Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 7

One thing I learned in 2009 is that my ears have a lot of catching up to do in 2010. I could fill a small city with all the artists that have been recommended to me or that I have been meaning to check out. Imagine that: A small city just brimming with musicians- some who will become your best friends, several you will meet only in passing, a loyal few who will help you through tough times, a dozen you will have a fling with, a handful you will fall in love with, many you could do without, and even more you will never meet.

Someday I will run that city, but until then I will leave you with one of my most surprising musical highlights of 2009:

I saw Jersey Boys (the story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons) back in August and I still find myself attempting to imitate Frankie Valli's falsetto in the shower.

What I've come to find is that people who haven't seen Jersey Boys will assume that it's too cheesy for their liking, but those who have seen it will tell you that it's pretty badass.

Yep, Jersey Boys is pretty badass. We're talking flashy strobe lights, flashier costumes, chain-smoking, smack-talking, and, as the show's disclaimer puts it, "authentic, profane, Jersey vocabulary."

And oh yeah, the cast knows a thing or two about carrying a tune.

The show even made me feel a little nostalgic. How could my tween self ever forget hearing "Big Girls Don't Cry" in the opening credits of Dirty Dancing or "Grease" in the opening credits of Grease for the very first time? And don't even get me started about "Can't Take My Eyes Off You." Lauryn Hill's cover of said song reminds me of every schoolgirl crush I've ever had.

All in all, I think the only problem I had with the musical was that the songs were just too damn catchy for my liking. And now I can't help but snap my fingers and do a little jive every time I hear a Four Seasons song.

Funny sidenote: If you catch the show in Toronto, something about it might seem a little distracting, especially if you are a fan of The Office. That's probably because triple threat Jeff Madden, who plays Frankie Valli in the Toronto production, looks a whole lot like funnyman Steve Carell. In fact, as I watched the show, both of my sisters sitting on either side of me kept whispering, "Is that Michael Scott?" That's what she said, indeed.

HD Living

One of my family's holiday traditions isn't so much of a tradition as it is an inevitable occurrence that arises at almost every family gathering.

This occurrence is so frequent that my family has even given it an official title. Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce to you High Decibel (HD) Living.

No flat-screen plasmas here, just a whole lot of noise.

Let me paint a little picture for you: Imagine a pimped-out car cruising down the strip on a Saturday night. It has shiny rims, tinted windows, and swirling colours that just scream "Look at me!" The subwoofer is pumping and you can feel your own eyelashes vibrating as it speeds past. Now imagine yourself inside this car, crammed among half a dozen sugar-high monkeys that can't sit still, can't stop talking, and can't stop changing radio stations every 30 seconds. They don't know which way is up or which way is down and they will remind you of this every chance they get.

Ok, perhaps I exaggerate a teensy bit, but you get the point. HD Living is all about keeping the gears churning, keeping mouths moving, and keeping limbs flailing. It's all about the actions and it's all about the reactions. It's modern jesting, it's Facebook poking for the real world, it's sticking a twig in someone's ear just to see what they'll do next.

Some background information: I have 5 older siblings (4 sisters, 1 brother) who are all very quirky and unique in their own ways. For example, and without naming names, some like to read whole novels aloud, some will break into song or bust out their best dance moves only at the most awkward of moments, some like to wake others up unnecessarily early in the morning, some like to start family rumours just for fun, and the list goes on.

Would you like to come over for dinner sometime?

Some of the characteristics of Marchildon-style HD Living include:

• Yelling to family members in the basement from the second floor 
• Trying to carry on a conversation through the floorboards
• Repeating funny jokes until they are no longer funny
• Clapping for all occasions- after finding out what's for dessert, after someone says something stupid, etc.
  
• Overcaffeination and/or binge chocolate-eating 
• Childish pranks
  
• Randomly bursting into song 
• Blasting tunes, good or bad
• Attempting to breakdance
  
• Performing dramatic, exaggerated impressions of other family members
• Complaining about other family members to no one in particular
  
• Yelling at the computer and other inanimate objects
  
• Yelling about how annoying HD Living is and screaming for others to be quiet, thus further contributing to HD Living
• Yelling
• More yelling
• General noisemaking

Oh wait, I think I hear a family member screaming for me a few blocks away. Yep. It's my sister. She's at Starbucks. She's telling me that my gingerbread latte is ready. Gotta go.

Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 6

I think I've wasted too much time staring deeply into Mr. Penguin's eyes. And now midnight is fast approaching and I have yet to write a decent music post.

