Lipstick and Shutter Shades

2011-04-13T23:41:00.001-07:00

New blog, kids!

Find me here!

Hallelujah

2011-04-13T20:23:00.001-07:00

Neighbour next door keeps listening to music really loudly.

In tonight's line-up it's been Culture Club, 80s power ballads and this cover:

(yes I know I should have shot it sideways. Sorry!)

after I shot this I played the original really loudly

he stopped for a minute

... and now he's playing Alanis Morissette.

Last one goes the hope

2011-04-13T11:05:00.000-07:00

The other week during one of our rare downtimes around the apartment Ty and I inhaled some home-made nachos and kicked back to watch Exit Through the Gift Shop on Netflix.

My old roommate was super into street art (and even went as far as making his own stencils -something that really inspired me) and one of the ways that we bonded when we first met was over a shared love of Banksy's work.

I didn't get to check out his art show in Bristol, but I stalked the web for information and pictures, he's a complete genius.

I've had a subscription to Juxtapoz for a few years and read a lot of local 'zines and G Spot Love about art but it wasn't until I saw this film (which is fantastic, meta, insightful and hilarious, make sure you see it if you haven't already) that I really took an active interest in street art beyond the big names like Shepard Fairey and Invader (whose 8-bit art makes me think of my friend Skot aka Mr. Ghosty).

As a result I've become inspired to find really cool street art around #Winnipeg and to start flexing my personal artistic muscle more!

Not as street art, I don't think, but I've always been interested in collage, découpage and stuff like that. I've always been inspired by artists like Matisse, Rotella and Felipe Consalvos (whose work you can see below)
This summer I'm going to really push the envelope with my art. Maybe I'll plan a painting and picnic date with Ty at some point once it gets warmer? (That is, assuming we have the time!)

Who knows, maybe I'll even be brave enough to actually share some of it here!

Booksmart devil

2011-04-12T15:54:00.000-07:00

Just finished watching the Leader's Debate on CBC just now... gotta jet to a meeting about some super-cool stuff I'm getting involved with, but here are my thoughts on it as it happened via my Twitter feed.

- (retweeted) @zachbussey Stephen Harper's hair is getting into Donald Trump territory.

- Seems like @jacklayton has been studying Obama's speeches. He's unbelievably well-spoken.#Cdnpoli #cdnvotes

- @christineestima exactly what I just yelled out #Cdnpoli

- I love watching Gilles Duceppe get all fired up! He's so angry#Cdnpoli #cdnvotes

- Why can't Harper look at ANYONE? #Cdnpoli #cdnvotes #debate

- Loving the sassy Michael Ignatieff hand on hip! #Cdnpoli #cdnvotes #debate

- @jacklayton making awesome points about equal representation and the Senate #Cdnpoli #cdnvotes #debate

- (retweeted) @tidewaters Electoral reform!!! Go, Jack!!!

- I'm so stoked for the French Debates later this week, I want to see Duceppe kick ass

- @jacklayton bringing up his yellow fever!

- Whether you love or hate the #NDP, @jacklayton is kicking ass this#debate! I'm so impressed

- RT @Darcy_Lussier he isn't even looking at the voters, he looks like he's looking at the floor

- En français... Well played, Mr Ignatieff

- "These statements aren't true because I say they're not true" - Stephen Harper #misquote

- RT @christineestima Harper doesnt favour multiculturalism, he favours rich foreign diplomats and oil tycoons

- RT @RoseBeerGoggles I'm taking a drink every time Harper says "that's simply not true." So I'm watching these debates totally shmammered. Thanks guy!

- "We respect every party" says Harper. What a hypocrite

- Ignatieff just cleaning up on justice and crime, we're not the US!

- "Mr Harper is soft on crime even in his own office"... You just KNOW Duceppe has been waiting to use that one! Zing!

- Oh totally, it's palpable RT “@mr_mulligan: is it just me or does Harper have the knob cranked to maximum smug tonight

- RT brundle_fly CRIME: Harper's sweatin' like Rob Ford at a Mexican Hot Sauce convention.

- That's been a #fail" on this while thing. Omg @jacklayton ILU!

- RT christineestima Did jack just say "bling" and "hashtag fail" in the breath?!!!!! I love him

- @jacklayton just KICKING ASS with those jabs at Harper

- RT zachbussey Jack Layton, Prime Minister of Twitter.

- So impressed on @jacklayton's views on crime. Bringing up violence against women, yeah!

- Here we go on Health Care...

- Stephen Harper shouldn't be talking about "accountability"

- Thank you @jacklayton for bringing up privatization in the health industry!

- RT @christineestimaSupport the stache! RT @stilez: Layton has impressed me most tonight on points raised & made. It's the power of the stache #SupportTheStache

- I love how Stephen Harper keeps telling me what I think about everything

What did you guys think? Did you watch?

My little crew at home was cheering hard!

GO JACK!!

010000010110110001111001011100110110111101101110

2011-04-11T11:10:00.000-07:00

People can say whatever they want about the winters in Winnipeg (and I'd probably agree) but our in-between seasons are absolutely gorgeous, and today is one of those fine Spring days.

It's sunny, there's a slight breeze and I can't help but start thinking about one of my favourite things that happens each spring: March of the Robots! You may remember my jaunt with Santacon this past December, so you know there are few things I love more than making costumes and being ridiculous (not to mention it's a pub crawl so you know it's going to be an adventure!)

Needless to say I am eagerly anticipating the March, in fact the title of this post is my name -Alyson- in binary!

Here are some shots I took from last years MoTR:
Ty, our fearless leader!
My steampunk cyborg costume had retractable wings -how awesome is that?!
The crew who met at The Forks at the beginning of the march (the location changes every year, as does the pubs/bars we hit up on our adventure -we like to keep things interesting)
As you can see there are all sorts of different robots who come out to make the trip with us! The best kinds of costumes are the ones that are hand-made, but if you're pressed for time pick up some blinking lights and tin foil and come along anyway!

This year the March is May 28th, and you can keep up with all the info on the website, FaceBook page, and Twitter feed @Robotmarch -whichever way works best for you.

I'll be posting up progress pictures of my costume here as well as on my Twitter. I'm so torn over what to do this year and anxious to start building!

Change is gonna do me good

2011-04-10T14:32:00.000-07:00

This is what I had for lunch yesterday.

It's called the "Osborne Branch" crepe and it has chicken and bacon and cheese and Ranch dressing and all the stuff I don't usually eat which is why it was extra-good

and it was from this place called Kawaii Crepe and I'm in love with it

later on in the eve Ty went to the Planetarium 'cause he was VJing for this neat party

so Jabez came over and we had after a jaunt to Tavern United for eats and more beers

and a ridiculous story about a cat

we joined Cenquist, British Adrian his gf Rhonda and our latest addition to our little Twitter family Kenquist for more Half Pints at Lo Pub

where we debated heavy topics like politics

and The Internet

and watched Kenquist fail at trying to pick up some chick

because I told him that girls in white pants are slutty

which didn't help his chances

but is a statement I still stand by.

Eventually we all parted ways and they went to a hip-hop burlesque show (what?!) and Jabez and I continued on to the show Ty was doing: Yuri's Night: World Space Party where there was lots of beer, free pizza and space-type stuff

I spent way too much of the evening half-assedly hitting on the girl dressed up like Leeloo

but can you blame me?

There was tons of cool stuff to do besides get yr drank on and eat free 'zah

like building your own race car out of little plastic parts and racing it

a mirror room with lasers that smelled like weed

visuals in the Planetarium from MrGhosty and FLAME WAR (aka Ty) and music courtesy of
Freaky Alien
Dial-Up
Lebeato
THE SHAKE
plus another bunch of djs in the main area with all the cool stuff so you could jam out while you learned about space
The Winnitron (!!!)
giant yellow things that let you talk to someone across the whole room
a thing that lets you make little tornadoes
movies about space
and a thing that lets you pretend to be on a spaceship:

you would have to be stupid to not love space after this evening.

We'd build a tree fort in our yard

2011-04-09T09:50:00.000-07:00

If you don't live in Canada you might not know we're in the middle of a Federal Election right now.

One of the party leaders is the New Democratic Partys Jack Layton, who I think is fabulous.

Not just because he's a great public speaker, got drunk at The Olympics with his wife, rides his bike to work every day and is all-around awesome

but he also knows how to poke fun at himself

personally I'd prefer a Prime Minister who isn't a sociopathic robot.

Late at night the feelings rise to the surface

2011-04-07T22:42:00.000-07:00

Ty commented yesterday that we don't use our living room anymore and I guess that's true.

In the past few weeks we've eaten dinner in there once, watched one awesome movie, and I defragged for an hour playing Fallout: New Vegas.

Right now is the season of six-to-eight-hour sessions glued to our respective computers.

He's working on visuals for the shows he's VJing at this month and I'm hammering, hammering, hammering away at this ridiculous Philosophy paper.

I'm at 10 of my required 12 pages but after seven hours of writing and referencing and cross-referencing Kierkegaard and Camus I've moved onto Sartre and my brain is mush.

I'll go over 12 pages for sure but I might loose my sanity in the process.

Two exams to go.

Then I am getting really, really, shitfaced drunk.

You make my dreams come true

2011-04-06T17:13:00.000-07:00

I'll tell you guys a dirty little secret of mine:

I'm the worst for getting my hair cut. It grows really quickly and I always need to get so much cut off and trimmed and it's such a hassle that I always push the envelope until my hair is out of control.

Luckily for me last week WagJag Winnipeg had a sweet deal for a wash, cut, style, highlight, deep conditioning treatment and manicure for a steal at fabulous VIXIN Salon and honestly I couldn't say no.

Let's just put it out there: the aesthetic of a salon is really important. I've gotten haircuts at some less-than-stellar locations and let me tell you, appearances aren't deceiving! Needless to say I was impressed with the way the salon looked from the start.

