ITS IN

Note down this time. 12:29 Pacific, I the EX Student, submitted her damn exam for a volunteer position with her skating association. It's been in the works for MONTHS. Its been one bloody road block after another, and I've had incredibly little support and extreme fustration. I've been in school while doing it, I've been pressured by my supervisor to get it done and get it in. AND NOW IT IS SO SUCK IT.

.....now I get to sick back and panic till its marked and I inevitably fail regardless.

lifes a bitch ain't it?

Screw you facebook

So. It's started again. All my friends are getting engaged and I'm still hopelessly single. So my whole freaking facebook page is a glow with "omg!!!!"'s and "That ring is amazing!!!"'s. And honestly while I'm happy my friends (who I have barely spoken to in years might I add) seem to be happy. I could give a shit less.

Now. I'm not really in the mood to give a shit that these girls are getting married. I'm not in the mood to whine about how I'm so damn single and looking for a partner in all the wrong places. I'm also in the mood to not have it rubbed in my face how these people are getting hitched and I'm not. How they are so much further along in their lives than I am. How they are more sucessful, and better at life than I am. Screw them, I don't care, but just like being gay or a christian. Do what you want, but don't you dare rub it in my face. These are all just reasons I doubt very much I'm going to my 10 year high school reunion.

Hmmm quel surprise?

SO. As I have mentioned before I'm seeing this boy. And it's been going ok. We don't live in the same place and that's been a bit problematic ALSO he is probably the most social person I've ever known so he's never really free to "up and come over" between his work, school and social schedule (mostly its his school and work schedule but then he has other things like hockey and crap in the way).

So it's hard because I end up missing him a lot. I miss him and it sucks, but also I miss him because we never get to talk because our schedules are SOOO different.

Before we started seeing each other he had a knack of just showing up. Which was fine. I've known him a long time so we would just hang out and grab coffee. But now that we're seeing each other this is starting to become a bit of a problem.

Don't get me wrong. Him randomly visting is a great surprise. Him not giving me the heads up might just be the death of me. Ladies side with me on this one. If we don't have to shave/wax/put makeup on/wear cute underwear all the time, we generally don't. Well maybe the underwear thing and the makeup thing, but unless I'm wearing shorts or expect to have someone see my legs (and etc) I don't shave/wax. Cannot be bothered. Its winter, its cold and well I'm lazy. SO when The Boy calls, and he's two hours away and expecting to see me, I get sent into PANIC mode.

My face is a mess (thank you hormones) and my hair was a mess and most annoyingly I really needed to shave my legs. So off I went. Like a mad lady to take necessary precautions to not look like a cavewomen.

So while I think its awesome I get to see him for the first time in a month....I really wish I had had more time to feel like a female....cause does he really need to see me at my worst from the get go? I would prefer not.

Feelin Foolish....time to get my head out of my ASS!

OK so I know I haven't been the greatest poster child of commitment this year. I'm about to turn 26 and I'm pretty sure I have no idea where my life is going, and well, I'm not feeling overly excited about school. I feel like I'm missing motivation to be there. There are people that would kill to go to school, and yet I'm just exsisting there. I'm floating.

That being said, I have never been one to take anything sitting down, or slack off, until this year. And tonight I hit an absolute low point. I knew an assignment was due tonight. I had it done and ready to roll. Come time to hand it in an apparently I had ignored the parts actually due. I missed a big chunk of the assignment being due and I have NEVER had this happen before.

I have never not handed something in on time. I have never missed an exam, or had to write it at a later date. I have never called in sick to an exam. I DON'T DO THIS. I'm not late! I'm not someone who does these kinds of things and yet tonight I somehow handed in half an assignment because I wasn't paying enough attention to class and the syllabus to actually realize everything was due.

I felt so stupid! So irresponsible! How could this have happened? This isn't me?

Have I been too distracted and lazy lately? To really be paying attention to things like this? And if that is the case how pathetic is this? And shameful? I'm spending all this time in school hoping to get some sort of clue as to what to do with my life, and I'm pissing it away by not being dedicated?

So I'm very mad at myself. This assignment was worth 15% of my grade and in class the prof said it was either you get 15% or nothing, and seeing as I only did half I have no idea how this marking is going to go. I have emailed (had to rush after class) and asked about handing it in tomorrow and just taking a deduction in marks to hopefully be able to get my mark up...but this could potentially end up being a big hit in my mark.

While I'm really mostly pissed at myself for letting this semester get away from me...this might be the very mark-expensive kick in the ass I needed to get my shit together.

So happy hump day all! I'm officially over my semester "hump" and its time to get my shit together.

Hot Yoga a Go-Go

So, I recently decided that I wanted to maybe try another free skate test for figure skating, and I've been trying to attend regular skating sessions to see where I'm at and what I need to do to get back into shape. And well it hasn't been going great. My back injury is flaring up a little bit, I get bored easily of free skate and switch back to ice dance without really thinking about it, and while its still in my mind, I think the best thing I can do right now is just try to get back into shape.

I used to be active all the time. Skating lots, and going running and doing things like spin classes, but after my back going to hell, and my trip to England, and then death in the family, everything just got in the way. I know there is part of me that just keeps saying "That was all just an excuse you could have done other things to stay fit" but really? My heart wasn't in it and I needed the mental break of doing nothing if anything.

