The cherry blossoms are in full bloom, waiting patiently to be admired. The rows at Burrard Station wave at the passengers going into and coming out of the station, hoping to be noticed. Some do, glancing distractedly; others realise the gesture and take the time to pause, sometimes stop in their tracks to admire the canopy of soft pink whiteness. Largely, though, people breeze by in their own little worlds, seeing and admiring nothing about the moment.
I don't fault them for this slight; I just can't comprehend it.
The Japanese essentially worship sakura - cherry blossoms - and there is much fanfare and celebration when the blossoms start to open. There is a sakura watch on the nightly news, often the top story, complete with maps of blossoms spreading across the country to show where the blossoms have already opened. People plan parties with friends and co-workers to sit under the trees and get completely drunk. In larger cities, someone from the office is assigned the task of choosing the best spot in the park and guarding it all day with a tarp so after work co-workers have a place to sit. There's something magical about looking up and seeing nothing but petals, enveloped by the softness.
There are 37,000 cherry blossom trees around Vancouver. A business man has pledged another 10,000 if other people will start buying trees for around the city, a beautification plan. I have a map of some of the larger collections of cherry trees. My plan was to get out to some different ones before the blossoms start to fall. I'm starting to worry that I won't get out to them. So I have to take advantage of the ones I see regularly, documenting them in photos. This is the plan. But the weather has to be just so.
Today the weather is meh.
Why does my head hurt so?
Currently listening :
Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant
By Belle & Sebastian
Release date: 06 June, 2000
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Saturday, March 25, 2006
the new crush
I have the biggest crush on Stevie Jackson. Huge. And it's completely based on superficial stuff like how he dances and how he plays guitar. Obviously he can come off however he wants to because he's on a big fricking stage and does this sort of thing nightly, but still.
Aside from this, Belle and Sebastian as a whole made me love them more. I mean, Stuart danced like Molly Ringwald, for cripes sake! He climbed a speaker taller than himself and got stuck like a cat in a tree! Chris the keyboardist sported an authentic '70s look with the glasses and facial hair! Sara sang so sweetly it was scary! Bob and Mick passed every instrument they could get their hands on back and forth. And you already know about Stevie's finer talents. Crap, it was fun.
And Rose Melberg. Don't even get me started. She's the sweetest. People were talking while she was on, but from the front row she was fantastic. Funny and super cute and *sigh* sweet. And her new CD was for sale, even though it won't be released until sometime in later April. She's great.
My friend David hooked me up with Courtney, who is from Olympia and also works in a library and is going back to school to be a librarian. She's pretty rad with lots of good stories. It was nice to be with someone who was even more excited about the show than I was. I mean, she drove to another country to see them! I also discovered she's met my friend Scott, which in and of itself is pretty cool.
This is the best weekend ever. Last night was fabulous, but today and tonight will just add to that fabulousness. I'm going to high tea at my friend's house this afternoon to meet up with my girlfriends, finger sandwiches included. Finger sandwiches! Shortly after that ends I'm going to the Canucks game with my sister (thank you, JK!) to watch the third of the three-game series with the Oilers. It should be a good one. I still have love for the Oilers from my childhood obssession, but don't mention that to my sister or the drunk people around my seat.
And curling's on! The lead for Team Canada was in my sister's grade from K to 12. She lived down the street! Did I ever mention that my parents met at a bonspiel? I love curling.
Currently listening :
Cast Away the Clouds
By Rose Melberg
Release date: 25 April, 2006
Aside from this, Belle and Sebastian as a whole made me love them more. I mean, Stuart danced like Molly Ringwald, for cripes sake! He climbed a speaker taller than himself and got stuck like a cat in a tree! Chris the keyboardist sported an authentic '70s look with the glasses and facial hair! Sara sang so sweetly it was scary! Bob and Mick passed every instrument they could get their hands on back and forth. And you already know about Stevie's finer talents. Crap, it was fun.
And Rose Melberg. Don't even get me started. She's the sweetest. People were talking while she was on, but from the front row she was fantastic. Funny and super cute and *sigh* sweet. And her new CD was for sale, even though it won't be released until sometime in later April. She's great.
My friend David hooked me up with Courtney, who is from Olympia and also works in a library and is going back to school to be a librarian. She's pretty rad with lots of good stories. It was nice to be with someone who was even more excited about the show than I was. I mean, she drove to another country to see them! I also discovered she's met my friend Scott, which in and of itself is pretty cool.
This is the best weekend ever. Last night was fabulous, but today and tonight will just add to that fabulousness. I'm going to high tea at my friend's house this afternoon to meet up with my girlfriends, finger sandwiches included. Finger sandwiches! Shortly after that ends I'm going to the Canucks game with my sister (thank you, JK!) to watch the third of the three-game series with the Oilers. It should be a good one. I still have love for the Oilers from my childhood obssession, but don't mention that to my sister or the drunk people around my seat.
And curling's on! The lead for Team Canada was in my sister's grade from K to 12. She lived down the street! Did I ever mention that my parents met at a bonspiel? I love curling.
Currently listening :
Cast Away the Clouds
By Rose Melberg
Release date: 25 April, 2006
Monday, March 20, 2006
sorry for being a crappy friend
I was looking at my bookshelf and noticed a book an old friend gave me. It's "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote, the third printing of the paperback. It's yellowed and has that old book smell, of decaying paper fibres. And it made me sad. What does it say about your friendship when you get that as a gift? That friend stopped talking to me a little over a month ago, for reasons I can only guess as we never discussed why. I can gather info about how he's doing from his website, that he seems to be well and happy and sociable, that's he doing stuff he likes. But I feel the disconnect deeply. I thought we were friends for almost a decade. I realise, of course, I was wrong.
Selfishly, I hoped cutting me out would have a negative impact and he would change his mind. Instead, the opposite seems true. Or, rather, I had no effect at all.
Now I'm doing an inventory of friends, trying to figure out whether or not they still like me based on the conversations or messages we've recently (or, in some cases, not so recently) had. Whether I should be planning on more defections from those around me. More and more I'm finding that I don't really know what to expect from my friends.
I don't feel like I've been very nice lately, that I've become too insular and solitary and dealt with others the same way. I push people away, either by smothering or by neglecting. I don't know how to be that middle ground, the vanilla, the background noise that no one minds hearing. I can only be the gaudy lamp or the non-descript wallpaper. Lately I've been the wallpaper. I long to be the coffee table, useful but not too in the way.
