September 28,2003

OK here's a real update. Third year university started again, fine. I have 2 days off per week right now and it's a little nuts. It's hard to get into a real routine but I don't care too much. I'd rather have 2 days off and no routine then a routine and school all the time. Like, whoa.

School is fine. Four courses, normal normal normal. Fantastic. I'm working as well and that is busy for this month and then it'll slow down.

Cancer news: I'm doing some research. It's for a sociology class. We have the option of doing a term paper (boo) or doing some real research with an organization in Victoria (woo). So I was all "yeah, cool." and I had an idea for some research so I talked to the guy to talk to and he was all "yeah, cool" so now I'm in the process of doing some research. And here's the lowdown: The research is looking at resources available for young adult cancer patients in Victoria (woo!). See, most places don't have much in the way of young adult-oriented information and support resources and that's just crap. In January this year I tried to start a support group for young adults at the Victoria cancer center but it never really worked because it seemed no one had any idea that young adults need anything special. Oh but they do! So I'm figuring it out for myself and hopefully when I get it all together, people will read it and say "oh, now i see. We should be nicer to them folks." What I'm gonna do is analyze the information that is available to all cancer patients in Victoria and see how relevant it is to the concerns of young adults. But what are they're concerns, you ask. Well, that's where the interviews come in. I'm hoping to interview a whack of young folk with cancer in Victoria and figure out what they want, what they think and what's missing. And then toss it all together, say "they want this! But you give them THIS! They don't get THISTHISTHIS!!!" and the people in charge will be all "oooooooh my goodness me. Let's fix this immediately. Here is THISTHISTHISANDTHIS!!!!!" I'm also going to interview people from other places that already have a bunch of good stuff with relevence. So then I can say "aw man, look how happy they are" and it'll all make sense.

Perfect.

The trick now is finding people with cancer. It's hard so it would be nice if a few of you between 18 and 30 would move to Victoria and stick your head in a microwave for awhile. Thanks guys.

In other news my hair is extraordinary. It's like chin length but my bangs are at that horrible stage where they're long and in my face (to my mouth!) but they aren't long enough to fit behind my ears. Garrr. I'll take some pictures one day.

Tonight I have a pile of stuff to do. Write an analysis of an advertisement, go to a bar, and sleep. Oh how DO I do it?

I'm starting to hate journalism. Like seriously man. I think it's just ridiculous and very surface-oriented and shallow (BOTH?!?!?!) and I find it boring and the people are trying so hard to make it a competition and it's just not and I don't want to write for a newspaper ever. But the class I have now will be the last journalism-esque course that I ever take. Hopefully. I got into the co-op program for writing.... I have a feeling most of the jobs for that will be at newspapers. Oh good. Maybe I should just skip co-op and figure out what I actually like to do. But I think that may leave me entirely stranded because I have absolutely no idea what I like, especially when it has to be something to make a living off of. I'd be set if you could make a living off going to the bar (joking!!!!!!!). Who knows, maybe I'll fall in love with newspapers. Or maybe they'll fall in love with me. Oh man, and I thought clingy boys were problematic. Clingy newspapers would be just terrible. But maybe they're the only way to bring my outstanding intelligence to the masses, and they desperately need that. I suppose there's way more to journalism than newspaper writing but why is it that this course, called journalism, only talks about writing for newspapers. Creative non-fiction is where it's AT, ladies and fellas.

Anyway, time to take a shower and eat dinner. I'll have you know that the past 2 days were very unseptemberlike, with summer temperatures. I'll also have you know that I enjoyed it quite a bit, though I spent most of my time indoors. I'll also have you know that I absolutely hate spiders.

Thanks man. Nothing else is going on. I'm going to Vancouver next weekened (Thanksgiving) and I presume it will be chock-full of insanity of the positive variety.

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