Last night's birthday celebration turned into Kellie's Pub Crawl 2008. Me, my sister (and DD), and two friends I haven't seen in awhile and always enjoy hanging out with. We started at Boston Pizza with BIG salads and desserts. And drinks (at least for me ... one Cosmo, a glass of red, and a Spanish coffee). Unfortunately the patio wasn't open but that was okay. Our waitress screwed up the bills a whopping three times which was freaking hilarious.
After dinner we crossed the bridge to Chatham and O'Donaghue's Irish Pub. There wasn't much going on there so early, and we had already eaten so we just stayed for one drink (a red wine for me) and headed back to Newcastle having made plans to return later in the month when Jake Stewart is playing there.
Two of our party had never been to the Black Horse Tavern before in the Miramichi Hotel, so we hit it up next. Two glasses of beer for $2.50. Dirty men groaning and smacking their lips at us when we crossed the floor. We played pool and laughed and danced to old songs on the jukebox. Fun times!
After our excursion into the Black Horse we went down the street to the Boulevard Pub. It seemed to be having a bit of an off night or something. The music was too loud, a big screen tv showing golf overpowered the room. I've been in there during the day before, and it definitely seems nicer during the light of day or something. Plus I made the mistake of ordering the house wine, Piat D'or (which I loathe) out of a box (which is rarely drinkable). They do have some lovely wines there, including Wolf Blass Yellow Label, so it wasn't their fault I should have ordered better. The washrooms were really nice and clean though as I took my first and only pee break of the evening causing one of our party to exclaim, "How can you drink so much and pee so little?!" It is a gift. Once upon a time though I would go the whole night without venturing into the public washroom. Just saying.
The night was getting on and we still hadn't found a crowd or anything much exciting (not counting the Black Horse experience) so we left The Boulevard seeking our last stop of the evening ending up at Jack's Oasis Pub. There was a band finishing up a set as we entered and sat at what has to be the widest table ever to find a home in a bar. We marvelled at the old man levitating across the way and I ordered a drink called a Porn Star that tasted like blue Mr. Freezies and the bartender told me was her specialty. It was pretty good but I downed it fast so we could get the hell out of there.
By then I was ready for ice cream and home, so one quick Ben and Jerry's stop later I found myself sprawled on the futon watching The Darjeeling Limited. I watched about 45 minutes before I fell asleep and woke cold and cramped at 5am when buddy upstairs finally stumbled home (without his truck again) from where ever he had been playing poker and/or getting laid. While he clumped around upstairs I made my way to the spare room and crashed for another 5 hours or so.
I can't remember the last time I pub crawled ... if ever. It was an interesting and fun way to celebrate my birthday. Thanks girls! I had a great time.
Mood: i couldn't say ... someone has stolen my mood ring
Drinking: coffee, black, perked
Listening To: lawnmowers and seagulls
Hair: approaching critical thickness
Showing posts with label entertaining. Show all posts
Showing posts with label entertaining. Show all posts
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Blank Page
finish online bnm, publish online bnm website, design email for bnm online subscriber list, send out email to online bnm subscriber list, send out mighty successful pr, remind gov mansion guy about article for june print bnm, contact bnm ed board regarding thoughts on notes from last meeting to begin the discussion, email T about delivering print in newcastle area, call jill at the rodd about art installation, call gloria about art installation at the rodd, go to the post office to pick up parcel that is most likely the who in concert, go to the drugstore to buy hand soap and hair dye and conditioner, go to sobeys for tin foil and garlic and some foodstuff, go to the liquor store for wine and absenthe and maybe brandy, remember to use your coupon to get $10 off at the liquor store, check your bank account and make a plan for how you're going to finance this week/weekend and pay the bills, check acadian bus schedule and note time of freddy bus arrival for thursday, proof sherry's intros for thursday nite, clean out the spare room, wash all the bedding, send mass email to invite peeps to Thursday night, vaccuum the bedrooms, dust everything, sweep everywhere, scrub the kitchen and the bathroom and the entry hall floors with scrub brush, light mop remaining floors and hall, do dishes, do laundry, clean off and organize desk, plan wardrobe changes for weekend events, put clock in spare room, scrub the bathtub and sinks in bathroom and kitchen, take the garbage out, pick up Sears parcel, write thursday nite schedule, write intros for thursday night readers and who they're reading about, come up with some snappy one-liners for thursday emcee gig, take shower where snappy one-liners are usually born, write intro for gerry's workshop, contact thursday readers one last to firm up, remind stacy regarding tourist packages for wfnb, don't forget large envelopes, get copies of bnm for sale on saturday, make rough cross-river travel plan for weekend and different scheds, dye hair, shave legs, iron anything needing ironing, clean the toilet, wash black marks off walls, find money to buy that painting, confirm date for banquet, get cash for buying books and paying cab fares . . . and i think that's it, that's all i have to do between now and thursday when i meet joe at the bus station . . . then let the fun begin!
Mood: tired
Drinking: coffee
Listening To: back to bed, nathan wiley
Hair: every which way
Mood: tired
Drinking: coffee
Listening To: back to bed, nathan wiley
Hair: every which way
Thursday, February 21, 2008
London Calling
The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in
Meltdown expected, the wheat is growing thin
Engines stop running, but I have no fear
Cause London is drowning and I, live by the river
A little Clash to get things going. I love living by the river. How about that lunar eclipse last night? I had an amazing view from my windows, without having to go outside and freeze. I sat in the picture window with my binoculars. It was very pretty by times.
Yesterday was a full busy day, lots of company. I walked down to the post office and Sobey's. It was a helluva lot colder outside than what my sunshiny apartment indicated. I had the heat turned off, the front windows open, and still the sweat was running down my back. So, I wasn't prepared for the wind chill of it all. Brrr!
Had a nice lunch with my friend. Talked about writing and upcoming writerly events we're planning. It's always so good to get together. Recharges the creativity for sure.
Later, in the evening, Lee & Charlotte came down for a bit to get some cds burned and have a little tarot reading. Funny, I've been thinking about tarot for about a week now, then at lunch yesterday we were just talking about doing our cards, and then out of the blue I get a request and out come the cards. Charlotte's cards are always good. I didn't do mine though.
Stacy dropped by much later to bring me some magazines and mail I got at the office. So then we chatted for a bit, catching up. Big Brother kinda sounds whacked this year! I haven't been watching.
I exercised in the moonlight after she left, for about 20 minutes or so, then watched the eclipse for awhile, then caught the last bit of The Hour, where they went to Coronation Street, fell asleep during Arrested Development, woke at 5:30 but didn't get up. The moon takes a lot out of me. Dream-wise. So I was stuck in some dreams and generally feeling like the truck had run over me. I'm looking forward to the weekend, seeing my dog, going to dinner theatre, making Jerk Chicken nachos, Oscars, catching up with Corrie and all that.
But first, I've got a crap load of stuff to do.
Mood: a little foggy
Drinking: coffee
Listening To: it's raining again, supertramp
Hair: closer to the razor every passing day
Meltdown expected, the wheat is growing thin
Engines stop running, but I have no fear
Cause London is drowning and I, live by the river
A little Clash to get things going. I love living by the river. How about that lunar eclipse last night? I had an amazing view from my windows, without having to go outside and freeze. I sat in the picture window with my binoculars. It was very pretty by times.
Yesterday was a full busy day, lots of company. I walked down to the post office and Sobey's. It was a helluva lot colder outside than what my sunshiny apartment indicated. I had the heat turned off, the front windows open, and still the sweat was running down my back. So, I wasn't prepared for the wind chill of it all. Brrr!
