HappyNess, CrazyNess, SleepyNess, whatever applies

Post of Four Words

2007-12-12T18:37:00.000-05:00

How cute is Sophie?!?

fulfilledNess

You.

2007-06-29T02:16:00.000-04:00

I'm still mad at you. Yes, you!!
(No, not you...)
YOU!

It's my problem, not yours.
And I'll get over it.

I would like to be over it now.
But for some reason it lingers.

And yeah it's kinda your fault.
But not your problem.
And no I'm not being sarcastic.
This is what sucks about it.

But all will be well
and I will be able to wish you that too.

I already do.
But one day I'll mean it more than I do now.

-MadNess

2006

2006-12-31T14:49:00.000-05:00

Wow. Last January seems like so long ago. Let me see if I can do this. Add anything important that I forgot!

In 2006:
*I brought in the New Year in the usual fashion. New Years at Grandma's with all the 'tives.
*I hugged the Canadians and headed off to the airport
*MJ and I flew home and were picked up by Davie, Julie, and--?
* I started a second (and main) job working at K-Lair and the Lemon Tree
*January Rain was created and was named a big hit amongst the friends
* I met Ben and Jason, among other interesting characters at K-Lair
*Open stage events became less frequent as I started doing Fuel on a more regular basis
*Coffee House was lots of fun and was a big success. Liliane introduced us to "the Canadian dance", and Nick surprized us with a heart-felt version of Stairway to Heaven
*Lost once again took over our lives, and parties continued to be held at Topher's
*Many games of cards were held, and Julie and Jenni kicked butt in Dutch Blitz
*Lady's retreat brought with it my first trip to Louisville.
*Mom and Aunty visited and we went to a UK game, decked out in matching shirts
*Mom and dad came down for the opera, and a group of us had a blast playing Hoopla at Chuck's house (dad riding a camel -- priceless)
*Spring break in New Orleans was amazing. I noticed an immediate growth in Davie. We were all changed for the better.
*I learned that army cots are light-weight and that when yours in on the end, you should not attempt to steam roll anyone
*Julie and I became really close
*a Praise and Worship CD for Fuel was undertaken (edits are being done in the New Year!)
*I moved rooms -- all the way down the hall!!! and acquired a new (and wonderful) roomie!
*Davie rescued me from many would-be walks home in the rain
*Summer holidays were spent teaching the Minis and Expressions, which was an amazing and rewarding time
*Fun times were once again had on Canadian soil: picture-taking all over Saskatoon with Ther and Bob, Canada Day with Bob, Shan, and Nick
*The summer was filled with special American visitors: Julie came and we took in the jazz festival and the Berry Barn. Travis came and a group of us went to a (mosquito infested) drive-in movie. Chuck came and shared our common birthday; we went to the fringe festival
*I turned 23- yikes!
*a fair-sized portion of nights were spent on MSN, getting to know a new friend -- and maybe something else?
*My 100th song was written
*Some recording was done on Canadian soil
*September brought with it a new full-time position at work for me
*Fall retreat was amazing and beautiful. From hiking to mountain climbing to a heart stretched wide-open to God, we all did things we never thought were possible
*Halloween brought out some scary folk: Bill the Cowboy, some Who's and a Grinch, SuperNess, a lovely Opera Lady, Snow White, a Petland worker, and of course, a funloving Mexican who may or may not have had a legal greencard.
*The status "friends who are preparing to date" was introduced
*I started singing jingles
*Many amazing times were had at Fuel and around the WF. The Holy Spirit begun to break down walls and change us all for better
*a few of us WF girls posed for a picture which ended up introducing an article in an international Methodist magazine
*American Thanksgiving was spent with Megan and her family. Lots of food was eaten, it was decided that John Tucker Must Die, and our Feet got reeaal Happy, pa! And black squirrels are pretty. So there.
*It snowed exactly two mornings on the way to work, but was gone within a couple of hours
*The WF students passed all of their exams with flying colours and plenty of prayer
*An amazing time was had at a Canadian friendship reunion and gift exchange at Earl's (and beyond!)
*Ness once again had a great time laughing at Zeth falling through snowbanks
*11 months after its creation, January Rain (among others) was once again sung on stage by MJ and Ness at a local club
*Ness showered for the last time in 2006.

-NostalgicNess

In brief

2006-12-27T19:23:00.000-05:00

I have updated my Hot Off The Press blog to include what I've been working on lately (no jingles though, sorry!)
Of course, I didn't put the lyrics for my 100th song up there yet... well I did, but you can't view them yet. Wouldn't want to spoil a surprise. But numbers 101, 102, and 103 are up now. One of them is a new praise and worship song for Fuel. There will probably be at least two more to come soon, as I work on new stuff over the holidays.
Happy reading!

CrazyNess is Writing!

Sane or Insane?

2006-12-16T12:56:00.000-05:00

-CrazyNess

My K-Lair Christmas List

2006-12-16T12:05:00.000-05:00

* To come home smelling like a candy cane, not a sandwich
* The outlawing of using more than 10 meal plans at a time to buy random junk
* For all of the customers to wear a name-tag
* At least one co-worker who can juggle oranges
* A half-time show every day with circus clowns and cheerleaders being thrown up to the ceiling and back
* Students who know their fractions
* A new and improved dress code. I recommend jeans with rips. And funky zip-up hoodies. Or tie-dye. Anything's an improvement, really.
* To get to wear my hair down
* Aprons with compartments in them
* A raise to $100/hr.
* To wake up after the sun and to come home with more than 2 hours of sunlight
* An adult-sized high-chair on which to sit behind the register, thus eliminating unnecessary hours of standing
* To understand everything Noy says
* A personal super-robot that cleans tables flawlessly on command (which only responds to my voice, mwwaaaaa haaaa haaaaa!)
* My own room with a guitar, piano, tape-recorder, and plenty of stave paper
* Two hour-long breaks in which to utilize said room
* Food that, when consumed, makes one skinnier
* To have the freedom to ban anyone who leaves their straw wrappers on the counters, two feet away from the mini garbage can
* To have the walls redecorated in cow-print
.... and lastly....
* To get paid every day between Christmas and New Year's to sit on my duff in Canada. Oh wait. I already get that one. Mwwwaaaaaa haaaaaa haaaaaa!!!!

WishfulNess

STUPID QUESTIONS

2006-12-06T17:48:00.000-05:00

Just thinking out loud and adding to my list:

*How big is the quarter pounder?
(Wow... ok, hello there, college student)

*Which is bigger, the quarter-pounder or the third-pounder?
(You know, I recommend the quarter-pounder. Unless of course, you're not that hungry. Then just get two third-pounders to make up the difference)

*Can I get the cheeseburger combo, uh... and fries and a drink?
(Ok, but you won't like how much money I'm-a charge you for being dumb)

*How big is the three-inch wrap?
(scratches head...)

*What is on a BLT?
(bratwurst, licorice, and tostitos?)

That's all I gots right now.
Don't get me wrong. I love my job. And I love the students. Every once in a while there's a duh factor there.

SarcasticNess

Still Canadian

2006-10-19T23:51:00.000-04:00

So I think I was subconsciously staying away from all things Canadian to help myself forget that I have two lives, because it's hard not being somewhere you love and missing people you love. I let myself become busy and consumed with my life here, which I also love very much, as an excuse to not have to think about home. You know, other home, cuz this is home too. So of course that all changed when I got emails from my friends saying they missed me and me not realizing that they were missing my absence, because I was not letting myself miss theirs. So then of course I had to call my Michelle and catch up cuz she had lots to say in her email. And of course, she's connected to all my Canadians and then came the flood of remembrance.

Please be gentle with me. I know the Canadian jokes like to fly around here, and I know it's just cuz you guys love me and appreciate this slight difference in my background. The jokes are a reminder that I do in fact miss home in spite of my attempt to stay away. I don't mean for you to change the way we joke around with each other. Just please remember that I love my Country, and respect my homesickness.

HomeSickNess.

little fairies

2006-10-01T23:08:00.000-04:00

Book Smart, Street Stupid
Sarah Slean

I was born by an old streetlight
where the men lean out of their windows at night
and I was a lead in the orphan choir,
and I sang with all my might
until I grew up too high then oh,

all the notes I used to play
on the double bass in the b-list ballet
with only the night bugs to lead me home
with their sad-luck serenade
the rain was never ending,
the sadness in my heart
would light and glow in the dark

oh this will never change,
time just wears a prettier face
I'm book smart, street stupid

so don't look for me in confession booth,
with my paints and my pens
and my dry vermouth
trying to uncover some small truth
with these cards close to my chest

the rain was never ending
the sadness in my heart
would light and glow in the dark

oh, this will never change
time just wears a prettier face
I'm book smart, street stupid

the rain still never ending
the wonder in my heart
would light and glow in
it still lights and glows in the dark.
-----------------------------------------

I saw fire flies.
For really. I really saw them.
Cute little
Surprizing little
intriguing little
Awe-striking little
Childlike little
Charming little
Dream-like little
Night
Fairies.

delightedNess

I Love Lamp

2006-09-24T17:52:00.000-04:00

A blog entry inspired by the Lovely Leah.

I love that all my closest friends have blogs. I love posting and commenting and knowing that we're all in touch. I love it when my friends stalk each other. I love that my stalk list is entirely different than it used to be. I love the freedom of having such wonderful and personal and goofy and unabashed friendships. I love my Canadians and miss them. And I love my Americans and thank God for them daily. I love getting a big paycheque and being able to pay my rent. I love small reminders that God's got it covered and that I don't need to worry. I love the months where my bookshelf doesn't fall over and scare my roomie. I love good talks with friends. I love laughing with them and being goofy or just being silent and enjoying their company.
I love ice skating. I love spending hours on the rink. I love gliding along and feeling the speed and freedom. I love sharing this with friends. I love my guitars and my violin and making music and knowing that my airplane is coming some day soon. I love the life that God has given me. And above all else, I love my God.

lovingNess

Jingle All the Way!!

2006-09-23T12:11:00.000-04:00

So I got that jingle I auditioned for, with great potential for there to be other jingle singings (or possibly even writings!) in the future! I still haven't had my 100th song party... Nor have I written my 101-yith. It has been brewing for a while but I've been putting it off, partially due to feeling over-worked, which seems to be diminishing my creative juices for lack of energy. Most of my free time is spent with friends instead of writing or doing other productive things such as putting my clothes away or showering. Or sleeping. I finally got enough sleep last night, Saturday being my only sleep-in day, but I still feel tired. I think it's just the week catching up with me. So ok, Saturday is lazy day. This still doesn't help with the lack of writingNess. But ya know, I can't help when the songs are stirred up and when they're not. So when a song comes on, it won't matter if I'm tired. Birth is birth whether you're ready for it or not. Ok that was an icky analogy. I better go brush my teeth now. And do other important things. Like hang out with friends. Tee hee.

lack of writingNess

I'z a kollege stoodent.

2006-09-17T14:19:00.000-04:00

I may or may not drop-kick the next person that asks me which is bigger, a quarter-pounder or third-pounder.
Or even just "How big is the quarter-pounder?" is bad enough on its own.

So what have I been up to? Oh come on!! You already know the answer to this. In fact, I think I'll just end this post now and let you finish it. It's pretty easy. You'all know everything I'm up to. And no it's not, "Doy, my name's Vanessa and I'm lazy and never blog" ;) whichever of you crap-fests took the great care to construct that on my c-box. My vote goes to Davie... but we'll wait and see what you'all have to say about that.

So, since all of my friends are college students, your assignment is to write my post for me.
Or I'll beat you up and take your lunch money.

THE LIFE OF NESS
an essay
by: _________

Class, you may begin.

bossyNess

Little Hershey Kisses Have Big Big Chocolate

2006-08-31T16:56:00.000-04:00

So I am posting now because I actually have something to post about and did not post before because I had nothing to post about.
So I got the job I applied for. It's basically the same as the one I'm now working, except that I get a raise, paid vacation and sick days, health benefits, and I get to tell people what to do. I have not yet adjusted to the 7 - 3 work days, and my feet and body completely hate me, but mainly my feet.
On a side note, I am applying for a second job singing jingles. I know, Bob, laugh it up, cuz this was a highschool prediction. Except that I'm not actually writing them. I may be singing them or playing piano for them or arranging certain instruments, like maybe horns. But anyway, they're mainly looking for singers and I have an interview in about a week and a half. I think it'll be really fun. I'm tres excited.
I emailed Brad (the guy editing the Praise and Worship CD that we recorded down here), and he said he's just finishing up and will let me know when he's done so I can come in and hear/approve everything. That's exciting as well. I don't know what's up with the stuff I recorded this summer, yet, because in spite of continual nagging via email, Rick has not contacted me. I will maybe sorta almost kinda keep you posted.
Anyway, so any of you that are classic Princess Bride lovers of old will know that there is a commercial for Hershey Kisses at the biginning of the video, in with the previews. When I think of jingle writing, this is the song that comes to my head.
JinglyNess

...On the road again...

2006-08-20T19:46:00.000-04:00

Here is the latest update:
MJ and I are leaving tonight after that last summer school performance. We are packing up the car (the rents' car), and then MJ, mom and I are heading to Winnipeg. We are driving all night and hopefully getting there by 8 in the morning. Then we are picking up MJ's car (and mom will head home in hers), getting a temp. license, driving 4 hours back into Saskatchewan to license it, then backtracking four hours back into Winnipeg to spend the evening with Becca and new baby!!! Our next scheduled stop is Minneapolis, and after that, we are doing the rest of the hall in one long day.
Please be in constant prayer. No eating or sleeping. No having fun. Seriously people, only prayer. Well ok, just pray once in a while. Please. That is. Once or more a day would be nice.
This process can be tedious, but MJ and I very much love road-trippin' together, so at least there's that.
Mon Canadiens, I shall see you at Christmas.
Mi Americanos, I'll see you much sooner than that!!
Tee hee!

HomeComingNess
(I feel like I've used that one before in some distant dream... but I'm not sure)

p'ingrnlgrnlkdbflnsbfd!

2006-08-14T20:34:00.000-04:00

Me Wants!

I want to be done with my stupid taxes!
I want to find my tensor so I can rollerblade in comfort.
I want to know that I have a job when I come home.
I WANT WORLD PEACE!!!
I want to save all the whales and all the puppies and kitties and African children.

I want everyone to make all the decisions so I don't have to make them.
I want everyone to shut up, go away, and leave me alone.
Well not you, just everyone else.
I want neon lights pointing to all the right doors.
I want all the other ones locked and impenetrable.
I wanna quit lying to myself about what hurts.
And I wanna get rid of this abandonment complex that keeps coming back like a bad style from the 80's.
I wanna have the guts to say no
and the heart to say yes.
I don't want to say "I can't" if I should
or "I should" when I can't.
I want to agree with myself.
Know what I want.
Figure out what I'm doing.
I don't wanna think about this.
I want to procrastinate.
Put it all off.
Never decide.

I want strength
and resolve
I want to curl up in a ball
And reduce myself to a coma-like state
Wake up on Monday
With every task completed
Every situation under control
Every complexity understood
And each decision made

And then

I want to go home.

-jumbledNess

How many Ho's can I get?

2006-08-12T02:39:00.000-04:00

Tee Hee... what a clever title...

-goofyNess

A Beautiful Birthday Card

2006-08-07T14:07:00.000-04:00

Bobber put this little ditty in my birthday card. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE it, with a triple love.

A LETTER FROM GOD TO WOMEN
When I created the heavens and the earth, I spoke them into being. When I created man, I formed him and breathed life into his nostrils; but you, woman, I fashioned you after I breathed the breath of life into man because your nostrils are too delicate. I allowed deep sleep to come over him so I could patiently and perfectly fashion you, the completion of my image here on earth.

From one bone I fashioned you. I chose the bone that protects man's life. I chose the rib, which protects the heart and lungs and supports him, as you were meant to do. Around this bone, I shaped you. I modeled you. I created you perfectly and beautifully. Your characteristics are as the rib. Strong yet delicate and fragile. You provide protection for the most delicate organ in man, his heart. His heart is the centre of his being: his lungs hold the breath of life. The rib cage will allow itself to be broken before it will allow damage to the heart. Support man as the rib cage supports the body.

You were not taken from his feet, to be under him, nor were you taken from his head, to be above him. You were taken from his side, to stand beside him and be held close by him. You are my perfect companion for him... you are my beautiful little girl.

You have grown to be a splendid woman of excellence, and my eyes fill when I see the virtues in your heart. Your eyes are a window into your soul... keep them open, just as your heart is. Your lips... how lovely they are when they part in prayer. Your hands, so gentle as they touch and care for others. I've caressed your face in your deepest sleep. I've held your heart close to mine. Of all that lives and breathes, you are most like me.

