Date:	2008-03-27 07:35
Subject:	No pain, no gain
Security:	Public
Mood:	okay

I went to kickboxing on Tuesday, and yoga yesterday.  Now I can barely walk.  Why oh why did I think that doubling up on my workouts would be a good idea?

In other news: two weeks to the gala!  Also, Jess is getting here tomorrow - woo! 

Also...uh... that might be it.  My life is exciting!  Yeah!

Date:	2008-03-23 19:06
Subject:	Dooooommmm
Security:	Public
Mood:	distressed

I hate looking for apartments.  Landlords don't like me because I smoke; because I have a cat; or, weirdly, because they can't meet my roommate (WHO IS LIVING IN ANOTHER CITY RIGHT NOW). 

Also, they don't return my calls.  I have this theory that landlords all over Vancouver are having contests to see who can be the rudest to potential tenants and STILL manage to rent their place out in less than a day. 

Stupid Vancouver.  World's most livable city - ha!

*edit* Have been packing for a couple of hours now and have successfully cleaned out half of closet and dresser for Jess.  I guess that's positive.  This is the one good thing about moving - the purge.  Still feel I'll be homeless, though.  Refrigerator box living, here I come.

Date:	2008-03-14 10:12
Subject:	Working from Home
Security:	Public
Mood:	lazy

*yawn*

I thought working from home today was going to be awesome.  I was super excited to get some serious work done on this Direct Mail letter that I'm writing.

Here's what I've done so far today:

- washed face
- ate breakfast
- stood over the fridge saying, "I want a snack!"
- eaten snack (peanut butter from jar)
- gotten venti americano from Starbucks
- eaten another snack (coffee cake)
- read Go Fug Yourself
- looked briefly at notes I made yesterday about letter
- suddenly overcome with urge to find scarf I used to wear all the time last year
- destroyed closet to find said scarf
- spent time in front of the mirror thinking about how great I look in scarf
- updated live journal

Apparently, if I actually did work from home on a regular basis, I'd be obese.  But my closets would be clean.

Okay, down to work now.  For reals, yo.

Date:	2008-03-03 19:50
Subject:	This is how we win
Security:	Public
Mood:	jubilant

Some of us bought tickets to Ontario for our vacations today, and some of us didn't.  Also, some of us found seat sales.  Now some of us have to fly the red eye, but that's okay, because we get TWO WEEKS OFF IN JULY.  And we have saved about $300. 

Some of us have won this battle, Westjet.

I'll be in Ontario from July 8th until July 21st, dividing my time between the North and T dot.  (Probably I'll spend the first week up North.)

On that note, Anne, can I stay at your place for a couple days?

Date:	2008-03-01 19:37
Subject:	Was late for work as well
Security:	Public
Mood:	drunk

Ate the following to try to cure hangover:

"Rustic" apple tart
Pizza
Roasted veggies
Licorice
Donut
Pickled beets

Nothing has worked so far.  I think the best solution is to start drinking again. 

Date:	2008-02-27 19:17
Subject:	I win!
Security:	Public
Mood:	thankful

I just filed my taxes.  AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.  By MYSELF.  Take that, everyone.

Date:	2008-02-19 20:29
Subject:	My bad
Security:	Public
Mood:	cranky

I just called my little sister in Ontario, and we had the following awesome conversation:

Her: (sulkily) Hello?
Me: Hey dude.  What're you doing?
Her: (yelling) SLEEPING.  IT'S MIDNIGHT.
Me: Oh.

Then she hung up on me.  Damn that pesky time difference!

In other news, I had a terrible day at work today.  Actually, I'm having a terrible week.  Good thing it's only Tuesday.  (SARCASM.)

I'm going to go have a smoke and stare into the abyss.

PS Anne, I just re-read this entry... SARCASM reminds me so much of Teen Girl Squad!  Remember?  "NO.  YOU'RE NOT."  Man, that shit was GOLD!!!

Date:	2008-02-12 08:57
Subject:	The Fear
Security:	Public
Mood:	tired

I was walking home at about 2 am last night (DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist at the Commodore!  Yeah!) when I realized suddenly that there was a GIANT SKUNK wandering about next to the sidewalk.  I decided to walk on the road for a bit (not a lot of cars around early on a Tuesday morning) then went back to the sidewalk a block later.  ONLY TO SEE ANOTHER SKUNK.

Jesus.  Isn't it a bit early in the year for this kind of thing?  Shouldn't they be hibernating or something?

