Whew. What a fun weekend!

Friday night was the Tegan and Sara concert! They rocked out to their new album, The Con, and to their last one, So Jealous. Those girls have voices that send chills through my spine, and it was so intense live!

I slept in Saturday morning until 11:30. Mmm, I loove sleeping in. Then my friend Heather & I went shopping for jewelry supplies. We have a table at the college here booked on October 18th, and then twice more in November. So we have to get all our displays ready, make tons of jewelry, make bags to put peoples jewelry in, etc etc. It's so much work! But really fun!

Then last night was the Current Swell concert! I danced all night long, and a long night it was. I went with Heather, and her roomate Mandy (also a good friend of mine). Oh fun girly times.... I didn't get home until reeaallly late... And then slept in until noon.

Good times.

AAANNNDDD.... I get to go to FOSS4G (Free and Open Source Software for Geospatial). I'm sure that's Greek to most of you- so basically, it's a conference for FREE GIS (Geographic Information System) software. Why is this so important? Because the GIS program I use, ArcGIS, costs around $10,000 for a licence. Which is obviously ridiculous and completely unobtainable for anyone besides governments or corporations who want to use it. GIS is such a useful tool that everyone should be able to use, and not be limited to those who can afford it.

Their websites says The annual Free and Open Source Software for Geospatial (FOSS4G) conference brings together the people who create, use, and support open spatial software. No other event brings together members of the open source development, open data creation, and open standards promotion communities like FOSS4G.

This is going to be an overwhelming and incredible experience. I am so lucky for my work to be paying for this, because the fact is that it's not directly related to my job (because I use that expensive software). This is such an amazing opportunity for me, I'm blown away that it's HERE- in Victoria- this year, because next year it's in South Africa...and I definately won't be going. I just hope that I'm can absorb all the information! The conference is Tuesday until Thursday, so it also means my week will probably just fly by!!

WOOT WOOT!

Run Update

Sorry for the abundance of posts this week! Wait, I take that back- no I'm not sorry.

Anyways, just thought I'd give you a quick update on the run status. So Tuesday's 4.2km was done in 40 minutes, and was around 1/3 walking. I was okay afterwards, but definitely sore the next morning. On lunch yesterday I figured the only way to stretch things out was to go for a smaller jog and do a good stretch. So yesterdays quickie was a solo 2km(ish) on my half hour lunch.

But Today was great! The woman, L, who I was with on Tuesday ran again today, joined by a guy D (who's went to school in Castlegar, coincidentally), and he's super fit. So L & I had to keep up, and we did 4.2km in 23 minutes.

Maybe I will be able to do the 8km in less than an hour!!

Who knew that exercising felt so good?

Cardboard Kitty Chair!

Wow! I found this cardboard kitty chair at Treehugger and I'm pretty impressed. Hmmm, I wonder if George or Leilu would like it??

Don't worry, the adhesive is non-toxic. But I have to wonder if there'd be little cardboard scraps scattered everywhere??

But I suppose that can't be any worse than wooden stair post slivers all over the hallway....

Budget Slashing

Anyone who's watched the news in Canada in the last 24 hours will have heard the sad news. The Conservative Government has cut Environment Canada's budget- big time. Am I surprised? No. Saddened? Yes. Frustrated? Extremely.

The damage?

The Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Network (the group that monitors ecosystem change): 80% cut

The Migratory Bird Program: 50% cut

National Wildlife Areas (think significant habitats for wildlife and birds): 100% cut

CBC tried to get in contact with John Baird (see my Inadequate People post) but apparently he was not available, and email messages have been sent saying the government is focusing on Climate Change so other areas were sacrificed.

AHH! When will this become apparent to the people in charge that you cannot focus on one while sacrificing the other! Our remaining intact ecosystems is what's saving our world from the point of no return. These natural areas play a significant role (think oxygen production for you to BREATHE!)

I found a study on protecting ecosystems for anyone how's interested: here. This map was in the study:

I have to wonder why, in Canada, the land of plenty, we have so little protected area? Is it because we think everything is so plentiful that we don't need to protect it?

