Happy Halloween

Well, it's another Halloween and me without a costume. I guess it's not really necessary this year since I'm reffing or spending time at the rink all weekend. And inbetween, I'm busy rebuilding my parents computer and enjoying what little time I have to breathe before jumping back into school work. At least I won some money at poker this week almost tripling up my original buy in. That puts me back to about even on poker nights in Alberta. Hopefully I can continue the winning streak next week and so on through the month since I think we're going to make it a real weekly event now (at least until finals). Well, I'd best get to bed so I can get up nice and early for more computer work and reffing. Happy Halloween everyone!

Assignment's done...sort of

Well, the deadline's come and gone and despite me finishing only half of the assignment, I'm strangely satisfied with what I finished. What I did finish seems to work so that means I at least know what I'm doing for some things in this useless class, right? Now I just have to figure the rest of it out for Thursday's midterm.

So besides the midterm, this week is looking pretty tame. As of now I only have one game to ref next weekend (Junior B on Friday) and just one easy orgnizational analysis assignment to do besides the midterm. That means Thursday night is poker night again. I know Jay's got the bug to play and so do I after two weeks off. On a related note, I hear my friend Gordon in Ottawa won $1500 US in an online tournament this weekend. HOLY #%*&!

Ahh distractions

While distracting myself on the internet from my assignment I ran across a few things you should check out...

Bush and Moore Flash Song (funny stuff).

KartVader...ripping around Montreal in a Go-Kart

Jeep Parking Only

Well, if I find some more the next time I go browsing I'll post them...and everyone knows I'll get distracted from my assignment again.

Boy school sucks...sometimes

Well right now I have a love-hate relationship with school. First let's deal with the hate, or maybe just dislike. It involves one of my computing classes (yep, I'm going into bitch mode here so if you don't like it when I do this skip to the next paragraph). The prof is just stupid. He doesn't prepare his slides properly, they're full of mistakes and examples that are done wrong; he puts at least a quarter of the class to sleep every day (including myself); and he gives these freaking hard assignments for these concepts that I'll never use again. Why am I taking this class you ask, because I have to to graduate. That's it, no practical real world application of all this stuff. And the worst thing is that everyone (including the department) knows it and will admit it but never change it. So I'm sitting here right now working on this useless assignment and besides having a hard time, realize that I'll still be doing this all week because I have a midterm in this class on Thursday. Ok, I'm done bitching about that class now.

So besides that one class my other classes are pretty good and I'm generally enjoying my last *fingers crossed* fall semester (of this degree anyway). And as much as some of the people in my department (computing science) bug me, in general the people at university are awesome and I love hanging out there. Just yesterday I ran into a guy that I met in the summer before first year at a summer orientation event. We've never had a class together (he's an engineer) and we don't regularily hang out. In fact I haven't seen or talked to him in almost two years now. But yesterday I ran into him and we started talking like old friends and catching up on everything. THAT is the main reason I love the U...the people. That alone put me in a good mood for the rest of the day.

Well, I guess I'd better get back to my stupid assignment which probably won't get done by the deadline tomorrow but I may as well try to get as much done as possible. If someone sees me banging my head in the next few days, you now know the most likely reason.

This is the perfect time to panic

Well, my presentation went ok even though I went over time and I think I talked a little fast at times. I also managed to notice how I said "so" too much, but I guess that's better than "umm". So now that that's done, I only have to do my final essay and I'm done with all my work in that class. The problem now becomes my other stupid computer classes. My project class is actually starting up the project so that's not too bad but in 325 I'm getting slaughtered. I have an assignment that is due on Friday night (or Sunday if I use 2 grace days) and I'm not even close to finishing it. In fact, I've barely started. It's really too bad that I just don't care anymore. The worst thing is that I actually sat down and tried hard to work on it last night and I really didn't get anywhere.

Midterms went as well as can be expected so far. With my computing one still to come of course. Yesterday I wrote my history exam to make up for missing it when I was gone to Ottawa on Friday. Nothing like doing a test in 20 min. Hopefully that's also a sign of me knowing what I'm doing and I'll do ok.

