iTunes Playlist Tuesday! #60

This week I’m seeing double...It's come to my attention that there are several songs in my playlist with the same title, but are completely different songs. So this week’s list will feature 5 different song titles, but there will be a total of 10 songs. Some you may know, others might be new to you:

1. AMSTERDAM:

A) Coldplay - Was a track on their 2002 album A Rush of Blood to the Head.

B) Guster - From their 2003 album Keep it Together.

2. CLOSER:

A) Nine Inch Nails - Released in NIN’s 1994 album Downward Spiral.

B) Kings of Leon - The opening track off of Only By the Night, released in 2008.

3. CREEP:

A) Radiohead - This was a single from the 1993 release Pablo Honey - though wikipedia tells me the single came out in 1992.

B) Stone Temple Pilots - Also from 1992, this was a single off of the album Core by STP.

Honorable mention: "Creep" by TLC off of 1994's CrazySexyCool.

4. HEY:

A) Pixies - This song was on their 1989 album entitled Doolittle. It’s crazy that this track was done in the late 80s - they were so ahead of their time.

B) Red Hot Chili Peppers - “Hey” was on RHCP’s massive double album Stadium Arcadium, released in 2006.

5. BONES:

A) Danny Michel - “Bones” is a track off of Danny’s 2001 album In the Belly of the Whale.

B) The Killers - A single off of 2006’s Sam’s Town.

Can you guys think of other songs with the same title that are different? Do you like this week’s theme? Do you like one “Creep” better over the other?

Also, this is my 60th playlist - holy shit!

Next week I think I’m going to explore 10 songs by a single band...what band? Not telling.

Weekend (Postcrossing) Update #38 & #39

I was away last Friday, so this will cover two weeks, but since I've already done two posts about my vacation, I probably won't talk about it much here.

Now, the postcrossing postcard of the week:

I chose this card because I didn't get to go to the beach this summer, so I thought this card is the closest I have to the real thing. It's from South Carolina, USA.

Instead of weekday updates like i normally do, I'm going to do a 101 in 1001 update:

#1 - Get a smartphone - I edited this because it originally said "Get an iPhone" but since I got a Samsung Galaxy S instead I edited it. I've crossed this off.

#7 - Travel somewhere alone - I count the fact that I took the train for 3 hours alone to visit my friend as travelling alone. Done!

#16 - Go to the top of the CN Tower - A day trip planned for September 25 with my university friends is in the works.

#19 - Get a second tattoo - I'm seriously considering doing this soon.

#21 - Run a 5k Race - Well what I'm doing isn't a race, but a charity run....but I've been training for the Terry Fox Run (not that you need to train for this, but I want to really try to run the whole thing). Today I read Terry by Douglas Coupland and I feel inspired. If you haven't already, you can pledge me HERE. The run is soon - September 19!

#30 - Go to a drive-in movie - This didn't happen because the weather wasn't great. There are two drive-ins near me, so maybe I can do this local.

#41 - Visit an out-of-town friend - I visited Amanda in Belleville last weekend! Check!

#43 - Get a job in my field - I applied for a job in my field that I am not qualified for and will not get. That's progress, sorta...

#45 - Make a new friend -  I've made some new friends through work and through other friends recently. I'm trying to keep an open mind. I need to get out more.

#65 - Visit the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) - Trip planned along with CN Tower excursion for September 25.

#74 - Spend a day at the beach - Again, ruined by a rainy day. I'll try again next summer I guess.

#77 - Create or go on a scavenger hunt - September 15th isn't that far away guys! You don't have to wait till the very last day to send these. See this POST for details. It's not too late to play along!

#80 - Go to the driving range - I asked a friend but she said no because she doesn't have clubs anymore.

#84 - Try a new restaurant - I've tried many lately. Earl's - which inspired this POST. And this delicious Indian place called The Silk Route in Belleville. A fish and chips place called Schooners. And several little cafes. Check!

#89 - Update Etsy shop monthly - I'm working on a few new things to (hopefully) put up for sale before September 1.

#94 - Go bowling - Not that I haven't bowled before, it's just been a long time...so I did! We went bowling in Belleville to make up for not going to the drive-in and beach. Check!

#100 - Make a list of my top 50 songs - In the process of eliminating and reorganizing this list.

Knick Knacks are Fun!

