AUTHOR: NATHANIEL VOS
Another day in Southern Alberta with the relatives. My Aunt has still not had her baby but she is bursting at the seams, and her doctor plans to induce on Thursday if she doesn't have the baby before then. It will be too late for me however. I am heading back up to Edmonton at 6 AM tomorrow morning. I made them promise they would email me some pictures, but it isn't the same... I am really looking forward to going back to Michigan, but I am really dreading all of the travel time to get back. I have 6 and a half hours on the bus tomorrow followed by umpteen hours on the plane that I am not looking forward to. That and you have to dress carefully to make sure that you have no metal, and all of that. I have quite a bit of laundry and other preparation to do tomorrow to be ready for this trip. I am connecting in Minneapolis, so I will be right by my relatives. Not much more for news tonight. I am just relaxing my last night with the relatives. Prettige Kerstdagen. Vaarwel.
AUTHOR: NATHANIEL VOS
I am now in Southern Alberta at my Aunt's house. I arrived here this morning, actually, at 12:10 AM. The bus ride was, well, exactly what I expected. I plowed through two motion pictures, Maid in Manhattan and Stewart Little II. I had absolutely no choice in movies, but after watching them (there was nothing else), I would say that Maid was better, if only becasue it was for adults. The only redeeming value of Stewart II was the cat, who was at times mildly comical. I also went through a murder mystery type book, which was oddly reminiscent of Sue Grafton's books. I completed my exams yesterday, and while they could have gone a lot better, there is a chance that I passed. Organic went decently only because I committed to memory a chart of mechanisms and reagents. But I guess it really doesn't matter now anyways, as the classes are over. I am now on Christmas break, and I will conduct myself accordingly. I spent the day relaxing. I went to Lethbridge with my uncle while he picked up a digital camera. I was also infomed that the guys at the shop had no luck unlocking my cellphone, but in the process of attempting, they blew up the battery. Interesting. So, I am trying to figure out where to go from here, as I really do like that cellphone. And even if I didn't, I've not the money to replace it. My Aunt has not yet had her baby, but she is very pregnant at this point, so my uncle was thinking that tonight might be the night. I really hope she has the baby before I leave. I would love to see my new cousin before I slip down to the States. Even if I don't, it is nice to see everyone at Christmastime, especially with all the snow on the Rockies, etc. It is fairly warm down here as well, as they just had a chinook. I guess Waterton had winds of over 130 kph. I am looking forward to going back to the States on the 17th. I have so many people to see and hang out with. I am really looking forward to it. It has been a long time. Anyways, I think I am going to hit the sack, and I have to fire off an email or two, so goodnight.
AUTHOR: NATHANIEL VOS
Dang, well, I am going to completely fail both of my finals tomorrow. I really have very little idea of what I am doing on the questions. I can only pray that the failing won't be so great as to make me fail the course. Oh well, at least I get to head to Southern Alberta tomorrow to see the relatives. With the due date tomorrow for my Aunt, I might just have a new cousin tomorrow as well. I am really hoping I can keep myself entertained for that long on the bus. I really hate bus rides. Well, my brain is numb, and my thinking capacity is at the same level as my 1 and a half year old cousin. Goodnight.
AUTHOR: NATHANIEL VOS
Damage Control. Never has such a seemingly innocuous phrase been so personally applicable. I wish I could say that I have been acing all of my classes, but if you have been reading my posts, you will find that is far from the truth. This "learning machine" has been hemoraghing worse than a stuck pig for the better part of 2 months. I need a tourniquet more than Al Gore needed a personality. I am serious; it's that bad. Today I had stats and it was ugly. It was more rancid than a gallon of milk three years past the expiration date. Tomorrow I have chemistry, and needless to say, I need to do well. I especially need the self esteem shot in the arm, it is currently at record lows, just like the temperature here(ok, the temp's fine). No, tomorrow I will be waking up early to practice and make sure I understand everything on the practice final. Well, in any case, I am off to bed. Adios.
AUTHOR: NATHANIEL VOS
Well, my brain is just about fried today, and I am going to bed now to preserve what's left. I am just a touch concerned about finals and they start on Tuesday. God help me, I don't think I am ready. I played a little bit of Frozen Throne after studying inorganic chem and statistics. My goal tomorrow is to plow through at least two practice tests for each and make sure I can get a decent score. Right now? Things ain't looking too good. I think I will be waking up at 8. I have to work tomorrow, so I realize I can't study all day, but I will go as long as I can. Well, in light of the fact that I desperately need sleep (or drugs -- but those are expensive and habit forming), I think I will be going to bed now. I finally have my room they way I like it. It's great. More on prep tomorrow. Night.
