Obligatory 2009 Post
It is 2009 now.
I actually remember all of the party I went to last night.
I had six drinks total.
Did you know...
Scotch + Irish Cream = Immigrant?
Om Nom
My New Year's Resolution is to actually try and give a crap about life instead of just going through the motions.
What's yours?
Office Parties
Although seem fun at the time, suck immediately after the fact.
You get put in a giant room with free booze and free food and nothing but hours to drink it, eat it and make an ass out of yourself to the people you work with every day. I was no exception. Fortunately enough, the people I was socializing with were drinking just as much as me so I am hoping the entire evening was forgotten, even if I haven't. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go die of embarrassment and liver failure.
In the mean time, this was a hot topic around bar...and earlier at the office that day. Genius.
Added Value = Added Entertainment
In honour of the track "Something In Your Mouth", appearing on the new Nickelback album that sadly I was exposed to today in my office environment, I would like to share some counter-promotion. I give you: Don't You Put It In Your Mouth
Cats & Spats
I'm off to Cancun for just a few days on Saturday, will have a small army coming - individually - to check on King Raz. He's very old, 17 (I guess he'll be 18 in February, holy shmaholey!) and totally set in his ways. Where he used to go outside for long hours at a time, I didn't even know where he was, now he just goes from one of his beds to the other. Stopping on the way to eat or drink of course, and maybe to visit me for a pet.
He still looks good though, his eyes are shiny and his coat is soft. But most of his teeth are gone, one of those total fang canines snapped off the other week so now when he yawns there's only one sharp tooth on top. He still doesn't have a litter box (well, he has one but its just for emergencies, he hasn't used it in so long he's probably forgotten it's there), uses outside for his bathroom with no problems.
Last time I went away, in September for three days for a conference, he didn't eat the whole time. This time its five days, so I'll be pushing food into his face this whole week just in case it happens again. I guess I'm a bit worried that he'll just pine away without me, give up the ghost as they say. I'd hate for him to go and die, in his sleep or whatever, while I was gone.
I'm told that's stupid and wouldn't happen. But he's fading you see, the other day he jumped up on the couch and didn't make it, fell over. We'll see I guess.
typical
its awake!!
On a final note, in compliance with Genie's Facebook note about more posts about cats, and following my test listen of Steph's FM station yesterday: of course one of the first few songs I heard was Symbolistic White Walls. The unexpected turn down memory lane prompted me to check out Matt's blog for the first time in ages, where I saw this photo .. . . the cuteness factor doesn't quite seem possible! Nusto kitty??
Tomorrow is Monday
I attempted to crochet a hat earlier. It did not end well. I think the pattern was to blame. If you have an easy pattern for a hat, please let me know.
I have discovered Skype. I love it.
My grandmother got married yesterday, and my cousin attended the wedding via Skype. I carried around my aunt's MacBook and pointed her at different people and goings on. I totally almost caught the bouquet with the laptop.
So, this morning I dug out this ancient web cam Matt tried to pawn off on me earlier this year. Now I am ready to get my Skype on.. but I have no one to get it on with. My username is defragmeout if you are interested.
This afternoon I took a red Crayola marker and drew angry eyebrows on my Labrador mix.
Does that make me a bad person?
Now when he does something bad, I don't get as angry.. cos he looks hilarious.
What? It's non-toxic.
This is one of the many reasons I should never have children.
Coldplay may soon retire…
And yet I derive no joy. Weird.
http://www.spin.com/articles/coldplay-break-2009
Most of Viva La Vida was good, sans the title track and that one track that sounds like it belonged on the Lion King soundtrack, I liked Parachutes and adored A Rush Of Blood To The Head. X&Y was brutal but because everyone else liked it, it got the shit played out of it beyond the level of annoyance which completely put me off of them and the new record. Yet with my soured view, I think this is kinda sad news. I agree with the concept behind the decision, but on the other hand I think that they have a few more records left in them and would like to note that the great rock bands of the world over the last century put out tons of great records before packing it in, a few of them are still around, recording and touring. But I know full well that in today's music industry, that same status enjoyed by bands like Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, the Beatles, the Stones, AC/DC, The Who, Van Halen etc. who churned out far more records in their lifespan is more or less unobtainable (unless you are Radiohead, they can do wrong it seems). If you are on top, you'll know it, and therefore you should expect to fall. It seems they get that.
