Technically this was a short week for us Canadians, since we had Monday off for Thanksgiving. It sure didn't feel like it, though. I'm so ready to have a lie-in tomorrow morning and spend a lot of time in my pyjamas over the weekend. Hello, fall.
The most selfless thing I've ever done was... This is another one of those questions that's pretty much impossible to answer. I don't exactly keep track. Hopefully there was a time or two... but I am an only child, so it's quite possible that I just don't do selfless.
When it comes to working out... it usually doesn't.
A woman should always... I don't know why, but this question rubs me the wrong way. It would be too easy to add something really '50s, like "have her hair done" or "wear makeup" or "look good for her man." It's not far from this to "A woman should never..." and then I'm likely to get really angry. So I'm skipping this one.
I wish I could... afford to go back to school anywhere I wanted ...and then I'd... move to London and get a PhD. Or two.
A best friend is... someone who cares enough to tell you the hard truths, who knows how to make you laugh, and who doesn't need to be in touch all the time to know you're always there. (That last one is important if you're my friend because I'm truly crap at keeping in touch.) Or this:
I can't get enough of... Hmmm. Should I go with the obvious answer (beer and sleep) or try for something original, like my friend Sonia's avocado sandwiches, or the smell of new books? Take your pick.
This weekend I am... sleeping. A lot. I may not even get dressed on Sunday.
Will you look at that, three weeks in a row! I think I deserve a medal or something.
1.This weekend was Canadian Thanksgiving. So happy Turkey Day!
To view an image's source, click on image.
2. Two of my aunts are visiting from England. I had forgotten just how hilarious they are! I don't think I've laughed that hard since.... well, since last time they visited!
3. My dad's cat is 8 now. I don't know if it's that he's mellowed or is just nicer than our cats, but this cat actually sits on your lap. Like, for more than 10 seconds. I'm really hoping it's an age thing and one day our cats will be that affectionate and social. I figure they've got to start earning their keep eventually, right?
4. It's starting to feel like almost-winter. There were times this weekend when I was so cold I couldn't feel my toes. I'm holding on to my delusion that it's still indian summer until the end of this week and then I'm busting out the hats, gloves and winter coats and starting to knit again.
Of course, it will be awhile before I attempt a project on this scale. Right now I'm working on mastering the scarf.
5. As anyone who's ever been to the UK will know, above is a British phone booth with London landmark Big Ben in the background. I haven't ever lived in England, but both of my parents are from there. The weird thing is that I've never really felt Canadian, despite being born here and spending my whole life here. England, on the other hand, has always felt strangely comfortable and familiar to me. I get so, for lack of a better term, homesick for it sometimes that it's like a physical sensation. I'm still working on convincing J. that he wants to move there with me, since I have always wanted to live there but am quite fond of having him around. If it comes to choosing, though.... ;)
6. I'm going to assume you live a stone's throw from a Starbucks ('cos let's face it - these days, who doesn't?). Next time you go in, order a Peppermint Mocha. Technically it's a Christmas beverage, but they're so good I rarely order anything else. It's like having After Eight mints in a cup. I also like that the mint cuts the bad coffee breath a bit.
Doesn't that look good? It's like Christmas in your mouth.
7. My boss gets back from vacation on Thursday. Thank God.
8. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm actually having a hard time keeping up with Fall TV. So if you know me personally, don't tell me ANYTHING that's happening on TV, because I'm an episode or two behind on nearly everything and I don't want any spoilers. I'm serious.
9. On our floor at work we have two individual bathrooms. One of them has a hatch in the ceiling beside the toilet, and it's always open. If I watch a zombie movie I can't use that bathroom for at least three days afterwards because it totally creeps me out and I can't pee for fear of being attacked from above. This means that if the other bathroom is occupied, I have to got all the way downstairs. You can imagine how inconvenient this becomes when The Walking Dead is in season.
Here, have some nightmares.
10. My nose is not being nice today. It's running like it's gotta get somewhere. I'm hoping this isn't the beginning of being sick for the next six months.
This is how I plan to spend my winter. See you in the spring.
