I kind of dropped this blog for various reasons. And since my mom decided to nag me about it during Christmas I decided to at least post something! 2009 has been an incredible year for me!

I went from a really horrible yet growing year in 2008 to the best year of my life in 2009. From struggling for work/social status/identity to an insane summer of new friends, crazy adventures, relaxing holidays, switched to days at work and...the best part of the year - meeting Kevin. I wasn't exactly looking to start a relationship... but I was. I was tired of my friends taking off on dates and my sister constantly being out with her boyfriend so I gave a couple websites a try. I was honest in my profiles and well, Kevin and I started talking at the beginning of September and here we are now - happily in love!! What an incredible part of life this is!! All I can say is it's beautiful and I hope it never ends!!!

I maybe back to post in the future especially with how slow life becomes in the winter months...

You'd think I was still in the book industry by this sudden rant:

I’m so sick and tired of seeing books about such unrealistic lives! I know that fiction is supposed to be an “escape” from the real world but for once it’d be nice to come across a book I could relate to and be encouraged by that which isn’t strictly a spiritual growth book.

I want a book written about the struggles a normal mid-twenties Christian woman goes through. The struggles of finding a network of friends, dealing with changes in friendships and relationships, being single in today’s world, maturing as a believer in Christ. Would anyone read it?

Would anyone want to read about how finding a new church in a new city changed my life? That I’ve never experience such spiritual growth and personality changes so much in the past 5 years? Or that it took me 4 years to really build any kind of network of friends?

I guess it didn't help I was reading a blog earlier which the blogger was doing reviews on books.

Anyways, this is all I got at the moment. Back to work!

I wish I had recorded on here all the awesome sauce things that I've done this summer because seriously, I think it's been the best summer of my life! I'm not trying to be melodramatic but it's true. (Especially compared to my circumstances last year at this time).

I have friends! Friends who call ME to hang out. Friends who get me out doing things I've not done before, gone places I've never been to before. Random road trips, late night chats, friendly mole competition, movie nights, etc. It's nice to have so many awesome people in my life!!

This has been a summer of immense change yet again. Coming to terms (previous posts) with the change in relationship with my sister because she found the love of her life. THIS has been the most challenging. Our lives have become quite separate in some ways but we're learning to deal with the change.

Along the same lines I've begun to find out that boys don't have cooties! :P Well more or less that I'm allowed to find guys attractive and flirt with them. (Lack of self-confidence for so many years). I'm allowed to have a crush even if it isn't going anywhere. This is the first job I've had in a long time that I'm surrounded with a number of people in my age bracket and that are boys! I seriously think I missed being a teenager!

Also, addicted to my blackberry. Just saying. Access to the internet 24/7? Dangerous! Oh and Torrid is my new fav store! (Can we say shopping in the states twice in 3 weeks?)

Sad side note: Please pray for my dad. Yesterday we found out another friend of his died last week, Paul. Paul was an amazing artist and one of the first people that befriended my dad when he moved to Port. My dad is angry and I can't say I don't blame him. How many people in his life have to keep dying? It seems so unfair and I don't know what to tell him except I love him.

Apparently I think too much but in my opinion, it's my only way to..let it out. I love to write, it's really the only creative part of my life. And HA! My pastor told me I was gifted with a great mind! :P

I'm scared. Scared of the future and change. Not in my job life but in everything else. Can I give credit to God for bringing people together after He provided for me so much? Am I in love with God? Could I even experience a fraction of that kind of love with a human man?

I am learning to let God change my heart. I need to let go because this is not about me.

*msn chatting break*

I just had a light bulb moment courtesy of one of my sisters. Basically it reminded me of the line that people are in your life for a reason, a season and a lifetime. I need to let go.

I think I have cloned myself. Lately I am two very different people at work and at home and it's weird. I'm cracking jokes, throwing barbs, having fun, chilling with the co-op students and than I get home.

Bicker, bicker and silence. There's an emptiness in the basement yet there is no room to put it. So much should be said but nothing is. I sit in front of my computer screen all night because I don't know what to do with myself.

I'm going to delete all my online dating profiles. It's not meant for me and as much as my flesh wants attention, not getting it. I deserve better for myself than false hope.

I hate that I feel this way and even tonight I had to email a friend while they were at work 'cause I needed someone at that moment and couldn't go to my sister.

{"No one should be left out". Thanks Robbie Seay band, nicely timed :P}

I need to get out of my current "head space". I need to unload, reload and upgrade. (Okay, I seriously need to spend waaayy less time on my crappy a$$ comp). I need alone time with my Father. I want to hug Him instead of just tapping Him on the shoulder during those moments.

