer
49. Visited all 50 states
50. Loved your job for all accounts
51. Taken care of someone who was shit faced
52. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
53. Had amazing friends
54. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
55. Watched wild whales
56. Stolen a sign
57. Backpacked in Europe
58. Taken a road-trip
59. Rock climbing
60. Lied to foreign government's official in that country to avoid notice
61. Midnight walk on the beach
62. Sky diving
63. Visited Ireland
64. Been heartbroken longer then you were actually in love
65. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
66. Visited Japan
67. Benchpressed your own weight
68. Milked a cow
69. Alphabetized your records
70. Pretended to be a superhero
71. Sung karaoke
72. Lounged around in bed all day
73. Posed nude in front of strangers
74. Scuba diving
75. Got it on to 'Let's Get It On' by Marvin Gaye
76. Kissed in the rain
77. Played in the mud
78. Played in the rain
79. Gone to a drive-in theater
80. Done something you should regret, but donft regret it
81. Visited the Great Wall of China
82. Discovered that someone whofs not supposed to have known about your blog has discovered your blog
83. Dropped Windows in favor of something better
84. Started a business
85. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
86. Toured ancient sites
87. Taken a martial arts class
88. Swordfought for the honor of a woman
89. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
90. Gotten married
91. Been in a movie
92. Crashed a party
93. Loved someone you shouldnft have
94. Kissed someone so passionately it made them dizzy
95. Gotten divorced
96. Had sex at the office
97. Gone without food for 5 days
98. Made cookies from scratch
99. Won first prize in a costume contest
100. Ridden a gondola in Venice
101. Gotten a tattoo
102. Found that the texture of some materials can turn you on
103. Rafted the Snake River
104. Been on television news programs as an 'expert'
105. Got flowers for no reason
106. Masturbated in a public place
107. Got so drunk you don't remember anything
108. Been addicted to some form of illegal drug
109. Performed on stage
110. Been to Las Vegas
111. Recorded music
112. Eaten shark
113. Had a one-night stand
114. Gone to Thailand
115. Seen Siouxsie live
116. Bought a house
117. Been in a combat zone
118. Buried one/both of your parents
119. Made a movie
120. Been on a cruise ship
121. Spoken more than one language fluently
122. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
123. Bounced a check
124. Performed in Rocky Horror
125. Read - and understood - your credit report
126. Raised children
127. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
128. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
129. Created and named your own constellation of stars
130. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
131. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
132. Called or written your Congress person
132a. Had them write back
133. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
134. c more than once?
135. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
136. Sang loudly in the car, and didnft stop when you knew someone was looking 138. Had plastic surgery
139. Survived an accident that you shouldnft have survived
140. Wrote articles for a large publication
141. Lost over 100 pounds
142. Held someone while they were having a flashback
143. Piloted an airplane
144. Petted a stingray
145. Broken someonefs heart
146. Helped an animal give birth fish countc
147. Been fired or laid off from a job
148. Won money on a TV game show
149. Broken a bone
150. Killed a human being
151. Gone on an African photo safari
152. Ridden a motorcycle
153. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100mph
154. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
155. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
156. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
157. Ridden a horse
158. Had major surgery
159. Had sex on a moving train
160. Had a snake as a pet
161. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
162. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
163. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
164. Visited more foreign countries than US states
165. Visited all 7 continents
166. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
167. Eaten kangaroo meat
168. Fallen in love at an ancient Mayan burial ground
169. Been a sperm or egg donor
170. Eaten sushi
171. Had your picture in the newspaper
172. Had 2 (or more) healthy romantic relationships for over a year in your lifetime
173. Changed someonefs mind about something you care deeply about
174. Gotten someone fired for their actions
175. Gone back to school
176. Parasailed
177. Changed your name
178. Petted a cockroach
179. Eaten fried green tomatoes
180. Read The Iliad
181. Selected one gimportanth author who you missed in school, and read
182. Dined in a restaurant and stolen silverware, plates, cups because your apartment needed them
183. c and gotten 86Œed from the restaurant because you did it so many times, they figured out it was you
184. Taught yourself art from scratch
185. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
186. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
187. Skipped all your school reunions
188. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
189. Been elected to public office
190. Written your own computer language
191. Thought to yourself that youfre living your dream
192. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
193. Built your own PC from parts
194. Sold your own artwork to someone who didnft know you
195. Had a booth at a street fair
196. Dyed your hair
197. Been a DJ
198. Found out someone was going to dump you via LiveJournal
199. Written your own role playing game
200. Been arrested

[Sam seats a couple on a date]

"Just to let you know, the special for today is Salmon Primavera with a half caesar for .98, and our feature drink is all beer on tap for .99."

[Sam walks away...suddenly comes to a halt]

[Sam thinks, "Oh shit, no it's not! It's the steak and prawns for .98, and the feature drink is all specialty coffees for .99. You just told them the dinner special!!! It's okay, just walk away, and come back later, praying they didn't order the special."]

I've made SOOOOoooo many mistakes there!! Today, I got a wake up call from my manager asking me why I wasn't at work. And he was so nice about it, too! He apologized for waking me up!!!! I honestly thought I started later on today, but I guess I looked at the grid wrong because the person who started at the time that I thought I started had their starting time right above me (*phew* that's a bit confusing, isn't it?) Apparently, it's a mistake everyone makes all the time. For example, a server did the exact same thing as me today. But still...ooooops...*blushes.* Other mistakes I've made have been leaving money at the front desk where anyone can take it, dropping a glass, seating the wrong people first, letting someone go scot free without paying for their meal, approaching servers asking if they knew where another server was, only to find out the person I was asking was the person I was looking for...umm....overseating people in one section, seating people in a closed section and forgeting to tell a server they're sitting there, so they wind up waiting...and the list goes on and on. But hey! Some of the problems in the restaurant aren't my fault, and people get pissed at me! For example, very large parties coming in, and getting mad because I seat people before them. You cannot get mad at me if there are smaller tables available, and all of the tables that can be moved together to accomodate larger parties are occupied by people eating. If they come in with a large group, they should've thought of making a reservation!!!! Or else they shouldn't be mad for waiting for half an hour. Parties of people with...oh, six, seven, even eight, I can understand if they come in on short notice and it's taking forever to seat them. But parties of ten, twelve, or twenty five? COME ON!!!

I'm also pissed when people don't speak loud enough in an obviously loud restaurant, and when I ask their name, I can't hear them properly, ask for clarification, but still wind up writing their names down wrong. It's not my fault if they're too quiet!!! It really isn't. For me, I accept that I probably wasn't loud enough. Then there are the people who give their last names...difficult to spell and difficult to pronounce last names. Just give me a name like Bob, and I seriously won't know the difference. I do not appreciate being told I need a hearing aid.

Also, when I ask people how their meal was, I understand if they start voicing what they were unhappy about. What pisses me off is when I apologize for what happened, then ask if they would like to speak to my manager, then they say no, but after continue to rant about it to me. It's like their afraid of the manager or something, when really, it's probably in their best interests to speak to him cuz he'll probably give them their meal free or something like that.

And to the lady today...no, I cannot ring up gift certificates. I'm sorry you're in a rush, but perhaps more careful planning on your part would've been better? Not coming in when it's busy, getting mad because I have to fetch my manager who does do the whole gift certificates business. It'd take all of five minutes, it really would...

Another thing I cannot stand is when people complain for waiting when they see empty tables around. Maybe it's because if I seat you there, no one will be able to serve you, seeing as how there's no server there!!! Or other times, a server is really overflowed with people, and I really can't seat someone there because the server will get pissed at me, and because the server simply won't have enough time to give good service. Otherwise, I could just seat them in another section, where someone isn't as busy, and then they'd get more attention and better service. But NOOooo...they complain...sometimes even seating themselves at a dirty table, and then wind up complaining when their server was too busy to pay attention to their every desire. BAAAAAaaaah! Ah yes, I especially cannot stand when people think they're more important than everyone else and seat themselves. Then people in front start, understandable, questioning me. BAAAaaaah!

