Day Three Hundred and Thirty-Six - Psycho-NOTs

So, in my 2007 Best/Worst Of Roundup [please see here] I designated a videogame called Psychonauts as my runner-up for best videogame of the year. I stand by that. In the game there is much talk and manipulation of "psi" - but just what the heck is it? Apparently it's a "real" thing [as real as any kinda fruity out of the body/existential/psychic crap is]. I was illuminated to this through Wikihow, which also instructed me on how to make use of my own psi. I don't think I have any as I made a psi wheel and then got very, very frustrated when nothing happened. And I mean nothing. For a while I thought I had something cooking, but it turns out that it was just my breathing. I need to work on that.

Eventually, I enlisted Joseph's help. He's way more patient than I am and seems to have a knack for actually doing useful things with all manners of paper. Also, he is the one who actually played the Psychonaughts game, so obviously he would have one-up on little old me, right? Right? Oh, only not. He did get it to work a little bit, but not consistently [though still better than me]. I don't have photos [or video] because we both got frustrated and deconstructed the wheel so that it can no longer plague us, but I would invite you to visit the Wikihow page and make one yourself. I would really love to know what the secret is as I tried everything. Many, many different types of paper [and tin foil], different pins, different ways of putting the pins in the eraser, different locations in the house...and nothing. I guess I have no telekinetic ability...I should probably remove that from my resume then.

Day Three Hundred and Thirty-Five - Cost Of Living

So, inspired by fellow thing-a-dayer Kathy who did a similar thing last week, I looked @ the calendar and thought - oh my heck, I really need to get on it if I want to do @ least some of the neat-o things I had on my original list. And while this one isn't super exciting or adventurous - it fits quite perfectly with my neurotic nature. Today I calculated how much my daily foodstuffs cost. With Kathy's she compared her daily intake to what people are given for foodstamps. Since we have no such thing here in Canada, I just did mine for personal interest. Plus, it's healthier for me than counting calories. Also, people are frequently shocked to hear how little Joseph and I spend on food per month [usually around $150 per month]. What can I say - the frakking Price Chopper has some benefits.

I don't really eat breakfast and lunch, but I do snack all day and then I have a proper dinner. So, here is what I ate and the cost of each item [I will also total it up for my fellow math-challenged people].

Morning Snacks:
Coffee [black] - 8 cents
Strawberry cereal bar - 24 cents
Royal Gala apple - 36 cents

Afternoon Snacks:
Maple and brown sugar oatmeal - 24 cents
Green tea - 8 cents
Applesauce - 33 cents

Dinner:
Lemon Perrier [half-bottle] - 64 cents
Cheese-filled spinach tortellini with marinara sauce - $1.72
Tea [black] - 2 cents

Snack:
Jasmine green tea - 6 cents
Ice milk fudge bar - 24 cents
Vodka & soda - $1.50

I love how only two of my things are over one dollar. The dinner was obviously the hardest to calculate as I had to sort out how much one-half serving of olive oil might cost. So, yes, my total food cost for the day was: $5.51 - which is quite a bit more than Kathy's...although in my defense I think food costs more in Canada.

Day Three Hundred and Thirty-Four - In The Army Now

So I've been cultivating what I knew would be a really amazing migraine headache since Wednesday - if the headache part were ever to arrive. Well, it arrived late Saturday evening/early Sunday morning. It was total sensory overload with a lot of dizziness and nausea and allowed me the opportunity to spend some time throwing up. How thinspiring. While on the floor of our bathroom I noticed that our toilet was less than springtime fresh. I mean, it's a toilet so obviously I don't expect it to smell like pumpkin pie...but still...when you're sticking your head it there it should @ least be tolerable. Once I recovered from my migraine episode [which, in lasting five days I do believe that's a record breaker for me] I decided to do something about senor toilet and I scrubbed the toilet with a toothbrush. I've never really understood why someone would do this as it seems inefficient and tiresome...but then, I think it's used as punishment in the military and such so I guess that makes sense.


As you can see by my gleamingly clean toilet, it does do a pretty nifty job. The small brush allows you to really get in there and discover all sorts of discusting-ness that was probably lurking in there even after you cleaned it. I guess this might not have been the most appealing thing for a recovering sickie to be doing, but I can't say that it didn't give me a great feeling of accomplishment.

[and yes, i know that i'm totally keeping it classy by posting a photo of my toilet on my blog. yee-ha. also, this item totally was on my original ET list.]

Day Three Hundred and Thirty-Three - Juzz

I think I've mentioned before that I'm not a big jazz fan. I was worried that this would be a source of complication in my relationship with Joseph's family as his father is a big jazz fan. As a result I have attempted to gain a bit of an appreciation for jazz/blues/etc. type of music over the past ten years. I feel that I could really connect with this genre as I believe that it shares many of the same themes as other types of music that I genuinely like such as classic country and western music and woeful alterna-pop music. And opera. Yknow - the general theme of everything sucking and then more awful things happening, but the beauty of the music makes it beautiful and life is okay to go on. I like that. So, while love of jazz is still the best way to tell me and Lisa Simpson apart [other than that and the one finger less thing, we are way too similar]...I feel like I've grown in music appreciation over the last decade [eeeep - decade! i'm old!].

Anyway, after a semi-successful shopping trip this afternoon [Joseph being partly successful in buying electronic bits to make something neat-o and me being partly successful @ buying pants - they are pretty okay pants and I'm saying this as someone who hates pants...although they do have to be altered - argggh - either i'm shrinking or the Gap is upping their vanity sizing again] we were going to reward ourselves with some exciting dinner option - perhaps sushi was the plan. But as we were walking to the subway we noticed some loud-ish, but appealing music coming from The Rex, one of Toronto's most renowned [i think?] jazz clubs. We went over to check out the menu since it's not available online [one of my biggest Patrick Bateman pet peeves]...and then we made a bold decision - we decided to go in and I had dinner at The Rex, a jazz club. The verdict? It was pretty darn worth the risk of trying something new, both in terms of sustinence and entertainment. The food is standard pub fare, though they do offer multiple vegetarian options...and the chips were a-mazing [and I am a chip conoisseur]. When we first arrived there was a large-ish big band/swing type of thing happening with an extensive horn section and a female singer. I liked this quite a bit - loud and brassy...and reminds me of an older time that I might have preferred to live in. After a brief pause a smaller blues band came on and they were also quite agreeable. Though The Rex doesn't generally charge a cover, we put my partially shredded $10 plus some heavier coin into a "music appreciation jar." I think we will definitely be back - it seems like a great place to tip a few back after whatever tiresome activity we have engaged in on Queen West [which is truly one of the most tiresome places in the whole of Toronto].

