2006: An Inventory

Ah, the end of 2006. Goodbye and good riddance. Not to be bitter or anything, but what a shite year for this blogger, and for too many of the people I know. I'm absolutely ready to usher in 2007, the aforementioned Year of the Articulated Goals, the year where karma gets stuffed, and when good fortune and good health blesses all my nearest and dearest.

But to end it on a high note, here's a year in review, featuring my favourite talking points - distractions and pretty stuff.

If I could fix the 25 most played songs play list on my iPod, the top 5 would be:

• LCD Soundsystem "Daft Punk is Playing at My House"
• Metric "Ending Start"
• Rufus Wainwright "14th Street"
• David Bowie "5 Years"
• Antony and the Johnsons "Fistful of Love"

(Side note: What a motley crew of songs that is. I know, none of them are even 2006 releases.)

Favourite Flicks:

• V for Vendetta - For the love of all things holy, watch this if you haven't already!
• An Inconvenient Truth
• Borat - Seriously, the funniest movie I've ever seen.

Best Find That the Rest of the World Knew About Two Years Ago:

• Podcasts - To quote Jim, "Wow, Jen, welcome to 2004." Why didn't I jump on this train earlier? I'm an ass.

Best Restaurant Meal:

• Tie: Sam's birthday at Anatolia, and a late entry, the breakfast Renata and I had in Kingston at That Place.
  

Favourite Pretty Thing:

• Another tie: I'll have to go with my razr or my gold shoes.

Most Awesome (albeit undeserved) Gifts:

• My girly girly DS lite
• The stationery Miss J. got me for my birthday. Look for it in a mailbox near you!
• A beautiful steel madeleine pan.
  
• My total beauty of a leather coat from my dad and Eva. Regretfully, it had to stay in Ontario.
• All the Starbucks gift cards I've received. Thanks for supporting the habit, people!

Most Used and Enjoyed Phrases:

• "I especially hate ___, but I especially hate ____."
• "This (or That, or He, or She, etc.) is so Dutch."
• "You know."
• "Ciao ciao."

(Side note: Wow, Renata and Michael clearly influence my vocab too much.)

Most Enjoyed Reads:

• Ender's Game
• Oddly enough, this article.
• The End of the Affair

And finally, Single Most Laughter Inducing Moment of 2006:

• "It was GRUNGE!!"

Happy New Year all...

Shop 'Til You Drop

Miss J. and I just got back from a most fabulous shopping trip. Thanks be to parents and grandparents who give you money over gifts for the holidays. Also, thanks be to Shoppers Drug Mart for having 20X the points day. With the purchase of my wonderfully on sale shampoo, a new tube of Hypnose, and some face wash, I got over 10,000 points in one day. As part of my “Year of the Articulated Goals” mantra, I also bought my salad plates that I wanted so badly. Expensive now, but boy will I be thrilled later when they’re part of a dinner set in my swanky apartment. Finally, Jana and I got the deal of the century on some yoga mats. As part of the YOTAG (as it were), I’m starting up on yoga again for its primarily mental benefits, and Miss J. is going to join with. In a very serendipitous moment yesterday, my asking her if she was interested in joining me coincided with the conversation she had with her brother earlier on the day, on the way to the airport, about starting yoga. Yoga in the YOTAG it is. To cap it all off (and because neither of us has bought groceries yet), we went to Cora’s for breakfast, where I declared that this might also be the Year of the Omelet.

Tomorrow, a year in review, and did I mention Opa!? One word, people: Saganaki.

Saturday Morning Sesame Street Classic Kitsch: The One Where David Crosby Builds a Playground

Okay, I know it's not really David Crosby, but didn't for a moment there you think it might be, and really, how random and cool would it have been?

Anyways, does this count as a manufacturing video? I mean, technically something is being made, sure, but I argue that this isn't. I remember every single detail about this clip, especially those f'd up paintings. I think my favourite scene may be the part where he's asking for what the kids would like, and the kid who suggests and describes a "shoe slide." And for ultimate awsomeness, when Lauren from P.S. 87 says all the ideas come from the kids, "especially the dragon elephant." Unless David Crosby actually is designing this playground, no kidding Lauren, who else would come up with a dragon elephant? What is a dragon elephant? That's kind of frightening, and truth be told, I don't see it in the final design. David Crosby: "Err, um, sorry kids. As it turns out, building a wood elephant that shoots fire out of its trunk, for use in a playground particularly, is against any and all fire, safety, and building codes. My bad!"

After seeing this as a kid, who didn't want to design a playground!? Has anyone reading this, however, actually done so?

Avoiding Packing, Again

Because I can't resist saying this every time I come back to the east coast, like a Dartmouth masochist, I'm Nova Scotia bound.

My flight leaves at the early hour of seven tomorrow morning. My father is depositing me at the airport on his way to work, which is incredibly convenient for everyone. Tonight, however, I have the unenviable task of packing up my stuff, which of course has grown exponentially over the last three weeks. I actually wouldn't mind staying here for another week or so. This isn't the laziness over packing speaking, though I am lazy, make no mistake. I just am enjoying not having any pressures, any where I have to be, people to see, people not to see, papers to write, and the like. Le sigh. I was talking to Miss J. today and she ended our convo with an emphatic "One.More.Term." And I couldn't agree more. Thank god.