Maybe I'm just disappointed that four old houses were torn down a block away, leaving a huge pile of rotting wood and musty house entrails. The former front lawns house battered carcasses of fridges and ovens. It will be a new apartment building, likely with plastic siding and no character, frequented by people with domestic beer shirts or shorts in the middle of winter. A little part of my neighbourhood has died. I hate when things change against my wishes.
I'm sure I'll only be at this level of self-loathing another day or two. Fret not.
On the upside, I'll see Rose Melberg play on Friday.
Currently listening :
Winter Pageant
By Softies
Release date: 21 January, 1997
Selfishly, I hoped cutting me out would have a negative impact and he would change his mind. Instead, the opposite seems true. Or, rather, I had no effect at all.
Now I'm doing an inventory of friends, trying to figure out whether or not they still like me based on the conversations or messages we've recently (or, in some cases, not so recently) had. Whether I should be planning on more defections from those around me. More and more I'm finding that I don't really know what to expect from my friends.
I don't feel like I've been very nice lately, that I've become too insular and solitary and dealt with others the same way. I push people away, either by smothering or by neglecting. I don't know how to be that middle ground, the vanilla, the background noise that no one minds hearing. I can only be the gaudy lamp or the non-descript wallpaper. Lately I've been the wallpaper. I long to be the coffee table, useful but not too in the way.
Maybe I'm just disappointed that four old houses were torn down a block away, leaving a huge pile of rotting wood and musty house entrails. The former front lawns house battered carcasses of fridges and ovens. It will be a new apartment building, likely with plastic siding and no character, frequented by people with domestic beer shirts or shorts in the middle of winter. A little part of my neighbourhood has died. I hate when things change against my wishes.
I'm sure I'll only be at this level of self-loathing another day or two. Fret not.
On the upside, I'll see Rose Melberg play on Friday.
Currently listening :
Winter Pageant
By Softies
Release date: 21 January, 1997
Friday, March 17, 2006
i hate green beer
Just back from my St. Patrick's Day festivities. Some good times.
I met up with a few friends for drinking at the Billy Bishop Legion. This is one of my favourite legions because it's haunted. One of the paintings was never finished; the artist went to war and died in combat. Apparently the area around the painting gets cold drafts, even though there's no possible way that one corner could. There are also reports of footsteps in the upstairs when no one is there. These are the stories I enjoy.
So, we got to the Legion at different times and I was able to sign in my friends, as I'm a card-carrying Legion member. One got the baron of beef dinner and the rest of us got beer or Irish whisky. We wound up drinking an additional 3 pitchers between the 4 of us (3 girls and a boy) and sat back and chatted. There was an ancient lady playing the piano and she went hard for 3 solid hours, playing all sorts of pub songs, many of which I didn't know. My Newfie friend did, and requested a favourite song. The piano player didn't play it for quite a while, but when she did a man sang along, looking intently at our table as he sang. It was so awesome.
People often laugh or scoff when I say I have a Legion membership. But, seriously, how can I NOT have a Legion membership when there's so much to absorb from the regulars? They've got great stories and are so real. There were ladies singing along and dancing. When would you get to experience that anywhere else? Jugs were a modest $13 and they've got jars of pickled things on the bar. I love the Legion.
And any reason to avoid the regular St. Paddy's Day insanity is a welcome one. There's something comforting about being the only people under 50.
Despite this hard living, I've got a 7am workout appointment to keep. Ugh.
Currently listening :
Rocky Dennis
By Jens Lekman
Release date: 06 April, 2004
I met up with a few friends for drinking at the Billy Bishop Legion. This is one of my favourite legions because it's haunted. One of the paintings was never finished; the artist went to war and died in combat. Apparently the area around the painting gets cold drafts, even though there's no possible way that one corner could. There are also reports of footsteps in the upstairs when no one is there. These are the stories I enjoy.
So, we got to the Legion at different times and I was able to sign in my friends, as I'm a card-carrying Legion member. One got the baron of beef dinner and the rest of us got beer or Irish whisky. We wound up drinking an additional 3 pitchers between the 4 of us (3 girls and a boy) and sat back and chatted. There was an ancient lady playing the piano and she went hard for 3 solid hours, playing all sorts of pub songs, many of which I didn't know. My Newfie friend did, and requested a favourite song. The piano player didn't play it for quite a while, but when she did a man sang along, looking intently at our table as he sang. It was so awesome.
People often laugh or scoff when I say I have a Legion membership. But, seriously, how can I NOT have a Legion membership when there's so much to absorb from the regulars? They've got great stories and are so real. There were ladies singing along and dancing. When would you get to experience that anywhere else? Jugs were a modest $13 and they've got jars of pickled things on the bar. I love the Legion.
And any reason to avoid the regular St. Paddy's Day insanity is a welcome one. There's something comforting about being the only people under 50.
Despite this hard living, I've got a 7am workout appointment to keep. Ugh.
Currently listening :
Rocky Dennis
By Jens Lekman
Release date: 06 April, 2004
Thursday, March 16, 2006
so much algae
I ate a lot of seaweed today. Like, an acre of it, at least.
My supervisor brought in seaweed snacks from the brand spanking new Korean grocery store up the street from work. She pulled me aside this morning and said in hushed tones, "Hey, look what I got for us. Seaweed snacks. They're addictive." Me, being the uber-nerd I am, asked, "Are they Korean? I only really like the Korean ones." She said they were and opened a package. I already knew I liked them because my friend has been addicted to them for ages and tried to get me hooked on them. We, along with our co-workers, ate 150 sheets of seaweed in about 3 hours.
Actually, my friend started eating them because she was poor and the snacks are so cheap. When we went to an out-of-town weekend concert she ate around 50 or 60 packs, each pack with around 10 small sheets. That makes 5 tonnes of seaweed. When her stomach started hurting she asked if I thought it might be from that. Uh... ya?
I used to try to get my friends hooked on candy. The easiest thing is Rockets. Around Hallowe'en I would give them to friends and random people on the bus or at movies or wherever, hoping they would turn to Rockets when they needed a fix of something. It worked. Unfortunately you can't really buy Rockets anytime but Hallowe'en so...
