I convinced my Dad to take me to the movies last night as a break from these grad apps (which, incidentally, are going nowhere). I had spoken to Tim about our plans to go and he had given me an impression of the movie that did not really jive with my actual experience - though i think that might have something to do with a better understanding of what fighting requires on Tim’s part. Let’s admit, i have a thing for brawn and burl, and for all of Sly’s being old, those arms are massive and i do like to watch them swing
I wasn’t insulted by the whole “these youngins are cocky” undertone. It was very much there, but as someone steeping herself in history, it would be wrong of me not to enjoy lessons learnt from the past and the experience of others, wouldn’t it? That, and i really don’t like contemporary sports stars - neither SHAQ nor Iverson have the charisma of the Malone/Stockton or Pippin/Jordan combo, nor do they have the personality of a Barkley. Who today would mow his own lawn the way Barry Sanders does? The big-ticket names of my generation are arrogant and i think most people enjoy watching them look like idiots more than heroes … i’m arrogant too, but let’s not go there.

Rocky is still Rocky. The movies were never really about the fight scenes for me, but about how this big, bumbling fool was actually really smart and building worthwhile relationships. There is a very poignant speech made to protest the rejection of his wrestling license which uses the word “somebody” way too much, but hits home none the less. We all love the underdog and Rocky remains the underdog in this movie. Other than that the man is now old, nothing really has changed.

He loses his first and his last fights in the series…i like that. i liked the movie. it was nothing more than it was presented to be - Rocky VI - but nothing less. it was a pleasant Friday night that also sparked some nice conversations of “when did you see your first Rocky movie?” Nostalgia has value. We are our memories.

i drove up to my basement apartment last night to drop off some of the many kitchen supplies and pick up Lisa’s Christmas present. Someone deadbolted my door! I do not own a key to the deadbolt - in fact, no one does. My landlords are out of town until the 2nd, and i am locked out!

In one foul humour, i went over to Lisa’s. Images of not paying 2 weeks of rent, having Steve remove their front door, etc. rushing through my head. I call my parents, who remind me someone must be taking care of the cat, so a sign on the front door might get some results and that inside lock unbolted. Better yet - this IS Westmount. Everyone knows everyone. I decide to ring the very private neighbours’ bell, only because they know me by sight, and though they don’t have a spare key, they know the name of someone who might. I walk two blocks to meet one of my landlady’s best friends. She gives me the key, as well as a synopsis of her love life, and i am able to get into my home. Disaster averted. it was not the adventure i had planned for the 28th of December, but i can cope.

I like the idea of Facebook - i really do. i realize that in this transient portion of our lives it is much too easy to lose contact with people we will regret losing, and that networking will be an important aspect of the rest of our lives. if i ever move across the country, i hope to be able to reach out and touch those people i already know, but otherwise would be unaware now live in that neighbourhood. it is much easier to chat with someone on facebook to build a connection than it is to email the guy or girl you lent your notes to once in class.

that said, i do not understand the people from high school who contact me to add me to their friends’ list. there are many people from high school that i wish i had kept in contact with - many of them are also my friends on facebook. There are lots of people i regret not having made more of an effort with - but i think they knew who they were before this facebook phenomenon as i try to run into them as much as possible and became friendlier as high school was rapidly ending and i knew my last chances were being used up.

If we spoke all of three times in high school, which lasted five whole years and likely included at least a dozen opportunities for us to work together on group projects, be on the same team in gym, etc. - do you think there was really a connection worth cultivating? this isn’t like the men and women i meet in class, but we are both so busy that going for coffee never works out - or if it does, it’s on a twice a year basis because our schedules conflict, yadayada. If you or i wanted to be friends, we would have at least said hi in the halls, don’t you think?

i never know how to respond to said people. it’s not that i am mean. i just try and write on the facebook walls or email or talk to “friends.” it’s difficult to do that when there are “clutterbugs” on my friend list. i won’t delete those i accepted many moons ago (haha), but i am not adding anymore. pls stop asking me over and over again.

I was threatening my parents that i would do this when they decided to wrap a roll of toilet paper…this way you can see how i did loot-wise. hehe. i still haven’t opened all my presents (Lisa and Veronica remain outstanding), but i am very pleased. Everyone seemed to make as much effort as i did on them - and for all my snide remarks about the quantity and quality of presents reflecting the amount a person loves you, i know it’s about caring and effort. I made an effort and i think everyone else did too…that’s what makes you feel loved - knowing that people listen when you are blabbering endlessly.

Expensive

Black, mid-calf boots

Digital camera

Rabbit ears (for the TV)

Mid-Range

Knife set

Jogging pants (no elastic on the bottom; size M)

Sweatshirt (Hoodie, NO zipper, M) - but this for myself

Dress Pants (size 9 at Jacob) (got gift certificates!)

The Little Mermaid

Seasons 3 and 4 of the Simpsons

Polar fleece sheet set (double bed)

Copper bracelet

Cetaphil (the lotion and the soap)

One of those anti-draft things you put under the door (like Grammy’s sausage dog)

Teapot

VERY big couch pillows (small ones fall off)

Stocking Stuffer

Socks

Blank DVDs

Wine cork (for when you don’t finish, LOL)

Picture frames

Highlighters

Flag-it post-its

Scented Candles/Incense

Tea biscuits

Herbal tea (no camomile or lemon pls)

Jam

Cookies

Nuts (no peanuts pls)

CHEESE!

Not too shabby. i got lots of other good stuff too…like a USB key, Ice Age, Fern Gully, a frying pan, Second Cup Gift Certificates, Irish Coffee mugs, wine glasses, a cutting board, measuring cups and spoons (can you tell i just moved out?).

