Stuff I like.

It's that time again! Terri's list of random shit she's likes/made her smile! 

High school friends

pink

writing in the middle of the night

desks in front of windows

empty coffee shops

60s fashion

photography

contemporary surrealist art 

30 Rock

Steampunk

Oddities

teacups

Sarah Slean

Grunge rock

red ribbon

Peruvian pepper plants


American Pickers 


Johnny Cash

some songs I like

I've been planning this list for awhile, just haven't got around to it since I still have school...I'm supposed to be writing a paper right now, but I just can't get the motivation to actually start, I will probably start it late tonight and stay up till like 2 working on it and do that same thing tomorrow. I just need the idea to hibernate? lol that sounds like a really bad excuse, it is, and it's true. Anyway moving on from my procrastinating techniques, here are some of my favourite songs. Please remember that this list is by no means conclusive, there are many many songs I really like/love, I'm just picking the ones which I listen to the most and I have loved/liked for the longest. I will try to exclude songs I like for only sentimental value, but I'm sure some will creep in.

In no particular order (as always!)

Some favourite songs:

The Beautiful People by Marilyn Manson: kinda a gong show, I know, and I couldn't tell you what I love about this song, expect that when I'm really pissed off about anything and I feel like I can't get deal with shit I listen to it, on high until I feel better. It's been awhile actually, which is probably a good thing... I also really like The Nobodies, Running to the Edge of the World, and well actually I like most of his songs so I'll leave you with those three. 

Disclaimer: PLEASE be warned that this video can be graphic! If you are not comfortable with this DO NOT WATCH IT.

The Beautiful People

The Nobodies

Running to the Edge of the World

Run by Snow Patrol: when I was 15 I listened to this song a lot, cause my parents were divorcing. The only reason I found it was because I was looking for another song which played on the radio before it... I NEVER found that other song! I spent literally a couple of years attempting to find it and I never did... :( Anyway I especially love the line "To think I might not see those eyes/Makes it so hard not to cry/And as we say our long goodbye/I nearly do" I know, super mushy, I just like a good tragedy I suppose...

Run

I've never actually watched this video so if it's shit I apologize.

Anything by Lily Allen. She's cute and cheeky, I <3 her. I know her music is.. 'cliche?' and she's like pop-y n'shit, but her songs are pretty amusing. If you haven't heard Alfie you should, it makes me laugh.

Alfie  

22 

And her best video: Who'd Have Known! 

The Clash: well most songs by the clash. The Guns of Brixton and London Calling stand out as two of my favorites, basically all of their album London Calling is amazing. Some of their older and newest stuff is a little sketchy, because they start leaning more towards ska than punk and I prefer the punk style myself, but they are still amazing. I just wish I could have seen them live in their hay-day that would truly be awesome.

The Guns of Brixton

London Calling

Metric. All her songs I'm afraid. I don't think I've heard one that I don't like... Twilight Galaxy is especially awesome, and my favourite Raw Sugar, I've listened to that one on repeat for ages before. I also really love the lyrics to most of their songs. If you want to know more check out my post with Emily Haines: here.

Twilight Galaxy 

Raw Sugar

I Believe In a Thing Called Love-The Darkness. LOVE this song! I'm not one for super cheesy love songs, unless they can be laughed at (with) which this one can, I mean have you ever seen the video? Major amusement.

I Believe In a Thing Called Love

Chasing Pavements-Adele. This was my favourite song for ages and ages, it had the most play counts on my itunes for like a year or so, then I guess I just got sick of it or something, but I still listen to often and still love it. There are just new songs in my life, such as Adele's new song Rolling in the Deep. I am completely in love with her voice in that song, soooo amazing.

Chasing Pavements

Rolling in the Deep

I'm Your's-Jason Mraz. I heard this song before it became really popular and loved it. I don't like the version on the radio as much as the one I've got, which is possibly an EP of some sort? Dunno, I'm not even sure where it came from... still, it's awesome. I know, up there somewhere, I said I don't like love songs unless they are amusing/funny. I LIED OKAY. I love this song. I don't really consider it a 'love' song so much as a crush song? Its like someone confessing that they like a person to them for the first time...not necessarily in love. It's fucking cute okay? Stop judging me.

I'm Yours

Nine Inch Nails. Everything, basically. I even like Trent Reznor's strange electronic/instrumental stuff...I listen to it when I study and don't want lyrics. The Good Soldier, Only, and Capital G stand out to my as some favorites, plus I'm convinced that he named The Good Soldier after the book of the same title by Ford Madox Ford, although I am probably wrong, but I'll read it and let you know!

The Good Soldier

Only 

Capital G

(apologies for the shit video!)

