Monday 31 March 2014

Laughter: Whose Line is it Anyway?

   Good morning dearest readers, another short post this morning. When I was searching the internet on my study break, I stumbled upon an old TV show that I absolutely loved watching when I was younger. Doesn't it seem like some of the best shows only existed when you were younger? I'm not saying that the new ones aren't good, I just think that there should be a week a year when all of the television networks play their old shows; kind of like when Discovery channel does Shark Week.
   The show that I found again is "Whose Line is it Anyway?" and the funny thing about it is that it's all improvisation and the rounds are played by known comedians. It's creative and every show is different even if the games play on repeat. I'll include a link below and you can watch episodes to your heart's content, (they are after all only 20 minutes each).
   So if you're running low on laughter, recharge with a quick episode or just get your day started the right way with a laugh.

Whose Line Is It Anyway

K.P.H.

Sunday 30 March 2014

Love: 'Tis Always the Season

   Good morning dearest readers, and as I find myself still without a voice, I thought it might be fun to post another song video. As the snow continues to fall on the beautiful capital city with April just around the corner, I have come to believe that Mother Nature really doesn't respect when the season are supposed happen. The first official day of Spring has technically already passed, and yet the weather shows no changing.
   There a lot of things that you need to wait for the right season to do, like camping can be done in the summer or early fall. Skating is recommended for the winter. Easter's for spring and school is for fall. One thing that doesn't need to be restrained to a specific holiday is love in general. You don't have to wait for Christmas to show how generous you are. Love is a special thing that can be associated with a special other, or a best friend, or family, or even your roommates; but there's no limits on it.
   Therefore the song this morning is entitled "We Fell in Fall", and it's a kind of love song that one of my friends had asked to write for her and her guy for one of their celebrations; and the song is what I came up with. So please enjoy and have an open heart; (only figuratively though).
K.P.H.

Saturday 29 March 2014

Laughter: Babies vs. Cats

   Good morning dearest readers. It is a good thing that this is a written blog and not a video blog because I now find myself literally without a voice today. There's a cold going around and I think while trying to avoid it, I might have caught something else.
   However on this fine Saturday morning, I am simply going to post a link to two separate videos and you can answer in the comment section which one you find funnier. I am personally a fan of dogs more, but these two options listed above are the two most popular ones. So take a look and see who would win the epic laughter battle between cats and babies.

Funny Babies

Funny Cats

K.P.H.

Friday 28 March 2014

Literature: Feedback Make You Go Forward

   Good day dearest readers and I hope you are all doing well. I can't say the same for myself but I'm pushing through regardless. This morning's entry will really be short since I still have homework I'm hoping to finish before going to work; the pattern will be similar this weekend since I'm going to try to accomplish three to four projects in a period of 2 days and a night. Sounds promising doesn't it? (she said sarcastically). With that explained, let's get a move on to today.
   Yesterday was a good day for my literary career. I met up with Nancy one last time before the semester ended and she told me what she thought of my short story I had given her; I am proud to say that she was pleasantly impressed and she said that she wouldn't be surprised if she saw my name published one day, (keep an eye out dearest readers for my name on the new releases).
   To add on to all of that confidence boost, I received a postcard from Morning Rain Publishing saying that they received my manuscript and now I simply had to wait for them to read it and deliberate. It might take more time but at least I know I'm in yet another consideration period.
   I'm not trying to make it seem like in a few months I'm getting published for sure (it would be nice) but I'm simply saying that I'm taking all of the extra steps to make my chances that much more possible. I've taken every little comment and tip that Nancy and others have given me. I've been refused by 11 publishers and literary agencies already but that isn't stopping me; I'm simply continuing my search to find the perfect place suited for my specific story.
   Never get discouraged dearest readers if things don't seem to be going your way. If you don't like the path your own, take a pause and find a different road you can take. Nothing is ever set in stone and dreams are always the wild cards of society, so make yours a winning deal. Dream big, and work hard so that others can see the fruits of your vision.

K.P.H.

Thursday 27 March 2014

Love: Get Your Studying On

   Good day dearest readers and welcome it with the biggest of smiles for tomorrow is Friday. I am slightly freaking out inside since my list of things to do is still quite large and the time span in which I have to accomplish it is not. Yesterday, after I had finished my book, written down the information I needed for my Monday's poetry session in my Celtic class and did my groceries, things weren't tough enough already so my right index finger got slammed into a drawer and just made everything that much more complicated (and painful) for me. All that being said, I still had to study, and I've created a little sanctuary to do so, (and its really the only good thing that happened last night).
   First off, you need to fully concentrate on your work, I like to place myself in a neutral environment. For me, that's at the far seat at the dinning table; that way I'm still with my roommates, but I'm not in front of the television nor in my bedroom where I would be tempted with all sorts of distractions. No, at the dinning table I am focus but not cut off. The advantages of sitting at a table is:
   1- it's actually quite comfortable.
   2- there's a lot of space to spread out all of your different projects to know what to do next.
   3- when you get hungry, it's easy to eat since you're already at the table and therefore only need to make a small place for your plate; (eat and study - best way to get the most out of your time)

   You may not be in the same kind of time crunch right now as I am dearest readers, but these are useful little tips to know ahead of time. I also make sure I always have a glass of water, and a cup of tea (or coffee) to keep me refreshed and awake. Once in a while I'll also light a candle close so that there's a soothing sent reassuring me to keep my calm while I push through. And just like Natalie Portman said: "I don't love studying. I hate studying. I like learning. Learning is beautiful."

