Guess Who's Back?

So yea, it has been almost 2 months. I promised myself this wouldn't happen. But it is super easy to break a promise to yourself. I have a number of explanations as to why I stopped for a bit, but considering there are only about 3 people that check this out regularly.... I figure no-one is really that fussed about my explanations (and by explanations, I guess I mean excuses, I just do not like the word excuses....)

First off was the Olympics. Pesky little world event on in my city. Kind of infringes on my personal blogging time...... I was blogging for work, and did put a few of them up on this blog as well. But I clearly can't be completely myself and full of snark on a work blog can I? So I stopped that. But suffice it to say, during the Games, if it wasn't Olympic related, it really wasn't on my radar. I don't really know what went on in Hollyweird during those 2 weeks. I was more interested in Hockey and curling and skating........ so sad really.

After the games I headed to the land of Kangaroos, convicts and vegemite to take care of my momma who had what is technically called a radical nephrectomy. The less terrifying version of that is a kidney removed. Yes, Cancer. Scary as F*ck if I am being honest. Already lost one parent to Cancer when I was a kid. The thought of it happening again terrifies me. But apparently with the Kidney Cancer - assuming it stays in the Kidney - no chemo, no radiation. They just cut the bugger out and send you on your way. Weird right? But unless everyone is a big liar, that is the case with my momma.

The surgery was smack dab in the middle of the Games and went well. I missed the worst of the recovery as I wasn't there until almost a month post-op (ha, I have never had reason to say or write that before...). My brothers were there before. And they didn't kill each other, which is good. I am not being glib. I was actually worried there would be a knock down drag out brawl on the suburban streets of Kingston Tasmania. Thankfully they checked themselves and hid their mutual dislike for each other from our mother.

It was a very low key trip to Australia. Watched a lot of British Procedural Drama on DVD, went through the jewellery (hate doing that), laid claim to a few things I want (or were promised to me by dead relatives), had afternoon tea with my mommas friends, ate a lot of delicious Lamb, met my niece and sister in law who live in Japan with one of my brothers (who I hadn't seen in about 7 years)........

And now I am back. Work is insane at the moment. Technology is not our friend at the moment and is making me contemplate a job at Chapters where I would hopefully not have to deal with the ineptitude of others..... but would have to deal with annoying customers so mebbe I should think of something else to do with my life. Why is there not a well paying job where I get to sit at home and not deal with people? Sigh.

Anyways... these are my explanations. And to be honest, I thought about totally abandoning this altogether. Although only a small number of people that read this, there are apparently a few people who know me in real life who check it out. Which is fine.

Hi if you are out there reading this. How's it going? What's new?

But 99.9% of these people don't know the truth of my life and I had thought this would be a place where I could be me a little more. Completely my own fault as I put this out on Facebook. I know. What am I whining about? I should just say f*ck it and not care right? Maybe.

Anyways, that is me done blathering on like a crazy (crazier) person for now. It is Easter Sunday. If you celebrate it, good for you! I am one of those very very very lapsed Catholics who is now pretty much agnostic (which is very cowardly I know, I should just pick a team and go with it). I am choosing to celebrate by going to the movies. Chloe and maybe Ghost Writer.

Have a great Sunday gentle readers.

XO

Confessions of a Music Lover's I-pod

No, I did not abandon this permanently. Another post will offer the half assed explanation ;). Starting off with an old reliable that this also a favourite.....

This should be interesting as I am listening to tons of new to me tunage. Heading to the Coachella Music Festival (California) in a few weeks so lots of new peeps to listen to. All the tunes below are at the festival. Not that I hadn't heard of most of them. They just weren't on my current rotation, ya know.

Here's how you do it: I-Pod. MP3. Other listening device. Shuffle all songs. Write down first 15. Only skip if an artist is repeated. No cheating!

1. Yeasayer - Final Path
2.Grizzly Bear - Fix It
3. Mew - Apocalypse
4. Vampire Weekend - Taxi Cab
5. LCD Soundsystem - Movement
6. As Tall As Lions - Be Here Now
7. The Gossip - Got Body If You Want It
8. She & Him - Ridin' In My Car
9. David Guetta - This is Not a Love Song
10. Gorillaz - White Flag
11. The Middle East - Lonely
12. Beach House - Norway
13. Corrine Bailey Rae - Till It Happens to you
14. Miike Snow - Faker
15. MUTEMATH - Valium

Super crazy beyond stoked about Coachella. As always seems to happen, it is ending up costing double what it was originally intended to. Boo f*cking hiss to that. What was planned as a fun 9 day road trip for 4 is now a very quick 3 day trip for 2. Oh well. That is the way it goes. Still should be amazing.

Just waiting for the schedule to be released so I can start to plan the days...... There are a number of bands that I am (not) literally dying to see. Florence and the Machine, She & Him, Sleigh Bells, Phoenix, Muse, Matt & Kim, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Band of Skulls, Frightened Rabbit, The Gossip, The xx, Vampire Weekend, The Avett Brothers, Imogen Heap, Thom Yorke..... the list goes on. Gonna be epic and fantastic. If they would release the fricking schedule. I know what days people are playing, but not times or stages. Argh.

Anyone else going? Anyone I should not miss?

XX

Opening Ceremony Secrets.... Not Likely!!!

