Bonne Fete

I phoned home this morning to talk to the dog because yesterday was Jenny's tenth birthday. Unfortunately, she lives outside, and was unable to come to the phone. But I'm sure my Mom will tell her happy birthday from me.

She actually bought the dog special birthday jerky treats. My Mom never buys the dog treats. Sheesh, she barely even buys me treats, and she gets some for the dog?!?!?

My Favourite Element

When I was in high school, I was a bit of a geek, and I took all three science classes (i.e. Chemistry, Physics, and Biology).

I took Chemistry and Physics becaue Mr. Verbowski taught them and he was the coolest. We always called him "Ernie" when he wasn’t around. My friend Jessica, another teacher's daughter, once accidentally called him Ernie to his face and we all almost died...

I used to come into class every day and ask Mr. Verbowski if I could make a bomb, and he would laugh every time (because it really was the most ridiculous notion thinking of me making a bomb).

Unfortunately Mr. Verbowski didn’t teach Biology, Ms. Mackenzie did, but she always had donut and cake days and brought the whole class donuts or Sara Lee cakes, so that was enough of an incentive to sit through two years of Bio and dissect worms and frogs and sheep eyeballs (even though they all made me nauseous). Luckily, donut and cake days were never the same days as dissection days.

Something about Mr. Verbowski made Physics the funnest class in the world, and I loved it. I would have taken Physics in university if he had taught it. I would have been a physicist if he would have been my boss. But, in grade 12 we got a new Physics and Chemistry teacher.

Physics just wasn't as fun any more. It was horrific. Learning in that class sucked. I dropped the class early in February (it started in the third week of January). I didn't tell my parents for a week.

It was the most rebellious thing I ever did.


Ode to my favourite element, from The Most Beautiful Periodic Table of Elements in The World, link via Que Sera Sera.

Stench-o-Rama

michelle says:
the guy that just came in and sat at the computer beside me smells like onions
it's gross

Holly says:
that is gross

Holly says:
maybe he works in the cafeteria

michelle says:
i don't know, even this is worse than caf smell

Holly says:
wierd

Holly says:
how do you end up smelling that bad

michelle says:
cooking onions

Holly says:
still

michelle says:
yeah, it's nast

Holly says:
oh well, i should go and find somthing to eat for dinner or somthing

michelle says:
okay, don't have onions though

Holly says:
i won't onions are gross

michelle says:
so is hummus

Holly says:
no hummus is good

Holly says:
bye

michelle says:
byeeee

Midnight Discourse

Jodi: I really really like sleeping.

Michelle: More than cheese?

Jodi: Yes.

Michelle: More than pancakes?

Jodi: Yes.

Michelle: More than chicken burgers?

Jodi: Yes.

Michelle: More than puppets?

Jodi: No.

These are A Few of My Favourite Things

Coming back from my Gramma's house the other day on the bus, there was nothing I wanted more than to lie down on our couch and listen to John Mayer* and drink something tasty.

Something like peppermint tea or some milk chocolate Swiss Miss. Except we don't have Swiss Miss in Canada, and I only have one packet left in my cupboard. And I'm saving that for a very special day. Or a very crummy day. I'll know which when that day happens.

There are a few beautiful things in life. Actually many beautiful things. Walking at night and gazing up at a seemingly endless expanse of sky. Bike riding in the summer. Taking photographs. Laughing with your grandmother. Dreaming of future things. Talking for hours with someone, or being perfectly comfortable for the same amount of time with them sitting in silence. Graduation. Worship. Understanding something new. Having hope. Trusting. Letting go.

*except my roommates have something against John Mayer... this is an enigma to me.

Dive In

"Michelle, the price of a new bathing suit should be no object when the one you've got is purple plaid."
- Jodi

General Announcement

I'd just like to let you all know that it's -54 Celcius out, or for you Americans, -65.2 Fahrenheit.

I have never been this cold in my entire life. If you have, let me know, I'll send you a prize.

Email Exchange

From: Seminary Secretary Lady Kristin
To: Michelle Johnston
Subject: Graduation Information

Graduation is approaching and I have started planning for the event.
However, the following information is missing from your grad application and
I will need it in order to continue with the preparations.

