Movie Lists

These lists had me laughing my ass off and definitely wanting to go watch some movies.

http://www.empireonline.com/features/topfives_2007/default.asp

I am McLovin! - does not get old (at least yet)

More Movies!

That's right, I'm on a movie watching kick this weekend.

When I dropped off the first three movies of the weekend, I picked up three more. 'The Devil Wears Prada', 'Alpha Dog' and 'Elephant'. I was surprisingly happy with prada. I didn't have any expectations going in and was just hoping for something fun, which it was. The clothing was great and really made me wish I was a size 4 (and not 4'11" :). Elephant was not my cup of tea. Not sure if I was just not in the mood or what, but it just didn't hold my attention (which I know it should have). Lisa loved it and it won at Cannes. It's got a Columbine thing going on. Just not sure why I didn't like it.

Now, Alpha Dog. Maybe this was what I was in the mood for, but it really held my attention. Justin Timberlake was excellent as was Emile Hirsch (who I've liked since Dogtown and can't wait to see in 'Into the Wild'). It reminded me of some of the books I read in high school when I was in my heavy metal phase. There was this book called 'Say You Love Satan'. It had that same kind of feel of how things just get way out of control.

Tara and I attempted to go see 'Atonement' tonight, but it was sold out. Instead we went to see 'Juno'. Unfortunately, we could only get seats in the front row. That sucked. But, the movie was awesome. I love Ellen Page (you must see Hard Candy) and Michael Cera (as mentioned earlier this weekend). It was so cute and hilarious! Go see this movie.

Bird Watching

Earlier today a bird landed on my balcony railing. Holy crap! Some kind of falcon or something. It was there for about ten minutes. Absolutely gorgeous. Not sure what it was and really bummed that I missed the shot when it spread its wings. A search of the web makes me think it might have been a red-shouldered hawk. Dad is doing some checking.

Movies

I actually watched a bunch of movies this weekend. In gearing up for the awards season, Julia and I rented 'Eastern Promises'. This is the new Cronenberg / Viggo film. It was not good, unfortunately. While at the store I also rented 'Superbad' and 'Stardust'. I never go rent movies (I normally borrow from the library), but I was all excited to rent movies I hadn't seen.

Stardust was awesome. I read the book last year and loved it. I absolutely loved the movie and highly recommend it. It's a fun, magical movie. I think I liked the movie because it had been awhile since I read the book, so I didn't have huge expectations. I'm pretty sure it will be a movie I add to my collection.

Superbad was pretty good. Not all fart jokes like I expected. Plus, I do like Michael Cera.

I'm attempting to finish reading the His Dark Materials trilogy (Golden Compass, etc). I'm on the last book and I'm just not into it. I know my brother loved the series, but I'm not a huge fan. Lisa and Christi bought me books for Christmas and I can't wait to start those. I somedays wish I was like Lisa and could read multiple books at the same time. Alas, I must finish off The Amber Spyglass first.

I've been sleeping most of the weekend (took Friday off as well and slept most of the day). I'm thinking I may have caught a touch of the flu my Grandma had over the holidays.

Happy Holidays

Wishing everyone a very happy holiday season.

I know I haven't been on in forever, I don't know why. It doesn't feel like I've been busier than before (maybe I just have being in front of my computer). I have many things going on, but way too tired to write. I have definitely worn myself down (as always) this Christmas. Many things on the go and not sleeping at normal times.

My sisters were at my place for dinner tonight. Had a great visit (we cried, we laughed). I am so lucky to have them in my life. It just makes me miss my mom and my stepfather more. I wish they could both be here to see all we have done with our lives. But, I know they are watching us and are very proud and very happy that we are so close.

Craziness

So, I started my new job. Still not sure how it's going to go. Not much to do yet. But, I am enjoying taking the Go Bus. Plus, I play squash with Dorie once a week. Up until this week I was playing trivia on Monday nights. Unfortunately, we didn't make it into the finals. My friend Julia was subbing in for a couple of weeks and she kicked ass.

I've become a Creative Memories consultant. I'm excited. I'm working on a wedding book right now. I'm putting together all of the invitations, etc from all of my friends' weddings that I've been to in the last eleven (wow) years. I also just finished a digital scrapbook of my brother's wedding. I can't wait for it to be delivered so I can see how it looks.

Last night Dorie and I headed over to Lisa's place. Lisa had a group of friends over to celebrate her birthday. Had an awesome time. Finally got to me a number of her friends that I had heard so much about. We talked Buffy, motorcycles and the ballet. We got to meet the guy Lisa is now dating (Kevin - very nice). Can't wait to see pictures of their trip through California.

Well, it's time to go to bed. I have been so busy, no time to get my blog updated.

Reading Finally

I started this earlier in the week and never got back to it. I am so not paying attention to my blogging. I totally forgot what I was going to write about.

I read 'Blaze' last week. This is a book written by Stephen King (as Richard Backman). Apparently this was written back in 1973 and he didn't think it was good enough. Well, it was definitely good enough. I couldn't put it down. It definitely made me remember why I loved reading King for so many years. The last couple of books have left something to be desired, but other than me wanting the book to never end I was quite happy (well, I did cry while reading, but that's besides the point).

I just finished watching the Dixie Chicks' documentary 'Shut Up & Sing'. I highly recommend it. Of course, it really reminded my of watching the footage when John Lennon made the comment that The Beatles were bigger than Jesus. People need to calm down and let people speak. I completely agree with Natalie's right to say what she said (and I agree with the sentiment as I definitely am not a fan of Bush). It's sort of funny (in a not really sort of way) that the southern states are always the ones boycotting the bands and throwing out their music. Ah stupidity. What I don't get is that Green Day wrote an entire album about what an ass the president is and spoke about it at each of their concerts. Yet nothing was ever said about that. The Dixie Chicks certainly weren't the only band / artist to say something publicly against the president. I am glad that they found a different fan base (and happy to hear in the movie that Toronto kicked ass at buying concert tickets). I know I love the album that came out of the whole thing.

New Job Tomorrow

My first day at Aim Trimark is tomorrow. I had the week off and it did not go as well as I had hoped. My car did get fixed up (new tires, windshield repairs) and I did talk to Dell about the problems with the DVD burner (it isn't fixed, but found out that I have to reinstall the operating system as the next check). The taxes are pretty much done. I have to mail them out, but they are in the envelopes. So, I did get most of what I wanted done this week. The 2007 taxes still need to be completed but I am taxed out.

So, I'm taking the Go Bus to work first thing in the morning. Wish me luck on my first day. I'll be doing some IT process control work (making sure everyone follows process - yes, the process nazi is back :)

Last night I went over to Karen and Kevin's with Julia to watch the Montreal / Toronto hockey game. The majority of us wanted Montreal to win, unfortunately, that didn't happen. Julia and I booked our train tickets (along with Jana's) for our trip to Montreal. At least three of us are heading to see Toronto play in Montreal on Julia's bday in December. We have our fingers crossed that we will be able to get tickets to the game when we get there.

I took my car to Pickering this week so that Heidi could put some new tires on the mini. I got to see their new place. They have so much room. Can't wait for the housewarming and the Goderich Xmas get together.

So You Think You Can Dance

Last night my cousin Nicole and I went to the ACC for the 'So You Think You Can Dance' tour. It was awesome. I had such a good time. Neil is still my favourite, he can definitely play the crowd. They performed a number of my favourites (including Neil and Sara's disco routine and Neil and Sasha's 'Sweet Dreams' routine). Neil even channeled Dimitri and showed off his bare chest.

In other news, I finished up at the casino last Friday. Apparently there was confusion on what the last day of the month was :) So, I've been at home trying to get my taxes complete as well as some fixes to my car. Unfortunately, my computer has also decided that this would be a good week to stop working. I finally called Dell about my DVD burner that hasn't been working for months. My warranty expired a couple of weeks ago. So, I had to buy a new burner. Then customer service emailed me back and told me there was a grace period so they will send me a new burner. Yeah. But, yesterday my laptop decided to start losing the connection to the internet. My wireless isn't working at all, but it will just drop the connection constantly to the internet when connected directly to my modem (the wireless router doesn't work at all). I don't have the energy to fight with Dell, Rogers or D-Link today. But, I need to since I go back to work on Monday at my new job.

Lisey's Story

So, I finally finished reading Stephen King's newest (I believe - it took me a long time to read this). It was so bad. It had an interesting idea behind it but it went on for way too long. Probably would have made a good short story.

After that I read Bruce Campbell's second book "How to Make Love, the Bruce Campbell Way". It wasn't near as good as his autobiography but there were laugh out loud moments.

I'm currently reading "A Thousand Splendid Suns". It is so good. The author's first book, "The Kite Runner", was amazing. So far his second is shaping up to be just as good. The writing is amazing, I can't put it down (and not because there is action every second, just because the writing sucks you in).

Hockey Weekend

This past weekend I was supposed to go to Wonderland with my friend Sharon and her daughter. Unfortunately, I did something to my back last week (I think it was during Aquafit, but who knows). It hurt to breathe so I figured roller coasters weren't the best idea. I'm glad that I decided against it because the weather was crazy on Saturday - water everywhere.

My cousin Andrew ended up having an extra ticket to a Marlie's hockey game and I figured my back could handle sitting watching a game and drinking some beer. The game was quite good and it was really nice to be sitting watching a live hockey game again. After the game a group of us went for dinner and then I hung out at Michelle and Andrew's chatting for most of the night.

Last night was our second hockey game of the season, but our first with a goalie. I think we played really well, but we lost 2-0. I think we have a good team, but we need to get used to each other's playing styles. I miss having a coach on the bench.