I also went out and bought a new referee jersey last night. You may ask yourself this question: "If he's reffing then why doesn't he have a jersey already?" Well, it's because I'm stupid and I left it at the arena a few weeks ago and it wasn't there when I went to find it. How I managed that I don't know but I can't keep borrowing Dean's jerseys forever so I went out and splurged and bought a new one. I find it a little hard to choke down an expense like that where I really shouldn't have had to do it but oh well, I'll make back that money in games I do this weekend.

Presentation Time

So I'm up early this morning because today is a big day. Not only do I have my Organizational Analysis midterm but I also have my internship presentation. So typical me, I was up until 1:00 in the morning trying to fix a few last things up. It's not that it wasn't done before that, it's just that I actually had too much (hard to believe) and I had to find places to speed it up. Not to mention that I had to look through my pictures for some pictures of friends and the other interns to throw in.

Obviously I'm back from my trip to Ottawa now...and what a trip it was! The wedding was nice and the reception was a whole lot of fun. Amazing how much I'll dance with a few drinks in me and when I really feel like having a good time. We also went out for a really nice dinner with about 22 people (basically all the younger people that weren't in the wedding party). Besides the wedding I also got to go out and see most of my friends which was great. It's too bad I couldn't stay longer and I'm beginning to see how much I really miss everyone and life in Ottawa in general. Who knows, I could end up back there next summer, you never know.

So thanks to Wei and Esther for letting me stay with them and keeping me full of food. And thanks to Ive for organizing the dinner and otherwise being our cabby for Friday night. And of course, congratulations and thank you to France and Ali for getting married and giving me an excuse to get back to Ottawa. I know they'll live a long and happy life together. It's a good thing I booked my flight early too, because as much school work I have to deal with, I don't think even I could have justified going if my ticket hadn't been booked already. Well, I'd better get to school and start studying, maybe it'll take my mind off of this presentation.

Back to the East

Well, I've only been away for just over a month and a half but I'm already going back. Ottawa is just that appealing...well, and I'm going to France and Ali's wedding. It'll be great to see everyone again, I can't wait. I get there Friday afternoon so I'll have time Friday night to go out and see people. Then all Saturday is wedding stuff and Sunday is open for recovery and more visiting. I get back Monday just before lunch from an early morning flight. The only downfall to this trip is that I lose the weekend to do school work, but who am I kidding, I'd just slack off and not do it anyway and it's more important to go visit my friends in Ottawa. Between midterms coming up and my big group computing project starting to get busy, I really don't have as much free time as I like to think. Hopefully after next week when two midterms and my presentation are out of the way I will realize how much more I have to do. Well, back to the presentation so I can get it mostly done before I leave on Friday morning.

I'm falling into memories of you
Things we used to do
Follow me there a beautiful somewhere
A place that I can share with you
-One Year, Six Months by Yellowcard

Indoor soccer involves a lot of running

So tonight I went out and played with Adam's indoor soccer team for an exhibition game. I'm still not sure if I'll join them for the full season (if they'll take me) but I'm definitely thinking about it. There was more running and exercise than I expected but surprisingly I wanted to play more. Lots of fun though and if it weren't so expensive I'd do it in a heartbeat.

So this weekend I've got three reffing games already. One is only Atom 'AA' but I get to teach some new linesmen so that'll be good. Plus its always fun to do some little kids games and Atom 'AA' is actually pretty good hockey when you consider how old the kids are. It'll be a bit of a change from the Midget 'AAA' I'm doing tomorrow night.

Ok, so it's been a week

And what a busy week it was. I just wasn't home a whole lot. All weekend I was in Stony Plain at my ref clinic getting recertified. It was a good clinic with lots of hockey discussion and old war stories about what's happened to who in past hockey games. When I wasn't at the clinic I ended up going out to play some pool on Saturday and then was reffing after making my parents supper on Sunday. Pool was good to get back to for the simple fact that I hadn't really played since winning the tournament. A little rusty but I felt it all coming back by the end of the night.

Last week Dan and I also hosted our first poker night. We're playing again this week and though I'd like this to become a weekly event, we'll have to take it week by week. I also heard some good news on Wednesday. My friend Matt popped the question to his longtime girlfriend Karla and of course she said yes. They've been together for just over three years now (one week over that is) and I couldn't be happier for them. All the best to both of them in the future. Well, besides all the school work, that's all the excitement in my life right now. I'm off to bed because I have a feeling the only way I'll get anything done tomorrow is to go into the university nice and early and work there.

