.

2007-02-18T22:06:00.000-08:00

I made waffles from scratch this morning - when you beat the egg whites and fold them into the batter, it really makes the waffle much fluffier. My favourite part is blending in the vanilla extract. Its smell reminds me of baking lumpy, asymmetrical cookies as a kid and bright summer afternoons in my parents' kitchen.
After waffles, Shayne and I went to Queen Elizabeth Park with the intention of playing golf but couldn't due to poor employee scheduling. So we went to the conservatory where the greenhouse's humidity fogged up my glasses. We mimicked Rosie the African parrot by clicking our tongues and chirping. Large koi fish swam in the man-made streams.
After the conservatory, we walked aimlessly around the park admiring other people's dogs. A fellow, I do not remember his name, asked Shayne and I if we would be witnesses to a wedding. His wife, Karen, is a marriage commissioner, and she was marrying a couple, Wayne and Chun, right then and there. We agreed to help. All we had to do was watch Karen say a few phrases that Wayne and Chun repeated. Then Wayne and Chun signed the contract as the fellow took their picture, and then both Shayne and I signed the contract while having our picture taken. Then, as simple as a few minutes can be, Wayne and Chun were married. They thanked Shayne and I for our help; we congratulated them and wished them our best as we departed. It was only about twenty feet later that Shayne and I realized that we could run back to Karen and get married right then and there. We paused; our feet pegged to the earth. We were standing on a dirt path where turning left meant marriage and right meant to continue as we were; the words should have been carved on a wooden signpost pointing in each direction. And we kept repeating the question "Should we . . . ? Should we . . . ?" to each other, but we were unable to walk either way.
When rational thinking set in, Shayne said that we better keep walking. On another rational note: neither Shayne nor I want to be in a higher tax bracket at the moment.
So we came across a sandwich board that said "Open House: Curling" and decided to do that instead. Curling is actually quite challenging and kind of fun. George, one of the curling coaches, taught us how to throw, curl and slide - I kept loosing my balance and ending up on my ass. If I had more time, I would not mind taking up the sport - Shayne has grander dreams of learning how to curl and then challenging his adolescent nieces to a curling dual. Sounds like another kind of destiny.

Flux capacitor.

Big Sister in Mexico

2007-02-18T22:01:00.000-08:00

Good to see Catherine is having fun, but hey! she's wearing my shirt!
:)

Minnekheda with Shayne

2007-02-08T19:35:00.000-08:00

Walmart Is Selling My Boyfriend!

2007-01-14T16:36:00.000-08:00

You can apparently buy him for only $8.80.

Last Day as a Receptionist

2007-01-14T14:37:00.000-08:00

Today is my last day as a receptionist. I am moving on to Public Outreach as well as tutoring teenagers with autism. I don't like staying in one place for too long when it comes to doing the same things over and over. I need opportunity for growth and challenge. I have been here for over two years and so it's time to do something new.
My leaving may also mean that this is my last blog entry. I am generally not that big on the blog thing - it's useful for travelling abroad to show the people back home what you've been up to. Since my return from Australia - I have been blogging as a means to pass the time at work when there is nothing to do. We'll see.
I am a loyal person and so I am having a hard time saying good bye to a few people here who are really cool. I am also disappointed that there has not been any formal recognition of my time here - like a letter of appreciation from the boss (isn't that the average protocol?). Some people who have left this place have received a goodbye dinner - I don't want that but it is always nice to see that one's time was appreciated in some way. Maybe it's just another sign that it is better to leave this place and move forward.
It's hard to leave one employment that has grown to be comfortable and stable, and then go into the unknown. Today I am feeling some unexpectant anxiety. However, I figure nothing good, well except for rent, can come from staying in a lifeless, stagnant job - and that worst comes to worst, I have family and friends who I can depend on as I keep plugging away at university.
So tonight I will probably celebrate . . . in one form or another. Maybe now that I am not answering phones for a living, I will actually call up my friends and meet up - crazy notion eh?

I can't open jars . . .

2006-12-22T11:56:00.000-08:00

Last night Shayne took me to Cliffhangers with his friends to teach me how to rockclimb. I have been wanting to learn for a few years now - ever since that time in Jervis Bay, Australia, when I tried to rappel off a cliff, froze with fear and turned to jello. Shayne had offered to take me many times before, but I always hesitated on going.
But the thing is, rockclimbing is so much fun! I was definately scared at first; I could not trust that the rope would hold me. I made it to the top of the easiest climb, the one adorned with a dinosaur head and colourful letters, looked down to see Shayne give me the thumbs up and heard him say "Good job sweetie . . . time to let go and come down." I just shook my head at him and thought to myself "There's no way I am letting go." He just laughed and kept coaxing me to let go.
As a kid I loved, well actually, even today I love climbing trees. I remember climbing to the top of large evergreens. My mom would be waiting at the bottom furiously telling me to climb down, and having realized I climbed too high like Tigger and Roo, I would shout back "I can't!"
At the climbing gym, I eventually did let go of the rope and tip-toed backwards down the wall retro-batman style. I did a couple more climbs after that and each time I got just as scared, especially as I neared the top and grew suspicious of the rope. Sometimes my arms shook either because of my fear or from my muscles giving out. At the same time, facing my fears is so much fun - all that adrenaline and suspense. I used to be scared of a lot of things and then I realized how boring it is to be scared all the time. Nothing changes. So I am definately going back to Cliffhangers and continue climbing.
I woke up this morning to find my forearms sore and that I could not grip the lids of jars tight enough to open them. No problem, I can live a day without jam.
Also, to my great surprise, I ran into Nick at the gym. Nick and I have been friends for years, but we live such different lives that I hardly get to see him and hang out. This past weekend he invited me to see the work less party's production of "The Church of Pointless Consumerism" which had all the charm of highschool performances and the buffoonery only a political musical can muster. The show ended with an "End of the World" party which included terrible wine, chatting with Nick and dancing with my homeboy Shayne!

A Stroll in the Snow

2006-11-26T15:04:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Shayne and I walked from Gastown to East Vancouver for the Culture Crawl. The snow made the walk so beautiful that in the end I did not care much about the crawl - though it was fun going into strangers' homes and studios from the cold. One artist had a fire pit in his backyard; we lingered there and discussed boat-building for at least a good fifteen minutes. The artist built his own studio in his backyard - something I would love to build someday.
This summer I will have to take Shayne canoeing in False Creek with a six-pack of beer - or maybe a bottle of wine would be more romantic.
One park was lightly covered in snow. Shayne jumped onto the lawn and started shuffling his feet like an old woman until he had drawn a large heart with our initials in it. I think that was one of the sweetest things. It does not take much for me to have a great time when I am with Shayne because we both have great imaginations. And I think we both know that even though money pays the bills, it's not necessary for a good time.
I decided this morning that if we had known eachother in elementary school, I probably would have followed him everywhere and played with him everyday. He concluded that he probably would have rolled me into the mud - I would like to think that he would have rolled me in the mud affectionately! (sigh)

So Smitten!!!

2006-11-19T14:16:00.000-08:00

This is Shayne.

Drool drool drool.

Zora Neale Hurston in a Jazz Club

2006-10-18T17:12:00.000-07:00

I have been writing essays for the last couple of days - one on diverse perspectives in Feminist theory.
One of the theoriests quoted from Zora Neale Hurston's book How It Feels to Be Colored Me to illustrate a point in regard to multi-conscious identities, and Hurston's writing is so incredible I had to share it:

My pulse is throbbing like a war drum. I want to slaughter something - give me pain, give death to what, I do not know. But the piece ends. The men of the orchestra wipe their lips and rest their fingers. I creep back slowly to the veneer we call civilization with the last tone and find the white friend sitting motionless in his seat, smoking calmly.
"Good music they have here," he remarks, drumming the table with his fingertips.
Music. The great blobs of purple and red emotion have not touched him. He has only heard what I felt. He is far away and I see him but dimly across the ocean and the continent that have fallen between us. He is so pale with his whiteness then and I am so coloured.

Cheena's Muse

2006-09-24T12:28:00.000-07:00

Summer Update

2006-07-14T16:06:00.000-07:00

This has probably been one of my greatest summers yet. It had a rough start but a triumphant ending. Friends from all corners of my life reappeared as the days grew longer and I finish this summer with some really good new ones too.

My first treasured memory is canoing with Matt. Thanks to him, I now love canoing. The day after I quit working a nasty job, he took me canoing at Burnaby Lake. After the break-up, he took canoing in False Creek with a sixpack of beer. We raised our beer in salute to the dragon boaters as they heaved and paddled by. The downtown buildings reflected gold. I can conclude that canoing is a great anecdote to one's troubles.

Another important memory was going to Galiano Island with my friend Matthew. He grew up in a paradise surrounded by ocean. His mom is an incredible woman as well as a talented artist. His stepfather and sister are also very friendly people.

One new friend is Cheena. She was looking for people to practice portraiture on while making friends so I volunteered. We have hung out for coffee and explored the seedy areas of East Van at sunset (including climbing on top of stationed trains). She has a radient energy about her that is really fun to be around.

And of course Natasha and I have been up to some crazy antics including droping pants in public areas. She rocks!

So I have moved to East Van into a place with a couple of great guys. One is a social worker in his mid-thirties. He is always surprising me with "mmoooing" me in the morning and telling me wild ideas at night. The other is here from Japan on work visa for a year. He is a practising buddhist and he loves his job as a Mexican-food deliveryman. I am hoping to learn a lot about buddhism from him and in the meantime the three of us are having lots of fun. Thanks to both, that appartment feels like that right place for me.

Having moved to Commercial Drive, every day I meet someone new on the street or run into a friendly aquaintance. I have also met my neighbours next door and across the street. One night Yuki and I heard Bob Marley from accross the street so we walked over and asked if we could join in. This party of musicians accepted us on the condition that we hoola hoop at least once for them. Then Yuki got to play an african drum with the guys while the ladies taught me some poi. I feel like I am living in a real community.

So what is the triumph? This summer I worked full time with children and youth with special needs. I had volunteered in this area before but I really did not have that much experience. I learned that this work is challenging, creative, fun, frustrating and incredibly fulfilling. I had to take on things I never thought I could do, and I found myself calmly handling many difficult situations. The token headbutts and strangulations was worth it. I emerged from that job a stronger, happier and more confident person and I hope I will be able to take the opportunity to do it next year.
On a side note - because of the physical nature of the job, I am down to my high school weight and size (except that my biceps are bigger fortunately). I really enjoy this new body - it's more flexible and energetic - and I hope I will be able to keep it up through salsa dancing, swimming and running this fall/winter.

So summer has ended and I am back to my old job. Nothing here feels like it's changed, but my coworkers were taken back by my suntan, thin figure and long hair. That was a nice surprise. I have also decided to start casually wearing a bit of make-up for fun.

And I am now attending Simon Fraser University. I was very anxious the first week of Uni - head full of petty doubts - but after a few weeks, I am really loving the school. I have already made friends in my classes, joined a few clubs and met some really nice people. I wish I could have time for more.
The club I am most excited about is Oxfam. We are involved with issues such as global poverty, world hunger and other forms of social injustice - and as a perk I have met some students who have done incredible things like volunteering in orphanages in India.
I have already been invited to one girl's birthday party - I bought her a gift not knowing what she would like and it reminds me of being the new kid in elementary school - like my mom should tie my hair back and make me wear a pink crinolin dress and mary jane shoes for the occassion. But I got her "Cold WarUnicorns" which I think is a winner.

Natasha's awesome boyfriend

2006-05-26T18:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I woke up with a little bit of a headache. No big deal - I just took a couple of ibuprofin and started studying for my stats exam. The headache started to get worse so I drank a couple of glasses of water and laid down for a bit. An hour later my headache was so bad that I started to cry.
I decided to call Natasha hoping that she could give me a ride to the doctors. If it was just a sore throat or a bit of a fever, I could have grumpily taken the bus by myself. Natasha answered but could not drive so she asked Matt to pick me up. He showed up to my building ten minutes later where I waited for him on a cement ledge with my jacket-hood up so that I could curtain my teary eyes.
He waited for me at the doctor's office which did not take too long. The doctor figured it was the combination of wine, cheesecake and chocolate from the night before that provoked the headache. This is generally because of the sulfites that occur naturally in red wine, but also because of other ingrediants found in cheese and chocolate. The doc prescribed me some tylenol 3's and off to the drug store we went.
My eyes were still wet and red from crying, and the ten minute wait the pharmacist proposed was so much more painful with the florescent lights. Matt, on the other hand, entertained both himself and I by trying on bright ladies' summer hats with polka-dots, bows and ribbons. The laughter eased my headache. Then we played with kitchen chairs, wine-stoppers and other kitchen implements as we waited. To thank Matt for his help, I bought a pink wine-stopper that looked more like a strange adult toy than a kitchen item. Matt said that he and Natasha do not drink wine, but it would be fun to give it to Natasha just to see what she thought of it. He was right: she thought the same thing we did!
I asked Matt if it was okay for me to nap at his and Natasha's place because when I am sick, I feel safer, more comfortable and warmer in a place where people I love and trust are around. Or, as Matt so delicately put it, "just in case blood starts shooting out your ears."
One two hour nap later and I was feeling great and ready to finish studying for my stats exam (which I think I did alright on).
I have a lot of people in my life I know I can count on in times of need, and it's really cool when someone, a friend of a friend, goes out of his/her way to help you out just because.

Mom the Rebel-Rouser

2006-05-06T12:58:00.000-07:00

Mom is the woman who lectured me against swearing when I was 7, punished me for stealing at 14 and worriedly disapproved of my drinking at 20. But every now and then life upsets the order that you have grown accustomed to just to keep you from being boring. Well, that happen to me last night with Mom.
We planned on seeing the movie the Wild friday night and had sushi at a nearby restaurant. After finishing our dessert of ornamentally coiled oranges, we had almost an hour before the movie began. "Let's go for a walk," my mother suggested and I concurred even though the local scenery consisted of the highway, fastfood restaurants and parking lots. "Susie introduced me to these drinks called Vodka Ice " my mom said, "and I really like them." I then noticed that we were approaching a liquor store.
I sarcastically reciprocated, "What? You want to get some booze for the show?"
"Why not?" she replied.
"You serious?"
"We can hide the bottles in my coat or your purse."
"Okay. I guess . . . " I was quietly shocked inside.
With one Vodka Ice and a bottle of Canadian in my purse, we purchased our tickets and headed for the theatre. "You know," my mother started, "it would be less conspicuous if we sipped from straws. I'm going to go get some."
I had not sipped beer from a straw since I was twelve years old when Natasha and I got into my dad's 0.5% Alc beer. I hated the taste and figured that I could endure the drink better if I sucked through the straw from the back of the mouth and bypass all my tastebuds. I had forgotton that it is easier to get drunk from beer through a straw because you never have to remove the beer from your lips as your would with a glass, bottle or can and can therefore suck at length.
My mom and I enjoyed the Wild for what it is - a kid's movie. When it was over, I noticed that some movies had just started. My mom has snuck into a second movie twice (both times in her fifties), and I have never. I have, as a fourteen year old, bought a ticket for a G-rated movie and snuck into a R-rated one, but I have never done the double feature. My mother, and I agree, feels that it makes the expensive price of a ticket more worth your while.
So from the washroom we headed for theatre 17 to see the Rocket. This movie is about Maurice Richard, one of the best hockey players of all time, and his tribulations of being a francophone minority in the anglophone majority of the NHL. The film wove between English and French (Quebec French - an accent I have not heard since I was 18) just like the common dialect of Montreal, the story's setting. Both my mom and I enjoyed this film, and found ourselves tired at home at 1 am (I was cranky . . . I'm not really nice when I'm cranky . . . )
All in all I enjoy seeing the hidden dimensions of my mother. It's as if she turns into a real human being when we leave the house as opposed to the worrisome but law obiding mother that I know.