There was even a super-cute little Shi Tzu puppy running around -adorable!

Since I'm bad (student poor) and dye my hair straight black all the time obviously I wasn't getting any highlights, but they were sweet enough to re-dye my hair a gorgeous, shiny new ebony black for me -thanks ladies!

My stylist was unbelievable, she was so perky and chatty and really made the experience so much better, honestly I'm super neurotic and getting my hair cut really stresses me out, but she made it such a great experience and didn't even judge me when my eyes had an allergic reaction to my contact solution while I was there!

She dyed me and cut my hair like a pro, totally ignoring the fact that I looked like some sort of red-eyed monster the whole time. I wish I'd snagged her name but I think she gave me the wrong card (if you read this, hit me up with your name doll!)

Anyway, due to my dye issues and the fact that I love my longer hair, there wasn't much in the way to be done other than pamper myself and enjoy it.

However, I did make one slight adjustment:

Bangs!

I haven't had bangs like these in ages! Looking at that photo I feel very Gage-esque with them!

Needless to say it was a great experience, and a great way to wrap up my week in a Friday before going out with my friends. Unfortunately the manicurist was gone by the time my hair was done, but now that just means I get a free one when I go back -success!

Thanks again to WagJag for the sweet hook-up, I'm loving these On The Cheap promotions!

Eyes wide open

2011-04-04T18:01:00.000-07:00

Hitler can't get Folk Fest tickets from Ryan Helbren on Vimeo.

One of these years I'm going to get my shit together and actually go to Folk Fest.

Until then, it's just me and Hitler freaking out.

It's like ten thousand spoons

2011-03-31T18:41:00.000-07:00

I had an exam today so I found myself a quiet spot to hang out and cram Sociology into my head for 5hrs before I had to go write that ish.

And halfway through this chick comes and sits on the edge of my table

and starts talking to this dude as though I'm not clearly sitting there and studying

but I'm not rude and they were just chatting so I kept on recopying my notes on Max Weber for the zillionth time and trying to block 'em out with Beck

it was working, until this prof came up and said

OH HEY CLAIRE CAN I ASK YOU WHAT PROGRAM YOU WERE USING TO ACCESS THE WEBSITE LAST WEEK?

and she says OH I WAS USING FIREFOX WHY WAS THERE A PROBLEM?

and he says WELL I WAS JUST ASKING BECAUSE OF well you get the point they started all yell-talking and I'm sitting there surrounded by my papers and textbooks and cups of coffee thinking

can't these people see that I'm studying here?

so I take out my earphones and stare straight at the prof and he keeps looking at me and just going on talking using a volume usually restricted to rock concerts and finally I say

um... excuse me, I'm trying to study for my exam

and I'm getting the stink-eye from all of 'em as they walk away

because studying in a post-secondary institution is apparently unheard of.

These pictures of our stable justice

2011-03-28T13:46:00.000-07:00

We're reading The Blind Assassin in Lit and the embedded narrative is a girl and a guy and the story he tells her whenever they meet up, secretly, in slummy apartments or back rooms or park benches. They make verbal jabs at each other and play stupid mind games and before and sometimes after they've made love he tells her this story.

It's about other dimensions and aliens and sci-fi stuff but actually it's about the couple and the secret message the guy spends the whole novel -basically their whole time together- trying to tell her, dressed up with courtiers and sacrifice.

See, he's in love with her and wants to run away with her to anywhere but where they are so they can actually be together, but she doesn't seem to get it, either on purpose or because she's too busy trying to play the role she thinks she's supposed to be playing. He spends all this time telling her this story that's interesting and insightful but what he should really be saying, the whole time, is

IloveyouIloveyouIloveyou

but he doesn't. Maybe he can't.

It makes me sad and it makes me wonder why

and I think about how many people go through their lives being too afraid to tell the people that they love that they love 'em

until it's too late. until they can't.

for whatever reason

and I wonder what about Love with a Capital L scares people so much

maybe we love the wrong people

maybe we don't love ourselves enough

maybe we're just not programmed to do it

maybe it's all just made up

maybe love is actually just a dressed-up story

but I'd rather not think that.

Can't get shot in the back if you don't run

2011-03-26T18:16:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you listen to something a million times

maybe it's on in the background

or maybe you weren't really listening before

but then one time

you listen to it.

This is one of those songs.

Wow.

Rarities / Unreleased / Demos by Matthew Good

Spending my evening glued to my iMac.

having walked around in Oxfords all afternoon in the sunshine

drank too much coffee

let the wind blow up my dress

it wasn't so cold today.

and I felt warmer on the inside than I have in weeks.

not just in my muscles

but in my heart

I've been stressed out for no reason

at least I think?

Maybe let's just stop pretending

2011-03-25T20:36:00.000-07:00

Guess what I got today!

Thanks Canada Revenue Agency!

In my chair, as I sit back smiling from ear to ear

2011-03-23T11:16:00.000-07:00

I hope I get back to blogging more once my exams and papers are all done.

I hope I feel rested, just once, this week.

I hope dinner and wine with Candice goes well tonight

I hope I don't eff up the sauerbraten or the brussels sprouts

I hope I get lucky afterward (with Ty, silly)

I hope things in Lybia don't get worse

I hope those kidnapped European cyclists are okay

I hope Elizabeth Taylor Rests in Peace

and

I hope Japan gets better soon

'cause the world needs more stuff like this

Burt Reynolds is Batman

2011-03-21T11:51:00.000-07:00

I've always been a fan of improv.

Tried it in highschool and didn't really stick with it. Too much pressure and the kids in my improv class were in a totally different league than my nervous, high-strung, unfunny self was.

I like to think as a laid-back hilarious adult I'd be much better at it, but don't expect to see me out at an improv competition near you.

So nowadays I stick to stuff like old episodes ofWho's Line is It, Anyway? and newer ish like Blouzefest.

Hell, those dudes sing their improv. I could never do that.

When my mirror speaks it never minces words

2011-03-20T16:59:00.001-07:00

I'm tired.

Happy Sunday.

Let's start a war

2011-03-17T18:33:00.000-07:00

Yes I know it's St. Patrick's Day and yes I know I should be out drinking right now.But I did a bunch of that last night at the Electric Six concert.

Was in the front row with Mz. Bex and a foot away from Dick Valentine and being squashed against the front of the stage and there was me, her, and some other chick and Dick looked down and commented on the force of the crowd pushing on us, saying sarcastically

"these ladies don't need their kidneys"

and I am definitely am feeling it today. My knees are completely purple, I have bruises up and down my legs and torso, and my arms make me look like a victim of domestic abuse.

But it's the best damn Wednesday night activities I've ever gotten into, and even though it's reduced me to yoga pant-wearing, glasses-wearing, couch-lying limbo for tonight I'm okay with that.

'Cause it's not often you see a show that's that effin good.

When we touch, when we kiss

2011-03-16T15:22:00.000-07:00

Guess who I'm seeing tonight

one of my fav bands

at one of my fav venues

with some of my fav people

shit

what am I gonna wear?!

2011-03-14T18:40:00.000-07:00

Today was a shitty day and no I don't want to talk about it.

Just watch this video.

I'll see you guys tomorrow.

I want the lights on after dark

2011-03-12T07:54:00.000-08:00

Going to a babby shower today and I'm nervous.

Kids freak me out, especially the littlest ones.

I've never held one, not sure if I want to.

What if I drop it?

What if it cries?

What if it pukes on me?

or worse

what if I realize I want one?

Naaaaaaah.

Went shopping in a blizzard yesterday because I'm stupid.

Prior to that had a consult for an anti-boob job.

Doc explained the proceidure and said

"we may have to laser off your nipple and reattach it"

which is at once

both terrifying and awesome

and now Ty keeps walking around

talkin' 'bout my Laser Tits.

"your girlfriend is really beautiful, did you notice she's a bird?"

2011-03-10T11:19:00.000-08:00

Finally got around to watching the 35min 'movie' Runaway by Kanye West.

It makes basically no sense.

But did you expect it to?

Between bird chicks
fireworks
a marching band
the KKK
lambs & fawns
a giant Michael Jackson head
ballet dancers
(which have a distinctive Black Swan vibe, if I may say so)
and
phoenixes

it's quite the... eclectic mix.

The jump between the tracks off of My Dark Twisted Fantasy is generally pretty jarring and most don't seem to really fit, but that's sort of like trying to make a musical out of old ABBA songs. It doesn't have the same flow.

However, the video portion
the Runaway video itself
is beautiful
absolutely gorgeous
I can't stress it enough

and even though you could do without the last 10min (and maybe the first 15) I can't help but like the whole thing

content be damned
it's bloody beautiful to look at
and I think that was the point
really

but if you don't have 35 mins to kill
definitely check out the vid for Runaway
then go listen to the album again
cause you remembered how good it is.

That's what I'm gonna do.

Love is the coal that makes this train roll

2011-03-09T14:55:00.000-08:00

My profs at the University of Winnipeg will probably be striking at of 12:01am tomorrow morning
and
while most other students I know are freaking out,
me,
I'm hoping for a day off.

Between being bombarded with info from both my profs and the administration
(where I work)
stressing about assignments
programs
plans for next year
and so many other things that seem to be suspended in middair

I just need a break.

Even if it's only for a day or two.

Eat Jello for Lucidending

2011-03-07T19:57:00.000-08:00

This was posted on Reddit a couple of days ago:

On Tuesday I'll finally end my battle with cancer thanks to Oregon's Death with dignity act. As part of my preparations I've ended my pain medication and am trying to regain what little dignity and clarity I can.

Who I was doesn't matter. I'm in pain, I'm tired and I'm finally being granted a small shred of respect. Feel free to AMA if you're so inclined

Since then there's been an outpouring of sentiment over the post; it's all been kind and thoughtful, sensitive.