Had a nice lunch with my friend. Talked about writing and upcoming writerly events we're planning. It's always so good to get together. Recharges the creativity for sure.
Later, in the evening, Lee & Charlotte came down for a bit to get some cds burned and have a little tarot reading. Funny, I've been thinking about tarot for about a week now, then at lunch yesterday we were just talking about doing our cards, and then out of the blue I get a request and out come the cards. Charlotte's cards are always good. I didn't do mine though.
Stacy dropped by much later to bring me some magazines and mail I got at the office. So then we chatted for a bit, catching up. Big Brother kinda sounds whacked this year! I haven't been watching.
I exercised in the moonlight after she left, for about 20 minutes or so, then watched the eclipse for awhile, then caught the last bit of The Hour, where they went to Coronation Street, fell asleep during Arrested Development, woke at 5:30 but didn't get up. The moon takes a lot out of me. Dream-wise. So I was stuck in some dreams and generally feeling like the truck had run over me. I'm looking forward to the weekend, seeing my dog, going to dinner theatre, making Jerk Chicken nachos, Oscars, catching up with Corrie and all that.
But first, I've got a crap load of stuff to do.
Mood: a little foggy
Drinking: coffee
Listening To: it's raining again, supertramp
Hair: closer to the razor every passing day
Friday, June 22, 2007
Got It Going On
So Bon Jovi made a country album. Yeah. I'm not even kidding. I bought it. Complete with steel guitar and LeeAnn Rimes. Seriously. So, nothing really grabbed me first play. You know I am not a fan of country music. But IT IS Jon Bon . . . so on second playing, there are a few tracks starting to grow on me. I'm curious about how these songs are gonna fit into their regular tour though. I can't imagine You Give Love a Bad Name following any of these songs . . . unless they rock them up. Curious. Very very curious.
Company coming for the weekend! And I'm excited! Trying to work and clean house at the same time. Guest won't arrive until later this evening after supper, so there's still time to get my shit together. Bringing a dog! Yeah. To my building. Apparently the beastie is well-trained and doesn't bark inside. Which is not to say Nick will be coming to live with his Mama anytime soon. But still. A little furball will be nice to have around. Shouldn't get me evicted. I swear I hear critters visiting people overhead . . . and I'm not talking about just the screaming girls. Hopefully we get some sunshine this weekend so Miramichi makes a good first impression, BOTH sides of the river :-)
Mood: chipper
Drinking: coffee, black
Listening To: summertime, bon jovi
Hair: pulled back, pushed up, and contemplating a summer change
Company coming for the weekend! And I'm excited! Trying to work and clean house at the same time. Guest won't arrive until later this evening after supper, so there's still time to get my shit together. Bringing a dog! Yeah. To my building. Apparently the beastie is well-trained and doesn't bark inside. Which is not to say Nick will be coming to live with his Mama anytime soon. But still. A little furball will be nice to have around. Shouldn't get me evicted. I swear I hear critters visiting people overhead . . . and I'm not talking about just the screaming girls. Hopefully we get some sunshine this weekend so Miramichi makes a good first impression, BOTH sides of the river :-)
Mood: chipper
Drinking: coffee, black
Listening To: summertime, bon jovi
Hair: pulled back, pushed up, and contemplating a summer change
Friday, June 01, 2007
2 AM Just Breathe
So this getting up at 6 every morning and still staying up all night may be getting to me during the day with fuzzy brain sleepiness. Today, I might even nap. It's not that I'm not tired at 9pm. It's not that I don't desperately want to go to bed at 10pm. It's that I'm behind. I'm behind on my work and desperately trying to get 'er done and nothing is coming easy or fast right now. So, if I'm still awake at 1:30am, how come I don't reset the alarm so I can sleep a little later than 6 you ask? Great question! The answer is quite simply, I can't give up, give in, quit, abandon the task I've set out to accomplish. That simple act of resetting the alarm to a later time represents me giving up on my self yet again. And I'm not doing it! No matter how sleepy and cranky I may get throughout the day on my four or five hours sleep. Plus, I'm waking shortly after five every morning on my own anyhow, without the alarm, so I don't know that setting it to later would even help the sleepy factor. I appear to be wired . . . and stupid. Go figure that!
Yesterday was hellish for brain fog. By 11:30 last night I could barely see my computer screen and couldn't type without hitting all the wrong keys, typos and mis-spelled words, I don't even know what I intended to say. The day before was better. But the day before that, same thing, all fogged in. On my clear-headed day I had a tomato basil egg white omelet and toast for breakfast, lots of protein. So this morning I blew past the cereal and went straight for the eggs and tomatoes again. So far, so good, I feel clear, but the test will be after lunch, whether I crash or not. If I don't then I will have to start making a direct point to load up on protein first thing in the day. Hopefully, this is all I need to do. Going to bed earlier is not an option for probably another week at least.
Last night I dreamed I went to my high school reunion. Or rather my classmates came to me. I was at my grandparent's house (why am i there so much in dreams?) and people arrived early in the day catching me unprepared and wearing ratty old sleep pants and a holey t-shirt, hair uncombed, teeth unbrushed, face unwashed, crusties in the corners of my eyes. I was horrified. And I had to play hostess in this condition. Everybody else was so well put together, assembled, you know. And one girl was talking to me saying how much she admired my down to earth nature and how refreshing it was to be around someone who so obviously didn't care what people thought and could just be themselves. She wasn't making fun. It wasn't a backhanded put-down. The girl was completely sincere. She totally thought this, really admired me. It was bizarre. Even more bizarre perhaps was calling S this morning and learning she also had a reunion dream last night, also revolving around the theme of clothing. In her dream everyone was forced to wear bikinis. Eep! Much more horrific than my dream, I'm afraid. We've resolved that we should buy a new outfit for this event, something we feel comfortable and confident in, so these dreams don't come true.
Mood: curious
Drinking: water, water, always water
Listening To: foundations, kate nash (yes again! I love, love, love her!)
Hair: fluffy
Yesterday was hellish for brain fog. By 11:30 last night I could barely see my computer screen and couldn't type without hitting all the wrong keys, typos and mis-spelled words, I don't even know what I intended to say. The day before was better. But the day before that, same thing, all fogged in. On my clear-headed day I had a tomato basil egg white omelet and toast for breakfast, lots of protein. So this morning I blew past the cereal and went straight for the eggs and tomatoes again. So far, so good, I feel clear, but the test will be after lunch, whether I crash or not. If I don't then I will have to start making a direct point to load up on protein first thing in the day. Hopefully, this is all I need to do. Going to bed earlier is not an option for probably another week at least.
Last night I dreamed I went to my high school reunion. Or rather my classmates came to me. I was at my grandparent's house (why am i there so much in dreams?) and people arrived early in the day catching me unprepared and wearing ratty old sleep pants and a holey t-shirt, hair uncombed, teeth unbrushed, face unwashed, crusties in the corners of my eyes. I was horrified. And I had to play hostess in this condition. Everybody else was so well put together, assembled, you know. And one girl was talking to me saying how much she admired my down to earth nature and how refreshing it was to be around someone who so obviously didn't care what people thought and could just be themselves. She wasn't making fun. It wasn't a backhanded put-down. The girl was completely sincere. She totally thought this, really admired me. It was bizarre. Even more bizarre perhaps was calling S this morning and learning she also had a reunion dream last night, also revolving around the theme of clothing. In her dream everyone was forced to wear bikinis. Eep! Much more horrific than my dream, I'm afraid. We've resolved that we should buy a new outfit for this event, something we feel comfortable and confident in, so these dreams don't come true.
