Went to a wedding yesterday afternoon. It was really nice; lovely, really. Haven't been to many weddings... there was my own (and the first one I'd ever been to, btw), the one in Newfoundland that Rachel performed, and this one. Think that's it. I must confess though that I'm a little surprised that whole "If anyone here has any objections" part has been left out of contemporary ceremonies. Isn't that hlaf the fun of the wedding? The idea that a poor woman in dishevelled clothing, infant child in arms, steps forward to reveal the groom as the father; the high school love rushing the front, waving a giant crucifix to hold off the ushers, groomsmen and priest? If movies have taught us anything, it's that the best part of the wedding, the most memorable part is going to happen when those little words are uttered...

So, I'm not sleeping well. It's the inveitable consequence of sleeping in someone else's bed. When you'r in someone else's bed the mattress is either too firm or too soft; the pillows are either too flat or too fluffy; nothing's the way you like it. Let alone the unpleasant visuals that accompany thinking about what's gone on in the bed before you slept there. And even a thinking about what's gone on in a hotel bed can't compete with what you imagine about people you know. Anyway, I wake up every hour or so, toss and turn for another half hour then fall asleep and start the whole vicious cycle over again.

I have a question for the one, maybe two people here, and I'm really interested in hearing what you think: do you think it's appropiate to tell somone, a friend, that he/she is dating someone you think is TOTALLY beneath him/her? I'm curious.

So I'm housesitting. All alone in a strange place. Just me and the dog. I'm glad there's a dog there. Talking to myself would just be crazy.

Watched Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez's Sin City last night. Can't think of the last time I was awestruck by such a unique visual style. Absolutely beautiful, perfectly cast (except Michael Madsen, who just seemed out of place); the incredible violence will make some people uneasy (or quesy, whatever), but watch a film! And who is Jessica Alba and how did she get so beautiful? Really, it's like flawless, otherworldly beauty. It's hard to trust uber-beautiful people - they're nothing but trouble. Watch out for them. They'll only disappoint you, if you're lucky.

My neighbourhood...

I live in a small section of Winnipeg called "Wolseley," named after Garnet Joseph Wolseley, 1st Viscount, Baron Wolseley of Cairo and of Wolseley. Despite its rather assicipious namesake, Wolseley is regarded throughout the city as the "granola belt" for its Birkenstock sandals, hairylegged women and 3, count 'em 3, Organic food stores. Wolseley prides itself on being friendly, the friendliest place in the already abundantly friendly Manitoba. People greet each other on the street with warm smiles and earnest "Good mornings." "You're never alone in Wolseley," a neighbour told me, "there's always someone to talk to." Coming from Toronto, where making eye contact with someone can be akin to pouring a drink in their lap and questioning their mother's virtue, I find the whole thing just a little forced. I mean, it's a system based on lies that prevent us from actually engaging with other people. At least in Toronto you know the rules - you don't want to talk to them, they don't want to talk to you." Simple, easy, direct. Here, they seem like they might want to talk to you, but are really asking the most superficial of questions that repeal people, keep people at a distance.

"How are you?"
"Lovely morning, isn't it?"
"Are those Birkenstocks?"

People say these things EXPECTING you to answer positively. "Fine, thank you, and yourself?" Most don't even wait for a response before they start walking away. Just once I would love to answer, "Horribly! It's an awful morning. And no, these are the most environmentally antagnositic sandals in existence made out of styra-foam, old polyurothane Big Mac containers and baby seals." I wonder if there'd be even a glimmer of confusion before they grinned their Stepford grin and walked on to the one of the 3 Organic food stores.

So this afternoon I watched the Jean-Pierre Jeunet film, A Very Long Engagement. If I were to pick a single word from that title with which to sum up, surmise, or some other word that starts with "su" the film, it would have to be the third word: Long. It was very long. I'd purpose amending the already quite lengthy title to something that more accurately reflects the experience. Persoanlly I think A VERY Long Film about a Very Long Engagement covers it nicely.

It's a good film -nice story, solid acting, interesting visuals and all that- it's just so terribly LONG. unnecessarily long too. It's like the filmmakers took every pain to drag things out as long as they possible could. For example, Audrey Tautou, who's as cute as a button and you could eat up with a spoon, plays a woman suffering from polio. So any time she has to physically move from point A to point B it's A VERY LONG WALK. Seriously, if Tautou's character was healthy, the film would have run twenty, thirty minutes shorter.

Right, here's another picture; this one's from the trip to Newfoundland. This is me on one of the famous Newfoundland beaches. As you can tell, the Newfoundland beaches are famous for being crap. I could only stay there long enough for the picture to be taken, as there was a handful of sharp, pointy rocks sticking me in the kidneys.

I realize I haven't posted anything is a long while (sorry Jaimie), so I decided to finally get around to posting a picture I've been meaning to out up for a some time. This is Rachel and I and our lovely god-daughter, Delphine Marlowe Beckett. She's incredible; a lot of fun. We're reading a book we got her about a red bull who goes to the market. He's scared, the farmer reassures him: it's a fantastic read - highly recommend it to all.

Spent the long weekend (which I had, to be honest, forgotten about until a friends asked what I was doing for it) studying and watching movies. Went through whatever I have of the Marx Brothers films(from the excellent - Animal Crackers, Horse Feathers, Duck Soup; to the good-At the Circus and Day at the Races; to the forgettable and regrettable- Night in Casablanca); plus, I rented the incredible House of Flying Daggers and the I'm-not-sure-if-I-liked-it-or-not Door in the Floor.

While HFD was a visual treat, I just can't come to terms with my feelings about DitF. For those of you who don't know, DitF is the film version of the first third of John Irving's excellent novel, A Widow for a Year. I will say this, even at 50 Kim Basinger is still hot.

All in all, a mildly productive long weekend.

Listening to: the Magnetic Fields alum, i.

A holiday by any other name

So I have the day off today. In fact, a great deal of Canadians have today off. Unlike Canada Day, celebrated last month, with its clear purpose stated in the name, nobody seems sure what this day is supposed to be about. And I think that makes today a better a for better reflection of the diverse identities and spirit(s) that make up this country. Today is referred to, throughout the land, by a multipicity of names: some provinces identify it was a provincal holiday (New Brunswick day, for example); others call it the sadly generic "Civic Day", which means what exactly? for others till it's a regular old Monday. Even within provinces there can be differences and discrepancies. Most of Newfoudland celebrates "civic day" today with a day off, except the capitial city, St John's, which celebrates "Regatta Day" on Wednesday.

So what does day mean to me? A day off. But not really: I still have studying to do.

Listening to: Pink Martini's cover of "Que sera sera", which I heard in the pilot of "Dead Like Me".

Slicing through life like a samurai sword

So the Fringe is on.

One of the great joys of living in Winnipeg (there are a few) is the annual Fringer Festival. Hundreds of performers descend upon the city for 10 days of plays. Rachel usually takes that time as her vacation and watches plays all day for ten days. I've never been so lucky. Being a grad student and sessional instructor means you have to work when you can. I try to take in as many plays as I can, but this year, with the pressures of studying for comps, I've only seen one. But what a one.

I always catch TJ Dawe's shows at the Fringe. He's both funny and witty (not the same thing); he's more an essayist or stoy teller than a playwright. Anyway, I'm very glad I went. It was about the time Dawe worked as a bartender in England. Having been in England recently, I could relate to a lot about what he said about the differences in words and meaning. There's something SO, SO wrong with asking people where the toilet is. You say washroom, and they stare at you like you have two heads. Freaky Brits.

So I'm cat sitting... not sitting on cats, mind you, but there was that rather close call last night. Our across the street neighbours are on vacation and asked if we could watch their two cats. Not being a cat person, having never even owned a pet larger then a small rat, I, of course, said: "sure glad to." Actually they're really good cats, not aloof and uninterested like so many I have encountered over the years. They follow me around the house, sit with me while I watch tv or read... maybe they're just making sure I don't steal anything. Who knows. But, I guess as long as I remember to feed them twice a day, everything will be good.

So I rented a bunch of movies this weekend. There's Million Dollar Baby, The Avaitor and The Sea Inside. They're all critically accliamed, they're all films I want to see, but for some reason I just can't make myself watch them. The running times don't help: MDB is 138 minutes and Avaitor is a typical Scorcese 3 hour epic. Apparently somewhere over the past few years I've developed ADD or something. 80-85 minute movies are more my cup of tea. Unfortunately that pretty much only leaves Woody Allen films to watch... and I refuse to watch The Curse of the Jade Scorpion on general principle. I suppose mindless flicking through the television might be in order then

Listening to: the gentle breeze outside.

It's been almost two weeks since I returned from Newfoundland and I realized that I have told you all my final flight story: the dread tale of the Toronto to Winnipeg leg of our trip. So, sit back, kiddies. Get a nice big mug of hot chocolate, wrap yourself in your favourite blanket and enjoy...

Right, so the flight starts off smoothly enough. No screaming kids, the planes not too full. Rachel and I had another person in our row, but right before take off a stewartess told the woman that there were empty rows at the front of the plane and that she could move once the seat belt sign went off. Great, I thought. Only, once the seat belt sign went off, she didn't move. She put her headphones on and started watching television! Huh? What's up with that? Row to yourself with lots of room to stretch out or crammed in with a couple of strangers?

Eventually, after being told again she could move by the stewartess, she moved. But now the fun was beginning. The flight was a little choppy. The captain had warned us that there would be turbulence along the way, but for the first hour and a bit there was nothing too bad. Once we were kind of close to Winnipeg though, things were much worse. You see, boys and girls, Winnipeg was in the middle of a huge thunderstorm. We circled the city a few times, with our cloud-eye view of the lightening. Then the captain informs us that the plane's being diverted to Kenora Ontario to wait out the storm and to re-fuel. What's in Kenroa, you ask? Big, fat nothing! I'm surprised there was a run-way big enough to accomodate our plane. So we land, they turn the televisions back on and everything's quiet for 25-30 minutes. I look out and see the fuel truck filling up the plane. Oh good, I thought, we'll soon be on our way.