I know over these past few days I've been blogging a lot, but I can't help it. Here are the bizarre and wonderful things I purchased in Belleville and Prince Edward County last weekend:

1) A mini frying pan and spatula! I'm sure I could get this here too, but it was so cute I had to have it.

2) Salt & Pepper shakers shaped like cats. I imagine myself, in the near future, having a checkered table cloth and these in the middle next to the napkin holder. 

3) Two bangles made in India purchased from Ten Thousand Villages in Picton, Ontario.

 

4) Set of chopsticks in a woven holder, made in Vietnam, also from Ten Thousand Villages.

5) This is my strangest purchase of all...I know the cat things were pretty weird, but this CD was in a $2 bin outside of a bookstore in Picton. It's previously owned. Why did I buy a CD for a band called Newworldson? Well, a guy I went to high school with is in this band. I will admit, I haven't even listened to it yet.

6) Okay, this isn't a photo of stuff I bought on my holiday, but a photo of yesterday's mail. It was quite exciting: New issue of Spin, a postcard from someone in Finland, and the sixth and final season of LOST on DVD. I watched some of the special features already and I kinda felt like crying. Don't judge me, everyone has a crazy obsession.

On the Road Again (Poll Results)

My rental car in front of a dirty warehouse.

iPod + Car adaptor
4 (66%)
- Mine is an FM transmitter - it works okay in the country, not well at all in the city. I used it a bit on my trip.

CDs
2 (33%)
- Played CDs more than I expected to. Don't knock "old" technology.

A Map or GPS
5 (83%)
- Didn't use either! Guess what, sometimes roadside signs are all we needed.

Full tank of gas
3 (50%)
- Yeah, I filled the car up and barely burned any of it!

A good friend!
5 (83%)
- I'm surprised that one person felt they didn't need a friend. I would be too scared to road tip alone.

Coffee
2 (33%)
- Not everyone likes coffee, I know.

Water/Cold beverages
5 (83%)
- Depends on how long your drive is.

Roadside assistance
0 (0%)
- Really? I am a nervous driver. I have CAA.

Snacks
3 (50%)
- Just don't leave chocolate in your trunk for 4 hours in the sun.

Sunglasses
4 (66%)
- Really? Some of you prefer to squint in the sun? I guess it's not ALWAYS sunny.

Other
0 (0%)
- Fair enough.

Plans B through D: A Neurotic Planner's Guide to Travelling in Belleville

I just got back from my extended weekend away in (not so) sunny Belleville and the surrounding area. Before, when my friend Amanda and I were planning this trip, we had thought of specific things we'd like to do on each day. We didn't account for two things: A) The weather not co-operating and B) Places being closed.

Here are breakdowns of my trip by day, showing what was planned and what was later improvised:

Thursday:

THE PLAN:
* I took two trains to get to Belleville.
* I arrived, on schedule, and Amanda and her boyfriend picked me up.
* We grabbed a quick dinner.
* Chatted and caught up.

THE PLAN B:
* This more or less happened as it was supposed to.

Friday:

THE PLAN:
* Have Enterprise pick us up to get our rental car.
* Drive rental car around various places in Belleville.
* Go to an Indian restaurant for dinner.

THE PLAN B:
* Again, more or less went as planned.
* The drive around featured stops at: My friends work at a book publishers, a chocolate shop, Reid's Dairy for ice cream (where I was promised I would see a goat at a petting zoo), a random old timey looking store, Quinte Mall.
* It was a beautiful day, and we felt bad for doing all these indoorsy activities, so we made a stop at Amanda's boyfriend's because his building has a pool.

I have my own store in Picton, Ontario!

Saturday:

THE PLAN:
* Drive to Picton, Ontario and to Sandbanks Provincial Park to go to the beach.
* After the beach, get dinner in town.
* Go to the drive-in movies.

THE PLAN B:
* We hadn't counted on rain and low temperatures, so the beach was definitely out. We still drove to Picton, stopping in Bloomfield - where we bought delightful knick knacks and saw a glass blowing studio, where we watched a glass bead demonstration.
* The rain sorta let up so we debated still going to the drive-in, but we decided that the movies didn't look good enough to risk it.
* We got dinner in Picton, drove back to Belleville, and went to glow in the dark bowling later that night.

Sunday:

THE PLAN:
* Return the rental car at noon.
* Kill time doing various things around town.
* Go to a fancy martini/wine restaurant and have a Mad Men inspired evening.

