off into the wild blue yonder

So, I'm off again. As I mentioned in my last post, I leave tomorrow for Winnipeg for five weeks! (On Canada Day. Really. Everyone else will be partying and I'll be sitting on the plane, probably beside some bizarre person who wants to discourse on about eggplants.)

How long is this for, you may ask?

Five weeks.

Do you know how much packing that involves?

This much.

(just assume that everything is stuffed to bursting, mainly with makeup and clothes)

My current life dilemna: why is it that socks always seem to disappear? It's not like I'm only wearing one at a time... The most plausible explanation right now is that our resident ghost wears them as hats and forgets to return them. (Or maybe it's my cat?)

My other problem: how many things am I likely to lose? I could make a list, but I just bought a new notebook and I don't want to contaminate its lovely interior just yet. (The first page is always the hardest. I never want to ruin it and yet I always end up disappointed.)

At least I have an epic soundtrack to comfort me.

I don't know how much time I'll have to blog while I'm over there- I'll try to fit some in and keep you all apprised of my adventures (or maybe misfortunes?)- but, as I don't know what the schedule is (or- the horror!- where I'll find Wifi) it might be difficult. (For some updates, follow me on Twitter!)If you don't see me around much, have a lovely summer anyway, blog ninjas!

off to the races

Finally! It's Friday! We are no longer lost in the maze of the week!

Seriously. This week has not been a good one for mental clarity. So far I have
a) started eating dates because I thought they were chocolate chips (...)
b) forgotten to bring coffee (yes this is a serious deal)
c) been too lazy to do anything but read most of the time (although admittedly that's fairly frequent)
d) nearly been blown away in all the wind
e) worn a bandana (I can't decide if this was a clever fashion move or if I should be singing country songs)

...okay so maybe it was a fairly typical week. STILL. I appreciate the upcoming long weekend! (Thank you, Queen Victoria. However, although I have done the requisite readings about you- requisited by myself, actually, when I was going through my princess phase- I still don't know why we have a day off dedicated to your birthday... but I am still grateful.)

This weekend also marks my visit to... well, I'm not quite sure what to call it in English. French party camp? With lots of weird ceremonies (seriously, all these people are getting awards that I have never heard of.Why don't they just give me an award for my amazing Great Gatsby shirt?) and clapping (I actually hate clapping so much. How is loud, annoying noise supposed to mean congratulations?) and lots of packing...

But all the crazy dancing more than makes up for it!

Last year I had tons of fun, so let's hope that it's just as wonderful this year! I like to think I'm a better dancer now, so that might help. (However, I suspect it's just that I am better at lying to myself.) I also know how to do a messy bun, which should help disguise the sweatiness of my hair... gross, but useful... and I own actual workout shorts, so I don't have to wear pajamas! (...no of course I didn't do that last year, who wears short pajama shorts and pretends they're a dance outfit? -shifty eyes-)

Happy weekend, ninjas! (Even if you're not lucky enough to live here and have three days, muahaha)

a post in two parts: the problematics of packing

"You know what's wrong with you?" 

"No, what?"

"Nothing."

...and this, right there, is why I prefer older movies. (Not just because Cary Grant is in it.) (Although he definitely is a factor...)

They're just so... sweet. I can't describe it any other way than that. (You know I must be enjoying it when I'm struck speechless...doesn't happen often!) 

You might be asking yourself right around now, "aren't you supposed to be packing? Not rhapsodizing on the joys of old movies and Cary Grant?" 

And the answer to that would be...why, yes.

However, look at my suitcase.

Do you really think I need to bring anything else? (And just to reassure: that can is not pepper spray or explosives, but dry shampoo. No matter where I go, my hair must look fabulous!) 

But...

HAH. I fooled you. The inside of my suitcase actually looks like this:

That is... half empty. (And honestly, if I wasn't bringing my enormous Desigual sweater, it would be only a quarter full. That thing is HUGE. I could conceal a dead body with it... what?) 

Yes. Let that sink it for a moment (not the dead body thing, I was kidding about that, I swear... although who knows, I might get annoyed by some of my travel companions and need to use it... so the lesson here is DON'T GET ME MAD) and marvel. 