AUTHOR: NATHANIEL VOS
The weekend has gone by slowly but steadily. We had our Secret Santa gift party yesterday, which was surprisingly fun. Allison has me apparently, and got me a decorative winter bear for my room. It has the benefit of being able to hold cards with magnetic paws, which is kind of nice. I also bought some lights for the room and a stocking for the door. I didn't go all out, but it is difficult to go full tilt with $5 for your decorating budget. Still, with the advent calendar, the bear dressed in winter garb, the snowman tins, and the lights, the room is looking festive enough anyways. I got a haircut today that is definitely short enough so I will look good for the Christmas holidays. It might be a bit too short, but it was only $10. I am also looking at job opportunities for this summer. There is a lot of stuff I could do, and not enough stuff that I want to do. The options are plentiful and lowpaying. I could work on a cruise line, but that would be absolutely insane. I am not sure I could do that for four months. Going round about the Carribean would grow tiresome after a while, or maybe it wouldn't. Something to think about, I guess. I could always do what my old youth pastor did, work on a fishing boat in Alaska. That would be, ahem, interesting. Tomorrow I am going to hit the books hard after church. I need a lot of studying tomorrow, as it is my last day before my fist final on Tuesday, which I need a LOT of work to prepare for yet. Statistics is going to be brutal, and I want lots of prep before I go into it. Needless to say, I will feel a heck of a lot better when all of this is over and one with. I found a verse today that might be the motto of my new website, as soon as I decide on the domain name. It goes like so «L'homme! ses jours sont comme l'herbe, Il fleurit comme la fleur des champs. Lorsqu'un vent passe sur elle, elle n'est plus, Et le lieu qu'elle occupait ne la reconnaît plus. Mais la bonté de l'Éternel dure à jamais pour ceux qui le craignent, Et sa miséricorde pour les enfants de leurs enfants » Psaumes 103:15 or As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; 16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. 17 But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children- 18 with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. Goodnight
AUTHOR: NATHANIEL VOS
I have been studying quite a bit for my biology lab exam tomorrow morning. I am sure hoping it goes well. I can't really say much about what I am doing lately, as all I have been doing is studying. The only thing I can say is that I splurged on my first mocha in 2 ½ months because today was the last day of classes. That's all there is. Well, that and the darkness is messing with my cycle. I feel sleepier than I normally would in the summer. Oh well. Goodnight.
AUTHOR: NATHANIEL VOS
I took the MicroEconomics final tonight and it was much harder than I expected. I definitely did not get the grade I was hoping for, but I am sure I passed and that is really all I care about I guess. The last day of classes is tomorrow, but no new material is being covered. We are just having a review of pertinent information for the exam. I am going to be doing a lot of studying for the next two weeks. I really need to ace these exams. The Frozen Throne is a lot more fun, but that really isn't an option at this point. I am going to run out to Walmart tomorrow I think to pick up some Secret Santa stuff, and a few other essentials. What money I am going to use to buy these things I have no idea, but I'll give 'er a shot. The team lost the dodgeball game today, but I was participating as I had the final. Oh well, should really get to sleep. Need to be able to think tomorrow. Ĝis baldaŭ!
AUTHOR: NATHANIEL VOS
Te Secret Santa program on our floor kicked off today leaving me with a cool advent calendar and my pants down. I'll have to think of something extra special to pull off to make up for my slow start. The trouble is, I just have no idea what to get really... Oh well, I'll fudge something cool together. I impressed by my Secret Santa, either they had one good guess or they remembered something I said a month ago. Either way, they set the bar high. My organic chem lab final is finally over. I think I did fairly well, and I am just hoping I pass all my classes, so I won't worry too much about the grades, this time anyway. I am just looking forward to Christmas break now and being done with classes for awhile. It will be nice to have some time where I done have some odd mechanism floating around in the back of my head. I would like to skip down to Granum for the weekend before I leave so I can see my new cousin, but that may not happen. I have my lecture final for microeconomics tomorrow and my biology lab final on Thursday and then I am done for the week. Of course, I will be studying like a fiend for the hardest of my courses which all have their finals the following week. I am going to hit it hard and fast and hope that it goes well. Like I have said many times, I am hoping for a pass mark. After that, well, I'll count my blessings. I should hit the sack a little earlier tonight. The last few nights have been, well, way too late. I need my rest. I can't have a massive caffeine high for a final. Ĝis la revido!
AUTHOR: NATHANIEL VOS
Wow, it has been such a long time since I updates and for that I am sorry. I have intended to get to it before now, but as I am sure you all know by now, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. I didn't get back from Safwalk til late tonight. We had no walks all night long (went to the coffee shop, played Foosball) until 5 minutes before shift was up, and then we get a call to walk somebody out into the boonies. I can understand why she wanted the walk, but earlier might have been a little nicer. Anyways, it took forever to get all the way out there and back. I went to the evening youth service at McKernan baptist, and it was pretty good. It is not normally youth on Sunday night, but tonight was the youth run the services day, so that explains that. Anyway, as usual, I was quite happy I went. God has what I believe is a rich sense of irony. I am consistantly amazed at his handiwork. I was disappointed to miss out on Thanksgiving in the States, but I am afraid it really wouldn't work out any other way. I have classes and whatnot so I was obliged to stay here in Canada. I am very thankful to those of you who called me to wish me a good day. Believe me, I would quite have appreciated some turkey... As it was, I think I had some pizza. I saw Master and Commander last night at West Edmonton mall with Upton. For someone who is absolutely broke, that was one expensive endeavor. It was, admittedly, an excellent movie. But we missed the first 5 minutes of the actual movie after paying $13.95 CAD (gasp). We thought we were ok when we got done for a bus ride back. I feel so cheated because we missed the last bus by 8 minutes, despite the driver on the way out telling us they ran the buses straight to 1. Yeah, so we we were standed way out in the middle of nowhere. We hiked for a ways and stopped at a gas station where some nice ladies tried to tell us the quickest way to get to the university. After an awkward 45 minutes in a gas station we got a cab to the university, or close to it. That was so expensive, I had him drop us off 1.5 km from our place. We hoofed it back and were back inside about quarter after two. Next time I think I will stick to matinee showings when I know what the price is and how exactly I am getting back. Very late now. goede nacht