ADVENTURES IN BEING AGGIE: December 2010

Winter Sunrise over the Straight

Classes are done for another semester and that means three things... 1) the marking marathon needs to begin, 2) more meetings will be booked, and 3) it's almost Christmas!! This term has been a good one - I've really enjoyed working with both our first year classes in Leadership but my fave class of the fall was the Market Research course with our second year rec students. I was so impressed with their learning and their ability to illustrate their knowledge of research - Great work guys!!

This year the marking marathon isn't nearly as bad has it has been in the past and with any luck I'll be done next weekend. I find that the hardest part is simply getting started. So in preparation for marking I've cleaned my house, made dozens of jars of jelly (and sauce which is really just jelly that didn't set), and over sixty photo cards... I even wrote a Christmas letter! After writing the letter I discovered that I did not have many mailing addresses!! It is amazing how technology has really changed the ways that we communicate!

The meetings haven't been too bad to date so that nice! I have a couple this week to set up next semester - I'm so exciting to be focusing on Ghana and setting up project work for the future! I'm only teaching two full face-to-face classes in January, the rest of my workload is Ghana (study tour and project work). I'm just waiting on a bit of feedback from my planning partners and then I'll post up all the details for May 2011!!

That leaves Christmas - this year it will be the second year that I've celebrated the holiday without Dad and the fourth year that Cam hasn't been home. That is a little tougher this year as it's any guess what dad's health will be like next year. That being said I'm really excited for dad as he will be spending the holidays up north with his own Mom and brother. My Grandmother's health hasn't been the greatest and she's pushing 90 so it is great that he is able to visit her... as she lives in the Northern BC (Taylor) mom and I are also content for Dad to make the trip without us!!

Winter Sunrise

Cam's spending Christmas again in Ontario - his first as a married man! I'm a little sad not to be sharing that with him and Dorrianna. He's got a great new family in the Simone's so it should be a great time... sounds like they will also have a white Christmas whereas we'll have a lovely green one!!

It won't be a lonely Christmas here on the Island as there are always Forbes' and Christies hangin' around! Next week mom, Patty, Gran, and I - along with our friend Phyllis - will take in our second holiday performance (first was the Bara McNeil's in Nov) when we head to Chemanius to watch A Christmas Carol. The on the 23rd I'm heading to Vancouver to brave the annual Christie family Christmas (expected to have small attendance - only 90 or so people). This should be a kick as there is nothing quite like having that many family members in the same place... pray for me! :)

Christmas Eve dinner is just Gran and I as mom will be at work. Our plan is to head out for prime rib!! We consider ourselves to be connoisseurs of prime rib so we'll have to figure out where we'll be heading for dinner!! With any luck mom's kids will all be out for the night and she may be able to join us! Christmas morning will be delayed as mom won't be home from work until at least 10 am - that should kill Gran as she's always the biggest kid in the morning!

Boxing day we'll have a bigger dinner as we're (us and the Biros) will be gathering up at Uncle Rob and Auntie Coral's for what is sure to be a ruckus and liquor filled family gathering! I'm looking forward to seeing what Kelly and Heather will be wearing as their personal style is always as unique as they are!

Well that is pretty much all that's been going on... except of course our amazing students and my wonderful colleagues who put themselves on the line for Movember! The ShaveTom.com campaign ended up raising over $3000! Not bad at all! I've include some pics of Tom loosing his hair below. As part of this event two other guys I work with (Rob Ferguson and Dan McDonald) had the legs waxed - silly men!!

I hope everyone who stumbles upon my ramblings has a wonderful holiday season! I'm sure that there will more to report after the marking is done, the meetings are over, and the Christmas baking is gone!

Yours in Holiday Spirit - Aggie