Happy Halloween
A pink carebear and two wee little firemen just came to my door. And I noticed that when their moms said "say thank you" I said "Thank you!"
I'm so well trained.
Happy Halloween!
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octobre 31, 2006
Nacho Minimus
There was a party going on at Wil's house on Friday night when we got home. By Wil's house, I mean Angi's house, actually. Wil currently lives on the main floor with Angi and her son, but Wednesday moves up to the second floor apartment. Anyway, Wil and I were hanging out in his room, watching episodes of Firefly on dvd after the party had moved on to a new location, when we were hit with a fierce need for snackin'. Ok, I was. It was decided that it would probably be ok if we "borrowed" one of the unopened bag of chips, until we could replace them in the morning. (Which, I now remember, we never did. We owe Angi a bag of nacho cheese Doritos)
So, we are lying on the bed, watching the show, after enjoying some chips, when I hear this rustling. For whatever reason, I knew where Wil's hands were and they weren't in a bag of chips.
me: That's not you, is it... eating those chips?
Wil: No.
me: then... WHO IS IT?
Wil - suddenly speaking from across the room from the chips: It's a mouse!
me: eek! get Lorange! Call Lorgange*!
Now, I'm not afraid of mice, and neither is Wil. So why freak because there is a mouse in our chips? Besides the obvious discomfort of having mouse feet all over your food? My theory...no matter how safe you think you are inside your four walls, Nature has a way of finding a crack in the facade. Alright, sure, it was what turned out to be a very tiny, equally freaked out, mouse. But that's not the point. It's a reminder of the fragility of your domicile, your protection against the elements.. You never know when the wild is going to come in, with teeth and claws, and steal your chips. Or tiny beady eyes, whichever. It's unsettling.
After we did some dancing about and wondering what we were to do about the situation, Wil snatched up the bag and put it out on the porch so the mouse could rustle his way out of the bag after eating his fill of nacho cheese goodness. We could throw the bag away in the morning. Later, Angi came home, and we heard a familiar scrunchy bag sound. Wil whooshed out of the bed and I followed to hear him explain about the Mouse Chips and telling of our dramatic battle with Nature. She pointed out it was an old house and occasionally a mouse may sneak in. Somehow, the whole thing seemed less adventuresome in the retelling. But then, maybe you just had to be there. Angi was just bummed because the Possibility of Winning an Xbox 360 game piece was gone. We all knew who took it. Dash cunning for a little mouse, eh?
*there is an old orange cat that lives in the house, who has recently decided to claim that blankets on Wil's bed, most likely because Wil won't allow the dogs in the room. Wil started out calling him Orange, but that has evolved to Mr. Brun L'Orange. When being formal, I say it with the intended French accent, but in the case of mouse emergencies, it's just "lorange." I think his real name is Roscoe.
octobre 30, 2006
The Official Getting Out of Town/Country on a Friday Night Rant
To save time, we should just consider the following rant to be true every time I drive to Victoria on a Friday night after work, m'kay?
The 9th circle of hell has traditionally been home to traitors, who are immersed in the frozen lake Cocytus, unless they are, of course, Cassius, Brutus or Judas.... they are forever to be chewed up by Satan... gross, eh? Anyway, I am going to start a petition to elevate traitors to the 8th circle of hell, clearing way for what I consider to be a greater sin, those who drive in the left hand land despite the fact that they couldn't pass wind, let alone another car on the freeway. Those who knowingly disobey the signs "Keep right except to pass" or "Slower traffic keep right" will spend eternity submerged up to their necks in frozen lakewater, everything but their heads and hands, with little hell fish tickling their feet... unable to scratch or brush the little buggers away. As for Satan's jaws, I'm keeping those free for now... I like to keep my options open... for when people really piss me off.
Come on!! Who's with me!
That's Friday's drive. Sunday's drive is all dark and cruise control, enjoying the sections of 70 mph speed limit and trying to control myself during the sections of 60 mph. Wondering how many big towns and how many little towns a quarter of a tank of gas will take me through, and connecting the dots from one outlet mall to the next Indian Casino.
I tried Native American Casino...it didn't sound right.
octobre 27, 2006
50 Word Fiction Fridays Vol. 53
Dark black inky darkness. Like my heart. Hee! That's our theme this week. We get our hour back this weekend, and the evenings grow darker. I love it. It's my favorite weekend of the year. [I get an extra hour in Victoria.] I've been waiting for my hour back since last April. I really think, considering how long I loaned it out, I should get interest, don't you? Like an extra hour and a half maybe? Come on!