Tonight I opened a package of toasted laver at my friends' house for Games Night. The one friend said she didn't really like seaweed on its own, but caved after a little peer pressure. And she liked them. The other decided to go buy them for her husband, who gave up potato chips for Lent. So maybe seaweed will be the new Rockets for the rest of the year. They're not fishy; they're just salty and crunchy and yummy.
If you're reading this on the 17th, tonight will be a Billy Bishop night, if you care to join.
Currently watching :
The Yes Men
Release date: 15 February, 2005
My supervisor brought in seaweed snacks from the brand spanking new Korean grocery store up the street from work. She pulled me aside this morning and said in hushed tones, "Hey, look what I got for us. Seaweed snacks. They're addictive." Me, being the uber-nerd I am, asked, "Are they Korean? I only really like the Korean ones." She said they were and opened a package. I already knew I liked them because my friend has been addicted to them for ages and tried to get me hooked on them. We, along with our co-workers, ate 150 sheets of seaweed in about 3 hours.
Actually, my friend started eating them because she was poor and the snacks are so cheap. When we went to an out-of-town weekend concert she ate around 50 or 60 packs, each pack with around 10 small sheets. That makes 5 tonnes of seaweed. When her stomach started hurting she asked if I thought it might be from that. Uh... ya?
I used to try to get my friends hooked on candy. The easiest thing is Rockets. Around Hallowe'en I would give them to friends and random people on the bus or at movies or wherever, hoping they would turn to Rockets when they needed a fix of something. It worked. Unfortunately you can't really buy Rockets anytime but Hallowe'en so...
Tonight I opened a package of toasted laver at my friends' house for Games Night. The one friend said she didn't really like seaweed on its own, but caved after a little peer pressure. And she liked them. The other decided to go buy them for her husband, who gave up potato chips for Lent. So maybe seaweed will be the new Rockets for the rest of the year. They're not fishy; they're just salty and crunchy and yummy.
If you're reading this on the 17th, tonight will be a Billy Bishop night, if you care to join.
Currently watching :
The Yes Men
Release date: 15 February, 2005
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
potty mouth
Holy crap, I can't believe they let "The Loop" on regular prime time. "You've nailed that like a two dollar whore." There's no way they're going to let it back on next week. But it is pee-your-pants funny.
Like "Sons & Daughters", it has little subtitles and captions under the people so you know what's happening. (That I like this feature, does this make me dumb?) They have bouts of decent music (if you like The Bravery, and I do for some reason, you will have no other choice but to like it) and outlandish behaviour... The brother quit jobs daily, having left Pier One for Toys'R'Us so he could buy a trampoline on employee's discount, and then for Long John Silver's because he liked the hat. The same brother shaved a patch of hair off the young executive brother's head because said-brother passed out from too much drinking. The executive brother's boss... Well, he said that choice quote up near the top.
Why couldn't I be one of the selected households to report on what should be on TV? What's that called again? I think I know a couple that claimed they were in that club. But they're also liars.
OK, Jimmy Fallon dancing in a Pepsi commercial?! Who the crap is that wacked-out girl dancing along like Ashlee Simpson?
Why am I asking so many questions to blinking lights?
Speaking of which... "Hey, dragon! You fly like a girl!"
Currently listening :
Broken Hearts Break Faster Everday
By Paper Moon
Release date: 14 February, 2006
Like "Sons & Daughters", it has little subtitles and captions under the people so you know what's happening. (That I like this feature, does this make me dumb?) They have bouts of decent music (if you like The Bravery, and I do for some reason, you will have no other choice but to like it) and outlandish behaviour... The brother quit jobs daily, having left Pier One for Toys'R'Us so he could buy a trampoline on employee's discount, and then for Long John Silver's because he liked the hat. The same brother shaved a patch of hair off the young executive brother's head because said-brother passed out from too much drinking. The executive brother's boss... Well, he said that choice quote up near the top.
Why couldn't I be one of the selected households to report on what should be on TV? What's that called again? I think I know a couple that claimed they were in that club. But they're also liars.
OK, Jimmy Fallon dancing in a Pepsi commercial?! Who the crap is that wacked-out girl dancing along like Ashlee Simpson?
Why am I asking so many questions to blinking lights?
Speaking of which... "Hey, dragon! You fly like a girl!"
Currently listening :
Broken Hearts Break Faster Everday
By Paper Moon
Release date: 14 February, 2006
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
the weight of it all
Sometime this week I'm supposed to start a morning exercise routine with my co-worker. Our workplace has a small gym with some enormous weightlifting apparatus (universal gym?) and assorted things you stand and jump and walk/run on. We decided that since it's there we should use it. The plan is to go to work early, workout for an hour or so, and then pop downstairs to work. It's a good plan, but I'm not sure how well it's going to work out.
I'm lazy. I admit that. I look for the easy way out. Even though I know I should be doing more exercise I find it nearly impossible to convince myself to follow through. Today for instance... I thought about walking to work (a decent 50-minute walk through all the worst parts of town), but it's raining. So I obviously can't walk to work now, mainly because I'm a witch and will melt. The small part of me that wants to do it is easily strong-armed by the domineering sluggish part. This may be because that sluggish part is similar to The Blob, just absorbing everything into it, expanding without even trying. It suffocates the tiny bit of go-getter in me. The internal struggle should be burning more calories than it actually does.
I know someone who gets up at 5:30am most days to work out with a trainer. I... I can't even begin to fathom what that feels like, being out of bed at 5:30am, let alone pumping iron. *shudder* Some people like that sort of thing, feeling like you get something accomplished before work by working out early. This is the feeling we were hoping to replicate. I just have to convince myself to get to work 2 hours early so the replication can begin.
You know, it might just work out fine. Maybe I'm working myself into a tizzy for nothing. Maybe it will be easy to get into a routine. Maybe the release of adrenaline and endorphins will make me addicted to riding the train at 6 or 7am. What's the worst that could happen? I get pumped up? Turn to steroids to see results faster? Watch my enormous calves balloon out of control, resulting in a skirts-only wardrobe? Maybe I should be looking at one of those activities that seem to make your body disappear, like pilates or anorexia. (I like food so I can't motivate myself to do that, either.)
All I know is one more comment about the muffin top effect might make me go nuts on the rowing machine.
