365
I have officially been in Ontario for one year.
Time passes so quickly/so slowly.
Friday, May 27, 2005
Business
Yesterday I went on a "business trip." It was fun, but was also a very long day (we left at 7am and didn't get back until 6:30pm). I think I'll be going on more trips come fall. They're interesting, but most are around Toronto and that's around a 2.5hr drive each way. Could be worse I suppose. :)
I have definitely been a lot busier at work lately as I've taken on a lot more responsibilities. And, being that it is primarily a summer camp, everyone's busy with more summer related things as summer is of course just around the corner.
I downloaded Firefox as I've been having a ton of problems with Internet Explorer. It's not really visually too much different that I've noticed, but definitely works much speedier on my computer, and doesn't shut down and have error reports all the time like I was finding with IE. They even import your bookmarks which is super handy. The only crappy feature I've noticed with Firefox so far is when typing in Blogger and you add a link or use the italicize or bold buttons, etc., it automatically takes you back to the top of your document. Slightly frustrating and time-wasting.
I got some sweet olivey-green fabric yesterday printed with cowboys on buckin' bronchos and cacti and I think maybe spurs or some other sort of cowboy-related thing. Hopefully tomorrow I'll get around to making it in to something. I have big plans for it, I hope I can make it work.
Anyways, I'm going to go home and have some chocolate milk (with Quik mix) and watch tv until I muster up enough energy to cook something. Have a great weekend.
Yesterday I went on a "business trip." It was fun, but was also a very long day (we left at 7am and didn't get back until 6:30pm). I think I'll be going on more trips come fall. They're interesting, but most are around Toronto and that's around a 2.5hr drive each way. Could be worse I suppose. :)
I have definitely been a lot busier at work lately as I've taken on a lot more responsibilities. And, being that it is primarily a summer camp, everyone's busy with more summer related things as summer is of course just around the corner.
I downloaded Firefox as I've been having a ton of problems with Internet Explorer. It's not really visually too much different that I've noticed, but definitely works much speedier on my computer, and doesn't shut down and have error reports all the time like I was finding with IE. They even import your bookmarks which is super handy. The only crappy feature I've noticed with Firefox so far is when typing in Blogger and you add a link or use the italicize or bold buttons, etc., it automatically takes you back to the top of your document. Slightly frustrating and time-wasting.
I got some sweet olivey-green fabric yesterday printed with cowboys on buckin' bronchos and cacti and I think maybe spurs or some other sort of cowboy-related thing. Hopefully tomorrow I'll get around to making it in to something. I have big plans for it, I hope I can make it work.
Anyways, I'm going to go home and have some chocolate milk (with Quik mix) and watch tv until I muster up enough energy to cook something. Have a great weekend.
Doubly Tagged
I have been tagged by Rachel to complete this quiz:
1) Total number of films I own on DVD/video:
DVDs:
Brokedown Palace
The Prince & Me
Videos:
Serendipity
Kate & Leopold
Back to the Future 2
On the Line
A Walk to Remember
2) The last film I bought:
Brokedown Palace, it was in that $6.88 bin at Wal-Mart. I love that movie.
3) The last film I watched:
I watched The Prince & Me on DVD last night with my roommate, we hadn't watched it in a long time and there was nothing good on tv. The last movie I saw in the theatre was Kicking and Screaming (soooo not worth $9.25).
4) Five films that I watch a lot or that mean a lot to me (in no particular order):
A Walk to Remember
The Bourne Identity
Garden State
Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken
Flight of the Navigator
Ten Things I have NOT done:
1. Smoked anything
2. Drank alcohol
3. Flown overseas
4. Watched any Star Wars movies (that I can remember, maybe in early childhood???)
5. Been to California or Florida
6. Cried this year
7. Fallen in love
8. Lived alone
9. Met the Queen
10. Eaten raw fish.
That was hard, it's much easier to list things I have done. And this is an odd list of questions to answer. :)
I tag Michael, Peter, and Jen.
I have been tagged by Rachel to complete this quiz:
1) Total number of films I own on DVD/video:
DVDs:
Brokedown Palace
The Prince & Me
Videos:
Serendipity
Kate & Leopold
Back to the Future 2
On the Line
A Walk to Remember
2) The last film I bought:
Brokedown Palace, it was in that $6.88 bin at Wal-Mart. I love that movie.
