| |
|
|
.:Thursday, January 29, 2004:.
|
Lather Up!
Every so often I go home for lunch, and make it in time to watch maybe 20 minutes of a soap opera. Back in my student days and more so when I was unemployed, I was able to watch a couple soaps fairly regularly. Namely, Days of Our Lives and As the World Turns. Yeah yeah, geeeeeeeek... but whatever. Anyway, whenever I do go home for lunch and catch a few minutes of Days or ATWT, it's always nice to know that even though the story lines progress somewhat, they stories are always the same.
This week on Days, the Salem Stalker was revealed. Not having watched the show for several months it was slightly confusing, but basically, someone on the soap is a mad killer and has bumped off several characters in the last few months. I missed finding out today who it was, so did a little online searching and found a site that looks into spoilers and current storylines. The Days site is here.
It also lists a bunch of future spoilers which I am quoting from the abovementioned site... which I have to mention because they made me laugh. The speculation being that a lot of people have contracts ending on the show, and this looks like their (semi-permanent) way out. Soap opera writing must be so much fun:
"This is not confirmed, but I have seen it from several reliable sources. Believe it or not.
While Tony is in the hospital after his attack, the audience will see Marlena inject him with a lethal dose of poison that will kill him.
Victor is on the way into Tony's room to try to talk to him about working together, and he sees Marlena leaving.
Victor is suspected of being the killer, but he realizes that the killer is Marlena.
Victor is then killed.
Meanwhile, Celeste is working on figuring out who the killer is.
Once she realizes that Marlena is the killer, Celeste is killed.
Hope becomes suspicious of Marlena.
Marlena tries to kill Hope, but John kills Marlena.
Surprise - It isn't Marlena.
The killer is Hattie, who was possessed and posing as Marlena.
The devil leaps from Hattie's dying body into John.
John tries to finish what Hattie started and kill Hope.
Alice, with the help of several of the ghosts, expels the devil. Alice is killed in the process.
Several Salemites now go to try to find the real Marlena."
12:08 a.m.
posted by tre
.:Tuesday, January 27, 2004:.
|
Don't touch that chicken, it's fowl.
Gone are the days when all you really had to worry about whilst travelling to SE Asia were your travellers cheques, your Hep A & B shots, and deciding on whether to take the crazy pills for malaria or not. Now you've got people breathing down your necks about SARS, or the bird flu, or what have you. And I mean literally breathing down your neck - either giving you a hard time about the fact that it's out there, or just giving you the virus in the first place.
I had a point to this post but somehow lost it. Oops.
10:37 p.m.
posted by tre
.:Friday, January 23, 2004:.
|
Say what?
So I was reading on canada.com today and realizing it was Robbie Burns Day this weekend AND Chinese New Year today... but didn't really think of putting the two together until I saw this:
Gung Haggis Fat Choy.
What a marvelous idea. Too bad I've missed it this year - will have to try next year if they do it again.
5:15 p.m.
posted by tre
|
The Best Concert I've Seen All Year
Mind you the year's only 23 days in but that's not the point. Having seen TRAVIS in action last night at the Orpheum set the bar this year for concert experiences. Read Naf's account on her blog. I agree with her completely.
The opening act was Jason Faulkner. He was pretty cool - at first we thought maybe his band got held up at the border and he had to play the whole thing on his own, but it turns out he plays all his own instruments and kind of doesn't actually have his own band. First time I've seen a live solo electric set. Music was catchy.
We lucked out, the people in front of us were short *yay!*, and directly in front of me there was an empty seat. You have no idea how happy this made me, a direct sight line to the front of the stage with no annoying 6-footers standing in front of me. Also, no annoying finger whistlers. The crowd was well behaved.
Travis came on, and their set was really good. It was funny watching their antics - Dougie Payne was really working his bass (like really working it) and just ooozed "I'm a hot bassist" even though if I met him on the street I'd think otherwise. The guitarist Andy was also a bit of a goofball, very loosey-goosey with his running around and whatnot. At one point he got up on some amps or whatever and jumped down, rockstar style. Their pianist (new member?) stamped on the keyboards with his foot at one point... and the drummer was great at being a drummer who has come back from breaking his neck.
