afay: west meets east

Long time, no see

2006-09-27T03:50:00.000-04:00

I guess it's been a long time since I wrote. I've sort of lost interest in this blog, I think because of its' drab colours and such. But I don't actually care enough to change it. I also forgot my password for a while, and cared so little that I didn't try to remember or get it changed. But I care now... sort of.

We has been busy. We went home to Canada for a visit this asummer and it was great. It was nice for my parents to finally meet their grandchild. They were so happy to see her, and she liked having so many people fuss over her.
I also turned 30 which was a big let down. I thought that the sky would turn black, or at least gray and all of life as we know it would come to a standstill. None of that happened, and I had 2 uneventful birthday get togethers. Sign I am getting older - some of my friends brought their children and couldn't drink. Oh yeah, I have a child too. I guess that's another big sign.
The airline lost one of our suitcases which I can't even think about.
But not the one with all this great make-up I got for birthday gifts. That's a blessing.

Time is going so fast with the baby. She is already and 7-1/2 months old. She can crawl, she laugh a lot, has a tooth, and obviously can sit up. She is so beautiful and fun to be around. I am still tired because there's a ton of work that goes into caring for her, but I guess I'll get used to it at some point.
I am working again, which I hadn't done since I came to Norway. It's nice to work. I do copywriting for companies who would like to have better English. I can do it from home, and I am freelance, so that's a good deal.
We still go to babyswimming and she loves it. She especially loves to try and grab the other babies, who I think are a little wary of her. They all seem very blah. No personality. I guess she's hoping to meet up with another baby with as much personality as she has...
I did a little travelling in Norway this summer. I went to visit a friend in Holmestrand. Strand means beach, and holme is an islet. It's a nice coastal town, although small. Easy to get around, very little shopping possibilities. Next summer we are planning to travel around Europe which will be unbelievable I'm sure. Can't live in Norway without seeing Europe. That would be a mistake.
It's fall and I am feeling very un-tormented. Nice.

Look at the Baby!

2006-06-13T07:04:00.000-04:00

I'm beginning to see a lot of my personality in the baby. She tends to be dramatic, which I won't solely take the credit for, but when we say she's dramatic everyone looks at me. It's beginning to be a bit of an annoyance really, but anyway. She is very skeptical of anyone who is overly goo goo-ing, or ga ga-ing at her. She looks at them in a way that says (at least to me) 'what is YOUR problem?'
And yesterday we were at babyswimming. The instructor, Steve, asked us to bring all the babies together facing each other in a close circle, so they can get to know one another (sure). The baby next to ours was splashing and grinning and basically going crazy over the water (this is our 5th time swimming) and our baby looked over at him with a look on her face of disdain, mixed with pity and a touch of superiority.
I was so proud.
She really looked as if she thought that baby was making too big a deal of something they had all done before. If she could talk, I could see her saying, 'get a hold of yourself man'. I understand that because their lives consist mainly of repetition right now, so nothing should really come as a surprise. Which seems boring to me. So, I do give her a routine, but it's a varied and flexible routine. Sometimes because I am too tired to keep up the routine, and the rest of the time because I think it's good for her.
I think she might be a bit sarcastic too. We have this video of her in the bathtub and we're saying, 'kick your legs!' She looks at us, puts her legs in the air, and ... holds them there. Completely still.

So, I think by the time swimming is over we're supposed to be comfortable and good at dunking her head under the water. I am not a fan of this, because I worry a lot. We did dunk her a few times, but the last time I tried it, I did it wrong and she inhaled a ton of water and was chokinjg on it. I freaked out and now am unwilling to try it again. She's fine with it, I'm the one who is no good. I can't get the timing right. You're supposed to blow in her eyes just before you dunk her quickly. I always pause after I blow in her eyes and then she inhales water.
Is this really a skill she needs at 4 months?
Am I going to be one of those mothers who won't let their kids do anything because I'm a chicken? I hope not. I'm really trying to fight that urge. Next week, I will try to dunk her at swimming. Maybe.

