Holy Crap..University is expensive!

Yup...am starting to look at my options here for Graduate Studies...Today I checked out the University of Toronto, and the University of British Columbia. My marks are good enough (they would've been tops tho if it wasn't for emotional fuckwit you know who) to get into the programs, but the cost....OMG!!!!I need to win the friggin lottery to go to school now...either that or work my ass off and a bunch of jobs for several years and put aside money for it. Well, I won't let it deter me...the way I see it, getting my Masters and then a PHD is the only route that I've got at present to ensure I can take care of my parents financially when the time comes. I worry...some friends, past and present have said I worry too much about all of that. It's obvious I can't rely on nabbing a guy to take care of me cause it always turns out the other way. I guess if I got one thing going for me at present, it's that I won't give up...no matter what. And I won't let anyone stop me. So, now the only thing I have to worry about is the expense. I mean...for an example...it'll cost me $19,000 for 1 year at the U of Toronto just to be taught! Never mind the books, and the expense of living somewhere, and making sure I have my basic creature comforts. I mean, I don't want to starve. The first year I was in college it was like that..I had to make $50 a month last for food. Yup...i was pretty skinny back then too. Of course, that was back in the mid 90's, and money stretched a bit further those days. I knew a girl once that lived on coffee for an entire semester. Just coffee. Crazy huh? How the heck do they expect us to learn on an empty stomach?I feel for all you Uni students out there right now...having to rely on the food banks. It blows. Or having to live with 5 people who drive you nuts just so you can afford a roof over your heads. I thought I could do courses online but the ones available are not relevant to my line of work. So, it would be a waste of my money. I could get a teachers certificate here, and be listed as a "supply teacher", but again, it's not really relevant, and besides, there's only 70 students in the High School here. Frig. So the chances of me being called in to sub would be sporadic at best. Not worth the time and effort in my books.
I've been pretty lucky tho here...managing to double my loan payments per month (hey..I don't have to pay rent!) so I can see my loans paid off in 2 years instead of 10. In a few months I should be able to triple it if I play my cards right. Thats my goal. For now. When I do get the chance to go for my Masters, I'll be able to pay everything up front, because, God willing, I'll have the money to do it. And I can look back on it all and say "There...I did all this from the sweat of my own brow." I don't want to have to work a menial job to go thru school again. I want to be where I rightfully should have been....honors. That's where I was but then (my fault) I let a guy come into my life who shouldn't have been there. I'm done with all that man. No more. Yup, I sound pretty harsh eh? oh well. I'm doing better on my own even if it's in the middle of nowhere right now. Anyhoo...another rant accomplished. Gotta love Blogs eh? Anyhoo....all you Bloggers who have attended College and/or University....here's a question for ya...what were some ways you made your dollars stretch? For me, it was washing all my clothes by hand in the early days, because a dollar to wash and a dollar to dry a load got expensive, especially if you had 5 loads or more a week. Let me know! Peace!

Tonight....

I watched a wonderful movie with my Mom...it's called "The Imitation of Life". It's an old movie, starring Lana Turner, and was made by Universal Pictures in 1959. An amazing tale of two women struggling to raise their daughters. The ending was sad (if you haven't seen it, I won't spoil it for you) and I cried like a sissy. I definately reccommend that you watch it. Make sure you have Kleenex handy too...you'll need it. Trust me.
On another note, been tired alot too. Sleepiness comes in waves throughout the day. Hmmm...need to set up an appointment for the doc. Although there's this nasty flu bug going around, but I hope I haven't caught it. Nothing's worse than being sick with fever and chills and hanging out beside a pizza oven all day. It just sucks. As you can tell, I usually don't take sick days. I hate being sick. I think it's because when I do get sick, I always have so much crap I have to do. I liked to joke i University that I moved around too fast for the flu bug to catch up. So far I've been lucky...only a nasty sinus cold since I've been home. Oh yeah, and my hip going out...that sucked royally. The town had a flu clinic tonight where everyone could get a flu shot free of charge. I didn't go. A friend of the family (and he's a spry 75) said there were a lot of "coffin dodgers" there. That just cracks me up. He doesn't see himself asone of them. I can see why. He walks every day, and has the health of a person half his age. It's amazing. I keep telling him he'll outlive us all. At any rate...I don't need a flu shot. If I get sick, I'll just let my immune system do what it supposed to do. Plus, I have my Mom's secret weapon...hot toddy. Yup. Works for me!
So...not a heck of a lot to report...haven't been hit on lately (thank God!) so am in good spirits although this town is rather boring. Not too much going on. Oh, unless I want to gripe about the proposed water meters the Council for the Township has decided (without a public vote) to go ahead with. Apparantly the town uses too much water...Ummm...nooo...the Towns pipes underground are 50 years old and are subject to breaks, which causes the water loss. Of course, being the brilliant idiots they are, they figure they'll install water meters before the fix the infrastructure...so that means we'll be paying to clean the gunk from our pipes after they replace them. Yeah. There's supposed to be a big public meeting about it. Tonight there was one for the schools, and some local residents came in asking questions, and when the Mayor said he wasn't going to answer their queries, they hollered obscenities at him and walked out. So I think I'll attend the bloodbath tomorrow, mainly because I could use some cheap entertainment. Who knows? Maybe it'll end up like WWE with some disgruntled resident throwing a chair or something. So hopefully I'll report some interesting stuff. Stay tuned.
Blogger question...what has been the dumbest thing your government (local, provincial, or federal) has implemented recently? Blog ya later!

