SoccerChic9: July 2006

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

So, the other day I walked up the steps from my basement apartments, only to be shocked and horrified by a little bird lying dead on my steps with his tongue sticking out the side of his mouth. I kind of stepped over him, and then contemplated what I should do. None of the options I had were very good ones, because they involved me having to touch him in some way and move him. Of course, Steve's suggestion of hitting him into the neighbour's yard with a golf club was by far one of the better ones...besides the fact that I don't have any golf clubs.

So, I went back into my house, and figured I really needed to move him, because there is only so many times that it is sanitary to step over a dead bird and pretend he doesn't exist. Well, I must say, I did a good job of blocking that dying face out of my mind that night....but woke up with a horrible start after dreaming of the bird attacking me and telling me I was a horrible person for not giving him a proper burial. So, I trudged up the steps...dreading having to move his cold body. Now, to my shock, and somewhat disgust....during the night the bugs had devoured the entire bird, and all that was left was his legs and tail feathers. At first I thought I was going to be sick, but then a happy thought came to my mind....I no longer have to touch the bird or move him.

So, that is the story about me and the bird who died. I am hoping no other birds decide to follow his example, as I really don't want to have to live in my house for the rest of my life in order to avoid touching dead bodies.

So, in honour of Mr. Dead Bird.....rest in peace half eaten birdy, rest in peace.

Monday, July 24, 2006

Today, I decided to walk the 5k to Central library, and I must say I was not disapointed. I was greeted by a large stone and blue glass building, comfy couches, three stories of books, and lots of glass. I am presently the proud owner of a London library card, which is the secret key to accessing the many libraries that we have in the city. Whoot whoot, I've been accepted into the secret club.

On other news, I am considering taking my LSAT's...for real. So, I have scoured the library for books to help me with this dream...and we'll see what happens. October is the cut off apparently for entering law school in September 2007, so I will have to see if I think I can actually pull of a decent LSAT score.

Saturday, July 22, 2006

So, this weekend I went to OPC Camp in the Pineries, and enjoyed some awesome weather, water, friends, and beach. Now I am combating the large amounts of sandy clothes and bedding with my wash machine, and enjoying my comfortable couch. I must say, it's way to long since I've been to the beach, and played some good sand volleyball.

What is something that you consider yourself to be really good at in life? What would you do if you lost that skill or talent?

Sunday, July 16, 2006

I spent some of my day reading Brave New World today, and as much as I am not a big fan of the writing style - it presents an interesting concept. Growing people in test tubes, and conditioning them so that they are perfect for one type of job and nothing else. This conditioning makes the human race always content and happy, because they do not have the brain power to know that they do not have choices, and are basically robots.

Sometimes I wish I was dumb (yes, now is your chance to burn me - I admit I set you up quite nicely:). I hate that my mind is always putting in overtime. I analyze something, then re-analyze it - and start the process all over again. My mind sometimes becomes my worst enemy. There are moments, when I wish I could just turn it off, and just let go without thinking about the end product or where it's going to take me.

I think to truly live life, there is an element of letting go. But the question is, to what point?

Friday, July 14, 2006

It's about having a strategy in your head, and not letting your opponant know what that strategy is. You have to be defensive and also agressive. Knowing when to make a forward move, and when to protect yourself from a play that may leave you gasping for breath.

The awkwardness of the game, is that you never truly know if you are being played. There is an element of trust eventually which has to take place if you want to move past just a game of strategy. Yet, one never knows when that trust can be given - for often miscalculations are made, and you are left without your key players. Some of the best players never let someone get close to them, never let their guard down.

But is life really worth living, if you can't ever let someone get close? I mean, the incredible pain means you're alive - and to truly be alive and living in a moment in an incredible feeling.

I would be an idiot to tell you to build walls and never let someone close. You may win more chess games, but that's not really what life is about.

I am thinking it may be a bad sign that I am not that good at the actual game of chess:)

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Sometimes I hate the fear that holds me back from doing things in life. I have wondered if it is a negitive or positive aspect. I mean, is the fear there so I don't do something absolutely crazy like hop on a plane and fly to some random place - or is that a negitive thing. That I can't truly let go, in worry of what people may think, or what will happen. Can we really ever know what it is like to truly and utterly live life to the fullest when we are so often inhibited with fear.

Should I hate the fear, or love it?

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

So today I had a business lunch with a local hotel. They had called me up because they want my business. Basically, my office throws a national conference each year somewhere across Canada. This year the conference is taking place in Calgary, however, I am already searching for hotels for next year, since it is a very large event. Since I am now in charge of organizing this conference, it is my job to pick out a hotel. So today, I had a lunch and was basically given whatever I wanted, along with gifts from the hotel because they want me to like them. It's a really nice having power like that and getting rewarded for it:) So, as I left with gifts in hand, a full belly from an amazing lunch, and a carmel macchiato (which I actually enjoyed despite the warmness of the drink and the coffee aspect to it) - I figured I should go into a job like this full-time!!

