Just because it's on the official website, doesn't mean it's open...
On a side note, if you tell people it's 2km, and it actually ends up being 8km, only about half the choir members will complete it...
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Tour: Day 1
just a quick update before bed...
calgary sprawl = bad
house with jacuzzi = good
I'm gonna sleep well tonight...
calgary sprawl = bad
house with jacuzzi = good
I'm gonna sleep well tonight...
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Done
So today, my exams finished (yay!!!)...
SO hopefully everything I've had to put up with over the last two weeks can be put behind me (actually, Im pretty sure they will not be in my mind for a while at least)...
I'm writing this blog post because I'm being forced to... not because I want to... because some friends are too nosy... that's right, I said it... just because I can't see how often you;re on my nexopia account anymore, doesnt mean I don't know how much you want to control my life
=P
Yes...
So choir tour is in 2 days... I still have $80 on my meal card (I bought $70 worth of pop today... should last me a little while at least)...
Oh... and I have no idea what sort of games to play on choir tour... people keep saying they'll help (*hint hint*) but no-one is helping... Come now, people, even when you put a paper off till the last minute, you at least take the books out of the library in advance...
I know 2 of the things I want to do... I would like to have 5 more... So if you can think of a challenge (preferably group orientated) that can happen on a bus that is moderately competetive (I like competing almost as much as I like making people compete...)
Requirements for bus activities usually include:
1)no mess
2)moderate to little noise
3)not a lot of dexterity
I know!!!
Bus surfing... that'll be one (a very popular one if I do say so myself)....
I'm sure I can pick one person from each artificially created teaem to participate in bus surfing...
And then there were four...
Four more activities guys... I know there are at least 4 vice president choir people that read this forum... So hurry it up...
Yes...
So...
the end
SO hopefully everything I've had to put up with over the last two weeks can be put behind me (actually, Im pretty sure they will not be in my mind for a while at least)...
I'm writing this blog post because I'm being forced to... not because I want to... because some friends are too nosy... that's right, I said it... just because I can't see how often you;re on my nexopia account anymore, doesnt mean I don't know how much you want to control my life
=P
Yes...
So choir tour is in 2 days... I still have $80 on my meal card (I bought $70 worth of pop today... should last me a little while at least)...
Oh... and I have no idea what sort of games to play on choir tour... people keep saying they'll help (*hint hint*) but no-one is helping... Come now, people, even when you put a paper off till the last minute, you at least take the books out of the library in advance...
I know 2 of the things I want to do... I would like to have 5 more... So if you can think of a challenge (preferably group orientated) that can happen on a bus that is moderately competetive (I like competing almost as much as I like making people compete...)
Requirements for bus activities usually include:
1)no mess
2)moderate to little noise
3)not a lot of dexterity
I know!!!
Bus surfing... that'll be one (a very popular one if I do say so myself)....
I'm sure I can pick one person from each artificially created teaem to participate in bus surfing...
And then there were four...
Four more activities guys... I know there are at least 4 vice president choir people that read this forum... So hurry it up...
Yes...
So...
the end
Monday, April 17, 2006
Easter
So today was nice...
Went to church... Saw people from there (that I haven't seen since last summer since I didnt attend church over xmas)... Surprised to find out that the rumour mill had not yet left people knowing that I had made the switch to edmonton... I suppose if I had knocked some girl up, everyone would have heard about it by now... But I can't really be angry because gossip didnt get around, can I?
I suppose not.
Tonights dinner was care of my brothers girlfriends mom. Beautiful dinner, but I didn't really take into consideration the "third wheel" complex... I entertained myself with the kitten named patches... Mostly I just made the cat chase things, and made fun of my brother... partly because it's all I know how to do (what is a family get together without trying to start a fight) and partly because it was the only socially acceptable thing I knew how to do (everyone seemed to make fun of the step dad as well, but I didnt feel comfortable since he was three times my size and quite the red neck... I'm sure my choice of piercings was already testing the limitations of his acceptance...
Yes...
So dinner was fun...
Hmm...
I can go back to edmonton soon... That's nice.
Maybe I just miss video games... if I had known that we had high speed net access, I would have brought my games (and would have missed out on church this morning)...
I suppose it's for the best...
Oh yeah. I came to a realization today. Since it's really really official now, that this is no longer home, it is most likely right that I stop calling Zion my home congregation. Which almost certainly ends the chapter of my life as being 'lutheran' Neal...
Yesterday, Neal with a bedroom at his parents place died. Today, Neal as a lutheran died.
I have not made it a secret that I have several issues with the lutheran church. Please let it be stated that my decision has nothing to do with 'lutheran theology', but simply that I see shades of grey where I am told there is only black and white...
