Voiceless

Well, almost. A raspy croaking noise does come out of my mouth, but I think there are tiny little Vancouver City workers marching around my vocal cords, with signs that say STOP and DETOUR, making my voice a little below standard.

Recruitment went well today, I think. It's such a tiring process, and none of us brought food, which was a big mistake (no food for nine hours is bad), but all in all it went well. I blow-dried my hair, for the first time in ages (my hair dries pretty straight in the summer), but more importantly for the first time since it was cut, and while it doesn't look exactly like it did when I walked out of the salon, the reproduction is very acceptable. Especially since I don't blow-dry my hair very often, so I really don't know much about the technique of it all. One thing I'm excited about is the fact that my hair takes about 30 minutes less to dry than it did before it was cut. Also, our hairdryer weighs a ton (it's from like the 70's), so any reduction in time is well-appreciated by my feeble arms.

I feel like I've dropped off the Earth this past week. I haven't really had time to talk to anyone, and I don't like it. The first week of school is supposed to be the easy, relaxed part of it all. What happened!? I'll have to investigate.

Revitalize by Water

Sleep is a wonderful, beautiful thing. I'm not really feeling any more healthy than I was last night, but I no longer feel like my head wants to implode, which is a big step forward.

I woke up at eight this morning, and couldn't fall back asleep. Since I have tons to do this morning (recruitment starts today, ack!), I got up and treated myself to a long hot shower.

I'm sure everyone has their own little rituals for the perfect shower. Some of you may even involve things like candles and incense. My bathroom isn't really big enough to safely accommodate flame, so I'm a little limited in that sense, but it's still a huge indulgence for me. There're a few improvements I can think of, like better lighting in the shower. It's kinda dark in there. And a stereo, so that I can have pretty music playing. Maybe candle-capability. But all in all, it's quite perfect, and for a half hour of relaxation that I don't even have to leave the house for, it can't be beat. It's my form of meditation, I think.

I'd like to note that I don't do this every time I have a shower. Generally, my showers are of a more mundane, speedy nature. This type of shower is a luxury, for when I'm stressed out or upset, or occassionally when I have the time and feel like treating myself. I don't plan on ever doing this for every shower. For one thing, it would use far too much water to be reasonable.

Before anything else, I turn on a little electric space heater and shut the door, so that the bathroom isn't cold at all, even for the beginning of the shower. I go get my huge fluffy pink towel (it's 6 feet long, 4 feet wide. It is so fantastic, it deserves a title. I'll think of one soon.) and my slightly smaller (but thinner and therefore lighter) hair towel. I get my comb, my body wash, and my big loofah, and then enter the heated bathroom.

I then shower in perfect (perfect) temperature water. Not hot, but more than warm. I wash my hair first, really thoroughly, kinda like they do in hair salons, except without the benefit of having someone else (who is professionally trained) do it for you. When I've rinsed my hair out (which used to take way longer, before the culling of the bottom 10 inches) I soap up the loofah, and go through an incredibly long massage/exfoliation session. It's bliss. So much so that I never ever want to leave. However, I generally have other plans for the rest of the day, so eventually I will force myself out of the shower, out of the bathroom, out of my tiny, perfect little world.

Rock A Bye Janni

On the tree top...When the wind blows...

I am so tired. Retreat was long today. And now I'm at home, printing page upon page. I don't actually mind printing at all, but I wish I could go to bed. I'm sick, and I've entirely lost my voice, and I have an awful headache right now. I really want to write in my journal (the paper version) before going to sleep too. argh.

Haven't really been up to too much lately. Saw Girly last night, who has fabulous hair (also done by Jason). I've totally missed out on sleep lately, due to buses and other things that I hadn't planned for (like this printing. Argh.). Even when I do sleep, I can't seem to sleep very well. Oh well. Work now, rest later, right?

Yeah, right.

