Frivolity, And Then Politics

My horrible day did improve, yesterday, after a rough start. If the dreams weren't bad enough, the beginning of the day was pretty crappy too, though helped by some of my girls (thanks!). Anyway, I went to 49th and Fraser to get some stuff done, and then, on the bus back, Girly got on! So we went and had lunch at Granville Sushi (mmmm), and then I went back to class. That's the perfect kind of bus encounter. It was definitely the highlight of my day.

In other news, this weeks Maclean's magazine came today. Apparently, FOX news is planning on coming to Canada. Spare me, please. Also, did you know the FOX News' slogan is "fair and balanced"? The hell is that? What really gets me, though, is that their newscasts are so, so right-wing, (Bill O'Reilly? Please learn to shut up. And when you get that down, please use your hard-earned new skill), and yet FOX has so many shows (reality and otherwise) that I'm sure Conservatives would consider "morally reprehensible". I find them morally reprehensible, and I'm a liberal! That 70's Show? Always stoned. Family Guy? Amazingly politically incorrect. I watch them both occasionally, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't flow with the Republican dream.

One Bill O'Reilly quote from Maclean's particularly caught my eye. On April 30th, he had this to say to the Canadian Press;
"I got nothing against the Canadian people, but in the last few years you've swung dramatically to the left. And we in America have some questions about that."

This one little quote is quite telling, for me. One, it holds an interesting note of you are accountable" in it, which is interesting. Bill O'Reilly spends considerable (almost all) of his time doing what I assume he would call "holding the Democrats and other Liberals accountable" (others would have less polite phrases in mind), and has now decided to hold us, as Canadians, accountable. What jumps out at me is that Bush and his administration have spent a hell of a lot of effort trying to avoid all accountability. They very much have the attitude "This is what we're doing." Without wanting to reason, explain, or discuss. O'Reilly doesn't seem to be spending any time holding Bush accountable. In fact, he skipped all the way over Bush to Canada.

I am, I'll admit, a huge fan of The Daily Show. As such, I don't even try to suggest that Jon Stewart is completely objective. But the difference for me is that when a Democrat makes a mistake, or does something stupid, the show will still call them on it. Did O'Reilly mention the fact that Bush mispronounced the name of Abu Ghraib during the prison scandal to something I can only attempt to spell 'Abu Gharef'? I can't be completely sure, as I don't wach his show often, but I would doubt it.

The other part of the quote that interests me is purely philosophical. O'Reilly seems to have entirely disregarded the idea of perspective. Status quo, politically, is non-existent. What he sees as Canada swinging to the left, I in Canada see more as the US swinging dramatically to the right. To me, the granting of the right to gay marriage seemed like a natural progression into a more enlightened society. I thought that judge in Alabama with the 10 commandments monument was a yahoo. But I understand that to others, gay marriage is an abomination that grants the 'evil' of homosexuality credence. I completely disagree, but I know that that feeling does exist, even in Canada. The US, right now, is having an extremely difficult time with the rest of the world, and with many of its constituents. As many Americans have noted, it's been a long time since America has been so disliked, internationally. We can all say it's due to foreign policy, or the detriment of women's rights, and I wouldn't disagree. But I think that Bush, and many others, have forgotten that perspective is individual. I voted, in Canada's federal election, for the party that best reflected my views. There isn't one that exactly reflects my views, but that's to be expected. What I was concerned about was whether, even while disagreeing with a party, I could understand and even agree with part of their reasoning in what they wanted to do. I need the part I'm supporting to let the country and the world hold it accountable. I'm not saying that the Bush administration doesn't hold itself at all accountable, but it would do well for them to realize that being accountable behind closed doors is quite different from answering the world's questions of why, and listening to what they have to say afterwards.

The Little Jan's In My Head Hate Me

The title will only make sense if you're a Calvin and Hobbes fan (and if you aren't, you're dead to me). Basically, I had two long, detailed dreams last night, and they both sucked. They made me sad, worried, and anxious, and now have me wondering what the hell they mean, and questioning a lot of things I'd thought I knew. I've never been a fan of this type of dream, and yet, the tiny little Jan's of my subconscious decided those were the two movies of the night. If they didnt have such a strong union, I'd fire them all. As it is, I'd settle for a strike.

I have class. Maybe it'll distract me from the stupid dream-induced thoughts that keep circling my head. Here's to hope!

Quote of the Week

"After he left, I cried for a week. And then I realized I do have faith: faith in myself, faith that I would one day meet someone who would be sure that I was the one."
-Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City

I'm not in the 'I love everything Sex and the City' fan club, but this quote is oddly similar to what I've been dealing with, and feeling, lately. It's part of what I was trying to say earlier, about my ridiculous, but ever-present faith in the world. And I guess in myself too, now that I think about it.

What Have I Been Doing?

