Landfill for laziness.

I am going to start by patting myself on the back. I work very hard to reduce, reuse, and recycle, and often have friends follow in my footsteps (even if they do it just because I am watching). I often feel so guilty when I get lazy and throw out a container because I don't feel like washing it that I get out of bed in the middle of the night to retrieve it, clean it, and recycle it.

Because of my love for the environment and passion to keep it abundant, it pains me to see products come out for the pure purpose of fueling laziness.

People like to disguise these products of laziness as 'convenience'. The definition of convenience is 'easy', and only people who are lazy take the easy way out. Are there not enough examples every day showing us that this easy way out hurts us? Those around us? Even something as simple as the 'lazy mans load' when carrying in groceries; no, you are not that strong, you are just that lazy, and now those eggs are broken... what a waste of money... and a life for the chicken caged to do give them to you (because I will assume you do not buy free range).

I am talking about such products as Swiffer (before the washable pad - though I am sure most people still do not use this if given the choice of the disposable ones), K-cup coffee flavors (you are to lazy to take a scoop out a can? So you buy pre-measured flavors? That's a whole new level of selfish), and paper plates (although the water usage for cleaning actual plates is up for debate, I doubt the people using paper plates for small gatherings are thinking about that rather then the clean-up afterwards). These are just three examples that have bothered me lately. Watching people with 'busy lives' choose disposable over reusable simply because they can't be bothered to take one extra step. Well guess what. The Americas are not only the most wasteful countries in the world, they are also the fattest; maybe it's in everyone's best interest to take that extra step.

However, I will confess, I had to sit here for a minute and think of those three products, because the purpose of this blog entry was not actually to talk about laziness, it was to talk about vanity. Being lazy is one thing, but being wasteful because you are THAT into yourself that you cannot possibly take a point off the beauty scale for a day. It is simply unfathomable.

With this I am talking purely about two things at the moment; sticky lint removers and wrapping paper.

Let me begin with the first one: Sticky lint removers.
These were developed because some people decided that it was unacceptable to leave the house with lint or hair on their jacket or shirt. They must have thought 'I am simply too important and too classy to leave the house looking like I own a pet or do not vacuum the air in my house every 15 minutes, so I am going to fake it and remove all of the things that float around from my attire so that people are not put off by my natural self'. That is what they were thinking right? I mean, what else could have brought about a disposable sticky paper that is used once to remove nearly-invisible particles and then spend the rest of eternity in a landfill? On that note, if you think that you are TRULY that special, then there are non disposable lint brushes that do just as decent of a job with maybe 1% more effort. Why not add some toning to that body you work so hard to keep immaculate?

Onto wrapping paper (and other packaging).
For some reason it has become accustomed to present beautiful packaging and wrapping with gifts. People seem to frown upon 'ugly' looking gifts, no matter what the item is under the paper. I have seen people dig through shelves to find the product that they want in which the packaging does not have a dent. Just the other day it was pointed out to me that the cardboard holding the gift I was about to purchase had some marks on it, as if suggesting I find another one. But the item itself was in perfect condition and would continue to be so until that same 'marked' cardboard had been ripped off and, hopefully, recycled a few days later. Stores literally return items and/or sell them at discounted prices because the exterior packaging keeping the product safe has been slightly damaged or marked in some way. Are we that selfish and vain that we need even the cardboard to be perfect for us to grace it with our precious hands?
n.b: (On the same shopping trip, a lady walking in front of me dropped the wrapper from the chocolate taste test we had both just indulged in. It was not an accidental drop, but one of those ones where she looked around and then opened her hand... onto the floor... in a store. I picked it up and placed it into the garbage can 1 aisle down. It baffles me how self absorbed some people are.

And wrapping paper itself. What is wrong with wrapping said gift in recycled newspaper? It covers the gift so that it is a secret. Is that not its purpose? You can not see through news paper, it does no worse of a job at concealing the sound of the item shaking inside then does sparkly silver paper, and it doesn't matter if you tape the wrong place and have to pull it off since you don't have to worry about the image looking distorted.
This Christmas my boyfriend and I used recycled packing paper to wrap our gifts and used pencil crayons to draw our own designs on; I even glued on some sparkles. Not only is this environmentally friendly, but ads a more personal touch to the spirit of Christmas.
I have used some wrapping paper in the past, I'll admit, but as it stands now I will never do so again, not when there is perfectly functional newspaper and other recycled papers to be used.
I understand the beauty of presents under a Christmas tree, but markers and pencil crayons can do almost as good of a job.

On a side note, on the topic of paper, I once saw a lady in the bathroom pump that paper towel dispenser a good 10 times; that's about 3 feet of paper. Unless she is made of a sponge and absorbed all of the water from the tap I am not sure how she thought she could possibly need that much paper towel to dry her hands. Needless to say I pumped it once just to make up for it and went back to dinner with damp hands. Funnily enough... my hands air dried in moments, what a concept.

In conclusion,
I feel that we, as humans, are getting far to lazy and/or full of ourselves and need to step back and see what these detrimental attributes are doing to our beloved earth. I know it has been said many times before, but, it's the only one we got. No matter how important you think you are, you are not. Not compared the vast scale of the universe and the many more important things there are to worry about.

So lets all take a moment and think about what we use frequently that is for the sole purpose of comfort and convenience and maybe upgrading to a reusable version of it, if it needs to be used at all. I for one will make a conscious effort to hold my glass under the tap until it completely shuts off (old tap) so that no water is wasted.

What about you?

Sex and the City... Minus the Sex and the City

I'm ready. Ready to go home. Ready to take on the world. Ready for a job, a house, a home. Ready to be in the same city as my family, my friends, my boyfriend.

I was in an interview for the Globe and Mail the other day and today was the photo shoot. I got asked a few times what I want to do when I am done, where I want to go. I was asked what I want to be and what I want to work up to being. I knew all the answers of course. I know I want to work in an agency, as a columnist, or doing freelance. I know I want to live in West Vancouver where there are still more trees then cement. I know I want to write ads, articles, a book, or in a column. And I know I want to work up to being either a creative director or my own boss.

But what I really want, and what I really need to experience before I can enjoy all of the things ahead, is to feel at home. I want to go to Calgary, I want to settle in for a year, I want to be close to my mom, and I want to be able to say 'I'm home' and have the stay be longer then the time away.

I have so many big dreams; so many life goals. I want the 2 story house, 5 dogs, maybe a kid or two (and that's a maybe), a nice car, some wide open space and solitude, a job I love in a place I can hope to call home. I want people in the industry to know my name. I want to drive in from my acreage to attend Galas,shows, and events. I want to be known.

But I want to stay at home curled up on the couch or walk hand and hand with a husband around our land with the dogs in tow. And I want to be able to call my mom every single weekend until I am at least 55 to talk about our weeks.

I want a place to call home and I want the people I love to be there.

From what I hear, a job in advertising often crosses the line from 'I work to live' to 'I live to work'. Don't get me wrong, I love advertising and the entire process and the late nights and the 'aha' moments and the long long long periods in between those 'aha' moments, and I plan to work extremely hard to get to a point in my life and career where I can say I have it all, I just hope I can fit in what really matters.

