Anne of Cleves, You are Not the Favorite Wife

Eventful events!

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:22:08 GMT

Some one (or some ones!) threw a few Molotov cocktails into two suites of the apartment building next door last night. They had the whole street taped off and everything! It was vaguely interesting, and I must admit that I probably spent an hour sitting out the window watching stuff, but no one knew what was going on so it was also kind of boring. There were like four fire trucks, three ambulances, and probably 6-10 police cars. Our shadows totally made it into the background of Global TV's 5:30am news broadcast, so that was kind of awesome.

http://www.bclocalnews.com/news/65073102.html
http://www.theprovince.com/news/injured+targeted+Burnaby+blaze+police+hate+crime/2125026/story.html
http://www.news1130.com/news/local/more.jsp?content=20091020_101752_2196

Still not as epic as the 12 police cars it took to take down one dude across the street. Or the take down of two people in the park by SWATted out cops that Ben and I watched. I don't know what it is about this neighbourhood that just attracts weird shit. Drugs, probably.

I am sick: all stuffy and cloudy headed and stuff. I am also trying to write two papers right now, so you can imagine how that's going. =/

Right Now...

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 06:53:14 GMT

I can barely breathe without:

-True Blood, especially Vampire Bill and Detective Andy and pig
-Lady Gaga and her VMA performance of my favorite song of hers, "Paparazzi"
-Matt Good's new album Vancouver which can be streamed off of his website until October

School has started, and I'm getting back into the groove. Along with the groove comes that fall feeling, which Matt Good always fits so well into. Not quite sadness, not quite mourning or depression...just a slow, small feeling of a type of loss and falling-away, I guess. Of memories and damp and leaves.

Today I slept in, cuddled with Ben, went for yummy breakfast at Bon's, had a ridiculously pretentious discussion about literature and theory over coffee, grabbed some booze, picked up some veggies and Let The Right One In, and picked some blackberries before coming home to chillax.

I want to make some more jam, but I don't have enough jars. Or berries.

A little while ago I found some pictures of people that I had completely forgotten that I ever had, and it hurt my heart a little bit to think about them and the times that happened during the time the photos were taken. Sometimes I feel like I have completely changed from what I was and who I used to be and I don't know how to reconcile that with who I am now. In some ways I feel like a shell of who I used to be. I miss so many people from my past and I wish there was an easy way to have them all back in my life in some way, shape, or form without breaking my heart (or theirs) or causing major drama. Just know that even if we haven't talked in years, I am probably still thinking about you and hoping you're doing well.

Good night all.

Things I Love Right Now:

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 05:04:59 GMT

-Sunshine
-Wind
-Garden fresh vegetables
-Homemade jam
-Steak
-Bob Dylan covers
-Sleeping in a tent with my slowbeef
-Homicide: Life on the Street
-Dried mangos
-Campfires
-Jane magazine
-Rockstar with Vodka, Mango flavour
-Learning more about my family's history (ironically while celebrating Ben's family history at the same time)
-Suduko
-Quentin Tarentino

My vacation is over. Actually, it was more like a vacation/soul trip. My insides feel good. Or they did, before I hit the boundaries of the Lower Mainland. I don't know if I'm built for a city anymore. School starts in a week and a half, then the world is my B.A holding oyster.

Movies and Books

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 07:02:36 GMT

So I ended up borrowing I'm Not There from John on Sunday, and while I thought it was pretty good, I wasn't totally blown away by the movie. But I was by the soundtrack. Holy shit! I'm not even that familiar with Dylan (shocking, I know), but it's mostly covers and it's great.

I'm listening to it now.

I'm also 2/3rds of the way through Phillip Pullman's The Subtle Knife and it's good. Like, where-were-you-when-I-was-younger good. Verily I am impressed.

That's all.

(I kind of can't wait for school to start. Sometimes I just feel so bored. I don't know what I'm going to do with myself when I'm done. Ben's right- I need some hobbies.)

Well, this feels nice...