Day Three Hundred and Thirty-Two - Bar Bet

I have never personally encountered this, but apparently there are people who will engage in little contests/bets while @ a pub in order to earn free drinks. Granted, most of these little games require some sort of skill that I would not have if I were a-drinkin'...but it's a good idea in theory - free booze and impressing people, that is. I would caution that if someone tries to engage you in such a bet, they probably know what they are doing and you will probably lose your money. However, you might get to see a neat-o trick, so it might be worth it. And yet, if that person is me...you will probably be greatly disappointed.

Tonight I attempted to open a beer bottle with a $10 bill. I had read about this on Wikihow and it seemed to make sense, in principle. In practice, this would seem to be very difficult if not impossible to achieve. The notes for the Wikihow entry say that one will need to have a strong upper body...something that, despite my best Wii Fit efforts, I clearly do not have. The bottle cap did not budge...but it did tear up my $10 quite handsomely [and $10 is more than what the entire case of beer cost - d'oh!]. Undeterred, I moved on to finding some other methods of getting this cap off and finally, after about 30 minutes of struggle and losing about one-third of the bottle of beer, I did it - I opened a beer bottle without using an opener. I attempted to save the cap to photograph for proof, but Joseph was a little overzealous in his Friday night cleaning [perhaps fueled by the 2/3 of a beer]. After failing to open with the bill, I moved to looking around for something sturdy in our house that I could kinda slam it against to open...or a nook and/or cranny to stick the bottle in. No such luck. Either I was too tentative in my slamming of the bottle/my hand or the cap was on too tight, I'm not sure. And I couldn't find anything to jam the bottle into to pop off the top [I've heard that door jams - where the door locks - can be used...I'm here to say I don't think so]. Then I moved on to personal accessories, specifically one of my belts [I have two belts]. And while the buckle is solid metal and has a squared edge, I couldn't get the cap to catch. Finally, I turned to another bottle of beer [the solution to and cause of all life's problems!]. By hooking the two caps together and applying more pulling pressure to the one I wanted open - ta-dah! It opened! Very...slowly...and ineffciently and messily...but ultimately the cap was entirely removed and most of the beer was successfully retrieved. The rest of it landed in the sink and on my shirt. I smell like a brewery and I don't even feel like having a beer.

There's a good lesson here, kids. If you ever lose your bottle opener - it's clearly a sign. You are too drunk to continue drinking - this is far too much effort.

Day Three Hundred and Thirty-One - Springtime Fresh

For many, many reasons I am a crummy vegetarian. Reason #1 would have to be the fact that I eat fish. Not often...or a lot of fish [and I've recently eliminated other forms of seafood like crab and lobster in an attempt to wean myself off the sea]...but I do acknowledge that fishes are living things and I would do well to stop eating them. Unless they insist. I can't help it - I just don't find it as gross as other meat. Anyway, another reason why I'm a bad vegetarian is because I eat a lot of carbs in place of meat or sensible meat substitutes. I am carb crazy...and honestly I think that everyone is to a certain extent. Carbs feature prominently in every type of cuisine around the world...and let's face it - they are fan-tastic. Although I adore bread, my main source of carb is pasta - it's cheap, cheerful and plentiful and you can make it a million different ways and not miss the presence of animal carcass. That being said - this week was pretty epic in our house for pasta as we had it everyday...Monday - fettucine alfredo...Tuesday - spaghetti marinara...Wednesday - vegetable lasagne...and today, Thursday - I made pasta primavera! My photo doesn't really do it justice or display the many, many vegetables too prominently...


See - I've always had it in for pasta primavera. Back when I became vegetarian it was one of the many banes of my existence when eating @ restaurants. No matter what type of restaurant...sitting there on the menu like a lame duck was pasta primavera. And that was your vegetarian "choice" [there would be nothing else...so really, not much of a choice]. It was always bland, uninspiring, pedestrian...noodles with what seemed to be rehydrated frozen vegetables. Hooray. And quite often you would end up paying close to $20 for the honour of eating this. My pasta primavera was a bit of a departure, so allow me to explain. I used a lot of different vegetables: button mushrooms, red bell peppers, yellow bell peppers, courgettes and tomatoes were all roasted with olive oil, garlic and basil. Broccoli and snow peas were added near the end. Vegetable pasta was used, as well as a blend of Parmesan and Romano cheeses. The end result was so delicious that I just might eat the leftovers. Maybe.

Day Three Hundred and Thirty - Before The Fruit Flies Regroup

Joseph and I have been living on our own for eight years now ["on our own" defined as not with parents and not in university residence] and in that time there is rarely a time when we don't have bananas in the house. Yes, I know - one should try to reduce one's environmental footprint by not buying exotic fruits, but what can I say? They are cheaper than dirt [particularly that fancy dirt with nutrients and such] and pack a nutritional punch. Ka-pow! And while that's all well and good there are many stragglers in the banana bunches that invariably go to the wrong side of the tracks, so to speak - they quite simply go bad. My recent strategy for dealing with this is to make a banana and chocolate cake [low-fat!] and for a while, I was making them on a weekly basis. Joseph's lifetime strategy [and I think that other people in his family do this] is to make a "banana milkshake." Yes, it must be in quotations...because while it's unmistakably banana...I refuse to call this concoction a milkshake. It's more like banana...milk? And milkshakes are very thick to the point that they should be nearly impossible to drink.

Well, as of today the fruit fly situation is under control, but we did have a banana situation on lockdown [in the microwave...which some fruit flies apparently did get into somehow]. So, Joseph decided to make banana milkshake and for the first time ever I drank banana milkshake, as prepared by Joseph. I requested a lot of honey because I am none too sweet and I think I got a lot of honey, although I firmly believe that my tastebuds are all screwed up [my tastebuds tell me that grapes of any kind are the sourest things on the planet, for example]. And I must admit - the banana non-milkshake was much better than what I have been assuming for all of these years. It was pretty tasty. I'm not sure that I will be partaking of this on a weekly basis, but I feel I should encourage Joseph in his culinary endeavours regardless [he used to cook many different things, now...not so much - he's still the fried egg and pancake master, but that's about it]. And although it's clearly not a milkshake in the strictest sense of the word - I refuse to let semantics get in the way of deliciousness.

Day Three Hundred and Twenty-Nine - Yuebing

I'm not quite sure how it happened - it was probably the relentless advertising by Mandarin on the classic rock radio station - but I got it into my head that I would seek out an consume a mooncake. It was the Moon Festival and Toronto has a large Chinese population [word on the street is that there are three distinct Chinatowns in the city], so I thought tracking one down would be easy enough. And, it was...kinda...as my friend Kathryn came to my rescue and told me that she could procure one for me. So today I cycled over to my old office [9 kilometres! yeah!] and picked up my mooncake. Then tonight with some tea I ate a mooncake. I still have no idea what was inside, but it was not entirely unpleasant so I'm okay with it. My camera so did not want to focus on the mooncake, but here is the photo anyway. The design was very intricate and smooth feeling [although it did not smell great and yes, I must smell everything].


