Class Like That

Thursday mornings are great for me. I'm a morning person, let me just start off by telling you that. I have a class at 9am Thursday mornings and never have I had a class where I'm so alert and attentive.
Art History is that class.
I have always had a love for art history. Partly because it mostly involves memorization which I'm fantastic at. But also because I have a passion for visual art.
If there were guaranteed jobs in the art history field, I would change majors before even finishing this blog. However, this is not the case, so I'll just stick with what I'm doing now.
There is just so much about art that I love. And this art class is opening me up to new perspectives on old artists.
I used to hate Manet and Van Gogh, but after hearing the backgrounds to their lives and their artistic ideas, I have a new appreciation for their works.

My class commenced following the Baroque period, which was a period of lavish luxury. I am more familiar with Renaissance art because you cover it so much in high school art, but this class picked up a few centuries later, in the 1700s and 1800s, with Neo-Classical and Romantic movements. A new period of art than I was used to.

In the new semester, after covering the Impressionists and Realists, we are working our way into modern art. I hate and love modern art. I cannot stand "art because I say it's art", such as the style of Dada. I think it's ugly and pointless, yet I love Magritte, a surrealist and Lichtenstein, a pop artist.

This is the best class I've had thus far in my university career, as well as the class that I'm doing the best in.
I can't even begin to express my love for this class. The subject matter, the background, the pieces. Never have I been happier to wake up at 7:30 in the morning. Each and every Thursday I wake up with a smile.
I'm not looking forward to the end of this semester simply for the reason that I will have my final art history lesson.

Oh, the Places You'll Go

I have always been interested in travel. I haven't travelled much in my life, but I'm off to an okay start. I've been to France twice in my life thus far, once for 9 weeks for a school exchange when I was 14 and once for a trip in high school. On that trip in high school, I also travelled to Belgium, Austria and Germany. It was a truly wonderful experience that I would not trade for anything in the world.
That being said, I wish now to tell you where else in the world I would like to travel, starting with the places I've already been and I would like to return to.

Paris, France, as well as other parts of France

As I've said, I've been to France twice. Of course, that mean I've been to Paris. This city will always have my heart. It is a magical city, full of beauty and history. It also involves my love of French. If I could live anywhere in the world, Paris would most definitely be at the top of the list. The wonders of this romantic city will never cease to amaze me.

Brugge, Belgium

Brugge is another favourite city of mine. I love the medieval feel of it and how homey it feels. So small and close, it seems like everyone would know each other and get along. They also speak German, French and English, so it would be great to hear all those languages mingling together.

Austria, particularly Vienna and Salzburg

This country is spectacular. The scenery will astound and amaze and you will most definitely marvel at its beauty. We were lucky enough to travel to Vienna and Salzburg, where they filmed parts of The Sound of Music. The mountains are insane and we also went to specific places where The Sound of Music was made, like the church where they got marrid (I think) and the steps where the kids sing "Doe, Ray, Me" (I know my spelling of that is not correct). This is one of the most beautiful countries on Earth. I suggest visiting it.

Germany

Germany was also full of wonders. Mountains and beautiful cities and castles. What more could you ask for?

Now to the places I haven't been but have always wanted to go.
I have to provide a few disclaimers here though. I have never been drawn to tropical places like Mexico, Cuba or the Dominican Republic. It's just not my cup of tea. I prefer to go to places with rich history and culture and explore museums and architecture. Not to say there aren't those things in the countries I listed above, but I have just never been one to want to spend my time on a beach getting hammered.
I also have not been drawn to eco-tourism and places that draw humanity efforts and such. That may make me a snob or a bitch, but this is a list of places I want to go. I'm sorry I'm not more involved with volunteering in underdeveloped countries, but that's just the way it goes.

Anywho, I'll start with the more beachy, tropical places that I WOULD go to:

The Philippines
Jamaica
The Bahamas

The Bahamas especially has a place in my heart, particularly the Atlantis Resort, because Mary-Kate and Ashley made a movie there and I have wanted to go ever since. It looks so luxurious and beautiful (as well a expensive). But I believe the Philippines, Jamaica and the Bahamas would be a great place to kick back and enjoy some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. For obvious reasons, Jamaica seems like it would be wonderfully chill.

Panama
Mauritius
Peru

These are the places I would want to go for rich history and beautiful tourism. Mauritius I have only heard so much about in the last few years, but from what I hear, the culture is rich and the landscape is breathtaking. Peru has this beautiful ancient city that you see above and I would LOVE to see it!

Portugal
Morocco
Spain

Barcelona, Spain has a call to me for a very lame reason: they made Cheetah Girls 2 there. Since then, I would kill to go there. The city looks amazing and interesting.

Denmark
Finland
Sweden
Poland
Norway
I don't have any particuar reasons for wanting to visit these 5 countris, other than they are European, and Europe is the continent that draws my travel attention more than any other.

China
South Korea
Japan, more specifically Tokyo

Tokyo in particular has always called to me. The city is like no other city. It's technology and colour and fast-pace all draw me in. It would be crazy to experience Tokyo, but something unlike anything else.

Australia
New Zealand

Who doesn't want to go to Australia?! The beaches, the people, it all just seems inviting (minus the deadliest animals and insects in the world). New Zealand however, calls to me more than Australia. Given the choice between the two, I would definitely pick New Zealand first. One of the most breathtaking landscapes one can even imagine. Plus, Bret Mckenzie and Jemaine Clement from Flight of the Conchords are from New Zealand.

South Africa
Egypt

Egypt especially has appeal to me. I love egyptian myth and history, as well as egyptian art. I would love to go there just to see the wonders of the pyramids and the Sphinx. And to ride a camel, hopefully.

Russia

Russia is the odd man out for me. It doesn't fit in with anywhere else in the world that I want to go. I never know whether to refer to it as Asian or European...? However, this country would be very beautiful, I think. Especially in winter. All the big coats in the freezing country, with snow covering the wonderful architecture.

Scotland
Ireland
Holland
England, mostly London

Holland and Scotland are my mother lands. Holland though, I think would be a lot of fun. When I picture Ireland, I just think of rolling hills and hills of green. Beautiful greens. And I feel like the people would be the most fun. Plus I love Irish accents on ginger men, which I'm sure Ireland would have lots of. As for England, I would love to go to London. The fashion and the atmosphere would be truly original, and who doesn't love British people?

Last, but not least, I have
Italy
Greece

Ideally, these are the two countries I would go to on my honeymoon. I would go to Rome, Italy to explore the art and architecture and then go to Greece to lay on the beach for a week. Greece has one of the richest histories I can think of with the myths and legends. Greece is on the top of my list for places I would love to visit.

So there you have it. My list of countries I would like to travel to in my future. Travel is one of the most exciting aspects of my life I have to look forward to.

Fingers Crossed

I'm posting a happy post today! Changin' it up!
This is my second year living in residence at school. I plan to stay here, because it makes financial sense (trust me, it does), but what would be even better is if I got the job as a Don (an RA) next year.
When I originally found out about this position during first year, I wanted to participate. The best part: You get your own room, with your own bathroom, and it's all paid for.
That's not the (only) reason I want to do it though. I would love to have a responsibility like that, taking care of the residents and promoting my love for my school and residence.
The application was made available yesterday and there was an information session with the current Dons.
This job would be PERFECT for me!
I would get to use my extreme organization skills, it would help me with my people skills and help me with time-management.
Everything the Dons told me about it made me want to get the job even more. I'm really nervous going in. I know it's going to be tough, but I think I have the qualities they would need in a Don.
I want the challenge of the job. I know it will be hard to balance school and the position, but I know I can do it and do it well!
So here's me, fingers crossed that I get the job. I believe in myself!