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 06:16:49 GMT

I just made my first microloan of $25 to a woman in Tanzania to buy flowers for her flower business that has been around since 2006.

I feel very helpful. Almost like I've accomplished something, especially after seeing people throw away much more than that at work on frivolous food items and such.

Ramblings

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 05:32:41 GMT

Welp, it is summer and I am eating watermelon.

I feel like my summer is flying by, between working at the store and doing the research for the professor. I feel like I have no time to just laze about and enjoy myself. Oh well. The store has been crazy busy this week (we did $1900 over budget on Canada Day with only six people working all day) and the research would be a lot funner if I could actually take the time and read what I'm interested in, instead of skimming everything to try and find what she needs.

On the other hand I have read 20 books (give or take a couple) since school let out in early April, including Diana Gabaldon's six-book Outlander series, which I enjoyed in a summer reading sort of way. I currently have four on the go right now: The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood by David Simon and Edward Burns (which they based The Wire off of), House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski, Lord John and the Private Matter by Diana Gabaldon, and The Holocaust Industry: Reflections on the Exploitation of Jewish Suffering by Norman G. Finkelstein.

I have set the goal for myself of trying to watch all the Oscar nominated/winning documentaries starting from the 1960s, just because I can. So far I've watched most of the ones that won during the 1990s-2000s, and I've got several ready and waiting for when I've got time. Most of them have been pretty good so far. I find myself wanting to watch more documentaries than I do actual movies.

I'm getting really excited about my upcoming vacation time and the fact that school is starting again soon and it will be my last semester and I just don't know what to do with myself!

That's about it.

I had a dream my life would be...

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 06:21:33 GMT

Who wants to go see Les Miserables with me? If you've already seen it, there's cheap $25 front row seats if you don't mind having your view mangled. I just really want to go but don't want to go alone or shell out $45-50 to see it again. Anyone? Anyone?

Bueller?

Alternatively, does anyone want to see The Decemberists with me? July 21/22 at the Vogue and tickets are only $35, going on sale Saturday morning at 10am. Normally I'd just say fuck it and go alone, but I'm kind of getting tired of going to concerts alone, but I guess we'll see.

Must. Finish. Paper.

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 04:51:08 GMT

Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugh.

I'm so tired of school right now. I don't have the energy or the drive to finish off the last 1000 words on this paper I've been working on for two days. After this I have seven more major assignments due before the end of April. April 27th to be exact.

Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugh.

On the good side though, so many good artists and bands are coming to Vancouver in the next little bit. I'm so excited to be seeing TV on the Radio and Neko Case! I wish I could see Coldplay for the third time but the tickets were hella expensive, same with tickets for the No Doubt tour. Practically $75-$100 a ticket with taxes and stuff! Oh well. Neko and TV on the Radio are both waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay cheaper so I don't feel too bad.

Looking at stuff for my next tattoo. Perhaps a Totoro tattoo on my foot? I'm thinking maybe!

I'm thinking I need some coffee in order to finish this bitch off. I will finish you, paper on the American antiwar movement and government policy during the Vietnam era. You will not defeat me.

Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugh.

Tell me something good!

I love this because it is relevant to my interests

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:59:54 GMT

Also because Married to the Sea rules and Chicago/ Old Turbain style can kiss my history loving ass although I do like it better than MLA or APA because it's cleaner looking and it seperates the men from the boys. That's right, history students are the men of upper learning. You heard it here first.

marriedtothesea.com

Late Night Ebaying

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 09:34:07 GMT

I think the best part about getting older is that nobody knows what to get you for your birthday so they just give you money that you can spend on lots of useful things like Akira Kurosawa box sets, clothing, history books, Vera Bradley purses, haircuts, and nice jewelery. I still have money left over, but I'm going to put that towards getting some new glasses. Not to mention the fact that we also got a wicked fondue set and an awesome framed picture to put up on the wall. Thank you family!