It's the most wonderful hectic time of the year, but I'll make it up to you soon.

Can I leave you with Dallas Green's soothing vocals and call it a night?

And when the wind does blow against the grain
You must follow your heart

Super kawaii

Good evening, readers. Let me introduce you to my newest pet.

No, I'm not a cat lady. No, a dog isn't this girl's best friend. In fact, I'm quite allergic to any furry, saliva-producing, dander-spreading pet, so this is sadly as close as I'm going to get to living with any animal other than my sister (har har).

And so, without further ado, I present to you Mr. Penguin: 

My cute little cube of joy

I adopted Mr. Penguin a few weeks ago from Yokoyaya, a Japanese dollar store in Vancouver. He's as light as a feather, he doesn't need grooming or a pooper scooper, and he always makes sure my cell phone is safe and cozy. Visitors fawn over him and he keeps me company as I write inconsequential blog posts.

 
What can I say, he was worth every one of the 200 pennies I spent.

[Side note: The day after I got Mr. Penguin, I went back to the store to adopt more of his family as presents for friends, but every penguin was gone. Sowwie fwends!]

Keeping on the subject of cuteness, anyone who has ever read my sister Sarah's blog or who knows anything about Japan can attest to the fact that the country is just brimming with all things super kawaii (cute).

Sarah recently sent me a letter from Japan in true 'super kawaii' style. The stationery was pink and full of smiling bees and happy, fluffy sheep:

As a bonus, it also featured a cryptic chunk of poorly translated text:

My initial reaction to this text was sure to get me on Santa's naughty list fast. Yet the more I pondered these awkwardly stitched-together sentences, the less coherent my own thoughts became.  

I'm sure it's just a poorly translated phrase about counting sheep...

...or is it?

Thoughts? Your guess is as good as mine.

Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 5

Every once in a while, MTV plays music. And every once in a while, it plays some pretty great music.

And sometimes MTV even invites the general public to watch this great music being performed live for free.

Last Wednesday, I headed down to the MTV Canada studios in Toronto to watch folk rockers The Wooden Sky perform on MTV Live.

The Wooden Sky played three songs, for two of which they brought their friends Evening Hymns on stage.

Even though putting on a Wooden Sky album may cause eyes to water, thoughts to rewind, and buried memories to resurface, the band's live performance felt quite moving in a refreshing, cleansing kind of way. Perhaps it was the Evening Hymns' additional vocals and instrumentals that made the songs feel a little less melancholy.

And isn't it just sweet as pie when musicians share microphones?

Ok, so the band only played three songs, but it was just enough of a music fix to float me through the rest of the week.



p.s. check out Songs & Cigarettes blogger Braden Rosner's article on The Wooden Sky's latest album in Death + Taxes magazine here. This guy knows his music (and he's pretty funny too).

Baby, it's cold outside

Music keeps me warm.

Here are two gems for your listening & viewing pleasure:






Happy Friday to all, and to all a good night.

Show me the movie

"What would you do if I died today?"

"I'd die tomorrow."

A lucky 13 days ago I was on a flight to Vancouver for my sister Anne's graduation from nursing school at UBC- congrats Anne!

As I stepped onto the plane and cozied into a coveted window seat, I must admit that I wasn't daydreaming about strolling oceanside, shopping on Robson, or stuffing my face with local food. No, I was thinking about something a little closer to home: The in-flight entertainment system just inches away from my nose.

Music obsessions aside, anyone who knows me knows that if my head isn't stuck in a book, if my eyes aren't scanning though magazines, or if my fingers aren't clicking through blogs, then my hands must be in the cinematographic cookie jar.

Yes, I was extremely excited to watch a film on the plane. There's something ego-boosting about watching a movie while cruising through the clouds and being served your drink of choice. It makes me feel like a celebrity. But then again, I sure paid enough to be treated like one- bring me more OJ!

So there I was, laid back, sippin' on gin and juice (minus the gin) and sifting through the movie selections, feeling light as a cloud.

But I didn't want to see just any old flick- I wanted to watch a film that would make me cry. It's true: I wasn't hungry for one of those free, individually-wrapped in-flight snacks (which, might I add, were never offered at any point during the 5-hour flight), I was craving catharsis. I hadn't seen an emotion-stirring, heartstring-tugging film in a long time and I wanted to be inspired; I wanted to feel humbled; I wanted to watch poetry dance in front of my eyes. Was that too much to ask for in a film?