* Your hat size or forehead circumference

I would like to request that you send me this information by January 23rd.
If you have any questions, please let me know.

Thank you!

Kristin

---------------------

From: Michelle Johnston
To: Seminary Secretary Lady Kristin
Subject: Graduation Information

Hi Kristin,

I was not here last week so I did not get the email you sent in time to respond by January 23rd. However, since you said to let you know if I have any questions, I do have a question.

In regards to head sizes on grad applications, whenever you graduate from college they just have a huge boxful of hats at the graduation rehersal and you just grab one out of the box, yet you have to put your head circumference on your grad form every year. I do not know if seminary graduates get their hat from the same box o' hats, but if they do, then what is the point of us all measuring our heads?

This has plagued me for many years, as I graduated from college twice and had to go and see the College Secretary Lady Verna twice to get my head measured. I think it wastes a lot of time to measure everyone's heads.

Thanks,
Michelle

Extended Leave

So, I'm back. Did you notice I was gone? For a week. Without the internet. It is possible! ;)

Thank you for keeping the comments active. :)

No, I wasn't in New York trying out for American Idol. I was in Manitoba unexpectedly visiting my Gramma for a week. It was awesome.

And I'm back. I'll be around. See you then.

FLying

So every day I pass by this old grey 1947 (I think) Cadillac with a cool hood ornament. I seriously think it's one of the coolest things of all time.

Materially speaking, I mean. If I didn't have any moral values or convictions I would be tempted to get a screwdriver and lift it off of there. But I think you always get found out in the end.

I stole twice. Both times were in kindergarten. The first time was during Show and Tell day... Kara Seal's beaded doll made out of safety pins "accidentally" fell into my bag out of her bag on the bag shelf and then my Mom phoned her mom that night in case they were concerned that it had been lost. The second time was when I was in the morning kindergarten class and there was also an afternoon kindergarten class and Laureena Laliberte from the afternoon class had forgotten her purse and I told the teacher it was mine.

I made up an elaborate scheme and told my Mom that I found it by the fence by our house. At the time we were living on a farm with three other houses, and so it wouldn't take much to figure out whose purse it actually was if it indeed was left there under legitimate circumstances, but my 6-year-old mind didn't think of that. Thus, I was forced by my mother to go and ask all the other kids if it was their's. Of course it wasn't, and I got to keep the purse, but I think my mother was probably very perplexed.

A couple of years later in grade three my guilty conscience was getting to me and I traded the purse to Angeline St. Germain. Loreena Liberte found out.

50 (More) Things

I thought maybe it was time for a new one of these since my 100 Things is over a year old.

1. I am 5'5".
2. I would like to be one inch taller. That would be perfect.
3. In school, my shoe size was always the same as my grade. Until grade 9, I only made it up to a size 8 foot.
4. My favourite colour as a child was mint green.
5. I really don't like mint green any more. I had mint green overdose I think.
6. I grew up mostly on cattle farms.
7. I was born in Saskatchewan.
8. My mom's from Manitoba.
9. My dad is from British Columbia.
10. I've lived in four provinces, 1 territory, and two states (Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta, Ontario, the Yukon, Maine, and Illinois).
11. I won two major writing contests in grade 6. I haven't really entered any since.
12. I love biking. Something about being able to go anywhere you want to with the wind in your hair.
13. I still bite my nails. It's a hard habit to quit.
14. I went to art college. I was a painting and fiber arts (weaving) major.
15. I usually don't tell people about the weaving part.
16. I once met another girl who had exactly the same birthday as me, her name was Michelle. I know this guy who has exactly the same birthday as me. His name is Steve.
17. If my name wasn't Michelle, it would have been Penelope.
18. I have brown hair.
19. I was switched shortly after birth.
20. They figured it out though, because the other baby was a boy.
21. I've never gotten a mark lower than a B since starting my graduate studies.
22. My parents gave all their children two middle names. Mine mean "grace" and "peace." They didn't do that intentionally.
23. I sang the part of first soprano in the Christmas musical this year.
24. When I was in high school I had over 100 pen pals.
25. I think the first concert I ever went to was a band called Hokus Pick.
26. There is a lily named after me.
27. When I was younger my parents raised tropical birds.
28. I am now allergic to bird dust and feathers.
29. I am 25.
30. When other people tell me they're 25, I think they're old.
31. I got my first CD player in 1999. I still have it.
32. I got my first stereo in 1990 for my 12th birthday. I still have it. I plug my discman into it. Cool, huh? ;)
33. I like doing laundry.
34. I always know where everything is.
35. I don't really like chocolate chip cookies. I think I'm the only one.
36. I'm also the only person who doesn't like U2.
37. I love wheatfields and the night sky.
38. I pretty much always wear lavendar perfume.
39. People always tell me I'm funny. I tend to concur with this statement, but I think that's tacky.
40. I love mail. I love sending mail. I think the post is a generally all-round good thing.
41. April 24, 2004 will be my last graduation ever…maybe. I have an A.A. and a B.A. I'll be getting an M.A.
42. I currently have no plans for further formal education. Seven years is enough!
43. I was of the Class of '96.
44. My best friend in kindergarten was Rhea Yacyshyn. We still talk every once in awhile.
45. I had an elaborate plan to run away when I was about 10 years old. I was going to go to my Gramma's 800km away.
46. I really really really didn't like my full-time babysitter when I was 2. I was very glad when my mom got pregnant again and stayed home!
47. I like big city shopping but houses in the country.
48. I like snowflakes but not the cold that comes with them.
49. I like meat.
50. I love taking photographs.