But let's not be all gloom and doom. Here are some things I'm greatly looking forward to, in the near future:
- New Year's Eve din dins at Opa! Opa! indeed! See you all there, and then back at our pad afterwards (well, not all of you out there in Internet world, but those of you coming to dinner... you know).
- A haircut I have booked for Tuesday. While my style isn't what *anyone* would consider "edgy", "edgy" is exactly what my current 'do is not and would rather it be. Come on, haircut!
- My first tutorial session as T.A. Round 2.
- My new brown suede boots that are coming in the mail!
- The major throw down coming at Shopper's this weekend - new Lancome stuff day = bliss.

See many of you soon!

Jenmas Wrap-Up

Well, I hope everyone has had a pleasant holiday or non-holiday of choice. I was going to say "relaxing," but I don't think I've heard one Jenmas day story that didn't start with "Well, it was busy."

How was mine, you ask? Well, it was busy. The last few days have been quite, in fact. Due to some scheduling hell, we had to have a dinner at my dad's on Saturday night. It was pretty rad, in that we had it catered, so no cooking! Also, copious amount of leftovers. I'm actually quite sick of them. The 23rd is my aunt's birthday, so we celebrated both of ours that night. Cake and gifting ensue. Sunday was super busy, doing last minute running around and baking. And then of course, yesterday, Jenmas. Yours truly is now an old bag, ringing in at 25 years. And logically, the most important thing for any 25 year old to get for their birthday is the girliest handheld gaming device known to mankind, a pink Nintendo DS Lite, along with a - brace yourself - cooking game. I've been whipping up fake Asian dishes all day with my little stylus. Loving.It. Ooh, and one of the best parts of all this family togetherness is that my brother David just bought a house, so everyone is all excited about that and off my back about not teaching/still being in school/finding a job. Way to go, David! I wish he'd do something like this all the time so I can enjoy my holidays without nosey questions and guilt trips. Then again, what's a family get together without a guilt trip? Anyways, yesterday was super busy, but the birthday cake I made for myself was delicious (recipe to come on the Cooks), and I still managed to get over to Jim's, and watch Clerks 2. Not quite a rip roaring birthday, but when you're a senior citizen with a craptastic birth date like mine, it's pretty snazzy. Today we went up to the airport to pick up my grandma's husband. As most of you know, I like to play a little game I call "How Do They Know Each Other?" The airport is officially one of *the* best places to play this. So, while waiting for Air Canada flight 875 from London to arrive, I got to play that for a bit and have the sappy "Love Actually" airport speech playing in my head.

So, I think that's my last few days in a nutshell. Santa was good to me, I feel old, I feel even more fat, and tomorrow I think I may be brave enough to go to the mall.

Saturday Morning Sesame Street Classic Kitsch: Christmas Edition

I didn't get a chance to post last week due to being in Kingston sans computer, and it being the Jenmas season and all, I figured something festive was in order. A You Tube note: if you're looking for the entire Sesame Street Christmas Special or the Muppets Family Christmas Special (you know, the "careful the icy patch" one), both are on You Tube. The second part of the Muppet Christmas Special is particularly entertaining if for nothing other than when the Sesame Street muppets show up and sing "Deck the Halls."

So, I was going to put the schmaltzy gooey "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by Bert and Ernie up here, but then I thought "nah! Let's have a little something for the cynical and unimpressed!" I love Oscar.

And also, there's the brief little shout out there for any celebrating Hanukkah... Mr. Hooper, keeping religious diversity alive on the Street. Er, except for that time when he died. Too soon?

Too much time spent on the internet, clearly...

So random musings on pop culture...

Part the First: I know a few of you out there read Lainey's Entertainment Update with regularity, so for those that know what I'm talking about, I love her little gossip bombs that she drops every so often. You know, the ones where she doesn't say who it's about but gives clues and such. I have such a chuckle each time. I've figured out the two most recent, and while that says more about my love for celebrity gossip than anything else, I'm still amused.

Part the Second: As you probably know, I have problems committing to television shows. In my life, I've been able to commit to exactly two shows - SATC, and currently, Lost. And on that note, there is still time for me to bail on Lost. But anyways, Jim and I were having a discussion over how I'm missing really good TV at the moment, and while I don't feel like I'm missing anything in particular from my life, I did have some spare time today to watch TV and I thoroughly enjoyed what I was seeing. Through some website, I've been watching episodes of "Heroes" and I really like it. It's creepy and messed up, but I like that. I can't say I'm in for the long haul yet, but we'll see. I have to figure out when it's on. (Edit: Mondays at 9, eh? Anyone watch it in Halifax? Is it on at 10, or is it like Lost and on at 9?)

