I've been feeling this call lately, and I'm not really sure how I am feeling about it, a little bit nervous and hesitant and I will need to think about this a lot. I've been talking with close friends and my family about this desire to work in camp ministry. I know it's a sacrifice and something I need to seriously contemplate. I obviously will finish my degree in nursing first, but I will have to see where this new journey takes me.
Update with my life; school is over so soon and I am so excited! I am up to my eyeballs in papers and tests! Like I said earlier I am gone every single weekend of this month. I am getting used to always being on the road, it's not a bad thing unless you are in the car with me listening to my tone deaf singing. Just kidding I am an okay singer!
I was at Camp this weekend...again...to help put up our climbing wall and build new frames. It was always awesome but my body is super sore from lifting heavy objects. We also cleaned out the triplex...which is never clean it was worth a try though.
I also got made fun of a lot, which is fine because most of the time I bring it upon myself. I take the jokes 'with a grain of salt' and always laugh it off...if not I usually beat them up! I kid I kid! It's all in good fun!
Also everybody...happy Holy Week! Spend this time with your family and friends! Go to your Good Friday service and Easter Sunday service! Hallelujah Christ has risen!
Have any of you heard of Ann Coulter!? I was aware that she let some pretty edgy things slip out of her mouth every once in awhile..but this is absolutley nuts. How dare you take a stab at our Country, mocking our bilingulisim and our pride. No we do not dog sled all the time, and while Molson is a good beer it's certenitly not chanted all the time! This is nuts, don't get me wrong I AM conservitive and I fight for that side but this is the extreme! Ann, you and YOUR hate crimes ARE not welcome in Canada. Yes we have freedom of speech but we will stand up for our Country and our people! This MAKES me so angry and upset. Thank you Canada for coming together to fight against Ann and her hate crimes!
If you are not fimiliar with out situation going on in Canada. Ann is going on a Canadian tour, why!? I couldn't really tell you...obviously shes doing this so she can write more false CRAP about us. Everyone has rights!
Dudes...check this crazy stuff out. This is what Ann Coulter had to say about OUR great nation after UofOttawa shut down her speech...
Since arriving in Canada I've been accused of thought crimes, threatened with criminal prosecution for speeches I hadn't yet given, and denounced on the floor of the Parliament (which was nice because that one was on my "bucket list").
Posters advertising my speech have been officially banned, while posters denouncing me are plastered all over the University of Ottawa campus. Elected officials have been prohibited from attending my speeches. Also, the local clothing stores are fresh out of brown shirts.
Welcome to Canada!
The provost of the University of Ottawa, average student IQ: 0, wrote to me -- widely disseminating his letter to at least a half-dozen intermediaries before it reached me -- in advance of my visit in order to recommend that I familiarize myself with Canada's criminal laws regarding hate speech.
This marks the first time I've ever gotten hate mail for something I might do in the future.
Apparently Canadian law forbids "promoting hatred against any identifiable group," which the provost, Francois A. Houle advised me, "would not only be considered inappropriate, but could in fact lead to criminal charges."
I was given no specific examples of what words and phrases I couldn't use, but I take it I'm not supposed to say, "F--- you, Francois."
While it was a relief to know that it is still permissible in Canada to promote hatred against unidentifiable groups, upon reading Francois' letter, I suddenly realized that I had just been the victim of a hate crime! And it was committed by Francois A. Houle (French for "Frank A. Hole").
What other speakers get a warning not to promote hatred? Did Francois A. Houle send a similarly worded letter to Israel-hater Omar Barghouti before he spoke last year at U of Ottawa? ("Ottawa": Indian for "Land of the Bed-Wetters.")
How about Angela Davis, Communist Party member and former Black Panther who spoke at the University of Zero just last month?
Or do only conservatives get letters admonishing them to be civil? Or -- my suspicion -- is it only conservative women who fuel Francois' rage?
How about sending a letter to all Muslim speakers advising them to please bathe once a week while in Canada? Would that constitute a hate crime?
I'm sure Canada's Human Rights Commission will get to the bottom of Francois' strange warning to me, inasmuch as I will be filing a complaint with that august body, so I expect they will be reviewing every letter the university has sent to other speakers prior to their speeches to see if any of them were threatened with criminal prosecution.
Both writer Mark Steyn and editor Ezra Levant have been investigated by the Human Rights Commission for promoting hatred toward Muslims.
Levant's alleged crime was to reprint the cartoons of Mohammed originally published in a Danish newspaper, leading practitioners of the Religion of Peace to engage in murderous violence across the globe. Steyn's alleged crime was to publish an excerpt of his book, "America Alone" in Maclean's magazine, in which he jauntily described Muslims as "hot for jihad."
Both of them also flew jet airliners full of passengers into skyscrapers in lower Manhattan, resulting in thousands of deaths. No, wait -- that was somebody else.
Curiously, however, there was no evidence that either the cartoons or the column did, in fact, incite hatred toward Muslims -- nor was there the remotest possibility that they would.
