I"m bored, so I've decided to post before and after photos of when I got my hair chopped. I REALLY need a digital camera, I barely have any pictures of this year...

To do list

My plan for the weekend:

1. READ - The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
- Oedipus the King
- The Edible Woman
- Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet)
- Much Ado About Nothing

2. Create some sort of study package of notes for English

3. Study English like I've never studied before (I have to succeed in at least ONE class!)

4. Watch Buffy

P.S. This is what a muffinbunny looks like. It is cute, fluffy, and the size of a muffin.

MUFFINBUNNY!!!!

If you're from UVic, you know what this means... If you're not, well, then you're not cool enough to know!

I was thinking tonight about how much friendships can change in only a year, the perfect example being the transition from highschool to university, and to the end of your first year. That's not the end of the thought process; however, I don't feel like delving into it just yet.

Why even bother to make a post? Because I can.

hooray for tv

I've been avoiding an essay like the plague and I just realized there's only a week left of school before the exam period starts. (Un)Fortunately, two of them occur next week. I haven't decided whether this is a good or a bad thing. Means I won't have the weekend entirely free I suppose.
Chris and Alison have got me back into Buffy the Vampire Slayer in a serious way. I can't wait for tomorrow night, for there's another Buffy marathon planned. One thing I did learn from university, it is SOOOO much better to watch a series in it's entirety from the beginning. Don't jump in halfway, don't settle for one episode a week - download the muthafucka and watch it from start to finish (in as few days as possible). That is the BEST way to go about television. I found it is possible to watch over seven episodes in one sitting (and that was only at the start of this developing trend) without getting bored, because TV, unlike film, is supposed to grab your attention and keep it for an hour. Thus, there is no such thing as a television show just dragging on and on. Shows fly past with individual plots, and the underlying arching story lines are easier to keep up with (there's no forgetting what Willow did last week, or why Xander is upset).
Other shows I am now addicted to include:
-The Office (American version with Steve Carell but I'm dying to see the British version)
-Supernatural (but I never watch it alone, and always in broad daylight!)
-Smallville (The acting may be poor but Michael Rosenbaum (Lex) is ohhh soo sexy!!!!)
-Buffy the Vampire Slayer (we're in the middle of season two now)
and last, but DEFINITELY not least
- House, M.D. (Those piercing blue eyes... "oh House, your very name, will never leave this girl the same")

Emdie!

Ben Crites and I created a genre a while back... the same night we figured out that he is almost exactly three dryers long (the laundry room is where genius truly occurs) So I drew a dude to illustrate our idea. He's so full of 'tude. He's depressed and pretentious at the same time. So his self-esteem is extremely high and low at the same time... what a conundrum!

I hate school

I challenge anyone to bullshit an article for a journalism class better than this one. I didn't do any interviews, though all these cool people do exist in real life. The quotes are bullshit, and "Blythe Lang" is my cover, because you are definitely not supposed to write about yourself or use your own quotes. I had about a month to write this, and I started the night before it was due at like 1 am. It's a feature article...and the lead is a bit weird, but I didn't know how to start it off, so I used a "list lead" as described in my coursepack, because it seemed to work in this situation. Other than that, the article is kosher - the prices and devices are real...

The New Roadmap to a Relationship

A straight up evaluation of software, hardware, and everything in between that can be used to make a relationship work – whatever the odds.

