Sunday, February 27, 2005

Noooooo...

[Edited to Add: I just went back and fixed the links for the pictures. Silly IMDb keeps adding pictures to the Red Carpet collection, and adding them to the beginning, changing all of the URLs for all of the pictures. Hopefully now they're right. On the up side, I got a much closer shot of Scarlett Johannson's Inebriated Prom Queen hair.]

I wrote so many clever comments about tonight's Oscars, and then Blogger ate them when I hit "publish." Noooooo... So, I simultaneously read old notes about the Weimar Republic and watched the Oscars mostly on mute. I had comments on them. Now can I remember them?

1. Three comments to Scarlett Johannson:
a.) I'm really sorry about your hair. Was it the bad perm or the bleach that made it do that? Or maybe you're wearing it ironically?
b.) I saw your hair at the technical Oscars. Yeah. No, I remember people doing their bangs like that. I was in grade 7.
c.) Is there something wrong with your arm? You flailed it about limply when you were announcing the technical Oscars. I worry about you.

2. Poor Laura Linney. She hopped out of the shower, ran mousse through her hair, and realised she was late and didn't have time to go to the hair stylist.

3. And the worst dress of the year goes to.... Hilary Swank! Modestly-resembling-1970s-drapes in the front, and in from the back showing how difficult it is to wear any underwear with this dress. You've really outdone yourself.

4. Why wouldn't Beyoncé just go away and let those poor boys sing?

5. Boo, Aviator! At least it didn't win any major awards.

6. Okay, when Chris Rock yelled "Brooklyn!" was I the only one who was imagining Spot Conlan waving a cane? Yes? So then I was the only one wishing to lean over the Brooklyn Bridge and yell, "Oooohhh!!!"

Now I go back to homework.

Saturday, February 26, 2005

"Because the Only Thing More Exciting Than Canadian Politics is Chemical Nomenclature."

Subtitled: My new name is Dead/Undead Commando

I've had a day that was only partially productive. It also involved a lot of "taking care of Meg because, you know, she's sick," which (of course) involved playing Canadian Trivial Pursuit, watching Parts 1 and 2 of "Mounty on the Bounty," the greatest Due South episodes ever, and then the ending of that mini-series H2O. Oh, Paul Gross and Callum Keith Rennie. You really should have stuck to police work, and not have tried to give away Canada's sovereignty through political intrigue, assassination and water rights.

But you have to love a movie that tries to make Canada's Solicitor General into an action star. And in which Callum Rennie's character is referred to as "Dead/Undead Commando." And somehow manages to simultaneously perform surveillance on the Solicitor-General's house, incite civil disobedience and sabotage among Quebec's native population, film fake Afghan terrorist films in some dingy basement, stalk a CSIS agent in Paris, and then blow up her car in Ottawa. And then not even be stopped at the end! Maybe he's somehow symbolic, and not a real person. Gotta love Canadian conspiracies: lots of people in suits planning and talking, and then they only hire one person to do all the dirty work, and so he has to become somehow mystical to accomplish it all.

I've had a Canadian evening. Cheesiness, self-importance, self-mockery and all.

Oh, and thank you to the lovely ladies who seranaded me over the phone tonight! Apparently, my female friends in Saskatoon (okay, mostly relatives, including the notorious sister) were having a girls' night, and decided to sing to friends. I got "I've Had the Time of My Life" from Dirty Dancing.

Friday, February 25, 2005

Three Pigtails McGee

Indicative of my mood this evening: I have my hair in three pigtails. Two on the sides of my head, and one in a bobbly on top of my head. I've also defined cankles and run around my house shrieking, "Baby Mitten! Baby Mitten!" as Meg yelled "It's not a baby mitten!" I've sung most of "Dancing Queen," much to the chagrine of my ABBA-hating roommate and her equally unfun boyfriend. I kept "Tiny Dancer" inside my head, because I'm also the only one around here that enjoys that song.

