"Swing it shake it move it make it who do you think you are? Trust it use it grove it prove it show me how good you are!"

I was sitting on the bus this morning. Amazing how many stories come from this camp about riding the bus... maybe I should start writing songs about the bus a la the delightfully talented Sarah Latheron and her songs about driving her car. Anyway, there was a good-looking guy sitting beside me, well-attired in dress pants and a nice shirt, listening away to his iPod without a care in the world. I heard what I THOUGHT might be Melanie Chisolm (or whoever you spell her last name), but I figured it just couldn't be. Then came the chorus and I was delighted to discover that this guy was listening to the Spice Girls. I guess there's nothing wrong with that (and I am the first to point out that the SG lyrics in the title of this post were relayed by memory), I just thought it was amusing. Very amusing!

Sigh. I remember when I was a Spice Girls fan. Life was so simple back then. I was 11 years old when Jocelyn Teeple of all people got me their first cd for my birthday. And then we tried to see them in concert when we were in grade seven but couldn't get tickets. I remember how happy I was to not have tickets when Ginger Spice aka Geri Halliwell left the group and the ladies disbanded soon after. Sigh indeed.

And where I am now? Back in my favorite place in the whole world (aka the basement of, you guessed it, Koerner Library). What the heck? you say. Yeah, I know. Lame as hell. I have an appointment with academic advising at 11 45. That's what you get for showing up at 8 55 to wait for the office to open at 9 30. Some of these people are such diehards. Next time I'll just camp out overnight. I should learn from past experiences; if I had camped out at Semiahmoo Mall in grade seven, I might have acquired some Spice Girls tickets. Ooooh and would you look at now nice I drew a link between the different ramblings in today's blog! "Yay me! Yay me!" Maybe only Zahida will appreciate that "Yay me", taken from the skit that the Granville Theatre Sports did that was making fun of Jenny and Jeff and their hasty courtship. Mwuahaha.

Anyway the Spice Boy was my reason for blogging; I just had to check online to see that I had all my papers for this advising doo-hickey. Not one to spend more time here than necessary I'm going to get the CLAP out and into the beautiful sunshine. I wisely brought a book, so I'm going to sit in the shade and kill some time.

done'd!

huzzah. i'm going to take an example from dean and not use capitals. he's pretty frickin' smart, so maybe it will make me more intelligent as well! last exam finished hella early; the schedule said 150 minutes but the test said 100 minutes so i was outta there way earlier than planned. i caught zahida before she left work (she works at ubc) and we went to calhoun's for a celebratory dinner and chat. considering she works at my school, i haven't seen her in ages. go figure.

after a wonderful catch up with the z, she walked me to the bus stop. passed my english 221 prof (who gave me a nice big fat 'a' in the course so there's another notch for his cool belt. first derrida, now this. the man has taste HAHAHAHA). he didn't notice and i was too involved in the old game of "i know that person from somewhere" to say anything. so here's to you, dr. peter mahon! thanks for inspiring me with the promise of an undergraduate degree filled with linguistic conspiracy!

i, sara johanne, have done it again. i managed to find the denman st. house without getting lost. it was fan-frickin' tastic. i enjoyed a bellini (an odd bellini, but a good bellini nonetheless) with helen and miranda and some of helen's friends in celebration of len's 20th. bellinis in a cute little lounge, sunset at the beach, catching up with old friends, end of term... beautiful.

the number 6 bus driver was nice enough to tell me how to get to the 351 and even called out "howe street" nice and loud so that i knew what to do. i've concluded that nice bus drivers really make the world a better place. sometimes they have the ability to make or break my day.

the ride home was filled with today's copy of dose. my mom's friend is the marketing director and wants me to email her with my critique if i would be so kind. the mag itself is good enough for reading when you're on the bus, but they definitely need to work on delivery. being attacked on all four corners of broadway and granville by poor employees trying to fling copies of dose, metro, 24, and the asian daily news at me is not my idea of a beautiful morning. at least wait until i'm awake so that i can at least defend myself. break some legs or something. i should bring in the big guns. where's my sister?

a flurry of text messages followed. apparently, people, love is in the air, just in time for spring. cuteness. i love it.

tomorrow's plans include bussing to ubc (are you kidding me? sick, man) so that i can get my advisor discussion log done and handed in, then going downtown with megs (who is a treasure). both the tomko girls taking the day off to cause mayhem and run amok. dad's not too pleased, but i figure i should take at least one day off before i start back in the warehouse fulltime. in the evening i'm going to do the ethical addictions thing with miss ashlee. she and lucy have been bugging me to try it out since about october. damn kwantlen kids. gotta love 'em. and i do. actually, maybe lucy can come. i haven't seen that fantastic lady since.... the aids walk? no, it must not be that long. regardless, the fact that i can't remember is a bad sign.

and now, if you please, i am going to do something that i've been waiting eagerly to do since christmas break: i'm going to read a book that has nothing to do with school. the only question is.... which one? *rubs hands together eagerly*

Twelve-Oh-One

I waited up because they said marks would be up on the 26th... and they literally pop up as soon as the new day arrives. I was hoping to put my mind at ease with the whole bio thing, but no word on that yet. I did better in both English 230 and Poli 260 than expected, so I canno help but hold high hopes that the two will help to suck my GPA back up if necessary. Though... maybe it won't be necessary. Meh. Whatever.

