Welcome to paradise.

Well, not really. The title is completely drenched in sarcasm.

Something's up, and people aren't telling me what or who or how or why. It's pissing me off. And eventually I'm gonna get to the bottom of it. I think it has something to do with Angela - my estranged grandmother on my father's side. I've talked about her before. She's the one who sent my siblings and I birthday cards and stickers (yes. stickers.) once every few years, and when we got older it would be a card and money (usually, like, $15). Something about Grandpa wondering why Dad won't talk to Angela. I don't know. But it's pissing me off.

Also, my birthday is days away. I'm not happy. I don't really want to do anything on my birthday except go out for dinner. That's it. I want to stay in my room all morning with some books, magazines (knitting magazines, of course), CDs and knitting close by. And I know Grandpa's going to be a dick in some way, shape or form. I just know it. He has a talent for being an asshole.

I can't wait for the fall HPKCHC classes to start so I have something to keep me busy - not that my preexisting knitting projects aren't keeping me busy, it's just that I think that if I have a deadline to meet, it'll take my mind off the bullshit that is my extended family (and immediate family, at times). I also can't wait for youth group on Wednesday, where I'll be around sane people. And then there's knit night tomorrow. Hopefully I can go. I couldn't go last week because Mom wasn't feeling well.

I think I'm going to start reading The Folk Keeper again. I started it and lost track of what was going on, so I have to re-read it. It's a good book. I highly recommend it.

I also want to read Coraline. I watched the movie yesterday. Mom was being a total bitch about it - she wanted to watch it in 3-D, so I thought, okay, let's give it a shot, even if I have to wear my 3-D glasses while knitting, even if we have to have all the lights off. Well, then she starts fiddling with the TV settings to get it just right. I can't watch a movie if someone's fiddling with settings! She's as bad as Dad sometimes! So I said we should just watch it in 2-D, and she got all huffy and 'maybe I'll make you watch it on the little TV!' and all that shit. Honestly. I just want to watch my frikkin' movie. When did MY library materials become HER library materials?! It's like when I had The Wrestler out of the library. I had to watch it when SHE wanted to watch it because 'Dad's going back to work tomorrow and won't be able to see it'. Um... he's got a library card. So does Mom. It's not rocket science to reserve a DVD.

I miss kickboxing, dammit.

A little shaky.

I'm a little shaky today - not so much now, but at dinner my hands were shaking. Mom thinks it's because of my period, but I've never had that happen before. Huh. She also thought it could be low blood sugar.

I was also ravenously hungry at dinner. Just as Mom was getting the roast ready to go in the oven, I ate up the last of the pretzel sticks and drank a Coke while watching Toronto FC's match against the Seattle Sounders. Boy, were Seattle playing dirty. And the referee was being a complete jerk, too. Like when one of our players got elbowed by a Seattle player, and the ref didn't give him a yellow card! What the hell?! It was a 0-0 tie game, anyhow.

Oh yeah, I finished my fun fur scarf yesterday during my MTV binge. Weaving in the ends was a bit tricky, but once I got used to it, it went fine.

I went to the library today and picked up The Soloist, The Wedding Singer, Super-Cute Crochet and U2's newest album No Line on the Horizon. I also cruised the manga section and grabbed volume 1 of Fullmetal Alchemist. When I went to renew my card, though, they told me I needed a piece of ID other than a piece of addressed mail, which was what another librarian told me, so next time I have to bring my health card. They changed the status of my teen card to an adult card, though.

I actually watched MTV today

Yup. I watched MTV, which I don't do very often unless there's something interesting on, like Engaged & Underaged. But Mom put on 16 and Pregnant, which is an interesting show - today was the second time I've watched it. Near the end of it Mom and Dad had to leave to go to Mom's doctor's appointment, so I grabbed my knitting and watched three episodes of True Life, which was quite interesting. The first one was about college basketball players, the second was about kids starting high school (I don't get why they haze the grade nines. It's stupid.), and the third was about three people starting college. Neat.