3) The last film I watched:
I watched The Prince & Me on DVD last night with my roommate, we hadn't watched it in a long time and there was nothing good on tv. The last movie I saw in the theatre was Kicking and Screaming (soooo not worth $9.25).
4) Five films that I watch a lot or that mean a lot to me (in no particular order):
A Walk to Remember
The Bourne Identity
Garden State
Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken
Flight of the Navigator
Ten Things I have NOT done:
1. Smoked anything
2. Drank alcohol
3. Flown overseas
4. Watched any Star Wars movies (that I can remember, maybe in early childhood???)
5. Been to California or Florida
6. Cried this year
7. Fallen in love
8. Lived alone
9. Met the Queen
10. Eaten raw fish.
That was hard, it's much easier to list things I have done. And this is an odd list of questions to answer. :)
I tag Michael, Peter, and Jen.
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
A Decade of Change
I got a call from my ten year high school reunion committee last week. Well, actually, my older sister got a call from them because they were able to track her down before me, and then she called me to let me know that they called, and then I got a call from them.
My ten year high school reunion won’t actually be until July 2006, but they’re contacting everyone now. "They" being two girls from my class who still live in the same town we grew up in. I think there were 32 graduates in 1996, from our Kindergarten through Grade 12 school of 450 students. Most of my classmates still live in Manitoba, except for me, one girl who’s in the Bahamas, and a guy in Alberta, that I know of.
The person who called me was actually one of my very good friends from high school. Except we haven’t spoken in at least five years. Five years! So we caught up on what we’ve been both up to since then, and since high school in general (she has married and now has three children), and she let me know what a lot of others whom we went to school with are up to.
We used to spend five days a week together for ten months of the year. Most I went to school with for the eight straight years I was at that school. Yet the large majority I haven’t seen since graduation day in June nine years ago. Some I thought I’d never loose touch with, yet in reality I haven’t seen any of them since 1999, and I haven’t been back to the town our school was in since 1998. A few classmates I talk to a couple of times a year, some every once in awhile find me on the internet.
These are people I shared a large chunk of my growing up years with, yet since then we’ve grown and changed and been educated and moved on.
This weekend I walked past the infants and children’s clothing section in a department store and I thought most of these people I went to school with and spent my childhood days with have now had children of their own. They’ve had the experience of love and marriage and pregnancy and birth and feeding and clothing and growing up little ones to take the places that we left vacant in the halls and classrooms of the school we shared together.
The reunion isn’t for almost 14 months, but I’m hoping to go. It’s weird to think it’s been almost 10 years… that’s a long time! It'll be neat to see everyone again, catch up on what we’ve all been up to, see how we’ve changed and how we’ve stayed the same. Can you do that all in one weekend?
I should probably start working out. I think there's some unspoken rule about how you should look better than you did when you were 18 when you go to these things.
:)
I got a call from my ten year high school reunion committee last week. Well, actually, my older sister got a call from them because they were able to track her down before me, and then she called me to let me know that they called, and then I got a call from them.
My ten year high school reunion won’t actually be until July 2006, but they’re contacting everyone now. "They" being two girls from my class who still live in the same town we grew up in. I think there were 32 graduates in 1996, from our Kindergarten through Grade 12 school of 450 students. Most of my classmates still live in Manitoba, except for me, one girl who’s in the Bahamas, and a guy in Alberta, that I know of.
The person who called me was actually one of my very good friends from high school. Except we haven’t spoken in at least five years. Five years! So we caught up on what we’ve been both up to since then, and since high school in general (she has married and now has three children), and she let me know what a lot of others whom we went to school with are up to.
We used to spend five days a week together for ten months of the year. Most I went to school with for the eight straight years I was at that school. Yet the large majority I haven’t seen since graduation day in June nine years ago. Some I thought I’d never loose touch with, yet in reality I haven’t seen any of them since 1999, and I haven’t been back to the town our school was in since 1998. A few classmates I talk to a couple of times a year, some every once in awhile find me on the internet.
These are people I shared a large chunk of my growing up years with, yet since then we’ve grown and changed and been educated and moved on.
This weekend I walked past the infants and children’s clothing section in a department store and I thought most of these people I went to school with and spent my childhood days with have now had children of their own. They’ve had the experience of love and marriage and pregnancy and birth and feeding and clothing and growing up little ones to take the places that we left vacant in the halls and classrooms of the school we shared together.