Statistics 2300 . . . yeah . . .

2006-04-28T21:23:00.000-07:00

Here's the cover of my $126.63 textbook. I'm not excited about taking statistics this summer. In fact, I'm dreading it. But I have to say, the cover of mother penguins with their baby penguins does make me feel a bit better about the whole thing. What this photograph has to do with Statistics - I don't know, but it's a sweet picture. Maybe my professor will have the same voice and tone as Morgan Freeman, the narrater in The March of the Penguin. Then I would definately enjoy Statistics more.

:)

I almost got a kitten today . . .

2006-04-28T21:14:00.000-07:00

black kitten, originally uploaded by Cia L.

Two girls stood outside Willowbrook Mall with a rubbermaid container of adorable black kittens and a sign that said 'FREE KITTENS.' (This pic I found on flickr so that you can see how cute black kittens are!)
The girls had salvaged the kittens from their father's warehouse where they would have been taken to the SPCA. I picked two of the four up one at a time. They were so friendly that I could not believe that I used to be afraid of cats. Now, living on my own, I want a fury four legged creature to keep me company. I seriously thought I could take one home even though I do not make enough money to cover my costs let alone the cost of food, cat litter and medical bills. And I work so much, the poor thing would get lonely. Besides, I can not say I have a life stable enough for that kind of pet. Tania suggested that I get a hamster, but I don't want the kind of pet that just sits in a cage and stinks it up. I don't think I should even have a goldfish because I'm so busy.
If I had got the kitten, what should I have named it??? Sharon Junior? Crocodile? Sweet Pea? Banana Pirate? Shoo-Shoo the Adventurer? Johnny Depp? What would you have named it?
So, I am very happy that Briana and Will are moving to the neighborhood because they're fun people. It's fortunate for me that they have a little pup named Wagner. It might be the playtime I get with him that will keep me from bringing home some fuzzy four-legged critters.

Latest Update

2006-04-19T18:31:00.000-07:00

I finished my last exam yesterday so I am free of academic responsibility until May 1st when I start my summer classes. Now that is over, I am finding myself exhaling at length.

But I did not sleep well last night. Ideas for sculptures have been popping up in my head. I have been in touch with two old friends from art school and the creativity is buzzing. I would like to finish my bachelors of fine arts one day, but as a personal challenge because I do not want to be a full time artist. I would rather be researching and working with people. So in the meantime I am continuing to sketch out ideas and dabble with paint here and there as I continue studying sociology.

I have bought a membership to the art gallery downtown and I am excited about checking out the next exhibit. Actually, I am more excited that summer is approaching, that Tristan and I are being creative on a small budget and that hopefully I'll be visiting my sis in Tofino.

I Heart Katamari

2006-04-13T18:36:00.000-07:00

Monday evening I found myself sick in bed - so I knew the best thing would be to head over to Natasha's for TLC! She gave me some chamomile/mint/lemon/ginger tea and some toast with marjarine to make my stomach feel better. Since her boyfriend was at work, we decided to monopolize his playstation 2 and play Katamari. This game is hilarious. All you do is roll around a ball and pick up stuff like thumb-tacs, strawberries, sparrows - anything in your way until you have made your ball big enough for 'dad.' Simple idea, but sooo much fun!

In other news, I'm looking to move into cheaper accomodation. Cheaper will mean roomates so I've been answering ads and setting up appointments. I want to stay in the same neighborhood though, so I'm not in a hurry to move out until I find the right roomates and the right place.

Other than that, I'm working, studying, finishing exams and having fun.

What does this mean . . . ?

2006-03-31T21:27:00.000-08:00

Someone sent me the following link and told me that they were thinking of me when they sent it. How would you interpret this?

Sharon

Educational Video Games

2006-03-19T19:05:00.000-08:00

So I'm browsing the internet and I found Lapis, a video game that

". . . entertains females - without them ever needing to understand the sex metaphor. But at some point when they did start figuring out the connection to their ownsexuality and pleasure, they would have learned some ideas and techniques behind sexual satisfaction." (Heather Kelley)

The idea is that you pet the bunny's ears, tickle its nose and so on to get the bunny to it's 'happy place.' The pattern of arousal mimicks that of the Human Sexual Response Cycle and the imagery is based on the fantasies and thoughts of women during arousal and orgasm.

Kind of cool - eh?

Copycat

2006-03-18T15:30:00.000-08:00

Yes, Briana and Rebecca are very cool. So cool, I do what they do.

Ten Top Trivia Tips about Sharon!

The International Space Station weighs about 500 tons and is the same size as Sharon.
Sharon can clean her ears with her tongue, which is over thirty-nine inches long.
New Zealand was the first place to allow Sharon to vote.
Long ago, the people of Nicaragua believed that if they threw Sharon into a volcano it would stop erupting.
Cats use their Sharon to test whether a space is large enough for them to fit through!
Peanuts and Sharon are beans!
All gondolas in Venice must be painted black unless they belong to Sharon.
Japan provides over thirty percent of the world's Sharon supply.
Sharon is physically incapable of sticking her tongue out!
The first toy product ever advertised on television was Mr Sharon Head.

A Strange Encounter

2006-03-01T16:16:00.000-08:00

One of the weirdest things happened to me today. There's this metrosexual ginger-haired guy in one of my classes who I have found really arrogant and annoying. I avoid him when I can, but today he arrived later than I and chose to sit right next to me. Oh, and I hate his cologne too. I made it through the class by pretending that I had blinders on the side of my face. Then when I left, I this guy followed me out and asked me about artists, who is my favourite artist, why did I leave art school and what I think about Picasso. It was after he gave his spiel about cubism that I asked him "What is this? Why are you talking to me?" He was silent, probably with shock so I elaborated. "We're both sociology students and I don't get this. I mean, I'm not really nice to you."
He responded with, "Well, I don't really like you and I find you arrogant and sometimes you're mean to the teacher, but I figured that if I spoke to you outside class that I would find something that wouldn't make me dislike you so much."
I laughed. "Yeah, I can be a real cunt sometimes. And it's really funny because the reason I don't like you is because I think you're arrogant."
"Well I know it when I'm being arrogant." he replied.
"Yeah, it seems to me that you're a shit-disturber for the sake of being a shit-disturber. Wow, it's not everyday that someone tells me I'm arrogant and that they dislike me - this is really cool! I think I have more respect for you now!" It felt really good to hear this information probably because it was honest and negative at the same time. People in this culture tend to avoid delivering such comments. I also found it interesting that his dislike for me that motivated him to try to get to know me. Most people don't do things that way.
"So, you think we could be friends or something?" he asked.
"Sure," I replied. "See you in class."

I Have a Coffee Table!

2006-02-18T14:11:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I don't want to care much about having things, but since I don't really have a dining area, it's nice that I don't have to set my cups on the floor and eat off my lap. Plus I got it from an old neighbor's garage sale, and an eclectic mix of other people's furniture is a good design for a small appartment like mine.

I also have curtains! Now I can sleep through the night with out the lights from across the alley keeping me away. And my drapes are dark red. In the morning my place feels like I'm in the cabin of a Martian spaceship because of the way they glow red onto the walls and everything that was a little green suddenly becomes super-green!

The other day Catherine took a nap on my couch even though my bed is two steps away. Funny kid.

The sun is out and I feel like I'm going to explode. I want to paint, tiedie, write, photograph, sew, embroider, collage . . . where the time? Maybe I'll get to it tonight, maybe I'll have a bath first.

It's no secret to those who know me that I've been enjoying and acing my sociology classes, but it meant a lot to me when a teacher wrote "you should continue with academia. Have you considered making Sociology your major?" This is another indicator that what I'm doing is right and that I'm on the right path.

Next Tuesday I'm going to see a friend's band, Kent McAllister and his Band, perform at the Railway Club (www.railwayclub.com). They're country . . . but country with BALLS! I hope to see your friendly faces out there.

Is Valentine's Pure Crap?

2006-02-16T18:54:00.000-08:00

This year, for Valentines, I got a speech. The basics of which stated that Valentine's day just forces couples to do nice things, and because it's forced, those nice things are not genuine. Therefore, why would someone "want to spend $100 of bullshit [on me] just because it's Valentines day"?
Fair enough. The way I see it is that I've had Valentine's day experiences that have almost made me faint, and I would agree that those nice things weren't genuine . . . well, that is to say that I gave for the sake of occaision rather than true romantic feelings. Particularly for the partners who provided a wonderful Valentines Day gift/surprise, the relationships lacked romance on a day-to-day basis as if Valentines somehow compensated for the overall relationship. I personally prefer random surprises and sweet gestures over scheduled and culturally implemented occassions. What do you think?
All the same, my feelings aside, I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentines Day anyways.

Busy Girl

2006-02-08T18:01:00.000-08:00

Yep, I've been really busy. I can't say that I've settled into the appartment entirely. I think I need a small dresser or something for the day-old jeans in and such - instead of throwing them on the floor. I also need some thick drapes to keep the light out but all in good time. For now, blankets do just fine.
I want to paint though. This sunny weather has got my creativity flowing. I have so many ideas and no time. The white walls of the appartment need some colour and rad, abstract canvases are my alternative.
It was weird the first week of having that place to myself. I mean, coming home and finding that there's no one for me to notify that I'm home. In other words, there's no one for me to tell that I still exist. The thought creeped me out to the point of calling up Tristan and telling him that I was home just so that someone would know. It has been weeks since then and now it doesn't bug me.
I like having a place to myself. I'm naked or in my underwear most of the time (especially because I can't turn down the heat). I'm eating healthier because I buy myself healthy food. I walk whenever I can and I can see the difference.
Once in a while, there's the social side of me that feels lonely. I started to stress out a few weeks ago, and after sorting things through with Catherine, I decided on having a weekly social appointment. So, after asking Natasha if she'd join me, every Monday night is social night. That means hanging out with Natasha and whoever else wants to come along and do whatever. In high school when things got to me, I used to walk to her place in PoCo and hang out there. Regardless of her and her mom yelling at each other from across the house, hanging out with her always made me feel calm and comfortable, and it still does. Plus she's a lot of fun.
Classes at Douglas have been going well enough. I still love sociology. It's the discussions, assignments and content that I enjoy. However, lately the classes haven't been as engaging as I like. Hopefully things will pick up and get more interesting down the road. I can't wait until 3rd year.
Thanks to Briana, I've got a second job entering event listings online for Canwest. I like this job so far because I can do it from anyone's computer at anytime, and certain aspects are more challenging than I expected.
Today's pictures: Left: some random Czech puppet image I found online, Right: Old Trout Puppet Workshop. A few weeks ago I saw Famous Puppet Death Scenes by the Old Trout Puppet Workshop, (presented by the Push International Performance Art Festival). The performance was surreal, satiric and mind-lingering. This company had amazing puppets and did really creative things. I mean, I've always loved the Muppets, but they don't compare to the Old Trout Puppet Workshop.
This isn't so much my average blog because I don't have much of an intention here - just a head's up on how things have been going for me without much insight into the greater scheme of things. Ah well - I expect some future entries to be more interesting as I'll probably post some papers I have written for college.

Okay, I'll stay until Christmas, then I'm moving out!

2005-12-23T19:45:00.000-08:00

I think everyone knows that I found a bachelors nice enough to live in and affordable enough to live. I can start moving in next week - anyone who helps out gets beer and pizza!
Two more days until Christmas. I'm feeling good that my Christmas shopping is done and that I just have to ride through the next couple of days. I was hoping to join the Volkow family Christmas dinner with Natasha and Matt this year - but apparently the Volkow dinner is off - no Balderdash for anyone! Oh well, beer and Tristan's relatives should make for a good time on Boxing day.
For a while there I was freaking out because my hours are reduced for next month - Briana fortunately saved my ass by unloading a data-entry job that she no longer wants. Yeah Briana! She also helped Tristan pick out an elegant outfit for me for Christmas - December is Briana-Super-Friend month!
Tristan is great too.
Sue just got home the other night and after ten minutes in the old van with her and Catherine - we're laughing hysterically. We're really good to eachother when we don't see eachother all the time. Someone watching us could have gotten the wrong impression. And hey - I ended up writing mushy-Christmas cards to some of my coworkers. I don't really know why - it's just that time of year when you can say something nice and then during the holiday when everyone is at home with their families, they forget it so in the end, writing nice things isn't a big deal. I think it would be ideal right now to have a couple of friends together, and Sue and Catherine, and watch the Charlie Brown Christmas movie. Anyone up for it? You have to sing along!

I'M MOVING OUT!

2005-11-20T16:51:00.000-08:00

Yep - looking for a bachelors or 1 bedroom that's roughly $500 more or less in the New Westminster or South Burnaby (anywhere near a skytrain). I'd prefer a bachelors because I don't want a lot of room - a lot of room to me means more space to accumulate crap and I don't need more crap (those of you who have seen my bedroom understand).
Anyway - so I'm calling around and setting up appointments - I want to be out of Coquitlam by Jan 1st so here's hoping.

theonion.com got this one right

2005-10-19T19:46:00.000-07:00

Virgo August 23 - September 22
You've known since you were very young that you were different from all the others, but still, you find it maddening that they usually put the naked people where they are very difficult to watch.

Meg is Awesome!

2005-10-19T19:38:00.000-07:00

Sigur Ros: Icelandic Post-Rock

2005-09-28T11:11:00.000-07:00

What can I say? The concert was amazing. The piano broke halfway through and they were still incredible. The lead singer broke the bow he used to play his electric guitar. It was possibly one of the best shows I've ever seen thanks to Ryan for getting us fourth row tickets.

24th Birthday

2005-09-18T22:36:00.000-07:00

Usually when I have a great time, I write extensively and sensually about the experience. But all I can say about my birthday is that it was awesome because I got to see my favourite people.
My official birthday started on Sept 15 on the skytrain when my cell rang and it was Natasha screaming happy birthday to me - then breakfast with Briana at the Templeton on Granville. After classes - it was topped off by Tristan bringing me roses at work.
Then my birthday took a break until Saturday when my friends started showing up for the potlock - Each received a name tag with the person who would play them in the theoretical movie about my life. I was happy to see each of them. I hate putting parties together but I love hanging with my friends and having a good time. Even better is when my friends become friends with each other - Karla is coming out with Nick and I for some fun this coming Saturday. Everyone got to meet my mysterious twin sister. I was really touched that Rebecca and her boyfriend Matt stopped by on their way back from California to Victoria. Plus awesome food - Thanks Matt for the spicy chilli - it is soooooo good! And we enjoyed Mike's banana bread for breakfast!
It's Sunday today and my sore throat has finally caught on - so this sick girl is going to bed. But I had a really great time!

Timewarp Mother

2005-09-05T11:28:00.000-07:00

After having a great time with friends Julie and Kenten, I arrived at my house around 10:30pm. I checked in with my mom, said goodnight, brushed my teeth and read another chapter of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. (The black and white starred Gregory Peck - I love his voice.)
I turned out the lights and just as I was starting to fall asleep, I hear the familiar light tapping of my mother's hand against my door. It usually means she has some unimportant news to tell me, but if I don't answer her, she'll keep tapping until I do. She used to just tap a few times before opening my door, but I've made a habit of locking it.
So I answer, "Yes?"
"Sharon . . . I just wanted you to know that if you're hungry . . . there's food in the fridge." I'm not kidding. She didn't say leftovers, steak or potatoes. She said 'Food.'
"Okay, going to sleep now" I replied loud enough to be heard through the door, and I hear her turn around and tread down the stairs.
She must have specifically got out of bed and walked up the stairs just to tell me that. I know she has a hard time not telling me what's in the fridge. Why? I'm not sure. It's something obsessive. She once interrupted a phone call I was having to let me know that she had placed some bacon in the meat drawer. It really bothered me when I was rushing for work and she compulsively had to tell me that the leftover potatoes that were in the fridge the night before were still there that morning. She yelled it to me from the balcony as I was walking down the driveway.
Maybe my glasses subconsiously tells her that I can't see for myself. Maybe her obsession is based a discrimination against my inability to see clearly without specs.
Seriously, I've learned from the cognitive program I took that when people help without asking if help is needed, they're subconsiously or unintentionally saying that they don't trust the capabilities or competence of the person they're helping. Sometimes I think Mom would like me to need her more - especially since I'm saving to move out as soon as possible. But the truth is that I would enjoy my time with her more, and therefore spend more time with her, if she just respected that I don't need her help anymore - that I don't like her 'helping' me compulively. When I say 'compulsively,' I mean she doesn't give me a choice to whether or not to accept her help - especially when it comes to seeing what's in the fridge.