Microsoft Sucks

So, I have a document. A couple of weeks ago my appendices were appearing in the cross-reference list and the table of contents. This week they have disappeared from the cross-reference list. I have tried everything. I've applied different styles (as per Microsoft's instructions), but then they either appear in the cross-reference list or the TOC, but not both. It is a mess. Even if I set the TOC to pick up the style it doesn't. How can they allow such crappy software on the market? And why do I keep using it?

It is making me mental.

Too Much TV

Last night at trivia I learned that I watched too much television in the 80s (I'm not sure that has changed).

I actually did really well in last night's game. I was able to get my current events question correct (I was worried for awhile): 'What American university hosted the Iranian president for a Q&A' (well, the question was way wordier than that) and I actually had Columbia somewhere in my brain (I had read an article on the visit, but I didn't think Columbia was actually correct).

There were two rounds that I absolutely loved: Entertainment and Audio. The audio round this week was on Canadian artists. My team had a perfect round (everyone answered their question without the team's help). My song was by Feist (so thank you Jason for downloading a ton of Feist onto my MP3 player). The Entertainment round was on 80s sitcoms. I knew all of them except the Bosom Buddies question (I had a different show in my mind, but it wasn't our question). Somedays it does help to be the youngest person at the table. I was also really happy with my question in the challenge round. I don't think I have ever gotten a challenge question correct, but this week there were two questions on Yellow songs. I was hoping for Yellow Submarine, but that really is way too obvious. My question was about Joni Mitchell's Big Yellow Taxi. I would have also gotten the steal correct (if it had come back to me) as that was about Coldplay's Yellow (I'm not a fan of Coldplay at all, but I did know that they sang Yellow).

So, a good night for our team. We did win at our table. Rod's team, though, kicked butt at their table. Rod and I went out to Green Mango for dinner before the game. It was soooo good! We then stopped in to a great furniture place on Yonge. If I had any room in my house I definitely would have found many things to buy. Rod has a new house so he will definitely be going back for some pieces.

I'm a Goalie

Well, I was a goalie for part of our game last night. Our hockey season finally started up again and unfortunately our normal goalie (Theresa) didn't join the Mississauga league this year. The league is supposed to be responsible for finding us a goalie (they should considering we each paid $450 to play). But, they haven't found us one yet. Last night we had to play without a goalie. Which means we can have 6 skaters on the ice for the game. We only had 8 in total so who ever was in the net was kind of taking a break. I actually liked being in net. I made quite a few saves and Kim was an excellent addition to the defense. As much fun as I had, I really hope we have a goalie for next week's game.

I went to Wonderland with Julia and Jana on Saturday. Jana was hungover and I was suffering from flu-like symptoms myself (not self-induced). While there the Minebuster had some kind of problem. We were waiting in line for the Italian Job and noticed that the Minebuster was stopped on the way up. It was there for quite a while and we really don't know what was going on. The people were still in the cars, but at one point four people got out. Jana did not feel comfortable going on the ride :( I was still willing to chance it, but I deferred to the group. It was a beautiful day at the park and we got on a lot of rides. I'm heading back next with Sharon and her daughter Livia.

Missing Book

Last weekend I lost the book I was reading while in Goderich. I checked out a copy from the library and finished it last night. So, I have read 'The Princess and the Goblin'. Apparently, one of Tolkien's favourites. It was okay, but I really thought it was going in a different direction. There is a suspicious grandmother in the story and the character didn't go where I thought it would (maybe I have read to many horror stories in my time).

It was okay, a cute kid's book.

I'm back to reading 'Lisey's Story' by Stephen King. I've actually taken to skimming the book. I used to love reading King, but lately not so much. I know I've said this before, but his short stories are still excellent, but it appears that he needs more editing for his novels (or, I have just grown out of reading his style - but I'm pretty sure his style has changed since his earlier works).

I'm hoping to be done shortly as I have checked 'Make Love The Bruce Campbell Way' from the library. I loved his first book and I'm hoping this one is just as funny.

Feeling Like Crap

So, I had one good day after my depression clinic and now I feel like crap. I had a horrible day at work yesterday and I did not want to come in to work today. (But, I have a major problem with my project and I need to get it fixed, so I did come in.) I just want to go home and curl up in bed. I am supposed to go out dancing with the girls tonight and I hope that is still on.

Dealing with Depression

Last night I went to my first clinic session for mood disorders: Dealing with Depression. I almost didn't go because I was having a crappy day. Luckily Lisa pointed out that this is exactly why I should go.

I think that it will be really good. I learned how depression feeds on itself and makes itself worse. Yeah! We learned about the vicious cycles of depression and how small changes can make big differences. Going away from the first session we are all to practice one thing to help break some of those cycles. Mine is to get off the couch. For over a year now I have been finding it quite difficult to get off of my couch (as many of you have noticed). Last night I did find myself on the couch a couple of times, but everytime I did I made myself get up and do something around the house. I was still able to watch the show I had on the tv, but I was also getting stuff accomplished.

Some of the other things I need to work on: stopping the negative thoughts and getting out and doing the things I used to love (i.e. hockey). So, even if I don't feel like going to hockey one day I still need to make myself go. I will be looking to all my friends to help me with this. I don't think I can do it all on my own (and they definitely pointed that out last night).

The clinic is ten sessions long and there are about 15 people in the session. Apparently they have a hard time getting people to come to this clinic since almost all of us have problems with getting out or helping ourselves. So, you may get emails on Tuesdays saying I don't feel like going. I may need you to push me :)

I felt really bad for one woman because her family believes that this is all in her head and not a real disorder. I am very lucky to have family and friends who do understand that I can't just make it go away (THANKS).

First Air Sucks

I know I haven't posted my blog about my trip to Nunavut (I'm trying, really), but I will have intermediate postings. So, we flew with First Air and it was really expensive ($2000 each). I also had a flight to Ottawa from Toronto and Liz and Michelle were going to drive. But, Liz found a seat sale and booked us all on flights from Toronto to Ottawa (and return). This would have been great except that our plane broke down in Pangirtung on our return date. Little did we know that because we hadn't booked the Toronto / Ottawa portion with First Air they would not cover the change costs when we missed this flight. So, it ended up costing each of us $240 more for our flight to Toronto.

I just received the response from First Air and they are giving us $160 vouchers for flight with them over the next year. Did you see my note above where our flight cost $2000? You can go one way from Iqaluit to Pang for $135. Where (and why) would I go anywhere they fly again? I've been up north I don't plan to go again.

They suck. I do not recommend every flying with them because if their planes break down (which didn't seem to surprise anyone up there) they don't cover shit. They gave us each $25 for dinner for a restaurant where the cheapest meal was $45. Nice.

Must Study

I did not do as well at trivia last night as I did the week before. I missed the current events question on the Giller Prize. For the history round I was able to come up with the correct answer (Jesse James) for the epitaph given (I also guessed correctly for Winston Churchill's epitaph, but it wasn't our team's question). Other than that I did not do very well. The audio round this week was classical music and unless I danced ballet to it (which, really, was only Tchaikovsky - and that wasn't my question) I'm not that good at the classical (which means I need to get downloading!).

I've decided I need to find more time to check out websites, books and the news!

New TV Season

I watched my first new shows of the Fall 2007 season last night. I was able to watch Gossip Girl, Survivor: China and Beauty and the Geek.


Gossip Girl is a new show from the CW (which used to be The WB, which brought us Buffy, Angel and Veronica Mars). Kristen Bell is very welcome as the 'gossip girl' voice (I miss Veronica Mars). I think this will definitely be one of my guilty pleasures for the upcoming tv season.

On the weekend (I didn't actually publish this post when I started writing it) I watched the first episode of Prison Break season 3. Over the weekend I had read that the actress playing Sarah will not be back this season (as she had a baby). That sucks, I want her and Michael to get together!

Survivor: China made me really want to go back to China. No big surprises, there is a team that can't get their shit together and a team that seems to work well together.

Beauty and the Geek is another guilty pleasure (I do like those geeky guys). I was happy to see Nate back from last season with Jenny-Lee (sp?). There are definitely some very geeky guys on the season, but what I really like is that there is a geeky girl on the show this season!

This week more of the season premiers will be on: CSI and Grey's Anatomy.

Trivia Stats

I just received the stats from last week's trivia night. My team came out on top with the highest score. This is causing me some nervousness that it was all a fluke and I will fail miserably tonight. Hopefully the fates are on my side again tonight and we get some categories that I actually know something about. I will be really happy if there is no poetry this week (in last week's literature round they gave part of the poem and you had to name the poet). Last week no one did well at the poetry round. Unless it is Shakespeare I have no idea (even then I probably can't get the sonnets).

Lost Book

While in Goderich this weekend I lost the book I was reading. This is rather annoying. I only had about ten - twenty pages left. But, what I am most upset about is losing the bookmark. It was a bookmark that Christi gave to me for my birthday a couple of years ago and it is quite pretty (and talks about friendship).

I hunted all over my grandmother's house and my car, but no luck. I lose things all the time, but they normally show up in a place I have already looked. No such luck this time. I was reading it while walking back to my Grandma's on Saturday but that was the last time I saw it.

I've requested the book from the library and they have one on hand so I will hopefully get to pick it up tonight and finish. In the meantime I've gone back to reading 'Lisey's Story' by Stephen King. It is really uninteresting. I've taken to skipping whole passages of the story. This is not normal for me. I wonder what I'll read when I'm done 'reading' this book?

Motorcycles Not Environmentally Friendly?

I was just checking out a link that David Suzuki put on his facebook page about greener living.

While I was there I read an article on motorcycles. Apparently, they are less environmentally friendly than passenger cars (due to the less stringent rules for motorcycles, currently).

http://www.ec.gc.ca/envirozine/english/issues/32/any_questions_e.cfm

This just seems counter-intuitive. Must do more investigation on my bike.