Even neater than that, we went out to an Italian-American-style restaurant for dinner. We were originally going to go to Swiss Chalet, but it was packed. Then Mom suggested fish and chips, but given that it was Friday, I said it would probably be packed, too (a lot of Catholics still eat fish on Fridays, which is why fish and chip places are often busy on Fridays). But anyway. The restaurant is one we've gone to for years, but we hadn't been there in a while. What's cool is that a lot of Dad's past and present co-workers go there, so Dad's always saying hi to somebody. Dad got wings, and me and Mom both got cheese tortellini. Mom said hers' was reheated, but mine tasted pretty good. What was funny was when Mom started talking to me about something, and I just stared at one of the TVs because there was an ad for Dissidia, the new Final Fantasy game for PSP. Sephiroth, yum ;P They also had some neat music on the stereo. The Beatles. Simon & Garfunkel. Jerry Lee Lewis. Heck yes :)

After that we stopped to get groceries... and I just remembered that I left a peppermint from the restaurant in my shorts. And they're in the wash. LOL.

I NEED TO WATCH MORE ANIME

Just as the titles says. Must watch anime. I might borrow the .hack//SIGN DVDs from the library. I love that series. I missed episodes of it because of karate.

Speaking of karate, I watched Fight Quest on Discovery HD the other day, and it makes me want to take karate classes again. I didn't realize how much I miss it. But there's no point in me signing up for classes now, because I still have to get my dental implant done. But maybe after Christmas I'll see about looking for a new dojo. If only Mr. Bishop's dojo weren't so far away!

Yesterday I got so upset because I couldn't find our Cooks Country magazines. Now I wonder if they got taken to Value Village. Either that, or my dad put them somewhere. He has a habit of boxing things up. He calls it 'cleaning'. I don't think they went to Value Village, because I remember them being in a box somewhere, probably with the holiday cooking magazines. If I can find out where the holiday magazines are, chances are I'll find the Cooks Country magazines.

Speaking of magazines. I spend way too much time on Wikipedia. Did you know that some manga magazines, like Ribon, are the size of phone books, and come with extras like notepads? I wonder if the library has Shojo Beat... according to Wiki, it's not being published anymore. Next time I'm in Indigo or Chapters, I'll have to see if they have any manga magazines.

Also yesterday, Mom let me borrow her fabulous Susan Bates size US 7 circular for my mandrake blanket, because the circular I was using is really stupid and won't stay de-kinked - when your left pinky goes numb when using a circular, that's not good ;P Hopefully I'll be able to zip through the blanket with this needle. I might take it to knit night on Tuesday.

But yeah. Anime. I watched a bit of InuYasha on YouTube last night. I must reserve one of the box sets from the library, because I lost track on InuYasha (again, because of karate). I might go on Wikipedia and read through the episode lists to see where I left off.

I wonder what anime YTV still has on. I should check their site.

Anyways. We didn't go down to see Grandma today because Mom was tired, so we'll probably go down tomorrow.

Guess where I went today???

I went to the Mary Maxim store's tent sale in Paris, Ontaro! :D

It was pretty awesome. Mom didn't get a lot of yarn - just some Patons Decor in the New Rose colourway - but I got loads of yarn. I got...

6 skeins of Patons Decor in New Rose
6 skeins of Bernat Boa in Cardinal
6 skeins of Bernat Boa in Tweety Bird
6 skeins of Patons Twister in Fruit Loops
6 skeins of Patons Twister in Sungold Twist
3 skeins of Caron Simply Soft Paints in Driftwood

I also got a small pair of scissors, two little notebooks with divider tabs, and a needle case.

The drive there was pretty interesting. This one truck driver was swerving all over the place, so we thought he was falling asleep at the wheel. After we passed him, me and Mom looked over, and he was sitting upright and alert. So now we think that he was having problems with his truck.

And then we got lost twice trying to find the road that takes you to the Mary Maxim store. At first we thought we went too far, but when we turned around we saw that we were going the right way after all, and eventually we were on the right track.

After our shopping expedition, we were going to eat at the family restaurant across the street, but they were lined up almost out the door, so we went to Ancaster to see if the new Texas grill place was open yet. They were lined up almost out the door, too, so we went to Jack Astor's. I got chicken strips, which were good except that they forgot the gravy for my fries, and when I did get my gravy it was so salty that I don't think I'll get it again. Now, I don't mind a bit of salt, but this gravy was ridiculously salty. And their fries were a tad over-seasoned, which was a bit disappointing.

Dad's on vacation now! :D I wonder if he'll take me and Mom to go yarn shopping in Toronto?

My stomach hurts, and Fruits Basket #5 is overdue

I'm not sure why my stomach hurts. Maybe I'm dehydrated.

And I haven't been able to focus on Fruits Basket #5 much, which is why I haven't finished it yet. It's interesting thus far, though. Kisa is so cute! I love how her haircut is similar to mine. I think Hatsuharu is protective of her.

