A Year in Review: Because everyone is doing it.

Today in my teenage angst, it's time for me to reflect on the year I am about to leave behind. As I think about it on the surface, it doesn't appear I've done much at all in comparison to some others, but it only takes a second to realize, I actual did and went through a lot. 


So here goes. In January I watched the entire series of Grey's Anatomy and got addicted to television. This is an addiction that I'll probably be suck with for the rest of my life. Oh well. Then, right before I returned to school for my final semester of my first undergrad degree, I hit some ice and ran my car into a tree. I hurt my leg pretty good, rendering me immobile for quite some time. 


In February I sang in a Musical Theatre Valentines show with my dear friend Ben Ross. We sang "The Next Ten Minutes" from The Last Five Years which we'd been working on for three years. How lucky were those in attendance! 

In March I had my last and worst modular class before Grad. Thank goodness I'll never have to do another ministry mod. I also had a manicure which I hope I'll never do again. 

In April I graduated from college which was a generally blase experience. But my fave roommate came back to grad with me so we had ourselves a good time. I also moved out of the apartment I had inhabited for two years. It was the worst week of my life. I almost burned the building down so I wouldn't have to deal with it.

In May I went to Moncton to experience the life of Laura Harris. This was the most wonderful week. We did everything and never stopped moving. We made it out to Fundy National Park, Halifax AND PEI. Creds to Laura for showing me such a good time. In this week I also met Ashley Wilson who introduced me to Memorial University, where I now attend! This was a very profitable visit. 

In June Amber and Phil got married in Hamilton, ON. I was blessed enough to be in attendance as a bridesmaid. It was probs the best wedding ever. 

In July I attended the Saskatoon Berry Festival in the little prairie town of Mortlach, SK. It was hilarious. We got to take Nevaeh which was the best part. Karlie and Tim (my besties in life) also moved back to Saskatchewan. PTL! I'm really hoping they'll make me an Aunt this year. I've tried to talk them into including it in their New Year's resolutions but they didn't seem to want to agree.

In August I ran Mega Sports Camp (with 88 kids) and hosted 13 Street Invaders. It was quite the week. I also closed down my life in Moose Jaw so as to move all the way to Newfoundland and try to survive in the barren wasteland that is that island. 

In September I made that move and started school at Memorial University. We had a bunch of rain, and then a hurricane and then some really nice weather. 

In October I did not find a job but instead watched mostly TV and wished I was in Saskatchewan. Then I stumbled upon Rabbittown Community Center and made some very fun friends. 

In November I found Avalon Wesleyan Church who meet in Rabbittown Community Theatre just up the street from my house. This was my saving grace. I think it was around this time too that I started to like living in Newfoundland. 

(The theatre is on this corner. I sadly don't actually have a picture.)

This was about the time, too that my dad was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. You can read about his journey here. 

In December I counted down the days until I could return to Saskatchewan and see my blessed family. 


So here I am! In a week I fly back to Newfland and I'm actually a little excited. I have fun classes this semester, I'm excited to spend more time with my church family and I am going (because I absolutely! must) get a job! My four months of adjustment are over so I think I'm good to actually enjoy myself this time around. Thank goodness for that. 

Just whip it.

Today in my teenage angst, I was reminded why I've always been a fan of Top 40 Radio. Mostly because I like the gems that emerge from within it that I wouldn't be made aware of otherwise. These gems include Miley's 'See You Again', the Gag's 'Just Dance', and Katy Perry's 'Hot and Cold.' I'm not professing to be an actual fan of these artists but these songs are so catchy, lyrically hilarious (and ridiculous) and general mass popularity that I can't deny their marketed brilliance. I also love Miley's 'Party in the USA' as it featured, as a part of its lyrics, the word "tummy"; which was also included in 'See You Again.' I don't know why the general use of that word is considered okay in music lyrics. 


This fall, I was introduced to the wonder of Willow Smith. With Jaden killing it in the new Karate Kid, they had to find something for Willow to do. Being the Smiths, they kind of had the performing arts in their entirety to choose from; and every little girl wants to be a singer. So that was that. Her first hit, 'Whip my hair' was just that. A hit in every sense of Top 40. She went on the Ellen Degeneres Show and performed the song; the video of which was later posted on YouTube generating over 4 million views. Little Girls all over North America were making their own videos of choreographed whipping. The song itself, promoting positive self-esteem and body image, is doing its job, pretty darn well. 


