Monday, December 27, 2004
From Jeanne's Blog: A Year in Reflection
1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before?
I flew on a plane by myself. Twice!
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I kept some of them and not others. I might make more, but I probably won't really mean them. They're more like "New Years' Recommendations" to me.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My mum's cousin Michael and his gorgeous wife Marian had a beautiful little girl, Sofia.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Luke and Stephanie.
5. What countries did you visit?
Hmm... I actually didn't leave Canada this year.
6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
I would like a backbone, if it's not too much trouble.
7. What date from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
June fourth, which was grad. September fourth.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Kicking the arses of my AP exams. Getting into Cornell and wait-listed for Princeton.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not going out for the Parliament volunteering program. Asshaberdasher.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not physical, no.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I haven't really got a ranking system. Food and clothing are pretty important, though.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Jacob and Mike keep me from getting bored. Katherine has been a fabulous new friend to me, and all the Old Friends who are keeping in touch are amazing as well. I really appreciate my mum. She sent me dozens of e-mails with all kinds of good advice and good stories, even when I was feeling really scared and lost.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Bush, Rumsfeld, Cheney, Wolfowitz, Tucker Carlson (asshat!) and anyone who voted their direction, i.e. my crazy Republican relatives.
14. Where did most of your money go?
I tend to buy a lot of useless crap. I also buy presents for people sometimes.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The West Wing premiere and The Daily Show. Coming home for Christmas and Thanksgiving. Bopping around Ottawa with my mum.
16. What song will always remind you of 2004?
"Dust in the Wind" and "I Believe in a Thing Called Love". The crazy "numa numa yay" Albanian club song Indra always plays.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: happier or sadder?
I am more Zen, more calm and independent in a way, but also less interested in things. And I'm meaner, which makes me sad.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Hesitating.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I was at home with the Fambly in the daytime and went to Ho #2's for dindins. Lovely. :)
21. How will you be spending New Years?
Dunno.
22. Did you fall in love in 2004?
Only after the chance was gone. But I have also fallen in love with friends, and with a city.
23. How many one-night stands?
Geese lay eggs. I have one goose egg.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
The Daily Show and retro West Wing (we hates John Wells! He screws up our show, precious!).
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
My hate list is pretty constant.
26. What was the best book you read?
I liked Death of a Salesman, Feed, and a few other things. I'll think of it later.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
More classic rock and a little Wagner today.
28. What did you want and get?
I wanted to go away for school, and I got it.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I loooooooved Garden State.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 17, and I don't remember. I think it was nice. My party wasn't until February, though.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
This is so selfish, but: the continuance of a love life. We can't avoid death forever. We have to feel its pains sometime. I wish it had been later, but you cannot dodge the bullet forever. I sort of feel like... it's ticked off the Big Horrible List now. All the things we will likely have to go through in life are on this List, and now there is one less. "First cruel, random death of close friends". Sorry for the rant.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
"Nudity is wrong, at least on me".
34. What kept you sane?
Machiavelli and my history class.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Well, Katherine and I agree that John Edwards is cute for a politician. But I am suffering from generalized lust these days, so I will not venture any further assessments.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
I guess the war in Iraq and the missile shield. All the Bushie defense stuff.
37. Who did you miss?
Steph and Luke. My family. My friends. Tom. My old self.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Hm. Necro Tom/Lizard Man is interesting. I think maybe Katherine, though. She's pretty awesome.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004.
I don't know what I've learned yet from all the sadness and change. Maybe when I've figured it out, I'll let you know.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"A maybe is just a maybe, there's no guarantee,
No guaranteeing what maybe will turn out to be.
And maybe, oh maybe, your maybes will all come true!
Some of them do, some of them do.
Some of them do, some of them do."
-- Ben Sures, "Maybe"
1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before?
I flew on a plane by myself. Twice!
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I kept some of them and not others. I might make more, but I probably won't really mean them. They're more like "New Years' Recommendations" to me.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My mum's cousin Michael and his gorgeous wife Marian had a beautiful little girl, Sofia.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Luke and Stephanie.
5. What countries did you visit?
Hmm... I actually didn't leave Canada this year.
