Thursday, October 15, 2009

So. I got home last night and through a turn of events, I now feel like there is hope in this world...that there ARE good people out there. Someone left three bags of groceries on my doorstep yesterday...for myself and dear Jennie. No note. No letter. Nothing. Just an amazing amount of everything we dream of...(hense, my last blog post)...I couldn't believe it and Jennie couldn't believe it when she got home. So. To whoever this mystery person is...THANK-YOU. If you read this. haha. What an incredible blessing to us. We woke up this morning and both got excited to pack a real live lunch and supper for the day! And my, did my chicken and red pepper sandwich ever taste yummy! :)

Experiencing the gift of generosity from someone else is something that is quite inspiring to me. I want to be able to do stuff like that...to help people around me who might not have what I have. I was reminded last night of when a nice older lady with her friends paid for my burger once after seeing me count out quarters and pennies (literally)...it really meant a lot more to me than she probably knew. Even if its something small, it really is the thought that counts.

So, I have been reminded that even though I may not have much, it is always more than someone else around me has. If I can be generous with what I have, and the next person can be generous with what they have, we can all help each other in our own little ways :) It's like the movie "Pay it Forward"...which seriously every time I watch it, it makes me cry.

Thank-you, mystery person, for sparking this in me and for making my day soo bright.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

crackers, dates, and creamed corn

There is an interesting phenomenon that occurs when one has just $4.00 to their name.
ONE = me
$4.00 = as much as I have owned for the last several weeks

This picture of a desert kinda reminds me of me. hmmmm...well, at least in the aspect that I long to buy things that are only for "rich" people (things like new shoes, a meal out, or even the occasional package of meat). I guess I feel like those things might fill some sort of need...like I would be able to put a picture of a lush green forest up there instead of a desert as soon as I would be wealthy enough to actually own these items.

Over the past week or so especially, myself and my dear roomie Jennie, have been stumped by our lack of meal choices...I have often come to the conclusion that, yet again, today's supper will be dates, with crackers and a side of creamed corn. yum. I have longed to have a real meal. One that comes out of the oven and makes the house smell like Heaven. But I have realized that those days are yet to come. And for now, at least Jennie and I have resorted to the fact that we will one day laugh about all this and remember our "poorer" days. Living each day with only a few dollars makes you appreciate all the more when you can actually go to the grocery store and buy an abundance of colorful foods and sweets and yummy tasting dinner foods.

The other day I walked past good old Starbucks and found myself desiring a hot drink. I looked in at all the fortunate people drinking their specialty drinks and I was quite jealous. I wanted a specialty drink. And I sat in a few moments of feeling sorry for myself and quickly asked "why would I need a specialty drink?". This is just my rich society showing us what is supposed to be "normal" when really, all it is is abnormal when you compare it to the big picture of the world and what other people have.

But sometimes, I still would like to sit with my book and hot drink and brownie and enjoy a calm atmosphere. I think after all these days of dates and crackers and creamed corn, it will taste even better than before. :)

So, I should be studying for a test tomorrow morning. But I feel like a great procrastinator tonight. I already did a paper, so I am rewarding myself with not doing anything for a while, but now I'm realizing that it's getting closer to midnight and I know nothing at all that I'm supposed to know for the test. uhh ohhh.

Well...until next time. :)

Friday, October 2, 2009

Turning over a new leaf...

After a week of packing what felt like a million pounds of "stuff", moving 7 people's stuff out and to a new place, and unpacking in the new place, I am finally sitting in our new living room - able to take a deep breath and relax. All I can say is....I am glad that is over. Very glad. It was tiring to say the least, and we are all looking forward to a weekend of sleeping in (hopefully) and finally getting to that homework we have put off all week. :)

Things are seeming to change every day...I think my body has come to adapt to change, I'm thankful for this, considering in the last 2 weeks I:
1) Switched from one job (Stella's) to a new job (coaching swimming)
2) Began a 8 week intensive ESL Teachers Certificate Program (teaching English as a 2nd language)
3) Moved from one large house to another smaller (thankfully) house
4) And now I'm trying to figure out bus routes, and get a handle on my schedule as to keep it well rounded.

A highlight is definately a story from 2 days ago in the University (of Winnipeg). We were all sitting in our class of 15, when one of the girls went to the washroom (a small toilet/sink room in the classroom), when she flushed it and KABOOMMM! The whole top part of it exploded! And a fountain of gushing water was shooting out at top speed. She came flying out, still buttoning her jeans, and freaked out at all of us to get out of the room and get help. By the time we all had gathered our bags off the floor, there was already a growing "lake" we had to slosh through even to get out of the room! The water poured out soo fast, it filled the room (about an inch high) and came out into the common area. By the time the emergency people came and dealt with it, there was a large area under water and unfortunate professors with offices below had water pouring through the ceiling. That was definatly an adrenaline pumping experience which I've never experienced before...soo the next time you flush a toilet, be careful!! It might just explode on you :)