Youth group was good until they all started playing some stupid game where you have to touch your nose, and then mocked me when I didn't. They were talking so fast that I didn't know what I was supposed to do, which is why I didn't touch my nose. So I left the loft and went to the bathroom. When I came out of the cubicle, Sela was there, and she asked me if I was okay. I didn't respond at first - I mean, they play some stupid game, don't tell me what I'm supposed to do, and mock me for it, and THEN ask me if I'm okay? Whatever. So as I was leaving the bathroom I said, "Why wouldn't I be okay?"

Oh, and our plug-in electric toothbrush is dead. Or, rather, dying. It wouldn't work for me the other day, so we went back to our manual toothbrushes. Then, last night/this morning (it was after midnight, anyway), it came on, and shut off. I think I swore out loud, and then continued brushing. Then it came on again, and I swore louder. When I told Mom about it, she said, "Well, I unplugged it from the wall!" I guess it still held a charge and was clicked on. Eh.

Oh, and I went to knit night on Tuesday, which was cool.

And I think the fall term of the Harry Potter Knit/Crochet House Cup starts in eight days! Yay!

ETA: no, the term doesn't start until September 1st, but the signups end on the 28th. oops!

Crazy, but fun

The weekend was nuts, but in a good way. I'll do a recap, starting with Friday.

Friday

The night before, Katie called to tell us she and Dan was coming up for the weekend because their plans to go to a friend's cottage fell through. She was coming up on Saturday, which meant that Friday would be a cleaning day.

And then, while my parents were out getting groceries, Justin (my cousin) called to ask if he could crash here for the night because he had errands to run in Toronto the next day. Mom and Dad weren't home at the time, so he said he'd call back. After he called back twice, I said, "Why don't I get them to call you back?" and he agreed. So when they got home, Mom called him and said he could come over.

So I vacuumed the stairs, then went to the library with Dad to pick up my stuff, then me and Dad went to Shoppers Drug Mart to get pop because it was on sale. Justin came over, we had dinner, we watched TV (Bollywood Hero on Super Channel, and then we watched the movie right after it called The Night of the White Pants, which was a weird but funny movie. Not reccomended for under-sixteens unless you have permission, 'cause of the drug use in it.), and we went to bed.

Saturday

I set my alarm for 7 AM, because I wanted to be up early for when Michaels opened, because they had a coupon for 25% off your purchase between 9 AM and 11 AM, or something like that. Mom got beads and stuff to make stitch markers, and I got a skein of Red Heart Soft Yarn to make a wrap.

After we got home, Justin got his stuff together and Dad drove him to the bus station. Katie and Dan came sometime after noon. Dan gave me and Mom each a sandalwood bookmark, which was nice of him. I don't know if Dad got one. Mine had a Chinese proverb on it, and I think Mom's did, too.

We had burgers and grilled veggies for dinner, and then we played UpWords while Dad was playing poker with the neighbors. We weren't used to the rules of UpWords, so we kept putting in words that worked one way but didn't work the other way. For instance, Katie put down one word, but the word crossing it became 'fancs', so she had to take it down. It was pretty funny. Dan won the game.

Sunday

Katie and Dan went down to the beach at around lunchtime. I think I was reading Fruits Basket to pass the time until they came back. After they came back, me, Mom and Katie went down to the hospital to see Grandma. We went in Katie's rental car - a Nissan Versa, which was a very nice car. It's very roomy in the back. I sat behind Mom, and her seat was moved almost all the way back from when Dan was sitting in it, and I still had loads of room for my knees. I think even Dad would have enough room to sit in the back, and he's pretty tall.

Grandma was asleep when we got to her room - she had been to an anniversary party the day before, so she was pretty tired. Katie woke her up, and she was quite happy to see Katie. She was able to move her right leg a little, which is great.

We had pasta with meatballs for dinner (Mom and I got in an argument over what pasta to use) and watched America's Funniest Home Videos. Katie and Dan left at around 9:00.

I should probably go eat soon...

...hey

I can't think of a good title.

