Well, today is Halloween, and it's the first year in a few that I've gotten dressed up. I worked today, so I dressed up as the paper bag princess (you know from the Robert Munsch story) complete with safeway paper bag dress, black soot smudges and a a crown that was slightly burnt from that mean old dragon. It was a lot of fun, and the kids really liked it. The school was swarming with dressed up kids and teachers, candy, all sorts of halloween goodies, and tons of activities and games.
Mike and I also carved a pumpkin, which is currently on our balcony with two lanterns and orange candles. It's the first year we've had a balcony people could actually see, so I had to decorate. I can hear the trick or treaters running up and down the street and I'm sure they're happy that it's not snowing this year, as it was last year. Nope, unlike the island where it's always raining, we have a sunny day and now a starry night for halloween.
Mike and I are going to the movie theatre tonight as there are no parties that we know of going on. That's okay, though. Next year, when we own our own house, I'm definitely throwing a costume party.
A little bit of Halloween history: Originally, when the Celtic festival Samhain (where Hallowe'en originated from) was Christianized--(All Saint's day on November 1st) people would go door to door the night before this day, offering to pray for the souls of the dead, and in return the people would offer them cakes made with fruit and bread, which were called soul cakes. If the people in the house refused, they would play a prank, or "trick" on them. Hence the trick or treat. This was what they did in the middle ages, before wrapped candy bars at Wal-mart.
I find it so interesting how festivals and feast days were Christianized but sort of kept in the same spirit, and how evolved they are today. So many Christians are opposed to Hallowe'en and the way people celebrate it today--if only we could remember how it started, with people praying door to door.
Personally, I love any reason to display lights and put on a costume!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Of student loans, block heaters and tasers...
Yippee....I just signed my "consolidated loan agreement and repayment form" from the National Student loan service. How exciting. I'm officially working enough that I have to start paying back my 6 years worth of student loans. How fun. Except for the fact that the interest is already at 2000 dollars and I haven't even begun! I don't get why the interest rate has to be so high for student loans.
Sigh. Oh well, I'm still saving for that trip to Ireland.
Mike isn't working today, but he's gone to Fort St. John to take the RCMP taser course. It's two full days, which means that we don't really get to enjoy any time off together. Also, he experienced the magic of the taser himself yesterday, with the burn marks to prove it. He actually volunteered to be tasered for a full five seconds. Apparently there's a t-shirt.
Our car is now fully equipped with a block heater. For those of you islanders, that means that I now have to plug in my car when it gets too cold outside. So bizarre. I can just see myself completely forgetting and dragging the extension cord along behind me on my way to work after not unplugging the car in the morning.
I still need my winter coat and boots, but apparently the fact that there isn't snow yet is a good sign. Last year it started on October 28th and stayed until April. Everyone here seems so surprised when I tell them that I like it here so far. They usually say "come on, you can tell the truth" as if I lied so as not to hurt their feelings. The truth is that I'd rather be on the island, but I do like it here. The sky is always blue and we're making lots of new friends. What I don't get is why the people who hate it here don't move away. It seems as though the northern BC raised can't seem to get out of the north, even though they don't like it. It's not true for all of them, but most of the people I've met who were raised here have never been to the island. It's hard for me to believe, because to me the island is the best place in BC to live. But, I guess if you've never been to Victoria, then you don't really know what you're missing.
My hands are so cold they can't type anymore, so I better go turn the heat up....
Sigh. Oh well, I'm still saving for that trip to Ireland.
Mike isn't working today, but he's gone to Fort St. John to take the RCMP taser course. It's two full days, which means that we don't really get to enjoy any time off together. Also, he experienced the magic of the taser himself yesterday, with the burn marks to prove it. He actually volunteered to be tasered for a full five seconds. Apparently there's a t-shirt.
Our car is now fully equipped with a block heater. For those of you islanders, that means that I now have to plug in my car when it gets too cold outside. So bizarre. I can just see myself completely forgetting and dragging the extension cord along behind me on my way to work after not unplugging the car in the morning.