"This is your captain agin, folks. We have our new flight plan from Westjet, but it seems that the fuel truck has, well, run out of fuel. It'll be just a few more minutes here in Kenora." I'm sorry, what? The fuel truck ran out of fuel? The FUEL TRUCK?! Where does a fuel truck have to go to refuel? Where ever it went, it toook about 20 more minutes. By this time it's 10:30 or so at night. I'm tired and getting grumpy and a little hungry.

We finally take off and it's about 20 minutes to Winnipeg. And those twenty minutes felt like an hour. I have NEVER felt turbulance like that. The plane didn't shake up and down, like planes do in the movies; this plane was kind of sliding, one wing moving in front of the other. Stomach in my throat, I gripped the armrest of my seat and closed my eyes.

When we finally landed, the captain camer back on the PA to inform us that we'd be taxi-ing to the gate but, because of the storm, our bags might not be unloaded. Great. People are groaning audibly now.

When we finally deplane, a long line forms in front of the sliding glass door leading into the airport. Seems the airports closed. After a Westjet employee runs back from the plane with the keys, we can finally enter the Winnipeg airport... to the sound of the baggage carousel starting up, and our bags arriving.

After waiting 20 minutes in the pouring rain for a cab we get home by 1:00am... to a flooded bedroom. Seems someone turned our airconditioner on and it leaked all over the floor.

And now a Monday Mission...

1. Do you wear glasses/contact lenses?

No, I don't. Both my parents do and I read a LOT: I figured that glasses were inevietable. Go figure.

2. Did you ever have to wear braces? How are your teeth? (any cavities, any pulled teeth, root canals, etc.)

Groan. Yes I had braces... cut the crap out of the inside of my lip. Have also had more than my fair share of dental procedures: cavities (though none in a while), pulled teeth (four, thank you very much), wisdom teeth out, a rather painful root canal and, most recently, gun grafting. I don't get it. I brush, I floss (not as regularly as I should mind you, but still), I don't eat a lot of junk food. So what's the deal-io?

3. What (if any) recent movies have moved you emotionally? Which one and how so?

To be honest, Batman Begins moved me. That might sounds weird, but I was a huge Batman fan growing up, but everytime they tried to transfer the comic hero to television or film, it sucked. I'm in a minority here, I know, but I didn't care for Burton's Batman. It was dark, sure, but it was also very convulated and silly. Nolan's film was gritty and real. Seeing something I had been waiting for for so long moved me. Not to tears or anything; I'm not a sissy-boy.

4. Would you rather live the remainder of your golden years in a rest home, or pass away before it came to that?

I don't know. The thought of being totally taken care of appeals to me, but would I really be lucid enough to enjoy it?

5. What natural creation or phenomenon just flat-out leaves you with a sense of wonder?

Thunderstorms, hurricanes, tidal waves. Anything where Nature shows her dominace over us.

6. Have you ever been in a fist fight or a situation where you had to get physically violent with someone else? How did that come about? Any consequences?

Despite my recent airport desire to punch a whole lot of people in thier big, fat heads, I have only been in one fist fight in my life. Apparently I don't do the whole thing particularly well.

So there was this gi-normous thunderstorm here in Winnipeg Saturday night: trees toppled, basements flooded, powerlines downed, young girls carried off to magic lands. I watched it for a while. It was really beautiful, the lightening streaking the sky; almost quaint. Of course the next day, seeing the damage left behind was something else. Luckily this time our car was damaged, though a large branch fell from the tree in front of our house (hitting our neighbour's van). I got to thinking about how safe we think we are, yet Nature can, at any time, step in and kick the living crap out of us.

Got to play drums last night for a friend. Got to play more "fun" songs than I'm used to. It was a blast. Admittedly, there were times I got carried away with myself and sort of lost the beat , but que sera sera; I found it quickly enough.

Listening to: John Coltrane's "My Favourite Things"

There's no place I can be, since I found serenity

It all started with Angel.

Rachel bought season 5; I was curious/bored/whatver and watched it. Intriqued by a quirky little drama about a vampire and his demon-slaying sidekicks, I agreed to start the series over, watching from season one... but, I insisted, no Buffy. Silly me.

After about a million questions about some of the Buffy-related history of the Angel characters, I, head hung down in shame, relented: I will watch Buffy. And, know what? I like it! Shhhh, don't tell anyone.

This week we took a break from our favourite vampire slayer to watch yet another Joss Whedon show: Firefly. Learning a little bit from the past, I did not fight watching this show.

Firefly is some seriously good television, people. It's sci-fi, and I know that's not everytone's cup of tea, but this is sci-fi at it's best: no silly aliens, no techno-jargon, just solid story telling and strong, interesting characters. It's a shame that crap like Home Improvement or Everybody Loves Raymond can run for millenia, but a smart, thoughtful show like Firefly gets cancelled before a full season is up. Come on; even Joanie Loves Chaci got a season! Althoug there are many loose ends left by the show's urupt cancellation, fear not: there's a movie (rumoured to be the first of three) coming out this fall.

Listening to: the soft hum of the fan and 'Round About Midnight by the Miles Davis Quintet. There are few things in the world better than a Miles Davis solo.

All right, I'm back from an amazing vacation in St John's, Newfoundland. Seriously, one of the friendliest places on earth. Saw some whales, ate some fish and chips, and walked roughly thirty seven hundred miles. As awesome as the trip was, I came to realize soemthing about flying: I am the absolutely worst version of myself when I fly. All the stupid little things people do that I can usually shrug off drive me MENTAL when I'm strapped into a cramped, leatherette chair at 30'000 feet. If I'm ever going to commit murder, I'll be doing on the plane. Example: on the way back to Toronto we had a stop over in Moncton. This family (mom, dad and two kids) get on. The mom and the kids sit on one side of the plane, the dad sits a few rows up and on the opposite side of the plane (and directly behind me). They talked back and forth to each other the WHOLE way. Apparently the dad thought the flight needed uninformed play-by-play commentating (maybe it was the lack of inflight movie or even radio?): "Hey I think that's the St Laurence... Yeah, I think that's it. St. Laurence, maybe?" Golly, THAT was far more entertaining than the book I was trying to read. Cretin.

I loved getting to go swimming with god-daughter, Delphine. If flying turns me into the dread bastard-Mike, few things make me more benevolent and happy Mike than Del. The idea of swimming was just so exciting to her. Even though it was a little cool and her little lip was shivering, she couldn't contain her excitement at being in the water!

One of the best things we did in St. John's was the Haunted Hike. If any of you are heading to the Rock, I strongly suggest you go along for this merry, morbid and macabre tour.

I'll post more about my trip in the days to come. Til then:

Listening to: Milestones, Miles Davis.

Well, my movie's been viewed an astonishing 24 times - astonishing in that I can't imagine that I know 24 people who might come here to visit and read my ramblings. I'll just believe that a number of those viewings are repeats... but then again, even that's somewhat hard to believe.

I finally saw Batman Begins today... jaw droppingly good. I've been running hot/cold when it comes to comic book movies. For every Batman Begins, there's a Fantastic Four slouching towards Bethlehem. When done correctly, comic-films play into our natural desire for heroes - heroes who are both us and more than us.

Unlike a lot of people I know, I wasn't a huge fan of the two Tim Burton Batman films (though they were Citizen freakin' Kane compared to the rest of that series). You see, I've been a fan of Batman for as long as I can remember reading comic books. I loved the idea of the lone (or almost lone if you count Robin) figure fighting for justice in a corrupt world. But more then that, Batman is a beautiful contrast to the comic book heroes whose enemies were defeated through superhuman strength or speed; Batman, though strong and trained in various fighting styles, is a normal man. He is a detective, who uses all his mind and strength to beat his nemeses. Burton's vision was too cartoony for my tastes; dark cartoony to be sure, but cartoony nevertheless. It missed the believability so crucial to Batman's world.

Christopher Nolan's vision of Gotham (and the whole story of Batman) is far more realistic - the Wayne business, the famous toys are explained (someone has to make these things for Batman) and, most interesting for me, the psychology of the characters. Sure it's melodramatic, but, with its firm grounding in realism, it's melodrama in the very best sense of the word: sensational drama with heightened emotions. In an interview with Cinescope, my PhD advisor and brilliant screenwriter, George Toles, commented that in order to make films with fantastic subjects, the writer/director must ground that subject in the mundane and every day. So, the incredible Technicolor land of Oz in The Wizard of Oz needs to be grounded in the dull, sepia cornfields of Kansas. Nolan's Gotham is perfectly grounded.

Listening to: Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue... 'cause it's a kind of blue sort of day.

It's a reasonable 20 degrees today. No sweat... literally. The neighbourhood's a buzz with activity. People out mowing their yards, planting things in their gardens. And I'm inside, watching it all from the window.

Leaving for Newfoundland in a few days. Still have to pack and all that goodness, but I'm not worried. It'll be nice to get away for a week. First part of the trip will be occupied with Rachel's friend's wedding, but after that we can do whatever.

Looks like I'll finally be getting to Batman Begins tomorrow, so that's a good thing.


Listening to: "Black Stacey" by Saul Williams.

It's a like million degrees here in the Peg and uber-humid... gotta love the thin layer of sweat that NEVER GOES AWAY!

Shamefully stolen from my friend Jaimie at http://www.livejournal.com/~ardently/
01. Reply with your name and I will write something I like about you.
02. I will then tell what song/movie/icon reminds me of you.
03. If I were to apply an o'clock to you, I'll tell you what it would be.
04. I will try to name a single word that best describes you.
05. I'll tell you the most memorable moment I've had with you.
06. I will tell you what animal you remind me of.
07. I'll then tell you something that I've always wondered about you.

So, today was the first nice, summer-like Saturday here in Manitoba. We're talkin' sunshine and lollipops and a solid forty mile-an-hour wind. All through the neighbourhood were signs of the beginning of summer; well, actually there were signs for garage sales, but in this part of Winnipeg they’re pretty much the same signs. It was incredible; probably a dozen such sales in a 10 block radius of my house. Everyone trying to sell off the crap they inexplicably purchased at garage sales last years. Why are we so convinced that 3 legged tables and coffee mugs that boast "World's Best Fishermen" are "bargains" at any price? Sure, that waffle iron sans cord was only 35 cents, but surely that change could have been better spent elsewhere?

