The Last Day In Amherst.

Yep, those are my buds. Do somethin'.

For better or for worse, today is my last day in Amherst. Tomorrow I will be travelling to Wolfville, staying overnight at the Blomidon Inn and moving into 315 Christofor Hall the day after.

It's hard to not be a little freaked out. This morning when I woke up was the first time that I felt a twinge of fear, fear at the idea that I'm leaving my family and home and everything that is safe and comfortable, and that I'm now officially on my own, supposedly prepared to make my own decisions. Now, anyone who knows me probably wouldn't put me in charge of raising a cactus, let alone giving me responsibility for myself. (In fact, I did once have a cactus, I think it fell behind my desk and died because I wasn't paying attention.)

I'm going to miss you all! You've all been amazing friends and have helped me in your own ways to grow up and become the person that I am today. Sadly, I know that while I'll do my best, drifting apart will be more common than not and we'll run into each other 5 years down the road and awkwardly stare and be unsure of ourselves. So, if I do happen to run into any of you 5 years down the road, don't let it be this way... We'll just open a few beers and reminisce about all of the amazing times that we had back when we were buds, living in Amherst, playing CTF and DDR and drinking and partying, walking around town after midnight, talking, arguing, playing risk and chillin' at cottages, living it up and mostly making huge asses out of ourselves but loving every fucking second of it. Life is too short to waste, too long to be scared all the time, and too empty to go through it without buds like you guys. I'm sure you'll all be complete successes, and I wish you nothing but the best. No matter how much money you make, how famous you get, or how great your new lives are, never forget where you came from.

It has been an absolute pleasure.


Bye, buds.

Al-baer loves ya.

"...Thinking about Time."

It's winding down, and there's no way to stop it. Within less then 5 days, all of us will be departing our seperate ways. It's gonna be a different switch, and I'll miss hanging out with all my friends. People experience different emotions when it comes to a major change. I happen to be experiencing anger. I'm not sure why, but I happen to be pissed at everything that crosses my path. I'm also very angry at Time itself. The passage of time waits for noone, and it's true. I want this summer to last forever, but it's quickly ending and all of us are moving on to different things, where we have to meet new friends and learn new stuff.

Now I didn't really intend this post having a point lol. I haven't posted in a long time, so I thought I'd post about a random rant.

FINAL Humpday song of the Week

Well, apparently this is a STUPID idea, so it's getting canned. And of course, I'm not pleased about it. Assface. So for the final song, I chose Get Back - Ludacris.

Heads up! Heads up!
Here's another one!
And a - and another one
OOHHHHHHHH!!!

Ye, ye, woop!! woop!!
Why you all in my ear?!
Talking a whole bunch of shit that I ain't trying to hear!
Get back mawhfucker, you don't know me like that!
(Get back mawfucker, you don't know me like that!!)
Ye, ye, woop!! woop!!
I ain't playing around!
Make one false move I'll take ya down!
Get back mawfucker, You don't know me like that!
(Get back mawfucker, You don't know me like that!!)

WHOO!! S-s-so c'mon c'mon
DON'T ... get swung on, swung on
It's the knick knack, paddywhack, still ridin' Cadillacs!
Family off the street! Made my homies put the baggies back
Still stacking plaques! (yep!) Still action packed! (yep!)
And dough!! I keep it flipping like acrobats!
That's why I pack a mac, that'll crack 'em back
Cause on my waist there's more Heat than the Shaq Attack!
But I ain't speaking about ballin, ballin,
Just thinking about brawlin till y'all start bawlin
We all in together now! Birds of a feather now!
Just bought a plane so we changing the weather now!
So put your brakes on, caps put your capes on
Or knock off your block, get dropped and have your face flown!
Cause I'll prove it! Scratch off the music!
Like hey little stupid, don't make me lose it!!

Ye, ye, woop!! woop!!
Why you all in my ear?!
Talking a whole bunch of shit that I ain't trying to hear!
Get back mawhfucker, you don't know me like that!
(Get back mawfucker, you don't know me like that!!)
Ye, ye, woop!! woop!!
I ain't playing around!
Make one false move I'll take ya down!
Get back mawfucker, You don't know me like that!
(Get back mawfucker, You don't know me like that!!)

I came (I came) I saw (I saw) I hit 'em right dead in the jaw! (in the jaw)
I came (I came) I saw (I saw) I hit 'em right dead in the jaw! (in the jaw)
I came (I came) I saw (I saw) I hit 'em right dead in the jaw! (in the jaw)
I came (I came) I saw (I saw) I hit 'em right dead in the jaw! (in the jaw)

See I caught 'em with a right hook, caught 'em with a jab
Caught 'em with an uppercut, kicked 'em in his ass!
Sent him on his way cause I ain't for that talk!
No trips to the county, I ain't for that walk!
We split like two pins at the end of a lane,
We'll knock out your spotlight and put an end to your fame.
Put a DTP pendant at the end of yo chain.
Then put the booty of a Swisha at the end of a flame!