Last night I was very very lucky to be able to attend a Dress Rehearsal for the Opening Ceremony of the Games. While I will not spill any of the secrets regarding the show itself….. Let me just say…. Wowsers! This was a “full” dress rehearsal. All the musical acts were in attendance, the parade of athletes was conducted (with stand-ins) & even the speeches were simulated for timing purposes.

I was super impressed with the entire show. From start to finish I think they did a phenomenal job. The music was fantastic (one act in particular had me smacking my friend on the arm at the amazingness, tearing up and screaming like a crazy person all at the same time). The dancing was equally impressive. At times, the acrobatics were jaw dropping.

Being in an enclosed venue such as BC Place creates some unique challenges as the Opening Ceremony at the Olympic Games traditionally involves a massive spectacle of Fireworks and “things” shooting into the sky. Honestly though, I didn’t feel short changed about any of it.
Watching parts of it on the screens inside the venue - trust me when I say the whole event will look spectacular on screen. Particularly if you are able to watch it in High Definition! The colours, the movement, all of it –fantastic.

Now onto the all important questions about getting in and out of the venue. Getting in was a breeze – they had express lanes for those without bags which was very handy. On the way out, patience will be your friend. Thankfully VANOC had people stationed with megaphones directing the crowds. One final side note: All the staff/volunteers/security: AMAZING.

I suspect that the organisers have a few more surprises up their sleeves and I will most definitely be glued to my seat tomorrow night. I can’t wait to see the whole thing “again”

PS: No cameras allowed in for obvious reasons.... hence the not so visual photos ;) I did sneak a few from my phone, but in the interests of not spoiling the surprise I am not posting them until after the ceremony! I have some morals. Well, I have at least one :)

XO

2010 Photo Ops

Hello reader(s): just a heads up that over the next few weeks the posts in this wee blog will have a decidedly Vancouver Winter Olympics Focus. the reason for this is that I am writing full time for another blog during the Games and may not have time to update both. Also, as the other blog is a little more professional than this one, there will probably be a lot less cursing! I will try and post other things as well... but don't hold your breath! XO

Vancouver has always been a picturesque city. That much I know. Add to that the Olympic Games and this city has become a photographers dream. But will there be key spots where everyone wants their photo taken? Along with the Massive Canadian Flag on the Corner of Hornby and Howe streets, I suspect that this shot will be another favourite among those flocking to Vancouver. How could it not be? A conveniently erected Inukshuk, the banks of False Creek and Russian Sochi 2014 House in the background. A perfectly perfect photo opportunity. Do you think mebbe a Russian snuck out and put this up? Mayhaps......

Another popular photo op will likely be the entire 700 block of Granville Street - between Georgia and Robson Streets . This is bound to be one of the busiest pedestrian corridor during the Games and is home to a ton of interesting and different works of art. I love the Lantern Forest that is part of LunarFest: Soul, Art, Life (part of the Cultural Olympiad) - made up of thousands of submissions from children from both Tawain and Canada, this beautiful display is sure to be a hit. The lanterns represent each child's commitment to a greener earth, while also representing their cultural heritage.

I have also witnessed countless people contorting their bodies to fit into these stylized images of the some of the Winter Olympic Sports. These definitely have a very retro feel to them. There is nothing like seeing grown adults laughing hysterically while trying to assume the shape of a snowboarder. Love it.

This is just the smallest of tastes of some of the places and images that I suspect will be extremely popular for camera buff's during the Games. Where else do you think visitors should be heading to capture that quintessential Vancouver image during the Games?

XO

Confessions of a Music Lovers I-Pod

It is that time again people and I know that you have all been waiting with baited breath to see what has been playing on my I-pod recently. I made some changes to my music last week, so hopefully some new tunage will show up for you...

The songs change, but the game remains the same..... All songs, shuffle, only skip an artist if it shows up twice. No cheating. The music gods will know. And they are the vengeful type....

1. Owl City - Swimming in Miami
2. Terry Reid - Gimme Some Lovin'
3. Crowded House - That's what I call Love
4. Alicia Keys - The Life
5. Bat for Lashes - Glass
6. Bell X1 - Rocky Took A Lover
7. Meiko - Sleep
8. Animal Collective - Guys Eyes
9. Duffy - Syrup & Honey
10. Dave Matthew Band - Squirm
11. Missy Higgins - Scar
12. The xx - Night Time
13. Lily Allen - Nan, You're a Window Shopper
14. Leona Naess - All the Stars
15. Joshua Radin - Do you Wanna

Yay to my Dave coming up.... Happy Birthday to my secret husband. It actually is today. PS: Congrats on the Grammy nominations. Well deserved, espacially in light of their douchebaggery last year when they left LeRoi off the Remembrance roll call. F*ckers.

I
Animal Collective. One of the hottest bands out there. Everyone loves them. I am trying again to give them a shot..... I saw them at Bumbershoot and it was pretty heinous. And not in a good way. I do like a few of their remixes....so am giving them a second go around. Still not totally in love, but I do like them a lot more than I did.



Happy Saturday. It is miserable here in Vancity, so I am happily ensconced in my apartment sorting out my tunes, contemplating starting to continue writing again and procrastinating about cleaning.... which is what I really should be doing. Oh well.

