Unexpected update:)

So since I've last posted, about a zillion things have happened. I have not forgotten about blogging...but as life would have it, entries certainly come a lot less frequently. Also, if anyone knows how to get rid of spam (random spamming happening on past entries), please let me know. I've already changed my password...so other strategies are welcome.

So some very brief highlights:

I've been voted onto 2 different execs (2 different clubs) for next academic year

I will be living out of the province in May-June-ish

I'm pretty excited for the upcoming summer...and also for the next school year:)

Time Management

I've realized that while I'm pretty good at keeping in touch with a lot of different friends over the past number of years (high school, university, church, law school, work), it's actually taken quite a bit of a toll on my energy, as my schedule becomes increasingly busy with school commitments.

It's actually quite difficult to convey to people that professional school in and of itself takes up the vast majority of my mental energy: the constant deadlines, workshops, exams, recruitment info sessions, etc, etc, etc.... on top of that, about 6 hrs of readings a day and having to somehow squeeze in time for family and friends- the year has been exhausting to say the least.

Although I didn't realize it before, I do have a tendency to feel guilty when I can't be there for everyone. However, I come to a continuing realization that I am indeed only a human being with 24 hours in a day. It's frustrating when people keep asking you why you aren't there for a number of events or why you can't spend as much time with them. It's not because I don't want to be there, but my schedule and my sanity just won't permit. On a lighter note, life for law students is supposed to get better each year as we all find out better ways to manage our time- but the first year is certainly supposed to be the toughest because of all the adjustment.

So, I write this to tell everyone that if I'm not around, I promise to get back to you.... in a few weeks-a month because that is in fact the best I can do.

Hope to see all soon:)

The following blog is a dedication to all of the (very random) ideas proposed by Peter (re: see comment on my last blog):

1) Insects

I think about insects about as often as I think about rodents. Never.

However, there was this one really disgusting time when I was living in Montreal and I decided that I was tired of throwing out the garbage every week and decided to let my roommates do it instead. I should have asked them directly, because the garbage was never thrown out. Consequently, our garbage became infested with maggots and it was sooooo gross! Ironically, it was still me who ended up throwing out the maggot-infested garbage. I decided on that day that I would prefer to live with clean people for the remainder of my life.

2) Non-chocolate desserts

Gelato is always good.

Also, I got a blender for Christmas and have been experimenting with various smoothie- combinations. I'm ecstatic that I get to increase my fruit intake in such a delicious manner:)

3) Elements of a TV show that intrigue me the most

I don't watch much TV to be honest. However, I just finished watching this Asian drama: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stew_of_Life_(TVB) . Unfortunately, it was one of my least favourite dramas out of all the ones I watched. Everyone got along way too well and so there was not enough 'drama'. Plot was a little dead. Oooh and only one guy got slapped in the entire show!

4) Different brands of hand sanitizer

I'm committed to Purell. Although my dad gave me this 'neo citran' sponsored brand as well. As long as my hands are clean and I'm not sick, then it doesn't matter.

5) Women who have impacted my life the most

Sadly, I'm drawing a blank. I think I'm impacted more by circumstances than by individual people. I don't currently have a 'mentor' and nor do I feel the need to have one. I haven't had a lot of mentors in the past (for more than a few months) either. I don't know if that's a bad thing? I find that I'm a bit of solo project- I learn from my mistakes and I have a good support network and that seems to be enough for now.

However, I always thought Elizabeth Vargas was a great journalist: http://usliberals.about.com/od/thepressandjournalist1/p/EVargas.htm

Dear readers:

I apologize for my sporadic blogging as of late (like as of for the past number of months). As life gets busier and time gets increasingly strained, I tend not spend my very little spare time writing up inspirational, thought-provoking and witty blurbs for your reading pleasure. Nonetheless, I do have a week off at the end of this month so I can revive this sad blog once more.

I'll take any ideas for blogging topics. Please enlighten me. If not, let's hope I get some bright ideas by then.