I was worried that I would really dislike it as I was told that mooncakes are typically very sweet and my friend Lisa said that she wasn't keen on them. So, I guess I was pleasantly surprised...although to be honest it didn't taste like too much. Ingredients that were definitely present were sesame seeds, slivered almonds [about 85% sure that's what they were] and some sort of sweet-ish [although not overwhelmingly so] brown-ish/transparent paste. I can't honestly say what the flavour was...it just...was. And no, I did not eat it outside under the moon. Because I was watching The First 48 and the harvest moon is finished anyway. I realize now that I should have taken a photo of the inside of the mooncake...but it's a little too late for that now.

Day Three Hundred and Twenty-Eight - Teenybopper

In their heyday I was a huge New Kids on the Block fan. Ladies, I know what most of you are thinking "oh, me too!" And, I'm afraid I'm going to have to stop you right there...because, no...you quite simply don't understand. I was like...rendered mentally [and financially] unstable by my love for New Kids. To offer some proof - the New Kids are back together and touring and many of my female friends on Facebook [who I haven't really spoken to since high school] have been sending me messages re: New Kids [even their parents remember my insane, insane love]. So, approaching 30 years old...this - insane fangirling over some lame-o boyband...*that's* my legacy. I can't help but feel that I've wasted my life. The funny thing is - I have no interest in New Kids...their reunion...their new album...pop culture nostalgia holds no value for me [though history and nostalgia of other types is obviously quite valuable to someone like me who just can't let go].

Anyway, Joseph [and others] have been known to give me a hard time about my past love of New Kids [in the interest of full disclosure...my fandom not only included the acquisition of all types of merchandise...but also involved me being forcibly removed from a shopping mall due to inciting a NKOTB-related riot...I might have been charged with someone, but I was barely 12 years old so no one really cared...clearly I've always been a menace to society]. He claimed that New Kids were really terrible...not just terrible due to being a boyband...but terrible AS a boyband. I have contended that they were trailblazers in pop [and merchandising] and that, therefore, they must have been doing something right. Mind you, up until tonight I stood by this claim without being able to accurately recall the music. Well, on Saturday while standing in line for Behemoth I heard some vaguely familiar warbling from the speakers...could it be? It was! I'll Be Loving You Forever by New Kids! And...oh...god...no. It was really...not good [though hearing New Kids while @ Wonderland in line for a new ride would have caused my 12-year-old self's wee brain to explode with happiness]. And that song was really a signature New Kids tune...but...if it was bad - what of the rest of their musical oeuvre?!?

Tonight I decided to put my fears to the test and I listened to New Kids on the Block as a fully-grown adult. And I watched the music videos, too. To be honest, I know my mum kept all my New Kids stuff as a testimony perhaps to my idiocy...but I dunno when [if ever] I will be unearthing any of those gems. And yeah...my fully-grown adult reaction to my pre-teen obsession? I'm afraid this is one of those times when Joseph is right. The music...she is not good, even by boyband standards. The musical production seems really, really lackluster - as if no actual musical instruments were used in the production of the music. Everything sounds so...plinky? Yknow? I must admit though, that Jordan's voice is semi-impressive [not my style, but he had/has? range] and Joe's voice is actually quite nice - my favourite, in fact. And Donnie remains extremely charismatic, even while engaging in some of the most painful white boy rapping ever [I point you toward the song Games, which just might be the reason I was pushed towards gangster rap for a solid five years of my life]. Danny remains fug. And Jon? Yeah, he's there. In one of the videos they were attempting to demonstrate how wild and crazy their lifestyle is [I believe it's the Tonight video - the song has been described as Beatles-esque...but obviously, no...although I think it's probably one of my favourites by default] he is pictured reading. READING!?! THE CRAZINESS! In another attempt to show what bad boys they are they are shown vaulting over the subway turnstiles, only to turn back and put in the token. Woah. This same video, Call It What You Want features a cold open by that C&C Music Factory guy which actually caused me to physically recoil in horror and push my laptop away from me. Which leads us to...the dancing. I think the dancing is worse than the music. You could really look @ any video for examples. Even if the choreography was tight [it isnt'] it would look awful and a bit insane. One of their later songs, If You Go Away actually has quite haunting vocals by Joe and a bit of Jordan...but the video is filmed entirely in shadow and the only dancing is some chick in ripped up jeans and a white t-shirt writhing [kinda? but in a non-sexy way] really slowly in the dark...her face is never shown...and it's a ballad...it's bizarre - please go check it out. However, I was delighted to unearth a previously unseen early video for Please Don't Go Girl featuring a very young Joe trying to seduce a woman older than what I am now...and at the end of the video their names pop up onscreen as they show each Kid. It's pretty awesome.

Well, look @ that - I guess I still am a bit of a fangirl. But I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed in the music and videos and overall cuteness of the band. I guess it proves how much of a dum I was [and probably still am]. To be honest [and Joseph offered this defence himself] - the music industry has simply gotten better @ packaging and producing pop music [not just poppy pop/boybands, but anything mainstream like rap, country, rock]. Hooks are catchier and the music just sounds better [even if it's not better - it seems like it is]. It's a bit sad, though. And while I don't have the interest in New Kids anymore...I do remember when I lost that lovin' feeling [so to speak]. The day when I put down my New Kids cassettes in favour of something else [likely Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch - baby steps, people]...and took down all of the posters...I do remember making these choices. And it did feel as though I was moving on - it meant something to me. I know it's dopey...but putting aside childhood things is very tough [especially when you are acutely aware of it as I was @ age 13]...and I guess I can still look back on those days of screaming and obsessing and near-arrests as evidence of my happy funtime childhood [and try to put aside the shame].

Day Three Hundred and Twenty-Seven - The House That Became A Home

I think everyone knows that I am a big baseball fan and that my favourite team is the Yankees [though because of geography I watch the Blue Jays a lot more as we get all of those games]. Well, this year has been pretty disappointing for both of my teams, although I will admit that watching the Blue Jays since Cito Gaston's return has been pure entertainment and maybe next year...? However, tonight the Yankees had reason for festivity, despite not making the post-season. Tonight I watched the final game in [what is now] old Yankee Stadium. Because not all ETs need to be new things...I guess I could have thought of more things to do for the last thing. A bit depressing though. And yet, it also felt like it was a World Series game...it felt like it mattered.

