Beautiful books

I'd like everyone to note the sarcasm in the above title as I proceed to show you pictures of this year's yearbook:




I don't have pictures of the inside but it doesn't get any better. Not only did they completely leave chad's picture and quote out of the yearbook but they also put the people's quotes with the wrong people and went a little colour crazy with this all colour layout. There was no set feel for the yearbook, all very random and really quite ugly. People actually requested refunds. If this wasn't my last year I wouldn't be keeping it either.

Goodbyes

At long last it's over, cadets coming to an end and summer finally approaching. It's a sad year though, Roy and John are leaving and our group of senior NCO's is slowly depleting while the group of the younger PO's is growing exponentially. That's the way cadets works though, one group fades out while the other starts out. Camp is coming soon though and it'll be a last go at all of us being together.

On the other hand there are some up sides to cadet's close, such as no more mad rush over paddle making (me and Roy stayed up till 12:30 at his working on it last night due to the fact certain officers didn't give us the supplies earlier.) And of course there's also the fact that there's one less to worry about and prepare for, it'll be nice to be off.

This year we had the Commanding Officer of HMCS Victoria (the submarine stationed in Esquimalt) as our reviewing officer and over all it went fairly pain free. I was in charge of the range display which despite a few deflating balloons had no real problems.

As far as awards go this year I was the recipient of the Lord Strathcona Medal, which I was sincerely not expecting... now I have to get my medals mounted... Mom also got recognized for the branch's work with the CO's Award and the band FINALLY won cock of the walk (top division)! Yay us! Ok so technically I'm not part of the band, at least because of my rank I don't count toward marks, but still, the point is they won! =)

Four Legged Friends

So, yes, I know I still haven't done a grad post, making this all slightly out of order but I figured I'd get this one up while I'm motivated and hopefully put up a full length grad one soon...

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This morning the little one was off to her riding competition. In the typical Caity way however the fact she was competing somewhat eluded her, it was just riding which suited her just fine. She did an obstacle course and pole bending, which is basically weaving in and out of poles. Here's a little snip it of the cutie.

Commencement and the Like

So here it is, the beginning of the end. It took lots of long speeches, bored seated faces, and about 200 pens but it's been done. Fake certificates have been handed out and now it's off to grad and two weeks of exams and preperation therefore.

As far as the actually ceremony for commencement goes it was long, but over all could have been more painful. Mr Vaughn and Mr Penner's speeches were enteraining and so were the valevictorians. Unfortunately for them the valevictorians they were the last to go and most of us were zoning out due to the drone of the superentendants before them. There were a few breaks in the boring name calling and speeches though such as Dylan's moonwalk and Zac's dream to play football for the New York Metts.

Anyways Jen here are some photos for you personal satisfaction:

for more pics check out http://picasaweb.google.ca/keith.koetter/SarahGrad?authkey=UvTU2dVV3eQ

Almost there!

The dress has been fitted, the hair appointment made, the make up bought and carpooling arranged - in short I'm basically ready for grad! Four days and I'll be walking the stage, six and I'll be at grad. So close, yet still so far away *sigh*, 'cause the truth is even after the I get my fake certificate and have my last night with my grad class I still have two (nearly three) weeks of class and tests left. It seems like so little time for the amount of things that must be done, but whatcha gonna do right? Besides once it's over I'll be off to camp (litterally right after, like the space of three days) and after camp university starts =) . Now doesn't that make everyone feel warm and fuzzy inside? Or at least a little terrified? Yes? Well then at least we're all on the same page.

Ohhh and I got new clothes Jen, which I think I mentioned, but I feel like gloating... even though techincally you got yourself clothes too. The above photo is displaying one of the lovely new shirts, which were actually quite needed in a wardrobe of 4 (or was it less?) short sleeved shirts.

ps you better be having fun in turkey >_>

All Hemmed Up

The Return

It has been over a month since I last posted here (apologies Jen but there's been nothing to say). But I figure that's a lame excuse so here's a quick update:

- Got Bos'n staff at the Q
- Accepted to UBC! yay
- French Oral Exam less than a month (May 22)
- Travelled to the middle of nowhere last weekend
- Tri Service Ball yesterday!!!

And that is all. That's right folks in the past month there has been a grand total of 5 exciting/important events. My life is epic. I would give you a quick overview on all of them but, let's face it, I'm lazy. Besides most of the above are blatantly self-explanatory.