6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
I would like a backbone, if it's not too much trouble.
7. What date from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
June fourth, which was grad. September fourth.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Kicking the arses of my AP exams. Getting into Cornell and wait-listed for Princeton.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not going out for the Parliament volunteering program. Asshaberdasher.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not physical, no.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I haven't really got a ranking system. Food and clothing are pretty important, though.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Jacob and Mike keep me from getting bored. Katherine has been a fabulous new friend to me, and all the Old Friends who are keeping in touch are amazing as well. I really appreciate my mum. She sent me dozens of e-mails with all kinds of good advice and good stories, even when I was feeling really scared and lost.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Bush, Rumsfeld, Cheney, Wolfowitz, Tucker Carlson (asshat!) and anyone who voted their direction, i.e. my crazy Republican relatives.
14. Where did most of your money go?
I tend to buy a lot of useless crap. I also buy presents for people sometimes.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The West Wing premiere and The Daily Show. Coming home for Christmas and Thanksgiving. Bopping around Ottawa with my mum.
16. What song will always remind you of 2004?
"Dust in the Wind" and "I Believe in a Thing Called Love". The crazy "numa numa yay" Albanian club song Indra always plays.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: happier or sadder?
I am more Zen, more calm and independent in a way, but also less interested in things. And I'm meaner, which makes me sad.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Hesitating.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I was at home with the Fambly in the daytime and went to Ho #2's for dindins. Lovely. :)
21. How will you be spending New Years?
Dunno.
22. Did you fall in love in 2004?
Only after the chance was gone. But I have also fallen in love with friends, and with a city.
23. How many one-night stands?
Geese lay eggs. I have one goose egg.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
The Daily Show and retro West Wing (we hates John Wells! He screws up our show, precious!).
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
My hate list is pretty constant.
26. What was the best book you read?
I liked Death of a Salesman, Feed, and a few other things. I'll think of it later.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
More classic rock and a little Wagner today.
28. What did you want and get?
I wanted to go away for school, and I got it.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I loooooooved Garden State.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 17, and I don't remember. I think it was nice. My party wasn't until February, though.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
This is so selfish, but: the continuance of a love life. We can't avoid death forever. We have to feel its pains sometime. I wish it had been later, but you cannot dodge the bullet forever. I sort of feel like... it's ticked off the Big Horrible List now. All the things we will likely have to go through in life are on this List, and now there is one less. "First cruel, random death of close friends". Sorry for the rant.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
"Nudity is wrong, at least on me".
34. What kept you sane?
Machiavelli and my history class.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Well, Katherine and I agree that John Edwards is cute for a politician. But I am suffering from generalized lust these days, so I will not venture any further assessments.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
I guess the war in Iraq and the missile shield. All the Bushie defense stuff.
37. Who did you miss?
Steph and Luke. My family. My friends. Tom. My old self.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Hm. Necro Tom/Lizard Man is interesting. I think maybe Katherine, though. She's pretty awesome.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004.
I don't know what I've learned yet from all the sadness and change. Maybe when I've figured it out, I'll let you know.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"A maybe is just a maybe, there's no guarantee,
No guaranteeing what maybe will turn out to be.
And maybe, oh maybe, your maybes will all come true!
Some of them do, some of them do.
Some of them do, some of them do."
-- Ben Sures, "Maybe"
Thursday, December 23, 2004
Katherine woke me up in a most unnerving way today. Apparently, if you leave your door unlocked, people will come in. Anyway, she woke me up and said, "I know we weren't going to get each other presents, but I got you one anyway." It is two very lovely little ornament thingees, I like them a lot. But I also need to buy her something, now. Because unreciprocal gifting seems Not Done, particularly not at Christmas. Anybody know what the protocol would be on that?
Question: Why am I not going to sleep? It is late and I have to be up in five hours. I think I screwed up my poli sci exam, too, and rightfully I should be sad about that. Why am I both awake and unsad?
Answer: I am going home soon.
Honestly, not going to sleep now is so dumb. I am such an asshat. I could open my own asshaberdashery, that is how much of an asshat I am.
