it's the little things pt. 3

So this week has not been stellar, due to a variety of extenuating circumstances involving asshole husbands (not mine), crappy jobs (again not mine), and fathers in the hospital (this time it was mine, but it turns out he's fine). Plus it was colder than it needed to be for April 7th and so I was feeling rather down on my walk home from work. But then, about 3 blocks from home, the sun came out, a great song came onto my ipod (see video below) and I caught the eye of a guy in a car turning right, and he smiled and waved. He was cute too. And unlike this guy, he was wearing a shirt! Plus we have so much in common: he was wearing aviators, I wear aviators; he drove a Subaru, I drive a Subaru; he had a Lake Louise bumper sticker on his car; I was there just a few weeks ago! I think that means we're dating now. Now if only I knew his name ...

poetry + politics

So the biggest news of late is that Harper’s second minority parliament has fallen and as a result, we are facing an election in a little over a month. They tell me it’s our 4th in 7 years. They also tell me that most people are fed up with these non-stop elections. Gotta say, I’m actually okay with it, and not only because we all know where my political leanings lie. It’s so easy to fall back on the democracy is a privilege argument, but I’m gonna do it. When you see what’s happening in other parts of the world, you have to be thankful that when a government falls in Canada it’s not because our leader has penchant for violence - instead it’s because his parliamentary colleagues have lost confidence in his government.

Because I am a complete dork, I have created this little diddy in honour of the upcoming campaign and our 41st federal election:

E is for election, our 4th in seven years,

L is for lazy, defined by Harper and his coalition fears.

E is for Elizabeth May, who has no hope in hell,

C is for contempt, which is how Harper fell.

T is for the truth, which is forever being bent.

I is for Iggy, whose support is less than 30 per cent.

O is for offensive, as I’m sure the ads will be, and

N is for the New Democrats who will end up number three.

I recognize it’s not a perfect poem. But as our parliamentary system is not perfect (proportional representation anyone?), I feel it’s apt. I'll try to be more eloquent (like this) as the campaign rolls on, but for now hopefully this attempt at rhyming will suffice.

Incidentally I wrote this while watching the Junos last night. Anyone else watch the opening scene and laugh out loud? Lloyd Robertson playing Call of Duty? Drake and the Biebs serenading each other with "I Will Remember You"? Come on ... Hilarious! Plus Arcade Fire swept the awards. Of course they did, because, as previously discussed, they are awesome!

no turkey, but still thankful

Today is Thanksgiving Monday. I could not be happier to have the day off. For that I am thankful. I am thankful for many other things too ... here is an incomplete list of other things I am happy for, right now, Monday October 11th at approximately 3:30 in the afternoon (I specify the time and date, because what I am thankful for changes at an alarmingly fast pace):

• my parents (obvious, but true) - they live far away and I get annoyed with them on the phone, but they are the most generous, well meaning people in the world and I could not have asked for a better mother and father.
• my friends (another obvious statement) - both near and far. I have been lucky enough to have travelled and lived in various cities and I have friends in all of these places. And I got to spend some quality time with a few of them, both new and old, this weekend, so that is wonderful.
• alcohol - this might seem weird, and mean that I have a drinking problem, but it's true. I'm thankful for the great bottle of pinot noir that SS and I shared last night over a pork loin dinner (no turkey for us), and while I was super hungover on Saturday, I'm thankful for the vodka sodas on Friday night (and from a few weeks ago at the Drake) that allowed my friends to get ridiculously drunk and provide hours of entertainment and great stories to last for years. But I promise that I don't drink alone (well not excessively) and I know when to stop. So please don't be freaked out that it's listed third here.
• BBM - I've mentioned this before, but really I think it's my favourite new technology.
• music - a soundtrack to my life makes things much more interesting.
• photography - along with the music, the images of my life that I wouldn't otherwise remember, remind me of all the good times I've had.
• the pathway system - I love that there are pathways dedicated to walkers, runners, cyclists, rollerbladers, etc that run through some of the most beautiful places in the city and that on sunny fall days like this past Saturday, people take full advantage of them.
• the Saturday newspaper - I do love the interweb and all the things you can find online, but there is still so much to be said for reading an actual paper full of stories from all around the world. Ideally with multiple cups of coffee.

There are obviously many more things that I am thankful for ... this is a list that could never end. But sometimes it's nice to stop and highlight a few.

some helpful advice

Dear Don,

I know that you have been in a dark place of late. All that boozing, smoking, sleeping around, and lying about your true identity is bound to take a toll. But just because you're not feeling that great about yourself these days doesn't mean that you should settle for someone like Dr. Faye Miller. She's blonde. She's boring. She talks funny and I don't even think she's a real doctor. So this is why I cheered when Megan squeezed your hand, even if I think that making your way through the secretary pool is probably not the best way to ease your pain. In my humble opinion, I think you should go out and find Rachel Menken. I think we can all agree that she was the best of your mistresses. Apparently she's hanging out with a motorcycle gang (see Sons of Anarchy), but I think you can take them on. You are Don Draper after all.

Sincerely,

K

P.S. I really hope that Lucky Strike leaving SCDP doesn't mean the end of your agency. Because that would really suck.

