IBAAW

Firstly, stumbled over the old LJ, and found this snippet:

Ha ha, my uncle just sort of cleaned our computer and said that someone's been spying on us. My mom replied with "wow, they must be pretty bored...ha ha. But really... wouldn't it be funny if there was a site out there, like aislingb.com with stuff that I do online and pics of me walking down the street? And an entire nerd colony that worships me? Wow. Although it is quite scary too, because who knows what these spies have read about me or my friends over MSN??? All of my secrets could be exposed! Someone could write a tell-all book and ruin my life! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11 *sob*

Yeah... I was so amusing as an eleventh grader! Ha ha. Anyway, now that I think about it, I would quite enjoy an entire nerd colony worshiping me. That way I could find a nice lovely one to marry! Hee hee heeeeeee.

Today is my last day of work, I've received my recommendation letter, and... yes, it's almost over! Whooot! However, it also means that this is my last entry in this thingy that will ever be labelled "Katimavik," unless I decide to write more about Katimavik or post more photos or something. En tout cas, it will be the last post I write as a Katimavik participant! Weird, huh? It's been nine months of this already! Unfortuently, I don't have much to say with this historic post! Tonight is Alex and Steve's pseudo-birthday party! Steve's birthday is August 26th, and Alex's birthday is November 17th. So they're the only 2 birthdays we haven't celebrated in Katimavik. Therefore, AUGUST 17th (a combination of their birthdays) shall hereby be celebrated in lieu of! Alex is quite excited, exclaiming things such as "Wow, I can't believe I'm 19. I've only been 18 for 9 months!" and Steve will probably leave as soon as we cut the cake, since he really isn't into these kinds of group events.

We cleaned the house last night, but this morning it was... well, it looked like a tornado went through it. I like to call it Katima-house Syndrome, and I will use the same term when my own room at home gets messed up in similar fashion.

MY OWN ROOM AT HOME! Ahhh, I'm excited! I keep thinking about hanging out there, and going to the bathroom in the morning and not having to share! And shower doors! Shower curtains make me mad! Oh, and nobody stealing my towel! It will be great! Obviously, I will miss my group LOADS, but I am quite stoked at the prospect of personal space, as are they, I am sure.

Well, I'm going to go now... maybe I should say something ceremonial? Well, maybe I'll just say thanks to those of you who read this, and en effet, came along for the ride with me! It's been fun! But it doesn't stop here! More crazy adventures will take place soon! Ha ha. Okay. Bye.

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, La Pocatière

So, this weekend is my cousin Brock's wedding, and I am obviously missing it due to still living in Québec until Wednesday! I'm kind of bummed, but I decided to go see if there was anything new on their website. So, I googled it, and some cool stuff came up!

Here's some of it:

Green limos? Hemp gowns? Saying I do to eco
AMY VERNER

From Saturday's Globe and Mail
July 7, 2007 at 7:43 PM EDT

When Vancouver's Tanya Morrow weds Brock Maglio on Aug. 18, she will be wearing a hemp silk dress that she designed herself. The lavish buffet dinner, entirely organic, will feature B.C. salmon and bison, wild rice pilaf and seasonal vegetables. She has opted for organic cupcakes instead of a cake. And her bouquet of sweetpeas will also be organic. Nellie's Laundry, a local company that makes natural laundry soda in an old-fashioned box, donated six cases for party favours. Rather than gifts, Morrow has asked that each guest make a change in lifestyle that will have a positive impact on the environment.Morrow knows that her mother, who passed away on Christmas Day last year, would be proud. "She never liked people wasting things," she says.

Tanya was also on CityTV in Vancouver on June 11, 2007.

So.... yes, if anything I am somehow even more sad to be missing this event! It sounds freakin' fantastic, plus all of my family will be there, so... yeah, I'm sad.

Anyway, just thought I'd say that.

We're still preparing to leave La Poc. Tonight we're cleaning the house. Tomorrow night we're supposed to continue packing. Saturday is our Final Presentation, then camping, then cleaning, then good-byes, then home, blah de blah de blah, you've heard it before! In any case, I am excited! Except for the cleaning.

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, La Pocatière

Well, what a treat! It seems Sean has been using the CÉGEP computers for good instead of evil! So, here are some more photos! I haven't posted any in soooo long! Ha ha.

None of these pictures are in order!

This is our view from our campsite on Isle Verte!


This is us in our neighbour's pool! Ignore the red circle, the picture was uploaded as an inside joke to one of Sean's friends!


This is us walking through a tunnel in the walls of Vieux Québec!

Labels: Katimavik, La Pocatière, Photos

New photos of us camping have now surfaced online! Most of them don't include me, because Sean uploaded them to his Facebook, so they obviously have a more Sean-related focus (the same way my pics are always of me, and never of Sean.).

So, yes... I will be home one week from today! Actually, at this point, I will have been on the plane, and it will be just taking off! So, that is kind of exciting, isn't it?

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, La Pocatière, Photos

Here it is, an exposé (because I haven't done one in a while, and the label seems kind of lonely) on things I will miss about Katimavik and La Pocatière.

Things I Will Miss About La Pocatière:

• People riding bikes. Everyone has a bike here. Even the paramedics ride around town on their bicycles. And more often than not, these bikes have baskets on the front, which is pretty rad. Often I have felt out of place due to my lack of bike. When I get back to Calgary, I plan to bring casual biking to a whole new level!
• People driving their cars way too fast and way too loud. Seriously, it takes 10 minutes to WALK across town. Still, people insist at zooming down the road at 100km an hour. You can hear the tires screaming "Gahhhhhhhhhh!!!! Why are we in such a hurry to get to the Métro?!?!?!" Still, it's amusing. Also, lots of people here have really pimped their rides. I've seen several cars that glow purple during the night.
• Mopeds and motorcycles. Okay, we have them in Calgary too, obviously. But not EVERYBODY does. This is just as popular as the bike. They can be seen driving around downtown La Poc constantly. Unfortuently, downtown is only 1 street long, then they loop around to our street, and go back downtown in an odd circular fashion. Apparently they just drive for fun, with no real destination.
• The small town feel. Okay, so the lack of shopping is somewhat maddening, but I have no money anyway! I do enjoy the small town feel. I love how the new Tim Horton's was like THE BEST THING to ever happen. Ha ha. I think it was probably a bigger event than the McDonald's. I hope La Poc never gets a Wal-Mart, because I rather enjoy Zellers. I bought my Spice Girls lunchbox for 1$ at the La Poc Zellers.
• The pretty schools. I don't know how they do it, but the schools look very nice with their etheral glow at night.
• Church bells. And school clock bells. Knowing what time it is is quite handy. Also, the bells at 4pm mean I'm done work! Yay.

