Thing I'm Loving Right Now.

1. Zeitgeist. A documentary that will blow your mind and possibly leave you feeling just a little bit uneasy in a good way. I'm not entirely sure I subscribe to everything said in this movie but the information was strung together well. Either way, definitely a jaw-dropper.

2. Microserfs. Friggin' sweet book by Douglas Coupland about Microsoft employees around the early 90s. I haven't read it all as of yet, but it's pretty funny so far (that is, if you enjoy subtle humour).

3. QVC bloopers/Mike Rowe back in his QVC days. Haha, soo funny. I probably wasted close to 2 hours last night watching these. Live television + shitty products + (apparently) no real phone call screening technique = hilarity.

4. Guitar. I don't like to say that I actually play guitar because before this week I hadn't played since grade 12, but I was determined to pick it back up. Just like riding a bike (that was both lame, and untrue....I'm not very good at riding a bike....but that is not the point) I've seemingly picked it back up and somehow it's actually even easier. It's actually the strangest thing ever. My only logical explanation is that I must've been a HUGE spaz like 3ish years ago and prevented my true 'talent' to shine through.

5. 90s alt rock. So good. The end.

6. Easy Star All Stars. An amazing reggae dub band that has blown my mind with their remix (remix, not cover) of the entire Radiohead 'OK Computer' album. Listen!


SeeqPod - Playable Search

7. SeeqPod. I've only tried using this website since yesterday but so far it's really good for not only finding music on the internet but also for allowing you to do cool things like create a playlist of songs you've found and search for new songs to add to the playlist without interrupting the current song being played.

Everybody hertz*

All I can say is wow. I tried yoga for the first time about a week ago and I got my ass kicked. It is seriously SO much harder than I even expected. A week ago I was all, "yeah, whatever, stretching and shit, I can do that"

NOPE. (not like the dude in the dvd does it anyway)

Soo hard. I don't think I'm in terrible shape but this workout made me feel like I have never worked out in my life and that I need to curl up and die. The stretching portion is fine, which is a little bit of the warm-up and all the cool-down, (not to mention, I've stretched muscle I did not even know I had) but it's really the balancing that kills you. Seems simple enough, but try balancing on one foot, with the other out behind you, and your arms out in front. It gets pretty difficult. The secret to yoga is that you're constantly changing positions but you also hold positions once you're in them. Anyway, if you are skeptical of yoga try it before you knock it.

Next workout: Ab Ripper



In other Kate related news, I got a promotion at work that's working out awesomely. I am now a breakfast/lunch cook at work and managed to not spaz and so my first shifts alone went quite well. Haha, not going to lie, the lunch menu is not super hard, but I am now an egg-pro. All egg-cooking-related inquiries can be directed my way.



*this blog title is in reference to the band Air. They're awesome, and French, and you'd love them if you like synth pop.

Pending Doom.

Ahhh!

(deferred) Biochem exam in about 2 hours.

Fingers crossed that I don't forget everything once I start writing.

That is all.

Finally back.

Hey everyone (who hasn't given up on this blog yet),

I've been pretty lazy and haven't written a blog in agessss.

Since my last post, I studied and wrote exams and finished off my last semester of 2nd year.

Last month, I went to a D'Ubervilles/Born Ruffians show at Vinyl which was pretty awesome. I've never seen either band play before and they were both excellent live. The D'Ubervilles are more of a band that tends towards musical theme progression throughout their songs and some cool guitar/ keyboard riffs (I have a weakness for keyboard players). They are a very intense band to see live because the slow parts of their songs are almost sombre while the upbeat parts are extremely energetic. Born Ruffians are a lot more pop-y and have an almost old school rock vibe to them with pretty fun lyrics; a definite must-see. (Recommended songs: 'I Need A Life', 'Foxes Mate For Life', 'This Sentence Will Ruin/Save Your Life')


For the past month I've been working and sewing (which I will post some pics of my latest creations at some future point) and last Saturday I went to go see Death Cab for Cutie and Stars play on Toronto Island. First, I have to say that it was the longest concert I've ever been to in my life, unexpectedly at that. There were only 4 bands playing, but it was as if each band played a set for a show that they were headlining. The doors for the concert was at 2:30; the first band (Young Galaxy) went on at 5 and Death Cab finished at 11ish.