So lately, with skating in mind, I'm desperately trying to do anything and everything that can get me back into shape or at the very least keep me entertained. I'm trying to get back to the rock climbing gym (sans Asscountant it's actually a lot of fun) and I eventually want to get the guts together to go back to spin class. Today I tried Hot Yoga for the first time. Now I had done one yoga class previously through a rec centre and it was a bit of a wash. I didn't take it seriously and the class was for people who want "easy no fuss yoga".

I was having coffee with a friend a few weeks ago and he recommended I try hot yoga. I laughed at him and said forget it and we parted ways. He knows me, he got it. So flash forward to last week and my new "gotta get my ass in gear" kick, and I txt my friend and say, "I cave lets go"

So we made plans to go this morning, he recommended I come properly hydrated.

Well, I am back to report on my experiences. The hot yoga room was not as hot as expected, but don't get me wrong it was hot. Yoga, when not watered down for chicks who want to year Lulu Lemon pants to say they do yoga, is bloody hard! I for years have been told I'm a figure skater and we're just better at certain things, or we have highly movable joints etc, or all that other crap, BUT it didn't do much to prepare this particular out of shape figure skater for the fact that I was heaving and puffing through the class because apparently I have never learned to breath properly.

So yes, the class was hard, and I'm pretty sure I sweated every beverage I have ever consumed in my life out through my pores, and the drive home in soggy knickers was not something I ever care to repeat (ie take spare knickers to class to change into), it was definitely a challenge. And that was definitely what I needed. The visual may be a little harder to get over (lots of fat men trying to get in shape and you can smell them from the back of the room), but I've been feeling super laid back and energized all day. Getting stuff done around the house, gave me some motivation to do some school work, I don't even have the mindstate to argue with The Boy, after I picked a fight with him last night because it turns out everyone has been right about him being an ass (long story not getting into it...to yoga'ed out).

Now while my back injury is still flared from this mornings yoga session, I'm hoping more exercise and such will help calm it down, so it might be a couple weeks before I go back to yoga, but I think I'll be back again. And this time hopefully better hydrated.

The Jack-Off Factor

So one of the things I haven't really fessed up to lately is that I've sort of been seeing someone. Now the relationship is starting off rocky and I've known him awhile so I sort of know its going to crash and burn before it really even starts, but part of me thinks that it's all good and it will all work out if I just stick with it. Regardless. Its new and its very very vague and well the guys a bit of an idiot, but he openly acknowledges that he is bad in relationships so I guess I can't be too hard on him. I'm not really going to get into it right now. But you need the background so that the rest of this post makes sense.

What I'm about to disclose was not my idea, but was T's idea that I should post because she found it rather amusing. So of course here goes.

Last weekend I spent the entire weekend at this guys house because we don't live in the same city (ya yet another issue we are already having problems with...). Sunday morning, after having been up pretty late Saturday night I had no desire to get out of bed before noon, but the guy I was staying with wanted to get up and get some groceries before the hockey game started. I was sitting in bed thinking "I could really go for a coffee and bagel" but thinking that it wasn't going to happen unless I either went to Tim's myself or brewed my own coffee, I rolled over and went back to bed. Boy had already left, and left his phone on the bedside table so I didn't have high expectations.

I hear the lock click, and the Boy returns and I think, "screw it I'm still not getting out of bed", when The Boy announces, "I'm a JACK-OFF". I'm still in bed. I'm not really too sure what he's talking about so I roll over and crawl out of bed and start to trek down the hall.

"I'm a jack-off!" he continues. I'm not really awake so I don't say much, but I'm sure my facial expressions said it all.

"We've slept together and I don't have any idea how you take your coffee!"

I'm sure my jaw dropped, and I had to stiffle a giggle, but I still haven't said much. He seems pretty irritated by this whole thing, and I'm finding it extremely entertaining.

He regales me of his tale to get coffee:

"So I went and got to groceries I needed and then I figured I would come back with coffee. I go into Starbucks and I wait in line, I get up to the till and it dawned on me I have no idea how you take your coffee!! Then I figured I knew you liked bagels so I might as well to go Timmy's. I get to Timmys and realize that not only do I not know what you take in your coffee, I also have no idea what kind of bagel you like or if you like it buttered or with cream cheese!"

By now he's ranting but he continues.

"So I'm a total asshole, because now I'm in a second line up with no idea what to get you and the saddest thing is that we went to tims just yesterday and you had a bagel and I apparently am such an asshole I didn't even pay attention to what you ate then!"

Now the rest of the conversation basically went along with him saying that he had to get a variety of bagels with a variety of toppings (which was good because I don't like the smell of cream cheese esp not on my bagel) and ice caps because he didn't want to get me a coffee I wouldn't drink (so kudos there) and it got to the point where there really wasn't much I could say or do because he was a bit irritated and he wanted to watch the game etc but still. VERY entertaining.

So ya I have known this guy a long time so I would hope that he would know how I take my coffee (he certainly does now anyways) but I appreciate that he totally admits when he's clueless. He tells it like he is, so I guess there is that.

Every guy has a jack-off factor. The Boy's just happens to be that he doesn't know my coffee preference. It's a start I suppose!

Love. It really is all around.

In case you didn't already know, because of the millions of commericals, the facebook postings or multiple twitter tweet, or you know by looking at a calendar, its Valentine's Day. Or as one friend of mine put it "Singles Awareness Day".

