I'm cheaping out, but with Hallowe'en almost upon us (yes, it has an apostrophe, damn it), I figure I can't gripe about this enough. I don't know when I became such a snob, but I presume it's been a long time coming. As previously posted in my livejournal: my complaint about spellings.

I spell Hallowe'en with that little do-hicky called an apostrophe. That was how they taught me to spell it in school. Like co-operate with an hyphen. Two things that do not happen in regular English spelling anymore.

WHY NOT?

Hallowe'en - a contraction of (All) Hallow Even(ing).
Co-operate without the hyphen should be pronounced COOP (like chickens) and that is still how my brain reads it.

Who told people to stop doing it? Was it just collective laziness on the part of spellers? Is there a Language Institute (like the org that sets the colour trend standards three years in advance) that makes language changes and subtly folds them into our usage without our knowing?

Witchology.com (who comes up with names like that?), which was the first hit when I googled "hallowe'en spelling" says the UK spelling uses the apostrophe, so my question is... is the U next? Already I see my friends dropping it in favour (note the U, people) of the American spelling.

STOP THE MADNESS ! Please, my Canadian friends, do not give in to the lazy spellings dictated by a angry Dictionarian (Webster).

But I digress. I blame the insidiousness of shlock style-guides telling people how to write.

I was asked why I use the British S over the American Z in words like 'organise' and my answer was really quite simple: "The sound S makes when placed alone between two vowels is usually Z-like. I figure, if that's the case, I'll go with the version used by the people spelling in English longer."

Yes. I think way too much about these things.

The juggling act has begun. In the past, it was full-time school and a part-time job; now it's a full-time job and part-time school. The other main difference is that I'm studying from home, which is a challenge to both my motivation and time management. As a slacker with a fluid sense of time, this is really hard. I think I'll get the swing of things - I'll have to - but until then, the balancing act and self-bribery required to get things done is a trick. I've got faith in myself, I know I'll pull it off, but this semester might be a bit harder than the others because I don't, as of yet, know what to expect.

The box of supplies (reading materials, activities, etc.), which they call a 'package' was as large as the bankers' boxes I shipped my books in, though not quite as heavy. Each module has a fat binder filled with readings and exercises, essentially, the 'course' itself, plus books and, in this case, a DVD. There is a tutorial that I must do and at the end of it all, due at the start of January, there is a not-insubstantial essay for marks. I haven't written an academic essay in a few years and they have a very specific set of rules governing how sources are to be cited. Thankfully, I really enjoy footnotes. There were so many materials, though, that it was imperative that I build my last piece of furniture - the second of my 6' bookcases.

Additionally, I've picked up a semi-regular freelance gig with What's Up Yukon, which while not paying a ton, certainly will help put groceries in my refridgerator. The piece I've just been offered is a feature on the next three artists coming up in the Gallery. I will try my hardest to keep any bias out of it. Heh. I guess that says something for the editor's impression of the first short piece I submitted. Go me !

I just have to remember what my real purpose here in the Yukon is. I've got an excelent job and that is why I'm here. I'm one person and must not bite off more than I can chew, even if my mouth is big. I have created for myself a clear timeline for priorities based on work and school and I will work on my self-discipline to adhere to it. People have expectations of me, and I have expectations of me, and I really don't want to muck this up. I've got a long history of dashing my own personal expectations, while some how managing to salvage most of those set by others. Now, I have to stay serious and get what I need to get done so I can move on in life. I hope I can do it !

I've had a particularly gruelling week, though today is currently quite mellow. It has involved a conference, several varied tours, spending a lot of time driving people (for the conference) back and forth, shmoozing, eating, planning tours, playing phonetag, writing an article, and unfortunately arguing with my boss. Not so cool with that last one. But it's all added up to one heck of a week.

Twice now, I've tried to cook squash. Bake. Whatever. First it was an acorn squash, which took forever and totally wasn't worth the labour involved and the second was a spaghetti squash, which I tried to bake last night. When I cut it open, I was horrified to discover that part of its innards were rotten. Gross. And the part that was good, wasn't particularly tasty. Not with salt, not with butter. I give up. If it isn't pumpkin, I don't want to bother. And if it is pumpkin, I'll take it IN things, thanks.

I was supposed to work this weekend, but my boss decided that he would work and I would take the three days off (long weekend for Thanksgiving) and rest up because "I look like I need it." Jerk. Anyway, I contemplated going to Anchorage with my friend Hoshq, but that's a lot of driving (like 22 hours or something) for just three days off. It would be a stunning drive, I'm sure, but would it be worth it? Well, maybe it would, but I'm not going to find out, because I don't think I'm up for that kind of driving. I'd consider driving up to Carmacks or Faro... those could be daytrips, but not all the way to Anchorage.

Anyway, tonight, Owen and a I are having dinner at Hoshq's cabin. Potluck style. It should be fun and rustic and about as close to a Thanksgiving dinner as I'm going to come this year. I shall sorely miss my mother's awesome cranberry sauce and crabapples, and the turkey, but since no one is actually generous enough in this town to invite us outsiders into their homes for such holidays, dinner tonight will have to do. I'm planning on bringing pumpkin pie. :)

And, finally, in still more utterly unrelated news, I woke up this morning to the odour of Twee lying on the pillow next to mine, stinking of poo because he had a turd stuck in his fur. And then, seconds later, Choco arrived and after a few sniffs, tried to bury Twee's bum. Needless to say, I woke up, chucked Mr. Poopypants off the bed and then chased him with a kleenex until I rid him of said clingon. YUCK.