I am so tired. The remaining girls on the floor decided to have a party. If by party, you mean "sit and drink hot chocolate, eat Timbits, and watch a movie full of hot British men. And drool." Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels is cool (and full of hot British men, who make up for being incomprehensible by being hot). I wish we had gotten to finish it before deciding to pack it in. But alas, it was too late. My next post will be from under the blue skies of Albirda! Tally ho, my chickadees! Even Dubya can't bring me down. I hope.
Question: Why am I not going to sleep? It is late and I have to be up in five hours. I think I screwed up my poli sci exam, too, and rightfully I should be sad about that. Why am I both awake and unsad?
Answer: I am going home soon.
Honestly, not going to sleep now is so dumb. I am such an asshat. I could open my own asshaberdashery, that is how much of an asshat I am.
I am so tired. The remaining girls on the floor decided to have a party. If by party, you mean "sit and drink hot chocolate, eat Timbits, and watch a movie full of hot British men. And drool." Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels is cool (and full of hot British men, who make up for being incomprehensible by being hot). I wish we had gotten to finish it before deciding to pack it in. But alas, it was too late. My next post will be from under the blue skies of Albirda! Tally ho, my chickadees! Even Dubya can't bring me down. I hope.
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Chimpo is a Bad Man: This fresh horror comes from today's New York Times, with apologies for any copyright violations...
U.S. Cutting Food Aid Aimed at Self-Sufficiency
By Elizabeth Becker
ASHINGTON, Dec. 21 - In one of the first signs of the effects of the ever tightening federal budget, in the past two months the Bush administration has reduced its contributions to global food aid programs aimed at helping millions of people climb out of poverty.
With the budget deficit growing and President Bush promising to reduce spending, the administration has told representatives of several charities that it was unable to honor some earlier promises and would have money to pay for food only in emergency crises like that in Darfur, in western Sudan. The cutbacks, estimated by some charities at up to $100 million, come at a time when the number of hungry in the world is rising for the first time in years and all food programs are being stretched.
As a result, Save the Children, Catholic Relief Services and other charities have suspended or eliminated programs that were intended to help the poor feed themselves through improvements in farming, education and health.
"We have between five and seven million people who have been affected by these cuts," said Lisa Kuennen, a food aid expert at Catholic Relief Services. "We had approval for all of these programs, often a year in advance. We hired staff, signed agreements with governments and with local partners, and now we have had to delay everything."
Ms. Kuennen said Catholic Relief Services had to cut back programs in Indonesia, Malawi and Madagascar, among other countries.
Officials of several charities, some Republican members of Congress and some administration officials say the food aid budget for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1 was at least $600 million less than what charities and aid agencies would need to carry out current programs.
"We are all at a crossroads, struggling with the budgetary crunch, but the problem is, there isn't enough to go around," said Ina Schonberg, director of food security programs for Save the Children. She said the cutbacks had had the biggest effect for her agency in Tajikistan and Nicaragua.
Ellen Levinson, head of the Food Aid Coalition, said the best estimate for the amount of food that was not delivered in November and December was "at least $100 million."
The administration attributed the recent cutbacks to the huge demands from food crises this year, especially in Africa, and the long delay in approving a budget.
Chad Kolton, spokesman for the Office of Management and Budget, said the administration "acknowledged the need for additional resources" in food aid, but said there was no way he could say whether more programs would be cut in the coming year. "The vast majority of resources available is going to emergency food aid," he said.
For the other programs that have been cut back, he said, "We are going to look at a couple of different things, such as the importance of the program and whether it is able to produce results."
One administration official involved in food aid voiced concern that putting such a high priority on emergency help might be short-sighted. The best way to avoid future famines is to help poor countries become self-sufficient with cash and food aid now, said the official, who asked not to be identified because of the continuing debate on the issue. "The fact is, the development programs are being shortchanged, and I'm not sure the administration is going to make up the money," the official said.
At a private meeting with charities last month, Lauren Landis, the director of the Food for Peace program at the Agency for International Development, warned that her budget for food aid was smaller than in recent years and that the increased costs of buying and shipping commodities presented "a significant challenge," according to the minutes of the meeting. She also warned that the Office of Management and Budget had been pressing her office "to reduce its spending on development programs, and this has been a consistent message over the past year."