THE PLAN B:
* Nothing was open in downtown Belleville on Sunday.
* We went to the movies to make up for not going to the drive-in. Saw The Switch with Jennifer Aniston and a delightful Jason Batemen.
* I started to work on my Joan Holloway inspired classy martini outfit when Amanda realized that the restaurant was also closed on Sunday! I changed and we ordered pizza and watched Mamma Mia on DVD.

Monday:

THE PLAN:
* Watch Mad Men online before I had to leave to catch my train.
* Call a cab to take me to the train station.
* Take two trains home.

THE PLAN B:
* Forgot to watch Mad Men - oh well.

So that was my trip! I might post about the random things I bought on my little vacation later.

iTunes Playlist Tuesday! #59

I really hate the overuse of the word "random" - mostly because people tend to say, "Oh my god, that's so random" regarding things that aren't random at all.

That said, this week's list is going to be a random-ish list of songs from my iTunes as they come up in the shuffle. I admit to skipping some tracks that I just wasn't feeling. Why the lazy playlist theme this week? I just got home from my extended weekend away and I am too tired to come up with something better.

1. Yellow Ledbetter by Pearl Jam - I heard on the radio once that there are no official lyrics to this song, and that it seems that Eddie Vedder sings different things each time he performs it.

2. Stop Me by Mark Ronson - Mark Ronson is a DJ and his songs all feature other artists singing. Also, he is the brother of Samantha Ronson - who I know about from my Perez Hilton reading days.

3. Everything by Michael Buble - Okay, you caught me, I kinda love Michael Buble.

4. Orange Sky by Alexi Murdoch - I first heard this song in an episode of The OC. I had a bit of an obsession with the OC during university. Except for the last season - that was shite.

5. If by Red Hot Chili Peppers - I love the lyrics to this song: "If I had a clue I'd know exactly what to do if I were the wiser of the two." So true.

6. Volcano Girls by Veruca Salt - Gotta love mid-90s girl rock!

7. At Last by Etta James - Because sometimes I'm just a huge cliche.

8. It's a Man's World by James Brown - Sing it James!

9. Just Friends by Jeremy Fisher - "We're just friends who sometimes happen to kiss."

10. God Put a Smile Upon Your Face by Coldplay - And that is the last song!

Hopefully I'll come up with something brilliant for next week!

Cheers and I'll tell you about my weekend soon-ish.

Women Eat at Restaurants Too

Last night I went out for dinner with my mom - just the two of us. I had mentioned that I wanted to try this new place that opened in the mall - a classy-ish sit-down restaurant called Earl's. After we were seated and given menus I looked around and noticed the serving staff - mostly young women, all skinny, all wearing short black skirts and heels. These are the kind of skirts I refer to as "vagina skirts" because if someone drops a fork, these girls are in trouble. The one guy I saw working was wearing a black collared shirt and black dress pants. The only woman I saw wearing pants appeared to be a manager - guess she makes salary and doesn't need to slut it up for money.

Now, I know people who work as servers - some restaurants have uniforms that involve pants and a shirt, while others seem to encourage a less clothed approach to work attire. The latter makes me sad - especially when it is encouraged by the management to do so.

It's 2010! We still treat women like sexual objects and men are expected to hold the wallet. Why else would female servers (I refuse to use the word waitress) feel they HAVE to dress like a hussy to get tips. Women don't tip? Women don't pay for their meals ever? This approach seems to alienate half the population!

I've been to some classy restaurants where the servers (men and women) all wear white collared shirts and dress pants. They make good tips too. Guess why? They serve good food in a timely manner. Not because they showed me what colour underwear they're wearing when they grabbed the napkin that fell on the floor.

There's a sports bar here where the females all wear short denim skirts, tight little t-shirts, and knee socks. Guess what the men wear? Jeans and a t-shirt. While a man can get by with a smile, a woman has to show her goods to get the tips.

So my question to the dudes who read my blog (and be honest): Are you more likely to tip better if the server is whored up for work? Or are you more impressed by good service and attentiveness?

And the ladies - Would you prostitute yourself like this for tips? Or have you?

The Hard Road - Poll Results!

I'd like to say that I took this photo, but my brother did.
He was testing out my camera while I drove.

Favourite modes of travel:

Drive (Road Trip!)
6 (85%)
I've never actually driven myself on a road trip - but I've been a road trip passenger.

Fly
2 (28%)
I've only flown once (well three planes for one trip). But it was a transatlantic flight from Toronto to London.