I have just spent the last 4 hours crying on and off. Random sobs. I have/had no plans tonight and I have the downstairs apartment to myself. I can't stop crying.

Maybe it's because I'm hurt. Maybe I'm grieving deaths. Death of a crush, death of things that have been and no longer will be? Change in relationships. The loneliness actually does exist. Not feeling wanted or appreciated for who I am. Being left out. Standing on the outside looking in wondering how I missed out when I was younger. I want to throw chickflicks out the window. I don't want to watch movie stars make out. I don't want to hear songs about what girl some guy wants to bang next.

Until now I've never understood what loneliness felt like. I get it now. Wow. I haven't felt this out of "whack" since my journey last year. I didn't realize how much the "want" of being "wanted" can be so hard to give up control on.



I reached out to a friend over msn and I'm doing much better now. Bring reminded that God loves me! I am beautiful! He is in control and not me. I need to take risks..

Read More 3 comments | Posted by Michelle |

You remember the feeling when you tried to swipe a cookie from the counter as your mom was baking and she would smack your hand away?

I had that feeling tonight while talking to a friend about a topic they were apparently sensitive about and I didn't realize it. I shouldn't feel bad because I had no idea but yet I still kick myself for bringing it up. I hate feeling stupid. Stupid makes me feel worse about myself and than I become afraid that said person will never talk to me again. Ludicrous isn't it? If I could learn how to stand my ground and not lack the "balls" to state my opinion without feeling like I need to apologize for having a thought that could be up for debate.

I am always so afraid of offending someone so bad that they'll never talk to me again. What, am I like 5? If someone stops being friends with me just for that? So not worth it.

I'll get over this - I just need to sleep on it, talk to said friend again and my conscience will feel better. (Stupid conscience, why do you have to be so guilty over such little things?)

I'm really struggling right now more than I'm willing to admit to except for a few. Work is great, church is good, my life is super busy and I love it!

BUT

There's always a but.

I'm hurting a bit right now for reasons I created in my own mind. One-way crushes are never healthy! Lesson learned for the zillionth time! But on top of that is the changes that have happened around me. It's not just envy. It's just change I didn't expect to happen even though I've prayed about it for so long. Disappointment that it isn't happening to me.

How selfish of me to forget who's hands my life are in! Who gave me my very life! I want something that apparently isn't meant for me right now. I gave up those rights.

"...for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm"
(Casting Crowns)

Some times I wonder if it'll ever be my turn. More than just the "curly haired, nice girl". These are the moments of my life that I don't like.

The fear of never being in love with someone.

I'm not a desperate and lonely single girl - I have a great life. I don't need someone to "complete" me. I just want someone to be attracted to me, who wants to get to know me, who wants to join me in my journey of life. I'm tired of one-sided crushes.

But maybe this isn't what God has in store for me right now. (Wise advice from a friend). And I just need to keep turning up these "moments" into His hands.

"God's will for you is that you know who you are, relax, and simply act like it in your daily routine." (Walking in the Will of God"by Steve McVey, pg 58)

That's a tall order when you are in the midst of chaos. But where I am on my journey now, I get it. I see the value in it and I'm actually experiencing it! Things are happening, I'm going out and enjoying life. Hanging out with friends, catching movies, enjoying the outdoors, rocking out at concerts, and in general just loving the moments as they come instead of clinging to what was and what could be.
"...and you should feel the sun in the spring

comin out after a rain

suddenly all is green

sunshine on everything

i can feel it now, i feel you now.."
("Stars" by David Crowder Band)

I am another turning point in my road of life.

I had the mole on my face removed yesterday. I was freaking nervous about it and now that it's over I'm better but still feel a little odd. Almost like I'm off balance. In a weird way I am losing a small part of my identity that I've had for so long.

Do I think getting rid of this mole will make me more attractive? That's pretty steep of an expectation on something actually quite small in the grand scheme of things.

And the healing process is going to take way longer than I realized. The "dressing" they put on my face I've already taken off. Now I have an ugly ass band-aid covering the wound which this will last for like 3 weeks. Just lovely! :P

When can I face the public again? Ha, ha. I already did right after the procedure which was terribly embarrassing. "Michelle! What's that on your....wait, nevermind". Thanks coop student for pointing out the obvious.

I'm really enjoying the fullness of life right now. I don't remember feeling this happy about life in..well, I think ever. And in fullness I mean letting life flow and being more carefree. Going out frequently with friends and trying new things I've never done before. My last two weekends have been insanely nice but in a way that's just keeping me smiling.