• Young Galaxy were not bad from what I remember, pretty much like a typical OC-type band.
• Rogue Wave played next and I enjoyed their set quite a bit more; yet again, another chill set.
• Stars went on next, and I am a big fan of their music but I wasn't completely impressed with their set. Certain songs were awesome and I really enjoyed them, while others basically sounded like shit. For example, they were playing 'Window Bird' (off of In Our Bedroom After the War) and the verses are in 4/4 but the choruses are in, what I am fairly sure are, 5/4 and it just sounded brutal when they crossed from verse into chorus. And, I guess I need to realize that, yes, not many people probably even noticed there was a time signature change, but I couldn't help but notice. It was almost painful. That being said, there were some sweet guitar solos, so all was good.
• Death Cab were amazing. Completely. I've seen them play before and they were awesome then as well but I didn't listen to them so I couldn't appreciate the show as much as I did this time around. The set was almost perfect though. The sun was setting, and the air was slightly cooler and it just felt right, as strange as that sounds.
  

Random thoughts:

• Have you seen Price Is Right! recently? It's seriously not even the same without Bob Barker. He was enthused to be hosting that show. Drew Carey appears apathetic.

Procrastination...

So I've finished the entire season of Project Runway Canada which was completely worth wasting that much time. I won't reveal who won for those watching (sorry Rob for getting you into this) but man I love that show.

Right now I'm trying to waste as much time as possible before I have to write a paper, and I mean it's not even that long of a paper but being a science student I always go through this process before I actually get the paper done:

1. Denial - I won't actually have to write the paper if I put it off for long enough.
   
2. Anger - God damnit, I hate writing!
   
3. Bargaining - Okay, maybe I can convince my English-major roommate to write it for me.
   
4. Depression - There are so many things I'd rather be doing than this, le sigh.
   
5. Acceptance - Shit! Only 2 hours before it's due; time to get this done!

It's really a pretty accurate portrayal.

If you would like to procrastinate, like me, please follow the following steps:

• check all email accounts, even the ones you never use anymore. Who knows maybe your long lost twin sent you an email. [Time Waste = 20 minutes]
  

• check Facebook because chances are you were invited to a group about something you don't care about. Worse case scenario: do some Facebook creeping. There's no better time waster than going through photo albums of people you barely know. [Time Waste = 2ish hours]
  

• Youtube. I'd suggest starting on the main page videos and going from there. [Time Waste = 3+ hours]

• If you still have some free time, you probably should do the work you were avoiding in the first place.

And on that note, I'm going to try and do the work I've been avoiding by writing this blog entry.

Project Runway Canada: Episode 1

May I start by saying that I am completely jazzed (not sure why I chose to use that word, too much excitement to choose a better one, ahh) about this season starting up. It's also pretty exciting, for whatever reason, seeing places you recognize in a TV show (as lame as that is).

This time around it's being hosted by Iman, which I have to say is pretty hilarious for two reasons:

1. It's almost as if the producers of the show were trying to keep up with the 'foreign appeal' a la Heidi Klum and scripted Iman as the host. Her accent is somewhat annoying, but oh well, I will deal with it.

2. Out of left field a couple times during the show she'll make this extremely harsh comments and I'm pretty sure I said, "Oh snap!" because they were pretty good burns. (For example, there was one part in the show where one of the designers created a reeeally short dress and the judge from Elle Canada was saying that it was a dress that Victoria Beckham would wear. Iman comes back and says, "actually it's probably not short enough for her." Iman: 1 VB: 0)

Out of the designers, my two favourites at the moment are Biddell (kind of alternative and really funny) and Marie (so strange and French).