Bus
0 (0%)
I fear Greyhound ever since that grizzly bus murder a few summer's back.

Train
3 (42%)
I love the train - so relaxing.

Walk (Hopefully you aren't going far)
2 (28%)
I walk everywhere in town, but I'm not about to walk across the province.

Boat
1 (14%)
Never been on a cruise.

Motorcycle
2 (28%)
Never been on one.

Other
0 (0%)
Hot air balloon?

I chose this poll topic because tomorrow I'm going on vacation. How am I getting there? Two trains and a rental car. That's correct. I will be taking two trains to Belleville, Ontario, then I'm renting a car so my friend and I can drive to the beach and the drive-in movie theatre on Saturday (weather permitting).

For the train I plan on:

* Listening to my ipod (see yesterday's playlist)
* Reading (Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger and maybe some magazines)
* Playing with my new Samsung Galaxy S phone (because I'm a loser and the phone is crazy-awesome)

'Cause I like to look sophisticated on the train.

I also have some 101 Before 1001 list items I plan to cross off this weekend:

#30 - See a Drive-in movie
#41 - Visit an out-of-town friend
#74 - Spend a day at the beach

Also, #77 - Create or go on a scavenger hunt is in progress. Not too late to sign up! Postcards should be postmarked no later than September 15, but they can obviously be sent earlier. For those of you already doing this, I'm trying to figure out how to present them. Should I present them as they come to me, or should I wait until all the cards come in?

Also, since I will be away from Thursday till Monday evening I won't be posting a Weekend Update until next Tuesday (maybe) or I'll just skip it and doing a super-fantastic update next weekend.

Don't worry, I won't forget my camera.

iTunes Playlist Tuesday! #58

On Thursday I am taking a commuter train from my hometown to Toronto, where I will catch another train to Belleville, Ontario. Why am I going to Belleville? My friend Amanda lives there - and frankly she always visits me and I have never visited her. I have reserved a rental car for Friday to Sunday. So here are just a few songs I feel I should listen to during my travels through north-eastern Ontario! Also, Bellevegas is just a colloquial nickname for the town. I will let you know why next week when I return.

1) Baby You Can Drive My Car by The Beatles - Actually no, only I will be permitted to drive the rental.

2) Midnight Train by Danny Michel - How about a midday train? Also Amanda and I discovered Danny's music at the same time. Though she's become a bit of a Danny stalker lately...

3) Escape is at Hand for the Travellin’ Man by The Tragically Hip - I'm escaping to the beach!

4) Drive by R.E.M. - I must sneak in R.E.M. where I can.

5) Road Trippin’ by Red Hot Chili Peppers - I’ll be on the train alone, but once get to Belleville I will be road trippin’ with my favourite ally.

6) Maps by Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps will be needed, or a GPS.

7) Holiday by Weezer - This is my holiday.

8) Summertime by Janis Joplin - I love this cover by Janis and it is summertime, so it fits.

9) We’re Going to Be Friends by The White Stripes - Because I’m travellin’ to visit a friend.

10) The Car Song by Martha Wainwright - A bonus track on Martha’s I Know You’re Married but I’ve Got Feelings Too record.

What are your favourite travel themed songs?

Next week's list: I have no clue. It will be a surprise!

Weekend (Postcrossing) Update #37

I got 11 postcards this week! I'm posting this later than my usual Friday because I haven't been home all week. I've been dogsitting and didn't get my mail until yesterday.

So hard to choose a favourite when you have 11 to pick from. I'm going to post two then:

1) This card is sorta disturbing - but I can't help but love it. It was sent from Lithuania. The sender collects photos of buildings marked "13." She has a website for it: www.13namas.lt. If you know of any buildings marked 13 submit them. I would, but I can't think of any. Maybe I'll go on an adventure to find one.

2) This postcard from Belgium is pretty awesome. Have a speedy & effective washing day with Harrison's Arizonic Soap! Got scurvy? No problem!

Now time for my usual week update:

Monday - On this rainy Monday I caught up on my stories after work (Hung, Entourage, and Mad Men). Not going to spoil it for anyone, but WTF Entourage? That was an intense end to an episode. Yikes. Also, as for Mad Men, I think it's safe to say that Joan Holloway is quite possibly my favourite female character on TV right now.

Tuesday - Had the day off. I took Dawson (the dog I was watching) for a walk after my run. I'm pretty sure the back on my tank top was drenched in sweat. After showering (of course) I went downtown to meet the girls from work for Thai food. I watched A League of Their Own in bed on my laptop. My favourite movie of all time.

