Hi Friends!



So I have some blog worthy news, none of that mundane run of the mill, "well I woke up today, ate, scratched my big toe" kinda stuff. Are you ready for it?



Well...I got a job! Ok, I basically make no money so I guess you would classify it more as an internship ... especially since it is one :D. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee......



As some of you may know, I've been attempting to transfer my life-long acquired skills (thus far) into a career; which turned out to be somewhat tricky. For even though I have decided that I have been made by God to work in International Development, it seemed to be a difficult career to get into. Until I got a call from CANADEM, who then interviewed me, who then offered me a position with the UN (funded by the Canadian International Development Association)! Woot woot.



So....beginning on July the 20th I will be working and living in Maseru, Lesotho, Africa for approximately 5 months. I will be working with the UNDP in the Energy and Environment sector.



How excited am I? Very.



Please pray for me while I'm away, as I'm sure it will be very challenging (yet rewarding).



K, stay tuned for more details about life and work in Maseru.



Thanks for reading and for caring :D. Peace.



Note: Lesotho is the small white country landlocked by South Africa.

   [ POSTED BY Asylum @ 3:43 AM ] 5 comments

I got new hairS!

Yep, the mood hit me and I dragged the most obliging Jess off to purchase hair dye :D. Then Katrina Pr. (short for Professional) did the deed.

The above pic is what it looks like in low lighting, and below (BAM!), is the colour in the light.

It's a wee bit more reddY purpleY than I anticipated, but it will do for now.

K, I hope everyone is feeling cheerY (or cherry) and fire engine red today. Go and sing a song!

Peace.

   [ POSTED BY Asylum @ 3:39 AM ] 9 comments

From the mouth of a babe

Nate: Where's Long Great Grandpa going?
Katrina: He has to go to the hospital.
Nate: Why?
Katrina: Because he's sick.
Nate: Why?
Katrina: Because he's getting old.
Nate: Oh.
~30 seconds go by~
Nate: I think Great Grandpa needs to be new.

Oh my Nater, he's sooooo absolutely beyond adorable (and a genius too :D). I LOVE HIM more than chocolate! Ya we chill alot, and he says the bestest things ever. He's in the "why" stage and it's hilarious!

Here's a pic of the two kittens, enjoy! Ps. Nate was smiling on the inside - he told me.

   [ POSTED BY Asylum @ 9:09 AM ] 7 comments

10 000 hits!

I was just rereading some of my blogs (yes I realize I should be doing other things, pft to you and your kin) and I noticed I was smack dab right on 10 000 visits to my site - sweet lovin'! So I think I owe a big ol' THANK-YOU to each and every person who has ever dropped by - I LOVE YOU and much THANKS! Furthermore, for those who are faithful and still drop by for a random read once and awhile, even though I am often lacking in interesting material and/or actual posts, I would like to say: WILL YOU MARRY ME?

K, keep on checking in because, well, it makes me happy.

HUGS!

Oh, in honour of The ASylum hitting 10 000 I am posting my new favourite video. KCEHC TI TUO! You wont be sorry, for it brings happiness to all who watch it.

   [ POSTED BY Asylum @ 4:41 AM ] 5 comments

Shall we jump past 2006 and into 2007 together?

Well I was on the verge of boycotting 2007 and doing a second round of 2006, but then I got all entangled and caught up in the hype of ending 2006 and having a brand new year to play in. Ya, a year never travelled, untouched and pristine - like a blank slate (or a blackboard, or a whiteboard, or welcome to the 21st century: a computer screen) ready for it's first story which no doubt will endlessly be added onto or erased to make way for more and more stories and adventures. Ya it is kinda exciting, in a living kinda way. So I'm pumped to see what God has in store for those living in 2007! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...

Seven is a GRood solid number. I like to write it with a line through the middle, but whatever.

So glasses high in the air and cheers to all you crazy cat punks: May 2007 be full of unending adventure coupled with God's love, joy, and peace. May 2007's story be played out and displayed vibrantly on your computer screen of life!