Mood: curious
Drinking: water, water, always water
Listening To: foundations, kate nash (yes again! I love, love, love her!)
Hair: fluffy
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Walk Away Kel
I nearly pissed myself laughing last night. I've started listening to Podcasts while I have dinner. It helps to kill two birds with one stone. First, it keeps me from popping in a DVD and mindlessly vegging in front of the TV for two hours while I eat. Eating at the table in the dining room keeps me focused. And two, I get to actually listen to all these great Podcasts I subscribe to on iTunes without making me feel like I'm wasting time and being unproductive. I subscribe to about a half dozen, including about three from CBC Radio about books, authors, and writing, one from CBC Televison, YouTube, Tom Green (yeah, I can't help myself), but my absolute favourite is Smodcast with Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier. If you have never listened to this, you just have to, I dare you not to laugh. Yesterday's episode had a special guest host with Kevin Smith because Scott Mosier's dog died (so sad :-( I feel for him) and was taped on the east coast in Jersey because Kevin was on the road. They spent the whole hour pretty much talking about this gigantic flea market they went to. I snorted water up my nose a couple of times. They should issue a "Warning: Not to be consumed when consuming anything else" label on that. It's some freaking crazy stuff. Anyway, I'm NOT going to tell you anything about it, other than you need to look that stuff up and give it a listen.
Walk weekend is rapidly approaching. I think it's going to be a good experience. I'm looking forward to going to Moncton and spending some time with the kids. I'm not looking forward to trying to eat healthy and balanced while living in a hotel on a Mountain Road . . . but we'll see how I do with that. Hopefully, I'll find alternatives and not end up feeling crappy and lackluster. There are nearly 700 calories in a small peanut butter cup Blizzard. Think about that. I've much work to accomplish before I can mentally be prepared to leave for the weekend. But I'm working away at it diligently. Consistency is my new favourite word. Yesterday I cracked 2,000 words on a story, a personal record for me. That's one story. THE story. That doesn't include all the other crap I write on a daily basis. I never count any of that stuff. I never count this blog. I should though. Because sometimes I blog good stuff. Not today, perhaps. But sometimes. But when I think about the act of committing anywhere from 1,000-2,000 focused words per day, EVERY day, consistently . . . the possibilities blow my mind. Maybe there's hope of me evolving into a "real" writer yet. I'm certainly evolving. I hardly recognize myself in the mirror when I look into it at 6:05 every morning and say, "Hello inner voice! The day is mine!" Yeah, right out loud. And I don't care who hears. And at that quiet time of the morning if anyone's listening, they will hear. But I don't care how crazy it might seem to be talking to myself out loud in the mirror, because dammit if this motivational stuff isn't working. It's starting to take. Stuff is happening!
Mood: driven
Drinking: water, coffee, luke warm and black
Listening To: nothing yet, but I'm about to put on a little Tragically Hip
Hair: damp from this morning's shower still
Walk weekend is rapidly approaching. I think it's going to be a good experience. I'm looking forward to going to Moncton and spending some time with the kids. I'm not looking forward to trying to eat healthy and balanced while living in a hotel on a Mountain Road . . . but we'll see how I do with that. Hopefully, I'll find alternatives and not end up feeling crappy and lackluster. There are nearly 700 calories in a small peanut butter cup Blizzard. Think about that. I've much work to accomplish before I can mentally be prepared to leave for the weekend. But I'm working away at it diligently. Consistency is my new favourite word. Yesterday I cracked 2,000 words on a story, a personal record for me. That's one story. THE story. That doesn't include all the other crap I write on a daily basis. I never count any of that stuff. I never count this blog. I should though. Because sometimes I blog good stuff. Not today, perhaps. But sometimes. But when I think about the act of committing anywhere from 1,000-2,000 focused words per day, EVERY day, consistently . . . the possibilities blow my mind. Maybe there's hope of me evolving into a "real" writer yet. I'm certainly evolving. I hardly recognize myself in the mirror when I look into it at 6:05 every morning and say, "Hello inner voice! The day is mine!" Yeah, right out loud. And I don't care who hears. And at that quiet time of the morning if anyone's listening, they will hear. But I don't care how crazy it might seem to be talking to myself out loud in the mirror, because dammit if this motivational stuff isn't working. It's starting to take. Stuff is happening!
Mood: driven
Drinking: water, coffee, luke warm and black
Listening To: nothing yet, but I'm about to put on a little Tragically Hip
Hair: damp from this morning's shower still
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Cookies
I bought a box of girl guide cookies to support my niece in Brownies. The original kind, not the mint ones. I always liked the original ones best, especially the vanilla flavour, but alas like everything else in the world, Girl Guide cookies have changed :-( They're not what I remember. Still, I'm eating them.
Last night I went to a special event at O'Donaghue's Pub in Chatham. It was the first time I'd been there when there were a lot of other people, but it won't be the last. I may not have been able to find decent housing on that side of the river, but I can certainly find my way over there to have fun. A group of international journalists on a fishing trip had been invited to enjoy an evening of Miramichi hospitality and have an audience with the Premier. Lovely fellows. I had the opportunity to chat with a few of them and get some advice for BnM. One of the men seemed particularly enthusiastic about it, and I came away with his contact information for follow-up. I met the Premier and he told me he loves what we're doing and to keep up the great work. I was a bit surprised he had seen it, but I know we had distributed copies to the delegation, so perhaps it's not such a long shot.
Connie & Paul, Owen Murdoch and the legendary Matilda Murdoch were on hand for an old fashioned Miramichi Kitchen Party that had Premier Graham rolling up his sleeves and playing the spoons right along with them. Raw footage from a documentary film being made for a German audience was shown. Some following a truck driver I know in Blackville, but more from down the Bay with generations of fishermen ice fishing smelts. Afterward the eldest man from the film stood and spoke about their way of life and how it has changed since he first started and also about the Escuminac Disaster. The foreign press asked questions and then Connie & Paul sang the saddest song about the women who must wait for their men at sea.
All in all, not a bad way to spend an evening.
Mood: headachy
Drinking: coffee
Listening To: muted sounds of other people's lives around me
Hair: thick, straight, and stubborn
Last night I went to a special event at O'Donaghue's Pub in Chatham. It was the first time I'd been there when there were a lot of other people, but it won't be the last. I may not have been able to find decent housing on that side of the river, but I can certainly find my way over there to have fun. A group of international journalists on a fishing trip had been invited to enjoy an evening of Miramichi hospitality and have an audience with the Premier. Lovely fellows. I had the opportunity to chat with a few of them and get some advice for BnM. One of the men seemed particularly enthusiastic about it, and I came away with his contact information for follow-up. I met the Premier and he told me he loves what we're doing and to keep up the great work. I was a bit surprised he had seen it, but I know we had distributed copies to the delegation, so perhaps it's not such a long shot.
Connie & Paul, Owen Murdoch and the legendary Matilda Murdoch were on hand for an old fashioned Miramichi Kitchen Party that had Premier Graham rolling up his sleeves and playing the spoons right along with them. Raw footage from a documentary film being made for a German audience was shown. Some following a truck driver I know in Blackville, but more from down the Bay with generations of fishermen ice fishing smelts. Afterward the eldest man from the film stood and spoke about their way of life and how it has changed since he first started and also about the Escuminac Disaster. The foreign press asked questions and then Connie & Paul sang the saddest song about the women who must wait for their men at sea.
