La Petite Enfant

2004-03-20T04:39:00.000-06:00

Just to be clear . . .

TODAY, the 20th, is my birthday!

*YAWN*

Must go to bed. Too much Karaoke!

2004-03-12T16:47:00.000-06:00

It's MY birthday, shouldn't it be about me?

Okay, so my birthday is in 8 days. My 29th birthday. I'm having a lot of trouble with the idea. Probably more trouble than I'm going to have next year.

It means that I only have ONE YEAR to do all the things I was supposed to do, and be all the things that I was suppossed to be by thirty.

And the ONE thing that I want is to have dinner with the people that I love ON my birthday. I don't even give a crap about presents or cards. I just want the most supportive people in my life to be there, to help me deal with it.

But no, one of my best friends is refusing to come because he's not comfortable with the fact that my mom and my brother are going to be there.

Well, it's my day, and I want to have all of the people in my life there. I also want him to come to my Dad's party that day, because his birthday is the same as mine. And he's 60 this year. The big one. And, rest assured, the fact that it is also my day will be completely overlooked. I want some people there who are there JUST for me. EVERYONE else there will be there for my dad. And that's ok. But I want just some people to be there for me, to celebrate my birthday.

Can he do that? Can he understand that? No. Because it makes HIM uncomfortable.

I have an idea. Why don't we just call my birthday off this year? You agree? Good. Then I'm not having a birthday. Fine with me!

2004-03-10T14:42:00.000-06:00

So, looks like it's time for an update . . .

Okay, well, it's been a couple of weeks since I posted, so I suppose that I ought to have something to say!

Well, my life just hasn't been that terribly interesting, of late, I guess. My stomach seems to be not liking the stress from the film, and now, the stress from not being on the film but having lost a really good friend in Clayton, it seems.

He swore that we'd stay friends, yet I don't see that happening at all. He was cold and distant the last time that I saw him, and my heart aches with that.

And, apparently, so does my stomach.

The stomach thing started to get really bad on the last day that I worked on the film. It makes me wonder, at times, what would have happenned if I had just gone home, as Clayton had suggested. But, unfortunately, there is no reset button on life, and things are as they are.

I can't seem to eat anything more than one meal a day. I get naseated, and stomach achey, and just uncomfortable. Sometimes I can't eat at all.

Now, I've had all these tests, and the Doc can't seem to puzzle out what the what is. But, I'm not really surprised. She's been working on the conundrum that is my migraine-plagued head for 10 years, and she has yet to come up with something intelligent that's causing it.

As it stands now, I seem to be dropping some weight. Enough so that even my brother noticed. Now, I went out and got red and platinum blonde streaks in my hair, and though he didn't notice that, he did notice that I dropped weight. Either the change is significant, or he thinks my hair always looks like crap, I don't know which.

Anyways, the point is, I'm not eating much. Now, my lovely friend Matt read my blog, and decided to e-mail me, after I gave him a what for here after quitting the film. He's really knowledgeable about health and nutrition, and wants to get me started on a juice diet that should keep me nourished, even if I can't eat.

Plus, he's managing to keep my spirits up as well. Everything about him is really encouraging. He really seems to know where I'm coming from, because he used to not be the healthy Aragorn look a like that you all know him to be now.

So, I'm really glad to have him in my life. I'm thinking we can keep each other out of the doldrums! I'm going to have to call him and make that date for green tea that we've been talking about.

And, of course, Eddy is still around, being my rock. I was having a tough time on friday, and my boy was hanging with me, trying to jolly me out of my brood, and, when that failed to work, he tried the Cordelia-esque get over yourself rant. I have to appologize to him for being a bitca.

It's just, with my rapidly approaching birthday, I'm all sorts of mopey about what my life is compared to what I had imagined it to be before I was thirty. I don't have all that much time left to do those things. It's going to be a busy year, I guess!

Things that annoy me about work . . .

1. There are three, count them three Mikes in this office. Yet, the people that call never say a last name. When I ask, sometimes they know, but sometimes, they have no clue. And they tell me who they are, as if that's going to help. Hello?? I'm not psychic. I have my own work to do. I don't keep track of the phone calls that these guys make. I don't know which Mike called you. Can you be a little more helpful, or call me back when you know what you want??

2. I only get half an hour for lunch. My tummy isn't pleased as it is. Wolfing down lunch isn't going to help it.

3. I have no work right now. Just answering the phone. I'm bored! Give me something to do! Even the net is boring me now. *sigh*

4. I have to take the bus, and the dumbass route it takes takes an hour to get here. It takes 15 minutes by car. It's agrivating.

5. People that start telling me their reason for calling. I'm a receptionist. I actually say: "How may I direct your call?" I'm here to send your call elsewhere, not to take it. I'm a temp. I don't know shit about Plastics, Polymer, or Polymershapes. Tell me who you want to speak with, not what you want!

Of course, I like the money, though! :-)

2004-02-24T07:23:00.000-06:00

Just a fly by note . . .

Animal's Wired World is back, complete with new template, tag board, and rant about the cancellation of Angel. Do go check it out!

2004-02-19T22:16:00.000-06:00

Sorry I've been absentee girl . . .

Things in my life have been kind of thrown into a whirlwind or a blizzard as of late, and I just haven't really had anything at all positive to say about things lately. You all have enough bad news on a regular basis, that I don't need to throw my stuff on your shoulders as an additional weight to carry.

The big thing that happenned lately, though, is that I quit my position on Star Wars: The Evil Within.

There was a shooting day recently, February the seventh, that didn't really go all that great. My Pacey and I were fighting. He's now going out with one of the cast. I like her, actually, and I get along with her. But it's kind of tough for me to see, so I was keeping my distance.

Well, Clayton blamed the two of us for ruining the shoot day. (I don't see it, because the shooting got done, and ahead of schedule, too). He fired my Pacey, and took away my co-director credit, telling me that I'd have the opportunity to earn it back if I kept doing the same work.

In other words, I could do all the directing, without any real assurance that I would ever be recognized for it. That he might take credit for my art.

I couldn't live with that, so I quit.

Now all I feel is saddenned that no one seems to miss me all that much, except, ironically enough, the Pacey's girlfriend.

How am I suppossed to hate her when I like her so much? :)

Well, maybe Matt (aka Aragorn) might miss me a little. He tagged me the other day. But I haven't gotten any e-mails or anything from anyone at all, so I feel like the bad guy. I'm sure they aren't really understanding why I left, just that I did.

So, that, plus the whole breaking of the heart thing, AND the bad news about Angel has made for not the happiest of bloggers.

But I'm still around, and I love you guys! Thanks for all the support.

And if anyone in the know happens to be reading? An Angel puppet would make me smile if I had one!

2004-01-18T02:30:00.000-06:00

Making sounds of geeker joy!!!

Ok, I really, really hope that I didn't put too much of a build up on the following news, but I'm making sounds like Willow with a new laptop right about now.

The film seems to have found itself a life-sized Aragorn replica!!!!

I didn't want to let you all in on the secret yesterday, because, although we had chosen him for a role in Star Wars: The Evil Within, he hadn't accepted the part.

But now he has.

While recasting our film, we met Matt. Matt has a little obsession with Lord of the Rings. I think the following, which is an article from the December 13th issue of The Winnipeg Sun, says it far better than I could:

Living out the fantasy

Rings fan becomes favourite character
By KATIE CHALMERS, STAFF REPORTER

Die-hard fan Matt Vosper is all geared up for the upcoming release of the latest Lord of the Rings instalment -- literally. The 23-year-old Fort Richmond resident spent months creating a replica costume worn by his favourite character, Aragorn, in the fantasy blockbuster films.

He spent $3,200 on the gear, which he'll show off at this week's release of The Return of the King -- the final instalment of Peter Jackson's epic trilogy based on the work of J.R.R. Tolkien.

"I would rather put my time into something like this than some other weird hobby like beer and football," joked Vosper, who will be decked out in the unusual threads on Tuesday at the Silver City Polo Park theatre. "I'm going to feel bitchin'. "

The science-fiction movie buff sought help from two Winnipeg tailors and one as far away as North Carolina, and scooped up hard-to-find jewelry accessories on Ebay to get the look just right.

His get-up includes leather boots, pleather pants, a sleeveless leather coat, a $800-embroidered-suede coat, and a final hooded cloak "for camouflage."

"It's going to be pretty hot in all that stuff, hopefully there will be some empty seats so I can line up my gear," he joked, noting he's ready to watch the big screen for 11 hours to catch the entire trilogy starting at 1:30 p.m.

Vosper has grown out his hair, ordered custom ranger-style leather boots and completed his outfit with a weapons belt, a bow, arrows and a sword.

He searched the Internet, downloading various photos to show the tailors who took on the unconventional job.

"Most tailors didn't know what the hell I was talking about," he said. "I paid attention to every minute detail."

It's the fantasy component that gets the University of Manitoba technician pumped.

"Aragorn is a very inspiring character. He's all out. He's the sexiest guy, he's the superhero of any fantasy book," said Vosper, whose girlfriend helped with the costume's finished touches.

"I had one person say I was pretty obsessed."

So, Matt will be playing Jedi Knight Guilan Nassar. He's just as excited to be getting to wield a lightsaber as he was at Trilogy Tuesday. His energy is really helping infuse the production with the morale that is so desperately needed after the blows it's suffered.

And hey, life size Aragorn. Pretty cool, I think.

2004-01-16T16:04:00.000-06:00

Digging out of the snow to wave a hello . . .

Having a kind of weird day. Don't really know how to describe my mood, other than to say that it's wavering and a little wishy washy.

I am working today, which is always good, but the day has been so long, and I haven't had any actual work to do that has taken up more than an hour total of my work day today, and that always makes me feel all big with the guilt. They seem to be paying me to web surf and answer the phone. But I'm suppossing that you can only ask for work so many times.

Also, feel bad that I haven't blogged in a week. Thing is, the past week has been kind of slow, boring, and totally to do with the film.

We had our casting call last Sunday, and have our first fight training tommorow. Looking forward to that, and hoping that my hopes aren't up too high this time. Things seemed so good the first time, but it went to hell in a handbasket. So, I'm trying not to have too optimistic an outlook on things. I'll let you know on Monday how it all turns out.

Also, this week has been nothing but sleeping, and movie stuff. If I wasn't in bed trying to rid myself of the nasty sinus headache (which has returned, it seems, with a vengence this afternoon, complete with eye twitch) I was on MSN with Jay and Clay talking movie stuff. Or last night, which was our major casting pow wow.

I was so hermit like, and feeling so crappy, that I even avoided a day of work that could have been had this week. I will have to call and make amends to my temp agency. But with my head the way it is, I just couldn't go out and face the world.

So, all in all, it doesn't give one a lot to write about.

There is, of course, the ongoing Dawson's Creekness of my life. We, he and I, are at a point where we seem to have reverted to junior high. Actually, Clay tells me that it flip flops between Anne-and-Gilbertesque-slate-breaking behaviour, or old married couple. I don't think I've been told to get well, eat something, get some rest so much in one week in the history of my life. Even from my mother.

It's a bizarre sort of friendship, but it works for us.

Don't ask me, because I really don't know why!

There is one really damned cool thing that I want to rave about with nerdlet joy, but I really, really need to hear confirmation on it before I go about posting it all over the internet. But I should know sometime tonight, and, believe me, it will be significant enough to post again.

Hugs and love to all!

2004-01-08T01:55:00.000-06:00

Just a quick happy update

I talked to jilly. She seems to be in good spirits. There's a few of us that seem to be calling her on a regular basis, so that seems to be good for her. And she knows that we are all thinking about her, and that we all care.

Other than that, I'm feeling really great today! Talking with a bunch of people that I haven't talked to in a long time. Reconnecting with old friends. Really loving that!!

But I'm tired, so I'm going to go now. Love and hugs to you all.

2004-01-04T07:05:00.000-06:00

Show Me What It's For, Make Me Understand It . . .

I didn't really want to start the year on a down note, but hey, we take what life gives us, huh??

My thoughts, prayers, heart, mind, and love are all with my dear, dear, jillapet. Whatever I can give, even if it is only my strength, I send it to you.

Everything else is really very trivial after jilla. I feel rather guilty for pouring my thougts into words, for allowing the river to flow, for it is so inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. But the words bubble on the surface like water, they threaten to drown me, they have to be said.

I can't sleep. It's six in the morning. I've been up all day. Woke up at about 11 on Saturday, I think, and here it is, after 6 on Sunday morn. I'm just not tired. I'm actually at a head space now where the mind is so full, the thoughts are so deep, that I wonder if the brain will ever calm down.

I took a piece of my own advice tonight, or is that this morning? About saying things that need to be said, taking that chance, or doing what's best...all that stuff. And boy do I wish that both the bit of advice and the words following had never left my mouth. I'm wrong. Being brave is for idiots, romantics, and people that aren't me.

Especially when the result was staring me in the face, had been for more than two hours. I knew how what I was going to say would be received, knew that it would in no way be welcome, yet all it took was a little hurt, and a little request for me to spill my guts. With a desire for me to be open. But being open was such a risk, such a gamble, one I should have never took. A long shot, with a gambling addict's last dollar.

Well, there it is. Like Nora DeNiro in Pump Up the Volume: "My insides spill on your alter and tell the future, my steaming gleaming guts spell out your nature." Yep. There I am. The truth of me. The colors screaming in my brain, burning with their uselessness and impossibility, laid out for all the world to see. Is this what you wanted? Do you know now why I believe what I believe? Why I think that it's something not for me? Some distant far off place, unreachable as Atlantis, as unbelievable as a unicorn. I strive for things too good for me. I don't stay down where I belong. I don't accept things freely given, things that should be cherished, and worshiped. No, not good enough, never good enough. I am a thing that can walk but only wants to fly.

Who the hell said honesty is the best policy? After all, liars are to be admired, no? And shouldn't I have been able to come up with something convincing, and tragic, and not the glaring insurmountable unwelcome truth? Something painful enough to be believed, but safe enough to be told? Not to throw my heart down, my soul laid bare, my inadaquacies apparent. No, not good enough, never good enough.

But value my friends, I do. More than anything. I can't lose them. The thought weighs heavy that I just might have, with a slip of the tongue that was never intended, by a thought never meant to breathe the air.

It's okay, though. It always is. I will get through, emerge, changed but standing. It's all that I can do.

What's done is done. Now, I can think on more important things. I don't have to dwell, to pine, to hide. I can move on.

Well, that is my hope.

2003-12-24T12:21:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas to All

Well, here she is, my Christmas present. CQ brought her over this morning, along with a bag full of handmade jewellery. I love my bestest bud. She's just the greatest.

Also, she made me the following, and, knowing me, I love it!!

Isn't he something? :-)

Okay, so I really should be doing things, as it is noon on Christmas Eve. But I find myself a little lacking in the spirit department. But I'm sure that all that will change when I make the drive out to my brother's ski lodge to spend the night and await Santa Clause.

Yes, Santa Clause brings me presents still. And my brother! The trick is to never stop believing in him.

Regardless of my own personal lack of cheer, I wanted to send the very best wishes out to all of you, my friends, my online family, at this very special time of year.

Special thoughts go out to my girl Cibby. Such a tragedy and a waste. May your loved one find wings to the kingdom. My thoughts are with you and yours.

So, love and good cheer to everyone during this magical time of year. I wish nothing but the best for all of you.

Merry Christmas, with all the love in my heart, Arie.

2003-12-10T20:37:00.000-06:00

My thoughts are floating as reality explodes, I'm whispering to each of you my friends . . .

Well, I don't really know what to say here. I've felt strange in the last little while, and it's a hard thing to explain.

There's nothing really exciting in my life to talk about. I mean, the last post was about my teeth, how boring. (About my teeth, since you asked. I still need to get a cleaning, and I had TWO cavities. One that was filled on that appointment, and another that needs to be filled next time. And it was less painful than an orthodontist appointment.)

I could always talk about filming, but all you need to know is that things are not going well. Check out the website if you really want to know.

All in all, it has me worried that I'm not good enough in my chosen profession, and that all of the problems arising with the film are in some way, shape or form, my fault. It's something that I can't get over, even if I'm told that I am not responsible.

I feel restless, like I don't fit my skin. It's a strange feeling, and I am not entirely sure what it is. My heart seems to pound, not differently, exactally, but perhaps more noticeably lately. My thoughts feel heavy. It all seems rather maudelin.

When I feel like that, I don't really relish writing in my blog. I search for words, yet they seem to elude me. I know that most people find the holidays a time of joy, but for me, they always bring on contemplation.

I lost a cousin once, very close to Christmas. He took his own life, as many people are reported to do at the holidays. I can see why. It always brings to the forefront thoughts of the not so shallow kind.

I do have to say that there are some really great things in my life. I am in no way depressed about anything. If anything, I feel happier this Christmas than I could ever imagine feeling at this time last year. At this time last year, if you all remember, things were just starting to go south with the lameii, and I was just considering starting my blog, as an easier way to keep you guys up to date with the goings on of that situation without the endless reams of e-mail. In fact, I remember crying so hard on Christmas day over things that I honestly wondered if people might be able to pass from this life over the pain of a broken heart.

Well, as my mother always told me, time heals all wounds. Or is that, time wounds all heels? Either way, last Christmas seems but a distant memory, one that I will hold on to to the rest of my life to remind me how things were when they were at their worst, so that I might know that, no matter what, I am not at my worst at this moment.

As the end of the year approaches, I think back on what has happenned over this last year. At times when things seem bad, I am tempted to call this the worst year of my life. But, upon further reflection, I realize that it is completely impossible to call it that.

After all, how can you call it the worst year of your life, when you meet your best friends?

Of course, the top of the list of my closest friends, is CQ. But, we have been friends so long, and best friends at that, that she really falls under the header of family, and, as such, really can't be compared to any others on the list. It would not be fair to her, and it would not be fair to the others. She is so much more than that, for she is the sister that I never had.

Also, at the top of the people I count as friends, is my brother, Animal. And, although again, he is family, he has also become something that I never saw him being when I was a child, a friend. And a best one, at that.

Leaving those people aside, there is also Eddy. A strong foundation for me, and a first hand eye witness to the lameii debacle. Always telling me that it was "not my problem." He, of course, has been around a lot longer than most.

But there is a whole list of people that I have met, or have come to know better over the past year. And those people, to me, are far too precious to be able to write this year off as a bad year.

First and foremost, there are the lot of you. My "imaginary friends" as it were. There is such a large number of you, who, were I to name you, would take up far too much space. Of course, you are all to the left of this post, listed in my links. You were my support through the toughest time that I had this year. I can't thank you enough, really, and I love you all. I can't imagine where I would have been without all of you checking up on me. Special shout outs to Jilla for calling to bitch at the lameii herself, (jillababes, I miss you!!!) and TheStormCellar, for the physical proof to king lameii that none of you are imaginary, and for the love and support. Loved having you here.

As for the rest of you, my life will not be complete until I meet you all, and I am going to make that a goal of mine for the new year.

Continuing on the list, though, I make special mention now of the people that I have come to meet, know, and value in my daily life.

At the moment Charlie is just like the rest of you, a friend that I only know through the internet. But, meeting him, it came at a great time. A time when I was packing up my apartment, and realizing that things with some people I counted on as part of my every day, were forever about to change. Making it through moving day would have done me in. Only, moving day was filled with the promise of the Fringe, and ended with a leisurely meal in the middle of the night, before saying goodbye to a new friend that I hope to see again soon.

Before meeting Charlie, I did, of course, meet the person behind the film that allowed me to meet Charlie. Clayton. What is there to say about Clayton other than the fact that a person can sometimes be truly blessed in their lives. And, while I was just out to meet a contact in the film industry, and a collegue, I met a true and valuable friend. How lucky we were, Eddy and I, the day that we signed on to do his film. We found something that, I hope, will last us far longer than this project. His friendship.

The last of the friends that I am blessed to have found this year is a far more recent addition to my life than any of the ones already mentioned. What is there to say about Jay, I wonder? How to put in words what I have found in this friend?

Have you ever had a friend whose mind you could read? A person who you could tell things about how they were feeling, what they were thinking, just by looking at them? It's a rare thing in life, I think.

Jay and I discovered this about each other on a shooting day, and, surprisingly, it was a shooting day that was not long after we had become friends.

I had met Jay in the process of making The Evil Within, and it had been a while ago. I remember him coming to meetings back when we were still doing readthroughs. But I wouldn't call him a friend at that point. Friendship came later, when he became part of the shooting crew, and I began to talk to him on a daily basis.

The closeness of our friendship, which came quickly and seems to threaten others, even when they have no need to feel that way at all, was discovered when Clayton asked me a question, and Jay answered it. It was a reall life manifestation of the Shared Brain phenomenon. Now, we've all seen it happen, my blog friends, but my boys, (and here I refer to Clay, Eddy and Jay) had never really seen it, and never seen it that pronounced.

Jay and I just seem to get each other, and I really can't explain it. The why of it is as much a mystery to me as the how of it to the others. All that I know is, in the past little while, Jay has been there, encouraging me, having faith in my talents, and just being my sounding board. He may be a recent friend, but, to me, he is a valuable one.

So, when all of these wonderful people have come into my life, how could I call this year a bad one?

See what happens when you make me think, guys? I get all philosophical.

The moral here is, take a true accounting of the events in this year. Though it may seem bad, you may find, in the end, that the blessings far more than make up for the obstacles that you had to overcome, and the hardships that you have lived through. I know that mine have.

And even though I feel strange, and awkward, and a bit too big for my skin, I feel blessed. And, upon reflection, realize that things are good for me. I have good health, a supportive family, and better friends than I could hope to have ever found for myself. I can not tell you all how much you are valued. All that I can put into words is nowhere near enough to tell you how much you all mean to me, and how you have enriched my life.

2003-11-25T12:57:00.000-06:00

Dentist, T minus 1 hour 11 minutes . . .

Well, I have a whole bunch to talk about today, but not a lot of time to do it in. There's my rant about actors and punctuality, if you want to read it, that is posted on The Evil Within website. There's the problems that we've been having, which you can also read there. There are my impressions about last weeks episode of Angel that I have yet to share with you all. But the one thing that I can't get my mind off of at the moment is my impending visit to the Dentist.

You all should listen to CQ's posts about dental hygiene. In fact, I should listen to my best friend's rants about the dentist. In fact, I have. Which is probably the reason I am so nervous at the moment.

I have a dentist appointment in about an hour. Now, I am usually one that doesn't mind the dentist overly much. My hygenist seems to have attended the Hitler school of Nazi dental cleaning, but as I have never had a cavity, I figured that I couldn't complain overly much about my twice annual cleaning.

Then, last week, it happenned. Looking in the mirror to see what my floss was catching on, I found, at the age of 28 years, my very first cavity.

Now, the most extensive dental work that I have ever had done in my life was the removal of my wisdom teeth, for which I was asleep.

All that I can think of at this moment are all of the horror stories that I have heard in my life about getting fillings and I am terrified.

What's worse, because of the bitchy receptionist at my dentist's office, I might not even get it filled today. And if he doesn't fill it today, I might just never go back, I'm that scared.

I am a wussy when it comes to pain, people. And, what with the broken collarbone and the migraines, I think that I have had enough pain in the last couple of months to last me a year. I really don't need anymore.