Yes... so...
I'm having my first guest crash at my house in years...
I can see it now (as I've seen it before):
puzzling stare at house
puzzling stare at Neal
puzzling stare at barn
puzzling stare at Neal
puzzling stare at tractor
puzzling stare at Neal
puzzling stare at cows
puzzling stare at Neal
puzzling stare at hay
puzzling stare at Neal
puzzling stare at mud
puzzling stare at Neal
...
puzzling stare at Neal
Really, when you consider how redneck my family is (and I'm not talking "lets go to Calgry Stampede and buy sily hats" redneck, but "how many non-fuctional cars can we fit in our front yard" redneck), it really is a wonder that i turned out the way I did.
I can count no less than 6 cars, 3 trucks, 2 vans, a motorhom, a school bus, 2 boats, and enough tires to keep the springfield tire fire burning for another 30 odd years.
Not to mention my house which (prior to having the vinyl sidings added) was slated to be the site of ghosts or aliens or something in a TV show (does anyone remember the show 'millenium'?) due to it's delapitation and grunge-i-ness.
Then theres the family (bless there hearts) who still think the alex fraser bridge is the longest bridge in the world (becasue it connects india and china)...
I'm pretty sure they couldnt find india on a map (unless it was a map of india, of course)...
Yes my friends, this was my childhood...
But before i say something offensive, I think I shall sleep...
gnight...
Went to church... Saw people from there (that I haven't seen since last summer since I didnt attend church over xmas)... Surprised to find out that the rumour mill had not yet left people knowing that I had made the switch to edmonton... I suppose if I had knocked some girl up, everyone would have heard about it by now... But I can't really be angry because gossip didnt get around, can I?
I suppose not.
Tonights dinner was care of my brothers girlfriends mom. Beautiful dinner, but I didn't really take into consideration the "third wheel" complex... I entertained myself with the kitten named patches... Mostly I just made the cat chase things, and made fun of my brother... partly because it's all I know how to do (what is a family get together without trying to start a fight) and partly because it was the only socially acceptable thing I knew how to do (everyone seemed to make fun of the step dad as well, but I didnt feel comfortable since he was three times my size and quite the red neck... I'm sure my choice of piercings was already testing the limitations of his acceptance...
Yes...
So dinner was fun...
Hmm...
I can go back to edmonton soon... That's nice.
Maybe I just miss video games... if I had known that we had high speed net access, I would have brought my games (and would have missed out on church this morning)...
I suppose it's for the best...
Oh yeah. I came to a realization today. Since it's really really official now, that this is no longer home, it is most likely right that I stop calling Zion my home congregation. Which almost certainly ends the chapter of my life as being 'lutheran' Neal...
Yesterday, Neal with a bedroom at his parents place died. Today, Neal as a lutheran died.
I have not made it a secret that I have several issues with the lutheran church. Please let it be stated that my decision has nothing to do with 'lutheran theology', but simply that I see shades of grey where I am told there is only black and white...
Yes... so...
I'm having my first guest crash at my house in years...
I can see it now (as I've seen it before):
puzzling stare at house
puzzling stare at Neal
puzzling stare at barn
puzzling stare at Neal
puzzling stare at tractor
puzzling stare at Neal
puzzling stare at cows
puzzling stare at Neal
puzzling stare at hay
puzzling stare at Neal
puzzling stare at mud
puzzling stare at Neal
...
puzzling stare at Neal
Really, when you consider how redneck my family is (and I'm not talking "lets go to Calgry Stampede and buy sily hats" redneck, but "how many non-fuctional cars can we fit in our front yard" redneck), it really is a wonder that i turned out the way I did.
I can count no less than 6 cars, 3 trucks, 2 vans, a motorhom, a school bus, 2 boats, and enough tires to keep the springfield tire fire burning for another 30 odd years.
Not to mention my house which (prior to having the vinyl sidings added) was slated to be the site of ghosts or aliens or something in a TV show (does anyone remember the show 'millenium'?) due to it's delapitation and grunge-i-ness.
Then theres the family (bless there hearts) who still think the alex fraser bridge is the longest bridge in the world (becasue it connects india and china)...
I'm pretty sure they couldnt find india on a map (unless it was a map of india, of course)...
Yes my friends, this was my childhood...
But before i say something offensive, I think I shall sleep...
gnight...
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Official
So it's official
Before I get into my story of the day, I'll do a little bit of explaining..
Im in BC as of the time being, for easter. Came down with friends for a wedding (well, they came down for the wedding, i came down for easter).