Of course, the only reason to go to a Garage Sale (IMHO) is the scour the used books. Mostly, you'll be seeing 30 year old Harlequin Romances, with titles like "Rogue's Reunion" and "Blind Passion" or pot boiler suspense novels by authors you've never heard of. But every one and a while you'll come across something wondrous. You just have sort through arm-fulls of Joyce's Dilemmas and Canary Affairs to find it.

Listening to: Let Me Get What I Want - the Smiths.

All right, kiddies. Not much going on here again today, though I'm actually have fun at work today. One of the books we're publishing in the next little while is a book on Winnipeg in 1912. My boss is interested in tracking down some information on the vaudville curcuit that ran through here then. See, here's the story. Once, while here on tour, Groucho Marx was passing a theatre and heard uproarious laughter. Curious, Groucho went in and saw a young comic named Charlie Chaplin on stage. Impressed, Groucho returned later with his brothers to meet Chaplin. It's also told that the Marx invited Chaplin to their show, where he dramatically read a newspaper during their performance. At Chaplin's next show four orthodox rabbis sat in the seats he'd reserved for the Marx Brothers. The problem here is figuring what's truth and what's comedians telling stories. Regardless, I find it mindboggling that all of the great geniuses of film comedy performed here: Buster Keaton, WC Fields, Fatty Arbuckle all made their way through here on one of the vaudville tours. Crazy! Motley Crue was through here last year... so that's sort of the same, I guess. All right, it's not the same at all.


It also seems that I'm getting record (well, for me) traffic here. My short film has been viewed 20 times now. I've only heard back from a couple of people, but the overwhelming opinion is that it made them "sad". That's cool. Emotion, any emotion, is good, right?

Listening to: "Clint Eastwood" Gorillaz
"Bet you didn't think so I command you to"

Wednesday and not an interesting thing to say.

Things have been kind of slow this week in the not very exciting wrld of Mike". Truth be told I'm still sort of recovering from the weekend. Two late nights (friday and sunday), little napping and early rising (6:45am Monday) have left me groggy and grumpy (as my wife can attest). Just sort of zombie-shuffling my way through the days.

Started the second season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer yesterday. Really enjoying it... though I did swear I would never watch a show with the word "Buff" in the title.

Listening to: the constant, reassuring hum of the janitor's vaccuum cleaner

Serving up a big steamin' pile of Friday Five. On Saturday. Shut up, please.

1. What's the last song you heard?
Drowning Pool, "Let the Bodies Hit the Floor"

2. What were the last two movies you watched?
That would have to be Kevin Smith's Jersey Girl and David Lean's Brief Encounter

3. What were the last three things you purchased?
Oh, this one's easy: two coffees at work on Thursday because no one for the office remembered to bring in a new tin o'coffee and a big ol' bottle of Diet Pepsi on Wednesday to feed my aspertane addiction.

4. What four things do you have to do this weekend?
Um, let's see. I have to call my parents, email Chris and Jenn (that's one thing; they're a couple), read some books, and, seeing as my coffee cup is now empty, ake more coffee.

5. Who were the last five people you talked to?
Rachel, Jonathan, Bobby, Tommy, Edgar.

So, it's Thursday: at least that's what the calander says. My body seems to dispute all evidence to that fact. I feel like it's Friday... that I should be home, sleeping, watching movies or even studying (which I really do).

All right: I've come to a decision! Veronica Mars was the best new show last year, narrowly edging out House and blowing away Joey (for which I held low to no expections). For those of you not hip to the Mars, it's the story of a small town highschool girl who's best friend was murdered about a year before the show begins. Her father, the former sheriff and current private detective, suspects that the girl's parents are guilty, not a popular opinion. Veronica, isolated and ostracized from her former friends, works for her father, but often finds herself going into business for hereself. What I like about the show is the sense of a greater story being told: while the final episode reveals the truth about the friend's murder, clues and leads are sprinkeld throughout the entire season, which makes it seem like some thought and planning went into the show. In a medium where lack of forethought and vision are the order of the day, VM is a smart, well plotted welcome to network TV. If you haven't caught VM, check it out this summer in reruns.


I hear the secrets that you keep, when you're talking in your sleep.

1) Total number of books owned:
Oh, boy. We just bought three large bookcases (to go along with three other large bookcases) in the past few months and there are still books piled up in closets. Both Rachel and I did English degrees, so we have TONS of books. Plus, one of the main perks of teaching is the free books,so I'm always getting more.

2) The last book I bought?
Hmmm, I guess the last one I bought was a Jeeves and Wooster omnibus from Amazon.

3) The last book I read?
I'm in the middle of both Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell and Vile Bodies. The last one I finished was Handful of Dust.

4) Five books that mean a lot to me?
1) The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - a magical book I reread often (and fondly)
2) Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man - few authors have captured how horrible it can be to be a teenager
3) Catcher in the Rye - see #2
4) High Fidelity - if I'm honest with myself, I'm far more like Rob than I would ever want to admit
5) On the Road - in another life, I wish I could be Jack Kerouac

Comic Books:
1) Maus - without question, the most powerful comic ever written
2) Dark Knight Returns - Batman in Regan's America; brillant
3) Crow - when I first read it (well before the film) it was unique
4) Ghost World - one of the first "non-superhero" comics I read and it showed me the potential of the medium.

You can't always get what you want, but if you try some time, you might find, you get what you need.

Last night I was indeed surprised. A group of friends had a little appreciation party for me and another friend, Rob. I could totally see have a party for Rob; he's leaving in a week or so, first to some camp for the summer, then to Edmonton. But me? After feeling really discouraged the past couple of weeks, an appreciation party (complete with ice cream cake) was a huge boost. Some of my friends are awesome.

Listening to: the loud jerk teaching downstairs; seriously, he's a floor away, his door's closed, my door's closed and I can still hear him.

A friend of mine was telling me about her adventures at a new kickboxing place. Seems she's been kickboxing for awhile now, but, since she recently moved, hadn't found a new place to train. And I have to admit, I was a little jealous reading about the kicking and the boxin; even the hyperextending an elbow sounded like a lot of fun. See, I always wanted to take some sort of martial art - I was a huge fan of kung-fu films (still am) and I always wanted to learn. In University I made the mistake of making a little bit of fun of someone who'd started taking Taekwon Do.... she promptly threw me across the room. And I mean threw: my feet left the ground and I hit a wall.

The problem is that I'm kind of old to be starting now. Going to a beginner's class and getting my butt served to me by a bunch of schoo children doesn't sound that appealing. Self esteem's low enoguh with being beaten up by someone 25 years younger than me. Plus, I'll never get my flexibility to a level to do those awesome jumps or high spin kicks; like David Carradine in Kung Fu the Legend Continues I'd be stuck doing lame low to mid kicks. And who wants to do those? No one, that's who.

Listening to: Dandy Warhols "We Just to be Friends"

All right, hip cats and cool ladies: I'm disparaging the lack of accomplishment in my life. Before I tuned into Veronica Mars (which has the potential to be a new favourite) last night, I flipped past Fear Factor (which I never watch) and there was someone I went to high school with. Not only that but it was a "best winners" episode - so she's already been on once and won. She's a celebrity trainer out in LA now; she "trains" Queen Latifah, which was suspiciously mentioned prominently by host, Joe Rogan. This got me to thinking: what, if anything, have I done with my life? Sure I've taught a few classes here in there, some of which were successful, some of which weren't; I've watched a bunch of movies; I've made consider progress on the Mike-shape ass groove in my couch. But nothing big. Not that I consider eating pig rectums or jumping off a moving truck or whatever the hell else people do on Fear Factor an "accomplishment," but there's an undisputable, tangible success that comes from being on television.

Listening to: Public Enemy's "Fight the Power," before that "We Used to be Friends" by the Dandy Warhols.

And how 'bout an old Monday Mission?

1. How old will you be on your next birthday?

31...Shut up.

2. One of the presents I was given for my birthday was a "George Foreman Grill." I've always joked about them, so it was kind of a joke gift. But it turns out, it is a really neat little grill. Then it hit me, this is a gadget, except it is for the kitchen. Then I thought about it and realized that "gadgets" aren't just techno-toys, gadgets are everywhere. What is your favorite gadget?

MP3 Player... and my DVD player.

3. Tell me about someone that you reconnected with after several years ago. What caused the separation? Has enough time passed? Do you still get along?

Actually I lose contact with people all the time. People are always ebbing and flowing into my life. Usually it's just time and distance that causes it. Can't think of anyone I lost contact with because of a fight. What's very cool is when people you thought you'd never hear from again pop back into your life and they're even cooler than you remembered (and you remembered them being pretty cool). I've reconnected with a few "old' friends in the past year or so. With any luck, they think half as much of me as I think of them.

4. I've not met many online friends in real-life (I.R.L.), but I've always assumed we'd get along great if we met. But then again, if we would since my online personality (brash, outgoing) seems so different from how I see my RL offline version (introverted). Is there a difference between your online personality and your real-life version? Or are you pretty much the same person either way?

I think I'm pretty much the same as my on-line counterpart... though he's probably a little more eloquent, 'cause with posting I have time to think up witty responses and edit them just right.

5. Being the quiet type, I have often felt like the online world has given me a greater chance to meet people I'd never meet IRL. In fact, I would bet that I would have never met any of you IRL if we had been in the same bookstore or coffee shop. Is this true for you?

I guess, but look at the people who do speak to strangers: insane people on buses wearing tinfoil headgear and plastic bags on their feet... If that's what's out there, no thank you. In truth, I'm an intensely shy person who rarely "makes the first step' at talking to people. Even people I know. Seriously I have a group of "friends" who out and out ignore at times - really, I can be standing beside them and they not say a word; or I can be sitting by myself and they sit somewhere else. Sometimes I think most people aren't even worth the effort.... but some are.