Trivia - Awesome Music Round

Last night was my first night on my new trivia team: The Misplaced Modifiers. When I got there it was looking a little dicey. Only 3 guys from the other team showed up and then only two guys from my team showed up (normally you have 5 team members), plus no QM (quiz master). I gave my cousin Michelle a call, but her and Andrew weren't feeling well so they weren't up for it. After I got off the phone the rest of my team showed up and the QM. So, it was 5 against 3 (this means that the other team can't get the full two points on two questions every round).

Out of my first 5 questions I answered 4 of them correctly without help from my team. I couldn't believe it, I've never done that well. The last half of the night I did not do as well, only one question did I answer correctly.

But, my favourite part was the audio round. The round was 'non-hits' off of albums that had a number of hits. So, they played the 'non-hit' song and you had to name the artist. Well, I had some issues with what they took as 'non-hit' songs. 'Pictures of Lily' was a hit for The Who. Any song that makes it on to a greatest hits package is a hit by definition. Also, 'Nautical Disaster' by The Tragically Hip is a song they play almost every concert so really I wouldn't think of that as a 'non-hit'. I knew every band except my question and the guy across from me. I had a song by the Indigo Girls (and I should have known it after all the songs I heard in the car on the trip to Newfoundland with Liz and Michelle) and the guy across from me had Sam Roberts. I was really excited about the song by The Stones. It was a song I had never heard but I knew who it was as soon as the guitar started. It was classic Keith. Still not sure if it was Mick on vocals, but the guitar was unmistakable.

Looking for a New Job

I had a meeting with my boss last week and we made a decision on when my contract will end. We are targeting the end of October. So, I'm starting to look for a business analyst job in Toronto.

I spent all day in Toronto yesterday and I can not wait to be back downtown.

I Hate Rogers

So, Rogers has been bothering me to upgrade my modem for months. Of course, they did not make it easy for me to do this. The Rogers store near me is never open when I am home (except for movie rentals) so I could never pick up the new modem. Then when I got them to courier it, they used UPS that is also only open until 6pm (once again, does not help someone that works in the falls). And since they don't have hi-speed internet in the falls, I can't get the modem in one of the stores in Niagara.

Today, I was actually home on a Saturday so I went in and exchanged the modem. But, of course, it doesn't work with my wireless router. How surprising is that? So, now my wireless doesn't work. Way to go Rogers!

I hate them.

Go Green

My brother just sent me this link: http://www.bullfrogpower.com/home/ontario.cfm. I am really excited about this! I will be switching as soon as I can find my electricity bill (my house is a disaster). Please take a look and make a step to a greener environment.

Tennis Update

I had my second tennis match last night. I lost 6-3, 6-1. I am okay with losing because the week before I lost 6-0, 6-1. So I am definitely improving and I'm having a great time.

I have my first night of trivia on Monday. I used to be a sub on a team, but I am a full-fledged member of a team this season. I'm hoping that I don't bring them down too much. This league is crazy. It's hard to explain what the rounds are like. Go check out the website and click on the link for some of the previous questions. One season there was a history round on the royal houses. They gave you the years and you had to state the name of the house / family. Really, that's what it's like. This isn't bar trivia. http://torquiz.freeshell.org/ I'm still bitter that I missed the night when they had a round of entertainment trivia on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I would have kicked ass on that one (yes, I am on the team for my pop trivia knowledge).

Wish me luck.

This weekend is the annual Terry Fox run. My friend Julia and I will be heading to High Park in Toronto to do our part. I missed last year and am happy to get back into it this year. Remember all he wanted was a dollar for every Canadian. I think we can all get behind that for what he did.

Adoption

As many of you know I have been talking about adopting for many years now. Well, I just took the first step. I emailed the children's aid society to find out what my first step will be. I am very nervous and very excited!

For years I had hoped to adopt from China. Unfortunately, they changed their policy back in May and singles can no longer adopt :( I began looking at other countries, but none of them had the same emotional hold on me. It is extremely expensive to adopt internationally (upwards of $20K) and to not have the country I hoped for open to me, seemed like a lot of money when there are children at home to be adopted. I know I was very adamant on the international adoption, but I have to face reality and know that I can't afford that.

I believe a home study will be one of the first things I need to do. Which is pretty intimidating, I think. What if I'm not what they are looking for? What if I'm really not ready for this? I shall keep you posted.

Knitting

Last year I decided to take up knitting. I bought a 'learn to' book and taught myself from the book. The problem - I get bored with just about everything. I have a super short attention span. So, the knitting has been an on again / off again thing. Last night I decided to take it out again. I learned the perl stitch last night, which was pretty exciting. So, then I did some knitting where I was switching between the knit stitch and the perl stitch. At some point I must not have been paying attention because the piece I was knitting started to look pretty funny. I think I did an extra row of perl stitches and that messed it up. But, I'm excited to be doing something different with each row. Now that I actually have to pay attention to what I'm doing I may not get bored :)

My friend Julia knits quite a bit (not as much as she would like if you read her blog) so I will probably be picking her brain for easy patterns and ideas once I feel comfortable with what I'm doing.

Little Criminals

I finished reading 'Lullabies for Little Criminals' last night. Lisa bought it for my for my birthday. I highly recommend this book. It's set in Montreal and pulled from the author's experiences.

I am giving up (for now) on finishing Lisey's Story. I've decided to give 'The Princess and the Goblin' a try. I read somewhere that this was one of J.R.R. Tolkien's favourite stories.

I'm trying to get back into reading, but I miss the walk to work when I could read on my way. Pretty difficult to do that while driving :) I should really spend more time here in the falls and walk to work from Gord's. I think I will have one morning like that.

Tennis Anyone?

Last night I played my first game of tennis, ever. That's right: ever. I've been out on a tennis court before, but never played an actual game. There are a group of us at work (yes, there is something about my job that I like) that are playing tennis. Last night was my first match (I'm in the bottom tier, obviously). I learned quite quickly that I need to practice my serve (double faults all over the place). But, I had a great time. I lost 6-0, 6-1. But, I did get that one. We played for about an hour and I can't wait to get out again next week.

Ride to Work

I decided to ride the motorcycle to work today. It's a beautiful day out and I plan to take the bike up to Goderich for the weekend, so it seemed like a good idea.

About 20 mins from work there was a sign on the QEW that the QEW was closed. Not 'closed at night' or 'one laned closed', but 'the QEW is closed'. So, all of the traffic on the QEW to Niagara at 9am this morning was routed through Hwy 406 which is a one lane turnoff where they were still doing construction work. It turns out there was a fatal accident on the QEW in St. Catharines. Okay, close the QEW, but stop doing construction on the turnoff that we all have to use. Does that not make sense?

It took me another hour to get to work from that point. I hate working in Niagara.

Photos, At Least

I haven't had a chance to write up the blog portion, but pictures are at least uploaded.

Check them out at Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12289259@N06/sets/72157601707174828/

Back

Okay, I'm back. No pictues (yet) due to plane malfunctions and getting home much later than expected.

I'm having a very crappy day and do not want to discuss the trip.

Wedding

Just a very quick blog. I'm leaving in a couple of minutes for Nunavut.

I have a number of blogs in draft mode (Jerry's stag and doe, etc). I will write more with pics of my brother's wedding. It was an absolutely beautiful day.

Potter, again

My friend Rod is back from vacation and we finally had a chance to discuss the final Harry Potter (he loved it by the way). We discussed the stupid storyline flaw. It turns out it wasn't a flaw just an expectation that I remembered something that happened back in book 2 (this is book 7). Considering she spent 400 pages talking about crap, she couldn't have made a quick reminder of this plot point? Really?

Which reminds me, Jason has recommended that I read 'The Golden Compass'. I have wanted to read the series for a while now. I am going to attempt (if I can ever find time) to pick up a copy at Chapters before my trip to Nunavut. Which means I need to go shopping tomorrow. Luckily, I pass a chapters on my way home from the falls.

There really are not enough hours in the day.

SNL Fav List

TV Stevie (from Rogers) just posted an article on his favourite cast members of SNL. Just remembering some of these skits has me in hysterics. How I remember hanging out at Leasa Collinson's watching Eddie Murphy the night that Buckwheat was shot. Still one of my all-time favourite SNL episodes.

http://yahoo.rogers.com/yahoo/spotlight/tv_stevie.jsp?id=20070808

Note: I am attempting to add my blog about my crazy evening in Goderich, but it requires pictures that are home in Mississauga and I'm stuck here in Niagara Falls working crazy hours until I go on vacation. I have 3 more training sessions to give this evening (which means I'm missing So You Think You Can Dance :(

Another Crazy Night in Goderich

On Friday I was at work thinking about how I would see my brother later that evening (he was flying in to TO with Megan at midnight). I knew I would spend most of Saturday with him and then I was looking forward to getting some much needed wedding stuff done (music, etc) on Saturday night and Sunday. Ah, the best laid plans.

Somehow (damn facebook) I was convinced to travel up to Goderich for the evening for Jerry's stag and doe. Originally when I heard about the stag and doe I did want to go but it was the week before my brother's wedding and I would already be going to Goderich for that (I'm not a big fan of going to Godrock more than necessary). Then Sharon asked if I was going to the party and I was reading Shane's comments on how good the party was going to be and decided that I should support Jerry (come on we did go to the prom together, even though he made out with Colin's date the whole time :).