Long story short, I didn't quite find the heartwrencher that I was looking for, but I did come across some of the most brilliant acting and cinematography I have witnessed in a long time.

Enter J'ai tué ma mère (I Killed My Mother):

Written, directed, and starring 20-year-old Québec native Xavier Dolan, J'ai tué ma mère is a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story about a gay teenager and his rollercoaster relationship with his mother.

The premise seemed simple enough and perhaps it was. But as hard as I tried, I just couldn't seem to get into the storyline. I felt as though I was missing key pieces of information required to delve deeper into the characters' minds and really immerse myself in the film. I just felt like something was lacking plot-wise.

Perhaps viewing the film on a screen the size of my wallet skewed my experience.

Nonetheless, I couldn't peel my eyes away from the pint-sized screen. Xavier Dolan is a truly hypnotic actor. He knows how to scowl, scream, pout, and brood like no other. All at once, he's strong and vulnerable, confident and insecure, loving and sinful. He has piercing eyes and a puppy dog face. I want to hug him and I want to slap him. God, he's beautiful.

Anne Dorval, who plays Hubert's (Dolan's) mother Chantale, is equally as enchanting. She's cold and bitter, lonely and fragile, and painstakingly longs for requited love.

Not only is this movie chock-full of dynamic actors, but it's also stylistically stunning. The film's 'rule of thirds' framing, confessional style close-ups, and slow motion sequences are especially dazzling.

And props to the film for featuring the eerie "Tell Me What to Swallow" by Crystal Castles. Great soundtrack too- a nice interspersing of modern and classical music.

All in all, this is the kind of movie I would only recommend to specific individuals because it's not one of those films where I could easily predict if someone would enjoy it or not. But if you're up for some high-quality acting, Dolan and Dorval certainly raise the bar.

I'm excited to see what's next for Xavier Dolan. Stay tuned.

Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 4

I've been thunderstruck.

Last Thursday's Thunderheist concert at The Mod Club was quite the booty-shaking good time.

The last time I saw Thunderheist live was at Call The Office in London, Ontario. It was on a Tuesday night in early April, right before the impending doom of final exams. Compared to the Toronto show, it was much more intimate and much more x-rated. [Sorry, what happens at Call The Office stays at Call The Office, but here's a little taste:]

Thunderheist in London, ON

Yet there's something equally as appealling about being in a sold-out venue with hundreds or even thousands of hands waving in the air and clapping in unison. Sometimes it's nice to just take a look around and watch everyone move to the same beat. It gives me the warm fuzzies.

Thunderheist in Toronto, ON

Feel-good moments aside, I think the tameness of the show probably had something to do with the fact that Isis' parents were in the audience and that she kept mentioning said fact. She was also wearing a tight Beyonce-esque number that seemed to limit her movement.

Nonetheless, Isis' outfit didn't stop her from crowd-surfing and rockin' those sweet vocal chords of hers to the fullest. And Grahm Zilla was all smiles.

 

Venue big or small, I would highly recommend you slap on your finest crunk wear and go see Thunderheist live. Unfortunately, you might have to wait over a year to do so: Thunderheist recently announced on their MySpace page that they will be taking a break in 2010 to work on solo projects.

Until then, keep on jerkin' it.

All of this town seems drunk tonight and I'm looking for your hand

What does it mean to forget someone? Everyone I've ever known lives on inside my head.

I wish I could tell my mind that there's no room left in the inn; I wish I could prevent every unwanted visitor from overstaying their welcome; I wish I could leave some room in there to remember who I am.

For better or for worse, you're stuck in my head. I can't seem to change that, so I might as well get used to it. And you might as well get comfy.

I'll leave a mint on your pillow.

Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 3

I love Lissy Trullie. She looks like a cross between Liz from Degrassi Junior High and a Polly Pocket. Half androgynous rock 'n' roll rebel and half cupcake-cute fashion icon makes for one stellar lady.

+

=

Did I mention that she makes sweet, sweet music? Even her cover songs are enjoyable:

Lissy Trullie - "Ready For The Floor" (Hot Chip cover)

Goodnight moon.

Tell me when you hear my heart stop

I just saw Twilight: New Moon and I'm feeling emo. Cheesy movie, but beautiful, heart-wrenching soundtrack. Bon Iver, Thom Yorke, and Grizzly Bear, oh my!

Thinking about Taylor Lautner's chiseled abs helps lighten the mood a little, though.

Are you there, Blog? It's me, Hilary

How many times has someone told you to just be yourself? And how many times has Nike told you to just do it? So just do it! Be yourself!