So yes, I think I've done enough complaining for today. But hey! Don't get me wrong! My job is actually kinda fun lots of the times, especially when I deal with the cheery, more people friendly customers. I like the small random bits of conversation I go through, and getting to know the other less bitchy servers. One man, today, kept saying "Hi Sam!" to me when I passed by, and as he was leaving, he gave me a handshake and told me I did a fantastic job. *beams* YAY!!!

He's gone...

"Just to let you know, the special for today is the Chicken Almondine with a half caesar salad for .98, our soup of the day is chicken noodle along with our regular clam chowder, and our feature drink is a bellini for .99".

Working as a hostess has certainly been an interesting experience. I spent the first two hours following around a girl named Brittany, watching her put on a smile for everyone. Hostesses have the weirdest jobs. When people come in, I greet them, ask them for his or her name and how many people will be joining him or her. Then I ask them to sit as I look around the restaurant for a server's area that is relatively empty, making sure not to overload the server with people so they won't get pissed at me. Of course, this was a difficult task because no one handed me a seating map that shows which server serves in what area. arrrg!!! Then I clean the tables, set them (making sure to wipe each and every knife clean, then go back to the lobby and grab enough menus, seat them, tell them the specials, and inform them their server will be with them in a minute. Often, the customers don't realize I'm just a hostess, and will order a drink from me, which I have to get if the server looks busy. Oh, and I am just learning how to carry a tray full of glasses and plates...must be careful not to bump into anyone! My other jobs include making sure to take care of parties of 6 or more people by setting up with more tables together, and telling the kitchen a large party has arrived. Also, I'm supposed to clean the windows when they get dirty, clean the washrooms, remember to thank people for coming as they leave, take care of interac and credit card transactions, clean the floors, sort dirty dishes...blech! I never really realized how poor hygeine standards are in restaurants. For example, once, I cleaned up this table and had chocolate all over my hands, and then Brittany told me to set a table. I told her I'd be back in a minute, after I washed my hands, but she just handed me a damp cloth to wipe my hands with. It was the damp cloth we use to clean tables!!! Eeeeew....

I think I may have been unfair and made this job seem much more difficult than it actually is...but it really isn't *that* bad, I suppose. Stu, my manager, told me I have to be less shy, but other than that, I think I am doing okay. Brittany #2 (yes, there are two), told me the job really isn't that hard. Hopefully she's right.

Sooo....I haven't blogged in awhile, have I?

IB results are in. And I am...well...as I said to Michael...somewhat disappointed, somewhat surprised and happy, but wholly relieved. It was not as high as my school predicted, but certainly higher than my own predicted.

My results: [teacher predicted][my predicted] actual
English - [6][6] 5 <-- most disappointed about that one

Biology - [5][4] 4 <-- ho hum

Math Studies- [6][3] 4 <-- ho hum

History - [4][3] 4 <-- As Catherine said...she's always right. Not bad considering I got a 3 on my IA.

Chemistry - [4][3]4 <-- ho hum

French - [4][5]6 <-- KISS MY ASS BAROIS!

English EE -- [?][B/A] B <-- *shrugs*

TOK -- [B][B]B <-- Huzzah! Philosophy credits!

Grand [or not so grand] total of 29 versus the teacher predicted of 31 and my predicted of 26. Better than what I expected, worse than what I'd hoped for. There's no real difference between a 31 and a 29, anyways...both get me into UBC without a scholarship. And hey! How many people can say they earned their IB diploma while writing their exams with the stomach flu?

CONGRATS TO EVERYONE!!!

IB EXAMS ARE OVER!!!!

Hurrah!!!

By the looks of it, I am the only person who actually found IB exam time physically draining. Most people found it mentally draining...but you try writing three weeks of intense exams with the stomach flu! Too bad on the bio exam they didn't ask for an example of a virus...I could've coughed all over the page and then the examiner would get a first hand example. Wait...I coughed all over the paper anyways. HEY! I coughed all over it, and the IB teachers are going to touch it, and the examiner is going to touch it...stomach flu for everyone! Mia ha ha.

Anyone have an extra ,000 laying around? I want to go to England! UBC has offered me, and I all the other arts students who were offered early admission, the option of doing first year university in England! Let's see...I have five dollars in my wallet...,995 to go!

And a great way to celebrate the end of IB exams was our shopping outing today! It was great! I felt like...one of the girls! Shopping is faaaaaar more enjoyable when I'm not with my mom. And I had Yogen Fruz (I probably spelled that wrong)...mmm...frozen ice something or other (yogurt?)

I'm in a state of euphoria as I look back on the past two weeks of sleepless nights, an untimely sickness, and the feeling of the inability to make my way through a seemingly insuperable number of exagghms!

*takes a big breath*

12 exams down....3 to go!

*takes a bigger breath*

And like Sarah said, if the feeling is great now, then I'm especially looking forward to embracing any emotion that comes with the end of IB exams.

Hmm...Did I jinx it?

On Wednesday, March 17, I said, "I am paranoid about getting really really sick during May exams..."

Arrg me mateys!

Of all the times to get sick! It started on Thursday...I felt really cold that day, and had a sore throat. I just can't keep any food down. Threw up after the exam...but I felt much better after that...though I don't think I can keep my dinner in for much longer...and I have a headache. GRRRRrrr!!!!

BUT NO MORE MATH FOREVER AND EVER! Paper II was pure evil though...*shakes fist*

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH...AGAIN! You're an old hag like me. Now to wait for Catherine to join the dark side...

My computer is working!!! The font on everything seems to be ten times as big though,and the tower is making funny noises. But so far, things are looking good...though...I am unsure of how long this will last for.

Here is a survey I stole from Cafifi! Because, you know, it's not like I have enough things to do at the moment(starts hyperventilating).

//10 bands/people you like
1. Nickelback
2. Evanescence
3. Three Days Grace
4. Norah Jones
5. Etta James
6. Ella Fitzgerald
7. Nat King Cole
8. Natalie Cole
9. The Temptations
10. The Supremes

//09 things that annoy you:
1. my mom
2. people who don't know when to use their, they're, and there
3. leg warmers
4. 80's music, though there's the odd exception here and there
5. Jason Wu snoring...singing...
6. skirts on top of pants
7. people who are mean to others for no reason, or people who do have a reason to dislike someone else, but does not even entitle them to a bit of respect
8. Barois
9. superficial people...people who only want to make friends with pretty people

//08 things you like to wear:
1. jeans
2. sleeveless shirts
3. halter tops
4. hoodies
5. runners
6. pajamas!
7. skirts
8. anything fancy

//07 things you're looking forward to:
1. The end of IB exams.
2. the Cuban dance! The Cuban dance!
3. moving out
4. The IB Dinner/Dance
5. summer
6. my uncle coming from Toronto!!!
7. TROY!!!

//06 things you say most everyday:
1. Pardon?
2. I'm sorry, could you say that again? I didn't hear it.
3. I'm sorry
4. I'm going to fail!
5. [shoves food in someone's face]Would you like some?
6. Don't forget! I owe you $___![which reminds me! Anthony, I owe you , and Sarah, I owe you .50. Please, if I owe anyone else...REMIND ME!!!]
//05 things you do everyday:
1. shower
2. brush my teeth
3. symbicort
4. hit my alarm clock one too many times in the morning
5. procrastinate

//04 people you want to spend more time with:
1. Catherine
2. Bobby
3. Anthony
4. Inderbir
[My guess is we'll be spending a LOT more time together in the summer...aah summer...hurry!!!]

//03 movies you could watch over and over again:
1. Sleeping Beauty
2. Musicals of any sort
3. A Knight's Tale *sigh* Heath Ledger

//02 of your favorite songs at the moment:
1. Drown in My Own Tears -- Etta James
2. Ain't Too Proud To Beg -- The Temptations

//01 thing you would wish for:
1. Two of my uncles to get better

Thursday has got to be one of the most difficult days of my life. The rest of the time up till now was no walk in the mark either...Etta James, I swear you have a song for my every emotion.

