I have some very exciting news! I'm not sure if you remember, but a while back, I mentioned how I wanted to take guitar lessons. Ever since then, I've been trying to teach myself some chords. However, I only got as far as learning 3 notes. I figured this was enough of a reason for me to swallow my pride and sign up for lessons... so I did! My first class is on Thursday and I'm just a wee bit nervous (but oh so excited)!
Thinking about playing the guitar brought my attention to a very important issue: I haven't written a blog entry about music yet! :-O Having said this, here it goes...
Way way waaaay back in the day I used to be a huge fan of Sharon, Lois, and Bram. Remember them? They were the ones who sang "Peanut Butter and Jelly." I can't imagine how much I must have driven my parents up a wall just listening to this song! I think I still might have their cassette! Then there was also that occasional Barney song -but I won't get into that (I'd rather spare myself the embarassment!)
Shortly after that, when I was about eight-ish, I started developing an obsession with Bryan Adams. I remember I even got the chance to meet his parents; they were so sweet! His mom even gave me a book about him (I'm surprised I didn't frame it). Then, a few short years later, I became one of those pathetic preteens who bought those ridiculous platform shoes and knew every word to every Spicegirls song. I even got a Scary Spice barbie for Christmas (I still have it :-D). Ironically, they were even a part of the saddest day of my childhood life: the day the Spicegirls concert sold out. After that, I convinced myself that I was going to camp outside of GM Place and wait for them to come out of the arena. Mom and Dad, however, didn't seem too impressed with this idea.
In high school, I became that girl who thought she was so cool because she listened to Rap and R&B and knew all the lyrics to each and every song. I think I even tried to have a rap battle once (won't get into that one either).
However, things began to change once I got a job at HMV in grade 11. I was forced to listen to different types of music and, eventually, discovered my love for all types of music! I realized that I enjoy listening to each genre of music at different times: if I was upset, I'd listen to Punk; if I was happy, I'd listen to Rock; if I was sad, I'd listen to R&B; if I was energetic, I'd listen to Rap. Usually, this seemed to do the trick. After all, a man once said, "Music is what feelings sound like."
Now, I still listen to all sorts of music. However, my absolute favourite artist of all time is Lauryn Hill. I've never listened to an album and loved all the songs before until I listened to "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill." Her voice is so smooth and unique, and the fact that she sings with so much soul definitely sets her aside from other artists. She's been due for another album for quite some time now, but unfortunately complications with her record label have put this project on hiatus. Although, she is featured on latest Joss Stone album "Introducing." I'll have to take a listen to that!
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
To Read or Not to Read
Yes, it's true; I admit it. I actually like to read! Although, I haven't read a really good book in quite some time now, mainly because I've been so consumed with textbooks lately. If you're looking for a good book to read, Oprah seems to be a reputable source to rely on. One year, she dubbed Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina as the best book choice of the year. After that show aired, I went out and bought a copy (I'm such a sucker! But it's not my fault! Oprah's a good advertiser :P). Now, I haven't exactly gotten the chance to read it yet (Don't frown upon me! That book is THICK) , but I hear it's an awesome book. Below are Oprah's top 9 suggestions for books to read this summer:
1) White Oleander by Janet Fitch
"White Oleander is an unforgettable story of mothers and daughters, burgeoning sexuality, the redemptive powers of art, and the unstoppable force of the emergent self. Written with exquisite beauty and grace, this is a compelling debut by an author poised to join the ranks of today's most gifted novelists. "
2) The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
"The Poisonwood Bible tells the story of an evangelical Baptist minister who takes his wife, four daughters and his mission from a small town in Georgia to the Belgian Congo in 1959. It is a move that will have unspeakable tragic consequences for the Price family as they confront the unstoppable forces of nature, hubris, and history."
3) I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb
"Born in the waning moments of 1949 and the opening minutes of 1950, the twins Dominick and Thomas are physical mirror images who grow into separate yet connected entities. From childhood, Dominick, fights for both separation and wholeness—and ultimately self-protection—in a house of fear and mystery. To save himself, Dominick must confront not only the pain of his past but the dark secrets he has locked deep within himself and the sins of his ancestors—a quest that will lead him beyond the confines of his blue-collar New England town to the volcanic foothills of Sicily's Mount Etna."
4) Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts
"Where the Heart Is puts a human face on the look-alike trailer parks and malls of America's small towns. It will make you believe in the strength of friendship, the goodness of down-to-earth people, and the healing power of love. And it will make you laugh and cry...every step of the way."
5) She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb
"She's Come Undone is a deeply affecting, often hilarious novel that centers around one of the most extraordinary characters in recent American fiction: wisecracking, ever-vulnerable Dolores Price, whose life we follow through her fortieth year. When we first meet Dolores in 1956, she is four years old, innocently unaware that the delivery of a television set will launch her tumultuous personal odyssey. "
6) Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald
"Moving from Cape Breton Island to the bleak landscape of World War I and the emerging jazz scene in New York City, this epic tale tells the story of four unforgettable sisters. This is a story of inescapable family bonds, of terrible secrets, of miracles, murder, passion and forbidden love."
7) We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates
"The Mulvaneys are blessed by all that makes life sweet—a hardworking father, a loving mother, three fine sons and a bright, pretty daughter. They are confident in their love for each other and their position in the rural community of Mt. Ephraim, New York. But something happens on Valentine's Day, 1976: an incident that is hushed up in the town and never spoken of in the Mulvaney home. "
8) Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail by Malika Oufkir
"Stolen Lives is a shocking true story of resilience in the face of extreme deprivation and of the courage and humor with which one family faced their tormented fate."
9) Cane River by Lalita Tademy
"This is history never before told. Lalita Tademy brings to life four vivid and remarkable generations of African-American women from her family's past, beginning in slavery, sweeping through the Civil War, and into the pre-Civil Rights South."
And for those of you who haven't checked out the Douglas book sale in the concourse at the New Westminster campus, I strongly urge you to go! They have some awesome books at reasonable prices. Might as well start stocking up now, I know I will!
http://www.oprah.com/obc/summer/obc_summer_main.jhtml
1) White Oleander by Janet Fitch
"White Oleander is an unforgettable story of mothers and daughters, burgeoning sexuality, the redemptive powers of art, and the unstoppable force of the emergent self. Written with exquisite beauty and grace, this is a compelling debut by an author poised to join the ranks of today's most gifted novelists. "
2) The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
"The Poisonwood Bible tells the story of an evangelical Baptist minister who takes his wife, four daughters and his mission from a small town in Georgia to the Belgian Congo in 1959. It is a move that will have unspeakable tragic consequences for the Price family as they confront the unstoppable forces of nature, hubris, and history."
3) I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb
"Born in the waning moments of 1949 and the opening minutes of 1950, the twins Dominick and Thomas are physical mirror images who grow into separate yet connected entities. From childhood, Dominick, fights for both separation and wholeness—and ultimately self-protection—in a house of fear and mystery. To save himself, Dominick must confront not only the pain of his past but the dark secrets he has locked deep within himself and the sins of his ancestors—a quest that will lead him beyond the confines of his blue-collar New England town to the volcanic foothills of Sicily's Mount Etna."
4) Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts
"Where the Heart Is puts a human face on the look-alike trailer parks and malls of America's small towns. It will make you believe in the strength of friendship, the goodness of down-to-earth people, and the healing power of love. And it will make you laugh and cry...every step of the way."
5) She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb
"She's Come Undone is a deeply affecting, often hilarious novel that centers around one of the most extraordinary characters in recent American fiction: wisecracking, ever-vulnerable Dolores Price, whose life we follow through her fortieth year. When we first meet Dolores in 1956, she is four years old, innocently unaware that the delivery of a television set will launch her tumultuous personal odyssey. "
6) Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald
"Moving from Cape Breton Island to the bleak landscape of World War I and the emerging jazz scene in New York City, this epic tale tells the story of four unforgettable sisters. This is a story of inescapable family bonds, of terrible secrets, of miracles, murder, passion and forbidden love."
7) We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates
"The Mulvaneys are blessed by all that makes life sweet—a hardworking father, a loving mother, three fine sons and a bright, pretty daughter. They are confident in their love for each other and their position in the rural community of Mt. Ephraim, New York. But something happens on Valentine's Day, 1976: an incident that is hushed up in the town and never spoken of in the Mulvaney home. "
8) Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail by Malika Oufkir
"Stolen Lives is a shocking true story of resilience in the face of extreme deprivation and of the courage and humor with which one family faced their tormented fate."
