All I Want For Christmas

I do want my two front teeth but I'll be losing four wise ones. But no, all I want for Christmas is, for the trip to be safe, but mainly just really fun; for my weekend of teeth-removal-recovery to be filled with box-sets, T-3’s and jello; to have reunions with friends over coffee, but preferably wine; to skate around the rink with the ladies and the boy; to watch the fire log on TV on Christmas morning and Home Alone with my bro on Christmas afternoon. I want a full memory card of pictures and videos. I want to run into everyone at buck’s…even though really I'll pretend to hate that.

December 1st is upon us.

Two Weeks

All my troubles on a burning pile, all lit up and I start to smile.

Commodore

This is my second time and probably his one hundredth. It makes me feel almost guilty. I wasn't legal before I insist, but this is the Commodore, an institution, he just rolls his eyes. We check our coats and he knowingly walks to the best spot in the room. I'm not convinced. Scanning the crowd he scoffs at the Star Wars t-shirt clinging to the skinny hipster beside us. "I had that t-shirt thirty years ago and threw it out...I bet he bought mine for $50." Everything old is cool again? I'm sure he's noticed. The opener plays and the sound is amazing. His 'spot' lends to the best acoustics. As the main act starts I comment on the volume, have i not been to a show in this long. "You think this is loud? Ha, I've seen the Ramones live here four times, now that's loud." I know nothing, my Dad wins.

Nightfall Will Be Coming Soon

Summer came it seems like forever ago. And the months off school used to be the only constant in the year, aside from maybe Christmas. We always had to work too much, we always went out more then we could handle and we were always all going to be together.

This summers forecast looks drastically different then years before. Sitting on the mossy hill doesn't feel the same and neither does the Drive. Thankfully the rocks* have remained in place but those mountains sure seem taller. And while a deafening silence has fallen over the palace, it's been awfully loud inside my head.

Yearning for the concrete jungle is just as pointless as it is painful. Ill be back eventually.

*my master distracter, wing-man and TT.

Timeline

summer comes to multiply, to mulitply.
and i...
i'm the carnival of peace.
i'll probably start a fleet, with no apologies.

Brass Knuckles

Everyone's (mine) favourite pint size duo has done it again. Well, actually, Robert Lee Morris has done it again…for them. Regardless, I’m hooked on the latest Elizabeth and James jewellery and I’m attempting to find a way to justify a purchase. Or two?

That charm bracelet will be on my wrist come summer end...

Twain-ed

"Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of eighty and gradually approach eighteen..."

True? "Truth is the most valuable thing we have. Let us economize it"

Or False? "Fiction is obligied to stick to possibilities. Truth isnt"

Unknown...

The Challenge

"News Girls" --Rom vs. Juls

We have recieved a challenge set up by the aunts, who are each sewing and sartorial experts. It's a Project Runway of sorts, Bain Ave. style. We have to either make or re-make a complete outfit from head to toe making sure to stick to the rules set up at the beginning.

This months theme: Menswear
This months rules: stay on budget, blog as we go, be finished come months end.

And so the brainstorming begins. I'm on the team that has to make an outfit from scratch. We have decieded to take our cues from Hannah MacGibbon, channeling Chloe's springtime pantsuits and jumpers. We plan to bring the hem lines up, add an 80's inspired silk tie and maybe find material in a colour other then navy. This is just the beginning, but here are some of the photo's weve pulled into our 'inspiration' folder...

Good luck Rom!

Crazy Nature

No, you are not tripping out, or dreaming. This is a pink dolphin.

This bottle-nose dolphin is albino. And she's the only one in the world.
Her pink colouring has created such a craze at Lake Calcasieu (Louisiana), where she resides, that environmentalists are calling to leave the poor thing alone.

Chapter Three

I have not abandoned my new year’s resolution to update more frequently. But, ten days back home and weeks of looong days at school has left little time for breathing let alone blogging...never the less. If anyone finds breathing room, maybe I can suggest a good read or two.

1) The Seamstress by Frances De Pontes Peebles.
A long but well written novel about two very different sisters, Luzia and Emilia. Set in the 20's and 30's in Brazil, this coming of age story follows the very different paths each girl takes as they weave through the rural and urban centres of their country. A good book to take up if you have the time to tackle 700 plus pages, cause once you start, you wont be putting it down.

2) Sweetness In The Belly by Camilla Gibb
One of the best book's I've read recently. Gibb's story of a white-Muslim from England, growing up in Morocco, and becoming a young woman in Ethiopia, is equally enthralling and heartbreaking. Lilly Abdal struggles with looking like a foreigner in a place that feels more then anything like home. While not nearly as long a read, it's another novel you won't put down once you pick up.

