As of Late

Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 30

2011-09-26T20:33:00.000-04:00

Summer Send-Off

Nothing helps ease the transition into fall quite like an outdoor concert—the vibe is relaxed, the conversation is buoyant and the air is crisp and refreshing. And what better place to stage a final salute to summer than a gym parking lot? It might sound peculiar on paper, but the execution was flawless.

Last Saturday night, Toronto indie rockers Hooded Fang celebrated the release of their sophomore album, Tosta Mista, as well as the launch of their record label, Daps Records. Presented by Wavelength and held in the Academy of Lions parking lot, the evening was nothing short of a stellar summer send-off.

With art installations glowing and Steam Whistles flowing, the crowd warmed up to the smooth hip-hop stylings of Wio-K and the raw garage-rock sounds of Odonis Odonis. Sandwiches from Sky Blue Sky were served as the parking lot filled up.

Wio-K

Odonis Odonis

Once Hooded Fang hit the stage, the feel-good vibes were in full swing. Confidently plunging into Tosta Mista's fast and fuzzy surf-rock sounds, the band kept the energy high and the mood buoyant as they plowed through their highly-anticipated—and subsequently well-received—sophomore release.

Hooded Fang

As the concert drew to a close, Hooded Fang slowed things down with the dreamy "Den of Love" and charming encore "Sleep Song." Concertgoers meditatively swayed along, feeling light as a feather as they floated out into the night.

One last waltz before autumn descends.

Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 29

2011-08-22T22:29:00.011-04:00

Summer Six

Like a cold beverage on a hot day, no summer is complete without a crisp and refreshing soundtrack that goes down smooth. Beer commercial rhetoric aside, here are six notable bands that will help quench your summer anthem thirst:

1. Hooded Fang (pictured): Toronto indie darlings Hooded Fang pack an infectious punch on their sophomore release. Clocking in at a short but so-damn-sweet 22 minutes, Tosta Mista brims with fast and fuzzy surf-rock sounds ready for shaking and shimmying the night away.

<a href="http://hoodedfang.bandcamp.com/track/clap">Clap by HOODED FANG</a>
2. Bombay Bicycle Club: Armed with airy melodies, toe-tapping rhythms and a music video that's cute as hell, London rockers Bombay Bicycle Club return with their light and breezy new tune "Shuffle"—enough to keep listeners on their feet until the band's third album A Different Kind Of Fix arrives on August 29th.

3. Handsome Furs: Montreal electro-pop duo Handsome Furs never miss a beat. Propelling forward with urgent anthems, blazing vocals and more synth-driven melodies than an '80s school dance, the band's third album Sound Kapital marks their most passionate release yet.

4. Cults: The buzz surrounding New York pop duo Cults is thicker than an ugly-sweater party in December. But it's not without merit, as the group's dreamy, '60s-infused melodies shimmer with a gentle nostalgia that's enough to make anyone sway.

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://cults.bandcamp.com/track/go-outside"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Go Outside by Cults&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>
5. Black Lips: Six albums deep, garage rockers Black Lips peek their heads out from the scuzzy, lo-fi trenches—if only for a touch of polish from producer Mark Ronson. Although tight and tidy, Arabia Mountain still kicks around those room-spinning, dive-bar-thrashing anthems perfect for a hazy night out.

6. Bon Iver: It's time to give "Skinny Love" a breather and get cozy with "Calgary," the woodsy first single from Bon Iver's self-titled sophomore album. Delicate and enchanting, "Calgary" pairs well with the cool, quiet nights that mark the transition into fall.

Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 28

2011-07-04T22:18:00.013-04:00

Summer Concert Season
More skin. More sweat.

More sweet summer anthems.

Summer concert season has arrived. Time to bypass coat check and save the extra coin for another round at the bar. Time to feel light and loose in tank tops and flip flops. Time to get lost in the crowd. Time to catch the eye of a stranger. Time to hold hands, to wave hands, to clap in unison. Time to sing at the top of your lungs.

Time to transition from the patio to the park, from the sand to the stage, from the van to the venue. Time to soak up the sun, the songs, the surroundings. Time to revel in the great outdoors.

Summer's here. Now go out and get it.

Royalty

2011-07-02T18:44:00.000-04:00

I'll be outside howling at the moon

Check-in

2011-06-25T12:19:00.002-04:00

By Brecht Vandenbroucke

Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 27

2011-05-16T20:14:00.009-04:00

Who Took the Bomp? Le Tigre on Tour

Feminism. Sexism. Homophobia.

Vulnerability. Confidence. Independence.

Politics. Power.

Sometimes you just need to lighten up.

Documenting Le Tigre’s final world tour in 2004, Who Took the Bomp? Le Tigre on Tour is an inspiring film that's packed with feel-good energy. The feminist electroclash trio—comprised of Kathleen Hanna, Johanna Fateman and JD Samson—confront and embrace all of the above topics and issues, but with a refreshingly calm wisdom and strength.

Armed with humour, quirky costumes and shameless dance moves, Le Tigre are strong and independent, but not angry. Dealing with sexism, homophobia and beyond in the music industry, they take a dignified approach, remaining most impassioned through their art. In fact, the most heated the band gets is when frontwoman Kathleen Hanna takes her vein-popping vocals to the stage.

Offstage, the members of Le Tigre are calm, cool and collected. As old souls in youthful getups, they remain humble yet firm in their beliefs.

Even if you’re not a fan of Le Tigre’s music, it's not difficult to appreciate the band’s contagious energy and undeniable stage presence. Each member of Le Tigre brings her own individual sound and insight, creating a musical tour de force for anyone who wants to feel empowered.

Tell the night I'm not sleeping

2011-04-23T11:32:00.003-04:00

Painting by Rosson Crow

There's a space in my mind's big bookshelves

Holds the place of an idiot's dream

For the songs I'll never sing

Humming sweet summer guitar melodies

Running wild

2011-04-17T22:03:00.011-04:00

When I was young

And moving fast

Nothing slowed me down

A tiny piece of paper falls out of my desk drawer and suddenly I'm a hot mess. Wounds resurface, things get misty and time starts to blur.

Three big gulps, two red cheeks and one pounding head later, this weary soul has hit the sheets.

And the rest is history.

History. The past. Dead and gone. Not to be repeated.

It's time to take out the trash.

Pen to the paper

2011-03-09T19:32:00.001-05:00

I put the pen to the paper many nights ago

Happy Canadian Music Week!

So smooth now

2011-02-14T22:49:00.000-05:00

We'll still be best friends when all turns to dust

- "Excuses," The Morning Benders

Happy heart day, all.

Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 26

2011-02-07T20:36:00.210-05:00

"Wouldn't it be nice to be lost in the city?"
- "Younger Days," Hooded Fang

In the brash, ruthless depths of winter, I increasingly find myself wandering these big city streets. Seduced by the crisp clarity that the sharp air brings, I opt for the long way home, wistfully passing by old haunts and curiously soaking up new sights. Bundled up and blissed out, music keeps me company.

Yet in the great spirit of urban hibernation, I don't have to wander very far to warm my music-loving ears. And what better way to fight the winter blahs than to cozy up with the local lays of Toronto's very own Hooded Fang?

[Artwork look familiar? The band's album cover was crafted by Honest Ed's sign painter Dougie Kerr.]

Hands down, Hooded Fang Album is the perfect winter weather soundtrack. Each one of the album's orchestral pop melodies fuses nostalgic, swaying narratives with a youthful warmth to create infectiously breezy songs with major toe-tapping appeal. Wistful without being overly woeful, Hooded Fang Album is one dangerously charming release.

I know, I know that the highway steam
Runs through our veins at the break of reason

p.s. You can also read my CD review on !earshot or stream the entire album online. Or you can just do yourself a favour and buy the album already.

Thank me later. Spring is nigh, my friends.

Heart skipped a beat

2011-01-25T22:31:00.006-05:00

Anyone else experience exceptionally bizarre yet remarkably insightful dreams in the wintertime?

Heart skipped a beat

And when I caught it

You were out of reach

I am Jack's smirking revenge

2011-01-23T15:46:00.002-05:00

"I ran. I ran until my muscles burned and my veins pumped battery acid. Then I ran some more." - Fight Club

Soul searching... on the Internet

2011-01-22T17:02:00.000-05:00

Along the way

2011-01-09T21:36:00.008-05:00

Not my house

Just one I walk past

When I want to spend time with you

In my thoughts

Match Point

2011-01-08T13:57:00.000-05:00

"Hello" - Martin Solveig feat. Dragonette

VS.

"Giving Up The Gun" - Vampire Weekend

Grow Your Own Unicorn: Days 2-10

2010-12-30T18:53:00.053-05:00

Grow Your Own Unicorn: Day 1

2010-12-19T14:44:00.001-05:00

Best Friend

2010-12-12T14:40:00.001-05:00

"And every day, I waited for you

And every day, on the top of your car"

Pretty patterns in the same old dream

2010-11-28T16:21:00.000-05:00

"Trap the mouse before you change your mind"

It was a dark and foggy night

2010-11-12T22:47:00.111-05:00

On Hiatus

2010-10-31T21:01:00.077-04:00

Remember when I wrote "updates coming soon" (see previous post)? ~~Well, I lied.~~ Scratch that, no fibbing was involved. The intent was there, I just happened to get extremely sick and couldn't do anything for the life of me other than sleep, read and watch excessive amounts of trashy television.

[Note: Last activity not recommended. Trashy television in moderation, my friends.]

At least the view outside my window was nice:

But fear not, dear users of the interweb, my health has improved and my itch to write has returned like a sleazy, overused simile. Yet before I can even begin to compensate for lost blogging time, I have a plethora of catching up to do offline.

That's right, As of Late is officially on hiatus.

It's not you, it's me.

I promise.

P.S. Happy Halloween. Save some treats for me, will you? I've had enough of life's tricks for a while.

Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 25

2010-10-11T23:04:00.001-04:00

"Barely awake, but I still got my stripes"

I can't stop listening to Tokyo Police Club's album "Champ." It's full of witty tunes that are extremely catchy without being annoying. Ear candy indeed.

Updates coming soon! Thanks for sticking around.

Night by Night

2010-09-19T22:31:00.000-04:00

Me: I'll have a vodka seven, please.
Bartender: Sorry, we don't have any 7 Up... is Sprite ok?
Me: Yeah, sure...
Bartender: [Pulls out a 355 ml can of President's Choice Spritz Up and mixes drink.] That'll be $4.75, please.

I only frequent the classiest of joints.

My bed's too big for just me

2010-08-31T22:54:00.082-04:00

As the sweet, sweaty days of summer begin drawing to a close, I find myself veering away from the blogosphere and gravitating towards 'the real world' in search of last-minute adventures, much-needed reunions and many a sleepless night. Yet while my days remain busy and my nights stay satisfyingly hazy, I must confess that I have been completely lacking in the concert-going department as of late.

Luckily enough, in a delightful twist of fate, indie rockers Ra Ra Riot put on a free show at the Mod Club in Toronto last night and I was able to attend.

The music sounded effortlessly smooth, the lighting changes were quite impressive and the crowd was thick but attentive, making for an overall pleasant transition back into the concert scene.

Ra Ra Riot's sound is quite melodic and romantic as the six-piece has both a cellist and violinist to their name. Sometimes upbeat and sometimes melancholic, Ra Ra Riot's music makes me want to dance and reach for tissues at the same time.

I especially enjoyed the hypnotic bass line on their latest single "Boy" (from their newly released album The Orchard), although I'm still partial to their 2009 single "Can You Tell":

"My bed's too big for just me"

Farewell, August.

East Coast Love

2010-08-08T22:42:00.192-04:00

Thought I'd share a few pics from my trip to Halifax (and surrounding area) last weekend — enjoy!

Martinique Beach

Citadel Hill

Maritime Museum

Halifax Harbour

Natal Day fireworks

Happy belated birthday, Halifax! Cheers.

A Salute to Summer

2010-07-27T09:10:00.068-04:00

There's nothing more refreshing than escaping the city for a weekend — especially when it involves a cottage, a sandy beach, good reads, great eats and the company of hilarious friends.

Before I blow the cheese factor through the roof, I just want to remind you that it's summertime. Even if you can't get away for a weekend, take your lunch outside, go for a walk, throw a frisbee around...you know the drill.

Go ahead and unplug. I dare you.

"To go away on a summer's day

never seemed so clear"

Let's make August a good one.

Inside and out

2010-07-20T11:51:00.001-04:00

Untitled (Opium Den) by Rosson Crow

Sous-Entendu
by Anne Stevenson

Don't think

that I don't know
that as you talk to me
the hand of your mind
is inconspicuously
taking off my stocking,
moving in resourceful blindness
up my thigh.

Don't think
that I don't know
that you know
everything I say
is a garment.

Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 24

2010-07-12T22:28:00.249-04:00

I have a confession to make: I've been listening to a certain blond pop star as of late — although not the one you might expect. Sure, this lady is a style icon and a successful dance hit generator, but her stage name doesn't rhyme with 'rah-rah.' It does rhyme with 'dobbin,' however.

I'm talking about Swedish songstress Robyn.

Yes, the same singer of the '90s pop hit — and personal favourite at awkward grade school dances — "Show Me Love":

She's come a long way, baby.

Although her haircut and candy-coated voice largely remain intact, Robyn's music — since she founded her own record label Konichiwa Records in 2005 — has evolved from sweet and simple pop tunes to much more cheeky and edgy electropop sounds. Sure, her songs are still formulaic, but she packs in just enough sass and crass that you won't feel like you're listening to your bubblegum-pop-loving tween sister's albums. Nevertheless, you and your sis will both feel inclined to "dance like no one's watching" (her quote of choice, of course).

There's something particularly enjoyable about her combination of playful, almost child-like vocals with brash and humorous, yet heartfelt, sentiments. Robyn is not afraid to be vulnerable or wear her heart on her sleeve, but she'll crank up the bass, synths and quirky lyrics just to make sure you're listening...and dancing.

As the first of her three-album Body Talk series, Robyn's latest disc Body Talk Pt. 1 wittily plays out like a dance party for single ladies who just want to...well, dance.

Body Talk Pt. 2 is set for a September release.

Here's the first single off of Body Talk Pt. 1 — "Dancing On My Own":

I'm in the corner

Watching you kiss her

I'm right over here

Why can't you see me?

I'm giving it my all

But I'm not the girl you're taking home

I keep dancing on my own

Story of my life, girl. Keep on dancing, my friends.

Movie Mondays?

2010-07-11T22:37:00.040-04:00

Comic by Toothpaste for Dinner

One of my countless international superfans (a.k.a. my sister's friend in Japan) has requested that I write more movie reviews on my blog.

Unfortunately, I have not seen any new movies as of late, nor are there any films currently in theatres that particularly tickle my fancy.

Any suggestions?

The most recent film I saw was Sex and the City 2. For what it's worth, here's my 5-second movie review:

"It wasn't the best I ever had, but I don't regret it. Cheap thrills."

Moving on.

The remainder of this blog post was inspired by chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, proving that gluttony can be productive:

Staring at the quickly-melting ~~gallon~~ scoop of ice cream in my bowl one hot summer's night, I noticed two horrified chocolate chip eyes and one gaping cookie dough mouth staring right back at me.

What is my ice cream trying to tell me?, I thought to myself. What is it trying to say?

And so, like any other sensible human being, I gave my ice cream a voice.

I may scream, you may scream and/or we all may scream for ice cream, but the only thing this bowl of dessert was shrieking was, "I'm melting! Melting!" à la the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz.

And so, like any other rational-minded person, I thought to myself, If other inanimate objects could talk using only movie quotes, what would they say?

Et voilà:

If ______ could talk, it would say...

My computer monitor:
"Wipe that face off your head, bitch."
- Darla Marks (Parker Posey), Dazed and Confused

My radio:
"Turn up the good, turn down the suck!"
- Dean Murdoch (Paul Spence), FUBAR

A glow stick:
"E.T. phone home."
- E.T., E.T.

A toilet:
"The horror...the horror..."
- Kurtz (Marlon Brando), Apocalypse Now

The CN Tower:
"Nobody puts Baby in a corner."
- Johnny Castle (Patrick Swazye), Dirty Dancing

The moon:
"Chlorophyll? More like BOREophyll."
- Billy Madison (Adam Sandler), Billy Madison

Hair gel:
"Leave the gun. Take the cannoli."
- Richard Castellano (Peter Clemenza), The Godfather

Corn:
"I'll be back."
- The Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger), The Terminator

Did I just write all of that? I'll get better soon, I promise.

Your turn.

Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 23

2010-07-05T22:14:00.007-04:00

One new album I've been listening to as of late is When You Left The Fire by Toronto folk five-piece The Wilderness of Manitoba. Although not your typical "blast with the top down" summertime release, the CD has an eerie yet charming sound to it, reminiscent of a cross between Fleet Foxes and Great Lake Swimmers.

As its title hints, When You Left The Fire is ablaze with fire imagery. Fittingly enough, the album could perhaps best be enjoyed around a late-night campfire — after the crowd has thinned, the conversation has died down and only your closest friends remain.

Update: I recently reviewed When You Left The Fire for !earshot online. Click to read my CD review.

Over and out.

Canada: A lot to love

2010-07-01T17:32:00.005-04:00

My name is Hilary and I am proud to be Canadian. I love Canadian autumns, eating poutine and Nanaimo bars, picking apples, reading Douglas Coupland, watching lightning strike the CN Tower, shopping in Kensington Market, hiking the Bruce Trail, Terry Fox, George Stroumboulopoulos, Rick Mercer, the CBC, the CNE ...the list goes on.

And, oh yeah, I love Canadian music: Arcade Fire, Bedouin Soundclash, Born Ruffians, Broken Social Scene, City and Colour, Crystal Castles, Great Lake Swimmers, Japandroids, Joel Plaskett, Olenka and the Autumn Lovers, Stars, Still Life Still, Sunset Rubdown, Thunderheist, The Tragically Hip, The Wilderness of Manitoba, Wolf Parade, The Wooden Sky...again, the list is endless.

But what do YOU love about Canada? What really tickles your Timbits? What gets you out of your igloo in the morning? What puts the "eh" in your day?

I asked my friends and family to share what they love most about Canada and their response was overwhelming. Here's what they said:

Terry Fox Monument

Thunder Bay, Ontario (June 2008)

1. The people: Dan Aykroyd, David Suzuki, Douglas Coupland, George Stroumboulopoulos, Jian Ghomeshi, Jim Carrey, John Candy, Joni Mitchell, Margaret Atwood, Mike Myers, Neil Young, Peter Mansbridge, Rick Mercer, Stuart McLean, Terry Fox, Wayne Gretzky

In their own words:

"The laid-back, easy-going folks."
"We are polite. We are friendly. We are humble. We are self-deprecating. We are unobtrusive. We are modest. We say 'sorry.' And then we apologize when people tell us to stop saying sorry all the time."

