Well, today I am one year older. I created a collage on flickr that I believe reveals who I am in a few pictures. Take a looky

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sophiacles/2550780071/

Barack made me especially proud to be an American today! As a fellow Democrat I am so proud to have elected Obama as the nominee for President. With him I have hope and with him I see change from the devastation of these past 8 years.
Ch-ch-ch-changes!

Im gonna miss what I had here in Vancouver. I have been truly happy and content with life. People I met were wonderful, I got to experience some amazing things. I will look back on these days fondly.
But, as they say all good things must come to an end.

Last night's conversation with my friends about how much we hate Hipsters got me to preaching.

Look,
I listen to what I think sounds alright, not what other people tell me is cool or trendy. Who cares if it is goofy, it's alright to look like you are having fun with life. Be yourself. Do things that make you laugh. love life. be happy.

These are my two cents!

Alright, I thought I should update from my last entry on Vancouver. So, previously I mentioned how the city sucks, yeah that hasn't changed. But, I am definitely having lots of fun. I am surrounded by good, quality people that have made my time here amazing. And I am happy for the first time in a year and a half. I am sure that seeing the sunshine has an effect on me, but feeling genuinely happy just feels so good. Not relying on someone else to make you happy, but true, genuine happiness is one of the greatest feelings in the world!

Part of me is sad to go back home, because I know I will have to say goodbye to these people that I will likely never see again. So many memories we have shared here. Just like my London trip, whenever I think of Vancouver, I will think of them and all the fun we had together!

So, I am about to enter my last week of classes as an undergraduate. Quite the scary thought if you ask me. I can't believe it, this time seems almost surreal. I am really excited for graduation and going back home. I miss all you fools, you know who you are. I will be at home, jobless and bored. So, if you are down for it, we should totally hang out. Kick back and drink some 40s together like old times. =)

I am officially living on corn flakes. Cereal for breakfast, no lunch, and dinner.





I aint got no money in da bank!

So last night my friends and I went out on the town. A well deserved outing if you ask me, I feel like most of the time we are sitting indoors because the weather is so horrible. It started off with a champagne party at my place for my roommate's 22nd birthday. Then we went out to the biggest gay club in Vancouver for my friend Jim's birthday. On a side note, I've come to realize that I make friends with gay guys really easily.
Yes, so I was clubbing my little heart out last night, forcing myself to dance to shitty pop/trance music. Aside from that it was a fun night. However, I think I may be getting too old for the getting home at 5 am routine. Did I mention I saw male strippers for the first time last night? That was so frightening, huge cocks just flailing around in front of me!!!

I am having fun with my new found friends. They think I am crazy just like everyone else, I like that, they obviously get me!

My friends and I decided to go to Portland for spring break, or reading week as the Canadians call it. Our trip started bright and early at 6 am when we had to catch the 3 and a half bus for Seattle and then on to the 3 and a half train ride to Portland. We didn't experience any problems at the border, it was probably the smoothest immigration and customs that I have been through. But, then when we made it back to the bus a very beefy looking border patrol guard informs us that he needs to walk through with a metal detector of some sort. The little black box was silent until it arrived to a Vietnamese family of 3, then it when crazy, and beeping non-stop. The guard took the family out, which was rather difficult because they didn't speak English and he didn't speak Vietnamese, so there was a huge communication gap between them. We waited on the bus and 20 min. later they were back. That entire incident was quite bazaar, I wonder what he was looking for.

Then, we arrived in beautiful and sunny Seattle where we had a 3 hour lay-over. We took advantage of the beautiful weather and time, and walked around and enjoyed the 20 degree warmer weather. I was really excited to be back in the states, even if it wasn't home. The food was already much better and cheaper. We did the tourist thing for a bit and visited Pike market and the original Starbucks because they were close by.

Then, we were off to Portland. I had been there before with my parents on a college tour almost 5 years ago, but I never really cared much for the city. We arrived in Portland at night so we didn't get to see much of downtown. We got lost trying to find our motel and got lost for 2 hours. Turns out our motel was 45 min. by bus to the city center. We had booked whatever was available and cheapest, that turned out to be a motel located in the heart of the ghetto in East Portland for 13 dollars a night per person. I guess you get what you pay for because that place was a ridiculous shit hole. There were cigarette burns all over my pillow and blanket, we found what looked like blood stains on the curtains, the bath tub looked and smelled like someone took a dump in it, there was only 2 lights that functioned in the room, and the towels appeared as if they had not been washed in weeks. That first morning my friend and I woke up to some crack whore at 7 am yelling,
"I am gonna fucking break his neck, he's going to fucking jail, I am going to fucking kill him" and then proceeded to yell obscenities for another half hour after that. Needless to say, I was quite scared for my life for about 3 days.
My impression of Portland didn't change much despite our experience in the ghetto. I think that some parts of the city are quite nice, like Washington Park and the Pearl district, but I don't think I would ever want to live there. The city is littered with derelicts and wackos. There were a number of times where I was scared for my life, and never before have I felt that way. I have been to several major cities in my life, but I have never felt so uncomfortable as I felt in that city, and to be honest I have always been more impressed with Seattle than with Portland. All in all I think it was a good trip, it definitely put us all out of our comfort zone, but also it made us appreciate where we are from.