No More Martinis, Thanks

2005-08-24T17:07:00.000-07:00

With college evening classes and working weekends approaching me faster and faster, I have made it my goal to spend as many evenings as possible having fun. Of course that means twoonie-martini Tuesdays with Nick at Infernos. The first time I went there, I found their martinis really weak. Since then I have therefore been ordering double vodka martinis with extra olives. I had already chugalugged two doubles when Tristan bought me a third before I had realized what he had done. Waste not, want not . . . right?
So laughing with Nick's friends and dancing at the Lotus followed. I forgot my jacket at Infernos and fortunately, Tristan tagged along to help me fetch it and find my way back to the Lotus. I would have been really lost.
One of Nick's friends is friends with an exboyfriend of mine which always makes me nervous because I don't know what they know. Turns out she likes me fine and we had a blast.
Doug gave me a lapdance near the end - better than I've ever seen in a strip bar. Nick told me Doug thinks I'm a player - but I'm not - I don't even speak the language. I'm more of a tease really. So needless to say when Doug finished I was blushing a rich crimson red. Fortunately it was really dark at the Lotus (I hate it when I blush).
Unfortunately I woke up this morning with a terrible hangover. I'm at work right now trying to ignore it by killing time on the blog. This evening I'm due to hang out with my friend Ryan at the Media Club downtown to see something called Rock n' Roll Circus. Should be fun if I can stay awake!

Water, Water and More Water!!!

2005-08-22T11:26:00.000-07:00

I just spent an awesome weekend hanging with one of my favourite couples, Rebecca and Matt. It began Friday night with beer, Cesears and Fubar - a great combination. They live out in Langford, near Victoria. Their house is surrounded by trees, hills and rednecks. If I live anywhere, it has to have green nearby. I realized that when I got to Matt's place and already felt at home. Gray Vancouver skyscrapers aren't my style. It's important for me to be near parks and to have easy access to skinny-dipping opportunities.
The next morning we ate Rebecca's blueberry pancakes, eggs and toast on their picnic table in the backyard. Matt put the sprinkler on so that I could run and jump through it until I was soaked. Rebecca said that if they ever needed practise in what it would be like having children, all they'd have to do is invite me over.
Soaking wet, I continued reading the Jade Peony by Wayson Choy and proofreading a friend's cover letter until it was time to go to the water slides. Mind you, I had already gone on the Monday earlier to have fun with teenagers who have cognitive disabilities, but I figured doing it again with Rebecca and Matt would be just as much fun (especially since we had a few beers before hand). Matt taught me how to go extra fast by pushing my belly up and putting all of my weight into my heels and shoulders. He almost flew off the slide one or two times doing that.
After the slides, sunburned and tired, Rebecca put some skewers on the barbeque and we watched Good Morning Vietnam. At about midnight, Matt's friends called us up for some skinny dipping in a lake that is about ten minutes away from his house. No matter what, I can't turn down a skinny-dipping moment - it's related to some kind of cognitive disorder I think. The moon was full and bright behind the trees - it was fun swimming in and out of it's path. Matt's friends were really nice too. I think everyone should make friends when they're naked.
The next morning we had a smorgesbord of brunch items, and I debated whether or not I should order a pint of Guiness with my breakfast. I had to catch an afternoon ferry back in order to get a few things done before my first day back at work after a week off. Rebecca and I missed the 1pm sailing so we stopped in Sydney to look at second hand books - I found seven awesome books - really bad timing with school approaching and all.
I tried to sleep through the ferry ride. The interesting bit is that I met this landed immigrant from Dallas, Texas. He asked me which bus to take in his thick Southern drawl. We ended up on the same bus. He asked me about the books I was carrying and I showed him the Jade Peony. I told him how it's about a Chinese family living in Chinatown, Vancouver, during the 1930's and 40's, and how through the perspectives of the children, it eloquently talks about Chinese-Canadian history and society. He told me everything he was learning about Canadian history and that he found the French Canadians interesting.
We talked about music. He's currently really into celtic music and I told him about how I heard too much of that stuff in Ireland which lead to a tangent about my mom's side being Irish. His is a mix of white, black, First Nation and Chinese though I could only see African features in him. He lowered his black sunglasses with white rhinestones in the sides and showed me that his eyes curve into a point on either side like most Asian eyes do.
He spoke quietly and quickly, but from what I could make out, I found him really interesting. With the promises of coffee and more conversation, we parted at Scott Road skytrain. He reminded me of what I love most about travel - the interesting people you meet along the way.

Robin!

2005-08-21T20:07:00.000-07:00

On his way back from Tasmania, Robin once again stayed in Vancouver for a couple of days before his inevitable and dooming return to Regina. Just as before, we decided to hang out for a day, but this time we knew eachother better than that drunken night in Calgary. I didn't expect it but Robin brought me back a gift that he carried in his backpack throughout his travels in Australia and then to San Francisco - a package of TimTams, Australia's favourite cookie, but in Chilli-Chocolate flavour. There are as many TimTams in Australia as there are Pocky in Japan. Robin described this to me through email but I never would have guessed how great they are - when you bite them they start out tasting like your average dark chocolate cookie - but after you've swallowed, the spicy burn hits the top of your mouth leaving you amazed and surprised at what has just happened to you. All the same, I'm even more impressed that he carried it around with him all over Australia!
When I last saw Robin, I took him on an adventure in the Tri-Cities, and then hung out with him at the Vancouver Art Gallery a couple of days later. Today we wandered aimlessly not necessarily looking for something to do but just to catch up with eachother. My friend Andrea gave us a couple of free ice teas from her shop. We drank a couple of pints of Guiness on Graville island as well as eating Dubliner Irish cheese on green olive bread. We watch some free Shakespeare, A Comedy of Errors, under the stars. All the roles were performed by teenagers. Nothing better than Shakespeare performed with a retainer-lisp!
After fantastic vegetarian food and organic beer at the Naam, Robin and I found ourselves at the beach. An object that looked like it was lit by candles was floating on the water. Robin called it a UFO - an Unidentified Floating Object. We hung out there well past the last skytrain home, but that's what happens when it's your only night with a friend who's leaving town. I had an awesome time.
I eventually took the night bus to Sam's because at 3am there was no way I was going to find a way back to my house. Arriving there at 4am and just as I was feeling content that I was finally there after a long bus ride, I notice a skunk crossing the sidewalk infront of Sam's house only to turn down the driveway into Sam's backyard where he left a door unlocked for me. I unfortunately had to wake the poor guy up to help me in - the guy works 80 hours a week! I owe him a six-pack the next time he's available for a few beers.

Ryan's Bike Bitch For a Day

2005-08-10T16:51:00.000-07:00

A hot econoline van steams the summer roads to Rocky Mountain campgrounds, Family Vacation, British Columbia. My sister and I, two red-faced blond girls, sit in reverse to stare through tinted rear windows with our noses resting on brown foam seat cushions. The mountain walls are as dusty peach as the dull paint on our van. Faceless men on motorcycles curve the road behind. I point my index finger at them and my thumb to heaven before I shoot "Bang! Bang! Bang!" One man lifts one of his black-gloved hands from the handles and returns the gesture. I continue to shoot, ducking and dodging his retaliations until the men bend to the right and reappear in front of my tired father who is driving and eating black licorice simultaneously. I solemly wait for another motorcyclist to snake the Rockies behind us. I solemly hope for the day when I am riding a motorcycle with nothing but wind between me and the jagged walls of the mountains I love.
I must have been six years old then. I am 23 now so that means it took 17 years before I finally hopped onto a motorbike thanks to Ryan. He invited me out to Harrison - taking the backroads through Mission and Fort Langley - on a gorgeous Sunday. He took me for a spin around Burnaby before heading on the highway to see if I could get the rhythm down - lean when he leans, squeeze his hips with my thighs when we slow to a stop. He said I made a pretty good bike bitch before we took off for the number 1 highway heading East. On the highway, the wind hit my throat and chest so violently, rapid like an aroused heartbeat, I gleefully thought I would loose my breath or that my heart would be beatened into stopping. My body seemed to feel small and aerodynamic. We didn't stay on the highway very long because it was the beauty of the ride that Ryan and I were after. We wanted to fly through the small roads bordered with lush greens trees and open meadows. I wanted to polaroid every abandoned bungalow that charmingly leaned towards collapse. I'll have to ride again sometime with Ryan.
Harrison didn't even mean much when we arrived. We tried to linger on the beach, wade in the water - but really we wanted to be back on the roads coiling through thick BC landscape where roads twisted like a wriggling serpentine in a lime lagoon. I first toyed with and then feared the idea of reaching my gloved hand out and scraping my fingers against the rough cement every time we leaned around a bend. After one turn we saw a dark brown bear disappear into the forest - leaving me with dreams of sasquatches roaming my mind.
I was sad to return. From the highway I watched the big yellow IKEA sign sail by on our way to Ryan's apartment in Burnaby. We stopped by the Safeway to grab some food. I recollected the bushy green and blue mountain imagery in my mind while leaning against Ryan's bike - the pale blue sky marbled into navy above me. Ryan was inside getting the groceries. I was glad to be in Ryan's apparment - it feels homely and chic at the same time. We hung out until late when Ryan drove me to Briana and Will's appartment that I was still happily housesitting. Even though we took the car, I still felt like I was rumbling on the back of his motorbike. One week later I gave him an artsy vase - just to say thanks. All my friends agree, a vase is a weird gift for a guy. Oh well.

Sharon, Susan and Catherine

2005-08-05T16:42:00.000-07:00

My parents gave my sisters and I very sensible names. Whenever I asked my mother why they chose them, it's always "Catherine is after my grandmother, Sharon is after a friend from University and both your father and I have relatives named Susan. I also wanted to give you girls ordinary names because Inkpen is such an unusual last name. " But I have a theory that adds more psychological depth to their choices. My mom can be overprotective, overly worried and somewhat old fashioned in values. I propose that my mother gave us these names because they're good girl names - the kind that study hard, never get into trouble and choose a youth of chastity . . . or more or less the names are too dull to sexually entice anyone on their own. Especially the name Sharon - there isn't anything sexy about that name. I think of plump peasant women with screaming-red babies hanging from their limbs when I hear the name Sharon. The name itself means flat land. As a little girl I wanted to be called Cher, not like the pop singer, just as a nickname because so many other girls were fortunate enough to have one - and Susan was always changing her name to Susie and Sue. But my mom said Cher was too trashy, and that it made her angry when people said it to refer to me. That was the eighties when Cher came out with that hit If I Could Turn Back Time with a music video of her wearing not much more than a little bit of black cloth. Her son designed that costume.

Better than Cher, I would have loved to be a Courtney, a Brittney - on a subconscious level, the ee is associated with happiness because to pronounce it you must widen your mouth like a smile. Or I would have enjoyed any name that ended with an a. Names like Jessica, Angela and Hannah end with the same sound people make when they're content and relaxed at the same time - ah. Or even a name that ends in ette like Bridgette or Georgette, the ette makes the name look so feminine. What do people feel when they make a noise like on? What do they associate it with? I associate on with sitting, and then sitting with big butt, and then big butt with plump peasant women and then screaming babies and so on. No good.

The funny bit is, as normal and as well behaved as my mother may have wanted us to be, I think my sisters and I are some of the weirdest or the most free-spirited girls around. Catherine doesn't care much for what other people think, and while naturally she obeys her good heart, she pretty much does whatever she pleases no matter how out of the norm it may look. Sue has always been interested in spirituality, namely the kind connected to the earth and nature. She's a bit of a hippy but with class and style. Me? Where to start? I think I've always been the strangest, not to mention the bipolar 2, and I'm definately . . . um, not chaste. I'd describe my schooling so far as choosing to be adventurously sloppy. I often speak before I think, embarrass my mom with the things I say and don't carry the same values and beliefs. I say goofy things that don't make any sense. One of my goals in life is to one day be the inspiration for an irresistible seductress in a fantastically erotic novel. If I can achieve that, or be a zombie extra in a horror flick, I will die a happy woman!

Unfortunately, the name Sharon has grown on me. I am not a plump peasant woman, I have no children, but I don't know if I could connect myself to any other name. Except maybe Maud, but that describes my fashion sense more than my personality. Maybe I've even learned to like it? Sigh.

Urban Living

2005-08-04T18:12:00.000-07:00

I arrived Tuesday evening at Briana and Will's appartment to house-sit while they are overseas in Australia. To my surprise, Will had left me a gift with a distinct odor to welcome me upon my entry - expired fish in a hot stuffy fourth floor appartment! Very pungent and natural, I wonder what kind of aromatherapy it's scent offers.
As nice as the gesture is, I did, however, have to wrap it in a couple of plastic bags and throw it in the dumpster outside. I hope Will isn't too upset - I must apologize to him because I know it's impolite to throw away gifts especially so soon after receiving it.
So I've been staying in the appartment for the past couple of days and it has been nice. I made Glen sleep on the couch the first night just in case the appartment was haunted by the ghost of the expired fish. If we were ever attacked by fish-ghosts, Glen would know what to do.
The building is surrounded by the business district, and even though I haven't been there long, I can already tell downtown living isn't for me. I already miss the forests and parks near my house - and walking around, everyone looks so rich and cold it makes me shiver. I'm glad to have tried this out - back when I was a teenager I thought living downtown would be the best, and with my poor financial state, I'm glad I've grown indifferent to it. I guess it's important for me to feel as though I'm living in a community - I'm sure East Van would be more appropriate for me.
The appartment is lovely though - I love high ceilings and a trim where the wall ends. There's a small patio with a good view of Fitness World - I keep debating about drinking wine from the bottle naked out there - put on a show for the people on the treadmills. If only I had a tiarra to accompany the show. Good thing the patio has outdoor lighting.
I'm taking advantage of the location the best I can by making Glen my urban husband. He's going to show me the clubs and nightlife. I'm not really a clubber at all - I'd rather be in a pub somewhere talking to strangers and listening to a good live band. But clubbing with Glen is fun - we dance, make fun of the crowd, drink martinis. And Glen has great fashion sense so he can help me out on what to wear (but we all know that regardless of all his help, I still turn out maud).
Money I was saving for moving out has to be put towards tuition this fall. But I'm hoping to be able to save enough to keep me stable and good to move out in January. I am excited about returning to school.