Wish me luck, I have to go. I'll report on all of the terror when I get back.

2003-11-07T13:27:00.000-06:00

Coming to you from the Coldest place in the Universe!

Crappity!! It's cold here! Ask anyone! Ask Xander's Girl, ask Anait! It's cruel and unusual punishment.

On top of that, the heat does not work in our office. The office of The Rainbow Society. If it wasn't such a pleasant work environment, it would be really sucky! But it's lovely to work here, and I really can't complain. I mean, I get to go to work every day ON WESLEY! Don't believe me? Look at the website!

Xander's Girl and I were having a little bit of a laugh at that last night. We were going to go see Pirates of the Carribean, with my loverly Orlie! But, alas, the sources lied to us, and it was not playing at Polo Park. We did, however, venture over to Cinema City 8 to see Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life. Cheese and a half, but fun. And, we discovered that Pirates will be playing there this week, so we'll go see it soon!

My head is full of movie stuff today.

Last night, I also procured my 50 dollar tickets to the Lord of the Rings Trilogy!! Wooo and hoooooo!! Yeah, hefty price tag, but 12 hours of Nummy Orlando Goodness!! Oh, love the N.O.G.!

Hmmm, also saw the Matrix this week. I am, of course, referring to the final of the trilogy, Revolutions. *SHRUG*! Take it or leave it.

Kind of like this week's episode of Angel. I could take or leave that as well. Liked the additional Wesley scenes. Really liked the fact that it occured to someone that Shanshu never names Angel as the Vampire with the Soul. So, some goodness, but the Mexican Wrestling? Sorry Clayton, and Billy, but I just do not like wrestling. Although, Billy's form is more pleasing than Clayton's, and as I was typing that, I thought that that sounded a little dirty and wrong, but that I should leave it in for just that reason, so there it is! :-) I think that the could is affecting my brain!!

In addition to the cold in the office, the lovely new warehouse space for The Evil Within seems to have heating issues!! Brrrrrr!!!

Who sent me Warm and Fuzzies on Halloween?!?!?!?!

Okay, you guys know how to use my tagboard for the most part. But someone doesn't. I'm perplexed!!! Who tagged me above Billy with warm and fuzzies last Friday??? Other than the Blog Collective, who are well versed in Tag-Board, and Clayton, Eddy and my mom, who all deny doing it, there are maybe two people who could have done that! I want you to fess up! Where it says name, delete name and write in yours!! Tell me it was you!! It's a mystery that is driving me nuts!

In The Chicago Area?

Go see Charlie Ross in The One Man Star Wars Trilogy. You won't regret it. Trust me. Vin Diesel loves him, so will you!

2003-10-28T16:50:00.000-06:00

So, this fits my mood today. And yesterday's post, too!

"Perfect"

Hey dad look at me
Think back and talk to me
Did I grow up according to plan?
And do you think I'm wasting my time doing things I wanna do?
But it hurts when you disapprove all along

And now I try hard to make it
I just want to make you proud
I'm never gonna be good enough for you
I can't pretend that
I'm alright
And you can't change me

'Cuz we lost it all
Nothing lasts forever
I'm sorry
I can't be perfect
Now it's just too late and
We can't go back
I'm sorry
I can't be perfect

I try not to think
About the pain I feel inside
Did you know you used to be my hero?
All the days you spend with me
Now seem so far away
And it feels like you don't care anymore

And now I try hard to make it
I just want to make you proud
I'm never gonna be good enough for you
I can't stand another fight
And nothing's alright

'Cuz we lost it all
Nothing lasts forever
I'm sorry
I can't be perfect
Now it's just too late and
We can't go back
I'm sorry
I can't be perfect

Nothing's gonna change the things that you said
Nothing's gonna make this right again
Please don't turn your back
I can't believe it's hard
Just to talk to you
But you don't understand

'Cuz we lost it all
Nothing lasts forever
I'm sorry
I can't be perfect
Now it's just too late and
We can't go back
I'm sorry
I can't be perfect

'Cuz we lost it all
Nothing lasts forever
I'm sorry
I can't be perfect
Now it's just too late and
We can't go back
I'm sorry
I can't be perfect

-Simple Plan

2003-10-27T13:53:00.000-06:00

Well, winter is finally here, and I think that hell just froze over . . .

So, when I left for work this am, you could actually still see the grass on the ground. Not so much anymore.

The gods must have really wanted a white world today. It has been snowing all gorram morning, and there are no signs of letting up anytime soon. It's disturbing, actually. It's only October! Usually it waits till Hallowe'en to do this to us.

On the other hand, it just may be a sign that hell has frozen over.

Things have been kind of tense and chaotic for the film lately. It seems that if one thing goes excellent, ten other things must go wrong.

For example, excellent day of shooting, followed by car accident that neccesitated a trip to the ER via ambulance.

And, the weekend of Thanksgiving, (remember folks, Canadian here, our Thanksgiving was a couple of weeks ago) we had a huge scene with a ton of extras planned to shoot. We had a location for free for the entire day, and all the logistics hammered out.

What happens?? Well, not only do we only end up with 3 extras when we need at least 30, but most of the actors with lines fail to show up!! I don't know what's wrong with some peoples commitment issues, but these people assured us that they were coming, had called to verify the location the day before, and still didn't show up!

I am beginning to think that I should let Andrew, who is one of our actors and happens to be a prosocuting attorney in Manitoba, subpeona these people!!

Well, once again, things are going good for us! The new and improved website is up. The trailer is having the finishing touches put on it as we speak. We appear to have a line on warehouse and office space so that our studio space doesn't get snatched from us at the last minute. And nothing has gone wrong! So, I surmize that hell has frozen over, and hence the snow.

Check out the new and improved website:

Why are you less of a person if you don't have a signifigant other?

Why is it that some people make you feel incomplete if you don't have a partner to share your life with?? Some things happenned this weekend that emphasized that I don't have a boyfriend. Now, I'm not going to take the time to point them out, suffice it to say that the lack of such a person in my life was pointed out to me.

This resulted in a conversation with my mother where she made the comment that, at this point in my life, I am expected to have a boyfriend.

Why is this? Why, in society, are we regarded as something less because we don't have that "special someone" in our lives?

Why aren't we complete by ourselves?

Now, anyone that knows what the last year of my life has been like should perhaps realize that I am not ready to get back out there and get my heart stomped all over again. I am not ready to put myself in a position to be that hurt, at least not right now. And, not only that, but the act of even looking for a boyfriend is one that leaves me feeling depressed, and leaves my self esteem in the toilet.

I don't feel like the most attractive person at the best of times. And when I am actively out looking for that special someone, it seems that all I end up getting is a feeling in the pit of my stomach that it is never going to happen for me.

I would rather feel lonely because I choose to be, rather than feel lonely because I am not good enough for someone.

Besides which, in the year that I have had, which included having my feelings all but destroyed by one of the lameii, I have a hard time trusting people. Big surprise, huh? Furthermore, with the film taking up a lot of my time, I don't really have the time to get to know people well enough to trust them.

And I think that looking for that special someone shouldn't be like a job. If it happens, it just happens. It suddenly strikes, just like lightening.

Then, there are times when you are struck with that lightening, out of nowhere. At a time when you are most definitely staying away from the male species and enduring the absolute worst part of the last daliance that you had with a member of the opposite sex, that the lightening strikes, and there isn't a damned thing you can do about it.

All you can do is hang on tight, and hope not to get thrown off of the ride.

So, say it happens to you. You meet a person, and you click instantly. You feel like you've known them forever, and there isn't a thing in the world about them that you would change. And you haven't felt happy like you do when you are with them in a very long time.

But for some reason, whatever that may be, you just can't have them. You can't be with them, they can't be part of your life. There are obstacles that you can't overcome. How long does it take for you to stop comparing every person that you meet to this person that you want to be the one??

I mean, give it some time!! I have a person in mind that I want to be that perfect person. Unfortunately, they just can't be. But I enjoy the thought of it, the dream of it. And until I find someone that clicks like that person did, I really don't want to settle. I don't want to not have that with the person that is supposed to be someone I love. I want the magic I know that can be there.

So, until I find that, I am not going to settle for some random guy just so other people that are all coupled up will think that I am complete!

Does that make any sense?

2003-10-24T07:53:00.000-05:00

Yes, I'm still alive!

Sorry guys, I've been rather busy of late.

And, although I have been busy, I found myself with very little to say on the blog.

But that episode of Angel this week provided me with at least a jumping off point!

So, what can I say about that episode? It was dark, it was creepy, it had the ambience of a feature film. All in all I quite enjoyed it.

I had thought that the idea of Spike as a ghost would get tired after a couple of weeks, but Hellbound was anything but boring. In fact, it showed me that Spike can actually be a character in this show with more value than just comic relief.

His relationship with Fred is very interesting. I, for one, don't feel it is in any way romantic. I mean, it's been nineteen days since he died fighting the good fight with his lady love, and the way that vampire pined over Drusilla, I don't think he'll be moving on from Buffy anytime soon. (Although, what do I know? I mean, Cordy and Angel were destined according to Fred, and already he's hitting on the werewolf.) But the fact that it is not about romantic feelings is what I like about it.

Gunn barely talks to her after the end of their relationship. She's jumpy around Wes because of his feelings. She has a hero complex for Angel. Knox is an underling with a huge crush on her. At the moment, Spike is the only outlet for friendship that the young scientist has. And she doesn't buy into his bullshit, which I like.

So, that's just one of the many thoughts that I had on the episode. I know I will be watching it repeatedly, so I will continue to expound on it in the coming days.

Yes, I'm still alive!

So, what have I been busy doing?

Well, last saturday we went out to Animal's house for a family dinner. It was the first time I had seen Kyle since the move. Things went ok, I guess. Much better than I thought that they would, which is all I can ask for at this point.

Sunday was the baby shower for my niece Hailey. So cute, and I got to spend some time with her, since people weren't taking her away every two seconds for fear of my collarbone.

Spending a lot of time working out the bugs and hurdles we are encountering on the film. The Evil Within should have a new website up in a couple of days, so you can see what we've been busy doing.

I've also been writing, and updated my stories First and Last and Champion Industries, so go check those out.

That's all for now, folks!

2003-10-04T13:10:00.000-05:00

So, can I have a vicarious happy?

Upon waking, to a phone call no less, this morning, I was under the impression that it was going to be one of those days.

The call that woke me up was from Clayton, with yet another issue stemming from the prima donna like behaviour from one of our cast members. This person has been having an attitude on the scale of Winona Ryder's in the beginnig of the movie Simone. The worst part about it, is such behaviour really seems uncalled for given the persons complaints with the unprofessionalism involved in the project.

Hey, you want to talk rough working conditions?? Look up the background stuff for Titanic, and I believe you will find that Cameron wouldn't even let his cast and crew out of the water to go to the bathroom on a regular basis. Things could be worse.

So, I thought that I would hop on the web and get a little anecdotal support evidence on the hardships of real filmmaking from a friend of mine. See, Clay, Eddy and I have worked on professional sets, but things like Wishmaster 3 or The Crooked E aren't quite evidence enough of professional filmmaking situations.

But Charlie, well he has worked on both K:19: The Widowmaker, and Lexx, so I figured that Charlie's experience with Harrison Ford would be considered 'real professional filmmaking', and that petty little part of me could go, see! It happens like that on 'real' movies too!

So, the day starts with me on a quest to prove that we aren't complete hacks. And I think, well, it can only go downhill from there, right? Wrong!!

I tend to check up on Charlie via Google when I haven't talked to him in a couple of weeks, as he is a busy, working, actor, and doesn't have time to write often.

Well, this morning I found the following on The Force.net:

The force just won't quit for Charles Ross. His amazing Fringe Festival hit The One Man Star Wars Trilogy is proving so popular that two of three extra performances at this weekend's Pick of the Fringe have sold out

Ross performed for cast and crew on-set at Vin Diesel's new movie Chronicles of Riddick, with Diesel leading a standing ovation.

So, needless to say, I am so, so thrilled for him! But my e-mail to him this am sent him a little electronic *smap* for not sharing the info with us himself.

And, it made my day!

It's just going to get better!

Have a coffee date planned with Xander's Girl and Anait, regular posters at Caritas for tonight!! So, so excited!

But, it also occurs to me that this is further proof that yes, Winnipeg is a small, small town. Because, with the exception of Pittsburgh, I believe that makes Winnipeg the town with the most regular posters living in it. Strange, that!

I have nothing to say that hasn't been said . . .

About the season premiere of Angel. If you want to read a detailed account of my thoughts, go check out CQ's blog. She and I are very much of one mind on the subject. I will add that I might be willing to give Eve a chance, but they need to do something with her quick. Also, I am worried about the lack of Wesley. I'm hoping that there will be more of him, and soon! And if it was more of him unclothed, all the better!

2003-09-24T16:06:00.000-05:00

Birthdays, Birthdays, Birthdays!!

First off, I should have done this last week, but I would like to welcome to the world Hailey Storm Browning!! My niece, the daughter of me and Animal's stepbrother, came into the world last thursday, September the 18th, at 2:15 pm. She and mom are both doing fine, home already. Not only that, but, as Animal and I both know TheStormCellar, we seem to be calling our niece Stormy!

Second, a shout out to my brother Animal and Billy who both celebrate birthdays today! Pretty cool, I think, that two of my favorite guys were brought into the world on the same day. Hope you guys have a great one!

I have a lot more to say, but that has to be it for the time being, as I am on my way out to dinner with the family.

2003-09-17T14:49:00.000-05:00

The show must go on!

The accident may have put a damper on the first day of shooting, but it sure hasn't put a stop to the film.

The second sunday of shooting went off with barely a hitch. Well, of course, there are always problems on every film shoot, but this time, we did not have anything tragic happen.

Me, as the production manager, was just not up to attending the shoot. I had been working every day since the accident, and on the saturday of that week, the Special Olympics Bowling league that I help run started it's fall season. Try to tell a bunch of special olympians who have missed you over the summer not to hug you. So, needless to say I was sore, and I needed the rest. Clayton vetoed me going, giving me a much needed day off.

Reports from the set tell me that Tri, one of our main actors, is hell on a lightsaber. It seems that our wonderful propmaster Barry is going to have our work cut out for him.

Also, Geoff, who plays our villain, neglected to mention that he is hypoglycemic, and he almost fainted when lunch was late.

So, just your little everyday problems, really. I hear the footage is amazing, and we are hoping to have a small trailer to show off in a week or two!

The continuing adventures of Car Wars!

Well, never let it be said that karma just doesn't work for you sometimes.

I scratch my head and wonder how people like this exist in this world. How are they intelligent enough to even keep their bodies running, never mind their lives? But I digress. Let me tell you about the latest person that needs a stupid sign before I launch into a rant worthy of my brother, the Animal.

My mother got a letter on wednesday of last week informing her that she had been in an accident that she had failed to report. Since I had reported it on Monday, it was obviously a clerical error on the part of Manitoba Public Insurance. More to the point, this means that the accident had been reported by another party. In other words, the other driver inviolved in the accident.

So, to add insult to injury, (bodily injury, might I add) the other driver seems to have not only left the scene of an accident with injuries befor filing the required police report, but they got out of the car to get our license plate while failing to leave theirs before speeding away in an effort to not get caught.

Well, if they didn't want to get caught, why report the accident??

Moreover, they were contesting their liability!!

Well, when Clayton went to his meeting with our adjuster, he told her that these people had left before the police could talk to them, or even get any information. Also, if they wanted an idea of what the aftermath looked like, they could get a tape from the local news.

Well, the car is a write-off. The suspension was damaged, and the cost of repairs was more than the blue book value of the car.

Also, our adjuster is "recommending" that we were not at fault, although that is not official yet.

My brother has gone to take pictures of the car, and they will be posted once we get them.

2003-09-09T14:11:00.000-05:00

Arie and Clayton slowly recovering

Yes, as my brother said, we were involved in a rather serious car accident. Serious enough that the paramedics and fire department were called in. After spending entirely too much time in the Emergency Room at the Health Science Center on Sunday night, we were both released, Clayton with a set of crutches, and my arm once again in a sling.

Clayton has some serious sprains, but luckily the only thing that is broken on either of us is my collar bone. Again. Just when it was starting to heal too!

Coffequeen redesigns Arie's North of the Border

Look what my very best friend has been busy doing! The redesign is courtesy of CQ and Goonie Designs. She decided that I needed Orli to keep a closer eye on me, seeing as I just went out and got myself broken again. I love it, and I love her!!

2003-09-08T08:56:00.000-05:00

Arie and Clayton in serious car accident Sunday night.

On Broadway last night, Clayton and Arie were heading home after the first day of filming for The Evil Within. At approximately 7:00 pm CST, the car they were driving in was hit by another car which was making an illegal left turn against the light.

The car T-Boned them. Clayton was in the drive seat. Arie in the passenger seat. They were struck very hard on the driver’s side of the car. Clayton sustained injuries to his left leg, arm and neck. Arie may have re-broken her collar bone and re-pulled her shoulder.

The accident was attended by Winnipeg Policy, Ambulance, and First Responders. Both Clayton and Arie were taken to the Hospital last night.

When I have more details, I will post another update.

2003-08-21T01:19:00.000-05:00

Yes, I am still alive!

Sorry that I haven't been posting, but I am not really good at typing one handed. But I thought that I would drop in and give you all a heads up anyways.

Still have a couple of 6 weeks before I can really start to use my arm in it's normal fashion, but the pain is getting a little better. Especially since the doc was able to perscribe to me some pain killers with somewhat more potency than Tylenol.

I have this whole rant about the hospital nurses, but at the moment, I just don't have the energy.

Other than that, I am spending a lot of time watching Buffy and Angel, and reading Buffy and Angel books. I lost the temp assignment I was on due to the injury, so a lot of free time to kill.

Also, working on Star Wars: The Evil Within with Clayton and Eddy. We're looking to start shooting at the beginning of September, if things go right.

Of course, to do that, our cast would have to co-operate. Say, get their costumes done, return phone calls. Or perhaps e-mails?? Is that too much to ask?

Yeah, the Assistant Director gets a little testy with pain. :-) Co-operate, and you won't get hurt!

Well, I best go rest my wound. T.T.F.N!

2003-08-10T21:33:00.000-05:00

Arie breaks another bone!

Yes, that's right, Arie has broken yet another bone!

As you may know from her postings, she is currently involved in the production of a Star Wars fan fiction film known as Star Wars: The Evil Within. So am I for that matter.

Anyway, every Saturday afternoon the cast have fight training. All crew are also welcome to join the training sessions, which Arie has been doing since the beginning. So, when one of our lead Jedi's was having trouble doing her shoulder rolls, Arie was in there like a pro ready to demonstrate the proper technique.

Well, as it turns out, her technique seems to need a little work. LOL. She ended up doing a shoulder roll, but right in the middle of the roll everyone in the dojo could her this loud CRACK sound. After she came up from her roll, the fight coordinator asked her if she was ok. She said yeah, but the fight coordinator said, "Can you lift your arms above your head?". So Arie lifted her arms up, or at least tried too, until she let out a rather loud shriek of pain.

Arie broke her left collar bone

After getting up from demonstrating a shoulder roll, Arie discovered, quite painfully, that she had broken her left collar bone. So, with the director in tow, they made off for the emergecy room. But alas, broken collar bones are simply left to heal themselves. And unfortunately, Arie is alergic to codeine, so she needs something stronger, like demerol or morphin, but they just don't give that out at the hospital.

So, if over the next few days you see very little posts from Arie, this is the reason. Please feel free to hit that tag board and say hi!

From the Loft,

P.S.
Oh, and if you have time, check out my new blog template. http://lyleabryant.blogspot.com. I've developed a content specific template that I'm using for my new resume blog. It's currently under construction, but tag my board and let me know what you think. http://thelabanimal.blogspot.com.

2003-08-05T12:16:00.000-05:00

The Return of the Long Lost Arie

What can I say?? I have been busy to the enth degree, of late. That, and not finding any opportunities to get near enough to the computer to have enough time to do my buisness with the film, never mind update my blog.

But, I have found a spare minute during lunch, and I am bound and determined to give y'all (It's all Dave's fault, Little One, I've been saying that since I met him.) an update on the happennings in my life, even if it's not a long one.

Fringetastic

The Fringe Festival is always one of my very favorite times of year. It's a time of the year when I can be completely myself. I can commiserate with like-minded people. I can live, breathe, eat and sleep theatre and the theatre lifestyle for 12 straight days.

Not that I am not myself the rest of the time. Or that I hide my sensabilities. It's just that during the Fringe, I get to embrace that side of myself. And I get accepted for it, and admired for it, instead of the bizarre looks that I receive for it in my everyday, working-as-a-temp life.

Case in point?? None of the people I work with, an insurance company this month, have even been to the Fringe. Some of them hadn't even heard of it. And I got looks like I had grown a second head when describing staying out till all hours of the morning and having breakfast at 4 am with one of the out of town actors. To me, it was heaven. To everyone in my work life, insanity.

The Fringe is like coming home. It truly is. I get to see people that I know, that I have worked with before, that I don't always get to see. I get to meet new and like minded friends. Like Dave, who performed Street Suess, (shout out to Little One for getting me to go! I actually went twice.) And Charles Ross, who performs the One Man Star Wars Trilogy.

May sound wierd, but if you ever get the chance to see him, do so. For those of you in the Saskatoon area, (not that there are, but you never know who may be reading) Charlie is performing at the Saskatoon Fringe this week. Check him out. After that, it's off to Edmonton.

Later this year, he will be in Chicago. He has invited me and the guys to come out and visit him there. Anyone in the Chicago area??

Charlie is a prime example of why Fringe is so great. Clay, Eddy and I introduced oursleves to him after first seeing his show, and got such an enthusiastic response about our Star Wars Fan Film that we just couldn't believe it! He joined us in the beverage pavilion that evening, and we spent much of the next week getting to know him. He's going to be coming back to work on the film, he liked the script so much. Besides that, it seems that we have found a kindred spirit in him, and hope to be friends with him for a very long time to come.

Speaking of Star Wars: The Evil Within I guess I should give you an update.

Well, things are progressing well with the film. Some of the costumes are completed, the rest are well on their way. The actors are learning their lines. (baring the ones that dropped out, of course) and their excitement is contagious. We have a great deal of talented people working on every aspect of the film.

And, we are beginning to get out of town recognition. Which is cool.

As I said, Charles Ross is planning on making an appearence. And the some of the other actors that we talked to at Fringe are interested in participating.

Which is good, because our female villain dropped out. And the way that she did it was quite classless. In fact, she neglected to let us know for several weeks after she had made the decision.

All that I have to say about that is that although the film is a volunteer project, some of the people involved have a great amount of respect, and some amount of clout in the local film community. If you are bad to us, the word gets spread. In the end, you are only damaging yourself.

But in the end, all of the bad is far outweighed by the good, so we are very happy on that front.

For those of you that don't know . . . Moving . . .well, moved!

Yes, I am officially away from the lameii. I am back at home with my mother, for the time being, until I get settled with the job situation again. It's nice, but I miss having my own place.

It's also a little stressful right now, as it seems that I have twice the amount of stuff then when I left her place, and I am having a very hard time making it all fit, and soting it all out.

