Three Weird Things

Weird Thing #1: It's snowing right now (big, fat flakes, the kind you should, by law, have to try to catch on your tongue) and the landscaping guy in my apartment complex is cutting the grass. Really. Cut grass smell and snow on the ground....very strange.

Weird Thing #2: Every day as I walk down the hill to the bus stop, I pass a yoga studio. That's certainly not weird (especially in Vancouver) but what is weird is the fact that the entire front wall is tinted glass that appears to have been put on backwards. That is, passersby (and there are many, this being a ground-level studio on a major road) can look directly in, while yoga-ers (?) can't seem to see out. This means every morning (and evening, depending on what time I come home) I see sweaty, partially-clad bodies in various contorted poses. Downward facing Dog, squats, lunges, pretzels, and even the relaxation pose of being spreadeagled on the floor -- usually with thighs open for all the pedestrians can see. Not surprisingly, there are very few fat people at this studio, but still, it's pretty gross. And yet, I cannot look away...

Weird Thing #3: It's not just that I haven't had time, I haven't had much desire to post on this blog lately. I can't really figure out why -- is it because I'm too busy, or because I feel like I'm in better contact with most of the people reading this blog? My extremly frequent posts from Japan were mostly due to homesickness, since writing made me feel connected to people that I otherwise wouldn't feel connected to, but now I'm farther away from some of those I love than ever. It might also have to do with mental stimulation -- I'm so very stimulated by my time at Regent (I'm an extrovert on crack when I'm there) that there's no time left over for the idle speculation which usually feeds my blogging. Still, it's pretty strange not to have any real desire to write. Maybe it'll return once the term's over.

Geeking Out with the Bard

Had dinner last night with my fabulous Kiwi friend Virginia, and afterwards she initiated me into one of the many secret clubs of Regent College. In the heart of suburban Vancouver about twelve of us gathered in basement room lit by candles, and in this clandestine congregation we partook in the ancient and strange rite of .... reading a Shakespearean play.

Taming of the Shrew, to be exact.

Have I mentioned yet that I love Regent?

Honestly, I know that spending Saturday night doing a read-around of Shakespeare is the geekiest thing ever, but I loved it. Also, for some bizarre reason, it was a western themed event, so lutes became banjos, cowboy hats and bandanas were donned without shame, the beer flowed freely, and an Italian comedy was changed into a good ol' southern romance (complete with accents, some absolutely Hi-larious). It was so much fun.