I've Had Enough

Another rant. I know, I know, I do that a lot. But I find this is an effective method for blowing off some steam.
I live in residence at school. I have a meal plan and I eat in a cafeteria. My choices are not plentiful, but I can survive with what I am offered. However, there are some things that have really been bothering me lately.
My school has hired the strangest people to work in my cafeteria. By that, I mean they hired people that seem like they don't want to be alive, much less serving young adults food everyday. There are two staff members in particular that are grumpy and make shitty food consistently.
The other problem that I have is the people that work at the cash. Most of them hardly speak English and barely know what's going on around them. I will be standing there with a muffin in hand, and 9 times out of 10, they will ask, "What do you have?" Is that a joke? Can you not see the muffin in my hand? Often times they do not know the prices of some of the items either. There is a button for a bagel with cream cheese, I've seen it. A side of bacon costs roughly $0.50-0.60, yet when I had bacon on my bagel with cream cheese (because light cream cheese tastes like shit, and that's all they had), she charged me for a breakfast sandwich with egg, bacon and cheese, which I believe to be $4.59. A bagel with cream cheese is about $2.00, then with bacon, no more than $3.00, yet somehow I ended up paying almost $5 for my food. How is that fair? It's ridiculous. And there's no point arguing with them, because they can't even understand what I'm saying to them because they're foreign.
There's this one girl though that really pisses me off. I'm really into sandwiches right now, especially with mayo and grilled chicken, so I get at least one sandwich everyday, if not more. But this one girl that works at the sandwich counter is insufferable! She had the audacity to yell at a girl in line because she didn't order her wrap at the same time as the girl in front of her. Really? Did you tell the girl to order at the same time as the girl in front of her? No, you didn't! You have no one to blame but yourself. From what I saw, the girls didn't even know each other. How the FUCK was she supposed to know that you can make two wraps at once? From the cometency level I've seen from you thus far, I would have guessed you weren't capable of that.
But here's the topper! I love my sandwiches, and she ruins them on a regular basis. But last night, she did the worst possible thing. The deal with the sandwiches is that you get a side with the sandwich. Either celery and carrots with ranch, or pickles and chips. Now I love carrots, so I always get carrots without celery, because celery is gross. And usually, the lady that I love who makes me perfect sandwiches gives me extra carrots because I am not getting any celery. But you want to know what this bitch gave me yesterday when I asked for just carrots?

Two tiny little baby carrot sticks and a baby celery stick! What the FUCK?! How did she get "Can I have the smallest carrots you have along with one baby celery" from me asking for just carrots? This is what my meal plan is buying me! Thank you so much, sandwich bitch for all that ranch for my two tiny baby carrot sticks! I don't know if I'll even have enough ranch for those two tiny pieces of carrot! I might run out!
FUCK!
Needless to say, I really don't like this bitch and now I have to face an internal struggle everyday that she's there: Do I risk getting a sandwich from someone incompetent or do I eat something else that I don't want as much?
Thanks a lot for ruining the only food I look forward to at school. Bitch.

Hot Guy #11

I haven't posted a hot guy blog in a while, so I think it's time I did so once more.
This one is a favourite of mine, especially as I just got to see him live this weekend. Ladies and gentlemen (mostly women, I suppose), meet my favourite comedian.

Hot Guy #11: Demetri Martin

I love this man and his witty sense of humour. His way of telling jokes is so perfect to me. He plays guitar and harmonica while telling some of them, while other times he uses a pad of paper to illustrate his point. I don't know how he comes up with these clever play on words but I eat them up.
He's not drop-dead gorgeous, but he's funny and not bad looking so of course he's a winner in my books. His nose is his signature, as is his nerdy, awkward style.
His stage presence just adds to the style of his jokes, I love it.
If you haven't seen or heard his stand up, I recommend doing so immediately, and I promise you will not be disappointed.
The best thing about him is that he was on a few episodes of Flight of the Conchords.
And even better than that, when I was at his show on Friday night, he answered my question! It got me all jelly legged but it was totally worth it. He didn't technically answer the question (Do you still see Jemaine and Bret(from FOTC)?) but he still acknowledged me and spoke to me :)
I would give anything to see him live again, and shake his hand at least. The saddest part about seeing him live was that I knew it had to end. I miss him.
Demetri gets an A for being cute, nerdy, awkward and most of all funny, because what woman doesn't want a funny man?