Crayon Noir
The kindergarten teacher wrung her hands in concern. The school counsellor looked worried. The principal shook his head in confusion, picking up the drawing in one hand, a black crayon worn down to a nub in the other.
"Well, I guess she's got a bit of a dark side."
octobre 26, 2006
I just can't have nice things.
I broke my mac. Twice in the last couple of weeks, I've dropped it. Now it won't stay closed. Which means, I can't put it to sleep by closing the lid. It pops back up again. Pop.
Sigh. It's very sad. It still works tho, there is nothing wrong with it's insides. Only it's outsides. It's dented and beat up plenty. I'm hard on things, and I take it everywhere. I'm going to save up for a new mac, a mactel, most likely another laptop, but it's going to be a while before I can afford it. Christmas is coming up and I have to think about presents for other people first. Sigh.
Whatever you do, don't put something fragile in my hands.
First you've got to set the mood.
Nanowrimo is coming up. I'm worried, I admit. I'm distracted by many things this year, but I do have an idea, which is good. Although I still have not nailed down my murder. I think it might be poison.
Anyway, I make playlists when I write, sets the mood and such. I'm looking for song suggestions. My story is a mystery, with a an old school private dick named Arthur Black, and his very prim and proper personal assistant Miss Oomura. I need songs that are bit noir and dark. Anything that harkens to the 40's is good, although it's set in current day. Humor is also acceptable, because very there will be humor, of course.
So send me any suggestions and maybe when I am down, I'll post the playlist.
octobre 25, 2006
Then and Now: Episode 36 Did you forgot the magnetism of Robin Zander, or the charisma of Rick Nielsen?
Is it guilty pleasure to love Cheap Trick? I don't think so, Styx maybe, but Cheap Trick is awesome. I stand by the Trick. Someday, I'll post some covers of "Surrender" which is one of my favorite songs. Or have I already? I get so confused. Anyway, it's the truth, I'd love you guys to love me.
I Want You To Want Me - Cheap Trick.
Back when Wicked Game came out, it was my most reverent wish to marry Chris Isaak. Or at least smooch him a lot. I've seen him in concert so many times. Not just because of the smoochability factor, but because he puts on the best show. If I get ever get married, and I'm rich, do you think I could hire him to play my wedding? And if so, do you think I could get a smooch? For old time's sake?
A museum we did not visit, in New York
Maybe next time.
One thing I learned in New York...
I am not a photographer. I just sorta point the camera in a vague direction and hit the button. However, I could hardly resist taking a picture of satan, now could I?
This is Michael defeating Satan and sending him down to hell. As if. What's the with lobster claws? I don't know. It's a weird statue.
Before I cropped it, my mom's hand was in the shot (vague pointing, remember). She was in my way. She must be a bigger worshipper of satan than I.
octobre 24, 2006
The devil made me buy it.
Here we are now, going to the West side
Home now. I just opened a bottle of diet sprite and it bubbled up over the lip of the bottle, down my hands and onto my lap. How refreshing is that?
The flight home was not pleasant, and AA can expect an email from me. Which means that they failed to provide adequate service in a way that could have been easily avoided. I don't write complaints often. But I'm very... vexed with them. Maybe we'll talk about it later, I just had a post vacation massage and she beat the crap out of me. Seriously. The crap. Out. Of me. So I'm a bit noodley.
smooOOoooOoosh.
octobre 20, 2006
Jodiferous is on vacation.
I'm in New York City right now. I gotta tell you, I'm about museumed out. Here is the thing with me and museums... well, let me just give you an impression of me in a musuem:
"oh, ok, painting, painting, very interesting, uh-oh, ok, another painting, look it's jesus... again, painting, ok, nice, sure whatever, Oh! That's very nice! I like that a lot! Ok, painting, painting, painting, very nice, ok, whatever."
The "Oh! That's very nice" moments are few and far between, and become even more infrequent the more I am in a museum. Even tho, I have to say, I did enjoy them. I kinda think that, maybe, the museum of natural history might be a bit more interesting because it's sciencey and such.
My mom's the same way, luckily. We decided the next museum we aren't even going to go in, but just go straight to the museum store. hee!