Now, I'm single, so I know I'm supposed to be sad and lonely and depressed that no one is around to buy me roses, and that no one is showering me with love and affection, but here's the scoop. I'm not.

I have been planning for his Valentine's day for awhile now to be quite honest. I decided very early that even though I am super single, with no real prospects, that I wasn't going to let me get me down this February 14th. I decided that this would be the year I went all out because, just because I don't have a man and its been the year from absolute hell, that I wasn't going to go down with out a fight.

So, I got into it. Painted my finger nails pink with hearts, and my toes sparkly pink. I made sugar cookies and iced them with pink frosting and heart sprinkles (see above..they turned out super tasty might I add). I made goodie bag Valentine's Day treats with cards for all my friends, I even took the time to express post cookies to Fido before he left for Mexico. I wore pink today, and red shoes (really because I was looking for an excuse to finally wear them out) and wore pink make-up. The whole bit. Got together with T and a couple of her school friends and saw a sappy chick flick  movie, (The Vow....recommendation if you go to see the movie take tissue, and don't take your lover because I imagine it will make even prince charming look like a shmuck compared to Leo in the movie) and now I'm home after a long day of Valentine's enjoyment, and I'm spent. Feeling content and relaxed, the exact thing I think this day is supposed to encourage.

This whole experience made me realize a few things that I already knew, just had lost sight of. Love really is all around. I have great family and friends and don't need a man to fulfill my life. If I want roses? I can get them myself thank you very much. Would it be nice to have someone around to get them for me? Absolutely! Do I need it? Nope. I've got love on my side, because I love myself. So Cupid can suck it :P

The Filler Post

Ugh I've been so busy for the past week, and I've sat down a couple times to post, but every time I do, the posts get long and winded because so much is going on. I've been to Vancouver for a weekend long bitch session with Fido (him bitching not me...however it was all very informative), I've taken school tests, and I've worked tirelessly on skating competition stuff for the upcoming weekend, and yes I've been trying to pound through school stuff. Add in the fact that it snowed here, oh and in the middle of all this I got sick and you have a recipe for chaos.

So ya its been a bit nutters on my end of the computer screen, which is one of the reasons I started this blog, to show people how crazy my life can get, and to tell you all about the weird situations I somehow end up in, and of course complain about my life to an outlet that others can read and either sympathize, or say "ya ya I've got real problems barbie" to. Either way. I mean I may have been busy last week, but I also don't have a job so....ya I guess could have been a lot busier. Anyways.

So ya this past week has been so crazy that I've been struggling to sit down and post a blog. I would love to get into details about how I converted Fido from "Mr Hockey and Don't You Forget It" to "Mr Figure Skating Starts in 20 minutes so get up!!!"...or about how one should never go bra-less when sledding (damn nephews wouldn't wait for me the change....), I just can't seem to write the posts.

A really good measure of how busy I've been might be the fact that I didn't watch the newest episode of Vampire Diaries until today. Ya I waited  5 days to watch it. Will power? Not really, more like I had it on my computer and could have watched it but watching skating with Fido was more entertaining, sleeping took precedent, or sleeping for 13 hours at a time was more important (holy sh*t balls tylenol sinus nighttime kicked my ass).

But I did finally watch it, and my end opinion, is that last weeks episode of Vampire Diaries was much like this very post. A filler. We get caught up on whats going on, we check in on each character, stuff happens but it really means nothing till the next episode (or post) when everything is actually explained. And for that I'm really glad I didn't rush to watch it.  Living my life was waaay more important.

Things I've googled when I should have been studying

We've all been here. Sitting at your computer in dire need to sit and do some work and actually be productive, but its the absolute last thing you want to do. So you sit, with your computer poised and .....you then start toodling around online because of course you just HAVE to know something, or find something....and well you get my drift.

So here is the list of the things I've googled instead of studying....this is only the last few from my last major paper due...I'm sure if it were a more comprehensive list of all the sites I've ever used to procrastinate I'm sure it would be way more shameful than it already is....here is my shame...for all to see .. I wrote most of this down when actually writing my lab hence the crazy rambling....

And yes I realize that this post starts of with all the crap I google to procrastinate but then turns into me telling what music you should be listening to...it just further proves that I have a procrastination AND focus problem...shouldn't shock you at all :P

1. The Magic School Bus

I wrote a blog a while back about making all the wrong decisions (clearly I took my own advice to an extreme because I should be writing this freaking lab but here I am googling all the wrong crap AND then BLOGGING about it....ugh...anyway I digress) and it occurred to me (whilst I should have been focusing on exercise science) that I didn’t really know the story behind magic school bus that THAT was a CRIMINAL ACT. How DARE I quote something I clearly know so little about. SO I took to google and came up to a Wikipedia entry that cleared the whole mystery up for me. Turns out there are a lot I haven’t read.....ok back to work (oh btw here's the link if you're interested in more info...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Magic_School_Bus)

2. Why do some people show up on my facebook chat but they aren't online?

You know this crazy new facebook chat thing? Well I always have people that I never talk to come up on the list that are never online and I couldn't figure it out. Of course I was procrastinating on crack-book when I should have been studying...or at least writing that damn paper...and here is what I came up with...

