YIKES!

Gotta make this quick, lot's of homework. This is by far the weirdest person I've met. I was just at the cop shop picking up a criminal record check. It was really busy at the front desk, so I had to wait in line for a while. The guy infront of me starting a conversation. Just small talk, then he asked me what I was filing a complaint for. I told him I wasn't filing a complaint I was just picking up a criminal record check.
"I wish that's all I was doing" he said.
So I asked him what he was filing a complaint for.
"I'm not filing a complaint. I'm turning myself in. Their has been a warrant out for my arrest for quite a few years."
"uh.." That is pretty much a conversation killer right there. This was by far the most awkward silence I have ever experienced.

HOW TO LIVE ON A BUDGET

I have some time between classes, not enough to pull out my homework and actually be productive, but enough to post blog. I thought I would share some of the money saving tips that I have learned since moving out on my own. They are not favourable or enjoyable but when you have negative dollars in the bank you do what you gotta do.

Tip #1
I absolutely cannot live without gum. I allowed myself this luxury so long as I only chew half a piece.

Tip #2
If you are a skim milk drinker, you can save money buy buying 2% then adding a little water to make a carton go a little farther. A ratio of about 4 parts milk and 3 parts water tastes almost like skim milk. For 1% flavour I estimate a ratio of 3 to 1 should be sufficient.

Tip #3 Paper Products
Facial tissue is quite expensive. You can get the most for your money if, after you have used it for your nose, you save it and re-use it as toilet paper. This will give you maximum use of the kleenex and save you money on toilet paper.

Tip #4
You can also save money on toilet paper and hand soap if you make an effort to use public washrooms as much as possible When you get up in the morning, try and hold it until you get school/work. Before going home after school or work, make use of the facilities. Do the same if out shopping or at a restaurant.

Tip #5 (Must be put into practice before moving out on your own)
If you are an avid television watcher, deprive yourself for several weeks. This way, when there is nobody to pay for your cable and all you can get is CBC, you can enjoy their lame programming. Programs such as "Antiques Roadshow" and "Coronation Street" will be nearly enjoyable. Not because they are good shows, but because you so desperately need to be entertained by a screen that anything will do.

I hope you find these tips helpful.

RANDOM

Do you think micro-evolution was a part of God's plan or a result of the fall? If when God created things they were good why would they need to change? If changes in DNA are just screw ups in replication, are they "good"?

MORTIFIED

The building I am living in is being renovated. As old tenants move out they are redoing each suite. When I moved in they had no other vacancies so they wanted to use my place as a show suite if someone wanted to take a look. They also wanted to leave the furnishings in here since I didn't really have any. This kinda worked out for me because now I could postpone dishing out money for a couch, table, window coverings, etc for a month. The stuff they had in here wasn't the best quality but it's better than I could afford so I have been enjoying living in luxury. The couch was so comfortable that I fell asleep at 7pm, I woke up only to move to my own bed at midnight. I had a wonderful sleep, which I needed to get my brain to finally kick in. This morning I made a connection, which I should have made when I first moved in. As a science major, I am usually excited about new discoveries, not so much this time. As I said before the stuff in this place is not the best, including my bedroom curtains. In fact they are about the quality of a sheet one would use when doing shadow puppetry. So if it is dark outside... and my light is on inside... well I'm sure you know what I'm getting at. Needless to say I was mortified, I wanted to curl up into the fetal position and cry in the closet. This was followed by the discovery that you can see into the bathroom through the kitchen window. I am somewhat consoled by the fact that I live on the second floor, and you can't see easily into my place from the street, but from other buildings is a different story.

THE FIRST BALLET CLASS

I'm sure you have been dying to hear about how my first ballet class went. Well I'm sorry to report that it went rather well. I did how ever look like Snuffalupagus (from Sesame Street) in the dance studio. I was absolutely terrible at everything, but that's alright because everyone else sucked too. The teacher was all graceful and silently sliding across the floor to demonstrate various steps. Then the students try... thud thud thud. But it was fun, we all had a good laugh.
Boy did I feel old though when this woman who was in her late 50's was behind me and my joints were cracKing more than hers when we were trying to "plier". Hips, knees, ankles, toes. Ouch!
Then there was those ever so wonderful mirrors that cover the walls. We tried doing some fancy arm movements. My arms looked more like a couple of tire irons than "whisps of a willow tree". And have you guys seen that commercial with the family with huge hands? Thats what mine looked like. I think I was blocking other peoples view with my big bear claws.
Oh my goodness, and then trying to spin. Pfff! We had to take turns in smaller groups because we were to uncontrolled and the teacher thought we might hurt each other. I was so dizzy, it felt like that game where you spin around a baseball bat and then race.
I can't wait until next class!

