La mer a bercé mon cœur pour la vie.

Enjoyable things I experienced during my first day in Nice:

• Food shopping: this morning, Becca T and I went to the grocery store and the market. I love foreign food products. My current obsession = Orangina Light. I'm seriously going to drink a big bottle of that a day, I know it.
  
  
• Buying a baguette at a boulangerie then proceeding to make it my lunch and dinner. With some Brie, of course.
  
  
• Eating lunch on the beach near where Becca's taking French classes. During her class, I could have gone for a walk or done a number of things, but I was quite content sitting on a rock staring into the Mediterranean.
  
  
• Taking the scenic route back to Becca's and seeing some neat parts of Nice like the Promenade des Anglais, a beautiful park with palm trees, and the, ahem, shopping area.
  
  
• Finishing dinner by splitting a giant chocolate bar and having tea. Becca had to go to a work thing tonight, and that gives me some downtime to catch up on internet-y things and even post some pictures from my trip. When she comes back, we're going to drink some wine, and maybe even eat more chocolate.

Anyway, here are some pictures:

Our last view of Paris as we chilled on the steps of the Pantheon.

View of Nice from a staircase at Becca's school.*

This is how I spent my afternoon.

Palm Trees!

A fountain in downtown Nice. Some sort of demonstration was going on around it.

*Getting this picture was painful. BT told me to go up this staircase to get a great view of Nice. However, there was some dude smoking on the landing above me. As I was enjoying the view, I felt something hot on my head, and could smell burning hair. He'd dropped cigarette ash onto my head! I wanted to yell swear words at him, but I wanted him effing-well understand what I was saying, and I couldn't think of how to curse in French. Plus, I wanted to get the damned stuff off my head before it burned a bald spot into my scalp. It hurt, and I lost a clump of hair. All I could do was get to the beach ASAP to make everything better. And then it was.

Tomorrow will be another nice day in Nice. :) I'm loving this trip.

ps Wes - we saw another one of your doppelgangers today. No pictures yet because those guys are too fast for one of us to get out a camera! I should always be on the ready...

High fat? No, high FUN!!!!

Bonjour mes cheries! I am writing this from Becca T's fabulous marble-floored flat in Nice, on the gorgeous Cote d'Azur. I have not actually seen the coast yet since we arrived this evening, but I am confident it will be gorgeous. Right now BT is working on an assignment for her French course, and I am blogging as to not distract her. She is singing Bad Romance as she works. It's funny.

Anyway, we had a AMAZING time in Paris! Find me someone who does not have an AMAZING time in Paris, and I'll have to verbally berate them. There is no way you can't love that city.

My flight on Friday night was pretty good, although there were not one, but two, groups of teenagers also on their way to Paris. What kind of deity of cruel irony did that to me? I am trying to escape groups of teenagers for a week, and I'm stuck on a seven hour flight with them.

However, I perfected the Christielli-method of flight: have some wine with your plane dinner, and then out like a light you will go. I slept very well on the flight.

As soon as I went through the marvel of French customs, which consists of a cursory glance at your passport, I was able to quickly grab my luggage and meet BT's flight in the neighbouring terminal. It was so great to see my beloved pal in person! It's been so long! And what better place to catch up with a friend than in Paris?

We quickly grabbed the RER to the Centre of Paris, and it was super easy to find our hotel with my spatial memory of Paris from the summer. Now, this hotel was in the Latin Quarter, where I stayed last trip, but it was the hotel where BT stayed a couple of years ago. Her description was "it's super budget, but it's fine" and I was OK with that.

She did not warn me about the stairs of death.

To get to our room, we had to go up many flights of windy narrow stairs. The kinds that are triangular in shape and hard to walk on because they are much smaller than your foot. Try doing that with your suitcase after a long journey! I had to have a shower right away to recover, and I scalded my hand in the hot hot hot water. At least there was hot water, right?

The toilet wasn't in our room. You had to take a flight on the death stairs to get there. After I returned from my first trip there, I asked BT "how did you stay here for a week? That washroom is so small! I think I bruised my knees on the door!" BT laughed and informed me there was a bigger washroom on the next flight up. Thanks for the tip, buddy old pal.

Our first day was a classic Becca T/Christielli day. We went to Starbucks which BT misses immensely since there isn't one in Nice. We caught up over frappucinos, then headed off to the Musee de Cluny to see "The Lady & The Unicorn" tapestries. They are awesome. The rest of the museum was a little dry (it's medieval), but the tapestries were worth the admission. After our requisite culture, we did some shopping, and had sushi for dinner (none in Nice either). Then we sat on the steps of the Panthenon to watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle. Yes, I got my video, but then Becca T pointed out that since I took it vertically, it would be sideways. Fail. Then the tower stopped sparkling, and it was def too cold out to wait another hour. Anyway, a sideways video is better than no video, right?

We went for a glass of wine at a place with a cute friendly dog, then risked the stairs of death to bed. A very successful Parisian Saturday.

On Sunday morning, we hiked to the Marais for brunch. I wanted to go to the fabulous restaurant that I brunched in at the summer, but we got there too early. Since we were famished, we found another that my guidebook recommended, and it was so awesome. We got there just before the rush; as we left there was a long line-up out the door. The name of the place translates to "the small dog in the teapot" and it was all decked out in Alice in Wonderland murals. It was great, and the brunch was to die for. I had yogurt with fruit, freshly pressed OJ, espresso, a mini croissant, a mini pain au chocolat, toast, and eggs and bacon. So good.

After brunch we wandered around the stores in the Marais and I splurged on the coolest silver bird earrings by a Paris jewelery designer. I love them.

The rest of our day was spent doing a lot of walking around Paris (we definitely walked off brunch), another Starbucks stop, and some touristy moments. We went to Saint Chappelle, which is a church with the most amazing stained glass that you've ever seen, and La Conciergerie, which is the remains of the prison from revolutionary days. We got to see a recreation of Marie Antoinette's cell. It was eerie, but you know how I love my gothiness and my French royalty, so I enjoyed it.

Then we hiked back up the stairs of death for a nap, and went for dinner at a super cute restaurant that I ate at last time in Paris. I knew BT would love it, and I'm so glad that she agreed to go. This restaurant, conveniently located up the street from our hotel, is in an old horse stable. In the summer, there are lots of tables outside, but in the winter, people sit in the cellar, which has the feeling of a dungeon, and is awesome. The restaurant is family-run, and the owner likes to give people free alcohol; we got free sangria, and free glasses of this very very strong liquer. Also, he only charged us 5 Euros for our wine! And the food was great.

