circonspection

circonspection @ 2008-01-24T19:12:00

2008-01-25T00:13:50Z

As I always do and for the Xth time, I made another journal. I don't know why I need to feel the change so much. Its been a really bad year so far so I'm trying to start as much as fresh starts as I can.
Please bare with me.
to_undo

circonspection @ 2008-01-17T23:44:00

2008-01-18T04:46:29Z

Esther moving to Mass, Anne moving to Ottawa... why am I still in my hometown at age 24? Am I afraid to dissapear?

circonspection @ 2008-01-16T12:16:00

2008-01-16T17:17:46Z

Taking a distance class with 14 hours of videos to watch (made in the early 90s) on drug addiction prevention has to be one of the most depressing thing I've ever had to do.

circonspection @ 2008-01-14T23:15:00

2008-01-15T04:41:09Z

"The rules are easy, just post 10 things that recently made you happy! Then tag 10 people and force them to post this meme on their LJs. Because it is good. Everyone needs a little happiness once in a while."
I tag everyone!

1) Having an A in a class in which I expected B-.
2) Shopping in Chinatown until our brains almost came out this weekend.
3) Making vegetarian sushis and spring rolls
4) Baking cupcakes with Anne
5) My dad, just because he's handy and it makes me happy he always finds a solution for everything
6) Not working last Sunday
7) Acorn squash filled with quinoa.
8) Getting tofu enough to feed an army for 1,49 (thanks Chinatown.)
9) Watching 10 Things About You on TV on a Sunday morning/afternoon
10) Hopes

Ginger cupcakes

2008-01-11T03:24:13Z

Gingerbread cupcakes
Originally uploaded by deserts and ruins

Anne came over today and we made cupcakes! Taken from the recipes in the book "Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World".
Next step, the infamous coconut ones.

I really need to buy patry tips for the icing.

The cookies are just plain cookies decorated with pink sprinkles Anne gave me at my birthday 2 years ago. They are bunny and bear shapes.

Its too bad it was super extra dark today and I couldn't snap a decent picture, maybe tomorrow.

circonspection @ 2008-01-03T18:37:00

2008-01-03T23:52:09Z

I was reading Vegan Source Book I purchased a few years ago in San Diego and I am adding a new resolution for 2008: EAT MORE SEAWEED! So little and you get a looooot of iron and calcium, which I potentially may be lacking of.

Also on the eating habits;
-More oatmeal breakfasts; oatmeal is awesome and full of great things.
-More frijoles! (I used to preprare a lot of frijoles (vegan) at work this summer with the kids in the community kitchen at our community center.)
-Focus on other proteins than nuts (I eat nuts of every kinds every day, I should drink more soymilk instead.)
-Flax oil everywhere! Or whole seeds groudned before used, otherwise it loses its benefits. (Continue to eat flax whole wheat bread but also try to put it in random things like maple sirup.) Great omega-3 source.
-Yogurt (fortified) + granola or frozen fruits is always a good snack.
-Make more of my own: tofu spread, hummus, dips of any kind.

Molasse cookies

2008-01-01T21:06:44Z

Molasse cookies
Originally uploaded by deserts and ruins

I made these for my grandma. They are yummy!
I was cleaning my room earlier and I found a school work I did when I was 8, titled "The Rabbit." My obssession stil going strong 16 years later!

I also found all my school books I never threw away and some archaeology notes I took in my first BAC year in anthropology. I can't seem to be able to throw them away. I even have my 1st grade books. One day I'll have to! My closet is completely full of school related things.

Goals for 2008:
-Finish school and find a decent job related to refugees, kids or women.
-Eat vegan and organic as much as possible.
-Continue volunteering with refugee families
-Be organized.

One day

2007-12-29T23:56:18Z

I love em just too much for words.
Animal wishlist!

Discussion on the phone

2007-12-29T02:34:04Z

Jeff: I miss you a lot. I just want to cuddle and watch movies
Me: Oh yeah? Even romantic movies?
Jeff: Yeah
Me: Even really cheesy ones?
Jeff: Hrmmm yeah.
Me: So we can watch The Notebook*?
Jeff: (Hesitation) I guess so.
Me: SCORE!! We are watching it Friday night! -Giddy dance on the phone-

*I've been trying to convince him to watch it forever and I always end up losing the battle on this one.

circonspection @ 2007-12-22T14:36:00

2007-12-22T19:38:30Z

Spending Christmas without my boyfriend is hard. I totally hate it. He left at 3 am and he havent made it yet to his hometown. I know its the only time of the year (or almost) he can see his whole family but its hard. Nonetheless, he adored his gifts! I have to wait until he comes back to get mine! Eeeep.

circonspection @ 2007-12-19T15:39:00

2007-12-19T21:09:51Z

Things got done!
-Almost all my Christmas gifts are made and half of them are wrapped.
-All my Christmas cards have been sent
-My Christmas swap gift (with VR) has been sent
-My bedroom isn't so messy anymore
-I have an appointment for my car to be repared, its in a month, until then I have to drive with a car that has a light missing and a passenger door that doesn't open.

