Countdown to Concert - Day 6 (And 100th Post!!)

Concert's tomorrow!! Whee! Other big news - last archives class of the week, and my assignment will be duh-un by tonight. Wootness. To celebrate the end of the term, a group of us went to the Henry for dinns and drinks... I'm both full and a bit tipsy, and all around feeling fab. Ooooh, and MAD PROPS to Alex B. for alerting me to The Ricker being on The Hour tonight... bliss.

Today is triple threat day on the 'Festo... three most excellent concert tales to tell. But first...

Sarah Slean Song of the Day: "Playing Cards with Judas" (Blue Parade)

Ah, vintage Sarah. I was obsessed with this song a few years ago. I don’t know if it’s aged well, but I still like it. Her voice is quite nice on it, I think, and it's catchy.

Concert Tale of the Day, Part Une - Andy's

"FTR, the best concert I've seen was Metallica and Godsmack out west a couple of years ago. 3 hours of a frenzied bomabastic aural assault. At times the crowd was louder than the band, it was the rabid enthusiasm of the crowd that made it a sublime experience. But that doesn't make it my favorite concert, which was:

When I was 16 I spent much of the summer visiting my sister in Ottawa. The Canada Day celebrations were awesome, all kinds of parades and bands, that ran into the evening with the fireworks, an open field party not far from the canal, and later on hit Hull for the after hours experience. I can't really remember the bands (The Box was one of them), they were actually superfluous to the experience. This was, for the most part, my first direct encounter of a large scale urban event, and the sounds still mingle in with the sights, the memories of people with memories of myself and my enjoyment. This time is of great significance to me, as we don't really have any teeming metropolis' in Newfoundland, and I've always had a fascination with huge collective conglomerations. I would say that this was a pleasant cherry-breaking of sorts.

Too boring?

The worst concert I've been to? God, where to start..."

Concert Tale of the Day, Part Deux - Alex C.'s

"I should have written earlier as everybody else's stories are much better. I have never been licked by a punk band.

Best Concert: Another Roadside Attraction
Where: A huge park in Verdun (Monteal)
> When: Sometime in the summer of 93 (I think)
Featuring: A bunch of people including Daniel Lanois, Midnight Oil and the Tragically Hip.

We arrived at 11 when the gates opened, set up in a spot and stayed there. We drank peach juice and watched the small no name bands some of whom were really good. As my first big concert experience it was great to chilax in that kind of environment. I LOVED Midnight Oil and I got some pretty great shots on my disposable camera. The Hip were FANTASTIC, even though Gordon was stoned out of his mind. I have mentioned his rant before about the Americans and their guns and how we have to stand up. He then told us all to raise our fists in the air to indicate consensus. I'm pretty sure he said that it what the ancient Greeks or Romans or someone used to do. As I said --- STONED.

Best Moment: It was all pretty awesome.

Worst Moment: Getting hit in the head by a crowd-surfers foot, wearing some
heavy boot. Then getting nauseous from all the pot smoke."

Concert Tale of the Day, Part Trois - Mo's

"(Please don't) picture it:

Winter 1990, Winnipeg, the old Winnipeg Arena.

Before the Backstreet Boys, N'Sync and 98 Degrees (but not quite before Menudo...) there was Jordan, Jonathan, Joey, Donny and Danny.

My love affair with those New Kids (and if you'd asked the 11 year old Mo she would have emphatically assured you that "love" was the correct word to be using) began in the Fall of '89, and lasted, oh, I imagine until a month or so after said concert (young Monique having moved on by that time to Depeche Mode, ahh to be young and that fickle...).

I recall begging my mother for a ticket the second concert rumors started swirling. She answered by buying me a behind-the-scenes, all-access VHS release that provided glimpses of life growing up in working class Boston, and which of the guys liked ketchup with his KD while on the road. I also received the "Merry, Merry Christmas" album, which I insisted on playing as background, present-opening music Christmas morning. (My family may make me nuts, but really, they're saints...)

So no dice on geting concert tickets from the parents - what's a lovesick 11 year old to do? Answer: score some extra babysitting gigs. And that's exactly what I did. At 2 bucks an hour it took some doing to scrape together the $38 (!) bones for a ticket. Sadly I probably have not saved for anything so diligently since.

The concert did not disapoint. I went with my friend Angelina and, along with 10 000 plus other preteens, screamed for 90 minutes completely drowning out the boys (who probably weren't singing anyway, but oh those moves...). So. Embarrassing? Yes. But oddly enough, not regretably so.

