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Start of March Break

I love watching the snow fall, and I love that my cats are just as fascinated by it as me. There is something relaxing about waking up before everyone else in the house and watching the the snow. It's peaceful. It seems to me that everyone is anxiously awaiting spring, but personally, I love it when winter lingers. I mean the harsh, bitter wind can be annoying at times, but the thought of a cup of hot chocolate always soothes my anger towards Mother Nature.

I find it unfortunate that people have this stigma that winter has to be a season of lassitude. But I suppose that's one of the things I love about it. It's quiet. No one really wants to venture out into this picturesque weather unless they "have to". That leads to empty streets and emptier sidewalks; as an introvert, what more could I want?

Maybe I am all alone in this category, but I find something magical about winter. Maybe it's the spirit of Christmas that remains in the air after all the decorations are packed away, or maybe it's a figment of my imagination. But those little fluffy bits of white hitting the icy streets are enough to put my mind at ease for now. For now at least, I'll be calm and happy and I'll hope that Ottawa promises the same snowy days.

The Summary of Events

The last few days have been pretty monotone for me; I have been fighting off a nasty flu bug, so not much has been accomplished. Thankfully, I didn't have any "real" homework to do, more like goals to get ahead, so that is what I have been trying to chip away at. Other minor accomplishments include studying for my driving permit (which I hope to take soon), and dreaming about my tattoo (which I hope to get soon). The last week or so has been spent at my mum's house, which has been absolutely lovely. I love staying here and I am going to be quite sad when I have to pack up and leave.

I have also been dreaming about my future apartment, all the things I still need to buy, and how fast this year is going. Halloween feels like it happened so recently, not over two months ago! Before I know it, it will be June and I will be packing to leave. Geez, that time is going to be so stressful, trying to pack and study and find an apartment and study! Well, I guess now is the time to enjoy doing nothing, it never seems to last long with me. At least whenever things get stressful or overwhelming, I now have one piece of advice to relax me: my escape is now mere months away, no longer years.

Au revoir 2012

Many sunsets were enjoyed, plenty of books were devoured, lots of moments were had...here's to 2012. 

I took my first train journey and I had my writing published for the first time, and then the second time. I travelled to Europe for the first time and selected a variety of images to share from the 1500+ pictures I took. Yes, 2012 was full of firsts and lasts and now we are on to bigger and better things I guess. I had some good times and some not-so-good times, but as I approach the end of my studies in Saint John I am happy with how things turned out. I feel like there is so much more left to say, and yet not at the same time. So, I guess, cheers to 2012 and bring it on 2013.

My Goals for 2013

Even though this didn't work out wonderfully last year, I figured that I would try to make a list of goals for 2013, hoping that maybe this time I will remember what I wrote.

1. Find a nice (and inexpensive) one bedroom apartment in Ottawa/Gatineau
2. Get a tattoo
3. Graduate high school with an overall average between 93-96
4. Finally receive my permit 
5. Spend more time with Rebecca
6. Celebrate my birthday with a glass of mulled wine
7. Come home for the holidays
8. Make my apartment completely "me", with a set of bookshelves flanking a workspace
9. Read more classics
10. Explore Ottawa...
11. Find a new second hand book store in Ottawa to take the place Loyalist City Coins and Books
12. Buy a bicycle
13. Work on The Search for Home
14. Spend quiet evenings focusing on relaxation and detachment when I move out
15. Write more short stories
16. Edit my writing more
17. Get a new piercing
18. Do well in my first semester of university
19. Visit more city parks 
20. Celebrate the end of high school with no inhibitions...to a reasonable extent!

I am thinking that it might be a bit interesting to keep this list close and write a post when I complete a goal on this list. It was a lot harder to write of goals I want to reach this year than it was last year. I suppose since I don't have a humongous trip looming on the horizon, and I have already received some of the best news ever (my acceptance into Carleton), things are looking up right now. I have more aspirations for the new year than goals, things I hope to do and hope I continue to do...we'll see. 

How I Fared with My Goals of 2012...

So, one year ago (give or take) I wrote a list of 21 things I wanted to complete before the end of the year. Then I promptly forgot about this list for most of the year and I have come to realize that to accomplish something...it helps to remember that something(s).