Seriously, it's been crazy. My weekend was insanely busy (HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIRLY!), and I've been sleeping pretty much all the time since then. I have midterms next week! Eek! But all of recruitment is over now, finally, so I can start studying. Which I will have to do a lot of. Also, my parents left about an hour ago, for their 3 week sojourn to Austria (so...jealous....). Me an Greg are therefore left to fend for ourselves in the food department, which should be interesting (read: frightening), but my mom did leave us with some pre-prepared meals, because she knows us well. Just to make it even more fun, Greg is painting certain rooms of our house while they're gone, so the house will be full of paint fumes too.

Anyhow,the past few days I've been in a bit of a funk, but I'm hoping that I've bounced back (it's one of those things that lurks in the background and makes unwanted surprise entrances). Time, as always, will tell. But I have to go, cause dinner is ready. Mmmm. Later, all.

I Just Want To Sleep

Busiest weekend ever. More details later, I'm going to be late for school.

A Night of Television, Recaptured

America's Next Top Model

Tessa: The hell is Tyra wearing?
T: I kinda like it.
J-Bird: The colours?!
T: No, not the colours. The colours are ugly.
J-Bird: How do you pick a dress that clashes with your skin?!
T: Tyra Banks has a huge forehead.
Tessa: Yes, yes she does. And you'd think she'd have a hairstylist that knew better than to emphasize that.
J-Bird: Why are there girls kowtowing to Tyra Banks?
T: They're kissing ass to try to make it on the actual show.
Tessa: That, or Tyra is their GOD.
J-Bird: Girls need a new role model.

(super skinny girl walks into 'interview' with Tyra, Jay and J.)
J-Bird, Tessa, and T: Augh, god!
J-Bird: Did you see her pelvis?
Tessa: It was like something out of an anatomy textbook.
T: Ew!

(skinnier girl walks in to interview)
J-Bird, Tessa and T: (unintelligible sounds of disgust and horror)
Tyra Banks: I do think you're too thin...
Tessa: Even Tyra thinks you're too skinny, girl.
T: Oh my god, she needs professional help, like right now.
J-Bird: And food.

('plus sized' model walks into interview)
T: Oh my god, her boobs are gigantic!
Tessa: So that's what they mean by 'plus sized'.
J-Bird: They're actually each bigger than Tyra's head. And Miss Tyra has a huge forehead.

(Miss Tyra blathers onscreen)
J-Bird: Whose genius idea was it to bluescreen her infront of palm trees?
Tessa: Realism, by UPN.
T: I love this show!

Queer Eye For the Straight Guy

T: Wow, he's hot.
Tessa: Definitely in the running for 'hottest made-over straight guy'.
T: Aw, he's proposing!
Carson, to the couple: This is where we thought you were gonna say no! (Note: she says yes)
J-Bird: I think I'm in love with the fab five.
Tessa: Too bad you aren't a man.
J-Bird: Two words, missy. Rupert Everett.
Tessa: Shut up.

Kai: I know spa treatments are expensive, but you know what's more expensive? Divorce.

T: This show is so good!
J-Bird: I really can't believe you've never seen this before.
Tessa: We've liberated her from Queer Eye deprivation.
J-Bird: We are truly excellent people.
Tessa: We're horribly shallow, aren't we?
J-Bird: Only once a week.

Yeagh.

Ech, last night was weird. And by weird, I mean bad. It was just all-around unpleasant. So, should I ever be in a parallel situation next year (god I hope I'm not), please do not let me go to wet rush. Ech.

On the bright side, I think most people had fun. Some had a little too much fun. Heh. But I haven't heard of anyone else so far that had a bad night. To be fair, the night wasn't all bad. There was a period in the beginning, and another at the end, that weren't entirely unpleasant. But I was once again reminded why I have always preferred to be with drunk people I know, rather than drunk strangers who are creepy and weird. Also, that there are certain people I should just avoid when they're drunk, because they get weird. On the bright side, I wasn't drunk, which I honestly think helped avert about a bajillion disasters. So wooo sober (as always) me!

Anyway, it's Queer Eye Thursday, today, with the added bonus of America's Next Top Model Thursday! Greg taped everything for me last night, and a whole gang of people are coming to watch. So give me a call if you're interested!

PS To Evi and Amanda: Sometimes change is good, and we've all changed, in little and/or big ways. Of course cynical J-Bird is still here, otherwise the whole 'logic' thing would fly out the window, and I'd probably have ugly blonde highlights in my hair and chew bubblegum all the time or something. The difference is that cynical J-Bird doesn't really talk as much, and even when she does, I don't listen very often. She cowers in the spatial reasoning part of my brain, and wonders where her megaphone went. As you can probably tell, it was stolen by insane metaphor-happy J-Bird, who is quite at large, and reigning with an iron fist. But not actually. Heh.