Last week recap
-Thursday night dinner out with my friend Bob
-Friday was quiet, relatively.
-Saturday was Tim & Roe's wedding in Listowel
-Sunday I spent the day in Niagara Falls with my friend Jenn
-Monday I relaxed for a while then went for dinner with my friend Rachael and then we played a couple rounds at Dooley's.

This weekend recap
-Friday night was out with my friend Dee, her sister and their cousin to "Dallas" in Kitchener
-Saturday I spent most of the day painting the living room upstairs. Then in the evening it was movies with Rachael which also then included watching UFC at Crabby Joe's in Cambridge (where I ran into an old friend from high school/youth group/college - talk about an added bonus!)
-Sunday was church in the am, church hike in the early pm and than a bbq in the evening.

Can we say that I've officially became a social butterfly?

It's such a contrast to last year and I LOVE it. God has blessed me with such good friends, building relationships and a good life. I've changed a lot in the last year and I think that has been pivotal in why my life is the way it is now.

There is still things I need to work on. There are things I still wish for in life but right now, I'm resting in my current joy...the joy the Father has given me.

There's a few things I've been addicted to lately:

Let me start by saying this. I'm 24 years old and have never had a boyfriend. The last date I was on involved McDonald's and a drive in the country with my date from Prom. Which looking back, I don't consider it much of a date really. Anyways, this brings me to a topic that has come up numerous times lately in my life and I want to address it.


Being "unattached" aka being single.


Last Saturday I was at a dinner party with ex-colleagues from a company I used to work for. It was a good time of catching up and eating good food. During one of the conversations with an ex-colleague, she asked if I have been seeing anyone. I was like "...uh, no." And I was quick to add "but I'm okay with that". She quickly retorted with "I wouldn't be!". (She's been married for a handful of years and has two kids).


Why is it that some people can't handle even the notion of other people still being single in their 20's (let alone any older age bracket). It's especially hard in the dutch culture I grew up in and have family ties to. Most of my cousins on my mom's side over the age of 20 are married. (Heaven frick'n forbid you are still single by mid-late 20's!). My aunts and uncles I think have pretty much given up asking. Which is fine, I hate when they ask anyways because why is that such a pinnacle of life?


To me having a life I enjoy, living in God's will, having great friendships and being part of a fantastic church is more important at this time in my life. I'm very thankful that I've had a couple of years of immense spiritual and personal growth I'm not sure I could have experienced as a married person.


I think it's somewhat harder as a Christian to be a single. Or at least when explaining to non "religious" people why you aren't dating or shacked up with someone. My only answer to them is that my social circles are pretty small and they don't involve single men. The church I attend and am heavily involved in has very few single men. So what are my options then? Church hopping? (Just KIDDING. I love telling people about a series of books I read once where that was the main plot of the stories). Or follow the trend of "hunting" online? (At this moment, I don't have the "balls" to do more than look at profiles)


Being in a relationship or married doesn't "complete" me and I'm very thankful that is not my mindset! I think someone falsely let themselves believe this lie as an excuse that they have to always be in a relationship. Maybe it's because I've not even "tasted" a real relationship that I find it okay to be single?!?


I dunno but these are my thoughts on the subject at the moment! :)

P.S. Check out my posting on "R is for Rejection" on my deeper thoughts blog.

Last night after working out I was mentioning to my workout buddy that I need some new music. Sadly I've been listening to pretty much just two albums/artists for the past two years - Grits and Manafest. Any suggestions? I need lots of beat and energy music!

Interestingly enough while at work waiting for my machine to run, I came across some new music! Mind you it's not for working out but it's beautiful! I'm not a big fan of female singers (for some reason) but this lady rocks! Brooke Fraser:

Love it!

(that's what I call a catchy blog title and possible book title?!? Just kidding)

Yesterday I received a couple new followers on twitter and the one being Matthew Paul Turner!

I have no idea how he found my twitter or why I'm interesting enough to follow :P Anyways, my point is this - I read one of his books a couple years ago and I will never forget it. Funniest book ever on a topic most "Christians" avoid like the plague - "What Your Parents Didn't Teach You About Sex". I remember there being somewhat of an issue* about his book being too uh, risky to be put in the Christian market. I really wanted to buy a copy and give one to every friend who was getting married except I don't think it would have gone over too well. (The single girl giving the soon-to-be-married a book on sex? How awkward!)

We, Christians, have such a warped view on the topic. Thankfully I was a smart kid and learned quickly all about the "birds and the bees" relieving my parents of ever having to give "the talk". Aren't you lucky Mom? (She reads this blog) I think people, especially those of the religious kind, should gain a healthy knowledge and understanding of sex. Why? For various reasons and you dear reader, are smart enough to figure that out.