XO

Happy New Year Mother F*ckers

I typically do not celebrate organised holidays. Christmas, Valentines Day, Canada Day, Australia Day, New Years Eve, Thanksgiving. Pick a holiday and I will not celebrate it with you. I have many pretentious reasons for not partying hard on these days - too commercial, why do you need one day to be thankful, tell someone you love them, celebrate the birth of someone you are pretty sure does not exist..... you get the point. Specifically for New Years, rarely does it live up to the hype.


This year specifically I had no interest in being out amongst the masses. The past few weeks have been pretty crappy in my real life, and although I am doing my best to stay positive, the dark and gloomy is where my mind goes 99.9% of the time. To "celebrate" the end of the decade, I chose instead to stay at home with my new monkey slippers, a bottle of Stump Jump and John McClane.

Die Hard, Die Harder and Die Hard: With a Vengeance. Nothing like ringing in the New Year with Bruce Willis blowing sh*t up. Yippe-kay-yay Mother F*ckers.

Here's hoping that the start of 2010 brings good news to my world. Next week we get news that will either be satisfactory or really really really bad. Send good thoughts! All snark and cynical bitchiness aside, I wish everyone all the best for 2010. May everything you wish for come true!


XO

Confessions of a Music Lovers I-pod

I feel like I am using this game when I am to lazy to write an actual post. That is only partly true. Granted, I am a little preoccupied right now, but according to my meticulous records, I should have written this on Saturday.

I-pod on shuffle. First 15 songs are written down. Skip only if their is a repeat of an artist. Don't cheat. This is a safe, non judgy place.

1. Elbow - The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver
2. Fiona Apple - Never is a Promise
3. No Doubt - New
4. Regina Spektor - Apres Moi
5. Adele - My Same
6. Eric Hutchinson - Jettison
7. Crowded House - Kill Eye
8. Bon Iver - For Emma
9. meiko - You & Onions
10. Leonard Cohen - First We Take Manhattan
11. Damien Rice - Cold Water
12. Leona Naess - Earthquakes
13. Conor Oberst - NYC: Gone gone
14. Kings of Leon - Closer
15. The Replacements - Here Comes The Regular

Lazy or not. I like this game. meiko is awesome. She needs to tour here. Adele needs to come back so I can see her when I am not completely hammered.... Tee hee hee. One of the most fun days/nights ever.

I think I need some new tunes though. Who gets you off musically right now? What is your favourite band that I haven't heard of?

XO

Up, Up In The Air

Can I tell you just how completely and utterly over the moon I was that Up In The Air was showing here in Vancouver only a week after it’s official limited release opening last week. I thought I was going to have to wait until Christmas to see this movie. There is a strong chance I may see it again. It was that fricking good. Srsly. One of the best movies I have seen all year. Amazing on so many levels.

It tells the story of Ryan Bingham (George Clooney), a corporate downsizer and consummate modern business traveler who, after years of staying happily airborne, suddenly finds himself ready to make “a real connection.” Ryan has long been contented with his unencumbered lifestyle lived out across America in airports, hotels and rental cars. He can carry all he needs in one wheel-away case; he's a pampered, elite member of every travel loyalty program in existence; and he's close to attaining his lifetime goal of 10 million frequent flier miles - and yet . . . Ryan has nothing real to hold onto.

When he falls for a likeminded fellow traveler (Vera Farmiga), Ryan's boss (Jason Bateman), inspired by a young, upstart efficiency expert (Anna Kendrick), threatens to permanently call him in from the road. Faced with the prospect, at once terrifying and exhilarating, of being grounded, Ryan begins to contemplate what it might actually mean to have a home.

Jason Reitman has made 2 fantastic films over the last few years – Juno and Thank You For Smoking. Up in the Air is probably my favourite of the three. It is not as glib as Juno – while the dialogue is smart and well thought out – it is not littered with a myriad of pop culture references – likely due to the absence of the fantastic Diablo Cody. That is not to say the script isn’t fantastic. So much of Anna Kendrick’s dialogue was gold – her interactions with George Clooney will go down as some of my favourite scenes in a movie all year. Honest, smart witty dialogue is so rare in movies. And this was all that and so much more.

I am so impressed with the performance given by Anna Kendrick. While my friend Kent distracted me by pointing out her odd eyebrow shaping – I was able to look past that (he couldn’t) and appreciate that she held her own against Hollyweird superstar George Clooney – and did an amazing job. Her portrayal of the high strung, aptly named Natalie Keener was revelatory to me. And the fact that Reitman wrote the part with her in mind is a big deal. She ain’t in Forks, dealing with the Vampires of Twilight anymore. Anna Kendrick has surpassed all the other bit players in that franchise with one poorly packed suitcase. She was effing fantastic.

George Clooney has shown again why he is. He is George Clooney mother f*cker. 2 time People Magazine’s sexiest man alive, confident, charming, charismatic, relatable in spite of his jaw dropping good looks. Bingham is a flawed human being, but Clooney makes him likable and endearing. Vera Farmiga was also very good, but her role was not quite as meaty as either of the other 2 leads. She’s very very pretty as well – and does not have distracting eyebrows.

Jason Batemen – in spite of the horrible hair style that aged him about 15 years – was also solid, as were the other minor roles. I very much enjoyed Melanie Lynskey and Danny McBride as Clooney’s sister and her fiancé. I have a crush on Lynskey ever since I saw her in Away We Go…. She is an amazing actress. A special mention needs to go out to a number of the “fired employees” who were real life people who had lost their jobs. Reitman found people in St Louis and Detroit who were willing to recreate their dismissals on camera. I have read a few reports of cynics viewing this as Reitman capitalizing on the current economy in the US – I see it as putting a real face to what is going on in the world today. It wasn’t exploitative, it was humanizing.

