high voltage

Wednesday, June 24th: I got my hair cut at this place that was having a promotion, but the service was meh...the stylist had trouble cutting my hair so that it was even on both sides, so I definitely won’t be giving him any referrals. I then prepared dinner for Meg and I...roasted garlic parmesan asparagus and pasta with sirloin beef strips and a rose sauce. It was delicious and so filling!

Friday, June 26th: Meg’s birthday! So much fun! I made a white chocolate raspberry oreo cheesecake for the occasion, and despite it being my first attempt at cheesecake, the feedback was excellent. I’ve saved the recipe so I can make it again (though it’s fairly expensive, as many of the ingredients aren’t always lying around one’s pantry/fridge). I got a hot red dress for the occasion, which I will likely be wearing for my birthday too. The chosen bar was actually decent, as far as top 40 bars go; at least the bathrooms were nice, and they played Thriller and a whackload of other MJ songs (I know, this ongoing memorialisation is getting old but I do like a good MJ dance now and again).

We didn’t get nearly as much sleep as we required that night, so the next morning, we stumbled, tired and hungry, to the distillery district to meet my parents and aunt and uncle for breakfast at the Mill Street Pub. An omelette has never tasted so good! We had to drop Meg’s friend off at the bus depot, and afterwards, walked to Kensington Market to enjoy a cool drink in the shade while waiting for our rents to finish touristing. Our groups met again at a wine tasting held in Nathan Phillips Square for the Jazz Festival, before Meg and I headed out once more, to change and liven ourselves up a bit. The fams met once more at Avli, a Greek Restaurant just off Chester and Danforth. It was delicious. Tired, but not yet wanting to pack it in for the night, we decided to try finding a patio; well, it was impossible for such a nice Saturday night, and after trying Milestones, Jack Astors, and Imperial Pub, we settled for indoors at the Hard Rock Cafe.

Sunday Morning, I woke up early (what? 9am is early for someone who doesn’t have a job!) and met my parents at their hotel. From there, we went to our first Blue Jays game. We got free ballcaps when we entered, and many free Gillette samples upon exiting, and were gouged out our ears for snacks inside. Fitting, I suppose. Mum wanted to hit up Chinatown, dad and I walked slowly, bored at watching mom buy cheap knickknacks and consider buying 6 t-shirts for $10. I wanted to go to East Side Marios for dinner, as I hadn’t been yet. We were not impressed with their service, but you can’t argue with bottomless breadsticks and salad.

Monday, June 29th: The rents wanted to go to Niagara Falls, so we caught a bus around noon. We ended up getting great weather (in jeans, I was quite warm for the majority of the day). The Falls were nice to see, the rest of the town was kind of dumpy-looking. We didn’t look at a lot of the tourist attractions though, so I have something to see when H comes to visit! We didn’t eat before catching a bus back to Toronto, and as a result, our stomachs were growlin’ something terrible. Luckily, we stopped at the most awesome Chinese Restaurant on our way back to the hotel...it was seriously 5-10 minutes from ordering to getting our food, hot, fresh, and delicious. The service was excellent and I’m thinking my dad tipped big that night.

Tuesday, June 30th: I actually got my parents into H&M! Haha, my dad bought like, 7 shirts (he really can’t resist a good price), and mum bought some stuff too. We dropped off their purchases at the hotel, and off we went again. We hit Queen Street West before stopping at Jack Astors for lunch. From there, we walked to King Street and took a streetcar yet again to the distillery district. We were able to do a bit more walking around than the previous visit, and also saw two different wedding parties taking pictures. It was a pretty location for the shots. Mum bought some flowers/plants, and then we took a walk to St. Lawrence Market, which I haven’t been to since our last trip to Toronto back in...Grade 11? Yeah. Finally, I left my parents to their own devices and went home to get ready for the Jamie Cullum concert.

Opening act was kind of boring; they were good, just not at all into plainly instrumental music, especially jazz. Jamie was fab! Just as I imagined he would be (and, living up to the recorded performances I’ve seen on tv and youtube. I hung around after the show to try to meet him and it paid off. He mentioned during the show that this would be his last performance of TwentySomething because he was turning 30 in August, and he mentioned to someone around me that in fact, his birthday was on the 20th. I told him my birthday was the same day as his and he gave me 2 cheek kisses, which I handled awkwardly because of my non-british ways and plain awkwardness. Still awesome, though.