As for Tri however it was an excellent dance. Over a 1000 people attended, lots of old friends were present and now more than ever I can't wait to return to Quadra. Lots of the old crew are going to be in bos'n with me this summer and just about everyone else is at least going back as something or other. It should be a good summer.

Small incident at Tri however: Jared's jacket (which was house to my camera) got mistaken for someone else's and was taken instead of their own which was identical minus the tag indicating the store's name. It was literally an exact duplicate down to the size, the only major difference was it didn't have my camera. My camera, luckily, was turned in however and a friend from camp who goes to the corpse running the event found it and was able to identify it do to the pictues of me (see Jen I did take pictures). Once it's returned I'll be sure to update photos and I'll get one from Jared as soon as he's had a chance to upload his. I promise Jen there will be pictures.

Paris

Well I made it, and in one piece. There are no missing limbs or other bodily parts and all flying went smoothly. I spent most of the day wondering around Paris with Jen and am now at the Pompidou Centre sending you out the message. So don't panic, I promise I'm not dead.

Also I posted pictures on facebook (mom can log in and show you all)... I don't have time to post them here.

Buddy Antics

A day in the life of Budweiser:

A girl in the paper

Quick notes:

- Jen I love that you were such a geek and kept all your flash cards, I just found your lit ones and they make me happy.

- Caity appeared in the paper! View following:

Buddy

Well I suppose since Jen did put up her apartment pictures I'm obliged to follow suit with some of the Buddy boy. So here ya go:

Trip Plans and Life Shattering Findings

My life was thrown askew a few days ago when I found out a piece of shocking news: Bob Ross died, and not only had he died but he died 13 years ago. Bob Ross you say, who is this strange phenomenon of which you speak? Well perhaps this will help jog your memory: little fuzzy bushes, happy trees and fan brushes. Still not cluing in? Well than take a look at the picture - Jen I think this afro ridden painter should reside in your memory. And to think, all these times I've watched him paint and found myself drifting into a hypnotised state I thought he was alive, perhaps in a studio somewhere filming another episode. But no, truth be told he's long dead, gone, cold, no longer with us. I don't think I'll ever look at the world quite the same way again.

But now with this life shattering news out of the way we shall move onto other updates such as my lit class. As requested I shall here list my insights into recent events in lit class.

1) Beowulf: first known piece of English literature, originally an oral poem. I like it, it's like your class fairy tell/legend... And only in a class with Dylan would you learn that scholars suspect that the dragon Beowulf fights was actually born of relations between Beowulf and Grendel's mother.

2) Canterbury Tales: It is a very dirty, dirty story. Actually really interesting though, unfortunately all we study is the preface and they don't print most of the actual stories in our textbook because they're too "sexual" or "vulgar". Though the rapper that came in to present them to us (yes that's right there is someone out there who makes a living off rapping the Canterbury Tales) did an incredibly good job. It sounds kind of stupid when you first hear the concept but it's actually quite informative and very well done. He also helps compare how the society of that day has really little difference from todays, at least when it comes to the competitions of poetry and the hackling and so on that incurred during them, in other words the general social interactions - dj/beat/rap competitions of the day are hardly any different. Interesting concept, and he actually did his masters on it, which is quite fascinating. And another similarity? Even then there was an accepted fact that the key to a succesful relationship is "yes dear," as the Wife of Bath's story most truthfully explains.

And in a final gasp of big news: Plane tickets have been bought and the passports on its way. So get ready Jen cause I plan on completely invading your world of two weeks. =p I kid, I kid.... or do I?

(I'm still not putting those Buddy pictures up until I see photos of your apartment Jen, I don't care if you've already taken them, I want to see results. =p )

Very Little Eventful

It would appear it has been a long time since I have left another record of my oh so boring life here and I would apologize except, well, I'm not very sorry and besides, there is really nothing to write about. I mean there's school but school is school: it ticks by slowly, gives you far too much to do, and makes the week go about as fast as a turtle in a race. The classes are good, don't get me wrong there, but it's school and even good classes don't change that fact.

