Without a Yard

pho
Originally uploaded by meegs.

The anniversary went off without a hitch…We slept in ridiculously late - read the weekend papers…walked around our fav ‘hoods…priced sofas…split for respective meetings (Mine for NXNE, his on campus) & responsibilities & re-connected for a sinus clearing Pho dinner…

Of course, there were more mushy & private moments than that…but I’ll leave it at that then…

Annie’s shower was so much fun in its pretention-free set up & simplicity. Her family explains what a sweetie she turned out to be! That gal certainly lucked out with her Waterloo classmates, too, all amazing ladies that I look forward to dancin’ up a storm to some Jon Bon melodies @ My Apt in a couple’o weeks!

This Wednesday sees Robyn heading to sunny AUS to reconnect with her beau…sadly her last days in the GTA won’t be super sunny, but the yin & yang of life has a funny (not ha-ha, but you know, weird) way of working itself out…I’ll miss ya, bra & I expect a TON of those digital photos that the kids like to take these days….

More NXNE stuff to do tomorrow, plus work & reconnecting with my fav OP sales reps - looking forward to revisiting that workplace to fill in in late June (hope Toshi’s okay with that…)

meegs

bicycles
Originally uploaded by meegs.

Theory & Yorkdale Proof - Toronto is the Los Angeles of Canada.

Ugh. I had a loverly visit with Mrs. D (http://torontosun.canoe.ca/News/Columnists/Warmington_Joe/2005/05/12/1035836.html) yesterday & our adventues continue into today - I’m trying to recount as much as possible in my short online time before I meet her for some Cumberland Theatre QT to enjoy a hot doc & dins in the St. Lawrence Market area. After power hiking to the Eaton’s Centre to pick up this Saturday’s shower gift, snag wrapping paper, streetcar it back, wrap that biatch, pound back a quick smoothie lunch, pack up again for campus internet access…I’m crunched fo’shizzle. Upon hearing that I was stag-ing it for the week, she graciously invited me over for dinner with her & her son. Before dins, we strolled leisurely through Yorkville & witnessed the pomp & circumstance that can be Toronto the good.

I’ve had this discussion with the beau before - the LA as TO theory is the only reason why overpriced, meh restos along the College St. strip stay in business - the patio effect. People pay to be seen & eat on display. The only beyond medicore dish @ Diplomatico is the antipasto platter - & how the hell can you screw that up?

Too rich Lohan wannabes penetrate my workplace daily - they sure as hell wouldn’t be pulling that crap in Winnipeg…Witnessed a mini Mean Girls redux moment at work the other night…two 8-ish not even tweens were on a goddamned shopping spree for halter tops, just beyond gross & inapropos - their handler (praying it’s not their Moms..) abided & indulged - the Spears domino effect will dumb down the North American human race, I’m convinced…

TO isn’t all lame-o wannabes - the NXNE crew that I’m team leader-ing with are primo. Met a hella cool chicka that just moved from the Hammer to downtown TO & wants a record store, boutique & badass venue tour - how cool is that? We’re working thisclose & supervising the registration volunteers together. She even has an academic for a beau - bizarro. The meeting was painless & I’m looking forward to meeting the entire crew on Sunday’s fully loaded meeting @ the Rivoli.

Last night’s gig was a huge surprise - went out for the SS Cardiacs & received a shiny & sparkling package of pop perfection in the form of the Bicycles. My bud Matt had told me about’em years ago during our UofT heydays…& I completely forgot about’em. They still haven’t put out a record, but MAN they are the best poppy indie band I’ve seen since I’ve been back. They called up Andy to sing doot doots on the ‘Montreal’ track for the finale which was boss. The Republic of Safety put on a good show, I’ve been enjoying the EP for about a month now & got pretty much exaclty what I had expected - protest punky jumpy pogo-able tunes with a conscience. As for the headliners, Martin & I ducked out about halfway through their set a tad disappointed to say the least. I have heard awesome things about Jessie Stein, but I just wasn’t feeling the SSC that night for some odd reason…

Happenstanced into Phoebe on the way out but punked out on a 360 drink & wanted to book it home & get some rest - as luck has it tossed & turned thanks to freaks of neighbours - slept in hardcore…hence the errand crunch & we’ve come full circle…turn, turn, turn…

peace
meegs

interview_martin
Originally uploaded by meegs.