And yes, it was a little depressing as I am someone who doesn't like things to end. I'm not entirely sure why they needed a new Yankee Stadium, although it does look very flash. To me, Yankee Stadium *is* baseball. All of the legendary players, teams and all those championships...of course memories can be moved across the street too, but it's just not the same. It's not the same space that was home to the Babe and Joltin' Joe and Mr. October...you won't be able to physically see the places where all those great things happened. And that's sad, right? I get way too emotionally attached to physical things, so I have to hold it in check. But, it was a nice game. Two homeruns, the Yankees one, Der-ek Jet-er made a cute, pandering speech...all is well. I just hope that I can make it to the new stadium within the next year.

Day Three Hundred and Twenty-Six - A Roller Coaster's Hyperactive Cousin

I've always really enjoyed roller coasters/thrill rides [we shall not speak of that which terrifies me, such as ghost mansions and ferris wheels]. In particular, when I was growing up I thought Canada's Wonderland was just the cat's ass. Trips to Wonderland would be planned with meticulous care months in advance [down to who would sit with who and order of rides]. The night before I would be sick with excitement and sleeplessness. These days Wonderland is met with a lot less fanfare. Also, I've been to other amusement parks and I see all too clearly the flaws with Wonderland and their painful, painful rides. To say nothing of the summer I spent working there - that kinda damaged the love [but not killed - it's still a magical place!]. But yes, in almost every way Cedar Point is superior to Wonderland...but now Wonderland is owned by Cedar Fair and the improvements/changes are already obvious.

[here is where I would be putting a picture of the most obvious improvement, Behemoth...but while I remembered the camera I forgot the memory card...ooops...I was too ashamed to tell Joseph this...please, Google "Behemoth roller coaster" to see our new baby...]

Today I rode Behemoth [twice]! It is the tallest and fastest roller coaster in Canada [I realize this isn't saying much as our selection is rather weak] and...Wonderland did indeed get this one right. It runs smooth as butter. Finally! A purely enjoyable roller coaster at Wonderland [okay, with the exception of the double helix @ the end...seriously - who thinks that's a good idea? sample conversation: engineer #1 "looks like a great ride...except it's missing one thing" engineer #2 "yes, the rider won't feel like their head is being crushed for several seconds" engineer #1 "let's add this pointless g-force inducing double helix @ the end instead of anything fun" engineer #2 "hooray!"]. It reminds me a lot of Magnum XL-200 @ Cedar Point, except that Magnum has tunnels with slightly dopey special effects and less hills. I loved the hammerhead turn on Behemoth and all of the airtime generally. The second ride was better than the first as we were in the fly-out seats in the back. Additionally, the seating gives Behemoth the edge over other hypercoasters - it's just a lapbar [and a funky one @ that] - no seatbelts, no over the shoulder restraints of hate. It really gives you a sense of freedom...and yet...because of the unique seating...Behemoth cannot accommodate persons over a certain weight/waistline. So, ironically...Behemoth-sized people can't ride Behemoth.

[besides two rides on behemoth we only went on three other rides. we are getting old. but not too old to stop wonderlanding and stop eating gigantic cookiewiches.]

Day Three Hundred and Twenty-Five - Pod Person

Ricky Gervais has been making the rounds on all of the late night chat shows this week - promoting what looks to be a rather resoundingly horrible film [I don't get it - how such funny people can choose such decidedly unfunny projects - the money must be great.]. On Conan and Jimmy Kimmel he mentioned his podcast, which is available for free on the iTunes. Well, you know me - I'm always hip to the new technology, so I decided to check it out. I downloaded a podcast. Yes, it's my first one. And yes, shut up. Until very recently I didn't know what a podcast was - if indeed it was anything. Much like how I thought having a blog made you special [it doesn't] - I thought podcasts were extra special and that you would need something special to play them on and to download them. I am so dumb. Me and John McCain are *right there* on this whole internet thing.

Anyway, as it happens I did have to download iTunes, which broke my unofficial not having Mac/Apple things for no specific reason. This was all pretty painless and even my dear fussy Vista didn't kick up too much of a fuss [rage! rage against the machine! you...machine!]. Searching proved a bit more difficult, but I think that was because of my own blindness...after I brief detour to the UK iTunes [which apparently is not the same thing - I mean, iTunes is not just one universal thing] I found the podcast and downloaded it and listened to it. That's some funny stuff right there and I do highly recommend it. My next step will be putting podcasts on to one of my MP3 players. I'm really moving on up.

Day Three Hundred and Twenty-Four - Shoot The Moon

Eventually last night I found my way to bed...but didn't get the opportunity to sleep in very much due to morning noise...as a result I spent the day feeling groggy and out of it and barely managed to feed, bathe and clothe myself before heading out to the museum for my evening shift. Brought myself home an entire pizza, but found that it didn't make for great company and with Joseph still away on business I was feeling a bit lonely. Solution? Internets. Obviously. But how? Tonight I played a game online with strangers. My game? Hearts. Apparently I'm pretty hot against the computer...but real people are much more cunning.

The truth is that I'm feeling a bit antsy over having not completed about 200 things on my original ET list with just over a month to go [and I have considered extending the project on an unofficial basis and updating when I do something new, but not daily]...and playing a game online was actually one of the things on my original list - as dull as it may seem. It was easy enough to jump into a game [apparently sorted by skill level/points], but I couldn't figure out how to give myself a nickname and everyone knew where I was from [but I couldn't see that information on them]. For the most part, the games went quickly and when someone left the game or was taking too long a computer/bot would take over to keep things moving, which is really helpful and reduces frustration [in Mario Kart when people aren't winning they just quit and it sucks]. There is also a chat option and much to my shock everyone was really polite [if not freaked out by my Canadian-ness], although I think the whole notion of chatting is counterproductive. Just play your trick! And yes, I lost every single game I played...quite miserably. Must practice more to defeat faceless internet opponents.

Day Three Hundred and Twenty-Three - Mulligan

Today's thing is really like a milion things and is my main raison d'etre @ work...so - here we go. Today I attended a golf tournament. No, I don't golf and technically I didn't even step foot on the actual course...but I was there...all day [I was up @ 5am and returned home around 9:30pm, intent on celebrating my job well done with a drinky-poo, instead I passed out on the sofa immediately following the Blue Jays game, where I remained until almost 5am, when rudely awoken by Anderson Cooper]. Now, I don't know much about golf at all...I had to do a lot of research so that I could accurately describe some of our auction items semi-intelligently and so that I would understand the flow of the day. To be honest, I've never had any use for golf - it's boring to watch and takes up a lot of time on TV and it drove a wedge between me and my ex [though we did not have any shortage of wedges in our brief relationship] - he was very into this activity and I believe still works in golf. However, after today I can say that I do kinda get it ["it" being golf] - I still don't think golf is for me [though I love mini-golf obviously], I have a greater understanding of its appeal.

