Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy

Yearly snapshot of the tree

It came and went, didn't it?! Did you have a nice weekend? Over all, mine was really, really nice. My sister and her hubby arrived last Thursday from England with their adorable puppy Oliver (who we're going to be keeping for the next while), and we had our family due on Christmas Eve at our place (something we've not done before), and spent the rest of the weekend relaxing. I got so many books for Christmas, but I'm thrilled! I can't wait to read them all. (One of them was Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, the one I'm most looking forward to start.)

Our new addition, already settled in to his new home

And two days after the fact, we got snow. Oliver got his first snow, and he went wild. It was funny. Actually, he's pretty wild in general, but we already love him for it. (Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for my other two dogs.) Such a mischievous face to match his personality! 

I think he stresses them out.

The original

So, that leaves us with New Years. Any plans? (Me, I'll be having a quiet night in. Or maybe not so quiet, depending on how loud we get when the clock strikes. And how whether we make our dogs bark.) My my, it's hard to believe we're back here again!  How will 2012 go? Coming soon to a January near you. See you on the other side!


Here is the latest version. Which do you prefer?

Thoughts on a Friday (Chrimbo edition)

-Snow, snow, snow.

-Unfortunately, we don't have any, nor will we be getting any this weekend.

-Oh well!

-At least it's cold.

-Freezing, as a matter of fact.

-Sometimes I really want to try camping in the winter.

-I feel like I crave that absolute silence you can only get in the woods, during the winter time.

-So silent it's almost creepy.

-Wow, Christmas came up really fast didn't it?

-Turkey for a turkey.

-Chestnuts roasting on an open fiiire...

-They really do smell good when they're roasting.

-But I've never tried them.

-When I went to Rome the first time in gr. 12, I saw chestnut stands everywhere on the streets. 

-And I thought to myself, "good god, they really do roast them on open fires!!"

-I must get my hands on some seasonal ice cream immediately.

-I wonder what made me think of that.

-Ham.

-Feeling carnivorous at the moment.

-I like that mug.

-Before we know it, stores will be putting up Valentine's Day stuff.

-Arrgh, I'm not ready for that yet!

-Though I certainly don't mind the chocolate part...

-Such a nice thought of having something like flowers delivered to your door from a SO.

-Or a mysterious somebody, whatever.

-Hold up, I'm getting to far ahead; it's not even February yet.

-I've often thought to myself, how easy it would be to type in the name of your future partner onto facebook just to see what they are up to... If we only knew who they were.

-Hmmmm...

-My edible contribution to the holiday season came in the form of biscotti.

-Gingerbread.

-Ginger.

-Ging.

-Bing bing biiing.

-How does one get addicted to lip balm?

-Ehh...

After her first season, I wasn't too big a fan of Rose, but I like the two of them here.

From here, here, here

You know it's almost Christmas when...

When this comes on!
(Whatever would the holidays be without it?)

Thoughts on a Friday

-The mighty Ludwig van Beethoven's birthday is today.
-Some powerful musik right there.
-There was a girl in my Italian class a few years ago who was studying to be a music conductor.
-What a neat profession that would be.
-For some reason, I'd always had this idea that a career in the classical music field would be something wonderfully classy, full of professional concerts, musical celebrity introductions, after-parties, etc.
-But that idea, of course, is not usually the case. Especially the latter half! (Well, maybe sometimes.)
-And lots of practicing. Always important.
-I'm covered in dog hair; I need a lint roller or something.
-Boogy woogy Santa Claus.
-Sugar cookies sound lovely right now.
-I used to post recipes on here; what happened?
-Life would be my answer.
-Sugah cookeh.
-I think I smell a meme coming...
-How these people discover these things is beyond me.
-But I likes it.
-Hey hey, there's a vote on for the worst Christmas song ever!
-Hands down "Grandma Run Over by a Reindeer".
-Makes me wanna shoot myself whenever I hear it on the radio.
-I look on my sleeve, and I still see dog hair. Le sigh.
-Hope in gates, hope in spoons, hope in doors, hope in tables, no hope in daintiness and determination. Hope in dates. 
-If you have ever read Gertrude Stein's Tender Buttons, then you know what I'm talking about.
-Ha, yeah right.
-A sudden slice changes the whole plate, it does so suddenly.
-What deep and mysterious place did she get those sentences from, I wonder.
-SALAD: it is a winning cake.
-And yes, I did happen to get these quotes from somewhere.
-Such a happy gingerbread! I think I shall leave you with that for today.

