| Friday |
Well, today is Friday, but since I don't work at an office or anywhere with set hours, Friday doesn't mean anything really. It just means that another week has flown by and that August is almost here.
Katelyn wrote in the guestbook that she thinks I should've left my blog title as Hummingbird PI. Any thoughts on this? I thought that since I haven't been participating in any detective work lately that I should take the PI off, and maybe switch it back when I have more stalker/detective info to share.
I realize I haven't really talked about my course very much. The teacher was excellent. She is very smart and wise and humorous and deep-hearted. The class ended up being more about doctrine than about helpful hints to teach children's church - but that is good. Her main emphasis was that the church needs to be a community, and children and youth need to be welcome (she stressed that all people should be welcome into the church community, emphasizing that churches should be made of people from a wide variety of races, socioeconomic statuses, ages, ability/disability levels etc)
The emphasis on community was challenging because I attend three fairly large churches. One in Abbotsford and two in Camrose. I think it is harder for large churches to develop community. They may be made up of many little communities, but is so easy to escape the radar and attend church (or not attend) unnoticed. The pastor of one church we attend didn't even know we were attending there, he and his wife disagreed about whether we did or not (we learned this through their talkative children) When stressing the importance of community she shared stories from her own life about how she had consulted with her faith community on a number of occasions when she needed to make major decisions. The friends would gather, pray, and ask her questions. These times were very clarifying and with the community's help she was able to discern the spirit. It is in community that she was able to better understand God's plans for her. This idea rings true with me and I want to foster this kind of community with my friends.
Another issue she raised was materialism/consumerism. I don't have a lot of things compared to other people my age... But that's not really the measure of whether or not I am materialistic. It is good to become aware of areas that can be weaknesses for me. I want to be more conscious of why I'm buying certain things and of what my needs and wants are.
I have two small papers to write for the class. I'm a little worried about how they'll fit into my schedule. Not that my schedule is full, it just gets full. I need to keep practicing discipline.
Speaking of discipline, I should go.
Hope you are all well. May God surprise you today with something beautiful.
Aimee
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| The Beach and More |
On Monday I went to Vancouver to visit Melanie. We had an awesome day. Some highlights:
I met Molly (Melanie's bunny of unknown gender)
We swam in the ocean (believe it or not I was the bravest and quickest into the water, and I wore an honest to goodness bathing suit)
Melanie found me some sunglasses on the beach (Lance kept telling me I should replace my overly large amber aviators, the new pair is a little scratched, but after cleaning off the seaweed and sand they're not bad, and are much more modern than the aviators)
I found ten dollars in my pocket (this lead to us eating out)
We ate awesome hamburgers at the Red Onion (which reminds me, I still have the red onion they gave us with the bill in my backpack, I better deal with that quickly)
I got to take some portrait photos of Melanie (I absolutely love taking portraits photos of people I love, I got to take some of my sister earlier this month and that's when I really discovered/remembered how much I love it. Melanie is so beautiful and vibrant that it was a joy to try and capture her on film)
We laughed a lot (when I come home after visiting Melanie my cheeks hurt from laughing and smiling so much)
I got a "Livestrong" bracelet (Melanie got them because they support cancer research, but mainly because they have to do with Lance Armstrong)
We talked a ton (we forgot to bring books to the beach but we had no trouble filling the time with all sorts of conversations)
We used Melanie's polaroid camera "Land-Use" to capture our crazy moments at the beach (I'm sure we provided laughs for others who were there)
We assured each other that this would not be our last adventure before I go home to Alberta.
Yesterday I did some work for CLBI (the school we work at in Alberta) I'm their director of internship and am working from BC for the summer. Today I need to do more work but that will come after I blog. This morning I made apricot jam. I am very happy with it. Since it's made with orange and lemon juice it's very flavorful - I think I'll call it "Apricot Citrus Splash" or "Zippy Apricot Jam".
Okay, that's all for now. I hope you are well.
Aimee
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| Painting |
Tonight I have been painting. One of my goals this summer was to do a ton of paintings as part of my Art course (which I made up). So, things haven't exactly been going as planned. Anyways, Lance is working on a paper tonight - so I'm on my own, I watched a movie with Mom last night (a French film called "Happenstance" in English - the girl from Amelie, Audrey Tatou was in it) and tonight the thought crossed my mind to paint. "I don't want to paint" I whined inside my head as I scrunched up my face. Then I got up, put on my painting clothes (without these I inevitably end up with paint on my good clothes even when I try to be neat) and headed downstairs to my painting area - it can't really be called a studio since it is really a clearing in the laundry room where a makeshift easel (a ladder with attached wood pieces to hold the canvas)stands, surrounded by camping gear, freezer, washer, dryer, hanging clothes, tools and hundreds of record albums.