Speaking of me

2006-06-07T06:17:00.000-04:00

I was reading over my old posts, and it was a little disturbing. At the time I write these things, I feel like I am truthfully representing myself. However, when I read them over after a lot of time has past, I feel like they don't really speak for me. In person it would be a whole other story. If these posts were being presented in the person I think it would be easier to get it/understand me (why would I want that). But that would be weird because I'd be standing around verbally posting and people would wonder what was wrong with me. Posting is totally not what a real conversation is like. It would be pretty funny though to have the posts written on thought bubbles and every once in a while I could just hold one up over my head.
Anyway, my point is that I come off better in person I think. At least it's easier to get the jokes... I think. Maybe I'm wrong.
Do I really talk like this? I don't know. I've only starting wondering about that now. I'll have to think about it. So much of what I say just goes out of mouth and then I am done with it. Like when people say, 'hey remember when you said this?' And I really don't. I just say, 'nope, I don't remember that. Are you sure I said it?' Usually they are pretty sure, so I have to believe them. A lot of the time the things I say are a total surprise to me. Like I really don't remember having that thinking process. I have boxes of old journals and sometimes when I read them I can't remember thinking about the stuff I wrote about. It's in my writing, but has completely left my mind. I guess it's either self-preservation or I just have a really shitty memory.
That's why I'm writing down everything about my pregnancy and birth, so that when she asks me about it I can just say, here read this!
Maybe I'll write in in thought bubbles and hold them up over my head for her so she can feel like she is part of the process... which she was, duh!

No title

2006-05-24T11:58:00.000-04:00

I couldn't think of a better title than that. And why should I? I'm busy taking care of a baby.

I've been feeling really good these days. In Montreal, as much as I enjoyed living there, I seemed to always be suffering some type of malais. I'll blame it on the pollution because it's always a good thing to blame stuff on. That or the endless drinking and smoking that we did.
In Norway, we've changed our ways a bit. It's not so much an all or nothing attitude anymore, and to tell the truth, I feel much better now. I still have my days of self-doubt/loathing, but now it is not topped off with the paranoia of weed. Which is a good thing, although I would have never believed that.
I'm not saying weed is bad, or that I am against any style of living. Just noticing that I feel better these days. A lot of it it probably has to do with the new baby and such. She is fun and funny, and I feel high around her anyway, so I don't really need to partake (sp?).
I do miss a lot of things about our old life, but in a way that you miss it, but don't want to go back to it. Like, I miss being in grade school, when life was (supposedly) so much easier, but I could never go back. I'd be the oldest person there.
Wow, I sound so responsible. Which I totally am not.
I am turning 30 though, and I was reading something that said lots of people look forward to turning 30 because it means they are really an adult, and it's time to behave like an adult. Whatever...
To me, turning 30 is a time to be grateful that I don't look older than 25. That I haven't gotten stuck in the past like so many others (I actually enjoy the now and all of its contemporary trappings). That I completely dislike people who behave like 'adults'. And turning 30 is a time to be happy that I am still learning.
Some people are meant to get older, and others just don't.

The New World

2006-05-08T06:43:00.000-04:00

Babies are a lot of work. Everytime I go out somewhere with her, I have to bring half of our house along with me. Yet, I go out more often now than I did before. Why? Well, when you are a new mom it is very easy to suffer from cabin fever. Plus, there are mommy groups to belong to, and we have started baby swimming. She looks incredibly cute in her swimsuit, even though she doesn't wear it. Instead she just wears a swimming diaper. I would never have known they make such a thing.
OKay, so in Norway they are really big on mommy groups. They arrange get togethers for all new moms in the area you live in. It's not the most exciting happening around town, but it's nice to go out and not have to worry about keeping your baby quiet. They also have baby cinema days here, where moms and babies can go. They have changing tables set up, and noone cares if your baby cries. I haven't gone yet. I can manage my baby crying, but I don't know about a whole room full of babies.
She is almost 3 months old. The time is going by so fast. In July I will be 30 years old. I am having trouble with that. Having a baby is fine. Turning 30 is not.
We are trying to plan a trip home to Regina in the summer. My parents can't wait to see their first grandchild, and I can't wait for the restaurant prices. And the chinese food. You would never think that Regina is the place for chinese food, that is until you've been to Norway.
So, even though our little sweetheart is so much work, I never get tired of her. Or of taking care of her. Sometimes I feel like I am living in a hallmark card.
'Cherishing the moments that make you heart smile' or something like that...
I've become so gushy.
Don't get me wrong though. I still have my moments. Like when I go outside and the neighbours are sitting outside in the sun frowning at me and I think to myself, 'who are you frowning at? You're 100 years old sitting outside in your bra and panties. I'm fully clothed.'
Or when I'm putting the stroller on the bus, and the bus driver closes the doors on my arms and I give him dirty looks for the whole ride home, hoping he'll close the door on his face.
And when I get together with my american friend (sounds like my american cousin), and we make fun of every norwegian thing we can. Like hearing norwegians swear in english. The meaning of norwegian swear words. Their interpretation of north american culture. All funny things.
So I have become lovey dovey, but I am still trying to nurture my sense of sarcasm and irony. After all, I have to have something to teach my daughter.