Anyhow, I am going to go for a run methinks.....

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

So, since my apartment is currently unpacked - or at least mostly - this week involves getting to know London better. We have two Chapters, I think I died and went to heaven:) Tonight I crashed in a very uncomfortable chair in the midst of shelves of books and read a few books. I missed Chapters in The Hat. I also have started randomly exploring in different areas of towns to see what kind of bookstores, coffee shops, art stores, gyms, and so forth that I can find.

Sunday, July 09, 2006

I have discovered that I am a creature of habit. I suppose I knew that all along, but there are somedays, like today, when that becomes more clear to me. For example, I have bookmarks on top of my internet screen, and I without thinking, I get up in the morning and scroll through each one. I have formed a habit of this, and I don't think it will change unless I put a concerted effort towards doing that. So much of my life is structured around habits that I have created, when I stop to think about it, it's kind of crazy. Does that mean I am missing out on experiencing life because of habits, or do I enjoy life because of my habits. Because familiarity can be very comforting.

Right now I am listening to Pink Floyd - Comfortably Numb....it's a good song for a Sunday evening!

Saturday, July 08, 2006

I hung out today with Sarah and Kev, I really have not seen them in way to long! Then Gus came out and we all went out for supper and watched Pirates of the Caribbean 2. Am I the only one who thinks that Johnny Depp is not that hot?

Anyhow, I am contemplating a run right now....as it is a beautiful evening, and I need to clear my head. So, count your blessings for the short post:)

Friday, July 07, 2006

with my new apartment! I actually have a livingroom, and a bedroom, and so forth. My apartment is furnished, and when you walk into the livingroom, you realize that it is definately furnished. I have a full-sized couch, then a green lazy boyish chair, then a oatmeal coloured lazyboyish chair, then a bright red chair, and then a gold coloured chair. So basically, my nights in the livingroom consist of rotating around the room trying different chairs to see what is most comfortable. It is a tie right now between the green lazy boyish chair, and the bright red chair.

I also got off work early today, so I could go home and do office work. I like it that way, nice and relaxing!!

Hope everyone's weekend is fantabulous - mine is looking pretty good!

Sunday, July 02, 2006

Well of course, no 34 hour trip is complete without a deer and border guard story. Which means I am definately going to feel obligated to tell you the story about my border guard in Sarnia.

I pulled up to the border crossing, and it was a relatively busy day for the border and all. So, I picked the line with the biggest vehicles, cause then it should go faster. Well, as I pull up I notice that my border guard is in his 20's. I give him my passport, and start answering all the obligitory questions that they ask. Yes, I'm coming from Alberta, yes I'm a law clerk, yes I am moving. Everything was going fine, and he was about to leave until he saw my purse. Now, little did I know that a purse like mine was going to be a problem, otherwise I would of stuffed it somewhwere other then in plain view. He asked me why I had a camo bag, and I told him it was my purse.

He didn't seem to hear the purse word, and was like, "do you know what those are for" to which I answered, "yes, to carry my stuff around". He quickly informed me that such bags were used to carry bullets and he wanted to know if I had bullets in my bag. I assured him he didn't, but he wanted to know where I got the bag from, why I had a bag to carry bullets, and so forth. Then he asked, "Do you have a machine gun in your car". Yes, he specifically said Machine Gun, I did not make that up. I wanted to laugh, but I didn't want him to tear apart my car - so I tried to in a serious voice and face say "No, I do not have a machine gun in my car".

After asking the question twice, and me saying no twice - he decided to let me through. I must say, that was definately the weirdest thing that has happened to me at a border crossing.

Saturday, July 01, 2006

During my whole 34 hour driving stint, I almost died twice. Now since none of these were my fault, I figure I can tell the story here without feeling like a silly female driver who is crazy behind a wheel!

I had just recently crossed the border from SK into the States. I was driving within 10k of the speed limit (120), and just as I was crossing this bridge with lots of grass on the sides - a deer jumped out in front of me, about 10 feet. I hit the breaks, cause it was the chance of missing him, or having fresh deer meat mashing into my grill. I took my chances with the missing part, in retrospect, I should of just hit him.

The moment I hit the breaks, my car caught some kind of momentum, and I spun out, on a bridge, in a complete circle. I missed the sides of the bridge by just inches, and when my car finally stopped spinning, I was facing the right way on the road with the smell of burning rubber all around me. It was then that I realized I had been screaming the entire time "No God, please no" and I hadn't even realized it.

It was kind of crazy. I am thinking of writing President Bush about the deer situation in his country :)

I hope there is a deer out there right now who has learned it's lesson about jumping in front of fast moving vehicles!