May 03, 2004
April 30, 2004
things
- I'm going to miss my UPass. Stupid electorate.
- no call from futureshop.
- started physio, apparently my back is better than I thought, but other bits of me are fucked up pretty hard.
- being without a job is starting to worry me.
- got asked if I was interested in anyone at the moment, and realized I really didn't know.
- have fixed eating habits again; they'd gone wacky after production week.
April 29, 2004
quickie review post:
I'm still sort of stunned that it's over; that I've completed two years at university and that there's only three more. While I wait for the feeling to settle in, I'll throw down a quick rundown of the last few days:
Monday: Last exam - Psych 218. Afterwards, I hung out with the E7A crew, then drank with Tim and a bunch of other people.
Tuesday: Moped at home. My parents went shopping, so I cranked the volume, cued up a list of things I can't study to because I have to sing along to them, and belted out things ranging from Hawksley to Blur to Kylie and back to Young and Sexy. That was relieving.
Wednesday: CAPTURE THE FLAG. Scads of fun. Some crazy guy thought we should have weekly games. There was some serious shunning going on after that. In any case, I guarded the flag the first game, and then did a little spy work for the second, and didn't do any real running except for that one time I decoyed. After that, I killed a little time in the office, and then ran into Camille in the SUB. I intended to walk down to the village and buy alcohol (because I can now!!), but I ended up in Fairview, helping Tim and Adam move the last of their stuff out. Then Tim and I grabbed Meal #2 (neither of us had eaten lunch) and I found that the LDB in the village was closed, so I went on a mini-adventure to 4th and Alma, where everything went smoothly. Well, one almost-hiccup.
CLERK: ID, please.
(Gerald hands ID to clerk - licence and carecard)
CLERK: I don't know... this is a bit suspicious.
GERALD: I've got more if you need it. (smirk)
CLERK: I know. Just messing with you.
From there it was a bus ride to Spencer's, where I did a bit of cleaning and had a quick shower (having been gross from the capture the flag game) before the party started.
And did it ever start; Kent and Karl walked in with a cooler, and it was on. It was a party - not as epic as the RBF kegger, but one to be appreciated in its own right.
As per usual, awards and prizes were handed out; I received the "Graham's Keeper" award, along with a purple self-inflating whoopie cushion. I have no idea how they're connected, but cutting off Chris and Chris with fart noises was fun. Other awards of note included the "Barrington's Choice", given to Paige, and the "We Stared At You From Control Through Binoculars and We're Not Sorry" for Lianne - you had to be there for cleanup for it to make any sense.
stuff of note:
- the othering room.
- drinking out of jars.
- SoCo.
- regaining my ability to blow smoke rings.
- Erica feeding me strawberries.
- Karl's bottle of Jack.
- Colts.
- Ryan Corbett:
- and his Theory of Hard Alcohol.
- interrupting Spencer's stories to hug him.
- being confused at certain situations.
- giving Sarah Costa a headbutting lesson.
- and his Theory of Hard Alcohol.
passed out on the futon around 4, after a couple jars of water
Thursday
was up at about 8:30, along with Karl. we cleaned up a bit, and then he drove me to the office.
waited around in the office, at which point Naf came by, and then Christina showed up, and then Dick Davis strolled in.
went off to MoA for a viewbook shoot.
didn't know what to expect with the shoot, and about the last thing I expected to happen was for us to actually get taught things while we walked around and the photographer was unobtrusive as possible.
which is exactly what happened, which was pretty cool - learned a fair bit about some of the issues MoA faces when dealing with First Nations, and all the tiny things like the design of shelving that have to be dealt with.
went back to the office, killed some time, got a ride home.
redesigned the page (as you can see). that's been about it.
Jamie Oliver (famous chef, Naf's celebrity crush) also blogs.
also, his newest cookbook is pretty damn cool.
April 26, 2004
April 25, 2004
sanity = x, where x is defined as (interest + work ethic/energy level - hunger - good weather outside)
tired.
bored.
need to do decently on this exam, but all the greek symbols do nothing more than confuse me.
and fuel my desire for calamari.
bloody required-for-major stats courses.
April 24, 2004
awards!!
props to Everyone's Favourite Instituition for hosting the predrink shindig, and to E7A for an excellent year as well as a bitchin' party. Also, the pie was excellent, and the icecream cake was a nice touch, if a little bloody.