K.P.H.

Wednesday 26 March 2014

Literature: Green Grass, Running Water

   Good morning dearest readers, and I hope the weather is as nice in your corner of the world as it is here today. Another short post this morning and this one is about a book I have to read for my Canadian Literature class (my professor had a good selection lined up for this year). I had the wonderful chance to see my mother yesterday, but now she's going back home today; I do love my mother but I'm not too in the mood to talk about lovely things today. And I can't really think of anything that's too funny either and that's why I've chosen a literature post this morning.
   Green Grass, Running Water is a novel written by Thomas King, and though I'm a third done already (having only started it Sunday afternoon, and it being quite long), I can assure that the novel grips you and entrances you to continue reading to try to figure out what exactly is happening in the book. It a melding of both native and European culture, with a hint of humour, sarcasm and wit. There are multiple stories happening over three different realms. It seems complicated (and I have to admit that it is a little bit) but the story itself is gripping. I can't tell you how it ends, but I can tell you that it's really good up to now, and I'm still far enough in the novel. I won't spend time describing it, because I might confuse you too much, and then that might discourage you from reading it, (and we wouldn't want that, would we?)
   "So. In the beginning, there was nothing. Just the water." And because of that little glimpse, your interest is already peaked and you want to go grab a copy of the novel, right? Good choice. Once I'm done this book (and all the others I have to read for this semester), I'm going to pick up another of Thomas King's novel entitled Truth and Bright Water. Open a book and read yourself into another world dear readers, because you don't have to go far to experience another culture, you simply have to turn the page.

K.P.H.

Tuesday 25 March 2014

Literature: Linking Stories

   Good morning dearest readers, I hope that Monday wasn't too harsh on you all. On this fine Tuesday, I find myself being actually quite excited since my mother is visiting tonight and I have missed her so much! This morning's post (and the rest of the week's for that matter) will be relatively short since we are only a couple of weeks away from the starting of exam time and my expected workload just doubled, therefore I won't have too much free time and should be focusing all of it on studying. With that explained, let's move on to today's topic.
   One of the tasks for my Celtic Women class is to participate in a poetry session. We're put in a group and after reading a different selection of poems, we must pick one and find either a contemporary equal or comparison. At first, the original work we had chose was a poem called The Midnight Court (quite long) and I had thought at first to compare it to some elements of The Scarlet Letter with the first part of the original work. That fell through the cracks when the professor continued to explain The Midnight Court, but I started associating all of the parts with The Miller's Tale by Chaucer. That was a perfect association but however it wasn't contemporary enough; so that option went down the drain. However one of my group members found a song that makes reference to the Miller's Tale and that also follows the themes that we need so that it can be compared to The Midnight Court; I think we finally found ourselves the winner.
   So if ever you find yourself in a similar situation as myself, don't be afraid to not find something off the first instant. Even if you're not an avid reader, your mind stores away quite the impressive amount of information that is just waiting to resurface. Remember to keep and open mind and to let inspiration reach you.

K.P.H.

Monday 24 March 2014

Laughter: A Different Purpose than Intended

   Hello dear readers and let's all greet Monday with the widest smile and biggest determination. With the release of the I Am Grateful project yesterday, most of the blog's focus surrounds that entry, (there's nothing wrong with that but we don't want to make it too hard for people to find it either). This morning post will be a lighter one and is literally about something that just happened a few minutes ago as I made my way downstairs to have a bowl of cereal and my cup of coffee.
   In my usual routine, I tend to wake up anywhere between 6:30 and 8:30 but if I'm really tired, I might sleep in until 9:00. I'm really quite a morning person because I feel like I get so much done, and that since I go to bed relatively early enough as well, I'm well rested to start my day again on a good note. With all of that said, I woke up close to 8:15 this morning, and as I made my way downstairs to the kitchen, I noticed that Riley's bedroom door was open (which meant that he was awake) and I was even more surprised to see Katie sitting at the kitchen table eating breakfast (she's usually awake after I've done my morning routine). All of this kind of threw me off because for some odd reason (and I blame this on the weird dream I was having 5 minutes before I woke up), I was still tired.
   So I grabbed my cereal bowl, my coffee cup and joined Katie at the kitchen table. Not too long after Riley sat down with us and fixed his broken laces on his shoes so that he could still wear them until he would buy new laces. The moment Riley sat down, we realized that it was the first time this year that we actually all sat down together (at the KITCHEN table) for a meal. Sure Katie and I had used it as a work station during exam time, and I hosted my aunt, uncle and cousin for a dinner, but between the three of us, it had never gotten its intended use; we didn't even use it when we had our Roomie Christmas before winter break.
   It's not the only thing in our apartment that doesn't get its intended purpose fulfilled. I have a small outdoor chair/table combination that rests in my bedroom and creates a kind of writing corner instead of its intended outdoor dining quarters. So dearest readers, be creative with the usage of your furniture and belongings because they can become a lot more useful with more that one purpose. It might seem a little funny at first, but what will be funnier is how practical it will become and how you wish you had thought of its use sooner.