Part the Third: This whole Donald Trump - Rosie debacle is highly entertaining, but much like Lainey put it, in a "watch him self-destruct" kind of way. While I agree that this is all no doubt to attract attention for the next season of the Apprentice, his behaviour is so completely appalling. Money clearly doesn't buy class. Or integrity for that matter, because even if he's drumming this all up to get ratings, he would do that at the risk (and success at) coming off as incredibly rude, homophobic, and juvenile? Calling someone ugly and fat - ooh, good comeback. That's something my brother would have tried 10 years ago, and even then he would have failed because he was able to deliver a better snap but took the lazy insult route instead. Pathetic. He's so incredibly icky, and the more I think about it, the more gross he becomes.

I think that's it for today... tomorrow might be a bit busy over here (dinner with the fam' going down tomorrow night) - yay for catered dinners!

Nerd Alert!!! Harry Potter Book 7 Title!!!

Hey all HP fan boys and girls out there - awesome exciting news in time for Jenmas. JK has opened the door on her website and with some clever mouse clicking, has revealed to us the title for Book 7. Excited Squeal!!

To get the step by step on how to open the door, click here.

To skip all that, here's the name.

On Kleenex, Blogs, and Don Quixote

I do believe that I am finally done my gift shopping. Yes, I found a kleenex holder for my dad. I actually need to find kleenex that fits into it (true story), but otherwise I have one. For those wondering why this gift would even be on the radar, my dad, I dunno, sneezes a lot? I think he has a bad respiratory system or something. Anyways, when you're in the car with him, he is always asking you to pass him a kleenex. It's a bit of a thing really: "Jen, is there a box of kleenex on the floor? How about behind my seat? Can you pass me one?" Wash, rinse, repeat. He has been driving for over 30 years, so I'll assume he can handle this little problem all on his own, but I don't like the idea of him fishing about for a kleenex when he's driving. Thus, a conveniently located kleenex holder.

In other news, I'm a little miffed at blogger right now. I really really want to move The Jenifesto over to WordPress, but because I switched to BloggerBeta, I can't import my posts from here. I know, no big deal, but I'd rather just do that and whatnot, and not have to have a link to this blog (like I do with my Live Journal). I've got two blogs over at WordPress (the cooking one, and my YA reading log blog, which I put the link up to yesterday - see "Reader's Advisory"), and while I have The Jenifesto ready to go there, I want to import first. Sigh. So, for all you kids out there thinking Beta might be the way to go... don't bother.

Another day with Don Quixote ahead... I'm the world's slowest reader. For anyone that has read this, does it change at any point on the way through, or is it just chapter after chapter of "adventures" for all 900+ pages? Not complaining, but you know...

Holiday Rush

Well, I hope everyone is having an enjoyable break so far, and having a grand ol’ time in this lead up to Jenmas. I spent yesterday running about, getting a comped lunch from my brother, spending money I don’t have on stationery, and visiting with Julia and her parents. Good news – they loved Olivia. I think that book is just far too charming. Almost as charming as Julia herself, who can cut a mean rug when need be. Omg, while visiting today, I played “Uno” on the 360. You remember Uno! Yes, that Uno! How addictive. In other good news from yesterday, it seems the hell that was archives class, and the colossal karmic kick in the pants that was the final project, went well. I'm too lazy to actually look at her comments on the finding aids, but I'll take the final mark and be happy.

Anyways, what would Jenmas be without a considerable dose of craziness? For several reasons, there’s a whole lot of upheaval and problematic situations going on here, making planning for Jenmas Day a challenge. For the whole weekend, for that matter. This is, however, putting me on my best behaviour, and I have to say that this holiday is going a lot better than two years ago (aka, the Jenmas I wanted to off myself – see “Jenerally Speaking.”) I am planning on making a Nigella Lawson orange chocolate cake for my birthday, though, and it looks like for simplicity’s sake, we’ll be having one of our celebratory dinners catered. Until then, I still have my Dad to buy for… he has EVERYTHING. I’m not kidding, I’m contemplating where I could buy a Kleenex holder for his car. A Kleenex holder. It’s come to this. To continue with the “my dad is so hilarious” stories, the other day, I believe in conjunction with doing something with the fireplace, I heard him singing “Disco Inferno”… atonally. Contemplate that for a moment if you will.

Finally, I’m SO sick of “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town”… if I hear it one more time, I may go mental. And that includes you and your version, Neil Diamond.

I'm up super early, which sucks, but I guess I'll get cracking on today. To Do: Read more Don Quixote, write thank-you note to B&B in Kingston, shopping with my mom, arguing with my mom, and so forth.

Weekend Update

Oh dear, what a fun weekend! Seriously, both Renata and I were a little upset that it had to end! I don't know quite where to begin on a recap, so I'll just babble along. The weather was perfect - not a drop of rain really. The B&B we stayed at was AWESOME. Omg, there are no words. I took pictures of every angle (with my phone, so a) I can't get them on here, and b) they're not very clear), but it was the most charming and absolutely perfect suite ever. Ev.Er. So much so, that when I move back to Ontario in a few months time (THANK GOD), she and I will be shopping for an apartment for me that looks as much like this place as possible. So awesome. And the bed - ooooh. The most comfortable bed I've ever slept on, that's for sure.