I'm so past the point of "caring" or "pretending to care". I just don't, which is sad. Egyptology was a stupid waste of my time and money and I am going to be really happy in eighteen hours.

As you obviously have discovered, I gots me a speeding ticket today. Oops. Going 80 in a 50 zone, eh? Pfft. Whaddaya mean I was SPEEDING? Relax though kids, it's not like I was doing it on purpose. It was that sneaky bit on SW Marine where it goes 80 / 60 / 50 in an instant. Then this cop jumps out of the bushes wearing a fluorescent vest that says "POLICE". Is it bad that I was more amused than upset? Probably. But it was pretty funny. I would have laughed harder, though, if it wasn't ME that was surprised by the sneaky bush-jumping cop.

Needless to say I drove home in the slow lane and watched as busses, tractors, motorized wheelchairs, etc., zipped past me.

I'm in a foul mood. I was sooooo looking forward to seeing my beloved care group this evening, but it just didn't work out. Plus all the other goings on. And I'm really annoyed by certain people. It's so lame... I can rationalize in my head that I am SO lucky, and SO blessed and I have it SOOOOOOOO GOOD. But sometimes it doesn't change the way I feel... damn you, innate selfishness!

Anyway, my purpose of staying up has been fulfilled.

BAD SARA!!!

Stop! Criminal!!!

Monday, Monday

Monday, Monday, so good to me / Monday, Monday, it was all I hoped it would be / Oh Monday morning, Monday morning couldn't guarantee / That Monday evening you would still be here with me

There's a little The Mamas and the Papas to start off your week. Actually, today, like yesterday is all about Abandoned Pools. OBEY MY DOG AND KILL THE MALAYSIAN PRIME MINISTER I mean LISTEN TO ABANDONED POOLS. Er... sorry, I was watching Zoolander again.

Speaking of Papas (though mine would probably stop talking to me if I ever called him PAPA), my dad gave me all his Canadian Tire money last night. Isn't that sweet? It was truly an act of love, and for those of you know who know him, you'll understand the magnitude of this event. Dad, being the tight-fisted Scotsman that he is, saves and collects things like Canadian Tire money, coupons, door-crasher flyers, etc. He hoards everything. Often, if we go out for a special occasion, it will be, "OK, well we have an Entertainment Book coupon for _____, so that's where we're going! Kelly you pretend you're twelve, ok?" Oh my gosh, the BEST time ever was when he took Evy and I to see Beavis and Butt-head Do America. He wanted to sneak in some candy and they were checking bags, so he made me (at like, 11 years old), wear my backpack under my jacket and he was like, "if they look at you, pretend that you've got a disability." "Like, a hunchback, Dad?" "Yeah, walk with a limp." I'm not kidding you; that was the gist of our conversation.

But I digress. I thought it was very nice of him to hand over 8 bucks worth of the Crappy Tire currency. Bubba is being an uber ho and I need to get a new battery I think. But, speaking of Bubba, time to see if my "beloved" car will start.

Cheers.

What Inspires You?

I forgot to mention that Jenny's stagette was a blast. I stayed strong and joined them a bit later on Granville Island, and I would highly recommend checking out Theatre Sports at the Arts Club Theatre (next to the Backstage Lounge).

In keeping with this morning's theme, I've been thinking about what inspires me. Several things have come to mind throughout the course of the day, and though it's not a complete list by any means, here are a few:

*good conversation
*well-articulated thoughts-and conversely-
*thoughts in progress!
*those who say they're gonna change the world then do it

Feel free to add to the list... I'd love to hear what inspires YOU these days.

I was flipping through the pages of In Style and found this staring me in the face.




Lamech, Enoch, Absalom, Jeroboam

I have my Biblical Influences on Modern English Literature exam in 3 hours... we have to identify characters and explain where they are featured and a little something about them. You know, their likes and dislikes.

So... just chilling with a cup of coffee before I head to catch the bus. Despite putting $460 into my car earlier this month, it's being a ho again, so I don't want to risk getting stranded and missing a very important exam.

I took Kell to the clinic yesterday and mayhem ensued as per usual. We took turns drawing pictures of each other. Here are my personal favorites (they're on my Palm, so the quality is not so stellar):

Kell thought it would be deck to draw me as a dog....


So I retaliated with, "oh yeah, well here's what you'll look like with a combover!"


Maturity is of the essence, people.

In other news, I've been sufficiently Keane'd. I got my tickets a few days ago and am looking forward to that one. Now I'm thinking I would like to see Doves as well.... simply because I've been a fan of them for a few years and who knows when they'll be in town again.

