“The heat thats in the sun, Will keep us when there's none”
-Window in the Skies, U2

Tomorrow is cat day! I’m off to the Humane Society to pick out a kitty on Friday. The cats I liked at the St. Catharines' PetSmart have been adopted out, and they’re flying out of the Toronto Humane Society with their adopt-a-thon where they have waived all fees for pets (so if you want a pet, go before Jan 4th). They had 99 cats yesterday and adopted 20 out to new homes. I have 3 that I like the looks of picked out, so if they are still there tomorrow afternoon, I’ll be bringing one of these guys home with me:

Kelso who is 1 and a half years old. His name would have to change because it reminds me of Ashton Kutcher on “That 70’s Show” and I hate Ashton Kutcher AND “That 70’s Show.” I also had a high school teacher named Mr. Kelso, who although I was indifferent to him, I grew weary of the echoes of “Kellllsoooo” in the hallways.


Aiko who is 5 years old. She looks nice.


And Merlin who is 2 years old, because he looks like a wild cat.


Of course, if I didn’t have roommates, I would take them all. That’s the one problem I have with going to the humane society: I want them all to come home with me because they make me sad to see them in cages, waiting for homes. But if 20 were adopted yesterday, things look good for them. The shelter has a “no kill” policy so it’s not like the old ones will be put down. We’ll see who I choose or who chooses me; my first cat, Fifty, chose my Dad at the Humane Society by sticking his paw out of his cage and hooking himself onto my Dad’s coat. It’s thanks to that cat that I have the house I grew up in as my parents lived in a “no pets” apartment, and, given the option of getting rid of the cat or moving, they made the obvious choice and moved.

For those of you who are partaking in festivities on New Years at my house: no scaring my new cat.

“Sky over our head, Can reach it from our bed”

Songs that Remind Me of Aught 6 (aka “Some of the Best Songs I heard Live This Year” Mix):

The Fallen- Franz Ferdinand
Broken Boy Soldiers- The Raconteurs
Phenomena- Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Kiss You Off- Scissor Sisters
Dancing Shoes- Arctic Monkeys

“But love left a window in the skies”

“we've got eyes that leave us in places we don't see”
-Handjobs for the Holidays, BSS

Yay Christmas! Okay, so I can’t believe Christmas is already over. Maybe the 5 degree temperature and green lawns threw me off a bit. But sure enough, here I am back at work already, with an armload of DVDs and books, asking myself if Christmas really did happen. I only escaped with 3 GIANT pairs of underwear from my Grandma this year, and that my friends, is an improvement. And to the U2 collection goes the book U2 by U2, and the new DVD and CD. The rest fall between DVDs, CDs, books, and random things like an external harddrive for my computer so I can finally look at my pictures from Japan. You know that that hard drive is just going to be filled with movies and music soon enough.

“has it brought you closer to this?”

4 days at home without much to report (except the abundant number of grey squirrels in my backyard. How the tables have turned). Boxing day shopping, although fruitful, was no where near previous years’ extravaganza’s. With the exception of Brokeback Mountain for $5.99- why not?- I didn’t really pick up anything else of note.

On the other hand, there is a 90% chance I will have a cat by Friday. Being incredibly sad and mopey around the house without a feline companion, my mom took me to get a cat on Christmas Eve. Although the human society has this big, “no adoption fee” campaign over the holidays, they don’t allow you to buy a cat between the 22nd and the 26th of December. So we looked at them through the glass and I wanted them all. There are two in contention as my new pet, so if my mom manages to snag one for me today and bring it to Toronto on Friday, I will be catless no more. The only thing that caught me off guard is that they are female cats. The thought never occurred to me that I could have a lady cat, so I’m fresh out of girl names for furry beasts. The two contenders are currently named Sabrina which would not work because my roommates’s name is Bryna (that and I don’t want a cat named Sabrina). The other one is called Bea. As in bea Arthur which would probably stick as a name. They are both pretty and fluffy so I need a nice name not Helga or Agnes. (Update: Sabrina was adopted, due to a mad rush to petSmart this morn which saw 5 kitties adopted in 3.5 hrs. Might be time to swing by the HUmane Society on Friday instead)
This is the part where I am opened to suggestions in case a female shows up at my house. Something original that doesn’t exist in the family of pets for far, lilely named after a character from film or literature, or an actor (a la Tony Danza). And soemthign that I will want to say on a daily basis for the next 15 years.