Smashing Pumpkins-1979. This is my favourite, but I also really really like The Beginning Is the End Is the Beginning which was written for, I believe, Batman and played in the trailer for Watchmen. Doomsday Clock is also awesome and I love it as well. Dunno why both these have to do with the end of the world, but we wont question it...

1979

 The Beginning Is the End Is the Beginning

Doomsday Clock 

Bulletproof-La Roux. Every time I go out dancing with my best friends they will jokingly go "Terri! It's your song! It's your song!" when this comes on. So yeah, apparently this is my song, actually I just like it cause I listened to it a lot after I got dumped last, I attempted to become bulletproof myself, then realized how useless it was.

Bulletproof

If We Ever Meet Again-Timbaland and Katy Perry. I know some people out their are cringing, possibly gouging their eyes out, okay I'm kidding this song is not that bad! Truly! I actually really do like it. I know this will sound phony or whatever, but I've always felt this song perfectly captures the "clubbing" scene. Not because it's sentimental or anything, but because you know that sentiment is completely fake. It's like getting drunk, becoming best friends with a group of strangers for the night, having the time of your life, then going back to 'real-life' the next day. Okay I KNOW that's not what this song is about, but that's just what it makes me think. Moving on!

If We Ever Meet Again 

She & Him. I know that Zoey Deschemal sang, I just didn't know how goddamn cute her songs were! Sentimental Heart? Awwwwww. In the Sun is the first song I heard, and at first I was kinda ehhh not that great, but then I listened to it again, and again and completely fell in love with her voice. This is the music I listen to when I Want to be happy. Sweet Darlin' and Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? are my two other favorites.

Sentimental Heart 

In the Sun

Sweet Darlin'

Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?

Glycerine-Bush. This is one of my favourite songs. Ever. There was another song of theirs which my friend recommended to me, but I'd never heard any of their other songs, until one day I was like I love this song, lets download them all! So yeah found this one and loooove it. It's slow and steady, yet has that 90s feel to it. 

Glycerine

Underneath it all-No Doubt. Gwen Stefani is awesome in this song, and gorgeous! I like the idea behind the song, it's, again, cute and romantic, yet Gwen always has an element of 90's girl power to her, which I sorta love (although I am aware this song was not recored in the 90s!) Also I felt that since I have her husbands band, I couldn't leave Gwen's out since I love both of them equally! 

Underneath it All 

Blue Orchid-The White Stripes. I love Jack White, seriously, he has some mad talent, he can even act! And he's kinda hot.... kinda...This song is my favourite cause it has such a good beat, but if you look at my play counts Little Room is actually my most played song, which is strange cause it's not even a favourite by a long shot, but still an awesome song. They also apparently have great music videos! :)

Blue Orchid

Little Room

And last but not least!

I Miss you-Blink 182. I know this song isn't like great or anything, but I have always loved it and I love it all the more for its super cool music video. I like how it's a little cheesy and strange and I feel like the guys are poking fun at that sorta thing without losing their cool or ruining a good song. 

I Miss You

I think that is it for now, I could probably make this a lot longer, but if I have to think about the songs to hard, then they can't be really be my favorites, plus this list is already lengthier than I meant it to be. Enjoy and post some of your favourite songs or thoughts on mine!

Background?

I really don't like the background I had on my blog. It bothered me, to gimmicky I guess? Anyway I think I'm just gonna stick with a nice white background for now, but I'll probs wanna change it in like a week or so... oh well.

As I was going through pictures (to find a blog background) I found some interesting things.

An entire folder dedicated to 'sexiness' pretty sure I made that when I was 17 or so... it contained something even MORE exciting! An entire folder dedicated to...

RUPERT GRINT! :D

If you don't know who this is then we're obviously not friends... He's the actor who plays Ron Weasley in Harry Potter and for some reason I was totally in love with him in high school... I still think he's pretty fine, if only I could get my ass to England...

Anyway I also found some sweet cartoons by Jeffery Thomas, whom I think is pretty amazing <3. He did the 'twisted princess' cartoon thingies which I LOVE I even dressed up as the sleeping beauty one for halloween :) You can check out his blog here: http://jeftoonportfolio.blogspot.com/

Me as sleeping beauty! (sorry for the shitty webcam photo)

AND

The original art work!

I think my costume turned out pretty well, I even sent Jeffery Thomas a picture of it cause I was so excited! lol I am such a loser...

I also found some really cool pictures by this Chinese artist I like, Zhang Hui, whom I think is female? Correct me if I'm wrong... anyway the artist does these really cool paints of girls with big heads, sounds strange but I love them! Check out more of the artist work here: http://www.elikleinfineart.com/html/artistresults.asp?artist=84

And lastly I found lots and lots of pictures of myself, cause I'm just so hot n'shit... many of them are of me with dark hair...I seriously cringe now, not with regret, I don't do that, but with a WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING MOMENT, anyway to share what I mean here is a pic of me with ESPECIALLY dark hair... Thank god I never went black... though I did consider it... :S

Again, apologies for the shit quality...I am done talking about pictures, back to studying! BLAAAAAAAAH!