Needless to say that the trip back up the stairs of death was extra dangerous last night.

We had a super rude awakening at seven a.m. this morning; a random water leak sprung from our ceiling right onto my suitcase! However, it hit my waterproof jacket, so everything was A-OK. We laughed about it, and when BT told the owners, they were very concerned, but didn't really apologize. That illustrates a huge difference between hyper-apologetic Canadians, and the laissez-faire attitude of the French.

Today's morning/afternoon was spent having coffee with a work-friend of Becca's, and spending sometime in the lovely sunny weather in Luxembourg gardens. It was beautiful. In the mid-afternoon we caught the train to the airport for our flight to Nice. The flight was all right, it arrived a bit late so we didn't get to BT's until about 9 pm. BT cooked me a fabulous dinner of microwaved baked potatoes. Almost better than what you'd get in a Parisian restaurant. I should have just come straight here!

Well, that's a super long post. I have a lot of exciting things on my itinerary over the next few days. I'll keep you in suspense. BT has work stuff tomorrow night, so I'll check in with all of your blogs as I chill here and watch some movies.

Note: The title of this post comes from an episode of Will and Grace that Becca T and I watched way back in university. Jack said that in reference to ice cream or something, and BT and I have quoted that line ever since. While walking by a shop in Paris with beautiful pastries, BT resurrected this line, and I laughed and laughed. It sums up being in France perfectly.

Voila mon passport, ah, Gerard Depardieu...

Well today's the day. I'm sooooo excited. I contained myself while adding the extra o's to so, because to truly indicate my level of excitement, a lot of o's would be needed, and I don't want to break the o key.

Anyway, when it's Saturday, I'll be in Paris. PARIS! Yay! Really, my interests in Paris are pastries, wine, coffee, shopping, and chilling. I've done all of the tourist-y stuff in Paris, so this visit is about all of the above. There is a museum that Becca T wants to go to, and well, I won't mind going out to the suburb of St. Denis to track down Marie Antoinette's grave (remember, two of my interests are French monarchy, and graves... I'm so werid), but I don't know if there will be time for that. It's okay though, 'cuz I know that Paris and I will meet again and then I can see my beloved queen's grave.

Oh, I guess there is one more thing on my to-do list. Our hotel is in the same area in which my hotel was this summer, which is near the Pantheon. On the last night of our trip, my pal Heather and I sat on the steps of the Pantheon, and watched the Eiffel Tower sparkle with lights. I got a really great video of it, which I erased when I was over-served at a Scottish wedding and couldn't tell the difference between "play" and "erase" on my camera. Argh. Anyway, my goal is to recreate that video. It might be too cloudy, but it will be attempted.

Musically, I plan to listen to a lot of Feist while in France. There's something so French about Feist (well, I think she lives/writes in Paris), even though she sings in English and is from Canada. Oh and you know that I'll be listening to a lot of Phoenix too because they are my fave Parisian band.

On Monday, Becca T and I fly to Nice, and then I'll be chilling in the south of France for five full days. I'm not sure what's on the itinerary then, but I think there will be some exciting side trips and whatnot. And wine. And coffee. And pastries.

This morning, I ran one of my dear friends at work who teaches French. I pretty much have a good friend in every department I think... I'm so cross-circular! Anyway, she was wearing a chunky bangle bracelet that read "que serait le monde sans les filles?" I was able to translate it on the spot (mon francais n'est-ce pas trop mauvais): it reads "what would the world be like without girls?" My friend lent me the bracelet to take to France with me, and I intend to take pictures of it in random places.

I'm very excited to see Becca T too. I haven't seen her since I before I left for France the last time! I miss her a lot, and I know we'll have a great time catching up. I have a lot to fill her in on.

I'm sure I'll check in here from Nice. Until then, au revoir tout le monde!

Ugh.

I should be using my lunch time more productively, but here I am blogging from my iPhone instead.

I am ready for this work day to be done so I can go home and get everything ready for my trip.

I hope I will get some time to chill in France. I think I've been grinding my teeth in my sleep this past week, which I've never done before to my knowledge. So that goes to show you my state of mind. Well maybe not so much my state of mind but the amount of stuff on my mind.

But really, there is some wonderful stuff going on these days, and I'm off to France in 30 hours. I'll just feel more excited and better when my bags are packed and my to-do list is done.

Why is a raven like a writing desk?

I had a busy and very pleasant weekend, but it definitely tired me out, hence I've been completely useless tonight. I should be cleaning/doing laundry/starting to get ready to pack, but I'm exhausted. I still have three nights, right? That's the motto of the procrastinator.

So why not do a weekend rundown, shall we? On Friday night, I spent the evening working on some pages for a scrapbook. One of the traditions of my group of friends from high school (aka the Group of 9), is to make a scrapbook when someone gets married. Well, my pal Teresa got married last week in Costa Rica, so we're working on getting her scrapbook ready before her reception. (Don't worry G of 9ers who read this, she doesn't read my blog, so I'm not spoiling anything.) Anyway, I spent my Friday digging through boxes of photos and stuff to get the pages together, and it was actually quite enjoyable. I never spend time going through old stuff, and it's a good to be forced to do it every once in awhile, because it reminds me how lucky I am to have had piles of fun in my high school and university days.

On Saturday, I enjoyed sleeping in, and then I met up with some pals for a lovely brunch at a very nice French restaurant in my neighbourhood. The weather was so lovely, that I was tempted to suggest that we eat on the patio, as some people actually were, but I'm smart enough not to be fooled by the sun and mild temperatures: it's not quite patio weather yet. Yet.

After brunch, I picked up the Zipcar I booked, and then ran home to pack up Miss Rilo Kitty and her accessories so I could drive her to St. Ratford to be watched by my parents while I'm in France. (Holy deja vu from the summer, eh?) Anyway, she was pretty grumpy during the car ride, as expected. She was crying a lot, but got quiet once I was well outside of the city. Once I arrived at my parents, she seemed to remember where she was, and settled in nicely.

That evening, I went to drop off my scrapbook pages at the house of the scrapbook organizer (my pal Christa) and we spent sometime watching a long DVD of photos from my friend Sandra's wedding that I was MC at this summer. It was pretty fun, and pretty much all I was up to, since I was pretty tired from the drive.