Yay BC fun.
But yes. Back to the story.
Home is officially not home anymore. How do I know this?
Well, it's simple you see. I have come home to the house that is no longer my own. None of the horses are the same, most of the cats aren't the same. The truck isn't the truck I left my parents with. There is city water coarsing through the pipes in the washroom. As I type this, i am typing at a computer which is connected to high speed internet access.
And the final nail in the coffin. My room no longer exists.
The bed is gone, my posters are gone, everything that comforted me for 13 years of my life is missing.
I can't really say I'm overly saddened or surprised. My decision to leave was made first, so really, I only have myself to blame.
But over the last 4 years, there was always this room. My room.
I suppose in my own naiivity, I thought it would always remain as I left it. An eternal shrine to my former self. Always waiting for the next time I would come home to play videogames after staying out all night to avoid my family.
I haven't played video games in here since I graduated from high school.
All the CD's left on the shelf are embarassing (although, perhaps i should take them with me, i mean, they're probibly cool-retro cd's by now)
There are remnants of my trip to europe covered by a layer of dust. There are remnants of my baptism, covered by a layer of dust. Remnants of fish i havent had since grade 9, covered by a layer of dust.
Dust covers traces of last summer, in the form of a pack of cigarettes and a "lighter for a loonie" petro can scripto piece of crap.
The books gramma bought me in grade 8 (most of them read) now sit in a cupboard. I don;t suppose it will be too long before they go the way of the bed and the posters.
Such is the life of one who is growing up, I suppose. If i was more poetic, I'm sure I would write an ode to loss of innocence. Memories of that fill this room as well. Things I suppose I would long to forget, were it not for the room blaring the memories back to me as I type this.
What can happen in 13 years? It's a lot of time. I can't even fathom the amount of time I've spent in between these walls. How much time I wasted doing the things I love. How much time I spent doing things that bored me. This room was my childhood.
It isn't anymore.
Easter 2006: Neal has proof Surrey isn't his home anymore.
When can I go back to Edmonton so i can lock myself in my room (and cry)
Before I get into my story of the day, I'll do a little bit of explaining..
Im in BC as of the time being, for easter. Came down with friends for a wedding (well, they came down for the wedding, i came down for easter).
Yay BC fun.
But yes. Back to the story.
Home is officially not home anymore. How do I know this?
Well, it's simple you see. I have come home to the house that is no longer my own. None of the horses are the same, most of the cats aren't the same. The truck isn't the truck I left my parents with. There is city water coarsing through the pipes in the washroom. As I type this, i am typing at a computer which is connected to high speed internet access.
And the final nail in the coffin. My room no longer exists.
The bed is gone, my posters are gone, everything that comforted me for 13 years of my life is missing.
I can't really say I'm overly saddened or surprised. My decision to leave was made first, so really, I only have myself to blame.
But over the last 4 years, there was always this room. My room.
I suppose in my own naiivity, I thought it would always remain as I left it. An eternal shrine to my former self. Always waiting for the next time I would come home to play videogames after staying out all night to avoid my family.
I haven't played video games in here since I graduated from high school.
All the CD's left on the shelf are embarassing (although, perhaps i should take them with me, i mean, they're probibly cool-retro cd's by now)
There are remnants of my trip to europe covered by a layer of dust. There are remnants of my baptism, covered by a layer of dust. Remnants of fish i havent had since grade 9, covered by a layer of dust.
Dust covers traces of last summer, in the form of a pack of cigarettes and a "lighter for a loonie" petro can scripto piece of crap.
The books gramma bought me in grade 8 (most of them read) now sit in a cupboard. I don;t suppose it will be too long before they go the way of the bed and the posters.
Such is the life of one who is growing up, I suppose. If i was more poetic, I'm sure I would write an ode to loss of innocence. Memories of that fill this room as well. Things I suppose I would long to forget, were it not for the room blaring the memories back to me as I type this.
What can happen in 13 years? It's a lot of time. I can't even fathom the amount of time I've spent in between these walls. How much time I wasted doing the things I love. How much time I spent doing things that bored me. This room was my childhood.
It isn't anymore.
Easter 2006: Neal has proof Surrey isn't his home anymore.
When can I go back to Edmonton so i can lock myself in my room (and cry)
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
All About Alyson
I don;t think I've ever dedicated an entire post to a person before... Well... not in a positive way (but customers don't count) But here goes...
explaination, me and a friend agreed that tonights post would be dedicated soley to the other person (so i can't tell you about my crazy day... hint hint read my post on wednesday march 30th 2005)
So here goes nothing...