In this episode, the designers had to make an outfit using 3 items from another designer's suitcase to create an outfit that is wearable. I have to say that I love this challenge (they did it in the original Project Runway as well). A lot of the outfits turned out great but a couple of them were just brutal. It almost makes you want to look away, and yet you stare at the monstrosity coming down the catwalk.

The best part is: the entire season is online which is convenient because I am terrible at trying to catch a TV show for a specific time.

Watching this show is pumping me up so much. I just want class/exams to be over with so that I can get back into sewing hardcore. 4 more weeks!

SO EXCITED!

The caps lock and exclamation mark may seem like a bit much but that's how I feel inside. This is because there is so much I'm looking forward to:

• new apartment
• spring
• end of the semester
• summer
• being able to use my sewing machine again

So, one of my roommates from this year is moving out with me into our own apartment and I'm oh so very pumped. It's all I could hope for: cheap, free parking, laundry facilities, close to downtown, and the bedrooms are huge. My room is already painted seafoam green, and somehow I'm really excited about that too. I've always wanted to paint a room that colour but was too afraid, I guess. But seeing as the room is already painted that colour, it's risk free. Or something.

Since my room is so big (or at least much bigger than the shoebox I live in right now) I'm planning on bringing the ol' sewing machine up from home and get back to it. It's actually been too long since I've been involved in a serious sewing project, so it's exciting to get back into something that I love to do. Perhaps when I finish some projects, I'll post some pictures of said projects.

I'm excited about the summer because I'm planning on staying in Guelph which makes me very happy to think about. Last summer was so shitty; living in my parents house and lifeguarding nearly everyday. And some of you may be thinking, "what's so bad about lifeguarding?". To that, I answer, because it quite possibly one of the most boring jobs. Yeah, you get to sit around and do nothing. But seriously, sitting around and doing nothing for 12 hours, 6 days a week loses it's appeal quickly. So this summer I'll NOT be living at home, NOT lifeguarding, and able to go downtown when I please. (Hence why living close to downtown comes in handy).

Like most people I am also excited about the coming (hopefully?) warm weather. Spring/Summer bring it on. And end of semester can only be good. No assignments or exams? Deal.

Alright, now that I got that all typed out. I can sit still. Good.

A Terribly Vivid Dream

This was a dream I had a couple days ago and I can't stop thinking about it:

At first I wasn't entirely sure as to why they were prodding and poking my midsection but as soon as I looked down the gravity of the situation became almost too much to bear with. My entire abdomen was lacking the skin and most of the muscle that would normally cover every squishy, moist organ that should have oozed out of my body if they were not artificially stuck in place. I was a live cadaver, all my organs conveniently colour coded for easy dissection. As if the visible severity of the situation was not enough to deal with, the smell was overwhelming. It was like being 10,000 leagues deep in a blood-filled ocean; the smell was so metallic that you could taste it on the back of your tongue. I somehow wasn't extremely phased by that fact that I was missing so much of me and unfortunately neither were the people all around me. They kept on bumping into me and with every accidental touch sent waves of nausea and pain that made me want to die at that moment.

Basically, that was the dream I had a couple days ago and I nearly forgot it happened. It makes me wary of the other dreams that I have and do not remember, like, what else is my mind putting together without my approval. On, another somewhat related note, I've started reading Brave New World and I'm loving every page of it. That is all.

Meh.

Today has been one of those days where I've worn pajamas all day and I've just don't know what to do with myself and I feel as though it's a Sunday thing. During the week, I have school to occupy me and make me feel productive and worthwhile. Saturday I usually work, and yet again, I have tasks to accomplish and a sense of usefulness. But, Sunday is brutal.

Sunday makes me feel guilty for not getting more work done. Which is a shame, really. Because I'm not going to get work done anyway so I might as well enjoy my free time guilt-free. Sunday is the worst day of the week.