Several Republican and Democratic members of Congress are joining with food aid advocates to convince the administration that food aid should not be cut.
Last month, Representative Jo Ann Emerson, Republican of Missouri, led an effort with more than 30 other legislators that persuaded the administration to release 200,000 tons of grain from a trust fund for emergency food aid to Sudan.
Now she is lobbying the administration to finance foreign food aid programs fully and, if possible, increase the money. "I'm not saying the president is opposed to this, but we haven't had any indication what will happen," said Ms. Emerson, who emphasized that hers was a bipartisan effort.
She also said Europe should increase its food aid and relieve some of the pressure on the United States, which is by far the largest donor to United Nations food programs, contributing almost half of the total.
Further complicating aid programs is a debate at the World Trade Organization over concerns that the United States has used food aid to dump surplus commodities in foreign countries where the supply has undercut local farmers' earnings.
Although, I'd like to ask where I can find this "ever tightening federal budget" Ms. Becker speaks of. If I remember correctly The Daily Show said the States would still have a deficit of about $400-billion this year. What in the hell is going on down there?
U.S. Cutting Food Aid Aimed at Self-Sufficiency
By Elizabeth Becker
ASHINGTON, Dec. 21 - In one of the first signs of the effects of the ever tightening federal budget, in the past two months the Bush administration has reduced its contributions to global food aid programs aimed at helping millions of people climb out of poverty.
With the budget deficit growing and President Bush promising to reduce spending, the administration has told representatives of several charities that it was unable to honor some earlier promises and would have money to pay for food only in emergency crises like that in Darfur, in western Sudan. The cutbacks, estimated by some charities at up to $100 million, come at a time when the number of hungry in the world is rising for the first time in years and all food programs are being stretched.
As a result, Save the Children, Catholic Relief Services and other charities have suspended or eliminated programs that were intended to help the poor feed themselves through improvements in farming, education and health.
"We have between five and seven million people who have been affected by these cuts," said Lisa Kuennen, a food aid expert at Catholic Relief Services. "We had approval for all of these programs, often a year in advance. We hired staff, signed agreements with governments and with local partners, and now we have had to delay everything."
Ms. Kuennen said Catholic Relief Services had to cut back programs in Indonesia, Malawi and Madagascar, among other countries.
Officials of several charities, some Republican members of Congress and some administration officials say the food aid budget for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1 was at least $600 million less than what charities and aid agencies would need to carry out current programs.
"We are all at a crossroads, struggling with the budgetary crunch, but the problem is, there isn't enough to go around," said Ina Schonberg, director of food security programs for Save the Children. She said the cutbacks had had the biggest effect for her agency in Tajikistan and Nicaragua.
Ellen Levinson, head of the Food Aid Coalition, said the best estimate for the amount of food that was not delivered in November and December was "at least $100 million."
The administration attributed the recent cutbacks to the huge demands from food crises this year, especially in Africa, and the long delay in approving a budget.
Chad Kolton, spokesman for the Office of Management and Budget, said the administration "acknowledged the need for additional resources" in food aid, but said there was no way he could say whether more programs would be cut in the coming year. "The vast majority of resources available is going to emergency food aid," he said.
For the other programs that have been cut back, he said, "We are going to look at a couple of different things, such as the importance of the program and whether it is able to produce results."
One administration official involved in food aid voiced concern that putting such a high priority on emergency help might be short-sighted. The best way to avoid future famines is to help poor countries become self-sufficient with cash and food aid now, said the official, who asked not to be identified because of the continuing debate on the issue. "The fact is, the development programs are being shortchanged, and I'm not sure the administration is going to make up the money," the official said.
At a private meeting with charities last month, Lauren Landis, the director of the Food for Peace program at the Agency for International Development, warned that her budget for food aid was smaller than in recent years and that the increased costs of buying and shipping commodities presented "a significant challenge," according to the minutes of the meeting. She also warned that the Office of Management and Budget had been pressing her office "to reduce its spending on development programs, and this has been a consistent message over the past year."