Things I Will Miss About Katimavik:

• My group mates. Oh my goodness. I don't even really want to think about this yet. This is going to be intense. These are my brothers and sisters! And we're about to be seperated and scattered across the country! It's something I've always thought was dodgey about Katimavik. Like, "Okay....okay.... let's get these strangers together, turn them into a family, and then.... rip them apart, causing ultimate emotional damage! What a great idea for a program aimed at youth! We'll build them up, and then crush them!" Ha ha. Okay, maybe it's a bit far. Anyway, I will miss them more than I am able to express in this little thingy. Even though it actually hasn't sunk in that we're leaving yet. Gahhhh.
• Ummm... I really can't think of anything else... Sponsered activities? Yes, those are pretty great. I mean, who doesn't like free trips to some of Canada's biggest cities? But still, those trips were only really made memorable because of my group mates... Hmmmm....

Okay, okay, new, unplanned category!

Things I Will Miss About My Katimavik Family:

Working our way West to East....

• Anny, Williams Lake, BC: I will miss hanging out with Anny and discussing the craziness of Eastern Canada. I mean, milk in a bag? Puh-cha! Also, our dance parties were pretty sweet. And dress-up games. And crazy photos. I will miss having someone document everything I do (now I will have to do it myself! Arrgggg!).
• Nick, Edmonton, AB: I will miss his snarkiness, which is something he developped in Katimavik. Nick can always make me feel happy. I find his polar bear attributes amusing. I hope I get to see him often! I mean, we only live 3 hours apart!
• Me, Calgary AB: I think I am more West than Edmonton. But we don't really need to talk about me anyway.
• Steve, Timmins, ON: I will miss Steve's laid-back, take-one-for-the-team, just-chillin attitude. I still don't know him very well, but he's still always been nice to me, and what more can I ask for?
• Gwobert, Brampton, ON: I won't miss Gwobert at all. ....... Okay, I'm lying, ha ha. I'll miss Gwobsy a lot too. He's actually very nice, even though we've spent the last 9 months torturing each other. I really hope he finds what he's looking for, what he wants to do, in life. I'll miss long chats either philisophical or about nothing at all.
• Sean, Toronto/Alliston/Mississauga, ON: Where does this boy live, anyway? I'll miss his crazy sense of humour! He has the amazing ability to make anyone dissolve into giggles. Many times I have found myself in shock from something he's said.
• Jadey, La Plaine, QC: Ahhh Jadey. I will miss sharing a room with her! It's been 9 months now! Always my roomie. Ha ha. I will miss her happy demenour, and our emo chats and drawing together. I have no idea how I will be able to get through the night, without hearing her manical laughing in her sleep!
• Joelle, Stanstead/Sherbrooke/Magog, QC: Joelle Ma Belle! I'm going to miss her crazy faces, and her craziness in general! She can always cheer me up, we have great conversations! She's fantastic! I'll miss having someone to understand my insanity!
• Alex, Trois-Rivières/Montréal, QC: I remember when she pretended to be so cool, and turned into such a dork! I will miss her laugh, her constant touchy-feely love expressions, her self-molestation (ha ha, that sounds weird...) and her funny English expressions. "By the way," "Better thing in the world," "It's the perfect girls' night! We have girls... we have night..."

Even so, none of this really does them justice... *sigh*. I guess I'll just give up then!

Hope you enjoyed this odd little exposé, ha ha.

Labels: Exposé, Journal, Katimavik, La Pocatière

Well, I'm back!

Community Involvement Project was fun. We served Spag. Not much to say really!

Camping was amazing! I peed in bushes and outhouses! It was intense. We saw loads of seals. We were on Isle Verte, which only has 32 inhabitants. The camping section was pretty much our own. It was like our own private island. Very nice.

HMing with Anny was pretty nice. We made borscht one day, and I had two spoonfuls of it, and then burst into hives, so I suppose I'm still allergic to beets. Ha ha. We had some other random disasters but it wasn't too bad overall.

On Monday night we also had a dance party! Ha ha. We turned the 2nd kitchen into a bar, by turning around this bar thing that we use as a games shelf. Then I stole Xmas lights and garlands from the Xmas tree, which was still up from Xmas 2.0 2 weeks ago.

Other amusing things happened this week. We cleaned a bit which wasn't as amusing. Lissa came back to Canada! Ummmm.... yes.

The Medieval Festival was this weekend, and it was SO MUCH FUN. It was great to be able to dress in period costumes while volunteering! Also, it was on the mountain which was so gorgey! Near the trees there was a medieval market, with cool things to buy, and in the soccer field there was jousting and other knightly events! Plus the food areas, and the games (axe, caber toss and archery), and the medieval tents where people were staying. Eating meals with large wooden spoons with wooden bowls was fun. Everyone was SO INTO IT as well. And it was very well organized for such a small town! Next year it will be a week long! Ahhh I want to go so badly! Ha ha.

So, this week is our last. It's weird, because we keep saying it, but we don't really feel it yet, I suppose. We're doing a lot of debriefing (booo) and cleaning (boooooooo) but some fun stuff too. Our Final Presentation is Saturday before we leave for camping, and Alex and I are MCing which should be fun! Oh yeah, we're going camping AGAIN on Saturday night until Monday afternoon. Then the goodbyes begin.

