Ancient Wisdom

A most delightful dinner tonight with Yuna, Katherine, and Emily and her mother and baby sister, Isobel (cute baby! And who knew Katherine was a baby person?). We reflected meditatively on many things, with great perspicacity, of course, and told the tale of our Thursday night jazz club excursion. My fortune amused me greatly: "Your love life will be happy and harmonious." Only one way to go there, bub. The food was great, and Emily's mom is really cool. Much like Emily herself. Emily herself promised me, Katherine, and Yuna that we will be her bridesmaids. Expect to be held to that promise, Ms. Connell.

This morning, after three delicious hours' sleep, I roused myself to go see our EnviroMin defend his ministry from accusations of doing too much/too little for the environment(standing, as the Liberals do, in the middle of the road, they get hit by traffic from both directions). It was okay. He kind of sounds like Kermit the Frog, only French-accented. His climate change plan doesn't sound earth-shaking. I'd start by laying off the feeble gags, like dressing all in green and calling himself a "green minister". I can see why people are criticizing the plan, though. It's an environmental protection measure, so naturally the Conservatives are aaaaall over smacking it down to defend "the families who will have to pay extra for heating costs" Right, folks. Your business friends have nothing to do with your opposition. And the NDP is getting cranky because it doesn't seem like enough, and includes some voluntary measures and stuff that they don't think will work, like emissions credits. Bottom line: free muffins and coffee at the event.

And now it is time to work on my history book review, due in 13 hours as it is. I'm nearly done, but it's not good by any means.

Suspicious Cafeteria Items, Pt. IV

"Fruity Turkey Pasta".

And All That Jazz

This week went by in a whirl, again. It's been pretty busy trying to get all this stuff done (see previous post), and so last night I felt celebratory, having probably not egregiously failed my poli sci midterm. To rid myself of this feeling, I tagged along with Emily'n'Nathanael, Katherine, and the lovely Yuna. They were going out to a benefit at this jazz club right near the university, and it turned out to be an utterly wonderful evening. The music was live and really good. I don't know jazz, but now I do know a couple of music students from the university, including two Daves, a Corinne, and a Ben. The latter is an amazingly efficient flirt -- I think he got around to every girl in the room in the space of about three hours. In any case, I have now been Out to a bar that I actually really like. It's not all about the partying, it's about the music, and there were moments when everybody was just listening. It was really nice. And there was no deejay having a birthday and taking the occasion as a reason to chant "let's get drunk, and have sex!" into his mike. It was just people having a nice time, and it wasn't too crowded (apparently it's kind of a ghost town most nights). Anyway, the BPAPMers are grateful to the music students for showing them how to get down and have a little fun of a Thursday night.

In other news, Charles and Camilla Parker Bowling Ball (as the Arrogant Worms have christened her) are getting hitched. Mum tells me that some woman on the radio said, "I don't want to be nasty, but that woman looks like a witch!" There was a time when she would be drawn and quartered for such impudence... ah, those were the days.

Aieee

That is my word of the week. Within the next 23 days, I have: a history book review, three midterms, a poli sci paper, a fiddly little public affairs assignment, two choir performances, a ski trip, and four glorious days at home.

Saille figured out how to make ominous rabbits out of mittens like one did in elementary school. The looming comes specially included.

Here's Steph on her birthday, last weekend. I didn't actually attend the party, but I can testify that the cake in the background is delish.

Notl, Diana, and the birthday girl, Joni! Girls in black with drinks of pink.

Rosina and I are Emo.

Note to the Drunk People Outside

I've Been Workin' on the Railroad is not a good drinking song. Also, I know it's Tuesday night. Going "it's Toosday Nite! Woo! Holy shit!" in tones of amazement is really, really not necessary. Tuesdays come around once every seven days, there is no need for such excitement. I appreciate your joie de vivre, just please have it elsewhere.

Suspicious Cafeteria Items, Pt. III

"Waxed Beans".

I Fought the Sloth, and the Sloth Won

Robyn left Friday. My mind, she is blown. She left so suddenly, and now Katherine has all this space in her room which formerly was Robyn's space. It is most confusing. It makes me feel better, though, that Robyn probably feels better being at home.

This weekend has been pretty good in some ways. I kept crossing paths with the Glen Gang, but didn't actually manage to talk with them much until tonight, when I found them for dinner. Friday I went snowboarding with Jacob and successfully freaked him out of his X-tremeness on one of the black diamond runs. I also biffed out nicely trying to do a rail. Go me. Saturday I did... nothing, really. A bit of work, I guess. I took an unplanned nap, courtesy of my history book. In the evening I watched movies by myself and wrote letters to various people. Sunday I slept in immoderately late, then went skating with Mike and Maral, which was fun. The weather was gorgeous and the canal was packed. I got back, did (I guess, I don't really remember or care) a little bit of work, and then went to say hi to Katherine and Yuna. Katherine has brought her Germany album back from Toronto, so I had a look at that. She also brought back homemade brownies, good girl that she is. A nice phone conversation with my 'rents and my sister, and then a phone call to Laura, rounded out the evening.

I have been feeling sort of blah lately. The cause of this remains unclear, but there it is: sort of blah. Eat, sing, sleep, run, talk on phone, read, procrastinate.

This is what the caf toaster did to my toast at dinner. Mostly I'm just glad nothing burst into flames.

Oh, Those Russians

Russian military history is totally nuts. They can just keep running away across Siberia until eventually whoever's chasing them runs out of boots and warm coats. It's like they're bionic. I have a feeling I've spouted this insight before, but it's still true. And if they want to keep a given city, they can just shut the door until their enemy freezes, put their feet up, have some s'mores and vodka, and then (when they hear the "thud" of the enemy armies falling over dead) come outside and say, "Victory is mine!" Now that is the way to fight a war.

How I Am Going To Die

To borrow a phrase from Hissyfit , this is how I am going to die. It will be while playing this game: Squares. After days without food, drink, or sleep, I will simply wither away, still staring at the beautiful little squares, my back pathetically hunched and my eyes bloodshot. In my death throes, I will groove to the peppy techno backing music. It has me!