AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 8/27/2003 03:23:00 PM ----- BODY: gfds -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 8/07/2003 04:14:00 PM ----- BODY: So guess what peeps ? I am temporarily picking up my wagon and moving to the (greener ?) pastures of typepad. It offers a bit more flexibility then Blogger but isn't always as pretty. It's just an experiment but I would really love to hear your comments about which system you like or if there are some elements you enjoy in particular. See you at http://aplace.typepad.com. No www ! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 8/06/2003 08:27:00 PM ----- BODY: Does anyone have a Dell computer ? My mother is quite keen on buying one and I thought maybe someone out there might have some input about whether they suck ? -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 8/04/2003 05:52:00 PM ----- BODY: montreal

This is my little cousin Leila who was adopted one week ago from Haiti. She likes Montreal

You know who these people are !

Fact learned during the gay pride parade: Leather can be fashioned into almost anything !

-------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 7/31/2003 01:34:00 PM ----- BODY: Some mysteries that need to be solved. 1. Was Bexy at the Rolling Stones concert ? If not, where has she gone ? 2. AMT is going to Spain, again ? For the first time ? Wasn't she just in Barcelona ? Am I confused ? (this, sadly, is not a mystery.) 3. Alison won HOH, is she is league with the devil ? 4. Size 10 runners bought last week are now too small. Can feet grow that fast ? Do I suffer from gigantism from the foot ? Is there such a disease ? 5. Should I switch to typepad ? 6. Is there a god ? (If you solve the first five, number six should tide you over til my next post) -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 7/29/2003 07:37:00 PM ----- BODY: gloomy
Rainy days. Bah ! It's okay, though, I'm still thrilled from seeing Spellbound last night. Turns out it was still playing here. It was, bar none, the best movie I've seen this year. The last half hour is maybe the most stressful cinematic experience I've ever gone through. Every kid had a great story but it was their relatives who were even more intriguing. You could make a whole other movie about the gun-toting, marines-needing, au-pair hiring, word-mispronoucing relatives. Next on my viewing list, Swimming Pool. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 7/27/2003 06:45:00 PM ----- BODY: ch-ch-ch-changes Yes, yes more changes. I can't help myself. I've become an HTML addict. Sadly, I devoted an unnaturally large portion of the weekend to a PERL/CGI book I bought at BookMarket, hoping that I would develop the skills to switch over from Blogger to Movable Type (traitorous, I know, but this site has outgrown Blogger and Blogger Pro costs money.) So I invest all this time and money to learn a skill that I will never use again only to find out that geocities does not allow users to do any Perl muck-a-mucking. So the only solution I see seems to be getting a new host, which is complicated and boring or depriving you, fair reader, of the functionality you deserve. Currently, I'm investigating rumours of webspace available from Queen's which hopefully allows people to actually use their accounts fully. Stay tuned. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 7/26/2003 09:11:00 AM ----- BODY:
This statue doesn't really have a purpose in and of itself. It's really just there to remind people that I still have my camera. Unfortunately, on my travels during the workweek (home --> office building --> home) I don't have all these photographic opportunities. Perhaps, I am missing some obvious ones. However, I'm going to spend some time with a trained photographer, Laurk, so she will help me spot some potential subjects. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 7/25/2003 09:13:00 AM ----- BODY: Yesterday, in a bid to prevent Bexy from seeing the horrible pictures of Sadaam's dead sons, I inadvertently alarmed her with my comments in her journal. Sorry Bexy ! Luckily, it gave me a chance to talk to her on the phone and establish conclusively that she had, in fact, arrived home safely from the Jamboree. Also I'm thinking of signing up for a golf lesson (or rather a golf ball hitting lesson) at the driving range near my house. I tried learning tennis but kt can attest that while I've got the spirit, I lack the skillz. Plus golf is what all the wheelers and dealers in the law world play so I consider it a career strategy. Well, I just inexplicably poured some hot coffee on my pastel pink shirt so I guess I should go deal with this huge stain and hot burning pain. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 7/23/2003 07:26:00 PM ----- BODY: I came across this brilliant page on the web. If you go here and you click on daily photo there's a page where this guy has taken a picture of himself everyday since 1998 and posted it on the site. It is the most brilliant (though somewhat self-centred) idea. What a great way to document your evolution. I once tried to do the same by going through photo albums and making a progression but then I didn't have one snapshot of myself in 1993 or 1994 (class portraits excepted). So it messed up the progression. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 7/22/2003 10:53:00 AM ----- BODY: So, remember how I was disappointed that I didn't get to go on the town with Laurk ? Well, now I'm even more disappointed because it turns out that Laurk's drinking party included none other than Former Miss Canada Lynsey Bennett !!! She is very famous in Ottawa and mildly famous elsewhere for being the first contestant in the Miss World pageant to hightail it out of Nigeria last year when religious tensions, exacerbated by the presence of the (for some) heathen-like Miss World pageant in Lagos, threatened to end in violence (which they eventually did, forcing the relocation of the pageant to London). Anyways, I've never met Miss Anything before so I was sad to have missed it. I also realise that Laurk has, in a span of 18 months, ascended to the pinnacle of Ottawa high society whilst I, born and bred in our fair city, languishes on its lower rungs. I did, however, once run behind Max Keeping, co-anchor of the 6 o'clock news, during a charity 5K in high school but he only ran 300m for the benefit of the cameras and when they left, he stopped and walked back to his car. Disillusioning, I tell you. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 7/20/2003 07:11:00 PM ----- BODY: Grandma, chillin'
So, up above is the star of numerous posts here at a place, none other than la mere grand herself. Most of today was spent hanging out with her recollecting grandpa whose 84th birthday it would have been today. Even more fun was had yesterday when we went to see an exhibit of French genre painting at the National Gallery. It was good but I find it hard to believe that my people were that pink in the 17th century but you know, I wasn't there. Tomorrow, work again. Booh... hopefully, Laurk and I can do something fun during the week since our sophisticated martini drinking plans have been thwarted at every turn. The fire alarm is ringing so I better go check up on that. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 7/19/2003 08:37:00 PM ----- BODY: So you know the usual movie drill, mousey, glasses-wearing librarian type is rescued from Dewey-decimal hell by handsome bloke who midway to the end of the picture says "My, you're absolutely stunning without your glasses". Bah. Which is why Party Girl, starring Parker Posey and which I just saw on video, is so refreshing. It takes a wild, New York city nightlife type and follows her as she finds the meaning of her existence through library science and a relationship with a falafel vendor. A chuckle especially if you want to laugh at the fashions of 1995. Tomorrow, I'm going to see a movie in the theatres. I was hoping to watch Spellbound but it was on for a grand total of one micro-minute here so I am going to have to find an alternative. Any suggestions ? In other news, there is no other news unless you count an exciting e-mail from Wisconsin. Speaking of the USA, does anyone know if I can cross the border with a beat-up passport. Everything in it is still legible, it's just that it spent an undue amount of time in a soaking wet backpack and now the pages are a little warped. I don't recall US Customs officers as being paragons of forgiveness and understanding. Nonetheless, I'd like to cross the border for the August first long weekend and I'm not sure I have time to get a new passport. I should end on a note of positivity: I recently acquired some rechargeable batteries and a charger so for that I am happy and grateful. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 7/18/2003 01:19:00 PM ----- BODY: TITLES What do you think about titles for blog posts ? Cute or overkill ? I think they can be fun when they're clever. Plus, they're useful devices for remembering what exactly your post was about. In other news, I just ended up spending 20 dollars on lunch right now and I'm a little displeased. Laurk and I ate for less than that together at Eggspectations ! Not that the food wasn't good but with the summer dwindling away, my lackluster finances are looming larger and larger in my brainspace ! Timing is everything in life. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 7/17/2003 08:19:00 PM ----- BODY: I don't think I've even spoken to another person today. Such is the work environment. Luckily, I have my blog to be my friend. True, I could pick up the phone and call someone but the whole misanthropy vibe must be catching. Instead, I will personify what is wrong with North American society by sitting at home alone watching "Friends". -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 7/15/2003 08:55:00 PM ----- BODY: Relax, I'm just experimenting with the new masthead. I was thinking that maybe having a picture as my masthead and pictures in the blog itself was overkill. So I'm trying to come up with something less jarring to the eye. Suggestions are welcome. Also, I suggest to all Canadian readers that you head over to the newsstand and pick up a copy of Toro. It is a men's magazine (but not, y'know, a men's magazine and it is entirely financed by an eccentric millionaire. There is a scary picture of Donald Sutherland on the cover but otherwise it is quite interesting : an article explaining (briefly) the meaning of post-modernism, an article about the aforementioned DS and other good stuff. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 7/15/2003 08:05:00 PM ----- BODY: Um, edited to say: "don't put pictures of people up on the internet w/o their express permission .Alas, the martini mixer never happened. Laurk and I weren't too distraught. She still went out drinking and I drowned my sorrows in my new photo software. Worry not, I won't put up all my pictorial adventures on the main page. I think four pictures might be a bit too much for you dial-up connection types out there. I will put up a link to a picture of the place where we did not have lunch. Instead, we went to Eggspectations like back in the (over-priced) day !! Good times talking to Laura about my camera. I'm sure she was fascinated. We also discussed the total snobbiness of the young alumni people. Otherwise, the working day routine does not provide much in the way of blog fodder. I'm on the look-out for any excitement that I can pass on to you fair reader, but the fact I'm taking pictures of hot dog stands should put you in mind of Ottawa's excitement quotient. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 7/14/2003 08:58:00 PM ----- BODY: No one is commenting on my pictures ! Is it because you are like Becky and cannot read the text ? Or is it simply that you are not moved to comment ? In any case, I am asking for you to comment because I need to know if you can see the text clearly. Another of my photographic attempts follows.

