Welcome to my April 2023 Great and Powerful Blogging from A to Z Challenge!

I’ve revealed my theme (My life in first drafts), but this year, instead of pretending there were ever plans, I am unashamedly blogging my theme letters on the fly.  So, here goes nothing!

So, without further ado, V is for Veterinarian.

It will be short today – there isn’t much to say about this and I am feeling a little out of sorts today.

I wanted to be a vet when I was in grade school. I studied all the right classes when I got to high school and started Pre Vet Med when I got to university. I even spent a couple of days at a large animal clinic somewhere in a small town in the province – weird that I remember that, but little of the specifics around it.

Then, I realized sciences, and in particular, physics were hard and I moved on.

I am happier I think just having cats and not having to take care of all kinds of animals all the time. I think being a vet would be a very hard job sometimes.

Thanks for visiting my 2023 A to Z Challenge – Letter V.  You can find links to more blogs participating in this challenge at Letter A, A to Z 2023 Challenge Master List (Google Docs).

Guess I’m kind of a rebel too…although I do like using the “official” letters…

Welcome to my April 2023 Great and Powerful Blogging from A to Z Challenge!

I’ve revealed my theme (My life in first drafts), but this year, instead of pretending there were ever plans, I am unashamedly blogging my theme letters on the fly.  So, here goes nothing!

So, without further ado, U is for University.

I’ve been to a few universities. I kind of grew up in the University of Regina as my dad was a Composition and Theory professor and my mom taught flute at the Conservatory that was associated with the U of R.

Growing up I knew I would go to university after high school, and while I prepared myself for going into Pre-Vet medicine, as you may already know, that path did not last long. In fact, it lasted a year and a half, when two things happened: I started to play the bass, and physics. Physics happened. And I almost failed it. So, enough sciency stuff for me, and into music I went.

I graduated with my first degree in 1987, a Bachelor of Arts in Music. And off I went to Ottawa to study bass, and eventually to get into the University of Ottawa Master of Music program. Ottawa for three year, no degree to show for it, and back home.

After a bit of time off, I went back to the U of R, this time taking language classes, and eventually falling in love with Linguistics. Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics, Honours, came in 1994 and then the Masters degree in 1997. Then I just hung around at the U of R working as both an instructional designer in distance learning, and also as a sessional instructor in Linguistics.

At one point I thought I would get a Masters of Distance Education and took some classes from Athabasca University. But eventually I decided I wanted to try for a PhD in Linguistics and went to the University of Manitoba for a few years before I skipped out and we moved to Victoria for Kevin’s work.

I taught a class at Royal Roads and got a job at the University of Victoria as an instructional designer. And then moved to Camosun College, where I still am as an instructional designer.

I take classes from the University of Toronto in Creative Writing now, and I am also finishing up a Diploma program in Open Education from Kwantlen Polytechnic University – both these programs are, not surprisingly, online. I will actually finish the Diploma this summer, and will eventually look into applying for the Creative Writing certificate at U of T once I get around to it. I definitely have enough classes now…

Oh, and I have also taken photography classes at Camosun and U Vic over the years. More lately, the UVic classes have been in Zoom, which works well for me considering I am pretty lazy about wanting to go out at night in the dark and often rainy winter nights.

I think my days of formal education are behind me though. I will keep taking classes I am interesting in (that’s what Continuing Studies departments are for) and when courses are offered online, the sky is kind of the limit!

Thanks for visiting my 2023 A to Z Challenge – Letter U.  You can find links to more blogs participating in this challenge at Letter A, A to Z 2023 Challenge Master List (Google Docs).

Guess I’m kind of a rebel too…although I do like using the “official” letters…

Welcome to my April 2023 Great and Powerful Blogging from A to Z Challenge!

I’ve revealed my theme (My life in first drafts), but this year, instead of pretending there were ever plans, I am unashamedly blogging my theme letters on the fly.  So, here goes nothing!

So, without further ado, T is for Tai Chi.

I used to teach Tai Chi, which is something I keep forgetting since I have not taught or done any Tai Chi for almost 20 years I guess.  

I first heard of Tai Chi from my yoga instructor who also taught Tai Chi and thought it would be something I would enjoy. And I did. After taking classes for a couple years, my teacher asked if I would be interested in teaching Tai Chi myself as she found she was too busy for the number of people interested. I decided, what the heck?

So I began teaching. First through the Conservatory of Music, which is where my teacher also taught. I remember our classroom was in the tower. Literally. Up about a million flights of stairs (not so accessible for some people I know) to this big open room that had a 350 degree view. The tower room was supposed to be haunted, but I never sensed anything . Even on the one Hallowe’en night I taught. It was dark and stormy outside and I remember getting there early and wondering if anyone would show up, or if I would encounter spirits or perhaps an axe murdered braving the long climb. But students did come and we had a fun spooky class.

After a few years, the Conservatory decided that Tai Chi did not belong with them. I taught for the Seniors’ Education Centre for a few years, modifying the lessons for a less mobile group (and sadly, although not for the seniors, no longer in the fabulous tower). I also taught a few classes for the University, which was interesting as it was a fitness course and students needed to pass in order to get credit (didn”t have to make them do exams at least). Then the last classes I taught I taught in a downtown church. It was an ok space except the organist practiced during some of our classes.

A few days ago I pulled out the book that was the basis for the Tai Chi form I taught (there are several different forms – and if you didn’t know, Tai Chi is actually considered to be a martial art form too.). I think I am going to try and refresh my memory of the form as it is both relaxing and good for balance and muscle coordination. A nice way to start a day.

If you don’t know anything about Tai Chi, here are some resources you can check out!

Yang style Tai Chi (the one I taught)

The Health Benefits of Tai Chi

What is Tai Chi?

Thanks for visiting my 2023 A to Z Challenge – Letter T.  You can find links to more blogs participating in this challenge at Letter A, A to Z 2023 Challenge Master List (Google Docs).

Guess I’m kind of a rebel too…although I do like using the “official” letters…