Up In The Air is funny, poignant, and smart without being condescending to the audience. Without question, one of my top movies of the year. And it was nominated for a slew of Golden Globes this morning. The only question I have is why it was in the drama category? Yes it was dramatic in parts, but for the audience at the screening I saw it was most definitely more comedic than dramatic. I wonder if the production company gets to decide?

Golden Globes in about a month! Squeee. Contemplating a wee soiree. We shall see if it pans out. Especially as I have 2 chairs that people can actually sit in….Maybe.

In the meantime ---> see Up In the Air. It is Awesomeness wrapped up in amazingness, surrounded by a fluffy cloud of fabulosity.

XO

Have you seen my Christmas tree?

Yea. I said it. It's a Christmas tree Mother f*ckers. Not a Holiday Tree. A Christmas Tree. Deal with my truth. Not that I am even known as a Christmasy person. Most people who know me outside of this wee blog would even go so far as to say I am rather grinchy. I could argue the point that I am technically not anti-Christmas, instead I am just indifferent, but I just can't be bothered.

But is my Christmas tree not the most magnificent tree you have seen short of the one at Rockerfeller Centre in NYC? So pretty, so many LED lights, no presents yet, but I have my fingers crossed!! I have been a very good girl this year! Or at least have kept any of my own transgressions very much on the down low.

So maybe this tree isn't technically mine. But the good folks at Amacon, a Vancouver based realty company have said that this tree is for the city of Vancouver. I live in the city, I pay property taxes through rent, I am just as much entitled to claim this tree as mine as anyone else right? For the third year in a row, in lieu of a staff Holiday Party, Amacon has donated a massive Christmas tree that stands on the Georgia Street lawn of the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Amacon uses this as a fundraiser for a variety of Metro Vancouver charities. Elvis Costello and Diana Krall even came to light my tree last week! No singing, cause I wasn't there. I am sure if I had been able to go, they would have belted out a few tunes. I think this is so completely admirable for a company to do this. Our staff Christmas party involves 2 hours in our offices with a few bottles of wine... So I think the best we could do is maybe a fake tree from the Dollar Store.

Feel free to leave me a little something under the tree. I am on your nice list right?

XO

Rock and Folk at the Commodore

There is a scene in Season 3 of Buffy when Oz and Willow are at the Bronze, sitting on a couch, completely lost in each other. He caresses her face and kisses her gently when Buffy comes up an interrupts them. It is a simple little scene…signifying how Buffy is alone and always will be…..burden of being the Slayer blah blah blah……really isn’t super important. It is one of my favourite Willow-Oz scenes simply because they are so lost in each other and the rest of the world has fallen away. Sigh. The kind of love I was had before it got all f*cked up……anyways…moving on. The point to this was not to fall into a pit of despair about how love sucks balls. The point (and do you not love how I can relate anything and everything to Buffy?) was to illustrate appropriate forms of PDA.

On Monday night, at the Commodore Ballroom, there was this couple that had no concept of this. They spent the entire 30 minutes before the opening act and most of the actual opening act of the show sucking each other’s face off in a booth. And it was not in a Willow-Oz, I wish I were her; they are so clearly in love kind of way. It was just gross. It was as if they were thirteen years old, drunk for the first time, having no f*cking clue what they are doing. It was nauseating.

Then during the show they were right in my sight line, standing on the dance floor, arms wrapped around each other for the entire set. It was more than that. I can’t really describe it, but it seemed as if they believed their lives depended on their being no more than 2 inches apart, complete with 60% of their bodies touching. Ugh. Sickening and nauseating.

Now onto the important things. The show. I would like to say it was a sold out crowd, but in honesty, it was only about a third full. Very strange as I thought that the headliner was pretty well known. Brett Dennen with Grace Potter & the Nocturnals as the opener. F*cking wicked. A last minute addition to the fall concert series that is my life. I had seen Brett before, a few years ago with Missy Higgins and Mason Jennings. He was good. Very good. Never seen Grace Potter. Can’t recall when I first heard of them.

Grace Potter & The Nocturnals are f*cking amazing. Seriously so good. 6 of them on stage, all in red and black, clearly loving what they do and totally vibing off of each other. In all honesty, this band from Vermont should more well known than they are. Grace’s voice is phenomenal, and she can wail. They reminded me of Janis Joplin with a side of Jefferson Airplane. And their cover of Somebody to Love/White Rabbit was fantastic. They played my favourite song – Apologies – which is slow and soulful. But it was their last song that solidified the amazingness. By the end of the song they were all surrounding the drum kit, playing a different part of the kit. So f*cking good.

Next up was Brett Dennen. Also great. But a completely different vibe from Grace Potter. Where GP were all wild and soulful and totally blew the roof off of the Commodore, Brett is a lot more mellow, cute and endearing to the crowd. He has a very unique look and sound. He looks kinda like Carrot Top, before all the unfortunate surgeries, or Chucky. And sounds somewhat similar to Tracy Chapman. He scats, he shakes his ass, his band is dope. He played all the songs I know and love. Super chill, strangely skinny, very entertaining. An odd duck. But his tunes are catchy and inoffensive, and he is another that should be better known than he currently is.