Youth group last night was tiring and gave me a headache, but it was a lot of fun. Sela was there after all - she was supposed to go back to New Mexico, but now she doesn't go back for a little while. Riley was there, too, which was cool because I haven't seen him since he got back from France. Turns out he went to Greece, too. Elyssa was there (gag!), but she wasn't being too bitchy - although she did say something like, "Check-in always lasts the whole meeting!" Whatever, Elyssa. Micaela was there, Stone wasn't (he had a fever, poor guy), umm... Emma came late because she had a soccer game, and I met someone new named Seanna. I'm pretty sure her name is spelled that way, because her name came up in the e-mail about bowling, but she wound up not going for bowling for some reason. I can't remember. But she's pretty nice. Oh, and Laura was there, and she brought this library book that we teased her about because the synopsis sounded kind of inappropriate for a teen book. Or maybe it was the way Micaela read it. Haha. It probably isn't that inappropriate, given that the library lists Breaking Dawn as a teen book, and I hear that it's pretty raunchy. But anyway.

I'm bored. And Coronation Street isn't on for another 44 minutes.

I need water.

...I have water now.

I think I pulled a muscle from knitting. A pectoral muscle, to be precise. Ow.

So I burned a copy of that Green Day CD, but have not yet put it on my computer. I might burn copies of Dad's Pink Floyd CDs. And maybe some other CDs... Zeppelin, I totally need some Zeppelin.

Fun fur and frozen hot chocolate

The title will make sense in a moment.

Mom and I went to knit night at Second Cup tonight, after not coming since January (we had a lot happening). A few familiar faces were there. I worked on my fun fur scarf and drank a frozen hot chocolate and tried to follow the conversation - there were quite a few other people there, and at one point these two guys came in and one of them was talking very loudly. It was still fun, though. Next time I should start a hat and bring that. I printed off Turn a Square by Jared Flood, so that'll be my first hat. Or I could start my Harry Potter scarf and bring that next time. A hat would be more portable, though.

I think I've decided where to apply for a job: Value Village. I think I'd like working there, because I love organizing things on shelves and stuff, and in October they have a lot of customers because they get in a bunch of new and used costumes, and I think I'll have fun helping customers find the right costume. Plus, it's within walking distance! It will only take me 10 to 20 minutes to walk there, depending on weather and traffic, and I only have to cross at one intersection. Perfect. I should probably start writing a resume soon.

Another option is Coles in the mall, or the Golden Griddle. The Golden Griddle I could probably walk to, although it would be a long walk, so I might as well take the bus. My sister said she used to walk to the mall when she worked at a couple of places there, so I could walk to and from the mall. There is a bus stop nearby, though, so I could just take the bus back. It might be safer to walk up and take the bus back.

Tomorrow is youth group. Yay!!! Not only did Mom come up with a couple of ideas for the youth group that I can relay to them, but I'll also get to see Micaela, and probably Riley. Sela's probably back in New Mexico, though - she went back today - so I won't see her. We aren't really friends anyway, more like acquaintances. And OH GOD ELYSSA'S PROBABLY BACK FROM ITALY OH NO. I'm not looking forward to that. Oh well - you can't always get what you want, so say the Rolling Stones, right?

I FOUND IT, GUYS!!!

For years I didn't know the name of this song or who recorded it, but now I know. I used to hear it on the local rock station (before they started playing stuff like Billy Talent and Three Days Grace). Then I would only hear it here and there. Then, the other day - it may have been yesterday - I heard the song starting on the TV, and came upstairs. It was a commercial for a local hospital foundation. So I made a mental note to look up the commercial on YouTube or Wikipedia.

Tonight I remembered that I had wanted to look for the song, so I logged on to YouTube and searched for the commercial. I clicked on it, paused it, and looked in the related videos. One of the top ones (it might've been the very top one, not sure) was a music video for 'Bittersweet Symphony' by The Verve. I clicked on it.

BINGO!!!!!

There it was, the long-lost song. At last, I'd found it.

So I favourited it in YouTube, and now I will share it with you, dear readers...




I think I need to make a playlist on YouTube titled, 'Best Songs EVER'. And this will be one of the songs.

Bored...

Such an original title.

I watched The Wrestler last night. It was great, but I wouldn't reccomend it for under-sixteens - or under eightteens, perhaps - because of the sexual content. Definitely check with the parental units first. But I think Mickey Rourke should've gotten the Oscar for that movie. I mean, Sean Penn was great in Milk, but this was Rourke's big comeback. And the song 'The Wrestler' should have at LEAST gotten an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song. I think that category was fixed, because there were two songs - count 'em, TWO - from Slumdog Millionaire in that category. And yes, the songs were good, but seriously?! Why wasn't Bruce Springsteen nominated?

Rant over.

