calm before the storm

Well this is it. The amount of work I need to get done in the next couple of days is terrifying. Yet, at this time next week I can say with certainty that I will be drinking a cocktail, guilt-free. The guilt will show its ugly face the next day mind you, when I remember that exams are right around the corner, but it will be guilt-free in the moment and that is all that matters.

Tonight I got off work early and had no books at home to do homework. Disappointing, but I'll take it. I decided to enjoy a few hours in my jammies, sipping tea and watching my favourite movie. The calm before the storm.

Good luck to us all!

V. xo

Wanderlust

Here I am, lonely lady on the couch, seconds from tears. It is interesting how strong are human desires. Where I am dying to be is Montreal, says everyone including me. Summer twenty-ten was one for the books; wandering, eating, loving, loving, loving. Frenchland suits me. Off the metro onto a busy platform, up up up the stairs (there are so many stairs), darkness everywhere but alas, a beam of light blinds the eye upon the weakest nudge to the heaviest of doors. Bikes for rent. Leftward bound is vintage and petite patios galore. To the far right, the prettiest park scattered with blankets and picnic baskets and kisses and one fountain, la fontaine. This is Mont Royal, tugging at my heartstrings.

But where are the snows of yesteryear? - Francois Villon

birthday boy

Yesterday was my bridesman's birthday. He's one of a kind and one of my oldest and dearest friends. Drinks are in order this evening. Happy birthday Christoph! xo

{p.s. I had to hold the flowers away so it didn't look like he was the groom!}

good morning!

Landen and I had the most wonderful night last night! We made dinner {enchiladas, yum}, watched Glee, went to McNally Robinson and lost ourselves in Maui books and I also bought this book for the trip. It will be a true test of will-power if to keep it closed until we leave. We came home and watched so many episodes of Modern Family that we had missed. Gloria gets me every time!

This morning I awoke feeling rested, a real treat. Today will be a busy day so I got up early {after one snooze instead of three} and am trying to enjoy my coffee and take my time getting ready. Nine-thirty classes are a dream.

Il me semble que l'on ait un bon jour.

V. xo

sleepless

I can tell I am nearing end of semester by my sleep patterns more effectively than looking at my agenda. It is two weeks from the end of school, 12:20am and I am wide awake. Quelle surprise.

My sister hurt her back last weekend and got news recently that she has herniated a disc. This is not ideal considering she birthed her second child in January and her first is a few months over two years. Today Landen and I brought dinner to her and her family and my two year old niece was being hilariously two. The funniest thing she said was, "Mommy has big milks and Daddy has little milks". I'm glad my milks didn't get the analysis.

Is it bedtime yet?

xo.

l'homme du jour

It's my brother-in-law/dear friend's birthday today. Somehow this guy manages to avoid having his photo taken; it took me forever to find this one. Happy birthday Nils, you're one heck of a fella.

Lord in Your Mercy Hear Our Prayer

I feel so broken-hearted about what is happening in Japan.

I don't know this whole prayer, but for some reason parts of it have been playing in my head when thinking about this tragedy.

