Allergies - ick---CUBA!!!

When I was a child in Jamaica, I didn't know what allergies really were. I thought there was someone's throat closing up because they couldn't eat peanuts. Then I moved to Canada and one year when the weather changed my eyes started watering and getting itchy, my sinuses were screaming bloody murder, I couldn't breath and my throat was scratchy. Freaked out, went to the doctor and he told me, "well, Congratulations. You have seasonal allergies." 

WHAT???

I sat there staring at him as if he'd just asked me to elope and have three point five babies. I mean shit, I spent 13 years of my life and never had to worry about this crap and then WHAM? How is that fair? 

Now at 28, I'm still getting my ass kicked. Am on the bus blowing my nose trying to clear it and people looking at me like I just sprouted horns.  Ick. I wonder what it's going to be like when I go to Cuba?? Oh and by the way, 10 days and counting!!!

I've started packing--well I took out most of the stuff that I need to carry. My school has given me lists after lists of things to pack. I still have to get my booster for the hepititis A and B shots I got a week or so ago. Still scared by that by the way. I hate needles.  But it has to be done. Plus all my exams--yes party people I am back in school...ugh....exams are to be done early.

Tomorrow, during our final orientation/spanish class, we're having a pot luck so I have to do all the stuff I have to do today, then go home and bake a cake...I could have picked something simplier...but noooo I'm me and I have to do something next to impossible. But it is for good people so I don't mind. The strange thing about the group I am going with, they are the funniest, down to earth people ever! It should be interesting--because I don't consider myself a down to earth person. I mean I am open-minded (I've been told) and sometimes I can be too serious so I'm hoping this trip will help me fix that about myself. I just can't wait to see the people and feel the sun and see the sunset in a different part of the world.   I said this to a 'friend' once and she wants to know what was so special about seeing the sunset in a different country. She said "once you've seen one you've seen them all." 

 The difference, is that no two sunsets are alike.  Think about it. When you're in Canada the sunset by splashing different colour across the sky. When I'm in Jamaica, the sunset and turn the sky a nice pinkish, orange-ie red. In the US, the sun just goes away, covered by clouds--the sun goes away without so much as a whimper. But there is something so different, so...I don't know how to explain it. I think it's the writer in me that just wants to see this.

Anyways, I am going to back to work. I have to go face my day...which doesn't really start until I leave work today. I still have to get some passport pictures taken and after that I think I'm going to use the hour wait to get the braids for my hair...crap! I knew I forgot something....Must make appointment to get my hair done next week...that's important no?

*hugs*
Kato

Voyando a Cuba!!!

I know, I know, for years now I've been harping about how I'm going to Cuba but never end up going. But this time it seems I am really going to Cuba! My school has this program called A Leadership Experience and I applied for one and got into the Cuba one. It's a premaculture, kind of farming vacation thing but who cares? I'M GOING TO CUBA! I am leaving at the end of April and coming back at some point in May which is EPIC to me because it's the kind of trip I've always wanted to take.  My school is in partnership of sorts with The Urban Farmer and we're going to head down to Cuba and do a little good in the world. Everything is being covered by the school and they recommend we get some shots, if we're not fully immunized that kind of thing. You wouldn't believe the hassle to find a travel clinic in Toronto that wont rip you off. I mean damn, but it's a small price to pay right? And you guys know how much I hate needles.  I finally have an appointment to go see a doctor to get my shots, if I need any. I know I for sure need to get a tetanus shot.

Before the injections, I had to renew my passport even though it wasn't expired. It wouldn't expire until three weeks after I return to Canada, but they insisted on me getting a new one. This is a good idea. Give yourself a good six weeks on the passport before you go travelling. If you're just heading across the border to party then it shouldn't matter as long as your passport is valid, but to really far off countries, give yourself a window there.

Another thing all travellers should do is register that they are leaving the country with the Canadian government. I know, you might say you don't want the government keeping track on you but remember that bombing in Pakistan a few years ago at a hotel? There were Canadians there and because they registered with the Canadian government, the government was able to come in like an hour later to rescue them. I'm not saying there will be a bombing where you're going but in today's world anything can happen. Find out from your travel place about this and do it. Here's a link to the website with more information.

Anyways, so I have so much to do before I go. Packing is the least of my troubles. I have to do exams early, plus the other exams, packing, the medical clinic thing, get my hair done, go shopping for some stuff and hopefully I won't be too exhausted to make the plane lol.  But can you believe I'm going to Cuba???