Several Republican and Democratic members of Congress are joining with food aid advocates to convince the administration that food aid should not be cut.
Last month, Representative Jo Ann Emerson, Republican of Missouri, led an effort with more than 30 other legislators that persuaded the administration to release 200,000 tons of grain from a trust fund for emergency food aid to Sudan.
Now she is lobbying the administration to finance foreign food aid programs fully and, if possible, increase the money. "I'm not saying the president is opposed to this, but we haven't had any indication what will happen," said Ms. Emerson, who emphasized that hers was a bipartisan effort.
She also said Europe should increase its food aid and relieve some of the pressure on the United States, which is by far the largest donor to United Nations food programs, contributing almost half of the total.
Further complicating aid programs is a debate at the World Trade Organization over concerns that the United States has used food aid to dump surplus commodities in foreign countries where the supply has undercut local farmers' earnings.
Although, I'd like to ask where I can find this "ever tightening federal budget" Ms. Becker speaks of. If I remember correctly The Daily Show said the States would still have a deficit of about $400-billion this year. What in the hell is going on down there?
Saturday, December 18, 2004
Johnny does it again. He lives at the bottom of the well but he can still see the light at the top. I walk the line for you, Mr. Cash.
Hurt
I hurt myself today
To see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
The only thing that's real
The needle tears a hole
The old familiar sting
Try to kill it all away
But I remember everything
What have I become,
My sweetest friend?
Everyone I know
Goes away in the end
And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt
I wear this crown of thorns
Upon my liar's chair
Full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair
Beneath the stains of time
The feelings disappear
You are someone else
I am still right here
What have I become,
My sweetest friend?
Everyone I know
Goes away in the end
And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt
If I could start again
A million miles away
I would keep myself
I would find a way.
Hurt
I hurt myself today
To see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
The only thing that's real
The needle tears a hole
The old familiar sting
Try to kill it all away
But I remember everything
What have I become,
My sweetest friend?
Everyone I know
Goes away in the end
And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt
I wear this crown of thorns
Upon my liar's chair
Full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair
Beneath the stains of time
The feelings disappear
You are someone else
I am still right here
What have I become,
My sweetest friend?
Everyone I know
Goes away in the end
And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt
If I could start again
A million miles away
I would keep myself
I would find a way.
Friday, December 17, 2004
It is astonishing the extent to which I have become nocturnal. Getting up at 3 p.m. today I thought, "damn! I overslept by two hours!"
Skipped out of cross-country practice today to remedy my studying delays. Fortunately it's history and poli-sci, my two favourite subjects. Lori is done with her sciences (see Assorted Thoughts) and I welcome her to the dark side of the arts students, but I do remind her that there is some memorization to be a-doing around here, too. It's all good, though. I can always remember the date to the Franco-Prussian War: 1870-71. And that always reminds me of Brennan and Colin, the self-described Franco-Italian Stallions. And that always makes me want to cry a little with the scariness of it all.
Went out last night to a double bill at the Mayfair with Saille and Laura/Notl (she's from Niagara-on-the-Lake, you can do the acronym math). Garden State and Vanity Fair were both playing. Good stuff. Vanity Fair seemed like it could have either been cut a bit or had more stuff happening, but Amelia and Becky were both well-played. Reese Witherspoon's Becky was maybe a little too modern in her mannerisms, but she did the wicked/innocent business well. James Purefoy just rocks in any role where he gets to be his fabulous British self. Rhys Ifans' Dobbin was terribly sad. Being lovelorn is sympathetic for the first year or two, but after fifteen years and a trip to India? Maybe a little obsessively victimized, there.
Exams are eating my brain. Also, I expect to be lonesome because my Umbilical People (Katherine and Robyn -- we are always hanging about together) have gone away for the weekend. But it's good to have a quiet day to yourself sometimes. I kind of like it, actually. Indra's out at the library, so I am listening to my Garden State soundtrack (as I do) and studying for history. Ostensibly.
I leave you today with an awesome, awesome song: I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You by Colin Hay.
