1. Earth day - took residents to an eco superior event by a river
2. New Year's Day and Christmas Eve 2009 - spent at home with family
3. Earth hour - saw children yelling "earth hour" running down darkened street
4. Canada day - helped at the Marina for a cultural mosaic out of paint, tile, and cocking glue
   
5. International Day for Children's Rights - met with the Child & Youth Advocate office
   
6. International Food Security Day - picked from a hat to have my lunch in "Africa"
   
7. International Day to end Violence Against Women - attended a beautiful candle-lit ceremony
8. LU events: Lights concert, Disco Night
   
9. Wax Philosophic shows: summer fun at Black Pirates and Jack's and holiday fun fo sure
10. Perspectives in Social Thought 2nd test - really challenging, but fulfilling
11. Status of Women Award ceremony - A day in parliament and lunch with Michael Ignatieff

Looking forward to starting my year off right in 2010: JPs concert, Gloria's candle light party, Derelicte Haute Cotour Fashion

School Try-to's

• Commit weekdays to school work and library study sessions
  
• Attend all my classes and labs

Work Try-to's

• Blog on Mobilizing Minds project site twice a week
• Communicate often with my supervisors
  

Personal Try-to's

• Cross-train for an hour each day
• Dedicate an hour a week to critical self-reflection
  

I care about carrots. I like broccili. Somehow vegetables move me because there is so much energy in greens. These are ways to eat healthier I'm going to try to follow in the New Year:
1. Drink more water.
2. Eat a staple food with every meal.
3. Eat three meals a day with snacks in between meals.
4. Stay away from the junk foods.
5. Eat a large breakfast.
6. Cut down on fat.
Brain food is important when I'm at school, so exploring new avenues for snacking is another goal. I want to try to eat local foods as much as possible. Also, I can exercise all I want, but if I'm not eating the right nutrients, my body will not gain ground. There is a connection between how I feel and what I put in me. Portion sizing is important too. Lately I haven't been counting my calories, but when I start the New Year right at the gym I'll need to be more aware.

It seems that a good performer in Thunder Bay is part of a tight knit community. There is www.tbshows.com that draws in a lot of frequent concert-goers to see all of the local acts. Hip hop seems to be emerging as a strong draw of the crowds. Some of the bands in the other genres often have a favorite gig spot and the main 'place to go' changes.

We have everything from rock to hip hop to reggae to metal with bands like Auditor General, Wax Philosophic, Last Night, and Norris. These are a few of my favorites. Then there's the type of music that appears at shags and big locations. These are the big bands that pull in many different types of listeners.

I'm most impressed by watching bands, but when it's early morning and there's a DJ, give me someone who reads their audience. It doesn't matter if they're mixing, scatching, or electronic. Truth is, if it's got a beat and you can dance, it works.

I've never seen anyone so excited about Christmas as Carlos the white fluffball. He's a coton de tulear and his hair is really long and cute now. He came down the stairs at full speed and jumped around as soon as he saw the wrapping paper. He got to open one last night from me (a stuffed jingly cow). He jumped right up and stuck his nose in the gift and tugged at his new toys.

Today, he got a dental bone toy and he was chewing on that for a while before he began putting his toys away in his basket. He's a neat dog. Right away, we shared a moment. I've known him since he was a pup and now he's 5. He wanted his tummy rubbed and all this time I get to spend with him during the day has made me one of his favorites.

I'm going to miss him when my life starts getting busy which is bound to happen as soon as school continues. I'll need to make every second count with him by playing with him and cuddling him 'till the cows come home.

Winter has arrived, it's officially snown and Christmas has finally arrived. It's that time of year when I feel like hitting a turning point, with the days officially getting longer. What's the best part of the holidays? For me, it's family, music, and sharing memories with special friends. I have an aching desire for everyone close to me, but I'm home and trouble-free for Christmas.

All I need to do now is relax because the pressures on me have loosened and I'm snowed in. After working so hard in school, it's time to let loose and get a little wild. I have fond memories of my Christmas break so far. I like the feeling and it brings back memories. I know that the University has changed me and this past semester has been even better than I expected...

Looking through life through a different lens has made me stronger, happier, and healthier. I don't say that pretentiously, I mean, nothing else in my life has really changed, yet I have managed to. I think it's perfectly fine that I have gone into hibernation for my holidays.