Much easier said than done and I know this all too well, but we just have to take it day by day and celebrate the small stuff. Extremely cheesy, but I only speak the truth.

"Better late than never" has become my go-to motto these days. Post-graduation has been a series of major ins and outs, but every day is a learning experience.

 

Sometimes I let my hair go wild and sometimes it pleasantly surprises me. 

I also enjoy a good banana. 

So be it. 

Don't write yourself off yet.

75% ____?

Sometimes security-enhanced websites require users to submit a CAPTCHA (Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart) before posting a comment on a blog, entering a contest, registering, etc.

One of the CAPTCHAs I had to type in today was 25% reggae.

I'll take that as a good sign. Any day with a 25% chance of reggae is a pretty decent day in my books.

Anyhoo, what I really came to say is...

Happy Birthday Jane!

 

photo credit: Sarah 

Time to bust out your best 25% reggae dance moves.

Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 2

Hot new concert venue in Toronto: The Garrison (Dundas & Ossington)

To read the National Post's feature article on The Garrison, click here.

Speaking of said venue, I caught the Two Hours Traffic show there last Saturday night. The crowd was a bit tamer than I had hoped, but the venue was a nice medium size with a conversation-friendly sit-down area in the front and concert room in the back. And the bar was well-stocked with Strongbow and Jager, which nevers hurts.

 

Two Hours Traffic

These melodic indie rockers are always dropping sweet ooh-ooh-oohs at all the right moments. And ladies, they're quite the handsome bunch.

Here are a few pics from the concert (please excuse the blurriness, I'm still figuring out my new camera...and Jager may have been involved):

I've been watching you
Dressed up and talking like you're all the news
I've been watching you
Two drinks from tumbling in those dancing shoes

-Two Hours Traffic, "Drop Alcohol"

Better not pout, I'm telling you why

Around this time last Sunday, my sister and I made it to Spadina and Bloor just in time to be showered with mini-candy canes. Sweet.

Here are some pictures from last weekend's Santa Claus Parade in downtown Toronto:

Sweet ride, Mother Goose.

Ronald McDonald waves to the children... 

 ...while straddling a pole. 

Oh, childhood.

My personal favourite, brought to you by Metro (grocery chain).

Happy fruits and veggies! 

 
Western represents!

No one seems too enthused about being on a Leafs float.

Mr. Peanut, looking as classy as ever.

Two hours later, Santa arrives. Anti-climactic. Bring back Mr. Peanut!

That's better.

Drip no more

Know those hand-washing posters that greet you by the sink in almost every public bathroom these days? Well, if you haven't been washing up on the lastest restroom literature, here's an example:

For the most part, these posters are all fine and dandy with me, but I can't stop thinking about those last two steps. I can't help but cringe at the thought of all that wasted water just rushing down the drain as one goes to dry their hands and then reach for a paper towel (especially since paper towels aren't always conveniently located beside each individual sink).

It seems just as wasteful as leaving the tap running while brushing your teeth.

Personally, I'd rather turn off the tap with my sleeve or take my chances and follow-up with some hand sanitizer than leave the water running.

Yes, I'm a major stickler for conserving tap water.

Yet regardless of how a person shuts off the tap, they should always check to ensure that the water is no longer running.

I find myself turning off the tap in the ladies' room at work about 2 or 3 times a week. Hearing that low hum of rushing water or that steady drip, drip, drip when I enter a restroom is like fingernails-scraping-against-a-chalkboard to my ears.

Does anyone else feel this way, or is it just me?

Needless to say, I am a big fan of sensor faucets.

But if I were to make my own additional poster that would adorn public restroom walls, it would include the following motto and two simple steps:

"Always look behind you!"

1) Before exiting the stall, check to ensure that everything has flushed down and that no 'trace of you' has been left behind on the toilet seat.

2) After turning off the tap, make sure that the water has stopped running. If not, give the tap a tighter twist.

Just turn your head and take a look. It's really that simple.

p.s! I would probably add some flashy 80's graphics and a cute mascot like Grimace to my poster:

He looks like he needs to use the bathroom a lot.

Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 1

In last Monday's post, I promised I would start posting inspiring lyrics every Monday to gear you up and get you through the weekly grind.

But since I'm such a music junkie, why not dedicate Mondays to anything and everything music-related?

Ladies and gentleman, I now present to you Muse-ic Mondays!

First up to the plate is the London-based indie rock band, Noisettes. Not only is their music fun, catchy, and powerful, but their music videos are quite gorgeous too.

