Brain Fried

Well I think all that studying psyched me out for my exam. I'm sure I passed, and I know the brains that God gave me, generally, are good ones, but I think I fried them with all the studying, because I don't think I did nearly as well on my exam as I could have done. Have you ever had something so silly on the tip of your tongue, and yet you can't remember it? That's how I felt throughout my exam. I can honestly say, I did the best that I could have. But in hind-sight, I know the area's I should have studied a bit better now. :)

I'm exhausted but so glad to be done, I'd like to celebrate, but I doubt that's going to happen. Such is life...and I'm not quite done yet. In 5 weeks, I'll be done, and I can't wait.

Calgary is the only place where we can have a blizzard in the morning, and by the afternoon people are driving around with their convertible tops down. What a weird place.

I better get to bed.

S

Still Studying...

Its nearly time for my test. At this time tomorrow I'll be doing a little jig of celebration that my mid-term is over. Studying is so boring, although I'm proud of myself that I've been doing it so dilligently. I studied SO hard on Monday and last night, and on my lunch breaks. Tonight I had my floor hockey game, and now I'm tired, my brain is fried, and Big Brother is on. Who can resist. So I'll take some rest time, and then back to the books...

Please "say a little prayer for me..."

S

All Studied Out

I've been keeping my nose in the books - hopefully it helps in my upcoming exams. I don't think I've ever really done excellent in exams. I'm not great at articulating myself under pressure unfortunately. I've always passed my exams, thank God for that, but I've never ever aced a written exam. Pardon me, I think I got 99% on my Music Theory exam a couple years ago, but that was thanks to the devoted pressure of my music teacher, and the excellence she demanded. I should pay her to be my tutor for everything. :) Everyone should pay her to be their tutor for everything for that matter! Myself and my lovely friend Michelle aced our grade 11 drama exam (I think it was grade 11). We did a dialogue - I think it was 45 minutes long, and pretty shocking;y dramatic. I believe it was between two very disturbed young women. In fact, we did so well at it, that our school of 800+ students had an assembly and Mitch & I performed our dialogue at it. It was pretty cool. WE got 100%. I think that may have been because our teacher was...how can I say...a bit of a push over. Michelle and I would tell him that we were going to practice and wouldn't be able to be present in class that day, and somehow that was fine with him, even when he came to check up on us, and we happened to be cooking waffles in the hallway for those who passed by. That was interesting. I think I also aced some music exams in High-school - once again attributed to an excellent teacher, who inspired excellence. Or perhaps I just do better at exams than I think.

Do you think its a bit of a crock that your exams are not returned to you? I do. They don't even re-use exams, or exam questions anyways, what would be the harm. I bet they would have so many more review requests that way. I am just curious to know how badly I butchered the questions, or which answer on the multiple choice was correct.

Anyways. Oh High school. Speaking of Michelle - I remember the day we met. She was sitting in front of me and my friend Julie in our science class. I believe Mr. Collie was our teacher - although I'm not sure why the gym teacher was teaching science, but that's ok. Julie & I decided we should be nice and say hi to the new girl, and wasn't that one of the best decisions I ever made. Michelle is one of the most loyal devoted friends anyone could ever think up. I love her, and I'm totally bummed we have to live so far away from one another. Maybe one day that will chance. I miss her.

I don't think there's too much else to write, except my brain is fried, and I can't wait to go to bed. I didn't sleep well last night unfortunately, and I'm paying the price right now. Hopefully everything I've studied today has sunk its way into my brain.

Oh and its probably been long enough now, that I can make a post about this, my cutie-pie baby brother Andy has been offered a job on Waterloo Regional Police, as a good ol' Police Man. I'm so proud of him.

S

Thank - You Troy!

Thanks Troy for making me this lovely blog! You're so creative and talented!

Pretty

Isn't my new blog format cute? I absolutely love it. My husband worked all day at this, and having never designed a blog like this before, I think he did fan-freakin- tastic! He still has a few tweeks to make, including changing the photo (I think the one above makes me look like a fat head).

In other news, we spent the evenings with the Pritchards. I love moments I get to share with Jack, even though I know, I'm pretty much at the bottom of the totem pole of people he likes to spend time with. Anyone pales in comparison with his Mom, followed by his Dad as a close second. Anyone else is basically at the bottom, and I am fine with this, as even short spurts of moments where I can read him "Cowboy Bunny" or play horsies with him, or just snuggle him are work everything in the world. I love him, and he has the most adorable smile. I'll post one, so everyone can see what I mean.

Chelsea and I went to see "Definitely Maybe" tonight. It was adorable, and I loved it. Andrew and troy went to see some weird Jack Black movie. I love Jack Black, he's hilarious, but I'd definitely go see "Definitely Maybe" again. It was great.

Once again, I'm up too late. Here's Jack, and I'm off to bed.