But then I saw this. Jimmy Fallon hosted the Grammy's last year and did an amazing job. He was funny, he was clean, and he incorporated my favorite NBC comedy stars into his bits. He bases a lot of his comedy on musical impersonation of classic artists. Here he can be seen doing Neil Young covering Willow's 'Whip My Hair.' Not only will it make you laugh, it'll make you an instant Jimmy Fallon fan. Which is lucky for him. 
Take a look.

This is the real reason that I love Top 40. It provides endless material for comedy sketches and consequently enables entertainment to be created for me (and you) to enjoy. Forever. 
Thank goodness. 

Happy Christmas everyone. See you after the fact.

A little Christmas tip.

This isn't a tip for Christmas specifically but simply a tip coming at Christmas time.

Did you know I have another blog? Well I actually have two, one you can find here.

The other, I'm here to promote. 

Whenever I take in something artful - or at least attempting to be - I feel a responsibility to critique it. This doesn't always mean I'm going to trash it; usually, just the opposite. The point being, if you want some recommendations on some movies to watch, some music to listen to, or a restaurant at which to eat if you're ever in Halifax, Evaluative Expose is the place to find it. 

Click the follow button and it can be your Christmas present to me. Suzy, John and Deena, consider this gift already given. 

I adore ma famille.

Two days and twelve hours until I board the plane to be reunited with these three!!! 

Blessed be the name of the Lord! 

Surveys are best when fun.

ITUNES SURVEY

Open up your iTunes and fill out this survey, no matter how embarrassing the responses might be.

How many songs total: 1856

How many hours or days of music: 5.1 days

Sort by song title

First Song: "Above Ground" by Norah Jones Feels Like Home

Last Song: "7 Baboker" by Yael Naim 

Sort by Album

First Album: 19 - Adele

Last album: Once Soundtrack - Various Artists 

Top Five Most Played Songs:

2. 1) Perfect for You Next to Normal 
3. 2) Soldier  Ingrid Michaelson Everybody 
4. 3) Are We There Yet Ingrid Michaelson Everybody 
5. 4)  Sort Of Ingrid Michaelson Everybody 
6. 5) Who's Crazy/My Psychopharmacologist and I Next to Normal
7. (This is annoyingly accurate)

First song that comes up on Shuffle: 


1) Bring Night Sia We are Born

Search the following and state how many songs come up

Death - 14
Life -  15
Love - 73
Hate - 3
You - 210


You do it too now and let's compare!!!

Lucy takes a bath.

Today in my teenage angst, I was forced into one of the saddest experiences of my life. 

I had to give my cat a bath. 

Somehow he got fleas and the collar wasn't helping. So we bathed him. Ashley actually bathed him, I just held his squirming, crying, blaming self down while he suffered this through this torture. 

Here's a little vid to give you an idea of how torturous he found it. 

He was so mad after. I didn't know a cat could be that indignant. He just stared at us with anger and loathing. He had been violated and we were to know. His fur spiked out like a pre-teen's hair in the early two-thousands. It was sad. But he's puffing back up now and will hopefully stop with the hating within the next few hours. 

Maybe not though. Our friendship might definitely be off. 

Poor Comparisons.

Next to Cedric, Harry looks like a big dork. 

It's unfortunate for him; not to mention a little unfair. 

And yes, as a matter of fact, that is indeed Rob Pattinson, our favorite Vampire. He strangely arrives upon the scene in Goblet of Fire, not unlike he presents himself to Bella. I guess he really doesn't have much of a range.

Hunger is going to eat me.

Today in my teenage angst,  I was awoken at 4am with hunger pains strong enough to make me cry. I tried to ignore them in my sub-conscious state but after about ten minutes I couldn't stand it any longer. I got out of bed and desperately tried to still the pains with a piece of bread. This seemed to do the trick.


At seven am, I awoke with the same pains. At eleven, one and continuing till now . . . I feel like I'm going to die. Maybe these aren't even hunger pains. Maybe I have a tapeworm eating everything inside me and that's why I'm in so much pain.


If you've experienced this and have any sort of advice for me, hand it over. I'd like this to end sooner than later. 

