So, we've adopted two children. The one with the white is Mia, the one on the right is Beans.

( more on them XD )

We had some people over for the winter break. My friend Hannah and her boyfriend Andre. I have decided that Andre is... not allowed in our house again. I was thrilled when they were leaving, to be honest. He would like, pet Beans, and say things like, "We used to have a cat just like him!!! Until we got too drunk and bashed his head in with a rock!" D: D: D: What the fuck? You don't do shit like that or let alone say it while you're petting someone else's animal? He then proceeded to pick Beans up and throw him at me in the kitchen, saying we should play a game of tossing him around! Lol! It'd be FUN. I caught Beans and held him and told him that was NOT okay. One thing that gets me, though, was that Hannah just let it slide, like "oh lol, he's just playing around." No, that's animal abuse. Ryan was quite freaked out and said the same thing I did, never again. People are so fucking awkward sometimes. We've known him a long time before that, a year? maybe, and, yeah, sure, he's a bit out there, but this was just, idk, bizarre.

Afterwards, Kanako came over for the New Years and made us mochi. Delicious DELICIOUS. I've never had it before and it tasted like chewy candy. *__* I introduced her to root beer, unknowingly, and that was a lol. She kept sipping it and exclaiming "WOW!!! NEW TASTE!!?!?!" XD 

Otherwise, the winter break was a delight! Full of snow, nanaimo bars, and sitting around playing Dragon Age. Mmmm... Dragon Age 1/2. How I love thee so. As soon as I finished the second one, I tried to play the first again, only to stop, get up, and replay the second one all over again. 

Unfortunately, back to the grind and stress of university. My last semester until I got for my masters, though, so I guess that's something. 

SLYTHERIN WON
We won BOTH cups. Snakes for ALL the cups! It is glorious, I am proud to be in such a house. :3 It was my first Hogsmeade ever and oh wow, it was so much fun. I had both a cold and a paper to write, but I managed to get a number of contests done. I even won one, a caption contest with such a silly phrase. *____*
I will make a legit post eventually, but for now, I want to show off the graphic entries I submitted. Not all of them, not the shameful ones, but the others I think were awesome. Regrettably, a lot of them are also on another computer, so I can't post everything. :(
( owards to the graphics ye ole travelers )

Indeed, it is that time again. Time to break out the strongest lotions and salves known to humanity in order to save my skin from the winter. I can be as adaptable, mentally, all I want to new experiences, but trying to tell my body that? Lol. No such luck. Moving from a wet and humid environment, oh like say South Jersey, to a very cold and harshly dry one like northern Canada, your skin decides suicide is an awesome option. The cold I can take. The -40 C weather? Not a problem. The feet upon feet upon feet of snow? I can deal. The thick sheets of ice? Child's play! THE DRYNESS? Oh hell no. If anyone is curious, the absolute best thing that I have found for very dry skin is: http://www.burtsbees.ca/natural-products/hands-and-feet-hand-moisturizers/hand-salve.html <~ That. It gets absolutely everywhere but you'll be damned if it doesn't moisten your skin up.

Okay, I've been playing Dragon Age, because I am a late bloomer, but it is fun as anything. Oooooooooomg. I pwn ass and take names. I've been so busy, I haven't had time to really game very much, so it's good to get back and just not care for a little bit. Also, this is still me: http://youtu.be/c9eGtyqz4gY Less than a month now!! *screams and flails* 

Last weekend was Thanksgiving and oh joy, what fun that was. XD What better way to celebrate a Canadian thanksgiving but with both American and Japanese girls. I brought Kanako with me to our Thanksgiving dinner. Now she is going to go back to Japan with the most ridiculous of stories. All, mostly, revolving around Ryan, who while even sober, is hilariously bananas. We also showed her what Smores are and how to make them. Then we all sat around a camp fire and I drank dark, strong stouts with Ryan's grandfather. 

We went to the SPCA to look for cats that we might whisk away. It was a grand and noble idea until we actually went there and found that we wanted all the cats. How does someone choose only one or two? They're all pretty great. In particular, one kitten would not let go of me. She would climb walls of cages to make sure she was in my arms. Too cute. :3!!

Lastly, I have been loving this song, lately. Enjoy.