But, in a way today has not been completely useless. I have come to the realization that there are a lot of personalities that I do not get along with well at all. And I've come to realize that I cannot stand extremely cocky guys. I do not understand the point in picking pointless fights with other guys you don't know. Get over yourself, you fucking asshole.

This is not exactly related (well yes it is, but anyhow), I don't understand when guys in their 20s drink so much that they throw-up while being semiconscious. I feel as though by this point in the game you should know how much you can drink to be able to be wasted without having to throw-up. It's not that hard.

This post was scatterbrained and a little rant-y for my likings, and for that, my apologies.

Rudeness is Obsolete

I was thinking about something today (while doing my many assignments) and it was:

What do we even consider as rude anymore?

I feel terribly conflicted in regards to this question. As a society, we've become desensitized to violence, sex and subject matter that is generally regarded as vulgar. And if you don't believe me on this just consider the dozens of movies and television shows created to see how far each can 'push the envelope'. They range from the gory torture porn variety (Saw, Hostel, Grindhouse) to the sexually explicit (Short Bus) and the 'Jack-Ass' (and copy-cat versions) type. We've seen the human body dissected and picked apart in every gruesome way that a director can think of. And the thing is, these movies/tv shows are generally accepted, not that I see anything seriously wrong with that.

My problem is that even though we can watch all these things, it is still rude to ask someone how old they are (if they are an older person) or how much someone weighs (especially if they are of the female variety). What? This is not the 1950s. We do not need to censor ourselves about things that are not even rude in the first place. It is a biological fact if you're 5'10'', 175 lbs, and 36 years old, and seriously who are you kidding anyway? You probably look 5'10'', 175 lbs and 36 years old.

So my message to the world is: Reconsider what really is rude. And please don't start acting like an asshole and saying it's not rude. I'm just saying there's a difference between being rude and being impolite.

"Hey Baby, [insert bad pickup line]!"

Allo,

As the title implies, I've been thinking about all the bad pickup lines I've heard recently and I want to tell the male population: Try less.

What? Try less?

Yes, you read me correctly. Honestly, the pickup lines I've heard as of late are worse than the generic 'Did you fall from heaven?' style pickup lines. (I'm actually somewhat hoping for someone to say "Just call me milk, I'll do your body good." just so I can come back with "I'm lactose intolerant") At least with these type of conversation starters, hopefully, the target female will know you don't seriously think 'u' and 'i' should be together in the alphabet. If she does, ditch her because she is a tool. Although, that being said, I also wouldn't go with anything you saw off of a t-shirt in the mall. Starting a conversation with "The man, the legend" cannot possibly go well.

I know you're trying to be witty (operative word: trying) but it's not working. If you come up and tell me that you like my shoes I know you're full of shit. I'm sorry, but it's a little obvious.

My best piece of advice I can give all you gentlemen is: be yourself...and by that I mean have some sweet dance moves. Now listen, you can't be too good, it doesn't give off the effortless charm that you're going for if you 'miraculously' have a full out choreographed dance routine. Perhaps, you can develop a signature dance move that all the ladies will love. And remember, above all, dance slightly awkwardly because everyone knows that chicks dig slightly awkward guys.

It's So Bad That It's...Good?

So often there are lists made to define the best of the best: The Best 100 songs of 2007, Forbes' List of the 10 Richest People, People Magazine's List of the 50 Hottest People, and so forth. I, however, have a penchant for all that is terrible. I am all about terrible movies. Now, I am aware that these terrible movies are not works of art and this is how I justify the fact that I seriously enjoy them.

Fake blood, awesome.
God awful acting, bring it on.
Badly written script just means more to quote.

What's more though, is that I have tendency to not only see bad movies once, but again and again. And, I completely love it. I've considered getting a job as a movie reviewer/critic because I'd always have something positive to say about a movie.