Stupid World

2006-03-23T06:51:00.000-05:00

I miss 'Arrested Development' (the show). Cancelling it proves that the world sucks. People prefer to watch weirdos marrying each other for money or eating crap for money, instead of an actual good show.

New

2006-03-14T12:49:00.000-05:00

I finally had the baby on February 15th. It was one hell of an experience. I'll leave it that.
She is so beautiful and it is actually fun taking care of her. One thing that I am mystified by is how easy it is for me to now refer to myself as mommy... I never thought I would be a mom or be known as that, yet my inner self has come to terms with it rather quickly.
It's also weird when other people, who have had several kids themselves, are holding her but give her right back to me as soon as she fusses. They say, 'oh back to mommy'. I always expect them to know more than me, but when it comes to my daughter they know that I am who she wants. I feel like an intern who is finally given a real job...
She is 4 weeks old now and growing so fast. I really can't believe how fast time is going by. Probably has something to do with the fact that it takes so long to feed, change and put her to sleep, that by the time I am done everything she is awake again and we start the whole process all over. She has always been good at sleeping at night though. So I am grateful for that. Still exhausted, but grateful.
She is such a pretty baby, of course I am biased, but I haven't noticed anyone cringing when they see her.
So that's it for my short break. Back to being a mommy.
Still the same old me, but now with added parental responsibility.

Pluckey

2006-02-01T05:59:00.000-05:00

For some reason, the only Canadian television we get in Trondheim is starTV. All they seem to have on their broadcasting plate is endless repeats of fashion television and those stupid listed shows, where they list things for no apparent reason ie: top 10 green hats worn by a celebrity. The girl who hosts that show is a moron and always looks slightly hungover, if not man-handled in some way. And way too excited about the lists.
The fashion television host - Jeannie Beker - reminds me of a female version of that snooty lifestyles of the rich and famous guy. Right now Jeannie is interviewing Betsy Johnson and making an ass out of herself. 'Oh Betsy, you're so wacky' and shit like that.
At night, starTV turns into showcase movie or something like that and all they show is bad movies that nobody has ever wanted to see. Yay Canadian television!
Ack, Jeannie is looking for celebrities to talk to at the Betsy Johnson show. She looks like some creepy stalker, or a kid trying to hang out with the popular crowd. Nobody wants to talk to you, or answer your in-depth questions about what celebrities are at the show.
Oh yeah, ask Carmen Electra about the show, she's a real fashion expert.
Some of the other great television choices here in Norway are reruns of Full House, Everybody Loves Raymond about a trillion times a day and my personal favorite, Beverly Hills 90210. I hope the cast gets to see some royalty checks.
We watched the movie Ali the other day and I was disappointed. It seemed like they were trying to make a fictional version of When We Were Kings. Since Ali himself is actually in that documentary, it's a little hard to top. Will Smith wass fine in Ali, but there was no flow in the story. It just seemed like a bunch of scenes possibly taken from newspaper headlines.
On Friday we are going to see Walk the Line and I am real hopeful about that. Plus I get to look at Joaquin Phoenix for two hours, so that's no problem.
Wouldn't it be funny to mix together Legally Blond and Walk the Line? There's another hit for the teens and tweens.
Abbreviations describing people are fun- tweens, 'rents- well that's all I can think of for now.

Space is an asset

2006-01-26T12:08:00.000-05:00

So, this is what 39 weeks pregnant is like.
Basically there is no more space left in my body for anything. Once in a while I can squeeze some food stuffs in, but other than that, there is no more room. I am huge, clumsy and impatient.
I am tired of hearing people say, oh my you are big.
Yeah, well, I am growing another person inside me.
People also like to ask if I am STILL pregnant.
Yup. That's why I am so big.
My hospital bag is ready, I am as psyched up as I'm ever going to be and we have finally gotten all the things the baby will need.
When is this going to happen?????
I think my doctor and midwife are sick of me.
I'm sick of me.
Sleeping is not so fun anymore. If I wasn't so tired, I'd prefer to just stay up all night watching movies or something. But of course I'm tired all the time.