P.P.S. Please tell Roger that I don't enjoy his sad sack routine. Without his quippy one liners, he is not nearly as attractive.

brilliance

Just got back from the Arcade Fire show. So amazing. Words can't really describe it.

things that are cheaper than the chair

Add this to the list of things that makes me happy - Mark Ruffalo. After my depressing trip to Crate & Barrel yesterday, CG and I went to see The Kids Are Alright. Great movie. It's been universally praised by critics, so I don't have much to add, but needless to say it made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me think, the acting was fabulous, it had a great soundtrack and it made me lust for Mark Ruffalo. Both his character and him as a person, because, not only is he easy to look at, I feel like is just a cool guy. Not sure if this is true or not, but according to Lainey he is great. So I'll just go with that. Plus it only cost 12 bucks! Much more reasonable than a $1400 chair. Oh and we went to Farm for dinner first. Dinner (including wine) for 3 was $156. Also much cheaper than the chair. Cheese also makes me very happy. And then, we got pre-sale seats to Arcade Fire at the end of September. At $58, also cheaper than the chair. All told, these 3 things add up to only 8.7% of the cost of the chair. And they brought me much satisfaction. So all in all, a successful 24 hours.

it's folk music because it's for the folks ...

... a direct quote from Torquil Campbell of Stars, as they played the main stage of the Folk Fest on Thursday night. Love their music - elegant pop is what I call it and they were great. The Avett Brothers were up next and they were awesome too. As was the beer garden.

On Friday afternoon, we hit the side stage to see the workshop with Cooloolossh (Israel), Etran Finatwa (Niger) and Cat Empire (Australia). They all jammed - it was an awesome blend of hip hop, rock, ska, rap, jazz, etc. Everyone was up dancing - this is a pic that CG took as the whole audience got up to dance. Really a great great moment.

Friday night was fun too - until Glen Hansard had a bit of a meltdown and told the audience off when we weren't paying attention. Dude, you play quiet music and it's a festival. Chill the eff out!

One of the best things about the folk fest is the people watching. Sometimes it actually rivals the musical acts when it comes to entertainment. I put the "people" into 4 major categories:

• Dirty hippies (unwashed hair, smelling of incense and often wearing multiple layers of clothing, particularly on their lower half and very little on top)
• Young hipsters (skinny jeans, knit hats, wayfarers or aviators, and ironic floral prints)
• Normal folks (like myself, rolled up jeans, tank tops, whatever sunglasses look best, most often found in beer tent)
• Corporate types (more make-up than normal folks, designer handbags and wandering around like they took a wrong turn somewhere near Joey's.

Of course, this is not a perfect list and there are other sub-categories (dancing children and music snobs being two examples), but you get the point.

This is a good article about what makes the folk fest great. Can't wait 'til next year!

not such a beautiful day

So yesterday I discussed the trauma of a cancelled Depeche Mode concert that still haunts me 20 years later ... well today was supposed to be A Beautiful Day in more ways than one because I was supposed to see U2 tonight. But then Bono - who I thought was invincible seeing as he is saving the world and all - proved himself to be an actual aging rock star by throwing out his back rehearsing for the tour. This means that the show has been "postponed" most likely until sometime in 2011. This saddens me to no end. So to make myself feel better, I found this early U2 video for I Will Follow ... the dancing is priceless.

Enjoy the silence

So I don't really have much to say about this week's bachelorette episode, as it really was the least dramatic rose ceremony ever. Chris N said about 12 words the entire season, so it was no big surprise to see him go. And while I enjoyed the visual of Ali and the Wrestler leaving Kasey behind on the glacier, it didn't really compare to when Jillian kicked Robby off a train somewhere between Golden and Lake Louise. I will say however that Rated-R should change his name to Iceland-ICK ... cause really, he was just being an ass.

But on to Kirk, who I am crushing on and now realize I made fun of in the first episode because he brought a scrapbook. I take it back - Kirk, I will go sweater shopping with you anytime, and please feel free to take pictures and put them in a book with puffy stickers and shooting stars. I will glady accept your scrapbook creation. Plus the asbestos story was great and felt real, not at all some sort contrived story made up by ABC to bring the drama. Plus it brought me back to my youth ... When I was in grade 7 I was supposed to go see Depeche Mode. It was to be the first concert I went to without my parents (my first concert period was a few years earlier - Whitney Houston). But then, Dave Gahan et al refused to perform at the arena because the ceiling contained asbestos. The concert was cancelled and I was crushed ... I have yet to see them live and would love to some day. Maybe Kirk will take me?

I'm cool I promise

So with all this talk of bad '80s and '90s music, curling, and online dating, I realize that I sound like a bit of a loser. I’m cool, I promise. To wit, I do have other playlists that are much more reflective of my true musical tastes. For the most part like alternative/indie pop rock and my fave playlist to listen to while walking to work has such indie "darling" artists such as Santigold, Phoenix, Rogue Wave, TV on the Radio, MGMT, Kid Cudi, Knaan, Likke Li, Band of Horses, etc.

Speaking of Band of Horses, this is not the official video, but this guy has some mad bike skillz (although I do realize by using the z instead of s, I have just totally discredited my so-called coolness):