Excuse this heartfelt blog entry. The house I was born in is being torn down soon to make room for infills and there is some sickness in my family that scares me. I am just trying to cope with being away and cutting the ties of my youth in order to form knots onto the ropes of my future - a future I am very anxious to start.

I also suppose that my nearly windowless basement apartment is not helping in the slightest. Nor is the fact that my brothers birthday is tomorrow and I will not be around to celebrate. On top of the fact that my parents are going away for a vacation during the time that I will actually be home for holidays.

However! My boyfriend will be coming to visit me this weekend to stay for a nice visit and I am really hoping it will pull me out of this slump. Give me something/someone to hold on to. See hope in his eyes.

I have no doubt in my mind that I will be successful in whichever career path I choose; I am responsible, driven, enthusiastic, and rarely give up. But the thing I want to be successful at is living life to the fullest, and that means spending every spare minute with family and friends and traveling the world.

I suppose this is why I am dreaming of the life of a freelance writer; a career in which I can feel productive and successful (because anyone that knows me knows I do not put down work until it is completed), while still being able to have time for all of the important things.

In conclusion... I want to be a combination of Carrie from 'Sex and the City' and Leigh Anne Touhy from 'The Blind Side'. These women are my idols. Carrie for the career and fun, Leigh Anne Touhy for the personality and life. Hopefully one day when people think of these two women in conjunction 'Sarah Kirkpatrick' will be the hybrid.

Mine is bigger.

Mine is bigger, mine is better, and people like me more.

Competition is hot on planet earth. Whether its competing for survival, competing for the girl, or competing to sell one more can of pop then the next guy, everyone is trying to win.

In advertising we spend the majority of our careers finding the USP of various companies, in layman's terms: how is this guys' bigger and better then that guys' and what will make him more popular.

I recently saw an advertisement in which Pepsi was positioning itself as the more popular cola over Coke. Normally, the one that is more popular is the one that sells more, but apparently, in this ad, it's strictly a popularity contest, a challenge of tastes as it were.
For giants such as Pepsi and Coke I can see why this may be a stance they are willing to take, but for others I believe sales to outrank popularity (though as I write this sentence I have a hard time differentiating between popularity and sales and how the two are even separate entities).

ANYWAY. I sort of lost my train of thought there. Back to the ad. Good ad? Bad ad? (It says that it's banned... I am confused as to why). It has a good concept but I am not sure of its impact. When I first watched it I thought "Wow, what a great idea. Kind of like using the 'other' brands ladder to reach the upper shelf where the 'good' brand is". However, after analyzing the ad a little further, and my original thought again, I wondered just how effective it really was. In the case of the ladder, does it not look good for the 'other' ladder to be there, be useful, and fulifll its required duty of bringing you up a few feet, carrying extra weight, and safely returning you to the ground? So what's in a ladder? I suppose a few extra features may give the 'good' brand a boost, but then what's in a can of cola? Sugar, water, more sugar, and some extra sugar for good measure (or bad measure if referring to your waistline). Technically, Coke sold 2 pops to the kid, Pepsi only sold 1. Will it even out when the kid is old enough to reach the Pepsi button on his own? I suppose that would depend on how health conscious he grows up to be, but I suppose in the long run Pepsi would win this battle. Then again, Coke has its own campaigns in which it is clearly prospering, so with their own campaigns on top of the bonus cans from Pepsi maybe they are ahead.
Coke and Pepsi are difficult brands to compare because it is rare that a person sits on the fence, and those that do simply order what is convenient. Me for example, I am the farthest from a pop drinker as one could be, but on the off chance that I have a sip I ask for Pepsi. I tell myself that it hurts my throat less but I think I was just brought up around it from my dad and therefore slightly favor it. I really can't see the difference but my dad swears by it, so much so that if a restaurant only sells coke he will order a water instead. So Coke and Pepsi have strong brand loyalty and therefore I do not believe that an ad such as this would do anything more then have Coke drinkers brag that they sold more pop and Pepsi drinkers laugh at the concept that their brand put out there.

After all of that obscure mumble jumble of a blog entry I suppose the Moral is this: Pepsi failed. Why? Because we are talking about Coke.

Defend it until you believe it.

I fail to understand the draw to Toronto, ON.
I do see that there are many festivals and niches throughout the city that may be of interest to travelers, but the need to live and grow (if there is room) doesn't seem believable.
Any Torontonian will defend this city till the death, but I see it more as those times when you feel strongly about something even though you know its not good or right so you simply defend it harder, trying to convince both yourself and others. Torontonians and Maple leafs fans are the same sort of people (and many are in fact, the same people); cheering for something that you know is no good but feel a strong need to be patriotic and stand up for your roots. There is a time in everyone's life where they need to realize that, yes, the maple leafs and Toronto do suck, there is not much chance of either getting better, and its time to move onto something worth cheering for.

For example:
I went for coffee with a friend today. This coffee shop (called Snakes & Lattes - I do strongly recommend it) is 15 minutes from my house down Bloor. I gave myself 20 minutes to get there; it took 45. What is the point in having so many roads if they are constantly under construction? I then made the mistake of trying to avoid Bloor and making my way down to the Gardener Expressway. About 45 minutes later I had made it approximately 5kms (generally a 5 minute drive). For a coffee shop that is only 15 minutes from my house I am unsure why it took me 1 hour. I blame the construction in part, but the other 90% is on the drivers shoulders.

I have been a lot of places on this earth and nowhere, I mean nowhere, have I encountered so many people with the inability to drive, AND I LIVED IN HONGCOUVER FOR A MONTH! If I were to believe in any contagious disease sweeping the city it would be whatever deadly bug is living on the Toronto Drivers License. It appears that when you receive one of these cards all common sense, morality, and 90% of your ability to make the right decision are suddenly sucked from you and thrown out the window of the car that you are having difficulty maneuvering in a reasonable fashion.

I would say that today was 2 hours of my life I will never get back, but I am going to expand that into 'This Degree is 4 years of my life that I will never get back'.

Not all things Toronto are bad. Like I said, Snakes & Lattes is fantastic. I do rather enjoy the Kingsway area, and Humber college is a beautiful place.

People keep asking me if I plan to stay in Toronto when i finish school. Here is my answer: I would like to move to West Vancouver where the trees are plentiful and the people are fewer and father in between. I would then like to live in Calgary when it is time to raise a family. If those two places are inaccessible for whatever reason I would opt to live in Victoria, Hawaii, Nova Scotia, Ottawa, any US State, Mexico, Africa, the Middle East, South Korea, or even maybe North Korea... and if all of those fail. I may live in the outskirts of Toronto. Does that answer the question?

But my fingers are crossed for West Vancouver.

And now would be the time to finish up my homework, watch some tv, and send positive messages into the universe that the 401 is not busy heading West tomorrow (Sunday) morning, cause if it is? well... its hard to blog from a noose.

Fair thee well.

Hell hath frozen over.