That's it for this Tuesday - hope the Canadians out there enjoyed the extra day off, and to everyone else, neener-neener, we got an extra day off and you didn't! (Don't get too sulky - you'll be able to get us back on your Thanksgiving.) See you next week!
I have so much to get done today, but I have never been more ready for a long weekend. This week has really dragged - between the cold I'm fighting off, insomnia, crazy work, mother drama and the general blahs that accompany getting out of bed when it's still dark out, I want a break. A long one. I guess three days will have to do! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Something popular that I can't stand/just don't "get" is... Lady Gaga. I'm all for pushing the envelope and making crazy fashion statements (Bowie is one of my all time favourite people in the history of EVER), but a meat dress? Yah, you lost me.
Something unpopular that I secretly love is... Yeah, I got nothing. I'm pretty open about all my totally lame interests.
When I've had a bad day I... go home, have a beer, get into my pyjamas and watch TV. Preferably with one of my cats to cuddle, but they're fickle and rarely want to hang out with you when you want to hang out with them.
I'd prefer... finding a job I absolutely love to... making a lot of money any day. Let me clarify. I don't mean I'd be happy living on the street if it meant following a dream. I'd still want a job that paid enough for me to live comfortably. I just mean I'd rather a job that doesn't pay ridiculous amounts and that I love than vice versa.
Something that makes me nervous is... making big decisions at work without anyone else's input.
Something worth fighting for is... justice. I know that sounds trite, but I don't necessarily mean justice in an abstract, idealistic sense. I mean I'll ask people on the bus to give their seat to someone who needs it if they're not doing it on their own. I will tell someone to go to the back of the line if they try to weasel in ahead of people. I will stand up for someone if I think they're right, even if it means getting in trouble myself. It doesn't have to be all big and meaningful, but I want fairness.
When people think of me, I hope they think... that I'm capable and reliable. That I can take care of myself. That I might be stubborn, but I generally have good sense about what to be stubborn about. That I'm a good person to have on your side or in your life. That I'm overall decent. Not perfect, not amazing, but decent.
Thanks to Lauren at The Little Things We Do for the blanks! Head on over and link up to join the fun!
I swear I blinked and the weekend was over. Fortunately, for once, it seems to have taken Monday with it. I'm okay with that.
I'm giving it another go. Hopefully I'll actually come up with 10.
1. I have been seeing the trailer for Moneyball on TV a lot. While it looks like it could be a decent movie, I'm alarmed to see that Brad Pitt is looking increasingly like Robert Redford.
2. It's been raining a lot lately, thus leading me to conclude that I have to invest in decent rain boots. I'm horrified to discover that they cost upwards of $150. This seems particularly ridiculous when you consider that rain boots are basically a couple of hunks of molded rubber. After some consideration of this shocking pricepoint, I've decided that retail items should be sold on a sliding scale. Since I'm broke, I should get them for free.
4. If I had to pick one thing I hate about my office, it would be the toilet paper holders. They don't turn, so in order to get toilet paper, you have to manually wind it around and around the holder. Inevitably you drop the end on the ground and, if you're a germophobe like me, have to start the entire process all over again. It's the single most aggravating thing I have to deal with throughout my work day.
5. We have two black cats. Here they are:
As you can tell, they look very similar. Opie, the younger one, started out with beige in his fur and was supposed to get lighter. Clearly they lied because they wanted to make us take him home. Can you tell the difference? Didn't think so. Neither can we.
6.
7. I have come to hate our pet insurance provider. It took two weeks of nearly daily phone calls, about 12 duplicate faxes, two emails and lots of trying hard not to yell to get ONE claim through to them. Today I called to check if they're processing it, you know, just to be on the safe side since the six month limit is in two days. Only to discover that apparently the bill for two of the three cats didn't go through (how does that even happen??) and they're in danger of having their policies canceled. Nbd. I finally gave in and got really angry with them and threatened to switch insurance providers if they don't get their collective thumbs out of their asses. I apologized to the guy when I was done my tirade since it isn't his fault, personally, but I still feel bad for wrecking the poor schmuck's morning. I tried. I really did.