And for the record, I was a Jordan girl." [Amen to that. ~ Jen]

Countdown to Concert - Day 5

What an exciting day over here. Sam just left after cooking a FANTASTIC dinner. I've got the drowsy after dinner lull setting in, which is nice. Also, today was the last systems class - woot to max. And perhaps the most exciting news of all, I got Renata her Jenmas gift today... it's so utterly perfect that I cannot wait to give it to her. I love getting people cool stuff.

So, concert news, it looks like we have the pre-concert dining decided upon. So, dinner - check. Outfit - check. Tickets - check. Whee!!

Sarah Slean Song of the Day: "Eliot" (Night Bugs)

A classic choice, I think. But seriously, who do you think you are opening a CD with this track? I maintain that the opening one-two-three punch of Night Bugs is truly amazing. And "Eliot" – ooh, shivers! The way the words just roll off the tongue, the saucy little piano. Love it. Her live version on Orphan Music is quite nice, but for me, the orchestration on the Night Bugs version can’t be beat.

Concert Tale of the Day - Alex B.'s (Edited for Space!)

"Date: 1998
Location: Bell Centre, Montreal, Que
Performer: The Spice Girls (sans Geri, of course)
Best Moment: Mel C coming out in a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey to piss off the Montreal crowd. Funny, and ballsy!
Most Embarrassing Moment: 1998. Bell Centre. Spice Girls. Just kidding; I'm quite proud that I saw them in concert as at the time, I was 14 and loving them.

Date: 2004
Location: Boston, Mass.
Performer: Sarah Brightman
Best Moment: Two moments ... a) the four flamers in front of us who kept screaming things like "you go girl!" and "oh my God! That dress is amazing!" and b) Sarah's giant swing upon which she sat while singing What a Wondeful World.
Most Embarrassing Moment: Crying like a baby during What a Wonderful World and The Phantom of the Opera suite. I'm a big theatre baby. Rose petals falling from the rafters, violins, and Andrew Lloyd Webber, and I'm done for. [We'll let this go... this time. ~ Jen]

Date: 2005
Location: Moncton, NB
Performer: Our Lady Peace, Maroon 5 (ugh), The Tragically Hip, and the Freakin' Rolling Stones!!
Best Moment: Keith Richards, and I quote: "It's good to be here." [5 second pause] "It's good to be anywhere, really." [5 second pause] "Where are we?"
Most Embarrassing Moment: Having to sit through Maroon 5 to get to the good stuff."

Countdown to Concert - Day 4

Oh my brrr. Where did this cold spell come from!? Winter coats and layers upon layers of clothes and accessories were out today, and that's just in the archives. Also, I hurt my hand... adding injury to insult, as it were. To make myself feel better and warmer, I got a white hot chocolate from the Second. I *love* white chocolate, and this was most tasty. Mmmm!

So, tonight I want to go home and relax, so I'll post up early. Today's pre-concert festivities including looking at menus for the pre-concert dinner. Narrowed down to two, so hopefully we'll be able to decide with minimal hair pulling and bloodshed.

Sarah Slean Song of the Day: "Mary" (Orphan Music)

While this song does appear first on Day One, I have to say I like the Orphan Music version better. Her voice is just so strong and fragile at the same time, and I think the song benefits from the stripped back piano solo. I'm actually quite looking forward to maybe hearing this on Friday.

Concert Tale of the Day: Miss J.'s

"Picture it if you will: Nurnberg, Germany, 2000. A 19 year old Jana Sheardown stands backstage left in the wings of a Goldfinger concert, tired, but content, from a long day of mosh-pit excitement and body surfers. She has one internally-raised eyebrow at the giant inflatable penises that are being tossed recklessly about by members of Goldfinger and the audience.

Cut to the end of the show, when members of Goldfinger exit stage left high on drugs, love, and what I deemed sub-standard showmanship. Darren, the drummer, chooses to express his happiness in the moment by grabbing my head and licking it from forehead to, well, tophead. Amused by the random act of licking, three more members of the band decide to take a turn licking my head. Having been licked by four of five members of the band, it is determined that I must visit the tour bus to be licked by the final member (I go along with this, of course, because I believe in seeing things through). In the tour-bus, I receive my final head-lick and wonder at the completeness of their Degrassi High rerun collection (or was it Saved by the Bell?)

Either way, I hope Sarah Slean doesn’t lick my head – but if she does, at least this time my hair will smell of Aveda shampoo and not mosh-pit."