S

Rip Off

I can't buy games for my new "Bierman Europod" aka - ipod Touch. We bought the one with the 32 wha-cha-ma-call its (whatever that means), and I can't even play games. What is it good for anyways. Boo. At least it says "but mostly belongs to Shara" on the back (engraved). At least its mine. :)

Its so wonderful outside right now. I may think differently if I was sitting outside, but I am sitting in my cloud-bed, typing on my laptop, with my window open with a soft breeze floating through the window. A little chills, but mostly so wonderful. I can't wait until spring.

Its nearly the weekend, and I can't believe how fast time flies. Its nearly the end of February! Wasn't it just Christmas?

I have my mid-term next week on Thursday, so aside from spending the evening with my bestest friend in the world Chelsea tomorrow, I think I'll be keeping my face in the books for the next week. BOO TO THAT. But the end is near. 2 short months from this very moment, I will be finished with my CIP designation, and my goal will be accomplished.

When I started my job, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, so I figured I should do as much at the job I currently had, as I could. (I was a receptionist). So I let my employer know I was interested in becoming an insurance broker, and they did everything they could to assist me in that, and I challenged the licensing exam shortly after that, and I got my insurance license. Then I decided it would be best if I worked towards the same designations as my boss had, so I set my mind to that, and a couple years later, got my CAIB designation. After a short break, I embarked on a bigger challenge, and that was to get my CIP designation. Once April rolls around, and I write (and hopefully pass) my exam, I will have the same educational designations as my boss. (I say educational, as I'll never have the experience, or brilliance she has for this stuff I don't think!)

Anyways, I am proud of myself. So Nearly 6 years later, and after 13 courses, 4 - 3 & 1/2 hour exams, 8 - 3 hour exams, and I'll have accomplished this goal. :) I can't wait. My next goal may be to get a designation one of my peers has called "The Fellowship", but that idea is more of a "it'd be fun to be in the fellowship (of the rings)", but we'll see. That's a pretty big goal to have, considering the course requirements is at least as many courses as I've already done, all in University - so we'll see.

So much work talk. Its just that I've been super busy, dealing with only complicated situations, so its difficult to get my mind off work. I wasn't able to pull myself away from work this week, in order to take a lunch break, until today when I made myself. It was really good and therapeutic to get away, even for a short hour.

I'm rambling and once again, am up later than I intended to be, as I'm overtired.

Good Night all, thank you for reading.

S

Cranky in Calgary

I am cranky today. I'll just start off by saying that, in case you can see that coming though in this post. Troy is currently as far away from me as he can get in this house, and I think that's probably a really great idea. I think its a combination of being tired, not being faithful in getting up early to read my bible, and a crazy busy day with no stopping for breath. I didn't even have time to take a lunch break, and as I was sitting at my desk, after closing, I looked to see if anyone else at the company I work at was still working - to find out it was only me. :) I don't think that's ever happened on a week day before.

I'm relaxing now, and watching American Idol. I love reality tv, - BIG BROTHER is really fun too. Totally smut television, but so interesting. And this dude currently singing - Garret, he's horrible.

I've recently discovered that I may be accident prone. This past weekend alone, I've fallen down the stairs, cut my finger on my food processor, and knocked over an entire cup of coffee on our newest and funnest board game, and knocked a can of coke all over our carpet in the family room. The more I think about it - the more I realize how true that really is. I think I must be accident prone.

Anyways, I'm tired.

S

Sleepy Times

I should be off to bed, but I'm too tired to make it upstairs, and shower my sweaty self. I just got home from my floor hockey game. It is not my idea of fun, to play floor hockey at 10pm at night. Especially when there are only 3 girls on my team this year. BOO. Anyways, we haven't done so well this year, I think we're in the bottom of our league, but we do have fun, and we normally manage to find something to gripe about, regarding the other team.

Do you know of certain things that used to drive your Dad crazy when you were a kid? Some of my Dad's were slurping soup off your spoon, allowing your teeth to contact your eating utensil, and drawing pictures on the inside of car window's. I can honestly say, that last one, is getting to me too. SORRY DAD FOR ALL MY YEARS OF WINDOW PICTURES. I guess you don't hate that someone else does it, until you're the one who has to clean it, or the one who has a hard time seeing out the window when you're driving because of it.

Someone- not to mention any names (Troy) has scraped nearly every inch of window I can see out of, with a credit card. I know it was Troy cause I, like my Dad, would never do such a thing myself. in fact, did I tell you about the frozen car incident a couple weeks ago? Even in that situation, it never occurred to me, to do such a thing. Anyways, today I had to go get a car wash, because I could not see out my car windows, as my car was too dirty. Literally, every move I made, was in faith, that God would not let me hit anyone, cause I could not see. Anyways, after sitting in the car-wash line for 40 minutes, I finally got my car all shiny and clean, only to notice that now the inside windows of my car are all nasty. I think someone may have a job to do on Saturday (not to mention any names (TROY!!))