We spent much of the weekend shopping and eating. Yes, I got my No.6 with Pork for lunch on Friday, and then we went to Tango (or as I've renamed it, Tang-no) for dinner. I've been exceedingly whiny in the last few months about wanting their open-faced steak sandwich with balsamic grilled red onions and brie, with sweet potato frites and aioli, and so I naturally ordered that. Service, as always, was dicey, but a bit better than we've experienced in the past. Saturday, we did Morrison's for breakfast, which was as to be expected, and then the Toucan for a quick lunch and finally Wooden Heads for dinner. Because what "special occasion" is complete for me without Wooden Heads? Anyways, they've changed their menu a bit, which is welcome, and though I stuck with the coco shrimp to start, Renata had some risotto dish that she quite liked. Our mains were also very good. At last, we went to "That Place" for breakfast on Sunday, and were so thoroughly thrilled with everything about it that we've decided Morrison's will now be patronized solely for it's sentimental value. Note to all greasy spoons out there: two words - Rye Bread.

Shopping was also quite fun. I crossed one more person off my Jenmas list, as well as getting something for my Mom for either Mother's Day or her birthday. I also bought a new pair of chucks, which is super exciting. My old pair were looking a little worse for wear, and since I can't think of any other shoe that I want that would fill the hole left by the Chucks, I just bought new ones. They're all nerdy and shiny white, but I think we're going to get along just fine. Ooooh, and possibly the best acquisition of all - the gift exchange! Renata loved the espresso cups. And for me - excited squeal - a madeleine pan!! Over the summer, I was making cookies to take as a hostess gift, and I spent a solid week perfecting some lemon madeleines. Renata had a madeleine pan, but the madeleines were very small, smaller than the Martha recipe called for. I don't think ultimately that was the problem with their execution, but just a side note. Anyways, Renata has got me a normal sized madeleine pan, and I couldn't be more thrilled. I was just saying on the Cooks blog that I like to eat things like Madeleins more than normal cookies, so now I can make some in my snazzy new pan! Wheee!!! She also got me an adorable set of etiquette type books, which thrills me because I really really do love etiquette and good form.

So, I think it goes without saying that it was absolutely awesome to also spend some time with Renata. She loves getting name checked on this blog, so I'm sure she's loving this. We've resolved that this is our new Jenmas tradition - to go to Kingston for the weekend, stay in that exact suite at the same B&B and just do everything that's awesome about that city. I also got to see some other people that I've not seen in a while, which was great. I popped over to the hospital I worked at over the summer and spent some time chit chatting there, and then when I was on my way back to the B&B, I had a very very random run in with my friend Jonathan, a friend from undergrad and teacher's college and the administrator of In My Own Place. I was walking down King street and someone was calling my name, and there he was!

Overall, it was a completely wicked weekend. Gosh, home is so dull! Luckily, I've tonnes of baking to do (omg, just last night I found what I'm making for people as a baked treat for Jenmas. So excited), as well as visiting Jim, Hailea, and the recent birthday girl Julia. I got her books (because as a teacher and librarian, it's my duty dammit) so while she really won't care to open it or anything, I still like giving. At two, I can't imagine she gets too much of a thrill out of opening anything, but you know.

All right, off to be productive.

Now THIS is a vacation...

I'm so excited, there are no words. So.Excited. Tomorrow, I head up to the City of K for a couple days of excellent shopping, yummy food, expertly prepared chai lattes, and most importantly, unrestrained Renata time! Whoo-hoo! I've got reading materials all packed up for my trip to and fro (on the terribly unglam bus), in addition to my fabulous gold shoes. The way I see tomorrow working is that I'll get in around 12:30, drop my belongings off at the B&B and go directly to Saigon Delights (not passing go or collecting two hundred dollars) for a No. 6 with Pork (bliss!). Then I'm going to head over to ye olde place of summer employment to catch-up (shout out, Lorna!), and then probably to one of three conveniently located Starbucks to pass the time before Renata gets off from work, aka "the high school from Dangerous Minds." If it sounds like I have every meal, bathroom break, and spare minute planned out, it's because I do. So excited!

In other news, I'm pleased to say that my Jenmas shopping is almost complete. It's the stragglers at the end who have everything already that I'm still shopping for. I'll be making cookies later to go with gifts, but I have to say that my decision to shopping therapy away my cash on gifts for other people is working well.

Okay, I think that's it. Oooh, one final thing that I thought was so hilarious - my Dad has started using the term "dutch." I heard him say it to my step-mom the other day, and I laughed out loud. Seriously, you all would love my Dad.

Back on Sunday... have a good weekend!

The Golden Compass - Movie Website!!

I stumbled across this this morning... and I have to say I'm psyched. Daniel Craig is, I repeat, The Hotness, and I'm loving him with the beard. There's also a cool alethiometer thing to play with.