One thing about living in Norway is that even if you are hugely pregnant, people won't give you a seat on the bus, or let you by when you pass them in a grocery store aisle. Instead they let you bump into them, or just awkwardly try to squeeze by. And everybody looks at me like they have never seen a pregnant lady before.
How 'bout a little help people, maybe even an encouraging smile?

My sister is coming here to visit and it's all set. She has her ticket and everything. I am so excited. I haven't seen her in two years. It's going to be so fun.
Weird to think that whne she gets here, I will have a baby.
Everything will be different.
Weird.
I guess some people would think that I would be prepared for the change by now, but nope, I'm not. It's still strange to think that soon there will be a whole new person living with us for the next 20-30 years (kids are staying at home longer now).
I can't stop wondering what the baby will be like.

Best husband ever

2005-12-20T06:08:00.000-05:00

The sad thing about being in a different country when you are experiencing something big is that the new country doesn't always have the same traditions as you are used to. For instance, norwegians have their big Christmas on Christmas eve. For me this feels strange because we were never allowed to open presents before Christmas morning.
But the hardest thing for me lately was when I learned that nobody has baby showers here. I don't understand why, it seems like a good idea to me. Of course that's probably because I am pregnant.
So, I had sort of gotten used to the idea that I wouldn't be having one, and although it made me sad, there really wasn't anything I could do about it. My mom and family had a small one for me back home, which I attended over the phone. Not quite how I imagined things but oh well.
Then came sunday and we were invited to go to a christmas party at my husband's neice's house. I was looking forward to it because I love Christmas. Thought it was a little strange that my husband wanted to go because he hates Christmas. Not only did he want to go, but he sort of seemed to be helping plan it and was bringing a lot of the food and supplies.
I didn't suspect anything though because his neice had been talking about the party and it was clearly for Christmas... She had a very good back story, lots of details.
So, I walked in Sunday and was looking at the decorations when I noticed that there was a clothesline hanging in front of the window with baby clothes on it. I started to look around the room, feeling confused and noticed that there were teddy bears everywhere and baby bottles and blankets. My husband and neice were watching me and trying not to laugh because I looked obviously confused and couldn't figured out what was going on. It was too good to be true. So, then they came clean and said it was actually a baby shower for me, and they had invited a ton of people. They couldn't have me come after everyone because I would have been too suspicious if my husband went there first. I started getting tears in my eyes and everything (pregnancy makes you emotional).
It was a great shower. So many people came which I thought was great since it's not really a tradition in Norway. There were so many presents for the baby, great food, and even a scrapbook with our wedding photo in it and pages for people to sign. It will be such a nice memento for the baby!!!!!
We took pictures and ate a lot and I had a great time. I was floating after it. I never expected anything like that, and it was so much more special because my husband had taken care to make sure it happened. His neice was so great at decorating and planning. She had researched baby showers on the net, and I thought that was sweet. I can't wait for her to get pregnant so I can repay the favor.
And that is why I know for a fact that I have the best husband ever! He knew how much it would mean to me, especially since I am so far away from my own friends and family.
I never really thought I cared about traditions. I am not a traditional kind of person. But now I find I just expect some things and being somewhere else made me realize that I am a little traditional, maybe in a non-traditional way.

I will invent monkey time travel

2005-11-23T07:30:00.000-05:00

There was snow here, but the rain ate it I think. Now it is just gray and dark out. The season of darkness has officially begun in Norway. It's light from about 10am until 3pm. Yay, suicidal weather patterns. It actually doesn't bother me that much, but I guess some norwegians get desperate at this time of year. But that's okay because everybody should be desperate at least some of the time, but of course not all the time. The rest of the time they should either be depressive, excessive or sarcastic. Maybe some combo of all three.
Went to Oslo the other weekend and that was pretty fun. I missed being in big city with tons of people all trying to push you down. Pushing people down is fun. I bought some more maternity clothes that don't make me look like a sack of potatoes. Or maybe I still do, except a fancier, more glittery sack of potatoes.
Only about two months to go in this pregnancy journey, which should not be mistaken for a musical journey. The baby is heavy and I can now see it moving beneath my skin. Creepy, but cool. Which could also describe this girl I used to know. I will call her Creepella. Oh how I miss Creepella. Actually I only had a few classes with her in university, so I don't really miss her. I miss the idea of her. Maybe I made her up. It's hard to be sure.
Here somes Santa Claus... I like Christmas, partly because of the colour red and the fabric velvet. Everything in velvet. That's my motto.
I bought the dvd to one of my favorite movies, 'Adaptation'. I could watch it over and over again. And now I can. Although I haven't for some reason. Now that's it there, it's like it's too available or something.
My back always hurts now. That really sucks. Without a back, I am nothing.
Still no closer to picking a name for the baby. How does one go about that? I don't even want to look at a baby name book. It's too much selection. Maybe the baby could come out with a nametag or something. That would be innovative of it.