Adam walked with me in the cool of the day, yet he was lonely. He could not see me or touch me. He could only feel me. So everything I wanted Adam to share and experience with me, I fashioned in you: my holiness, my strength, my purity, my love, my protection and support.

You are special because you are an extension of me. Man represents only half of my image. You, woman, reflect my deepest emotions. Together, man and woman, side by side, you represent who I am.

So man... treat woman well. Love her, respect her, for she is fragile. She is my gift to you and one you must take care of as your most precious belonging: because she is.

blessedNess

I'm in love with Sophie

2006-07-31T21:44:00.000-04:00

OK, so Melissa's raccoon is probably the cutest thing I've ever seen. Don't cry, as I know each one of you was hoping it was you. But it's not. It's the little three month old raccoon named Sophie. MJ took some pictures, so I'll post them on my MSN page as soon as I get them. Sophie is very small. She is shaped like a very small pomeranian, with fur that sticks out in all directions. (but with a very pointy nose and beedy little eyes). She lives up to the description of her species, being very curious and active. I watched her climb up the side of an ironing board to get on top of the washing machine, where she ate all the cat food and stuck her feet in the water dish before walking around and tracking her dirty little feet through everything. Even when she is napping with you, she is rolling around, sniffing, scratching, burrowing, twisting, playing, purring, digging, searching, exploring. She is so cute and so sweet and I wants one!!!
NOW!!!
I am satisfied with life. I have fulfilled all my hopes and dreams.
------------------------
And those of you that are wondering, the photo shoot went so well! Now the hard part will be selecting the best pics cuz there's quite a few that I really liked. Well when someone shoots 200 pictures of you, there's bound to be some promise. These pictures will also follow, when I get my little paws on some of them.

PhotogenicNess

Bug Up Nose Disease

2006-07-26T19:44:00.000-04:00

The other day Travis and I were walking back from AJ's Coffee Second Home -- oh no wait, AJ's Coffee House -- that's what I meant. We were walking back toward the house, and I breathed in quickly through the nose, probably getting ready to say something really clever, cuz that's pretty much what I do with every breath.
I inhaled a bug. Now at this point, all of you are thinking "Yeah, so what? I've totally had bugs try to fly up my nose before." No, I'm talking, this one succeeded. It flew half way up my nose, and crawled the rest of the way up. Ever felt a bug crawl into your nasal passage? I can't even explain the feeling. Most of us have never actually felt something go that far into the nose. I did once, when the doctor was checking me for nodes, but I got this stuff sprayed up my nose to numb the effect of the tube going all the way up my nose and down my throat. How rude of the bug not to spray some numbing agent first. I think it might have been a spider. I'm not sure. All I know is that I could feel the little legs carrying the body all the way up to the point of the weirdest tickling sensation ever, and watering eyes. I screamed.
I'm not sure what happened to the thing. I couldn't blow it out, nor could I snort it back. It could still be there, building a summer home (the trees are actually quite lovely).

http://www.homestarrunner.com/buginmouth.html

NosyNess

Archeological Dig

2006-07-16T14:29:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I rollerbladed to the library (Alice Turner, not downtown -- I'm not psychotic), to pick up a book for my mom. I took one route going there and a different route going home, which swung me by the street on which I used to live. I decided to try to find the place where Michelle, Kim, and I had carved our names on the curb, back in highschool.
Well, I should mention that it's not our real names. The date of the ancient carvings would have been around the same time that we were being stood up in front of the entire band and choir, being forced against our wills to make apologies for having boys in our cabin at night. So if the IYPC (International Youth Police Conspiracy), which was obviously out to get us, had seen the three of our names together on a curb, all of hell would have broken loose, and we certainly wouldn't have wanted that.
I remembered that I had initially determined that our names were lined up with the house in which Morgan used to live, in line with two trees, at an angle. After careful scrutiny, and almost giving up, I found Meesh. This name was easiest to find because it was on the bottom of the curb by the road. Ber was a little harder to find, because it was on the top of the curb, where it was half covered by dirt and grass. I searched and searched, but couldn't find my name. I tried to determine, where would I have put it? On the top of the curb or the bottom? After sifting through a lot of sand and dirt down beside Meesh, I finally stepped back and thought hard. Where's my name? Think like 11th grade Vanessa. Oh yes, I know, it would be right beside Ber's. So I dug into the dirt and swept the area to the left of it. And there it was! Gus!!! I FOUND IT I FOUND IT!! All three names! Best buds, there for the remembering. How cool were we.
CoolNess

THE ANSWER!!!

2006-07-14T15:29:00.000-04:00

Well, I did it today. I did the chore that I hate doing. While dishes is not a bad guess, I don't hate doing dishes. I just don't always do them as promptly as some others. I'll try to work on that next year. My exercise bike was getting really cluttered, too. I haven't used it in about two weeks because it has been so nice outside, that I've been walking or rollerblading pretty much every day. But today I looked at it, realized things had once again gotten out of hand (as they always do before I do something about it.) So I did it. I hung up my clothes.
I don't have anything against putting clothes away in a drawer; I'm pretty consistent with this (not 100% or I wouldn't be an artist), but MAN! I hate hanging up my skirts, zip-up hoodies, whatev. Hate it.
I actually think this stems from my childhood. When I was little, I couldn't get anything to stay on the hangers. I remember having to hang things up three or four times, and being the sensitive child that I was, after having something fall off the hanger four times, I would get all teary. I actually remember when my mom showed me how to hang things up in a way that would make them stay on the hanger. I guess since then, I've always just considered this chore to be a huge pain in the butt. I let all of my zip-ups gather up in a pile before I actually go and hang them all up at once. It wouldn't be as big of a pain if I just hung them up one at a time right after wearing or washing them, but...
uh...
but...
I gotta go.

LazyNess

You'll stay up 'til this place shines like the top of the Chrysler Building!!

2006-07-12T17:04:00.000-04:00

Today I dusted, polished, washed and dried a grand piano. Have you ever done that before? Yeah, me neither.
The other day I bathed a kicking and screaming and whining and clawing five-year old that happens to weigh 90 lbs and is very very hairy.
This gets me thinking about chores. These chores are really not all that unpleasant. While bathing Zeth does get one wet, smelly, and hairy, it's really funny to see his wet and droopy face give you the "What did I ever do to you?" look. (Well, if he really wants to bring that up, I could mention all the times I've picked up his poo and cleaned where he puked. -- No pun intended on "bring that up")
It actually isn't the big messy chores that I detest. I have never dreaded cleaning a toilet or a fridge. There is one simple chore that most normal people do every day or close to it, that I really really don't like doing. Do you know what it is? Before you go with your first answer, it's not making the bed. I have nothing against making the bed. It's just that I never remember to. I'm not a habitual bed-maker. I kinda wish I was. The guy I marry better be, or we're screwed in the bedmaking department. (And if you had a joke to go after that sentence, get your mind outta the gutter!!)
And it's not showering either, cuz that's not technically a chore, although to me it kinda is. I'm not a big fan of the monthly shower (Just kidding). But I do shower more often than I do this...
It's a simple little thing.
And I don't like it one little bit.

MessyNess

(Bonus points if you can tell me what movie the title is from)

...but I couldn't find the killer hook

2006-07-04T22:55:00.000-04:00

I just exercised my face off. I feel like I'm going to barf. It feels amazing!! There is nothing like pent-up energy to get rollerblading results! I should take a sick day more often.
Well, ok, now I know I have given all of you the wrong day that I'm starting recording, twice!! Yesterday I wasn't up to it, and today Rick found himself double-booked and had to postpone until tomorrow. Tomorrow I rehearse with the kiddies from 5 until 9 and then go over and lay some tracks. I'm guessing we'll only go about three or four hours, so it won't be much, but it's a start. Man, there's so much to do and I am really anxious to start. I haven't heard back from my violinist yet, but it's not like I want her to be there tomorrow or anything, so she's got time. And I can always call my previous violin teacher if it doesn't work out with this one. I am about to email the cellist that I played with for a wedding last summer. I have a djembe player and I just have to decide on an electric guitarist -- I have a couple in mind. But first things first, tomorrow I will probably go in and lay all of the guitar tracks, bing bang boom! I spent today marking tempos, practicing with a metronome (bleah!) and finalizing the string arrangements.
----------------------------------------

But that's not all that exciting to read about. Did I tell you about the time Julie came over, and she dropped her toothpaste in the toilet? Now THAT was gold! I should write a song about that. But I already have a song about Julie.
Julie!
Julie!
What-ee?...

FunnyNess
(...as in, Julie saying, "Yeah, very funny, Ness.")

There's no place like home...

2006-07-02T18:02:00.000-04:00

It is a beautiful day. Not only has it been nice out for two weeks straight, but I also happen to be in a very nice mood.
This is mainly because of one thing:
The sermon in church this morning was amazing. Well, the service started at 10 instead of 11:15. which wasn't all that cool, but I think we all lived. Except maybe Amy, who showed up when we were leaving... Poor girl!! But she looked beautiful, anyway. The sermon was about how to be a Christian Canadian (or American if that applies to you instead), and what our duties are as such. The number one duty named was to pray. To pray for our country and for our leaders instead of bashing them. To pray for our society and for our friends. This was a great reminder, because since I'd moved to the States, I'd really been making a commitment to pray for my Canadian friends. However, it's easier to forget them in prayer when I'm home with them; but now that fire is rekindled! I always pray for my Americans, so don't worry about being left out! I guarantee that anyone possibly reading this post, I have prayed for. You are loved!!! :D
Well, my Americans, as some of you may know, yesterday was Canada Day. It was fun, but seeing as how Canada Day is also my longest-bestist friend's birthday, it's always been more about her than about Canada. Yeah, we dress up in red and white, and go to the fireworks, but they're really all lighting up the sky just for Michelle.
Anyway, this morning we sang the national anthem in church, which I've never done before. Let me recap the words in case you're not familiar with them:

O Canada
Our home and native land
True patriot love
In all thy sons' command.
With glowing hearts, we see thee rise
The true North strong and free
From far and wide, O Canada
We stand on guard for thee!
God keep our land
glorious and free
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee!

Now comes the amazing part. There is a second verse of O Canada that hardly anyone knows. I have never heard it before in my life. Singing these words was one of the most powerful things I have ever experienced. The pastor touched on not emptily singing something we don't really mean. We should mean what we say and what we sing. I kept this in mind as we sung the following:

Lord of the lands
beneath Thy bending skies
On field and flood
where'er our banner flies
Thy people lift their hearts to Thee
Their grateful voices raise:
May our dominion ever be
A temple to Thy praise.
Thy will alone
let all enthrone;
Lord of the lands, make Canada Thine own.
Lord of the lands, make Canada Thine own!

If only all of our anthems and pledges and oaths were this God-centred! Think of it! How different our world would be.
I've gotta say, I was feeling mighty patriotic. Don't mistake me here. I love the United States, and I love Kentucky very very much. Kentucky will always feel like home as well. But I want you all to know that I love Canada very very dearly. I have a very sweet affection for it. There's nothing in the world quite like the place where you're a fish in water.

PatrioticNess!!

Oh deer!

2006-06-20T14:12:00.000-04:00

Peanut got hit by two deerses. The good news is that Mary Joy and Julie are safe in Winnipeg. The bad news is that they're not here. *sniff... sniff...
One of the 'rents may have to drive in to get them just like last year when Josephine kicked the bucket in Winnipeg. I'm sad for MJ.
Peanut has been a good and faithful car. And pretty. She took us all the way over to Vancouver, and all the way down to Lexington. She was a lovable car with a cheery disposition and a sing-songy heart. She had been with Mary Joy and company for a year. She will be greatly missed.
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So some American tried to tell me that a caribou and a reindeer are the same thing. I was showing him the Canadian quarter and he goes, "Hmm, a reindeer."
I corrected him to my delight, "No, it's a caribou."
"That's the same thing!"
Nuhhhhhh-uuuuhhhhhhh! I'm the one who's got the thing on my country's quarter, I think I'd know!
Well holy crap for crap, I looked it up... and he was right.
I should have known, as he's kinda a knows-every-random-fact-for-some-strange-reason kinda guy. But this from the guy who got pulled over by the cops while riding his bike, my faith in him had wavered.
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I'm ticked off. At whoever it was on the radio that stereo-typed my Alanis. They played "You Oughtta Know" on the radio, and then he commented that since she and her (now ex-) fiance have broken up, we can expect more angry songs from her in the future, cuz that's what she does. THAT'S WHAT SHE DOES?!!! I'LL FRICKIN GIVE YOU AN ANGRY SONG!! She writes one song where she's really really mad and now she's the "angry" chick. Like dude, have you heard any of the rest of her stuff? Cuz that's the only one in three albums so far. Four if you include her acoustic album. I saw an interview on her a few years ago and she said something like, "No, I don't hate men. I love men! That was just how I was feeling at the time, and I had to be true to that." Do we stop to think that someone who gets screwed over so badly maybe has the right to be a little POed?
Rick calls everything that I write "bitter." Seriously. So I'm playing new stuff for him the other day. I play Alone.
"Ouch! Bitter!!" he goes. (What?! That's totally a fun-loving song!)
I play Letter.
"Biiiiiitttter!"
Wow. Was he listening to the lyrics? If you're not familiar with these songs, go to my other blog (under I like to stalk myself?) and read them for yourself. A lot of songs happen to be about the dealings of life, and exes and stuff. BitterNess or anger is about the last stuff that I would write cuz I think it's tacky. Having any sort of emotion or UneasyNess about someone does not mean that you're bitter. Sometimes you need to deal.
And this is how a songwriter deals.

UneasyNess

Martha Stewart sings in German.

2006-06-16T02:17:00.000-04:00

So I botched a package of Pillsbury Croissant Roles today.
Frickin.... those packages suck. Everyone finds them easy to open but me. Everyone else just gives a little twist and it makes that nice pooooof! sound. ("I'm not really sure I understand what a poof is... Could you demonstrate a good poof for me?" - 50 First Dates).
So as I'm looking at the lump of dough that I had to pry out of the package, to try to figure out how the heck I'm supposed to "unroll and divide into eight equal triangles" (What?!! That doesn't explain how to do anything! Give me a diagram or something, jerk), my mom comes in the kitchen, and, watching me struggle to find the end of the roll, nonchalantly adds: "I think you're supposed to let it thaw first." What the crap?! That was not in the directions! If they wanted me to thaw it, THEY SHOULD HAVE FRICKIN SAID SO! So I decided on no thawing. Well, trying to unroll the half-frozen, sticky, rolled up lump of dough was obviously impossible (well, it was probably possible for anyone but me), so I decided to just cut the roll into eight equal parts and go for a cinnamon bun look. So I'm putting the croissantamon buns in the oven, and my mom, who is amusedly watching from the kitchen table, coolly interjects: "Aren't you going to let it rise a bit first?" Well holy crap. I frickin hate the kitchen. Whatever. Get your stupid little non-cinnamoned cinnamon croissant buns in the oven and bake for a while and I'll come back when you can be civilized. Stupid dough-boy.
-----------------------------------------------------
My mom's recital was tonight. I was the "guest artist". The theme was "Under the Sea". I played a piano song that I wrote back in highschool, called "Ghost Ship in the Mist". And I sung a Schubert lied called "Am See". Guess what that translates to.
Anyway, setting up the church (moving things the day after doing that work-out video... hey Bobber, how are your muscles treating you?) + performing + taking down the set-up + making nice with the parents and students + helping ma and pa load and unload + heals and a skirt = I'm tired. I was invited to go out tonight but declined.
Tomorrow I am actually going to go to the music store and get some guitar strings (which I've been meaning to do for a week), and change Toque's strings. In the evening, I'm meeting with Rick to play him some new stuff and discuss what we're going to record this summer.

Thank you my friends, once again, for your continued prayers. I miss my Kentuckians. I love you guys. I love my Saskatonians too. And that guy over in the next province who never comes home. : (

HomeMakingNess

Forced to disappoint...

2006-06-14T01:30:00.000-04:00

Jeeeeeeeesh!
Eleven comments later... okay okay, I'm posting. Look at me post. Watch..... closely...
This is me posting.
See now you're all gonna hate me cuz I don't have anything to post.
But you insisted on complaining and here I am...
And I've either been on msn with ALL of you in the past two days, or you got an email from me yesterday, or I JUST FRICKIN' SAW YOU!!!
But whatever the case may be, my people have revolted, and now their case has been heard.

