The up and up…
Last week was shitty. I went home for Grandpa’s funeral. I saw a bunch of people I don’t get to see enough, and had a lot of laughs and good times, but it was all filtered through that “I’m home for a funeral” headspace. I’m glad that, for whatever fluky reason, it was actually perfect timing at school and in other areas of my life to take a week off and go home. That doesn’t happen very often for me.
Annnyhow - I really intended to make this a happy entry. I actually have two things share that have made my heart beat a little faster recently…
I invested in this pretty little thing -
It’s so cute. Applause Ukulele. It’s not one of those cheapo toy ukes. It sounds so pretty. I need to find a proper case for it. This box makes it look like I’m about to bury it.
For scale - my average-sized female hand. You can tell I spent like, 3 hours total, out in the sun this winter.
See that stamp on my hand? It’s from the Museum of Civilization, over the river in Gatineau, Quebec. I was there yesterday, to finally get my ass to the Glenn Gould exhibit. I’m not sure why I hadn’t gone already, since it’s been on since November or something. Well, I do know why - I’ve been busy as all fuck and stupidly denying myself the things that make me happy. It happens a lot, and I’m convinced it will lead to an early demise if I don’t smarten up about it soon.
Jesus, I digress so much… I went to the Glenn Gould exhibit and it was pretty awesome. I’ve been a major closet Gould fan for years. I eventually stopped expressing my love for Gould because I was tired of answering to the inevitable “Who?” or “Why?” I got from most people I told. He only died the year I was born, but you’d be surprised how many people my age have no idea who he is. Or maybe you wouldn’t be surprised. I don’t know. Maybe my middle-class, white, Canadian roots are showing, but Glenn Gould never struck me as obscure. Apparently, for a lot of people it’s either a love or hate thing with Gould. I can see how he could rub some folks the wrong way, but I’m firmly in the love camp. Love, love, love love. I love his musical skill and interpretations, of course, but also Gould himself. He just seemed so smart and witty and original. His “eccentricities” endeared him to me even more, since I share more than few of them. Very handsome, too. I could go on, but I’ll spare you. The exhibit itself had nothing new for me - I’m a bit obsessive when it comes to reading/watching/listening to things by or about people I love. I’d never actually seen this stuff with my own eyes though. Glenn’s stuff. Being so close to it all made me quite warm and fuzzy inside. A bit wobbly, as well. It’s actually really comforting to know that I can still feel that way about things.
I even committed the cardinal museum sin of reaching over “the rope”…. I touched his piano. I couldn’t help myself. His Steinway CD318. It’s so embarrassingly fan-girly to admit, but I felt like my head would explode when I touched it.
Pardon my mad camera skillz. Oh, the wobbliness. That’s the piano. The one in the back is his other main piano - the Chickering. I also saw his chair. Glenn Gould’s chair. It felt so weirdly exciting to be so close to these things that meant so much to him.
Oh dear. There were many other things, but I’ll stop this here. I know I can get a bit repulsive when I gush about stuff like this. I’ve also learned not to expect others to share my interest (let alone excitement) about certain people or things… especially Gould… but it’s my blog, damnit.
It was certainly worth the $8 student admission and made my week a little less shitty.
good things | Comment (0)Grandpa
My Grandpa passed away tonight.
He was a great man and I will miss him.
1921 - 2008
RIP
bad things | Comment (1)daffodil madness by the farm
Just some photos I took today…
Ottawa always seems to have pretty flowers. I’d hate/love to know the landscape budget they have.
I’ll post my tulip pictures in the near future.
good things | Comment (0)Ottawa Bluesfest 08
Well, they released the lineup for this year’s Bluesfest here in Ottawa.
I’m not too thrilled, to be quite honest. Supposedly it’s the “biggest ever” this year, but the artists are a bit of a snore. I’d be interested in seeing Brian Wilson and Donna Summer, but that’s pretty much it. Interested, but not enough to actually like, buy tickets. I don’t even want to see Fiest. She’s good, but I’m so bloody sick of her.
So, I doubt I’m going… Oh well.
EDIT: Maybe I’ll go see Stars. Or Ladytron.
I’m going to Radiohead in August. Must remember that.
Oooh. I can hear thunder rumbling. I think this might be the first thunderstorm of the year, if you don’t count that weird “thundersnow” shit we had after Christmas.
my 2 cents | Comment (0)Meme
Some major school business is finished. I can chill out a bit now. I’m not done by any standards, but I’m getting there, slowly. I will hopefully have more time to fritter away on ye olde blog, so we’ll all benefit from this. I’m still trying to figure out some features of WordPress. If I’m going to make a large and somewhat pointless post, how do I hide part of it? So you need to click on something to read further… Like, on Livejournal they call it a “cut”.