Wednesday - The day was boring, but I had two interesting things happen at work that night:

1) A woman brought this elderly woman inside because she found her outside on the sidewalk. The lady had dementia and was lost. The woman who found her asked us to call the police and asked for a small coffee for the old lady. My co-worker got the phone for her and poured her a coffee and rang it in. But the lady (the rescuer) didn't have any money on her because she "was just out for a walk." She essentially stole a coffee from us - but we didn't do anything about it. The cop showed up and took the lost old lady with him. Hopefully he found out where she belonged.

2) I had a bit of a stalker. Yep, it's true. Okay he was mildly attractive - but he was so weird. He came in early in my shift and was on a bike. He came in later and got another coffee from me. Later he was in line again, only this time he had a digital SLR camera in his hand, positioned as if he was about to take a photo. When it was his turn I asked what he'd like. He hesitated, and I was freaking out inside, but he finally said small coffee. I let out a sigh of relief. Both my co-worker and I thought he was going to take a photo. Later I was stacking up some patio chairs and dragging them inside. Our hero, Mr. Camera, jumped up to rescue this damsel in no-distress. At this point my co-worker is laughing at me, and I started to laugh too. Later he walked in and out of the cafe at least three times. He also walked by a few times after we were closed. Freaked me out. I thought he might follow me home.

Thursday - Took some laundry over to my house, walked the dog. I worked Thursday night...blah, blah, blah.

Friday - Friday was fun. I tidied the house I was watching, and went to my house to get a car to bring some of my stuff home in. Friday night was really fun. My friend started doing this business thing where she sells silver jewellery and I agreed to co-host a party with another girl I know who offers spa services out of her house. So we doubled it up - a jewellery/spa party. I got a manicure and drank wine with some awesome people.

Saturday - Finished dogsitting! Home Sweet Home!

Can't Stop (running) - Songs from my Workout Mix on my iPod (Poll Results)

Last week's poll was songs directly from my iPod's workout mix and asked which songs were the best to workout to:

Song 2 by Blur
3 (42%)
This song does the trick, but it's a bit short - two minutes. Would be good for the end of a run as a last push towards the finish line.

Bones by The Killers
0 (0%)
I realize now that I should have picked a different song by The Killers.

Crawl by Kings of Leon
2 (28%)
When I'm running to this song I feel like the band is taunting me. "Oh yeah, you think you're doing well? I'm gonna make you crawl." But I say, sorry boys, I'm gonna keep going!

Sliver by Nirvana
3 (42%)
"Grandma take me home, grandma take me home, grandma take me home, I wanna be alone..."

Can't Stop by Red Hot Chili Peppers
4 (57%)
Winning by a minority - "Can't Stop" is a great song to workout to. Almost makes you feel guilty if you do stop.

1901 by Phoenix
2 (28%)
I chose this based on the beat not the lyrics or anything. Phoenix is good workout music.

Bulls on Parade by Rage Against the Machine
3 (42%)
I love listening to Rage when I run. It's so aggressive - perfect for running.

Kids by MGMT
3 (42%)
Remember when you were a kid and you ran for fun?

Other
1 (14%)
Suggestions are welcome...


I feel like such a hypocrite though - 'cause I'm skipping my run today because I slept in and it's too hot.

The Sounds of the Suburbs in The Summer

I sit here in a kitchen that isn't mine on this hot and humid Tuesday afternoon. Today is my day off. I went for an exhausting run and walked the dog. Showered, made something to eat. And now I sit in this kitchen listening to the sounds of the suburbs. I'm not innocent in this - as much as I hate the 'burbs, this is my home and I have to just tolerate it. My own home is only a few blocks away...

* Saws and hammers - nearby there is a house under extreme reno. You see no one is satisfied with the size of their home in the 'burbs. Go big or go home.

* An ice cream truck - the music box sounds of the ice cream truck are often heard but rarely seen. One day I will chase down an ice cream truck.

* The splash of someone diving into a pool - 'cause every other house has a pool.

* A weed-wacker and/or hedge trimmer and/or lawnmower - Not euphemisms! People here really care about the appearance of their lawns. Lawns are to be looked at not walked on. We are to only bask in the glory that is the perfectly groomed lawn. Again, not a euphemism!

* Cars - everyone has a car, even just to drive around the corner.