1. Finish Physics with at least a 90. --Finished with an 89 and a 98 on the exam, and that is close enough for me--
2. Speak one complete sentence in German in Germany, and get in on tape.
3. Speak one complete sentence in Spanish in Spain, and get it on tape.
4. Speak one complete sentence in Italian in Italy, and get it on tape.
5. Get my poem published in my District's Journal, or try harder next year.
6. Only submit my essay into the Turning Points competition if I am proud of it. --And got it published--
7. Have a lunch of pizza & gelato in the streets of Italy with my friends. --Solitary moments are my fondest--
8. Dance with a Spanish boy in Spain. --Does dancing next to count?--
9. Get a new ear piercing abroad. FAILED TO DO...
10. Receive high honours on all of my exams. WILL NEVER KNOW...
11. Finish grade eleven with at least a 92% average.
12. Visit Rebecca during the summer./Return to St-Raymond.
13. Travel to Ottawa by train. I GOT SPENCE FIXED AND DE-WORMED INSTEAD
14. Visit Carleton's campus. SAME AS ABOVE...
15. Get a job. --Security job at the theatre counts!--
16. Get my permit, then my license. BUT I DID JUST BUY THE HANDBOOK...
17. Buy a car. WITH WHAT MONEY??
18. Get Spencer fixed.
19. Kick ass in the 2012 swim season. --Mission. Accomplished.--
20. Heal my shoulder 100%. CANNOT ACHIEVE THE IMPOSSIBLE...BUT I'VE HEALED IT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE...
21. Actually finish writing a complete novel, not story, admit it, N-O-V-E-L. UHH, NO.

I may not have accomplished all my goals, I am quite proud with how I fared. 13/21...err, right. Maybe I should explain on the goals I failed to do?

Get a new piercing abroad: The only piercing place I could find was on my last night in Barcelona; it was located in someone's apartment on the second floor and looked quite shoddy, so I passed...I kind of regret it now.
Receive high honours on all of my exams: I don't get my exams back, and never got to check the marks.
Travel to Ottawa by train/Visit Carleton's campus: I took the train to Quebec but didn't have enough money to continue to Ottawa, because I had to pay for Spencer to get neutered.
Get my permit, then my license: Again, a money thing, but I did buy the Driver's Handbook and will be taking my permit test before winter vacation is over!
Buy a car: Yeah...I must have thought I was going to win the lottery or something.
Actually finish writing a complete novel: Well, I definitely had large aspirations. I did get a very good dent into the novel I started last year though!

It is Christmas Once More

Today was the last day of classes before Christmas break and the thought of an 18 day break is wonderful; I am so excited not to wake up at 6am for the next couple of weeks. I have curled up in my fuzzy Christmas blanket, taken copious amounts of the Christmas-ness around me, and now I am debating what to do next. There are two Christmas stories that I have been "writing" for the last two years now: every year I always say that I will finish it, but I never seem to. I am not setting the unrealistic goal of finishing these story/novellas with only four days left until Christmas, but I would definitely like to keep working on them. It is always a struggle to remind myself to get the words down and then go from there. You can edit bad writing, but you cannot edit a blank page. In saying that, I guess I will procrastinate for another ten minutes, because I have really been wanting to answer the questions to one of those Christmas tags floating around. I figured it would be a cute way to document my Christmas sentiments this year...

1. What is your favourite holiday movie?
         This is a really hard question, because I love any cheesy, feel-good, Hallmark Christmas movie! However, you cannot beat the classics: I am talking Charlie Brown's Christmas, the cartoon versions of Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Polar Express is a newer movie that I really enjoy as well. 

2. What is your favourite Christmas colour(s)?

         Again, I'm a classics type of girl; I love red, green, and gold!

3. Do you like to stay in your pjs or dress up for Christmas?
         While I open my presents I am still in my pjs, then my mum cooks up a large breakfast once everything has been opened. I usually don't get dressed until it is time to head over to my dad's house around noon. 

4. If you could only buy one person a present this year, who would it be?
            I love giving presents so it is hard to pick only one person out of my family and friends...I think I would have to choose my best friend, because she has had a very rough year and deserves a pick-me-up.

5. Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
            When I was younger, I was always allowed to open one present one Christmas Eve, but now that I'm older that tradition has died away, so they all get opened on Christmas morning. 

6. Did you ever believe in Santa Claus as a child?
             Of course!

7. Have you ever built a gingerbread house?
              Not for a few years, but in the past I have.

8. Any Christmas wishes?
              That next year at university will be a good one (and generally a healthy one for all as well) and I will get the job I just applied for!

9. Favourite Christmas smell?
                Christmas to me is a variety of scents; it is a turkey roasting in the oven, the sweet smell of balsam, cinnamon and nutmeg, the warmth of vanilla, the smell of wood burning in the crisp winter air. It is one large combination of scents from my childhood. 

10. Favourite Christmas meal or treat?
                Definitely the chocolates that always seem to pop up, and my memere's cookies. Delicious.