Ok, some shout-outs to keep you engaged.
Ju: Holy crap girl!! Ready for your first trip to the Prairies of Canada?
Davie: You're crazy. Please go to bed some time this week. And I need the link to your other blog cuz I don't have it.
Trav: Hey, did you get my phone message? I hope you book your flight soon!!
Bob: You are stealing me tomorrow and I'll probably see you before you see this. And your bum is blocking out the sun. Oh no wait, it's night.
Ther!: (Ther! is always followed by an exclamation mark like that.) When are we gonna have a date?
Ben: I don't think that you actually ever come here, so if you don't mind me saying so, you smell like marmalade and hot rubber. (What? I dunno...)
Lizer: I am going to make sure I come see you when MJ is home so she can come too! And let's arrange a photography session when I finally make it to your fair city.
Olga: Get out of the way.
Amy: Yes... coffee so didn't happen earlier this week... hey, how's this weekend for you?
Person that I inevitably missed: I love you and you're definitely the most important person to me. Ever.

It was cloudy on Sunday so I turned my lights on as I drove to go teach around noon-thirty. Of course, I never turned off the lights and obviously killed my car. Luckily, one of the kid's dads gave me a boost. I told this story to one of you in an email but I don't remember who. Well, whoever you are, sorry for the repeat, but now all of you can laugh at my obvious Ness-ness. (GoodNess me, I've become my own descriptive).

Well, thanks for tuning in.

Ness-ness.

Too hot for life.

2006-06-01T17:20:00.000-04:00

America is too hot. I have fled to another Country where the earth is more temperate.

King's Island was so much fun!!! Even though it was 32 outside (90+) with high humidity and basically no wind, and I stuck to every ride and nearly died of heat and The Beast scratched me and my jeans felt like they were spray-painted on and my sister beat me in a PopStar competition and Starbucks' prices were even more outrageous and I drank luke-warm water all day long... Oh, right, as I was saying, I loved it!!!

All of the rollercoasters were really fun. We went on The Beast, Son of Beast, Face-Off, The Italian Job, Sponge Bob, Tomb Raider, The Outer Limits, and the Vortex. There may be others... I don't remember. But everything had its own unique twist. I'd have to say the Vortex was my favourite, but Face-Off would be a close second cuz I got to watch Mary Joy's screaming face the entire time. In other news, Travis screams on rides probably more than anyone I know, which makes going on rides with him really really fun.

Yesterday my flight was delayed and I got off my first flight at the time my second flight was supposed to be leaving. I prayed, "Please, God, don't let me miss that flight!" and he said I wouldn't miss it. I was tempted to disbelieve him, but decided that if he said I wouldn't miss it that I wouldn't.

My second flight was also delayed.

Everyone else was already seated when I ran to the other end of the terminal and boarded. God was soooo with me all day, keeping me calm and optimistic.

The third flight was out of Calgary. I had plenty of time to clear customs, grab some Tim Horton's, read for a bit, and notice a guy walk by wearing a Roots Canada backpack. "Holy crap, I'm in Canada," I thought, as the boarding call was announced first in English, then in French.
I could have cried when I heard the name "Saskatoon". I could have cried when I saw the flag. I could have cried when I first caught sight of the city lights from above. Did I say could have? Well, let's go with "probably did." Did I say probably? I meant I frickin' bawled. Maybe.

My dad met me at the airport and brought me home (I knew the way home better than he did), where I greeted my mom and brother, and fought off the gigantic dog that was trying to jump up on me. I showed the fam my video from Travis, then hit the hay at 1:00 Central time, which was 3:00 to me.

So, I am alive. I am home. I am missing my friends already.
My house smells like Canada.

CanadianNess

Will the real Slim Shady please stand up?

2006-05-23T19:12:00.000-04:00

Just call me Eminem.
Cuz I totally did 8 miles today.
I seriously don't think I could have done it without the help and support of Leah, who so graciously lent me her iPod, which was definitely what kept me going.
I want one for my birthday, but don't actually want to wait that long to get one... and I think I need new rollerblades, cuz these ones are killing me between the first and second toes of my right foot.

In other news, we had band practice for almost two hours today, and when I stood up and realized that my muscles hadn't been moving for that long, they decided to take that opportunity to hate me and cause a revolt. It was terrifying, but I overcame adversity.
We start recording on Thursday. It's going to be really fun. I'm actually not stressed out about it at all!!

Leah (the sleeping one in the middle) started moving her stuff into our room today! How exciting! I'm excited to move, cuz then I'll have a distinct idea of how much stuff I need to cram in my suitcase, and/or carry-on with me on the plane. Our room is spacious, with enough room for four guitars and a violin, amoung other less important stuff like beds, desks and dressers.

Those are your general updates. Life is good. I love being here, I miss being there. Soon I will be happy to be there, and miss being here.

ActiveNess

The Case of the Lost Rambaldi Shoe Article

2006-05-16T22:40:00.000-04:00

So we watched a little too much Alias tonight. We're currently working through the third season on DVD.

Afterward, a since-then identified thief sprung forth from the shadows and commandeered the sacred Rambaldi Article!! My partner and I worked quickly, pooling our resources and using her lock decryptor to sneak onto the Boys' Floor. She assessed the restricted area while I snuck back downstairs to ID the perp and keep a look-out for the Article. While I succeeded in learning of his identity and tracking his location to the Girls' Floor, I was unable to obtain the object, and he was able to make a drop to an unidentified accomplice, which, given her location, may or may not be a mole. We succeeded in intercepting the Perp right in front of his stake-out, but alas, the Rambaldi Article was not recovered.

We suck at life.
But holy crap it was fun.
And retarded.

All names, code or otherwise, have been omitted to protect those involved in this sacred mission.

SneakyNess

Stuff and things

2006-05-06T23:37:00.000-04:00

I bought a new guitar.
It's a Takemine.
It doesn't have a name yet.
My sister has a new boyfriend.
He has a name.
It's Chuck.
Except that that's really just his nickname.
His real name is Yuell.
But no one calls him that.
Except me.
My parents are in town.
They're here until Monday.
MI III was awesome.
Akeela and the Bee was cool too.
Mary Joy's senior recital kicked serious butt.
Her convocation is tomorrow.
I got five hours of sleep last night.
I taught nine musical theatre numbers in Prestonsburg today.
I roller bladed four miles the day before.
I'm going to work up to ten before the end of the summer.
I bought new weights because my other ones are still in Canada.
I also bought some summer reading.
I'm reading Life of Pi.
It's incredible.
I'm also reading the fifth book in the Abram's Daughters series.
And the fifth book in the Series of Unfortunate Events.
Soon I will start Mark Twain's Joan of Arc.
And Riding the Bus with My Sister.
I have one more week left of work.
Two and a half weeks of teaching.
Leaving two weeks of summer holidays with my American friends before I come home.
I have a plane ticket.
Julie is coming to visit in June.
She has a plane ticket too.
I'm going to bed now.
I'll probably read a few chapters of Life of Pi.
I'm going to get at least eight comments on this post.

...and...

GO!
BluntNess

Americana!!

2006-04-15T17:39:00.000-04:00

Yesterday Jason and Ben (two friends from work) took me out for catfish. They figured I couldn't go home for the summer without ever having tried it. We then went to a movie, came back to the WF for cards with some WFers, after which the gang of us went out to Waffle House (which I had never been to before), to have Vanessa try her first bowl of grits. The pecan waffles were incredible, I might add.
I am being Americanized!!
Tonight (soon actually) I am going over to Julie's family house to have my first Easter away from home. I'm sure that Janet (Ju's mom) is going to totally spoil the Canadians - all three of us, for Liliane is coming too!- and mark my words, at midnight o'clock, sharp, I am having a large dosage of chocolate, come-what-may.

Oh my beloved, beloved chocolate!
How I pine for thee night and day!
What a wonderful moment it will be when once again you can melt in my arms
As I recite your pleasantries and woo you the way a good chocolate product deserves to be wooed.
How your absence in my life has created a void that can only be filled with a bunny.

Awaiting our moonlit rendevous,
PiningNess

Mystery Character

2006-04-09T14:28:00.000-04:00

Have you ever had a dream about someone -- a friend or maybe a boyfriend -- a dream where you talk together, laugh together, maybe cry together, maybe even kiss -- and woken up to realize you don't know who that person is?
The aftermath is that in wracking your brains, trying to remember what about the person was so familiar, you feel robbed of a friendship, robbed of a relationship that has never existed unless somewhere in your subconscious... somewhere in your dreams or your memories or your future...

And like the golden acorn of the Ice Age, the memory slips away as you focus to keep it clear, and you're left with a kind of resentment of being robbed of yet another could-have-been...

Or maybe it's not highway robbery, the insensitivity of your own punishing brain. Maybe it's a promise. So maybe you should hold tight to mystery man, remember the good times of the past, and wait patiently and faithfully for the promise of this return.

-faithfulNess

...Plus the internet was down.

2006-04-03T17:15:00.000-04:00

Part 1
Party Party!!

Yay! I'm not dead! I didn't fall off a cliff somewhere!!! Okay, so you want to know about my trip to New Orleans, right?
Well if you don't then go away. Or just skip down to part two.

Ok... so... This is some of us lovely ladies in our work clothes. The row of yellow behind us is not a figment of your imagination. It is a row of porta-potties. Lots and lots of them. There were over 2000 collage-age kids staying in a warehouse that was fondly named "Light City", or as the WF'ers liked to call it (just to be different), "City of Light."

So 2000 people have to sleep somewhere...
Picture five rooms bigger than what you see here with wall to wall cots. Yep. Stunning accommodations, I know. You should have seen the tent-showers.
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Our main task while in New Orleans and surrounding area was to gut houses. Gutting means you take all the insides out. Furniture, personal belongings, and dry-wall, all of which were ruined, were thrown into a giant junk pile which a dude driving a crane-type thingy would come to pick up at a later date. We heard some amazing stories and met some incredible people.

The last day was spent in Florida at the Gulf of Mexico. It was beautiful out, and Julie, my red-headed never-had-a-tan-in-her-life darling was the only one who managed to NOT burn, by reapplying her 50 sunscreen every hour.

------------
Part 11
Let's Catch Up, Shall We?

Well, I'm playing at an open stage on Wednesday, and a coffee house on Friday. I gave myself the day off tonight decided to have MJ lead Fuel so I don't have to play. Work is getting harder as my tasks increase - my supervisors found out I'm smart and now I'm doing big-people's work, tee hee. But life is soooo good. I love my home and my friends here, and I will be in Canada in June. Specific dates are yet to be worked out, but I can't wait to see and hear from you'all!

I have opened up my HOT OFF THE PRESS website to all!! To view my newest song-lyrics, (and others that I've written since I moved), click on "I like to stalk myself?" under my Stalk List. You can now view and comment on any of the posted lyrics!
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Closing comments:

Today I smell like a sandwich.

Man... I look like a water-a-holic! I'm holding a water bottle in both of those pictures... Of course, little do you know that I've changed my hair again, and it doesn't even look like that anymore...
It's blue-black with light brown streaks.

AquafiNess!

Spring Break

2006-03-11T02:42:00.000-05:00

Original title, I know.
So tomorrow we leave for New Orleans at 7 in the morning.
I know I told you we were going to Mississippi, but that changed and now we're going right to the heart of the left-over disaster.
So we're going to be working hard, playing hard, and then on Saturday (a week from tomorrow) we're going to the beach. And oh yeah, start dropping your jaw now because it's supposed to be in the high twenties - low thirties all week, so ha ha on you.
I'm sure that I'll have many stories to tell... I'm not sure how many of them will appear on here, as my schedule has caused me to be an unfaithful blogger. But I will be taking many pictures - probably mainly of friends and things because I don't think people that have lost everything would appreciate us gawking while we tear down their houses.
Anyway, I hope your-all's spring break was good (Yeah I did). Ther, darling, how is life? Bobber, how's the unexpected promotion treating you? Lizer, gonna get a chance to see my M.J. when she's in the 'Ford? Caleb, where the crap are you?
And my Saskatchewan Express darlings, thank you so much for keeping in touch and leaving me messages. I miss you guys. Keep practicing and performing your hearts out!
Well, time to go even further south!!

AdventurousNess

Caleb, where are you?

2006-02-24T21:37:00.000-05:00

CAAAAALLLEEEEEBBBBB!!!! WHEEEERRRRREEEEE AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRREEEEEEEEE YYYYYYOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUU????

Have you disappeared or something?
Like holy crap, comment on my blog already.

------------------------

For that matter, where are ALL of you? I know I've been busy, I've neglected my blog, as well as you.
You're mad at me.
That's it, isn't it?
AWWWWWW come on, I didn't mean anything personal...
Do I really deserve to have no one commenting on my posts?
Or do I just need to threaten to take the CBox away again?
Or to never post again until all my FAVOURITE!!! (that's you!!) peeps leave comments for me?

All alone...
On the moon...
All alone...
Oh woe, oh woe...
The pain...

TearfulNess

ABSOLUTE MADNESS

2006-02-24T00:38:00.000-05:00

Why do we allow ourselves to seek out answers that we don't want to know?
We know better.
We know going in what's going to happen.
But we snoop.
We prod.
We ask questions.
We investigate.

And now I know.
Even though I knew that I knew.

And I'm mad.

madNess

The week in review.

2006-02-19T14:06:00.000-05:00

Monday Vanessa goes in to work and gets sent somewhere else. Gotta love working for the campus. She spends the evening at Fuel and a meeting for the Spring Break Missions trip for Hurricane Relief in Mississippi.
Tuesday Vanessa goes in to work and gets sent somewhere else yet again, this time to a place on campus she's never been before. She gets to ride a golf-cart around campus as part of the job. (put-put-put-put... don't ask). In the evening she goes out with MJ, mom and Aunty.
Wednesday Vanessa goes in to work and actually gets to stay there. In the evening she goes out with MJ mom and Aunty.
Thursday basically doubles and Wednesday.
Friday MJ and Ness take mom and Aunty into Louisville (Looll-vull) to catch their flight home, then meet up with the girls for the ladies retreat, also in Louisville. Saturday they come home from the retreat.
Sunday Vanessa goes to church, prepares for Fuel tomorrow, blogs, and goes Ice Skating.
And resumes breathing.
Oh yeah...

Luke-warm off the press:
Is available.
Written over a week ago.

-HeadLessChickenNess

...stupid tuesday...

2006-02-07T20:40:00.000-05:00

A crappy Tuesday in the midst of a string of crappy Tuesdays.

Ever get that feeling that no matter what you do, it's not good enough? Like no matter how hard you try, no matter what you say or don't say, act on or don't act on, you'll just never function on a level that makes you a generally successful human being? Correction is good; but wouldn't it be great if we could get to a place in life where we don't need to be corrected all the time? Sometimes it's hard to see being corrected as a step forward. Instead, we regress to a state of five-year-oldum where all we can see is that we've been corrected and therefore didn't do good enough.
I felt like today was a marathon. And when I was done I didn't see that I had accomplished a marathon. All I saw was that it was out of the way for today, to be ran again tomorrow, and next time go faster, don't flinch when the gun goes off, and wear better shoes.
Of course, in the long-run, this advice will make me a better runner. But for now I'd rather be five.

I want my glass of water and pat on the back.

childishNess

Long time, no blog!

2006-02-01T20:01:00.000-05:00

Don't hate me or go slinging hate mail around, please!!! I know, I know, where have I been?!!
Well...
At work.
Planning lessons.
Planning Fuel.
Playing at Fuel.

Monday was the first day at the deli. Tuesday was the first day at the grill. Wednesday (holy crap, it's only Wednesday?) I went in to the deli and got sent to the grill cuz they need me more. So from now on I'm three days a week at the grill and one at the deli, which is great, because the grill is lots of fun. The deli is like being whipped by a slave-driver, but hey, the hard work is healthy. I don't dislike it, I just like the grill more because there's more co-workers, and they're all insane.
So Monday I came home from work, practiced for Fuel, ate, and played and sang at Fuel.
Me = tired.
Tuesday I worked, came home... uh... the rest is a blank. I totally skipped the Well, I sucked at Dutch Blitz cuz I was really tired. And I was supposed to call my students but I didn't.
Which brings me to Wednesday.
I came home from work, met with Bill about Praise & Worship for this coming Monday, napped, played cards, and am now calling and emailing students to move them around this weekend. I totally skipped Youth; I only have time to blog because I'm waiting for three calls back and one busy signal to become free. I am only going in to Prestonsburg on Friday, which means I'm teaching group lessons instead of privates, but we know I'm used to the group setting, so no problem. This means I have Saturday off!
I'm really looking forward to Saturday.
Hey, if I get around to it, I may even shower tonight! Huzzah!!

NappyNess

Two-for-one!

2006-01-26T00:56:00.000-05:00

I'm gonna make this short because my computer hates me and is being extra slow tonight just to show it's affection for me.