3) The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs
A great book if you don’t really feel like thinking. Definitely a lighter option, Friday Night Knitting Club follows the story of a group of women who, well, get together on Friday and knit. There’s friendship, romance, babies and tales of empowering women too. What’s not to like? Perhaps the end, which I took issue with, if only because it’s not what you expect. And that could be the best reason of all to pick it up.

Go get reading, or breathing, or both!

Why?

Commercials are something that I find beyond ridiculous. However, without them I know getting my weekly source of Jack Bauer and Chuck Bass would be impossible. So I deal. It's called mute. My roommate and I both have our commercials we absolutely despise. For Rom it’s that Maria Menounos hair commercial about volume...just no. For me it’s that new yogurt one where yuppies ask me if I’m feeling Yoptimal…I’m not. While both are beyond annoying, we have coping methods to deal.

There is one commercial however that has just gone too far. Not only does it make me feel weird, but it completely freaked me out the first time I watched it. I’m talking about the peer into a soul ones…where various characters walking up to an unknown window and then “peer” into it. There is no dialogue, merely text directing you to a website, peerintoasoul.ca. After seeing the commercial multiple times we thought it could be about anything from mental health to safe driving –oh how wrong we were.

Finally we checked it out. I was literally terrified at what may pop up on my screen, but when I did peer through my fingers, what was staring back at me…a freakin KIA. A car. A stupid little dumbass car. Needless to say we were choked. What the hell were they trying to portray with their ads? That wearing a really creepy mask and breathing heavily onto a window will spur the masses to purchase a new ride? Maybe they are just trying to get people to check out their site, generate some mystic? This, I'm sure, can be done without cauing mild panic attacks at opening their home screen. KIA...I’m not convinced...I'm just disturbed.

He's At It Again

No, not Michael Phelps and his bong (HA!), but that pesky Philly rodent. And you know what he saw --his shadow. Which means were in for a loooong winter, six weeks longer to be exact. This is the second year in a row that little jerk groundhog saw his shadow. It could be more then the second actually, but I will never forget last years winter in TO and I will never forget hearing the news of its extension. Nothing could have been worse. But if winter look’s anything like it has during these last two days, I think I can survive.

The Truth

"The trouble is that we have a bad habit, encouraged by pedants and sophisticates, of considering happiness as something rather stupid. Only pain is intellectual, only evil interesting. This is the treason of the artist: a refusal to admit the banality of evil and the terrible boredom of pain." Ursula K. Le Guin.

This quote is from The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas, a short story I had to read for class last semester. Probably the best short story I've ever encountered, Le Guin discusses the indiscernible parallels between utopian and dystopian societies. Something that is not as far from our current political discussions as it initially appears.

The quote is so close to the truth for me. There is a real appreciation for that which hurts. That which plays on our tragic realities. That which incites thought provoking melancholy. And I’m over it. Optimism may yield unrealistic results, but it’s much sweeter then peering through our present looking glass. I only wish that I had been introduced to this quote when I was in high school. The hours spent dissecting lyrics and the days spent capitalizing on what ifs could have been so much more productive.

They Probably Miss Linden

Six games! Really? Let's not make it seven. The Canucks face off at ten-thirty tonight (EST) and I'm sending my good vibes westward. Perhaps the AllStar break has given them the rejuvenation they need. They have their centre, they have their goalie, and there are no more excuses. Even my boyfriend, whose always has an unwavering devotion to the team, is getting fed up. It’s time boys, tonight is the night. I best be waking up to winning headlines tomorrow.

And beyond excited over this...

A bit amused over this...

Power To Palin

Obama's officially in office. George is thankfully back in Texas. Michelle looked beautiful in Wu. And, Sarah Palin pushed for renewable energy? Say what! The governor who famously coined "drill, baby, drill," announced yesterday that by 2025 the state of Alaska will attempt to obtain half its electricity from renewable sources. While the report is more of a guideline then a plan of action, Palin is garnering applause from environmentalists across the country. Alaska has the potential for tidal, wave, geothermal and wind energy so the shift to renewable sources is more then attainable. But leaving Palin in charge? I won’t even go there.

In other Obama news. Ilham Anas, a newspaper photographer from Jakarta, looks freakishly similar to the new President...

....he also look's pretty stoked about it.