Moving day itself was very stressful. I wasn't even fully packed. It's my fault, I know, but my priorities just weren't on moving that week. We were schmoozing at the Fringe. We had made a new friend. We planned to shoot Charlie's show the day before I moved, a three-camera shoot. All of this I deemed far more important than the move.

That, and all of the emotional baggage attached to it had me avoiding. In fact, the last day of the Fringe, moving day, was a very tough one for me. I was tense, upset, a little sad. An emotional tsunamii, if you will. And it took me a long time to relax and enjoy the last of the festival. I suppose that's why I ended up staying out till 5 am. I just wanted to get all of the enjoyment out of it that I could. After all, all I had to look forward to after that was unpacking and a day to day job in insurance. I'm sure you all understand that, right??

Well, I hope that this update wasn't way too long to read. But I had a lot to say. In fact, I could still say more, but my lunch is almost up, so I will sign off now, and talk to you soon!

2003-07-23T04:23:00.000-05:00

Sorry I haven't been around . . .

Yeah, things have been rather insane in the past two weeks. I mean really. What, with the film, and the fact that I am actually working for a change, I am moving on Sunday, and add that to the fact that I have been Fringing since the thing started on Wednesday last.

Plus, we have encountered such a like minded individual at the Fringe that it nearly blows my mind.

I would like to take this opportunity, before I pass out from exhaustion and a little overimbibing, to PIMP THE HELL out of Charles Ross and his One Man Star Wars Trilogy. If you happen to be in ANY of the cities that he is performing in, you have have HAVE to go!!!

Little One, this means you!! Charlie is even pimping Dave's show!! He told the audience tonight to go and see Street Seuss, so when they get back to Orlando, you have to go see Charlie and tell him that Lillian sent you!

I haven't seen Dave's show yet, though I am planning on going tommorow.

And, on that note, I must get to bed, or I will not be seeing ANYTHING tommorow!

HUGS AND SNUGGLES

2003-07-11T11:31:00.000-05:00

A quick Friday Update!

Well, it seems to be the day to update things.

I update both of my fics, both on the fanfic sites that host them, and on Arie's North of the Border Haven.

The Star Wars: The Evil Within site is updated.

And that was CQ's brother on the phone! Must run, I'll come back later.

2003-06-27T20:58:00.000-05:00

Bitch and ye shall recieve!!
Okay, so I log in to post today, two weeks after I have last posted (sorry guys), and I get the new blogger!! Yeah for me!! So, I guess if you just bitch enough, you get what you want, huh?? ;-)

Where are the Keycon Nipples??
Well, you have to bitch at Clayton about that. You see, I've left it up to him to scan the pictures and to send me the story, but he has yet to do that, so bug him about it!!! In all fairness, he has been very, very busy with:

Star Wars: The Evil Within
Finally, the web page is up!! You can check it out to see what has had me so busy the last couple of weeks (other than reading Order of the Phoenix, that is)

We've been working our butts off on the film. (Actually, I wish it was that easy to get rid of my butt!) The crew had our first casting session the weekend before Father's day. Well, that turned out to be a bad, bad weekend to look for actors. Why, you ask?? Well, I'll explain.

I don't know how much you all are following the whole Hollywood North controversy, but Canada is getting it's fair share of filming. Especially Toronto. Now, Toronto was suppossed to be playing the lovely city of Chicago in the upcoming Richard Gere/Jennifer Lopez romantic comedy Shall We Dance? But, upon learning of the SARS threat in Toronto, the company became leary of shooting there. And wouldn't you know, it, Richard's lovely wife Carey Lowell was in Winnipeg shooting More Than Meets the Eye, and Mr. Gere had first hand authority upon viewing the city that it makes an excellent Chicago. Well, they started shooting monday.

What does this have to do with our little movie you ask?? Well, the casting call for extras was on the same day as ours. And while we didn't get the turnout that we were hoping for, we did get an excellent callibre for the ones that did make it.

Our Jedis now consist of a Champion Boxer, a wrestler, and a marshall arts expert!! Woo, and Wee!!!

Check out the page for more details.

Further Adventures of a Lameii!!
Today is Kyle's birthday!! Love you, my cousin!! Great Big Hugs!!

Guess who forgot?? What an ass!! Can you believe that?? Glad I escaped a future full of negligence and thoughtlessness.

Order of the Phoenix (NO SPOILERS HERE)
Loved the book!! Loved it!! Had it read completely by tuesday night. Cried like a baby in the car when I read that chapter while I was waiting to pick up my director from physio. Would have finished sooner, but I had a family due on Saturday, a casting call on Sunday, a ball game on monday, and a production meeting on tuesday.

I read it pretty fast considering.

And, like some of you, I am in the process of reading it again.

And the midnight party to get the book was great!! I'll pop in tommorow to tell you all about it!

2003-06-13T12:43:00.000-05:00

So, I come to post an update, and I'm thinking to myself . . .

Why do I have to have the old blogger, when I just made a new blog for the movie and that has the new blogger?? Why can't I have the new blogger on my fave blog? I mean, I'm a loyal blogger!! Why can't I reap the benifits of the blog??

Yeah, I'm in a mood today.

And yes, you'll get to see the film blog. When it's FINISHED!

So where's the concluding tales of Keycon, you ask? Well, I'll tell you!

Well, the rest of the evening involved the guys more than myself, and I wasn't even there for the good stuff!! So, in being true to the truth, I have asked the guys, Eddy and Clayton, to e-mail me their thoughts on Keycon, so that I might post them here. And I'm still waiting . . . .

So, if you want the rest of the story, let them know that you're impatient.

Yeah!! It's Friday the 13th baby!!

Since I"m waiting for the guys to tell you what happened at the rest of Keycon, I thought that I would take the opportunity to fill you in a little bit, what has been going on in my life.

Well, after looooong dry spell at the People Bank, they sent me out to work at the Manitoba Arts Council to fill in at reception for one day.

Maybe you can tell me if you think this means that they like me or something, but I came here for one day on wednesday, and they found me enough work to occupy me until next wednesday, at least. They seem to be glad to have me back. I still regret not getting the reception job here permanently.

Their receptionist, who is out on her lunch break at the moment, giving me time to post, as I am up at the front desk, is a sweet lady, so I'm not THAT bitter Of course, this isn't the woman they hired in my place. That girl was something like four receptionists ago. Hey, I'm still around, she's not. I think that this is a good thing! :)

So, work wise, I may not haev found a permamnent job, but at least I can make enough to swim a little closerr to the surface of that pile of bills that are threatening to drown me!!

And the home sitch, you ask, well . . .I'm moving back to my mom's at the end of July. But I'm kind of back there already. I have been spending very little time at the apartment as of late, mostly because it seems as if my replacement is already living there. Also, my roommate seems to be angry every time I am there. The situation causes me stress. So I'm staying far away for the time being.

Of course, I have to go back and pack and stufff. Also, I'm getting tired of sleeping on the couch!

And tonight, I plan on going out and forgetting about my stress!! I'm going to catch a screening of the slasher that started it all! Friday the 13th. Rather appropriate, given the date, don't you think??

How's the Star Wars film going, you ask?

Very well!! We had our first round of auditions on Sunday, and it went amazing!! But ICQ is working on a blog just to give us a place to tak about that stuff, so I'm going to leave it till then!! Hugs and snuggles all!

2003-06-08T00:02:00.000-05:00

Well, I can't be around for a few days, and look at the mess!

Okay, you brats!! Are you going to come in here and clean up, or am I going to have to track all of you down to your blogs and spank you??

Actually, things have just been a little bit rough around here the last few weeks. I haven't had more than a day or two's work from the temp company in months, I am having trouble making rent, and finding a new job is not going well for me at all. In fact, it looks like I am going to have to move back in with my mom.

Sorry that I haven't been around that much, guys, but you know how it is when you're depressed?? Kind of want to hide from the world.

So, I know that you have been panting for The rest of the Story from Keycon . . .!

So, since I have two of the guys that were with me at Keycon, I thought that I would finish it up for you!

I left off on Sunday morning. Well, obviously, I hadn't had much sleep. So, I most of the day Sunday was spent napping. Well, I did manage to attend Eddy's trivia challenge, where he didn't let me play. See, he said that it wouldn't be fair for me to play, because I would know all of the answers for the Buffy and Angel questions (which I did). Instead, I kept score. Then, we went back to the room to watch some TV and to sleep. Most of the day was spent that way.

Then, it was time for me to get up and join the guys for the Dead Dog Party.

Let me explain a little bit about the Dead Dog Party. So, the Dead Dog Party is on the last day of Keycon. Since Keycon is always on the long weekend, the point of Dead Dog is for the Hospo suites to compete with each other to see how long they could stay open.

First place we stopped (after the obligatory stop for alcohol) was the Shimmering Oasis. The ladies in this suite were doing henna tattoos, which I was interested in getting done. While we were there, two guys came in proclaiming to the room that they were sent by their captain to the lands of the east to pillage and plunder. Turns out that a bunch of the guys that had been drinking in the Short Plank had gotten together and made themselves into a Pirate Crew. So, they were, of course, looking for women as well. And, I got taken to the Short Plank as part of the loot that these guys were plundering from the Shimmering Oasis. I was escorted back to the "ship" by, I later discovered, Hunter.

Well, back at the Short Plank, I got to meeting the "crew", one of which was Shawn. So, the next bit of the evening was spent drinking and being the property of this great "crew".

Now, one thing that I haven't mentioned yet is the fact that Keycon picks a charity each year to raise money for. This year, they were raising money for The Humane Society. They do things like selling the opportunity to throw a pie into the face of the Keycon Chairmen. Things like that.

So, the ladies from the Oasis sent a challenge to our "ship" to come and dance the Macarena in their suite. We did it, of course, to encourage the people watching to donate money to the charity. Now, I don't know if they were paying us to dance, or paying us to stop, but it was funny. I mean, half of us were half in the bag at this point. Highly amusing.

Well, after that wonderful experience, I was shuffled back to the Short Plank, and Shawn informs me that I do not have the permission to leave the suite, as I am their property.(Except for the few minutes that they took me to the Red Room, when it was discovered that I had never had a Jello shot before, and there were some to be found there) Well, seeing as he is being very much the gentleman, fetching both food and drink for me, I was quite content to stay where I was.

Until the slave auctions started.

See, another thing that the Hospo suites, especially the Short Plank, started doing to raise money was selling people into slavery.

For charity, of course.

Well, Shawn decided that he was going to sell himself into slavery. But, since Hunter had procured me, and then left the room, it seems that I had now passed into the hands of Shawn. So, when he put himself up for auction, it was a two for one deal. I went up with him.

At least we made 15 dollars, which was a high amount that early in the night.

And, I spent the next two hours as one of the slaves of a trio of women. Well, they were buying Shawn, mostly. See, I was just a bonus. Spent a lot of time on my knees, and fetching for these lovely ladies.

They spent a signifigant amount of time looking for some oil to oil Shawn with. He was shirtless at this point, and honestly, I can't blame them. All they could find, though, was water. So, they start watering the boy down in the hallway, with girls paying money to teh charity fund to see it. Then, one of the guys in the hall stated that he would throw money in if they watered me down too, so they did.

And we made another 35 bucks for the humane society.

Well, as exciting as having slaves was, the girls decided that we needed to have fun, and they took us up to their room to ply us with alcohol.

It was while we were in their room that my two hours came to an end, and Shawn set me free.

Back to The Red Room I go, to hang out with the guys, listen to some music, and ingest some more Jello shots.

I'm going to leave you guys in suspense once more, telling you to stay patient, as the next and concluding part will contain the adventures of Eddy, Clayton, the oil, and the Nipple Shots.

Also, there is promise of pictures. Including pics of me getting sold into slavery!

Nighty night.

2003-05-30T17:58:00.000-05:00

Behave you children!!

Mummy steps out for a couple of days and you children make a mess!! Shame on you!!

Now, where was I? . . ..

Well, I believe that I left off right before the Masquerade on Saturday night, right??

So, The Masquerade was at about 6 pm on saturday night. What it is is like a costume contest. A lot of people dress up and don't enter. Which is what I did. The masquerade, though interesting, was not all that much fun, so I'll move quickly along.

Hmm, what next?? Well, there is usually a social after The Masquerade they always have a social, but they have to rearrange the room, and that usually takes about an hour.

In the meantime, we went upstairs for another trip around the hospo suites! We ran into the band, Antigravity, that played at the masquerade, and Clayton talked to them about working on the picture, which they readily agreed to.

So, there was a lot of wandering around on saturday night. There wasn't any one place that we ended up. We did a tour of the suites, spent some time at the social, things like that. In The Red Room, both Rddy and I got spanked by Kat's Cat 'o Nines, which had been given over to Dallas for the evening. He had been in the Fantasy category of the Masquerade with his Royal Armor, and was holding kingship over the room. It was decided that the both of us looked in need of a good whipping.

What saturday consisted of, mostly, was running into and making the aquaintance of the people that would play a bigger roll on our Sunday night.

When I went to watch Joey in her LARP game, I noticed that Shawn was also playing. Shawn was someone that I had met the year before. Actually, Shawn was someone that I had actually inherited Shawn last year. He had been someone's slave, and they kind of handed him off to me. So, when I met him, he was all gentelmanly, on his knees, kissing my hand. All of the good!

Meanwhile, the guys were in the social, encountering the likes of Tea Cozy. See, this is what the guys were calling her, as the amount of material that she was wearing in order to cover up her rather large, impressive, and expensive breasts amounted to nothing more than a tea cozy. She was with an older gentleman, and the consesus of the Con was that she was his escort for the weekend, if you know what I mean.

So, we had decided earlier in the day that we were going to watch the second to very last episode of Buffy in the Buffy room, which was only really opened on Saturday. At 11, we moseyd on up to the 15th floor, and watched, with a bunch of other fans, the second last episode of one of the best shows of all time.

When that was over, we went over to the Short Plank, and filled up on liquids. Then, as things were kind of quiet Saturday night, a lot of people LARPing or at the social. We heard that they were playing The Rocky Horror Picture Show in the video room, so, as I have never seen it, we went to watch.

We aquired Shawn at some point, as I recall him being around for the rest of the evening. See, saturday ended up on a quiet note. We watched Rocky Horror, which I had never seen, let alone with people doing the dialogue thing. After that, Darren went home, Nick dissapeared for a while, Clayton went to bed, and Eddy and I went to see what was going on in the Video Room.

There were only a handful of people that were there when I we got back from the room and saying goodbye to Darren for the night. But they were going to put on the original Star Wars. So Eddy and I grabbed oursleves a couch and made oursleves comfortable. Shawn was sitting across from us, and other than us, there was pretty much only the guys that were running the room.

As much as we love Star Wars (after all, we are working on a Star Wars Fan FIlm, for goodness sakes) we started to Mystery Science Theatre it right from the start, which was greatly amusing. Eddy and I were drifting off, so we decided to pack it in.

Well, upon going to the room, seeing Clay in one bed, Eddy in the other, and in need of some caffeine for my head, I changed into some comfy shorts and a t-shirt, and wandered back downstairs to get a coke. Then, I decided to go watch the end of A New Hope, and found that Shawn was still there. He was sitting on some rather uncomfortable chairs. I told him that Eddy was in bed, and he came over and grabbed a seat on the couch I was using.

Well, watched the end of the movie, then went to see if anyone else was still awake. I ran ino Nick a little after 6 am, and then went with him to the pool, watched him swim.

After we did that, it seemed a good time to go grab some breakfast. Or, a chocolate muffin and some asprin from the Short Plank, as it turned out.

I'll leave it here for now, with the sun dawning on Dead Dog day, sunday morning!!

2003-05-22T21:42:00.000-05:00

So, the fun continues on Saturday . . .

Saturday morning at the Con. Well, having gone up to the room (which was only one flight up from the debauchery, how's that for cool) at around four thirty, I didn't really manage to get to sleep until around 6. But here it was, 9 am, and I had promised to get a coloring spoon for Nick for the Scavenger Hunt, if he would bring me a stuffed penguin for my Masquerade costume. (Desi gets this, don't you Des??) What's a coloring spoon,you ask?? Well, it's a spoon with a crayon attached, usually given out during the cartoon breakfast that they have in the Video Room.

So, I mosey on down, having thrown some comfy clothes on, and try to grab the healthiest of all the sugary goodness that is the cereal buffet. See, the day before, all I had managed to eat was a bowl of microwave popcorn. Not good when you are drinking. I figured I would start the Saturday off right.

And I did!! A little Apple Cinnamon Cheerios, a little Monsters Inc., a little cuddling with TJ, (He was using me as a pillow, and proceeded to use that as a nickname every time he saw me for the rest of the weekend.) It's all good.

After Monsters Inc. was over, I had to attend Joey and Edgar's Trivia Challenge. See, I had missed it the previous year, and they had no one to answer the Angel and Buffy questions. Things like, what's Lorne's full name. So, I felt obligated to go and answer some questions.

Well, my team got some X-Files questions. And my side trounced the other team, 285 to 90. We hadn't even gotten to the Jossverse questions yet. (Well, there were some Firefly questions, but I am ashamed at how poorly I did on them.)

The panel that we were all there for, the panel about our film, Star Wars: The Evil Within, was at 2 o'clock. We were worried that no one would show up. Well, we seemed to garner some interest, and some of them even signed on to help in whatever capacity that they could. Also, this is the first time that some of us got to see some of Don's 3D rendering of some of the ships. He was so down on himself. But if that was his rough stuff, I can't WAIT to see the good stuff.

After our panel, there was a panel given by Doug Morrow, a special effects make up artist who has worked on things like The X-Files. Well, this was a panel that we attended with hopes of learning a thing or two for use in our own film. Well, Clayton tells me that our make up artist Nathan had worked with Doug before. After the panel, Clayton had the opportunity to talk to Doug, and later we learnt that Doug told Clayton to stay in touch, because he would love to come down during our shoot to see what kind of things that Nathan was working on. How cool is that.

Well, after that, it was time to get ready for the masquerade. But I believe that my dinner is ready, so that's going to have to wait for the next update.

Later all!

2003-05-21T17:46:00.000-05:00

Let's start with Friday night . ..

Hmmm, where to begin the tale of Keycon? It is a question that I have been pondering since my quick post the other day, in between my nap time, with which I am trying to recapture the lost sleep of this weekend.

Well, Keycon is a weekend long event. We've been really selling it heavy to the guys involved in Star Wars: The Evil Within, as a place that we would probably be able to garner some interest for the fan film.

So, let's start off with that.

Eddy and I have been telling Clayton and Darren about Keycon since we both signed on for the project a couple of months ago. And, being that a Sci Fi convention is generally thought of as a meeting place for geeks, we quickly wanted to shatter that opinion. So, we have been portraying the party side of the Con, or Keycon after dark, as it were.

See, Keycon is your regular Sci Fi Con during the day. There are panels on Sci Fi shows, autograph sessions with the guests, trivia contests, a lot of LARPing or Live Action Role Playing, going on. But Keycon after dark?? That's where the fun begins.

At Keycon, they have a floor designated to the con, full of theme rooms, or Hospitality Suites. It takes up the entire fifteenth floor. Each room is run by a group, and has a certain theme. There is the Anime Room, where they show Anime all weekend, the Video Room, where they show Sci Fi all weekend, and start off the morning with cereal and cartoons. This year, there was the Nightmare Room, all decorated as for Hallowe'en. Then there was the room with the Medieval theme. The Red room, which was really just the room of a friend of a friend people call Reds, but he opened it up as another room in order to listen to some tunes and have an extra smoking lounge. There was the Shimmering Oasis, which had ladies teaching belly dancing, and doing Henna tatooes. And, the most popular room at the Con, for the ambiance, the ability to smoke in said room, and the abundance of alcohol. The Short Plank. Which Stan and the Crew at the Short Plank, have managed to make look like a pirate tavern, wooden benches, plank tables, and all. And this is the place where the rum lived.

See, the private rooms can't sell alcohol, but they can sell you a glass for five bucks, and fill it for you all weekend. Plus, they feed you too. It's really great. If you plan it right, you really don't have to spend any money on food or drink all weekend.

So, Friday night Eddy and I get there and check into the hotel room. Drop off our stuff, and head on down to the Ice Cream Social. What could be better?? Free Ice Cream for all. So, we get some Ice Cream, say hi to some friends that we are sure to see at the event every year, and wander off to look for our partners in crime. We attend a panel on Wicca in Winnipeg, find Darren and Clayton, take them up to the room to dump some stuff, and head on down to the Purity Test Panel.

This test tells me a heck of a lot about the guys that I will be spending an abundance of time with on the film. There was Eddy, Darren, Clayton, Nick and myself, all who work on the film, and all who are taking this purity test. (BTW, if you have NO idea what I am refering to by Purity Tests, check them out.) So, by the end of the purity test, I really think the scores are a kind of indicator as to how the weekend is going to go. I mean, Eddy had the highest score in the group at just over thirty percent pure. That really ought to tell you something. :-) The other guy at our table, Craig, did better then all of us, with a thirty eight. But I found out later that he's only 19. So, he's just got to catch up.

After that, we just kind of cruised the hospo suites. Introduced the newbies, or the ConVirgins, to the Short Plank. This is when I heard from TheStormCellar and was glad to know that she had gotten home safe, and kind of saw a pattern beginning to develop. Being the only girl in a group of guys is most excellent. I never had to get up to get my own drink.

Clay and Darrren didn't stay all night, and Eddy headed up to bed at about 3. I had run into Kat, so I stayed up to chat with her.See, I had met Kat last year, my year as a ConVirg (first time con goer). She's great!! First thing Kat did was show me her Cat 'o Nines. Is anyone surprised that I get along with this girl?? I sat in The Red Room catching up with Kat, and comtemplating finding Ian, who gives the most deligjhtful back massages, or TJ, who growls in a girl's ear like you would NOT believe.

Love catching up with the old friends.

In the end, things were quiet on Friday night, and I headed up to bed after hanging with the gang at Reds' till about 4 in the morning.

And I'll tell you all about Saturday in the next update.

I know, I know, there were no nipples here. But it takes time to work up to that. Really!! All the events in between come together in a stunning way on Sunday night.

And that's all I have to say about that.

2003-05-19T12:17:00.000-05:00

Nipples!!

Yep, it was a weeked alright!! Nipples, nudity, slave labor, growling men, and an actual Cat 'o Nines. And there are pictures out there to document the whole thing!!!

But as I have had a total of 2 hours sleep in the last 40 hours, and there is a Buffy marathon on Space, I will leave the details till later!

Matrix Reloaded

Movie kicked ass!! The outing was awesome too. But, as above, I will regale you all with the details at a later time!! But, as I promised, here's the first of the pics that I have from this week!

Charlie's Angels, (as Clayton called us on thursday)

I'm on the left, with the green glasses. TheStormCellar is in the middle, and on the right is Karla, who also attended the übergroup outing

Be back after I get some rest, folks.

2003-05-13T23:37:00.000-05:00

TheStormCellar is not Imaginary . . . .

And neither are her boobs!!!

Okay, so we went out to play a little bit tonight.