I still need my winter coat and boots, but apparently the fact that there isn't snow yet is a good sign. Last year it started on October 28th and stayed until April. Everyone here seems so surprised when I tell them that I like it here so far. They usually say "come on, you can tell the truth" as if I lied so as not to hurt their feelings. The truth is that I'd rather be on the island, but I do like it here. The sky is always blue and we're making lots of new friends. What I don't get is why the people who hate it here don't move away. It seems as though the northern BC raised can't seem to get out of the north, even though they don't like it. It's not true for all of them, but most of the people I've met who were raised here have never been to the island. It's hard for me to believe, because to me the island is the best place in BC to live. But, I guess if you've never been to Victoria, then you don't really know what you're missing.
My hands are so cold they can't type anymore, so I better go turn the heat up....
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Good pudding
Just went for my first run this week. I'd had a great schedule worked out, and then got lazy over the weekend. But, now I'm trying to get back into it, but the cold weather makes it less and less desirable. I find I can't run for more than 5 minutes, without my lungs and chest starting to hurt from the cold air. I've now upgraded my running outfit to three shirts, pants and gloves.
Cashed my poetry prize yesterday to discover that Canada post totally rips you off on postal money orders. The 300$ American turned into only 279$ Canadian. I know our dollar is now worth 2 cents more, but the post office is only giving a .93 cent exchange rate. How cheap is that. Oh well, I'm still excited. And, Goblin Fruit has asked me to send them a reading of my poem to put in the spring issue with my poem, which I'm nervous but excited to do.
Ran past my favourite house today and saw that although it has now sold, there is another one two doors down for sale. I really love that street, so hopefully there will still be one for sale by the time we can by.
I've been working at least 4 days a week lately, which is awesome as it means I can finally pay off my line of credit. My favourite is when I get called in for just a morning or an afternoon, because I get to work for just a few hours, and then go home and enjoy the rest of the afternoon, or take a nap. So lovely.
Well, it's Bible study tonight so I am off to make them some good pudding. Yum. Way to reward myself for going for a run...
If you've never had my good pudding, here is the recipe:
Make two packages of instant vanilla pudding
Add one tub of cool whip
Add one box of crushed fudgeo cookies
Stir in one can of mandarin oranges
Garnish with grated chocolate if you wish
It's delicious!
Cashed my poetry prize yesterday to discover that Canada post totally rips you off on postal money orders. The 300$ American turned into only 279$ Canadian. I know our dollar is now worth 2 cents more, but the post office is only giving a .93 cent exchange rate. How cheap is that. Oh well, I'm still excited. And, Goblin Fruit has asked me to send them a reading of my poem to put in the spring issue with my poem, which I'm nervous but excited to do.
Ran past my favourite house today and saw that although it has now sold, there is another one two doors down for sale. I really love that street, so hopefully there will still be one for sale by the time we can by.
I've been working at least 4 days a week lately, which is awesome as it means I can finally pay off my line of credit. My favourite is when I get called in for just a morning or an afternoon, because I get to work for just a few hours, and then go home and enjoy the rest of the afternoon, or take a nap. So lovely.
Well, it's Bible study tonight so I am off to make them some good pudding. Yum. Way to reward myself for going for a run...
If you've never had my good pudding, here is the recipe:
Make two packages of instant vanilla pudding
Add one tub of cool whip
Add one box of crushed fudgeo cookies
Stir in one can of mandarin oranges
Garnish with grated chocolate if you wish
It's delicious!
Monday, October 08, 2007
Here's the link
Saturday, October 06, 2007
second place...not bad!
The winners were posted on line this morning at Utmost Christian Writers, and I opened the page to discover that I'd received second place, and a prize of 300$!
This means that I now have 300$ towards my summer travel fund, so I'm very excited. Also, because I was one of the top 5 winners, my poem and bio is published on their webpage. Go to to read mine as well as the other winners.
It's a neat foundation, because it pays out quite a large number of cash prizes to new poets, which is always nice!
Well, it's a beautiful Saturday here, and I'm waiting for my ipod to charge so that I can go for a run. I wanted to go this morning, but I was lazy and can't stand running anymore without music. Then, it got cloudy, but now it's back to blue sky so I'm glad I waited. It's so nice to have a 3 day weekend with no plans and Mike is asleep as he worked last night. So, I'm just relaxing in my house, which has already been cleaned by Mike yesterday,with plans for reading and maybe thinking about some more writing and/or scrapbooking later on!