Alex lives in Trois-Rivières, so bussing her to Montréal isn't practical. So they were going to make her stay in the house BY HERSELF for 11 hours, and catch a bus on the 22nd at noon (we all leave at 1.45am on a charter bus). But she didn't want to, so instead she's leaving at noon on the 21st. Which will be sad because we all sort of wanted to leave together. Anyway, we will be crying all day! We pretty much have free time all the 21st, to sit in our empty house, and occassionally sign Katima-related forms. Then, as I said, our bus will pick us up at 1.45am.

We're all being bussed to Montréal. Anny, Nick, Steve and I are the only ones flying from our group, so we'll be dropped at the airport, and then the rest of the gang will continue to the bus station. Steve is being flown to Toronto and then Timmins (which makes the guys from the GTA mad, because they have a 5 hour bus ride, whereas Montréal to Toronto is an hour flight). Anny is going to Vancouver and then to Williams Lake. Nick and I are flying to Calgary, and then Nick's flying to Edmonton. So, yeah... I will be back in Calgary at 11.27am on August 22nd, 2007.

It's weird. I'm excited. I'm sad. I'm mood swingy. We all are. It's hard to describe.

We'll see how it goes.

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, La Pocatière

Yes, so today is my last day at work for almost 2 weeks, and since our Katima-comp is broken, I won't have access to one for a while!

Tomorrow is our community involvement project on Isle Verte. We're making spag for 200 people! The girls will be wearing grass skirts, the boys will have pirate hats, and everyone has flowery leis. Also, we made tropical themed decorations. I did a kick-ass cartoon pirate ship, and a gorgeous 5ft siren (mermaid) in a sort of anime style. I really surprised myself with my artistic abilities, and everyone was quite impressed! I'll hopefully take pictures of atleast the mermaid, since she is quite the masterpiece.

Then, I am CAMPING this weekend! Oh my goodness, I don't know if there are toilets where we're camping on Isle Verte since it's not, like, a campground or anything. Gahhhhhh. Anyway, we're spending Friday there (in addition to Thursday, I think) and then I think we're going to visit the Bic Park, but I'm not sure. On Saturday night we'll be home for sure, and on Sunday afternoon we're going to the beach, which will be great, because I'll be able to swim this time!!! (Last time I had girly issues, so I couldn't, and I still had fun, but not as much fun!)

Next week is my last go as house manager for the rest of my life! I'm with Anny, so it should be fun, as well as give me a head start on my packing / sending a box of stuff home. And the La Poc Medieval Festival is that weekend, which will be fun as well. We're also starting prep for our final presentation soon, and I'm on that committee, so that should be fun/stressful.

Also, today is the first of August, and I will be home in 3 weeks! We leave La Poc at 11pm on the 21st, and then take a bus to Montréal, then planes home, but I still don't know EXACTLY what time I'll be home at. I suspect I'll have a layover in Winnipeg though, which I'm kind of dreading, because I would prefer to just fly direct. Ah well.

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, La Pocatière

Wow, what the difference a week makes! The week itself was pretty uneventful. I think the drama is over, for the most part, since everyone is talking again. So, that's good. Plus this was a BUSY BUSY weekend!

On Friday evening we drove up to Trois Pistoles, because it was Écho-Fête (http://echofete.ca/). We hung out with the other groups for a bit, and danced for a while to some really awesome folk music! Ha ha. But we were tired from work, so then we went back to the house to sleep.

On Saturday we were volunteering! Alex and I were at the Katimavik kiosk. It poured rain for the first few hours!!! I got completely soaked, and was freezing which was nice change from cooking-from-the-inside, which is what the weather in La Poc has been like! In the afternoon it stopped raining, and 2 bus loads of anglos studying French in the area got out! Jackpot as far as Katima-publicity goes! Ha ha. We handed out a bunch of pamphlets and talked to a bunch of really nice people! At one point there was a girl who asked me where I was from, why I speak French, etc. So, I told her, and she was also from Calgary! She asked me if I knew Sarah Petersen, and I told her we went to Jr. High together, and it turns out the girl (Amy Noel) went to Bob Edwards too! Small world, huh? It was really weird. I mean, I barely run into people from Bob Edwards in Calgary, yet I managed to find one in Trois Pistoles!

Anyway, I worked a bit longer, then went for dinner, went back, did some eco shopping (ha ha), went back to the house with Gwobs to eat chips, went back to Echo-Fête because Gwobs, Nick and Jade had to start a security shift at 9, and then the bands came on, and were SO GOOD, that even though I was exhausted, I stayed until 2am to party! Ha ha. It was a lot of fun. We're really lucky that Fred is so laid back, he was partying HARDER than us. It wasn't the same for the other groups though- Stacy (male PL in 3P) made 5 of his girls walk in a straight line, and threatened CTIs if they couldn't. Oh yeah, we also met this 17 year old boy from Ottawa, who starts Katimavik in September. They must've still served him alcohol though, because he was pretty mental during the concert! Like ALL OVER THE PLACE. Ha ha. It was kind of funny. Also, Anny met a cute boy from Coquitlam, BC, and she tried to pick him up, and was kind of smitten with him all day, and he turned out to be a bit of a FIF!!! Ha ha.

Our walk home was interesting too! We started off singing, and ended up talking about how Katimavik teaches you to smoke anything. Like I will take anything, light it on fire, and stick it in my mouth, which somehow got us on the topic of penises...and... oh, I was jealous because I can't pee in the street. Then, back at the house we were gathered around a fridge, giggling, and my back is SO GROSS AND PEELING from last weekend's burn, and...

Gwobs: Ew, it looks like you're shedding your husk to become...
Me: Corn?
Gwobs: *Hysterical laughter coming from him, Joelle, and I* You're totally on the cob!

... and that's the last thing I remember!