All in all, not a bad way to spend an evening.
Mood: headachy
Drinking: coffee
Listening To: muted sounds of other people's lives around me
Hair: thick, straight, and stubborn
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
AGM Weekend
I left Thursday morning for Sackville and a weekend of writerly activities. I stayed up late (2'ish) the night before trying to get as much work done as I could before I had to go. I got up early Thursday (5'ish) and printed off some stories to read, packed, worked some more, etc. I left like a bat out of hell, leaving a wake of things tossed this way and that, unwashed dishes, clothes needing sorting . . . chaos. That happens when you have too much to do and not enough time. I hate returning to chaos, but what can you do? Short of cloning yourself.
The train was on time. I had a watered down coffee and a Kit Kat for breakfast, spent most of the ride in a half-sleepy drowsy state trying to figure out sudoku puzzles in the VIA magazine. Even the simplest one seemed impossible to figure out. Brain fuzz. Squires Courtesy Cab picked me up at the train station and dropped me at the Marshland, the first to arrive. My room in the carriage house was cold because nobody had been out there since the weekend, but had its own thermostat so I cranked the heat, unpacked, and then headed to the Owens to check out the venue for the Friday night reading. I was assured everything was under control. Off to Mel's Diner for lunch (cheeseburger, fries with gravy, and an extra-thick chocolate shake for $8!) and then back to my room for a little lie down before going to dinner. I didn't really sleep. Drifted through bits and pieces of soap operas, talk shows and music videos for an hour or so. Heard many sirens, and then got ready to go for dinner.
Dinner was marvelous as always! Lasagna, tossed salad, red wine, frozen yogurt, and coffee. Great conversation. Reconnecting with old friends. After dinner a few of us went to the Bridge Street Cafe Open Mic (mostly for musicians, but the organizer had also invited us to read). So much musical talent! Lots of young people. I read my wading the river piece. I need to get to a point where I can read that piece without cracking. Not sure how to do that. Many young boys squirming in their seats through that one. Perhaps brave of me to do. Perhaps stupid. But what is done is done. Bygones. My friends left before me. I stayed until the end to pick up audio equipment for the banquet Saturday night. Arrived back at the Inn around 11pm, watched some tv. The bed was super comfortable, but nevertheless I woke every 15-20 minutes throughout the night to check the clock. Finally, I gave up at 4:45 am. Got up, watched reruns of the previous night's news shows on CBC, showered, dressed, was ready to meet the day, go to breakfast by 6 am. Then I realized the dining room didn't open until 7 am. Watched more tv and waited. Went over at 7:05 but was locked out of the Inn until 7:10'ish and then I settled into the parlour to read until nearly 7:30 before the dining room opened. That was okay. I'm assuming they aren't used to having such early risers on a weekday in the off-season. And certainly I was in no hurry. I had no plans.
Back to the room and chilling out in front of the boob tube. I did intend to take full advantage of having cable tv, but other than Much Music, watched mostly CBC (which I totally have at home). Lunch with friends and fellow writers at the Marshland. Then off to the Owens again to check out the venue with others and see the displays as other writerly types started to arrive and check in. It snowed for a few hours, then changed to rain for an hour or so, then cleared right off. But apparently in Miramichi there was no clearing and that kept my roomies from arriving on Friday when they were supposed to come. Though the weather in Sackville was much more poorly on Saturday morning than Friday evening.
A clan of New Brunswick writers descended upon The Olive Branch restaurant for dinner Friday evening. Still pretty full from lunch, I just got a small salad and some wine, then a friend and I split the strawberry cheesecake. I'm not talking about New York cheesecake with strawberry topping either! I'm talking strawberry cheesecake! Pink! To die for. Yes, the cheesecake is still very good there.
I wasn't sure what to expect at the Friday night reading/musical event. Never could I have ever imagined it. And I don't know that I can even describe it. You had to be there I guess. I expected more music than sounds. I guess sound is music. The readings were very entertaining. The intermission was haunting and soul stirring. But the grand finale was . . . battering? I don't know how to describe it. It was like I had a tornado in my chest, like my insides were being churned. I started a few feet from the wall, but by the end I needed the wall to stay grounded. Certainly that will never happen again. It can never be repeated. It was literally a once in a lifetime experience. The Owens is a good venue. Great acoustics. I still kinda wish we could have done something in the chapel though, but that's okay.
After the reading, I wanted to just go to Ducky's and have a drink. Someplace quiet. But I couldn't get a crowd up for that. A bunch wanted to go to George's Roadhouse for blues. Remembering the 45 minute guitar riffs and elbow to elbow standing room only experience of bottled domestic beer that Trish and I had on a blues night, it was the last place I wanted to be. So instead a few of us just went back to the Marshland and sat in the parlour for an hour or so enjoying hot chocolate, ginger snaps and in my case, a glass of wine. This was a good way to unwind. Pleasant. I was so sleepy, I didn't say much the whole time there, just listened and laughed and took everything in.
Friday night was another night of waking every 15-20 minutes to look at the clock. In such a comfortable bed, you would think a person would sleep, but I didn't. I lingered around my room until 7:30 Saturday morning before meeting everyone in the dining room for breakfast. Then setting up for the morning. Then the AGM itself, which went very well. I found my roomies in the lobby on the morning coffee break after the meeting, got them set up in the room and registered for the event. Then it was workshop time.
Kent Stetson's drama workshop was brilliant. Absolutely brilliant! I want to take one of his longer more intensive workshops. It was fascinating to learn about his method and to discover the world of playwrighting from a different angle. At every AGM there seems to always be one workshop that I really connect with and this was it for me. Last year I didn't take any of the workshops, the year before it was Gerard Beirne's workshop. The year before that it would have been Magie Dominic's. These are workshops that stay with you, that you always remember and retain, that you incorporate into your work style. Sometimes it comes from a personal rapport and connection with the workshop leader, sometimes it's strictly based on what you learn. Kent's was both for me. I learned so much! I've been so inspired! And I immediately felt at ease and connected with him on a personal level. He's a wonderful human being on top of being brilliant. If you get the chance, if you ever have the opportunity, if you have any interest in writing or drama in particular, workshop with Kent and you won't be disappointed.
A bunch of people lunched at the Marshland, but after two days I was ready for a change, so we went to Patterson's Family Restaurant out by the TCH for some good old fashioned chicken fingers and fries! Well, not everyone had this, but I did. Then a stop over at the liquor store and Co-Op for supplies. And back for the afternoon workshop with J.J. Steinfeld. J.J. had also arrived on Thursday so I had the pleasure of hanging out with him a lot before the workshop happened. He's an entertaining funny sort of guy with many stories to tell. In his workshop participants attempted to write a short story together. It was an interesting process where we ended up with a whole lot of loose ends and not much tied up. It seemed everyone wanted to heighten the tension rather than fill in any of the blanks already alluded to. Looking around the room you could see how upset some participants were getting when sentence after sentence brought out new ideas, rather than developed upon the idea they had already put out there. That was interesting. I've often wondered about collaborative writing, and how it ever happens, because as writers we are so personally connected to our words. It is a different breed of writer that embraces the more collaborative genres like screenplays, methinks. That exercise ended with a total break-down, nobody wanted to finish, unless they could do it on their own terms, individually. Very interesting. My favourite exercise was the three sentence one, where J.J. gave an opening line, a participant gave a second line to build upon it and a third person gave the final line to close the story. That was a lot of fun to see and participate in. It's always interesting when you get a room full of writers at different stages of their careers, who write different genres.