After a day spent hanging out, and watching Season Three of Angel, doing the talking thing. Then we had a great dinner, (yes, folks, she actually CAN cook!! Amazingly well, actually), we got a call from Kyle asking us to bring him the lunch that he forgot in the fridge.

So, we decide to change our clothes and venture out to the casino. And Stormy asks me to give her my opinion on her shirt. Which, as soon as I saw, was an emphatic yes to her wearing it. Lacy, very girly, and very low cut. Also, helped along by a push up bra, size D. :-)

We venture out, give Kyle his food, and he gets a comp for us to get free valet parking. Both of us were wearing jackets at the time, because it's still a little chilly up in the 'Peg. Kyle aids us in our little harrassment by calling AW to park the car.

When he comes up, StormCellar and myself are outside, waiting for him. So, he gets to meet her, but remember, she's wearing her jacket at the time. I tease him about the fact that he's just shaved off the horrible goatee that he had, and how now he looks like a twelve year old. We go off to explore the Casino, leaving the boys to their work.

So, I show Storm around the Casino. We check out the giant fish tank, the indoor waterfall, (which is off during the week, unfortunately. Chatted with the pirate skeleton for a minute. While we were there, we both got kind of warm, and took our jackets off.

But, seeing as we weren't gambling, we didn't really spend a lot of time there. So, we decided to go back to harass Kyle a little bit. When we did, John happened to be standing there at the captain's station. (the place where people pay for their parking) Kyle decided to participate and sent John running off for a couple of cars.

Then, John brings Storm's car back for us. And he stands at her door, waiting for her to come around. Now remember, she is now without a jacket.

And he looked. I mean, I could see him gawking. She did too, and made a point of bending even further over to empasize the view. It was very, very amusing to watch. Be more obvious, why don't you? And stop drooling.

Needless to say, the entire thing was just too much fun.

Tommorow, we burn the letter.

2003-05-11T22:59:00.000-05:00

The blog just ate my update!!

Argh!! I had typed out a big old update, and my blog just ate it!! Stupid blogger!!

Well, 18 hours and counting till The Storm Celler gets here!! It's going to be soooooo much fun to have her here.

I hope all of the mothers out there had a good Mother's Day. But remember, if your kids are pretty darn good to you all the time, Mother's Day is kind of like Valentine's Day. Do you really need a day to show you that they love you?? Or do your kids do that in other ways, every day of the year? Do they call you every single day?? Do they tell you every time they talk to you that they love you?? I think that that is more important than overeacting to some day.

Hey, some kids don't make any effort at all!!

So, what's been up with me, you ask??

Well, I've been desperately busy with the fan film, and with the job search.

The Fan Film is going well. We've got a final script, and after Keycon next weekend, we will be getting into the casting process.

The film has been great to work on so far, but the best part is the new friends I have. We've been hanging out a little bit with Clayton and Darren outside of working on the project, and they are great! They came to see X2 with us. Needless to say, the A.S.P.'s president was there as well. Well, when Animal started telling them stories about The Ranch, they thought he was great!! But the best was when my brother agreed to come to Keycon if he could dress like a Stormtrooper, and my mom tells him "You're too short to be a stormtrooper!" Well, what beats a mom that can quote Star Wars??

Also, Clayton is an Angel and Buffy fan!! How sweet is that! On top of that, Eddy and I have gotten him hooked on Kindred: The Embraced. Gotta love a fellow vampire fan!!

I had a job interview this week for the perfect job. I haven't heard yet, so wish me luck!

This week is going to rule!! Stormy's here, we're going to the Matrix, Animal and his wife invited us out to their place, so we'll take some pics of the house, the Animal, and us, and post them. Then, this weekend is Keycon , and, with any luck, I will start my new job that tuesday!!

Keep your fingers crossed, and I will pop in some time this week to tell some Arie and Stormy tales!!

Love and hugs!

2003-04-30T10:32:00.000-05:00

Guess I oughta update . . .

Sorry guys. I was kinda waiting for something good to happen to cause me to update, but the good of late has been relatively small. Had a minor meltdown the other night, and appologize to the guys I dragged into it.

Billy, you're the best. Thanks for listening.

Clayton, I was kidding. Sorry I scared ya! :-)

I'm just feeling rather cynical on my views of life and hapiness lately. I mean, you know that saying about being with someone for the wrong reasons, or being alone for the right ones?? Well, I think I'd rather be right. Starting to see that I am not the casual girl. And although I don't believe I am ever going to find "true love" the way other people do, I think that I deserve someone who would care about me enough to at least attempt to cheer me up when I am in a bad mood. And would it be too much to ask that they know what to do to cheer me up?

For example. I had a migraine yesterday. All damned day. Now, why was I watching sixth season Buffy? Anyone want to throw an answer out there? I think if you need to ask why I am watching Buffy in the middle of the day when I am sick in bed, you really know very little about me.

But, according to the quiz I found over at Shrubby's, no one really does. Check it out!

What Type of Villain are You?

mutedfaith.com
<º>

See, no one really knows me anyway.

But, I'm really thinking? Do I need to spend time with a guy that questions my Buffy watching? Was I spoiled by the fact that John would just watch with me?? Or am I spoiled by the fact that I met a new friend the day I started dating the new guy, and the new friend wouldn't have had to ask?

Or am I being too picky?

Well, enough with all the thoughtful stuff. I ought to get up and make myself a useful member of society!

Hugs to all.

2003-04-22T00:37:00.000-05:00

Avril Lavigne Rocks the 'Peg!!

My head hurts from screaming as loud as I did, but I just had to drop in and let you know how incredible the Avril Lavigne concert was!!

There was an amazing energy about the show. It was fantastic.

I have to tell you all something that I hope that you don't find the least bit insulting, but it's just the truth.

I love, love, LOVE being the first Canadian date in a Canadian artist's tour after they have been in the States. They just love being back in the Native Land, you know? I mean, I am sure that Avril gets a huge response in the States, but have you guys ever heard of Gob? I didn't think so.

So, when the opening acts get the warm home coutry reception, it just starts the night off right. And though I loved Avril, Gob was the highlight of the night for me. I just take more to their music. (even thought I could sing all of Avril's songs).

Yeah, Gob was the highlight. Even if I missed Swollen Members standing in line so I could meet Tom and the band, and get an autograph, only to have them leave right when I was at the front!

And Billy, I sang Complicated along with the rest of the crowd and though of you! :)

2003-04-19T15:02:00.000-05:00

Why does Real Life get in the way? And get so weird, too?

Any idea why it is that life gets so busy that your online life, friends, blog, etc, just seems to fall to the wayside?? Suckage!!

I'm sorry that I have been so scarce the last week. This week has just been very strange and unusual for me.

John and Kyle had the funeral to go to last weekend. And then they ended up coming back here and spending the evening cooking and watching movies. And they did this with me and Edgar. John was even polite! And I thanked him for the favor he did me while I was in the hospital, and he was nice about that too.

I guess weirder things have happened.

I think I need to shovel all the guys out of my life and start from scratch.

The date guy from last week talks to me in some fashion at least once a day. Now, this wouldn't be so bad, if he had any interest in my mind at all. But it doesn't seem like that. Not that I mind someone around for recreational activity, but I think that I wouldn't mind if said person could hold a half decent conversation about at least one thing that holds my interest in any way at all.

Maybe I've been spoiled by having all of you. I mean, all of you are friends with my because of the way my mind and my heart works. It's not about my cool toys, or my 50 inch TV, or my bod (though it isn't a great one, yet) It's about my thought processes. I guess I am just looking for a guy that I can manage to have a conversation with on the phone so long that I have to be told to go to bed. Or with a guy that has a thought at the same time as I do! (like Jawa. And though I love her, it's not like that :-) )

The thing that has been pointing this up a lot lately, though, is the Fan Film that I am working on. Star Wars: The Evil Within. I go to meetings with these people, and I feel the excitement and the energy from all these people that I have all of this stuff in common with. I want that!! I want a guy that doesn't laugh at me because I can quote Star Wars. I mean, they can laugh, but it has to be in the right way, know what I mean?? Does that make any sense whatsoever?

Oh, well! Keycon is coming up. It's a Sci-Fi convention here in Winnipeg, and mayhaps I won't feel like an outsider there. I think it's going to rock this year.

See, I get all wound up when John makes an appearence. It just reminded me that I had someone that I could spend an hour debating the ins and outs of the Two Towers with over the phone in the middle of the night.

Date night with my mom

My mom and I have a little tradtion where we try to have a date night, once a month, just her and I. I mean, I am very, very close to my mom. I really enjoy doing this.

We went to see Basic last night. Excellent movie!! I believe that this is what Billy is studying to do, am I right?? Studying to be an Interrogator.

The movie was full of unpredictable turns right up until the last. I love it when you can't figure out a movie five minutes into it. And I tend to be able to do that a lot. I mean, I even had the end of the Sixth Sense pegged!!

Buffy and Angel talk

What is to say that the rest of you haven't said??

I enjoyed both because even when I hate them I like them, you know??

So very tired of Jasmine, those episodes could have been made into one. And did anyone else feel that the scene where Fred killed the demon was disjointed? It felt as though it was part of a different episode. It broke the flow of the story. And it's entire purpose, for Fred to figure out it was the blood, could have been done by her injuring herself in any number of ways. It just didn't fit.

And I am of the few that kinda bought the kiss. I'm happy whatever way ME goes, as long as they go somewhere.

Buffy had some good moments as well. I absolutely adored the Spike/Faith exchange, and can I plead with ME again to leave James's hair that way? It's so much better than when they slick it down.

And Buffy is going to get everyone killed. She is just not thinking. I mean, how many times has there been a trap like that, and she still falls for it??

I screamed when Xander got hurt! It just about killed me! But I was doing my little unconventional shipper dance to see WIllow at the hospital holding Xander's hand, rather than at the Summer's house with her injured girlfriend. Is that petty??

Caleb? Not human! The beast couldn't even throw Faith as far as Caleb threw Buffy. Nice steroids!'

And that's my opinion on that.

2003-04-16T15:20:00.000-05:00

Well, just a short update

I just wanted to pop in and say that I put a new story up at Twisting the Hellmouth and I posted it at my site as well.

Gotta run, be back later.

2003-04-09T15:31:00.000-05:00

Oh now, don't close your eyes . . . .

Okay, enough of the maudelin crap!! I am in a surprisingly good mood, considering the things going on around here.

Let's get to the inane ridiculous things that have put me in a good mood!!

First of all, Sheepy comes through again with the amazing quizzes!! It was another one that I could provide honest answers to, because the questions weren't obviously leading to certain conclusions!!

So, which empowered female artist am I?

You are Ani Difranco!

Self-obsessed and self-possessed,you are a strong woman with a social conscience,
who centers her life around her art. You pour your life experience and passion
into your art, presenting ideas that resonate deep in the souls of others.

Take the "Which Empowered Female Artist Are You" Quiz

Sheepy, thank you so much!! I adore Ani, and I thought that this was perfect!!

Also, thanks to Stormy for this little bit of insane nonsense!!

I also, for some strange reason, find this one suitably fitting as well!

Yes, I am a nerdlet!! Help me embrace it??

I thought that I was comfortable being a nerdlet! Hell, most of the time I am totally comfortable being a nerdlet. I thought it was all of the time, until I got some strange looks on my date on Sunday.

Okay, yeah, knowing the titles of every episode of Angel, Buffy and the X-Files is a weird thing. But I have a near photographic memory. Things like that stick! Yeah, and I have the DVD's, and the books, and the action figures, and I am going to Vegas to commiserate with like minded people, and I go to Keycon. But hell, some people find bowling weird!

But I think I have signed away my soul, and can never, ever turn back from the land of Nerdlet. (And really, that's okay, I love it here!)

See, Eddy managed to get me to go, out of curiosity, to a production meeting, on Sunday afternoon. What was it for, you ask??

A Star Wars Fan Film!!

For all of you that don't know what a Star Wars fan film is, (but who am I kidding, we are ALL nerdlets, aren't we?), go to Kazaa or whatever you use, and download Troops!

That is a Star Wars fan film.

And I will be devoting a very lengthy bit of time to the one that I am now involved in. It looks like we have some kick ass talent involved, and it looks like we could smoke at it, if we were so inclined.

Then, if it's good enough, I'll see if I can get Pablo to get it into the hands of the LucasGod himself. Hey, I know that it is übergeeky, but it could also become a kick ass demo reel! I will keep you guys up to date on it!

Speaking of kick ass things on film

Well, I know that I told some of you that I was shooting a little bit of documentary footage a couple of weeks ago?? Well, what I took footage of was a war memorial dedication ceremony, and a good friend of my mom's was receiving an award from the Army for his work with vetrans. This is why I went to film it. Joe Haywood is an amazing man. In addition to the Post Traumatic Stress work that he does with Vets, he is also a rancher, and he wrangles horses for films that shoot in Winnipeg.

The film company that he works for is doing a movie of his life, so the producers want to use my footage. Which is cool, because it was agreed that I will have a job on the picture in exchange.

Another thing, though. Joe Haywood worked on For the Moment. It was made 10 years ago. And it starred an up and coming actor. This actor owns a ranch, and made friends with Joe. They still talk all the time.

Well, said actor got married this weekend, and when Joe called to offer his well wishes, they got to talking about the award that Joe got. Said actor would like a copy of the tape.

Said actor is getting a copy of MY tape that I am making him right now.

Said actor is Russell Crowe!!!!!!

That is all.

Yeah, I can rant just like my brother, but mine isn't about war!!

It's about E.R. doctors!! What the hell is with ER doctors anyway?? Do they go to a special school of "I have no idea what your diagnosis is, but since you aren't in danger of dying anymore, off you go!"

Really. They really seem to not go to the same med schools as GP's. At least mine keeps looking till she finds what is wrong.

I am very sure jilla can relate to this, as she had some similar experiences a couple of weeks ago.

I mean, I have always thought this, but this last trip on Sunday night just solidified things for me.

Let's look at the assinine examples of things that I have been told at the emergency room.

I had an ear infection once. The pain was unbelievable, and my mother was pretty sure that it was the drops making the pain worse. So, she tells this to the ER doc, who insists that there is no way that anyone could be allergic to these ear drops. Just give me something for the pain and keep using the drops. They will work, she assures us. My mom is smarter than that. She stopped giving me the drops. And the allergist confirms what the ER doc said was impossible. I am, in fact, very, very allergic to the drops that I was using.

Another example. I broke AND dislocated my ankle a couple of years ago. My freinds took me to the ER. The doctor said he thought it was broken (it was at a 90 degree angle, he was so observant) but that he didn't have an X-Ray tech, so to take me home and take me back to the hospital the next day.

Well, my friend Gene, drunk as he was, was still smarter than that, and took me to another hospital, where they immediately called in the orthopedics guy on call and had me in surgery before I could blink.

When I got the plate out a couple of years later, I had to make another visit to the ER. See, I had had an epidural for the procedure as oppossed to a general. It gave me a spinal headache. Bar none, the worst headacahe I have ever had in my life, and I get migraines. So, I sit up, (because there is no place to lie down while you are in the waiting room to the ER) for several hours, only to be told that the best thing they can recommend is to go home and lie absolutely flat. Don't get up for anything, and definately don't sit. Thanks a lot!!

On to the most recent ER visit, which was Sunday night.

Yeah, this was the date night. But he had to work in the am, so I sent him home. Then, I wasn't really sure the problem was serious, so I tried to deal. An hour later, waiting wasn't cutting it. I drove myself to the ER.

The problem wasn't important. Point was, I was there for 12 hours. They poked me, they prodded me, they stuck me with needles and an IV, they did tests. They cut me loose, only having a vague guess as to what the problem was. I tell you this, though. I know for a fact that their vague guess is totally off. I know, as it was November when I would have gotten that problem, that that couldn't have been it. But, they didn't have any other guesses, and since I was no longer in any great amount of danger, they sent me home without an answer. I see my GP on friday, and even her receptionist couldn't believe that they didn't keep looking!

Aren't these doctors? Are they not there to help you, to cure you?? To reassure you that you are ok? To correct your problem?? It's three days later. They didn't even give me an inlking as to what caused the incident. They also didn't even tell me that if the same chain of events were to occur, the same results wouldn't happen again. Which scares the crap out of me. It was bad enough the first time. I don't want it to happen again. Ever!. It might help to prevent it if they would have told me what the hell had caused it instead of just some vague guess!! Thanks SO much for your help!

Oh, well!! Eventful Sunday all and all. And I had to miss the only work I had this week because I was stuck in the ER!! Grrr!

2003-04-08T12:02:00.000-05:00

Hey all! Thought that I better update

I know Billy left a get well tag. But I am fine, really. Same old same old. Boring, in the end.

Although, Kyle was worried enough to convince AW to do a favor for me, so maybe I can milk this for a few days! :)

The real drama around here is with Kyle and John and April anyways. Poor guys.

A good friend of theirs from work got shot in the back of the head at a bar on saturday night. He didn't make it.

Troy had just been breaking up a bar fight. He had used to work as a bouncer at that club, and had been lending a hand. After all was said and done, he just went back and sat down. A few minutes later, this guy walks up and shoots him twice. Then the guy got away.

My thoughts and prayers are with Troy, may he have found wings to the kingdom, and with Mike, his roommate, and all of the loving friends he left behind.

2003-04-01T23:54:00.000-06:00

Well, update time again.

Not really much to tell, really. But some of you have been looking under the rocks for me.So, here I am, once again with nothing much to say.

RL has just been weird, and busy, and a little perplexing the last week or so. It's kinda hard to explain, but I have been in a very contemplative mood lately, and it's almost like I am trying to think what to think about, and I can't even explain it to myself, let alone to other people.

I have to thank my dad for being there, and making me understand that no matter what life throws my way, that there will always be people there who will be willing to back me up. To pick me up when I need it, and to help me stand tall.

I had to go to two birthday parties this weekend, and it left me feeling a little blue. I loved my birthday, but when I went to my cousin's this friday, and saw the hall full of people, I thought to myself, 'I would never have this many friends attend a party for me. I don't even know this many people.'

On the other hand, I realized that the friendships that I do have are far more then the relationships of people that commonly attend functions of this sort. These are not the kind of friends that I have. I may have only a roomful of friends, and not a hall full, but every one of them I feel that I have a deep and meaningful friendship with. I feel that they would be there for me, whether I needed to laugh, or to cry. And that is the really important thing.

Another thing that bugged me at the party was that I talked to one of my cousins for the first time in a long time. And the subject of my love life came up. Not a pleasant thing, that subject.

Though it is getting easier.

Or, it was. Till I talked to him on the phone yesterday.

Not a big deal, but he was friendly. The voice on the other end of the phone was not one that belonged to a person that had a seething hatred of me that was so bad he could not stand to be in the same room with me. He was nice to me. And it confused me.

And there are a couple other male issues that are just of the unusual lately that have been making me think.

Also, talking to someone today about first kisses and first moves, and it made me realize how much I missed that. Missed first dates, and a kiss just because the person wants to kiss you, can’t stop themselves from kissing you. *sigh* Okay, enough of the romantic drivel.

Really boring stuff, on the whole.

Thing is, my mind has just been so full, that I can’t even separate enough thoughts to put together a coherent update.

Just so you all know, I am working half time this week, I have helped the Animal move in, I have been spending some time with my other brother, and my life seems to be going through a bit of a transitional stage.

I heard on the radio today that April First used to be thought of as New Year’s day to some cultures. I think that I am going to adopt that concept, and use today as the first day in a new year. Everything that has happened to me since January I am calling last year, and I am determined to start anew. Things have to start going my way sometime.

Also, I want to ask you all to help me in sending good vibes to my Jillababy. I really wish that I wouldn't be an illegal, because I would go down there and get a job in a second and take care of her, if I could. Something has got to start going right with my “family” because we have taken all the bad with a smile and a stiff upper lip. Will the gods please hear me and take care of jilla for me?

I love you honey. Call me if you need anything, day or night. Collect. You hear me??

Courtesy of Army Boy

I thought that I finally had to post one of these quiz things, because this one I actually answered true to myself, and not because the answer to the questions would lead to a very obvious and desired conclusion. Like which LotR guy you are destined to be with, and the answers are glaringly obvious that if you pick such and such an answer, your result will be so and so.

Not this quiz.

On this one, I was brutally, and I do mean brutally, honest.

Yep, feels like me!

2003-03-25T17:41:00.000-06:00

Well, here's the update

Ever get the feeling that the world is kicking you when you are down?? I am having a bad, bad week. What can I tell ya??

Well, I was suppossed to have a job for two weeks. While two weeks is not a lot, it would have allowed me to pay at least a couple of my bills and my rent, and keep me just scraping by for another month.

Instead, I got to work one day before the supervisor there passed judgment on me and decided that I wasn't pure perfection at the job in less than a day, and that I wasn't good enough to return.

So now I am sitting around, broker than broke, and waitiing for a call again. A call that wasn't all that quick in coming the last time.

Wait, it gets worse.

Someone, (someone who wasn't me, because my dad is a refrigiration man and has taught me not to do this from the time I could talk) decided to defrost the freezer with a knife when I wasn't home. Poked a hole in the freon tube. Now, we have to pay $300 for a new fridge. Hello?? I barely have money for rent. Where the hell am I going to come up with three hundred dollars?

And I didn't win the Oscar pool. Shame on me.

But it was still very fun though.

Enough of this maudelin shit. I'm going to cry.

Okay, now for some happy,This or That Tuesday!

1. Poetry or prose?

I like poetry well enough, but I am a prose girl.

2. Funky modern art or the older, "classic" variety?

Depends on my mood, but for the most part, it's the classics.

3. Sculptures or paintings?

Sculptures. They are just so much more tactile.

4. Theatre: exuberant musical or serious drama?

All theatre. I refuse to pick. Musical, tragedy, drama, restoration comedy. All of it!!

5. Ballet or modern dance?

Spent 12 years as a student at Contemporary Dancers of Canada. Been thinking of going back to the adult program. I'd be in the professional school. So that would be modern dance.

6. Movies: major studio or indie?

Any and all movies!! Doesn't matter.

7. Authors: Shakespeare or Dr. Seuss?

Shakespeare. I'm more than a fan. We're involved.

8. TV: PBS or A&E?

A&E They show the best shows all the time. But PBS almost beat it out for the Sesame Street and Anne of Green Gables love.

9. Music: Beethoven or Beatles?

Beethoven. I like modern music, but I have never been overly fond of the Beetles.

10. Thought-provoking question of the week: You are a contributing member of your favorite art museum, and visit on a regular basis. They announce a new, temporary special exhibit by an artist surrounded by controversy...this person's work and/or political views offend you. Do you stop supporting the museum, or just stay away during the time the exhibit is there?

Just stay away for the time being. I mean, if I'll go back to the Plug-In after they had a woman polishing her silver and displaying the cloths as art, I can forgive most places anything.

2003-03-21T07:49:00.000-06:00

Thanks for my Birthday, Guys!!

I just wanted to shout out a big thank you to all of you guys!! My birthday was great, all the way through. Right from midnight, when Windy and Shrub simultaneously posted birthday threads for me at Caritas! Shortly after that, I got a birthday phone call from Billy, which rocked.

Spent the day with my mom, who spoiled me rotten. We went to go see Daredevil again, (yes Lali, I liked it that much) and then we went out to dinner with some friends.