Summer reading list, the short version.

Okay so here is a summer reading list, I will add to it later, because I always add to these things. Just to clarify there are quite a few guilty pleasures on this list, which I will indicate with by putting GP in brackets beside the book title. Enjoy!

Ulysses-James Joyce: this is one I start for school, I read most of it, I have about 3 chapters left, so I feel like it would be kinda sad not to finish this book.

Murphy-Samuel Beckett: again, this is one I read for class and since I know what happens I want to finish it! Plus it was a pretty good read.

Small Island-Andrea Levy: I bought this book ages ago and never bothered to read it, so I wanna get it out of the way, plus the story is intriguing to me right now.

An Abundance of Catherine's-John Green: because I've read all his books but this one and I really want to read it too! Also if you like young adult fiction I highly recommend John Green, he is amazing, he also has an awesome internet community called nerdfighteria.

Room-Emma Donoghue: for some strange reason this book keeps popping up everywhere! I see it or hear about it at the most random times so now I just want to read it!

Dubliner’s-James Joyce: I read one of these stories for an English class in my second year, loved it and have wanted to read the rest since then.

Misguided Angel-Melissa de la Cruz (GP): totally hooked on this series even though I know it's pretty lame...

Lost in Time-Melissa de la Cruz (GP): need to finish the series, SHUT UP OKAY SCHUYLER REALLY COOL!

Hunger games-Suzanne Collins: I keep hearing about how amazing these books are and since I love young adult fiction I really want to read them!

Mortal instruments-Clarissa Clare (GP): started the series now I need to finish it.

The Remains of the Day-Kazuo Ishiguro: Love, love, loved

Nocturnes: Five Stories of Music and Nightfall-Kazuo Ishiguro

The Sentimentalists-Johanna Skibsrud: I started reading this randomly on my iphone and thought it was pretty cool so now I want to finish it.

Persuasion-Jane Austen: because this is the only Jane Austen book I HAVEN'T READ! Actually I just realized that's not true, I haven't read Northanger Abbey either...

Northanger Abbey- Jane Austen: see above

Jorge Luis Borges collected fictions: I love this man. Seriously, so hot, okay I'm kidding, but he does have awesome eyes and I'd probs have his babies... even though he's like dead, n'shit. Um ignore that unnecessary tangent... Anyway this is another book that I bought (new *gasp*) ages ago that I again, have never read! :S I really want to cause I've read a lot of his poems which I adore and one short story which was awesome and amazing. So yeah, def need to read it for all the aforementioned reasons.

Ahem, so moving on...

Love in the time of Cholera-Gabriel Garcia Marquez: my sister recently stole my copy and read it then told me how amazing it is and how I need to read it... so yeah better get on that, considering she's read the copy I know which I've NEVER EVEN OPENED! :S

Her Fearful Symmetry- Audrey Niffenegger: this one looks pretty awesome and it's by the same girl as "The Time Traveller's Wife" which my sister also told me was awesome (and I don't know, so its okay :P). Anyway I got this for christmas from my dad, who usually picks out weird used fantasy books for me, which I hardly ever read, but this time he got it right!

Okay so that's my book list FOR NOW! I will definitely be adding to it, or posting a part 2 because there are literally hundreds, if not thousands of books I want to read! Please hold me accountable for this book list, ask me how I'm doing and if I'm reading them! PLEASE! I will not take offense to a little harassment. And that is all for now, peace? Happy reading I suppose lol.

Brain fried.

I want to write a list of songs I like, because I think it could be mildly amusing and I'd also like to finish my summer reading list which I believe I promised would go up here awhile ago, but alas school demands all of my attention. :(

Trust me, I am not happy about this. Who would be happy when they've spent the last THREE DAYS working on one paper and IT STILL ISN'T ANY WHERE NEAR COMPLETION! I just made it to the second theorist...there are three and I still have to write the play analysis and conclusion, which are thankfully super easy, it's the 'summaries' (I put this in quotations because these summaries are actually analysis of the works as well) which take the time. They are fucking painful. You comb through the papers, which you've already read, yet somehow cannot remember where anything goes in them and just go oh that seems like an important point, lets put that in! That is literally what I've been doing most of the day.

