Sorry for the lack of blogs lately, but until June I have very limited access to the internet – I can’t get a signal in my room, and I can only get a weak or intermittent signal in the common room. Of course, when I’m in my room I can think of a million things I want to read about, look up, etc. on the internet, but once I am actually online, I can’t remember anything! So, this is going to be a miscellaneous update on what I’ve been up to…

First of all, I have to comment on how amazing the weather has been lately – usually it snows at least once during April in Canada (according to some weather guy I heard), although most people seem to forget this year to year and thus act SHOCKED when it does. I don’t think it has snowed this April, but there are still 10 days left and anything can happen. Anyway, even if it isn’t snowing, I think the normal temperature for this time of year is 12-15 degrees celsius, but for the last few days it has gone up to 18-22 degrees! And it has been beautiful and sunny! Hello blue sky, I haven’t seen you in awhile! So, I’m enjoying the weather by getting out as much as I can (and totally overloading on my vitamin D after the dark winter) and by writing this blog as I sit and look at the lovely blue sky and the big fat pine trees…

I don’t know if people in other places do this (I think they don’t, because it is crazy, but correct me if I’m wrong), but in Canada, as soon as there is more than the usual amount of sun, people act like it’s the middle of summer! Last week and the week before we had some sunny days, but there was still a WINDCHILL and you still needed a winter jacket (not to mention closed toed shoes) to be comfortable outside. The temperature was not that far above freezing… However, inevitably you see people all decked out like it is JULY! I’m talking about flip flops, tank tops, short skirts, shorts, etc. When it is STILL WINTER! Now, I understand being excited about impending spring, but realistically these people cannot be warm wearing this stuff outside unless they are running a marathon. So, you see these people shivering, looking very uncomfortable, walking by other people who are wearing winter coats, some even wearing scarves and hats! It’s very funny to observe. This goes on throughout April and May and makes for some huge extremes in how the public is dressed on any given day. And yes, I have been guilty of this myself, but I can still enjoy the humour…

Last Wednesday I had a paper due for General Chemistry, for which my topic was the process for making ghee and its health benefits, focusing on as much of the chemistry as I could wrap my head around at this point. Originally, I had chosen a topic from a list the professor provided, but then I had the idea to do it on ghee (including creating a photo documentation of me making ghee and a subsequent sample to hand in!). How cool is it that I get to write papers on such interesting topics?

On Monday I had my General Chemistry exam, which went very well for me. I’m hoping the next class I have (Organic Chemistry) is at least a bit more challenging, but I guess I should be grateful that I am doing so well. I studied way too much, more to try to prepare myself for September (when things get crazy) rather than for this particular exam.

I have had some problems in the last year or two with my knee and feet and lately I have been worried about this a bit more. It started back in 2004 with ITB pain, but then I also developed some instep pain, only when I ran. I had some muscle imbalances which have been improved a lot, but my right arch is also more fallen than my left, which is the cause of the instep and right knee pain. I try to run at least twice per week, but I usually leave a day in between. This week I ran 2 days in a row, as well as walked a lot, and by the end of the second day my foot was swollen and sore. There has been a thread about chiropractic care and other types of body work that I have been reading – I did see a chiropractor late last year who said I didn’t need chiropractic adjustments (according to her, my issue is not “structural”) but did order me some orthotics that have helped a lot. I try to wear them as much as possible, but running is still hard on my feet. I’m wondering if there is more I can be doing to solve this issue, as I don’t want to have permanent damage to my arches for the rest of my life.

I need to go in to see an intern at the clinic here so I can get some massage and see what they think about my feet/knees situation. I only have to pay $8.50 (Canadian) per visit! The Chiropractic College is pretty close to here too, so maybe I can scoot up there for a cheap chiropractic consultation too. I’m also going to look into Rolfing and the Hellerwork, both of which I am willing to pay for if they will help me, but other ideas are welcome!