Integrity

So I just ‘plugged’ myself back into the grid. At first I didn’t really care at all to participate in ‘Earth Hour’ as I thought it was pretty silly and that it probably doesn’t make a huge difference. Then I figured why not? It’s more so the message behind the action than it is actually ’saving electricity’. I figure I waste so much energy that it’s the least I can do, and at least I can look back and say I participated.

An hour goes by pretty quick, mind you I kept my computer on but ran off batteries. I looked outside and noticed a couple of lights on campus that are normally on were off. UW Place looked pretty dark – but it still does now. I was a little disappointed. I thought at least a couple of people in the towers would take part as Housing Services pushed it for awhile. I watched as 9:00 rolled by and I saw just one light come back on. Still no change now. I guess people just aren’t home at all.  Oh well…

It’s interesting to not have electricity for an hour. I don’t know what I would have done without batteries in my laptop (although I just barely made it through the hour without them dying :P). I had some battery powered candles that really didn’t help with the lighting, but it was better than nothing. It puts a different perspective voluntarily removing yourself from electricity. I guess it kind of makes me feel ‘good’ inside to not have just shrugged the event off. I guess it’s also kind of neat to think that at the same time, many others out there and possibly around the world are doing it too. I enjoyed the novelty in the situation perhaps, as my ‘unplugging’ has little to no effect as an individual.

Another ‘feeling good inside’ story: On Thursday I was in the Mackenzie King Village residence building waiting to talk to the Residence Life Coordinator for my residence extension. In the giant common area sat an MP3 player and headphones on a seat – absolutely no one around. To be honest – it was tempting to uh… well, you know, but I decided to hand it to the front desk. The day after it kind of dawned on me to think what the chances are that if someone else came across it that they would have just pocketed it. Or who’s to say the student behind the desk didn’t pocket it? I would at least hope that someone in a position like that wouldn’t do such a thing but you never know.

I like to look back and feel like I did the right thing and hope that I continue to do so; minor event or global event.

Chocolate rain!

Sorry, that’s all I’ve had on my brain all day and I can’t get rid of it.

So the long weekend was quite relaxing. I played some video games I haven’t played in ages. It brought me back… felt good looking through crosshairs again. I also watched about eleven movies or so…

Oh! I am so stoked because I bought BATTLESTAR GALACTICA DVDs! Yes, I’m kind of a big geek, but honestly, it is an amazing show, even if you don’t like sci-fi. It’s frakking superb. I bought everything except Season 1… which the DVD guys that come to campus didn’t have. They told me they would have it by tomorrow and I’ve checked everyday since Monday. They must be sick of me. I sure hope they have it tomorrow. For those that know me, when I’m willing to buy something… I like it. I like it a lot… unless it was a sweet deal. On that note, the final season starts on the 4th! Tomorrow is an hour of pretty much teaser before the final season starts. I’ve never been so excited for a TV show before. :P

In school related news… I really need to start studying. I’ve lost all drive but I still want to do as best as I can this term. I’m so eager to be done.

That’s all…

Extra Long Weekend

My weekend has started since 4PM Thursday after my Economics class ended. In the time since then I haven’t done much. Well… today I vacuumed my room and cleaned my dishes (finally). I hate doing dishes, it never ends. Hard to believe but I am actually going to enjoy having cafeteria food all over again. Unfortunately it will be meal by meal basis which means no more random anytime (insert food here + bacon + Nestea) runs to the cafeteria. Speaking of Nestea Iced Tea, I wonder if it’s the same as Nestea Sweet Tea in the US. Whatever…

This term has pretty much wound down. I have one assignment and a handful of simple online quizzes. Other than that, it’s just final examinations. This term marks the first time I don’t have a final exam on the final exam day (disregarding first year first term’s nine exams in eight days). That gives me a whole week to pack my crap up – another dilemma. What to do with all my junk.

First of all, I never came to Waterloo with just two suitcases, a carry-on, and my laptop. I had my parents bring out stuff on their trips to Toronto that happened around the same time. Over the past four years I’ve accumulated a bit of stuff – well, a lot. Some useful, more not so useful. Albeit I’ve sent home a large chunk of junk home, the majority of the items that I simply won’t miss, I still have a ton of stuff. Luckily, and kind of disappointingly, I won’t need any kitchen stuff anymore. I also won’t need the majority of the library’s-worth of textbooks and notes I’ve accrued. (So heavy!)