So now your asking, why then, Terri, are you blogging instead of writing your paper? because: I have the fucking attention span of, like, a two year-old...or a kitten on catnip, you choose. It's strange, but when ever I'm working on a paper I seem to spend waaaaay more time on facebook than usual...I mean, not that I don't spend a lot of time on fb, but yeah it's pretty sad, I'm mocked for it shamelessly by my friends... Anyway that's about all I've got to say for now, I guess this is sort of a venting post/apology for not post that book list I keep promising, cause I know ya'll wanna know what I'm reading this summer! (don't lie :P). Anyway back to the torture session (yay!) thank god this paper is due tomorrow, because I couldn't stand working on it for another day, the only down side is having to get up at 6 am to bus into school with my sister and finish editing it :( and on top of that I have a shit load of reading so I'ma probs just be at school aaaaaaalll day :(. Somebody save me pleaaaaaaase!

Some stuff that made me happy this weeeeeeek!

I'm thinking I'm gonna try to do these more often... like weekly... or something. Anyway let me know if that's a good idea. I might not post them all here though, I think I'm gonna go back to posting them on my fb notes, they're feeling neglected. :P

Making dinner

Local bands

Phenomenology

The 21st of April!

Sarah Kay

Random conversations with strangers

Being at home

Beer

Felicitas

Old man sweaters

Chamomile tea

Leafless trees (or dead trees)

TEDtalks

Blogging

Excerpt, don't mock me!

The other night I was watching TV and writing and my sister (Joanna) asked me what I Was working on, I told her I was writing a story; she then asked why I never posted any of my stories on my blog. Honestly, I've never completed one. I kind of feel ashamed posting a partially completed, unedited story here and I also feel like it isn't the right place for them. However, I do feel like it would be kinda fun for anyone reading this to see what I write. So I'm posting and excerpt from my 2009 National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) partially completed novel. This was the first year I did NaNoWriMo and it was a lot of fun so I made my friend write a novel with me this year, in the hopes it would actually be finished unlike last years novel, but alas, we became to busy with exams and it never was completed.

Back to the point. This novel had the working title of "Response" no idea why I named it that, but I must've thought it was cool at the time. It's basically this tragic love story about this girl, Jess, who falls madly in love with this other girl, Sara. Sadly Sara dies from cancer and Jess starts dating a hunky German guy, but not without lots of drama in between. I think this opening scene is when Jess and Sara break up, before they find out about Sara's cancer... also this isn't some sort of sappy love story, okay maybe it is just a little, I just have a strange obsession of writing about romantic relationships, I don't know why this is, but they're my favourite inter-personal relationship to write about. Also the reason I didn't give a very good synopsis for this story is because I can't actually remember most if and I wrote it out of order (see previous list about 'what I've learned'). Honestly I don't even know what was going to happen at the end of the novel. One more thing excuse my excessive use of details, I really like them. I can't help it, sorry.

Excerpt from 'Response':

Prologue
(Three years ago) (2007)

I waited patiently by the fountain, the water cascading down the sides, and dripping into the pool below. There were coins in the water, shiny copper pennies, tiny silver dimes, so thin looking under that water you almost wondered if they were just slivers of light and not the real thing. There was the odd quarter, larger slivers of silver light and a couple of golden looking loonies nearer the middle. The light danced across the surface, making it shimmer, and the coins glitter. I wait some more, I wanted this day, this moment to be over. I hated myself for what I was about to do, it wasn’t fair, I knew it wasn’t, but I couldn’t see any other way out of the situation.
Finally I saw Sara coming towards me, her long blond locks loose around her shoulders, and as usual she was wearing a simple black tee and black skinny pants. No make-up but the pierced lip, eyebrow, nose and spiral tattoos spoke for themselves. Nobody could ever mistake her for mainstream.
“Hi” I greeted her nervously, I could tell from her expression she knew what was coming, she knew why I had asked her to that place.
“Hello” was her simple reply. We didn’t say anything for a moment or two, just looked into each others eyes, perhaps trying to see what the other was thinking. Finally I looked away, towards the fountain again.
“I don’t love you any more,” I said, still staring at the fountain. I don’t know what I excepted, anger or crying, but I wasn’t expecting the response she gave me.
“I know” she looked down at the ground, as I looked up at her, there was a pebble by her left foot, which she kicked towards me, I resisted the overwhelming urge to kick it back to her. “How long?” she asked now, “how long haven’t you been in love with me?” there was such sadness in her voice, she still looked at the ground, at the rock by my shoe, the one I wouldn’t kick back. I didn’t know what to say to her, she finally looked up at me, expectantly, waiting for my response, the one I couldn’t give.
“I’m sorry, I don’t have an answer for you, at least not one you would want to hear…” I trailed off, unsure of what else there was to say, unsure of what would make the situation better.
“I knew it! I knew this was going to happen, everyone told me not to get involved with you, I should have listened to them.” Sara shook her head, her wispy long blond hair moving with it, back and forth. “I hope you realize how much this hurts” she spoke this with such conviction and pain that I felt like holding her again, wrapping my arms around her narrow, willowy body, and making her feel safe from all the bad in the world, but now I was the bad thing hurting her so I resisted the urge.
She gave me one last painful look, full of remorse and regret, then turned and walked away. I wouldn’t see here again after this, I knew that. I found my self whispering “good bye” as she walked away. The rock was still there, like one last reminder of what we could have been. I looked one last time at the fountain then turned and left that scene forever. I knew I would never be back, because people don’t go back in time, only forwards.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Okay now that I have sufficiently embarrassed myself I'm going to go crawl in a hole somewhere. Hope you like this!

