Powerful

Check out this moving video about a very powerful project.



Project Unbreakable from Nino Gallego on Vimeo.

It Was Not Eggs Benny, But It Was A Way To Start The Day

I thought I'd share with you how my day started on Monday. It is a tale that will warm the cockles of your heart.

It is no secret that I'm not a champ at sleeping or that bouts of insomnia mess with my life. And due to a medication snafu, the insomnia is gonna roar for a week or two. Let's go to the lack of sun time between Sunday and Monday shall we? I didn't spend enough of it being asleep. But by 6:30am I was as close to soundly sleeping as I had been in a while. That was until I started hearing a car horn. The kind of pattern one uses to beckon someone from a dwelling. (How's yer cockles, getting warm yet?) One or two beckonings would have been fine, understandable, even necessary. Twenty to thirty minutes of horn beckoning between 6:30 and 7am is not ok. Not ok (eye contact, head shaking).

After 20 minutes of horning I threw open the shutters and pulled back the sash (no bedpan Dad) to see what or who on earth - or 2 doors down on my street, could be making this rage inducing racket. It was a car. Sitting there. Idling. Idling and using it's horn to urge someone to come outside. I went downstairs to get a better look and...and honking again. My coat was on and I was out the door faster than you could say, "hey, don't get the snot beat outta you!"

I approached the car from the sidewalk to see a man in reflective construction garb, sitting in his car with the window down. The following is our "dialogue". All expletives have been smudged.

Me: Excuse me, is it you that is honking?

Angry Construction Man: Yah.

Me: Could you please not.

ACM: Ok.

Me: (starts to turn and walk away)

ACM: What are you, some sort of F'ing lawyer or something, that you don't need to be at work until 9?

Me: (a wide variety of answers flashing before me to use, but Jesus standing there holding my tongue) No.

ACM: 'Cause I'm just f'ing trying to get someone somewhere on f'ing time.

Me: Ok. But maybe could you try knocking on the door instead of honking?

ACM: Maybe you could mind your f'ing business.

Me: Ok.

(at this point a very embarrassed lady-friend comes skulking out of the house and mumbles an apology and I begin to start walking away again)

ACM: (as he's about to pull away) Go F yourself.

Tender moments in morning people, I bet your cockles are real warm now.

I Think It Was A Good Day

I spent some time at home on the weekend. I got pretty tired (for various reasons) and decided it wouldn't be safe for me to drive all the way back to London on Sunday night. Therefore I thought I would get a good jump after breakfast on Monday morning and be back to London just after lunch. That was a pipe dream.

The following are my facebook status updates that I made via my cell (with some commentary):

Laura is on the side of the 401 with a flat tire, although she is capable of changing said tire, she is glad to have caa. 10:51

-I'm just driving along and the car starts to handle all crazy and there is a bad bad noise coming from the back. I pull over and swear. Then I call CAA. Then I wait for CAA. Then CAA comes and puts the spare on and inflates it for me. Then I make phone calls to Dad and L.Bo for advice on where the heck to go and get this tire repaired. I end up at Northumberland Tire. They say its gonna be 45min or so. Alors, I take off on foot to kill the time.

Laura stly) replacement. Hurray! 12:01

-this was supposed to read "Laura is eating chinese buffet by herself in port hope. She was just informed that the tire cannot be fixed and she is waiting for them to put on a (likely costly) replacement. Hurray!" I had decided lunch was in order and a 6.50$ chinese lunch buffet is ok with me.

Laura gives up on trying to update this from her cell. Grrr. 12:03

-I was pretty frustrated that I had taken the time to put that whole long update up and it didn't work. though I think it may have worked over the mobile network because I got a text from L.bo saying that I was killing her. she felt sad that she was working and couldn't come and have 6.50$ chinese buffet with me.