(photo cred. the globe and mail)

Rachel Got Married

There. Now you know the ending. You no longer have to waste your time or money seeing it. In my attempt to see movies with potential Oscar candidacy I went and saw Rachel Getting Married. And for a movie that garnered such hype, I’m thoroughly disappointed. I found myself annoyed at all the parts that discussed and centered on the wedding. Then I remembered that was the entire premise of the film. Anne Hathaway does a good job playing the irritating egotist of a sister with the shady past and propensity for uppers. But, for a protagonist who propels the narrative of the movie, how come we had her figured out from the beginning? My roommate and I also struggled with the musical melange heard through the entirety of the process. We get it, your fiancé has rhythm. But as Rom pointed out, is it really probable that your wedding reception would turn into a fun loving club playing everything from blues and rock-n-roll, to reggae and jazz? Music aside, the less then climatic ending left me bitter not awe inspired. I didn't care about any of the relationships, nor did I care for the whiny undertones of the story. According to many, this opinion is not shared. So, if you’re interested in the dysfunctions of the Buckman's and watching thirty something excruciating minutes of wedding speeches, this is the movie for you.

You Fail

My adoration for blog's is no secret to my fellow classmates. So I was delighted when Carly pointed out one of her personal favourites. While it’s not a blog I would typically follow, failblog.org is one of the most amusing sites I've seen in a while. If you need a good laugh or enjoy making fun of people's stupidity, this is the place for you. After only looking through the first couple of pages I pulled out some personal favourites to share...

Gina the diva my wish to re-think this personalized plate. Thank god I didn't see this while driving.









No words needed...

Its Business Time

The Vancouver ladies are sadly making their trek back west, meaning the week long weekend is over and life resumes normality too early tomorrow morning. However, as I'm currently watching the Golden Globes I've been reminded of the impending award show that really matters. The Oscars.

I can attribute my fascination to my parent’s annual Academy Awards party. From Cuba Gooding Jr's over the top acceptance speech too Gwyneth’s teary water works. From Angelina Jolie's incestual kiss to Bjork's swan dress, I can vividly remember ticking off my predictions in anticipation of the best movie of the year. While the cinematic campaigning has become a little out of control none of the magic of award season is lost on me. I have many dates with the movie theatre before I can really think about winners. That and the nomination list needs to come out. But, if my early predictions mean anything I’m rooting for Slumdog Millionaire.

Back to the Globes --congrats Heath and best of luck too Mr. Penn.

Tech No Logic

The advancement of technology has become a re-occurring conversation as of late. And the idea of eventually being too old to "get it" has come up numerously. The thought of technologies evolution in our grandparent’s lives and even the evolution in our parent’s lives is ridiculous. My mom was quick to point out her move from the black and white to the colour TV, the toaster oven to the microwave, the gymnasium sized computer to the macbook. It's a tad overwhelming to think of.

A day before I came back to Toronto, I spent the afternoon with my 86-year-old Grandpa. He wanted me to add some contacts into his e-mail address book and then, teach him how to send one. I carefully went through each step and made sure to write it down for reference. After I had left, I attempted to remember the first time I learned to e-mail someone. But I couldn’t. My Grandpa is an intelligent man. But the concept of the internet is still relatively foreign to him. The idea that our futuristic selves may (will) be in-able to comprehend a technology so prevalent within our society leaves a lot to the imagination. If we have Iphone’s and Crackberry’s now, what will our cell phones look like when were 40?

On my plane ride back to Toronto, a man beside me had a lot of opinions to offer. If he could predict the future our cell phones would merely be chips implanted beneath our scalp. Using our thoughts to decide whether or not we wanted to answer. Using our thoughts instead of our mouth to even talk. He amusingly acted out a fake convo with his wife, pretending his brain was magically doing all the work. As she rolled her eyes at the spectacle beside her, she quipped,” relying on the thought process would effectively end every male’s ability to carry a conversation." Her words, not mine.

So This Is The New Year

Good-bye presidential elections. Good-bye Mr. President! Good-bye pregnant man*, Paul Newman, Playgirl and pit-bull Palin. So long high gas prices and disheartening headlines. So long harrowing temperatures and hipsters. So long Heath Ledger.

While 2008 soared high for probably one month too many, the falls felt internationally permeated through the fourth quarter and I’m looking forward to the change. It’s a new year, a clean slate and a reinvention for many. I’m a bit weary of resolutions. There tendency to disappoint or more appropriately disappear has always been my most reliable promise.

But this year looks different. The list is much shorter, though not necessarily sweeter. Filled with valuable realities as opposed too un-achievable fantasies. And if maintained could make for the most rewarding, if not productive, year yet.**

Happy 2009!

*He's at it again, stay tuned for the second baby later this year.
** Yes, I’m acutely aware of my breif twenty years here on earth...thanks.