K.P.H.

Sunday 23 March 2014

Love: The "I Am Grateful" Project Release

   Good morning dearest readers and what a beautiful Sunday it is; you can barely tell that there was an aggressive snow storm that happened yesterday. I hope you are all making the most out of your last weekend day because Monday is just around the corner. There is 10 days of school left for me, and as the pressure starts to sink in, the creative/reasoning wheels are turning to help me get everything done on time. Last night, I had the pleasure of spending time with my little cousin, and it was the perfect time to lead up to today's release of the "I Am Grateful" project that has been worked on constantly for the past month.
   In our everyday lives, we are quite lucky to have all of the things that we do, when so many others are lacking what we take for granted; I've realized that simply having a roof over my head, food in the cupboard and supportive friends and family, are things that are denied to more than a few. So today, with the help of friends, family and enthusiastic people, Literature, Love and Laughter is proud to present:   The "I Am Grateful" project.


K.P.H.

Saturday 22 March 2014

Literature: Finding the Meaning

   Hello dearest readers, I hope you all slept well and are ready to seize the day. It is finally Saturday, and after a beautiful and mild day yesterday, I find myself waking up to a snowstorm; I don't know what I did to anger Mother Nature so much, but the fact that I have to work today and she does that to the weather makes me feel like I did something wrong. None the less, I'll put my big girl boots on with my winter coat and face the storm. Before I do all of that, I thought about talking a little bit about books this morning, and how to read them well.
   There is always a deeper meaning to the front face value of a book, and whether or not the author intended to do that, a subconscious meaning can emerge as well. It's the end of the term with the exam season just around the corner so all of my professors are telling me to look deeper within the book to find some new way of looking at it, (and since I have about 4 essays and 2 projects to do, I'm doing that quite a few times on repeat). The advantage of doing that is the fact that you get a whole new appreciation for the book if you do succeed in finding something that at first you might not have found.
   If you feel like you're coming up at a loss, take a look through sites and find book club questions for your book. If your book is not a classic, or relatively an older version you might have a little more trouble, but it becomes really helpful. In my personal experience, I need to write an essay for my American Literature class and I've decided to compare Emerson and Poe's work on the imagery of the eye as a reflection of the self; since I had joined my mother's book club one month while they were discussing The Life of Pi (one of my favorite books of all time), I remembered one of the conversations we were having on the image of Pi looking into the eyes of the tiger and seeing his soul. His father would simply reply that the only thing that he was seeing was his own emotions reflected into the eyes, and nothing more. This quote itself is what is inspiring my essay.
   Inspiration can come from anywhere, we just need to be open to receive when it comes knocking. This goes not only for reading and writing, but in every creative aspect of life. You never know what your muse can be, but it is a muse none the less.

K.P.H.

Friday 21 March 2014

Love: Food for the Season

   Hello dear readers, you have all survived the week and now the glorious Friday has arrived. This morning's post will be short (and I know that I say that most mornings post will be short and it doesn't happen) but today it is true.
   Since Spring is already here and St-Patrick's day has already passed, the next holiday is Easter. Some people might not really celebrate Easter, but it's an opportunity for me to see my family so I'm taking it. Plus, there's always great food during family celebration and also chances to get creative with your meal choice. I've found websites that list different recipes to help you celebrate Easter. One helps showcase the more spiritual part of the holiday while the other helps you be the "hostess with the mostest".
   So check it out and look at your options because you should never skip out on an opportunity to try new foods and get creative with it. So test out this theory with Easter coming up and remember dearest readers that "food for the body is not enough; there must be food for the soul." -Dorothy Day.

16 Must Make Easter Treats

Meaningful Easter Treat

K.P.H.

