Archive for March, 2006
i can crochet — kind of
I'm determind to crochet an afghan. It shouldn't be too hard, right?
I bought a book with patterns, wool, the hooks, and ripped a free sheet on learning how to crochet off of the wall at Wal-Mart.
I was complaining to Brian last night, after 2 unsuccessful attempts that it just wasn't quite working and he suggested you know, learning, how to do it. Or starting with something a little less ambitious than a blanket. But I figure that if I'm going to be able to do it, I want to just go.
On the third attempt I think I was getting better (I undid 2 chains so far at this point). When my mom saw me undoing it she said "you know, there are these things called samplers…"
Come on people — a blanket is just a really big sampler, isn't it?
So I then figured out the lingo in the pattern book — rather cryptic with all of its sk, sc, dc etc.
AND I successfully completed 3 rows of the blanket! Yay! It's a bit wobbly, but that will just add character, right?
Too bad I've been neglecting my editing contract and school work to focus on this, but I blame still recovering from Monday — still don't have my strength back from the tube in nose incident.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 2 so far )he was like a camera, she would be film
I saw Craig Cardiff play on Thursday at Hugh's Room in Toronto (which was a very cool venue). I just went by myself as I had to cancel the last two times so I decided to wait until the day of to make sure I could go and then my only efforts in trying to find someone was sending out an email and making one phone call to a friend who I thought would enjoy it — though she was already engaged with a coldplay show — wow musical overload for that night 🙂
So, while sitting there waiting for the show to start I was thinking about how I first started listening to Craig's music and it actually is an interesting(ish) story.
My crazy-psycho housemate in third year introduced me to 1 track of his called Grandma. This is such a fantastic song that I was immediately hooked and found more of his stuff online; Judy Garland to be the next favourite that I found.
Now Craig frequented the University scenes across Ontario. A wise decision on his behalf. So many students available many of whom who have the money to spend on going to shows and to the bar AND who have student housing in which to through livingroom shows.
By the time I had heard him play over the drunken shouting at Alfie's a few times I decided that I really, really wanted to have him come and play at my house. I was dating Brian at this time and he also enjoyed coming to the shows and loved the music.
So I chatted briefly with Craig at Alfie's about it and then emailed to set it up. I was SO excited!
It took a while to set up (maybe a month to find a date and to clear it with my housemates) and in the meantime I had been overloading on a few select songs because things with Brian were going downhill and well, lots of Craig's songs spoke to how I was feeling. Especially Lion and the Dragon, Albion Hotel, Afraid, even Judy Garland (I'll have to start posting a few favourite lyrics). And then all of the songs that you end up replaying because of associations with the person who you know is about to end things.
I totally remember when Craig called for the first time to make sure we were on for the show. I was so excited and nervous to call back.
Brian ending things a week or two before the show at my house, which added to the impact of Craig coming.
The day of the show I remember killing our 5th vacuum. It just died. I had moved all of the furniture and made a "stage" and then the vacuum died. I had to go and borrow one from Dustin's place. We never did replace that vacuum and lived in the house for another 8 months or so.
I know that EVERYONE was coming to the show. I sold at least 50 tickets and had everyone crammed into our livingroom, dining room, and kitchen.
And Craig was late.
Like 2 hours or maybe 3 late.
People were starting to get a little stir crazy and I was getting worried that he wouldn't come.
Finally, he appeared, candles were found and people were quiet. It was such a great night. By then I was no longer nervous and just enjoyed hanging out with Craig and his girlfriend Danielle (who came along because she was worried that he was going to a house that he didn't know anyone at and so she wanted to make sure he'd be okay). It was amazing just watching how much in love with him she was as she sat in the hallway, on the floor, and drank in the music.
The livingroom show was a hit and a few hours later the craziness was over. But that was definitely one of my favourite nights and then I realized that all of Craig's shows have been such good nights and have had odd circumstances surrounding them. Every single one.
I was excited to have gone to the last show because the 2 times before I had tickets and both times I was just too ill to attend. It was nice to know that maybe I'm starting to get a little bit better and I can return to normal in terms of going out more and having a bit more energy. Fingers crossed!
