The Final Push

Can you believe it!??!?
There is only 9 weeks left of "Stacey the Student" - amazing!

But it sort of hit me this weekend that we have SO much work to get done in the next 9 weeks. Not to mention trying to find a job!!! So, eventhough I have been letting myself have a bit of a life outside of school - that's got to be put aside until the end of May.

So to all my non-school friends. I apologize in advance for my utter disappearance for the next little while. But the next time I surface it will be for good!! =)

May 27th - that's the last day of exams. Then... I'm done.
Beyond May 27th is this big, dark void of the unknown. I guess another journey is waiting for me in there somewhere - just don't know what.

Second Guessing

I seem to be in this place where I keep second guessing my feelings and decisions.

Maybe its because I am so floored by this vast expanse of the unknown that is before me. As of June the only things I know is my address and my friends. But job, future, future addresses??? Not a clue. Not even a hint.

The latest thing - Vancouver is becoming too expensive to live in. The news has been saying that the average house in the Lower Mainland, right now, is $700,000 - and by 2010 it will be $1.4 million. How the hell am I ever going to be able to afford to stay here and have the life style I want?

So, I need to start thinking. Should I actually stay in Vancouver?!?! If I was going to move and settle elsewhere, now would be the time to do it because I am at a cross-roads anyhow. But I love living in Vancouver. I love my life here. I love being close to my family, walking on the beach, shopping on 4th, Main and Commercial, playing beach volleyball, watching English Bay at sunset.

And if I were going to take a chance and move again, where would I go? What other city would offer me what I am looking for? I know that I don't want to leave North America again. Not permenantly at least.

My other HUGE concern right now is that a lot of people are giving me feedback that my salary expectations are too high. And I just don't get that, because if I went back to where I was I would be earning a good salary. And at that point people were telling me I could be earning a lot more. So which is it?!?!?

Oh well, off to do some readings... and of course to ponder a little more. At this point I am feeling so distracted by the finish line and what's beyond... its hard to focus on what's at hand right now.

Random Pictures from a Gorgeous Day

Gimped

So, for the last few months I've been having problems with my right hand. And, in typical Stacey fashion... I ignored it until it got so bad that I can hardly grip things any more.

Yep - apparently being able to grip things is important. And after dropping a glass a few weeks ago, I finally dragged myself into see my doctor. Who then sent me to a hand specialist. Who then diagnosed me with APL tendonitis. The APL starts part way up the forarm, and goes up and attaches to the 2nd part of the thumb. Ouch!! So, now I am supposed to rest my right hand and try not to use it. He said we should splint it, but that would be so restrictive, so we've tried a thumb splint instead. It looks rather funny.


But, how the heck am I supposed to get away with not using this hand?!??!? Ok, so I'm left handed, which helps. But I only write with my left hand - I do everything else right handed. Like this morning I was peeling apples for a crisp. But, you need two hands for that!!!

This week I was on spring break, so I had the opportunity to rest it. It certainly will be interesting to see how I fare once I'm back at school!!!

Spring, Snow, Ethiopian Food, & Decisions

Well, its time to get excited! Why? Because its spring break!!!!!!

Its amazing how one year can make such a difference. This time last year Jon and I had just broken up and I was escaping to see Natasha and Earl in California. At that time I so desperately wanted to get out of Vancouver, I was stressed to the max, and really just needed to vege out for a while.

Not so much this time around. This year I'm really happy to stay in Vancouver and just have a week off of classes. I've got a tonne of stuff going on next week, and I wouldn't want to miss it all. Ok, so I'm not saying that I wouldn't love to be on a beach somewhere - but that can wait. For now I have some work to do, an interview, and friends to catch up with.

But, all those plans may be tossed in the air if the current weather pattern sticks around for too long. Yesterday we woke up to snow!! Yes, that's right, that wierd white stuff that terrifies all Vancouver drivers (myself included). Today its gorgeous and sunny, but really? Doesn't the weather get that its time for winter to go away?????

To start off our break in style Amy, Roger and I went to this Ethiopian restaurant called Nyala. Its just down the road from my place and was soooo yummy! We had goat, ostridge and lamb - the whole premise is that you get this flat bread and you use it to scoop up the stewed meat. So it's a little messy - but did I mention how yummy it is? mmmmmmm.... I would highly recommend it. However, with appies and wine thrown in there it ended up being a little on the pricey side. Next time I go, it will be for their vegetarian buffet (which is only $10.95).

The big thing that I need to sort out over the next week is whether or not I truely want to be offered the Resident Advisor position at BCIT. I had my interview on tuesday night and I feel like I did pretty well and have a good chance of being offered the position. But ever since, I've been pondering whether or not its something that I want to do. The killer is that there is no super strong pro or cons (but a lot of each), and my gut isn't really giving me any hints right now. Maybe the whole fact that I am waffling is a hint? But the thing is that I have been waffling all week about any decision I'm facing - so I don't think its just this.

How on earth do you figure something out like this? I could make pros and con lists to my hearts content and it wouldn't help. I've talked to people about it and it hasn't helped. So what now?

The crazy thing is that I am spending all this energy on mulling it over without even knowing for sure if they are going to offer me the position. However, I don't want to be offered it and then turn it down. Or worse, I don't want to take it and then realize I made the wrong choice.