In other news, holy crap I am addicted to Dexter and can feel myself falling for The Tudors, even with all of the historical inaccuracies. I also went through my closet and got rid of a bag and a box of clothing that I don't wear/haven't worn/doesn't fit/etc. Next is my books, at some point in time. It feels nice.

School hasn't killed me yet, but it's trying.

I'm tired and sort of want to go to bed, but I kind of just want to see if I win this ebay auction first.

In Which I Discuss the Holidays, my Schedule, and the Joyous Wishes on the Day of my Birth

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 08:06:51 GMT

Oh em gee it's been forever you guys!

The end of last semester was alright, even with all the crazy paper writing and I ended up with decent grades. Then I worked almost every day up until Christmas, and finally got to have a bit of a vaction in chilly old Edmonton over New Years, where the temperature dipped to -40 degrees. But I still got to go sledding and roll around in the snow like a dumbass with Ben, which was fun.

Now it's back to school and my crazy schedule. As I mentioned before, I am taking five classes which adds up to sixteen hours of in-class time a week and countless more hours just trying to stay afloat with my readings. Today I did upwards of four hours of reading, just for one class. The classes themselves seem at least remotely interesting: American Literature, Eighteenth Century British Novels, Modern Chinese History, Vietnam War in Historical Perspective, and Historical Methods, which I need for graduation. Assuming I pass and do well in all of my courses, I'll just have the Fall semester left which will mean by this time next year I will officially be graduated and done with my BA, major History & minor English. This makes me very happy and also a little lost feeling. What will I do? I have been looking into graduate schools for library sciences or archival studies, but I haven't make up my mind yet although I am leaning towards the archive one.

The work front is a little weird and convoluted. I have cut back my hours there to 12 a week while I have the crazy school schedule. This means money is a little tight, but doable. To make up for the loss I might work full-time in the summer, but at the moment I don't know if I can count on those hours so I might go back to working 32 hours a week. I don't really want to focus that far ahead at the moment though, I just want to concentrate on the next couple months.

Anyways, the real reason why I wrote up this whole long post was simply to say Happy Birthday! to me! I'm officially 24, holy god balls. What the hell happened you guys? Some days I feel so dang old. Here's to another year!

So...tired....

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 08:02:52 GMT

Ugh.

I am so tired of writing papers I could scream. By the time I'm done this book analysis (likely tomorrow morning), I'll have been working since Sunday and written in the realm of 3500-4000 words on both the Balkan Crisis of 1875-1878 and a collection of essays on Canada and World War One edited by David Mackenzie titled Canada and the First World War: Essays in Honour of Robert Craig Brown. It's not the best book out there on Canada in WWI but then again probably not a lot of people on my friends list probably care about that.

Even energy drinks aren't working to keep me going.

Then I'll get a reprieve tomorrow night to sleep after I get home from class at 11pm, but Friday and Saturday nights after work it's back to finding an article for an English assignment, watching more movies for my Japanese class, and thinking about my other papers due on the 24th, 27th, and December 3rd.

And then exams.

Ugh.

Next semester will be even crazier, what with the FIVE CLASSES I'll be taking. Not by choice. Stupid uneven number of classes until I can graduate.

Don't even get me started on what's going to be happening for Christmas, that's a whole 'nother ball of wax that I don't even want to think about right now.

Just have to take it one day at a time. One day at a time.

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:02:32 GMT

I don't have much to say, but here are a couple cool pictures that either I have taken myself or others have taken of me in the last couple months. Enjoy!

Firstly, everyone meet Alice. She's chillin' out, discussin' philosophy with this awesome caterpillar on his big mushroom. I think it's kickin' rad.

Nextly, we have this cool picture that I took a little while ago, and I love it because of it's amazing lighting.

Finally we have this bitchin' picture that Melissa took of my at our Halloween party on Saturday night. I was Amelia Earhart, but at this point of the night I had switched dresses and just kept the goggles and the aviator hat. I still think it's pretty cool.