Anyway, today I spent pretty much the entire day in the main clubhouse of the golf course. It was spacious and luxuriously appointed with art and dark wood and big leather chairs in the bistro. The staff were all dressed in little tuxedo-y outfits and were ridiculously attentive. That always makes me nervous - to be treated like I'm someone...because I'm most definitely not [they most likely earn double what I do]. Also, it was a beautiful day today - lots of sunshine, but without the oppressive city heat...outdoorsy but not uncomfortably so...yes, I get why people golf [I still think it's elitist and a waste of the environment/farmland, but that's just me - also, I am too wussy to carry the golfing sticks around]. Other highlights of the day include: attending a live auction and a silent auction and meeting someone named Mitzy [seriously! so country club!]. Sadly, I did not get to ride/drive a Turf Buddy/golf cart...they zip along pretty quick, so there might have been an incident. No photos as I was way too busy...

Day Three Hundred and Twenty-Two - Admiral Ackbar

So. We have a bit of an incident here. I have been a bit complacent in minding the fruit fly situation and now we have a real situation. They be everywhere. They are fond of many things that are not fruit related, including [but of course, not limited to]: the bathroom mirror, lemon-scented cleanser stuff and one particular wall that really has nothing to do with food. On occasion they will land on us and attempt to eat us? Or do whatever it is that fruit flies do. Something weird with tongue, to be sure. So tonight I decided that something must be done. I attacked ground zero with some alcohol in a spray bottle [that's when I discovered that I really like the smell of alcohol...ummmm, yeah] and then I constructed fruit fly traps. Pictured below.


The first one is a simple bowl trap. In the bowl is balsamic vinegar [red wine would also work, but I don't drink it]. Stretched tautly over the bowl is cling film with fork-holes poked into it. As you can see, the fruit flies are clearly mad for it. The second trap also features balsamic vinegar. On top is a lovingly hand-made funnel. The fruit flies fall down the funnel and there they stay. So yes, I would recommend either of these traps - cheap and effective.

[and please don't lecture me about killing fruit flies. i dont kill much else. so really, i think this is okay.]

Day Three Hundred and Twenty-One - That's Unpossible

Although art is my passion, I am definitely not much of an artist. Even as a kid I dreaded art class. I would envision these great works of art [not real ones, just things my brain would dream up] and then, since I knew I could never represent them in any way I would just sit there and not do anything. I'm not a big fan of failure, so I tend to just not try things that I know I won't be good at doing [part of this project was an attempt to get over this - at least a little bit]. I tried doing some abstract and/or really simple concepts as a kid, but this caused my teachers to believe that I was a little strange [and I have the report cards to prove it - thankfully, we were not graded in art class. As a teenager I enjoyed mucking around trying to design different fonts and symbols [seriously - I had legal pads full of such things - it was a good time-filler for the baseball off season I reckon]. But yeah, that's about it. On Wikihow I've seen plenty of articles referring to how to draw various things, but I'm a firm believer that following steps will not make you a grande artiste. To prove my point, tonight I drew an impossible triangle. And here it is:


I think it looks pretty neat-o, although it's harder to appreciate and see the illusion when you have created it yourself. A few nitpicks - I really should not have used lined paper for this task - it disrupts the illusion. Joseph was initally impressed that I was able to get everything so even in appearance, despite not using a ruler [I used a baseball ticket stub to keep things straight]...but upon closer inspection, things aren't really that even at all. Also, I suck @ shading.

Day Three Hundred and Twenty - If God Is A DJ...

When I first met Joseph I was incredibly shocked to see his CD "collection." I say "collection" because it was all of eight CDs. At the time my CD collection was well over two hundred and growing on an almost weekly basis [despite having no money, I always found money to buy CDs]. I questioned him about it and found out that some of his collection were gifts - so maybe he wasn't particularly interested in that group/musician [and now I count some of his CDs in my collection as I like them more than he does]. It seemed beyond bizarre, but Joseph was just not interested in music. Huh. Whenever people are asked to list their interests - inevitably music is in the top few. Or people make claims about music - that it's "their life" or in some fashion extra meaningful [please note - you might really enjoy music, but that in no way makes you special]. Joseph is way more of a weirdo for genuinely not being too bothered about music [and I say weirdo in the most loving of ways - it's a compliment]. And honestly, over the past few years I've become a lot less interested in music - mostly because I'm some old fuddy duddy who is only interested in older stuff.

Joseph and I both have shiny new Zunes [and they really are shiny]...and mostly Joseph's has sat on one of our bookcases. Well, he is going away on business this coming week so I decided it would be nice if he had some entertainment with him [in addition to Nintendo DS of course]. So tonight I uploaded music on to someone else's MP3 player. At the moment I have no idea what Joseph thought of my selections, but I did load on over 225 songs, so there is a good mix [including some incredibly girlie music, so I hope no one was listening too closely to his earphones while on the plane]. On my own MP3 player I'm constantly changing things so I load on entire albums. With Joseph's I mostly avoided whole albums [with a few exceptions - David Bowie, older Garbage and older Pulp] and added selected songs. Thankfully with Zune it's *so* much easier to do this than with my other MP3 player - also, it's super fast.

Day Three Hundred and Nineteen - Leftover Salad

Today is my 10 year anniversary with Joseph. Yes, I know that we are living in sin and unmarried, but we still celebrate anniversaries and even if we ever do get married I'm not starting again from zero! Anyway, we aren't much on gifts or anything, but we do like to treat ourselves to an expensive and very likely out of our price range meal once a year [and as I'm turning 30 next month, it's very likely we will do this twice this year - stuff like that doesn't happen all the time, yknow]. So off we went to Tutti Matti, my favourite restaurant in the city [though honestly I was a bit disappointed this evening, but part of that is my own stupid fault]. The good folks over on Chowhound [one of my favourite websites/message boards] would categorize this restaurant as a regular Tuesday night dinner out type of place, but for us, it's definitely earth-shattering special due to its prices.