6. There are times when I just want to tell someone off. I don't usually, since I have to work with them. Sometimes it is a family member and that would be even worse on down the road if I cut loose. If you could just verbally let loose on someone and be able to say anything you want, without repercussions, who would you say it to and what would you say?
I'm just gonna refuse to answer this one... not like they’d have seen it coming anyway

BONUS: Are we alive or just a dying planet?
Dying... who wants to know?

Was it Socrates or the Boomtown Rats who quipped, "I don't like Mondays"? Profound, whichever of them said it. When my alarm rang early this morning, I had that sinking feeling that this Monday was not going to be liked. I was met with a huge crapload of work. My boss is away this week but he managed to dig up and assign every marginally important task to me before me left. As a result I've spent a large part of the morning lifting heavy boxes of books in an asbestous filled basement. So, though I may have contracted cancer, the boxes are on their way to Toronto... lucky boxes.

The weekend was pretty good, but like most good things, over far too quickly. Saturday was a bit of a bust - spent most of the day watching Six Feet Under (which has become for me, once again, the epitome of how great television can be). Sunday I had a Bar BQ, and, though it rained for most of time, it was a success. After the hotdogs and hamburgers were consumed, some friends and I went and spent the rest of the day playing poker and video games.

All right, it's Friday. How bout a Friday Five?

1. What is the one book that you reread over and over again?
Recently, it's been the Nick Hornby books High Fidelity and About a Boy , but I also re-read the Sherlock Holmes stories every few years.
2. What is your favourite genre?
Couldn't pick one.
3. Do you usually buy your books or visit the library?
Um, I prefer buy them, but with the amount I have to read, I do rely on the library.
4. Who is your favourite author?
To pick just one is so unfair. Here's a quick list culled from a glance aorund the book shelves: Nick Hornby, Ernest Hemingway, Evelyn Waugh, Italo Calvino, GG Marquez, AS Byatt
5. What book have you read that you absolutely hated?
That Dee Dee Ramone book is still the worse work of fiction I've ever read. The worst book period was something that a colleague shared with me a few months ago - it was a self-published religious work... and it was AWFUL.

My devilish wife rented the second season of Six Feet Under yesterday. We only have it for a week... 13 episodes, an hour each, 6 days? No problem. Guess Evelyn Waugh can wait a little bit longer.

Listening to: RJD2 - he's a DJ; imagine the Cars and Jam Master Jay had a kid.

Hey coolcats. Bored? Lonely? Here's a little sumptin' sumptin' to pass away those long afternoons. Enjoy.Birthday

I'm goin through this totally bizzare musical nostaglia phase where I'm going through old favourites, television theme songs and songs I think I heard on the radio at some point in my teenage years. Seriously, everything from Weird Al and the Dukes of Hazzard theme to the Smiths and De La Soul is on my current I Tunes playlist. It's embarassing. I've purposely put on Velvet Underground in an attempt to erase the memories...

Hey, know what I haven't done in a while? A Monday Mission. And true to form, it's Wednesday. Sue me.

1. Ever considered just deleting your Blog and not doing it anymore? What prompted that and what stopped you?

I stop all the time, because I'm a lazy, shiftless loser. Haven't thought about deleting it. No one reads it. If a blog is never read is it even there at all?

2. How about a quick review of the last movie you saw?

Bloody.

3. What's your favorite gadget? Are you lusting for any new ones? Will you ever be satisified???

I love my mp3 player, but I'd love an I-Pod even more. So, no. I will never be satisfied.

4. Saturday night I played "UNO" for the first time in years, I mean it has been over 10 years since I played it. It was great fun, but it really made me want to learn how to play Backgammon again. What "table game" do you enjoy playing most with other people? Have you played it lately?

I don't really like games. The people get too competive and that turns me off. I sometimes play Settlers of Catan.

5. About a year ago I was obsessed with loosing weight, and I dropped pretty low before I got a handle on things (I've actually gained about 8 pounds of it back, and it is still a struggle sometimes to not try to loose it). Thankfully, I like fattening sweets and buttery popcorn too much to live like that for too long. Have you ever been obsessed with something so much that it was close to causing you physical or mental harm? If not, have you known anyone else who has?

Do people count? Kidding. Not really

6. Did you grow up in a family or community that displayed racist or prejudice attitudes? Did it influence you in any way, either toward or away from those views? How did you manage to avoid it, or did you?

One of my grandfathers was horribly racist - though I never saw it until I was old enough to know that it was really wrong. And I'm prejudiced against stupid people and attractive people.

7. Good grief, I am starving! You got anything to eat around here?
Go eat at home, ya Mooch.

BONUS: What did you tell them?

I told them exactly what they wanted to hear.

Started watching Seven Samurai last night. Damn, that's a great film. Because I started so late, I was only at 20 minutes in when I had to go to bed (work today means early to rise). Hopefully I'll get to go back to it tonight.

So I'm 30. And I think I'll all right with it. I was feeling a little wary of the whole 30 thing, but I'm at peace. My birthday was very uneventful. (How to say these cryptically) I thought some people would want to make a bigger deal out of it, but you can't really tell people that they should want to throw you a party, can you? But enough of that. Whatever.

Saw Star Wars: Episode 3 on Saturday. Must say, I thought it was easily the best of the new trilogy (not that that was a great feat - the elusive Star Wars Christmas Special is better than that mess called the Phantom Menace). The dark side was well represented, including slaughtered Jedi children. Lucas' main problem is still style over substance. The special effects become too prominent, too overwhelming. There are too many ships, shooting too many lasers.

Listening to: the faint hum of my CPU.

All right, so I watched the much hyped season finale of CSI last night. Now, I'm a big fan of both CSI and Tarintino, so I knew I was in for two hours of good television. And boy, was I right. Some people have argued that the reason cable stations are, by and large, putting out the highest quality television of all time (Soporanos, Six Feet Under) is that they're not restricted by the same censorship standards that regular TV is. This argument has always seemed, at least to me, ridiculous. Swearing, nudity and excessive violence doesn't make better tv. It's the solid storytelling, which is what CSI delivered.

Last night's CSI reminded me of the highest quality fan fiction, like Nicholas Meyer's Seven Percent Solution. When someone truly loves the source material they include the little details that fans know. Whether it's Holmes' tabacco filled slipper or Grissom's blood filled heads, fans treat the details of the original material with a reverence and try to cram as many of those details into their story.

Of course, being Tarintino, there's also the pop-culture heavy story telling as well: Tony Curtis and the (very recently)late Frank Gorshin talking about old Vegas, Hodges and Greg playing the Dukes of Hazzard board game, and classic 70s baddy, John Saxon setting the whole thing in motion.

My only problem was the lack of Sara Sidle. Sara's my favourite character on the show; she's got this great untapped backstory; she's got an unresolved emotional attachment to Grissom; she's laregly unaware of Greg's attraction. While I see why Nick was a good choice to put in the box (everyone likes Nick, he's like everyone's brother), Sara would have been an equally interesting choice to have been kidnapped.

All in all, I was really satisfied. The final shot, the team watching Nick's ambulance pull away, was the perfect note to end the season on. The wear of a long night, the emotional strain of the evening still visible on all their faces made Grissom's last line all the more poignant: "I want my guys back." Only after such a night could the stoic Grissom make such an honest heart felt request to Ecklie.

Listening to: Tom Waits' "Downtown Train"

Well, it's Wednesday... and it's raining.

Blah day. hope summer comes soon, 'cause this crappy weather is really getting me down.

I'm waiting for a shipment of books here at work, and there's nothing really to do until they come so I thought I'd take a bit of time and blog.

So, what's new? The new Star Wars movie comes out tonight at midnight, and I must say I'm surprised by how much I want to see it. Like most people my age I was a huge fan of the original trilogy. I remember going to see Star Wars/Empire double bills back in 82. My friends and I would play Star Wars, most of us had the toys (in fact I think I still have a box of them in my parents' attic). When the first of the new trilogy opened I went with great excitement and expectations... they were quickly dashed. Have you seen the Simpsons' Star Wars spoof, where Homer, Bart and Lisa go to the new Space movie and it's all about politics and trade embargos? That's EXACTLY what i thought of Episode One. Tariffs? Intergalactic captialism? Boring. Sure some of the Jedi stuff was cool - by that time Special FX made the sword fights even more spectular - but on the whole I was extremely disappointed.

When I got back from seeing Episode One, I put on my letterboxed Star Wars (the pre-Special Edition) and... was disappointed once again. The first Star Wars movie just isn't that good either. The acting is... well, it's not always great (Luke's just a whiny snot-nosed kid); and by this time I realized that the plot was just lifted from old Flash Gordon flicks and Akira Kurosawa's The Hidden Fortess.

Not long after this I sold my leatherette bound letterboxed set with hologram cover.

After reading a few reviews of Episode three, my interest was peaked. Part of my problem with Episode One was that it felt like a kid's film, as opposed to a PG action film. Everything I've read about Episode 3 stresses the darkness of the plot. Perfect. I can only hope Jar Jar Binks is disembowelled by someone.

I watched Empire and Jedi this weekend, and was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed them. Empire's still my favourite of the films, but Jedi has some nice stuff in it (aside from the innocently erotic Leia bikini scenes). If Three is the new trilogy's Empire, they're on the right track.

Listening to: Tom Waits' Tango til They're Sore
Watched Last Night: House MD - easily one of my favourite shows currently running.
Tonight: Alias!

Right... it's lunch time on a Thursday. And here I sit. Bored and sore. I decided to start wokring out this week. Not sure if it's going to be a "continue-on" type thing. Starting out kind of slow to, you know, get back into the feel of using my muscles again (what muscles? you ask; shut up, I say). Did these things called hindi squats, which Indian wrestlers have used for years to build strength and endurance. Now I don't want to sa my legs are burning... but my legs are burning. Seriously. I walk like John Wayne. It's taking 15 minutes to walk down the hall to go to the bathroom. Whenever I try to walk some place, I just sort of point myself in the direction I want to go and stumble along as best I can, and try not to lift my feet any more then I have to. Whenever I have to sit down I just sort of aim and plant myself, which can really hurt if the chair is low. If this is the price of being in shape, I seriously question the sanity of workout people. I may get winded going up the stairs but at least i can walk normally on a flat service.