Short reviews of live shows now seem to be the norm for me. I rarely have the time to write masses on each and every song that is played. Eek! Hope no-one is too concerned about it. I was also camera shy so no pictures or video. Saving it up for Lady Gaga (review and twelve million pics coming later tonite hopefully)

Lemme know if you are heartbroken by this ;)

XO

PS: Screen cap of Buffy courtesy of the amazing peeps at Screencap Paradise

Confessions of a Music Lover's I-pod

Trying very hard to be consistent with this. You know the game: "shuffle all" your electronic listening device and write down the first 15 songs that come up..... only skip if the same artist shows up.....no cheating. Give me your shameful musical secrets. I can handle it. I even have a few of my own :)

Here we go:

1. Black Hole - She & Him
2. Get on Your Boots - U2
3. When I Go - Brett Dennon
4. What I Got - Sublime
5. Little White Lies - Alexz Johnson
6. My Interpretation - Mika
7. Nan You're a Window Shopper - Lily Allen
8. Polly - Nirvana
9. Just a Girl - No Doubt
10. Season of the Witch - Terry Reid
11. Don't Drink the Water - Dave Matthews Band (Central Park Concert)
12. Another Brick in the Wall - Pink Floyd
13. Manhattan - Kings of Leon
14. Teeth - Lady Gaga
15. Secret - Missy Higgins

Wowsers. This is an odd mix. Good, just a little odd. I am seeing both Brett Dennon and Lady Gaga this week.... Weee!!!! Much excitement for both.

And much love and congratulations to my eternal musical boyfriend - The Dave Matthews Band for their Grammy nomination this year!! Yay yay yay! Not that this makes up for the Le Roi diss at last years awards, but it goes a little toward it.

Happy Sunday y'all. I am off to the movies......

XO

I spent the week (end) on the Jersey Shore

Back in my early twenties I spent four months on a cross country road trip through Canada and the US. I was with my best friend from University and we drove and slept all over the US and Canadialand in our two tone blue Mercury Marquis - cleverly named "Bluey". One of our stops was New Jersey to meet up with one half of an awesome couple we had met in the US Virgin Islands.

This couple had an incredibly romantic story. They had dated in High School, broken up and gone on with their lives. She had gotten married, had kids and sadly divorced. He had remained single. They reconnected and were living happily ever after. Great story, great couple. They took us to the this great bar on the other side of the island and introduced us to the most fantastic drink ever - a Bushwacker (Bailey's, Amaretto, Kahlua, Rum, Grand Marnier, Creme of Coconut - deadly delishness!!!). They were fun and interesting and had a great story. They said that if we were ever heading to Jersey (where she lived) or Ottawa (where he lived), we could deffo stay with them.

So we called her from Maryland and the silence on the phone when we announced that we were on our way was a little scary. After a few moments of awkward silence she confessed to us that 99% of the romantic story outlined above was true. The one tiny detail they had left out was that she was still married. So instead of a romantic vacation between two former flames who had magically reconnected, we had been privy to a dirrty weekend between a cheater and her lover.

So long story short, we were welcome to come stay, but she was actually heading to the famed Jersey Shore for a week with her children, friends, friends kids, nannies, and her secret lover and we should go down there with them instead. And we did. It was one of the crazier weeks of our life. Not only did we meet her husband and have to continue the lie she had told about her trip to the Caribbean, but we also had to aid in the cover-up during the week away with a bunch of kids. It was a little nutty. There were two houses and hotel room to aid in the conspiracy, an elaborate story about why her lover was there, and we had to continually lie to a bunch of children and their nannies (who clearly knew what was up & were snickering about it the whole time).

It was a wild and crazy week on the Jersey Shore. But my week ain't got nothing on the insanity that is MTV's newest reality show - aptly titled Jersey Shore. Eight 20-something Italian-American shacked up in a house together for the summer. From the first two episodes I have generalised that all Italian-Americans have nicknames - like Sweetheart and my personal favourite "The Situation". Also, all Italian-American males look like poster children for roid rage. Apparently guido and guidette are acceptable terms of endearment for people of Italian-American descent. It takes some guidettes about 4 hours to get ready to go out to a club. Italian-Americans pray before meals, but have no problem f*cking the first skank that takes her g-string off in your hot tub. I think that this show will fill the void left by The Hills and The City very nicely.

It has vapid whores who do not know how to dress, obscenely muscled chauvinistic men who like to punch things, high dramarama, higher hemlines, and even higher hair. There are more styling products in this show than I have ever encountered on television - even more than Susan Lucci on All My Children. It is crazy ridiculously atrocious television and I will be watching it every week.

I do not recall any Guido's or Guidette's in my week at the Jersey Shore. The dysfunction I was dealing with was total and complete WASP dysfunction. We do not keep in touch with either of them. We did stay with him in Ottawa, but lost touch after a few years. One day I will write a book, or at least a different kind of blog about my travel stories...... This one is one of the saner normal things that happened during those 4 months on the road. Eek! The memories....

XO

Confessions of a Music Lovers I-Pod

Trying to get back on track with this here little musical interlude.

