It's reading week this week, and I'm trying to be productive. I've been reading Larry's Party (by Carol Shields) for my Canadian authors class, and researching for a presentation for the same class despite the fact that it is still over a month away. Never too early to start, right? Today I also signed up for my 2005-2006 courses, and I'm impressed by how many I actually am enrolled in. See, last year, I had a horrible start time and I barely took any that I wanted. But this year, having the first start time of 3rd year students, I was able to take all but one of the courses I wanted - Rap Poetics was scooped up, which I expected.

So here's my list of courses:

Fall: Modern Poetry, Bible and Literature I, Dystopian Literature and Film, Myths and Gods in Literature, and Contemporary Literature from the Caribbean (which I may end up dropping if I can find another class to take on Monday/Wednesday).

Spring: Romanticism, Bible and Literature II, Gothic Fiction, Myths and Heroes in Literature(which I will drop if I get into the Creative Writing Fiction class), and Bodies and Representations.

It turns out that Tuesdays and Thursdays will be hell - 1030am-3pm straight without a break. But, I really want to take those three courses, so I have to put up with long days. Oh well. Friday 9am-12pm courses with Prof. Leonard will be tough, but the course sounds like the most interesting one I will be taking ("An interdisciplinary course about the body in art, film, photography, narrative and popular culture. How bodies are written or visualized as 'feminine' or 'masculine,' as heroic, as representing normality or perversity, beauty or monstrosity, legitimacy or illegitimacy, nature or culture").

I'm hoping that my 10 courses of English in the coming year won't bury me in readings, but I think that's impossible. The essays will kill me too, but by taking 4 B levels (and 6 Cs), I'm hoping that it'll somewhat balance out.

Best Wedding Picture... Charlie's Angels + 1 who didn't make the cut...

"I hope my lazy eye doesn't show up in this picture..."

okok, so for an update. I am officially the last person to write about the wedding, and I apologize - my internet has been crazy lately. Firstly, thanks Tiffany for the file of pics! They're so pretty and bring back so many good memories :) I especially like the one of Charlie's Angels + 1.

ok. So my Saturday started early - hair and makeup at 7:30 am. Unfortunately, my curls fell out before I even got to Ashley's, so her mom had to reset them. I think they looked better the second time around!!

The limo ride was fun, especially the discovery of the mirror on the roof. I'll never forget Ash's dad eating his sandwich in the limo and my cringing because I thought he was going to drop it on himself. hehe. The ceremony itself was interesting - I had never seen/been a part of a Greek Orthodox wedding before. Having said that, it was VERY hard to stand completely still for 30+ minutes without tipping over. Near the end, I was starting to sway back and forth...

Why oh why did the bridesmaids all end up in a line or semi-circle? It is horrible how many easy photo ops we made at the park simply due to our formations. Best picture though has got to be the one where we're all huddled together and laughing hysterically - Ashley, I need a copy, ok? hehe.

The reception was great, tons of fun, and I enjoyed dancing the night away (despite the sore feet). The traditional Greek dancing was challenging and the band was great. But I had the best dance partner... :)

It's hard to write about what everyone else has already described in such great detail. Just know that it was so much fun and (despite the stress and anxieties) I wish I could experience it all over again!

(psst Mel... your boob is showing)

Ok, I was wrong. THIS is the last post before the wedding. I just got back from getting my hair and makeup done - it looks amazing! I feel like a princess - I can't wait to get into the dress!

Walking back from the hairdresser's (just across the street), the oddest thing happened. First, let me set it up. In Canadian Lit, we discussed this one short story ("Dressing Up for the Carnival" by Carol Shields) where people took on uncharacteristic accessories/clothing and are therefore looked at differently on the street. Like, there was a man who had bought some daffodils for his daughter-in-law, and was looked at in a different light because he looked more important than usual. That is exactly how I felt. See, I live in Scarborough. In Scarborough it is quite rare for ANYONE to say hi to you as you walk down the street. But with my makeup and hair, literally everyone I passed walking home said hello and smiled. It kind of weirded me out... yet it felt good to stand out if only for a day.

"What was that song, you know, with the "f" word?"

Ashley's family is great. Many laughs over homemade lasagne (many at Mel's expense though) last night. So today is wedding day, and it's 6:45 am. I am so excited about today, but also a little sad: we've been looking forward to this day for sooo long now, what's to be looked forward to after? Oh well. At least it'll be a beautiful, warmish, non-rainy day.

Yesterday we went for manicures and pedicures, and they felt awesome, despite my ticklish feet. I felt so bad for the girl that was working on me because I kept jumping like crazy. Apparently, not many people who have ticklish feet get pedicures - I'm sure there are more of us out there!

Anyway, I have to go and get my hair and makeup done in a bit, but just wanted to take this last opportunity to update my blog. Once again, congrats Ashley and Peter, and thanks for letting me share your special day!

Less than a week to go to the big wedding, and I'm starting to feel a mixture of emotions. For one, leading up to the day is very stressful, as I'm still in summer school. Keeping up with the readings (which, admittedly, isn't that difficult), doing homework questions, studying for pop quizes, and studying for a midterm exam this Friday is really weighing on my mind. That being said, I really am looking forward to seeing all of my new friends (my fellow bridesmaids), Mel, and of course the bride and groom-to-be at the rehersal dinner this Thursday, as well as all the girls at our Spa Day on Friday (which will be MUCH appreciated after my exam). But on top of this, I'm feeling an odd mixture of nostalgia, happiness and sadness to see my good friend getting married. I remember when we were in grade 7 and in band together. I will always remember this really loud sax blaring in my ears every rehersal... hehe. Just kidding. But it's good to see how we've grown and become such good friends since then. I'm also really happy for Ashely and Peter, because they're such great people and are really happy together. :)

Now, on to school talk. I'm really enjoying my classes. The Canadian Lit class is great, because everyone is so enthusiastic and willing to discuss the literature. This attitude is so rare in my previous English classes, as if someone is forcing the students to be attending school. And the Cinema and Modernity course is really interestng, because I am actually foreseeing what the professor is going to discuss. I really don't think I'll be able to watch another movie in the same way, because I'll be conscious of what the individual shots mean, what they signify and even why one would choose to make a film in a specific genre. I could go on and on for hours. I love that course. Makes me wish I had taken the first half last summer...