I won the "Most Enjoyable While Intoxicated" award for "One More Keg Stand for the Road", as well as the "The J K Rowling – Turning Our Kids Back onto Reading" award for promoting Transmetropolitan.
along those lines, here are some other things you should read if you haven't:
- Batgirl
- The Dark Knight Returns
- Spiderman vs Powdered Toast Man
- Superman vs Muhammad Ali
- Supreme Power
- Sin City
- as many "What If?" comics as you can get
April 23, 2004
April 21, 2004
should I stay or should I go now...
maintaining two blogs seems like a fruitless venture.
although I can't get LJ looking quite like I want it to, the comments, friend system, and community are sort of swaying me.
at the same time, I'm attached to the blogger because I've been using it for a year and a bit already, I enjoy making my own templates without having to pay, and using blogger just scored me a GMail account.
so, I leave this to the readers.
stay on blogger, move to LJ, or rock both?
(x-posted to the LJ)
[current tally: 5 "both", 2 "LJ", 2 "get your own domain", 1 blogger]
April 20, 2004
of course. how else would it happen?
just as I step out of the shower, I hear my phone beep.
it's a phone number I don't recognize, but appears to come from burnaby.
which means, in all likelihood, that it's for an interview.
sod.
I generally dislike awards ceremonies, but there's always an exception.
over on Alasdair's blog, I've been nominated for several Gage E7A Awards.
categories include:
Best Guest Appearance: given in recognition of the most memorable guest appearance by a non-Gage resident.
Most Enjoyable While Intoxicated Award: given in recognition of the individual whose debauchery brought the most joy to those present at the time
The J K Rowling – Turning Our Kids Back onto Reading Award: given to the individual that has done the most to promote literacy in Quad E7A
Best Blog Award: given in recognition of recipient’s devotion to presenting an up-to-date, insightful blog that is enjoyable to read and inspires comments from readers.
awards are friday.
until then, please cross your fingers and excitedly repeat "OMG GO GERALD GO."
It's not like you have anyone else to cheer for.
Unless you're Neil.
April 19, 2004
just wish that happiness could be pretended
I'd forgotten how much I hated this place.
For the last few weeks, it's been nothing more than periphery; sleep/food/clothes before I head back out to do things.
The Fair, the birthday, exams.
It's mostly over, now, and it's taken only two days to remind me why I can't stand what life becomes in Delta.
I want to live in Vancouver again, to not have to leave two hours before needing to be anywhere, to have spur-of-the-moment plans actually involve moments. I miss the kidnappings, the freedom from bus-related worry, the lack of not-so-subtle guilt trips on the ride home from the skytrain.
I'm tired of living life in shades of grey.
And my closet's still being occupied.
Tupping liberty.
April 18, 2004
"how much does that weigh?" "HAM."
post below this is about how my sister has decided to move back in with her husband.
I'm not a huge fan of him; reasons are myriad and can be found scattered throughout the archives.
also means I'm not going to game 7.
sigh.
linked comic refers to the ridiculousness of self-indulgence on public forums.
ugh.
fuck, why do I even bother?
on the upside, I get my closet back.
entirely not worth it, though.
April 16, 2004
April 15, 2004
birthday!!
wake up.
hugs from everyone, including stupid older brother who has literally just fallen out of bed.
doctor's appointment. even though my date of birth was on four separate places, she didn't say anything. go fig.
breakfast at IHOP. we go, we eat, my mom goes to bathroom. she comes back, and we finish eating. as we're leaving, the waitress brings out a piece of cheesecake (at 10 am, no less) and says. "I've been to red robins, and I figure you're pretty embarassed about now, so I'm not going to sing."
I have no problems with this.
The table of 14 or so people behind us does, and proceeds to belt it out.
sigh.
head to metro, pick up some pants and shirts, and 15 packets of cadbury mini eggs.
say hi to an aunt, drive home from burnaby, listening to the "parents mix" which is two songs each from a bunch of artists.
get home, change, pack a bag, drive to skytrain, start trek to UBC.
get to rob's, eat, go to office get earplugs, head to wolf & hound.
on bus, get text message, "best birthday party you never showed up to"
show up.
there's nothing quite like walking into a room full of people who have congregated specifically because of you.
drink exciting mixed-beer concoctions.
graham shows up, with a flask, a bar towel. flask has tequila in it.
for a short period of time, I doublefist tequila and a snakebite (3/4 lager, 1/4 strongbow).
more drinkality ensues.
waitress interlude: she lilted.
upon finding out that it was my birthday, I received an awesome chocolate brownie, which brought my cake count up to 3.
then we drank some more.
finished the night off with a black velvet, and then off to richard's.