And now Meg just downloaded the "Duck Hunt" theme song. Do you know what I love? Duck Hunt. For a brief moment last summer I got really good at it (it was while I was staying at my aunt and uncle's house during a history conference in Saskatoon), but only when I fired Annie-Oakley-one-handed style, sitting side-saddle on an ottoman. I was unstoppable. And Chris was a little too impressed. Especially because I'm such a pacifist.

Oh, dear goodness. Meg just downloaded a Ska version of the Tetris theme. It sounds like every other ska song I've ever heard. That's a fad that I don't want to revisit. Okay, now it's getting better. But it still has that ska background, and that drives me crazy.

Tonight I have also: tried chocolate Rice Dream again, but this time I added Laura Secord hot chocolate mix to it. Speaking of brushing one's teeth with Jell-O... The quest to cut back on dairy was also thwarted by the Babybel cheese I ate, and the grilled cheese sandwich I had for lunch. I'm good at changing my diet for my allergies.

On the whole: you can tell we're in "crunch time". The whole world's gone mad. I had some profound thoughts I was going to write about, but I leave those to another time. Madness reigns right now. Not that we haven't all gotten quiet again. Sigh. Now I'm winding down. Bobbly pigtails, you are failing me!

Maybe next time I'll be coherent. I'll proofread my entry, too. Ha!

Thursday, February 24, 2005

High Heels and Pearls

I had a good evening tonight -- hanging out with Bronwyn, Lyn and Kara (the one that's on her way from Brandon to Calgary). After supper at East Side Mario's (it was my first time there -- it's very good, albeit expensive-ish), Lyn and I did a bit of shopping. We went to The Shoe Company and I ended up buying my wedding shoes. I meant to get something D width with a kitten heel (guaranteed to fit me properly and be comfortable), but the pair they had like that were depressing. They weren't at all fun! And so, I bought some leather open-toed ones (they're a bit off-white, but they'll be under a lot of dress), with heels that are bordering on stilletto. Therefore, I need to learn to walk in them. And I must break them in plenty, to allow room for my extra-wide toes. (Note on the link: if you're really curious as to what they look like, click on "More pictures" and scroll until you see the "white/pearlized" pair.)

Apparently, a decade wearing chunky heels has made me clumsier than I was when I was 14. Which was the last time I wore this thin of heels. Back then, I could run in them. I think I also played volleyball in them once (it was just after a church service at camp...I actually tore my skirt). Now: my ankles are weak. Which is funny, because they're fondly known as cankles (calf-ankles). I've already toppled over in them a couple of times. Ha! I'll blame the shoes.

I put on pearls to add to the effect. I feel super-fantastic, swanning about the house. My poor, sick roommate, who is never quite sure what to do with my when I'm crazy. Not to mention the fact that she's sick, and for once I'm not also sick! (This is the first time she hasn't caught her cold from me. No idea where it came from.)

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Hodge Podge Day

This will be a rather scattered day. I need to get some more work done this morning/early afternoon, while I wash some bedding for my parents (I have an oversized washer and dryer; they do not). Then, I go over to my parents' house in the afternoon and visit with my aunt and little cousins that are going to be visiting (they're from near Yorkton, and I haven't seen them since Christmas -- and the littlest one I've only seen once, because they just adopted her last year!). Fun. After that, I have to figure out how to fit into my schedule: more homework, prayer meeting, and visiting in the evening with an old friend who is going to be in town on her way home from Brandon to Calgary. Crazy day.

On another note, my mom called to tell me that a collection of political biographies, to which I contributed several entries, has been published and my free copy arrived at their house today! Yay, publication credit on my CV that isn't "To Be Published in 2005"! Wow. It's been so long since I worked on these (I finished the first one two years ago, over spring break, and then the rest of them I wrote in the spring and summer of 2003), that I barely remembered the names of the people I wrote about. It was back when I was transitioning from Canadian History to European. They'd better also send me the agricultural biographies book, because the Charles McGill Hamilton entry ended up in there, too.