I drink good coffee every morning
Comes from a place that's far away
And when I'm done I feel like talking
Without you here there is less to say
I don't want you thinking I'm unhappy
What is closer to the truth
That if I lived till I was a hundred and two
I just don't think I'll ever get over you
I'm no longer moved to drink strong whisky
'Cause I shook the hand of time and I knew
That if I lived till I could no longer climb my stairs
I just don't think I'll ever get over you
Your face it dances and it haunts me
Your laughter's still ringing in my ears
I still find pieces of your presence here
Even after all these years
But I don't want you thinking I don't get asked to dinner
'Cause I'm here to say that I sometimes do
Even though I may soon feel the touch of love
I just don't think I'll ever get over you
If I lived till I was a hundred and two
I just don't think I'll ever get over you
I haven't cried in a while now. It's going to be okay.
Skipped out of cross-country practice today to remedy my studying delays. Fortunately it's history and poli-sci, my two favourite subjects. Lori is done with her sciences (see Assorted Thoughts) and I welcome her to the dark side of the arts students, but I do remind her that there is some memorization to be a-doing around here, too. It's all good, though. I can always remember the date to the Franco-Prussian War: 1870-71. And that always reminds me of Brennan and Colin, the self-described Franco-Italian Stallions. And that always makes me want to cry a little with the scariness of it all.
Went out last night to a double bill at the Mayfair with Saille and Laura/Notl (she's from Niagara-on-the-Lake, you can do the acronym math). Garden State and Vanity Fair were both playing. Good stuff. Vanity Fair seemed like it could have either been cut a bit or had more stuff happening, but Amelia and Becky were both well-played. Reese Witherspoon's Becky was maybe a little too modern in her mannerisms, but she did the wicked/innocent business well. James Purefoy just rocks in any role where he gets to be his fabulous British self. Rhys Ifans' Dobbin was terribly sad. Being lovelorn is sympathetic for the first year or two, but after fifteen years and a trip to India? Maybe a little obsessively victimized, there.
Exams are eating my brain. Also, I expect to be lonesome because my Umbilical People (Katherine and Robyn -- we are always hanging about together) have gone away for the weekend. But it's good to have a quiet day to yourself sometimes. I kind of like it, actually. Indra's out at the library, so I am listening to my Garden State soundtrack (as I do) and studying for history. Ostensibly.
I leave you today with an awesome, awesome song: I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You by Colin Hay.
I drink good coffee every morning
Comes from a place that's far away
And when I'm done I feel like talking
Without you here there is less to say
I don't want you thinking I'm unhappy
What is closer to the truth
That if I lived till I was a hundred and two
I just don't think I'll ever get over you
I'm no longer moved to drink strong whisky
'Cause I shook the hand of time and I knew
That if I lived till I could no longer climb my stairs
I just don't think I'll ever get over you
Your face it dances and it haunts me
Your laughter's still ringing in my ears
I still find pieces of your presence here
Even after all these years
But I don't want you thinking I don't get asked to dinner
'Cause I'm here to say that I sometimes do
Even though I may soon feel the touch of love
I just don't think I'll ever get over you
If I lived till I was a hundred and two
I just don't think I'll ever get over you
I haven't cried in a while now. It's going to be okay.
Sunday, December 12, 2004
Tobogganing last night was the most wicked thing ever. I think I have inadvertently become the One Who Does Weird Shit, like rolling all the way down the big mofo hill, forcing people to leap over me in surprise and dismay, or taking a sled from the Death Race guys as soon as they pulled each other off the sleds (they wanted to do a full-contact death race. Obviously someone was going to come off their sled. And I was ready). Just like it is at home... Anyway, the hill was awesome and the snowball fight we had on the way there was also awesome. Katherine is a mean snow warrior, though. She had no qualms about body-slamming people face-first into the powder.
Once at the hill, there was a bunch of guys there (likely in high school, and likely high). They were fighting constantly because First Guy had stolen Second Guy's Rolex, or something. This, of course, led to them tumbling homoerotically down the hill. Laura, having embraced the term "Ho!Yay" found this perhaps more amusing than necessary. The stolen caf tray was a marginal success. What it really needs, though, is handles so the rider's knuckles don't drag in the snow.
