it's just always playing catch-up around here

(this is maybe my favourite picture I've taken recently)

I didn't have internet for a few days there!! it was the worst! I hated it so much and now I'm so behind on all my stories but maybe I'll quit watching my stories until after Christmas because I have SO MUCH to do and so many work shifts and SO many crafts to make and we have netflix on our TV now and there must be some Christmas movies on there? Right? Which ones? Any?


Look, Prune and I accidentally dressed like twins! we hadn't seen each other in a couple of months, even. And that's what happens. Classic.
We went to see Metric the other night at the ACC. I never get to go there as a guest so it was a pretty big treat. We also got to drink after the show with everyone in the upstairs club on account of I kind of know a couple of the dudes from that band from when we went to the cottage years and years ago and I ran into them last week and got pulled into partying forever with them:


I got carried around for awhile, I think? I also had the worst hangover of this year the whole next day and I'm pretty sure I announced to them that it was okay to party forever but I'd just QUIT MY JOB THE NEXT DAY DON'T WORRY LET'S GO TO AN AFTERPARTY.
Luckily I did not after party. Luckily. And I went to work, like a semi-responsible adult.

Also my outfit was beyond dumb (those earrings with that sweatshirt!), so big congrats to them for still being nice to me!



I love Cpt. Heh so, so much still. Which is good. Yesterday I made him go to the Christmas tree lot with me and carry home a tree!
(actually it was his idea, more. Which is great!)

I was very, very pleased. I've never had a tree this early, actually this is my VERY FIRST CHRISTMAS TREE, really! We decorated last year but we didn't have an actual tree, but this year Turkey Bird and I are both so into Christmas it would be dumb not to have one!
I was very handy last night and widened the cheap new tree-stand's holes with a drill all by myself and also sawed off the bottom branches of the tree with a bread knife! I wanted it to be all nice when Turkey Bird came home!
I forgot she was getting in late and I got a text in the middle of the night that said:
"OMG that tree is amazing"
and then:
"Our tree. <3 nbsp="nbsp" p="p">hahaahaahahaaaa awww so beautiful I could weep.

I don't know when we're going to decorate it but we're going to do lots of craft ornaments like strung popcorn and cranberries which my mother NEVER lets me put on her tree. And orange slices and hopefully salt dough and gingerbread ornaments as well. I'm very, very interested in that!

Liiiike, maybe I lay under the tree for a bit last night.

my roommate, Turkey Bird, on her birthday wearing a party hat that Cheespie knitted for her! So cute!

Love a good Dirty Thirty!


this is what I look like most days at my office job when I'm sitting at my desk.

I got new glasses. They're alright but now that I'm devoted full-time to being good-looking (hahaaaaa) I hate hate wearing glasses. None of them are my favourite. I feel like a frump no matter what.


Look at this face I hang out with lots.



A big, big problem I'm having these days is that now when I don't feel like wearing make-up or doing my hair or putting on nice clothes I feel waaay worse than I ever did before.
Oh god, life is tough, I know.
Does that medium make sense, though?


This hat has changed my life. I think my life will become divided into two parts: Before Hat and After Hat.
Just kidding?
But it is a strange hat that has powers maybe, but I'm not sure how good those powers are?
I actually have way more to say about this but not right this minute because I don't have the time.





Wow, okay, good. You're updated a little bit then. I wear heels now sometimes. That's also a thing. A weird thing.
I like it for now. 

random photo round-up plus great movie reviews!

I think it's possible that cabin fever is setting in. Or depression. I'm not sure which. Depressive cabin fever?

Maybe!




I haven't left the house yet today and the past couple of days I really only went out to walk the dog. Trying to stay in and be good and not drink and not hit on babes and especially not spend any money.

Unfortunately my plans to be getting shit done seem to be falling remarkably flat. Or expectedly flat.

Hmmmm.

There is nothing that I feel like doing. Nothing. I could do anything and there's nothing that I want to do. Except watch TV and waste time on the internet. How ridiculously sad is that? I have so many skills and passtimes. I cannot believe that I have the gift of all this free time (in between applying for jobs online, I mean) and that I'm not using it at all.
UGH. story of my life.

I have gotten a couple of minor things done. But so super minor. I could have my entire house cleaned, a whole script written, sellable crafts made, or at least the dishes all done.


I made cookies last night! And then today I ate them!
Okay, there's still a few left but not many. I'm not drinking so instead I'll eat!