And if you haven't read the His Dark Materials series yet, for the love of God, do so. There is a gorgeous 10th anniversary edition hard cover out right now that you can pick up at Indigo. Make it so.

Vacation?

Wow, for someone on a vacation, I sure am exhausted! Like, I'm ready to go to bed now, and it's 8 pm. Sad. So, what have I been up to? Well, not much it would seem. I've been running around like mad, getting a bit of shopping in here and there, visiting with people, writing Jenmas cards, reading copious amounts of YA (while Don Quixote sits here looking forlorn), and otherwise sleeping. Maybe the problem is I'm oversleeping? Anyways, tomorrow I'm going shopping with my mom, which should be exhausting since we're going to the mall. I think I'll try to convince her to stop for a mid-shop tea while we're out... I'm not as young as I used to be!

In other news, I was flipping through the Martha Stewart holiday craft mag that Penchants raved about a few weeks ago, and I have to say, I love it. I'll be buying a copy tomorrow to keep in my own reserve of useful things. And as a side note: everyone will be getting a personalized tote for their birthday from now on. I love love love a canvas tote, and I see absolutely no reason why I can't make pretty ones for myself and others. I love nothing more than a personalized gift, so this is making me extremely happy.

Did I mention I'm doing a lot of YA reading? I raided the collection in the common room before I left, with the intent of getting more stuff from the library here when I ran out. I'm down to one more book, so that library trip will be coming pretty damn soon, especially since I have a road trip to take this weekend (Stop looking at me that way, Don Quixote!). Perhaps a trip will be in order after the mall tomorrow. Inevitably, I will owe monies to the St. Catharines Public Library, because as I always say - there are two kinds of people in this world: those that never have library fines, and those that always owe the library money. Libraries I currently owe money to: St. Catharines Public Library, Kingston Frontenac Public Library, Queen's University Libraries, Halifax Public Library... I think the moral of this rather embarrassing story is two-fold: 1) Libraries should universally stop lending things to me, and 2) I clearly needed to become a librarian to recoup all the fines I've paid in my life. Come to think of it, it doesn't actually look like I pay my fines based on that list, but I assure you, I've paid enough in my time to cover my salary for one year, maybe two. Anyways - YA novels, reading tonnes, not feeling like doing the reviews for them. I've started my YA blog for next term and I'm so in love with it that it's a little scary. The pile, though, of "To Be Completed" postings is growing exponentially, so it's time to get on that.

Is it bed time yet?

The Wii!

So last night, I finally got to play with the Wii. I've been looking forward to this since Jim got his a few weeks ago, and especially since he told me it was supposed to be really easy to use. As soon as things got 3-D on me, so let's say N64, I really started to suck at video games. Anyways, the Wii. Wii!!! It was so much fun. To start, I got to make a Mii, a little avatar representation of myself. After considerable debate over face shape and the size of my glasses, I have a charming little figure that looks like Lisa Loeb. When did I start looking like Lisa Loeb?! Anyways, she's adorable and wears a pink shirt, though I like to think she's wearing this season's must-have look, a pair of black leggings and a long pink sweater. So then, with a Mii made, we played the sports game that I think comes with the console. And omg, so fun. I was actually a little sore from playing - you actually have to move the controllers like they're the sport equipment you're using. In the case of boxing, the most strenuous of all, you actually have to punch and stuff. It was awesome. I can't wait to see what else it can do, though I think the next time I'm going over I have to check out the 360 and it' s awesomeness where killing aliens or something is concerned. Oooh, and can I just say, I know I'm always all low-tech and don't care how crappy my TV is and whatever, but wowza - this HD-DVD stuff on a nice TV? My retinas were almost burning the colours were so vibrant and everything was so crisp and stunning. I may need to start rethinking my "Moving-Back-To-Ontario-And-Need-New-Electronics" plan.

Otherwise, things are good. My dad just made some rockin' blueberry pancakes, and now I think I'll take advantage of laundry that isn't (a) located on the 22nd floor, a terrible inconvenience to this 23rd floor dweller, and (b) requiring of me to feed quarters into the machine. And tomorrow, baking begins anew, so I'll have a recipe on Jenifesto Cooks to go up at some point thereafter.

Finally, how awesome is this?

Saturday Morning Sesame Street Classic Kitsch: Yes, another manufacturing clip

I know, I know, but seriously, anytime Sesame Street showed something being made, I couldn't get enough of it. I found this one last week, having forgotten about it entirely, but you just can't forget that music! And really, I could watch things be made all day.

On that note, the sound isn't fabulous on this clip... on my computer anyways, it's a little tinny and quiet.

Be it ever so humble...

Well, I'm home. Let the games begin.