Sunday morning I spent some more time with my parents, said goodbye to Rilo, and hit the road. I had a great drive back with little traffic and made it back to Toronto in good time. I had evening plans to see Alice in Wonderland, so I had to get ready and run off downtown shortly after I got back home.

I really liked the movie. I'm a huge Tim Burton fan, so anything in his style makes me automatically happy. It's like an update of the Disney cartoon version: Alice is a young woman in this movie, and they make reference to visiting Wonderland before when she was young. Anyway, I enjoyed the movie a lot and loved Johnny Depp (of course). I especially liked that Alice kicked some ass at the end of movie, and it made me think about how I'm so over fairy tales where girls get rescued by princes. Eff that. It's so much better when they go out swinging and then take control of their own lives. This Alice in Wonderland is definitely a movie that's great for girls to see, imho. And I totally did not, did not, download the Avril Lavigne song that plays at the end of the movie. Especially after I made fun of it to my movie pal.

Anyway, after the movie I stayed out kind of late (for a school night) having tea, but I made it home just in time to catch the end of the Oscars. I wasn't into the Oscars this year because I haven't seen many of the movies at all (except for Precious, and Up!). I mean, I haven't even seen Avatar yet. Am I the last person who hasn't see that? Probably.

Unfortunately the weekend ended, and I had to drag myself to work this morning, where someone was already looking for me frantically as the day began. Super.

Hope you all have good weeks, and I'll check from the midst of cleaning/packing hell sometime this week. Yes, yes, I know... poor baby is going to France and has to pack. Wah. STFU Christielli.

Every day I wake up, I chose love, I chose light and I try.

I had a wonderful evening with great food, great company, and lots of laughter. It made me realize that:

• I love my city. I had dinner in a historic building with a beautiful view of Toronto's skyline from King St. Gorgeous. I love this city.
  
  
• I love my friends. All of 'em, whether they be my work family, those who've always been there, or my blog buddies.
  
  
• I love my job. Seriously, I get *paid* for caring about people and being a nerd. Things I'd happily do for free.
  
  
• I love music. The new album that I downloaded last night (The Submarines' Honeysuckle Weeks) completely fits my mood/outlook right now.
  
  
• I love possibilities.
  
  
• I'm going to France in a week!
  
  
• I love red wine.
  

Permalight, say goodnight.

Time for a random post.

1) Work's keeping me on my toes. So much to do. I've taken on too much this year. I'm still having fun, but my stress-level is above where I'd like it to be.

2) I like that it's been sunny lately. Makes running around while doing errands after school much more pleasant.

3) I am SUCKING at my new year's resolutions. I haven't been to the gym in forever and I'm feeling it. Realistically, I'm not going to be able to go any time soon, since I have a week to get ready for my trip, but once I'm back from vacay, I'm going to become a new woman, dammit. I know that exercise will decrease my stress levels and make me feel better.

4) All the iTunes gift cards that I got for my bday are burning a hole in my proverbial pocket. There is no new music that I'm really interested in right now, and I'm unaware of any upcoming albums that I want. Usually I'm counting down to a few albums, so this is weird for me. Any suggestions?

5) Well, I am doing better than the statement above indicates. Yesterday I got Rogue Wave's new album "Permalight" and it's good. I would describe it as electro-poppy with moments that invoke Death Cab for Cutie, but not in a lame way. I like it so fun. It's fun, and a good listen going into spring.

6) Now I'm downloading the Submarines' album from a couple years ago, "Honeysuckle Weeks". I liked some of their stuff before, and their song on the recent i-Whatever commercial is good, so I'm confident I'll enjoy the album.

7) What to do when life reminds you that time has gone by and you're no longer a kid? My solution: laugh about it. I have a student teacher right now (which is making life a bit easier, but is more work at the same time), and he would have been in high school when I was a student teacher. Ha-ha, I've been in this job a long time. Ha-ha.

Then, today I needed to buy some makeup, and the girl at the counter said "was this type recommended to you years ago?" and I said yah. She suggested that my skin has changed since then so it was time to change what makeup I use. Yay for no longer having skin that behaves like a teenager!

Anyway, I just find it hilarious that the same day that I'm feeling old about how long I've been teaching, I also get it broken to me that my skin is aging.

8) Tomorrow night I have a cooking-class-birthday-party. Doesn't that sound fun? I hear there's going to be a lot of red wine!

9) Friday night will be get my life in order (I hope) night. Maybe I can stick in some gym time that evening?

10) Saturday I have brunch with coworkers, and then I'll be driving Miss Rilo Kitty to her grandparents'. I'll crash that night in St. Ratford, then head back Sunday morning. It'll be strange not having her around this week, and I won't be able to pick her up 'til the weekend after I'm back from my trip. She'll miss me too, but I know she'll enjoy being doted upon by my 'rents.

11) Sunday evening I'm going to see Alice in Wonderland. I've been waiting for that movie to come out since I heard of its inception. My inner-goth and I are very excited!

12) Also, do you guys remember a few posts ago where I was asking the Universe for some good vibes? I think it's working. Thanks. I got two pieces of good news today!

Sun in an empty room.

So how about that hockey game last night?

That was pretty damned sweet. I almost missed the end 'cuz I had dinner plans, on Yonge Street, but luckily good old Sidney Crosby finished it off so I could see the end, and make it to dinner on time. And I was able to outsmart the crazy fans that turned Yonge Street into a party by crossing it by using the subway underpass. It was fun to watch all of the screaming, the flags, and high-fiving random strangers. One of the most bizarre sights was watching a poor "Not in Service" bus trying to cross the intersection while people were trying to write hockey slogans in the dirt that covered its surface. That's brilliance.

I argue that we truly deserved that gold just based on viewership alone. I say that a country where 80% of the population tuned into the game at some point truly deserves the gold medal. Sorry US, you guys didn't want it badly enough! ;)

This win brought back fond memories of our 2002 defeat of the US in Salt Lake City. I was in university back then and I lived in an apartment near Yonge and Bloor with my dear Becca T.

Becca T isn't a sports fan at all. She's not like me, who isn't a sports fan, but then morphs into one during the Olympics. She's hardcore.

It was a Sunday afternoon, and I was excited for the game. Becca suggested we grab dinner that night.

"Sure," I replied, "but I'd like to see the hockey game end."

"What hockey game?" said the understandably perplexed Becca T, since I don't think I'd ever postponed dinner plans so that I could watch the outcome of a sporting event.

"It's the gold medal hockey game. Canada vs. USA. It's a big deal." Becca T scoffed at my explanation and then retreated to her room to read or study or something.

