VBS and back to the real world

I was having so much fun at VBS this week that I kind of forgot that things are a bit of a mess right now....

... my car is not operational, is rather expensive to fix, and needs to be transported back to Washington in a few weeks. Then it needs to get sold in time for me to pay for school.

... But then again it may not need to get sold in time for me to pay for school because I am STILL waiting for my study permit. How lame is that? It has been 5 months now, and it is only supposed to take 2 months. Also, you cannot call to ask about these things. I am definitely starting to feel the pressure of not having that little piece of paper. As in, what the heck am I going to do if it does not come in time? Or what the heck am I going to do if I am rejected?

... I have a whole corner of my not-too-big room devoted to stuff I'm trying to sell on Craigslist. This is related to the whole paying for school thing. I am a little worried about it because I need to take a certain number of classes to be able to get a work permit. But I can't take that certain number of classes if I don't save up enough money. A bit of a catch 22 there.

Anyways, I am going to take a whole month off from blogging, effective immediately. Just because I feel like it. You will hear from me again on August 17, right after Sam and I get back from the trip we are taking to BC. Bye for now!

Africa Can

If you really don't like Obama, just skip the first 15 or so seconds... this short video is about the African success story that is the country of Ghana. Thanks to Obama's visit, Ghana is getting a bit of well-deserved attention today. Really makes me miss the place and my friends there a lot. Anyways, enjoy the video!

The Law

Me: "Annie, you're cute. It's illegal to be that cute."

Annie: "Noooooooooooo... it's illegal for kids to drive."

this week is NONSENSE!

When I moved here, I had heard that the city is very proud of its cowboy atmosphere, and that Stampede is the best time of the year.

Turns out that Stampede is the ONLY time of the year that this city even so much as resembles anything that has anything to do with cowboys. The cowboy image is such a facade! For one week out of the year, people wear jeans and cowboy hats to work, eat large scale breakfasts together, and talk about chuckwagon races. It is a huge act for all of the out-of-towners. It is so ridiculous. I hate Stampede! (But I like the free food... I think they should do that all year.)

Somehow Calgary even earned the nickname Cowtown. Now, I'm sure there were plenty of cowboys kicking around back before Calgary was such a big city, but nowadays there is nothing about the city that leads me to believe there are any cowboys anywhere, aside from a couple of bars that try to look like they are some modern sorts of saloons. Oh, and the sign that welcomes you to Calgary when you come into the city from the airport. Any real cowboys would have had to leave the city because there are now cows here, or adjust to city life.

Does Calgary make you think of cowboys, the wild west, or anything of the like? I just don't get it.

Oh Well

So, this friend of mine suggests new places that she and I should go on vacation just about everyday. I like to humor her (and myself) a bit because it really would be nice to get away, but the conversation usually ends with her saying something along the lines of, "you need to get a job that pays big money."

She will typically start off suggesting grand getaways. "Oooooh, let's go on this 10 day cruise of the Caribbean!" or "Let's fly to Greece and lounge around the Mediterranean for a week!" I don't even ask how much things cost anymore.

I counter this friend's incessant travel temptations by compulsively entering contests where the prize is a trip... somewhere. I don't really care where. Or what. One of the contests is for fans of some video game I've never heard of. You "get" to go see the studio where they make the games, which might be interesting for about 5 minutes. I'm so desperate that I would gladly travel.... somewhere.... to look at some video game studio.

Anyways, I really am itching to get away. Part of the problem is I can't even leave Canada until my study permit shows up. I'm channeling positive energy into the mailbox, hoping it will come today (I'm not sure what that means). I have trouble praying that it will come today, because I really just want the study permit to come when God wants it here, even if it psyches me out a little bit having to wait so long.