So, what I need to talk about immediately is my trip home, and more specifically, the pat down I got at the airport. Picture it: Jen, Halifax Airport Security, 5:45 am. I was just about to put my coat back on after it went through the x-ray machine, and some woman, possibly named Debbie, comes over and tells me they're doing random pat downs on people, and do I mind. I like to think that this is all true and that I didn't look like I was packing explosives. Now, in retrospect maybe she didn't ask if I minded, because if I mind, I think I'd look pretty darn suspect. Anyways, I say yes, and she's like, "Do you want to do this here, or in private?" I think she must have saw my eyebrow creep upwards, because she quickly added "It's above the clothes." So I'm thinking, it's been ages since I've been felt up in public, so sure! Let's do it right here! She asks me to raise my left arm, and this was one seriously thorough pat down. She even checked my hair. And yes, she touched my breasts. In public. In front of no less than five children on their way to Disney World. Honey, let me assure you, those are real - no explosives there. So just when I think she's done, she asks me to put my hands on the table, bend over slightly, and lift my leg. I know this is sounding terribly Penthouse Letter right now, and I assure you, at this moment I was mentally questioning how this was going to work with clothes on. So, kind of wishing that I had chosen the "in private" option, I do as I'm told, and when she asks me to raise my leg higher, I realize it's because she's checking my Chucks for explosives. Ahhh, right. Anyways, at this point, I was cleared to go, and I can actually officially say that the woman with the gloves was surprisingly gentle.

The rest of the trip home was just fine... I was in what would be considered in most circles a crop-duster for the Montreal to Hamilton leg of the trip, but they did give me Crispers. I got into Hamilton ahead of schedule, which is always a bonus. So now I'm sitting about at my Dad's, freezing my ass off. It is SO cold. I'm actually shaking, and Dad has already cranked up the heat for me. I'm also totally exhausted, which of course comes with being up at 4 and having a strange aversion to flying. So I think the only respectable thing to do in this situation is to take a bath. I saw something that looks like bubble bath in a "Shrek" container in the bathroom, which is even more odd since no children live here and from what I can gather, not a whole lot of bubble baths happen either.

Distractions

Technically I'm supposed to be packing, but here are things that have most recently caught my attention and promptly halted the mashing of things into suitcases:

• Talking to Daddy on the phone to arrange pick up details for tomorrow.
• Discussing what I've taken to calling "Our Romantic Weekend Getaway" with Renata, with special attention paid to travel particulars and the importance of bringing pretty shoes.
• Thinking about the blueberry and cinnamon goat cheese Jana and I inhaled enjoyed for dinner.
• Thinking back even further to the pink (!!!!!) tea I had at our little end of semester tea party in Dartmouth this afternoon.
• Playing Tetris. I need to get my game back for when I get my shiny new Tetris for Jenmas, and Jim and I play against each other.
  
• Pondering with Jana if breaking a mirror means 7 years bad luck consecutively from that moment on, or 7 years whenever Karma feels like kicking you in the pants.

All right, enough of that... as stated earlier today, I will NOT be giving up this blog for the holidays. The crazy antics of my family (think more crude and even louder than me) necessitate blogging.

Til tomorrow, where I'll be live from the Eastern timezone...

Review time: The Da Vinci Code.

All right, this isn’t so much a review as a rant. Or a something, but I just can’t keep it in anymore.

What died on Tom Hanks’s head? And was it one of those situations where you don’t want to tell someone something because you don’t know how to put it delicately, so you let them walk around with an embarrassing element happening? Bat in the cave? Muskrat on the head!

I can’t stand Alfred Molina. I say this at least once every six months, followed up by my proposition that any movie with Alfred Molina in it sucks. Uuuugh, Alfred Molina makes me crazy.

Paul Bettany. I like you, and I know any time you spoke English you were trying to do your best Inigo Montoya, but what are you doing here? Remember that time you were in A Beautiful Mind and you were really awesome? Here, you’re a train wreck on a train wreck. A meta train wreck.

Did I mention my disdain for Alfred Molina?

Ian McKellen, you stay classy. Seriously, he’s the best part of this movie, which regretfully isn’t saying much.

Not that it was winning any major literary prizes, but WHY bother deviating from the book and changing things up? The book has sold a gajillion copies – do you really think the end needs tweaking? Like, people won’t buy it if you take out her brother, make the old dead naked dude not her grandfather, etc.? They already have! Like, I don’t even care and yet I care about this.

Audrey Tautou – I like you. I initially didn’t think you’d work, but you do. And you have the most adorable little mouth. Appear in more movies, preferably ones that don’t suck.

Yes, I know the book was fromage, but the way certain scenes were shot were laughably bad. I cite any time the Albino appeared out of nowhere to body check someone. SO lame. Or the scene where that chauffeur guy buys the farm – now I realize I know how the story went, but SERIOUSLY, the not-showing-the-bad-guy-so-the-viewer-is-held-in-suspense is so tacky. Is there anyone anywhere in the world that didn’t see it coming?

Worst.DVD.Ever. I couldn’t hear it. Now I realize that I’m watching it on a lap top, but I had to plug in ear phones to hear it. And the previews. And the SUPER tacky plug for Angels & Demons before the movie started. And the fact that it runs on that really irritating viewer thing that doesn’t work with my screensaver. Go away, DVD.

I did like some ways they made the story visual, but overall it was a meh.

