bi-monthly update

done and done!
17. Obtain my bachelor’s degree by April 2009
18. Graduate with Honours
Re: an email recently sent to me by the Registrar's office.
"Your degree will be Bachelor of Science, Honours Health Studies, Co-operative Program."

I unfortunately didn't quite meet the cutoff for the pre-health option, but somehow managed to get by with honours! Can't believe how quickly these 5 years have passed - i don't think it's completely even hit me yet.

21. Get into a post-undergrad program
Re: an email recently sent to me by the McMaster.
"Congratulations on your academic achievements and thank you for your continued interest in one of Canada's finest universities. We are pleased to attach your Official Offer of Admission to McMaster University"

So i've done it. I've managed (even though i should've tried that much harder at UW) to get into a post-undergrad program. Though I'm still waiting on other responses from other universities, I've temporarily accepted the offer for a 2 year accelerated program for Nursing at McMaster.

22. Get a paper in an academic journal with my name in/on it
Re: an email recently sent to me by one of my supervisors during my co-op term.
"We just wanted to let everyone know that we have prepared and submitted to the CMAJ a manuscript.
We would like to gratefully acknowledge your contributions to this project. The journal states that: "If in your manuscript you acknowledge anyone for a contribution that goes beyond administrative assistance, you must obtain written permission from that person to publish his or her name. "
So, if you agree to have your name published in an acknowledgement could you please send me an email reply indicating your consent."

So... my name is not an author on the paper. But it made it IN it. That's good enough for me.

99. Learn how to do my own taxes
So after stressing over how to get these done for about a week, i finally finished them and mailed them in. it took WAY too long... and because all my documentation (i.e. receipts and the like -_-) was in waterloo it made it that much more difficult. But I think I can safely say, I did it... and i can do it again... hopefully.



trucking along...
9. Call a different friend at least once a week (26/143)
this one isn't difficult. I call people on a regular basis living on my own and all. It has been nice... though switching technologies. At one point, very relient on my computer and chatting. These days it's been a lot more phone chatting. Unfortunately, i tend to call the same people each week - may need to change this up a bit =P

43. re-learn how to play guitar
Trying slowly to repick up some of the strumming. The chords i havne't forgotten, and learned a few new ones =P it's the finger picking and strumming that throws me off.
But it's nice having a guitar - i forget how soothing it is to sometimes just sit in an empty apartment and sing out my lungs and play out my heart.

49. Write down a blessing every day (183/1001)
this is so hard. i want to give up. 183 days later, and sometimes it's just so easy to want to say 'forget it... nothing good happened today' -_-

76. Read 10 books recommended by friends (1/10)
"For One More Day" - Mitch Albom
since i loved Tuesdays with morrie, Brian recommended this one. It was pretty good. Quick read... not as much as i loved Tuesdays, but it's good. If you could repeat one more day with someone you loved, what would you do?

81. Try 10 new recipes(3/10)
2 more recipes i tried:
porkchops with green onions
- this one was pretty easy, just searched 'green onions' and 'porkchops' and it came up with an easy recipe. tasted pretty good and lasted me 3 days =) quite satisfied

random peanut butter sauced pasta
- so i was all set for making a cream of mushroom + pasta + broccoli + green onions + chicken bacon for dinner... a standard, but good meal. As it turns out, i have no can opener. so i was desperately looking for an easy recipe online. I came across one that used peanut butter + sugar + soy sauce + vinegar... so i attempted. hahaha it wasn't so bad =P would i make it again? maybeee....

89. Try 10 new restaurants. (7/10)
For my birthday, we tried out another restaurant on the famous "Baldwin Street" =)
"John's Italian Restaurant" - not TOO pricey, the food was good, annnd the dessert was homemade. and amazing. Homemade Tiramisu. You can't really go wrong.

101. Contribute 100 dollars a month to my savings account (6/33)
BAHHHH so, i've been SO GOOD at contributing to my savings. Then.. i had to pay rent this month. -_- ANNND i didn't have enough in my normal account. So after all this hard earned interest (hahaha 20$!!! =P) i had to dish out money from my savings for rent. How lovely.