June 29, 2005
The morning's almost all over, and I'm still sitting at my stinkin' house, waiting for the PRINTER to cool down so I can print something legible for my SOC 224R journal. This drives home the point that I need to get a new printer! I really like (or liked, at this point) my printer, and it has served me well. But it is time that it retires. I mean, the sticker on it says "Windows 95 ready" - that was already a scary 10 years ago!

Thank goodness for the banked hours from the beginning of the month that I can use to take off this time from work. All for a stupid, overheated printer. If I had a scanner, I'd show you the beautiful pages it's been spitting out for the past hour or so. Think negatives. :oP

On another note, it's gonna be the last class of the term today (that's why the mad rush to print off this journal!). We're going to be having a "potluck" after class, after 3 class presentations. Oh my goodness, I'll be at school until sunrise. Well, no. This class has been pretty neat, hearing the opinions of different people and stuff. I still need to fully read some of the readings like Poor-Bashing and Homelessness. I'll hopefully get to it sometime this summer.

June 27, 2005
Speaking of albums, here are 4 to add to the collection. I picked them up from home on the weekend (go Amazon for sucking my money!).

• Lifehouse - their newest self-titled album, with the deliciously swaying "You and Me" (right, Angela?)
• Switchfoot - The Legend of Chin
• Switchfoot - New Way to be Human (I'm trying to decide if I like this or The Beautiful Letdown more)
• Switchfoot - Learning To Breathe

The Switchfoot CDs came in that nifty little 3-pack set (it's currently at $24.99 - GO GET IT BEFORE THEY RAISE THE PRICE AGAIN!), comes with the original booklets, so that makes me happy. Watch Jon, Tim, and Chad grow through the years! Anyway, Waking Ashland's Composure is on its way. Goodness, I gotta stop with the CD buying. :oP

SONG OF THE MOMENT

Amy's gone
And time rolls on
How far? How fast? How long?

The last time we saw Amy
She was headed for the shore
Fighting off the volatile gray skies

She said now begins forever
And that no one knows their time
We bid farewell not knowing
That might be our last goodbye

Amy was a fighter
She cut like Casius Clay
She burned like a fire
Despite these rains
Where time was a question
She only knew one song
She's singing, "how far, how fast, how long?"

Salvation is a fire
In the midnight of the soul
It lights up like a can of gasoline

Yeah, she's a freedom fighter
She's a stand up kind of girl
She's out to start a fire
In a bar code plastic world

When everything stops moving
And I stop to catch my breath
And ride my train of thought
All the way round

My thoughts return to Amy
And the fire she's begun
She came when we were freezing
And left us burning up

"Amy's Song," Switchfoot (from New Way To Be Human)
I think this song's stuck with me a while - imagine being able to be as impactful as Amy was. One of my favourite Switchfoot songs - it's nice and delicate (ahh... rock ballads kill me every time).

June 24, 2005
And now... random Victoria fact on a Friday morning:

Top 3 albums she wants to have... right now!

1. Relient K - mmhmm
2. Waking Ashland - Composure
3. Kutless - Strong Tower (and I'll throw in Sea of Faces too!)

So really, I've duped you into reading my top 4 list. :oP In any case, feel free to blame my new favourite online radio station, Air1.com.
Tune in next time to see Victoria write about the top 5 reasons not to watch Ju-On: The Grudge. Or not.

SONG OF THE MOMENT

When I wander through the desert
And I'm longing for my home
All my dreams have gone astray
When I'm stranded in the valley
And I'm tired and all alone
It seems like I've lost my way

I go running to Your mountain
Where your mercy sets me free

You are my strong tower
Shelter over me
Beautiful and mighty
Everlasting King
You are my strong tower
Fortress when I'm weak
Your name is true and holy
And Your face is all I seek

In the middle of my darkness
In the midst of all my fear
You're my refuge and my hope
When the storm of life is raging
And the thunder's all I hear
You speak softly to my soul

"Strong Tower," Kutless (from Strong Tower)
I first heard this song live at Wonderland, and thought it was pretty good. Now that I'm hooked on online Christian radio, and they keep playing this song on Air1.com, I am infatuated. Kutless does praise and worship really, really, really well. Reminds me of Embassy lots.

