Rocket Man

Oh Elton...

He is most likely the cutest man ever. If you ever get the chance, SEE HIM IN CONCERT! It was AMAZING!!!

A Day In The Life of A Social Work Student

1. Pack up room and find fecal matter on the floor. How pleasant. 

2. Read daily horoscope.

3. Pick up babies.

4. Think of every male baby name that I possibly can and give the list to the expecting mother.

5. Colour and laugh with an awesome resident who is developmentally delayed. I can't count how many times the phrase "You're fired" was said.

6. Walk to the kitchen several times and get cookies for myself. 

7. Read entire newspaper.

8. Complain about how tired I am, but can't have coffee because of the heat.

9. Count down the hours, minutes, seconds until the day the done.

10. Celebrate as our advocating for one woman's situation has turned out just how we wanted it.

Boogie Style

There was a man on the bus today. It was obvious from the start that he was quite suave. We got off at the same spot, and I just happened to be walking behind him, which ultimately meant that I was able to analyze his clothing selection a little more. He was wearing a 70s chic pattern button down, tan pants, and vintage white loafers. For some reason, he reminded of a 70s type Burt Reynolds. It was a truly beautiful experience.

I think the world would be a little bit of a better place if we could all dress a little more like Burt Reynolds. But of course, we could all never rock the moustache like Mr. Reynolds himself. Or chest hair.

People, Places And Things

This is long...but worth it.

On a weekly basis, someone around me complains about how Hamilton sucks, or how there is nothing to do here. If you don't like Hamilton, that's cool. I respect your opinion, but of course, I grew up here and love the city that has had a part of making me who I am today. I also went to high school in a little, nothing hick town in Northern Ontario, where the only thing to do there was to drive around and go to Tim Horton's. I still have a soft spot for Blind River, even though I kind of hate the place for different reasons, but I acknowledge that it also had a part in making me who I am today. 

Not too long ago, I was one of those people that I think most people would relate to. The person that bases their life on the "things" they can or can't do. This is why people dislike Hamilton so much. They say there is nothing to do.  I also believed at a time that there wasn't much to do in Hamilton, but over time, I realized that there was much more to do than people think. But that doesn't matter. It doesn't matter anymore, because I'm now not one of those people that bases the value of their lives on the things that they can or can't do. I would much prefer to measure my life by friends and family, the many experiences in between, and the random shit that gets done when friends are together, having a good time. 

Do you think living in Blind River was boring? In fact, the town was boring, but I didn't have a boring high school life. My group of friends weren't the party-ers or drinkers (in fact, the only time I really drank in high school was during Band trips - FUN, or on the Reserve with two friends in a basement, smoking half a pack of cigarettes), we were the Christian group who did really random shit. The great things I remember about Blind River are my friends and the experiences I had. The long drives around town. Something bad happening to the Wiebemobile everytime I was in it, and then praying over the situation (in a semi-sarcastic fashion) and everything being OK. The Galilean Bible Camp bashing. Going to such a small school, and having such tight relationships with the teachers that we could get them gifts such as a "Boyfriends of the Month" calendar. The many times spent in Tim Horton's, with my country bun, just chilling, talking, laughing and looking at all the Greyhound people that came in. Putting random shit, such as a van seat, in between the angels (someone's house had these angels in front of it) in Iron Bridge. The random car washes that looked like they came from a scene in Zoolander. The skinny dipping at Four Sands after Bible Study. The 2 hour road trips to Sudbury, just to get to a decent mall. There are so many more things I could list...but the point is, my life experience in Blind River (the place where there is ACTUALLY nothing to do) was extremely rich. I made lifetime friends, had so many firsts, and did tons of random shit that made life awesome, hilarious, and fulfilling. Everything we did, we made the most of it. None of it was spectacular. It wasn't extravagant. We just made everything fun. We made everything an adventure. It was our mindset, and we had so much damn fun. I wouldn't trade it for anything. 

Is it because we had to be creative in a small town that I realize that places don't really matter? In cities, you definitely don't need the same creativity, because the city has everything figured out for you. I say, stop letting the city have everything figured out for you!