Family Day

2005-08-01T21:28:00.000-07:00

I'm not a fan of family outings. We usually leave a few hours later than we wish, my mom gets so stressed out about everything going right that she takes her stress out on us and the outing itself tends to be dull. But it's obligatory, especially for good-for-nothing adult-kids such as myself living at home for free - so I told my mom I'd go as long as Catherine is going which usually makes the trip more bearable.
So for BC day we took the boat out to Indian Arm - gorgeous scenery with weird cliff houses. I hoped that the entire trip would consist of silent boating, wind against my face, salt water everywhere, evergreens piling into hills and mountains. But eventually, to my despair, my parents decided to dock and interrupted the serene silence. That means actually talking to the family and hanging out. My brother wandered off for a smoke, Catherine and I followed while my parents stayed with the boat. Jeff stood at the end of a path before a large rocky waterfall. A yellow sign to his left read 'Do not climb the falls' and an Asian family ahead of us were picnicing on a large gray rock, the height of an old Canadian war house. Yellow signs have no influence on Inkpen sisters so Catherine and I began to climb the rocks barefooted in bathing suits.
The texture is smooth and rough - somehow our feet stuck to the rock like a spider on the ceiling. It reminded me of hiking in Australia. We had to use all our limbs to get up - Catherine called me Smegal (from Lord of the Rings) and I replied, "My precious!!!" in Smegal's snarly voice. About twenty minutes of monkey scrambling and a few minutes here an there of rest by smaller waterfalls and shallow pools, we almost made it to the top. Some pools were so deep that the water was black.
It wasn't so much our need to climb down as my hunger starting to bug me that influenced our decend. I slid a couple of times, scraped my elbow and knee. It's good to scrape yourself up once in a while. Way below, we saw a man in a white shirt and long khakis - we thought our parents called the park ranger. He waited at the bottom for us but it turned out he was just some guy wondering how the climb went. That waterfall turned a dull family outing into a good adventure. Well - it did for me - Jeff made himself a little bed on the boat using lifejackets and fell asleep. The next day I woke up with stiff legs and sore pecks - the good-using-your-muscles-kind - and a red sunburnt face - now I've got plenty of Vitamin D!

Hanging with Aj'a

2005-07-31T21:13:00.000-07:00

Aj'a is definately one of the most interesting, creative people I know. She is so committed to everything that she chooses to do, that when she had a hunch to give me a shout, she tried my house phone, my cell phone and eventually my blog before she tried my house again. The hunch turned into going for a neighborhood coffee to catch up and then spending the weekend at my house (there's always an extra bedroom at my house).
She accompanied me to Mike's where I had to drop off his rent before going to Neal's for some veggie-wraps. Along 16th I saw a big white sign with Yard Sale painted in red. Aj'a is notorious for finding urban treasure so I pulled over. At first all we found were some infant items - games, clothing, shoes. But on the corner of a rough blanket were a bunch of small metal items - zippos, cigar cutters, jewellery. I picked up a fake pearl necklace when an old man with long white hair, cracked scotch-tape glasses and a great chest wearing torquoise and green tattoos. He told us how he buys crates of old books and sells the good ones, but that he has to buy boxes of trinkets as well. From a plastic box, I picked up a silver ring with a white stone in it. Looking at it a little closer, the stone turned out to be an opal. I bought it for five bucks. The strange old man talked about his art - Decoupage - layering imagery from books and magazines on furniture. I asked if I could see some of his work and his lead us into his little house - his significant other on the couch to our right, pet dog on a long chain outside. He showed me his prise cabinet - one he would never sell. The imagery was amazing - cut to fit every curve and turn on the woodwork of this piece. The man said he sells more downtown. We walk out of his house to find that his dog loves our allergetic Aj'a. I toss the ball for the pup a couple of times before we head to the car.
From there, we pick up some groceries to dine with my friend Neal - he cooks for us and we have a good time hanging out before we fail to make it up Burnaby Mountain. We headed to Burnaby North High School to view the dooming viking bust to compensate.
The next morning Aj'a accompanies me to pick blueberries with good friend Rebecca and her friend Yasmine. I'll do anything with Rebecca - anything she suggests, but I know if she's coming it will be interesting. And I did have a lot of fun berry picking - the orchird was overrun, Rebecca and I had to practically dive into the bush. In the middle of it, you could loose the direction you came from - with branches over your head causing you to walk hunched over. Then to read high out of the bush into the sun to pick the big plump ones that roll from the stem through your fingers and into your hand. We were picking for a hot hour and a half before heading back. Jasmine and Aj'a stayed on the outside of the orchird. A young goat, a kid, accompannied the fellow who weighed our buckets.
My Sunday became quiet when Aj'a left to go to a family dinner - her nephew is in town. Life is more colourful hanging out with Aj'a. Even if we're doing bland things, she always finds ways to make them more interesting. I look forward to hanging out more with her and seeing her around Dougie this fall. In the theoretical movie of my life, she would be played by Cyndi Lauper.

Personality Test

2005-07-29T18:42:00.000-07:00

You are dependable, popular, and observant.
Deep and thoughtful, you are prone to moodiness.
In fact, your emotions tend to influence everything you do.

You are unique, creative, and expressive.
You don't mind waving your freak flag every once and a while.
And lucky for you, most people find your weird ways charming!

The World's Shortest Personality Test

2005-07-29T17:01:00.000-07:00

Is this a real frog?

Mom and Aerin see Herbie

2005-07-29T16:28:00.000-07:00

My friend Aerin used to live at my house for a while - she's one of the few people we consider an Honorary Inkpen. Last night she wanted to sleep over at my house in order to spend some time with Catherine. I had plans and since my mom has been wanting to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for a while, she treated Aerin to a movie. My friend Tristan said to me last night, "So your mom hangs out with your friends and doesn't invite you along." Well, my mom can be a lot of fun from time to time.
I expected them home around 9:30pm which never happened. Aerin convinced my mom to sneak into a second movie. They hid in the handicap washroom at the end of their movie, and Aerin rearranged her outfit before they snuck into Herbie: Fully Loaded. My mom is definately more fun when she doesn't have to think that she has to adhere to that idea of being a good role model as a mother.
One time she went to see one the Harry Potter movies by herself to escape from the summer heat and decided to sneak into the Spiderman movie afterwards. She had a really disciplining, scary father so it's good that she's finally gotten around to doing some mischeif.

2005-07-26T09:39:00.000-07:00

This one is from Nathan.

Sarah Is Alive and Well!

2005-07-25T17:45:00.000-07:00

Sarah!, originally uploaded by sinkblue.

I headed down to the Lantern Festival (Illuminaries) at Trout Lake with friends Julie and Kenton. We joined Catherine and SARAH! along the way.
Sarah was the only one among us with a Lantern, and what a brillant lantern it was! A metal rod, plastic forks, gelati cups and duct tape - there couldn't be a better lantern! (Except for that guy with a real blow fish that had been dried out and lit up with a candle on the inside).
We met up with Ryan near a squirrel tail stand (with a giant squirrel on top) and then frolicked with the hand drumming parade. It was so much fun. We saw 'Spectacular Theatre' - a live 'freak' show. And while attempting improvisational dance in the lantern labyrinth, I face-planted and bruised my knee - there's a red horizontal oval on my kneecap. So much fun!!!

Sarah is now talking about having a 'Sports Day' with a bunch of friends. I suggested racing while flipping pancakes on wooden paddles. I loved that one. Ooooh, and of course at the end there has to be a huge tug of war.

In a week or two I plan on going to the corn maze for fun so anyone who wants to come should let me know.

At the end of August, I'm having my birthday early - a potlock and bbq in my backyard - things will get too busy in September when school starts.

On August 27 - Mars should be the closest it has ever been in the last 5000 years - and ever will be for another 5000 years. We should all have a Mars party - head out to where we can see the stars, start a campfire - have fun. It would be great.

Minnekheda

2005-07-25T17:33:00.000-07:00

, originally uploaded by sinkblue.

Mike and I have been hiking at Minnekheda as much as we can and it's been a hell lot of fun.
Mike, also known by many women as 'Good Friend Mike' - reminded me how much fun it can be just to watch the sky move by while lying in dust - especially after an intensive hike.

2005-07-19T13:15:00.000-07:00

Suspected Terrorist Found in Suitcase - Thanks Meg for the pic!

Finally!

2005-07-18T18:28:00.000-07:00

The frustration of working a dull clockwatching job has coerced me to return to school - even if I'm risking the loss of more money into classes that don't take me anywhere better. With just my UVic transcript in hand, the academic advisor assured me that at least six classes can be transfered to the Associate of Arts Degree through which I plan on taking sociology classes and then get my Bachelors of Sociology at SFU. We are sure that once I get my Emily Carr transcript, more can be transferred through.

Last Thursday I swam across White Pine and back with Sam - my body felt awesome for two more days! Exercise is awesome!

2005-07-16T15:50:00.000-07:00

I took the book quiz - and this is apparently my personality.

You're Love in the Time of Cholera!

by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Like Odysseus in a work of Homer, you demonstrate undying loyalty by
sleeping with as many people as you possibly can. But in your heart you never give
consent! This creates a strange quandary of what love really means to you. On the
one hand, you've loved the same person your whole life, but on the other, your actions
barely speak to this fact. Whatever you do, stick to bottled water. The other stuff
could get you killed.

Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Last Call . . . a post-nuclear cabaret

2005-07-15T14:03:00.000-07:00

Ryan got free tickets to see this play and invited me out - Mike fortunately didn't hold me to our plans that night so that I could go - I owe him a couple of beers or something.
What could be better than a post-apocolyptic play with an upbeat musical score! Two men, one blind and being held hostage by the other, a mentally disturbed convict, put on a cabaret to entertain 'the masses.' I laughed, but some of the humor was so vulgar I had a difficult time deciding how to react. The subject matter, post-nuclear Vancouver, presented through humor made it more disturbing and pungent. Of course I loved it! I recommend it to everyone.

Dewdney Trunk Road

2005-07-13T22:36:00.000-07:00

I like driving down Dewdney Trunk Rd on the way to Port Moody - as if for a moment I'm miles away from suburbia and I'm surrounded by wild trees. That is why it didn't seem out of place that a young guy, with green spiked hair, was walking along the right side of the road towards oncoming traffic. He was singing and playing his guitar as he saundered.
It also didn't seem out of place, at least, until later when I gave it more thought, that I pulled over and offered him a ride regardless of the fact I was driving in the other direction.
He pauses, momentarily interupting his grin, before he replies, "No thanks, I'm good." And his rubber lips are smacked back into his original, wide smile.
From the driver's seat, I shout, "You're just walking along singing and playing your guitar?"
"Yep." Now he's showing off his teeth.
"That's rad!" I exclaim.
"Thanks!" And I step back on the gas to continue my drive realizing that I would have loved to talk to him longer. But lengthening this occurance would only exhaust the incantation that teases my mind every time I have driven the Dewdney Trunk Rd since.

Dead Rat

2005-07-10T17:24:00.000-07:00

Who knew, that at 8:30am Tuesday morning, a fat, dead rat lying behind the building where I work made my day. Before coffee, before reading emails and even before unlocking the building, someone had to get rid of a rat whose body was as long as my foot and fatter than my fist. When I walk around my neighborhood with my dog JJ, I occaisionally pick up the dead rats I find using the plastic bags I carry with me because we have so many children in the neighborhood. These rats are as big as a man's thumb so with this in mind, I volunteered to go and clean it up. Getting rid of a rat should negate me from having to clean up vomit if another child gets sick. So I grabed a plastic bag and headed out to the field.
When I finally found the rat, I laughed and cried out of horror at the same time. I had to return with a garbage bag and a shovel - only to find that the shovel could only slide the rat around a bit. With my knees bent preparing my body like a rocket for take off, I plunged the bag over the rat and scooped it up. To my disgust - the rat was definately heavier than I thought. It took me a couple of swooping movements to get the fat, black tail in with it. In my mind, nothing worse could happen that day. When all the horror was over, I realized that that was an exciting day at work - something DIFFERENT happened, something that provoked many stimulating emotions I don't usually have. And, none of the guys took on the job.

A Wasp in the Mini-Van

2005-06-29T18:36:00.000-07:00

Wasps scare me. Today as I was driving to work I noticed a wasp flying around the van. When it circled over to the dashboard, I pulled over and turned on the hazard lights. As it bumped repeatedly agianst the half-open glass window, I cautiously pressed the automatic button until it finally flew out the window - my body squeemishly slanted to the right.
So I checked out wasps online and found The Wasp Woman - a horror movie from 1960 about a woman who became addicted to queen-wasp butt-serum because it made her look youthful. The tagline is "a beautiful woman by day - a lusting queen woman by night." For me that sounds like it just makes her really horny, not necessarily montrous but I have read novels about how women who 'wants it' are depicted as heinous in films. The picture above is not the Wasp Woman (also known as the Bee Girl and Insect Woman - so creative) - I just put it up because it makes me happy.
When you dream of wasps, it refers to something that has had a stinging or painful effect on you or that someone has the capacity to hurt you.

Bad Dreams

2005-06-26T18:10:00.000-07:00

I have a reoccurring bad dream. I don't know if there's a beginning to it - all I ever remember is finding myself being held by an exboyfriend I strongly dislike. I push at his sticky pink flesh telling him to leave but he's stronger than me. I station my back against my bedroom wall - my left arm hot against my yellow linen sheets. Positioning my boney red knees beneath my chin, I thrust my feet against his chest and still no movement. I'm caught in a stagnant struggle losing the energy in my muscles until white light finally slips into my room shining through my navy blue curtains and naturalizes my bedroom walls back into that annoying Terra Cotta colour my sister had chosen a few years ago. That exboyfriend is gone and I find my body tucked against the corner walls. A haunting residue lingers on my mind. I feel dragged and dispirited; I disliked this guy even when we were dating. Then I look at my walls and as usual, my morning mood quickly turns into a bitter huff. I hate Terra Cotta.

One of the teachers at work, Dave, asked me today, "So do you know any stories?" He was probably expecting a lighthearted anecdote.
"Actually, I have a problem you might be able to help me with through your wisdom." I replied.
"Oh," he didn't have to say that part, his mouth already mimics a perfect 'O' shape. "What is it then?"
"I have this reoccurring dream I really want to stop having. It's about an exboyfriend who won't leave me alone no matter how much I try to get him to leave."
"Do you know you are dreaming when this happens?" he asked, but I had to think about it a bit because my attention had already swam sideways into imagining Dave growing rounder, rosier and grayer until he became the perfect Caucasian Santa Clause anyone would ever know. (First of all, Dave is the jolliest person I know. Second, he is a bit round naturally. Third, he never stops smiling. Fourth, his high, round cheekbones are always rosy.)
"Yes." I said finally.
"Well, do something different."
"Like what?" I have the attention-span of a lollypop six year old girl entranced by the fringe of her green-laced skirt.
"I don't know. Just something different." he said while walking backwards before he turned to follow his piano student up the stairs. "It's your dream. You can do whatever you want with it."
I pondered at the reception desk what my plan of action should be. I could turn this exboyfriend into a chicken, but that might bring back a dream I had that I gave birth to a chicken and then worried that the children at school will make fun of her not because she is a chicken but because she also comes from Mexico and therefore she might be teased by the other kids for her Mexican accent. Maybe I can turn him into a watermelon and eat him. Maybe I'll create a hole in my bed for him to slip through and never be seen or heard from again.
If you have any suggestions or comments, let me know.
Sharon

The Flamming Canoe

2005-06-24T11:55:00.000-07:00

Tuk Tuk - Matt's Car, originally uploaded by sinkblue.

My friend Matt, along with his car Tuk Tuk and the Flamming Canoe, took me to duck-itch White Pine Beach with the intention of swimming across the lake and back. The Flamming Canoe used to be an average canoe born of plexiglass and made from the hands of men. However, after various divine tribulations mysterious to all mankind (due to global amnesia) it's bow has been endowed with the flames of Hell. Thus, it is called The Flamming Canoe. Strapped to the roof of it's sidekick Tuk Tuk, it is prepared for any kind of spontaneous canoe moment to fight justice for all canoe-kind. The Flaming Canoe's weakness, however, is water. Therefore, as Matt and I swam across White Pine Lake, the canoe rested uptop his trusted partner, Tuk Tuk, in the White Pine parking lot.
My weakness is my inability to keep up with my friend Matt. The water, cool and smooth, took us a lingering hour to swim across. Once out, Matt was prepared to swim all the way back as promised. My legs, however, wobbled the same consistency of warm tofu, and my lungs had to heave every breath of fly-friendly air. Then the sun heated our skin - I could smell the candy-banana sunscreen on my shoulders. The better the sun feels, the less inviting the water. Matt eventually surrendered to the sun's warming comfort and accompanied me on the trail back to the beach cluttered with sandpales, toddlers and the smell of barbequed burgers. Listening to AM radio news, Matt then drove me home in Tuk Tuk, and I woke up this morning with every muscle in my body feeling great. I got a bit of a tan too - my skin has gone from white to eggshell!