While I was at dinner, I got a phone call from Stormy!!! It was so lovely to talk to her for the first time on the phone. I definitely have to talk to her when I can chat longer, and I don't have to strain to listen to her through my cell phone.

Well, I have a one day assignement today, so I won't be around at all, but I will talk to you all later!!

Hugs and kisses, and thanks for making my day wonderful! I love you guys.

2003-03-18T23:33:00.000-06:00

New Front Page for North of the Border!

Sorry about the lack of updates, but I have been working on a new project the last couple of days. I decided that I should start using the webspace so generously provided to me by my ISP.

Plus, I figured that if I was going to be getting a bunch of reviews for my fic, that I should have the opportunity to entice them into going to the Renew Angel site.

So, today I introduce to you, Arie's North of the Border Haven!

It's just a start, but I will be hosting my fan fiction, my blog, and if anyone else needs a home for their fic, just e-mail me. So, the site will progress, slowly, but surely, I am hoping.

So, drop by for a visit. And maybe change your links to that page?? That way people can read my fic!

2003-03-15T14:02:00.000-06:00

I posted a new chapter!

I just posted chapter 10 of Learning to Breathe Again.

That is all.

2003-03-14T17:16:00.000-06:00

Do Birthdays make anyone else Philosophical?

So, Animal was pestering me again to put in an update, as were some others, and I was really stuck for something to write. It's not like my life has been all that exciting lately, you know what I mean?? I'm not working this week, and on top of it, I've been sitting around the house sick with a bugger of a cold all week. (And yes, I have discovered that colds are transmisable via chat and AIM. I mean, Akasha and Billy are both sick, too. Too much of a coincedence!)

But then it dawned on me what to talk about as Animal and I began discussing what we should get our father for his birthday next week, what had been occupying some of my thoughts this week, and that I would perhaps share it with you.

And I know what you are thinking: but Arie, isn't your birthday this week? As a matter of fact yes it is. Not only is my birthday the same week as my father's, it is, in fact the same day as my father's.

And while this was immensely fun when I was little, and still is fun even now, I have an issue with it that I did not have as a little girl. When you are little, your mom will invariably buy the present that you will give to your Dad. Even if they are divorced. So it was an issue that I never really had to deal with until I got to the age where you start buying your parents presents all on your lonesome.

Dad, are you reading this? Because the following makes it so impossibly hard to buy presents for you.

He never wants anything!! Every year I ask him, and every year I get the same response. Christmas is a little easier, because he'll actually make a list, or my mom #2 will make one for him. But his birthday, when asked by me what he wants, I get the same answer: "I got you for my birthday, I don't need anything else."

Argh!!

Dad, that's really sweet and all, but what do you want?? You have me! You aren't ever getting rid of me. And I am going to be 28 on thursday. Far more than too old to still be a novelty.

And then he says that he doesn't need anything.

I don't care. Isn't there anything frivoulous that we can get you that you'd enjoy??

Why do people do this? I know someone else that is pretty reluctant to get presents for his birthday. Not naming names here, but did it ever occur to these people that you want to get them a present that they are going to enjoy? And since you are going to get them a present no matter what, maybe if the buyer was told, they wouldn't drive themselves nuts??

All of this frustration led me to thinking about why we celebrate birthdays, and why we buy presents. Other than the religious connotations, and lets face it, as a Wiccan, I have no idea, really, what those may be, I figured that birthday present buying boiled down to a very simple idea.

Birthdays and presents are a way of celebrating that person's life. We celebrate that day, the day that they were brought into this world, as a special occasion. It was the day that whatever powers that you believe run the universe decided to gift us with the person that we appreciate enough to show them our love through gifts!!

I know, that there are other ways to show love. But that's what the rest of the year is for.

As you can see, I have taken after my brother in the list department. I get very specific. And my friends and family appreciate it. Mom #2 can use the list, and CQ can go against the list, and Animal, can invest in my video camera and my future!!

I have to tell you, Animal is very specific when it comes to his lists. And his demands and what will happen if they are not met.

One year, he wanted Star Wars Monopoly. And if he didn't get it, he was going to run naked down the street, yelling at the top of his lungs his dissatisfaction. He would buy himself several of the games, and the boards would be his only covering.

Needless to say, choosing what to buy him that year was one of the easiest gift giving decisions I have ever had to make.

Dad, Army boy, follow his example, k?? Make it easy on the people that love you!

2003-03-11T23:27:00.000-06:00

The NEXT Superman? Candidate Number II

Well, now that Arie has put her candidate forward, I would like everyone to examine another option.

Come on ladies, tell me this guy doesn't look like a Super Man? Tall, Dark, and certainly a strong jaw line.

2003-03-11T22:49:00.000-06:00

FYI, small spoiler in my "Quoting" on the right.

Even though I ought to be in bed, . . .

I just can't go yet!! I started to watch Release again to get the quote, and I have to watch the rest of it, so while I do that, I bring you: This or that tuesday!

1. Married or single?

Single. And glad. I mean, if all guys are like AW . . . although, I have a little glimmer of hope. Me, the cynic, who'd have thunk it?

2. Knit or crochet?

Um, that's what my aunties and my mom are for!

3. Homebody or world traveller?

If I could afford it. I'd love to see Greece one day. Maybe I could take an interpreter with me? :-)

4. "Star Search" or "American Idol"?

Star Search, because they actually allow Canadians on the show.

5. Dancing or karaoke?

Dancing. Karaoke mixes people that shouldn't drink with people that shouldn't sing!!

6. Elvis Presley or Elvis Costello?

Why isn't Elvis Stojko a choice?? I don't care, he's still my answer.

7. Bus or train?

Duh, who does CQ work for? I'm going with train. You meet hot Spanish guys on them too!

8. Batman or Superman?

Superman. See below. Also, CANADIAN!

9. Chocolate or vanilla?

I'm greedy, I"m going with swirl. Unless it's Coke, and then, get that crap out of my black gold!

10. Which came first...the chicken or the egg?

Egg. See, something mutated INTO the chicken. So, the thing that it was before laid the egg that hatched the first chicken.

2003-03-11T11:24:00.000-06:00

For Your Consideration

Animal, Coffeequeen and I tend to try and cast things during our ASP outings long before the movies even come to fruition. A favourite of ours was to try and cast Spiderman, and we did this long before they ever even had a script.

So, when this new Superman project popped up, we started again. Animal has voiced opinion that Joe Millionaire might be a good choice, but CQ made a suggestion this morning that I think One_by_one might like, and that I wholeheartedly agree with.

George Eads, AKA Nick Stokes on CSI, as Superman, AKA Clark Kent

What say you?

2003-03-09T12:10:00.000-06:00

Ksenia Raback-Blocker turns nine

When I was at Special Olympics yesterday, doing my coaching duties, I was reminided of one more thing that I had to do this weekend that I forgot to mention in the Friday Five.

I have to attend Ksenia's birthday party.

She's the granddaughter of one of our scorekeepers and an amazing little girl.

What's so special about a nine-year old's birthday party, you ask? Well let's start with the fact that it asks you right on the invitation to not bring a birthday present. Instead, you read on the invitations, the following:

No Gift Required. Donations accepted on behalf of the Winnipeg Police Service to get them a helicopter.

You see, last year the Winnipeg Police Service was being very vocal at the fact that they did not have a helicopter, and that one is much needed and would be very useful.

And this wonderful little girl got it in her head that she would get them one. And she started to collect money by asking for no presents at her eigth birthday, just donations. Her generosity has developed into this.

Take Flight Winnipeg

I wanted to be sure to share that with you all, and remind you that one person can make a difference. Even a little girl. I must run. I don't want to be late to the princess's birthday.

2003-03-09T10:55:00.000-06:00

Animal Touches up North of the Border Blogspot, Again

Early on the morning of Sunday March 9th, Animal, a.k.a. Arie's Bro, updated the North of the Border template yet one more time. With these additional adjustments, proper banner ad placement has been addressed, as well as the creation of a new content layer to fit seamlessly with the banner ads.

Hopefully the intermittent trouble over at Blogger will soon be addressed. During this mornings template updates, the server hosting the templates allows saving, but does not recognize that a new template has been created. Check out Blogger Status for more detailed information.

Coffee Queen steals banner region from North of the Border

In a related story, Animal also noticed that CQ has conveniently borrowed the banner area from North of the Border. However, not even a thank you exists on her site. Of all the nerve. She could at least pay some tribute towards the talents of Animal. :-)

2003-03-09T01:04:00.000-06:00

Thanks for the Pounce, Shrubby!

It seems to have scared the hiccups out of my blog!! :-)

2003-03-08T13:00:00.000-06:00

Well, Saturday again!

And seriously, an oh so pleasent mood in my apartment this am.

I am getting seriously tired of this crap. I mean, really. Grow the hell up. We are not in elementary school.

"He doesn't like you and I'm his friend so I don't like you either!!"

I can't wait till I get my green card and get OUT of this place!

Sigh.

2003-03-07T19:54:00.000-06:00

Yup, it's friday. You know what that means, don't you? It's the Friday five!

It's been a slow week, follks. Not much to talk about, so here goes the FF:

1. What was the last song you heard?

One step to far, by Faithless, featuring Dido:

"You can sleep forever, but still you will be tired
You can stay as cold as stone, but still you won't find peace
With you I feel I'm the meek leading the blind
With you I feel I'm just spending wasted time."

Great song!

2. What were the last two movies you saw?

I'm going with saw in the theatre for this one, seeing as that's all we do around here is watch movies. I mean, it's my life, for Goddess's sake! So, last saturday, as Eddy and I try to be Oscar Nominee completists, we went to go see Chicago. I didn't think that I would enjoy Chicago very much, but I really did like it. I am glad we went. I have been listening to the soundtrack ever since. And before that it was a second viewing of The Recruit. See, I am trying to show everyone the perfection that is Mike Realba. So far, few are turned. But the roomie loved the movie.

3. What were the last three things you purchased?

Hmm, let's see. A Coke Slurpee, a Super 7 ticket, and an American stamp.

4. What four things do you need to do this weekend?

Coach Special Olympics bowling. Watch my new prezzie. (thanks Wildy!!!). Do some laundry. Work on Learning to Breathe Again.

5. Who are the last five people you talked to?

Leah, the tech guy at MTS, Leah, Jesse, the 7 eleven clerk, my mom.

Does MSN count?? I talked to Sheepy and Reinhardt too. :-)

See, I told you. Boring as hell!

2003-03-07T17:33:00.000-06:00

A Shout Out to the nice MTS gentleman I was talking to

Seeing as you all over there at MTS who are currently working on the problem can see the updates on my page, even if I can not, a shout out to you!

Now, I have discovered that I am having the same problem at my house as I was having over at my mother's. Talking to the nice young man in the Support department over at MTS, he let me know that he, indeed, could read my page, and took offence at the little kick I gave MTS.

So, I take that back. No kicks for you. If you can manage to fix the problem in a timely fashion so I can get back to working on the blogs. I was going to start the ASP one today, too!!

But, thankfully, today is not all lost. I found an early birthday prezzie in my mailbox that I am going to go watch! Love you, Wildy!

2003-03-07T13:55:00.000-06:00

Aren't Fridays Fun??

So, I discovered that the problem that I was having was with my internet service provider. I had emptied out all of my history, my temporary files, all of that. But MTS was cacheing my page. So, while the rest of the world saw the update, I saw the old page. *kicks MTS*

I reconnected and the problem seems to have fixed itself. Below is last night's post, btw. That's why I talk about going to bed. I might be back later to do the Friday five. Not sure though! Have a good Friday!

2003-03-07T12:12:00.000-06:00

A thank you to The Animal, and a your Welcome as well.

Well, first things first. Thank you very much to the computer guru that is the Animal!! Thank you very much, wonderful brother of mine. Together we managed to put together this nifty new blog. What do you guys think??

Also, a little experiment in Team Blogging, which I think we should continue with an Academy of Slurpees and Popcorn blog, but that is for another time.

So, as a thank you, I told Animal that he had to watch Angel tonight when Space:The Imagination Station aired Salvage. And he fell back in love with the show. He is all about the Faith, as well, and has updated his blog, and helped me update mine, in an effort to help the Renew Angel cause. Check his site and the Renew Angel site, courtesy of the Dirty Dozen, out.

Of course, that means that I will be parting with my Angel Season 1 DVD's for a while. But my birthday is coming up, and the seperation wouldn't be so bad if I had a Faith or a Leather Jacket Faith action figure to comfort me. *hint hint*

Well, with all those wonderful links to explore, I am off to beddie bye. Check out the one for the DVD's, it rocks!

2003-03-06T18:42:00.000-06:00

Animal Visits North of the Border Blogspot

Today, Animal helped Arie fix her blog to make it a wonderful place to live and post!!

Tell us what you think?

And team posting, pretty cool eh?

2003-03-06T14:42:00.000-06:00

What to do with a day off? Play with the blog, of course!

I picked a new template. I warn you now. It's going to take me a while to get it right! But keep coming back, please?? Don't make mummy beg.

2003-03-06T00:36:00.000-06:00

Thursday, Twelve Twenty am

You HELLSPAWN stop jumping on the bed!! I loved that they used that word in tonight's Angel.

I have a baaaaad migraine, but I wanted to let you know that I am not dead. I am, in fact, in a very mopey, maudelin mood. Or I was. Till mom number two fed me up with Strawberry-Rhubarb desert and I got dad snuggles. And I got to watch that kick ass eppy of Angel again. Oh, and I came home and took one of the super pills.

People, do not try this at home.

Seriously, I don't know why people feel the need to go to bad parts of town to get illicit drugs from crack houses when there is stuff like this available at your local Dr's office.

And I don't know if it works like this in the States, but the stuff I take for migraines, Amerge, is very expensive. But I got it for free from the Doc. It's a receptor inhibitor. It doesn't kill the pain, it just shuts off the part of the head that is hurting. That part is inside, you know, in your brain? So, stoned. And since the Dr knows I live on my own, and can't afford a hundred bucks if they don't work, they were FREE too! So, stoned for free, kinda fun! And all legal.

All kidding aside, I hate being in pain all the time. It causes depression, you know. So, I have been mopey and avoiding the blog. But I thought that I had better crawl out from under the bed that you brats were jumping on and say hey. And, if you were all that worried, I am quite sure the annoying Animal would have been calling me in the am, with the ruse of needing me to tape something, I am sure.

And yes, I taped Alias. Smallville was a rerun, taped Angel. Anything else, Animal?

Also got some good advice from Stormy. And the list she started for me is something that at least she thinks is true, I hope, so it's all good.

See, I'm loopy. I think I will trot myself off to watch the rest of Soul Survivors, and some Eliza. (like Eddy told Kyle about me the other day, she's someone I'd consider switching sides for.)

Nighty night!! Sweet Wes/Faith dreams!! Yummy!!

"Just like riding a biker"

Oh, and Kaj was right. Chicago kicked ass. Check it out.

P.S. Never blog while on Amerge. You will babble.

Wait, "I do not babble. I occasionally run-on, every now and then I yammer..." Ah, love the Xander!

Kay, really, going now.

2003-03-01T11:51:00.000-06:00

I know, I know, it's Saturday, but here it is- The The Friday Five

I usually don't do these, but this one struck a chord, so I have to share! Thanks Desi, it's all your fault. I saw this on your page, and got sucked in!

1. What is your favorite type of literature to read (magazine, newspaper, novels, nonfiction, poetry, etc.)?

Anything I can get my hands on. But I really have to go with Desi on this one, and say fiction novels. And yes, the decor of my living space dictates that. I have a bookshelf that is packed, three rows deep, and a trunk full of the ones that won't fit there. Once a year, I have to have a clean out for the Children's Hospital Book Fair, just so that I have space to keep my favorites. And yes, I even have the Buffy and Angel books. They are on display alongside the action figures, solidifying my nerdlet status. Be a nerdlet! Stand proud!

I also have the Argonath bookends, but my shelves are so full that I don't need bookends, so they flank my computer monitor.

2. What is your favorite novel?

This is a toughie. Also, like Des said, I would have an immensely hard time choosing. But I have a book that comes to mind immediately whenever anyone asks this question. When people ask me this about my favorite movie, I usually hem, and haw, and can't pick, and say Star Wars Episode IV, A New Hope, more for the connotations attached then for the movie, although I love the movie as well. But my favorite book? It just stands out there.

And, although I read Interview With The Vampire almost as much as I do my favorite book, it doesn't quite hold that favorite status. Although, I do recall the circumstances under which I, at 15, first became aware of the book and the chronicles, but that is a long, involved story, to be told at another time.

We were discussing my favorite book of all time, (and no, it's not LotR either, fellow nerdlets), and the honor goes, without question, to Anne of Green Gables written by fellow Canadian Lucy Maud Montgomery.

Why this book? Why indeed.

There are a great many reasons that this book is my fave. It's like Desi says (hey Des, I'm quoting you a bunch here!) reading a favorite book is like going to visit an old friend.

AoGG must have been one of the first Novels that wasn't written down to kids, for kids, that I had read. Our teacher had been reading it aloud for the class, a chapter at a time, and I was an impatient young girl. A chapter a day wasn't fast enough for me.

I have always been a fast reader. The first words that I read aloud were from Yertle the Turtle, my brother Animal right beside me, teaching me the way. I wasn't in school yet. If I recall, I was barely four years old, and it was here that my love of reading was born.

We were taught that you respect books. It was unthought of in our house to write in any book that didn't have the words "Colouring Book" emblazoned on the cover. We were taught to never, ever tear books, or abuse them in any way.

That holds, till this day. Most of the books I own look like they have never been read, even if they have several times over. The only two that you can pick out on sight are IwtV and AoGG.

So, all of this was said to illustrate that at eleven, while we were still reading stuff like "Here She is, Ms Teeny Wonderful" (and that was one of the HARD books) as class assignements, I wanted somewhat more of a challenge. And I was tired of waiting to see if Marilla would decide to keep poor Anne with an E, so I went and checked it out of the library.

And fell in love.

I still read that book at least once a year. When I am really sick, I pop in one of the mini series, one of the first things me and my mom #2 shared with out arguments or a war. (I love my stepmom like a mother now, but I was an evil little girl at 11, and Anne was one of the few things that I would let us share)

Yes, Anne is my favorite book, and I can't ever see that changing.

3. Do you have a favorite poem? (Share it!)

I do, And it relates entirely to question one. I love other poems, stuff by Robert Frost and other greats. But my favorite was spoken aloud by one Anne Shirley, and follows here:

The Highwayman
By Alfred Noyes

Part One
I
The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees,
The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,
The road was a ribbon of moonlight, over the purple moor,
And the highwayman came riding-
Riding-riding-
The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door.

II
He'd a French cocked-hat on his forehead, a bunch of lace at his chin,
A coat of the claret velvet, and breeches of brown doe-skin;
They fitted with never a wrinkle: his boots were up to the thigh!
And he rode with a jewelled twinkle,
His pistol butts a-twinkle,
His rapier hilt a-twinkle, under the jewelled sky.

III
Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard,
And he tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred;
He whistled a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there
But the landlord's black-eyed daughter,
Bess, the landlord's daughter,
Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.

IV
And dark in the old inn-yard a stable-wicket creaked
Where Tim the ostler listened; his face was white and peaked;
His eyes were hollows of madness, his hair like mouldy hay,
But he loved the landlord's daughter,
The landlord's red-lipped daughter,
Dumb as a dog he listened, and he heard the robber say-

V
"One kiss, my bonny sweetheart, I'm after a prize to-night,
But I shall be back with the yellow gold before the morning light;
Yet, if they press me sharply, and harry me through the day,
Then look for me by moonlight,
Watch for me by moonlight,
I'll come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way."

VI
He rose upright in the stirrups; he scarce could reach her hand,
But she loosened her hair i' the casement! His face burnt like a brand
As the black cascade of perfume came tumbling over his breast;
And he kissed its waves in the moonlight,
(Oh, sweet black waves in the moonlight!)
Then he tugged at his rein in the moonlight, and galloped away to the West.

Part Two
I
He did not come in the dawning; he did not come at noon;
And out o' the tawny sunset, before the rise o' the moon,
When the road was a gipsy's ribbon, looping the purple moor,
A red-coat troop came marching-
Marching-marching-
King George's men came marching, up to the old inn-door.

II
They said no word to the landlord, they drank his ale instead,
But they gagged his daughter and bound her to the foot of her narrow bed;
Two of them knelt at her casement, with muskets at their side!
There was death at every window;
And hell at one dark window;
For Bess could see, through the casement, the road that he would ride.

III
They had tied her up to attention, with many a sniggering jest;
They bound a musket beside her, with the barrel beneath her breast!
"Now keep good watch!" and they kissed her.
She heard the dead man say-
Look for me by moonlight;
Watch for me by moonlight;
I'll come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way!

IV
She twisted her hands behind her; but all the knots held good!
She writhed her hands till here fingers were wet with sweat or blood!
They stretched and strained in the darkness, and the hours crawled by like
years,
Till, now, on the stroke of midnight,
Cold, on the stroke of midnight,
The tip of one finger touched it! The trigger at least was hers!

V
The tip of one finger touched it; she strove no more for the rest!
Up, she stood up to attention, with the barrel beneath her breast,
She would not risk their hearing; she would not strive again;
For the road lay bare in the moonlight;
Blank and bare in the moonlight;
And the blood of her veins in the moonlight throbbed to her love's refrain.

VI
Tlot-tlot; tlot-tlot! Had they heard it? The horse-hoofs
ringing clear;
Tlot-tlot, tlot-tlot, in the distance? Were they deaf that they did
not hear?
Down the ribbon of moonlight, over the brow of the hill,
The highwayman came riding,
Riding, riding!
The red-coats looked to their priming! She stood up strait and still!

VII
Tlot-tlot, in the frosty silence! Tlot-tlot, in the echoing night!
Nearer he came and nearer! Her face was like a light!
Her eyes grew wide for a moment; she drew one last deep breath,
Then her finger moved in the moonlight,
Her musket shattered the moonlight,
Shattered her breast in the moonlight and warned him-with her death.

VIII
He turned; he spurred to the West; he did not know who stood
Bowed, with her head o'er the musket, drenched with her own red blood!
Not till the dawn he heard it, his face grew grey to hear
How Bess, the landlord's daughter,
The landlord's black-eyed daughter,
Had watched for her love in the moonlight, and died in the darkness there.

IX
Back, he spurred like a madman, shrieking a curse to the sky,
With the white road smoking behind him and his rapier brandished high!
Blood-red were his spurs i' the golden noon; wine-red was his velvet coat,
When they shot him down on the highway,
Down like a dog on the highway,
And he lay in his blood on the highway, with a bunch of lace at his throat.

Part Three

X
And still of a winter's night, they say, when the wind is in the trees,
When the moon is a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,
When the road is a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,
A highwayman comes riding-
Riding-riding-
A highwayman comes riding, up to the old inn-door.

XI
Over the cobbles he clatters and clangs in the dark inn-yard,
And he taps with his whip on the shutters, but all is locked and barred;
He whistles a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there
But the landlord's black-eyed daughter,
Bess, the landlord's daughter,
Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.

