December 25, 2006
MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE. :o)

This is the last post for the year, since I'll be down in St. Louis for Urbana from Dec. 27 - Jan. 1. Can't wait! Should be a crazy time of learning. It's gonna be in the low 10's in St. Louis. I really don't want to be wearing my boots, I tell ya (but I shall, just in case, right?)! But I'm happy to get out of the country again. It'll be good. Oh man.

Things to look forward to next year:

• Graduating from Waterloo (which is actually rather scary)
• Going to Europe with good friends (so EXCITING!!!)
• Starting some sort of post-graduate program
• Finishing a story for the Toronto Star Short Story Contest (I hope I can finally do this, since I can't make it this year)
• What else...?

Oh, what a year for a new year. I'm ready.

SONG OF THE MOMENT

Thinking outrageously, I write in cursive
I hide in my bed with the lights on the floor
Wearing three layers of coats and leg warmers
I see my own breath on the face of the door

Oh, I am not quite sleeping
Oh, I am fast in bed
There on the wall in the bedroom creeping
I see a wasp with her wings outstretched

North of Savanna, we swim in the Palisades
I come out wearing my brother's red hat
There on his shoulder my best friend is bit seven times
He runs washing his face in his hands

Oh, how I meant to tease him
Oh, how I meant no harm
Touching his back with my hand, I kiss him
I see the wasp on the length of my arm

We were in love, we were in love
Palisades, Palisades
I can wait, I can wait

I can't explain the state that I'm in
The state of my heart, he was my best friend
Into the car, from the backseat
Oh, admiration in falling asleep
All of my powers, day after day
I can tell you, we swaggered and swayed
Deep in the tower, the prairies below
I can tell you, the telling gets old
Terrible sting and terrible storm
I can tell you the day we were born
My friend is gone, he ran away
I can tell you, I love him each day
Though we have sparred, wrestled and raged
I can tell you, I love him each day
Terrible sting and terrible storm
I can tell you

"The Predatory Wasp Of The Palisades Is Out To Get Us!," Sufjan Stevens (from Illinois)
A beautiful song with very interesting lyrics. Can't get enough of it lately, much to my sister's chagrin. I love Sufjan's narrative style. Fits the wistfulness of his music very well.

December 13, 2006
Work is winding down. There are only 3 days left, including today! You know you've had a good term when you wonder where the time flew by the end. Sheridan has been a great place to work for, and a great cap to my co-op career.

I've drinking lots of Second Cup lately! Well, one cup a day, which is pretty insane. But that is what happens when you make your closest co-workers coupons for drinks. Caramel Corretto yesterday, cranberry apple cider today. Tomorrow, probably more! I also brought in apple tarts yesterday, and today, the recipe is being distributed throughout co-op! And Neil gave me a nice sample of his biscotti and a pie crust recipe. Can't wait to try both!

So I suppose the holidays will kick in on Friday night. Time to pack for Urbana, pack for Waterloo, clear out my e-mail inbox (while listening to Sufjan Stevens - he's awesome), wrap presents, bake more goodies, clean my room for my uncle and aunt, and catch up with life in general. I hope this Christmas will be a good one.

Co-op/Career Centre holiday dinner tonight! Will it be chicken, tilapia, or penne? Hmm...

December 2, 2006
Hung out at Joeie's house last night and watched The Killing Fields. Nothing beats a good, meaty historical film. It's utter madness, the kind of thing a human being can bestow upon another. But I can't bring myself to believe that all these revolutionary leaders (Pol Pot in Cambodia, Mao Zedong in China, Che in Cuba... so many more) had slaughter in mind when they first started. Power really corrupts. Read more about Pol Pot's regime.

Anyway, the term is winding down. Only 2 more weeks at work, and I'm done! It's a little hard to believe. I really should get that training program written and done with. It's been a good term. Sheridan's a good place to work for. :o)

SONG OF THE MOMENT

Goldenrod and the 4H stone
The things I brought you
When I found out you had cancer of the bone

Your father cried on the telephone
And he drove his car into the navy yard
Just to prove that he was sorry

In the morning, through the window shade
When the light pressed up against your shoulder blade
I could see what you were reading

All the glory that the Lord has made
And the complications you could do without
When I kissed you on the mouth

Tuesday night at the Bible study
We lift our hands and pray over your body
But nothing ever happens

I remember at Michael's house
In the living room when you kissed my neck
And I almost touched your blouse

In the morning at the top of the stairs
When your father found out what we did that night
And you told me you were scared

All the glory when you ran outside
With your shirt tucked in and your shoes untied
And you told me not to follow you

Sunday night when I cleaned the house
I find the card where you wrote it out
With the pictures of you mother

On the floor at the great divide
With my shirt tucked in and my shoes untied
I am crying in the bathroom

In the morning when you finally go
And the nurse runs in with her head hung low
And the cardinal hits the window

In the morning in the winter shade
On the 1st of March on the holiday
I thought I saw you breathing

All the glory that the Lord has made
And the complications when I see His face
In the morning in the window

All the glory when he took our place
But he took my shoulders and he shook my face
And he takes and he takes and he takes

"Casimir Pulaski Day," Sufjan Stevens (from Illinoise)
A lovely, sad, wistful number from Sufjan. I love his narrative style. And I suppose Tuesdays are a good day for Bible studies! "But nothing ever happens". I guess we all go through death and learn to live with it.