Friday night I met up with Christi for dinner when I got home from the falls and we had an okay Thai dinner. I think the Thai place in Mississauga is good for take out once in awhile, but I have to agree with Christi, there isn't a lot of substance, just a lot of sauce. Toronto definitely has the better Thai food (Mississauga can not be beat when it comes to Indian, though). We then toured around trying to locate a Dairy Queen. After Christi dropped me off I desperately needed to clean my house before Jason and Megan showed up. Unfortunately I was unable to get to the couch (the cats have really made a mess of the couch), but the rest of the condo was relatively clean (this living in two places is really messing with me).


At 11:40 I headed over to the airport. I figured that their flight got in at 11:58 and that gave me lots of time to get there and get parked. Jason calls me at 11:45 to say they are there. That confused me and so I didn't park and ended up circling at the loading area (which I will never do again). Due to luggage delays I ended up parking the car. Got to see Jay and Megan shortly thereafter and we headed back to my place. Stayed up until about 2:30 am chatting. Up early Saturday as there was much to do. We headed out to get the car (I haven't been back to Enterprise since December and was sort of hoping that Moh would be there - I haven't seen him since we were dating back in February - he wasn't, though). Then off to see Nolan (Megan's brother) and drop Megan off with him for her day in Hamilton. Jason and I stopped to get breakfast and then off to Canadian Tire to get me a drill so we could fix my bed.


The bed. I love my bed. It is a metal frame that my parents bought at CNE furniture in Goderich 33 years ago for $13. When they first had it, it wasn't painted so the iron showed, then it was painted white. I ended up with the bed after mom died. The bed still had the same mattress and box spring that mom and dad were given as a wedding present. The mattress finally gave up the fight and was replaced by the mattress my mom had since she moved out of Goderich when I was 18. Over the years I became very angry with the box spring and frame. For some reason the frame doesn't actually hold the box spring. The box spring just sits on top of the metal frame. Which I guess if you don't move the box spring that would be fine. Unfortunately, the box spring does move around (get your minds out of the gutter people) when I make the bed. When it moves it actually falls off of the frame. Luckily it has not killed either of the cats, yet. I almost broke my finger a couple of weeks ago, though, when I tried to put the box spring back on top of the frame and didn't get my hand out of the way in time (it was dented for a couple of days). I ended up talking to Jay just after the mishap and he came up with some ideas of how to fix it.


I was super happy when he said he would help fix the bed issue while in town. We went to Canadian Tire and picked out a drill (dad kept promising me his old one, but he has way too much going on). I was super excited about the new drill (I can be very girlie and also very tomboyish). We drilled some screws into the box spring and now it can't move off of the frame at all. It's awesome! Yes, this is what makes me happy a bed that doesn't fall off the frame.


After that we jumped in the pool and enjoyed the wonderful weather. Ah how I do love the pool! Can't wait for Grandma's this weekend and relaxing in the pool with a beer.


When we got out of the pool we attempted to find Rene. Jason was heading up to St. Catharines to meet up with Megan, Q and Martha. But, Rene was supposed to meet at my place for the ride up. After many phone calls, messages, text messages, cursing, etc. Jason left around 4:30 (he was hoping to leave at 3). About 15 mins later Q called to say that Rene no longer needed a ride. I can only imagine the cursing once Jason got to Q's place.


I was hoping to get to Goderich around 5pm, but that didn't happen :) I finally hopped on the motorcycle (once again I absolutely love my new leather jacket and chaps) and headed home. Beautiful ride, perfect weather! Arrived to find out that I had been locked out. This is the third time I've been locked out of the house (you would think I would get myself a set of keys made since this is where I stay when I go home). The worst had to be at Christmas when I arrived around 2am and found the house locked up. Luckily Jason's second family were willing to take me :) This time I gave my aunt a call and grabbed the keys, hopped in the shower and then over to Sharon's for some pre-party drinking. We got ourselves all gussied up and called ourselves a cab (there was no way I was getting on the bike after the beer and wine - but I had to promise Sharon that when I'm back in town for the labour day weekend I will bring an extra helmet).


We got to the arena and I was so excited to see Jerry's dad, Ray. I haven't seen him in forever and I spent many a night / day sitting at the kitchen table trying to convince Ray to let Jerry come out and party with me. My puppy dog eyes normally worked ;) Many faces that I hadn't seen in a long time: Rob Pollock, Jay Austin, Tim Harrison (was he always that tall?), Chris Muggridge (it has been so long since I saw him, we reminisced about the party in the upstairs of my garage watching Rocky Horror - which reminded me of my ex,Rob, as the party was due to him coming to town from Mississauga), Shane Davenport, Rob McGraw, Dan Mabee. Much reminiscing. I must finally be over my high school insecurities as I had an awesome time and talked to so many people. But, the best part (as always) was getting to dance. I don't know what it is about dancing in Goderich, but it is by far my favourite place to dance (maybe because I normally have the dance floor all to myself - and I do love being the exhibitionist; it could also have to do with the fact that they don't normally play that much AC/DC in the city). There were a couple of worrisome moments when my heels slipped out from under me on the arena floor, I thought for sure I was going to fall or end up doing the splits. The unfortunate part was that I could not locate any water and normally I need a lot of water when I dance, so I had to settle for beer. That might explain why I felt so crappy the next morning :)


After the arena, Sharon, Paul (her ex) and I went over to my grandma's for a beer before heading over to Jerry's for the after party. My feet were killing me by this point. I love my heels but they are not meant for walking around Goderich (the dancing probably didn't help either). I switched back to my doc's (which I was really happy about later when I could not get a cab to save my life, probably because I was too drunk to figure out my phone). Off to Jerry's where I had many memories flood back: like the shoe fight in the tent with Jerry, Cara and Shane where I ended up with a bloody lip that got ripped open later on a sleeping bag zipper. There were way too many times that I ended up hurt when partying with these guys (luckily the incident with the spaghetti-o's in the fire was not one where I got hurt, sorry Shane).


I wish I had of gotten more pics (sorry - I looked at them and they will not be posted) of the destruction of the TV. Only in Goderich would the defining moment of the evening be when everyone threw rocks at a television set in the driveway (yes, this is where I'm from). Sharon and I also teased Shawn mercilessly (well, he probably didn't think it was so bad since I believe we were discussing how we were going to molest him later in the evening - but when I came back outside they were gone, I believe Shawn answered the phone when I called, but I'm really not sure since I was pretty drunk by this point). I left not too long after that (I think, but really who knows). According to my phone I attempted to call Sharon and a cab around 4am. No cab to be had (from what I can remember) so I walked over to Sharon's to get my motorcycle and go back to my Grandma's. I suspect I got home around 5am and was not happy that I had to get back to Toronto to finish shopping for my trip to Nunavut. Riding the motorcycle hung over was not the most fun thing I've ever done.


During my shopping trip at MEC (to get the rest of the stuff needed - including a down jacket for the 4C weather) I was supposed to buy two more fuel canisters. I could not find them. MEC is renovating and I found it difficult to find what I was looking for (plus, they don't seem to have the selection that they used to). After attempting to find them I asked customer service. I did not expect the answer I received. Apparently, the Canadian gvt has recalled the fuel canisters as the lid is not child safe. We leave in less than a week and we don't have enough cansisters for the fuel we are going to need (apparently Jason has two of these, but they, of course, are back in BC). They recommended that I go across the street to Europe Outfitters (or whatever they are called). I hate that store. I always think something is going to fall on me and I can never find anything I'm looking for. They directed me to the back of the store and of coure the fuel canisters were on the top shelf. But, they weren't the right kind. Liz is now in charge of locating two more cansisters as I failed at the one task I was given :(


Only a couple more days until I head to Goderich for a very whirlwind weekend. I was in at work yesterday (civic Monday) until 10pm trying to get everyone trained. So another crazy week of me training the different shifts (I really hate 7-7 shifts). I'm still at work waiting for the next shift to get in so I can train them. Then I have a full day of training again tomorrow. I'm so tired. Luckily, this time I have a place to crash in Niagara (well, last time they put me up in the Hilton, I like Gord's place, but it's not the Hilton).

Gotta love Jack

I normally don't go to youtube, but it had to do with Jack Bauer so I had to check it out. I love the beginning interview with Keifer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxzovLECtGc

So You Think You Can Dance

I love this show. I got Gord watching last week and he asked me if I thought I could dance and I told him 'I know I can dance'. But, I also know that I am nowhere near the level of the dancers on this show.


Last night I was surprised that Lacy let me down. During the auditions I thought she was very full of herself and I was quite surprised that I really enjoyed her dancing and she ended up being one of my favourites. But, last night I thought she looked the same (in the latin jazz routine, not the contemporary) as she had in other routines. Same facial expressions, same hand gestures and body movements. Neil, as always, was awesome. Hello, he can keep dancing without his shirt every week! Even better than Demetri without his shirt (at least in my opinion). I did love their contemporary routine, but that was mostly because of the sentiment behind it. I, like most of the audience, was crying for the next ten minutes. I hope Neil sticks around.


Sabra is definitely one of my new favourites, but I don't know if I agree with all the gushing. I do love her hair and attitude, though.


For the guys, I hope Neil and Danny stick around to the end (I like Pasha, but these guys seem to grab more attentions - since I keep forgetting Pasha is left in the competition). For the girls, I love Lauren (even though her dancing did not impress me in the beginning - maybe it's because she is so damn sexy and I can't keep my eyes off of her when she's on stage). I think it is a great female competition this season. Sabra is amazing. I love Sara, I think she is definitely the surprising one out of the group considering she is a b-girl and has done great learning so many different styles and doing them very well. Lacy, unfortunately, I think is starting to show her limitations. At the beginning she blew me away, but I'm not so sure anymore. Plus I hate the socks she wears :)


While watching the show last night I was also putting together song lists for Jason's wedding. All that great dancing and great music had me up and dancing around the house (neither Gord nor George were home, obviously). I forgot how much I love to just dance around. It was awesome, I danced around the house for about two hours and then it was definitely time for bed. I could not get up this morning. I'm not sure if it was the dancing, the lack of drugs, the crazy dreams, or what. But, the clock was snoozed multiple times throughout the hour it took me to get out of bed.