-------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 7/13/2003 10:55:00 AM ----- BODY:
Whee I got a digital camera this is a picture of the flowers by the back door last night. I was trying for arty but you know.... Pictures will now be an integral part of this blog and it will surely take a long time to load but it is worth it. I have to respond to all phone calls and e-mails that have been languishing ! Apologies. Also rest assured that the date stamp thing will not be on any future photos. I tustled with it last night but it's been beaten back into submission. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 7/10/2003 09:07:00 AM ----- BODY: Yes so I admit I've been remiss when it comes to this blog. I don't want to be one of those cliche "I'm so busy right now !" people who are so annoying. However, life is such that many things are going on at once and blogging has been relegated to a lower status on the to-do list of life than it deserves. In any case, you'll be happy to know that I am enjoying my days at work, mostly because the office I work in is right across (well, right across then 21 floors up) from the outdoor stage for the Ottawa Bluesfest.. So everyday around 2:00 or 2:30 I get to hear the sound checks of the artists who are performing that night. So far I've heard Ben Harper, Great Big Sea, Sheryl Crow and Sum 41. (I should add a little notice here to say that the definition of blues used by the organizers of the fest is a loose one and by loose, of course, I mean wrong). Still good times. I have yet to actually attend one of the shows, although my mom has expressed a strong interest in the Allman Brothers and Cesaria Evora, so maybe I'll see one of those acts. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 7/06/2003 12:11:00 PM ----- BODY: Blogger is messed. What's up with my crazy unspaced out font and the shite space between posts. I'm working on it. Otherwise yesterday was a let's get to know each other soiree for students new to Queen's Law School currently living in Ottawa, I went to it last year. Anywho, it's patently obvious I haven't gotten any cooler in the last year. I was hoping to perhaps find some eager soul to impress and mentor. I went all out, choosing the right outfit (I find that often it's better to let inaminate objects like my clothing do the talking for me). The look I was going for was something along the lines of "studiedly casual". As I walked by a store window on the way back, I realised the effect was more along the lines of "recently paroled" but no matter. Everyone was quite nice and but not "take under one's wing" material (married with kids and the like). On the way home, I did find one person who seemed to think highly of my outfit, a drunk man who followed me through Chapters. While there, I picked up "Confessions of a Shopaholic", which is not very aptly titled. It's more along the lines of "Spectre of Fred's Tawdry Future of Brokeness" but still quite entertaining (and reasonably priced at 12.95). Not literary but I did read Lucky by Alice Sebold (Depressing but good), so I felt entitled to read a crappy book. Okay, c'est tout for now. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 7/03/2003 08:34:00 AM ----- BODY: Okay, I admit it... I cried a bit when I found out Vancouver/Whistler would be welcoming the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. I'm such a patriot ! Then again I also teared up slightly when I realised I couldn't go see Legally Blonde II with Laura yesterday... so it could just be PMS. In any case, I sincerely hope I can get to Vancouver for the games. I don't know why I feel like Vancouver is just around the corner. I'm sure it's as far if not farther from Ottawa then Salt Lake City. But still... Now back to work. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 7/01/2003 04:12:00 PM ----- BODY: And how could I forget.... The Jamboree Anthem (a work in progress) Here we go from town to town Nothing in this world can bring on down Walking to our own special beat Smiling at the new people we meet Chorus : JAMBOREE, JAM-JAM-JAMBOREE JAMBOREE, JAM-JAM-JAMBOREE JAMBOREE, JAM-JAM-JAMBOREE JAMBOREE, JAM-JAM-JAMBOREE First we went to Stouffville-Land To see David take Megan's hand Next we went to Kingston-Town Woo-hoo-hoo nothing can bring us down Chorus (I forget this part) THE END !!! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 7/01/2003 03:46:00 PM ----- BODY: Oh the Jamboree ! Or Kingston Jailbreak as Melanie so eloquently put it ! Can one post do it justice ? Of course not. For that reason I'll give you just the highlights. Laurk and I awoke at the crack of dawn to catch a train to Kingston and made it in good time, the only obstacle along the way being the congealed danishes which pass for Via Rail breakfast. Once we got there, we bought some essential supplies at Zellers and hoofed it back to the house to meet up with Becky and Zainab who arrived an hour early ! (Sidebar: While Becky is usually a safe driver, I believe she has an inner speed demon -- I refer you to the incident wherein Becky and Pepe (sp?) *brought it* Fast and the Furious-style to the streets of Aurora). Anyways, we then went for lunch at the Kingston Brew Pub, hit the craft fair and farmer's market and then headed home. Zainab napped, while the rest of us went to the liquor store (ahem...). We also went to the storage place and hit Wal-Mart where fun fun fun was had !!! Later that evening was the dinner which/that dare not speak its name, there were food/waitress/soy sauce issues but I, who had no waitress, food or soy sauce issues found it mildly diverting. However, given the trauma that ensued I'll leave my description at that. We retired home to make plans for going out but instead ended up playing little papers, chatting up Elana, her parents and her (hot ?)brother Jordan then falling asleep. The next day was even better !!! We had breakfast at Morrison's, Ed from Ed's favorite breakfast haunt (see this article two-thirds of the way down (He *also* likes Chez Piggy, Laura !). Then we went on a super fun Thousand Island Cruise but not before Becky and I discovered Faygo pop ! Not only is it dirtcheap, it probably has one of the more interesting histories for a beverage ever ! It is also the beverage of choice of the Insane Clown Posse, a surprsingly popular gangsta rap outfit out of Detroit who dress up like Clowns and have a rivalry with Eminem. They have written several odes to Faygo and their fans call themselves the faygo-luvers. You can read more about my new favourite beverage here. After the cruise, we went to the Lone Star Cafe where we ate on the patio during a downpour, were served by a waiter claiming to be called Amigo and spotted a boy with two different size eyes. Yes, I know. Post-Lone Star, Zainab and Laura had to pay a visit to the sleep Gods as repentance for downing "Texas-size" margaritas, while Becky and I window-shopped on Princess St. and balked at the price of the commemorative KJ shirts we had wanted to make ! Back at the ranch, my roommate Gordon was moving in and woke up Laura and Zainab which is just as well because it allowed the gang + Elana to play @$$hole ! I had a crazy winning streak... but eventually lost the last one. After that we went for a quick dinner at Kelsey's due to its proximity to the train station and headed home. It was great and I am *so* looking forward to next year's edition of the jamboree : TAPJAM (Toronto and Periphery Jamboree !). See you all there Summer 2004 ! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 6/22/2003 10:24:00 AM ----- BODY: I had such a great time with the k-dog in Montreal these past two days. She looked like such a young hip individual : highlights, bangs, general aura of "with-it"-ness. Not that it wasn't there before, of course, but more so, you see ? As I'd predicted, we did, in fact, eat our way through Montreal (well, mostly I did, although it seems kt really really really likes fried ice cream !!): We went shopping and eating and crazy bagel shopping and strawberry tartlet hunting and sat around doing nothing, all the activities we used to do. It was a great time and I hope we do it again. I didn't feel like I had to ease back into hanging out with her, it really was just like old times. I'm grateful to be able to have one friend like that in life, let alone many like all of you. As for the city itself, it was remarkably untransformed. I thought I would have a visceral reaction to returning but the k-dog and I agreed, we felt mostly nothing. She put it best when she described it as feeling like an area of Vancouver she just hadn't been to while. No pow ! or zing ! Perhaps there never was any pow ! or zing ! to begin with. Anywho, I guess that was my last hurrah for a while (jamboree excluded !) since I'm back to working stiff statuts. We need to make a plan and have directions provided for the jamboree, by the by, I'm getting on it !! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 6/21/2003 11:41:00 AM ----- BODY: Test post ?? -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 6/20/2003 09:40:00 PM ----- BODY: Did I mention I was in Mtl the last two days ? I saw the k-dog, we walked around and it was wonderful !! Wonderful ! I'm so glad I went. Mtl is pretty but I'm glad I moved, y'know ? -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 6/18/2003 01:15:00 PM ----- BODY: So, have been to the gym five times in the past seven days and yet have managed to gain a pound. Story of my life... Also managed to read article where Renee Zelwegger discusses Bridget Jones' "weight problem" which is perturbing given the fact that Bridget's weight fluctuations closely mirror mine (or at least I think they do if a stone has fourteen pounds. If a stone has more than fourteen pounds please don't tell me.) Tomorrow, I will be in Montreal hopefully eating my way through town !!!! Schwartz's, Frite Alors, CocoRico, Grano: all my favourites ! It is a well-known fact that all food eaten while on vacation is not reflected on the scale. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 6/16/2003 03:35:00 PM ----- BODY: This is a way better explanation of the pushpins than I could ever provide. So pretty isn't it ? Cop-out I know I know. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 6/16/2003 12:49:00 PM ----- BODY: Some people "take care of themselves" because they care about themselves. I take care of myself because I fear health-care professionals. Now, in addition to the mad six-week flossing binge I had to go on a month ago to avoid the wrath of the dental hygienist (who ended up being off that day !), I am now on a starvation diet so that I can be the correct weight for my annual check-up. Four years ago, my doctor yelled at me for gaining weight and since then I have gone on a mad diet so that I weigh less and less at each check-up. This is quite hard because I actually have been gaining weight from year to year. In order to come in at the same weight as last year I have to lose 5 lbs. in nine days ! Is this possible ? No, so he will yell at me and I will feel bad. The real problem here, obviously, is that I need to get a new doctor and ask to get a new dental hygienist but at least this way for a couple months every year I have the outward appearance of (physical) health. Am I crazy ? Yes, yes I am. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 6/15/2003 02:10:00 PM ----- BODY: Do you ever happen upon a book from when you were little and reread it ? I have. The book is Come Like Shadows by Welwyn Winton Katz, a super-brilliant re-interpretation of Macbeth, which highlights the fact that Duncan was the evil one and that Macbeth was just confused and likely not a murderer at all, historically speaking. And doesn't the author have the most hilarious name ? : "Hi, I'm Welwyn". I realise it could be a pen name but it is nonetheless brilliant. Otherwise, my job rejoicement has been tempered somewhat by the fact that I'm starting on the 23rd (booh !). Still it does give me one week off free of worrying about whether I am going to get a job or not... I should go to the gym today but instead I'm going to lie on the couch in my Grandma's room and eat an entire Sara Lee sponge cake. It's so important to set goals for each day. I'm also really really excited because I am going to Montreal next week courtesy of my aunt. I'm definitely going to see kt and I've heard rumblings about Christobal, as well. Then the jamboree ! Memory lane here I come. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 6/11/2003 06:14:00 PM ----- BODY: Historical day yesterday, gay marriages becoming legal and all. Also historic because it marked my first visit to Darcy McGee's Irish pub. Yummy, it was. I also managed to inadvertently taunt a homeless man and convince Laura to come to Starbucks with me where we had nutritiously void coffee drinks. Woot ! Ooh and I had a hot dog for lunch today which I hadn't done in a really really long while. Don't you love how I keep you apprised of every fascinating development in my life ? -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 6/10/2003 03:22:00 PM ----- BODY: Hey, I'm employed. woot woot ! Also it occurs to me that I did not celebrate AMT's birthday upon these pages. For which I am deeply apologetic. So another round of (belated) woot woots ! We need more woot woot occasions in this world. ooh I can think of one !! Buffy's musical episode is airing tonight. I have it on my computer but for those who missed out I beseech you to watch ! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 6/09/2003 02:19:00 PM ----- BODY: So last night, I ended up watching the Tonys on the recommendation of one Becky Rosenblum and they were quite quite fun. I now have an intense need to go see both Hairspray and Take me Out on Broadway. I also need to catch Urinetown, just because it's called Urinetown. Otherwise, my Sunday was low-key. I got to talk to both Becky and Laura which was fun. I might even be developing plans to go out with Laura, Tuesday night in the manner of young urban professionals (even though only one of us fits that description). I'll keep you apprised :) -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 6/05/2003 01:56:00 PM ----- BODY: Eeeew. I am conflicted about the whole George W. engineers mideast peace scenario. Obviously, I am hoping for the Palestinian and Israeli children that they can grow up in peace but I don't want GW to be the one who engineers it. Isn't that awful and evil ? Other awful and evil ? A little bit schadenfreudesque, I know, I know...but I am no longer last on the Bexy quiz, whee ! In other news, today has been uneventful... I got my marks back and managed to eke out a B in Contracts even though I was so utterly wrong on the last question of the exam worth 33% of my mark. If any of you spoke to me in the 24 hours following that exam there were tears and much discussion of dropping out. But it worked out and I never have to take contracts ever again. Otherwise, just my usual : Dawson's Creek at the gym, grocery shopping and now I'm reading the paper, thus the George W. outrage. Keep me apprised people -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 6/05/2003 10:05:00 AM ----- BODY: Becky's quiz is loads and loads of fun even if it makes me feel evil and insensitive. Bleurgh... I need more jamboree votes ! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 6/04/2003 08:48:00 AM ----- BODY: Jamboree : not this weekend, not the one after but the next one. Yay or nay ? Express yourself in comments. L & B phone calls are coming promise ! Congrats to (the future) Dr. Zainab ! Maintaining my drug habit will be so much easier now that I have an in to the hospital drug supply ! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 5/31/2003 06:08:00 PM ----- BODY: I've always suspected I was handy but apart from a knack for assembling IKEA furniture, I had no proof of this handywoman status...until today. Yours truly replaced a doorknob ! I took off the defective doorknob then replaced it with a brand new, fresh from Canadian Tire doorknob. Not just the knob part ! The whole door open/close mechanism was replaced. All I needed was a phillips screwdriver and a dream. I also removed a glob of paint from the window outside with turpentine. My grandmother was proud of me, though it did not keep her from deeming the lunch I cooked for her "unpalatable" later in the day. I choose to believe it was the medication talking (but not about the doorknob, obviously). -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 5/28/2003 05:06:00 PM ----- BODY: Uh yeah, so I guess I was on to something about jinxing the Senators. They went down in flames as did my embryonic plans to return to Toronto. Must escape these four walls !!! Must !!!! Today, I rejoiced over a visit to the dentist !! I hate the dentist. Actually, I hate the dental hygienist but she was off sick so I had a really nice temp who commented on my cavity-free-ness and my renewed devotion to flossing ! and I got a new toothbrush. Small victories. In other news, I met my mom at a Japanese restaurant for lunch this afternoon and the sign was only in japanese and this alarmed me somewhat but they were otherwise quite welcoming. I would refer to them by name but, obviously... more later peeps. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 5/23/2003 12:30:00 PM ----- BODY: Well, I didn't want to mention the Senators because I was afraid of jinxing them, but since everyone else is commenting I feel entitled. If Ottawa pulls off this three in a row-ness, I will be so happy. But I support them either way because there is a lot of pressure on these people and it's hard to perform under pressure. I also want to say that it is a travesty that Ruben won American Idol. I didn't hear the performances the voting was based on but if his screeching on the final show was any indication, Clay was robbed, bizarre Neil Diamond-like hand movements, be damned ! I'm also in a foul mood because I bought what I thought were these incredibly trendy hip and happenning sunglasses, for 6.99, no less. Once at home however, I took a look at myself and I look like George Michael. All I need is to add a lovingly trimmed goatee and cover my face in Vaseline. Bah ! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 5/22/2003 03:55:00 PM ----- BODY: I saw Down With Love ! It was fabulous and funny. I also saw The Lizzie McGuire movie with Laura. It was somewhat less fabulous. It must be said that there was confusion over the content of the movie but it wasn't awful. It was good for a kids movie. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 5/17/2003 06:50:00 PM ----- BODY: Feel a little uncomfortable. Just ate way to much and can feel the food resting in the oesophagus. Grr. Also, I had the misfortune of accidentally getting into the bag-your-own checkout aisle at Loblaws. I *hate* the bag-your-own aisle, it's evil !! The cashier always looks at you as though you are bagging your own too slowly. Plus there's the pressure of the people behind you in line who are eyeing you nervously lest their groceries be forced to intermingle with yours because you haven't cleared out fast enough. So your yogourt touched my ground chicken. Tastes are not contagious, ma'am, even though you deserve to dig into some chicken/strawberry flavoured yogourt, you evil checkout fascist !!! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 5/15/2003 08:08:00 PM ----- BODY: Rrrrawhrnrrr ! (sp ?) Robbie Williams on the Tonight Show monday night ??? good god ! What I wouldn't have given to be Katie Couric as he did his patented Williams gyrations around her ? It is a crime (CRIME !) that he is not a star in North America. I guess I should enjoy his marginal status while it lasts. Robbie, I love you ! I also caught X2 : X-Men United this afternoon. It was OK. I spent the first twenty minutes wishing I'd gone to see Frances McDormand in Laurel Canyon, but it actually warms up near the end... Otherwise the day was uneventful. I spent two hours on an elliptical machine so I could catch all of the Dawson's Creek series finale, airing unexpectedly at 10 in the morning. Good except that Pacey and Joey end up together which is wrong. It's called Dawson's Creek no Pacey's Creek !!! Okay, Friends is on and I woudn't want to break my all-day tv and movie streak. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 5/12/2003 09:29:00 AM ----- BODY: Okay, so hmm. In penance for friday's non-partying debacle, I just wanted to confirm that there is an open invitation out there for each and everyone of you (pass it on to non aplace-readers) to partake in some sort of large scale party/reunion/scenic tour at my house in Kingston this summer ! Free from the shackles of employment, my schedule is wide open. However, a long weekend would be a reasonable time for most I assume. Anyways, I'm open to suggestions and it certainly doesn't have to be a one time thing. Think of my house as your cottage on the shores of Lake Ontario. Okay ??? I see visits to Old Fort Henry, lazy afternoons on the lakeshore, hikes through the local conservation area, shopping and dining on Princess Street, a visit to the Agnes Eatherington gallery and definitely a stop at AJs or Stages, Kingston's student bars taking up space on the bar evolutionary ladder somewhere between annie's and angel's with considerably less charm than those two establishments (if this is at all possible). Tell me if you're up for it !! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 5/10/2003 01:37:00 PM ----- BODY: So while most everyone else was in Toronto, partying it up, I was at Canadian Tire last night, unsuccessfully shopping for a kitchen tap since ours just fell off. Very disturbing. I hope everyone else had a good Friday night. I also wanted to make sure everyone knew about Sabrina's infamy. Nice guys finish last. So true. So true. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 5/08/2003 07:10:00 PM ----- BODY: Quick programming note. Remember that sunday night you can catch the first half of the two-part BBC adaptation of "White Teeth" aka The Best Book Ever on PBS. (For the cabled among you) -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 5/08/2003 10:46:00 AM ----- BODY: I just spelled would, wud... I think I have hit rock-bottom. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 5/08/2003 10:43:00 AM ----- BODY: Life is dullsville. I am going to the gym a lot, though so that can only be good for my health. My mom nixed my Toronto plans due to SARS fears. She didn't nix really, she just said that I wud be an awful daughter, if I went putting my life a risk and she just made me feel like I would really be disappointing her and hurting her. I am such an awful wimp. Maybe I'll grow a spine before june 1st. Maybe not. So instead of hanging with the homies, I do things like watch "Extreme Makeover" and four hours of Dawson's Creek every morning. Help me !!! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 5/05/2003 01:08:00 PM ----- BODY: Yo yo yo. Sorry for the non-postage. Time marches on. Anywho I'm alive and well and here in Ottawa. So if anyone wants to get in touch that's where I'll be. I don't actually have anything of interest to share but if you have any questions feel free. More when inspiration strikes ! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 4/28/2003 12:14:00 PM ----- BODY: As for the pushpins... they are one of my personal favourite crafts. I'll be putting the instructions up right here soon !!! In the mean time you can acquire the necessary supplies : clear round mosaic tiles (dime-size are best), metal thumbtacks, some clear but strong glue and a magazine. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 4/28/2003 12:10:00 PM ----- BODY: Yeah, it's so true. Once you go high speed you can never go back. DSL makes you so greedy. Your songs *have* to download in ten seconds. You *need* to send that movie over MSN. Then when all that convenience is wrenched away from you, you take it hard... Plus it seems just when you're about to do something interesting, that's when the phone becomes someone else's number one priority. Grr !!! Did I mention I was almost killed the other day ? Those of you who have visited Jean Royce Hall (officially not my home since 12:00 yesterday) know that my room looks out on the Queen's football field which Saturday was doubling as the location for the eastern ontario high school track and field association's inaugural meet of the season. Unbeknownst to me. Coming from the parking lots, I usually cut across the field to get home. I was not wearing my glasses so when I saw a mass of people next to a high jump bar I assumed they were watching the high jump competition. There were a few stragglers closer to where I was but I chose to ignore them. Bad. They were the people who walk over to the javelin to see how far it's gone and the mass of people had their backs to the high jump bar and were waiting for the javelin to commence. Luckly in the nick of time, I was yelled out by one of the head honchos of the athletic association. So here I am today talking to you, my head, thankfully, javelin-free. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 4/25/2003 05:16:00 PM ----- BODY: summer starts right now ! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 4/22/2003 12:16:00 AM ----- BODY: I realised that the shirt I'm wearing is exactly ten years old today. Not exactly actually. I bought it at the GAP in Santa Monica, California Easter Weekend 1993. And I thought it was so cool 'cause there wasn't a gap in Ottawa at that time and I felt so crazy cool to have a shirt from a cool American store (I was 12 !). Isn't it so weird that I would a) still have the shirt b) wear it on its "anniversary". Just one of the crazy things that happen in life. *And* I talked to Katie today. I'm pretty sure that given my post-criminal mental exhaustion I made no sense. Sorry, KT I'll make it up to you. Promise !!! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 4/19/2003 10:40:00 AM ----- BODY: Hola. Well, yesterday was, as I had predicted, a complete write-off. I did manage, however, to watch the awful "Bless the Child" starring Ms. Kim Basinger in what was her first post-Oscar role. I have never seen a more repulsive movie. Heads literally roll at one point, (Christina Ricci's to be precise). People get their eyes gouged out with knitting needles. Anywho, not anything that I needed to get involved with but I felt engaged once it started so I stayed. And stayed and stayed. Letterman was wrapping up by the time we went back downstairs. This is not the time to have a TV addiction relapse. It affected my productivity: the hair washing I mentioned last post got accomplished, the gym visit did not. The plan for today is not to leave residence and buckle down with the studying, preferably in the education library where there will be fewer distractions. I'll report back on any developments. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 4/18/2003 03:15:00 PM ----- BODY: Okay, well I went to health services today. Closed for Easter. Then I went to KGH whose emergency room is also closed due to SARS quarantine. They told me to go to another hospital across town which I did not want to do right before an exam b/c I need to study. So I came back here and called the wonderful people at Tele-Health Ontario. They said that if she has the pox marks on her and and I haven't developed a fever or a runny nose I should be okay but if any symptoms pop up I should go to the emergency room. I'm pretty sure that these hotline people are *not* trained doctors but I trust them. Otherwise, the day has been uneventful. I cannot get down to work, I was doing so well and my resolve has just been shot. I've spent the day doing sit-ups and watching American Justice on A&E. Not the most productive use of my time especially considering my "I can't go to Hotel-Dieu, I have to study" excuse. Later, I'll try to go to the gym and wash my hair which are things that I should be doing this weekend anyway so doing them today frees more time for me on Saturday and Sunday to study. At least that's the plan. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 4/16/2003 07:55:00 PM ----- BODY: F--K. The girl who lives across from me has the chicken pox. I have never had the chicken pox. I cannot must not get the chicken pox. It's much more serious when you're older, too ! For the time being I'm pox free but how long can it last ???? -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 4/13/2003 10:21:00 PM ----- BODY: Okay seriously, between now and this morning I got a bunch more mentions on Google making me seem like a big whiner below. Oops. I take it all back. Although, how that happenned I don't know. Crazy. Internet, maybe not cruel, but definitely fickle mistress ! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 4/13/2003 02:49:00 PM ----- BODY: How do I hate Google ? Hmm, let me count the ways. Or not since the list would be long and pointless. Let me just say that they jerk you around. Sometimes I'm on, sometimes I'm not. I don't get it. Zainab has been blogging only a few months and she gets the full Google treatment. Yet, little fred, who has been toiling away for more than *two* years rates barely a mention ! No page title, no synopsis. Oh, Internet, cruel mistress of our fates. I want random people coming here ! I welcome and embrace randomness. It turns it back on me. Bah ! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 4/11/2003 04:47:00 PM ----- BODY: Er, yeah. I just wanted to acknowledge that I know there is a war going on , and I know Baghdad fell yesterday. I always wonder about someone stumbling upon this blog and getting a really incorrect view of what type of person I am. I do care about these things, crazy digressions into movie-star world notwithstanding. Good or bad ? I don't have a stance on that issue, actually Sadaam Hussein is not a leader I would wish on anyone but the situation in post-Sadaam Iraq may be just as bad, if not worse. What has been accomplished exactly ? I don't know. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 4/11/2003 04:28:00 PM ----- BODY: Supposed to be studying. Instead I�m looking out the window at a view of Lake Ontario so stunning, I can hardly believe I am the one lucky enough to be looking at it. It�s strange, right before the water comes into view, you can see the guard towers of Kingston Pen with their white turrets almost gleaming against the blue of the water, like tiny tears in a gorgeous canvas through which a blinding light is coming through. (Arent't I poetic today ?) At first I was surprised they picked such a beautiful spot for a prison. But what�s worse, I suppose, than to be locked up yet constantly reminded, just by looking out the window, of exactly how wonderful what you�re missing might be. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 4/10/2003 11:30:00 PM ----- BODY: Egh...Today was a good enough. School ended yesterday. Goodbye first year of law school ! To celebrate I watched Bend It Like Beckham. I swear I have (at least) 5 more BILB posts left in me. It's just that good. Luckily, it came out in England way before it came out here so there are already DVD rips of it online. But, but, but you *have* to see it in theatres if you do see it. It would be too sad otherwise... It inspired me, through a bizarre chain of thought, to stage my own Film Festival : the films of Toni Collette. She's been in a lot of good movies namely : Muriel's Wedding, Changing Lanes, The Sixth Sense, Emma. She was also in Velvet Goldmine so that's what got me started, reminding me of her talent. Why am I law school when I should so obviously would enjoy myself more in film school ? I feel like the charcter in BILB. Hemmed in by parental expectations. Of course, in the movie, the girl had crazy soccer ability and I do not have crazy filmmaking ability. But at least she gave it a go. I've decided I want to make a movie. About what ? This will require thought. Oh and go to Bexy's website and do her hand thing. Because it *is* weird. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 4/08/2003 10:34:00 PM ----- BODY: Still can't get over that movie, Bend it Like Beckham. Sooo uplifting. I remembered that I had seen the actor who plays the good-looking coach character in Velvet Goldmine, possibly the creepiest movie ever. It's about the love affair b/w Iggy Pop and David Bowie, but with everyone's name changed around. If you liked Far From Heaven, you should see Velvet Goldmine though, because it was written and directed by the same guy. Anyways, just goes to show how good some actors really are because the coach guy was repulsive in Velvet Goldmine, sinister and strung-out, all covered in make-up and glitter but here I found him quite attractive and sympathetic. Maybe everything in life is about context. Is this true about our lives too ? If I move to New Guinea to become a pig farmer and smile at everyone, will I seem different ??? Clearly, I need some fresh air. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 4/07/2003 12:59:00 PM ----- BODY: More movie talk. Just saw Bend it Like Beckham yesterday. Brilliant ! So funny. About soccer but not, you know, about soccer. No interminable "she shoots she scores !" sequences and only a short explanation of the off-side rule (which I still don't get). The acting was really great and I liked all the young actors, especially Parminder Negra who plays the main character, a British-Indian (via Kenya) girl who plays soccer against her parents wishes and triumphs over all, hooking up with her good-looking coach along the way. With lots of lovable ethnic hijinks along the way. I know a lot of people dislike the way a lot of movies turn ethnic peeps in to caricatures of themselves but this movie did a good job of explaining why the parents acted the way they did. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 3/31/2003 08:33:00 PM ----- BODY: Just finished watching "The Beach" with Leonardo DiCaprio. Two things come to mind : 1. He is a good actor. I honestly never thought about putting him in the good or not good actor category but he is. Good, I mean. Also, he is attractive granted but the whole Titanic situation was out of hand. The Beach was good actually and it was shot in Thailand. My brother sent me some pictures of my nieces in Thailand and they enjoyed it too. I don't think they saw Leonardo, though. In other news, I hate hate hate my new landlord. He is so rude ! RUDE ! He's turning our house into a duplex next year !! What ? WHAT ??? Grr. Rez is so much easier isn't it ??? Well, enough whining. More later. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 3/30/2003 01:16:00 AM ----- BODY: This guy would be pretty cool actually, if he weren't armed. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 3/28/2003 07:39:00 PM ----- BODY: There but for the grace of God go I. I realised this morning that the toothbrush I was applying the Baking Soda Colgate to was in fact, not a toothbrush but a Gillette Venus razor. That could have gotten ugly. The rest of the day went by pretty decently despite that early bad omen. I managed to stay awake in class and ate the most fabulous curried chicken sandwich at lunch. Tastiness. Then I discovered a wonderful little Japanese candy store and got all this tasty Japanese candy (and some Nerds 'cause they sell those, too). I'm still caught in the quagmire that is course selection for next year. Do you a) take what you like b) take what can get you a job or c) take the subjects that will be tested on the bar exam? And, no, a mix of the three is not a possible answer. I guess the day wasn't perfect because I had a small tiff with one of my classmates over who is eviller : George W. Bush or Sadaam Hussein? While I agree that Bush's actions will be more destructive in the long run, because of America's far-reaching interests and foreign policy might, Sadaam Hussein is insane and sadistic while Bush is a misguided man with a lot of power. I don't think he's actively cruel. Thoughts ? Anyways, a heads-up that I'm thinking of moving this weblog to www.geocities.com/phrederique/weblog. True, there's more to type but it means I can use my geocities address for other things. Not just this. I'll give adequate warning, I swear. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 3/22/2003 03:58:00 PM ----- BODY: I had a good time today hanging out with Anjali and her friend Tereza in and around the Kingston area. I finally had breakfast at Morrison's, allegedly a Kingston institution. They mention it a lot in guide books but I had never heard of an actual person going there except for "Ed" from "Ed" who, before he became Ed, was a arts and education student at Queen's. It was tasty. We then walked around the two or three blocks that pass for Kingston's downtown and we went to the liquor store, aka the LCBO for all you non-Ontario folk. I even wrote a little song about it : Alcohol, is it friend or foe ? / We'll soon find out at the LCBO ! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 3/20/2003 11:41:00 PM ----- BODY: Okay, I'll break down and say it. Bob Marley is a lyrical genius. However, his music bites. It seems every time I hear a song that I really love, it's a remake of one of his songs. Case in Point : Waiting in Vain by Annie Lennox. Amazing lyrics. Yet musically impaired in its original version...Strange. Yeah, yeah I know. All this talk of Bob Marley = fiddling while Rome burns. I *do* care about the war. I'm perturbed, upset, yet, given the coverage I've seen on TV, still oddly detached from the whole thing. I though television was supposed to increase our empathy towards our fellow human. Green points of light on a blurry screen doesn't do it for me. In any case, I am extremely relieved Canada isn't involved. Sometimes, I wonder about the motivation behind Chretien's anti-American stance (posturing ?) but in times like these I say "right on JC !" If you want to hear the fabulous song, click the link that follows. If you want to keep the fabulous song, right click the link and choose "save the target as" option Waiting in Vain by Annie Lennox -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 3/19/2003 12:40:00 AM ----- BODY: Some blog updates : New picture. Actual movies listed under this year's movies. My Winamp playlist uploaded for your perusal/approval. New book/music reviews. Hope you enjoy ! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 3/18/2003 11:57:00 AM ----- BODY: So we've got the war coming, and this crazy Hong Kong flu thing counts as pestilence right. So all we need is death and famine and the four horsemen are upon us, people.... The apocalypse. Honestly, the world is a freaky place and I hope somehow death can be avoided... On a brighter/more depressing note, the show will go on : The Oscars are *not* being cancelled. I love the Oscars and even I think it's in bad taste to celebrate while your government is dropping bombs on the heads of innocent Iraqis. Not cool, movie people, not cool. I'll be watching, of course. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 3/17/2003 07:02:00 PM ----- BODY: Erkle. No, I didn't celebrate Saint-Patrick's day either. So the snakes have been driven out of Ireland. Viva ! Let's get on with the show. I wore a green ring all day and drank the unidentified green concoction in the caf so I feel I've done my part for the Irish. The day was otherwise uneventful. I didn't have class until 2:30 so I loitered around these parts for a really long time. Then I went to class where I had the answer to one of our crim prof's usual super obscure film reference questions ( Q : What were the three words the little girl had to say to stop the Robot in "The Day the Earth Stood Still " ? A. : Klaatu Barada Nicto). Except he answered his own question before I got to lift my hand. Bah ! Then I watched the Bachelorette on Oprah. She seemed charming but I felt bad for the bachelor she picked : he seemed really shy and uncomfortable at being on TV. Now back to studying. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 3/16/2003 09:34:00 PM ----- BODY: Never ever, ever buy ClodHoppers. They are these insanely addictive fudge covered graham wafers and I swear only those with the steeliest resolve could keep themselves from finishing the whole package in one sitting. Had to pull the old "pour nail polish remover into the bag" trick to keep me from finishing them...Available at Wal-Mart... Apart from stuffing my face (We also hit Harvey's 'cause Sundays the meal plan doesn't work), I got a little bit of Property done and enjoyed my new copy of PowerPoint...I love it. I made presentations about my bedspread and my favourite Star Trek episodes just so I could play with it...Whee whee whee ! Yesterday, I also continued studying for my finals coming up...Booo ! I made a quick run to the Cat Centre where I ran into American Eagle Outfitters. I got a white shirt and a (faux, I presume) jade ring for 14.77. Go there... if you want to buy things but you only have a twenty dollar bill to your name...Okay, off to bed. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 3/14/2003 05:24:00 PM ----- BODY: So, how exactly did it get to be March 14th ? March has gone by unseasonably quickly, has it not ? Last night, I went out for martinis at the Grad Club (aka the poor man's Thomson House) and if any of you should come to Kingston one day, I recommend you do that. We'll do it together. Because martinis are really good and strangely filling. Have two and you're full like you just had a real meal. It's bizarre. Because usually I'm not full until I've had a *lot* to eat. Also I've also found the whole booze-guzzling aspect of the "Sex and the city/Bridget Jones" lifestyle to be one of its most attractive traits. Everything in moderation (this isn't first year, after all !), but a vague omnipresent buzz sounds like my kind of thing. It's just that I feel like such a fraud ordering wine with dinner, like the waitress is chuckling at me on the inside. But, of course, the waitress couldn't care less about me, could she ? That's something else I have to learn to deal with, too. Anyways, I ordered a fridge this year for the express purpose of always having a half-finished bottle of wine and a six pack of Henieken at the ready. It currently holds the world's oldest baby carrots and some pencils. Next year, perhaps... Also, how weird is the kidnapped Utah girl story turning ? She was brainwashed, speaking in tongues, hanging out with a polygamist ? Not as uplifting as it originally seemed I suppose but what ever is ? -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 3/13/2003 11:21:00 AM ----- BODY: How wonderful is it that that young girl who was kidnapped in Utah last summer has been reunited with her family (apparently) unharmed ? I can only imagine how happy her family must be to have her back. I love these life-affirming, never give up hope, type stories. I cried watching the TV. I know, I know I'm totally manipulated by the media blah, blah, blah and millions are suffering more than she ever will but still very uplifting... -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 3/11/2003 04:19:00 PM ----- BODY: er, right... So I don't know what you all thought of the audioblog post/cry for help. It was free and fun so I hope that I can put some more up in a while. I've been very sick and sniffly lately. I don't know if it happens to you but when I'm nervous or worried about things I get terribly, terribly sick. It would be interesting to determine what the psychological roots of this condition are but I'll guess it'll remain forever a mystery. Otherwise, it's pretty dry around here right now. So I will let you go without sharing all the dullsville details... later :) -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 3/07/2003 06:09:00 PM ----- BODY: audblog audio post -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 3/06/2003 11:56:00 PM ----- BODY: Hey all, yes yes, I know. I'm the worst blogger ever. Consider my radio silence over...Yes I have way too much stuff going on but that's no reason to leave my blog by the wayside. Especially, not when it's two (2 !) year anniversary is coming up. Who could have guessed when this wonderful adventure began in 2001 that it would bring us here to this moment. Anyways, I'll leave the grand philosophizing to the actual date... Otherwise, what's been happenning ? Apart from the family drama (which is on the upswing : Grandma back in the hospital but feeling paradoxically, better), school has been a beeyotch. I was lucky enough to get an editorial position on the Queen's Law Journal for next year which promises to be interesting at the very least. The main thing is that I have this huge assignment due MOnday which I should be working on instead of typing to the likes of you. But yeah all this to say, blogging will resume. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 2/25/2003 10:42:00 AM ----- BODY: Hi, just a short note to say that I am back in Kingston. My grandmother is doing better. Her stroke was mild though still very scary. She is having trouble talking but was home from the hospital quickly. I hope you all are doing well. I will try to be more consistent and get in touch with everyone I have been leaving by the wayside. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 2/19/2003 06:24:00 PM ----- BODY: and happy birthday to Zainab. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 2/19/2003 06:20:00 PM ----- BODY: Hi, I know I have been remiss (not even approaching the correct spelling I know). Actually, my grandmother had a stroke. So I am here holding down the proverbial fort while my mother does the 24 hour vigil thing. Hopefully, things wll work out. At 95, strokes are pretty troubling though...I hope you are doing okay, and I will try my best to get in touch soon. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 2/10/2003 09:53:00 PM ----- BODY: I recommend watching "How to Lose a Guy With Ten Days". It was a good laugh and took my mind of my troubles, especially when Matthew McConnaughey took his shirt off. I know this makes me sound like an old desperate spinster but I don't care. I'm embracing the spinsterhood. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 2/04/2003 11:05:00 AM ----- BODY: So to go along with my inconsistent posting, my class attendance has become mad sporadic as well. This does not bode well for the future. In addition, it seems like my mother is intent on putting the kibosh on all of my exciting plans and I can't even get mad at her for it because she has my grandmother's best interests at heart which really are more important than anything else that there could possibly be in my life. Anyways, I despise the feeling of really being behind in class and not even understanding at all what the prof is saying. The last time this happenned was in Industrial Organization, and I had to get Christine to teach me the entire course twice, once at the midterm and once at the final. But now there is no Christine to come and save the day just me and my complete cluelessness about privity of contract as a factor in invalidating the fourth rule as put forth in the Highway Properties case. So yah, I'm in trouble. Anyhoo, I have an oral presentation in about thirty minutes and my bra keeps unsnapping so I guess I should take my leave of you ! Keeping my chin up though, so no eye-rolling at the kvetch-fest. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 2/02/2003 11:08:00 AM ----- BODY: Eek, When did it get to be 11:00. I don't know...I feel like I just got up. Actually, I don't just feel I know I just got up. Anyways, this picture :



makes me laugh (specifically that guy's eyebrows !) so I am putting it into my blog. That's all for now. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 2/01/2003 05:02:00 PM ----- BODY: Woke up this morning to the sad news that the space shuttle had crashed. It reminds us of how incredible but dangerous hurtling ourselves off the planet really is. I feel especially sad for the people of Israel, since their first mission into space has ended so badly. I have no wise words to share. I just think it's quite sad. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 1/31/2003 01:15:00 PM ----- BODY: Wow, my posting has been sporadic of late, apologies. Right now, for the third time this month I am hungover, and it's a bad scene. Believe me. A bad scene. The operating cause of my discomfort is sambuca which I've never had before. Needless to say I will never be eating black licorice even in my whole life. Ever in my whole life. As I was just saying, people drink a lot in law school. It's a bad scene. A bad scene I tell you...Anyways, I leave you now because I guess I should be doing something about these black spots in my vision. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 1/27/2003 01:55:00 PM ----- BODY: This weekend I went home yet again to spend time with my grandmother. Unfortunately, an ailing grandmother means a pissed off mother but oh well. Good times were had while my grandmother expounded on why cigarettes aren't that bad for you as we tried to watch "The Insider" together, which P.S. is an excellent movie. However, my grandmother has the senior's version of "Who's-that-guy-itis" wherein she provides a running commentary/query track to the action *and* confuses the plot with that of various movies she's seen before, most of them from the pre-colour era so that there's a lot of "Is Steve McQueen in this movie ?" "Um, no he died twenty years ago, Grandma", "Steve McQueen didn't die twenty years ago, he's in this movie." and so on... Also, went to church and because I am sickeningly self-involved, I felt all heroic-grandaughter-like pushing my grandmother up the aisle to receive communion. It's awful that I would admit that. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 1/24/2003 12:26:00 AM ----- BODY: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO KT.... Yesterday I had additionalness to add to the birthday wishes but I 'm a little off right now. So I will let the birthday wishes stand for themselves. Give me a K...Give me a T. That was nice and short. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 1/22/2003 11:12:00 AM ----- BODY: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO LAURK !!!! Kingston is colder than Ottawa and Montreal. I didn't think that could be possible but it is. Allegedly, the winter lasts one month less than it does in Montreal and Ottawa but I think that's just propaganda on the part of the municipality of Kingston because there is no end in sight. Complaining about the weather, I know. How much less ground-breaking can this blog be...? Last day, I didn't mean to imply that I *can* break-dance badly or otherwise. I just attempt it on a regular basis and just call it break-dancing because I want to. In case that was keeping you up nights. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 1/21/2003 03:21:00 PM ----- BODY: Wow, how much do I love Roxette ? They were good ! It's sad it didn't work out for them... In other news, I really want to go to the movies tonight but I am finding intense opposition to "Bowling for Columbine" which is my preferred choice. I'm not that upset...at the beginning of the year I was going to the movies by myself (which I still do) but it's good to have a debate about the movie question, from time to time, if that's makes sense. Actually, I'm sad that most of my visitors came earlier in the term because now I've adjusted much more...If you come back I promise more active fun... Like playing Monopoly which I have an unlimited appetite for. Unlimited ! If left to my own devices I could play Monopoly ad infinitum until I starved to death, still clinging to the hope that victory would be mine if I could just get that fourth railroad. However, I'm bad...I'm not sure exactly how it is possible to be bad at Monopoly, once you understand the rules, since it is a game of chance but I suppose there is a little strategizing in there somewhere and I can't do it. But being bad/completely inept at something has never stopped me from enjoying it (see singing, cross-stitch, break-dancing, cross-words.) More later. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 1/18/2003 10:47:00 AM ----- BODY: For some reason, the expression "you one sexy mofo" is running through my head. I heard it in a movie once and thought it was incredibly funny, though it's not. Today is my mom's birthday, so I'm heading home to the O-dot. Should be good. I have yet to buy a present but y'know quiblles. n'est-ce pas ? Probably I'll get her something fung shui related, she likes that...So there will be radio silence for the weekend. Later ! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 1/18/2003 12:05:00 AM ----- BODY: So guess what ? I was in Toronto today ! Not for long (seven hours) and on pretty short notice (I knew I was going about twenty minutes before the bus left at 5:45 !). Thus the no stopping in and chatting with my peeps whose work numbers I conveniently did not bring, not that it would have matterred since we were given no free time ! Basically, I copped a ride with the Queen's Corporate Law Club and visited three firms. 'Twas fun, though now I'm pretty sure I never ever want to be a corporate lawyer. It seems really boring...Soul crushingly boring. Fifteen-hour days boring. Mergers and Acquistions boring. Okay, so I change my original assessment of the day and declare it boring. Mostly because, here we were in Toronto and we weren't allowed to do anything at all ! We never strayed from the group, we even ate lunch at the firms (actually two lunches and a dinner !). And I can't schmooze which I need to work on. I know, I know the coherence quotient is low Grr !! more later. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 1/13/2003 08:13:00 PM ----- BODY: January 13th, 2002 will go down in history as a big Meh... So it turns out we got our first real marks back. In a class of sixty people, one person got an A- (the highest mark in the class). I was not that person... Thus I'm in a scholastic funk. It's only one half credit out of five but still...One of my classmates sent an angry e-mail out to the prof about how we are all killing ourselves for B pluses but I try to remain as anonymous as possible despite the allegedly "blind" marking scheme. Meanwhile, the other class had their full twenty percent allotment of As and A minuses which means we are at a disadvantage and I don't have the courage to even consider the serious financial implications of my academic mediocrity. Suffice it to say I hope not to follow into the footsteps of one of my former roommates. Though from what I hear the market for those services is weak in K-town. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 1/12/2003 03:35:00 AM ----- BODY: So I gave my little speech today about rights and responsibilities as a tenant in Ontario to the first-year students. They seemed receptive. Tonight, I'm going bowling. Okay, edit. I went bowling. I scored a 52 45 and 55. Ouch ! Then I went to the Toucan, the local Irish pub of Kingston. It seemed like the whole law school was there. Then I had a conversation about the Masters of the Universe that went on way too long. Now, I'm singing to myself because that is absolutely my favourite thing to do in the world. How incredibly self-centred you might think, rightly. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 1/08/2003 01:32:00 PM ----- BODY: Yay, just got let out of public (or rather constitutional as it's called this term) super early so I thought I would hang out here at the library to "do my reading". Out of the corner of my eye I can see two girls standing next to one another at an internet station wearing the exact same coat. They each keep surreptitiously (they think !) checking each other out, probably telling themselves how much better *they* look in the coat. Little chuckles everywhere. Well, my back hurts a lot 'cause this is our long day, so I'll cut it short but not before saying I revoke my pan of "Two Weeks Notice" after seeing it again last night, it is actually quite charming. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 1/07/2003 02:40:00 PM ----- BODY: I don't know about you but I am always, always posting to my blog and then seeing my entry disappear into the netherworld of blog posts. Really aggravating. Day two of second semester and I've already managed to skip a class : Property. Which is unbelievable because our prof is kind of hot and that has motivated my attendance in the past. Anyways, my resolutions are going great. I already have the notes from property. I did my first of three workouts yesterday and I plan on calling someone long-distance tonight ! I also did some origami which takes care of the creativity thing (right?). Now, I just have to steel myself against US magazine. How can I resist the siren call of the latest developments in the J-Lo/Ben Affleck histoire d'amour ? But I'm making an effort that's what counts. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 1/05/2003 08:37:00 PM ----- BODY: Back at the world fun headquarters that is Kingston-Town. Excitement unrunning through my veins as we speak. At least, I only have to get up for an 11:00 class tomorrow. Had the good fortune to bump into the same residence co-dweller on the train back that I had bumped into on the way there. So we conversed about Star Trek : Nemesis and Lord of The Rings and the relative cheese factor of various Bond Films. I love making train/bus friends, don't you ? Hard to make the leap from bus/train friend to actual friend though. I will make an effort. Also, I'm moving to Ireland. So if you want me to send you shamrocks or Leprechauns through the mail tell me now. Okay, I'm going to my mailbox which I'm hoping will be overstuffed with mail !!! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 1/04/2003 04:47:00 PM ----- BODY: Hey, hey, hey. Fun times were had today with Laurk. We went skating on the Rideau Canal and it was mad fun. We made it past the highway, which if you have any familiarity with the physical layout of Ottawa is minorly impressive. Laurk dazzled me with her provincial-level skating prowess and I didn't fall once. Viva ! Afterwards, we went to Elephant & Castle for lunch. It was merely okay but we agreed it could never seem cool compared to the first time we went which involved 1.Becky 2.A parade. Oh vell. Afterwards, we window-shopped and dropped into Chapters where we bought our first books of 2003 : Bill Bryson (Laurk) and Pete McCarthy (me). I made my train reservation this afternoon, too. It's sad to think I'm going back to school. Yech ! I've gotten used to this life of leisure. Now I'm going to have to confront my academic mediocrity and I somehow managed to sign up to co-lead a legal seminar for first year students looking for their first apartment. As if I had any thing worthwhile to say about that topic apart from : Don't live with psychos. But I was getting a little lazy so it's probably a good thing. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 1/03/2003 01:43:00 PM ----- BODY: Yesterday, I went to see Maid in Manhattan. I was primed to love it but the whole Ralph Fiennes-Evil Nazi connection is hard for me to shake. Erk, I need a good movie. I know I should go see "Far from Heaven" or some other good movie but I can't deal with it. Too arty. I need some good popcorn entertainment. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 1/01/2003 10:05:00 PM ----- BODY: Happy 2003 ! Aplace's second new year went swimmingly. Well, it was a good day until Bexy unwittingly killed my new year's high ! What's this about what you do on the first of the year you ending up doing all year ? I don't want to spend the next 365 watching Star Trek movie marathons, drinking diet Cream Soda and fighting with my mother ! I did actually trace my family tree back six complete generations. Well, I didn't my father did fifteen years ago but I typed it up. New unknown facts about myself : am a protestant on my father's side and one of relatives was guillotined. Well, I'm adding a resolution to the ones I shared with you on December 30th : free myself from superstition. Just so you know. Also, I added to my movie review list. All of my 2002 movies are listed therein and I am making a new 2003 page just as soon as I can. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 12/30/2002 05:37:00 PM ----- BODY: Massive nephew gift-giving success. Tony Hawk skateboard video games kill with 10 year old boys as do adidas t-shirts and Turtles chocolate. Whee. Because in previous years my gifts have been met with a kind of frozen smile of "I am a child trying to be kind." But not this year. Joy Joy Joy. It's very rewarding to give someone a gift they really enjoy. Especially a pint-size person. Also, tomorrow is New Year's Eve. I didn't make any radical pronouncements about the year ahead last year so I can't engage in any of that wonderful retrospective, looking-back on the year type activities that all other long-time bloggers are engaging in. But I began this year with a little hope, I think that was the way to go because it got better as it went along. A little hope. But next year I do want to have a checklist of sorts. So here goes, The Fred 2003 resolution list : Exercise thrice weekly Eat breakfast everyday Participate in one creative activity a week If I miss a day of school, get notes right away instead of waiting until right before exams Slowly wean myself off US magazine Make a to-do list daily and attempt to stick to it. Call some friends long-distance every week Notice I'm not setting any incredibly high goals because, y'know, the harder they fall... and all that. So as ol' Blue Eyes would say : The best is yet to come and won't that be fine ! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 12/29/2002 10:23:00 PM ----- BODY: Have you seen "You've Got Mail !". I think you should. It's actually rather pleasant for a romantic comedy *and*, Becky will be happy to note, it puts me in mind of "Joe vs. The Volcano", which is also a terrific (!) movie. I just saw it for the first time over the holidays. That movie is so original and funny and makes you realise just how talented Meg Ryan is. Honestly, someone should have won an Oscar for that movie. Otherwise, the week has been uneventful. I was lucky enough to get a phone call from Katherine and make some cheese deliveries. Did you know my mother has a cheese dealer ? Some people have crack dealers, she has a cheese dealer. Also, I had a dream that I got married last night and you were all there (you were bridesmaids !) but it was an unhappy marriage. Strange, no ? Oh and see "Chicago", it's great ! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 12/25/2002 11:17:00 AM ----- BODY: Merry Christmas !!! Yes, today is that special day, Allegedly, Jesus was born today 2002 years ago. I think that was disproven a while back but still, here we are commemorating him. I've recently had the chance to learn a lot about old J-C. One of my early Christmas gifts from a cousin was "Jesus : A life" on two videocassettes for my viewing pleasure as well as my own copy of the New Testament (to look things up in more detail). My mother was aghast that she would give me such an obviously prosletyzing(sp?) gift but I was touched that the old gal didn't think my earthly soul was a complete lost cause. She is a nun candidate who dropped out of nun academy (or whatever they call it) twice. The cousin, not my mom. Anyways, I stayed over at Grandma's for a couple days. So I haven't had a chance to get in touch with everyone. But I do look forward to talking to, writing to, (seeing ???) all of you soon. Feliz Navidad ! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 12/23/2002 11:44:00 PM ----- BODY: So everybody has unique experiences, things that they have experienced that others haven't but what about the stuff that everyone's experienced that you haven't. I, for example, have never seen Titanic (still !) or had the chicken pox. What elements of life have passed you by ?? I saw Two Weeks Notice. Now, there's an element of life that I wish had passed me by. It sucked. Yet, it had such potential : Hugh Grant playing a rich cad, Sandra Bullock playing sad sack heroine etc... terrible, I'm still not sure how...Much better is Bottle Rocket which is the pinnacle of the pre Jason Schwartzman Owen Wilson-Wes Anderson oeuvre. Two thumbs up (but more if had more thumbs). -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 12/19/2002 10:32:00 AM ----- BODY: So I've finally settled into a little vacation schedule which I share with you now : 8:30 Awake. Realise I have no place to go and nothing to do. Rejoice. Go back to sleep. 10:00 Awake. again. Belatedly realise I have videos to return at Blockbuster. Put on socks and coat and walk to Blockbuster in Pajamas to return videos. Take out more videos. Walk home. 10:45 Jump in shower. Hear mother's mid-morning check-up call. Rush out of shower to pick up knowing if I don't she will send the authorities to check up on my (in her mind) lifeless corpse. 11:15 Begin to watch Blockbuster movie while eating oatmeal and drinking cran-apple tea while reading paper. 13:00 Go see Grandma 13:15 Eat second lunch w/Grandma 14:00 Watch TV while Grandma doses off 16:00 Talk to Grandma. Call mother 17:00 Bid farewell to Grandma. 17:30 Stop by Gloucester Mall on way home. Spend money I don't have at Chapters. 18:00 Arrive home. Ask mom what's for dinner. 18:01 Be brutally rebuffed by my mother for asking what's for dinner and for "hiding" the newspaper. 18:02 Retrieve newspaper from where it is "hiding" in the front hall. 18:03 Prepare some spaghetti 18:20 Eat spaghetti w/Mom. Discuss respective days 19:00 Worry about public exam 19;10 Worry about property exam 19:20 Worry about state of the world today 19:30 Stop worrying about the state of the world to devote all mental energies to Access Hollywood 20:00 Think about returning phone calls 20:05 Realise mother is on phone and will not be open to interruption. 20:10 Watch dubbed version of Holiday movies on Radio-Canada while simultaneously reading paper 22:30 Catch News 22:45 Dance in living room to laptop-provided music 23:00 Kill time in some way until Letterman 23:30 Begin watching Letterman 23:48 Start feeling sleepy just before good guest comes on. Turn in for the night 23:59 Realise I am in no way sleepy. Just needed to be horizontal. Read book 00:45 Fall asleep -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 12/15/2002 12:01:00 PM ----- BODY: Erm, yes. I have been home for four days and I'm spending a leisurely morning of nothing before going to see grandma. My grandma has the flu. It's not life-threatening but it's not good to have at her age. She is up and about though. The stupid thing is she *got* a flu shot. Grrr ! Anyways, my mom is there now but I think I will go in to shoot the breeze later this afternoon. Then I have all this time off. So I will be there a lot. Speaking of a lot. I just got an email from one of my study group members that spelled a lot "alot" and no I'm weirded out. I don't know why I'm such a spelling snob since I am confounded by simple words like "beginning" and "recommend" but I am. So I feel evil. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 12/12/2002 11:27:00 AM ----- BODY: Woah, how bad did I just tank this exam ? Really, really badly. I left one third of the exam blank ! It doesn't count for anything so phew ! but still... a good chunk of the class was absent because no one studied, so maybe the curve won't kill me, just slightly maim me. To cheer myself up, I made a mix-tape : Take on Me - A Ha Ordinary World - Duran Duran The Reflex - Duran Duran In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel Friday, I'm in Love - The Cure A Little Respect - Erasure Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order I challenge you to listen to these songs and not feel fantastic about them. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 12/11/2002 11:30:00 PM ----- BODY: Bexy's Twenty Questions 1. What book is on your nightstand/in your bag right now? Sadly, Property Law : Cases and Commentaries by William Flanagan 2. Do you/would you eat alone in decent (ie. non-fast food) restaurants? How do/would you pass the time? No. But if I did I would read a book or magazine 3. What animal are you most like and why? The muskrat. I forget why but I did a project on the muskrat in Gr.10 Science and a lot of similarities popped up. 4. If you had two weeks off from everything, what would you do? Assuming, I could also go anywhere I wanted I would : hang out at the beach, drink, eat copious amounts of food, watch a ton of satellite television, read fun books, and try to commune with nature and/or history at one point. 5. When you go grocery shopping, what do you eat as soon as you unpack it? String cheese and pita bread with hummus 6. How are the drawers in your dresser/bureau/wardrobe organized? Underwear in the top drawer, chaos in the rest. 7. How old are you? How old do you think you look? Do you still get carded? I am 22. I look between the ages of 18 and 24, I think. I get carded usually. Not always, and I'm really offended when I'm not. 8. What is the high point of your day so far today? Low point? Secret Santa party was the high part. Thinking about my public exam when I should have been reviewing property was the low point. 