Hi concentration, I really need you back right now, k thanks!

Okay so I know the next post was supposed to be a summer reading list, but I have yet to finish that and I feel like writing a post. I guess just to say a few things.

Basically I'm back in Sooke for the summer, depressing, but I plan to make the most of it and I was getting pretty sick of my grandparents. I truly love them, but I only have so much patience. Recently, I wrote a really bad essay about them for my an English class. It had this strange frame narrative that really didn't work and a lot of generalizations. Ick.

Anyway I wanted to write somethings I'll actually miss, because there are actually a few. I'm gonna miss having dinner at the same time every night, cause my mom never does that and my grandparents always eat between 5:30-6 which is awesome cause I'd get home for school everyday and dinner would almost be on the table. I'm also gonna miss reading the paper everyday. I know I can just read it online, but there is something about reading it in print form which I really enjoy. It's my favourite part of the day. I'm also gonna miss how close the bus exchange is to their house. I can practically see it! In Sooke, I have to get my mom to drive me everywhere and I feel like a kid again, good thing she's teaching me to drive this summer! I'm also gonna miss how clean their house in. My mom's house is pretty chaotic most of the time, not to say it isn't clean, but it's not spotless or anything. And lastly I'll miss how quiet it is, I mean they do talk really loud and turn the TV up really loud, BUT the doors are solid wood and block out ALL THE SOUND! Something which the doors at my moms completely fail to do.

Okay so that's it for that portion, I'm honestly not really looking forward to the summer. I really want to read what ever I like, but doubt I'll ever make it through my entire list. I plan to spend much of my free time sitting on beaches and drinking. It shall be a good time. I also plan on working a lot, which shall not be a good time :(. I would like to keep up with this blog, so I'm actually writing something! Please, hold me accountable! PLEASE! Also I think I forgot to post it here, but I wrote a list of things I'd like to do this summer on my tumbler. So go ahead and check that out. There are some cool quotes posted there and a couple of other lists, plus some random pictures I stole :P.

I had some other shit to say, but I've forgotten and I really need to finish reading my obnoxious social theory stuff so I can write the paper in a timely fashion and be fucking finished with this course! Thank god!

Also check back to my previous list cause I'll add to it, there are a couple other things I've learned this week that I forgot about! And that's it.

Another list!

Some things I've learned

I don't really like wearing make-up, it makes your face feel icky and your eyes itch.

Caffeine and sugar don't fix everything...neither does chocolate.

Thinking for yourself is a lot of fun.

When you want the bus to be early it will be late, when you want it to be late it will be on time and when you want it to be on time it will be both.

I really like people. They are the most fascinating thing and I love to know interesting people.

Red is the best colour, no matter what you say (closely followed by purple).

Mothers can't fix everything, sometimes you just gotta do it the hard way: alone.

Glasses always make guys look hotter. No exceptions.

Basing your self-worth against someone else is worthless.

I really can't stand umbrelles, your gonna get wet anyway.

My stories are never linear, I just learned this today, but I don't even think of stories that way, they are always bits and pieces from the present and past, sometimes in the future. I don't think I'll ever be able to write linear stories because of this.

Fashion magazines are really boring. The last one I bought was a couple of months ago and I didn't even read it.

My body was built for skinny jeans.

Sometimes, you should go see the doctor when your sick...taking copious amounts of cold medicines wont always help.

I judge people to harshly, and to often. I had a horrible, awesome moment this week when I was sitting in class listening to one of the guys read his essay out loud. It was a really good essay, interesting, funny insightful all that other bullshit, but I loved it and as I was listening to him I realized how I had completely misjudged his character. I'd had him down as this dumb jock and didn't like him WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING HIM. Anyway, this paper he read gave a completely different person I'd blindly assumed and I felt really bad cause if I hadn't done that I would totally have been friends with him. He genuinely seems like a really cool guy. I needed to explain this story cause that was definitely and 'uh huh!' moment for me.

I also learned sentence structure! YAY! I know I don't always practice correct sentence structure, but I know what it looks like and understand it, so that is awesome.