For example, "This movie redefines what it means to be a teenager" means that the movie did a poor job at capturing what teenagers are actually like. "Felt like real life!" means that there was absolutely no budget and the movie feels like 'real life' because it looks as though it was filmed with a camcorder. (Blair Witch Project, anyone?)

And because I can see the good in any bad movie maybe that's just an indication that I can see the good in any person....maybe? Probably not, well I'm off to watch something terrible and LOVE it.

Valentine's Day is Not That Bad

Hello to all,

Even though it's Valentine's Day and I'm single, I am feeling good today. Actually nothing could have brought me down today, that's how positive I was (might of been because it was sunny out, but nonetheless, it was great). First, at school someone painted the snow fort that was around the Canon "I LOVE YOU VANESSA" and I feel like usually I would at least be repulsed by this extreme statement of 'love', but today it was somehow slightly endearing.

Then I drove to the gym and I was in the parking lot, put my car into park and pulled up the handbrake (like usual) and tried to take the key out of the ignition. Operative word here is 'tried' because the key was stuck and that was since the button my handbrake was stuck, leaving me stuck in my car. But, no big deal, it eventually unstuck itself. And then got stuck again later, but it's okay.

So, I get into the gym and get changed....and I have only 1 running shoe. Haha, it kind of sucked, but oh well.

So...the moral of this post is: don't let Valentine's Day get you down because really all it is is a consumer holiday for people who are in relationships. Not a big deal. Oh and an opportunity to eat lots of pink and red candy.

Snow day, Macro and Vintage Cartoons

First off, thank god for the snow day today. I was able to dodge two assessments (1 electronica listening quiz + 1 biomechanics quiz) and laze around pretty much all day in bed while outside looked like this:



I've been playing around with my camera today (the Cannon G7) and I took some macro shots (aka reeeally close up) so here are some of them:






The rest of my day was spent watching cartoons from the 1920s and 1930s (Betty Boop, Mickey Mouse, Popeye, etc.) , and it's insane the topics that were commonplace in the old cartoons. It was completely normal to have characters smoking, racial stereotypes, and brutality.

Here's just one example of said cartoons, but there are many more on Youtube.


Banned Daffy Duck Cartoon


Well that is all,

Kate

That's What She Said

This post (part of it anyway) is in dedication to my love of the phrase

"That's what she said"

Truly is the best one-liner joke around right now. It's so perfect and appropriate (sometimes).
If you think about it, it's a joke and a punch line rolled into one phrase. And that's good for me because I cannot tell a story-style joke to save my life.

Only four words to remember? Deal.

So this is request for all of you to set up situations in conversation where I can say "That's what she said" and you'll easily make my day.


In other Kateland news, I have a quiz in my course about Electronica tomorrow and it's seriously making me feel not at ease. I'm not worried about the quiz itself so much, it's just listening to this early electronic music really creeps me out. It's like a bad dream you cannot escape. The musical equivalent of getting your leg sawed off (sorry for the visual...but that's how intense it is). Terrifying.


P.S.
That free coffee I got yesterday, by the way, was delicious.

I Love Free Coffee.

I used to think that the "Hospitality Value Beverage Cards" (i.e. buy 10 and get 1 of stock product [tea, coffee, etc.]) were completely pointless because honestly who's going to remember to have the card with them whenever you want to get a coffee or tea. And buy10 just to get one free.

WRONG!

I always have my card with me; my left pocket. And tomorrow I'll be able to get a free coffee, which I know sounds trivial (no big deal), but the feeling of being able to get something for free that you usually pay for is awesome.

Not to mention, the semester is back into full swing and that naturally means that my addiction to coffee is back. So good, but terrible if you'd like to have somewhat steady hands/limbs.

I've also gotten into the habit of taking my travel mug with me. Now, I don't want to say that I'm a hardcore environmentalist...but I just feel like an asshole using a throwaway cup every-single-day. Also, considering I pretty much get a coffee every single day (see why I get free coffees so often?) so that's probably about 20 cups or more every month.




This (free) coffee tomorrow better be the best coffee I've ever had.

