Timmy Ho's... they're sprouting up everywhere!

posted by Unknown @ 12:12 p.m.

I'm a Lover, not a Fighter...

... and a Reader, not a Writer.

I discovered that in my short story writing class. While I enjoy writing, and the quality is fairly average, I find that I enjoy reading much more! But now that I've taken the class, I view everything I read with a writer's eye, kinda like how everything I see has a 35mm format frame around it (this began in school, Photography at Fanshawe, and has continued ever since). When I read a good metaphor, for example, I think, "I could never come up with something like that!" It's kind of discouraging. But alas, the class is over.

Book Club meetings can go back to Tuesday nights now!! (but next week's meeting is still on Wednesday, since that's the date we set).

posted by Unknown @ 11:58 a.m.

Congratulations and Acid Rain

It seems like I've been congratulating alot of people recently. Julia and Kevin just got engaged, my friend Dave just managed his first political campaign to victory, and Maria has just been sworn in as a true blue Canadian! Things seem to be going well for those surrounding me... when will it be my turn!

Wanna read a poem I just wrote?

I got a dollop of acid rain in my eye right here *points to right eyeball*
It blurred my vision, like a big fat tear
I expected it to burn, but it just felt wet
And then another fell in, so I couldn't forget
Who was boss of the road, on tonight's ride home
Through the mud and the muck, through the puddles of foam
In the dark, in my lane, on the side of the street
With the cars whizzing by, tooting horns, bleet bleet
My specs fogged up, and I couldn't steer clear
Of the lakes and the ponds, but I had no fear
Instead of going 'round to avoid wet shoes
I gave in to the rain and rode right through!

posted by Unknown @ 6:00 p.m.

Movie Weekend...

This weekend was all about movies for me. Friday, Maria and I went to see the new Harry Potter flick, which was really very cool. I'd just watched the first three movies last weekend, so I was itching to see the Goblet of Fire. The special effects were sweet, and the story is progressing into one that is even more enjoyable for the older crowd (which is good, since the original Harry Potter fans are growing up!) I've oftened wondered if this was a concsious decision on Rowling's part. Did she write the first story, knowing that the characters would age in sync with her readers? I like to think so. I don't think any kind of media is released without thought for future financial gains. Tis the business!

And today, my good friend Becky and I took a walk down to the Royal Theatre on College and saw The March of the Penguins. It's a documentary following a year in the life of the Emporer Penguin, in Antarctica. It almost made me cry, and I chuckled a bit at a couple of scenes, but was a little let down. I'd heard some excellent reviews, and maybe had my hopes up too high. Morgan Freeman did an wonderful job of narrating, and I definitely commend the film makers- I can't even imagine trying to operate a camera in -80º F temperatures!! Wouldn't that eff up the film?!?

posted by Unknown @ 5:34 p.m.

Website Update

Hey- I updated my personal website. Check out the new photos and my latest short story!

posted by Unknown @ 10:27 a.m.

Check this out!

Elliot Brood, a new band from my hometown of WINDSOR, are on this weeks CBC National Playlist (by Jian Ghomeshi from The Hour). The one song I've heard from them, Second Son, is pretty sweet. Kind of like the Soggy Bottom Boys meet Modest Mouse. You really can't help but groove to this song in your chair, turn it up load and you just might start slapping your thigh. I wonder if these guys played at the Coach and Horses!

Hey guys, totally check out that National Playlist thing. It's a pretty cool concept.

posted by Unknown @ 9:53 p.m.

Delete...

Yeah- I deleted that last post, it was too long and annoying to look at. I don't know why, but the indents I added to the post didn't show up when it published, so it didn't look right. I'm sure it was difficult to read!
Anyways- my story went over well, and the teacher only had a couple criticisms... not bad for procrastinating til the last second to write it! I have to read it next week (the last class), so I'll make the revisions and maybe post the final draft somewhere where it's easier to read. For now, why don't you check out the writings that I've already got online HERE!

posted by Unknown @ 3:15 p.m.

Booooring...

So- I'm here at work, and the computers aren't working, so it's booooring. Otherwise, it's usually a fairly stimulating job. A bit less stimulating since I've switched to invoicing from listing cameras on eBay, but I still get to do a bit of that anyways- so it's all good (except for today, because the computer's are on strike).

It's SNOWING outside!!!

posted by Unknown @ 4:42 p.m.

Smore?

If you want to see some of my more artistic photos, check out my other blog!!

posted by Unknown @ 10:06 p.m.

Julia's Doodle of Kevin

This is just a cute doodle that Julia did of Kevin. I think it's quite accurate, to tell the truth!