Top contenders include:

Kelly (as in Saved by the Bell)
Scarlett O’Hara (or after my girlfriend Scarlett Johansson or the U2 song)
Violet Beauregard
Bowie (after David)
Raja
Flossie
Grizabella (from “Cats”)
Willow (like the dwarf!)
Stella Kowalski (Streetcar Named Desire)
Vivian Leigh
Olive (as in Oyl)
Eleanor (as in “Eleanor Put Your Boots On”, my most hated of Franz Ferdinand songs)
Or something Japanese sounding like Miso.

Ugh, is it Friday yet? Why am I even working 2 days this week?

AND, perhaps the most important point of this blog: our own Loewenstein's band, Carbon Dating Service won the Bucky Award for "Best New Band Name." I'd like to take some of the praise for that by spamming the link via email out to as many people as possible and posting the link on this here blog. Now, i fyou don't believe me (as I am usually not a credible source for information), look here: http://radio3.cbc.ca/ Props to M.Lo. The Hoff would be proud. Scratch that. The Hoff IS proud. Like "Hooked on a Feeling" type of proud in Bail Out proportions.

“it was a curse from before, that's not much at all”

"I've never seen you looking, So lovely as you did tonight"
-Lady in Red, Chris DeBurgh

Mr. McNeil is back in town and if last night was a glimpse at what New Years Eve and future partying before he heads back to the ‘Gypt, we’re in for some fun. ‘Twas but 730pm and I was already drunk last night which contributed to my hurling later in the evening. Also included are often unflattering pictures (especially of my new haircut which looks better than this shaz).

After our reunion at Bathurst station, we went to the newly opened Beer Station which popped up sometime between Shane leaving for Australia and my return from Japan, for some cheap pitchers of beer which, although our affable but English-challenged barkeep said “tasted like Keith’s,” was more akin to the drippings of soggy beer rags. But since McNeil and I had not seen each other in over 10 months (that sounds sooo long), all that mattered was the price of said beer. And for $9 a pint, I’m not complaining that much.

"I've never seen so many men, Ask you if you wanted to dance"

After much reminiscing and two pitchers later, it was decided that a) I was already drunk from drinking on an empty stomach and b) that we were going to be more than fashionably late to meet Lauren and Patrick for a Red Room dinner. However we still had time to pump the electronic jukebox full of change to play “Me So Horny” and 4 plays of “Lady in Red” before hightailing it out of there.

More pitchers at the Red Room with Patrick and Lauren (Laurick? Patren? You need a good TomKat/Brangelina name) with dinner then it was time for the Savannah Room for some poor (at best) comedy (with some exceptions). ‘Twas also the time of evening where I politely excused myself to spew in the bathroom away from prying eyes. Yes that’s right, Aught 6 has been a barf-tastic year. I’m just like Natalie’s Barfing Cat. That makes 5 times for me in a year, and that’s now twice where it has been somehow helped along by Shane due to beer or Rum & Dr. Pepper. And I am reminded that there are still 10 days until 2007, at least 3 which are already reserved for the drinking.

"It's just you and me, It's where I want to be"

After the Savannah Room at an early 1130, it was time to drunk dial Mairin hello in the ‘Gina to which the conversation went something like, “You guys are drunk already? But it’s only 930 in ‘Skatch time?” to which the obvious answer was, “We were drunk at 8pm.”

I somehow woke up still intoxicated and made it to work on time.