K so that's my 'things I've learned list' sorta like the other one I wrote, but not... I'm gonna post my summer book list soonish...like soon after work, so look for that! Oh and if you haven't figured it out, I really like to write lists! :)

A letter to an annoying man.

Hi there sir,

Your pointless jabbering is hurting my ears please shut up. That woman, your with, what do you want with her? Is she your date, or your girlfriend? And why do you think sayings something "isn't a sexist thing" makes it not a sexist thing. If you hadn't said that it wasn't then nobody would think that it was because you wouldn't have drawn attention to it. But you did say it, and unless it was actually sexist, you just made it sexist. If it was sexist to begin with then you did not make it any less sexist by claiming that it wasn't sexist. This is a vicious circle, and no, you shan't escape. That is all I have to tell you, now go drink your coffee somewhere else, and

HAVE A NICE FUCKING DAY!

Terri

P.S. You are fat and old and your glasses make you look pretentious, also your conceited. That is all. 

Some reasons why my sister is awesome.

It's funny cause I'm writing this blog post with my sister, Joanna, sitting across from me. Any I'm feeling affectionate towards my sister today so i'ma write her a post. I was gonna make this a numbered post, but I really don't feel like living it so close ended... & here we go!

She just baby sat my computer for an hour (50 mins) when I went to class.

She talks more than anyone I know, expect maybe myself and right now she is reading to herself.

She keeps me grounded, i.e. pointing out when I'm being completely stupid and ridiculous.

She's wont answer any of my questions so I have to answer them myself.

She's pretty much the smartest person I know (sorry).

She gets all my really bad jokes, and the good ones, she also understands my ridiculous sense of humour.

She likes the same stuff that I do, same movies, same TV, same music, most of the time.

She likes cupcakes. Enough said.

We're going to start a potato collective. We also have many other crazy ideas.

As well as being super smart, she also has a really good sense of style.

She understands why I like farmville. Cute animals, I swear.

She's the only person I trust to give me the most honest advice and to critique stuff for me, because of said honesty.

She's basically my best friend.

Ten things I know are true

This blog post is inspired by this girl: http://www.ted.com/talks/sarah_kay_if_i_should_have_a_daughter.html
Sarah Kay, her spoken word poetry is amazing! I still haven't tried spoken word cause I have stage fright, but I'd really like to. I enjoyed how much energy Sarah has when she talks and how passionate and funny she is. She's a real personality and inspiration. If you watch her video she talks about "ten things I know are true" lists, as you all know I really like writing lists so I'ma write my own ten things I know are true list. Here we go:

1. Kittens are always cute. Even ugly kittens. Always and forever.

2. Nature is the planet. We need to stop destroying it.

3. I am going to travel the world. This is a fact, I've already decided.

4. I am completely fascinated by revolutions and dictatorships, simply because I cannot comprehend it.

5. I am ridiculously naive.

6. Family. Always true for me.

7. I am completely addicted to farmville. I don't know why. The animals are just soooo cute!

8. I will one day learn to drive and have a motorcycle, just don't tell my mom.

9. I have made writing a part of me and I need to learn to maintain distance in some instances.

10. Me. I'm completely true, everything about me, every hypocritical and honest thing I say is true to me.

So there's my list, now I'd like to see yours!

If you were wondering...this is how my brain works.

So I'm eating dinner at my grandparents, BBQ Pork chops, BBQ potatoes, cauliflower and corn (I know, random meal info). My grandma insists that I take the smaller, but fatter and boneless pork chop, so I do. I'm sitting there eating it and here is my though process:

Looks a bit pink (picks at meat a bit and continues eating)
Probably just a little under-cooked, oh well (continues eating)
I guess grandma was just being nice by not giving me the bone
OR
Maybe they knew this piece was under-cooked and they thought to give it to me because my immune system is better and I'm less likely to die!
Yeah, that's probably it.

That is all. I don't know how to write stream-of-conscious and make it make sense so you get this weird quasi version instead (yay).

Also it's earth hour tonight! Ya'll should remember that and TURN OFF YOUR LIGHTS! (8:30-9:30). Please don't wimp out and turn off *some* of the lights, or like, the lights but not the computer and TV, cause that is just not cool.

Anyway this is all i've got for now, I had this epic rant about how annoying clubs can be, which I mentally planned out when I was at the club wasted, but sadly most of it was lost in the depths of my drunk (now sober) brain, so I'm not gonna write it. Also it seems like less of a good idea now... for obvious reasons. 

Movie trailer obsession

For some reason I have a strange obsession with watching movie trailers. I realize that doesn't sound that weird, but I just tend to watch the trailers and rarely ever get around to actually going and seeing any of the movies. This is partly due to the fact some of them don't play here and partly that I get so tired of seeing the trailer and hearing about the movie I stop having and desire to see it.

