She was my student... R.I.P. Selina...

Well, I am actually kind of sad to think that this day is the one that FINALLY gives me something to write about... But I need to talk. Today there was a tragedy that really hit home for me in our town. It happened at 1 something in the afternoon. A girl that was in my first homeroom, and who has had trouble at home for MANY MANY years, committed suicide. She hung herself with a telephone cord in her bedroom closet.

She dropped out of school this year but often talked to me on MSN and on the phone about missing biology and wanting to return to school. Last time we chatted was even Thursday evening. She had missed some school in November because she had talked about wanting to commit suicide and was shipped to Kuujjuaq to get some help. Unfortunately the SYSTEM has lots of flaws and no matter how many times she cried out for help, how many times the student counsellor, her teachers or the VP tried to contact her family, social services and youth protection to get her the assistance she needed, it just failed her.

I gotta be honest. I am mad, sad, disappointed, hurt and worried all in one. I am mad that there are more kids than just her who are SO brilliant but who are living in conditions and situations that are unjust. I am sad because she was one of those shining stars in my first class and that I had such high hopes for... she was sooooo bright, she was a fighter for what she believed in, she was- I THOUGHT- strong, for having lived with so much hurt but for having been open in calling for help. I am disappointed that we (at the school) just couldn't fix everything that she was going through. I am hurt because I will miss her a lot, she and I had a special bond. She was so kind and friendly and open with me, and I could tell she knew that I had her back. It just wasn't enough. I am worried, because she isn't the only one who lives a life of misery, she was the most vocal too, and willing to talk, and I am sure there are so many other lost students from whom we don't know how bad it really is for them.

What can I say...

Reconnecting...

It feels like my last blog was two weeks ago, not merely a few days! I'm taking it easy tonight. Got home around 5:30 or so, leisurely had supper and have been relaxing since. It's nice, not pushing myself to go go go... I decided that this weekend, I will wait for someone else to make plans for me, since last weekend it seemed like everyone was calling me to make their plans for them, and it was very tiring! (Especially when not many showed up! LOL!)

Just after Christmas, another teacher, Krystal, told me about a new website called Facebook, that was lots of fun. So I signed up and have been enjoying it a great deal. It was weird too because you can join groups based on interests or geographical regions, etc., making connections with other users who have similar interests or are from the same place as you. So, I found the group for Yarmouth, and low and behold, the first person on the list of members was Nan's stepson, Jason. Weird, but I guess it is a small world!

So, like I was saying, I have really enjoyed the chance that this website has given me to meet new people, and also reconnect with people I haven't seen or talked to in AGES. It's nice when you get that chance. You know, when you see someone that you once knew and then after wondering where their life has taken them in the last 10 years, you actually have the means to chat and catch up... I love it!

Maybe it is old age setting in, or the realization that I have been out of high school now for 10 years this June or I don't know what!? But I have become more reminiscent these days. Finding myself talking about "the good OL' days" more and more often...

Enough for tonight, maybe it's just being tired! LOL! HAVE a great weekend everyone!

PED Day Delight!

End of Term two today! Yeah! I am happy to think that the time has flown by so quickly this year! I really find it hard to believe that it's now past the halfway point, but with Easter Holidays, the Union Congress holidays in March... I think it will go by very quickly still!!

News... Let me see... Had two get together's this weekend, so despite the urges from all of you moms and motherly types(just kidding!), I guess I didn't go to bed early! I did however feel very rested and did not TOO bad at taking it easy! Friday night, April, Trevor and Krystal had a chill fest at the Blake Beach house, and somehow Trevor and April tricked us into thinking it was only 1:30 when actually it was 3:30... A bunch of people were supposed to come and celebrate the new year in, but they all bailed at the last minute.

Saturday, I was pretty productive. Rearranged my bedroom and spare room a little bit. I needed to get another dresser in my room because I have so many clothes that I don't wear that I just can't seem to be smart enough and give away! At least now, there is enough room for my new Christmas clothes. Ha ha! Saturday evening was at my house for some games and a sing-along... Well, kind of turned into that when Krystal asked if she could show her guitar abilities with the two songs she knew. Then I had to do a little playing... Think I want to try and find chords for some David Ford songs... I like them and they sound pretty easy for my skills or lack thereof!

EXTREME cold weather persists but I LOVED walking to school this morning, even if my legs were burning cold through my jeans on the ONE minute walk from my house. I just LOVE the hollow squeak of the snow underfoot when it gets this cold. It's a sound I don't remember ever hearing back in NS, but it is such a neat sound. It makes me feel like REAL winter is here!