I just wish my lungs either had more or less asthma so I wouldn't be on the fence with the breathing thing. Can't use an inhaler, but can't breath after a certain amount of movement. Damn lungs.
Currently listening :
Mass Teen Fainting
By Plumtree
Release date: 2003
I'm lazy. I admit that. I look for the easy way out. Even though I know I should be doing more exercise I find it nearly impossible to convince myself to follow through. Today for instance... I thought about walking to work (a decent 50-minute walk through all the worst parts of town), but it's raining. So I obviously can't walk to work now, mainly because I'm a witch and will melt. The small part of me that wants to do it is easily strong-armed by the domineering sluggish part. This may be because that sluggish part is similar to The Blob, just absorbing everything into it, expanding without even trying. It suffocates the tiny bit of go-getter in me. The internal struggle should be burning more calories than it actually does.
I know someone who gets up at 5:30am most days to work out with a trainer. I... I can't even begin to fathom what that feels like, being out of bed at 5:30am, let alone pumping iron. *shudder* Some people like that sort of thing, feeling like you get something accomplished before work by working out early. This is the feeling we were hoping to replicate. I just have to convince myself to get to work 2 hours early so the replication can begin.
You know, it might just work out fine. Maybe I'm working myself into a tizzy for nothing. Maybe it will be easy to get into a routine. Maybe the release of adrenaline and endorphins will make me addicted to riding the train at 6 or 7am. What's the worst that could happen? I get pumped up? Turn to steroids to see results faster? Watch my enormous calves balloon out of control, resulting in a skirts-only wardrobe? Maybe I should be looking at one of those activities that seem to make your body disappear, like pilates or anorexia. (I like food so I can't motivate myself to do that, either.)
All I know is one more comment about the muffin top effect might make me go nuts on the rowing machine.
I just wish my lungs either had more or less asthma so I wouldn't be on the fence with the breathing thing. Can't use an inhaler, but can't breath after a certain amount of movement. Damn lungs.
Currently listening :
Mass Teen Fainting
By Plumtree
Release date: 2003
Sunday, March 12, 2006
in da 'hood
Yesterday I went yarn shopping with Rachel and Gusty along Main. The yarn shop we went to has been in business for something like 60 years, run by a man who does his own dyeing and spinning. Looking at yarn makes me yearn for stronger wrists; I've decided that's why my technique is so poor, not just that I'm left-handed. I bought a couple of balls with the intention of making wristbands with snarky sayings on them. Should maybe practice counting and pearling and all the basic sorts of things before I start with them. I am not a skilled knitter. But if you need a plain scarf... that's about all I can muster right now.
Normally I wouldn't admit to shopping on Main because I'm not a hipster and so don't want to imply that I'm pretending to be. A poseur, so to speak. No, I mention it because we popped into the most fantastic shop EVER. Lazy Susan is a dreamworld of magic, full of vintage mixed with reworked mixed with new stuff. Lots of good ideas there. I bought a few pieces of fruity patterned oilcloth to make a lunch bag. Or maybe some change purses. Vintage aprons! Books turned into purses! Bubble jewellry! Cat's eye reading glasses! My head swims with potential craft ideas.
Walking around, I realised that, assuming all things go as planned in my head, that will be my neighbourhood in a month-and-a-half. And despite the overcrowding of every coffee shop and restaurant, it might be OK. Except for the people. So many people...
Have I mentioned that babies love me? LOVE me. Seriously. Gusty gives me big toothy grins and pokes at my buttons and grabs my stuff. Whenever babies see me they stare, mesmerized for whatever reason. One of the girls at work is on mat leave and when she brings her daughter in everyone else makes her cry. Then they pass her to me and she stops. I'm not joking. I think I've become... the baby whisperer. Or maybe they know I don't want to steal them from their mothers.
Currently reading :
Kosher Cooking
By Marlena Spieler
Release date: July, 2004
Normally I wouldn't admit to shopping on Main because I'm not a hipster and so don't want to imply that I'm pretending to be. A poseur, so to speak. No, I mention it because we popped into the most fantastic shop EVER. Lazy Susan is a dreamworld of magic, full of vintage mixed with reworked mixed with new stuff. Lots of good ideas there. I bought a few pieces of fruity patterned oilcloth to make a lunch bag. Or maybe some change purses. Vintage aprons! Books turned into purses! Bubble jewellry! Cat's eye reading glasses! My head swims with potential craft ideas.
Walking around, I realised that, assuming all things go as planned in my head, that will be my neighbourhood in a month-and-a-half. And despite the overcrowding of every coffee shop and restaurant, it might be OK. Except for the people. So many people...
Have I mentioned that babies love me? LOVE me. Seriously. Gusty gives me big toothy grins and pokes at my buttons and grabs my stuff. Whenever babies see me they stare, mesmerized for whatever reason. One of the girls at work is on mat leave and when she brings her daughter in everyone else makes her cry. Then they pass her to me and she stops. I'm not joking. I think I've become... the baby whisperer. Or maybe they know I don't want to steal them from their mothers.
Currently reading :
Kosher Cooking
By Marlena Spieler
Release date: July, 2004
Friday, March 10, 2006
just looking
As of this second my profile has been viewed 999 times. I know it's the same person looking at it over and over, but it's still hard to fathom that mine has been viewed that many times and some bands who request me and every other person in this social Avon-type pyramid have had fewer people look at them. I joined less than a year ago (I think), so that means 90 people a month look at me, or 3 a day, roughly. I guess this isn't as impressive, or surprising, as I originally thought. Hmm...
I assume, of course, that my picture initially draws people in. Apparently you can tell a lot about a person from a picture, but I've learned that people think I'm a certain way from mine and are then disappointed when they meet me for real. I'm OK with this. I know it takes a few interactions for me to start being me-like. Not everyone wants to put in the effort. And I suppose I do the same thing, make judgements based on pictures. It's like everything else, where looks matter to some extent.
That said, I'm going to try to stop assuming things about people. Letting things unfold as they happen and taking opportunities when they pop up seems a better idea instead of wondering about motives and what the other person is thinking. How many times have I missed out on meeting a new person or doing a fun new activity because of looks or worrying what other people would think?