I just have a hard time swallowing the fact that we make these decisions which have huge repercussions on the environment (and inadvertently on us). This world is not ours to use until it's gone, we cannot build suburbs of McMansions onto fragile ecosystems. We are here as stewards of the Earth, it is a gift to us, please don't break it.

Jen, Running? You must be joking.

But No, I am not joking! I have started running, well, as of today I've started. I can't even think of the last time I actually ran (besides quick sprints to the bus!) To change that sad fact I signed up for the Royal Victoria Marathon's 8km run-- which is just a short 3 weeks away. Our ministry has a team put together called Earth, Wind and Fire (sorta energy related). I figured the only way I would actually start running was if I had a goal, so this is it. I really hope to do the 8km in an hour, but that may be pushing it a little too much.

I went on a run today at lunch with a couple of coworkers, it was 4.5km, around 40 minutes of jogging/walking. And for my first run in years, it felt great (I don't know what I'll feel like tomorrow though)!


I went out and bought myself a shiny pair of running shoes, since I didn't even own a pair. If anything will help me run, it's a pair of pretty shoes. See:


Wow, what a changing last few months since working here. I didn't ride a bike, now I do almost everyday. I didn't run, now (hopefully!) I do.

Now if only I can have as much success at my Mom and M.in.L with getting in shape....

Yea! Life!

Hurray. As it turns out, my hopelessness from my last post just *poof* disappeared when I got a day off. Mmm, I looovveee days off! I got a whole lot knocked off my [to do] list.

First, woke up without an alarm at 9am. Perfect. Made myself one cup of coffee. (yea that's right, just one. I've successfully cut my coffee consumption by 2/3rd's!) Then I looked through cookbooks and decided what yummy food J and would be eating over the next 2 weeks. The majority of recipes came from an old Anne Lindsey's Lighthearted cookbook that I found in my mom's basement. Yum Yum!

Then around 11:30 I walked over to Thrifty's, the islands grocery store; which I LOVE & where Joel used to work. Well, he used to work at a different location. I forgot how much joy shopping at Thrifty's brings me. At our last place I Safeway was the closest, and I really don't like them much. Why? I don't really know. It's so big and unpersonal, and not local. Thrify's basically specializes in local & organic, and more wholesome food. It's the only place I can find Annies Bernie O's for Joel- no MSG!

Next, was not such a good idea. I called J to come meet me at the grocery store after I was done and we'd walk the groceries home together. Hmm, it was very hard. My shoulders and back are still hurting. But the groceries got home, and put away, and I made a yummy lunch.

Oh yes, and before I went into the grocery store I stopped in a WIN thrift shop, and found a Beaut-iful-in-perfect-condition-Marmot softshell jacket! For $7.50! Huzzah!

Then we rearranged out living room, and by living room, I mean the one big room that's living/computer/beading/fooseball/dinning. The way we had set it up ended up proving awkward, and now it's better.

And I decided I'm starting a new line of jewelry called Love Again using pieces from garage sales and thrift stores. I bought a bag of costume pearly necklaces (like 10 of them) for $4 a few weeks ago, and they're being restrung and revamped.

To finish my great day off, I baked an apple pie. I had homemade pie crusts in my freezer, so I took one out last night, and made a Granny Smith Apple Pie with an oatmeal crumb topping.

And now it's Sunday, and J has a golf tourney with his work, and I have the day to myself.

La.La.La

Bah! Life!

Why is life chaotic. The more I try out this adult world the more I'm not a huge fan of it. There's not enough time in the day to do the things I want to do, but it gets sucked up doing those things I have to do.

That is not the way God has intended life. At least I don't think so. I could accomplish a whole lot more if I didn't work. Hmm.

My days lately have been sucked up working full-time (since May, until Dec), sitting at an office staring at a computer for 7 hours a day. And then at home I don't ever want to play on the computer and do the things I want to do!

On top of work, I decided taking an evening Biology course at Camosun would be a good idea. Mostly because my dear friend H is in it, and a course at Camosun is half the price as it is at UVic. And a credit is a credit. But it meant I didn't get home last night until around 10. And then had to leave at 8 to bike to work.