The Worst Night Downtown Ever.

I know the title seems like a bit of an overstatement, but it seriously is not.

Things That Went Wrong to Ruin the Night:

• At Vinyl:
  
• good music being played when no one was dancing and shitty music being played when people were dancing (it seems counterintuitive...but apparently not)
  
• getting hit on by 35-year-olds (ugh, so creepy)
  
• At the Albion:
• creepy wasted 27-year-old-possibly-turning-28-this-year guys (one of them tried to buy me a drink but was cut-off at the bar and then proceeded to try to get his friend to buy me the drink)
• these guys then showed up at the Vinyl; I was seriously creeped out

I don't want this to sound like a pseudo-feminist rant, but what the hell is wrong with the vast majority of guys at bars? It might be a bit of wishful thinking, but it really would be nice if the people you encounter downtown, whilst drinking, at least had the decency to not treat you like you're from the red light district.

In another direction for this post...



How to Tell You've Been Going Downtown Too Often:

• You start to recognize the people who work the night shift at Pita Pit and MegaPizza, the bouncers at bars and other bar-goers
  
• They start to recognize you
• You seem to have a lot less money....and strangely you cannot remember where it's been spent
• You cannot remember very much at all actually

Not that I'm complaining, I love going downtown. The End.

The Main Difference Between Men and Women.

Oh man, thank god it's Friday. Although that being said, my day at school was not bad at all.

In my Electronica course (by the way, the prof in that class is so awesome because he is completely monotone and when he makes jokes it's really quite funny), we talked about Owen Pallett. He's a Canadian musician, and he uses tape loops to create a sense of a whole ensemble on stage. It's really pretty cool; check out the video to see what I mean.


Owen Pallett performing Mariah Carrey's 'Heartbreaker'.

Hmm, in Biochem I was so goddamn restless. Drinking coffee and then expecting to be able to sit still for an entire lecture (even a 50 minute one) is near impossible. I decided that I deserved a break and walked around the foyer of Rozanski. This may only be funny to me: My substitute prof used the example of cliques in highschool to describe a protein molecule. Apparently the polar molecules are the 'trendy kids' and the nonpolar molecules are the 'nerds'. According to him that is. Hilarious.

Things That Are Actually Hilarious:

• when prof's ask if anyone has a question....but fail to look to make sure no one's hand is raised. This happens in so many of my classes. "Anyone have a question? Good, okay, moving on..."
• how much happier everyone on campus appear to be just because it's sunny
• that seems to be it....I thought this list was going to be longer...

And,
If you happen to have more time to spend:

Feel free to check out the following bands I have been interested in as of late:

• MewithoutYou (check out the song 'Paper-Hanger')
  
• Jawbreaker (1995 "Dear You" album is sweet)
  
• Raid For Blood Diamonds (local-ish band from Toronto)
  

Oh and because I said I would:

I was at Van Gogh's on Wednesday and the girls' bathroom was flooded so all the girls were using the guys' bathroom. While I was in there this girl said:

Sure we can have multiple orgasms, but guys can use urinals. It's pretty much even.

Well, I'm going to try to get some real work done before I waste away the weekend.


Cheers, Kate.

The First Post

Hello and welcome all,

My name is Kate and I'm really not that interesting but I'll do what I can. First, I must point you guys toward a band that is my current obsession, and that band is Wintersleep. Overall, just a solid band; great lyrics, great instrumentation, and great vocals. Oh, and they're Canadian. It's a fail-proof formula.


If you felt you may need to procrastinate further, then read on...
A good website to waste time on is Vice Magazine.
Dos and Don'ts kill me every time. They're actually ridiculous sometimes. Also check out some of the articles which are generally about nothing important but 'tis the point and the appeal.

Well that is pretty much it for my first post; short and sweet. But fear not dear readers/ Kate enthusiasts, there is more to come in the future (funny anecdotes and other general cool things).

Till then,

Kate.