My first concious memory of Alyson was well after the beginning of the year and well into the practices of suessical. I was approached by a (for lack of a better word) chipper person, and witha smile on her face she proclaimed that I must (not 'can you' but 'you must') write "hi from Alyson" on Scott's door... She appeared to know my name (I mean, how many Neals are there?) so I was obliged to pretend that I knew her, and knew everythig about her, lest I be the insensitive person whom forgets their friends over the summer... Cuz in all honesty, it's not like it has never happened before...
Well... Needless to say, I think my ploy worked, and after a week or so of someone having to remind me what her name was (thanks scott) me and Alyson started off on what is now a beautiful (if not sleep filled) friendship.
Over the last year, we've shared a lot. Laughs, games, fun, perhaps some hugs that were umm... A little too personal (happy birthday BTW)...
I've learned a lot from Alyson. She is the shining example of seeing the best. She handles situations that would stress me with the greatest of ease. She sees perfection in the flaws and rejoices where others would rather hide away.
And beyong all else, she is the pinnacle of the unwaivering faith. Don't get me wrong, she has her off days just like everyone else, but she NEVER ceases to praise God for everything, something I have always respected (and admired).
She's knowlegeable and determined, and thats how I know she's going to succeed no matter where her life takes her.
And could we talk about alyson without mentioning her heart of gold? (gahk... cliche... so so sorry). She genuinely cares for each and every person, and she shows it. If you want to know love, listen to her talk about one of her kids; if you want to know about friendship, listen to a story about one of her friends. If you want a story that'll brighten your day, just ask her (it will be well told, and mostly acted, and certain to warm your heart)...
Fin
explaination, me and a friend agreed that tonights post would be dedicated soley to the other person (so i can't tell you about my crazy day... hint hint read my post on wednesday march 30th 2005)
So here goes nothing...
My first concious memory of Alyson was well after the beginning of the year and well into the practices of suessical. I was approached by a (for lack of a better word) chipper person, and witha smile on her face she proclaimed that I must (not 'can you' but 'you must') write "hi from Alyson" on Scott's door... She appeared to know my name (I mean, how many Neals are there?) so I was obliged to pretend that I knew her, and knew everythig about her, lest I be the insensitive person whom forgets their friends over the summer... Cuz in all honesty, it's not like it has never happened before...
Well... Needless to say, I think my ploy worked, and after a week or so of someone having to remind me what her name was (thanks scott) me and Alyson started off on what is now a beautiful (if not sleep filled) friendship.
Over the last year, we've shared a lot. Laughs, games, fun, perhaps some hugs that were umm... A little too personal (happy birthday BTW)...
I've learned a lot from Alyson. She is the shining example of seeing the best. She handles situations that would stress me with the greatest of ease. She sees perfection in the flaws and rejoices where others would rather hide away.
And beyong all else, she is the pinnacle of the unwaivering faith. Don't get me wrong, she has her off days just like everyone else, but she NEVER ceases to praise God for everything, something I have always respected (and admired).
She's knowlegeable and determined, and thats how I know she's going to succeed no matter where her life takes her.
And could we talk about alyson without mentioning her heart of gold? (gahk... cliche... so so sorry). She genuinely cares for each and every person, and she shows it. If you want to know love, listen to her talk about one of her kids; if you want to know about friendship, listen to a story about one of her friends. If you want a story that'll brighten your day, just ask her (it will be well told, and mostly acted, and certain to warm your heart)...
Fin
Monday, April 03, 2006
Daylight Savings
As I sit here downloading the newest version of my favourite videogame, I take note that it is 4 in the morning...
yes people... 4 in the morning..
I despise daylight savings... well.. I hate the spring forward part of it...
If only there was a way to speed up all the clocks in the world, so that every month we had a fall back...
Oh dear, I'd be in heaven..
Alas, no... i am left here trying to convince my body that the new time is the correct time... And in doing so, creating more stress on my already pissy body... which in turn, is going to keep me up even longer...
At least I can be productive...
i can...
umm..
yeah..
never mind...
no productivity here...
Yes...
So no progress was made of choir tour this weekend..
Thankfully most everything was already planned (woot) but I didnt hear back from the company in williams lake... which is dissappointing... as I need to discuss things before I present them to the choir...
And although I expect the discussions to go well.. it would be nice to be able to haev them about a topic... rather than me just sitting there going...
"so... umm... yeah..."
And as much as I LOVE looking like an idiot, a semblence of productivity would be nice to show off...
Speaking of which... I think I might need to go to the dollar store in order to plan prizes for the choir awards (since I can't forsee stumbling upon a everything is a dollar mart in Peace river...)
alas...