Wednesday afternoon, in between gluing envelopes, answering phones and talking to my friends online, a tall tired woman with two blond girls approached my desk. Josephine, the louder of the two, bopped her balloon sword repeatedly against her mother's stomach; she eventually had to holler ask Josephine to stop. I whispered to her, "Josephine, my name is Sharon. You're mother would really like it if we could all be a little quieter for a while." Josephine's whole body slowed down and turned to look at the glowing stars in the window as her mother explained that her back was hurting. I began to register her girls in classes and I started talking to the smaller one. "What's your name?" I asked.
"Sophia" she replied.
"Do you know what your name means?" She shooked her head and her curly blond pigtails waved like bluebells caught in an August breeze. "Wisdom." Her blue eyes open wider and her eyebrows tense up; she does not understand. "It means to be really smart - and that means that your mother knew you were really smart all along." To that her confused ruby lips expanded into a jubilant smile, the kind that raises blushed cheekbones and lifts heavy chins.
A few moments later, her mother and I finished registering Josephine and Sofia and we had to say goodbye. I told Josephine how wonderful she was behaving, and I said to all of them that it was really nice to meet them. Their mother asked her children,"What do you say?"
They replied in unison, "Thank you."
But as they were leaving my gray building and out into the honeyed sunlight and sweet air, Sophia piped, "I love you!" Her mother laughed lightly as the glass door closed behind them. Then it was my turn for my blushed cheekbones and heavy chin to grow high. A soft pinkness filled my stomach, then my heart and then my fingertips. Tom Waits' Sight for Sore Eyes plays in my ears. This is one of times I love my job.

Who Would Play the Part of You?

2005-06-20T09:45:00.000-07:00

In daydreaming the idea of my life being made into a movie, I've been considering who to cast for certain parts.

This is what I've figured out so far:

Me = Maggie Gyllianhal
My Sister Catherine = Penelope Cruz or Salma Hayek
Briana = Cate Blanchett or Kate Winslet
Will = Jonathon Frakes (Commander William T Riker from the Starship Enterprise)
Rebecca = Natalie Portman or Sarah Polley
Matt = Alex Winter or Johnny Depp
Sarah = Anne Heche
Nick = Keifer Sutherland
Sam = Cory Feldman
Mike = Ewan McGregor or Conan O'Brian
Glen = Jim Carrey or Crispin Glover
Neal = Aiden Quinn
My Mom = Carol Brunette
My sister Susan = Paris Hilton
Natasha = Laura Prepon (Donna from That 70's Show) acting-coach Robin Williams
Jeff = Stephen Chow
Matt Godin = Johnny Knoxville
Julie = Molly Parker
Kenton = Edward Norton
Robin = Vincent Price's soul
Aj'a = Cyndi Lauper

But this is a daydream in progress. I don't know who would play the following important roles:

Gayle = ?

I'm also choosing Tim Burton as the director, so obviously Johnny Depp will have to go somewhere. And if Vincent Price were still alive, I'd make up a character in my life just for him!

So help me out - who will play these people? If you don't comment, you don't get a say! Dems the rules!

The Nominations Are In

2005-06-20T09:38:00.000-07:00

A big thank you to Natasha for coming up with so many different names for this blog! So - to everyone else out there, tell me what is your favourite title by using the comments option below - or, if you think you have a better one - give it and I'll add it to the pile.

The choices are:
Shazar
Norahs
Sharananandingdong
Sho-Sho
Shring!!!!
Shhhhhhhh!
The Adventures of Shoo-Shoo
Sharon, Samurai artist
Random Rantings of a Raving Redhead

Have fun!

Comments Are Back!

2005-06-17T18:23:00.000-07:00

I'm inviting everyone to make suggestions for a new blog name (instead of "Sharon").

BBQ at Sam's this Saturday

2005-06-16T18:05:00.000-07:00

Sam Driving me
Originally uploaded by sinkblue.

Hmmmm - now you're all probably thinking, "Is this Sharon's blog, or Sam's?". It's still mine.
Now ask youself, "Does Sharon like me?" and if the answer is yes - then come to Sam's BBQ and bring some kind of food to share. It's happening around 6pm at his place in New West.
Sam is great. When talking to Sam on msn yesterday, I told him I felt 'bummed'. What was really nice is that he called me later that evening to see how I was doing. Some of my other friends do that too - especially when my dog died - and it feels really good to hear that someone cares. I didn't realize this but he even 'bummed' around with me when I was feeling too low to go out - again, that was really sweet. So some of you people out there have done the same from time to time and I just want to say thanks - because it does help.

First Time at the Media Club

2005-06-15T11:23:00.000-07:00

Candle Red Kitsch
Originally uploaded by sinkblue.

Jorane - that amazingly sensual celloist - was playing at the Media Club last night, and even though it was my intention to see her perform, I never did. Regardless, I had a great time. Briana and Will prove it's not where you go, but who you're with that makes it great. Even while a singer with a beautiful voice sang dull and trite love song lyrics, I was having fun. Thank god fun couples are flocking the city. The dull leech-like ones bore the life out of me.
I had to leave early to meet up with Mike to see Batman Begins. I'm glad to say that they restored the original murky mood that created Batman. The Tim Burton influence is definately there. This movie, though sometimes predictable, makes up for all the campy crap that came after Batman Returns. But I'm a huge Tim Burton fan so I'm biased.
One of my friendships has gone to shit. Regardless, I'm really happy about all the successful ones that surround me. Sometimes I need to learn to let some friendships go. My deep feelings and sense of loyalty makes this very difficult for me, even when the person is no good. To everyone out there who is and has been a good part of my life, thank you.

Alright!

2005-06-12T23:13:00.000-07:00

Just spoke with Sam - he is dating her! Way to go Sam!

Me and the Boys

2005-06-12T22:53:00.000-07:00

I had an awesome time Saturday night hanging out with Sam, Nick and unexpectantly, the very interesting and special Doug!
After watching that Jude Law film Alfie during which Sam had in his arms one hell of a cute cougar (ie - the girl upstairs), Doug introduced us to ZOMBIES! A cross between Labyrinth and Risk - this game is great. You kill miniature zombies while lining them up against your opponents and building a city. Doug with his substance-abusing habits was hilarious. I stayed up with these fellows until 3:15am when I had to pass out. Capsized by Sam's couch cushions, I received a hug goodnight from Nick, a kiss/peck goodnight from Doug and a ferocious raspberry from Sam on the neck that made me squeel. I love being tickled so much I'll never try to dull the nerves along the bottom of feet and elsewhere.
Gayle is only 17 years old but she gave me really good advice about relationships. I'm adding her to TEAM:Sharon.
Today I also had a great time hanging with my friend Mike. I realize that I appreciate my friends a hell lot more now that I'm better.
I have to admit, if nothing happens between Sam and his new cougar friend, I may have some competition for the role of being Sam's friend who doesn't sleep with him. For my sake, I hope they get it on.

Follow up on this:

2005-06-11T16:43:00.000-07:00

My airborne legs brush against skyscraping grass. Fresh dew clings to my calves, collects and slides off my trumpeting heels. My banana smile crystalizes into rock candy. The wind dries my front teeth. The kiss from every green blade crimsons my cotton knees. My toes squish overflowing molasses mud.

Here's a line from some of my creative writing - until I get my comments back, email inkpen_81@hotmail.com for the next lines - and then I'll add them to my post.

Have fun!

Gayle in her Grad Dress

2005-06-11T14:37:00.000-07:00

Gayle in her Grad Dress
Originally uploaded by sinkblue.

Last night I picked Gayle up from her house to hang out. I like the fact she has no money - then we do things that doesn't cost much. After quickly eating some awesome honey dew ice cream (Korean ice cream, introduced to me by my friend Roy) we decided that it would be fun for Gayle to drive the van (she has her learners). She drove us around Westwood Plateau and then to White Pine beach. She crawled up behind a shiny black car which scared me because I forgot to inform her that the brakes don't work properly all the time.
At White Pine, we were going to park and sneak in but security was hanging around - the white pick up truck. Gayle had to roll down the window for him to talk to us - thank god he can't ask for her license or anything. It scares me that it's only June and security is already hanging around that area. If they keep that up, it will conflict with most of my skinny dipping plans for this summer.
So from there, Gayle drove around that beautiful area for about 20 minutes as we talked about stuff. I took over when we decided to go to Rocky Point - Pt Moody has a lot of police cars hanging around.
We picked up a bag of beef jerky and headed to the dock. It's nice talking to someone who's at a very different time in their life - even though it's not like I wasn't there recently myself.
My friend Neal is at a poker tournament right now - everyone send him telepathic good vibes!

I'm Free - They let me out and gave me a certificate for it!

2005-06-10T10:56:00.000-07:00

Sam!
Originally uploaded by sinkblue.

Here's Sam wearing one of Catherine's uber eccentric earrings - dangling and all.
So to all my friends out there:
I'm free! I've finished my program out in Maple Ridge. My only obligations are to work 30 hours a week and continue to have as much fun as possible. I have even received a certificate "in recognition of exceptional effort in learning the tools to lead a full life."
So people, expect annoying calls from me. You will hang out with me.
And let me know where I can find some Riverdancing Midgets. Thanks!

And I almost forgot: Because I made a joke, I am now going to Hawaii in Aug 2006 . . . if you want to find out how this happened . . . you have to hang out with me! HA HA!

And I've been taking horsebackriding lessons with my mom - I'm finding it hard to keep my legs together these days.

And I'm taking singing lessons this summer. I love to sing. Maybe if I learn how to do it right more people will be willing to shower with me.

Finally! I Got a Tattoo!

2005-05-25T21:52:00.000-07:00

My Tattoo - Again!
Originally uploaded by sinkblue.

Since I was six years old I wanted a tattoo - but when my eighteenth birthday passed - I as too scared to commit to an image for the rest of my life - so I've been searching for that 'perfect' image ever since. Well, I was really looking for an image that would suit me and everyone I know.
I got fed up with sitting on the fence and decided that even though I didn't know what I wanted, I would have a tattoo by the end of the week. For a couple of days, I was working with themes I love - ocean, stars (I'm such a girlie-girl sometimes). But when I found a T-Shirt I designed in Australia, I had found my image.
Inspired by the dandilions you blow and make a wish with, I had printed cluster-abstracts of this flower on shirts. Some see it as fireworks, others as an emblem from 1950's pop culture. It doesn't matter to me because I love it.
I'm glad my new friend Gail was able to come with me - she wants to get a tattoo when she turns eighteen so she wanted to watch - and I wanted someone there. The Tattoo Man who worked on me was really funny - but I was too scared and nervous to laugh. I was happy that the staff was really supportive of my design.
When he finally started working - I learned that it hardly hurts at all. My piercings hurted more. It hurt a bit as the needle got closer to the bone, but I was surprised at how catastrophic I thought the situation would be compared to the actual event. Anyway - there are more pictures of having the tattoo done on my photo page.
Afterwards, I took Gail out for gelati to thank her for coming with me - and she laughed at the howls my car makes when I'm parallel parking.
The stress from the tattoo - or what I thought the experience would be, must have overwhelmed me so much that I went right to bed when I got home.

Look at Everyone's Trash

2005-05-25T21:08:00.000-07:00

Trash
Originally uploaded by sinkblue.

To further update things - a couple of Mondays ago, Sam helped me indulge in my desire to take pictures of the neighbors' trash during the spring cleaning week by driving me around Coquitlam. Sam only had a couple of hours to spare before work so I really appreciated him hanging out with me - with everything that's going on it's been hard to meet up.

I like seeing what people throw out. It's the reason I used to wander through Value Village just looking at everything and not buying. I don't know why I'm interested in the stuff that people don't want anymore. Sometimes the stuff has a story to it, sometimes I imagine some horror story significance behind the object and scare myself (I'm a goof).

Sam found a forest path in Westwood Plateau, parked the car and into the green we hiked. I like that Sam and I make eachother do things we normally wouldn't. This crazy guy wants to go hiking and camping for a week . . . wonder if I'll tag along.

One Fantastic Play

2005-05-23T11:07:00.000-07:00

Crazy for Life
Originally uploaded by sinkblue.

". . . behind her, a swell, a giant wave, rolling, gaining speed behind her, rolling, gaining speed behind her, totally oblivious. I call out, try to catch her attention, but she turns, faces the breaker, hit, arms up, body back, she shakes her head (pause) and hugs the water right back. Squeels and giggles mark the sky. Then, she starts the whole shabang again. Spins, waves, turns, hit - and embrace (pause) all over again."
From Crazy for Life
By Victoria Maxwell, the Bi-Polar Princess

A couple of Thursdays ago, I saw Victoria Maxwell perform her personal story of having bi-polar disorder. Never had I seen a monologue so engaging and expressive. Driven to educate the public about mental health awareness, Maxwell's humor is our ticket onto the Bi-Polar Express - and she's the conductor. Except I got on that train earlier than most people.
Her poetic imagery and precise portrayal of her illness examplifies what I wish I could spell out to those who have a hard time understanding what I've been through. Her enactment of her lows reflected my own so well that my throat squeezed on the inside and my eyes grew tense with hot tears.
More than her drama made me cry, she made me laugh. Over the last seven weeks, I have learned from my classes that my bi-polar disorder is an illness just like any other - not something I did wrong and not something wrong with my personality. Victoria Maxwell's humor only emphasized this.
After the play, I bought her CD - an audio-recording of her play. If any of my friends wants to borrow it - I would be estactic to hand it out.

"Hello Mom? . . . I'm safe. I'm with my friend Marc in the forest with an axe." Tues May 10/05

2005-05-14T22:57:00.000-07:00

Mark's Axe
Originally uploaded by sinkblue.