P.S. boys are still weird.

I am 21 years old. As such I find my self in the phase of life known as "finding my place in the world." While I am a university student, the bulk of what I have been learning comes from simple everyday experiences unrelated to my lectures. The more I experience life the more I realize that virtually every situation you face relates to either an episode of The Simpsons or Seinfeld.
For example,
I was sitting in my biochemistry class, and this guy came and sat beside me. I didn't pay much attention, I was just twiddling my thumbs waiting for class to start. I was looking around the classroom, not paying particular attention to anything. I turned to my right and that guy's face was right in my face.
"Hi, I'm [name omitted]", he practically shouted.
You know what I'm talking about, the episode of Seinfeld known as "The Close-Talker". This guy was right in my face, what made it even more awkward was that he was the professor for the second half of the class and he was so close I can see the pores in his skin. I obviously reacted by moving back, but he moved closer and kept talking. Aaah!

Speaking of boys who make me awkward, there is this guy here that I have met twice. He seems realy nice, but he needs to work on his hand shake. I don't think anyone has told him that there is a point where you need to release. Once you have introduced yourself, let go. Do not continue to hold on while carrying on a conversation.

In chemistry this morning some dude sat beside me, we introduced ourselves and just made small talk until class started. Not the most exciting class, so I was slouched back in my chair with my arms crossed. Then this dude reaches over and pulls my sleeve up a little to see what time my watch said. Uh, excuse me? Physical contact in general is not okay with me. But when a girls arms are crossed the wrist are very close to an area that a boys hand should not come near, making this extremely inappropriate in my opinion. I was not happy.

Then there is this guy in my mirobiology lab. Our first lab was on friday. He must be really shy because he hardly said anything. It's really hard to discuss the results with someone who doesn't talk. Today was my first inorganic chemistry lab. We had been told that there was an odd number in the lab so someone would have to work alone. I was hoping to get that position. It's not that I want to be anti-social, but it is quicker for me to work on my own. It saves me the time and trouble of having to prove or explain that I am right. Well when I got to the lab I found that the same guy from my microbiology lab had signed me up to be his lab partner for chemistry. Grrr!

A CHURCH OF NOBLE CHARACTER

Sorry, this isn't going to be funny, but I thought it was still worthwhile writing. Besides I am having a hard time laughing at the moment because the thermostat is broken and it is 12 degrees inside my appartment. I think hypothermia might set in soon.

I was checking out biblegateway.com the other day. I am often on that site because it has full versions of several translations you can view and it is helpful for me to better understand the meaning of some passages of Scripture. This time I was looking up Proverbs 31:10-31, the "Wife of Noble Character". I have done quite a bit of commentary reading on this passage in the past with each one expressing a very different opinion. The commentary on this website really caught my attention and made me think. Here is an exerpt:

"This passage is to be applied to individuals, but may it not also be applied to the church of God, which is described as a virtuous spouse? God by his grace has formed from among sinful men a church of true believers, to possess all the excellences here described."

Does or has the church ever fit this description. Personally, I don't think so.
As I read through it again, this time with the bride of Christ in mind I was a little discouraged. I think we have failed in many areas.
I really wonder if Christ has full confidence in his bride?
Have we brought Him good and not harm?
Are we prepared for God's work for us?
Are we wiling to do his work with all our heart and strength?
Do we take care of the needs within the family of saints?
Is wisdom and faithful instruction on our tongue?

Anyway you get the idea. What do you think? I don't like to be a negative nancy, but as someone from a family of non-believers I here alot about what the church is doing wrong, and so my view of the church is often more negative than positive.

But what if the church really fit this description? This question now is a main focus of my prayers. Can you imagine the difference it would make in the world?