Nerdy excitement. Almost as exciting as the day that I discovered an article where the author had quoted me (or my essay I'd contributed to the previous issue of the journal) and footnoted me heavily. It's really exciting to be a footnote! I'm a scholarly secondary source! Poor Meg, Becca and Karl (back when Becca was in Regina, and so she was honorary roomie #2) when I was looking through that journal. Suddenly, I shouted, "Sheeeeeeeeee cited meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!" And I started dancing around with the journal. Becca took a picture of me holding the two issues (the one where I was published, and the one where I was quoted) in the air. I'm officially crazy.

Now I'd better go do laundry.

I am wearing: yellow pyjamas (with capri bottoms) and my Old Navy green fuzzy zip-up bunnyhug over top of them. And rubber-soled slippers.

I have eaten: Cinnamon Roll Quaker Oatmeal. I got a box that has that flavour and Banana Loaf flavour. That was a good day when I found it. I think this year banana is last year's pear. Not that it's fully unseated pear.

Song currently stuck in my head: "Sarala" off of Caedmon's Call's Share the Well. I listened to that CD a lot last night, to cheer me up. Oh, saying the name of the CD got the title song in my head now. Good song. That CD reminds me to pray for other countries.

I am joyful because: the sun is shining through the window. And because I'm going to see a lot of beloved people today.

Tuesday, February 22, 2005

The Next Level of Procrastination...

I'm doing really useful things that have nothing to do with my thesis. But I need this. Tonight I'll get back to work. Today, I was rather frustrated (read: reading to scream or cry) for non-specified reasons, and so I realised that I had a choice: either I could just sit down and cry and make myself more depressed, thus making myself less useful when it came time to get back to work; or I could do some happy busy work and change my frame of mind. Thankfully, I did the latter. I made a double batch of banana-chocolate chip muffins (I've been saving bananas for this purpose, for quite a while), and then I vacuumed most of the house. All with my fabulous new haircut, and wearing dress clothes and pearls. Why does that make me feel better? Should I be worried? Am I becoming Donna Reed? (Those who know my future last name will be even more amused by that question.)

I think/hope this busyness will help me get back to work. I've been taking care of a bunch of tasks that have been haunting me for the past while. In the past two days, in addition to the above-listed projects, I've also taken care of almost all my laundry, and I've organised my photos from the last two years into a photo album. I'm particularly proud of myself for that last accomplishment. I did that while trying to get rid of a perfume-induced headache.

I'm officially crazy. And yet feeling way better than I did two hours ago. The world is my oyster: I've made two dozen muffins!

I am wearing: navy dress pants, purple dress shirt, pearls and an apron.

I last ate: leftover Satay Chicken, cold and from the container.

Coffee House Junkie Review #2: Stone's Throw

Doesn't it sound like I'm reviewing the Coffee House Junkie, rather than the Coffee House itself? So, this is nearly a week late, but I've been intending to write a review of the ubiquitous Stone's Throw coffee place (it's across the street from the University). Chris and I went for dates 7 and 8 of 10 Great Dates Before You Say "I Do". Yes, we combined two dates. (You do that when you spend 1/3 of the three years you've been dating, living in different towns.) But, I digress.

Coffee Shop: Stone's Throw, off of Kramer Blvd.

The Scene: Fairly academic, seeing as it's across the street from the University. You're really likely to run into someone you know there. In an evening, it's an interesting combination of people on a date, people studying, "that English or Philosophy major with the dyed black hair who is reading a pretentious-looking book in the corner" and just people hanging out. Somehow, it's quieter than Java Express, even though we were sitting as close to the front counter as we were at the other place. I don't know if they have quieter machines or what. So, it's really comfortable for me.

Good For: taking someone somewhere to talk, when you're at the University. Getting an essay written. Dates, if they're the kind where you need to sit down and figure things out.

Hours: spectacular. They close at 11pm most days, which suits me well. As well, they open quite early, and so I have had breakfast there on occasion.

Good points: decent prices, and I hear good things about their desserts. They have a wide variety of tables (bigger ones, small tall ones, plus comfortable chairs around low tables) and the sitting area is on different levels, splitting up the space better. Java Express could take some pointers about space usage from this place: Stone's Throw is also in a strip mall, but it doesn't feel like that. As well, there are lots of places to plug in one's computer. The service is also quite good.