I'd only been to one nightclub before, and that was ages ago, so I didn't know what to expect.
first thought I had was "it's a bit like the bronze, except darker."
ran into a bunch of people I met through Rob, as well as one Rachel Elton.
didn't see tony.
rob bought me a prairie fire. jesus.
I was pretty good through the night, then I had a pair of jack and cokes before heading back to gage to crash at robs, while he slept at lana's.
which is where I woke up, and am typing this.
now, I'm off to get ready, meet Shocker Bunny for breakfast, and then write an exam.
---
thanks for coming out, gang. and for everyone who didn't make it: I'm legal now, so we can do this more often!
April 14, 2004
April 13, 2004
not a music snob, so I can't talk about music...
so, just do me a favor and go listen to Air's "Talkie Walkie" if you haven't done so already.
you'll thank me later.
April 12, 2004
birthday plans!!
I'm not sure.
weather.com says there's a 70% chance of light showers, which means that the beach is definitely out.
the irish heather seems a bit weird to get to; I think I'll leave it for another day.
eaton suggested the wolf and hound, which sounds like a good call.
so, um, wolf and hound from about 6-9ish, at which point we head off to squarepusher. "we" being me rob and lana thus far, with the possibility of running into tony there. I figure most people will come out for the pub, and skip the squarepusher.
april 14. the wolf and hound is at 10th and Alma. come.
April 09, 2004
more thoughts.
what I lacked in weak-kneed romance and wide-eyed wonder, I made up for in experience.
--
the DJs were awesome, and had constructive comments. Also, Farshad had me dancing after 12 hours on my feet - what more can I say?
--
to everyone who dealt with the beer tent fiasco: fucking amazing work. staying up on plaza was frustrating as all hell; I came out onto the bleachers a couple of times just to look down and keep myself from worrying.
--
running somewhere automatically seems to give you authority; I ran down to will call to give corbett and jayme a hand with the multitudes of people who were demanding refunds (during beer 1 troubles, so Jon couldn't send a runner), and people simply conceded to me because I ran in and sounded all official.
go figure.
--
always nice to see people I haven't seen in ages; I ran into no less than 8 people I hadn't seen in at least two years. they were hammed and I wasn't, but it was still good to see them.
--
watched AWK from the roof. holy shit awesome.
--
when you tell corbett to bite you, he bites you. ask to see the bruise if you don't believe me.
--
to those of you that met my parents: they had a good time, and you're all good kids. apparently.
--
there's more to say; there always is. I can't do a timeline here, it's been a long week, and I'd like nothing more than to fall asleep in my own bed now, which is where I'm headed. see you at ten. or not.
first post-acf-post
i'm lying on spencer's floor, and listening to quinn and spencer chat.
i hurt.
spencer claims to want nothing more than an attractive woman to massage his calves.
this amuses me.
graham dropped a coldplay mix for me.
i almost went Kennedy* on him.
of course, this would have involved running across a stage, jumping a fence, making my way on to the circle thing, and then... hugging graham.
*to go Kennedy: to become temporarily effusively happy, and (wish to) hug everyone in sight.
more later. sleep now.
April 05, 2004
for Quinn
I didn't believe all the hype about Franz Ferdinand before.
I do now.
This is the next CD that goes into the alarm clock.
April 04, 2004
omg insight!!
so, spencer just asked how my parents took my outstanding inebriation of last night, and I figure it's a weird enough topic to merit an entry.
simply put: as long as I've arranged for a ride beforehand, and they know I'm drinking, it's a non-issue. I'll get some friendly harassment the next day about hangovers, but that's about it. I have been more drunk when being picked up before; the elections party in first year leaps to mind, as well as the MASS anniversary.
Why?
As far as I can tell, they know they can't stop me, so they might as well try and keep me safe.