So, we had ordered and drinks had arrived...but not so much the complimentary bread [and I am a girl who loves her carbs, so I was getting a bit peeved]. Then, something special arrived - it was an amuse bouche, compliments of the chef. I ate panzanella. For those not in the know, panzanella is a bread salad, originating from Tuscany [Tutti Matti is a Tuscan restaurant]. It is typically prepared in late summer - I think because of the abundance and awesome flavour of tomatoes. I have seen recipes for this in my cookbooks, but I was always kinda grossed out by the idea of soggy bread [I don't even put tomatoes on sandwiches for this reason]. However, this panzanella was free and prepared by a competent kitchen so I ate every last bite. It was incredibly garlic-y [so perfect for an anniversary dinner] and prepared with an outstanding olive oil and featured cherry tomatoes in all different colours and spring onions [and maybe other things, but the restaurant is very dark]. I didn't take a photo because I can't bring myself to be bold enough to take pictures of things in restaurants.

Day Three Hundred and Eighteen - Mismatched

When I was younger one of my best friends, Jennifer, wore mismatched socks on purpose all the time. I was always incredibly envious that she thought of this first. Not only did it mean that she didn't have to sort her socks out of the laundry, I decided it was perfectly quirky. However, she did think of it first so I couldn't copy her. I think you'll have to admit that I have some pretty amazing style icons littered throughout my past. Then, I read about fellow thing-a-dayer Colette wearing mismatched shoes to the gym...and I thought - dang [because I have to say dang because of the whole swearing thing] - that just steps up the game! And, I do love trainers - they are my favourite type of shoe to buy as they are generally more available in my size than fancy shoes. So tonight I wore mismatched shoes. The bottoms of the shoes are very similar, but Joseph noticed right away [he's pretty quick - I can't pull much over on him].


I was going to wear the mismatched shoes to work all day, but then decided to dress up, even though it's ultra casual Friday. Also, I was worried that wearing mismatched shoes might be bad for my ankles/knee and I didn't want to frak anything up as I'm in the final week of preparing for our main annual fundraising event and I so need my walking ability. To my surprise, the shoes I picked [because they are my current two favourites - red Converse for obvious reasons and blue Airwalks with cute skulls] felt identical on my feet. If someone put these shoes on my feet and I was blindfolded or something - I would never know that I was wearing different shoes. I think a lot of my trainers are this style of shoe, so I'm quite delighted. I can now start wearing mismatched shoes on a regular basis.

Day Three Hundred and Seventeen - Unfastened Buttons

I do enjoy a good conspiracy theory. However, there are some parameters. Either it has to be so outlandish, so crazy, so unbelievably awesome...that it becomes unspeakably silly and therefore fun. I can't think of a good one right now, but I do love the moon landing conspiracy. I've joked for so long that I believe it...that I think I kinda do [I know, I know - SpaceCamp would be so disappointed in me]. I think I'm pretty aware of most of the major conspiracies regarding politics, celebrities, etc. - although I can't say that I buy completely into any of them. I like to take a bit of the official story, a bit of a conspiracy theory and then make up my own story. But, as someone who likes to dig, to investigate...to get out on the hunt...gaining more information [even if it's faulty] is always going to peak my interest. Sometimes even when I don't want to...

A well-known film on the subject of 9/11 is Loose Change. They have released several versions of this film, but I haven't watched it. I think it's because - while other conspiracy theories seem to be from a different era - a long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. So I guess that makes them easier to digest. And while I have no personal connection to 9/11 [aside from being a human and a North American]...it was a difficult time in my life because of the connection in time to my father's death [just over two weeks before]. I was emotionally fragile, but also really angry and wanting to lash out...not to hurt people, but certainly for people to feel hurt...as I did. A lonely, confusing and all around bad time. And then...this...it was overwhelming and I instantly regretted all of my bad feelings. But, it felt close...that's what I'm trying to say.

But tonight I decided it was time and I watched Loose Change. The main thing I'm impressed with is that so many people would put so much effort into this. Overall, their conspiracy theory is not very comprehensive. They just keep suggesting things...making dots...but not finalizing or connecting things in some total way. What they are suggesting is not only unbelievable [but not in a fun way - more in a "you really can't believe this"], but it suggests that so many of the people involved are really incredibly evil. You can call me incredibly naive if you want...but I don't, can't and WON'T believe that incredible evil like that is so widespread.

Day Three Hundred and Sixteen - Mouth Of A Sailor

I have the mouth of a longshoreman. I know this. Please know, dear readers, that this does not reflect @ all on my upbringing. Not that my parents [okay, my dad] didn't occasionally swear, but they did have a program in place that suggested that one could potentially have one's mouth washed with soap if one were to swear [please note - this never actually happened to me]. I remember my first swear was the word "bastards" - which I repeated from my dear cousin Mark and - @ the time I had no clue it was a swear - I just thought it was some neat new word. My parents were less fond of it [I was probably around six or seven years old when I first used it quite blissfully in front of them]. You have to admit - little kids swearing is kinda darling though, no? Anyway, by the time I reached my big, bad teens and was a big fan of both gangsta rap and riot grrl type rock I think my parents threw up their hands on the whole swearing issue.

And honestly, I've never tried to deter myself. I think I have a good sense of timing and awareness when it comes to swearing [and I'm occasionally surprised as my previous job was very swear-friendly and I didn't partake too often as I felt it was unprofessional...though I admit to having moments of weakness]. Sometimes I can so deftly weave together a string of swears that I impress even myself with such artistry. I don't think resorting to swearing is necessarily lazy [though it's infinitely more taxing to come up with alternatives - I used to be fond of "oh, sugar snap peas" and "fudge" while @ work - though let's be honest - both of those make me sound like a bit of an ass] - learning how to swear is quite a talent and sometimes, nothing is more apt. But today I decided to challenge myself and I actively tried to not swear all day and I instituted a Swear Jar @ home. [it says Swears - No more swearing - be good!]


The results? I failed. But for me, it was quite the success. I got through an entire long day of stressful work preparing for our golf tournament next week...and then...well after dinner I foolishly clicked over to CNN during a pause in the baseball game...and...that's where they got me. Obviously my swear was directed towards a certain prominent figure in US politics...and honestly it was well deserved. I put an American quarter [a state quarter!] into the jar. But now that I've given up on a meaningful post-season drive for either of my baseball teams, the main thing that's causing me to swear is the American election, so perhaps there will be a reduction in swears.

Day Three Hundred and Fifteen - Turning Japanese

I am not one for purchasing handbags to match my clothing or even to match the season...in fact, I don't even change my handbags ever really. Generally speaking, I find a cheap and fun bag that I like and then I just use the heck out of it. Eventually it suffers some sort of catastrophic breakdown [usually @ some really inopportune moment] and then I buy a new one. I get a lot of compliments on whatever handbag I'm currently using, so I reckon that I'm doing something right. And yet, even fashion-challenged little old me can see that my current Sportsac knock-off bag in neon colours does not so much match 90% of my clothing - as I tend to wear a lot of red. What I do have [and generally don't wear because I'm not good @ accessorizing] is a few scarves in generally very neutral and pleasing colours/patterns. So today I decided to be uncharacteristically fashionable and I practiced the art of Furoshiki. Furoshiki is something from ancient Japan that is still practiced today [although probably a lot less with the wide availability of reusable bags] - it uses nylon or silk scarves to wrap and carry just about anything. Here is my Furoshiki before tying it up - holding all of my snacks for work [yes, including lychees for extra Asian accent].


