Gardening

I spent 3 hours in our garden today. My fingers were caked with dirt, sweat was dripping from my head, my back ached. It was wonderful.

The garden got off to a slow start. It was a very dry spring. We turned up a lot of grass to make it. And, we don't have a lot of experience. But now, after the rain and some time, it's producing. I love it.

25 Things

Everyone on Facebook is listing 25 random things about themselves lately. Here's my post:

1. I take being nice very seriously. At work I strive to be polite, respectful, and conscientious to everyone I interact with, even when I disagree with them. I think I am able to do this without sacrificing my ability to advocate for my clients or for myself. I believe I am pretty good at being nice at work.
2. I wish I were better at being nice at home. Sometimes I hear something come out of my mouth and immediately regret it. Usually it’s my tone that I find disappointing. I am actively working on it, but am less successful than I am at work.
3. When I was four or five, my best friend at the time threw a fire poker at my head and, lucky, only hit my right ear. I had stitches and still have a scar. (What kind of best friend throws things at your head?! But, he was a four-year-old boy, so perhaps he has an out.)
4. I’ve recently dabbled in Internet dating, with little success. I’ve found that one of my greatest turn-offs is poor grammar. I suppose this is a consequence of 21 years of schooling. (And seriously, with spell check, there is no excuse.)
5. When I was in grade 12 I worked at the local arena and therefore know how to drive an ice resurfacer (aka: Zamboni).
6. I didn’t get my hair cut by a professional for 9 years. This started as a way to save money when I was in college. Later, I was scared that if I went, whoever the hairdresser was would lecture me about it. I was also scared that I wouldn’t pick the right hairdresser and it would look awful. I was also scared about calling and making an appointment and then having to make small talk during the cut.
7. I am scared of a lot of everyday things, especially if they involve interacting with people.
8. One of the things I like the most about my BFF is that she is practically fearless, especially if it involves interacting with people.
9. I like being exactly on time. If I’m too early I may have to make awkward small talk with people. If I’m late I feel as if I am being disrespectful to the host and, depending on the event, everyone might see me walking in. Sometimes, however, it’s hard to know what time is “on time.” For example, when doors open at 8, the show might not actually start until 11 - when should I get there?!
10. Whenever we have communion at church, I freak out a little bit about standing in line, and having to walk up, in front of everyone. I don’t like people looking at me. (Am I a little bit neurotic? A lot neurotic?)
11. I really love opening things right after I buy them, even if I don’t need them right away. I take great joy in destroying packaging, removing sticker labels and tags, and putting things where they belong.
12. I enjoy being surrounded by sound. I would rather study in a crowded coffee shop than in a quiet library. I prefer having music/the radio/the TV on to silence. I like being in crowded places.
13. But, I HATE small human made sounds in an otherwise quiet place. Sounds like a pen tapping on a desk, a barrette being snapped open and closed, or keys jingling in my purse with each step. The worst sounds are mouth sounds - chewing gum, chewing food, slurping a drink… I don’t know why but small sounds are the single most annoying thing to me in life right now.
14. I am currently articling and have 4 rotations this year. This means I start a new job every 3 months and have to meet new people, learn the office environment, and get a hang of the law. I think this has been very good for me and made me more confident.
15. I have Dewey decimalized my non-fiction books and I labeled our pantry. But, I am generally not too crazy about organization. (My room is still a mess.)
16. I taught English in Tibet during the summer of 2002. It was awesome.
17. I have 24 houseplants and I hope to buy a couple more today.
18. I like to know things but I’m not very good at educating myself. I find it very difficult to stay interested in non-fiction books. I can’t seem to find the time to read the newspaper or online new sources daily. I think the farther I get away, in time, from school, people will think I am less smart.
19. I really love cheese. When we are out of it, I can’t think of anything to eat (even though I do eat meals without cheese, my brain just can’t get passed the idea that it isn’t available to me). I would like to expand my knowledge of, and experience with, different types of cheese.
20. I am a vegetarian but I am not very passionate about it. I do not try to convince others to give up meat nor do I mind it when people prepare and eat it around me. When people ask me why I don’t eat meat, I have my reasons but I can’t expand too much on them. I just don’t, even though I do like the taste of it. But even though I am fairly dispassionate about it, I can’t image not being a vegetarian.
21. I judge people based on the music they listen to, but only a little bit.
22. I want to live in community my whole life. I have never lived alone and I hope I never do.
23. I don’t speak with my family all that often (I talk to my mom about once every two weeks and see my extended family usually on holidays and other celebrations) even though most of them live very close to me. But I love them very dearly and am so thankful for their influence on my life. I greatly value the time I do spend with them. I will be very sad when I lose any of them.
24. I am a Christian and attend an Evangelical church but the flavour of my faith has changed drastically in the past 10 years. Compared to many people in my church communities of past and present I’m a flaming liberal.
25. I really like pretty things. Right now I am especially attracted to roses. I have a crocheted rose on my coat, big rose earrings, and a cute rose necklace. I just might look like an old lady. Oh well.