* Children screaming (or playing -  I can't tell the difference) - It's summer and the children are free! They've got bikes and are terrorizing a neighbourhood near you.

* Dogs barking - Well, the dog I'm watching likes to bark at people walking by.

* The bell of the knife sharpening man - I often hear the slow and lingering bell of the knife sharpening van as it drives around.

* Birds chirping - On the tree-lined streets of the suburbs birds are the most audible form of nature.

* The sound of "The Suburban War" by Arcade Fire coming from the speakers of my laptop...

iTunes Playlist Tuesday! #57

I'm not at home - but I'm not far from home. I'm dog/housesitting this week for my best friend's parents. It's cool because they live closer to my work and I get a house to myself for a week. It's just me and Dawson - the golden retriever I'm watching. He was named after Dawson of the creek...you know the one. I was always more of a Pacey fan myself, but he's not my dog ;)

1) Black Dog by Led Zeppelin - This song has nothing to do with a dog, but it sure does kick ass.

2) Dog by Ben Folds - Comparing his life to that of his dog - "'Cause he sees through the fence and he thinks I'm free. But my brain and his chain look the same to me."

3) Hound Dog by Elvis Presley - An obvious choice, no?

4) I Wanna Be Your Dog by The Stooges - Okay, so this song isn't about a dog. To me it's about a guy who messed up and is willing to just be pathetically loyal now, like a dog.

5) Pets by Porno for Pyros - This song isn't about a dog, but humans as pets to aliens.

6) Salty Dog by Cat Power - This is a cover of a classic song I remember from childhood. What the hell is a salty dog? Candy man...

7) Who Am I (What’s My Name) by Snoop Dogg - I had to, I just had. "Snoop Doggy Dog!"

8) Heros of the Sidewalk by Two Hours Traffic - 'Cause me and Dawson are heros of the sidewalk when we walk.

9) Fever Dog by Stillwater - A song by the fictional band Stillwater from the movie Almost Famous.

10) Death of a Martian by Red Hot Chili Peppers - Martian was Flea's dog who died. She was always around when they were jamming in his garage. The song references Flea's daughter Clara. The spoken word/poem at the end was something Anthony had written separately and just thought it fit. Though it's sad, it just goes to show that our pets mean a lot to us.

Honorable mention: The Dog Song by Nellie Mckay for SilverNeurotic. I've never heard this song.

Next week: "The Train to Bellevegas" - 10 songs I should listen to on my iPod on the train from Toronto to Belleville to visit my friend. The songs will be about travel as well as songs that make me think of my friend. I'll need more than 10 songs in reality, but this is a start.

12 Letters, 12 People - August

October: Lauren, Vancouver, BC
November: Amanda, Belleville, ON
December: Laura, Toronto, ON
January: Megan, Salford, ON
February: Leanne, Toronto, ON
March: John, Toronto, ON
April: Jacqueline, Burlington, ON
May: Kenny, Burlington, ON
June: Michele, Mississauga, ON
July: Matthue, Auburn, AL
August: Mailed
September: ?

I can't believe after this I only have one letter left to write and mail (at least for this project). It's been a really fun creative project for me and I hope all you recipients feel the same way.

My mailing projects aren't over though - my scavenger hunt is underway. What scavenger hunt? Here, I'll be kind and re-post the info:

Basically the idea is that you send me your "finds" written on a postcard - and you don't physically have to leave your house for most of these (thanks to technology). I've finalized my "find" list - so maybe that will entice a few more of you to join the fun.

Here are the things I want you to find:

1) Buy (or make) a postcard with a landmark or famous site from the place you live in. It could be something from your state or province, city or town.
2) Write down the date, time of day and temperature.
3) Write down a song by a well-known or semi-famous local musician or band (make sure it’s someone I can easily find online).
4) Write down your favourite menu item from a local (preferably a non-chain) restaurant, bar or cafe.
5) Write down an independent record store, bookstore, or specialty shop etc. from your area.
6) Write anything else you want - make me smile. Creativity counts!
7) Mail the postcard to me at the address that I’ll give you via email. I live in Canada - if you weren't aware :P

Have your cards mailed out no later than September 15 (plenty of time, right?)

You can sign up until the 14th basically - I just want it to be postmarked by September 15. You can start now or wait till the last second if that's how you roll, but if you haven't contacted me for my mailing info you should do that.

Weekend (Postcrossing) Update #36

"The time has come," The Walrus said...

