29/01/2012

Book Review: Home

Home: A memoir of my early years by Julie Andrews
It all started with Mary Poppins being on TV during Christmas vacation. Watching it in my PJ's having breakfast with my family brought back so many memories. Particularly how my personal copy had been taped from the television (VHS BABY) and I remember having the daunting task of fast forwarding through all of the commercials (particularly this horrible McDonald's one with clapping hands that irritated 5 year old me). I realised how much I loved Mary Poppins. She was really practically perfect in every way.
A wise man once told me to read biographies of people you admire. Figure out how they got through troubles and triumphs. How they learnt and grew. To me Julie Andrews is the epitome of grace, poise, and gentleness. Seriously... gimme some of that! So I ordered this from my local library and got introduced to the start up years of her amazing career. I'm not sure what I expected to read. Perhaps stories of an amazing childhood baking cookies and riding unicorns. That was not what I got. Julie Andrews had a very sad and difficult upbringing. Her mother was into Vaudeville in WWII and wasn't really around. She had to live with a horrible stepfather when she had a perfectly good father within driving distance. She was sucked into Vaudeville to help support her family because of her amazing voice. She essentially took jobs to ensure her family didn't loose their home. She had boys that loved her, but she was shy and "bandy kneed." She was the original "My Fair Lady" before the movie on Broadway. Really I could type about this for hours, but I'll just say READ IT! It will help your girl crush on Julie Andrews grow. She is and was one amazing woman.

03/01/2012

Musings: 2011

I know that I am a few days late on the whole New Years posting thing, but it was such a crazy year that it took a bit to figure out what I would write about. I think what I will do is catagorize it into the major events of the year!

 Spain: This was the biggest part of my year. I chose to finish my degree abroad rather than sitting in a boring lecture hall for the 10th semester in a row. It was quite possibly the best decision I have ever made. I went in completely green about world travelling. I had never had to get a Visa, never had to fly over an ocean, and never been surrounded completely with a foreign language. I think one day I might just do an entire post on what I learned about travelling abroad, but for now I'll just say it: GO TO SPAIN! I visited the following cities: Tarragona, Barcelona, Madrid, Segovia, Figueres and Gerona. I would recommend seeing all of them. Catalonia is fantastic in its entirety, so really you can't go wrong. I met amazing people, an amazing boy, and just really had an amazing time (too many amazings perhaps... no not really). I came back a different person, and finally can say I'm grown up.


 The UK: I might be a bit biased, but the UK is quite wonderful. I did my first ever, funded by me, big girl trip. I met two friends in Liverpool and we travelled to Manchester, London, Stonehenge, and Bath. I also went up to the Edinburgh area in Scotland to visit one of my flatmates in Spain who was back home for the break. Although it was soggy (so unlike the prairies I'm used to) it was so full of history. I knew that the 98% of the buildings were older than me (unlike home) and the Art History girl in me just squealed with delight over everything. I need to go back though an do it all a bit slower as my head still spins over all I saw in 10 days.

Getting a "Big Girl" Job: I don't really talk about my job on the internet, not that I'm in the mafia, but just that its seems something so personal, and doesn't really fit with the theme of my blog. ANYWAYS! I finally graduated from University (Two Degrees later) and after coming back from Spain was on the job hunt. Needless to say I got a contract in the hardest job market in decades. Seriously, that is only a God thing. Now I spend my days working rather than sleeping in, going to class, and reading. Big change after never being out of school for my entire existence... But I gotta say that I love the responsibility!

Becoming a "Cat Mama": Now only cat people are going to be able to relate to this, but I finally got my own baby who is alllll mine. We've had family cats my entire life, but never one that was fully mine. On a seemly harmless trip to Canmore, we stopped at the SPCA as a family and this one couldn't stop licking my Dad's nose. She cuddled up to me and looked me in the eyes when I held her and she just HAD to be mine. I must admit that having a kitten has been a really tough thing. I've never had to think about what's on the floor that would look delicious, but it's been really rewarding. She's been with us now for 4 months and I cannot image life without her.

Mr. Tom: Serious one of the best people I've met in a long time, and the best "Fancy Pen Pal" I've ever had!

It was a pretty banner year in Brittany land. I'm soooo looking forward to what 2012 might bring: people, places, and things! Hopefully me being a better blogger means that you can share in it too!