Community Centre

It's been some time since my last post. On November 28th we moved into our new house. There have been a number of issues since that day, all with the house itself, but they're under control.

One step at a time.

But really, I don't think too much about the struggles. Living with six friends is awesome:
- There is almost always someone around.
- If I don't have any plans on a Friday night, that's OK, there will likely be someone here to hang out with.
- Heidi is consistently providing wine for us all.
- Spontaneous, and planned, dance parties erupt and with our combined music collections, there is always something to dance to.
- Spontaneous prayer meetings also erupt from time to time.
- When things do go wrong, there is usually someone to who can deal with it, we spread out the stress.
- I am getting to know my friends so much better and I like what I see.

We are getting excited about the Spring. We have such great plans for the yards, front and back. Gardens and a fire pit and composting! Yay! Becky and I are looking into getting a dog. Becky has started a choir and after one practice with only 4 people, it's already sounding great and expanding our circle.

Living in community, so far, has been just as great as I had hoped it would be.

I know where I'm going, but it will be work getting there...

This past month has been a little stressful. I was waiting on two big things in my life.

First, my friends and I were trying to buy a house. We found the perfect one for us. Then we had to go through the stress of negotiating, receiving the results of an inspection, a couple appraisals, and getting financing. There was a lot of waiting and deciding and trusting and risking.

Second, I completely blanked and forgot to send in some necessary documents to take part in the learning portion of my articling year. I was informed that I was unregistered for the program. After quickly getting my documents in, I then just had to wait for the rest to work it's way through the system.

Just last week, both came together. We have bought a house and I've started classes. So the stress of waiting helplessly is over, but now I have a lot of work to do to get into that house and to finish my articling year well.

I think the waiting is more stressful because there is nothing I could do to improve the situation. My month will be very full of packing and arranging transfers of utilities and setting budgets and signing documents as well as studying and reading and drafting but at least I am certain for what I need to do and what it will lead to.

So, really I'm excited. New house! New Career! I'll be tired, but I'll be somewhere.

My Children

I have 21 house plants. They are the closest thing I have to children.

I look at them often and sometime find myself staring, considering a particular plant, for lengthy moments. I really love them.

I don't know the names of any of them. That's not true. I know the names of some. I know I have a hoya, a spider plant, bamboo, a weeping fig, a peace lily, a christmas cactus, a lipstick plant, chives, a jade plant, and an umbrella tree. So that's 10 out of 21.

My favourite, I do have favourites, is the violet one (name unknown). I bought it at a booth, if that's the right term, at the now non-existent Red Strap Market. It was completely purple and planted in an aluminum tea pot. It almost died a few time. After I replanted it however, it thrived. It is no longer entirely purple. Only the middles of the leaves are purple, the rest is green. I accidentally broke off the longest shoot a few weeks ago, but I threw it in some water and then replanted it and it's doing great! So now I have two.

