It's like school on a saturday......no class!

A momento from our Saturday night adventure. Nice washroom sign....this is from Massimo's, a pizza place that Erinne and I frequent almost every time we go out to the bars on College street. The washrooms are just as nasty as the sign.

The Golden Dogs!

I love this band, and I am super stoked to go see them play at Lee's Palace this friday. I got tickets to this concert for Erinne and I as part of her birthday present. We have seen the Golden Dogs twice before at different venues in Toronto and had a blast so we are guaranteed a good time!

Coax me, Cajole me!

Saturday night Erinne and I went to check out sloan at Nathan Phillip's square (city hall) and had a total blast. Afterwards we wandered into Kensington market to a couple bars and danced our faces off, who cares if we were wearing winter boots!!! According to one chick, we were the hottest chix in the bar. She had her guy friend come up to us and tell us this a few times. Erinne was like, well we don't swing that way but she can come dance with us!!! NICE! So they did!

Erinne's about to get kissed! Watch out now!

Prrrrrrrrrrr!

K, way too close up!


Rock on Sloan!
This is a big giant snow globe with people hanging out in it!

Meet Erinne, today is her birthday!

Meet my best friend Erinne, I don't think I have to explain why she is my best friend and why I love her like a demon....I think these pictures tell it all. They were taken exactly one year ago at 'the old apartment'. I met Erinne about 3.5 years ago when I became a skating instructor. At first we were both a bit shy and didn't talk much, but eventually we became great friends thanks to drinks, and abusive waitresses at Coronation pool hall after skating. I'm soooo glad you didn't move to Germany Erinne.
Erinne is the funniest, friendliest, wittiest girl ever. I have never had so much fun with someone. She is so thoughtful and doesn't forget anything she commits to. She is always filling my mind and email inbox with crazy, freaky, bizarre news stories which she knows I absolutly love. If I hadn't met Erinne, I don't know where I would be today. I definitly don't think I would be in Toronto. To be honest, SHE IS the ONLY reason I stay in Toronto. I could find a job anywhere if I tried, but I couldn't imagine not being able to see her on a weekly basis.

HAPPY 27TH E2!

I'm on a mission and I'm wishin'

Mission #1 - Get in shape with my trainer so I can feel better physically and inside too.

Mission #2 - Attend Amanda's wedding in May and survive the Bachelorette party.

Mission #3 - Find a way to pay for my campsite for another year.

Mission #4 - Fly to Victoria, BC for Haley's birthday (June 1st - June 10th)

Mission #5 - Fly from BC to New Brunswick for my high school reuinion (June 10th - June 18th)

Mission #6 - Find a way to get to my campsite every weekend this summer.

Just bad timing that's all!

Ok I just started a cold about 20 minutes ago. You might be thinking, how can she know hte exact time she started the cold.....well easy, I got to work and I was fine, and then all of a sudden my nose started running and sniffling and I started sneezing. Now it just won't stop.

I have big plans this weekend, Erinne's joining the I'm turning 27 and I'm single club (her 27th bday is tomorrow) and her party is friday. I was planning on partying like it's 1983 or something. How am I supposed to dance around and act like a jack ass when my nose is pouring junk out of it and I'm feeling like a bag of crappola? THEN to make matters worse, on saturday Sloan are playing an outdoor (free) concert at Nathan Phillip's Square downtown. For those who know me, you know that I have been the hugest sloan fan since I was 14.

Anyone know how to get rid of a cold in 2 days?
I'm going to buy buckleys during my lunch break.

You're not spirtual

I usually hate emails that are forwarded to me but I thought this part of the email (George Carlin's new rules for 2007) was quite humorous:

New Rule: Just because your tattoo has Chinese characters in it
doesn't make you spiritual. It's right above the crack of your ass.
And it translates to "beef with broccoli" The last time you did
anything spiritual, you were praying to God you weren't pregnant.
You're not spiritual. You're just high.

And there you have it folks. :)

I'm thinking back.....way back....

So something just popped into my mind that I haven't thought about in a long time, actually it was just something I used to say in high school, then I got to thinking about all the silly things my friends and I used to say. Sometimes they come back and I say them and nobody around me has any clue as to what I'm talking about and look at me like I don't make any sense. BUT little do they know, I actually do....just in a different time and place!

So I was washing dishes tonight and I poked my finger with a knife (no blood) and I shouted, Batard Sucré....this term originated in Grade 10. I went to french school my whole life so speaking english in was not permitted in my classes, so we would translate our slang words or swear words and they always turned out to be friggin' hilarious. We used to say "sweet bastard" a lot back then, so when translated (obviously not properly) it turned into batard sucré.....so wicked. I'm going to try to make a list of all the stupid things we used to say back then, it's pretty funny.

