Long Time, No Read (and other update-like things)

School sucks. At this point primarily because it is exam time. But also because of the extreme lack of reading that has occurred over the last 3 and a half months. Every time I go to the blog, I can see "50 Book Challenge", sitting at the top, just taunting me. I am  half way through, at 25 books with 5 months left. It was going pretty well and I was reading a ton in the summer. But then school started and all I have read is a chapter and a half of what would have been a great book, had I not developed a sense of dislike due to the $1.30 of over dues I had to pay on it. Fortunately,the break is almost here, so I finally have time to buckle down and engulf myself in some lovely literary works. First on the list is John Grisham's King of Torts, since I love his work and it's sitting right next to me. After that I think I'll tackle whatever is on my bookshelf. There is a lot there that I have yet to read.

On another note, I think I'm going to do another 12 days of crafting again this year. I've been in a creative rut for the last few months and it's driving me nuts. There are people who can't go days without writing or drawing. For me, it's making or repurposing something and it has been months. I'm about to tear my room apart just so I can glue it back together. So once more, when the break starts and time suddenly appears in abundence, I will get crafting, creating whatever my heart desires for 12 straight days. I will post each creation and the background/inspiration/tutorial if there is one, for those 12 days, with Christmas being the last finale. Last year on facebook I only made it to 8 days but this year will be different! I'm oh so excited :)

And finally, ending with a completely different subject - driving. It's no new fact on this blog that I've had my issues with driving (click here) but hopefully those will all be conquered because just a few days before Christmas, I'm going to take the final driving exam. If I pass it means I can basically drive in any province, in the states, and internationally should I so desire. I nervous as hell because it's winter driving and I get freaked out easily, which isn't very good. But driving is all about being knowledgable and confident, so hopefully I can be those two and have a good test.

*sighhhh* the holiday season is here...

A College Christmas Dinner

awkward photo of my friends without heads/the robe

My college is weird. Very bizarre and set in tradition. Quite frankly I don't why I picked that one out of all the University has to offer, but either way I'm here and it's too late to change.

Tonight was the college's annual Christmas dinner. It was a high table dinner which means that gowns (yes, that's right gowns, - like long black robes à la Harry Potter) must be worn and formal attire is obligatory. We lined up a good 45 mins before dinner because last time for Thanksgiving Dinner in October, we almost weren't able to sit together because people don't understand the concept of a line -_-.

Anywho, these high table dinners are kind of a big deal. The profs, faculty, and various alumni who happen to still be around campus attend. You sit with your graduating year (or in my case, social year) and are served the meals - honestly, it's just like Harry Potter without the floating candles and awesome ceiling. One of our (lame) frosh cheers is "We're going back to Hogwarts!" when we head back to college (it might seem cool but it's actually kind of sad when you're yelling it at a college twice your size).

yummy yumminess

But I'll admit, it is fun to get all dressed up and revel in some Christmas cheer before exams start and the school goes on winter break. We sang Christmas carols and songs and were given candy canes to munch on. But why do I (and most of the University of Toronto) think is my college weird, you might ask? Well it's traditionally Anglican, although I can't name a single Anglican enrolled, and many of those traditions are still around. Our cheers and school song are in Latin, we say a prayer (in Latin once more) before high/low table dinners (although most of the college probs isn't religious, let alone comprised of dead-language-speaking Christians) and there is a "not-so-secret" society, Episkopon (wiki it). Some might say this is the heart of the college, such ingrained traditions, and yes they are right. It is what makes it unique. But it also contributes to the pompous stuck up reputation that it carries. It's a give and take sort of situation.

a part of the dining hall

Many people don't like it, but lots of people feel at home here, as is evident by the dining hall filled with laughter, toasts and off key singing. After filling myself to the brim with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and multiple baked goods, and stashing numerous candy canes in my robe, I think I'm one of those people finding my home, as traditional, weird and bizarre as it may be.