Fill-in-the-blanks fun

(Thanks Jan, I needed an easy post!)

MY STORY.

Hi, my name is: Erica

but you can call me: crazy

Never in my life have I: eaten a fast food burger

The one person who can drive me nuts is: my brother

My high school is: (was) MBCI and SJR

When I’m nervous: I'm really awkward

The last song I listened to was: 'I'm just a guy' - Brad Paisley

If I were to get married right now it would be to: no one, not in the mood today

My hair is: short, really blond, and AWESOME

When I was 4: I cried because I never wanted to stay 4 forever and didn't want to leave my mom

Last Christmas: I spent a lot of time with my mom and my brother took me out for my birthday

I should be: filling in my time sheet

When I look down I see: my crappy work desk

The happiest recent event was: going to my aunt's in Ancaster for Easter yesterday, I have the best cousins

If I were a character on ‘Friends’: I would be dead... as the show isn't on anymore

By this time next year: I will be frantically preparing for the LAST EXAMS OF MY LIFE!

My current gripe is: the freaking winter won't end. I'm cold and grumpy

I have a hard time understanding: italian

There’s these girls: that are at Laurier and not here, ever.

If I won an award, the first person I would tell would be: my mom. always my mom.

I want to buy: new shoes

Where do you plan to visit: Halifax

If you spent the night at my house: you would be very comfortable, warm, and well fed.

The world could do without: poverty?

Most recent thing I’ve bought myself: a parking ticket this morning

Most recent thing someone else bought me: a coffee on Friday

My middle name is: Ruth

In the morning I: hit snooze way too many times, then watch Breakfast Television

Last night I was: really tired but glad to be home

There’s this guy I know who: can beat me at scrabble

If I was an animal I’d be a: giraffe

A better name for me would be: purple monkey dishwasher

Tomorrow I am: working way too much then watching a movie

Tonight I am: going to the gym and doing laundry

My birthday is: really far away but always a good time

crazy work schedule for next 3 weeks. blog on hold. only time to read. post lots. I need all the love I can get.

xo

I'm having a great day. Here are some pictures!!

These are the lovely ladies of Civil '09. Mostly my favorite people :)













I took a cookie decorating class last Winter, I learned a ton of stuff but much of it is quite tedious, these are my favorites.










This makes me laugh















I love this picture. Halloween '07. I Was Minnie Mouse, not 'slutty' minnie mouse, just the regular type. That's Jess in the corner... she's a slutty green crayon.


















Erin is in my class and it was her birthday. It was also midterms. Instead of going out, I made a huge feast for us. That's my first roast beef, it was perfect. I'll never try again.










I went to a conference in Ottawa in October. I drove and we stopped at every cool place we saw. We are drinking milkshakes from this big castle shaped milk factory. We also stopped for pie from the Big Apple.












This is my family!!!
We are awesome.













This is my Dad and I. He's pretty awesome. Taught me stuff like grilled cheese sandwiches taste better when cut on an angle, how to drive, raw cookie dough is not dangerous.




















This is an old picture of me and my dogs, Dexter and Molly. They were pretty much the best dogs ever.
















Well, that's all for now. I pretty much started going through my Pictures folder and made it to the 'family' folder. I'll continue some other day and maybe make it to the 'Whistler' folder.

My weekend ahead includes doing (much deserved) NOTHING tonight. Can't wait. Tomorrow I have rehearsal for EngPlay and then a work/party thing. Bowling, beer, and food. My kind of party. Sunday is a dinner 'thing'. Between those 2 events I have to pull a bus 14kms. Yearly Engineering charity event. I also need to get new glasses, more contacts, passport photos AND go to the tea shop. I do this to myself. You know, stretch way too thin and never say no. I'm awesome.

Have an AWESOME weekend y'all!
xo

This term has been ssoooo full of future planning. Well, future freaking out anyway. I'm nearing the end of my UG (finally) and so big decisions need to be made. I think I'm freaking out about it because it's SO uncertain. It's real life, this is it. No second chances. Being an adult really sucks. Being in my UG is a bit of a shelter to me, I feel like I can go wherever, do whatever, and I'll always have Waterloo to come back to. It's not going to be like that forever, my mistakes are going to be more serious, my choices are going to be more important, it's the real deal. When did the memo about 'Growing up' go out? I must have missed that day. I feel like I have a huge exam and I didn't take any notes or do any assignments and I have nothing on my side to get me through it. Seriously, this blows.