AAA finally comes to Vancouver
As of 20 minutes ago, Vancouver got its first commercial AAA format radio station. Now, as many of you know, transmittal radio has been lacking for oh, i don't know, the last decade (unless you're Keta, in which case it has sucked since the 80s!) I have been listening to 100.5 The Peak for 20 minutes and I absolutely LOVE what I hear. Gone are the days of waking up in the morning to CFOX, a station that admittedly is responsible for the launch of a few great Can rock careers, you all know who I'm talking about, but has just fucking sucked absolute ass since the invention of Nickelback and makes waking up at 7am an ever more unpleasant experience. Sadly, aside from CJSF and CITR (both indie rock formats which is okay in small doses as it pertains to my taste), the two college radio stations in Vancouver, there has not been an alternative since the days of XFM nearly a decade ago. It has only worsened since then, with the rise of cock rock and duplicates of the aforementioned band. I swear if it wasn't for the red neck population of the Fraser Valley, that station wouldn't have an audience anymore.
My friends, our day has come! Well, mine has anyways. Anyways I just had to share my joy. If more of these stations start popping up across the country, indie pop/rock or up and comers in the alternative genre in general will have a shot at commercial radio up here, and life will be that much more tolerable.
‘Tis The Season
Well, no, it's not really the season, not just yet, but almost.
More so, it's getting cold. Which is what made me want to post about this.
I'm pretty certain that the majority of people on this board are not rich, and perhaps you're even poor. But chances are, if you're able to spending time reading and posting on a blog, you are in a decent position.
And hence, I emplore you to donate to a charity of your chosing this winter.
Now maybe it is because I am in the not-for-profit sector, and work with not-for-profits and charities on a regular basis, but I think everyone should be donating as much as they can, when they can. And we almost always can, to some degree. Like giving to those bored kids from the air cadets standing outside of the grocery store. Maybe you're only throwing them a few dollars, but it means something to show those kids that people are willing to give. Or letting those who are less fortunate than us know that we do care about them, by donating to a chairity that will help them find positioning where they can give back to those who are where they once were.
We may not have a lot of money (I know I certainly don't), but we have enough, and it's enough to share with those who need it more than us. What is a movie ticket, or a couple of beers to you, can mean so much more to someone who needs it badly.
So I want to encourage you to give $20 to a charity that means something to you. Not only will someone appreciate it, but you will feel really good in doing it. Really good. I promise.
I suggest you check out the website www.chairtyvillage.com, which has a huge listing of Canadian charities that is categorized so you can chose a charity which will mean a lot to you (Or, for our American friends, check out www.charities.org). And even if you don't donate, then you'll have an opportunity to check out some of the wonderful work people are doing in the charity sector.
So please donate. And then post, and tell us how wonderful it felt. Because it will.
As a post script: I didn't mean to downplay volunteering, which is also so meaningful to an organization. It just so happens that now many volunteer positions have specific comittment lengths, as a reaction to the number of volunteers who would quit their positions after training had been invested in them. So if you have the time and passion to volunteer, then please do so. But if you don't, then a funding donation can mean a lot too.
A waste
I am in a shit mood. To alleviate my foul temper, I tend to get in the car and drive aimlessly. And while I think it's better than drinking myself into a numb stupor, I feel that my actions are selfish. If I was a drunk, I'd only really be hurting myself (and the cat, and a few close bystanders). But because I can only solve my deeply boring emotional issues through the burning of fossil fuels, I kind of depress myself further by thinking of my contribution to the downfall of the whole damn planet.
Thankfully my mind negates all this self-deprecating mastubatory garbage somewhere on the Lougheed Highway after the third or fourth repeat of Toronto's "Your Daddy Don't Know".
There are a few things I listen to to cheer myself up, but lately it's been Tom Gabel's "Anna is a Stool Pigeon". Based on a true story, it makes me glad that the gub'mint didn't entrap me and send me to jail for 19 years. That's another thing I do: I like to compare my life to those who have made terrible public errors. Comair Flight 191 happened a few days after I nearly got fired for playing Scrabble at work. I may not have my shit together when it comes to workplace ethics, but at least I didn't violated sterile cockpit rules.
Now I am watching NTSB animations about derailments. "Let’s look at the effects of crosstie abrasion in more detail."
Anyways. Q&A time. What songs and/or random things cheer you up?