I thought I was living in Toronto, one of the most thriving cities in Canada, but apparently it's more like Bonnyville Alberta, everything being closed on holidays. And when I say everything I mean everything...

After a flight to Ottawa, a drive to my cottage, a drive to Toronto through traffic, a trip to the grocery store, and a short night sleep (due to having thin curtains that keep no light out) I woke up with the intent to unpack and get fully settled. It may be true that I have 4 closets in my room, however, with towels, sheets, shoes, jackets, ringette equipment, and empty boxes filling three of them I found that my last closet filled up faster then I had expected. I soon realized that 1) I may have brought too many clothes 2) I definitely brought too many shoes and 3) I needed to go to Walmart to get storage containers for my underwear and other small garments.

I turned off my music, locked the door, and set out to get the finishing touches for my room so that I may feel completely stress free and unpacked. I also decided I would return to Sobeys and pick up a few items that I had forgotten the previous day.

Turning into the mall parking lot and being the only car in sight was disheartening, but I did not fear, Walmart was behind the building and I am sure many people were doing last minute shopping. As I rounded the corner no cars became visible in the parking lot near Walmart and as I pulled up in front I soon found myself to be the only one in sight other then a few other disheartened passing cars reading the 'Closed on Labor Day' sign on the Walmart doors. This just couldn't be. It's Walmart for god sakes. These are the people that are open 24/7 and even hire people to greet you as you come in, no WAY would they be closed, AND THE DAY BEFORE SCHOOL! This is absurd.

I call my mom who brushes me off and is happy that they are closed so people don't have to work on Labor Day, which is fair but no less frustrating. I proceed to call my boyfriend who apparently JUST left Walmart... in Calgary. Sigh... Toronto is not setting itself up to improve its reputation in my books.

None the less, I need this shelf. My mom had suggested Canadian Tire. Perfect, there was one only a few blocks away. I couldn't see the Canadian tire parking lot behind the Taco Bell buildings but it was open so I felt pretty good turning off the road. This joyous feeling however was short lived, for the second I hit the driveway I again found it to be deserted. I mean really. If Taco Bell is open wouldn't you think Canadian Tire would be? Or at the VERY least Walmart? *sigh*

Fine. I shall leave the pile of underwear on the floor until tomorrow. At least I can look forward to some nice oysters on crackers tonight with a side of the greek salad I had attempted to make last night (I had forgotten to buy crackers and feta cheese). So, off to sobeys I go. Back onto the Queensway for the 3rd time in the last 15 minutes, empty handed, and on to the grocery store.

I pull up to the Sobeys parking lot and what do you know, there are 2 cars there. Perfect, somebody in their right mind doesnt shut down a major chain for a tiny holiday the day before all schools go back. I park, get out of my car, and walk up to the door. Doors don't open. Sign on door says 'Closed for Labor Day'. WHAT THE HELLLLLLLLLLLL. Those two cars must have been parked there for the Swiss Chalet next door, because apparently Swiss Chalet is important enough to be open and a major grocery store is not.

So. Back in my car, no storage, no groceries, and less time and gas then when I had set out on this disastrous quest.

I head back home. My house is on the corner of a one way street. To turn off of the main road would be going the wrong way down this one way street for about 5 feet so I usually just do it since its about 5 blocks shorter then going around. Happy to be getting home I begin to round the corner when I see 3 people standing in my driveway talking, and in this neighbourhood you dont want to be caught going down the wrong way, these people call the police if your garbage is out a day early. So I quickly correct back onto the main road and, having missed the turn, drive up 2 blocks to turn around, drive back past my house, down 3 blocks, and around the long way.

Finally. Back home. Empty handed. I need a tea. Oh wait... the man I subletted to stole my kettle. Right. Ok... boiling water on the stove. Have to pee. Phone rings. Distracted. Whats that smell? Something burning? Am I having a stroke? nope...Ah... an empty pot on a red hot stove... All water evaporated. No tea tonight. I give up.

These last two incidences were not caused by the unnecessary Labor Day shut down, I admit, but I do blame them still, because if it were not for this holiday I would not be out in a bad mood and may have been more clear.

Ps: Made status about Walmart being closed. Friend living in small town Ontario notifies me that his Walmart is open. So let me get this straight. Calgary AB's Walmart's are open and Nowheresville ON's Walmart's are open, but Toronto ON (Yes folks... Canada's New York) has closed theirs?
That's it. I am going to lay down on my pile of clothes. Goodnight.

A plan within a plan.

13 days until Toronto. or is it 13 days left of Calgary. With a new place, new classes, and a new job waiting it's hard not to be excited to get started. But with friends, family. and my boyfriend its hard not to be sad to leave.

Then there is the excitement of the new classes for the semester. However, there were some major switch ups and now I am with the other class. I did not take a lot of the first year classes that integrated the two groups so I don't know many people from this class, but I'm excited to get to know them. Having 2 days of class a week will be great. Finally feel like going to class is worth while since its more then a blip in my day. Now the only concern is keeping busy so I don't go stir crazy the other 5.

I have a trial work day at a doggy daycare not far from my house. I am really excited to try it out. I don't think there would be such thing as a bad day at work or losing interest in my job if I get to be around dogs all day. I wonder just how much I will like it. Part of me wants to love it, but part of me wants to hate it so that I dont follow through with my most recent career idea of owning my own doggy daycare, therefore wasting 4 more years of my life in school (Shout out: yes mother... education is never wasted.. I know). I can only imagine how wonderful the day will be getting to spend it all with dogs and playing, I'm not opposed to cleaning either.

There are so many things to focus on its hard to get a set plan in order. As an extreme planner, organizer, and perfectionist of time, it is difficult to live day by day, which I have heard is the best method. So for now I will plan only for what I know, to go to Ottawa on the 1st, visit for 4 days, drive to Toronto on the 5th, school on the 6th and 7th, trial work day on the 8th... and then hopefully real work days after?

But what do I want to do with my life? I know what I WANT in my life.. but the income to acquire those wants is where I generally get stuck. I can tell you one thing, I would not be one of those people who commits suicide after winning the lottery, I have enough plans to last me a lifetime for that money without being bothered by it.
So Advertising, Writer, or Owner of {insert cool doggy daycare name here}?

I guess only time will tell. My internship slightly soured me to the world of copywriting but school always seems to perk me up about it again. And writing? I would love to write a book on relationships, or a column about my thorough and dramatic opinions. The problem with this: success in these careers are based on readership and likeability, I'm not sure I want to leave my income up to something so unstable. And then Doggy Daycare. One of those jobs that has the perks of happiness and fulfillment but slightly lacking on the 'big house and many trips' front.

Conclusion? I will be a freelance copywriter who writes a book at night once I get my Doggy Daycare off the ground an have enough people working under me to take lots of time off.
Or just go into advertising and own lots of dogs and write a book at night.

*Sigh* If only there were more complete times associated with these plans... it would truly satisfy my obsessive compulsive need to plan my life to the tee. God damn living life day by day and accepting spontaneity.