Answer: apparently although it still isn’t clear, its a lot do with who you interact with publicly. A lot of people think that it’s who has been viewing you’re page the most (which would have been awesome because the Asscountant has been showing up on mine like crazy) but it has more to do with who you interact with publically. Which for mine I guess makes sense. The majority of people on my list are people I have messaged and stuff lately, but still doesn’t account for why the Asscountant is on that list. I haven’t “interacted publicly” (or otherwise for the record) in months? But none the less..thats Facebooks official stand point. Still think its a bit rigged but I think all of Facebook is rigged.God damn crack-book

3. Concerts in Vancouver that Fido might enjoy (my friend not my dog)

Fido's going through a bad break up (yup he finally found a girl who he was head over heels about, wanted to commit to, AND of course SHE can't commit....go figure). Talked to him on the phone today and I don't think I've ever heard him so defeated. He`s broken up with girls before, he`s been dumped before, but usually he`s pretty lax about it. He`s never really cared before I guess, cared but not really cared...does that make sense?) ANYWAYS! The last time I can remember him happy (other than when he first started dating his lady friend), was when we saw Finger 11 at the commodore SO thinking I could get him feeling better by getting concert tix I went to the net...only to realize that I had turned it off on my computer to force myself to do this damn lab report. So that will have to wait. 

4. How to turn the E with the french accent off?

While typing the blurb about the concert tix I mashed the keyboard in my haste and somehow magically changed my keyboard settings and switched it to french and for the life of me couldn’t remember how to fix it. Had to turn my Wi-fi back on to do so. Then had to restart my computer. Good lord. Go freaking figure...For the record if you are in the same boat as me, just go in and change your languages then restart your computer...should fix it up real quick. Turn it on to US and it will fix all the annoying french canadian settings, unless that's what you want...then I say have at er :)

5. In general - actors/actresses on IMDB

I have certain TV shows I like to watch and I always start to wonder where the actors were before they landed some of their roles, also I like the trivia and the whole “7 degrees of Kevin Bacon” kinds stuff....My most recent “MUST IMDB” moment was Beth Bhers from 2 Broke girls, I love that she’s such a ditz and I wanted to find out just where the heck she came from..turns out nowhere really. I already kind of knew about Kat Dennings, her role in Charlie Bartlet was brilliant SO when I saw she was in this new show I was eager to find out more about the cast, and enter Beth Behrs into my life...and now yours check her out! Of course after IMDB I immediately had to watch various youtube clips on 2 broke girls, which led to me watching various clips of various artists singing my favorite songs (of course normal progression of procrastination) hence the following...after the clip that is

6. Amazing Artists on Youtube that even though they came from cheesy TV shows, deserve your TLC

I get a lot of music off of the many TV shows I watch. God how I managed to find time to get an undergrad when it's obvious I'm a TV-aholic I will never know. I hear it in a TV show and if I love it I have to have the MP3, and then I go on Youtube when I should clearly be studying and try and find amazing live versions or acoustic versions of them. And they don't just have to be from TV shows, if I find an amazing band, that's all I need as an excuse to youtube the crap out of them! Example A the Ron Pope - Drop in the Ocean. AMAZING right? If you haven't watched it, scroll down and please do so...or make it up to me by watching some of these (you so won't be sorry!!)

Shawn McDonald- Captivated (Originally from Drop Dead Diva)

Ryan Star- Losing Your Memory (Vampire Diaries...don't judge me for my love of man candy)

Sara Bareilles - Gravity

I've always been a huge fan of her music and I actually own ALL of her albums (as in I went to the store and actually purchased them or ordered them from Amazon) but she has had a bunch of her music featured in Vampire Dairies and a couple movies so at least its not SOO shameful...but what it misses in my secret shame it makes up for in pure awesomeness

Tegan and Sara - Where does the good go. 

I've been a fan of these guys for awhile, but for a long time radio here only played the song "walking with a ghost" which I hated. I mean its an ok song, but it got so over played that I always switched it off and of course if you don't like the first taste of a band, you don't go seek out more right? Well enter watching Grey's anatomy. I think their entire album "So Jealous" was at some point or another featured in one episode or another, and of course I fell in love with it all so I youtubed them and found out, that Walking with a ghost doesn't fit the rest of the album. These two are super cute and seem to have actual personality, in that they actually really enjoy being social with others, where some rock stars don't even acknowledge others presence (ie the Chili Peppers..

AWOLNATION - Sail - If you don't know who this band is you need to buy (yes BUY) their album immediately, if not sooner. They are fantastic. I can't believe they have come to my town twice and I've never seen them live. Their music, is amazing, I cannot figure out a better way to describe them. If you listen to them and you then turn out to love them like I know you will...remember where you got it from (that'd be me) (and of course I got AWOLNATION from a guy I used to work with and without him life wouldn't be the same so thank you Cpl...and if you ever come across this...I am fully admitting, but not to your face the following "I was WRONG....YOU were RIGHT"...there happy?)

Barcelona - Come Back When You Can (Vampire Dairies). This song is so soulfull I love it. Regardless of where it came from I think its amazing. Throw in a stage orchestra and I'm pretty much sold regardless. And who hasn't been in this exact position? In an argument with someone you love, they bolt on you and you want nothing more for them to come back because no matter how bad things where, how much you pissed each other off....you just want them to come back to you because together you think you can figure it all out together. That regardless of the words said and the things done, that together you really can take on the world.... Now why this really isn't the reality, it sure is a nice notion isn't?

Serena Ryder - Little Bit of Red. Hated this song when I first heard it on the radio. With a ridiculous passion, it was just so horrible and over done. But then I heard it somewhere acoustically...and fell in love with it. I love the song even though I should hate it...but alas here I am. Maybe when its acoustic you can feel her pain, and I connect with that more than the pop-ed out crap version?