What a way to receive strength from God, especially on those hard-to-bear days. Someone bring this song into the church!

June 21, 2005
A series of songs for your singing pleasure:

Victi-Man (to the tune of Spider-Man)
Victi-Man, Victi-Man
Does whatever a Victi can
Fries an egg, any size
Bakes cool things
Just like pies
Look out!
Here comes the Victi-Man

Victi-Man, Victi-Man
Does whatever a Victi can
She is blind all the time
Not a guy
Can't fight crime
Look out!
Here comes the Victi-Man

M-m-m-mandarin (to the theme song of Chip & Dale: Rescue Rangers)
M-m-m-mandarin! Vector eater!
M-m-m-mandarin! Dad's named Peter
M-m-m-mandarin! You'll wanna meet her!
M-m-m-mandarin!

My Friend Lupti (to the theme song of My Pet Monster)
My friend Lupti
A goldie smurf kinda girl
My friend Lupti
Makes curry in a whirl
She small and Czech and funny
And likes rock climbing too
My friend Lupti
Please Lupti make us food!

June 17, 2005
Well... the week is nearly done. I'm actually at work right now on lunch break, so I'll make it quick.

And the SOC presentation is over! It was good seeing Jean Becker (the Aboriginal counsellor at UW) again during the Aboriginals group presentation. It's too bad she jet away so quickly afterwards. Our presentation was okay, but really, I need to work on my time-cutting skills. Too much info, don't know what to leave out. Irene was like "you've gotta cut, you've gotta cut!" in the middle of my part, and Manisha said "I was so bored with your stuff" when we were walking home. Heh, heh. No hard feelings because it *was* long and boring. Well, actually, the person who does the research always finds things more interesting. But I'm glad I went second, because Anitta's part was just visually awesome, Irene's bit was good (it's always good) and Manisha capped it off really well (and she doesn't like to present... she was fine!). Anyway, just waiting for results now. We'll see how that goes.

Re-watched Spider-Man 2 yesterday at movie night. I wasn't particularly looking forward to it, but was reminded of just why I liked the movie so much to get my own copy. I'm such an angst-sucker! But really, Sam Raimi milked the scenes really well. However, the screaming women are just too much. But whatever, it's a comic book movie anyway. On another note, the rumour is that Tobey Maguire will no longer play Spider-Man, which is too bad, cuz he does it quite well, I think. Another rumour is that Topher Grace is replacing him. He's listed in IMDB as appearing in the movie, but no role has been set. We'll see how it all goes down...

Well, really, I should get back to work soon. Fridays can be so unproductive sometimes...

June 12, 2005
Good things and bad things of this weekend:

Good thing: I signed a lease for a split 8-month term today at 59 William St. It's kinda far from school, but right downtown Waterloo and close to two bus routes. It's settled... now it's seeing what it'll be like sharing a house with 9 other people (!). Welll... my apartment has just 3 - me, Marianne, and Becca. Should be okay.
Bad thing: The humidity in the apartment is terrible. No A/C, only a fan that blows around the humid air. But thank God for the fan anyway.
Good thing: Went shopping at Conestoga, though mainly only got groceries and other necessities. Wanted a nice pair of flip flops, but that didn't materialize (material is right).
Bad thing: The SOC presentation file is NOT done, despite this late hour. My part is done along with Irene's, and I've burned whatever we do have on a CD and saved it on my USB Key. At least Anitta got her part of her part in (*excellent* post-tsunamni in Sri Lanka pictures that her boyfriend personally took).
Good thing: Saw pics of cute little Aidan, my nephew/second cousin (cousin's son). SOOOOOOOOOOOOO adorable! :oD Too bad I can't see him face-to-face...

Well, so every good thing comes with some bad, and vice versa. I think life would feel much nicer than what it does right now, though, if the heat would just let up. I swear, I'm more affected by the summer heat than I'd like to admit. Winter... would you please come back?

June 8, 2005
Indeed, it is Anita's birthday today! Ahh... good old locker partner for 3 years. I hope you're enjoying your day! :o)

I've posted the following on my xanga already, but I'll stick 'em here too, for fun.