And here is it all tied up. Technically the technique I used is Katakake Fukuro. It allows one to hold the bundle on one's shoulder. I found it to be quite jaunty.


I had my doubts when I was doing this. I pictured all of my snacks tumbling out onto the street or in the subway. However, it was remarkable durable, and yet really easy to access when I needed my snacks [because of the material used, the knots are easy to untie]. And I do think it looks cool and more unusual than a standard reusable bag. I will definitely be using this method again. Apparently it can be used to hold large melons or bowling balls [using different techniques of wrapping/tying]. I think it would be a neat-o idea for giving bottles of wine or fancy beers - you could give the scarf as well as the bottles. Fancy. On a less fancy note, Joseph referred to my Furoshiki as my "sack of vittles."

Day Three Hundred and Fourteen - That's Amore

One thing about me is that I love pizza. Love it. In fact, I used to be more discriminate when it came to eating pizza...but now I'm not fussy @ all. I like thin crust, thicker crust, lots of sauce, no sauce, lots of toppings, no toppings, Neopolitan style, Chicago style, homemade, store-bought, restaurant style, delivered, bought in a subway station, cheap pizza, expensive pizza...it's all so very, very good. It's really the perfect food. I have struggled trying to define what my favourite food might be...and folks, I think this is it...pizza is my favourite food. It's so versatile, accessible...it's quite wonderful. And today, I really went for it as I had free pizza for lunch and free pizza for dinner [and also, free pizza for breakfast tomorrow]. Oh yes. I regret nothing. And how did I obtain this free pizza? Here we go...

One of the great things about attending baseball games on Fridays and Sundays [and holiday Mondays] @ SkyDome is that they have a promotion that if any combination of Blue Jays pitchers throws seven or more strikeouts...then everyone in the stadium wins free pizza on Monday. Each time we've been to a game this year, we have won the free pizza. It's pretty awesome. People start chanting "pizza! pizza! pizza!" when there are two strikes and they are close to the seven mark. Then when they get that magical seven strikeouts everyone goes nuts. For pizza. Amazing. I have even started calling strikes "pizzas"...but only @ home [Joseph is the true master of making up new and exciting baseball terms]. And, the other free pizza was courtesy of work. When other departments have meetings they order in obscene amounts of pizza and then the rest of us get the spoils...I wasn't sure that I should double up on pizza, but upon further reflection I think I made the right choice.

[and because we had four tickets to the game on Friday we got FOUR SLICES of pizza tonight - good, good times.]

Day Three Hundred and Thirteen - Trompe D'Oeil

I enjoy cupcakes. I also enjoy ice cream. So - what would happen if these things were to be combined? In a most delightful way? Well, thanks to Wikihow [that's twice in one week] I learned how to achieve this combination in a most delightful way. This afternoon I made ice cream cone cupcakes.


Okay, so they don't actually involve any ice cream...but those are real ice cream cones instead of paper used for the cups for the cakes [make sense?]. Also, icing and sprinkles - how fun! The whimsy! I think this is the type of thing that one should really only make when you have a lot of children about [like @ a birthday party]...but I niether have nor particularly care for children...so...exceptions must be made. The only downside is that the batter [I used a store-bought mix] made SO many cupcakes. Over two dozen to be precise. They are as difficult to store as they were to put into the oven...very precarious [but no spills! Joseph is cool!]. So basically I've got just a big pile of ice cream cone cupcakes sitting on my kitchen counter [thankfully the fruitflies are mightily disinterested]. On a more positive note, the cupcakes are sickly sweet, environmentally friendly [no paper cup to throw away] and...my house smells like cupcakes. Mariah Carey would be so delighted.

Day Three Hundred and Twelve - They're Defending Themselves Somehow

I have a long history of warming myself up to various foods...to the point where I go from disliking intensely to really, really liking it. I have done this with mushrooms, olives and most recently [and documented] - pumpkin. I'm divided on lychees - I no longer hate them and find them creepy and unnatural...but we are far from BFF. So, how does one move towards that? Simple. Today I bought a huge box of lychees and prepared them @ home. The fruitflies are indeed having a grand old time. Good for them - life is short, kids.


The thing about lychees is...they ARE creepy and unnatural. They look like eyeballs when you eat them half-way. So, don't eat them half-way you say...well, they FEEL like eyeballs when you are eating them. So there. You can't win. Also, they taste like perfume. These ones do, anyway. It's alternately addictive and alienating. Maybe I'm doing something wrong - this is the first time I've bought them and peeled them - they are tough, but juicy little buggers. I will say this - I enjoy them MUCH more this way than my other lychee experiences - @ the bottom of a martini glass and in jelly form - little cups being hucked @ me while watching Fight Club with boys.

Another interesting note - they are from the soapberry family...because really...nothing tastes better than soap.

Day Three Hundred and Eleven - Domer

Okay. So I've been to four live baseball games this season and each time I've failed to accomplish what I set out to do. What I was successful in accomplishing was winning free pizza each time. So, there's that. What I really wanted to do was successfully eat a hot dog @ a baseball stadium. I say "successfully eat" because when I was a young 'un [probably about seven years old?] I got about 70% through a tasty dog and then...I threw up...all over the people sitting in front of us. My entire family [godparents and godbrother too] all had to immediately leave good old Exhibition Stadium in shame. So, I wanted to prove it could be done. And even though the good old SkyDome is ranked as one of the most vegetarian-friendly stadiums in all of Major League Baseball...they only sell vegetarian dogs @ ONE CART in the whole stadium. Tonight we finally made it to that cart as we had seats on the 100 level...and they were OUT OF VEGETARIAN DOGS. Gah! In its place I had my traditional pizza and a gigantic pickle on a stick. Yeah, I dunno.

So, I've got a couple things to offer in place of my ET being eating a hot dog @ a baseball game [since I won't be going to anymore games this year]. For one, I sat in the outfield. In recent years Joseph and I buy the cheapest tickets, sit in the 500 level [behind where the Jackie Robinson sign is in the photo below]...but right behind homeplate. It's the best $9 you will ever spend. These tickets were over twice the price [I got them for free though] and while I prefer them to the general baseline tickets we used to get when I would go with my family [sitting with my feet on the dugout would be the ultimate though].