As I've done for the past two updates, I'm going to just post my favourite postcrossing card of the week.

This postcard came from Germany and shows several images of the famous polar bear Knut, from the Berlin Zoo. I've read about Knut's story - his mother rejected him as a baby and he was raised by humans at the zoo.

Here’s my weekly recap:

Last weekend: It was a long weekend here - a civic holiday. It didn’t matter because I had to work and there were a lot of grumpy assholes ordering coffee from me.

Monday: I worked during the day - which was fine. Later on I went to a late showing of Inception with two friends from work and their friend. It was so crazy good. What’s weird is that I’m currently reading this book called Man Walks Into a Room by Nicole Krauss, and it is about a man who loses almost all of his memories. A doctor doing research calls and wants him to be part of a study. The study involves having other people’s memories planted inside your head. I’m just at the part where the guy is trying to deal with having someone else's memory in his head. I couldn’t help but think of Inception while reading this.

Tuesday: I worked on my cottage sign. It’s almost finished! I’ll post photos and stuff when I’m done. Also, I returned a man's lost Blackberry phone and he gave me a $30 reward!

Wednesday: ?

Thursday: I bought new running shoes! My feet and shins were killing me after my run, so I knew I had to break down and buy a new pair. After shopping I went to work, which was fine enough. If you read my post from last night you know that I was hit with an egg on my way home. I was really upset about it! I took some photos of my eggy leg. Here is one:

Today: I went for a run with my new shoes and it was fantastic. A combination of new shoes with the fact that the humidity finally broke here made for a great run. I hope to be in excellent shape for my 5k run in September.

I’m also dog/housesitting for a week starting tomorrow, so I had to go to the grocery store to get stuff for the week. I have to get all my stuff packed and ready to go. I also bought some magazines and stuff to keep me busy. I’ll have my laptop with me obviously, but it’s nice to sit in the yard and read a book or magazine on a nice day.

The Suburbs

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Time to Bust Out My Paints and Brushes! (Poll Results)

Though this wasn't a popular poll topic, the winning items are clear...

Do the 30 Day Song Challenge
1 (20%)
Maybe I'll do this in the winter - when it's cold and I'm trapped inside.

Make a list of 50 favourite songs
3 (60%)
I've actually started this list sorta. I'm going through my iTunes and picking my favourites and then I'll reorder them by favourite to least favourite and post the top 50.

Run a 5k race
1 (20%)
Signed up for a charity run for September 19: http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=923565

Host a dinner party
1 (20%)
Maybe in the fall with my friends from school.

Write a short story
1 (20%)
Thank you for mostly not voting for this. I don't think I have it in me right now.

Paint something
4 (80%)
I'm technically painting something now - a sign for my cottage - but I'm not going to count it. I have some canvases in my basement, so if I get some inspiration I will try to paint something soon.

Clean out my closet
1 (20%)
Needs to be done - badly.

Other
0 (0%)

In other news - I would just like to say that sometimes when you do good things good things happen to you! Yesterday when I was coming home from my run something on the ground caught my eye so I stopped. It was a cellphone in a case - a Blackberry to be more precise. I took it home and looked at his call/text history and begin texting his contacts to let them know that their friend's phone has been lost and found, and gave them my number. The day went on and no one contacted me - I was ready to just go to the Rogers store in the mall (the cell provider for this particular BB) and turn it in. Later in the day the Blackberry rang - it was the owners of the phone who had just realized it was missing. When the man came to get it he handed me a wad of cash, which I tried to give back, but he insisted. He gave me $30 for finding his phone! When I told my friend about this generosity, she remarked that it's better for him to give me $30 than Rogers $300 for a new phone. This gave me the warm and fuzzys big time, so I rewarded myself with a new outfit.

Points

On this blog I try to keep it neutral. I don’t often delve into personal stories (unless I find them funny, amusing or interesting). I try to stay away from painful, emotional subjects because I don’t really feel like that’s what my blog is about. I’m making an exception here.

When I was looking for a scrap of paper in a cigar box I keep in my room - a box of memories best left buried - I found two sheets of paper folded together. On the paper I had written some “points” and “points I have to get across.” I won’t tell you the events that lead to me writing out these “points” - but I need to say that the person I was trying to get through to was someone I cared a lot about, but he was toxic - venomous - poisonous...you know what I’m saying. He was bad news for me. The reason I’m willing to share these points with you is because they are fairly general, and definitely universal.

While reading these try to imagine me (or anyone) on the phone, trembling, near tears, talking to an unreachable person. It’s nearing the end of April 2008, and I’m holding these sheets of paper in my hands. I’m trying to stand my ground - trying to make myself heard.

(Page 1) “Points”

. I don’t regret meeting you - I don’t regret talking to you. I don’t regret knowing you. (I don't think I said this to him).

. I don’t wish to delete you from my life - and won’t. If that’s what you choose, so be it.  (He did).

. You made some poor choices - and I really wish you hadn’t, because you know how I am.

. I will try to hold on to the good times - but you will have to understand that you broke me. You left me feeling empty and damaged. (Sorry for sounding like a 16-year-old girl writing in her diary here).

(Page 2) “Points I have to get across”

. That we aren’t going to pretend like that didn’t happen. (This was an important point I had to make, and did).

. We aren’t going to ignore each other. (We do now).

. We will remain whatever it was that we were. (We did not).

. I’d like to know really and truly how you feel. (I still don't know).

. Don’t regret it - you acted on an impulse - but you couldn’t guarantee that you wouldn’t continue to treat me like crap from time to time. (Looking back, I hope he does regret it).

I remember the events that lead to me writing these down. Going for a run - running through my tears - running through the anger. Pacing my kitchen, on the phone with my best friend - confessing and searching for advice. Going to the bar, double-fisting Gin and Tonics. 

I decided that if I was going to say everything on my mind, I would have to write it down.

iTunes Playlist Tuesday! #56

Last week I posted a list of songs by musicians I wanted to get into more. You know, those bands your friends are always telling you to listen to, but you just never got around to it?

Today I am that friend.

Here are ten songs by ten artists and bands that you should listen to, if you haven’t already. Since this was Mr. O’s idea - I challenged him to listen to some, if not all, of these songs and comment. He told me the deal was done before I even asked him.

This challenge is also extended to the rest of you.

Away we go...

1. Airport Song by Guster - I was introduced to this band in 2003 when they opened for Sam Roberts at Kool Haus in Toronto. They’re a cool little band from Boston. They’re drummer plays the bongos on some songs, which is pretty sweet.

2. Sweet Things by Danny Michel - Danny opened for Guster at the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto in April 2004 and I was sold. Danny is from Kitchener, Ontario, and has has a cult following ever since. He’s a Canadian artist who is okay with being small time.

3. New Goodbye by Hey Rosetta! - I can’t say enough about this band of Newfies. I love music with layers and gradual changes in tempo. I was introduced to them twice. Once I downloaded their song free on iTunes and loved it - but for some reason didn’t seek more. Later my friend would meet them at a house party down east. She loaned me their CD and I’ve been devoted ever since.

4. Ghosting by Mother Mother - I saw this band open for Matthew Good in December 2009. Before this I’d only heard their single, “Body of Years,” on the radio and assumed it was a band with a female lead. Turns out it’s a male lead, with two girls who harmonize with him. They’re a really fun band and I totally recommend everything by them.

5. Bad as They Seem by Hayden - Okay, so I haven’t exactly been following Hayden’s career as of late, but back in the mid-to-late 90s I used to watch a lot of Much Music (it was like MTV). If you do search for this song, look for the official music video on YouTube - then you can experience it how I first did.

6. Anti-Venom by Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker (USS) - I discovered this group on the radio. I then found them on Myspace - where their band description sold me: “Nirvana unplugged at a science center rave with DJ Premier. Bob Marley in a Lab coat. Chuck D and Flavour Flav at a motivational seminar. A campfire afterparty”

7. Summer Day by Coconut Records - I love Jason Schwartzman and everything he does. I heard about this band when I saw him interviewed on The Hour.

8. 9 Crimes by Damien Rice - I know he’s fairly well known, but I feel like I sort of just found his music gradually on my own. Warning: this is a really slow song - but give it a chance, for me. This music video is really creepy though.

9. High School by Jeremy Fisher - I first heard Jeremy at The Festival of Friends music festival in Hamilton, Ontario. I have a photo of me pretending to touch his ass. It’s true.

10. Carvel by John Frusciante - I know John is well known for his work with Red Hot Chili Peppers, but feel like his solo stuff is really indie and underground. The intro to this song is sorta annoying, but give it a try.

Next week’s list: Songs for Dog Walking (I’m house and dog sitting starting Saturday).