Countdown to Concert - Day 3

It's getting closer!! I've had my outfit picked out and ready to go for like three decades now, and I so can't wait! Jana and I had an awesome moment at the mall on Friday, where I was describing said outfit and how I'd finally fit in at a Sarah Slean concert. As I was describing it, I realized it sounded very Lisa Loeb, which launched us into singing "Stay" for about ten minutes. Good times! Which actually leads to a side note - next semester, SIMs, we should go find a karaoke bar and let the good times roll.

Other than that musical interlude, I'm so burned out lately! Not stressed, per se, but archives is so keeping me on my toes that I'm finding it hard to find room for anything else. Le sigh. But never fear, the countdown continues.

Sarah Slean Song of the Day: Last Year's War (Orphan Music)

Omg, you guys, love it. I actually feel it’s one of her most overt songs. Like, whoa Sarah, you’re letting it all hang out – are you sure we want to be so honest about things!? Anyways, I love this song. I often say “this is what a song by me would sound like if I could write a song” and so far, the list that meets that criteria has really only ever included in honest two songs. Now, three. I'm not entirely sure when this song was written... it seems a little like older Sarah Slean stuff, but it's not appeared on any of her older CDs. Hrm.

Concert Tale of the Day: Jonathan, of "In My Own Place" fame

Best Concert You’ve Been To: Coldplay at the ACC in T-dot, mid-March 2006

What Made it So Good: My first and, so far, only "stadium" concert that I've been to. It was an experience on its own!

Standout Moment: The falling of the giant yellow balloons, the bouncing of these balls, the busting of these balls as Yellow was being performed.

Worst concert: this French-speaking boy band that we all had to go to...as part of this french immersion program that I did in Moncton, NB, during the summer of 2003. Couldn't understand a word they were saying (I didn't know enough French to comprehend). Being stuck in the heavy rainfall, not having a place to hide to, and not having a way to get back to the residence to escape the rain.

Embarrasing concert that I've attended: It's a toss-up between attending the free Shirelles concert at the Ex last summer and attending a Chantal Kreviazuk concert in 2000 or 2001 at the Grand Theatre in Kingston.

Embarassing moment during a concert: being caught lyp-syncing to the melody piece on the piano of a certain song called "Trouble". [Heehee, I always feel like such a noob when someone catches me singing at a concert! ~ Jen]

Countdown to Concert - Day 2

I'm soooo tired from working on archives all day... my brain feels like mush! So before I go chillax for the evening with Miss J., Sam, and Breakfast at Tiffany's, here's the countdown to concert goodness.

Sarah Slean Song of the Day: "Bank Accounts" / "Sweet Ones"

I put both of these up today because for some reason they seem like a set to me from Night Bugs. Both very cabaret, big sounds, dramatic, love love love. I think I’m particularly fond of "Bank Accounts" because I first heard it live. Kind of the same way I feel about "Book Smart, Street Stupid."

Concert Tale of the Day - Deb's

"Picture it - Bala, 1992, last week of summer. Dave and I were at a Blue Rodeo concert. We'd been friends for a while and we'd been hanging out a lot that summer since I'd asked him to be my friend-date to the grad formal. He was really nice and my family liked him and he had a cool motorcycle, but I just didn't feel THAT WAY about him. And it was getting pretty clear that he did, and I kept trying to avoid any moments that would allow him to address the situation, hoping that he wouldn't bring it up before he had to leave for college in the fall so we could stay friends. It was already the end of August, so I figured I was nearly in the clear. We were enjoying the concert, when Greg decided to slow it down a bit and play something romantic. So he turned to the crowd and said, I KID YOU NOT, "So maybe you're out there with that special girl, and you've been waiting to tell her how you feel but you've been afraid...and you should do that now, man", etc. etc. etc. All I could do was stare straight ahead and maintain my death grip on the edges of my seat. I could tell Dave was looking at me and I kept trying to send out "just a friend" vibes without actually making eye contact. Greg continued on this tack for what seemed like hours, though it was likely no more than a minute or two. The moment passed, Dave didn't say anything, the summer ended, he met a great woman at college and they now have three beautiful kids. (Okay, so it's no "we waited for the fifteen-year-old girls to leave and then we gave them a doll", but it's all I've got.)"

Countdown to Concert - Day 1

The Sarah Slean concert at the Cohn is this coming Friday, and natch, I'm super excited! As such, for the next week, I'll be getting all pumped up with two daily items - my Sarah Slean song of the day, and a concert story gathered from friends. For today, I'll use one of my concert experiences, but from then on it's up to the readers. So...