Aliens

2005-09-29T06:49:00.000-04:00

I've started to feel the baby moving inside me. All the books describe it magically as butterflies in your tummy. It isn't really like that. It's funny. All of a sudden you realize you have something growing inside you, and you feel like Sigourney Weaver in Aliens. Actually, it reminds me of when our dog had puppies and we could see the babies moving underneath her skin. Our dog didn't seem too comfortable with it, and I guess I can understand that. I'm glad I'm not having a litter. Just one is enough. But now my favorite part of the day is when it moves around. I'm playing a lot of music for it, and it seems to like it. I know I do.

It's my favorite season again. Screw all those summer people. Forget the heat and the sun. I like the rain and the colours of the leaves. I like the cool breezes and grey skies. Fall reminds me of new school outfits and starting all over again. Before you get sick of everything and everyone. Is there any place in the world where it is constantly fall? If there was, I'd move there.

I was here once

2005-08-15T06:07:00.000-04:00

Saw part of a really cool documentary called The Corporation, based on the book by the same name. Good doc and it's hard to find good ones. Watched The Exorcist this weekend. Never saw it before and thought it was pretty good. Our niece was visiting and we wanted to see something that would scare her. It worked.
Arrested Development is finally coming to Norway and I can't wait. It's so funny. All this writing revolves around seeing stuff. I guess I've used my eyes enough these days.
I finally read The Great Gatsby and it was nothing like what I thought it would be. But I still enjoyed it. I also read The Da Vinci Code and I don't underestand what all the fuss is about. It's a book. Big deal.
Starting school again next week and am NOT looking forward to it. Language classes make me feel like I'm in kindergarten again, and learning how to speak all over again. It's a blah sort of thing.

First evers

2005-08-09T06:01:00.000-04:00

Went to my first live football match here in Norway. It was cold and the team I liked lost, as they have been doing a lot lately. That supports my theory that I am bad luck for sports teams, my hometown canadian football team always lost, so did the hockey players and basically canada sucks at everything.
I ate my first fishball here, which is yucky, so don't try it. And no, fish don't have balls, which is why they are good for fishing.
I ate salt and pepper chips, paprika chips, with no sign of dill pickle or salt and vinegar, which are better choices. There also seems to be no sign of Doritos, which should be a crime.
I saw my first fjord, and still don't understand what that means.
For the first time ever, I went to H&M, which is an okay store and cheap.
I drank akuvit, which is a stronger version of vodka. Made from potatoes. I like to trust a potato alcohol. It seems nicer.
I spoke Norwegian to real live norwegians. I thinks its funny. I hope they do too.
I took a ferry, which I know you can do in Canada, but I never did.
I saw a horse in a residential area. Maybe I could have done that too in Canada, but I didn't and should have.
I yelled at some crazy lady from Amsterdam who was drunk and obnoxious and seemed to think she had invented pot. It was fun to call her english swear words and watch her look confused.
I like swearing here... and everywhere I guess. But here it so much more special.

wowie

2005-07-20T06:21:00.000-04:00

So Norway is not so bad after all. My old man found work and we have our own place. I went to Norwegian classes all last semester and will start again August. It is actually not all that hard. I can read it better than speak, but I think that has always been my little brain issue. Why talk when you can read and write.
I like the weather here a lot better than in Montreal. Not too hot here.
I like Oslo better than Trondheim, and sooner or later we hope to move there.
I even found a store that sells tofu!

Some big news is that I am pregnant. Must be something about the water here, because everybody seems pregnant. Even the men!
We are excited and scared and looking forward to picking a name that will scar the kid for life. I already got my status here, so I can work and get free healthcare and everything a real citizen has... lucky me.
We may visit Sweden this summer and any other country we can.

Norway, shmorway...

2005-01-30T09:05:00.000-05:00

This country is strange and there is no variety. For now that is all I have to say about it, because I am tired of complaining about my new home.
We are living with my husband's mother, which is also probably all I need to say, other than she is senile.
I am taking Norwegian classes and I am the only north american. Made some friends there, but I have to admit, I hate taking these damn classes. It's one class all day long, in something I have no desire to learn.
Hmmmm, I'm lovin it.

