A Lesson in Laundry

Laundry is a curious thing. Everyone has to do it, and what you bring down to the communal laundry room says a lot about who you are as a person. For example, I find myself laundering an awful lot of t-shirts and jeans, and most of the stuff goes in the dark load. However, every once in a while you come across some surprised. Imagine my shock when some young lass who doesn't look a day older than 16 and would probably still have a hard time purchasing liquor at the age of 20 pull out some of the most scandalous underthings I have ever seen. Seriously, it looked like a Victoria's Secret ad spread out across the folding table. I think the most surprising thing was that this lady was completely unfazed about airing out her laundry (I suppose with that little material, it wouldn't take long to dry anyways), but still. Maybe I'm just old fashioned and believe that you shouldn't have your stuff on display for the world to see, but that's just me.

Anyways, just an thought I would throw out there.

Addendum: Making friends with people that have a clothes-drying rack is a good idea, as it saves you a fortune in drying clothes.

Medical Maladies and other Misadventures

With all the foofrah and argle-bargle surrounding the health care debate in the US these days, I am once again thankful that I don't live there. 'That's a bold statement Matt" one might be inclined to say, but before you judge, just read this.

I was feeling off Saturday afternoon; a sort of queasiness that you may have after eating a bad piece of fruit, or an undercooked dish. Needless to say, I cut my day's adventures short and returned to my residence to sleep it off. A few hours later, I was overcome with an intense throbbing pain in my back. The appropriate agencies were notified, and I returned once again to my room to try and sleep it off.

Long story short, I find myself sitting in the ER of Ottawa General Hospital, an IV in my arm, undergoing a battery of blood and urine tests, as well as a CT scan. After all that, I was diagnosed with a 5mm kidney stone. Painfully unfun.

In a roundabout way, I am glad that I live in a country where if I have a health problem, I can go and see a doctor and not have to worry about the cost. I'm glad that I can focus on getting better, and not fretting bills. Because lets face it: being in pain is no fun; having to deal with financial pain at the same time can be fatal.

The Best Things in Life...

are the things you stumble across. Now, this isn't a tale of "boy meets girl" or even "boy meets epic figure." This is a tale of a random bus ride to an ill fated party, which resulted in the discovery of something even more awesome.

The music scene in Ottawa is excellent, but venues are hard to find, and reasonably priced shows are even fewer and farther between. Unfortunately, Ottawa simply isn't Montreal (though some days I suspect it wishes it was). Despite that shortcoming, some floor mates and I had caught wind of what was rumoured to be an epic party.  You know, the ones that university students throw, and embarrassing pictures are put on Facebook, and someone usually throws up in an awkward place because they couldn't pace themselves. One of those.

Anyways, as we get off the first bus and prepare to board a second, we see that a house has a drum kit and a bunch of other audio equipment set up in the living room. No sooner has this happened than the organizer of this local scene concert pops out the door and has us all inside, listening to some very excellent music.

Seriously, this house was sweet, with eclectic wall decorations, a glow-light basement, and several bands from Halifax playing in 2 different rooms.

Long story short, this discovery would never have happened if we didn't hop on this bus and try and get to what turned out to be a non-existant party.

Maybe music isn't dead, maybe we all just forgot what it sounded like.

F*CK Ottawa U and other dirty limericks

Well, Frosh week has certainly been a crash course in many things, from chirping on Uzero students with cheers that would make your grandmother blush to chanting (and subsequently shouting yourself hoarse), to dealing with loud drunken boors outside your door (plug in the iPod and play some Miles Davis).

Just being here in the capital is an awesome experience. I feel that I have made the perfect place, and fit in with all the other characters that populate the stage. A kaleidoscope of faces each and every day; joking around with other frosh, it truly is a wondrous place.

I am planning to make the trek tomorrow to Haven Books, supporting fellow students by re-using textbooks. One more way to help the environment and keep the fees from getting too obscene. On that note, everyone that is in university, mark November 5th as an important date, as people across Canada will be demanding that university fees be reduced.

So that's all for now; I have to tend to the sunburn and skype with people, so ciao!

Gone like whispers, gone like rain

It's funny how people put such an emphasis on material goods, only to realize that there are but a few things that truly matter. Case in point: I lived in a room that is easily 20 metres square, yet everything that I need to survive (in theory) fits in 4 average sized suitcases (2 clothing, 1 life essentials, and 1 mixed) and a backpack. Makes me wonder what all fills those enormous McMansions I see while driving around.

Anyways, now that the deep and thoughtful ideas are out of the way...I will officially be moving tomorrow at 2:45pm. Therefore, my next post will be from my new home town.

I would also like to put a big "THANK YOU!!!11!1!!1!" to my family and friends for all their support over the past few days. It's been really hectic, and I really do appreciate all the love and support from everyone.

Finally, I don't want to say "good bye" to everyone living here at home; rather I want to say, see you in a while at a different spot.

Pre move

Well, it was bound to happen eventually. All of my things packed up in suitcases, new toiletries, new computer, and an overwhelming sense of dread. As is noted by the time of this post, I am currently suffering insomnia over my eminent move out of my house. Never mind the fact that my younger brother has started moving his stuff in to my space (talk about a hostile takeover), I still need to get my things and go.

I guess it's the usual jitters everyone has before they are cut loose from their traditional home with parents and sometimes pets and siblings, but I can't help but feel rather nervous about the whole ordeal. It's not like I've done anything wrong or whatnot, it's that whole "fear of the unknown" deal.

Ahh well, such is the life of the first year student. More posts to follow