Quote of the Week

"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we know all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for imagination then, would there?"
-Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

Something Less Trivial, More Philosophical

Is it possible to actually regress to yourself, in an earlier time period? I'm finding that I pretty much feel the same about life and the world as I did about two years ago. Things happen that make me upset, or that I find sad, but I still very much believe that everyone really is a good person, that everything will be okay in the end, and that to hurt another person or animal in any way is the highest crime that can be committed. Granted, I still believed all that stuff during the 'gap' between two years ago and now, when I had a boyfriend, but being single seems to have emphasized it all in my mind. Maybe it's just the contrast to the awfulness that was my mindset right after the breakup that's making me notice my positivity more.

The whole fact that I have this basic (and totally ungrounded) faith in the Universe confuses me, though. I'm a very logical, by-the-numbers person. And God only knows I had a very sarcastic, cynical phase, and that it wasn't a terribly brief one either. So when did I switch over? And what started it all? While I believe that hormones and neurotransmitters do have an effect on our thoughts and actions, I don't believe they determine everything. I feel like there should be at least some series of events that turned me around, and I'd really like to know what it was, and who were responsible. Mostly so I could say thank you. The pain I've experienced in the past few months is nothing compared to the load some bear, but I don't think I would have been strong enough to get where I am without believing everything will be okay in the end. I know a good deal of it is due to my friends and family, so a big thanks goes out to all of them (you). I get the feeling that a lot of it was due to people I no longer have contact with, and to total strangers, and I want to thank them too, even though they'll probably never know it.

Heh. The sarcastic, cynical me would make so much fun of present me.

Buzzing Like a Bee

A busy bee! It seems like Tuesday mornings are the only free time I'm going to get. Oh well, such is life. Started tutoring again yesterday, first session of the year! And the family's dog remembered me, which I thought was kinda cool, since I never got a special greeting before, in the previous four years I've been tutoring there. The cool factor was lowered a little by the fact that this dog is a german shepherd the size of a horse, but he's a sweetie, regardless of his size.

Anyhow, I'm going to miss my bus, so I'm going to have to take my leave of you all. But belive me, I will be back!

(Bwa ha ha ha)

This Is So Exciting!

Sorry I didn't post last night at all, it's been a ridiculous weekend, but recruitment is over, and our new girls are amazing! I'm so excited, we got the BEST group, and we're going to have a soccer team (YAY!), and there're two girls who I absolutely adore and everything is just AWESOME!

Now that I've said that, I'm really, really tired now, and I'm going to go to bed. I kno it's only 10:30, but I was up til 1:30 last night cooking, and I had to get up early this morning, and I haven't had a break all day, so there!

I'm SO excited!

Oddities

I went to Girly's house last nightm and on the way, a number of weird things happened/were observed. Here's a bit of a list.

1. On the bus, an unkempt, middle aged (UMA) man standing next to me kept trying to catch my eye. As I was kind of put off by his persistent regard, I tried my best to ignore him. After about 3 minutes, he forcefully poked me, and asked me if I was 'from Taiwan' (for those of you who don't know, no I am not. My mother is from Taiwan, while my father is as white as wonderbread. I'm from Toronto, birth-wise). At this point, the lady next to me (from Holland) decided to ask me for directions to every destination she planned on visiting on her two-week stay here (she was however quite charming, so it wasn't odd in an uncomfortable way, just unexpected), which had the bonus of giving me an excuse to not talk with UMA guy (I'm kind of a bitch, aren't I?). Then another guy on the bus asked me where the hostel was. As a result of all this, when the bus got to my stop, three perfect strangers said "So nice talking to you!" as I walked off. I'm thinking the universe may be trying to tell me to pursue a career in tourism.

2. While walking from the bus stop to Girly's house, random people I'd never before seen kept smiling at me. A couple of them even waved. Maybe this is normal for other people, but that never really happens to me, so...weird.

3. Normally, if walking down Robson St. in Vancouver, you'll see all the bikers sitting in one of the Starbucks' on Thurlow (yeah, there're two on the same corner. Welcome to Vancouver). Today, they were parked outside of Buffalo. The jeans store. And all sitting outside the store, just...hanging. I'm still confused.

4. There's a little plaze-type thing near Girly's house, that's a no-car zone (which is pretty obvious). As I'm walking through, some guy drives through the thing. Someone needs a refresher on his street-signs.

Anyway, it was an odd day. God, I'm tired.

Quote of the Week

"There is one other reason for dressing well, namely that dogs respect it, and will not attack you in good clothes."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Change-O Weather

So, Vancouver is meteorologically insane. Yesterday it poured for most of the day, and then got mildly sunny later on. Today, I woke up to sunshine, but a massive wall of gray is quickly approaching. On the bright side, I have a new umbrella (hopefully of higher quality than the last), so I'm prepared.

My computer at home has a virus, apparently. It keeps restarting itself, which is always fun. As a result of computer-deprivation last night, I watched TV. Yep, I have really productive nights. I'd write more, but I have a lot of reading to do, and am determined to use my library time to the fullest. I'm sure I'll be back though. Course reading is a little boring.

The clouds outside are huge.