Pathogens Suck

I'm sick. I have some sort of fluey, fevery cough thing, and I am not impressed. It makes me dizzy, and I can't figure out what to wear, since I alternate between boiling hot and freezing cold, and I can't take off/put on the layers fast enough. So frustrating. I (like most people, I would guess) hate being sick, and having some stupid germ attack me on the first week of school is uncalled for. Anyway, I have to eat something, and try to balance my inner ear, so I can make it to the bus stop. How does one balance their inner ear?

Recruitment, Anyone?

I got to sleep in today. It was beautiful. After watching yesterday's Oprah (re-broadcast this morning) with a mug of tea, I am back to the relaxed state I was in before school started up again. Definitely going to be part of my routine this year.

One thing I do heartily enjoy about the beginning of the school year is the plethora of free stuff we're given. I have enough coupons to eat for half price for the next three months, which is always exciting to a food addict like myself. I was also given coupons for a tanning salon, photocopying center, and 50% off hair colour, but I gave those away, as they aren't really useful to me. It's really all about the food.

I am however feeling the pinch money-wise. My Visa bill has exploded in the past few days, due to textbooks (vastly over-priced), so I've got to pay that off sometime soon. Luckily, I won't have time to spend any money in the near future, as my schedule has been predetermined for me by others. Care to hear? Of course you do. Here goes;

Today: Lunch, class, friend's birthday tonight.
Tomorrow: Class, then I get to see Girly!
Saturday: Sorority Retreat, from 11 am onward.
Sunday: First day of Formal Recruitment (eek!).
Tuesday: Recruitment
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: Recruitment, recruitment, recruitment, recruitment.

Yeah, lots of recruitment. I am going to be so tired. More on that another time.

(Note: Any girls at UBC interested in seeing what sororities are all about, check out ubcsororities.com. You may be pleasantly surprised. Oh, and guys should check out ubcgreeks.com.)

Hello Doesn't Like Me

And now I don't like it, either. Hello is the program I'm supposed to be able to use to upload pictures, and therefore show you my hair. But it for some reason doesn't like me or my computer at all, so I can't. Very annoying. For all you know, I could be lying about the hair. It could be an elaborate ruse, to trick you into thinking...I have hot hair. Seriously though. I want to post pictures!

So the second day back at school went well. My classes seem all right, and so far I know at least one person in every one (just one more to go, we'll see!). It'd be nice to get that five-for-five, but it isn't a huge deal, since I study best on my own anyway (I'm very particular with how I study).

We had our first meeting at the new Panhellenic (Panhel) House in our chapter room, today. It was nice not being in a classroom; the seats were a lot more comfortable. Also, the room looks awesome, which is always nice. A couple of the girls have put in hours getting it ready, and it totally shows. I think UBC is really happy we have our own rooms, since we were apparently a huge problem for them, booking empty rooms on Wednesday nights (a little bit of sarcasm should be traken with every meal. Or in my case, every breath).

Other than that, really not too much happening. Talked to Tessa and Girly today, who are always fun, and read a tiny, tiny bit of assigned readings, making me one of four people on campus who've actually started studying on this, the second day of term. So, I'm officially a geek. One who cannot figure out how to post pictures on her website. Sigh.

Well, at least my hair is still pretty.

HOT

is what my hair is. I got my hair cut (by Jason at Strutters, you need to be there!), and it is amazing. I'll try to post a picture later this week, when I figure out how. In other news, my class today was pretty good, and I went to a bar party at VODA, and saw lots of cool people I hadn't seen in months. Plus, I have really amazingly hot hair. But I'm going to bed now, because my hot hair and I need our rest.

Note: I actually wrote this last night, but blogger ate my post three times, at which point I exploded into a rage of epic proportions, thus delaying the actual post until now. I'm going to learn how to post pictures now, so I can show you my hair. And I've noticed that Tessa is once again a step ahead of me, with her first picture already posted. Damn you Tessa! One day I shall be the innovator!

Day of Randomness

So, today was the first day of the new school year. I started the whole day by going to get my hair cut, by Jason, at Strutters, who I recommend to everyone in Vancouver, because my hair is HOT. I'll try to figure out how to post a picture later this week. It's shorter than it's been in years, and it swishes and I love it.