Which brings me to another book I've read recently - "Sex and the Church" by Carmen Renee Berry. This was a really fascinating book about how sex effected change in the church from women being property of their husband to gaining rights in society and within the church. I didn't think I would enjoy so much history of the church but the author did a good job of keeping my interest.

There ends my uh, interesting post of the week!

Side note: I also wanted to point out two books that I want to read from reading Matthew Paul Turner blog:

"Unchurched" by Matthew Paul Turner
"Angry Conversation with God" by Susane Isaacs

Happy Thursday!


(I miss working in the Christian book industry!)

My life has gotten quite a bit busy since the beginning of the year.
- Leadership team meetings (Yah! for getting voted in for another two years!!!)
- Two Young Adults Small Groups
- Grace Walk Advanced Training sessions

And recently I've decided to take more care of myself!
- finally back to the gym after a year hiatus and I even have a workout buddy
- first appointment with my own doctor this afternoon
- overdue eye appointment on Friday afternoon which will include long overdue new glasses
- next Saturday I have a hair appointment for both cut and hair dying

I like this path I am on now. Finally feeling like I'm getting back to "normal". I let everything go last year and especially myself which not only impacted my health but also my self confidence.

Now to find me a new esthetician - these eyebrows need some work....

but links about things I like/or find funny.

Totally love Joshua Jackson thanks to his awesome character in Fringe! He's in a movie called "One Week" and it's pretty much an all Canadian movie! I want to see it and apparently it's playing this weekend and next week at the Princess Twin in Uptown.


Last night's LOST episode recap: 'Lost': Flower to the people, no delay!
Seriously the funniest recap so far this season. This writer is hilarious.

I totally forgot about this website I used to read all the time - Reverend Fun - it's basically comics based on the church and biblical stuff in good fun. I'm not sure if I find this funny or sad since I've worked in the Christian book market:
http://www.reverendfun.com/index.php?date=20081208

Most Improved Schools Are In The Poorest Neighbourhoods: Study
Grey Central in Ethel - my elementary school in on the list - interesting!

Motorist Pulled Over For Allegedly Driving At 250 km/h This is absolutely insane. Apparently the type of car the guy was driving would have capped off at this speed. Oh and all he said was "I'm sorry". Have fun paying the price for being ridiculous!

Three Ontario Residents In Running For "Best Job In The World"
You should click on the link and check out the 3 videos - love the guy from Guelph singing a musical in the streets.

Top Ten Tools for your Blog
I want to pass this on to my sister - information she may need to get the word out about her website.

Random LOST items:

Ace of Cakes on LOST
Duff and his crew created a cake for the 100th episode of LOST. Awesome! Episode airs May 9th I think.

Red Shirt Theory
I didn't realize that "red shirt" characters always die on shows/characters have short life spans. Totally is true on LOST!


Websites I found while webcrawling:

MentalFloss - a lot of useless information and articles to read
Cake Wrecks - funniest website I've read in a while plus it's all about cakes which I love

"For, much of the time, low-fat foods have just as many calories as their higher-fat versions, and often they have even more sugar."

Another Transformers 2 trailer:
http://www.geeksaresexy.net/2009/02/12/video-gm-unveils-new-footage-of-transformers-2/

Interesting Facebook Stats:
Women Over 55 Take Facebook by Storm

Lately I've been addicted to watch "The Hour" while I work - I heart George Stroumboulopoulos!
His cool "One Million Acts of Green"

Best Radio Station in Town
91.5 The Beat

Apparently it is currently -26C right now. *shudder* It was freaking cold at midnight when I came into work, so didn't see that coming. The snow in the afternoon yesterday threw me off! (It was oddly awesome yesterday when it was sunny and snowing)

I've found a bunch of interesting things on the web so far this week that I would like to share.

I've decided to go on a diet! It's called the R.A.B. diet and never has 3 food items tasted so delicious.

NOT. I think I caught a bit of the flu bug while I was at someone's house (who came down with the flu two days after I was there) and it's not fun. I have no choice but to go on the R.A.B. (rice, apple/sauce and bananas) diet because a certain pink over the counter medicine isn't working. I know, TMI. And I need to work especially since I was sick already once last week. (I think this is one downfall of working nights, lower immune system). No worries, I'm washing my hands a lot and not sharing anything! I do not want to pass this on to anyone....it's so draining! Oh and one thing I've added to this "diet" is...peppermint tea. ICK! But I know it helps settle my insides a bit.