The second thing that I will offer is that I was in the SkyDome while they opened AND closed the dome. It still impresses me - I know it's cheesy and the dome is old...but it's still an architectural wonder to me [and we have so few]. Anyway, TPTB surprised us and opened it up during the game [which never happens]...then we went on HotDogQuest 2008...then we got back and were just enjoying the fresh Toronto breeze [closed dome is very humid and a bit gross]...when they decided to close 'er up. Apparently it was raining, although since we weren't affected I think that they should have left it open. Anyway, the Jays are superhot right now...and here's a neat-o photo of the dome very nearly closed [takes about 20 minutes].

Day Three Hundred and Ten - Bee Stung

I have never much cared for my lips - they are too small, too thin and they do refuse to pout [even though I am frequently legitimately pouty]. I have considered getting my lip pierced so that I would like it more [this is a strategy that worked terrifically well for my too-big nose and moderately well for my stomach]. I do care for my lips though - I'm proud of never having chapped lips and I do a bit in terms of preventative measures. So, they are quite smooth and soft...but alas - I want them plump! I have also sought out that Lip Venom glossy stuff, but I don't think they make it anymore...it was probably causing some sort of horrific chemical reaction and that's what made one's lips swell up. So, what to do? I could turn to Wikihow! I used a sugar scrub to exfoliate my lips. This is actually the first time that I have used a homemade beauty product...which has its advantages as its cheap, readily available and not tested on animals [okay, I tested it on myself].


You can barely see it, but I assure you that I do have the sugar scrub on my lips in that photo. Basically, it's just sugar + a few drops of water [you don't want it overly blended, it should still be "scrabbly"]. I discovered that it's incredibly difficult to have something like this on my lips without licking it off. Luckily I don't have this trouble with lipstick...but...sugar is nice to taste. So, I had to try numerous times before I got it to stay on my lips for any amount of time. Ha. Once it had rested on my lips for a few minutes I took my extra-soft toothbrush and lightly scrubbed it off. I then applied a moisturizing lip balm product. Mmmmm. I don't think it plumped up my lips, but it did give them some natural colour and made them feel noticeably smoother [like, a lot - and I thought they were smooth already]. Also, the sugary taste remained for quite some time [which is a bonus if you plan on making out - trust me, boys do not like the flavour of your Lip Smackers - no matter how much you do - I love the Dr. Pepper one]. Yummy!

Day Three Hundred and Nine - I Blog Therefore I Am

Once again I have Colette to thank for this thing o' the day. This time I actually had something planned and ready to go, but I thought this thing might be a bit time sensitive so I went with it. I completed a survey on blogging for a university research project. I will agree with Colette and say that the aim of this project seems to be to establish bloggers as a group of social misfits. Which...seems extremely short sighted when one considers that there are *so* many bloggers these days - from all walks of life and all around the world. We can't all be weirdos [I am, but that is besides the point].

I have participated in a research study for my university before [this was for an American university]. It was for my psychology class and it earned me extra credit so I was able to graduate with a solid C average [yes, my parents were so proud]. I was selected to participate because I was ranked as a raging narcissist. Yeah [again, my parents were so proud]. But - back to this study...yeah, it kinda was an unfair characterization of bloggers. That we all have no friends in real life or perhaps we do, but we have created something entirely new for ourselves online - a new identity, life, focus...and that we lie and hide things about ourselves or present a cleaned up version. I'm not entirely sure that having such obvious questions will get you the answers you are after...due to the fact that people don't like admitting they are losers [even anonymously]. Okay, I fully admit it - I'm a big loser - deal with it.

Day Three Hundred and Eight - Getting A Bang Out Of Life

I've always been interested in urban legends. And in this modern age one can while away the day @ any number of websites that feature them, like Snopes and whatever else [and now that I've said that I've just wasted 20 minutes on Snopes]. I think the origins of urban legends are interesting - since the beginning of humans there have probably been stories like them to keep everyone in line. It's true - urban legends are all about swift karmic justice and "correct" behaviours. Sometimes you have to dig a little...but not in the case of the urban legend that says one will die if you ingest Pop Rocks and Coke. This legend was most famously applied to little Mikey in the Life Cereal adverts - despite him being totally alive and well. Tonight I tested it out - I combined Pop Rocks and Coca-Cola. Ummmm, obviously I'm still alive and also, no worse off. In fact, I think it made me feel a bit better and I actually got a semi-decent night's sleep afterwards.

There are lots of urban legends about candy - spider eggs in bubblegum was a popular one when I was little [as well as the Pop Rocks thing]. It makes sense though - no adult authority-type person wants kids getting all hopped up on Pop Rocks and Coke. It was fun though. I haven't had Pop Rocks in years and years - turns out I really like them, although I reckon they've been toned down as they don't hurt my mouth anymore. I tried having Pop Rocks and Coke separately...not much happened [and I do have a very sensitive stomach]. Then, I tried holding the Pop Rocks in my mouth while pouring the Coke over them [full-fat Coke if it makes a difference - I wanted to be faithful to the legend].

Day Three Hundred and Seven - More V

Yesterday Joseph and I succeeded in actually renting a film. This in itself could be considered an ET for me as apparently we never rent us up some movies [I noticed this because we had to pay a late fee from when we rented Ringu on my birthday last year...so yeah...we rent like one movie a year, which I think is a bit unusual]. Generally speaking we will go see a film @ the cinema when it's released if we are interested in seeing it...so there is no point in renting unless it's something old or foreign or weird. This film was really none of the above, but I was frustrated that we missed it on Teletoon and I have no patience to wait on it to re-air. So tonight I watched V For Vendetta. Yes, it's the graphic novel that just keeps on giving. It was...okay..okay-ish...not terrible? Yeah, something like that.

There are extremely rare occasions when the film is better [or can stand on its own] than its original source material. I can think of...I dunno...let's say three films that are good examples of this: American Psycho [the book is better, but a totally different animal and the film is solid on its own], Gone With The Wind [though Joseph would say the movie is terrible too] and Brokeback Mountain [the short story has its charms, but has nothing on the film. I think Bladerunner might also be a good example, but I've not read the book. The thing is - V For Vendetta is a very manageable [in terms of size, if not content/language] graphic novel. One could easily do it up Robert Rodriguez/Sin City style and just rip the source directly and beautifully. It would still come in around two hours. Why make silly and arbitrary changes? If you don't want to tell that story [and the film does tell a very different story and has different themes] then write the story you want to tell. Don't bother pissing off Alan Moore - he really seems to be generally pissed off enough. Those Matrix brothers are really...quite something. I would be greatly amused if they could make a film that would sincerely entertain me.