Do you know what's even better than that? Lorenna Mckennit's version of this amazing poem set to music. Go download it. Trust me, it's chill worthy.

4. What is one thing you've always wanted to read, or wish you had more time to read?

I've always wanted to read both The Three Musketeers and Dangerous Liaisons in their original french. My butt just has to get down to St. Boniface and a French book store to get them

5. What are you currently reading?

I'm reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkahban. After that, I have a Buffy book, an Angel book, and Laurell K. Hamilton's A Kiss of Shadows to read. Between that, and the fanfictions that I am currently both reading and writing, that should hold me until the next installment of the Anita Blake series, also by Ms. Hamilton (people, as vampire fans, you HAVE to go read these books. Trust Des and I on this! Do it now), comes out on April first.

And yes, I read that fast. I can finish Harry Potter tommorow if I stay off of the computer. And I seem to have this week off.

Words from your Ariemother

Someone pointed out this week that I am 'odd in the head' for worrying about someone I met and only know online, because I hadn't seen them online, or gotten an e-mail from them in "only" 24 hours.

Well, knowing that it is NOT just me among us that do that, I am informing you all that dear Slavey, our roaming Tag Man, might be making himself scarce for a little bit. Not to worry, though, he said. Yeah right! Mothers worry about their kids.

Also, the little bit of Trivia I posted below can be answered by something that is still posted on this page. In fact, it's in the other friday post, and Animal pretty much gave it away on the tag board, even though I said Winnipeggers couldn't play! :-)

And since it's been made so easy, I ask you all now some more trivia:

Who sings 'Check The Or?'

And I want the PERSON, because the group is too easy.

And this time, all Canadians are inelligiable.

2003-02-28T16:57:00.000-06:00

Looks like I've been sleephunting again

Okay, if you get that, you win my eternal respect.

Stormy, no telling.

Winnipegers are disqualified.

That is all.

2003-02-28T01:15:00.000-06:00

Why am I living in a Guy Maddin film??

Don't get me wrong. WORKING on a Guy Maddin film would be great. I'd get paid, I'd log union hours, I'd see old friends.

But living in one??

Rent Twilight of the Ice Nymphs. You'll see.

It's all pink, and purple, and perplexing. Much like my life right now.

I hate that I feel bad for speaking my mind, and worrying about hurting people. I am ALWAYS worrying about who I might be hurting, and how whatever I am saying to NOT hurt me could hurt them.

I hate it! My brother said that I try too damned hard to get people to like me. If they are going to like me, they will. If they are going to hate me, they will. He says that I shouldn't want affection that takes so much to earn. Maybe he's right.

But I want everyone to like me. Even my friends friends.

All this fuss! For what? I don't see that I've done anything to anyone to get them mad. I write e-mail. I e-mail people all the time. And I check under rocks when they aren't around. (Speaking of which, Roving Tag Man, would you e-mail your mother please?? I never get to talk to you anymore.)

I'm tired. And confused. And have to get up in 5 hours.

I'm going to bed.

Oh, on a plus note! Know what DOES make me happy?? My brother.

Especially when he posts things like Retarded Burger King

Oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!

2003-02-27T07:21:00.000-06:00

I'm going yo the Nazi camp

16 hours left.

Okay, I am going to stay away from the web today if it kills me. It just might. It's going to be like a Weight Watchers member avoiding a donut shop, an 8 year old saying no to Ice Cream, Bill Clinton saying no to sex, well, you get the point right.

I am an addict and the internet and you guys are my crack. Well, a lot more healthy than that, but you get what I mean, right??

It might just kill me, not checking my mail or my tagboard for 10 hours, especially when I am waiting to hear from someone I'm scared is very angry with me, but I am determined to do ir.

That is all.

2003-02-26T23:13:00.000-06:00

Ever have one of those days where you absolutely hate yourself??

Today was like that. The whole day. I haven't had a day this bad in a very long time. And I feel just awful about it. The lovely stress induced sick tummy diet has come back full force.

I was a completely snarky bitch today, and I completly sicken myself with my behaviour today.

All I can do is appologize and try to be a better person.

So, I do that. I humbly appologize for becoming the Bitch that was beyond today, and hope that those that I took it out on can forgive me. I'm human, and sometimes humans can only get shit on so much before they just lose it completely. And when that happens, at least with me, the shit hits the person pissing you off at the moment, or the easiest target in the vacinity. Sometimes the person that it hits happens to be both of those things, but it doesn't mean they deserve it.

And the person on the end of my snarky ass statements today really did nothing more than hit a very, very raw nerve. I can not appologize enough for exploding at something you had no idea would set me off. But I am not taking back the words below. I feel that way, and I am not sorry that I do. But the things that were said brought a letter that I got recently to the front of my mind in full force.

A badly spelled, short, heart breaking note that my masochistic self carries around with me every day. Not sure why, but I think that it is to remind me that I am a cynic, and love is for fools.

I am a cynic at heart, and I was a fool to forget it, even for a minute.

See, the words that set me off today were very reminiscent of this:

"Third, if Kyle and I are important, get off the computer with your imaginary friends and show some respect to Kyle. You do nothing and you hamper Kyle from doing things he enjoys. You're lazy, rude, annoying, and inconsiderate. Done, no sugar coating."

See, this letter is still causing me heartbreak.

Even if all it is is a "stranger that is easy to talk to on the internet", it's something that is keeping me smiling, a rare thing now a days, and I don't want to lose that because I had a weak, bitchy moment.

Hey, all I can do is offer myself up for flagulation.

Ah, screw it!

I am who I am. And I have bad days like everyone else. And I get defensive like a mother bear over people sometimes, and I hate to be attacked. And sometimes I can be not very nice. It happens. I'm human.

Ah, forget it.

In the words of Mark Hunter:

Fuck it. So Be It.

2003-02-26T12:35:00.000-06:00

Because MY blog is a place to vent, not other people's

See, I started to share this in another venue, but as it really wasn't the place, I decided Nazi Camp be damned, I only have 20 hours left here anyway, and though I have yet to eat, lunchtime be damned!

The issue arose again, in a round about way, that the people that I share my life with on the internet are not really my friends.

I take extreme offense at this.

I really do.

And though most of you know this, I have asked some people to come read this so that I can share why.

I have been through some very drastic relationship issues in the 56 days since New Year's Eve. I made a drastic mistake in placing my affections and my tender heart with a man that I never should have trusted. Even thinking about it now makes me cry.

All in all, I think the only thing I did wrong was fall for him.

See, the thing of it is, he is best friends with my roomate, and everyone but Coffeequeen has taken his side in the issue.

Of our circle of friends, I have not been welcomed to participate in any events at all since he has decided that he will never speak to me again.

All of this was accompanied by threats by my roomate to kick me out of my apartment because this individual could not bear to even be in the same apartment with me, never mind the same room.

I couldn't eat. I was very sick. And all but one of my friends was on his side.

EXCEPT for these people that I met and communicate with online.

They were here for me in a time when I desperately needed friends to cling to.

I know things about them I don't know about some people I share blood with.

I know their names, their pictures, their phone numbers. I know their jobs, their homes, their likes, their hates. I know their kids, and their spouses. I have talked to their kids. I have talked to them on the phone.

I love these people. They are there for me in my darkest hours, and I could not have survived the beginning of this year without them.

They are by no means strangers, and they are in no sense of the word imaginary friends.

And the one I met first?? Billy.

I thank him for being the first of many of the friends I consider among the best I have ever had.

Thank you all. *hugs*

2003-02-26T02:27:00.000-06:00

Okay, so be funny

My brother just demanded that I be funny.

Thanks!

Now I feel like poor Rocco in Boondock Saints. The Funny Man. Have you seen that movie? No?? Stop whatever you are doing and go get it, NOW!!!

So, where was I?? Looking for something funny to talk about. Hmm, well, what to say.

Well, I found out that I am getting a last meal at the Nazi camp. See, they are having profit sharing on friday, and so are having pizza, on the company, for lunch, as a celebration.Which is kind of ironic, really. I thought that it was before you got lead to the electric chair that you got a last meal, not when you were being set free. Maybe they know something that I don't.

Animal asked me if I was going to attempt to smuggle anything out of there, a la Christopher Walken in Pulp Fiction, or maybe just in my purse. Thing is, there is nothing that is worth smuggling out of there. Hell, you can't even get a decent stapler in that joint.

All I can say is that I will be lucky if I escape with my sanity . . .

Ever have one of those surreal days??

I've felt like I was in an experimental film all day. Which wouldn't be so bad, I guess. I mean, if I was, I could travel around, go to places like Cannes and Sundance. But I would also be in a place where Frank Gorshin lives on an Ostrich Farm, and I would have to explain why the concept is hilariously funny. (It's not, people, you have to know the writer, and even then, you had to have been there when he thought of it.)

So, my whole day has been like this.

First of all, the nasty cold sore that I had on my lip yesterday, (seriously, people, the thing was petitioning for it's own area code) had all but dissapeared this morning. You can't see it, and the only way I know it's still there is because it hurts.

Then, all prepared for a netless day at the office, staring at the computer when I am done my tasks and have begged for work to no avail, as if by looking at it long enough it will reveal all the answers to life, or maybe just the Caramilk Secret.

But low and behold, the Slytherboss, the creep that looks at my computer when I go to the batroom, is once again sick. He just came back from Florida, so I am betting it was the change in temperature that got him.

So, I was afforded the luxuary of checking out the web at break. And it turned into something I could not drag myself away from.

See, it started with a visit to one of the blogs, where I got into a bizarre pissing contest on a tag board with a girl I have never met. Apparently she has issues with me, though.

This was also accompanied by a barage of e-mails from those in my ASSB family present at said event, wondering what was going on.

And then, I get home, and someone has left their winter jacket in my apartment. No person, just jacket. It's cold outside. Look at my pixie!! I don't recognize the jacket at all, which makes it even stranger.

Plus, I really had every intention of cleaning the bathroom, but I have been online all night. (save the hour I watched the surreal, but fitting in with my day, episode of Buffy)

And it's two am. I have to be up in four hours. But I am talking to Billy. Still.

Hmmm, maybe that's why there are issues.

Okay, he sent me to bed. It's two thirty. I was going to post on the signifigance and meaning of Spike's duster, but my brains is surreal soup, and I promised to have sweet dreams, so I am going to go have them!

Nighty Night!

2003-02-24T06:48:00.000-06:00

No FSG this morning, folks

Just wanted to let you know that I am not "hiding under a rock", as Billy says, but I do have a cold. And although I wish I could call in sick, it's the last week at Hellajob, so I can't.

Also, the whipmaster is back from the dealer show, so I will not be online at all during the days.

Love you, miss you, see you in the evenings.

2003-02-22T20:17:00.000-06:00

The Flim School Geek Speaks Again *there may be spoilers ahead, proceed with caution*

Stormy noted after reading my blog this afternoon, that I might want to have a little spoiler warning. So there it is. There may be spoilers ahead. Although, as far as spoilers go, I am asssuming that anything that has to do with casting issues is already pretty much public knowledge, but that just might be the industry in me talking.

So, I was beginning to have a little rant on Buffy calling in the backup last post, so I believe that I will continue on from that point.

At one point in the episode entitled Getting it Done, Buffy's lecture includes her fear that the little "army" that they have aquired to fight the First Evil is nowhere near enough for the challenge that they are about to face. Well, Buffy, great leader that you are, what is a General to do when her force is depleted and the remaining members just aren't enough to battle the enemies that are approaching? I believe they call in the reinforcements. Why the hell are you not doing this? You sure have it in you to complain, but you don't seem to have it in you to ask for help.

Crossover issues aside, as they obviously are this season, it is absolutely unthinkable that Buffy is about to fight the biggest, baddest thing that she has ever faced and it has not even occured to her to call Angel and ask for his assistance. Like I said this morning, all that she needs to do is pick up the phone, dial a series of didgets, and she will have at her disposal a whole team of warriors that work for the Powers That Be.

Now, I know what you are going to say. What with Angel being Angelus, and Cordy being seemingly evil at the moment, there is no way that Angel Investigations could take the time away from their own battle with the Big Bad in order to go to Sunnydale abd avert yet another apocalypse. And this is true. But there is one little fly in that logic ointment.

Buffy has no idea what is going on in L.A., as she hasn't picked up a phone to ask.

Now, I have found it odder and odder that these two groups of people that battle the forces of evil to prevent them from taking over the world have not tried to enlist each other's aid. If we examine all the situations in the past two seasons where they could have used the help of the others, it begins to be ludicrous that they have not talked to each other.

First of all, the fight with Glory. Then, Holtz. And perhaps the others might have liked to know that Willow had gone off the magical deep end.

And Angel loses his son to another dimension. He needs to open a portal to get him back, and when the one spell he has fails to work, it never occurs to him that he has an interdimensional key just a phone call away.

Speaking of Dawn, and Connor for that matter, do the opposing groups even know about these children, about the existance of Connor and the fact that Dawn is not really a human that they grew up with?

If not, there are going to be a lot of shocks in the upcoming weeks. And although that might be a little entertaining, it is also completely unbelievable that they all work towards the same goal and do not keep in closer contact. After all, with the permanent midnight in L.A at the moment, making way for an "all you can suck buffet" for the undead, perhaps a slayer that was not in jail might be a useful thing to have.

Okay, so let's put the A.I. team, in all their "working for the PTB" glory, aside for the moment.

Buffy actually said the word "army".

Don't they have a special division of the army assigned to fight things like the First Evil? Aren't they called the Initiative? Can't Buffy get them to come even if she made a call to the local Pizza Hut and said the right words? For that matter, isn't that how she got them to come help Spike?

And, for that matter, when they were there, why in the hell didn't she tell them that they were in for a huge fight against one of the biggest HST's that they had ever seen?? I am sure that they could have had a whole platoon at their disposal had Buffy bothered to impart the information.

At this point, the only reason General Buffy doesn't have the caliber of army that she desires stems from the fact that she has lousy recruiting techniques.

And that's what I think about that.

2003-02-22T12:31:00.000-06:00

Still further words of a Film School Geek

Well, what shall we expound upon today, kiddies??

I did my tagging tour this am, and I saw the points that Cibby brought up about Faith, so I think that I am going to go there.

Faith, ah Faith!!

One of my favorite characters of all time. I know the show is about Buffy, and although I like her well enough, I was always more partial to Willow and then to Faith. If I had to pick a favorite slayer, I would have to go with Faith.

It has bothered me all season, and especially since the SIW have started showing up, that Faith has been convenitently forgotten by the Scooby Gang. Have they forgotten about her entirely? Do their brains block her out and only remember her when she is thrust into their faces?

Like when she showed back up in season four. I am glad that Buffy can gut someone with their own knife and then not even mention the girl's name to Riley. But then again, with Riley, she always seemed to be about keeping the information on her life to herself till he discovered them on his own. Then she would have to admit to it and explain. Maybe this is why he felt the need to run away from her?

So, the Scoobies have forgotten about her, as is there MO, I think, since they have conveniently forgotten about everyone that lives further than in the damned house on Revello drive, but more on that later.

Given that the First Evil has his minions running around doing his bidding, and killing off the potentials, you would think that while Buffy and the Scoobies were ammasing people to protect, that maybe they ought to think to protect the other slayer? But they haven't even thought of her. And furthermore, while they are all busy training the SIW for the upcoming war with evil, it seems as if they haven't even imparted the little tidbit to the girls that Buffy is not even in the slayer line anymore. She is an anomally, and she is no longer in the running for the crown of Miss Chosen One.

Now, while I think that it should have crossed everyone's minds, especially Giles, that they should perhaps look into protecting Faith when she is in a place where she pretty much can't run and hide, I think that the First is actually using a brain.

Why the First hasn't killed Buffy or tried to is beyond me, other than if Buffy dies again, well, the rest of the season is going to be missing a main character. Killing Buffy might be a good move. It would certainly shatter the confidence of those looking to her to lead thim.

But the First is very, very calculating in NOT killing Faith, or even making an attempt. It's simple, really. Faith can't join the fight where she is. She is locked up, and can't do any damage, or fight for the good side. Now, killing her would, since she is the true Chosen One, activate the new slayer. The slayer on the outside. One of the potentials, or, knowing Joss and ME, not even one of the SIW. But, said slayer would be free in the outside world. Free to do some damage to the first. As it stands, leaving Faith where she is and alive, the First only has to worry about one slayer.

But that just makes another point for the First to think about taking Buffy out. Because then there would only be the one slayer, and she would be unable to fight it.

Another thing that really bothers me about the Faith situation, is the fact that the SIW seem to have little or no knowledge of her whatsoever. This is very obvious. Remember when Buffy told her that her death would call one of them?? They didn't question that logic at all.

But I do. After all, as Cibby pointed out, between seasons 5 and 6 GodJoss was very, very adamnent about there not being another slayer called because of Buffy's death. He made it extremely clear that Buffy had given up her spot in the Slayer line already, and that it was Faith who truly held the keys to that legacy.

With all of this in mind, how the hell are they going to explain the truth to the SIW when Faith comes back to town on the tail of Willow?? And the fact that Buffy's death means little in the Slayer grand scheme of things.

Also, speaking of Willow's upcoming adventure to LA, why the heck is Buffy bitching that they need a better army, but failing, at every opportunity, to get one? After all, she just needs to pick up the phone and call to get, a slayer, a vampire, a watcher, a warrior, a brain, a miracle child, and a couple of demons. Or didn't she think of that? And speaking of Army, didn't she just have one taking out Spike's chip?

I have a ton more to say about this, but it's going to have to wait. I have some Special Olympics coaching to go do!

2003-02-21T20:59:00.000-06:00

Another one joins the blog, and Billy!! Your MSN account is down again

Though it may not appear so, Billy, I have sent you two e-mails today alone that got bounced back. So I copied the last one to the City account.

And yes, folks, another one has gone and gotten bit by the Blog bug!! Go check out Billy's Page. He hasn't got a tagboard yet, but he just started, so give him time.

Hey Billy, that title wouldn't have anything to do with a certain movie written by a certain Winnipeg lass, would it??And is it just a coincedence that I live here, or are you teasing me? :-)

Further words of a film school geek

If you read my post this am, you would see that I can take even a simple four word thought, get rid of Kennedy, and I can expound on it into perpatuity. For this reason, I am going to elaborate on one point every time I post. So, this could take me until the next episode tuesday night before I am done. Please have patience. I am used to writing 20 page essays on movies I like less than this show.

So, I'm going to jump down to nearer the bottom of the list for this post, because I am short on time and I want to pick something that won't take me a couple of hours to elaborate on.

Buffy's outfit. I know, it seems petty. But I have a valid point here.

Okay, so it was probably the skirt and sweater, AND boots that she wore to the office, but honestly. Did it not occur to her to change out of the ultra girly skirt and the high heels before taking up a task as strenuous as, say, grave digging?? She didn't have two minutes to throw on some jeans and sneakers? The girl wasn't getting any deader, for goddess's sake!!

And, I don't know about you, but if I dug a grave wearing that sweater, I would have had sweat pouring down my face. She didn't even take of the jacket. And there wasn't a speck of dirt on her. What is she now, an Elf?

More on this and other perplexing questions later.

2003-02-21T07:44:00.000-06:00

Words of a film school geek

Now, don't get me wrong. It was a good episode of Buffy. I didn't hate it. It was still a far better hour of tv then a lot of television out there. Hell, even a horrible episode of Buffy beats most of the other meaningless drivel that graces the two hundred channels on my satellite system at any given time of day.

But when I read the review on Entertainment Weekly, I was glad to see that I wasn't the only one that wasn't overly fond of the episode.

Now, while I agree with some of the points raised in the article, I by no means agree with all of them.

I do, however, have no problems telling you what I do think.

Now, maybe I am holding Buffy up to a higher standard than other shows, but I expect more from it going in. And maybe because Buffy has been outstanding lately, I have taken that for granted and looked at the episode under with a little too much scrutiny, and probably a little bit too much of a film school geek's eye.

Here's what I thought:

Things that bothered me. (there are things that I loved, but I will leave them till last, as I would like to close out on a good note.)

-Kennedy
-the vast numbers of SIW (slayers in waiting) and there complete uselessness
-the "three wise men sequence"
-Principal Wood's sudden appearence at the high school
-Buffy talks of needing an army, but doesn't think to call the one at her disposal
-Mentions of Buffy as the "last" again. What about Faith?
-Dawn's shirt. (it's petty, I know)
-Buffy's outfit (I have a better reason than petty)
-Giles MIA with no explination
-Did I mention Kennedy?

Since we seem to pretty much all be in agreement on Kennedy, let me start there.

I thought that Kennedy had some "potential" a couple of weeks age. Now, I have to say that the potential is all wasted. She's gay, so she automatically gets paired with Willow, she's always stuck on Willow like glue, even in situations where the potentials have been told to get lost, she's training the other girls, and she's talking back to Buffy when she has no idea what she is talking about.

First of all, I am bothered by how fast this relationship has progressed from date to couple. After all, it seemed that there may have been some chemistry there. But we saw that Willow was reluctant to let Tara go, but now she's attached to this new girl at the hip? What the hell is with that?

Never mind that she's all of a sudden included in sessions with the Scooby Gang, when she has no reason to be there. Hell, she didn't even believe in Magic till a couple of weeks ago. Now she knows enough to contribute to the strategy sessions? Get her out of there.

And she's training the other SIW in combat?? What the hell is that about? She was just as useless as the rest of them when Buffy locked a whole gaggle of them in a crypt with one lousy vamp.

And I think this would be a good thing for Xander to be doing. It would make him a more visible part of the show, as he has seemed to again taken up the role of the Zeppo. Never mind the fact that his military memories still lurk around there, and always come out when they need a military tactition. He should be doing that here.

Okay, so I have WAY more to say on the subject, but I have to go to work now!

I'll be back!

2003-02-19T08:51:00.000-06:00

An Angel's Soul Spoiler Board Family Wreath, or How Animal is the uncle of some Hellspawn

ASSB or Angel's Soul Spoiler Board, is a message board for fans of the television show Angel. Most of you know this, this is where most of us met.

Message boards have various ways of welcoming new posters, otherwise known as newbies, into their fold.

For example, The Buffy Cross and Stake has Dogpiles, where all the regular posters will post in the thread and give cyberhugs, like a big dogpile in football.

The ASSB, we have newbie floggings.

Yes, it is strange, but it has become a much beloved tradition. Drop by the board and check them out. It's wednesday. If they are good childer, someone will do the thread today, as I am still stuck in Auschwitz for another 8 days.

And what has this to do with gaining family, you might ask?

Well, back when this started becoming a tradition, the floggers would take the floggies under their wings, like adoption, or, being a fan board of a vampire show, like childer.

From then on, it has become that the person that flogs you is your sire. And that is how the family wreath began.

So, my dear brother Animal, I flogged Cibby, and Chasa, and Lali, and Ry, etc. Hence why you have demonspawn neices!! Make any sense? None whatsoever, I bet!

With that in mind, I would like to make a family history for homecoming. I will post more on the subject when I am not being spied on! Check the board out for details till I can post them here!

Must run, must work!

2003-02-18T06:40:00.000-06:00

Go and Tag the Animal!

