One down, two to go

I’ve been a busy little bee the last week and a bit – I’ve been working my tail off to get all my course work done.  Looks like I’m pretty closely on track to my goal of being done this weekend.  There’s only one snag – I’ve got a take home exam for my Women’s study course that’s six mini-essays, and I’m running out of time to get that done, plus my term paper, finish my physiology course work and write that exam.  Looks like I might be writing a little be next week, but I’m going to try and crank out those essays as quickly as I can.

Good news – my sociology class is done!  I wrote the exam last weekend – and it went really well – my hand was uber cramped after I wrote for 2.5 hrs straight, but it’s all good.  My essay is written – and it feels good to know I finished the course – and to quote my tutor, in record time!  Woo hoo!  Now I just hope the marks come out as stellar as I want them to be.

On another note, my good friend Ann Marie and Kyle also got married this weekend – that’s awesome!  It was a really nice, laid back wedding.  Plus the weather was awesome on Saturday afternoon!  They’re heading off to India and Nepal really soon – I hope everything goes well.

That’s about a wrap for me today.  I’ll post more once the whole work adventure business is over.  I’m off to learn about vay-jay-jays.  Yep, you heard right. 

Essays put you in the dumps

I’ve been reading a few of my friend’s blog posts, etc about the long weekend.  I can only say that I wish I had been out having a BBQ or even doing work around the house – alas, no, I was staring down a computer writing a term paper for my Sociology class.  And it was all about the social context in which abortion was criminalized and decriminalized in the U.S.  Fun!  In the end, it really is a pretty interesting topic.  I just hope that I’ve done a good job!

I’m nearing the end of my school work – only 11 days to go to the end of my goal.  I’ve only got to complete 3 exams, all the course work, and one more term paper.  Then it’s freedom, and a chance to reconnect with my hubby and my friends.

I honestly can’t wait.

When it rains, it pours

Dad’s still in the hospital, and probably won’t get out for a while.  He was complaining of pain in his hip so on Friday night he underwent another X-ray and CAT scan.  We got the results on Saturday morning, and it seems worse than expected.  It seems that Dad has had an undiagnosed mild form of spina bifida since birth, a condition that has caused his joints to be slightly abnormal.  During the crash, Dad impacted his hip and now has a small fracture there.  As his joints aren’t normal, recovery from this injury is probably going to take much longer than his elbow, which is projected to take over a year.  Now it seems Dad is set to go into a rehabilitative care institution so they can help him get back the use of his elbow and his hip.

Oh dear.

A new link for a unique artist

Hey everyone!

I’ve added a new link to my blog to another blog called “Andrew is music“.  It’s worth checking out – it’s the creative genius of my friend Andrew – and he’s posting a song every day in 2008!

Andrew PANTS is also the genius behind the music of this very hilarious video from his songs to wear pants to collection.

 

Bikes and Dads don’t mix

Last night M and I went to check out the film screening of “The Door” and “A Boy and His Wolf” by my friend Karl Ritcher.  Lots of fun to check out, seeing as I helped in the art department on the second one.  (My first film credit!)

Alas, during this time, I missing some rather frantic calls from my mother.  (My phone was on vibrate, and I didn’t hear it).  As M and I were heading home I got another call.  It was Mum again.  When I called back, I found out that my father was in a biking accident yesterday.  We don’t know all the details because the hospital had a hard time tracking down Mum during the day so she got to the hospital just before 9 pm when Dad was heading into surgery!

The basic understanding we have is that he was biking on Cherry St around 2:30 yesterday afternoon, went around a corner, and the rest is a blur.  Luckily four teenagers saw the accident and called 911.  They took Dad to the hospital, and managed to get his bike home.  Dad’s apparently shattered his elbow and we’re still waiting on word of what exactly has been done.  He only got out of the O.R. at about 2:00 this morning!

Yikes!  I’m not sure of more details – I’m waiting for Mum to get to the hospital!  Poor Dad!

And sometimes, you feel like a chump!

OK – so, I’ve got to confess.  After all the talk about the book on yesterday’s post, I have to continue the story.