The Chris and The Trevor, our happy wanderers, will soon be touching down in Vancouver. I'm looking forward to seeing them. In fact, I'm looking forward to seeing all the groupies... it's been far too long.

"what the world needs" according to sara

I was reading People magazine on the bus, the one with Pope John Paul II on the cover. I read about his response to a failed assassination attempt during which he was shot twice and seriously injured. John Paul went to visit his attacker, Mehmet Ali Agca, in prison… and forgave him. Later, JP called it “a historic day in my life as a man, a Christian, as a bishop”. It made me want to cry. In fact, I think I got a little choked up waiting for the bus on Granville and Broadway. [But let’s never speak of that again ;).]

I haven’t really been that moved by the power of forgiveness since a Cold Case Files binge that I went on last semester. The feature was a documentary on Gary Ridgeway, the Green River Killer, and how he ended up pleading guilty to something like 45 or 50 murders. During the victim impact statements, the father of one of the victims addressed Ridgeway and said, “I forgive you.” I can’t imagine, I really can’t. But God does amazing things. It made me go wow.

To experience a love like that, to be able to forgive someone, must be so freeing.
The thing is, I’m just not capable of that kind of love towards someone else, not without Jesus. His is a perfect love, and we need Jesus to be changing us and to be changing the world. We need Jesus to be instilling this love into our hearts. It’s easy to love someone who is nice to you and makes you feel good. But I want to love even when it’s not convenient. That, I think, is when the real transforming happens, and there are some situations where I know, “there’s no way I can be feeling this without God”. There’s no way I can be accepting this, no way I could handle a certain situation in a particular way, without Him.

The more I learn about the world, and with every new day that greets me, I am further convinced that love really is the answer. “What the world needs now is love sweet love” [oh cue the Burt Bacharach].

It sounds so sappy and naïve, but I think it’s less so than people assume. Imagine a world where people grow up KNOWING that they are loved by Jesus, and have been saved in the eyes of God by the sacrifice that Jesus made… that they can tick off “acceptance” on their list of things to achieve. Imagine what our world would look like if we met the needs of others with love. I know we don’t live in a perfect world, but a world that is wrought with evil and suffering and sadness and that doesn‘t always make sense. But I think love is what is going to change things. Loving people in community and in relationships, loving people through compassion… I feel like this is the greater commission. Through loving each other in the name of Jesus, that’s how things are gonna happen bada bing bada boom.

So I am forever relying on Jesus to authenticate the things that I do, to infuse them with love, and to slowly and continuously shape me into the person that He wants me to be.

Being intrigued by the processes of language, the syntax and the rules and the limitations, I’m always caught up in what words mean. I know that sometimes it prevents me from acting. I can sit and think for hours about what the word “love” means, and often I find myself caught up in that very question. GE Moore describes certain things as “simple concepts”. What that means is that these concepts cannot be defined, only exemplified. That seems to be true about love. But instead of sitting and thinking, I need to concentrate on the DOING, because I know from past experience that anything I am able to do or give can be transformed into something beautiful beyond my understanding. And knowing that God is love keeps me going while I freak out and try to define things and get all technical.

Meh. Often I will refrain from trying to communicate my thoughts. They’re underdeveloped and crude, and I find that language disappoints when I try to put into words what is in my heart and mind. The drawback is that they don’t get out, these thoughts, and I don’t really get anywhere. Maybe these aren’t very connected ideas yet, but it’s what’s keeping me up these days. Maybe I’ll develop them a bit more later, maybe not. But for now this is what I try to hold in my mind as I wake up and live each day, sometimes failing, sometimes not.

I just got back from the dentist and I have no cavities. Wooooooohoooo.

The Things We Do at Work



I found this hidden under a desk today. On our last day of work in August, Megs and I drew these. Then we proceeded to hang our shoes from the rafters in the warehouse using the forklift.

For work related fun see also this workplace mayhem.


Spooning the Dog and Here We Go Again.

I woke up this morning and was spooning with Roxy. Little schmeeb slept on my bed and made me very aware of her presence. Somehow that tiny dog is able to stretch out and shove me to the edge. This is why she usually gets the boot.

I have exam #3 this morning at 8 30. At this point, there is really no studying to be done. It's pretty hard to study for this class anyway... he said that if we'd gone to the lectures we'd be fine, PLUS it's open book. AND he's not marking it any harder. So really all you can do is get a good sleep. And I did. Woot.

Stef finally got a blog. I'm going to force her to keep it full of whimsy and delight. Ooooh! Hey Stef maybe that could be your description! "Forced to keep whimsy and delight" or something like that.....

Really nothing else to share. At all. In fact... meh. The spooning was kinda funny.

Adieu! Bus time! Gah!

"Do you have a euthanasia programme?"

I have developed quite the twitch in my left eye. I think it's from the lack of sleep, but my co-worker Larry is sure that it's from all the hard drugs that I've been doing lately.