GOOD HAIR DAY

The other morning I totally slept in. I thought I pressed the snooze button, but apparently not because I woke up 45 minutes later. So it's about 7:30am, and the bus leaves at 7:45. I jumped out of bed and threw on some old sweatpants put my hair in a pony tail and was out the door. I didn't have time to have a shower but God must have thought I needed one because about halfway to the bus stop it started pouring rain. For someone with frizzy hair this is not good (although my hair didn't look good to begin with). My hair went from a flat kinda greasy pony tail to something that resembled a poodles arse.

I NEED TO GET A LITTLE FRESH AIR

I had a craving for some popcorn friday, so I threw some in the microwave. As it was popping a friend of mine called who I haven't talked to in weeks. I was so excited to talk to her. After a few minutes I could smell smoke. Oh no! I burnt the popcorn. Not just a little bit burnt, but nearly on fire burnt. There was smoke coming out of the microwave. When I opened the door a huge cloud of smoke puffed out. Not exaggerating, I went over to fan the smoke detector because I was afraid it would go off and freak out the whole building. I thought maybe I could salvage some, but even the bag was burnt to a crisp. Well, so much for the popcorn. I opened all the windows to try and get rid of the smell. It still stunk when I went to bed, but it was too cold to leave the windows open, so I re-opened them in the morning. Unfortunately, Saturday was a windy day and on a windy day in Saskatchewan even the big city smells like a cattle farm. So it was a toss up betwen closing the windows and letting the smell of burnt popcorn linger or keeping the windows open and every breath making you feel like you were sitting with your face right up to a cows behind. I went for the smell of burnt popcorn. I somewhat became accustomed to the smell, but I had forgotten that a real estate agent was using my place for an open house because he had a few condos he was trying to sell. So I went back to the windows open. I felt bad for that guy having to be in my place for a few hours. Quite the smell combo. Sunday came around and it still smelt awful, so I took the air freshner from the bathroom and put it on the kitchen counter. It was one of those ones that you lift up the lid and there is the jelly like stuff inside. Not the most effective but it is all I had. Monday morning the burnt smell had almost gone away, I can't really tell because it is masked by the smell of paint. They are painting the hallway in my building. I can't wait till winter when they are finished the renos and the manure is frozen and nearly odourless.

THIS IS NOT MY LIFE

So this is how my day went yesterday. I went for a practice run on the bus before school started. The holtine said the bus comes by at 20 past the hour. I left my place at 9:07am, surely I would make it on time since the stop is less than a block away. So I waited... and waited. No bus. Just as I was about to give up someone else came to the bus stop, I asked what time it was, 9:45. Apparently the bus comes at 46 min past the hour. Anyway, I got to the university. I had to run a few errands before meeting my aunt and grandpa at the Univ. Hospital around 11:30. He had an appointment at 1:00. At 11:00 I thought I better make my way to the hospital so I have lots of time incase I get lost. I found the cancer clinic right away. That is where my aunt believed his appointment to be. I waited and by the time 11:45 rolled around I thought I got a little concerned because my aunt is always on time. I asked the receptionist if they had checked in, maybe I had missed them when I went to the washroom.
"No, what was the appointment for?"
"A CT Scan."
"He is actually scheduled for that in the Main Hospital in the X-Ray department."
Wonderful. I went the long way around the outside, not knowing that there is a tunnel that goes right to the main area from the cancer clinic. So I went and asked at X-ray if he had checked in for the CT scan.
"No he hasn't, but his appointment isn't until 1pm so he still has time. Oh but his appointment is in the Cancer clininc"
"What?"
She sent me back to the cancer clinic, they then sent me back to X-Ray. It was about noon thirty at this point. I went and got a bite to eat then asked again at X-ray if he had checked in. She then sent me to the other end of the hospital to Admitting, because that's where he has to check in first. He hadn't checked in there either so I waited a bit longer. When it got to be after 1 o'clock I started to get worried. So I decided to make some phone calls to see if I could figure out what happened. I didn't have any cash on me so I had to use a credit card, which they charge you up the wazoo for. After about $15 worth of phone calls and getting no answer I decided to check one more time then go home. I went straight to where they do the CT scan and asked the nurse there. She checked the computer and said they were expecting him at 1 but he hasn't shown yet.
When I got home there was a message from my aunt left at 9:30 saying that his appointment had been cancelled because the scan was broken. Why didn't anybody at the hospital tell me that? If I had been given the right bus time by the operator I would have gotten the message. Arrrg! Oh, well, at least nothing serious had happened.