I’d put one in right now….
1. Ever been given an engagement ring?
Yes. For real and for the lulz. For the lulz - I worked at a nightly summer festival during my undergrad, selling glow in the dark stuff. One of my co-workers and long-time partner in crime, P, would give me a purple glowstick bracelet every night (since we wore a lot of the product as a “display”) and we would always do it ceremoniously, with her proposing to me on bended knee twice a week for pretty much a whole summer. For real? Well, I’m not engaged anymore.
2. Longest friendship?
This is a tough one, mostly because I don’t know what really counts as leaving a friendship. I’ve has some spectacular blow-outs with people, and those definitely marked the end of the relationship. I can count them on one hand. The rest, well, they wax and wane. Because I quit going to school around grade eight, and then did my high school by correspondence before going to university, I lost touch with a lot of folks. Since I’ve been on facebook I’ve got back with a bunch of them. Evil as it is, facbook can be helpful. Long-story short, I’d say my longest friendship has been about 18 years? Terrifying.
3. Last gift you received?
Tax return! Although, I don’t get much back because I don’t pay very much as a grad student…
4. How many times have you dropped your cell?
Sweet Jesus. At least 10 times now, and it’s still (more or less) working. Big ups to the Razr folks. Although, the back of the phone and battery have been flying off for the past 3 or so drops.
5. When’s the last time you worked out?
I walked home from school yesterday.
6. Thing you spend a lot of money on?
Food, mostly. I don’t drink loads or do drugs, so I tend to splurge on the food. Other than that, SCHOOL. Feck.
7. Last food you ate?
Grape juice. yum.
8. First thing you notice about the opposite sex?
Depends on the situation. Height or weight. Not that it makes them more or less attractive to me.
9. One favorite song?
Today - Kiss & Swallow by IAMX - it changes everyday.
10. Where do you live?
Ottavah. Our nation’s capital.
11. High school you attended:
First one was Haliburton Highlands Secondary School (aka Hell High). Did grades 10-OAC through the Independent Learning Centre in Toronto.
12. Cell phone service provider:
Rogers. About a 7 on the Nazi scale.
13. Favorite mall store:
Ummm… I love those popcorn places… Kernels? I don’t even know what they’re called. Hah. I hate malls.
14. Longest job ever had:
Worked as a tutor for about a year and a bit. Other than that, it’s been school school school.
15. Do you own a pair of dice?
Yes, somewhere. I don’t have any friends who play those games.
16. Do you prank call people?
I’ve always lived in the *69 and call-display era, so it was pretty pointless.
17. Last wedding attended?
My partner’s sister, in Cyprus & Manchester. Pretty decent.
18. First friend you’d call if you won the lottery:
My nigga P.
19. Last time you attended church:
I went to a funeral a few years ago in a church.
21. Biggest lie you have heard?
I had a friend who was a pathological liar, so there’s too many to choose from. I think his best one was that he was going to be taught by Emeril and Wolfgang Puck in his chef course out West. He went on about how he was lucky to get in because the classes filled up quickly and how he was going to cook all this fine French shit. Anyhow, he was just attending a shitty college, so I phoned their 1-800 number to check. Oh it made the college people laugh. When I confronted him about it, he said someone must have lied to him. Hahah.
23. Where’s your favorite place to eat with friends?
Somewhere not too loud. I have a horrible time hearing people in restaurants.
24. Can you cook?
Not really. I make OK salads and simple shit like grilled chicken breasts.
25. What car do you drive?
I don’t have a car. If I had one, it would probably be a shitbox.
26. Best kisser?
Pfft. I’m not telling.
27. Last time you cried?
The weekend. I cry all the time.
28. Most disliked food:
FISH. Even the smell of it makes me want to puke. All fish.
29. Thing you like most about yourself?
I can be really smart and dedicated, if I want to be.
30. Thing you dislike most about yourself:
My mood swings. But I wouldn’t change that. Sometimes they work in my favor. Other than that, my general lack of confidence.
32. Longest shift you have worked at a job?
No idea. I marked exams for 20 hours straight last term. I get paid decently to do it though, so I shouldn’t whine.
33. Favorite movie?
Too many to list, and they vary according to said moods. A recurring favorite is Labyrinth with David Bowie.
34. Can you sing?:
I can sing, but no one would want to hear it. Everyone can sing.