Weird thing is though, I don't really miss Montreal. I miss the beer prices and the availability of weed, but that's about it. I thought I would miss it more, so I'm glad I don't.
It's strange that a Euorpean country is so backward when it comes to drinking and smoking the weed. People here think that the movie Reefer Madness is a documentary and that we will all be deviants if we smoke. Blah, blah, blah.
This coming from people so desperate to drink that they will buy methanol alcohol off of shady characters in the street just to get a buzz.
Backwards.

I'm hoping to get a chance to go home to Regina, SK soon. I don't think I can take much more of this place. I never thought that I would think Regina is an exciting place to live, but compared to Norway, Regina is friggin Las Vegas.

Eyebrow, Saskatchewan is probably better than this.
Oh Canada, etc etc...
;)

Heisann (hi)

2004-12-10T09:23:00.000-05:00

We are in Norway.
I survived the plane ride. I even bought some urban decay eyeshadow at Heathrow on the way through to Oslo. It was 9am in jolly old England, and we were amoung the few people NOT having a pint. After three valium, I didn't think beer would be a good idea.

We've had a lot of nice times here already, although I am suffering from some extreme homesickness. Even though I wasn't completely fluent at French in Montreal, I could at least understand and communicate. Here, my communication skills are reduced to hand gestures and A LOT of smiling.

Soon we'll go to Trondheim and start making a life for ourselves. The new freshest start ever.
There are many upsides to moving here and a few of them are getting a cellphone, and a puppy.

I never knew what being homesick felt like, but it's a horrible sinking feeling in my stomach most of the time.
Needless to say, this has messed with my bowel traffic... sorry to have to take it to that level, but I'm sure anyone in this situation would know what I'm talking about.

Montreal is fast becoming a fading dream. Was I ever even there?

Plain anticipation

2004-12-01T13:52:00.000-05:00

The gig last night was fun. It was at Main Hall, where I had never been. I really liked the venue and Datarock were great. We had to leave a bit early because my husband felt sick (from drinking not the music), but it was a good time. I danced, I drank, what more could I ask for?
I hope all Norwegians are as quirky as those Bergen rockers.

I woke up at 11:00am to a world of snow, which is okay. I don't really like the mushy quality to it, but I think that could be fixed with a good pair of rain boots. I want them to be striped.
As all my friends know, I like stripes.

My friend has left again, and his absence has reminded me of how we are really getting closer to moving day.
I am SO nervous. I just keep thinking that it's only for Christmas vacation and then I can deal with it later. I like dealing with things later.

I am trying to decide if I should head out to Cabane tonight. A part of me keeps asking me if I haven't had enough to drink for this week...

hung-over

2004-11-29T13:58:00.000-05:00

It has been non-stop drinking for the past four days and I am not tired of it at all... on Saturday all my friends were wasted by 1am and ready to call it a night, but I was more than ready to carry on all night. I even woke up ready to drink some more... and I did later on in the afternoon.
We stopped by a dismal and drenched ExpoZine and then had some yummy tom yum soup.

My friend Jason got into town on Thursday and we went to Copa's after drinking at our place for a while. Friday we went to a friends for fondue and I made a pumpkin pie. Saturday it was back to Copa's (I am sick of it there now).

I didn't get to go the Pixies concert, but my friend burned me a cd of their music to make up for my loss. I didn't know if 50 bucks was worth it, and I don't have enough 50's to chance it.
However, we are going to a gig at Main hall on Tuesday. This band called datarockers are playing and they happen to be from Bergen, Norway... an opportunity to get a taste of the Norwegian nightlife? Maybe so.

Still looking for someone who will sublet our very AFFORDABLE 5 and a half walk-up. It is a great deal and a great location on the plateau.

Still need to sublet

2004-11-23T15:08:00.000-05:00

We have our tickets to Norway and we are officially leaving on Dec. 6th.
So, we still need someone to sublet our apartment as we are planning on coming back. If you know of anyone, they can email plateauaptATyahoo.ca
I've been trying to see all the people and places that I will miss, but I keep going back to the same places and seeing the same people.
I really want to go to the December yulblog meeting so that I can at least say I've gone to one meeting before I've left.
Basically the last couple of weeks have been parties and pubbing and shunning all kinds of responsibilities. It's time to get packing and organizing.
I am looking forward to discovering Norway, but not looking forward to leaving Montreal. This city has gotten under my skin like a bad skin infection.
Is that a nice thing to say?