There are some other pictures that I might end up posting; cool ones from our roadtrip this summer and our pumpkins and others will eventually be put up at some point in time.

Other than that I'm just filling out student loan forms, looking at bitchin' picture of animals, and procrastinating on my Balkan History paper. What else is new? ^__^

Horrible, and not in the singalong blog kind of way

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 02:57:10 GMT

Today has been a very bad horrible day.

First my back is killing me.
Then I notice that my debit card isn't in my wallet- it's in Vancouver, in my work locker.
When I'm out with Bev, some kid kicks me in the shoe store.
Coming home from Vancouver to pick up my debit card, my delicious pumpkin pie blizzard spills all over me.
Cleaning up my jeans and my hoody in the bathroom, the tap breaks clean off when I'm trying to turn it off.

Today sucks. =(

Update!

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 22:15:36 GMT

So. It's been a while. How's everyone doing?

I'm ok, back to the school and work slog. Classes are going pretty good, and for the most part I'm managing to stay on top of things assignment and readings wise. Officially I have 6 courses left until I can graduate with my Bachelor of Arts in History, so I'm pretty excited. I have an appointment with an academic adviser next week to talk about how feasible a minor in English is at this point, but other than that I'm pretty much set!

Surprisingly, I managed to get an absolute shit-ton of reading done this summer, which was nice. Tons of Richard Matheson, The Godfather, lots of Philipa Gregory, some non-fiction stuff, true crime, The Mothman Prophesies, and so on. Right now I've got a cool book about the cholera outbreak in 1854's London on the go, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers, and I just finished an interesting book for my Canada in World War One class about Canadian soldiers by Desmond Morton called When Your Number's Up: The Canadian Soldier in the First World War.

My classes are pretty interesting though, and my teachers are as well. I love my Canada in World War One class and my Studies in Shakespeare class, and I'm getting to watch a bunch of cool movies in my Japanese culture through film class. My Balkan history class is ok, but I'm feeling a little bit lost in it but I suppose that's to be expected.

Thanksgiving's coming up, and Ben and I have invited my mom and Michelle over for dinner, so we'll see how that goes. On the Ben front, we're coming up on two years living together (altogether- one year with roommates and one year by ourselves) and we had our two year anniversary in June. We had a ten day road trip to Edmonton and Calgary together this summer with little fighting, which was pretty awesome and I got to meet pretty much the rest of his friends, which was interesting.

After Thanksgiving though, then it's into Halloween season! I have the best costume ready to go, and I'll totally post pictures after I unveil it. We're going to have a party on November 1st, which is going to be totally awesome.

That's about it. Other than the fact that the new The Verve album is fucking sweet and I cannot stop listening to it.

Also, the computer next to me in the lab is broken but there is still a steady stream of people sitting down at it and trying to get it to work even when they can see other people have sat there and tried to make it work. It's fairly humorous.

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:23:19 GMT

Thunder and lightning? Hard pouring rain? Really? I was out in a tanktop earlier. =/

Classes are all done for the summer, but so far I only have two grades back which is a little disappointing. Started to work a little more, adding some extra shifts and ramping into my own little summer work/life schedule.

Ben's out for the evening with friends, and I missed calling Michelle on her birthday yesterday which makes me feel poopy. So does my Mom's passive and guilt-ridden email. I wish I was immune to Mom guilt, but I guess no one is. For what it's worth Mom and Michelle, I really am sorry. I just can't remember birthdays. ;__;

Mailed my tax stuff off today. Have to reapply to school for 3rd year entry for the fall and put in my graduation form for my Associates. Hopefully going to the movies with Bev tomorrow with the free tickets she got from work on Saturday because it was stupid busy and we had to do inventory without knowing what the fuck was going on.

That's it. Update's boring. My life is boring. Boring is okay tonight though.

The brand of gum you like is coming back in style

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 05:04:34 GMT

Oh man, I am soooo done!

I had my last class today, and I got jackshit to do before my finals on the 22nd and 23rd. Just think, I have three more semesters of this and then I'm outta here.

