I'm a big kid now!

This deserved a huge update! I cannot count the number of times I've opened up the dashboard only to get distracted by the internetz and run out of "time" to blog.

Ok, first things first: I moved in with Steve! We live at the top floor of a house in a quiet little neighbourhood near-ish downtown. Kudos to MIL for taking picture on moving day, haha, I don't think I've even TAKEN any pictures inside or out of the house yet in the last month and a half.
I guess I've lived on my own-ish before, in Toronto, but it's very different living with someone else. Some chores work out ok: I like doing the laundry, because some of my clothes have special instructions--anything can be done with his, and he doesn't mind taking out the garbage and recycling. However, and I don't know if this is because I'm a female, or semi-neurotic, or my mother's daughter, but I'll be puttering around the house getting various tasks done and I just have no clue why a)S doesn't realize that these things need to be done b)S doesn't offer to help and c)I end up getting mad when I have to do things myself. I think I've just determined that certain things bother me more than S, and he doesn't realize things need to be done, but if I ask (and not yell) he will do them. So, we'll see how things work today with a HoneyDo list

I am now also gainfully employed. yay! So far, so good, but I really haven't gone through the right amount of training in my 2 weeks there, as August=everyone takes holidays. I expect things to get a lot more challenging in the next few weeks. The office is nice, the girls in the same job as me are close to my age, so we get along quite well, and we have a kitchen, a monthly-ish lunch, and potlucks.

July and August have been filled with lots of events, concerts, and gettogethers!

June 26: Ok, well, it was still in June, but near the end...I had a grad party at the 'rents house, which ended up turning into a moving out/let mom show off her newly renovated kitchen party. Despite a pretty epic thunderstorm in the middle of it, it turned out excellent. There was a little 3-year-old there. and Let me explain something to you....kids don't like me. I'm too loud and brash, I have no idea what to say to them, and they usually just hide behind their parents when I come near. Well, this little guy really liked hanging out with me! Maybe to do with the fact that I gave him a tambourine and egg shaker to play with, and blew bubbles for him, and gave him ICE CREAM (which I had to finish anyways :D)
THEN, it moved on to even more epic proportions: karaoke. Got a decent amount of people there to begin with, followed by my rents and aunt/uncle/some distant relative later. AWESOME! Did probably my best ever version of Highway to Hell! Aaand of course we ended the night with Bohemian Rhapsody so yeah, epicness just rolling off our tongues that night.

July 1st: (moving day) and also Canada Day at the Forks, and also WELCOME BACK ERIN! Went to see the Waking Eyes at the folks (never disappoint) and fireworks (I am disappoint)

July 3rd: H and I went to this Manitoba homecoming thing at the Forks, just to see Inward Eye play 4 songs. We rocked hard! Add this with 40°C weather with humidity and you could just see our exhaustion. We then headed down to Old Market Square for the Jazz Fest wrap-up Weekend, because Retro Rhythm Review was playing. Lots of fun, even when it started raining! I can't recall if we ended up going to karaoke after this, H, did we?

The middle of July was just a LOT of work at Ticketmaster. Bomber shifts, and I worked nearly the entire Folk Fest. That was fun, I guess, but I'm not huge into camping or eating outdoors, or portapotties. I'll take regular plumbing, please. The music was pretty good, but I'm not really one to spend a pretty penny on a lot of bands I don't know if I'll like.

July 31: Wide Mouth Mason show # 18, in Minnedosa at Rockin' the Fields. The show was pretty awesome, we got a SHOUTOUT from the guys during the show, I gave myself whiplash, and I think, were surrounded more or less with peeps who were enjoying the set.

August 7th: Rock on the Range! I originally wanted to see the Arkells, Danko Jones, and the Trews, in that order, but the Arkells went on tour with Tokyo Police Club instead (boo...but I'll see them in Sept, that tour stops in Winnipeg). Danko's set was great, but very short, and the Trews' set ended in a very bad mosh pit which almost cost H her glasses. We stayed in the stands for the remainder of the night, and enjoyed Godsmack thoroughly.

And...I have more, but I just got a king-size bed delivered, hence the reason I was up so early on a Saturday without having to work, and I'm gonna go christen it!

update, update

My, has this month been a whirlwind. March 20th - the UMFO (U of M Finance Organization) Banquet. A bit awkward for my first Asper banquet, considering I'm not in UMFO, or majoring in Finance, and I didn't really know anyone there. It was delightful, however, to step downstairs and realize that the pianist in the ballroom was playing Baby, One More Time, which he followed with The Way (Remember Fastball's one hit?). After a brief discussion with the doormen, I discovered that the same pianist did a mean Stairway to Heaven. If only the beer wasn't $10 a pop, I'd make my way down there just to check him out.

The most fun was had at the Dirty Curty. Oh yes, I met my pink ladies there and we had a blast.

Me and H, polka-ing the night away.

Me, apparently our co-worker's roommate, and H, during Thunderstruck

The Pink Ladies. YES.

April 4th-5th:...was a blurb. on the 4th, I hit up a friend's sister's social, we totally missed the boat on midnight snack and we didn't win any prizes.

We did make a pretty sweet beercup castle

On the 5th, it was Jenna's birthday and we did whatever she told us to do. Haha.

It is really too bad that this shovel was for opening the pinata and not for my signature dance move, "Shovellin' it and Carryin' it Away in a Wheelbarrow".

H and Jenna also had the brilliant idea to wear funny hats. It was really one of the best decisions we made all year (so far, anyways)

Then, my social life took a turn for the worst. Exams. Yup. 4 exams, including one that was 100% final. The only mark I've gotten back so far has bumped up my GPA a little bit, but with further results, it is sure to go down. I just got blasted with this exam period. Mind-blowing, in the not-nice way.

I have recovered quite nicely, I feel. On Friday (April 25th), H and I took in the Trews concert. We really didn't know what to expect because we were disappointed with their last album, Den of Thieves. However, I think they are BACK! Jack, we love you and your tight pants, non-existent knees, sparkly vests, and kiss-blowing!

Here are some nice shots I got--despite the security guard telling me that my camera was "too professional"!

YES.

This past weekend, it was Steve's Birthday! I couldn't really figure out anything REALLY GREAT to get him so I went with tried, tested, and true: clothes, an organization unit, and a new water bottle (so he doesn't have to mooch off me!) The party was fun, even if I did fall asleep way before everyone else.

May is another crazy month for me: two workplaces, many concerts, and a possible opportunity for HP in HD.

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.