Bad points: you have to pay for the wireless internet! Therefore, I don't use the wireless there.

Does it suit my needs? Well, I can sit there for hours with a chai latte (I recommend the chai latte there), and not feel awkward about how much time I'm wasting. It's also a good place for girls' group coffee meetings, except if you really want to talk about something confidential and it's the middle of the day: you're too likely to run into everyone you know. (Sometimes it's not good to be too close to the school.) Okay, I guess it's not as bad for that as the Roca Jacks inside Campion College, or the coffee place (name?) in the Riddell Centre, but this is the closest you get without being physically inside the University.

Conclusion: this is a good place to go, and yet it's not really exciting to go there. This is more the comfortable old hang-out than somewhere that you look forward to. As well, if you're uncomfortable with an environment that's too academic, this isn't the place for you.

Grade: A. I definitely like it, although it's definitely not my favourite. It does gain bonus points for being a sentimental favourite for Chris and me. (We used to hang out there in our early days.)

Monday, February 21, 2005

The Return of the Procrastinator

It may be apparent that I've been away for several days. Even though this week is my University's Spring Break, last week was the break for Saskatoon people, and for other schools near Saskatoon, such as Eatonia, such as for Christopher. And so, I've just had a crazy week of my sister and Christopher, and of others, such as Ky and Derek. I stayed at my parents' house for a few days, and I watched many movies. Oh, and I've handed in the first chapter of the thesis, but I'm pretty sure I already told you that.

Highlights of my week: Valentine's Day (belated this year) chocolate fondue party with Mark and Terra and the crowd, registering for wedding gifts at Sears (mostly I let Chris use the scanner), shopping at Gale's Wholesaler for wedding stuff and other things ($6 for daVinci coffee syrups!!!), time with Christopher in general, and time with my sister! She introduced me to the show "Numb3rs." I [heart] Rob Morrow.

Movies watched since I last posted: Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind (spectacular), Napoleon Dynamite (finally!!!) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

You may call me: Haircut McGee, as of this afternoon.

You may also call me: New Bright Pink Shirt McGee, as of earlier this afternoon. It's a whole new me. Oh, and I'm also wearing new jeans! I like new things.

You can also call me: Al.

I'm currently procrastinating from: starting my laundry (it's separated into piles in the middle of my floor).

I am: sleepy. And reacting to the fragrance in the stuff my hair dresser used.

Wednesday, February 16, 2005

The allergy hypocrisy continues...

Tonight I bought a carton of Soy milk, a carton of Parlour ice cream, and two boxes of Valentine's Day chocolates. The cashier at Shopper's thought it was pretty funny. (I also bought rice chips.) I'm pretty sure I'm not mentioning this to my allergist. (Stupid "no milk" rule. I'm pretty sure I'm not that allergic to it, but he won't give me shots for it, because he thinks drinking cow's milk isn't natural. I'm allergic to soy, but I'm getting shots for it, and so I'm actually going to have increase my intake of it slightly now.)

That is my rant. On the up side, I handed in Chapter One tonight.
Page count: 39.
Word count: closing in on 10 000.
Due date for completed first draft: mid-March! I have one more month than I thought I had, and the hardest chapter is now over. Yay!

I'm wearing: pyjamas, because it's late.
Best part of my evening: either when Christopher and Derek stopped by, as they got into town, or when Meg and I played Canadian Trivial Pursuit, as celebration for finishing Chapter One. I've had a good day.

Tuesday, February 15, 2005

I don't think this is what my allergist meant...

I am drinking Rice Dream's version of chocolate milk with one hand, and dipping pretzels into Nutella with the other. One hand's obeying the "no more milk products" rule, and the other hand flagrantly disobeys. And the "no junk food" rule, to boot! It's like I'm brushing my teeth with Jell-O. Or something like that.

In conclusion: rice milk tastes like rice. And there's something profoundly wrong with that.