Last night I went out with my friend for gelato and cheeseburgers. He called to chit chat during a work break (one of those work-at-home types) and I convinced him that he'd rather go for gelato than talk on the phone. He brought his flatmate's dog with and we sat outside the gelato shop and ate gelato while freezing rain fell at 11:30pm. People who went by looked at us oddly. It was pretty cold, we were literally shivering, and we were eating gelato. It was a lot of fun, especially since I haven't seen him for a while and he's one of my oldest friends. The snowstorm conditions just added to it.
I realise I don't do stuff like this as much anymore, the last-minute hanging out and doing irrational things. Everything has been so structured and all my time alloted down to the half-hour. I'm not so open to new things and changes to the schedule of my life. And maybe that's why I don't think my life is especially fun.
So today I smiled at people during the extensive Skytrain breakdown and didn't get angry or curse under my breath, because the sun was shiny and the sidewalks were slushy and I could jump in them and make an impressive splash if I really wanted to. Think of the puddles I'll encounter on my way home!
And I'm going to see Isobel Campbell tonight!
Currently reading :
Pumpkin, a Super Food for All 12 Months of the Year
By DeeDee Stovel
Release date: 01 August, 2005
I assume, of course, that my picture initially draws people in. Apparently you can tell a lot about a person from a picture, but I've learned that people think I'm a certain way from mine and are then disappointed when they meet me for real. I'm OK with this. I know it takes a few interactions for me to start being me-like. Not everyone wants to put in the effort. And I suppose I do the same thing, make judgements based on pictures. It's like everything else, where looks matter to some extent.
That said, I'm going to try to stop assuming things about people. Letting things unfold as they happen and taking opportunities when they pop up seems a better idea instead of wondering about motives and what the other person is thinking. How many times have I missed out on meeting a new person or doing a fun new activity because of looks or worrying what other people would think?
Last night I went out with my friend for gelato and cheeseburgers. He called to chit chat during a work break (one of those work-at-home types) and I convinced him that he'd rather go for gelato than talk on the phone. He brought his flatmate's dog with and we sat outside the gelato shop and ate gelato while freezing rain fell at 11:30pm. People who went by looked at us oddly. It was pretty cold, we were literally shivering, and we were eating gelato. It was a lot of fun, especially since I haven't seen him for a while and he's one of my oldest friends. The snowstorm conditions just added to it.
I realise I don't do stuff like this as much anymore, the last-minute hanging out and doing irrational things. Everything has been so structured and all my time alloted down to the half-hour. I'm not so open to new things and changes to the schedule of my life. And maybe that's why I don't think my life is especially fun.
So today I smiled at people during the extensive Skytrain breakdown and didn't get angry or curse under my breath, because the sun was shiny and the sidewalks were slushy and I could jump in them and make an impressive splash if I really wanted to. Think of the puddles I'll encounter on my way home!
And I'm going to see Isobel Campbell tonight!
Currently reading :
Pumpkin, a Super Food for All 12 Months of the Year
By DeeDee Stovel
Release date: 01 August, 2005
Wednesday, March 8, 2006
mother nature
Frozen rain! In Vancouver! It's like "the Ice Storm" out there. Wind making my hair look all wild and vertical. Tomorrow I'm wearing waterproof mascara. I've been cold all day, starting from the second I left my house until now, so hopefully my bed will warm up quickly.
Note: Soho at the bottom of Davie has Boddy's and other ales and lagers on for $3.75 constantly. Like, daily they're all cheap. It's my new favourite place. If ever you want a drinking partner, I am so there. Even if the weather is miserable.
Currently listening :
Terrible Things Happen
By The Aislers Set
Release date: 31 July, 1998
Note: Soho at the bottom of Davie has Boddy's and other ales and lagers on for $3.75 constantly. Like, daily they're all cheap. It's my new favourite place. If ever you want a drinking partner, I am so there. Even if the weather is miserable.
Currently listening :
Terrible Things Happen
By The Aislers Set
Release date: 31 July, 1998
sons & daughter
OK, this might be my new favourite show. "Sons & Daughters" was on last night, two episodes back to back, and it was ridiculous. Somewhat painful, but in an amusing way. The pre-teen girl with glasses and braces is the most annoying character on that show, but she's my favourite. How odd is it that, when the extended family goes out for family bowling, all of them have bowling shirts? I know only two, maybe three people that have bowling shirts. But an entire family? Good for them.
The stepfather said to the stepson that he was thinking of leaving his wife, the guy's mother. He told one person and then the gossip spread through the family so the only person who didn't know was the wife. One of the kids glued a Hitler moustache on a sleeping great-aunt and filmed it. The attractive cousin talked up some girls; when the unattractive cousin came by and the girls said he was a loser, the attractive cousin told them they were ugly inside and that made them ugly outside. I'm starting to wonder if the people who write/wrote for "Arrested Development" got a new job on this one. It's that kind of roundabout dialogue. They have helpful name pop-ups so you know who everyone is and how they're related to the central character.
I'm not explaining this right.
I watched two whole episodes of a new show without turning it, even though the Simpsons were on. That's how into it I was. I barely watch anything the whole way through.
Oh, today at work the police were called in because three women had their purses snatched within a five minute period. They caught the guy and had him in handcuffs outside our window. It's hard not to stare out when something like that unfolds before your window. Unfortunately the one woman who saw her purse being taken later decided that she wasn't completely sure the guy was the right one, so they had to let him go. Ridiculous. The guy cut one of the security guards, but still wasn't held.
This was the most excitement we've had for a while.
I'm totally going out for $3.75 pints right now.
Currently listening :
Universal Audio
By The Delgados
Release date: 28 September, 2004
The stepfather said to the stepson that he was thinking of leaving his wife, the guy's mother. He told one person and then the gossip spread through the family so the only person who didn't know was the wife. One of the kids glued a Hitler moustache on a sleeping great-aunt and filmed it. The attractive cousin talked up some girls; when the unattractive cousin came by and the girls said he was a loser, the attractive cousin told them they were ugly inside and that made them ugly outside. I'm starting to wonder if the people who write/wrote for "Arrested Development" got a new job on this one. It's that kind of roundabout dialogue. They have helpful name pop-ups so you know who everyone is and how they're related to the central character.
I'm not explaining this right.
I watched two whole episodes of a new show without turning it, even though the Simpsons were on. That's how into it I was. I barely watch anything the whole way through.