I had one class today, Psychology of Language, which looks to be pretty interesting, even though the midterm is on my birthday. Also went to VODA, a nightclub, that was having a party for charity tonight. As you can tell, I'm already at home; I headed in pretty early. I'm tired, and my amazingly hot hair and I need our rest. 'night all.

HOT

is what my hair is. I got my hair cut (by Jason at Strutters, you need to be there!), and it is amazing. I'll try to post a picture later this week, when I figure out how. In other news, my class today was pretty good, and I went to a bar party at VODA, and saw lots of cool people I hadn't seen in months. Plus, I have really amazingly hot hair. But I'm going to bed now, because my hot hair and I need our rest.

Busy Busy...

And yet not nearly as busy as I will be next week.

Went to dim sum today, it was every bit as good as anticipated. For anyone who has never had dim sum, you're missing out. I will gladly take you and show you the ropes. Call me. We were at dim sum with family friends of ours, and I got to see my friend C again, after far too long (hi C! Call me, we'll chill). In summary, good food and good company make an excellent brunch.

After dim sum, Greg and I went to Metrotown. I've com to the conclusion that when I ask people if they want to go shopping with me, they always end up spending more money than I do. Greg got a t-shirt and a sweater, both by Versace and therefore both pricey. I ended up paying for them on my Visa, 'cause Greg can't withdraw that much (yeeesh) from his account in a day. I did however go get the Jacob Connexion tee that I'd been coveting since Saturday. It's adorable, and for waiting two days, I got a $3 discount! Patience is not only a virtue, it pays off. In cash.

It still hasn't hit me that school starts up again tomorrow. I think big events knock my brain out of keeping time properly. Oh well, back to the routine I go.

Sloth, Or Doing Holidays Right

I am a firm believer that holidays should not be wasted. Holidays are beautiful things, days when even the government and businesses (with the exception of retail) say, relax, sleep in, have some fun. Now, I've pretty much been on holiday since April, but this, as an official holiday, is special. And I rang it in with admirable laziness.

So as Tessa already wrote, she came over to watch some TV last night. She had to work in the morning, so she left at 10. That's pretty much when the interesting television ends on a Sunday anyhow, so it worked out well. I walked her to the door, and promptly returned to the couch, where I started to doze off. Under other circumstances, I would have happily just slept on the couch (it's really comfortable), but I still had my contacts in, and I hate the gross sticky feeling of dry contacts, not to mention the pain that comes when you take the dry sticky contacts out. So upstairs I went.

My room was a disaster area. I'm still in the middle of the overhaul, so everything is in random 'piles' that supposedly reflect their category. Also, I finally vacuumed everything, which meant everything that was normally on the floor was now on my bed. The plan had been to finish the cleaning after the TV shows, but I was too tired, so I just moved everything back to the floor, brush teeth etc, and flopped into bed. At 10:20. And I just got up. I got twelve hours of sleep people! After almost a month of 4-5 hours, tops, twelve! So my new cure for insomnia? Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Not the original Extreme Makeover. That stuff makes nightmares.

So, I've slept in, I may go shopping later today, and I'm having dim sum in half an hour! Yay! I really need to get dressed. Happy Labor Day, y'all!

Ah, Politics

From IMDb News:
"Director Michael Moore has offered to take US Senator John McCain to see Fahrenheit 9/11, after the politician slammed his controversial film. At the Republican National Convention on Monday, guest speaker McCain prompted boos against Moore after denouncing the documentary, which attacked American President George W. Bush's handling of the September 11 terrorist attacks. McCain called Moore - who was covering the event at New York's Madison Square Garden for newspaper USA Today - "a disingenuous film-maker who would have us believe that Saddam (Hussein)'s Iraq was an oasis of peace". And Moore made an appearance on comedian David Letterman's chat show Wednesday night, where he encountered more boos - coupled with cheers - and offered to take McCain to the cinema. Moore told Letterman, "He hasn't seen it yet. I'll take him to the movies while he's here in New York. It's just playing down the street and if he doesn't like it, afterwards I'll let him pummel me like you suggested!" McCain, a booked guest on the show, later shot back, "I admire his skills as a movie maker and certainly admire his success at making money. Seems like he could afford a shave and a haircut!"