Tuesday night:
Finally I get the opportunity to really hang out with Marc - without alcohal or a bike show. I'm late, he picks me up from Lonsdale Key and we drive to Seymor Valley where he lives. While he showers, I try some potatoe-swiss-cheese pasta that Marc had made earlier - tasty food.
We talked until his family came home and by that time it was dark. Having agreed to go swimming earlier, I didn't let on my big fear of dark forests at night.
Marc packed an axe for firewood- I found the idea of going out into the woods at night with a guy I met twice and his axe so amusing I took a picture of his axe sticking out of his backpack.
It wasn't until we were deep into the forest that Marc starting telling me about the bears and cougars that live in that forest. It freaked me out but Marc calmed me down and we made it to the river.
After collecting twigs, sticks and wood, Marc built the fire. It took him a long time to breath the small flame large enough to catch onto the wood. Knowing he's asthmatic made me want to stop him, but he declares he has the lungs of a horse.
He got the fire going and stable - time to go swimming! What a better way to start off a friendship than skinny-dipping! Marc rushed for the edge of the rock anticipating me to follow but I was crawling my way there. The sky was a deep navy blue so the rock was black. When I caught up to him, Marc was testing the water and said it was pretty cold. "There's only one way to do this" he calmly said before canonballing into the river. He surfaced with "Wow! That's cold."
This is the point when I usually say no and turn around. Dripping behind me, Marc said,"Come on, you didn't come all this way to turn around!" Picture me naked with my body huddled in a gargoyle crawl on the edge of the black rock. But there's something my friend Andrea said that always hit me whenever I think about it. She was talking about Improv Theatre, but when applying to life it works out pretty well. She said, "Nothing interesting happens when you say no." With that one thought, I leaped into the calm river, my body already as stiff as a board.
It's greenish-black. I see bubbles and my hair across my face. My whole body couldn't surface faster as shivers pinched my skin all over at once. Finally, air. And I'm screaming. Now I'm laughing and screaming as I punch water. For me, I was only slowly moving towards the rock, my body was not moving as fast as I wanted it to.
I'm out of the water, I'm just laughing. Marc jumps in again but I know I'm not going to try to match him and jump too. I'm trying to climb up the rock but I keep slipping. Marc gets up and hauled me up to our jumping point.
From there we scrambled to the fire for our towels. I'm still laughing. My short breaths warm me. We vigorously dry ourselves with the smokey towels. I'm sitting next to the fire still laughing but more calm. I'm taking deeper breaths. Marc sits down - his skin is amber next to the fire - mine would be blush-red in the blue light.
More talking like before, but this time we're pretty much naked and there's a fire. It starts to get late and I don't want to miss my class in Maple Ridge on Wednesday morning, so I tell Marc it's probably time to go. We start packing when one of his water bottles (one of those cool mountain equipment co-op bottles) rolls and bounces off the rock and into the river. We're already dressed. Marc goes after it - I poorly passed him a stick and he tried to lead it his way. To my horror, Marc slips into the river with all his clothes on. I scream like a priss. Marc gets out of the water. The bottle is still in the river. "Oh well, I guess since I'm wet anyways," Marc said before jumping back in for the bottle.
Back at the fire, Mark peels down to his skin. The poor guy was freezing and had to try to dry off with already wet towels. We kept blowing the fire that we had allowed to die down as we were packing up. Marc had an extra pair of shorts in his bag but nothing else - so I lent him my girlie, powder-blue sweater with the side zipper. Now, Marc is an athlete . . . which means he has muscular shoulders and biceps - the sweater, stretched over the shoulders, ended a few inches above his belly button and treasure trail - wish I had my camera.
The not so fun part is that he was freezing. We got the fire going more and I called my mom on Marc's cell to let her know I was alright but that I'd be home late and that my circumstances were questionable.
Finally, we decide it's best to make our way back to Marc's house. I suggest running to warm ourselves up, to which Marc informs me that running attracts predators. So we walk and walk. After twenty minutes, Marc stops and stands still. Then I see him take the safe guard off the axe. I huddle close and ask him quietly what is going on. He replies that something is following us. We continue to walk, I'm holding the flashlight wide-eyed. Marc asks if, whatever happens, that I shine the flashlight on the animal. I said "K" but who knows what would really happen when the fight or flight kicks in. We walk, Marc asks me to scream, but I'm so scared that I lost my voice. He starts yelling and it tremors my nerves. All I wanted was to get out of the forest as fast as possible but I can't run, and I worry about my heart beating fast.
It felt like a half hour hike before Marc said that he thinks the animal following us is just trying to check us out - it keeps it's distance.

I see houses and suburban street lights - orange glow behind the tree.
We're walking in the middle of the street - Marc is calm - I'm just calmer and trying to cool off. Marc said I am cute when I'm really scared . . . I don't want to be that cute again!
Marc also asked me if I peaked at him when we went swimming and what did I think - I'm blushing big time and I barely respond with "Well, did you peak at me? What do you think?" He replied, "I think you're cute . . . but kind of frail . . . not a lot of muscle." - and muscle is one thing I'm working on, but after thinking about it, I think a bit of squishy is good - squishy is fun to hug and squeeze!
All in all - it was one of the coolest nights of my life.

One Really Great Weekend!

2005-05-09T16:05:00.000-07:00

Mark - My New Friend!
Originally uploaded by sinkblue.

After pleading with Marc (met at Natasha's birthday party) he allowed me to come watch him and his crew jump over trucks with their bikes. So after work on Saturday, I out to Surrey to see them. They are really professional and have done a lot of work. This one was to help promote Motorcycle World in downtown Whalley. I stood between the ramps and Marc leaped with his bike over my head. I loved holding my breath as his bike hung in the air for a few seconds before descending down the ramp.
I also got the opportunity to ride on the back of some four wheel off road thing - the driver was able to climb over piles of tires.
When the show was over (and the people that came and went were really impressed) I tried to help load the ramps onto the trailor without doing much good, so I decided to say good-bye to Marc with the hope of meeting up again when we can actually hang out and talk, and head to Burnaby to see Sam because I hadn't seen him in a while and missed him. Him and Steve were hanging around the appartment trying to stay awake. I got myself some awesome Thai food from a great place on Edmonds St and joined in on the lounging.
From there I took off to meet up with my new friend Roy. After mentioning it over and over again, I finally decided to take him up on his offer of having a pint of guiness somewhere. Somewhere turned out to be White Rock - and the beach was gorgeous, the guiness great. And it was awesome sitting across from from Roy (one of the handsomest guys I know) and talking about everything. He's so passionate about music that he compulsively shares it. He drove us back from White Rock and we didn't talk, just enjoyed his amazing compilation of songs. He then introduced me to strawberry tea with cream and sugar, and some amazing piano on dvd (don't remember the name of the composers unfortunately - one was Gould) - the fingerwork was amazing and hypnotic. I had a good time hanging out with him - new friends are always good. It's really great that I'm meeting so many different people.

Robin in Vancouver/Tour Bizarre

2005-05-09T15:38:00.000-07:00

Robin
Originally uploaded by sinkblue.

As noted, I met Robin one very drunken night in Calgary. Since then we've spoken a bit on msn but nothing much. Knowing that he would be stopping in Vancouver on this way to Australia, I told him he had to call me up so that we could hang out . . . and on Sunday he did.
I asked him what he wanted to do, and since he replied with a lot of ambivalence, I decided to take him on a 'Tour Bizarre' of the Tri-Cities. A 'Tour Bizarre' is a tour of all the most bizarre or strange or unseen parts of a town. It started for me when Sue and I were in Prague and Sue's boyfriend's Dad's girlfriend's daughter Yana, and Yana's exboyfriend, decided to show us some things that tourists never see - a really ugly church, a crumbling building, the TV tower which had giant metal baby sculptures crawling all over it and a gross bar that only served beer in foggy mugs and their toilet was a hole in the ground.
So my tour bizarre of the tri-Cities included driving Robin around Riverview Hospital, showing him the shiny penitentionary for the criminally insane at Colony Farms and I tried to find the pig farm in PoCo with no luck. After yummy tofu and veggies dinner at a Chinese restaurant and a failed attempt to find Korean ice cream, I took Robin to the beach off the Barnet Hwy where you can climb on the remains of the old saw mill. Even though it rained, we must have meandered along the beach for an hour talking. Robin changed my approach towards beaches and rain. Along the beach, Robin was looking for large rocks until finally he disclosed his love for listening to the plunk of a large rock thrown into still water. We found that by each of us trying to throw a large rock we were creating a duo-toned harmony. If only I had a better throwing arm.
Robin had me listen to the rain both from under the branches of the trees and then from the edge of the shore. It takes a prairie-boy to help me realize how I've taken the rain for granted.
Robin could even pick up on the chirping of baby Canadian Geese behind their mother in the dark, and the splashing of some sea-mammal (a sealion?) in the water.
Wet and exhilerated, we headed down the barnet towards Burnaby. Just when I thought I had nothing left to show Robin, I remembered the giant Viking head at Burnaby North High School - that dooming horned behemoth imprisoned in the hill (welded by the high school kids). It's pretty gory in the dark.
After a good couple of yawns, I dropped Robin off at his friend's house around midnight with the commitment to meet again before he heads to Tazmania. That was the best Sunday night I've had in a while.

The View from my 'Office'

2005-05-03T20:51:00.000-07:00

The View from my 'Office',
originally uploaded by sinkblue.

Since the evenings are getting warmer, my morning shifts now include collecting the almost-empty whiskey and scotch bottles the kids leave behind at night.
These guys are lucky to have the amphitheatre to hang out in. It's a really nice area. And sometimes they smoke pot during our open hours and we get phone calls from the neighbours to tell them to stop. We tell them we can't do that because they are smoking on public property. It makes me laugh that these winers think that little me has the authority to kick some teens off the property - especially since they're bigger than me. I always tell the neighbours to call the police if they have a problem but they usually don't.
Maillardville is Coquitlam's bad part of town . . . which is a laugh. The other day I actually found a letter in the paper considering that Maillardville could potentially be the next East Hastings if things aren't cleaned up. Yeah right. Coquitlam is pretty calm, even in Maillardville.

Stomach Flu

2005-05-03T20:44:00.000-07:00

Ah so this is what I would look like on a date,
originally uploaded by sinkblue.

Ah, so this is what I look like on dates. Rebecca took this picture from across the table at Sammy J Peppers, and now I see what my dates see. Poor guys - I'm sorry.
This was the last picture taken when I was well. For the past three days I've been no farther than ten feet from the toilet - I have stomach flu. And it's painful.
The good news is that because the stomach flu has been so boring, I've updated some of my accounts and found that an elementary school friend has found me online - it's fun seeing how people have turned out - and he's heading to South America in the autumn which is awesome.
And I've been able to chat with Sarah - haven't talked to her in so long I forgot how much fun it is to talk to her. She's been busy getting over a concussion and being super.
I actually got to talk to my friend Mike and give him my full attention - he's going through sick stuff. Mike is my 'amazing' friend because he lost a lung and grew it back. For this he has been noted in the medical books twice! He's also a really nice guy which is a bonus.
During my stomach flu I've learned that Gateraid sucks, no teddy bear is too small and a couple of yoga moves. I also finished my new toque so my "Linus' Blanket" is back!
And I've been pondering this conundrum: Who are the better dancers - the kids from South Park or the gang from Charlie Brown? One jumps from side to side and the other bobs their heads. They both have such great moves!

You think you know me . . .

2005-05-03T12:19:00.000-07:00

Your #1 Match: ENFP

The Inspirer

You love being around people, and you are deeply committed to your friends.
You are also unconventional, irreverant, and unimpressed by authority and rules.
Incredibly perceptive, you can usually sense if someone has hidden motives.
You use lots of colorful language and expressions. You're qutie the storyteller!

You would make an excellent entrepreneur, politician, or journalist.

Your #2 Match: ENTP

The Visionary

You are charming, outgoing, friendly. You make a good first impression.
You possess good negotiating skills and can convince anyone of anything.
Happy to be the center of attention, you love to tell stories and show off.
You're very clever, but not disciplined enough to do well in structured environments.

You would make a great entrpreneur, marketing executive, or actor.

Your #3 Match: INFP

The Idealist

You are creative with a great imagination, living in your own inner world.
Open minded and accepting, you strive for harmony in your important relationships.
It takes a long time for people to get to know you. You are hesitant to let people get close.
But once you care for someone, you do everything you can to help them grow and develop.

You would make an excellent writer, psychologist, or artist.

What's Your Personality Type?

Rebecca and Matt

2005-05-01T21:56:00.000-07:00

Rebecca and Matt
Originally uploaded by sinkblue.

These love birds are so into each other and so happy - it can make you sick! All the same I'm happy for them.
I've know Rebecca since high school when we ditched classes and rode our bikes around colony farms. Her house was only about six houses away from mine so convenience turned us into close friends which became inconvenient for Rebecca when I started climbing her tree and tapping on her window to wake her up early for bikeriding - and one time I stole a lifesize Tim Allen cardboard image across from her bedroom door - only for her to get freaked out by it when she woke up. Her mother never locked the doors back then.
Matt, Rebecca and I had some dinner at Sammy J Peppers just to casually hang out and relax - I've been so busy I was pretty tired. After dinner we headed to my house to watch 'The Last Man on Earth' starring Vincent Price - a black and white about pathetic vampire zombies and only Vincent Price has an immunity to the air born virus.
Matt is a very entertaining msn person - he's gotten me through some pretty dull times! Yeah Matt!

Catherine

2005-04-27T23:07:00.000-07:00

Catherine
Originally uploaded by sinkblue.

Here's my big sister Catherine - she looks pretty happy considering she's about to embark on a 4day/night bus ride across Canada to Montreal.
She's a hell lot of fun - even just hanging around her this past week with her stomach flu was cool - except for the puking part. So imagine how much fun she is when she isn't vile!
She spends most of the year in Victoria getting her bachelors - she graduates in December this year. She and I have our own sense of humor that feeds off each other that I miss most of the year. She gets back from Montreal in June and she'll probably work with special needs youth in planning summer activities - it's going to be a lot of fun!

Me about to Head East to Maple Ridge

2005-04-27T22:59:00.000-07:00

About to head East to Maple Ridge,
originally uploaded by sinkblue.

These are the clip-ons I put on before my drive out the program which is going really well - it gets better and better every day.
So why the clip-ons? My eyes started to burn for no reason - it wasn't allergies because I wasn't getting any of the other symptoms.
So I saw my doctor, got some eye drops and I was encouraged to keep my eyesight away from the sunlight. That's hard to do when you're driving East at 8:30 am on these beautiful sunny days. My mother, the resourceful person that she is, found this old pair of clip-ons. They do the job - and I laughed so hard my first drive wearing them I can't give them up! I stopped to let a family cross the street and the little blond girl laughed and pointed at me! I can't wait to wear them to the beach! Thanks Mom!
Like I said, the program is going great - I've met incredible people and we all know eachother so well now - they all have amazing, powerful stories I wish I could share but I signed a privacy agreement.
And I love the drive out to Maple Ridge in the morning - easy going, beautiful skyline - and the opposite traffic is just standing still. Even with feeling over-worked, April has been a really good month for me.

About Calgary - Nate and I

2005-04-26T15:46:00.000-07:00

Nate and I,
originally uploaded by sinkblue.

Nate is Meg's friend, I met Meg at Universal Studios with Natasha. When Meg heard that I was flying out to Calgary - she told me to meet up with her friend Nate. Nate and I both enjoy hanging out with people we don't know in anticipation of potientially awkward moments. That, along with sharing a childhood fear of Large Marge from the Pee Wee Herman movie actually made it an enjoyable afternoon. We walked to a drive in hamburger joint, talked to this homeless guy who looked like Johnney Depp, and drank weird flavoured milkshakes. If Nate's friend had been at a tatoo parlour, he and I would've gotten some free tattoos. I had a lot of fun with him.
In parting I gave Nate the ugly painting I shoved under my Fozzy-bear trenchcoat when exiting the Hog and Brew. His plan so far is to put it up in some gallery/cafe with a made up artist name (the name of a local constable) a title and a price.
I had a blast with Nate and hope that he's able to meet up with Meg in South Africa.

Heather

2005-04-26T14:32:00.000-07:00

Heather,
originally uploaded by sinkblue.

For those who know what I went through last summer - no one knows better than Heather. She was there for me for the last two weeks of Australia watching out for me, comforting me and taking care of me. I feel like I owe her my life.
Heather is an amazing glass-blower. This winter she won an award for her work in a competition out in Philidelphia - she's currently applying to an artist's co-op in Toronto. She's nervous about her financial future but I feel that her talent will never leave her starving. I'm really proud of her work and how far she's come. A bonus to being her friend and liking her work is that she gave me an amazing bowl she made - orange and blue.
Hanging out with her was like time never passed since I last saw her. And she took me out to the Rockies even though I was too hungover to enjoy it. We made cookies, snuggled like old times and went to the zoo. I had a lot of fun with Heather and can't wait till we meet up again.

Andrew

2005-04-26T14:21:00.000-07:00

Andrew
Originally uploaded by sinkblue.

Andrew ran out of his house to greet me at the shuttle - he looked like Jesus in a hoodie - I jumped out to give him a huge hug - I've really missed him since Australia.
I gave him some smoked salmon and off we went to tour downtown Calgary where Andrew found himself lost in trying to find stuff to show me. I kept reminding him that I came to Calgary because I missed him and Heather - not to see Calgary's Granduer.
He showed me his pottery - since it's his final year, he's just having a blast doing what he wants and not caring what his teachers think. He has an apprenticeship set up for him in Saskachewan living on a farm with a famous potter that he's really excited about. I'm really glad he's getting what he wants.
Andrew always hated being called a hippy even though he has hippy tendencies. So why the long hair? It turns out his Mom is fighting cancer and Andrew wanted to make a wig out of his hair for his mother while she goes through kimo.
Andrew, despite first impressions, is a super sweet and caring guy. I know he's terrible to keep in touch with him through email so saying bye to him was hard knowing that. I hope we'll hang again.

