Getting Old

Friday night the girls gathered, we got ready, took the bus, and made our grand enterance at Moose n Goose for Country Night. Its the night where we arrive when the bus drops us off, and leave after the boots are drawn. Its been our tradition throughout our years at Brock- Friday night = Country night.

 

However, as our tradition remains the same, the individuals whom we 'share' country night have changed. Instead of dancing with older individuals, with an atmosphere that was fun and relaxed, and dancing for pure enjoyment rather then to 'slut it up'; the Moose has turned into the country hoe-down with young people that can't control themselves. Friday night alone I saw over 5 people fall down to the ground, more cha cha's then shown in an XXX rated video, and felt like I was being tossed around like chicken ready to be seasoned.

I normally come home from Country Night loving my life, feeling great, and knowing I just spent the last 5 hours with friends dancing and singing the night away. Friday night, not so much. Don't get me wrong, I had a blast with my friends, and did dance and sing the night away, but at the same time I came home disgusted at theses 'young folk'. Young folk who feel the need to dress with ALL of themselves hanging out, who drink to much and can't hold their own, or who feel the need to start fights in the bar.

 

I say young folk like I'm a 80 year old woman, but really I mean first years, the young folk of the University population. I know I'm still young, still have lots of life to learn and discover, lots of lessons to live, and experiences to share- but in 'University world', I'm old. In my 2nd year seminar, when I introduced myself and said I was in 4th year, I had a couple very big gasps, and one 'yikes, you're like a grown up' HAHA.

It's not often that I feel grown up- dude I kinda still live off my parents bank account- but Friday night I felt like my head was full of grey hairs, and I had aged 100 years. I live and breathe Country Night. I'm refusing to let this one bad experience shape how much I love this bar- rather I am letting the experience resonate with me and allowing it to bring on the question 'who am I?'.

  

Clearly Im no longer the first year student needing to drink myself silly, and fight on the dance floor. I'm not the girl that is all over the place and whose body parts are hanging out. I am a woman who want to have fun with friends. Who believes self respect, dignity, and class are more important then trying to win over the hearts dicks, of guys, and who understands each choice I make will have an outcome.

I am a woman who loves country music, good times with friends, and enjoys Friday nights with the girls at the Moose. I know I have a past, and it's made who I am today, but either way, I'm forgetting what I did in first year, or I'm getting old?

I think its probably most definitely not both.
I remember my past. I'm trying to erase it.
I think I'm just getting old.

Hump Day

It's that kind of day where you want to curl up in a ball and snuggle with a blanket. The kind of day you wish you could turn on a good movie and enjoy a cup of tea. The kind of day where its cold and grey outside and only thing getting you through the day is the sheer notion that its hump day! 

Hump day. The day in the week where I'm up early (thanks to my 8am class), but have the rest of the day free. It's the day where I challenge myself to get stuff done, so that my weekend can have a little more time of 'doing nothing', and less time 'doing something'. It's also the day that separates the beginning of the week, to the end of the week and its one day closer to Friday. 

Hump day is indeed a good day. You know what else is good? 

::Friends. The kind that come in all different shapes and sizes, ages and genders, interests and experiences and still gather together to enjoy a rockin pub crawl. I must say, we lookin fine.

:: Little surprises delivered right to your desk by one of your housemates :)

:: Laughter. Pure laughter. Sometimes even by yourself in a Dollarama aisle. While looking at Valentines Day decorations, I stepped back so a lady could get by and ran right into a ducks beak. I jumped a little and then burst into laughter. Seriously why are there so many of them, why are they so creepy and what are they used for? 

:: Tea. Served in the cutest little dishes at the most quaint downtown cafe. Adorable eh?

:: Cheering on the 49ers in the NFL playoffs! I was watching the game while sitting at my desk doing some homework, a beer cracked open and my (okay, Grants) jersey on. At amazing plays I would text or tweet my friend Jon so it felt like he was here. We didn't come out on top, but it was an awesome game!

:: This little girl. Smiles, laughter, deep blue eyes. Oh she's pretty awesome. 

:: Snow forts. JD and I built a snow fort on Saturday and I must say it's pretty cool. Using non-packing snow was a wee challenge, however with the help of shovels and a green bin we accomplished our goal.  

:: Journals...and finding them 4 years later. Why yes, exactly 4 years from this day (next month), I got accepted to Brock University! I share this with you now because next month I'll be returning from Dominican- the trip I'm taking to celebrate my University accomplishments! I remember the day as if were yesterday. I remember calling my Mom at work, crying in celebration, dancing around the living room with joy and celebration. It's hard to believe how fast theses years have gone, all the things I've learned and memories made! 