I already know for a fact that I am going to need a prescription for valium prior to getting on the plane. I can't even think about it without my heart skipping every beat and feeling like I'm gonna pass out. I know it's safe and all that, I just don't believe it.
Why did I think I would be a world traveller when I was in highschool?

I'm going to Copa's again this Thursday to meet up with some friends and drink the night away.

I can't believe I'm leaving in two weeks... and I'm finally going to meet my husband's mother, who doesn't speak a word of English.
Oh boy...

Why listen?

2004-11-10T15:43:00.000-05:00

Okay, I keep seeing all these girls with their jeans rolled up to their knees, and all I can say is that just because Sarah Jessica Parker and The Gap tell us to do something, doesn't mean we have to.
It's a horrible look. That's all there is to it.
And stop with the ugly flower broaches(sp?)

I went to the Eaton's centre yesterday, and almost over-dosed on the 80's styles. All the teens(and middle-aged women) were decked out as if they were trying out to be extras on the re-make of St. Elmo's Fire, starring Ashton Kutcher and Ashley Simpson.
Uggghhhhhh.
All these repeats make me tired. First there were TV show repeats, then remakes and now all our clothes and songs and everything are remakes and repeats.
Is this what we've come to? Is this all we've accomplished?
Stupid post-modernism.

Please stop looking for the next big thing.
That's my advice.

you know it

2004-11-09T16:57:00.000-05:00

Soon my hubby will be home from work. It's our anniversary.
Yay!
I feel like a party.
We may have a going away party, but I don't know.
I love this cold weather. It feels more normal like this.
Okay, time to go get some wine...

I christen thee...

2004-10-26T15:02:00.000-04:00

My husband and I have great fun naming our snacks before we eat them.
Yesterday we ate Paul, a lovely tasting chocolate bar.
I have been craving Herman, so today I’ll have him for a snack.

This weekend I went for beers with a friend at L’barouf. We didn’t get a big beer though. Too bad.
Then on Saturday we went out dancing at le diable vert. It’s okay there, except it’s always so packed. And hot.
The bathrooms are like a dungeon.
Wait a sec, why do I go there?
Oh yeah, to dance.
Another place for after-work beers is le divan orange. I like the atmosphere. Or at least I did the last time I was there.

I want to find a new place to go dancing. It has to have good music (not an eighties night), and cute boys. The boys are mostly for my single friends, although there’s nothing wrong with me looking.
And I don’t like places that have strict dress-codes. There’s no point in going out dancing if you have to wear heels, unless you like to wear heels.
Personally, it was more fun for me to wear heels as a kid playing dress-up. Wearing them as an adult makes me feel like I’m still playing dress-up, except noone else knows.

I didn’t drink too much this time. Yay for self-restraint.
Actually, I had everyone who was out with me make sure I was cut-off after a certain amount.
So, one side affect of being sober in a bar at 3:00am is that I got to see many guys in action, trying to make their moves.
And, it was hilarious.
One guy seemed to think that if he stood close enough to a girl, that she would turn around and take him home. Instead, she got creeped out, and walked off.
This same guy, moved onto another girl and her friend who were dancing. He started dancing behind them, but didn’t say anything. He just kept dancing closer and clsoer until he was bumping into them.
Maybe he thought that was close enough to getting lucky.
The girls just moved away from him.

I was sitting by myself for just a second, and was surrounded by guys. It was like being swarmed, except without any follow-up. They all just sort of let their presence be known.
I don’t have a traditional wedding band anyway, so it’s probably not obvious to people.
I got out of there, quick as I could though. I started to feel claustrophobic.
The end of the night pick-up hour can be intense, especially if you are an innocent bystander.

I guess it’s sort of funny that I go out for after-work beers so often. I don’t have a job. But when I did have a job, I never had time to go for beers. Go figure.

presently

2004-10-18T17:01:00.000-04:00

I am cold, bored, and on the verge of a headache.

There is no sun, and no hope of sun.

I feel like going out.

I like writing on one line at a time.

Okay, enough of that shite. I thought that if I wrote really spaced out sentences, the time would pass quicker - but it's not.
I will still go for a walk in the park (jeanne mance), but I doubt I'm going to enjoy it. How could I? It would be a slap in the face to the sun, who at the moment is indisposed.

I really want to go see the one-man show at infinititheatre... I think it will be good. And if it's not, then I would want to know first-hand that I am wrong.