People have taken pictures of where they live and sent them to him so he can 'see the world' before he dies.

Since his last meal will be Jello-O, Redditors have created an Eat Jello for Lucidending event for tomorrow, March 7th.

So tomorrow I'll be having Jell-O at some point to honour someone I'll never meet who is choosing to bravely face death and to use the time they have left to touch the lives of others.

Go read the thread if you have time, it's really touching stuff.

Sometimes we forget The Internet is capable of.

Weatherman's telling us it ain't gonna rain

2011-03-06T19:29:00.000-08:00

Hey you guys ever hear of Eskimo?

Ever hear of Cyriak?

Maybe you've seen that crazy cow video, maybe you haven't.

Either way, watch what happens when these two get together.

Don't go cross-eyed.

Not a sunrise, but a galaxy rise

2011-03-06T08:43:00.000-08:00

One day I hope to be as hilar and charming as Betty White.

It probably won't happen, the only two women who can pull it off are her and my Grandma.

There's something special about those two.

If I said that they had Tiger Blood, would that be in bad taste?

Okay, I won't.

Weird here is extreme somewhere else

2011-03-03T13:53:00.000-08:00

Who has two thumbs and is going to see Elton John on May 7th?

This chick.

Oh, and Ty, too.

Our tix were 86$ a pop. I think floor were like 200$?

Honestly I don't care where I bloody sit.

I'm going to be tipsy as hell and am going to dance in my seat to the Crocodile Rock.

My mom is going to be so jeals.

Love hater, hater of love

2011-03-02T05:38:00.000-08:00

Memphis Steve tagged me to do a vid reciting words and answering questions
yrall lucky that I uploaded it to Blogger earlier
'cause I'm in no mood to be cheerful

but here ya go anyway
since it's already here

Ty's in it, too, since I can't talk to a camera by myself

We're thinking of dong regular vids discussing ish and answering yr questions
would you peeps be down with that?

2011-03-01T18:47:00.000-08:00

It's official, Charlie Sheen has not only officially jumped couch

he's made every other crazy person look like

well

just some crazy person

dude's totally badass

got razor-sharp wit

is a mad playboy

and could ingest enough drugs to kill an elephant and still pork yr girlfriend while driving down Sunset Blvd and flipping off all the pregnant moms with strollers

because he simply doesn't give a fuck.

He's too busy #winning.

He opened the window just to feel the chill

2011-02-26T16:20:00.001-08:00

Tony always says that the coolest hottest girls live in Canada and it's true.

Just look at the picture.

Last night was the finals for Miss Nude Winnipeg and yrs truly and some sidekicks pounded back some overpriced beers and cheered on our girl Felix.

That's her on the right btw.

The last time our heroine indulged in some 'ripper action was Banana Night at Teasers many moons ago

and let me tell you, Banana Night isn't as sexy as you think it might be

so needless to say when the first girl onstage took out two fire torches, slicked some oil on herself and lit a thin trail of fire along her arm I was impressed.

and I already know what you're asking, and yes, she did light that on fire.
woa.

other acts included a girl in raver gear dancing with glowsticks, painting her bod with uv-reactive paint and giving out posters of paper pressed to her painted bod, two acts who mimicked Lady Gaga
-one of which blew me away except for her lip syncing, strippers shouldn't lip=sync, y'know?
but was otherwise impressive with the intricacies of her outfits/props

and our gurl Felix dolled up as Jessica Rabbit, singing us a song and taking her clothes off leading to the second half of her performance which was the hottest onstage shower I ever did see

colour me impressed, that girl can move

she came in 2nd place but it should have been first, I know she'll blow 'em away next year

however her act is number one in my mind, let me tell you.

Is a Russian metamon hosting the show?

2011-02-25T16:38:00.001-08:00

Had a physical today and was told I'm practically perfect in every way.

But you already knew that.

Needless to say I was in a good mood and intended to go home, stuff my face with tacos and then imbibe while planning a super-secret project.

Then Ty decided to show me Suzukisan

And now I'm going to go eat tacos and get blasted out of my face on wine while planning a super-secret project

just to try and forget that awful video.

Happy Friday, kiddies.

Someone's deciding weather or not to speak

2011-02-24T16:44:00.000-08:00

Drizzly cobblestone streets that we walked down
stumbled across
umbrella less in the rain
lost but not truly

fingers intertwined as we ascended the stairs

the sheer canopy over our bed for mosquitoes
even though there weren't any
just the snippets of sound
and yellow headlights through the darkness

we left the shutters open watching outside from inside each others arms

bagels and oversized bottles of beer for breakfast
in the courtyard on the wrought-iron table & chair set
licking cream cheese from our fingers and tossing crumbs to the black squirrels
resting our feet in each others laps

feeling the late morning sun sizzle off the slanted shingled rooftops

the sound of the approaching métro car
whooshing like pulling the air out of your chest
leaving a hole
filled with joy

mind the gap

stifling heat and open-air markets
chorizo, brie, fresh-baked bread
fruit falling from our arms
more wine

the scent of fresh flowers nearly overwhelmingly sweet

lying in the grass in the shadow of Mont Royal
beaded with sweat, drenched in sunlight
giddy with the sheer beauty of it
feeling the grass against our bare skin

it was so hot we took baths twice a day

eagerly anticipating the night
moving like shadows through the crowd
thumping bass and liquid courage coursing through our veins
you kissed my neck in an alley off the beaten path

never so completely myself as I was there, with you

like forgetting the words to my favourite song
and hearing it again, like new
so familiar and tangible I can taste it beneath my tongue
I want to lose myself in it, in us

please take me back again

If it feels good, do it

2011-02-23T18:22:00.000-08:00

Ty has a copy of Tank Girl on laserdisc and in-between all the other stupid things we spend our time doing since we moved in together we managed to sit down and watch it
but that's mostly because we were hungover and tired.

It was pretty good actually
the cuts between live-action/animation/still images
weren't as jarring as I'd expected them to be
Lori Petty totally reminds me of Gwen Stefani in her 90's No Doubt days
the soundtrack was kickass
Tank Girl was in it in a million outfits for no reason.
Malcolm Mcdowell is in it as a scary bad guy
and Ice-T is in it as a hybrid kangaroo

lolwut.

A story

2011-02-16T07:43:00.000-08:00

Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.

Waking up at 6am to a thunderous banging noise we thought someone had broken the front door down; it was that loud but when all was found to be in its right place we fell back asleep.

We discussed the strange noise over breakfast
"what the heck could it have been?"
we asked each other.

Ty left for work and I was glued to a movie
it was 8am, class was at 11:30
and Ty returned
"omg" he said "look outside"

This is what we saw
Before you flip out
and worry for my safety
let me assure you I don't live in the ghetto.

I live downtown, sure, but my street is pretty quiet and there's a high-end sushi place on one corner and a high-end beauty salon on the other
BMWs are usually parked on my street
my building is populated with students, as are most of the houses on my street.

So this was a shock.

Ty left and I called my landlord
this wasn't the dude across the hall
I was freaked out
and he told me he wasn't there
and I should call the cops.

So I did.

I was surprised at how quickly the non-emergency vehicle showed
and I eavesdropped through my door
listening as they woke him,
"Is this your building?" they asked
"do you live here?"

Then my doorknob started to rattle.

It didn't click for a second
then I opened my door and saw a dude
unkempt, smelly, totally on another planet
and two police officers behind him.

The officer asked if I knew him
I said no
he asked if he lived in the building
I said no
they quickly took him by the arms and escorted him away.

This guy was the source of the banging in the morning.
He must have thought our apartment was his.
Oh my god.

I closed my door.
Shocked.

I still am.

can't explain that

2011-02-14T14:12:00.000-08:00

Did you know that Mars doesn't have a moon?
Or that it, and Venus don't have suns?

Except for the two moons that orbit Mars.
And the Sun, which Venus and Mars share with us.

There are a lot of things that Bill O'Reilly thinks he and modern science can't explain.

One thing I can't explain though
is why people listen to Bill O'Reilly.

I can't explain that.

The wind is blowing all the ashes around

2011-02-09T16:46:00.000-08:00

When I walk in I can still smell our cooking from the night before

orange and ginger pork chops
hurried pasta with chunky sauce
vindaloo over rice
spinach casserole with too much cheese

our shared domesticity continues to astounds me.

The bedroom still smells of fresh paint
'periwinkle' you said, cover in flecks of it

I painted the trim and the parts I could reach
over the corkscrew that had been spray-painted on
by someone who is gone
covering the bad memories, the hurt
with a soothing blue-gray
we slept well that night.

Spent.

We're settling into it, each other
it's strange
I feel my heart leap when the key turns in the lock
maybe that's temporary but somehow,
no
I don't anticipate that fading.

My solitude is just that
time by myself, without you
I relish it and find a place within myself for it
like I found one for you
that I didn't know ws there until you found it
-all that seems so long ago, now.

And now here we are.

I find I am always picking out furniture for our home in my mind.

Rosemary, heaven restores you in life

2011-02-09T07:48:00.000-08:00

Some things that University life has taught me are

sometimes regurgitating what your prof expects instead of your own insight is the way to an A

people with tenure are usually giant asshats

just because someone is in post-secondary doesn't mean that they're smart

and that art students don't always understand the art they're supposed to be making.

Because if this chick knew anything about Nihilism, she wouldn't be doing such gross things to try and prove a point.

'Cause with Nihilism, there is no point in doing anything.

And we wouldn't have to sit through two minutes of her trying to open a friggen tin can before anything actually happens

before we spend the next several regretting that we did.

Never been good with changes

2011-02-07T11:55:00.000-08:00

Even though I'm a lover not a fighter did you know that I love UFC?