Yesterday was our fab trip to Québec. Seriously, I want to live in Vieux Québec one day. It's so gorgey. Anyway, we visited a chocolate museum (yum, samples), the observatory (yum, Quebec from 31 storeys in the air), the civilization museum...

Oh my God, I love civ museums! Ha ha. The museum was pretty nice, and what was even more nice is that Joelle, Anny, Gwobs and I, invaded MEDIEVAL DRESS-UP time! It's supposed to be for kids, but they have adult costumes for parents, so we went, and I had a cool dress, and we took pics, but our computer at the Katima-house is broken, so I can't upload any! But, it was so much fun!

Then we went around Vieux Québec for a bit, and then ate some yummy yummy Lebanese food! It was very good! And then we went home to crash!

That brings me to now, pretty much!

Obviously, I've finished Harry Potter. I finished on Thursday night. It took me about 16 hours to read.

I am sick of typing, and should probably do some work, and the SMART goals for our camping excursion!

This is an old article I read in 2005, but I loved it, and was thinking about it, so I'm posting a link to it.
http://www.ocweekly.com/music/music/this-shit-is-bananas/18901/

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, La Pocatière

Oh my God. I want to die. Why is Katimavik 9 months long? Why not 8? I'm sure if it was 8, we'd all be a lot happier right now, because we would all be at home. But, anyway...

Our Open House was on Saturday, and NOBODY showed up. NOBODY. I am serious. There were 0 people there! So, I went for a nap.

Then we went to our neighbour's pool, we were having fun, playing marco polo. And Joelle goes underwater, does a breaststroke, comes up and says "I just dislocated my shoulder." And I laugh a bit, because she's not crying or anything like last time (December 29th, 2006), and then she's like "I'm serious." So, we're off to the hospital! I decided to go with her, because I'm just nice like that. So, we're waiting around in the trauma room, Joelle is wearing a hot baby blue hospital gown, she's dripping wet and in pain. I'm wearing a black top and black skirt, and I'm dripping wet, and trying to be amusing. The guy in the next bed was in a motocross accident, and is obviously howling in excruitiating pain. So, we're sitting around waiting while they take all of her vital stats. It's pretty boring. We decided that it was Xmas that is against her. Because she always dislocates it at Xmas, and SURPRISE we're having pseudo-Xmas on Wednesday! Then she goes for round 1 of X-Rays. Then we go back. This all sounds short, but actually, it takes about 2 hours. So, we're sitting around, starving, and Joelle asks me to sing a song. So, I start singing our current theme song, which is "We Danced Anyway," by Deanna Carter. And we're singing, and we finish, and Joelle turns her head toward me, and laughs, and.... her shoulder pops back into place! Oh my God! So, I run to find a nurse.... Me: "Uhhh.... excusez-moi... Elle a relogé son épaule..." Nurse: "Quoi?" Moi: "Elle a relogé son épaule?" Nurse: "*Gives me a weird look*". Moi: "Je suis sérieuse!" So, the nurse came, and looked at it, and then we waited around for a bit more. Then they said it was okay, and she could walk to round 2 of X-Rays, so we did. And then after Round 2, we got excited. YES! It was time to go, wasn't it? No. It was time to go wait another hour for the doctor to look at it and recommend an orthopedic surgeon. (Because it's twice in a year that she's dislocated it, 4 times in total). So, we've been at the hospital for almost 5 hours now. And we're starving. And throughout this whole event we'd been talking about going to the cafeteria before we call Fred to pick us up, so that we could get some Chicken À La King from the vending machine. So, we're finally released, we run down the hall, we're about to stick our money in the machine, and.... FRED SHOWS UP!!!! Ahhhhhhhhh. So instead we went home and ate cold ham. Fantastic.

Also, we were kind of sad, because we got home, and everyone just sort of took off. Nobody really cared that Joelle had been hurt, it was kind of like, "Oh, she's home, let's leave now." And obviously, she didn't want to go out because of the trauma, but whatever. We chatted for a bit. Used some of the leg cream Lissy got me for Xmas that makes our legs all tingly, and then she went to bed, and I went to hang out with Alex and Anny.

Sunday was fun during the day. We went to Lac de l'est, played all day. I got BURNED PURPLE on my back, and now it's a blistering, festering, oozing DÉGALACE grossness! And I got heat stroke, and passed out when I got home. Fun.

That night, sucked. While Joelle and I were at the hospital, the rest of the group had a bit meeting about Sean, and how they don't think it's fair that he has his own room (the secret room) and that they were mad because some of his girlfriends were wandering through the house at 4am a few nights ago. Which is obviously against the law (breaking and entering anyone?). So, he pretended to be all concerned until Fred left, and then Anny and him got in a fight. Anyway, we're not supposed to have our own rooms, but Anny thought it would be fun, to have a girls only sleepover party in the secret room. So, we're there, having a lot of fun, and Gwobs and Sean show up and start yelling at us saying we're just doing it to get back at Sean, or whatever. Well, I don't know about the others, but I have no reason to have to get back at Sean. In general, I don't give a flying fuck about Sean. So, whatever, Sean decides that we're obviously a bunch of "dykes," as he puts it, and says it's alright for us to stay as long as we're being a bunch of lesbians and having lesbian sex. Then he tells us that he fucked two girls in the bed. Okay, obviously, he is an asshole. So, I decide, I'm not fighting this, it's not worth it, so I go to sleep in my bed, while Anny, Alex, Sean and Gwobs continue to fight. Okay, so Sean fighting is not a big deal, because we know he's a jerk. It's Gwobs that surprises me. Because he usually prides himself on being un-biased and often states that Sean is a douchbag. But for some reason, they are now best friends. I think it ties in with my theory that when nice guys get involved with the "cool" guys, they morph into jerks. Because they don't realize that "cool" guys, aren't cool, and that actually most people think the "cool" guy is a douche. *Sigh* Whatever. Maybe he'll come around. Or maybe he won't and we'll realize that the Gwobs we thought we knew, isn't the Gwobs he is. It's kind of disappointing really, because I expect Sean to act this way, and we've never been friends, but I really thought Gwobs was someone I could trust, and was actually legitimately friends with. Pity.