Fran... oh Fran, you're-so-cute-I-want-to-carry-you-around-in-my-pocket-Fran... was very good at interacting with the audience and being really chatty. He broke his nail while on stage and it hurt so he got a roadie to grab him some clippers and he clipped them onstage, and joked about selling the clippings in e-Bay. (See above pic.) Ha ha! At the encore he got up and sang Flowers in the Window without a mic, with no amps, acoustic. Amazing.
They closed with some 'classical music' aka Why Does it Always Rain on Me... a perfect way to close the evening. As much as I thought they could have played more I think they did an excellent job. Naf was also way impressed with the lighting rigs and stuff. My pictures didn't turn out very well so it's not likely you'll see them online any time soon.
Anyway kids, the bar is set! Let's hope this is as good a year for concerts as say... 2000/2001.
5:15 p.m.
posted by tre
.:Thursday, January 22, 2004:.
|
Dissecting Clay Aiken's Lyrics
Hmm. Not that I am obsessed with American Idol or anything... but lately I have been having a re-think about the appeal of reality television programming. My only weekness prior was Survivor, but now I have been hooked on The Bachelorette and The Apprentice... not to mention the TLC series like Trading Spaces and What not to Wear... what's wrong with me? It's like admitting I listen to Z.
Anyway, last night at my birthday celebration at Tanya's house, we had the pleasure of listening to music whilst eating dinner... they played Clay Aiken's "Invisible" twice. Ok, once was in the car on the way home but we all couldn't help but notice that yeah, Clay has a good voice... but this song is kind of weird. He reminds me of Barry Manilow, lookswise. I don't know if anyone else has noticed that. (God help us if he covers Copacabana!). Anyway, one of the lines from the chorus goes "If hearts were unbreakable, then I could just tell you where I stand..." and I thought... aww, that's a good line. But it's in between some very odd choices of phrase. Let's discuss, shall we?
If I was invisible
Then I could just watch you in your room
(... hmm, stalker!)
If I was invincible
I'd make you mine tonight
(... yeah - no - I could snap Clay in half like a twig. Ruben maybe, not so much. Still. Disturbing.)
If hearts were unbreakable
Then I could just tell you where I stand
(... good line)
I would be the smartest man
(... how do you figure?)
If I was invisible
(Wait..I already am)
(... way to go, self-esteem)
Anyway, yeah - so it was my birthday yesterday. I don't feel any older or wiser. I have been told to watch out for my lower back though. This was from a guy. Obviously doesn't realize I get lower back pain about once a month anyway. Bring it on!! So now you are all wondering what I got, super-consumerized this year as I am? Well. I got about a million e-mails and MSN messages wishing me happy birthday (it probably helps that I practically advertised it on my MSN all day). I got a card from Junko the day before and after lunch she surprised me by sending me flowers all the way from the UK! Heheh, that was cool. The rest of the Fab Five got me a car air freshener (really cool Japanese one), the Alicia Keys CD, and a gift certificate for certain spa services. Sweet. I am also going to see The Thrills in concert on the 29th c/o the crazy croat. And my gift to me is TRAVIS, tonight, with Naf. Woo-hoo!
12:45 p.m.
posted by tre
.:Monday, January 19, 2004:.
|
I have a bone to pick with The Fox.
For the last couple months, I've been hearing on CFOX, their promotions for various concerts - e.g. our favourite Nickelback, Linkin Park, whoever. This week is the Travis concert, and they have been promoting it like it's going to be a great show. Literally, Jeff O'Neil said, "It's going to be a great concert." My bone to pick with the Fox is, that if Travis is such a great band, and this concert is going to be so great, how is anyone really going to know that just from your word of mouth?? PLAY THEIR MUSIC FOR GOD'S SAKE!! I have been listening to the Fox morning show for God knows how long, and I don't think I've heard any Travis songs in any regular rotation.