Blah.

Today in my teenage angst, I'm bored; and I'm sorry. 


I'm bored of my life and the waiting to go home is amounting to nothing more than wasting the rest of my time here by watching Friends. This is a usual practise for me - passing a time of angst with the famous six. I've seen every episode at least twice and as many as seven times. I've seen Chandler and Monica get engaged at least six times and have cried a good one each and every time. 


I'm sorry because I'm just to bored to post anything, despite the fact that I think of awesome things to tell you at least seven times a day. So here are some snowflakes I made to entertain you in the mean time. Mock as you will. 

This one I call "mmm . . . okay."

"Good job, me!"

 "That's the crafty Hannah, I know."

 "Wierd. Are those pincers?"

 "Irish much?"

"Oh, Hannah."

I'll try again later. Not the snowflakes, the blogging. 

Going to a company Christmas party?

Why yes I am . . . 
Planning to pick up a hot manager? No, but I don't blame you if you thought that. 

Lucille!

I haven't had a lot of successful romantic relationships in my life. That's unfortunate for a couple of reasons. Most pertinently, I really want children. 
My sister's solution to this has always been to buy me something living. One time after a break-up/rejection she said to me "since you won't be having any exotic children, here are some exotic flowers!" 
She's also presented me with many plants to mother so as to curb my maternal itch. 


Two years ago, I found a different solution. My roommates and I got a cat. I babied this cat like nothing else. She died last January - I didn't consider this a good omen for my romantic relationship reality. I didn't have plans to get another cat when I moved to St. John's but Lucille was just waiting for me to rescue him, so I didn't really have a choice. The reality of this cat being a boy makes him harder to love than Duckie was but I really do think he's one of the better things to happen to me while in Newfoundland. It is Newfoundland after all. And besides, when he's sleepy he has to snuggle or he can't sleep. And that's just irresistable. 


I made this video of my cat being silly. It's long I know but it's also very funny. Really maybe only if you like cats. Maybe not at all if you don't. You know what, if you don't like cats, just don't watch it. It might make you stop following me. 
So anyway. Here he is in all his glory . . . and stupidity. 


Lucille! 

Surgery.

Today in my teenage angst, my dad went in for surgery. 


Now is the time to share with you, once again, that I watch a lot of TV. In my life, I've watched a lot of doctor/hospital shows. It started with ER - a classic and favorite until Carter and Lucy were stabbed and I was sent into a fear spiral for a full year. Then a few later I started in on House. What a captivating cast and dysfunctional place of employment. But that show follows a very clear formula that I got tired of. In the midst of House, I started watching Grey's Anatomy. This continues to be my favorite and something I never tire of. The characters are interesting and well developed - as are their relationships with each other. The story line is solid and always leaves you wanting more. It's also very light - in comparison to ER which was very dark and dank and continually depressing. Though it takes place in Seattle - one of the rainiest cities in America - the producers have created the set to have a lot of windows and the patient rooms to be well lit. I've seen almost every episode of Grey's at least twice. 


Beyond its intelligence in creative story-telling, it has also informed me very broadly in the area of surgery. I know things about cardio-thoracic surgery, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, general surgery, emergent surgery and others. Because of this knowledge, seemingly every time I enter a hospital, I expect something like what happens on a Grey's episode to occur. 


Today in my teenage angst, as I wait for news of my father's surgery, I'm assuring myself that this is a simple general surgery that Miranda Bailey performs probably over ten times a day. The other reality is, however, that I have seen a lot of simple surgery's go terribly wrong. 


And so my angst cannot be stilled. I can, however, be assured that no intern is performing this surgery, nor have I been informed that any interns will be present in the operating room. So I can rest assured that the attending's know what they're doing because they wear the navy scrubs and have been through absolutely everything. 


Here's a pic from after the surgery. He wrote me a note. Cute. 

SNOW DAY!

Decisions of youth.

Today in my teenage angst I rebelled against outerwear. In other words, I didn't wear a coat to school. It was a poor decision. 


In the later years of my first undergrad degree, I looked down upon freshmen who didn't wear coats in the dead of winter as they were likely using it to show their daring independence. Today, as I left my classes for the day and was met by driving rain/nearing hail, I became one those people regarded by onlookers as ridiculous and sad. 