Laura is killing Lesley, possibly slowly and with her song. 12:06

-so I thought I'd let everyone know that I was killing L.bo

Laura just watched some woman named Doris get surprised for her birthday at the aforementioned chinese place. 12:18

-yup, just as I was heading back to the buffet Doris and a couple of friends walked in and she spied a very long table full of more of her friends and very quietly and sporadically they started going "uh, surprise." "surprise Doris" "happy birthday Doris" I was pretty amused. And I was just killing time while I was waiting for N-Tire to put the newbie on my car.

Laura cannot do anything simple. Sigh. 12:42

-while I was in the bathroom my Dad called. he had just remembered that before I got the car, he and Mom had put new tires on it and they might be under warranty. but the warranty would be with Canadian Tire, which I was not at and which there is none in Port Hope. this frustrated me to know at this point. so I called Dad and said that it was too late for this tire as a new one was being put on, but I was glad to know for future tire 'incidents'. I got back to N-tire and the spare was still on my car. what? growl. they hadn't had time to find a suitable replacement. so I took that opportunity to check my glove box for anything that mentioned tire warranty. found it, called dad. after some discussion dad called cobourg CT for me and they said to bring the tire in. I got my tire back from N-tire and slowly headed to the 'burg.

Laura is on her way to cobourg canadian tire, frick. 13:00

-I was obviously thrilled to be back tracking and likely eating another hour of time. if I didn't leave cobourg by 3pm then I wouldn't be making it to London by 7 for rehearsal (because of traffic) and would just go back to my parents.

Laura was really wishing she would get an unsecured wireless signal at CT. that wish is going unfulfilled. 13:17

-I pulled out my laptop and thought I might get some work done while waiting for my 'free' replacement tire to be put on. this work would not be involving the internet

Laura has a new tire and is ready to take off across toronto (into traffic). Oh look, its raining. Fun. 13:51

-after about a million phone calls, a bunch of hours spent waiting on the 401, in port hope, and in cobourg, I was finally able to start heading westward again

Laura is back in London, thinking about supper and getting ready for rehearsal. 17:07

-traffic was nice, I made good time and I made it back with a bit of space to breath and have supper before choir rehearsal.

So I think that was a pretty stellar day and was in no way frustrating or a waste of an entire day. Cough.

Maybe

Maybe my parents surprised me today - maybe this morning they asked me if I might want to drive with John to Whistler and then fly back in time for grad on the 24. Maybe I said, "well, I don't know, me and my lack of job are pretty dang busy, but I guess I can fit it in."

We leave Wednesday morning.

Expect as many updates as I can manage.

Maybe Dad is sending his camera with us.

We are kicking off this voyage with a time of fellowship and Brassie Nachos, Tuesday May 13, 2008, 6:30pm. You are invited. But if you're gonna come, lemme know via email or the comment section so I can warn the Brassie staff.

Seeing The White Light, Starting To Walk Towards It, Then Having A Rope Thrown Around My Waist And Being Brought Back

This is me. I'm recovering from pneumonia. And I'm being told that one of the best ways for me to recover quicker is to rest and stay quiet. Thusly, my bed, its many blankets and pillows are where I am based.

(click for larger versions of pics)






I have a pretty good set up here in my room. One of the keys to me just shutting up and not moving around is to have pretty much anything I could need within arms reach. In these next two pics you'll see my bedside table; complete with an arsenal of things to help me through this and my desk chair - aka the current house for my laptop. The laptop being my non-talking conduit to the outside world and my entertainment centre.








There are a few other things that help recovery. One of those is motivation. I decided that being sick is lame, and that I'm getting tired of canceling things, and ending up in tears because I'm missing everything that is fun or cool. In conjunction with the decision that being sick is lame, I decided that when my Levquin (the stomach eating, germ killing antibiotic I'm on) is done that I will be better.

Just so I can keep track of this better getting, I made a motivational count down board. You'll see the hand coloured (which I am pretty dang proud of) mini-banner that says Days Until I'm Better. You'll also probably recognize that Holy guy in the middle of the banner, His name is Jesus, we're friends. Underneath the banner are the packets of Levaquin, all labeled with the day I have to take them. As I finish the pack I break it down and change it's position on the wall. Ta da.