Anyways, this is where I am at today....er, this morning at 4:16am! :)

Apparently I'm a magician recently and am to disappear for a week at a time! :P

Life has a way of getting away with me lately and in a good way! I'm pretty much busy all weekend long and during the week I spend majority of my time sleeping and working. Although this long weekend has thrown me for quite the loop!

I don't have much to post at the moment but I leave you with a fun note I did on fbook the other day:

25 Random things about me:

1. My initials spell MAD.

2. I ate Arm&Hammer laundry detergent when I was one - delicious and could explain a few things

3. When I was really young, people used to call me a boy (I had super short curly hair)

4. I was going to be named Melissa if my mom's sister picked Michelle

5. My 2003 Echo is my first car

6. I was a Lego-maniac for many years and proud of it!

7. I love the original star wars movies!

8. Princess Bride is my all time favourite movie and can pretty much quote the whole thing

9. I (used) to play the clarinet

10. I'm dutch but I hate salt droppies

11. I have eaten horse meat and I like it (it's a dutch thing okay?)

12. The only fast food restaurant I can tolerate is Wendy's because their beef is not frozen

13. My sister broke my left arm when I was 4 and she pulled the cast off before it was supposed to come off too!

14. I have 3 other sisters and we all live in K/W

15. I've been to Disney World at age 23 and LOVED it

16. At Fanshawe College I was the Information Technology Student Council Representative during my first year

17. I hate accounting. Got a "C" in every class.

18. I'm afraid of clowns

19. Has discovered the "Sunsilk" hairproducts do not work for my curly hair...grr for bad hair day today!

20. I was a 4-Her for 6 years

21. I grew up in the same house for my whole life minus one year

22. Skiing downhill terrifies me. Oh the speed and possibility of DYING

23. Rollercoasters are awesome except if they go backwards, then I hurl

24. Seeing blood (in person) or getting needles makes me pass out

25. Snowtubing (at Chicopee) is my new favourite sport.

Laurence Fishburne had never seen 'CSI' before landing lead role

This forecast makes me happy:
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/caon0728

Shared a 5 minute testimony at church on Sunday, check out my post on my other blog:
Contemplations r us

I am making a cake/cupcakes for a bridal shower in April. Below are links to an idea I have:
Bride Cake Idea 1
Bride Cake Idea 2

Phases I am teaching my ESL colleague:
"Fooled with" (in the context of someone changing something that shouldn't have been touched)
"So far so good" (the difference between saying "good" or "so far so good"

Weirdest song remix I've heard in a while:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j07edUsAGBE
(Using a Phil Collins song, who would think of that?!?)

I know where I am going on June 6, 2009 - Ontario Place. Why?
GROUP 1 CREW IS IN TORONTO!! We're going Cynthia, right?!?

Seriously I love reading LOST episode recaps. Totally makes my nose bleed...wait, no, those would be the Losties..makes me really think about all the crazy happenigs.

Anyways..found some great comments on Zap2it.com that I want to share:

"Now that we see Locke & Sawyer's Merry Band wondering around the island through time: are they the whispers we have heard in the first four seasons, or was that solely the original Others?"
http://blog.zap2it.com/ithappenedlastnight/2009/02/lost-flashes-of-brilliance-abound/comments/page/3/#comments
That was totally a HUH! moment reading that. Totally believable explaination!

"Imagine explaining any of what's going on now to a fan back in Season 1, who was blown away by the reveal that there was a ship in the jungle or a hatch in the ground. Season 5 would be so preposterous to them, they'd think you were a crackpot."
http://blog.zap2it.com/ithappenedlastnight/2009/02/lost-flashes-of-brilliance-abound/comments/page/4/#comments
So freaking true and for all those people who complain about things not being explained or happening in episodes, think of the above.

I heart LOST.

Isn't this the cutest?
They're having a heat wave in South Australia. This little koala walked up onto a house deck in Maude, and thoroughly enjoyed a bucket of water the owner kindly filled to cool him off.

http://therecord.blogs.com/fizz/2009/02/cooling-off-koalastyle.html



Random Search of the day:
Vin Desiel - heard he was gay, not so sure. Has a girlfriend who he had a baby with last year. Also has a fraternal twin brother. This search got me thinking about:

Fast and the Furious (4).


I am so watching this movie as soon as it comes out!! I heart Paul Walker, what can I say? :) I also own Fast and Furious, 2 Fast 2 Furious on DVD and I have watched them more than I'm willing to admit.






Other Randoms of the night:

Vector Energy Bar - Tried one tonight as a snack and ick! Good thing I only spent 50cents on the darn thing. It has the texture of a Nutri-grain and the heaviness of a yogurt covered granola bar. Waayyyy to sweet even for me! I've ate protein bars that taste better than this!