I finally finished that stupid golf database at work yesterday. Well, at least up to Manitoba. Ontario and Quebec are going to be real buggers, but I met my target which is always good. Somewhere in between I helped Larry make chalk lines. That was quite the experience. Not quite like the time that Megs and I got to paint lines over at Star of the Sea... but that's a story that will have to wait for another time.

Last night Kell and I went to see Miss Congeniality II, after we had a dance-off to Queen in her bedroom. Ashlee joined us at the theatre, so it ended up being the three of us. It was definitely a Kelly-Sara-Ashlee kinda movie. A little bit lame, a little bit cute.

This morning I spent some time listening to the Matthew Shantz cd that I got from Devon before he left. Man I have no idea what that kid is up to. The disc is pretty good for a boy from Abbotsford, if not a little bit redundant.

Tonight Megs and I are going to North Van. One of her choir buddies is a vocal jazz major who is doing her final recital. I'm looking forward to an evening of jazz... it's been too long! The Brad Turner Trio is playing at the Cellar in May and I am thinking of going to see that too. But tonight is free, and I really like free.

In the meantime I'm going to vacuum, organize some of my notes, review a bit for my next final, and try to think about how to tell a person that I respect that I have no respect for what they're doing.

I have no idea where this print came from, it just ended up saved on my computer. I think it's gorgeous.



Beach Weather!

Firstly, I was asked if that thumbs up is my manly hand. Alas it is not, for I am not that manly.

Secondly, this is funny.

Thirdly, I AM FINISHED BIOLOGY. I wrote that little bastard today and now I'm finished. I am fairly certain that I did well enough to pass the class, but I don't want to get too excited. It was really cool though; at one point I stopped writing and totally just felt like people were praying for me. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Or something like that.

After I made my escape from the biology building--no easy feat I assure you--I emerged to greet... the rain. Boo! Stupid rain raining on my parade (nyuk nyuk). Immediately Travis popped into my head:

Why does it always rain on me?
Is it because I lied when I was seventeen?
Why does it always rain on me?
Even when the sun is shining
I can’t avoid the lightning
Oh, where did the blue skies go?
And why is it raining so?
It’s so cold
Why does it always rain on me?
Why does it always rain...

Aww, good ol' Travis. I went to visit Z briefly and searched in vain for some index cards. Tried to have a nap on the bus but was unsuccessful. And then I went to London Drugs and bought ZOOLANDER for TEN BUCKS. Woot. So Brea's coming over tonight and we're going to watch Zoolander, and I have plans for the ultimate imitation Frappuccino. I'll report back if it's a hit.







T-Minus 12 hours!

In 12 hours I will be standing outside Dr. Harris' office, trying to retain as much knowledge as possible. Scary. Conversely, in about 15 hours I will be emerging from whatever room we are writing in, free from biology and able to skip happily to the bus that will carry me home. And then, like I said before, I'm going to the beach.

Brea spent a good two hours quizzing me this evening at Starbucks. She is my treasure.

I got them to blend up a Happy Planet for me, so it was like the old days when they had Tazo-Berries. Mmmm! Reminds me of high school when Michelle and I had a spare together (always a bad idea) and would prance up to Semiahmoo "Mall" in between classes.

I bought myself a Rolling Stone. I'm going to relax and get some sleep and then wake up early and CRAM CRAM CRAM.

The Islets of Langerhans

Those scandalous islets of Langerhans are going to be the death of me!

I am going to the beach tomorrow. I am going to write this stupid biology final, pass it with FLYING colours, then take the bus home and head to the beach. And it will be fun.

I was GOING to go to Granville Island with my mom and sister, but then my sister was giving my mom huge amounts of attitude, so now Mom has told Kelly to go bite it and that's gone out the window.

Ah well.

SO... I have nothing to say; nothing at all. I just needed to stop studying for... *checks clock*... 2 minutes.

Kissing the Lipless

This morning greeted me with The Shins. Definitely check them out if you have not already.

That is all.

Called to see if your back
Was still aligned and your sheets
Were growing grass all on the corners of your bed

But you've got too much to wear on your sleeves
It has too much to do with me
And secretly I want to bury in the yard
The grey remains of a friendship scarred

You told us of your new life there
You got someone comin' around
Gluing tinsel to your crown
He's got you talking pretty loud
You berate remember your ailing heart and your criminal eyes
You say you're still in love
If it's true what can be done
It's hard to leave all those moments behind

You tested your metal of doe's skin and petals
While kissing the lipless
Who bleed all the sweetness away

Is the state in decline?

That was one of my final exam questions in IR this afternoon. I wrote 6 essays in 3 hours and my hand felt like it was going to snap itself off.

In the middle of the crazyfest I got to daydreaming. Yeah, I know, great time to start daydreaming, but I was writing about conflict management and my thoughts always turn to Sudan and Rwanda and places were people are killed for no reason and the action (or LACK THEREOF) that the rest of the world seems to take... because this is just where my heart is most of the time.