To do:
Find a new place for Jeff's stage. We have appointments in the next 2 days.
-Set up the Christmas tree.
-Hug a bunch.

circonspection @ 2007-12-16T18:20:00

2007-12-16T23:21:02Z

I had a terrible car accident this morning in the storm:(
I'm alright though, my car is trashed though. :(
Merry Xmas :(

circonspection @ 2007-12-11T10:08:00

2007-12-11T15:26:06Z

I am done with my papers this semester and it makes me all giggly! I really thought I liked papers more than exams but I like exams more! Only 3 to go and I'm free!

I bought little color yourself tattoo kit for my little kid I'm helping in french each week. I still don't know what to get for the whole family. I am also volunteering at le Magasin Partage on the 19th and I will be delivering Christmas goodies, then I'll be moving Jeff's stuff a bit to my house because he's moving around here after Christmas for his "stage." I'll be working for Quebec's Agricultural minister and he'll be evaluating the damage of animal production in the rivers and lands. What a cool mission! Jeff is such an environmental freak, I'm sure he'll like it! I miss my little dream boat. I didn't see him this weekend because of crazy exam time and all :(

And I think all my Christmas cards will be late! :(

I bought this Leontine May watercolor. I &hearts; it!

circonspection @ 2007-11-15T23:29:00

2007-11-16T04:31:24Z

-I started volunteering with my new family! They are awesome! I love them already. The mommy said my spanish was great. I don't believe a word though. I speak like a 3 years old.
-I have the worst week, work and paper wise coming up. No >_<
-I just can't wait being done with school and finding a job I love. I am positively sure it will happen. Then I can travel, save money and buy art, all at the same time!
-I wanna cuddle with my bébé.
-I hate thai seitan earlier and its damn good. Thai seitan has to be in my top favourite foods. Its so underrated.

circonspection @ 2007-11-12T23:23:00

2007-11-13T04:22:54Z

Why do mother and child talks are always so emotionally challenging?

circonspection @ 2007-11-07T15:49:00

2007-11-07T20:58:49Z

I always did my papers in the last 4 school years with the same girl. Now we are teamed with two other girls who completely used copy paste as a working method. We have to redo the whole part they did for tomorrow. I'm mad, very mad! Copycats can be expulsed out of school and its a huge deals. I kind of want to strangle them right now. I just painted an hour with my mom, we are redoing a room in the house. It relaxed me a little bit! I sang and laughed with my mother because the color looked like baby poop so we sang on the air of many classic disco song including the word baby poop here and there.
I start volunteering with a lady from Mexico 3 hours / week and a home assistance. She just had a baby October 9th. This will surely help me with my spanish which is getting worst by the minute since I hardly ever practice anymore. I will also volunteer in December with La Maison Partage when I am done with school!
Jeff's stage starting in December is in L'Assomption which is only 35 minutes away from here. Woo! A not-so longue distance relationship for 3 months!

On another note... I have the ONLY 100% in my Wednesday class... out of 130 people! Wooooooooot!!

circonspection @ 2007-11-03T19:35:00

2007-11-03T23:49:46Z

    I just ate in Chinatown and I still have no weird syndromes. We took a tofu & veggies hot pot and the tofu pieces were so big we had to cut them in 4! I saw The Weakerthans yesterday with a couple friends while my boy was at another show. It was awesome, Le National is an awesome venue (especially because of the classic red curtain and the boiseries on the wall.)
    I think Jeff and I cuddled for 1:30 in bed this morning. I am so much in love... I can't believe we spent so little tome together this week. Still strong since March 2006! ...I had to come back home to work on a paper. ...I just bought an Audrey Kawasaki print, and its going on the CC.
    I went to Sweet Calaveras show at Yves Laroche Gallery in Montreal yesterday since I was downtown and couldn't wait anymore. Beautiful stuff! The Audrey Kawasaki piece was kind of small, but it was awesome to finally see an original.