I live in the only urban area in Canada in which your big fear walking home at night - my big fear, anyway - are the skunks and the raccoons.  I love living five minutes away from Stanley Park.  I do not love the animals that come out of the park at night - and yes, giant crazed geese, I'm also looking in your direction.

Date:	2008-02-10 20:40
Subject:	Yum
Security:	Public
Mood:	full

I just had a big helping of my new favourite meal: lentil loaf.  Lentil loaf on toasted whole wheat, with lots of mustard and a bit of cheese?  Are you kidding me?  Delicious.

Date:	2008-02-04 16:55
Subject:	Deadly
Security:	Public
Mood:	grumpy

A. List seven habits/quirks/facts about yourself.
B. Tag seven people to do the same.
C. Do not tag the person who tagged you or say that you tag "whoever wants to do it"

(Anne, I blame you for this.)

Okay, let the fun begin!

1. I worked at a fry truck called The Bayside Buggy for about a month in the summer of 2002.

2. If someone hangs their coat in my coat closet facing the opposite direction of the other coats, I get twitchy and have to "fix" it.

3. I love smoking.  The older I get, the more I think I should quit ... but the thought makes me so depressed that I can't handle it.  I love smoking so much that I will probably die 15 years earlier than I should, because I'd rather have a short life with cigarettes than a long one without.

4. I have seen every episode of the first season of The Simple Life about four times.  I can quote huge chunks of it verbatim.  I love chunky, heroin-addicted, bleach-throwing Nicole!  Those were the days...

5. I HATE tourists.  Hate them.  I hate giving them directions, I hate how slowly they walk, I hate how they crowd up everything good in the summer so that you can't do anything in your own goddamn city without having to wait in line for an hour.  I hate tourists so much that, whenever I travel, I feel I have to hide my guidebook and all other signs of being a visitor, so that I can blend in without annoying the locals.

6. I get carded at bars and liquor stores all the time.  (Which would be fine, except that I'm 25.)

7. Olives are my favourite food.  In fact, I'm eating them right now.

I'm not tagging anyone.  I don't care about the rules.  HA.  I'm the winner!

Date:	2008-02-02 15:19
Subject:	Top 10
Security:	Public
Mood:	busy

Anne, I totally stole this from you. 

TOP 10 FAB THINGS ABOUT THE COUVE

10. Seeing the mountains from pretty much wherever you are (ie. right now, out my apartment window).
9. The beaches!
8. The PUSH Festival, the Wine Festival, Dining Out, etc...
7. Eating Italian on the Drive or Greek on Broadway.
6. My job (yes, my job).
5. The little ferry boats that take you around False Creek.
4. The bridges (all three of them ... Cambie, you're my least favourite).
3. The sky train!  Everyone hearts the sky train!  (Way better than your subway, Montreal and Toronto.  Take THAT.)
2. The Granville Island Market AND the West End Farmer's Market.
1. The weather (spring in February!).

I'm going to go ride one of those little ferry boats to see a show in the PUSH Festival right now...

Date:	2008-01-26 09:51
Subject:	Run, don't walk
Security:	Public
Mood:	hopeful

Had a fun, bar-hoppy night out yesterday. 

Kept thinking about this, though: "Coupled with her religious and political beliefs, that nagging inspiration known as survival forced Jaleh to flee Iran.  There were many things in her country she detested with all her might and mein.  Malevolence towards women is one thing that ain't veiled in Iran.  Iranian women are shamed, silenced or killed for many vagrancies Americans guilelessly take for granted.  Iranian women are very consciously aware of gender-explicit oppression.  Therefore: with so much more at stake, Iranian women have each other's back: on the street, in stores, at celebrations, everywhere.

"When Jaleh first got here, she completely freaked about the meanspiritedness American women project onto one another in our day-to-day lives.  She eventually learned to live with a dull thud of longing for the general, loving, women vibe that was once part of her normal reality.  Loss of this closeness truly tore her heart asunder, and Jaleh wondered about the sacrifices American women make at the behest of our "freedom"."

(From Cunt, of course.)

I have become obsessed with this idea lately. 

It helps that I saw Persopolis yesterday.  GO AND SEE IT!  (Read the books first!)

Date:	2008-01-25 08:25
Subject:	My sentiments exactly
Security:	Public
Mood:	happy

My coworker sent me an e-card yesterday that said, "TGIF Motherfuckers".  Although, in our case it's most like TGIT... I LOVE my flex schedule.  My love of Sundays has totally been turned into a giant love of Fridays, a day of early morning gym visits and mid-afternoon drinks.  

