Hawaiian Holiday

Posted on 27 December 2010 | 2 comments
Sunset in Oahu, Hawaii

Sunset in Oahu, Hawai'i

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Arrived home yesterday from Oahu, Hawai’i, with the family. There for four days: shopped, ate, toured, whale-watched, and sat in a submarine. The Pacific ocean has never been so many shades of blue.

The plane ride there had me empty-handed, without a book, a laptop or a movie to watch, so there was really nothing for me to do except to re-evaluate my life and write my 2011 resolutions on a napkin provided by Air Canada. Talk about productive use of time.

You don’t have to take a plane or ride a bus to think, really think, about what you want. Sometimes it is good to hole yourself up in a room where no one will disturb you, or go to a favourite place alone. Sometimes it is good just to take a break from the things that worry you, to give yourself permission not to do your usual thing for a few days. Give yourself the chance to be refreshed and re-energised. Enjoy your holiday.

I hope the festive season is treating all of you well. ♥

2 Comments

Posted in Wellness

Things I Love Thursday

Posted on 16 December 2010 | Comments Off on Things I Love Thursday

Every day should be a holiday.

Almost forgot to do my Thursday post because — hurray! I’m now done with this term — everything I’ve been putting off is now clamouring for my attention and I feel busier than when I’m in school.

Nevertheless, some wonderful things that have been happening include:

♥ going to my favourite French bistro with a friend on a Grooster coupon and sharing a divine three-course meal together;

♥ welcoming back long out-of-town friends;

♥ watching Tangled with a new friend and enjoying it even more than I thought I would;

♥ enjoying pina colada smoothies (at the moment I believe that Bread Garden > Orange Julius);

♥ brainstorming and going Christmas gift shopping;

♥ getting free cookies;

♥ looking forward to my parents’ visit this weekend; and,

♥ going to Hawai’i together with the family next week, the first time we’re all together for Christmas in eight years (!!).

So just to let you know that if you don’t see a Things I Love Thursday post next week, it’s because I’m busy soaking up the sun. Promise to have beautiful pictures up as soon as the trip is done. Love and joy!

Comments Off on Things I Love Thursday

Posted in Things I Love Thursday

My Weekend of Injuries

Posted on 13 December 2010 | 1 comment

Scene: Propped up in bed, with my laptop on my lap. Actually working.

Realised I had slid down considerably and could no longer be considered as sitting. Decided to remedy this by pushing myself upwards with my hands.

My knees jerked.

My laptop came hurtling down towards my nose.

I processed an audible sound of impact at the same time my tear ducts began working in overdrive.

My brother had no idea why I was weeping copious amounts of tears or why both my hands were cupping my nose and I was wailing something like “shooooo”. He gave me tissue.

Fortunately, it wasn’t broken or even cracked, though I did wear a giant ice pack across my face to slow the swelling. My cheeks got very cold.

Then I flailed about in my sleep and whacked myself on the nose again with my arm, and the next day I almost fell down the stairs twice, and also bruised my funnybone on the washing machine door.

Also, I may be developing lactose intolerance.

All this to say: Be careful while studying for exams, kids.

1 Comment

Posted in Wellness

Sonic Boom A Cappella Concert Tonight

Posted on 10 December 2010 | Comments Off on Sonic Boom A Cappella Concert Tonight

Music should either move your feet or move your heart

Enjoy a cappella music? Looking for a short, sweet break from studying? Check out this event at the UBC School of Music tonight:

A new a cappella group, Sonic Boom, is holding their first formal performance at the School of Music’s recital hall. They promise to cover songs as diverse as Regina Spektor, Billie Joel, Snoop Dogg, OneRepublic, Sara Bareilles, and many more. Tickets are $5 for students and $7 for non-students, and can be purchased at the door.

Further details can be found on the Facebook event.

You can also check out their cover of Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite” on YouTube. (Yes, it was filmed on a stairwell at Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, and I am told that a janitor got into the dancing as well.)

I, for one, have been looking forward to this for weeks. See you there!

UBC School of Music
6361 Memorial Road
8:00-9:00 pm

Comments Off on Sonic Boom A Cappella Concert Tonight

Posted in Recreation

Things I Love Thursday

Posted on 9 December 2010 | 4 comments

If I fail, I try again, and again, and again. What matters is how we finish.
–Nick Vujicic

Things I Love Thursday is the delightful act of posting about the things you love every Thursday, as begun by Gala Darling. It’s a fun happiness booster I enjoy doing, and would be really glad to hear about the things you enjoy too!

♥ I have been in excellent humour ever since I thought that if exams are the worst thing I have to complain about, then life is pretty damn amazing.

♥ Jon Schmidt’s piano/cello arrangement of ‘Love Story Meets Viva La Vida’ is one of my best songs for hardcore studying.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfH2BY5pdLw]

What’s one of yours?

♥ My friend’s blog I recently discovered (Life, Love, and the Pursuit of Success: A Guide to Navigating Your 20s), offering short, sweet posts on relationship advice and tasty-sounding recipes. It also makes me laugh.

♥ The mandarin oranges my friend dropped off the other day are sweet and delicious!

♥ The Point Grill restaurant at Marine Drive, also known as my time-saver and occasional reward during exam period.

♥ The falling snow feature on my WordPress (click through to my blog to see!).

♥ The absolutely amazing community potluck held at the Musqueam reserve last Thursday night. I am so grateful to have been a part of the First Nations Language Program and have the opportunity to visit the reserve on so many occasions for learning the language of the Musqueam people. It was a funny, touching evening filled with laughter and food. Thank you for everything.

♥ The beautiful young cat I fell in love with on the way home from the reserve. It was a mutual love at first sight — I pet her, she rubbed herself around my legs and made me her property, followed me when we walked away, and stood on my feet so I couldn’t go anywhere or do anything but pet her more where I stood. Oh Kitty, I wish I could have taken you with me, but I don’t think your owner would have appreciated that. This post goes out to you.

♥ Lastly, but not least, Nick Vujicic is one of the people in this world I most admire. Check him out — I promise he will be worth the next four minutes of your time.

4 Comments

Posted in Things I Love Thursday