Anyway, I just got back from a night tour, and I'm freezing and I think I'd like to crawl under the covers. So we'll talk soon, ok?
octobre 18, 2006
Withdrawal is a bitch, assface.
I've been a little out of sorts lately. I'm gradually tapering off some medication I've been on for a long time. Each step down has been a reduction by half and each reduction is more annoying and troublesome than the one before it. In the past, I've talked about dealing with depression. It hasn't come up in a while because, actually, I've been doing well for the last few years. Which is why I am now working my way off the antidepressant. It's kicking my ass, I'll tell you what, because I stopped entirely last week. It takes a few days before withdrawal kicks in. And now, I think my current state can best be summed up in this video I saw on cuteoverload.com.
I've never been a morning person, but right now it's ridunculous how hard it is to wake up. I hear the alarm, sometimes, but I cannot fully wake up. It's not unlike being sedated. I think I fell back asleep in the midst of talking to Wil a couple of times, in the morning.
I'm a little worried because my mom is picking me up at 6:30 tomorrow morning, we are leaving for New York. Wil says he'll call me at six to say goodbye and wish my Happy Birthday [look how I managed to drop in the fact that tomorrow is my birthday, I am so subtle].
Irritability is also an issue. It's totally irrational rage. I haven't hit anyone. And I'm pretty good at recognizing that it's not normal, and dealing with it somewhat calmly. It comes out most frequently when I am driving. On the way home tonight I was heard to say:
Why don't you just get out of my way you fucking fuck. You do not belong in the left hand lane... FUCK FUCK FUCK I HATE YOU!!
Oh, smooth fucko, you've just wasted at least 30 seconds of EVERYONE'S LIFE ARE YOU HAPPY? FUCKO?
You know, biker boy, I'm bigger than you, I'm faster than you, I'm made of metal and if I hit you, it will hurt your ecologically conscious ass. What do you think of that? Then just get the hell out of my way, assface!
Ma'am, congratulations on being a butt, I hope you are enjoying that phone conversation you GIGANTIC BUTT!
Somehow, based on past experiences, I think New York will be able to handle my rage.
I'd wish me happy birthday if I were you, you don't want to make me angry, do you?
octobre 16, 2006
Big hair a symptom of sparkling personality? You tell me.
Conversation with Lloyd.
"Ok, why didn't anyone tell me my hair was doing this? This ... big and frizzy thing."
"I like it, I like your hair like that. It's like you have personality exploding out of your head."
"Well... that's one way to look at it I suppose."
Why don't you have a pair yet?
Dr. Stevil so liked the look of them on me, he got a pair too. In brown.
octobre 15, 2006
Peachy Keens... actually, they are more of an olive green.
I would like to post, if I may, a brief, but glowing, review of my new shoes. They are Keen shoes.
There they are. I bought them for my upcoming trip to New York. I wanted something that was a good walking shoe, being from the West coast, as I am, I am not used to all the walking I am going to be doing over those 5 days. But, I wanted something more autumnal and a bit nicer than sneakers. The Man and Dr. Stevil are pretty huge fans of the Keens. I'm a fan of the Merrill, so I was looking for something along those lines.
Let me tell you something, these shoes? They are made for walking! I took them out for a test run on Friday when Wil made me walk and walk and walk around in the fresh air and sunshine. I don't know why he hates me so, that he makes me go outside and do physical activities like that. Sometimes, tho, he lets me hold his hand, so it's all good.
No, in all seriousness, we went walking around the neighborhood and it was fun because you don't see things when you drive. You don't notice all the gingerbread details on the houses. The sun was out, the air was crisp and the leaves were all different colors. Only my nose got cold, occasionally, and I just stuck it in Wil's neck until it warmed up. We were able to discuss just how much yard we thought we could handle, if we owned houses. Me? About a postage stamp size. And it gave him an opportunity to show me where he and his best friend used to live, and the black streaks that still remain on the white stucco where J9 egged their house.
"What did you do to deserve that?"
"I don't know... I'm sure we were totally innocent."
"Yeah, right."
Anyway, the shoes worked like a charm. Completely comfortable, no blisters, no rubbing spots. I told Wil he needs some of these shoes. He's a walking nut.