I've also been informed that the "ride home, any time, no questions asked" policy applies to any of my friends; so if I'm around and you need a ride, just ask. they won't judge.
How'd they take it this time? They asked who spencer was (because I'd walked outside with him; iirc he was going to puke discreetly in a bush), how much I'd had to drink (I said 4 beer, which my mom said was too much. I honestly hadn't been counting.) and how the evening went. And that was it. We came home, I stumbled off to bed (and woke up in boxers and a t-shirt; I usually wear pajama pants) and we never spoke of it again.
RIP, Radical Beer Faction; 1988-2004
that was an excellent party.
thanks to Spencer for hosting, and the RBF for throwing.
one thing: keg stands "for the road" are never a good idea; I was pretty sure I was going to puke until we hit the Alex Fraser, at which point I found a bottle of water. And then passed out.
April 03, 2004
by the power of greyskull...
...I have the power!
there's more from my sword-wielding wednesday adventures. links up as I get them from rob.
Update
I'm down to physics and one short english paper.
However, today is far too nice to squander on work.
I'm making pancakes and going to read articles in the sun.
March 30, 2004
fuck, seal me in a cave with my books and don't let me out until friday.
no MSN.
no journal entries.
minimal time in the office.
maximum time in libraries.
if you see me, chances are high I will need a hug, regardless of gender.
if you see me on MSN, tell me to get off. of MSN.
I need to:
write a physics paper (ten pages)- do a physics assignment
do two one psych stats assignmentswrite an english paper (also ten pages)- write
twoone short english essay (500-750 words each) figure out what the hell just happened in my jaw.
preferably before saturday afternoon, so I have the weekend and the subsequent (production) week free.
so, yeah, gang, hold me to this. it's for everyone's good.
March 29, 2004
when i started blogging, we didn't have titles! and we were happy about it!
< /grahamcurmudgeon>
so, it's been a year.
humour me and leave a comment with who you are, when you started reading, and what piece of vernacular needs to (re)enter daily usage.
I'm a big fan of "you cretaceous bitch", personally.
March 28, 2004
March 27, 2004
note to self:
chances are high that dad won't like the crazy experimental japanese jazz you thought he would.
points for trying, though.
March 25, 2004
I don't want to think.
thrice exploded: peace out
gerald` - be'nI' bang Dogh petaQ, apparently.: [gets shot nine times, starts highly successful music career]
thrice exploded: damnit, I wish I'd thought of that first!
procrastinating
yeah, i shouldn't be posting this.
but, I found that by putting off one big thing, I'm motivated to do other, small things.
even though I'm not working on my ENGL 226 paper, I've managed to find a couple other jobs to apply for, started working on the short essay for my other english class, and cleaned up my room.
more so I can look back on this in a year and smile than because you need to know.
today (well, so far today):
It's always weird when the waking world intrudes into dreams. I had one in which Alisdair and I are walking around some bizarre hybrid of the SUB and Renfrew Community Centre, in search of the Delly. We get there, get lunch, and highly randomly, Interpol starts playing, just loud enough to have a conversation over. So we chat. Then, I (with handy zoomed-in eyes-widening effect) realize that I'm dreaming, and that's my alarm clock. So I wake up.
I have a big list of things to do, so if I'm online, chances are I won't be talking much.
yesterday:
sold a linguistics text for only $6 less than I bought it for. then I went on a nine-hour adventure with Rob (still blogless, but we'll get him soon enough), in which we:
- went to Zulu records, and picked up Squarepusher tickets.
- I found a copy of the CD that Elysha does guest vocals on
- I also found High Holy Days stickers.
- we went to The Candy Aisle, and disovered Ginger Altoids, which are sort of like very small gingersnaps.
- then to The Comix Shop, where we geeked out for a bit.
- and then we had a walk in the heavy rain. without waterproof stuff.
- headed to safeway for raspberry ginger ale and cookies, then back to gage.
from there, we played a game of jones in the fast lane, watched rob play mechwarrior 2, played team big 2 with some of the quadmates. after that, we watered the MASS plants and drew another vernacular time (watch for it this friday in the underground!) and then went for a walk, and then I met Joyce, in whom we drove to Movie Gallery on Broadway, where the movies are buy 2 get 2 free (used ones only). Joyce is Alisdair's blue Ford stationwagon, with a ziploc bag of cheerios and a "Baby on Board" sign in back. It's sort of creepy how the car... absorbed the personality so well.
in any case, it was fun times. Rob is always a pleasure to hang out with.
