Ow. Owowowowow.

I don't often talk about it, because generally, I deal with it fine. My body is pretty messed up - all my joints are too loose which means that I have been known, on occasion to fall apart. A few weeks in Mexico, I slept badly. Normally, whatever- I'd been snorkling and laying around in hammocks all day and really - who am I to complain? As a result of my sleeping badly, I was pretty worried this time- I couldn't breathe, and ir hurt to lay down. I went to see boy's step-dad, a chiropractor and... long story short, I managed to twist two ribs, bruise both my diaphram and sternum. He treated me Sunday, Monday, and I have to go back Friday. I'd like to emphasize that this was from sleeping. At any rate, it hurts to breathe, let alone laugh. Being me, not only can I not stop breathing, but finding this hilarious, I can't stop laughing. Because you know. Constant pain is hilarious?

Anyways, amid the pain, I somehow dragged myself out of bed this morning to make it to my 9am class, and managed to (while forgetting to eat) make it to my 2pm class too. I loved them both. 100%. The one is a seminar on 4th world archiving, and the other is basically Information and Culture. Both profs are ones I think are fantastic, the class sizes are small, and the subject matter is fascinating. This seems to be shaping up to be a wonderful semester - I love where the degree is going, and I love where I think I can take it. I'm... more settled then I've been in a while. I think 2010 is gonna be a good year. Now all I gotta do is figure out what goes on the chalkboard wall.

Felix.

This past sunday we had to put my cat Felix down. He was 15 years old and was... an amazing cat. There are good cats, and amazing cats, and Felix was one of the amazing ones. Losing a pet is always hard, but this time... I don't know. I want to say it was harder, but I don't know how it can be easy. Fee was born in my mom's bedroom, an accident between our two cats before we could get them neutered.
We adopted him out to our eye doctor, who abused him and his brother. We took them back, and through my tears, mom agreed to keep Fee for good. He didn't trust humans for years. He had his moments, he would sometimes jump on your lap, or lay beside you, most often behind you on a couch. He was an outdoor cat, a hunter, catching rabbits and raccoons bigger then he was, and coming out of them without a scratch.About 4 years ago he started to get closer, wanting to sit on your lap and be close, and finally when mom moved into a condo he started to really... be our cat. He wanted to sit on our laps. When I would house sit, he would cuddle up beside me, instead of just sleeping at the foot of the bed. Same with mom, he would sleep pressed up against her side.About a month ago, he started getting lethargic. 3 weeks ago we took him to the vet for being lethargic, and a small lump on his lip. This sunday, we took him to an emergency visit at our vet, to put him down because the cancer progressed so fast. Mom and I were in Mexico the week before, and my boyfriend had to take him to the vet, where we were informed they could keep him alive till we got home, but it would be a fight. We did that, and had 5 days with him when we returned home, before we couldn't put him through anything else. The saddest thing I've seen was seeing our cat Sullivan curl up beside Fee's body after we put him down, licking him one last time.
RIP Felix. You were one in a million.

Feliz Navidad

For Christmas, I went to Mexico with my mom

It rained, so I did a lot of this. It was actually pretty awesome.


I also did a lot of this when it wasn't raining. That's my mom and her sun-cape. What's ridiculous, is she had that and SPF 60, and came back more tanned then I am.


We went to Tulum and Coba, This was Tulum.


The Flowers were GORGEOUS.

I'm done!

I've finished the first semester of my Masters, and it feels GOOD. We had our last group project presentation today, and I handed in my 1300 take home. Which is AWESOME.

We finally got a menorah to go along with our tree.

I am 100% ready for a month off, a week of that which will be in Mexico.


But while I'm here, I love this city, even without snow, and when it's freezing.

Oh Christmas Tree.

I love Christmas. So much. I was raised pretty solidly worship at the altar of Santa, and to this day Christmas is about that. Hanukkah is about family, and togetherness, and meaning. Christmas is about family, togetherness, and presents. I love it. Having a tree, presents, seeing how thrilled kids are that Santa's come.


This was our tree.Look at this Tiny... cookie-man?
Oh! Hello Santa.And now this is our tree.

Pépé.

Pépé is 98, turning 99 in February. He has a nicer webcam then I do, and msn's with his son-in law every night. He speaks 4 languages, is a photographer, and edits his pictures on the computer. He feels it's much better then how he used to have to edit them.

Chalk is fun.

The bear you see is named Bearable. When I was a kid, my dad's job was bringing adopted children home. One year, at Christmas, we didn't think he'd make it home. He dropped the baby off in Dallas, Texas, and the family gave him this bear so he wouldn't have to spend the holidays alone, and so it would be bearable to him. He made it home.

Alpaca Monday

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie/ In Flanders fields.

I don't quite know what to say about Remembrance Day. It's a day of silence, reflection, respect and honour. My grandfather on my dad's side was in the Merchant Marines and the Legion was a huge part of his life - every Friday and Saturday was spent there. My mom's side lost everything in the war - their family, their homes and part of their souls. I remember my aunt Fanya showing me the numbers tattooed on her arm, and I remember her scaring me when she told me that I could never forget. I have several very dear friends who are in the army currently, one of whom has been on several tours of Afghanistan and I fully admit that even though we've lost touch I'm terrified every time I hear of another soldier dieing.

I don't care if you support the war, but you support the people who fought/fight/will fight/died in and lived through it.

These people are the heroes. They deserve our respect.

Georgian Bay

A few weeks ago Dad and I decided to take our annual trip a little bit north to see the leaves. And apparently a waterfall. And to steal apples - a yearly tradition. Why should road side fruit trees go to waste? And then Beau got attacked by a goat. Seriously. I have never seen an animal go after someone so vehemently.