HUGs and head taps to ALL!

ps. I brought in the "Year of the Pig" with God and my family. Within the first hour of my new screen I etched in some pictures of me cuddling with Starr followed by The Asylum showcasing her outstanding break dancing moves :D.

Oh and the first email I read was full of good news about engagement and wedding rings (Congrats GMC and Andrew!). Yep, it's gonna be a great year; hopefully I'll see you in it???

xoxoxo

   [ POSTED BY Asylum @ 1:53 AM ] 4 comments

   [ POSTED BY Asylum @ 1:48 AM ] 3 comments

It was Vanessa's birthday!

But more importantly, because of this illustrious event, the camera came out to play! Oh my, between Katrina and myself we've built up quite the stockpile of blackmail photos. That's right friends, it's horsey picture time! For those of you who havent been lucky enough to have been introduced to the horsey pic game, oh my, you're in for a treat! I mean, who needs Botox when you can have gorgeous luscious lips by imitating a horse?

Oh man, good times with the camera. It always makes me stop and consider how cool it is that a camera can capture such a random moment that we otherwise would never be able to fully appreciate. Yep, for all my bashing of technology I've gotta send out kudos to the digital camera peoples.

For yes, that same birthday day I also snapped a few more keepers:

Katrina in a group hug, and being ashed on! HAHAHAAHAHAHAHA!

IS that Katrina in another group hug??? Muahahahahahahahaaa...

Alright, I hope all is well in the worldS of you. Pop by one of my choice worlds sometime? I'll teach you the horsey game. Tempting, I know.

K, loves, hugs...and hey, another Happy Birthday to the Vboo!

   [ POSTED BY Asylum @ 1:53 AM ] 4 comments

Announcing Lily!

Keeping with my new apparent theme I'm here to introduce a fresh, innovative, and darn cool blog to you! I'm so proud of my friend Steph, she's started a custom made announcement and card business. She has the cutest and bestEST original birth announcements, engagement announcements, christmas cards, and hey whatever else you could want! So if you're in the market for some exciting announcements or cards...check her site out! You give her your favourite photos and she'll design a unique card or announcement for you. They're pretty cooL! Hey, even if you're not in the market, go check out her site anyway...her cards are sooooooooo cute!

So, you can either click on the link on the left (in my blogroll thingy), or click here ----> http://www.announcinglily.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!

   [ POSTED BY Asylum @ 1:41 AM ] 1 comments

GO!

It looks like I'm into promoting blogs these days. So ya, go check out the "832" page. 'Tis coo - c'est bon. I recently wrote up a wee blog on the site; go read it and comment. It can be found at:

http://eightthirtytwo.blogspot.com/2006/12/ignorance.html#links

   [ POSTED BY Asylum @ 3:05 AM ] 1 comments

The beginning of the Vboo

Excitement is a-brewing; yes the rumors are true! Vanessa has joined the ranks of the living and breathing life force known as...Bloggers! C'est bon oui? A tear comes to my eye as I think of the many wasted hours she will spend writing blogs instead of doing school work- I'm so proud of you Vboo! Write on (can also be written/read as: Right on!)!

K...check her out at http://vboo.blogspot.com/

Peace.

   [ POSTED BY Asylum @ 12:27 AM ] 5 comments

GOTTA LOVE THE RELATIONS.

My mother sent this to me:

ATTENTION

ALIENS ARE COMING TO
ABDUCT ALL THE GOOD LOOKING AND SEXY PEOPLE.

YOU WILL BE SAFE, I'M JUST
EMAILING TO SAY GOODBYE

Haha! What a kook!

   [ POSTED BY Asylum @ 5:47 AM ] 5 comments

Eloquent words

"There is nothing like not having to explain yourself or sum up your entire life in a few minutes so a relative stranger can understand a microcosm of who you are. I love being known without having to explain. And I love being in the company of friends whose love can be seen through the story of the years and felt in the present moment and depended on in the time to come."

~~ Jen

You know how many times I've thought that, but have never been able to bring it to life? Ya, you rock my sistah!!

Sorry punks, I was just reading my friend Jen's blog and felt compelled to quote her.

Honestly, Jen, man, you just have a sweet way with words.