March 23, 2004
odd
blogger just ate my post, for the very first time.
good thing it wasn't anything overly meaningful.
in any case, here's a bunch of lyrics posts at once!
- Interpol - The Specialist
- The Notwist - One With the Freaks
- The Darkness - I Believe in a Thing Called Love
- Blur - No Distance Left to Run
- Travis - Indefinitely
- Matt Good - Bright End of Nowhere
March 20, 2004
thoughts and mild paranoia: on special this week.
lost an election.
ate fries with mayo the other day.
I really am turning into Spencer.
--
apparently, I am the happiest drunk ever on tequila.
I maintain it was the company.
--
should really do work; if I go to the gong show, then sunday is a total writeoff.
fuck.
--
I don't have my phone at the moment; my sister isn't speaking to the husband, so she took my phone. I don't get hers, though, which is ridiculous.
March 19, 2004
drunken ramblings.
so, I'm drunk.
and I love a lot of people.
let's start, hmm?
)____
Quinn: I honestly thought he was Irish before I met him. I mean, Quinn O'Morrey?
having horribly misjudged him as a Kate Woznow Hippie, I feel sort of bad now. He's awesome. and we will rule this campus in my fourth year.
Rob: I've been hanging out with him a lot more. and I love him. platonically. but I still love him. he's fed me, and plied me with tequila, and he's funny and geeky and awesome. lana, hold on to him because he's fucking special.
Lana: to know her is to love her. she's short and sweet and awesome and hot and I could go on.
Vanessa: she has been a pillar of support. always. and she's hot.
Collins: is hilarious. and capable. and I feel safe leaving her to VPI. but still a little guilty.
Graham: sometime in first year, I said he was a role model. I stand by that. He's awesome.
Gage E7A: for putting up with me. wow.
Aleks: from providing me with directions on my first day in Delta to trying to talk me into VPIdom, she's been nothing but ridiculous and wonderful.
Spencer: one of the best friends a guy could have. he's pushed me harder than anyone else. and I appreciate him for it. you'll go far, spencer. just take a deep breath and jump.
Jordie: for comics. and booze. and fun.
Naf: I may be the only person that is happy that you took 6 years to do a degree; I wouldn't have met you otherwise. You may take a little more time, but you'll go far.
If I didn't maention you specifically, don't take it personally. I <3 you.
)___
there's a lot more of you what need appreciatin', but I need to go back and drink.
March 18, 2004
I really should get around to making the cliché drunk post, but I always forget...
somewhere in my last drunk-sober cycle (I had three on Wednesday night - green beer, green beer, and vodka respectively), I decided that I should make a post here about how awesome my friends were. Especially Rob (alas, blogless), with whom I've been hanging out a lot lately.
this isn't it.
I remember having a lot of good things to say about a lot of people, so I might have to write one up tomorrow.
anyone want to remind me after I get indiscriminately affectionate but before I lose fine motor control?
March 17, 2004
March 16, 2004
so close...
March 13, 2004
March 12, 2004
you dizzy bitch...
I didn't need that.
It's ten-thirty, and I'm stepping off a skytrain after an hour of travelling, moved bodily away from fun times in Gage (and shortly thereafter in the SUB). There is no need to submit me to a guilt trip and then stony silence.
Oh no! You had to get in, and warm up, and drive the car.
Fuck, I'm insensitive! You had to walk from the house to the car.
I'm a horrible brother: I'll never attempt to have a social life again.
What part of Friday night do you not get? You were my age once, and I know you went out; there were many nights where I was so rudely interrupted by your arrival (front door locks were loud enough to wake anyone sleeping on the couch, ie me.) and I sucked it up.
So deal with it. I'm going to have a fucking life.
March 11, 2004
since I have an CD player alarm clock, I thought I'd make a "WAKE UP!!" mix CD, and post a tracklisting here, so you can all see what I'm listening to as of late.