To sum up: moving is a pain. Perhaps this weekend I’ll start divvying up my stuff so come move time I know what will be going where – or maybe I’ll start studying early – or work on my last assignment…

Probably not. Maybe I’ll just relax.

Where one blog ends…

…another one begins.

Almost four years ago I started blogging. In those four years a lot has happened and a lot has changed. Over the past while, those that used to frequent my previous blog noticed my lack of commitment to it. Eventually the time between posts grew larger and larger and in all reality, have pretty much ceased completely.

Times have changed and so have I. The time has come to ‘turn over a new leaf’, ‘turn over a new page’, ‘walk a different path’ blah blah blah, you get the idea. Basically I figure since my last blog marked the change from high school to university undergrad, why not start fresh. This blog will mark, and hopefully continue with more success than the last, my transition from undergrad to optometry school and perhaps longer. With the popularity of Facebook and my ability to auto-update my profile with my posts, I hope that those that find interest in what I write, ramble, or whine about – or in my life in general – will help me keep them up to date. Comment, complain, discuss. Bug me if it has been awhile. If my posts make you want to talk, do so. It may be my blog but it is shared on the internet for anyone to see (although I would prefer the majority to be those that somehow know me) and to discuss.

This blog would of course be personal and hopefully people can respect that. I tend to write on emotion and thus sometimes I will say things that I would probably regret. At the same time it really is a journal that I can look back on and relate to. In general I hope to have some sort of regularity to my posts – to keep track of things myself in a journal-like kind of way, as well as to keep those that do read interested/amused.

So to start this blog off, a couple of announcements in my life.

As many may or may not know, my goal in becoming an optometrist is one step closer. In August of 2008 I will begin my four years at the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago to work my way towards obtaining my ‘Doctor of Optometry’ title. Yes, this means I was not accepted to the University of Waterloo (for the second time) but for those that may randomly come across this page (a la Google), that doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world.

The second ‘announcement’ is one that some may be tired of hearing, or perhaps is expected. I will not be going home to Calgary this summer. Instead I will be going straight to Manitoba to work in the same capacity as last summer, although this time for the four months instead of two. I do not know if I will make my way to Calgary before I go to Chicago – most likely not (but due to travelling logistics, cost, etc.). It’s a decision that I and only I made (to work in Manitoba versus going home). In all reality, Calgary has become less and less of ‘home’ as I spend the majority of my life now away from ‘home’. I like to think that I still have some very good friends back in Calgary and I truly do enjoy spending my time with them. Unfortunately as some may or may not realize, times are not the same as times in high school. No longer are the inside jokes or funny things that happened recently applicable when you aren’t there. It’s hard to relate when you’re on a completely different paths. At the same time, it is hard to not see your friends. There is always that bond you’ll have no matter what happens, no matter how often you get to see or hear or speak to them. Unfortunately you have to make choices that may take you farther away from not only your friends but your family as well. Obviously I would not decide to not come home in order to avoid people, which sometimes I feel like people think I do. There are many reasons why people choose what they choose, whether it’s personal or not. Obviously my choice to come to the University of Waterloo was to follow my career goals – to further my life.

On a more personal note, many know that Jessica and I have been dating for awhile and that this upcoming four months will be bittersweet. Jessica is at the University of Waterloo School of Optometry so thus going to Chicago will seperate us. Going to Manitoba will not only be a time to get a little more interaction in the field of optometry and to make some money (perhaps to cover a little of the $32000 a year?) but for us to spend together. For once we will actually get to spend more than a handful of days together without the worry of labs, assignments, midterms, and finals.

It’s hard to write, and hard to realize, that once the summer is over Jessica and I will no longer be able to drop by each other’s place just to say hello, or to simply study together in the same room or share a meal without it involving a plane ride or a road-trip.

So as much as my decision to not come home for the summer may disappoint some, please remember that we all have to make some sacrifices – and some sacrifices are are worth an extra four months.