Fuuuuuuuuck Jessieeeee (we once heard this guy saying this to a friend and it was so funny the way he stressed the uuuuuu in Fuck and the ie in Jessie. So that turned into a common swear word amongst my group of friends.

Frig-a-jig, I think haley can take ownership of that one, I just remember we used to (and still do) say it all the time.

Word to your bird.....just cause it rhymes

Batch - instead of bitch, this chick once overheard me say, "shit her boyfriend is so hot and she's so ugly", so she walked by me and said baaaaaaaaaaaaaatch.......maybe it should be more like bètch. ha!

Skaaaaankkkkkkkkk - once again we were overheard making fun of some chicks skirt, so she walked by us and called one of us a skaaaaaankkkkkkkk and the k was really flegmy.

Wanker - it's fun!

Choda - can't forget that one, everything was choda....choda-licious, choda-whisper 2000, choda-fied, chicken-fried-choda, choda-saurus-rex...

Alright I just can't think of anymore now. What the hell kind of list is that.....HELP me out ladies!!!

It buuuuuuuuuuuuuuurns!

So last week I joined a gym and took the plunge and bought some personal training sessions. 14 to be exact. Last night was my first session. I haven't been to the gym since I injured my back a year ago. Wonderful. You might think since I teach skating 4 days a week that my leg muscles should be in moderate shape.....NO they're not. I discovered that last night.
After the first 3 sets of squats (while holding free weights) my legs were shaking so bad I was almost going to fall over. I had just started the hour long workout, I was in for some serious pain. To make a long story short after 3 sets of 15 on 8 more "leg only" machines, I thought I was going to die. Then my trainer said I had to do 10 minutes of cardio, which I did.

My legs felt like jello after I left the gym. I woke up this morning with massive leg pain. It hurts. Funny, I can feel all of the different muscles I worked on and remember the pain from each machine.

I will be seeing Sandra the trainer on monday's and friday's for the next month or so and doing a 'solo' workout on tuesdays. Wish me luck!

Frig!!!

I use the term frig about 50 times a day, a lot of people ask me what it means or why I say it....this is why. I guess.

Definition: similar in nature to fuck but slightly toned down, with definate roots in Eastern Canada.

Example: frig off Randy, let me go.

Definition provided by www.urbandictionary.com

There are other definitions but I don't use the word in those ways.

Victory is mine!

Ok, so Victory isn't mine, but it belongs to some lobsters!
I copied this article from P.E.T.A's website today!

Raley's Stops Selling Live Lobsters!

After receiving thousands of e-mails and phone calls over the past two days, grocery chain Raley's has stopped selling live lobsters in all 135 of its stores across California, New Mexico, and Nevada. Raley's had previously been selling live lobsters in small plastic containers in its stores, but today, after hearing from an overwhelming number of concerned consumers, Raley's spokesperson contacted PETA to say ...

"Raley's Family of Fine Stores offered live Maine lobsters to our customers for three days during the holiday season. Raley's will not repeat this promotion or offer live lobsters in any of its stores."With this decision, Raley's joins the ranks of other compassionate grocery chains including Whole Foods and Safeway who have stopped selling live lobsters altogether. Like all animals, lobsters feel pain and can suffer.

In nature, they form relationships with other animals and can live to be 100 years old.Thank you to all of you wonderful people who e-mailed and called Raley's to voice your concerns. Because of you, countless lobsters will be saved from being confined and sold, not to mention being boiled alive.

Meet the Wolf.....Jamieson Wolf.

Starting on January 15th - January 28th, 2007, my friend Jamieson Wolf is having his first ever Virtual Book Tour! He's promoting his book of short stories, GARDEN CITY!
But what IS a Virtual Book Tour?
A virtual book tour is simply touring “blogs” instead of bookstores. It's a wonderful way to gain exposure for your book without leaving the comfort of your home. Each blog will feature an interview with Jamieson. Jamieson has asked me if I would feature him on my blog and just because I think he kicks ass fer the lord, I said sure!!!!

Here is a list of other blogs Jamieson has visited during his tour.