Today was a PED day so I spent most of the day doing marks, organizing the papers piled high on my desk, fixing the secretaries computer, listening to music and chatting with colleagues. All of my favourite things without whiny kids or fist fights... hahaha! Back to classes tomorrow!

G.

Wonderful day to be Alive...

SO, it's Hump Day in the FIRST full week of school. The lack of light these days is soooo draining that I am dead by 8:30, and should technically head to bed then, since at about 10 pm I get a second wind and tend to stay up too late for my own good!

It feels as though the new year was being rung in about a month ago, and that I have been back up north for months now- not just a week. YIKES! Does that mean I am in for a LONG winter or what!?

So, today, I was so excited as I left school at 6:30 tonight... The snow was that kind of slow motion, big floaty flakes... It looked like I was in a snow globe after the some of the flakes have settled for a bit and only the gentle ones are left... And then as I tilted my head upward to enjoy the sight, I had the joy of one especialy large flake landing on the tip of my nose. I never realized how exciting it could be, but I don't think I have had one land like that before, and it was so weird and cool to watch it soooo upclose, and feel it slowly dissolve... Very nice way to relax at the end of the day...

Something else cool happened that I wanted to share but at the moment I can't remember what it was! So, I should let you all go! To enjoy the wonders of 2007...

BV 2 S Skidoo Helmet...

I might have forgotten to mention another Christmas present I received (granted from myself) this holiday season. I have been checking it out for the last couple of times I have travelled home, and considered getting it- the Bombardier BV2S skidoo Helmet!

I've have never taken the plunge and bought it before now since up North we do not have any laws requiring the use of helmets. It really is a wonderfully freeing experience, the cool breeze (or warm in Springtime) whizzing past your face and that feeling of being really one with the environment. (Except for the one time I drove over some exposed ice and accidentally hit the brakes spinning sideways and bumping my head on the ice as the skidoo fell on it's side.)

So, with eager encouragement from my dad, I found the helmet at Tusket Motor Sports in my size and finally made the investment. Today was my first trail with it, and I have to say I was impressed with it's performance. I was weary that some condensation would build up from the extreme cold conditions outside but surprisingly the visor remained very clear. I was also incredibly surprised with how utterly warm my head and neck were. The wind cannot penetrate the hard outer surface, unlike with hats. My head therefore remained VERY toasty and comfortable, for the 2 hours I was out riding around. Just for reference, it was about -20 windchill today. And at the top of a few mountains along the trail, the wind was certainly stronger than that and likely colder as well.

I give the BV2S two thumbs up!
(This picture is for a new profile pictures...)

Picture Update from my holidays...

So, many people have been asking me. No, correction- begging me, to put some pictures from my holidays on my blog. Today, is your lucky day!

First Pic- The living room at home in Yarmouth, decorated before I got home so it had a nice Christmasy feel.

On Christmas Eve, after the parents got home from midnight Mass, we planned to follow through with the tradtion of opening ONE present before bed. BUT instead of stopping at one, we couldn't handle the wait and opened them all. Off to bed at probably 2 am, and the chance to sleep in a little on Christmas morning.

Jessica (Paul's finacee) and their cat Harry were often up with Paul for visits. They have a house just down the street from us, but were probably sleeping as we were opening gifts.

Christmas morning- since we only had stockings and a few presents from Paul and Jess to open. Kenneth and I started up one of his presents- a waffle maker to make some breakfast just before the parents were back from Christmas morning service. As you can see we filled it a bit too full!

As you can see, Kenneth got the hang of it in the end and everyone enjoyed the waffles! (Especially Dad!!!)

Paul and Jessica then came up to open their presents and bring ours. They brought Maggie their dog up too and Maggie was very excited with the homemade, all natural dog treats mom and dad got her. She kept grabbing it in her mouth and trying to eat them all. It's neat because when she is finished, the bowl is also edible.

Paul didn't appreciate the "Hello Kitty" groom and bride that mom gave them. But the good sport he is, he still smiled for the camera! (Or maybe Jess was pinching him!)

Kenneth also received a panini press. (The year of the food preparation devices for our family!) He made some delicious treats all week while I was home! When sandwiches are pressed they taste soooooo good!!

I had a wonderful week and after being treated to the "Maple Leaf Lounge" on my flight to Montreal, I arrived at my hotel where another fancy treat awaited! My name in chocolate? Is this for real?