The Naked and Famous - Punching in a Dream. SO this is kind of a long one, but I found out about this band from watching the Secret Circle premiere after watching the season opener of Vampire Daireis. I loved the song "Young Blood" and after finally being able to get the name of the band that sung the damn song, I went out and BOUGHT the cd (shocking huh? I apparently actually buy music) and this has to be the best damn song I've ever randomly stumbled upon without knowing anything about the band at all. Other bands I usually know something about, or have a notion as to what their musical genre is but not this one. Total random purchase, and it really paid of!

Depeche Mode - Waiting for the night. This isn't really a find, but I do think it's worth mentioning as it is acoustic/live music at its absolute best. One night while procrastinating I found this. The live version of this song, from the actual concert I went to. I was there. I got to witness this life, and I was gobsmacked. Keep in mind, this is 100% them, live, on a crappy audience filmed camera, and the guy was getting over cancer. Suck it all you tweeny bopper "auto-tuned" bullshit artists. This is how you get shit done....This is how you last forever, because let's face it? What now famous band doesn't know and respect Depeche Mode? The ones that won't last past two albums of course...

 

7. Bands that do covers of other bands

I'm an addict for things like this. I love hearing bands that I love cover other bands I love. I also love it when a band I don't 100% care for makes me a fan because they themselves have good taste in music. It is my personal belief that EVERY band should have a cover song in their back pocket. Just one to whip out to keep fan on their toes. Being able to share something like that with a crowd? I think it connects with your audience more and its proof that you too listen to the greats and that you aren't stupid enough to think that you are the only band on the entire planet whose music is good enough to be heard. It humbles a band. But they are really hard to come by. I guess even though as a fan I love it when bands do this, I guess the bands don't really like to do it? I dunno it seems like they don't always do them and even when they do you can't find the physical proof to prove it. SO of course its a great way for me to procrastinate! So here are a few of my absolute favorite cover songs by bands. (and yes the Radio 1 Lounge in the UK does have artists come in and do covers all the time, and I LOVE it...but still they aren't easy to get the tracks from...)


Adam Gontier (Three Days Grace) - Wicked Games
This makes me melt every time. I've actually had the privillage to see him sing this live a couple times, and its just breath taking. Chris Issac can suck it, Adam does it better. Then again, it could be the fact that hearing this live, being surrounded by his voice and hearing intensity live...and thinking the dudes man candy...don't help... but it does make your panties want to drop.....or mine at least

AFI - Just like Heaven. I am a huge fan of The Cure, and I think its really interesting to know that most big bands out there today and a lot of popular TV shows, still credit the Cure for a lot of things. AFI did this really awesome cover that didn't make me want to gauge my eyes out when I saw them at warped tour many many years ago, and I think that they pull it all well! (yes the lead singer of AFI creeps the hell out of me and I think they are a bit of a poser kind of band, but the guy sings it well without butchering it...can't really ask for more than that sometimes...its cute so just enjoy for Pete sakes).

Umbrella - Mandy Moore. I cannot bloody stand Rhianna. I DETEST her, and her horibble over produced dime a dozen voice. In my opinion she is 100% whats wrong with pop music today. As far as I'm concerned she is only making money because people feel peer pressure from their friends to listen to her because the media crams her down our throats whether we like her or not. I refuse to be a lemming. HOWEVER, Mandy Moore singing this? Actually makes me think that song holds meaning. She brings a whole other side of it to the table. I hate Rhianna, but this song with the vocal stylings of Mandy Moore? Not too shabby Miss Moore...not too shabby.

Green Day - We are the Champions. To me it seems like everyone has their own opinions on Green Day. You either like them, and have been a fan from the beginning and stuck out their shit albums between their brilliant albums pattern, or you just aren't a fan. Regardless I don't think anyone could ever deny that they put on one hell of a show. I've been lucky enough to see them live a few times and I always have a total blast. They are one of those bands that I feel just loves their fans, and they have a social consciousness about the BS going on in the world, and are brave enough to tell people to "sod the hell off". Hearing them sing this? Well there is no band that I can think of that has triumphed more over the music world than they have...Also. Any band that says "If someone goes down you pick them up. This isn't war this is rock and roll!" to me is AOK in my books.

Josh Groan - My December. Linkin Park? Aren't bad, but I think a bit too stereo typical of what they think isolated teenages who need to break things are. Josh Groban singing their stuff? Pure Brilliance.

The Killers - Shadow Play. Anyone that wants to cover classics like this to make them cool again (so we get to hear quality instead of mass produced crap on the radio) is good in my books. And their the killers! Come on! They rock! Joy Division? They also rock! How could this be bad?

Shiloh - Man in the Mirror
After MJ died a whole host of his covers came out. Everyone jumped on the band wagon as if they had always been big fans of him, which to be honest most were. Any artist that says they were never in some way influenced by MJ are full of crap. Choreogrpahed dance moves, tight pants, pop beats all that, MJ did it first folks, and even if you are a hard core rock monger, rock and roll artists are too in debted to this amazing man. NOW granted I don't know where I stand on his lifestyle. I don't know what he did or didn't do, but musically he was a genius. So finding this talented Canadian Shiloh (who I'm sure you've never heard of...) sing one of his songs? Fabulous.