Drown in My Own Tears
Etta James

It brings a tear into my eyes
When I begin to realize
I cry so much since you've been gone
I guess I'll drown in my own tears

I sit and cry just like a child
My pouring tears are running wild
If you don't think that you'll be home soon
I guess I'll drown oh yeah in my own tears

I know it's true into each life must be some rain
Lord some rain has got to fall
I'm so blue here without you
It keeps raining and just raining more and more

Oh why don't you come on home
And I won't be so all alone
If you don't think that you'll be home soon
I guess I'll drown in my own tears

The good news about the barbeque at my place yesterday was that most of my stuff managed to stay in tact with all my cousins probing everything. I suppose it's because we kept them occupied by playing blitz. Josh and Brandon were a team, and they're actually quite good together! Brandon is in charge of flipping the pile, and josh watches the ten pile and the three cards beside it. It's really hard to put down cards before Josh because ALL he's doing is waiting for a particular card, so as soon as he sees one go down, he puts his card down. But YAY! I finally beat my aunt at Blitz. Hurrah!

As cute as Josh and Brandon may be, they are BRATS! Josh was squishing a picture I gave to my aunt because he tried getting Brandon to read the message I wrote on the back of it, and when I took it from them and refused to give it back, Josh attempted to blackmail me by saying, "If you don't give me the picture, I'm going to tell your dad you have a boyfriend! OOOooooo!" He's BAD!

and I've got to run...time to head out to my grandma's place. I'll most likely be there late, too. Bah!

I'm SO loving this new bus route home! I save about twenty minutes! I also love the 24 hour Max's and Subway around here...so that now, when I'm waiting for the bus and starving after school, I can grab something to eat. OH! Plus, there are about 8 or so slurpee machines! Mmmm...I guess the bad thing is that after I get off the skytrain, I'm enveloped by that weird Subway smell.

Oh! I guess it's late and everyone already knows, but I got into UBC! Hurrah!!!! I got my letter from UBC on Friday...everyone in my family knows I got in now, because on the envelope it says, "Congratulations! Welcome to UBC!" BUT YAY!!! I really did not expect to get in...did not expect that at all!

Spring is evil...causes far too many problems. Arrr...ARrr me mateys!

Oh, and my Blitz streak is over. NOOOOoooo!!!

I HATE SPRING!!!

I GOT INTO UVIC!!!! YAY!!! *jumps up and down* I'm not winding up in Kwantlen!!! Well...unless I fail my diploma...eeee...
I so badly want a change. I mean, I went to St. Thomas More, and didn't really like the move to Vancouver...but I've come to realize that if I don't change schools, I get bored. Very very bored. I was so very very desperate to get out of OLPH, because I could not stand that school, or the people there. Ideal was good in the beginning, but after the exact same routine day after day after day, it did get tiresome. A move to Churchill was a nice change at first, but then, I didn't like the people in the regular program, and IB was a better alternative. BUT TWO YEARS IN THE SAME PROGRAMME WITH THE SAME EVERYTHING! Same teachers, same classmates...Of course, with a new school comes leaving some of the things that I don't want to, like all you guys. Even if we all go to the same university, I don't think it'll ever be as they are now. That's not to say we won't all be friends, cuz I definitely think we'll stay in touch...but we won't have all our classes together, and thus we'll wind up making new friends. I'm so confused. I want to experience something new...but I want to keep what I love about now. Can't I have both?

I am paranoid about getting really really sick during May exams...and my lungs are crap right now...well, they've always been crap, but now they're really really bad cuz I haven't been exercising. So yes, I have been going running lately...let's see how long I can keep this up for. Let's see how long it takes for me to be able to adjust such that I don't cough to death after the running stops.

I cried twice yesterday...both as a result of laughing so hard....once after playing Posoy Dos (Big 2) with my mom and my sister, and the other when my sister stole all the blankets and wouldn't give them back.

I despise shopping...but I saw a nice tank top that I'm considering purchasing. I almost got it, but then my sister told me to wait cuz it might go on sale. But am I really one to wait for these kinda things? That means going back and checking every so often to see, which means more trips to the mall...*shudder*

So yes, my sister and I had quite a bit of fun shopping. Correction: fun is the wrong word. I didn't hate it as much as I usually do. We tried on clothes...so so many clothes...dreamt of hotter days and tried on bikinis and bathing suits...hurry up summer!

So the rumours are true. Sometimes I wish I was more mathematically challenged.

I am exhausted!

I just came back from Victoria...but I didn't sleep until 3:30 last night! Jess and I were supposed to be studying in the library at the downstairs of the hotel, but we wound up talking for hours. It's interesting...we are complete opposites of each other...and yet, we share so much in common. We're roughly the same age, our parents are both messed up in similar ways, we get annoyed by the family...and I talked about my problems, and she talked about hers, and we both completely understood each other. There wasn't any of the "Oh, I feel so sorry for you" or "I can't believe you have to go through that" or "I can't believe your parents do that to you." Sure, we bash our parents, but we also understand that they do try...that much of what they do is for us...that we don't need pity, but rather, someone who understands...and that yes, it's difficult at times, but we'll get through it. There was a mutual understanding of what we were both going through -- an understanding to the extent that we continually completed each other's sentences, because we just knew exactly where the other person was coming from. As much as I like to think that I tell my sister everything...there are some things that I don't cuz she's either not old enough, or I'm just not comfortable telling her cuz I don't want to ruin the way she sees some things. I'm gonna miss Jeanine when she's back in Prince George.

*melts*

I love Friday the 13th.

*blushes*

Of all the @#$#ing times to get sick, it had to be now...during mock exams time. @#$$! $@$%^! I keep sneezing...my head hurts...I am cold...I am stuffy...and I want to go to sleep. ^$#@! #%%^$!

Yesterday I celebrated my 18th birthday -- and turning 18 is a BIG deal in the Philippines. We had quite the celebration, although, not as big as it would have been, had I had a debu (a huge party, that's like a wedding). My sister played "Happy Birthday" on the flute for me...so sweet. Oh! And Steven played "happy birthday" for me on the guitar over msn on Friday, which was also really neat. So yes, we went to Shabusen, and ate more food than I think I've ever eaten! Everyone did, and everyone looked ready to keel over by the end of the meal. It was funny to see my little cousins mess around. They put chopsticks on their ears, and told people they were martians...don't ask. If you want to see pics of them as martians, ask me, and I'll send you the pic. Sooooo cute. Ah yes, I am getting another cousin! Hurrah!!!

After, we went to my aunt's place, and ate cake and opened presents. Mmm...chocolate cake...yay...presents! I got a jean jacket from Auntie Grace, and when I tried it on, she looked in horror and saw she left the price tag on, and quickly made a dash to rip it off...but I saw...and my goodness, it is expensive. Sure, it's a nice jean jacket, but i'd never spend that much on a piece of clothing. Oh! I got another jacket. Me thinks they're hinting at me to get rid of my blue fleece hoody. My sister got me a Chicken Soup for the Sister's Soul book, which I will try my best not to read during the next month. Oh! and my Auntie Sandra got me three out-of-print books that she went mad trying to find, and I'm looking forward to reading after the crazy month of February. She also gave me the annual gift of a journal, and I think this year is the nicest one she's given me yet...as well as a Louis Vuitton wallet. I got cool new pajamas from Auntie Chris, a shirt and bracelet from Auntie Beth (not underwear, thank goodness!!!), a gift certificate to A&B sound from Kris, and a heck of a lot of cash.

Ah yes, the unexpected trip to Auntie Grace's place left me, Sarah, and my Auntie Sanrda quite bored, so my aunt and I went to her place out at UBC to pick up the Dutch Blitz cards, as well as a few gameboards for Josh and Brandon to play with. We had a good talk on the way there, and she took me to the bank to deposit my money, because she said she wants it put away before I have it handy, and ready for loaning to my parents. She also tried teaching me how to say "No"...not so sure if it'll work though.

I FINALLY beat my aunt at dutch blitz. Hurrah!!! Probably just cuz I had good cards...but STILL! FINALLY! YAY!!