I’m off to Dan’s work party tonight which should be swell due to the open bar. And a prerequisite stop at Big Sushi is also very likely. I had my holiday lunch for work today that came with an unexpected and rather nice Christmas bonus, especially considering I’ve only been working here for a month and a half. I’m sure I’ll end up drinking it away or spending it on shoes instead of putting it towards my billz.

Tomorrow it’s a halfway at work and we’re sitting around drinking booze while the boss is away, so if I forget to post a blog entry, Merry Christmas y’all and I’ll be back to posting post-Xmas. I’m off to have a Reggae Christmas with Bryan Adams.

"I'll never forget, The way you look tonight"

Top 5 Songs to Suit my Current Mood (aka the “If I was a Song, I’d be…” mix):

One More Night- Stars
Hotel- BSS
Lost in the Plot- The Dears
Somewhere Only We Know- KeaneMiracle Drug- U2

And everyboday's favourite whispered line:
"I Love You"

“Over and over and over and over and over, Like a monkey with a miniature symbol, The joy or repetition really is in you”
-Over and Over, Hot Chip

Best Dance Cave night ever (musically speaking). Scratch that. Best night ANYWHERE in terms of music.

Eve and I went to the Cave on Friday for the dancing after introducing Eve to the Red Room (no cockroaches on the table this time). Because Eve is eager, we were there at 10:40pm. Who knew that drinks are only $3.50 before 11pm? Not me. We weren’t the oldest people there, although at times it felt it. The music started off on a good note as Pyjama Guy came and wanted to pose for (unflattering) pictures with us. I’m not even sure how this all happened. Next thing you know Eve and I are posing for pictures with EVERYONE. Bizarre.

The night was a success, save for hot dude who quickly turned into weird dude when we realized that he was a) all by himself b) changed shirts 3 times through the course of the night. Then there was the U2 Shirt Guy, who after he said something to Eve about her spilling beer on his shirt (that may not have happened, I can’t remember, either way conversation turned to his shirt and Eve pointed him to me). U2 Shirt Guy says to me in an incredulous way, “Oh you like U2? Name one of their songs that you say you know?” To which I replied: “I’ve seen them in concert 6 times. Don’t talk to me,” and turned my back on him. He was ugly so it didn’t matter.

"Again a weird noise interlude"

Because I can’t go on enough about the music, a playlist which looks like ‘twas pulled straight from my iTunes:

“Over and over”- Hot Chip
“Tear You Apart”- She Wants revenge
“Hotel Yorba”
“Banquet”
“Rock the Casbah”
“Reptilia”
“Boys & Girls”- Blur
“Take Me Out”- Franz
“Little Green Bag”- George Baker Selection
Stevie Wonder
Supremes
“Big Girls Don’t Cry”
“Modern Love”- Bowie
Beatles
“Satisfaction”
Hot Hot Heat
Mobile
“Elevator Love Letter”- Stars (seriously)
“London Bridge” awesome ‘80s remix

Other than the Fatboy Slim, there was no cause for the Tim Robbins to come out.
The Tim Robbins did come out at the Eaton’s Centre however.

"I got to thinking and I knew just what to do"

Eve and I attempted to find a table in the food court, spied 2 people getting up from a table 2 feet from us, and moved towards the table where I put my shopping bags on the chair and a hand on the top of the table to turn to Eve to tell her to go ahead and line up for food first. Out of nowhere this middle-aged woman goes, “I don’t think so!” I turn to look at her and she goes on to say, “This is my table, I was just getting my food.” As I look at her and say, “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t reali…” she slams her tray of food on my hand and elbows me out of the way. This being the final straw, as I was legitimately apologizing to her, I retort with a “You don’t have to be so rude about it.” She replies with, “You ran over here like a bunch of banshees for the table. That’s rude.” Not being one to back down from an old woman, I gave her the, “You withered old hag, you’re such a fucking bitch!” And like that, turned away after thinking better of knocking her tray of food to the ground. I was going to add something to the effect of “Merry Christmas bitch,” but walked away.