Foo Fighters - Bad Reputation (with the amazing Joan Jett)
I just found this a few days ago but its still awesome. Having The Foo Fighters as your back up? Not too Shabby at all. Even if its not a true cover, it still gets a mention

Anberlin - Enjoy the Silence. Ok so I'm a pretty big Depeche Mode Fan. And sadly and so typically "Enjoy the Silence" is one of my favorites of theirs.. I'm also one to believe that unless you can do a song justice, cover or not, you shouldn't touch the greats. Depeche Mode has been around long enough to have the respect of those following them. In other words. Don't cover what you can't do justice. I've heard MANY a Depeche Mode cover thats made me want to slit my own wrists then take a bath with a toaster. This one? Not half bad. Its a nice little harder edge cover and its done fairly well...even if I did find it from a vampire dairies episode. No judgement please.

Darren Hayes - In Your Eyes. Anyone whose ever seen "say anything" watching the scene in the car...swooooon. The song itself is so iconic and to cover it, well its a pretty gusty move when you're livilyhood is females that listen to your music who inevitably have seen all the chickflicks and knows the originals of all these songs (stuff like thompson twins if you were here, or omd if you leave etc...think John Hughes movies), well to cover them is ballsy in my opinion. Well Darren Hayes, you made me a believe that it can be done because your version of this song makes me feel like its totally different than the original and that they stand apart. And of course the panty drop factor is still there...even though I'm sure you're gay. Of course no judgment, but I still melt from your voice....
My only regret is that for the life of me I can't find him singing this...its just the song...but still give it a shot!

My Darkest Days - Come undone
Last one of the night. Not because I'm running out of material but alas out of steam. Keep in mind that all of these videos are ones that I just keep pulling from a big pile of crap saved in my favorites. This band is one of those bands you actually make an effort to see when they are the opening band. They are a wee bit all over the place as is their CD, but this song? AWESOME. Who doesn't live a good Duran Duran cover? Weenies...that's who.

Ok well as you can see I am the master of procrastination as now I'm even procrastinating going to sleep! 


Hopefully you found out some good info or got a couple of song suggestions...I tried not to post anything too main stream or typical (but probably failed miserably!)


If anyone out there has a song they think I should know about I'm always dying to hear them! I love finding weirdo random amazing stuff and I find that unless someone shoves something in your face or its mainstream you never find it! 

And if you really enjoyed this massive purge of musical awesomeness in your face....fear not I've already formulated a plan in my head to do a part two "covers, musicals and live events you should have seen yourself"...ie I may decide to dip into my own personal collection of live video footage! I've got WHACKS.


Night folks!

Sometimes you just keep em backwards

You know there are days I question just how the hell I function. In fact there are days where I question just how the hell I haven't been voted off the island by natural selection, as there is no way I can be considered 'the fittest' of our species.

As much as I have been trying lately, I've lost a bit of my school mojo, and seeing as that's all I have to keep me out of the house these days, its made getting up for school a bit difficult. I am no morning person, this I know, but apparently I'm also not a "morning getting dressed person" because today was the second time in probably a week that I managed to put my leggings on backwards. And both times it took HOURS to realize that's why they didn't feel comfortable. HOURS of wondering why my my leggings (that usually after November 1st I wear for extra warmth under my pants) are riding up my ass, and why they won't seem to stay down revealing over an inch of ankle. Keep in mind that the first time I did this I ripped my leggings (only the second time I'd ever worn them too damn it!), and in the same week ripped my absolute favourite pair of jeans across the knee (the jeans that survived England might I add....DAMN IT).

Ya, not a morning person, 25 and apparently cannot figure out how to dress myself still. Awesome.

Thank goodness it's reading break this week and I'll get a chance to recharge my batteries, or at least it's an excuse to get up everyday and do something other than school without guilt.

So I won't be naming any of my future offspring Peter

So in a new low attempt to get out of doing school work, and ignoring the fact that I should be looking for jobs (I've applied for some lately so I guess that's good....nothing is turning up), I've been paying special attention to the site "Funny Exams". (check it out here if you're interested funnyexam.com).

Basically the site pays tribute to funny exam answers that teachers and probably even parents post for others to enjoy. I know that there is also a popular forward that has a bunch of funny exam answers in them but this is the full meal deal.

So I'm flipping through the funnies, looking at answers, reading real students essays on people (one particularly entertaining one about Will "Fresh Prince" Smith, where the essay was concluded with "Thanks homes smell ya later!".) and events (where it was quoted that "like all Spanish things, El Ninio was evil"...their words not mine), and I'm noticing that all the really funny ones are all penned by students named Peter. No word of a lie.

