Awesome, in full force

It's the Year of Jenny. Yep, you heard it here..... well, second. Taken from my good friend, Jenny Scott, I'm using this expression and making it my own. Simply said, this year is going to be all about the things that will make me a better Jenny; friends, adventures, traveling, and the rest of life somewhere in the mix.

Here are some highlights and future goals for 2011:

-First mtb race - 2 flats, still finished.

-Uvic development rowing team winning streak, including Elk Lake Spring Regatta, CRUSHED Oregon State University.

-GRADUATION, June 2011! Wooooooo

-Won a week resort vacay at destination of choice.

-Tom/Jenny trip to Guatemala, December 2011!

-Get my ass kicked in the 2011 racing season, but still have tonnes of fun! VCLs, Island Cups, X on the Rock!

-Girls Vegas Trip, October

-Visit Dr. Skinner in San Fran, November!?

-Apply for international exchange - Masters/B.Ed

Like I said before, the Year of Jenny. It's going to be a good year.

Reminiscent...

As I sit here on my couch, early December, I'm trying to push myself to start my term paper. I look for distractions; something that will help me procrastinate.

Ah, I've found it: Pictures! I love looking through old pictures. Skimming through folder after folder, I've been here for about an hour. I stumble across my Hawaii folder, and got a huge grin on my face. I remember the feel of the warm sun on my skin, the tower of power, the row boat, lavajava, the frigid Hilo pool, "prairie doggin' it", Safeway sandwiches, Jamba Juice, and many others...

I could say way more, but pictures are always more fun. Here's some of my faves:

Next adventure, 2011!?!?

JS

Ouch

A couple days ago at the shop, I went to open a drawer (which notoriously gets stuck) and my nail got snagged and pulled partially off. The darker side around the edge is actually bruised skin. It hurt at the time, but now it's all good and feels numb. I'm still deciding if that's a good or bad thing.

Anyways, I thought I would share with pictures:

I think it's actually kinda neat, in a weird way. But definitely not as neat as Gillian's thumb, which she got caught in her chain and cassette a couple years ago. Here, take a look:

Tomorrow, I head for Europe. Wish me luck and keep thangs fresh.

JS

Reminder

I was walking back to my car today after class when I spotted...

I figured it's a good reminder every now and again.

Keep it fresh,

JS

Helmets

I don't get it; people ride their bikes all over town and all over campus with a helmet either hanging from their handlebars or sitting in their basket. It's never on their head. Haven't people grown up enough to realize that no one will make fun of you if you wear a helmet? Why even own a helmet if you're not going to wear it? I think that if you add up the amount of money that a person would spend on a helmet (which aren't cheap), and you add up the amount of money you'd spend on an average number of lifetime tickets, you'd be SAVING money by not owning one.

Some people might argue that non-helmet wearers is a form of modern day natural selection. However much I agree with this point, I must also point out that current medical technologies are so advanced that they work to keep these morons alive, sucking out more money from our health care system than needed. Money that I think could go to PREVENTATIVE health care, such as not implementing HST, or tax cuts for sports programs, etc.. Some say it's their choice to not wear helmets, my argument is that it's not my choice for our government to be forced into wasting money on a person who wasn't smart enough to wear a helmet.

I think Jerry said it the best:

"There are many things that we can point to that

prove that the human being is not smart. The helmet

is my personal favorite. The fact that we had to invent

the helmet. Now why did we invent the helmet? Well,

because we were participating in many activities that were

cracking our heads. We looked at the situation. We chose

not to avoid these activities, but to just make little plastic

hats so that we can continue our head-cracking lifestyles.

The only thing dumber than the helmet is the helmet law,

the point of which is to protect a brain that is functioning so

poorly, it's not even trying to stop the cracking of the head

that it's in..."

I just don't get it, so wear your helmet.

JS

Christmas Shopping

I went Christmas shopping today and it was hard to find a spot. I think this guy is onto something.

Exams!

Wow, it seems as though this semester has flown by... although, sitting in the midst of exams, perhaps not fast enough. I've gotta say - I can't reeeally complain too much this year. Tough, but not "pull my hair out of my scalp, drink 5 cups of coffee a day, eyes bulging out of my head" kind of tough. Yesterday, Saturday Dec.12th, was my first exam. It was definitely nice to have a full week to study for my hardest, highest percentage exam: Sociology of family relationships - 50%... ouch. After doing quite well on the two given assignments for the course, I BOMBED the midterm... double ouch. I definitely had my socks pulled up to my knees this past week. I know the textbook inside and out. I probably shouldn't count any chickens before they hatch, but I couldn't help leaving that classroom without a huge grin on my face and the feeling I nailed it outta the park... although I should give credit to the fact that the final was written with more concrete, clear questions, compared to the midterm. Still, feeling good about a final, especially a final that is weighted SO heavily, is probably one of the best feelings!

Now, 1 down and 2 more to go. I've got an exam tomorrow afternoon that I'm a little nervous for: Sociology of Gender. We didn't have a midterm in this class, so there's nothing to base what tests will be like. The format: 3 essay questions in 2 hours. Yeah, you read correctly. And to make matters worse, they are based directly on course readings. I almost feel like I've used up all my memory on my Family class, there's no more space in there for more readings... but I'm trying. I'm reading the highlighted ones over again. They're not sticking now, but I'm hoping the sight of the exam papers in front of me will scare the thoughts out of me.

Tuesday, Dec.15th is my last exam. It's a condensed exam schedule that definitely has some pros to being done so early, but I'm hoping that the short time will keep me motivated enough to keep studying!

After that, I fly to Ontario!!! I'm really excited to visit family again - my extended family get togethers are something that I've missed most about being away. It will definitely be nice to be back with some familiar faces. Danny is also joining me, but he is flying separately, because of his exam schedule and timing - he goes straight to the airport after his last exam and takes a red eye flight and I pick him up in the morning. Hopefully, I will also get to meet up with Heather Hollman, who is currently living in Toronto to attend Chiro school - it will definitely be bizarre (but in a good way) to meet up with her there!

On the afternoon of Christmas Day, Danny and I fly together to Regina. His parents just moved there from Whitehorse this summer, so his whole family is celebrating Christmas there. I am very excited! His parents are such friendly, fun people. His sister has come to Victoria for a few visits and we've spent a fair bit of time together and always had a blast. We stayed with his brother and sister-in-law in Lethbridge and went on some fun adventures over the summer. Regina will definitely be another wonderful adventure!

On top of all the holiday jetsetting, I fly back to Victoria on the evening of the 30th. My Dad, Paulie, is going to be waiting to pick Danny and I up there with a HUGE smile on his face (hopefully). I have 3 full days before I have to start work and school, and we're planning some awesome day hiking trips. My brother, Dan, gets in from Calgary sometime in the New Year, which is when I'll be celebrating my FOURTH Christmas get together! Wow, Christmas sure puts a few things in perspective - like how fortunate I am to have so many wonderful people in my life!

Happy Holidays... I've got to get back to studying!

Keep your chin up,

JS