I am slowly making this journal Friends-Only 'cause that's how I roll, et cetera. I dislike when people use "ect" instead of "etc.' For the first 1/4 of my life I presumed that "ect" was a word on its own, and later that it stood for "exetera." So don't annoy me with your poor grammar, ect, ad nausea.

If I'm feeling particularly nerdy I might get one of those pictures to visually sum up this entry. Not all of us are verbal learners.

Last night I dreamt that Uma Thurman shook her tatas while strutting down the street, and Ethan Hawke saw this. He was mortified and also turned on.

I also dreamt that Nicole Kidman ran from an awkward sexual situation with George Clooney. She made a quick escape on stilettos look easy!

I keep having these irrational thoughts that I'm missing out on my 20s, that I'm not living the life of a 20-something, that it'll all be over so quickly and what will I have to show for it?

Someone tell my mind that age is just a number, please.

I am graduating! It's official! All of my marks are in and I AM A GRADUATE!!
WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

I just noticed that today is my five-year anniversary of joining LJ. My first post was 03/14/03, though it was set to Private (poems that had much more relevance/emotion then than now, as most poetry has).
So much has happened since that time! It's unbelievable, really.
Then again, when I think of where I was then vs. where I am now, not a lot has actually changed; it's more that many events took place.

Weird.

So I've just returned from half a jog. I say "half" because I only jogged to the end of the road, and walked on the way back. Still, I'm pleased because it's the first real jog I've done since I broke my foot. I used the tips that my boss gave me (she's hoping to recruit me for a half-marathon in the Fall. Ha!) and I wasn't out of breath at all. I also went super easy on my foot, so I looked pretty ridiculous, I'm sure. Luckily, at 7:30AM there weren't many others out & about to laugh. I can't wait to get the running shoes I ordered from Sears; it was Agent Appreciation Day yesterday so I went ahead and spoiled myself. Of course, it was the first time they've extended this discount day to anyone & everyone, so I didn't actually feel that appreciated...

Did I mention that my alarm was set for 8AM, so I should have been asleep all this time instead of chugging along the street? My lovely degu decided, around 4AM, to voice very loud, incessant warning chirps. When I awoke and investigated I found no threat to him or his kin. So I plied him with treats and new water and spoke soothingly, hoping he would calm down. Instead, he grabbed the snack and headed for the bottom floor, chirping all the while. It takes talent to eat and scream. Anyway, I couldn't get back to sleep after that, surprise surprise. Tossed, turned, tried my damndest, and finally gave up. At least I got some exercise in...

The alarm clock was skipped ahead an hour last night while it was being set, which went unnoticed until I awoke (grr) and headed on the computer at 7AM...nope, 6AM! Ahhh! I don't know what's wrong with me. I can't sleep for shit these last few nights. At least, I can't stay asleep. I thought, having received some goodish financial news, that I wouldn/t be up with worry all night. And I wasn't! Yet I somehow still jolted awake far too early. Have I made the most of it? Not really.

I'm browsing vegan stores and LJ and plane fares. These have nothing to do with essays and presentations. But I have alllll day, now. Thanks, weird internal clock. Thanks a bunch.

Today not fun.

I had an awful night in which I woke at 3 or 4AM, did some major filing and organising for several hours, and tried my damndest to go back to sleep around 8:30AM. I was cold - shivering, shuddering, uncomfortably cold - and couldn't shake it. I had to wake up at 10:30 to get to Shakespeare for a quiz I probably failed. I was so tired. I'm still so tired.

I felt like ass in Chaucer, having read the wrong fucking tale, and sat there feeling bad for the prof who was clearly not amused that his class gave up on him. I wouldn't have wanted to be in his position.

Stress is getting to me. Uni is easy enough, when I do the right homework, but money & future is still freaking me out. I don't know. I'm too tired to care right now.

Scored a great deal on wire-cutters. Marked down due to looking used, but they'll be scratched up anyway soon enough so why pay more for a temporary gleam? I hope to finish the cages soon.

Sleep. Arahghgha. Funny taste in mouth.

I've been on a roll lately. In the past week I've cooked up at least five pseudo-elaborate dishes (ie, more than a PB & J), and today alone I've used 4 cookbooks and nearly every cookware item in my kitchen. For an impromptu family brunch I made a salsa tofu scramble, a sausage hash, blueberry pancakes, and (failed) banana cream. For dinner we reheated last night's "Cuban sensation" (ie, black beans & rice - with LIME - yum) that Daniel made plus the homemade falafels that I whipped up after reading someone else's falafel post on LJ. Currently, the oven is putting in overtime as it bakes my lemon poppyseed cupcakes (sans icing).

