A winter wonderland.

No matter how cold or snowy it is, I love going outside. This weekend was one of my favourites so far in Edmonton. We didn't do anything extravagant but it was so much fun.
First we went for a walk in a near-by park and this happened:

I got really close to this chickadee to take these pictures, but then there was a lot of standing like this:

                   
                   

BUT THEN:

To say the least I was very excited that the chickadee finally landed in my hand. It was a pretty wonderful moment. 

Then there was a day of skating. Can't say I enjoyed it THAT much. This is because I'm not the strongest skater so the whole time I was just terrified of falling down. Still it was a nice day to spend an evening. 

My boyfriend is clearly more fabulous than I am. 

Today we leave to Calgary to see friends as well as go skiing! I am very excited. I love skiing. I am much better at skiing than I am at skating. 

Why?? Why did this have to happen???

So I am not sure whether it is the large change in temperature that my body was just not able to get accustomed to, or the soccer game I played yesterday (stupid exercise!); but I have managed to get sick.
And this isn't the winter sniffles with occasional coughing. No. My body hurts, my joints ache and every time I cough I think my rib cage is going to break. To add, I also have an ongoing headache.

But still I avoid taking tylenol and ibuprofen with any sort of fancy name (i.e advil). I have tried to stick it out with garlic tablets, vitamin C and tea. Yes, yes, this is probably stupid of me, but I just really want to avoid taking pills for now.

This is also a very inconvenient time to get sick. Not only am I on a "vacation"/ holiday getaway as I like to think of it, in Alberta; but I am also supposed to go skiing in the mountains this weekend.

Stupid cold! I don't even know why!!! I have been so good with bundling up, and wearing several pairs of tights under my pants etc.

Well at least I have my playstation here and I borrowed a bagillion games from my boyfriends friend. First up Last of Us, or perhaps Uncharted 2. Hmm so many choices!!

Hopefully things will get better soon.

Patience is a virtue

If anyone out there would like to be a researcher, the thing you should know: there is no place to be shy. You must always be prepared to talk with you co-researchers, interested colleagues, supervisor, potential networks and of course the public. Just 2 weeks ago I had to present my research, so far, to a class of fellow undergraduate students, graduate students, committee members and supervisor (who actually wasn't able to show). I practiced the ENTIRE week; this is no exaggeration people. I was in a room with a projector every single day that week, including the Friday of my presentation day, just practising. I harassed my friends and lab members to come and listen to me several times to make sure my presentation was perfect. In the end I think it went really well! I was happy with the final presentation and I nailed the question period.

After the seminar I was fini for the year. I had a week to sit and wait until I get to go on a plane and visit my boyfriend for 3 weeks in Alberta, Canada. Now I did do work for that week, research never rests. I also had several performances to part take in:

Ballerina living her dream, doing a piece from the Nutcracker

Singing my heart out. If you'd like to check out my rendition of "Forget you" by CeeLo you can on mu YouTube channel (I hope to post one that is better quality soon!):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMhixlsGUrs

After a 5 hour wait in the airport, a 30 minute delay and a 4 hour flight, I finally landed in Alberta. Let me just say it is FREEZING. I went from -2/0 to -24 degree Celsius!

I just spent the entire day alone (my boyfriend works 8-5), so it gets pretty boring. But I am sure I will have some adventures to share soon. 

Oh also because I now have no more frog photos here a picture of me using the "Frog" effect, see what I did there. 

Happy Holidays!