Michael Kerr, 18, and Blythe Lang, 18, have been together almost seven months now.
Jackie Larkin, 19, has been in a relationship with Nathan Schmidt, 19, for a year.
Lucy Bridges, 18, very recently began dating Nick Schoenfelder, 19.
Mark Jenkins, 18, and Krista Pierce, 17, have been a couple for over a year.
These relationships have one thing in common: they are all long distance.
Many people balk at the thought of a long distance relationship, and it is true they can be much more difficult to maintain, and come with some major disadvantages – but with the right technology, and the right outlook, it’s possible to make the relationship work. So when my friend Lucy came to me for advice about handling a new long distance relationship (she lives in Edmonton, he lives in Naniamo), I went to the experts in the subject – other couples.
“You definitely have to be sure you want this,” said Kerr, a first year student at North Island College in Courtenay, B.C. “I was really hesitant at first, but I’m really happy I went for it, I’m so in love with this girl.”
“I think this kind of relationship is so difficult mainly because of how much you have to trust the other person, undoubtedly more than in a normal relationship. And sometimes there’s a lot of frustration which leads to some really petty arguments,” said Larkin. She moved from Victoria to Calgary to live closer to her boyfriend, who is currently in his second year at the University of Lethbridge.
One thing they all agree on, whether separated by a four hour drive or the Atlantic Ocean, a long distance relationship is tough, but technology is making it easier.
So what is out there? From web cams to text-messaging – these days communication isn’t limited to the postal service.
“We talk on msn, send emails, and call each other almost every night” said Larkin, “sometimes it’s really tough – but you deal with it.”
Long distance phone calls can be very expensive. Cell phones are packed full of outrageous fees that can pile up faster than you can talk. Still, couples tend to use them.
“The phone still beats everything else… I talk to Krista on my cell every night” said Jenkins, a student in residence at the University of Victoria. His girlfriend lives in White Rock.
“If you know you’re going to be doing something long distance, you should think about getting a landline phone instead of a cell phone. Cell phones are more convenient, but they are definitely not meant for long phone calls. Prepaid phone cards are the way to go,” was Larkin’s advice.
She’s right. Prepaid long distance cards come in almost any denomination and there are many varieties suited to how often and how long you talk on the phone. And while you won’t be able to talk on the go, you’ll have a clearer picture of how much you are spending.
Cell phone companies charge upwards of 25 cents a minute for long distance calls, and that’s not even taking into consideration the cost of running over your minutes. Text-messaging on a cell phone is even more expensive and can cost around 50 cents per message.
“My mom freaked out at me because my bill was over $300... it was a complete shock, I just didn’t realize how much I was being charged for every minute I spent on the phone” said Lang. “We’ve changed my plan now, and I’m really careful about how much time I spend talking.”
A great alternative to this is the internet. With the purchase of a microphone (prices range from $20 - $60+, and most new laptops have built in microphones) you can talk for free online, using programs such as MSN Messenger or Skype.
“Skype has it’s drawbacks for sure, the reception isn’t quite like the phone, sometimes my voice sounds kind of canned,” Kerr noted “but other than that it’s okay. It’s free, that’s the best part”
“Mike doesn’t like Skype as much, but if it stops my mom from screaming about my phone bill, then it’s worth it” said Lang.
The biggest problem with Skype is the echoing – many people are uncomfortable hearing themselves through their speakers a half second after they speak – but this can be easily solved with a pair of headphones. If you are using it on a laptop, the only other drawback is how close the microphone is to the keyboard. Generally, it’s best not to engage in other activities on the computer when you’re talking – because your voice will be drowned out by the clatter of the keys as you type.
Of course there is always instant messenger which can be a great way to talk casually with your sweetheart. The only problem is how addicting it is.
“Now that Nick and I are dating, we’ve been talking on msn for like seven hours a night! It’s crazy, I’m not getting enough sleep…but I can’t help it, I miss him so much already,” said Bridges.
Kerr’s advice: don’t drag out conversations. “At first it’s really hard not to talk to them all night, but it gets easier to say goodbye after a while. Just remember you’ve got a life outside of your relationship”
“It’s best if you don’t spend all night moping around – last semester I was skipping parties just to talk to Mike on msn… then I realized that the best way to deal with the stress was to get out of my room, go see my friends, and have some fun,” said Lang. “Just taking my mind off of him made things so much better, we talk a lot less now, but we’re still just as close.”
Msn also has options for using web cameras and microphones. Web cameras are relatively inexpensive, but the images aren’t always great on the cheaper versions.
So before you dive into a long distance relationship, check your budget and consider picking up some gadgets that could make the distance almost disappear.

Why am I stalling?

ha! in your face!

Is it Karma? Divine intervention? Fate? The Meligrove band had to scratch the west coast off their tour, so at least if I can't see them, no one else can. I'm one bitch of a sore loser, but at least I had the fun of telling all my of-age friends that they were just as fucked as I was for once.

I am sorely frustrated, due to the fact that the Meligrove Band is playing in Victoria (and oh my fricking Disciples of Zod, I live in Victoria!!!), but it is at a bar, and alas, I am only 18. I would buy a fake id JUST for this show, but being a poor student I don't really have the funds for that. My God, I'd be willing to write "I AM UNDERAGE" in permanent marker on my forehead, or wear a T-Shirt that said "Dear Bartender: Do NOT serve me alcohol under any circumstances", but bouncers don't dig that shit (yo!). I recently went to see Stars in Vancouver at the Croatian Cultural Centre, and frankly, the sea of 13 year olds was...welll, annoying. I'm not "scene", I have lame brown hair, admittedly AWESOME style (but not reflective of my music interests), and i;ve begun play cranium on a regular basis. I also enjoy a good game of scrabble.