Monday, February 14, 2005

Lists as Distraction Part 2

Silly things that make me irrationally angry:
1. The misspelling of the word "love" as "lurve", often favoured by the internet crowd. Bonus points for extra r's. ie. "I lurrrrrrrrrrrrrve Orlando Bloom."
2. Orlando Bloom, or more specifically fans of Orlando Bloom, such as the one who wrote his name in marker all over the library elevator. (Was that last year? I've lost track now.)
3. No bonus extra stuff on a DVD. Well, why did you think I didn't buy the tape? For Scene Selection? Have I ever used Scene Selection?
4. Mean people. It sounds fairly simplistic, perhaps cliched, but yes. Mean people make me angry.
5. People with no sense of humour. Bonus points for taking things overly-literally.
6. Remembering that someone told me that my "arch-nemesis" may at one point have called me "butt-ugly." Because I'm fairly certain that I didn't fall under the "super-hot" category.
7. The Lenny Kravitz cover of "American Woman."
8. That song a couple of years that sampled from "These Eyes," and only took from the title two words. What about the best part of the entire song: "These eyes have seenalottalovebutthey'renevergonnaseeanotherwomanlikeahave with you". Awesome.
9. When people react to, and sound off on, things before they understand them. Bonus points if you're on "The View." I really really cannot watch that show.
10. Most American politics. No, wait: actually a lot of politics makes me irrationally angry. Get me started on Vladimir Putin.
11. Pettiness.
12. Karl. (His idea)
13. New addition to the list: Other people in public places. Especially at live shows, such as a symphony concert, or a play. Bonus points for talking during the play (right beside me, especially!), or for not shutting off your cell phone. Super bonus points for answering said cell phone.
14. New addition: Other cars in parking lots. Bonus points if you're parked in more than one spot at once. Super bonus points if I'm late and there are no spots left in the lot.
15. New addition: Derek, in theory.

Silly things that make me irrationally happy:
1. Shouting "booooooooo!!!"
2. Saying the word "bees."
3. Movies like You've Got Mail.
4. Flowers.
5. Bonus material on DVDs.
6. Rick Mercer.
7. Simplifying fractions
8. Symmetrical things
9. Organising thing. When I have the time/mental energy/gumption/non-laziness to do so.
10. Being barefoot.
11. Wearing pigtails.
12. The ending of Persuasion. I confess that I hugged the book.
13. Good harmony. (I mean in music.)
14. Ironing, unless I'm in a rush.
15. An exciting key change in a song.
16. Candles.
17. Anything that glows, actually.
18. John Corbett, Mark Ruffalo, Colin Firth.
19. Karl. (This was his suggestion.)
20. New addition: Derek, in person. (This made him laugh really hard on the phone.)
21: New addition: Kinder Bueno chocolate. Thank you, Kinder, for bringing it to Canada. It feels like a special occasion every time I buy it from Wal-Mart.

Okay, I'm done making lists. Of people who know me well, anyone else have any suggestions? Anyone else have ones that they would have on their own lists? (I know that the previous sentence had improper number agreement between the noun and the pronouns. I know. I care not. Can you tell I'm being frustrated with the thesis?)

Friday, February 11, 2005

Adventures Trying to Work on a Friday Night

The IVCF kids are out skating tonight, and I stayed home to finish up this first chapter. I've been very easily distractible today (okay, for the past few days) (okay, I'm always easily distractible). This evening, since Meg went out, I read a few chapters of one book, and then watched the last 20 minutes of Joan of Arcadia (finally! I've been wanting to see that show. And it was really good!), and then I went back to work... and then I played on the computer for a while...and then I distracted myself picking the right background soundtrack. Now I'm listening to CBC Radio 2's After Hours (jazz). Awesome. They've got a really good version of "Bye Bye Blackbird" on right now. It's the perfect "I'm mellowly working on homework on a Friday night" music. Wow, that was Miles Davis. I love Andy Sheppard! He just used the word "fantabulous," and said that the next hour will have "reeeally reeeally good music."

So...

Accomplishments (of importance): Essentially writing the body of the first chapter of my thesis. And I've pretty much restructured the thing tonight, and filled in a bunch of stuff from my secondary sources.