I am now going to write up my plan for the day... down to the minute... starting with hitting the 'publish post' button, just to ease the tension of flexibility.

'So you think this is hot?'

Lessons learned:
- get your subletter to sign a lease
- get your subletter to sign something saying he will give a damage deposit
- go with your subletter to get the damage deposit on THAT day if he does not have it on him.
- do a security check on your subletter
- washing machines and regular soap do not get blood out of pillows
- wet wipes are your best friend to wipe down EVERYTHING said subletter may have touched and are for some reason greasy
- mysterious things will come out of carpets with a little elbow grease and a strong strong chemical carpet cleaner
- regular scotch tape does not hold up posters very well and when one falls in the night it can sound like an angry ex subletter breaking in
- When someone ties your nintendo controllers into tight nots (for god knows what reason) it is difficult to untie them, especially with the previously mentioned grease covering
- It is not illegal or against any code to throw out items left behind by a subletter- goodbyyyyye junk
- Through all of this, you can tell who your good friends are :)
- DO NOT come to Toronto at the peak of summer

I made the mistake of doing a terrible job subletting to a psychopath this summer and had to fly to Toronto to get things sorted out before *I* got kicked out as well. Turns out, the two days I decided to come are the hottest days of the year - said to feel like 50 degrees with the humidity. ALSO turns out that searching for a subway (walking) for an hour in this heat is detrimental to your health. Not only do I feel sick, my skin is peeling and I nearly fainted in the line up when I got there. I think I'm going to stay inside for a while.

As for the title of this entry: There is apparently a church in Scarborough that has 'So you think this is hot?' on the sign. But from my experiences with my psycho subletter, the state of my room post-subletter, and the current heat, Id say that this IS in fact Hell. And I subletted to the devil himself, and his two satan spawns.

Needless to say I have successfully evicted the shit out of this room, and his stuff as well, and am looking forward to going back home to a clean cozy house and regular summer weather where I can walk outside without losing half of my body weight in water.

I went for a 10 minute walk to subway and when I got home it looked like I had just run on a treadmill for 3 hours INSIDE a sauna. I am now sitting half naked in my air conditioned apartment drinking a liter of water.

So that's my brief update on life.
'Should be' news headline: 'July 20-21 - Mysterious happenings: Hell has risen and become Toronto ON.'

I now intend to lay naked on my cold tile floor. ah-goodbye

Stampede Song Guide

Stampede is fast approaching and i fear that all the non country fans are ill prepared for the hooting and hollering of what is to come.
I am aware that you are not country fans on a regular basis, but if you plan to go out to a pub, bar, club, or to Mrs Nashville North herself i would recomment you brush up on some of the popular songs, girls love a man that knows his country, or as Chris Cagle would say - Chicks Dig It.

Below is a list of songs that you NEED to know if you plan to get the full Stampede Experience. Its not nearly enough, but a good list of starters. And the majority of the artists are key for further study. It is also HIGHLY recommended that you learn to two step (even if this means practicing alone in your room). Especially for you gentleman. Even a girl that DOES NOT dance with random boys will make an exception for a man that asks her to two-step. I would know, because I am one of those girls.

So here it is! Your Guide to the Stampede night scene. Derived from my extensive archive of country music and hand picked from previous experience at many stampede locations, including working at Ranchmans. (note that these are only upbeat songs. You should also reseach some of the slower songs from these artists if you want to get in on the slow dancing ;) Popular Artists are marked with a star)

• Turn it up - Aaron Lines* (Nahsville North on July 8th.. Ill be there!)
• Seeing Things - Aaron Lines
• Don't Rock the Jukebox - Alan Jackson*
• Summertime Blues - Alan Jackson
• Save a Horse - Big & Rich (if you dont know this one... thank GOD you found this list... you need serious help)
• Honey Bee - Blake Shelton
• Hold me in your arms - Brad Paisley*
• Ticks - Brad Paisley
• Chicks Dig It - Chris Cagle
• The Truck Got Stuck - Corb Lund
• I Wanna Be in the Cavalry - Corb Lund
• What Was i Thinkin' - Dierks Bentley
• Lot of Leaving Left To Do - Dierks Bentley
• If You Were My Girl - Emerson Drive
• Callin Baton Rouge - Garth Brooks*
• Nothing on but the Radio - Gary Allan
• Good Day to Ride - George Canyon
• Give it Away - George Straight*
• Hillbillies - Hot Apple Pie
• What's a Guy to Do - Joe Nichols
• Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off - Joe Nichols
• Firecracker - Josh Turner
• Kiss a Girl - Keith Urban*
• Sweet Thing - Keith Urban
• Hit the Ground Running - Keith Urban
• Who Wouldn't Wanna Be Me - Keith Urban
• I Wanna Love Somebody Like You - Keith Urban
• Never Wanted Nothing More - Kenny Chesney*
• Living in Fast Forward - Kenny Chesney
• Fishin' in the Dark - The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
• Convoy - Paul Brandt*
• Come on & Get Some - Paul Brandt
• Alberta Bound - Paul Brandt
• Suds in the Bucket - Sara Evans
• Any Man of Mine - Shania Twain
• It Happens - Sugarland
• The World Needs a Drink - Terri Clark*
• Are you Gonna Kiss Me or Not - Thompson Square
• I Like it, I Love it, I Want Some More of it - Tim Mcgraw*
• Drinkin' Bone - Tracy Byrd
• Chicken Fried - Zac Brown Band

It is also important to try to learn a line dance.
If you are completely incompetent in the dance department the easiest one (and luckily for you, the most popular) is:

• Electric Slide - Song: Cadillac Ranch - Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Hope this helped!  Enjoy the Calgary Stampede! Get your dance on!

PS: If I missed any Key songs leave a comment with the song name and artist.
Thanks!

Moving on up! And a little to the right.

The internship is winding down and a whole new set of adventures is ahead of me.
I can say that this has been an eye opening, thrilling, helpful experience and I am so glad i had the opportunity to partake in it. I have learned a few things:

1. I don't like getting up early
2. 9-5:30, mon-fri are not my dream hours
3. There is A LOT of reading in copywriting and I think it should be named 'copyproofing'
4. I really enjoy editing content, small bits at a time
5. I now have a new drive to learn and improve my art direction skills so that I will not be limited to reading/writing.
6. I hope to have an office one day so that when I need a break from reading I won't feel guilty looking through facebook or watching videos.
7. Make SURE you check who you are sending a message to on skype, especially if both your boyfriend and your boss have open chats going. Thank god for the 'delete message' option. (no... nothing dirty... but things that would be inappropriate to send your boss none the less)
8. It seems to be common that people ACTUALLY type grammatically  correct when using skype for work, and emoticons are frowned upon.
9. Something in the air of offices makes you sneeze A LOT.
10. There are a lot of pretty cool people in this industry, and with a tweak of goals, I hope to be one of them.

And now... THREE MORE DAYS UNTIL I AM OUT OF HERE!