Labour Day weekend

Grand Bend, Ontario (September 2007)

2. The great outdoors: The Arctic, beaches, bears, beavers, the Bruce Trail, camping, canoeing, fishing, forests, fruit picking, hiking, hockey, lake swimming, moose, the northern lights, open spaces, the Rockies, skating, skiing, the Sleeping Giant, snow shoveling, snowshoeing, the wilderness

In their own words:

"Being able to have four distinct seasons."
"The feeling of wide open space and wilderness. When you drive around Europe you come across a town every 10 or 15 minutes. I love that you can drive, or even better, paddle, for hours or days without any sign of human habitation in Canada."
"Open space. Canada is a huge country with a small population. We have room to breathe. And so many small, isolated places to discover."
"The ability to ski and bike in the same day [in B.C.]."
"I love the fact that the actual number of lakes in Canada is unknown, but is probably over two million."

Fresh pears and fresh corn

Grandparents' farm in Ontario (August 2007)

4. The food: Apples, asparagus, BeaverTails, beer, blueberries, butter tarts, corn, huckleberries, ketchup chips, maple syrup, Montreal smoked meat, Nanaimo bars, poutine, Saskatoon berries, Swiss Chalet, Tim Hortons

In their own words:

"Timbits. And lots of 'em."
"Outdoor barbecues."
"Fresh corn on the cob in the summer."

Snow day

London, Ontario (December 2006)

5. The arts & entertainment:

TV Shows: Anne of Green Gables, Degrassi, The Hour, Kids in the Hall, My Secret Identity, Ready or Not, Rick Mercer Report, SCTV, Trailer Park Boys
Films: Bon Cop, Bad Cop, The Corporation, C.R.A.Z.Y., FUBAR, It's All Gone Pete Tong, J'ai tué ma mère, Men with Brooms, One Week

Shannon Falls

Squamish, British Columbia (November 2009)

6. Miscellaneous: the Canadian flag, diversity, multiculturalism, saying "eh", Toronto neigbhourhoods, Toonies

In their own words:

"The word 'toque' and the fact that all Canadians use it, and no other country seems to."
"Canadian women."
"Ottawa on Canada Day."

Keep the list going and leave a comment below!

Happy Canada Day!

Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 22

2010-06-28T21:29:00.016-04:00

I have become obsessed with the song "Real Life" (Memory Tapes remix) by Tanlines ever since I came across it on MTV host Dan Levy's summer music blog for FASHION Magazine.

In the words of Mr. Levy himself:

"It’s a shiny, tropical, breezy tune that will integrate seamlessly into your summer soundtrack. So slap on the sunblock, roll up those denim cut-offs and let this little tune sing you into a summer siesta."

Now prepare to become addicted:

Don't say I didn't warn you.

NXNE Photos

2010-06-24T20:55:00.000-04:00

Wavves

Japandroids

PS I Love You

Yonge-Dundas Square Outdoor Mainstage

Wavves

Watching Iggy & The Stooges

Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 21

2010-06-21T23:23:00.161-04:00

Considering there were 650 bands in town for NXNE, I only got a tiny taste of the music festival, but it was so utterly delicious that I just had to blog about it.

The National Post article "NXNE 2010: Five things we learned at Wavves" helps sum up my Friday night at Lee's Palace (which included sets by The Happy Hollows, Wavves, PS I Love You, and my personal favourite, Japandroids), but there were a few other things worth noting that I learned at Lee's and at NXNE in general:

People at rock concerts (myself included) like to talk a lot about sweat — how sweaty they are, how sweaty the band is, how sweaty the shirtless guy that just squeezed past is...you get the point. It's a default conversation topic, just like the weather. Yet the forecast for these occasions almost always seems to be 'humid with a 100% chance of sweat.' Think about it: Are you really at a rock concert if you or someone near you isn't sweating? You decide.

Musicians at NXNE like to hang out, stick around and support other musicians. The Happy Hollows played from approximately 10 to 10:45 p.m., but they must have hung around the bar area for at least two hours after. Japandroids were also hanging out long before their midnight set. And if I am not mistaken, I also spotted some members of Still Life Still and Surfer Blood at Lee's for the Wavves and Japandroids sets. Coincidentally enough, I saw Brian from Japandroids in the crowd at Yonge-Dundas Square watching the free Surfer Blood concert the next day.

NXNE is awesome. Enough said.

Here are some memorable tunes from the weekend:

1. "Young Hearts Spark Fire" - Japandroids

2. "Twin Peaks" - Surfer Blood

3. "No Hope Kids" - Wavves

(Mediocre) photos coming soon!

Young hearts spark fire

2010-06-17T23:36:00.050-04:00

"Some hearts bleed...our hearts sweat."

Toronto's annual North by Northeast Music Festival and Conference (a.k.a. NXNE) officially kicked off yesterday. That means hundreds of local, national and international musicians are currently performing, roaming the streets, doing interviews or maybe even appearing on MTV.

Yesterday, I went to see Vancouver garage rock duo Japandroids perform on MTV Live.

For a band that expresses so much nostalgia for youthful abandon in their music, singer/guitarist Brian King and drummer David Prowse are incredibly energetic onstage. I don't know how old these guys are, but they look damn youthful to me. You've still got time, fellas. Give me hope.

Even with lyrics like "We used to dream/Now we worry about dying" or "Give me younger us," their music is much more of a cheeky and almost celebratory reminiscence rather than a purely despondent one. They're angsty without being emo, passionate without being too serious — and they know a thing or two about bringing the noise.

Click to watch Japandroids performing on MTV Live or listen to their latest song "Younger Us" below — another tune bursting with angsty reminiscence, but in the best possible way:

Remember when we had them all on the run?

Happy NXNE everyone!

The secret garden

2010-06-16T09:49:00.115-04:00

Summer officially rears its blazing head on the 21st, which leaves only 5 days for any last-minute spring cleaning.

And so, in the spirit of tidiness, I thought I would publish a post that I had started composing in the fall, yet never quite finished.

Et voilà:

The secret garden
My mother is an avid, passionate gardener, yet a humble one at that. She takes great care of — and immense pleasure in — her backyard garden, but does not require, nor does she even desire, any recognition or acclaim.

I may be slightly biased when I proclaim her garden to be one of the GTA's best kept secrets, but I don't have any problem boasting on her behalf.

It's truly a lush oasis in this smoggy, congested city and I'm thankful for it.

I snapped a few photos of the garden last fall and decided to follow up with a few more in the spring. Perhaps they don't do the garden justice, but here's a little peek anyway:

Fall:

Even death has its charms

Spring:

Moths can be pretty too

Bonus: My attempt at a panorama (click for a larger image):

Are you ready for the summer?