The reunion isn’t for almost 14 months, but I’m hoping to go. It’s weird to think it’s been almost 10 years… that’s a long time! It'll be neat to see everyone again, catch up on what we’ve all been up to, see how we’ve changed and how we’ve stayed the same. Can you do that all in one weekend?
I should probably start working out. I think there's some unspoken rule about how you should look better than you did when you were 18 when you go to these things.
:)
Three
As seen from Drina and Jen:
THREE NAMES YOU GO BY:
1. Michelle
2. Mikao
3. Umm... current nicknames include my last name and "MG"
THREE SCREEN NAMES YOU HAVE HAD:
1. mikao
2. michellej
3. muklukmichelle
THREE PHYSICAL THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. My hair (most days)
2. My faint freckles
3. My toes
THREE PHYSICAL THINGS YOU DON’T LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. My tendency to still get zits. When do you get too old for such things, because I'd like to know!
2. The fact that every time I shower I get a few patches of dry skin on my face that get all flakey. Too much information, I know. There aren't any good moisturizers out there that I have found.
3. My height. Well, I guess technically I don't mind being 5'5", but I wouldn't mind being a couple of inches taller.
THREE PARTS OF YOUR HERITAGE:
1. English
2. Irish
3. French
THREE THINGS THAT SCARE YOU:
1. Parking garages (we've been over this before)
2. More than two lanes of traffic. I can handle it, but I don't like it.
3. Downtown New York City
THREE OF YOUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS:
1. Deodorant
2. Being outside
3. A telephone Call
THREE THINGS YOU ARE WEARING RIGHT NOW:
1. My brown "Arizona: Grand Canyon State" t-shirt that I love (I have never been to Arizona).
2. My newest pair of jeans, from Jacob Connexion... I think they're too big and won't shrink enough. Gah!
3. My grad 2002 ring. I got it when I got my first degree from Briercrest. I like it, but the year is kind of bizarre because I graduated three times from there in the end. I don't usually wear this ring, but I put it on last week.
THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE BANDS OR MUSICAL ARTISTS:
1. Jars of Clay (this is a staple)
2. Avril Lavigne is a current office staple for me (don't tell anyone)
3. Lowana Wallace
THREE THINGS YOU WANT IN A RELATIONSHIP:
1. Communication
2. Understanding
3. Adoration
TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE:
1. I do not enjoy travelling (the being in motion part).
2. I've lived in 2 states, 4 provinces, and 1 territory
3. I've flown overseas.
THREE PHYSICAL THINGS ABOUT THE PREFERRED SEX THAT APPEAL TO YOU:
1. Eyes.
2. Good dressing habits.
3. Neat hair.
THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE HOBBIES:
1. Painting
2. Biking
3. Making stuff to mail.
THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO REALLY BADLY RIGHT NOW:
1. Go home.
2. Hang out with friends I haven't seen in a long time (Jodi and Holly, what are you doing tonight? Let's hang out. Meet at my house, it's in the middle).
3. File my nails. They feel kind of weird.
THREE CAREERS YOU’RE CONSIDERING/YOU’VE CONSIDERED:
1. Professional artist/graphic artist.
2. Fine Art Conservationist
3. Youth worker
THREE PLACES YOU WANT TO GO ON VACATION:
1. London
2. Montreal (I've been there once, but I'd like to go back).
3. Wisconsin (I've been through it twice, but have never done anything there. I'd actually like to go to Wisconsin on my honeymoon).
THREE KID’S NAMES YOU LIKE:
1. Lily
2. Kathleen
3. Andrew
THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE:
1. Get married.
2. Be happily married.
3. Raise children successfully.
THREE WAYS THAT YOU ARE STEREOTYPICALLY A GUY:
1. I take about 7 minutes to get ready in the morning.
2. I like working on my car (I just did some touch-up painting on it this weekend).
3. I don't often use very many hair products (hair spray stinks and makes your hair sticky).
THREE WAYS THAT YOU ARE STEREOTYPICALLY A CHICK:
1. I like romantic comedies.
2. I like pink.
3. I've read Wild at Heart in attempt to "figure out" the opposite gender.
THREE CELEB CRUSHES:
1. Joey Lawrence
2. Steven Curtis Chapman
3. Hugh Grant
As seen from Drina and Jen:
THREE NAMES YOU GO BY:
1. Michelle
2. Mikao
3. Umm... current nicknames include my last name and "MG"
THREE SCREEN NAMES YOU HAVE HAD:
1. mikao
2. michellej
3. muklukmichelle
THREE PHYSICAL THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. My hair (most days)
2. My faint freckles
3. My toes
THREE PHYSICAL THINGS YOU DON’T LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. My tendency to still get zits. When do you get too old for such things, because I'd like to know!