Neither did I until last Saturday.
I used to find stuff like UFC or boxing barbaric. I mean why would you just want to make a living beating people up?

Though now that I think about it, that is kind of awesome.

Saturday I realized that I like them for the same reason that I love the ballet.

The intense pressure to deliver.
The self-discipline.
The technique.
The rigorous training.
The tight clothes on men.
Plus the above scene isn't usually the kind you'd expect of people watching a ballet recital.

In my experience there's no beer, no snacks, no yelling and getting all fired up over what you're watching.

Though if that's how you watch the ballet, can I come watch it with you sometime?

2011-02-06T09:26:00.001-08:00

How to Make Icelandic Pönnukökur from Iceland on Vimeo.

This is what we are making for breakfast

Happy Superbowl Sunday

The dreams of acting offscreen

2011-02-05T07:51:00.000-08:00

Eating potato pancakes and drinking coffee and hour and a half before hot yoga.

I might throw up during class but that's okay.

Just stay out a deep Camel Pose and you'll be okay, I'm saying to myself. Don't tilt your neck so far back during Cobra Pose, don't lean your head all the way down during Downward Dog.

Luckily not upchucking is the only thing I need to worry about.

Nothing silly like alighing my chakras, or balancing my chi.

Just don't puke or fart in hot yoga and I'm set.

And, sure, maybe I could avoid these self-induced dramz if I wasn't eating potato pancakes and drinking coffee before going.

But when yr bf wakes up on a Saturday to make you tasty eats it's not like you can say no.

You eat that stuff with a smile on yr face and be thankful for it.

Happy Saturday.

She owns a lot of nice flashlights

2011-02-03T08:33:00.000-08:00

Maybe you won't get everything you want in life.
Maybe you won't jet set to Cuba every six months, maybe you won't own a fleet of BMW's and maybe you won't be famous like Steve Jobs. You could get hit by a bus tomorrow
You might live 'till you're 102, produce six kids and live on a farm raising llamas.
Or maybe you'll adopt some cute kid from Ethiopia and live in a flat in Boston somewhere.
Maybe you'll never get married, never shack up,
be rocking' bachelor(ette) for the rest of your days.

Maybe you'll never figure it out.
Actually scratch that- you'll never figure it all out.

But isn't that the joy of it?

('fag' as in cigarette, btw)

Not everything will make you happy.
Some days will be worse than others, some days will be total shit.
Some days you'll spend hiding in the bathroom at work crying because while you can't go home, you can't act like everything is okay, either.
There will definitely be times that you feel devoid of every possible emotion except despair, longing, infinite sadness.
Maybe you already have.
You'll feel like you'll never get over it, get out of it, move past it.

But you will
or at least most of you will.
If you happen to leave or lose a small part of yourself with whatever happened consider it a worthwhile loss.
We can't ever emerge completely whole from our traumas otherwise we'd never have spaces to fill with new, better parts of ourselves.
People will hurt you, people will take you for granted and people will certainly, definitely, absolutely take advantage of you.
They'll say things behind your back, snub you, try to one-up you at every turn.
This is the nature of some people
and the only way to win the game is to simply not play it.
Put egos and pride aside and just walk away.
It's sometimes the harder choice to make, but it's always the best and it certainly won't be the easiest, especially when the one hurting you is someone you once thought was a friend.
But that's life sometimes.

Some people are pieces of shit.
Most aren't.
It's up to you to make the distinction, and keep those people close to you.
They'll show their real colours in the end.

Find joy in the small things in life.
A warm day in January, the feeling of underwear warm from the dryer, of eating ice cream and chocolate chips after you've had a particularly long day (screw the calories)
The big stuff like vacations, property values, expensive cars
they all have their place
but in the grand scheme of things shouldn't compare in any way to walking in the door and seeing someone you love waiting for you.

Listen to the people around you, or maybe don't.
Figure things out for yourself and by no means pay attention to what I have to say to you.
It's just my blog, and my feelings.
And what I think I've sorted out so far.

I hope it works out for me.

We'd take a limousine 'cause it costs more

2011-02-02T07:31:00.000-08:00

Image from ChrisD.ca

I already feel a stab of pity for people who still get excited about stuff like Groundhog Day. I'm pretty sure that whether or not a groundhog happens to see his shadow or not is a worthy indicator of how much longer we have to deal with sub-zero temperatures.

But here in Manitoba we like to take things a (few) step(s) father.

For insnace, did you know that our groundhog is named "Manitoba Merv"? Yeah, our annual predictor of seasonal change is named after a smelly old guy who used to hang around the clubhouse at one of the municipal golf courses that my dad runs, hanging out around the canteen and harassing the girls working cash to "prime his hot dog" for him.

Great.

If that isn't ridiculous enough, our groundhog is a puppet. It's in the above image. I'm also fairly certain that my dad had a cover for one of his golf clubs that looked exactly like that when I was growing up, and I am going to venture that perhaps that's what Manitoba Merv is. If not, it's a pretty unrealistic-looking groundhog. Where are my tax dollars going, exactly?

We actually have news reporters who are covering the fact that a synthetic, pretend animal used its no-vision to not-see its shadow.

Do any other provinces have silly names for their groundhogs? And if so, are they also potential golf-club covers?

Inquiring minds need to know.

Flute cop

2011-01-31T13:52:00.000-08:00

Axe Cop: The Movie - Part 1 from Peter Muehlenberg on Vimeo.

Sometimes I'm really unsure why people have kids at all.

Then I find stuff like AXE COP.

AXE COP is a webcomic written by five-year-old Malachai Nicolle and drawn by his 30 year old brother, Ethan (the above vid is a fan video of the first episode)

It is possibly the most hilarious, brilliant, original and nonsensical thing I have ever read and I follow it religiously.

It's a constant reminder of the true unbridled creativity that we all had as little kids and makes me wish I had written more of my stupid crap down when I was in kindergarten.

What's the story morning glory?

2011-01-29T06:58:00.000-08:00

Thank goodness I'm still relatively in my youth and have time to learn that you can't please everyone all the time.

You can try and put yourself out there and say how you feel only to have it misinterpreted and turned around on you but that's life, I suppose.

When people think the world revolves around them, there's really no trying to state otherwise.
Just move along.

It's silly trying to navigate through social politics and I'm being assured on all sides that it's just part of being in a social circle but is it, really?

Sometimes I can't help but feel like it's just my social circle that's crazy which is crazy unto itself because everyone at some point can't see past their own egos.

When parties start acting weird and not communicating or cutting off contact how do you say

"you've changed and hurt my feelings since such-and-such happened/came along"

and not have a fallout of nuclear proportions which probably doesn't result in the desired outcome anyway?

Does this get better as we get older, or does it get worse?

I keep expecting people/instances like this to become phased out of my social scene.

That with the inclusion of new people there won't be catty, childish drama and words said about others behind their backs and all that stuff that we hoped we'd left behind when we dropped 'teen' at the end of our age descriptions.

Maybe I'm asking too much?

Bombay

2011-01-25T10:18:00.000-08:00

The video is amazing for a plethora of reasons including Carl Sagan quotes, gratuitous bewbs, lesbian kissing, bums, chloroform, tape-recording chickens, choreographed dancing and so much more.

EL GUINCHO | Bombay from MGdM | Marc Gómez del Moral on Vimeo.

Happy Tuesday.

I'm moving past the feeling and into the night

2011-01-24T15:22:00.000-08:00

I need to really buckle down tonight and do some reading for Existentialism, Kierkegaard is talking in circles and I need to follow through repetitions of
the self is a relation that relates itself to itself or is the relation's relating itself to itself in the relation; the self is not the relation but the relation's relating itself to itself
and so forth.

In the meantime, enjoy this poor 'shoop I did of Tyrone on Nietzsche's face.
That mustache is so ballin.
(original Nietzsche image here)

Also, somehow I missed this when it came out. Did you?

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs from Merge Records on Vimeo.

Step up

2011-01-21T18:00:00.000-08:00

I can't believe I've never seen this before. Total gold.

Not a whisper, no words

2011-01-20T12:16:00.000-08:00

These past few mornings have been slow-moving, I hit the snooze more than I should, zombie my way through my morning routine and don't really wake up until I'm halfway through my first class and sometimes not until even after that.

It's been stupidly cold here lately (-40C people) and the thing that snaps me out of my reverie is the intense, biting wind for the ten-minute walk to campus.

Usually that's enough to wake me up but -seriously! Enough of this uber-cold nonsense! Where's my January of last year with it's -2 type temperatures? January, you're not who I thought you were, who you used to be.

You've changed.
It's hard not to let weather like you get this down but there's so much coming up that I can't really get sour for more than when I stop feeling my fingers. There's the BASSFACE launch party at The Pyramid this Friday, seeing the play Dionysus Is Getting Impatient which my lovely friend Kendra is performing in, The Data Dance Lv 2 (SO excited for this!), the Festival du Voyageur party, Stickybuds at The Academy, and a bunch of potlucks, birthdays, and get-togethers with friends planned in between. How can I not feel warm inside thinking about it all?

Don't forget to love yourself - Soren Kierkegaard (courtesy of my Existentialism class) Make sure you do!

Orpheus melted the heart of Persephone, but I never had yours

2011-01-19T14:29:00.000-08:00

She & Him - Don't Look Back from Merge Records on Vimeo.

I'm always on the fence about Zooey Deschanel.
Love-hate.
She's either stunning or weird-looking.
Quirky or annoying.
Typecast or fabulous.

But this video is such nice eye-candy.
And the song is kind of catchy.

And fitting for how I feel right now.

We are very busy people

2011-01-18T12:48:00.000-08:00

Let's start a band.

THE LIMOUSINES from Mathieu Wothke on Vimeo.

I'll play synth.