Now, I'm sure you all remember your Olympic hockey history, and that game had a similar end to last night's game, albeit far less heart-attack inducing to watch. When it ended, I told Becca T that I was ready for dinner, and we grabbed our coats and headed out to Yonge. Which, just like last night, was covered in Canadian flags and crazed hockey fans.

"What is this? What's happening?" exclaimed a confused, but rather excited and pleased Becca T. I had to remind her of the hockey game that I had watched, and how it was a big deal, and that the party on the street was the result of the outcome of that game.

"Oh, if I'd known there would have been a party I might have watched the game. Well, actually not. I don't like hockey, but this is exciting. Yay!" And with that, we had dinner while watching Yonge St. go crazy.

Last night's dinner company was far more clued into what was going on than Becca T was back in 2002, but I think every time that Canada wins gold in hockey, and Yonge errupts into a river of red and white, I'll always remember 2002 and Becca's reaction.

So that brings us today. And how I've yet to turn on my TV 'cuz there's no point. *Sigh* To ease my pain and withdrawl, I bought myself a new book, and I'm going to stay up too late reading that.

p.s. And this post concludes this blog's hockey/sports coverage for most likely the next four years. Unless any Toronto team becomes good and I decide to hop on that bandwagon. Bahahahaha. Yah, right. When hell freezes over.

Won't you let your red heart show?

So this is the big day: the last day of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. And of course, what that means is that it's the "big" hockey game. You know, the one for men's gold, which because of an awesome save by Roberto Luongo will be between Canada and the US.

Last night I watch a lot of Olympics on TV. How could I not? There was a gold medal curling game, a gold medal in longtrack speedskating, a gold medal in snowboarding, and a bronze in 4-man bobsled. That brought our haul up to 25 medals, which is Canada's highest ever, and we have 13 gold, which is a tie for the most-ever at a Winter Olympics.

In between all the excitement, CTV showed a video-essay by a writer from the Globe and Mail. During the essay, they played Hey Rosetta!'s song "Red Heart", and I can't believe I had never connected this song, one of my favourites, to the Olympics before.

Because, I think it sums up why this Olympics were super-special: we showed our red hearts.

Canada is a country of very quiet patriotism. Most Canadians strongly love their country, but we don't show it like other countries do. But really, we all love our country. How could you not? The people are awesome, and I think our athletes are a great representation of this. How could you not be affected by the relationship between Alexandre Bilodeau and his brother? How could you not be proud of Joannie Rochette's skate? Or of Clara Hughes' last medal?

Obviously, Olympic athletes are not average Canadians, but I think their struggles and stories are just like anyone else's, but on a bigger stage. And we should celebrate our athletes, and celebrate all of ourselves for over-coming any hardships that we face.

Another thing I love about Canada is our multi-culturalism. We are the most successful example of multiculturalism in the world. We're all Canadians, but all cultures are welcome to keep their roots, and for the most part, we live together harmoniously and learn from each other.

I love living in Toronto, which apparently is the world's most multi-cultural city. My day to day existence totally shows this. Yesterday I went to a birthday party for my friend's daughter. The party was a mixture of all cultures, but since my friend is Filipina, her family was there, and there was awesome food too. My school has something like 40 different cultures represented in it. I've learned so much, and I love it.

The last, and silliest thing, that I love about Canada is how we party. When Jon Montgomery won his gold medal, and drank from a pitcher of beer while walking down the streets of Whistler, I'm sure every Canadian smiled. And how ridiculous is the tempest in the teapot about the women's hockey team celebrating on the ice? That looked like a lot of fun, and they deserved it.

Anyway, thank goodness for these Olympics for being such a great experience for our country, even for someone like me who used it as a chance to spend some quality time with her couch, and her cat.

And tonight's the big game, and I will watch it (as long as I can stand it), and I hope that we win, but regardless, the Olympics were a great success, and our athletes did an amazing job.

As did the rest of the country, especially all people on the streets of Vancouver, at letting their red hearts show.

Here's the song. It's awesome. Listen to it, and have fun watching the hockey game!

You gotta swim, don't let yourself sink.

Welcome to it's almost the weekend folks!

I've been doing a lot of Olympics watching the past few days, and I tell you, it's still rocking my world. So much so that I have to use one of Claire's favourite terms, win, to describe everything.

7-3 men's hockey game against the Russians. Win. Gold and Silver in women's bobsleigh. Win. Silver in short track women's relay. Win. Bronze in the 5 K by Clara Hughes. Win. Gold medal for the women's hockey team. Win. Bronze medal in figure skating by the amazing and strong Joannie Rochette. Win.

So much win. And still a few days to come.

And this weekend is offering up a lot of win too.

Tomorrow, I get to see my beloved Jack's Mannequin in concert with my pal Mathew. Yes, I am aware of their emo-y teenager appeal, but who can say no to a cute boy who wears Chucks and rocks the piano? And the songs are so sing alongable. And their shows are great. This will be Jack's show #2 for me, and I'm excited.

On Saturday, I have a birthday party for a one-year old which should be fun.

On Sunday, hopefully I'll be watching another gold-medal hockey game, and then I'm going out for dinner, maybe to one of my fave restaurants.

I'll leave you with a Jack's video. I know it's emo-y, but it's good for the soul to listen to a bit of emo, I believe. You really need to feed your inner teenager sometimes.



p.s. At the end of this video, there's all this falling glitter, and it makes me happy. I think this is why I'm a successful high school teacher; I can identify with their tastes. Well at least the tastes of the girls. As with the boys, they seem to like my humour, so it's all good. Actually, wait, I can identify with their tastes too. Today some of them were blasting "Zombie" by the Cranberries in the hall and I had to take care of that situation by telling that I felt like I had traveled back in time to my own high school.

p.p.s Rambling p.s. out. Happy weekend bloggers and readers!

It's not yellow, it's golden.

I am so tired. I stayed up way too late last night watching ice dancing. But it was awesome, and the incredible Canadian duo won gold, so the tiredness was worth it.

Today was a really good day. I had an in-school workshop, so my exhaustion didn't hamper me too much. At one point, I was sitting there, and for some reason I touched my foot, and it felt weird. Somehow, there was a paper clip inside my stocking. How bizarre, how bizarre. Anyway, the paperclip stuck in my stocking made me laugh 'cuz it was just weird.

The stuff that made me happy was going for coffee with a friend, an email, the arrival of a textbook to help me teach my environmental science course, and a visit from another friend.