Sarah Slean Song of the Day: "Out in the Park" (Day One)

When I bought this CD (which was as soon as it came out), it was an absolutely ass time for me personally. The line from this song “You like to take the wind out my sails, but not this time” seemed to get me in a certain way, and became a bit of a battle cry. Well, the more things change, the more they stay the same, and this line, and song, still resonate. I saw her perform it live, and it was great there too. It’s so very Night Bugs in the way that a lot of Day One wasn’t, and while I love both CDs, it was nice to have that hint of the old in there. It's more recently appeared on the Orphan Music cd, and while I like both versions, the one on Day One wins out, probably because of the accordion. Delicious song, people, eat it up.


Concert Tale of the Day: Jenifesto's

I love love love live music, and I think the best concert I've been to was Elton John in grade 12, in Hamilton but I can't remember where. I went with my friend Sarah and her parents, and it was so totally kick ass. It was just Elton and a piano for the entire show, but he still tore it up and worked through his catalogue, playing so many awesome tunes. The most memorable moment however came at the end. All night, Dave (Sarah's dad) had been going on about how he just wanted to hear "Benny and the Jets." The show opens and closes and no Benny yet. So Elton comes out for an encore, walks about the stage, bows all over the place, walks over to the piano, and just hits the single opening note of Benny and walks away. Dave nearly soils himself in excitement, yelling "BENNY!!!" Elton took a few more bows, walked back over the piano, hit the second note, and walked away again. The crowd is totally losing it, because it's so totally obvious at this point that Benny is on the way, and I think it was then that Elton finally went back to the piano, finished the opening, and rocked out a totally awesome "Benny and the Jets."


K, most embarassing concert - um, either Garth Brooks (I had to go with my high school boyfriend's mom... I swear! I will say though that he does put on a decent show, and so rarely does one get to be surrounded by so many cowboy hats and tasseled/fringed denim shirts), or the free Kim Mitchell / BTO concert that Sarah and I went to outside of the Brantford Casino. I do believe that if you look up "White Trash" in the dictionary, that last sentence is given as an example.

Oooh, one more thing - holiday par-tay photos are up... if you want yours taken down, lemme know.

Saturday Morning Sesame Street Classic Kitsch: There's not much to do when your friends are all fish

I'm feeling sentimental this morning, so here's a less kitschy, more catchy little Sesame clip. Am I alone in loving when you get to see muppet feet? This isn't some foot fetish I'm revealing, but you so rarely see the feet of muppets, that when you do it's always hilarious. For example, when Ernie is swimming upwards, and his little feet are wiggling back and forth - too funny. Also, I think a few weeks ago I suggested that I quite liked Bert, with his hipster v-necks and sensible saddle shoes, but this little number really warms my heart for Ernie. I love the sleeping cap. And also his rhyming of "be" and "permanently."



Concert posts start later today!

Excited Squeal Noise!

So Miss J. and I went to the mall this morning... and it was AWESOME. I mean, so rarely do I leave the mall with such a sense of euphoria, and especially at this time of year! K k, here's what I'm squealing over - a marvelous pair of shoes that are completely impractical but gorgeous, my favourite bra from La Senza at a whopping 45% off, and the bestest of all, a most adorable and fabulous top from Club Monaco for $12.00!!! I love love love that store so much, and totally was prepared to look but not touch today, but $12!!!! Eeee! Anyways, tonight is the holiday party, so Miss J. and I will be decked out in our new finery. Pics to come tomorrow, of course.

Linkage

It's okay everyone - you can sleep a little easier now knowing that I've finally updated the Jenifesto Cooks blog with Sam's pizza. And while I think pork and fennel is a very specific taste, I'll post the recipe I made of that from last week (sooooo tasty).

Also, here's the link to my Harry Potter musings that I posted on another blog yesterday. I'm such a nerd, and I'm totally fine with that.

The Jenifesto Needs YOU!

Attention Regular Readers (you know who you are):

In anticipation of my concert event of the year – Ms. Sarah at the Cohn – I’m collecting concert stories for a week-long arc of posts. So, if you want to be a team player here, send me an email, regaling me with the following information:

Best Concert You’ve Been To:

Where and When:

What Made it So Good:

Standout Moment:

The Optional: Worst or most embarrassing concert you’ve been to (explain if necessary, but if it’s “most embarrassing” for a pretty ob-vi reason, say no more).

Bring the funny, bring the stories, bring the ROCK.

P.S. – I’ll also be harassing some of you by email.

Briefly...