Kathie and such

2007-10-18T01:49:55Z

Kathie Olivas custom
Originally uploaded by deserts and ruins

I just got her in the mail today, and I do love this little piece of custom vinyl. Kathie is an awesome artist and I got to meet her and her husband Brandt Peters this summer when they had a show in Montreal in June. Anyways, I got her perfect timing (almost) since my birthday is friday. I don't have anything much to say since I go to school, work, volunteer and drive to see my ever so amazing boyfriend and that's it! I want to go hiking again before fall ends! I might drive to Vermont this week since I have a week off of school and work.

circonspection @ 2007-09-23T20:25:00

2007-09-24T00:25:26Z

I woke up at 4:50 this morning to drive back from my boyfriend's place to work. When I pulled out some change to pay for my morning coffee at Tim Hortons, I found a note that said "I love you a lot!"

circonspection @ 2007-09-12T23:15:00

2007-09-13T03:14:56Z

I'd kill for a cupcake right now.

circonspection @ 2007-08-29T00:45:00

2007-08-29T04:52:58Z

I am back from my trip (and you can click on the picture to access to my flickr and view more.) I spent a ridiculously amazing week; including having a private beach on an island for a night (drove there by a zodiac!) going hiking, seeing seals and whales, picking wild blueberries and strawberries, going to the desert beach and finding sea treasures. It felt so real and immense. I will probably die in this province.

Since I am back, I am browsing for new jobs and hopefully I can get something decent. I've been offered a job at Ikea, but I'd like something more related to what I study. This school year seems more and more to be the like last - at least for a little while.

Tomorrow I'm going to the bank to set up a saving account. I want to start saving for a house! Yes, a house. Maybe Charlevoix, Estrie / Cantons de l'Est or Mauricie / Centre du Quebec. No Montreal, no suburb.

circonspection @ 2007-08-17T17:54:00

2007-08-17T21:56:02Z

It's over. I'm sad. I even cried. Chile, Colombia and Congo will always be special countries for me.

My boss told me to come back to her if I ever needed anything else, or if I wanted a job when I am done with school. This experience actually taught me so much; I finally found in which path I'm going to lead my professional life... and I'll forever be grateful. This summer was like an enlightment. I will never devote myself to big corporations when there are jobs like the one I had that changes the life of people so much.

circonspection @ 2007-08-15T21:35:00

2007-08-16T01:37:50Z

I just started browsing for new jobs. Sigh, I'll be leaving the kids in 2 days. When I think about it, my heart cracks a bit. I'm going to miss so much saying "Vamos!"

Why do all jobs I'm qualified for are only full-time jobs. Do you really want me to quit school? I just might, but in 8 months.

Planning, planning..

2007-08-14T04:58:52Z

As I am already settled for a 10 hours drive to go to Jeff's hometown, Sept-Iles, on Saturday. I'm deeply considering driving 3 more hours and go to l'Archipel de Mingan. It'll be ridiculous not to go... so close from the goal - right?

Back!

2007-08-02T16:42:40Z

The last weeks ave been incredibly busy, so busy I hardly ever had the time to go on the computer and remember all I have done. As soon as I was off on Friday I started enjoying my 7 days off. Monday I drove and followed my parents, and our dog to Nicolet, and went camping by the St-Laurent river. It felt like the ocean sometimes and it was nice. I came back on Thursday and picked up Jeff, which took a day off on Friday. We woke up not too early the next day and drove to my uncle and aunt's cottage up in the Laurentians. It was a pleasure to go back there since it was filled with childhood memories about fishing, swiming, exploring in the woods or even checking out abandonned cabins in the woods (believe me, I visited a ton of those when I was younger and it was such a thrill! We had a blast and came back Saturday night. As we came back, we jumped off of the car, grabbed to tickets to see the Simpsons Movie and went home quick to hop in two veggie dogs for supper.

On Tuesday, Sara came back from Mexico! One year without seeing her was pretty crazy.

At the beggining of the week, I was "stuck" with a kid who was kicked out of another day camp because of his behavior, and we kicked him out too 2 days after. He was literally spitting on me and kicking me while swearing. And he was barely 6. Anyhow, it drained the energy out of me for this week and I was thankful no kids showed up today. My boss made me do a couple things and invited me to go home to write the summer report and organize a few activities. Nevertheless, I'm writing in here, planning to go to the gvt office to get my health card renewed, do the groceries, eat, do the pile of dishes and THEN, I'll work.