Annika Turns 1 Year Old and Zombies Take over the World!

2005-03-20T14:43:00.000-08:00

Thanks to my lovely coworker Lidia, I was able to take my first Saturday afternoon off in a long time in order to go to Annika's 1st birthday party! For those of you who don't know, Annika is Shauna's baby girl and a mean biter so don't let your fingers get too close to her mouth.
Her party was full of relatives and screamming children - both Catherine and I felt a bit out of place so she dealt with it by eating a lot of food and I dealt with it by video taping the party. Really good food though. I really appreciate having been there - Annika is super cute, but I couldn't help but feel a bit out of place until all the old people left. Annika's grandfather, Nelson, is pretty cool though - he brought a guitar and sang songs and played my victum when Catherine and I created an alternative Zombie ending to Annika's birthday party. At the end of it, I had eaten so much food and had so much excitement that I was napping in one of Annika's baby blankets on the couch.

I'm much more fit now than I was around Christmas and hoping this time I'll be able to make it last. I've found a life drawing group and I'm thinking about modeling for it - try to be the subject instead of the artist for once - could be an ego boost or a downer depending on how the artists see me but regardless I think it would be fun.

Anyway - if any of you want to get a hold of me between March 22 and March 28 - you can't because I'll be in . . . CALGARY!!!! having some fun with Heather and Andrew. I'll try to bring you guys some snow but only by request. Take care!

Definately Sex on a Cello!

2005-03-16T17:52:00.000-08:00

Last night was awesome! Started off with some great wine (yellow tail) and Briana's friends, and ended with some delicious hashbrowns and an omlette!
It turns out that just as we got in to Richard's on Richards, two friends of mine followed. Brandi, who I met when I was sixteen, and Ryan who I've known off and on since I was fourteen. Ryan dated a girl I was friends with in middle school, and even though their breakup was nasty, for some reason I run into Ryan more often than her. In high school, Ryan and I were friends - and he looked so different. The guy was husky - broad shouldered (played hockey at the time) and bearded. He looked like he was 23. Now he has lost a lot of weight and is as skinny as me! Now he looks 16! (I couldn't restrain myself from tickling him - he's like a mini version of himself!)Hard for me to not think of him as being broad shouldered. Anyway - Brandi and Ryan (both shy people) hung out adjacent to Briana and gang for most of the night. At the end of it Briana was trying to make Ryan come back to her place! ( . . . to watch Buffy). But Ryan, Brandi and I are planning on hanging out soon.
Jarzane was amazing! Truly sex on a cello! I bought her CD - sort of her english album but I after listening to it I think I would enjoy her instrumental or French CDs more. The amount of fun and pleasure in her performance verified that there are some white musicians who can be sexual or passionate in a genuine way.
If you have the chance, check out Sarah Slean - as a performer she is really fun and her music really playful.
If Briana invites you out to see a performer or check out the media club - go! Briana has good taste! (She has invited me out to see a singer at the end of March named Fiest - I think that's the spelling).

Flirting?

2005-03-14T20:39:00.000-08:00

I'm pretty clueless when it comes to telling if a guy is flirting - even worse when it comes to flirting in French. Today I was getting a new pair of glasses while the sales person and I tossed jokes back and forth. Somehow the topic of speaking French came up and once I told him I knew a little he started speaking French fluently (born in Montreal, grew up in Ontario . . .) and I tried my best to keep up. Just before I was about to leave the store he sparked up some more French words and pretending I understood what he was saying, I went with it only to leave the store realizing that he had said something about possibly giving me a call sometime . . . I think? Damn French! Thus leaving me more clueless than before!
I'm looking forward to seeing Sarah Slean at Richard's on Richards tomorrow night with Briana and her friend Ross. Briana insists that Sarah Slean is 'sex on a cello' and so I've definately got to see what this is all about. Haven't heard her stuff yet - I like showing up to concerts and being surprised by what I hear and see - for example I liked Sarah and Teagan much more when I didn't know who they were . . . if that makes any sense.
Thank you to everyone who called me up or gave their sympathies about that stupid car accident - you rock! I seem to be alright now - neck a little stiff but alright.

Mad Martinis and a Bad Back

2005-03-10T19:19:00.000-08:00

Nick invited me out to Infernos Tuesday night for $2 martinis and to meet some of his friends. I had a blast! - tried every martini like they were flavours at Baskin Robins. I think I liked the orgasm, the pussy galore and the sweet sensation the most.

That night I met someone to go see Something about Reptiles with! My information is a little mangled because of the martinis but this guy is somehow connected with some accordian shop . . . so he's familiar with the lead singer I rave about. His dad has something to do with trombones so he's going to New Orleans for some convention coming up (Avi - I'm sorry if I got any of this wrong, but at least I got your name right!). Further, Avi used to date someone I knew in high school and for some reason my full name was discussed last week by people I don't know.

I also met Douglas - actually, I've met him a couple of times. The first was a new year's party where Natasha got a hold of a marker and wrote all over everyone (that's how Douglas remembers her). She, for some unknown reason, took a picture of Douglas' bare ass - I've seen it. And further, I remember that Douglas bit her that night. Douglas is a lot of fun - has a great sense of humor . . . now that his hair is short (used to be super long) and since he was wearing his office gear - he kind of looked like Johnny Depp (Avi says Douglas was player in high school).

I met Katie - one of Nick's coworkers. I remember she and I laughed a lot - and she was very open about a serious tragedy that happened to her and so I really admire her ability to have dealt with it to the point of feeling comfortable talking about it with two-minute friends - Nick is having another get together next tuesday and I hope she comes.

I would agree with Sam that the martinis were weak . . . but I had so much fun and god damn! They were only $2!

So why the bad back?

Today I was T-boned. I was making a left hand turn on an amber light. Sometimes I'll wait in the intersection until the light turns red because I know people gun the amber, but I could see that traffic was slowing down and therefore they recognised the yellow. I almost made it through when I heard a car screech and then bang - she hit the front of my car on the passenger side. I managed to pull out of traffic and into a bus stop and put the hazard lights on. This woman followed me and got out of her car - she said "How could you pull out in front of me like that?" and I replied "It was an amber light!" (to which she seemed confused but didn't argue against. Then she said "Well you were going through the amber too!" and I argued "You make left hand turns on the amber, not on the red!" at which point we stopped talking about the situation and she helped me call BCAA for a tow truck because I was shaking too much to dial correctly. My car was leaking green fluid and neither of us knew what it meant - regardless I was too shaken to drive even if the car was alright. We noticed that her car was leaking but instead of calling for a towtruck, the woman said that it would probably be okay. She had said earlier she needed to get to a really important appointment - doctor I think - and I guess it was really important because she drove off with a leaky car. I even offered to wait for her towtruck if she wanted to get a cab to wherever she had to go. I wonder if I couldn't see her coming because she was speeding or because she was blocked by another car - but cars ahead of her were slowing down.

No one pulled over as a witness - but it sickens me that no one pulled over to see if we were okay. So unfortunately it's my word against hers. My back hurts across the upper shoulders, in the small of my back and on the sides of my neck. I'm okay otherwise but we'll see how I feel tomorrow. Saw the doctor today - said I seem fine, a bit stiff but that it's also hard to say at this point. As my mom drove me to the doctors (over traintracks and speedbumps - ouch!) I felt sorry for the woman who hit me because she was probably in as much pain. Cars suck.

2005-02-26T14:57:00.000-08:00

I've got three more weeks till I see friends Andrew and Heather in Calgary and as much as I can't wait - I'm thinking about maybe going to Chicago or Philidelphia for a few days in April - Philidelphia has the Duchamp museum - Chicago would be cool since I'm reading a book about the world fair murders.
After drinking last night I'm looking forward to crashing after work - and then to see Something about Reptiles (Turkish Canadian band - kind of caberet style) at the Rime. Saw them a dark december a long time ago - the lead wore crush velvet red - Aeran, Catherine, Sue and I dressed up in coctail dresses.
Aside from the lead singer, the band was essentally a Canadian ensemble of accordian, clarinet, bongos, guitar and whatever else. Singled out was this old, dark haired woman whose voice bellowed low sombre tones. The clarinet player played as if her notes spiraled around this old woman's words.
I saw them maybe a year later with Catherine and Sarah. They brought sashes and sequin costumes for the audience to wear and performed a hokey version of 'I Will Survive.' I didn't like the photography hanging on the walls there so I switched around the title cards until I was more satisfied.

Under Natasha's command:

2005-02-13T15:19:00.000-08:00

I'm copying Natasha and asking any of you to please post a memory of me - anything you want, good or bad. I don't know why, but Natasha says to do it so please do it. Thanks, Sharon

What now?

2005-02-13T14:55:00.000-08:00

The winter sun makes the air soothing and crisp. A few days ago, I took advantage of this rare weather and walked my dog in Minnikada. As usual, I lost the path and spent forty minutes looking for the Upper Knoll (great view from there). As usual, I slipped and fell in mud. It was an excellent hike.

I ran into someone from elementary school. We shook hands, chatted a bit and exchanged phone numbers. I want to meet up with him and apologize for being such a bitch to him in elementary school. I was surprised how nice he was when we recognized eachother. On a sidenote, he's saving his money to go to flight school and become a bush pilot - How cool is that?

I've been seeing someone - first time in a long time - I think he's great. However it's going to be short and sweet - he going to leave for Australia in a couple of weeks. Hope to stay in touch as friends.

When I saw how beautiful the weather is today, I just wanted to get in the car, grab someone and drive to Harrison. I don't really care about Harrison as much as I love the drive there. And besides, could hang out on the cold beach for a while and make fun of the Sasquatch statues.

I guess I have that travelling urge again - good thing I'm flying to Calgary in March to visit awesome friends Andrew and Heather.

and another one . . .

2005-01-12T22:58:00.000-08:00

This is day 2 of the Curves program so far and I really want chocolate. Nothing can substitute for it. They've given me this chocolate shake to have as one of my six meals (it's a meal replacement) and it tastes pretty good for what it is - but I want more - I'm definately going through withdrawl. I realize that if I were doing this just by myself without the newspaper writing about me and if I was paying for this program, I'd be eating a chocolate right now. I passed by an A&W's today and really really wanted onion rings! Sigh.

Just a thought . . .

2005-01-12T21:42:00.000-08:00

Today, as I looked at myself in the bathroom mirror, I realised that I'm wearing the kind of sweater Charlie Brown would wear if he was a frumpy lesbian. The sweater is thick with blue zigzag lines across it. Since I'm neither frumpy nor a lesbian nor Charlie Brown, this will not do.

The New Diet

2005-01-12T13:54:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I started phase one of the Curves diet plan. Phase one is the first and hardest week. No bread, crackers etc. Last night, among other things, I dreamed about tortilla chips and pancakes. This is day two. They've got me eating six times a day.
I tried the machines at their gym - it's all in a circuit and it takes about half an hour. It was actually fun - I guess because you're constantly moving so there's no time for the adrenaline to drop.
I also really wanted chocolate last night.

Last night I had a really weird dream about Sam, Natasha's roomate. I'll tell the story to anyone who will give me five bucks for it.

Galoshes

2005-01-06T23:10:00.000-08:00

It snowed today, had to walk to the bottom of the hill to get out of my neighborhood. I caught the bus and made it to work on time.

My hands are burning. In the winter, my hands get really raw and bloody from drying up. My right hand began pussing two weeks ago . . . I finally let my mother put some evil cream on it and now it burns. But the burn is good. The burn means it's healing.

The highlight of today was wearing galoshes. It took me a long time to figure out how to spell galoshes.

"Carnation evaporated milk is made from contented cows"

It would be a very special thing to have a photo of Peter Lorre and Vincent Price as Desktop Wallpaper.

Today I left an interesting comment on Rebecca's blog.

2005-01-05T17:55:00.000-08:00

That is all.

Natasha bakes and bakes and bakes

2005-01-04T22:22:00.000-08:00

Natasha made shortbread cookies, lemon squares and other baked goods for her family for Christmas. It's a really sweet idea. The best was the cherry strudel. It was only after she put the strudel in the oven that she realized that those cherries had pits in them! I tried some of that cherry strudel and it was the most delicious pit-spitting experience I've ever had!

Way to go Natasha!

New Year's Party: Somebody Stepped on Me

2005-01-02T23:30:00.000-08:00

I've been catching up with people the past couple of weeks. Place Des Arts is closed over the holidays so I had a two week break - I'm pretty spoiled. It was really good hanging out with Glen - too bad he doesn't like Vancouver because it's fun having him around.

On Jan 4 I will be an aerobics guinea pig for three months. It's part of a publicity campaign for a new fitness centre (though they're calling it a 'study') and I thought "free opportunity to get healthier - alright!" I've been eating a lot of cookies and chocolate and other indulgences since I found out they chose me . . . needless to say I've gained some weight in the past two weeks. Anyway, I'll probably note about it on the blog but apparently the local paper will be keeping in touch with the program.

If you look at the cover of the movie 'Pet Cemetary' the quote next to the title states "SOMETIMES DEAD IS BETTER". This is not motto to pass this on to the Mood Disorder Association.

I'm sitting next to Natasha's mom who's singing the Beverly Hillbillies' opening song. Having grown up watching Natasha annoy her mom, it's funny to see her mom do it back!

Missy 1990-2004

2004-12-19T18:42:00.000-08:00

The most expensive vet bill my mom ever paid was when she had to fly her dog Negra from Whitehorse to Alaska to reach the closest veterinarian. It cost her a couple thousand dollars and this was the 1970's. Because of this, I believed my mom's reason for putting my dog down without me and before I could say goodbye.

I got home from work to find my mom waiting at the top of the stairs with red glassy eyes. Missy's condition was too distressing for her to wait past receiving the number of ill-fated tests we put her through. She was missing fur on half her face, around her eyes, before her ear and on her paws. Instead of fur, red scabs coloured her skin. A tumor had grown on the gland that fights against mites and other illnesses. Even though my mother tried to force her for over an hour, Missy wasn't eating. A couple of days before her death, I saw a fellow with a severe case of psoriasis on his face and I gravely thought of her. The night before, I slept with her in my bed and I woke up the next morning with blood on my pillow.

She was thirteen years old. JJ, my other dog and her daughter, probably knows. She's not acting too happy. She and I walked through Mundy Park and she wouldn't trot ahead of me like she usually does. It disturbed me that I won't be calling Missy's name out in that park. JJ's going to need a lot of attention for the next couple of weeks.

A few days ago, I was interviewed for a volunteer position at the Boys and Girls Club of North Burnaby. I'll probably be working with children in crafts or theatre. What I appreciated the most about the interview is that the main objective of the programs they offer is that the children are happy. Because of my personal study of social behavior, they were surprised at how much I know about abused or neglected children and their needs and behavior. I should probably pursue my curiousities further. For now, I'm really looking forward to volunteering there this January.

Eggnog and Mental Health

2004-12-03T11:56:00.000-08:00

Everyone has their Christmas Parties to go to - for work, family, friends. Who needs a good party the most around this time of year? The Mood Disorder Association!
Yep, that's right - friends and I were partying it up with the clinically depressed! They sure know how to party. Ed (a fellow with a severe case of bipolar disorder) and his wife Vickie organized it. Ed played Santa and I've never seen a more giving Santa. He has been a driving force behind the Mood Disorder Association of BC - fighting to improve mental health care while providing support groups, newsletters and fundraisers (There was a fundraiser with rock bands of psychiatrists performing).
This Christmas party was the first party I've ever been to where everyone was sure to leave with a prize (ensuring that no one left feeling depressed) We ate way too much, played bingo and sang carols. There wasn't much order to any of it which made it a hell lot of fun - when bingo got too tiring Ed just started giving out the prizes. At the end of the night I left with a nineteen inch TV which will be good for the future appartment I'll be renting with Julie and Kenton (in spring 2005).