- Blur - Country House
- Blur - Coffee and TV
- Blur - Parklife
- Four Tet - Spirit Fingers
- Ellen Allien - Push
- MGB - Going All The Way
- Matt Good - Double Life
- Matt Good - Bright End of Nowhere
- The Cansecos - Faster Than You Go
- Broken Social Scene - Stars and Sons
- Broken Social Scene - Cause = Time
- 187 - Pittsburgh
- Squarepusher - Windscale 2
- Squarepusher - Smedley's Melody
- Doves - Sea Song
- Doves - There Goes The Fear
now, for the fun bit - if you had a choice, what would you wake up to?
also first person that remembers which tags I just used gets a copy of this CD. or of the OMGWTFBBQ mix; their choice.
March 09, 2004
in lieu of actual content
Which "Saved By The Bell" Character Are You?
___
saw a poster from the competition today.
I'm actually excited about a real campaign.
whee!
March 08, 2004
ye gods
everything that's been written to me in the last year is gone.
fucking squawkbox.
(have switched, there should be no more "account expired!" page)
March 07, 2004
You're Geek Chic. Offbeat and with a thumbful of
calluses, you spend most of your time catching
Simpsons reruns and sucking down raspberry
Jell-O. However, you're still a hipster,
you've still got your own style, and you
probably dig the Velvet Underground's "Who
Loves the Sun?"
What Kind of Hipster Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla
March 05, 2004
it's weird how I can bitch and moan and complain all the way home about stuff and then find something to make me realize how insignificant all of this is.
This is the photo album (essay?) of a young woman who takes the odd motorcycle ride through Chernobyl.
yes, that Chernobyl.
it's weird and haunting and surreal - the broken english commentary only adds to the sense of dread, loss, and waste.
I have no more words.
"surprise race of the year."
four people.
three serious ones.
one senate spot.
I should've run for VPI.
tupping liberty.
March 04, 2004
offshoots of my walk to the library:
a) slurpee prices are up. They were 79 cents in grade 8, 89 in grade 10, and now they're up to 1.09 for a small one!! Mac's prices remain curiously the same. Looks like I have a new destination for my walks.
b) reading a comic book isn't the same as reading a scan. There's something about the smell of the paper, the heft in your hands (more if it's a trade paperback) and the excitement of actually flipping pages. There is no joy in hitting Page Down.
c) Diet Coke with Lime is growing on me.
March 02, 2004
but it's different now
On the skytrain this morning; watching the blurred landscapes go by and listening to Radiohead.
a woman embarks, pushing a stroller with two boys - I'd say one was 2 years old, and the other was 10-13 months.
the younger one stares with rapt fascination out the window.
the older one looks around, seeing people and textures and things, puzzled and amused by the newness of it all.
He looks at me. I smile wave, and play peekaboo. After a moment, I realize he's far more interested in the headphones than in me.
As I walk to the B-Line, I wonder when I started taking everything for granted, and when I stopped taking joy from the simple things.
I need a break from the world.
and it's not coming until May.
Fuck.
March 01, 2004
assorted thoughts, $2.99/100 grams
I bought a instant drink cooling ring thing at Safeway today. One simply pops it in the freezer and then places it around the room temperature beverage of choice. It works really well.
Also, there's penguins on it.
---
Fuck you, electric can openers!
---
I'm running for Senate... as soon as forms are available.
Best of luck to the other suckers candidates.
February 28, 2004
February 26, 2004
in which Gerald goes to his first and last AMS meeting.
about 2/3rds of the way through last night's AMS meeting, I wrote Chris Payne a note:
Dear Chris,
if I ever volunteer to proxy at an AMS meeting again, hit me with a 2x4*.
Gerald
*if a 2x4 is unavailable, a weapon may be chosen at your discretion.
I don't think he understood that I was serious.
February 25, 2004
February 24, 2004
February 21, 2004
words for life, #I-never-bothered-to-count
"You really don't put in words to keep anything real. I believe that it is real if it is real. I don't know how to keep anything real, because why keep it real if it has to be kept? Real is real. "
- Margaret Cho
what. the. fuck.
had a dream last night in which Naf and I had a vicious argument about some seriously dumb shit, swore never to speak to each other again, and then tearily made up (not out).
...on a jungle gym.
not as weird as other ones I've had, but a jungle gym?!
February 20, 2004
dear telus...
...it's great that you have policies in place which allow certain activities related to phones performed only by the person being billed. Ideally, though, you should not have clerks telling me that "I really shouldn't do this, so don't tell anyone" on some, and "I can't do that." on others, when I should be refused on all of them.
