Snow Day!

Well, not actually a snow day. The school didn't actually shut down today (or this weekend) but we have a LOT of snow here on the mountain. It started Friday night, and is still currently snowing (as of 1800 Monday PST). I guess that we have a snowfall warning in effect here? I don't know. I don't think its that bad, really, but I think that has more to do with being from Ontario than with anything else.

I think its super pretty, but a lot more soggy than I'm used to. Its cold enough to snow, but not really cold enough for it not to melt a bit, you know? I just hope it doesn't last TOO long. I have a friend from Korea coming to visit, and she deserves to see more than just snow.

New area

way way WAY back in the day, I mentioned that I was moving into the apartments at my school, yea? I'm sure I did. Anyways, I'm all moved and stuff, and, I gotta tell you, living on a mountain is great! It is also super convenient for school and classes and stuff. Not so much for work though. It takes almost an hour to get to work on the weekends, which sucks, but is alright.

So, I got some pictures of my "backyard" for you guys. Now, I don't actually have a backyard-I live in an apartment, that would just be silly. BUT, my building is hella close to the bike/walking paths, where we go jogging quite often. Its really pretty, but, I'll just show you.

These are from the late summer, early fall:

Pretty, right? I have a great view of the Coast mountains, and the Inlet that separates Vancouver from North Vancouver (clever names, right?). One of those mountains is Grouse, which we climbed earlier this year as well! This area is part of a conservation area, and there are bears and deer and all sorts of other wild animals that roam the woods. I haven't seen a bear yet, and I'll have to wait for the spring, when they come out of hibernation. I have seen deer and raccoon, and TONNES of birds.

And we also get some of the greatest views of the city proper. Especially sunset, which dips like red fire across the horizon.

These are from mid-late autumn, early winter(ish)

Finals

So, finals sprung up on me pretty quick. On the plus side, I have successfully completed my first semester of real university-minus finals, of course. On the bad side, I still have 4 finals to write.

You probably guessed it already, but I'll be pretty spotty, update wise, for the next 2 weeks or so.

BUT! when I return, I will have LOADS of cool stuff to share, including more projects and things I'm doing; stuff about friends visiting; and Vancouver's Fan Expo! And I will have LOTS from Fan expo.

So, fear not, there will be lots of fun stuff in the future.

xox

My Twitter will be the only thing that I'm really updating, so go follow me!

Field Trip!

A little back logged here, but, that's alright. Its been busy as hell lately, but, I have some breathing room now, and should have good amounts of it for a while.

So, for one of my classes this semester, I got to go on a field trip. This is the first of several that I have to go on for my major (unless I change my major (slightly), which is a possibility). We went to the interior of British Colombia, and looked at all these really cool remnants of past geological events. This was my first time going into the interior of BC, so it was a really fun experience for me. Well, I've been in the interior-I did take a bus through the mountains-but it was at night, and I was on 3 days of no sleep.
This time, I was not. I was well awake, and got to see some of the amazingness of the mountains, and the plateaus that are part of BC's landscape.

Boring for many of you, I'm sure. The rocks, and geological stuff, I mean. Just because I have a nerd hard on for rocks and stuff doesn't mean that all you do.

I did get some cool photos though, ones that aren't of rocks, or alluvial fans, of landslides.

I want to see more of British Colombia before I leave here for good. I have a few good years, mind you, but there is a lot to see here, and it's going to take a long time.

Yet another thing I'm doing

I do a lot of things, don't i?

So, I am still doing the book about self harm! Post over here  and information is in the Projects header ^

But, new thing!

I am hoping to volunteer my time at a wildlife preservation this summer, between my semesters, down in South Africa.

Cool, right?

But also expensive.  As such, I am looking to get donations from animal and adventure loving people, who want to further a broke ass student in her studies and goals in life!

Now, over 1/3 of the money raised is directly for the wildlife preservation to help pay for their overhead, food, medicine and the paid (local) labor. The rest of it is pretty much all flights. Because, holy crap, flying to Johannesburg is expensive!

If you can donate, or want more information about this project, there are links in the Projects header ^ and here is the link to the gofundme page I have set up. There are more details to be found there!

Donate to me!

We are offering small rewards to those who donate money. Now, keep in mind, broke ass students here. We are doing the best we can to help those in need, while still being able to afford school (not as easy as you think).

We are trying to do something that we both (hubs and I) think is important. We want to not only be able to see some of the endangered wildlife in Africa, but we also want to do what we can to help ensure the survival of those species.

Did you know what there are only 4 white rhinos in the wild today? 4. And the idea that they are killed for the stupidest fake "science" ever makes me sick.

It is humans who have destroyed the habitat, the water and the food. It is humans who kill and maim them for fun.
And it should be humans who do what they can to save them.
So, please help, if you can.

and, MIA

I hate being this busy, and having SO much to do, and no time to do it. I've been taking things at school a little to slack lately, and my grades have been reflecting that. But I can't do half asses work anymore. I have to get a certain GPA to stay in the co-op program, as well as get scholarship awards. 

I'm wondering if I bit off more than I can chew this time.

Or maybe I just need to shut the F up, and get to work, right? That seems like the better option.

What this all basically means is that I'll be MIA for a few weeks. I'm hoping to get some posts done maybe in mid-March. I hope. If things go well, that is.

Twitter will still be (semi) updated 

Tumblr might get the occasional update, but its all stuff that I like, so I dunno.

Facebook will be super irregular, and only checked on my phone while en route to school

Instagram will also be spotty at best.