In other news, I think I should start jobhunting soon. I'd like a job close to home, although Indigo is very tempting. I'd have to take the bus there, though, until I get my driver's license. I mean, I could get my beginners, but that would mean that Mom would have to come with me to work, and I don't think she'd fancy that. Although, she'd probably be okay with sitting in Starbucks with a pile of knitting or a book. I don't know.

YAY-NESS!!!!!!!

So, today I went to the Festival of Friends. Now, I had thought it was last weekend, but it was actually THIS weekend. It was considerably better than last year, although the foot stalls looked boring - mostly fried stuff with a Greek stall squeezed in. I was hoping there would be a stall that sold roti. I love a good chicken roti.

Anyways. I took $5 with me, but didn't spend it because the stuff I got was more than $5. I got a kickass necklace - a green and black striped heart made out of glass on a black cord - and a Led Zeppelin t-shirt. I think the necklace was $15, and the t-shirt was $25 - which is pretty inexpensive, considering that if I'd bought it at the mall it would've cost somewhere between $30 and $50. I must take a photo of my Zeppelin t-shirt. It's awesome! It has the angel dude on it in full colour (the other ones with the angel were only white outlines) and the four symbols. I'll have to wash it when Dad's done his laundry.

The music was good, too. A chick was singing when we arrived, and then it was a guy singing metal-ish stuff. We were going to stay to see a bunch of guitarists try to break the world record for the number of guitarists playing 'Smoke on the Water', but it had started raining. I'd love to go back tomorrow if the weather's okay, because Leon Redbone is playing in the evening! Tonight's music is David Wilcox and Kim Mitchell, but Mom said we couldn't leave the dogs in their crates that long. But I'd love to see Leon Redbone tomorrow night if I can. I'd probably take knitting :)

Could things POSSIBLY get any shittier?

1. I couldn't go to that movie because it was in the afternoon, and it was downtown. I didn't have enough money handy, so I would've had to go to the bank, then catcha bus downtown, and there was no way Mom was letting me take the bus downtown on my own, even if Micaela waited at the bus stop for me.

2. Mom and I are fighting again. It started with me trying to punch in the number for the HD channels while she was telling me what number to punch in, even though I already knew what number the HD channels started at. Then, I walked out of the room, and the following discussion took place:

Mom: "You need to stop being so bitchy!" (or something to that effect - I'm too pissed off to remember the exact words)

Me: "YOU need to stop being so controlling!" (I walk upstairs)

Mom: "GET DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW!"

Me: (ignores her)

Dad: (calls my name loudly - the standard, obligatory yell)

Me: (starts walking back down)

Dad: "And don't stomp!"

Me: (walks the rest of the way down and stands several feet away from Mom)

Mom: "I AM NOT CONTROLLING! IF ANYTHING, I'M THE ONE PUSHING YOU TO GET OUT AND DO STUFF!"

Me: while walking downstairs "If that's true, then you would've let me go to that movie!"

Mom: "COME HERE AND SAY IT TO MY FACE!"

Me: (muttering) "No. I'm not gonna fight with you."

Yes, my mother is a piece of work for sure. I should've just walked out. Gone to Tim Horton's. Or the library, if they were open at the time. Or the park. Something. But instead, I decided to stew. And I'm still stewing. And my headphones were being stupid, but that's not unusual. Damn headphones. I hope I get a new pair for my birthday. Maybe I'll ask Nathan for a pair.

So right now I'm half-watching the friendly match between Toronto FC and Real Madrid. Right now, Madrid is kicking Toronto's asses 3-0. Come on, guys! Get with the program!

I slept in, and my nose itches.

I'm also waiting for a Facebook message from Riley. He said in Facebook Chat that the youth group was meeting up unofficially to go see a movie, and would I like to come. I tried replying in the chat window, but he had just logged out, so I sent him a PM instead, asking him where they were going and what movie. Dad's on call tonight, so I hope they're going to a nearby theater.

Augh! The craving for Green Day and back to school shopping is unbearable. I've been listening to older Green Day songs via YouTube, because Dookie isn't in at the library for me to pick up yet. The Wrestler is, though, and a book of poems is in transit. Green Day, Mickey Rourke and poetry, yay! :D

I'm annoyed that I forgot about the Festival of Friends. It was on the weekend and it completely slipped my mind. Oh well, it's not as good as it used to be, anyway. I miss Earthsong - it was a cool, artsy festival that happened over the summer. I got my pan flute there (which later cracked, I was so ticked about that), and it was at Earthsong that I had green tea ice cream and red bean ice cream for the first time. And both were delicious. I think I had banana fritters there, too. But they wound up merging with another festival, and the artsy stuff is pretty much gone, except for stuff like jewellry and wooden figurines and stuff. My brother got an ocarina at the Festival of Friends, and since then I haven't found an ocarina that wasn't tiny and barely playable. I should've gotten one when my brother did, but NOOO, I bought a recorder. damn.