In Memoriam

I sometimes think it's interesting what information we carry around in our brains and can retrieve years later should we be triggered to the memory somehow. Things like my first college roommate's sister's name.

Bonne Fete!

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Carly,
Happy Birthday to you!

Twenty years old,
Twenty years old,
Our little birthday girl's twenty year's old
Growin' like a tall tree,
Eatin' lots of dirt,
Our little birthday girl's twenty years old!

2004 (so far)

Seabiscuit
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
How to Deal
Freaky Friday

I like watching movies. I notice all the little details and themes usually. I tend to think too much while I'm watching them. However, I don't think I'm very good at reviewing them.

Seabiscuit came highly recommended. I kept hearing about what a fabulous movie it was. I watched it at home with my parents and my little brother. My mom fell asleep after the first half hour. Overalll, we all thought it was a pretty boring movie. We kept thinking it was going to end. It didn't for a very very long time.

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. I had seen this one before, once last summer. I remember it being slightly funny. It's an okay-ish movie. My roomdawg Jodi bought it last week. We watched it this past weekend. My favourite character was when the girl's friend "Michelle" is the fake psychologist.

How to Deal. Jodi wanted to rent a "chick flick"/non-thinking/non-boy-type movie. This was out. I had seen it in the theatre last summer and thought it fit the bill. We invited a couple of other girls to come and watch it. Jodi hated it but thought it fit the bill. When I saw it in the theatre I was currently in the midst of emotional turmoil, and so it didn't really help my outlook on life. I did however, find the main character's way of dealing with life pretty interesting and reflective somewhat of the millenial mindset. The day after we rented and watched the movie I let my youth ministry mind get the best of me and watched the movie with the commentary (I was scrapbooking and had nothing better to do) which was interesting. I had never watched a whole movie with the commentary turned on. This one didn't have too many interesting tidbits, it was much more conversational (it was Mandy Moore, her best friend from the movie, and the director commenting), and the sound of the movie was turned off. Then after I watched all that I watched all the other features that were on the DVD. There was a little documentary thing on the history of young adult literature that was kind of interesting and brought back memories of my Sweet Valley Twins and Baby-Sitter's Club days, but it wasn't that well made.

Freaky Friday I watched last night as part of the campus "Chick Flick Night" hosted by the local women's ministry group. Women on campus volunteered in groups of two to show a "chick flick" in one of their homes to a group of college students. Some of my friends signed up and I ended up going with them. It actually turned out to be pretty fun. The two ladies who hosted it got creative and got us Chinese food snacks, which went with the movie, and I thought that was cool. Anyways, the movie for the most part was pretty funny. I would watch it again. It wasn't really deep, but did have some realistic things to say about parent/teen relationships. Somewhat.

I think this post makes me sound like a teenager.