See you guys in March!

Photos from school

I promised you guys some photos from my awesome on a mountain school. I finally bothered to connect my phone to my laptop, so here's a bunch of photos that are school related. Mostly.

New school!

I can't believe it's already been 2 weeks since I started at my new school! I have to say, it's pretty exciting to be at a new school, in new classes, with new things to learn.
And, sadly, new books to buy. Which I haven't yet, but I will. But, honestly, everyone always goes on about how poor students are, but they STILL think its alright to charge me 200$ for a damn ecology textbook? Not cool man. Not cool at all.
Classes are going fine, for the most part. Math is still my arch nemesis  but, I think that it will be for as long as I live. But, it's totally necessary for my degree, so I have to power through it and HOPE that something clicks.
The campus is beautiful-did I mention that? Just amazing. It's on top of a small mountain, and there is just this AWESOME view of the Coast mountains and the Pacific ocean from the campus, and, wow. I posted a few pics of it on my Instagram (@setsuna). I'll try to remember to get some on my actual camera to post here.
So-other than my inability to preform even the most basic math equations-huzzah to a new semester!

Fall semester-we are done

For better or worse, this semester is finally done. About damn time, too. This is awesome for a lot of reasons, mostly because I have had about 8 hours of sleep in the last 3 days, and I could really use a nap, rather than another 12 hour study session.
I could also use a solid workout at the gym. Which I will be doing shortly. This will be one of my last workouts at the YMCA because I cancelled my membership.

Why, you might ask?

Well, today is special for more than just the end of finals. It's also my last day at my current college. I am transferring to SFU for next semester, and that university has it's own gym. It does mean that I'll be working out at home for the next few weeks, but I got some awesome workout already planned out.

This is also the last day that I am an English major. I start my new major in Spring, and, I, for one, and looking forward to it.

But, after I get a few solid hours of sleep, of course.

This also gives me time to get all my projects started and stuff. I am starting some really cool stuff soon, and, when I have more to say, I'll make a post, but for now, just know that awesness is afoot.
I have also got myself a new artist for my comic. I just don't have the time, or the artistic talent to do it, and my readers deserve better. The girl that I'm going to be working with is awesome. She sent me a few sketches and, guys, this will be great! I am super excited.
I've also been in talks with a few other artists for a few more comics. I can't draw for anything, but, man, I can write. I actually find it hard to stop creating stories. It takes a bit of time to finish them all, but I have loads of them. Hopefully one of them becomes super awesome, and I can go to comic cons as a guest. Wishful thinking, I know.

Now, for that gym and then sleep I so desperately need. Enjoy this video if you are feeling down, or need a quick fix for adorablness.

Busy, or something

I have a lot of things that i want to talk about here, but, man, finding time is a bitch.
Lots of schoolwork, actual work, contest I'm entering, an art auction I'm participating in, transferring schools...ugh. And more.

I haven't had time to update my comic in, like, forever, and I feel bad for it. I want to make up for it soon, but it will have to wait until the semester is over. Shit is just stupid crazy at the moment.

I'm going back home to Ontario for Christmas, to see my family and celebrate with them. Hopefully, that will end well. I got most of my gifts already bought, since I hate that whole Christmastime in the malls thing.

Things should get better in just over a week or so. Hopefully, I'll be able to update all my things around then.

But for now, a new photo of yours truly!

Happy Birthday to me, Part deux

To jump right in

Japan

Seriously, lifelong dream accomplished right here. Going to Japan has been on my list of things I wanted to do ever since I discovered anime and manga (it was early in life, let me assure you). Not only did I get to visit Japan, but I got to go to, what, 7 different cities? I got to see so many things, experience so much, and-perhaps more importantly-reconnect with some friends that I hadn't seen in a LONG time. Some things are important, and those things, no matter how distant, should be kept close.

Vietnam

Vietnam was never in my list of places to go, but, the opportunity presented itself, and I am not the kind of person who will turn down travel. Ever. Out of all my adventures this past year, I think this one has the biggest list of 'bad' against it. That said though, having this unique experience was eye opening and well worth it-despite the down sides. Seeing a war torn, 3rd world country is something that everyone should do. It has a profound effect on the psyche. 

2 year anniversary with the hubs

I feel like this one is sort of self-explanatory. How could I not be excited about being married for 2 years, without there being any violence or straight up murder? I never thought I'd get married in the first place. To have it last this long is sort of a surprise. A pleasant one, yes, but a surprise nonetheless. 

World Expo

Another one of those once-in-a-lifetime things that I got to do. Since the expo is only held every few years, and never in the same country consecutively  the fact that I was in the right place at the right time is just amazing. I don't think this will be my last expo though, since there is still YEARS left for me to travel. Who knows when this will come up again though, but that chance is still there. It had its bad points, but it was still a unique experience to be able to have some part in. 

Acceptance into SFU

As I mentioned in the 10 things you likely didn't know about me post, I was not really great with that whole education thing when I was younger. It took me a while to get the swing of things, what with this being my 3rd stint in post secondary education. But, my acceptance into SFU (Simon Fraser University NOT San Francisco University) proves to me that I have grown into my intelligence. I am not a stupid person-I'm just full of hate and rage and, sometimes, laziness. But acceptance into university on my own merits, on my own terms, it's something to be proud of.

And in this vein-being asked to have an editing part-hell, even being allowed to read-a now (at the time, soon to be) published novel...well now. If that isn't making it, i don't know what is. The fact that it was an awesome book by one of my favourite people just made it that much better.