This event has already been widely re-enacted in my living room as Cassandra came home from Yorkdale mall with a food court fight of her own, thus categorizing out Saturday night at home as pyjama mall re-enactment theatre.

"Laid back, We'll give you play back"

Good did come of the weekend, other than fighting and Caving, as I have finished all of my Christmas shopping that can be accomplished in Toronto, including a haircut for free from one of Vidal Sassoon’s top stylists in my living room thanks to Carri who today is putting her mad hair cutting skillz to use on a reality TV show which will air in the Fall. The only scary part of the whole weekend was the dummy head that Carri had to practice up-do’s on, as someone had thoughtfully labelled the head “Giselle” in permanent marker.

Just in case anyone ever doubted the validity of the squirrel race war, here's a picture I took of the victorious Blacks taking over my backyard. Not pictured: one small black squirrel eating out of the bird feeder. There's more where that came from (both squirrels and photos).
"And when I feel this way I really am with you"

“Shot through the heart, And you're to blame, You give love a bad name”
-You Give Love a Bad Name, Bon Jovi

First to clarify: I didn’t have another bad dating experience last night, this song was playing on Breakfast Television and it’s now firmly in place in my head providing the background music to my day thus far. Nothing like a guitar riff in the morning.

Speaking of dates gone wrong, we all know who hasn’t gotten the hint and continues to contact me. Not only that, we got into an argument over Zanta yesterday on MSN when I argued for the fact that Zanta is not a lunatic or an idiot: he’s a performance “artiste” who knows very well what’s he’s doing however thin his shtick is wearing. And you know how much I love an argument, whether I’m right or…right…

I was witness to an awesome streetcar fight last night. In fact, the driver made everyone get off out of punishment. I didn’t think he could do that and was only mildly unimpressed because I was only a stop from where I wanted to get off anyway. The Christmas spirit is in the air in Toronto.

“I play my part and you play your game”

I’ve been dying to go out for such a long time. Now that Shane is bailing out (how like you) of the Cave on the 22nd I think I might head home early since I have a half day at work. Since there are 12 days to Christmas or thereabouts, I’ve begun pestering my parents for a new feline for Christmas. Each day I send them pictures of cats from the humane society for them to adopt for me. Perhaps this is why they haven’t responded to my emails or returned my phone calls.

Spurred on by Rolling Stone's Top 100 Songs of Aught 6 ("Ooh La La" came out last year which is a serious bone I am picking) and a conversation avec Shane, here’s my two cents:

Top 5 Bands I Discovered in 2006 (and by “I discovered” I don’t mean in the “I’m Zach Braff and I’m going to take all the credit for The Shins” kind of way):

The Rifles
The Cribs
Tapes n’ Tapes
Tokyo Police Club (decidedly not from Tokyo, nor are they made up of police or clubs)
Gnarls Barkley

“No one can save me, The damage is done”

“Risin' up, back on the street, Did my time, took my chances, Went the distance, now I'm back on my feet”
-Eye of the Tiger, Survivor

Since these things matter to me, I’m already excited over the impending Golden Globe nominations on Thursday. Unlike RuPaul noted on her(his?) blog my favourite film was not 20 Centimetres.

I’m hoping Ryan Gosling, Forrest Whittaker, and Helen Mirren are all nominated for acting, and here’s hoping Sasha Baron Cohen- Borat himself- is up there too because this guy IS Borat. It’s like trying to separate Zanta from the regular dude (although by all accounts at this point in time, the lines between Zanta and the dude who is Zanta have very well been obliterated).

