mcollinknight

After working at the same place (an awesome, family-owned educational toy store) for over 3.5 years, I finally attended my first 'staff meeting,' which was basically just 'listen to my boss swear and eat lots of pizza.' AWESOME. I love my job, and my bosses (XD), and the people I work with, and tonight was a really great opportunity to see people who always work at the other stores and trade stories (including about people who PEE IN THE STORES, WTF HUMANITY, HOW WAS I NOT AWARE?). It was also really great because even though it's so much more than a job to me and I really try to do a good job at it, when you're in there every day (for three years) you sometimes forget it and it was a really good opportunity to give me the *~motivation~* to just kick more arse at it.

...Which I will get the opportunity to do because tomorrow I work in the G store and then have play practice, which means that I will be working my arse off for OVER TWELVE HOURS WITH NO BREAK :( Oh well, I'm excited for it, because tomorrow is Farmer's Market Day in G, I register for university courses tomorrow, and I get to rehearse my *~*BIG ROMANTIC SCENE*~* with Cooper (lolol oh dear god).

I have the Engineers Without Borders Ontario Retreat this weekend, and I am so unprepared for it it's not even funny :( I can't wait to see the whole team and come up with awesome ideas, but I really want to take as much away from this as I possibly can, and I don't think I'm ready to do that yet.

(Speaking of things I'm not ready to do, I had to deal with a racist customer today. Yeah. That was fun. If I start talking about it I'm going to get wayyyyy too maudlin.)

I have some links to share!
-So the women of Iran are amazing and fierce. This we have established. But it's also important to consider the role Iranian women are playing, especially in Western media, and how they are being portrayed/used/presented. Awesome post here, original post here.
-The best summary of Romeo and Juliet I've ever read: "This wasn't this big romantic ideal so much as it was two kids and their stupid families acting stupidly while fate kicks their asses for being so stupid."
-Why the Daily Show is awesome, and Pete Hoekstra is not so awesome, and why the internet makes the two put together even more awesome.
-If famous historical figures had had access to Twitter.
-New math. Deadline = it could be better + finding that out

After my parents left yesterday, I promptly came back to my room and downloaded about six Bruce Springsteen albums: it's weird, because I've always liked him, but I only knew about a handful of songs, and had never even listened to 'Born in the U.S.A.' Sad, I know. It was rectified by about SIX SOLID HOURS listening to him (my ears hurt) yesterday, and more this morning. I blame Stewbug. I also DL'd Lisa Hannigan, David Byrne, and another Wilco album - this was tinged with guilt, since I didn't get them from iTunes and thus didn't pay, but I think we can all agree I spend way too much money on music. But back to Bruce: I looooooooove him. AGH. How did I go this long without getting this far in? Clearly O'T has good taste that goes far beyond his awesome teaching skillz - I remember when he made us listen to 'Jesus Was An Only Son' on repeat for forever, and how excited he was when he found a picture of Bruce that looked EXACTLY like Slim in Of Mice And Men (oh O'T... you're such a geek). But the music, just... guh. And there's so much of it! And it's all good! I loved reading his Wiki page, especially the part when it describes him having such difficultly with 'Born to Run' and getting so frustrated because he had sounds in his head that he couldn't translate or describe. <3

FAVOURITE SONGS (so far - if you want me to upload any, just ask):
o1. Dancing in the Dark - forever and always my favourite Bruce song, partly because it's also my dad's, and he once explained why, telling me about his last summer in grad school, living in a basement apartment without a girlfriend and going walking in the road because he couldn't finish writing his thesis to the lyric of "sick of sittin' round here trying' to right this book." <3
o2. Jesus Was An Only Son - sitting in O'T's classroom listening to Bruce explain the song. The explanation video is beautiful.
o3. Born in the U.S.A - because. You can't NOT love this song.
o4. My Hometown - a beautiful lowkey one, and you can just tell he cares so much about it, and it's really a song that anyone can apply to any hometown ever.
o5. Working on a Dream - yep, he's still got it.
o6. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out - it's fun.
o7. Darlington County - ditto.
The rest: Thunder Road, Jungleland, Glory Days, My City of Ruins (<3), and I'm On Fire.

After that afternoon spent doing nothing but refreshing facbook, listening to Bruce, and playing Spider Solitaire (game of champions!), I was determined to make today productive, and I have since written about 700 words for my English essay (none of those words are any good, but nothing a lot of hardcore judo-style editing can't twist around), written my Arabic conversation, and practised my Arabic reading. I want to finish my rough draft of the essay, go running, and to Church this evening.

Yeah, that's right. Church. I got a really strong urge to go to one this morning, since I haven't been in FOREVER, but decided to wait until the rez one tonight. Had a sort of really largeish religious thinking session the other day, but that's a matter for private entries - y'all don't want to hear my religious whingeing ;)

Also: apparently I have lost 15-20ish pounds? Or something? I don't really know how to work the scale at the gym, it's one of the sliding weight ones and I don't know how accurate it is, but that's 15 pounds since READING WEEK. Which was not that long ago. I wasn't even trying to, I just wanted to not sit in my room so much, so I've been running, walking, or working out every day since then, and it's been a lot more dramatic than I thought it would be (especially since I was already doing it before Reading Week, just not as much). I'm fine with the way I look, I like it: I'm comfortable and I'm healthy and I don't really WANT to be skinnier, but if I can run longer and breathe more fresh air and have better arm muscles (my nickname in Grade 8-9 was "Pipes," lolol. Clearly THAT didn't last) then that's pretty darn spifftastic. So GO ME, I guess. XD XD

