Last week sucked.

Just needed to say that right off the top. You know how people talk about being so busy they can't think, and are just running on auto pilot like maniacs and sometimes become addicted to busy-ness to distract them from their lives? Well, for the first time in my life I truly understand the meaning of this kind of busy. Yes, I have experienced being busy before, and crazy stressed, but I've never been to the point where I actually don't feel anything because my life feels like a million incidents scattered at random throughout a day. I don't know, maybe others are used to it, but it really distressed me.

Pretty much I was at a meeting or event every evening for the past week and a bit, not getting home until 10 pm at the earliest while at the same time studying for 2 midterms. Doesn't sound like much, I know, but it really was insane. The Sunday before last I went to this thing called Holden evening prayer, which is hosted by U of C campus ministry every Sunday evening; it's basically a very nice contemplative service of sorts that I've attended a few times now. Anyway, we were doing a check-in and Klaus (the Lutheran chaplain) said something about being 'retardedly busy', as in we must be retarded to be so busy. While I hate the term 'retarded' as a descriptive term for 'crazy' or 'stupid' with a fiery passion, I think the intention of the statement is really very indicative of how I felt last week. Needless to say, I'm SO happy that it's over, and SO grateful that my experience of that kind of busy lasted only a week instead of the years that oh so many others spend in this state of 'organisational zombie'.

So I was looking at your comment Hermy, and shall reply in this post rather than in the comments area because I'm cool like that. It would actually be amazing if people were to come to Naramata this summer. Unfortunately it's massively expensive to stay, at least if you're doing the whole day program and accommodation at the Centre-thing and whatnot, but I shall give the website hence so that you may peruse: www.naramatacentre.net. Yes, it's an incredible place. There are other options as well, such as staying overnight in accommodations within the village of Naramata, or perhaps going to Penticton and making a daytrip to Naramata or even staying at the centre but not doing the program. But yes, I must say the slightest notion of a possibility of seeing friendslies at Naramata makes me excessively glad, even though I have no idea how likely that is :)

Anywhom, I'm currently in this evil little flourescent-lighted, computer filled classroom-lab thing off the library with white walls and no windows. It has this eery, sickeningly-sweet smell to it and is one of those places where, if you stay too long it makes you question whether being alive is really all that great. I dread entering it but I needed to print off these pdf files and all the library computers are taken. But of course, right above the printer it says 'Please do not print pdf documents in this classroom', but by the time I saw it I'd already logged on and it felt like a waste to log off right away. So now you all know the circumstances under which this post came about, but I have to leave seeing as it's 6 pm and I'm feeling a little suicidal (don't worry, after a little natural light I'll be fine). Toodles!

Yay, my vow of silence is over!!!

That's why I haven't posted since the 21st of February. Because that was the day that I got the fabulous news and since then have thought of nothing to write about besides that. But since you're all thoroughly confused, I shall henceforth tell you said news: I'M GOING TO BE ON SUMMER STAFF AT NARAMATA!!! *dies*. I suppose that perhaps that still doesn't mean anything to many reading this besides Kes and Jo. It pretty much means that I'm going to be spending two months at Naramata Centre in Naramata BC, which is about the most incredible place on the planet, working with kiddies and planning worship and living in community with other summer staffers and having an excellent time over all. For those who have never been, I stole some photos off the internet of my future surroundings:

The Beach at sunset. This is Lake Okanagan, by the way.

Part of the Labyrinth with the Chapel in the background

The Chapel, and part of the Sacred Garden

Alberta Hall, where I shall be living for July and August.

Wow, that just took an absurd amount of time. Anyway, yes, it's beautiful beyond belief, and there are cherries in July and plums in August, and really good people all the time. *dies* At the same time I'm terrified, because the Summer Staff are always amazing and I'm really rather skeptical as to my own capabilities in such a role. But I'm trying not to think about it. I should be more prepared by that time anyway, after having a couple more TUXIS conferences under my belt and perhaps getting some work with children and youth in the May and June months.

So, what else is there to say? This week seemed to go by really quick. I think part of it was the fact that I had a Geography midterm on Monday, which ate up about 12 hours of my life with last-day studying. Not entirely in a row, I did actually get some sleep, but I spent 4 hours straight in the morning, from 11 till the test at 3, getting things shoved into my brain. And, amazingly, I enjoyed it. Geography is actually a very interesting subject, but unfortunately it's also the one which I neglect most seeing as it has the fewest actual assignments or tests. Which doesn't say much for me; that I only study the things I have to. It's sadly true, even if I really am enjoying the study of something, I still only do what I absolutely must, and only at the last possible moment. Sigh. But I can now tell you where Kyrgystan is, and most of the countries in the African transition zone :). But getting back to my original topic, I find that when the week begins with something requiring intense brain power, the rest of the week tends to feel like a recovery period in which nothing much happens. Because I make sure that nothing much happens. Because I am tired, and feel like I have earned a break. Even if there are other things that need doing. Such as is the case this week (I have a Sociology paper and a Philosophy journal to do, both were due on Friday. Oops)

Well anyway, I'd better go to bed, seeing as it's actually NOT 10:30 as my computer says, it's technically 11:30. Well, I guess not technically, but functionally anyway. So everybody, enjoy life this next week, and remember to change your clocks :)