Too Excited to Work!

Tom is coming home ASAP. I just have to get through Thursday and then he is here. I was deliberating amongst myself as to how to welcome him. There were options that included a sign with balloons, but I think it will be with a Bridgehead/TH's coffee and a chicken shwarma!! He has definitely fallen under the delicious shwarma curse that occurs once you bite into the morsel they call a sandwich.

I am more than sure he will completely flip when he takes the first bite of the nummy sandwich/wrap.

And the last conundrum I have relating to Tom's return is figuring out what to get him for his 25th Bday???!!!! This so called bday is a milestone, so should I treat it as such? Should I get him something timeless, relating to becoming a man in this world...or something like that, or should it be utilitarian in nature...that is, something he can use in Afghanistan? Sheeeesh, I hate making these sorts of decisions. Or maybe a man-spa day so that he can relax and get a nice massage? Who knows!! We shall see as to what he will get.

His return to Canada means that I am working like crazy so that I can spend time with him and enjoy his company. I have a midterm on Monday (16th); because of this, I have decided that I will lay a little lower on the weekend so that Tom's parents can visit with and so I can get some study time in. I know that this will be almost next to impossible to achieve, but everything is worth a try.

Needless to say, I am in a "glass case of emotion" and I don't know what to do with myself. (And for all those wondering, Ron Burgundy was an inspiration for the quotation).

Mr. Man is in Dubai....only 10,751 kms to Ottawa!!

It's OFFICIAL. Tom is in Dubai! Yay! It means he is that much closer to Canada and Ottawa. I am extremely happy. And, as most people would be, insanely envious that he is there. I decided to Google "Dubai" to see what all the fuss was about, and wow, it seems like it would be a really neat place to go!! The architecture is what really got me. I guess, where there is money, there is architectural innovation!! This mantra seems to be overbearing in the case of Dubai.

I also decided to investigate further as to what is Dubai, actually? I found a Google Earth image, as well as a map to show where this neat little place is located.
I am really excited to see Tom. Friday is coming faster and faster, but not quite fast enough!! He is definitely missed and I can't wait to have Thanksgiving-Take 2 as well as 25th Bday all in one swoop. I think in this case, excited is an understatement. I think the biggest toss-up I am having is regarding what to get him for a 25th Bday present. Should it be practical because of where he is working, or should it be timeless, marking the fact that he has hit a milestone?

I feel that this is a lot less complicated than I am making it. I guess I just want it to be almost perfect, because, as Engineering has taught me, perfect never exists. So, almost perfect will do just fine.

There is a definite excitement in the air. It feels like the day before Christmas, or the first snowfall of the year, or the first shooting star of the year...or something related to these smilies that are not working to express how I feel.

Oh well, using James Brown as a model, I think I feel good (and you can see it!!).

CIBC Run for the Cure

I recently participated in the CIBC Run for the Cure. It is in support of Breast Cancer research and awareness. Myself, my friend Andrea and my other friend, Shannon, all participated in the Run. We were running in support of Shannon, who currently has a family member with Breast Cancer.

It was probably one of the most moving days I have had this year. We were all given white t-shirts for participating and the survivors were given pink t-shirts. This intermingling definitely swelled emotions that I did not realize I had. I was moved by how strong all of the women at the event were and how each person was supporting those around them. It was a truly positive experience. I think it was a nice change from all of the negative that seems to circulate on the news.

The participants were given a pinney with a number on it or it was blank and said "I am running for" at the top. Some people had "in memory of" and others had lists of people that they were supporting. One man, walking with his wife, who was wearing a pink t-shirt but was still obviously going through chemo, had "my love" written on his pinney. I think that was one of the many moving moments of that day.

And all I kept thinking of was all of the people I know who were touched by cancer. It is a scary phenomenon, once you begin to bring it into your perspective and world. I was reflecting on each person I knew while we did the 5km trail. At times, the girls and I were talking, but I think most of our thoughts were with those people that cancer has touched. It definitely made me snap out of the "school-work-till-you-drop environment" and realize that there are people out there with situations that trump each little daily stress bubbles.

The moral of the story: I was wondering how I would maintain my community involvement after I graduate. I think that raising awareness about a cause to promote a greater good is something I would like to uptake. But we shall see.

ESSCO Thunder Bay

I volunteered for a VP Financial Position with Engineering Student Societies Council of Ontario, or ESSCO. I was up in Thunder Bay for our ESSCO President's Meeting. It is where all of the presidents and VP External Relations from all Engineering School's in Ontario come to meet and discuss ideas that will shape ESSCO to be a better organization.

The pictures are of our executive: Our Old Skool Cool team. We call ourselves this because we are all graduating this year. So, that makes us old, in terms of the other people who represent their respective engineering schools (typically, they are 2nd or 3rd year).

The red head is Phil. Phil is our VP Communications and takes care of the ESSCO website as well as anything else that revolves around communication and order within ESSCO. Kris is our President. He is the taller one with dark hair. And, as one can imagine, he takes on all of the respectable presidential roles. He provides us with direction and a vision. I think that he has distinctively important role. And, finally, Steve, is the shorter person with dark hair. He is our VP Services and Development. Basically, he does what the name communicates. His role is quite large and he definitely makes ESSCO function externally as an organization.
So, that's the team. The first picture is us standing outside the Thunder Bay airport. It was a "Proof" that we were there.

I do have a funny story: for all of those Great Big Sea fans out there, they were on our plane down to Thunder Bay. They were all sitting in front of us. Once we figured out who they were, it was awkward glances and stares at them to see if they recognized that we recognized them. So that was quite awkward. Mostly because they used to be big, and their only hit was "It's the end of the world" and some of the other people on the plane were humming it....it was just a strange situation.

The weekend was good!! A lot was accomplished. We have another conference coming up at Queen's. It is the Professional Engineers of Ontario Student Conference. This will definitely be a worth-while event, and I am really glad that I am going.

There is nothing wrong with making solid connections to industry and the professional world this young in my career. I'll also have to look for Tom....if there is something car related, he's sold.