2. The fact that every time I shower I get a few patches of dry skin on my face that get all flakey. Too much information, I know. There aren't any good moisturizers out there that I have found.
3. My height. Well, I guess technically I don't mind being 5'5", but I wouldn't mind being a couple of inches taller.
THREE PARTS OF YOUR HERITAGE:
1. English
2. Irish
3. French
THREE THINGS THAT SCARE YOU:
1. Parking garages (we've been over this before)
2. More than two lanes of traffic. I can handle it, but I don't like it.
3. Downtown New York City
THREE OF YOUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS:
1. Deodorant
2. Being outside
3. A telephone Call
THREE THINGS YOU ARE WEARING RIGHT NOW:
1. My brown "Arizona: Grand Canyon State" t-shirt that I love (I have never been to Arizona).
2. My newest pair of jeans, from Jacob Connexion... I think they're too big and won't shrink enough. Gah!
3. My grad 2002 ring. I got it when I got my first degree from Briercrest. I like it, but the year is kind of bizarre because I graduated three times from there in the end. I don't usually wear this ring, but I put it on last week.
THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE BANDS OR MUSICAL ARTISTS:
1. Jars of Clay (this is a staple)
2. Avril Lavigne is a current office staple for me (don't tell anyone)
3. Lowana Wallace
THREE THINGS YOU WANT IN A RELATIONSHIP:
1. Communication
2. Understanding
3. Adoration
TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE:
1. I do not enjoy travelling (the being in motion part).
2. I've lived in 2 states, 4 provinces, and 1 territory
3. I've flown overseas.
THREE PHYSICAL THINGS ABOUT THE PREFERRED SEX THAT APPEAL TO YOU:
1. Eyes.
2. Good dressing habits.
3. Neat hair.
THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE HOBBIES:
1. Painting
2. Biking
3. Making stuff to mail.
THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO REALLY BADLY RIGHT NOW:
1. Go home.
2. Hang out with friends I haven't seen in a long time (Jodi and Holly, what are you doing tonight? Let's hang out. Meet at my house, it's in the middle).
3. File my nails. They feel kind of weird.
THREE CAREERS YOU’RE CONSIDERING/YOU’VE CONSIDERED:
1. Professional artist/graphic artist.
2. Fine Art Conservationist
3. Youth worker
THREE PLACES YOU WANT TO GO ON VACATION:
1. London
2. Montreal (I've been there once, but I'd like to go back).
3. Wisconsin (I've been through it twice, but have never done anything there. I'd actually like to go to Wisconsin on my honeymoon).
THREE KID’S NAMES YOU LIKE:
1. Lily
2. Kathleen
3. Andrew
THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE:
1. Get married.
2. Be happily married.
3. Raise children successfully.
THREE WAYS THAT YOU ARE STEREOTYPICALLY A GUY:
1. I take about 7 minutes to get ready in the morning.
2. I like working on my car (I just did some touch-up painting on it this weekend).
3. I don't often use very many hair products (hair spray stinks and makes your hair sticky).
THREE WAYS THAT YOU ARE STEREOTYPICALLY A CHICK:
1. I like romantic comedies.
2. I like pink.
3. I've read Wild at Heart in attempt to "figure out" the opposite gender.
THREE CELEB CRUSHES:
1. Joey Lawrence
2. Steven Curtis Chapman
3. Hugh Grant
Friday, May 20, 2005
Communication Exile
Our internet/email/network has been having major problems for the past three days. Work has been slow as it's been hard to do anything without these three tools.
And then yesterday, when my roommate went to use the phone, there was absolutely no dialtone. The phone people say no one can come to look at it until Monday. Monday the holiday. Does that make sense? I didn't think so.
And the phone people are also giving us this huge hassle to switch the name that the phone is in, and are also telling us that someone switched our long distance plan. But we didn't.
Why are corporations so hard to deal with?