The annoying thing about my back to school shopping craving is that I can't think of anything that I need. All I can think of is a new sketchbook. I don't need pens, pencils, highlighters, paper, notebooks... well, maybe a new math and science notebook for algebra, I think mine's getting pretty full. And you can never have too many. OH I JUST REMEMERED I need a planner. Just in case I get a job or take general interest courses at the local college or if I'm allowed back to youth group in the fall. I'm pretty sure I'll be allowed to come back, because back when Martin and Sue were the advisors, we voted to allow older youth to stay in the group as long as they don't bring alchohol and stuff. I'll e-mail Stephen about it. Maybe I'll get an address book, too, so I can keep track of people's numbers for youth group and stuff. Okay, now I need to make a list...

Stuff I Need For Back To School

1. A planner
2. A new sketchbook
3. An address book

That's all I've got so far...

I've decided...

...that I need to do educational stuff this fall instead of wasting time. Here's the basic plan:

1. Get my algebra knowledge up to scratch. That means going over my polynomials pages and (hopefully) finishing the written work and the practice test. I hate the written work. It's vague as hell.
2. Learn chemistry right from the beginning. I had started using my textbook (Chemistry Demystified - I also have the physics one), but then I stopped because I got lazy and I thought I had cheated on the chapter one practice test.
3. Japanese. I'm so out of practice.
4. Writing - specifically, essay writing. I think I'm going to start a narrative essay first, about one of my favourite karate teachers in the universe, Mr. Bishop. Shit, I miss him like crazy. He and Mr. Perrins (the EVIL ONE who was such a bastard to me when I had my tooth extracted) parted ways a few years ago, and Mr. Bishop owns a dojo (karate school) in Grimsby. If we lived closer, I'd so sign up at his dojo, but it's just too far away. Damn!
5. Biology. I want to finish my truly awesome anatomy colouring book - I screwed up on colouring in some vertebrae, but it's too late to fix it. Oh well, it doesn't matter.
6. Reading. I want to read some classics, like Orwell's 1984.

I have this seriously weird itch to go back-to-school shopping, only I can't think of anything that I need. I already got pencils a couple of weeks ago, when we went to Staples after church in that horrific weather. But surely there's something else I need... right? Oh! I know! Medium-point Sharpies! In loads of pretty colours! I have some coloured Sharpies, but they're in an Ultra Fine Point - which is okay, but I want to get some in a bolder point for doing big, obnoxious drawings. I don't draw much, but I'd like to get back into it.

Speaking of drawing, I came across a portfolio of my childhood drawings. Boy, was that a flashback. Some of them aren't too bad, actually. I'd like to get a new sketchbook for making fashion sketches, though, because my sketchbook is full of juvenile drawings. Then again, I got it several years ago at Wal-Mart. Mom says I should get one at Curry's, which is a nice art supply store. I'm not sure if it's a franchise or not - I've only seen one Curry's. I love them, because they carry good markers, nice paper, and even origami paper. Pretty super, if you ask me. I think I'll go on Flyerland and see if they have a Curry's flyer. Maybe I'll convince Mom to get some new paint for her own use. She'd like that. She's been saying that she wants to paint again, and what better time than the present, eh?

On the subject of art, I want to make some collages. We have some National Geographic magazines that nobody reads anymore, and an issue of Glow (the Shopper's Drug Mart magazine), and somewhere in the Abyss of the Flyer Bin is an issue of Famous, which is the Famous Players cinema magazine. Maybe I'll find all of our drawing books and try to draw human beings again. I seem to be better at drawing inanimate objects.

I need music...

There. Music. I love YouTube.

I also want to try cooking Japanese cuisine, like onigiri and sushi. I joined the Bento Artists group on Ravelry because I love the idea of making cute lunches. I know I probably won't need to make myself a boxed lunch for a while, but it would be neat to practice by making a bento the night before and stick it in the fridge, and then I don't have to frantically ask myself, "WHAT THE HELL SHOULD I HAVE FOR LUNCH?!". hehe. I'm borrowing a couple of Japanese cookbooks from the library, which are nice, but they're mostly Western-style stuff.