Right now, Ben and I finished watching There Will Be Blood which was very powerful stuff. I am envious of Daniel Day Lewis's moustache, I really am. Yesterday we watched 3 episodes of Twin Peaks and the pilot, and I am loving it. There was also new Office and 30 Rock last night and they were funny too.

Radiohead tickets go on sale tomorrow morning and I'm totally buying one. Two, I guess if Melissa needs me too but she hasn't gotten back to me so I guess not. And next week is shopping with Victoria and maybe Melissa.

Now it's smooth sailing guys. Smooth sailing.

Oh why God why

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:35:41 GMT

Is the semester over yet?

No?

Seriously?

Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck.

I just have to survive until Friday, then it's just finals. But before Friday I have to finish 2 10 page papers (one for tonight, one for tomorrow) and a presentation for Friday.

Can I sleep yet?

Best Spam Ever

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 04:14:54 GMT

From: Aric Alfredo

Title: When I was your age, we had eight inch floppies.

Body: Be the master of the Universe, with a huge broadsword in your pants.

I gotta say, I don't remember these spammers being quite so funny when I was younger.

Also, I wrote two papers the other day. It was rough. This semester is kind of kicking my ass stress-wise. I don't know why I thought it would be a good idea to take a math class, a statistics class, a third year English, and a fourth year History class. Oh well. Almost done. Then this summer I'm taking two weeks off! And we're probably going to treck it to Edmonton and go camping.

I can't wait!

I got my haircut about a month ago and it looks fucking fabulous. Today I bought a swinging summer dress and it too is fucking fabulous. I started doing pilates a few weeks ago and it's actually starting to show a little bit and that makes me feel good.

<3

Stolen from cutealien

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:59:23 GMT

YOU'RE ON MY FRIENDS LIST, I want to know 36 things about you. I don't care if we never talk, or if we already know everything about each other. Short and sweet is fine ... You're on my list, so I want to know you better!

BE HONEST! COPY FROM HERE THEN SEND DIRECTLY TO ME IN A COMMENT THEN, REPOST THE EMPTY QUESTIONS.

1) Are you currently in a serious relationship?
A.
2) What was your dream growing up?
A.
3) What talent do you wish you had?
A.
4) If I bought you a drink what would it be?
A.
5) Favorite vegetable?
A.
6) What was the last book you read?
A.
7) What zodiac sign are you?
A.
8) Any Tattoos and/or Piercings? Explain where.
A.
9) Worst Habit?
A.
10) If you saw me walking down the street would you offer me a ride?
A.
11) What is your favorite sport?
A.
12) Do you have a Negative or Optimistic attitude?
A.
13) What would you do if you were stuck in an elevator with me?
A.
14) Worst thing to ever happen to you?
A.
15) Tell me one weird fact about you.
A.
16) Do you have any pets?
A.
17) What if i showed up at your house unexpectedly?
A.
18) What was your first impression of me? (hmmm...careful!)
A.
19) Do you think clowns are cute or scary?
A.
20) If you could change one thing about how you look, what would it be?
A.
21) Would you be my crime partner or my conscience?
A.
22) What color eyes do you have?
A.
23) Ever been arrested?
A.
24) Bottle or can soda?
A.
25) If you won $10,000 today, what would you do with it?
A.
27) What's your favorite place to hang at?
A.
28) Do you believe in ghosts?
A.
29) Favorite thing to do in your spare time?
A.
30) Do you swear a lot?
A.
31) Biggest pet peeve?
A.
32) In one word, how would you describe yourself?
A.
33) Do you believe/appreciate romance?
A.
35) Do you believe in God?
A.
36) Will you repost this so I can fill it out and do the same for you?
A.

(I'll get around to a real entry soon guys, I promise.)