Well I'm off. Happy hump day to you, and you, and you.

GO LEAFS GO!

I'm not a spontaneous person. Not at all actually. I like to know what I'm doing ahead of time, my life is found in my agenda and if someone calls quickly to make plans I usually scramble and never know what decision to make. So this past Thursday was so out of my element, however had me flying on cloud nine all day long.

I woke up, the sun was shining and it was a beautiful Thursday morning. The Toronto Maple Leafs were playing that night and since I had the car that week I was determined to get myself to that game. I had never been to a game before, wasn't really sure of how I would get tickets- all I knew is I wanted to be there. After some searching on the Leaf's website, and then through ticket master, I found 2 tickets at $103 each. I scrambled to send out texts, update my facebook, tweet etc. to find someone to go with but there was no response. Should I buy $200 worth of tickets with no guarantee someone would go with me, or shouldn't I? Well with the timer quickly going down- I bought the tickets! Yes, may be crazy, but I had faith I would find someone to go with. After much searching my friend and co-worker Jon said he would come, and so we were off! Trust me. I was like a 4 year old child on Christmas morning. I couldn't contain myself. Even now as I'm typing this I can feel my heart racing and I'm jittery with excitement!

 

With our jersey's, tattoos, and Leaf apparel we found ourselves a $20 parking spot and were off to the ACC. We stopped at Union Station to grab a quick bite to eat, and made our way to the 3rd floor bar. I'm pretty sure my mouth was open the whole time. Just in awe at the venue, amount of people, and amount of TML spirit. I'm not sure if it was the atmosphere, or the cup, but our $9.00 beer tasted like pure gold!

  

We watched the warm-up and then made our way to our seats. Section 311, Row 4, Seats 9 and 10. I didn't even care that I was up in heaven nor that I wasn't centre ice, I was just happy I was there. I was at The Toronto Maple Leaf Game!

 

When the first goal was scored, 50 seconds into the first period, I flew from my seat like a rocket was coming out of my behind. The typical hands up in the air, jumping off the ground, screaming, dancing, high-fiving everyone around me; indeed, that was me. This behaviour continued each time we scored the game, had a power-play, or saved an amazing goal. Then, with 1 minute left of the game, Toronto winning 4-1, I did something I never thought I would do in my life (because its rude, un-sportsman like, and ignorant) I joined in the crowd and sang 'na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye'. Oh I felt awful, but dude, how could I not? WE WON!

 

                                 *epic fail on self portrait*  

4-1 and The Toronto Maple Leafs had beat Minnesota Wild. It was such a great game, I had a blast with Jon and we won! What more could I ask for? I guess all there's left to say is GO LEAFS GO! 

Feeling Proud!

I'm really not sure what's going on right now. It could be because most of my classes are okay, and so the ones I do enjoy, I enjoy with every ounce of my being. Maybe its because in approximately 3.5 months until I move back home, and I'm not really sure what to make of that. How about the fact that within this 2012 year so much is going to unfold and I'm flying free in trust. Whatever it is, I'm an emotional firework that explodes at the most random moments.

Today it was during class, and then later at home when describing the class to Steph and Amanda. Learning disabilities. In particular, reading disabilities. Yes you may remember it happening last semester (which can be found right here) but today is was more real. Real in a sense that our whole conversation was regarding students not succeeding. Students falling behind. Dropping out. No motivation. That without the support of teachers, educators, and families, so many children do not continue with education. I beat those stats. In 11 months from now I will graduate from University. I will graduate with a degree. Something that so many individuals with reading difficulties don't do- I will beat those odds.

I guess I'm just really freaking proud of myself. Although my marks range from 92-58,  I may stumble when reading from a text book, or confuse my words around. I may say the wrong word thinking it means something else, and my vocab, spelling and grammar may not be to par- I am doing it! I am finishing off this University degree with a home run and will have my trophy proudly displayed for the world to see.

Yep. 11 months from now. I will be Hillary MacDonald B.A.
Nice to meet you :)

Cuba 2012

The trip we've all been talking about. The trip that we never thought would ever happen. Well it did. 13 of my family piled on a plane and flew to Cuba to celebrate the New Year off right. There's been discussion about this trip for a number of years, but never in my wildest dreams did I think it would unfold. Boy am I ever so thankful it did.

