It's a Great Pumpkin!

This is my pumpkin this year!

In honour of the new Muppets movie coming out.

La Belle Province - Help Me!

Hey Friends! I'm entering a photo contest and the prize is a trip for 2 to Montreal! I have to submit a photo of the city that I myself have photographed and write a little blurb about why I think it represents the city from a Torontoian (or Ontarian) point of view. I took a lot of photos when I was there in 2009, so please help me choose! I've narrowed them down.

http://www.tourisme-montreal.org/blog/what-to-do/toronto-pics-montreal-win-a-trip-to-montreal/

Also, please don't steal my photos, or at least request permission if you want to use them.

When voting for favourites please take into consideration artistic merit, composition, and how it represents the city. You don't even have to know the city to get a feel for it. I can submit more than one - as long as they're separate submissions. I have to do this by Monday! Leave comments - I've numbered them to make it easier!

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⚜ Merci! ⚜

Celebrate or Participate in Halloween? (Poll Results)

Yes, all things 2 (16%) 

Yes, but just parties 0 (0%)

Yes, but just give out candy/take kids out trick or treating 5 (41%) 

No, I'm too old for that stuff 1 (8%) 

Sometimes - I can take it or leave it 4 (33%)

I guess I can take it or leave it - but this year I am dressing up and going to a party. I'm going as Joan from Mad Men. Anyone else have any exciting Halloween plans?

What's Your Number Again?

So my boyfriend's phone died - has been dead since yesterday. Allegedly the charger is broken, but this is all heresy. Now, I could get mad and get frantic about the fact that he hasn't attempted to call me from another phone, but I understand - he doesn't know my number. Honestly, I don't know his.

When I was a kid I memorized all my close friend's phone numbers, and failing that I always had a little address book with them all written down. I still have an address book, but I really only write down people's addresses and leave the phone number section blank. Now we have speed dial and cellphones with handy contact lists that link our friends numbers, emails and all that stuff - we never have to worry about remembering numbers or losing the little scraps of paper we write them on ever again. How convenient! This will save us so much brain power! Yeah, until our phones break, get stolen, lost or the batteries die - this is when we are huge morons who don't know anyone's number except for maybe our parents' landline or maybe our grandparents.'

So, no, I'm not mad that he hasn't called. I'm not mad that I had to find out that it wasn't working from his brother. I'm not upset that we were supposed to meet up last night, but I didn't hear from him, so I stayed home. If it happened to me I wouldn't have a way of calling him either.

So, maybe I should write down his phone number and put it in my wallet. Technology has fucked us again. We can't do anything for ourselves anymore.

P.S. I am kinda mad that he missed his bus last night - that, I'm sure, was entirely his own fault.

iTunes Playlist Tuesday #120

I hope you don't mind that I stole this photo from your blog Lauren!

Yesterday was lalalalauren's birthday - and in honour (honor) of her special day, I've made her a playlist.

1. Neighbourhood #3 (Power Out) by Arcade Fire - Lauren lives in an artist's commune and often writes about her quirky neighbours (neighbors) and the crazy stuff going on in Portland. She also likes Arcade Fire.

2. Music is My Hot, Hot Sex by CSS - Now, the title of this song sounds like I'm being a bit personal, but the line "music is mu boyfriend" I think is more what I'm getting at.

3. Music is Power by Richard Ashcroft - I think music is one of the most universally appreciated forms of art, and that is a powerful thing. Good job Lauren!

4. American Music by Violent Femmes - Lauren makes American music.

5. Young Americans by David Bowie - She is a young American and loves Bowie :)

6. Still Fighting It by Ben Folds - A song about growing up.

7. Sing by Black Dub - Keep on singing Lauren!

8. One More Cup of Coffee by Bob Dylan - Lauren loves coffee :)

9. When I Grow Up by Garbage - 'Cause Lauren is still living the dream and not growing up in the traditional sense.

10. Birthday by The Beatles - You say it's your Birthday (yesterday*)?

Hope you like this Lauren! And I hope everyone else can appreciate it too!

iTunes Playlist Tuesday #119

This week's theme is "work" - so whether you work in an office, a cafe or restaurant, or are self-employed - we've all got some sort of work to do.

1. Music at Work by The Tragically Hip - The music that plays at my work is mostly lame, with a few good songs mixed in.

2. Working Class Hero by John Lennon - This song seems relevant to all the Occupy ______ movements going on right now.

3. A Day in the Life by The Beatles - I'm referring to Paul McCartney's bridge in the song about hopping out of bed and getting ready for work.

4. Working for the Weekend by Loverboy - I always work on Saturday, it kinda sucks.

5. Roxanne by The Police - There are also illegal types of work.

6. Oh, The Boss is Coming by Arkells - I think we're all guilty of slacking on the job until the boss comes.

7. Echo Beach by Martha and the Muffins - A song about being bored at work and wishing you were at the beach.

8. Architects and Engineers by Guster - Two professions I respect due to the fact that I'm not smart enough to do either.

9. Finest Worksong by R.E.M. - What do you whistle while you work?

10. The Devil's Workday by Modest Mouse - Up to no good.

A Barista On a Budget-ish

I went to the mall today - to spend money on things I don't NEED but wanted. While I was shopping for fabulous boots and sweater dresses I was struck by the number of temporary holiday kiosks that were already being set up. The housewares store that I worked at one Christmas already had their trees up and decorated. Ahhh! I have to start planning and thinking about Christmas! Ahhh!

This will be the first Christmas I've ever spent (fingers crossed) with a serious boyfriend. Now I love buying gifts - I love it almost more than receiving! I love picking out things that remind me of people and I love the look on their faces when they open them. What can I say, I have a gift for giving gifts. Now, my concern isn't WHAT to get him, but how much to spend on him. His birthday is a week and a half after Christmas too, and I refuse to do combo gifts - I feel bad for those kids who get birthday/Christmas presents.

I guess this is something he and I will have to discuss. The thing about boys is they don't plan ahead - at least mine doesn't - so it's definitely too soon to bring this up to him. He'll only forget or look at me funny for thinking about something like this so early. I bet he'll shop for me on Christmas Eve with all the other husbands, dads and boyfriends. But the thing is, I don't make a whole heck of a lot of money and if I'm going to get him things that mean something that will mean saving and/or gradually picking up things when I see them. I've already bought him a Bluray of a the first movie we saw together (The Lincoln Lawyer) but I would like to add to that.

So I ask you, my trusty panel of "experts" - how much should a couple of less than a year spend on each other? Can you put a price tag on love?

Keep in mind that I still have to buy for my family and a few friends.

Redefining the Term Dirty Old Man

I work five days a week at a popular coffee franchise here in Canada. Of those five days, two of them are morning shifts that require me to get out of bed around 5 am. I usually look tired and messy by the time I get to the store around 6:30, but I don't care. I do my usual routine - open the tills, put the food out, greet and pay the milk man, start the coffees, and if I have time before my boss arrives, I'll put out the patio furniture.

On Monday the milk man was late, and I was running behind on my opening tasks, so I didn't get around to unstacking the chairs outside. Monday was a holiday here - so thankfully I was getting paid time and a half for working.

My first customer of the day was a chatty older man who was a bit obnoxious. After getting him his coffee and muffin he asked me if he had to set up his own table outside. I told him that no, he did not, I would go out and set one up for him. Once I got him a table and some chairs I decided to just unstack the rest. He watched me work. I have been doing this job for a long time - too long actually - so I'm pretty efficient at setting up patio. From all the bending down and reaching up I was doing, I must have tugged on the back of my pants a few times, thinking this action would prevent this old man from getting a free show. That did not stop him from saying this:

"You should have pulled them down if you wanted me to smile."

Ladies and gentlemen, this was 7:30 in the morning at the very latest! I was wearing an ugly brown apron and hadn't showered since the previous morning. I had very little makeup on. I don't work at a bar, I work at a coffee shop below a high income condo, across from a beautiful lakeside park and I still get sexually harassed!

The rest of the morning was shitty because it was crazy busy and a hot chocolate spilled behind the counter. Mondays suck.

Fast-forward to today - my other morning shift. My open went well - the milk man was on time, I got everything out for the most part. Patio didn't get done because my boss had the keys, but it was starting off pretty nicely. I was very tired because I didn't sleep very well the night before, but I was working through it because I knew I would be rewarded with a nap when I got home.

Enter semi-regular old man.

This old man is always dressed in a brown suit with a collared shirt. He gets a tea and couple treats and usually sits and reads the paper. After he was served I scooted over to the bean bar to grind and weigh out some coffee for the next shift. His table was next to where I was working, so I couldn't help but notice a very unusual magazine on his table. It was called something "boy" and had a bunch of guys on the cover. I was confused, but just went back to work. After I was done I was taking the bins of coffee back over to the counter when my eye caught something shocking.

A huge penis.

Yeah, he had that magazine open and he was starring at a two-page spread of a very naked young man. This old man, who was always well spoken and polite was totally reading a gay porn magazine. Now, the fact that it was gay porn is merely a detail - any sort of porn would have been shocking.

The worst part was that he was sitting near the washrooms, so all our customers - including people having a business meeting, two moms with babies, an elderly couple and my boss and his mother -would possibly get a glimpse of this sophisticated reading material.

The whole thing made me feel anxious. Should I tell my boss? Should I ask the man to please save that magazine for home? I felt trapped behind the counter. I wanted to go wipe down some tables outside, but feared catching him again.

Finally, he gathered his things and left, but not before telling the young moms how cute their babies were. Ew! If they only knew what I knew - that this seemingly sweet and kind old man was really nothing but a senile old pervert.

I swear, the craziest shit happens before noon on weekdays, people. I'm telling you. Forget Saturday nights at the bar, coffee shops are where the dirtiest of old men hang out.

Unanimous (Poll Results)

Two weeks ago I asked you guys about your voting history. And while it's obvious that only a small number of you voted in this poll, those who did are all pretty good citizens. Good for you guys! Congratulations on participating in the democratic process!

Yes, for all levels of government 9 (100%)
Yes, for some elections 0 (0%)
I May Have... 0 (0%)
No, never 0 (0%)
I'm not old enough 0 (0%)

iTunes Playlist Tuesday #118

This week's playlist is about my favourite Beatle, George Harrison. I recently attempted to watch his two-part documentary by PVRing it, but the first part only taped a minute of it and the second part cut off before it was over. Yeah...sad face. I'll try to catch it when it re-airs in a few weeks.

1. Something by The Beatles - I believe it's been said that Frank Sinatra said this is the most romantic song he'd ever heard. 

2. While My Guitar Gently Weeps by The Beatles - George was known as the quiet Beatle and I believe he, along with Ringo, felt creatively stifled by the band.

3. It's Only a Northern Song by The Beatles - I've read that thing one it a jab at the Lennon-McCartney songbook, as George's songs were published under Harrison Songs. Northern Songs is the company that published the Lennon-McCartney songs - the catalogue that Michael Jackson owned.

4. Norwegian Wood (This Bird has Flown) by The Beatles - Yes, this is a John Lennon song, but I think it wouldn't be the song it is without George's sitar playing.

5. My Sweet Lord by George Harrison - I caught the part of the documentary where they discussed this song. It was Georges first single off of his post-Beatles solo album. He was a bit concerned about how spiritual the song is and how that would be received.

6. All Those Years Ago by George Harrison - I don't have an anecdote about this one, I just like it.

7. When We Was Fab by George Harrison - I think we all know what this one is about.

8. Got My Mind Set on You by George Harrison - This is basically a cheesy 80s song. Funny how so many prolific artists gave into the synth in the 80s.

9. All Things Must Pass by George Harrison - I believe this was a song intended for The Beatles, but he just ended up using it for his solo work.

10. Handle Me With Care by The Travelling Wilburys - This is what you get when George Harrison gathers Jeff Lynn, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan and Roy Orbison together and they make a song.

iTunes Playlist Tuesday #117

In honour of Feist's new album, Metals, released today, I have compiled a list of feisty female artists.

1. A Commotion by Feist - After my first listen of the album this was a track that caught my attention. Have I mentioned that I want to be Feist?

2. Sleepwalking by Whale Tooth - This is a Toronto indie band that I saw a few week's ago. They don't even have a full length album out yet, but hopefully they will soon. The band has a female lead and she's amazing.

3. Shake it Out by Florence + The Machine - The new single from Florence Welch. I'm glad she's still showcasing that voice of hers.

4. Surely by Black Dub - For such a tiny little blond girl, Trixie Whitley has a powerful voice.

5. Down Boy by Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Karen O is just the shit.

6. In the Middle of the Night by Martha Wainwright - Raspy, soft, gritty, beautiful...she's got a unique voice and I hope she comes out with some new original material soon.

7. Blindness by Metric - I don't always give Metric a lot of credit - mostly 'cause I don't like a lot of the earlier albums. But I am impressed by Fantasies.

8. All to All by Broken Social Scene - This is a BSS song sung by the lesser known female in the band, Lisa Lobsinger. While Feist, Metric and Stars are busy touring the world Lisa is the one who sings the female parts for songs. This one, however, is her own.

9. Not Coming By by Emma-lee - Another local indie artist that I saw open for someone. This song is from her forthcoming album. Can't wait.

10. Piece of my Heart by Janis Joplin - I know it seems funny sticking a classic with all these new and up-and-comers, but I feel like Janis was a female artist who made no apologies for who she was. She wasn't pretty, but she sang her heart out.