Right back into everything

Well, I guess it's official now, I'm right back into everything that I'm used to back here in Alberta. I had 3 hockey games to ref this weekend and I'm back into finishing assignments at the last minute and slacking off otherwise. I'm going to try to get back to writing here more often but through October I'm going to be quite busy. Actually, despite the fact that there will be an insane amount of stuff going on, I'm actually looking forward to most of it. Granted the midterms and assignments (as well as my internship presentation) can't be avoided but the reffing and my trip back to Ottawa have me excited for the next few weeks.

Poker...not until next week

Unfortunately, the plans for poker tomorrow just aren't going to work. I didn't get enough response and I guess I should probably do my assignment that is due on Thursday anyway since I didn't do it tonight. Plus I might end up reffing. Oh well, there's always this weekend or else if I end up going to Jasper we can just start it up on next Wednesday.

So today I realized how much I'm going to actually have to do homework and reading and stuff this semester. October is going to be hell but I guess that's just me trying to get back into school. I managed to pull it off before with more work and even more stuff to keep me busy so I should be able to do it again. It shouldn't even be that bad even with my huge CMPUT 401 group project keeping me busy. Just a little intimidating when you start filling in a planner (yep, I'm actually trying to use one this year) and you don't see more than three days in a row without an assignment or test or something. I know, I know, suck it up...I will.

And on that note, guess I should read a few chapters to catch up tonight before I go to bed.

Reffing season is here again

Well, I reffed my first hockey game today. It's good to be back at it but boy am I out of shape. I wasn't too short of breath but my legs were just killing me. It's also hard to skate when your muscles cramp up on you. Time to go to the gym. Anyway, the game went ok and I'm looking forward to my next one already.

I also played in the Campus Rec Golf tournament yesterday. My team of three came in tied for third with a -10. Pretty impressive but I guess not quite good enough to win. On the first hole I hit a 280 yard drive and then chipped in and got us an eagle! Anyway, it was a good time and I played quite well. I hope to get out again at least once before the end of the season but hopefully it stays warm enough for me to get out a couple of times.

The calm between storms

Well the first week and weekend back at school went off without too much trouble. I managed to get my internship report done and I don't have any other assignments due this week so I have a little relaxation time. With Canada winning the World Cup last night and me having some free time (for now), I'm feeling pretty good.

This weekend I start my reffing and I get to golf in the Campus Rec Texas Scramble tournament. Should be a good weekend.

First week back

Well, the first week back at school is drawing to a close and boy am I burnt out. I really thought that it would calm down a bit once I got moved in and school started but I couldn't have been more wrong. Between my internship report, cleaning the already messy apartment (and still unpacking), volunteering at the university, and trying to find some social time to see friends, I'm as busy as ever.

Orientation was a blast. My group of kids weren't the most energetic but a few of them stuck through to the end and they helped make it lots of fun along with the fact that I had an awesome TF (Team Facilitator) and a great group of OLs (Orientation Leaders) that I was with. I'm also volunteering for Week of Welcome (WOW) and trying to get out to those events. I went to the Sloan concert last night which was pretty cool because it was in a relatively small venue. It's too bad the opening bands weren't that great but Sloan still rocked. I'm going to the football game tonight where hopefully the Eskimos will be able to repeat their performance of the Labour Day game. Too bad it's going to be frickin' freezing but the crowd in College Corner will keep us warm.

I'm off to my one class for the day and then back to the Student's Union building to volunteer some more.

New place and Orientation training

So I've been really busy these past few days. Aside from moving into my new place and trying to finish my internship report, I've been doing Orientation training for the last two days. First, about the new place. It's actually not that bad of an apartment. It's very spacious and the location isn't bad (less than two blocks from West Edmonton Mall). We have a corner basement apartment which means our patio/balcony door leads right out onto the grass outside. This will make it a lot easier to come in and out and means we can have a BBQ *YAY*. I'm still trying to get all my stuff settled and unpacked but I've been so busy with other things that it's been pretty hard.