I had promised myself I wouldn't spend money on books this trip, I need to finish all the books I already own first . . . but that went out the window. After hearing J.J. read on Friday evening I had to get a full collection of short stories and two chapbooks of short shorts. He signed them for me on Saturday afternoon before he and his lovely partner, Brenda, departed for PEI.
Back to the room for drinks and decompressing and preparation for the literary awards banquet. The meal was amazing! Like seriously, amazing! Should I ever have occasion for a banquet (a wedding? a birthday? retirement? something?) I will seriously consider making everyone trek to Sackville and take over the Marshland for at least a day and a night to enjoy the hospitality and great food. I had the roast beef with whipped potatoes and Yorkshire pudding. Not because I particularly like roast beef, but because I didn't particularly want salmon (which would require a white wine and also induce sleepiness) or asparagus crepes. Going into the banquet I would've much preferred the pork dish I've had at Marshland's before and enjoyed immensely. But lo and behold, I am now a beef convert! The dinner was amazing! The appetizer salad with poppyseed dressing was to die for, and frigging huge! The main course was also to die for . . . and frigging huge! Everyone at my table had the chocolate dessert except me. I had the mandarin orange cheesecake. Again to die for! Perfection! What a meal! Hat's off to the chef. Truly a memorable meal.
Following the food, came the presentation of awards and readings by the winners of the WFNB's annual literary competition. A fine selection of readers. A few years ago the WFNB opened their annual competition up to entries across Canada, in keeping with what most groups across the country do, and it's wonderful to see how many of the winners are New Brunswickers in this now national competition. NB'ers are writing! And they're writing good stuff! It's particularly wonderful to see and hear from our young writers like Katherine Standen, who tied for second for the Sheree Fitch Prize for fiction. Before the readings started, Marilyn, madame president, presented me with a gift of a very nice bottle of wine and a wonderful gift certificate. I didn't feel like I deserved this, I didn't do that much, but it was lovely of them to think of me. Thankfully I did not open the bag, see the contents, read the card, during the banquet, because I would've been bawling. I nearly was, as it was. And I had the responsibility of mic adjusting, so that wouldn't have been cool.
All in all it was a great evening. My roomies were exhausted though, so we didn't go out for the usual drinks or partying afterward. Perhaps nobody gathered to talk writing and literature into the wee hours of the morning, I'm not sure. We retreated to our room for an hour or so of drinks and tarot readings. And were all tucked in quite early. Where I continued to check the clock every 15-20 minutes, this time waking my sister every time because she opted to sleep between me and the digital, so I had to sit up and peep over her to see the numbers. She may regret not choosing the claustrophobic next to the wall spot.
Slept late and went to breakfast late on Sunday. I had the eggs benedict and then emceed our final event, the open mic readings. This is where everyone has a chance to share their work and it's always a highlight of the weekend. Such a great turn-out! We had about 14 readers and at least as many spectators. We went round the room once, but opted not to go round again as many people (including me) had to get on the road to travel back to the real world. I read why I hate New Year's Eve, and probably went a little long, it's hard to time yourself, but I was last, so I don't think it mattered that much.
All in all, it was a great few days, a successful WFNB event, and I'm already churning around ideas for what we can do in Miramichi next year to top this year's event.
Mood: happy
Drinking: water
Listening To: water running for the washer upstairs
Hair: still headbanded
The train was on time. I had a watered down coffee and a Kit Kat for breakfast, spent most of the ride in a half-sleepy drowsy state trying to figure out sudoku puzzles in the VIA magazine. Even the simplest one seemed impossible to figure out. Brain fuzz. Squires Courtesy Cab picked me up at the train station and dropped me at the Marshland, the first to arrive. My room in the carriage house was cold because nobody had been out there since the weekend, but had its own thermostat so I cranked the heat, unpacked, and then headed to the Owens to check out the venue for the Friday night reading. I was assured everything was under control. Off to Mel's Diner for lunch (cheeseburger, fries with gravy, and an extra-thick chocolate shake for $8!) and then back to my room for a little lie down before going to dinner. I didn't really sleep. Drifted through bits and pieces of soap operas, talk shows and music videos for an hour or so. Heard many sirens, and then got ready to go for dinner.
Dinner was marvelous as always! Lasagna, tossed salad, red wine, frozen yogurt, and coffee. Great conversation. Reconnecting with old friends. After dinner a few of us went to the Bridge Street Cafe Open Mic (mostly for musicians, but the organizer had also invited us to read). So much musical talent! Lots of young people. I read my wading the river piece. I need to get to a point where I can read that piece without cracking. Not sure how to do that. Many young boys squirming in their seats through that one. Perhaps brave of me to do. Perhaps stupid. But what is done is done. Bygones. My friends left before me. I stayed until the end to pick up audio equipment for the banquet Saturday night. Arrived back at the Inn around 11pm, watched some tv. The bed was super comfortable, but nevertheless I woke every 15-20 minutes throughout the night to check the clock. Finally, I gave up at 4:45 am. Got up, watched reruns of the previous night's news shows on CBC, showered, dressed, was ready to meet the day, go to breakfast by 6 am. Then I realized the dining room didn't open until 7 am. Watched more tv and waited. Went over at 7:05 but was locked out of the Inn until 7:10'ish and then I settled into the parlour to read until nearly 7:30 before the dining room opened. That was okay. I'm assuming they aren't used to having such early risers on a weekday in the off-season. And certainly I was in no hurry. I had no plans.
Back to the room and chilling out in front of the boob tube. I did intend to take full advantage of having cable tv, but other than Much Music, watched mostly CBC (which I totally have at home). Lunch with friends and fellow writers at the Marshland. Then off to the Owens again to check out the venue with others and see the displays as other writerly types started to arrive and check in. It snowed for a few hours, then changed to rain for an hour or so, then cleared right off. But apparently in Miramichi there was no clearing and that kept my roomies from arriving on Friday when they were supposed to come. Though the weather in Sackville was much more poorly on Saturday morning than Friday evening.
A clan of New Brunswick writers descended upon The Olive Branch restaurant for dinner Friday evening. Still pretty full from lunch, I just got a small salad and some wine, then a friend and I split the strawberry cheesecake. I'm not talking about New York cheesecake with strawberry topping either! I'm talking strawberry cheesecake! Pink! To die for. Yes, the cheesecake is still very good there.
I wasn't sure what to expect at the Friday night reading/musical event. Never could I have ever imagined it. And I don't know that I can even describe it. You had to be there I guess. I expected more music than sounds. I guess sound is music. The readings were very entertaining. The intermission was haunting and soul stirring. But the grand finale was . . . battering? I don't know how to describe it. It was like I had a tornado in my chest, like my insides were being churned. I started a few feet from the wall, but by the end I needed the wall to stay grounded. Certainly that will never happen again. It can never be repeated. It was literally a once in a lifetime experience. The Owens is a good venue. Great acoustics. I still kinda wish we could have done something in the chapel though, but that's okay.
After the reading, I wanted to just go to Ducky's and have a drink. Someplace quiet. But I couldn't get a crowd up for that. A bunch wanted to go to George's Roadhouse for blues. Remembering the 45 minute guitar riffs and elbow to elbow standing room only experience of bottled domestic beer that Trish and I had on a blues night, it was the last place I wanted to be. So instead a few of us just went back to the Marshland and sat in the parlour for an hour or so enjoying hot chocolate, ginger snaps and in my case, a glass of wine. This was a good way to unwind. Pleasant. I was so sleepy, I didn't say much the whole time there, just listened and laughed and took everything in.