Ye, ye, woop!! woop!!
Why you all in my ear?!
Talking a whole bunch of shit that I ain't trying to hear!
Get back mawhfucker, you don't know me like that!
(Get back mawfucker, you don't know me like that!!)
Ye, ye, woop!! woop!!
I ain't playing around!
Make one false move I'll take ya down!
Get back mawfucker, You don't know me like that!
(Get back mawfucker, You don't know me like that!!)

HEY! You want what wit me?!
Imma tell you one time, don't FUCK wit me!
GET DOWN! Cause I ain't got nothing to lose,
If I'm having a bad day, don't make me take it out on you!
You want what wit me?!
Imma tell you one time, don't FUCK wit me!
GET DOWN! Cause I ain't got nothing to lose,
If I'm having a bad day, don't make me take it out on you!

Maaaaaaaaan 'cause I don't wanna do that..
I wanna have a good time and enjoy my Jack,
Sit back and watch the women get drunk as hell,
So I can wake up in the morning with a story to tell.
I know it's been a lil' while since I been out the house.
But now I'm here, you wanna stand around running your mouth?!
I can't hear nothing you saying or spitting, so what's up?!
Can't you see we in the club?! Man SHUT THE FUCK UP!!

Ye, ye, woop!! woop!!
Why you all in my ear?!
Talking a whole bunch of shit that I ain't trying to hear!
Get back mawhfucker, you don't know me like that!
(Get back mawfucker, you don't know me like that!!)
Ye, ye, woop!! woop!!
I ain't playing around!
Make one false move I'll take ya down!
Get back mawfucker, You don't know me like that!
(Get back mawfucker, You don't know me like that!!)

Ah! We in the Red Light District!!
Ah! We in the Red Light District!!
WHOO!! We in the Red Light District!!
Ah! We in the Red Light District!!
WHOO!! We in the Red Light District!!
WHOO!! The Red Light District!!
WHOO!! The Red Light District!!
Ah, we in The Red Light District

Yeah....yeah. You don't know me like that.
(Didn't even make it to september...)

Anyway..

Well, it's been some time since I last posted, so I thought that perhaps I'd do some sort of update, for whatever reason. I've finished my fourth session at Camp Tidnish, and while I thought that I would be completely finished, I've decided to go back and help out for a couple days this last session, as they desperately need the help... And even though I'm heading to Acadia before it's over, if I leave soon enough I'll still have some time to prepare. So what-ev.

I've already started to say goodbye to some friends - Carly, Laura and I went to Duncan's tonight to say goodbye, as Laura is moving to Toronto on Friday. I wish her nothing but the absolute best of luck; hopefully she'll become famous and be my sugar mama. I mean, hopefully she'll become famous and donate half her paycheck to orphans.

The countdown is on, with nine days remaining. Before we all leave, we're plotting an adventure of sorts... it's going to be an incredibly sketchy night, so stay tuned for details if you enjoy tales of drunken streetwalking and perhaps arrests.

And the picture? Well, sometimes at Camp we'd blast music and have impromtu dance parties on the deck, things get a little wild, it happens. Campers like it, so please reserve your judgment.

Love Alex.

Finally Home

Incase you haven't noticed, I've been gone for the past four weeks. But as of yesterday morning, I'm finally back in this boring old town I call home.

The time I've been in Fort McMurray, Alberta has pretty much been spent working my ass off and not much else. As much as I don't like to admit it, I worked at AMP Husky (the shitty gas station) again this summer, but since the old manager is gone, I liked it a lot better this time. The new manager, Marie, doesn't really care WHAT we do, as long as we actually get work done while doing it. She's a good lady. I definitely worked with a lot of interesting people there....there was underaged chain smoker with stunted growth, the big brown tire guy who picks on said chain smoker, the drug addict cashier who eventually gets fired, the two metrosexual friends who are consumed with working out and buying new shoes, and the guy with the African accent who nobody can understand.

Me and Dad went down to Edmonton for a weekend for a break from work, which was definitely fun. I spent probably about $300, but none of that came from the money I made at Husky, so no harm done. A fun weekend filled with good food, good entertainment, and good 'sights' at the West Edmonton Mall.

As fun as the past few weeks have been, I'm damn glad to be home for some "me" time before it's time to go away to Halifax.

Humpday song of the Week

Here it is, as promised. Week #2. I'm not really in any kind of distinct mood right now, other than tired... So lemme think...a song about sleep...