Another crazy side effect of the lack of drugs this week: giggles. Most of the guys I work with have commented on it. I am giggling uncontrollably. I'm dizzy and I'm giggly. It's very odd. It actually feels like I'm on a different kind of drug. Weird.

The dreams from last night were also very involved and weird. Lisa and I were travelling to Pittsburgh (?) and had to meet up with a bunch of other people, but they could not get the same flight as us and one group even had to fly through the Caribbean to meet up with us. While there we had to stake out hotels (because we hadn't done that before) and we did this by walking around the city. I ended up losing everyone one night and was stuck in a weird grocery / liquor store where they thought I had stolen a bottle of alcohol. But, since I couldn't find my friends I ended up sticking around the store and dancing around the aisles. Later on I ended up back at the hotel to realize that I had left my child in the hotel room (other friends had also left their children in the hotel room) and housekeeping was taking care of the kids (sort of). Later on in my dream there was a whole hockey thing going on where (surprise, surprise) I was infatuated with a hockey player. I somehow ended up stealing his shoes (that were actually owned by his favourite hockey player and were a surprise present from his sister). I promptly lost this present and spent most of the rest of the dream trying to relocate these shoes (someone in a biker gang / pickpocket ring had stolen them from me). My brother and my dad were both on another hockey team and had matching 'Woodall Plumbing' hockey bags that were pink (yes, my least favourite colour) and I wanted one (I didn't get one because I kept being unable to locate my hockey equipment or my father whenever he came to pick me up at the arena). I finally convinced the hockey player I was infatuated with to give me a chance, but it turned out he was a smoker and I had to tell him that I was no longer interested. There were a lot of other elements to my crazy dream (like the restaurant we went to for breakfast, but were given free fries and onion rings that Jason covered in ketchup and we all decided to go for a run / hike after breakfast). I do have the oddest, most vivid dreams.

Work, etc.

Well, the dizziness has kicked in from the lack of anti-depressants. Boy it's fun to walk around in heels when you feel like you could fall down at any minute ;)

Work is actually pretty good this week. It looks like we will be getting rid of the crappy software and I can start putting together a project plan again for the next phase of my job. YEAH!!!

My brother is getting married in just over a week. I can't believe it is so soon (yes, I am aware of my last post on this subject, sue me, I'm off my drugs and my moods are all over the place). He and Megan fly in on Friday night and are crashing at my place after their very late flight and then they will have a whirlwind week of trying to get the wedding together (I expect).

This also means that I leave for my vacation in less than a week. I had another conversation this week with someone asking how we could not be taking a gun with us. What is with all the gun happy Canadians lately? Okay, I realize this sounds more in keeping with Canadian tradition of owning guns, since it involves wildlife... but not really. This is not about hunting for food, this is about protection, which sounds way more like American ideas about owning guns and I am not keen on that at all. Now, Gord's ideas on a 'bear bang' sounded a bit better because it was just about making a large enough noise to scare off the bear. Since the Nunavut handbook and Polar Bear warning guide did not mention this as an option, it doesn't sound too promising to me. I think they might know what they are talking about (I hope).

Finished Harry Potter

I finished the final Harry Potter today. My cousin was right, about 400 pages of 'what are we going to do', 'we're going to die', blah, blah, blah and then about 100 pages that were well written and very interesting. Except for one major mistake. I can't really say anything about it on here since a bunch of my friends haven't read the book yet. I'll have to go chat with them to see if they caught it as well.

I'm glad it is over. I have not been that impressed with the writing for the past few books. The problem is that the end is always really good and makes you want to read the next. If only the first part of the books was as good as the rest.

Family and Weddings

It's funny how messed up families can get around weddings and funerals. My mom's funeral was a huge mess and afterwards I rarely spoke to my mother's family (that was ten years ago). Now, my brother is getting married and the same issues appear to apply. People upset that they don't know what's going on and somehow I feel like I'm in the middle, again. I'm well aware that I do that to myself (and when I don't realize it, Lisa is there to remind me).

Unfortunately, my brother is a guy and therefore not always forthcoming with details, or whatever. So, the family comes to me with their questions. Jason and I are not on the best of terms so I really don't know anything about his wedding and what is happening (the fact that I didn't even get an invitation does not help how I feel, even though I do believe it was my crappy mailman to blame for that one). So, it hurts when everyone asks me details because they expect that I will know and probably a year ago I would have. But, I don't. I don't know where people are supposed to stay, I don't know when stuff is happening. All I know is that I will be leaving Saturday night for my vacation with my friends and I can't wait. I wish I was more excited about this wedding. For years I couldn't wait until my brother got married, but now I can't wait until I get on that plane. I know I will regret that I am not more excited and I'm certainly sad that I'm not more involved (especially since most of you know how much I love weddings and helping in the planning), next to my own wedding (someday, I hope) this was the one that I was most excited about.

Anti - Depressants

So, my perscription ran out for my anti-depressants today and my doctor won't renew them unless I go in and see him. Well, I don't have time to go in and see him since I work in Niagara Falls now. I know in the past when I've forgotten to take my drugs I break out in a weird hive like rash and I become extremely dizzy (side effects of the drug that do not go well with an iron deficiency). I was hoping to go off of the drugs, but they say to do it gradually. So, this should be super interesting. I may end up hurting someone at work tomorrow or becoming extremely emotional and crying all day. I'll keep you posted on what happens. Doctors are fun!

Catching up with Friends

This weekend I was supposed to do nothing except clean my apartment and put together music for my brother's wedding (only 2 more weeks). My apt is definitely cleaner :) No music, though.

Instead I pampered myself. I went and had a massage, mani and pedi. It was very nice and relaxing after the two weeks of not being at all happy at work. My boss is back today and hopefully we will get a chance to chat today to determine if I will still be employed until December.

On Saturday night, though, I headed downtown to meet up with my friend Rob. I haven't seen him since sometime in University. We were both at home in Goderich for the summer and used to go for walks all the time. We went to an Irish pub and he found out that a friend's band was actually playing there that night. I do love celtic music. We were just planning on having a drink and catching up, and instead we ended up drinking quite a bit and sticking around to listen to the band. I must say I prefer 'The Kitchen Party' (the band that plays every st. paddy's day at Failte, but they were good).

When I left Rob was talking to some very cute girl and I went home and crashed on my couch. Facebook is evil :) I seem to drink too much when catching up with friends from Goderich. But, boy, is it nice to see everyone.

Wicked - Finished At Last

My reading has really taken a downturn this past year. Since I hardly ever walk anymore I don't read as much (for those of you not aware, I read and walk at the same time). Today I actually walked to work (5.5 km) and started reading the new Harry Potter. Boy did that feel good! This means that I finally finished reading Wicked. Last December a group of us went to see the play and it was amazing. I decided that I wanted to read the book. Well, it took a while to get into the story. I finally did and it was definitely a good book, but it was a tad long. I am extremely impressed with how they took the book and turned it into a play. I really liked the ideas in the book. Very political and definitely makes you think about only hearing one side of the story.

Rehearsal Camping

Only three more weeks until the trip to Nunavut. Which means we needed to have a 'rehearsal'. Liz gave me a call last week to see if I was free to camp this past weekend. Unfortunately, I did have plans on Saturday that I ended up cancelling (missing a BBQ at my cousin Darlene's and my friend Dorie's 35th Bday party).


After a couple of different choices for where to go hiking, Liz decided on Bon Echo provincial park (east of Peterborough). We headed out on Friday night and stopped at Ferris provincial park for a night of car camping. Really nice spot, out of the way, nice sized campsites and well spaced out.


The first test was of my new sleeping pad, Big Agnes. Hopes were high that this would be a great sleeping pad. It is so compact when uninflated and super think when inflated. Unfortunately, it was not for me. It was really slippery and my new sleeping bag doesn't have a strap to go around the sleeping pad so most of the night I was sliding all over the place. Also, I found it to be really uncomfortable. I had such a pain in my lower back the next morning. First off, very happy for the rehearsal camping as it would not have been good to find that out on the first night in Nunavut. The Big Agnes is going back to MEC and I will find myself a perfectly good thermarest.


At 5:00 am we got up and packed up our gear and hit the road for Bon Echo. I think we were on the trail by 9am, but I can't remember.

The trail was very nice, very green (I love my new eyes). We were making good time and actually enjoyed a couple of breaks along the water. The pack wasn't too bad (of course, it didn't have all the food and clothes that I'll be carrying in Nunavut). We saw a beaver swimming in the lake, boy they can move. We were scared by a partridge (sounded like a chainsaw starting up) and Liz came across a number of garter snakes. So, not alot for the wildlife journal. We did spend a good hour or so on some rocks (after getting to our campsite) watching the fish watching the tadpoles. We all fell asleep in the sun on the rocks. It was so nice.

Up again at 5:30, we took our time getting the gear packed away and had an awesome breakfast of egg burritos. We were back on the trail at 7:45 and out of the trail at around 10am. On our way we passed the other campsites. At one, the campers had hoisted their food directly over their tent. We kind of hoped a bear would try to get at their food and fall out of the tree landing on them. Then we came across the poacher. There was a tent on the trail that was not a designated campsite. We only saw the guy in the tent for a second as he scurried back in when he saw us. His clothes were strewn all over the rocks along with a 40 of rum and some pepsi. We were mighty tempted to stomp on his clothes.

