Retiring…

So… time to retire this ol’ fella for a new home. Here.

… Bye for now.

Catching up on rainy day activities

Hello Mother Nature.

It’s a Saturday night, and yes I’m at home. Why? There’s an insane wind and rain storm outside. I am not a friend to either. Plus, a weekend in gives me plenty of time to indulge in some guilty pleasures.

1. Real Housewives of Orange County.
A spurt at the gym reminded me of the show. Today, I was super lucky to find The Simpsons, Hell’s Kitchen and Real Housewives on five of the six televisions at Goodlife. For the first time in a long (really long) time, cardio was not boring! I realized I was four episodes behind. Now I’m indulging in whatever I can find online (I don’t have cable).

2. MTV’s Taking the Stage
I love the arts. This show’s about a bunch of teens that attend this amazing school of performing arts. They perform frequently, and the drama is high. Teenagers, right? Nick Lachey is the producer… I don’t think that makes it more appealing though. There’s one kid – Tyler – he was on last season. Last season was amazing. This season is… okay.

3. The Rachel Zoe Project
I’m a huge fan of “reality tv.” Toronto’s LG Fashion Week is creeping up and watching this show reminds me of how luxurious and remarkable the whole production is. Being a foot away from the stage watching models go by… just like on television. The music, the lights, the drama are all incredible. There’s a lot of energy at Fashion Week. Rachel Zoe is equally energetic. I wonder what happened to taytay.

…Nevermind.

Published? Sort of.

One of my life goals was to be get published. Preferably a creative writing piece, but something nonetheless. Last Friday, I was. A PR newsletter. Though edited and picked apart by the PR gurus themselves (a typo missed …), I feel like the world of opportunity has made itself known.

Here is the piece for Veritas Communications’ Touchdowns & Fumbles:

“Too Fat To Fly” rap turns Kevin Smith into not-so-silent Bob

From terminal to Twitter, film directorKevin Smith takes on Southwest Airlines. Smith is accusing Southwest for unfairly ejecting him from his seat, saying the airline deemed him “too fat to fly.” Smith was removed from his flight, despite being buckled into his seatbelt and fitting between the seat handles. Although apologies have been given, Smith is demanding that Southwest make clear that their “Customer of Size” policy does not pertain to him. Sharing the story with his nearly 1.7-million Twitter followers, his audio “SMODcast” listeners and a barrage of YouTube videos, Smith claims to want nothing more than decency and an accurate apology. Southwest continues to stand by its “Customer of Size” policy despite the obvious discrepancies in criteria/enforcement, and did go so far as to phone Smith personally and to post a blog item about the whole incident. But at the end of the day, whether online or off, the lesson is simple: inconsistency brings any company – especially one in the customer service business – nothing but bad news.

Said maybe.

I sometimes feel my ipod knows exactly how I feel. Every song is perfect. I used to always feel I need a muse – a source of inspiration – to be able to write. I think I’ve found one. Something that gets the words out. Something I didn’t have before.

If only I could be so bold. It’s how the story goes. Spiritual enlightenment at the gym? Maybe. Something about pride; strong and unified. Celebrate each minute before you press fast-forward.

Walks away under a silver moon, and I’m at ease. C’mon, take your place. 2kms. Juxtapose. An endless grey. A new kind of silence. A slip exposed beneath her dress. Silk. The way he liked it.

I want more.
Whatever he’s selling.
Whatever you want to hear.

Chorus

For the birds and the bees.
Tell me about a few trends.
Feeling weird just like the weather.
I wouldn’t want to travel. Not right now.
Hip.
Highlights.
A playground in disguise.
I wish spring could come sooner.
Starry eyed.
Everybody.
What do you prefer?
Hardly accurate.
Tumblr in the early morning.
Running in time.
Try.

The silver lining.

What is the point of waking up if you expect the day to be terrible – lack luster, uneventful, completely mundane? I wouldn’t wake up if I expected that. Lucky for me, I don’t expect that. Hours later, the conversation finally ended. I couldn’t believe it. I still can’t believe it.