Honestly, though... I'm pretty much packed. All that remains is the all-important things like toothbrush, makeup... (YES. I need makeup, and anyone who says elsewise has never seen me first thing in the morning. If you tell me that I don't need to bring something, I will take it as a personal challenge and bring it for sure.) Why is it that the most important items are the ones you can't pack until later, and are thus most likely to forget?

However, procrastinating isn't doing me any good either. I am now terrified that something like this is going to happen to me...

Happy Wednesday, ninjas! Any embarassing airport stories to share?

here there be dragons

So, while everyone is busy posting about goals and resolutions... I thought I'd lend a little lightness to the atmostphere by posting about dragons.

Why dragons, you may ask? Well, I've always related to them far more than to those prissy little princesses in fairytales. They're just trying to get along as well as they can, stealing a few sheep here and there (and let's be honest here. Does anyone really like sheep that much? They're just like little balls of fluff. Characters in novels are always mentioning how tough their mutton was. Having a dragon around is far preferable, even if they do all get eaten... that way the poor characters don't have to suffer and lose a few teeth while chewing) when along swoops that pesky knight, trying to attain honour and glory by slaying some innocent creature. (You can probably guess what my feelings on hunting are...)

Thankfully, it seems that, although they remain an endangered species, not all dragons have been extinguished, as I had the pleasure to meet one this weekend!

Really, why would you want to get rid of a creature so sparkly?

(And congratulations random strangers. You're now immortalised on my blog.)

This is exactly why travelling with my parents, down and through random castles, is enjoyable- you never know what you might discover and, while unrealistic, pretending to be a princess as I wander aimlessly is quite fun as well.

While I wasn't meeting mythological creatures...there may also have been even more shopping. Just a teensy bit. (OMG that's such a lie. Just ask my father, who managed to be marvellously patient throughout all the "oh-just-one-more-store"s and "this'll-just-be-ten-minutes-I-swear"'s- love you, Dad!

Oh, and because no weekend of travel is complete without a soundtrack, here's the song currently being overplayed on my iPod:

things I realise while packing

So it's Friday (YAY!) and I left school early to pack for another university visit (DOUBLE YES!). Of course, this means a blog post (procrastinating can be fun!) because I have to share all this excitement with y'all! (No, I never say that. I just like writing it and pretending that I do.) 

• I have way too many clothes, and I only wear about ten percent.
• Random dance parties= the best thing everrr.
• OMG I don't work again until Tuesday! that's worth a dance party right there by itself, no music necessary!
• ... I'm kind of a loser.
• And (as I trip over my piles of clothes) I will never be a professional dancer (surprise, I know!). 
• I should probably eat less chocolate, because that little dance session made me feel out of breath... time for a blogilates break! 
• Ok I'm back. Kinda sweaty and cat-furry (read the next point) but not yet dead.
• I love my cats, but sometimes they are a pain. (Aka, Amber is currently rubbing himself all over me and trying to step on my keyboard. Not exactly helpful.)
• Why can't he just help me choose shirts? I'm currently putting in ten for two days... logic= not my forte.
• Or eat my chem book so that I don't have to take it with me? (I mean really, you'd think my teacher would realise that picking a future is more important than doing a lab report right now... ok, not really, but I like the thought.)
• Plus I can't find a pencil or an eraser. Hopefully I don't make any mistakes...

This was my dance party song... trust me, it's contagious.

High Five for Friday, dearest listeners! 

my opinions (something I don't suck at)

Two lists in one posts... I truly am blessed. (You might be slightly less excited but muahahaha, it's my blog!)

THINGS I SUCK AT
1. Braids. (Admittedly, this is partially because my hair is so fine that whenever I braid it, it looks like a rat-tail. So maybe I just suck at wearing braids?)

2. Stopping myself from eating sweets. (Aka, I ate half a bag of licorice allsorts yesterday. Why are they so good?)

3. Sleeping in. (The latest I've ever slept in my life was 8:30 am. No joke.)

4. Staying up late. (I am always the one who falls asleep and misses out on all the late-night craziness. Sigh.)

5. Not sharing my opinion. (I think something about everything. This is not always a good thing. That being said, it is my opinion that I used 'thing' too often in that sentence... hmmm)

6. Sticking to things. (Witness my several unfinished stories and the length of time since I last played guitar.)

7. Remembering things while I write lists. (Seriously, as soon as I post this I'll probably think of seven more items, but it will be TOO LATE!)
MY OPINIONS
1. Licorice allsorts are the most addicting and wonderful type of candy. (Witness point 2 earlier.)