This is Awesome!

Heh. If you saw Queer Eye last night, you know what I'm talking about. And by the way, the show really is awesome!

I got tons done this morning, which was really nice. I managed to refill a prescription, get some readings done, find white shoes that I need for Sunday, and have lunch with some friends, all before my first class! I skipped the Tuesday-Thursday Oprah ritual, but I'd already seen the last half yesterday, so I'm not too concerned.

The white shoes are really cute, and they were on sale, so they were only $24, with tax! They have thong-style straps, with little rhinestones on them, and there're pictures of Marilyn Monroe on the bottoms (where my feet will go). They have a tiny bit of a heel, which makes them both pretty and easy to walk in, the best of both worlds. I tried to find a picture on the web, but really, I got nothing.

On a not-so-great note, my umbrella broke. Which I'm not terribly upset about, as it was $4, but still, it's inconvenient. Especially since it's raining pretty hard outside. I decided to go to this library (there are lots on campus) because it's closest to my next class, after which I'll have to figure out how to get to the bus loop without getting too soaked. Ah, Vancouver rain. Welcome back.

Welcome to Queer Eye Wednesday!

I just got home from meeting, via Ariko who kindly gave me a ride, and then very kindly talked with me for 20 minutes in front of my house. Thanks for the ride Ariko, and for the talk. It's always nice to know you aren't actually alone.

I'd also like to note that I now have photo capability! Woo! Not sure what I'll post first, but I promise it will be exciting and innovating. Or at least photographic in nature. That's right, I lifted you up high, and dropped you all the way down.

I have to go, Tessa is on her way. She's bringing maple cookies, I'm supplying the ice cream and the TV, because it's Queer Eye Wednesday! All awesome, all the time.

So...How's It Been With You?

Wow, the past 24 hours have seemed like 24 days. Nonstop activity. Recruitment was super long (but went so, so well. Felt so much better than last time!), and I've just been buzzing all over the city today. It's really all quite tiring. Now I've just got to get past two more meetings, and if all goes to plan, I'll have a break from recruitment 'til the weekend! I live in hope.

But even if I don't get a break, I still get to look forward to watching Queer Eye for the Straight Guy with Tessa tonight! Wooo! Cannot wait. It's going to be faaaabulous!

You knew I had to say it.

Goddamn HTML

Hey everyone, I'm sorry if you were on the site last night, while I was experiencing some technical difficulties. I was trying to change something on my site, but it didn't work, and made it so all archived posts were...pretty much nonexistent. Good times. Big huzzah out to Jason, who spent 45 minutes trying to figure out what the hell was going on for me (not hairstylist Jason, this is 3D animator Jason! Go watch his demo, it's cool!). I hope to figure this out in the next few days, but in the meantime, you're stuck with the same old setup.

World Cup Final is today! Canada vs. Finland! Kiprusoff's going down. I can't actually watch the game, as I'll be in recruitment again, but Go Canada! Watch the game, it'll be good times.

I Love It When That Happens

My day got so much better as it went on. First class was kind of boring, but it's about the scientific method as it pertains to psychology, which inceidentally is almost, if not completely, identical to how it pertains to other sciences, including chemistry, which I studied for two and a half years. Basically, it's old news. But it happens, whatever, it's all good. Later on, I ran into Amanda and Sean (hi Amanda and Sean!), and some of the girls, who are awesome, and generally everywhere.

You know, I'm really not sure why my day improved so much over time. I suppose the cloud of sad that was hanging over me in the morning could've dissolved in all the rain as the day went on. Or maybe it's because my afternoon classes are really interesting. Whatever the reason, I'm all for it. I'm going to sign off though, it's time to print some class notes!

Um, What Happened?

So yesterday, while I was cooped up inside, it was a beautiful, sunny day. I wake up this morning? It's gray, cold, and drizzly. Which oddly is a pretty accurate reflection of my mood; I woke up in a total funk, which I'm still trying to shake. I'm not a fan, however. I don't need my negative moods reinforced by the weather. It's uncalled for. I want the sun back! I have to walk all over campus today! Gotta go whip out the umbrella.

I also want to note that a friend of mine was attacked outside of a bar last week, which is scary and uncool. Whoever did this, I suggest you avoid me. Nobody hurts my friends! Unfortunately, we don't even know who did it, but seriously people, stop with the fighting. It's stupid and unnecessary.

Quote of the Previous Week

I forgot to post the quote of the week last week. Here it is!

"The best is yet to be!"
-Robert Browning

Voiceless

Well, almost. A raspy croaking noise does come out of my mouth, but I think there are tiny little Vancouver City workers marching around my vocal cords, with signs that say STOP and DETOUR, making my voice a little below standard.

