Dear FleurCup,

You better make me fall in love with you, ’cause I only got 2 more cycles before Africa.

Love,
Christy

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In April, I posted an entry about the Diva Cup…

Well, it turned out that it’s not the right fit for my cervix, since the Diva was too long. So I just ordered the FleurCup, which is another silicone menstrual cup from France. And, best of all I could pick a colour! I chose green. So pwetty! Let’s see how that goes.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. — Mark Twain

That’s exactly what I’ll be doing, beginning on July 3, 2011: traveling across Southern/Eastern Africa and across Asia. And, I’ll be blogging all about it in my new blog: deafbackpackers.ca

I’ll try to keep this site updated, but if you really want to know what’s up with me, go to my traveling site.

I’m leaving for Africa in less than 3 months and I have been putting off of trying to use the Diva Cup (a menstrual cup that is made out of silicone). I really need to get the hang of wearing it before my trip, so that I don’t have to add any more bulk to my backpack (and of course, to be more green). I swore to myself I will NOT buy any more pads and tampons- and I only have 4 pads and 3 tampons left and it does put a pressure on me to fully use the Diva Cup when all I want to do is just to be lazy and just put a pad on: no thinking involved!

I’m still learning and boy, is it a learning curve. If any of you have any tips or suggestions, please feel free to let me know!

Ok, I have been living in the Greater Toronto Area for quite a few years now. I used to live on the East side, in Scarborough (2000-2003) and have been living on the West side, in Mississauga for nearly two years now. I have also been working downtown in the heart of the St. Lawrence Market for over a year. I have to admit that I really do not know the city as well as I’d like to. With this in mind, I decided to make it my mission to truly explore the city and came across this 100 “Things To Do in Toronto” Bucket List.

I have made it my mission to try to do as many as I can before I leave for my trip in July 2011 and for future trips when I come back. Let’s see how much I can achieve!

THE BUCKET LIST

Ok. I did something embarrassing just now.

I had 2 hours of prep time/break before my next class at 3pm today. I am so tired and I have been surfing the internet for about an hour, looking at different ASL vlogs for my next class. Then, I walked into the ladies’ bathroom and bumped into 3 of my female students. After 5 minutes of chitchat, one of the girls pointed out at my foot.

I had one white shoe and one black shoe.

(I bought two pairs of ballet flats, one in white and one in black. An essential staple to keep at work during the winter season when I wear winter boots on my way to work).

Feeling really idiotic right now. Niiice.

Inspired by Shannon at Lovelyish:

10) Orange Juice. Ever since I quit drinking pop, I have been chugging down these things like crazy, especially in the mornings. They really perk you right up!

9) Oreo & Dilly. Seriously, they’re the lights of my life even though they may annoy and piss the heck outta me from time to time. Well, maybe every day. LOL.

8) Chipotle. Seriously the best invention evar. Cilantro, lime and salt in the rice… oh yes!

7) Fleece. I adore everything fleece and own nearly everything fleece. I got sheets, blanket, PJ bottoms, zip-up sweater… need I say more?

6) House, M.D. Many thanks to my roommate, Jessica because she has all 6 seasons on DVD and I’m currently on Season 3. He’s a genius, and an asshole. Just the way I like him.

5) The Body Shop’s Body Butter. It’s simply amazing. It works wonders on your dry skin, especially during the winter. My favourites are Shea and Olive!

4) Chocolate. I seriously have to have a few pieces of chocolate every.single.day. I become bitchy if I go through a day without it. Seriously. Any chocolate will do. But I prefer the simple solid kinds like Hershey’s Kisses, Dove’s, Bliss, etc.

3) Off the Map. It’s this new show that is just SOOO good. I’m really digging this new show. I normally am not into doctor-related shows, but this show has a certain twist to it. Adventure and the unknown definitely appeals to me!

2) Facebook. I am ashamed to say that I’m utterly addicted to Facebook and I cannot even explain why. I think I check it 5 times a day. I seriously have to go through a Facebook Cleanse sometime soon??