Over The Hill Chick with Dorothy Thompson Tour Stop: http://www.overthehillchick.blogspot.com
Kaleido Souls with Joyce A Anthony Tour Stop: http://kaleidosouls.info/Blog.html
Reading Rucker with Linda L RuckerTour Stop: http://readingrucker.blogspot.com/
Sometimes the Dragon Wins with Sandy LenderTour Stop: http://todaythedragonwins.blogspot.com/
Greetings from the Polebarn with Laura CrawfordTour Stop: http://greetingsfromthepolebarn.blogspot.com
Theresa Chaze Wiccan Writer with Theresa ChazeTour Stop: http://theresachaze.blogspot.com/
You can also visit his blog http://jamiesonwolf.blogspot.com, for more information.

I have been reading Jamieson's writing for years and I think the guy's got a lot of talent. He is super creative, has a lot of great ideas and knows how to keep a reader interested and wanting more. He is also very dedicated to his writing and you can tell that he absolutely enjoys writing his stories. I will post some links for you to sign up to be on his mailing list to recieve the various serial novels that he writes.

Here is my interview with Jamieson Wolf:

Erin: Hey Jamieson, since many of my 'blog fans' don't know you, could you please introduce yourself?

Jamieson: Well hello there, my name is Jamieson Wolf and I'm addicted to chocolate...oh, sorry, wrong meeting...I'm a writer living in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. How long have we known each other for, Erin? Must be six or seven years at least. And to think we bonded over Bjork music..ah, those were the days.

Erin: Ya it has been about that long. Jamieson and I were, and still are obsessed with Bjork and her music and that's how we became friends in Ottawa. Sweet! So Jamieson, how long have you been writing?

Jamieson: Ever since I could put a pen to paper, I guess. Seriously writing, though? Pursuing it as a career? I'd have to say that it's been at least ten years.

Erin: Cool, I really think you're on the right track. You have such great ideas and ways to promote yourself it seems you're always starting up a new project or working on new things. I admire that about you. I always wonder where you get your ideas. What inspires you to write Jamieson?

Jamieson: I get inspiration from anywhere. From conversations I hear to people/strangers who talk to me on the bus to things that just pop into my head. I'm working on a novel right now where the main character, a woman named Abigail, just kind of popped in and wouldn't leave until I put her down on paper. So sometimes *I* don't even know where I get my ideas from.
But inspiration can come from anywhere. You just have to be open to it and keep your eyes and ears open; it can come at any time. That's something I've learned along the way.

Erin: That's great, there's so much happening around us I think that is a neat way to get ideas for your writing. I know you've submitted your writing to publishers and have had many stories and poems published online, but how do you stay positive and focused if you recieve a rejection letter for something you have submitted?

Jamieson: I remind myself that I'm writing for me, that it doesn't matter that he/she doesn't get it. Then I think of all those publishers who turned down Harry Potter and are just kicking themselves now. That makes me feel better.

Just because a publisher rejects your work doesn't mean it isn't any good. *I* know my writing is good, damn good and I just have to wait for the right publisher to click with my work. It's all trial and error.

It IS a bit of a piss off to get a rejection letter. But it's like anything else; you just nod, try to smile and solider on forward. No one said the life of a writer is an easy one.

Erin: Great attitude :) So what are you the most proud of, or what is your favorite piece that you have written?

Jamieson: It's one of my children's books, The Ghost Mirror. It's the story of Mave Mallory, a young girl who doesn't know that she is the last Witch. It had been my dream to write a dark children's tale and I finally did when I wrote The Ghost Mirror. It was the one story where I could see what happened from the beginning all the way to the end. Usually I have no idea whats going to happen once I start something, but with The Ghost Mirror, everything was clear as a bell.

I love going over it again and falling back into Mave's world. Once I have a bit more time and I'm not working on so much, I'm going to continue work on the sequel, The Silver Glass; but that won't be for a while yet.

Erin: Nice, I haven't read that one yet so I am curious to find out what it's all about! I have been reading your serial novels over the past few years and I absolutely love them. Which one is your favorite and the most fun to write? Why have you chosen to write them as serial novels?

Jamieson: I have to pick a favorite? Sheesh, that's a toughie. If I had to pick a favorite, I'd have to say Hope Falls. It was the first time I had tried something outside of the fantasy genre, something new and different. It was also something that I had never tried before, writing a daily email soap opera. The characters were new to me, the story lines tangled and convoluted. I had never had so much fun! Which probably explains why I've gone on to write three more soap novels.

Why serials? I'll let you in on a little secret: I don't like writing novels. I find it tedious and boring and it's hard for me to sustain a love for my characters all the way through a novel without wanting to end it with: And they all died, the end.

This has a lot to do with my love for the short story genre, something that is hugely overlooked; I LOVE short stories. You can make a point in a few pages where a novel is a few hundred. But, with the techniques of writing a serial novel, I've now become a novelist. Odd, don't you think, for me who loves reading novels but doesn't much care for the writing of them.