This weekend I am going out again. It's part II in my series of funtime good-bye activities to Montreal. I don't WANT to get sick this time, and that's the key!
The thing I really need an idea for is HALLOWE'EN!!!!!!
I want to have the best time. It will probably be my last hurrah here (can you tell I don't want to leave... me and the hubby had a pretty heated conversation about that today).
I still need a costume idea and a few party ideas, at least to cover a full two days.
Let's go crazy...

The other day I was thinking about one of the favorite items of clothing I've had. It was my Vision Streetwear t-shirt. I don't have it anymore, but I wish I did.
It was a bright, tree green, and it had the Vision logo on the front. I think one of my friends gave it to me. It was grade nine or ten. Or maybe even seven or eight.
I can't remember.
All I know is that there weren't a whole lot of places to get Vision clothing in Regina at the time. I thought I would never get one, and then I did one day. It was a total surprise.
I wish I knew what I'd done with that shirt.
Another favorite t-shirt I had was a navy blue one with multi-coloured letters spelling out 'Mandy'.
I've never really liked that nickname (actually, I hate it) but I didn't mind it so much on the shirt. It seemed more like it was making fun of the name.
I was like eight years old when I had that shirt.
At least I think that's how old I was.
I have the worst memory- for memories.
For other things, I have the greatest memory... phone numbers, faces, Simpson episodes, song lyrics.
Bah humbug.

Blackouts mean a four drink maximum

2004-10-15T13:38:00.000-04:00

Oh me oh my.

Last weekend we went on a drunken spree to end all drunken sprees.
The night started out innocent enough with us having a couple of friends over. I had one beer and then I decided to move onto vodka. I figured that beer had been making me tired lately, so a little hard alcohol couldn't hurt.
Needless to say for me, I can't always tell when I have had enough. I think I was pretty blasted before we even went out to the club.
So we left to go out dancing. I don't remember our walk over to St. Laurent. I remember a few glimpses of St. Laurent, but nothing that makes any sense.
We spent a little time trying to figure out where to go, and then we went to this new club because they were letting us in for free (but later I realized it was only if you had one of those stupid cards they hand out on the street, which I didn't have... luckily a firend paid for me to get in as my dear husband had already gone in ahead of me.)
Oh, was I drunk.
Okay, so we are at the club... someone is ordering me a drink and I'm just sort of hanging out. Then this guy comes up to me and starts talking to me. At this point, I am so drunk that all I am doing is smiling at people. Whenever I get really drunk, I lose my ability to talk for a little while. It usually comes back later in the night, in the form of yelling.
But this guy is chatting me up, I'm sure thinking that he has a great shot at getting me in bed because I haven't told him to get lost.
I just keep smiling, and he keeps talking.
My friend comes back and tries to get the guy to leave, but he doesn't. My husband and our other guy friend come up to us, and finally the guy leaves. Not like he was being annoying, but I guess because I'm married I'm not supposed to talk to guys...
After that, we danced a bit, and drank a lot more. I don't really remember much more from the club except they girl bartenders got on the bar and danced. I can remember thinking that they were good dancers, but had bad clothes on. Ill-fitting.
I got the rest of the story from my friend the next day, because me and my husband woke up the next day sick as dogs and unable to recall a lot of stuff.
Apparently we had all decided to leave the club and go get something to eat. But then all of a sudden, my husband and I just wandered off, without saying a word. Me in the wrong direction (but absolutely sure I was RIGHT) and my husband trying to get me to follow him. We were making a scene, yelling. This part I remember because it is so scary.
I couldn't stand or walk anymore, I can actually remember everything tilting and spinning and me sort of just folding over onto the ground - right in the middle of the street.
My husband then tried to get me up and was pulling on me. Some guys came up to us and I guess they thought my husband was hurting me because they started yelling at him and trying to punch him.
By this time, I was able to stand and was screaming at these guys to stop. One guy got a punch on my husband and I freaked out, begging them to stop because he was my husband. Finally they listened and left us.
So, we started walking home, my husband in a crazed drunken state and me crying and sobbing
(doesn't alcohol bring out the best in me).

Next thing we knew it was morning and once again I had given myself alcohol poisoning. It was twelve hours of puking and two days of recovery.
This is why I now have a four drink maximum. This is my limit.

I still don't know what happened when we got home. One of our neighbours said they heard my husband yelling, but that's about it.
All I know is that I had one perfectly rolled joint in my pocket, and I can't remember if I smoked it. I don't know where it went but it wasn't in my pocket when I woke up.