Hugs,
Kato

2011 is over and 2012 has begun

Wow, can you believe this? 2011 left us like fifteen days ago in one big annoying blurr and then what? I was stuck in my job still trying to find my way, getting my own place and getting older. Can you hear that infernal clock just ticking away?

Anyways, even though I said I wasn't going back to school, I didn't have a choice. I got tired of being angry all the time and depressed and just plain pissed the hell off so I signed up for school.  I thought--this is going to be easier. The process would be better because I am not on OSAP. Boy was I wrong.

First I thought I got to pick my classes or at least what times they are..nooooo. I was so wrong. They gave me a block of courses and say you HAVE to take these then a few electives for me to pick one. The messed up part of that is the electives are all at the same damn inconvenient time in the day where I can't go to work before or after it. So I moved on from that irritation. Then I noticed I had credits from the same school (I started college there a few years ago but didn't finish because half way through the program I realise...shit, this isn't what I want to do with my life!) and stopped. So I had those credits on my transcript with them. I figured this should be easy, all I have to do is tell them about it, they take me out of the elective, give me another course from second semester and BAM issue fixed, right?

Wrong.

The I was told I was supposed to be taking an English class that was mandatory and should have bene in my block and I didn't have it.  So I did the regular thing. I went to the registrar to help me with these isses. They sent me down to records. Records didn't do what I wanted so they sent me back to the registrar who sent me back to records who sent me back to the registrar who finally admitted they had no earthly clue what the hell I was talking about.  I got so damn mad because each time you go to these people you have to join a long ass line and each time you wait about forty five minutes for them to send you to someone else.  I stood at the counter with my head pressed against it with some strange guy patting my shoulder telling me it will be alright and that he knew what I was going through.

Finally I was so mad, I sent my program head an email saying NO I will not join anymore lines. NO I will not go to records. NO I will not go to the registrar's office and NO I will not go to anyone else, YOU help me! She told me to come see her the next morning at 9:30AM. My classes start at 12:30PM. What in the hell am I going to school that early for? Still, I hauled myself out of bed, faced a blizzard and got there a quarter after eight. I got a number and waited. This woman did not show up until after 10AM and my anger was just stewing.

Finaly I got to see her about 10:30am and she looked at my file. She couldn't understand why they hadn't sent me to her before. Finally she looked through every thing and started crossing off courses off my route. (your route is something they created so you know precisely what courses to take to graduate and when to take them). Then she finally figured it out and was trying to add me into another course I would eventually have to take anyway.

The computer refuse to give her access to add me.

She gave me a note so I could bypass the lines in the English department and sent me along.  I finally found this damn room in the middle of hades and then they tell me, oh now, you have to go to L2-14!!! What the fuck!!?? Are you joking!

I bit my tongue, walked back all the way from where I was, climbed up and found the room. FINALLY they got me into the right damn class. And that was the first damn week of school.

So I am losing weight and I started ZUMBA! Check out my Taking back Kay Blog by clicking here.

OPERATION DREAM BOX: Mission Two - Write a Paranormal Romance!

Ok, this is going to take me way out of my league. I've written a short paranormal romance...and its a two book set titled Shadowcat and it is now available at Devine Destinies LLC. But it's scale back comparing to what I want to do. What I want to write is mammoth! It's HUGE! I want it to me dark, sexy, heart-wrenching and happy!  I am currently doing all the research on it!

Hugs,
Kato

Operation Dream Box: Mission One Complete!

When I started the DREAM BOX it was to make sure that I do things that I wanted to do in my life. It was to feel as if I was doing something other than working myself into the ground with two jobs. It was to make sure that I make time for me and do things that will relax me, make me smile, make me a better person and contribute to my life. What is the DREAM BOX? Simple, I had an old cookie tin, those delicious butter cookie were finished so I decided to recycle the tin because it’s blue (my favorite colour) and decorated. Anyways, I ripped papers up in different sizes, write a dream on each, folded it and chucked the pieces into the box. Then, I closed my eyes, reached in, rummaged around and pulled out two. The first one was “read a book” and the second was “sit in a diner/café and write. So far, I haven’t had a chance to do the second but the first one I did and quite enjoyed.


Ok, so first I went through my father’s books and found nothing. I couldn’t go through my uber amount of books because I’ve read them all, each about five to ten times. So I needed something new. Anyways, like I was saying. I went through my father’s books, found nothing of interest. Well there were tons of great books but I just wasn’t feeling any of them. So I went over to my mother’s books. There I found “Famous Last Words” by Timothy Findley.