9) Cane River by Lalita Tademy
"This is history never before told. Lalita Tademy brings to life four vivid and remarkable generations of African-American women from her family's past, beginning in slavery, sweeping through the Civil War, and into the pre-Civil Rights South."
And for those of you who haven't checked out the Douglas book sale in the concourse at the New Westminster campus, I strongly urge you to go! They have some awesome books at reasonable prices. Might as well start stocking up now, I know I will!
http://www.oprah.com/obc/summer/obc_summer_main.jhtml
Friday, March 16, 2007
The Cold: for Better or for Worse?
It's pretty much a common rule to stay home from school when you're feeling utterly and miserably sick, but, sometimes, people abuse this rule a little too much. I, too, am guilty of such a crime. When I was little, I remember I would always use any teeny tiny signs of being sick as an excuse to stay home. But I find I don't tend to use the whole, "my nose is runny" speech anymore. Now, I find that those signs are actually an advantage.
The average person might say that "being ill affects one's ability to concentrate and work hard." This may be true, but in my case, I find it does the exact opposite. When I'm 'suffering' from a cold or minor sickness of some sort, it actually helps me focus. It's almost as if the fact that being sick is a drawback serves as a motivation for me; since I know I have a disadvantage, I'm willing to try harder. Although, if I'm REALLY sick, I tend to have a motivation to sleep [but I've never fallen asleep in class... ever, I swear! ;) ].
It's been almost two weeks that I've been sick, and quite frankly, I'm getting a little annoyed! Sure, it helps me out in school and everything, but this little bug is just refusing to check out! Fortunately, my symptoms seem to be gradually disappearing, so maybe I won't be sick for much longer (hopefully!) . And what's worse, I can't even turn to my regular dosage of chocolate for comfort since I gave it up for lent. Although, I'm rather proud of myself for not touching the stuff!
p.s. Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!
The average person might say that "being ill affects one's ability to concentrate and work hard." This may be true, but in my case, I find it does the exact opposite. When I'm 'suffering' from a cold or minor sickness of some sort, it actually helps me focus. It's almost as if the fact that being sick is a drawback serves as a motivation for me; since I know I have a disadvantage, I'm willing to try harder. Although, if I'm REALLY sick, I tend to have a motivation to sleep [but I've never fallen asleep in class... ever, I swear! ;) ].
It's been almost two weeks that I've been sick, and quite frankly, I'm getting a little annoyed! Sure, it helps me out in school and everything, but this little bug is just refusing to check out! Fortunately, my symptoms seem to be gradually disappearing, so maybe I won't be sick for much longer (hopefully!) . And what's worse, I can't even turn to my regular dosage of chocolate for comfort since I gave it up for lent. Although, I'm rather proud of myself for not touching the stuff!
p.s. Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Gas Prices: Maybe We're Not Paying So Much Here in Canada
You're cruisin' halfway down to Granville Island when you suddenly realize that you've run out of gas. You pull over to the nearest Petro Canada gas station to find yourself rolling your eyes at the latest gas price 102.9 . What you don't realize is, gas prices have just shot up within only a couple of weeks in the United States. So, maybe we're not the ones who have it that bad after all.
In the past month, gasoline prices shot up 33 cents per gallon in the U.S. and are said to be climbing even higher in the next few weeks. However, California takes the crown in this competition, having the highest fuel rates in the country. The district has prices set to a whopping $3.09 a gallon; San Francisco, in particular, has its prices hiked up to $3.25. It was only a month ago that the average price of gasoline per gallon was set at $2.21, whereas yesterday, the prices were raised to $2.54 . Because of the sudden price increase, even small car owners are getting frustrated because it used to cost only "$30 for a little car." Minivan salesmen are feeling the pressure as well, for no one wants to buy an automobile that guzzles gas like there's no tomorrow.