1) Blackberry Curve 8520. I feel naked without it. Seriously, it’s my lifeline.

That’s it. Now, what are yours?!?

**DISCLAIMER **
This is MY blog. Please respect to what I have to say, and if you do not agree with me, that is fine. I am not asking you to agree with me. I also want to clarify that it is not my intention to insult or criticize you. I am just saying what I believe in. So, please respect me. It is ok to disagree but it is NOT OK to deride or criticize others. This includes me and whoever responds to this blog. Thank you.

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I have always either agreed or disagreed with certain parts of religion. I have never felt that I fit in ONE certain set of religion. I used to call it “No-Name Religion” because I just agreed with different parts of religion, whether it be Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, and so on. I just couldn’t abide by just one religion. I have always wondered what the name of my religion really is, until I came across this Belief-O-Matic test and found the name of my religion. I am a Unitarian Universalism which pretty much explains ME.

Here are my results:

1. Unitarian Universalism (100%)
2. Mahayana Buddhism (96%)
3. Neo-Pagan (93%)
4. Liberal Quakers (92%)
5. Theravada Buddhism (90%)
6. New Age (86%)
…
25. Jehovah’s Witness (19%)
26. Eastern Orthodox (17%)
27. Roman Catholic (17%)

Interesting. Along with being an Unitarian Universalist, I am also 96% Mahayana Buddhist and 93% Neo Pagan. The very least religion at 17% were Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic. Go figure. Ironically, I was raised by a Catholic mother, but she was never a strict one and was also into New Age (tarot cards, mediation, etc) which probably rubbed off on me.

These results got me thinking about what I really believe in. Being an Unitarian Universalist truly represents me. Unitarian Universalism (UU) has diverse beliefs, and does not require to adhere to to a specific set of beliefs. This is EXACTLY what I was looking for! However, there is one fact about the UU religion that I disagree with: they go to Church. This is where I fit in the Mahayana Buddhism religion. Admittedly, I have always struggled to understand the importance of a Church. Why do we all have to congregate under one roof? I believe that the Universe resides in each and every one of us. You don’t have to BECOME. You don’t have to be baptised. You just believe, and just BE. You accept and listen to other people’s opinions and RESPECT them. You don’t have to agree, as long you agree to disagree. This is why I struggle to understand the importance of a church and the Bible- why listen to someone tell you what is right and wrong? You just do what you think is morally and ethically right for YOU. Only for YOURSELF, not for anyone else. YOUR BODY IS YOUR TEMPLE: that is what I truly believe in. Your body is a church. Your mind is a church. You don’t need a building to prove your faith. You just BE.

I believe in karma and reincarnation. I don’t believe in the Bible or any deity. I believe there is something strong out there that causes things to happen (The Universe) and that everything happens for a reason. Things that happens to us are life lessons. I also believe in free will. I believe in living very simply and renouncing worldly possessions. I believe in attaining life experiences. You only live once so live it to the fullest.

I believe in true unity and harmony. I believe in the importance of the Earth. I respect and embrace ALL religions. I really think that the world can be a harmonious place if we all put our egos aside and admit our mistakes. We all need to embrace one another’s qualities and faults. Nobody is perfect. This is why wars break my heart. Most wars are usually due to a certain part of religion or egoism (self-importance)… Ah, I guess that’s a blog for another time.

According to this site, “Major concerns of the UU religion include social justice and service to humanity. Most UUs readily adapt their beliefs to the findings of science. Thus they were very active in the abolition of slavery, gaining of equal rights for women, and the attainment of equal rights, including the right to marry, for homosexuals and bisexuals. They have an influence on the culture that is far beyond what one would expect from their numbers.” YES YES YES! This fits me PERFECTLY!!!!!

My point is, it feels SO good to know what religion I belong to, after such a LONG time. And, if you’re like me- always wondering what category you fit in- this test might do you some good. Or not? It depends on YOU.

Thank you for reading this entry and for respecting my opinions and beliefs by not criticizing me. You can discuss your opinions with me, but please do not berate me. Comment away if you’d like!

Until next time,