MY perfect weekend would consist of a night of Smallville and swooning over Michael Rosenbaum and Tom Welling, followed by a debate about Krypton, and whether or not "evil" Lex is as sexy as "good" Lex, and whether "Crazy, Sexy Lex" from season 3 (when his father drugged him and institutionalized him) was the sexiest of all. That same evening I would beat my friend Will at Connect Four and be crowned the reigning champion of Ring Road. This would be followed in the morning by "panne-cocaine" from Dedutch (so called because of it's high level of addictiveness), and doing a little shopping at Ditch Records. That afternoon I would probably indulge in some more television (possibly some of the Office, or House, or Lost), and prepare myself for the wicked awesome Meligrove Band. After the concert they would invite me backstage and we'd hang out and play some Cranium. I'd be on a team with Jason Nunes (the singer and pianist), because he is adorable, and Andrew looks too pretentious (though I'm sure he is wicked awesome once you get to appreciate his cynical sense of humour), and Mike is just too scene (though Jay comes in at a close and cuter second place). With a name like Darcy, the drummer would have to be cool, but unfortunately not quite so cute (yes, I've fallen for the indie charm...)

Victory in Europe

V.D. has two possible meanings: Venereal Disease, or Valentines Day. I hope most of us choose the latter. For some, Valentines Day is just another holiday cooked up by Hallmark as a marketing strategy to fill the gap between Christmas/New Years and Easter. But from a girls point of view, even if this is so, this day should definitely remain on the calendar. And I ask you: who in their right mind would give up a good pampering?!? Flowers, dinner, movies, chocolate, or whatever your choice in the romance department is, it's worth it.

(I'd like to take this time to point out that this post is not a hint to the boy fondly known as Miker (amongst his group of friends and also to the general public), nor is it a hint to any particular boy, NOR is it entirely from my perspective, as I am attempting to speak for the larger population of girls, I myself being one and having experience in these matters. This is simply a topic because it is at hand. However I would like to point out that any boy who does have the pleasure to read this may take my advice and follow it to victory in the war on bad dates and/or relationships!)

So... we have a list of options:

1. Flowers*
2. Dinner
3. Movie
4. Chocolate*
5. Romantic date of another kind (ew gross! I meant things such as bowling/mini golf/a picnic, something cute but hold the cheese)
6. A small token of your affection in present form*

*note: items 1,4, and 6 should generally be combined with 2,3 or 5 for best results. An innovative combination of any of the above, or any other romantic idea(s) that might spring to mind, is generally more than accepted, and should be your goal, depending on how much money you are willing to spend. It should also be noted that though cheapness is not admired, romance does not have to be bought. Subtle gestures and homemade gifts are worth more than a fancy thoughtless present.

Let's consider these in more detail:

1. Flowers - These do not have to be roses, find out what her favourite flower is! However, if you don't know what she likes, I advise sticking with roses. Don't go the carnation route (I, for one, always associate those with dance recitals and performances, rather than relationships)

2. Dinner - Doesn't have to be fancy, but keep away from the Drive-thru. Don't go lower than, say, Boston Pizza ( a nice, lower-cost option), but don't assume that she's comfortable going to the most expensive place in town. Realize that she may not be comfortable ordering something really expensive knowing that you're footing the bill. Most girls are more considerate than you might think. Find something within your price range, stay away from little kids, but don't stray too far from your comfort zone. Remember to make a reservation (as far ahead as possible, even places like Boston Pizza are booked full on special occasions).

3. Movies - Depending on her style (if you don't know her well, play it safe) this should be a mutual decision. In fact, this is the one thing you should let her choose. Don't whine if it's a sappy love story, grit your teeth and bear it. For everything else, it's comforting to know that her man has a plan (ohhhhh can i rhyme!)

4. Chocolate - Is not really in anymore, but I had to put it on the list anyways. Personally I wouldn't mind getting chocolate, and I would be flattered, but it's not at the top of my list. With chocolate so easy to obtain at any time, it really doesn't seem that out of the ordinary any more. So chocolate goes down in the ratings. HOWEVER, if you find the perfect heart shaped box at Purdy's and it contains the most delicious truffles that you know she craves, then go for it.

5. Other Date Plans - Not much to be said. These are of your own invention so I can't give advice. Just make sure it's an activity that you know she'll enjoy.

6. Other Presents - Don't go overboard. This isn't a birthday or christmas or an important anniversary. It's Valentines Day, which means tokens of your affection. Small things. Maybe stay away from the practical gifts and go for sweet and romantic gifts. Jewellery, accessories of any sort, whatever is your style or hers.


