New Job

I heard back about my job interview for junior don - and I got a position! I'm excited. It means I'll be living in residence and helping run events and do fun things. For payment I get a bunch of money off my living fees, which is excellent.

In addition to the residence leadership program, I'm the President of my academic program's society, I'm hoping to write for the school paper and the Dal paper, and I'm auditioning for the chapel choir next weekend. I'm pretty nervous for that last one. The choir is a big time commitment and it's pretty professional, but I would love to do it. I hope my sight reading is good enough...

Tailbone

I went sledding way back in December when I went to visit Phil in New Brunswick and we both went over a big bump and bruised our tailbones. We both had some difficulty sitting down for a few days, but then it passed... sort of...

However, months later, my tailbone still hurts when I sit for a long time, which I do a lot, as a student. Especially when I semi recline as I do on my bed watching movies or tv or writing. This is a problem. It's very uncomfortable. I wish it would just go away.

Friday Night

Today was the last day of classes for my second year of university.

I don't feel like this is particularly momentous, or worthy of note, for me. But, I looked at the fourth years who have become fixtures and sadly tried to imagine next year without them. But then I think about being a third year, which leads to fourth year and finishing and leaving and then my chest gets all tight and I need to calm down. (On a side note, I keep stressing about various things while I lie in bed reading and then getting heart burn. So I really do need to calm down).

I went to the last lecture of the Foundation Year today. Traditionally, it's a more informal lecture, given for fun by a prominent or leaving professor. This year was just the same, so I went and sat in, next to a fourth year, a fixture, and it was sad. I watched him write his notes. We did our usual insulting banter back and forth. I wonder what it will be like without him. Another friend, a tutor in the programme, is leaving to do his PhD in Scotland. It's going to be fantastic, because he is a truly gifted teacher, and he so deserves it. But we'll miss him a lot. I will miss his enthusiasm, and his flattering complements about my outfits, and his gins with tonic.

It's sad to say goodbye to great people, even when you know they're going on to big things. You just hope that someday, your paths will converge again.

Thinking About Food

Along with other bloggers I read, I've been watching Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. I've been watching Jamie Oliver since his Naked Chef days, and this show doesn't disappoint. It's the town named the most unhealthy in America, so Jamie has gone down there to try to get them to change the way they think about good. It's very sad to watch, sometimes, - when the kids in the schools can't identify vegetables on sight, or a depressed Jamie has to add french fries to make his veggie stir-fry acceptable to serve in school - but he cares very deeply, which is lovely to watch. (In Canada, we can watch it on www.ctv.ca).

Also on the topic of food, I've gotten into reading the food blog of Jennifer, one of my very favourite bloggers. Everything looks so delicious and easy - but I'm sure she just makes it look easy. Her post on meal planning was also great. She just posted on Sew Green blog, about her efforts as a backyard gardiner. It's enough to make me pick up a trowel.

All of this food talk makes me want to cook! Sort of. I mean, I am not a cook. I barely cook. I can make scrambled eggs and a casserole, if I have an easy recipe. But I should actually work on that. Living in residence means my kitchen access is highly limited, but this summer I will give it a try. I have inspiration!

Twitterquake

I love the webcomic xkcd. Lately, I've felt it's been not as good as usual, but this one was excellent, and made me chuckle.

"New look, new spirit for North End housing co-op"

I have been busily working away on a story for journalism class, and here is the result! As usual, that is my real name, but I keep it over there.

It's a great story of the ways that investing in community improves the world. Hear that, government?

Easter Weekend

I love Easter weekend. It always ends up being spring-time-y, even when it rains. This weekend was absolutely gorgeous in Halifax, with the warmest weather yet this spring. I wore shorts today! It was fantastic!

Phil came down on Wednesday night and stayed until this afternoon. We had a lot of fun, dyeing eggs, having picnics, and attending some excellent parties.

The fantastic Easter Vigil service happened last night. It's two hours of the Solemn Vigil, which happens in darkness, with all sorts of readings, fun things from the Old Testament, like Genesis, and pagan throw-backs, like the lighting the new fire. Next comes the joyous Easter mass, with bell-ringing and the lights. The whole thing starts at 11pm, so by the time the church bells ring, it's 1:00 am. Probably some people were confused.

I went to the service last year, and it was just as good this year. The two services flow together, connected by a creepy and epic piece of music written by Paul Halley, the choir director at King's.

The Resurrection Party followed, with its usual dancing, drinking, and calls of "Christos Anesti!" I went to bed as the sky started to light up. I slept until noon.