I also have a strange system in going about picking which movies trailers I want to watch. I usually look at apple trailers and just skim through and pick all of the movies with the most interesting look posters and titles, usually I can guess what sort of movie they will be based on this. After I watch the trailer I'll read the synopsis, IF I liked it, otherwise I move on. Comingsoon.net is also great for movie trailers.

Anyway since I'm tired and I can't force myself to concentrate on marxism right now I'm gonna review some trailers!

(In no particular order)

Miral

Link: http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/weinstein/miral/
Genre:Drama, Foreign
Director:Julian Schnabel
Cast:Hiam Abbass, Frieda Pinto, Omar Metwally

Appears to be about a girl who gets the opportunity to be educated, but then decides she wants to rebel, but instead of the regular teenage rebellious behaviour she joins a terrorist group! Yay, that'll make mom and dad proud! It appears that she gets caught, falls in love and is shunned by her family and school mistress, but I could be wrong. Anyway it looks interesting, but I probably wouldn't see it, seems like another pretty girl being tricked into a bad situation by a man she loves. Did I mention she's 17 and he's like, old? Ick. I must say though, I do really enjoy the poster, very intriguing and the political aspects of the movie do interest me, I just don't really like the girls character.

Link: http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/weinstein/miral/
Genre: Drama, Foreign
Director: Julian Schnabel
Cast: Hiam Abbass, Frieda Pinto, Omar Metwally

The Collector

Link:  http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/thecollector/
Genre: Drama
Director: Darian Lane
Cast: Kate Siegel, Rudolf Martin, Alexander Greer, George Frazier, Jamie Elvy

This movie looks terrible. Or it could be great. Either way I'm pretty sure it's a love story about this chick that "collects" guys, I guess cause she's super hot n'shit, whatever, bored already. Anyway the trailer basically shows nothing about what the movie is about, she has a brother, she lives in miami, she has a shitty job, she has a car, oh and look! She likes to make out with a lot of guys, then stand around in skimpy outfits at art galleries... yeah probs wont see this one either, I don't even know what I watched it cause the poster isn't even interesting.

Water for Elephants

Link: http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/fox/waterforelephants/
Genre: Drama
Director: Francis Lawrence
Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson, Christoph Waltz

This one I actually really want to see, it just looks cute and magical and shit. Okay it does also look pretty cheesy, whatevs it's about the circus and it has reese witherspoon and Robert Pattinson, whom I maybe, possibly have a crush on. I know he can't really act and he was in Twilight which basically ruins his career as a serious actor, but he's still a babe, okay! (and yes I realize the only people whom agree are 12 girls :( ). I also realized after I started watching the trailer I've already seen it like half a dozen times... which is weird that I forgot the title.

When Harry Tries To Marry

Link: http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/whenharrytriestomarry/
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Director: Nayan Padrai
Cast: Rahul Rai, Freishia Bomambehran, Stefanie Estes

The poster looks pretty cheesy, but the name intrigued me, an obvious play on "When Harry Met Sally". The movie looks cute and predicable, I like the twist of the son wanting an arranged marriage, interesting social implications there. I don't think I'd go out of my way to see this, but it still looks intriguing.

Hanna

Link: http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/focus_features/hanna/
Genre: Action and Adventure
Director: Joe WrightCast:Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett, Tom Hollander, Olivia Williams, Jason Flemyng
Writers: Seth Lochhead, David Farr

This looks interesting. The beginning was sorta creepy and awesome, then it turned into a regular sorta action movie. The young girl has been trained by her father (an ex-CIA agent) to be an assassin and is sent off to kill a woman, who I imagine will be her mother, or have some surprising connection to the main character, cause that's how these movies work. I doubt I'd go see it, but I might watch it online or something, I always like strong feel leads, especially in action movies.

The Bang Bang Club

Genre:Action and Adventure
Director:Steven Silver
Cast:Ryan Phillippe, Malin Akerman, Taylor Kitsch

This looks awesome. It's about four combat photographers who are in South Africa and they're photographing in the first free election in post Apartheid South Africa in the early 90s. I have to say I love movies about Africa for some reason... okay I'm lying I loved Hotel Rwanda, but still this looks good and the guys are babes, no reason not to see it :). Also I think they don't make enough movies about photographers, I guess making a movie about a guy who spends all of his time at the beach taking pretty pictures would be dull, but I'm sure there are some personalities out there they could make movies about!