By contrast, conservative speakers are regularly subjected to violent attacks on college campuses. Bill Kristol, Pat Buchanan, David Horowitz and I have all been the targets of infamous campus attacks.
That's why the Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute (a sponsor of my Canada speeches) and the Young America's Foundation (a sponsor of many of my college speeches) don't send conservatives to college campuses without a bodyguard.
You'd have to be a real A-Houle not to anticipate that accusing a conservative of "promoting hatred" prior to her arrival on a college campus would in actuality -- not in liberal fantasies of terrified Muslims cowering in terror of Mark Steyn readers -- incite real-world violence toward the conservative.
The university itself acknowledged that Francois' letter was likely to provoke violence against me by demanding -- long after my speech was scheduled, but immediately after Francois disseminated his letter -- that my sponsors pony up more than $1,200 for extra security.
Also following Francois' letter, the Ottawa University Student Federation met for 7 1/2 hours to hammer out a series of resolutions denouncing me. The resolutions included:
"Whereas Ann Coulter is a hateful woman;
"Whereas she has made hateful comments against GLBTQ, Muslims, Jews and women;
"Whereas she violates an unwritten code of 'positive-space';
"Be it resolved that the SFUO express its disapproval of having Ann Coulter speak at the University of Ottawa."
At least the students didn't waste 7 1/2 hours on something silly, like their studies.
At the risk of violating anyone's positive space, what happened to Canada? How did the country that gave us Jim Carrey, Mike Myers, Martin Short, Dan Aykroyd and Catherine O'Hara suddenly become a bunch of whining crybabies?
Want to hear my favorite Canadian joke? OK, here goes: Francois Houle! I never get tired of that one.
After Tuesday night, the hatred incited by Francois' letter is no longer theoretical. The police called off my speech when the auditorium was surrounded by thousands of rioting liberals -- screaming, blocking the entrance, throwing tables, demanding that my books be burned, and finally setting off the fire alarm.
Sadly, I missed the book burning because I never made it to the building.
But, reportedly, a Canadian crowd hasn't been this excited since they opened a new Tim Hortons. Local reporters couldn't make out what the crowd was chanting, but it was something about "Molson" and a "sled dog."
I've given more than 100 college speeches, and not once has one of my speeches been shut down at any point. Even the pie-throwing incident at the University of Arizona didn't break up the event. I said "Get them!", the college Republicans got them, and then I continued with my rambling, hate-filled diatribe -- I mean, my speech.
So we've run this experiment more than 100 times.
Only one college speech was ever met with so much mob violence that the police were forced to cancel it: The one that was preceded by a letter from the university provost accusing me of hate speech.
(To add insult to injury, Francois didn't even plan to attend my speech because Tuesday is his bikini wax night.)
If a university official's letter accusing a speaker of having a proclivity to commit speech crimes before she's given the speech -- which then leads to Facebook postings demanding that Ann Coulter be hurt, a massive riot and a police-ordered cancellation of the speech -- is not hate speech, then there is no such thing as hate speech.
Either Francois goes to jail or the Human Rights Commission is a hoax and a fraud.
Ruby the Suby (my car) is apparently my only friend for the rest of the month, since I will be driving to either Calgary, Sylvan Lake, Brooks, or Edmonton for work. Me, the iPod, and the Suby. Good life I live! I'm actually excited...driving is nice and relaxing...I've done a lot of thinking in this car. I love Ruby she's the best.
Also an exciting note! My FAVORITE artist Xavier Rudd is coming to Calgary/Banff in May! I can't wait he is so awesome. Download him ASAP!
I went through my blog today, and it's crazy to see how much I have changed over these past eight months. I don't drink anymore and I am over Lethbridge. I've grown, matured and have had my eyes open.
This has been such a wild experience and I'm ready to let go of Lethbridge and everything that goes with it, minus the few people who I will miss. I want a new chapter in my life to start. I'm ready, I'm nervous and anxious but I know God will provide.
Exciting news for me, my Drama class tomorrow got cancelled so I will be leaving FOR Calgary extra early. I'm working another retreat this weekend at Camp K and I am VERY VERY excited! I like to cut down the drive because it's a four hour trek (long time but sooo worth it) I also get to hang out with a couple of my Calgary friends and staff members from last summer! So stoked!
Thank you God, for giving me such a rocking life! I also am feeling way better, thanks to all the medicine I feel good to go this weekend. It will be awesome, I also wrote a devotion on Fear and Courage which I will share with you all later.
"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26"
Today I am tired and saddened. I have bronchitis and water in my lungs. For my immune system this has been quite the haul and I'm just ready to throw my hands up and toss the towel in. I've been studying non-stop and trying to catch up...but I just lack the motivation right now. I know God is here right beside me comforting me and trying to help me push through. I wish my family was here because right now it seems I don't have a strong support system in Lethbridge. People who I thought would be there for me aren't right now and it makes me sad because I have been there for them a countless number of times. I have to remain strong and positive and I know God will see me through this.