Sometimes you just have to do things even if you don't feel like it - isn't that called being disciplined? As soon as I started painting I enjoyed it. Why do I often dread it? I think I don't do it often enough to remember that I really like it. How else will I get better if I don't practice?
My Art course has pretty much been halted this week because I've been taking a real class (the kind you pay money for and that a teacher teaches). The class is done tomorrow. I have loved it. I will write more about it tomorrow I think. Lots of the information has been challenging and sometimes my heart is heavy under the weight. It has been good. Being challenged to evaluate my own priorities is a good thing, just not enjoyable.
Okay, that's all for now.
Aimee |
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| A Trip |
Tomorrow Lance and I are flying to Edmonton for a friends wedding. This means that we will get to spend two nights in our apartment!!! Hooray. We have been missing home a lot. We have about one month left out on the coast, so this trip is like a taste of what we're looking forward too.
Breaking news: Lance got home from school today and informed me of some great news. He changed the course he's taking from 3 to 2 credits - drastically lightening the work load. This in itself was good. Then he discovered that there is a one credit course offered next week that he is interested in. The money he got back from dropping a credit covered the cost of the new course. Then he said he wanted me to take the course too. I have been missing school and originally wanted to take a class this summer. One credit classes aren't too pricey so we can swing it financially. The course is about children and faith: how they grow, how adults can be involved, how to plan church to include and nurture children. This is totally up my alley. Lance was beaming when he told me about this possiblity. I am excited too. It starts on Monday - yikes, not much time to adjust(I usually need a bit of time - but I'll be okay). The class runs from 2:30-4:30 everyday next week. This works for our schedule, Lance and I will drive in together, he'll go to his other class, I'll do work (art stuff and job stuff), we'll have lunch, then we'll go to class together.
Okay I better go. Have a good weekend everybody.
Aimee |
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| A Wonderful Day |
On Monday I drove into Vancouver with Lance and met Melanie at Regent(the college Lance is attending). Lance went to class and Melanie and I drove down to Spanish Banks beach. We sat on a blanket, ate a picnic, talked, laughed, Melanie read to me. It was great. Melanie had worn her bathing suit and announced that she was going to go for a swim - did I bring a suit she wanted to know. It hadn't even crossed my mind. Will your bra and underwear pass for a suit she asked - I checked, the bra would work, but the underwear definetely wouldn't. She invited me to wade with her. I eagerly joined her in the water but it wasn't long before my hiked up capris were getting wet. I said who cares and decided to just swim in my clothes - then Melanie offered me her shorts. We left the water and I, under a towel, squirmed into her shorts while she casually blocked the view of other beach dwellers. The shorts were on, the shirt came off and we went swimming. I found that as long as I didn't look down and see that I wearing my bra as a swimsuit I was comfortable and didn't think about it. We had a great time. It was while we were swimming that Melanie learned two new things about me:
1. I am scared of fish... fish, whales, dolphins whatever. Any kind of moving sea/lake life. This stems back from visiting my grandparent's cabin on a very clear lake in Wisconsin. Seeing right to the bottom, seeing all those fish freaked me out. There's a picture of me, probably four years old, floating on an air mattress, arms pressed against my sides, looking nervously at the camera. This fear persists and while we were swimming in the ocean was not the best time to talk about it.
2. I do not like getting wet. This means that I don't like swimming or showering that much. When I told this to Melanie she said, even Dan (Abarbanel) likes showering! I think I don't like the time it takes to get dry and get dressed. I have been trying to increase my enjoyment of showers by buying nice shampoo and shower gel and using my mom's plum peppermint foot scrub soap. This helps.
I brought a digital camera along to the beach, so there is a record of the improvised swimsuit. I don't think we could have had more fun together. What a blast.
Today was a rough day for me. Unsettled, unproductive, lonely, teary. But also a part of today were some good things - got some portrait photos back that I took of my sister, I am very happy with them, got to talk with a friend from Alberta, had a nice nap, ate pizza, started a book that seems like it'll be good. The day wasn't a total flop and that is good to remember. And tomorrow is another day. I need to just live one at a time.
Well, that's all for now.