Another recovery thinger is the whole coughing/not coughing ratio. Coughing in many ways is good for me, so that I can get the "shit" out of my lung. But coughing hurts the throat (which I need to sing in this Friday's choir concert, where I have a special line to sing). And coughing really hurts after I woke up the other night in one my usual coughing fits, but managed to tear/pull/rip something in/on my left side. Three of my best friends in the coughing/not coughing battle are here - vapo rub, lozenges and cough syrup (with expectorant!).






And here is some of the collateral damage of the cold that turned to bronchitis that turned to pneumonia - 2 of the 4 empty boxes of kleenex, the empty bottle of all in one cough syrup and an empty bag of lozenges.




a few more pics, and hilarious sets up can be found here.

The Velocity Of Bricks

Once upon a time about 13 days ago I got a cold. It seemed like an other cold. I snotted, I sneezed, I hacked a bit. I figured I'd infect some family members over Easter, come back to the hammer, snot a bit more and get on with my life.

Um no. I thought the cold was getting better. Then it decided to get worse. Then it decided to drive me to the point where I'm beginning to wonder at the velocity bricks would pick up as a hurled them off of my balcony onto the cars below.

I decided to seek medical attention on Monday (day 10) because it seemed I had started to develop pink eye and as previously mentioned here, green stuff was emerging. I couldn't get into see my doc (until Friday), so I went to a clinic. The doc there said I had a bad cold and that my asthma was making it worse. Ok says I - that doesn't explain the ear pain or the green stuff, but sure.

Last night at 2am -not having slept since Monday at 4am, I broke down and hit Shoppers up for come cough syrup, vapo rub, eye drops and kleenex. I came home, and at 3:30 finally got to sleep and stayed that way until 7am. And I'm still up. I didn't sleep today, even though I didn't really leave my bed. I'm exhausted, but I can't sleep, cough cough, why cough, can't i cough, sleep cough, snot, cough? Every time I get close to sleeping or even when I finally do begin to sleep I wake up coughing. Stupid cough syrup, you are not doing your job. You are supposed to be an all in one. But you are turning out to be a none in none.

So now its almost 3am - my throat is raw and burny, there is no skin left near my nose, my nerves are shot, my body is weak, my eyes are getting sticky, my ears won't pop and yeah. But I have popsicles thanks to a visit from Jacki and Amanda and sometimes the cough sounds looser and when I'm not coughing so hard my eyes look pretty good.

The argh.

Exciting Little Steps

My grad photos came in the mail.

Choir Tour

Its that time of year again..... Choir Tour Time!!

I thought that you might like to come to a concert or two. Thusly I will post when and where said concerts are (side note, i don't know the actual locations of all of these churches, you're on your own there). Awww.

We will be singing a blend of pieces from the upcoming 25 Anthems for 25 Years concert and our Christmas concert. Some pieces may include: the first movement from Handel's Coronation Anthem #2 - The King Shall Rejoice, For God Commanded Angels To Watch Over You by Felix Mendelssohn (and sometimes Brahms), Antonio Lotti's Crucifixus, C.V Standford's Beati Quorum Via, the Robert's spiritual He Has The Power!, a Dale Grotenhuis favourite Blessed Be the Name of the Lord and much, much more!

Saturday, February 16
Quebec City, PQ
Saint Charles Garnier Church
8pm

Sunday, February 17
Quebec City, PQ
Saint Charles Garnier Church
part of the morning service, 9:30am

Montreal, PQ
Knox-Crescent-Kensington & First Presbyterian Church
6225 Godfrey Avenue in Montreal
7:30pm

Monday, February 18
Brockville, ON
Bethel Christian Reformed Church
117 Windsor Drive Brockville
7:30pm

Addison, ON
Heritage Community School
7463 County Rd 28; Addison
9:30am

Tuesday, February 19
Belleville, ON
St. Andrew's Presbyterian
Corner of Church St.& Pinnacle, Belleville
7:30pm

Wednesday, February 20
Barrie, ON
Trinity Anglican Church
7:30pm

Ew.