I'm going to smile because in the end I know that I am going to be okay! It's just one of those days where you feel glum and down on yourself.
One month till high ropes training, then my adventure at my Tipi camp starts then finally Kuriakos. I can not wait!
So I would like to take the time to boast about HOW proud of myself I am. I am very proud that I have been spending my money SUPER wisely this semester =). It makes me happy to know that I can use my finances well and not waste them away! I am thankful that I learned my lesson last semester! I've gained a new skill!
Also last night was super fun! My friends hosted an MTV Cab last night at the legendary k208! It was golden and super fun! I'm glad I didn't drink so I was able to make sure that my friends got home safe and sound! We also danced the night away at Studio 54 then the new club Mood WHICH is so MUCH fun...the music there was so great and fun! Here are some pictures below!
Tila Tequila, Ryan Sheckler and Shot at love Contestant!
Guidette and 16 and Pregnant
Ryan (Riley) and I
This weekend was pretty fun! I still have a really nasty cough from my flu though and it sucks a lot but it's getting better! Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, take some time to yourself!
So on my last post I mentioned that I was feeling icky, it turns out that was not the last of my adventures! My fever finally broke from Monday morning, WHICH is a long time to have one if you ask me! I'm still feeling icky, but well enough to open my books and start studying haha!
Only camp would call at 11pm last night to tell me that I was rehired for the Summer as the Activities Coordinator! This is so exciting I do my high ropes training at the end of April and life is good my friends! I get to run high ropes, the climbing wall, wilderness site and plan fun activities for the campers. I'm excited to be Program staff and not a counsellor because I feel like I will be counselled out after the spring! I can't wait also Steph got the job too! Oh happy day!
I also have to stomach flu, but I'm still so happy and now I really can't wait for school to end. I'm on top of the world! I started feeling ill last night after dinner and I have called the toilet my bff for the majority of the night but I haven't thrown up in awhile so hopefully I can be good for tomorrow. I'm also so exhausted from Sunday night with Troy....my sleeping patterns are way off!
Roomie Update: Troy is finally home and we still don't know whats wrong with him. The doc's have him drugged up and he's in and out for tests! Poor guy, the pain is better now that he is on anti-inflammatory but its still always a dull ache!
I've also realized that I've been a Debbie downer lately which is rather unusual and rare for me. I am glad to kind of get refocused mentally, life's to short and fast to waste days unhappy. God is great and life is good! Jesus, you have truly blessed me with a wonderful life, family, friends, and opportunities! Thank you for your grace, power and love!
Also, I miss being a blond, I've been thinking about dying it back for the summer months!? Thoughts anyone....I just look so happy and FUN and tanned....I'm to pasty right now fml.
A lot of people don't understand why I love camp so much, this is why....hopefully it can put some perspective on it...
How can I explain What I take away When the autumn falls And we go our separate ways
What is it exactly How can I describe All that I discovered By that fireside
Some things aren’t defined Some things they’re just right
‘Cause it’s more than the green of trees It’s more than the summer breeze The smell of rocks and water Washing over me It’s more than the orange fire It’s more than the fishing wire It’s more than the cabin walls Or that morning bugle call
It’s something you can’t touch But you can hold so dear
Lying in that field Sleeping with the sky Something bound between us Without us knowing why
From that moment on Nothing could undo The feeling of belonging That would always be true
Some things don’t need words Some things they just work
‘Cause it’s more than the green of trees It’s more than the summer breeze The smell of rocks and water Washing over me It’s more than the orange fire It’s more than the fishing wire It’s more than the cabin walls Or that morning bugle call
It’s something you can’t touch But you can hold so dear And maybe it’s not much But it’s I'll be back next year
16 hours later I am finally at home. I was with my room mate Troy all night at the hospital, it was quite a scare and we still are not sure what is going on right now. His family has driven down and relieved me of my bedside duties....I am exhausted and missed class today. Thats okay though, I'm not to concerned if it's for the well being of someone I care about!
Keep Troy and his family in your thoughts and prayers as we wait for a diagnosis.
I have so much to talk about that I don't even know where to begin.
1. Tipi living t-minus 6 weeks
2. School is almost over, thank you God.
3. I'm in Calgary...again
First off, I've been watching the Olympics like any proud Canadian should. Thank you Canada for being amazing and thank you Sid the kid for changing the History of our Country! This was the best olympics OF my life thus far. I have never been filled with so much proud. Vancouver did a wonderful job of hosting 2010 and it will be an olympics that will NEVER be forgot. Also we won the most gold and beat the USA, how great is that!? I found this sweet video while checking out the youtube....you need to watch this.
This was taking during the Mens Gold hockey game around the 1:20 mark SID the KID scores the goal! It's absolutely amazing!
v>
I seriously CAN'T WAIT for school to be done, thats pretty much it!