Accomplishments (of lesser importance): I beat my high score, and my top winning streak, on Spider Solitaire. I'm on fire! Okay, I have a 16% win rate. But I won all but one (my first one) of my games tonight! I will come out of this degree with much more pop culture knowledge, and being especially skilled at computer card games. Woo! But still not being able to read German. Hmm...

I am wearing: um, the same thing as before? Bowling sweater, baggy pants. My hair's all pulled back and pinned, so that none of my hair touches my neck or my face. For someone with longish hair, I really really hate the feeling of my hair tickling me, especially when I'm trying to work. (You'd think I would've gotten over that when I was in Grade 12, back when my hair was down to my waist.)

Now the crazy kids are home. And they brought The Stepford Wives! I think I deserve a break...

From the Desk of the Legless Wonder

Subtitled: "I have no legs!"

Okay, that's exaggerating. For the past few days, I've been claiming that I have no legs, because mine have been pretty stupid/useless. It turns out that one of the ways in which I react to food allergies is with swelling in the joints. Didn't fully notice after Monday that my joints had swollen up (because I was always sitting at my desk), but then I went to yoga on Wednesday and... I was a mess. I couldn't sit up straight, much less make my legs bend in the way we were supposed to. And then after that I got my second food allergy shot (until I get up to full dosage -- next Wednesday -- I just react to everything in my serum). I could barely walk after that. And so, I've been laying low at home since then. Sleeping a lot. Not getting a lot of work done. (Not good.) But I had the third shot today, and I think it's getting better. Still walking like a duck, but not as much so now.

So, that's essentially where I've been the past couple of days: being a whiney mess. Poor Meg.

On the up side, on Wednesday night, when I was fairly incapacitated, Meg, Karl and I watched the new Manchurian Candidate. (Yay, Liev Schreiber!)It was much better than I'd heard it was. It kind of dragged in places, and didn't always flesh out some of the plot points, but it was interesting. Now I have to watch the first one. And I love Frank Sinatra, so I'm not complaining about that!

Where I'm working: at my desk (which is currently covered in dirty dishes -- gross).

What I'm wearing: bowling sweater, layered over my University of Delaware t-shirt, with the grey baggy pants. Yesterday I was far more interesting -- I was in navy from head to toe!

I am procrastinating from: looking up some more political information to fill in the blanks in chapter one.

I am thankful for: the sun shining through my window!

When I try to type my name with my chin it looks like this: mARYAnnew (That's the best I've done it so far! I got that from a forward my cousin sent me.)

Tuesday, February 08, 2005

Who Needs New Orleans...

...when you have pancakes with silly hats and old people at an Anglican church? Today's Shrove Tuesday a.k.a. Fat Tuesday a.k.a. Mardi Gras, and so I went with Meg and Karl to their church's pancake supper and carnival. Good times. There were some awesome old people there: one lady was dressed up like a cowboy (with black polka-dots) and the old man serving the breakfast sausages had a straw hat with cloth flowers sprouting out of it. It was very surreal.

And then we watched the two hour finale of The Amazing Race. It was awesome, except for our favourite team coming in second place, because of a train suddenly going across their path! So close. It wasn't our least favourite team winning, but Kendra of the winning team made some racist comments in Dakar ("they keep breeding and breeding"). It seemed like going to Ethiopia after that changed her a lot (she had an asthma attack, and a bunch of children helped her out, even carrying her backpack for her), but still.

So, now I get back to work. New strategy: I'm dressed up, wearing make-up and heels, and I'm working at my desk. It helps that I'm all excited after the race, and I feel like I need to do things quickly.

Onward!

Monday, February 07, 2005

Booooooooooooooooo!

Things that make me shout "Boooooooo" today:

The University of Toronto: to the Department of History, for threatening not to consider my application unless they received my transcripts (mailed a month ago) by today, and to the School of Grad Studies, who actually had my transcripts and didn't forward them along with my application. But weren't sure whether they could get them to the Department of History today (it depends on the mail, because you know, they're a would couple of buildings away), and the Department of History is just treating it as if I haven't gotten them my transcripts yet, until they have it. And to the Department secretary for being really passive-agressive when I tried to talk with her. Meh. I want to go to the UVic anyway. Who actually wants to live in Toronto? (Am I a Prairie girl or what?)