The Princess of Montpensier

Link: http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/theprincessofmontpensier/
Genre: Action and Adventure, Drama, Foreign
Director: Bertrand Tavernier
Cast: Melanie Thierry, Lambert Wilson, Gaspard Ulliel, Gregoire Leprince-Ringuet, Raphael Personnaz

The post for this one intruiged me cause I like historical fictions. The movie looks terrible though, it probably could have been good in the right hands, but it appears to be about a girl who's in love with one guy and is forced to marry another. Sorta reminds me of The Duchess, expect this is the french version. It also appears to have the French's favourite cinematic topic in it: sex. And a lot of it. That's all great and dandy, IF the movie has a good plot line. The only reason I would see it is because it's about the Protestant/catholic war, which could be kinda neat, but otherwise the trailer looks boring.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

Link: http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/fox_searchlight/snowflowerandthesecretfan/
Genre: Drama
Director: Wayne Wang
Writers: Ron Bass, Angela Workman, Michael Ray

This looks really cool! It's about two best friends who aren't just best friends throughout one life time, but throughout a bunch! There is also a book, which I want to read now. It does have the potential to be pretty cheesy, but from what I gleaned from the trail it looks to beautiful not to watch, I'd just see it for the cinematography, costumes and sets.

Queen To Play

Link: http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/queentoplay/
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Foreign
Director: Caroline Bottaro
Cast: Sandrine Bonnaire, Kevin Kline, Jennifer Beals, Valerie Lagrange, Francis Renaud

This looks cute-ish. It's about a woman who decides to play chess. Then there's all this drama cause her family doesn't want her too. I don't get it either. Chess, seriously? I'm possibly missing something or this movie just has a really strange premise. Anyway, def wouldn't see it and I'm also missing the part where it's a 'romance' I saw no romance happening in that trailer...maybe they gave to much to The Princess of Montpensier, who knows :P.

The Vintner's Luck

Links: http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/thevintnersluck/
Genre:Drama, Romance
Director:Niki Caro
Cast:Jérémie Renier, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Vania Vilers, Eric Godon, Patrice Valota, François Beukelaers, Gaspard Ulliel, Stephane Garneau, Juliette Mariotte, Finn Van Mell, Charlotte Cheveau, Felicity-Amore Castle-Hughes, Julie Berthoux, Vera Farmiga, Jean-Louis Sbille

This one looks different and I want to see it! It's about a wine maker who meets a fallen angel who inspires him. I know that sounds strange, but it doesn't look that bad, really! I just like the scenery etc, can't help it that I'm hella visual! And the chick from Whale-Rider plays his wife :).

The Desert of Forbidden Art

Link: http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/thedesertofforbiddenart/
Genre:Documentary
Director:Tchavdar Georgiev, Amanda Pope

I immediately clicked on this when I saw the Soviet flag, even though I don't really watch documentaries that much. I just have a weird fascination with the USSR. This looks really really cool! It's about all of the art work which was banned durning the reign of the soviets! Some of it is stunning. All modernist looking art work (don't quote me on that I don't know what I'm talking about). I love art, and am fascinated with the USSR so I definitely want to see this one!

Heartbeats

Link: http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/heartbeats/
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Director: Xavier DolanCast:Xavier Dolan, Monia Chokri, Neils Schneider

This looks sort of okay... kind of just another indie love story... a love triangle non-the-less. But the clothing! BEAUTIFUL! I just about died when I saw that purple dress! Love 60's fashion :). And the girl's Audrey-Hepburn-Breakfast-At-Tiffany's do, Win! Also love Audrey Hepburn. I'd just see this movie for that, oh and not to mention the guys awesome stick-up-edward-esque hair, so great :P.

I was gonna post reviews of more trailers, but I just realized how long this already is, so ima stop posting them now. Maybe I'll do another post in the future, this was kinda fun!

A sad fact.

Since being in university for the past 2 and a half years (give or take) I have yet to receive an A on any major papers for any class! This has been something which has eaten away at me so much that I would wonder what the point was if I couldn't even write a decent paper. I know someone out there is cringing and going 'grades aren't everything!' but when your an English major AND you want to be a writer its a real slap in the face to have comments like 'doesn't have a good grasp on the English language' (which I still think is untrue, I just have a bad grasp on grammar). Yeah, ouch, real disheartening.

Last semester was the worst for this. I took a modernist British novel class, which was swains and I loved, but I couldn't seen to get the papers quite right. The final paper ended up being a complete disaster. My topic was terrible and I basically spent three days editing the paper, and only got a c+. Considering I edited that paper more than any other and yeah...:( looking back I realize I should have changed my topic, and started it earlier so I could've hit up the writing centre or Kirstie and/or Raya. Now I know better and received a grade I feel like I DESERVE!

Thankfully I'm basically feeling better about everything cause this is actually a pretty hard class (for me) and I thought I was gonna fail it, for a moment there. That just, like, made my day n'shit :). So far this week is a million times better than last week, now if I only do this well on my the English paper ima get back tomorrow! Fingers crossed, but it's unlikely, that one was written the day before :S.