Also the fact that Canada didn't choke against Germany in men's hockey, and a gold medal win in women's ski-cross made me happy too. What am I going to do when these Olympics are over?

And I got up in the ring because I had you there in my corner.

Well, now that I've had the Toronto-chapter 30th birthday party, my thirty-ness is completely official.

My party was really great, and I got to see a lot of old friends that I don't see very often, and I got to see a lot of friends that I do see very often, so it was great. The party was low-key, very chill, and just perfect. There were some calls for birthday shots, but I did too many of those last weekend. I am now officially off of white wine (thanks Scotland) and off of shots (thanks H*** sisters from St. Ratford). Last night I stuck with beer. It's safe.

Whenever I think about all of the awesome friends that I am blessed to have, I think about the lyrics to one of my favourite Sarah Harmer songs: "The Ring".

You thank me all the time
But now it’s my turn
Cause truly a word of gratitude so due
Can’t go unheard
And it made me feel better
To have you there in my corner
My eyes cast so low
My face could not have been
Drawn longer

I know you’ve been impressed
You’ve seen me at my best
But oh, how it hurts
When I can’t hide my worst
Well thank-you for carrying on
For playing with me and this song
It made me feel better
We sat it out like some passing bad weather

My mind was like kids' boxing gloves
The kind blown up with air
That are put away after play
And get limp just lying there
But you knew they’d fill up again
And you gave me your shoulder
And I got up in the ring
Because I had you there
In my corner
And I got up in the ring
Because I had you there
In my corner

Anyway, I'm glad that I've spent the past week getting time to catch up with a lot of friends because of my birthday, and I'm so thankful about all of my friendships and all of the wonderful people in my life.

Also, my iTunes bills for this year are gonna be paid off 'cuz of these people. Now I just need to find some good new albums to buy. Any suggestions?

Speaking of friends, I had a really nice Sunday. My friend Jolene, who is one of my high school friends, came up for the party, and crashed here, so we spent the morning/afternoon going for brunch, then doing some shopping, then having a sushi snack. Then, I had to come home and have a nap 'cuz I was exhausted. Old.

This evening, I am going to spend some time writing thank-yous to my awesome friends, while Olympic-ing out. I'm going to attempt to watch the hockey game, but if it gets tight, I might have to look away.

Speaking of Olympics, I have a total crush on our men's skeleton gold medalist, Jon Montgomery. Why? Well, first off, he's hilarious. During his post-medal interview, he said "get 'er done" multiple times, he chugged from a pitcher of beer, and then auctioned off the pitcher of beer (he's an auctioneer). Secondly, he is ripped. OMG. CTV frequently showed a shirtless picture of him, and usually I'm meh whatever, but all I could say is ooh-la-la. Then I read an interview where he said he hates that picture 'cuz he wasn't in his best shape then. Hmmm, can we get an updated pic please??? But anyway, I've found my crush of the games. And he's 30 too!

All right, TV is calling me. Pleasant Monday blog folks. Thanks for being in my corner.

Olympic Addiction

Well, it's happened. I'm addicted to watching the Olympics, as it usually happens every Olympics. It's weird because I watch absolutely no other sports ever. Ever.

Tonight I took in some speed-skating (silver medal, woo!), some snowboarding (wow to Shaun White), and some downhill skiing (with lots of spills). You gotta love how crazy these winter sports are.

Anyway, I did leave my house last night, but luckily I did catch Maelle Ricker's gold medal performance in snowboard cross. That was cool.

Last night, a friend treated me to show where a cabaret singer sang a bunch of Ben Folds songs. It was a really fun show and a nice treat. Also, it made me remember exactly what an awesome songwriter Ben Folds is. I've been listening to him a lot today.

But tonight was all about watching more TV than I have in one sitting for a long time. Rilo also seems to like watching the winter Olympics. She sits on a pillow beside me on the couch and watches the TV intently. She's such a little princess on her pillow. Just sitting on the couch isn't enough for her highness. Anyway, she seems to like figure skating, short track speed-skating, and half-pipe snowboarding the best.

This blog might get really boring until the Olympics are done, I warn you. Well, I do have my Toronto birthday party this weekend, so that will be fun. But seriously, other than that I'm totally cool with neglecting life and watching the Olympics. A lot of people dislike the Olympics, but I see them a fun two-week escape from real-life and I especially love that they are in Canada. I don't even really care how we do. I enjoy randomly cheering for other countries. Like Finland. Because of an old, dark, family joke, my family and I always cheer for Finland. I'd explain, but it is rather dark. But really, everyone should just cheer for Finland, that's all I'll say.

Anyway, yay Olympics! I'm already dreading the inevitable withdrawl.

I will be the same, but older.

Well, here it is: my first post written in my thirties. Today's the day. Wow.

I had a good weekend at home with some partying, and a lot of vegging and watching the Olympics. I am loving them.

I took the train back tonight, and just got in. As I was on the train, I listened to one of my fave albums ever: "Left & Leaving" by The Weakerthans. I got that album on my 21st birthday, when I was sick with strep throat. Anyway, listening to that album through made me happy because I can relate to it just as much as I did back then. It's aged well, and I think I've aged well.

Tomorrow will be a busy day: sushi lunch and then day at the spa with friends, and then dinner with Mathew. After that, I'll probably sit on the couch and enjoy the Olympics. It'll be a great day.

And since it's my bday, here's a video by my fave band for you to enjoy.

But I'm thinking a lot.

Yay long weekend!! How I need needed you!

First off Friday was a pd day. I knit during the pd day, which has the side effect of turning me into a conversation piece.

As I was leaving school on Friday afternoon, it was sunny and beautiful. Sarah Harmer's "Weakened State" popped up on my iPod. It was a perfect song to walk to on such a nice day, but the lyrics reminded me of negative things that happened in my 20s and I'm glad that I'll be turning over a new leaf soon. No more weakened states for me. I hope.

Last night, I watched the Olympic ceremonies with the 'rents. I really enjoyed them and they made me proud to be Canadian. They show cased so much that I love about Canada: great music, multiculturalism, culture, great heroes, and working together. Go Canada!

Anyway, today I'm driving out to the country, to visit my pal Joanna, and tonight, I am going to party in Kitchener with some pals. I love fun times. To adapt some words from Ralph Wiggum, fun times are fun.

ps Becca T just updated her blog and the post made me smile.

What's going to happen to...

...all of my old-school retro past-times like knitting and reading books now that I've got this silly iPhone?