Wow. I've written a lot.

I'm also going to work on my existing stories. I need to do some research for my crime story first, though. I like writing it, though, because it's different from what I normally write - urban fantasy. Sometimes it's refreshing to write something a little more real, a little more logical. Maybe it's because you don't have to imagine as much. I mean, with a crime story you still have to imagine, but you don't have to make up magic or anything. It's all stuff that can happen anytime, anywhere.

I feel a lot better today than I have for the past few days. Probably because the weather is nice and cool. I still can't wait until I can wear jeans again.

That's all, folks :)

Human beings should not be up this early

I think it was 20 minutes to seven when the dogs started whining. Lovely. They were all being dumbasses, too, which didn't help. Humans shouldn't be up that early. Or dogs.

I need water...

M'kay. I have a glass of water now. Mom's watching Oasis HD, and she was all, "Look at these Brazilian hunting dogs! They look like a cross between a Jack Russell and a Tasmanian Devil!" At least, I think they're Brazilian. I'm still tired.

I went to the library yesterday, and guess what? The self-checkout was working for me! But the other one wasn't working for Dad. I went over to see what was wrong, and I saw that it looks different than the one I was using. I mean, the whole terminal is the same, but the displays on the screen are different. Odd. I picked up a Jane Goodall DVD, the first InuYasha manga, and a Dire Straits compilation. But I probably already said that in one of my other posts, haha.

I wonder if that Green Day CD is in yet. I couldn't check my account earlier, because they were doing catalog maintinence until, like, 7:40 or something. I think I can check my account now.

Other than that... nothing's going on.

I have shamelessly slept in again

I think the reason why I slept in until after 11:00 was because of a weird dream I had. I can't remember all of it, but it had something to do with these two kids trying to get a certain amount of money (I think I may have been 'seeing' the dream from one of the kids' point of view), and one of the kids - the girl - lived in this cottage-of-sorts, if I remember correctly. And I think she had a grandmother that was a splitting image of Edith's mother in 'Allo! 'Allo!. And I think that, for some strange reason, Father Guido Sarducci was in the dream. He's an SNL character. Google it.

I guess that's what I get when I watch old seasons of SNL...

I have to go through my shirts today, because there's one tank top that is definitely going in the garbage. It's an old, ratty Old Navy tank top that my sister gave me years ago, and it's getting very threadbare. I also have a royal blue Old Navy tank top (again, a hand-me-down from my sister) that is getting a little small, and a green tank top that I never wear because it's ugly and doesn't fit well.

I also plan on burning a copy of that Green Day CD. I need more music in my iTunes library, and something to blast when I'm pissed off.

Just felt like posting again

Today has been okay so far. But it's only... checks computer clock... 9:23 AM, so there's still... counts on fingers... 15 more hours. Dad's at work, Mom not being bitchy right now (thank GOD), and I have a headache. But that could be due to loud music.

Today I've been on a Green Day kick, but I've also listened to some Boston - all via YouTube. Now I'm waiting for 'I Will Follow' by U2 to buffer. I seriously need more music. Good thing Dad's gonna let me burn a copy of Green Day's 21st Century Breakdown. While I'm at it, I may also burn other music - Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, and perhaps that Stevie Ray Vaughan and Albert King album that Dad downloaded using the free MP3 downloads he got with the old HP computer. That's a good album.

I won't bother writing a list for my parents for my birthday, but a few weeks ago I started one for Grandpa. I guess he'll be wanting a list soon, so I should probably run through it and make some changes and stuff.

I have to go to the library today, because SNL is overdue, and The Mighty is due today. And I have a Dire Straits CD to pick up. And a Jane Goodall DVD and the first InuYasha manga.

Crap, I forgot it was a holiday Monday

I hate holiday Mondays.

I hate them because, if someone decides to start an argument that makes you want to walk out the door and go somewhere, anywhere, most places are closed. The library's closed (the library by our house is always closed on Mondays, though), the local businesses like the coffee shop are closed, Zarky's is closed, almost everywhere is closed. Except, perhaps, for Tim Horton's. I'm not sure if they're open on long weekends.

This long weekend has, like most, royally sucked. Mom just went into Bitch Mode today. I've no idea why she did, but she did. All I know is that she stomped up the stairs and into her room and slammed the door. When I went downstairs to get water or something like that, Dad was washing dishes and asked me to dry. After a few hours, Mom came down and watched TV for a bit. After I'd gone back up to my computer, she started bitching Dad out. I don't know what she was bitching about, and quite frankly, I didn't care. I just wanted her to shut the hell up.

