I'm just your little ampersand.

Remember how at the end of my last post, I was begrudging the fact that I was going to spend my Sunday marking? Well, I ended up going to the ROM with my pal Matt from Winnipeg instead, and that was super fun. I regret nothing. Yes, the pile of end-of-semester marking still looms heavy, but it'll get done somehow, it always does.

Also, I experienced good karma coming back to me at the ROM. Remember how we fessed up to the missing bourbon on our bill on Saturday night? Well, while in line for admission at the ROM, the lady behind me had an extra ticket for free admission that she couldn't use, and gave it to me. See, it always pays off to be honest! This time, sooner rather than later.

In music news, and there is always music news in my world it seems, John K Samson of my beloved Weakerthans just released a solo album called Provincial. Surprisingly, I wasn't overly excited for it. However, he was playing a free record store set at Soundscapes on College and Jason and I went to see him last night. That made me excited for the album. I'd heard snippets of songs online, but seeing the songs in person in their entirety reminded me that you need to hear the WHOLE song oftentimes. John K Samson's lyrics are very poetic and his songs are stories. I enjoyed his set very much.

If you go here, you can see a video of one of the songs from last night.

My favourite song from the evening was The Last And. When I heard it, I pictured a teacher in the 1960s who was having an affair with her married principal. It seemed like a dark Canadian prairie novel in a song. I loved it. Here are the lyrics, and the song if you are interested.



The Last And - John K Samson

So I'm the first one in again
with the quiet and the window growing snow.
When I hear the furnace rouse itself
from its slumber, somehow suddenly I know,
As my eye stops on one curled up in my lesson plan,
that I’m just your little ampersand.

When your voice springs from the inter-com,
with announcements and reminders and a prayer,
I remember how you made me feel:
I was funny, I was thoughtful, I was rare
But like the jokes about my figure
kids think that I don’t understand:
I know I’m just your little ampersand.

And after Christmas holidays,
when you never asked to drive me home again,
and sometimes in the staffroom I
catch your eye with why'd it have to end.
But I know from how you worry at your wedding band
that I’m just your little ampersand.

At the last conjunction after every other "and"
I was just your little ampersand.

Anyway, I picked up the album at the store and I really enjoy it. I was a fool to not be excited for this, I tell you.

Hope you're all having nice weeks. Two days left.

p.s. Oh, in other music news, my former favourite band ever, Ben Folds Five, who broke up in 1999 and shattered my young heart at the time, are recording a new album right now. Woot!