Date:	2008-01-22 19:36
Subject:	La la la
Security:	Public
Mood:	geeky

The following is what up with me of late:

- Ash and I decided to only read books by women (as per our hero Inga Muscio of Cunt) for the first three months of the new year, and it is fabulous.  Books I would recommend include Exit Wounds by Rutu Modan; the Dykes to Watch Out For comics by Alison Bechdel; Not Buying It! by Judy Levine; of course the SCUM Manifesto by Valerie Solanas.  Also anything by Julie Doucette, or either of Melissa Bank's books.  (Yes, a lot of these are comics/graphic novels - the library is doing a feature month on them, okay?  Sheesh.) 

The only downside to this is that everything I go into the library now I notice that most of the displays (the "New Reads", the "Fast Reads", the "Classics", etc) are completely dominated by men.  I got really excited when I found a book by a woman in the "New Reads" section on Monday, then really pissed when I realized that it was effing CHICK LIT.  I am going to start dropping nasty messages in the Suggestion Box soon.  Suggestions that suggestively use the word "box".  Heh heh heh.

Nevermind.  I have Pomosexuals  (ed. Carol Queen) to read. 

- I have finally settled into my new job.  Our new Events Coordinator is awesome - I was a bit worried that I would be really dominating and crazy while supervising my old position, but the new girl is so good at her job that I don't feel the need to be like that at all.  Which is good, because the other thing about my new job is that I'm really busy. 

- Other other job is also fine, although sometimes I feel like I'm losing my mind completely. I don't love working Sundays (who does?) but the money is nice and, well, really needed right now.  Until I move out of this apartment anyway.

- JESS IS GOING TO BE HERE MARCH 28th.  I am so so SO excited to live with her again.  Although I love living alone (I built a fort in my living room last week, and I have no plans to take it down - yessssssss) it will be nice to have someone to smoke and drink with in the house.  Also, cheaper rent!  Yay!

- I am becoming a really good cook.  Tonight for dinner I had (are you ready?  This is really impressive) turkey loaf baked with tomato sauce and steamed spinach.  Yeah, you heard me.  I also make a mean quiche.  (As opposed to a nice quiche.)

- Not much else is new, besides the obvious drinking, the late nights, the yelling ... the usual.  There are funny stories I could tell, but then this couldn't be a public entry, so they'll have to wait for another time. 

Hope ya'll are well.

Date:	2007-10-05 08:37
Subject:	Harvest Day
Security:	Public
Mood:	cheerful

Woke up this morning and realized that I promised to make the following for "Harvest Day" celebrations on Saturday night: a pumpkin pie; cranberry sauce; mashed potatoes; mulled wine.  The wine is obviously easy, but what was I thinking with the rest of it???  Have lovely four day weekend and will have to spend next two days hunched over a stove muttering to myself. 

I feel this Thanksgiving will be particularly good because a) it is Jem and Marc's first Canadian Thanksgiving!  As proper Canadians, I mean and b) Ash refuses to refer to it as anything but "Harvest Day" because Thanksgiving is racist which is hilarious.  Yessssss.

Date:	2007-09-29 16:58
Subject:	Facebook this
Security:	Public
Mood:	grumpy

The weirdest thing about being single in this new, weird, social-networking-site era is Facebook.  For example?

My coworker Tasha went on a date on Wednesday.  She gave it "ten thumbs down" at the office on Thursday, but then decided to add the dude as a friend on Facebook so we could all see what he looked like.  When he hadn't added her by noon, she came into my office freaking out, saying, "What can it mean?  Why hasn't he added me yet?  And DON'T tell me that he hasn't been on Facebook yet today.  EVERYONE has been on Facebook today."  I found myself saying, "Maybe he's playing hard to get."

MAYBE HE'S PLAYING HARD TO GET.  On Facebook.  Playing hard to get ON FACEBOOK.  Jesus. 

I had totally forgotten about it until I was reading the Globe and Mail this morning.  Russell Smith's advice column was about Facebook and relationships; specifically, should you add your ex as a friend on Facebook if you think it will hurt your current girlfriend's feelings.  What????  It's being a friend ... on FACEBOOK. 

I just realized I have said "FACEBOOK" so many times in this post that the word has lost all meaning.  But you guys get me, right?  The above scenarios are weird and the people involved are freaks, yes?  No?  Too soon? 