Friday night was another night of waking every 15-20 minutes to look at the clock. In such a comfortable bed, you would think a person would sleep, but I didn't. I lingered around my room until 7:30 Saturday morning before meeting everyone in the dining room for breakfast. Then setting up for the morning. Then the AGM itself, which went very well. I found my roomies in the lobby on the morning coffee break after the meeting, got them set up in the room and registered for the event. Then it was workshop time.
Kent Stetson's drama workshop was brilliant. Absolutely brilliant! I want to take one of his longer more intensive workshops. It was fascinating to learn about his method and to discover the world of playwrighting from a different angle. At every AGM there seems to always be one workshop that I really connect with and this was it for me. Last year I didn't take any of the workshops, the year before it was Gerard Beirne's workshop. The year before that it would have been Magie Dominic's. These are workshops that stay with you, that you always remember and retain, that you incorporate into your work style. Sometimes it comes from a personal rapport and connection with the workshop leader, sometimes it's strictly based on what you learn. Kent's was both for me. I learned so much! I've been so inspired! And I immediately felt at ease and connected with him on a personal level. He's a wonderful human being on top of being brilliant. If you get the chance, if you ever have the opportunity, if you have any interest in writing or drama in particular, workshop with Kent and you won't be disappointed.
A bunch of people lunched at the Marshland, but after two days I was ready for a change, so we went to Patterson's Family Restaurant out by the TCH for some good old fashioned chicken fingers and fries! Well, not everyone had this, but I did. Then a stop over at the liquor store and Co-Op for supplies. And back for the afternoon workshop with J.J. Steinfeld. J.J. had also arrived on Thursday so I had the pleasure of hanging out with him a lot before the workshop happened. He's an entertaining funny sort of guy with many stories to tell. In his workshop participants attempted to write a short story together. It was an interesting process where we ended up with a whole lot of loose ends and not much tied up. It seemed everyone wanted to heighten the tension rather than fill in any of the blanks already alluded to. Looking around the room you could see how upset some participants were getting when sentence after sentence brought out new ideas, rather than developed upon the idea they had already put out there. That was interesting. I've often wondered about collaborative writing, and how it ever happens, because as writers we are so personally connected to our words. It is a different breed of writer that embraces the more collaborative genres like screenplays, methinks. That exercise ended with a total break-down, nobody wanted to finish, unless they could do it on their own terms, individually. Very interesting. My favourite exercise was the three sentence one, where J.J. gave an opening line, a participant gave a second line to build upon it and a third person gave the final line to close the story. That was a lot of fun to see and participate in. It's always interesting when you get a room full of writers at different stages of their careers, who write different genres.
I had promised myself I wouldn't spend money on books this trip, I need to finish all the books I already own first . . . but that went out the window. After hearing J.J. read on Friday evening I had to get a full collection of short stories and two chapbooks of short shorts. He signed them for me on Saturday afternoon before he and his lovely partner, Brenda, departed for PEI.
Back to the room for drinks and decompressing and preparation for the literary awards banquet. The meal was amazing! Like seriously, amazing! Should I ever have occasion for a banquet (a wedding? a birthday? retirement? something?) I will seriously consider making everyone trek to Sackville and take over the Marshland for at least a day and a night to enjoy the hospitality and great food. I had the roast beef with whipped potatoes and Yorkshire pudding. Not because I particularly like roast beef, but because I didn't particularly want salmon (which would require a white wine and also induce sleepiness) or asparagus crepes. Going into the banquet I would've much preferred the pork dish I've had at Marshland's before and enjoyed immensely. But lo and behold, I am now a beef convert! The dinner was amazing! The appetizer salad with poppyseed dressing was to die for, and frigging huge! The main course was also to die for . . . and frigging huge! Everyone at my table had the chocolate dessert except me. I had the mandarin orange cheesecake. Again to die for! Perfection! What a meal! Hat's off to the chef. Truly a memorable meal.
Following the food, came the presentation of awards and readings by the winners of the WFNB's annual literary competition. A fine selection of readers. A few years ago the WFNB opened their annual competition up to entries across Canada, in keeping with what most groups across the country do, and it's wonderful to see how many of the winners are New Brunswickers in this now national competition. NB'ers are writing! And they're writing good stuff! It's particularly wonderful to see and hear from our young writers like Katherine Standen, who tied for second for the Sheree Fitch Prize for fiction. Before the readings started, Marilyn, madame president, presented me with a gift of a very nice bottle of wine and a wonderful gift certificate. I didn't feel like I deserved this, I didn't do that much, but it was lovely of them to think of me. Thankfully I did not open the bag, see the contents, read the card, during the banquet, because I would've been bawling. I nearly was, as it was. And I had the responsibility of mic adjusting, so that wouldn't have been cool.
All in all it was a great evening. My roomies were exhausted though, so we didn't go out for the usual drinks or partying afterward. Perhaps nobody gathered to talk writing and literature into the wee hours of the morning, I'm not sure. We retreated to our room for an hour or so of drinks and tarot readings. And were all tucked in quite early. Where I continued to check the clock every 15-20 minutes, this time waking my sister every time because she opted to sleep between me and the digital, so I had to sit up and peep over her to see the numbers. She may regret not choosing the claustrophobic next to the wall spot.
Slept late and went to breakfast late on Sunday. I had the eggs benedict and then emceed our final event, the open mic readings. This is where everyone has a chance to share their work and it's always a highlight of the weekend. Such a great turn-out! We had about 14 readers and at least as many spectators. We went round the room once, but opted not to go round again as many people (including me) had to get on the road to travel back to the real world. I read why I hate New Year's Eve, and probably went a little long, it's hard to time yourself, but I was last, so I don't think it mattered that much.
All in all, it was a great few days, a successful WFNB event, and I'm already churning around ideas for what we can do in Miramichi next year to top this year's event.
Mood: happy
Drinking: water
Listening To: water running for the washer upstairs
Hair: still headbanded
Sunday, March 18, 2007
What is the colour of love?
Today was one of those days where I quite simply ate everything in sight. The day after the mega-hangover is generally like that. Nachos with cheese, french fries, fish, yeah, it might not seem like a lot, but trust me, it is. I spent most of the day on the phone, or in front of the tv, eating or drinking. Much water being consumed here today. Though I notice I'm down to my last bottle. Note to self -- buy more water. I like Sunday morning television on CBC. The full week of Cornonation Street. Evan Solomon. Land & Sea. It's just good stuff. It's easy to get lost under the covers til noon dozing in and out of CBC docs.
DVDs watched this weekend include Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Reality Bites, The Favourite Game, Singles, and Disco Pigs. Perhaps technically Cameron Crowe's addition to the list should not count because I did mostly sleep through it, fell dead to world last evening just after my favourite line, "I was just . . . nowhere near your neighbourhood." Is that even halfway? Methinks not. Late yesterday afternoon I watched the one from Leonard Cohen's novel. I've only seen it once or twice and not anytime recently. I had forgotten practically everything. I enjoy JR Bourne though. He is one of my favourite Canadian actors. He was on Godiva's. Is that still on? I used to enjoy that show too. But I've lost touch with tv programming. Earlier today I watched Eternal Sunshine and did not cry! That's some kind of record I'm sure. Ohh, but I do love it! She is just amazing in that movie. I had a sudden urge to put in Titanic afterward, just to see more of her American accent. But I didn't. I found myself oddly drawn to Pig and Runt again. My boy, Cillian, in the first role I ever saw him in, the one that made me a fan. And once again the final scene ripped out my heart and turned me into a blubbering mess. The colour of love is blue. He hands her the red t-shirt but she takes the blue dress from under his head instead. Because the last thing she wants him to see is the colour of love. And he doesn't fight but goes willing and my heart breaks every time. Disco Pigs brings out the big old sloppy tears, the jagged sobs, the fetal position, a burying of my head in the pillow, a hugging of knees. Why do I do that to myself? Repeatedly.
