Almost there!

Wow.... 7 days left! Holy cow! Well I made it home back to Medicine Hat. I drove 31 hours or so to get from KW to Medicine Hat from Tuesday April 14 to Thursday April16, oicked my father up and drove another 13 hours to Vancouver on Friday April 17. My cousin Jeff got married on Saturday the 18th and then Dad and I spent Sunday and Monday in Vancouver visiting people and going to our favourite places. We drove back to Medicine Hat on Tuesday April 21. So that puts me at about 5000kms in a week! UGH! Since I have been home I have managed to get quite a bit accomplished and I have seen heaps of friends and got to Calgary for a bit of shopping.

As of Friday May 1 I will no longer have a phone!! Oh my LORD ABOVE! It will be like someone chopping off my left hand I think....haha. No texts (much to Derek's happiness, I cost him $500 in texts and phone calls-oops) no calls.. nothing. So, that being said, if you need to get a hold of me, you can call me at my father's house (message me if you need the number) but he doesn't have an answer phone so could be tricky. Your best bet will be to try and find me online. But even that won't last... last day online will be May 5 then nothing until I can get to a computer once I am there.

I still have quite a bit to do, but I'm starting to warm up to the idea of leaving for the summer. I know it will be a kick ass time and I will be so happy once I am there, but as all the other people going with me, I am saddened by all the things I will be missing out on this summer. My apologies to Steve and Bridget for missing their wedding in July, and to some of my friends whose 30th b-days happen while I am gone...totally sucks.

Right now I am watching Willy Wonka with my neice Rebekkah. We are watching the original cuz I like it better. I now know why people have kids... it's so you can actually indulge yourself in all the things you want to do but think too childish so you blame it on your kids. LOL. I think it's a great idea!!

Loads of things left to do, so I best get onto them. Thanks for reading my blog... didn't think anyone really was.. but it's nice to know that you are.

Hugs n stuff

Seen on a sign

Thanks Chay!!
"Don't be afraid to ask for help. Being a good friend makes both people better."
:o)

40 Tips for a Better Life

Big thanks to Wendy Venables for sending me this! Love you Mama Bear!

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.

3. Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep.

4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to__________ today.'

5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

6. Play more games and read more books than you did in 2008.

7. Make time to practice meditation and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.

8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of six.

9. Dream more while you are awake.

10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants. Eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.

14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, or issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the NEGATIVE BLUES away.

18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

26. Forgive everyone for everything.

27. What other people think of you is none of your business.

28. REMEMBER GOD heals everything.

29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

30. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

31. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

33. The best is yet to come.

34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

35. Do the right thing!

36. Call your family often. (Or email them to death!!!)

37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for__________. Today I accomplished _________.

38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.

40. Share this with everyone you care about. I just did.

May your troubles be less, May your blessings be more, May nothing but happiness come through your door!

Almost home

WOW! I am now in Minot, North Dakota. I have a serious hate on for this state... last summer when I was moving to KW I did this drive and there wasn't a single hotel room in the entire state (not even a by-the-hour- kind). I ended up driving for almost 20 hours that day to get myself into Fargo before I could get a hotel. UGH. This time, North Dakota is flooded! I was so pissed when I saw that my road was closed due to flooding and it was raining! I had a mini panic but found a gas station and the lady there told me I could take a different route and still get onto the interstate I needed. YAY! So I started driving and once I saw the destruction that this flood has caused, I felt really really crappy for getting all bent about the extra hour and a half added to my drive. I took some pics but will have to wait till tomorrow when I get home to upload them from my camera. Terrible.

Yesterday's drive was nice although it rained during the entire time. I didn't stop at the pink pretty mall this time (haha- Mall of America). Today was gorgeous until the flood. So here's to getting back into the land of the Canuck tomorrow. Then I will have an overnight at home with Dad and then he and I are off to Vancouver for my cousin Jeff's wedding Saturday. That drive is about 14-15hours so that will make almost 4 full days of driving for me. Dad and I will be back in the Hat on Tuesday night (the 22nd??) then I am home until May 6th. YAY

My flight schedule has changed a bit to incorporate the extension from Calgary to Toronto. So here it is, my itinerary (all local times)

Wednesday, May 6
Leaving Calgary: 1010am
Arriving Toronto: 350pm

Thursday May 7
Leaving Toronto: 615am
Arriving Miami: 925am

Leaving Miami: 1040am
Arriving Tegucigalpa: 1100am

RETURNING:

Thursday August 6

Tegucigalpa to Miami: 1215pm to 435pm
Miami to Toronto: 820pm to 1130pm

Friday August 7
Toronto to Calgary: 700am to 910am

Countdown is on!

Buenos verdanos!

MAY 7 2009 !!!!!

Wow, this is all starting to feel so real!

*deep breath*
Things are coming together quite nicely and I can't believe that it is all happening so quickly now; it's like someone pushed the overdrive button and bam- it is now mid April and I am leaving for home in 5 days! Still no flight date yet, but I'm not too worried about that yet. I missed an email sent to us from Joe, the guy buying our tickets, and he said that I was to check all my info and passport number and get back to him and I never did as I didn't receive the email. So I hope that there isn't any issues... it would be so typical if there was an issue now that I am leaving.
I have emailed some alumni and students going with me and I got some lovely responses and advice. Thanks so much to Lihn, Emily, Alex and Kristen (who will be going with me). You have been a fountain of info that really helped make this sound a bit more real.
I'll add more later today. Just wanted to say thanks.

Catching up!

Well I don't have my exact flight date yet, but I do know that I will be leaving for Honduras sometime in the first week of May. I am hoping against hope that they will let me leave from Calgary instead of Saskatoon but there is a group of kids going from St Thomas University in Saskatoon I believe. Once I know when I fly I will be sure to post it! It's hard trying to make plans with people when I don't know when I leave. I will be leaving KW (Kitchener/Waterloo) Tuesday, April 14th and it should take me roughly 3 days to get back to Medicine Hat. This is my planned route. Once I get home (around the 16th) I pick up Dad and head to Vancouver (another 15hours) for my cousin, Jeff's wedding. :o) Finally some happy in my family's tragic tale of late. Then back to the Hat for the 22nd and hang out there till I fly. 4 days in the car then 2 off then another 15hours back. YUCK! Good thing I like driving.

I am thinking about having a get together at my house to see everyone before I take off, but it is yet to be determined. Should probably ask the Dad before I throw a party- again. Although he should be used to this by now... me coming home usually means booze food and loads of people. HELL YEAH!!

So... it would seem as though all my ducks are in order now. My passport is set, my shots are done (one set left once I get home) and I am working on finding everything on my packing list. If you can help me out with left overs, please let me know. Gonna try and see if I can add a To Do list to this blog thing.



THANK YOU to all the people who donated money to my fundraiser. I managed to get my $2000 in time! You guys ROCK!! CHEERS!

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Honduras Power Point Presentation

Honduras Power Point

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New Blog

So it's taken forever, but with Ruby's help I have managed to re do my blog and update everything and now I am a happy bunny again. I haven't imported all my previous entries because I didn't want any negativity on this new one but there are some old ones here. This is going to be a fun and light story detailing my adventures on this exciting trip.
I will most definitely be writing according to how I feel at the time and rest assured that my spunky sense of humor shall remain. This is now about me and not a school project and I am excited to share this with you.
So for all of you who have followed me this far, thanks for staying with me. For all new friends on board, welcome and enjoy.
:o)