Recruitment went well today, I think. It's such a tiring process, and none of us brought food, which was a big mistake (no food for nine hours is bad), but all in all it went well. I blow-dried my hair, for the first time in ages (my hair dries pretty straight in the summer), but more importantly for the first time since it was cut, and while it doesn't look exactly like it did when I walked out of the salon, the reproduction is very acceptable. Especially since I don't blow-dry my hair very often, so I really don't know much about the technique of it all. One thing I'm excited about is the fact that my hair takes about 30 minutes less to dry than it did before it was cut. Also, our hairdryer weighs a ton (it's from like the 70's), so any reduction in time is well-appreciated by my feeble arms.

I feel like I've dropped off the Earth this past week. I haven't really had time to talk to anyone, and I don't like it. The first week of school is supposed to be the easy, relaxed part of it all. What happened!? I'll have to investigate.

Revitalize by Water

Sleep is a wonderful, beautiful thing. I'm not really feeling any more healthy than I was last night, but I no longer feel like my head wants to implode, which is a big step forward.

I woke up at eight this morning, and couldn't fall back asleep. Since I have tons to do this morning (recruitment starts today, ack!), I got up and treated myself to a long hot shower.

I'm sure everyone has their own little rituals for the perfect shower. Some of you may even involve things like candles and incense. My bathroom isn't really big enough to safely accommodate flame, so I'm a little limited in that sense, but it's still a huge indulgence for me. There're a few improvements I can think of, like better lighting in the shower. It's kinda dark in there. And a stereo, so that I can have pretty music playing. Maybe candle-capability. But all in all, it's quite perfect, and for a half hour of relaxation that I don't even have to leave the house for, it can't be beat. It's my form of meditation, I think.

I'd like to note that I don't do this every time I have a shower. Generally, my showers are of a more mundane, speedy nature. This type of shower is a luxury, for when I'm stressed out or upset, or occassionally when I have the time and feel like treating myself. I don't plan on ever doing this for every shower. For one thing, it would use far too much water to be reasonable.

Before anything else, I turn on a little electric space heater and shut the door, so that the bathroom isn't cold at all, even for the beginning of the shower. I go get my huge fluffy pink towel (it's 6 feet long, 4 feet wide. It is so fantastic, it deserves a title. I'll think of one soon.) and my slightly smaller (but thinner and therefore lighter) hair towel. I get my comb, my body wash, and my big loofah, and then enter the heated bathroom.

I then shower in perfect (perfect) temperature water. Not hot, but more than warm. I wash my hair first, really thoroughly, kinda like they do in hair salons, except without the benefit of having someone else (who is professionally trained) do it for you. When I've rinsed my hair out (which used to take way longer, before the culling of the bottom 10 inches) I soap up the loofah, and go through an incredibly long massage/exfoliation session. It's bliss. So much so that I never ever want to leave. However, I generally have other plans for the rest of the day, so eventually I will force myself out of the shower, out of the bathroom, out of my tiny, perfect little world.

Rock A Bye Janni

On the tree top...When the wind blows...

I am so tired. Retreat was long today. And now I'm at home, printing page upon page. I don't actually mind printing at all, but I wish I could go to bed. I'm sick, and I've entirely lost my voice, and I have an awful headache right now. I really want to write in my journal (the paper version) before going to sleep too. argh.

Haven't really been up to too much lately. Saw Girly last night, who has fabulous hair (also done by Jason). I've totally missed out on sleep lately, due to buses and other things that I hadn't planned for (like this printing. Argh.). Even when I do sleep, I can't seem to sleep very well. Oh well. Work now, rest later, right?

Yeah, right.

Pathogens Suck

I'm sick. I have some sort of fluey, fevery cough thing, and I am not impressed. It makes me dizzy, and I can't figure out what to wear, since I alternate between boiling hot and freezing cold, and I can't take off/put on the layers fast enough. So frustrating. I (like most people, I would guess) hate being sick, and having some stupid germ attack me on the first week of school is uncalled for. Anyway, I have to eat something, and try to balance my inner ear, so I can make it to the bus stop. How does one balance their inner ear?

Recruitment, Anyone?

I got to sleep in today. It was beautiful. After watching yesterday's Oprah (re-broadcast this morning) with a mug of tea, I am back to the relaxed state I was in before school started up again. Definitely going to be part of my routine this year.

One thing I do heartily enjoy about the beginning of the school year is the plethora of free stuff we're given. I have enough coupons to eat for half price for the next three months, which is always exciting to a food addict like myself. I was also given coupons for a tanning salon, photocopying center, and 50% off hair colour, but I gave those away, as they aren't really useful to me. It's really all about the food.

I am however feeling the pinch money-wise. My Visa bill has exploded in the past few days, due to textbooks (vastly over-priced), so I've got to pay that off sometime soon. Luckily, I won't have time to spend any money in the near future, as my schedule has been predetermined for me by others. Care to hear? Of course you do. Here goes;

Today: Lunch, class, friend's birthday tonight.
Tomorrow: Class, then I get to see Girly!
Saturday: Sorority Retreat, from 11 am onward.
Sunday: First day of Formal Recruitment (eek!).
Tuesday: Recruitment
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: Recruitment, recruitment, recruitment, recruitment.