   [ POSTED BY Asylum @ 12:26 PM ] 2 comments

HELP!

I cant stop eating halloween candy!

   [ POSTED BY Asylum @ 8:14 AM ] 3 comments

Baby!

It happened! No, Erin did not run away at the alter, nor did she pass out; she was there and she was ready! Yep, and it's official: Erin is no longer Miss Nisbett, but is finally Mrs Stewart!

Sigh, Erin and Jason put on a sweet show and I was honoured to be a part of it. I love you guys!

K , there will be more photos to follow, once the photographer releases them to us. In the meantime I want to post one I got from Jules. I likey. Mostly because I'm holding my baby (ok, that adorable doll-like sweetheart isnt mine - that would be weird). Isn't she the cutest thing ever though (tied with Kaia and Gracie of course :D...man, this could be quite the enemy forming post- so political).

K, enjoy. I look weird without my glasses. OK, I'm finished talking.

   [ POSTED BY Asylum @ 6:50 AM ] 3 comments

5 MORE SLEEPS!!!

MISS ERIN NISBETT IS GETTING MARRIED IN 5 SLEEPS!!!! Weeeeeeeeeeeee....

ps. THis picture is why we dont invite boys to wedding showers.

pps. Erin, I'm not takin this pic off until I get the other photos. Muhahahaahaha, blackmail!

   [ POSTED BY Asylum @ 11:01 PM ] 4 comments

Sled Team: Get EQUIPPED!

HI there,

Me oh my it's been awhile! Yep, so I thought I'd post, that's right, about the weather. Muaahhahaaaa....

I do have quite exciting news though, well exciting for those who LOVE SNOW!!!!!!!! That's right folks, we had our first snow yesterday! It was enchanting- with enormously delicious (minus the sulferY taste) white fluffy snow flakes. Sigh. I've officially pulled out all my winter gear and am ready to go; I dont know where, but I'm ready! Except I need new winter boots, but that's irrelevant at this point.

ANywhooo...here's a photo of the snow ACTUALLY staying for more than 10 minutes! Ya, because it was sooo bitterly cold! I'm ok with that though. Bring it ON!

And this is me givin God the thumbs up for more snow :D

K, I hope everyone is smiley and full of joy. I am, this weekend I get to max and relax with my friend, "Wood Fireplace" at the Youth Group's Fall Retreat. I'm pumped!

   [ POSTED BY Asylum @ 12:07 AM ] 8 comments

Angels

Today I've been thinking about C@ Lake alot. Man, I miss that place; I miss Ang and I miss the kids. I really wish life were different there. I've been praying lots for the whole community. That makes me feel pretty good. I'm sure God has their dealio figured all out. It's hard being here though. I heard a rumour the other day that the only school in the community has been burned down to the ground. I really hope that's not true. It's not at all unbelievable though. K, happy thoughts. I keep telling you how beautiful the children are there; so I just now decided to share some of their adorable faces with ya. Enjoy them!

   [ POSTED BY Asylum @ 9:38 AM ] 5 comments

I'm leeeaving...on...a small float plane...don't know when I'll be back again...

Well well well, our last week has been a whirlwind of excitement - potlucks, fish fries, and tea parties for all! We've been honoured and have honoured others, we've worked hard and been doted on....man, it's been fantastic!

As per Melissa style, we ended our summer program off with a tea party! We invited our kids and their parents and grandparents. It was sweet! Tons of work, but it was awesome! The kids baked all week, created invitations, and made decorations. Finally we all decorated and the kids sang for their families and then served them cake. They were sooo excited! I really am going to miss them. I wish I could pack them in my backpack and teach them how to be followers of God with their whole hearts. Awwwww.

Anywhooo...we also had the privilege of speaking to all the highschool students at a "good luck" potluck dinner (man, do they know how to throw a party!). It was kinda a going away party thingy since they all have to leave Cat Lake to go to school. It was scary but sooo cool. We got to encourage them to stay in school and live out their dreams. Seeing as how the native drop out rate is unbelievable I pray that these kids can stay in school and prove statistics wrong! They can truly do anything they put their minds too (that goes for everyone else out there too...just motivational speaker Assilem trying to get through to the masses :))!