I've been checking out the Clone Wars micro series that aired on Cartoon Network. All i can say is, "Holy Crap." Check them out! If only SW Episode 1 and 2 were this good: cool Jedi fights, no Jar-Jar Binks and very little of the highly annoying and highly convulted trade embargo-ing aliens. Apparently Lucas has decided to use General Grievous, one of the cooler villians, in Episode 3. Good move, George. I hope they turn this into a regular series, maybe focus on other Jedi battles during the Clone Wars. A regular high quality Star Wars animated television series would wipe away the bad taste in my mouth left from those crappy Ewoks tv movies, and the Droid/Ewok Adventure Hour.

Listening to: Gorillaz' "Clint Eastwood"! Del the Funky Homosapien RULES!

So it's May... May 2nd to be precise. And later this month I turn (wait for it) 30. That's right: the big three oh, baby. Scary? You betcha.

And I can't figure out if I want to celebrate it. On the one hand I recognize it as some sort of milestone... but it's not like we live in the 13th century where reaching the age of 30 was a major feat. I guess if other people want to celebrate it (or remember to) I will too.

Saw Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy on Friday night. I'm not surprised by the mixed reactions from the various pop-critics: British humour's an aquired taste. If you liked the books, you'll like the film. If you don't like the books, why bother? Personally, I couldn't think of a better everyman than Martin Freeman. This guy's a brillant comic actor. When I first saw him in the Office I thought, if he get a chance to shine, he will.

What am I listeing to: People Ain't No Good, Nick Cave and the Bad Seed

It's hard to believe that it's been months since I've posted anything. Well, maybe not that hard. I mean, it's not like anyone bothers to check this thing.
So, what's new?

Let's see: semester's over (finally); all my grading's done and submitted. I'm currently trying to figure out what books to put on my courses for next year; I'll be teaching Academic Writing (which I've never taught before), 20th Century Lit and Representative Lit (both of which I've taught many times before).

Currently reading: Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Supposed to go see the film, tomorrow, so I thought I'd try to figure what the heck supposed to be happening.

Listining to: u, nothing at the moment, though I had the Beatles cd in the car for the past few trips. I'm seriosuly considering putting the Sgt Pepper disc on my 20th Century lit course. Maybe...

So... here I am, sitting in my study (where I've spent the better part of my day). In just a few short days, I leave for England. Now anyone who knows me knows I'm a bit of an anglo-phile - love Sherlock Holmes, Blackadder, Monty Python.... so, for me, this trip has evolved into a kind of Mecca-seque pilgrimage. The problem is there's just SO MUCH TO SEE and time's limited.

FIRST RECORD BOUGHT: Fat Boys, Crushin' - man, I was such a geek.

FIRST CONCERT: ummm... actually I think it would be Spirit of the west, with Great Big Sea and Philosopher Kings.

FAVORITE CONCERT: Squeeza in Buffalo was great (especially eatin' with the band afterwards), but Glen Tillbrook at the Horseshoe in TO was the greatest. He led the audience out into the streets, singing Pulling Mussells From the Shell. Unforgetable.

CONCERT YOU WISH YOU'D SEEN: Dylan goes electric, Beatles on the roof, Waits in his Nighthawk days, any concert by the first Miles Davis quintet or Velvet Underground

FAVORITE MUSIC MOVIE: Talking Heads-Stop Making Sense, Almost Famous (I'm counting it), Don't Look Back

BEST USE OF MUSIC IN A TV SERIES: Freaks and Geeks - movie-like in its use of musical cues

FAVORITE MUSIC BOOKS: Lester Banks' book, Zappa's autobio

FAVORITE SONGWRITERS: Dylan, McCartney/Lennon

FAVORITE ALBUM COVERS: Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool; Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the moon; LZ: Houses of the Holy

LEAST FAVORITE ALBUM COVER: Let it Be - always felt like a bit of a cop out; S&G: Parsely, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme - what's up with those stupid flowers, Garfunkel?

ARTIST YOU WILL ALWAYS DEFEND: Johnny Cash - some people take the"I-hate-country-music" stance too far; Kenny Rogers is JUST a country singer, Johnny Cash is the man in freakin' black!!!

ALBUMS THAT YOU WILL ALWAYS DEFEND: Tom Waits' Closing Time, and Leonard Cohen album

SINGER WHO MAKES YOU SWOON: Marvin Gaye, Nina Simone, Nico

ARTISTS YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO LIKE BUT DON'T: depends on who's telling me I should like them. Much music seems to think I should like Blink 182, Good Charlotte, Simple Plan and a slew of pretty, airbrushed teenagers... and I just don't.

SONG YOU CAN'T STAND BY AN ARTIST YOU LIKE: Octopus's Garden... the Beatles should have been shot for this crap.

FAVORITE TEEN IDOL: Fabian

BAND THAT SHOULD BREAK UP: Metallica... KISS - once and for all. Rolling Stones - Mick, Keith, it's time to go home, boys.

BAND THAT SHOULD RE-FORM: can't think of any- reunions are almost always inferior to the original.

GUILTY PLEASURE: my inexplicable love of Dr. Hook's "Cover of the Rolling Stone"

So I went home to visit my parents. It's been a little over a year since the last time I was home, and this visit, while better than most, followed the same disturbing pattern of previous visits. I spent the majority of the day at the mall. I swear, I didn't spend that much time there when I was a kid. But when parents/friends work, what else is there to do in Oshawa?

Of course there's a nit of a hidden desire that accompanies my mall treks: I secretly hope to run into people I went to school with. This is both a thrilling and terrifying prospect; kind of like watching a horror film. I'm genuinely curious about some of my former schoolmates, but I dread ACTUALLY running into them and trying to explain what I do. So far though I haven't had much to worry about. Apparently not many ex-Robertonians frequent the mall Tuesday mornings.

Following a freak May snow storm Tuesday, I spent yesterday at home, in my pajamas. I know I live in Winnipeg, which is well known for it's frigid winter tempatures, but spring is USUALLY nice and warm. Of course, no matter how bad it is, you just can't win with Winnipeggers. I have learned since moving here that one of the features that distinguishes true Manitobians is the inability to admit the weather is bad... by citing how bad it's been in years past. Example: I've lived here for almost five years and have seen some ungodly winter lows: -40-45 C! But no matter how cold it gets I'm reminded that I have yet to experience a "true Winnipeg winter". Even this past winter, which saw the coldest of cold tempetures and more snow than the past 30 years, didn't suffice. "That's almost a real Winnipeg winter".

On Tuesday, a mere day after I contemplated wearing shorts to work, as nearly 30 cm on snow fell, this old guy told me, "Well, of course it's no where as near as bad it was 2 million years ago." Strangely, this did little to console me.

While enjoying a snow day, I finally seat down and watched Jackie Brown. Now I'm a huge Tarantino fan; have been for a long time, but for some reason, I've only ever seen the first 20 or 30 minutes of this film. When Pulp Fiction came out I saw in 13 times in the theatre, but this film I didn't even go once. Maybe it's that it was an adaptation of someone else's work (though it's Elmore Leonard, who I generally like). After finally watching the film in its entirety, I've come to the conclusion that it really is one of Tarantino's best films. Stylistically, it's on par with the phenomenally visual Kill Bill; the dialogue is as sharp as (sometimes even sharper than) Pulp Fiction. This is a great film, with stand out performances: Pam Grier has never been better; Robert Forester is brilliant, Michael Keaton is great, Sam Jackson... is Sam Jackson. There isn't a character who isn't note perfect, from DeNiro to Fonda; everyone is exactly as they should be.

Film Review:

Elephant (Gus van Sant)

My wife brought this home last night, and to be honest, I had completely forgotten that this had even been made. I remember thinking, when I first saw a preview, "this looks interesting"; but it slipped from my mind until I was confronted with the DVD case by the TV last night.

In an age of sensationalism and exploitation, it was refreshing to find Van Sant's subtle, thoughtful examination of a school shooting. In the hands of another director, this film would have been filled with blaring heavy metal music, trumped up "excuses" and rapid fire editing. We're not given much back story on any of the characters, but there's a remarkable sense of intimacy created nonetheless: snips of conversations and long tracking shots make us feel part of this world. Of course this is not a real intimacy and maybe that's the point, maybe that's highschool: a bunch of people with no real shared interests stuck together through circumstance. Though we feel for these kids, we only know as much about any of them as anyone in highschool knows about anyone else; we see what other students would see. We watch the kids who are picked on; we hear the rumours of teen pregancy; we see evidence of neglectful parents. Truly, almost any one of these kids could be the ones to snap...

Through a clever handling of time Van Sant brings us to the moment of crisis early in the film, but he respects us enough to flashback without the obvious "earlier that week" title. He expects his audience to follow the story, to participate in the story. There are no easy answers in Elephant.

Okay, so i completely screwed up the "post a day" thing, but I won't go on and on about how "I'm trying". Why bother?

I've been going through the episodes of the newly released to DVD "Freaks and Geeks". I really enjoyed this show when it was on TV, but didn't really appreciate how good it was because episodes were shown out of order; and some episodes weren't even shown on network televsion (probably delayed because of some stupid presidental address or something). Having gone through all 14-15 episodes, I can say without quesiton, this was one of the best American shows in recent memory. The characters were honest, not stereotypes; the shows were genuine, not cheesy "happy endings". Also, a kickass soundtrack!!!!

So, I've already screwed up my "post-everyday" thng I had going, but no matter; I'll just keep plugging away at it. If I screw up once, I'll just get right back on it and start again.

So exams are finished; I've marked my pile (and a steaming pile it was), and will submit my marks today. I was frankly a little surprised by some of the students who showed up to write: some of them I didn't even recognize! Man, that is not a good sign. You tell them, and you tell them that if I don't know who they are, chances are they won't do well in the course. At least I haven't had the awkward situations friends of mine have had (not yet any way): when those faceless students turn up a few years later for a reference letter. How do you tell someone you have no idea who they are?