February 19, 2004
minor ramble because I'm in an awesome mood
a little backstory:
Iain was the guy who I had at least one class with every year, who I got along with immensely well, who was just always... there. We spent spare blocks together at the UBC arcade (including the one time we missed the bus, got to class late, and made up the awesomest lie ever about how the bus broke down. and pulled it off.), dissected frogs and got up to general silliness together. It was 5 thoroughly interesting years with him around.
Now, Iain's off at UVic, and I hadn't seen him since we graduated, which would be something like a year and 8 months at this point; and given that we're used to seeing each other pretty much daily, it's been sort of weird. There was MSN, but it's not at all the same.
We hung out today, me and him and Patricia. Played a couple games in the arcade, went on a micro-tour of campus (he didn't know about forestry, patricia didn't know what belkin was, I had no clue about the echoey thing at the end of koerner plaza) stopped at the rose garden for a moment, and then headed to koerner's.
now, stop for a moment. this is me, with a pair of friends who I've known since I was 12, with whom I have had more fun than I care to recount at this point - people who are basically everything I loved about the high school experience. And we're going to sit in Koerner's and drink beer and shoot pool, and talk about the past, the present, the future. Politics; federal, provincial and student. Music; he's getting back into house, she's discovering canadian indie rock, and I'm all over the place. People we know, others we've heard of, conversations we keep intending to have. We don't stop talking until she has to leave for a movie, he has a hair appointment, and I should really get back to that physics problem set.
some drinks, some pool, an afternoon of talk.
old friends.
new hangouts.
this was definitely more of a lift than I thought it would be.
February 18, 2004
an extremely typical post.
I'm all excited about tomorrow.
It'll be good to see people and do things and reminisce...
February 16, 2004
a request.
so, one of my old high school friends is in town from Victoria, and I haven't seen him in almost two years. We're going to go drinking at some point, but the only question is where.
basically, no cover, relaxed-ish atmosphere, and me being able to get in with minimum fuss are the three major requirements.
I'm thinking Koerner's, but if anyone has any other non-campus suggestions, that'd be hot.
February 15, 2004
physics extravaganza!!
Insultingly Stupid Movie Physics. Fun for a quick read, and then you realize you're learning stuff.
the only thing cooler than Physics of Music... Physics of Comic Books, which includes stuff like why Krypton HAD to explode.
everyone needs a fuzzy shirt for beer gardens.
honestly, it's great; had a couple conversations and some chest-rubbing (!!) started solely on the basis of my shirt.
---
friday was fun; started out with a posse heading to RBF; ran into a couple more people along the way, and then ended up jumping the line to grab a beer. only ended up drinking two, but hey, they were free and I spent no time in line for them. got ditched by AUS crew, so I walked with Jordie to Gage where he grabbed a mug, and then we went to buck-a-beaker. which was probably the worst policed beer garden I've ever been to. at least AUS ones let you get in and then make you show ID for tickets; the buck-a-beaker security guy ID'd Jordie WHILE I WALKED AROUND HIM. seriously, it was pretty bad. start drinking (beer wasn't that great) chat up some SUS types, hang out. Run into Graham, head to MASS with the intention of heading back to buck-a-beaker (he forgot a mug, and wasn't about to shell out for a beaker). End up staying at MASS for most of the rest of the night, then head out to buck-a-beaker, evade security once again, miss seeing Jill entirely, hang out there, and then walk Jo Krack to CanClub. Head downstairs to grab a slice of pizza, then run into Jordie again, at which point we go to hang out in Fairview.
time spent drinking: 4 hours.
money spent drinking: $2
drinks consumed: 6.
a solid evening, I'd say.
February 14, 2004
February 12, 2004
what's new?
- have been using "honestly" and "fuck" interchangeably -- as interjections, not as adjectives.
- more walks.
- less slurpees.
- buck a beaker tomorrow; at the last one, I dubbed Graham "sea-to-sky". can't help but wonder what'll happen this time.
- considering joining the debate society; between spencer's spiels (this was a while ago) and patricia's testimonials, it seems like a good idea.
- dunno what to run for in the AUSlections. sort of want to VPI, but senate seems fascinating, too.
- job hunt continues.
- plaza's going to be interesting. in the good way.