At first, I thought, here we go, I’m going to be bored to tears because the cover is this pale, grey, boring thing but once I read the back of the book, the cover, I was so happy to read it.

The book is about a man name Hugh Selwyn Mauberley and it’s a Fictional account of the final days of the Second World War and Hugh Selwyn, about to be frozen to death, hurriedly scrawled his story on the walls and ceiling of a grand hotel ‘prison’ he was trapped in. I was speechless. The book started out a little slow but man did it pick up like three pages in! I was on the edge of my seat with love, laughter, sadness, death, murder, intrigue, spy vs spy. Trust me, Mr. Findley was the master! That is all I have to say without giving it away. But the story about a man afraid of commitment, being drawn into a world he knows nothing about simply because he craves to write and simply because he trusts too easily was just….*breathes* it was well written, well put together.

The language was poignant, in your face even for his time. It is vividly modern for something written so long ago. I was very very surprised.

So that dream has been fulfilled. I am pleased I picked up “Famous Last Words” Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book.

“All I have written here, is the truth. Except the lies.”

“It seems to me, Mr. Mauberley, this world is nothing more than someone’s revenge. We are led into the light and shown much marvels as one cannot tell. And then they turn out all the lights and hit you with a baseball bat.”


“And yet I turned in my chair and watched the young man going away. And I went away with him—in my mind. And knelt before his strength. And his victory.”

“Bedaux: And let us pretend—again for the sake of argument—that you vote for the Democratic Party.

Mauberley: You go too far!” (That last one are two people speaking)



Read it, you wont be disappointed.

Hugs,
Kato

Well, the Year is ALMOST over...

So, the year is almost over and I have no idea what I've done with the months after graduation, or actually finishing University.  I mean, I have a job--well technically I have two right now. I am working a seasonal one at nights to get some money to save for emergency and my new place...I haven't moved out yet but it is on the shortlist of things I have to do. 

My boss, before he hired my for my day job, he said to me "I've seen your resume. I know you have bigger plans and I know you won't be here forever."  He is right you know--I have WAY bigger plans. But at the moment, I feel like I'm being tugged into a million different directions.  So I am working the two jobs, trying to save and all that but things aren't going as planned. But those of you who know me, when was the last time things went as planned, really?

Ok, so work is there. I am missing the National Writer's Month (Nanowrimo) because with both jobs, I am barely sleeping as is. I have edits coming in, edits going out, stories to write and a life to live...*rips hair out* It's hard but it's a stepping stone. 

My plans for the next few months are simple--I want to go away for new years with the best friend, start saving for life and to get my own place.  Getting my own place is tops on that list because let's face it, it is that time in a person's life when she, namely me, has to have my own little hole to crawl in when I don't wanna talk to people.  Other than all that, I am fine. I am healthy, still trying to go teach abroad but so far Korea is a no go.  Something about not starting my education in Canada in grade seven...*shakes head*  I had two other interviews for there recently...one sent me all this paperwork and when I started, they sent me an email saying the same old--the grade seven thing.  So now I don't know if i want to continue the process with the other and simply quit and focus on another country. South Korea would have been better for me because I have friends there and I wouldn't be completely alone there. But I guess I have to go out on my own so I might as well keep throwing my line out there...sooner or later I am bound to catch something, right?                 right???


Anyways, I should probably get on a bus to work now--Don't want to be late lol...right after I grab myself a can of energy drink...must              stay              awake.....must......

Hugs,
Kato

Some of My Favorite Movie Quotes

"Kill them all and let fate sort them out." -Wesley "WANTED"

"What the fuck have you done lately?" - Wesley "WANTED"

"And after all that, I still look good!" - "Cats and Dogs: Revenge of Kittie Galore"

"Live for nothing or die for something-your call." - John Rambo "Rambo 5"


"War is in your blood--and when pushed, killing is as easy as breathing." - John Rambo "Rambo 5"

"Yeah, and if she's lucky, maybe you'll get hit by a truck." Frank "The Transporter"

"He's leaked lubricant all over my foot! Hmmph!" - Ironhide "Transformers"

"Um, yeah...Satan's Camarao? It's stalking me!" - Sam Witwicky. "Transformers"

"Wow...this is garbage! You actually like this?" -Gru "Despicable Me!"

"That book was accidentally destroyed, maliciously." - Gru "Despicable Me!"

