The future is unwieldy.

This is too funny. So funny that I'll post it even though it doesn't fit properly on my blog. (And yes, I chose the smallest size.)



This sketch reminded me of my dad. For some reason he thinks that I either lose or break everything. His first comment when I told him that I got an iPhone was "how long until you lose or break that thing?"

Seriously, I don't know where he gets the idea of me losing stuff. As a kid, I once thought that I lost $20 on a trip with the 'rents to Niagara Falls, but it turned out it was in my wallet the whole time. As for breaking stuff, again, I don't break a lot of stuff. When I was five I dropped my dad's walkman down the stairs, and it broke, but that's the only major thing I ever remember breaking. Well, except for the time I washed my iPod, but my dad doesn't know about that.

Apparently those two known incidents have branded me as a loser/breaker for life to my dad, and he assumes I'll lose my iPhone. When Rick Mercer says "are you always losing your smaller Apple products?" it makes me laugh and think of my dad. He would think the iSlab is a good product for me. Except that I'd break it.

Now that I've started to reminisce about my childhood, I might as well go on. The other night I was thinking about how much fun I had roaming around the neighbourhood as a kid. I grew up in a fairly small town, and I remember all of the neighbourhood kids having free reign and being allowed to ride our bikes around, go the playground by ourselves, and build forts in nearby fields. Kids don't get that kind of freedom these days, and it's such a shame. That's when I had the most fun, and looking back, it just seems like it's how childhood should be.

I wondered whether my parents were just negligent, but I always roamed free with all the kids in the neighbourhood, so it just wasn't my parents. Were your childhoods like that?

When I think about my childhood, I always think about writing. As an only child, I used to write a lot of stories since I had a lot of free time on my own. I wanted to be writer. I'm happy that I got into blogging; I honestly think that I wouldn't do any non-work writing if I didn't have this outlet.

I'd like to try my hand at writing some short stories. Maybe this summer... I'm also playing around with the idea of taking a creative writing course this summer. Summer would be ideal, because I'd have time to actually write, but it would limit my opportunity to travel. If I went on any sort of extended trip, I'd miss a class, and the ones I've been looking at work out to $80 a pop, so I wouldn't want to miss any. I could take it during the school year, but time is a huge factor.

I think if I was a writer, I would turn out being the typical Canadian writer. You know how that is: stories end up being dark and twisted. I get ideas by fictionalizing events from my real life.

For example, I remember when my best friend and I were hanging out in a tree in one of those fields mentioned above. We were doing whatever kids do, and these two dusty pick-up trucks drove into the field and the drivers, who were sinister-looking characters stepped out and started to survey the area. We were so sure that they were staring at us, and plotting our demise. I remember sitting as still as possible in that tree.

They were there for maybe five minutes, and then they drove off. We spent hours suggesting what kind of misdeeds they were up to. That's where the fictionalization comes in: I could write some sort of dark thing that happened in my story. Which is such stereotypical Canadian literature. But I am Canadian, so...

Anyway, here is a post that started with "ha-ha look at this Rick Mercer video" and ended up with me setting out to write some twisted stories based on small events from my carefree small town Ontario 80s childhood.

If I do say so myself, I love the way my mind works. It's like a roller-coaster kids.

Dear Universe,

Hey,

I could use a little bit of luck in the next few weeks. Good vibes, positive energy, and nice stuff like that.

Thanks,
Christielli

A chorus in the underground.

And yet another weekend flies by. I wish they went slower. Wow. There's a deep sentiment.

Anyway, I had a nice weekend. Last night, Mathew and I went out for dinner and went to see Great Lake Swimmers at Trinty-St. Paul's. The first time I ever saw GLS was in a church, and they are a band suited to a church, or some other building with great acoustics. But, since most churches are built with acoustics in mind, they are a great venue for a gorgeous-sounding band like Great Lake Swimmers.

The whole set was amazing. They played one of my favourite songs, "Moving Pictures Silent Films", near the beginning and it was incredible. The songs that they played from their previous album "Ongiara" really shone too. The highlight for me was when the played the super fun kids' song "See You on the Moon!" from the compilation of the same name. That was the first GLS song that I ever heard, and the first time I've heard it performed live. It was so fun. You should all go download it now. And, if you ever need some really great mellow music, get yourself a GLS album.

On the drive home from the concert, Mathew and I spent some time reminiscing and he had me laughing hard.

Mathew: "Remember when you, me, and Becca T went shopping in Buffalo, and in the car on the way home we listened to all that retro pop music? That was fun!"

Christy (laughing): "Umm, if I recall, you protested the whole time, and even commented on my blog that it was horrid! And now you tell me you liked it! I knew all along!"