I spent tonight installing apps like CBC Radio, the NFB, an Olympic guide, the Globe and Mail, Bejewelled, and Bubble Wrap. So addictive! Am I ever going to finish another book again? Or knit another pair of mittens?

And now I'm up past my bedtime again. Oh well. Tomorrow's sort of like a Friday to me. Friday's a PD day. And I always bring my knitting on PD days. I should get a good part of a mitten done.

Then on Friday, I'm off to St. Ratford to visit the 'rents, and party with some members of the Group of 9. I'm the youngest member of the Group of 9, and the rest of them seem to be more than ready to send me into the next decade of my life. I look forward to it.

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!

Shout into the wind: this'll never be the same.

Well, I got my birthday wish: Los Campesinos! is coming here in April, and I'm just waiting for the tickets to go on sale. Yay!

Also, I planned the Toronto part of my birthday today. I found a pub on a nice tree-lined street that would block off a big section for a lot of people. Should be fun.

It's weird figuring out who to invite though: friends change a lot over the course of time. I feel that I'm losing track of some of my university friends, and even former roommates. I feel really close to my work friends these days, although there is so much about me that they don't know. However, they see me pretty much every day, and understand my daily frustrations, and we have lots of fun together. Anyway, I decided just to invite everyone, and I bet I'll have some surprises show up. It'll be good.

It's also really weird that Becca T's not going to be at my party. I'm going to see her in less than two months, which is exciting, but I'm sad that she won't be there for my 30th birthday.

Also, I think a lot of friends probably think that I turned 30 last year, because Mathew and Becca T threw me a surprise party, and then I headed off to NYC. Oh shit, I just broke the mentioning my age moratorium. Oh well.

I'm taking off to St. Ratford for my actual birthday weekend, but I really wish that I was taking off somewhere else. But seriously, stfu self, you're taking off soon enough to France.

Anyway, I'm looking forward a lot to Friday for the big end of semester party with my work friends. I need a good night out. And, February tends to be a huge party month for me, and March is going to awesome, and so is April. It's just getting through the January blahs that's tough.

Romance is Boring.

Right now I'm on my first listen of the new Los Campesinos! , Romance is Boring, that I've been waiting for forever. It's so good so far. Yay!

Really, all I want for my birthday is for LC to announce a North American tour with a stop in Toronto. That's all.

Fave song titles so far are:
a) We've Got Your Back (Documented Emotional Breakdown #2)
b) I Warned You: Do Not Make an Enemy of Me
c) I Just Sighed, I Just Sighed, Just So You Know
d) A Heat Rash in the Shape of the Show Me State; Or, Letters from Me to Charlotte
e) Coda: A Burn Scar in the Shape of the Sooner State

I love long titles. And I love the excitement of new music.

Bonus marks if you can correctly identify the Show Me State and/or the Sooner State.

I'm going through the motions.

Nothing happened this weekend that I feel like blogging about, but luckily, Claire posted a meme for me to steal. Yay!

1. High heels or boots?

I don’t get this question at all. What about high-heeled boots? What if I like flats or sneakers? I feel that the options in this question make no sense, so I’d skip it except for the fact that it’s a shoe question so I have to put my two cents in. Right now I have a pair of black wedge boots that I love, but when it gets too slippery, out come the salt-stained Uggs. Such comfort!

2. What time did you get up this morning?

I was up at 9 am. Which is early for me on a weekend.

3. Diamonds or pearls?

Give me the bling.

4. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?

I think the last movie I saw at the cinema was “Precious” which was a long time ago.

5. What is your favorite T.V. show?

Fave TV show ever is The Simpsons (seasons 2 – 8). Current fave is 30 Rock.

6. What do you usually have for breakfast?

Right now I eat peaches ‘n cream oatmeal with yogurt and a piece of fruit every morning.

7. What is your middle name?

Alexandra. It’s derived from my maternal grandfather’s name.

8. What food do you dislike?

Onions! I pick them out of everything.

9. What is your favorite CD at the moment?

Well, my favourite album (I don’t own the physical CD) right now is “Alter the Ending” by Dashboard Confessional. I didn’t listen to it very much when I first got it, but it’s been on heavy play all weekend. It’s so fun! Love it!

10. Favorite Clothing?

Hoodies. I love hoodies.

11. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?

Hmmm, well, I’m pretty sure I’d love to return to France over and over. And I’m doing a good job of that considering I’m going back for March Break.

12. Are you an organized person?

Not really, but I make it look like I am. I’m deceptively organized, I guess.

13. Where would you like to retire?

Seriously, when I’m done with my Toronto life, I’d like to spend my twilight years in St. Ratford. I was born there, and it wouldn’t be too bad to complete the circle there. Note: I’ll probably reject this idea when I’m old.

14. What was your most recent memorable birthday?

My 29^th bday was exceptional. I woke up at the Waldorf Astoria in NYC, had breakfast at Starbucks, walked through Central Park to the American Museum of History, had a hotdog and a pretzel in Central Park for lunch, did the Top of the Rock, had the best hot chocolate ever at Dean and Deluca’s, had a nap, then saw Will Ferrell as GWB on Broadway, and ended the day with an awesome dinner at some little place with delicious food and atmosphere in Greenwich Village. It was better than the bowling birthday I had in grade 5 by miles.

15. What are you going to do when you finish this?

Have dinner and clean up this disaster zone.

16. Furthest place you are sending this?

I have readers in the UK and Europe, but sometimes I get random readers from anywhere, so we shall see.

17. Person you expect to send it back first?

No one really. But I’m going to call out my pal s.g. to do it.

18. When is your BIRTHDAY?

February 15^th. Scarily soon!

19. Are you a morning person or a night person?

Not a morning person at all. Night owl all the way.

20. Do you have any animals?

One Ms. Rilo Kitty.

21. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share?

They just released another block of tickets to the sold-out Great Lake Swimmers show at Trinity-St. Paul’s and I scored some. That band sounds best in a church, so I was sad when I didn’t get tickets the first time. That’s about it for the excitement though.

22. What did you want to be when you were little?

A journalist or a novelist.

23. What is your favorite flower?

I don’t really have a favourite flower.

24. What is a date on the calendar to which you are looking forward?

There are quite a few:
a) Jan 29^th – end of semester party with friends from work
b) Jan 30^th – spa day with a friend
c) Feb. 6^th – Great Lake Swimmers show
d) Feb 13^th – Wedding Shower for Teresa/My 30^th bday party (St. Ratford Chapter)
e) Feb 15^th – My actual 30^th bday which will be spent at the spa with friends.
f) Feb 20^th – My 30^th bday party (Toronto Chapter)
g) Feb 26^th – Jack’s Mannequin Show
h) March 12^th – 21^st – March Break in France with Becca T!!!