Anyway, yesterday I was home sick with heat stroke, but I tried to be cheerful and have conversations with Gwobs and Sean, and it went well. But right before French class, he made another "dyke," comment, so I was a little upset. So, I talked to Nick on the walk to and from class, about how I didn't even have a problem with him, and it's not like I'm out to get anyone. And then I started joking about people seeing me and going "Oh, look, there's Aisling, she's here to ruin my life." So, we get home, and they invite me to go watch the sun go down with them on Pierre's rock, and I don't feel like it, because of my sickness, so I say, jokingly "Nah, I'm just going to stay here and plot my revenge." And Gwobs takes it seriously, and is like "What, against me?" And I'm like "No." And some stupid part of me decides to confront Sean, even though talking with an asshole is like... talking with an asshole. So, I say something about how I don't like the "dyke," comments, he tells me to fuck off, and that it was a joke, I say I didn't see it like that, and he calls me a lesbian under his breath. So, I say, in the same joking tone "Exactly, and that's why I'm staying home to plot my revenge!" And Nick is like "Aisling...." because obviously, now I'm starting to stoop to his level, and I know it. And Sean yells "Yeah, well, whatever it is, I'll come back 10 times harder!"

Yes. He really said that.

Honestly, and he's the one always pointing out how "mature," he is. Seriously, he is 22. I know more mature 13 year olds.

Anyway, since I'm not actually planning revenge, since I'm not an idiot, 0 x 10 = 0.

But I still called my dad, and he told me not to worry about it. My mom pointed out that obviously we're living with a bunch of boys, since if there were men around, they would've stood up for us, when Sean was calling us "dykes." So, yes, I guess it takes something like this to see real characters come out.

I think the general female concensus is that Sean is just trying to ruin the end for us, so that he can feel powerful. But we're not going to let him. The boys have obviously a team, so, we'll just band together as girls, and have our own fun.

It's only 29 more days, that's really not that difficult. And we have so much planned coming up, that we won't really have to spend time with anyone we don't want to before the end.

Anyway, this is long, so I will just highlight upcoming events!

Tonight, to celebrate Christmas Eve 2.0 we're going to see Harry Potter et L'Ordre du Phénix again, but this time with the whole group, funded by the Langues Officielles Committee.

Tomorrow, we're having Xmas dinner (red and green fettacine with alfredo sauce), and opening presents.

Thursday night is Physical Activity night, I believe.

Friday night we're off to Trois-Pistoles for Écho-Fête. Going to see the shows on Friday and Saturday nights, plus 3 hours of volunteering Saturday.

Sunday we're hoping to hit up Québec City, including a trip to the chocolate museum, the museum of civilization and the observatory. I.E. Lots of fun-filled HISTORY activities that I am sure to love, plus a few more hours exploring Vieux Québec before heading back out West were everything is new.

Work on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. Community Involvement Project Thursday, and then camping the whole weekend!

And then 2 more weekends, and then I'm hoooooooome.

I am really excited.

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, La Pocatière

So, yes, tonight at midnight around the world, the 7th and final Harry Potter book, and therefore, chapter of my childhood, will hit bookstores. Unfortuently, my own copy will not be arriving until next week! Therefore, I will be avoiding the internet and English people like the plague. I will be hiding out in the Katima-house, and only leaving when absolutely necessary. So... yes. Just be aware of that!

We weren' t up to much yesterday. We had a bit of a stressy "group issues," meeting, which are always loads of crap. Joelle provided us with some entertainment we were lucky enough to catch on film later in the evening.

Tomorrow afternoon is our Open House, and I really really really hope people show up! We've put posters all over, including some large, hot pink, you-can't-miss-it ones at the CÉGEP and Youth Centre. Plus we did a radio interview, like I mentioned, that people, including our French teacher, apparently heard. So, yes, fingers crossed that this works out!

My legs are all crampy. It's pissing me off. I think it means I need more potassium!

Anyway, I'm going to go disappear somewhere now! So, have a good weekend, and I'll be back once I know the ending to Harry Potter (i.e. probably next Friday). And I'll probably be quite depressed, so watch out for that!

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, La Pocatière

So, I did my second radio interview today on CHOX FM (http://cibm107.com/chox/index.htm) which is the local radio station, here in La Pocatière. I doubt anyone heard it since it was a 7.20am, but... yes. Alex and I put in an excellent performance. We're arranging to have bodyguards sent over, to aid in keeping the mobs of obsessive fans at bay.


Also, I thought this was pretty funny. Aisling, the sport. It is totally the kind of sport I would love to be involved in as well. And it's insane. So, check it out at GoAisling.com ( http://goaisling.com/).

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, La Pocatière

Whoot! Billeting is over, and I never have to do it again in my entire life!!! Happy dancing for everyone!!!

Our computer at the house is broken at the moment, so I'm using the one at work!

Friday afternoon was congé, and so was this morning, so that was pretty great!

Friday, I went to see Harry Potter 5, which was fantastic, albeit odd with the French voices! Obviously I can understand French, but sometimes I found myself reading lips a bit, which was odd. Oh my God though, the door to the theatre opened at 7pm, we got there at around 7.10pm and the line was out the door! By the time we got into the cinema, there was practically no room for the 3 of us to sit together, except in the front row, stage left. We were so close it was like being under Harry Potter! But, we want to maybe go and see it on a Tuesday or Wednesday when it's cheap so we can see it again, but from a better viewpoint. In any case, it was amazing, and I loved it!

Speaking of HP, the book comes out on Saturday! Therefore, I will be avoiding the internet, since I am not due to receive my book until Wednesday to Friday of the following week! But I'm planning on reading it in record time, a feat I will achieve by not sleeping during the night, and dozing at work.