These photos are from Loving In The Name Of, which is a dance party featuring a superband made up of members of lots of the best bands and they play the best songs ever and call themselves The Best. Fair enough!
Miss Lindeman and McGruff did a duet! And it was soooo lovely. I wish I'd gotten a photo of them holding hands it was too cute to deal with. Aww the babies.

They love me and I love them forever.

And these next few photos are from a fundraiser beer party for Birdtown Swanville we went to on Saturday.


I took a few more of the worst shots ever that night but luckily I deleted them! Was super happy to see people, super happy to break it down for a bit, and super happy to eat all the nachos at Sneaky Dee's afterwards with my favourite Dollface.
Home by 2:30, didn't go to an after party, what am I? A regular man?


And finally, this is the only photo I took at the clothing swap on Sunday. It looks like it should be on the oddly specific aspect of fail blog.

No one took that shirt home with them.
I also didn't take the sleazy tank top home with me that said "Rock Royalty" on it, despite Dayna's pushing. Hahahaaa I kind of wish I had. Except that what if people didn't get that it was a joke?

We did get really sweet hauls, though. I love swaps! Honestly, they are one of the best things to come into my life in the past few years. Some of my most favourite items have come into my life via my friends and their friends. Plus there was sangria!

Okay, since I've been at home watching so many movies lately, maybe you'd like some reviews? Probably not but whatever.
Hmmm. Actually I'm the worst at reviews of anything and I also hate when people ruin anything about movies or tell me anything about them before I see them. Whatever. Here are some things I thought,

Blue Valentine:
The posters for this make it look really really sexy and hot and fun. Maybe I should have watched a trailer or something because this is really sad. I didn't love Michelle Williams or Ryan Gosling as much as I thought I would in this. In fact, I maybe liked Ryan Gosling better in All Good Things, which I watched recently as well. They were still totally solid but because they are two of my favouritefavourites, I had high expectations for these guys. Can someone make Ryan Gosling my boyfriend? Also, it did make me want to get a good dad for my kids, though. Hmmmmm.
Recommend.

Catfish
Dudes, I'm not allowed to ruin this for you! It says right on the poster. But I will say that it is a documentary and not a horror film. And I like good documentaries and this one is pretty outrageous. It'd be hard to make something up this crazy. Morgan Spurlock thought it was a fake but I do not because you'd be hard-pressed to find an actor who could pull off playing this character.
Recommend.

Temple Grandin:
Claire Danes! I'm not even going to pretend for one minute that I don't have a deep love for Claire Danes. I do. Except I also find her annoying sometimes. But not here! No not here at all! Maybe slightly over the top? But also maybe not. Playing someone who is autistic would be terrifically hard. And I think she did such a lovely, warm job of playing someone who really isn't warm at all. This story was super interesting as well, trying to make farms and slaughterhouses much more humane for cattle? I'm in!
Recommend.

Adam
I wasn't even going to bother mentioning I watched this movie, as it was terrible. But then I remembered that Hugh Dancy is Claire Danes'... WAIT. I thought ex-boyfriend but I just checked and they are MARRIED. Wow. hmm, and in this movie he plays a man with Aspergers, which is on the Autism spectrum.
Okay. This movie is not terrrrible, it is just not great. I found it forced and also boring. I found his portrayal a bit false. I don't even know why. Now I feel bad since he probably has a soft spot for Claire Danes, too.
Alright, Hugh Dancy, I really really like your name, I'll give you that. When I was small I had imaginary friends named Soandso and Dancy. soooo..... nice work.
Do Not Recommend.

The Social Network
Interesting! More interesting than I thought! I like the guy in this a lot. Ummm.. yep, that's pretty much what I have to say about that. Also, I'm glad Facebook exists, how else would I creep on everyone all the time?
Recommend.

The King's Speech:
Man, dudes cry a lot when becoming king, hey? Actually the friendship in this story is super lovely and I cried when I watched it, so... actually that doesn't prove anything because I get choked up over everything. I like looking at Helena Bonham Carter and pretending I will have a career like hers one day. GOAL. I liked the sets in this movie, also. Oh, and Colin Firth was great.
Would it be weird to name my daughter Wallace? I guess Cheesbrough is probably bad enough without bringing Wallace into it. 
Recommend.

Wow, at this rate watching the Oscars is actually going to be interesting for me. I've actually seen some of the movies.

Now, if you are my mother I can hear you thinking that I am being ridiculous watching a billion movies (not to mention the TV shows! Did anyone watch Shameless?) instead of writing my own shit.
And you are really, really right.

SUPERSIGH. 

not the kind of twins who look alike just the kind that...

