Book 14

The Magus by John Fowles

This book went recommended by my dad, who has the knowledge of intriguing books down to a science. The Magus follows Nick Urfe in a whirlwind mystery as he leaves his desperate girlfriend for a teaching job on a small Greek island. There, he meets a even more mysterious man by the name of Conchis, who will lead him on a 'game' where the main character constantly questions what is real and what is staged.

In the end, he discovers he has the potential to be a more compassionate, selfless individual, but not without losing the one person that led him to this rediscovering of himself.

I enjoyed the book, although it ended far too soon and without a sense of conclusion. There were moments within it, however, that I couldn't put it down, and it kept me guessing until near the very end.

I always pull things from the books that I read, and this was no short of ideas or thoughts to provoke me. Like the lesson Nicholas learns, my favourite: "Because the one thing that must never come between two people who have offered each other love is a lie."

And in one scene, where Jojo, a young and virgin-like woman, says to Nicholas: "I wish I was real pretty." He replies, "Being pretty is just something that's thrown in. Like the paper around a present. Not the present." I'm not sure if everyone would enjoy this book, but it made for an interesting read.

animal planet

My undying love for little animals continues to become ever more prevalent. Meet Ms. Raccoon, resident of Stanley Park. Thanks Ingrid for taking the photos!

cookie monster

When depressed, hungry, etc.. baking cookies makes me feel a little better. It helps that I have a great cookie monster book. If you ever see it, pick it up for yourself. It contains great recipes, like the All-American Chocolate Chip Cookie.

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup of butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tbsp. vanilla
1 pack semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven 350 degrees F. Stir together flour, baking soda, salt. Beat butter and sugars in large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Add flour mixture, beat until blended.
Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts. Drop the dough onto ungreased cookie sheet 2 inches apart in tablespoonfuls. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until edges of the cookies are golden brown.

Makes 2 1/2 dozen cookies, so I suggest doubling the recipe if you are a monster like me, or if you live with one.

Drunk again in the rhododendrons

"Boy, what you gonna do with your life? So you want to be an artist, want to be a singer, want to be remembered for what you could create."  Bloc Party

That's it. Graduated. Degree in hand, a $30,000 slip of paper that says, "you've committed to something, now show that it was worth it." It's no ordinary thing to obtain a degree. It is the "what now?", however, that is even more peculiar. 

  

I went to my grad, walked on stage, shook the Dean's hand, and two days later I found myself climbing ladders and painting window frames. I was angry and frustrated: had I really worked so hard the past four years to find myself wearing dirty painter's pants, combing the crusty paint from my hair? 

But then I was standing in line at 7-11 in my painting attire buying a much-needed chocolate bar after work, and a man whom I could only guess by his accent was from the Middle East, said to me, "You are sure lucky. Women in my country can't work [the way you do]." 

 I think the point of school, the point of work, the reason I have ripped my fingernails and challenged my fear of 30-foot ladders, or the reason for anything at all, is so that we can grow. So we can see ourselves develop and transform and change and change again. So we can confront complications and come out stronger.

So, I have my Bachelor of Applied Journalism degree. But I could be a painter. I could be an artist. A traveller. An author, I could make shoes or build fences. The point is, I can. And so, I will.

For those of you in these photos, I'm so glad you have been a part of my life. And I think it's great that so many of us decided to go to the grad, because I'm not quite sure I'll be gathering another degree anytime soon.