and after the party, there's the after party....

Tonight, Krissy and I are staying with my aunt, uncle, and cousins, their terrier, golden retriever puppy, four cats, and four one-month-old Siamese kittens. These kittens are unbelievably cute. They were exploring, pouncing, wrestling, leap-frogging off the bed. We could have played with them for hours. Although Kristen and my cousin Iaian told me it was a sign of psychopathy in me that I was curious how a kitten would react to being picked up by the tail. (I would never have actually tried it!)

Tomorrow is the day that I am a "graduand",

Part of speech: n
Definition: a degree candidate about to graduate

and I got a delicious pair of shoes for the occasion. This wouldn't be Redeemer if there were enough seats for the guests, so a number of my family members will be watching me graduate from the gym via video feed. I did manage to wrangle seven tickets for the auditorium instead of the original three offered by the school, but I'm still a bit short. I think we should just rent an arena as Fleming does. Seems like a good idea to me...

Nevertheless, this is very exciting now that it's here. Reflection can come later. For now, I am eagerly anticipating the itinerary I received in a letter from the Registrar's Office:

19:15 - 10:45 a.m. / Coffee Social sponsored by Alumni Association
10:45 - 11:00 / Welcome/Instructions
11:00 - 12:00 / Rehearsal
12:00 - 1:11 p.m. / Graduation Luncheon
1:15 - 1:35 / Donning academic regalia (my dad would love this description)
1:35 - 1:50 / Instructions and lining up
1:50 - 2:00 / Proceed to auditorium
2:00 - 4:00 / Commencement Ceremony
4:00 - 5:00 / Reception
4:00 - 5:30 / Return academic regalia

Graduands are reminded: "You are expected to attend all the functions, including the rehearsal. If you do not attend the rehearsal, you will not participate in the ceremony." We're also reminded that "Sunday best" is appropriate for the luncheon (my shoes on their own could meet and exceed any dress code), and told that it will be enjoyable. I find this dictatorial letter strangely fascinating and I look over it again and again.

but when they do, they're inseparable

My sister came home with us yesterday. She was going to spend the summer living and working in "rural Ottawa", but she (or we? my mother and me?) changed her mind (sacrificed grammar for rhyme there). Anyway, we went to my aunt's cottage for the weekend, and found out while we were there that Krissy was coming back with us.

My sister is probably my best friend. She's been with me through everything. Our personalities are almost opposite, and we can be really hard on each other, but there is no one who knows me better. We share interests, memories, pain, and love. And you know, I wouldn't have thought it possible, but at two a.m. last night, we had what was maybe the most honest conversation we've ever had. And we generally don't hold back. I'm looking forward to growing with her this summer.

hello Knut!

A polar bear from the Berlin zoo who has become an Internet star:

the park

(from the Feist album, The Reminder, released Tuesday)

lyrics I can't get out of my head:

Why would he come back through the park?
You thought that you saw him, but no, you did not.
It's not him who'd come across the sea to surprise you,
Not him who would know where in London to find you.

Sadness so real that it populates
The city and leaves you homeless again.
Steam from the cup and snow on the path,
The seasons have changed from present to past.

(The past
Turns whole to half)

Why would he come back through the park?
You thought that you saw him, but no, you did not.
Who can be sure of anything through
The distance that keeps you from knowing the truth?
Why would you think your boy could become
The man who could make you sure he was the one?

Her voice, her lyrics... what a magical combination. Practically perfect in every way?

Don't know who I'm talking about?

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