Last day of favourite class. Getting to the end of my degree. Only a few more assignments left. Extensions disbursed - no ask needed. More than enough time now. Time enough even to feel nostalgic.

In a mere week I may never have another reason to sit in the library ever again. Celebrating my favourite place now while I have the chance. The Hart House Library.

Remembering. Summer 2005 Katie and I walked through campus for the first time. I fell in love. Saw a lecture hall in University College. Its wood gleaming. Its podium showered in light. This is the kind of room people should study English in, I said.

I've been thinking a lot about money these days. Probably because, as a student, I currently have none. A bunch of questions have been floating around: where I'm going to get it, what I would do to make some (invest in mining? NO!), how much of my workplace motivation resides in how much money I am going to make, and how I'm going to manage it when I finally start bringing it home. Its a lot for a girl to think about on her own so I was excited today when I came across a new Vancouver-grown idea: a girl's money club!

The group, started by a group of women who call themselves the Smart Cookies, is much like a book club only instead of books these ladies get together every month to pour over their monthly bank and credit card statements in an attempt to talk things through, prioritize and set goals. An interesting concept that I may just look into myself.

On the same note, for any women who might be reading this out there, I suggest you all go and pick up Smart Women Finish Rich by David Bach. Its the best, no-nonsense financial book that I have ever read.

Under the influence of my grandmother and father I've been investing in stocks for years and have, little by little, built up a small portfolio. This portfolio had grown a little and I was feeling pretty pleased with myself - until I took a closer look at where my money was: mining and cigarette companies with a bit of fertilizer thrown in for good measure. I have been thinking abstractly about this issue for awhile but the presentations at the Amnesty International Business and Human Rights Conference this past Saturday have finally pushed me towards action. In trying to live a greener, cleaner lifestyle a more Socially Responsible Investment portfolio is as important, if not more so, than my recycling habits.

So with RRSP season nearing an end I have been looking at the recommendations made by Jantzi Research. Janzi is an independent investment research firm that evaluates and monitors the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance of global securities. I particularly like that their "Best of Sector" recommendations. This system, called the Jantzi Social Index - which ranks companies based on their performance in certain areas including: aboriginal relations; community involvement; corporate governance; employee relations; environment; and human rights - isn't perfect because ultimately many of these companies still have a long way to go but it is a great first step. By championing the leaders and encouraging them to do better it demands that all of the companies within that sector to do better as well. My investing terminology needs to be improved but until then check out Jantzi - they explain the philosophy of Socially Responsible Investing and ESG on their website.

A friend of mine came across this photographer while browsing flicker. Amazing photos of a bunch of the places I visited while I was living in Mali (and more) - including the Djenne Mosque shown here.

Tomorrow is a big day. Having battled my way up and down the aisles of the No Frills at the Dufferin Mall I have decided to try Grocery Gateway. My cupboards which are empty tonight will be full tomorrow morning when the GG Man delivers to my door. I'm pretty excited and will write to tell you how it goes.