Yeah, lots of recruitment. I am going to be so tired. More on that another time.

(Note: Any girls at UBC interested in seeing what sororities are all about, check out ubcsororities.com. You may be pleasantly surprised. Oh, and guys should check out ubcgreeks.com.)

Hello Doesn't Like Me

And now I don't like it, either. Hello is the program I'm supposed to be able to use to upload pictures, and therefore show you my hair. But it for some reason doesn't like me or my computer at all, so I can't. Very annoying. For all you know, I could be lying about the hair. It could be an elaborate ruse, to trick you into thinking...I have hot hair. Seriously though. I want to post pictures!

So the second day back at school went well. My classes seem all right, and so far I know at least one person in every one (just one more to go, we'll see!). It'd be nice to get that five-for-five, but it isn't a huge deal, since I study best on my own anyway (I'm very particular with how I study).

We had our first meeting at the new Panhellenic (Panhel) House in our chapter room, today. It was nice not being in a classroom; the seats were a lot more comfortable. Also, the room looks awesome, which is always nice. A couple of the girls have put in hours getting it ready, and it totally shows. I think UBC is really happy we have our own rooms, since we were apparently a huge problem for them, booking empty rooms on Wednesday nights (a little bit of sarcasm should be traken with every meal. Or in my case, every breath).

Other than that, really not too much happening. Talked to Tessa and Girly today, who are always fun, and read a tiny, tiny bit of assigned readings, making me one of four people on campus who've actually started studying on this, the second day of term. So, I'm officially a geek. One who cannot figure out how to post pictures on her website. Sigh.

Well, at least my hair is still pretty.

HOT

is what my hair is. I got my hair cut (by Jason at Strutters, you need to be there!), and it is amazing. I'll try to post a picture later this week, when I figure out how. In other news, my class today was pretty good, and I went to a bar party at VODA, and saw lots of cool people I hadn't seen in months. Plus, I have really amazingly hot hair. But I'm going to bed now, because my hot hair and I need our rest.

Note: I actually wrote this last night, but blogger ate my post three times, at which point I exploded into a rage of epic proportions, thus delaying the actual post until now. I'm going to learn how to post pictures now, so I can show you my hair. And I've noticed that Tessa is once again a step ahead of me, with her first picture already posted. Damn you Tessa! One day I shall be the innovator!

Day of Randomness

So, today was the first day of the new school year. I started the whole day by going to get my hair cut, by Jason, at Strutters, who I recommend to everyone in Vancouver, because my hair is HOT. I'll try to figure out how to post a picture later this week. It's shorter than it's been in years, and it swishes and I love it.

I had one class today, Psychology of Language, which looks to be pretty interesting, even though the midterm is on my birthday. Also went to VODA, a nightclub, that was having a party for charity tonight. As you can tell, I'm already at home; I headed in pretty early. I'm tired, and my amazingly hot hair and I need our rest. 'night all.

HOT

is what my hair is. I got my hair cut (by Jason at Strutters, you need to be there!), and it is amazing. I'll try to post a picture later this week, when I figure out how. In other news, my class today was pretty good, and I went to a bar party at VODA, and saw lots of cool people I hadn't seen in months. Plus, I have really amazingly hot hair. But I'm going to bed now, because my hot hair and I need our rest.

Busy Busy...

And yet not nearly as busy as I will be next week.

Went to dim sum today, it was every bit as good as anticipated. For anyone who has never had dim sum, you're missing out. I will gladly take you and show you the ropes. Call me. We were at dim sum with family friends of ours, and I got to see my friend C again, after far too long (hi C! Call me, we'll chill). In summary, good food and good company make an excellent brunch.

After dim sum, Greg and I went to Metrotown. I've com to the conclusion that when I ask people if they want to go shopping with me, they always end up spending more money than I do. Greg got a t-shirt and a sweater, both by Versace and therefore both pricey. I ended up paying for them on my Visa, 'cause Greg can't withdraw that much (yeeesh) from his account in a day. I did however go get the Jacob Connexion tee that I'd been coveting since Saturday. It's adorable, and for waiting two days, I got a $3 discount! Patience is not only a virtue, it pays off. In cash.

It still hasn't hit me that school starts up again tomorrow. I think big events knock my brain out of keeping time properly. Oh well, back to the routine I go.

Sloth, Or Doing Holidays Right

I am a firm believer that holidays should not be wasted. Holidays are beautiful things, days when even the government and businesses (with the exception of retail) say, relax, sleep in, have some fun. Now, I've pretty much been on holiday since April, but this, as an official holiday, is special. And I rang it in with admirable laziness.