Ahhhhhh

With what is possibly the most stinking turd of my academic career submitted at 12:30 pm today, I have officially completed fall term, and with that, 75% of my Master's. There.Are.No.Words. So I celebrated this much like everyone else in the program - by having a well deserved nap. That's not to say I don't nap with alarmingly frequency - I'm practically narcoleptic - but it was awesome. This time, though, I bothered to put on nap clothes, unlike yesterday when I feel asleep in tights, a skirt, and cowl neck sweater... I don't think I've napped in a skirt since I was six years old. Either way, naps all around.

So to relax ce soir, Miss J. and I trudged up to the video store to get a Ricker classic, Truly Madly Deeply. Gosh, so good. Even with Ricker's pimp 'stache. Anyways, it wasn't in drama, so we asked Manager-Duncan-of-Duncan's-Picks-Fame if it was in. It was out. Who rented this? So random! And actually, speaking of random, they had an old rickety VHS copy sitting right at the front of the for sale bin. Like, I walked by it on the way to the counter to enquire as to the DVD's whereabouts when I saw it. What are the chances of that? And for the record, they store it in the foreign and artsy section. It's a British film, which strictly speaking I don't consider to be foreign, and I don't find anything about it to be "artsy." Jana and I discussed this further, and have come to the conclusion that the inclusion of both Pablo Neruda poetry and a cello, plus a dead guy, make it artsy. Live and learn, I suppose. Anyways, since I had a free rental coming my way, I picked up the Da Vinci Code. Stop laughing. I'm curious in that car-crash-on-the-side-of-the-road kind of way about it, and I'm sure as hell not paying to watch it, so I figured this a good a time as any. We then went to Starbucks, and people, three words: Eggnog Chai Latte. I'm having a moment just thinking about it.

And with that, I'm off to "enjoy" the Da Vinci Code. Or as I have taken to calling it, "Jesus and Mary Magdalene: 2 Legit 2 Quit"

What a day

Random thoughts and observations from today:

• I love my new tights (to be worn with a denim skirt and boots). My old ones were wicked, but these ones are even more special.
• Ultimately, I'm the one acting like a grown-up, and that's something to be proud of.
• Good idea: a burger and two Strongbows for lunch on days when you're feeling pissy.
• Bad idea: Grocery shopping drunk. Everyone knows I'm tipsy... and knocking that box of cookies off the shelf just now didn't help.
• Enchilada night is like Christmas it's so exciting. What makes it even more exciting is when Christmas gifts are actually being exchanged. Thanks, Jana, for the kick-ass restaurant journal and gold pen!
• Bubble baths are the new... something. I wish we had a deeper bathtub, but beggars can't be choosers.
  
• When Darryl the computer guy answers your "Can you help me?" with a "Yes, but could you do me a favour?" it's okay, even in spite of the fact that he has a couch and oodles of computer equipment in his office.
  
• Dalhousie, Halifax, et al. NEED to get their act together when it comes to technology / electricity. One snow fall and things fall apart. Laaaaa-me.
  

So close...

Ah, damn you, systems paper - it just won't go away! I thought if you left a half-finished paper under your pillow, when you woke up in the morning it would be done. Isn't that right? Because it isn't working, and this god awful paper is sticking about like an unwanted house guest. GO AWAY!

All right, now that I've gotten that out of my system (no pun intended... is that even a pun? My head hurts), what a day. First off - SLA student group mug sales frenzy went super well. Secondly, last class of Fall semester was cancelled an hour through due to the electricity being out. Apparently, it's a little hard to run a course about websites when you can't actually turn a computer on. Third, I had a piece of cake from Sobeys that tasted like a creamsicle. That's actually pretty small and insignificant, I know, but it *was* quite good. So tomorrow, I trek to the library and finish off this paper (provided the Systems Paper Fairy doesn't do that tonight), and then Ciao Ciao to semester one.

Ah, and to mention something that isn't food or school, the new James Bond movie - kick.ass. Sam gave it the "Best James Bond Movie Ever" seal of approval, and I have to say, Daniel Craig is the hottness and quite possibly the best James Bond.

And on that note, bed time.

Concert Review, or Why We All Love Sarah Slean

So, last night was The Concert. And, of course, omg, SO.GOOD. Here's the set list:

Drive (Cover)
Somebody's Arms
I'm Your Man (Cover)
Eliot
Sweet Virginia (New)
Duncan
"Waiting for Someone" (New, Unnamed)
Universe
Sweet Ones
Lucky Me
I Want to Be Brave (Half)
California
Mary
Pilgrim

Encore 1:
Out in the Park
Bank Accounts
Weight
Blue Parade

Encore 2:
Drastic Measures
So Many Miles (New)
Wake Up

This is by far the best Sarah Slean concert I've seen. It was just her and the piano, and her voice was so strong and wonderful and totally why I love seeing her live. I was SO excited that she played "Duncan" that I could have left at that point and been completely satisfied. But oh my, what a set. She played such a nice mix of old, not so old, and new songs - it really had something for everyone. "Universe," played on request from the audience, was particularly delightful. And a note on the new material - very good. I look forward to a new studio album from her. "Sweet Virginia" was particularly awesome. She looked absolutely gorgeous in a red satin halter dress, hair down, and barefoot. Her running gag through the show happened to be show tunes, and I was particularly tickled when she started to sing "Castle on a Cloud" from Les Mis. Her banter between songs, her facial expressions, and everything else that makes her so charming was spot on, with my particular favourite intro being "When I would sing this for the Frenchies..." The audience was completely lapping it up, and I don't think anyone in the whole theatre wanted it to end.