So last night I had a rather frustrating meeting. It left me, well, frustrated, kind of riled and in need of some processing time. I went for a walk around a friend's neighbourhood for about an hour, and then talked to said friend for a bit about the some of the results of the walk.

When I was done I was tired, hungry, still somewhat frustrated and seeking comfort food. I decided to hit McDonalds on the way back to my apartment. One of the few things better than a dirty breakfast is a dirty nightcap.

Anyway... so I have my mouth and the rest of myself all set for a Big Mac, no onion, extra pickles. If you have known me for any length of time, you will know that I always take my Macs like that. I've been doing it since I was 16 - its a reflex now. So I order, I get my order and I drive away. I eat the fries on the way home and save the Mac for in my apartment. I bite into the Mac.... was that the filthy tang of an onion i just found? No, it couldn't be. Take another bite - um, I think it was - open up the Mac. Dag. They made me a no pickle, extra onion Big Mac. That is the antithesis of goodness to me! But since I was all the way back home there was nothing I could do about it. So disappointing, and I'd used most of a gift card up on that too!

Oh Meadowlands McDonalds at night, why do you have to be such a crap shoot (ha!)? One time I asked for a six piece meal with bbq sauce and they gave me a number 6 meal (a Mac, with onions) instead. Why MM@N, why can't you have the consistency of MM during the day? Le sigh.

Blood, Its Been In Me To Give

I have been trying pretty regularly, and generally wanting, to give blood since I was 17. The following are some of the reasons why this goal was not achieved:

• 7 piercings
• 1 tattoo
• one trip to Africa
• the vaccinations for that trip
• one trip to Indian
• the vaccinations for that trip
• 2 periods of anti depressants
  
• a bunch of periods on migraine maintenance drugs
• low iron
• and a host of random illnesses

That spells almost 9 years of non-blood giving. Every time I see those commercials/billboards/, etc "Blood its in you to give", I shout back, "yeah, well, then freaking take my blood!" And then I shake various body parts.

I got a notice in my mailbox at school saying the blood clinic was coming. And I thought, this time, this time I will not be defeated. I evaluated things from a female cyclical iron point of view, looked at my schedule and decided to make an appointment. I upped my water intake, started taking my vitamins again, ate meat, ate all my meals, etc - all in preparation. Essentially its like I studied for the iron test. And I passed. What what!

I also got through the screening, I wasn't on any random drugs, or had had dental work, or played with monkeys. So I made it to the bed. This was the farthest I had ever been. But there was still drama - there were no veins in my left arm (that could be used). I was seriously going to call my Mother and curse her genetics if I couldn't give because I had inherited her tiny collapsing veins. But, Dad's genes pulled through and the nurse found a nice juicy one in righty. We went for it.

Seriously I was so excited. Nine years of waiting to do this simple act - like I have felt guilt for getting a piercing because I knew it would put me out of potential for 6 months. But I was a little worried too - I've passed out for random reasons before, I'm generally shaky and light headed - I didn't want to be a blood donating passer outer. Things weren't helped by watching a young woman who in the words of another student waiting to donate, looked "like a corpse" - so much wrapping her in cool cloths and getting her feet up. I didn't want to do that.

On the good side I also heard a good conversation about how much of the tension and fear about donating or while donating is mental. Mental - I do mental well - so I began to psych myself up - I've had enough IVs in my life, and lots and lots and lots of blood taken for tests, 2 needles weekly for over a year for allergy shots, acupuncture, and pain, well heck, most of the time I'm simply in pain, I can handle "a little discomfort" from giving some blood and I can distract myself by singing German love waltzes in my head.

It took 7 minutes for me to fill the bag, which apparently is pretty good for a first time giver. And I didn't feel terrible or anything. I still feel good, I have to admit that I did not follow very many of the nurse's instructions for post donation (you can talk to Mrs. Laarman or Mrs. Smith about that).