So as Tessa already wrote, she came over to watch some TV last night. She had to work in the morning, so she left at 10. That's pretty much when the interesting television ends on a Sunday anyhow, so it worked out well. I walked her to the door, and promptly returned to the couch, where I started to doze off. Under other circumstances, I would have happily just slept on the couch (it's really comfortable), but I still had my contacts in, and I hate the gross sticky feeling of dry contacts, not to mention the pain that comes when you take the dry sticky contacts out. So upstairs I went.

My room was a disaster area. I'm still in the middle of the overhaul, so everything is in random 'piles' that supposedly reflect their category. Also, I finally vacuumed everything, which meant everything that was normally on the floor was now on my bed. The plan had been to finish the cleaning after the TV shows, but I was too tired, so I just moved everything back to the floor, brush teeth etc, and flopped into bed. At 10:20. And I just got up. I got twelve hours of sleep people! After almost a month of 4-5 hours, tops, twelve! So my new cure for insomnia? Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Not the original Extreme Makeover. That stuff makes nightmares.

So, I've slept in, I may go shopping later today, and I'm having dim sum in half an hour! Yay! I really need to get dressed. Happy Labor Day, y'all!

Ah, Politics

From IMDb News:
"Director Michael Moore has offered to take US Senator John McCain to see Fahrenheit 9/11, after the politician slammed his controversial film. At the Republican National Convention on Monday, guest speaker McCain prompted boos against Moore after denouncing the documentary, which attacked American President George W. Bush's handling of the September 11 terrorist attacks. McCain called Moore - who was covering the event at New York's Madison Square Garden for newspaper USA Today - "a disingenuous film-maker who would have us believe that Saddam (Hussein)'s Iraq was an oasis of peace". And Moore made an appearance on comedian David Letterman's chat show Wednesday night, where he encountered more boos - coupled with cheers - and offered to take McCain to the cinema. Moore told Letterman, "He hasn't seen it yet. I'll take him to the movies while he's here in New York. It's just playing down the street and if he doesn't like it, afterwards I'll let him pummel me like you suggested!" McCain, a booked guest on the show, later shot back, "I admire his skills as a movie maker and certainly admire his success at making money. Seems like he could afford a shave and a haircut!"

Did the Senator seriously just attack Michael Moore's appearance? One, Joan Rivers would probably be too ashamed to attack such an easy mark, and two, what the hell does his hair have to do with politics? I mean, when somebody says "Hey, come see my movie, then trash it!", the wittiest response is not "Yeah, well, you look like a hobo!"

Also, doesn't John McCain have a comb over? Glass houses everywhere, dude.

I Am So Proud of Myself!

Do you want to know why?

Because I went to Ikea today, with the lovely Tessa, and when we came out, I'd only bought the things I'd said I was going to buy. I have never gone to Ikea without being seduced by the cute little $1.50 candleholders, or pretty $4 pillows, or some other beautiful and cheap objects. But today, I went to buy nice storage things, like baskets and nice boxes, and that's all I came out with! I'm so impressed with myself. Also, I came out within budget. I had $52.81 in my wallet, and the bill? $52.62. It was awesome. And I have places to put things!

I was also planning to get these big baskets that could go under my bed, because they're covered, so dust would stay out, and they look nice. Then I measured the height under my bed. 12 cm. 12. Nothing fits in 12 cm! You need at least 15-16 cm. That was pretty frustrating. Then, angered, this horrible suspicion crept into my mind. So I went and measured the space under my parents' bed, and my brother's bed. They have 20 cm. I so got the shaft. Anyway, Amanda, Anna and I, at Girls' Games Night last night, hatched a plan to prop my bed frame up a little. So when I get on that, I can go back, and get the big under-bed baskets. And then, finally, I can take over the world.

You think I'm kidding, don't you?

Well That was Horrible Timing.

So, I'm shopping with Tessa, Evi, Amanda, Joan, Nina, and Anna (also known as supergirl), and it's all fun. I'm having, finally, a wonderful, sad-free day. Then, on a bus, I get a phone call. An awkward, karmically-uncalled for (unless I've done something awful that I've forgotten) phone call. And now I'm bitter, and sad, and a little angry. Not at the caller; it was entirely not his fault. But I wish he'd been told, so he'd known calling wasn't appropriate. Or even helpful, for him. Anyway, I'm sure I'll get past it. But seriously, why is it that timing seems to be bent on kicking me back down the second I get up these days?

This happens again, I'm going to fly into a freakin' RAGE.

I Wonder Why I'm So Tired?

Oh, that's right, it's because I didn't get home until 3:30 last night! Distinctly dizzy, likely from the shot of Jaggermeister we had at the bar. However, Mon had predicted I'd throw up, so I think dizzy is a good alternative. Happy Birthday Mon! Girl's night is the way to go, we had an awesome time. I'm definitely having a girl's night for my birthday, although it probably won't be quite the same. Of course, depending on the circumstances, T and Mon may not give me the choice.

Anyhow, I'm making pretty good progress with the editing. I've almost finished the first run through it all, so that's really not that bad. Today I'm going to go get my textbooks, and then I'm going shopping with some girls, including Tessa and Evi. Should be fun!