I'm doing double duty this week, blogging over at Flotsam/Jetsam, so I've been all concerned about getting some cool non-personal posts up there. Nothing that you all don't know about so far, but tomorrow I'll either cross post or link up my review of the Harry Potter trailer that I'm posting about on F/J. Anyways, I'm *super* tired right now (at the *super* late time of quarter after 8 pm), but I feel like I haven't written anything in a while. I'm pleased to say that my school work is moving along... I'm finally able to work on my digital library, so that's cool. But enough about school - shopping. I feel like I write about that a lot, but I've been really into shopping for others lately. My most favourite store in all of the east coast, Biscuit, was having a fabulous sale last week, so I bought myself some cute-as-a-button cards and something for Miss J. for Jenmas. Whee! Tomorrow I'm going to go Jenmas card shopping (my list of people to send cards to grows exponentially every year), and then Friday with Miss J. to the mall for some SIMSA holiday party finery. Natch, I want new everything, but I'll try to restrict myself to some cute jewelry and maybe a top.

Oooh, and to close out this rather vapid post, I cornered our archives prof today and asked her about "St. John" versus "Sinjin"... and it's Sinjin. Boo-yah.

Holy Sexy Librarian, Batman!

I found this on YouTube the other night and LOVED it. *So* kitsch. Is there anything I love more than retro Batman and hot librarians together!? Everything about it is so dated, but so '60s, and there's nothing I love more than the time when men were men and women were stenographers. Okay, I do love things more than that, but this is so totally awesome, every minute of it, that it's beyond words.

Saturday Morning Sesame Street Classic Kitsch: Stick of Butter

All right y'all, I apologize for the quality of this one, but here it is - the "stick of butter" clip!!

I remember everything about this clip, especially the end with the closeup on the bread, milk, and bread... everything but that it was a girl! For the last like, 15 years, I remembered this being a boy. Am I alone in that? Anyways, tickled pink that someone has finally posted this on You Tube.

P.S.:Sorry for the brevity on today's post... not feeling particularly well!

Listed

Five little-known Jenifesto facts:

1. As much as I complain about my family being crazy, I talk to at least one family member every day.
2. I've been colouring my hair since I was 15, and I have no plans to ever stop.
3. Three things I love: Lou Dobbs, magic shows, glam rock.
4. I've never seen a Scorsese film. (No, not that one. Or that one either.)
5. I could serve you your ass on a platter in a game of Monopoly.

Pronunciation: I'm lovin' it

Instead of doing work this afternoon, I've decided to some more leisurely research into something that has been on my mind for some time. In my archives class, we're working on some papers belonging to someone with the middle name "St. John." Now, way way back in my fourth year of university, reading Jane Eyre, my professor kept talking about some character named "Sinjin" and I was like, "Wtf mate, Sinjin?" I finally put two and two together - that St. John was being pronounced as Sinjin. So, when in archives we were given this dude's papers, I assumed his middle name was pronounced Sinjin as well - a point I do not yet have confirmation on. But, I don't think anyone I've mentioned this to knows what I'm talking about either. Thus, this afternoon's research: how does one pronounce St. John in this context?

My researching skills are perhaps a bit rusty, and I don't think I've quite hit on the right search terms for this, but here's some back up I've found so far. Using the expected search terms brings up a lot of hits that say how Sinjin is an older English pronunciation for St. John when used as a first name. See St. John Philby or Christopher St. John Smith. I also found some allusion to this on some English professor's blog - though I wish they went into detail. Finally, I decided to go with some good ol' name etymology, which wasn't very useful, as they had Sinjin as a separate name entry, a variant of St. John, but no entry for St. John itself.

So in conclusion, this is more to prove that I'm not making the St. John/Sinjin thing up more than to decide how everyone's favourite judge and law dean's middle name was pronounced. I'd be willing to bet "Sinjin." Besides, Sinjin just sounds so much cooler.

Find anymore info on this topic? Hit that comment link.

Goodbye, iBuds, I hardly knew ye

I think I would be considered a heavy iPod user. I listen to mine for all my shifts at work (so 15 hours a week there), plus anytime I'm walking back and forth from my apartment to, um, anywhere. Also a fan of its use when doing school work. So when something is up with my iPod, you can imagine how tragic it is. Ok, maybe not tragic, but upsetting. Anyways, yesterday I was leaving to go to my shift at the hospital, and I decided a little LCD Soundsystem "Daft Punk is Playing at My House" was just the thing for a Sunday afternoon. With this song, I always blow my ear drums to hell with the opening chords because it's loud and sudden. Yesterday, however, I was completely underwhelmed by the noise. Odd. It took mere seconds to realize that sound was only coming out of the right ear bud. Burn! I'm actually going to look at this as opportunity rather than bummer though. My ear buds have never fit properly in my ears. I like to think that this is because my tragus is small, not my ears being too big (damn British ears!). Or maybe the antitragus is the problem. See below.