Oh, today at work the police were called in because three women had their purses snatched within a five minute period. They caught the guy and had him in handcuffs outside our window. It's hard not to stare out when something like that unfolds before your window. Unfortunately the one woman who saw her purse being taken later decided that she wasn't completely sure the guy was the right one, so they had to let him go. Ridiculous. The guy cut one of the security guards, but still wasn't held.
This was the most excitement we've had for a while.
I'm totally going out for $3.75 pints right now.
Currently listening :
Universal Audio
By The Delgados
Release date: 28 September, 2004
Tuesday, March 7, 2006
bridesmaidzilla?
Last night I went to the 5th or 6th Operation Bridesmaid meeting for my friend's fall wedding. I've lost count. I'm still terrified about it, even moreso now, because two of the other bridesmaids decided to go all-out last night: they bought their dresses. Keep in mind that the wedding is at the end of September.
Originally we were just going to meet to discuss a couple of things the bride-to-be asked me to address. Then, suddenly, one of the girls suggested we go to the hellacious mall to look at shoes because, apparently, only one store in all of Greater Vancouver has silver shoes and they were having a sale. And it's imperative we have silver shoes. So we went. The two found shoes, which was lovely because now all our shoes are shiny. (Mine I bought at Value Village for $5.99 and are from the mid-60s, so are the shiny silver that all shoes of that era seem to be.) They each bought shoes that sparkle. Like princesses.
That should have been the end of it.
Suddenly the honorary bridesmaid (a gay man) saw a store and said that the missing bridesmaid (there are 4 of us officially; 5 with the honorary one) almost bought a dress there and we should look to see if there was anything we liked. This was not just any dress shop; this was a dreamy princess dress shop. The dresses in the window stood on their own, they had so much crinoline and boning in them. Like, they would be too fancy for a catillion kind of fancy. And almost all the dresses were like that. The one bridesmaid found a couple of dresses quickly and one she really liked. Actually it was closer to love. It was lovely and on sale for $89.99. But we had all agreed that we would all have cocktail length dresses (I believe cocktail length falls slightly below the knee, short enough that a drunk girl wouldn't trip over the hem when drunk). I mentioned this. Suddenly the gloves were off.
After listening to, "But I love this dress the way it is," for 10 minutes, I (the spoilsport) relented. She bought the dress. The other bridesmaid, feeling adventurous and maybe just a little jealous, tried on a couple of dresses that really weren't very nice. The one she liked actually just looked like she wrapped fabric from a bolt around her. Thankfully I managed to talk her out of that one, but the ladies in the store wanted her to get something and found a dress that looked pretty cute on her... if she were getting married. It was white and bride-y, and was also floor-length. Despite being regular price (something like $250, for a bridesmaid dress!), she bought it. Then she asked, "Do you think I'll upstage [the bride] in this dress? Because I don't want to do that." The other two assured her that, since the dress would be in pink, it would be fine. Me, I'm not so sure. It's pretty close to being a wedding gown. I think there could be a fist fight when the bride sees these dresses.
After we left the store and walked through the sprawl of the mall (did I mention I despise malls?), we passed a store that the bride had bought a dress at the year previous for a wedding. "Oh ya," says the honorary bridesmaid. "Now that I think about it, that was the store where the other bridesmaid almost bought the dress." I had to stop myself from wrapping my fingers around his neck.
So now I'm left to look for either a dress or fabric to make a dress, both of which I'm totally OK with. It's just that now I feel this pressure to pick something ultra fancy because the other two have floor-length gowns. I wish I could find my retro patterns. At this point, nothing short of "Roman Holiday" Audrey Hepburn will do.
Did I mention we're wearing sparkly tiaras?
Currently listening :
Puzzle
By Tahiti 80
Release date: 06 June, 2000
Originally we were just going to meet to discuss a couple of things the bride-to-be asked me to address. Then, suddenly, one of the girls suggested we go to the hellacious mall to look at shoes because, apparently, only one store in all of Greater Vancouver has silver shoes and they were having a sale. And it's imperative we have silver shoes. So we went. The two found shoes, which was lovely because now all our shoes are shiny. (Mine I bought at Value Village for $5.99 and are from the mid-60s, so are the shiny silver that all shoes of that era seem to be.) They each bought shoes that sparkle. Like princesses.
That should have been the end of it.
Suddenly the honorary bridesmaid (a gay man) saw a store and said that the missing bridesmaid (there are 4 of us officially; 5 with the honorary one) almost bought a dress there and we should look to see if there was anything we liked. This was not just any dress shop; this was a dreamy princess dress shop. The dresses in the window stood on their own, they had so much crinoline and boning in them. Like, they would be too fancy for a catillion kind of fancy. And almost all the dresses were like that. The one bridesmaid found a couple of dresses quickly and one she really liked. Actually it was closer to love. It was lovely and on sale for $89.99. But we had all agreed that we would all have cocktail length dresses (I believe cocktail length falls slightly below the knee, short enough that a drunk girl wouldn't trip over the hem when drunk). I mentioned this. Suddenly the gloves were off.
After listening to, "But I love this dress the way it is," for 10 minutes, I (the spoilsport) relented. She bought the dress. The other bridesmaid, feeling adventurous and maybe just a little jealous, tried on a couple of dresses that really weren't very nice. The one she liked actually just looked like she wrapped fabric from a bolt around her. Thankfully I managed to talk her out of that one, but the ladies in the store wanted her to get something and found a dress that looked pretty cute on her... if she were getting married. It was white and bride-y, and was also floor-length. Despite being regular price (something like $250, for a bridesmaid dress!), she bought it. Then she asked, "Do you think I'll upstage [the bride] in this dress? Because I don't want to do that." The other two assured her that, since the dress would be in pink, it would be fine. Me, I'm not so sure. It's pretty close to being a wedding gown. I think there could be a fist fight when the bride sees these dresses.
After we left the store and walked through the sprawl of the mall (did I mention I despise malls?), we passed a store that the bride had bought a dress at the year previous for a wedding. "Oh ya," says the honorary bridesmaid. "Now that I think about it, that was the store where the other bridesmaid almost bought the dress." I had to stop myself from wrapping my fingers around his neck.