Outside of school there is very little: Cadets, and it goes by as normal (tag days next weekend, range competition in two, etc.), dance, in which very little eventful happens, and aside from that little else. Despite this I feel incredibly busy, normal things have an odd way of keeping you working. School's mostly to blame though and I do believe M. Gagnon has gone insane. He wanted us to finish the complete rough draft for our concours in two days! And this was a concours he expected to be well researched and thought out as he recommends we use the same subject for the oral on the provincial. Crazy, crazy man. He over estimates our dedication, but then again I think he always has.

On the upside it was sunny today. A very strange event I know but mostly enjoyed despite the fact that it means I had no reason to bum a ride home from school. But don't get your nickers in a knot, it's not supposed to last. As Jen was so very kind in pointing out in her blog rain is in store. But you know what Hen? I don't care, I LIKE rain, so psh. And now I shake my fist at you and your lovely Parisian surroundings. And then I proceed to end this entry and go do some of my biology homework, or at the very least start it.

Whistler

Staying somewhere you shouldn't be able to afford for absolutely nothing has a surprising satisfaction that comes with it. Don't believe me? Stay in the Chateau Whistler for a weekend for free, I think you'll understand. The rooms were amazing, the skiing exceptional and best of all I didn't die. They did however convince me to take a few black runs (which I'd like to point out I only fell a maximum of three/four times on) and for the most part I succeeded. The last one however did get the best of me. In the future I shall remember not to go down a black diamond when I'm incredibly tired. War wounds were acquired and, yes Jen, photos were taken.

So without further adieu the photos:

War Zone

Table? What table? This is no table - this is a war zone. Papers scattered across in an unorganized array, traps of erasers lying everywhere and the deadly arsenal of pencils, pens and the revered calculator all meshed across the wooden surface. Yes this is a war and not one for the faint hearted. The battle has begun, but it's not over yet. The current score? Two done, one to go. Tomorrow the final challenge shall be excepted and, with any luck, defeated. The circumstances haven't made it easy though, more than just a brain and a horrifying amount of information have been duelling in this war. Yes, even the elements have decided to get involved and have pushed the struggle to its limits.

Not understanding? Well consider this:

A fresh dump of snow encompassing the entirety of the lower mainland. Schools shut down, most high schools open only for provincials and some closing entirely. The effect? Postponement of exams in said schools. Undoubtedly there were some cheers of joy (from the unprepared or dangerously nervous) and likewise groans at the thought of postponing the inevitable terror. I was amongst the groaners and fearing the worst: that they'd have to be rescheduled to retakes... nearly two months from now. But my fears were in vain because (as any one who's ever attended it should know) Sullivan closes for nothing.

A foot of snow, what's that? Hours without electricity? Bah, no problem there. Yes, Sullivan is by far a champion in the raging case of Elements vs The Board of Education. No doubt an earthquake could hit and the moment the ground stopped shaking we'd be back at the remnants of our desks and continuing the slog. For once in my high school career however I was glad at this news and thrilled even, on a slightly irrational level, to be able to beat down the enemy and take another one out.

And so I'm done with the second and on to the third and by sixteen-hundred hours tomorrow evening the last vicious culprit of young-age-stress should be out of the way as well. Then it shall be goodbye semester one and Whistler (and free skiing) here I come. Let's just hope the saying stays true and the third one's the charm.

In the beginning

I'm starting this because I told my sister I would while she's away studying in Paris, how far I get with it we have yet to see. The days have been excruciatingly long since the departure, mainly because all I've done is studied, or starred absentmindedly at the textbooks in front of my trying to convince myself that the information was sinking in. Provincials are coming soon: Monday is English, Tuesday history and Wednesday math. And then it's over, or at least semester 1 is. It will be an incredible relief just to be done with it all and be that much closer to being done for good. But it's not done yet and right now I still have a jumble of presidents, literary terms and cosine and sine graphs sloshing around in my brain that I can't yet afford to forget.

This morning however I had a short repose from the slog, or attempt there of. It was range practise and an excellent day to feel Canadian, which doesn't happen much during a Vancouver winter. Today was frosty here in Vancouver unlike the 10C out in Paris. So cold in fact it snowed, not at the house but up a ways in North Surrey, nearly 15cm. Pretty and white and very, very cold (at least by Vancouver's standards). On this end of the city the whiteness is lacking but the skies are clear and blue, the clouds for us lie to the north, billowing out over the rest of Surrey. The air's got a snap to it though and I wouldn't be surprised if we could expect a dump of snow before the end of the next couple days too.