Furthermore, it's particularly the left ear bud that won't stay put, and that's the broken one. Fine by me. I've hated these things since I got them, but felt I needed to use them because they came with it. So this is the opportunity to get something that I like. I'm slightly less cool for needing something that fits over my ear, but I think I found something nifty and slightly matching the iPod. What's even more awesome about it is that all headphones are on sale at BestBuy.com, and shipping is miraculously mad cheap, so I should have some spiffy new, well fitting, and fully operational earphones within a week! I was going to ask for a new pair for Jenmas, but I've got a lot of listening to do between now and then.

Ahoy, matey!

So last night, a small group of us went for dinner. Actually, back that up. Two nights ago, while trying to find somewhere to eat that wasn't the Henry (which got scratched and we went back to wait for a table), I was bemoaning the state of the Halifax culinary experience. It seemed to come up that unless you spend a lot of cash, the food here can be quite dodgy. This makes me very hesitant to go somewhere where I haven't heard a good review. Last night, with Alex Care's blessing, I dined at some fish place, the name of which currently escaping me. Anyways - fantastic. I'm still full, it tasted magnificent, and it wasn't exorbitantly priced. I'd say it's about what I'd pay for dinner in Kingston at Wooden Heads priced. Trying to pack as much seafood as possible into the meal, I had coconut shrimp, my favourite of all appetizers, to start and a crab encrusted haddock with smoked apple cheddar and a lobster cream sauce. There were also some very lovely vegetables accompanying this, so let's hear it for the small red potato. I'm sad I didn't bring Beyowulf Jen there when she visited, as it may have convinced her to give up the mine life and stay in town! Everything on the menu (and everyone else's plate) looked so tasty, that I just have to try more. And maybe try to save some room for the dessert that Sam had.

In conclusion, I'll be saving my pennies and going back. De-lish.

Saturday Morning Sesame Street Classic Kitsch: Creepy

I found this one and nearly died I was so excited. I had wanted to find it for so long, but wasn't sure what words to use. Things like "tripped out," "creepy," and "weird house thing" just weren't cutting the mustard. Had I remembered that the crazy man/thing at the end had a yo-yo, oh, how simple it would have been!

Anyways, this cartoon used to freak me out huge. Watching it again, I have to say that not much has changed. The music, the yo-yo guy, the surreal everything. And listen out for that tune that plays at the end when the kid is going home - fabulous. "Behind your face / there is a place / that's called your brains or your mind." Wow - that's awesome.

Henry or Bust

What a week. It's not that I'm terribly busy with any one thing per se, it's just a whole lot of things, combined with wonky weather and odd sleeping patterns.

Jenifesto Presents... A Week in Review:

Monday: Cold. Exceedingly cold, in fact. Worked all afternoon. Class all night.
Tuesday: Moderate level of cold. Worked all all afternoon. Can't remember past that.
Wednesday: Not cold but rainy. Class. Meeting. Bad tea. Meeting. Archives. Lost.
Thursday: Rain of biblical proportions. Built Ark. Work. Tidy assignment. Class. Smoke sponge!! Laundry. (Wait, was that only yesterday? Jebus.)
Today: Warm. Tragic Starbucks experience. Haircut! Young and the Restless. Nap. Blog.

I am actually struggling to believe the week has gone on this long. Holy cow. Tonight, however, The Henry. There aren't enough words in the English language to accurately express how much I am looking forward to an evening at everyone's favourite Pub that doesn't actually like us as much as we like it. Whee! The rest of the weekend has its highlights planned as well, so that's good news. For those who may not know, Nova Scotia actually has a full on holiday for Remembrance Day. As it's on a Saturday this year, a lot of places are closed on Monday, Dal included. Now normally, I'd be all over a long weekend, but am I alone in this not feeling like a long weekend at all? Typically, my Monday class is at night anyways and I work at noon but usually forget that I'm even working that day until, say, 11:30. Also, this Systems paper isn't exactly giving me any time off. It doesn't mean I'm working on it, but you know. Ah, no rest for the wicked.