My aunt baked banana bread, and shortbread coookies...mmm....she made six dozen cookies, and they were all gone in a matter of minutes! And I thought everyone was full from lunch...

Ah yes! Merci beaucoup a tous mes amis pour les cadeaux! I love them!

L'agression sexuelle...le viol...sexual assault...rape... you people who gave it a 4 make me sick! SICK! And what's worse, many people placed it on the same scale as vandalism, or the trafficking of drugs. SICK! As for those people who even went so far as to give it a 3, or a 2, well, know that you are envied by those who fully understand and have lived through (or are at least trying to live through) what you consider insignificant. Count your blessings.

YES!!! I finally finally FINALLY got Word! No more receiving files, and having to re-format the entire thing, or not being able to read tables, and just getting things all around jumbled not only for me, but for when I send things to other people. Hurrah!

Ah yes, today during our spare, Sarah and Michael and I had a blitz tournament. Very fun. A certain cocky someone was powned! BURN!

Hmm...quoi d'autre...three days till my birthday! I'm surprisingly not very excited, or at least, not as excited as I usually am. I am, however, very curious to see what is going to happen on Friday. Ah yes, and I am hoping I get money from my relatives on my birthday, because yesterday I drained my bank account by committing suicide and buying my sister a Christina Aguilera CD. *shudder* Oh well, it was the very least I could do because she's constantly putting up with my moodiness lately that school has caused, and she also tapes shows for me that she knows I like so that I can watch them on weekends...and if I have a lot of work to do, she'll help me out anyway she can. The timeline, for example...fine piece of cutting she did. That's just me naming a few things she's done...she's done so much more. So yes, very lucky to have someone like her.

I am not looking forward to February. Sooooo much work...eeeeeeew....

Hurrah!!! Very very very happy day. Okay, so I admit that often in church, I tune out and think about other things...but goodness, am I ever glad that I heard the part about our Archbishop resigning because he turned 75 and is too old. YAY!!! As soon as I heard this, a huge smile was on my face, and others probably thought I was insensitive or whatnot because of this...but I don't care...I am happy! Glorious day! Excuse me while I go jump up and down...

I love snow days!!! Yesterday was great! I only had one period, and then Mr. Crosscheck came on the announcements to tell us we're dismissed! Then we hung around the cafeteria and taught some people the wonderful (or should I say vonderful?) game of Dutch Blitz! Ms. Jones tried to kick us out...is she allowed to do that? I mean, what if some of us really couldn't get home because they dismissed us so early?

Then Michael and I had fun walking in the snow...like our prank of putting the frozan snowman in the middle of the road and watching cars drive around it...very very funny...evil, yes...but funny.

Today didn't get off to such a good start. Something went wrong in the chem lab, and bubbles didn't form when they were supposed to. Then, we didn't even have time to finish the lab because we were so pressed for time! aaarg...

The rest of the day, however, was pretty good. The enneagram test is so dead-on for so many of us that it's scary! And I hate to admit it, too, because I generally think those kinda tests are silly and that a test can't measure those sorts of things. But Sarah...you definitely are the peacemaker...Bobby definitely the loyalist...Anthony a mix of two, though I see him closer to a type 6 than to a type 1. Florina SO a 1, Michael SO a four...so is Jerry, actually. Catherine a 4 and a 6? That sounds like a suitable mix. I'm apparently a 2...the helper...and Patton seemed to have a lot of fun cracking touchy-feely jokes with me about that.

If you want to see again what yours says, click here This is what mine says:

The Caring, Interpersonal Type:
Generous, Demonstrative, People-Pleasing, and Possessive

Basic Fear: Of being unwanted, unworthy of being loved Basic Desire: To feel loved Enneagram Two with a One-Wing: "Servant" Enneagram Two with a Three-Wing: "The Host/Hostess"

Healthy: Empathetic, compassionate, feeling for others. Caring and concerned about their needs. Thoughtful, warm-hearted, forgiving and sincere. / Encouraging and appreciative, able to see the good in others. Service is important, but takes care of self too: they are nurturing, generous, and giving — a truly loving person. At Their Best: Become deeply unselfish, humble, and altruistic: giving unconditional love to self and others. Feel it is a privilege to be in their lives of others. Average: Want to be closer to others, so start "people pleasing", becoming overly friendly, emotionally demonstrative, and full of "good intentions" about everything. Give seductive attention: approval, "strokes," flattery. Love their supreme value, and they talk about it constantly. / Become overly intimate and intrusive: they need to be needed, so they hover, meddle, and control in the name of love. Want others to depend on them: give, but expect a return: send double messages. Enveloping and possessive: the codependent, self-sacrificial person who cannot do enough for others — wearing themselves out for everyone, creating needs for themselves to fulfill. / Increasingly self-important and self-satisfied, feel they are indispensable, although they overrate their efforts in others' behalf. Hypochondria, becoming a "martyr" for others. Overbearing, patronizing, presumptuous.

Unhealthy: Can be manipulative and self-serving, instilling guilt by telling others how much they owe them and make them suffer. Abuse food and medication to "stuff feelings" and get sympathy. Undermine people, making belittling, disparaging remarks. Extremely self-deceptive about their motives and how aggressive and/or selfish their behavior is. / Domineering and coercive: feel entitled to get anything they want from others: the repayment of old debts, money, sexual favors. / Able to excuse and rationalize what they do since they feel abused and victimized by others and are bitterly resentful and angry. Somatization of their aggressions result in chronic health problems as they vindicate themselves by "falling apart" and burdening others. Generally corresponds to the Histrionic Personality Disorder and Factitious Disorder.

Key Motivations: Want to be loved, to express their feelings for others, to be needed and appreciated, to get others to respond to them, to vindicate their claims about themselves.

Examples: Mother Teresa, Barbara Bush, Eleanor Roosevelt, Leo Buscaglia, Monica Lewinsky, Bill Cosby, Barry Manilow, Lionel Richie, Kenny G., Luciano Pavarotti, Lillian Carter, Sammy Davis, Jr., Martin Sheen, Robert Fulghum, Alan Alda, Richard Thomas, Jack Paar, Sally Jessy Raphael, Bishop Desmond Tutu, Ann Landers, "Melanie Hamilton" (Gone With the Wind). and "Dr. McCoy" (Star Trek).

It seems that I'm the last to make a year end blog entry. Looking back, I cannot help but be extremely thankful for the hand that life dealt me...I have clothes on my back, a roof over my head, I almost always have food on the table, and I have a dysfunctional, albeit, loving family, and fantastic friends.

It really is neat, like so many others have said, how our group has changed so much. I still remember the time when us three girls outnumbered the guys! It was just me, Mike, Sarah, and Cafifi. Now our group has gotten a LOT bigger, which is a huge change from me cuz I'm so used to having a small, close group of friends...but I've somehow managed to have a large group of close friends. As for the Idealites in our group...strange to think of where we are now, and where we were in grades 8 and 9.

It took awhile, but it was at Newcastle that I finally grew up and faced things I tried to run away from.

Since it seems we're all in the apologizing mood:
Michael, I am sorry about the months I used you as a scapegoat for what should have been my own thing to deal with.
I'm sorry to friends I may have hurt this summer and fall.
Erm...sorry for anything else I've said...for anything I may have done, for anything I may have forgotten...ermm...I am starting to sound like a song.

I have definitely become much more rebellious this year! I now wear a lot of things that I wouldn't a year ago, the kind of music I like has diversified, I go out a lot more, stay out a lot later...all the things that parents aren't supposed to like and be bothered by, but somehow mine aren't. Actually..now that I think about it...I've always done that sorta thing.
Dad: Sam, you're not allowed to _______ (insert rule).
I did it anyways.
Mom: ______ will get you kicked out of the house.
And look! I'm still living at home!

Summer this year has certainly been different from all my others. Usually, my family takes a long roadtrip somewhere, and I make my way through piles and piles of books...this year I spent a great deal of it with friends, and procrastinating whilst the impending due date of the infamous extended essay constantly loomed overhead. All in all, the EE wasn't as painful as I thought it would be. Thanks so much to Sarah who blackmailed me to keep me on track.