So now I'm left to look for either a dress or fabric to make a dress, both of which I'm totally OK with. It's just that now I feel this pressure to pick something ultra fancy because the other two have floor-length gowns. I wish I could find my retro patterns. At this point, nothing short of "Roman Holiday" Audrey Hepburn will do.
Did I mention we're wearing sparkly tiaras?
Currently listening :
Puzzle
By Tahiti 80
Release date: 06 June, 2000
Saturday, March 4, 2006
moo
I am so full of meat right now. Just back from my celebratory steak dinner with my pal Tony. My belly is slowly digesting the California cut New York steak I had. Apparently in California they like their steaks cut in half, which is good because I couldn't eat more than I did and I couldn't even finish that one.
Against my better judgement, we shared a Baked Alaska. We couldn't really figure out what was Alaska about it, but the ice cream portion of it was really tasty. I always thought Baked Alaska was supposed to be lit on fire, as I vaguely recall them doing on "The Love Boat." This one was not. What is the mountainous shaped dessert that is lit on fire? Not Crepes Suzette. Something else.
I'm trying to hurry along the digestive process with some ginger ale. Really, I'm hoping the dull pain of too much food will ease up faster. All I can really do is lie on my couch like a beached whale, watching Saturday night TV.
"Pretty in Pink" is on YTV at one of my favourite parts. They're in Iona's apartment (I love that apartment) when she's wearing that awesome white wig and op-art cheungsan, looking at her prom dress. Post-fight with Duckie, pre-freak out at Blaine. I know too much about this movie. I find myself talking along with the dialogue. The best part is when Jon Cryer dances and sings along with "Tenderness" in Wax Trax. That was a real, fully-functioning store. Not a fake one like in "High Fidelity," even though that one did look pretty authentic. I wonder how much this movie has really formed my likes and dislikes. Let's look at the facts:
1) I like to sew. Andie sewed all her clothes.
2) I like record stores. Andie worked in a record store.
3) I like the Psychedelic Furs. Guess who wrote the title track?
4) I like boys who are the same height as me. All the boys are the same height as the girls in this movie. At least the ones who makeout.
5) I like going to rock shows. Andie goes to the bar to watch The RaveUps.
Since I watched this the first time when I was about 14, I suppose it's possible it influenced me. But, really, my favourite movie is "Breakfast at Tiffany's" so I'd much rather be influenced by that. Which is why I need to make more cocktail dresses and start wearing kitten heels more often.
Oh, I need to lie down.
Currently watching :
Pretty in Pink
Release date: 20 August, 2002
Against my better judgement, we shared a Baked Alaska. We couldn't really figure out what was Alaska about it, but the ice cream portion of it was really tasty. I always thought Baked Alaska was supposed to be lit on fire, as I vaguely recall them doing on "The Love Boat." This one was not. What is the mountainous shaped dessert that is lit on fire? Not Crepes Suzette. Something else.
I'm trying to hurry along the digestive process with some ginger ale. Really, I'm hoping the dull pain of too much food will ease up faster. All I can really do is lie on my couch like a beached whale, watching Saturday night TV.
"Pretty in Pink" is on YTV at one of my favourite parts. They're in Iona's apartment (I love that apartment) when she's wearing that awesome white wig and op-art cheungsan, looking at her prom dress. Post-fight with Duckie, pre-freak out at Blaine. I know too much about this movie. I find myself talking along with the dialogue. The best part is when Jon Cryer dances and sings along with "Tenderness" in Wax Trax. That was a real, fully-functioning store. Not a fake one like in "High Fidelity," even though that one did look pretty authentic. I wonder how much this movie has really formed my likes and dislikes. Let's look at the facts:
1) I like to sew. Andie sewed all her clothes.
2) I like record stores. Andie worked in a record store.
3) I like the Psychedelic Furs. Guess who wrote the title track?
4) I like boys who are the same height as me. All the boys are the same height as the girls in this movie. At least the ones who makeout.
5) I like going to rock shows. Andie goes to the bar to watch The RaveUps.
Since I watched this the first time when I was about 14, I suppose it's possible it influenced me. But, really, my favourite movie is "Breakfast at Tiffany's" so I'd much rather be influenced by that. Which is why I need to make more cocktail dresses and start wearing kitten heels more often.
Oh, I need to lie down.
Currently watching :
Pretty in Pink
Release date: 20 August, 2002
lo-fi
Yesterday I bought a little silver transistor radio. It's small and cute and utilitarian. I figured I could listen to it at work while I perform my monkey-type skills on a project for the children's library. (Of note to you Vancouver readers: I perform on the mezzanine level from 9-1 today only. Best views on Levels 4 to 6.) Believe me, there's nothing to see.
Originally I was thinking of finally breaking down and buying an MP3 player of some sort, but then realised I haven't really invested any time into iTunes and so would have to load my computer up with CDs and that would take effort and I wasn't willing to do that. Then I thought a personal CD player would be a good idea, but then I have to choose CDs and put them in a case and transport all of it from home to work and back, and that seemed dangerous for the integrity of the CDs, all vulnerable outside their jewel cases. So I have a radio.
The reason I like the radio is because it has an enormous antenna that may or may not tip the radio over when it's standing upright. Makes me confident in the radio's potential clarity. I should also get fantastic reception because I'm, literally, less than 100 metres from the CBC building. Radio 2, here I come.
And I may never have to get an MP3 player because it's small enough to fit into my coat. So, when I start school in the fall, I can bust a move to the radio. I mean, it even has a jack for headphones. How dope would it be to ride the bus while listening to the radio? All conversations with me would resemble the following:
them - "Cool, a radio. Hey, what're you listening to?"
me - "Radio 1."
them - "Awesome. We should totally make-out right now."
Radio is hot.
Daily Confession No.1:
I was seriously considering going to Rick Springfield at the casino until my friend informed me he's heavy on the new material, lite on the good (thanks for the tip, MP). Go back and listen to "Working Class Dog" and try to convince me it wasn't rad. I called my sister and said that he was playing and she started laughing because her husband mentioned it just before I called. The alternative to paying $60 to see Rick Springfield is paying $60 to see Hall and Oates at the Centre. It is taking everything in me to not break into my savings account to buy a ticket to that one. Seriously. Why, just last night I squealed at my friend during controller.controller, "That's a line from 'Out of Touch'! You know, Hall and Oates?! C'mon! You know it. 'I'm out of my head when you're not around.' That's a total ripoff! COME ON!!!" Even though they're not looking so great (and Rick Springfield is still looking sooo goood), they are almost guaranteed to be all about their hits. They've been doing solo projects the last, what, 15 years or so, and are both into jazz and/or blues. I'm going to avoid Ticketmaster like the infested craphole it is. Maybe I'll look for an all-Hall-and-Oates all-the-time station on my radio. There must be one...