Subs, subways and sleep

2010-06-11T23:46:00.054-04:00

I'll keep things short and sweet today.

This is the web, after all — readers enjoy their one-sentence paragraphs.

So why not recap my week via bullet points?

Here are some thoughts and events that have been bumming around in my mind as of late:

Torontonians sure are one drowsy bunch: No matter what time I get on the subway, someone is always sleeping.

Speaking of subways, my father decided to test out his comedic skills at Subway this week. The disgruntled, teenaged sandwich artist behind the counter remained largely unimpressed. On the other hand, yours truly got quite a chuckle (and a free sub) out of it. I cannot divulge any further details at this point, as I suspect my father has already copyrighted his jokes.

Speaking of food, can life not even afford to hand me lemons anymore? I am no longer surprised when a potential employer informs me that well over 150 people applied for the position I am so eager to fill. Someone throw me a bone here. Actually, make it a sub. I'm hungry and I don't particularly enjoy the taste of dog treats.

Speaking of sleep (see first bullet point), I should really stop using my cell phone as an alarm clock. Using my cell as an alarm means leaving the sound on, which also means being awoken by drunk texters and people who decide — at 2 a.m. — to reply to a message I sent them at 6 p.m.

Speaking of things near my bed, I have written countless unfinished poems. Perhaps I should write a poem about all of my unfinished poems...and then never finish it. That would be fitting.

And lastly, speaking of unfinished things, I have slowly started to give my blog a facelift. The change may be drastic or it may be very subtle — only time will tell.

Cheers,

Hilary

Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 20

2010-05-31T22:04:00.014-04:00

Last Friday, I went to see indie rockers Born Ruffians perform at the hot and sweaty Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto.

Yes, it really was that humid. But if the perspiration levels were any indication of the concert's reception, it would be safe to conclude that the show was a sweet, sweaty success.

Performing for a sold-out crowd, Born Ruffians played a balanced mix of new songs and old favourites, satisfying fans as they chanted towards the end of the show for "I Need A Life" (off of the album Red, Yellow & Blue).

Onstage, the band brought their kooky-yet-clever tunes to life with pleasing variations and powerful pipes that just can't be duplicated. As for the audience, they were just as animated as lead singer Luke Lalonde's sprightly vocals.

But what really put the cherry on top of this toothsome concert was the fact that every attendee received a free copy of the band's new album Say It upon entering the venue. Sweet indeed.

I'm really enjoying Say It so far. It's a fun and playful album that provides a perfect soundtrack for summertime activities — backyard barbecues, road trips, cottage shenanigans... you name it.

Here's the video for "What to Say," the first single off of Say It:

Cool concept, eh?

Library lucubrations

2010-05-30T18:49:00.016-04:00

Sometimes when I am bored, I will search online for items to put on hold at the local public library — books, movies or music to keep me occupied while I find myself lacking in what one might call 'a social life'.

Needless to say, I have my 14-digit library card number memorized.

On one especially hot and steamy Friday night, I was searching the library system for a certain Bob Dylan album when I came across the following:

What's this? "Due: NEVER"?

What exactly does "Due: NEVER" mean? That doesn't make much sense in a system based on borrowing and returning (with a heavy reliance on the 'returning' part).

And why the caps? That seems unnecessarily harsh. Someone already gets to check out an item forever, so why the added emphasis of capital letters to shove it in my face?

Yeah, I'm probably just jealous.

Nerdy much? You bet.

Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 19

2010-05-17T22:56:00.076-04:00

It's a runner's world.

The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming and the mp3 player is packed with great tunes to pound the pavement with.

Which songs will find themselves in heavy rotation this year?

In the category of "Music To Run To," last summer's personal chart-toppers included Girl Talk's Night Ripper; an assortment of soundtrack samplings from Grease, Rent, Dirty Dancing and Chicago; and one mildly eccentric classic rock playlist that included Canadian favourites such as Kim Mitchell's "Go For a Soda" and April Wine's "Oowatanite."

No shame here.

Some summer songs don't require the sight of shirtless men or the influence of four Long Island iced teas to get my toes tapping. Sometimes I read Pitchfork and sometimes I listen to commercial radio. So be it.

In other words, I'm kinda digging Justin Bieber's "Baby."

There, I said it. Moving on.

One song that I've been ~~huffing and puffing~~ graciously gliding along to is "Summertime Clothes" by Animal Collective. Aside from the obvious title of the tune, it has some great summer-themed lyrics that are lush with imagery. I love the story that the song tells of walking around town on a hot, sleepless night with a significant other (or perhaps a summer flame). As for the music video itself, it simply reminds me of bloodshot eyeballs. Go figure.

Might as well go for a soda.

Les Amours Imaginaires trailer

2010-05-11T19:51:00.017-04:00

If you didn't already know, my heart belongs to a gay man. Here's looking at you, Xavier Dolan.

Never have I so immensely enjoyed such a bizarrely coiffed mop of hair.

But what's this? A new film by mon amour? Yes indeed!

Here's the gorgeous trailer for Les Amours Imaginaires, a love-triangle story written, directed and starring Xavier Dolan:

"Heartbreaker — that's you."

The film debuts this month at the Cannes International Film Festival and is set for a June release in Québec.

Tankograd at Hot Docs

2010-05-07T19:49:00.047-04:00

Just got back from watching Tankograd, a documentary from Denmark about the Chelyabinsk Contemporary Dance Theatre, a modern dance company in Chelyabinsk, Russia, the most radioactively polluted city in the world. The film was screened here in Toronto as part of the annual Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.

From the film's website:

"The region's inhabitants have been exposed to radioactive contamination 20 times higher than Chernobyl.

The name Tankograd (Tank City) derives from the city's mass-production of Soviet weaponry and tanks for the Second World War.

It was the birthplace of the Soviet nuclear bomb.

Chelyabinsk expanded its nuclear production and went on to become one of the Soviet secret cities during the cold war. During the 1950s and 1960s many severe nuclear accidents and spills occurred at the city's nuclear plant, Mayak, located just 50 miles north of the of the city center.

Today the former nuclear missile factory operates as a storage facility for nuclear waste from Russia, USA and Europe."

Featuring an eerily beautiful soundtrack by Ghost Society, Tankograd is a lyrical film which combines the humbling heaviness of the city's residents with a sprinkle of beauty, expression and hope through dance.

The Hot Docs festival runs until May 9th, but you can also check out past Canadian documentaries for free on the Hot Docs Doc Library website.

Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 18

2010-04-19T22:44:00.053-04:00

Skins update: I just finished watching Season 2 of Skins and it was a lot darker and grittier than the first, although equally as amazing. Plenty of drama, dark humour and dizzying dilemmas to go around. Fantastic stuff, really.

But what does this have to do with music, you ask? It was a pleasant surprise to spot canuck musicians Born Ruffians and Crystal Castles performing in two of the episodes. Canadian music for the win!

I always love me some homegrown talent. On that note, check out TheHumbleEmpire on YouTube for some great acoustic performances by various Canadian artists in Toronto's Trinity Bellwoods Park — including Luke Lalonde, lead singer of the aforementioned Born Ruffians:

Enjoy!

Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 17

2010-04-05T22:00:00.013-04:00

Let's cut to the chase: The Runaways is an excellent movie. Sure, there are countless angles a filmmaker could take in documenting the rise of an all-girl rock band, but I quite fancied music video maven Floria Sigismondi's approach. It's a gritty, provocative film with its fair share of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle and impressive acting to boot.

Special kudos to Dakota Fanning for a surprisingly brilliant performance. Jailbait indeed.

At the very least, you'll have "Cherry Bomb" stuck in your head for about a week. Not too shabby.

Hello daddy,
Hello mom,
I'm your ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-cherry bomb!

Just give'r

2010-04-03T19:09:00.023-04:00

I recently came across these "Great Reasons to Smoke" videos featuring Dean and Terry of Fubar fame. They're part of an anti-smoking campaign put on by the Nova Scotia Office of Health Promotion and they're quite hilarious:

As it stands, Plan B is to just keep on smokin'.

p.s. Fubar 2 is currently in production and is set to hit theatres next winter.

Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 16

2010-03-29T21:39:00.011-04:00

Much like the recent identity-crisis-ridden weather, I have been feeling quite up and down as of late. Am I a lion... or am I a lamb? Perhaps I'm a llama? Or maybe a lobster? Please don't let me be a louse... or a leech... Join the club, Mother Nature, join the club.

But judging by this week's forecast, perhaps things are about to start looking up. Vitamin D for the win!

Anyway, I thought I'd pass on this intriguing video by The Knife that my sister Anne shared with me. Interestingly enough, the song is called "Pass This On":

I hope you catch some of that spring fever that's been going around. You'll pass this on, won't you?

Stuck on Skins

2010-03-21T17:43:00.036-04:00

To me, being sick means napping at all hours, surfing the net for no particular reason, reading until my eyes bleed, and 'discovering' for the 100th time that there's nothing good on TV.

Luckily, being sick also means catching up on all those TV shows already on DVD that I've been meaning to watch.

Skins

I just finished watching Season 1 of the British teen drama Skins and I must say, I was quite impressed. Sure, it features all of the characters found in your typical teen drama (the princess, the nerd, the popular one, the loyal sidekick, the party animal, etc) and all the familiar ingredients (love triangles, peer pressure, rebellion, self-esteem and body issues, etc), but with a lot more sex, drugs, and illegal activities to boot.

What I like about the show — and what makes it stand out from the typical teen drama — is its blunt British humour, its sometimes surreal sequences, how each episode focuses on one character, how every character has a dysfunctional family, and how the characters actually look like teenagers. Sometimes brilliant and sometimes bizarre, Skins is certainly entertaining.

All of the Skins videos on YouTube have had their embed functions disabled, so click to watch the Skins Season 1 trailer.

On to Season 2. Stay healthy my friends!

Reveling in Ravelstein / The World According to Hilary

2010-03-16T21:45:00.072-04:00

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend.

Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."

-Groucho Marx

Photo by moriza

One positive thing about commuting to work is that I get a good 10 hours of reading in every week on the subway alone. And burying my nose in a book helps distract me from just how close to my own face the nose of the person squished beside me is...

The endless possibilities of language never cease to amaze me — I'm constantly fascinated by words and their boundless combinations. And sometimes, while reading a novel, I find certain passages, sentences or even small phrases to be more memorable than the book as a whole. For instance, I recently read Saul Bellow's Ravelstein, and while it was quite the splendid piece of literature, for the first half of the novel I found myself reveling more in the book's sparse-yet-effective injections of humour than its philosophical musings. As evidence, here are two sentences from Ravelstein that made me chuckle like a crazy lady on the subway:

"He swore off contact lenses after he lost one in a spaghetti sauce he was cooking."

"You drank from your Coke bottle, and T.S. Eliot was watching -- with horror."

In other instances, I find myself predicting whether I will enjoy a novel or not merely by reading its opening line. Ok, that might seem akin to literally judging a book by its cover, but when I read the opening line of The World According to Garp, I just knew it was going to be a good read:

"Garp's mother, Jenny Fields, was arrested in Boston in 1942 for wounding a man in a movie theatre."

Talk about a hook.

Other times, I'm simply struck by creative imagery...:

"The woman at the mercado had dirty blond hair, like margarine full of crumbs." -Dave Eggers, How We Are Hungry

...or humourously relatable passages...:

"I have this disease late at night sometimes, involving alcohol and the telephone." -Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse-Five

...or just plain old humour:

"Buying clothes is always tricky. But when there's loud music playing, it really throws your judgment. You look at stuff like, 'Hey, if there was a cool party and I was a cool guy, this might be a cool shirt.'

You get it home, there's no music, there's no party, and you're not a cool guy.

You're the same chump, 75 bucks lighter." -Jerry Seinfeld, Seinlanguage

This post could go on forever, but you get the point.

Savour language. It's damn tasty.

Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 15

2010-03-15T19:12:00.013-04:00

Two buzz-generating music videos were released last week:

1. Young Artists for Haiti - Wavin' Flag
They'll call me freedom, just like a wavin' flag...

2. Lady Gaga ft. Beyoncé - Telephone
I knew you'd take all my honey...

Thoughts?

Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 14

2010-03-08T21:34:00.016-05:00

Today is International Women's Day, so let's raise a toast to all the intelligent, inspiring, inventive, funny, fearless, loving, loyal, beautiful women in our lives.

And let's not forget all the amazingly talented female musicians out there who continue to knock our socks off.

Cheers, ladies. Now crank up the volume!

Triumph of the Chill

2010-03-02T20:59:00.225-05:00

It was a great Canadian weekend for obvious reasons. But in-between puck drops, I had the pleasure of viewing a 46-minute documentary on a perhaps lesser-known Canadian athlete of sorts: The Snowking.

Documenting the rise and production of the annual Snowking Winter Festival in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Triumph of the Chill follows Tony (the Snowking) and his loyal band of "sno-ldiers" as they build the festival's venue and pièce de résistance: a giant castle made entirely out of snow and ice.