Anyway. I got to thinking, and I would really like to take some time off school. I mean, I may change my mind once exams are done and I realize that I surived year two of UBC, but... well... I feel like I've always said, "I'll go to Africa when I'm done school, when I'm done this, when I'm done that." Maybe if I keep waiting until the opportune moment, I'll miss my chance completely.

It's certainly something to think about. I know someone who could hook me up with a program that would let me go and volunteer for a half year over in Africa. Maybe it's time to put my money where my mouth is. I did the Sudan benefit yeah, but this would be living it, and there's a difference. Of course, I'm not allowed into Sudan right now, but Africa can basically use all the help it can get.

Ever since the drunkfest at ACF I've been checking out Matthew Good's blog and there are some pretty interesting links up there. I should have asked him to play at the Darfur thing (har har). At least then he would have known what it was like to play at UBC at least once in 2005 without getting pelted by something. Idiots. Ruiners!

Speaking of Africa, don't forget about our boys. They went to the REAL Hotel Rwanda (which is coming out soon... or already has come out...). I suggest you read up on the adventures if you are interested at all; they've lined up some pretty good interviews.

Bedtime... must cram cram cram for Bio on Friday. HA. Funny story. I woke up at 6 15 this morning and did NOT want to get out of bed... I was fully awake and dreading the day. So I prayed from 6 15 until 7 45. Can't say I've ever done THAT before.

World's best (s)assistant

Totally beating a dead horse with the "s" prefix. But it's my blog and I still think it's funny so NYAH NYAH NYAH. "You vill dance und you vill look like you are enjoyingk it!"

Aaaaaaaanyway. I think it's time we do a little feature on the best little assistant in the world. Possibly in the universe. Ever. And no, it's not Tenaya, even though she's clearly awesome. It's Miss Roxy. This dog has spent every single all-nighter and late-night study session with me, refusing to leave until I'm done for the night (or morning, depending on the actual quitting time). I can try to carry her up and stick her in her bed, but she just stumbles back down the stairs and flops onto the couch.

That's not to say, however, that she stays awake. Are assistances supposed to stay awake? Meh. I takes what I can gets. And I've enjoyed documenting her "assistance" over the last few days...

Friday Night....

Sunday Night...

Later on Sunday Night...

Monday, mid-DAY...

20 minutes ago...

18 minutes ago...

Such the cuteness.

"Did you give her a muffin?"

Before I go to sleep I must say that Beth, Dale, Dean, Ed, Tenaya, and Zahida are just what I needed tonight.

God is good, even on days when I whine and complain.

- s. mac

:( A Sara on the Rocks :(

Server: Can I get you a beverage, miss?
Sara: Yes please. Something with a lot of alcohol in it.

I'm sitting in the Buchanan study lounge at school, waiting for my study partner Kelly to show up, and I'm feeling mighty sorry for myself. In fact, for a few minutes there, I thought I might actually cry.

It always seems to happen that the stuff I work the hardest on gets the lowest marks, and I wonder, what then is the point of even trying?

Meh. Kelly is here. And the general consensus is that we're both screwed and angry.

I really want to go to care group tonight. Screw school. Screw it good!

O, You Sneaky Hypothalamus, You!



I've reached a decision. Tomorrow when I go to hand in my biology colouring book, I'm going to beg for mercy from my prof. He seems like a reasonable guy, despite the fact that I've been terrified of him for nearly 8 months...

I'm going to tell him that I've been working my (s)ass off to learn this stuff. I will ask him if he would consider weighting the final more heavily if I do decently well on it, thus showing that I've applied myself and tried really, really hard. And then hopefully, he will say yes.

I figure at this point, there is nothing left to lose.

I spent 5 and a half hours working on 25 questions... so far so good... I think. Gah.

Team R has arrived in Rwanda.

Speaking of decisions. As soon as exams are done, I'm going dancing!

UBC Representin' Once Again

*Groan*

From the Matthew Good Blog:

It sure wasn't Colonel Mustard in the reading room with the candle stick - but close.

Wondering what was thrown at various members of the band during this evening’s performance at the University Of British Columbia’s Arts County Drunk-a-thon? Well, Ryan was almost hit with a good old-fashioned wrench. That’s right – an actual wrench. There were other interesting items as well, such as broken umbrella handles, twenty or thirty shoes, a cell phone, a watch, little ball bearings, you name it.

My favorite part of the evening was when something would land on my pedal board and switch something on, such as a delay. That's always fun.

What happened to live music kids?

You did.

And then from today:

Hooray For Spoiled Brat Thinking!

Imagine sitting at a desk, doing a job. You’re on the phone, you’re on the computer. Now, imagine doing that same job but having to dodge various items being thrown at you, some of them very dangerous.

If someone in an office won’t stand for it, then why should musicians? Not long ago Damage Plan’s Darrel Abbott was shot dead on stage by “a fan”. When you’re in the middle of performing the last thing that should be running through you head is – I wonder if I’m going to get hurt tonight? You should be concerned with putting on a good performance so that those in attendance can enjoy themselves.