On Saturday we asked our neighbour if we could swim in her pool, and she said yes! So, that was a lot of fun! Then we had our House Meeting, which was as uneventful as always. And then we watched "Ma Fille Mon Ange." It was pretty good. The whole thing seems really realistic, until the end, and they just throw you for a loop, and you're like WTF? Laurence Lebeouf is GORGEOUS. She was by far my favourite part of the film!

Yesterday Anny went to the hospital because something was wrong with the dangly thing in the back of her throat. So, I went to wait with her. I went to the "cafeteria" to get a snack, and discovered a vending machine with entire meals in it! So, first, I bought a snack. Then Anny and I went to talk to the doctor and found out that she most likely scraped it with a Dorito (I KNEW Doritos were evil!!!). So, we went to the cafeteria again, and spent SO MUCH money on food from the vending machine! I swear, we bought one of everything!

Then we went back home, and were planning a few things for upcoming events. All of our weekends are booked! We thought that was a weird feeling in Kelowna and Orléans, but it was even weirder here, because THAT'S IT. We're planning another day trip to Québec, and then a 3 day camping trip. One night on Île Verte and then two in Rimouski. And we're going to Écho-Fête one day at the end of July. And our Open House is this Saturday, and then the last weekend is obviously dedicated to cleaning and packing up the whole Katima-house since there won't be a project in La Pocatière next year. On the 18th of August, I think, is our Final Presentation, which will be a big deal since we are the last, so we have to make it special since work partners, billets and PLs from the last 6 years will be coming. We're thinking of doing an Awards Show for everyone, and our acceptance speeches will be about our experience and what we learned, and then we'll arrange little entertainment pieces as well. It should be pretty sweet if we go through with it!

Last night was free time, and... Oh my God, it was hell. Earlier in the afternoon, Gwobs found out that his dog died, but didn't tell anyone, he was just really out of it. Then he told us, when we went to the mountain, and proceeded to drink a mickey of vodka. He was so sad and.... argghhh. I felt so bad for him! It really made me realize how good of friends we are though, because I sat with him, and all I wanted in the whole world was for him to feel better. Aggghhh, I don't mean to be sappy about it, but... yeah. Also, I don't think I ever mentioned the Joelle-Nick-Jade triangle of tangled emotions thing before, but that sort of was weird last night. Firstly, Joelle and Jade were getting along really well. Then they went off to talk. Then they came home, and were all crying. Joelle was out of it, pissed, and flipping tables (which I mean literally this time, and not in an ironic way), and... yeah, it was weird. But everyone seems alright today. Joelle and Jade are HMing together, and they seemed pretty cheerful. Hmmm. Anyway, to summarize, lots of ups and downs last night. It was a bit hard to handle, but one of those nights we'll learn and grow from, hopefully. I also cut open my foot on something while going down the mountain in the pitch blackness. So, that sucked.

Well, that's all from me for now!

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, La Pocatière

Shockingly enough, there are only 42 days left of Katimavik! What?

So, let's break down some recent events, shall we?

I went to the mall with Anny and Gwobs on Saturday, which was fun, and then to the fleuve with Anny, Alex, Gwobs and Joelle, which was additional fun.

On Sunday, we went to a cool accordion and violin concert in the courtyard at the ITA. It was to honour the students from the University of Alberta, who are here learning French this summer. It was weird to hear them mention U of A here! Then, that night, Joelle picked up Gwobs and I, and we went, with her mom whom was in town visiting, to the fleuve, and got ice cream. We also visited the newly opened TIM HORTON'S! Which was fantastic! But it's weird, in Ontario and Québec, they have no debit machines at Tims!

The big event of the week so far was Nick's 21st birthday, which was last night. We had a party at Pierre's house, which was fun thanks to some beer and whiskey, and because we're so fantastic. Needless to say I was pretty much gone after 2 shots of whiskey! Which made it even a more fun night. No major drama, a little chatter over some issues, but not a bad fête overall! Joelle made a fantastic cake (after setting her first attempt on fire, which was quite a funny story!)!

Upcoming events include our return to the house on Friday night! And hopefully going to see Harry Potter!!! I want to see it sooooo badly! Ha ha. But that's typical, I guess!

Anyway, I'm going to go now, because I think the thunderstorms have stopped, so I might have to do actual work soon!


Edit:

OMG. The first time a HP star attends a première in Canada (Rupert Grint, Toronto!!!) and I wasn't there!!! Gahhhhhh.

Also, while I'm here, last night was fun as well! Ha ha. I went to bed at 6pm-ish! Then Joelle called at 6.40 to go out for coffee. So, I woke up, went for a shower, somehow got a bleeding gash on the back of my leg, and went to meet her and Gwobs. Then, we went to the Katima-house porch, and it started to rain! And it poured for 3 hours!!! Sometime around 11pm it lightened up, so we all ran for it! Ha ha.

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, La Pocatière

So, yesterday wasn't too bad as far as evenings go!

After work I was walking ''downtown,'' which is to say the street with the majority of the shops on it. I spotted a payphone, and decided to ring up my mom, to see what she was up to, and so I talked to her for about 30 minutes in this payphone, often shouting in English and getting weird looks! It was funny. But then she had to go, so I was like ''Okay, now what?'' So I called Anny's cell and arranged to meet her by walking down 7e rue Sirois, which is kind of a bizarre street because it's not straight, it just kind of stops and then you reach an intersection and walk over a few feet and it starts again. So, we met and went to the Métro to buy stuff for Greek Salad (which was soooo good) and ice cream, to eat with spag at her and Alex's billets. So, that was good, the food was amazing and gormet, and we all ate way too much! Seriously, the maple crunch ice cream was overkill!