More pics from Maria's birthday party are on Flickr!

posted by Unknown @ 6:51 p.m.

BLECH

I hate being sick. I've been sick for the past month, but it comes and goes, and this week- it's right on top of me. Monday night (after some fun at Maria's brithday party), I couldn't sleep unless I was sitting upright. Needless to say, I didn't get a lot of sleep! So I took the day off yesterday, which was nice, but didn't get to go to my writing class either, which sucked. Meh.

I haven't felt like writing anything lately, anyway, as you may have noticed from my lack of posts on here. This is a summary of each day since my last post, just for the record.
Today- Recieved first ever eBay purchase in the mail. Which is ironic, since I make my living selling things on eBay (for Henry's). Season One of Northern Exposure. I love Ed Chigliak!!
Tuesday- Spent the day in bed, sick with a chest cold. Pharmacist was mean to me :(
Monday- Maria's birthday party, which turned out to be an excellent time (that's her, enjoying a birthday tribute on the accordian).
Sunday- Finished off my Harry Potter festival with the Prisoner of Azkaban, and did some laundry. That's it.
Saturday- Got some groceries in Kensington, did some shopping in Little Italy at the best gift shop in town, Red Pegasus, and then went for dinner with James, Bex and Rox to Royal Thai on Bloor Street. God I love my neighbourhood!
Friday- This was a crazy night. Rox was visiting, so I wanted to show her a night on the town. We started at Shoeless Joe's on King West, and then booed some karaoke at the Gladstone. After that we hit a house party at... uh... I don't even remember, and then we went for some late-night Mexican at good ole' Sneak's.

Anyways- that's what I've been up to!

posted by Unknown @ 7:13 p.m.

Inspirational Authors...

Okay, so it's been a couple days since I've posted, but not too much has gone on.

Tuesday night I had class, which was super cool, since we had a couple writers come in and read from their short story collections. Brian Panhuyzen read us a sweet short story from his collection called The Death of the Moon, about the affects of forgotten promises, love long lost and the deteriorating forests of Northern Ontario. The story was set in 1940's, and he told us how he wrote this period piece, partly just for the challenge of writing a period peice. He said the research involved made the writing process a bit harder. I love reading historical fictions, and will probably try to include some historical facts in my next short story- it's about a woman on a canoe journey through the Boundary Waters near Thunder Bay, and her refelctions on the Native culture that seems to follow her.

The other guest writer was Heather Birrell, author of the collection I Know You Are, but What Am I? She read us a new story, called "BriannaSusannaAlana", about three sisters living in Toronto, and how they each deal with a murder that's happened close to their home. Her ability to get into a childs mind- in this story three separate children, aged 6, 10 and 13- was uncanny. I especially loved how the 6 year old's dog didn't bark, persay, but spoke words like "Squirrel!!"

Hearing the writers read their own work was cool. It was nice to hear how proud they were of their work, the ownership in their voice was evident. Soon it'll be my turn! I've got to write this story by next Tuesday... I'll post it when I finish it... maybe!

posted by Unknown @ 10:52 a.m.

So- today I found out that my roommate is looking for other accomodations. Hmp. She's moving in with her boyfriend, which is fine with me, I just hate feeling like I don't have control of my life. Or at least major aspects of my life, like where I'm living. It went from her wanting me to move out so her bf could move in (to which I said no), to perhaps him moving in with us until I was ready to move out (next spring), to her telling me they're looking at apartments for December 1st. I was like, "Were you going to give me some notice?" and she said of course. Well- being friends, I would've expected a little more conversation about it. Perhaps I'm expecting too much of my friends? Who knows...

Tonight we're hitting Andy Poolhall for some half-price billiards. I could definitely do with a pint and some whacking of balls.

posted by Unknown @ 6:57 p.m.

Last night, James and I went to see Born into Brothels at the Glenn Gould Studio at the CBC building (directed by Zana Briski and Ross Kauffman). It was the winner at the 2004 Academy Awards for best documentary feature, and it's easy to see why. It evoked laughter, tears, hope, despair, and was so inspiring, I was glad I brought my camera along so I could snap some pics on our way home.

The film follows the plight of Zana Briski (aka Zana Auntie), a photographer living in the red light district of Northern Calcutta, and her attempts at getting a select group of children out of the village and into boarding schools. The abuse and environment these kids have to contend with is horrendous, and you see how resilient these children are, have to be, just to survive. Their stories of pain and suffering, inevitable as they describe it, should be told by people four times their age. Hearing it from 10 year old children made my heart crack open.