I am kind of disappointed, I thought I would enjoy Vancouver a lot more than this. The people are mostly dull, and the school work is uninspiring, but I think that is expected as a second semester senior. Honestly, I haven't had a decent conversation in months with these Canadians. On top of that, the weather is just horrible, if it's not raining it's snowing, and if it's not snowing you can bet that it sure is raining outside. Oh, and don't even get me started on my horrible hippie roommates. Tell me, have you ever gotten yelled at for not recycling the toilet paper roll...Or, how about for using plastic bags?
I miss the sun, and the people in California.
Luckily, I have some awesome friends on exchange here California that I have met. I really don't know what I would be doing without them, they rock. Spring break has justed started today for us, so we are going to Portland on Wednesday for 4 days. I am really looking forward to going back to the states. Canada is just so dull and boring. There is nothing going on here. I should have gone somewhere fun like Brazil, I am an idiot, but this was the shortest program. Which is important only because my parents wanted me back in time for graduation. And seeing as they are paying for my education, I will definitely give them that.
I Miss you guys in California! Have a good February...

I got the news this morning that my Great-Grandmother in Portugal died today. It was sort of expected because she was 100 years old but she was in good health when compared to other people her age. I never really had a close relationship with her, but I always looked forward to visiting her everytime we went back to Portugal because she was something special, I've never mety anyone like her.
My Great-Grandmother, she was a very strong, and independent woman. She was never wealthy but she seemed to take care of everyone around her without any financial help. She was a beautiful woman, inside and out, I am so glad that I was able to get to know her. She will be missed.
I don't have any pictures of her on my computer, so the one I included is the closest I can find that resembles her.

I am coming home in 2 days for summer vacation boi...so that means I will be back roaming the streets of San Jo in the wee hours of the morning surrounded by the people I care about, which makes me especially happy about going back home!!!

GEMINI: Ultra Sexy

Nice. Love is one of a kind. Lover not a fighter, but will still knock you the fuck out. Trustworthy. Always happy. Loud. Talkative. Outgoing VERY FORGIVING. Loves to make out. Good kisser. Has a beautiful smile. Generous. Strong. ULTRA SEXY. THE MOST IRRESISTABLE.

Alright, Alright!

Merci Yves Montand pour les paroles jolies que vous avez faite!!!!

Oh ! je voudrais tant que tu te souviennes
Des jours heureux où nous étions amis.
En ce temps-là la vie était plus belle,
Et le soleil plus brûlant qu'aujourd'hui.
Les feuilles mortes se ramassent à la pelle.
Tu vois, je n'ai pas oublié...
Les feuilles mortes se ramassent à la pelle,
Les souvenirs et les regrets aussi
Et le vent du nord les emporte
Dans la nuit froide de l'oubli.
Tu vois, je n'ai pas oublié
La chanson que tu me chantais.

Les feuilles mortes se ramassent à la pelle,
Les souvenirs et les regrets aussi
Mais mon amour silencieux et fidèle
Sourit toujours et remercie la vie.
Je t'aimais tant, tu étais si jolie.
Comment veux-tu que je t'oublie ?
En ce temps-là, la vie était plus belle
Et le soleil plus brûlant qu'aujourd'hui.
Tu étais ma plus douce amie
Mais je n'ai que faire des regrets
Et la chanson que tu chantais,
Toujours, toujours je l'entendrai !

I will be extremely hopeful about life and humanity if these 2 candidates get voted into office.

Happy Birthday Gabriel Garcia Marquez!

Ok, this stupid library sucks and the guy next to me smells like feet!!!!!

Regime change under a Bush doctrine of democratic installations.
Constant war for constant soldiers.
What are we gonna do now?
De-escalation, through military force.
Increase the pressure, Oh Condoleeza
What should we do about the situation in Iran and North Korea?

Condoleeza.

Democratic election under Marshall law.
An Iraqi president out of control of our choices.
After all this death and destruction
Do you really think your actions advocate freedom?
The presidents giving a speech in Georgetown
To remember the voice of a slain civil rights leader,
Do you understand what the martyrs stood for?
Oh Condoleeza do you get the fucking joke?

Condoleeza
Condoleeza
Condoleeza
What are we gonna do now?
Condoleeza
Condoleeza
Condoleeza
What are we gonna do now?

Such a great, great week!!!!!!!!!