Wednesday, July 1st: Canada Day! Also, my parents’ last day in Toronto. I helped them bring their luggage to my house at checkout time, met Meg for a quick lunch together, and then we all headed off to the airport to see them off. All in all, it was a good visit. I think they both enjoyed Toronto. At last, Meg and I headed to Mississauga for their Canada Day celebration. We arrived a tad early, as we really only wanted to see Sloan, but it gave us a change to just hang, check out a bit of Mississauga, and get a good spot (nearly at the front, centre) for Sloan. They were great, but just stuck to singles. The fireworks were spectacular, I guess to make up for the nearly 20 minutes of shoddy music they played. We nearly got stranded in Mississauga for the night, too, when they didn’t send enough buses to get us back to the subway. Lots of angry people, including us. ½ hour later and we wouldn’t have made the subway!

Weekend involved...not sure? Karaokee with roommates x2, watching Grandma’s Boy with commentary with Meg on Sunday, and catching up on Weeds episodes (I’m almost up to date—it’s so good!).

Monday, July 6th: JET!!! Gah! They were fantastic! Meg came with me and we had an awesome time. To quote Meg’s facebook status, “Jet concert = four dirty Australians and one very happy girl”. Well, make that 2 happy girls. They played Timothy, which I didn’t think they ever did live, I met them all after, and the super nice Irish/Scottish roadie gave me lots of guitar picks with which to make earrings...whoot! I also made friends with a pair of sisters, who I hope to hear from soon (they took a picture of me with the drummer as my camera decided to die after only one band picture)

Since Monday, I’ve been biding my time until HP#6 comes out in theatres. I read books #1-6—just finished the last one an hour ago—and will likely take’r easy this weekend. My one knee is hurtin’ a bit so I put a pause on running, so it’ll be guitar time this weekend. I also work tomorrow (yay, money coming in!) and it’s 7-11 which should mean free small slurpees? I shall see.

And there you have it, Hoho.

fabulous

Is anyone else addicted to scrabulous? I know I am....in that, I can't wait for one of two (or both) people I have open games with to put in their word, so I can put in mine!

Tomorrow the only non-school related thing i have to do is fill up o'mally, so hopefully I can get down to work, as next week is busy...Sloan, A Night in Bollywood Social, and who knows what else will happen?!?

And now, the first installment of Regards, Nicole:

Dear Superstore:

I love your clothing brand and I don't mind that you never have staff on hand to answer questions or help one find feta cheese. However, when you give someone a rebate form for contacts that they've purchased from your eyewear centre and the form cannot be used for the type of contacts you've been persuaded into getting, it's NOT COOL. Especially when you end up calling the 1-800 number on the back to ask them, and they redirect you to someone else who likely will think you are an insane lady who wants to save a buck whenever she can. (Won't argue with them, they're right). But contacts are expensive...in fact, here's a sub-letter

Dear Manitoba Blue Cross,

I know you're just trying to do your job and all, but $400 every 2 years is a bit tight for contacts, especially if you need to get new glasses on top of that...not only because the prescription was from 2 eye exams ago, but because both of your existing pairs are damaged, either missing a nose piece or being super-glued together.

Ahh, it feels good to get things off my chest.

Regards, Nicole

hello 2007!

So...I think boyfriend deleted Flock, which is what I have been using to update you. I was trying to reduce the amount of shit on my computer, aka, delete that 3-d program that boyfriend put on here so that he could show me something he had made. I should be in bed right now, as I'm going to the morning bingo session, and before that: cheap breakfast at the sals. But I have decided to bring to you, instead, the 10 best concerts I went to in 2006. These are not in any particular order; however, some of these meant more than others...I just couldn't find a way to define why some were better than others.

1. The Who - October 3rd, MTS Centre. Fucking amazing. I was really surprised at how good this show actually was...I'm not going to say much, seeing as I said so much already in a previous post. Just....fantastic.
   
   
2. Jet Set Satellite - December 22nd, The Couch Residence (boyfriend's house!). I can't even begin to tell you show much this rocked. Well, I haven't told you anything!
   Setlist: Lady Killer, Remover, The Beast, Best Way to Die, XOXO (You Can't Go), Vegas, Baby Cool Your Jets, Lies by the Thousands, On My Way, Please Capture Me, Holding On and Never Letting Go, Ressurexit, Among the Living, The Night It Went Too Far, Together.
   Encore: Jump, We're Above This (I think...? not on the setlist), Walk Away.
   