How about, Enter Sandman? Yes, that'll do. Enter Sandman by Metallica

Say your prayers little one,
don't forget my son, to include everyone.

Tuck you in, warm within, keep you free from sin
'Til the Sandman he comes...

Sleep with one eye open, gripping your pillow tight!!

Exit Light!
Enter Night!
Take my hand, off to Never Never Land!

Somethings wrong, shut the light
Heavy thoughts tonight, And they aren't of Snow White.

Dreams of War!
Dreams of Liars!
Dreams of Dragons Fires!
And of things that will bite!

Sleep with one eye open, gripping your pillow tight!!

Exit Light!
Enter Night!
Take my hand, off to Never Never Land!

Now I lay me down to sleep (Now I lay me down to sleep)
Pray the lord, my soul to keep (Pray the lord, my soul to keep)
If I die before I wake (If I die before I wake)
Pray the lord, my soul to take (Pray the lord, my soul to take)

Hush little baby
Don't say a word.

And nevermind that noise you heard.

It's just the beasts under your bed,
in your closet and in your heaaaaaaaaad!

Exit Light!
Enter Night!
Grain of sand....

Exit Light!
Enter Night!
Take my hand.
Off to Never Never Land!

BOO!!!
YEAH, YEAH!!
WHOA, WHOA!!

off to never never land...
take my hand...
off to never never land...


Week #2, Enter Sandman, by Metallica

Now its time for bed, Pray the lord my soul to keep.

3 Down, 1 To Go!

At least it got better.

That's the feeling I recieved upon completion of my third 9-day session at Camp Tidnish - a feeling that even though things can be really rough, it's clearly, very, worth it.

This past session I met a lot of teenagers with dreams and goals not unlike my own, some who are even going to be going to University with some of my friends. Some friendships were most definitely made, and I look forward to keeping in touch with you guys!

A few of the week's highlights include:

• Wrestling... Although "Gluteus Maximus" fared worse than I would have hoped
• The Super Cabin... Without it I would have died
• Lucy, and her amazing "Ms. Tidnish" Victory
• American Jailbait
• And of course, "A-Beats drinkin' his coffee on the deck."
  

The staff is now off to Duncan's and Fundy National Park for some food and partying, so we'll see how this turns out... More than a little apprehensive.

And the picture is just the six remaining male counselors, (Conor, Simon, Aaron, Myself, Woody, Jeff) and Nick V. out in front.

Till next time.

Humpday song of the Week

Well, I've decided I don't post nearly enough, so to keep me posting atleast once a week, I'm gunna post a song suiting my mood each Wednesday. And this weeks song is
"Here I go Again" by Whitesnake. I think it says my mood right now pretty damn dandy.

I don't know where I'm going...
But I sure know where I've been.
Hangin' on the promises and songs of yesterday.
And I've made up my mind.
I ain't wastin' no more time, here I go again...
Here I go again..

Though I keep searchin' for an answer,
I never seem to find what I'm lookin' for.
Oh lord I pray you give me strength to carry on
'Cause i know what it means,
To walk along, the lonely street of dreams!

*insane rock*

Here I go again on my own!
Goin' down the only road I've ever known!
Like a drifter I was born to walk alone.
And I've made up my mind,
I ain't wastin' no more time.

I'm just another heart in need of rescue,
waiting on love's sweet charity.
And I'm gunna hold on for the rest of my days,
'cause I know what it means,
to walk along the lonely street of dreams!

Here I go again on my own!
Goin' down the only road I've ever known!
Like a drifter I was born to walk alone.
And I've made up my mind!
I ain't wastin' no more time, but here I go again!
Here I go again!
Here I go agaaaaaaaain!
Here I GOOOOOOOOOO!!!

'Cause I know what it means, to walk along the lonely street of dreams...

Here I go again on my own!
Goin' down the only road I've ever known!
Like a drifter I was born to walk alone.
And I've made up my mind!
I ain't wastin' no more time

Here I go again on my own!
Goin' down the only road I've ever known!
Like a drifter I was born to walk alone.
'Cause I know what it means,
to walk along the lonely street of dreeeeeeams!

Yup, that definitly says it all. Week #1, Here I go Again - Whitesnake

Weekend at Grace's Farm

Wicked? No......YESSSSSS.
Well Christ, this was some fun, and then some.

The Weekend starts off at Jesse's house on Saturday morning. We all load up the Envoy and begin our drive down to Lr. Sackville to pick up Myra and Kristie. To pass the hours from Amherst to Sackville, we watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Secret of the Ooze on Jesse's travel VHS player (pretty sure it was the size of a small child) but still, it brought some laughs "Yeah...Ye..Yeahhhh..." haha.