Miss Ivanie and I are up for dinner and drinks tomorrow night which is a nice change to add a different dinner partner into the mix which is usually just Dan and I at Big Sushi. Now I can introduce Eve to Big Sushi. I’m hungry already. At least I’ll ge tout of my hosue with the leaking closet in my bedroom. Last night, Carri, Cassandra and I sat around and watched “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “Frosty the Snowman,” and the highly recommended “Creature Comforts” by Wallace and Gromit creator Nick Park. I love animals. I love claymation. Throw that together with British accents and I’m laughing (it airs again on Xmas Day on CBC).

I really don’t have any interesting observations or remarks today. This is really just a blog update to help distract Kate from studying for law school exams.

It’s been a very Zanta week so far….
YES YES YES!

“It's the eye of the tiger, it's the thrill of the fight”

"Girlfriend in a coma, I know, I know - it’s serious"
-Girlfriend in a Coma, The Smiths

It was a girl on girl weekend. That is to say that I didn’t spend any time in the company of men, and spent a solid part of the weekend on the couch in the living room like a zombie watching movies with Carri.

Friday reunited me with Eve on Canadian soil for some shopping, catching up and your favourite and mine- Korean bimibap for dinner. We’ve already started making plans for the upcoming weeks and whence we head back to school for our Ryerson night course in film marketing in January. From there began what was essentially a weekend of chick flicks and theatre.

Aside from watching a staggering 7 movies (Derailed, Philadelphia, Now & Then, Shallow Hal, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Mean Girls, The Holiday, Ghostworld) which is by no means a personal record, I also caught a production of “Wicked” with my family- while not loving it as much as my roommate Cassandra who has seen it 6 times here and in New York, or Dan who has seen it twice and is willing to go again, I thought it was entertaining and was more impressed with the set design. I ‘m more excited for "The Phantom of the Opera" in March. And I'll just keep hoping "High Fidelity" comes to Toronto.

"Do you really think, She’ll pull through?"

I was originally planning on going home for the weekend after "Wicked," but after post-dinner shopping it was far too late and I was far too lazy to go home for such a limited time. We did have a rousing discussion over dinner about Zanta.

My parents never really believed me about Zanta but my aunt who lives a few blocks from me in the city was able to back me up, and if anything, imply that I was under-exaggerating Zanta's power. Zanta is awesome.

Instead my Sunday was free to see The Holiday with Carri. Although I have never been one to go out of my way to see a chick flick in theatres (unless it stars the loveable John Cusack, and its Must Love Dogs which is the last truly girly film I saw in theatres), I do enjoy looking at Jude Law and my other, non-Scareltt Johansson girl crush of Kate Winslet.

When you go to see a Sunday matinee of a film like The Holiday, you’re bound to be surround by single women and gay men. That, ina nutshell, was the entire audience, save for the one of two lone men who were dragged there by their wives and girlfriends, only to be later overheard saying things like, “Y’know I never like these films, but that one was good.” The movie was good, the movie was sappy, but that’s what I like at this time of year. And 2 out of 4 characters work in the film industry in the movie so there are lots of inside film jokes and even cameos by Dustin Hoffman and Lindsay Lohan. Carri and I then went home to complain about how the ladies in the film don’t seem to have any trouble or even have to exude any effort to have the men come to them. As it was so brilliantly put, “There are 4 girls in our house and we never have a single man knock at our door unless it’s the landlord, the landlord’s son, or the mailman.”

"I know - it’s serious"

Can anyone else explain how and/or why Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto made $14 million at the box office this weekend? Dude’s crazy.

Top 5 Tunes Stuck in My Head on a Rainy Monday:

Kicking the Heart Out- Rogue Wave
Which Way is Out- Razorlight
Somewhere Only We Know- Keane
Tomorrow- U2
If You Leave- OMD …(that’s the embarrassing one that keep replaying…)

PS> everyone’s covered for New Years tickets…
PPS> Just wanted to remind everyone that "Wang" is still the word of the year, so use it up before time runs out and we choose a new word for Aught 7

"Let me whisper my last goodbyes"

“Don't the hours grow shorter as the days go by,You never get to stop and open your eyes”
-Lovers in a Dangerous Time, Bruce Cockburn (no, it isn’t a Barenaked Ladies song)

He’s back. I saw him. He’s out for the holidays. It’s the Korean light tiger! I almost climbed him for old time’s sake. But I thought better of it. This way we can all share in the moment together over the holidays when the majority of you return to the city from whence thee came. Since I saw the tiger on Wednesday, I’ve been singing Dirk’s “I’m a light tiger” song ever since (to the tune of “Survivor” by Destiny’s Child).