So, to all Hamilton haters, stop living your life based on the things that you do and the places you live. Don't let that be your focus. Stop and look around with who you're with. It doesn't matter where you are, you can always have a good and fulfilling life wherever you are. It's the people around you that makes your life rich, as well as the experiences that you choose to create. If you keep on saying that a certain place sucks, your life will most likely suck there. That's no fun, is it? So, I encourage everyone to start doing random shit and making the most of it. Oh, and laughing. A lot. You don't have to like the place you're in, but you'll notice it less if you're in the right mindset. 

It is true that I love Hamilton. I love that it's a little rough around the edges, and that it's still trying to figure itself out. I will be a forever defender of Hamilton, despite the hate. 

I heart you, Hamilton!

Maybe It's Just The Hair

Or maybe it's just how I kind of feel cool in this dirty way.

I'm not going to lie. I'm totally into 80's hair metal right now. It's all I want to listen to. I think it's because I've all of a sudden been listening to more rock radio, and all these awesome hair metal songs come on. I'm just pissed that I rarely know the name of the songs, and so I can't download them. What a dilemma.

My Chickpea Is Home!

TARA IS BACK FROM CHINA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Tara, you better be freaking ecstatic that you got an entire, huge, long blog post dedicated to YOU)

Crazy Summer

Tomorrow is the official start of SUMMER. The plan is to have a crazy shenanigans happening all summer...so, I say a toast to the next days, weeks and months. Bring it on.

The Days Blur, What Can I Say?

Last night, I had an encounter with a drunk girl (I will call her Persephone). We were both heading for the elevator in my building, and she offered my a cigarette, because she said that she didn't smoke and that her friend just randomly gave it to her. I accepted this cigarette on behalf of my friend who was waiting in the car for me while I ran up to my apartment to get my laptop. 

Persephone and I continued to talk. She was stating how drunk she was and how she was probably going to get more drunk later that night. I also declared that I would most likely get more drunk later on as well. She stated that she was so tired, because she woke up at 6am, because she thought it was Saturday and she works on Saturday. I looked at her, with a puzzled look on my face, and said "Persephone, it IS Saturday." And she was like, "No, it's Sunday. Do you have a phone? You can check the date on there." I got my phone, and sure enough, it was Saturday, just like I had told her. She said, "Oh shit...I was supposed to go to work today, but instead I got drunk!"

I wished her good luck as I got off the elevator. I truly hope that she will still have a job after not showing up, and getting drunk instead.

Phone Booth Theft

Today at my placement, someone came back to the house and told me that she saw a man steal a phone booth on Barton St. today. A PHONE BOOTH. I was like "What in the world would someone do with a stolen phone booth?!" She replied, "Smash it up for drug money". 

First,  there was something lost in translation there. Second, I obviously have a lot of street cred to earn before I can become a successful social worker.

Things Happen

I have realized that I haven't posted in a looooong time. I apologize to the 3-5 people who possibly read this blog for that. Some recent, interesting and exciting updates in my life are as follows: 

• About a week and a half ago, my Nana accidentally thought that her dish soap was pop, and so she proceeded to drink it. Thank goodness she realized it wasn't pop after she had one sip.

• Today, I ran into the one and only Katie Mervart on the street (she was working on my corner, if you know what I mean) and we went for a lovely walk around Hamilton's most awesome neighbourhood (ours) and looked at all the way too awesome homes that we will one day live in. Ravenscliffe Ave. is my dream street, and if I stay in Hamilton, I will one day own a home on that street. There is no question about it. I don't really care if the homes cost over a million. Seriously. 

•  I baked cookies last night, and they are almost gone. I seriously need to stop baking cookies.

• Very recently, I have realized that some people are major douchebags, and I really hate when they mess with my people. Just get the fuck out, and leave my people alone. Man, I feel like a modern-day Moses...expect the Pharaoh is a whole bunch of people who are just douchebags.

I will try to blog more...life has just been unfortunately hectic and sad lately.