Aimee |
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| Shop, Shop, Shop |
Today my mom and I were at the Bay at 7:56am. Yesterday I was reading the newspaper and read a Bay ad saying that the first 200 people to stop at a certain desk between 8 and 10 would receive a gift card worth 15 dollars. That's right, they were giving us money to shop in their store. There were no strings attached, we didn't even have to sign up for anything. Mom and I and about 20 other shoppers waited around the doors for the store to open. As we were waiting we saw a line of customers pouring into the store - from another exit. People started getting antsy thinking they wouldn't make it in time to get the money. Finally, probably a whole minute after the other door had been opened we were let in. We joined the line, and all received our gift cards. I admired the ingenious thriftyness of some mothers, bringing their children so they could get the money too. At first the saleswomen didn't want to give the kids, as young as two years old, giftcards, but they got their ad and read that there was no fine print saying, "adults only" or, "one per household". I wish I had a baby. Ha Ha Ha. Not yet. Lance is really worn out from the class he's been taking in Vancouver and today was his day to sleep in, so I respected that and didn't even mention the possiblity of him coming so we could get more money. :)
Mom and I shopped and shopped. We took our time at the Bay and then looked for deals through the whole mall - this is a big sale weekend. My best find was a army green canvas sun hat, originally 12.99, down to 2.99, with an additional 20% off = $2.74 including taxes!
Hooray. I also bought a pair of flip flops, or scuffs as my grandpa calls them, some Christmas ornaments, and a great skirt. Mom and I are not typically shoppers, but we were at the mall until 12! Yikes, 4 hrs shopping. It was really fun.
My sister and brother-in-law came to visit yesterday. They are living in southwest Alberta right now working at a camp. It was so good to see them. My sister is seven months pregnant - it was lovely to see her developing baby bump. She is beautiful and they are both glowingly happy. This is their first baby and the first grandchild for my parents. I got to take some photos of Cara and can't wait to see how they turn out.
Okay, I need to do some work today since I took yesterday off.
Aimee |
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| Laughing my Head Off |
I am laughing my head off. The dialog in my guestbook regarding the upcoming movie, Hummingbird PI, (based on the true to life account in my last blog) is mushrooming and the cast is becoming quite large - and well known. If any of you readers haven't read the guestbook lately I highly recommend it. As the writer of this story, I have a few additional comments/questions.
Regarding Casting: Ron's role as the streetfighting janitor is perfect. He could be putting up the letters in the church sign that said "May God bless your marriage Tim and Rachel". Having the groom played by Jackie Chan is somewhat disappointing - he's too old, how about Jet Li?
Location: Should it be filmed in Abbotsford, where the event actually occured, or in Vancouver - which would probably be better for an action film.
Additional Cast Roles:
My Brother - tall, kind of grumpy in the morning, two lines - regarding the spy van: "what for" & "bring it back right away" - maybe Jack Black
My Mom- eager to help with the mission, 50ish, classy, spunky and pretty - maybe Diane Keaton
Numerous other positions can be created as need be.
On a more serious note, if any of you readers have "jobs" for me - information you need, mysteries solved, let me know. Detective work runs in my family. My older sister used to solve mysteries - okay so they were just for my mom, but I think she got paid. She had a good hypothesis for why there were potatos growing on one side of the garden when mom planted them on the other side.
Lance and I spent all of Wednesday and Thursday in Vancouver. This morning I woke up dizzy, I think I'm worn out. So I'm trying to take things a little slower today, not work so hard. That's all for now.
Aimee |
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| My First Covert Operation |
Well, here is a funny story for you. I star in this low-budget spy story. On Saturday Melanie was going to be in Abbotsford for a wedding. I really wanted to see her and tried to get in contact with her to see if we could get together between the wedding and the reception. My attempts at contact failed so I resorted to more drastic measures. First a few details about the wedding: The groom is someone that both Melanie and I had crushes on during high school. Melanie and he have kept in touch, thus, she was invited to the wedding. He and I haven’t been in contact really since high school so I was not invited – which was fine with me. Okay, now back to the story. I devised a plan. I would head to the church where the wedding was taking place and wait for Melanie and Nathan to arrive. When I saw them I’d be able to talk with them and make plans for after the wedding. I had originally planned to wear an elaborate disguise – I didn’t want anyone recognize me and think I was trying to spy on, or get into my old crush’s wedding- but decided I’d better not. Just before I left my house I added a plan B. I wrote Melanie a note and planned that if perchance they had already entered the church before I could talk with them I would place the note under the windshield wiper of their car for them to find after the wedding. Here is the approximate chronology of Saturday afternoon.