The Weather: With the windchill, it feels like -35ÂşC! This is a drastic difference from last week's above-zero weather. I think I agree with Neighbour Eldon's theory that the weather in Saskatchewan is set on "Random." I fully expect summer temperatures with grasshoppers next week, followed by a monsoon the week after.

First Day of Build-Up for Food Allergy Shots: I currently feel wonkified. Perhaps the reason for my current grumpiness.

Linens 'n' Things: for not having an online wedding registry for Canada, yet. (Their stuff's so pretty!)

Sears: for selling old lady stuff, while having the best and most appropriate wedding registry I've encountered yet.

My Own Procrastination Abilities: what am I doing, only on page 21? I need to work a lot today and tomorrow.

To all of that: Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

Maybe that'll get it all out my head.


I am wearing: random stuff. Baggy grey pants, with my navy work-out shirt, and a housecoat over all of it. The slippers are sitting beside me, this time.

I am working at: my desk in my room. I needed a change of scenery again, to encourage work.

I am listening to: WoW Worship "Orange". I started off trying to listen to the Schindler's List soundtrack. Not the most appropriate mood for right now. So, I went with a more uplifting CD.

Never fails to cheer me up: shouting "Booooooooooooooooooooooo!!!" I think it's the result of the "Ancient Booer" from the Princess Bride. It's like the word "bees." Ha. "Bees."

Robot Schmuckie?

Sometimes, the roommate and her boyfriend and I come up with theories about the downstairs neighbour, fondly known as "Schmuckie" (mistakenly called "Schnookie" by a friend of ours, thinking the nickname actually was fond). The most recent oddity is that we've noticed that he listens to terrible music at all hours of the day. Last night (well, morning) at 2am, he was blaring the music. However, he also was doing so at 9:30 this morning when I was leaving for church. This begs the question: does Schmuckie sleep?

Karl now thinks he is a robot.

This follows the week where he was making odd noises in his living, which some around here interpreted as wrestling, but I know was actually roller-skating. (Note to self: do not tell Meg such theories while she is drinking milk. That was gross.)

Meg and I laughed over Schmuckie and his mom trying to talk to each other across the house. We could hear them; Schmuckie apparently could not. He: "Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom!" Mom: "What? What? What? What?"

Last spring, we saw his shoes, with socks in them, on their front stoop, with a full bag of garbage on either side of the shoes. (No person in sight.) Karl decided it was the rapture. (And that we were left behind.) (Please please please don't take the previous link as an endorsement.)

Rest of the world, meet the Neighbour Schmuck. A fun distraction for his neighbour, who also spends all of her time in her apartment. (And, sometimes, the inspiration for photos of Chris and me pretending to kick his tires, because of all the times his car has trapped Meg out of her parking spot. Because that's what friends are for.)

Saturday, February 05, 2005

Playing With Pictures -- Me as Murder Suspect

This is a picture of a bunch of us IVCF folks when we had a Clue Night in the fall. The boy in the middle is Karl, and he was the murder victim. On either side of him are Meg (Miss Scarlett-type) and me (jealous wife). Jen (front -- she played a famous catburgler) cracks me up.


This is why.

Friday, February 04, 2005

Coffee House Junkie Review: Me!

We had a "Coffee House" night with IVCF tonight. Had a band playing, with awesome recorded jazz playing between the sets, and I worked the cappuccino bar. I did a lot of singing along to stuff, and shoulder-shimmying.

Confession: I have a passion for steaming and frothing milk.

I. Am. A. Genius. I invented a new coffee drink: Nutellaccino. It's a Mochaccino with a shot hazelnut syrup. This evening really gave me an opportunity to be persnickety: the balance of milk and espresso (okay, strong coffee) to frothed milk, shaking stuff on top for garnish...