The last few days have been some of the most dull of my life - and this is my life we're talking about here; it's pretty dull to begin with. I've been at home, watching the exams I'm supposed to mark by Monday gather dust. I watch fifteen minute segments of day-time talk shows, then become disgusted with myself for watching crap like Dr. Phil and come online. Once online I don't do anything productive or worthwhile; usually check movie trivia over at imdb.com or read through the spam in my junk mail just "in case" a message I want went in there by mistake.
Today was no different: Watched 34 minutes of Chasing Amy over four separate sittings; a few minutes of The View (which made me almost suicidal); and read through several emails promising the lowest mortgages, the largest erections and the fasted University degrees... somebody shoot me.

Right, so it's 10:05 pm here in the 'Peg, and I have two hours to compose today's blog entry if I actually keep to this one thing a day kick I'm on. To be honest I typically don't follow through with things...

Anyway, interesting story:

I'm on the bus yesterday and the guy in front of me is listening to bad bubblegum pop crap on his Walkman a little too loud for public transportation, but no biggie; everyone does this, right?
This goes on for a few blocks, then the music stops and he starts talking... to no one in particular: "Alright, it's 10:27 here at Q97. That was Shania Twain with "That Impress me Much". We're into hour number two of our all request..." When he started talking I looked up to see what was going on; everyone's eyes drop to their laps - probably out of fear this guy was going to go postal. And he just kept... announcing(?) for like five minutes; a quick weather update, a rehash of the songs he'd played.
The funniest part was when he announced a contest as he was signing off: "We have a pair of tickets to {insetr the name of any band no one wants to see} for the 4th caller who can tell me the name of the song I played in the last set. It started with a "B" and it's a fruit, not a vegtable." When he finished the guy sitting next to him, who was clearly assumed, looked at this lunatic and said, "Too bad I forgot my cell phone, cause I know the answer." I lost it at that.

You meet the freaks on public transportation!

See, I'm really trying here. Two days, three posts. Here's a little Friday Five on a Tuseday, 'cause I like it like that!


What was...

1. ...your first grade teacher's name? Mr Eddy... rumours on the playground had it that he ate spagetti

2. ...your favorite Saturday morning cartoon? there were so many... I really liked Spiderman and he amazing friends as a kid; as a 20 something, the X-men cartoon from a few years ago was good.

3. ...the name of your very first best friend? I don't know...

4. ...your favorite breakfast cereal? I love me some Cap'n Crunch. I love that they spell Captain "Cap'n"

5. ...your favorite thing to do after school? Take a nap... I am so old.

I suppose as a good will offering to anyone reading this, I'll post another new entry today (because that's the kind of guy I am). Here's an old Monday Mission from Promo Guy.

1. Who has authority over you?
My God, my wife, my obession with Seasme Snacks.

2. Where do you go to get a feeling of community?
Mmm, movie theatre. Everyone's there, but they're quiet!

3. What do you do, or have you done, in your life that "goes against the tide?"
According to my highschool friends, staying in school this long.

4. Guilt can be a powerful weapon. Those who have mastered its power can very good at getting what they want. Have you ever used guilt to get you what you want? Have you ever had it used on you? How did you react?
I have tried but without much success. Guilt is too mighty a weapon for someone like me to wield.

5. I was walking through the mall Friday night and saw a lot of teenagers who dressed really wild and just acted like idiots - not caring who was looking or what others thought. And I remember being that way, having that kind of freedom. I must have looked like a fool then too. Did you ever do anything in public with your friends as a teenager that you would never do today? Tell me about that.
I would never wear pastel colours - dude the 80s SUCKED! Sure there were other things I would do then but would never in a million years do now because it's embarrassing: hang out in front of a convience store (who thinks this is cool?); spend more then 45 minutes in a mall; go to Police Academy movies.


6. I don't watch the television show "Survivor," but I did notice they allow each contestant to bring one "luxury item" to the deserted island with them (make-up, a book, etc.). If you were to go to an island for three months, what five "luxury items" would you bring and why?
A knife, for stabbin'

7. If you would have had a choice, in which time period would you have like to have lived? Why?
1920s. I would have looked like a star in a feodra... if I tried it now, people think, "Joey Jeramiah."


BONUS: Where do you dare me to draw the line?
There. No wait, there. Actually... I don't care

Today's comment question: What is your favorite new/current song on the radio (or however you listen to new music)? I'm surprised to find I dig the new Blink 182 - haven't really cared for anything they've done before, but that new song is alright. Also, BEP's new one is pretty cool.

Okay, so it's been well over a year since my last entry here. I wish I could start this new entry off with some great revelation about my life: published a novel, sold a screenplay, found Waldo - but nothing, nadda, zip. Most of this year was spent teaching, working, eating and sleeping (not as much sleep as I would have liked mind you). Things roll on in my cinema vertie life.

Saw Eternal Sunshine of the Mindless Mind. Brillant piece of filmmaking. Michel Gondry is an incredible talent... if only we could strike Human Nature from his (and Charlie Kaufman's) C.V. As someone who is famous for my (cursed) ability to forget friends who are no longer an active part of my life (something I work on, really I do), the whole idea of whether our identities are constructed with the memories of loved ones struck me.

It's hard to know where to begin...

I suppose I should start with an explanation of my absence. I spent two weeks in Ontario. The first week was spent visiting family and friends; the second working in various soup kichens and missions in TO. The first week was wonderful; the second hard, exhausting, and ultimately humbling.

Upon my return (last week) I was greeted with piles of work that required attention. I spent last week trying to get caught up on all the work I missed the two weeks previous.

Rather than bore you (assuming that there is SOMEONE there) with tales of my Ontario "adventures", I'll just fill out a Monday mission.

1. When was the last time you were in the hospital as a patient? As a visitor?
As a patient? When I was four and had the whooping cough. As a visitor, about a month ago when I went to Edmonton to be with my father after his heart attack.

2. Have you ever been put under anesthesia or sedation? For what reason? Did it mess with your mind?
Yes, for dental surgery. It was wonderful, until the stupid dentist woke me up!

3. Have you (or someone close to you) ever had any major surgery? How did it go?
Not me personally, but I've had various family members "go under the knife," as it were. Most times everything went swimmingly.

4. How about the emergency room? Have you ever had to be taken there, or had to accompany someone else? What happened?
Once, on Christmas Eve. My sister had put grape seeds in her ears. The doctor had to remove them with tweezers. Everyone (well, me) hated her for ruining Christmas.

5. Have you ever donated blood (or other fluids)?
Blood, once. I'm not keen on it. Needles freak me out. Nobody wants panic-blood.

6. Are you an Organ Donor? How do you feel about having your organs being donated to those in need once you die? Have you or someone you know ever been the recipient of donated organs?

I know one guy who's had/or having kidneys donated. I am an organ donar, though a leery one. George Carlin once said, "You think that if paramedics see that card, they're gonna save your life? Bull*^%, they're looking for parts!"

7. Do you know any men who refuse, or are too afraid, to go to see a Doctor? Why are so many men like that?
I hate seeing the doctor, but I go because I'm more afraid of my wife than the doctor. I think men feel vunerable in the doctor's office. Think about, "turn and cough?" Don't tell me that not vunerable.


BONUS: Do you remember when we used to sing?
Sha la la, la la?

A Friday Five for the weekend...

1. What do you most want to be remembered for?

World class writer and fun, down-to-earth guy.

2. What quotation best fits your outlook on life?

"You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find, you get what you need."

3. What single achievement are you most proud of in the past year?

Performance of my first play.

4. What about the past ten years?

Graduating with a BA and an MA; getting into the PhD program at the UM

5. If you were asked to give a child a single piece of advice to guide them through life, what would you say?

Never give a sucker an even break.

1. What's the worst thing about Mondays? School shooting (Boomtown Rats anyone?)

2. Do you believe in soul mates? Have you met yours yet?

Not sure. I think I bumped into her on the bus once. She has shoes made out of milk cartons.

3. What do you recall wanting to "be" when you were a child, dreams of what you'd do when you were an adult for work - who you'd live with... where you'd live... how many kids you'd have. How does the dreams you once had compare to your reality, same, much different? You have surpassed those dreams?

I wanted to be the regular things, cowboy, doctor, dictator. I teach Freshman English at a middle of the road univeristy in the Cdn Praries. Oh, I'm where I wanted to be!

4. What do you think of education in your town/city? In your country? How would you improve it?

It's there.... I'd improve it by getting smarter students. Put the idiots in a room somewhere and let them fight each other for money.

5. If you had to pick three songs to sum up your life what would they be and why?

"Hey, I love (Won't you tell me your Name)" by the Doors; "Something to Look Forward To", Spoon; "High and Dry" Radio head.
Why? Just because.

6. Do you believe in love at first sight? Can it really happen?

What am I, ten? No, there's no such thing. There's lust at first sight, sure, but that's it.

7. What's your greatest fear?

The voices in my head...

BONUS: Have you forgotten?

Of course not! Forgotten what?

Today's comment question: Did you do anything fun this holiday weekend?
This wasn't a holiday weekend in Canada, jerkface! But, yes, I did do a couple of fun things. I'm just not going to tell you what they were!

Well, here I sit, in my cubby-hole of an office, pretending to work. Actually I just dragged five boxes of catalogues half way across campus, so I'm not really pretending; I'm taking a breather.
I turned 28 on Friday and to be honest, I feel different. I can't remember a brithday when I felt signicantly older. Not 16, not 21, not 25. For some reason, though I FEEL like I'm getting older and that my life is, I don't know, slipping away from me. Maybe it's the gettting close to 30 thing. You know, don't trust anyone over 30. Well, what happens when I'm over 30? Of course the people who originated that expression are in their 50s and 60s. Does knowing that make turning less traumatic? Not really.