All in all it was a good weekend. I didn't get much work done, but maybe that's okay, maybe I needed to get my head out of it to get fresh again. Maybe I needed to rest my fingers, wrist and all the other joints that I'd been killing all week, pressing through the pain. Today, I notice marked improvement. I had a good time during a spontaneous sleepover with friends. Is there anything better than staying up all night with a good friend, drinking and conversation til nearly dawn? I haven't been doing this enough over the past few years. I used to do it every night of the week. THAT was excessive. But every once in awhile is a good thing.
Mood: content
Drinking: water
Listening To: people overhead
Hair: facing an impending alteration
DVDs watched this weekend include Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Reality Bites, The Favourite Game, Singles, and Disco Pigs. Perhaps technically Cameron Crowe's addition to the list should not count because I did mostly sleep through it, fell dead to world last evening just after my favourite line, "I was just . . . nowhere near your neighbourhood." Is that even halfway? Methinks not. Late yesterday afternoon I watched the one from Leonard Cohen's novel. I've only seen it once or twice and not anytime recently. I had forgotten practically everything. I enjoy JR Bourne though. He is one of my favourite Canadian actors. He was on Godiva's. Is that still on? I used to enjoy that show too. But I've lost touch with tv programming. Earlier today I watched Eternal Sunshine and did not cry! That's some kind of record I'm sure. Ohh, but I do love it! She is just amazing in that movie. I had a sudden urge to put in Titanic afterward, just to see more of her American accent. But I didn't. I found myself oddly drawn to Pig and Runt again. My boy, Cillian, in the first role I ever saw him in, the one that made me a fan. And once again the final scene ripped out my heart and turned me into a blubbering mess. The colour of love is blue. He hands her the red t-shirt but she takes the blue dress from under his head instead. Because the last thing she wants him to see is the colour of love. And he doesn't fight but goes willing and my heart breaks every time. Disco Pigs brings out the big old sloppy tears, the jagged sobs, the fetal position, a burying of my head in the pillow, a hugging of knees. Why do I do that to myself? Repeatedly.
All in all it was a good weekend. I didn't get much work done, but maybe that's okay, maybe I needed to get my head out of it to get fresh again. Maybe I needed to rest my fingers, wrist and all the other joints that I'd been killing all week, pressing through the pain. Today, I notice marked improvement. I had a good time during a spontaneous sleepover with friends. Is there anything better than staying up all night with a good friend, drinking and conversation til nearly dawn? I haven't been doing this enough over the past few years. I used to do it every night of the week. THAT was excessive. But every once in awhile is a good thing.
Mood: content
Drinking: water
Listening To: people overhead
Hair: facing an impending alteration
Friday, March 02, 2007
Mother Goose
I have a Salvador Dali calendar in the dining room/office, which I just flipped to March this morning. I never understand what it all means, but yet I am drawn almost to the point of distraction. I probably should read up on the paintings. Someday.
Last night I went to a murder mystery evening with the Purple Hat Ladies. Loads of fun! Really good time. Interesting. Met some new people. I'll write more about it later. Only $12.50 for a cab to Chatham from here. I expected $15, so that's pretty good. Do-able at least some times. Anything that I would be going to Chatham for would be work/writer related, so all those cab rides are claimable expenses. This year I receipt EVERYTHING! I know I may have said that last year, but it wasn't as dire as this year. This is the year when I have to get on top of those things, get used to keeping better track.
Still no sign of snow here. Sun was out awhile ago, warming my front rooms. When I open the curtains in the morning, if the sun is already up, it's like turning on a furnace. Crazy! And blinding too.
In the drafts section of my blog I'm working on some fiction. I'm not sure what it's all about, how it's winding up, but I should be able to post it in another few days. The first half went quick, but I'm a little stuck on it now. I'm probably 3/4 finished though, so something will click soon. Today I have a writer friend coming over for brunch and conversation. Looking forward to that! But mustn't sit here all day blogging, as I've got a brunch to prepare!
Mood: anticipating
Drinking: coffee, the beyond super-cheap $3.99 for a kilo zellers kind (thanks mom!)
Listening To: clackity clack, don't talk back
Hair: do i see a hair make-over in my future?
Last night I went to a murder mystery evening with the Purple Hat Ladies. Loads of fun! Really good time. Interesting. Met some new people. I'll write more about it later. Only $12.50 for a cab to Chatham from here. I expected $15, so that's pretty good. Do-able at least some times. Anything that I would be going to Chatham for would be work/writer related, so all those cab rides are claimable expenses. This year I receipt EVERYTHING! I know I may have said that last year, but it wasn't as dire as this year. This is the year when I have to get on top of those things, get used to keeping better track.
Still no sign of snow here. Sun was out awhile ago, warming my front rooms. When I open the curtains in the morning, if the sun is already up, it's like turning on a furnace. Crazy! And blinding too.
In the drafts section of my blog I'm working on some fiction. I'm not sure what it's all about, how it's winding up, but I should be able to post it in another few days. The first half went quick, but I'm a little stuck on it now. I'm probably 3/4 finished though, so something will click soon. Today I have a writer friend coming over for brunch and conversation. Looking forward to that! But mustn't sit here all day blogging, as I've got a brunch to prepare!
Mood: anticipating
Drinking: coffee, the beyond super-cheap $3.99 for a kilo zellers kind (thanks mom!)
Listening To: clackity clack, don't talk back
Hair: do i see a hair make-over in my future?
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Star Light, Star Bright
Arthritis kicking in. Left wrist, fingers. A bit excruciating actually. I might have to take something for it. It's been awhile since I've had it so focused and acute. I wonder if it's not arthritis at all, but rather I bumped my hand or something.
What a day! BnM Meeting, movies, and visit with my kids. Saw Arthur and the Invisibles at the theatre. Pretty much the last of the free tickets before they expire end of the month.
Watched Mambo Italiano and had supper and it's not yet 8pm. I should have invited kids to stay for supper. Never thought of it. Never think of food unless I'm hungry. And I'd just had popcorn and kisses. I need to work on my social skills now that I actually have guests from time to time.
Too early to go to bed, as I'm not that tired. Yet not wanting to really get into any work or housework that would wake me up more. It's odd, this lifestyle of the past week. Days are really long. It takes little time to do things that used to take ages. I don't know what's going on. Progress seems easier here or something. I remember I used to go downstairs to do dishes and be gone for hours. The littlest amount would seem to take forever. Did I daydream? Did I lose time in thought? I washed everything when I arrived. All of it. Not in one sitting, but in a few pretty big loads. And I'd do all these dishes and find I'd only spent 20 minutes on the whole thing. It's strange.
The day was so long today that I thought it was the whole weekend, came over to my desk to prepare my calendar for Monday morning, but tomorrow is Sunday. If I can find quarters I'll do laundry. I could do laundry now. I doubt many people here do on a Saturday night. A lot of them seem to have washers and dryers in their places. I hear them spinning in the evenings. You can do laundry in the shared washer until 11pm. Even that seems a little late.