For those of you new to this game, "shuffle all" your i-pod and write down the first 15 songs that come up. No cheating! Unless artists show up more than once :)

1. The Replacements: Talent Show
2. Adele: Cold Shoulder
3: Robert Pattinson: To Roam (he he he)
4. The Smiths: Girlfriend in a Coma (weird coincidence - I am reading Douglas Copeland's book of the same name right now!)
5. She & Him: I Should Have Known Better
6. Cast of Spring Awakening: My Junk (with Lea Michelle from Glee!)
7. Joshua Radin: Friend Like You
8. George Harrison: What is Life
9. Lily Allen: The Fear
10: Nirvana: Polly
11. Monsters of Folk: Slow Down Joe
12. Mika: Grace Kelly
13. The Filthy Youth: Come Flash All Your Ladies (Ed Westwick from Gossip Girl's band)
14. Regina Spektor: Begin to Hope
15. Damien Rice: Sweet Avenue

Well there you have it. Anything new and exciting for you to scope out? Hit me up with some suggestions.

Although they didn't show up on this 15 I am throwing out a special mention to Bon Iver. Kristen Stewart was on Jimmy Fallon this week and mentioned them (I think they are on the soundtrack?) and she specifically mentioned an amazing acapella version of For Emma done in the hallway of a venue somewhere in Paris. I had heard it before, but forgotten about it. Thanks for the reminder Kristen! I was supposed to see Bon Iver at the Sasquatch festival earlier this year, but they were 20 minutes late and I got peeved and went back to The Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

And yes I kinda regret it as I saw the Yeah X3 again at Bumbershoot a few months later.

PS: Julian Casablancas tomorrow night at The Commodore! Very excited. It has been like 2 weeks since I have seen a live show!

XO

An Education - Review

When I was young(er) I dated this older guy for a little while. I was 15 and he was around 23. He had this amazing car and would sometimes pick me up from school in said amazing car. It was a classic red MG. I really liked that car. It was super hot. And I also really really enjoyed the look on those bitches faces when he would roll up with the top down and I would hop in and away we would go. Snotty little Catholic hypocrites. Anyways....... moving on.....

To be honest, we didn't really have that much in common. We broke up pretty damn quick when he realised I wasn't planning on f*cking him in the first few months. Jeez! I was 15. I was devastated for a while. Stupid boys. They make you cry. Anyways again..... There is a point to this ramble about the first time a boy broke my heart.

At its surface that is what An Education is about. In this little British film, 16 (almost 17) year old Jenny (Carey Mulligan) is swept off her feet by 30 something year old David (Peter Saarsgard) when he rescues her and her cello from a downpour in early 1960's London. He is sophisticated, witty & exciting and shows Jenny a world that she had coveted for so long. A world of art, culture, jazz, and all the things that Jenny dreams about as she is studying to ensure that she is accepted into Oxford.

But this is more than just a story of first love and loss. This is pre-swinging London, before the Beatles, before the sexual revolution and prior to the feminist movement. Jenny is studying hard to get into Oxford - she participates in all the right activities - not because she wants to but because that is what must be done. But for what cause? Is Oxford the dream of Jenny, or that of her father (Alfred Molina)? Jenny seems more interested in listening to French music, reading books for enjoyment and dreaming of a visit to Paris but at first is content to go along with this plan.

David and his friends introduce her to a world so far beyond her dreams, and Jenny is swept along in the romance and mystery of it all. She dazzles her school friends with gifts and tales of fine dining and jazz clubs. She starts to question her future and wonders if Oxford is for her. She is so taken up with David and the life he is introducing to her, that when she discovers some of the more unsavory aspects of his business dealings, she accepts it with very few questions.

This little movie is generating serious Oscar buzz for relative unknown Carey Mulligan. She is luminous and breathtaking and if I am being honest, too thin. I am definitely not alone in saying that she gives off an Audrey Hepburn vibe. She lights up the screen and should expect to hear her name called on numerous occasions during Award Season. Her portrayal of the naive young Jenny is flawless, and deserves massive kudos for holding her own against Oscar winner Emma Thompson, whose 10 minutes of screen time as the insightful school headmistress are amazing as always.

Peter Saarsgard was also great. He has a difficult role – playing a man in his 30’s who is in effect seducing a teenager. But it never has that “icky’ feel to it. He comes across as truly thrilled to be opening Jenny’s eyes to the world beyond her quiet suburban life, rather than the nefarious older man who has wicked intentions. I loved how easily David was able to win over Jenny’s parents and convince them that unchaperoned overnight trips are perfectly acceptable.

Rosamund Pike was fantastic as the street smart, although not particularly book smart girlfriend of Sarsgaard's business partner Dominic Cooper. She also serves in the education of Jenny, aiding in her physical transformation from awkward Catholic schoolgirl to elegant arm candy. Olivia Williams is also impressive as Jenny’s dowdy teacher who is determined to ensure that her star student stops making poor choices. The costumes were phenomenal. Loved the dresses and hats and purses and heels. Oh and David has an amazing ride. I would have gotten in the car with him!

By the end of the movie, Jenny is only a little older, but she is infinitely wiser. Gone is the wide-eyed innocent schoolgirl that we see in the opening scenes of the movie. She is ready to tackle what life has in store for her. Something that sadly she would not have been able to do without the education given to her by the cad David.

I loved this movie. Go and see it. Seriously. Now.