6 Things I've Learned About Wedding Planning

6. Spend a lot of time picking out your bridesmaids' dresses. This is what the whole wedding should be planned around.

5. Give the caterers and other wedding people as little information as possible until you’re totally sure of what you want. They don’t really need to know stuff like how many people you’re planning on and all that until really really close to the wedding date.

4. Your dress, however, is the most important part of your wedding. The more fake pearls and sequins in your dress, the better. The bigger the dress the better. And having colours like black and red in your wedding dress with neither encourage nor make guests more prone to thinking ill of your past.

3. The amount of time between the wedding ceremony and the reception is inconsequential. If you have a morning wedding and a late evening reception, your out-of-town guests "can just find something to do" in between.

2. More time should be spent on planning the actual wedding day than thinking about the actual marriage.

1. It's all about the bride.

At 1:15 pm (a.k.a. Naptime)

Michelle: You know, Jodi, Bucky's not looking too good. I think he might be on his last legs. He's all hole-y and stuff.

Jodi: Uh oh.

Michelle: You know what that means.

Jodi: No, what?

Michelle: IT'S TIME TO GET MARRIED!!!!

Michelle: Because, marriage is, after all, the only legitimate reason to get rid of a baby blanket.

Jodi: No, I think you should seriouly still keep him even after you're married.

Ringmaster

I think it is unfortunate that there are not more teachers worthy to remember. Indeed, there are many teachers we do remember, but most often for reasons that we shouldn't.

I always thought Mrs. Peterson was a teacher worth remembering. When I started the sixth grade, she started teaching sixth grade Language Arts for the first time, and unfortunately, I think it may also have been the last time. Normally she was a grade 2 or 3 teacher.

Mrs. Peterson gave us room to roam. She gave us room to create. To write. To explore. To publish. She was the young writer's dream teacher.

She was also the reason why I wrote the following story at age 12, which won a provincial writing contest at the time.

The Wooden Circus Set

There it was, sitting in the corner of my room, the little red wooden cage full of wooden animals, people and poles, and a tent, finely decorated with paint and silver sparkles. Best of all, in bright, gay yellow lettering on the top of the cage were the words: SHRINE CIRCUS. My five-year-old imagination ran wild when that little cage was opened and the contents were put together.

Dreamily, my eyes closed, and I felt dizzy and small. As I opened my eyes, I saw the wooden tigers and elephants, the clowns and acrobats, ALIVE! I couldn't believe it! I was actually in my circus set, except that there was a crowd! But where was the ring-master? I felt a tingle up my spine, I wasn't wearing my simple plain dress, long stockings and black shoes. But what was I wearing? As I looked down I saw a ring-master outfit!

"Come on!" a clown yelled, "You're on!" As I ran into the ring, not knowing what to say, I remembered what the ring-master had said at the Circus I had gone to the year before. I began: "Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls..."

Copyright Michelle Johnston, 1991.

They Have a Word For It

"Finding a name for something," says Howard Rheingold, "is a way of conjuring its existence."

torschlüsspanik: the German word for "the frantic anxiety experienced by unmarried women as they race against the 'biological clock.'"

kyoikumama: The Japanese word for "mother who pushes her children into academic achievement."

bol: The Mayan word for "stupid in-laws."

treppenwitz: The German word that refers to the "clever remark that comes to mind when it is too late to utter it."

- from "They Have a Word for It: A Lighthearted Lexicon of Untranslatable Words & Phrases," by Howard Rheingold.

Fame

"On the Web everyone will be famous to 15 people."
- David Weinberger

Bark Bark

Do you ever just find it absolutely useless to fight the insatiable urge to bark at a tied up dog outside that you know can't chase you?

Because, sometimes I just can't help myself. ;)

Question

What is your favourite post? On any blog, I mean. On your blog. On my blog. On Bob's blog. On Mr. Joe Schneider's even.

Hmm... I think Mr. Joe Schneider's would be, like, the coolest blog name ever. I wish I had thought about mine more before I called it Mikao's World.

Anyways, I digress. Thank you for your answers in advance.