Tea Time

I think from the lack of new posts by others, it's clear that everyone is a bit on the busy side. I, too, have been too busy to post, what with all my not doing my homework, election coverage, and exceedingly hectic days of running about. My day yesterday from 8:30 til 6 went like this: class, meeting, meeting in Dartmouth, archives, finally home. I managed to squeeze in a slice of pizza and tea (more on that later), and most graciously ate Sam's dinner of shark and risotto, with a speed that would terrify the average person.

But on to more important things - tea. It has become ob-vi that the collective we are a solid group of tea drinkers. My pantry here is well stocked with a variety that grows every week, and there is of course the hilarious cupboard o' tea in the common room. Yesterday, I was just walking by the mailboxes in the CR, and I saw a variety of Twinings package that I had never seen before. Normally I wouldn't go rooting through people's mail boxes, but it was Sam's and I was curious. I forget the name, but Sam, I'll be trying a bag of this mysterious teal coloured Twinings. But with the good comes the bad. We got to Dartmouth a little early yesterday, and so went to grab a tea. The only thing around was a McDonalds, so we went there. I don't eat at McDonalds, but I have in the past had a tea from there, because I figure they can't possibly stick beef in that. But anyways, anyone want to challenge me on Mother Parkers being the WORST tea in existence? What is up with that? I hate Red Rose, but I'd rather that than MP any day. The taste is just so bland and icky. And what's more: they put the milk in at McDix, which is fine, but why is it foamy? They're not steaming the milk, so the foam comes from...? And even if for some ludicrous reason they are steaming it, this leads to my next issue: it was lukewarm, which as some of you know, is something I'm strongly against. Finally, I asked for sweetener (because I prefer the taste) and she told me I added my own, gesturing to the condiment stand. I get over there, and no sweetener. I had to add 6 packets of sugar (because I like it sweet), and it still tasted bad. In conclusion, Mother Parkers is bad, and it was an all-around bad tea experience. (Sidenote: I just looked up their website to see if it was Parkers or Parker's, and did you know the same company makes Higgins and Burke? Now, that's not a bad tea. I don't get it.)

So all this tea talk has me hankering for a cup. Maybe a better update later...

Baby, it's cold _____ (choose one: outside; in the archives; in the common room...)

Earlier that day...

I normally take my Monday evening class as a time to blog, but this week I’m taking notes (correction: Sam and I are taking notes…. but I’m not hearing pencil scratching on paper, Sam!), but I also let down one reader last week when I posted before class. What’s a girl to do? Natch, I’m writing this at work but posting later. I’m brilliant.

So, is it chilly or what!? I broke out the winter coat for the first time today. I had actually forgotten how warm and cozy it is… and it was certainly a welcome surprise. But being That Time of Year, I’m needing a new moisturizer, and stat. Anyone have the name of a general purpose body moisturizer that they can’t live without in the winter? Ideally, something only lightly scented but with a rockin’ silky effect? Hit that comments button and let me know. The stuff I have (Lubriderm with Shea and Cocoa Butter) just isn’t doing it for me.

*****

Okay, I’ve stopped taking notes now. In the ongoing saga that is “Jen Can’t Sleep In,” I was up at no later than 4:30 this morning. I would wager it was probably 4:10 or 4:15, because when I finally looked at my clock after an extended lie-about, it was 4:40. So, needless to say, I’m EXHAUSTED right now. I’m so tired I can’t even make a half-assed attempt at being funny. This class needs to end *right now* so I can go home, play twenty minutes of some old-skool SNES and then crash.

Goodnight, y'all.

P.S. - Did everyone in Halifax see the first snow today!!??

On food I didn't make from scratch...

So, here's the deal: I go to bed at 9 and wake up anywhere between 5 and 6 am, every morning, weekend or not. And I think I kind of like it. It's all very quiet. Of course, falling asleep at nine can be a bit of a damper on the social front, but overall I think it's working out. Last night, Sam, Miss J. and I were sitting around after dinner and when Sam went home for the night, I was fulling expecting it to be around 11 or so based on how tired I was. 7:45. So for those of you who are in Ontario, please consider the time difference when you think I'm a freak for reading blogs at 4 in the morning!