Anyways, the lack of modes of communication has been extremely frustrating, and will continue to be this long weekend when I'm home alone and can't use the phone.
Ugh.
Our internet/email/network has been having major problems for the past three days. Work has been slow as it's been hard to do anything without these three tools.
And then yesterday, when my roommate went to use the phone, there was absolutely no dialtone. The phone people say no one can come to look at it until Monday. Monday the holiday. Does that make sense? I didn't think so.
And the phone people are also giving us this huge hassle to switch the name that the phone is in, and are also telling us that someone switched our long distance plan. But we didn't.
Why are corporations so hard to deal with?
Anyways, the lack of modes of communication has been extremely frustrating, and will continue to be this long weekend when I'm home alone and can't use the phone.
Ugh.
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Gingham Flip Flops
My friend Lowana just had a CD come out. She's pretty much one of the coolest people I know.
You can hear some songs here.
My friend Lowana just had a CD come out. She's pretty much one of the coolest people I know.
You can hear some songs here.
Monday, May 16, 2005
Personality
I was reading Charlotte's blog today and came across yet another one of those personality type tests. I often do those blog quizzes, but I don't often publish the results.
This question definitely made me smile:
32. You are the type of person who:
a) Has a gazillion windows open on your computer
b) Tends to focus on one task at a time
... because I always have a gazillion windows open on my computer. "Multitasking" is my middle name.
I always end up INTJ on personality tests. This test result calls me "The Scientist", and says amongst other things, that:
You have a head for ideas - and you are good at improving systems.
Logical and strategic, you prefer for everything in your life to be organized.
You tend to be a bit skeptical. You're both critical of yourself and of others.
Independent and stubborn, you tend to only befriend those who are a lot like you.
You would make an excellent scientist, engineer, or programmer.
INFJ also describes me in that:
You live your life with integrity, originality, vision, and creativity.
Independent and stubborn, you rarely stray from your vision - no matter what it is.
You are an excellent listener, with almost infinite patience.
And ISFJ:
You have a strong need to belong, and you very loyal.
A good listener, you excell at helping others in practical ways.
In your spare time, you enjoy engaging your senses through art, cooking, and music.
You find it easy to be devoted to one person, who you do special things for.
And ISTJ:
You are responsible, reliable, and hardworking - you get the job done.
You prefer productive hobbies, like woodworking or knitting.
What are you?
I was reading Charlotte's blog today and came across yet another one of those personality type tests. I often do those blog quizzes, but I don't often publish the results.
This question definitely made me smile:
32. You are the type of person who:
a) Has a gazillion windows open on your computer
b) Tends to focus on one task at a time
... because I always have a gazillion windows open on my computer. "Multitasking" is my middle name.
I always end up INTJ on personality tests. This test result calls me "The Scientist", and says amongst other things, that:
You have a head for ideas - and you are good at improving systems.
Logical and strategic, you prefer for everything in your life to be organized.
You tend to be a bit skeptical. You're both critical of yourself and of others.
Independent and stubborn, you tend to only befriend those who are a lot like you.
You would make an excellent scientist, engineer, or programmer.
INFJ also describes me in that:
You live your life with integrity, originality, vision, and creativity.
Independent and stubborn, you rarely stray from your vision - no matter what it is.
You are an excellent listener, with almost infinite patience.
And ISFJ:
You have a strong need to belong, and you very loyal.
A good listener, you excell at helping others in practical ways.
In your spare time, you enjoy engaging your senses through art, cooking, and music.
You find it easy to be devoted to one person, who you do special things for.
And ISTJ:
You are responsible, reliable, and hardworking - you get the job done.
You prefer productive hobbies, like woodworking or knitting.
What are you?
Friday, May 13, 2005
Weekend Weddings
My friend Leanne, whom I met while in college at Briercrest, is getting married on Vancouver Island this Saturday. Once I made her a lovely foamie flower headband for her birthday. Unfortunately, I don't think she will be wearing it as she walks down the aisle. And even more unfortunate, I will not be able to be there to celebrate with her and Jason.
And my friend Ryan from Seattle, whom I met through Carly, and is getting married in New Brunswick this weekend as well. Two years ago I was home in May and talked to Ryan on MSN pretty much every day, I think we were both waiting for our summer jobs to start. I think he's the tallest person I know (even though we've never technically met). All the best to Ryan and Sarah as they start this new life together... I can't wait to see pictures!