With serial novels, I only have a vague idea of where the story is going to go, what the characters are like and what's going to happen. It's exciting for me to discover new elements of the story along with my readers. It makes it more challenging.

The fact that there are others out there reading my novels keeps me writing too. When someone is waiting for something, you don't want to keep them waiting. :)

Erin: I don't know where you find the time to do all of this writing but you somehow manage to keep coming up with great stuff! So you have a new novel out now, "Garden City" where can we get a copy? Do you have a blog or website where it can be found?

Jamieson: You can order a copy of Garden City, my anthology of short stories, at my web site: http://jamiesonwolf.tripod.com/

I also run my own newsletter called The Wolf where you can get free writing tips, info on everything I'm writing and what writing courses I'm teaching. You can find my newsletter here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Jamieson_Wolf/

I also run my own blog called I AM THE HUNTER. There, I comment almost daily on life, books I'm reading, books I'm writing, etc. You can find my blog here:
http://www.jamiesonwolf.blogspot.com/

As a matter of interest, I'm also teaching a course called The Muse. It teaches aspiring writers to find inspiration. You can find more info out about the course at The Long Story Short School of Writing: http://www.lsswritingschool.com/

Erin: Do you have any other published work we should know about?

Jamieson: Aside from GARDEN CITY I've written the novels ELECTRIC PINK and ELECTRIC BLUE and the nonfiction book WATCHING THE ROSE BLOOM. All of these books are available through my web site as well!

Thanks for having me at your blog Erin! I've really enjoyed my stay! I'm also available all day for questions about publishing and writing, should anyone have any!

Cheers!

Jamieson

Just like heaven!

When your towels smell like heaven, you know you're doing something right.

It's not hard to fall, when you float like a cannonball!

It's funny how one week you can be totally 'up' and the next week totally down...Snap out of it!

you can't have the past, cause I'm in love witht the future...

K this is bringing me back about 5 years or so.....
A poster on my wall in Gatineau, Quebec.....
It read " You can't have the past cause im in love with the future.......I think he got the hint.....

Disconnected - Veruca Salt

Disconnected, it’s the way that I wanted it to be
The cult electric is my favorite record of the week’
cause I’m not feeling sweet
But I can’t say that when everyone is so judgmental
That I can’t play back all the times
When you were gentle ’
cause even you cant be true
It’s astounding what love can do to a city
Laurel canyon was the best place for you and me to be
I chose the curtains and I dreamed a dream of domesticity
What a freakyou made of me
Now I’m on zoloft because you told me
I was crazy
And I won’t jump cause now I know you’d never catch me
And I can’t leave you because you swore you’d
never let me
But even you, talk shit too.
It’s january when I jumped the fence of your backyard
Finish the fairy tale that you werent drunk enough to start.
It’s kindof scary when your lover leaves you for a movie star
And I’m still in the dark
But you have trained to watch my back
and drop my standards
And you have shamed me since the first time you were with her
And you cant make me lovey our band or buy your records’
cause you have tainted my respect for your adventures
And you will never have the chance to trace my futures
( it’s kinda scary when yourlover leaves you )
And you will never make me feel like such a loser
( it’s kinda scary when your lover leaves you)
And you can’t have the past ’cause I’m in love with the future
( it’s kinda scary when your lover leaves you )
( it’s kinda scary when your lover leaves you )
AndI love the future(? ? ? ? )
It’s kinda scary
And I’m in love with the future
Touch the sky
And I will kiss the gravel
Touch the sky
I’ll touch the sky
Watch me watch me
I’ll touch the sky
I’ll touch The sky
The sky

What would Macgyver do?

So I'm sitting at my desk this morning drinking my coffee, and I reach into my sweater pocket cause I felt some little items were in there. I pull them out and put them on my desk, a nickel, a paperclip and a piece of tinfoil. I can't help but thing to myself, what would Macgyver do?

P.S.

I am happy. Oh yeah! Not for any specific reason. I just am.

You know what?

You know, I get weird looks from friends/acquaintences when they see my tattoos and ask what they say and mean, but to be honest, I friggin' love my tattoos. Everything about them, the font, the meaning, the colour. I love them. I see them every day and I'm surprised still, to see them on my wrists. I don't regret it, nor will I ever. If I do, by that time, I think there will be some sophisticated method of removing them. I'm not worried. But in all honesty, they are me. They are more than just words to me. You know, no matter what you go through in life, there is always balance. Sure I've got pain, but I always remember that I've got so much joy. I might not use those exact words for my feelings, but that's how it is. Whatever you are going through, be it a thunder cloud or a rainbow, they will always be side by side. It's a constant reminder, for me, I guess. Don't worry Erin, when you're feeling sad you have a million things to be happy about, but when you're happy, it's always good to remain humble. You know, to keep life in perspective.
I just wanted to say that. For those of you who wonder. For those of you who ask. And for those who forget that life is never without pain, but there's always joy. Side by side. Most people I know are lucky. We should never forget that, or take it for granted.