12:10 Devise Plan
12:15 Secure Spy Van from my Brother
12:17 Decide against a disguise, save the dark sunglasses (a must)
12:25 Leave Home
12:30 On the road – realize one of the wedding vehicles, perhaps carrying the groom I am attempting to avoid, is directly behind me
12:31 Instead of pulling into the church parking lot I keep driving to avoid confronting the groom, or looking suspicious
12:35 Decide to park at a nearby elementary school to watch for Melanie and Nathan’s car
12:35-12:45 Now wearing my dark glasses and my brother’s brown ball cap, which I found in his van, I sit parked facing the road, with my book slightly raised – so as not to appear like I am merely watching the road.
12:46 I realize that Nathan and Melanie could approach from the other side of the church and I would miss them entirely
12:47 Move to the park parking lot directly across from the church – a little risky- but nothing I couldn’t handle.
12:48-12:58 Having decided to face the road, rather than secretly watching through the tinted back window, I again sit watching cars, hat and glasses on – hat now tipped low- and book raised. I watch the arrival of more wedding cars and wedding guests. But then, there it is, the silver bullet, or should I say silver car that looks like its been hit with bullets. Melanie and Nathan pull into the church parking lot. They have gauged their time exactly, park and quickly rush into the church before I can get my van over to them – yelling for their attention would’ve completely ruined my cover.
1:00 I enter the parking lot of the church, circle round the back and locate the Bullet. I leap out of the car, deposit the envelope beneath the windshield wiper on the driver’s side and hop back into the van.
1:01 On the way out of the parking lot I make eye contact with a late arriving wedding guest and politely smile.
1:02 Head home
2:14 I decide that the plan did not work
2:16 There is a knock on my door
2:16.35 Melanie!!!!!!
After Melanie and Nathan arrived we had a lovely time together. Melanie and I headed to my dad’s Christian bookstore and then to MCC thrift store where we found a Polaroid camera for Melanie. What a wonderful day.
Aimee
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| Been a While |
Well, here I am. This will be a super-blog since I haven't blogged in a while.
On Monday Lance started his class (he's working on his Masters in Christian Studies - emphasis on Christianity and the Arts- at Regent College - on the UBC campus) We decided that I would go into Vancouver with him much of the time - to do some independent studying in libraries and art galleries. I went in on Monday and Tuesday with him. I am learning how to be self-disciplined to learn on my own.
Monday was Melanie's day off and I had a faint hope that I might run into her at UBC. This is particularly funny since the campus is HUGE. Also funny was that I thought maybe I'd run into her at the library... Little did I know there are multiple libraries at UBC. More funny thoughts about thinking I might see Melanie - as I was walking towards one of the libraries I passed an outdoor swimming pool. Melanie swims often so I thought, maybe I'll see her swimming. The thing is, I don't know where Melanie goes swimming. Vancouver is a large city, she could go anywhere. So, in an effort to try to see if Melanie is in fact swimming I walk really slowing by the pool, staring intently at the swimmers trying to identify my friend. Did I really think I'd be able to recognize her by her arms, and the occasional peak of her swim cap and goggle covered head as she came up for air? I had one false alarm and then kept heading to the library. On the way back from the library I walked by the pool again. This time I was more hopeful. I spotted a couple getting ready to enter the water. The guy had short light brown hair and was wearing a speedo-ish swim suit, the girl (with her swim cap already on) wore a purple suit and had a pink water bottle. "It's Nathan and Melanie" I thought. I had to get a lot closer, and perhaps risk looking like a stalker,only to find out that it wasn't them.
On Tuesday I got a lot more work done - I've given myself assignments for the summer, so I worked on some reading and an article summary. I had a good day, I really enjoy learning.
It's fun to spend time with Lance too. In the evening we went and saw the movie "Saved". It's a story of some teenagers at a Christian Highschool in the states. I went to Christian schools from grade 5 on so a lot of it seemed pretty realistic and familiar. Parts of it were very funny, and to be honest, I got into the story and had tears once or twice. We left with a kind of heavy feeling. I don't think the filmmakers went out of their way to make Christians look bad, but some of it was over the top and unrealistic - but isn't that how movies are. It did make some good points. I worry that it will just reinforce people's already negative views of Christians, and worse yet, influence how the see God. I want to represent God well. I need to remember that God is way bigger than this movie and that he can help people see him clearly through a number ways.
Yesterday I stayed home and did some gardening with mom. We even had a water fight. Later in the day I made raspberry jam. It has special ingredients so it doesn't need sugar. I'm excited about it, it tastes good.
Today I'm at home again, I plan to do some sketching and painting. Our town has a parade every canada day. My mom and I walked up the street where the floats line up before the parade - so we got a sneak peak.
I hope you are all well.
Aimee |
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