Overall, though, the hike and camping was good and I can't wait for Nunavut. I have some more shopping to do at MEC this weekend and then I should be ready to go. Our hike this weekend was 17.1 kms and we didn't do too badly for time.

The Police at the ACC

Last night Julia, Christine, Jana and I went to the ACC for the first Police concert in 25 years in Toronto (they are playing again tonight and in September). I highly recommended catching this tour if you get a chance.


We were all a little nervous that we would be disappointed in the show. You never know how a band that was so good will be after so many years (as my father and I found out when we saw The Guess Who a couple of years ago). But, there was not reason to be worried. They kicked ass. Definitely going into my top 5 concerts of all time (up there with Green Day, AC/DC at Sarstock, Bryan Adams at Molson Park, The Rolling Stones (not at Sarstock)). I was never a huge Police fan. I liked their music but I never actually owned any of their albums. That will probably change this week.


The four of us were meeting up at Union Station at 8pm. Unfortunately, Yanna didn't get the full message of where so we were getting a little worried when it was 8:20 and still no sign of her. Julia finally found her and we got into the ACC bought our beer and were just locating our seats as the lights went down and The Police took to the stage for 'Message in a Bottle'. Perfect timing!




We had rear view seats (behind the stage). We were really close to the stage and had a view of Sting's butt for the whole night. None of us were complaining about that. That man has a nice looking butt! They were also great seats because we were able to see Stewart Copeland's drum set perfectly. I think he may be my new favourite drummer. For a couple of the songs he had a second set of drums come up. Very cool.


Sting was amazing. He looked and sounded amazing (we had a huge screen in front of our seats and it pretty much showed Sting the entire time). The interesting part of the show, for me, was the interaction between the band mates. Sting looked quite happy to be there and very much into the show. Andy Summers looked annoyed with Sting most of the night. I think he finally started to smile around the middle of the show. Stewart appeared to smile once, that I remember. I thought he looked like he wanted Sting to pay attention to him more. I hope they can keep getting along because that was awesome.

Highlight for me was 'Don't Stand So Close To Me' as this is one of my favourite Police songs. Christine and I were discussing how we wanted to be standing close to him and would have liked to have had him for a teacher. I always thought he had been a math teacher, but it appears that he was an English teacher. I wonder who the math teacher I read about was?

So, in closing go see this band! They played for about 110 mins and I didn't sit down once. I screamed, I danced, I sang. It was great.

Rowling and Potter

Now, I am a fan (for the most part) of the Harry Potter series of books. But, I believe it has gotten out of hand and Rowling is really annoying me. (If there weren't only one more book in the series - that I have already ordered - I would boycott the books just because of her.)

She's now annoyed with the New York Times for writing a review of the book a day before the book comes out. The reasoning is that the review may contain spoilers. I don't know how many children are reading the New York Times, but if they are, I suspect that they are smart enough to not read a review. I know most adults can make that decision for themselves as well. I personally don't care if someone tells me what happens in the books. I'll just be happy when it is done and all this craziness can (I hope) end.

I think she has a great story, but I am not a huge fan of her writing. The first chapters are always crap and The Order of the Phoenix was so bad. The book really only needed to be about 150 pages, yet it was over 700. It was like reading one of Stephen King's books when they stopped editing him. I love Stephen, don't get me wrong. But, I am not a fan of his books that are not edited like they should be. I am well aware that the book publishers love it when a book is longer because they can charge more. But, they can only do this for those authors that seem to have proven themselves. Which isn't good because then they wreck that authors legacy of good books.

Now I'm on a rant about King's books. This was supposed to be a rant about Rowling. I heard the movie for 'Order of the Phoenix' was really good. I totally believe that because whenever a book can actually be pared down to about a 150 pages, makes for a great movie (or at least in the right hands it should).

I'm still reading Wicked. I am now really enjoying it, but it does take effort to get through. I won't be home when Potter is delivered. I'll be off camping. I should finish Wicked tonight and then I will read some trash murder mystery on the camping trip. Probably start Potter next week to get it over with. Is it wrong of me to hope that Harry dies so that there can't be another book?

Hating the Job

I need to find a new line of work, I think. Either that, or I have to find a company where they challenge me.

I was so ready to quit today. I am so frustrated with the lack of communication. There is a possibility of a contract in Guelph. They were looking for someone immediately, but now it looks like they won't be hiring until September. By then I should know if I will feel comfortable with ending my contract early. December just seems so very far away.

My New Vision Status

I had my first optometrist appt since my surgery (well, really it was the second, but the day after the surgery they just checked to make sure it was okay and that I was okay to drive and it wasn't with my optometrist).

When my dr found out who did my surgery he was in awe! I had heard the my surgeon was one of the first in Canada and had been performing laser eye for about ten years. I didn't realize that he was one of the people to start TLC. Very cool.

My doctor said it was one of the best surgeries he had ever seen and that I should be very happy! which of course, I am. Currently I have 20/15 (better than 20/20) eyesight. They really over-corrected my left eye (apparently I kept really focusing in the testing beforehand with that eye). But, that is normal and it should recorrect itself back to 20/20 over the next while.

I thought my eyes were pretty good, but to have the doctor confirm those findings was super great. Definitely worth all the money I spent!

Stupid Rain

Yesterday I decided to take my motorcycle to work. It was a nice ride (except for the fact that my ipod battery was dead). This morning Gord and I rode into work together which was cool. Then I had to ride home tonight.

As I was leaving the falls I noticed the big black sky looming over towards Toronto. I got to Hamilton before the wind really kicked up and the rain started to pour down. How come it rains everytime I go out on the bike? And not just rain, but torrential rain. As I got to the Burlington Skyway I realized that it would be a very bad idea for me to ride in that kind of wind on the skyway. At this point my bike was being pushed all over the road the wind was so crazy. My boots were full of water and my jeans were soaking wet!

I did make it home okay and was very happy to get into my flannel pajamas. Unfortunately, now I no longer feel like going to Port Dover tomorrow for Friday the 13th.

On a totally different note: Congrats to Heidi and Jen on buying their first house and to Heidi for receiving her mechanics license this week! Congrats also go out to Marn and Paul as they welcomed their son Benjamin into the world this week!

An Amazing Speech, That Will Never Be

My brother just sent me this speech in an email, please read and think on how amazing it would be if this could happen.

From: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2007/0707.Sorensen.html

The New Vision
The speech I want the Democratic nominee to give
By Theodore C. Sorensen

On the 15th of July, 1960, Senator John F. Kennedy accepted his party’s presidential nomination at the Democratic Convention in Los Angeles. In his remarks, made at a moment of high tension in the cold war, Kennedy asserted that the United States was at “a turning point in history” and called on his listeners to be “pioneers” in a “New Frontier” of “uncharted areas of science and space, unsolved problems of peace and war, unconquered pockets of ignorance and prejudice, unanswered questions of poverty and surplus.”

Collaborating with Kennedy on the speech was a thirty-two-year-old aide named Theodore C. Sorensen, to whom Kennedy was known to refer as his “intellectual blood bank.” With Sorensen’s help, Kennedy would earn a reputation as one of American history’s great orators and provide a bold new vision for the nation.Today, we are at another moment of high tension, the result of a disastrous war abroad and division and drift at home. Like Kennedy, the next Democratic nominee, whoever he or she might be, will have a similar opportunity to form a new vision for America and to reestablish its moral leadership in the world. To encourage such boldness of thinking, we, too, tapped Kennedy’s intellectual blood bank. We called Theodore C. Sorensen and asked him to write the speech he would most want the next Democratic nominee to give at the party convention in Denver in August 2008. We requested that he proceed with no candidate in mind and that he give no consideration to expediency or tactics—in other words, that he write the speech of his dreams. Here is the speech he sent us.

My fellow Democrats: With high resolve and deep gratitude, I accept your nomination.

It has been a long campaign—too long, too expensive, with too much media attention on matters irrelevant to our nation’s future. I salute each of my worthy opponents for conducting a clean fifty-state campaign focusing on the real issues facing our nation, including health care, the public debt burden, energy independence, and national security, a campaign testing not merely which of us could raise and spend the most money but who among us could best lead our country; a campaign not ignoring controversial issues like taxation, immigration, fuel conservation, and the Middle East, but conducting, in essence, a great debate—because our party, unlike our opposition, believes that a free country is strengthened by debate.

There will be more debates this fall. I hereby notify my Republican opponent that I have purchased ninety minutes of national network television time for each of the six Sunday evenings preceding the presidential election, and here and now invite and challenge him to share that time with me to debate the most serious issues facing the country, under rules to be agreed upon by our respective designees meeting this week with a neutral jointly selected statesman.

Let me assure all those who may disagree with my positions that I shall hear and respect their views, not denounce them as unpatriotic as has so often happened in recent years. I will wage a campaign that relies not on the usual fear, smear, and greed but on the hopes and pride of all our citizens in a nationwide effort to restore comity, common sense, and competence to the White House.

In this campaign, I will make no promises I cannot fulfill, pledge no spending we cannot afford, offer no posts to cronies you cannot trust, and propose no foreign commitment we should not keep. I will not shrink from opposing any party faction, any special interest group, or any major donor whose demands are contrary to the national interest. Nor will I shrink from calling myself a liberal, in the same sense that Franklin and Theodore Roosevelt, John and Robert Kennedy, and Harry Truman were liberals—liberals who proved that government is not a necessary evil, but rather the best means of creating a healthier, more educated, and more prosperous America.

They are the giants on whose shoulders I now stand, giants who made this a better, fairer, safer, stronger, more united America.