You Mean the World To Me

I'm about to get sappy. That is just a warning.
It's different, that I'm about to write this somewhere public, but I feel the need to broadcast the subject of this post.
I was having a really bad night a few days ago. I was anxious, worried, crying and I didn't know what to do about certain situations in my life. I was trying to fall asleep and not having much luck. My mind was racing and I just could not close my eyes and drift off no matter what I tried. So I got a text message from my best friend, asking if I was still  up. Upon thinking that I shouldn't respond because I should be getting sleep before my 7:30 wake up the next morning, I realized that I wasn't even close to sleeping soon anyway and that I should just call her. Best idea I've ever had. I really needed the midnight therapy sesh she provided, followed by a trip down memory lane. It really calmed me down and allowed me to fall asleep once we hung up (two and a half hours later).
So I feel the need to express my love for my best friend. She has been there for me through thick and thin and sometimes feels like my own personal therapist.

I love this girl. We've known each other for about 10 years and been best friends for about 5. There is no one outside my family that I know better than her, and vice versa. We know the darkest and brightest moments of one another's lives and there is no one I feel closer to.

I don't know where I'd be without this girl. She's the only person I think of when I need someone to talk to and I know she's the only one who would understand the problems I have and give the right advice.

Our friendship went through its roughest patch this year but we managed to pull through. Nothing can come between our friendship, despite how stubborn and judgemental I was in that time of trial.

Never have I wanted someone to stay in my life for as long as I wish to stay friends with her. I cannot imagine living my life without her, without her being a phone call away. Something about that just sounds wrong.

We've known each other long enough to understand anything the other says, to know where they are coming from, where they are going and what they need in their life.

It truly saddens me to imagine my life without her. I don't know what I'd do or who I would be without her.

I believe with all my heart that we will remain friends until the day we die, always be there for each other, always be there to listen, always be there to cheer the other up.

I love this girl, like a sister and my life would not be the same without her.

Other people in our lives will come and go, but I know we will stick it out. That's what friends do. They stick around.

PS. I hesitate to post pictures of myself online like this where I don't control who views my blog, so when I do in circumstances like this, I beg you not to track me down, skin me and wear my skin like a body suit. I like being alive and would appreciate it if you don't hunt me down and murder me. Thank you.

The Wonderful World of Disney

I recently stumbled upon an article on my homepage that was naming the best and worst Disney movies. Most of the best ones were expected (Lion King, which is apparently the best grossing Disney classic of all time, Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid, etc.), as were the worst ones, some of which I had forgotten even existed because they were so terrible I had erased them from my mind (ie. The Haunted Mansion, Around the World in 80 Days). Here's the link if you wanna go through the "official" list yourself: http://inmovies.ca/Galleries/Articles/disney_best_worst.htm
Now, like most kids, I was raised with Disney movies. I do truly love them and don't see how someone couldn't enjoy these movies, at least to a certain extent. I remember particularly a phase that I went through where I watched Aladdin EVERY day. I would always ask my daddy to set up a movie for me and upon asking what movie I wanted to watch, he would respond "Again?!"
I still enjoy having Disney marathons. They are the perfect movies to watch on a rainy day when you have nothing to do; you can power through so many because they're so short, they're entertaining and they're short enough to have a break whenever you need it without pausing the movie. I'm 19, almost 20 now, my brother is 24 and we still have Disney marathons, laughing at the bat in The Great Mouse Detective, quoting The Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland and crying at the end of Bambi.
I have VHS tapes of the really old classics, like Piocchio and Snow White, and they're so old that the colours are blending thogether.
Not only are the stories entertaining, but they have awesome songs! Who doesn't like singing along to Colours of the Wind or I Just Can't Wait to be King? Every now and then I'll have a hankering for Disney music and I'll listen to it for hours, singing my heart out.
Disney is my childhood and I will never be able to express my love of the franchise.
Now to discuss this list the bests and worsts of Disney.
They named the classics like The Lion King, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast as the best, but they also included newer favourites, such as Tangled (One of MY favourites), Findind Nemo, Toy Story (1 and 3) and Up.
However, I wish to discuss a particular "worst". They named Pocahontas as the first worst on the list. I couldn't believe it. I got a playset as a child of Pocahontas dress up stuff and I loved and still do love that movie. I couldn't even find a reason for their naming it as a worst except that the story was "flat".
Besides that flaw though, the list was fairly accurate, I found, but I still wish to leave you with my list of bests.
But first, may all you Disney lovers continue to have the movies touch your heart and your children's and your children's children. Disney will always have a place in my heart and will always remind me of happier, simpler times.
Best Disney Movies:
Alice in Wonderland
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Lion King
Aladdin
The Fox and the Hound (even though I can't watch it because it makes me bawl)
The Littler Mermaid
Sleeping Beaty
Beauty and the Beast
Cinderella
Pocahontas
Wall-E
Finding Nemo
Tangled
The Great Mouse Detective
Toy Story 1 and 3
Peter Pan
101 Dalmations
Hercules