So ay, it really has been awesome to be in Cat Lake this summer. The kids are the best and so stinkin adorable! Also, we've had amazing support from the health authority and the community - such neat and wonderfully beautiful , funny, and helpful men and women. I'm going to miss everyone sooo much! Ya, and, no lie, I'm going to miss walking down the same dirt road over and over again throughout the day. No more waving at every child and person I see. No more swimming, and gorgeous sunsets at my back door. No more walking with random dogs. Sigh. Oh and expecially no more Angie....waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Ok...blabbing. Anywhooo...for those who dont have the details, we're flying out of Cat Lake tomorrow. So sad! I am pretty excited to see all you crazy rock stars at home though. I missed you guys! We're camping on the way home so I'll be back in Suds sometime on Tues (hint hint, surprise party). K...loves and hugs from Me on my last night in this crazy, yet lovable place. Peace and God bless yas!

   [ POSTED BY Asylum @ 5:15 AM ] 11 comments

Cats In Cat Lake!

I SAW A CAT!

My first Cat was killed. My second cat was killed by my dog. My third cat was killed by 3 dogs. My fourth cat was slung in the eye. THen I wasn't allowed to have any more cats.
~Jonalla, 7 years old

   [ POSTED BY Asylum @ 4:49 AM ] 2 comments

NO lockjaw for me!

HI friends!

This is the fattest, most juiciest, rustiest nail I have EVER stepped on. In fact, in my brain, I cant remember any other time I have ever stepped on a long, sharp, rusty nail. Yep, the other day the pointy dagger (in the middle of the board you see below), cut right through my shoe and directly into my poor right foot. OUCH! I carefully pulled it from my foot, then my shoe, showed Vanessa, got someone to replace me on my scavenger hunt team, and went straight home!

Luckily I live at the nursing station. YEah! Have I mentioned that I LOVE living at the nursing station? Well ya, it's pretty great, in a cool and fun kinda way. Not only do I always get to hear the cool stories about what's goin on in the community, but I get first-class treatment... just down the hall! So my personal nurse, Nurse Angie, went straight to work and gave me my Tetanus shot! I like needles. I especially like them when I dont want to get lock law or something fun like that. I doubly especially like them when my personal nurse takes a running start with a 15 foot needle and jabs me in the arm, concluding with a scream as though she's done something wrong. It's ok, I'm alive, she just hit my bone - apparently that's cool and a first for Ang. Haha. It was awesome actually, ya and now I dont have lockjaw, I'm up-to-date with my vaccinations, and my foot is healing nicely. Sweet, sweet, home sweet home.

So as I've mentioned, living at the nursing station is great times. The stories are awesome. We always know what's going on in the community. We dont know names, but we know all the other details. Like, what the sniffers are up to and what infections are going around town. Apparently chlamydia is the std of choice. I'm sure you wanted to know that. Also, hearing about gooey eyes from fights, attempted suicides, overdoses, and being woken up at all hours of the night is all part of the adventure.

One thing that needs to be brought into the light, which actually deserves its own private blog, is how much money is blown here! Oh my, this month alone the gov has spent $100 000 on emergency medical evacuations (medivacs)...half of which were unnecessary, alcohol induced injuries. It's honestly unbelievable.

IT's crazy talking with the NAPs officers too. Man, they have some sweet stories about what's going on in this "dry community". Unbelievable things - ask me about them sometime.

The other day we dropped in to visit the new police officer. He's hilarious and has great stories. ANywhoo...we checked out the jail and got locked in. Haha. THere are some pics below for your viewing pleasure.

I swear I can bend those bars. I'm huge. Also, I dared Vanessa to sit on the toilet for a pic, but she bailed. Pft.

OK...that's all for now rock stars. It's weird actually, we only have one week left!!!! Yep, it's the last day of literacy camp today, and now we're on the home stretch. Such mixed feelings! I guess I better start figuring out what's next. Any thoughts?????????????

   [ POSTED BY Asylum @ 5:49 AM ] 3 comments