Sunday 28 December 2003

Happy Christmas!

Well, well, well boys and girls…was Santa good to you all this year??



It was definitely a quiet Christmas for me here on the Rock. And not quiet as inclement as I was expecting. In fact, the weather was downright warm and we had rain on Christmas Day, so I felt very much at home.



Had dinner at one of the neighbours for Xmas, and it was actually very pleasant. Ended up watching The Beatles Hard Days Night and I was surprised how much I loved it. The boisterous Brit. banter between the Fab Four was fantastic! Boo yeah alliteration!!! And then I had several days of the most wonderful holiday insomnia ever! I'm not even sure what time it is anymore, or what the outside world looks like. Everything shuts down here from 6pm Christmas Eve till the 27 th of December. So, if you have no wheels-or more specifically, no wheels attached to a vehicle-you're pretty much trapped for three days. Needless to say, I found I needed various packages of gum and bottles of water at the gas station down the block as it is the only place to go around here. I really might have to think about this whole “living in the sticks of St.John's” thing I've got going on. I've been slowly going mad. And the buses were running yesterday, but by then I had lost track of what day it was and was wondering why all my Christmas presents had been opened early and didn't actually go anywhere.



Besides, my Christmas isn't really over anyway. Thank the stars for those wily Orthodox Eastern Europeans and their Jan.6 th Christmas. My Ukrainian heritage has saved me from Christmas mishap, and I can actually send my prezzies to those poor suckers back home who actually call themselves my friends and family by “Christmas.” Heh heh.



And I bet you're all wondering about grades. Well, after one of the crappiest semesters I've ever put in, I actually managed to pull three A's and one B out of my asinine study habits. I must be the biggest keener in the world, because I'm positive that a large portion of those grades were pity marks by harassed profs tired of seeing my red head bob into their offices with yet more excuses for why something is not done on time. Phew. But I'll take it. I'm actually seriously thinking that grad school is more of an option all the time. Then again, without a master's degree, there would have been no point in coming here…so I guess it's not so much an option as a necessity. Damn!



I've been watching Monster Garage-uberguy show about tough biker-type men who make ‘monster machines' out of perfectly normal cars-and I suddenly have such an urge to smoke a cigar, get a tattoo and hit the local strip club on my Chopper. I must remember to balance Monster Garage with Home and Garden television in future.



What a strange holiday. I've done the usual crying and being depressed because I'm not with the family, as opposed to the other way around. I was actually forced to start a fight with myself on Boxing Day. It had something to do with how I think I know myself, but I really don't, and if I did know myself I would freak out, so I should really back off of myself before I found out something really awful and disappointing about myself, and that I shouldn't worry about myself so much, and get out there and live my own life. I don't remember too much after we started drinking, but I do know one of us woke up naked under the Christmas tree with a candy cane in a rather uncomfortable place.



I'm still not going anywhere till Monday. Even after all the cooped-up-ed-ness (sound it out people) I really have no desire to brave the dreaded Sunday Bus Schedule. I've already spent one Sunday taking the bus-or as I call it: exploring how many hours a Westerner can stand in the most frigid weather imaginable.



Alright. Well, I'm off to eat a turkey sandwich, as long as I can just BACK OFF MYSELF FOR A WHILE.



But I will get another update out for New Years.



Merry Christmas, y'all!

V.F.

Sunday 7 December 2003

The 12 month of 2003...

Okay, erm , yeah, alright.



Back off people, I know it's been almost a month since my last entry!!! Don't you know some of us have lives!!!



Yes, I know my having a "life" can be argued...but I really have been busy-major papers worth large parts of grade, studying for finals this upcoming week, and moping around. It takes a lot out of a girl.



Speaking of taking a lot out of a girl-props to ma BC livin', Newfy born, wonderful woman who just had a bun pop out of the oven!!



Congratulations ma darlin', and all the best.



Ok, so, what's up in Newfy town?



Well, I survived my first Newfoundland snowstorm! It was crazy-the snow was pouring down, and the wind was whipping the snow cross-eyed! Most of the day, the snow looked like it was flying horizontally. So, while many Newfoundlanders actually stay in, Fair Venus decides to get the heck out the clamshell and head to work. Not understanding the concept of those little beebly-bobs that drawstring your hood to your face, I had a few issues with snow filling my hood. At many points during my trek to the bus stop, I was wishing that I had packed rum and flares into my backpack. The snow was blowing directly into my face, and I had to stop frequently and wipe the ol'specs clean so I could see where the fish-tailing cars were coming from. Crazy man.



When I finally made it to the bus stop and could turn my back to the wind, it was fine. The snow hit my back so hard it felt like a nice massage through my jacket. Note to self: buy wind pants. They have these wind-breaker pants that you put over your jeans or whatever, and I need to get some. All was warm and toasty, except my jeans were soaked. Mmmm, wet jeans. Comfy-time!



But, I did not let the weather defeat me! I feel that it will be my greatest and most deadly adversary...but it will find itself hard-pressed to keep me down! At least until I actually have to go out in it...then there may be some sniveling and quiet weeping on my part.

Apparently the bus drivers also feel the weather should not defeat their mad driving skills. Taking the #1 to the university, we ended up fish-tailing half the way. A woman got on at one stop, and the back end of the bus was half-way up the curb, and she patted the bus driver on the arm and said "Got your winter tires on?" Bus McDriver shouts out, "Winter tires?? Who needs 'em?" and peels out with the tires squealing in the snow. I was frantically looking for a pen in my bag so I could scramble a make-shift will onto my arm.



Must admit, it is pretty though. When I'm in my apartment, which due to health violations I have recently scrubbed and sorted, and can see the snow outside, it is kind of nice and cozy. Then you realize that you're trapped and if you want to go anywhere you have to face cold and ice and it might snow enough to block your window and you don't have snow pants and you only have half a bottle of port...I mean, half a liter of milk...yeah...milk..



Okay, not a lot, but just enough to tide you all for a week. I know how hard it is to get through your miserable lives with out a little ME to help you along!



Wow, my head is suddenly so heavy...neck straining...nose touching keyboard...AAAAGH!!

I'VE BARELY STUDIED FOR MY EXAMS AND I'M ACTUALLY RE-READING HARRY POTTER INSTEAD OF STUDYING AND I LICKED MARGERINE OFF A KNIFE YESTERDAY!!!



Head shrinking...neck looser...nose facing monitor again. Phew, that was a close one...

Okay...off to study-for real-now.



V.F.