Free Time? Huh?!

Dear Special Readers,

You are special for many reasons! One reason is that for my break from studying I have decided to spend my time writing on my blog :) I could've sat there and stared at a wall giving my poor brain a break, napped, played the sims, pick my nose (I wouldn't have anyways don't worry), but nope! Blogging is what I have decided to do for fun! Because it is fun :) I like indirectly talking to you(s).

I guess the last exciting thing that happened in my life was going to a Human Resources networking event. Even though many people thought we (Tina and I) were HR professionals, it should have been very obvious that we were first year students.

The following is why:
1. We were soaking wet. It was pouring rain outside, but we had to walk to the convention centre because a) we don't have cars and b) we didn't think it would rain so we only had walking directions, not busing directions. Why didn't we just use umbrellas? Well, mine broke. And obviously a business professional would not walk to the convention centre in the pouring rain, unless you were silly students like us.
2. We were the only ones there not drinking wine. Tina had a nice big glass of ginger ale in one hand, while I had a big glass of coke in the other. Oh, and we were sipping through straws. I felt so ridiculous...while the pool of rain water (wasn't actually a pool, I'm exaggerating) grew around my smelly feet (dirty rain makes my feet stink since it gets into my flats).
3. We were obviously petrified and stood there with facial expressions that screamed, "what do we do next?!"
4. Our name tags said "Students".

Either way it was a really fun and exciting event. It's the first experience I've had in university where I've actually learned something useful so far! (This is including lectures).

Since then I haven't really done much! I've got a lot on my plate coming up with school work so I'm trying to balance everything and get 'er done. It's shocking but I have LESS than ONE MONTH left of classes! Holy hannah! And I still have midterms coming up! It's absolute madness! Makes me stressed to the bone.

I hope everyone is happy and has a working umbrella!
Love,
Janice

P.S. OBAAMMAAAA yaay!

Grocery Adventures

Dear Readers,

It feels like it has been ages since reading week! But no, only 2 days ago I was still in beautiful Orlando  with my family and my boyfriend. What does that tell me? The fun times truly make time fly, and when you find time moving like molasses you are back to the boring times. Aka: school. Getting back into the school rhythm was quite a challenge after a week of relaxation and fun trips.

Thank you Mommie, Daddy, Melissa & Zac for an amazing week :) I cherished every moment. Instead of counting down the seconds to something I was reflecting on the fun that just had happened, never wanting the week to end. But like everything, it did. I was looking forward to it for SO long, and now it's done! Replacing that "looking forward to" part though is an amazing memory.

So today I had my first adventure with my new fancy grocery shopping device. If you don't know... Mommie and Daddy you're probably the only ones reading this so I'll skip a description...it's that bag on wheels you got me! The one that you usually see the older ladies using. So tonight me and Anna headed on out to Loblaws for cheap Tuesday (10% off for students). She teased me a little about my bag on wheels, but I assured her I was quite confident carrying it around, even though usually older ladies only use them. So, ironically, as soon as we walk into the grocery store and head into the veggie and fruit section this shiny thing catches our eyes. It's a bag exactly like mine, obviously the exact same make from the exact same brand, although the pattern is black and white zebra print versus my pink spotted giraffe print. Who is the owner of this bag? A lady probably in her 70s. We had a little fit of giggles. But not to worry at all! I will for sure be using this bag all the time, and am not embarrassed! In fact, seeing that older lady with the bag only just caused me and Anna to have a really nice laugh and broke the ice for us. Anna enjoyed it especially because now she has even more to tease me with. Plus, I came back to residence with no sore arms or fingers :) So the bag did it's job!

Also congratulations to Zac on getting the job at Parliament Hill! Sweetest gig ever, and the most exciting opportunity! I hope you don't mind Zac, but I brag about you a lot :)

Love,
Janice

Being Unethical While Teaching Ethics?!

Hey you...

So my Social Context of Business Professor is secretly a big jokester. He's the one who translates between every word in his head, so when he's talking it sounds like, "For today...we will discuss...the ethics within...a business." It makes you want to race up to the front of the class, and to the relief of the few students who actually show up, shake him and yell "TALK FASTER WE DON'T CARE IF YOU SCREW UP YOUR ENGLISH!" No wonder we're behind in content.

He definitely realizes we're behind in content because every single class he talks right to the end of 1hr and 1/2, when every professor is supposed to end 10 minutes before to allow students to make it to their next class. So people just get up and leave and miss the last 10 minutes of his teaching because he's so ridiculous.

The funniest incident of how god damn determined he was to catch up? This incident is when he...risked out lives!!!!!! There he is, teaching about what is an ethical person, when the blaring loud noise of the fire alarm starts to sound, along with flashing lights on the ceiling. So, naturally, everyone begins to gather their stuff to get the heck out of there. It's just common sense when an alarm is telling you that the building could possibly burn to the ground. But no, Professor Martel doesn't seem to have common sense, or seem to think he should set an ethical example when he's teaching ethics.