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 1 so far )what do you believe in? God is no where. God is now here. (Hey Nostradamus)
Religion and beliefs came up a few times last week (as they inevitably seem to do). And while always controversial, I’m going to take a stab at relaying the outcome of some of the conversations from last week.
I’m all for anyone believing whatever they want if they don’t try to convert people. It’s the converting people and forcing beliefs upong someone else that I think is what makes me feel like a lot of those “believers” out there aren’t thinking critically about anything and are following along blindly. You may think your beliefs are the best ones out there but if you haven’t realized that they don’t work for everyone then you haven’t thought critically about them or why you believe them.
Religion is the opiate of the masses.
I can’t get past the idea that perhaps the whole bible thing is a collection of stories and nothing more. Just like the pagan mythologies beforehand. People truly believed in those too.
The thing is I could totally see how there could be an existence of a “God” or some sort of power or being that brought the world into fruition. And I can see why people would want to believe in that. Totally can. So then I started to think that maybe I just don’t believe in anything. Is it possible to go through your life and not have beliefs? It can’t be. There’s no way, no matter how far out on the fringes of society you place yourself that you can exist without beliefs.
Then we come to the crisis.
When asked last week: What do you believe in then?
The only thing that could come to mind was critical thinking. I believe in not being an idiot and no matter what your beliefs are to prove that you have thought critically and not just defensively about them.
I had a friend who’s boyfriend was in bible college and every discussion we entered into about the bible if I were to ask him why something was this way or that way he would always reply “because God said so”.
That is not an answer.
That is nowhere near an answer.
That can be a belief, but to me “because God said so” does not indicate that you have thought about why he said so or what the affects of this statement really have on you as a person.
Maybe you have assessed all the facts and the only answer you can find is “because God said so”. Great. Works for me. Just please don’t be using it as a fallback plan so that you don’t have to concern your pretty little mind with the woes of the world.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 1 so far )back to life brianless, well just for a few months
I just dropped Brian off at the airport (again). I guess I should be happy he can afford to come home at all, but it does make for a strain on a new relationship (even though it’s technically an old one too…). We watched Walk the Line last night and it was fantastic! Then we were pseudo-old; he played piano and read while I started knitting. I know. Old. But I guess that’s okay.
We went for dinner at a friend’s place on Thursday and it was great to hang out and reminisce. I had forgotten how much attitude she and I had growing up. We’ve been great friends since we were 3 and I guess that automatically means getting into a lot of trouble. I had forgotten about things like the crazy cake fight at her house at the party when her parents were away and when she drove without a license. Plus how mean we were to our bus drivers as kids. Little hooligans. Haha. It was fun to go back in time that far and Brian actually enjoyed learning a bit more about what made me into whoever I am now.
Luckily my parents were gone this weekend so the two of us moved into my house and spent some time in the village nearby. We went into a shop there that I’d never been in (and I’ve pretty much lived here forever except for when I went to school). It was a neat little Canadiana arts store supporting local artists. It inspired me to be more crafty, hence the knitting 🙂
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )casino rama with the fam and lord of the dance, finally
Well, my aunt finally got me to go to the casino with her (bingo and gambling seem to be her life…). Anyway my mom and I went up and got to see Lord of the Dance, which I’ve always wanted to see. We were super far away but the tickets were free and it was all right because really the theatre is just way too big for anyone to be able to see properly. i’ve never been in anything like it. Then we gambled on the nickle slots (in non smoking section of the casino which happens to be at the very back after you walk through all of the disgusting smoke!). I got 670 credits in one click of the button and ended up making $25! My cousin also won $149. The next morning my aunt got up and started talking to us (all of us were still sleeping). She just kept going. Wow. I didn’t know someone could ramble so much! The hotel was gorgeous though! Definitely worth the trip just to see the hotel. After the show the dancers were all in the bar with us because, well, there’s nowhere else to go! All in all a successful night out I suppose. Oh and I finally got my mom drunk — well, giggly and tipsy anyway 🙂
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )where did the stats graph go?
I just went to see my stats and there is now a non-descript bar graph with the information Block A, Block B and then the years 2003-2005 separated. What, may I ask does this mean? I just want my pretty little line graph with all of the numbers of visitors. Or an explanation of the bar graph… I’m assuming it’s just a glitch. Let me know if you have it too on your wordpress blog…
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