January 30, 2004

now that life is sort of back to normal...

quick update post.
Classes: getting interesting. I can't wait until my Drama class moves into modern plays. Novels is tolerable, since the discussion can be interesting at times, and the prof seems to like my writing style. Physics is, as always, fascinating. Behavioural Stats is something I'm glad I'm forcing myself to go to; statistics is so full of tiny stupid nitpicky things that I would totally miss otherwise. And the three free hours afterwards are nice.

Home: Apparently, I'm distant and hostile. I should probably fix that.

Extracurricular: ACF starts soon. I'm missing the sleepover, which sucks, but I can't wait.

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January 29, 2004

okay, what the fuck?

Mos Def as Ford Prefect?


Mos Def looks like this.
Ford Prefect looks like this.
I mean this.

...I really think the "travesty + body + magnets + copper wire = free electricity" could work here.

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January 25, 2004

48 hours.

I was Spencer's campaign manager.

The past two weeks have been ludicrous; things got off to a rocky start when we didn't have posters until after the All Candidates Meeting. Things went a little better after that; and the rest of the two weeks passed by in a blur of activity, bad war puns, and musical references.

Now it's over, and I'm sitting here, feeling like the world is a thousand shades of grey.
It's that feeling just after you accomplish something huge, and realise that it's back to business as usual. But usual's not enough, any more.

The ones you don't expect are the ones that hit you hardest.

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January 24, 2004

for those of you that weren't at results night: Spencer said some things about the stuff I'd done for the campaign. I don't have the knack for public speaking, so here's my response

Spencer,
I'm proud of you. I don't think anyone else saw quite how much work you put into this, how much devotion and passion and energy went into this campaign. You knew it would be an uphill battle the entire way, yet you amassed a staff, laid out plans, and stuck to them. You fought to show the students of UBC that an independent candidate is not a foaming screwball, but someone who is professional, focussed, and a viable choice for student leadership. I kept you sane, but you kept me going; your constant drive inspired all of us to go the extra mile. Honestly, it was a bit like a cult of personality.
This has been a learning experience like no other, from elections rules to political gossip to mild subterfuge, I picked up a lot of stuff I didn't know about. Campaign managing wasn't something I previously thought was within my talents. I certainly wouldn't have done this otherwise; thank you for believing in me.
So, Spencer, stand and bow; you've accomplished something huge here, and the impact you've made will be felt.
You're a gentleman and a scholar, and working with you has been a pleasure.

And I'd do it again without hesitation.

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you and me / let's go out going all the way

this was my friday:

0620: Wake up. 2 wakeup calls to Spencer, both get sent to voicemail.
0635: Get out of shower. Wakeup call #3, goes through.
0720: Leave house.
0800: Get to Broadway Station, realise I have forgotten tape with which to put up posters. Swear, head into Post Office to get some tape.
0810: Put up posters, get out handbills. Run into Mike Kushnir, who is handbilling for SPAN. He's run out, though, so he's handing out SPAN posters. People don't like this, so I look better by comparison.
0830: call Spencer. Find out he's been vomiting. Worry slightly, then realize that there's not much to do from where I am. Handbill some more.
0925: Finish handbilling, hit Safeway for something dark chocolate and stomach friendly. Hop on B-Line.
1000: get to campus, have a quick chat with Spencer, get to class.
1200: Handbill.
1300: Go to Angus to find class, get lost.
1310: Run into Tara. Handbill some more.
1630: Eat first actual food of day; bowl of chicken corn soup from the Moon. Naf comments that I should eat more if I am to be drinking tonight. I respond, "Yeah. This is just the invasion of Poland."
1640: Spencer and I perform a spontaneous spoken word version of "Baby Got Back" for Naf.
1745: Head to Spencer's for a nap.
1800-1915: Nap.
1830: Lana calls. "There 6 Guinness for you in Rob's quad. Don't worry about paying me back, and I'll see you later." I love her.
1900: Order Chalet.
1915-1945: controversy. I can't talk about this, but I will later.
1930: Chalet arrives.
2000: Head out to Gage, start drinking.
2000-2320: Drinking Guinness in Gage, random chat, etc.
2320: Head to Koerner's.
2345: Get into Koerner's, courtesy of Jordie's ID.
2350-0045: Schmooze, drink, anticipate.
0045: Bad news.
0050: Spencer speaks about destroying slates.
0052: Spencer speaks about me specifically (more on that later).
0100-0200: Schmooze, chat with EA about elections, chat with CRO about the english class we have together, etc.
0200: Get the boot from Koerner's. Head to Gage to grab jacket and remaining Guinnesses.
0230: Leave Gage, head to Dave Tompkin's apartment in Thunderbird.
0445: Leave T-Bird, with the intention of walking back to the bus loop and taking a Night Bus.
0455: Give up on Night Bus, decide to find Eaton and call cab.
0505: Call cab for Bus Loop, get Eaton to let us into Chem A-Block (Science Advising) to stay warm. Both Spencer and I fall asleep.
0645: Spencer wakes up, wakes me up. We board a 17. Eaton has mysteriously disappeared.
0700: back at Spencer's.
0945: Wake up, can't fall asleep. Do English readings and listen to Interpol.
1000: Fall asleep again.
1130: Wake up again.
1215: Spencer's up. We chat.
1330: Head home. On bus, consider how the hell I'm going to write about all this.
---

There's a lot that happens in between. I'm too tired for this.