He does not let us leave the class room! He says, "No...everyone stay seated. We'll continue...with the lecture...and wait for an announcement." We're all like, what are you serious?! He actually then proceeds to teach in his terrible monotone slow way, while this loud thing is beeping so you can't even hear him anyways. Personally I was sitting there stunned that he was denying us this chance to save our lives (if you don't mind me being dramatic) or get out of the most boring class ever (if I may be blunt- that's all any of the students really cared about).

Finally students must have thought screw it, and began to exit the room. Once they did, Professor Martel lost control of the class and we all started to leave. Once we got outside it was obvious every other class and everyone in the building had long evacuated by the sheer number of people standing around outside. Even in high school a fire alarm once went off during an exam and we had to evacuate. That was an exam, not a silly little lecture.

So far that's been the highlight of my week. Maybe Professor Martel was teaching us how to not be ethical by not doing what he does.

4 Days till Florida! Can't wait!

Love,
Janice

Sorry!

Hi friends and family!

Sorry that I have been M.I.P (Missing In Posts, like M.I.A)! It's been a crazy crazy October. And it's only been 12 days so far! My oh my! For Melissa, Mommie and Daddy, you three will know that I very happily spent a big chunk of my October with my family so far :) and in a week that big chunk will get bigger and I get to spend even more time with my family!

Florida with Melissa :)

But unfortunately around all the family time there is the dreadful mid-terms. Oh god...exams in October?! Who thought of this nonsense?! In high school around this time we were just getting into the good stuff with fluffy quizes...now I have tests that are worth a whole whopping 25% of my whole mark!

This morning's philosophy mid-term was quite the experience. I had the joy of racing across campus immediately once my class was done, and out of breath I travelled far up to the 8th floor of the business building. There I waited outside my philosophy teacher's office (the crazy one). These professors are quite intimidating when you see them up close for the first time. At first she didn't remember why I was there, and she started using an unnecessary harsh tone with me when I said I hadn't written the mid-term yet, like, "and why have you not written the mid-term?!" She soon realized I was the annoying person who kept emailing her, but she had already stressed me out (I was standing there before she showed up wondering if I was even at the right spot...dear god...how terrible that would've been). And let me tell you, writing a mid-term DIRECTLY beside the teacher is NOT comforting! It stresses you out big time, sitting in a cramped little office where all you hear is the teacher's tummy grumbling and her typing away on her laptop.

Nonetheless it went well I think :)

Today is my 11 months with Zac! Yay! One month to go till the big one year! Doesn't it seem cute Mommie and Daddy? I know in the scheme of things one year compared to 30, 40 or even 50 years is nothing, but for little young me it's an accomplishment that young people should be proud of :)

Hope everyone who is at the cottage this weekend has a great time! And I hope everyone else wherever you are has an excellent time too!

Love,
Janice

Business Woman

Wassup!

That wasn't a very professional greeting was it? I may not speak professional yet but I sure do look it! Tonight is the Telfer School of Management Reception. This is where all the business kids (me) get to meet the Telfer professors, leaders, and whoever else is involved with the business school. I will be showing up fashionably late because I have class until 7:00p.m. and this event starts at 5:00p.m. I don't think in real life in the business world being fashionably late is a good habit, but for now they'll have to accept it if they want me to pass their school. Oh, and the reason I "look it" (professional I mean) is because we have to wear business-like clothes. Even when I do my presentations in a few weeks I have to wear blazers and all that fun stuff. To be honest, I feel like I'm playing dress up. All the kids kind of are; we're students...not business professionals...YET!

My first mid-term is a week from today: math. I'm wondering how on earth I'll get as much studying done as I'd like. In high school for exams I'd get started at least 2 weeks before an exam (for tests only a few days). But that'll be impossible for these mid-terms; unless I put everything for all the other classes on the back burner! I think in the end if that happened, I'd just get plain burnt. So balance seems to be the key answer. I used to be a ballerina so I think I can manage that (hehe I'm already speaking like a manager).

Yesterday morning I found a big spider in my dirty cereal bowl. I poked my head out the door to find Andrew (my neighbour Andrew, not my friend Andrew) conveniently passing by. Telling this story later he describes me as looking extremely petrified (my facial expressions seem to have portrayed my emotions accurately). I tell him about my dilemma and he comes to my rescue. Or, tries to is probably the better word. The spider got away and is STILL on the loose! I should of just killed it myself.

One week tomorrow I am home on the range :)
So excited!!

Love,
Janice

It Does Get Better!

Hi Readers,
&
Hi Mommie (I know for sure that you're reading this!),

For the FIRST time since beginning life in Ottawa time has flown by for me. I keep thinking to myself, "Wait, is it already Wednesday?!" Oh you know what the funny thing is...while I just typed that, I decided to quickly check since it sounded wrong...yep, it's Thursday! I did not do that on purpose for effect, I swear! It happens even in writing in my posts.