Is it a letter of intent? is it a statement of purpose? It IS a bitch. If i never have to write one of these again, i will be only too happy. I cannot write about myself in a professional format. i am not a professional person. in fact, i am about as far from professional as you can get. i am brash, blunt, conceited, self-absorbed and couldn’t care less about protocol, presentation and rapport. What’s important is that the work gets done…but this isn’t a representation of work…it’s a representation of myself. grrr.

i have written three drafts now. each draft includes a rewrite of every paragraph at least twice. i am getting very fed up as each is worse than its predecessor. i should give up now. i quite clearly can’t jump through hoops.

ok. rant over. will go get tea, stretch, watch a pixar movie, and then try to edit my writing sample. hopefully the people looking it over will have insightful criticism. they usually do.

Perferant vobis multas felicitas novus annus et feriae.

(My latin could be wrong, pls forgive me, but this is supposed to read: Let the holidays and new year bring you all much happiness.)

My pedicure yesterday entailed parrafin wax. That stuff is hot. I tried to explain to the onlookers that this was entirely pointless because as soon as i get back to town i will start walking to school again and my feet will return to their normal scruffy state, but no one wanted to listen. The chairs we got to sit in had roller balls though. Fun-stuff.

Went to Bridgehead’s on Richmond to meet Kat. Their pistachio-cranberry shortbread was a nice accompaniment to fair-trade, organic orange pekoe tea. The place was a little yuppy, but it was nice. So was the conversation. We got to share drunken boyfriend vomiting mishaps. ahahaha.

We have to go to Costco today to buy bread and paper towels as well as some more pecan tarts. We need to prepare the bird, make the stuffing, and the TRIFLE. I love trifle. We had bagels with cream cheese and lox for dinner last night. Considering we are in Ottawa and not Montreal, the bagels were surprisingly good - they were purchased right out of the oven from a bagel place.

We ended up in Chapters yesterday at 9:30pm - a brilliant move. the store had been packed in the afternoon, but we came back after it had started to freezing rain and i was offered service by FIVE employees. Hehehe. I ended up buying more stuff for me, like an idiot who forgets she is not working more than 6 hours a week next semester. Ah well. So, just in case you were planning on getting me the book on the Hermitage’s Collection of Renaissance Engravings (on sale for $10!) or to replace my lost copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, don’t. It’s taken care of.

I got the last of the Christmas presents i had to get. Now i need to wrap them. But first on the list for the day is showering, getting a pedicure (Xmas present from the Aunt), and going to meet Kat for coffee. It’s nice to know fellow-students in Ottawa. I think my aunt is starting to secretly hope i am running out of energy or that an off-switch will magically appear on my forehead overnight. She said as much last night anywho as i went sliding down the front laneway. Fun times.

I also drove an Audi yesterday. Standard, red, 2L, six-speeds. It moved. Surprise, surprise.

Oh, and i totally forgot to be enthusiastic about this earlier this week. Doesn’t anyone else remember the “Choose Your Own Adventure Stories?” I used to take them out of the library in elementary school all the time. I saw a display in Paragraphe for them - they are back this Christmas. Unfortunately, i have not a soul in the right age-group to go crazy with them. Ah well. My second cousin is only 18 months old. I got her a book this Xmas and last Xmas…i know what to get her next year…more books!

Well, we have to go pick up an order at future shop this morning too. Fun times.

this morning was the second day of a novel concept. i woke up without a splitting headache, sense of impending doom or desire to ram my fist through the wall. i almost never use an alarm clock, but this is new. getting up at 8 and feeling well rested - twice in a row! i had forgotten what that felt like. this summer i was keeping such weird hours - getting up at 8, going in to work and then falling back asleep for two hours in the car. i don’t think i have felt well-rested since this time last year. it’s a nice change. i still have a lot to do, but at least i am content with my sleeping patterns - and the vivid dreams are back.

There is a large, gray bird living in my bathroom at home. Our little girl cat brought it in and it only has limited flight. My parents are planning to release it on Saturday if it is still alive and have been feeding it since Wednesday morning. She is a lovely cat. Grrr….

Yesterday i managed to waste an entire afternoon. I went to Indigo to get some books for my next semester classes that i might actually enjoy reading over the break, but they were either not on the shelves (yes, i checked availability before leaving the apartment) or for considerably more than they had been advertised online.

I then went to the McGill library to discover that, after spending an hour and a half roaming the shelves and still being unable to find DF208, that as my library card expires on Dec. 31st, i can’t take out any books past this Friday. Grrrr…

My Mom, when she came by to pick up the Christmas presents, kindly drove me to the Vanier Library so that this morning i only have to run to the two downtown libraries to return and take out books before they close for the holidays.

The bad news is, i have lost Le Pacte Autobiographique by Phillipe Lejeune. It was sitting under my bed for the longest time. I imagine, as usual, that i moved it saying “when i need this i won’t be able to remember where it is,” but now have promptly forgot my new space for the book - due tomorrow, but i will not be in Montreal tomorrow.

That’s right. I am heading to Ottawa for the next 5 days. I know you will miss me, but it is time for another Great Auntie Adventure. Don’t worry, there is more than enough internet access in Kanata.

I hope your plans for the break are going by with relatively less hitches. i am slowly getting some of the loose ends, like abstracts for speeches and Void uploads off my list, but tonight is the big Letter of Intent Night. I am not going to sleep until it is complete. Tomorrow i am going to bother my Aunt into getting me to a fed-ex counter so i can get my letters of recommendation to Northwestern.