All of this work has impelled me to reach for a good ol' sandwich. The innards, you inquire? Why, peanut butter and jam, of course.

"What was that?" asked a moderately drunk, mildly paranoid Daniel.
"I think it was just the flashing light on a construction truck on the highway."

*moments later*

CRASHBOOMBANGFLASHCRASHFLASHFLASH!

"Or it's lightning. In March. In MARCH?!"

And thus began our late-night thunder storm, with two weeks remaining of Winter. Very, very weird.

I've gotten into the habit of concocting my own salad dressing without really taste-testing along the way. As a result of this willy-nilliness, my tongue is now burning with too much garlic and perhaps a very flammable combination of oils & vinegars. Somehow it still tastes delicious. At least, it did before my tastebuds burnt off.

It is yum. Not that mushy/liquidy but yum.

Yay!

I am presently attempting a new recipe (not my own): Mexican chocolate rice pudding from Vw/aV. I figure I should actually use the book, measurement discrepancies and all. I've found some sites listing approximate weights of foods per cup, so I hope to god it was accurate in saying 7 ounces of rice is about 350mL. I'm tired and not very mathematical so if I messed up, I messed up. Daniel will eat it.

Work was sloooowww today. I got a lot done, I think, but I often feel disengaged these days. I guess once you're down to one or two shifts a week, other things in life become more of a priority. I rarely see my boss anymore so I feel disconnected from all things Treasures. Oh well. Once school is finished I'll be working more often and can get back into the groove.

Speaking of school:
1) I didn't realise/think to look ahead to find that we don't have Shakespeare this coming Weds & Fri. If I had known that, I would have...made more of an effort to go to past classes? Oh, probably not. But still...short week for me!

2) I'm going to audtion for the teacher training program at the Conservatory. The department head said that I wouldn't have to do pointe work until my foot was better - but that it wouldn't prevent me from enrolling - and that I don't have to have exams under my belt to qualify. Though I was stoked at the idea of leaving university/education for a while, I now think that if I can get into this program sooner rather than later, I might as well. More student loan debt, here I come!

I had to leave the room during Survivor tonight as they murdered yet another chicken. I hate that aspect of the show. I understand - to a point - that they don't often have "choices." Except that they totally do and I would eat shrubs before killing a creature, which means I would probably be kicked off the show early on for being weird, and possibly weak, but I wasn't planning to apply anyway. Isn't it just for Americans? Stupid Survivor.

I restocked my iron supplements and have doubled up the dose to de-runtify my blood cells. Runts. Heh. I can't get past that. Anyway, my stomach is rebelling and causing me much pain. I'm trying to fibre-overload to compensate but I don't know if it's working/is worth it. I guess my body will adjust eventually...

I bolted upright in bed, thinking "Ah! The airport! Must hurry!"
Then I looked at the alarm clock, which read 5:30. I set it to go off an hour prior but it failed me (or I failed it). The parents' car was gone from the lot, so I realised then I wouldn't be seeing Jason off. That, combined with not being able to fall back asleep, makes me sad.

This makes me happy:

There seems to be a wealth of summer dance intensives that I can choose from to maintain/improve my skills. Ideally, I would attend them all because I have essentially lost a year of dance via breaking my foot and I need all the help I can get. However, I don't think I can financially afford to attend the three that stand out the most: the previous 2 metioned (PHD and DANS NS), plus the Conservatory's dance intensive. I think it would make the most sense to forego either PHD or DANS NS since I will be attending the Conservatory soon, and would rather be familiar with their programs. But it would be kind of cool to go from PHD from August 4-8, then straight to the Conservatory from the 11-15th, then over to Ross Creek from the 17-29. I think I would physically die, but mentally I would be on cloud nine.

I also think I'll try to get into the teacher training program this year instead of next so I won't be like 35 by the time I finish (or 28). God, I'm old.

Jay & I had an awesome night out. Sadly it was all on his bill (I don't like being po'). We shared 3 pitches + 2 pints each, as well as lots of chit-chat & head-nodding to the live jazz playing (Hupman Bros and others). At one point I was all, "Dude! We could just share an apartment and you could come home from Fort Mac and we could drink it up and we could all be close to fam!" etc, etc. Then he checked out chicks' asses as I checked out old dirty man asses (wait...that was "shuddered at old man dirty asses") and then we realised the whole "relationships thing" would be super awkward. After all, what brother wants to put up with dudes messing with his lil' sister, and what sister wants to see chicks come in & out of her bro's bedroom?!