I suppose I should try to force myself to sleep...
=/
gnight...
yes people... 4 in the morning..
I despise daylight savings... well.. I hate the spring forward part of it...
If only there was a way to speed up all the clocks in the world, so that every month we had a fall back...
Oh dear, I'd be in heaven..
Alas, no... i am left here trying to convince my body that the new time is the correct time... And in doing so, creating more stress on my already pissy body... which in turn, is going to keep me up even longer...
At least I can be productive...
i can...
umm..
yeah..
never mind...
no productivity here...
Yes...
So no progress was made of choir tour this weekend..
Thankfully most everything was already planned (woot) but I didnt hear back from the company in williams lake... which is dissappointing... as I need to discuss things before I present them to the choir...
And although I expect the discussions to go well.. it would be nice to be able to haev them about a topic... rather than me just sitting there going...
"so... umm... yeah..."
And as much as I LOVE looking like an idiot, a semblence of productivity would be nice to show off...
Speaking of which... I think I might need to go to the dollar store in order to plan prizes for the choir awards (since I can't forsee stumbling upon a everything is a dollar mart in Peace river...)
alas...
I suppose I should try to force myself to sleep...
=/
gnight...
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Choir Tour
I'm pretty sure I'm a bad person...
The evidence keeps piling on...
But I suppose that's all I have to say about that...
Went out for dinner with a friend from back. That was fun... Too bad I was so sleepy...
Oh, and I have been encouraged to persue a particularly fun Choir Tour activity... I'm really excited (and hopefully everything turns out and the price is right... we'll see)
I'm actually kind of excited that choir tour is almost completely finalised... We're leaving early some days to do the planned activities (yay), and the activities planned are gonna be so much fun!
Yes...
One thing I'm not looking forward to is choir awards... eww choir awards...
For those who don't know anything about choir, each year on choir we give out awards to each of the choir members... They go from the most coveted (BFP, and Choir Hottie) to the less desirable (Narcalepsy, BFP, I Look Like Muffin)...
(clarification, BFP is "Big Fat Pig" and goes to the choir garbarator... sometimes its highly desireable... sometimes it's unflattering)
Now, for those of you in choir, but have never thought about it before, choir awards is DISGUSTING hard...
We try to give out applicable awards to everyone... But sometimes people go to great lengths not to stand out in anything...
And really... as unflattering as I see it to get the "I'm an introvert that hasn't done anything over the last 8 days that sticks out in neal's mind" award... I think it would be even more unflattering to be number 3 of 7 to recieve that award...
alas... I will, of course, ask the choir for suggestions... And for the most part the choir is productive and helpful... But on occasion you people who don't play nice... and no matter how much I might agree... or how many people may suggest it... I am NOT going to be giving away the "Choir Cunt" award... or the "Biggest Bitch"... or "Sloppy Snatch"... Or whatever nasty aliteration people can come up with to describe the people in choir they don't like...
So yes... thats my rant of the night...
The evidence keeps piling on...
But I suppose that's all I have to say about that...
Went out for dinner with a friend from back. That was fun... Too bad I was so sleepy...
Oh, and I have been encouraged to persue a particularly fun Choir Tour activity... I'm really excited (and hopefully everything turns out and the price is right... we'll see)
I'm actually kind of excited that choir tour is almost completely finalised... We're leaving early some days to do the planned activities (yay), and the activities planned are gonna be so much fun!
Yes...
One thing I'm not looking forward to is choir awards... eww choir awards...
For those who don't know anything about choir, each year on choir we give out awards to each of the choir members... They go from the most coveted (BFP, and Choir Hottie) to the less desirable (Narcalepsy, BFP, I Look Like Muffin)...
(clarification, BFP is "Big Fat Pig" and goes to the choir garbarator... sometimes its highly desireable... sometimes it's unflattering)
Now, for those of you in choir, but have never thought about it before, choir awards is DISGUSTING hard...
We try to give out applicable awards to everyone... But sometimes people go to great lengths not to stand out in anything...
And really... as unflattering as I see it to get the "I'm an introvert that hasn't done anything over the last 8 days that sticks out in neal's mind" award... I think it would be even more unflattering to be number 3 of 7 to recieve that award...
alas... I will, of course, ask the choir for suggestions... And for the most part the choir is productive and helpful... But on occasion you people who don't play nice... and no matter how much I might agree... or how many people may suggest it... I am NOT going to be giving away the "Choir Cunt" award... or the "Biggest Bitch"... or "Sloppy Snatch"... Or whatever nasty aliteration people can come up with to describe the people in choir they don't like...
So yes... thats my rant of the night...
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