transitions to the unfamiliar world of tomorrow

we wrapped at 8.45pm tonight. i left work tonight, and it was dark outside. summer is nearing the end of its reign here in Toronto.

the CNE is in town - usually the moment that pops up, you realize that yet another summer has flown by. where did this summer go? it was very busy and amazing - which makes it harder to see it go.

so, it's been a great deal of time since I last blogged. Don't worry - i haven't forgotten about my blog. Life's just been very busy for me lately - and i've been spending a lot of time just pondering about events and moments instead of writing about them. they remain logged and may surface this weekend.

i feel that with every blink, a new transition in my life is exposed. the whirlwind of a moment that we are given to exist and i feel as though it is slipping away so quickly. i'm playing catch up to the moments that don't want to wait for me to understand. it's been a very interesting month.

we had living room last night and it was amazing. Rachel is back from her semester abroad + travels. Tom & Bethany are leaving us to pursue their degrees in both Halifax & Ottawa respectively. It was amazing to almost all be together. I can't express how blessed I feel to know this amazing group of people. and last night, spending it with them, was one of those moments that you want to hold close forever. i absolutely love each and every one of them. we welcome back one, and wish two others adieu for the moment. a new transition. they will be missed. can i tell you that we played 'suchige sa pa poe' (spelling?) together - and it was hilarious (thank you Katherine for teaching this hilarious game at Freek Out). the night ended with a inpromtu roadtrip to Grimsby to bring Rachel safely back to her humble abode. Completing full circle - Operation Hahnus Abductus - with great success. thanks to Daniel's clever kidnapping skills.

transition: preparing for my return - seemingly funny, since i'm not gone yet. my GICs will be opened in the very near future. i tracked my package today - and it arrived safely this morning at my financial investment institute. it's difficult to see your bank account drop dramatically. i guess my dad's investment talents have motivated me to be more prepared - it must have something to do with how i was raised. we're all really good with money, and i'm very grateful that my parents instilled a financial understanding in us at a young age.

i think i was six or seven years old when i realized that my absolute favoritest stuffed animal, Saddoggy (a mutated plush panda bear), was on his 'last leg' (he's still around to this day - what a trooper). I was devastated. my parents would talk to me about preparing for that day to come. i had to find (purchase) a replacement panda bear. i honestly think this is where my ability to save kicked in. i saved up all this money (from birthdays and just general nickel collecting) and bought a new plush panda bear to have on standby for when Saddoggy bit the dust. i remember my parents being really proud about how i had saved up the money on my own and purchased it on my own. they prepared us at a young age to understand the reward of being wise with your earnings.

all this to say, that a large fraction of my money has left me to become GICs that will blossom here in Canada while I travel abroad. their sole purpose (thus far) is to grow until I return. That way, when i come home from however long i plan to travel for, i will not start off from scratch. i'll be able to get settled in comfortably as the next chapter of my life will begin.

it's just scary thinking about it though. planning for the future is very important, and when you begin working full time after University, it becomes a huge part of your financial planning & management.

when I was driving home, I couldn't stop thinking about the future. travelling eastbound on the Gardiner, before it splits off to the DVP, i was imagining that I was on the Lion's Gate Bridge in Vancouver. It was solid darkness all around me, so it was easy to imagine. and you know what, it felt right. i'm excited for when that chapter meets my moment and i am living that part of my dream.

transition - removing the bad in my life. television & bad food. out, out, out. I'm actually amazed at how well parts of this transition are going for me. Ever since we began buying the Tropicana Orchard Style Apple Juice at my work, i've stopped drinking pop all together (again). And i feel great. i'm now even drinking water a bit more. honestly - i usually just drink juice and maybe power drinks (powerade/gatorade). So the addition to water is a very big step for me.

I'm not doing as well on the sugar/bad foods just yet. But there is a lot of hope. the problem i see is that when my eating is thrown off, i turn to snacking. and when you're at work and there is nothing to do, snacking gets worse. My eating habits are always thrown for a loop when i work on a show. I have to really focus on this problem and work hard at it. the week before our camping trip, i avoided all sugar and i felt great at the end of the week. i'm attempting to go at it again. mind you, i will not promise to stay away from sugar all together - as i have a great appreciation for milkshakes and good ol' corner store gummie candies.

i'm rocking it on the television factor. I will be moving in under two weeks - and i pray that we don't cave and get cable (mind you, i will miss the movies on TBS). i like the idea of avoiding the life-sucking box (except to watch movies for real). i have lost too much time in a trance in front of this terrible thing. I really only watch two shows right now, Treasure Hunters and The Hills. Mind you - i have missed the last two weeks of both shows. i will still watch the Amazing Race and probably even Survivor. and i will miss the MTV shows that i have grown to enjoy (shame on me). and i will most definitely miss watching all the reruns of Saved by the Bell, that i must have seen at least 10 times over the last 8 months.

transition - life in general. where do you start explaining all the things that seem to be renewing themselves in your life. you can't really. a lot of things are changing. i'm moving in under 2 weeks and i'm very excited about this new beginning. moving is hard but change is good. Naturally, Sadie will soon come to an end - and who knows what other show I might attach myself to. we're all still praying that Glimmer gets picked up - as it would mean steady work for several months for a good deal of people. with the summer months coming to an end, so to are the summer activities. i hope that we are still able to sneak in that last camping trip up at Tobermory before the end of September. there is so much more that is weighing on my heart - but now's not the time to delve into all the details.

Yeah. so that's me right now. There is a lot of newness around me.

plethora of things...i think softball might get rained out tomorrow. (sad) my parents are in town this weekend. i'm going to look at beds at ikea this weekend. i might even buy a digital camera (finally) - have been eyeing the Canon Power Shot SD700 IS. after i'm moved into my apartment, i head off to MEC to buy my backpack (it's all coming together soooo nicely). test results should be in by next wednesday. nervous, scared and anxious about that. rollerblading around the office at work tonight was fun. my toaster allegedly jumped off of the dehumidifier the other morning - ending with a loud thud and a very confused me. there is no real explanation for this. my box fortress is growing by the day.

nothing but smiles, even through the rain.