I'm-a start rocking gold teeth and fangs

2011-01-16T09:42:00.000-08:00

Saturday I finally crossed the line between just casually talking about going to hot yoga and actually putting my money where my mouth was and attending. Jabez took me to Moshka and I emerged sweater than I've ever been and on an endorphin high.

I didn't even get sick or need to take a break like I thought! Though this pose is something I need to work on; I'd rather not start retching in front of the whole class.
Despite the girl in the change room after talking about how it "really aligned her chakras" the Moshka experience wasn't all new age-y and pretentious at all.

I mean, they played Michael Jackson during the ab exercises and the instructor sang to us at the end when we were in corpse pose at the end. Definitely not the experience that I had expected.
Last night Lo Pub had a birthday party for Art and there was a fun crafting table for making silly hats, live music and visuals and some leftover brandywine from Half Pints which we definitely drank.
We experienced and were consequently amazed by the Winnitron. So cool!

But it's dinner time and we're going to watch French Connection, so I'd better go.
You know it's true.

You've been a juvenile with a dolphin smile

2011-01-13T19:45:00.000-08:00

Had to full-on stop in order to get a shot of this guy because I didn't realize there was someone channeling Mudkipchan on campus today and it still turned out blurry.

I've seen this guy around the city a few times but have been too slow on the uptake to snag a decent picture of him in his Pokéclothes (Pokéregalia? Pokéhat?) and suddenly BAM he's all fanboying it up right in front of me on campus so I had to act fast.

To be fair, I was busy having my mind blown from my Philosophy class which I am no longer waitlisted for, thank you v much.

The class is Historical Existentialism and while I loved the pretentiousness of it all

("how can we assume that nihilism exists in truth because is it possible for someone to believe that there is truly nothing when their perceptions -perhaps falsely- indicate that there must be something because we exist" and so forth)

it was a bit mind-boggling and even though it's an intro level course there are peeps clearly far beyond that level quoting philosophers I've never even heard of which left me a bit in the dark; I feel like there's going to be a lot of supplementary reading (read: wikipedia) going on so I can keep up with the fourth-years taking Intro courses for credits.

Also my professor looks almost exactly Sybil Trelawney from Harry Potter which just makes it all the much more hilarious to me.

Speaking of crazies of course everyone has been losing their shit about some new astrology sign showing up and throwing everything out of wack today and apparently I'm no longer the pretend animal that I used to be
(Scorpio FTW just saying)
and am now... a Libra, I think? That's the one that comes before Scorpio, right?
Whatevs, it's ridiculous and apparently not even that real depending on what variation of pretend animals in the sky you believe in anyway?
What?
I can't believe I actually spent several minutes reading those articles just so I could keep you guys well-informed, I could seriously have been doing much cooler things like watching video clips of The Trip like this one:

Happy almost-Friday!

You spend half of your time modeling, and the other half next to me

2011-01-13T08:04:00.000-08:00

Today I learned something:

If Rogers is telling me that I have full Dukes (connectivity bars) and won't even send a simple text, I will become increasingly enraged as I try to send and re-send a text that wasn't terribly important to begin with, but now has become my sole reason for living and the bane of my existence.

Why can't you just send my text, Rogers?! Why must you lie to me so?

At least tell it to me straight: I have no connectivity and can expect no reception on campus. Don't fill my heart with these fabrications of Dukes and then trap me in a web of unconnected loneliness leaving me to rot with texts and tweets unsent.

Why, Rogers, why?

What's your middle name?

2011-01-11T13:45:00.000-08:00

Outside it's cold January but inside my heart it's warm, warm, warm.

School's back in the swing. Classes are classes, we're reading Ondaatje in Lit and I like it. English classes are (usually) a fine excuse to read good literature.

Next up we're reading Fall On Your Knees by Anne Marie MacDonald which is one of my all-time favourite books.

Have you read it?
Make sure you do, it's unbelievable.

I've never owned a copy of Sylvia Plath's work but I've always loved it. Today I watched a movie about her life called (simply) "Sylvia" with Gwyneth Paltrow and delicious Daniel Craig and need to snag myself copies of The Bell Jar and Ariel, respectively.

I wonder if they're on iBooks?

Which do you think is more pretentious, sitting in a coffee shop reading a battered copy of Ariel by Sylvia Plath, or sitting in a coffee shop reading a copy of Ariel by Sylvia Plath on your iPad?

Because I'll gladly do both.

If this was the Cold War we could keep each other warm

2011-01-07T07:24:00.000-08:00

Watched 'Catfish' last night and just like the trailer suggested it wasn't at all what I was expecting.

What I anticipated was something dark, creepy, and mind-blowing and while that's exactly what I got it wasn't at all how I'd expected I'd get it. I had to pause the movie a few times to get up and defrag and shake off the intense discomfort that settles over you like a heavy blanket as the film progresses and you find yourself giving confused and uncomfortable looks to the people watching it with you.

Without giving too much away (I hope) it made me reconsider what a social medium like FaceBook is capable of and how much we can really expect to ever know about someone we meet online until we see them in the flesh. The ability that we now have to craft these perfectly tailored online versions of ourselves is at the same time exhilarating and terrifying.

When it was all said and done the thing that blew me away the most -and why I am highly, highly recommending it to you- is that it is apparently all based in truth. It's not a mockumentary, but apparently genuine fact.

The story is almost too good (read: crazy) to be true, and if it is in fact a total fabrication then it's one of the best pieces of metafiction I've ever seen, because the sheer amount of work that would go into building, maintaining and upholding a story of that magnitude would be phenomenal.

But if it's true, as the directors/producers/actors claim, then it is truly an example of how real-life is always stranger than fiction.

Cruel snow, cracked lips, sun lost by four

2011-01-06T13:01:00.000-08:00

Here's something to warm your heart:

Until a few days ago Ted Williams was a homeless man with a stunning voice begging for change on the streets of Ohio. Now the YouTube vid has gone viral (thanks to some help from Reddit) and he's voicing commercials for Kraft.

Just in case you ever doubted that the Internet could be used for good.

We all live underground

2011-01-04T18:27:00.000-08:00

We Live In Public from IndiePix on Vimeo.

Just finished watching We Live in Public on Netflix. I've been meaning to watch it for a while now and my first solo evening of do-nothing in ages, seemed perfect.

Chilling out with Gretchel and catching up on the Internet makes me a happy lady (even if I am totally aware of the irony of my online presence while watching this type of documentary).

Personally? I'm not afraid of the over-share. I have friends who freak out about things like FourSquare, and Places but honestly everything that you punch into a search engine, every word you write, and each time you use your debit card or your data plan is being tracked and cataloged anyway.

If I'm going to be tracked every time I do anything I might as well make the best of it and become excited about what the best of the Internet has to offer in connectivity and social media tools. The Internet -like life- is what you make of it, right?

I'll always love you, Internet, no matter how crazy you might make some people become.

Clock's ticking I just count the hours

2010-12-30T22:50:00.000-08:00

Most people say "I don't believe injust making New Years Resolutions" and neither do I.

But that being said the start of a new year is just as much as valid time as any to make decisions, changes, take action. Because it seems that most of the time when people decide to make changes in their lives that it's usually the result of something negative.

Doctor says you're too fat so you start working out and eating better.
You lose a loved one and are struck with the fleeting nature of life.
Bad investments make you more frugal in the future.
Someone breaks your heart and you learn more about yourself.
The list goes on.

And while these are all fine reasons to make changes in your life I don't understand why so many people pooh-pooh deciding to use New Year's as a catalyst or turning point for that change. Probably because most follow through and maybe they don't, but that isn't really anybody's place to judge but theirs, right?

I guess the difference lies in the term Resolution. To resolve is to say you will, to make a goal is to set a specific target to work towards.

Which is why I make Goals. My Resolution is to work towards those goals.

2011 will be the year where I: drink more casually. Study harder. Love more fierceley. Speak more honestly. Learn all the Inuit words for 'snow'. Show how much I really appreciate all the amazing people in my life. Call my Grandma more often. Forgive more easily. Eat healthier. Exercise more often. Drink more water. Host more potlucks with friends. Be more well-rested. Paint. Bake a souffle. Discover more music. Appreciate more local art. Make new friends. Distance myself from negative influences. Take more photographs. Spend more time at the beach. Camp. Discover more about myself.

Blog like there's no tomorrow.

Thank you for sharing this amazing year full of challenges and changes with me, I appreciate every single one of you who visits here each day and wish you all the best.

Happy (almost) New Year's to all of you

xo Alyson

A long way down

2010-12-29T21:39:00.000-08:00

Saw Black Swan last night with Ty and Cenquist yesterday and can flat-out say I was blown away.

The film was so intense I had trouble walking afterward because I'd unintentionally been clenching all the muscles in my body the entire time. It left me astounded and breathless.

I has expected to be impressed by the performances but I found myself being so on-edge with Natalie Portman's depiction of the perfectionist ballerina that it made me nervous to watch.

I'm glad to see Mila Kunis has come into her own as an actress since That 70's Show, providing the perfect antagonist and I'm glad to see she's come into her own as an actress since That 70's Show and Vincent Cassell (as always) seduced me completely. The ferocity between all the characters was almost palpable and was enhanced by absolutely stunning camerawork.

From the opening scene (one of the most intense in recent memory) to the credits it captured my attention and held on tight until well after the film was over.

Discussing it with the boys afterward over drinks I realized that I've seen most of the major blockbuster films to come out this year that are contenders for Best Picture (except 127 Hours which I have yet to see), and that, for me, Black Swan blows them completely out of the water.

From the hauntingly beautiful soundtrack -which I am currently listening to- to the razor-sharp performances given by the cast, it overshadows anything that's come out this year, by far.

Definitely go see it.

Everybody only wants to fight

2010-12-29T10:39:00.000-08:00

If I could I would write all day. I would clear my cluttered mind of all that's nagging me and keeping me from being productive, eating, sleeping, everything.