My brother is thorougly convinced that no one is reading his blog. Go tell him different. (btw, Animal is NOT the brother that is expecting, keep in mind)

His tagboard has no borders, just fits into his sidebar, it's pretty cool.

For those of you keeping an eye on Arie's health

I went to the doctor again yesterday. Same doctor, yes, but I gave her a what for! I was like, hello, these migraines are affecting my life! So, she sends me out of there with a purse full of samples and a multitude of perscriptions. One to take every day to prevent them, one to take when they are really bad, one to kill the naseau associated with the really bad ones. Boo on the last one, though. There goes my diet!

Just kidding, guys!

Nine days and counting at Nazi hell!!

And I can't wait to get out of there. I really can't. It's crazy. Also, the doctor is of the opinion that it will provide a vast improvement on my health. So there!!

Saying that, Shrub, Wildy, Stormy, Linda, all of you guys that say you miss me?? E-mail me at the addy on this page. I am not suppossed to be using the net for personal use, but the slyther is out of town this week (watch out, Florida girls, he's down there somewhere) and I can truly say that I no longer care. So I limit it to lunch and coffee, but I still don't really care.

Does that make me a bad person?? Maybe I wouldn't be so tempted to go against company policy if my job kept my brain engaged in any way. As it is, the job provides no thought requirements whatsoever, and I am very bored!

The job really could be done by a monkey. I know!! Pay me to TRAIN the monkey to do my job, because at least THAT would provide me with a challenge!

Hasta, off to Auschwitz!

2003-02-15T21:08:00.000-06:00

Just a little shout out to the little cousins!!

Hi Jennifer, Hi Mike!!

Guys, I think that these two will be the littlest bloggers I know. They would like web pages of their very own.

I told them that the next time they were at my parents place for the weekend, that I would come over and we would do that. So, I will keep you posted, and you can go and tag them too!

2003-02-15T19:38:00.000-06:00

Well, I was going to play with my blog, but . . .

My computer is frustrating me. I saw Daredevil last night, and I decided that I needed the soundtrack. So, I now have the appropriate songs, but they do not seem to like me very much. All of them seem to have an annoying answering machine beep in the middle. Argh!!

Plus, I don't feel like dragging out my html books in order to do the things that I want to do to the blog right now, so I may just watch some Angel, take a nap, get up and clean the sty that is my room.

Speaking of Daredevil

I am always one that believes that you should never listen to a movie critics opinion on anything. This is especially true if you live in Winnipeg. See, we really only have two movie critics. Randall King is old enough to be retired, so how anyone is suppossed to trust his opinion on, say, a teen movie or a chick flick, is beyond me.

And Alison Gilmore. Well, what can I say about her? I'll start by saying that Ms. Gilmore LIKED Godzilla. Then, she used to review plays, right? So she reviewed a Black Hole Theatre Company (my Alma Matar's theatre company) production of "She Would if She Could" and all she managed to do was slam the costumes, which were period costumes, for 22 people, done on a budget of two thousand dollars, and the play itself, which she wasn't even watching. One of the leads delivered one of his monologues right to her, and she was too busy filing her nails to listen to him.

So, needless to say, I have never really listened to crictics.

Besides which, critics never really seem to reflect the truth of pop culture, so I can't really listen to them. I tend to form my own opinions.

And I really enjoyed Daredevil. I like comic book movies. I loved X-Men, and Spiderman.(And, Bonus to Daredevil, the previews were of X2, LXG aka League of Extrodinary Gentleman, and The Hulk. Fitting, for a change.) And I enjoyed the crap out of Daredevil. Hot bodies in hot clothes. A good plot. Well paced. And Ben Affleck, who was accused by some of being wooden, was exactly as the character should have been.

Also, a tad darker and more ambiguous than Spiderman. Don't get me wrong, I loved Spiderman, but it was a little too, Golly Gee, this is black and this is white, for me at some times.

Daredevil was the right mix of light and dark for me.

What else happenned on V-Day, you ask?

Well, we ended up going to the cheap theatre after Daredevil and seeing another two movies. We saw "A Guy Thing" and "Empire". The first was funny, but Jason Lee and Julia Stiles had absolutely no chemistry. As for Empire, it completely sucked! Draggy, boring, thin plot, and the climax, which they took an hour and a half to build to the climax, that lasted less then 10 minutes!

And those are my thoughts on that.

And I got to watch Buffy again, with Eddy, who hadn't seen it yet.

I loved Buffy this week. But I still think it would have been cooler if Wood had stumbled across his mother's duster one day at Buffy's rather than the first having just up and told him.

Not to be whiny, cause I really try not to be, but . . .

I got absolutely NOTHING for Valentine's Day. From no one. (I mean, Tags and E-Mails, which I love to death, don't get me wrong, but it's not the same.) Not my mom, not my brother, my roomate, No one. Not that I was expecting anything, but I usually at least get at least some candy or something. But nothing.

*shrug*

Well, I guess considering the status of my lovelife, I shouldn't be surprised, huh?

Big Fat Greek Congrats to Nia Vardalos!!!

How many of you have seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding?? I have to admit that I have yet to see it. But I think it is one of those things. Like if you live somewhere, you never go see the touristy things, because you can always go see the touristy things.

Doesn't make sense? Well, let me put it this way. Nia Vardalos was born in Winnipeg. So, being from Winnipeg, you think, yeah, that's the way weddings in the 'Peg go, I'll see it eventually, but I want to see THIS first. And hence, I have yet to see it.

But congrats to the Winnipeg Girl anyway, for her Oscar Nominations!! That would be TWO 'Peggers with Golden Men. (Anna Paquin, aka Rogue, was also born in the 'Peg.)

Congratulations!

I'm Going to be an Aunt!!

I talked to my stepbro Paul today. It took him asking me how Auntie Lil was three times before I caught on to what he was saying!! My bro Paul and his wife Christie are expecting their first baby in September. Congratulations to them!!

(and here's hoping Animal talks to them before he reads my blog today, or I have blown the surprise!)

2003-02-14T07:48:00.000-06:00

Well, good "Hey, you're a loser because you don't have someone to love you" day, known to the rest of the world as Valentine's Day!

Okay, so on a normal year, I typically despise Valentine's Day. I have been know to go home and wallow, and sometimes even cry. The day has always seemed to me more about rubbing it in your face if you don't have anyone, and make you feel less than normal and sub par, then it ever is about celebrating love if you do have it.

This year, well, it's just worse, you know? If you've read jill's blog, you know what I mean. All men are pricks, with the exception of our chat boys! (yes, Billy, you aren't a prick, either! (-: )

It always feels like the people around you that are in a happy, healthy, relationship are just even more condescending on V-Day. "Oh, you'll find someone, you just have to stop looking!" Yada. yada. Hey, why isn't there a Playgirl mansion? Because I think I would stop looking there.

What's worse? There is not ONE single person other than myself in my office. I am looking so forward to going to work today.

Also, my mom usually does something sweet for us, and that makes things a little better. But last night she told me I already got my V-Day treat!! Suckage! I would have rather waited on got it on V-Day so the whole day wouldn't have been craptacular. And sometimes my brother is good for V-Day, but I doubt it, as he has been in Regina all week.

And thinking of that, and reading jill's blog, I thought of something sad. Mybrother is the only man that has EVER bought me flowers. Don't get me wrong, I love that my brother buys me flowers. It has become a tradition that when ever there is a milestone in my life, I get flowers from my brother. It's great. But I have never had a male that was not related to me do anything mildly romantic for me at all. And it sucks!

Well, there is Daredevil to look foreward to tonight, and my anti-valentine's date with Eddy. So, that shouldn't be too bad.

Well, I have to run. Off to the Nazi camp. And since I can't surf from there, *TAGGITY TAGS* to you all until I get home tonight!

2003-02-12T07:49:00.000-06:00

I did hide in my room, but it turned into a good thing.

I was going to try to hang out in the living room, I really was. But when they got home, I made the attempt at being civil by poking my head in the living room, and wishing him a Happy Birthday. I was trying to be considerate and acknowledge his presence in my home, and tried to make it neutral ground for Kyle, as Kyle was talking to me, and I didn't want it to be about him having to pick sides.

Well, I said hello, and got NO acknowledgement in return. Not a hi, not a nod, not a grunt. Nothing. And it hurt to be completely ignored as if I were simply a piece of the furniture. I would have rather he yelled at me, called me names. (but not THAT name, jill) At least I would have been a person to him then. But I am not even that.

So, I retreated to my room, and I called jill to keep from axe murdering him. She talked me down some. And then, as I had gone on AOL to get jill's number, I called Billy. A first, that. See, the phone bill would have been way cheaper than the internet bill on the cell phone. I am sure it still is. But I can't wait to see how much it is, considering how long I talked to him. :) But it cheered me up so much, I can not even tell you. In fact, I was in such a better mood after talking to him, (thanks, Billy!) that when I went to hand over the good phone to Kyle, I was giddy and wound up like an eight day clock. Told Kyle that there would be a call to Pittsburgh on the phone that I would pay for. He knows that's where Billy lives. So he asked. And I shared. And this time I pretended AW was a piece of furniture.

I deserve better than that. And you are right. Its really good that things did NOT work out. I am so better off.

Besides, something tells me that I need a guy that can tell the difference between Shakespeare and Sophocles. And AW can't even spell Shakespeare.

Gotta run to the Nazi camp. Have a good day!

2003-02-11T21:47:00.000-06:00

It's going to be one of those weeks. I knew I shouldn't have got out of bed on Monday!

Why is it that when things go bad, they truly go to shit? I swear to the Gods that I must have truly done something karmically awful in order to be getting dumped on like this in this life.

Well, they went out for his birthday. I was done watching the new episode of Angel and discussing the hotness of Angelus with jilla, and preparing to go and watch Angel on DVD, which I decided to purchase for me in honor of his birthday, I get a phone call. They are having coffee. And, since they have nothing better to do, they will be coming here after Kyle drops April off to play James Bond on the computer. So 1. I have to stop chatting with Jilla, and 2. I now have to go hide in my room and NOT watch my Angel. Whatever!!! Argh! I hate this! And why does he pick this week to make a reappearence in the apartment, of all weeks? Normally Valentine's Day is the most torturously depressing day of the year for me. This year, it is just going to be so much worse.

Just what I needed on top of another blinding migraine.

Guess I'll go do the dishes and clean my room so that I can stand being in there.

2003-02-11T00:03:00.000-06:00

Another one joins the Collective

So, my best was talking to my brother online today, and she has gone and got herself a blog as well. Leah, or Coffequeen as she is better known as around my tagboard, has just started her blog today, and she is slowly learning. I got her to get a tagboard, so go tag her for me!. My endless search for the perfect cup of coffee just started up today, but drop on by and check her out.

Fourteen Days till the liberation form the Nazi Camp

Today was the last straw. I just could not take it anymore. I mean, it was bad enough that I couldn't get personal e-mail through my work account. But then they switched my position so that I now sit at a place where I don't even have a phone. So, not only can't I get e-mail, I can't get phone calls either, as I do not have a phone. On top of that, my job is, at most, a half time position, yet I am there full time. There have been days where I have begged everyone in the office for work, and yet, still end up with no work to do, for sometimes hours at a time.

So, with the lack of phone, I have to have my cell phone on, as I technically work for the temp agency, and not the office that I go to every day. After all, I have to have a way to get in touch with them.

So, today I get in trouble for having my cell phone during "buisness hours". I may have my one phone call during break, but that is all. When the hell did I get sent to prison??? Everyone around me talks to their spouses, parents, kids, best friends, dry cleaners, etc, about a hundred times a day. But I can't get personal phone calls?? PLUS, I can't use the internet from work, AT ALL. Not even during my lunch hour. Now, according to the Nazi Dictator, I was infromed of this before. Pardon me, but I was not. I was under the mistaken impression, I guess due to the fact that the IT that sits next to me uses the internet to pass around Bizarro cartoons, that as long as we got our work done, we could do whatever the hell we wanted with our lunch hour! SO, needless to say, I won't be around at all during the day till March, at least.

And, on top of it, the chicken shit dictator couldn't even ream me out in person. The rat sends me an e-mail!! Excuse me, but didn't you just chew my ass out for getting personal e-mails? Isn't reaming my ass out a personal e-mail??

Why do they figure that the job should be your whole life? Excuse me, but people need to talk to me. I have a life that is not in that office. And why should I be the exception? If I can't have calls, then no one should. Am I right? And the guys in the office should not be allowed to use the internet to watch crazy dirtbike accidents if I can't even check my mail on my lunch. Blow it out your ass. I called the temp agency and told them to get me gone!! The contract is up on the twenty-eighth, and I am outta there!! The agency loves me, regardless of what this jackass thinks. I have had 8 jobs with them, and 7 excellent reviews. Two of the places wanted to hire me full time. So I am not too worried. I am sure, with three weeks to work on it, and with me being bilingual, that they will have work for me in March.

Note to all, do NOT miss Buffy! Confession of a reformed Spoilerwhore

Sometimes I love being a Canadian. Granted, it's really hard to take on days when it is -41, like it is today. But sometimes, sometimes it's not so bad. Like getting Buffy and Angel a day early. Buffy rocked. And I have to say, I am enjoying the hell out of Buffy. More so because I have NO idea what's coming. Makes me tempted to stay spoiler free for Angel as well. So here I am, a reformed Spoiler Whore. Let's see how well I will do.

With that in mind, and not wanting to spoil you, don't you dare miss Buffy!! All I will say is that there is a big revelation that made my jaw drop, and I SO can't wait to see how it plays out.

So, since I am not his friend, I am buying his B-Day present for me

Happy birthday, AW!

I was saving up to buy him a present. See, it was his birthday today, the 10th. When I heard that Angel was coming out on DVD on the 11th, I was so jazzed, because I thought, 'what a perfect present for him!'.

Well, since I was planning on spending the money on it anyway, I am going to. And then I am going to keep it for myself!!

*gleeful laugh*

2003-02-10T00:03:00.000-06:00

One last thing . . . Proof that my brother and I are psychically linked (or is that psychotically linked?)

Okay, so I just added a link on my blog to the books that he wrote, right?? I mean, look below. Now go to his blog and look up his Google search. He was doing almost exactally the same thing as me at almost the exact same time. He posted at 11:37, I posted at 11:35. Is that scary, or what?

Goodnight!

2003-02-09T23:35:00.000-06:00

Sunday Night and I ought to be in bed . . .

I was seriously contemplating going to bed, and I really think that I should. After all, I do have to work in the am. And I did tell Wendy that I would go out with her for dinner tommorow night.

But I just don't feel tired. Kinda want to watch a movie, kinda want to read some fanfic. Or maybe just play around with my blog. Don't reallly know. Anybody have an opinion??

Also, strong possibilities on the appearence of AW this evening. Maybe I should just go to bed.

So, the weekend has been so not productive.

I never got any writing done, I never got the cookies made, but I did get some bonding time in with my mom. But other than that, just feeling lazy and headachy all weekend. Had a nice bonding night with Kyle and April on friday too. Went out grocery shopping, bought some actual steak, had a nice meal and watched some crappy movies. Meat of any kind is not something that we have been eating around here a lot lately. In fact, we haven't been eating at all lately. The last good meal that we had in this apartment is the day I had my last drink and the day that I last saw him. So, it's been like a month. Maybe that's why we are so unhealthy??

So, that was nice. But no cookies this weekend. Maybe tommorow. Or perhaps on tuesday, as the ASP has been put on hold while El Pres is in Regina. Although, I am having a date with his wife while he is out of town! :)

Welcome to the Blog Collective, Big Brother Lyle!!

Another thing that I managed to do this weekend was show off my blog to my brother. Now, My brother is a huge computer geek guy. He was surprised that I even knew what a blog was, let alone had one. Don't believe that he is a computer geek? Check out the books he's written on computers. (and that isn't all of them)

So, he saw my blog, and being bored in Regina, he called me to inform me that he now has a blog of his very own! The Blog of the Animal isn't much yet, but I am sure, with all of his computer knowledge, it will be something soon. I suggested that he put in a tag board, and sent him a couple of addies, so check him out over the next couple of days, and give him a tag. Let him know that people do read the blogs!! We can not let him stray from the collective!

Speaking of Tagboards, Tag, Tag, Taggity tag

My headaches make it hard to look at the computer sometimes, so I haven't been around tagging this weekend. I think I will get in a round tommorow at coffee break, but till then, TAGS to you all.

A big hug to Kyle

He doesn't read my blog much, but I send him hugs anyway. At work last night, there was a bad car accident less than half a block from the Casino. An elderly lady was waiting for her husband, and told Kyle and one of the other guys, who were in the front lobby, what kind of car her husband drove. They went to check it out. Sure enough, it had been her husband. They had to bring the police back to tell the poor lady that her husband didn't make it. Hugs and prayers to her, her family, and to the guys, who had a hard time last night. It makes you value the little things in life. Like with all this crap going on at home, Kyle still called me at my mom's and told me about it.

Well, toodles, folks. I'm to bed . . . .

Actually, I think I am going to get a cup of tea and watch Interview With the Vampire and fall asleep on the couch. Screw AW if he comes in with Kyle and catches cooties from me being in the living room. I will take Sheepy's advice and *kick* him!!

Love ya!

2003-02-07T11:04:00.000-06:00

Argh!! I swear, my blog is against me!

So, I took my break to post! And my edit page crashed and I lost the update.

There is nothing of interest going on with me. At all. Other than acute embarassment.

I am a loud girl. I was on the phone bitching about AW and his lack of ambition, thinking roomie gone for the night. He wasn't. He came back. Could hear me from the elevator. When I heard him, I hung up, fast! I think he thinks I was talking to myself. Or the voices in my head.

I now have embarassment AND guilt over it. I will be baking cookies a la Willow when I get home. Also, as I was doing the fetching thing for him out of guilt, I suffered a puncture wound from his guitar. I injure myself in the dumbest of ways.

Sigh!

If you haven't seen the Recruit, do it now. If you have, see it again.

Also, can you write to the dumb editor of Premiere and tell them that Mike Realba has more lines then Gabriel Macht, AND a last name in the film, where Macht does not, so maybe you should profile him?

Yes, I am trying to start a Mike Realba fan club. I think it might be easier if I had pictures of him from Wolfboy. Oh well, I will have to settle for this:

(thanks for the wierd german site I borrowed this from)

Mike is the one sitting behind Colin there. You can kind of see him. Wish I had a better pic. Oh well. At least I can say that I was responsible for tying him up and making him bleed. . . (okay, this is SO an inside joke. Go read the play Wolfboy.)

And I have convinced the ASP to go see it again tonight.

That's it, I swear

Planning on writing this weekend. Going to work on Learning To Breathe Again, but my muse is also tormentig me with something else. On the plus side, can now post from home.

Back to work now.

2003-02-05T08:50:00.000-06:00

In case anybody out there cares . . .

Just a quick drive by to tell you I posted a chapter of Learning To Breathe Again at FF.net.

2003-02-04T08:22:00.000-06:00

I know, I know, it's been awhile . . .

I just haven't had anything to say. Really. There has been absolutely nothing going on, the weather sucks big time, and I've just been feeling rather maudelin. See, a really good friend of the family is graduating at the end of June from my Alma Mater High School. And it's exactally ten years after I did. When I think about it, I think about all the places I imagined myself being ten years after high school. I planned to be well on my way to being rich and famous, and I would look like a super model, and I would rub it in the faces of all of those that ridiculed me in high school.

I would not be living in Romper Room with my twenty one year old cousin, be 4 YEARS out of college and still not working in my field, be 27 and have just had my heart smashed and trampled for the first time, and just now finally on the road to losing wieght, but only because I can't seem to get any food down. It's all very depressing and not worth sharing. But I just did. See why I haven't updated?

Another thing keeping me distracted

I love Willow, and not in that Tara/Willow kind of way. (Although, after Buffy last night, I just might be a Willow/Kennedy shipper) But as a charachter, I love Willow. And I love Crossover fan fiction. And I absolutely love Jason. (not Quartermaine. Just go check it out!) And I found a site that has crossover stories with Willow and Jason!! And Willow and Legolas, which I also love. Twisting the Hellmouth has been keeping me rather occupied as of late.

Don't worry folks, I am still working on my fan fiction. Can't get it to post from home. My brother is going to install a new Word processor when he gets home from Regina so I can continue.

Speaking of the Brother

I love my brother. And if any of you tell him, I will deny it till my last breath, I promise you.

But he's stuck in Regina, bored out of his mind because they close the town at 6 pm, and he sent me all of these wicked links yesterday. I have to find another way to organize my favorites now. And he also had my renewed geek meter all tuned up for the upcoming onslaught of geek movies. People, we are going to have nerdlet things to keep our nerdlet hearts aflutter until Return of the King, for serious! Daredevil, Angel season 1 on DVD, X-Men 1.5, the finales of our shows, X-Men 2, the new Harry Potter book, Matrix 2 and 3, the next Harry Potter movie, and so on, and so forth.

And my brother never waivers in his belief that I will one day get a movie job, then get famous. Of course, all of this is simply so that I can get rich and support him. Ah well, at least he will keep me forever up to date on the computer front!

2003-01-29T17:57:00.000-06:00

And the winner is . . .

Should I feel bad for gloating??

He caved. Three weeks to the day that he swore he would never set foot in my apartment, telling Kyle that he would never come back to our place, forcing the cousin to try and torture me into leaving, and for what??

He caved.

Came over to play James Bond on the computer last night.

So very glad that K kept trying to kick me out because "my best friend won't come here". Whatever!

I win that battle of wills now, don't I? I'm not gone, and he caved first!

Now, enough of that, GO WATCH ANGEL!!

It's a good one.

2003-01-27T18:53:00.000-06:00

Things have gone from bad to unbearable here.

All of your lives are bad enough at the moment, you really don't need to hear more of my soap opera garbage. I just wanted to tell you I might not get a chance to update for a while.

Love you guys.
Arie

2003-01-25T12:20:00.000-06:00

A 'little' bit of humor in the am

Well, CoffeeQueen found these at the IMDB posting boards. I am trying to convince her to be a regular poster at our posting board, but she prefers places where she can harass the others.

But these are so funny, I had to share.

Answering Machine Messages from Middle Earth:

(FRODO) "Hi, this is Frodo Baggins of Bag End. I'll be gone for a night or two on a special mission for my Wizard friend. Leave a message and I'll call as soon as I get back."BEEP!

(Gandalf): "You've reached Gandalf the Grey. To schedule a fireworks show please press one. For your free psychic reading, press two. For today's nugget of Wizardly Wizdom, please press three. If you are Evil or a Minion of Evil please press four. If you are a Dwarf with troublesome Elf fixations, please press five. If you'd like to be King of Gondor, press six. If you are currently in possession of an All-Powerful ring that could destroy all of Middle-earth, please press seven. If you are a hobbit in need of a bit of fancying, please stay on the line and the operator will assist you shortly."BEEP

(Strider): "You've reached Aragorn, Heir of Isildur, also known as Strider, Elessar, 1st King of the Reunited Kingdom, Thengal of Rohan, Elfstone, Telcontar, The Renewer, Longshanks, Ecthelion of Gondor, Wing-foot, Sweetche---" BEEP -------

(ELROND): : "This is Elrond's answering service. If you're calling to make fun of my crown, hang up now or you're going to get an Elven-earful!"BEEPP!