Thursday 20 March 2014

Love: Spring Time is Fun Time

   Good morning dearest readers, the weekend is in sight. On this rainy Thursday morning, it is officially the first day of Spring; do you think it is? Personnally, I haven't spotted the signs that would indicate such a change, but I'll take Mother Nature's word for it. It is raining this morning, and I know this for a fact since I got up early to walk to the grocey store to get my food for the week, and I being a smart person wore my rubber boots only to find out that they had holes in them;I seriously feel like the luckiest person since I also only got splashed by one car this time.
   The thing about Spring, is that I share a love/hate relationship with it. Spring means that school is coming to a close and summer will be starting soon; that also means that exam season starts and time seems to be slipping by with every assignment that gets added to my work list. Spring also means that warmer weather is coming which means that I won't have to wear my big winter coat and boots for long, but that also means that my attic bedroom will start to get quite warm and I will have to set up two extra fans instead of the single one that I have now. Another plus is that my birthday is coming soon, but that also means that I'm another year older and I'm still undecided about what I want to do once I gradutate. Life's full of pros and cons isn't it?
   Therefore dear readers, if you are a Spring person or simply tolerate it because Summer is the season that follows, keep your head high and remember all of the pros associated with the season, and before you know it, time will have passed.
K.P.H.

Wednesday 19 March 2014

Laughter: The Bunny Changes Everything

   Good morning dear readers, the week is halfway done! The story that goes with the title this morning is a short one, but it is a funny one. You did read the title right; this story has a bunny in it (it's basically the focus of the story itself.) And instead of having the usual people in my funny stories (and by usual people I mean my roommates), this one actually took place as a phone conversation with my father.
   I love my family; we all have different personalities, and yet there's these small things that link us together and that's how we work so well. Both of my parents are hard working people, but my father has been travelling every week for work ever since I was around 3 or 4 years old. Because of that, my dad would call home every night and we'd get to talk to him and tell him about our day just like we would do if he was home. In university, my father still keeps calling me and I appreciate every little talk we have.
   Last night however, the conversation was slightly different than our usual ones. I had called my father to help me out with a form I had to fill out, and he excused himself from his company at the dinner table for a few minutes to help me out. I'm not exactly sure where he was standing but out of the blue, he simply exclaims: "Oh, there's a bunny outside... it's so fluffy!" The statement itself is funny but, if any of you knew my father, you'd understand that at first glance, that statement would not fit the person. My dad is a tall, burly looking man who looks and is quite tough. He has a soft spot for his family (and apparently bunnies too); he's a friendly giant figure.
   We proceed to talk about the questionnaire, but he kept adding in once in a while: "he's so fluffy; it's like a ball of fur with ears. I just want to go pick him up... do you think they'd let me bring it in the restaurant? Awwwwww!" So now I know that not only can my baby pictures melt my father's heart, but a bunny seems to have the same effect.
   The lesson out of this story, if someone might seem a little intimidating, if you're walking next to a giant or if you're having a conversation with someone who's having a tough day, just bring up a fuzzy bunny and all of your problems are solved.

K.P.H.

Tuesday 18 March 2014

Literature: You Are What You Read

   Good morning my dearest readers, and what a morning it is! I hope that you all enjoyed the green festivities yesterday and that you all feel refreshed and ready to tackle today. I am proud to report that I have reached the pillar that is 1000 views on the blog (1004 to be exact this morning) which means that the release of the "I Am Grateful" project is on its way. Therefore if you still feel like sending in your picture to contribute to the video compilation, you still have a couple of days.
   This morning's post isn't about the progress of the video, but I thought it'd be helpful to let you all know how well everything is proceeding. Today's post is all about identifying who you are through your books. The idea of this entry came to me while I was creating a logo for the blog (every important thing should have a logo, right?) and so as I walked around my room, looking at book covers to get inspiration, something dawned on me. Though I may have a varied and eclectic taste in books (and music), but someone (with careful observation) could tell what kind of person I was by my literary collection.
   It is easy to see that I'm bilingual by the two types of languages of my books. Someone could also see that I have an old soul by the kind of classics that are spread out together on a shelf. Patience could be thought of as one of my virtues simply by the size of certain volumes here. I'm also a dreamer and a creative mind with all of the works of fiction, but I also like to 'stay in the know' with all of the known classics and recommended works. I like to learn but I'd rather find myself in a dream world than the real world; it's why there isn't any bibliographies or non-fictional historical books on my self. Plus the only anthologies I have are for Celtic studies (to help me out with the writing of one of my own story) and a dream dictionary (to help me interpret some of the weird things my subconscious comes up with).
   So whether or not you are an avid reader, be careful what you put on your shelf for people to see because YOU are the one who will become the open book.
K.P.H.