I really don’t give a damn what people believe a rock concert to entail. There is no justification for endangering others, I don’t care how much you’ve paid to get in. Would you go and see the Vancouver Symphony and throw wrenches at them? Would you throw shoes at a cardiologist performing bypass surgery? Would you throw lighters at your mailman?

I used very strong language last night because I had had enough of it. I was watching ten thousand people do one of three things – throw things, get crushed, or stand there watching it happen. So you tell me, which is worse? Doing nothing about it or me admonishing the audience?

You know, today three Palestinian teens were gunned down while trying to get a soccer ball that had been kicked into a restricted area. A soccer ball. And I’m in the wrong for wondering why kids who enjoy fantastically safe lives act like complete asses and in doing so endanger the safety of others?

A soccer ball.

No comments on this one. Don’t much care what you think.

And later in the day, obviously still not impressed by the outstanding intellectual display at ACF:

This afternoon Jen, Raymsford, Fil, and I went out to lunch. I figured that since I was a paying customer I could throw spoons and forks and water glasses at the waitress. Truns out that it's assault. Go figure. Hell, they even charged me for the ones that missed. Something about 'the intent to cause bodily harm' or some such thing.

I know, I'm as just as shocked as you are.

Idiots.

It's Just Chemistry, Baby

No it's not, it's BIOLOGY you frickin' idiot.

Anyway they are as far (or farther) than England now, living it up as Londs in good ol' London town.

So. I'm going to study. That's about all that's on the agenda until like, the end of April.

Camilla and Charles got married. I can't say I really care, but maybe someone else does.

I Will Give You Rest

Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
- Matthew 11:28-30

I was sitting on the bus this morning, thinking that it was just about time to freak out and give up and yell, and yell some more. I'm frustrated and exasperated and getting nervous and stressed out and tired. Basically, I'm your average student ;). Then this song came on, and it's weird because I very, very rarely listen to Homesick anymore. But today it was in my MD and that track came on and I was suddenly calm. Yah, life goes on. If I fail a class I will be pissed off and disappointed in myself... but it won't be the end of my life. Somehow my burden feels light, especially in comparison to others around the world.

With that in mind, CHRIS and TREVOR are probably nearing the airport right now, if they're not there already, waiting to start their journey to RWANDA. The next two weeks are going to be amazing I think. These are two are exceptional men of God and are so good at their craft. I can't wait to see what the team is able to do. Pray for them.

Last day of class. Thank goodness. I need to get 64% on my Bio final next Friday to pass the class. I can do it. I can do it. I can do it. God give me strength.

Thursday Mmmmmoooorrrrnnniiiinnnnggggg

Actually the song is called TUESDAY Morning...

Word of the day: Whipsass.

HAHAHAHAHAHA.

I have one more day left of class. It's a good thing, a very good thing. Stabilo is playing at Arts County Fair with Matt Good and k-os, but I won't be there, because a) Stabilo will be playing while I'm in class, b) tickets are 20 bucks and I'm not going to pay that if I can't see Stabilo AND k-os AND Matt Good (even though I hear he's really great live) and c) I'm going to Jenny Kliem's bridal shower. The invite is somewhere in my room, I just KNOW it. Gah. GAH! Egads!

Trevor and Chris are leaving in just over a day, for Rwanda. It's utter insanity. Things tend to spring up so quickly; I can't imagine how they must be feeling. Actually, I imagine that Trevor is probably sporting bloodshot eyes and hasn't slept at all.... and Chris is eating pickles and brownies.

I got together with the kids last night, minus Ed who had class and was coming later, and minus Joe who is in DUBAI... or maybe London. I don't quite know. They're great. I know I rave about them often, but it's just true. Anyway, we prayed the two of them off and then I had to leave. I didn't get to the bio like I had hoped but I went to sleep at a reasonable hour for a change. And now I'm awake (huzzah).

Ooooh frustration! I went to the clinic yesterday and FINALLY saw Verbonac (aka one of the two competent GPs there) and he looked a bit exasperated when I told him what I had been doing to try to fix the knee problem. Apparently I've just made things way worse. Frickin' doctors. Why, if they didn't know, would they not send me to a specialist? Grr. So now I have to go out to Cloverhole and see some people. Egads.

The GOOD thing that happened yesterday is that my dad thinks he has enough points to send me to Australia (return) for free... and the best part is that we're pretty sure I can go EXECUTIVE CLASS (cue Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's The Messiah). Heck if it's only a couple hundred bucks extra, I'LL pay it. Huzzah LEG ROOM.

Stupid free picture-hosting sites are so lame. How DARE they run out. I think it's time I bite the bullet and pay for a picture thinger. Because I'll be going to Oz (hopefully), and will have lots of stuff to share with the folks back home. Yeah... I think I'll do that today.

Well... the time has come to pull my laundry out of the dryer and get to the business of the day ie COLOURING. I got up early for a reason (YEAH I'M MEETING BREA FOR BRUNCH) I mean I'm doing homework alllll day. Meh. A girl's gotta have some fun.