"Life is simple. You make choices and you don't look back." - Han "Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift"

"Who you choose to be around you, lets us know who you are." - Han "Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift"

"They say most of your brain shuts down during cryo-sleep. All but the primitive side, the animal side. No wonder I'm still awake." - Riddick "Pitch Black"

"Where the hell is your God now?" -Riddick "Pitch Black"

"You keep what you kill." -Riddick "Chronicles of Riddick"

"Sister, they don't know what to do with just one of me." - Riddick "Chronicles of Riddick"

"There is no future, until we settle our past." Shirah "Chronicles of Riddick"

"You ever watch lions at the zoo? You can always tell which ones were captured in the wild by the look in their eyes. The wild cat. She remembers running across the plain, the thrill of the hunt. Four hundred pounds of killing fury, locked in a box. But after a while, their eyes start to glaze over, and you can tell their soul has died. The same thing happens to a man. Leavenworth Federal Penetentiary is no joke. They'll take a wild man like you and throw him in solitary just for the fun of it. No more mountains to board, no more oceans to surf. Just a 6-by-8 cell with no window and only a bucket to shit in. You can avoid all of that by doing me this small favor." - Gibbons "xXx"

"Yeah, yeah. These monkeys are following me because I just took this car. Obviously the car doesn't belong to me, it's not my style. It belongs to Dick. Dick Hotchkiss, a California state senator. You remember Dick? He's the guy who tried to ban rap music because he feels that the lyrics promote violence. It's music, Dick! He's also the guy who wants to pull every video game off every shop in the country, because he feels that the video games diminishing intelligence of our youth. Oh, come on, Dick. It's only education we got. Dick, you're a bad man. You know what we do to bad men. We punish them. Dick, you've just entered The Xander Zone." -Xander Cage "xXx"

"I've been risking my life for a lot of stupid reasons. This is the first one that makes sense to me." - Xander Cage "xXx"


"Darius Stone: The fate of the free world in the hands of a bunch of hustlers and thieves."
"Agent Kyle Steele: Why should tonight be any different?"
               "xXx - State of the Union"

"Welcome to the first tank-jackin in history!" - Darius Stone "xXx - State of the Union"

"If it got wheels, we can jack it." -Zeke "xXx - State of the Union"

"God's gonna sit this one out." -Frank Castle "The Punisher"

"You're one dumb son-of-a-bitch. Bringing a knife to a gunfight." -Harry Heck "The Punisher"

"I leave this as a declaration of intent, so no one will be confused. One: "Si vis pacem, para bellum." Latin. Boot Camp Sergeant made us recite it like a prayer. "Si vis pacem, para bellum - If you want peace, prepare for war." [cut to later, as Frank prepares his weapons for the final attack on Saint's gang] Two: Frank Castle is dead. He died with his family. Three: in certain extreme situations, the law is inadequate. In order to shame its inadequacy, it is necessary to act outside the law. To pursue... natural justice. This is not vengeance. Revenge is not a valid motive, it's an emotional response. No, not vengeance. Punishment." - The Punisher "The Punisher"


"Upset? Is that the word? I used to get upset. When I got a flat tire, when a plane was delayed. I used to get upset when the Yankees won the series. So if that's what upset means, what am I feeling now? If you know the word, tell me because I don't." - Frank Castle "The Punisher"

"I'm in a hostile environment. I'm totally unprepared. And I'm surrounded by a bunch of guys who probably want to kick my ass... it's like being back in high school." - Johnny Cage "Mortal Kombat"

"We got a guy with things comin' out of his hands, we got another guy who freezes stuff, and then there's a man, who as far as I can tell, is made out of electricity. I mean, how did he disappear like that? What is goin' on here? WHO IS THIS GUY?" Johnny Cage "Mortal Kombat"

"All these souls and you don't have one of your own. I pity you sorcerer." - Liu Kang "Mortal Kombat"

"Spare him, my lord Rayden, American life has enfeebled his mind. Too much television." - Grandfather "Mortal Kombat"


"Communism died, but what came in its place? A load of greed. A life spent longing for things you don't need!" - Aunt "Yes"

"I'm walkin here! I'm walkin here!" -Ratso Rizzo "Midnight Cowboy"

"One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got into my pajamas, I don't know." -Captain Geophery T. Spaulding "Animal Crackers"

"I'll get you my pretty. And your little dog too." - Wicked Witch of the West "The Wizard of Oz."

"Rosebud." -Charlse Foster Kane "Citizen Kane"

"I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take this any more." -Howeard Beale "Network"



**Bold quotes are my absolute faves!**