I got hired on through the University of Kentucky (lots of red tape and hours of paperwork and meetings.) They are splitting two assignments for me, so I technically now have three jobs including teaching at Prestonsburg. I start Monday and will work 7-3 at one delicatessen and 8-4 at another, alternating days.

Tonight we were all gonna go skating, but when we got to the rink, it had closed early just to tick us off, so we went to the roller skating rink but it too was being difficult so we went somewhere where I suck...
Yeah, you guessed it. Bowling.
Bobber, I just don't know how you do it.
Only freaks are good at bowling.
Maybe you just knock the pins over with your butt when we're not looking.
That paints a picture of absolute hilarity.

These jobs will be good for turning my clock back around. It'll be like living in China for a while. I'll also most likely be walking, so yay for exercise and the hopefulNess of nice weather!

Oh yeah. How could I forget??!
HOT OFF THE PRESS
VOLUME...
UH....
WHATEVER YOU WANT IT TO BE!!
Now available if you take the time to stalk me.

Bowling = SuckyNess.

Wanna know a secret?

2006-01-22T00:43:00.000-05:00

Whenever I hear or read something negative written by someone I know that is directed toward an undisclosed person, I worry that it is about me.
Am I the only one that does that?
Do I experience this due to a history of some of the most important people in my life suddenly losing interest?
Does it come from a sudden and late-in-the-game realization on the other's part that I'm just human, and generously flawed?
Or do I just hang out with too many poetic friends that like to create, share, and vent?
This goes back to the post about poetic people telling you what they really think without telling you...
And they're probably not telling me in particular...
But I always think that they are.
------------------

Teaching bit.
There was a cheer competition at the MAC.
It was a gong-show.
My students had to wade through crowds to find the room that I had been relocated to.
Half my studio never showed up.
Some were in the competition.
One was at a UK game.
One quit.
One was sick.
A few said they were coming but never made it.
I wonder if they got trampled by the crowd...
The frustrating part is that NONE of them called me to say they wouldn't be there. I had to track them all down or find out by suddenly having wasted time on my hands, that they weren't coming.

Better luck next time, old friend.
-UnluckyNess

P.S. On a side note, either Kelly Clarkson was at the cheer competition, or her long-lost twin.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

2006-01-18T10:07:00.000-05:00

Woot.
We have snow.
Not half-hearted pathetic, melt-as-soon-as-it-hits-the-ground snow, but actual bonified, certified, you-can-see-your-footprints snow.
Stop laughing.
The good news is that this morning was the warmest weather I have ever had the privilege of scraping off a car in. It's gotta be right around 0c, because it's really mild out (I called it warm and David G. definitely promptly objected), the snow is light and fluffy (picture me saying that in a "mother of pearl" voice), and the streets are snow (and ice) free.
Bad news is all the drivers have forgotten how to drive, and everyone is grumpy. Except me. I'm downright delighted.

Ice Skating was fantastic!!! After 10 (holy crap!) years of being off the ice, I discovered I can still two-foot spin, spiral, three-turn-jump, cross-cut forwards and backwards, and hockey-stop!! (That one's the best, definitely). We had so much fun, we decided to make it a weekly event. That way, everyone who had to miss out this week can come next week.

Winter weather is finally here... and will probably last for two whole days, wherein everyone but me will be depressed.
Well, I'm gonna go put on a long-sleeved shirt and have some coffee.
"Walking in a Winter Wonderland..."

Season's greetings,
PeacefulNess

Laundry Day

2006-01-15T16:41:00.000-05:00

I'm sure that the thrilling-sounding title of this post has lead you to believe that the following is going to be an action-packed play-by-play of the excitements of laundry day.
Well, you're right.
Cuz yesterday was definitely not your average laundry day.
First of all, Jenni rocks my socks (which are now clean) for inviting me to her parents' house to do laundry, which subsequently lead to me saving $7.00. Shut up; that's exciting, okay!?

Prep-time:
4:00 am - Vanessa, Julie, Davie and Stephen quit playing cards and call it a night.
4:30 am - Vanessa reads for half an hour because she can.
5:00 am - Seems like a pretty decent bedtime to me.
11:00 am - Jenni wakes Nessa by grabbing her arm with an ice-cold hand, and comes back into the room periodically, cooing ridiculous terms of endearment until Nessa relents and finally gets up at 11:45.
12:00 pm - still in P.J.'s, Nessa wanders into Jenni and Julie's room to find them practicing up on their Dutch Blitz without her. *gasp!!!!* scandalous!!! She joins of course. Then MJ joins.
Yada yada yada...
We play...
stall...
brush teeth...
dress...
do sit-ups...
3:00 - We [Jenni, Julie, MJ and Ness] finally leave the W.F. for Nicholasville (next town over), crammed into the car with giant bags of laundry, and Alfred, of course.

Alright, good start!!!
Now we only have to sort, wash, dry, and fold six loads of laundry.
In between loads we watch movies, eat pizza, sing & play guitar, "pony" excessively (yes, Michelle, as in the ballet move-- oh be proud), play our mouth-a-phones [DOO-EE-DOO-EE-DOO-EE-DOO-EE] nap, play nertz (not as good as Dutch Blitz, but it had to do), mourn the loss of the planned Richard Simons induced activity (Jenni's mom had lent out the video), and most of all, laugh excessively.

Around 10:00 a shwack-load of Jenni's friends (including Copple, Paige, and Curt) came over and we ended up playing Four on the Couch. Guys won the first round, but the gals made an amazing come-back to win round two. Thrilling, I know. Stay focused, we're almost done.
Guests leave.
Since we had lost MJ to a movie date with her Opera snobs (j/k) hours earlier, the three remaining housewives-in-training fold the last load of laundry, download Jann Arden songs (How can people go through life without knowing Good Mother and Insensitive??!!), finally pack up and come home.
2:00 am bed-time, much more appropriate than the night before.

TONIGHT WE ARE GOING ICE-SKATING!!!!
I can't believe how long it's been.

Until next time,
(Keep fit and have fun???! -- Stupid Hal and Joanne)
Crap. Now I have the theme song stuck in my head.

DomesticNess

For the guys

2006-01-09T20:13:00.000-05:00

Ok. I know I should have posted right after I got home, because everyone was waiting to hear about the marvelous things that went down. Well the main thing is that our friends totally decorated our room (mine & MJ's) with posters, streamers, and Canadian and American flags. They also vacuumed our room and made our beds. I felt so loved beyond belief. Wow. I really do have two homes. It's about time I start recognizing this as a blessing and not a curse.

The thing is, I'm so ticked off right now that I can't accurately give you a run-down when my mind is totally on something else. First of all, I'm ticked off that someone went over my head and had the nerve to ask my sister something that they should have asked me.

Ok. Boys.
You need to leave me alone.
Boys.
Past, present, future for the next year and a half.
Cut
it
out.
Seriously.
You don't realize how cornered I feel.
I can tell the difference between being a supportive friend and having ulterior motives mixed in.
I was not born yesterday.
I've been flirted with
Hit on
Buttered up
Put on a pedestal
Enough
And it ends now.

And I know I haven't been perfect.
I have said one thing and done another.
I have teased and toyed with ideas.
I have not always shown you that I'm serious about this.
For that I really am sorry.
For how I have hurt or confused you, I'm sorry.
I hope you can believe that without me saying this to your face, because I can't right now.
I can't foster intimacy in a situation that calls for it to be vacant.

Please stop thinking I'm something special.
Please please please.
And no, that's not a little cry for some guy to take me under his wing, and show me that I really am special and that he's the one who's gonna be different.
I mean what I say, and that is not what I need. And I don't care if you think it's what I need.
I need you all to stop.
I need you to be my friend.
Not my best friend.
Not my special friend.
Not a friend who says he is my friend but won't let go or believe me when I say it's really not gonna happen.

Ladies and Gentlemen of God, please pray for me, cuz I really really need it.
I would not be offended if you said I have brought this upon myself.
Unfortunately, the enemy knows my weaknesses and he loves to kick a girl when she's down.
I am learning.
I am praying.
I am trying to let God change me from the person I was.
I could really use help from my guys by you all treating me like your sister. No, not just treating, but actually thinking of me that way.
Not just saying that you do.

In case there's still any confusion left: it's not gonna happen. I will help you by making this more clear. Please help me by understanding and accepting it.

And FYI, emailing my sister to get a reaction out of me is not cool. Again, not born yesterday.

FrustratedNess

Older, Less Wiser.

2006-01-04T01:15:00.000-05:00

Down one wise tooth.
Up one filling.
Down $353.
Up one headache.
Down a lot of blood.
Up one hole in the head.
Down one entire day.

This morning I walked home from the Dentist, face still half frozen, unable to smile both physically and mentally, left eye still wattering from its inability to close due to accessive freezing. Utter GrumpyNess. GroggyNess. DisheartendNess. PainfulNess. So I walk in the house only to have my dad yell at me for some arbitrary thing.
Utter GrumpyNess. GroggyNess. DisheartendNess. PainfulNess. Let's add Pissed-Offed-Ness. HystericalNess. AngryNess. Whimpering turns into full-out bawling and I retreat to my room, down 3 Advil, read my Bible, and cry myself into a 6-hour nap with bloody gauze in my mouth.

Well the worst is over. Four episodes of Corner Gas and You've Got Mail (thanks for stopping by for a quick five minutes turned two hours, Ther!!) later, I am ready to blog before possibly eating another yoguart or pudding, before some more sleep.

Goodnight, I'm off to cuddle up with an icepack and a good Book.
Prayers are appreciated!

WisdomLessNess
(almost-- one more to go)

The Would-Be Blog Musings

2005-12-31T14:47:00.000-05:00

Yesterday brought with it not only death cramps, a house invasion consisting of Jane, Lizer, and Heather, but also an unusually-and-exceedingly-peculiar-and-altogether-quite-impossible-to-describe (and unexpected) coffee-free coffee date.

Segue-less transition. What is it in us humans that makes us so replacable? Is the media to blame, as they seem to be the root of all our problems? (Who is "they" anyway?) Is it the inability for people to form lasting relationships? Insecurity? Self-gain? Does maintaining a friendship take so much more effort than discarding one half-used to start another that will only be half-used before discarded?

I've got to give Derek some credit here. As hard as he tried to replace me, and made me feel that he had entirely, he said he never could. His admitting this, in a way, really helped me a lot with moving on. Someone thought that I was irreplacable, and even though our paths would separate, that's still an okay thing to admit. I learned this early on with Tony, Megan, Landon. I have had many amazing frriends (and boyfriends) that have come and gone but could never be replaced-- I couldn't possibly think of doing so. And eventually it becomes okay to let some go entirely, but still valueing the amazing things you've learned from them.

This leads me to a conclusion that perhaps none of us are at all replacable- hence whey God made us all unique- and people that feel they need to replace us just have an emptiness that will never fill no matter how many friends or girlfriends they go through. I dunno. But the need to talk about one's-self so adimently and thoroughly on the serface (though not thoroughly at all) indicates some struggle to prove to me that there's life outside of a communication we used to have - like I didn't already know. Five years ago, with Ryan, I would have told him anything and everything in a struggle to show him how successfully my Ryan-free life was running (but he never made the effort to get in touch-- I should give some credit here!) I'm not saying I minded yesterday. I was glad for the updates and all the good news! It just strikes me as strange that someone who keeps so much from you could possibly have so much to tell you. But I do like being told. I'm not trying to be ungrateful here. I just appreciate a friendship that's worked on and maintained so much more. But I guess these longing absences teach us what we really have or are capable of building up.

Wow. My dear friends. You have listened to me vent, so unafraid of me when I display emotions other than my usual sanguine self. My biggest catch-22 is how much I like to talk about myself-- because I like to open up so that you'll open up so I can know you. Isn't it funny? The girl who's always talking about herself just really wants to know you... and she comes across as self-absorbed. Maybe I shouldn't be trying to figure out yesterday at all. Maybe someone else is just caught in that space between friendship and ex-girlfriend independence. I just don't like being stuck in the middle of a course that someone else is running. Probing into deeper life would have been the best and worst thing to have done. I'm frustrated with ambeguities. I have no reason to trust him and no reason not to. That's a rock and a hard place! He must know something that I don't that's making him ill-at-east, or he'd get off the fence and figure out if we're actually friends or not. Until then, I'm getting closer and closer to my goal of 100 songs - which I'm looking forward to celebrating with the sweet and excited Megan Dillary (eep, don't know how to spell her last name), and whoever else cares and is in close proximity.
Well, it only took me forever to get here:

HOT OFF THE PRESS VOLUME 10
Is available if you push the right buttons and ask nice.

Happy Reading.
Happy New Year.
Happy Birthday to Lizer and Nick P.

-PricelessNess

Christmas Post-- foiled again!!

2005-12-26T03:19:00.000-05:00

Christmas by me.

Christmas Eve-day begins with the door flying open loudly and a sudden "I want to kill something" sensation that can only come from having the light turned on suddenly without your half-conscious consent. This is Grandma's version of a wake-up call at 7:00 in the freakin morning. 7:02... 7:02 and 30 seconds... and then again at 7:04.... I must have been officially woken up a good twenty times... not that I would have had the chance to go back to sleep if I had so desired. We had to leave the house for church at 9, and by the time I relented to the high-pitched and continuous "Get up!! Let's go!!" sounds, I now had an hour and a half to get ready.
We went to the church in Avonlea (45 minutes-ish from Moose Jaw), where Melissa (my trendy cousin), MJ and Myself (I wouldn't want to be the only one without an "M" name) sang Oh Holy Night in three parts, and led the chorus singing.

Christmas Eve is also the traditional time for eating Grandma's chicken noodle soup and opening presents. The first tradition began way back when, when relatives of my Grandma-- then just a mother-- came for dinner on the wrong day. Chicken noodle soup has been the custom ever since.
The second tradition has also been this way since I was born. Us kids never had to go through the stage of being weaned off of the belief in Santa Claus, because we never waited until Christmas morning to open gifts, and Santa never freakin brought us anything anyway. Jerk.

Christmas day we all sleep in until 11. Melissa comes over around noon-thirty and begins the pain-staking all-day hair process. This has become tradition as well. MJ gets her hair cut. Then MJ gets blonde streaks. Nessa then in turn gets the foils. Michelle calls. MJ gets rinsed out. Then Nessa gets rinsed out. Chris calls. Jenni and Topher call. Break for Turkey dinner. Travis calls. Mmmmmmmmm.... so full.... cannot function. Melissa passes out in a turkey-induced stupor. Ness and MJ join Mom, both Aunts and Matthew (other cousin) in playing a rousing game of Rook. Davie calls. Mmmmm more food... nuts, chocolate, cider, tarts... so full I can't remember what the crap I ate. Ness calls Caleb.
Jeremy arrives from Toronto.
Ness gets her hair cut. MJ gets low-lights put in.
Pause for Jer to open his Christmas presents. Ness had drawn his name and bought him a guitar cuz she's the coolest person ever.
Ness gets the red put in. MJ rinses out. Ness rinses out.
Ness plays Alone and If That's Who You Are for Liss and Jer. Liss goes home. Jer works on a new song he's writing with his new guitar that I think he should name Betsy-Sue.
Ness blogs.

Oh yes, the presents.
Limeny Snicket: a Series of Unfortunate Events-- books 1 through 10 - from Trav.
"Under one condition!" journal from Davie.
New luggage and a "Saskatchewan Sings!" CD from Mom
New tank top from Dad
Wicked-- the book-- from MJ
Huskie sweats from Ther
Pictures-of-me-and-other-awesome-people calendar - from Bobber
Toronto shirt, cow change purse (do we all know Ness loves cows?) strange yet curiously addictive German imported mints - Jer
Also a Roots back pack, socks, a dice game... from 'tives.
New hair-do from Liss!! I'm hot.
But we all know that now, don't we?? ;)

-RedicNess (There, that's for you, Trendy #1).

Counting down the hits of 2005.

2005-12-21T01:20:00.000-05:00

Nessa's Soundtrack 2005. (Wow. I just wrote 2006. And I actually had to double-click on the calendar to find out what year it is. Getting a little ahead of myself)
Each selection pretty much embodies that period of time, whether thoughtful, goofy, or reminiscent of days gone by.

January: Waste - Brennan's version
February: Day One - Sarah Slean
March: Picky Penelope - as rehearsed by the L2I-- warning, very catchy!!! Michelle and I walked around singing it without realizing it, all the time!!
April: Saskafunk - as rehearsed throughout the entire studio!!
May: Pass That Dutch - Missy E.
June: Hollah Back Girl - Gwen Stefani
July: Teenage Dirtbag - (kareoke with WaDelia, MJ, Bob and me... "A-Star-Star")
August: Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield
September: Take My Hand - Shawn McDonald
October: Alone - Me!
November: This Christmas - as sung by Jane Monheit (yes I start the Christmas spirit early)
December: I'm Not That Girl - Wicked

Recommended lyrical viewing: Waste, Unwritten, Take My Hand, Alone, I'm Not That Girl. These particular songs are very sonorous of that month's mood.