Yeah for thanksgiving long weekends...oh yeah, and I get a turkey dinner on Monday at the other new RCMP's house. Happy thanksgiving everyone!
Below are the pictures I tried uploading a few posts ago, of Dawson Creek, and my apartment. Note the bookshelf, which I was so happy to be able to get, and the best room of all, the laundry room...also, the outdoor pics are from summer, when the hills around were nice and green.
This means that I now have 300$ towards my summer travel fund, so I'm very excited. Also, because I was one of the top 5 winners, my poem and bio is published on their webpage. Go to to read mine as well as the other winners.
It's a neat foundation, because it pays out quite a large number of cash prizes to new poets, which is always nice!
Well, it's a beautiful Saturday here, and I'm waiting for my ipod to charge so that I can go for a run. I wanted to go this morning, but I was lazy and can't stand running anymore without music. Then, it got cloudy, but now it's back to blue sky so I'm glad I waited. It's so nice to have a 3 day weekend with no plans and Mike is asleep as he worked last night. So, I'm just relaxing in my house, which has already been cleaned by Mike yesterday,with plans for reading and maybe thinking about some more writing and/or scrapbooking later on!
Yeah for thanksgiving long weekends...oh yeah, and I get a turkey dinner on Monday at the other new RCMP's house. Happy thanksgiving everyone!
Below are the pictures I tried uploading a few posts ago, of Dawson Creek, and my apartment. Note the bookshelf, which I was so happy to be able to get, and the best room of all, the laundry room...also, the outdoor pics are from summer, when the hills around were nice and green.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Success!
This week has been an exciting one so far, and has literally flown by what with the crazy 48 hour trip to Saskatoon that Mike and I made. We really enjoyed Kim and Todd's wedding though. Plus, we got to catch up with some old friends, who now live a lot closer since we're in DC, which means there will be more visiting in the near future. I still haven't quite caught up on my sleep, as I only got about 2 hours on friday night....but, I did sleep a lot yesterday.
Spent way too much time on the phone trying to sort out new billing accounts with our various internet/phone/cable companies since we've moved, which is extremely unexciting. However, to counter that, I am really excited to say that on monday, I found out that I won a poetry contest I'd entered. It's a novice poetry contest for unpublished writers and apparently I won one of the cash prizes. I won't know if it's 1st/2nd/3rd place until Saturday, but either way I was so happy to know that I'd succeeded with all the research and editing I've been doing to get my work sent out. Then, to make things even better, I got an email yesterday from an online poetry 'zine that I sent a couple of poems to, and found out that they want to publish a poem I wrote in their Spring 2008 issue. They also want a recording of myself reading it, which is cool since Mike, being an RCMP officer, has a digital recorder that we can use.
It's really exciting to have been successful so quickly, as I've only submitted to three places so far, and two of them have accepted my work. They're both smaller journals, but it's nice to get started. Check out the on-line journal at http://www.goblinfruit.net/summer07/ if you get a chance. It's a really neat site, and they publish fantastical poetry, which is great for me. I love the art work and design of the site.
Well, I'm off to my wednesday night Bible study!
Spent way too much time on the phone trying to sort out new billing accounts with our various internet/phone/cable companies since we've moved, which is extremely unexciting. However, to counter that, I am really excited to say that on monday, I found out that I won a poetry contest I'd entered. It's a novice poetry contest for unpublished writers and apparently I won one of the cash prizes. I won't know if it's 1st/2nd/3rd place until Saturday, but either way I was so happy to know that I'd succeeded with all the research and editing I've been doing to get my work sent out. Then, to make things even better, I got an email yesterday from an online poetry 'zine that I sent a couple of poems to, and found out that they want to publish a poem I wrote in their Spring 2008 issue. They also want a recording of myself reading it, which is cool since Mike, being an RCMP officer, has a digital recorder that we can use.
It's really exciting to have been successful so quickly, as I've only submitted to three places so far, and two of them have accepted my work. They're both smaller journals, but it's nice to get started. Check out the on-line journal at http://www.goblinfruit.net/summer07/ if you get a chance. It's a really neat site, and they publish fantastical poetry, which is great for me. I love the art work and design of the site.
Well, I'm off to my wednesday night Bible study!
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