9. In high school, when someone you barely knew asked you to sign their yearbook, what was your all-purpose message? Or did you just refuse? You are cool person and I predict lots of success. It was great knowing you. But I wasn't asked that often to sign yearbooks 10. What tv show is most realistic to you, in terms of your own life? None, because TV characters are always getting into some sort of interesting situation. I am not. The camaraderie of Buffy feels real to me though. 11. Describe your favourite outfit currently in your closest. Red tab front pleated twill Jacob pants and Cowl neck off white angora turtleneck. 12. If you had to become an illegal drug user (can't quite picture this scenario, but humour me) which one would best suit your personality? I can't match a drug to my personality but I think cocaine would be fun because you get to make lines on the little tiny mirror and use a one hundred dollar bill to snort it. 13. What song is stuck in your head right now? A little respect by Erasure tied with Happiness is a Warm Gun by the Beatles 14. Which food(s) would you risk offending your host in order to avoid eating? Anything made with eggs in a manner I disapproved of. (Includes mayo) 15. What is your grammatical stumbling block? Starting sentences with prepositions, split infinitives and a whole lot more 16. What (if anything) are you superstitious about? Broken mirrors (really superstitious about that), black cats and spilling salt. Otherwise, I'm good. 17. What's the most useful class you ever took? Sadly, film as mass medium because it totally informed my appreciation of movies, which is really not that useful so it tells you how unuseful the rest were. 18. What would make you run screaming from an otherwise charming and cool date? Homophobic or otherwise intolerant comments. An Enrique Iglesias-style mole. 19. Which highly unlikely future events have you planned out/imagined for yourself? Winning an Academy Award 20. Where is your favourite park, and why is it your favourite? Manor Park, because it is tiny and hidden yet they named my entire neighbourhood after it -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 12/11/2002 09:31:00 PM ----- BODY: Hey, check out my grandfather's page on the Internet Movie Database. Whee, fame by association ! The best kind if you ask me... -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 12/11/2002 03:13:00 PM ----- BODY: I went Secret Santa shoppping this morning with Samson, Elena and Chuck. It was frustrating. I barely know the girl who I am gifting. This is worse than not knowing the person at all because if you don't know them at all you can give them a generic gift and be done with it. But...I sort of know her so I have to make an effort based on the two five minute or less conversations I've had with her. I know, I know... not that big a deal but we do need to generate some drama in my life, no... Anyways, I had a good time at the horrible Kingston mall which has a Loblaws, a Thrifty's, a Dollar store and a food court with not one (not one !) operational food outlet. It is also notable because a few weeks ago in the parking lot, an old lady reversed over a bunch of people than rammed a couple cars because she forgot 1. that she was in reverse 2.which pedal was the accelarator and which was the clutch. I have one more exam and I don't care. I'm trying to get myself to care but I'm not sure I will. Wish me luck.. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 12/10/2002 11:58:00 PM ----- BODY: Yay ! Tomorrow I am going Secret Santa shopping !! So exciting. Less exciting : the crappy mark I'm getting on my public exam. It was hard and there was a trick question so we'll see how things work out...Now I'm going to get into bed and watch David Letterman. Frida was good. Beautifully shot but a tad boring...I'm a bit unintellectual, I guess. Where is Becky ? -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 12/10/2002 12:21:00 PM ----- BODY: t-2 hours before my first law school exam (that counts). Before some wisenheimer pops up, yes, I did check and it *is* an afternoon exam... Ahem. Went to the library last night with Lauren and Ryan who are in my section and live in my res. They were disturbingly well-prepared so I cut our little session short...too depressing. Instead, I spent the hours of 9 through 12 on the third floor, having one of those grand-scheme-of-things discussions that is so helpful with procrastination. Then Elena and I tried to get information on her crush from Samson who lives across from said crush on the second floor. We succeeded only in frightening him but good times were had. Turns out Elena's birthday is February 14th so when Valentine's day sucks for her, it *really* sucks ! A little schaedenfreudesque (so incorrectly spelled I know) but who isn't sometimes ? Tonight, I'm going to see Frida ! I'll report back then... Okay, wish me luck ! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 12/08/2002 11:41:00 AM ----- BODY: Sigmund Ferd ! What a chuckle ! This is why I need to start checking my comments more often. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 12/07/2002 01:25:00 PM ----- BODY: Criminal is over and done with. I have no idea how I did. Check this space in five to six weeks to see if the operative emotion is joy or despair. As a reward for being such a good girl and finishing my exam and actually getting quite a bit of studying done last night, I rewarded myself. My first reward was stupid. I let myself watch "Deliverance" with Jon Voight and Burt Reynolds and that little gang. It was on at 12:45 on CBC TV. Strange movie about the nutbars that people the Appalachians. It gets a little freaky at one point. In any case, It has killed any hope there ever was that I would go on a camping trip in Kentucky. However, it reminded me of my short-lived obsession with the Melungeon people of the Appalachians. They are a mysterious people whose ethnic origins have never been determined. They are usually very dark skinned with blue eyes and most of the white people of the region are frightened of them... Something to look into if you're ever bored. My second reward was much better. I got a copy of Justin Timberlake's latest "Justified". It's really quite good. I especially like track 3. So I 'm doing a lot of shoulder spasm dancing around my little cell. Some of my Christmas cards went out yesterday, marking the first time that has sucessfully been accomplished by me. I still need some addresses though, so help me out guys ? -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 12/06/2002 10:28:00 PM ----- BODY: Okay, well given the ridiculously small amount of studying I've done for it the Criminal exam should sail comfortably way over my head. That's okay though. I don't plan on becoming a criminal lawyer, for now. But, if any of you should get into trouble, (drug trafficking, possession of God-knows-what), I'm there for you ! Instead, I'm listening to "Constellation" by Legion of Green Men, an jazzy electronica outfit out of Toronto. A real kick. I recommend. Okay, it's 10:22 and instead of studying I'm obsessed with creatively displaying my Christmas cards. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 12/06/2002 06:50:00 PM ----- BODY: And hey, is Zainab still on Albert St. ? -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 12/06/2002 11:25:00 AM ----- BODY: I have an exam in less than twenty four hours but last night I thought it would be a good idea to get totally hammered on cheap martinis. But to be fair they were good cheap martinis. They were on special at the Grad Club, Queen's University's poor-man's version of Thomson House. I don't even like the grad club but I heard that my grad school crush was going to be there. So I went. I'm not sure why. I guess I was planning on attracting him with my poor eye-hand coordination and slurred speech. Right now I'm preparing my holiday cards... and I need AMT's and Bexy's addresses and Kt, if your reading this I need your address too. I actually bought stamps this year so it might actually happen... Missing you all terribly... -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 12/04/2002 08:15:00 PM ----- BODY: Hey, I just found out my brother has gotten a job as a stand-in for this movie. Aaah ! I think this means he'll get to meet Guy Pearce. Anyways, it's coming out in 2004 but keep it in mind 'cause he'll be in the credits. Otherwise, nothing much. I'm going to watch Dawson's Creek now. I'm doing that now... and thank you for the holiday wishes, M. They were much much appreciated :) -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 12/03/2002 07:35:00 PM ----- BODY: Currently wearing : Undershirt (who, apart from older men, wears an undershirt after the age of nine ?), Long-sleeve t-shirt, Big thick, scratchy turtleneck, hooded polar fleece jacket (with hood up), long polyester scarg wrapped twice around my throat. Warmth status : nil. Yes, today, perhaps the coldest day of the year so far and my room is freezing. Call me Rutherford, er no.. call me um... Whatever, call me by the name of the guy who discovered Antartica. Also, I have yet to crack a book open for my exams. It's because over the weekend my grandmother was really sick, laid up in bed, not talking, coughing and appearing to be asleep 24/7. But last night, she launched a miraculous recovery. I'm hoping that all I'll reap from this experience is a good dose of self-congratulation for doing the bedside vigil thing and no sadness...I'm knocking on wood. Okay, now I actually have to do stuff. Keep me posted. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 12/01/2002 07:55:00 PM ----- BODY: Woo hoo ! What's not to love about this weekend ? First, the list, the list that took way longer than I thought is over ! See it here Next, the whole world joins the netjournal community. Well actually, only two new people but I am happy and I'm waiting for their approval to link to them. Yeee ! Net success all around. I need to come up with a project for my blog... Watch this space. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 11/28/2002 01:20:00 AM ----- BODY: My alarm clock is toying with me. I set if for 7 am, clearly ensuring that the little dot for am lights up in the upper left hand corner and the little dot for alarm lights up in the upper right hand corner. The alarm works fine for three months. Last night, it decides "um, actually I'm going to ring at 7 *pm* ". I check to see what I've done wrong. Nothing. I unplug the alarm carefully set it to the right time (pm) and alarm time (am). Cut to : This morning. A groggy Fred flutters her eyes open, happy to have beaten the alarm. Do her eyes deceive her ? No, it really is 8:07 am and she has 23 minutes to get to class. Grr ! Luckily, I made it but I am freaked out. But tonight I waltz into my room around 10 greeted by the delightful but unexpected sounds of CBC Radio. The alarm shenanigans coupled with the fact my Brotherhood of the Wolf poster keeps falling down on my head, convincing me I'm under attack from a mad intruder, cleverly disguised as a sheet of paper, are putting me on edge and believe me there is running out of edge for me to be on. Exams start in one week. I'll keep you posted (don't I always ?) -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 11/25/2002 12:56:00 PM ----- BODY: Ugh, Blogger wasn't working there for a while, thus my non-response. Latest and greatest activities : Seeing Die Another Day. Cool movie but the story clearly ended and yet they insisted on tacking on another 40 minutes to the movie involving helicopters and women in tank tops. The usual Bond shenanigans, I suppose. It was (marginally)smarter than the usual Bond, though. Probably due to the fact it was directed by Lee Tamahori who directed "Once Were Warriors", a painful but good movie. Okay, I guess I should have written latest and greatest activity, singular. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 11/22/2002 10:30:00 PM ----- BODY: Aaaah ! Steven Spielberg is taking on a new live action "Tintin" movie. This could be cool ! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 11/22/2002 10:17:00 PM ----- BODY: Woo hoo ! Just back from Toronto and how sweet it is ! I had a *great* time and I'm now more sure than ever that I want to be a lawyer. I also had the chance to hang out with Melanie (who kindly put me up !) and Bexy. I walked all the way from Yonge and College to Yonge and Eglington (in shifts) and my love for this wonderful city was reignited. I visted two management side labour firms which were way up on the 40oddth floors of their respective buildings and revelled in the gorgeous view of the waterfront, CN Tower, Skydome. I was less enthralled by their description of 12 hours as a "short" workday but we'll cross that bridge when we (don't) get to it. The funnest part was probably dropping in on the steelworkers union. They were all highly idealistic, Utne Reader-reading, Norma-Rae loving lefties. They were also incredibly strange and boring as the most fervently idealistic often are. Still, they gave us hats and pens so score 1 for the union. Otnorot aviv ! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 11/20/2002 07:37:00 PM ----- BODY: Eeee ! Just went on a mad shopping binge and bought a suit at the mall. Lauren and Delani bought suits, too ! Then we just wore them around for an hour watched TV, danced, shot the breeze in our suits !! I have no more money. Officially ! But that suit man. It looks good. I wear it and makes me look like someone I'm not. Being someone you're not is bad, I know, in principle. But once in a while...mad cool. Also exhortations to go to Bexy's and add to the list of a thousand things. This is the type of thing that you can look back on and be happy you contributed to...So do it ! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 11/19/2002 10:06:00 AM ----- BODY: Turns out one of the girls on my floor is dating one of the Edmonton Eskimos and has been since she was thirteen. He was thirteen, too. It's not like some old football player was dating a thirteen year old. It's just his good luck that he turned into an Edmonton Eskimo. I didn't know this until everyone on my floor started rejoicing that the Eskimos were going to the Grey Cup. "WTF ?" I thought to myself. The CFL is crap and anyways, anyone normal will be rooting for Montreal. Luckily, I didn't say any of those things because lord knows I don't need to alienate people more. What surprises me is that the CFL doesn't have the whole wives and girlfriends flown everywhere deal that the NHL does. In other news, I am going to Toronto on Friday to visit some labour firms. I'm excited !!! Sooo excited. But I need to find a suit between now and then. Buying suits : erk !. Wearing suits : double erk ! Being expected to say intelligent things while wearing a suit : well, you get the picture ! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 11/14/2002 11:31:00 PM ----- BODY: You know what I love ? No ? Well, I'll tell you. Big thick books. 600, 700 page books are great. Except for the last Harry Potter book. Something, I can devote a week of my life too. Does anyone know of any such books lying around that I haven't read ? It doesn't matter if its trash or smarter stuff. Just any book breaking the 500 page mark. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 11/14/2002 02:17:00 AM ----- BODY: Okay, well as you can tell from below, it is 2 in the morning. And yet I post. I've just taken part in some mad prank wherein a potato was left in the third floor washroom. Do I understand in anyway why this was done ? No. But I partook, which is what matters right ? I"m a prankster which is what we all hope for in life. Is it not ? Why do all my sentences end in question marks ? Also, I just came back from K-town's sad excuse for a night club : Elixir. Imagine if the Angel's clientele had even less class than it does now and you have Elixir. But seriously folks, I've fallen off the bandwagon of seriousness in the past week, and the pointlessness of this evening is pushing me back onto it. I always thought that once you were pushed off the bandwagon, that was it. You couldn't get back on because that would require running after the wagon, and how could you ever catch up because it's a wagon with wheels and maybe a horse and you're on foot ? But you can. And I am. Okay, c'est tout for now. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 11/13/2002 04:47:00 PM ----- BODY: I'm liking the blog as pipeline to the afterlife idea. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 11/12/2002 07:39:00 PM ----- BODY: Well, you can watch the movie "Memento" or you can write your opinion letter for torts, but let me tell ya, you can't do both at once successfully. And yet here I am adding "writing in my blog" to that already doomed mix of computer tasks. That's how much you all mean to me. It's actually pretty hard for me to stay home right now because some other girls on my floor (and a guy !) went to the Portsmouth pub. It is a hangout for Kingston Pen prison guards. These guys spend all day with the most hardened and evil people in Canada and then they go and hang out here where they unsucessfully hit on 19 year old frosh. It's a hard-knock life. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 11/11/2002 12:53:00 PM ----- BODY: Two movies to recommend : 8 Mile and XXX. First, because the protagonists are hot. Vin Diesel is obviously hot, he has no point otherwise. Eminem's attractiveness has never been a selling point in my estimation but 8 Mile definitely made me reconsider. He's very charismatic and that often translates into hotness. Second, because they're good movies : 8 Mile is directed by Curtis Hanson who directed Wonder Boys and L.A. Confidential, two of my favourite movies ever. So I now have a favourite director, which is good because I needed one. XXX is also a good movie in its genre. It is a very lovingly executed rip-off of the Bond movies, if Bond was ethnic, rough and could snowboard. Over the weekend 8 Mile made approximately a japillion dollars and XXX did roughly that sort of business earlier this year so I can't claim any points for originality but I just wanted to let you know. The main attraction this weekend though was the visit of one Laura Smith to K-town. I hope she had a good time. She was very nice and drove me around and regaled me with her tales of excitement. It was fun having her around ! Thanks Laura. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 11/07/2002 08:54:00 PM ----- BODY: I think I smell like gingerbread. Everywhere I've been today, I've smelt gingerbread ! Everywhere ! So it must be me right. I have an exam tomorrow at 10:30 for which I have done so little studying it's, well..., I don't know what it is but it is not good. Smelling like gingerbread, though..... pretty great. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 11/05/2002 10:57:00 PM ----- BODY: Okay. So I've done a minute amount of the boatloads of work I have but no matter. To reward myself after all this work, I've been treating myself to the ABCnews coverage of the US mid-term elections...And all I can notice is that Governor Jeb Bush of Florida looks just like the star of Van Wilder ! It's startling. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 11/04/2002 03:40:00 PM ----- BODY: Aaaack ! (quoting the Cathy comic, never a good sign) I have too too much work this week, so don't be surprised if my posts are even more sporadic than usual. I feel like I've been neglecting my blog duties, although some are worse (ahem Bexy, ahem Kt). Have my first law school exam on friday and I'm nervous...This will set the tone for the rest of my year, law school career, career period. Clearly, I'm keeping everything in perspective. Heh. Anyways, I'd love to hear from you since a blogger will often feel as though she is operating in a vacuum. So comment, e-mail, call and I promise to try to do the same. It's just I have never worked so hard in my entire life, which is not saying much coming from a slacker like me. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 11/03/2002 10:33:00 PM ----- BODY: Public Service Announcement : Barbara Walters will be interviewing Justin Timberlake (!) tomorrow on ABC at 8:00. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 11/03/2002 09:29:00 PM ----- BODY: Oprah is a lefty. I don't mean she writes with her left hand (although maybe she does because it seems all the mega successful smat idea people seem to). I mean she is politically left leaning. Why do I claim this ? Because her guest on friday was Michael Moore, director of "Bowling for Columbine", a movie which styles itself as de rigeur viewing for any self-respecting antiestablishmentarian. I was very suprised that Oprah, who is a poster child for capitalism if there ever was one, given the fact that she's marketed herself in almost every way conceivable (books, television, movies, magazine), was so pro-Michael Moore. Capitalism and lefty-ism so rarely cross paths. Are they allowed to ? Food for thought. Bexy, the 1000 things ! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 11/01/2002 08:09:00 AM ----- BODY: Again with the posts not showing up. Erk. Right, so yesterday was Hallowe'en and following a tradition I established in first year, I got trashed...As I had predicted, my magic eight ball costume led to people coming up to me and shaking me which did not help the situation at all. Luckily, or unluckily, most law students who see a girl dressed in all black with a white triangle on her chest that says "Reply hazy...try again." think she is dressed up as a disabled pager or cellphone...seriously. I will not share my opinion of what this means for the future of the legal profession. Still, I was impressed by the creativity of the costumes : Frida Kahlo and Diego Riviera were there as were Ned Flanders and Moe Sislak of the Simpsons, Chas from the Royal Tenenbaums, Sonny and Rico from Miami Vice and a host of others. Slowly but surely I'm finding out who the other pop culture afficionados of the law school are...Okay, well a girl with a bucket next to her should probably have her head facing said bucket and not her expensive computer so I'm signing off. But I hope you had a great Halloween ! and thank god for spell check ! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 10/30/2002 04:38:00 PM ----- BODY: There comes a time in every gal's life when she must re-evaluate. That moment comes now for me as I sit in my room alone watching the Lord of the Rings movie. Good movie though... -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 10/27/2002 11:04:00 PM ----- BODY: Hmm. The fact is that if you get me into the movie theatre, chances are I'll like the movie I'm watching. Either I'm really in touch with my personal tastes or I have a very low threshold for good. The fact is the last movie I recall seeing and hating in its totality is "Batman and Robin". Which is why I was so suprised by my intensely, vehemently bad reaction to the movie "8 Women". It's a French movie starring la creme de la creme of the France's actresses. It cleverly combines elements of murder mystery, comedy and musicals. It moves along fine until the end when (cue sound of screeching brakes here). The ending is terrible. It's like they went and inserted some other movies ending. Very disturbing. Still, the weekend was not a bust. Grandma and I hung out as she is turning the big 9-5 on Wednesday. I got her a rainbow scarf. One of those super-long scarves that are "in" right now. She was into it. I also brought her some of the Hallowe'en candy my mom bought already. That was a less good idea because grandma + bags of candy = disturbing candy frenzy followed by complaints of heartburn. Hmm...Still, she was happy while she was eating so I'm choosing to remember the happy moments. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 10/25/2002 02:56:00 PM ----- BODY: Wow ! Has anyone heard Madonna's latest song from the James Bond soundtrack ? It takes her slavish devotion to the latest trend to its inevitable nadir/peak. The lyrics makes absolutely no sense. None at all, except for the "Die Another Day" part. For no reason in the middle of the song she screams "Sigmund Freud, Analyse This !". Please Sigmund, do. As far as I can tell, it's just a disjointed group of phrases (perhaps overheard in a cafe ?) set to an enjoyable, though overly beep-beep-boop-boopish, Casio keyboard accompaniment. Erk. Yesterday, I went to see a hypnotist show. At least that's what I thought I was going to see. It turned out it was a "dirty" hypnotist who made people do all this crazy stuff. The girl whose birthday it was went up and afterwards was quite upset about what happenned. I used to think all hypnotists just depended on the cooperation of fakers in the audience but this girl acted so out of character and in a way that was so personally embarassing to her that I have to think it was real. My question is how do you fall into the "raunchy hypnotist" career ? How do detect that talent within yourself ?? Hmm... . -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 10/23/2002 06:04:00 PM ----- BODY: I want to get a guitar. I fancy myself a singer-songwriter these days...Can you see it because I can ? But then, I can always see everything as a tantalizingly possible. A couple chords, some inspiration and you can come up with something, I think. -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 10/21/2002 04:20:00 PM ----- BODY: POST DAMN IT ! -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 10/20/2002 10:48:00 AM ----- BODY: I don't know why I bother posting anymore because it takes roughly seven days for a post to go from Blogger to your screens. Tres frustrating. Stayed in Kingston for the weekend and it wasn't a bad idea. I got a lot of work done which is always a good thing. I also manage to wrest control of the remote from the more Frances-like members of the rez which was good. So I got to watch Buffy and Saturday Night Live. I've never seen two shows I wanted to see in one day so viva ! Small steps, small steps... -------- AUTHOR: frede TITLE: DATE: 10/18/2002 01:09:00 AM ----- BODY: Well, I just had a fabulous dinner at a restaurant called Gusto's downtown. I'm not sure exactly what it was but it involved asparagus and chicken wrapped in pasta. Yummers. I can use the expression "Yummers !" in Kingston without being looked at like I'm insane. These southeastern Ontarians, they really have an appreciation for the bizarro lingo... it's one of their strong suits. The cool Montrealers were also down with funky and original phrasings but you were an exception. I actually miss Montreal...Sunday morning brunch at Beauty's, visiting the Museum of Contemporary Art on a lazy afternoon, shopping the outlet stores on Mont-Royal... Well, actually I never did any of those things but they were a possibility. Out of boredom, I had to go wild during the 1.75$ drink special at A.J's Hangar. Picture Angel's with an enormous airplane hanging over the dance floor which, when you're drunk, appears to be swaying in an unsafe-looking manner. I'm still sober. I basically spent 7.50$ to get tired. But I've been emotionally wiped out these last few days so I'm giving myself a pass. I fucked up my Feng Shui again with dirty laundry. I want to be sleeping but I want more to give a shout out to my readership. I love that, however tiny, I have a readership. Not many can say that. --------