I've been obsessed....

I'm obsessed with Damien Rice. For months. I can't stop listening to his music. Especially Blower's daughter.

Cool Cool Concerts Cool.

I'm going to make a list of all the concerts I've been to, cause I like to remember the fun times I have had over the years. What are your favorite concerts that you've been to?

From the beginning:

Fredericton, N.B:
Lagwagon/Chixdiggit/Strungout - 1995
Gob x 2 - 1995
Die Cheerleader - 1995
Lizard - 1995
Eric's Trip - 1995
Absolutly Nothing -1995/96
S.N.F.U - 1995/96

Moncton:
The Queers/The Hi-fives

Kingston:
Bif Naked - 1998

Belleville:
The Planet Smashers - 1998

Ottawa:
The Queers
The Planet Smashers
The Rascalz
The mighty mighty bosstones
Bif Naked/Edwin/Finger 11
Veruca Salt
The Tragically Hip


Summersault festival - Ottawa:
Treble Charger
Our Lady Peace
A perfect circle
Foo Fighters
The Smashing Pumpkins


Toronto:
S.A.R.S. fest Toronto:
Kathleen Edwards
The Guess Who
The Tea Party
Justin Timberlake
Blue Rodeo
AC/DC
The Rolling Stones

The Curiosa Festival - Toronto:
The Cure
Muse
Interpol
The Rapture
Mogwai
Melissa Auf Der Maur

Toronto:
Bjork/
Kathleen Edwards
Metric
Elefant
Louis XIV
Sarah Slean/Blue Rodeo/Tom Cochrane/Kathleen Edwards
M83
Hot Hot Heat/The futureheads
DOVES!!!!!!!!/Mercury Rev

Cool Tools!

I asked my brothers to buy me tools for christmas this year because all I own is a hammer. Ever tried to screw anything with a hammer. Don't ya just love the way that sounds. Dirty! But seriously, you cannot screw a screw with a hammer, trust me I've tried (ok no i didnt)

So my bro's bought me tools. Some of the coolest tools eva! Check it out!

How fun are these?

A close up picture of one of my tools.

A nice red toolbox, and a bunch of orange and yellow tools.

This is the mother load here, all these thingys and thing-a-ma-bobs, and do-hickeys. haha. Actually they are screw drivers, attachments for screwdrivers, sockets, alan keys, and a couple other things I havent quit figured out yet.

I've invited Erinne over so we can break something and then fix it. I can't wait!

It's a pretty hefty list!

Things I want or have to accomplish or do in 2007.

1. Watch one of my best friends get married just outside of Ottawa.
2. Wear a PINK bridesmaid dress at this wedding :) (I love you Amanda)
3. Attend her bachelorette party.
4. Visit Haley, Christie and Rianne in BC in June.
5. Attend my 10 year high school reunion in New Brunswick, (July or Aug).
6. Buy a car.
7. Live life.
8. Make new friends.
9. Visit Ottawa more often.
10. Do something spectacular.
11. Make some really important decisions.
12. Remain positive.
13. Put some things behind me.
14. Be a better person.
15. Stick to my guns.
16. Minimize.
17. Be ready for change.
18. Accept.
19. Forgive.
20. Plan and get ready for April 2008.

Teleport me to Ottawa Please!

New Years in Ottawa.
Sometimes I think, maybe I should live in Ottawa, I have some pretty awesome friends who live there and I miss them terribly, already. It's no fun when you only see them every 4 months or so. It's just not right. It should be against the law or something. Anyways, here are just a few pictures from the New years bash at Amanda & Rob's house in Ottawa. I'm sure I will do about 3 more posts over the next few days once the pictures start streaming in.
Can't wait for GOC 2007 ladies!!!


K, we made a boardgame to play, but then we got too drunk to play.

Sara, Moi and Leigha


Sandra, Sean W. and Moi!


The lovely Steph!


Yay, Rob isn't passed out!


Looks like we're having fun!


K Dave that doesn't look comfy!


Steph and Amanda always have to dirty dance right in my face or on my head, but this time it was Steph and Leigha.