Ka-Glom - Totally addicted to this game which I have on my Blackberry. It's like "Collapse" (we will not discuss how much time I wasted during lectures in college playing this) but more fun. So much better at it then Brickbreaker!

BookExpo Canada cancelled due to lack of industry interest, report says
Whoa, not good news for Canadian book retailers.

'Fringe' stars Anna Torv, Mark Valley got hitched over holidays
Weird. That's all I have to say and speaking of which it's on tonight. Getting prepared to be grossed out as per usual.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
DUDE!! Transformers!! Can hardly wait to watch this movie! Loved the first one.

'Chuck,' Dominic Monaghan, and the annoying gimmick
Recap of last night's episode of Chuck 3D guest staring Dominic Monaghan. Apparently he's just so good at acting like a washed up rocker. Love him! Oh, and the episode was great! Nothing like a good dose of Chuck to make the world a bit brighter.

Interview with Dominic Monaghan
Because of my fondness for Dominic, here is an interview with him about being on Chuck

I almost snorted my gum out my nose after watching this:

Roundabout Dance
(click on above title)

Seriously, take a moment to watch this - it's worth a good laugh. I understand the need for education about pedestrian safety but could it be a tad less cheesy?

I feel guilty tonight/morning. My sister wanted to borrow my car overnight and into tomorrow and I said no. I'm not going to go into details but basically I've hit a point where I need to be selfish at times and say no. It is my car and she doesn't live with me anymore which makes things more difficult. I don't need to be the "mom" of chauffeuring people around because it makes their life easier. There are times that I really don't mind going out of my way but not when it becomes frequent and disruptive to my life it takes a toll.

I shouldn't feel guilty and I need to get over it. I'm too emphatic and person pleasing.

Lottery Kiosks Closing
http://news.therecord.com/News/CanadaWorld/article/477729
"Local kiosks also sold about $100,000 a month worth of bus tickets and passes for Grand River Transit. Affected locally are kiosks at Market Square and Fairview Park malls in Kitchener, Conestoga Mall in Waterloo."
That really bites for bus riders - the lottery ticket booth is the only place in Conestoga Mall to buy bus tickets. I really hope some other store steps up to the plate or GRT takes care of this.

Landmark Waterloo Hotel sold to local developer
http://news.therecord.com/Business/article/477705
Hopefully this doesn't ever affect the Symposium Cafe.

How about some controversy right off the bat?

I was surfing through Relevant Magazine and came across this article

Role of Women
http://relevantmagazine.com/releblog/editorsblog/the-role-of-women/
The blog posting itself is fine and outlines the basic questions about women's roles in the church. No big deal. It's the comments that irk me:

Eg. "I think Biblically we can expect women to use their spiritual gifts (which could be teaching), but I think any ministry done by a woman should be done under the leadership of a male." Matt

Geesh. This guy would fall out of his chair if I told him as a 24 year old female I'm an Elder in my church! Talk about breaking the stereotypical role eh? I know not everyone sees this as okay but I love being such a huge part of my church! I'm gaining so much being in this position. It's not as if I sought out this role - I consented to being nominated and the congregation voted me in. I love belonging to a church that doesn't stick so much to traditions! :)

Anyways, there is my blurt for the day. Time to go home and SLEEP.

Eep! Another week is here! My weekend was fairly packed with dinner plans on Friday with my friend Heather, orientation at Goodlife (post for that coming soon...so not impressed), Snow Tubing and grocery shopping on Sunday. It was nice to hang out with people this wkend...it has been a while!


GRT Pilot Bus Route to Elmira starting in May

Also, my co-worker I work with a night brought me dinner (well his wife made it but that's beyond the point)! It's the Chinese New Year and they wanted to let me in on a bit of the traditions. It was delicious! :)

My church is doing something different during our services this year and that is someone shares their life story** in a 5 minute review.  It's amazing the feedback you get from people when they are honest about themselves.  One guy in my church last Sunday mentioned to the effect that when you are doing through rough times in life sometimes you honestly don't give a crap about other people.  This got me thinking and nodding in agreement.

First off, I've drank one too many caffeinated drinks this shift but yet I'm still sluggish. Hmm, I think this wonderful developing cold has so much to do with it. Should have knocked on real wood the other day when I told someone I was very fortunate to not be sick. BOO. Hopefully this is short lived.

Secondly, thanks to my friend Dee for sending me a review of LOST season 5 premier:
http://blog.zap2it.com/ithappenedlastnight/2009/01/lost-does-the-time-warp-againand-again.html
Seriously some people have too much time to think about said show. So freaking fascinating though. If you find the review too wordy, just read the comments as they are almost more interesting.