   Many, many of the 70 invitees heard the band for the first time that night, and I am pleased to think that a lot of these folks went away thinking Why haven't I heard these guys before? Why aren't they bigger? When is their next show??? I will even say that my own mother, who I've joked only likes Lyle Lovitt and the BeeGees, wanted a poster for our downstairs fridge. Now, I'm just wondering if I can get her out to a bar...
   
   Some pictures:...eek, will be added once blogger stops being ridiculous, or I get Flock back on the computer.
   
   
3. Colin James - February 15/June 19 - Cowboys/Red River Ex
   Do you honestly think I could pick and choose one out of these? the show in Feb was my first ever time seeing the guy and I don't think I can ever forget that. I had been waiting to see Colin since grade 8--that was almost 5 years! I was there with Heather who had a great time time as well--it's like older Shaun/Kyle/Jordan, right? Who can forget the crazy backpack guy with the dancing dolls, or the butt-squeezing by older men *shudders*, or the picks so I could make earrings?
   And then for the second show--I may have had to dance alone but I found an 8-year-old girl who was dancing and how I wished I had been so cool so young. Got more picks, a set-list from a nice roadie, and managed to meet both Craig Northey and Colin James!
   
   
4. Sloan - July 22 - Maple Grove Rugby Park (Superspike)
   I almost tied this one with their show on October 20 (Silverados) but that wouldn't have been fair. The latter show may have been my first bar show seeing the band, and an amazing show at that, but it was hard to completely enjoy myself with my buddy sick with pneumonia, only coming up with me for the very end.
   So, for the summer show, this has to be up here because not only did the show rock hard, but I was invited up to sing on stage! How cool. clicky clicky. And, I managed to meet up with some older folks that had been at superspike at the October show!
   
   
5. Jet Set Satellite & Wide Mouth Mason - August 5 - Preeceville, SK.
   2 favourite bands. 5 great friends. 1 dirty hole in Saskatchewan. This was the dirtiest show I have ever been to, pun intended, but that didn't mean we didn't have fun! It was the only full-length Wide Mouth Mason show I attended in 2006 so of course, it had to be up here. It was a trip of bonding more than anything else and I am grateful for that.
   
   
6. Danko Jones - September 8th, Regina, SK.
   There is just something about driving more than 5 hours to see a band. In Sask. Although DJ also played in Winnipeg and we got to chat with them a bit longer, plus see a basement performance at a local radio station, the Regina show just holds so many memories. East Side Marios, the nice pool, my first full-length danko jones show, and seeing a girl flash the crowd and allow pictures, BEFORE the show started. and the Cougers....oooh, the Cougers.
   
   
7. Jet Set Satellite - July 27th - Coyotes.
   I think this was the dirtiest show I've been to that wasn't in Preeceville. Haha. No, but I was just SO SWEATY, it is definately the hottest-in-temperature bar in Winnipeg. I hold it very dear to my heart that I won 4 out of the 8 total won tickets while I was on the roof of my garage (note: it is not a flat roof), cleaning the eavestrough while burning my back. Just...sweaty.
   
   
8. The Trews - October 24th - U of M MPR
   I have to point out that I didn't stay for this entire show (my ride was leaving, it would have been an impossible trip home otherwise), yet it still makes it onto my top 10 list. Seeing them February 13 (Silverados) didn't quite fulfill my Trews need for that year...well, Den of Thieves in general wasn't good. But this Oct. show was different...perhaps it was Colin's facial hair (now he's John-Angus, really!), or Jack's continuously crazy pants and Jet-copying hat, or that while we were leaving, they were covering These Arms of Mine but I think that the next time I see the Trews, they will steal my heart. again.
   
   
9. Sam Roberts - May 15th - Ramada Conference Centre
   Eek. I'm getting pretty near the end; however, I couldn't avoid putting Sammy on my list. He was great! A triumphant return. Plus, he bought 4 pairs of my earrings! Good times with good people I say, but I also have several other things to point out: 3 of the people who hung around with us for this show are now complete jerkasses who I am ashamed to have shared these good times with. Furthermore, these same numbnuts took the liberty of taunting me at the second Sam show of the year, November 17 (Convention Centre for Grey Cup Week). Oh, these mixed feeling are getting the best of me.
   