Did the Senator seriously just attack Michael Moore's appearance? One, Joan Rivers would probably be too ashamed to attack such an easy mark, and two, what the hell does his hair have to do with politics? I mean, when somebody says "Hey, come see my movie, then trash it!", the wittiest response is not "Yeah, well, you look like a hobo!"

Also, doesn't John McCain have a comb over? Glass houses everywhere, dude.

I Am So Proud of Myself!

Do you want to know why?

Because I went to Ikea today, with the lovely Tessa, and when we came out, I'd only bought the things I'd said I was going to buy. I have never gone to Ikea without being seduced by the cute little $1.50 candleholders, or pretty $4 pillows, or some other beautiful and cheap objects. But today, I went to buy nice storage things, like baskets and nice boxes, and that's all I came out with! I'm so impressed with myself. Also, I came out within budget. I had $52.81 in my wallet, and the bill? $52.62. It was awesome. And I have places to put things!

I was also planning to get these big baskets that could go under my bed, because they're covered, so dust would stay out, and they look nice. Then I measured the height under my bed. 12 cm. 12. Nothing fits in 12 cm! You need at least 15-16 cm. That was pretty frustrating. Then, angered, this horrible suspicion crept into my mind. So I went and measured the space under my parents' bed, and my brother's bed. They have 20 cm. I so got the shaft. Anyway, Amanda, Anna and I, at Girls' Games Night last night, hatched a plan to prop my bed frame up a little. So when I get on that, I can go back, and get the big under-bed baskets. And then, finally, I can take over the world.

You think I'm kidding, don't you?

Well That was Horrible Timing.

So, I'm shopping with Tessa, Evi, Amanda, Joan, Nina, and Anna (also known as supergirl), and it's all fun. I'm having, finally, a wonderful, sad-free day. Then, on a bus, I get a phone call. An awkward, karmically-uncalled for (unless I've done something awful that I've forgotten) phone call. And now I'm bitter, and sad, and a little angry. Not at the caller; it was entirely not his fault. But I wish he'd been told, so he'd known calling wasn't appropriate. Or even helpful, for him. Anyway, I'm sure I'll get past it. But seriously, why is it that timing seems to be bent on kicking me back down the second I get up these days?

This happens again, I'm going to fly into a freakin' RAGE.

I Wonder Why I'm So Tired?

Oh, that's right, it's because I didn't get home until 3:30 last night! Distinctly dizzy, likely from the shot of Jaggermeister we had at the bar. However, Mon had predicted I'd throw up, so I think dizzy is a good alternative. Happy Birthday Mon! Girl's night is the way to go, we had an awesome time. I'm definitely having a girl's night for my birthday, although it probably won't be quite the same. Of course, depending on the circumstances, T and Mon may not give me the choice.

Anyhow, I'm making pretty good progress with the editing. I've almost finished the first run through it all, so that's really not that bad. Today I'm going to go get my textbooks, and then I'm going shopping with some girls, including Tessa and Evi. Should be fun!

Excuse me, I really need some orange juice.

Quote of the Week

"It wasn't funny 'ha ha', it was more funny 'boo hoo, that totally sucked'."
- Phil Hartman, as Bill McNeal on Newsradio

Disclaimer and Update

I want to say that my comments on marriage are not meant to offend anyone in any way. I understand that some (most) people are more mature than I am, and ready to take that very big step. I, while applauding you, am definitely not one of them. My parents didn't get married until they were thirty, however, so maybe it's a genetic thing.

Editing has been slow today. I think there've been more modifications I've had to type in in the last fifteen chapters than the first 14. Fortunately, the story is pretty interesting, so I don't have to worry about losing consciousness or anything. I can't imagine editing a college textbook about grammar or something. Kudos to those who can edit writings lacking plot or intriguing subject matter.