Monday 17 March 2014

Love: Irish at Heart

   Good morning dear readers and Happy St-Patrick's Day!!! This is usually a kind of holiday that people like to take advantage of to maybe celebrate a little too much, but for me there are a few traditions that make this Irish holiday one that I look forward to.
   I am lucky to be part Irish, Dutch and French, but I don't really associate with one more than the other, I represent them all equally. However on certain days, one side of me tends to take over. I become more Irish on St-Paty's day; I'm all Dutch during St-Nicholas and I'm a proud francophone whenever I need to represent. On this happy day, I'm not one who goes out, and goes overboard on this day... I'm smarter about my social life but one of the things that I love most about this day (and it's been a tradition that my mother started with me since I was young) is the fact that I can eat Lucky Charms on this day. My parents never really bought sugary cereal and this was a treat, (we basically finished an entire box in a day). A second thing that was really fun was that my mother used to turn everything green on this day. She'd get me a special clover shirt, my lunch would be full of green foods; even now when I'm in university, my mother sends me a March care-package and everything, even the box is green.
   With all of this green going around, I'm happy that my only class today is in Celtic studies which just adds on to the St-Patrick's day atmosphere. Might as well learn about the culture behind the holiday, right?
   So whether you are a true Irish, or just one for today, be smart about your choices and learn what it really is all about because it is sure to enhance your experience!

K.P.H.

Sunday 16 March 2014

Laughter: The Art of Snapchat

   Well hello dearest readers, it is the Sunday and therefore the end of the weekend. I apologize for the lack of entry yesterday morning, but I was up at five and working by 6:30 for the Spring Open House of my university, and I didn't have time. However, the events that proceeded the end of the Open House is what inspired the topic for today.
   There have been, and there will always be trends, and popular events happening. People will want to participate and get involved to "stay in the know". I have not always been one of these people (being too preoccupied with my latest book), but once in a while, I hop on the train and join the fun. This latest trend has been going on for a little while but it wasn't until a co-worker of mine suggested that everyone at work get it so that we could all get closer not only as a team, but as friends too. And because of him, I now have Snapchat; and I have to admit that it's really fun. I still haven't figured out all the kinks yet, like when I press and hold the middle of the screen which doesn't allow me to see the full picture, or if I don't hold down the button and then I can't sort my thoughts out quick enough to look at the picture again before it disappears.
   Yes with every new thing, there are always challenges to learn and adapt. I feel like sometimes I'm pack pedaling with my notes written by hand, my love for old journals and fountain pens, and especially with my latest purchase of my typewriter, (I've got an old soul, but I'm rewinding a couple of decades as well).
   If you are part of the new crowd to add this fun app, or one that has had it for a while but hasn't used it in a while either, revive it and put it to work, because there's a lot of aspects of communication we miss out on when we are simply texting; plus a picture is worth a thousand words.

K.P.H.

Friday 14 March 2014

Literature: The Reading List

   Good morning my dearest readers, it is finally Friday! This morning my entry will be short, but it will get you thinking.
   Have you ever had a reading list? I've created one that now sits in my library, but I have picked up two other ones so that I can find the books, add them to my collection and my own list. It's good to have a list of books to read because it means that you'll never get bored; once one of them is gone, you have a list of future selection. I came across an article that challenged avid readers to see how many 'classic' books they've read. I've only read 23 of them, but I own around 82 of them.
   Let's see how many you've read, and set a goal for yourself maybe to knock back a few of the suggested books this summer. And remember dearest readers, when you read books, a whole other world of possibilities open up to you.

BBC's Book Challenge

K.P.H.

Thursday 13 March 2014

Love: What You Give Is What You Get

   Happy Thursday dear readers, the weekend is just around the corner. I am quite excited for the weekend since it is March Break for most students, and therefore many students are taking university tours to help them make up their minds about where to go in September.
   Part of my job is to talk to students about the university, but also about my personal experiences and reasons why I chose the U of O. Even last night I had great conversation with students who were so excited about the next step in their life, it just made my job that much easier.
   I love talking to students, and giving them the information they need to make an informative choice, but it's really great too when their parents get just as excited as them; it reminds me of my own experience. I actually love my job; I work with great people, my boss is awesome and the hours are perfect. Plus I know that with every person I talk to, I'm making a difference in their lives, however small it might be. It is a fun and rewarding job, and I couldn't be more thankful that I have it, (I even get to keep doing it this whole summer!)
   If I wasn't so enthusiastic about my job, I don't think that people would respond as well as they do. Therefore dearest readers, just know that your attitude will influence everyone else's. Because just like Zig Ziglar said: "Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will."

K.P.H.

Wednesday 12 March 2014

Literature: The Series Impact

   Good morning dearest readers, it's hump day! The week is halfway done, and time seems to be passing by quicker than imagined. I love the classes I have this semester but they have given me a very large reading list and I'm struggling to keep up. I know that math isn't my best subject but 17 novels in 12 weeks simply does not add up.
   However, I am excited for summer to get here, but my reasons are probably different than most people. Most people are probably excited for the break from school, the hot weather, and vacation trips, and don't get me wrong, I'm excited about all of that but what I'm most excited about is taking up reading for fun again (meaning I'm making my own reading selection).
   Books are fun when they are single stories, but a trend that is picking up is stories as series. I won't debate too much about that, and I actually enjoy that structure of the stories because the tales that you like carry on for longer; plus it doesn't feel like an eternal read when the story is divided into smaller books. I've got my reading list set up but the one story that I'm so excited to start again is a French series called "Les Chevaliers d'Emeraudes/ Les Héritiers d'Enkidiev" and I've been reading these books since the 9th grade. They're basically two series that continue the story; the first one is 12 books long, and the other one is still being written but it takes place 15 years after the first series end. The author has released the 9th book of the second series, and I keep checking for when the next one will be released.
   So if you are looking for a vacation for your mind that will last as long as your actual vacation from school, find yourself a series and the time will match up. Finding your world is the best kind of feeling, but being able to find your way back is just as special.