35. Last concert?
Ugh… White Stripes at Bluesfest 07? Something like that. Radiohead coming up! Woot.
36. Last kiss?
Like, in October, in an airport parking lot. 
37. Last movie rented?
I don’t rent things anymore… but the last film I saw was I Know Who Killed Me. Load of crap, but Lindsay Lohan looked hot with dark hair.
38. Thing you never leave home without?
clothes? cell phone? wallet? keys?
Nothing too exciting.
39. Favorite vacation spot?
I don’t really go anywhere. Cyprus was nice. I want to swim in the ocean again.
40. Do you like Chinese food?
The bastardized Canadian version, yeah. Ho-Lee Chows. The authentic Chinese food I’ve had has been a bit scary, to be honest. Fish features far too prominently for me.
42. Is your room clean?
Nope. Not at the moment.
43. Laptop or desktop computer?
Both. MacBook & a pc desktop. Playing for both teams, as usual.
44. Favorite comedian?
UK ones… Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Bill Bailey, and lately, Noel Fielding. Oh dear.
45. Do you smoke?
Nope. Can’t handle the idea of inhaling shit on purpose. It makes me come across as some kind of puritan, but I’m far from that. I’m all for recreational consumables.
46. Sleep with or without clothes?
Nothing at all! Unless I fall asleep by accident somewhere.
47. Who sleeps with you every night?
My cat. Probably a bunch of dust mites too.
48. Long distance relationships work?
Sighs. Shut up.
49. How many times have you been pulled over by the police?
None by myself. A few times with other people. I’m a good girl.
50. Pancakes or french toast?
Pancakes. or Waffles…
Ok. There were another 50 questions in the meme, but fuck that! Even I’m bored at this point.
moi, nonsense | Comment (0)Suggestive desserts are the best kind of desserts
Went to Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana on Preston St tonight, for some good conversation and sugar. I got a few (too many) things to take home tonight, and this was one of them…
I’ll leave it to you to analyze on other levels… I’ll just say it was delicious.
good things | Comment (0)another sock post
So, I’m still knitting away on various projects, while trying not to drown at school. Big thing happening next week, and it’s something I don’t think I can prepare enough for, if you know what I mean. Ugh. I can’t wait until this period of my life is finished. Gripe gripe.
ANYHOW.
I started this sock. I’ve had this yarn sitting around for a while. It’s Super Soxx Garantiert Filzfrei Color, if that helps? I don’t even know what language that is. It says it’s made for Lang & Co. in Switzerland. Whatevs.
I’m in love with the colours of this yarn. I’m usually not a big fan of olive green, but when they threw this teal blue stuff in, it made it awesome. I’m just doing a generic toe-up improvisation with this, since I love plain striped socks and needed a “mindless knitting” project.
Other than that, still chugging along on the Lace Ribbon scarf, but I don’t have a photo of that for today.
Does anyone like the new layout of this blog? I’m liking it.
knit | Comment (1)first impressions…
I’m liking WordPress so far. No complaints. I’m still getting used to having so much control over things. It’s more flexible than Typepad without being ridiculously complicated. We’ll see how long this honeymoon lasts. Ever the pessimist!
Anyhow.
Here’s my first attempt at adding a photo -
Let’s give it another try….
Yes. Seems to work.
One last try…
That last one… an oldie, but a goodie. I was having a bit of a shitty day, but that makes me feel better. My apologies to anyone trying to quit smoking ( or trying to quit some guy who looks like Rufus Wainwright). It’s a bit terrifying - my love for Rufus Wainwright is 10 years old this year. I bought his first album way back then. We’ve been inseparable ever since.
Yes. I’ll wrap this up now, before I post more pictures.
good things | Comment (0)Hello from Wordpress!
So, I’ve switched over to wordpress, hosted on my new space at Dreamhost.com!
Exciting.
Things might look like shit for a bit, but I’ll try to pretty this up as soon as I can!
Uncategorized | Comment (0)Some News…
Allo Allo.
I do believe my relationship with Typepad is coming to an end. I’ve invested in some web space of my own, and will be a bloggin’ over there at some point in the near future.
So, you may or may not notice some changes here. I don’t know how smoothly this will go.
If this site, or anything at knittingismyboyfriend.com suddenly disappears, you will know what the deal is. I’m switching servers and setting stuff up over there.
As well, stuff at school is a little OMG right now, so I’ll probably not be posting much in the next two weeks.
Everything should settle down by the end of the month.
bear with me.
xxxxxx
Uncategorized | Comment (0)