From here

S#%! Girls Say

Some may find this offensive, but I find it hilarious. He is pretty much spot on for when it comes to women of this day and age! Right down to the facial expressions and body language; I'm pretty sure I know girls like that (if not act like that myself occasionally-har har). I can't quite put my finger on it, but his character reminds me of someone... Or someones.

Return of the King

Around this time of December back in 03', The Return of the King made its widely awaited premier in theatres. Remember?? Man, that was exciting! At my school, people actually skipped class to go see it on its opening day (how I wish I was one of them, had it not been for a test that day). I've been thinking about the movie a lot lately, so I guess it's just the time of year that I feel the urge to watch ROTK (or any of them!) one more time. (And ahhh my god, it won't be long til The Hobbit* comes out! Eeeeee!)

psst--when I was thirteen, I was absolutely smitten with Aragorn and his rugged good looks. No lie.

From here, here, here, here, here, and here
 *Featuring the best looking dwarves to ever walk Middle Earth. Well, one in particular.

You know it's almost Christmas when...

Even the dogs are partaking in festivities!

My dogs

Beau

Sandy

You Know it's almost Christmas when....

People have no shame in dancing around a mall to their ipod, decked out in a snazzy Christmas sweater.

Friday Morning Meanderings

From here.

-Ugh, feeling like this at the moment.
-You're all fired. *collapses*
-I wish I were that dramatic in the workplace.
-Wait, what workplace?
-I'd like to introduce you to the pre Bonnie and Clyde Warren Beatty, my latest crush of the moment.
-I hurt.
-And I have dog hair on my pants.
-And it's grey outside.
-I guess it's just one of those days...
-I'm so glad I discovered this site, though.
-My thoughts are running short today.
-I may have to leave you in silence for the rest of the day.
-I wish I were more poetic.
-Let's see... Drink in this silence. Taste its bittersweet coolness; let it roll over your tongue, numbing your words with a poetic license to fill your senses and lose your taste.
-Thank goodness poetry doesn't have to make sense.
-Namaste.

Now this is my kind of spooky.

I love period piece thrillers!

Friday Gold

-My creative title for the day.
-I love the colours in the picture.
-I typed Philip Glass into we heart it, and this is what came up.
-Good enough.
-My mind feels a bit vacant.
-And my computer is halfway down in the battery power.
-Pity.
-I hate commercials on youtube.
-Blood sucking lawyers!
-Yes, that's what they are.
-Piggypiggypiggy!
-I love how the word meow works in different languages.
-German: miau! 
-Swedish: Mjau! 
-Dog imitations are even better.
-In French: Ouah! Ouah!
-In Dutch: Woef!
-Don't even get me started on the duck sounds
-Kvaak, Kvaak.
-Oh, languages.
-Lalala...
-It's another one of those clips that have been circulating in my head randomly for years on end since I saw that movie.
-Amazing I even managed to find it.
-Another amazing thing I found from my childhood, for you Canadian bambinos out there who may remember (and possibly Northern American babes, if you happened to get a tv station called YTV).
-Gon' to town!
-But not really.
-I'm sorry I was wack.
-But not really.
-I can't believe it, I'm losing to a rug.
-I think I'm going to look back on this particular post and cringe.
-Then again, my mind is pretty devoid of serious content at the moment.
-However, the music I have made magically appear below is not of silly content. In fact, it's rather nice!
-And that is how I will conclude for the day.

Ta'ra!

-

Songs that Remind Me

From here

Over the past four years of university especially, there are a few songs that are reminders of particular moments of where I was and what I was doing at the time. They were the songs I worked to at my desk, to drown out noisy neighbors, and to relax myself at night when the thoughts of work and tests kept me awake. I would associate them with the seasons, and what I was obsessed with at the time. Ahh, memories!

1. The Painted Veil Soundtrack. Listened it during my first year, and especially adored this track.

2. Dreaming of You, by the Corals. It reminds me of March (first year again), for some reason. And this commercial, which I actually like better than the original.
3. Lily Allen. When I think of LDN I think of spring, and the end of exams. And funny enough, The Fear reminds me of the end of my second year!
4. Philip Glass. I can't get enough of his music! The Hours, Metamorphasis, Glassworks. Minimalist perfection! Once you hear his music, there's no turning back.
5. Rain. And thunder. Perfect for drowning out the stupid noisy neighbors above.
6. The Beatles. But that's a given.
7. This is gonna be a bit weird, but Goodbye Lenin. Reasons unknown. I just liked it. At 5:00 in the morning once I was finishing up a death essay, and I played this song as I concluded it. It made me feel... Triumphant. (And I gave the movie three stars)
8. Mika. I listened to this often, and I danced to this for a ballet performance once.
9. This song will forever remind me of Lost, even though I heard it long before university.
10. Ella Fitzgerald. Usually while walking or on the bus.
11. Jesus Christ Superstar. Another... Odd late night work song.