October is the best month of the year, I swear. I love autumn. These shoes are New York City bound in four days.
octobre 13, 2006
50 Word Fiction Fridays Vol. 52
It just occurred to me, you know what NaNoWriMo is? It's 1 thousand weeks of 50 word fiction Fridays, in one month. The thought made me sleepy, so I asked Wil to write a fiction for today, therefore, the theme is delegation.
She had driven all night to see him. They spent the night in bed and ordered room service cheeseburgers. The next day she slept late and asked if he would write her English assignment. As she slept he wondered how old she was, and if she had stolen that car?
EDITED TO ADD: Ok, I finally wrote my own story about delegation.
"So ... where is she?"
"She took the day off and I have to cover for her."
"What does that entail, exactly?"
"Well, it means I do no work all day and then leave early."
"You'd better do some online shopping as well, just to be safe."
"Consider it done."
octobre 11, 2006
Your present plans are going to succeed.
From my fortune cookie today. I'm pretty excited because I have some plants in the works. Like... PLANS in all caps. Most of which I am not ready to divulge yet. But trust me, some of them are genius plans. I will share one with you, my halloween costume plans... there's a party going on in Victoria. Costumes required. So we were all sitting around discussing what costumes Wil might consider wearing. He would not go as his and hers Zorros, much to my disappointment.... you get a sword! I mean, come on! But, what we've come up with is a repeat of my pregnant Catholic school girl costumes, which is a favorite of mine because I get to put my hair in pigtails and suck on lollipops. And Wil is going to be a priest. Maybe. He might change his mind. Even tho, I told him if he lost the white collar and added sunglasses, he could morph into johnny cash as the night progressed. But I think Pregnant Catholic School Girl and Priest is a good combo.
I've never had a costume combo before. That is to say, I've never even considered the pairing of costumes to make a theme. Yet another sign of Girlfriend Mushiness, I suppose. Awwwww....
Anyway, my second fortune, for I had two cookies, was "You are a person of imaginative, yet honest intentions."
Uhh... ok. I guess so.
octobre 10, 2006
Bad Idea #83
I'm trying out different allergy medicines, to find one that does not make me sleepy or dopey. Dopier. So far, not much luck. I almost got in an accident today. Not because of my driving, but because my reaction time to someone else's dumb driving was slower.
I'm also wearing my tall shoes today. They make me wobbly on a good day. So...
experimental allergy medicine + tall shoes = bad idea #83
octobre 09, 2006
Then and Now: Episode 35 You'll Never Need to Doubt It
I have friends who consider the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds to be genius. And Mr. Moon once told me that "God Only Knows" and "Wouldn't it be Nice?" are two of the most romantic songs a boy could email a girl. He's probably right. In a break from tradition, I'm not going to talk about each version, but rather just give 'em to you to enjoy.
octobre 08, 2006
Just because there's a hole, doesn't mean you should stick something in it.
I made a mistake. I forgot about Thanksgiving. This is Thanksgiving weekend in Canada, the official day is Monday. It's a long weekend.
First, I would like to say Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends. Even though I think Thanksgiving, this early in the year, feels weird. However, I would never turn down the opportunity for more pumpkin pie in life, so I fully embrace the differences in timing between our two days of thanks.
Second, to all of you Canadians and Americans who were trying to get on the ferries the same times I was.... I think I hate you. Just a little. I was unable to get on a ferry Friday night. I didn't make a reservation, or try to make one, until I was getting ready to leave town. They were all booked. It was not looking good. On my way up, I had an idea and I pulled off the road to contact Wil. He was to take a bus to the ferries and meet me in Twassen. We were going to stay in a hotel and jump up and down on the bed and run around in our underpants and order room service.
For reasons that only he can explain, the bussing did not work well, and he missed the 7 pm ferry. This is why I do not take the bus. He left his house at 5:30, and did not make it to the mainland until 10:45. And who's fault is that? The bus. Fucking bus.
The hotel we stayed at was comfy and had a nice bed, so it's all good. But when we arrived at the ferry terminal on Saturday, a little after twelve, we had to wait for two sailings, until the 3pm boat. Two hours and 40 minutes - fun. When we were on the ferry, we stayed in the car and watched Dead Like Me season 2 episodes on my laptop. At one point, I looked up and saw a man poke his head out the door to the stairs. He looked around, and then gave the "all clear, come on" gesture to some people behind him. Three women in very large, very expensive sunglasses came thru the door.
