Craft... uh... Arts... uh... Fair... uh... Thingy...

(p.s. what you can't see on the left is a choir singing Christmas Carols)

Last weekend there was an uh... craft/arts/fair thingy in Saint John. With my trying to gain as much from this experience as possible I of course had to attend. Usually we don't hear about stuff going on as Millidgeville (where I live) is sort of its own little area, but, having friends who are locals sure pays off.

We went down to the arena thing, paid our $5, or $6 if the attendants didn't accept your student card, and started looking around. Before I move on, Saint John is a small city. When you go with a local you stop frequently. Everyone knows everyone. So... we continued, or tried to continue on into the heart of the madness. We did stop a lot, but I just kept on going, wandering from stall to stall.

There were a lot of things there. To be honest, I like obscure handmade things so if I had any more money I could have spent it. Actually, I did spend more than I should. Oh yeah, lots of things... There were things knitted, and sewn, and made of glass, and made of wood, and art, and cakes, and baking, and breads, and antiques, and musical instruments, and nuts... mmm nuts... and paintings, and leatherwork, and repeats of items 1 through 5 and wow. It was huge, and it was crazy.

I would have like to buy more things. I like to support that kind of work, but alas... I am broke. So, we walked around and looked. I did not have much cash on me, but thought I could look and get some if I needed it. My compatriots were looking and shopping on their own, and I walked a bit in front trying to see if anything caught my eye. When we were walking passed the nut merchant he somehow managed to get candy coated nuts into our hands and our hands to our mouths... needless to say, he turned out to be a very good salesman. I did see some things that I liked but my brokity outweighed my desire to shop... almost...

I looked. I saw. I moved on. I looked. I saw. I moved on. I looked. I saw. I froze... and frozen I stayed. I stared. I looked some more... and I fell in love. Those who know me know that I have a thing for art. I'll buy carvings, and paintings, and writings, and whatever, as long at whatever it is speaks to me. As I stood there frozen, it screamed at me.

The artist was from Mexico. She had spend much of her life there and then had moved to Canada. She is now a professional artist, having been one forever. I stood there and looked at a concept. It was one that I had not seen before, but I liked it. I stood there staring for several minutes and then told here that I would return with funds.

I went upstairs, grabbed the money, and then began to shop. I grabbed a little something for a certain someone, I grabbed a whole lot of nuts, and then I returned to the stall with the lonely artist with too many paintings. She did not expect me to come back. When I did return we was noticeably shocked, but pleasantly so. It still took me a long time to decide which piece to buy, but eventually I did. We made the transaction, and I am now a satisfied owner instead of an inquisitive shopper.

The piece fits nicely in my room, and a little art goes a long way to make this a little less a room... and a little more a home.

This is not a flattering picture. But this is it.

This piece did not have a name to my knowledge, but I would call it "Nothing in Something."

Wax.

You have no idea how hard it is to get good sealing wax, I mean, its almost like most people don't seal their letter with wax. Actually, it is almost like most people don't send letters anymore. Well, no one said I was like most people.

I guess since I avoid Facebook, Twitter, and the other social media sites that I just prefer to do things the old fashioned way... that, or I am a luddite. Either way, I do prefer to do things the old fashioned way.

I don't have time to send letters to everyone, or all the time, but when you want to say something important, words and paper are the way to go.

Eventually, after much looking for a reliable source, I have found the wax I needed.

Leadership

They said that in all teams a leader will appear. If no leader does, the team crumbles. If more than one leader does, then the team splits.

The power of the leader is given by the followers. A leader cannot take power.

I am the leader of my group, not because I have taken it, or because anyone said I was the leader, but because they all look to me for direction, approval, and validation.

We have just entered the time where we see if we can be successful.

I am the rudder, let's hope I know where I am going.

The best part?

I do.