The Promotion from Hell

I love my job. I have worked at the same coffee shop for 3 years, for two different owners and I am now the person that has been there the longest. You could say I'm a veteran.
But I actually love my job. I love what I have to do, I love the other girls I work with, I love my boss and I love (most of) the customers. I love making fancy lattes and being so good at my job that I can multitask with 4 different things at once.
I love my job.
But there is one time a year when I would rather swim in a pool of jellyfish than put up with another bloody customer. That time of year is summer, particularly when cold drinks are the thing.

I cannot stand making cold drinks. It's time consuming, in the way of everything and the way customers order their drinks makes me want to scream!
Now, it was worse before the new owner took over and the ice machine would break ALL THE TIME! The new owner fixed that, and I'm very grateful for that, particularly because ice is the base of most cold drinks (duh).
However, this time of year is still TORTURE.
There is always a promotion in the summer when a certain time of day or day of the week the blended drinks are less money. It makes sense. I'll admit that. It's hot, the drinks are cold. People love smoothies and milk shakes 'cause they're delicious.
But because they're so cheap during this promotion, people order SO MANY of them. Especially teenagers and children. And let me tell you, I already have an issue with the children/youth that comes into my store (spoiled), so add 6 different frozen drinks to that and you have a recipe for a massacre.
The main problem that I have with teenagers ordering drinks with their friends is the way they go about it.
Here is a hypothetical, yet factual conservation that I have with groups of teenage customers:
Me: "What can I get you?"
Girl #1: "Can I get a frozen hot chocolate with whipped cream?"
I go about making the drink and once ringing her in, hand her the finished drink.
Girl #2: "Can I get a frozen hot chocolate with whipped cream?"
The process continues once again until I get to the 4th kid only to find I have to make ANOTHER frozen hot chocolate with whipped cream.
What is the problem with telling me at once that these 6 people are all going to get frozen hot chocolates? That way I can make them all together and they will all be ready at the same time. Instead, I get to take the same order from 6 different snot-nosed teenagers that think they are the hottest thing since sliced bread.
I don't know if I'll be able to handle that group of kids this summer. My town may end up on national news, displaying the headline "6 youth maliciously slaughtered in small coffee shop".
The other issue that I have is when a family of 5 will come in and order 5 different drinks that do not have the same base whatsoever. One strawberry smoothie, one mango smoothie, one frozen hot chocolate with soy milk, one chai chiller with hazelnut and one chai chiller (Wait! Maybe it will be the same!) with lactose free milk and vanilla. Nope, not a chance that any of them will be in any way similar. Instead, I get to spend the next 15 minutes making 5 different drinks for this family. Enjoy the rest of your car ride home, assholes.
So the next time you go into a coffee shop during a summer afternoon and wonder why the barista girl is being a snooty little twit, think of me and my message here! I've had enough and if you give me lip, you may end up the same way as the girl that was brutally murdered in my town a year and a half ago. Too soon?