K.P.H.

Tuesday 11 March 2014

Love: The Beauty of Still Silence

   Good morning dearest readers. We are progressing through the week rather smoothly and this morning I'd like to talk about something that I really do enjoy but that not everyone fully understands. I might have acquired this love because I'm an avid reader, but though I do like to vocalize my thoughts, I've always like to bask in silence.
   There is something just absolutely beautiful in silence; the quiet, the stillness, the utter hold on the moment of which it frames. I'm alright with sitting alone for hours at a time with a book, and just taking it in while the atmosphere is quiet. Some people cannot stay in silence; they must fill every little moment with words or songs or television shows. I find that somewhat annoying therefore I must go and find myself another quiet spot. I think I developed this love of silence on Manitoulin, since it is the most peaceful place I know. When I sit on the dock and I look out onto the lake, all I can hear is the wind rustling the waves; it's one of the best feelings in the world.
   So whether you are a Chatty Kathy, or a Quiet Quin, just be aware of the people around you because they might not be the most sociable person in the world. And remember that silence can be a beautiful thing.

K.P.H.

Monday 10 March 2014

Laughter: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

   Good morning dear readers, I hope you all enjoyed your shorter day yesterday because today is Monday. This morning's post will basically be a bunch of picture I thought were funny since I still have homework to do and I'm working this morning. So just read/look about and get your funny bone ready, because like Milton Berle said: "laughter in an instant vacation."





K.P.H.

Sunday 9 March 2014

Literature: The Soul of the Home

   Good morning dear readers and happy Spring Forward Day! Yes you all lost an hour of sleep but who needs extra rest when Monday is tomorrow, (there might be a tad of sarcasm implied). On this fine morning, I thought about talking about my dear home.
   Regardless of how old you are, everyone has thought at some point about moving out and getting their own place. The thought that follows is the idea of getting you dream home. Even today I think of decorating ideas, and perfect locations. My apartment now is great, but I don't want to live there for the rest of my life. I actually only see myself living in the same place no more than ten years, unless I end up having my dream home on Manitoulin, (I can live there forever once that happens). But there has always been the age old question of: What makes a house a home? Well some people say that the people make the home, and I agree that that is true. But some people will argue that there the question of what is the heart of the home? Many will say the kitchen and I do see myself having a gorgeous kitchen in my dream house, but for me the one thing that will make my home perfect is a room dedicated to my favorite pastime. I will have a library/study. The people may bring life to the home, and the kitchen is the heart, but I think that the library is the soul of the home.
   Books give you stories, lessons, extra lives and companionship when you want it. They will console you and reassure you and offer you new ideas. So when you are designing your home, take into account what you want it to look like, but also how it will represent the person you are. Put the emphasis where it is meant to be, and let your individuality shine. You want it to be a nice place but you want it to be a place that you can't wait to go back to and that you hesitate to leave. After all, there's no place like home.



K.P.H.

Saturday 8 March 2014

Love: I Love Me, I Love Me More

   Happy Saturday dear readers! This morning's post is much less pretentious than the title makes it sound. This morning is all about not only loving yourself, but loving who you are.
   I want to feel more comfortable in my skin, so I've decided to start eating better, (it's more expensive but I work around my budget because this is something important to me). I've also started a small exercise plan that I do right when I wake up in the morning. I then make my cup of coffee, pour myself a bowl of cereal and write my entry for the blog. If I stick to this routine for 21 days, it will become a very good habit. I'm not telling you all to lose weight to be able to love yourself; it's a question of confidence and feeling comfortable in your own skin. When I have to wear baggier clothes so that I don't feel judged when I sit down, I'm not happy with that; so I'm doing something about it.
   There are some things that you might not fully love about yourself and you'd like to change, and that's okay, but understand what can be changed. Your health, eating and exercising habits are small things you can change to make you feel better. If you're a pessimistic person, it might take a little longer for you to see the glass half full. If you don't like your height, (I myself am taller than average), you have to understand that that's something that you can't change. Try to see the benefits about it. Another example is that I have naturally curly hair, and before I didn't like it; I used to put it up in a pony tail or straighten it all the time. Well now in university, styling my hair is the quickest part of my morning. I simply roll out of bed, and part it to one side; maybe not even that. It's become the easiest part of my day and I love it.
   The trick to this whole "loving yourself" thing is perception. If you don't like yourself, how are you supposed to let anyone else love you? If you're not comfy and confident in your own skin, you might be flagged as a possible problem even before you meet anyone. So love who you are because that person is great; there is after all only one of you in this entire world.