Friday Contemplations

-Nothing like a violent snowball fight to kick off the season.
-And from 1895, no doubt!
-Right now, it is cold enough to snow.
-I saw snow outside last night, but not enough.
-I like socks... To an extent.
-Da-ang, I think I've fallen into that weird zone of youtube. Yet Again.
-Have I entered... The Twilight Zone?
-Holy mother of something, I think so.
-Enjoy having that song stuck in your head until the end of time.
-You're welcome.
-I am really on a video kick today.
-I wanna start running/walking every morning.
-I thought that to myself as I lay in bed this morning.
-At quarter to eight.
-Precisely.
-fufufufuh.
-And no, that was not the beginnings of the questionably(?) dreaded f-word.
-Incase you were wondering.
-But probably not.
-As in anybody does anymore, nowadays.
-I saw that in a play once, and every so often that just randomly pops into my head.
-Like now.
-Fufufufufh.
-Nutcracker Suite.
-Christmas.
-Ahhh.
-Starbucks holiday drinks.
-Funny how the popularity of them can bring in the holiday spirit with full force.
-"Oh my gosh, Starbucks has their peppermint mocha out, it must be almost Christmas! Aaah!"
-I had that last year as an iced drink, and it was soooo good.
-There is a bluejay outside who knows where to get his peanuts.
-Such majestic creatures.
-Trust your gut.
-The Sound of Moussaka.
-Okrahoma!
-The King and Wine.
-Oh dear, I'm at it again. Only with Rogers and Hammerstein musicals.
-Ich bin hier fertig. (Trans: I am finished here.)

From here

I heard it this morning.

First Christmas song. Of the season. On the radio. Eeeeeeee!!!

(We're getting closer...!!!)

Music for a Thursday Afternoon

Things that make me (very) happy

From here

1. Coffee/tea and a good book.
2. Standing outside early in the morning watching the sky, and taking in the fresh air.
3. Listening to the right music at the right time.
4. Watching old movies, and admiring the clothing of the period.
5. Dogs. Especially shaggy ones.
6. Lindt Lindor dark peppermint truffles.
7. When Christmas music starts playing on the radio.
8. The Beatles doing goofy things.
9. Chocolate cake.
10. My bright red trench coat.
11. Tap dancing to fun songs.
12. Watching birds at the bird feeder.
13. Looking through old picture albums.
14. Dinners with friends and family.
15. Collecting mugs of various kinds.
16. Iced coffee on a really hot day.
17. Watching an act of kindness play out in public.
18. Squirrels.
19. Breakfasts in restaurants.

From here

Thoughts on a Friday

From here

-Feeling a bit chilled.
-Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?
-I vaguely remember that tv game show.
-I'm pretty sure I always wondered why Carmen never made an appearance.
-Adds to the intrigue.
-I hear Jennifer Lopez is being considered for the role.
-I personally don't think she'd be such a bad choice.
-In fact, I think she'd be rather good. Given the fact that Carmen barely makes her presence known in the show, til the end.
-Go ahead, throw eggs at me for thinking that.
-I would watch this for sure.
-How people come up with these ideas is beyond me.
-Maybe Waldo's hiding out with Carmen.
-We got our new tree placed in our front yard.
-All limbs and twigs right now, but someday it will become a leafy green giant.
-Homes for the squirrels and birds eventually.
-By the time it grows really tall, I'll probably be driving my kids back to show them the house I grew up in.
-This is kind of cute, but it does make you wonder.
-It looks like the beginnings of some creepy/romantic movie with a glowing pillow.
-Wherein her SO had passed away the year before, and one night as she was crying into her pillow, it would start glowing.
-Creepy, yet comforting.
-I would like a glowing pillow.
-Remember those stuffed animals whose tummies would glow after rubbing them or something?
-They may have been Carebears.
-I remember a friend from when I was young used to have one of these, and she kept it in her freezer, because it would glow better or something.
-I think.
-The glowing pillow also reminds me of what could be a Harris Burdick (again!) story.
-All stemming from the image of a woman about to carve into a glowing pumpkin.
-Halloween?
-It's November.
-Another month closer to Christmas.
-Closer to snow, closer to home.
-Christmas music on the radio.
-Meticulous.

From here

I said I'd bring this back...

In honour of Movember, I re-present to you the famous stache' of Mr. Selleck... As seen on others.