Because I'm that kind of person, I've unearthed his comment from my post:

Mathew said... "My car speakers are still recovering from all that horrid music..."

Today, after spending a lazy morning watching Glee, I got ready to check off the two big items of my weekend to-do list: get my passport photos, and get my birthday-iPhone.

The passport photos are horrible! It was cold, so I was wearing a hat, so my hair is so flat and ugly. Except for the strand that's just sticking out really awkwardly. And since you have to keep a neutral expression, I think I look more like a serial-killer with bad hair, than anything. And I really like my haircut right now, so grrr! Oh well, passport photos are supposed to be ugly, right? If they were good, it would raise suspicion, and they wouldn't let me into foreign countries.

In between taking the passport photo, and seeing the horror of their development, I was able to get my iPhone.

First, when I had to take out my old crappy ugly phone to find some info, the saleswoman looks at my phone and says "Wow, this is quite the upgrade." It made me laugh. I am going to enjoy the fact that the kids at school won't all have better phones that I do anymore.

Then, when she was setting up the Sim card, she showed me the tool that takes the Sim card out, and told me to hold onto it in case I have to ever remove the card. However, if I was to lose it, I could use a paper clip or something else to remove it.

This little conversation made me remember when Claire bought her iPhone while I was visiting her this summer and she couldn't get her Sim card into the phone, because she didn't have the tool. However, her intrepid blog buddy Christielli suggested using a earring post to great success! Anyway, it's too bad that Claire could not have accompanied me in my iPhone buying experience, since I was there for hers.

However, I must point out to Claire that iPhone activation in Canada is a little bit better than in the UK. I was able to walk out with a working iPhone, and go to Starbucks and play around with it while enjoying a caramel macchiato. I did all the important things like call my mom, and set up my email, facebook, and twitter. She couldn't use hers 'til she connected it to her laptop.

So yeah, I've been spending my evening playing with my new toy. I got a pretty hot-pink case for her, and I've decided to name her Alice. I've been told that iPhones need names, and that's the first one that popped into my head. I think it's because I'm excited for Tim Burton's "Alice in Wonderland" to come out. That's the only explanation that I can come up with. So Alice she will be.

I've got a busy week at school (is there any other kind?) coming up, then on Friday night, I'm on the train to St. Ratford for my bday weekend. Hence, that's why I decided to get the iPhone a week early.

Anyway, I hope the rest of you have a great week and treat yourselves to something nice. :)

It's all in the words, but I'm here for the pictures.

Ach. I just found out that another one of my besties might be moving away from TO for awhile for work. It's not for sure, and wouldn't be forever (I hope), but really universe, just one at time please! The idea's a huge shock for me though. I seem to be more shocked by it then my friend, who's just meh about it.

Speaking of far away besties, it's a little over a month until I get to see Becca T again. I've changed a lot since she's left, I tell you. I have bangs now. Luckily I finally got a picture of them that I could put on Fbook, so it's not too much of a shock for her.

I need to renew my passport ASAP. I will miss my old passport. The old girl and I have been places. Five years ago, when I first got her, I was planning my very first big trip ever: my trip to Australia. I can't believe that was five years ago!

Anyway, so one of the things I need to do this weekend is to get new photos done and fill in my forms. It's fun to think about where the next five years will take me and how different things will be next time before my new passport expires.

Now that I've been to France, and I'm going there again, I'm really not sure where I should go next. Any ideas?

Hope you all have nice weekends!

ps So I went to bed early tonight (10 pm) and look what happened! I wake up at 1 am with a lot of energy to blog. WTF? I should accept my night owl-hood at not try to change it.

Clutching my coffee, calling me sugar.

More randomness, because that's all I've got these days.

1) As I mentioned in my previous post, I watched the Grammies. I was really impressed by Pink's performance, and I have been listening to her song "Glitter in the Air" a lot. I don't often sway towards pop music**, but I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I really like Pink.

2) Our computer network at school has been down for two days. This is really annoying. I'm trying to do report cards and start a new semester. Grrrr. So annoying. Did I mention that I'm annoyed?

3) The return of my work spouse from maternity leave has provided me with so many belly laughs. Today she thought my period 4 class was a club because she was confused at what time of day it was. So much fun.

4) One thing that I'm proud of is that I'm a really great colleague. People are always thanking me 'cuz I share my stuff, teach them how to light cool things on fire, and support them. I realized this when I was out on Friday and I had all these young teachers hugging me and thanking me, and some kind emails in my mailbox. Conan O'Brien was right when he said:
"if you work really hard, and you're kind, amazing things will happen." That's seriously one of my favourite quotes ever.

