Author Archives: Gillian

Routines Part deux

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The other day, I wrote about my bus routine.

This week, my work schedule has been thrown off due to a coworker needing time off for a funeral. I’m only too glad to shift things up for that sort of reason. Consequently, I had yesterday off and found myself taking a different bus downtown in time for choir practice. Cue the shock of my life when I step onto the bus and spot young mum who I usually see on the other bus, this time with no child.

I have now figured it out! She is a UVic student, leaves school on the bus from campus, gets off and picks up son at day care before catching the other bus two blocks over that will take her downtown. And I’m not a stalker.

Peoples lives are so interesting.

Declines

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Sad, but inevitable? Is there another solution? I have friends that lead and attend these churches. Perhaps, as a friend (who leads one of the churches) suggests,”Maybe [we need] new vision and its time to live it, not just talk about it.” I’m glad I’m in community to talk about it.

No Education

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From time to time, a patient at work will ask me how much school is required to do my job. I have to be honest and say that I have had none specific for my position; everything I know about my work has been learnt on the job.

Today, when a patient asked that and after I explained that I’d been doing this for six years and had learnt a lot as I went, he responded, “Its nice to know that there are still some jobs left where you don’t need any school.”

I know it was not meant in a condescending way and I know that there should be no offense taken, but I always take offense in situations like that. I have done seven years of post-secondary education and have three pieces of paper to prove it; I’m working on the fourth piece of paper. I feel like I deserve a little credit for that.

Next time when someone asks me that question, I’ll tell them “None is required, but I’m working on my Masters degree” and just leave it at that.

Thoughts

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Life.
It is constantly changing yet stays the same.
It provides excitement and disappointment.
There are opportunities and there are challenges.
People come and people go.
In the end, what do you have except yourself?
And the people who care about you.

Routines

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I can’t decide if I like routine or not.

Over the last few years, the one letter that has changed back and forth on my Myers-Briggs type is the one governing routine versus spontaneity. Currently, the routine side is winning.

***

Every Wednesday at 4:45pm, I rush out of work to catch the 4:46 bus that takes me downtown to choir practice. The last two weeks it has been late, consequently I have been late. It throws me off and can annoy me; I find myself obsessively checking my watch when that happens.

Half way between McKenzie and Hillside, a young mother and her son get on the bus. She cannot be as old as me and her son isn’t more than three or four. They have a great relationship and the mother is so patient with her son. He always seems very excited to be on the bus: each time is like his first time.

Once, I saw them opt to wait for the next bus because the 4:46 was on the full side. I probably wouldn’t do that because I am usually in a hurry.

Today, I took the bus downtown. It was an hour earlier than I catch it on Wednesdays, though the bus was still late. I am not sure I have ever caught that particular bus before as Thursdays are my day of doing lots of things – no routine. About half way between McKenzie and Hillside, the young mum and her son got on. The same pair as on the 4:46 Wednesday bus; the same place they always catch it.

I had a hard time not staring. Do they always take the earlier bus on Thursdays? Or was this a change in their routine as well? Crazy random happenstance?

Either way, it made me think about routines. I will look for them again next Wednesday.

Tuition Comparisons

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Because I’m crazy, I enrolled in a course at UVic to take on top of my Yorkville courses. I’ll drop it if my plan to add a minor to my undergrad post-graduation doesn’t work.

Looking at the cost of a course now has put me into some interesting reflections.

Consider this:

  • My first semester at a post secondary institution (CNC in Prince George) cost a whopping $950. For five classes, four of which had labs. $950, and that was less than ten years ago (nine, to be exact). This semester, one course at UVic will set me back $607. That isn’t too far off.
  • My last year at UVic (2005/2006) was around $45oo. That is just a little more than what I am currently paying for a term in my Masters.

Uggh. I hate tuition increases.

Dawning of a Brand New Year

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Christmas, New Westminster

So what if it is January 3 and it has taken me this long to write anything about the new year. Aside from a New Years Eve party that continued until 2am, it feels like the new year has entered with more of a fizzle than a pop; it seems no different than last week.

If anything, I’m more stressed than I was last week.

The next course starts tomorrow and I’ve already been doing readings in preparation for it. Gone are the days when I bought the text book a week or two into the course and read it the day before the final exam. I seem to be working more this week than I have in previous weeks and I have meetings. With the busy advent season over (does anyone else find it ironic that our two church seasons of slowing down and contemplation – advent and lent – seem to the be the busiest time in the church calendar?) meetings that were put on hold are starting up once again. Now is when I discover just how busy I will be with various committees and commitments.

Is it more helpful to look ahead or to dwell in the moment? Some would remind that looking ahead prepares one for what is to come. It can also cause undue anxiety. Others suggest that to dwell in the moment and live each day for what it offers without looking too far ahead (consider the lilies of the field…?) is the supreme way to live ones life. I find that a good balance of the two works well… usually…

What, then, am I looking forward to this year?

  • By this time next year, I will be more than two-thirds of the way through my degree (I think, if I’ve calculated it correctly).
  • My cousin is getting married in the spring. I get to go to Montreal.
  • Ten year high school reunion (holy cow!).
  • Work, work, work.
  • Hosting a conference with Brian McLaren and Steve Bell
  • A possible road trip around BC and Alberta.
  • Sailing.
  • Visiting our Anglican friends in Burma.
  • Having a full summer in Victoria for the first time in… ever?
  • Spending time with family and friends.