My French exam was okay too, not that it really matters because it's only worth five per cent or some ridiculously tiny number like that.
Once at the hill, there was a bunch of guys there (likely in high school, and likely high). They were fighting constantly because First Guy had stolen Second Guy's Rolex, or something. This, of course, led to them tumbling homoerotically down the hill. Laura, having embraced the term "Ho!Yay" found this perhaps more amusing than necessary. The stolen caf tray was a marginal success. What it really needs, though, is handles so the rider's knuckles don't drag in the snow.
My French exam was okay too, not that it really matters because it's only worth five per cent or some ridiculously tiny number like that.
Saturday, December 11, 2004
Who has stolen a tray from the caf? Me.
Who is going sledding tonight after her exam? That would also be me.
The theft itself had actual theme music. The cafeteria people have this bizarre affection for "Tequila", so Robyn and Katherine and I were secret-agenting our way out to robust horns. It was very Ocean's Eleven, except for the part where we weren't stealing vast sums of money but rather a 12"X18" piece of black plastic.
Who is going sledding tonight after her exam? That would also be me.
The theft itself had actual theme music. The cafeteria people have this bizarre affection for "Tequila", so Robyn and Katherine and I were secret-agenting our way out to robust horns. It was very Ocean's Eleven, except for the part where we weren't stealing vast sums of money but rather a 12"X18" piece of black plastic.
Friday, December 10, 2004
Who wants to live forever
When love must die?
Had an interesting conversation with Mike last night. He is much more of an idealist than I am. His disappointment, therefore, comes acutely, whereas I seem to live with a certain low-level disappointment throughout my whole life. Perhaps this means I have ideals, too: How can I be disappointed in something if I didn't have some ideal to measure it against?
Last year Mrs. Kelly, my English teacher, said something to the effect of, "every relationship in your life will end, most of them badly. It's depressing, but think about it." And so now I've thought about it and it certainly seems to be true. This causes me to act with a certain restraint in relationships with others, with a little fear and trepidation. I am not living my life-and-a-third, here. I don't know how I thought I could do that; we only get one. I'll just do what I do and do it as well as I can.
I will sail my vessel till the river runs dry,
Like a bird upon the wind, these waters are my sky.
I'll never reach my destination if I never try,
So I will sail my vessel till the river runs dry.
Monday, December 06, 2004
OMFG... yay. I have achieved my life's ambition.
You are MARC, the goofball. Or is that Mark?
Brownies and Gwar don't mix...but you DO have a
plausible idea every now & again. Makes me just
want to pinch your cute li'l cheeks.
Open 'Til Midnight. The BEST Empire Records Quiz.
brought to you by Quizilla
You are MARC, the goofball. Or is that Mark?
Brownies and Gwar don't mix...but you DO have a
plausible idea every now & again. Makes me just
want to pinch your cute li'l cheeks.
Open 'Til Midnight. The BEST Empire Records Quiz.
brought to you by Quizilla
Cor... I'm Dennis. Just as I have always felt.
You are Dennis the Repressed! A political activist
way ahead of your time. Everyone is always out
to get you...but you'll fight the dirty
bastards to the death!
Which Monty Python & the Holy Grail Character are you REALLY?
brought to you by Quizilla
You are Dennis the Repressed! A political activist
way ahead of your time. Everyone is always out
to get you...but you'll fight the dirty
bastards to the death!
Which Monty Python & the Holy Grail Character are you REALLY?
brought to you by Quizilla
Saturday, December 04, 2004
Because I don't feel like talking about exams, I'm going to talk about material possessions some more. My possession du jour is my new pair of Uberdork Running Pants. They are windproof, with tapered legs and reinforced knees. They can be unzipped almost to the knee for extra ventilation or if the wearer has fat calves. I feel like a hardcore cross-country addict. However, I forgot to take my asthma meds before I tried them out today. Hardcore cross-country addicts are supposed to go more than 3 km before they call it a day.
Friday, December 03, 2004
Have just spent fifteen frustrating minutes playing CD Collection Tetris -- how do we get all the CDs back into the right damn cases? Which ones are missing? Which ones have no case at all? Ou est ma tete?
