St. Patty's

This purse was at the Brazilian display table last week. It is made almost entirely of aluminum can pull tabs. I thought it was rather ingenious.

Today I totally forgot it was Saint Patrick's Day until I got to school and nearly everyone was in green. Dax reminded me that since it is St. Pat's Day , I am supposed to make Corned Beef and Cabbage like I have since I moved up here. After a quick stop at the store, the pot was on the oil and we will be enjoying it in a few minutes. All of the kids seem to be looking forward to it too.

I spoke to the "tutoring lady" this afternoon. Apparently she called last week. Ron thought she was a friend of ours who goes by the same name and gave me the message as if it were her. . . OOPS! Well, I have an appointment for an interview tomorrow morning (Think good thoughts and send up a few prayers, please). Hopefully I can start to help with the bank balance soon.

At school today, I saw a horned owl sitting in the tree next to its nest. I think there is a live-feed link to a camera trained on the nest on the TRU campus website somewhere. I saw it at http://barabus.tru.ca/paetkau a few days ago.

Time for CB & C now! Hope you had a happy Saint Patrick's Day all.

March 15, 2008

A Turkish student told me this is an "evil eye" and is used to ward off bad spirits. This photo was taken at the international showcase at school last Wednesday.

Last night we watched the Nancy Drew movie with the kids instead of going out for a date. It was nice to be home

Today was spent lazing for most of it. I spent about 15 minutes cleaning up the herb garden in the front, then we returned some movies and took the kids for a cruise at the local mall for an hour or so. We watched a movie with the kids (13 going on 30), then played Wii with the boys while the girls watched TV in the other room.

I had schoolwork to do today, but I was just sapped of energy, so it didn't even get looked at.

It has been unsettled~~ sunny, rainy, and cool the last few days.

Well, that's the report for today.

March 13, 2008

Yuki (Jim and Linda's Japanese student) posed for a photo with the kids. This kimono is made of cotton, but still felt very sily soft and smooth.

We have been extra busy the for last few days (As usual!). Yesterday Ron brought the kids up to TRU for the afternoon. TRU World hosted the "International Showcase". There were displays, food, a fashion show, and performances by students, professors, and alumni representing over 60 countries throughout the world. My genetics professor played keyboard and sang in a Cuban/Canadian band. The girls both thought the Barbie Dolls from India were really cool. The girls were also really impressed by the Belly Dancer, the Baliwood dancers and the Indian Dancers. Adam and Dax liked the Vietnamese, Indian and Ukrainian food. They also enjoyed the Taiwanese break dancers and the Colombian Hip-Hop dancers. Ron and I were really impressed with the traditional Chinese dancer. Ron also really liked Sage Hills Band's (First Nations) dance, I was in class, so had to miss that one. I thought the caliber of all of the acts was exceptional, but I am always moved by the Japanese drums. Ron and the kids got there about 12:30 and we stayed until 7:30 last night. You can see more pictures in the photo album on the home page.

Time to make lunch, gather my junk together, and get ready for class now. I have 2 quizzes and a physics assignment due tomorrow that I should probably spend some time preparing for also.

March 10, 2008

Today started with a moderate spring rain. My dad called for another too brief exchange on the phone.

Ron had a few errands to do, so he took me up to the campus for my two classes today. I managed to pass that awful calculus quiz last Friday. I got my genetics mid-term back today and I did alright on it also.

Yesterday was another nice day at church and I got three new books to read once I am through school for the year. I really, really like the song we are practicing in choir.

I am still having "interesting" dreams and having a hard time quieting my mind at bedtime, so it seems like I am tired most of the time. I am really having a hard time staying motivated for school. I will be SOOO glad when the drudgery of physics and calculus is behind me. (of course, then I will be faced with organic chem next year!!!)

March 8, 2008

This classic example of class, style, and creativity was sharing the road with us on our way home yesterday afternoon. I'm not sure if this guy is a huge fan of Red Green ("duct tape, the handyman's secret weapon") and did this himself, or if someone did this to him on a dare.

After the calculus quiz from the etherworld yesterday, we came home for dinner with the kids. MORE LATER.

March 3, 2008

Church was nice yesterday, but I had a blazing headache most of the day. Kaili was supposed to teach a primary class and she forgot to prepare it, so we had a minor emergency when we first got there. Fortunately, we were able to catch the primary president before sacrament and get the materials she needed in plenty of time. Last night after dinner we played triominoes and I had the leading score most of the game, so I did a lot of trash-talking with the kids. Of coarse, that means Ron pulled it out to win in the very last round. That was actually very good, as he hasn't won that game in a long time.

We made burritos and watched a movie with the kids for FHE tonight.

Today when I got my calculus quiz back, it was a nice surprise. Somehow I managed to pull off 80%. Then I got a ot so nice surprise with the genetics mid-term. I have NO IDEA how that went as I focused mainly on the steps of meiosis and she did some nit-picky vocabulary stuff and a few interesting (puzzling) inheritance questions

It was grey and drizzly, about 45-50 degrees today and the river is nearly fully melted now.

March 1, 2008

This is pretty-much what today was like for me. I wrote and sent off my resume first thing, then, I was right there next to Isis with my nose in the books for the rest of the day. Aurora spent the day on the floor beside me. It was very quiet, almost tomb-like.

Ron took the kids to Connie and Neils' house where they rode snowmobiles, tubed and sledded for the day. They didn't get home 'till about 5:30 this evening when the stillness suddenly shattered.

After a quick bite we all went into the family room and played on the Wii and an old computer I brought back from California this winter. The computer still has windows '98 on it, so the kids can play some of their old games again.