57th Saint John Santa Claus Parade

Evidently there was a parade on Saturday. I seem to be somewhat removed from the World as I go to and from school and no where else. Well, that is not quite true... On Friday the 13th I went to Physiotherapy. There I learned about the parade. My Physiotherapist seems to view me like a lost child and seems to be looking out for me. Sure it means that I have to put up with some flack about my not getting a haircut, but, it also means that she lets me know about certain things going on in town, like, for example, the 57th Annual Saint John Santa Claus Parade.

Let's be honest, its not the Stampede, but for the amount of people living in the area they sure do it right. The Parade serpents its way through Uptown, which is really Downtown for the non-locals, giving everyone a chance to see it. It started at 6 pm and ended at well... kinda depends based on where you were standing. For me it ended just before 7. I was told that this Parade was shorter than most years.

I still have not been able to adequately take night photos with my camera, but the one here gives you an idea of the crowds.

As for this movie... well... I saw Santa and his Canada Post helpers coming by and I could not resist. There sure is a certain excitement when all of the little kids are trying to give their letters to the carriers.

Maybe I'll write a letter to Santa sometime... I guess I am too scared he would just send me back some coal...

Even Students can Eat Good...

There are certain benefits to living in the Maritimes. Sure, beef costs a little more, and well, beef byproducts cost a little more, but seafood... seafood is cheaper. We saw in the Sobeys flyer that PEI Mussels were 99 cents/lb and being out here to experience the East I could not resist.

We went to the store, purchased that which we needed and did not have, and then stood waiting to buy mussels. The people in front of us bought ten pounds... for the three of us that might have been a bit excessive... so we thought that five pounds would do...

We got home, cooked up some pasta. I made a cream sauce using a roux then we added in bacon and garlic. We could really have used some pepper, but evidently that is not something I possess. We also cooked up some garlic toast that I had inherited from my roommate, and then we steamed the mussels... uh... not necessarily in that order.

Even if you are a student you can eat well if you have a Cook with you...

Lest we Forget...

The sound of my horn might not have rung through the cool of the mountains this morning but that does not mean I have forgotten.

I never will.

Mid-Term: Resolution

A-

Well within the bounds of my efforts. I did not aim for A+ and I did not aim for D. This is about where I want to be sitting. I have no need to try any harder, there are no scholarships, and employers don't seem to care a whole lot about my grades. All that matters is that I am satisfied with my efforts, and that I am satisfied with my results.

I am satisfied with both.

Any more effort and it is wasted, any less and I will drop into the ranks of average. I'll stay here thank you very much.

Mid-Term.

So far this program is not harder than my last, that is for certain. Group work is still frustrating, and tests are still easy.

We have reached midterms, which means that we have one midterm exam and one take home midterm. Truthfully, this is not all that daunting. I put some time in studying, nothing spectacular, and I fully expect to get a mark within my goals. I did go in more confidant than most seemed to, and coming out, I was definitely more confidant than most.

So much for the challenge promised to us. Perhaps my standards have already been set too high.

Anyways, the Accounting midterm is finished and everything is well in the academic world.

Great.

They said that this first term is the hardest.

What a pity.

Tamest Deer Ever...

I went walking down to the K-Work River tonight, it is a good route, and just a little longer than my walking route at home. On my way there there were three white tailed deer crossing the street. They were all young, but two were grown, and one was just a baby. It was interesting to see how the baby was the only one who even thought that I might be a problem.

One of them was only a few feet away eating, and it did not even care when I stopped to watch them. I spoke to them and the baby got spooked. It ran a few metres off and the other deer, must have been the mother, also got spooked.

Evidently being 5 metres from me instead of 3 was enough and they sat there merrily.

I made to the river and it was nice. Amazing to see how you can be just a little way away from the mini hub of Millidgeville and it gets very quiet. Down by the K-Word Yacht Club there was not a sound. Every once in a while I could hear a car on the road behind me, but in front there was nothing but silence.

It made for a nice moment of calm, and on the way back the deer made for nice companions.

I will walk again soon.