I may delete my Facebook account.  Consider yourselves warned.

Date:	2007-05-25 20:12
Subject:	Warning: Rant Ahead
Security:	Public
Mood:	irritated

Is it just me, or is summer the most painful time to be a woman?  The hair removal process we all have to endure is ridiculous, and painful, and fucking EXPENSIVE in some cases.  I mentioned this to one of my girl friends the other day, and she gave me this blank, I-have-no-idea-what-you're-talking-about look. 

"How often do you pluck your eyebrows?" I quizzed her.
"I don't," she airily replied.

She, of course, is fair-haired.  Us meditarranean chicks are alway two steps away from being mistaken for dudes.  As such, I have so far this season been hi-jacked into a Brazillian (not my usual look, but what do you say when it's already half gone?  "No, that's fine, you can stop now"?) ; spent half an hour in the bathroom trying to use a stupid at-home wax kit that only half works; and spent a zillion dollars on razors with actual shaving cream built in (how?  How does this work?  And why do they only come in "tropical fresh scent"?). 

The results?  I mostly smell like pizza, because my wax lady (waxist?) tells me that oil of oregano is perfect for keeping redness at bay.  At least I'm ready for the beach.

Next summer, I'm going to Eastern Europe.  I feel that hairiness still goes over there in a big way. 

Date:	2007-05-22 19:06
Subject:	Pretend you're smashing someone's head
Security:	Public
Mood:	cheerful

So, I haven't been very good lately.  In that I took a week off from the gym when Debbie and Casey were here (which was awesome.  We pretty much spent the entire time eating, drinking, eating AND drinking, or recovering from eating or drinking.  Yessssss.  Shout out to you two - come back and visit whenever you want!).  I did go once, but that's it, and to be perfectly honest I kind of half-assed it.  Today was my first day back, and I have to admit I was a little afraid.  Then, I rocked it!

Okay, I almost passed out halfway through the class.  But still.  I used three pound weights instead of the measly two pounders!  Also, we partnered up with someond, and I totally kicked my partner's ass.  HA. 

GO CARDIO KICKBOXING.  Wooo!

AND I have a new staffer starting tomorrow!  I love new people.  AND I might go for a drink tonight.  Okay, I have to work late tomorrow night, and this weekend by the looks of thing.  But kick boxing!  And drinking! 

Yay!

Date:	2007-05-04 14:07
Subject:	Summer's here, and the time is right
Security:	Public
Mood:	cheerful

... for dancing in the streets?  Well, maybe, if this weather keeps up.

It's another beautiful day in the Couve.  I began the day with an afagato, and now I'm making brownies (vegan brownies, actually, much to Steve's dismay).  Later, I will drink on the beach.  I love having sunny Fridays off.

I have spent the past month in a hole - first a work hole, then a cold, sicky hole with lots of phlem.  But I'm back, and I'm better than ever.  Hurrah!

Not much is new, because of the holes.  But there are updates to come, as the season progresses.

Special to Amanda:  CALL ME!  I miss you!

Date:	2007-03-23 19:42
Subject:	Today I recommend
Security:	Public
Mood:	geeky

Okay.  I have been putting off posting about This American Life for a while now.  I realized today at the gym, puffing away on my treadmill, listening to last week's podcast and laughing out loud, that the time has come. 

CHECK IT OUT, EVERYONE.

You long term lovers of This American Life will know what I'm talking about.  It is the best, best, BEST radio show in the entire world.  In my humble opinion.  And you can download it for free!  Through both their website and, conveniently, through iTunes. 

I won't say much about it because you really have to check it out and see for yourself.  I was put off for weeks by Steve's lame, half-assed descriptions of it.  "Fucking NPR hippies," I thought.  BUT NO.  I WAS SO WRONG.  And I regret, now, all that wasted time ...  I'll just say, as a teaser, that the "What I learned from TV" episode has Dan Savage.  Yesssssss.

Folks who I think will especially love it: Jen B, Cynthia, Anne T, Jess (oh my God, Jess, especially Act 3 of "What I Learned from TV" when he talks about the end of the OC ... that WAS YOU when Friends ended, buddy!), Schuyler, and, actually, everyone who listens to pod casts, listens to the radio, or thinks they might start listening to pod casts or the radio.  NOW IS THE TIME.

It is FUCKING BRILLIANT.  Now go.  You can thank me later.