   
10. The Waking Eyes, Kyle Riabko- ALL shows. I know I'm kind of cheating but I don't care....I'm too tired and too stubborn to think any differently. I had a fantastic time at all shows put on by these people despite (or because of) dancing in alleys, steak dinners, drunk girls wanting to walk on stage, power shortages, guitar love-making sessions, crazy pictures, sound checks, and bassists.

Bingo! That was the best 2006 ever besides losing friends and my Hanson CD. Hope 2007 brings even more.

"I'm sorry, baby....I'll never let this happen again...you've gotta believe me!" I'm starting to sound like an abusive husband, I'm sorry! I never mean for my blog entries to be posted so sporadically; it just happens.

Let's rewind, shall we?

On Friday, October 13th, I was invited to sing along with George and the Class of '84 at their Shannon's Irish Pub gig; luckily, the friday and the 13th didn't decide to mingle and bring bad luck with them. (I would post a picture of myself but I only got video...pics of the band will be posted on their website after the delivery of the pictures to the band)

The following weekend: Slo-oan! It was fabulous. Originally posted by myself on the Official Sloan Message Board:

Whooo! fabulous show, once again...my first Sloan Bar show..

Setlist:

Flying High Again
Who Taught You to Live Like That
Someone I Can Be True With
Ill Placed Trust
The Other Man
The Lines You Amend
Fading into Obscurity

Golden Eyes
Love is All Around
Living with the Masses
HFXNSHC
Blackout

All Used Up
C'mon, C'mon
Everybody Wants You
I Understand
You Know What It's About
Set In Motion
Money City Maniacs

I Can't Sleep
I Know You
Something's Wrong
I've Gotta Try

Before the End of the Race
The Good in Everyone
Penpals
Everything You've Done Wrong
Another Way I Can Do It

*not on the setlist, but they also played The Rest of My Life with the opener, Yoko Casionos

-What's with the orange jumpsuit, Andrew? Did you get a day pass to play? lol

Jay+breaking into dance=awesome

I did end up editing my 361-ish pictures down to around 200. And I only actually got 45 of them printed when I used up my 200 free prints (thanks, Blacks!) I have a hard time deleting pictures from my computer if they turned out great, but I'm having an easier time not printing them. This stems from previous photo developings and thinking to myself these pictures look identical...WHY did I print them again? And because 200 pictures is a photo album in itself.

The Next Day: The Waking Eyes!
As part of the Western Canadian Music Awards, this band played at the pyramid. Also ended up taking quite a few pictures at this show...I don't believe I've even uploaded them, so they are not going into this post. I managed to meet Chris Nelson, beloved videographer for Musicmusic; specifically, Going Coastal. He was super nice, with much wit. He also happened to mention that the Kid would be in town the following day, also for the WCMA...insert freakout. Shaun, from Wide Mouth Mason.

The Sunday of that weekend began slowly. I was forced into going to a cheap-ass wedding show downtown at a hotel, where we had to listen to a terrible wedding singer butcher his way through "Kiss" and "Hard to Handle" (I have video of this one to prove it!).

On our quest to find Shaun, we snagged some free shwag at the Western Canadian Music Conference, and eventually walked out of conference's hotel location, accepting defeat...but wait, who's voice do we hear? *sigh*, mission accomplished.

Continue, shall we?

October 24th was the Trews at the U of M. You had to win tix in to this, which I did (I tried so hard, aka, listened to a certain radio station for so long, and finally, they just handed them to me via their mailing list thingy!) I also managed to take a shit load of pictures, though many of them crapped out. Thanks Molson, for providing the trews with such ridiculous lighting, whereas the opening band The Stills had extremely well-done lighting. Thanks.

I DID dress up for Hallowe'en, but I only actually got one picture of me in costume, taken by my friend Brittany. I was Leela from Futurama, and though some say it looked awesome, others couldn't tell who I was. Really, I think that the biggest problem was that Futurama is not nearly as popular as Family Guy or the Simpsons. Oh well.

And I've been strapped down with immense amounts of homework and studying but I don't see a terrible amount of things in the near future, so hopefully my postings on here are slightly more frequent...I know how you guys must feel, I am insanely confused when you folks don't update for several days.

I bid you adieu.