Yours truly,
Michelle

New 'Do

Me and my roomdawg Jodi went and got hair cuts tonight. We were a little concerned about whom we would have cutting our hair. Jodi ascertained that she would rather have someone young and hip with a few years of experience choppin' her locks. I concurred. Thus, we selected what we thought sounded like the hipper salon out of the two at the mall from out of the phone book and made two appointments.

We arrived. Two older ladies showed up from their break. Jodi got the older one. She got a big 'do. I am sure it will be okay once Jodi can style it herself.

I got the younger one. My hair isn't too bad. But you know when you go shopping and afterwards your hands feel all gritty? Especially, like, after you go thrift store shopping and you forgot to bring Purrell or WetNaps with you? That's what my hair feels like. I am sure it will be fine after I wash it.

Check Your Spam

Well well!!
The world breaks everyone and afterward many are stronger at the broken places.

Would Worlld thhe in Sofftware Reetail Beest and Newwest have to like you?
Beolw the stofware of hundreds many examlpes few a are titels we have available to you :
Microfost Windows XP Pesrofsional 39.95
Microsooft Offfice XP Prrofessional 59.95 (frrom 579.99 retail)
Coorel Draw Graphics Suite 11 69.95
Adboe Phoohtsop 7.0 59.95
3D Studio Max v6 229.95 (from 6500.99 retail)
&more &more &more and MORE


All porgramsAEM
It is not the insurrections of ignorance that are dangerous, but the revolts of the intelligence.

12:45pm, At The Kitchen Table

"We're talking about Michelle's toothbrush and we don't even need any clarification. This is just wrong."

- Mike

Brush Your Teeth

I currently have three toothbrushes and three tubes of toothpaste on the go.

It's not because I'm obsessed with personal hygiene. I mean, I think personal hygiene is important, but let's not be obsessed about it.

The reason I have three toothbrushes in a Mary Poppins' mug on my bathroom counter is because of the following factors: I have this really cool one that really should go... but it's hard to give it up. It's a good brusher. Then I bought a new blue one just before Christmas, and then I got a new lime green one for Christmas. The new one I just had to try, instead of save for when the blue one got old. So, thus, the three toothbrushes on the go.

The three toothpastes are due to the fact that I got one for Christmas and the other two I had because I like variety. Seriously, who wants to use the same toothpaste every day? Is this necessary and/or even logical? I don't think so. There are too many good flavours and/or mouthy freshnesses to choose just one.

Christmas 1983 I can remember getting this lovely mint green toothbrush with "Michelle" written on the handle in white capital letters. My American aunt gave me the toothbrush, so that automatically made it cool. But the fact that it had my name on it made it even cooler. I had that toothbrush for a long time. I kept it in one of the drawers under my bed when my Mom said I couldn't use it any more, just so I could take it out and look at it, it was that cool. (Mint green, by the way, was my favourite colour for about 15 years... I pretty much can't stand it anymore though after living with a barfo mint green desk for a year and a half of art school).

Back

So, I made it back at 6:15 this morning... I'm dead tired but it's nice to be here. :)

The following will describe my trip:

- very long
- mothball smell
- too many people
- 3 1/2 hours in Calgary
- freakin' COLD bus
- faux fur lady
- not enough sleep
- my luggage made it with me (Jodi's did not. She's been back from Brazil since Sunday. She thinks it's in Toronto. Maybe).

I should be writing papers, I have two due tomorrow. Thankfully my copy of this book arrived from amazon.ca, so I can attempt to finish the one paper that I started back in December.

Have a great day.

I like Christmas Holidays

If you do a search on Google, Mikao's World just happens to be the #1 result, and only result, for the query "I like Christmas holidays."

This is of course true, and the Google results are due to the fact that last December 27th I wrote a post where I used that phrase. I think it's neat to be reminded of where we were a year ago sometimes. i like Christmas holidays because they have no agenda... there is nothing specific that i need to accomplish.... nothing too exciting going on in my life these holiday days and that is just fine. : ) "

Today I find myself in pretty much the same spot as that. My Christmas holidays were spent with family doing nothing in particular, and I spent much of it knitting. :) My Mom got a scarf for Christmas, similar to the blue one I made last Christmas but a tad more complex.

I still wear that blue scarf. I'm still blogging on about Christmas holidays. I think I've done much in this past year between then and now. many things have changed, but some things remain very similar.