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January 22, 2004

so, growing is fine and dandy; I can always be a couple inches taller.

however, I could do without MY VOICE CRACKING ALL OVER AGAIN.

tupping liberty.

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January 21, 2004

not opining = awesome

"Gerald, do I smell bad?"
"I AM SWITZERLAND. CHOCOLATE AND WATCHES. CHOCOLATE AND WATCHES. I PRODUCE CHOCOLATE AND WATCHES, NOT OPINIONS."

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January 18, 2004

48 hours crosspost

I am an angry young man.
I am in a rush.
Get out of my way.
What more can I say?

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State of The Gerald

just a number of assorted thoughts about how things are:


  • I seem to have grown a little taller and gotten a little thinner.
  • Diet Coke consumption is through the roof; I drank 2 liters at Spencer's yesterday, including the mug full I took to Safeway. I couldn't just let it get flat.
  • We're moving back to Vancouver soon.
  • I should really get my licence.
  • the PowerBelt idea (powerbar = belt) is slowly expanding (in my head) to a full geek accessories line; including a belt made of IDE cables, Firewire bracelets that are also extension cords, XLR watch straps and other assorted silliness. I wonder if you can make aquariums out of big CRT monitors...
  • I haven't been this tense in a while; when I look down I feel it all the way to my lower back. This is not a good sign.
  • 19 soon.
  • Going to bed absolutely swamped is a great feeling.
  • Feeling sort of guilty about having done very little for Arts Week. I know I was busy with other stuff and I did what I could, but still.
  • Fair starts up soon.
  • Elections over soon.
  • Have yet to cook anything from the new cookbook. Have, however, figured out the most effective way to move a couple French techniques into regular cooking (using mirepoix instead of just onions, thickening with butter, etc.)
  • Additionally, does anyone have a steamer I could borrow?

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January 16, 2004

my word.

NERD ALERT

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January 15, 2004

pilot program

so, I turn 19 in about three months.
there's a large volume of alcohol I don't know about, and am interested in learning about.

so, here's the deal: you get me loaded (for educational purposes), I cook you dinner.

I've got Eaton on board, for Scotch, and I want to get enough people together for an awesome dinner party. Especially since I'll be back in East Van soon.

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January 14, 2004

because, you know, I don't have enough to deal with.

my brother in law has been disowned.

a;dhjglsdgfla;hdgfla;hdgf;hjla

(that was my head against the keyboard.)

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January 12, 2004

spencer-crusade-free-zone

there's a lot to be said here, but not much time to do it in:

- classes = good.
- UBC = good.
- Graham being a bad influence again = good.
- Interpol = good.
- people confusing me with Spencer when I don't mean to do it = not so much.

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January 06, 2004

the legendary ad resurfaces.

1984

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January 05, 2004

thoughts.

classes have started.
I'm home again.
--

go say hi to Dave
--

My MP3 Collection
want something? give me a list and a blank CD.
--

The Spencer Crusade begins soon. I almost feel the need for a feathered helmet, or possibly a squire.

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January 01, 2004

no lj-cuts for me, wo wo tonight.

1. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before? A lot of things; notably worked at a rock concert, went to a rock concert, moved out of Vancouver, started a blog, was the mature one in an argument with my brother.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't make New Year's resolutions. And anything I put in writing tends to fall through.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? No.

4. Did anyone close to you die? Yes.

5. What countries did you visit? Does the US count?

6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003? A lot of things, most of them minor.

7. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? February 12, when my sister was married. April 9, my first fair. July 4, moving. August 30, Radiohead.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Staying sane.

9. What was your biggest failure? Lost it for a bit.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? No car accidents, thankfully. Just allergies.

11. What was the best thing you bought? Eggos? Radiohead ticket? tough call.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? A lot of people for a lot of things; they know who they are.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Few people. They know who they are, too.

14. Where did most of your money go? Food.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Radiohead.

16. What song will always remind you of 2003? Kazzer's "Pedal to the Metal", Radiohead's "2+2=5" (bonus for having Graham on it)

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? thinner.
iii. richer or poorer? poorer.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Writing.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Commuting. Working on it, though.

20. How will you be spending Christmas? Spent it in Delta.

22. Did you fall in love in 2003? No. Yes. I'm so confused. Hold me.

23. How many one-night stands? None.

24. What was your favorite TV program? Don't care anymore.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Hating people is a waste of time and energy.

26. What was the best book you read? The entire run of Transmetropolitan. The moment you say that graphic novels don't count, I will cut you.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Most everything I listen to that isn't Radiohead.

28. What did you want and get? Eggos!

30. What was your favorite film of this year? Kill Bill. Over the top gore = awesome. Company = awesomer.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? 18, and studied. I had an exam the next day.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Working during the summer.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003? Clothes? Good call.

34. What kept you sane? Vanessa, Radiohead, and this weird grip I have on my sanity.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Ed O'Brien. More because I want to be him, not do him.

36. What political issue stirred you the most? Don't really pay much attention to the politics.

37. Who did you miss? A couple of people from high school who I'd lost touch with or were only seeing on MSN. My sister; until I realized that sleeping diagonally was now possible. Everyone, when I was stuck in Delta for longish periods of time.

38. Who was the best new person you met? Can't say. Although I met most of my new gang in the beginning of first year, I spent this one getting to know them a lot better. If you want new new people, then I'd have to go with Tony, Quinn, and Collins/Costa.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003? Change is inevitable.

(download the mp3, go to 1:24)

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