DONE

Today is my last undergraduate class of my undergraduate career.

I’m having one of those days where I know in my brain that this is happening, but don’t feel it in my body yet.  I still have two papers to write and one take home test to complete, but as of three-o’clock today, that’s it, no more classes. Yesterday was my last test ever and oh boy was I happy about that one, but between you and me, I would be surprised if I didn’t end up crying at some point today.

University has been everything I’ve wanted it to be and more. I wouldn’t trade my time at U of T for anything (anything) in the world. That picture up there, that’s my rare book library. It’s one of the most extensive university rare book libraries in North America, and I got to study there.  Boggles the mind really.

I feel incredibly blessed, grateful, sad, excited, elated, nervous today.

Oh, hai

Okay, so things got a little busy. I mean, REALLY busy. While in Oxford, being inside on my computer was basically the last thing I wanted to be doing with my time; and when I was on my computer, I was working on school. So here are some highlights from my trip since my last post:

The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta (completely unforgettable).

A weekend in Glasgow (and a day in Edinburgh) with a best friend!

Saw Dolly the cloned sheep at the Scottish National Museum!

Went to the Victoria and Albert Museum:

Went to the Tate Britain and the Tate Modern

And St. Paul’s

And Postman’s Park

We went on class Field Trips to Hampton Court Palace

and Blenheim Palace.

Some friends and I also saw a production of Pygmalion (it was amazing)!

I also went to the Churchill War Rooms, the Natural History Museum, played soccer, saw the Rosetta Stone at the British Museum, drank beer, won first prize at a pub quiz night, ate lots of really yummy food, cried at the Imperial War Museum, bought a fantastic trench coat, made some really wonderful friends, ate at a Jamie Oliver restaurant (best polenta of my life), learned A LOT of British History and wrote a pretty good paper. Oh and I guess it was kinda a big deal, but I was chosen to sit at the high table for our honorary dinner:

All in all, it was pretty much one of the best experiences of my life.  Halfway through my flight home I asked the flight attendant for a cup of tea and burst into tears realizing that the trip was officially over (and I wouldn’t be drinking British tea anymore). Maybe I should just chalk that one up to lack of sleep, but either way, I had an amazing time.

I’m going to (try) and go back to blogging regularly now. I keep coming across things to share and then remember that my blog has been a little dormant and then I feel guilty and sad and basically things should change. This is (potentially) my last year in Canada, and I’m trying to make it count.

Magical Mystery Tour

Happy Memorial Day America! … Happy normal-just-like-every-other Monday Canada?

I had a very busy weekend. See, we’re moving tomorrow/Wednesday so there was lots and lots and lots of packing, but also some fun.

Doors Open Toronto was this weekend so Nate and I made some time to sneak away and see some public buildings, including Coach House Press which is possibly one of my favorite things in this city. Run out of this tiny, unassuming, dilapidated house, Coach House Press  is one of the most revered independent publishers in Canada. Here, the carrers of writers like Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje, and bp Nichol began.  They print very small circulations, 2000 books at the most, hatching fledgling literary stars, allowing them to spread their wings but once they take off, they move to bigger publishers who can really help them soar. One of the simple joys in my day to day life in Toronto is walking past this building.  I read the bp Nichol poem etched in the pavement and hear the hum of the hard working presses and all is good and right in the world.

There is nothing like the sound of working presses. Absolutely nothing like it. I was in a giddy state of awe and wonder throughout the entire tour, a feeling I haven’t felt since the last time I was on stage. Do you know the feeling? It’s absolute magic.

(PS. This perfume is called “In the Library” and smells like books. Made for me? Most definitely. I plan on buying the little roller one.)

Boom!

Why hello there Saturday morning, when did you get here? This week seemed to go by outrageously fast, but at the same time the Wednesday snowpocolypse debacle seems like such a long time ago. I hate this feeling.

In brighter news, things are finally starting to really move forward on my newest (and most exciting) project! Drum role: I’m spearheading the first ever Book and Media Studies student undergraduate journal (titled The Frame and Foolscap). The past couple of months have been a  lot of talking and not much doing, but on Thursday we have our first official event: a bakesale! I know it’s small, but I’m really really excited. I’ve also started receiving emails from people who are so enthusiastic about the project and willing to help out however the can, it’s amazing. I don’t know what I’m going to be able to do for them — we’re such a small operation right now– but suddenly I’m the person people are emailing for work instead of the other way around. It’s kinda a weird feeling, similar to those moments when you know that you’re acting like an adult but don’t feel like one. Does that make any sense? For some reason, I’m all about sharing my feelings today. I want to make this journal happen more than anything, even if it only happens online.

These two images have nothing in common, except that I like them both and they might be stolen from my friend Andie’s blog (I know the bikes one definitely is).

Little Taste of Heaven

It’s an absolute tundra in my apartment.  I’m pretty convinced that the heat has stopped working again, because even though I’m wearing a sweatshirt, sweatpants, and a pair of the thickest (and pinkest) socks created by man,  all while wrapped in a fleece blanket, I’m still FREEZING. I could call my landlord, but he is crazy and every time I talk to him he tries to make me pay my hyro bill, which my lease specifically says I’m NOT responsible for. I would really like to curl up in my quilt, and watch something wonderful (and s’marvelous, Funny Face perhaps?) with brownies and hot chocolate by my side. But I have two exams next week that won’t study themselves!

Things to look forward too:

• New York City next week with my family
• Projected sunshine on Monday
• Liz’s triumphant return
• A summer full of warm sunshine and cool camp activities (Guess who’s going to be a Girl Scout camp counselor this summer!? Don’t judge, I’m genuinely excited)
• 2 more months with Nathan before leaving
• Being a Layout Editor at Urbane Magazine (new U of T affiliated student run magazine)
• Picking my courses for next year (I’m a nerrrrrrrrd: Broadcast Media; Early Modern Media; the History of Advertising; The Novel; Empire Literature and Modernity; Rhetoric and the Media; Feelings and/in Fiction: Emotions Theory and the Novel; and Marine Mammal Biology to fill my science cred)
• Getting all my data (including music and pictures) back from my dad/ a new external hard drive
• A new cheesecake place to try :)
• Not living in this apartment anymore.