Later kids.

We Will Still Need a Song

Krishnamurti: Where shall we start, sir?
David Bohm: Do you have any ideas?
Krishnamurti: Lots of them. If truth is something totally different from reality, then what place has action in daily life in relation to truth and reality? Can we talk about that?
David Bohm: Yes.

Sara Macdonald: Egads, people! What have I gotten myself into?
David Bohm: Shut up please, I'm trying to learn.
Sara Macdonald: So am I, but dude, don't you think this a bit beyond my capabilities right now?
David Bohm: Perhaps. But that's not my fault, nor is the fault of dear Krishnamurti. YOU are the one who picked up this book. YOU are the one who exclaimed, "oooh this looks interesting" (you did, I heard you!!). And YOU are the one who took it up to the third floor and signed it out using that fancy self-check-out machine.
Sara Macdonald: LIES, DAVID BOHM! LIES! You know what they say about liars, don't you? The crux of your argument is based on the claim that you heard me "exclaiming". Well, sir, how can I EXCLAIM anything when I'm in the basement of the library, where those who breathe too loudly are immediately shot by snipers with high-performance rifles (of the silent kind of course)?
David Bohm: ...
Sara Macdonald: Fine. I guess it IS my fault. But can you at least speak slowly? I understand as long as you speak slowly.
Krishnamurti: You are the one who is in control of that reality...

[end scene and Sara has officially lost all semblence of her sanity]

I found this book in the library called "The Limits of Thought" and it's set up as a dialogue between these two guys (alas, they didn't ACTUALLY ask me to be a part of it). So far I've read a bit, and it's frickin' dense. But like the ficticious alter-ego of Krishnamurti said, I get to decide how fast I read. It looks good so far. Kinda starts with a bang, dontcha think? You find the most obscure things when you just look at the books that other people have left lying around.

Ooooooooh Reegie is at the hospital right now having an ultrasound. I hope everything is ok with Jr. I tell ya, those kids wasted no time after the impromptu Disneyworld wedding.

How's that for greasing the wheels of my propaganda machine? Clearly Breanne and John did not get married (Mike!!!!), and unless "Jr." turns out to be an ulcer, or perhaps a naughty appendix, the ultrasound is for her abdominal pain. Sweetheart.

I'm sitting in Buch D MASS right now. That's the student lounge for Artsies. Just recovering from a bio study session with Kelly (not my sister Kelly), listening to some Hawksely Workman. I find I can't listen to a great deal of his songs on the Lover/Fighter disc, cuz of the infernal sibilance. I think he does it on purpose, I really do, but it makes me want to be a bit sick. If I were in charge of the album, I would cut that knob so far that the man would have a lisp!!! Cut out EVERYTHING from 2-10kHz and just leave. This, by the way, is why I strike fear in the hearts of those who are under the tyrannical iron fist of my mixing. Kidding... I hope.

And there I go again, rambling and rambling and rambling.

Thought of the Day I: I miss Kiri.
Thought of the Day II: I am going to miss English 221.

Well, since this entry is kind of a waste of everyone's time, and since it's served its purpose of distracting me for five minutes, I'll stop there. As always, more later I'm sure. As always. As always.

Egad!

Word of the day: Egad! Apparently, according to dictionary.com, it's a spin on "Oh gosh". I did not know that.

One of my Sarahs made me a cd for my birthday. I popped it into iTunes today and let me say, it's total quality. Top recommended tracks:

Athlete - Tourist
Limblifter - Jumbo Jet Headache
Natasha Bedingfield - I Bruise Easily
The Postal Service - District Sleeps Alone Tonight
The Shins - Kissing the Lipless
Keane - Bedshaped
Matt Mays - City of Lakes

I tell ya that girl's got taste, AND a great name!

I went to YA for the first time in months last night. I went to Dean's place to hitch a ride. Much better than the bus. We went through the carwash and EVERYTHING. When I was little and impressed by everything, I used to LOVE the carwash.

The bulletin said we were going to talk about new community but we really didn't. The GOOD news, however, is that CHRIS and TENAYA came because they thought that the discussion would pertain to the new church. Mwuahaha. So I got to see them, as well as the rest of the groupies minus Trevor. Which was good. The seeing them part, not the Trevor missing part.

I spent about 7 hours colouring today. You know, practicing to stay in the lines and not scribble. I've got skills, and you know what they say about chicks digging guys with skills. Wait a second! It should be the other way around. NEVERMIND. Actually, it's my Anatomy and Physiology Workbook aka the most expensive colouring book I've ever had. I'm almost done thank goodness.

Reegie and I went to the Emmerton's this evening to drop off some flowers and a gift for John's mom. She's so cute. Plus I got to see Reegie, which is always a bonus. Gotta love the Reegie. And huzzah for bladder control, hmm?