So, then we were bored, so we walked to the katima-house, to hang out on the front porch, when Gwobs randomly shows up, and tells us he's meeting Nick here in an hour. Nick is staying with a completely French family that he can't communicate with in Rivière-Ouelle, so he often makes the 30 minute bike ride into town because he's bored out of his mind. Anyway, we sit down and talk, and Gwobs goes to get snacks, which we eat even though the 3 of us feel like vomitting from the vast amounts of food we've consummed. And we played a weird game where you pick a number, and when that number car goes by, that's your car. Or that's who you'll be one day (I will be a weird man in argyle) or you have to make up a name and profession for the person (Georgio Armani, Mobster; Shelly Field, Stay At Home Mom). Yeahhhh. So, after about an hour, Nick still isn't there, so we made up stories about his death on the highway. But, soon he stumbled up, sans bike, because it had a flat tire, so he walked the 1h20mins to get there! So, we sat around and played the games with him for a while. Then gradually began to leave. I was the last to go, so Nick decided to leave when I did, and he took one of our crappy bikes, with a dodgey pedal and no brakes! I really hope he made it home okay! I mean, I probably would have heard about it, but who knows! We also discussed, like, if one of us were killed in a gruesome accident, would Katimavik pay for us to go to the victim's funeral? Would they send us home? Would they try to keep us together to grieve as a ''family?'' Hmmmm. Anyway, it's too morbid!

And I have to go now, because actually, I don't start work until 1pm today, but I have to be home for lunch at 11.30am!!! So.... yes! I'm computerless for the weekend, so happy weekend, and I'm also devestated since I am missing Stampede which started last night (Sneek-A-Peek).

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, La Pocatière

The title pretty much explains it!

So, more details about billeting are probably in order! I'm living with a lady and her 3 dogs. Kind of. I eat dinner with the lady, and spend the rest of the time out or in my room, which is located in the basement. There are 2 other rooms in the basement, and 2 other guys live there, but I don't know them. So... yes, it's kind of weird, and makes me realize how much I need people around! My journal realizes it too! I've almost filled up my whole book, so I'm going to go and buy another after work. Also, the lady I'm staying with won't be home until late, so she gave me 10$ to go out to eat!

Well, I'm pretty bored, and actually don't have much to say... so I'll just be going now!

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, La Pocatière

... Yeah, so quick update! Billeting is good so far! I've been MAJORLY obsessed with writing in my journal. I filled 20 pages JUST YESTERDAY! I'm going to need a new one soon!

I have no internet at my billets, so, that's why I'm not online often!

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, La Pocatière

Okay, so this is the 3rd and final time you will have to hear about how I am leaving for billeting tomorrow, and how much I despise billeting.

Actually, to be fair, it's improved each time. Let's reminisce, shall we?

In Kelowna, I was with a lovely francophone family. They were fantastic, but I spent the two weeks being sick, and willing it to go faster since I went home for 48hours the weekend after. Also, they lived so far away, in Westbank. In a big, meticulously clean, even with 2 kids and a beautiful (shedding!) Golden Retriever, house. I would have probably enjoyed it a lot more if I had been able to see people from the group other than at hurried lunch dates or walking by in the street. Skiing was fantastic though, since I'd never done it before, and trying new things is such a rush!

Orleans was much improved. My family was great once more, and a little bit more relaxed. I loved going to church with them! It was Salvation Army, and not only did I love the fact that a bunch of them wore uniforms, but they were also so nice and interested in my life. The old men were so cute! Also, this house was across the street from Joelle's, so I was able to spend a lot of time with her, which was pretty cool. I saw Nick at work everyday, which was nice, and he also came to hang out with us after school one day. Sean spent one day with Joelle and I as well, and Gwobs, Nick, Jade and I went out to lunch for Jade's birthday. So, overall, I was less lonely, had a lot more to say, was a lot more comfortable, and way less sick!

So, my last experience was pretty good. I wonder why I still dislike billeting so? Hmmmm. Well, hopefully this time around (THE LAST TIME!) will be FANTASTIC!

In other news, the last two days were dedicated to delivering the "bac brun" for compost to EVERYONE IN LA POC! Yesterday this took from 7am until 5pm, and today it was 6.45am until 3.45pm. And as a reward for me being so great, I get tomorrow off! And then, obviously, Monday is off to celebrate Canada Day! It's kind of unfair how there are 2 Mondays in a row off here! Ha ha. But good this year since I am here, and I love days off!

Tomorrow is International Kick Gwobs in the Head Day. Juste pour savoir!

Love ya lots!


By the way, I love Alex right now. <3333 she told me to write that- and it's true! Ha ha.

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

The Next Day....

I forgot to mention that THE SPICE GIRLS ARE BACK!!!!! OH MY GOD, I am SO excited!!!! Sure they're only doing 11 shows, none of which I will be able to see, but it's not like I saw any of their shows while they were still around, so who cares? I can just go back to being a crazy fangirl like I was when I was 10, and everything will be fantastic!!

Luckily a few weeks ago I was able to buy a Spice Girls lunchbox for 2$!

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, La Pocatière

Okay, so... what's been up lately?? I went back to work after being sick. Wow, huh? Ha ha. The first day was pretty laid back, I just sat around mainly and put together the 3 pamphlets we're handing out (Which, I am happy to report, SUCK. It's too confusing to give the pamphlets about the Collecte a Trois Voies AND the ones on how to make your own compost in your backyard, SO tomorrow I get to start using my downtime to DISASSEMBLE the packets, and remove the one pamphlet. And by one pamphlet, I mean, times that by 1200, and that's a lot of effing pamphlets that I put together and now have to take apart! Gahhhhhhhh!!!! Anyway...). On Friday morning I did the same thing, and on Friday afternoon, I ACTUALLY STARTED GOING DOOR-TO-DOOR with Karine!!! We only actually talked to about 4 people, but it was kind of fun! We met the funeral director and his wife and they were so funny. The man asked if he could compost his wife!!! Ha ha.