Oh yes, more about summer. Golfing was fun! I can't say I improved much...but seeing everyone else's progression was really neat. Anthony, you scare me with how good you got in such a short period of time. Keep it up!

My trip to Ottawa sure helped me realize a lot of things.
1) Ottawa is a beautiful city.
2) I need to make more of an effort to learn French.
3) Being away from someone from a week can feel like an eternity.
4) I am more homesick for a place with snow than I thought.
5) I am not as shy as I thought I was.
6) You can learn a lot about a place through people...things that no textbook could ever teach.
7) That when I was very wrong when I thought Vancouver was a small city.
8) I really can live alone.
9) I really want to live alone.
10) I will go crazy unless I move out and live alone.

So what lies ahead? I have absolutely no idea. I do want to continue into university...but just what university, I have no idea. I hope we stay friends for a very very very very long time, and I don't know where I'd be without all you guys. A million thank yous for everything.

I have hopefully learned from all my mistakes (from those, there should be no shortage of life lessons).

As a brilliant friend pointed out, in times of hardship, don't look for the problem to dispose of, but rather, look for what you can count on and hold onto it.

So I'm slowly fattening up on chocolates...mmm...chocolates. I have four different kinds in front of me. I have a Cadbury's Dairy Milk giant chocolate candy cane, a box of Toberlerone Pralines (Which are unlike regular Toberone chocolates because it has a "soft truffle filling."), a Terry's Chocolate Orange, and Turtles (Thanks Bobby).

My day yesterday though started out really really crappy, reminding me again of why Christmas is difficult(I seem to forget every year, and something always seems to remind me). However, the rest of the evening at my Grandma's house was great! I cannot believe the amount of food I, and everyone else ate. I also can't believe how many left overs there are...just as every year. Now, everyone is coming over to my house for Christmas Day to eat leftovers, and play gameboards. I spent a lot of time playing with my baby cousin Ashley...at one point, we were all surrounding her, trying to get her attention, and arguing over who she likes best. She's adorable! She even had a little Santa costume on, with a hat and everything!

I also got a gajillion presents! Unlike last year, we started opening presents at 9, but finished at around 11, as opposed to last year, when we started at 9 and finished around 12. This was because quite a few of my relatives are short on cash this year, so only me mnd my cousins got presents.

We started opening from youngest to oldest, and for the first time ever, Josh wasn't the first one to start. When it was his turn, however, he wasted no time tearing away the wrapping paper. It seems as if every year he has some sort of theme to his presents. One year, he got all pajamas (poor Josh...he's got enough pajamas to last a lifetime), another time it was all Caillou stuff, or another all Franklin stuff...and this year it was a leapfrog learning system thingamajig, so he got a lot of leapfrog books. After he openined presents, while I waited for my turn to start, Josh sat on my lap, and we joked that everytime someone opened a present, we told them it would be underwear. Unfortunately...that didn't happen this year. My aunt who usually gives us the dreadded underwear present gave us socks...yes, socks. BUT! They are nice socks...not scary Lion King gigantic underwear.

When it was my cousin Kris' turn to open presents, one of my aunts (the non-crazy one) organized a little treasure hunt thing. Each time he opened a little present, there was a clue that directed him to another part of the house, where he would find another present with a clue inside with a clever rhyme. Eventually, the present led to the garage, where he got the rest of his present. It was pretty fun following him around.

I also got a theme thing going on with my presents. I got a lot of gift certificates! for Roots from Josh's parents, for The Gap from Jess' parents, for Famous Players from Grams...ermm...some money from my parents...so yeah...my sister, my cousin Kris, and I are going shopping on Boxing day! We are going to watch a movie, eat at White Spot (Uncle Pete gave us gift certificate there), and go shopping! I don't even really like shopping, but spending the day with them should be fun.

Ah yes! Other presents! In my stocking this morning I got two really cool pens, a Jolly Rancher Storybook, some aromatherapy kit thingamajig, the chocolate candy cane, and instead of a mandarin orange, I got a Terry's Chocolate Orange (I get one every year in my stocking). The only present that I didn't really like (though it's still nice) is a shirt I got from Ashley's mom. 1) It is huge. 2) They gave my sister the EXACT same shirt. WE ARE NOT TWINS!!! What was the reasoning behind this? Because when we first moved here, we had matching-ish shirts that my other aunt made us wear. Yes, it was cute when we were younger...but not anymore! *sigh* The shirt is nevertheless nice, and I'll definitely wear it...maybe as a sleeping shirt though.

I didn't leave my grandma's house till 2:30. I had fun picking out Christmas songs on the piano! I think I've gotten down all the ones I know.

Oh! And I wished Steven Merry Christmas! Yes, I wished him a Merry Christmas Steve!

So, I'm going to try updating more often.

Socrates Cafe is finished...nearly. The script is done, but I don't so much like our thesis. Now all that's left to do is actually present our Socrates. That should be interesting. At least this time I have a script, and won't be going "Margaret...Atwood....is...good...at...this", or at least I hope I won't.

Ms. Densford is so nice!!! She gave me, Sarah, and Jason a book. A HARDCOVER book to congratulate us on finishing our EE. She's so nice!! I will try and make christmas cookies, and give her some.

Helen has a nice house. I really wish I could live as close as she does...three minutes from the school! It wasn't so bad going there to work, because she gave us food. Mmmm....food.

Anyways, after school, I went to my grandma's house, and little did I know a bunch of my other relatives were going to be there. It was so nice, because the house was even more decorated, and I helped put up christmas ornaments. There was also a bunch of chocolate, like Turtles, and Tobelerone..mmmm!! Then, it's also my auntie Sandra's birthday. She brought a simple pudding cake, so when Uncle Pete (her husband) brought out her cake, it was a different cake...a nice expensive one. It was so sweet (pardon the pun). Awwww...

Anyways, GET WELL SOON MICHAEL AND ANTHONY!!!

My hamster died!! NOOOOooo!! So sad...I never really got to know this hamster, too. I've been so busy that I never really had time to play with her. Poor poor Brownie. Looks like she died in her sleep...hopefully it was painless.

Kinko's binding is a pain! It's too too too expensive, and the guy wasn't very helpful. They are ripping off IB students! Grrr!! At least we had some fun seeing Anthony stick up IBS signs. That was cool! And our gathering for lunch after was great, too. Fox and Firkin (or was it Frog and Firkin? I can't remember...) gives very big portions. I couldn't finish the whole thing.

After, I went to visit Michael's flower shop. It's so pretty! I really really like the display in the window!

Sarah and I watched The Santa Clause at her house. I think we're going to use it in our socrates cafe. We later went to Helen's house to work on the Socrates Cafe. I thought Anthony lived close! But no, it takes Helen 3 minutes to get to school! THREE MINUTES!! Takes me an hour! Grrr...

I'm bitter now. Bitter, bitter, bitter...

Alright, alright...so I've neglected my blog for quite awhile now.

I've missed blogging for so long now that I don't know where to start. I guess I'll just write what happened today...

I didn't go to school today because I woke up with a terrible headache. Plus, last night I felt a little queasy, and I didn't want to throw up at school. Anyways...feeling better now!

My extended essay is nearly done, although I think I might go over. It's already 3700 words, I have one more argument to make, and an introduction and conclusion to write. Looks like i'm going to have to do some serious cutting later.

My parents forgot that there was no food in the house, so I wound up eating stale french fries for lunch. Eeeew. Also, ever since this year started, I haven't had much time to watch tv. I realized today just how boring tv is to me now...I did happen to catch a very cool violinist play something interesting though.

The music festival yesterday was great!! I was sick...but it probably didn't look like I was. Though, I never really act sick when I am. The most fun was probably Cuban dance! I admit I couldn't really understand what our instructor was saying, because his accent was just so strong...but he was a funny guy. He started off the lesson doing a bunch of moves that none of us could really follow. After, he showed us each of the moves individually and showed us how to make it "beautiful." Fun stuff, even though I had no idea what I was doing! Well worth it! Michael dancing is a sight I'll never forget.