And H and I have a jewelery stand booked at Camosun for the 18th of October. Hurray! But it also means I need to make lots and lots of jewelry. Oh my. Which makes it feel like work. I still haven't done the bead order I was planning on doing for the last few months. So I feel terrible because I've promised to trade beads with Hanna for her making Perizada Designs.

Oh right. And I'm still working on learning to save money. Since I have to or J and go to South America with nothing.

Stressed much??

All I really want to do is hide out in the woods and make everything I need.

Green Confession

A place to confess your green wrongdoings!

Me?

Never.

Okay, maybe....

I get Starbucks frappuccino's or a Tim Horton's Ice Cap once every one in awhile, and don't always recycle the cup! Eek!

What's your green confession?

Waldmart Watch

This is too Funny, I had to share!



From: Walmart Watch

Who Knew??

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

Who knew it was so easy to change the world?

The next time you pack this all-American sandwich for lunch, you're helping the environment and making a difference in animal welfare. You don't have to change your whole diet to change the world. Just start with lunch.
PB&J

How to Help the Environment at Lunch

A PB&J will slow global warming.

Next time you have one you'll reduce your carbon footprint by saving the equivalent of 2.5 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions over an average animal-based lunch like a hamburger, a tuna sandwich, grilled cheese, or chicken nuggets.

That's about forty percent of what you'd save driving around for the day in a hybrid instead of a standard sedan.

If you were going to have a ham sandwich or a hamburger, you save the equivalent almost 3.5 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.
A PB&J will also save water.

That's about 280 gallons of water over the hamburger. To put this in perspective, three PB&Js a month instead of hamburgers will save about as much water as switching to a low-flow showerhead.
A PB&J will save land.

Have a PB&J and save 12 to 50 square feet of land from deforestation, over-grazing, and pesticide and fertilizer pollution.

From: PB&J Campaign
Photo from: UncommonIndustries

A New Home

We're in our new place. Whew. This was the biggest move yet, and it got pretty stressful at points. But it was fun, and now I live in a cute basement suite, with nice landlords living above us. And now I'm sick. Icky sick. All flemmy, coughing, sinuses stuffed up, and headache. I'm doing better today then yesterday. I woke up 2 nights ago and couldn't swallow. Oh self induced sickness. But there's many things that still need to be done, so a few tablespoons of Buckley's and Advil will hopefully get me through the day.

So our place is great, it's at the end of a dead-end street, with a path over to Quadra (a main road, with a frequent bus). It will only be around a 15 minute bike ride for me to work (as compared to my 45 minute ride from Gordon Head). Woot woot! And it's a 4 minute bike ride for Joel to work, which is right on Swan Lake (more of an oversized pond, actually). Joel will be able to come home for lunch- hurray! Hopefully that will save us a lot of money!

There's a Thrifty Foods just 3 blocks away, with a Video Store (We rented Disc Five of Planet Earth!) And Save-on-Foods is under 10 blocks, which I like because they have an amazing bulk section and have things that no where else does (Pickles, anyone?) And Douglas st (it turns into the #1 highway) isn't very far, so we're close to almost any bus.

The only sucky thing, is there is no direct bus from Camosun College to here. I'm taking an evening Biology course there, with my friend Heather, because I need to have a first year science. But I'll survive.

J and I hope that us being on our own will help us save money, because there won't be the constant temptation from roommates to spend money. And it was always on silly things, like eating out. But that was also because I hated my kitchen at our last place, I felt like I was cornered off to a dungeon. The kitchen here is a bit better, and the landlord here wants to knock out half the wooden wall (by the fooseball table) to open up the kitchen. I hope we can do that soon! Then cooking will be more fun!


Ooh, and one thing that makes me (& J) super happy, is there's a plug & good lighting in the bathroom! (No plug or good lighting in the last place.) So I can blowdry my hair and do my makeup in there, and J won't be woken up 20 minutes before his alarm by my morning routine.

So that's life in a nutshell of a post.