By making me your nominee, you have placed your trust in the American people to put aside irrelevant considerations and judge me solely on my qualifications to lead the nation. You have opened the stairway to what Teddy Roosevelt called the “bully pulpit.” With the help of dedicated Americans from our party, every party, and no party at all, I intend to mount that stairway to preach peace for our nation and world.

My campaign will be based on my search for the perfect political consensus, not the perfect political consultant. My chief political consultant will be my conscience.

Thank you for your applause, but I need more than your applause and approval. I need your prayers, your votes, your help, your heart, and your hand. The challenge is enormous, the obstacles are many. Our nation is emerging from eight years of misrule, a dark and difficult period in which our national honor and pride have been bruised and battered. But we are neither beaten nor broken. We are not helpless or afraid; because in this country the people rule, and the people want change.

True, some of us have been sleeping for these eight long years, while our nation’s values have been traduced, our liberties reduced, and our moral authority around the world trampled and shattered by a nightmare of ideological incompetence. But now we are awakening and taking our country back. Now people all across America are starting to believe in America again. We are coming back, back to the heights of greatness, back to America’s proud role as a temple of justice and a champion of peace.

The American people are tired of politics as usual, and I intend to offer them, in this campaign, something unusual in recent American politics: the truth. Neither bureaucracies nor nations function well when their actions are hidden from public view and accountability. From now on, whatever mistakes I make, whatever dangers we face, the people shall know the truth—and the truth shall make them free. After eight years of secrecy and mendacity, here are some truths the people deserve to hear:

We remain essentially a nation under siege. The threat of another terrorist attack upon our homeland has not been reduced by all the new layers of porous bureaucracy that proved their ineptitude in New Orleans; nor by all the needless, mindless curbs on our personal liberties and privacy; nor by expensive new weaponry that is utterly useless in stopping a fanatic willing to blow himself up for his cause.

Indeed, our vulnerability to another attack has only been worsened in the years since the attacks of September 11th—worsened by our government convincing more than 1 billion Muslims that we are prejudiced against their faith, dismissive of international law, and indifferent to the deaths of their innocent children; worsened by our failure to understand their culture or to provide a safe haven for the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees displaced by a war we started; worsened by our failure to continue our indispensable role in the Middle East peace process.

We have adopted some of the most indefensible tactics of our enemies, including torture and indefinite detention.

We have degraded our military.

We have treated our most serious adversaries, such as Iran and North Korea, in the most juvenile manner—by giving them the silent treatment.

In so doing, we have weakened, not strengthened, our bargaining position and our leadership.

At home, as health care costs have grown and coverage disappeared, we have done nothing but coddle the insurance, pharmaceutical, and health care industries that feed the problem.

As global warming worsens, we have done nothing but deny the obvious and give regulatory favors to polluters.

As growing economic inequality tarnishes our democracy, we have done nothing but carve out more tax breaks for the rich.

During these last several years, our nation has been bitterly divided and deceived by illicit actions in high places, by violations of federal, constitutional, and international law. I do not favor further widening the nation’s wounds, now or next year, through continuous investigations, indictments, and impeachments. I am confident that history will hold these malefactors accountable for their deeds, and the country will move on.

Instead, I shall seek a renewal of unity among all Americans, an unprecedented unity we will need for years to come in order to face unprecedented danger.

We will be safer from terrorist attack only when we have earned the respect of all other nations instead of their fear, respect for our values and not merely our weapons.

If I am elected president, my vow for this country can be summarized in one short, simple word: change. This November 2008 election—the first since 1952 in which neither the incumbent president’s nor the incumbent vice president’s name will appear on the national ballot, indeed the first since 1976 in which the name of neither Bill Clinton nor George Bush will appear on the national ballot—is destined to bring about the most profound change in the direction of this country since the election of 1932.

To meet the threats we face and restore our place of leadership in the free world, I pledge to do the following:

First, working with a representative Iraqi parliament, I shall set a timetable for an orderly, systematic redeployment and withdrawal of all our troops in Iraq, including the recall of all members of the National Guard to their primary responsibility of guarding our nation and its individual states.

Second, this redeployment shall be only the first step in a comprehensive regional economic and diplomatic stabilization plan for the entire Middle East, building a just and enduring peace between Israel and Palestine, halting the killing and maiming of innocent civilians on both sides, and establishing two independent sovereign states, each behind peacefully negotiated and mutually recognized borders.

Third, I shall as soon as possible transfer all inmates out of the Guantanamo Bay prison and close down that hideous symbol of injustice.

Fourth, I shall fly to New York City to pledge in person to the United Nations, in the September 2009 General Assembly, that the United States is returning to its role as a leader in international law, as a supporter of international tribunals, and as a full-fledged member of the United Nations which will pay its dues in full, on time, and without conditions, renouncing any American empire; that we shall work more intensively with other countries to eliminate global scourges, including AIDS, malaria, and other contagious diseases, massive refugee flows, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; and that we will support the early dispatch of United Nations peacekeepers to halt the atrocities in Darfur. I shall make it clear that we do not covet the land of other countries for our military bases or the control of their natural resources for our factories. I shall make it clear that our country is not bound by any policies or pronouncements of my predecessor that violate international law or threaten international peace.

Fifth, I shall personally sign the Kyoto Protocol, and seek its ratification by the United States Senate, in order to stop global warming before it endangers all species on earth, including our own; and I shall call upon the Congress to take action dramatically reducing our nation’s reliance on the carbon fuels that are steadily contributing to the degradation of our environment.

Sixth, I shall demonstrate sufficient confidence in the strength of our values and the wisdom and skill of our diplomats to favor communications, negotiations, and full relations with every country on earth, including Cuba, North Korea, Palestine, and Iran.

Finally, I shall restore the constitutional right of habeas corpus, abolish the unconstitutional tapping of private phones, and once again show the world the traditional American values that distinguish us from those who attacked us on 9/11.

We need not renounce the use of conventional force. We will be ready to repel any clear and present danger that poses a genuine threat to our national security and survival. But it will be as a last resort, never a first; in cooperation with our allies, never alone; out of necessity, never by choice; proportionate, never heedless of civilian lives or international law; as the best alternative considered, never the only. We will always apply the same principles of collective security, prudent caution, and superior weaponry that enabled us to peacefully prevail in the long cold war against the Soviet Union. Above all, we shall wage no more unilateral, ill-planned, ill-considered, and ill-prepared invasions of foreign countries that pose no actual threat to our security. No more wars in which the American Congress is not told in advance and throughout their duration the true cost, consequences, and terms of commitment. No more wars waged by leaders blinded by ideology who have no legal basis to start them and no plan to end them. We shall oppose no peaceful religion or culture, insult or demonize no peace-minded foreign leader, and spare no effort in meeting those obligations of leadership and assistance that our comparative economic strength has thrust upon us. We shall listen, not lecture; learn, not threaten. We will enhance our safety by earning the respect of others and showing respect for them. In short, our foreign policy will rest on the traditional American values of restraint and empathy, not on military might.

In the final analysis, our nation cannot be secure around the world unless our citizens are secure at home—secure not only from external attack, but secure as well from the rising tide of national debt, secure from the financial and physical ravages of uninsured disease, secure from discrimination in our schools and neighborhoods, secure from the bitter unrest generated by a widening gap between our richest and poorest citizens. They are not secure in a country lacking reasonable limitations on the sale of handguns to criminals, the mentally disturbed, and prospective terrorists. And our citizens are not secure when some of their fellow citizens, loyal Islamic Americans, are made to feel they are the targets of hysteria or bigotry.

I believe in an America in which the fruits of productivity and prosperity are shared by all, by workers as well as owners, by those at the bottom as well as those at the top; an America in which the sacrifices required by national security are shared by all, by profiteers in the back offices as well as volunteers on the front lines.

In my administration, I shall restore balance and fairness to the national tax system. I shall level the playing field for organized labor. I shall end the unseemly favors to corporations that allow them to profit without competing, for it is through competition that we innovate, and it is through innovation that we raise the wages of our workers. It shames our nation that profits for corporations have soared even as wages for average Americans have fallen. It shames us still more that so many African American men must struggle to find jobs.

We will make sure that no American citizen, from the youngest child to the oldest retiree, and especially no returning serviceman or military veteran, will be denied fully funded medical care of the highest quality.To pay for these domestic programs, my administration will make sure that subsidies and tax breaks go only to those who need them most, not those who need them least, and that we fund only those weapons systems we need to meet the threats of today and tomorrow, not those of yesterday.

The purpose of public office is to do good, not harm; to change lives, help lives, and save lives, not destroy them. I look upon the presidency not as an opportunity to rule, but as an opportunity to serve. I intend to serve all the people, regardless of party, race, region, or religion.

Let us all, here assembled in this hall, or watching at home, constitute ourselves, rededicate ourselves, as soldiers in a new army. Not an army of death and destruction, but a new army of voters and volunteers, in a new wave of workers for peace and justice at home and abroad, new missionaries for the moral rebirth of our country. I ask for every citizen’s help, not merely those who live in the red states or those who live in the blue states, but every citizen in every state. Although we may be called fools and dreamers, although we will find the going uphill, in the words of the poet: “Say not the struggle naught availeth.” We will change our country’s direction, and hand to the generation that follows a nation that is safer, cleaner, less divided, and less fearful than the nation we will inherit next January.

I’m told that John F. Kennedy was fond of quoting Archimedes, who explained the principle of the lever by declaring: “Give me a place to stand, and I can move the world.” My fellow Americans—here I stand. Come join me, and together we will move the world to a new era of a just and lasting peace.

Theodore C. Sorensen worked with John F. Kennedy for eleven years, first as his senatorial assistant and then in the White House as his special counsel and adviser. He is now retired after more than forty years of practicing international law in New York City, and is presently working on his memoirs, to be published in 2008.