Now in its 15th year, the Snowking Winter Festival is a month-long festival in March that features fireworks, art exhibitions, theatre performances, nighttime concerts, and a hockey tournament.

It's quite interesting to see how the massive castle is built and the film's Rick Mercer/Fubar-esque humour is nicely balanced with great sequences of the Snowking crew hard at work. But the icing on the...erm, 'ice' is the film's soundtrack: featuring local Northwest Territories musicians, tracks range from folk tunes to hip hop rhymes ("home of the ice road truckers/40 below lovers"). Even the Snowking himself sings a little ditty.

I only got my paws on Triumph of the Chill because one of my sisters lives in Yellowknife and she mailed out a copy, but who knows where the flick will end up in a few years. Great film -- I wish it much success.

Although it doesn't do the film justice, here's the trailer for Triumph of the Chill [I'm assuming it was originally titled Stay Cool]:

Stay cool, Canada.

O Canada

2010-02-28T22:09:00.003-05:00

14 gold medals: Not too shabby!

Wacky Winter Workouts

2010-02-27T15:14:00.025-05:00

Let's get physical, physical

I wanna get physical
Let's get into physical
Let me hear your body talk, your body talk
Let me hear your body talk

Now that I've set the mood (and have you humming a quality tune), let's talk fitness.

Don't worry, this won't be a cheesy Body Break-esque lecture; rest assured, it will definitely be a cornball post.

But where to begin on my wacky winter workout adventure? I suppose it all started when the cold weather set in...

Ah yes, my first winter away from Western's gym in four years. For the duration of my university career, I lived within walking distance to campus — thus, I also lived within walking distance to the gym. I could squeeze in a workout before, after, or even in-between classes; I could drop in on the weekends for a study break; or I could meet up with friends for Cardio Kickbox, Total Muscle Conditioning (TMC), or Top Guns and Awesome Abs (TGAA). The gym was always buzzing with life and I even ran into some of my professors there, clad in spandex and see-through shorts (true story, but we'll save that one for another day).

In short, the gym was the place to be: It was quite the healthy procrastination destination and convenience was certainly king.

But this (post-graduation) winter turned out to be a completely different story: With a daily one-hour commute to work, I ended up leaving my house before sunrise and coming home after sunset. By the time I arrived at my casa, it was just too cold and dark to do anything outside.

Sure, I could have joined a new gym, taken up an indoor sport, or just embraced the cold like a 'true Canadian,' but my ability to formulate a myriad of excuses seemed to trump all: Western's gym set the bar too high; I'm too tired after work; I don't have enough time; I don't make enough money; I have asthma...blah, blah, blah. But after more than a few frightening overdoses on chocolate, chips, and every other fatty snack that started with a 'c' (or any other letter of the alphabet for that matter), I knew I couldn't hibernate all winter. So I sought out a solution by doing what I normally do every week: I headed to the library.

No, I didn't whine about my lazy, chocolate-injecting lifestyle to the librarian at the help desk; instead, I headed straight for the DVD section. My solution was nestled between the hard-hitting documentaries and the after school specials. Yes, there they were, those notorious workout videos, sitting pretty in all their flamboyant glory: Hot pink spandex, air-brushed abs, perma-smiles, you name it. Some things never change.

On that note, could those tight and bright outfits, those perky personalities, and all that eccentric music really be considered 'retro' if nothing has actually changed in workout video world? Even the DVDs that were made within the last five years remain overwhelmingly faithful to the above themes. It's as though the workout video world has been frozen in time, happily bouncing around in its own bizarre, neon bubble.

And who knew that there were so many synonyms for your glutes? Bum, butt, buns, fanny, tush, tushy, cheeks, seat, rear, behind, backside, bottom, derrière...the list goes on.

And don't forget the plethora of 'motivational' and 'inspirational' phrases that the cheery instructors incessantly hammer into your brain as you huff and puff away: Whittle your middle; gotta keep both cheeks even; feel the burn; pinch rear; burn rear; are you feeling it?; just think about that chiseled body; you'll thank me later; let's not waste any time; tuck it under; pulse it; hold it; squeeeeeze; are you having fun yet?; don't stop now; you're almost there; you can do it; you're worth it!

Whew, I'm exhausted.

Yet without the 'wacky' factor, these workout videos would simply be...well, boring. Perhaps the workout video formula has never changed simply because it gets the job done. And hey, I'm not complaining. Most of the time, over-the-top theatrics are just what I need to get my ass into gear.

Besides, at the very least, the videos keep me laughing. And that's a workout in itself.

On the pursuit of happiness

2010-02-24T20:17:00.012-05:00

Tell me what you know about dreams

Tell me what you know about night terrors

Updates coming soon.

Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 13

2010-02-15T17:31:00.002-05:00

It's a lazy Family Day holiday for me, so I'm just going to sit back, relax, and leave you with this super fun video of an acoustic Vampire Weekend concert:

How cute was that? Beauty.

Heart beets

2010-02-14T19:24:00.007-05:00

Just enjoyed a little home-cooked lovin' courtesy of my mother (too cute not to share):

Happy heart day!

Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 12

2010-02-08T21:56:00.001-05:00

It's almost Valentine's Day and I'm in the mood for love.

Good thing music is my boyfriend: He's always pulling out all the stops.

Anyway, whether you're attached or single, you can always enjoy a great song, right?

Here's one of my favourites:

And so I thought I'd let you know
That these things take forever

I especially am slow

Until next time, keep fit, have fun, and try not to overdose on chocolate.

Soulvation Wednesdays

2010-02-03T19:32:00.059-05:00

No, the above title isn't the name of a new weekly blog post (sorry!), but it is the name of a weekly soul music night at Strangelove (587 College Street, Toronto).

I quite fancy Strangelove for its electro music on Thursday nights, but I had never been on a Wednesday until two weeks ago.

Overall, it was a very enjoyable experience- no cover, $3 drinks 'til midnight, $3 shots of Jack & Jager all night, flatscreen TVs showing old videos of funky performances, an assortment of DJs playing '60s soul, motown, R&B, and rock 'n roll, and people that aren't afraid to shake what their mama gave them.

Perhaps Wednesday night isn't the ideal night to boogie on down, but a groggy Thursday morning spent double-fisting coffee every once in a while is definitely worth it.

For more info, check out Soulvation's MySpace and Facebook group.

Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 11

2010-02-01T21:46:00.027-05:00

It isn't very often that I make mix CDs anymore, much less receive them. So it was much to my surprise that one arrived in the mail for me a few weeks ago from my lovely sister, Anne. The occasion? My birthday.

Yep, another year older. Another three candles left burning on the cake for those three boyfriends that never quite arrive; another four seasons of triumphs, tears, and drunken debauchery; and another 52 weeks filled with endless surprises.

It hasn't quite hit me yet, although sometimes I think I'm in denial about my age. But once in a while, I'll look through old pictures, read old letters, or just put on a mix CD and feel content about where I'm at today.

Here's a song from a mix CD that I received right around this time last year:

They want you to sink
But you stood up and swam

Around this time last year, listening to the above tune made me feel quite glum for various personal reasons. But as I listen to it today, I can channel Dr. Seuss' words of wisdom and think to myself, "Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."

I won't go into further detail, but I will say this: In any way, shape, or form, pass music on. You never know who's still listening to that mix CD you made a year ago (and who's still smiling because of it). Music, like happiness, is only real when shared.

That is all.

Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 10

2010-01-25T06:54:00.013-05:00

Current musical obsession:

Sunset Rubdown

Sunset Rubdown is an experimental art-rock five-piece from Montreal.

A solo project turned four-piece and now five-piece, Sunset Rubdown has been around for over five years with two EPs and four albums already under their terry cloth robes. Truth is, I had never heard of them up until recently. But it was a fateful encounter and my ears are quite content to be catching up.

And that's the beauty of stumbling across an already-established band: If you like one song or album, you don't have to twiddle your thumbs until the next one comes out because you already have a plethora of tunes to sift through.

I'm really digging Sunset Rubdown's sound because it's more of an experience than background music. I wouldn't throw on a Sunset Rubdown album at low volume while multitasking, but I might blast it while chilling on the couch and absorbing each song's dense instrumental layers.

Really though, each song feels like an eccentrically epic tale with its grand arcs, fantastical storylines, rich metaphors, and overall dizzying melodies.

Yet I'm still having a hard time describing their sound because I feel it's both literally and figuratively 'out of this word': Am I waltzing in a castle? Floating in space with Bowie? Lost in a house of mirrors? About to avenge a murder? At times, all of the above.

I haven't gotten to their latest album, Dragonslayer, yet, but I did hear the following track from it and I'm really enjoying the gorgeous guitars:

I would love to see Sunset Rubdown live one day. Anyone 'been there, done that'?

Something hiding for us in the night

2010-01-24T15:31:00.033-05:00

Hurray! The videos from The Wooden Sky's performance on MTV Live (which I previously blogged about here) have finally been posted.

Click here to check them out. Gorgeous.

I've been thinking about selling off every shirt I own

To stand naked out here in the cold

Just trying to make it out on my own

Live baby jokes

2010-01-17T22:46:00.019-05:00

Normally I'm not a huge fan of baby jokes (especially of the 'dead baby' variety), but I kept coming across these little strips on different websites and they gave me a quite a chuckle:

After two minutes of extensive, exhaustive research, I discovered the source of these photos: A book called Safe Baby Handling Tips by David & Kelly Sopp. Click on the pic below for more:

Enjoy!

Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 9

2010-01-11T22:01:00.002-05:00

Last night, my older brother asked me if I liked "that 'dance 'til you're dead' song." I believe he said it was "pretty sweet."

I immediately knew what he was talking about and I immediately agreed. Indeed brother, that tune is pretty darn sweet. It's so sweet that it gives me a musical sugar high every time I listen to it. It's loud, catchy, edgy, and very danceable. I've even heard a few remixes of the song in different clubs and I must admit that they, too, were nothing short of 'pretty sweet.'

If you haven't guessed it already, the song is "Heads Will Roll" by the wonderful Yeah Yeah Yeahs:

Have a pretty sweet night everyone!

Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 8

2010-01-04T17:18:00.004-05:00

OMG (Oh Music Gods), I think I've got the winter blues.

I'm in a funny mood. Maybe I just need a little sunshine, or maybe I'm anxious about the new beginnings that are about to unfold this month...

...or perhaps I ate too many of those red and green M&Ms over the holidays.

Luckily, I've got just the thing to help lighten the mood. Nope, it's not a hallucinogen. That's not my style. In fact, I can just watch Bret from Flight of the Conchords take one and enjoy the result instead:

I don't know how many times I've watched that video, but it always seems to cheer me up. I'm so glad music is my boyfriend.

Time to dust off my pretty party clothes and face the music.

So it goes

2010-01-01T22:58:00.127-05:00

I haven't quite found

What I'm looking for

Not sure I'm even looking

In the right place

But it's never about the destination
Or so I've been told

It's the places you end up

While trying to find yourself

Happy New Year!

Muse-ic Mondays: Issue 7

2009-12-28T23:36:00.091-05:00

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

2009-12-24T15:48:00.010-05:00

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

2009-12-21T22:46:00.002-05:00

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

2009-12-20T21:33:00.017-05:00

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

2009-12-14T21:57:00.002-05:00

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

2009-12-11T18:21:00.010-05:00

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

2009-12-09T23:52:00.009-05:00

"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

2009-12-07T08:22:00.007-05:00

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

2009-12-05T20:03:00.007-05:00

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

2009-11-30T23:07:00.005-05:00

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

2009-11-29T21:24:00.009-05:00

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

2009-11-25T14:17:00.007-05:00

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% ____?

2009-11-24T23:36:00.013-05:00

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

2009-11-23T07:53:00.006-05:00

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

2009-11-22T11:58:00.074-05:00

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

2009-11-19T20:34:00.016-05:00

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

2009-11-16T23:36:00.004-05:00

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

2009-11-14T16:40:00.008-05:00

"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?

2009-11-12T22:00:00.001-05:00

'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

2009-11-09T21:17:00.001-05:00

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:

Drink more water- down an extra glass in the morning and never leave my water bottle empty at work
Write a poem- or at least start one/do some stream of consciousness writing
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
Compliment a stranger/hold the door open
Email/prank call family members (ok, this one's a given)
Discover new music (yeah, this one's a given too)
Find a song lyric that will inspire me throughout the week (I will start posting these every Monday, beginning next week)
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?

2009-11-05T22:22:00.001-05:00

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

2009-10-31T19:17:00.002-04:00

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

2009-10-30T21:26:00.001-04:00

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

2009-10-29T20:29:00.002-04:00

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

2009-10-28T22:13:00.001-04:00

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

2009-10-27T21:40:00.002-04:00

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.