We had our jobs on the way down. I was responsible for the camera (turns out I forgot it in the truck) and Lepper was the Navigatior. I have to admit, I had no faith in him, but he surprised me, I was impressed with his work. "I'm the Navigatior BITCH!"

We make it to Lr. Sackville, and had to do a U-turn in the middle of Beaver Bank Rd. (safe? No..No it isn't) Stop into the Kent parking lot, say our Hello's and Goodbyes to the parents and take off towards Grace's Farmhouse in Kempt Shore (aka. nowhere) It wasn't long until we found the house. Even though we passed it twice. The first driveway we turned around in, the old lady that lived there came outside and put her hands on her hips...She was gonna cut off our heads I'm sure. The 2nd driveway had two farmers working on a truck, but they didn't seem to care much. We got there, unloaded the SUV and gave a round of hugs.

First few things we do: Put up the tents and take a visit to the "sandy" beach. Now this was no normal beach, oh no, this beach was entirely covered in muck, and when u sank down, sharp, jagged rocks would cut your feet until you die of bloodloss. Because the tide was out, it took a longer walk through the pain just to feel the water. Once we got to the water, it didn't help with the feet, seeing how you still sunk down into the sharp rocks of death. Then we had to go back to the shore...well, you know what happened.

Once back, we decided to go to the fresh water quarry which was just down the road. In "Quarry" we expected to see an empty rock quarry with a swimming hole, but it was deff a fresh water lake, where we saw Jessica Pederson's folks as well as Julie's mother. We swam the afternoon away and came back to the house for supper.

Lucas BBQ'd some Hamburgs and Hotdogs on the charcoal grill as well Janice gave us some fresh veggies with ranch dip. We ate, took pics and enjoyed a nice game of catch with the football and frisbee. (Basically it was just throwing the stuff at Lepper who was sitting on the 2nd floor of the barn)

We then went back for another swim in the quarry, then we got cold so we came back, got on our PJ's or comfy clothes and played Taboo as well as gathered around the campfire to make smores while I cooked my infamous Alphaghetti.

Kristie, Lepper and Myra went to bed early (who knows what they did) while the rest of us went far into the night with some amazing quotes and a few games of Taboo. When it was time to hit the hay (almost literally..sleeping in a tent in a hay feild) Grace and Kara decided to keep us up with their unessasary screaming.

Once the morning came, so did breakfast. What better to eat then Kara's homemade Blueberry Pancakes as well as Chocolate Chip Pancakes. MMMMMMM!!! Grace made the eggs, which were awesome, and had a few peices of toast which Lucas created. After wolfing those down, Me, Kristie and Myra were on clean-up duty. (Somehow Lepper got out of any cleaning up by being on "cat duty" by feeding the cats)

Another swim was followed at the quarry, and then MUD FLATTING!!!!
Now this proved to be the highlight of the weekend. We travelled by van taxi to Upper Burlington, by a bridge where we slid down in the mucky sides of the river. Everyone had a great time and there's pictures to prove it. We only had one ride from the river to the quarry, which was a 20 minute drive (that's one way only, 40 minutes both ways) Bobby (Grace's Dad) had to make three trips to pick up everyone. Janice decided to stay back, and because of the number of people, one of us had to stay too. She picked a number and the person who got it was in the car. Myra failed to win the game, but because I'm so nice, I let Myra take my spot while I stayed with Janice at the river. (Because I gave up my spot, I got a nice warm shower =D) Turns out everyone secretly washed themselves anyway...but I got the full body wash, they just washed their hair.

We had some supper, which Lucas' mother made two pans of lasagina (sp?) which was amazing. We cleaned up and created another campfire, where Lucas told ghost stories (and I learned I suck at telling stories lol)

Me, Jesse and Lucas went back to the tent (where we thought everyone was gonna follow to hang out) but turns out I fell asleep. According to Kara, they broke open 4 boxes of Kraft Dinner and ate it...which made me sad, I was looking forward to the KD (we brought 7 boxes all together)

Morning came early. (Lepper said it was 9am, so we thought we only had an hour to take the tents down and eat.) But Lepper was being a dick and it was really 8am. (And Yes, we did benifit from it, gave us more time to say goodbye) We got our stuff packed and took the tents down. We had some more of Kara's awesome pancakes and closed up the farmhouse.
We loaded up the Envoy and said our goodbyes as well as gave our so-long hugs. We grabbed some Kleenx and waved them in the air as we left (a tradition at the farm...so I'm told) and off we were to drop of the Sackville girls.

We watched the starting of TMNT2 again lol, and after we said our goodbyes to the sackville girls, we left back to our working lives back in Amherst.

It was an amazing weekend, and everyone had a great time.

- Dan