Flash ahead to Friday, Jan. 5- I invited over some of my closest friends (not all since some were not back from holidays yet) for a Lobster feast. We ate sooooo much food, due to the amazing appetizers that Nancy had prepared, so much so that no one had room for some of Krystal's dessert!

It was a very enjoyable yet drippy evening.

I was told afterwards that I probably have to throw out the red table cloth as a result of the major leakage and caked on lobster residue- so mom if you are on a sewing kick again let me know, I might get you making me a new table cloth. I'll send measurements!

So, having said all of that. It is good to be back to work. We are missing one of the teachers so if you know anyone looking for a job or willing to try a change of pace, PLEASE EMAIL! The job would be teaching mostly Secondary Social Studies courses. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Suddenly it dawned on me...

You know, occasionally you have a moment where things become clear. Suddenly a question you have had in your mind for years just makes sense... Sometimes the answer just clicks from an unknown source, out of the blue, without trigger or for no apparent reason. It's sort of like when you are trying to remember someone's name and it just won't come to you for weeks, you can picture their face in your mind, you can tell someone all about the person or what you were doing the last time you saw them, but that one piece of in- their name simply illudes you!

I used to consider this a sign of old age, purely a metaphysical memory issue, but now, I think it might actually be connected with teh Divine's will in knowing and understanding things in a certain time or season.

What caused me to start thinking such abstract and philosophical thoughts? It all happened in the shower at my hotel. (Just to assure you, my blog is USUALLY "G" rated, so don't worry where this story is headed!) I woke at 6:30 am, I wanted to take my time getting ready and down to the shuttle by 8. Checked my email, and then jumped in the shower. As I lathered the shampoo, suddenly the revelation came to me. I have wondered for years about the reason hotels always seemed to have those really annoying cloth shower curtains. You know which ones I mean- the kind that tend to get soaked wet, sometimes leading to leakage onto the floor, and that also occasionally get blown in the steamy drafts of air in the bathroom and spend more time stuck on you than doing their job. As you can tell, I loathe them, and have had few positive experiences in their presence. But today, it hit me! I really do not know why it came to me, but I realized that maybe they have that kind of curtain so they can be taken down and washed much easier than the rigid plastic curtains. Hopefully someone out there can indeed confirm this proposition for me, but in the second between rinsing the shampoo and massaging in conditioner, it seemed to be so clear to me!

Today was my day. It seem that today might have been my day to know the answer to this great mystery after years of wonder!

G.
P.S. I arrived back in GR this afternoon- around 3:30'ish. Nice to be home!

The Maple Leaf Me?

Mmm, cappuchino!

Ok, so it's 3:44 pm and I am waiting in the "Maple Leaf Lounge" in the Halifax Airport. When I checked in I found out that the school board purchased entrance into the lounge when the paid for my ticket. So, I indulged. I have spent a LOT of time in airports the past few years and always wondered about what the hype was, what was so special about it...

At the door, a bouncer of sorts, to check ID's and I suppose to make sure none of the ordinary folk like me would make entrance. After being approved, I passed a room full of computers and business type communications apparel, a fancy washroom and then the cafe area, bar area and sitting area, all decorated with rich leather lounge chairs, abstract art, and indirect lighting.

The refreshments is probably the key to the hype about this area- almost anything you might want is available- juices, pops, liquors, wines, beers, gourmet cappuchinos, lattes and expressos, and cookies, vegetables, snacks, soups, etc. etc. All of these things are free and make me rather suspect as to what KSB had to pay in order for me to have this service available. A part of me wants to take a handful of goodies from here and bring them downstairs and start handing them out to people who are in the common area. DOWN with segregation, hahaha...

Hmmm, now to make note of the people around me- the man and woman at the table to my left are clad with "Alpine Beer" company fleece, and from the conversations I overheard so far, he must be some sort of head hauncho since he has spoken to directors in Peru, Ireland and I think somewhere in Asia, in the last 10 minutes. He has arranged the takeover plans of an airline and talked about impending plans to expand their market share in some country I can't remember which one though. He is on his way to St. John's and must have a horrible sore ear from having the cellphone attached to it constantly. The man behind me arrived from Norway this morning and is on his way to Toronto this afternoon for a short visit. I think I am the only one without a palm pilot on full blast and a cellphone in use. I have to say business is not my idea of a fun profession to be in.

So, overall impressions, if it is given to you- take it. Guess the free stuff is pretty cool, in a day and age when everything seems to cost more and more, but at what cost?? My running shoes and layers of fleece and pony tail seem to be a bit too common for me to fit in without being noticed!