Was to go to the body of the posting area, right click then press the "paste" option. Then we are to write about what comes out. I was curious to see the last thing I copied. Would it be a recipe link? A touching video of a woman finding her adoptive mother? A sensitive poem about love and loss? This is what came up:
omg
I looked at it for ages before I remembered why I wrote, then copied that. Get ready because it's pretty geeky.
I follow Ottawa Comic-Con on Facebook and last night they posted their logo with the Vulcan hand greeting in the centre of it, saying that they would have a special announcement today. Naturally I was hyperventilating as I typed "omg" in the reply box. Unable to type it as many times as I needed to express my glee, I copied and pasted these three expressive letters over and over in the reply box while breathing into a paper bag. Okay, that last part isn't true but trust me, I was pretty pumped.
So that's my copy paste story.
kxx
PS: Just to let you know, the announcement was that Leonard Nimoy would be attending via Skype. It's a coup because he doesn't do conventions anymore. Squee!
trying to figure out how to use Scott's computer all kitted out with Windows 8. My other one was so loaded down with viruses and popups that everything lagged like you wouldn't believe.
Remember when, in order to mail a letter, you had to first look for a pen and paper, write the thing, look for a suitably sized envelope, write the address on the outside, look for stamps (inevitably you'd only have a weird amount of postage and you'd have to lick like 5 of those penny ones), then you'd have to put boots, mitts, a hat and coat on... especially if your spring has been like mine.. then you walked 10 minutes to your mailbox and dropped it in, hoping it would be received at the other end by the end of the following week? Remember that? Well I barely do. Because when this video:
was choppy day before yesterday, Scott just deleted the whole hard drive and rebuilt it. In a day. Whew. Now I can leave my boots off and email again.
A few days ago on Facebook, Elliott tagged me in a post challenging me to list my 12 favourite albums of all time. I thought it would be a hard task but the first 5 came super easy. Then I had to peek at my collection to recall some of the albums I had forgotten. Then I couldn't narrow it down to just 12 and came up with more.
You will notice that most of these albums are from the 80s. When I thought about it, I realized that this is when I bought and listened to whole albums. Over and over and over. Nowadays it's so easy to just buy and play singles that I'm likely to wait a few years and get a greatest hits compilation. Plus I don't love artists like I did back then.
Okay, so here goes. Remember, these album things are all subjective but feel free to add (or subtract) anything you think I may have forgotten in the comments. Here goes:
U2: The Joshua Tree
This is one of those albums I listen to front to back and whenever I hear one track on the radio, I crave the whole thing for hours.
Morrissey: Bona Drag
Even Scott who is lukewarm (at best) about the moaning wails of Morrissey enjoys Everyday Is Like Sunday. My personal favourite from this album is Interesting Drug.
The Smiths: Hatful of Hollow
I tried not to double up artists but I couldn't help but cheat by having both Morrissey and is old band on this list. Every song on this album is incredible. The guitar on How Soon is Now? is a revelation and do yourself a favour and listen to the underheard (it's a word now, people) Back To The Old House. It's absolutely heartbreaking. Just writing that made me go to YouTube and listen to it again. Holy shit.
Depeche Mode: Some Great Reward
This post is already taking forever because as soon as I mention something I want to immediately listen to it. Argh! Let me just shorten the process by saying listen to the whole thing. I've seen Depeche Mode 4 times in concert and considering they only play synthesizers, they are fantastic live. Master and Servant is a favourite from this one. And People are People is something that should be blasted into every bigot's prison cell from now until the end of time.
Bruno Mars: Unorthodox Jukebox
This is the newest album on the list. I love that every song on here is like a master class in classic styles and artists. You want Prince? It's on there. You want Earth Wind and Fire style disco? It's on there. You want something with a good beat that you can dance to? Check. This album is so much fun.
The Beatles: Sergeant Pepper
This is the oldest album on here. I like a lot of Beatles stuff but I find this album to be so much fun. And my kids still crack up when they hear me hollering "Good morning good morning good morning good morning good morning-a!"
The English Beat: Beat This
Seriously, How much fun is this album? Just shut up and dance.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show Soundtrack
If Scott doesn't play I'm Going Home at my funeral, I'm coming back to haunt him for the rest of his days.
Amy Winehouse: Back to Black
What kind of fuckery is this?* She was so freaking talented. Everytime I listen to it I'm reminded of sitting in the back seat of my dad's Chevy Chevelle listening to old school r&b/soul on the 8 track on long drives to Toronto or Upper New York State. Sigh.
Bob Marley: Legend
How could I not?
The B52s: The B52s
Rock Lobster. Down down down down... Would Fred ever pass the first level of American Idol? No way. My answer to that is so what. His enthusiasm and sense of fun makes this whole album a joy. Fun fact: Henry Mancini (the guy that wrote the Pink Panther theme among other things) co-wrote Planet Claire.
The Matrix Soundtrack
I love to run to this. The beats are relentless and it makes me go fast. It makes me feel invincible.
Elvis Costello: My Aim is True
Alison. That is all.
Violent Femmes: Violent Femmes
Ahhh... this one reminds me of my misspent college days. Oh, and the time I took my 3 month old nursing infant daughter and 2 1/2 year old son to their concert in 1998. Yeah, that happened.
Sinead O'Connor: I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got
What a voice. Too bad she was certifiable. The most popular song is the Prince cover Nothing Compares 2 U but there are so many other great songs on this as well. I Am Stretched On Your Grave and 3 Babies spring to mind.
The Cure: Standing On A Beach
I'd have to turn in my 80s alternative card if I didn't include something from The Cure. This album is so great because it incorporates a bit of fun into the discography of an otherwise potentially mopey, navel-gazing band. In fact, this band was actually the worst band I'd ever seen live. They didn't move a muscle and the songs were exactly like they were on the album. I could have saved the $15.50** and stayed in my bedroom with my record player.
So there it is. Let me just let you know that it took me the better part of 3 hours to write that and I'm still listening to music in the background. Care to add your favourites? I know, there's no Duran Duran on here but I just couldn't I loved them as a kid but really? Best album of all time? I just couldn't in good conscience.
One more thing... if you read this blog in feedly or another blog reader, you may miss all or some of the videos I posted. Get thee to blogger.
kxx
*it's a lyric from one of the songs. Promise.
** the going price of a concert ticket at the Montreal Forum in 1983
Actually I was dealing with customer service. Is there anything more annoying than being on hold for 40 minutes listening to Kenny Loggins, Journey and Air Supply? Just never you mind that I have them on my iPod. It's not the same when it's through your land line and you are waiting to put someone on blast. Then your heart leaps when All Out Of Love is interrupted, thinking it's finally your turn to demand a replacement for your Visa card that's expired and why do you guys wait until the last minute to send the damned thing? I want that steampunk corset for Comic-Con for goodness sake... only to hear an automated: "Your call is important to us. Please stay on the line to keep your priority in the queue."? Seriously, nothing makes me feel less important. Argh!
Anyway it's sorted but that's the joy of today's 2:01. What were you doing around that time?
As a callow youth, I loved St. Patrick's day. I used to go out of my way to wear both green and orange and to put it mildly, did my share of imbibing.
Ever since I became a wife and mother, I haven't indulged in the celebrations in any to the same degree so the most you'll see me doing is wearing green socks or something.
And since I started working in a Jewish preschool 3 years ago, I've actually forgotten to even to dig out that green hosiery. For some reason St. Patrick's Day isn't very big in Israel. Go figure.
Today, I remembered. Unfortunately, it was at 5:45 this morning, and I'd already picked out my clothes for the day last night. My shades of brown outfit. I thought about turning on the bedroom light to look for a green shirt to wear instead but remembered that I had put one away just before bed last night, and it should be right at the top of the drawer. Score! It was right where I left it, and I just had to crawl on the floor like a thief into the dark bedroom and feel around for it. Easy peasy.
Now for my class. Some of my parents would have been irate if I started talking about St. Patrick and rightly so. But what was I to do? Get creative, that's what.
I made green playdough, We did an experiment at circle time where we learned what happens when you mix yellow and blue water together, and we did an art project with green paint and cars. Oh, and our incidental music of the day may or may not have included some Great Big Sea and Dropkick Murphys. Coincidence? Mebbeee...
So for those who celebrate, Slainte and for goodness sake, have a drink for me. I used to be one of you.
was doing what I usually do after work. Watching cartoons while practicing the ukulele. Believe me, I needed the down time. Work today was... how can I put this? Busy.
It's March Break and my co-workers who are mums of students are bringing in their kids. Ostensibly it's to keep them occupied but our days are becoming Preschool Idol. Today we had a visit from a huge turtle named Toby, a teenaged tapper and Elliott blowing out eardrums with his bagpipe.
Where else but Canada would you see a half Black kid playing an instrument from the Middle East by way of Scotland in a Jewish school?
To continue the show week, Audrey will be coming with me Thursday to play Let It Go on the flute. So with not one but two talented kids, I win. Just saying...
kxx
PS: It behooves me to add that Henry is very talented as well but his parlour trick of being able to name the NASCAR vehicle, driver and sponsor of any random number shouted at him across the dinner table doesn't translate into those valuable Idol votes.
I'm not one to complain about this because it means summer is coming. You couldn't tell from the weather but you sure can from the light at 6pm. Plus we get that hour back in a few months anyway so what's the big deal? We don't have toddlers that will wake us up at ungodly hours anyway (more's the pity sometimes) so the inconvenience manifests itself in other ways.
The non-computer clocks in the house. What a pain in the ass. The thermostat, the light timers and the myriad of little clocks and watches you didn't even realize you had. My god, even my electric toothbrush has a flipping clock. And those are the ones that are a total nightmare to change.
The sheer fright you feel in that moment when you see the time and forget that there was a change. That happened twice in the car today. Now there's a clock that I'll forget to change for weeks. I got in it this morning at 5:45 and freaked out for a second when I saw that the car said 4:45. Now what the hell kind of time is that to go to freaking bootcamp?
I also had a mini stroke as I was leaving work. I glanced at the clock and saw that the time was 12:40. Naturally, I thought that I had forgotten about staying for staff lunch coverage and left without telling anyone. If it wasn't for the time change, I wouldn't have had those nauseating refreshing rushes of adrenaline.
Then there's suppertime. Yesterday I didn't even start until about 7:30 because I wasn't hungry and the light in the sky was telling me it was too early to even consider it. So we had sandwiches. My mother would have been so proud.
So I went to my ukulele night at a local pub (no, that's not the embarrassing thing, you meanie) and I thought I lost my car keys. After freaking out and searching everywhere for 20 minutes, getting the leftover participants and bar staff to help me then finally admitting defeat and calling Scott to prostrate myself in shame and humiliation when, miracle of miracles, I found them. Inside the car. Luckily I could get into the car because of the combination. Thank you Ford. You just got a loyal fan.
Anyway, shout-outs to the following people:
Scott for not making me feel shitty or embarrassing me over this whole thing. I guarantee I would not have restrained myself if the tables were turned.
The bar staff who left their post to look in places I hadn't even been. A waiter even looked in the men's room. Hey! Now that I think about it, I may take that as an insult.
The anonymous woman who refused to hear of me taking a cab home. She insisted on driving me. It was only 10:30 and I would have been fine but she was not having it. I never even got her name before I found those goddamned keys hiding under the gps in the cup holder. I did give her a big hug, though, after I finished waving them around in shame victory. She said I'd see her at the next event in a couple of weeks so there's that.
Anyway, That was my last foray into embarrassment. What was yours?
I find it amusing that I have previously posted a photo of my keys on this blog. This is what happens when you've been blogging for as long as I have. There's nothing in my life you guys haven't seen.
kxx
PS: And my streak for not having lost anything important still stands at 4.5 years...
Was just looking at the cat. Wow... that was so boring but entirely true. Not even petting her, just looking at her gorgeous fuzzy face.
On another note, I took a photo driving to work this morning (from the passenger side, don't worry) of a woman driving while doing the most incredible thing. She was eating a danish. Now, before you say: "Hey Karen, everyone eats danish in the car! What's so incredible about that?" Well, I neglected to mention that she was using a ceramic plate. I kid you not. She was operating the car with a ceramic plate balanced on the fingertips of her left hand while she ate the thing with her right. While operating a moving motor vehicle. She may have been a squid. Or a superhero.
But who does that? Why not get the danish in a piece of wax paper like everyone else? Was she some sort of celebrity or royalty? If so, why was she driving herself? Scott and I were cracking up laughing that she had a cup and saucer of tea in the passenger seat. It was all too funny. In a way. I mean it was rush hour with tons of cars and kids crossing the street going to school. What would she tell the cops?
1. I was trying to be classy
2. But I wasn't born in a barn, officer
3. This is how they served it at the drive-thru window at the Gilded Truffle
4. It's the plate from the hospital cafeteria... What?
I stole this whole thing from a hilarious facebook post
by... me. I feel left out by all the Oscar talk from today, and I'm frankly too
lazy tired to come up with something fresh. So read what I wrote about the
nominees yesterday afternoon as I revel in the veracity of my prediction.
Fancy, right?
"One word reviews of the Oscar nominees
Her: Weird
12 Years a Slave: Horrifying
Nebraska: Yawn
American Hustle: Hilarious
Philomena: Heartwarming
Gravity: Tense
Wolf of Wall Street: Ugh
Dallas Buyers Club: Meh
Captain Phillips: Thrilling
Who will win? 12 Years a Slave. They love that stuff. Who I
want to win? American Hustle. It was so much fun!"
I am so smart. I have nothing else to add about the telecast
other than what has been said by better writers than me. John Travolta
butchering Idina Menzel's name (hilarious), the selfie that broke the internet
and Lupita Nyong'o's amazing dress... all been said, but I do have to mention
my marathon 6 hour Skype session with my BFF Kathy in London. She made an epic
sacrifice by watching it live with me (5 hour delay so she went to bed just
after 5am her time) and taking today off work to recover. Thank you so much,
Kathy... I had the best time. Next year we're doing it in person at your place!