A Halloween Spooktacular

From here



From here



Ahh, yes! I was seriously looking forward to creating this. One of the few times of the year I can legitimately indulge in the candies of my desire, and the only time of year I do have some of them. As for scary movies... Hehe, no thanks I plan on sleeping at night. Are you ready for some Halloween madness on here? I am.


"Sar-DO! Accent on the do!" from here

Did you ever read these stories when you were a kid? The telling of this one made me laugh, but this one was more scary...

Children are scary. As are their play rooms after they're dead.

Q: What tops off a ghost's sundae? A: Whipped scream.  *Badum-cchh*

Gah!

Hoo cute!!

Never trust a clown. Ever.

Would I eat these?? Ehh..... Yes.

Q: Who was the most famous French skeleton? A: Napoleon Bone-apart. (ja! ja! ja!)

Have shown this before, but again here is the Salute to Unsexy Halloween costumes. I really hope they do this again this year.

Well, that's it from me.

SWEET DREAMS

From here


Dec 15th 2011 edit: Oh my friggin god I thought that was just a picture. Coming back to this post two months later and seeing this was quite alarming. Props to me for scaring my future self.

(Deep) Thoughts on a Friday to carry me into the weekend

From here

-Ahh, what a beautiful day.
-Kind of cold, but pleasant never the less.
-Come on, it's October! We're not ready for winter yet!
-It's too quiet around here.
-I wonder if 200 years from now, people will have forgotten to write.
-Typing everything will be the norm?
-Ok, maybe not 200 years, I'll give it 1000 years from now.
-When we've used up all our trees.
-Yikes, I can't even imagine things 1000 years from now.
-If we're still existing then.
-In 1000 years, people will be thinking "Justin Bieber? Who was he???"
-1000 years prior will be as foreign sounding to them as 1000 years ago (and ahead) is to us.
-They might even think we were one up from primates!
-Damn you, snotty generations of the 3000s.
-"You're about as useful as a poopy-flavoured lollipop!"
-I honestly don't know where that came from.
-There ends my train of deep thought.
-I think my next Halloween costume should be Star Wars based.
-Like a Jawa, then I would freak others out.
-I suppose Chewy would do the trick too, but I don't really want to walk around in a hairy suit.
-I once had a friend who had the yawn of a wookie.
-My sole purpose in life is to disturb others.
-It's been forever since I've seen the Star Wars saga.
-That's what probably started me rolling on life in the future.
-Tralala.
-Danke schoen, darling danke schoen.
-Oh my god, I always thought that was sung by a woman.
-If you read that just now, hahahaha surprise!!
-I'm ready for that candy.

Have a fun, fun weekend!

Now, now Casper...

From here

In my head...

Monday Funny

AAAAAAHKHFKLSDHFSDHF;S
(What the hell is wrong my sense of humour)

Thoughts on a Friday

-Eff yeah!

-I missed you Jack: come home to Doctor Who and meet Eleven!

-I wanna bake today.

-Cupcakes.

-Dammit, it's always cupcakes.

-Chopin's Polonaise.

-Sounds like that sauce you put on meat or fish.

-Wait a sec, it is that sauce.

-"That is my 3rd grade teacher!"

-È la!

-It recently dawned on me that Ms. Frizzle would make an interesting Halloween costume.

-A 'dead' Ms. Frizzle.

-Speaking of Halloween costumes, I rediscovered this page, which made me laugh just as much as I did last year.

-Most of which are extremely clever.

-You can make anything 'dead'.

-I plan for a Halloween post next week, and I'm super excited because I have a whole bunch of links lined up.

-My train of thought has derailed.

-Gesamtkunswerk.

-Great word for a cocktail party!

-I wish I could jabber away in German.

-Thanks Wagner.

-This is amazing. (Yay, good things do happen in the world more often than we think!)

-This tends to happen to me--though when a particular person pops in who I don't want to see, it gives me the willies.

-"All the things one has forgotten scream for help in our dreams."

-Creepyyy...

Das Ende.

From here and here

It took me four and a half wild years...

From here

But I did it! I graduated from my university as of last weekend. And my my, what an adventure it was. I was handed my long awaited diploma (thankfully without the jaunty tasseled hat), and later on I took a trip to (gasp!) Cape Breton and saw some spectacular fall scenery, which I mentioned last year, as a matter o'fact. Even with the very long drive to and from, it was worth it--though next time doing it in two days instead of one would make better time to see more of it.

Other highlights would have included....

-Visiting my best buddies!

-Attending what can be considered probably the most graphic human sexualities class there will ever be.

-Having a hotel room to myself for a few nights before my parents swooped in.

-Listening to a Dean read for an hour from a long list of tricky names to pronounce, only to take an enormous sigh of relief after taking his seat again.