I'm thankful to be where I'm at. Today I spent the afternoon chatting with old friends. I'm looking forward to this new year and seeing what all it holds. Thank you to those who have chosen to be a part of it.

"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
- Ephesians 3:17b-21

chuckle chuckle

i miss my friend holly. she's cool. except she doesn't update her blog too often.

but she's still cool.

"you need to have normal everyday conversation before you can have any good you know kind of conversation."
- holly

January Look

So, I've decided to do a new layout. What do you think? Is it too hard to read or anything like that? I'm still not totally done with it, so let me know. :)

And, have a fantastic day.

life

michelle says: i always end up in places i never thought i'd be

carly is converting says: That has to be pretty nice.

carly is converting says: To be somewhere unexpected.

carly is converting says: That's cool...

michelle says: hmmm... i never thought about it

michelle says: but you're right.

just kidding

i didn't actually leave yesterday. the bus was an hour and a half late, plus totally full... so, yeah, i'll try again tomorrow. i'll be later getting to school than i wanted, but it'll be okay.

on the road

Well, I'm once again travelling, I'll be back in Saskatchewan by tomorrow night at 7pm. I would l ike to just point out that it's 26 hours by bus for me to get back to school (via Edmonton and Calgary).

My roommate Jodi leaves at roughly the same time I do, albeit from Brazil, and arrives at the same time.

What's up with that!?!?!?!? :)

"Back to school, back to school, to prove to Dad..."

carries on without a doubt

so i've listened to evan and jaron's "crazy for this girl", oh, about 25 times today. at least.

and i thought i'd come and entertain you. actually, i'll let someone else entertain you. it's the beginning of the month. jay over at the plug has the new issue up. i like the tiny bumper stickers. i think they're hilarious. i want some.

i think i should probably write another new year's-ish post, but i don't feel like it. just yet. i read some of my archives from last year earlier today. i chuckled. i laughed. i remembered. i loved last january.

2003 was a good year. here's to 2004.

she rolls the window down
and she talks over the sound of the cars that pass us by
and I don't know why, but she's changed my mind

would you look at her as she looks at me, she's got me thinkin about her constantly
but she don't know how I feel, and as she carries on without a doubt
I wonder if she's figured out I'm crazy for this girl

she was the one to hold me the night the sky fell down
and what was I thinkin when the world didn't end
why didn't I know what I know now

and right now, face to face all my fears, pushed aside and right now
I'm ready to spend the rest of my life with you
- "Crazy for This Girl," by Evan and Jaron

it's a beautiful day

so, like i said to my family about 2 minutes before world idol started tonigh, kurt nilsen of norway won.

and no, i didn't cheat and check on the internet.

i knew, because it's obviously a part of U2's plan to take over the world.

year in review

trip to edmonton. return to school. vermicelli noodles. maria. positional paper stress. exit interview. phone chats with joanne. counselling adolescents and their families. hypothetical surreal valentine's day. phone call. the ten commandments (silent and classic). trip to Gramma's. youth quake. switchfoot concert. film class. assignments. scrapbooking. spring smell. seattle? soul searching. root cellar roof. cleaning. graduation. goodbyes. month at home. return to camp. june. paperwork. biking. flower pictures. chapel decorating. swiss chalet. staff training. trip to holly's. daily crafts. prayer meetings. mcdonald's sundaes with carolyn in the parking lot. three weeks. weekend in muskoka. whistle. friday note. weekend at heather's. weekend at sarah's. much thought, much prayer. return. scavenger hunt. trip to barrie. much thought, much prayer. staff problems. last two weeks. tuck shop. oscar nights. blue dress. last day. good byes. hugs. exchanged words. msn. week in ajax. flight west. new home. jodi and rachel. grasshoppers. spiritual formation . retreat at echo lake. wheatfield pictures. t-shirt. dropped romans. philosophy of ministry and mission. jillian's visit. trips to moose jaw with jodi. junior high youth ministry (last class). chicken mcnuggets and cheeseburgers. papers. Christmas musical practices. four performances. mrrp proposal. assignments for philosophy. trip to taber. Christmas. rest.

(idea taken from neely)