5) Speaking of amazing, I ended up on Bloor Street today after school, and wandered into a certain store that's really extravagant, but that I like. I fell in love with a pricey handbag (ie more than I've ever spent before, but not insane) and then they told me it was the last one in stock. I realized that I have a certain significant birthday coming up, and really, what every girl needs when she reaches a certain age is an extravagant handbag, so I bought it, and had it gift-wrapped, and I get to open it on my bday weekend. Right now it's sitting under my birthday tree.^^

Here's a picture of it. Yes, I'm so sad, that when I got home, I had to look it up online, where's it's also sold-out!


It's prettier in person because it has a bit of a gold undertone. I like the colour because it will go with anything, and isn't black or brown, which I already have.

6) Tomorrow is Wednesday. I'm excited for this weekend because I'm seeing GLS, and I'm going to get my other birthday splurge: an iPhone! I want to have it for my bday weekend, so the weekend before my bday weekend is a perfect time to get it.

**In all honestly, I sway towards pop music more than I'd care to admit. Shhhhh.

^^ Yes, my Christmas tree is still up, so now I'm calling it the birthday tree. Remember how I said in a previous post that I'm really inept in some areas of my life? This year, taking down Christmas decorations is one.

How high your highest of heights? How low are your lows?

Randomness from this weekend:

a) Went out with friends from work to celebrate the end of the first semester. It was fun, but not as fun as the very first time we smashed down the end of a semester. I guess that's life: you can't really replicate things no matter how hard you try.

b) Flava Flav ended up being at the place where we were. No joke. My friend's fbook status sums it up: "It's surprising that Flavour Flav doesn't realize his 15 minutes are up, especially considering he's always got a clock around his neck. I've never seen so many people head for the coatcheck."

c) Saturday was spa day with my friend Jane. It was super relaxing as usual. On my way home, I walked at a slow pace which is very much unlike me.

d) Saturday night rather sucked. After I got home, I had a yucky headache and I felt like shit. So, I had a hot bath and went to bed super-early and slept in late this morning.

e) I still didn't feel 100% on Sunday morning, so I ended up sticking around home and watching Glee DVDs. I really like Glee. I'm just starting to watch it. I wish I had an unmarried version of Mr. Schue at my school. (I'm not into home-wrecking... although does it count if the wife is horrible?) I think I could totally win him over with my nerdiness, musical coolness, and the fact that the kids like me. Anyway, I'm enjoying the show a lot, even though it would be nice to see the teachers mark once in awhile. Realism, please, ha-ha.

f) I am feeling better now. I should have done some housework/schoolwork, but I ended up watching the Grammies instead. I always chose to suffer through awards shows. I don't know why, but I do. Ah, this year it was worth it to see Lady Gaga's attire.

g) Tomorrow is the start of a new semester. New classes. New dynamics. I have to go to work tomorrow not knowing really what to expect. It'll be OK though. I've done this change over enough times in my day.

Hope every one has nice Mondays!

ps I got my Los Campesinos! tickets, and my buddy from Winnipeg is coming down for the show. I'm so excited!

Little things.

I like when I know that I'm appreciated. It's rare, but it happened today, and I really appreciated the appreciation.

I'm in a line of work where I work as hard as I can for the benefit of others, and even though I can feel the thankfulness, and I know it's there, it's rare that the thankfulness is spoken, or that I receive a tangible token of it. When it happens, it's really special, and keeps me going. Especially when the thank you comes from someone that a couple of months ago, I didn't think I'd be able to reach.

Also, it boggles my mind how I'm so awesome at some areas of my life, and so incredibly inept in others.

Also, why is there a word such as inept, but no such word as ept?

Also, having dinner with a bunch of teenagers is hilarious. I get to field questions like:

a) What is pilaf? (Umm, it has something to do with rice.)

b) What is sourdough bread? (It's a type of bread.) Ha-ha Miss. You're funny.

c) What is jambalaya? (It's spicy.)

d) Can I order a *insert name of alcoholic beverage here*? (Ha-ha. Now you're funny.)

e) Is so-and-so a good math teacher? (I don't know. I've never had her.) Ha-ha Miss. Good answer.

f) Really? You guys seriously throw stuff down the stairs to mark it? Really? So I could just write blah blah blah and it wouldn't matter? (Even if you say something really silly, there's a little bit of them that sort of believes you because you're a teacher.)

g) Why did you become a teacher? (Well, I always was one because I've been explaining things to people for as long as I can remember. In grade 8, the line-up at my desk was longer than the one at the teacher's desk.)

I saw a book at Indigo today called "Six-word autobiographies". I think mine would be "I have always been a teacher."

Bring on the new semester!