This wasn't my aim. I swear to you. 

Gryffindor colors and a scar on my forehead.

I think I'm ready for my release party. Just kidding, I'm not having a party. Well I am but it's a personal thing.
One might call it a party for one. 
I re-watched Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince last night and have a hard time dealing with how brilliant the world is that J.K. Rowling has created. Furthermore, she captures her readers on a deep enough level that by the end of the series, they understand that world as though it was their own. What a feat. I'm jealous of her creativity and literary genius. 
I'm choosing to engage, however, rather than resent her for it. 


I hope you get to see the movie sometime this weekend! 
P.S. If you're not an HP fan, get on board now. I command you. 

Day Thirty - Who are you?

What a let down. The last day of my blog project and this is the question? No one has time to try and figure out the answer to this question or even AN answer to this question. So I'm not going to. 


Instead I direct you to this video. If you're not a cat person, you probably won't think its funny but I almost peed. So here you go. This is the last post of my project and will be returning to Today in my teenage angst oriented posts as quickly as possible. 

Day Twenty-nine - In the past month, what have you learned?

In the past month . . . yeesh. I'm a student so let's hope I can find something.


In my political science study I have learned that feminism is not the aim of elevating women above men but rather doing away with the western ideology of dominance. I have also learned within this class that Google image should not be used in academia. 


In my anthropological study I have learned that there is a way to question the social and cultural actions of people groups without a condemning critique. I have also learned that as a first year student at Mun, my academic pursuit does not generally matter . . . (this is not actually true but it is the general message sent from my Prof who has clearly been in the academic realm too long. She's a little jaded.) 


In my economic study I have learned that understanding my economic context influences every step of my consumerist life. I have also learned that this field is not only fascinating, but exciting. 


In my folklore study I have learned that folklore is not a valid field. In my general opinion, it is incomplete anthropological study. I wish I was kidding about this, but I'm not. Folk-literature, maybe. Folklore alone? Not so much. I really do wish my feelings were different. 


So there you go. That's my learning. For other learnings not mentioned here, reference the next most recent post. 

Day Twenty-eight - A picture of you last year and now. How have you changed since then?

This is a picture of me and my roommate last year around this time. We had to get our grad pictures done for the plaque that may or may not now be hanging up in Briercrest's academic hallway. That makes it sound like they only have one. I'm just referring to the academic administration hallway. This is also where they hang all the grad plaques. 


I feel like I've had to re-learn a lot since this picture. I spent last year being taught the importance of community. I was blessed with an amazing group of people who seemed to make it their aim to teach me (once again) how to love and be loved. Then I left it all. I left it all when I graduated and re-learned it over the summer. Then I left it all again and have had to re-learn it here. I've now been here for two and a half months and only now am I coming to appreciate where I have been placed this year (and probably a few more). 


It took me a long time to find my niche. I sank into survival mode pretty quickly upon my arrival. Searching out new places. Discovering what exactly was and wasn't necessary for my survival until I could go back home at Christmas. With that settling into survival mode came and enjoyment of the life I had built. I guess that's what our lives are - an enjoyment of (or lack of enjoyment of) our survival modes. It seems drastic to call them this, but that's what we're all aiming to do - survive. 


Recently I've discovered a community that is literally saving me. They gather on Sunday mornings and several nights throughout the week. I have entered into these gatherings and they have made it their mission to teach me the same things the people last year were teaching me. I am feeling blessed as the hand of God continues to guide me through what sometimes feels like a barren desert that happens to be on a coast line. They are filling my heart almost every day with love and encouragement and something to look forward to as they make me a part of their lives and ensure that I am provided for. 


Thank God. 


This is me only a few days ago. I got new glasses and wanted to show them off. 
Check out Zenni Optical for more information. 

Craft night.

Ask anyone. I don't do crafts. I tried for most of my life not to make things. But then I started baking. Then I started making cards - none of which were anything to behold. Then I started knitting. Most of that was just to pass the time. But last night I went out and crafted. 


My church was having a Christmas craft night and I thought, why the heck not. A couple of stamps and some bags. We're good to go. So I went and took Ashley with me.


Check out my successful craftiness. 

Never in my life did I think this was possible, but I did indeed come home with several wonderful Christmas craft creations. 
I am once again a creator. Yay me.