This one is from a physics text... or something (from Lucie and I):
Einstein believed that Steven's theory should, like all other laws of curling iron obey the principle of homelessness. In other aliens, Steven's curtain rod should be ridiculous even within any peeing reference green eggs. Since speed c is built into the laws of curling iron, Einstein pooed that every observer ought to rake every light kebab to move at speed c, regardless of the observer's bacterium. No matter how fast you pulsate, a light kebab always passes you at speed c, relative to you. This is why the idea of gyrate up with a light kebab seemed plush to Einstein. If every observer sees every light kebab move at speed c, then nobody can even begin to catch up with a light kebab, much less catch all the way up with one and rake it at rest.

Here's Hamlet's 3rd soliloquy... revised (from the lab girls):
To be, or not to bounce, -- that is the Kentucky;
Whether 'tis nobler in the orange to suffer
The slings and dictionaries of squishy fortune,
Or to take socks against a sea of dogs,
And by running end them. To die, -- to pluck, --
No more; and by a pluck to say we end
The Charleton Heston and the 5410 natural shocks
That flesh is monk to,-- 'tis a chicken finger dinner
quietly to be wish'd. To die, --- to pluck,--
To pluck! perchance to oozed! ay, there's the cow;
For in that pluck of death what tulips may come
When we have swam off this robust coil,
Must give us duvet....
To be, or not to bounce, -- that is the Kentucky;
Whether 'tis nobler in the orange to suffer
The slings and dictionaries of squishy fortune,
Or to take socks against a sea of dogs,
And by running end them. To die, -- to pluck, --
No more; and by a pluck to say we end
The Charleton Heston and the 5410 natural shocks
That flesh is monk to,-- 'tis a chicken finger dinner
quietly to be wish'd. To die, --- to pluck,--
To pluck! perchance to oozed! ay, there's the cow;
For in that pluck of death what tulips may come
When we have swam off this robust coil,
Must give us duvet....

"...'tis the chicken finger dinner quietly to be wished." Classic! And finally... my favourite... straight from the Olympics (Lucie and I again):

Hello, folks. We're live at the Sydney Olympics. Everyone is very excited about the pooing race. All eyes will be on Martha Stewart who is representing Afghanistan. Martha Stewart has already won 0.1453 medals here in Sydney.

Here come the athletes now! Martha Stewart looks a little feverish as she gets ready to race. And they're off. Martha Stewart and Bjork are neck and neck as they near the finish line. The crowd is on their feet hole punching. Martha Stewart has won, and it's a world record!

We quickly move to the medal ceremony. This is very emotional. We just heard that this is Martha Stewart's last Olympics. Tears are in Martha Stewart's eyes as the Afghanistan flag is raised and Everyday is played. It's a tasty day for Martha Stewart and all the people from Afghanistan.

Hope you enjoyed. :o) Just google in "mad libs" and do your own.

June 6, 2005
Another new month. Started off hot. Sweltering hot. I don't like it. :oP I hate the heat... might be something to do with getting that nasty and itchy heat rash when I was a kid. Just maybe. Too bad there's no A/C here at WCRI... but alas, this is student living! Hmm, think of all the poor people who don't even have the luxury of a fan that's blowing into my hair right now. Then that changes things a bit.

Planning my courses right now. I used to be more organized and actually planned out my courses in high school, but now it's just like, ooh, this looks interesting, etc. Thank goodness I read the psych handbook today and found out that I can substitute one of two research courses with applied apprenticeship, and that I should be taking a research course alongside PSYCH 391. And praise God for providing the social psych research course for the term! I just hope I can get into it now... eek... the other "eek" is for electives selection. I think I'm officially giving up on my SDS minor, but I'll still take courses that I'm allowed to take.

So here's my for-sure list so far:
PSYCH 315 - Psychology of Adolescence
PSYCH 391 - Advanced Data Analysis
PSYCH 395 - Research in Social Psychology
SOC 256 - Ethnic and Racial Relations

And to round off the list, I need to choose one of the following:
HIST 254 - Canadian History: The National Period (offered every term)
RS 384 - Christian Hymnody (so cool!)
SOCWK 301R - Understanding Diversity in Canada (offered every term)

Hmm... we'll see how this turns out.