Faster than a New York Minute

Round two for my vacation.... New York City baby! This was my second trip in as many years, so this time I skipped most of the really touristy things. I had done the Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge, Museums etc. 5 nights was all I had and the theme was pretty much shopping and shows.

Lets start of with the Accommodation..... I had hoped to find a smoking deal on Priceline or Hotwire or a friends and family rate through work contacts....... sadly there were no smoking deals to be had anywhere. No "deals" of any sort. Son of a Bitch. About three weeks out I started to freak out worried that I wouldn't be able to find somewhere in any way reasonable priced. So I book the YMCA Vanderbilt on 47th & 3rd. I had stayed at a YWCA on the Upper West Side last year and it was fine (they couldn't get me in this time).

It was okay. Cleanish. Quiet. Teeny tiny rooms. Cheap. Location was not great. About 6 blocks from the closest subway. Which for NYC is pretty crappy. Prefered the Westside. Highlight was a Fire Alarm at 1.30am, in the rain. But, ya know NYFD showed up..... can't really go wrong with that can ya! Did I mention it was under $100 per night. Which for a private room in New York is almost unheard of. And really, all you need is somewhere to lay your head right? Oh and there was a mobile Cupcake van super close by on the first day.

Shows. Shows. Shows.

So I saw a show a night (and two on Sunday). In my own very special brand of logic I thought spending $$$ on a show would stop me spending $$$ on anything else. Kind of made sense at the time. Oy Vey! I think it was the three pairs of shoes in under an hour that tipped me over the edge....

Can I tell you how amazing it was to see Carrie Fisher on stage in her fantastic one woman show Wishful Drinking. She talked about it all - her parents, her two marriages (to Paul Simon and a guy who was actually gay), drugs, alcohol, mental illness the elephant in the room that would be the close friend that dies in her bed, Star Wars, George Lucas. It was awesome and for a pop culture junkie like me.... amazingness. She is candid and honest about her life and I think whether she wants to be or not she is quite the inspiration.

Two quick highlights of a show that had me almost peeing my pants with laughter: first up when trying to put the whole Eddie Fisher (her dad) - Debbie Reynolds (her mom) and Elizabeth Taylor (the woman that Eddie left Debbie for) situation in context she captured it perfectly. Imagine her Dad is Brad, her mom is Jen and Liz is Angie. That's what it was. So true and so f*cking funny.

The other is this fantastic chart above. Whether this story is actually true or not is kind of irrelevant to me. It is comedic gold. When her 17 year old daughter wanted to date who I believe was Liz Taylor's step grandchild.... were they related? This amazing chart tried to explain the whole thing....I think the conclusion was that they are not related.

Hysterical show. See it while you can! There's even a bit of singing. And she does allow audience questions. But be prepared for the mocking if you ask something trite or silly!

A Steady Rain with Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig was also very very good. A tense, powerful drama about the disintegration of two men's lives. The stage was pretty much bare except for 2 chairs - no other cast - and they weren't needed. The performances from both men were very strong. Hearing everybody's favourite Aussie export - Hugh Jackman - use that much profanity was kinda funny. Hopefully his kids have not seen this show!

There was one moment when Craig's character asks Jackman's wife to answer the phone and I totally thought there was another "cell phone incident" - but it was just a line from the play. Sadly - I would have really liked to have seen that. The only problem I have with seeing two such huge stars on stage was that it was a little hard to see them as their characters as opposed to Jackman & Craig. Ya know? But overall it was a whole lotta awesome.

And what is there to say about Jude Law in Hamlet. Sigh. I was pretty much a puddle on the floor as soon as the man hit the stage. I love Hamlet - studied it in school (who didn't). It was one play that I totally got and could write about really really well. The one time I got higher marks than Louise Milligan (class valedictorian, lead in the school play, student body president, part time model, your typically over achieving bitch....). Kinda pathetic that almost 20 years later I still remember her name. I have issues okay. Deal with it.

This was a decent production. Jude was most definitely the highlight of the whole thing. Some of the other cast were a little lacking for me - particularly Hamlet's father, Ophelia (Helena Bonham-Carter's Ophelia has pretty much ruined anyone else for me) and Gertrude. But really it was all about Jude. I had never really got the whole Jude Law fascination - while I appreciated the hawtness, I never really found him completely swoon-worthy.

But seeing him on stage - from the costume to his hand movements to the way he moved around the stage..... quiver. He brought the quiver. I could feel it all the way down. And I now get it. I understand the Jude Law. I totally understand why women everywhere would spread their dimpled thighs for this man. Lord knows I am now one of them. Sadly the couple next to me did not get it as after after snoozing through the first act, they left at the intermission. Silly middle aged British couple! Missing out on the tortured hawtness of Act 2.

Last year in NYC I saw one of the very last Broadway performances of RENT. I cried from start to finish. Actually I pretty much sobbed like a small child. It was a little embarrassing and I felt kinda bad for the people sitting next to me. I think I even apologised to them. This year my therapeutic Broadway experience was Next to Normal. Holy Mother, this show ripped my heart out and showed it to me...... It was so f*cking good. And sad. And amazing.

Who would have thought a show about a family struggling with mental illness would be the hottest ticket on Broadway? That is pretty much all I knew going in, but it is so much more than that. It is about family and loss and dysfunction and being a teenager and falling in love and rebellion.... So f*cking brilliant and amazing. So much my life (but not). And funny. So darkly funny. I was *this* close to buying the t-shirt that says "Valium is my favourite colour". I did buy the soundtrack and have listened to it repeatedly since I have been back. Amazing amazing amazing.