I called my Mom just to tell her and my Dad that I finally go to donate. Mom said that nobody has every been as excited as I am about having given blood. But seriously, I'm excited to get my donor card in the mail and to set things up so that I can give again. I will travel, and I will get another tattoo (sorry Ma), and I will be on various drugs again, so I will take these times when I can get them.

Blood, its in me, I gave.

My Three Jobs

Well, you may have noticed the lack of garden or outdoor talk in my posts recently. Or maybe its the mentions of cleaning Aug Hall. But after the first week of October I got three jobs here at the school. I am the helper monkey for the Theatre and Music departments and do a little bit of work for Janitorial. Anything to make the bills get paid.

For the Music dept I have been and am doing a lot of work in and with the choral library. I'm currently done about a quarter of databasing the whole thing. And then generally just doing things that Dr. T asks me to, like procure things from the registrars office or call people/places for tour.

For the Theatre dept I am production managing the mainstage for the semester as well as doinag lots of other little departmental things like updating display cabinets, organizing a trip to the Shaw or putting together some stuff for one of the profs.

Janitorial is pretty cut and dry. Jon Stumm and I clean the hallways and entranceways (and such) of Augustine Hall twice a week.

That is how I pay (or try) to pay the bills. It would likely be more possible if I didn't have schoolwork or ministry stuff - oh the tension - ministry doesn't pay the bills, so i have to give attention to things that do.

Now you know.

Guess What I Did?

I posed this question to Natalie and after she heard the answer she said the question was phrased wrong for the answer. The answer is, I got stung. But she said that since the stinging was the action and I didn't do it then its not really what I did. So I guess a better answer would be, I stood there and allowed a bee to sting me. Which isn't really true either as I didn't know it was going to sting me until after it did.

Anyway. Yeah, I got stung and let me tell you, the system works. And by system I mean a year's worth of shots. I was putting a gas can back together and BAMN, something hurty was in and out of my left arm (why is it always lefty, poor lefty). I dropped the gas can nozzle and swore. The proceeding burning and pain led me to believe that I had not simply been attacked by a deer fly. The redness and raised bump without me even touching the area may have tipped me off too.

Fortunately my boss was close by to help me take a look at it tell me that I was allowed to take a Benadryl and go home. Which I did. My hands were shaking a little hard to maneuver the pill bottle, but it got done. I spent the afternoon in bed feeling funky and being nursed by Chelsea (thank you John for bringing her over). Things didn't turn out too bad. I was kinda out of it, my chest was kinda tight and I was kinda phlegmy. Lets just say I didn't feel good. But no trip to the hospital and no epi-pen. Though I'm not going to lie, I'd really have to be fighting for breath to take the epi-pen, because that stuff is crazy.

I had a good (if not drug induced) sleep. Which was nice as the other post-sting side effects were starting to kick in - the body itch and the joint pain and the headache. But I'm pretty ok this morning. Still tired and just not tip top. But praise the Lord, I survived. He still has plans for me.

Milestones, Not Just A Restaurant Any More

Guess what this is?



Yup. Who'd a thunk that way back in January of aught four I'd be making this milestone. 1000 pieces of narcissism up here on the world wide interweb for all to see.

For every post be assured that there is one other post that was brilliantly thought up while I was in the car, out for a walk, pretending to listen in class, etc, etc, that were forgotten before I could find a computer. Just imagine if I had been able to write all of those down too! Wow.

I had wanted to make this a much bigger deal - 'cause there is a special announcement coming down the tubes (toobs) but I just haven't had enough time to refine some of it, and I want it to be really special for you guys. So I'm compromising this milestone for what may prove to be an even bigger one.

I'd like to thank the many faithful readers all over the world. I'd especially like to thank people who comment. Its the commenters who keep me going on the tough days. You know who you are. Thank you.

