i went on a trip out east a few weekends ago with some friends, and one afternoon we went to peggy's cove. peggy's cove is a very scenic spot with a lighthouse and lots of grey rocks and crazily coloured sea-plantlife and is about a half an hour's drive from halifax. to the detriment of the cove's reputation i did not meet any girls named peggy but i did take a picture for some americans and did manage to almost kill myself on some slippery rocks (well, not quite, but it could easily have gone that way had i not been at the very peak of my rock balancing game that afternoon). on the lighthouse there was this old plaque and it said something like this " SAVOUR THE SEA FROM A DISTANCE - many a careless sightseer has been rewarded with death and serious harm by underestimating the power and danger of the sea." which, you know, seemed sort of harsh. not wanting death or serious harm, i (mostly) kept my distance from the water from that point on (i, of course, read this sign after i had about killed myself on the aforementioned slippery rocks).

the ocean has got to be my one of my favourite things. on that trip we also went to lawrencetown beach. not really to sightsee, though, as we went there at night. you could only see the dark outline of the huge waves as they came crashing in. and when we got close to the edge (every time i get near the ocean i find it impossible to not put my hand in and taste the salt in the water - it is a compulsion!) you could feel the power and turbulence in the waves transmitted through the air, and you could hear the movement of hundreds of medium sized rocks scraping against each other as the crashing surf jostled them about. it made you want to experience the power of the water, not just look or feel it from a distance. unfortunately it was the middle of the night in late november, and those factors combined with that whole 'the ocean is dangerous' thing sort of quashed that adverturesome notion before it could really get started. there is a part of it being dangerous that makes it so good, though i can't quite sort it out in my head enough to express it well.

today i went to the last undergraduate class of my computer engineering degree. it was about computer security and it was very boring (surprise!). i also handed in my last assignment (an admittedly dull 6600 word, 45 page report on this robotic arm that my lab partner and i have been fooling with for the last three months). after we were finished writing the report my plan was to study for my geology exam on wednesday (rocks for jocks it is not) but i couldn't concentrate. so i came home and slept. naps are wonderful. i wish i lived in that place where they have siestas every afternoon. where is that? spain? mexico? i wonder if i can start a grassroots movement for that sort of thing in ottawa. we're going to need a parade and placards and catchy slogans. if you have any ideas for those, let me know. but until my dream of the siestanization of our northern land comes to fruition, i take comfort in the fact that i am only six relatively troubling tests away from freedom. riotous celebration to follow. details to come. buy your sparklers now.