Back to life, back to reality

Viva Cuba

This is the first vacation that I have taken that I didn't plan. That is saying a lot. Of course I still looked up reviews on the internet to see what other people had to say about the place that was chosen for me to stay at for a week. There was no real concern though as how bad could an all inclusive be. Fabulous!
My highlights of course were seeing, in their natural habitat, a leaf insect, a stick insect, lizards and many many toads. There was no shortage of cats.

I think this is also the first time I just relaxed. My mind wasn't racing trying to figure out what to do next or what I might be missing. Granted this is a great country for that as there is not a lot around to be distracted with. This is not to put down the grand beauty of the country. I was never been so intent to stare out the window at the countryside. Although there were a lot of roosters and goats to keep me entertained, it was the farmers still using an ox and plow to turn the land that really got my attention. I have read comments by other saying this is one of the last undisturbed places accessible to us. I understand that they live in a very differently run country then us, however there was something really refreshing about not seeing tons or billboards with advertisements or neon lights proclaiming some shopping stop or another.

The beach was amazing. I loved all the trees that were growing out of the sand and you could sit lazily under them just listening to the water and feeling the breeze.
Now I am a far cry from this picture. Back on the couch looking for a job and coming to the realization that no one, no one here pays what they did in Vancouver. It is so hard to think that I am almost making on EI what I can expect to earn from a job here. *sigh*
I am also going to have to realize that the transit system isn't as expansive as Vancouver either. Fingers crossed I find one I can actually get to and from to *double sigh*
Needless to say feelings of despair are in the air. There are a couple of leads that look good, so here is hoping that just the right one is out there for me. I can be patient as I really don't want to get into something that isn't really what I am looking for. It's not like I am begging yet.

You are the Love of my Life

This is the commitment my cousin made to his new wife.
Again, this should be dated December 29th, the day of Julie and Jeremy's wedding.

Everyone seems to be in a rush to get married the minute they start a relationship. I think this is mostly due to the fact that many people are older before they meet 'the one'. Then the modern day okay-ness with getting divorced if it doesn't work out. There is a little worry seeded in the minds of their friends and family of these situations. I admit I was one of these people before I arrived at this wedding. Not that I doubted my cousin, just the worry of do they really know each other or the ability to deal with the real life-ness of marriage. I start to think more and more the reason we doubt is we have lost our faith. We have become jaded in this world and the innocence of marriage is lost for us.

There is something to be said about the beauty of someone professing their love and commitment to another. Hearing their family and friends talk of them, their life and relationship with others.

Oh yea, if you have the full blown wedding; making sure the caterers keep the food hot till you get there is a good idea.

What world is this..

So I should start by saying this post should be dated December 24th as I was not able to post at the time.

I went to the Christmas Eve service at my parents church. I was really excited to go as I have not been to church in a long time and was excited to be filled with that feeling one gets being surrounded by those who have faith in the presence of the Lord. Well it must have been a busy night for him as I did not feel a presence. I was a little distressed by this as I always feel a presence in a church, especially when there is singing. I was thinking maybe it was just me and I was not filled with the presence. I didn't really believe this. I thought back to the images I had received as I walked into the church. An overly baked and dyed woman who looked and no one. Then a teenage girl wearing the smallest skirt and tube top with all kinds of body parts exposed. My comment at the time had been 'at least they came'.

My distress increased when the pastor indicated we would join in one more Christmas carol. As we rose to sing the couple who had been sitting next to us bowled my mom over in an attempt to leave before the song concluded. My mom had been in the process of standing and twisting to let them by however this was not fast enough for them as they pushed by her and she fell backwards and had to stumble to straighten up again.

What world is this that in a church people are so obsessed with themselves and their own agenda that they no longer have time to be courteous to others? These are children of God and this is their act?