Jeremy Thiessen, of the blog Normal Rockstar, and the band downhere, and who was my student body president my first two years at Briercrest, is also getting married this weekend. Can you be a normal rockstar? I always think of Jeremy as the guy who wore mitts and lumberjack shirts and Adidas sandals all year long. Even that wasn't normal. ;)
Best wishes for lovely weddings for all of you, and strong marriages built on the foundation of God's love.
My friend Leanne, whom I met while in college at Briercrest, is getting married on Vancouver Island this Saturday. Once I made her a lovely foamie flower headband for her birthday. Unfortunately, I don't think she will be wearing it as she walks down the aisle. And even more unfortunate, I will not be able to be there to celebrate with her and Jason.
And my friend Ryan from Seattle, whom I met through Carly, and is getting married in New Brunswick this weekend as well. Two years ago I was home in May and talked to Ryan on MSN pretty much every day, I think we were both waiting for our summer jobs to start. I think he's the tallest person I know (even though we've never technically met). All the best to Ryan and Sarah as they start this new life together... I can't wait to see pictures!
Jeremy Thiessen, of the blog Normal Rockstar, and the band downhere, and who was my student body president my first two years at Briercrest, is also getting married this weekend. Can you be a normal rockstar? I always think of Jeremy as the guy who wore mitts and lumberjack shirts and Adidas sandals all year long. Even that wasn't normal. ;)
Best wishes for lovely weddings for all of you, and strong marriages built on the foundation of God's love.
The Random Interview Project: Mike
Here is a late entry for The Random Interview Project, Part 2. Mike is from the blog Life This Way, and is a regular reader of Mikao's World.
1. What are some of the perks of living in your home state?
Minnesota is:
Home of "the world's largest pelican", 10,000 lakes ( more shoreline than California, Florida and Hawaii combined - 90,000 miles), 1 million+ acres of BWCAW, 4 complete seasons of the year (even if winter tends to be on the long side), The Mall of America (just kidding), and don't forget we are blessed to have such great neighbors on the northern border! :)
2. If you could be someone else who is currently living, for one day, who would you want to be and why?
I would say maybe Bill Gates (because he has lots of money), or maybe one of those guys on the TV fishing shows that sit around all day and get paid to say "Oh wow!... That's a nice one!... Beautiful fish!... I am sure glad I used 'brand x' fishing tackle!"
Truth be told, I kinda like being myself!
3. If you could be someone else who is not currently alive, for one day, who would you want to be and why?
That's a tough question. It would be cool if I could be someone from the future to find out what happens, or maybe my great, great, great grandfather to find out what they were like and how they lived.
4. What is your favourite song lyric and why?
I have always been impressed by Rich Mullins. He is one of my favorite artists. Most of his songs have something in them that hits home to me.
There is one song that comes to mind at the moment called "Sometimes by Step". The lyric is "Sometimes I think of Abraham, how one star he saw had been lit for me..." if you know The Story, it really puts things in perspective.
5. What is your earliest memory?
Believe it or not, a few years ago I had a flash-back of having my diaper changed when I was like 2. I just remember trying to get up and someone telling my to lie still.
6. What do you enjoy most about being a sibling?
Having 2 sisters as 2 of my best friends.
7. If you could request your next birthday party to be in any venue in the world (all expenses paid of course), where would you want it to be?
I would stretch my birthday out. Maybe have my party over a week on a cruise ship (to Hawaii because my wife has always wanted to go there).
8. Who would you want to be at this aforementioned birthday party?
All my family and friends. No one famous.
9. What is your favourite insect?
I prefer arachnids, but I think dragon flies are pretty darn cool.
10. What five websites do you visit most often?
Well, it varies, but I would have to say probably:
mine (lifethisway.blogspot.com)
my church (www.livingstonesfellowship.org)
http://www.loneprairie.net/my_blog.htm
http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/
http://mikao.blogspot.com/
Thanks for another chance at the interview!"
Editor's Note: Sorry that it has taken me so long to get this up Mike! It kept getting lost every time I formatted it in Blogger. Ugh.
Here is a late entry for The Random Interview Project, Part 2. Mike is from the blog Life This Way, and is a regular reader of Mikao's World.