Sincerely,

Monica

Contemplative Christmas thoughts

Well, after nearly 4 months of non-stop legal reasoning, mentally-straining and brain-discombobulating work, the semester is over at long last! Although I'm sure I forgot to write exactly one thing for 4 of 5 exams (resulting in one night of insomnia per exam), I think the semester will turn out hopefully decent (fingers crossed...expectations lowered).

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Monica's Christmas blog

So in the 'spirit' of Christmas, I thought I could encourage some of you out there to pray for the families of those who are experiencing some deep continuing grief. I've followed two particular news stories over the year, and I can't imagine how difficult it must be for these families at this time of year (regardless of whether they celebrate Christmas or not):

1) Family of Victoria Stafford
- Stafford is an 8-year old girl from Woodstock, ON who was brutally murdered earlier this year after going missing for a few months. This is the latest article I could find relating to the case: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2359690

2) Families of Amanda Knox and Meredith Kercher
- This is another interesting case: Knox was one of the accused participants regarding another brutal murder of her roommate Kercher... both were exchange students studying in Italy at the time. Knox has been sentenced to life imprisonment in Italy even though she is American. From what I follow, she really wasn't given a fair trial. In spite of that, her family is currently in financial ruin because of all the legal fees associated with the case. Just thought it would be a good thing to keep both families in our prayers this Christmas.

Here's an article regarding the verdict of the case: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8394750.stm

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That's all I have for now- hope it wasn't too depressing, but I think it's important to remember that there are greater problems out there besides kids not being able to afford toys that they want:)

And with that- I wish you all a Merry Christmas!

Living off adrenaline and caffeine

Just a quick note (probably already obvious)- going on hiatus till the 22nd! Been meaning to update, but crazy exam schedule will not permit.

However, as a compensatory entry, I've got to say I love BBC's 'day in pictures' features:)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/8407966.stm

Monica gets a mullet

On Sunday, my hairdresser gave me a mullet. Like almost a mullet- that popular hairstyle that boys got in the 1990s...kind of thick and long-ish on top and then hair cut close on the neck.. I didn't ask for it. My usual hairdresser was out of town, so her brother (also a hairdresser, and probably specialist in Asian mullets) cut my hair. The entire time, he kept saying, "your hair is soooo thick!" I didn't know this meant, "therefore let me chop it all off." This is the second time this has happened. Although this time, I think this is the least amount of hair I've had in a very long time. It just happens to be cut very close to my head.

I currently look like the boy pictured in the photo with Lassie. Except the hair in the front is a little longer. But point is, it is mullet-shaped :(

Right now, I'm trying to cope with the fact that I have very little hair. I'm trying to hide the mullet by wearing headbands and using lots of hairpins.

I will take suggestions for new hairstyles.

Living through my senses

Taste:
1) Lemon-y Neocitran tea (I have a cold)
2) Chamomile tea (I bring my own tea bags to school because hot water is free if you bring your own mug:)
3) Cookie dough ice cream (it sweetens up my day)

Touch/feel:
1) Slight ache in fingers from too much typing
2) Increasingly crisp autumn-almost-winter wind

Sound:
1) Law students coughing and sneezing at school making the building a hotbed for germs (I'm one of them now)
2) The persistent whirling of the wheels on my backpack (and other people's backpacks) against the ground(I have one of those 'suitcase' type bags now:)
3) My recent discovery of Taylor Swift music (I think it was played on the radio too many times...I got hooked)
4) I also listen to 10th Avenue North when I have a bad day

Sight:
1) Pages and pages and more pages of text, a bazillion cases a week and exams drawing nearer
2) Huge brown and yellow maple leaves falling from trees- I picked one up and put it in my locker but forgot to press in a book or something, so it's going to crackle and break any day now

Smell:
1) The guy who sits beside me in a few classes who smells like laundry detergent (at least that is a sign of cleanliness)
2) The scent of cheese and pepperoni from the free pizza we get (like every week) for various club meetings
3) The sterile scent of hand sanitizer (Purell is all the rage with this H1N1 scare)