So happy!!! I FINALLY got my grad dress!!! Went shopping with my aunt all day, and I found one I am in love with. It is not the stereotypical grad fru-fru shiny poofy dress. Oh no, it is a designer, hand made dress...and there's only one of it ever made! Anyways, I'll let you guys see it.

I'll blog more about my trip to Ottawa hopefully another time...when I'm not so busy.

Well, I've been asked by Catherine to blog again. So, here goes...

I sooooo failed the bio quiz. I blanked! I hate it when that happens.

I think I forgot to mention I got my plane tickets for Ottawa. Although, I don't actually *have* the tickets, because it's an electronic one. I'm really really really really excited. A week away from parents...hurrah!

Hmm...I'm honestly drawing a blank of what happened this week. A couple of really great days. The rest is a blur.

Oh! Today was the Run for the Cure. I didn't pay the 30 registration fee needed to get a t-shirt, but it looked like they just wound up giving them to everyone. By the looks of it, they had a lot of extra t-shirts. It was faaar too early for me to be up, but it was worth it. Seeing all those cancer survivors really makes me believe my uncle can make it through this. Even though this was a run (or walk, in my case) for breast cancer, any money raised that brings us one step closer to finding a cure for this type of cancer, can only mean that it'll bring is closer to finding a cure for other types of cancers. I really am hoping I'll be able to see my uncle when I go to Ottawa.

Anyways, all the free stuff was great. I think there was more free stuff last year though.

Oh, my new little cousin is on the way!

Back from the retreat! I really do wish I was still there.

When we arrived, we had some...let's just say...interesting French onion soup. The ham and cheese sandwiches weren't bad though -- if only they could've used real cheese, and not the plastic kind.

My first activity there was beach volleyball. Jack got a nasty cut on his knee, and it took about half an hour before anyone was able to find a bandage for it. After awhile, everyone got bored, and I had a good chat with Sarah about stuff, and other people amused themselves with a hula hoop.

Next was group games. This retreat probably had the worst group games I've ever played. The other camps I went to had better ones.

The presentations were all really funny! I did the talent first, delivered my pick-up line, and was so embarassed after I tried to run off the stage...but I forgot that I had to stay on so that Amine could deliver his. I did have fun practicing my pick-up line on various people throughout the day though. "I may not be dairy queen, but I'll sure treat you right."

Phosphorescence (I probably spelled that wrong) was really cool! I've never seen that before...it made me want to go swimming. It didn't help though that some guys thought it would be cool to see what spitting in the water would look like. Yuck!

At night, I didn't have the girl talk I thought I would have with everyone. Nearly everyone in my cabin wanted to go to bed early. Grr!! I did manage to talk to Catherine quite a bit though. And I hear the guys had a long chat till 4:00. Poor Catherine didn't get a wink of sleep.

Woke up at 6:20-ish, and got to beat everyone to the showers! Mia ha ha...I think I even used all the hot water, because the person using the shower after me said the water was cold.

Some quick notes on some other events:
* I really did like quiet time.
* Mr. Bellis seemed to talk a lot faster.
* Mr. Kanavos rocks!
* I should not have eaten the fish.
* I need to hurt Kevin after coughing on my face.
* My first taco ever wasn't that bad...as long as I didn't look at it.

I was really glad I changed from kayaking to quilting. I had a cold, so it was a good thing I didn't get wet, and I really do like my snowman. Well, technically, it's not mine anymore because I gave it to my sister. Anyways, I was thinking of putting blush on it, but then I saw Richard's, and it looked really scary. But now that I've seen Catherine's, I want blush on mine. Maybe I'll steal some of my mom's when she's not looking.

Canoeing sucked. Silly Roham and Heidi wanted to paddle down to this place far far away...did they not know how tiring that would be? It may not look far, but appearances can be deceiving. Luckily, the instructor didn't really want us to go. On the way back, Roham and Heidi even stopped paddling! Grr!! How could they complain that they wanted to paddle a long distance, when they didn't even paddle the short one? And it didn't help that Roham was rocking the canoe and made me feel queasy.

I did not understand our skit presentation. I had one line, and as for the rest of the presentation -- I had no idea what was going on because of all the slang.

The dance wasn't that bad! I had so much fun dancing with Catherine and Sarah -- doing strange things outside, away from the stuffy dance place indoors. Well, at least it *was* fun until Michael went all crabby and ran away, and Josie tried to force us to dance inside.

Night actually wasn't that bad. I learned Florina is on quite a bit of medication -- she started freaking out when she couldn't find a tiny bottle of some strange liquid. Well, we stayed up till 1 talking about stuff, and then Willard came, and said "stop gossiping."

Last day of camp, I was surprised I managed to get out of bed. I was so stuffy and had a headache. Quiet time was cancelled because little grade 7 runts arrived.

I wasn't able to get on the first boat, so we played games. I don't see why they couldn't have just given us free time.

My buddy had no idea who I was. I really thought I made it obvious, too. Evan is nice..too bad I didn't talk to him more..I wasn't in the mood for chatting much.

Camp is over, and all I really have left to remember it by is this cold. Thus, I didn't go to school today. My sister, however, picked up my go card for me. I look funny.

I had so much fun doodling on Michael's arm today! I wrote various things such as 'Go Toronto' and 'Naslund sucks'...oh! And I tried writing out the Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow passage from Macbeth...but I tired of that and had much more fun writing Emily Dickenson's Hope is the Thing with Feathers poem. Unfortunately, I ran out of room, and couldn't finish writing it all.

My bio quiz mark wasn't all that great, although it was better than I expected it to be. I got the same mark as Michael and Desmond.

Hmm...Matthew joined Reach...that is..erm...interesting.

Looks like I'm finally getting braces! It's not so much that I *want* braces, but it's better than having crooked teeth forever. I am in dire need of them. Too bad I'll have to miss something with someone on Friday though.

Mr.Kra..something something (I can't spell his name) was asking for it when he made his announcement over the P.A. after the fire alarm was pulled. I really was not at all surprised when someone pulled it again. Silly new principal. Bring back Mr. Little!

Today was the Bard volunteer appreciation day! There were hamburgers, and pieces of cake. They also gave away gift packages to us, which I think is cool! In my bag there was chocolate, a poster, a mug, and a thank you card.

Ooo...and I met a super nice guy named Mason! We talked quite a bit. He goes to PW mini...and he knows Ed and Michelle! It's always fun meeting new people. Ah, and I got his msn addy, so I can bother him for more funny stories about Ed.

I'm gonna miss working at Bard. We should do it again next year!

Went to a football game today! Too bad Michael couldn't come...so I took his spot. It was the first football game I went to in a long time. I was pretty loud in the beginning, until I felt a little out of place shouting and cheering because none of the guys were doing it...so I stopped cuz of that...well, that and because people showed up in front of us and I didn't wanna shout in their ears.

Grr...there were these two very very annoying girls who sat in the row in front of us, and I don't know why, but they felt the need to get up and go somewhere every couple of minutes. I have no idea where they go, too...because they don't come back with food or anything. I was thinking that because their boyfriends kept buying them beer, they had to go to the washroom. Hmm...but grr! So annoying!

Ooo..and then, the lion mascots passed by, and Inderbir tried to trip them. That was soooo funny! Didn't work though...however, he did manage to punch both of them.

I understand football much better now, thanks to Inderbir and Anthony explaining things along the way. I still think the sport is rather boring to watch if it's not live...there are far too many breaks, and not enough action. Now hockey is an exciting sport! The fighting is the best part! I am SO going to see a hockey game this year.

Ooo..I forgot to mention the spitting we did onto the cars passing by. Mia ha ha! I feel evil.

Oh my goodness...I thought I was going to be late for TOK today! I was soooo afraid i'd have to sing! I was running late in the morning, and then my sister just HAD to eat cereal and milk! Grr!! Because of that, I missed the bus. I ran the whole way to class, and luckily, I arrived in time :)

Great day overall! Mmmm...bubble tea!!