The spell-check recommends the word "waddle" for "WaDelia". In case you needed to know that info.

*archivedNess

HomeComing

2005-12-17T16:08:00.000-05:00

Snow on the ground.
In the air.
Frickin cold.
Tim Hortons at the airport.
A Canadian flag flies in the distance.

Family.
Friends.
Heather drops by.
Boston Pizza with Michelle and Shancelle.
Joined by Phil, Ty, and Caleb for cards.

AJ's coffee.
Bubble tea.
A big lug of a horse-sized dog sleeping on my feet.
Earl's for lunch.
Chicken Kung Pow.
Spadina Freehouse for Supper.
Icy roads and reduced speeds.
Signs marked in kilometers.

Teaching singing.
Sitting in on Michelle's dance classes.
Hugging many children.
All smiles.
Soundchecking a rehearsal.
Taking notes during the performance.

Performance.
Alfred.
New songs.
Friends finally getting to hear the melody to the words they've already seen.
Reunion with Joan.
Actually playing the new violin part I wrote for Lullaby.
Joan weeps and I sing.
"Don't cry baby..."

Accepting a shot.
Turning down a drink.
Singing "Get the Party Started"
and "On the Radio".
Dancing to Holla Back.

Missing my Kentucky friends.

Just in case you were curious.

-Saskatooness

Old Songs

2005-12-14T02:11:00.000-05:00

North Pole:

The sun'll come out, tomorrow
Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow
There'll be sun...
...Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya, tomorrow, you're only a day away!!!!
(well, after midnight "tomorrow")
AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
-------------------------------------
South Pole:

I was playing some old songs in my poetry binder today (well, before midnight "today"), and I came across this old one. I wrote it during the choir retreat (the one that the boys got sent home from for sneaking into our cabin at night), for an English assignment related to the short story "And the Children Shall Rise" [Matthew 10:21].
The lyrics intrigued me anew, so I thought I'd post them for you.

Dangerous Wish

Trust me so I can have control
So I can wind you, make you win or lose
You have been elected ally
And yes I know that no, you didn't choose.

You'd like to get inside my head, wouldn't you?
I'm not sure myself of what's in there
And I know your dream clouds float on every move I make
But that's your own mistake

I've seen so much I know so much (I think I do...)
When would I have time to feel the pain?
To want to know me deeply is a dangerous wish
Who can tell from right or wrong or sane?

You'd like to get inside my head, wouldn't you?
I'm not sure myself of what's in there
And I know your dream clouds float on the sound of my velvet voice
But that's your own choice

And I won't take the blame
I won't demonstrate such shame
Climb my barricade, you'll fall
And I'm not responsible at all

You'd like to get inside my head, wouldn't you?
I'm not sure myself of what's in there
And I know your dream clouds float on cracking open my vault
But that's your own fault

Stand by in wonder at my silence
Stick around and watch me quietly rant
Could you go on living if I disappeared?
I know you never could, and I like that you can't

You'd like to get inside my head, wouldn't you?
I'm not sure myself of what's in there
And I know your dream clouds float on the mystery of my life
But that's your own strife
That's your own strife

That's your own
Strife

--BiPolarNess

NEW POST NEW POST NEW POST!!!

2005-12-11T15:11:00.000-05:00

Okay, I know. I should've updated as soon as I got back from New York. But here's the deal.
Two days ago was the recital for mine and MJ's Prestonsburg students. I accompanied my students in new shoes which I had never peddled in before (who ever thinks of that??!), but it was fine. The kids did really great. We felt very proudly.
Yesterday was the Wesley Foundation Formal. I went with my friend Trav. I took lots of pictures for my Canadians so you can see all my peeps dressed up to the nines.
Okay, now New York. Wicked was incredible. I'm thoroughly addicted to the soundtrack. The Opera was amazing too. There were 15 minute intermissions between each act (3 acts) to change the set. The sets were amazing. In one winter landscape scene, it actually started to snow on stage. :O
Trav. gave me this advice before I left New York: "Don't look up! Cuz then all the New Yorkers will know you're a tourist."
Well, not only does New York have incredibly tall buildings, there's TV screens all over them. Not just billboards, but actual commercials. So I stared up with gaping jaw and I don't care who knew I wasn't from there!!! Rockefeller was cool-- that tree is very very big. What else? Uh... MJ and I only got lost on the subway once and had to take a cab because of time restraints to get her to her audition in time. You have to actually stand out in the street to hail a cab. They ignore you if you're on the curb.

I'M HOME IN FIVE DAYS!!! LA LA LAAA!!

Travis got me the first 10(!!!!) books of the Series of Unfortunate Events for Christmas. I haven't gotten my Christmas list out to the 'tives yet... I'm not actually sure if I'll get it out at all... Hmmmm... I should get on that.
Today I'm getting some Christmas preparations done.

There ya go. Not terribly eloquent or witty, but you are updated.

-ProcrastinatingNess

Good-Bye Forever!!!

2005-12-02T11:24:00.000-05:00

Well, no, okay... more accurately, good-bye until Wednesday.
I don't know if I'll blog in New York or not, but my guess is I'll be way too busy sight-seeing and shopping. Maybe ice-skating in front of a particular giant Christmas tree... sounds miserable, I know, but I'll try to "put on a happy face".
I'm leaving in about an hour to go teach in Prestonsburg. MJ and I are staying over at one of her student's family home, then we're road-tripping it tomorrow all the way to NYC...
"NYC, just got here this morning...
Amen, for N...
YC!!!"
All and all, I'd say the week will be... Wicked.

Bonus points if you can name the three musicals I referenced in this post ;)
(Oh and P.S. We're unable to see Carmen at the Met cuz it's not playing the days we're there, so we're seeing La Boheme instead.)

MusicalNess (music-cull or music-caal??)

Here come the updates!!

2005-11-26T13:24:00.000-05:00

Hold on to your boot-straps, little cowboys!! Here she comes!

Part I:
What a Card!

Wednesday:
Most people go to their morning class, then leave to go home for Thanksgiving (which is on Thursday. Weird, hey?)
Vanessa, Julie, Stephen, Mary Joy, and Davie play cards for 8 hours straight. Well, lunch and supper breaks are taken while staring at each other's face-down cards, hoping Stephen doesn't have the ace of trump.

We then go to Topher's house, where Jenni is house-sitting, to watch LOST, and *gasp!!* play some more cards!!

Thursday:
The Canadians accidentally sleep in and miss three calls from Davie wondering where the heck we are and if we got lost on the way to their house.
They finally head to the Rempfers' house, eat an incredible Thanksgiving meal, hang out with an incredible family, play Taboo-- with no french on the cards so that you get the sides mixed up and end up staring blankly at the french wondering if you should know this word... -- oh and yeah... we played plenty of card games. Shocking, I know.

Friday:
The Canadians GO SHOPPING!!!
Vanessa buys a new shirt, new jeans, Christmas CD's, and Christmas presents for Ther and WaDelia!!

Saturday:
Vanessa showers, then sits at her computer typing on her blog.
She is about to go downstairs on the ski-machine (like the NordicTrac, but lots older and therefore crappier). She is then going over to Pastor Jackie's for tea, along with Mary Joy (P.J. is the one whose kids I babysat a few times).
---------------------
Part II:
Time to buy a teleporter

General Updates:
Mary Joy sprained her ankle last week. I didn't mind driving her to and from classes at all. I just felt bad for her having to do a schwack-load of stairs on those things.
In more important updates, Caleb's comment on the last post hit me like a shocking ball of slime. Holy crudd!! (Two "d's" for emphasis). I can't believe how soon it is until I'm home! I dreamed about being home, last night. I'd tell you all about it, but it was effed.

Okay, my patient watermelons. The best part of this entire post:
I'M GOING TO THE BIG APPLE!!
Mary Joy has two auditions for Opera companies in New York, and I'm going with her on December 5th!! AHHHHHH!!
As if it's not enough to be going to NYC right before Christmas, with all the lights and displays and Time Square, but we're catching a couple shows too.
Wait for it...

We're going to see Carmen at the Met. And on Broadway...

WICKED!!!

Begin dying of jealousy... NOW!!
(If I knew how to make an animated firework display on this thing, it would be inserted right here).

-WickedNess (as in AwesomeNess, not EvilNess)

Artsy people.

2005-11-20T00:53:00.000-05:00

They scream at you in riddle.
They lament in a sonnet, or worry through a short story, or vent in metaphor. They yell at you, blame you, beat you down.

Or they mourn your loss. They pine silently for you, and it's all recorded down some how, but never straight-forward enough for you to call them on it.
They write songs about a person that may or may not be you, who did something that may or may not have been what you did.
They white-out your name from an abandoned name-tag in order to write something else in its place. But you'll never know if the name tag is yours. You can't get close enough to examine it.
They get the title all ready, and they want to crazy-glue it to your shirt, but they can't tie you down. If they could, they wouldn't need the crazy-glue.
They drop you subtle hints and hope that you pick them up. They leave the message in a place where you can find it if you really look.
If you take the interest. Which is what they're hoping for.

Have you ever had someone send you a message in this way?
I have.
But I can't really complain.
Because I do it all the time.

In fact, I'm doing it now.
And chances are, I could even be talking about you.

RelentedNess

Let it Snow... (Just not here, heh heh)

2005-11-16T02:27:00.000-05:00

Janice sent this forward to my email account. I thought it was thoroughly amusing. (I think -25 is my favorite)

THE TEMPERATURE CONVERSION GUIDE:
10ºC = Texans try to turn on their heat. Saskatchewanians plant gardens.
5º C = North Carolinians shiver uncontrollably. Saskatchewanians sunbathe.
3º C = Italian cars won't start. Saskatchewanians drive with the windows down.
0º C = Distilled water freezes. Saskatchewan's water gets thicker.
-5º C = Torontonians wear coats, gloves, and wool hats. Saskatchewanians throw on a t-shirt.
-10º C = Quebecers begin to evacuate the province. Saskatchewanians go swimming.
-20º C = Toronto landlords finally turn up the heat. Saskatchewanians have the last cookout before it gets cold.
-25º C = People in Vancouver cease to exist. Saskatchewanians lick flag poles.
-30º C = Montrealers fly away to Mexico. Saskatchewanians throw on a light jacket.
-40º C = Hamilton disintegrates. Saskatchewanians rent some videos.
-60º C = Mt. St. Helen freezes. Saskatchewan Girl Scouts begin selling cookies door to door.
-80º C = Polar bears begin to evacuate the arctic. Saskatchewan Boy Scouts postpone "Winter Survival" classes until it gets cold enough.
-100º C = Santa abandons the North Pole. Saskatchewanians pull down their earflaps.
-114º C = Ethyl alcohol freezes. Saskatchewanians get frustrated when they can't thaw the keg.
-183º C = Microbial life survives on dairy products. Saskatchewan cows complain of farmers with cold hands.
-273º C = All atomic motion stops. Saskatchewanians start saying "Cold 'nuff for ya?"
-300º C = Hell freezes over. The Saskatchewan Roughriders win the Grey Cup.

---------------------------
On another note, guys, pray for me. Everyone here is getting really excited for Thanksgiving holiday and M.J. and I are the only ones who aren't going home. I know M.J. has done this before, but I haven't. I want to have a happy holiday and a good time with the people that have invited us home with them. I'll be missing you guys. ONE MORE MONTH!! Can you believe it? How time flies when the weather is freakishly warm. Oh, I'm sorry, was that a low blow?

ColdNess

Hello Pixie Hair!

2005-11-14T11:48:00.000-05:00

I got a haircut. Mary Joy says I look like a pixie.
No matter what I do with my hair it's messy. And I love it.
More interestingly, I found out a great deal about pixies from google searching the word. Not to research them, but to find pictures. [and you better like the one I picked, because it took about 4,000 pictures to find!!]
So here, Vanessa's fun facts about pixies. (Fun Facts about Fairies would have been more fun, but I do not look like a fairy, hello!)
* A lot of people name their rat-sized dogs and ugly cats "Pixie".
*A lot of people don't know how to spell Pixy.
*Most pixies are Japanese.
*Only about 1 in 100 pixies (at best) have short hair. Pixie discrimination!
*It is nearly impossible to find a brunette pixie that isn't ugly or evil.
*Peter Pan and Tinkerbell come in all shapes and sizes (by the way, this made me realize that the pictures we save from our theatrical presentations are only interesting to us. - Michelle, remember how hard it was for us to get anyone to watch the video of Snoopy! with us?)

Well, that search only took a good hour. Pixie Pixy Fairy Fairie Faerie. Bleah. I'm going to bed and I'm taking my pixie hair with me. And no, it doesn't really look like the hair of the pixie in the picture. Gosh, I did my best! Stop judging me!

EnchantedNess

Very uninteresting blog.

2005-11-07T11:09:00.000-05:00

This blog serves exactly three purposes.
1. To post the Halloween picture I've been promising to show. Unfortunately, for some reason I can't convert the file or something and it won't upload. Half my fault for being not-so-computer-savvy, half Stupid Puter's fault for hating me.
So here's a picture of a paper clip instead.

2. To tell you that HOT OFF THE PRESS VOLUME 9
Is now available for your reading pleasure
VIP request, of course.

3. To publicly apologize to Bobber for not getting hold of her for the last few days. Girl, I had a busy weekend like you wouldn't believe. Well, you would, because you're Super-Bob.

ApologeticNess

Reconciliation Dream

2005-11-04T11:13:00.000-05:00

Last night I had a dream
And you were in it
And we were either Here or There
Or neither
I'm not sure

And in my dream was also a girl
From Here
And you knew her like she had been
your friend
For quite some time
And this didn't strike me as strange at all.

I had a dream
That reconciled my old life to new
And as I was falling asleep in your arms
You had to leave
So you kissed me Good night
And I woke up with what's Here
And not There.

-GroggyNess

Sick Day

2005-11-02T17:49:00.000-05:00

It's pretty pathetic that it takes a sick day for me to finally sit down and write to you guys. MJ is gone all day with the phone, and my printer's not working; if I go downstairs I can't get back up because MJ has my keys. So all the things I should be doing are out, and you guys are in.

UPDATES:
FreakShow-- was very fun. People loved our Teen Girl costumes, and said I was the cutest The Ugly One ever. In attendance were: Thing 1 and 2, along with The Cat, Strong Sad, The Flintstone Family, Napoleon and Deb, Your Mom and Your Dad (not kidding), the Phantom (Scotty 2 Hottie looked awesome), my beautiful neighbour the Butterfly, Partly Cloudy With a Chance of Rain (blue shirt, blue pants, cotton balls, and a squirt-gun), the Chicken, the Egg, and a Question Mark, AND MANY MORE!!!

Praise & Worship-- I am leading for the first time on Monday. I have officially been given the job of being the organizer, getting people's info., putting them on teams, getting people together to practice, etc.

Youth Group-- The youth pastor of the church youth group I've been helping out with told me last week that he is thinking about giving me an intern position. It's been great getting to know the kids. We worked the Homecoming Football game this weekend, and it was really good experience. I learned how to load those nacho cheese machines, like the ones they have at 7-11. (Bob: "My nachos!!") Mmmmm... soggy with cheese, please.

I also went to the Opera this weekend, and it was so fantastic!! It was two one-act Operas by Puccini: Suor Angelica (drama), and Gianni Schicchi (comedy). They were both performed in Italian with subtitles. I've decided I could live my life going to the Opera every night and never tire.

I've been listening to a lot of jazz lately. It's weird-- I guess I just always naturally had my fill with dad practicing every day. I never thought that I would be burning to hear it. I also broke out the Christmas music today (Ella's Christmas). And it's still in the teens in temperature here. Can't shoot me til you see me! ;)

I don't think I'm going anywhere tonight. I'm thinking movie in the basement (which is now painted lime green).

That was kinda all over the map, and not nearly as funny and charming as I'm known to be. So here's a few topics, in review, that you can tell me all about in your life, as you respond:
*Costume Parties
*Singing activities
*Volunteer work/work
*Shows you've been to lately
*Christmas preparations!!
If you want, you can talk about Opera and Jazz, too. I won't mind.

AfflictedNess (I'm pretty sure I've already used sickNess and illNess).

Freaks!

2005-10-28T12:34:00.000-04:00

Tonight is the WF Halloween Party, A.K.A. "Freak Show".
There are a lot of people that are keeping their costumes secret. I dunno, as far as I'm concerned, if someone asks, I tell. I really hope these people can live up to the hype they've created!!! I'm sure they'll all be awesome.
People know who I'm going as. They just have no idea what that will look like. So the anticipation is cool.
Anyway, be safe and well my Canadians. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow.