Seriously, they need to widen their "new music" horizons and add more songs to their rotation, rather than playing the same Blink 182 song 30 times a day.
11:11 a.m.
posted by tre
.:Wednesday, January 07, 2004:.
|
Year In Review Survey... stolen from Nafeesa (with permission)
1. What did you do in 2003 that you'd never done before? I ate crab cakes. Really.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? No, and yes, and I will not disclose them publicly.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes: Annie had Awstten and Kim had Madison
4. Did anyone close to you die? No
5. What countries did you visit? Good ol’ US of A. Encountered some bitchy Customs Officials (“is she on her cell phone??”)
6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003? A proper vacation.
7. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Ooh, so many… June 21 and December 6 will remain more memorable than than any arbitrary days like say, May 14 or December 21.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Tying in from last year… getting my own office.
9. What was your biggest failure? Not getting a raise
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Err… does walking into my door/desk, or bumping my head on the roof of my car count as injury?
11. What was the best thing you bought? My black trench
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My girls, who kick ass. Junko for putting up with my crap for the first half of the year in person, and then for the last half of the year online. Niko for our (almost) weekly Hachibei arrangement.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Two people in particular whose egregious behaviour both appalled and depressed me but whose names are no longer worth mentioning.
14. Where did most of your money go? A certain brother’s wedding. And parties. And bills, semi-related to A Certain Brother’s wedding.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? A certain brother’s wedding.
16. What song will always remind you of 2003? 50 Cent, “In Da Club”
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happier
ii. thinner or fatter? thinner
iii. richer or poorer? poorer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Working out/rollerblading/skiing/ kayaking/snowboarding/having brunch/throwing parties
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Waiting.
20. How will you be spending Christmas? It’s already been spent.
22. Did you fall in love in 2003? I wish.
23. How many one-night stands? ZEEEEERO
24. What was your favorite TV program? Friends, Survivor, and The OC
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? I don’t hate. I just get annoyed.
26. What was the best book you read? A Sunburnt Country by Bill Bryson
27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Sophie Ellis-Bextor
28. What did you want and get? I got what I wanted but it got bored and spent most of its time in Ft. McMurray. I wanted a monogrammed Roots bag, but bought myself a pin instead.
where is question 29? (I can't seem to find it...)
30. What was your favorite film of this year? Did I watch any films this year??
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 26, I went for chocolate with mes filles and the following Saturday I had a big ass party at The Lions that kicked ass.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? A proper vacation.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003? Whatever was clean.
34. What kept you sane? My friends.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Colin, oh Colin. Firth.
36. What political issue stirred you the most? 2010.
37. Who did you miss? Everyone overseas.
38. Who was the best new person you met? David Musson is cool.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2003: Take it easy, not everyone thinks the way you do and will act accordingly.
Highlights of 2003...
january - year of teresa party. february - junko gets flown to england and gets engaged. david gray concert. march - fri's back in town, hijinx ensues. april - sun run. massage. may - teresa gets lone rangered. coldplay concert!. june - david comes to town. hello summer goodbye david and junko party. three man lift. july - pretty blurry actually. august - scott comes to visit. september - also pretty blurry. october - junko and david get married on three week's notice. november - fri and matthew get married on short notice to the complete and utter surprise of everyone in North America. december - joe and tracy get married. teresa gets lone rangered again. teresa discovers sweatpants.
Wild and Unfounded Predictions for 2004...
someone will get a second date (not me)
tanya will propose to jason thereby turning the whole italian community on its head
babies babies babies (not me)
lena will become an aid worker and ship off to Africa for a year.
michelle will take a vacation OFF the North American continent
teresa will get a raise OR change jobs
pear will still be fri
junko will stay in the UK for another year because she likes it that much
niko will move again
9:08 a.m.
posted by tre
|
|
copyright? what copyright? (2005)
guess what?
... webstats provided by:
...with...
|  |
|