Ah yes...as for the rest of the week! Bio quiz was evil. All the pictures looked the same to me! The parts of the cell are much easier to identify in drawings in the text, where everything is so nice and clear.

oops...gotta go eat dinner. Perhaps I'll blog more later.

A week of school is over, but I can't help but feel like I've been in school for a month! On the first History class, we got homework! Evil!!! Well, I'm pretty pleased with my schedule. I couldn't get into Law, but I'm perfectly happy with that because I've heard that the Law 12 class already has two assignments! Mia ha ha!! And because they couldn't get me into the course, I now have a free block with Sarah and Michael! Siz classes with Sarah! Yay!! I have classes with almost everyone this year...even Chen! I didn't have any classes with him last year. Unfortunately...I don't have any classes with Anthony.

Actually officially having a title in Big Bang is cool! Last year I just showed up every now and then to help out proofreading...now I have a title! AND I get free food. that's the best part :)

Oh, I forgot to mention swimming at Michael's house. That was fun, despite the pool injuries. Sorry to say I may have played a little too....rough. Rough kinda like Jackpot, I suppose, because when I saw Michael swimming towards the key, I would pull him up. I would also try to grab the key outta Anthony's hands, or push his hands away. Mia ha ha! Other times, I was pushed or kicked a bit. One time, Anthony was holding my leg and Michael was holding my arm...that was odd, lol. Poor Bobby seemed bored most of the time, and he finally joined us in the pool. Unfortunately, as a result, he got a headache. Poor Bobby.

Today's English quiz was...interesting. That's all I'll say about it. I'm too tired to write more.

Had another pointless walk today! After Bard, Sarah and Catherine left, and we ditched our plans of going swimming. Instead, we're going on Tuesday after school :)

After Bard, we wandered around downtown...again. We went to Fox and Firkin, and then I got Michael to eat a seasoned french fry dipped in sour cream, wrapped in lettuce, and sprinkled with bacon bits...or at least what was supposed to be bacon bits. I was laughing sooo hard, especially when I was the faces of the waiters and waitresses passing by.

Then we did some more wandering, trying to find a hungry homeless man. But alas, we did not find one. Then we headed back to the beach, and played cards till my dad came. I went to my grandma's house after, and I heard cute stories about my cousin Brandon when he was really little. My Aunt reminded me of the time I dressed him up in a skirt, and then he tried to climb on a bed and couldn't do it, lol. Oh! And we used to play Barbies with Josh and Brandon. Aww...although they won't admit it now...I remember they used to love Barbies. In toy stores, they wouldn't head to the toy car section. Oh no, they would head straight to the pink aisle...the Barbie aisle!! They're growing up so fast! I feel so old!

Oww...my tummy hurts. Just got home from the PNE...went for the third time! This time I went with my cousins Jess, Kris, Brandon, Josh, and with my sister, and with my 4 Uncles, 5 aunts, and also with my parents. I have never had so much junk food in such a short period of time in my life! I had three bags of mini donuts, fries, wiggle chips, cotton candy, and other things that I can't think of right now. They all just kept feeding me!
"Do you want some donuts?"
"Oh no thank you Uncle Pete, I just had some."
"It's been awhile since you last had some."
"It's been twenty minutes."
"Like I said, it's been awhile. Here, let me get you some more."
And then he shoves a bag of donuts in my hands. And the night continued like that...
"Sam, how much money do you have?"
"I have a twenty."
"Here's another twenty five."
"Oh, no Uncle Pete. Twenty is enough."
"Nonsense." And he shoves the money in my hand.
On top of that, he kept paying for all the games I played, and anything else I tried to pay for. At the end of the night, the only money I had really spent was on his son, my cousin Josh, while he wasn't looking.

My cousin Josh and Brandon are the cutest things. Brandon is pretty huge for his age -- he's 8 and he weighs more than me! Maybe he's been spending a bit too much time with Uncle Pete. Josh is really really tiny for his age. But the two cousins are so close they're like brothers. They held hands throughout the day, and if Brandon was scared of a ride, Josh dragged him onto it...and if Josh was scared of a ride, Brandon dragged him onto it. They even wore matching outfits! Awww...

Had sooooo much fun today! My relatives are cool!

It's 3am and I just got home from my grandma's house. There was a baby shower for my new cousin coming, and then we also celebrated my grandma's 75th birthday. We ate apple crumble, ice cream, cake, more ice cream...just a whole bunch of food! Then all my uncles played Big 2, and my cousins and I also played...only not for money.

I also volunteered at Bard today. I can't believe how many cups of coffee I poured! After, we walked down to Subway and the guys had a sub, and I ate a cookie that I really shouldn't have because later I had a bunch of hives.

Ooo..then we played more Bullshit, and also played a bit of Big 2. It was chilly!! My fingernails turned blue! That hasn't happened since school. Oh darn, there I go mentioning school. I think I should stop before bad memories of school start coming back to me.

Ooo...Thanks to Cafifi for making me a new page! It's very very prettyful. Dark and pretty. Coool...cuz I kinda thought the Hamtaro one was getting a little...kiddy for me. Although that was also a very very nice page. Ah well. Thanks Cafifi!

Today was PNE day! Everyone got a ride passport but me...so when everyone got their stamp, I pressed my hand up against theirs to see if the stamp would stick. It did, surprisingly! I bought tickets anyways, cuz I wanted to go on a couple of rides. In the line up for the log ride, no one asked to check my hand, nor did anyone ask for tickets. So, I got on that ride for free. After, we went on the swing ride, and I tried to give the girl the ride thingy, and she wouldn't take it! She pointed to my hand and said, "Oh, it's okay, you have a stamp!" So I got on that ride for free, too! The last ride of the day was the music express. That one I actually tried to get on for free, so after I gave my left over tickets to some little kid who was watching people go on rides, and looked like he wanted to go on them. So all in all, I had one free ride.

The log ride was fun! I didn't expect to get as wet as I did. But the swings were helpful for getting dried off.

Ah well, I'm too tired to blog more. Maybe I'll write more another time.

which pleasure are you?

Mmm...candy! Oh! And Anthony has a blog! I added his link on my sidebar. Go and see!

How deeply in love are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

In love? I think not!!! Although...I have liked this same person for quite some time now. Perhaps my fickle ways are gone?

What an interesting day! I went to my grandma's house for yet another family gathering...and I stumbled upon my uncle and aunt's old yearbooks. It was interesting seeing pictures of some of my teachers when they were a lot younger. Leslie had colour in her hair...and some poofy hair style. Willard also had a really poofy hair style...but I guess those sorts of things are to be expected, especially since it was the 80's. Mr.Roberts didn't seem to be as skinny...Nakamoto looked the same! Matthews looked thinner, Lau had funny hair! That's all the teachers I can think of at the moment.

Then it was funny seeing my auntie Grace's yearbook, because she scribbled on people's faces...and wrote "Bastard jerk bastard bastard jerk jerk" near my Uncle Jamie's picture...who is her husband now... and she scribbled all over his face. I suppose they got into some sort of fight.

I saw John Shorthouse's picture when he was in high school, cuz he was my Uncle Pete's classmate. I also saw my dad's old girlfriend, and some girl who had a crush on him.

I don't think I've ever seen so much poofy hair in my entire life!

Ouch! I am in pain! Hahaha...I have a bruise on my back and on my foot. The one on my foot is my fault though. The one on my back probably came from Bobby when he accidentally ran into me. But it was fun! I think this was the roughest game of Jackpot we've had yet! After awhile, I gave up on trying to catch the darn frisbee and had fun randomly started pushing people. Chen and Anthony are really really good...they kept winning. Sarah Sarah Sarah...why did you have to leave so early? I was the only girl again!

Bard was okay today. Had a lady complain because we didn't have tap water...

Looks like I ruined Bobby and Anthony's plans of sleeping early! Whoops! Ah well, I highly doubt Bobby would be able to make such a drastic sleep adjustment anyways.