Lastly, going snow tubing for the first time tomorrow night at Chicopee Tube Park . I'm hoping it's as fun as being a kid whipping down Haden's hill on krazy karpets.

Other tidbits from web surfing:

Obama keeps his BlackBerry
http://news.therecord.com/News/CanadaWorld/article/475830

LOST Addicts Blog
http://www.lostaddictsblog.com/

LOST Season 5 started last night and all I can say is AWESOME. So excited!! (This included chills during some moments!)










(Courtesy of ABC.com)
Wish I could find this photo in high rez. I wants it!

---
Read this during my web surfing this morning.
Wescast announces Wingham foundry closure










http://www.wingham.com/index.php?article=313

This is just brutal for this community. There are two Wescast plants in Wingham but even with just one closing this is such a blow economically for the town. 140 jobs lost out of a population 2,885? Wescast supports so much of the town...sad. I, myself even worked for Wescast for a time in grade 12 as a co-op student. I hope at least the one plant stays!

----
A friend of mine got engaged recently and I'm slightly left in shock. Again this shows me how "absent" I was last year. Here but not here. So focused on my own situation I wasn't making an effort to keep in touch with some friends. Ouch. Well here's to catching up in 2009 my friends!

---
Praying for travelling mercies and safety while a group from my church are in Mexico on a missions trip. I hope they bring me back a tan!

Heinz Ketchup Makes 'Major' Change To Product After More Than A Century
Heinz Ltd. has confirmed it's doing away with the little green pickle that's been on the label of the world's best selling ketchup (top left) since the 1890s.
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_31128.aspx
Awe, bye bye green little pickle.

City of Waterloo reaches agreement with its outside workers
http://www.swo.ctv.ca/news.php?id=3726&PHPSESSID=69631599953cb0ba9aba16ca73f3585c
THANK GOODNESS is all I can say.

Ewan McGregor













"I will love you until my dying day!". Le *sigh*. Need I say more?

Yahoo News Canada

Links of Interest

Twitterholic.com
- see your stats (eg. when you joined, how many friends are following you, etc)
Tweetwasters.com
- how much time do you waste on twitter? So far I've wasted 2.8 hrs of my life away.
Sticky Screen
- totally love this! I love office supplies, even if this is virtual and doesn't kill trees

Local Happenings

Walmart has opened in Waterloo/St. Jacob's! I don't care what people think but I like shopping at Walmart especially for basic things. I'm so happy that I don't have to drive all the way down to Fairview Mall and deal with the pain in the butt parking lot! I'm so going to the grand opening after work on Wednesday I think...
http://news.therecord.com/News/CanadaWorld/article/473481

Weather Facts

University of Waterloo Wather Station recorded that "we got 11 cm of snow between Saturday night and Sunday morning" this past weekend.
"As of January 9th we have had 154.0 cm of snow this snowfall season. This compares to only 79 cm last year at this time."
http://uwweatherstation.blogspot.com

Scrapbooking is a hard thing for me to do for many reasons and namely the trip it makes me take down memory lane.

High School prom. Looking at the picture of me and my date thinking about that summer after that night. The long phone calls, the "dates" and the end of the "almost" relationship. And the end of that friendship a few years later. He went
off to school and so did I. He met a girl and is now happily married (last I heard) for the past 3 years.

Kingdom Bound. Remembering how rude the girls in the youth group were to me, excluding me in everything so instead I hung out with the boys. Sleeping around the campfire and watching Switchfoot perform before they became popular.

Graduation from High School. Wearing the stupid caps. Actually receiving an award besides my diploma but having my name said as "Michael" instead.

Trillium Formal. I covet one picture on this page - one of me, my gr 12 best friends Kathryn and Bob as it's the only picture of the 3 of us. Bob's been on my mind a lot lately and I lost contact with him 2 years ago. He was my second biggest crush in high school. I miss that guy and wonder where he is.

Sweet Sixteen birthday. Why did I think I was such a fat kid? Seriously! Wearing massively oversized tshirts. That was the only surprise party I ever had even if most of the people there I wasn't even really friends with.

MWSR. The summer I piled on weight thanks to the crap food and stressed job. But the summer of great change for me. I missed my parents. I grew up. I went to my first drive-in movie.

Just glancing through the pages I see faces of people I knew never really liked me (gotta love youth group). Boys I had major crushes on. Acquaintances that are now married. Landscapes I want to see again. Jobs I slogged through just to make money for school.