"I promise to wait my whole life for a perfect love, but keep busy in the meantime." 
 - St. Augustine

(I saw this quote on saidthegramophone.com, not recently really but it stuck with me, also it is especially funny paired with the photo above)

I was up until four last night, mostly being productive.
I got into writing about an hour and a half before I had to leave for work yesterday. That seems like enough time to get something done, and I did, but it's also hard to leave when I'm in the middle of something good. I know it's something good when I get that glaze-eyed concentration. When I find myself walking around my apartment making tea without realizing that I've gotten up because I'm still so intent on what's happening in what I'm working on.



My big problem (HA, which one of the big problems?!) is that I have a hard time working on one project all the way through. Yesterday I opened up the short film that I wrote which I need to edit and instead I ended up working on a different idea entirely. I need to have a moratorium on new ideas I have a buttload of projects in mind and I need to finish at least a couple of these. Each one is pretty fun and different, though!


(I am filled with the light of a thousand suns)

The craziest part is that I never feel stronger, sexier, happier than when I've got a good idea brewing or am accomplishing something. Not that these ideas come to proper fruition that often but even when it seems like they might it's a high I can basically live off of.
It makes me want to smile and dance around. All the good things brewing in my future seem almost too wonderful to bear.

It might be a better high than meeting a new babe, even. And we know how I feel about new babes (mmm babes).



It's still the kind of high that comes with the fear of let-down because there are always difficulties with anything. Especially in terms of me and getting things done.
But it gets better and better, bit by bit.

And I'm a pretty good writer! I'm not even kidding about this. Not the best and I'm having DEFINITE issues with structure and I think with over-explaining in the scripts, and I should for sure be taking some workshops/classes/go back to school (sponsorship where are you??) but I'm not bad notbad, I'll tell ya that for free.

.

Right, so, we went to see Sweet Thing on Friday in Ottawa, Dayna and I.
The venue was attached to the venue from the night before so we ended up back in the same green room!

Where Dayna's brother had a little siesta.

I took zero photos at the actual show, I don't know why. I was too busy drinking smirnoff ice again (oh god I have no good excuse on this one, sugar craving? I dunno) and being less than party-all-the-time. I think Dayna was disappointed in my lack of party attitude. I wasn't in a bad mood, just tired. It was still really fun, and then Dayna and I had a mini dance party on the empty floor at the end of the night and that's the kind of thing I like.


I like this series, he notices I'm taking pictures

intrigued

ha, we saw this guy out in the road before the show and I was like "why is there a hipster in Ottawa?" because of the green pants but then I realized that we knew him. Classic. I think this guy is so funny, which makes me feel awkward around him. Don't ask me why, I don't have a good explanation for ya. I'm just awkward like that.

then I laughed at him and he went away.
In other news, I'm jealous of how tall and long-limbed Dayna is. But that's nothing new.
Ha, also her sense of style. God I feel frumpy just thinking about this. One day in Ottawa she was wearing a high-waisted skirt which made me want one so I went and changed to be just like her.... not creepy though.
Hahaaah we also decided we were twins. Twins like the movie Twins. "But then who is Danny DeVito, certainly not me!"


same creepy hallway and staircase we went up and down the night before, too! kind of fun, mostly creepy.
I would really like to go on tour some day. On tour with what? I don't know. My rap band? probably.


These guys were happy to see each other!
I was happy that they were happy. It's both hard and reassuring to spend time with great couples. Hard in the jealousy department and reassuring in the way that it's good to know that sometimes excellent people find each other at the right time and want to be together.


Dayna has more photos on her camera I wonder if there's any cute ones of me, that's what I'm after!!!

I've been going through a big blushing phase again (otherwise known as my life) and I blush at every possible thing and especially I blush when I think someone might have a crush on me/think I have a crush on them, ESPECIALLY if I am not at all interested. You can 100% bet that this leads to some pretty awkward interactions.
I think I'm going to have to start wearing foundation. I am not even kidding at all.

Well, I mean I am kidding because I am too lazy for that noise.

arkellpartyottawapartyparty

Ottawa is fun!

I'm at Dayna's parents' house alone right now while she and her (lovely) mum are out walking all three dogs (two are Dayna's). So UPDATE TIME.

Now that my headache has faded and I've had some food I'm in the best mood.

Was a bit hung over last night on account of

Ohhhhh Smirnoff Ice. It was actually oddly delicious, I had a weird craving for it. Switched back to beer though. Ughhh beer and then smirnoff. Gross!

okok but before that:


Took Ottawa transit downtown to go and see the Arkells!