25. What was the last thing you ate?

Sushi.

26. Do you wish upon stars?

No. The only thing I wish upon is dandelion fluff.

27. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?

Purple.

28 . How is the weather right now?

Rainy and cold.

29. Last person you spoke to on the phone?

My mom.

30. Favorite soft drink?

These days it’s Coke Zero.

31. Favorite restaurant?

Hard to say, but my comfort restaurant is my fave neighbourhood sushi place.

32. Hair color?

A nice shade of brown. Let's call it espresso.

33. What was your favorite toy as a child?

My collection of She-Ra dolls including Crystal Castle.

34. Summer or winter?

Summer = no work. So summer.

35. Chocolate or vanilla?

Chocolate all the way.

36. Coffee or tea?

Coffee all the way.

37. Favorite food of all time?

Hmmm, well these days it's sushi, but all time I would say a very good mac 'n cheese. Best one in Toronto is at the Victory Cafe.

38. Do you want your friends to email you back?

Of course.

39. When was the last time you cried?

Hmmm, I think it was Tuesday night. I had been barraged by unsolicited advice that night at dinner and I was upset by it. I held it in until I got home from Tegan and Sara. People are well-meaning, but they often don't think about what they say and how it might make someone else feel.

40. What is under your bed?

Boxes, dust bunnies, suitcases, and cat hair.

41. What did you do last night?

Ran some errands, then watched SNL and fretted about where to have the TO Chapter of my bday.

42. What are you afraid of?

Fear itself. Okay, that was me being silly. I am afraid of losing my loved ones.

Hmmm, I see that 43 is too cool for us. Whatever 43.

44. Best quality you have?

I think I’m kind and funny.

45. How many years at your current job?

6 years and counting.

46. Favorite day of the week ?

Friday after 2:50 pm!

47. Positive or negative?

Positive, for the most part!

48. How many people will you send this to?

I'm bypassing that and putting it on my blog!

49. How many will respond?

No idea. Memes are down to mood, I always think!

50. Do you like finding out all this stuff about your friends?

Of course!

Note: For #s 47 – 49 I left Claire’s answers ‘cuz I agree.

Meme-away, friends, and have a great week!

And we dance to yesterday, oh.

Right now, I'm chilling on my couch, watching MuchMusic and they are actually playing music videos. That's so 1995! I must admit that I'm digging some stuff. I like Empire State of Mind by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys, and I do like Bad Romance by Lady Gaga. I'm going to come out on my blog and admit that Gaga's okay with me. I thought she was super-talented when she performed on SNL (as did a fellow music geek of mine) and I like her eccentricity when it comes to wardrobe. Anyone who wears a dress made of Kermit the Frogs, is OK with me. Also, I have some happy memories to go with that song too.

Ugh, now it's Owl City. I like owls, but not Owl City. I've never heard anything sound so much like something else. Sometimes I'll hear Owl City being played somewhere, and for a brief moment, I think it's the Postal Service, but it's just the watered-down version. Bah.

Anyway, I'll stop live-blogging MuchMusic. But seriously, nothing else was on, and I'm staying up to watch Conan. I want to catch his last few shows. Last night's show was hilarious.

I'm also really loving a new single, We Dance to Yesterday, by my dear Hawksley. It's so appropriate that I'm writing about it as I'm feeling nostalgic since I found music videos on TV. I love how Hawksley can take pretty much any style of music (rock, pop, country, gospel, cabaret, electronic) and make it his own.

The video below is a little bit cheesy, but I love the end when he plays the drums. He's such a talented multi-instrumentalist and songwriter. This song sounds a little 80s to me, and it makes me want to dance. My recommendation: press play, and go do other stuff on the internet while you listen, if you don't feel like watching.



This weekend's going to be pretty quiet I think, but next weekend, I'm going to have to get my proverbial dancing shoes on to celebrate the end of the first semester by partaking in a fabulous tradition. I'm excited!

Anyway, until then, I still have one more weekend, and it'll be fabulous if chilled.

They yell right on.

Wow! What a great show! During the concert, I kept thinking "oh wow, this might just be my last concert of my twenties**." Well, it was good enough to cap off a decade of heavy concert attendance by me.

Anyway, as soon as Tegan and Sara walked out and played the lead track, Arrow, from their awesome new album, Sainthood, I was in the land of concert bliss. Which is my very favourite place to be.


Most Tegan and Sara songs are short, which means you get a lot of songs during a show. I'm pretty sure they played all of Sainthood, and a lot of songs from The Con and So Jealous. The standout tracks for me were Soil, Soil, The Con, Nineteen, Alligator (3 keyboards at once!), Someday, and the encore which included Call it Off, and Living Room.

And, as always, I experienced the phenomenon where I hear a song that I'm only meh about, and I love it live. That song was Knife Going In.

The stage banter was hilarious, the openers (An Horse) were fun, the venue was Massey Hall, and the lights were awesome. Also, the company rocked. I gave the tickets as a gift to one of my close teacher friends as Tegan and Sara are her favourites. It was awesome seeing them with her.

So now I've knocked another band off of my ever-shrinking list of bands to see, and my first show of 2010 was awesome. I know the trend will continue.

**I'm declaring a moratorium on the turning-thirty talk on this blog until it happens. It's not because I'm freaked out about it, but you all might get sick of it. Until then, there might be some birthday-planning talk, but I'm not going to gripe about the number. I've already booked a day at the spa and lunch with some friends for the day of. Now I just have to figure out a party or something.

Forget forgotten, I am moving past this.

Tomorrow night is this!



This is my most-listened-to Tegan and Sara song. It's so fun, and I think anyone can identify with being conned. But whatever, you cry, you move on, and you still have good karma. The conner, not so much.

Anyway, I'm so excited for the show. I've never seen them before. And, my pal in Winnipeg caught them last week, and told me that it was awesome. I like advanced reviews. Not that I doubted they'd be good, but I hope I get the Living Room/Call It Off encore that Winnipeg got.

So less than 24 hours 'til my first show of 2010 and I am pumped. :D

I've got your words in me.

Today's been one of those days where I have a bunch of different posts zooming around in my head, but by the time I'm sitting at my computer with a chance to write, they've zoomed away.