Last night one of my neighbors (next door I think) had guests and played music and I thought maybe were working up for a party, but it never happened. Petered out before I went to bed even, they must've just had a couple of drinks in before going out or something. Lying in bed last night I could almost make out a conversation happening on the catwalk above my window where people go to smoke. A guy, a girl. Every second word he said started with F. She was too quiet to make-out anything, just murmurs. All you could hear was his Fs. Grumble, F, Grumble, F, murmur, F, F, Grumble, Grumble, F, F, F, Grumble, F, murmur . . . bizarre. They went in after their smoke though and I heard no more. I'm not real sure how thick the walls are here. I think we're all pretty quiet. I never hear anyone from the other half of the building, the other shared wall. It's odd.
I've observed that the ambulance is called out a lot in the evening. Last night something went on somewhere, at least 2 sets of cops and ambulance crossed the Morrissey within five minutes of one another. Never heard what it was all about. I'm here, but I'm not really in the thick of it. I do not yet have my finger on the pulse of the community. But I want to. I wish it were warmer. It's been so cold for walking around town. But this week, I must. Cold or not. This week I need to walk places, do things. Now that I'm almost all unpacked (something else to do tomorrow) and settled in.
And that's enough rambling and talking to myself for one evening. I think I'll watch another movie.
Mood: fantastic
Drinking: rooibos
Listening To: again, nothing but the hum of my computer . . . i'm getting a little concerned
Hair: pushed back off my face
What a day! BnM Meeting, movies, and visit with my kids. Saw Arthur and the Invisibles at the theatre. Pretty much the last of the free tickets before they expire end of the month.
Watched Mambo Italiano and had supper and it's not yet 8pm. I should have invited kids to stay for supper. Never thought of it. Never think of food unless I'm hungry. And I'd just had popcorn and kisses. I need to work on my social skills now that I actually have guests from time to time.
Too early to go to bed, as I'm not that tired. Yet not wanting to really get into any work or housework that would wake me up more. It's odd, this lifestyle of the past week. Days are really long. It takes little time to do things that used to take ages. I don't know what's going on. Progress seems easier here or something. I remember I used to go downstairs to do dishes and be gone for hours. The littlest amount would seem to take forever. Did I daydream? Did I lose time in thought? I washed everything when I arrived. All of it. Not in one sitting, but in a few pretty big loads. And I'd do all these dishes and find I'd only spent 20 minutes on the whole thing. It's strange.
The day was so long today that I thought it was the whole weekend, came over to my desk to prepare my calendar for Monday morning, but tomorrow is Sunday. If I can find quarters I'll do laundry. I could do laundry now. I doubt many people here do on a Saturday night. A lot of them seem to have washers and dryers in their places. I hear them spinning in the evenings. You can do laundry in the shared washer until 11pm. Even that seems a little late.
Last night one of my neighbors (next door I think) had guests and played music and I thought maybe were working up for a party, but it never happened. Petered out before I went to bed even, they must've just had a couple of drinks in before going out or something. Lying in bed last night I could almost make out a conversation happening on the catwalk above my window where people go to smoke. A guy, a girl. Every second word he said started with F. She was too quiet to make-out anything, just murmurs. All you could hear was his Fs. Grumble, F, Grumble, F, murmur, F, F, Grumble, Grumble, F, F, F, Grumble, F, murmur . . . bizarre. They went in after their smoke though and I heard no more. I'm not real sure how thick the walls are here. I think we're all pretty quiet. I never hear anyone from the other half of the building, the other shared wall. It's odd.
I've observed that the ambulance is called out a lot in the evening. Last night something went on somewhere, at least 2 sets of cops and ambulance crossed the Morrissey within five minutes of one another. Never heard what it was all about. I'm here, but I'm not really in the thick of it. I do not yet have my finger on the pulse of the community. But I want to. I wish it were warmer. It's been so cold for walking around town. But this week, I must. Cold or not. This week I need to walk places, do things. Now that I'm almost all unpacked (something else to do tomorrow) and settled in.
And that's enough rambling and talking to myself for one evening. I think I'll watch another movie.
Mood: fantastic
Drinking: rooibos
Listening To: again, nothing but the hum of my computer . . . i'm getting a little concerned
Hair: pushed back off my face
Friday, February 16, 2007
"I feel so good. Life is running around inside of me like a squirrel." -- Boris Kolenkhov, You Can't Take It With You (1938)
I love this line. And I feel like this a lot this week. Sometimes I just look around and giggle. I'm excited about life again. Excited about living. It's not that I was unexcited before. When I first went to Sackville I had the same feeling, then gradually it wore down, as I started to miss things I wanted to attend, as I started to find that there were very few people my age, as my home disintegrated and my landlord turned out to not be who I thought he was. I had some really great days there even then, and I'll likely have some not so great days where I am now. But not yet.
Slept in til 7 this morning. My room was actually a little bit warmer last night than it has been. And again I'd knew there'd be no sunrise visible in the grey sky today. I was dreaming about a Coughlan family thing. Like some sort of hike or something, with cousins manning rest posts along the way where you could buy drinks and food. It seemed like we were in hills. Very green and foggy. A lot like how I imagine Ireland must be. We all started out together but soon everyone separated and it became a solo walk for each of us, a kind of spiritual trek even, like that one in Spain. Having some good dreams here this week. Entertaining and fun. Like the Japanese mafia one from the other night. That was loads of fun!
This evening I'm having over my brother and his new girlfriend for supper. His birthday was yesterday, so it's kind of like a post b'day celebration. I'm very curious to meet this girl. I'm hoping she's nice and good for him and not . . . well, not like so many of the other people who have come and gone in his life. This is my first entertaining. I still need to put the rest of the house together. I might walk out later and see about getting a cake or something for dessert. If I have time. Otherwise we'll have to make due with . . . bran muffins?
Off to the races! Enjoy your day.
Mood: squirrelly
Drinking: russian tea, black, and a glass of water
Listening To: traffic, on the bridge, or across the river
Hair: needing a make-over badly
I love this line. And I feel like this a lot this week. Sometimes I just look around and giggle. I'm excited about life again. Excited about living. It's not that I was unexcited before. When I first went to Sackville I had the same feeling, then gradually it wore down, as I started to miss things I wanted to attend, as I started to find that there were very few people my age, as my home disintegrated and my landlord turned out to not be who I thought he was. I had some really great days there even then, and I'll likely have some not so great days where I am now. But not yet.
Slept in til 7 this morning. My room was actually a little bit warmer last night than it has been. And again I'd knew there'd be no sunrise visible in the grey sky today. I was dreaming about a Coughlan family thing. Like some sort of hike or something, with cousins manning rest posts along the way where you could buy drinks and food. It seemed like we were in hills. Very green and foggy. A lot like how I imagine Ireland must be. We all started out together but soon everyone separated and it became a solo walk for each of us, a kind of spiritual trek even, like that one in Spain. Having some good dreams here this week. Entertaining and fun. Like the Japanese mafia one from the other night. That was loads of fun!
This evening I'm having over my brother and his new girlfriend for supper. His birthday was yesterday, so it's kind of like a post b'day celebration. I'm very curious to meet this girl. I'm hoping she's nice and good for him and not . . . well, not like so many of the other people who have come and gone in his life. This is my first entertaining. I still need to put the rest of the house together. I might walk out later and see about getting a cake or something for dessert. If I have time. Otherwise we'll have to make due with . . . bran muffins?
Off to the races! Enjoy your day.
Mood: squirrelly
Drinking: russian tea, black, and a glass of water
Listening To: traffic, on the bridge, or across the river
Hair: needing a make-over badly
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