This bugs me as you can tell! I don't want to let myself entertain the past - the what if's, the could have's, the moments I missed, the person I was, the people I didn't stay connected to. It's not healthy! So my goal ladies and gentlemen is this - catch up on my scrapbooking and to regularly update my book so in 5 + years I don't have to walk down memory lane again.

"I wish that I knew what I know now
When I was younger."
(Ooh La La - Rod Stewart)

Anyways those are my thoughts at 4:04am.

Weather. Or so it seems lately next to the economy.

"Miami will be lucky to get to 16C by Friday, and in a scenario that might seem laughable to us up here, some local media are warning residents to take precautions because of the 'excessive cold'. (See one typical set of warnings here.)"
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_30976.aspx

Too funny. 16C you say? That's almost shorts weather to us crazy Canucks! :P Think about it though, in the spring we can't wait to wear shorts and will before it hits 20C but come mid/late summer we start wearing pants if it's only 20C.

I suck at BrickBreaker on my Blackberry! Oh and I'm super stiff/sore on my right side from falling down stairs yesterday morning. Stupid snow that accumulates on the stairs. Oh and stupid city workers for toppling a snowbank into my driveway so at -25C after working all night I have to shovel my way in? I had a WONDERFUL morning yesterday. Shovelling and falling down stairs - awesome way to start my day (or would that be end my day since I went to bed shortly there after?).

Status: Waiting on machine to callibrate
Time: 5:34am
Hunger level: low
Thirst level: medium
Feeling: so sore on my right side from falling down stairs
Wishing: I didn't wear 2" boots to work
Current Song: Akon - Right Now

I was/am working! :P

Status: Typing up reports than lunch time!
Time: 4:12am
Hunger level: low
Thirst level: low
Feeling: the affect of 3 shifts on nights
Wishing: I didn't forget my chap stick.
Current Song: Kanye West - Stronger

Anyone remember when KFC's Toonie Tuesdays were just a toonie? (Isn't it false advertising otherwise if it's more than a toonie?)

Status: Working on the XRF, how do I dis-assemble a track ball?
Time: 5:27am
Hunger level: low
Thirst level: low
Feeling: The music! Listening to 91.5 the beat.
Wishing: I could stop yawning. Even typing "yawn" makes me yawn.
Current Song: Snow - Adore You

Well ladies and gentlemen, it's 1:31am and guess where I am?
I'm officially on my first night of being on nights! Let me tell you, it's odd to be driving into work in the dead of night. (Although talk about no traffic! :P) The lab is brightly light yet secluded from the production floor so all the corridors are eerily dark and shadowy. It's weird being here at these hours, weird I tell ya!

Anyways, so my official job is "lab operator" in the Materials Interconnect Lab at RIM working on an XRF machine Sun-Thur from midnight 'til 8am. Not exactly glamorous but it's a learning experience to say the least! For the first 7 ish weeks I was put on days just so I could get comfortable learning everything so that is why today is so different as I'm now on the shift I will always be on. Thankfully I'm not alone at night, I work with another guy as well except English is his second language so it's always interesting communicating!

Be prepared to see blog posts at random times at night as I will be bored and tired at times so I apologize in advance for any forth coming confusion in future ramblings.

Status: Very alert
Time: 1:54am
Hunger level: low
Thirst level: medium
Feeling: Glad I wore a warm hoodie
Wishing: My lips weren't so dry

In what may be a record of some kind, a 29-year-old Aurora man faces multiple charges that include driving while under the influence of alcohol after his Mercedes Benz SL600 was clocked on Toronto's Don Valley Parkway at a speed of 231 kilometres an hour.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090109.wspeeding0109/BNStory/National/home

Seriously?!? 231 km/h and drunk? So not cool even if the car is capable of going that fast. There is a place for that called....the race track perhaps?

So I have noticed the uh, sudden lack of blog readers of late and am wondering if my last post was just a tad much SO without further ado...

I will stick to more "fun" topics.

Unfortunately it's past my bedtime so I can't do a real "post" at the moment but coming soon! It's been a nutty week and I'm changing to night shift (it's been nice being on days for 7 weeks!) as of Sunday at midnight so I'm gonna be all wacked out with the change in sleep patterns WHICH could make for some interesting posts in the future. (Seriously, I'm allowed to blog at work so you could see random ramblings of a struggling night shifter at 3am).

Anywhoozers, my life is mucho better since...well...end of January 2008. A lot has happened and at this point I'm not going to post about it because, it's the past - learned lessons, had a rough year, made new friends, moved, worked a zillion jobs, church relocated, etc, etc..I learned a lot and my life is forever changed. THE END. Well the end of 2008 that is. :P

Stay tuned for more posting from...the Blackberry Slayer/Lab Rat.