Excuse me, I really need some orange juice.

Quote of the Week

"It wasn't funny 'ha ha', it was more funny 'boo hoo, that totally sucked'."
- Phil Hartman, as Bill McNeal on Newsradio

Disclaimer and Update

I want to say that my comments on marriage are not meant to offend anyone in any way. I understand that some (most) people are more mature than I am, and ready to take that very big step. I, while applauding you, am definitely not one of them. My parents didn't get married until they were thirty, however, so maybe it's a genetic thing.

Editing has been slow today. I think there've been more modifications I've had to type in in the last fifteen chapters than the first 14. Fortunately, the story is pretty interesting, so I don't have to worry about losing consciousness or anything. I can't imagine editing a college textbook about grammar or something. Kudos to those who can edit writings lacking plot or intriguing subject matter.

Also, does anyone know where I can get the pretty red square photo album by Havoc Publishing? Tessa has it, and I 'secretly' covet it, but she bought it in Edmonton, which is useless to me.

Conversations with Tessa

Tessa: Hey
J-Bird: Hey, what's up?
Tessa: Not much, you?
J-Bird: meh, editing. How's your accordion folder?
Tessa: Wonderful. I usually keep all my loose papers in Manila envelopes. This is so much better!
J-Bird: I know! But now I'm on an organizing kick. I totally want something like this, only prettier, to put by my desk.
Tessa: Very nice.
J-Bird: I figure once I get all my stuff organized into accordion folders (I'm so getting more), I'll need somewhere to put them. Plus, I love the look of the wall...holder thingys. Seriously. I want everything from Ikea that can make my ugly piles of stuff look pretty.
Tessa: When you go to Ikea, you'd better bring me!
J-Bird: Noted.

* * * * *

J-Bird: ...You have a lot of friends getting married.
Tessa: I know, it's really weird.
J-Bird: Seriously. Is it an Alberta thing? I mean, I plan on getting married. In fact, I've planned my entire wedding. In detail. But it won't be for several years, and the groom in the picture is just a tux with no face
Tessa: Ditto.
J-Bird: Good. I don't want to be going to weddings yet, unless they're for people who're way older than us.

* * * * *

J-Bird: So, how goes the relaxing?

Tessa: All right. I did get bored and clean the kitchen though. You know, mopping and all. It took like half an hour.

J-Bird: Heh. You're pathetic.

Tessa: And it was gross. Yeah, I'm not good at this relaxing thing.

Tessa: I MUST BE PRODUCTIVE!

J-Bird: Freak. You're unnatural.

Tessa: Okay, I'm going back to cleaning.

J-Bird: What is WRONG with you?!

Tessa: See ya later

Jan: See ya.

* * * * *

Also, Girly's in Montreal, for the Montreal Film Festival! So if you're in Montreal, go see her short film, Flush. You won't regret it, trust me.

September 1st Means Cleaning!

So, once I started putting things in the accordion folder, I went on a bit of a cleaning rampage in my room. I've been trying to weed through all the stuff that's just been lying around. I've managed to throw a lot of papers out, and I found a lot of financial statements lying around, which is odd. Also found a lot of stuff to add to The Box. The finding of that sutff wasn't so much fun, but I'm glad that I won't find it later on.

I'm still not finished, unfortunately. I think I've gotten rid of everything that I don't want, which means that now I have to find room for everything that I need to keep. The biggest problems are coming from things of a bookish nature. Not just books, but old binders, photo albums, diaries, magazines etc. I have no idea what I'm going to do with them all. I hope I figure it out soon though, because I remember a couple years ago, I managed to clear almost everything out of my room, and it felt very liberating. Plus, my room is rather small, and I'd like to clear everything off the floor so that I can vacuum, paying special attention to the dust planets under my bed.

As for the accordion folder, it has already well earned it's (low) price. I've managed to put all sorts of weird little things in it, and I'm finally able to collect each type of thing into the same place! It's very satisfying to be organized.

Now, if only I wasn't too lazy to maintain it.

Classeur Extensible, Archivo Expandible

Or, in English, accordion file. Which I just bought. It is very simple, dark blue, and small. I'm excited because I have hundreds of little bits of paper with important stuff on them, all over my room, and I finally have somewhere to put them. Yay! I also got thumbtacks, so I can start with my next craft project.

Had lunch with Miss Anna today, at her place (thank you very much, it was tasty!). It was good times. I love hanging out with her, she's very chill, and can make anyone feel comfortable. It was also nice to go outside the house, after spending a few hours editing. The weather has been totally bizarre, with intermitting periods of hot summer sun and thunderstorms, complete with battering rain and lightning. I'm glad Miss Anna offered to give me a ride home, I was dressed more for the sun than the storm.

But for now, you'll have to excuse me, because I'm going to go through my room and put all my little papers into my Archivo Expandible. Woohoo!