- have been reading slashdot - weird abbreviations pop up there, like IANAL(i am not a lawyer). makes me giggle.
February 09, 2004
definitely one of those consolation days...
...y'know, the kind where things go well enough to almost make up for the last two.
morning was unexciting. really. commute, office, class, etc.
well, we broke a glass in physics using only sound waves, which was pretty hot.
then we had the speediest meeting ever, with enough time left over at the end to discuss hats, and then draft a motion:
"whereas bad hats are a plague to all students, and the AUS is a pretty stylish bunch, be it resolved that this council ban the wearing of stupid Kangol hats by all and trucker caps by anyone who isn't a trucker. All students wearing such hats will be shunned. Note: requires 2/3rds."
Collins demanded a roll-call vote.
18 for.
11 against.
4 abstentions.
so, every arts student is now required to not wear trucker caps or stupid Kangol hats and also to shun those who do.
I wonder if SUS plans on following suit, especially since they've run off with a copy of Code.
next class consisted of me being bored, and watching the girl sitting in front of me play Solitaire. badly.
when it was over, me and the E7A crew were all going to head down to the Belkin gallery, because we'd never been, and were interested in seeing whatever was going on.
Alex went to class, so me, Jordie, and Rob head down to Belkin. Finding a "CLOSED" sign on the front revolving doors but not seeing a corresponding one on the back door, we walk around to the back entrance (across from the Freddy Wood Theatre). Open one door, and nothing happens. Open another, and we're in. There's someone in a back room blasting bad rock (I swear it was Billy Talent), and we don't bother checking to see.
so we spent some time walking around the Belkin art gallery, examining pottery from an exhibit called "Thrown", while it's absolutely silent. the gallery's TVs are off, there's no noise from other people, and we're sticking to the middle of the room, because there's laser sensors making sure your arms don't go vaguely close to the pottery.
then we remember that we ditched Alasdair, and that we should probably go outside to meet him.
and we do.
then we go back in, and Mysterious Bad Musical Taste Man (who did not see our previous exit or entry) gently reminds us that the gallery is currently closed, and that we should come back tomorrow.
much heckling later, we head back to gage (with a quick stop through MASS to grab my stuff, skim the PSSA career fair, and to garner a quick, "baby, why you gotta play me like that?" from Graham.)
and then Speculation begins. good gods, that's fun.
two hours later, I head out to Kerrisdale on the 43 to meet my mom for 5pm. Since she's working again, I have rides home. Get to the old high school at 4:50, realize that I have enough time for a Slurpee run, and grab one before driving home.
---
nothing exciting at home; just toying with CSS2 some more, and wondering if tracking down a crack of Dreamweaver MX is worth my time.
February 08, 2004
you're wearing thin.
[a note from the next day: this was a venting post; I haven't disowned my sister.]
no.
there is no goodnight from me.
rest your elbows on my crossed arms all you want; I will not change my mind.
I'm not 7 any more. you hold nothing over me now but bank fees and half-truths.
there is no attitude problem. I'm just tired.
see:
- the late, angry phone calls.
- the constant inconsideration.
- half my closet. gone.
- the imperative tense.
- the hour of sleep I scheduled for and don't get.
- how you leave everyone wound up.
there is no reason why I had to give up saturday night.
none but you.
so figure out your life, and stay away from mine until you do.
I'm not your friend any more. I'm just your brother.
February 07, 2004
doing random shit to keep my mind off things.
between excessive boredom and chats with Jon, this probably won't look the same for two days in a row for a good long time.
when I find something I'm satisfied with, you'll know.
February 06, 2004
February 05, 2004
February 02, 2004
an academic post.
dear Coriolanus,
fuck you.
I hate you for being so weird and inaccessible, for being based on two earlier, more esoteric works, and also for being fucking boring. You live in a world run by your mother, and despite constant words about valour and honour, you're loathe to show your experience to the citizens whose support you need. Your death sucked, your life was boring, and the play that carries your name is barely produced because nobody wants to see it.
ARGH.
February 01, 2004
question time
so, readers, what're you listening to... RIGHT NOW?
me? broken social scene - late nineties bedroom rock for the missionaries
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
January 22, 2004
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."
January 18, 2004
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?
January 16, 2004
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.
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.)
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.
January 06, 2004
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.
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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