One of these other things is Orientation training. For those that don't know what the heck I'm talking about, Orientation is the program run at the University of Alberta for first year students to learn about the University. It runs the two days before classes start but the Orientation volunteers (like me) have to go in for two days of training before that. Yes, this means I lose my last long weekend of the summer but it's worth it. We had tons of fun at training this year but I am already burnt out. I know somehow I'll find energy for the next two days (plus the three after that for week of welcome) but hopefully I'll have a good group of kids and I can feed off of that.

Well, I'd better get back to finishing up my internship report (yep, it's still not done) and then get some sleep. It's going to be a long, fun filled day tomorrow.

Back in the Wild Wild West

Well, it's been a crazy 16 months in Ottawa but I'm back in Alberta now. How did it get to be September already? I still remember getting to Ottawa last May...boy does time fly. Some stuff has changed around here but I don't think I'll feel quite at home until after school starts. I'm moving stuff into my new place tonight with Dan. I still actually don't even know the actual address so I'm kind of scared but also kind of excited, aparently it's a nice place but I'll have to post later with my first impressions. Just thought I'd post to say I'm back in E-town and that I'll post again after I get moved in.

The end of one chapter...the beginning of another

Well, today is my last day in Ottawa, I leave early tomorrow morning for Edmonton. I've had a lot of great times here and I've met a lot of great people, some who I'm sure are now friends for life. It's a very bittersweet departure for me. I love my new life here and it's hard to leave, especially leaving some people behind. But at the same time I'm excited to go back home and see all my friends back there and get back to school. Only two more semesters and I'm done so it's kind of exciting that way. It'll also be good to live with Dan again. He and I (who have been best friends since we were born) get along so well together that it's actually easier to live with him than on my own I think, at least it's better anyway. I can't wait to see our new place. Dan's mom aparently said it looks good so it can't be too bad :). Well, for those in Ottawa, this is only see you later, not goodbye. For those in Alberta, I'm coming home, see you there. For those elsewhere, I'll be by your way again sometime in the near future.

Music to check out

Now I'm assuming most of you have heard Yellowcard on Much Music or the radio by now but lately (especially since Warped Tour) I've been on a huge kick listening to them. Ocean Avenue is a great album that I can't seem to get enough of and some of their earlier songs are starting to find their way onto my MP3 player. So check the whole album out, not just the radio songs which, while great songs, aren't the best on the album.

Everybody here is livin'life in fear of fallin' out of line
Tearin' lives apart breakin' lots of hearts just to pass the time
And the eyes get red in the back of your head
This place will make you blind
Put it all behind me and I'll be just fine
-Yellowcard from Back Home

Also, I've been listening to Michael Tolcher again and Something Corporate. Two great softer sounds that seem to mellow me out like a lot of Switchfoot stuff. And then there's always my favorite band, Less Than Jake. Anyway, just thought I'd let everyone know what's firing through the stereo and computer while I'm packing stuff up. Guess it's almost time to pack up the rest of my CDs and I'll have to go on MP3s alone.

When all the things that you've been thinking
has you so confused and so unglued
your head is spinning
well we've all felt the same inside
-Less Than Jake from Is This Thing On?

Packing

I thought I'd take a break from packing to throw out a post. It's really hard to stay on task and pack when the olympics are on. I've been lazing around for half the day watching TV (mostly the olympics) and trying to avoid packing which needs to get done. It's hard to believe all the junk that I've collected in just over a year here. The box of DVDs and CDs is about twice as big as was needed to come here. Good thing Jarett and I are splitting a truck load of stuff or I don't know how I would get half of this stuff home. Well, back to packing.

And I know how it feels to walk out on your own
Maybe someday I will see you again
And you'll look me in my eyes and call me your friend
-Yellowcard from Empty Apartment

Post #50!

Wow, can't believe I've actually posted that much. Especially since I seem to post in spurts. Like in the next week or two don't be surprised if I don't post at all since I'm going to be out of my mind packing stuff to get it moved from Ottawa to Edmonton. Thanks to all the people who actually read this and give me some feedback. I know my life isn't overly exciting but meh, it's my life and it's nice to know some people actually care to read about it. I'll keep posting if you keep reading and if anyone has feedback, even if it's just to tell me how boring this all seems, or ideas on other things I could post let me know. Thanks for reading.