I will miss Vancouver very much. its beautiful, has great people (aside from those who were mentioned in the previous post), there is always so much to do, and two of my most loved people live here! This will definitely be a place that I start adding to my vacation plans. Visiting the people here would be reason enough, not to mention the uncharted waters!

From here I am off to a friends wedding for two days on one of Vancouver's beautiful islands. Sun, water, dancing, celebrating, food, and drink. Jealous yet?! It will be fantastic.

After celebrating love for a few days, My boyfriend and I continue celebrating love by taking a road trip together! Back to Vancouver for a day for one last goodbye, down to Kelowna for 2 nights of camping and beach leasure, down to Revelstoke to explore all things enchanted, and get a birds eye view of the beautiful mountain forestry. After one final night, in the comfort of a hotel this time, we are headed back to calgary. Returning just in time (fingers crossed) for my spanish lesson, and with only one evening to prepare for.. what? OPENING DAY AT THE CALGARY STAMPEDE AND AARON LINES AT NASHVILLE NORTH!!!!!!

All I can say... is that I am excited as FUCK for the week ahead.

Oh, and did I mention that its Matt and my 6th month of dating? In his words, 'its official' (since apparently nobody takes it seriously until this point. Luckily for us this 6 months is based on the day you started dating rather then how much time you have spent in person. ha.)

So with that, I leave you for a week of love, bliss, relaxation, and enchantment.
And with a few following videos to get you pumped up for THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH!

You stab a man for wearing yellow?

Alright, so scratch my previous post. Almost completely. Although I do hope the Europeans enjoyed their solar eclipse.

But i just want to get a few things figured out here, and make a few observations:

1. Your team makes it to game 7 of the Stanley cup playoffs and you... have an angry riot? I am seriously asking this, but... What exactly are you mad at? Should you not just be super proud that you had a great season and made it this far and got silver? Maybe have warm wishes for next year?
1a) Observation/Opinion: The people that were rioting were not the actual fans, they were merely bandwagon jumpers who had no right to participate in any celebration or loss. A real fan would not be angry that their team lost in game 7; Disappointed maybe, but not upset. I believe that the city should, for future reference, not prevoke mass amounts of people with screens. As a real fan, i did not find them useful in the least because the game was hardly visible. Therefore, the people who really care are at home watching it with friends, and the people that just want to drink, party, and cause problems are down there cheering when others cheer and booing excessively if someone makes a mistake.

2.  You stab a man for wearing yellow? I mean... in the end, its a yellow jersey with a B on the front. And that somehow offends you? I mean. The pink squirrel flannel pajamas i am wearing are kind of offensive too i suppose, because they are hideous... but other then that... its fabric. Or is it what it represents? An activity played on ice by people ages 2-70 in way that is both fun and entertaining? A group of men who happened to get drafted to a city where they did not live to play out their dream of playing a sport they live and making a living at it? You are stabbing someone that is supporting a group of 20-35 year old men doing what they love wherever they could get picked up? I am guessing you don't drive a Chrysler do you. But you think it is alright to cheer for another group of men who are doing the same thing, from all around the WORLD, including the states, and happen to be wearing a blue and green colored fabric? Are you going to stab me? My squirrels look sad trying to find their acorns. Does that offend you too? How about my red polka dot pants. Red is the colour of a stop light. Does that make you angry? On a second note. I heard that Canucks fans were yelling at a man because he was walking his BOSTON terrier. A Dog... with the word 'Boston' in its breed... ha.. ha... {bang!}. I mean really. Its a sporting event for god sakes. And you sure as hell do not deserve to participate in it. Get the fuck out of life.

3. Let me this this straight... Your team loses in game 7 and you... burn your own city? Wow... Way to think that one through guys. Bet you are proud of yourself now. I am actually SO proud to be Calgarian right now because out of the 3 places i 'live', it is the only one that has not recently had a dangerous, useless riot over something so ridiculous. We lost in game 7 in 2004 and... went home disappointed...? Sorry if that's not dramatic enough for you... but i think its pretty awesome to show that we are decent human beings with respect for yourselves, our city, and our friends and family.
2a) Observation/Opinion: wow... just wow... glad i don't live here and have to pay the taxes to rebuilt what has been broken. And what makes me mad, is the people that trashed things all looked like the skum of the city and probably don't even make enough to pay the taxes needed to rebuild what they broke. Freeloaders from the start. I'm with my dad when he says 'they should just have snipers on roofs shooting anyone who throws something through a window or lights a match'. If this were the case, I would join the police force. Because clearly people that are that reckless and juvenile are no help to civilization and should be wiped out prematurely. I'm all for survival of the fittest, even when its forced.

4. You see a car fire and you take a picture? really? Other then the fact that you are an idiot, what is your excuse? I don't care if you were 'just watching'. I hope you spend the rest of your life knowing that you caused people to die. Because there were so many crowds 'watching' what was happening, the cops could not get to people being beaten and stabbed in time. or even to arrest everyone that was being reckless. Next time, get the fuck out of the way. Go home. And watch it on the news like the rest of us. Unless you are a firefighter, you should never run towards a fire. And unless you are risking your life like police officers are every day and trying to break up and stop the things that are happening, don't be anywhere near it.
3a) Observation/Opinion: I wish that I knew more people here and could recognize some faces, because i would not even take a breath before I called 911 and reported them. That goes for my friends in Calgary or Toronto as well. If a riot breaks out, hide your face if you are involved because I WILL report you.. i don't need friends like that anyway; though i pride myself on not involving myself with morons.

5. The next time someone says they 'hate cops' (or any ridiculous slang for the police) I will do a various number of negative things to you depending on my relationship to you. If you are my friend, you wont be any longer, and if you are a stupid hoodlum with a bad attitude, i may risk my life to kick you in the face (i will find a way to get you on the ground first). First of all. The police are strict because they need to be. And in Canada, they are too lenient. Have you seen major riots like this over such small things in the states? no. because they know that they would get their asses kicked. It is a damn good thing that I am not a police officer because it would not be long before i was arrested myself for police brutality. There are so many god damn unintelligent and dangerous people out there that i don't think its a bad thing to knock a few of them out, even permanently. If you have a legitimate reason to hate the police, then i have a legitimate reason to hate you. Whether you are drinking on the street and they pour it out, speeding through a playground zone and they give you a ticket, or lighting cars on fire and looting department stores, if you say 'i hate the police' you are officially part of this rant. Maybe try to do something with your life where the police do not need to bother you. Help yourself, your city, your friends and family, and humanity as a whole.

In conclusion.
I know that it was not all of Vancouver causing problems last night, and it is unfortunate that this is now a reputation of the city. But those of us educated, mannered, and decent human beings that are still around need to band together and give ourselves a reason to live, because this view of humanity that i now have engrained in my head makes me wonder why we even bother trying.

Ps: I learned that I am scared of myself last night, because watching 4 Canucks beat 1 Boston fan on tv, I thought to myself that if i had been there i probably would have interjected and gotten the shit kicked out of me. But that poor man didn't deserve it.

Pps: Even if this kills me. I would like to make a shout out to the Boston Bruins. You guys played amazing. You showed up to every game. And you deserved that win. Anyone that says otherwise is blinded to true sportsmanship.