To be honest, birthdays don't usually do much for me. I don't enjoy celebrating them or making a big fuss about it, but this year I wanted something special. I wanted people to remember. And some people did, which was cool. Some people didn't, which is to be expected. I mean, I don't really know why I think people should remember or even know. How many of my friends and acquiantences' birthdays do I remember? A staggeringly lower number, I can tell you. Oh well. Perhaps I'll try to make an effort. You know, the ol' "Do onto others" thing. Maybe if I remember theirs, they'll remember mine. Maybe...

Friday Five....

1. What drinking water do you prefer -- tap, bottle, purifier, etc.?
Brita-filtered water, I guess. I really don't dig the H20

2. What are your favorite flavor of chips?
Sour Cream and Onion, Cheddar

3. Of all the things you can cook, what dish do you like the most?
North African Chicken.. MmmMMM Good.

4. How do you have your eggs?
Don't really LOVE eggs, but I'll eat them poached, hard boiled, or scrambled

5. Who was the last person who cooked you a meal? How did it turn out?
Cooked for me, well the little old El Salvadorian ladies at the restraunt we ate at. The cooked burrito poderoso, and some potato-like root vegetable that came served with Coleslaw and salsa. Everything was delicious!!!

Mike's amazing mid-May movie review:

Okay, so I went to see the Matrix Reloaded on Sunday. And no, I'll refrain from making the lame "They mean Matrix Overloaded" joke that every critic on the PLANET seems to have made. Let me start with a confession: unlike most people, I was not that struck with the first film. Its smorgasbord offering of pseudo-intelligent, profundity and theology was like listening to that guy in high school who'd read one philosophy book (either Kierkegaard or Nietzsche) and sat in the lunchroom dispensing wisdom like Pez - tiny tablets without any real substance. But with guns, lots of guns.

Visually, the second film, like the first, was quite impressive; in fact, it was a little over-impressive. The opening sequence was so utterly CG'd, and so utterly logic defying, that I really didn't know what to expect from the much-hyped fights. Thankfully, with the painful exception of the Neo vs. 100 Smiths, most of the fights were cool. The 100 Smiths battle, which I have heard many people praise as the future of film fighting, was like watching a video game that some else was playing. It's like I didn't even have to be there. With all the other fights relying on intricate wirework and the actors doing their own marital arts, why do I want to see a computer generated Keanu Reeves beat up a bunch of computer generated Hugo Weavings? Why do I care?

But perhaps the most confusing scenes in a picture wrought with Keymasters, Ghost Twins, omnipotent beings were the church meeting/orgy in Zion and Neo's meeting with the Architect.

The overlong church meeting, with "prayers" to no one in particular and a lot of hot, sweaty semi-naked people gyrating around, seemed grossly out of place. When they started dancing, I thought to myself, "Oh, they're Pentecostal." Then I thought, "Are all Pentecostals this SEXY?"

Where were the old and sick looking people who offered Neo and Trinity gifts? Are only the young and pretty allowed to go to church in Zion? Do they worship St. Nelly and sing his familiar hymn, "It's getting hot in here, Lord. So take off all your clothes, Lord." This was just some teenage masturbatory fantasy, not something that added to the plot of the film I was watching. Pointless and stupid!

Also pointless and stupid was Neo's conversation with the Architect. This is where the film should have ended. But, no, the Wachowski Brothers needed to drag this story out into another film. So instead of answers, we get more questions. Personally, I was hoping to find George Lucas at the heart of the Matrix.

Worse than needlessly dragging this film out, was the ridiculousness of the Architect's language. It was like a first-year University student who has discovered the "Thesaurus" function in his word-processing program. Was his speech supposed to be the most convoluted piece of nonsense? Or was this a clever ploy to get all the geeks back to watch this film one more time in a futile attempt to understand this gibber-ish? This was the point in the film where I largely tuned out: multiple Matrixes (what's the plural?), multiple Neos, multiple crap. I can't wait to find out in the next film that Zion and its inhabitants are all part of a much larger Matrix. Boy, won't that be fun!

Finally, a Monday Mission that speaks to me...

1. This seems to be the year for movie sequels (Terminator 3, Matrix Reloaded, 2 Fast 2 Furious, LOTR: The Return of the King, etc.). Is there a movie you would like to see Hollywood make a sequel to?

No. Well, maybe Lethal Weapon... what are we up to? 7? 8? That movie NEVER gets old.


2. What movie sequel do you think should never have been made?

Exorcist 2, any of the Jaws films and the new batch of Star Wars films. BOO!!!!


3. Are there any books (comic, novel, etc.) that you would like to see made into a movie? Who should star in it?

Oh, of course. A new Lone Wolf and Cub series would be great. I always want to see Toshiro Mifune play the lead, but, alas, he's gone. Can't think of another Japenese actor, currently working, with the fericiousness and compassion needed for the role. Also, I have been a huge fan of films made from lesser known comic over the past few years - Ghost World, Road to Perdition, even From Hell. Any serious underground comics would be great.

4. When was the last time the you got a shot at the Doctor's office? Do you prefer them in the arm or your backside? Or would you rather just take a prescription?

What does this have to do with movies? I haven't had a needle in a while. I prefer my arm though.

5. Do you make friends easier in "Real Life" or online or is it about the same? Do you have closer friendships in "Real Life" or online? Why do you think that is? Are you ok with that or would you like to make a change?

Real Life, and I like that you put it in quotation marks.

6. When you first got your drivers license how did you feel ? Did you get it on the first try, second, third, more than that ? Do you have a license ? If no, do you plan to get one ? Why or why not ?

I don't remember feelings overly excited. I'm not a huge fan of driving, but I got my license on the first try, without much drama.

-byRebecca



7. Have you ever had your tonsils removed? Did you ever come close? Tell me about that.

No, no. ... NO!

BONUS: Who's that girl?

Where?

Today's comment question: How do you prefer to have your Ice Cream served? Cone (sugar, cake, waffle), cup, or something else?

In my hand.

Another Friday Five... and actually on Friday!

1. Name one song you hate to admit you like.
The Humpety Dance by Digital Underground.

2. Name two songs that always make you cry.
I can't think of any song that makes me cry, so I'll go with the two songs that make me feel the saddest: All I Want is You by U2; and She by Elvis Costello

3. Name three songs that turn you on.
Let's Get it On, Marvin Gaye (like everyone else); Red Red Wine, UB40;... can't think of another one.Maybe Lay, Lady, Lay by Dylan.

4. Name four songs that always make you feel good.
White Light, White Heat by Velvet Underground; My and Julio Down by the Schoolyard, Paul Simon; I Fought the Law, The Clash; Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, David Bowie.

5. Name five songs you couldn't ever do without.
Using only songs from previous questions...
Let's Get it On, I Fought the Law, She, Me and Julio, and White Light, or at least something by the VU.

So I'm a little apprehnsive about my upcoming birthday. I don't like to think about getting "older". See, I'm coming really close to that magic age, 30; the age young people are supposed to stop trusting you. It seems like such a milestone birthday. I am 30!, sounds more like a statement of being than an indication of age.

A Friday Five...

1. What was the first band you saw in concert?
Actually, it was Philosopher Kings/Great Big Sea/Spirit of the West in my first year of University. I wasn't a big concert guy. Though one time, in high school, a friend of mine tried to get me to go and see Henry Rollins... I was scared.

2. Who is your favorite artist/band now?
Miles Davis

3. What's your favorite song?
I don't think I have just one; I like a lot of different songs for different reasons. Some of my current favourites are "I Don't Like Mondays" Boomtown Rats; Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get it On; and "Cold Blooded Old Times" by Smog.

4. If you could play any instrument, what would it be?
Guitar.

5. If you could meet any musical icon (past or present), who would it be and why?
Miles... why wouldn't you want to meet Miles. The man was a musical genius!

Thought I'd add a little bit of colour to The Not Very Exciting World of Mike. Perhaps my readers (both of them?) will dig the new look. Must keep the peeps happy.

Over the summer I hope to write more entries here. I won't go so far as to "vow" to write more, 'cause more likely than not, it's not gonna happen. Why lie? I intend to write more though. So take comfort in that.

I saw Adaptation over the weekend and I must say, this was one of the most interesting, inventive films out there. As someone deeply connected to both literature and film, I'm often stuck by the problem of adapting novels or short stories into film. Most people give the obligatory "The book was better" response, but fail to take into consideration the very real problem of transferring something from one genre to another. Charlie Kaufman's script about his own inability to turn _The Orchid Thief_ into a film deals with this problem in an interesting and, not to be too sentimental about it, endearing way.
A lot of the older people in the audience I saw the film with were understandably confused by the caper-ish ending of the movie, but the statement is poignant nonetheless: people enter the movie theatre with expectations.

1. Who are your favorite cartoon characters?

Space Ghost and associates, and Nitz.

2. Have you yet reached the point where you feel like you are from a different generation than today's youth?

Oh yes. I feel old and out of touch. I reference television programs they've never even heard of.

3. What was the first Music Video that really impressed you? What made it so amazing?

I remember the first time I saw "Take on Me" by A-Ha. Brilliant piece of work; stands up with things made 10-15 years later.

4. Name a song and an era that comes to mind when you hear the word "Retro."

Boy in the Box, Corey Hart

5. How has your life been affected by HIV or AIDS?

Other than the usual list of dead celebs, it really hasn't, I'm happy to say.

6. Yesterday in the USA, we celebrated "Mothers Day," a day where we honor the mothers in our lives. If you were on a "special day" nominating committee, who or what would you recommend that we create a day in honor of?

Multi-national card and flower companies - wait a second...

7. Last week, we have several Tornadoes tore through many neighborhoods, destroying homes and devastating the lives of the residents. How would you feel if you lost every possession you owned? Or would it matter? How would you go on with your life?

I suppose I'd get on (I seem to have a remarkable ability to go on despite changes), but I don't like to think about losing my stuff.

BONUS: Do you remember the 21st night of September?

Oh, what a night... No.

Today's Comment Question: What part of your body would you like to have permanent hair removal performed on?

Fingers... I don't know.