-Nearly making roadkill of a moose (but didn't, thankfully!).

-Sitting next to a vivacious older lady after the stop-over to Halifax.

-Having an extra seat to myself before that.

-The weather. Always the weather.
-A... McLobster sandwich??

Here are some pics of my trip to the Cabot Trail, and of the Halifax Harbour from the hotel window. (If only I got one of the moose!)

Will be back tomorrow for your weekly round of Friday thoughts! And more...

Happy Thanksgiving!

From here

Eat (plenty), drink (but not too much) and be (extremely) merry!

A few things I'm particularly grateful for are...

-Chocolate anything.

-Being out of school (and graduating next weekend!)

-Pumpkin pie.

-My family (dogs included).

-Books.

-The places I've visited, like here.

-Where I am today.

From here

I wonder if Philip Seymour Hoffman has seen this yet.

Lacking a bit in inspiration this week...

From here

But will be back. Soon.

Thoughts on a Friday

From here

-Hearing this on the radio again.
-How I wish we played it in our high school symphony!
-Maybe in another life.
-"See you in another life, brotha!"
-How long has it been since I played a violin?
-Five years.
-Wow.
-Yesterday I re-fulfilled my dream of sitting in a cafe, just reading and watching people go by the windows.
-That cafe was Starbucks, but a cafe non the less.
-I should do it more often.
-Lots of people with dogs went by.
-And babies.
-I see babies everywhere... And pregnant women. But I digress.
-One striking moment was when a woman in a redcoat went by.
-I wonder where she was off to?
-Heading to her car? Rushing to meet a friend? On the run from something sinister?
-Or, she could just be on the job.
-I could go on.
-Dammit, I need to make some phone calls.
-But it can wait.
-Liz Lemon, you're my hero[ine].
-"You're like a drug to me... My own, personal brand of heroine".
-Oh my god, if that line doesn't make you swoon I don't know what else would.**
-And yes, yes I would like to yell at the moon with Buzz Aldrin.
-"It's the 90s' for God's sake!"
-I didn't realize how often everyone said that til I saw this.
-I love how easy it just rolls off the tongue, unlike other decades.
-Certainly can't say things like that today.
-Maybe I'll bring that saying back, only to result in having everyone think I'm batshit.
-Then again, I guess we're all a little crazy.
-While nobody is perfect, all we can do is be who we think we are when we have an audience before us.
-Or maybe even who our audiences think we are.
-Identity is a magical thing.
-Think about that this weekend.
-Say farewell to September until next year.

Peace, love and chocolate cake.

From here

**I was kidding. No one, not even 1000000 good looking gents (or vamps) could win me over with that line.

"Alive"

From here

Thoughts on the first Friday of Fall

-First day of fall and it rains, whereas yesterday, it was sunny and overall gorgeous.
-Well played Mother Nature, well played indeed.
-At least the leaves are changing colour.
-Mmmmmmoustache!
-Tom Selleck, and your stache' rock.
-Maybe I should have saved that for Movember... Oh well--I'll bring it back when the times comes.
-I watched some of the new Charlie's Angels series last night...
-And liked it.
-Sure, it's not the 70s version (which I've never really seen), but I'm intrigued none the less.
-My mom won't be watching it, that's for sure!
-I'm also looking forward to DW tomorrow night; I think it'll be good.
-I'm liking this Doctor more and more.
-"I like bow ties, bow ties are cool."
-"I like bananas, bananas are good."
-I can see where he picked that up.
-Also rather sorry to say farewell to Amy and Rory... But more so Rory, cuz he's cute.
-I wonder what would happen if Amy Pond and Jack Harkness ever met.
-A meltdown, that's what. I think it would go a little something like this:

JH: Hello. 

Amy: Hello.

JH: Captain Jack Harkness, and who are you??

A: Amy Pond. 

Doctor: (rolls eyes) Oh, here we go....

JH: Lovely to meet you Amy Pond! 

D: Stop it!

Rory: Who is that, and why is he flirting with my wife?!

JH: I was only saying hello!

A: I definitely don't mind...

D: Pond and Harkness! As if one flirt wasn't bad enough!

-There could probably be better dialogue for that situation, but I think Amy and Jack together would be on fiyaaah.   

-Just the other day, I was helping clean our pool's solar blanket cover, and putting it up to dry over our clothes line.

-It made a pretty sweet canopy, and I thought if I were six years old, I'd be taking full advantage of pretending that was a house or a tent, and was hiding from something big and bad on the outside.

-I'm almost 22, and yet I still think like a six year old.

-Just goes to show that my inner child is still alive and kicking.

Now think up a scenario for this picture. Go!

From here