I need some faith in humanity.

Once in a lifetime experiences, but hopefully not.

HELLO CANADA!
(listen to the link below while you read this. Makes it sooooooo much more exciting. But make sure to go back and watch the other links too. They are golden.)

>LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE!<
(Get Get Get Ready Ready Ready to RUMBLE!)
JOCK JAMS!
Ya'll ready for this?
Ya'll ready for this?
Whoomp there it is!
Hitman!
Pump up the Jam, Yo Pump it Up, Yo Pump it
This is Your Night
Be Aggressive, B-E Aggressive
HIT IT!
Ya'll ready for this? 

Welcome to the big show

let me hear ya say WAY-OH! (Way-oh!) 

 GO CANUCKS GO!

I think that I am having a pretty lucky month being able to have an internship in Vancouver, hang out with one of my best friends whom I never see, get closer with my really awesome cousin, and... what? THE CANUCKS ARE IN THE PLAYOFFS WHILE I AM HERE?!
No fricken way. Yes way! No way. Serious? WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

I am not one of those bandwagon jumpers, completely anyway. I cheer for the flames when they are playing, but the Canucks have always been my back up team to cheer for if the flames are not on the ice. And because of this I am SUPER pumped that the final game is tonight and one of my 2 teams could win it all!

It is true that i am going downtown, getting the full experience, but I, unlike 90% of the people down there, are there to watch the game and cheer for the team. Not to get drunk and force hi-fives onto people with dirty hands.

Though? I am looking at it like an experience that, odds are, won't happen again. Not that the Canucks won't make it again, but that I will be staying in the city where the team I am cheering for is 'Searching for Stanely', especially with my city hopping schedule.

So I am not only excited about the hockey, I am excited that I get to partake in such an exciting experience, watching most of Canada, and various places around the world, unite to cheer for a single cause, one that is based purely on joy (even though the fighting may say otherwise). THE GREATEST SPORT (to watch) IN THE WORLD! (except for maybe rugby... that shit is intense)

It is not very often that experiences like this come along. Experiences that only happen 'once in a lifetime' (but hopefully not).

I missed the last 'Once in a lifetime' experience. And that one was ACTUALLY once in a lifetime, and not everyones' lifetime either. The Solar eclipse that happened last December. I was in mexico and had every intention to watch it, however... i fell asleep... 

But I'm not falling asleep for this one Canucks Fans! I will be there, representing all fans that do not live in this city, cheering my heart out. Throat scratching, fist pumping, arm waving, feet stomping cheering. Damn right. THIS IS THE FINALS BITCHES! DO IT UP!

WHO IS WITH ME!?

GO CANUCKS GO! GO CANUCKS GO!
 

Also... Luongo reminds me of my long lost Mexican lover (not actual lover) Alberto. Mexico may have been a skewed trip of missed experiences, but not Vancouver. Oh no sir. Tomorrow may hurt at work, but...

YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE 

OH YEA! And i get to watch the game with everything else that is awesome about this city. My cousin, my friend, and my internship (or at least a person from it)

OLE, OLE OLE OLE. OLE. OLE! 

And speaking of 'not so once in a lifetime experiences', Get out a blanket and cuddle up to a loved one, tonight is a not-so-infrequent Total Lunar Eclipse. That is.. if you are in Europe or Asia.


So lets remember tonight, the 15th of June, 2011, as a night of Bliss and Beauty.

Working for the sake of working.

I have recently started a month long internship in the beautiful city of Vancouver. Although Vancouver has so many positive points that I would like to touch on for the sake of potential visitors, I will limit this specific blog to work related information.

I am really excited to get a taste of what it's like in the real world and so far... I'M LOVNG IT (MacDonalds style... even the walls are red and yellow... no lie).

Previous jobs, and most jobs that are held by school aged workers, are simply jobs that you work for the sake of working. These jobs require you to show up on time because that's when you were scheduled, and clock out on time because they don't want to pay you overtime; and most importantly, try your very hardest to keep busy during the hours in between. Not only is this method painful, boring, and horribly degrading, it does not give you a sense of purpose.

When it comes to jobs, or internships, such as the one I am currently doing, you feel needed, like there is actually some sort of reason for you to get up in the morning. On my very first day on the job I left at the end of the day with things to finish. This concept translates into a REASON to go to work the next day. My second day on the job I felt like I HAD to get to work on time because I needed all the time I could get to finish the project I was working on, aside from the obvious responsibility of coming to work on time for the sake of looking hire-able. I came into work, sat down, and started to do what I needed to do. This didn't involve cleaning something I cleaned yesterday, facing a box that was 1degree to the left, or twiddling my thumbs waiting for someone to need a hand with something. I actually had work to do. I really can't think of a better work related feeling at the moment.

I also find it really cool to be part of a well oiled machine. I am a writer. As a writer I create the copy for, say, a website. It is really interesting to be categorizing and editing information for a company and look across the room to see the mock up of the front page being put together. Then to then look to the other side of the room and see (not that I could tell quite yet) the programming being done for the website, people that make the clicks click and pop-ups pop-up. Together we are making one website, for what I would consider a very lucky client.

The only problem that I can think of right now with this job is... I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL! Now that I have gotten a taste of what it's really like I don't want to go back to doing projects that don't actually become anything, or write essays that will only be recycled the next semester, or even worse, learning STATISTICS (thank god I am finished that already). Also... I don't particularily like early mornings... but even that has a positive: I am being productive and living life and loving it.

Needless to say. I love being a working girl and I hope to write till I drop.

Post-life BBQ - 6:01pm per time zone - Ill bring the cynicism

Who: The other 97% of the world
What: A BBQ for those of us that did not pass Judgement day
Where: H-E-Double Hockey Sticks (for the Canadians), 'Hell' for everyone else
Why: Because we thought that we were using logic and common sense to explain the worlds happenings while not basing our lives around what seemed to be a bunch hodge podge to help people sleep at night... and now? We are keeping Satan company.
When: OCTOBER 21st, 2011 @ 6:01 as per Mr. Camping's Prediction.

RSVP: well... You don't really have a choice... so... If all goes as predicted.. SEE YOU THERE!

PS: Personally, I think that our party will be better then the one up above. They may have Albert and Philadelphia cream cheese, but we have a way bigger party with all the people from around the world that DIDN'T have sticks up their asses their whole lives.

BRING ON THE RAPTURE!

----------------------------------------------------------------------

In all seriousness though, I really hope that this prediction does not bring on mass suicides like many other incidents where predictions went horribly wrong; need I remind you all of the Millennium?

I will admit, when I heard this story I got a little nervous. I do see myself as a pretty loyal atheist, however, sometimes, and only sometimes, I'm like'... ohhhhhhh fuck... what if?' Clearly not a thought strong enough for me to forget all reason and drop to my knees with my fingertips to the sky, but just enough to be like: 'that would suck'. Kind of the same thing with 2012 I suppose. There may be some small hints that something could be true, but mostly just people trying to understand the world a little better by throwing in ideas and waiting for people to search for what they want to see.