(Information gathered from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/12/AR2007031200869.html?nav=rss_business )
If any of you Vancouverites are interested in our city's gasoline prices, the most recent report is as follows: (**Note** These prices are in effect as of today, Tuesday March 13th)
Lowest Regular Gas Prices
*98.4* - Petro Canada [David & Johnson (W/ Citi Petro M/C Discount)]
*99.4* - Costco [Ottawa & Nicola Lougheed]
*100.9* - Tempo [Broadway & Renfrew]
Highest Regular Gas Prices
*110.9* - Mohawk[Fraser Highway & 158 St], Esso [Grandview Hwy & Rupert, Broadway
& Nanaimo, King George & 104], Chevron [Renfrew & Grandview Hwy, King
George & 128th St, King George & 102, King George Hwy & 102nd Ave], Shell
[108 & 135A St], Husky [108th & 132 st]
Final thought:
You see, this is where the electric car would come in handy. If they were still around, we wouldn't have to worry about gas prices, would we? I say "BRING BACK BATTERIES!"
In the past month, gasoline prices shot up 33 cents per gallon in the U.S. and are said to be climbing even higher in the next few weeks. However, California takes the crown in this competition, having the highest fuel rates in the country. The district has prices set to a whopping $3.09 a gallon; San Francisco, in particular, has its prices hiked up to $3.25. It was only a month ago that the average price of gasoline per gallon was set at $2.21, whereas yesterday, the prices were raised to $2.54 . Because of the sudden price increase, even small car owners are getting frustrated because it used to cost only "$30 for a little car." Minivan salesmen are feeling the pressure as well, for no one wants to buy an automobile that guzzles gas like there's no tomorrow.
(Information gathered from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/12/AR2007031200869.html?nav=rss_business )
If any of you Vancouverites are interested in our city's gasoline prices, the most recent report is as follows: (**Note** These prices are in effect as of today, Tuesday March 13th)
Lowest Regular Gas Prices
*98.4* - Petro Canada [David & Johnson (W/ Citi Petro M/C Discount)]
*99.4* - Costco [Ottawa & Nicola Lougheed]
*100.9* - Tempo [Broadway & Renfrew]
Highest Regular Gas Prices
*110.9* - Mohawk[Fraser Highway & 158 St], Esso [Grandview Hwy & Rupert, Broadway
& Nanaimo, King George & 104], Chevron [Renfrew & Grandview Hwy, King
George & 128th St, King George & 102, King George Hwy & 102nd Ave], Shell
[108 & 135A St], Husky [108th & 132 st]
Final thought:
You see, this is where the electric car would come in handy. If they were still around, we wouldn't have to worry about gas prices, would we? I say "BRING BACK BATTERIES!"
Monday, March 12, 2007
Yoga: What's the Big Fuss About?
Everytime I bring up exercise in a conversation, Yoga always seems to pop up one way or another. I've always wanted to do Yoga, but I just "haven't gotten around to it yet," I guess you could say. I hear it's one of the best things you could do for your body and it can drastically help reduce stress. With school, work, homework and extra curricular activities to juggle, I'm thinking Yoga may just do the trick!
For those of you who are interested, here's some background information about the exercise:
Yoga first originated in India and was primarily a source of Hindu philosophy. Many use Yoga as a form of alternative medicine which focuses on relaxation and meditation; those who practice the activity are dubbed yogi, yogin (masculine) and yogini (feminine) [<-- I love the sound of that!]. There are many ancient Hindu scriptures that outline the basis of Yoga: the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and several others. Since the 'Bhagavad Gita' was written (somewhere between 500 and 50 BCE), Yoga has been categorized under 4 main classes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Raja Yoga. The word 'Yoga' itself comes from the Proto - Indo - European word 'yugam' which means to "join" or "unite." Some of the effects of Yoga are said to include stress reduction, circulation and flexibility. Pretty cool, eh?
So why is Yoga so popular then? My guess is because almost all diseases are stress-related; therefore, practicing Yoga may prevent sickenesses and help heal one spiritually and, in the long run, physically. One of the things I love about this idea is the fact that its a type of relaxation therapy that doesn't involve prescription drugs. Most of the time I hesistate to take prescription drugs, mainy because someone once told me that they "fix one thing but hurt another." I'm not 100% sure about how true this is, but I don't want to take any chances!
Are you a regular yogin/yogini?