Currently listening :
Working Class Dog
By Rick Springfield
Release date: 25 October, 1990
Originally I was thinking of finally breaking down and buying an MP3 player of some sort, but then realised I haven't really invested any time into iTunes and so would have to load my computer up with CDs and that would take effort and I wasn't willing to do that. Then I thought a personal CD player would be a good idea, but then I have to choose CDs and put them in a case and transport all of it from home to work and back, and that seemed dangerous for the integrity of the CDs, all vulnerable outside their jewel cases. So I have a radio.
The reason I like the radio is because it has an enormous antenna that may or may not tip the radio over when it's standing upright. Makes me confident in the radio's potential clarity. I should also get fantastic reception because I'm, literally, less than 100 metres from the CBC building. Radio 2, here I come.
And I may never have to get an MP3 player because it's small enough to fit into my coat. So, when I start school in the fall, I can bust a move to the radio. I mean, it even has a jack for headphones. How dope would it be to ride the bus while listening to the radio? All conversations with me would resemble the following:
them - "Cool, a radio. Hey, what're you listening to?"
me - "Radio 1."
them - "Awesome. We should totally make-out right now."
Radio is hot.
Daily Confession No.1:
I was seriously considering going to Rick Springfield at the casino until my friend informed me he's heavy on the new material, lite on the good (thanks for the tip, MP). Go back and listen to "Working Class Dog" and try to convince me it wasn't rad. I called my sister and said that he was playing and she started laughing because her husband mentioned it just before I called. The alternative to paying $60 to see Rick Springfield is paying $60 to see Hall and Oates at the Centre. It is taking everything in me to not break into my savings account to buy a ticket to that one. Seriously. Why, just last night I squealed at my friend during controller.controller, "That's a line from 'Out of Touch'! You know, Hall and Oates?! C'mon! You know it. 'I'm out of my head when you're not around.' That's a total ripoff! COME ON!!!" Even though they're not looking so great (and Rick Springfield is still looking sooo goood), they are almost guaranteed to be all about their hits. They've been doing solo projects the last, what, 15 years or so, and are both into jazz and/or blues. I'm going to avoid Ticketmaster like the infested craphole it is. Maybe I'll look for an all-Hall-and-Oates all-the-time station on my radio. There must be one...
Currently listening :
Working Class Dog
By Rick Springfield
Release date: 25 October, 1990
Thursday, March 2, 2006
the nature of things... or people
My co-worker shared this gem:
She and her family went to the pet store to get a hamster. She needed some sort of small animal to appease her son, who was gung-ho for a dog, and it's an easy pet to take care of. She was waiting for hamsters to go on sale (seriously, she admitted this to me) for $7.49, a $3 or $4 savings. They were in the store, trying to decide on which was the cutest, when an "Oriental" lady (she says this despite being Japanese-Canadian, so I think she just didn't want to wager a guess) approached her. The woman whispered, "I've got a deal for you. Follow me," and left the store. My co-worker, intrigued by the suggestion, followed with her daughter.
They went to the parking lot and the woman opened the back of her van. Inside there was a huge, dog-kennel sized holder with two fat hamsters, a massive bag of wood shavings and a smorgasborg of foodstuffs for hamsters. My co-worker got freaked out and said her kids wanted a smaller, newer hamster, but thanked the lady for asking.
At this point of the story I thought it was like a black market sale of hamsters. Apparently they would have been free.
As they were walking away, the woman muttered under her breath something about having to go to the SPCA to get rid of the hamsters. She said she didn't have enough time to take care of them, but, come ON; they only need food every few days. What's there to take care of?
Unrelated, we also talked about "Skating with Celebrities" today. We agreed that Bruce Jenner looks a bit undead. I made the suggestion that, with all his plastic surgery, he sorta resembles Chucky the murderous doll. It seems I struck a nerve because they laughed hysterically for a few minutes. It might also be the lack of oxygen in our office.
I'm off candy/chocolate for Lent. I can't tell if that's why I'm feeling unwell already, or if it's a cold. Ugh.
Currently listening :
Dear Catastrophe Waitress
By Belle & Sebastian
Release date: 07 October, 2003
She and her family went to the pet store to get a hamster. She needed some sort of small animal to appease her son, who was gung-ho for a dog, and it's an easy pet to take care of. She was waiting for hamsters to go on sale (seriously, she admitted this to me) for $7.49, a $3 or $4 savings. They were in the store, trying to decide on which was the cutest, when an "Oriental" lady (she says this despite being Japanese-Canadian, so I think she just didn't want to wager a guess) approached her. The woman whispered, "I've got a deal for you. Follow me," and left the store. My co-worker, intrigued by the suggestion, followed with her daughter.
They went to the parking lot and the woman opened the back of her van. Inside there was a huge, dog-kennel sized holder with two fat hamsters, a massive bag of wood shavings and a smorgasborg of foodstuffs for hamsters. My co-worker got freaked out and said her kids wanted a smaller, newer hamster, but thanked the lady for asking.
At this point of the story I thought it was like a black market sale of hamsters. Apparently they would have been free.
As they were walking away, the woman muttered under her breath something about having to go to the SPCA to get rid of the hamsters. She said she didn't have enough time to take care of them, but, come ON; they only need food every few days. What's there to take care of?
Unrelated, we also talked about "Skating with Celebrities" today. We agreed that Bruce Jenner looks a bit undead. I made the suggestion that, with all his plastic surgery, he sorta resembles Chucky the murderous doll. It seems I struck a nerve because they laughed hysterically for a few minutes. It might also be the lack of oxygen in our office.
I'm off candy/chocolate for Lent. I can't tell if that's why I'm feeling unwell already, or if it's a cold. Ugh.
Currently listening :
Dear Catastrophe Waitress
By Belle & Sebastian
Release date: 07 October, 2003
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