If I had the answers to these questions, or guarantee that some of these things will come true, I would be at ease:
I want to take a trip at the end of April, where? how? with who?
I want to have an awesome summer without losing my head by taking on too much.
What am I going to do in September? I keep saying I'm going to take time off because I want it so bad but it's hard to say 'no' to co-op jobs that will pay me so well. (If you have ideas, let me know, I'm really up for anything!!!)
What is going to happen when I graduate? Will I still wake up in the morning? Will the grass still grow?
I want to do more once I'm done, but what? Grad school? Another degree? WHAT???
What if I take a job? Do I want a transport job or a construction job? Where do I want to take this job?
What if I hate my job? How easy will it be to quit?
What if I become so absorbed in my job that I become a loner forever?
What if I become a work-a-holic and therefore never manage to meet anyone and start a family?
What if I never meet anyone??
What if I'm a miserable old cat lady??

Seriously, this next year is going to be a large sac of stress. I know I will still be alive at the end of it but I have NO CLUE what the hell I'll be doing.

As it is a slow day at work, I find myself doing what I ALWAYS do when it's a slow day. I'm planning trips. Trips that I'll never take.

It is looking like I'll have 2 weeks off at the end of April to cover the intense overtime I'll be working over the next 3 weeks. Well what the hell am I going to do? Pissing the time away in Waterpoo does not sound appealing and so I move on to more exotic, romantic, exciting adventures.

Most elaborate: Singapore
Cost: Way too much
Pros: I have a friend there right now, I really have no idea what I would do there. But it would be grand
Cons: Price, my mom would flip


Next in line: Europe
Cost: Not as much... mildly affordable
Pros: Fly into London, parade around there, go to Paris, forget about everything here
Cons: My mom would flip, many people will be going once we graduate so I should probably go then

Next up: Hot hot hot
Cost: ditto as above
Pros: it's been winter for way too long and there's WAY too much snow here (when there's more snow here then there is at home, something is wrong)
Cons: I'm taking this trip next reading week

Lastly: Road trip to: Halifax, Winnipeg, etc
Cost: Decent, affordable
Pros: See the last part of Canada that I have not seen yet/hang out with my old friends for more than a few hours
Cons: Lots of driving

Also, a common 'con' here is that I have no one to go with. Minor detail.

Why do I feel so much pressure from my mom to save save save and take these trips later? I don't really have much of a 'later'. So I take a trip after I graduate and then what, never again? I suppose that's how she sees it. Also, it seems as though she would not approve of me getting a line of credit or similar. Why am I making these decisions based on her?

Because she's my mom and if she's mad at me... I might as well be dead for all the suffering I will endure.

Some facts:

The University of Waterloo has approx 22000 students in a variety of programs, most famous for Math, Computer Science, and (my personal ball and chain) Engineering.

Engineering at Waterloo has an approx ratio of 8:1 (Guys: Girls). If you're female you're probably thinking 'Sweet, that's a lot of ass to be had!' If you're male you're probably thinking 'What a nightmare.' Well guys, you're right. As for you ladies, you're wrong.

And so continues my saga as a socialized female in a unsocialized male dominated nightmare.

Where am I going with this? Unsure. Mostly a collection of thoughts that have this theme. Onwards and Upwards.

This term I am working at the school so my social dynamic has varied little. The one change is that I have more free time without homework. I decided to put a bit more effort into my appearance and my dress. Namely, I do my hair and make-up everyday, I have also being trying to wear skirts to work 3/5 days per week. Personally I have loved this decision. I enjoy this time that I am committing to myself and it makes me happy doing so. It's the rest of the world that pisses the cheese out of me. And there's a lot of cheese in there.

The people that inhabit these walls have little social grace and even less fashion sense.

(Vertical Horizon - Best I Ever Had is on my radio, what a great song)

The effect this has on me is a constant parade of 'What's the occasion?' "Whoa, way to over-dress for school!' 'Who are you trying to pick-up?' Like really, are you kidding me? Have you really never seen anyone spend time on their appearance? I'm not even trying that hard!! Since when is a denim skirt with tights and a cute top 'trying hard'??

So, that's my dilemma. However, it makes me feel good so I can ignore the lack of social aptitude of this dungeon.

Next, I'm so sick of seeing people do the opposite of what I'm attempting. Sweatpants. Pajama pants. C'mon people. Do you have any respect for yourself? I'm cool to brush off first years, you don't know what you're doing, you want to have the true university experience. Whatever. I did it to. But now that you are a touch older, bring some respect to the table. You are trying to make a career, you are trying to get into grad school. Why not practise now and get used to it.