“One day you're waiting for the sky to fall”

You know it’s a Friday when you see a single man riding a tandem bicycle across the lawn of a house on your street. Shortly thereafter I saw a boy on a unicycle. Outside of the circus, I had only seen people on unicycles in the Jap. So far it’s been a strange day and it’s only 10am.

“The next you're dazzled by the beauty of it all”

I’ve finally gotten into the legitimate Christmas spirit and not just the faux put-upon feeling I get for the Santa Claus Parade and the decorating of the Christmas tree (as artificial as it may be). I think it was the snow. Or the light tiger’s appearance. And the impending threat of a snowstorm that can blanket the city at any time. Or the –19 degrees with the windchill temperature which make me want nothing but chocolate. But more than likely due to the fact that my roommates and I all watched the beloved stop-action “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” with my favourite character the Winter Warlock. I also got bonus props from the household for knowing that the villain in the show was Burgermeister Meisterburger, a fact which I assumed was common knowledge.

Carri and I are thinking of going to visit Yenni in Ireland in May. We’ll see how it turns out and what my other options for travel are.

“Sometimes you're made to feel as if your love's a crime”

Top 5 Christmas-themed Music Videos (aka “The ‘90s were too Cool for Christmas Videos” ):

Jingle Bell Rock- Hall and Oates
Reggae Christmas- Bryan Adams
Do They Know It’s Christmas- Band Aid
It’s Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)- U2
Last Christmas- Wham!

“Got to kick at the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight”

"I haven’t thought of you, For years you know, Your memory seems to come and go"
-Wonderful Life, Gwen Steafni

I just saw a dog walk down the street on his two hind legs, like a man. I’m not easily impressed, especially when it comes to dogs, but this impressed me. He was very tall. Give him a trench coat and a fedora and he’d look just like Warren Beatty.

I went home this weekend to decorate the Xmas tree and was warned that my parents house has mice. If I am good, I might get to keep one for Christmas, or so my Dad tells me. There was also some avid squirrel watching as the results of the Squirrel Race Wars came up Black. The Blacks have now moved in and were perched along the railing on my deck showing off their mad squirrel skillz. It’s as if they were saying, “I’m on ur deckz, eatin’ ur plantz,” which they very well were doing. I should somehow instigate a Squirell vs. Mouse combat. Something to look forward to in the winter months ahead.

"I thought of you again today "

I started Christmas shopping but managed to come home with just as much stuff, if not more, for me. I just can’t resist a good sale, especially when it involves a New Years Eve outfit, very Mod Club, even if it is a tad “Sienna Miller” for me. At least I put a dent in my Christmas shopping. I’m far too lazy without a car here in the city to do any real gift buying.

It was a festive weekend at home, drinking apple cider and watching those holiday classics, Corpse Bride and Dawn of the Dead (actually really good). And I witnessed my first snow of the year as I was unloading the Christmas tree for my apartment last night. That’s right- we have a tree at my place this year, complete stockings hung by the chimney with care…a very festive holiday setting which we can all get drunk and obnoxious in.
Eve is returning to us Wednesday- and by “us” I really mean me since there are no other Carleton grads in the city- so maybe I’ll get to see her this week. The jetlag from Japan takes a few days to shake, so I don’t think the Cave is in the cards unless Eve is desperate…or I can prop her up the corner the way I was punished by my first trip to Roppongi in Tokyo and my first time falling asleep in da club.

"Why’d you have to say goodbye "