I would explain in-depth the loss I feel, the pain over the disrespect and the complete disregard for my thoughts and needs. That while I do my best to be considerate I don't receive the same in return and no amount of talking or explaining is changing that.

There's a simple solution but nothing is, really.

Things turned out so right for strangers in the night

2010-12-24T13:41:00.000-08:00

I was going to make a video wishing you all a happy holidays,

But I looked stupid, I don't video as well as, say Shambled Rambler so I gave up and took a silly picture instead.

But there's lots of Holiday drinking in my future, so a Christmas Miracle might still happen.

Let's have a toast for the douchebags

2010-12-23T16:32:00.000-08:00

I wasn't a nice teenager. Maybe none of us were, but me especially.

I try to make up for it by being a nice twentysomething.

Sometimes I fail.

I don't always call enough, I don't always say 'I love you' enough, I don't always remember yr favourite colour or yr favourite song.

Maybe I should visit more, smile more, open more door for strangers and carry grocery bags for little old ladies. I need to say 'thank you' more often, tell people to have a nice day more frequently, give more loose change to the Salvation Army donation bins.

But damn it, I'm going to start.

You should be flattered at how my words they just scatter

2010-12-22T07:08:00.000-08:00

Lady readers, are you worried about how to behave at the Holiday festivities this season? Never fear, Alyson and her Party Tips from 1952 are here to help:

1. Never anticipate the point of any joke or anecdote of your male companion. Laugh politely as though it is the first time you have heard it.

2. Overlook the deficiencies of others when you are talking to them; they may be the result of ignorance.

3. Avoid, at all times, mentioning subjects or incidents that may disgust potential suitors. This is especially true about vermin, noxious plants, or instances of uncleanliness.

4. It is a mark of ill-breeding to use French words or phrases.

5. Under no circumstance correct a male companion in speech or fact, even if you know he is mistaken. It is not a woman’s place to do so and will invariably end in awkwardness.

So remember these if you get confused about your place in the world and happen to step out of the kitchen and away from the oven.

You keep me nice and sore and cold down to the core

2010-12-21T11:25:00.000-08:00

The Russian Futurists "Paul Simon" Official Video from Upper Class Recordings on Vimeo.

CBC Radio 3 keeps pimping out The Russian Futurists into my earbuds today.

What do you guys think?

I'm pretty partial to their sound, but I think it's video that's won me over.

Dinner with my Toronto Aunt tonight, can you believe Christmas is this Saturday?

These lips will neve seek another's

2010-12-19T15:42:00.000-08:00

Finishing Your Exams with Finesse

How do You Say 'Oaxaca'? And Other Nacho-Ordering Dilemmas

From Beer to Wine and Back Again: A Nighttime Journey

Clear Nail Polish and Other Hints for Clumsy Partygoers

Projection-Mapping for Beginners

DJing for Dummies

Burger King in the Late-Night and Other Confessions

Wishing you were somehow here again

2010-12-15T11:22:00.000-08:00

Exam week.

All the sights of Paris pale inside your iris

2010-12-13T20:45:00.000-08:00

Is it okay to tell the Internet that you just had a two-day hangover?

Is it okay to say that you definitely threw up Chinese food last night and fell asleep watching Terminator 2?

Is it okay to say that that's because Santacon was a resounding success and pictures will appear once flickr gets back to loading again?

Is it okay to say that because you were still too out of it, that you couldn't study today, that you didn't have your Dexter Season Finale Hang-Out with @cenquist?

Is it okay to say that while Normalcy will resume tomorrow, it just isn't going to happen today and a snack and bed are in your near/immediate future?

Is it okay to say that despite feeling like garbage for 48hrs you wouldn't have traded this weekend for anything?

Well I'm just gonna say it anyway.

They'll catch you now or never

2010-12-09T15:31:00.000-08:00

Today I got hit by a car.

I was crossing the road at the lights on my way to my English exam and a car slid through the red and into intersection and into me.

Don't worry, I'm okay.

I just got pushed a few feet and landed into the slush. The guy went to get out but I was fine and hobbled away because I was going to be late for my exam.

All day I just felt a bit banged up and annoyed because I smelled faintly of Puddle, but when I was on the couch eating my mushroom soup and watching Boondocks I realized that if he'd been going faster I could have really been hurt or even worse
died.

I started thinking about all the things I'd miss out on.

Like a pint of beer after a long day. Cuddles with Tyrone. My iPhone. Rare steaks with feta and roasted red pepper sauce (omnom). Holding hands. Fuck yeah Ryan Gosling. Swimming in Grand Beach, drunk, at 3am. Grebbles. The first (of many) snowfalls. Watching 4chan protect Wikileaks. My friends. Planning for the future. Living in the moment. Mind-blowing vegan food. The Internet. My Grandma S. Going on adventures in Adventure Boots. You.

Luckily I'm okay and live to adventure, party, tweet, love, blog another day.

To die by your side is such a heavenly way to die

2010-12-08T22:05:00.000-08:00

I was having a really bad day, honestly.

But reading this on a friends FaceBook profile made it all better:

oh and while your all still lookin at this post and reading i figured i may as well post some stuff for you all to go read. google civialin inmate labor program a declassified military document on concentration camps being built. been goin on since 1984. modern militia movenment. if you are of christian belief, a sovereign citizen, upset with the governemt you are clasified a terrorist. look up population control and learn what henry kissinger is really about. oh and barry sotouro yeah thats obama's real name he's not american. yeah do you also know that canada is bringin on forced vaccinations? or that health canada puts cheothereapy drugs in fast food and french fries baked goods junk food etc? like i said the info is there you just have to know where to go to get the info.

... Woah.

Maybe this guy wrote Scarlett Johansson is actually a clone too.

Think about the sun

2010-12-06T10:59:00.001-08:00

Bought Adventure Boots on the weekend for what else Adventuring.

They have ruffles and remind me of feet from Scott Pilgrim which makes them cooler than the other Ugg ripoffs I could have bought.

Plus they have fur on the inside which is good because brrrrr is winter here.

So walking around getting supplies for Santacon this past weekend was a breeze thanks to my Adventurous Feet.

"But what's Santacon?" you ask?

Well, it's when a group of ~~idiots~~ rowdies dress up like Santas and go on a pub crawl.

This is what it looks like:(Taken from the Santacon Wpg group)

If you live here and aren't going I don't know what's wrong with you.

Even my friend from the Internet is going!

Which leads me back to Adventure Boots and all the sort of debauchery and nonsense I'm going to get up to while I'm wearing them
(as opposed to inside debauchery and nogoodness)
and getting stoked about it at work.

What else am I supposed to do until Tumblr comes back online?

Here I am in this this uniformish pantsuit sort of thing

2010-12-02T11:48:00.000-08:00

Lasy night your (potentially) favorite boyfriendgirlfriend team had their socks rocked by Rufus Wainwright.

Pictured above with Brit pal Teddy Thompson who sang some ditties with him.

Wow's all I can say.

Well, not really.
I can say more.

The first half of the performance was really odd, avant-garde Rufus in a huge long cloak with a massive feathered collar piece and a five-plus foot train with creepy eye visuals and haunting piano.

Odd, but cool. I can dig it.

Unfortunately some dude in the 2nd row (we were in 4th -booyah) was loudly calling him inappropriate things
(yes, h's gay, get over it)
and made his poor wife leave in intermission between the avant garde piece and the regular kick ass performance.
Some people.

Luckily everyone else loved it.
He got a standing ovation and I dug his purple velour jacket and crazy green pants.
And his amazing, haunting, gorgeous voice.

I only need one pin to show where my love's at

2010-11-29T07:27:00.000-08:00

It's snowing again and I forgot my toque today; big fat snowflakes I can feel melting on my ears already.
(I get frostbite every year, no matter what)

Had my final English class just now; Academic Writing is Over. English is Over.
Everything wraps up this week exept exams.
One this week, one next and one the next.
Simultaneous panic and relief.

"It's almost over" overshadowed with "but not yet".
Hence, tonight I spend studying.

But it's hard to keep writing when I can look out the window and watch the snow fall.
We've gotten so much this year, already.
Which is
fine
but honestly, I miss the sun and it snows most days, all day.

Grey skies and white snow and grey ground and nobody's faces
because we're all looking down
trying not to slip and fall.

I can't help but think about explorers from decades ago exploring the unknown white
how scary it must have felt
frostbite
snow-blindness
starvation
hypothermia.

Now we just worry about the slushy curbs
and not falling under a bus
did we forget our mittens at home
and will I pass my exam next week?

Priorities change, I guess.

News Flash!

2010-11-28T16:52:00.000-08:00

HEAVEN IS FOR REAL
I know, because Fox & Friends told me so.

Eugh.
This bullshit makes me sick.
Honestly

I'm gonna kiss you where the sun don't shine

2010-11-26T07:34:00.000-08:00

Today is Friday and also Black Friday for my American homes and the first day of the rest of our lives.

We've been studying The Holocaust in English and it scares me
makes me wonder what it's like to die
or, at least
to know it's coming, maybe tomorrow
maybe tonight.

I read once that if some nearby star exploded we'd be vaporized instantly
never know.
If that happened, I hope I'd go out doing something cool
like tandem skydiving in a sequined onesie
or high-fiving Billy Murray.

Maybe.

Speaking of space.

NASA found oxygen on Rhea which is mind-boggling
I wish we'd just find some other intelligent life already
can you imagine?
It would change everything.

Though I guess the best sign of intelligent life in the galaxy
is that it hasn't bothered to contact us.

Who said that?

It's like a dream to me

2010-11-25T11:47:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you just need a break from the 'ol grind.

If I can't have you then nobody can

2010-11-23T21:41:00.000-08:00

Had a killer cocktail party on the weekend.