2. Moist is an extremely disgusting word. (Just... ew, I don't even like thinking it.)

3. Vampire Diaries is the best show currently on television. (I SOBBED MY HEART OUT the last episode. OMG it was the saddest thing ever.)

4. People shouldn't text you if they don't intend to text back at some point. (I HATE this. I mean, really, if you're going to text me, I will reply and I expect there to be some kind of reciprocity. And no, I don't mean LOL. That is not actually an answer.)

5. October is too early to put Christmas decorations in stores. (Whoa, hold your horses! Halloween isn't even passed yet.)

6. Dressing up is fun and shouldn't need an occasion. (I would be one happy girl if I could wear splendourous dresses every day.)

7. There is no such thing as too much glitter. (Yay bling!)

8. "Example" should be shortened as "ex" and not "e.g.". (Eg just looks like you're trying to write 'egg' and forgot a g. It's silly. I think that in this case French is definitely correct.)

Both of these linkups are over here at lalalists! (Just in case you want to go read more lists or read some yourself!)

Also... try not to cry, but I'll be away for a few days. Remember the basketball tournament I mentioned here? Well, I leave Wednesday morning! (This means several days of agony while I ensure that my luggage contains all the necessaries... ok, and maybe a few extra shirts, just because. Although honestly, so far it contains more food than anything else... what can I say, road trips= snacks. ) I'll be sure to update you all on our progress (who knows, we might even win! Miracles have happened) when I return... until then, have a lovely week and enjoy the falling leaves.

zoom zoom zoom

Hello dearest listeners! I'd just like to apologize- I haven't really been keeping up my PDA as well as I should. (You can determine my level of maturity by realising that every time I type 'PDA' I laugh a little bit.) The reason for this is... I'm going on a road trip!

Okay, so it'll only last two days. Major packing was still required. (As in... what if I don't feel like wearing that outfit? What if there's a zombie invasion and all my clothes become covered in brains and I don't want to get eaten? These kinds of considerations are Very Important.)

I'll just be off determining my future (doesn't that sound so much more exciting than plain old 'visiting universities?)... which may basically mean getting lost, being hungry and tired, and crying. (So a little bit like my last wilderness camping trip.) Who knows? After spending so much time thinking 'I can't wait to get out of here' I may realise that I want to stay locked up in my room for all eternity.

I hope you're all having a great weekend, and once again I apologise for such infrequent posting! Regular programming will return on Wednesday... perhaps by then I will have Decided My Future. (I kinda doubt it though. I have a list- of course I have a list, right?- of approximately ten universities and we're only seeing three. Whatever. It'll be fun.)

packing away my heart

Today, I look like a manga character. High pigtails? Bright pink glasses? School uniform? Check, check, check. The skirt isn't quite short enough- read, my underwear aren't exposed- but other than that I would fit perfectly. 

 Voilà! Now, if only I had legs that long...

(Speaking of glasses-  one of the guys at my school just got glasses that are nearly the exact copy of mine in black. Let me just say, oh my, delicious.) Much as I complain about having a uniform, I must confess that it does come in handy.

So much so, in fact, that when the time came to back for my trip tonight I found myself utterly at sea. Let's just say... I have a lot of clothes, and I want to bring them ALL. What if everyone else looks more stylish than I do? (Yes, I am just that shallow. Feel free to laugh.) I need to have a lot of changes! Especially since I'm in a dance workshop... I have to be comfortable, and preferably not look sweaty. (I think we can all agree, there is no universe where sweat stains are attractive.)

Anyway, all these concerns resulted in my having an ENORMOUS suitcase that probably weighs as much as I do. At least I'll be able to do a bit of weightlifting during my travels, right? Is anyone else a chronic overpacker like I am? If you're not, any tips on how to avoid it?

Also, wow! I just realised that this is my fiftieth post! Well, if you miss me while I'm away, I'm sure you can find something within to astound and astonish. I wanted to post something exciting in honour of this momentous number... but I can't think of anything, so I'll just say, thank you for reading, because it's all of you who make blogging worthwhile!