I woke up late today. I (sort of) did everything I wanted to do. I went to the gym tonight. It’s been packed the past few nights. I’m shocked I even felt motivated to go. I’ve had to read a few books over the past few days and what better way to do cardio? There are only so many Twitter updates I can read at one time.

Among the things I did, I had a long conversation today. Borderline arguing. I wanted to shake him. I admit that I’m naive about many things, but about enjoying life? I don’t think so. I recalled all the amazing things I’ve experienced and why I did them. I thought about the people that taught me the lessons that would change me. I tried to convey that work, when it becomes so, will be fun, exciting and maybe even amazing. Why would I spend years feeling a little too melancholy?

The silver lining. Tucked away under everything we do.

Music with a meaning.

A song that sounds different today than it did yesterday. A song with new meanings. A song with a memory, a face, a voice.

The Foo Fighters – Everlong (acoustic)
Silversun Pickups – Lazy Eye
Plain White Ts – Hey There Delilah
Arctic Monkeys – Fake Tales of San Francisco
The Beatles – Blackbird
Damian Marley – Pimpa’s Paradise
Adele – Hometown Glory
Set Your Goals – To Be Continued…
Faithless – I Want More
Brand New – Jaws Theme Swimming
Lauryn Hill – Freedom Time
Radiohead – Talk Show Host
Rx Bandits – Overcome

Jan 13/10

Stop the presses. College faculty vote in favour of a strike. OH COME ON. Voter turnout was only 47.76 per cent! Isn’t this a big deal? Doesn’t this affect us all? Why wouldn’t someone vote in this? One thing I learned in student politics was about voting, and the importance of voting. In the masses, a decision is being made. A very big one. A decision that affects many people – 200,000. I would be compelled to say something because I have an opinion. An opinion that counts. The worst way to disappoint is with apathy, and I feel really disappointed right now.

Bam. Just for fun.

Three days. So far so great. Today felt like a big day. Imagine coming home with bags full of fresh groceries. Imagine unpacking it all – wow, tons of good stuff. Well, today felt like that. The long holiday got me thinking as to whether or not I was really… into it. I guess I’m second guessing all of this. PR. “Really? Me? Hmm…” Today is the second, technically third, day back and I remember why I love it. People helping people when everyone else works 9-5. Funny thing. I’m excited. I’m actually scared. I lied when I said I was ready to just jump in. I’m not.

Sitting in three classrooms, listening to three different women. Each had stories that only make the work sound exciting, challenging. I hope Common doesn’t break the window screen. Chubby cat in the box. Last Wednesday, I revisited some grand ol’ memories at UWO . A bar completely different than I’d ever seen before. Tons of people. People here. People there. People were everywhere. There’s a new menu as well. Nacho pie. Not baked like a pie. Not pizza like a pie. It’s a bag of Doritos cut in half  and filled with the toppings of nachos. Salsa, green peppers, tomatoes, chili. All of this stuffed into a wire fry holder. You actually eat from the bag. It didn’t work out. I’ll never forget it.

Too early for bread.

Go to bread.

I think few people remember the odd Simpsons quotes. Celebrating 20 years of humour. Good for them. I knew yellow people were the most hilarious. Last week, I visited one of my favourite places. Growing old and moving on reminds me that favourites definitely change. I was at a once-dying campus bar, which is now a booming fully-licensed lounge. I sang “Happy Birthday Lisa” (the Simpsons-Michael Jackson) version to a guy waiting in line behind me. It was his birthday… whatever his name was.

Now that I’m back at school, I feel like I’m obligated to type, chat, write, tweet etc. I’ve decided to toss this blog out the window and start with some fresh ideas. Writer’s block is my worst enemy. When I have writer’s block, I’ve likely not gone to the gym, and I’ve likely grown a pimple. Instead, I’m going to start a thing a day. Everyday, I’ll write about something that I saw, experienced, heard etc.

Catfish?