Census Forms = Supporting War?

The Big Man has spoken - "Complete your 2011 Census Form today. Your sharing of information is important to the world," he says on the radio - or something along those lines, anyway.

What he didn't tell you, though, is that the organization that is contracted to process the information from the forms is the largest weapon manufacturer in the world - Lockheed Martin.

The same people who make fighter planes, guns and bombs are being paid millions of dollars to process the information that we are expected to provide to the government.

Ironic, considering the weaponry Lockheed Martin fabricates is intended to kill and end human lives.

I opened the envelope in which the form came in, today, and thought to myself I would fill that out tonight. Upon hearing this news, however, I am no longer willing to participate in something that feeds the construction of warfare.

Here's where it gets tricky though.. By law, one must complete the shorter of the two forms.

By all means, I understand that the collection of this information is important, but knowing who is behind this entire operation is maddening and unfair to those who would choose peace over war any day.

Royal Bells Are Ringing..

I am honestly so sick of hearing about the wedding.

It's on the news, it's the talk of the town in my home, it's on magazine covers at the store..

Two people are getting married. Yes, I am happy for them, but I'm also happy for the thousands of other couples who get married every year, and is that on the news 24/7? No, it's not.

As a journalist, I understand.. Some people do care, and in order to get people to give you the time of day as a writer, you have to write about what people want to see.

I'm just shocked that this has been in the news for long, and continues to be so.. craved for.

What dress is she going to wear? Who's on the guest list? Will they cry?

You know, I have a question of my own - who cares?

The High Road

In two weeks from now, I will be packing up and leaving this place that I currently call home.

Though I don't know where I'm going yet, it will be my next home... the next step of my life.

I will be leaving behind a tiny room filled with good & bad memories, many students that I've made incredible friendships with, a job that has dramatically changed my life, 40 astonishing resident assistants, three incredible resident life coordinators, smiley front desk staff, and most importantly, an unhappy Ashlee.

I've made a list of things I want to accomplish this summer, beginning with a trip to Vancouver, British Columbia. My plan is simple - buy a plane ticket, get on the plane, go.

Life is short.

Gotta enjoy it while we can!

Perfection, in one afternoon.

This morning, I woke up feeling exhausted. Physically, emotionally and mentally exhausted.

My day started to shape up while I was doing residence tours, answering questions, and pumping people up for moving into residence.

Afterwards, I decided to take a nap, but soon realized that it was foolish to be wasting such a beautiful day away, laying in bed.

I got my butt up, threw on my flip flops, grabbed my sunglasses, found a book, and made my way out the door. I didn't know where I was going, but I felt like I was on some sort of mission.

I generally don't like being alone, but I felt like I knew where I was going, what I was going to do, and why.

I made my way out to my school's arboretum, where I found a sunlit bench. I sat down and braced myself. For what? I'm not sure. But I sat there for a few minutes, listening to the sounds of nature. The feeling of serenity that took over my body is unexplainable. I feel like someone grabbed me by the collar, and shook every negative thought out of my body.

It's difficult to explain, but I feel like I was awoken by something. Silly, I know. But it happened.

Anyways, the book that I'm currently reading is called Eat Pray Love. I began reading it in the summer, and for whatever reason, I couldn't get into it.

Today, though, I couldn't put the book down. I felt like I was relating to every single word that appeared before my eyes.

The sun rays shining, the wind blowing, the birds chirping, people laughing, and all of my thoughts at ease. Everything about this afternoon was perfect.

I need to do this more often.

Love.

In this moment I just feel so alive.

Things that inspire me...

- Acoustic guitars

- Travel

- Photographs

- Lyrics

- Stories

- Sunflowers

- Rivers, Lakes, Oceans

- Sunrises & Sunsets

- Love

- Laughter

- Time

- Intelligence

- Friends

- Quotes

- Abandonment

- Joy

- Children

- Mountains

- Literature

- Sadness

- Colour

- Large bridges

- Roller coasters

- Tattoos

- Sunday mornings

& more

:)

What does it mean to grow up?

I realized tonight, that I'm a point in my life where I feel I am grown up.

Standing at 5'4, with 20 years of life behind me, it is now that I am completely independent.

From this point on, I will no longer be "going home" to Ottawa, because home doesn't technically exist for me anymore. I don't need my mom and dad to cook me dinner, pay my bills, or hold my hand through a difficult situation. I don't need a familiar room in what I used to call my house.

I am what completely makes up my person, my identity, my life.

Though it's slightly scary, it's a good feeling.

I don't need anybody to rely on, and nobody needs to rely on me.

Because after all.. Me, myself and I, that's all I got in the end!