Everyone else was doing some sort of introduction post to better explain themselves.
My name is Jess, I am 23, I am an international student living in Canada. I am originally from the Jersey shore. Like, really. No, it's hardly like the show. -_- Sorry to disappoint.
I don't post often, and when I do, it's hardly deep, mostly surface level "This is my life the past few days." sort of style. I am a not too shabby commenter, though. I hardly expect comments in return, so no worries.
I use my journal to also share things such as music, pictures, films I am enjoying at the moment.
~~~~
Mmm, yes, so the birthday bash thing I planned out for myself and Sarah was a massive success. Everyone had a great time. :D The pub was decent enough, as it always is. I wanted to get myself a blue margarita simply because I am obsessed, alas, there was no such thing there. Settled for some generic cocktails and chicken fingers. I introduced Kanako to chicken fingers, it was hilarious when I first told her about them, she was like "WHAT? Chicken FINGERS?" as if real fingers. :D I had to explain, no, lol, they're fingers because you eat them with your fingers.
I purchased for myself a pair of mid calf black boots because I believe they are a nescessary thing to have in a wardrobe, personally.
( Read more... )

So the big project for the semester is to write a 30 page paper to be possibly published into an academic journal. I am looking into, possibly, the Journal of Canadian Sociology, it seems like the absolute best bet for myself at the moment. 
This excites me to no end. It's such a way to get my name out there. When I refine the actual thesis of the paper, I will update.

Been faithfully reading my ASOIAF books every night. WTF I hate Theon Greyjoy he's so boring. I'm only about less than half way through the second book so far (A Clash of Kings), but yes, this is my thought so far. 
The imp never fails to please me, though. He's so enjoyable to read about. Him and Arya and Dany. omg. *_* I also just ran into Renly in that book, and HAHAHA, I love him.

I went on my first Costco extravaganza yesterday. The place is amazing. I got a huge jar of olives for 5$. Never mind the savings I made with buying the everyday nescessities, I got myself olives for months! XD

( Read more... )
Onto non-geekiness, another year and another year at Hogwarts as Ryan says it. It's a good year so far, me and Kanako have really clicked and so we hang out all the time. 
I've been having a lot of issues with the university, though. Things such as, "Well, you told me to go to this person and they said that they cannot deal with it and that I have to go to another person who also told me they cannot deal with it and that I should come back to you." You understand, I'm sure...
Fun times.
I looked for my textbooks on my Nook and compared them to the prices in the bookstore. Jesus. The bookstore charges 36$ for some small stupid paperback and the Nook has it listed for 18$. Half price. SUCH a rip off.

Mmmm, so I am on episode 9 of Game of Thrones. Wow! Not what I was expecting at all, but it is just really that amazing. I was given an ereader, a Nook, for my birthday. I wasn't really sure as I have a difficult time sitting down and reading a story. I may, however, purchase A Song of Ice and Fire now. I liked to use the television series as a way to sort of test whether or not I will enjoy it.
I like that it's a series I can't really guess at what will happen. It's my curse when it comes to a show or film, they're all predictable and usually end up guessing correctly what will happen 90% of the time. =/

Finished painting the computer room, here. It seriously would not have been done without me, let me tell you. I need to post before and after photos, it's a big transformation. From some faux-wood 70's look that was not inviting at all, to warm browns and blue. Just one step closer to a dream like home. :) We're thinking next should be the bathroom down here, the one with the bead door. Lol. Ryan wants to put geeky (See: BSG) posters here in the computer room to make it more nerdy. We'll have to see!!

Jenna may be visiting me here in the winter, for her birthday and Christmas! That'd be great. I told her she has her own special room for when she does. Finally, people can come visit me without having to worry too much about money. It can get expensive here.

Mmm... Hypnotizing. 

Ahh Vancouver. Spent a very fun and rocking week there.
Recaps:
- Aquarium ! Lots of fish!
- Being splashed and soaked by a beluga.
- Amazing Whistler.
- Dangerous mountain passages.
- Tattoos.
- Panties. Everywhere.
- Mexican food.
- Hanging out with our new friend, Akira, the bartender.
- Delicious warm sake.
- Eating at the Twilight restaurant.
- Walking 15 blocks just to get to the city, everyday. -_-
- LuluLemon
- Warm Guinness
- Tequila Shots
- 500$ IKEA Extravaganza
- Granville Island Market
- Margaritas
- Martinis
- One American, Two Canadians, Two Spaniards, Three Mexicans = One good party.
- I am fluent in Spanish when I am drunk.
- The lyrics to this song, exactly:


Pretty much! Lots of drinking, getting in late, shopping, and eating amazing food.
Recipe for a successful vacation.

I'm just happy I have internet back, now. Finally!!

Oh my, I haven't had internet in the past few days, and won't have it until the 15th. Believe me, QQing over here. Due to my brilliance, however, I have the nets in small amounts every so often. Excitement!
I made a long entry to my LJ a few days ago but I suppose because my Blackberry is CRAP, it never got posted.

We moved into our new house! YAY!~ :D
I arranged with Telus many days (see a few weeks) before moving in to make sure that we would have internet set up for the 30th. When that day rolled around, I had to call them to ask them, "yo, wtf, where is my internet I am about to be paying you for?" They then put me on hold for 30 minutes only to tell me that I cannot have it because they came out, said "nope, not gonna happen!" and expected me to figure this out via telepathy. They then told me that, nope, no internet until the 15th. Which is strange, considering, the house we moved in? The people before us had Telus internet!
After a full day of this nonsense, I canceled with them. I have no time in my life for incompetent companies, time is too short and precious. One day companies will understand that they need to treat their customers better, because the power lies in their hands, not in the company's.

So, anyway... HOUSE. AMAGAWD IT IS GLORIOUS. My first home. T_____T
The freedom is unimaginable!! So is the amount of cleaning!!! The whole place smells of dog. A big, fat, happy, slobbering DOG.

My sustenance for the past week or so has been movies, oh god the amount of movies I've been watching is staggering, booze, and Civilization V. Awesome.

Going down to Vancouver for a few days on Sunday. Cannot wait. Finally going to go see that damn aquarium they have there. And go to Granville Island for a beer tour and a market. Supposedly, they have a whole shop dedicated to olives. Sounds pretty much like heaven.

Just got an email for my future roommates, one is from Sweden, one is from Mexico, and the last is from Japan. There are so many perks to being international, I wouldn't have it any other way. <3

Finally, I GOT INTO POTTERMORE. Even WITHOUT internet available. Take THAT, world! My dear friend Mitsu signed me up when she got the chance. A couple more weeks of waiting, but I can deal. :3~

 Saw HP7Pt2 (I know Rebecca, sorry) opening night with Hannah, Andre, and Ryan. Like a cheese, I teared up.  Oh the scene with Snape's memories and Harry in the forest. It gets me. That movie was pretty heavy, it's kind of no wonder they had to add in those small scenes of humor into it. 

Played a little bit of RO the other day. Got like 5 levels in one hour. Wow. Really? :| Ridiculous!!
 
Also finished BSG, oh my god, that is an amazing show. Possibly one of the best TV shows I've ever watched. I admit I don't watch much at all, BUT THAT WAS GREAT. Everyone should watch it. I decided to make an homage by using someone else's mood theme. ;)

I leave you all with this gem: