iTunes Playlist Tuesday #215

By next Tuesday it will be September. Can you believe it? Where did the time go? Since we can't do anything about it, we may as well enjoy it. Here it is:

End of August Mix.

1. All Good Things (Come to an End) by Nelly Furtado

2. Our Dark Clouds by Sarah Harmer

3. Summer's End by Foo Fighters

4. The Beginning of The End by Guster

5. End it on This by No Doubt

6. Pale September by Fiona Apple

7. No Light No Light by Florence + The Machine

8. Sweater Weather by The Neighbourhood

9. Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground by The White Stripes

10. Ready to Start by Arcade Fire

iTunes Playlist Tuesday #214

I'm currently on stay-cation, so that means I'm not working but not going away either. So what does that equal? Some weeknight drinking and some serious relaxing.

Here is my stay-cation mix:

1. Royals by Lorde

2. I'm Only Sleeping by The Beatles

3. Ain't No Rest for the Wicked by Cage The Elephant

4. Holiday by Weezer

5. Still Water by Daniel Lanois

6. Calm me Down by Mother Mother

7. On Nights Like Tonight by Matthew Good

8. Summer Sun by Jukebox the Ghost

9. Looks Just Like The Sun by Broken Social Scene

10. Limp by Fiona Apple

Things To Do Before You Turn 30 (and by "you" I mean "I")

Pinterest is full of 30 before 30 lists created by a wide selection of individuals - but non are universally applicable. I don't think you should borrow someone else's list to make your life feel complete. Also, one of the girl's who posted such a list is 23 years old - so she, A) Has plenty of time and B) Has no real concept of how it feels to be on the brink of 30. For example, one of her items was that you should buy a motorcycle. Okay, but what if you don't want to buy a motorcycle? Or can't afford one? No, I don't think I'll be including that one on my list.

Since it's August 2013, I have just under a year to do a few things before I'm 30 - but they'll be of my own choosing. We shouldn't measure our lives based on how many "to-do" things we cross off before a certain age. Not only that, but our values, likes and dislikes change overtime. Our personal relationships have an effect on what we can and cannot do in a certain time frame. For example, two years ago I sort of, kinda had it in my head that I'd either be married to the person I was dating, or that he and I would at least be together still by that time. Basically because when you're with someone you imagine a future with them even if it's just not in the cards. You just don't know what turns life will take. So I think putting things like marriage and babies on these kinds of lists is silly. For some of us, you're kinda betting against yourself when it comes to that. You can't rush life.

When making lists such as these, especially if you have less than a year to complete them, one must be sensible. These must be things that are possible, financially, seasonally and realistically. For example, I cannot say that I'd like to learn to surf when financially and seasonally that's impossible. Unless someone wants to give me a trip to Hawaii or Australia, or even Costa Rica this winter, I don't think this is something I can realistically do before I'm 30. This however, is on my list of things to do before I die.

Maybe what should truly go on one's "before 30 list" should be frivious and non-serious. Bid adieu to your crappy 20-something years by doing all the stupid things that are more taboo for a 30-something. Things such as, staying till last call at a bar, drunk dialing an ex, shopping at Forever 21, ordering chicken fingers and fries at a restaurant, choosing the blue bubblegum flavoured iced cream, that sort of stuff. Stuff that you could do in your 30s, but is more fun to do in your 20s, or at least more acceptable.

Once upon a time your 20s were supposed to be the beginning of your adult life, but not so much anymore. Your 20s are your fuck-up years (for many of us). These are the years between high school and adulthood where you're supposed to make poor choices, get screwed over by boys and jobs and friends, establish your true calling and give it the finger on your 30th birthday, just because you can.

Maybe I'm a bit early, or a bit late, to be thinking about what I want my 30th year to feel like. All I know is that I hope it's more fun and less scary than my 25th - where I truly had my quarter-life crisis. I should really think about re-naming my blog as I move closer to that day. I'll add that to my "list."

Why Being in Someone's Wedding Kinda Sucks

In September I have to go bridesmaids dress shopping with my future sister-in-law and five other girls. I'm dreading it. Maybe it's just because I'm not friends with them, but I don't find this sort of female bonding fun. The whole bridesmaids thing is actually a source of great anxiety for me. So I'm going to be a huge bridesmaidzilla and list off things that piss me off about the whole tradition, however bitchy and selfish they may come off as.

Top 10 Reasons Why Being in Someone's Wedding Party Kinda Sucks.

1. You don't get to pick your dress.

You are at the mercy of the bride and you'd better hope her tastes align with your own. But even if you like the colour, the cut might not work for you. Trying to squeeze a pear, an apple and an hourglass into the same dress is bound to disappoint someone. Be thankful if you have the ideal body and skin tone for the brides choices.

2. You have to spend a small fortune.

If you're in a big wedding be prepared for many, many costs. The engagement party, the dress, the shower(s), the bachelorette party, hotel stays, shoes, hair, make-up, and gifts. It adds up, and if you have a McJob, like me, you will feel the pinch.

3. You have to "work" at the parties.

You don't just get to attend the parties - you have to help with them. Whether it be hosting, setting up, tearing down, baking or shopping for supplies, you will have to work on some aspect of the many parties that precede the wedding.

4. It's not about you, you are an extension of the bride.

Everyone will tell you, when you whine about anything regarding the wedding, that: "It's all about the bride, suck it up." Okay, I get it, it's her stupid day. But why am I also on parade if I don't matter? I'm expected to look and act a certain way just because the bride commands it. It doesn't matter if you look fat in the dress, as long as the bride looks good. Just carry your bouquet and blend in - no one cares who you are.

5. You have to attend all the parties, even if you don't want to.

This goes along with #3. Your presence is expected at ALL of the showers and parties for the bride. You are her official entourage and that means you have to watch her open numerous gifts at many showers and events. Your job is to smile and partake is all the silly games etc.

6. While the guests get to drink, you have to pose for photos.

After the ceremony many couples have what's called a "cocktail reception" after. There are usually fruit and veggie treys and a bar available to guests waiting for the reception. This is not for the bridal party. They have to go an pose for an excruciating number of photos. Just the bridesmaids, the bride and her bridesmaids, the bridesmaids each individually with the bride, the bridesmaids with the groom, the bridesmaids with the groomsmen, etc. There will be several shots of each pose. You might also be asked to do silly, non-tradition poses. You really wish you could be at the bar drinking right now and maybe eating a carrot, since you probably haven't eaten since breakfast.

7. Shoes, hair, nails, makeup and special undergarments are costly.

There are hidden costs for some bridesmaids. For example, you may need to buy special underwear to make it so you look normal in your dress (strapless bras, lower fronts, shapewear etc). Chances are you will have to pay for your own hair, makeup and nails also. Again, you may not get to choose these but you will have to buy them regardless.

8. People will ask you when you're getting married, or why you don't have a boyfriend.

Because you are obligated to socialize at the wedding and the parties leading up to it, many, many relatives will ask you about your own love life. Weddings bring up all these thoughts and ideas about how and when someone should pair off. Old aunts will say, "don't worry, your time will come" or "Is there a nice single fella here we could fix you up with?" The vary thought makes me want to drink wine under the table and cry about how no one respects the single life.

9. If you bring a date, you don't get to sit with him.

If you are already seeing someone, or you invite a guy/girl friend to be your date, be prepared to not see them for the ceremony, the cocktail reception and part of the dinner reception. You'd better hope they know someone, or are socially talented, 'cause otherwise they will be bored and uncomfortable. You may also feel bad that they came to this wedding to be with you, and you're too busy "working" to spend much time with them. Really think about whether or not bringing a date is worth it, if you're not in a serious relationship.

10. No one cares about your life during the planning and execution of this wedding.

You could get a promotion, complete a marathon, write a novel, or fly to the moon and no one will really care because you're not the one getting married. This might be an exaggeration, but your life events are pretty much meaningless if you're in someone else's wedding. The only way you could top this is if you get pregnant or engaged yourself - but be careful not to overshadow the current bride.

So, I guess I'll just take this all in stride and try to make the best of it - despite all the annoying things that come along with it.

iTunes Playlist Tuesday #213

This week's playlist is brought to you by the colour Red.

1. Red Flag by Billy Talent

2. Red Sails by David Bowie

3. Red Red Red by Fiona Apple

4. Red Oyster Cult by Guster

5. Red Heart by Hey Rosetta!

6. Alert Status Red by Matthew Good

7. Red Rain by Peter Gabriel

8. Red Hands by Walk off the Earth

9. Red by Taylor Swift

10. Red by Treble Charger

iTunes Playlist Tuesday #212

Since we are in the middle of August, I'm going to make this week's playlist - A Midsummer-Night's Dream Playlist. Songs for the perfect mid-summer evening.

1. Cosmic Love by Florence + The Machine

2. Summer Vibe by Walk Off the Earth

3. Lucid Dreams by Franz Ferdinand 

4. Saturday Night by The Kaiser Chiefs 

5. Midnight Show by The Killers

6. Sunglasses at Night by The Lost Fingers

7. Nightswimming by R.E.M.

8. Midnight by Red Hot Chili Peppers

9. Moonage Daydream by David Bowie

10. Moondance by Van Morrisson

Spoiler Alert - She Dies.

Anne Boleyn

Because I'm an indoorsy recluse, I've of course been spending a lot of time in my bedroom staring at my laptop screen watching TV online. My recent show of choice? The Tudors. If I haven't told you this before, allow me to "out" myself - I'm a British history junkie. If writing hadn't been my major in university, History - specializing in British History, of course, would have been my second choice.

Ten years ago, when I was in the UK the first time with my family, we were in Edinburgh, Scotland - decidedly my favourite city in all of Great Britain - and we were given a tour of The Palace at Holyrood House. This palace, opposite of the famous Edinburgh Castle, is famous for being the main residence of Mary, Queen of Scots. While on this tour the guide showed us a stain on the wood floor - the blood of the murdered David Ricco. We stood around this stain in awe, then proceeded to the gift shop. I guess it never really registered that we were looking at the alleged remains of an ill-fated companion of the Queen. These were just historical facts in my mind, plus I was really jet-lagged for the entire trip and everything was a blur. But I've always remembered looking at that stain on the floor. What does this have to do with The Tudors? Keep reading.

Watching the last two episodes of the second season of The Tudors really shook me. Most of us already know about Henry VIII's six wives and their fates, so you'd think that the beheading of Anne Boleyn wouldn't be that shocking. But the whole thing made me feel a bit sick. I know it's a historically inaccurate television show based on true events, and let's face it, the fat and disgusting Henry looked nothing like Jonathan Rhys Meyers, but seeing the events (and other beheadings) that led to her demise was...icky (for lack of a better word). You read about things in history books and you are presented with facts - things you must accept because they happened so long ago and life was different.

I was shaken by the audience of the beheadings - people wanting to be front row...in the splash zone. I feel ill just thinking about it. Yet, I stood in Holyrood and stared at a man's alleged blood stain on a palace floor. Maybe if the murder of David Riccio was played out dramatically on a Showtime/BBC television show I'd have felt more compassionately about it and less like an indifferent history nerd with a camera. But I can't change how history effects me.

Was the blood preserved to be a piece of history or a reminder of a violent past? Seeing isn't always believing. On the same trip to the UK we were on a tour of The Tower of London - where Anne Boleyn and many others were kept and then executed. They showed us where Sir Walter Raleigh slept and the guide talked about how well he was treated...you know, before they killed him. How British.

I'm not finished the series yet, so no spoilers! Wait, does Catherine Howard get beheaded? Nevermind, don't tell me.