I am now doing homework with: Meg, Karl, and Neighbour Boy Eldon. (Different kind of neighbour than Schmuckie.) Well, Eldon's more reading Get Fuzzy comics while sitting in Meg's hammock chair. We were teasing him, before Karl came over, that Eldon was here to observe female behaviour in its natural habitat (he was making notes on his hand).

Maybe I'll get some more homework done before I go to bed. I have enough caffeine coursing through my system. Oh Nutellaccino, you shall be my doom!

"I've got to admit it's getting better; it's getting better all the time"

Today has been better. I went to school for an 8:40am allergy injection (I am still surprised I got up early enough for that), and then wrote 6 more pages of my thesis before my noon yoga class. I haven't gotten any work done since I got home, but I'm amusing myself by being entirely clad in red. Red sweatpants with a red bunnyhug. I look like a an 9-year old boy from the mid-1980s.

I also amused myself by giving nicknames (in my head) to people that I passed in the hallways. My favourite was when I called a guy, who I saw frequently in the Kinesiology Building, "Henry Winkler as a TV Homeless Man." Face of Fonzie, hair of a TV homeless man.

Thursday, February 03, 2005

Writer's Block

I'm all set up to work, and have been so for hours now, but I've only written a little less than a page of Chapter One. (This puts me at page 11 of 100). I'm all set up at the kitchen table, with all my books around me, and I have a detailed outline written, but: blah. I stare at the computer screen, and I zone out. After this, I'm going to have to unplug my network card, to keep myself from being tempted to check my e-mail and play on the Internet anymore. If it was earlier in the day, I'd go for a walk, but I think I'd just get tired and not feel like working.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Can you believe I had to go back and edit that, so that it wouldn't mess up my blog?)
Okay, that felt better.

I am wearing: my traditional uniform, right down to the rubber-soled slippers. But with bobbly pigtails, still.

I am listening to: Greatest Latin, this CD that Andru (neighbour boy) lent Meg, for tomorrow night's IVCF coffee house. Combined with the cup of tea I'm drinking, I can almost pretend I'm at Abstractions. (Minus cute waiter boy.)

I am currently consuming: cold leftover Kraft Dinner (why am I so disgusting? Did you notice what I ate for breakfast?), peppermint tea and copious amounts of water.

I am grumpy because: Dr. B doesn't think I used the word "teleological" properly, and I think I did. I even checked the OED! Is it bad that I want to copy the definition and send it to him, and then not change my wording?

How'm I feelin'? Hot hot hot

I am amused by: the word "dongle".

And then I force myself to work...

Time at beginning of post: 11:41 am.

Amount accomplished today: um, not much?

I am wearing: sweatpants, my ancient Pinky and the Brain t-shirt by brother gave me once for my birthday (it's huge and black, with the Brain staring menacing, glowing neon green), and my hair is in bobbly pigtails. Bare feet -- it's too warm for slippers!

I have eaten: an ancient piece of french toast I found in my fridge, covered in Nutella.

Yesterday's accomplishments: well, I had a meeting with Dr. B, my supervisor (things are on track, barring the fact that I have 20 days to finish the rest of this first draft, and the other annoyance that he hasn't gotten the hint that I won't be able to read German before I finish the paper); I picked up Chris's wedding band (pretty); I ordered 20 metres of silk douppioni; I went to prayer meeting; I talked on the phone with Chris and Ky. Okay, so not much academic was accomplished. I may have re-won my title.

I am listening to: the melodious sounds of Schmucky (name derived from Meg's original name for him: "The Schmuck Downstairs"), the downstairs neighbour, loud-talking and listening to some kind of music. That boy has no inside voice. And lives with his mom, although he's much older than I. And sometimes parks crookedly, keeping Meg from getting into her parking spot. And sings "Summertime (and the living is easy)" in his backyard, immediately below our balcony, in the summer when our window is open. And the sounds of my diligent next door neighbour doing dishes. They do dishes way more often than us (you can hear the water running). Yup, this building has concrete construction, and yet we hear plenty.

And now: it's time to stop and get to work.

Tuesday, February 01, 2005