Dinner with Joss

How cool would this be: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280130727494?

Dinner with Joss Whedon! I so wish I had money ... and lived in San Diego :)

New Eyes

A couple of weeks ago my eyes were really bugging me so I went to see my optometrist. While there we discussed laser eye surgery. She told me that I would probably be a good candidate. So, I called TLC and made an appt. They checked out my eyes and told me I was definitely a good candidate and I could schedule an appt in two weeks.

I've worn glasses / contacts since I was around twelve years old (I can't remember if I first had them in grade 6 or grade 8). As soon as I could I was wearing contacts. I hated my glasses and hated any time that I had to wear them. For the most part I only wear them for the hour before bed and the 5 mins after I wake up.

When I heard about lasik eye surgery a couple of years ago it just really freaked me out. I couldn't fathom letting someone do something to my eyes. What if something went wrong, of if there was a problem that they didn't know about years after you had the surgery. But, really my issue was knowing I'd have to be awake for the surgery. Ick!

But, I decided it was time to do it. So, last Friday I went downtown for the surgery. It was very scary. They are super efficient over there, though. They showed me into the waiting room and took me through the procedure. In all the times people told me about the procedure, not once did anyone mention the fact that the doctor was going to have to stick something in my eye to pull open the flap that was created by the laser. That I did not like at all.

Other than that I was pretty impressed with how quick everything went. I was under the laser for 57 seconds for each eye (20 seconds to create the flap and 37 seconds to change the shape of my eye). As soon as it was done I sat up on the operating table and could see the clock.

Julia was kind enough to pick me up at the clinic and drive me home. On the way home I was able to see, even though everything was a little foggy (really it could have just been the Toronto smog). I slept for most of the day and then on Saturday morning I headed back to the clinic to have the optometrist make sure everything was okay. She gave me the go ahead to drive and that everything was healing fine. I go back on Friday for my next appt.

It's been weird this week, I keep thinking that I need to take my contacts out. Then I remember that I can actually see without contacts. It's crazy. Totally worth the money! I'm just worried about the first time I'm out drinking and think that I need to take out my contacts :)

I'm watching a very odd movie right now so it is very difficult to concentrate on writing this blog. I'm watching 'Hard Candy' and it is very odd.

100 Memorable Movie Scenes

I just found this website (IMDB has some awesome links).

http://film.guardian.co.uk/100filmmoments/0,,76993,00.html

I've only read the top 10 so far (I kind of wish I had of started at the end). My dad will love #7 (as do I) and Jason will love #6. I have to agree with #1. The stories behind the scenes are great. I'm hopeful that my favourite will make the list (I'll keep you posted).

So far I have seen the movies in the list, I hope this will not lead to more movies that I want to see.

What does everyone else think?

The Tyee

Check it out:

Media concentration is no laughing matter. In fact, someconsider it a dire threat to diverse, democratic discourse. But that's not going to stop The Tyee from poking fun at theissue.If you feel like you're battling through a sea of media muck,you're not alone. Watch The Tyee's new video, and cheer on yourfriends as they take on the Big Media barons.While you're there, explore The Tyee: Canada's leadingindependent online source of news and views.

http://joinus.thetyee.ca/?utm_source=tyee&utm_medium=ftaf&utm_campaign=070529

Logan and Veronica, I Will Miss You

While recovering from my weekend of debauchery (read: too much red wine and vodka and crans), I was finally able to catch up on the final episodes of Veronica Mars.


I know Lisa has already mentioned this (I believe on facebook) that it is sad how invested we get in fake lives, but I am not happy to see this show go off the air. Three years was not long enough! Especially (spoiler ahead) when Veronica and Logan are not together at the end of it. That just plain sucks. Piz? Really? I don't think so. He was too much like Duncan, no chemistry (well, more chemistry than Duncan - I don't see how any two actors can have less chemistry, oh wait, Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen in the Star Wars movies, that was worse). Anyway, the end should have had her back with Logan.


I would really like to see this show move on with her in the FBI. But, it appears that it will not happen :(


I also watched the movie 'The Believer' with Ryan Gosling. Very reminiscent of 'American History X' (eerily similar performances). The journey that Ryan's character makes is very interesting and the details of the Jewish faith (that are given), I found to be very interesting. I highly recommend taking a look at this film.

Friday night I met up with Lisa, Anna and Mohsen for dinner. We ended up at 'Fred's Not Here'. I was very happy with the Pad Thai I had. I don't know what it was (probably the lack of tofu and egg), but I really enjoyed it. The red wine was very good and the dessert with the sparkler for my birthday was excellent.

Throughout dinner I kept receiving calls from the girls (Andi, Liz and Michelle) asking where I was. I had told them that I would meet up with them for Pride after I was done my dinner. I was having so much fun at dinner I didn't want it to end. But, it did have to end since they had bought me a ticket for a pride event.

I met up with the girls at the Opera House. Unfortunately, the DJ(s) sucked. So, our night of dancing was more a night of standing around. The can-can girls were good though :)

We then took a walk down Church street and back to Andi's where we chatted until, what, 4am? I crashed on the couch and then went back to Anna and Mohsen's to get my car around 8am. I walked to their place. It was a beautiful Saturday morning and I was so surprised to see how clean Yonge street was. It was quite remarkable.

I then headed home where I slept for most of the day (I woke up at 3, I think, and ended up missing the Dyke march and the rest of the festivities for the day). I then had to rush around and clean my house.

Lindsay and Dave and Jaime and Sami got to my place around 8:45 for the drinking prior to going dancing at The Devil's Martini in celebration of my birthday. Tara and Christi were to meet up with us there (Christi didn't get my change of plans email). Jana lives downtown, so we called her when we were leaving. But, we had to have a short air hockey challenge prior to heading out. I believe Lindsay beat me, but I can't remember which of the boys won.

We then made it down to the Devil's Martini with about 5 mins to spare to get in on the guest list. I was so happy to be back there. I haven't been in so long and it is still my favourite bar. The music was great, lots of room to dance and I even ran into an old friend. Unfortunately, I could not find Christi or Tara (and it turned out that neither of them brought their cell phones). But, we stuck to one section of the bar in the hopes that we would find them. We did finally find them when we went downstairs to the bar (they were trying to call me on the pay phone).

So, we danced and we drank and then everyone started to leave. I could have stayed (I think). Christi and Tara dropped me off downtown so I could meet up with Liz and Michelle. Apparently I said I would text Christi to let her know I had gotten there okay (I have no recollection of this promise), I think she was worried about me walking down Church Street by myself at 1am.

I met up with Liz and Michelle and we attempted to get into a bar. Not so easy on Church during Pride. We waited in line for about an hour and half and then the bouncers pissed us off (we were at the front and they let 8 people who had not been standing in line for an hour into the bar).

I spent Sunday asleep on my couch and missed meeting up with Heidi for the parade (sorry Heidi :(!

That's about the excitement of my weekend. I hope everyone had a great weekend and a happy Pride!

The New AFI List

Okay, I couldn't help it, I had to take a look at the new list.

There are ten that I haven't seen (well, one of them was on the original list, but I can't remember watching it again for that list. I know I've seen West Side Story, but I've decided I need to see it again).

I was quite happy to see the following additions to the list:

• Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (amazing!)
• Shawshank Redemption
• In the Heat of the Night (I was surprised it wasn't on the original list)
• All the President's Men
• 12 Angry Men (the original of course)
• Toy Story
• Blade Runner (which should make my brother happy, if he cared about these things :)

Okay, what also makes me happy: 'Birth of a Nation' has come off of the list! What doesn't make me happy: 'The Searchers' is still on the list and it ranked higher this time. Did people not watch it, or is America still that racist?

I am not happy that the following movies are no longer on the list:

• Dr. Zhivago
• From Here to Eternity
• The Third Man
• Rebel Without a Cause
• Close Encounters of the Third Kind (because it is one of my dad's favourite movies)
• The Manchurian Candidate (the original is amazing)
• Frankenstein
• Patton (it was just such a beautifully shot film)
• Guess Whos' Coming to Dinner (I personally think this was too important a film to be left off)

So, I guess I'm off to watch more movies and let you know if they deserved to be on the list. If I remember correctly there were only a couple I didn't think should be on the list the last time.

Damn the Floor and Damn AFI

So, I'm watching 'so you think you can dance' last night, but during a commercial I'm flipping (I miss my pvr and being able to fast forward through the commercials). And I see an AFI (American Film Institute) special. I love their specials (as I'm sure you are aware if you have read my posts). But, I was confused. This appeared to be the Top 100 Movies, but not the list I had finally finished watching. Then they mentioned this was the '10th anniversary' edition. What? I now have to figure out the differences in the list and see more movies? I know, I don't have to, but I'm kind of obsessive in that respect. Anyway, I will keep you posted on how different the list is (I didn't get to watch the whole thing and I didn't have a chance today to look it up). But, number 1 and 2 weren't any different and I still agree (Godfather and Citizen Kane).

As for the floor, well, I'm pretty sure I've posted it before, but maybe not. The floor at the casino and I have been at war since I started here. Back in December I kept slipping on different sections of the floor and at one point I ended up falling and spilling the contents of my purse all over the floor. Well, there had been a reprieve for the past few months. Little did I know the floor was planning a sneak attack to be launched today at lunch. As I left the cafeteria the floor struck. This time it took out both heels in a show of power and I ended up on my knees with my water bottle skittering across the floor. When I looked up I noticed that two of the guys I work with were staring at me. They asked if I was okay (I was, just really embarrassed) and I ducked into the bathroom. When I got back to my desk they had sent me a link to a website about 'walking courses' yep courses on how to walk. The floor definitely won this battle.