I like competition and so I am catching up.

First I will clear the air with some things I don't like. I really don't like sociology textbooks. They're just... bad. And boring and mostly a massive waste of time. I have now read 330 pages of "Social Problems in a Diverse Society" and I kind of want to bore out my eyes with this pencil. Listen up kids: please, please, please take your 100 level requirements in your first year. Do not forget about them and be forced to care about this crap in your final semester of your last year. Trust me; it doesn't work out well.

I am also not much a fan of stupid boys with peter pan syndrome. Grow up folks. Seriously. Stop making the people I love sad.

I also disapprove of winter in spring. I am not a big winter person. I hate trudging through snow and I don't deal well with cold. I have no trouble with winter as long as I can stay indoors throughout, but this is rarely possible. Today however was acceptable as I spent the whole time snuggled inside, drinking coconut tea in my giant fuzzy sweats.


That out of the way, on to things I like. Things I like are plenty. I really like licorice. I haven't had licorice in ages, but I purchased some a few days ago on a whim and now I can't stop eating it. I was also excited to discover that it now comes in lots of flavours: grape, watermelon, lemon, green apple. Of course, classic strawberry will always have my heart.

I also really like volunteering. In addition to providing that fabulous warm and fuzzy feeling in my mushy gushy parts, I am lucky enough to volunteer with absolutely fascinating and totally hilarious seniors who are phenomenally entertaining. Little Esther just got back from a Caribbean cruise and so we were all regaled with stories of her poolside adventures. Mostly all she talked about is how fat people are and how amazed she is that they would ever wear bathing suits willingly. "Don't they ever look in a mirror before they leave their rooms? Honestly, do they think that's attractive?" And then there's Maria who is in her late 80s and can sleep anywhere. She likes to come to classes but doesn't actually participate in the art herself. We try to get her involved, but whenever we suggest she give it a shot she scrunches up her face and says in her very heavy accent (which none of us have managed to successfully identify) "Nnnnoooo. You do it!" And then there is Clarence. He's also in his late 80s and hilariously self-deprecating about everything he does, while at the same time producing amazing work. He announced this weekend that he will be away for two weeks in the summer on a canoe trip in the Yukon. He's almost 90!

I really like old pictures. Yesterday my Father, sisters and I went through the old photos my Dad brought back from my Grandmother's home after she died. Boxes of pictures of my father and our uncles ranging from his newborn pictures to fabulous shots of him in awesome 70s plaid trousers, and giant glasses, with bad hair. It was amazing and sad. I like pictures.

I also like my cat. It occurred to me that I have been her adoptive mom for two years now. She spent most of the afternoon snuggled on my lap, leaving when necessary to grab food and water, then returning to the nook of my arm. And purring and purring and purring...

And, fortuitously, I also quite like Sarah. And I love bad crime novels when in combination with Sarah. And so this summer will involve lots of Susan Evanovich and Kinsey Milhone adventures and likely a fair bit of penny candy and lots of mutual girlfriend support.