 

 

(Mom 'sad' because she had to stay home)

I didn't realize I needed to get away so badly until I was there. Why yes, Christmas was busy. Heck the month of December was a rat screw, but I just kept chugging along and pretended I was the energizing bunny. I rallied because I had to, its what you do- however sometimes theres only so much juice left in the battery and your ships about to sink. That was me. My fuel was running low and I was on a downhill spin to crash. Thankfully right before the landing Cuba arrived and made it's rescue. A week of family, sun, rest, relaxation and nothing to worry about expect me, myself, and I. Oh it was glorious!!!

  

The first two days were on and off clouds and windy, however we still sat by the pool and pretended it was blazing hot. Although it was chilly, it wasn't as near cold as Canada and all the snow they received the day we left. Instead of gathering wrapped in a quilt in front of a fire, with hot chocolate in our hands, we gathered by the pool, wrapped in towels and cover-ups and waited for the sun to keep us warm. Even though it wasn't super sunny, it gave us lots of time to be as a family, to enjoy the tasks of doing nothing, and spend time reading and settling in.

  

The third day it rained all day, but thankfully that was the day our family boogied off to Havana with our private tour guide where it was sunny, blue skies and warm. The day was fabulous. We were picked up in a mini bus and spent the whole day touring the capital of Cuba, Havana. Our tour guide knew his stuff and although it was a 2hr ride into the city, it flew by with all the information we were learning. As we were driving I found it so fascinating to see the difference in the lifestyles and especially neat to hear about how their community operates. We made some stops before we had a walking tour of Old Havana which allowed us to see the city from a distance, and cigars being made right in front of our eyes. The bus then dropped us off and we took a good long walking tour of Old Havana. Stunning. The city has so much character and culture wrapped in the buildings, people, and lifestyle. With lunch. A bus tour of New Havana and stop at the market we were on our way back to the resort.

 

   

The rest of the week went as such: wake up, get ready, reserve our seats for the day, breakfast with Aunt Nida, go back to the seats, enjoy the sun, read, tan, drink, eat, swim and repeat. After 'a days work' we'd go back to our rooms for a little siesta before getting ready for dinner and night activities. In the evenings we ate dinner together, hung out by the bar, enjoyed the shows, and hung out as a family.

   

I must say it was glorious. Whomever invented all-inclusive resorts was genius. The idea of having a week off- no cooking, cleaning, internet, or laundry- not worrying about anything expect me, myself, and I. It was fabulous. So greatly needed. So greatly appreciated.

 

 

I tried so hard to make note of every little detail, to enjoy the small thing, to absorb this holiday like a sponge. So here are some favourite memories of the trip:

*Enjoying breakfast with my Aunt Nida. Woman to Woman, Aunt to Niece, Niece to Aunt. We sat in the 'breakfast nook' every morning, always tried the fresh squeezed juices and enjoyed time as just the two of us

 

*Watching the girls swim up to the bar and order drinks like they were 19 years old and civilized adults. I think we went through our fair share of pina coladas, strawberry daiquiri, or miami vice.

*Walking up and down the beach collecting sea shells and enjoying the peaceful sound of the ocean

  

*Evenings spent outside, tables pushed together, listening to the entertainment and playing Monopoly Deal. Seriously I am so addicted and love the fact that my family is hooked too.

*Trip to Havana. Nothing more to say. So much culture, learning, growth and experiences wrapped up in that one day. I must say the waiting for churros, bathroom adventures and kids outside the market were all pretty humorous.

 

*Swimming in the ocean with just about everyone. The water was so clear, waves calm and sun shinning. It was perfect

*Gathered around the corner of the bar with Dad, watching drinks being made and enjoying time with Pablo, Carlos and Marilyn- the amazing bartenders.

 

*Seeing the smile on William's face as he described the luxury of ordering room service. Why you ask? Because he could.

*Volleyball with the crew. I'm actually not sure we should call it volleyball. It was more like throwing a ball around with a net getting in our way. Moral of the story: You'll never find a Mac/Mc/Get Family Team in the Olympics. We suck. Fine I suck.

And my least favourite part, the fact that Mom, Rob and family weren't with us.

 

But my favourite was that everyone else was.

I am so fortunate to have such an amazing family, to be able to spend a week away in the sun and enjoy every minute that I was there. I loved hearing sayings such as 'oh this is so nice', or 'lets do this again!' So to Mom and Dad- THANK YOU! Trip was amazing. Everything I could have asked for and more. Love you xo