Ok, so the big news that I need to post about with particular urgency is this new breakfast sandwich at Tim Hortons. On our trip to the mall yesterday, there was a poster at the bus stop for this new menu item. I lost it and resolved that I *needed* to get one once we got there. So I did. I'll preface my enthusiastic review with this: where I come from (St. Catharines, ON), Tim Hortons is beyond huge. We had Tim Hortons all the time growing up. Sad, but true. With this, my dad is your typical T-Hos consumer - the every morning stop for a coffee and two donuts for the drive to work. Also, long road trips just equal Tim Hortons stoppage. Five years of driving between SC and Kingston meant many a sprinkled donut (but can I just say on this note, that next time I go back to school, I'm going in a city where the sprinkles are applied liberally to both sides of the donut top. Enough now, Kingston and Halifax, enough). Anyways, a breakfast sandwich! Warm, eggy, bacony, tea biscuity, quick! I loved it for what it brings to the T-Hos experience. So much so that I was like "I need to call my dad." Sam thought I was kidding, until he looked up and saw my phone against my ear.

The conversation, at 10:00 am, AST, 9:00 EST:
Jenifesto: Hi Daddy! What are you doing?
Jenifesto's Dad: Hi Jen, just working on the chimney with Peter.
J: Oh ya. Listen, have you had one of these Tim Horton's breakfast sandwiches yet!??!?!?!
JD: I had one this morning! Oh yeah! [Edit: my dad does this "Oh yeaaaah" thing]
J: I'm eating one *right now.* {Squeal} It's so good! Better than McDonalds! [Edit: which I don't eat anyways, leading to some road trip disagreements over where to stop]
JD: Ya {and then a rant against Starbucks}
J: Um, okay. Well go fix the chimney.

So in conclusion, yay for the breakfast sandwich.

Ah, in other food related news, Christmas has officially arrived. I know I'm total Scrooge this year about Jenmas, but there is one thing that warms my stone heart - Winter White Oreos. LOVE. I saw them at the grocery store the other day and promptly bought a box. For clarity, I'll refer to Jen (who came to visit in September) as Beyowulf from here on in. Anyways, Beyowulf and I went through this bender a few years ago, involving us not wanting to study for exams, *many* boxes of Winter White Oreos, and a few cases of Vanilla Coke and Diet Pepsi. I did knit Jim his "Number 2 from The Prisoner" scarf at that time, so it wasn't all bad. And I did graduate. And Beyowulf did eventually ;) . Anyways, good times.

Ah, and a final word for now about Sarah Slean - I've got the tickets and we're good to go! The six are hanging here on my calendar where I can see them and won't misplace. We have really great seats too, and since I would wager she'll be on a grand or baby grand, she'll be facing our direction. Can't.Wait.

Ok, so I think that's it. This whole post has been about food...which I realize I have an entire other blog dedicated to... but to be fair, I didn't make any of these. Tonight is V for Vendetta... wicked fun to be had for sure.

Saturday Morning Sesame Street Classic Kitsch: La-Di-Da-Di-Dum

Oooh, the bell bottoms, the retro-fied Bob, Maria's hair, Herry Monster, young Luis, DAVID! Ah, the kitsch runneth over. What an ensemble piece. I love this skit - like, I'm actually moved by it. I think I almost teared up when I watched it a couple weeks ago. And I've been singing it ALL WEEK. GO AWAY, SONG!

Sidenote, though: I love Bob. He was always my favourite real person on the show.

Is it just me, or does the opening lick sound like "Nowadays" from Chicago? And what is the purpose of the fruit cart guy, exactly?

Procrastination at Its Finest

For someone who really really likes archives, I spend enough time putting off actually doing my archives work. I think I should have plenty of time between now and Lost to get it done, however, so yay blog. So, a few things...

1. American politics - gah. Politics is clearly more Penchants territory than mine, but I'm watching CNN and have been for about an hour, and seriously. Apparently John Kerry said something stupid, everyone in the world has apologized about it, including Kerry, and still, every 15 minutes, they bring up the "Kerry Controversy." Ugh - everyone just stop obscuring the issues by talking about some asinine comment that someone that isn't even running for elected office right now said. There, I feel better.

2. Jenifesto Cooks - looking sharp! As part of my own election platform of bringing more procrastination and less fonds-level description to the people, I gave Jenifesto Cooks a makeover (makeover, makeover, makeover, MAKEOVER!) this afternoon. I'm super pleased with it, for a few reasons. One, it looks distinctly Martha. Two, I feel it's more organized. Three, and most importantly, I finally have my tips page (called "Kitchen Help"), which is replete with some visual representations of my best kitchen helper elves. Check 'er out.

3. I've heard some concerns about Holly Jolly and Sarah Slean concert being on the same night. While my first inclination was to say screw it to the Holly Jolly, according to an email I received from... well, someone important, Holly Jolly is scheduled roughly for 5:30 to 8. This girl is going for an hour and getting the hell out of dodge. Not.Missing.This.Concert.


All right, getting back to work now...