I am loving life though and living life... away from the computer. So... I have decided that while I am still in school I am going to have to forfeit my blogging duties, and do monthly updates only. Not that I haven't really been doing that already, but I am just verbalizing it to myself so that I know now I MUST update ONCE a month. For now. Or else. I will have to punish myself. How do you even go about punishing yourself. I don't think I'm disciplined enough. I think I would just give myself those puppy dog eyes and give in.
Anywho: Recap since last time I wrote. My friend Danielle has been living with us for the past 6 weeks doing her internship in Langley and just left us yesterday. Darla was also in town for one week on her way home from Australia too. She is also gone now too. Our house has been FULL. Full of laughs. Full of food. Full of shampoo, clothing, and girly things. But now- it's not full. It's quite empty actually. Danny is at a work thing tonight, so it's just me. Sitting here. With my favorite Pottery Barn candle burning. Typing at my computer. It's okay. I'm okay. ;)
Now what to report.
- Well we went to Whistler with Darla on Friday last week which was really fun. It was a venture up into the mountains and it was actually sort of warm there as opposed to the eskimo-like weather we have been experiencing here in Vancouver. But yeah... Whistler. Went for a walk around a lake, looked in a bunch of shops, checked out some Olympic hype. Good times were had.
- School has been really good. Right now we're learning travel and tourism fundamentals, and seriously my instructor is SO funny. She has the funniest stories ever. But I think the best thing about her stories is how hard she laughs when she's telling them so it usually takes twice as long than it should to actually get the words out of her mouth.
- Danny's job is going great. My little Addictions Specialist. He sure is great. He is getting positive feedback from his co-workers too. I'm so proud. BUT the school year is coming to and end so things will slow down for him this summer. I foresee many "IM BORED" text messages from him in my near future.
- Our small group has also come to an end for the year. Our church just finished a 5 month sermon series on the sermon on the mount. It was crazy long, but incredibly insightful. We are finally getting a sense of community at our church, so Vancouver feels more like home by the day.
The other thing on my mind lately is being Environmentally Friendly. DT and I are trying to press into this notion but its difficult at times. It takes so much effort, and I'm lazy by nature. Here are some things I JUST learned today (And this is not to point the finge
r at the American's because I am sure we are just as bad-but the stats were all American stats:
- American's throw more than 75 million tons of packaging and containers (532 pounds per person) into landfills each year. Less than 40% is recycled.
- The average computer left on all day uses 1000 kilowatts of electricity per year; whereas a computer switched off at the end of the day uses less than 250 kilowatts per year.
- 188 millions trees are used for paper every year.
- The red/green light emitted from your TV/DVD player/Stereo System etc, is PRICEY + BAD. It adds approximately $70 to your electricity bill every year and creates 190 pounds in unnecessary greenhouse gases. They suggest buying power strips and plugging things into that, and when your technological appliances aren't in use-flick the switch off.
YIKES! This book has loads of info, but I wasn't happy to read all this stuff. I really hate this environmental struggle. Here are my personal goals for now:
- Use the clothesline more- I think I've used it like once. (Im afraid people will steal my clothes! Plus its been rainy.)
- RECYCLE more
- Throw out less. We throw out a lot. I think. Mostly food. Its hard when there is 2 of us cause we can't eat everything!!
- Turn the lights out ALWAYS when I am not in the room.
- Walk more. Drive less.
- Buy less. Don't buy junk!
- Take quick showers
- Put on layers instead of turning up the heat
...Just to name a few. SO that's all for June. Stay tuned for July. It's our 2 year anniversary and there is LOADS going on this summer!!!