As I write this many many other spawns of ideas are being born. Namely, my social development over the past 5 years with no female friends, my immense attachment to any female characteristic I find myself showing... just to name a few.

As I'm nearing the end of my time here I am truly realizing what psychological terrors I have created within myself. Whether avoidable or inevitable, this is me now and I suppose it's a good thing that I'm recognizing it now instead of down the road. This way I'll be more accepting of the sexual harassment and social awkwardness I'll be exposed to and give the guys a break.

Erica + Engineering = Extremities of Love & Hate

deux chansons

Below are the lyrics and youtube links to 2 songs that I am in love with at the moment. Take a minute and have a listen.

'I'm in love with a girl' - Gavin DeGraw
http://youtube.com/watch?v=pXTr9dLECfg

So many people gonna say that they want you,
To try to get you thinking they really care,
But there's nothing like the warmth of the one who has put in the time and you know he's gonna be there,
Back your border when she knows someone crossed it,
Don't let nobody put you down, who your with
Take the pain of protecting your name, from the crutch to the cane to the highwire

I'm in love with a girl who knows me better,
Fell for the women just when i met her,
Took my sweet time when i was bitter,
Someone understands,
And she knows how to treat a fella right,
Give me that feeling every night,
Wants to make love when i wanna fight,
Now someone understand me,
I'm in love with a girl(I'm in love with)(x2)

Out the many broken backdoors and windows,
Through the valley of the love of the lost,
Is a hole that is cut through the souls falling down from the thrones without leaving any windows,
But you drown in a piece for the moment,
The moment was over in time,
Then its gone the hit and run the tactless one has a short life

I'm in love with a girl who knows me better,
Fell for the women just when i met her,
Took my sweet time when i was bitter,
Someone understands,
And she knows how to treat a fella right,
Give me that feeling every night,
Wants to make love when i wanna fight,
Now someone understand me,
I'm in love with a girl(I'm in love with)(x2)

Gonna tell you what you do to think you practice what you preach,
Now i know there's nothing we cant preach,
'cause the heart can't erase once it finds a place to be warm and welcome,
To be held in shelter

I'm in love with a girl who knows me better,
Fell for the women just when i met her
Took my sweet time when i was bitter
Someone understands,
And she knows how to treat a fella right
Give me that feeling every night
Wants to make love when i wanna fight
Now someone understands me
I'm in love with a girl(I'm in love with)(x3)
Who knows me better
Wants to make love when i wanna fight
now someone understand me


'Into you' - Carolyn Dawn Johnson
...ok there's no video.... but this song is the bees knees

If he doesn't call when he says he'll call;
Or if he doesn't even call at all,
Well, he just might not be that into you.

If he's too busy to see you on the weekends;
An' he doesn't introduce you to his friends,
Well, he just might not be that into you.

'Cause if he was he'd be hangin' on your every word.
He'd put away his little black book an' put you first.
He'd bein' doin' double back flips to make it work out.

If he's a month late for your birthday,
Or if he calls you by another girl's name,
Well, he just might not be that into you.

'Cause if he was he'd be hangin' on your every word.
He'd put away his little black book an' put you first.
He'd bein' doin' double back flips to make it work out.

Well, if he says he's not the marryin' type,
An' he only calls you in the middle of the night,
Well, he just might not be that into you.

Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
I got you now,
Whoa hey, yeah.
You gotta listen girl:
If you're not the centre of his world,
He's not that into you,
Hey yeah.

Yeah, 'cause if he was he'd be hangin' on your every word.
He'd put away his little black book an' put you first.
He'd do whatever it takes to make it work out, yeah.

Well, if he says she's just a friend, like a sister,
Then one day, you see him up an' kiss her.
Well, he just might not be that into you.
Yeah, you just might wanna find somebody new.
Oh, that's what I would do, girl if I were you.

Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
Find somebody new.
Yeah, he's not that into you.

Yeah, yeah.
(Find somebody new.)
Yeah, yeah.
(He's not that into you.)
Girl, find somebody new.

(Find somebody new.)
You know you gotta find someone who loves everything about you.
(He's not that into you.)
Somebody: listen now, it's worth it, yeah.

2 things that would complete me:

1. Companionship
2. Vacation

The first could easily be satisfied by a dog, or a person. Whichever comes first. Both would be even better!
The second comes with me being done school, if ever. I'm getting pretty sick of it, though the next year is going to be quite a show. I fully intend to go out in style, as quickly as possible. I'll let you know how that goes.

Consistency

Everyday, at 11:11am I make the same wish.