Pretty low-key weekend for a long holiday weekend…I was working Saturday & Sunday, expected to get called in on Friday, but to no avail…Spent that sunny day helping the beau with a conference paper & writing referee thank you letters…
In anticipation of a solo dwelling arrangement this week, cocooned with the beau & two fav classic comedies - L.A. Story (Inspired by this month’s Believer interview: http://www.believermag.com/issues/200505/interview_martin.php) & Brazil..other than that, no decent shows of note work trekking out for…
Just spent the before-work moments enjoying the sunnyish weather & walking around new & old neighbourhoods - Parkdale, Kensington, Campus, Queen West, Chinatown, Lil’ Italy & Portugal….
There are some interesting future events on the horizon thru work - a couple of coworker CD Release parties, art shows, etc, but nothing supersoon….
Ran into a highschoolmate that I did improv with & tried to fire off some updates to trade. Refreshingly, she was honest & quickly admitted that tho she kept in touch with a handful of PSHS buds, she was almost as clueless as I was about the majority of our castmates…We didn’t even do the phony phone number exchange offer or future plan schitck.
Finally CTV news is inquiring about the ridiculous fees charged by Ticketmaster. The reason I trekked around from Rotate This, Soundscapes & the Horseshoe for Rilo Kiley tix was that the on-line Ticketmaster ’service’ is a doggone joke - $3.50 extra per person + you either have to haul yo ass to a ticket printout outlet or wait in line again at the venue…argh…Rotate This lists the upcoming Spoon gig as sold out - hopefully I can snag some at the Horseshoe again, or may end up at Hidden Cameras…
Not much else to report, sadly…Will write more soon,
Meegs

Rilo Kiley
Originally uploaded by meegs.

Just pondering some of my last post - I worry that I was way too negative in my assessment of the new QP crew peeps…My description was probably more related to my insecurities about not having a politico background (or raging interest…)that brewed into resentment for my lack of apropos attire. I guess that I’m just super defensive about protecting this bullshit abstract act of authenticity from “selling out.” Acting defiant about the socially necessary tasks of making smarmy small talk, bridging awkward conversations and eventually earning tenuous yet valuable connections doesn’t achieve much of anything. One speaking point delivered by Carolyn Bennett almost two years ago at a conference (ugh, I’m sure she’s having a field day in the HoC budget vote today…I wish her all the patience in the world tolerating turncoat Blondie) that stayed with me was her emphasis on affecting change “at the table.” I have been thinking about that in the context of this position, and how it related to my bigger picture ambitions…Speaking of attire & selling out, UO was a great shift last night, despite the “letting go” of a nice-enough gal that I was hired with…ahh boo. Apparently, it’s practically law to fire somebody face-to-face & not good enough to do it over the phone….like breaking up, right? Anyway, I am hoping to score some more hours with the wheat from sheaf separation of lates. I guess she took the whole be aloof ethos of the corp too literally. Apologies for my very tardy e-mail reply phase…been into a reading & not writing back mode for no good reason. Check out this great pic by Toshi from the Stubb’s gig RK played a week-ish back…now it’s my turn to catch’em again - at the Opera House, one of my fav TO venues, no less…
http://www.rilokiley.com/

eightiesladies
Originally uploaded by meegs.

Wow. So I’ve been noticably absent from the on-line community for awhile…A ton of e-mails just got ’starred’ to be replied to tomorrow (I promise!)…

I had to bonsaii my fav gal in Ottawa for her b-day party. With a spectacular organizing team of devious political wranglers, Mel & Allison & Brenda - there was just no chance for R-dawg to ever figure out that we were getting her to gussy up in tacky garb & sweat to the oldies among family & friends. It was a brillant party & I am so happy to know that my O-Town house is still rockin’ & a great site for a massive bash. The sound system was a marvel & Robbie D did the DJ&MC schtick perfectly, tons of nostalgia-fest candy & food, booze-a-plenty & a wicked mix of old & new buds.

Tho this excursion required a 5hr. trek back & fro on the Greyhound bus….it was bearable with the beau, good tunes, Twizzlers, Japanese studies, newspapers, wicked (& familar) scenery & of-course…napping. I actually fogot how calming riding that bus can be once you dull your senses to the sweaty, stinky, gropy, pushy louts that ride alongside you.

Sadly the season is plugging along & it will soon be swealtery summa in T-dot. Very hawt & sticky & construction-y, etc. How do I know this? My fav U of T haunt is shut…Diabolo’s is done for the campus year…so sad - no more overstuffed couches & free newspapers & carob rice krispie squares & fair trade coffee….or pretending to be a school rat…which is probably healthy…non?

For now, counting the days (only 2) until I get my iBook & can be pimping out the city’s WiFi without shame. Until that Wednesday comes…I’m stuck in Robart’s killing time until another UO closing shift rolls around. Wednesday also brings my ‘rents to town for a visit, a Gentlemen Reg gig that I hope to get early parole for & a night with my fav octogenarian, Jean….good times are guaranteed.

As for media references, obviously I”m not watching this Allen classic right now (being in brutally oppressive, but somewhat better than when I was Frosh Robart’s library…), but I had the pleasure of indulging in it after my ego-crushing gym program this a.m….between laundry runs & real runs & errands & e-mails, my mornings are amazingly flexible…& there is a certain intangilble special bliss that I get from watching these old movies again, alone. Like a good book, I always get something different from a WA movie everytime I go back & watch it & project whatever stage of life I”m experiencing at the time…My mom attributes my early adolescent obsession with this recently weirder filmmaker with my current neuroses…but I think that’s just a parental cop-out on her part…you decide….

meegs

Currently watching:
Stardust Memories
Release date: By 07 September, 2004