Tinsel and koala bears

So I admit - work is not the foremost thing on my mind right now. But how can it be really with Christmas in only 6 days and my trip to Australia and Thailand in only 7? So I have decided to decorate this blog to celebrate the countdown!

I am really in the Christmas spirit this week, I am even wearing a red sweater today. Today is my office Christmas lunch at the Freehouse, the first of four work-related parties this week. I love this season! I am a little worried about gaining Christmas weight before my trip but this season only comes once a year, right?

I am also going to the Globe Theatre tonight to see "A Christmas Carol". The tickets were a gift from my auntie and it is sold out so it should be really great!

On a sadder note, I have decided to take down my Christmas tree this week, before Christmas. I know, it will be a very sad day. I am not back until January 29 and think it would be even more depressing to come home to it still being up so this is my only option.
On the Student Recruitment front, we are busy with application workshops this week. This is where we help grade 12 students fill out there application forms at Regina high schools. The application deadline isn't until June 16 for most faculties, but lots of students like getting their applications off early so that they know where they stand and so that it is one less thing to worry about! We encourage students to apply when they have the best marks, whether that is their grade 11 marks or a combination of grade 11 and first semester grade 12 final marks.

Well I am off to an application workshop at Winston Knoll. I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas if I don't get a chance to blog again! I will try to blog a couple times during my trip too.

Something to leave you with: a photo from our ugly sweater party. (Yes, those are patches of leather and fur on my sweater.) Enjoy!

This is the time of year when I am glad I am not a student

Yes, final exam time. This is the time period in my University career that I dreaded the most and liked the least. My two roommates are both University students and when I see them stressing out and cramming all night long I can't help but be inwardly relieved that I don't have to write any finals. There are some good things about writing finals though. There is no better feeling than knowing you did an excellent job. Also, the celebrating when finals are over is one of the best parts of University!

This week we are doing more Regina and area visits. We were at Sheldon-Williams Collegiate this morning and there were about 110 students in our presentation! We played our game, Uranium, and everyone got really involved. We will be back at Sheldon and other Regina schools next week to help the Grade 12 students fill out their application forms.

Last night all of the people who travel together got together for a Christmas party. The theme was ugly sweater and boy did we have some ugly sweaters. Mine had leather, fur, decals and armpit tassels. In came in second to Dean's from St. Thomas More College. His was a knitted thing in veregated wool in the colors baby blue, baby green and pink. It was hilarious! We also played a few rounds of Taboo and this has caused me to think of some words in new ways, such as abscond, nutmeg and camelot.

Want a good holiday playlist? Here are my recommendations:
Spoon - Don't You Evah
The Killers - Don't Shoot Me Santa
Sia - Day Too Soon
Maroon 5 - Won't Go Home Without You
Placebo - 20th Century Boy

Getting ready for Christmas

That is what I have been doing the last week - getting ready for Christmas. I went to Bismarck with my mom and sister and finished up my Christmas shopping. All of my presents are now wrapped and under my tree! I also did some online shopping this year. If you are having trouble thinking about what to get people here are some cool ideas:

1. Funny t-shirts - who doesn't love them? Check out http://www.threadpit.com/

2. A tonne of carbon. Yes I am serious. Help your family and friends reduce their carbon footprint at http://www.zerofootprint.net/

3. Concert or Folk Festival tickets. Check out some great bands that are coming to Regina or get a great deal on advance Folk Festival passes at http://www.reginafolkfestival.com/concertseries/



At work we are busy preparing for Christmas as well. Every year we send out a holiday card to all of our prospective students and to all the high schools in Saskatchewan. The photo shoot is always really fun as we have current students in Santa hats doing something silly. Check out this year's photo: