Two things...
At lunch a found an old lady trying to mow her lawn. It was super hot, and she was having trouble with the mower. Her usual high-school yardworker was away at camp, and she was worried that the grass was getting too long. I mowed the rest of her yard and she gave me 10 bucks. That's more than I make at work, if you figure it at an hourly rate!
Also, I glanced through the new Canadian Architect, and there is a teeny picture and paragraph from our Orphan Spaces competition entry. Just look for the paragraph with my name at the top of it!
So that's that. One step closer to world fame, and 10 bucks closer to being independently wealthy.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Monday, July 24, 2006
Weekend update
So, the weekend.
On Friday, we went and picked up a rental car, dropped the cats off with some friends, and then drove to Indiana.
It was a pretty long drive, and I was ridiculously unprepared in terms of maps, addresses of where we were going, and phone numbers. Nevertheless we managed to find our way to the Elkhart County fairgrounds, in the middle of Amish-country, Indiana.
All we knew was that My Korean Friends was supposed to be playing at a battle of the bands, along with the Owens' band, Thurman. We got there around 8, and had to pay 8 bucks each to get into the fair. We walked in and saw my dad's truck, with a U-Haul trailer behind it and a tall-bike stowed in the back. We entered the fair, and found a stage amidst the carnies, middle America families, and hardcore/Avril-ed high school kids. Our timing was amazing, 'cause there on stage was my brother Reeve, and the rest of the band, finishing up there soundcheck.
They proceeded to run through an award-winning 3 song set, after which Thurman played another sweet three song set. I say award-winning, 'cause they ended up winning first place (Thurman came in second), and $100. It was kinda funny, since the kids in the crowd flocked to see the other, younger, screamier bands, but the older indie beard kids schooled the fairly uniterested crowd in how to play some freaking good songs. Turns out the judges knew where it was at...
We crashed at Jeremy and Greta Owens' place, and the next day we just hung out. We went to the farmers' market downtown, and checked out the Amish/Mennonite produce and some crazy bluegrass/country folks. We barbecued some lunch, and then that evening went to a cafe where MKF played a much longer set of sweet tunes, followed again by Thurman.
The next day we drove a long long way back home. We got back in to Toronto, and after an unfortunately eventful evening, involving, among other things, picking up the cats and dropping off the rental car, we went to bed at 1.
That's the short version of the weekend. It was fun, and I will post some pictures sometime, and maybe some more details about Amish buggies, award-winning rock shows, tetris, free bikes...
On Friday, we went and picked up a rental car, dropped the cats off with some friends, and then drove to Indiana.
It was a pretty long drive, and I was ridiculously unprepared in terms of maps, addresses of where we were going, and phone numbers. Nevertheless we managed to find our way to the Elkhart County fairgrounds, in the middle of Amish-country, Indiana.
All we knew was that My Korean Friends was supposed to be playing at a battle of the bands, along with the Owens' band, Thurman. We got there around 8, and had to pay 8 bucks each to get into the fair. We walked in and saw my dad's truck, with a U-Haul trailer behind it and a tall-bike stowed in the back. We entered the fair, and found a stage amidst the carnies, middle America families, and hardcore/Avril-ed high school kids. Our timing was amazing, 'cause there on stage was my brother Reeve, and the rest of the band, finishing up there soundcheck.
They proceeded to run through an award-winning 3 song set, after which Thurman played another sweet three song set. I say award-winning, 'cause they ended up winning first place (Thurman came in second), and $100. It was kinda funny, since the kids in the crowd flocked to see the other, younger, screamier bands, but the older indie beard kids schooled the fairly uniterested crowd in how to play some freaking good songs. Turns out the judges knew where it was at...
We crashed at Jeremy and Greta Owens' place, and the next day we just hung out. We went to the farmers' market downtown, and checked out the Amish/Mennonite produce and some crazy bluegrass/country folks. We barbecued some lunch, and then that evening went to a cafe where MKF played a much longer set of sweet tunes, followed again by Thurman.
The next day we drove a long long way back home. We got back in to Toronto, and after an unfortunately eventful evening, involving, among other things, picking up the cats and dropping off the rental car, we went to bed at 1.
That's the short version of the weekend. It was fun, and I will post some pictures sometime, and maybe some more details about Amish buggies, award-winning rock shows, tetris, free bikes...
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Almost the weekend...
Last night we went to Paul and Becky's house for church (Dining Room). Their place is pretty darn sweet, with a dope back yard and everything. They share the house with another couple, and seeing the place made me miss living in an actual house.
We also checked out their homemade bed (which makes Leah and I trendsetters! Yeah, we invented homemade beds...) and their sweet homemade desks. They also have homemade wood flooring in their room, homemade soap, homemade awesome food...
Furthermore, we took Petrie and Mabel along, since they were going to maybe spend the weekend. We wanted to see what would happen when they met Scotia Hubble (Scotia is a ferret-beast). Turns out they will not be spending the weekend afterall.
I don't know that they wouldn't be friends, given a bit more time, but they were nervous enough to be dangerous. I didn't want the kittens to get spooked, and swipe Scotia's face off, or for Scotia to get feisty, and disembowel one of the cats.
Oh yeah, Mabel can growl!?
Tomorrow we pick up a rental car and get the heck out of the Tdot for a day or two... We will be checking out some MKF action in Indiana... It is going to be sweet.
We also checked out their homemade bed (which makes Leah and I trendsetters! Yeah, we invented homemade beds...) and their sweet homemade desks. They also have homemade wood flooring in their room, homemade soap, homemade awesome food...
Furthermore, we took Petrie and Mabel along, since they were going to maybe spend the weekend. We wanted to see what would happen when they met Scotia Hubble (Scotia is a ferret-beast). Turns out they will not be spending the weekend afterall.
I don't know that they wouldn't be friends, given a bit more time, but they were nervous enough to be dangerous. I didn't want the kittens to get spooked, and swipe Scotia's face off, or for Scotia to get feisty, and disembowel one of the cats.
Oh yeah, Mabel can growl!?
Tomorrow we pick up a rental car and get the heck out of the Tdot for a day or two... We will be checking out some MKF action in Indiana... It is going to be sweet.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Weekend blah blah blah
Friday:
Friday night we went to Katherine's friend's cat's condo, where Katherine was cat-sitting for the weekend. There were quite a few people there and it was crowded and noisy. Katherine made some amazing food for us all.
At this party/dinner we were introduced to the game Guitar Hero. It is a pretty ridiculous videogame, and involves a little plastic guitar interface, with five buttons on the fretboard. You get to play along to a wide selection of classic guitar-rock anthems (everything from Joan Jett to Black Sabbath to Franz Ferdinand...)
There is also an internal sensor in the thing that can tell if you lift the guitar to a vertical position (this is occasionally required, if you manage to rock out hard enough)
Needless to say, you should check this one out if you ever get the chance.
Saturday - We went to the Festival of Clowns, to see Jen McN's show, Primal Broads. Since Jen is brilliant, it was great to see her in clown action again.
Sunday - Church.
Friday night we went to Katherine's friend's cat's condo, where Katherine was cat-sitting for the weekend. There were quite a few people there and it was crowded and noisy. Katherine made some amazing food for us all.
At this party/dinner we were introduced to the game Guitar Hero. It is a pretty ridiculous videogame, and involves a little plastic guitar interface, with five buttons on the fretboard. You get to play along to a wide selection of classic guitar-rock anthems (everything from Joan Jett to Black Sabbath to Franz Ferdinand...)
There is also an internal sensor in the thing that can tell if you lift the guitar to a vertical position (this is occasionally required, if you manage to rock out hard enough)
Needless to say, you should check this one out if you ever get the chance.
Saturday - We went to the Festival of Clowns, to see Jen McN's show, Primal Broads. Since Jen is brilliant, it was great to see her in clown action again.
Sunday - Church.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
The Bohemian Dreamian
Last night at Living Room (that's the embarrassing name that my church uses for small groups that meet in people's homes to pray and stuff), Becky told us about a dream that she had some time around January...
In the dream there was this space with big white walls. On the walls were canvasses and paintings, and there were people painting and people playing music and it was a big freaking artist commune type co-op studio gallery deal. It was all about a space for people to share and focus on worshipping God through art and music and community, with space for events, and a place for people to sell their art and music too.
It was extra interesting, because what prompted her to tell about this dream was when I asked people to pray about a couple of places that some of us are looking at renting, pretty much to set up as a shared studio type space. Her dream just pushes what we were planning to a whole new level.
If this sounds interesting to you, and you are in the habit of praying (or even if you aren't!), you could pray that we would be given wisdom and guidance and direction about when/how/where this whole thing could go down...
In the dream there was this space with big white walls. On the walls were canvasses and paintings, and there were people painting and people playing music and it was a big freaking artist commune type co-op studio gallery deal. It was all about a space for people to share and focus on worshipping God through art and music and community, with space for events, and a place for people to sell their art and music too.
It was extra interesting, because what prompted her to tell about this dream was when I asked people to pray about a couple of places that some of us are looking at renting, pretty much to set up as a shared studio type space. Her dream just pushes what we were planning to a whole new level.
If this sounds interesting to you, and you are in the habit of praying (or even if you aren't!), you could pray that we would be given wisdom and guidance and direction about when/how/where this whole thing could go down...
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Metal
So I figured somebody from church might actually want those metal tickets, and I posted it to our church website... Sure enough I had a bunch of hands go up, and I hooked up a couple of metal loving church kids (a nanny and a barrista) with some free 40 dollar tickets, thanks to my work.
Monday, July 10, 2006
I just got a mass email at work from one of our admin assistants (she always ends up with any free tickets etc. that make it into our office)... here is an excerpt:
I have two tickets available to see Sounds of the Underground featuring As I Lay Dying, In Flames, Trivium, Cannibal Corpse, GWAR plus 7 additional metal and hardcore bands!
That is funny, if you know the type of people that work here...
I have two tickets available to see Sounds of the Underground featuring As I Lay Dying, In Flames, Trivium, Cannibal Corpse, GWAR plus 7 additional metal and hardcore bands!
That is funny, if you know the type of people that work here...
Yup... the weekend
Let's go in reverse order.
Monday morning - Got to work and found an AMAZING mp3 posted at the One Louder blog...
Sunday - yes, Italy won. Congratulations to all fans. Now please stop driving past our apartment with your hand firmly planted on the horn!
Church was great.
Saturday - we went to Ronelle's place for a church gathering involving singing and praying. This was after we walked around the city for hours.
For breakfast, we made crepes, but first I rode my bike to Loblaws to pick up some wife-friendly rice-based ice-cream. Crepes, with loads of fruit, and ice-cream, for breakfast... Yes.
Friday - we went to the Rice Bowl on Augusta for dinner. You should go there too. Seriously.
Monday morning - Got to work and found an AMAZING mp3 posted at the One Louder blog...
Sunday - yes, Italy won. Congratulations to all fans. Now please stop driving past our apartment with your hand firmly planted on the horn!
Church was great.
Saturday - we went to Ronelle's place for a church gathering involving singing and praying. This was after we walked around the city for hours.
For breakfast, we made crepes, but first I rode my bike to Loblaws to pick up some wife-friendly rice-based ice-cream. Crepes, with loads of fruit, and ice-cream, for breakfast... Yes.
Friday - we went to the Rice Bowl on Augusta for dinner. You should go there too. Seriously.
Friday, July 07, 2006
Werner Herzog
“You shouldn’t mix up fact and truth,” Herzog says. “I do not trust facts so much as I trust human ecstasies.”
Forget Superman, I want to see The Wild Blue Yonder...
Forget Superman, I want to see The Wild Blue Yonder...
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Happy Independence Day
The long weekend was pretty fun, and now I am back at work on the 4th of July...
Friday - we went out for dinner with Jen and David - the Rice Bowl (check it out...), and then Mars for coffee/tea/pie. Everybody was tired, but it was fun.
Saturday - we went to the AGO, which was pretty unimpressive, since the whole place is a construction site. (It was also free, thankfully, or else it would have been a total rip-off). We also went to Kensington...
Sunday - I went to Value Village, and then I went to church (Leah was there early 'cause she was playing). Afterwards, some church folks all went to Lisa's for after-church pizza / hanging out. This was our last chance to hang out with Lisa and Dylan before they disappear for a couple of months to their respective distant summer homes... and it was very fun.
Monday - Leah did some recording. We also did some grocery shopping. That evening, we went down to Bloor street and walked around...
As you can see, it was pretty uneventful... which is by no means a bad thing.
Oh yeah, Reeve also called us this weekend. Hopefully, we will be driving to see his band play in Indiana in a couple of weeks...
Wanna come??
Friday - we went out for dinner with Jen and David - the Rice Bowl (check it out...), and then Mars for coffee/tea/pie. Everybody was tired, but it was fun.
Saturday - we went to the AGO, which was pretty unimpressive, since the whole place is a construction site. (It was also free, thankfully, or else it would have been a total rip-off). We also went to Kensington...
Sunday - I went to Value Village, and then I went to church (Leah was there early 'cause she was playing). Afterwards, some church folks all went to Lisa's for after-church pizza / hanging out. This was our last chance to hang out with Lisa and Dylan before they disappear for a couple of months to their respective distant summer homes... and it was very fun.
Monday - Leah did some recording. We also did some grocery shopping. That evening, we went down to Bloor street and walked around...
As you can see, it was pretty uneventful... which is by no means a bad thing.
Oh yeah, Reeve also called us this weekend. Hopefully, we will be driving to see his band play in Indiana in a couple of weeks...
Wanna come??
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Hi-Five
Today I am scanning documents into PDF files, and then uploading them to a web-based database.
At lunch I picked up Scott Pilgrim Vol.2 - it is much more interesting than using a photocopier...
In other news, it has been raining like crazy for the last while... the whole sky turned dark and there was lightning everywhere - should be a good bike ride home today.
Monday, June 26, 2006
The Weekend
Friday - I ended up having to work an extra three hours at work. On my way home, I stopped in at Loblaws to acquire food goods for my birthday party. In fact, I bought enough stuff to make riding my bike impossible, and had to walk home with shopping bags hanging from my bike like a pack-mule.
The party was fun - we have never had so many people in our apartment at one time.
Saturday - Leah and I went to the market. We bought some stuff there, and then ended up getting a drum kit at Steve's music. It takes up about half of the lifing room... That night we went to see Brendon's band play at the Oasis, or whatever it's called now.
Sunday - Leah had her first Sunday off in 20 years. She did some recording, and then we went to Ka Chi for lunch... afterwards, church...
The party was fun - we have never had so many people in our apartment at one time.
Saturday - Leah and I went to the market. We bought some stuff there, and then ended up getting a drum kit at Steve's music. It takes up about half of the lifing room... That night we went to see Brendon's band play at the Oasis, or whatever it's called now.
Sunday - Leah had her first Sunday off in 20 years. She did some recording, and then we went to Ka Chi for lunch... afterwards, church...
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Tired
The theme for the week has been 'being really tired'.
I finished reading Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life yesterday, and handed it on to Lisa at Wednesday night church... I'm not a huge graphic novel person, but it was a pretty entertaining read, so I ordered the second issue from the library.
What if I was a huge graphic novel person?!..
Tonight Leah and I will undertake the most epic cleaning of our apartment ever. Mabel and Petrie probably won't even help, even though they are quite good at making things dirty.
And the USA is out of the world cup in the first round. This is not a huge bother, as I have not really been following the games with any amount of zeal. I generally just watch whatever game might be on as I am doing laundry each week, and sort of pick a side to support as I am adding detergent...
I really do need to finalize the details of our apartment insurance before the next Portugal game...
I finished reading Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life yesterday, and handed it on to Lisa at Wednesday night church... I'm not a huge graphic novel person, but it was a pretty entertaining read, so I ordered the second issue from the library.
What if I was a huge graphic novel person?!..
Tonight Leah and I will undertake the most epic cleaning of our apartment ever. Mabel and Petrie probably won't even help, even though they are quite good at making things dirty.
And the USA is out of the world cup in the first round. This is not a huge bother, as I have not really been following the games with any amount of zeal. I generally just watch whatever game might be on as I am doing laundry each week, and sort of pick a side to support as I am adding detergent...
I really do need to finalize the details of our apartment insurance before the next Portugal game...
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Random things
Yesterday I went to Trinity Bellwoods after work to play ultimate frisbee with some church homies. It was fun.
Today I picked up the first of the Scott Pilgrim books at the library. I'm not sure what I think yet, although so far it is pretty good... It is also set in Toronto, which is pretty neat - it seems like quite a bit of the Toronto lifestyle/culture comes through, along with the usual more universal nintendo/thrift store cultural familiarty common in a lot of books and movies about twenty-something kids... I have only read a bit though...
Tonight will be Mike's birthday party barbecue.
Today I picked up the first of the Scott Pilgrim books at the library. I'm not sure what I think yet, although so far it is pretty good... It is also set in Toronto, which is pretty neat - it seems like quite a bit of the Toronto lifestyle/culture comes through, along with the usual more universal nintendo/thrift store cultural familiarty common in a lot of books and movies about twenty-something kids... I have only read a bit though...
Tonight will be Mike's birthday party barbecue.
Monday, June 19, 2006
Weekend blah blah blah
I guess I better get to the weekend update, for all of my loyal weekend update followers...
Friday... I did laundry, and watched Angola vs Mexico with Bruno. We had a church meeting that night...
Saturday... We took Petrie to the vet to get his shots. Afterwards, I went to Mitchell's Christian Bookstore land... I was trying to find a new bible, since mine is in pieces, and ended up buying a hideously bright yellow faux-leather one, with guilded silver-edged pages. They didn't have my first (more conservative) choice, so I decided that I might as well go with that... Mike and Don came over to visit the kittens, who pretty much hid and slept the whole time. Later, we went for a walk through Cedarvale.
Sunday... Leah played her last ever service at SMM Anglican church. To celebrate, she walked around the block playing the flute. Actually, that part had something to do with celebrating Corpus Christi (?)... I don't quite get everything that goes on there, but I'm not sure that anyone does. She played again at our church, so it was a long day for her...
The end.
Friday... I did laundry, and watched Angola vs Mexico with Bruno. We had a church meeting that night...
Saturday... We took Petrie to the vet to get his shots. Afterwards, I went to Mitchell's Christian Bookstore land... I was trying to find a new bible, since mine is in pieces, and ended up buying a hideously bright yellow faux-leather one, with guilded silver-edged pages. They didn't have my first (more conservative) choice, so I decided that I might as well go with that... Mike and Don came over to visit the kittens, who pretty much hid and slept the whole time. Later, we went for a walk through Cedarvale.
Sunday... Leah played her last ever service at SMM Anglican church. To celebrate, she walked around the block playing the flute. Actually, that part had something to do with celebrating Corpus Christi (?)... I don't quite get everything that goes on there, but I'm not sure that anyone does. She played again at our church, so it was a long day for her...
The end.
Monday, June 12, 2006
Weekend - take 2
Blogger just ate my weekend update...
Here goes... you now get the abbreviated version...
Friday:
>sheetloads of laundry at Bruno's laundromat... watched soccer with Bruno
>watched Dr Strangelove - learned to stop worrying, and love the bomb
Saturday:
>took the kittens to get their shots. P ended up with antibiotics for his cold instead, and will go back next week to be jabbed.
>went to Wal-mart. Not only is it evil, it is unpleasant. Also went to L&M for a mic stand.
>that evening we went for a walk in Cedarvale - we bumped into Lisa... she was finishing up her 10 mile run right as I was finishing up my decaf americano. She is hard-core, I am a white-collar yuppie...
Sunday:
>finished my US taxes, finally. As a perpetual immigrant, I get a two month extension, so I can procrastinate for an extra two months... I'm not 100% sure they are filed 100% correctly, but I am sure the government will tell me if I am wrong. Since we are way under the allowable foreign tax exemption amount, I am pretty sure I owe nothing, no matter which residency test you use to determine my residency status. Confusing? Yes. Boring? You bet...
>church was good, despite the crapping out of Leah's patch cable right as the service began... The guitar, bass, accordian combo sounded sweet... And I learned about how pastor/rapper Cyril met genius physicist/rapper Stephen Hawking (I'll go ahead and warn you that some of his lyrics might offend...)
That is all...
Here goes... you now get the abbreviated version...
Friday:
>sheetloads of laundry at Bruno's laundromat... watched soccer with Bruno
>watched Dr Strangelove - learned to stop worrying, and love the bomb
Saturday:
>took the kittens to get their shots. P ended up with antibiotics for his cold instead, and will go back next week to be jabbed.
>went to Wal-mart. Not only is it evil, it is unpleasant. Also went to L&M for a mic stand.
>that evening we went for a walk in Cedarvale - we bumped into Lisa... she was finishing up her 10 mile run right as I was finishing up my decaf americano. She is hard-core, I am a white-collar yuppie...
Sunday:
>finished my US taxes, finally. As a perpetual immigrant, I get a two month extension, so I can procrastinate for an extra two months... I'm not 100% sure they are filed 100% correctly, but I am sure the government will tell me if I am wrong. Since we are way under the allowable foreign tax exemption amount, I am pretty sure I owe nothing, no matter which residency test you use to determine my residency status. Confusing? Yes. Boring? You bet...
>church was good, despite the crapping out of Leah's patch cable right as the service began... The guitar, bass, accordian combo sounded sweet... And I learned about how pastor/rapper Cyril met genius physicist/rapper Stephen Hawking (I'll go ahead and warn you that some of his lyrics might offend...)
That is all...
Friday, June 09, 2006
Time wasting...
So I read this 'meta'-article over at Pitchfork this morning...
and then I found a link to this Flash animation. Meta indeed.
and then I found a link to this Flash animation. Meta indeed.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
The Weekend
This Sunday my brother, Delvyn, came in to Toronto for a couple of nights. He and a posse were in Kitchener for a wedding this weekend, and a whole bunch of them stayed at our place on Sunday and Monday night.
It was awesome to see him, and the crew that were here are hilarious. I took yesterday off work, and stayed up way too late, but it was such a good time...
A summary of weekend higlights (in more or less reverse order) include:
hanging out at the Beaches last night (why don't I go out there more than about twice a year?)
crazy rooster jazz at Wavelength (what was that?)...
the Red Room on Sunday night.
playing music with Leah at church on Sunday - I thought I wouldn't like it at all, but it was pretty fun...
hanging out with Katherine on Saturday night.
meeting Leah and April for lunch on Friday...
It was awesome to see him, and the crew that were here are hilarious. I took yesterday off work, and stayed up way too late, but it was such a good time...
A summary of weekend higlights (in more or less reverse order) include:
hanging out at the Beaches last night (why don't I go out there more than about twice a year?)
crazy rooster jazz at Wavelength (what was that?)...
the Red Room on Sunday night.
playing music with Leah at church on Sunday - I thought I wouldn't like it at all, but it was pretty fun...
hanging out with Katherine on Saturday night.
meeting Leah and April for lunch on Friday...
Thursday, June 01, 2006
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