On Friday, Chris and Trevor are going to Rwanda. I know I've mentioned it before, but only in passing. I've got good feelings about this, overall. And my mom thinks I'm psychic, so there ya go ;). Speaking of my mom and Rwanda, she came into my room last week, looking upset and shocked. She asked me if I knew that over 800,000 people had been killed in the genocide. I replied that I did know that, and a day later, she came back wanting to contribute to the Rwanda project. Cool huh?

It made me stop and think. Why is it so important that these guys go over there and make a documentary? Well, you can read all about it in the blog, but one thing that definitely stands out for me is this: my mom had no idea until seeing that piece on TV about just how terrible the killing was, just how dire the situation became. All it took was that and she was informed and disgusted and wanted to give. I think that we're generally decent people, just uninformed. What better way to inform than to raise interest through an artistic medium? It's good times all around I say. Good times indeed.

On the topic of Rwanda, I think I'm getting a couple of term papers back tomorrow. I hope all goes well. I find that it's generally better for me to write about things that stir up a passion in me for whatever reason, but the risk is that I can get carried away. We shall see.

Currently listening to: Doves - There Goes the Fear
Up next: Alkaline Trio (yUh!!!)

Oooooh 11 pm means time for bed.

My Opa's hip replacement was postponed... which kind of sucks because if he has it in the next few weeks I won't be able to visit him quite as much cuz I'll be in the middle of exams. Hmmm....

A Swift Punch to the Kidneys Should Just About Do It

Spent nearly 7 hours in Starbucks today.
Got a LOT done.
John came for a little while and tried to help me learn about renal physiology.
Gonna dream about nephrons tonight.
Supernaturals are hilarious.
Feeling kinda psychic ;).
Back to two posts a day.
Sick.

(Liquid)

You are beautiful to me
I am ruined for anything less than You
Scarred from Your head down to Your feet
But You are beautiful
You're beautiful to me

- J. Duncan (www.jayduncan.com)

The World Looks Different Today

Alright, so maybe it's not "TODAY" per se... the thing is though, things are a'changin'. Many things. I feel like I'm moving on from a certain something that's probably been holding me back and it just makes me happy and relieved and happy and relieved. So here's to you :D.

Thanks to some people that I feel rather fortunate to know, I think maybe I'm starting to understand a bit of what's been going on with me lately. Their intelligence pushes me to THINK, and though I am rarely able to rise up to the challenge as of yet, I like where this may be going. I always like controversy and inner confusion ;).

The thing is (and this is a short thing, because I have to start reading The Last Tempation and then go to sleep)... perhaps I haven't had the Damascus road experience, but perhaps I have. No, I didn't walk to Peace Portal with the intention of persecuting those pesky Christians, but there I stood in a church I swore I would never return to, surrounded by a sea of strangers. Then all of a sudden it was like, "Hey Sara. I'm Jesus. Nice to meet you." Or maybe it was more of a Revelation 3:20 kind of deal. *Knock knock. Knock knock.* "Hey dude, she's not answering..." *Kicks down door*. Heeeeere's JESUS. Maybe that's why I feel like I owe SO much to this church building and community. I wonder if Paul ever kissed the dirt of Damascus road and thanked it for being being such facilitator ;).

So for the past three or so years, I've been filled with awe. Not to say that I have been anti-intellectual, but the basis of everything has always been, for me, that Jesus showed Himself to me in a passionate and life-changing encounter that I can't deny.

Anyway, where I'm going with all of this, to bring it back into focus (to UN-digress, if you will). I always want to be filled with awe; I don't want to lose that, ever. But I like the idea of thinking through, of pushing, of struggling, of questioning. Because as Anna and I were discussing today (after sitting through a class presentation during which it was decided that Jesus was the product of a rape), how is it that the world sees Jesus? How is it that I see Jesus, and how is it that I am living my life in accordance with what I believe to be true?

I promised I would keep this short...
"Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you happen to miss the knocking, I'll knock a little louder. If you still don't hear me, I'll just let Myself in. Or kick down the door. And then we'll have a meal together as friends."
- Revelation 3:20 (New Sara Translation)

Shine On Us...

True to the tardy style that I've adopted of late, darling Daisy I haven't forgotten you. "Better to show up late than to arrive on time and forget your heart at home."


Lord, let Your light
Light of Your face
Shine on us
Lord let Your light
Light of Your face
Shine on us

That we may be saved
That we may have life
To find our way
In the darkest night
Let Your light shine on us

Lord let Your grace
Grace from Your hand
Fall on us
Lord let Your grace
Grace from Your hand
Fall on us

That we may be saved
That we may have life
To find our way
In the darkest night
Let Your grace fall on us

Lord let Your love
Love with no end
Come over us
Lord let Your love
Love with no end
Come over us

That we may be saved
That we may have life
To find our way
In the darkest night
Let Your love come over us
Let Your grace fall over us
Let Your light shine on us

Shine on us, O Lord
Shine on us
O Lord

“And because He is alive, we know that we too shall rise. And death no longer holds its awful reign. Where O grave is your destruction? And where, O death your sting?”

Daisy Kwon (1986-2004)