Earlier that evening I hit a truck with my car.

I was in a psychiatrist's office once where the wait room was almost bare. There were some coffee stained chairs I associate with those Sundays spent in United Church staring at the back of people's boring necks. Cardboard boxes with that tacky fake doorskin pattern were scattered across the beaten down carpet. The secretary's shoulders curled over her water-stained desk. Yelling came from one room, my psychiatrist waited for me in the other. He asked me about my problems, my physical symptoms, and then proposed to prescribe me children's bedwetting medication for my depression without accompaning psychotherapy. I didn't see him again but I would love to paint the memory of that waiting room.

2004-06-03T02:52:00.000-07:00

Crap it's been a long time since I last wrote. Sorry everyone. I've been busy with school and sad with homsickness and the idea of leaving some of the awesome people I've met here. I don't have very interesting things to say. Rachel cut my hair though she has no training and did an amazing, funky job. I joined the trivia club and our hall (though not my team) won the interhall championships at ANU. I used some stinky pigment for screenprinting last Saturday that left me incoherent and disoriented . . . I am no longer allowed to use that pigment.
Figuring out what to do after the semester (ends June 16th), I signed up with Heather for a bus trip to the dessert (Alice Springs) though my Dad (whose birthday it is today in Australian time) calls it the 'little dessert' and not the real one. Apparently, I have to watch out for scorpions that will climb into my shoes and sleeping bag (we're camping). Mom asked me why would I want to go to the dessert, and my reply was that I don't know. I guess red sand is good. I just wanted to go on an adventure with someone I like a lot (Heather). When I return from that trip I'll go on my own to Brisbane.
I fear that I will be returning home with a fake Canadian accent. My friend Laura (from Tazmania, stay up all night and talk about stuff) exagerates my accent to the point that she sounds like a character out of "Fargo." After a night of playing cards and listening to this immitation over and over again, her pathetic rendering of Canadianness has sunk into my subconscious and keeps popping up in my everyday conversation. Grrrrr, Laura!
Laura lent me the book 'Rules for Killing People.' I wonder about her.
I learned that the word 'bugger' is a swear word yesterday when I used it in front of my teacher and caused her to look at me cock-eyed. I hear it everywhere and everyday in place of 'darn.' Fun way to find out.
Andrew found a girl and now he's really nice to everyone.
Can't think of much more to say except that I think, though it may be too soon to declare it, I have learned how to be productive!
I hope that aside from crumby summer jobs, you guys are having fun.
Love Sharon - not too long to go.

2004-05-08T18:28:00.000-07:00

It has been much longer that I would've liked. New Zealand was a hard place to travel alone. Long bus rides of landscapes resonating of British Columbia. The busrides, however, were possibly my favourite part because I saw more scenery from there than on foot. Between Taupo and Napier are the most dramatic rolling hills I've ever seen - ornamented with dairy cows and wire fencing. The slopes were so steep, green and condensed I thought I turned a page in an illustrated children's book. Its origin has something to do with the North Island's volcanic activity and New Zealand being submerged a couple of times during the ice age.
Napier, on the North Island's east coast, is called the Art Deco city. In 1931, an earthquake flattened the town killing over two hundred people. The town was rebuilt within only a couple of years resulting in a lot of Art Deco architecture. Not long after that, Art Deco was considered dated and so the buildings were covered up with plaster boards only to be rediscoverd decades later and used to attract artsy tourists like myself.
Napier is also situated at the bottom of tall, gorgeous cliffs alongside the ocean. It was a beautiful city - got post cards and a lot of photos.
From there I went back to the north shore to Tauranga where I climbed the neighboring mountain ( or hill by BC standards). The hostel I stayed in was kind of freaky. The bedrooms had no windows, and the owner thought that I was going to stay at the hostel forever. I was happy to leave Tauranga.
Before I arrived in Napier, I flipped through a book of New Zealand's beautiful landscapes and decided to go to the North Island's prettiest picture. That picture was taken from Cathedral Cove, near Whitianga, the town I headed to after Tauranga.
Whitianga is a cute small fishing town parrallel in character to small BC towns like Harrison. From the wharf, I took a small ferry boat to Hahei, and from there to Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach.
Because of volcanic activity, cathedral cove is made up of cavernous cliffs and shark fin rock formations. It was as beautiful as its picture, and topped off with a scenic hike to get there. If I wanted to, I could've taken boat tours into the caves, but I didin't want to pay eighty bucks to go places I would probably close eyes in because of my horrible fear of the dark.
From Cathedral Cove, we went to Hot Water Beach. The 'we' is a german man named Arthur and a swiss girl named Mara - both I met at our hostel - The Cat's Pajamas. Because of the thermal activity below the sand, some areas of the beach are hot, and get hotter as the cold ocean waves move in and out allowing your feet to sink deeper and deeper until you yelp from the heat. It was pretty fun.
There was a barbeque that night at the hostel in honour of the former manager leaving for Auckland. Free sausages. I don't like sausages but food is food.
The next day I enjoyed a scenic bus ride back to Auckland and from there, a plane trip to Sydney.
I learned how much better it is to travel with a friend - especially with places like New Zealand where most of the attractions are taking in the scenery (if any of you go - rent a car - buses can't get you to most of the great spots). There, I longed to return to Australia to see the friends I've met and the free internet access. New Zealand is known for its exotic birds but the only one I ever saw was a kiwi bird in captation. I see parrots, cockatoos, red-belly white birds and countless others everyday when I walk from my room to class. In the evening, on the way back, I see cute possums who frighten me with their hisses. The landscape and culture here is much more dramatically different from BC than New Zealand was. I didn't go to the South Island, though it is considered the prettiest, because the main attractions are snowy mountains and glaciers. I see that back home. In the North Island I at least got to see volcanic activity.
Since I returned to Canberra, I've been cramming to get work done. I only have about five more weeks of class. There's so much more of Australia that I want to see though. I want to return to Melbourne one last time, go party with Phoebe in Sydney, and see as much of Queensland as humanly possible. I'll have one month in July to try to do it all. Heather said she might come with me, or I'll meet up with Kathleen and her boy Peter who will be driving up from Sydney. I don't know how it will work out yet. Oh well, more cramming to do.
On small, day to day stuff, Canberra has gotten terribly cold. I'm working double-time to finish a toque I'm knitting to keep my head warm at night. Cat, fun girl from Melbourne, has lent me one of her winter coats for the semester (yeah Cat!). When I wear it, I like to sing about how warm it is!
i joined the girls' softball team only to find that I couldn't keep up with it since the practises were scheduled during my classes (which isn't hard to believe since my classes are from nine to five). It was fun for a while. My arms were so sore I couldn't lift them above my head. It took me twice as long to get ready in the morning, and for a few days there, I decided not to bother shampooing.
Hmm, blog has been excellent for procrastination but now I have to return to some essay writing stuff.
This time I swear I'll be more punctual in keeping up with the blog!
Love you all,
Sharon

PS:
Don't forget to wish mothers a happy mother's day.
And the movie, "Goodbye Lenin" is pretty good.
And don't drink eight shots of vodka in one night (just saying).

2004-04-17T20:53:00.000-07:00

On the fifteenth (Natasha's birthday) I headed out from the hostel at 8:30 to grab some coffee. I only mention this because a creepy guy standing behind me on the escalator said "excuse me" as if to say something more, and then gave me a disturbing stare that made me run up the escalator and spill my coffee (bastard!)
Auckland's art galleries (non-comercial) were interesting - Don Binney's landscape paintings of New Zealand reminded me of Mom's Ted Harrison collection. Auckland feels like a vacant city - not lacking people as much as lacking interesting things to do and culture to explore. Shopping, clubbing and the meagre art scene seems to be all that it offers - and if you're not into shopping and clubbing - you get pretty bored. Needless to say, I got out of Auckland as soon as possible.
On the route to Rotorua, my bus stopped at the Waitomo caves for the glow worm tour. The closest artificial equivalent I can think of comparing this to would be an installation of glowing blue specs (green when you focus on one) on the ceiling of a black room. Very cool.
The bus driver was one of the best I've ever had. Because there were less than ten of us, he kept stopping at cool places like a suspension bridge over a damn that his grandfather helped engineer, and tidbit facts about the areas we were driving through like the residence of the Maori queen (though not all tribes agree that she is their queen).
I arrived in Rotorua in the evening and met Jean from San Francisco. Rotorua sits on the bottom of what used to be a submerged volcano. For this reason, the city and the surrounding area is an accumilation of rolling hills.
Jean and I headed out the next morning to hike the redwood forest. If you want to do any cool nature stuff here, rent a car. After a one hour walk to the forest and a 3 1/2 hour hike, Jean and I hitched a ride back to town.
The next day, Jean and I headed to the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute where we saw Maori carvings, a replica of an old Maori village, mud pools, geysers, kiwi birds, and a Maori concert. If you pay a lot of money, you get to see a Maori concert and eat hangi (Maori food cooked in the ground). I did not do that.
Jean and I separated after that so that I could go to the bath house museum. They have a theatre with dramatized narration of Rotorua's history as hokey as ours back home, plus a simulated rumble in the seats when they depict the volcanic eruption of 1886. This museum had a lot of stuff on the local Maori history including conscription for British wars. They also had a fair art gallery with stuff since the nineteenth century.
Tonight I should be heading to the lake with Jean to hang out.
Tomorrow I'm heading out to Napier, a city built almost entirely in the art deco style since an earthquake destroyed the city in the 1920's.
Everyone wish Natasha a happy birthday (via link)!
love Sharon

2004-04-14T06:41:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow (Australian time) is Natasha's birthday! It's actually in two days LA time. Still, everyone send Natasha birthday greetings!

First day in Auckland . . . actually, I'm in Auckland but it's not really the first day yet. I tried sleeping at the airport last night in order to make my early flight (saved $60). Well, I spent the day tired and with a headache so I went straight to bed as soon as I checked into a backpackers.
The bus from the airport to here was fun though. The green suburbs we drove through looked like ones I've seen in Everett, Washington, but with more exotic trees. And it was raining! I haven't seen rain in sooooo long! I actually found the rain beautiful and uplifting!
It's almost 2am and I can't sleep, funny that. I screwed myself over on this one. In the morning I plan to walk around Auckland before it gets too busy with people and traffic. That is my favourite time to see a city - while it's still asleep in the early morning. After which I should check out the art gallery (contemporary stuff and Maori stuff). I'd like to check out the parks in the afternoon, and a band is playing at the pub next to the hostel. I'll be able to find someone here to go with. Maybe the woman I met in the dorm from Austin, Texas, might come with me. She told me that for her 60th birthday, she went bungee jumping. She skydived so much she figured that she should give that one a try and she didn't like it. She's hanging out in Auckland until her daughter arrives, and then they'll rent a caravan and go driving around NZ.
Sarah C. is up to essay writing these days, you know what that means . . . nail clipping double-time!
So, I've had some lovely dreams, and maybe the rest of my NZ experience will produce better ones.
Love Sharon

2004-04-10T04:27:00.000-07:00

Once again, it has been too long since my last posting. I spent the last weekend here in Canberra - where being comatose is big fun. Classes, like minimun wage jobs, are 9-5 and almost as fatiguing. At night I tend to hang out with whoever I happen to find. If it's Cat (Melbourne) and Laura (Hobart, Tazmania), we have a knitting party while watching "The Young Ones" and making fun of each other. If it's Jessica (Parkes) or Mandi (Georgia USA), we talk until our curiousities take us to ridiculous ends. If it's Andrew (brother) or Phoebe (Sydney) there is no end to the scat of cruel remarks, the throwing of food and at the best of times, even the climbing of trees. Actually, Andrew was gone for the past week, and we all missed him. He's a small red head who can get really bouncy sometimes.
Now the update:
Last Friday, I went to a birthday party full of textiles students. It was at the largest pub establishment I have ever seen. In one building, there were three interconnected pubs and one drive-through liquor store. We sat outside drinking pink champagne and vodka cruisers. We practically had the patio to ourselves, and the music so low we could hear each other speak. That's my favourite kind of party.
The next day, we (people at the hall) all seemed to be laying around, trying to think of something to do or wait for something to do. I ended up riding my bike to the botanical gardens [Heather (Saskatchewan) found a bike for free and gave it to me. It was left by an exchange student who studied here last year. Everything but the gears work). In the evening, I joined Jessica and her friends as they raced wheeling desk chairs down the hallways of the residence. They later decided to watch TV so I decided to go to bed.
One hour later, Steve (Wisconsen, USA) knocks on my door and tells me that we're going to a jazz-student party in the Campbell surburb with Heather. Along with Emily (California) and Jara (AOU - Aussie of Unknown Origin) we walk to the social gathering and it takes us an hour.
At the party, they had ice blocks on a 45degree angle with chiselled marks resembling a running river and a funnel carved at the end. The idea of the game was to put your mouth up to the cold funnel while swallowing the goon (bad boxed wine) that was poured at the top end. When they ran out of goon, some guys tried to slide the ice blocks down the field with little success because the grass was too dry and the night too cold. We ended up playing discus with them instead.
At three in the morning, Heather, Paul (AOU) and I went to go crash at Heather's place in Ainslie. Paul and Heather innocently shared the bed while I took the livingroom couch. In the middle of the night, I was woken by, yes, another horrific bird. This one sounded like part little girl, part banshee and all scream. So I crawled into Bed with Paul and Heather (Heather gave me a hug, Paul smelled a bit) until sunrise and returned to the couch only to be woken by a real little girl. Heather, holding her roomate's five year old daughter over my face, was telling me it was time to wake up. One hour later, Delmelza (Heather's neighbour and the Canberra exchange student that came to Emily Carr a year ago) stopped by with coffee.
In a hurry to clean up and go to Emily's birthday picnic, I rushed by to ANU with Paul. One five minute shower later, I was riding my bike alongside Heather to the lake for tea, cookies and birthday fun in a dress as Emily requested on her invitation. We spoke of bugs, "Soilent Green" and Rob's (Alice Springs) up and coming nude modelling career.
After that, I slept my fatigue away in time to see Tim Burton's "Big Fish" with Cat and Laura. Though the set, costume and themes were very Tim Burton, I was surprised to find it had a touchy-feely ending to it.
The past week, I've been going to school, having diner, doing homework and chatting with the few people here who have not yet taken off for Easter Break. Easter Break is a sixteen day holiday for ANU students. Most students have assessments and essays due before Easter, and then they go home for the break. My assessments have been postponed because we had two guest speaker workshops this week. One taught us about contemporary shibori (Japanese tie-dye, manipulation of cloth into sculpture and more) and the other talked about using non-conventional materials in hand-knitting. My highlight of the week, however, was when Jill (Weaving Teacher) brought us her unwanted fabrics and August (Taiwan - Netherlands - USA - Sydney) found a pair of heart underwear and pinned it up on the wall.
August has to be one of the most interesting people I've met so far. He wants to study Fashion design in Paris, but his parents want him to get a degree in something more sustainable. Right now he is studying Digital Media, and when he finishes he'll be going straight to France. On the side, he is paid to make dresses out of expensive material ($600 a meter) for Ambassador's wives, and he sings Opera in Sydney. He is also, possibly, the best smelling guy I've ever met.
For Easter break, I am going to New Zealand on the 14th for twelve days. Twelve days isn't long enough, but I don't know how to fit it into my time otherwise. And I'm not going to Hobbit Village.
I've had a hard time because I miss you guys and I love the emails I get. I hope I'll be able to write blogs at least every second day in New Zealand.
Love Sharon