Also, does anyone know where I can get the pretty red square photo album by Havoc Publishing? Tessa has it, and I 'secretly' covet it, but she bought it in Edmonton, which is useless to me.

Conversations with Tessa

Tessa: Hey
J-Bird: Hey, what's up?
Tessa: Not much, you?
J-Bird: meh, editing. How's your accordion folder?
Tessa: Wonderful. I usually keep all my loose papers in Manila envelopes. This is so much better!
J-Bird: I know! But now I'm on an organizing kick. I totally want something like this, only prettier, to put by my desk.
Tessa: Very nice.
J-Bird: I figure once I get all my stuff organized into accordion folders (I'm so getting more), I'll need somewhere to put them. Plus, I love the look of the wall...holder thingys. Seriously. I want everything from Ikea that can make my ugly piles of stuff look pretty.
Tessa: When you go to Ikea, you'd better bring me!
J-Bird: Noted.

* * * * *

J-Bird: ...You have a lot of friends getting married.
Tessa: I know, it's really weird.
J-Bird: Seriously. Is it an Alberta thing? I mean, I plan on getting married. In fact, I've planned my entire wedding. In detail. But it won't be for several years, and the groom in the picture is just a tux with no face
Tessa: Ditto.
J-Bird: Good. I don't want to be going to weddings yet, unless they're for people who're way older than us.

* * * * *

J-Bird: So, how goes the relaxing?

Tessa: All right. I did get bored and clean the kitchen though. You know, mopping and all. It took like half an hour.

J-Bird: Heh. You're pathetic.

Tessa: And it was gross. Yeah, I'm not good at this relaxing thing.

Tessa: I MUST BE PRODUCTIVE!

J-Bird: Freak. You're unnatural.

Tessa: Okay, I'm going back to cleaning.

J-Bird: What is WRONG with you?!

Tessa: See ya later

Jan: See ya.

* * * * *

Also, Girly's in Montreal, for the Montreal Film Festival! So if you're in Montreal, go see her short film, Flush. You won't regret it, trust me.

September 1st Means Cleaning!

So, once I started putting things in the accordion folder, I went on a bit of a cleaning rampage in my room. I've been trying to weed through all the stuff that's just been lying around. I've managed to throw a lot of papers out, and I found a lot of financial statements lying around, which is odd. Also found a lot of stuff to add to The Box. The finding of that sutff wasn't so much fun, but I'm glad that I won't find it later on.

I'm still not finished, unfortunately. I think I've gotten rid of everything that I don't want, which means that now I have to find room for everything that I need to keep. The biggest problems are coming from things of a bookish nature. Not just books, but old binders, photo albums, diaries, magazines etc. I have no idea what I'm going to do with them all. I hope I figure it out soon though, because I remember a couple years ago, I managed to clear almost everything out of my room, and it felt very liberating. Plus, my room is rather small, and I'd like to clear everything off the floor so that I can vacuum, paying special attention to the dust planets under my bed.

As for the accordion folder, it has already well earned it's (low) price. I've managed to put all sorts of weird little things in it, and I'm finally able to collect each type of thing into the same place! It's very satisfying to be organized.

Now, if only I wasn't too lazy to maintain it.

Classeur Extensible, Archivo Expandible

Or, in English, accordion file. Which I just bought. It is very simple, dark blue, and small. I'm excited because I have hundreds of little bits of paper with important stuff on them, all over my room, and I finally have somewhere to put them. Yay! I also got thumbtacks, so I can start with my next craft project.

Had lunch with Miss Anna today, at her place (thank you very much, it was tasty!). It was good times. I love hanging out with her, she's very chill, and can make anyone feel comfortable. It was also nice to go outside the house, after spending a few hours editing. The weather has been totally bizarre, with intermitting periods of hot summer sun and thunderstorms, complete with battering rain and lightning. I'm glad Miss Anna offered to give me a ride home, I was dressed more for the sun than the storm.

But for now, you'll have to excuse me, because I'm going to go through my room and put all my little papers into my Archivo Expandible. Woohoo!