Quite the shaker.

My last one for a few weeks; it's exam time and my social life is on lockdown.

Goodbye, social life.

I'll see you in a few weeks.

Movember

2010-11-18T17:56:00.001-08:00

Ty isn't growing a mustache for Movember, but does a five o'clock shadow count?

Do open windows keep the rain away?

2010-11-18T11:58:00.000-08:00

Coffee's done and it's too loud to write essays anymore; the late afternoon surge of students arrives and everyone, everyone is yelling about something or laughing obnoxiously.
Did I do this? Do I still?
I like to think I've become more considerate in public spaces as the years pass but I can't pass judgement on the teenage bimbos fresh out of high school that flit about in their size 00 pants and double-bleached hair.
I try hard not to judge them but find myself doing it anyway.
This is University, I want to say, Shape up!

It feels like I haven't see the sun in days, when was the last time it was sunny here? It's starting to snow today and the impending feeling is that it will never s
stop we're being plunged back into Winter and I don't know when we'll emerge, covered in slush and smelling like Outside.
I can almost feel the frostbite on my ears already.

At least it's a good excuse for a bottle of white wine with dinner.

2010-11-17T23:38:00.000-08:00

These nights I find myself awake, too late
tossing doing nothing
calm won't come.

Panic, what can I do?
try, try, try.
It feels Insufficient
Pathetic.
Irrelevant.

Where does the time go?
so divided.
Not enough time for everything.
Time for Nothing.

this precarious balancing act I've gotten myself into
I don't feel like I can balance anymore

I'm so afraid of f~~ail~~ling.

The bedroom lights of Genova heights are haunting me

2010-11-17T19:59:00.000-08:00

Hair dye is setting in and itching but maybe that's also me, thinking about all I have to do and all I've accomplished so far.

Post-work went Christmas shopping again; nearly done for this year and got a ton of neat goodies for Ty that I hope he'll appreciate. Think he will. Know he will. Only two relatives left to buy for and then a plethora of baking for gift baskets for friends.

Have I told you that Christmas is my favourite time of year?

Despite the over-saturation of songs, frills and bullshite just giving presents and being with the people I love makes me so unbelievably happy. Screw you, consumerism.
Speaking of which, had lunch at Lo Pub with Candice between jobs and I have to say that @Cenquist's recommendation of the mushroom nut burger was much appreciated- one of the best 'burgers' I've had in a long while!

Also it was cheap. Like, 12$ with a Coke Zero cheap.

My student budget thanked me.
Fall Term's nearly over (eek!) and once I'm done all the papers, presentations and exams I'm looking forward to a few weeks of working a bit and relaxing. Read some books
(though not pictured above)
hit the gym more regularly, do a bunch of baking and maybe set up a MNML SCRFDT 2 with Ty before Christmas comes.
Funny how being in school kind of almost makes the time slip away.
How is it nearly December?
This is what I wore to work today. Since I got frostbite last year (and the one before, and the one before...) I sport toques nonstop now while out rushing to class or work or out on Adventures.

My life is a nonstop adventure.

Did I mention that I still have to prep for a cocktail party I'm hosting this weekend?
It never stops and I love it.

I have lost my fangs

2010-11-15T16:24:00.000-08:00

Have I ever confessed my love of Asian markets to you?
Saturday in a flurry of shopping Ty and I went a bit crazy at Young's Market on McPhillips and came home with bagfuls of delicious goodies. Home-made Pho was had that evening as well as a delicious salad with spinach, goat cheese (not Asian but whatevs), dragonfruit, starfruit and pear.

This healthy and delicious lunch was followed up by a few rounds of beer, wings and fried pickles with some MixHard peeps for a MH Wing Night at -where else- Hooters.
What is up with those hot pants? Seriously.

Today, however, isn't as decadent as I was blindsided by a vicious cold that was waiting for me when I woke up this morning. I spent all day waiting to go home, got home... and my Grandma called.

She's sick, and asked if I could walk to Shoppers and get her some medicine. So I bundled up in all the wool I could find (and two scarves!) and plunged back outside into the cold, wind and the darkness so Grandma S. could get her meds. I feel 10x worse now, but I hope she feels better, I heart her very much.

Acorn squash and sweet potato in the oven right now; gonna make a purée and set a date with the couch. I was going to write my English essay today but there's just no way that's happening now. Rest = needed.

Everything here's market fresh

2010-11-13T10:23:00.000-08:00

This is the only picture I have from the epic Double Birthday OMG party on Wednesday night. Screw taking pictures at my own party, right?

The turnout was massive, so many people. Such good music. Amazing, amazing times.

I'm still getting messages from people about what a good time they had today. Success!

And now, I'm 23.

So frantic, high above your home

2010-11-09T13:01:00.000-08:00

Wrote my Economics test today. Whew. Finally.
Didn't realize how much studying was stressing me out- I walked out of the classroom and immediately felt like a feather.

It's like I've snapped back into reality, and just in time because -guess what!- November 11th is my 23rd birthday and I couldn't be more excited because Nathan Zahn of Symptomtech and I are having a joint birthday party tomorrow evening!

It's called Double Birthday Oh My God and Tyrone even made up a sweet logo of Zahner and I for the event:
How great is this?!

Nathan and I had a great conversation about it last night- there's going to be cake (!!) and a cash bar, as well as some great local DJs (Chris Komus, C.H. Bassline, Alex Ridley + more!) and visiting DJ SISK is going to do a set as well!

It's going to be amazing, we're expecting a decent turnout and I can't wait to celebrate my 23rd with such fine people.

Not to mention I'm planning a smaller-scale cocktail party on Nov 20th as well since not everyone is into warehouse parties of the ridiculous variety. Does anyone in Winnipeg know where I can get a cupcake tree on the cheap??

So much planning and excitement and somewhere in there I have to finish up this school term and write exams?! Oh my!

Little things taking me over

2010-11-08T12:00:00.000-08:00

I am disenchanted with today.
Thus far there have a been a slew of things that have pushed me further and further into a bad mood.

Nothing I want to talk about here, really. I try not to bring negativity to The Blog and it's not really important stuff, anyway. Just annoying stuff.

D'you ever have those days? I'm sure we all do.

Let's let the great George Carlin remind us of what we have in common, and ideally some laughter will snap me out of this funk.

Here's hoping.

Black tears are falling, falling

2010-11-07T16:59:00.000-08:00

Friday evening marked my anniversary dinner with Boyfriend Supreme. In addition to this uber-sweet note & flowers when I came home from work.
Outfit.
We chose the new uber-trendy tapas bar Segovia. Since they don't take rezzos we had to wait an hour and a half for a table to be ready, so in the meantime we grabbed some drinks and I was buzzing by the time we got there. A fabulous start.

And the foodgasm begins:
Patatas Bravas (aka... fancy poutine)
Marinated white anchovies.
Spanish cheese selection with home-made crackers.
This combo of (I think) bleu cheese, compote and cracker was amazing. Hands-down.

And the two specials:
Bison tartar. Best raw meat I've ever had
Pork cheeks on parsnip purée.

Amazing. I highly, highly recommend this place if you live in Winnipeg or happen to be visiting. Despite the wait (which wasn't that bad, all the shops in the Village were still open and we had time for drinks at Billabong) the service was impeccable, the restaurant itself was gorgeous, and the food flew out of the kitchen.

It's hands-down the best restaurant experience I have ever had. Definitely go!

Patience, patience

2010-11-07T11:59:00.000-08:00

So much to talk about. Went for a fancy dinner that needs reviewing on Friday. Went to a gallery opening last night. Spent all morning sleeping in and didn't have brunch till 1:30 in the afternoon and still need to overhaul-clean the apartment, study and spend some more quality time with Tyrone.

Busy day. Love it. Love you. xo

Cross through paralells

2010-11-05T20:01:00.000-07:00

I loves Aqua from when I was younger... Barbie Girl is an eternal fav.

But when I looked them up on YouTube just now I didn't expect to find this epicness:

Wow.

Washed up on the glittering shoals

2010-11-05T13:33:00.000-07:00

I was sitting around recently thinking about how awesome it is to be me and how lucky I am and I thought "thank goodness nobody has the ability to be me, other than me".

Nobody can pretend to be me to fight off attackers, or to trick other predators, or could even pretend to be fourteen of my other friends in order to trick me.

Oh, wait. There's apparently an octopus that can mimic other animals.

Shit!

Luckily for me I don't happen to be a poisonous sea-creature.

Seriously, I'm not. I'm nowhere as cool-looking (though I try).

Otherwise I'd be really worried.

There's heart and then there's hate

2010-11-04T22:12:00.000-07:00

Today was pretty rough, it didn't go so well.
But luckily today is now yesterday because it's 12:30am on Friday Movember 5th.

It's my favourite non-holiday, Guy Fawkes Day, where Brits get together and burn effigies of him and have fireworks.

Even if I won't be having a bonfire myself, I'll definitely at least light a candle and raise my glass (over my highly anticipated anniversary dinner at Segovia Tapas Bar for the day that Parliament wasn't blown up.

But before that I need to catch up on some sleeps, night loves!

Take it easy on me

2010-11-03T13:21:00.000-07:00

Sitting here stuffing my mouth with butternut squash pad Thai it strikes me how much has happened in the past year, how far I've come, how things have changed.

How, a year ago today, I began a relationship that would enrich my life and make me happier than I'd ever imagined possible.

It blindsided me. I remember sitting there, torn up about it because I felt so deeply about someone that I knew I couldn't be with... and in a matter of a couple of weeks suddenly everything changed and there we were. Together.

And every day since, he's made me unbelievably happy and has reminded me of how lucky I am that we have one another.
I love you for totes. Massif heartz!