1. What are some of the perks of living in your home state?
Minnesota is:
Home of "the world's largest pelican", 10,000 lakes ( more shoreline than California, Florida and Hawaii combined - 90,000 miles), 1 million+ acres of BWCAW, 4 complete seasons of the year (even if winter tends to be on the long side), The Mall of America (just kidding), and don't forget we are blessed to have such great neighbors on the northern border! :)
2. If you could be someone else who is currently living, for one day, who would you want to be and why?
I would say maybe Bill Gates (because he has lots of money), or maybe one of those guys on the TV fishing shows that sit around all day and get paid to say "Oh wow!... That's a nice one!... Beautiful fish!... I am sure glad I used 'brand x' fishing tackle!"
Truth be told, I kinda like being myself!
3. If you could be someone else who is not currently alive, for one day, who would you want to be and why?
That's a tough question. It would be cool if I could be someone from the future to find out what happens, or maybe my great, great, great grandfather to find out what they were like and how they lived.
4. What is your favourite song lyric and why?
I have always been impressed by Rich Mullins. He is one of my favorite artists. Most of his songs have something in them that hits home to me.
There is one song that comes to mind at the moment called "Sometimes by Step". The lyric is "Sometimes I think of Abraham, how one star he saw had been lit for me..." if you know The Story, it really puts things in perspective.
5. What is your earliest memory?
Believe it or not, a few years ago I had a flash-back of having my diaper changed when I was like 2. I just remember trying to get up and someone telling my to lie still.
6. What do you enjoy most about being a sibling?
Having 2 sisters as 2 of my best friends.
7. If you could request your next birthday party to be in any venue in the world (all expenses paid of course), where would you want it to be?
I would stretch my birthday out. Maybe have my party over a week on a cruise ship (to Hawaii because my wife has always wanted to go there).
8. Who would you want to be at this aforementioned birthday party?
All my family and friends. No one famous.
9. What is your favourite insect?
I prefer arachnids, but I think dragon flies are pretty darn cool.
10. What five websites do you visit most often?
Well, it varies, but I would have to say probably:
mine (lifethisway.blogspot.com)
my church (www.livingstonesfellowship.org)
http://www.loneprairie.net/my_blog.htm
http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/
http://mikao.blogspot.com/
Thanks for another chance at the interview!"
Editor's Note: Sorry that it has taken me so long to get this up Mike! It kept getting lost every time I formatted it in Blogger. Ugh.
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Conga Rats
Whenever I say/write the word "congrats" (which I guess technically isn't even a word, but rather a short-form), I think and hear in my head "Conga Rats". Every single time.
So, I just wanted to say CONGA RATS to whoever it is that happens to be the 30 000 visitor to Mikao's World. You'll know if it was you if you scroll on down the right hand side and the counter says you were. Please tell me if it was you. Being the 30 000th visitor is a lofty honour reserved for only one, and it's taken two years and seven months to have that honour bestowed upon you.
Thanks to all of the rest who have been along for the ride. Without you, it wouldn't be the same.
:)
Whenever I say/write the word "congrats" (which I guess technically isn't even a word, but rather a short-form), I think and hear in my head "Conga Rats". Every single time.
So, I just wanted to say CONGA RATS to whoever it is that happens to be the 30 000 visitor to Mikao's World. You'll know if it was you if you scroll on down the right hand side and the counter says you were. Please tell me if it was you. Being the 30 000th visitor is a lofty honour reserved for only one, and it's taken two years and seven months to have that honour bestowed upon you.
Thanks to all of the rest who have been along for the ride. Without you, it wouldn't be the same.
:)
It Isn't Like It Was Supposed To Be
I went to my small group from church on Tuesday night as usual (I missed last week), only to find out that it is over for the year and is now taking a summer break! I thought we still had at least one more session left in our little bookie thing. You know, our DVD-guided nicely-laid-out uber-programmatic barely-have-to-lead
small group book thingy.
So, I went for a drive on a road to see how far it would take me (because I had nothing else to do) and found out it simply takes me back to where I came from in the first place. But, now I know where that road goes. It was pretty and reminded me of home in the spring.
It's somewhat bizarre and sad to me to think that basically the only people I've met, besides those I work with, in the eight months I've lived here, are in my small group. And I don't even really know those people.
Moving to college, and having summer jobs, those two things were very different from this whole moving-on-moving-out-starting-a-real-life thing.
I hope it gets better.