Anyways, I better get to bed, or I'll never be able to get up in the morning.

Ciao!

S

Do You Make Sure Your Bills Are Paid?

How closely do you monitor your bank account. Do you ensure that each bill you've set up to be paid by your credit card is paid? Do you ensure that each bill you've set up to be taken automatically from your bank account is taken? Would you notice if your bank forgot to take your mortgage out of your bank account for say ... 8 months? What about your car payment? Would you think they were just doing you a gigantic favor if your mortgage company didn't take the payment from your account....WHOHOO! FREE MONEY!, or would you immediately get on the phone and find out if there is a problem?

I had a client surprised today to find out she has had no insurance since August when her policy was canceled for not paying it. I suppose its a little much to expect she notice that she has a spare $350 in her bank account every month - or perhaps the letter she had to go pick up at the post office telling her it was going to be canceled, or just maybe it was the 3 frantic phone messages left on her voicemail which she didn't return. Anyways.

Waking Up With a Song

Do you ever wake up with a song in your head? Like you may have been singing it all night? I always do. Every day. I actually enjoy it, and it doesn't stay in my head all day, just until I'm out of the shower. It's great. Its usually a hynm or some other kind of worship song that I head on the radio or on a cd. :)

Its the long weekend, and I'm really enjoying it. What I'm not enjoying is remembering at this time tomorrow I'll be back at work! It has been a great weekend so far.

First of all, Friday, Troy made me a Valentines Day dinner. We were unable to celebrate on Valentines day because I had class, so Friday night, he kicked me out of the kitchen, and cooked me a wonderful Maple Glazed Salmon, rice, and Asparagus. For dessert it was chocolate dipped strawberries which he made himself. It was really great. The rest of that evening we relaxed, and caught up on our tv watching (thanks to the PVR, what a great invention).

Saturday we slept in, and tidied up our guest room, doing a bit of organizing in the storage space. Then we headed off to the local gym. Fitness Plus where we became members. We're looking forward to playing squash together. It'll be nice to have a gym SO close to our place. I think its about a couple km away only.

Troy had to head off to the airport to get Darren & Nicky from Palm Springs after that, so I hung out at home, and did some Europe research, while watching a movie. It was Mc.Cheeseball, but still enjoyable. it was that HIllary Duff movie, Cinderella. I recorded it on the PVR months ago, but didn't want to subject Troy to that as well. :)

Saturday evening we went to Darin's place for pizza and a movie. It was a good time, and his place is looking amazing.

Sunday we went to church in the morning, which was interesting, then home for lunch, and hanging out. We didn't do much yesterday really except relax. Had an afernoon nap. (whoever invented those is also brilliant).

Today will be a fun day. In a couple of hours we're going to my friends place for brunch. Then later on we're having some of Troy's friends over and we're going to watch the rest of Indianna Jones (we watched the first one, several weeks ago). We'll add to that a trip to Peters Drive in, who could want anymore!

We're really enjoying our planning time for Europe. We're reading books, spending time on the internet, and only 2 short months away, we'll be waking up in Paris. :)

yesterday I was reading about the Concentration Camp in Poland, I'm going to try to figure out a way we can go there I think. That looked pretty powerful. And Poland could be cool also.

Hmmmmm.....

Anyways, that's kind of a boring post isn't it? Sounds like a 12 year old girls diary..."I did this, and then I did that...." Anyways. I guess that's what you get this time.

I'll leave you with a link of my new toy - we like to call it the Europod.

I love my Mondays. With such a busy schedule right now, having Monday's to stay at home has been a blessing. I've probably not gotten as much done as I should have, and spent far too much time researching our trip, and checking facebook, but its been a restful time. Today I even got to get a massage! Mmmmm...I'm blessed.

It's been incredibly cold outside lately and I am ready for this deep freeze to be over. Somehow January is one of my least favorite times of the year. Perhaps because there is a long period of time that there's no long weekend, or how cold it is, or that Christmas has just finished, and spring is so far away, I don't know. I'm the kind of person who enjoys having something to look forward to. Buy January is over, and there are plenty of things to look forward to coming up.

Valentines day - the anniversary of the day that Troy and I got engaged. Although its nearly 2 years since that day, I can still remember the thoughts and feelings I had that day, as if it were yesterday. That was fun. Troy is planning something for this Valentines day, and I have no idea what it it. That makes it kind of fun.

So there's Valentines day, and then not too long after that, my Mom is getting married, so we'll be traveling for that, followed by our Europe excursion.

I have been busy planning our time away, and it has been a lot of fun. We've got a pile of tour books, and are trying to take as much from them as we can. It'll be great to get away.

Anyways, I'm procrastinating my day away. I'm looking forward to a bath, and then not so much looking forward to completing a couple of quizes for my class. Then I guess I'll have to prepare for Darin, who is coming for dinner.

Life is fun. Cold, but fun. :)

S