Lost out on this highway

2010-11-02T06:59:00.001-07:00

Sun's shining for the first time in what feels like ages; spent the weekend in a whirlwind of costume-making, drinking, being hungover and generally neglecting my adult responsibilities as a whole.
Sometimes you just need to slack off, y'know?
It isn't just blogging hay I miss most, it's keeping up with the lives of all the blogging peeps that -oddly- I find myself so drawn to, missing their lives when I can't check up on them every day and see how they're doing.
December Break is coming and it's going to be both a cause for stress (before) and a release (during). On one hand I'm stressed for papers and exams, planning two of my own birthday parties (I turn 23 on November 11th!) and not losing my head in all of it somehow.
From where I am sitting I can see my Grandma's condo; even though I call her about once a week to let'er know I love'er I don't see her as much as I want either.

December where art thou? My month of working one job, sleeping in, reading at my leisure, going to the gym regularly, and baking way too much.

Can't wait!

I guess that this must be the place

2010-10-29T07:21:00.000-07:00

Woke up this morning feeling refreshed and cuddled and decided to skip English because -honestly- I can gert more productive learning done on my own time than that class. So I hit up Tim Horton's with Ty and enjoyed a leisurely coffee- so nice to relax on a Friday morning! I so rarely get to when I'm dashing out to class and to get my day started.

Wine date tonight with Candice; she just texted "be prepared to watch me clean my disaster kitchen!". Stoked!

Girl behind me at a table is loudly discussing with her friend about going through her bf's BB and finding him texting a number she doesn't recognize and she keeps repeating "I wonder how I can find out who that number is?". Have any of you ever done that? I can't imagine going into something as personal as someone's phone and looking for dirt, can you? Listening to this girl behind me makes me feel so thankful for all the good things I have -most specifically that I have a partner that I trust. I can't imagine feeling that that's necessary, or worrying like that. No thanks!

Speakng of which, need to get some prezzies tonight - my 1yr with Ty is next week, I can barely believe it! Time flies. But what can I get him? Men are so difficult to shop for, I literally walk around pointing out everything I'd like to have.

Luckily I have a secret weapon for Christmas ready, so if I blow it on this gift then at least I can hit the ball out of the park come December.

Besides, if worst comes to worst there's always the gift of sweet, sweet lovin'

Happy Friday! xo

Tomorow came and went

2010-10-27T15:35:00.000-07:00

Blurry img because I was trying to be incognito about taking it.

This girl in my English class this morning was asleep. And snoring. Loudly.
If I were a prof I would have stopped and said something; I mean really? Texting is one thing, but falling asleep and snoring?
Eesh.

Had another terrible encounter on the transit bus this morning on the way to the dentist's office which re-affirmed that bus drivers must really hate their lives if they have to pick on people:

I was in a rush and counted what I thought was exact change... so I pop my fare in and the bus driver calls me back and points it out that apparently I was .35 cents short (fare here is $2.35)... even though I don't think he could have known because there was a ton of change in there already?

Well it was the last of my change. Literally. I asked nicely if he could just let me on because I had a dentist appt to get to. He repeats that I am .35 cents short.

Repeat that convo 4-5 times... he finally just gives up and lets me on.

I go to sit down and he calls me back and refuses to move the bus
(now other passengers are giving me cut-eye...)
until I fill out a "Transit Delinquency Form" which is apparently where you put your name, address and phone number so Transit can call you to collect the fare you're missing?

Honestly, isn't the envelope and postage worth more than the supposed .35 cents?

I clearly didn't put my real name/address on it (eff that noise) because... you know what? I'm a good person, I'm a student, and I made a mistake and this dude decided to take his frustrations on the world out on me in front of a busload of people.

Honestly sometimes I think the majority of bus drivers are only in it so they can get their jollies by hassling people who seriously just need to get where they're going.

Geez.

In your tiny circuit boots

2010-10-26T20:30:00.000-07:00

Perfect evening.

Post-midterm unwinding, we ordered some 'zah with chicken, tomato, feta and oregano that blew my face off. Watched some Aqua Tern Hunger Force and chilled with the 'ol iPad. Put on my leg warmers and listened to it rain outside.

Big 'tings a g'wan these next few weeks to be stoked about, I wish it weren't only Tuesday so I've got to make the rest of the week count so it goes bv faster.

Halloween costume is almost ready... my Renaissance Man is sewing me a custom dress and we've got some projects in store for this weekend too. We're going to a bumpin' loft party and aside from showing off our killer combo costumes I can't wait to see what everyone else comes up with.
This is definitely one of my favorite holidays.

Next year we might be going as Vince Noir and Howard Moon. Maybe get a Milky Joe prop?

I'm a monkey in a long line of kings

2010-10-26T13:10:00.000-07:00

It's pouring like crazy outside and I'm glad I am inside, on campus, studying most of the day away and breaking occasionally to drink coffee or pee or in this case blog.

Most of the time I study in a silent study-place like the Loft area of at a secluded table but campus be bumpin' today so I am in the communal area near Cafe Bodhi and have been for the last few hours. Consequently a bunch of different people have sat down around me and had conversations and I can't help but eavesdrop, you know?

The kids (younger than I) next to me right now are currently talking about moms who harass their fat daughters and the how the girl believes that it "compounds her belief that people need to learn life lessons before having kids". I find that funny for some reason?

Earlier they were talking about a friend taking drugs and how they were worried he would be "hugging everyone and humping walls and stuff" and I almost laughed out loud and told them to stop listening to PSA warnings because there's a lot more in the world that they need to be worried about than someone with big pupils getting snuggly with peeps.

The guy just said his friend smokes "marijuana drugs". This is amazing.

I spend a lot of my time examining and listening to other people; I guess sometimes I'm judging but mostly I'm just looking. People fascinate me, I'm interested in what makes people dress the way they do, why they think the way that they think, and how they became who they are. Most of this I can't figure out by passing them on the street but sometimes I make up stories about them, a pretend life for them in my head that explains why they're taking Astronomy or are wearing Crocs in public.

These two are among my faves; people who seem completely unaware that there's a crowd of people around them and just talk and talk and talk and I love every second of it. They've gone from drugs to cigarettes to bad parenting, A&W to Mars bars to gym workouts. It's like a two-hour snippet into the lives of these two people I'll probably never meet again. I get to hear their thoughts, views, and snippets of

"and if you ever try a hallucinogen, those make you crave cigarettes".

You always get what you want

2010-10-25T19:28:00.000-07:00

Bashed my elbow and the my knee and fell down today.
Snagged my turquoise cardigan on a filing cabinet and tore the sleeve.
Got rained on.
Got smoked by a cyclist who zoomed around a corner on the sidewalk and sent me flying.
Cried.
And I'm blogging in my bra and jeans and I need a drink so
so
badly. and am going to go and walk into the kitchen right now and get it -roommate be damned, I already saw his gf in her underpants today when she didn't think I was home.
Sweet.

It's one of these, here's a montage of one of the best commercials ever:

I haven't even seen half of these, they rule.
Too bad the beer are pretty shitty. But they're free so who cares.

Spent all night studying for an exam tomorrow and wound myself up too tight so this portion of the evening is brought to you (me) by drinks swiped from Roommate Supreme and Teh Internetz.

Love y'alls.

It Gets Better

2010-10-22T14:30:00.000-07:00

President Obama spoke out online today as part of the It Gets Better video project headed by Dan Savage after gay teen Billy Lucas committed suicide as a result of the teasing he endured.

It's an amazing, important project and it not only demonstrates that the US has a thoughtful and compassionate leader, but it's an outstanding example of the ability for people to connect and support one another online and hopefully it helps save lives.

2010-10-22T12:16:00.001-07:00

Happy birthday Tony Pierce!
Love you.
Love the Busblog.
xo

I need a Russian fur hat

2010-10-20T22:48:00.000-07:00

I know you guys agree

Through the window of my eyes

2010-10-20T21:59:00.000-07:00

Adventured like crazy on Saturday and consequently wrote-off Sunday. Whoops.
Hustled to Mitchell's Fabrics for some Halloween costume fabric.

Ty's sewing it for me, isn't that sad? Not that he can sew, but that I can't?
Call me old-fashioned, but I keep feeling like it's something I should know how to do.
That and darn socks.
Okay, maybe not.

Did you know that Mondragon has the worst service ever? It does.
We must have sat there for a good 10-15 minutes before the waitress even came over to ask "do you guys have menus yet?" and Ty was harassing me to leave.

But I wanted my hipper, vegan, snobby food, damnit.
Also, I totally used their bathrooms which were "non-gender specific". Oye.
On it!
He just keeps getting cuter, doesn't he? Or is it just me?

I managed to get most of the way through the free copy of the Uniter before our orders even got taken, but let me tell you, Mondragon's Dragon Bowl salad
(not served in a bowl, though, they lost points for that...)
was amazing.
Hands-down the best sans-meat salad I've ever had.
Devoured.
(Also, they won points for serving it with chopsticks)
Fancy some home-made pottery?
Me, neither.
It's almost election time here in the 'Peg! I'm stoked to vote Sam Katz the hell OUT of office!

For those of you who don't know, he's our sleazy-as-hell, rude, secretive mayor who is only out to line the pockets of his buddies and I can't wait to not-vote for him.
Not that the alternatives are all that much better, honestly, but I'll vote for anyone who isn't this asshole.

Moving on.
Woody McBride at The Academy!

It's also Komus & Ridley's release Magnet on Communiqué Records, I'm so proud of them!
Their track is available on Beatport here, and the set of shots I did from the show are here.

Been having issues sleeping lately... or rather, sleeping enough.
Ever go through a phase where no matter how much sleep you get, you still find yourself being exhausted?
What did you do?
I'm running myself into the ground here because my sleep can't keep up with my life.
Suggestions?

Of course, this Wisdom Tooth Action doesn't help either.
Hellooooooooooooo T3's!