Sat, 19 Jan 2008 17:48:12 GMT

1. It's my birthday! Happy birthday to me!

2. I have a shit-ton of homework to do this weekend. =(

3. It's snowing. I don't know what kind of sign to take that as.

4. I'm sooooo glad I requested today off from work. Soooo glad.

5. My hair is getting very long. Perhaps I shall cut it today.

6. I rocked my logic class last year and ended up with an A. Take that philosophy!

7. I'm going back to bed.

On Radiohead's In Rainbows

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 06:52:58 GMT

I very seriously think that this is possibly the best album I have ever heard.

Ever.

Seriously.

I feel like laughing and crying and shouting and smiling all at the same time. It's the best parts of OK Computer and Kid A and Amnesiac without being alienating. Every single note is perfect. Thom sounds like an angel.

This is what I've been waiting for ever since I first heard "Let Down" almost exactly ten years ago. Everything feels like it's come full circle and I love it.

I want to live with this in my head and ears constantly for the next forever.

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 01:42:35 GMT

Yeah, the pictures in the link made me pretty angry, so I'm going to share them with you. Nothing quite like glorifying the link between soldiers, rape, and war, eh comrades?

NSFW (lots of boobies): http://www.style.it/cont/vogue/photo/default.asp

Blargh.

Beyond that, I'm pretty happy. Classes are going well (except possibly for my philosophy quiz, but I'm sure I didn't do too badly), work is okay (although we are short staffed, desperately), and more excitingly Ben and I found a place! So yay! Moving October 1st! Near Metrotown! I am excited and happy and can't wait and just want to move and get it done so I can start decorating. Yay decorating!

I hope everyone else is similarly good.

Also, I think that everyone should go to Youtube.com and search for "Uncle Chuck" and watch the first video that comes up. I think you will enjoy it. ^__^

Oh Man Guys

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 19:18:01 GMT

Holy crap.

My German Culture through Film class professor is freaking HOT. Like seriously guys, I gotta start wearing low cut shirts and makeup to class hot. Like I don't mind getting up at 6:45am kind of hot.

That's about it. Now I have to kill time before I need to catch a bus to the skytrain, then home. Then work at 2:30. It's weird. I haven't worked in a week, so it feels kind of weird having to go in. Oh well.

Also, BC Student Loans Service Bureau? Can suck a fat cock. I'm STILL waiting for my loan money which was supposed to be in my account on Tuesday. I'm nervous and mad. Stupid goverment.

Also, I love Ben more than Jet loves Spike. Or Bubs loves crack. Or Japan loves their tentacle rape.

I am too caffinated to think.

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 08:32:30 GMT

Yay! I finally broke down and bought a ticket to see Tori Amos in December. Even though I probably shouldn't have, I reason that I've been wanting to see her for at least six years so I might as well take the chance to see her when she comes or else I risk pissing myself off (like the first time I realized Radiohead was coming and I couldn't afford to see them-seriously I cried).

I bought a whole bunch of new back-to-school clothes yesterday and all for cheap! I got my bonus at work ($300 just for not quitting for two months. It's pretty freakin' sweet.) so I decided to get some new clothes because I'm giving away one and a half garbage bags worth of my old clothes. I got some new jeans, four tops, one tanktop, two pairs of super cute shoes, two panties, four pairs of socks, one bra, and a cute stripy scarf. I still have to buy a hoody and a backpack to hold my laptop and my textbooks and a new pair of headphones for my hand-me-down mp3 player and a bus pass. Then I should be good to go.

The new Matthew Good cd Hospital Music is bloody brilliant.

School starts in a week. I'm a huge geek because I'm actually excited about it. My schedule's going to be pretty sweet though:

SUNDAY- Off for homework, family/friend time, errands, etc.
MONDAY- Off for homework...etc.
TUESDAY- School 10am-7pm
WEDNESDAY- Off for homework...etc.
THURSDAY- School 10am-2pm
FRIDAY- School 9am-Noon, Work 2:30-11pm
SATURDAY- Work (probably 2:30-11pm)

Three days of school, three days for homework/free time, and two days of work. Completely manageable. I can't wait!

So is anyone else going to see Tori?