Anyway I wrote this novel mainly so I wasn't blogging for the sole purpose of telling you the following: I had to sleep on the couch last night because I could here the people next to me getting to "know" each other (in the biblical sense of the word) through the bedroom wall. Gross!

...BUT I DON'T EVEN USE HAIRSPRAY

So I went to Zellers the other day to pick up a new razor. I was in the aisle looking at all the different kinds. At the end of the aisle there was a hairspray display. Out of nowhere this lady, about 50 I think, comes up to me and asks me if I can help her with the hairspray. I told her that I don't work at Zellers.
"Oh I know, but I need help picking out hairspray."
Ok, whatever. So I went over to help her out. She asked which was the better deal, you know, more for the money, so I told her. Then she asked me what kind smells the best. I don't know, I don't use hairspray, they all smell bad to me. So I took of the lid to smell the three kinds she had picked out
"Oh, no. You won't be able to smell them properly, you have to spray a little on your wrist."
What, this isn't perfume! I did it anyway. They seriously all smelt almost exactly the same. Yucky! I told her I didn't know what they smelt like but she was insistant that I describe the scent. I didn't know what to do, so I made something up. I told her one smelt kinda fruity and the other smelt like White Rain perfume. I don't even know if White Rain perfume exists, I had just heard it in a song before. She decided against the other one because of the price, after I sprayed it on my arm of course. Then she asked me which I would buy. I told her I don't use hairspray.
"Well, if someone were to give it to you as a gift which would you prefer?"
"Uh... the purple one." So she took the purple one. But then she wanted an aerosol instead. So I went and grabbed her one.
"Oh this one has a little dent in it, could you grab me another one."
Alright so I went and got another one.
"Is that a little scratch here on the lid?"
Are you kidding me. So I got another one. I must have shown her at least 5 cans, and had inspected many more which I didn't bother showing her. The other people in the store must have thought I was crazy, carefully inspecting every can of hairspray on the shelf. I could barely contain myself,everytime I walked back to the shelf I laughed. I was just waiting for someone to jump out and show me the hidden camera. Finally I said, "this is about as good as it gets", and handed her a can. She took it and the hairspray ordeal was over. It took at least 15 minutes.
Then she needed help with tweezers. She showed me the different ones she picked out. "Is this one a slanted head? How do you tell?"
"Well you see how it's at an angle, that's slanted. And it's the one I use, and I highly recommend it."
"Oh, Ok. Thank you so much for your help."
If anybody knows what it is about me that attracts these kind of bizarre situations please tell me so I can change.

IN SASKATOON

So I've been in Saskatoon for almost a week. I really like the city and campus and I am excited to meet new people at church. So far things have been interesting, as they usually are. The day we moved all my boxes and furniture up to the second floor it was 34 degrees. It turned out to be a windy day, so windy it blew the screen out of my kitchen window. The second day was fun, also very hot. I went to the gas station to fill up my car only to realize when I went in to pay I didn't have my wallet so I had to walk home and get it. It wasn't too far, only a few blocks.
Thursday would have to be the best day I've had so far. I was on my way to Dollarama (the best store ever, the first dollar store I've been to where everything is actually only $1) which is on Circle Dr, a really busy main road in Saskatoon. I needed to turn left and had a green light so I was inching into the middle of the intersection. The light turned yellow so I went to turn and my car stalled. At first I freaked out because I had no idea what was going on, my automatic has never stalled before. All I knew was that I needed to move and I couldn't. So here I am stuck in the middle of the intersection during 5 o'clock rush hour. When it came to mind that I needed to restart my car, only a few seconds, cars from the perpendicular lane already had the green light and were driving around me. I had to sit there until I got the next green light before I could go. It was so embarassing.
Anyway, that's some of what has happened since I have been here. I can't put any pictures up because... well I don't know why, it just won't let me.