We had fun playing cards, too! I actually did pretty well in poker...I didn't go backrupt! And I won on the last hand. Yay!! But my Big 2 winning streak is gone. Rats!

I have always wanted to learn how to play the piano...and I just got offered free lessons. The problem? Free lessons from my stalker. Now the question is...how desperate am I to learn?

Well, yesterday's outing was fun! First, we went to Bubble World, and I ordered the usual. Then, we headed down to a park that I didn't even know existed! We played jackpot, and perhaps I was a little TOO rough. Tugging on Bobby's shirt...pushing people..hahahaha. I also got squished a couple of times by Anthony...ow! lol! We also played cards a lot! I won a couple of times! Yay!!

Today was a fun day! I met Bobby, Michael, and Anthony at Vanier Park. We started off playing cards...I won my first game of Bullshit! YAY!!! Go me!! Hahaha!

Then, we played Jackpot! Unfortunately, I never got over 200 points...but I DID push Michael and Bobby once or twice! Who said I can't play rough?

After, I watched the fireworks with my sister, my parents, two aunts, and two cousins. I liked where we watched it from! The view wasn't as great as English Bay, but at least there wasn't that terrible pot smell everywhere. Also, my aunt brought oatmeal chocolate chip cookies she baked! mmmm...only, I think I ate too many, cuz I'm feeling kinda queasy.

Yesterday was a long day! We walked from the skytrain station down to Subway...paid Clmeershkov a visit!

After, we went down to the beach, and Chen set up the towels he brought. Nice of him to do that! Although...I would have been just as happy sitting on the sand, and he wouldn't have had to lug around the towels.

Then we had a nice little picnic! Chen bought chips for all of us! That was sweet! AND! When it started getting cold, he lent me the extra jacket he brought. He brought TWO jackets! How considerate!

We mostly played cards the whole time. I suck at Bullshit, but I played pretty well at Big 2! I won a couple of games :)

Anthony and I fetched dinner. We were originally going to go eat at Subway...but the lineup was loooong!! We'd be waiting for at least half an hour. So then, we wound up getting pizza instead. Good pizza, might I add!

The fireworks were amazing! I don't think I've ever had such a great view when watching them before! The only problem was, too many people were smoking pot...and I almost had to get up and move because the smell was so bad and it was getting so hard to breathe.

This truly was a great way to cheer up! Especially after all the tears shed from the day before yesterday...with my uncle and cousin leaving and all. It would've been better if more people came though.

Quit your job Michael! It's making you cranky.

Goodness! What a long day!!! I was up soooo early, which I think i mentioned on the last post. Well, we went out for breakfast at White Spot...and I saw Ria! It was weird! She was our server. I couldn't even finish my two pancakes this morning because I was not used to eating breakfast. Ah well.

After, we went to this photographer's studio in downtown and had pictures of all of us done...darn it...I hate pictures.

Then, my aunt took us shopping downtown! Nooo!! Everyone knows how I feel about window shopping. Bah! Well, the good thing was my aunt bought us all ice cream. I had the best mango ice cream I have ever had in my entire life. Mmm...I want to go there again sometime.

Finally, we all went to my house, and all my relatives were here just until a couple of minutes ago.

I'm exhausted, but it was so worth getting up early. I'm glad to see my uncle and Jacqui again. My uncle actually is looking pretty good. Well, he's lost quite a bit of weight...but he's still got energy and he still has his hair, so that's good!

Another family gathering tomorrow! That should be interesting...

It's 8:37, and it's far too early for me to be up! But, well, I'm going our for breakfast with my uncle and my cousin from Toronto...

Yesterday the day started with me, Clmeershkov, Inderbir, and Bobby meeting at Central Library. Unfortunately...I was the only girl. Then, we went to the Plaza of Nations where this scary lady on stilts came up to us and bothered us...she sang every couple of sentences for some odd reason.

More walking ensued. Our next stop was Granville Island for lunch, where Clmeershkov didn't finish his lunch so we put it in a take-out container and left it for the homeless person under the bridge.

Then, we walked all the way to Bard, but we were much too early to see Catherine, so we went to Subway to visit Sarah! Poor Sarah, she had to wear the Subway hat.

After visiting Sarah, we went and sat in front of Clmeershkov's old apartment building, and played the good ol' wholesome game Bullshit. I discovered that I am extremely bad at lying, because almost everytime I put down a fake card, everyone called my bluff. Grr!! It's not even like I put down a fake card all the time. As a result, I won zero times...although I did come close once!

It came time to go to my grandma's house, and Clmeershkov was such a gentleman and went out of his way to help me home.

Goodness...I was so very very late arriving. Everyone was there! And when I opened the gate, everyone went, "Oh, there she is!!" and my dad said, "You're grounded!" Err...luckily he was joking...but I hear from my cousin Jacqui that he gave Bobby a hard time when he phoned him looking for me. Sorry Bobby!

Went to Clmeershkov's house! Gosh...too much mahjong...I really hope I don't have to see that game for a very very long time. I was a little cranky today, anyways. Don't know if it was obvious though...I have a lot of things on my mind. I've had a hard time sleeping lately cuz I've been thinking about...stuff. Bah!

Well, overall, time at Clmeershkov's house was fun. Too bad Sarah had to leave early...we had fun chasing the cats though, didn't we? Clmeershkov's brother is nice! He helped us look for the cat...can't remember the name though. Ermm...it's the floofy one, anyways!

Ah yes, forgot to mention Catherine and I went to Bobby's house and played Mario and also saw Bobby and Albert's room. Go Mario! That was fun!

I had to wake up super early to go to the dentist today. I woke up at 8...I can't remember the last time I was up before 11!

Clmeershkov sent me a cool song by Eve 6 called Here's to the Night. I love that song! I've heard it before...just can't remember where I heard it...probably from the radio.

Anthony's in Ottawa, and he keeps telling me cool stories about all the things he's seen. I'm soooo excited to go now! Even more excited than I was before! I've been there before when I was little, but I don't remember much.

Oh! I baked cookies today! I've been meaning to do that for awhile now. mmm..cookies.

Today started off with Bard! I got to be runner! That was fun. Sarah and I practiced saying, "Enjoy the show" in unison...the problem was, we kept laughing right after we said it, so the person we were saying it to would start laughing, too! Well, we'll get it right eventually, won't we Sarah?

After, we headed down to the bowling place...I lost my bet to Michael, darn it! And I was winning in the beginning. Bah! Well, I'll beat you next time! Just you wait!

Pool wasn't so bad! I got a ball in the pocket in my first shot! Err...the rest of my shots didn't go so well though! hahaha..but not bad for me, I must say.

Well, Anthony was nice and drove me to my Grandma's house. I was right..my dad was late...about an hour and a half late. *hmph*

Why, oh why can't I get anything other than the Senators?

You are the Ottawa
Senators


Congratulations, you are
pretty much the most important team Canada has;
the one located in the capital, and the face of
Canadian owned hockey relies on you.
Unfortunately for you though, you are Ottawa.
You seem to be in the upper echelon of the
league, but, somehow, you remain poor. You are
trying way too hard and your players need to
grow some balls, and you might eventually win
the Cup and save yourself from impeding doom:
playing across the border.

Which Canadian hockey team are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Hrmm...feeling a tad queasy. I went to the states today, and we went and ate Krispy Kreme donuts...they make me feel sick. I really don't see what the big deal is about them. I actually find them somewhat disgusting. I felt like I was eating a stick of butter, I really did. My mom absolutely loves them though. She bought four dozen...but then she's bringing some to her work. Anyways, the thought of them is making me sick...

Oh! Found out some interesting information today. VERY VERY VERY interesting. Can't really say whether it's good of bad though. Guess a bit of both.

Click here to take the test!

Congratulations, you sweetheart. You enjoy wild popularity because of your sweetness and your caring nature. Selfless and sensitive, you care deeply about others and you worry sometimes about what others think about you. But people everywhere love you, so that's okay.

Somehow...I don't think so.