The bus was like a fun novelty for us! Especially for Dayna, total flashback town. Buses have such a weird stigma to them but they're actually kind of fun. When you make them an adventure at least.

We totally wienered our way onto guestlist (I threatened to kill myself if they didn't let us in, also offered to disguise myself as Max to be snuck in -- I wish I had to do that) and I was kind of excited because I'd never really been to an Arkells show.
To recap, I am vague buds with a couple of these dudes because they are band-bffs with Sweet Thing and sometimes play together, plus I've owned Dan Griffin's solo CD for about a billion years and it's totally a favourite of mine and of Mrs.'s and of Dayna's actually. So good. And they just seem to be around a lot. Especially at all the stadiums I work at lately.
I've seen bits of their sets in different situations. And saw them played on the jumbotron at Skydome while they were playing the Bills' tailgate party (amazing!) but probably not since they were still called Charlemagne had I seen an actual show.



We got there pretty late and it was paaaacked. So packed! Sometimes I forget that bands are popular!
We only saw a bit of the first band and then at the break we rammed our way up to the front. I lead with my elbows for sure. We tried a couple of different routes, actually, it was pretty hard to get up there.
Made it up the front and parked ourselves good. I only like to be right at the front or all the way at the back out of the crushingness. It's hard being a little guy sometimes!
One time I almost got smothered to death at a Watchmen concert in highschool. haaaa too tiny for rockandroll.


I only have really shit pictures, sorry dudes! Also couldn't really get any of the rest of the band, they were too far. Really I'm just posting these bad photos so that you keep looking at this entry.



I do really like it when they move too fast to be photographed! From all the rocking out.



Arkells put on a fucking good rock show, I'll tell you that for free. I danced and sang and danced and annoyed Dayna with my jumping around but it was worth it because if you're going to enjoy something then you should enjoy the shit out of it, ya know? Full enjoyment.
I knew that they were good, but man, they are so solid and Max's banter is perfect and the clap-alongs are obviously the best. The songs manage to be catchy but not annoying, they are loud but not offensive. Kind of the best mix. Obviously.



We stuck around afterward to make them pay attention to us. I got laughed at for being surprised at how busy it was. I hopefully didn't sound too surprised at how good I thought they were.

Had beers in the green room and I'm pretty sure that Dan was just hanging with us to make sure he didn't have to do any work. I offered to help load. I can do at least 3 push-ups so I feel like my skillz are pretty much invaluable.



cheers to the moon!!


Awwww texting her Sweet Thing husband!
so cute!
She kept showing us all adorable photos of him. We were all like "quit shoving your happiness in our faces!"



Jealz. It's actually super refreshing to hang around with someone so happy and in love with a partner who is actually just as awesome. She's so in love it's kind of amazing, really. Remind me not to settle for anything less.
Ohhh wait, it's me, I don't think I've ever understood the concept of settling.



ANYWAY.
Then we went down onto the stage and danced around (oh yeah, these guys actually had a barricade in front of them. That's what kind of show it was. A barricade show. that's what stopped me from storming the stage.) !
I like stages (no one is surprised).


Yeah I have no idea what's wrong with our faces. Too much fun?

Yep, that must be it.

Dayna was into having her picture taken! She was sooo fun.
Hahaa she was so T.O.ed at me for tweeting earlier that I was party all the time and she was only medium party. But that meant she had to step up and prove her party potential!


Winter is the worst! I'm not even going to bother planning outfits anymore, I always just end up with a jacket over top for most of the evening!

I was happy to have that jacket though when we went outside to watch them load the equipment (I like to watch. prize if you know where that quote is from!).
Freezing rain! so slippery! It was pretty terrible and funny. Day and I decided it made more sense to take transit back (free because her darling parents gave us tickets versus $$$ for a cab) and then the quick walk back from the station was soooo funny. We were slipsliding all over and basically skating down the roads in our smooth boots.
Luckily it was so silly that it was rather fun and exciting.

But yeah. Funtimes. Successful partytowning.
We were a bit worried that the dudes in the band we don't know so well thought we were the creepiest groupies, but I have to say that in this point in my life, I don't really care. I like bands and partytiming.
It's funny how bands on tour are so different than regular hometown shows. It's a different energy or something? Yeah?

SWEET THING TONIGHT.
Which was the excuse for this trip in the first place -- so Dayna could see her husband play! And I came along for the ride because I don't really have stuff to do! And I like fun things. Fun Sweet Things.

And I really liked the fat snow that was drifting down this afternoon. Sighssss.