For those of you who are interested, here's some background information about the exercise:
Yoga first originated in India and was primarily a source of Hindu philosophy. Many use Yoga as a form of alternative medicine which focuses on relaxation and meditation; those who practice the activity are dubbed yogi, yogin (masculine) and yogini (feminine) [<-- I love the sound of that!]. There are many ancient Hindu scriptures that outline the basis of Yoga: the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and several others. Since the 'Bhagavad Gita' was written (somewhere between 500 and 50 BCE), Yoga has been categorized under 4 main classes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Raja Yoga. The word 'Yoga' itself comes from the Proto - Indo - European word 'yugam' which means to "join" or "unite." Some of the effects of Yoga are said to include stress reduction, circulation and flexibility. Pretty cool, eh?
So why is Yoga so popular then? My guess is because almost all diseases are stress-related; therefore, practicing Yoga may prevent sickenesses and help heal one spiritually and, in the long run, physically. One of the things I love about this idea is the fact that its a type of relaxation therapy that doesn't involve prescription drugs. Most of the time I hesistate to take prescription drugs, mainy because someone once told me that they "fix one thing but hurt another." I'm not 100% sure about how true this is, but I don't want to take any chances!
Are you a regular yogin/yogini?
Thursday, March 8, 2007
TV Show for Geico Cavemen?
Apparently, the cavemen on the Geico commercials are coming out with their own show! The sitcom is said to follow the cavemen as they "struggle with prejudice on a daily basis [and] strive to live the lives of normal thirty-somethings in 2007 Atlanta." The idea has conjured many skeptics who think the show has limited or no potential to succeed. I, myself, highly doubt the show will be a hit. Sure, it might be funny or entertaining the first couple shows, but I can definitely see the idea getting old fast. Although, I'm kind of looking forward to it (I can't help that I'm curious!) Do you plan to watch the show?
**Follow this link to view one of the Geico commercials http://youtube.com/watch?v=kVVSmnnqfvc **
Another issue I want to bring up is celebrity lenience. Recently, Naomi Campbell was sentenced to FIVE DAYS of community service and anger management classes after she hit her housekeeper with her cell phone. Personally, I think Campbell is not being treated fairly at all. If a regular person was put in her shoes, the consequences for his/her actions would have been way more severe. I also think that five days of cleaning floors in a municipal warehouse isn't going to justify her behaviour (Although, a supermodel washing floors is kind of an interesting sight!) On the other hand, the anger management courses are definitely a plus, assuming they will be beneficial. Hopefully everything will work out for the best!
Click on the following link for the full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6425581.stm .
Are celebrities let off the hook too easily?
**Follow this link to view one of the Geico commercials http://youtube.com/watch?v=kVVSmnnqfvc **
Another issue I want to bring up is celebrity lenience. Recently, Naomi Campbell was sentenced to FIVE DAYS of community service and anger management classes after she hit her housekeeper with her cell phone. Personally, I think Campbell is not being treated fairly at all. If a regular person was put in her shoes, the consequences for his/her actions would have been way more severe. I also think that five days of cleaning floors in a municipal warehouse isn't going to justify her behaviour (Although, a supermodel washing floors is kind of an interesting sight!) On the other hand, the anger management courses are definitely a plus, assuming they will be beneficial. Hopefully everything will work out for the best!
Click on the following link for the full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6425581.stm .
Are celebrities let off the hook too easily?
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
A Series of Unfortunate Airport Events
This weekend I packed up my bags and boarded a plane to the beautiful city of Montreal. Ironically enough, one of my friends was on the same plane as me! My flight took a stop in Toronto first, then headed to Montreal, and it seemed as though I brought the snow everywhere I went. When I left Vancouver, it was snowing; when I arrived in Toronto, it was snowing; and only a couple hours after I landed in Montreal (yup, you guessed it), it started snowing! I wouldn't have minded the weather as much if only I brought some boots. But no, I wasn't that lucky!
Shortly after he announced that the plane was boarding, he began calling names to assign seats. After calling a long list of at least 50 names, he gave up. "Okay, let's just make this easier for everyone," he said. "How many of you are there?" He did a head count of 6 and gave us each seats on the last flight of the night. I couldn't believe it.