I have observed "Peter" write an essay on Walt Whitman, describing him as 3000 years old and 30 stories tall, might I also add that "Peter" stated in the introduction of his essay that the only reason for writing said essay was because the teacher said to either "Pick a poet and take this class seriously or not bother coming to class anymore". Your teacher is going to see you're strong academic worth ethic here I just know it! (I can't get the photos to embed but heres the link if you're so inclined: http://funnyexam.com/answers/popular/1607-the-most-amazing-biography)

"Peter" takes to it again in a biography of an influential person in world war two : Jimmy McPearson. Jimmy McPearson, 'Peter" describes, is a "not well sung hero. He's not in any textbooks and he's not known by many people, and some might argue is not even a documented citizen".....this doesn't look promising..."Peter" continues on, "Jimmy was born to a nice slave couple, grew up in Harlem Chicago, and joined a gang to get his "props""......ohhh dear. Peter goes on to describe Jimmy as a gangster who was living "good" till the "Japanese sprung a sneak attack on his home town killing his parents instantly". Apparently the history books missed that too. Basically the rest of the essay goes on to say that Jimmy went on to plot revenge against the Japanese, saying he killed Hitler.....yup "Peter" is clearly in the know here! (if you would like to see Peter's rendition of WWII click here! http://funnyexam.com/answers/popular/1648-lol-the-teacher-comment-o)

So after seeing "Peter" take a stab at Walt Whitman I was shocked to see "Peter" take to the keys for another informative essay. This time on Christopher Columbus. This go round "Peter" take time out of his busy day to tell us all about how Christopher Columbus, a famous explorer took to the seas with his three trust mates, "Maria, Santa Maria, and Tupac". "Peter" then goes on to describe Columbus' discovery of the "New world" including interesting details of the excursion including "their radio broke after a fierce storm" and how they lost Tupac "within in 10 minutes" of finding civilization, which evidently turned out to be "dumb uncivilized intelligent apes". I would also like to add in that the marker does add-in in bold red writing "not again...". "Peter" had striked previously making be believe that these two "Peter's" might just be the same one.......(read this Peter's Columbus essay here: http://funnyexam.com/answers/popular/1622-lol-2nd-line-not-again)

Our next "Peter" entry takes away from the literary world and puts us into the middle of mathematics. Literally. The next "Peter" paper takes us to math class where "Peter" is asked to "expand (a+b)to the Nth".....so he does...much like this... =  (a+b)n  =(a   +    b)n    = (a          +          b)n...and well you get the point. This answer received a small "oh peter" comment.(see "Peter's" stellar math skills here: http://funnyexam.com/answers/popular/1634-oh-peter-xd-you-re-doing).

After extensive research (all done while avoiding research I should have done for school and not been wasting my time) I have come to the conclusion, that even if by some stroke of pure luck that all of these different Peter's are the exact same one (which I think at least two of them are) I have started to wonder if perhaps there is something about the name Peter that makes a kid be a smart ass. And not in a good way. Regardless....even though I do not plan to parent offspring, should that ever change, I sure as heck won't be naming them Peter.

Yes, no, yes, no, yes - my rant about my life

Ever feel totally and utterly without a clue? Like you know what you want, but you haven't a clue how to get there, or what that 'want' is? Well that seems to be my problem lately.

Upon entry into the workforce, I started to notice this really baffling trend. With every 12 applications/resumes I put out, only MAYBE one response was coming back. I have a list of places I have applied to for jobs (that do not necessarily use my degree) and rarely do I get an interview. Now I know it sounds obnoxious, but given that every summer I've always been able to line up great summer jobs, I figured after graduating, that SOMETHING would come up, if not the perfect job fine (I was willing to take whatever) but something to make me some cash. Well, turns out? The job search front sucks. Apparently due to the tanking of the economy seen not only in the USA, but also in Canada the majority of companies are looking to downsize, not hire. Anyone that was laid off in the cut backs are now applying along with the recent grads, except they have the one thing we lack. This golden thing called experience.

Now here's the kicker, for me mostly. Even when searching for jobs, and blasting through job postings, there is nothing I really want. With the exception of a couple (which of course I have not heard back from) I haven't applied for anything I want to do. None of the applications I have put out have been for jobs that I would kill to do, but simply wouldn't mind doing for a little while. I know I want to travel next spring, but I also know to do that I need to make some money. So what to do? When I sit and think about what I want to do, what is it that would make me happy? Why isn't my degree helping me get anywhere? Why don't I want to work in a lab (which is basically all my BSc has made me good for, not that I'm certified or anything...even that is more schooling).

So after careful consideration I decided to start talking to career councilors at various schools, starting with my most current university. We talked and came to a decision that I should yes be in healthcare, and that yes that's what I want but that rehabilitation is probably what's best for me, and that most likely physiotherapy training (getting a masters of physiotherapy) would most likely be along the lines of me doing what I enjoy most. Well ok great. A plan! Woot! This I can handle! How do I do that?

Apparently to do that I must have a BSc (CHECK! WOOT!) but I also have to have this huge whack of pre-recs. Ok...well...that sucks but thats fine. Get pre-recs for physio and up my GPA at the same time. Seems smart to me. Can't find a job anyways, might as well go retail or service industry and go back to school. Well...as always it turns out that the pre recs add up to almost an entire other degree. WTF was the point of the first one then? DAMN IT! Fine, ok, more careful consideration, and talks with my mom, sure suck it up do it if it makes me happy. Ugh. School. Awesome. Turns out the school I graded from has this awesome Kinesiology program that would give me the best chance at physio. Fine I conceed, back to school I go to re-apply. Brilliant.

After reapplying to school I find out that not only do I not have the GPA to get into the kinesiology program, but that I also am missing two pre-recs for that class, and at that point I may as well go back and do a whole other damn semester. OK SERIOUSLY. Where it gets even more annoying is that my school and a few of the others I have looked at and spoken to all say the same thing. There are X# of spots available, we line the GPA's up and at X# we draw a line. Above the line gets in, below thanks for coming out but sorry you're out.