"Hey... look at that.. that's Fergie. That's Fergie getting on that giant green tour bus."
"What? No, hey look... it's Hank from Corner Gas, he's on this episode of Dead Like Me."
"No, Seriously Wil... LOOK, it's Fergie."
"Look! it's Hank!"
By the time I could convince him that there was something in Real Life he needed to look at, she was gone. But I insisted that it was her. Shortly after, some youngish boys in extra large pants came down, wandering around looking for something. Someone. For Fergie!! Wil said they could have been looking for their car. This debate went on for sometime, until we confirmed.... The Black Eyed Pea [avec Fergie] played Victoria last night. Just down the block from us, as a matter of fact. We could have given Fergie a ride to the venue.
I wonder if the Peas had to wait two hours and forty minutes to get on the ferry. I bet they had reservations. So, yeah... I saw Fergie on the ferry.
octobre 06, 2006
50 Word Fiction Fridays Vol. 51
So, this week's theme is conversion. Of any kind. Something I have to try to do in my head every weekend. The numbers just don't mean as much to me up there. 22 degrees? That's freaking cold, right? No! It's quite nice, actually. Phooey. Anyway, the theme is conversion.
By the way, excellent job last week everyone.
Foreign Fuel
"99 cents? But.. that's not gallons. That's like... millieeters or something."
"Per liter."
"But what does that mean?"
"99 cents per liter... there are about 4.5 liters per.. carry the one.... it's about 2 bucks more."
"Two dollars? American or Canadian?"
"Oh, let's just walk."
octobre 04, 2006
Then and Now: Episode 35 Lighting Our Candles in a Daze
Back when this album was out, I was in a bad roommate situation. I was living with my best friend. We were not getting along, and she resented the fact that she felt that she had to invite me to do anything she did, socially. Because we had the some friends. She did her best to exclude me as often as possible, even if it just meant treating me coldly when we were in a social situation. Why on earth would a best friend treat you that way? It hardly matters, we haven't been any type of friends in many many years.
During this time, I started to discover all the ways in which we differed, coveted these things. Music was one. She had an increasing interest in country music. And I discovered Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Nevermind and Ten, I used to play them loud, especially the angry songs. (But I still enjoyed a good Lyle Lovett song.)
I like the Brady Family feeling to the beginning of this cover. I'm so happy... it's a sunshine day... I'm quite insane. Yay!
Guess what kids...it's my favorite time of year!
It's sign up time!
I've already started working on my characters, what I need now is the perfect crime.
octobre 03, 2006
I don't know if you need to blame the entire country, but I'm pretty sure Wil plays some not so small part in it.
Well, I think I am breathing without putting myself into a drug induced coma.
I've become really good at missing the ferry. It's not hard to do. If you have a reservation on the 5pm ferry off of Vancouver Island on a Sunday, and that ferry is "full" if you show up one minute past the check-in time, if you show up at 4:31, you've officially missed the ferry. And you may have to wait only an hour, or maybe two, depending on the schedule. I always arrive in plenty of time for my 9pm ferry on Friday. I'm usually there about 8. But one little traffic mistake on the way off the island.... and I'm getting home as late as 1am. Depending. BC Ferries has made so much money on me, just on non-refundable $17.50 reservation fees, for boats I never sailed on.
The allergy attack actually started when I was in the car, heading to the ferry, not while we were watching Veronica Mars DVD's. I was heading home. I was just driving along and then BAMF! Snot. Tears. Itchy eyes. Sneezes. But I think it's pretty obvious. I've become allergic to leaving Canada.
octobre 02, 2006
It's best to avoid blogging while using heavy machinery. Or something like that.
What is it about allergies? You can just be walking along, or in my case, sitting around watching "Veronica Mars" Season 1 DVD's., and then something comes along and punches you in the face. Itchy eyes, running nose, sneezing, congestion. Sucks. And, for me, allergy medicine is a different type of punch in the face right back. I took some over the counter stuff, but I did buy in Canada. Maybe it's stronger because of that? It's a generic version of a brand we have in the states. Anyway, I took that last night before I went to bed, and BAMF!! I was out and I slept for 12 hours. Like the dead. I woke up about 4 am in order to email in to work, because it was painfully obvious I was not to be operating even light machinery. Like my sonic care toothbrush. One of my morning rituals. And if you can't brush your teeth.... well, what good are you?