I know I'm feeling a little bit emo today, even though I had a perfectly pleasant day. I tend to always feel emo on Sundays. Weekends go too fast.

Also, I'm ready for the semester changeover. It's time for something new.

There's something perhaps super impossible that I want in my life right now, and I wonder if I'm going to ignore a couple of possible options that could very well (or not) present themselves to me because I'm overly fixated on the impossible. Maybe it's just another case of me sabotaging myself because I'm afraid of change, who knows?

Sorry for the complete ambiguity of the above sentences. When I get emo, stuff like that comes out, but never very clear. It makes sense to me though, and non-specifics are so non-incriminating. (Note: I didn't commit a crime, ha-ha.)

Oh, my fave quote ever just popped up on gmail again. Gmail always knows when it's Monday.

Howard Nemerov - "A teacher is a person who never says anything once."

I hope that you have a very non-emo Monday. :D

I might write something that I want to say to you someday.

First off, I've now entered my last month of my twenties. It's exactly one month 'til I hit the big 3-0. I was feeling ready for it before, but now I'm not so sure. Anyone have a time-stopping device that I can borrow?

Tonight I feel like I'm showing my age. I came home from work exhausted from the week and passed out for a three hour nap where I had some messed up dreams. I feel better now, but there goes Friday night. Oh well, I gotta do some cleaning/laundry and take down the Christmas tree (pathetic that it's still up), although part of me wants to leave it up for my birthday, ha-ha. That's the lazy part of me, I think.

But, the rest of the weekend looks good. Gym of course. My goals around the gym are to go twice during the weekend, and twice during the week, and I'm on week three of that. Don't they say that after 21 days, things become a habit? That's what I'm hoping of my healthy-eating/excerise regime of 2010. I've made it 15 days, so 6 more and it'll be second nature, right? Right.

So after the gym tomorrow, I'm hanging out with my friend Fea, and then I think I have movie plans in the evening with Mathew and others. Gym on Sunday, and then drinks at a fave pub. (Those will cancel each other out, right?) Then Sunday night, I'll attack the ever-shrinking pile of marking, and go to bed early because someone needs to get to work early on Monday 'cuz she's vastly unprepared again.

I also need to finish "Too Much Happiness" 'cuz it's due back on Monday. I have two stories left. And, "The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat" is in, so I have that to start reading.

Last note of excitement - Becca T called me yesterday! It was a brief convo, but we spoke of meeting in Paris in March. So, in order for me to go to Paris and meet her, I'll inevitably have to turn the big 3-0. So maybe I'll let time keep ticking, face the inevitable, and rock France.

My every move is guided by the bidding of the singer.

Well, not much is going on these days. Isn't that always true of January? Work is really busy, and I'm keeping up with my new year's resolutions (yay!), so I guess I am busy, but nothing too exciting.

But wait, what am I saying? Life is exciting when you have a good book to read and a new album to hear. Oh, and it's one week 'til Tegan and Sara. And actually, work keeps me entertained, what with the persistence of the thorn in my side (which I've learned to just laugh about instead of getting upset), and the fact that my students provide with entertainment on a daily basis. So I take it back, there is a lot going on these days, it's just not movie-star excitement, but it will do.

Now, on to the book and the album.

I'm reading "Too Much Happiness" by Alice Munro. I can't believe this is the first Alice Munro book I've read. She's kind of my homegirl, in that she's from rural southwestern Ontario, and man, can she write. She won the Man Booker International prize last year.

I think I'd never read anything by her before because my dad is a big fan. My dad and I trade books a lot, but we sort of mistrust each other's taste in a way, so that might be one reason that I've never read Munro. Another reason is because she writes short stories, and I've never been a short story person, but that may be changing. Anyway, sigh, now I have own up to my dad that I should have taken his advice on Munro long ago. (And that rhymes!)

Also, I have to sheepishly admit that my friend Joanna (who just had a baby girl last week! congrats!) lent me an Alice Munro book that I never read and that must be kicking around at the 'rents house.

Now onto the new album. A couple of weeks ago, I came across a new song called "Lewis Takes Action" by Owen Pallett, who used to go by the moniker Final Fantasy and is from Toronto. I loved it, and learned that his new album, Heartland, would come out today. I'm on my first listen, and I think "Lewis Takes Action" is still the standout track for me, but it's one of those albums I'll have to listen to repeatedly to figure out. But so far, I definitely like it.

And, if you'd like to be amazed, watch the video below of Owen Pallet performing "Lewis Takes Action" with an orchestra in Vienna. (I hate when videos don't fit properly on one's blog, but I love this performance so much that I'll leave it.)



I once saw Owen Pallet play violin with Great Lake Swimmers at a church in March of 2007. It was such an amazing show. I was very impressed with his mad violin skills. That concert is one of the great musical moments that I'll always remember. And I have a lot of those moments.

Yeah, so an impressive body of musical moments in one's life is another reason to be excited. Yay! Pfft to not much going on!

p.s. And there's a new Hey Rosetta! EP. Win!

But what did you expect?

Well, this weekend has been pretty boring. I have a TONNE of homework to do (marking, writing exams, lesson planning) so I've been staying home hoping that will mean that I'll get it done, but I've been doing every other chore (laundry, dishes, cleaning, grocery shopping, reading, patting Rilo, watching Intervention online, going to the gym) expect the schoolwork. That will be the remainder of today. Really, I should not have turned down the invites that I had this weekend since I could have gone out and still been exactly where I am right now. The only thing I haven't done is take down my Christmas tree.

Anyway, since I have nothing interesting to say, I'm just going to post a youtube video of one of my favourite songs of the moment: "The Sea is a Good Place to Think of the Future" by Los Campesinos! Oh, and I've noticed that I spell their name wrong all of the time. How embarrassing.



My favourite part of the song is at 1:50, when they sing "But what did you expect?" I always put this song on first when I go to the gym, and one day, just one day, I'll forget where I am and scream it out loud. That will be perhaps more embarrassing than constantly misspelling a fave band's name on one's blog.

I also like the line "you could never kiss a Tory boy without wanting to cut off your tongue again."

Oh, and if you'd like to legally download this awesome song, courtesy of the band's website, go here. Their new album comes out February 6th, and I'm oh-so-excited. I've heard three songs and they are all fabulous.

Okay, enough of rambling. I should go eat, and then work. Hmmm, maybe Starbucks before work? That sounds fair. Anyway, I hope that you are having a more fun weekend. :D