West Virginia is for Lovers...and Not for Squirrels.

There is more family in this home for Thanksgiving than I think I have.. anywhere. It's incredible. There is so much food, so many children..
We left Washington this morning, not entirely on schedual - but considering we only left 30 minutes late and Bryan was travelling with me - I think we did pretty good.
Bryan's family is lovely - huge, funny, kind - the little girls have spent the entire night with me, and other than a couple snafu's ("Are you bringing Andrea for Christmas Uncle Bryan? You bring a new one every year.." and "How old are you? How old is uncle Bryan?......Oh." ) it's been amazing. The food is so good - they have biscuits. I think I may have gained back all the weight I lost in the one pile of "cheesey potatoes" that I ate.
West Virginia is stunning - I love it here, it's so beautiful. The mountains, the trees.. the plethora of Confederate flags and German Shepards on the front lawns... (I got a lesson on the Mason-Dixon line today and the North/South conflict.. I heart Canada...)
I'm enjoying myself so much. We stay tonight and tomorrow night, tomorrow we're going shooting.. I've never even held a gun. Squirrels.. look out..

It's All Gonna Break, Or the World is Going To Be Ok If I Squint

Went to see Broken Social Scene last night with Ian.
There are those moments in life, or in my life at least, when it seems like maybe, just maybe - it'll be ok. Everything. The world, the kids, my soul - all those ridiculous things that blues songs and punk songs have sung about for ages and Republicans will rail about until the end of the world.
Last night.. was one of those nights.
It was the biggest venue - Reds - not great accousitcs, not a great atmosphere, it was an all ages show - but when they walked on the stage.. It all melted away and it felt like they were in my living room. (Or my bathroom, considering they kept refering to the accoustics to something akin to "8 dogs fucking in a tin bathtub")
But it didn't matter - they were funny and wise (wise!) and friendly and for god sakes, there were 13 of them on stage at one point. Trumpets, trombones, tambourines (which was, coincidentally, played by the same guy who got them water) 4-5 guitars, 2 drum sets, piano, 2 lead(ish) singers, a violin.. it was like having all of your best friends in your living room singing and laughing and smiling and drinking.
We sat up on the catwalk, watching everyone down below, watching people clap and laugh and throw their hands in the air - at one point when people were clapping - it just looked like hundreds of blurry butterflies above everybodies heads.
They closed with "Lover's Spit" - a beautiful lover/non-loved/no lover song.. The lead singer meandres out into the crowd, and proceeds, very uncheesily.. to start grasping everyone in these huge hugs.. These macho men and ramrod straight young guys.. in these big, kind hugs. Climbs on stage, finishes the song, and lets the violin and the trombone and trumpets play to the end.
I really do think that we might be ok.

Fresh Milk and Cigarettes

Wahh.. So I'm sure that somewhere underneath the tedium that is my brain lately, there are a number of relatively witty reasons that I haven't been posting. When we really get down to it, it's things like the fact I cut up apples and put peanut butter on them last night, broke the plate, and ate the (relatively) glass free apples anyways. Then realised that I had 1/2 a pound of peanut butter on my leg, and ate that too. If that's any indication of my mental state right now (that, and the amount of precariously yet artfully piled dishes in my sink) - I need say no more.

My room somewhat resembles a flophouse (but with clean underwear, I must stress), and after forgetting for the umpteenth time to buy shampoo, this morning I ended up washing my hair with a bar of soap. On the upside, it is kinda behaving better than it usually does.

Started my new job last night, officially have become a waitress. Had a group of those lovely corporate yahoos that came in and decided in the end to pay with 7 different credit cards. Which, of course, nobody in the restaurant had ever really had to deal with. These things really do only happen to me. That and I kept sticking my card for the machine (you know, the one where you punch stuff in) in BACKWARDS, and having a conniption. Good lord. I work Saturday night as well, they have some band in from Newfoundland.. so uh.. yeah. It's either going to be a really good night.. or my last night.

I'll attempt, after cleaning up the glass, to attempt a better post. That, or buy some shampoo. It's a toss up.

I Spoke Too Soon.

Sorry. "Roving bands of African and Arab Youth."

"Roving Gangs of Teens" or, "Paris is Burning"

There were 900 cars burnt in the 'burbs of Paris last night, due to "Roving Gangs of Teens" - no lie. That's the phrase they're using on CNN, CTV, CBS.. it cracks me up. I mean, it would be funny enough if it was here, in North America. But with our stereotypical ideas of the French.. (ok, maybe they're just mine..) I picture box stepping west side story gangs lighting their cigarrettes off of burning cars and making sure their identity concealing bandanas match their shoes. Oh dear.

Cool Things to Do..

Some things to do over the weekend..

• "Yes" - Showing at the Metro Cinema, Nov. 4-7th at 7pm
• "The Clothes Project" by Megan Wilson and Rob Ochiena at Latitude 53 Gallery
• "No More Tears Sister" Film about Sri Lankan peace activist Rajani Thiranagama- Garneau Theatre, Sat. Nov 5th, 9pm
• "Shopgirl" - An amazing book written by, of all people, Steve Martin. Can't wait to see the movie - Opens Friday

Holy Cow.

Bryan and I are going to see Mos Def, Talib Kweli and Jean Grae on the 26th in D.C. I can't believe it.. I'm speechless..

Well Put

Damn it. I guess you don't get my recipe now. It'll be a cliche.
www.penny-arcade.com

In the Mood for Christmas

Before it gets Muzaked to death (yup, it's a verb) - listen to the best Christmas Music Ever.
(Which technically is the Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers Christmas LP, but this is a good mix.)

1. I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas - The Drifters
2. Holly Jolly Christmas - Burl Ives
3. Silver Bells - Dean Martin or The Temptations
   
4. Baby, It's Cold Outide - Harry Connick Jr. feat. Leanne Womack
5. White Christmas - Louis Armstrong
6. Let It Snow! - Frank Sinatra
7. Maybe This Christmas - Ron Sexsmith
8. I'll Be Home with Bells On - Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers
9. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings - Barenaked Ladies
10. Merry Christmas Baby - Charles Brown

A Sundry List of Complains.

1. It's cold.
   
2. Because it's so cold, I can't wear flip flops. Ergo, I must wear shoes. The only casual shoes I have are my chuck taylors, which squeeze my toes into this little pointy mess that makes me cry within 10 minutes.
   
3. I will never be as sexy as Tom Waits.
   
4. The only food I'm really craving I can't make at home for fear of dying. (Beef Tataki)
5. Therefore I've been eating carbs. I just had a pancake, some pasta and a piece of toast for lunch.
   
6. Alphaghetti never tastes as good when your mom isn't there to tell you it's so bad.
7. I actually saw a girl this morning wearing leggings and an oversize sweater. 'Nuf said?
8. Despite Bryan painstakingly showing me how to make coffee, this morning I choked on a whole bean. I think he's doing something different when my back is turned.
   
9. I actually know when Jerry Springer is on in the afternoon. I'm a loser.
   
10. I've begun to eat my meals all stuffed into one bowl.