You'd think this would be the end, but no. Unfortunately, this flight only stopped in Toronto, and the next flight out to Vancouver from there left at 7 the next morning. I landed in Toronto at around 11:30 pm and began making calls to figure out what I should do from there (my phone bill is going to be a heavy one this month!). I decided it would be best to throw an all nighter at the airport rather than get picked up by my cousin who lived only a half hour away. First off, it would have been a major inconvenience. Second, by the time I got picked up, went to his house, slept, woke up, got ready, and drove back to the airport, it wouldn't have been worth it. So I decided to join the rest of the slumbering passengers in the 24-hour area.
The next morning, I waited to get called to board the 7 o'clock flight but, surprise-surprise, I didn't make it on. Once again, I got re-listed and made it onto the next flight that headed out at 8:30 am. Finally, I was on my way home!
If there's two things I've learned from this entire experience, they would have to be:
1) People can do amazing things if they follow their dreams; wasted talent never got anyone anywhere.
2) Persistence DOES work! If I hadn't stuck around, I would still be in Montreal and probably wouldn't have made it home until Friday. (Although, that wouldn't have been all that bad!)
P.S. If you haven't been to Montreal, I strongly urge you to check it out one day!
The trip, altogether, was amazing though. I stayed with my friend in her dorm at McGill University; even now I still fail to understand how anyone gets any work done around there! The constant music-blasting and yelling people make it nearly impossible to concentrate. On the other hand, I guess everyone is pretty much used to it by now. My friend was an awesome tour guide; she had every minute of everyday planned out. We did a little shopping, a little movie-watching, a little clubbing and a LOT of eating! She took me to Indian, Thai, and Mexican restaurants -all of which were incredible. I met some pretty amazing people at her residence, too. One guy there was a phenomenal basketball player, one girl was a crazy dancer, and another girl sung and played the guitar beautifully. All of this talent had me so inspired! It also reminded me of my aspirations to play the guitar, and now I'm thinking about taking guitar lessons!
Eventually, like all trips, it had to come to an end. However, I was very appreciative of the fact that we did so much during such a short trip. But I think saying goodbye was probably the hardest part. It's not easy when a close friend moves away and you don't get to see them as much, not to mention I was addicted to such an amazing city! So I squished everything into my suitcase and caught a cab to the airport. This, my friends, is where the fun begins.
As soon as I got the the Montreal Trudeau Airport, I knew there was going to be trouble. The snowstorm that came a few days prior had all the flights out of Montreal delayed. The fact that I went standby didn't help either. I went to the gate of the flight I was supposed to catch and realized the excessive bombardment of people waiting to get on. So, I asked the attendant at the gate if there was any chance of me getting on, and she told me that the flight was completely booked. I got re-listed on the next flight out which was a half hour wait. Again, I went up to the counter and asked an airline employee whether I would have any chance at all of making the flight. He told me "there are 100 people waiting to get on and you're near the bottom of the list. And if you don't make it on tonight, you have no chance making it tomorrow morning, either. Those flights look even worse. But you could always stick around and see what happens." GREAT.
Shortly after he announced that the plane was boarding, he began calling names to assign seats. After calling a long list of at least 50 names, he gave up. "Okay, let's just make this easier for everyone," he said. "How many of you are there?" He did a head count of 6 and gave us each seats on the last flight of the night. I couldn't believe it.
You'd think this would be the end, but no. Unfortunately, this flight only stopped in Toronto, and the next flight out to Vancouver from there left at 7 the next morning. I landed in Toronto at around 11:30 pm and began making calls to figure out what I should do from there (my phone bill is going to be a heavy one this month!). I decided it would be best to throw an all nighter at the airport rather than get picked up by my cousin who lived only a half hour away. First off, it would have been a major inconvenience. Second, by the time I got picked up, went to his house, slept, woke up, got ready, and drove back to the airport, it wouldn't have been worth it. So I decided to join the rest of the slumbering passengers in the 24-hour area.
The next morning, I waited to get called to board the 7 o'clock flight but, surprise-surprise, I didn't make it on. Once again, I got re-listed and made it onto the next flight that headed out at 8:30 am. Finally, I was on my way home!
If there's two things I've learned from this entire experience, they would have to be:
1) People can do amazing things if they follow their dreams; wasted talent never got anyone anywhere.
2) Persistence DOES work! If I hadn't stuck around, I would still be in Montreal and probably wouldn't have made it home until Friday. (Although, that wouldn't have been all that bad!)
P.S. If you haven't been to Montreal, I strongly urge you to check it out one day!
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