Blah....

Man....was I tired today...been exhausted for the past few days. Must be something in the air that's making me feel so bloody lethargic. My parents let me go early, so it's nice to have time to blog. Anyone still out there? Just thought I'd ask. Anyhoo....since I don't have much to report...my Blog question is what have you been up to? Let me know. Cheers.

An update..

Hey! Sorry for the lack of blog entries as of late...I was actually able to escape this cesspool for a week...the reason? To attend a wedding of a couple of good friends of mine. It was a beautiful wedding..set in an autumn theme, and yours truly bawled like a sissy cause what can I say? I love weddings! It was amusing to note that I travelled the most miles to get there...makes me feel kinda special. I was especially happy to have my sis T with me, and we got smashing drunk, but don't worry dear Blogger pals..not to the point of becoming obnoxious versions of ourselves. A few close friends would ask me now "Hey Stranger...did you ever go by Ostrich's house to pick up the rest of your stuff?" The answer? No. Why, you may ask? Let's just say I found out some more disgusting tidbits about him that make me want to vomit...literally. Some of my closest friends probably think there isn't more disgusting lows this guy can sink...I have to say, wanna bet? To O boy.... wanna take a wild guess as to what I found out about you? And how about an apology? Hmmm....oh wait.....you're too brain dead to know what that is...but don't worry...I'm sure a few people would love to know what you're really all about. Just send my stuff. And an apology...then we can go on with our merry little lives. I did see you outside of Lethbridge with a new chick...yup that was us....did you check your shorts afterwards?
Anyhoo...enough about garbage and the company he keeps....the rest of my week out west was awesome! We went to Red Deer on the Sunday to get to my sis M's place for Thanksgiving dinner....On Monday I surprised my Godmother, whom I haven't seen in a few years on her birthday, and on Tuesday, I spent the day and overnight at my adopted sis P's place hanging out with her kids, helping them with their homework and playing video games. Wednesday I went to Calgary, as my flight was leaving late that ight, and I spent more time with my godparents, and met a godsister who was baptized last year by my godmother. It was great. My godfather packed some homemade wine for me to take hometo my father, and I couldn't put it in my suitcase, so I put it in my carry on. But wouldn'tyou know it...I had to leave it behind. No matter. I told the security dude to drink it in good health, and altho these guys are strict now in the airports, they were pretty nice to me.
My flight back was a little harsh on my ears...first was the trip to Pearson was a full house and had a screaming infant...and the descent bothered my ears some, no matter how much gum I chewed or yawned, my head still felt like it was stuffed full of cotton. I spent 4 hours at Pearson waiting for the Thunder Bay Flight, and wouldn't you know it...had another crying infant on the flight. This flight tho did my ears in...as we descended into Thunder Bay...I felt like my ears were being stabbed by ice picks repeatedly, and I found that my hearing was lousy. My ears pained me for 2 days after. But I can hear much better now. Thank god. I was glad to be home. I have been exhausted for the past couple of days and have still yet to unpack both suitcases. Hey got a question for you Bloggerpals of mine...when does jetlag occur...when you go back a few hours or forward? Let me know, cause it might explain some of the tiredness. I did work for a few hours the night I got home, and have worked full days since coming back to the Back Forty...so I really feel dragged out...that could be a factor too I guess.
Well...yes...tonight I did get hit on again by a middle aged drunk dude..here's a brief dialogue of how it went down...
Customer- (after Stranger gets his money and puts pizza in oven to cook) You married?
Stranger- I refuse to answer that question.
Customer- Does that mean you're single?
Stranger- It means I refuse to answer that question.
Customer- Why?
Stranger- I've been taught that proper ettiquette dictates you never ask a lady her age or her marital status. I think it's an impertinent question...therefore I refuse to answer it.
Customer- Do you mean I'm being ignorant?
Stranger- No...it's just not polite.
Customer- You're cute though.
Stranger (wary)- Thanks.
(Just then Greek Mother goes behind counter)
GreekMother- Your pizza will be ready soon. Sit down and I will call you when it's ready.

What can I say? Thanks Mom. Gotta love Moms eh? Got some more tales of being hit on...but I need to sleep so I'll catch y'all on the flip side...before I go tho...here's some shout-outs...
Wayne...wassup? drop me a line!
Pinky...Love ya girl..you're the best! Let me know how teaching (and the cute guy in B-town's) doing!
Dave...how's married life treating ya? Blog and let me know how it all went down!
Zinky...you rock girl...what more can I say/ I await another chapter on your blog...
J and N...thank you soo much for letting me share in the joy of your wedding...got soe great photos...
M...our gang's 'man-whore' LOL!! Had lots of fun partying with you and K....tell her I say hi!
My friends V and K out there in Edmonchuck...drop me a line some time eh?
"o" boy...see above.
Peace out!