The snapshot above is of the photo exhibit at the CBC building, photos the children had taken. Zana Briski initially moved into the red light district to photograph the working women, but soon grew close to the children, and started teaching them how to take photographs. My favourite child was a young man named Avijit, a born artist who has won numerous awards for his paintings and was chosen by World Press Photo to be part of their Children's Jury in 2002. He got to visit Amsterdam, and we got to see the trip; it was the most uplifting part of the film.

The film is being shown on CBC Newsworld tonight at 10pm, and the photo exhibit will be displayed at the CBC building until then. Zana Briski also heads up the foundation called Kids with Cameras, which uses photography classes to empower less fortunate children all over the world, giving them hope and self-confidence.

George Stroumboulopoulos hosted the screening, and it was wonderful meeting him. He's the host of the greatest news show on television, The Hour. Man, is he hot. He is like, the perfect man, for me, if I had to pick just one. Anyways- here's a pic of him and James. I was stupid nervous meeting him. Stupid! Hopefully I'll get to go see a taping of The Hour, which he invited us to!

posted by Unknown @ 11:05 a.m.

Wasn't today just beautiful?!? I spent the whole summer (well, not fully, but alot of time was spent) looking for the perfect spot to relax and read outside in downtown Toronto during my lunch, and today- on probably the last "spend your lunch outside" day of the year- I found it! Behind The Courthouse, on Court Lane, there's a sweet little parkette (not parakeet), with fountains and trellises and lots of trees. It's super nice, and only a 5 minute walk from work. Perhaps tomorrow will be nice enough to go again? We'll see I guess...

For bookclub, we're reading Haunted, by Chuck Palahniuk. Jesus this book is weird. It's so weird, I don't think I'll read anything else by Palahniuk... honestly! It's the goriest book I've read, and I've read alot. I should've known, he did write Fight Club, which I couldn't watch because of all the violence. I just don't see the point. But I'm sure I'll be enlightened at this month's bookclub meeting.

So- this why I love Sneaky Dee's. We went there on Saturday for dinner (I split the King's Crown Nachos- no meat, no jalapenos- with Bex, which was fabulous as always), and I ended up forgetting my hat there. I didn't even notice it was gone until Tuesday, when I wanted to wear it in the rain. I couldn't believe it, my all-time favourite hat, gone (see pic, graciously modeled by my ugly doll Babu). And I figured it gone forever, since I left it at Sneak's. But lo and behold, when I stopped there yesterday after work, they had my hat for me behind the bar! I was ecstatic! The bartender actually laughed at me because I was so happy! And that's one of the many reasons I love Sneaky Dee's.

posted by Unknown @ 9:17 p.m.

Holy Smokes! Things at work are so crazy now... people are quitting left and right, and instead of hiring more people, my supervisor is shuffling us around! So- from now until Christmas, instead of coming into the job a know and love everyday, I'll be invoicing... the most boring, banal, mind-numbing labour of all. Oh- and I get to answer phone calls from irrate customers. BAH!

I have to tell you about my dream last night.
The first thing I remember is eating pizza with my family in my kitchen back home. Except that in the place of the garbage can was a toilet, and my mom was there (she passed away 6 years ago). So, I was on the toilet, and my mother offered me a slice of pizza and when I refused because I was "in the middle of something" she got all offended and through the pizza down and stormed out. I wonder what that means??
The next thing I remember, my brother was living above the garage (this was not at my home, it was a place I'd never seen before), and I went up to visit him there. I don't remember anything else from that scene, except were clothing racks of his old shirts and hats and I was trying them on).
But this is the crazy part. I was with my friends Jay and Mark (old friends, that I haven't spoken to in like, 5 years), and we were driving out of the city (Windsor) to my house (in Essex). All of a sudden, there's flood waters everywhere! But the odd thing was, the fireworks were still going. Then I hear a LOUD BOOM and I look back, and there's a huge fire at some old warehouse (a building I vaguely remember from somewhere, but I can't place it). Then fires start breaking out all over the place, and I see a huge explosion. I remember screaming (and hearing someone else scream, which I think was me in real life, cause it was a quiet squeezed out scream like when you're trying to be quiet, since I was sleeping, weird, eh?). Anyways- I remember screaming and then the flood waters were coming up all around us. And there was this baglady on a bike/shopping cart in front of us riding through the flood waters.
And then I heard my roommate's cat crying outside my bedroom door and woke up.
Crazy. A nice change from the regular tornado nightmares I normally have though.

posted by Unknown @ 11:13 a.m.