My Hunger Is Consuming Me!

I am hungry all the time for some reason. And I mean ALL the time. I have no explanation for this whatsoever, I just hope I don't suffer the consequences later on.
I am moving on to my third sandwich of the day. I'm all about grilled chicken at the moment, and one of the ladies that works in my school's cafeteria makes the most bomb sandwiches for me. She has the perfect hand when it comes to putting mayo on my sandwiches.
So my delicious sandwich that I enjoyed at dinner (#2 of the day) got me thinking about the foods I love and I have compiled a list of the foods that I would request for my death row meal.
I hope you enjoy the thought of these delicious foods as much as I do!

- sushi, more specifically, california rolls with salmon, salmon sashimi, eel, red dragon and black dragon (and even more eel!)

- my mom's macaroni (it's the food I request every birthday)

- medium-rare steak with Jack Daniels original BBQ sauce

- old cheddar, harvati and gouda cheese

- mashed potatoes (no lumps) with lots o' butter

- beef wellington made by Chef Gordon Ramsay (medium rare, obvi)

- proscuitto wrapped asparagus

I would die happy :) and full :)

On My Way to the A

I've been at a loss for what to blog about recently. I get inspiration from things that make me angry or passionate, and I haven't had to rant about anything for a while, so I haven't blogged. But something happened today that made me want to run and tell the whole world.
Let me start off with saying, university was a big shock for me when I started first year. I was a straight A student in high school, so when I got to university and started receiving marks of B and lower, I was devestated and started wondering if I really wasn't as smart as I thought I'd been. I received my first C last year. It was horrible.
But something wonderful has taken place this year. I had to take a humanities class to fulfill a general requirement, so I took an art history class. I love art and art history, so I thought it'd be pretty good. Well I was wrong: IT WAS AMAZING!
My memorization skills are top notch, I can't lie. I have a memory like an elephant, but better. So the Slide Test we had in this class in November (?) I passed with flying colours. And by that, I mean I got 100% bitch!

The only person in the class and the only person this prof has ever given that mark to! So yeah, that was great. However, the value for that mark in the class wasn't as heavy as the exams and essays, so I didn't think too much of it.
But before the mid term exam that I wrote in December, I got my first essay back, and turns out I received an 82. Good stuff I thought. I've never been top notch at essay writing; I can pump out an essay in a matter of hours, but I've never been phenomenal at the goal of essays. However, receiving a mark like that on a university essay made me more than happy. Needless to say, I was quite confident going into the exam after that.

Now today I had my first class back to school after the Christmas holidays and I was excited for this class because it is my favourite this year. I find the subject matter extremely interesting and hey, I'm doing well. What's not to like? So I was pumped  and ready to go at 9am this morning.
When I got there, the prof informed us that we didn't have much too cover today, and after finishing the stuff we should've finished up last semester, we were free to go, once she handed back our exams to see how we did.
So after an hour and 15 minutes of class, she lets us know that we can go after having a chance to look at our exam. Sweet, I get to leave an hour and a half earlier than I had planned on. But that's not even the best part of the day: I got my exam back and low and behold, I achieved 95% on that bitch too!

Without a doubt, art history is the best class ever! I always knew I was meant to do more with this subject matter. Now I wonder if I should've have gone into art history as a specialty. That's mostly a joke, but I really do love learning about art.
Bear in mind, I'm not typically one to brag about marks, but I can't help but be excited that I'm on my way to achieving my first A in my university career.
I just had to share with everyone my wonderful accomplishments. I wish to thank my high school art teacher, Ms. Bell, for instilling in me a passion for the arts. I also want to thank my parents for giving me the combination of genes that allows me to pull this off. I'm so happy. Now to keep this up for the rest of the current semester... Pfft, with the way this is going, that shant be difficult! Wish me luck!