So I don't think we'll share an apartment. However, I definitely don't want him to live out west while we're out east. We miss him!!

He leaves in 5 hours and I am drunk. Will I make it to the airport?! AHHHH!

PS - I got 95% on the assignment that I failed yesterday, and 80% on an assignment I wrote in January. I'M GOING TO GRADUATE!! YAY!! I want more booze. As Kristine would say, "Sad day."

This song makes me scream to the ceiling, "And it really makes me wonder if I ever gave a FUCK about you?!"

*Daniel bonked my eyeball (by "accident") and I couldn't see properly out of my right eye for a while. It's OK now but still aches a wee bit. I will enact revenge later.

*Jeff Healey died. He was slightly before my time, at least the height of his success was, but I always thought he had such a nice voice & personality. Oh, and talent of course. I didn't know he had cancer again (apparently it was cancer that took his sight in the first place) so I didn't expect to see him die so soon.

*The sun is so bright today. Against the snow, it's absolutely blinding. I took Fox out briefly and had to stare at my black boots to counteract the effect.

*My prof couldn't read my assignment because it just wouldn't open for her; all that came out was "goofy computer code." I am closer to not failing, now. Phew.

The two days of Danceabition 2008 have come to a close. As Rhythm & Sole's first solid attempt at this competition, I think we did fairly well! I don't have the tallies with me (Christina was the dedicated medal-marker), but we had an all silver/gold run yesterday, and quite a number of silvers again today (as well as some debatable bronzes). I couldn't help feeling, as I watched how dedicated and "on" many of the girls from other schools were, that our dancers - especially at the senior level - don't put in as much effort as they should. They are all talented; that's not disputable. Yet they don't take the chance to show people what they're good at, and don't put in nearly enough studio time to make their talent noticeable in competitions such as this. Christina says that nobody will be on the competitive teams next year if they don't take ballet, too. I agree (if only because I get to teach more classes!).

This weekend has been a real motivator for me. I saw what level people actually compete at, and I don't think I am incapable of doing it myself. I'm pumped to get my groove back on, and hope to visit at least two summer dance programs this year (DANS Summer Dance and Powerhouse Dance) to get more experience before absolutely LOADING myself with classes next year in Halifax to perfect my moves. Then I can take the teacher training program, and bring to Rhythm & Sole the best ballet classes EVAH!

The future generation in our hands (literally)...

I got a great deal on a massive aquarium from a sketchy pet store (are there any other kinds? At least, in my area?). The side was slightly cracked but the sketchy dude said he'd patch it up, clean it out, and deliver it to my place. When he did, he smashed the tank again somehow and put a HUGE spiderweb crack in the front of it. Bastard. So, while I appreciate the small amount of money spent - and the free delivery - I do not appreciate the mess of glass I have to deal with before I can proceed with my Degu Mansion plans.

I'm going to get drunk now.

Just got back from a Women of Wolfville production - "Secrets." It was good! The first WOW I've seen, which is weird given that 1) I've lived here for so long and 2) I actually planned to be IN their play a few years ago. Anyway, I took Mom, and we had a nice time. She got a kick out of it, which is great.

Jason arrived last night. We all drove out to the airport to meet him: James from Truro; me, Mom, & Dad from here. It was odd to be a family of 5 again but I look forward to the coming week and hanging out with BOTH of my brothers at one time. :)

I worked today, though it wasn't scheduled. I need the hours like woah, so I didn't mind; I actually love my job, so it's not hard to put in an extra day or two. This town...I'm starting to wonder why I'd ever want to move. I love it. I hate it, somedays, but mostly I love it. Grr.

Ballet classes are so off-track. It's difficult to teach weekend lessons because I actually want to have a social life! Unfortunately, my schedule doesn't allow for much weekday classtime, and Saturdays & Sundays are a constant barrage of classes & make-up classes. I don't think we'll ever catch up. The recital is only...4.5 months away! AHH!

I recently had my blood checked. Apparently my cells are runts. The actual count has returned to a normal level - from 79 to 120ish - but the amount of crap in each cell is still relatively small. Must invest in the liquid iron supplement that Nutritionist Krisitne prescribed after my ortho surgery.

I want to dance more. Dance dance dance. I wish I could [will myself to] go to the studio every day but somehow that doesn't happen. It should. Argh - another thing about staying in WVille: I can have access to the studio whenever it's available. Wouldn't get that in Halifax! :(

Must sleep. Work then Truro tomorrow - partying Fineberg style (shame none of us actually have that last name anymore).