FreakyNess

People...

2005-10-26T02:30:00.000-04:00

Okay. I know I have a cute little CBox in the corner of my website now. Let me be clear here: this does not in any way exempt you from commenting on my regular posts. I was anticipating more sympathy for the cruel treatment I have been receiving here!!
Last night I wrote a song around 2, and when I came out of the board room, saw that Thorin was watching Batman (to whom he is addicted). So I sat and watched the whole thing with him.
All day today I was joking with him that we're dating now and telling everyone that he's my boyfriend. LOL. Oh he loved that. Not.
Let me be clear: There is entirely nooooo chemistry here. Which is the funny part. Hey if they can dish out the teasing, they darn-well better be able to take it!!

As previously mentioned:
HOT OFF THE PRESS
VOLUME 8...
...is a praise song that I wrote for the Wesley Foundation Praise & Worship team. It is my heart not just for me, but for my family here.

I have now officially been asked to lead the worship here every other week. I am very excited about this. I'm having a great week so far, even though it's only Tuesday. I went for a walk this morning. Everyone else thinks it's cold out, but I'd describe it by saying it's "mild."

MildNess

P.S. I bought my costume today.
Teeeen giiiiirl squaaaaaaaaddd!!!
Hey! There's a new issue and it's in colour! (<--- Canadian spelling) Check it out!
www.homestarrunner.com
And yes, I bought an ugly green dress. ;)

Tattle-Tale

2005-10-22T15:02:00.000-04:00

Boys Boys Boys.
Boys will be boys.
(Nice usage of an SGI commercial quotation, eh?)

Davie sat on me.
Adam sat on me.
Brian sat on me and threatened to fart.
Chris is always picking on me.
Thorin gave me a muchly-unwanted lap dance.
And a butt dance.
While Davie held me down.
Jay threw a sandal at my head.
Then the other one.
Jason honked his horn while I was roller blading and scared the bajeebas outta me.
Davie sat on me again.
Adam attacked and tickled me.
Chris attacked and tickled me.
Andrew is always insulting my mom.
Yuri is always insulting my country.
Thorin too.
And Davie.
Denver is always bossing me around and telling me to "come here".
Denver professed Boss' undying love for me.
Stephan delights in flicking me in the head.
Jacob says that Canada does not exist.

They're mean.
They're smelly.
They're relentless.

I love my boys.
------------------------
Part II

I just sat in on a mixing session in the recording studio at the MAC (where I teach). It was truly fascinating-- they have a lot of equipment that fixes terrible singing!! They used a pitch-corrector, as well as a midi-cable that you plug in to the system, play the note on the keyboard, and the out-of-tune singer matches the note!! Not that I will ever need to use such things. ;)
But it was fascinating none-the-less.
The MAC also fed me the best sandwich I have ever had today.
And now I'm using their computer. Which is a heck of a lot better than Stupid Puter.
Oh, the office perks.

PerkyNess?? (No, that's no good. But I can't think of a better one right now.)

Go, Go, Go!

2005-10-14T18:51:00.000-04:00

Heh heh...

Today I went to Keenland!!! I know, can you believe it?! They have horse-races in Kentucky?!! Shut up!

So anyway, firstly, we pull in to park and... oh holy crap, there are so many cars here! Ahhh!! It was like the Saskatoon Ex parking lots... Well, probably more... cars as far as the eye can see.
So as we're walking from our car to the entrance gates, a car of... well... beautiful specimen... drives past to go park.
ME: (to M.J.) Wow. Do we get to watch them race?
Shirtless?
Headed for a water-front?

I know, how very unlady-like of me. Like you wouldn't have said it.

Ok, part two: the race.
I bet $2.
I lost $2.

We stood behind the box-seats where all the ritzy people sit who inherited their ritzy box-seats from their ritzy dead relatives.

I felt like Eliza Doolittle, juxtaposed as I stood behind a group of 15-year-old boys in suits, smoking cigars and pipes.
"Moooove your blooooomin' arse!!!"
I hope you're familiar with My Fair Lady. If not, GET ACQUAINTED!! Audrey Hepburn is fabulous.

Anyway, the last race we stood right at the front, with the (surprisingly small) horses and (surprisingly small) jockeys only a few feet away.

Oh yeah, and I should mention that it was at least 22 above here today. Just to pour a little salt in your frosty Canadian wound.
The setting was reminiscent of the Spiritwood rodeo, complete with terribly unhealthy but none-the-less appealing food.
Yes, the Spiritwood rodeo, only much bigger, much classier, and much more of a big deal for many of the people.
But not me.
I think I'll be able to live with my $2 loss.
Well... actually, that's American, so it's more like $2.20... Ah!!!

ClassyNess (Well... you be the judge)

On a rock and roll

2005-10-10T13:29:00.000-04:00

"I'm spreading love like a terrorist now."
-Sarah Slean

Someone's been writing...
Someone just can't seem to stop.
Someone's having mixed feelings again.

HOT OFF THE PRESS VOLUME SEVEN
IS NOW AVAILABLE BY REQUEST
(In spite of my title, this one's a ballad)

ForthrightNess

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!!

2005-10-09T01:27:00.000-04:00

Thought you might appreciate the greeting... cuz no one here knows about the goodNess of pumpkin pie and turkey that's going on up there right now.

Please take a moment today to say a little prayer for your exiled Canadian friend in the Bluegrass state.

I miss you guys so much. I really wish I could be home. Well, with you. It sux missing my first holiday. And it would be okay, like Halloween (which I'm looking forward to!!), if anyone here at all was celebrating it.

But I guess life goes on with a normal Sunday and all of the students back in school on Monday. And I'll be wistful and blue.

And no one will know why.

But you will, won't you?

Today I am thankful for you. (And tomorrow too).

ThankfulNess

Blessed

2005-10-06T12:40:00.000-04:00

Part 1

Well wouldn't'cha know it.
The sound equipment at Common Grounds dies and there's no open stage this past Monday.
So we watched two episodes of Lost instead. Quick side story; let me fill you in.
A group of us gather in the basement as often as possible and stuff as many episodes of Lost in as we can get into one evening. We call ourselves "the Lost Cause", and we're losers.

But back to the Common Grounds thing: here's the amazing part. About 20 people I knew were going to come. About 10 of them ended up telling me, "Oh, that's cool that it's cancelled. Cuz I have: a really big test tomorrow/ a huge assignment/ a paper due. So basically about 10 people were going to screw themselves over just so they could hear me play.
Well I'm glad it didn't work out then. Next week seems to work better for everyone here, anyway.
Isn't that amazing support? I am so blessed.
----------------
Part 2

If you want your brain to hurt, read my essay.
Go to "The Well", under people I like to stalk, then find the post about "Why there's evil in the world". Click on the comments. Yeah, it's really long. It made my head hurt.
Hope you can have the same pleasure!!

BlessedNess

Half DelightedNess

2005-10-03T13:25:00.000-04:00

Part 2

Introducing My Dear Friend Katie
My friend (and neighbour) Katie is entirely uninformed about Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. And it's funny.

Katie: (Peaks her head through the door) Vanessa!
Vanessa: Katie!
K: Guess what?! There's a Starbucks two blocks away!
V: Shut up!!
K: That's what I said!
V: Wanna go right now?
K: Yes!
V: What's the weather like?
K: AAHH! It's FREEZING!
V: (who had been looking away, turns her head slowly to face Katie and gives her a "get real" look) And by 'freezing', you mean, 'not sweltering?'
K: (laughs) No, it really is cold out.

FYI, it was not cold out. I walked there in a tank top. Katie wore a long-sleeved shirt.
----------------
During the walk, I mentioned something about the Saskatchewan prairies.
Katie: (sung goofily) The hills are alive!!!
Vanessa: What are you doing?
K: Well, every time you mention Saskatchewan, I picture the beautiful rolling hills, and it makes me think of that song.
V: (turns and gives same look as described in first story) Uh... Katie... There's no hills on the prairies.
K: Yes there are.
V: (LMAO) No. There's not. Trust me.
---------------
I have no idea if these stories are things you had to be present for to find funny, but I sincerely wish you could all meet Katie, cuz she's an uninformed blast! But at least she knows she doesn't know anything about Canada. I told her I used to take the PDTS to school. You know, the Public Dogsled Transportation System. She believed me.
Yesterday she asked me if our traffic lights are the same three colours. I said yes, but in Canada, red means go and green means stop. She didn't believe me. Oooohhh!!! The girl's catching on.
I love Katie. She's fantastic.

DelightedNess

P.S. I'm playing at Common Grounds tonight:
*LM ("Miss You")
*Alone (new song)
*Babe of Mine
*Coffee Shop Song (with two djembe players, plus MJ on harmonies and shaking an egg!)

Half AngryNess

2005-09-30T11:24:00.000-04:00

Part 1
Okay, first of all, I will have you know that I have tried creating two separate posts in the last few days and my computer wouldn't let me post them, save them as drafts, copy and paste and save... nuddin'. Why? Cuz it hates me, and it thinks it's the boss. It will only be proving this, if this one doesn't go through, and if it doesn't, it's the sledge-hammer for this stupid 'puter. Yeah, that's right, 'puter. Read it and weep. Read it, weep, and obey! It thinks it's all smart cuz it's got all my friends whining at me new post new post! when really, if it were thinking straight-- which it's not, cuz it's effed-- it would realize that I'm in demand, and it's not, cuz it's stupid and nobody likes it. Ha! And now I've probably got it all mad, and it's gonna consider not letting me post this one, but there's those menacing words to read over and over... sledge hammer... sledge hammer...

Part two coming soon. I'm not gonna bother typing all the rest out if I can't even post.
So here: a little tease until I decide to give S.P. (Stupid Puter) more attention in writing part 2: DelightedNess.

Signed, not S.P.'s friend, but yours, definitely,
Half AngryNess

Replacement Post

2005-09-21T22:31:00.000-04:00

There's a lot to be said for subtlety...
Future reference: when I don't right-out and say something, I probably don't want it right-out and said.
------------------------------
HOT OFF THE PRESS VOLUME SIX
IS NOW AVAILABLE BY REQUEST

You guys know what this means...

There are always people who drop by without telling us they're here.

Well, for the few of you who read my previous "vent", before it's prompt removal, I keep the same title here:
-ApologeticNess

P.S. Check out the newest addition of "people I like to stalk"!!

In My Element

2005-09-20T01:36:00.000-04:00

I walk in the room through a side door holding a guitar that isn't mine. Everyone cheers and goes nuts.
What?
I turn and say "Well, wait until I play something, at least!!!"
They go nuts again.
I go up on stage.
I say a single word into the mic.
"Hi."
Everyone cheers again.

Okay, so now everyone here thinks I'm cool, and I've obviously built up a huge reputation at this place, when really it's just that about 15 of my friends from the Wesley Foundation are here.

I start to play, and everyone watches.
Everyone shuts up and listens.
They cheer.
They like me, they really like me!

This is my Utopia.
My God-given Utopia.
This is me in my element.
There are two times when I feel most like myself.
One is worshiping God.
Two is being on stage.

Getting to do the first by doing the other is an amazing privilege.
God, never let me forget that all I do and live and breathe is for you and because of you.

Singing for God...
This is my Utopia.

I come off stage sweaty and satisfied.
Well sung, well played.
Most importantly, well received.
Thank you my friends.
I can't say how amazing that felt.

-SweatyNess (Ewwwww!)

FACTS:

2005-09-19T02:17:00.000-04:00

Okay, so after having my last entry entirely slammed (Just kidding Ther), I've come up with a new format to tell you what's up with me today.

FACTS:
*I bought a new tank-top a few days ago. It's pink and lacy.
*I'm playing at an open stage tomorrow.
*Tuesday I'm playing at a place called "The Well" (www.thewelluk.blogspot.com)
*Wednesday I'm helping with prayer ministry @ "See you at the Pole"(prayer gathering)
*I'm wearing a green ribbon in my hair.
*I would like to lose 15 pounds.
*I conked myself on the bridge of the nose with a guitar tonight.
*It really frickin' hurt.
*My neighbour Katie is awesome.
*My hair really needs to be layered.
*I have kitchen duty this week, Tuesday to Thursday.
*I really really missed my friends today.
*I like tapioca pudding.
*I don't like refried beans.
*I'm dressing up as "The Ugly One" for Halloween.
*If you don't know who that is, then you should go to www.homestarrunner.com
*I can't think of anything else to tell you.

InformativeNess

Notice me, Horton!!

2005-09-16T02:05:00.000-04:00

"I have wings
And I can fly
Above the moon
And far beyond the sky..."

Sometimes we feel all alone in the Universe.
But we're not.
And sometimes people hurt your feelings, but they don't really mean to. Sometimes it's the last thing someone wants, but it happens anyway. Sometimes people don't say anything simply because they don't know what to say.
But some people really do notice.
Some people notice you.
They see you enter the room, and they see you leave.
And they care if you hurt or not. Even if they can't be there to tell you.
People can't always be everything we want them to be. Sometimes they play a different role in our lives than we want them to.

And I've learned that that's okay.
I don't need to change that.
And I don't need to tell you.
I don't need to tell you why.
But... I notice you.
I do.

ObservantNess

...but you've got a melody...

2005-09-14T01:33:00.000-04:00

Georgia
Georgia, the whole day through
Just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind
Georgia
Georgia, a song of you
Comes as sweet and clean as moonlight through the pines
Other arms reach out to me
Other eyes smile tenderly
Still in peaceful dreams I see the roads leads back to you
Georgia
Georgia, no peace I find
Just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind.
-wistfulNess

Southern Hospitality

2005-09-10T22:58:00.000-04:00

Okay, first of all, let me just say that I just assembled an entire rolly-office chair by my self, on which I am now sitting. Yep, I'm a jenius. With a capitol "J".
-------------------------------
Okay, so on to the content that relates to the title.
You have not seen hospitality until you've spent some time with a small-town Eastern Kentucky family. These people not only put MJ and I up for the night, gave me a new toothbrush when MJ used mine by accident (bringing the total number of people who have used my toothbrush up to three), and fed us breakfast; they also took me to a soccer game, to the library, let me borrow their books, treated me to lunch at my first authentic Mexican restaurant (I'm not talking Taco Bell here!!), and drove me around in their convertible for the day. And never thought anything of it.
These grand events took place while Mary Joy was teaching at the MAC, where I had an interview yesterday. Part of the interview process was for me to teach a private lesson to a girl in front of Krys (Yes, that's pronounced "Chris") and Jennifer, who would ultimately decide if I was to be hired on by the MAC.
Ok, now I'll put it together a little better:
When MJ drives out to the MAC to teach, which is two hours away, she stays with a student's family over night, because she teaches there Fridays and Saturdays. I had an interview on Friday, and on Saturday I got to hang out with one of her student's family. Making sense?
And FYI, the scenery is amazing.

Oh, and...
I got the job.

I walked out of the MAC this afternoon and looked around. Left to right: trees. Up and down: Mountains and sky. I felt like my life is beautiful. I'm starting to feel like this really is my life, and pieces are starting to fit.
...It feels like happy.

HappyNess :)

Nightmare on Millpond Road

2005-09-08T20:46:00.000-04:00

So I had my first babysitting job yesterday. I mean, first "real" one, apart from the glorified babysitting job I've been doing for four years.
scenario: Three kids. 1. Six-year-old boy with 10 year-old intelligence: Taylor. Smart kid. Very fun, very social. Likes to test your authority and patience.
2. Three-year-old boy who is entirely hard to understand: Wes. Speaks in one or two unintelligible words at a time. Taylor translates. Thanks, Taylor.
3. One-year-old girl running a fever: Olivia. Switches hours on and off between being entirely happy, and crying every five minutes over everything.
Diaper changing: Easy.
Reading new kids' personalities: Entirely hard.
So I was quite nervous and felt quite incompetent, although I didn't show it, for the first few hours. How much does a baby eat? How often do you change their diapers? How much structure do you plan for two young boys who are very very different?
Thought I must have done a horrible job, because the boys seemed disinterested in all the cool things I came up with doing.
After-math: Their mom said Taylor said I was fun and we got to do lots of cool stuff. Wes apparently pouted for some time after I left.
What have I learned? Some kids just are not as outwardly excitable as a classroom of five-year-old girls, but they still seem to think I'm cool.
So will I do it again? Heck yes. I love getting the experience of doing new things. It's only up-hill from here.
Verdict: Not a disaster after all.
*VictoriousNess!!

My computer looks infected.