Time was so slow. But suddenly this week it sped up! Does this mean life here is finally getting better? I think so! I used to think to myself, oh my god, can it only be Monday? I would wait and wait for Friday to finally arrive. For one more week of school to be done. One week closer to commencement, one week closer to thanksgiving, one week closer to Florida, one week closer to Christmas. I'm not saying I'm not as excited for those things, I couldn't be more excited, but I'm actually comfortable and happy here now. It's such a relief for time to now fly by because I can't imagine a whole school year that feels like forever. Can you?!

Sunday after the toga party I went to the mall with Andrew and Anna who live side by side on my floor. I bought some new pants, a nice cream coloured soft pair, because I made the mistake of bringing too many shorts and not enough jeans (Sorry Mommie, I know you said to only bring like 2 shorts and I should've listened...). It was a fun outing even though we didn't really go into many cool stores; I felt bad about Andrew having to shop with a girly girl (Anna isn't a girly girl-just me).

Monday...hmmm...can't remember...

But just a side note I did join the Human Resource Association! I'm getting involved :)

Oh right! Monday Zac and I bought our train tickets. Monday night I also had dinner with his floor. Tuesday afternoon was the "Ice Cream Social". Bring your own bowl, spoon, and you get free ice cream and the chance to socialize! Which is what of course everyone did. I went with all the people on my floor. That night these girls on my floor were going out for a late-night dinner and they wanted Subway, and I snatched the opportunity to get to know them so I invited myself along. Unfortunately Subway was closed (yes, it was that late), so we went to Father & Sons, this restaurant bar place near campus. We were going for nachos but the kitchen was closed (yes, it was that late) so the girls didn't want a waste of a trip and ordered a pitcher of beer (ew). I had a small glass, and had a nice little girls night out. But I had an 8:30am class the next morning, so that kind of outing won't happen so late, which I soon decided when I was falling asleep during the most boring lecture ever...

Last night I went grocery shopping with Andrew (there's two Andrews on my floor, the one I always talk about is NOT the one who lives beside me. My friend Andrew is from Barrie and knows Melissa's favourite Flash Back Diner.)

This morning Zac came and picked me up for Philosophy class. It still is surreal to me sitting next to Zac in class. We sat 2nd row from the front this time which we will never do again. We were surrounded by all the eager nerds, and you may think, oh good that will rub off on you! But no it is so annoying. This one girl in front of us typed EVERYTHING, absolutely EVERY SINGLE THING our teacher was saying! It was so distracting! Teacher would say, "Okay so now I think that was nicely put together," and the girl would be typing, "P: Okay so now I think that was nicely put together..." and I found myself reading the girl's notes instead of listening. It's like the subtitles of a movie, you read the words instead of watch the film.

I wish I could actually be coming home this weekend, instead of so close but just not close enough.

Love,
Janice

TOGA

Hi much appreciated readers,

Friday night Zac and I went out on a date and ate at a nice italian restaurant in the market. We plan on trying all the restaurants in the market, and when I find the best one I can take whoever visits there :)

Last night the 13th floor of Thompson and the 13th floor of Stanton both had interesting nights. The one I experienced was on Zac's floor in Stanton, but I heard about my floor's night and it was quite crazy as well...

I spent the whole day with Zac and his floor. We went to the football game together, and so did my friend Joanie, which was pretty bad-the game I mean. They beat us like 30 something to 10. Gee-Gees may be a cool name but they're not a cool team. Plus it was raining and cold and outside on rock hard wooden benches. Also I had to stand in a drunk girl's urine the whole way there on the bus.

But once we got back to school I went on the city bus for the first time! I feel so sophisticated now. We went out for dinner, which was nice, but afterwards waiting outside in the freezing cold was terrible. My head cold got really bad and it felt like a blizzard to me. I would complain to Zac and he'd warm me up for like 20 seconds but then his friends kept catching his social eye and he'd drift away. Which is okay, I had no problem complaining to him every time he did so :)

Floor 13 had plans of a Toga party that night which definitely happened. I felt like a was wearing a japanese kimono, I could hardly walk. I had to shuffle through the white halls of Stanton. I didn't drink much because I was too sick, but I'm sure if I had I would've fallen over for sure.

This picture for me was quite posed...but I'm not too sure about Zac's friend there on the right. 

And while this was happening, way over in Thompson my floor managed to evacuate the whole building. Carl from my floor grabbed the extinguisher and used it causing the fire alarm to go off. Apparently he got in big trouble...no kidding. They had also been curling with big ice chunks in the hallways while drunk. I think I'm happy I chose the Toga party over curling ice and being evacuated. There has been three evacuations so far, and I've managed to miss everyone :) 

It was a fun night! In an hour a few people on my floor and me are going to the mall for a little bit. 

I hope everyone is enjoying the Acton Fall Fair this weekend; I don't remember the last time I missed it. This may be the first year.

Love,

Janice