So here I sit. Totally conflicted. Do I go back or not? If I go back it means finding the cash for a full school semester, and having to work a job while in school to do it. Thats the shits. It also means the possibility that I might not find anything part time that is flexible around school. And to top it off there is a good chance I won't even get in to the program. And then there is the extremely unpleasent thought that I would have to go back and boost my GPA which means working my ass off, and what happens if I don't get the right grades? Then what? Do I want to waste another semester? Would it really be wasting? Should I apply to both Kinesiology at my current university, but should I also take the time to apply to Physio schools all over the place and just see what happens? Why should GPA determine all of this? I get it, you want the best of the best, but what does GPA have to do with it? I know they want someone that makes an effort but why not look at things like extra cirriculars, and what kind of person you are? Why does being able to kiss a proff's butt matter when you could be out there making a difference too? Shouldn't that matter?

Ugh this is totally fustrating. My mom says to go back if I don't find a job that I love, because the job front is so poor anyways, and I think that's what I will end up doing, but I have to get into school first.

All through out University, I just had this feeling like everything would work out as it should. And thats mostly what happened. Summer jobs were always there, and classes always worked out as they needed to, and now? Well I don't know. Temping popped up when I started to feel crunched for money. So maybe I should just wait it out and see where life leads me?

So here I sit, totally confused, feeling unemployable, uneducated and over whelmed. To anyone out there feeling any of the above, I feel for you and know that you are not alone. Not in any way shape or form. We can do this! We can make it! We can get back at this terribly economy. I know I plan to tomorrow while spending some much needed time in the mall amping up my wardrobe (and before you all judge me know that that I currently only have one office appropriate outfit and I'm temping all next week so I need at least another pair of pants to swap every other day :P)

In University I learned about life, I learned science from watching TV.

Tonight I met up for coffee with one of my best friends, who I also tend to call my partner in crime. This is the friend that always seems to be with me when I get into a particularly interesting situation that upon later inspection makes me wonder how in the heck I managed to get there in the first place. Anyways, she also happens to be one of my oldest friends as I've known her since grade school, and we just so happen to be graduating during the same week of graduation ceremonies (so in other words we both finished our degrees in the winter semester).

Generally I see her a couple times a week and growing up I basically had my own bedroom at her house, but due to our ever changing and hectic schedules we hadn't actually caught up in almost three weeks. Needless to say much talking and gossiping took place. She had already gone through her convocation ceremony this week, where as mine is tomorrow, and well the whole 'grad' thing got us talking about life in general, and we came to the following conclusion: I learned more about life in general during University than I did about my major.

I was (and I guess I still am technically) a biology major and most of what I dealt with through my degree was things like microbes and bugs, the history of biology, and even vampire movies (oh yea it was a course and damn good one at that). I was able to cram in dates and formulas for a midterm or final, and of course forget it the next day. Anything lasting that I take away from me my University has nothing to do with copulating microbes (oh yea that was a two week lab during second year, and no its not nearly as dirty as you think).

University taught me about life; how to live it and what I wanted from it. Sure I took labs, but ask me right now how to make up a chemical and I wouldn't be able to tell you, ask me how to work well with a TA chosen partner who scares the begeesus out of me and I can answer that no problem (wear a flame retardant lab coat and never neglect your safety goggles). If you asked me how to operate a hearing aid, I would look at you with a blank expression (I took a lot of neurobiology classes where we talked about this a lot), but ask me how to deal with an asshole professor who gets to decide if you graduate or not with the mark from that class, and you bet I am well trained to study (with of course a side of cramming) hard, argue lots and write strongly opinionated letters expressing grading injustices.

I learned how to suck it up and get'r'done, but I also learned when to stand up and argue (you gotta fight for your right to party folks). I learned that while I am fascinated with how the human body works, I have no desire to stare into microscopes all day dealing with samples from humans, I want to be with the humans (shockingly enough after many opinions to the contrary I am a people person). I learned that one should never settle because where you are is 'the only place that would take you' or 'you can't get what you want'. I've learned that when someone says "no you can't" its really just code for "I dare you to try" and if you really want it it generally will lead to a "HA I proved you wrong" followed by a well deserved happy dance.

I discovered who my real friends were. It made me better able to distinguish between who my occasional drinking buddies were and those who would drop anything at a minutes notice to help you out. You learn a lot about people in general. I can remember taking anatomy classes where the friendliest people in the class would turn snide the minute you were taking too long with the skeleton they figured belonged to them exclusively and not the class as a whole. I took a biochemistry lab where my assigned partner, while a smart guy, was a total klutz and lit his eyebrows on fire. You learn that humans are flawed, and that you yourself are also flawed (and it's so not worth arguing it), and it does not make you a lesser person for admitting it, it frees you.

University (or whatever post secondary you might be taking or want to take) does open doors (whether it be trade school, university or community college) , but they are rarely the ones you think. Yes you can learn a lot and then hopefully go onto a job in the field you love, but should the scholastics fail you (and yes it happens, so all those people who hate on grads that are still clueless go play in traffic) it is vital to know that the life lessons you will take away from it are more than worth the degree. So I say go to univeristy, find who you are, and then figure out what you want to do, because the dream job is only the icing on the cake :)

By the end of the evening my friend and I were back to talking about our job searches, and mutual friends, and TV shows we watch and the movies we wanted to see. And while yes, both of us are wondering what the future holds for us we know that we can take it on because we? We surived University, and we know that us being friends, is not going to be a skeleton stealing bitch situation.