On a much lighter note, I had an equally awesome but much less tear filled time at Rock of Ages and The Toxic Avenger. Both were super fun and silly and funny and OMG - Tom Lenk. Love him. Follow him on twitter. Waited outside the stage door to see him. Wimped out and couldn't say a word to him. So pathetic am I. He was fantastic. Oh and as I teased before Constantine Maroulis totally looked right at me while singing one of the many power ballads...... sigh. He is so dreamy. From American Idol? You remember him? The show itself isn't about anything important. A small town girl, living in this lonely world....... falling in love with a city boy..... All set to awesome songs from my youth..... Journey, STYX, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake - amazing and funny and perfect. Fun fun fun!

Toxic Avenger was my foray into off-broadway. Fun fun fun. Another Idol alumni - Diana DeGarmo. She has a great voice. Is now super skinny. Not scary skinny, but a ton skinnier than when she was on Idol. Apart from the two leads, all the other characters were played by 3 other actors - it was a whole lotta fun times and silliness.

Shopping was pretty self-explanatory...... I bought a *few* things.... 5 pairs of shoes, 2 bags (way down from last years 5), dresses and tights and sweaters oh my! Century 21 is everyone's shopping mecca in NYC - but for me it was kinda meh. No decent shoes, only a few bags.... I was sad :(. Thankfully Filene's Basement and DSW were substantially more successful. He he he! Macy's also made me happy. Although I am still a little bitter about their customer care for Canadians who have a Macy's Card (story for another time). But the living breathing people at the store are pretty cool.

Other highlights most emphatically do NOT include Times Square which is a necessary evil of any trip to New York. It is important to go there at least once, to see the spectacle, the insanity, the masses of tourists (I know, I know, I am such a hypocrite) the blinding lights. Sadly the all important TKTS booth is slap bang in the middle of all the insanity that is Times Square. And all the Shows above were pretty much Times Square adjacent so I had no choice. The pic on the right is the famed Rockefeller Centre - complete with skating (a la any movie set in NYC in the winter!) I recall from last year the umbrellas and restaurants as opposed to the hot chocolate and ice. I also have a vague memory of arguing with my brother in one of said restaurants.....

I also spent a lot more time wandering through Central Park on a glorious Autumn day. Vancouver has Stanley Park - which is equally glorious - but very different. Central Park is manicured and structured..... my Stanley Park is wild and unkempt and easy to get lost in. Both are very different but incredibly beautiful in their own ways...... I wish we had these cute little cop "cars" in Stanley Park. That would be awesome....

I spent a lot of time wandering through the West Village, soaking it all in. That is totally and completely where I would wanna live if I could. So funky and cool. Food and clothes (I can't afford) and fun! Sigh. I have convinced myself that the Brownstone on the right is where SJP lives with her hubby and kids. I know it isn't, but whatev's. This is my fantasy.... I chose to believe that SJP is super crafty and spent hours and hours (with Cynthia Nixon and Kristen Davis) making these decorations and then put them up themselves. While ignoring any and all calls from Kim Catrall. He he he.

Oh and I saw Tim McGraw at the Today show. There were lots of chicks with Cowboy hats. Do they travel with them do you think? I highly doubt they were locals. Tim McGraw is one of those men who are super hawt until they take their hat off. It is not that I have a problem with a man losing his hair or being bald for that matter. It is just that I wasn't expecting the receding. And it is a little startling. And unexpected. And if I am being honest, just a titch disappointing. There is this guy I worked with for many many years. Always had a little crush. He always had a cap on. The first time I saw him sans hat, I think I gasped audibly. It was just so surprising. He was still a handsome hansome man. But the fire dimmed just a little - until he shaved his head and then the quiver returned with a vengence. Apparently I am just that shallow.

I found these awesome houses near NYU and Washington Square Park. They are 19th century stables that have been converted into houses. Love it. Cobblestoned streets, gates to stop mass traffic. So pretty. The original Whitney museum was also here. What I loved most was that there were two streets like this. One was very cultured and clean and poised (picture on the left and the centre one), the other was a little more unkempt and free spirited with overgrown gardens and a much more funky atmosphere. Guess which street was once an artist haven?

One definitive highlight of this trip was being able to go to a Kandinsky exhibit at the amazing Guggenheim. Last year their entire Kandinsky collection was off limits - which made me a little bitter. But after this experience, all is forgiven. Amazing amazing amazing. I have always been a fan of his work - so vibrant and bold and fantastic. And to see so much of it, all housed under one roof - I was giddy!

The hardcore security wouldn't let anyone take photos except for in the lobby - bastards. They were super strict about it. I managed to snap a few sneaky pics with my phone, but not too many. The Guggenheim is a stunning building. And they give everyone a headset which explains the key pieces you are looking at. I wish every museum/gallery would do that - at no extra charge.

So there you have it.....a far too long, but still very quick overview of my short trip to the Big Apple. I love New York. It is so full of life and is vibrant and exciting and beautiful. I can't wait to go back again!

I will leave you with this very important message from the Subway people (I am sure they have a more fancy name... but to me they will always be the Subway people)

XO