8. Today I wish I drank coffee. There's a serious risk of me falling asleep on my keyboard.
9. Pumpkin beer. 'Nuff said.
10. Interesting interview with Michael Moore about Occupy Wall Street and why he doesn't want his books to be sold in Georgia.
That's it for me - back to trying not to fall asleep work!
So I had a nearly sleepless night on Friday. Again. I thought the worst of my insomnia was behind me, but apparently it's lingering. One of the benefits of having an Android is being able to browse YouTube in bed, which I did until I decided to give up and just get the fuck up. I proceeded to listen to some of my favourite songs - and discover some new ones - until about 2 a.m. I figured since I wasn't sleeping anyway, y'all might as well get something out of it, so I put together this post. Plus writing often makes me sleepy. So here you go.
1.
Foster the People - Pumped Up Kicks (Acoustic)
J. showed me this on Friday and I loved it - though I only really like the acoustic version. I had it stuck in my head all day Saturday, so it must be good.
2.
Plan B - Prayin'
I re-discovered this album (The Defamation of Strickland Banks) last week and it has pretty much been the only thing stopping me from kicking the living crap out of someone on the bus. So thank you, Plan B, your song about killing someone stopped me from doing just that.
3.
Incubus - Drive (Acoustic)
If I absolutely had to pick a favourite song of all time, this might very well be it. I never get sick of listening to it and I even like the lyrics. If you haven't heard it before there's something seriously wrong with you, enjoy.
4.
Atmosphere - The Best Day
While "Drive" is possibly my favourite song, Atmosphere is my favourite group. This is who I recommend to people who don't think hip-hop can be poetry. I listened to this song a lot back in the Spring, and it cheered me up on unseasonably drab days. It also fits my general cock-eyed optimism about accepting the crappiness of real life.
5.
Staind - Outside (Acoustic)
Yes, another acoustic. Seeing a trend here? This one is a throwback. You know, that phase everyone goes through as a teenager where you feel all alienated from everyone because no one could possibly understand how complicated and unique you are. Don't try and deny it, you all know what I'm talking about.
6.
People Under the Stairs - San Francisco Knights
The first time I came across PUTS was in a graffiti movie that had this song was the soundtrack for the opening credits. I fell in love the second the beats hit. They've got lots of great songs, but this one will always be my favourite.
7.
Mutemath - No Response (Live)
Granted this isn't a very good quality recording, but just look at the drums! Pretty impressive, huh?
8.
Foo Fighters - Pretender
Another throwback song - this is one of the best songs to play when you need to let off steam. Though I'm never quite sure what's happening in the music video, it's visually stunning. Also apparently J. looks like Dave Grohl. (Though it's mostly the beard.)
9.
Adele - Hometown Glory (High Contrast Remix)
Believe it or not, this was the first exposure I had to Adele. It was on the Misfits soundtrack (if you haven't watched the Misfits yet, you really should. Aside from being an awesome show, the soundtrack introduced me to some of my all-time favourite music).
10.
Nirvana - Come As You Are Unplugged in New York
Everyone from my generation loves Nirvana. EVERYONE. So it's not exactly original, but it is damn good. Unplugged in New York was the first Nirvana album I ever owned (on cassette tape. Yes, I am that old.) and has so many memories associated with it. I can't listen to it without being transported to a 14-year-old me. Which is both good and very awkward.
11.
Common - Come Close (Ft. Mary J. Blige)
Just because it's really sweet, and occasionally I do like a little bit of romance... Also I think Mary J. is gorgeous. (Common ain't bad either.)
12.
Florence + The Machine - What the Water Gave Me
We've all been waiting with bated breath to hear what Florence would do next - this is it. For those of you who don't know, Florence and Adele are two British songstresses with voices that are out of this world. Both incredibly powerful, they get under your skin and stay there.
13.
Adele - Rolling in the Deep (Live)
Okay, so here's Adele un-mixed. I love this video, not only because this song is fantastic (seriously, who doesn't love it?), but also because if you watch her facial expressions you can see that despite her angelic voice, this gal has attitude.