I went to my small group from church on Tuesday night as usual (I missed last week), only to find out that it is over for the year and is now taking a summer break! I thought we still had at least one more session left in our little bookie thing. You know, our DVD-guided nicely-laid-out uber-programmatic barely-have-to-lead
small group book thingy.
So, I went for a drive on a road to see how far it would take me (because I had nothing else to do) and found out it simply takes me back to where I came from in the first place. But, now I know where that road goes. It was pretty and reminded me of home in the spring.
It's somewhat bizarre and sad to me to think that basically the only people I've met, besides those I work with, in the eight months I've lived here, are in my small group. And I don't even really know those people.
Moving to college, and having summer jobs, those two things were very different from this whole moving-on-moving-out-starting-a-real-life thing.
I hope it gets better.
Bosco Stevens
I have decided that I still really think that having a pet squirrel would be great. But in my head I think it would be more like a cat-pet than a mouse-pet, even though everyone tells me I would have to keep it in a cage and it wouldn't want to be petted while I watch tv. I think that "Bosco" would be a perfect squirrel name, so I'm basically ready to have one. I just need to find one that wants to move in and be my cat-like squirrel.
I have decided that I still really think that having a pet squirrel would be great. But in my head I think it would be more like a cat-pet than a mouse-pet, even though everyone tells me I would have to keep it in a cage and it wouldn't want to be petted while I watch tv. I think that "Bosco" would be a perfect squirrel name, so I'm basically ready to have one. I just need to find one that wants to move in and be my cat-like squirrel.
Friday, May 06, 2005
Thursday, May 05, 2005
05/05/05
When I turned 5 years old, I had the best birthday party ever. I wish I had one of the photos here with me in Ontario because I would scan it and put it up. I had very special Disney character birthday hats (I was Minnie, of course), and I believe we had angel food cake if I remember correctly (because I think all my early birthdays included angel food cake). I had my little friends Dennis and Trina from our street, and Dennis' best friend Spencer from across from the park at the end of our street, and my best friend Rhea from a nearby town who I met because both our moms were in Kinettes together.
I don't remember anything we did, but I remember the hats. They were the highlight pretty much. And I got to wear my fuzzy purple short set.
Today, exactly twenty-two years later, I did not have Disney themed hats. But someone made me a cheesecake. And I got to go out for lunch and look at antiques and neat artsy stuff. So that was pretty neat. (And I got several e-cards, and Rebecca and Peter sent me a "Vote for Pedro" t-shirt, thank you so much!).
When I turned 5 years old, I had the best birthday party ever. I wish I had one of the photos here with me in Ontario because I would scan it and put it up. I had very special Disney character birthday hats (I was Minnie, of course), and I believe we had angel food cake if I remember correctly (because I think all my early birthdays included angel food cake). I had my little friends Dennis and Trina from our street, and Dennis' best friend Spencer from across from the park at the end of our street, and my best friend Rhea from a nearby town who I met because both our moms were in Kinettes together.
I don't remember anything we did, but I remember the hats. They were the highlight pretty much. And I got to wear my fuzzy purple short set.
Today, exactly twenty-two years later, I did not have Disney themed hats. But someone made me a cheesecake. And I got to go out for lunch and look at antiques and neat artsy stuff. So that was pretty neat. (And I got several e-cards, and Rebecca and Peter sent me a "Vote for Pedro" t-shirt, thank you so much!).
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Ben Stephenson, Heather Yoshiki, Grace Stephenson, John Stephenson
Monday night the CycleNEA team ended the second day of their trip biking across Canada, and stayed at my house.
When a Canadian missionary donated a bicycle to high school students David Mensah and Sayibu Imoro, they began the initial work of the Northern Empowerment Association (NEA). With this bike, David and Sayibu were able to reach beyond their own city of Tamale. They traveled to rural schools where they encouraged the poor and struggling students, praying for them and providing physical resources such as food, clothes and money to the needy ones.Check out the CycleNEA website to find out more, and for information on how to donate to improve nutrition, health, women's issues, environmental protection, water and sanitation, and agriculture in Ghana, West Africa.
May and June 2005, twin brothers Ben and John Stephenson ride from Peterborough, ON to Vancouver, BC. The ride will cover 4500 km to raise money for their friends in Ghana, West Africa. Along the way, Ben and John are stopping at high schools to let students know how they can get in gear.
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