We cry to You on behalf of the world ... Lord in Your Mercy Hear Our Prayer
For those who are most vulnerable ... Lord in Your Mercy Hear Our Prayer
For the safety, protection and welfare of all your people from conception to natural death ... Lord in Your Mercy Hear Our Prayer
For those whose humanity is destroyed by hunger ... Lord in Your Mercy Hear Our Prayer
For those whose humanity is destroyed by the abuse of power ... Lord in Your Mercy Hear Our Prayer
For those whose humanity is destroyed by the sins of others ... Lord in Your Mercy Hear Our Prayer
For those who are lost and lonely ... Lord in Your Mercy Hear Our Prayer
For those who are sick and dying ... Lord in Your Mercy Hear Our Prayer
For those who are depressed and despairing ... Lord in Your Mercy Hear Our Prayer
For those who have lost their faith ... Lord in Your Mercy Hear Our Prayer
For those who do not know you ... Lord in Your Mercy Hear Our Prayer
For those who are prisoners of addiction ... Lord in Your Mercy Hear Our Prayer
For all who seek You sincerely ... Lord in Your Mercy Hear Our Prayer
For those who seek You in the wrong places ... Lord in Your Mercy Hear Our Prayer
For those who are lost in their own sin ... Lord in Your Mercy Hear Our Prayer
For those who struggle to do good ... Lord in Your Mercy Hear Our Prayer
For those who have power and influence ... Lord in Your Mercy Hear Our Prayer
For decision makers whose decisions affect the most vulnerable in society ... Lord in Your Mercy Hear Our Prayer
For those who are powerless and oppressed ... Lord in Your Mercy Hear Our Prayer
For Your people in Your service throughout the world ... Lord in Your Mercy Hear Our Prayer
For those who are especially dear to our hearts ... Lord in Your Mercy Hear Our Prayer
For those who have no one else to pray for them ... Lord in Your Mercy Hear Our Prayer
For those who have died and waiting to join You in heaven ... Lord in Your Mercy Hear Our Prayer
For the Intentions of all in the Circle of Prayer ... Lord in Your Mercy Hear Our Prayer
That we may love and care for all Your people ... Lord in Your Mercy Hear Our Prayer
That we may love and care for all Your creatures ... Lord in Your Mercy Hear Our Prayer
That we may love and care for the earth, sea and air ... Lord in Your Mercy Hear Our Prayer

peace

This morning I wrote a paper (midterm paper, not paper paper) on why Gandhi's contributions to the history of peace and nonviolence were greater than those of Martin Luther King Jr. I really don't know much about either of these people but for some reason chose to write about them. I know that pacifism is controversial, but I'm with Martin Sexton, "let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me".

teapot, tea time, tea party

It was grade four. My best friend Jessica asked if I would come to her mom's work for take-your-kid-to-work-day, so I did. I slept at her house the night before, we woke up early and her mom had two tea-filled travel mugs ready for us. Peppermint. I can remember the scent perfectly, vividly. I hadn't caught whiffs of like-scented peppermint tea until my 23rd birthday when Landen bought me organic peppermint tea, the memories that accompanied it were delightful. The scent of that tea, an aroma that captured me long before I took my first sip, was what kindled my love for tea.

Lately I have been obsessed with Jessie's Tea. I'm not sure who Jessie is/was, but her tea makes me weak at the knees. Truth be told, I wake up longing for it, I sit in class, run at the gym and walk home from school anxious to return home to brew a pot of this tea. The power it has over me is astounding, really. I haven't been so smitten by anything for as long as I can remember [excluding my charming husband]. Seemingly a harmless addiction, I'm letting myself indulge.

Landen has been student teaching in a grade five classroom for the past week. He told me a story last night that I have been giggling to myself about ever since. Transcription [with changed names, who knows about anything these days]:

L: Mark, do you have Bieber fever?
Mark: No!
L: Chris, do you have Bieber fever?
Chris: No.
L: Ronny, do you have Bieber fever?
Ronny: Nahhh...
L: Brittany, do you have Bieber fever?
Brittany: Yes.
L: Austin, do you have Bieber fever?
Austin: No, but I want to get it for my aunt.

Funny! So so funny. I keep thinking about how great it will be to have a husband that is a teacher because for the rest of my life I will be laughing at the antics of school-aged children.

Jessie is waiting.

V. xo

weekend

When I was working more often I used to dream of a day when weekends would seem like a treat. That day has come and I find myself, along with many other 9 to 5ing folks, longing for Friday to arrive; and arrive it always does. Friday night Landen and I went for sushi and then saw the King's Speech. It was love at first sight. I feel as though it may have been the best movie I have ever seen, so good in fact that I got home from the theatre and tried to download it (shhh) right away. So good. Saturday was a lazy day including an [unsuccessfull] trip to the mall followed by pizza and games at my lady friend's cozy home. All in all, quite a success.

Lately I have been loving pictures of made beds. They can be so pretty.

Happy Monday; one down, four to go.

V. xo