I wonder who flipped her bitch switch - me or Dad. Or maybe it was both of us. But I'm past caring. The worst part? Dad gets to work tomorrow, and I have to put up with her. Lucky him.

My head's been aching on and off, too, which doesn't make matters better. My arms have, too, but that's from knitting and typing. I think the headache's from the weather, because I get weather change headaches all the time.

Another cruddy weekend has come to an end.

Friday: we go to Michaels, PetSmart, Giant Tiger and Indigo. I got yarn at Michaels, we got dog food and cat food at PetSmart, we got many things at Giant Tiger (including a t-shirt for me that says, 'I'm sorry. I forgot you're an idiot'), and we got nothing at Indigo (we didn't even look at the bargain books! I should've wandered over there...). Mom threw a childish hissy-fit over a burger.

Saturday: Mom and Dad went to the market, I stayed home and eat buttered toast and watch old episodes of SNL. Mom watched with me when she got back. Dad was supposed to go to poker, but I guess it didn't happen. Mom made some comment about how 'we COULD have gone to the movies'. I say, "Well, you two could have, anyway. I would've stayed home." She says, "I meant your dad and I anyway." So nice to be included.

Sunday: Dad got ticked because I was in his seat, so I told him to find something to watch on TV instead. On my way up to my computer, Mom said, "Definitely not ready for college this year." Hey, mom? !@#% YOU!!! I'LL BE A HELLUVA LOT BETTER WITHOUT YOU NATTERING AT ME EVERY !@#$ING MINUTE!

Also, I have just realized that I haven't had anything to eat, and that I'm getting hungry. Will it be a sandwich or a bowl of cereal?

I suddenly want to knit wristbands now. I think it's because the pressure of deadlines is off my shoulders now that I don't have any more HPKCHC assignments. I want to make wristbands for two reasons: a) instant gratification, and b) I want to practice duplicate stitch, and something small like a wristband would be great for that. Actually, there's a third reason: c) because I have a crapload of acrylic to use up, including a lot of Patons Astra. I was originally going to make preemie sweaters with the Astra, but now I think I'm going to use nicer yarn for preemie sweaters and make hats and wristbands with my Astra.

He totally deserves a hat for Christmas

Last night Dad picked up burgers from Licks. Mom wanted their new Maui Wowie burger, which has pineapple and back bacon on it. She told Dad that it was a pre-dressed burger, so Dad told the person taking his order to put on whatever goes on a Maui Wowie burger.

Big mistake.

When she saw what happened, Mom freaked out. And I mean, really freaked out. Screaming at the top of her lungs, she was. I got mad and tried walking out of the room with my burger, but she screamed at me to sit down, so I did. I wolfed down my burger, even though Dad yelled at me to slow down. I didn't even enjoy my burger because I was just so mad and wanted out of the room. When Mom said, "Sam?" to get my attention, I looked up, and she automatically classified my look as a glare and said, "Never mind, I'LL do it!" and got up to get paper towel. And then proceeded to bitch me out for apparently glaring at her.

After I was done my burger, I tried eating my fries, but they just tasted like grease, so I dumped them in the green bucket - green buckets, for anyone who doesn't know, is our city's compost buckets. They ask us to fill the green buckets with food scraps, small bones, pet hair, etc, and then we dump the buckets into the larger green carts and set them to the curb with the garbage and recycles. So anyway, I dumped the fries in the green bucket and went upstairs with my Coke and went on my computer.

Later I asked Dad to take photos of my HPKCHC projects - Mom took some photos, but there was no way I was asking her to download them for me, and anyway, they were only photos of my washcloths, and I needed a photo of my Irish Hiking Scarf. So Dad took some photos of both my washcloths and my scarf. Now I think I should knit him a hat or something. Wait, he already has a nice Thinsulate hat... maybe I'll make him a long scarf. The only scarf he has is the cowl that Mom make him. Although I'm sure he wouldn't mind having an extra hat. Maybe I'll make him one with earflaps. That'll be good for when he's digging out the driveway in the winter.

The upside of yesterday was that I got some Vanna's Choice in Ravenclaw colours, so now I can make a house scarf. I'm talking to Mom now (last night I said very little to her), but I'm still mad at her over the burger thing.