(THE WITCH KING) : "You've reached the Witch-King, Lord of the Nazgul. If you have any information regarding `Shire' or `Baggins' please leave your name, your whereabouts, greatest fear and a brief message, and I'll be there promptly. Unless you're a woman. If you're a woman take me off your phone list and stop calling!"BEEPP!

(SAM) "Hello, this is Samwise Gamgee. I am currently at Bag's End trimming Mr. Frodo's grass, hedges, and anything else he would like to have trimmed. I could be digging holes for Mister Frodo where I will plant lovely flowers that will make Mr. Frodo very happy. Mr. Frodo is the best master ever! If you are not Mr. Frodo don't bother to leave a message."BEEP!

GLORFINDEL): "Greetings, you've reached Glorfindel of Rivendell. I'm probably home, out of work, and sitting in my forest-view room throwing darts at a blown-up photo of 'Arwen' at the Ford. If this is Peter Jackson, I'm more than willing to show up with the other elves at Helms Deep. The Pelannor? The Grey Havens, at least?! If this is Arwen, get your big feet out of the Bruinan and give me back my horse!"BEEEP!

(SAURON): "Yeah, this is Sauron, famous Maiar gone bad. I cannot take your call right now as I'm very busy plotting the downfall of Middle Earth. State your business at the sound of the scream, or press 9 to reach the Nazgul . If this is 'the Mouth', don't forget to bring me a very large bottle of Visine upon your return."BEEP!

(CELEBORN): "This is Celeborn of Lothlorien. If you´re an elf, press 1. If you´re a man, press 2. If you´re a dwarf, hang up."BEEP!

(HALDIR): "You've reached Haldir of Lorien. I'm probably too high and mighty to talk to the likes of you, but there's always a chance. If this is my plastic surgeon, Friday is looking suitable. If this is a dwarf, consider yourself snubbed. Leave a pleasing message at the sound of the word arrogant, including all the pertinant details ... and then I'll have to make a decision, won't I?"ARROOOGGGANNTT!

(TREEBEARD): "Hroom! You've reached Treebeard of Fangorn Forest. Please leave a message, but don't be hasty. Speak slowly. Very slowly. Think about what you want to say very carefully. Don't rush. Spell your name, speaking each letter succinctly. I promise to return your call, however, I cannot say when. Hroom! Must not be hasty. Once I carefully think through what my reply should be, I will call you back, saying each word slowly, very slowly ..... BEEP ............

(GIMLI): "You've reached Gimli the dwarf. Due to a hasty, likely regrettable promise, I'm busy packing, as tomorrow I leave to go trapsing through Fangorn forest with Legolas. If I do not return, I leave my axe collection to my friends at Aglarond, and my most prized possession - Galadriel's lock of hair - is to be given it's own shrine there. If this is Treebeard, PLEASE stop with the prank calls. If I hear one more chant of "the eyes, the eyes, beware of the eyes!", and Quickbeam snickering in the background - I'm NOT GOING!"BEEEEPPPP!

(BOROMIR): "Hello, this is Boromir the next Steward of Gondor. I'm away now, trying to get my hands on that damn ri....er...ah. Well. If you need me to blow my horn, press # 1. If this is Galadriel, what the heck are you calling for anyway? You already know what I'd say. If this is my 'Mistress', meet me you-know-where. Anyone else, at the sound of the horn, leave a message and I'll get back to you after I've taken over the world. BWWAAAAAAAAAPPPPPPPPP ...

(GANDALF: "Hello, you've reached the voice mail of Gandalf the Grey. If this is Saruman, I am off looking for the rods of the five wizards. If this is Theoden (long sigh), there is no need to leave another message; Shadowfax will be returned shortly. If this is Sauron, please stay on the line; an explosion will be with you shortly. If you are a hobbit, please press one. Elves press two, and dwarves press three. All other callers, please press four. Thank you for calling, and remember: do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger. BEEEEP"

(Legolas): I can´t talk right now...I´ve got shampoo all over my eyes...BEEP!

(Balrog): This is the voice mail of Durin's Bane, also known as the Flame of Udun and the Valrauker of Morgoth. I am currently battling a very feisty wizard in the depths of the earth, but I will get back to you as soon as possible. If this is an orc, no, I am not going to repay the damage caused by Gandalf's shutting spell. If this is Sauron, I want to know when you're going to get me out of this hole and let me do some real damage. If this is the Watcher in the Water, I demand an explanation for why Gandalf got past you. If this is Gloin, Beorn, Bard, or anyone else wanting to speak with Balin, BEEEEEEP.

(Gimli): "You have reached the message minder of Gimli son of Gloin. If you want to leave a message, kill two orcs. If you want to hear more about me, kill three orcs. Alternatively, if you want to speak to the operator, kill four orcs."

(Gollum): "I'm not in at the moment. Leave a message after the hiss. Gollum!Gollum! "

2003-01-24T12:26:00.000-06:00

Kay, so I lied

I know, it's only been two minutes, but I was checking on my blog and saw that Billy boy tagged me!! Smooches, sweet boy!

Let me introduce Billy to those of you who have not had the pleasure of chatting with him as City135 on AOL. Billy is the first friend that I made from the BC&S. We have been e-mailing back and forth for over a year, and every time I hear from him I am guaranteed to get a smile on my face. He even wrote me when he was off at Boot Camp. In fact, one of the postcards he sent me is one of my prized possesions. It has a cute puppy on it, and says love. He sent it because I can't have pets in my apartment.

I found it when I was cleaning last night, and put it on display on my entertainment unit. An additional bonus other than it makes me smile?? It seems to drive AW insane, for some reason. Maybe he has a thing against puppies.

Hey, Billy. You need to go out drinking with Chasa, Sekkie and MM. They all live in the 'burgh with you.

2003-01-24T12:16:00.000-06:00

Well, just another Friday night

Blech! I used to look forward to the weekends. I could stay up till 6 and not worry about work. I could hang out with whatever friends K would bring home. We would watch movies.

But now? Now I just kind of approach them with a sense of trepidation. Will he finally come up when he drops Kyle off? Will he think I'm asleep? Will he expect me to retreat to my room if I'm not? Will he just leave if I don't? Will he ever turn into an adult and get over himself??

Hey John. If you ever happen to be reading this. You know all that stuff that I was doing to make you uncomfortable?? Well, rest easy. Won't be doing it anymore. Kyle kinda gave me the impression if I made a play for you, strictly physically speaking, that it might be well received. Well, I guess he was mistaken there, huh?? That is what was going on on that tuesday, and trust me, it won't be happening again. Not ever. You hate me. I get it. But grow up and get over it. You can occupy a room with me. It won't kill you!

Like he'll ever read that. *shrug* I feel better though, and that's what counts, right?? Right!

Also, I find myself with another friday night where I have absolutely no plans. How sad. And there are no movies to see, and nothing to watch on TV, (does Fox get that they lost a boatload of Fastlane watchers by giving it Firefly's timeslot? I used to watch that show, but I will not be a traitor to Joss), and I am waiting, rather impatiently, for a friend to get back to me about going to a play.

That would be nice.

Am I the paranoid, or are they really watching us?

Anybody else convinced that the PTB behind ME shows are watching our little family a little too closely? I mean, the chat room comments, and now?? Sehkmet on Angel and Live Journals for the characters? Um, why wait 7 years to do this for the characters? Could it be that we are making blogs popular? Or am I overreacting?? Guys, if you are watching us that closely, post to the board and tag us once in a while!! That's all I ask of you for stealing our ideas!

Well, lunch is almost up, but I am sure I will have more to say later.

2003-01-22T12:31:00.000-06:00

Okay, so Kangaroo Jack it wasn't . . .

So, after all was said and done, my brother was late to the movies, and the only person other than CQ that even came with us was a collegue of my brother's who had absolutely no interest in the Kangaroo movie, so they decided on Die Another Day. There are several reasons that I did not want to attend that movie. One: I already saw it. Two: I didn't particularly like it. 3. AW liked it, and it reminds me of him.

Also, my brother being late limited our options. So, the only other choices CQ and I had by the time they got there were Catch Me if You Can, and CQ has an aversion to Leo, or TTT, which we gladly went and saw again.

CQ and I have a deal wherein I get my elf, and she gets the Hobbits. I am beginning to think I got the raw end of the deal. I mean, I love Legolas, but there are 4 of those cuties!!

Buffy, Angel, movies, contunity and deep thoughts

Just some random thoughts on the new Epis I saw last night, on contunity in general, and inside jokes and such.

Does anyone else really, really want to see a Goonies reference in Sean's episode of Angel, or is it just me? I think I would like to see someone doing the truffle shuffle.

Kyle is having a friend over from work tonight, Dave, who needs to borrow our computer. That's fine. So, I miss the post Angel chat. No big. But he thinks he can stump me with Movie Trivia. Bring it on, baby!!! Bring it.

Buffy and Angel are about to have a huge continuity issue. If the sun goes missing in LA, won't it have to go missing in Sunnydale?

And as for Buffy. I am ambivilent about the episode overall. I agree with Amber for the most part, though. I loved the Buffy/Spike bit at the beginning, and I hated the SIW (slayers in waiting). They really are annoying. Yes, you have no super powers, but neither do Giles, Xander, Tara, Willow (till recently), Oz most days, Dawn, Anya, Riley, Wes, Cordelia, Gunn, Fred, Forrest, Graham, and any number of other humans that have managed to dust vampires during the seven year run of the show. Hello????? There are a bunch of you, and you still manage to crap your pants at the prospect?? Willow and Xander had a team going in season 3 when Buffy went awol. Grow the hell up.

Hated that Dawn wasn't a potential. Isn't that the whole point??

When did Buffy hit her head?? My death will activate one of you. Um, sorry toots, but your death card has already been played. Your death activated Kendra. Kendra's death activated Faith. Faith's death would be the one that would activate one of these girls.

If Buffy's death were to activate a Slayer, we would have three slayers running around. Buffy, do the math.

Oh, but I did like Xander's speach. In fact, I loved it. I found I could really relate to the whole "they will never know how it feels" thing. It struck a cord with me.

And did I mention that I hate that I look like Gwen? I don't mind her, really. I think she's got potential. But I dislike that she made Angel's long dead heart beat, I hate that she's there as a replacement Cordy, and I am sure there is something else. Oh yeah, she looks amazing in leather.

If she had her own show, I'd probably watch. But the AI crew is glutted as it is. Go away, Gwen. Go to the Xavier institute, where you belong.

2003-01-21T12:30:00.000-06:00

The reason behind: Lack of Updates

Let's face it folks. Updates have been pretty depressing as of late. It's a drag. My mood is the pits. Yesterday, I was in, as Anne Shirley would say, The Depths of Despair. I don't really know what it was about yesterday, in particular, that set it off. All I know is that, aside from the AW being not worth it, he was a daily part of my life, for months. And as far as I was concerned, he was one of my family, a group of treasured friends that I have made into more. (My lovely CoffeeQueen is one of these people) And I felt the loss of him yesterday like the loss of a limb, or the loss of my heart. Whatever is left of it feels shattered, irrepearable, and sharp, as if pieces of it will pop up from time to time for the rest of my life to poke me and remind me about the good things in him I have lost, like falling asleep with his heart beating under my ear, or having someone to watch Angel with in the middle of the night. I guess that's why I kept the note, instead of ripping it to shreds. So I can remind myself of all the bad in him, too.

Also, there seems to be a technicolor yawn convention at my place. Either, K has some serious bad stomach flu, or the stress of the sitch is making itself known on him too. Either way, he came home from work. And I looked bad, I mean, truly. So he asked what was wrong, and I said I had a bad day. How to explain when AW still loves and adores him?

On a plus note, managed to catch the tail end of Buffy! Loving the Xander! And that's all I'll say.

So, I think I need the distraction of a stupid movie. With that in mind . . .

Further discussions of the ASP, or Proof my brother has too much free time at work

My bloody Web Mail wouldn't even work today! So, I had to tag myself to get the other members of the Academy to send out a Screening Notice. The following is what my brother came up with, word for word:

Greetings Fellow Members of the Academy,

Well, we have a number of choices this week, however, I think we all know which movie we need to see. That's right, Number #1 spot on the Box Office this week is Kangaroo Jack!!!

As can be seen by these excellent behind the scenes photos it looks like a great movie!! Now some of you might be complaining already, but hey, there are four great reasons why the ASP members need to consider this movie.

1. Jerry O'Connell
2. Christopher Walken
3. Estella Warren - Cdn
4. Canadians just don't seem interested!! Just check out this pathetic box office showing!!!

But look at what the Americans have done simply by themselves!!!

So show times are:

SilverCity, Polo Park
817 St. James Street Winnipeg, MB R3G 3L9 (204) 774-1001
KANGAROO JACK [PG] 12:35 2:40 5:00 7:30 9:50
Running Time: 99 Mins.

SilverCity, St. Vital
110-1225 St. Mary's Road Winnipeg, MB R2M 5L3 (204) 256-3901
KANGAROO JACK [PG] 4:30 7:00 9:30
Running Time: 99 Mins.

Unless the membership is interested in something else like:

About Schmidt
Catch me if you can
National Security
Narc
The Hours

Please feel free to let me know your vote!!

Lyle A Bryant
El Presidenté
The Academy of Popcorn and Slurpees

The following is my response:

Greetings Fellow Members,

Though I have been known to protest vehemently against this movie in the past, I am going to have to relent, reconsider, and agree with El Presidente on the choice of tonight's screening.

I, for one, do not feel the need to be further depressed or dejected about life with the other choices, and therefore, think that 2 hours of the mindless stupidity of Quinn Mallory chasing a kangaroo might be good for my psyche, at this point in time.

As always, I would prefer St. Vital.

What time will the Enterprise be departing, El Presidente? And does it have room for a passenger beaming up from the interment camp on the planet Polaris?

Thank You,
Lillian D. Bryant
Director in Residence

Yes, no questions about it. We are insane!

2003-01-19T11:31:00.000-06:00

Ways in which to terrify your roomate

Hide in your room, because you know he got a ride with the AW, and figure he might finally relent and come on up. Start watching Texas Chainsaw Massacre. (I did not realize the chick at the end screams for, like, half an hour straight!)

Jamal asked what the hell was wrong with me, and Kyle came to check. Highly amusing! At this point, I came out, because Jamal likes me, so it was ok.

What the hell is wrong with Doctors?

I know that there is something wrong with me. There has got to be. I get migraines at least once a week. Had one on friday, and one yesterday. I had all these plans for the weekend. I was going to play with my blog, I was going to chat to Lali on friday. (I miss you, hon! We used to talk 20 times a day, and now we barely do. We need to FIX that) I was going to clean my apartment for my company today. But both days, I lied down to get rid of my headache, and slept till 3 am. Last night, I got up at three, and went straight to bed. It sucks! I have another appointment in two weeks, and I hope she can figure out what's wrong. I'm hedging my bets, though. It's been three years, and nothing she's done even helps them.

Sometimes things are different than you expect.

So, my brother, some friends and I have a really silly tradition. Well, it didn't start out as silly, but it kinda is now. See, in my city, movies used to be cheap on tuesdays. It started out as $2.50 tuesdays, and then became cheap tuesdays, and with ticket prices going up to $12.00 when they built the fancy Silver City Cinemas, it made cheap tuesdays a really good night to go to the movies and save five bucks. So a group of us would go to the movies on tuesdays. Almost every tuesday. Since then, they've lowered prices across the board, and at $8.25 a ticket, doesn't matter your age, our Famous Players theatres are the cheapest in the country. Doesn't matter when you go, but the tuesday tradition seemed to stand.

Last year, when I started to have computer access at work, it seemed easiest to organize all of this by e-mail. So, every tuesday morning my brother would send out a group e-mail to plan that night's outing. Well, my brother tends to be a smart asss at times, and one tuesday, bored as he was at work, he went on the web and dug up a picture of the Oscar Statuette. And the e-mail was very formal, and started out with: Greetings members of the Academy of Slurpees and Popcorn. See, Winnipeg is the Slurpee capital of the world. We sell a LOT of slurpees. I mean, we sell more slurpees in January than Dallas, Texas does in June. So, my brother thought that this would be a good name for our little group, and we have been the ASP ever since. Well, the ASP went out to a movie on thursday, which just seemed to be a better day for us this week.

Well, we choose a movie the democratic way, and ended up going to see "Two Weeks Notice". Now, what with the way that my life is going lately, I thought that the movie would make me nothing but cynical and depressed. But, my brother, knowing me so well, leans over as the movie starts and we see Sandra Bullock is the producer, to tell me that she is much older than I would have thought. So, I am no longer thinking about how I will never have anyone that loves me like that, and that I am not worth having, as some AW pointed out, but I am thinking, she was older than me when she started! All hope is not lost! I can still have a career.

The whole thing gave me the boost I needed.

The producers of Crooked E might have lost themsleves the best PA they never hired, but there is another movie that starts shooting in one month, and I am determined to be working on it!

Another thing to look forward to? The ASP is convening at my place tonight to bet on the Golden Globes. I tend to win the pool on these things. With the money, I am going to by Blue Crush. Not a great movie, but it's surfing. If I lived near an ocean, and when I move to one, I'll be a surf chick. I know it.

I am determined that living well will be the best revenge.Or: I may be Love's Bitch, but at least I'm man enough to admit it!

I've lost 15 pounds in the last month. Though the fact that my stomach is repulsed at food is probably not a good thing, if I keep losing like this, I will almost weigh what those stupid wall charts and the silly doctor tells me I should weigh by the time we all leave for Vegas. And jilla and I are going early in order to get supplies for our room and do the girly thing. And I know that that childe of mine is determined to get her mummy into some leather. And, if I am liking my stomach, I am determined to get a belly ring. And I am going to have my uncle, who can do Japanese calligraphy, work on our Love's Bitch tattoo. So, by my way of thinking, I am going to be very easy to look at by the time I come back from Vegas, and I will be dressed very different then anything I ever wear at the moment. And if AW is determined to stay away, it'll be six months since he's seen me. I'm going to go into the Casino, talk to the other people there that think I'm great, despite his attempts to bad mouth me, and let him drool, wondering who the looker is. Then, I will laugh in his face! It'll be great! Anyone have an extra couple days off come Homecoming time, and want to come back with me to watch??

Also, I my best bud Leah, (best bud that I see who lives in my city, of course) has been giving me songs to download to lift my spirits. I give you the lyrics of two of them here.

She told me to get I'm Still Standing, by Elton John, because it's the way it is with me right now:

You could never know what it's like
your blood like winter freezes
just like ice and there's cold
lonely light that shines from you
you'll wind up like
the wreck you hide
behind that mask you use.

And did you think
this fool could never win
well look at me
I'm a comin' back again
I got a taste of love
in a simple way
and if you need to know
while I'm still standing
you just fade away

Don't you know I'm still standing
better than I ever did
lookin' like a true survivor
feelin' like a little kid
I'm still standing
after all this time
pickin' up the pieces of my life
without you on my mind

I'm still standing yea yea yea
I'm still standing yea yea yea

Once I could never hope to win
you staring down the road
leaving me again
the threats you made
were meant to cut me down
and if our love was just a circus
you'd be a clown by now.

Don't you know I'm still standing
better than I ever did
lookin' like a true survivor
feelin' like a little kid
I'm still standing
after all this time
pickin' up the pieces of my life
without you on my mind

And then, one that I heard on the radio the other day just hit me as so parrallel to my situation right now, that I had to go and dowload it!

Disease, by Matchbox 20:

Feels like you made a mistake
You made somebody's heart break
But now I have to let you go
I have to let you go

You left a stain
On every one of my good days
But I am stronger than you know
I have to let you go

No one's ever turned you over
No one's tried
To ever let you down,
Beautiful girl
Bless your heart

I got a disease
Deep inside me
Makes me feel uneasy baby
I can't live without you
Tell me what I am supposed to do about it
Keep your distance from it
Don't pay no attention to me
I got a disease

Feels like you're making a mess
You're hell on wheels in a black dress
You drove me to the fire
And left me there to burn

Every little thing you do is tragic
All my life, oh was magic
Beautiful girl
I can't breathe

I got a disease
Deep inside me
Makes me feel uneasy baby
I can't live without you
Tell me what I am supposed to do about it
Keep your distance from it
Don't pay no attention to me
I got a disease
I think that I'm sick
But leave me be while my world is coming down on me
You taste like honey, honey
Tell me can I be your honey
Be, be strong
Keep telling myself it that won't take long till
I'm free of my disease

Yeah well free of my disease
Free of my disease

I got a disease
Deep inside me
Makes me feel uneasy baby
I can't live without you
Tell me what I am supposed to do about it
Keep your distance from it
Don't pay no attention to me
I got a disease

I think that I'm sick
But leave me be while my world is coming down on me
You taste like honey, honey
Tell me can I be your honey
Be, be strong
Keep telling myself it that won't take long till
I'm free of my disease
Yeah well free of my disease
Free of my disease

Well guys, you wanted an update, how's that for one? Long enough? :)

2003-01-16T16:52:00.000-06:00

Okay folks, I am throwing out a question to you.

K called me at work with a migraine so bad it warranted him calling me in the first place. His head is so bad that he was looking for my super powered meds for it. And he went to work anyways.

Now, I have said meds in my purse, and I do have enough time before my evenings plans to take them to him at work. My problem?? AW! If I take the meds to the roomie, I run the risk of running into AW. Should I even bother?

2003-01-16T10:29:00.000-06:00

Okay, so I posted the story!

And my blog seems to work just fine from my work computer, but at home is another story. So I throw the question out to my readers. Do you get the new stuff when you first come to the page, or do you have to go into the archives? I just don't know what is going on with it!!

Also, Kyle and I watched Ice Age before I came to work, and I have to agree with him. Why has there been no great cartoons since The Lion King?? What's going on with that?

See, we be watching cartoons. Methinks we be all right.

2003-01-16T07:11:00.000-06:00

Sorry, guys, for those of you reading my story.

I can't post it from home! Nothing but notebook on my computer and Fanfiction.net won't upload it. I'll try from work. Also, my blog's been misbehaving, so if any can help me, let me know!

2003-01-15T22:10:00.000-06:00

Kay, I need help! It keeps putting the new stuff in the archives, and I can't fix it! Anyone have a suggestion?

2003-01-15T12:38:00.000-06:00

You want Wes, you got Wes!

Excerpt from Chapter 8, Learning to Breathe Again (which, with any luck, should be posted by midnight)

Wesley cleared his long unused throat and got to speak before Faith could stop him.

"Faith, I'm fine. Just dropped my book."

"Well you look a little pale and it's not like you to . . . " Her voice trailed off as she realized that she was responding to something that Wesley had said. "Hey. You spoke. You shouldn't be speaking"

"Fred will be angry at what you've done to that shirt."

There you go pets! More on this and other Wes related events later.

2003-01-13T22:52:00.000-06:00

Well, seems like I overreacted.

He's not coming over after all. I know that I should be happy. But, ironically enough, I just feel worse for messing up Kyle's friendship. He couldn't even bear me for five minutes to come and get Kyle for the movie.

*sigh*

Hey, on a happy note, I'm a regular!!!! Finally!!! Thanks Angel X.