Well, that's enough procrastinating for now. I really really have to write an essay, which is OBVIOUSLY why I'm bothering to create something this damn long, or create anything in the first place.

From left to right: Me, Kelsey, Jackie, and Sarah. Notice we are standing in front of a liquor store. This is no coincidence. Behold! Documentation of my first or second weekend in Residence at UVic. Good times...good times. For anyone who hasn't done the res experience, I highly recommend it.

I hate being ignored.

To Do Today:

1. Think about Stars

2. Dream about Stars

3. Do laundry

4. Write a Philosophy Paper and read about a million pages of Descartes' Meditations

5. Start an English Paper

6. Get excited about Stars

7. Sing some Stars

8. Listen to Stars all night

9. Gaze at ticket, wait for show. Go see Stars

My Playlist for the day: (because as I've said, I enjoy lists)

1. They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back from the Dead!! Ahhhh! - Sufjan Stevens

2. Sol's Song - Sunset Rubdown

3. Cold Hands! Hot Bodies! - You Say Party! We Say Die!

4. I Was Born (A Unicorn) - The Unicorns

5. Fast Car - Tracy Chapman

6. What I'm Trying to Say - Stars

7. Wow - Snow Patrol

8. A Track and a Train - Shout Out Louds

9. Talk Show Host - Radiohead

10. Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard - Paul Simon

11. Coma White - Marilyn Manson

12. White Rabbit- Jefferson Airplane

13. Roland - Interpol

14. You Could Have Had It So Much Better - Franz Ferdinand

15. Gimme Some Salt - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

damn you mayor mccheese

Rats... I've been discovered. I was actually hoping that wouldn't happen. Damn you Eric, your ratings have dropped in the polls. The general consensus is that you should really take that link down. I don't want publicity, and you know, Theory of People DOES have a large readership, at least according to Miker.

As for the subject of boys... I think I'm through with them... New rant!! ohhh baby oh baby, i bet that's what my readers (all two of them) were dying for! Except I've got a Cranium party to attend. Finish this later (I'm discovering a trend here)

This is a comic my lovely little friendy Kelsey made pour moi. Pretty self explanatory. Someday this page may be more a webcomic than a blog.

right, here we go....

THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN YOU'RE WITH A GIRL:

1. Be Romantic - don't forget, it doesn't have to be a huge gesture for her to notice.

2. It's not romantic if it's cheesy. Keep the chivalry subtle, but just make sure you keep it. Open doors, walk between your girl and the road, just don't make it embarassing. It's all about being a gentleman without overdoing it.

3. Be Decisive - I'm talking about dates. Always have a fall back plan, and don't be afraid to take the lead. Tell her you're taking her out to a certain restaurant, rather than waffling over where you want to eat to the point where she'd rather just stay in than continue the conversation.

4. Notice when she's uncomfortable, and DO something about it. If you're hanging out with your friends, while she sits silently next to you, she's probably considering her place as a really cute ornament. Note: she isn't an ornament - for god sake, include her in the conversation. Or change it to a subject she'd be able to take part in. If all else fails, tell your friends the two of you need a little time alone, and vacate the scene. I know this sounds lame, but guys do it more often than not, without realizing it.

5. Shake it up on the compliment front. Never lie about a compliment, but variation is the key to success. For god sake, don't overuse the words "cute" and "pretty", if they become dominant in your vocabulary, over more meaningful words like "gorgeous", "beautiful" and "stunning", she will notice. And it will hurt. Because "cute" doesn't measure up to "beautiful" and the speculation of her image will begin. Haven't supermodels done enough damage? Don't do more.


... I'll finish this later

I'll delete this later

For now I simply want to post something because I can, and so here we go:

So blogs eh? Opinions for everyone! Let's rant about something! Anything! As long as someone *might* read it.... cool huh? ohhhhhhh yeah!

voice inside my head: "What? Rant about something? ok! That's cool! I can do that!"

Today, the subject of this discussion with myself: Boys

Boys are kinda dumb sometimes. Yeah, all the girls are saying it, but why? Why, you ask? Because we're past those days of "Girls are so complicated" and we've reached "Yeah, I'm pretty sure I've got a handle on this, don't tell me I don't understand because I DO! Yes! I understand the workings of the female mind, and I'm going to attempt to tell you how YOU function. Becausee i get it! Yeah, I've got this shit down...." and yet, they still don't have a clue.

So boys, I know this has been done before, but because I really enjoy a good list, I'm going to make one!