2005-09-06T23:02:00.000-04:00

Good news is I finally have internet in my room. In other good news, I don't have to pay for it. "Ha ha ha." (In Delia-style).
Bad news is it looks ill. The colours are gross. My blog doesn't even look happy. I think it has gangrene. And malaria... Yes. Gangraria.
Most exciting part is I wrote a new song!!! But it is not open to the general public.

Public Service announcement:
Newest edition of hot off the press!!
HOT OFF THE PRESS VOL. 5
is available by request only

So if you would like a copy of my newest and long-overdue lyrics, tell me so in your comment, and I'll email you, telling you of the good fortune. What? I dunno.

Before today, I felt like a used-to-be-songwriter. Then God got me up at three in the morning to give me lyrics and melodies. *sigh* Just like old times! It's good to be back.
Oh! And I used the notebook the Paulgaards gave me, the hand-held recorder the amazing Minis and Expressions gave me, and the songwriter's kit my 'rents gave me.
I'm surrounded by you guys all the time, and you make me sing.

**CrazyNess is writing!!**

Enough about me.

2005-09-02T17:39:00.000-04:00

Let's talk about you.
How are you today?
Is life treating you well, or do I need to drop-kick it for you?
Is starting a new year as hard on you as it is on me?
Are you a little stressed, a little anxious, tremendously excited?
Are all of the wonderful things in your life the same things that hold you back?
Are you trying to find a balance between too much space and clutter?
A balance between lazyNess and eventfulNess?
Are you entirely too busy and too free at the same time? And the most confusing part is that both of these are positive and negative at once? Is your life an entire juxtaposition, contradiction, oxymoron?
Are you living a double-life?
Or are you leaving one behind, and foolishly clinging steadfastly?
Is your entire identity wrapped up in the thesis that it's impossible to know who you are?
Or do you realize that it's imposible to not know who you are, because whoever you are is who you are?
Do your own thoughts confuse you?
Does nothing make sense?
Do you scream in silence?
Are you the most content and fulfilled and frustrated and impatient with yourself that you've ever been?
Do you know what your own expectations for yourself even are?

Cuz if you don't, then you might be just like me.
I guess it's all about me after all.
----------------------
This is not self-pity.
It's poetry.
Don't take it too seriously.

My thought for today:

EXCITING = FRIGHTENING

anxiousNess

Kentucky Fried Everything.

2005-08-29T20:13:00.000-04:00

Hey y'all!
Well first of all, you know how us Canadians like to say "Hey" and we get accused of saying "Eh"? Well, I figured out why. Here, there is really no difference between the two, because no one here ever poses this question at the end of the sentence.
We would say, "You're making a pretty big sandwich, hey?"
Where-as here, they would say "Y'all are making a pretty big sandwich."
And yes, they really do say y'all, all the time, even if there's only one of you.
And apparently I have a really thick Canadian accent, which to me, only Newfoundlanders have. But whatever. I'm stylin'.
So I'm basically a student. I am living in residence on campus. I use the library computer. I am even on a committee. I attend events. I just don't go to class. So basically I'm a really bad student.
Tomorrow a mild hurricane is booked to blow through from Louisiana. That's something new. It has been raining for two days straight, and tomorrow we add the Saskatchewan winds. A hurricane blew through last year and Mary Joy said everyone made such a big deal about it, when really it was no worse than a windy day in Saskatchewan. So we'll wait and see.
I'm not making direct plans to move to Nashville yet. I'm waiting on God for that one. I'm just getting nice and established in the States. I opened a student bank account today (he knew I wasn't a student, but didn't care), and I'm going to the Social Security office tomorrow.
I haven't written anything yet... Well I've written lots in my notebooks, just no songs. There's too much and not enough going through my head, and I haven't sorted through it yet... kinda like the last box sitting in my dorm room.
I miss all of you.
You can call, email, and write me. (If you want my address or number, email me) And of course, you can blog me til your heart's content.
I'm singing on a Praise and Worship team tonight. Yep. Poser student strikes again.
FakeNess-- waaa haa haaaa

Night Storm

2005-08-24T19:50:00.000-04:00

(Brandon Manitoba)

That was simply the most crazy, scarey, exciting, exillerating, dramatic, terrifying, beautiful, magnificent, glorious, dangerous, thrilling, fear-enducing, stress-provoking, wonderful, gorgious, stunning, awe-striking, alarming, astounding, daunting, dismaying, dreadful, formidable, harrowing, intimidating, mean, petrifying, unnerving, alluring, appealing, beauteous, bewitching, charming, dazzling, delightful, divine, enticing, exquisite, fascinating, grand, lovely, marvelous, pulchritudinous, radiant, ravishing, resplendent, stunning, sublime, superb, horrible, abhorrent, awful, dreadful, eerie, frightful, grim, obnoxious, unkind, shocking, exceptional thing I have ever experienced.
I would say there are no words to describe it, but obviously there are.
-FrightfulNess.

Unwritten

2005-08-20T22:17:00.000-04:00

Unwritten
Natasha Bedingfield

I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined
I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your innovations

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines
We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inner visions

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten
----------------------------------
Okay, first of all, this song is basically my life.
Peeps, if you have not heard this song, you really must. Really really.
It makes me so happy every time I listen to it. Darn it all anyway, I wish I'd written it!!

jealousNess (but not really)

Too many fricken' things rhyme with years...

2005-08-18T14:52:00.000-04:00

...So how am I supposed to write this without it turning into a Country song?

appears
beers (definitely a Country-type rhyme)
cheers
dears
deers (haha so obviously Country)
ears
fears (lame pop rhyme)
gears (of my Chevy truck...)
hears
jeers
leers
mirrors
nears
peers
queers (lol...)
rears
sears
shears
tears (very very lame pop rhyme)
veers (after too many beers, I almost hit some deers, and, grinding the gears of my Chevy truck, it veers into what appears to be the Sears...)
zears... just kidding.

Did I miss any?
Some of these have possibility.
I'd tell you more of the context but then you'd steal my song and I'd have to write a Country song about you stealing my song... and my dog... and we can't have that.
----------------------------------
So, peeps, at least FOUR OF YOU, (yes you!!!) have told me that you have been reading my blog, but haven't been commenting.
Now, about three of you say it's because you don't know how. So here's a set of step-by-step instructions, so that you don't have an excuse.

1. At the end of the post on which you wish to comment, you will find a link on the bottom right-hand side that says "-- comments", depending on how many people have commented. Click on this link. Roll your eyes at yourself for not noticing it earlier.

2. Scroll down past the comments, unless there aren't any yet. Either way, at the bottom of this page on the left-hand side, you will find a link that says "Post a comment". Click on this. Give yourself a cute little pat on the head.

3. The page you will now be taken to has a box in which you type. Beneath this box you are given options as to what name you are posting under. If you don't have a FREE BLOGGER ACCOUNT (subliminal advertising...), post using the name "Anonymous".

4. When you are all finished, make sure you sign your name under your comment (in the same box), so I know who you are. Click on "Log-in and publish". Give yourself a one-person hug!!!

**Note: If you get to the page with the box in which you comment, and you don't remember what you wanted to comment on, click on "Show original post" near the top, on the left-hand side above where the other comments are. This will, uh... show the original post... yeah. But you knew that, didn't you? Smarty-pants.

Ok, so if you still don't know what you want to comment on, here, this should help:

DelightfulNess (cuz I really am, aren't I? I know, I know... Oh stop... before you grind some deers and hit some gears... No, wait...)

"Can you imagine?"

2005-08-16T04:01:00.000-04:00

Quote courtesy of Bob and Gus's summer, 2005.

Ok, so Bob/Ther, imagine that (God forbid), for some reason you and Ther/Bob part ways for some time, and even though you've tried to call Ther/Bob a few times, Ther/Bob is impossible to get hold of, just like in real life.
Then imagine that after five years-ish, Ther/Bob calls you one day out of the blue.

Now, honestly my friend, how ecstatic are you?
You're jumping off the walls. I know you are.

As am I.
But don't get too excited.
I wasn't home.
I was at Shancelle's house.
And now she must think I'm insane cuz I almost hit the ceiling when dad told me over the phone.
And Ty and Phil (Don't think you've met Phil, but Ty was at my party: Shancelle's best friend) must think I'm obsessive, cuz every five minutes during playing cards I'd stop and go "Ahhhhhh!! I can't believe he called!! Eeeeeeee!!!"

How sad but funny would it be if he just called to get someone's number?
Hahahahaaaaa.....
Anyway, he better be home tomorrow, cuz I sure am calling back!

Just wanted you to share in my joy.

JoyfulNess

2005-08-15T21:19:00.000-04:00

Minimalizing-- weeding through clothes, among other things.

Strengthening-- rebuilding callouses on fingers, among other places.

Using tears sparingly. Using new songwriter's note-book unsparingly. Writing thoughts, lyrics, drawing pictures.

Embracing, and letting go. Not chasing, but waiting.

Patiently.

You can keep running or you can turn around.
But as for me, I know who I am and I'm staying right here.

...Where you can always find me.

You know what my heart looks like.

CloseNess

"We need the closeness of independence
You need security that nothing's for sure
I'm needing you to give so I can play philanthropist
And how can I live up to that?..."
-2001

On Second Thought.

2005-08-11T02:27:00.000-04:00

It always sounds really cool at the time.
Clever.
Amusing.
Witty.
humorous.

Not so after a night's sleep.
The thought that's been mulled over, after the fiftieth time just does not appeal to the creator any more.

So what's the point?
There was never a point to begin with.
Just all the space
and time
In the world.

...So you don't post it after all...

-disappointedNess

Love More Books

2005-08-08T14:09:00.000-04:00

It's true.
We do judge a book by it's cover. All the time.
I know I do.
We always look to see if the cover is sophisticated enough, beautiful enough, funny enough, artistic enough, thrilling enough, brilliant enough for what we're looking for.
If the cover doesn't tell us enough, we scan the back, and read it half-heartedly, as if it could really give us a sense of the complete package.
Or we ask someone else, someone who couldn't possibly have all the same views on life as we do. Someone who maybe hasn't even read the book, but heard about it once, or read a review.
If our curiosity is awakened, but we're still not ready to commit to the book, we flip through it, or read the first paragraph, knowing that this could never be adequate judgment as to what the book is all about.
Why do we feel such a need to know so much about a book before we accept it?
What if we walked into a book store and committed to the first book we picked up, the first book we saw? What if we committed to reading that book all the way through, and then again and again? What if we could love a book for the writer's talent and didn't judge so harshly for any short-comings, or for plot-twists that turn out differently than how we would have written them?

We would have a library full of well-loved books.

Our society says we would be smarter, happier people if we read more books. I say we would be wiser if we loved more books.

It's like Larry Moore said.
It's time we started practicing the law of inclusion.

LearnedNess

Too Plebeian

2005-08-03T15:45:00.000-04:00

Plagiarism

We quote "to be or not"
without the mention of William
We use the phrases that
our televisions teach us
and recite figures of speech
that our grandparents say.
"You stole the words right out of my mouth!"
we claim with gaping jaws of disbelief
and borrowed sayings
create clenched teeth of
common bitterness.

Originality and enlightenment
rise up the bread of our survival,
intellect our water

Yet Each
Word
Is
In
Existence
And Each Thought
used
And I'm stuck here, expected to delve
When All
Of
These
Words
are defined

And None
Of
Them
are mine.

-Vanessa G.S. Nelson, 2001
-----------------------------------------------
Unrefined Hearts

Unrefined hearts
Have jagged form
Naive confidence
And inexperience
They are daring and certain
Bold bodies fly with the birds
And ride wild horses
And the sharp edges shift
Among ribs and flesh
And cause internal blood and scars
That eventually dull the blade

-2000
----------------------------------------------
Deja Vu:
Haven't I done this before?

"I would scream in riddle, still it would not come." -Alanis Morissette
HiddenNess

I've cut all strings that kept me here
But I did not abuse them
I've shaken off
so many things
If I failed to
amuse them
And now I've found I've got my wings
And don't know how to use them

It's later

2005-07-31T18:15:00.000-04:00

What's the best thing to do when you're studying all day, and have all day to study? Why, work on your tan of course!
I am currently in between two bouts of tanning sessions taking place in my backyard. Who's coming to these sessions? Well MJ joined me for a bit before she had to teach Jillian a theory lesson. Joining me for session two is Zeth, who's pretty dark to begin with, so I have a lot of catching up to do. I love the non-stressful approach to studying, because I'm keeping my mind engaged, getting a lot done, but it doesn't feel tedious, because I'm not sitting at a table, making myself stay there all day.
The thing I've realized with pieces is there's always more to learn. To ingrain. It's like when you're playing a character on stage. You do the initial memorizing, practicing, rehearsing... but the longer you actually play her on stage, the more you learn about her. Meditate on what makes her tick. Her motivations, thoughts, feelings, nightmares.
There's so much more to this than singing the songs. I love going deeper.

Who's birthday is in six days? MINE!
Who's apparently in the hospital for heat exhaustion? CALEB
Who was going to call him yesterday but forgot? ME
Who got surprised with a princess party? THER!!
Who came for the first time? SHANCELLE!!
Who's gonna be out of town for my birthday? BOBBER!!
Who's sad about that? ME
Who's house went from 9 people to three over-night? MINE!
Who's getting sick of the question-answer format? PROBABLY EVERYONE READING THIS!

So enough of that. My form for how I want my name written on my degree came in the mail. Oh sweet mother of pearl, say it again... My degree.... My degree.... Mufasa... Oooooohhhh!!!

When I'm not sure how I want something punctuated, I just leave out the punctuation. But only in titles, songs, and poetry.

Ok... Time for installment two of "Pasty girl attempts to get a tan." By: Me.

HotNess (nice weather we're having, eh?)

GLASS-HALF-EMPTY POST. COME BACK LATER.

2005-07-25T20:02:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the Freak-out. I am freaking out. This is me in my freak-out. I am freaking out about everything, and everything freaks me out. I have been informed that I'm not the only one who's freaking out and this freaks me out.
So I'm leaving in under a month, and I have hardly touched my room. Why? Because then I would have to accept that I'm actually going, and actually getting ready to go.
I don't feel like practicing and studying today, because then I'm really taking my exam and I'm really that much closer to leaving and having no plans towards a birthday that's going to suck and a going away party that has not had a thought put towards it.
What am I doing with all my extra time?
Sleeping, pouting, crying, waiting, grumping, grouching, moping... and mainly being silent.
Everyone must be freaked out because I've hardly spoken two sentences to anyone today. I don't want to be around anyone cuz then they'll ask me what my problem is and then I have to think about what my problem is and then think about having to deal with what my problem is, and I don't want to do that.
I don't want to. And I don't want to type out what it is because then I have to think it while I'm typing it and see it written out and read over it again when I proof-read to make sure it all makes sense when it doesn't make sense to begin with so forget that.
That was a very satisfying run-on sentence, which is about the only thing to satisfy me today besides playing guitar and singing excessively loudly and passionately when I should be saving my voice for my singing lesson tonight. But as we can see, I don't rightly care.
This day was doomed to begin with.
And singing in the Spiritwood skating rink where I gave up skating to pursue singing was... yep, freaky. I could put details, but I don't feel like it, so I'll post some captions when I get my pictures developed.

OK. Slightly calmed. I need chocolate. I think I'll go for a walk to the Sev. That's something, which is better than nothing, and there's nothing else I feel like doing.

FREAKYNESS (That was an easy one)

It's not about me.

2005-07-24T01:50:00.000-04:00

What a gorgeous wedding. Meghan looked so beautiful and radiant and happy. And I was surprised to find out that Steve can dance... very well may I add.
Ceremony: Very nice, in spite of sound people proving once again that they have absolutely no concept of running sound. Lots of Hardy grads. Russ and Garnet were there. I wore my long, black (what I call my "violin recital" dress, cuz that's exactly what it looks like) dress to match the string quartet.
Banquet: Michelle and I sat at the... musical table. Sweet. It was really fun, actually. We made insta-friends. I changed into my red dress for this. More fun. What can I say? Fun fun fun.

I had a lot of people come up to me after the ceremony and all night at the banquet to say that the song was beautiful. I hadn't even considered this. I'm glad it turned out, but that wasn't even on my mind. It's not about me.

Over-all, the bride and groom, family and friends, all had a really good time and no one was stressed out at all, which is what we wanted, now isn't it? Hard to believe they've been together since "Oliver!" Hardy's that is. Not to be confused with Summer Player's "Oliver!", which is how long Michelle and Josh have been together.

Two stag girls. Missed the boys. That sucked, but at least we had each other to hang out with!! Lots of fun people, new and old. Good day, but busy. And tiring.

Delia and Jane went to North Battleford. I leave tomorrow morning with ma and pa to go to Spiritwood. Room to myself... Just me and my Hope Cow. Not used to this any more.

