I found this video on YouTube. Not the actual music video, and I can't figure out who made it, but nonetheless a super video, and a great song by the David Crowder band.

Back to life.

I'm going back to school! I'm leaving for the big city this weekend and I'm so excited.

This summer has been full of loneliness, disappointment and regret, but more importantly, excitement, new experiences, new friends and fun times.

Every summer it's always the same thing: I didn't spend enough time with this friend and with that person, I watched too much tv, I didn't earn enough money, I didn't look over my notes, mentally preparing for next term, and I sunk into spiritual mediocrity.

But, what can I do? It's summer, right? All I know is that I read what I wanted to, I made two amazing new friends, I laughed more than I have in a long time, I watched just enough of Firefly, I lived as an adult in my childhood home, and I didn't die driving, practising on the 401, and getting my G license.

Just enough summer for me. I'll be glad to get back into my routine.

"I'm letting you go."

Last weekend I got fired. Yeah, fired.
I've never been fired from a job before.
But then again, I've always been paid properly. I've never felt cheated on paychecks. I've never approached someone with questions and requests only to be denied my rights.

Ministry of Labour, here I come. Anyone ever filed a claim before?

Unconditional love

That I Would Be Good
- Alanis Morissette (Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie)

That I would be good even if I did nothing
That I would be good even if I got the thumbs down
That I would be good if I got and stayed sick
That I would be good even if I gained ten pounds

That I would be fine even even if I went bankrupt
That I would be good if I lost my hair and my youth
That I would be great if I was no longer queen
That I would be grand if I was not all knowing

That I would be loved even when I numb myself
That I would be good even when I am overwhelmed
That I would be loved even when I was fuming
That I would be good even if I was clingy

That I would be good even if I lost sanity
That I would be good
Whether with or without you

New puppy, new toy, new responsibility

My mom got a new dog. We'd had one little Lhasa Apso, Keisha. We still have her, and she's 11 now. She's pretty old for a dog, but you'd never know it. She still scampers up the stairs, jumps on and off beds, plays fetch and runs in the park.
But, one just wasn't enough. :P

(Keisha - the dog we've had for just over 9 years)










My mom and I went to the Humane Society and the Animal Control a couple times, and only saw one or two dogs that we liked. They don't have many small dogs at the shelters. Most of them get snatched up pretty quickly. I think small dogs are much more adoptable than large dogs. Did you know the humane society in Toronto has over 150 dogs, and the majority of them are pitbulls?


This one little boy that we brought home is about a year old, and also a Lhasa Apso, but very obviously crossed with some other breed. I think he's part Beagle. He digs holes in the garden, chews bones, barks like a hound and has a long body and a long, straight tail (most Lhasas have curly tails). We named him Benson. He's very cute, playful and cuddly, but has lots of accidents on our carpet.

My title of three "news" does not refer just to Benson. He is like a new toy, and he definitely brings more responsibility to this household (sort of like a new baby? You love it, and cuddle it, and kiss it, but then it pees on your floor? I dunno.)

My new toy is actually more appropriately referring to my new Ipod!! I had been debating over it for about a year, and had been on the apple website plenty of times, picking out colour and style and deciding whether or not I wanted the free engraving. I thought I "needed" a nano, and at least 4Gb. I have a lot of music on my computer that I would like to have accessible to me at any time. I liked the pink or the green, but then they came out with the special edition red. Hmmm... well anyways, I saw a red 8gb on Ebay and randomly bid on it, not expecting anything. I won, :D and received it shortly after. My new toy is serving me well.

My newest responsibility is my new (second) job. I like the job that I have waitressing at the Diamond.... but...
I hate not being busy.
I want to make money this summer.
I was working 25 hours a week.
I don't have anything else good to do with my time.

So, I looked in the Oshawa newspaper classfieds, and applied to a few things. I got a couple replies, and took a job serving breakfast in a factory cafeteria three days a week. I wake up at 5 am and work a couple hours, then go home and if I don't have to work it feels great to have accomplished something before most people even get out of bed. If I have to work at the Diamond the same day, I drop off some stuff at home before heading out to work at 11 or 12. Good thing the uniform is the same!

*Phew* It's a little tiring, but it'll only be for another 4 weeks. Then I'll be back in Montreal. :)

Missing you...

This summer's been pretty sweet.

I love my job. I really enjoy serving people, and I have a great boss. He's a gentle, friendly Sri Lankian guy. It's funny. I love working for an immigrant. He's pretty serious. He expects hardwork. He's a great businessman. I don't always understand him, but we have a good laugh every once in a while.

I have discovered that my spiritual gift of service can be used in more ways than I thought. I really like meeting people; I have gotten to know the regulars at the diner. It's neat to talk to people in this city and find out what they're all about. The thing with that, though, is that I'm more of an introvert, and too much socializing exhausts me. When the customer finishes her burger and fries, she pays and leaves, and I'm back to bussing tables, handing out menus, taking orders and washing dishes. It's a great deal.

Sooo... what I wanted to blog about. I've had a great time hanging out with people in Oshawa this summer. I've met up with old friends, like Jess from high school, and we've gone to the movies, and jogging a couple times. I randomly ran in to Jamie (a guy who I lived down the street from my entire life, but we never hung out) and we've had sooo much fun hanging out watching episodes of The Office, watching movies and playing Settlers.

The thing with these "new" friends is that in two and a half months, I'll be 500km away again and we won't talk more than once a week. That's just the way it goes. I dislike that part of moving.

And I do want to go back to Montreal and see my friends there once again. But it's not gonna be the same with the people here. It's so hard to be around people for a couple months, and you grow to know and love them, and then everything changes. That happened last summer, and sure we've had a couple chances to hang out this summer again, but it's just not the same and I miss them.

That happened with my friend Jess Zetzman. Excuse me while I reminisce. She's one of the most special, kind, open, caring, beautiful people I've ever met. We had two solid years together... my first two years of university. We spent a lot of time "studying" at her place. We cooked yummy "Lindsay-friendly" (and usually Texan) dishes. We talked and talked and talked. We danced in her living room to Indian music, then we watched Bollywood movies and danced to those too. She played guitar. I usually fell asleep on her futon, and we'd walk to campus together. Those were good good times.

And now she's done. Finished university. She's back in Dallas to continue life with a new job, and a future very far away from where mine is.

I miss you Jessica.

Graduation... not mine yet.

I realize I haven't blogged in almost a month!
It hasn't been too busy of a month. I've mostly just been working, relaxing, reading, hanging out with friends, and hanging out with my mom.

On Thursday, I went to my mom's graduation from Ryerson University. It was so exciting to see my mom graduate! She finished a 19-month accelerated course to complete her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I'm so proud of her. She's considering going on in school. There's a certificate program in Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner at UofT, York and Ryerson. My mom is applying for that for September.

It's neat to think that in a couple years I'll be at my own graduation ceremony, getting my degree. It's gonna take a lot of work to get there though...