I went to the Toronto Reference Library tonight to use the book and work on my term paper proposal.  I tracked it down, looked at it and thought to myself “Hmmm….this looks familiar”.  So I sit down, take out all my stuff and take out the book I’d brought with me as an extra reference from Athabasca!  Low and behold, they were the same book!  All this time I’ve been complaining I didn’t have the book, when in fact I have had it in my hands the entire time!  I got the title mixed up with one of the 5 I’d requested from Athabasca.  GAH!

There you go folks.  I’d already started reading the correct book before I even knew it.  That explains why it seemed so damned relevant.

I’ve never wanted a book more

The game is afoot!

As mentioned in my post yesterday, I’m having a super hard time tracking down a book for my sociology term paper.  It’s called Abortion and Women’s Choice: The State, Sexuality, and Reproductive Freedom by Rosalind Petchesky – just in case anyone has it lying around the house propping up the TV or something…

On my hunt, I’ve done the following:

1. Requested it from Athabasca – but both copies are out.  The one that is now overdue is being requested back because I need it (I hope!)
2. Tracked it down at the Toronto Public Library – but of course it’s in the Reference Library and I cannot check it out
3. Search for it on Amazon/Coles/Chapters online – the only copies of the books available are from Amazon.ca and are associated sellers.  This means it would take 10-15 days to even get shipped!  Not good for my short time frame.
4. Search for it at Ryerson – and located a copy!  But because I’m not full-time at Athabasca, I don’t qualify to borrow it.  I’ll basically have to pay to check it out or I’ll have to use it in the library.  Still not a great option.
5. Placed a plea for aid from friends – this has helped some, but it’s a hard book to track down!

Like I said, the game is afoot!  This book will be mine!  Oh yes, it will be mine!

 

School, Iron Man and beyond

This weekend I was really glad to be able to mix in a little pleasure with all my work.  I had a short work day on Friday, studied up some Physiology, some Women’s studies.  Then Marty and I went to get a few necessary things to wear for ultimate at Lululemon, and we decided to hit up the new AMC theatres at Dundas Square to go see Iron Man.  Totally worth it!  Robert Downey Jr. is so good, and the movie is a nice mix of plot and story versus awesome super hero type action happening!  Go check it out!                                              

 Saturday was another study filled day.  I got up around 9:00, starting working, took a few break until the afternoon.  Then I went an got a kick-ass Toronto Library card so I could get some books for my upcoming term papers.  Turns out I’m in a little bit of a pickle because the book I was going to use for my Sociology paper is not available from Athabasca, and it’s only for in-library use at the Toronto Reference Library.  That’s going to make coordination tricky, but I’m hoping to get on that essay ASAP.  It will happen!

Later Saturday evening, Marty and I hit up a good-bye party for a friend who’s moving to England for 2-3 years.  I feel kinda sad to see him go, especially because I hadn’t seen him in almost a year, and I only saw him that night to say “See ya!”  I was good to go either way because I got to catch up with some other friends who I swear thought I was dead.  After that we rushed off to wish a “Happy Birthday!” to Danielle.  We felt terrible because we got there late (11:30ish) and then had to wait in line, during which time we found out we could only park on Ossington until 12:00!  So much for a long celebration with Danielle.  We go in the club, gave our best wishes, and then headed out again!  (Danielle, we owe you some good dancing time!)

Yesterday was an eventful day too.  I got up, did work, called Mum to wish her a “Happy Mother’s Day”, and hopped in the car to go to  my sister-in-law’s.  Yesterday was not only Mother’s Day there, but also a birthday celebration for both my mother-in-law, sister-in-law and niece.  Crazy!  We had a BBQ lunch, and watched Rebekah open some prezzies!  It was good.  My favourite part was having a chance to practice some jumping on the trampoline! 

Last night was pretty chill – we go home about 3:30, took a nap, and I went back to the books.  I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel!

 

Un-perfect

I read a really interesting article today as a part of my Women’s Studies course. It’s called “Perfect people: cancer charities” and it’s by woman named Sharon Batt.

*** The above was the start to a lovely long and very interesting blog post.  It got deleted because of my stupid internet connection.  I was too annoyed to write it again.  So alas, I will not be sharing this story with you.

 

Battle at Kruger

This weekend Cyril used this video before his sermon – it’s pretty crazy!  Check it out:

 

They even have a website – it’s all about Kruger National Park in South Africa.

It’s a really need and crazy story with a great hopeful ending!