WestJet

WestJet is the most fabulous airline ever. They don't feed you, but that way you're not guessing about it (Air Canada, I am looking at you). The staff are not only efficient, but so nice. I just called to confirm my flight and the lady was very polite and advised me that "if you want to bring, say, a large pepperoni pizza on board, you should bring a slice for the flight attendant because then she'll act as a bodyguard against the other passengers and you can eat your pizza in peace." Point taken, madame.

I'm going home!!!

Yay!

Katherine and Robyn are back! Yaaay! And I just went swimming with Natalie! Yaaay! I love Christmas.

I Had A Dream, Pt. 2

Drifting off to sleep last night, I had one of those dream snippets that can be so disturbing. I don't know if it's the stress of exams or what, but something made me dream three seconds of an evangelical Christian baking show. It went as follows:

Christmassy backdrop of dark green, a kitchen counter in front of it. Cut to:

Nice Christian baking lady: And remember, there's got to be Christ in the buns!

Me [waking up]: Whaaa?

Suspicious Cafeteria Items

"Pork Pies With Pork"

Reasons my roomie is acceptably awesome

1. She sleeps a lot.

2. When she sleeps, she sleeps deeply.

3. She creates an acceptable level of mess.

4. Three words: Mongolian house music. Insanity! It's cool.

5. She is neither pushy nor controlling. Hooray!

6. We can explain stuff to each other because we are in the same program.

7. Indra likes the Monty Python sketches she has seen. There is hope.

Economics, Schmeconomics

Ah, whatcha gonna do. Exams are in full swing. I've written two (French and public affairs) and have three to go. Economics is tomorrow; I am terrified. Trala.

Had cross-country practice today, our first one with the wrist-mounted odometer/speedometer that Jacob bought this week. It was exciting to discover that the little "6km" loop we have been running along the canal up to Pretoria Bridge and back is actually almost 11km. So, the 10km run we supposedly did was actually more like 15. This explains much.

Ice, Ice, Baby

A few days ago we had freezing rain. This is turning out brilliantly. The roads and sidewalks have been cleared and everywhere else is a skating rink. So today I went with Laura, Katherine, and Robyn, and we amused ourselves by going across the canal to the Arboretum and sliding down the hill. Katherine and I succeeded in getting back up the hill, and made a human chain to pull up Laura, whose shoes were slippery and who was having a little trouble. It was like the evolution of man... just Laura and Robyn struggling up the hill, all hunched-over.

And then it was back to the Fishbowl for another round of brick hockey. After that, to Glengarry to watch Carolyn Parrish take on Tucker Carlson, who continues to be a disgrace to the name of "human being". And then, to continue the audiovisual movable feast, it was my room for some Monty Python sketches. "My hovercraft is full of eels!" indeed. And now here I am, sitting quietly in my room again. What a delightful day.

Somehow, I got an A on the PAPM mini-essay that I made up the night before it was due. Hmm. This is not a good precedent to set, methinks. It was funny picking it up, though: my TA has mysteriously acquired a fan club. There were about ten girls sitting in a cluster around Denis and furiously taking notes. Apparently his other tutorial group (Katherine's) made him a card, which he says is on his fridge.

Tea? New Worlds?

Jacob is mocking me on MSN. Witness:

Jessica's subconscious says: "It is taking me over. I am now dependent on it! mmmm [Daily Show], you are like relieving morphine, sweet at the time, and addictive later...would anyone like some tea?"

I just really, really like The Daily Show. Is that such a crime?

Today I had my paradigm deconstructed in public affairs class. As I said during the break, "Hmm. I do believe my brain has ruptured and will shortly start leaking from my nose. Can I have a tis-sue?" It is difficult when you go into the contemporary stuff, which basically highlights how unsolvably messed-up the world is, and then you are told that nihilism is kind of pointless as well. At least my French oral exam went alright as well, I think, though it was a ridiculous amount of work for five per cent of the year's mark.

Jessica needs no sleep. Jessica needs only coffee and pretzels, and Jon Stewart and Thomas Hobbes and her essay.

Crunch Time 2: Electric Boogaloo

Well, it is exam time once again. You can tell by the blood on the walls and the panic in our eyes. The worst things about exam time are, in order:

1. Public affairs twelve-page essay of MADNESS.

2. The stupid French movie we have to watch to prepare for our oral exam. Only three people can watch it at a time in the language lab thing. There is one copy on campus. There are forty-four people in my French class. You do the math.

3. Positive reinforcement from previous good marks is making me feel that I have to study hardcore and do just as well as I did on my midterms. I don't actually want to do this.

That's about it. Last night was fun -- a bunch of the Girls From the Floor went out to see the Parliament lights and then out for dessert at Oh So Good. Brandy pumpkin cheesecake is yummy, in case y'all are wondering. There are photos below. The Daily Show was, as usual, brilliant, covering Bush's visit to Canada.

And I'm up reasonably early this morning because my group tried to watch the stupid movie (see number 2 in the List of Bad). I understand that the movie is certifiably francophone in that it is totally insane. Apparently it is a documentary, and the narrator goes nuts and starts screaming at a skull or some such... this is just what I've heard, mind you.

A group of urchins keeps warm in the Chateau Laurier. From left: Shweta, Maria, Bev, me, Amanda, Nicole, Kaija, and (crouching) Amanda and Allison.

Having delicious dessert at Oh So Good

Friendship can turn ugly in the blink of an eye, particularly when one of the friends has aikido mojo.

Alphabeticizing

My all-time favourite thing said in poli-sci this semester:

"You can come down to the front and collect your essays. Now, I've put them all in order, so please do not disrupt the alphabeticity."

Good Vibrations

I'm actually feeling pretty good today. I thought I was coming down with another cold (bleah!) earlier, but it seems to be better now. Mallory and I went swimming, my French class was non-crazy-making for once, and things seem to be going swimmingly. See what just ignoring your work can do for you? I'm getting a bit behind, I think, but it's not too bad yet. I mostly have a backlog of notes to type up.

The Glen Gang is here to watch The Daily Show, as is the ritual of Monday to Thursday nights. They are quite the amusing bunch. It strikes me that I seem to be making the same kind of friends here as I have at home: mostly a bit preppy, mostly female, mostly kvetchingly ironic.(Kvetchingly may not be a word, but it oughta!)

Christmas preparations are in full swing. Indra and I have lights for our room now, and looking out across the Fishbowl I can see that a lot of other rooms have them, too. Katherine has flashing icicle lights for her room -- amusing to look at, but if she and Robyn suddenly have seizures, we will know why. Some folks have gone all-out and bought actual Christmas trees for their rooms. I don't know how they manage to live in among the branches (our rooms are not that big, and some of these trees are considerable), but I salute their superior levels of holiday cheer.

The cross-country club starts practice Monday. Whee!