001. What's your first name?: Michael
002. Whats your middle name?: William
003. Last Name?: Boyce
004. Nicknames: "Mike"; ocassionally "Boycie"
005. City: currently the Peg, but I've lived in Toronto, Oshawa and Waterloo
006. Birthdate: May 23, 1975
007. Chick or dude: totally dude
008. Zodiac Sign: Gemini - i haven't decided which twin I am though 
009. Siblings: sister, Allison
010. Pet(s): none
011. Eye Color: brown
012. Hair Color: brown 
013. Height: 5'11
014. What hand do you write with? right
015. Hair Length: pretty short
016. Do you bite your nails?: no
017. Do you think you are cute?: Oh heck no.
018. Do you think others think you're cute? doubtful, but I suppose anything's possible in this wacky world
020. Shoe Size: 91/2 - 10
021. Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend: Nope
022. If so what is their name?: n.a.
023. Are you Happy?: No, I'm Mike. Seriously though, I guess I'm not unhappy.  
024. Did you send this to your crush?:  maybe
026. Where do you shop the most?: HMV; Chapters maybe
027. Do you think your fashion is cool?: i don't think anything about me is "cool"
028. Do you have any piercings? nope
029. What do you want pierced?: nothing
030. Do you do drugs?: no
031. Do you drink?: hardly ever
032. Who are your friends?: they know who they are (and who they are NOT)
033. Who is your best friend(s): i don't know if I have one
034: Who is your longest friend: I've never measured them
035: What kind of Shampoo and Conditioner do you use?: The kind in the shower
036. What are you most scared of?: being neglected
037. If you could go anywhere where would you go?: Key west  
038. How often do you cut your toenails?: Whenever they need it
039. What are you listening to right now?:  Ruby Tuesday by the Stones
040. Who are you talking to right now? myself
041. What time is it?: 10:27 am
042. Do you have your own phone line?:  Yes
043. What's your phone number: I'm not telling
044. What's your favorite shoe brand?: Docs  
046. What clothes do you sleep in: tshirt & pj pants
048. Who is the last person who called you? my boss
049. Where do you want to get married?: if I got married again, Vegas baby
050. If you could have one wish what would it be?: i don't think I'll share that
051. Who is the hottest guy/girl in your school: i don't know, there's lots of people here. I can't possibly have seen them all.
052. If you could change anything about yourself what would it be?:  I'd stop being so darn charming
053. How many people live in your house?: three, soon to be two
054. Who do you really hate?: I try not to hate people, but I do hate stupidity
056. Favorite Color(s): black
057. Favorite number(s):  2
058. Favorite Candy: Chocolate 
059. Favorite Band: Miles Davis Quintet  
060. Favorite Food: Spagetti
061. Food restaurant: Are there other types of resaurants? China Garden in Waterloo
062. Favorite Girl Names: Happy, Sleepy, Sneezy, Doc... wait, that's not right.
063. Favorite Boy Names: don't have one
064. Favorite animal: the wiley mongoose
065. Favorite Radio Stations: there's an internet Jazz Radio station I like
066. Favorite book: don't have one favourite: i love a lot of books
067. What perfume/cologne do you wear?: a playah's never reveal their stylin' secretz
068. Favorite summer activity?: sweating
072. Bungee Jumped?: nope
073. Sky dived?: nope
074. Went movie hopping?: Yes but they were bad movies
075. Ran from the cops?: Should have  
077. Tried to kill yourself?: Mmm... Actually yes, but that was a long time ago  
079. Skinny dipping?: are you offering?
080. Been In Love?: Sure, who hasn't?
081. Made yourself cry to get out of trouble?: All the time

***What do you think of when you hear these words:

082. Brown: poo 
083: Cow : Moo
084. Pig: bacon
085. Rubber:  boots
086. Science: voodoo 
087. Chair: table

***Which is worse:

088. Barfing on your date or date barfing on you: both are pretty bad, but I'd say it would be worse if I barfed on my date. If a girl barfed on a guy, and the guy handles it right, he is awesome.

089. Have your tonsils or your appendix removed?: tonsils, i guess

**Out of your friends, who is the:

090. Coolest: Dave
091. Weirdest:  Broomhead
092. Smartest: George
093. Happiest: Kim
094. Most Ditzy: There a few girls I know who might fit this. You know who you are.
095. Funniest: that's hard, cause people are different types of funny - Mel and Nikki together are a riot. Adam's funny (but he doesn't know it), Dave has an ability to make me laugh
096. Loudest: Shelley, Heather and Rachel
097 Quietest: Cheryl
098. Prettiest:: Ummmm, I won't say, but she really is the prettiest person I know, though she probably doesn't know that.
099. Who do you go to for advice?: No one, have you met my friends?
100. Who knows all your secrets?: ah, me?

***Do you know any:
101. Steve: Sent me this, bless him.
102: Mike: That's me... and about forty other people I know
103. Lindsay: a girl a year behind me at WLU, cute and sweet.
104. James: yes, a couple
105. Missy:  no... does anyone really know a Missy?
106. David:  Lots... and most of them are EVIL I TELLS YA! EEEEVVVIILLLLL.
107. Pat: Yep, a coworker who nods in sympathy
108. Roxette: Come on, Join the Joyride.

***Have you ever:
109. Eaten an entire gallon of ice cream?: sure
110. Caused a car accident?: does running into a fence count?  
111. Seen the ocean?: which one?

***This or that:
112. Night or Day?: Night
113. Chocolate Chip or Mint Chip?: chocolate
114. Ocean or lake?  ocean, in my experience, lake's smell
115. Chocolate or vanilla?: I'm starting to enjoy vanilla
116. Lion or Tiger?: tiger
117. Love or lust?: depends  but lust is easier
118. Silver or gold?: gold
119. Pencil or pen?: pen
120. Skirt or jeans?:  to wear? jeans.
121. Rose or tulip? : I don't care about flowers  

***Have you (in the last 48 hours)

122. Cried?:  no 
123. Blah Blah Blah: no  
124. Worn a skirt?: still no
125. Gone for a walk?: yes (Woohoo!!!)
126. Gone for a drive?: yes 
127. Been taken out for dinner?:  nope
128. Taken a test?: nope
129. Talked to an ex?: actually yes, well I got an email from her
131. Watched your favorite movie?: no, but I saw X2 and it was pretty cool
132. Gotten a present?: no
133. Missed someone?: sure
134. Hugged someone?:  no
135. Kissed someone?: no
136. Danced with someone?: nope
137. Had a nightmare?: nope
138. Fought with your parents?: no
139. What do you feel about the Ouiji board?:they're ouiji-tastic (actually they're crap)
140. Do you believe in yourself?: meh
141. Worst feeling in the world?:  when she doesn't talk to me
142. Best feeling in the world?:  hot bath
143. Are you for world peace?: meh  
144. Are you a health freak?:  nope
145. Do you have a crush on anyone?:  of course

***Final Questions:

147. Do you like filling these out?: oh yeah!!!
148: Who will respond to this?: Everyone, or else

Over the past few days, I have started writing here five or six times; sometimes quite a bit too. But something always makes me erase what I've written and start again. To get me into the writing mood, I think I'll start with a Friday five to see how it all works.

1. Would you consider yourself an organized person? Why or why not?

In certain things, I'm very organized. Unfortunately, I'm also chronicly lazy. So often, when things get "unorganized" I can't be bothered trying to fix them.

2. Do you keep some type of planner, organizer, calendar, etc. with you, and do you use it regularly?

I have one, yes; using it has been a continious struggle.

3. Would you say that your desk is organized right now?

Yes, yes I would.

4. Do you alphabetize CDs, books, and DVDs, or does it not matter?

I have, but my wife always wrecks it. DVDs are currently alphabetized within certain categories, but Criterion DVDs
are by issue number on the spine.

5. What's the hardest thing you've ever had to organize?
When I got married I alphabetized the combined CD collection and book collection. It was a nightmare (but so comforting).

A Friday Five on a Tuesday? This wildman doesn't care whose toes he steps on...

1. How many houses/apartments have you lived in throughout your life?
5, 6 if you count my dorm in first year university... i tend not to.

2. Which was your favorite and why?
My current place... it has all my stuff.

3. Do you find moving house more exciting or stressful? Why?
stressful No one has yet been able to prove to me that change is good.

4. What's more important, location or price?
Location

5. What features does your dream house have (pool, spa bath, big yard, etc.)?
Big tv, and the whole home theatre set up.

More films to catalogue. Talk to Her A+ - another masterpiece by one of the best filmmakers in the world. Autofocus C - disappointing bio-pic of Bob Crane. Imitation of Life B+/A- enjoyable Sirk film. Life of Brian A - Python's best. Va Savoir A - enthralling French drama. To Have and Have Not B+ - could have done witout the singing, but Bogart and Bacall are HOT!

Watched a few good fims this weekend. First, 24 Hour Party People. It's the story of Tony Wilson, a Brit TV personality who figures promiently into the history (or perhaps myth) of punk, post-punk, and rave music in Manchester. The film wonderfully blurs the line between fact and fiction by featuring (and mentioning) cameos by real figures (including Wilson himself) and blending documentary footage into the narrative. While I thought it ran a little long, the films functions as interesting a commentary on art and style as the post-modern, genre-defining music of the era.

Next, I finally brought home (or rather Rachel brought home for me) 8 Femmes, a film I've been anxious to see since I heard about it almost a year ago. Visually this film reminded me of the best films of Jacques Demy (Umbrellas and Young Girls in particular). There's a richness and fullness to the colours that seems almost hyper-real - an effect which adds to, and perhaps allows, the strange mixing of mystery and musical genres. The film has been compared to Altman's Gosford Park; like that film, 8 Femmes appears to be a murder mystery though the solving the murder is not nearly as exciting as discovering the secrets of the household. 8 Femmes adds the further layer of musical numbers which, although fun, speak to various themes and subplots. I personally found that 8 Femmes is more subtle in its use of the mystery genre than Gosford Park. In Altman's film the police inspector never comes close to figuring out the crime, indeed the characters remain largely in the dark. For the 8 Femmes, figuring out who killed Marcel is never far from their minds.