And it doesn't hurt that frontwoman Shingai Shoniwa is always rockin' mad style.

So you if you like your musical salad tossed with a little jazz, a sprinkle of power pop, a pinch of punk, and a dash of soul all smothered in sexy, edgy vocals, then dig right in:

Bon appetit!

We've only just met

"She isn't my wife, really. We just have some kids. No, no kids, not even kids. Sometimes, though, it feels as if we had kids. She isn't beautiful, she's... easy to live with. No, she isn't. That's why I don't live with her."

- Thomas (David Hemmings) in Blow-Up

I recently borrowed the 1966 film Blow-Up from my local library. 

Maybe I picked it off the shelf because I faintly remembered it being recommended to me...

...or perhaps I was seduced by the come-hither video cover...

...or, in all likelihood, I just wanted to tell people I saw a film by Michelangelo Antonioni. 

Antonioni. What a deliciously rich Italian name. It just purrs right off the tongue. 

"Yeah, I just watched Blow-Up by An-toooh-ni-oooh-ni. No biggie." Bellissimo!

Anyway, the film follows a day in the life of eccentric and witty fashion photographer, Thomas (David Hemmings). He shots beautiful women, has his way with beautiful women, and comes across a beautiful woman (Vanessa Redgrave) and her lover in a park, where he begins to take photos of them.

The woman, Jane, becomes irked when she sees Thomas taking photos of them. She confronts Thomas and demands to have the roll of film, but he does not give in. 

"I'm only doing my job. Some people are bullfighters, some people are politicians. I'm a photographer. "

Thomas then takes a few more pictures of Jane in the park as she runs away alone.

Thomas later makes large blowups of the photos in his studio and notices a corpse lying underneath the trees and a man with a gun hiding in the woods.

And that was my sub par film synopsis. 

I am still wrapping my head around this fine gem of a film and I may never get around to doing a full-blown movie review, but there's just so much juicy political, cultural, and aesthetic meat to this film that only watching it could do it justice.

      "Sometimes reality is the strangest fantasy of all." 

Subtle humour and sexual tension at its finest.

Finito.

Orange you glad it's clemen-time?

'Tis almost the season for face-slapping winds, runny noses, parched skin, numb fingers, soggy socks, and sidewalk wipeouts.

Luckily, it's always warm and sunny somewhere in the world.

So while the farmers' fields here in Canada are just about to freeze over, a certain variety of oranges is just beginning to burst off the trees in Morocco.

 Drumroll please....

It's clementine season!

One of my favourite winter goodies is the clementine. It's bursting with tastebud-tickling flavour, it's loaded with vitamin C, it's portable, it's easy to peel, and it emits a pleasing citrus scent.*

[*The clementine's scent is a favourable factor in maintaining a respectful food environment at work- its aroma is much more popular among co-workers than other lunch items such as tuna or hard-boiled eggs. That being said, this fragrant fruit does not make for a stealthy snack in 'no eating zones,' i.e. the library. You know what I'm talking about.]

But eater beware: These seemingly innocent, pretty little things are highly addictive.

Yet who can resist such a cute little fruit in such a badass package?

So go ahead and enjoy a clementine (or four). Your taste buds and co-workers will thank you.

Monday ain't so blue

The Cure - Friday I'm In Love

Sure, when Friday hits, I'm quite smitten too, but Mondays aren't so bad.

I feel well-rested from the weekend (I get to sleep in on Sundays), I am ready to be productive (after spending many a lazy Sunday hungover), and I generally feel like I'm starting afresh.

Forget New Year's, every Monday I make a resolution. Nothing too monumental, just little items such as the following:

1. Drink more water- down an extra glass in the morning and never leave my water bottle empty at work
2. Write a poem- or at least start one/do some stream of consciousness writing
3. Dust off an old item of clothing or an accessory I've barely worn and make it work- if not, give it away/donate it to a clothing drive
4. Compliment a stranger/hold the door open
5. Email/prank call family members (ok, this one's a given)
6. Discover new music (yeah, this one's a given too)
7. Find a song lyric that will inspire me throughout the week (I will start posting these every Monday, beginning next week)
8. Spot something beautiful/mysterious/intriguing and take a picture of it (I might post these once in a while as well)

Yeah, I still think Fridays are 'the bomb,' but I ain't singin' the Monday blues.

Happy Blue New Monday everyone!

How will you celebrate?

Great song, eh?

