Awesome start to the summer!

I decided my summer officially started in July because June sucked and didn't make the cut. Since then I have had an awesome time and I am feeling really happy.

I completed #3: my blood type is O negative (easy)

#38: I attended the International Congress for Conservation Biology. Well, I did to the best of my ability. Getting up at 6:30 four days in a row, going to the conference in the morning and then working for 8 hours was exhausting and not entirely worth it. I was staggeringly tired and missed all of the networking opportunities and keynote speakers, but it was better than nothing.

#49 and #50: My fiction book for the month was Yann Martel's Beatrice and Virgil and was also my book club selection and met to mixed reviews. I was one of the people who really liked it. My non-fiction book was coincidentally by the same author, What is Stephen Harper Reading?. It is a series of letter written to our Prime Minister by a Canadian writer and holds a wealth of suggestions for books of all genres, many of which I now have on hold at my local library.

#73: July isn't over yet and I have already been to the firsannual SOS fest (which was awesome and can only get better in the years to come), the Edmonton street performer's festival and Shakespeare in the park. I might have to up this goal to 8 festivals, four was just too easy :)

I hope everyone else is having a great summer as well, if not, come hang out with me. I'm a blast!

Increase Happiness

#61 on my list is: Identify 100 things that make me happy. Last year (25) kind of sucked so I am going to try my hardest to make 26 as happy and full of accomplishments as possible. No, I'm not going to list all 100 things right now but I will post instalments of ten whenever I need a little pick me up.

Here is the beginning of my list:

1. Sunshine


2. My cat (her name just happens to be Sunshine, what a coincidence)


3. Musicals
I love love love musicals. I would be content if we could all wander around bursting into song when we need to covay our emotions, it really lets you get straight to the point.


4. Hot days next to the pool/ocean/lake
These days are best when you can just jump right in when you get too hot. Then you can get out and do it all over again.


5. Cupcakes
They are adorable and taste great. What's not to love? This is my favorite place in Edmonton to go for cupcakes. http://www.flirtcupcakes.com/


6. That I am living in the time and place I am now. This sounds funny but as I was watching Mad Men the other day it struck me how lucky I am. I can get whatever job I want, make my own fortune, travel without a chaperone, own property, vote, the list goes on and on. We may be lacking in martinis and cute dresses in 2010 but I wouldn't change it for the world.


7. My Friends
My family is not the most reliable so you are the ones I go to when I want to laugh or cry or whatever. Thanks.



8. Travelling somewhere new. I love it.


9. Dinosaurs
This fascination will never die. Going to the Royal Tyrrell Museum will never get old and don't pretend you don't think they're cool too.


10. The internet
This endless source of information and entertainment is so awesome. I still don't really get how it works but it helps spread information (be it news, science or the video of that girl cutting off all of her hair) like nothing before it has been able to do.