Needless to say, If the rapture does happen tomorrow I will likely be the first person in my time zone to be transported DOWN into the depths of the earth (or wherever the devil may reside); as far away from god as possible, if this theory is true (and by this theory I am referring to the theory of god as a whole).

I suppose all I can say is: Thank ____ I have friends and family on the east coast. Be dears and warn me when people start to burn up beside you? Give me the chance to live my last 3 natural-disaster free hours to their fullest. As for you guys... Get in contact with China? ASAP? Cause I think its just about that time there.

Emotions are contagious.

When someone you care about is happy it brightens your day; when you are around them it lifts you up inside. When this person is sad it makes your heart ache; when you're around them you cry with them. And when this person is so stressed out that they need time to consider their priorities and goals, all you can do is hope that you stay on top of that list and try to ignore the knot in your stomach telling you this month is going to be hell... while reminding yourself that they are worth it.

We don't just live life for ourselves, we live it for others as well. What makes us happy makes others happy, and when we are sad it effects every person we come in contact with. The man that lost his job may be an ass at the restaurant and the woman that is going through a divorce probably yelled at the store clerk. Whether you believe it or not, your emotions are not your own.

It is true that many people are good at hiding themselves, but even a true master at hiding can still be seen from the right angle, and with all of the people in this world, there is certainly not an angle undiscovered. However, for most of us, we show what we feel and we feel what we show, either boosting ourselves or letting ourselves down. It is this energy that encircles us and, when in contact with another, becomes transferred, even if against our will.

I find that stress is often the least likely of the emotions to transfer, but when it does it often has the most effect. It is easy to stand back and watch someone putter around manically and to wish they would settle down, but when it finally transfers over all you want to do is run. Run not from them, but from the feelings that you are both now holding, feelings that can be so relentless. You know what they are feeling and you want to be supportive (even if its not something you believe in) but now these emotions are yours as well. When it's someone you care about all you can do is hope that soon enough they will drop their stress not only for themselves, but also for you.

So be mindful, my fellow readers, both in the sense of passing off your emotions to unprepared citizens, but also in holding back judgements when the 'idiot' in front of you in the line is not coping well with a situation, you just never know what kind of day he/she has had. And when you can, when you are strong enough and a person means enough to you, lend out an extra shoulder to help them limp along, cause one day you might need theirs as well.

It may be hard now, and it may seem like this will never end, you might not even believe that their is going to be an end, but all you can do is hope to god that there is and that the other side is going to be more then green, its going to be golden.

You only get one...

I have been searching for something to write about for a while now, if you couldn't tell, but all i have been thinking about is how i just want to get out and live life!

My parents are in china on a cruise, a friend of mine is in Vegas and just got back from Florida, my other friend is going to Israel for 6+ months, and I.... am going to Vancouver? I admit that I do a lot more then most people. School in Toronto, internship in Vancouver, live in Calgary, and the many trips that i have had the privilege of going on in the past... but I feel like its not enough! I don't want to work and I don't want to go to school, I just want to travel the world! I want to lay on a beach in Hawaii for a week before flying off to cruise the markets in Beijing. I want to take a picture of all the people 'leaning' against the leaning tower of Pisa from afar, to get a facial with Mud from the red sea... IN THE RED SEA! Hike the stairs of El Castillo (or at least around the base since the stairs have now been closed for preservation), run across the street to get to the Colosseum (across the most dangerous intersection in the world; no insurance company will cover if you are in an accident there), eat french bread in France and pasta in Italy. Go shopping on Madison Avenue and hale a cab in downtown New York City by whistling and waiving my hand.

There are so many things to do in this world and what am I doing? Sitting in my living room writing a blog about them rather then DOING them.

But alas... in order to do these things... one needs money. And how do you get money? Work... and how do you work? School... So i suppose I could look at this as my path to the future... A future that will hopefully start very soon so i can sink my toes into the sand at Waikiki beach or overuse the 'nighttime lights' setting on my camera while walking down the strip in Vegas. But all of this after, and only after, I head to Thailand to volunteer and donate to an Elephant Orphanage and contribute at least 2 weeks of my time helping someone that truly needs it.. and the elephants are those that do.

In order to keep my sanity I suppose I shall think of it that way. Right now I am living life up in my home town before I head off to explore the world, to live this one life with as much enthusiasm and experience as possible by a single human being, by truly... LIVING.

The Earth does not belong to us... We belong to the Earth.

There seems to be a misconception in the world about the importance of humans. People seem to think that they are THE most important creatures on the earth and therefore deserve life over all others. I can only imagine this frame of mind coming from Genesis 1:26 where it states:

"Then God said, 'Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.'"

Not being a religious person myself I disagree with most things in the bible and opt for the open mindedness, equality, and acceptance for all.

Recently there have been a string of Pit Bull attacks on people and their pets. As a pet owner myself I do fear the dogs coming near my own however I do not agree with the crowds that believe that the Pit Bulls should be banned and put down as family dogs. I know of many people that own these animals and are very happy with them and their temperament. Yes, it is known that these dogs were bread to fight and will do so at any chance, but is that not true of some humans as well?  

How many killers are out there as we speak; people let out on bail, people that are just KNOWN to be unstable but have not yet committed a crime, and even people that have committed a crime but are given the lax punishment of jail time. I mean, if my viewpoint is correct, why is it that an animal kills a person and their whole breed is put down, but when a human kills anything that person only gets 'confined' into a jail cell with computer time, outdoor time, fresh meals every day, TV, and visitors. Hell, it has been more then once when I have said that if I were homeless I would commit a crime just to get into that world.

In my eyes every creature is equal, and what more are we here for then to survive. People are building and building and building, encroaching onto the habitat of wild animals and forcing them to become overpopulated and searching for places to expand which, coincidentally, are into the places that we took over in the first place. People then complain when their cat or child gets eaten from a 'trespassing' coyote looking for fresh food away from its usual prey, which has become riddled with disease due to the same overpopulating that it itself is currently trying to survive? Does that not seem backwards to you?

And yes. I have heard the argument of the food chain many times over. 'Well if animals were smart enough to build and kill then they could do so, and until then we will continue our ways'. Yes my friends, you are correct. Animals did not evolve into the 'braniacs' that we believe ourselves to be. They are not smart enough to build homes, and produce weapons of mass destruction, and become a thriving society... but are they any less intelligent? No. Animals, until humans came along and F***ed everything up, managed to live in harmony with the earth and maintain a balance with their habitat, prey, and the environment as a whole. They are not the plague that has taken over the earth, the virus that has destroyed its own living space, the bearer of filth causing them to dispose of it wherever they please and in turn becoming those who 'shit in their own proverbial bed'. Nope. You are correct... they cannot think like we do... and thank god for that.

Sarah

Dotted lines are for... straddling?

In preparation for the big move I have been running around tying up loose ends and visiting with people before I leave. This scattered schedule has lead to an increased amount of driving which, in turn, has lead to an increased hate on for Toronto. Its as if people have never driven before and they just happen to be testing their first day behind the wheel on the days that I am on the road. There are just a few tips that I would like to share with the drivers of Toronto:

   - The dotted lines in the middle of the road are meant to separate the lanes, not to straddle and weave in and out of.