I'm feeling very Canadian this week. The leaves have hit the ground and I can't help but be reminded of the good ol' maple leaf.

And I can't stop listening to Canadian music.
 

So here's a little list of the très magnifique Canadian artists I've got stuck on repeat (categorized according to my ever-changing mood):

Chill the fudge out:
Both of the following folk groups have well-crafted, enchanting lyrics and charming vocals/instrumentals to match. I usually listen to these artists while writing, reading, or casually pondering the meaning of life.

Great Lake Swimmers: http://www.myspace.com/greatlakeswimmers

Olenka & the Autumn Lovers: http://www.myspace.com/olenkalovers

Carve a hole in the dance floor:
Electro music is still as steamy as ever, so get ready to shake the booty you never knew you had. Crank up the volume loud enough and you might just find me dancing on a table somewhere.

Thunderheist: http://www.myspace.com/thunderheist

MSTRKRFT: http://www.myspace.com/mstrkrft

Put on your best hipster plaid:
I've been listening to Still Life Still for a quite a while now and they always make me feel content with my weirdo self. And as for Chromeo, they make me want to snap my fingers and strut down the street like I'm the hottest neon tracksuit-wearer around.

Still Life Still: http://www.myspace.com/stilllifestill

Chromeo: http://www.myspace.com/chromeo

Trust me folks, the list goes on and I'm only scratching the surface here.

But if you're already drooling for more, I would suggest you head on over to !earshot and see what all the crazy university kids are listening to these days. Tons of great CanCon on there.

That's all for now, my friends, so stay fit, have fun, and keep your ears happy, eh!

A ghoul's best friend

My sister and current roommate, Jane, has gone on a Halloween cookie baking frenzy this past week and I have become her assistant.

Don't be jealous of our mad decorating skills.

Happy Halloween!

Dizzy autumn days

I love haikus. So short and sweet. Enjoy.

Fall
Like the changing leaves
Love's a bruise waiting to heal
Watch the colours dance

Chew on this

I had a pretty good time at the dentist last week.

After going through the notions with my dental assistant and having a routine "What are you doing with your life?" conversational check-up, our dialogue quickly turned to the topic of writing.

To make a long story short, my dental assistant ended up reciting me one of her poems. It was about turning 40 and it was exceptionally witty, charming, and hilarious.

It's unexpected moments like these that inspire me to continue writing.

Time to dust off the ol' poetry notebook.

(You can cue the cheesy music anytime now.)

Texts from this morning

As you may know, Bill 118 came into effect this past Monday, making it illegal for Ontario motorists to operate their cell phones while driving.

And while The Toronto Star spotted 26 people in one hour breaking this new law at one downtown intersection, I witnessed something a tad different — yet equally as dangerous — while walking to work on Monday morning.

Here is what I saw: A woman in her late twenties/early thirties texting with one hand while walking down a busy Bloor Street sidewalk, oblivious to the pedestrians and obstacles in front of her.

Now some of you may be thinking, what's so dangerous about that? Sure, she may bump into a few people and generate a few evil stares, but we texters have all been there before.

Perhaps I should mention that she was also carrying an infant in her other arm.

One false move and that baby could literally be scarred for life.

And to add fuel to the fire, the woman's nanny/friend was pushing an empty stroller right beside her.

All I can say is, either play with your phone or hold your baby — don't try to juggle both at the same time, especially while walking down a crowded street. This is not a useful example of multitasking, my friends.

Kinda reminds me of Britney Spears' near baby drop.


Moral of the story? Practice safe baby holding.

Womp womp. The end.

Pleased to meet you, hope you guess my name

I have been seduced by the dark side blogosphere.

It seems like everyone and their 'dawg' has a blog these days. And as a former media studies student, I have often felt inclined to jump on the digital bandwagon. But if you reader(s) should know anything about me right off the proverbial bat, it would be this: As far as technoculture is concerned, I am the underdog. 

Allow me to briefly expand on this brilliantly original sports analogy: I didn't get my first cell phone until the ripe old age of 20, I don't own an "i" anything, and my Facebook friend count remains under 200, yet I still know what it means to tweet, bbm, and podcast, I am always the first to "Google that shit," and YouTube is (sadly) one of my closest friends. In other words, while I may not be an internet sensation yet, I'm still hella good at weaving my way through the interweb.

So fret not, friends (and potential employers creeping on me), I'm completely revved up and ready to get in the game. Watch out for jersey 2.0. 

Better late than never, right? 

Let's play ball.