K.P.H.

Friday 7 March 2014

Laughter: The Indigenous Rilaylay

   Good day dear readers! You are all quite lucky because I have found a rare clip this morning, and it is one that I think is quite funny. This morning's post is all about a video. It was taken sometime this summer when my two roommates and I (as well as their friend Brittany) gathered in Ottawa for Blues Fest.
   On one of the first Laughter posts, I had shared a link to a Youtube video of Gabriel Iglesias doing his Crocodile Hunter impression, (one of my favorite jokes of all time). So this is my interpretation of this joke, but adapted to my living condition. That meaning that I don't get to go on a stage and have an audience of possible punch lines, nor do I get the chance to go in the wild and observe animals like the original Crocodile Hunter; I have a Riley.
   So without further ado, I present to you a video that needs no introduction but simply demands your attention. Dearest readers, I give you the Indigenous Riley.



K.P.H.

Thursday 6 March 2014

Literature: New Cool or Old School

   Good day dear readers. This morning I am conflicted with an inner debate that concerns my present books as well as the future ones I plan to acquire. Today's post will should be a relatively shorter one, but I think that you my dearest readers can give me input on my little dilemma.
   With this new age of technology, someone actually went and created a way to store hundreds of books on this little electronic device; yes I am talking about those Kobos, Kindels and Ebooks. I know that I can store a lot more books on one of those little devices, and I could bring a lot more books that way on my travels instead of having most of my allotted luggage weight taken by one of my favorite pass times. Another bonus is that most Ebooks are cheaper than even a paperback copy since they don't need to be printed. And the final advantage is that most of the electronic copies are easier to find and always available. Now, if I'm thinking about the advantages of good ol'e paper copy books, I might be a little more biased, but  I love the smell of old books, and I love to hold a copy and see my progress as I read; but I know that I won't be able to see that on an eReader. And one of the things that I loved the most, is that once a book is finished, and I place it on my shelf, I get to see all of the literature I have read, and all of the worlds I have travelled to within them. Plus, I'm reminded everyday that I own them so I can read them all over again if I wanted to. You can't showcase the extent of your literary knowledge if all of your copies are crammed and hidden in a small device.
   I think the best thing I could use hasn't even been invented yet. How great would it be to be able to buy a hard copy of a book, but on the back, or on the inside of it you could get a code to enter or bar code that you could scan, and it would give you the e-copy of the book. If someone isn't working on that idea now, they should.
   With my inner conflict explained, I am seeking your help dearest readers. If you have an Ebook, please let me know what you think of it. If there's a software genius that reads my blog, please come up with the technology to make my idea happen! So read much, and read long whether it's easier for you with technology, or the good ol'e fashion way.





K.P.H.

Wednesday 5 March 2014

Laughter: Get Your Giggle On

   Good morning dear readers! It is Wednesday and the weekend is approaching; it's really incredible how quickly the time passes by. I am glad to report that the numbers of my blog are steadily climbing and more and more people are sending me their "I Am Grateful" pictures; it's both moving and beautiful the things that people write.
   On this fine day, I know that stress might be creeping up on people, whether they are in university, in school or even at work; March is madness. On that note, a pick me up is in order. Everyone deserves to laugh, and like they say a giggle a day keeps depression away! Therefore I will be including a couple links to different Jimmy Fallon episode, (I am a HUGE fan of his) and I encourage you to take the time to watch, either this morning, on your breaks at work, or before you go to bed tonight so that you can say that you've laughed at least once today.
   The videos themselves will be different lip sync battles because I think it brings a new twist. I know that it takes talent to sing, but it takes a whole different skillset to lip sync since you need to know the words, mouth them at the right time, and pretend like its your own. You need to act, be musically inclined and be prepared to be a little dramatic as well, (yes multitasking is a talent). Keep looking on the light side of things because "a sense of humor is a major defense against minor troubles."-Mignon McLaughlin

Lip Sync Battle with Joseph Gordon Levitt, Stephen Merchant and Jimmy Fallon

Lip Sync Battle with Paul Rudd and Jimmy Fallon

K.P.H.

Tuesday 4 March 2014

Love: The Way Home

   Good morning dearest readers. On this fine Tuesday, I've got a couple of things that are working to my advantage; like the fact that my professor is at a conference today so I don't have to go to my early class; like the fact that I got to have dinner last night with my uncle, aunt and cousins that I haven't seen since Christmas; and I'm also starting to get more and more people's picture for the 'I Am Grateful' project and they are looking good! All in all Tuesday (which is usually my worst day) is actually starting to get much better.
   Now for this morning's post, I thought about posting another song I wrote because at this point, I am starting to get a little home sick. I've gotten a full time job here in Ottawa for the summer, and I'm really excited, but it also means that I can't really go home; to every pro, there is a con. What I've also been noticing a lot is that much of the young generation takes the advantages of living at home, but take it for granted as well. Home is a special place, and whether or not you feel like you can't wait to move out, once you do, all you want to do is go back.
   So for today, the song I wrote is entitle The Way Home (such as the entry's title), and it was firstly based in honour of Remembrance Day, or for the soldiers who are over seas but then I saw that it could be applied to anyone. Just know dear readers that no matter how difficult if may seem, going home is always possible, and the path there will be lit.


K.P.H.

Monday 3 March 2014

Laughter: Played One Too Many Times

   Good morning dear readers; today's wonderful Monday entry will be short and sweet (just like we all wish Monday actually was). This morning's post is all about popular trends that just go overboard. For example, I had mentioned that I am a huge Disney fan, and I'll admit that I loved (LOVED) the movie Frozen, but now I can't seem to bask in its genius and catchy tunes because everyone is making a cover of the songs or making funny puns.
   One of my friends kept reading me articles on Buzz Feed about it, and I just started to zone out because I don't want to ruin the movie because it is so nicely preserved in my mind. And I don't even need to start listing the number of times people have covered the song Let It Go, because I'm pretty sure most people on this planet has seen as least two versions of the song regardless if they've seen the movie or not. I have been shown one that was however not that bad. Christina Bianco's rendition of it makes a comical statement without ruining the song, because you are concentrating so hard on the different voices she's imitating.
   Instead of being frustrated by yet another cover of the beloved song, I was impressed because a comedian managed to successfully portray famous singers, and she was actually a really good singer too. I invite you to look at the video as well because it merges two of my favorite things in the world: comedy and Disney. Let us remember what Peter Ustinov said: "Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious."

Christina Bianco's "Let It Go"

K.P.H.

Sunday 2 March 2014

Laughter: The Making Of

   Hola mi amigos, buenos dìas! It is an eerie looking morning in Ottawa but it doesn't mean that last night's atmosphere had the same vibe. No on the complete contrary. My roommates and I aren't the most sociable people, but we never cease to have a great time in each other's company.
   After a long day of studying and running errands, we decided to hang out and have some roomie time while watching a movie. Once the movie was done, Riley and I needed to help Katie with her "I Am Grateful" picture, we manage to all, and I mean ALL of us get into onesies to make a bigger impact in the picture. Of course throughout the whole process we took silly pictures, and ended up laughing a lot longer than we should have but it makes it all that much more worth it. It's great to be able to laugh at everything and anything, but know that you'll have people laughing with you instead of at you.
   Not only do my roommates help and support me in all of my projects, we still have a good time accomplishing everything too. With that said, I'd like to remind all of those who wish to participate in the I Am Grateful project to send me their pictures as soon as possible since it is slowly but surely coming together. My goal is to have it done and ready for when I hit 1000 views on the blog, and to my contentment and surprise, I am climbing towards that goal a lot quicker than expected.
   When it comes to choosing your roommates, you either end up lucky like me (both times I had roommates that were awesome) or you might just unfortunately pick the short straw. But whether you've got it good, or a little bit tougher, make the best out of it and don't be afraid to get to know them. Spend time with them because not only will you be living with these people for a while, but they can become your closest friends. Keep your heart and spirit light, and don't be afraid to live in the moment because sometimes your roommates can be the perfect match you were waiting for.

 
K.P.H.

Saturday 1 March 2014

Literature: Having Fun isn't Hard...

   Good morning my dear readers. It is my roommate Riley that inspired this morning's post. Since the month of March will technically be the worst month for me when it comes to projects, work and things I'd like to accomplish, time management and determination are the only things that will save me. So as we sat in our living room yesterday and I was listing the things I wanted to do, and Riley pulled up an old song from the classic TV show: Arthur.
   The one thing that I had said that made Riley go find this song from an Arthur episode was that I wanted to go to the public library and get a card because I thought I could get more sources there instead of from my school's library. This is what he immediately brought up after that comment.
Arthur - Having Fun Isn't Hard, When You've Got A Library Card

   And as corny as it may sound, libraries are incredible places that offer you hours upon hours of fun. If you want a vacation but don't want to spend too much money, you can go to a library, get a card for FREE, and then travel to anywhere in the world. Of course you might not feel the heat directly on your skin, but where else other than Disney can you meet princesses, and magical creatures (ps. Disney's only muggle friendly). Plus, you don't have to deal with all the loud noises and children screaming all the time, because the environment is reserved for peace and quiet.
   If you are saving your pennies for an actual vacation, why don't you take some time off in between and go to the library for some instant teleportation. So get yourself a library card if you don't, and if you already have one, use it because you never know what world will be waiting just for you to discover.

K.P.H.