Even though I do have favourites, I don't really care what they look like. I have a friend who likes her plants to look nice. Her one bamboo is growing crooked and I think it drives her crazy. But I don't really care. So long as they aren't dying. The one sitting on the north window ledge (name unknown) has some stuff growing on the underside of its leaves. I tried to get rid of it but what I did didn't work. Oh well. It seems to be growing fine otherwise. Many of the others are a little lopsided.

And, even though I love them, if one dies, or becomes just too unsightly for even me, I do have my limits, I move on quickly. A couple died when I went away to Europe for about a month earlier this year. It would be nice if they were still around, but I got new ones. (Hopefully I don't have the same attitude about any future children I may have.)

I wish I had more plants but there aren't that many good places in this condo for houseplants. We face north and east and open wall space, where plants might sit atop bookcases, are generally in the dark. I think our new house, possession January 5th, will provide greater opportunities for little plant babies to thrive.

eDating

So I've joined this dating site. 3 month subscription. So far I haven't had much luck. I'm not finding a lot of people that interest me and, apparently, I'm not too interesting to anyone either.

I've been quite honest on my profile, saying who I am (vegetarian, social justice advocate, living in community) so that these guys know what they're getting into. And I don't suspect that many guys that I would like would really be into online dating. But I'm there so maybe they will be to.

I don't have much dating experience in general so this online dating is pretty weird to me. Won't it be super strange if I actually meet someone? awkward

The whole thing is really interesting to me. I can filter people so easily and for things that might not actually be relevant in the long term. Poor grammar is an automatic turn-off, but should I reject someone for just that? Do language skills point to a good heart? If a guy lists "cars" as a passion, I doubt we'd work well together, but who's to say? Perhaps that car fanatic is my one and only. Really, I suspect chemistry is the real thing that matters, not "what do you do in your leisure time? "

I often don't initiate with someone I find interesting because I think they wouldn't be interested in me. I suppose that's for them to decide.

I joined because it seems that I just don't know anyone that could be my mate. It's not as if I've tried to have relationships with people and failed, but that there is a serious lack of appropriate men in my life. But I'm not sure this new online adventure will bring any more appropriate people in.

I guess I'll just see how it goes and re-evaluate after 3 months.

"It only takes one." hmmmmm......

Folkin'

I went to the Calgary Folk Fest last weekend with Colin and Becky. We met up with Becky's friend Celine who arranged shelter for us for the weekend, that was nice.


Friday
We arrived on Friday, missing the Thursday show which included Amiee Mann and Sam Roberts, what-can-ya-do-?, just in time for Great Lake Swimmers and Bill Callahan. Becky and Colin like Mr. Callahan a lot more than I do, but it was still entertaining. And the GLSs are just lovely.

They were playing a side show from the main stage so once they were done we moved to the main area. At that point it was hard to find a decent spot, but Becky, as she did throughout the weekend, searched the crowd for a little patch where the 3 or 4 of us could perch. Even if you are far away, the large screens allow you to see everything on stage up close, just not so personal(ly).

On the mainstage was Andrew Bird and Calexico. (And Bedouin Soundclash but we didn't stay for them. Not our scene.) Andrew Bird is amazing. His mainstage show was great as were the workshops he participated in on Saturday. Such big sound from so few people. A what a whistler.

I had only really heard Calexico's music in conjunction with Iron and Wine (who I love) so I didn't know what to expect. Their sound is like their name, Southwest/Latin American. They sang about some political issues, especially the immigration issue in the US. I like that and it's part of what draws me to folk fests.

That night it took us a while to find our respective sleeping places, but we did in the end and were thankful for a free place to rest.

Saturday
Saturday we claimed our spot in front of the mainstage then went off to enjoy the workshops. Our first was Andrew Bird, Hawk and a Hacksaw (Hungarian music lead by the former drummer of Neutral Milk Hotel), and the Master Musicians of Jajouka from Morocco. The Moroccans seemed to only play one tune (to my untrained ears?) and when they joined in on the other's songs they couldn't help but dominate, even so, the music was so full and great. Best of all, one drummer danced a lot and hammed it up for the camera and was so thoroughly entertaining. He had some amazing moves; great butt wiggling.

This was followed by a concert by Wendy McNeill. She tells great stories and is oh so cute.

Later on we again saw Andrew Bird, Hawk and a Hacksaw, Calexico, and Bill Callahan. This was maybe the best workshop of the weekend (that we saw). When they all played together it was amazing. Such talented musicians that can pick up on the song and add something wonderful.

While the late morning and early afternoon was ridiculously hot and sunny, it started to rain later in the afternoon. We huddled under Becky's umbrella and under the tarp. We got wet, Colin especially, but the rain didn't last too long. It ended during Josh Ritter's set on the mainstage. I really love Josh Ritter. I've blogged about this before. Thankfully, his set wasn't too short, but I still could have handled more from him. He is always smiling when he plays and looks to be having so much fun. He and his band don't seem to take themselves too seriously. I find Josh so adorable and, right now, he can't seem to do any wrong in my eyes. I'm not usually so taken with someone and feel a little foolish about my true love for Mr. Ritter. Oh well.

The Duhks (pronounced ducks) played next and though I'm not really crazy about their style of music and doubt I would listen to it much on my own, they are really talented. Their main singer has a heck of voice. So, they were pretty impressive and entertaining. The rest of the night didn't really move me but it was fun being there. The night ended with Blue Rodeo who I have never really been taken by but many other people certainly are taken by them. They seem a little adult contemporary to me (?). So it was fun being surrounded by a lot of people who were really excited and I don't dislike them so it was a good time all-in-all.

Sunday
I woke up pretty sore on Sunday. I had sat on the hard ground the whole day before. I wasn't totally looking forward to another day of sitting but knew the music would be good. We stated off at a workshop involving Basia Bulat (the hottest new thing in the folk-rock world and oh so cute), GLS, Julie Doiron (also oh so cute), and Sam Parton from the Be Good Tanyas (who's mainstage concert we missed on Friday while listening to Bill Callahan). They didn't play together as much as some of the performers on Saturday but they each played lovely music of their own.

A Kara Keith concert followed. I think that she might be my favourite find of the weekend. I wasn't familiar with her before but think I will really like to listen to her music. She has a new album in the works that should be super fun. She and Becky had a little conversation from the stage. It was special.

After this, I separated from Becky and Colin and listened to a Woodpigeon concert with Celine. I like them. Then I went to get some food and walk around a bit. I left Celine with the tarp and forgot that she was leaving to meet some friends so when I returned I couldn't find her or our tarp. I was a little overwhelmed with being alone. Eventually I found Colin and Becky and could relax again.

While we half-heartedly watch So Called there was a huge thunderclap. We found out later that lightening had struck a tree on the island. That's a little scary.

Next, we watched a Julie Doiron concert from underneath the tarp, at least at first, then it stopped raining. We all really like her and think she's adorable on stage. It was a highlight of the weekend. Then, we finished the day off with a too short Basia Bulat concert.

At the mainstage we had a pretty good spot, just parallel to the jumbo screens so we could still see them but also see the stage. The Sparrow Quartet was entertaining. Bela Fleck plays with them. They play Appalachian music and Chinese folk songs. Good combo.

Connor Oberst followed with his latest incarnation, the Mystic Valley Band. He is now playing blue collar rock of sorts. I liked it. He is looking older and fuller in the face and was sporting a little scruff. He and his band wore matching jackets. How cute.

And that was that. We left after Connor and didn't stay for Ani Difranco, though I would have liked to hear her, (my friend Elspeth saw her in Edmonton and said it was amazing) because Becky and Colin had to work early the next morning and I was planning on driving all the way to Drayton. I ended up staying in the city for the night and driving back in the morning, though I'm not sure how I made it to work on time.

I kinda feel like I haven't hung out with Colin for years. After he moved to Victoria and since he's been back we haven't hung out in a smaller group for an extended period of time, so it was nice to have some quality-ish time. And Becky is always great to hang out with. I am so thankful for her out-going-ness. I need someone like that to off-set my self-consciousness. All in all, a really great weekend. Exhausting, but great.