I feel like I should leave you with a nice picture...hmmm Ok...I looked around. This is my favourite cupcake in the world. Sarah Moerman made it for me. It has blue icing because she made me blue icing. She made me pretty cupcakes with blue icing because she loves me. So this picture is not just a delicious cupcake, but it is also love.

Moving - An Epic Tale written and not embelished by L. Elizabeth St. Ewart

Once upon a time there was me. I moved to Hamilton in the fall of 2001. Even then it took more than one car to fit the stuff I was moving into my dorm. Six years and seven moves later there was more stuff, more back pain and an elevator. Thus setting the scene for terror, heroism, humour and good times.

Once the need to move came upon me I knew that I was your typical maiden in distress - you know, most maidens are in basketball shorts and a cut off t-shirt and can belch loud enough to set off car alarms. I knew I had too much stuff to move in a series of trips to my new place and I knew if I tried to move that much stuff I should just sign myself up for back surgery for the next week. So I put out an SOS...

The moving date was set for Wednesday evening. As I madly packed I wondered if my poor little SOS call would be responded to. What was poor little I to do? Poor little I should not of spent one minute fretting - heroes were on their way!

The first of the heroes to make their way down the stairs into the bunker was the American ambassador - Gayle Doornbos. With her smile as big as her muscles she lept into action and we started toting my belongings up the stairs and into her car. After a few loads we were met in the driveway by Mrs. Brittany Groen, a van and a bonus - her new husband! She had brought added and unexpected muscles! The combined power of Gayle and the Groens was awesome and one almost had to avert their eyes as not to be blinded by the sheer amazingness. Loads continued to be brought up, larger objects were sized up, seats removed from the van - the operation was starting to take shape.

Just when it looked like things couldn't get better, fresh from the Niagara orchards, Jill Hermansen came bounding in. With the addition of Jill the things were flying out of my apartment at a rate that would have made your head spin. And the leadership of these people! My goodness! The poor maiden didn't have to say a word, things just happened (I feel this is a result of the strong character building and reasoning skills that Redeemer University College provides its students)!

Cars and van were beginning to get fullish as fellow farmer's daughter, Sarah Moerman joined the party. With one more car and Sarah's sun-bronzed arms to help load it, things were really moving. I was able to take my bed apart and bag up the contents of my closet. The last bits of packing that I had thought I would have lots of time to do needed to be hustled as the movers were more than ready to receive the goods.

All of my belongings had been brought above-ground, but alack alas, it wouldn't all fit in the vehicles. Would one car have to come back for a second trip? Would I have to abandon things, leaving them in the driveway forever? Have a bonfire? What would become of us?

The answer to all questions is Felix Lam. He showed up with his mini-SUV (and Asian muscles) just in the nick of time. Well, we jumped all over that like keg party guests on a bouncy castle and all vehicles were filled to capacity - roofs with bicycles, head room filled with bed frames, boxes, bags, scooters....!

And thus the convoy began (we had a great big convoy). We were able to stay together through attacks from pygmies, tornado, flood, and stop lights. Once we arrived at my new castle the real fun began - the elevator.

Frank, the elevator was put in service - we all felt a rush of power, having the elevator reserved only for our use. Up and down, up and down - we filled Frank to capacity each time he came down and each time he'd hike my belongings up to the 7th floor. We were like ants to and from sugar - fill the elevator, ride it up, empty it go back down and get the load that was there waiting. Rinse, lather, repeat!

In just under three hours all had been taken from the basement apartment of one house and lovingly placed on the 7th floor of the new place. I was thrilled. My heroic and now very sweaty, muscular moving friends were even more thrilled, as with the end of the moving began the start of the party. Beers, juice, water and pop were pulled out as pizza was procured.

It was a beautiful scene to eat pizza and replenish fluids on the balcony, overlooking the escarpment, watching the sun set, with people who had just loved me in a really real way. I had a balcony full of Christ.

As the evening wore on, the movers trickled out. They'll be back - for suppers, balcony sitting, gatherings and general loving.

Thank you Gayle, Brit, Dave, Jill, Sarah and Felix. I couldn't have done this without you!