I jokingly said I wanted a written report from everyone, due this morning. I really was kidding, but I did get one from Alex C., which is so cute and gushy that I'm posting it.

"Ok first both Anthony and I said that we could have listened to that concert all night. I wish that it did not have to stop. That was my first experience with that type of concert and it was fabulous. I loved that people shouted out requests. It was a little odd at the beginning when those two women were so vocal (crazy girl in the second row, and the other one in the middle). But once everyone was comfortable with it it was really fun.

Secondly her personality was just fantastic. So hilarious, "Organized religion sucks" sung with piano accompaniment. And the fact that she forgot the words to her own song (hee). Anthony said that physically she is hot (especially with some side-boob) but it was really her personality that makes her memorable, amazing, whatever. Julianne Moore, Sarah McLaughlin and Ziyi Zhang have been demoted on his "list".

Third the music. Ok well it shouldn't be third but I just had to mention the other stuff first. I wish that I'd known more of her work so that I could have sung along when it was requested. She was just spellbinding. The powerful songs just blew me away (especially with that piano). The quiet songs just made you hold your breath.

During the night I'm not sure what I was dreaming about but every time I woke up I had a different song running through my head. I have listed to everything available on YouTube this morning that didn't suck. I am definitely adding some of her albums on my Xmas list.

I love Sarah Slean!"

Overall, awesome awesome awesome show.

Saturday Morning Sesame Street Classic Kitsch: What IS this?

Just when I thought I had run out of clips, I found a whole slew yesterday that were just too cool for school. What I love about searching for the clips is I'll see one that I totally forgot about until I see it, and then it all comes flooding back.

Like today's. It's short, but I'm sure someone else remembers this besides me. What exactly is the point of this? It's all trippy and retro, and like 1980s Mad Computer Skillz, but the educational or even entertainment value is...? Ah, they just don't make kids shows like they used to.



Concert wrap-up later today!!

Concert Day!!

It's heeeeeere! Concert tonight, 8 pm - Cannot.Wait. So before I get to the most long awaited concert tale of all, I'd like to alert your attention to the Cooks site. I just put up a very special post over there, and I hope you all enjoy it.

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

Oh how I hope she plays this tonight! I love this song so much, and I think with just her on the piano, it could be quite interesting. In contradiction to that, I do like sleigh bells so much on the album. It's not often enough that people use sleigh bells.

And now, the concert story that heralded the incorporation of "It was GRUNGE!!!!" into the SIM lexicon...

Concert Tale of the Day - Sam's

"OK, so here it is.

It must have been 1996, after Green Day hit it big with the pre-teen crowd. My buddies and I were in first year university, 18/19 years old. We got to the concert which was full of screaming adolescents and thought it was going to be a bust. Green Day had set up a "Parents Room" at the WInnipeg Arena, for Christ's sake. Anyway, the show lasted roughly forty five minutes and we, disgruntled, made our way to my friend's rusty, battered old Chevette. It must have been October or November because I remember it being quite chilly.

Anyway, for some reason we drove the Chevette behind the arena and saw the Green Day tourbus parked there. We decided to park nearby and wait. It seemed that a group of fifteen year old girls had had the same idea and were clustered, all giggly, by the bus. We got out of the Chevette and waited also.

After a while, Tre Cool came out of the arena on a little motorized scooter, joked with the girls a bit, then sped away. The roadies convinced the girls that they band was already on the bus, although we had been watching for a while and knew that, mathematically, it was impossible. So we hung around while all the fifteen year old girls went home.

A few minutes later Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt came outside. There was just me and my two friends and a couple of other older guys left. We took our opportunity and managed to talk to the band for a bit, mostly lame punk-band stuff like "Do you use any effects on your guitar?" They talked to us about people like Bif Naked who was unknown then.

In the Chevette, for whatever reason, we had a little troll doll, which the bass player in our group wanted to give to Mike Dirnt (whom he idolized), since Mike kept a collection of a little dolls and figurines lined up on his amp when he played. So we did that, decided not to be assholes and leave without being asked (we were very polite young men). And all I can say to anyone who thinks this story is lame is that it was 1996, grunge was still hanging on in Winnipeg, and if you weren't into grunge, you can't understand. :)"

I heart Alan Rickman

Early morning post, but I need to share in my utter glee - last night on The Hour, The Ricker stated that he'll be in the upcoming Burton screen adaptation of the musical Sweeny Todd. Holy.F. Cute little anecdote then provided about him singing a duet with Johnny Depp. I can't handle it - Ricker, Depp, and Sondheim - this is so awesome!!