Friday evening marked the beginning of our 72 hour Katima-break. Everyone left before six, except for Sean, Gwobs, Steve and I who were left at home (well, I actually DECIDED to stay home!). We pretty much sat around all weekend and... -------------------------------------------------- Um.... yes. We played bocce ball and... watched movies. And South Park. And played video games like Pokemon. And... yesssss.... BIBLE STUDY!!! YEAH BIBLE STUDY! (Lol, let me explain that one if you don't remember / don't know... one time we went to this dance thing in grade 10, and were going back to stay with Justine, and there were so many of us in her mom's car, and the cops pulled us over for a checkstop, and Justine goes "Please sir, we're just trying to get home to do our Bible study!" And Orry goes "Look down her shirt!" Because Justine was wearing a quite revealing top.... hee hee hee.... Ahhhhhh reminiscing!!!! Good times.) Anyway, last evening Nick, Joelle and Anny came home which was a total surprise since they were supposed to get a ride with Fred from Quebec City TODAY.

So, last night we were just hanging out, listening to Les Cowboys Fringants, and then we went to watch the fireworks, which must have cost La Pocatiere a couple thousand, there were so many! But it was great, and everyone was happy and loving Quebec and good times were had by all.

Today we cleaned up, and now everyone has gone to teh Fleuve pretty much, and that's how the 72 hours were spent!

So, this week will be alright. We start our final stage of billeting on Friday (YESSSS YESSS YESSS, OH THANK-YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HOPE IT GOES BY FAST!!!!!!!) and then there's pretty much nothing to stopping the time from slipping by (NOOOOO!!!! NO!!!! MAKE IT GO SLOWER!!!!!) and I'll be home in no time (YAYYYYYYY!!!!! I AM SO EXCITED)!

It is really hard to keep track of my emotions.

Today is Nicole from school's Birthday! Tomorrow is Anny's birthday, and Friday is Gwobs' Birthday. So.....

(wait for me to write it in big, colourful writing, even though none of them read this...)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Well, that's all the annoying chatter I can muster up for now, unless you want to hear about how much I love Avril Lavigne's song "When You're Gone." It rocks.

LOVE YA! MISS YA!

Edit: I made this at work today, ha ha:

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, La Pocatière

On May 18, 2007, when we were still in Orleans. Sean, Jade, Alex, Joelle and I were bored. So we decided to do a photoshoot, on account of Sean is studying that at University next year. Anyway, I was sorting through the photos today and playing with them a bit, and I thought I'd share!

First, here's Sean, our brilliant photographer. This picture was actually taken by Joelle or I, and then skanked up for Seanzor, by yours truly.


Here is me, in sepia, enjoying the view of something to my left!

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, La Pocatière, Orléans, Photos

Well, right now I am sitting in an odd chair, that puts me about one foot lower than the computer, so I bet I look quite comical as I write this!

I'm headed back to work today after a bout with gastro! Whoooo. Ha ha. I was pretty sick for two days, went to the hospital, waited around for 4 hours and then was told to drink Gatorade until I felt better. Okayyyyy. So, I did, and here I am!

This weekend is the St. Jean, and I'm doing... NOTHING! Because I'm too poor! BLAST! Anyway, it's not a big deal, there will be other St. Jeans...

Random song lyric alert! Now I am into this lovely one from Les Cowboys Fringants!

Tourne L'Automne

Comment ça va ma p'tite soeur ?
Viens que j'te serre dans mes bras
Pis as-tu r'trouvé l'bonheur
Dans ton trip au Canada ?

Dans l'bout' c't'année y s'est
pas passé grand'choseC't'un peu morose...

J'espère au moins qu'c'tait l'fun là-bas
Chu fier que tu m'aies pas ramené
Un beau-frère de l'Alberta
Ça m'aurait un peu ébranlé

Jure-moi donc que c'fois là tu restes à' maison pour de bon

Anyway chu content que tu r'viennes
T'arrives en même temps qu'l'automne
Tsé qu'ça m'a fait ben d'la peine
De t'voir partir ma mignonne...

Icitte y'a papa qui se r'met
De sa p'tite opération
T'aurais du l'voir y feakait
Fallait l'traiter aux p'tits oignons
Et môman s'est inquiété toute l'année
À cause de toé...

De mon bord j'ai décidé
D'arrêter de végéter
J'rentre à l'université
On verra c'que ça va donner
Mais tu m'connais chu pas motivé plus qui faut
C'est pas nouveau...

Anyway chu content que tu r'viennes
T'arrives en même temps qu'l'automne
Tsé qu'ça m'a fait ben d'la peine
De t'voir partir ma mignonne...

J'ai vu Simon le mois passé
Ç'avait pas trop l'air de filer
Y m'a dit qu't'avais pas appelé
Depuis sa fête en février
Si tu l'aimes pu faudrait peut-être pas l'niaiser
C't'un bon buddy

Et puis toé ma p'tite soeur
Es-tu toujours aussi perdue?
C'est ti encore la grande noiceur ?
Ou ben si t'as r'pris le dessus ?
Tsé qu'la vie est parsemée de p'tites misères
Faut pas t'en faire...

Anyway chu content que tu r'viennes
T'arrives en même temps qu'l'automne
Tsé qu'ça m'a fait ben d'la peine
De t'voir partir ma mignonne...

Anyway chu content que tu r'viennes
T'arrives en même temps qu'l'automne...

So, for those of you who are not Quebecois speaking... he's singing to his sister, who has gone off to somewhere else in Canada, and has just come back (right in time for autumn). He's glad that she didn't bring home a boy from Alberta (ha ha). And he sings about what their dad's been up to. How their mom has been worrying the whole time about her. How he's decided to stop being lazy, and go to University. How Simon (her boyfriend, I assume) is upset because she hasn't called him since his birthday in February. And that if she doesn't like him still she should let him down softly, because he's a nice boy. Then he asks if she found herself while she was out in Canada. Anyway, I'm happy that you came back at the same time as autumn, it gave me a bit of pain, to see you leave here my sweet girl.

So. You can probably see why I enjoy this one!

Labels: Journal, Katimavik, La Pocatière, Random Lyrics