LonesomeNess...

(But it's not about me.)

Better than suspected.

2005-07-20T02:34:00.000-04:00

Rehearsed with a cellist today. I should play cello. No I shouldn't. But it is a fantastic instrument.

Watched Anchorman with Delia (and mom and dad, off and on) tonight. Was it this funny last time, or is there just something about my dad's high-pitched uncontrollable laugh that makes everything that much funnier? Plus Delia has THEE greatest laugh.

Sung. Studied. Translated. Memorized. And so the quest to prepare my voice exam continues.

Birthday August 6th, ARCT FINAL(!!!) exam August 9th.

Went for Bubble Tea. Delia and Michelle do not like squishies. I say Bring it!

I like Brennan's smile.

So how was my day? Better than expected. (not to be confused with "suspected", which was referring to how the cello part turned out).

GoodNess

---------------------------------
Trouble in Minis and Expressions... ville.
Too many bad surprises.
Whatever happened to good surprises?
I like good surprises.
Who doesn't?

I'm going to change my dog's name to Heaping Bowl of Staple Sauce.

2005-07-12T21:49:00.000-04:00

Heaping Bowl for short.
Here, Heaping Bowl!! Come Heaping Bowl! Sit, Heaping Bowl!
BAD HEAPING BOWL!!!!

------------------------------------

I'm taking my first trip to B.C. I'm very excited. Delia, MJ and I leave tomorrow, to go to Calgary and pick up Delia's friend Melissa. We're going to take in the Calgary Stampede for the evening, which is also exciting, because I've never been. I'm definitely going to wear my pink cowboy hat. Uh... Cowgirl hat. Cuz I don't think a guy would wear it.
Then we leave the next morning at the hour of very very early, to get there in time to register for the Prophesy conference. Yay! There are big breaks in between classes, so we'll spend some time at the beach and site-seeing. I'm very excited.

I picked my last Aria. It's hard, but very pretty. I feel like I still have so far to go to get this exam ready. But I'll study in the car every second I'm not busy being car-sick.
I'll be home some time Sunday, and I'm sure I'll have lots to up-date.
Caleb!!! Good to hear from you! Good to know my feelings for Dundurn *spit* are not uncommon!

Be well everyone! Have an awesome rest-of-the week. Warped Tour people, be safe and have fun! Talk to y'all soon.

AdventurousNess

Spit after saying Dundurn.

2005-07-10T02:58:00.000-04:00

I wash my hands of the place. It was definitely fun making Dundurn jokes all the way from the school to the city lights, though. I would say "What a waste of a day" except that the kids were awesomeNess personified.
GOOD JOB LADIES AND GENTLEMAN!!!! You handled yourselves with dignity and class. You had a really awesome show. You sang out nice and clear, your choreo was sharp and your spacing was good. The skits were very well done.
Some towns are just so busy being stuffy and having a stick up each individual a-star-star that they do not even know how to enjoy life or how to be gracious. That town doesn't deserve you. Glad you're back in the 'Toon where people laugh when things are funny, and don't leave at intermission because they're afraid they'll miss the fireworks that don't start for another 40 minutes. And I have definitely never seen two farmers have an entire loud conversation from the back of the room during a Saskatoon show.
What a joke.
I'm upset.
I'm going to bed now.

CrankyNess

Handprint on my heart.

2005-07-08T00:50:00.000-04:00

The following things sucked about my day (this list first because it's shorter!!):
*Coming home and having no one to tell about how excited I was after the Expressions and Mini's first full show.
*Over-speaking and not having much of a voice left, plus having a sore throat.
*Playing "Don't wanna lose" on a crappy-sounding piano (which happens to be mine...)
*Not being able to find the Opera book to pick my last piece for my exam in August.

The following things in my day were so awesome I can hardly speak:
*The Expressions and Mini's first full show. Before. During. After.
*Giving them the "I'm proud of you" talk after the show, and looking around to realize that they were all listening. Not just paying attention, but listening.
*Realizing how much the kids love and respect me, and entirely feeling the same way. So proud. So going to miss them every day of my life.
*Having my first bubble tea.
*Having my first bubble tea with Brennan.
*Running into Hardy Souls (Once a Soul, always a Soul): Amy Strawson and Alexis Summeschuck - however that's spelled.
*The weather.
*The sunset!!
*There was one more but I can't remember it now.

Anyway, I'm so excited about the summer show. The script is so very good. What I love about it is that each of the scenes make sense on their own, for when the performance is in a situation where people are coming and going; but it also ties together at the beginning and end. Besides this, it's fricken hilarious, and I must say I'm very proud of the way it turned out. The songs are so very good. The Expressions get better at doing harmonies all the time, and the Minis have grown so much as performers. I love watching kids on stage that have come so far and overcome so many obstacles to be with us. Jenny N.B. has entirely impressed me. I'm so proud of how far she's come dramatically, and as a singer and dancer. She deserves many gold stars. I can see how much all of the kids are growing as performers, people, and teammates, and it is so incredibly satisfying. I think part of this pride is that I had a much bigger hand in the overall production and planning of the show than last year. Although I entirely loved doing the sound last year and wouldn't change that experience at all, it's great to be able to sit and watch from the audience this year, and take notes from there.
It's all coming together.
Well, I promised my daddy the computer. I'm gonna go memorize some music!

Miss Vanessa

ps> It was seeing little Mikaela and playing with her after the show.

Trip to Edmonton=HOT. Today's rehearsal=NOT

2005-07-05T00:58:00.000-04:00

Okay, so trip to Edmonton equals just about the coolest thing ever. Ther, wish you coulda come. You were missed. Everyone else (cuz I know I saw you all there... including Chel for the first time), yay for 5:00 bed-time (average), West Ed shopping, going to HOJA shows, and eating very not-good-for-you food. How crazy was camping in Jason's yard? Wusses... Us Saskatchewan kids were the only ones who could tough the elements. Yeah, that's right. I said it.
So when all was said and done, I have for myself the following new clothes from West Ed: (from head to toe)
*A new visor that doubles as a wash cloth
*A new pair of sunglasses... I know, I know.
*New earrings (the black ones look good on me no matter what you say :P )
*A snazzy new blue tank top- very bar star in a good way.
*A new zipper upper long-sleeved shirt (cuz we all knew I needed another one... not). And p.s. Ther, it has a crooked zipper cuz I'm cool.
*A new watch cuz mine died
*A purple butterfly ring, which Bob, Chel, Dee and I all bought together. Except mine died. The butterfly came off.
*New capris which I've yet to wear, but will.
*A new thong, beige so you can wear it under anything. (Those smart underwear inventing people)
*A new scarf that doubles as a belt and head-band. Bob bought the same one. Oh yes we did! Obviously.
*Lastly, a new pair of shoes!!! I needed a new pair. Bob didn't. Bob bought a new pair anyway. That is so Bob.
Shopping people: did I forget anything?

Okay, so now I'm trying to think of anything I can say that most of you don't already know, so none of you say "You don't have to tell me, I was there." Okay, how about Brennan said just about the nicest thing to me that I think anyone has ever said, which no one ever has before, I'm pretty sure. I'd tell you what it was, but then I'd have to kill you. And it's not dirty. Get your minds outta the gutter. Seriously.
Point is: I had a great time. I had an awesome time being with Bob. And so much fun with Chel and Dee and everyone else. And a vital time with Bren. The drive there was really fun and the drive home was even better. The camp-fire was a definite highlight. I love voices and harmonies coming from everywhere.
Anyway, what a weekend. What a great, great weekend. And Bren, thanks for eating chocolate-cream pie with me last night. That was awesomely funNess.

_______________part 2______________________

So.... hard... to... pull..... self... out.... of.... bed... this...... morning.
So, with my hair still full of hairspray from Dee's creation (which was hotNess itself), I threw my hair into a pony tail, threw on some dance clothes, grabbed a coffee and toast and flew out the door at 8:30 this morning. Rehearsals were tediousNess itself all morning. All the kids were tired and lazy from their weekend off, and us teachers were feeling entirely drained because of it. It was so hard to keep the energy level up and to try to encourage the kids.
The afternoon went better. I blocked the script for three hours, and it was actually really fun. Dang, I just have a thing for blocking. I only have two scenes to finish tomorrow that I didn't get through today.
Tomorrow will be crazyNess itself. First day without mirrors; full runs of songs and script. Yeesh.
Well, you know what, frickin BRING IT!
I better hit the hay if I'm going to rise to the occasion tomorrow.
This has been your official update.

tediousNess--bah! Only two more days of boot-camp rehearsals!

...and a dog.

2005-06-23T18:02:00.000-04:00

So last night I shared my room with, of course, MJ and Delia. And also our dear friend Marissa- it was nice to see her. When I woke up in the morning, Zethy was sleeping at the foot of the bed, which was a nice surprise, because he hasn't slept in my room since MJ came home and took up his side of the bed. He used to sleep and cuddle with me all the time, and I miss this. I really don't mind sharing my room. It's a little messy right now, which sux, and I can't find anything it seems, but half of that is just me not putting my laundry away (which I just finished doing, so hopefully I'll have more luck). Another part of that is Jonathan relocating everything as he sees fit.
The only thing that bugs me about it is when I want to go to bed, but I can't because someone is always inevitably having a deep conversation in the room. I either don't have the guts, or I'm too nice, to kick them out. One or the other. Well actually, it's because once you've decided to do someone a favor, you commit to it, and it's no longer being held over the person's head as a favor. I really am happy to have MJ and Delia around. And once I say "My room is your room", then it really is, and I have no right to kick anyone else out of their room.
I'm just sick and achy right now, and everything's irritating me, and I'm grumpy and downtrodden about everything. Once in a while I wish I could have just my little cuddly male companion in my room. Or Zethy, when he's on the road. *wink wink.
But then other times I wish I could just hog MJ to myself. We were starting to have a deep, much-needed conversation last night when Delia and Marissa came home. Which was okay, because it's always nice to have them around too. I dunno. I'm babbling in circles. My head is all snuffled up and it's clogging my brain. Gross.

Show tonight for the kiddies. Payment for Nessa. It's all good.
I'm going to go straighten my half-wet hair. And maybe eat some chocolate. Jealous?

SnuffaluffaGUS

Sleep is for the weak!!

2005-06-21T21:02:00.000-04:00

Or so I am told. But now I am slightly under the weather, tired, achey and sore-throaty. So I have concluded that I am definitely weak, and yes, sleep is for me!!

Jon crushed my cowboy hat. I was perturbed. I reshaped it as best as I could. I am wearing it to rehearsal tonight.

I am looking forward to Michelle's birthday!!! Except that she hasn't given me any sort of clue as to what a list for her may include this year... hint hint *couch couch*

As for me and my 22nd birthday is August, I want rolly shoes. I know you hate them, Bob, but that doesn't mean I can't want them. I really want them. There are probably things I need more, but they sure do look right up my alley.

My vocal-therapist is very pleased with my progress. Today she tape-recorded me, and even said after listening back, that I did "fantastic!!!" Which she never says, so I felt very very happy.

I am actually wearing my own clothes today. I know, can you believe it?

Time to eat and go to work. I am wearing make-up again. It is fun, with the new purchases and all, half of which I can't find, but I'm sure they're around here somewhere. Probably under the piles of my three-girl room.

SporadicNess (I had no idea how to spell that.)

"My Favorite Part About Camping." by Vanessa G.S. Nelson

2005-06-17T15:13:00.000-04:00

I love the beach. I love the walks. I love the campfire where we sing show-tunes and pop songs (Go Spice Girls!!). I love the company. The relaxation. I love the sunny afternoons and the mellow evenings. I love the sun going down and the crickets coming out. I love Michelle chopping wood. I love making crappy camp food such as bush pies and Zoodles.
But there's something about the mornings. I actually get to see them. This is my favorite part. There's no dingy, disorienting basement room with no windows, to keep me in bed longer than I should be. You fall asleep to the laughter of your companions, and awake to the sun entirely flooding your tent. Or maybe it's the unbearable tent-absorbed heat that pries you out of your sleeping bag and makes you flee to the outdoors. Or sometimes it's the sound of playing children that lifts your eyelids and makes you feel like shouting "Shut up!!" every time you hear a tone-call: "You can't catch me!" But whatever it is that happens to get me up, I don't mind.
Sometimes everyone wakes up around the same time. This is cool. Other times I awake to find that everyone else is still snoring, and I quietly leave the tent for the solitude and comfort of the calm outdoors. I don't mind being the only one up. There's so much peace and joy to be out in nature, away from the demands of work or parents. A morning walk, or a morning song takes the place of the traffic buzz. Time doesn't exist out here. There is no schedule, no drone or routine that makes me reluctant to start the day.
I can't sleep in when I'm camping. And I love that.

Here's to this summer, and the camping trips to come, with old companions and new.

-Don't bother having a fight when you're camping. Slamming the tent flap just isn't satisfying. Or so I'm told, in not-so-many words.

NostalgicNess

Good news... Bad news...

2005-06-14T23:34:00.000-04:00

Okay, so I was expecting a very high mark on my music Harmony exam, but I was a little worried about my Analysis. I was hoping to pass. Well the bad news is that I only go 80% on my Harmony, which is good, I suppose, it's just that in my humble opinion, I was freakin' awesome on that exam, and was hoping for higher. Oh well. This news is totally made up for by knowing that I not only don't have to redo my Analysis, I actually got a 72% on it. Really freakin hard exam, so this is happy news. Yay! They must have marked the Harmony really hard. But I'm still proud of the work I did on it. I'll know how they came up with that mark when the exam gets mailed back to me-- Yeah, that's sweet eh? Ever had a final mailed back to you??!! Suckahs.

I had the most wonderful and vital time with Brennan, like you wouldn't believe. We grew so much these past few days. What an incredible boyfriend. And friend. And person. I went to the two HOJA elementary school shows today. The guys were really awesome. I beam with pride every time I see Bren on stage. So, he's the one who's been working hard and looking hot doing it, yet he takes me aside after the show to tell me I'm amazing.
Yeah. This is my jaw dropping.
Well, I'm gonna go spend time with MJ and Delia. I have to find out what the plan is re: Mylo tonight.
And Bob, you totally pegged it. "No time! Must see Brennan! Must neglect Blog! Ahh! No time!!!!!"

Q: How do you get an elephant into a Safeway?
A: You take the "S" out of "Safe", and you take the "F" out of "Way".
Bih-chuz.

Love and Mush!!!
EccstaticNess

ps> My frickin spell-check isn't working cuz my computer sucks and it won't let me look like I'm a good speller. Forgive any possible errors, please.

Country Road

2005-06-08T20:24:00.000-04:00

"When you go down that road
There's no turning back
And when you go down that road
It's plain to see that
From out of this bleeding world
There's nowhere else I'd rather go
Then down that road." -Leahy

This morning I drove Mary Joy out to a lady's house in the country because she got an "odd job" cleaning house for her, and I'm the wheels.
First of all, we had hardly passed the Grasswood Esso when the car started sputtering. I look down, and, oh yeah, I had reminded myself last night but this morning had forgotten that I was basically out of gas. Gas that I had put in the tank and hadn't even used because I haven't had the car in a week. So anyway, we turned around at the next available place. The car was so low on gas that the pick-up was horrible, and I didn't think she was gonna make it. Well, she made it, and $40 and a near heart-attack later, we're back on our way.
It's been raining for days and this dirt road off the highway had become a mud road. Scariest drive ever, probably, trying to stay on the road, and not get stuck at the same time. Making sure to go not-too-fast and not-too-slow, but just the right speed to avoid catastrophe. Of course, every time the car fish-tails there's only one name I call. So I drop off MJ and head back.
On the way back by myself I'm just praying to stay on the road, and not get stuck. Most horrible road I've ever driven on. Then God says to me, "Do you have to be this scared for me to get your attention?" I don't talk back, but listen for once. My knuckles are basically white on the steering wheel. The last few days I've been feeling so sorry for myself and spending so much time thinking about "What am I going to do?!" that I have been entirely ignoring God's input.
So then something happened that I'd been hoping against. Another car appears up the road. I'm thinking "Oh no!" because I can hardly keep from swerving off when I'm driving directly down the middle of the road. (The ruts are water-filled and/or too deep and messy to drive in.) And if I slow down I'll get stuck for sure. Just when I'm getting close enough that I'm really wanting to panic, the car calmly pulls over at a mailbox, safely out of the way. An old lady gets out of the car to get her mail, and smiles weakly as a deeply-worried young face goes by.
Then He delivers the message He's been patiently waiting to give me:

People drive down this road all the time.

In fact, this is just a short excursion. Some people live down these roads.

I get it.
-enlightenedNess