   - Signal lights are generally a good idea, or at the VERY least shoulder checking before you nearly side swipe me and force me into the other lane (thankfully i know how it drive and had pre-checked that the space was clear) *this has happened 3 times in the last 2 weeks*

   - Speed consistency is a bonus for everyone. I understand when you get caught up singing a song and slow down a bit.. but a 15km difference is just getting ridiculous... please... for the love of god... pick a speed! you are on a highway! It is extremely dangerous to speed up and slow down so often!

           *as a side note. if you don't want me to pass you (which is shown by your drastically increased speed when I try) then keep a constant speed. When you do force me back in behind you keep the speed that you so intensely wanted to drive at a few seconds ago, otherwise.. just let me pass! What are you trying to prove?

   - And finally, this is not cops. You do not need to swerve in and out of traffic as fast as you can. Its dangerous and irresponsible.. and you look like a douche. You know I'm going to see you at the next light... I have at the last 3... you are MAYBE gaining 1 minute.

In 6 days i am driving from Toronto to Ottawa. I can only hope for the best but I do sincerely hope that drivers are on their best behaviors as I, along with everyone else on the road, would love to make it home safely. Please don't ruin it for me on the home stretch.

That is all for now. I am safely in bed which is where I plan to stay for the most part while I study ethics for the next few days.

   - Virtue (Arete) : Excellence, being good at.

        * be good at driving, for Aristotle.

Sarah

Getting down to the dirt and grind.

Not so much dirt as books, but absolutely grind; grinding said books into my temporary knowledge compartment to be extracted for one single test before I hope to never hear about Aristotle, Plato, or Socrates again... at least inside a classroom environment: Allegory of the cave will always be an interesting read.

With finals quickly approaching and summer calling for me in the background is very difficult to prioritize my time (even though it should be obvious). Studying, hanging out with friends while I still can, packing up my room, planning events and gatherings back in Calgary, securing jobs for when I get home... what is REALLY more important?  Really though, any of the above seem better then studying. Skyping with my boyfriend also seems to be taking priority over other things, and apparently writing this blog does too.
Is it AMAZING how, when there is no school work to be done there seems to be absolutely no housekeeping to be done (including life organizing), but when finals roll around there are an infinite number  of things to do that are better then studying... like dust, go through clothes, straighten posters that you will soon be taking down anyway, and of course 'stumble', which i like to view as broadening my knowledge base... that's like studying right?

In my quest to avoid studying I came across my forever favorite ad campaign: 'Real men of Genius'. The writing style in these ads blows my mind with its own genius and completely hits the mark when relating to, and describing, these 'real men'. Everybody knows one of each of these men and these ads  encapsulate them PERFECTLY, its hard not to laugh every time. When people can relate to your ad, by either seeing themselves or someone they know, you have a winner. People like to think that ads are speaking to them specifically. Like a song on the radio after a break up, you just KNOW it was written for you, and you fall in love with it. If you have not seen these ads I would HIGHLY recommend them. (you can also check out 'Real American heroes' which was the previous name for the campaign)

As for my current campaigns, we presented our Southern Comfort event today dressed in full western wear (with push up bras and an extra button undone for bonus marks). Personally, I think if brought to life, this event would be one of the best events to hit Canada. It's called the 'Mix me a new one Tour' and pretty much revolves around classic southern/western fun with alcohol and great bands. The Tragically Hip and Deadmau5 were selected as the two main bands (to incorporate the bluesy/jazz feeling as well as emphasize the 'big idea' of 'mixing' with the current most popular DJ). An event where you get a great drink (with 5 free samples) in which you can mix with any of your favorite mixes, being served by beautiful people, listening to the best music there is, with events like bull riding, corn eating, and various small western games for which you can win more alcohol and other various prizes... for free? Hell... I'd probably fly back to Toronto to attend (though i would suggest they stop in Calgary). I hope we get a good mark cause, lets be honest, its an awesome idea!

I suppose only time will tell...

I should begin to focus on the work I have AHEAD of me, like studying. And this is where i leave you: Wishing that SoCo hires Sumaya, Becky, and I as their promotional team, and addicted to watching and finding all the 'Real men of Genius' ads. You are on the same page as me.

Sarah

Between lives

I feel like my life is a countdown. Counting down the days until school starts. Counting down the days until my boyfriend comes and visits. Counting down the days until i get to go home for my birthday, for Christmas, for reading week, and finally for summer again. Counting the days until I have to go back to school (although I wish i would stop that). It just seems like, when you live in two places, you only have multiple temporary homes rather then any sort of permanent home.
For example: In the next 5 months i will be living in 5 homes. Rez for the rest of the semester, parents house in Calgary, boyfriends house in Calgary, apartment in Vancouver for internship, and finally my new apartment in Toronto for the rest of school.

There are ups and downs to every location:

Calgary has all of my friends and family and boyfriend but i cant stay for long because I always have to leave for school. As well i generally sink back into negative ruts in regards to personality and complicated friendships. My feelings are always very split when i go home, but over all it is my favorite place to be: it has the most love.

Toronto is great because i have school and new experiences and new people to be meet. I love my school and the projects, and i also love my part time job at the nearby mall. But even through all of these great life enhancing activities i feel as though I am missing out on the social aspect of life. I don't have many friends here (which is partially my fault and partially the fault of others) and the friends that i do have are often busy. However i am working on making new friends and hope to strengthen my bonds in Toronto so the next two years are manageable.

As for Vancouver i have not been there yet but I feel that it will have a positive impact on my life. I have an internship there, my own place, my boyfriend will be driving up and home with me, i have friends and family in the area, and the trip will end with a great road trip and a friends wedding.

I feel like i am sleeping my life away in Toronto. Being that i went to school for 2 years in Calgary before transferring to my current program i have 1 less course then others in my class and feel that the work load is not nearly heavy enough. I am the kind of person that likes to work straight for hours and get things done; because of this i am a keener when i get new projects and usually finish them the night or next that i get them. Following that i have very little to do for the next 3 weeks that people are given to complete it. I only work twice a week at my job and see friends maybe once a week when they have time. This does however leave time for me to watch every episode of every show i like online and skype with my boyfriend for hours on end, so i can't complain. But nothing beats working on a good campaign.

I am looking forward to moving all of my stuff into the new place in 2 weeks. My dad is coming down to help me find and move furniture and then we are driving up to ottawa to have an egg hunt and easter dinner with my cousins before flying home for an easter egg hunt and dinner at home! going to an awesome 19th-24th :) I love organizing and packing and unpacking so this move is really something to look forward to. I hope i can find some great furniture.

Anyway, thats enough about me. My future blogs will hopefully be more useful to onlookers and offer something in return for their time. Looking forward to offering some useful updates in the way of work, school, and internships!

Sarah

• http://ca.linkedin.com/in/sarahmkirkpatrick