I HAVE SO MUCH GOOD FOOD. I just had a bowl of vanilla yogurt and half a pink grapefruit - I think grapefruit is right up there with lobster in the 'difficulty:taste' ratio of REALLY FREAKING HUGE. I managed not to squirt myself in the eye, but I nearly had to attack the thing with a steakknife ("grapefruit - DEAD!"), and had to make a mad lunge to save my Arabic notes a few times (that'll learn me to eat at my desk. Bad Colline!). I was in a grapefruit mood after picturing The Noise in Arizona all week with my grandparents' orange, lemon, and grapefruit trees - they are soo good and fresh and tasty you wouldn't believe it. So sunny and juicy, mmmm. And then I had some of this delicious French cheese my parents brought me from Quebec, mmmmmmm. It's like Brie but BETTER. Clearly I need to go back from France because I miss fromage a chevres, soooo good.

It's a beautiful day out: clear, sunny, with a cold breeze. Last night was also fun, with my illegal Philippino rum and Coyote giving Aleesha a lap dance for her birthday XD Have a happy Sunday and listen to Bruuuuuuuuce!
-Colline

ETA: Wow, did not picture Eliot Spitzer as A) articulate about the media's suckitude, and B) a Jon Stewart fanboy. A+, Spitzah. A+

I am so, so stupid. I should learn to listen to my brain more often. Especially when it goes "hey, maybe you should check your timetable just to be sure of your schedule, you know, just in case you have a class at 8:30." Because if I did that, then maybe when I DO have a class at 8:30, instead of at 10:00 like I thought, I will be able to GO to said class instead of missing it, especially when it's the class I'm most worried about failing. I think that would be a splendid idea. Instead, I missed a lecture I have to do a PRESENTATION on next week. Fun times.

I need some help. I am sort of coming to the realisation that I started too late on the whole be-involved thing, and I need to do more things to learn: for example, there are all kinds of conferences, programs, seminars, internships, volunteer opportunities etc. that I just haven't been doing. I was looking at the JSA Summer Programs, which just sort of filled me with an intense envy (I am neither a high-school student or American, which I think is what those are aimed towards). Outside of school and my little forays with EWB and Free the Children, I'm not doing a whole lot. This would be so cool, to go to one of those universities and spend all day at seminars, learning about foreign relations and meeting cool people and geeking out.

After Kenya, my plan for the summer thus far consists of going back to the hometown and working at the toy store all summer, and being in another Prism play. Now, as cool and laid-back and comforting as that sounds, it's already driving me crazy. I'm going to have a major culture shock coming back from Kenya, and to do something like that and then come back to my same-old same-old would be to miss out on a major opportunity to capitalize on all the righteous social anger I'm sure I'll have.

I, however, am woefully ininformed about what kind of programs there are, particularly since I am, as I say, not American or in high school. I don't even know what to Google, since I am open to a variety of things - even a summer spent learning Shakespeare at Stratford would not go amiss. And so I beg of you: any ideas? It doesn't HAVE to be in Canada (in fact I would love to go to the States, and I have Frequent Flier Points burning a hole in my pocket), so long as Canadians are allowed to come. As for cost, I would prefer that it not be exorbitantly expensive, since I just blew all my money on Kenya (every time I look at my current bank balance I feel slightly sick. I have not been in triple-digits since 2005, and it is making me nervous), but if it's *~AMAZING~* I wouldn't mind going into debt via my parentals.

So if you know of anywhere I could look for, I don't know, a summer program (it can be a week long! Three weeks! Whatever!) to do with volunteering (clearing brush! Teaching kids to read! Saving turtles! As unglamourous as you please), or seminars to learn more about politics, or something that will get me out of my small town and into learning more (like the JSA program) - even if it requires applications and whatnot - I am all ears.
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Only a few more days until the inauguration! I'm so excited, but also mad, because I AM IN CLASSES ALL DAY, WHAT IS THIS. I wanted to watch it, but I'm in class until 2:30! I can probably find it in YouTube after, but it's going to be so incredible and historical, and I want so badly to watch it in the moment D: D: D: D: But - and especially after this morning - I really can't afford to miss class, since I'm leaving for the EWB National Conference the day after. DAMN. I really wanted to watch Obama's speech live, it would have been so incredible. :(
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-I am loving the newest The Thumping fanmix/what-have-you. New amazing music FTW!
-I went on a bit of an icon binge last night XD.
-My history prof is letting me write the map quiz!
-My mom sent me the WRONG skirt I asked for - I am torn, because it was a large package and a lot of effort on her part and I really appreciate it, but she sent me the wrong skirt, and I really need the other one, but I know if I mention it I'll be the ungrateful child.

ETA: I am not sure, and I would hate to think it's because of me, but I *think* that the new subtitle for rahmbamarama  ("Certified don't-eat-while-reading") is because I said I spat my shortbread at the computer while reading it and so courant had to tell me I should know how things work around there (oh please, when have I ever paid attention to anything until AFTER it concerns me?) and so I WOULD LIKE TO JUST DO A LITTLE DANCE BECAUSE I FEEL THAT SOGGY SHORTBREAD CRUMBS IN MY KEYBOARD ARE WORTH IT FOR A LITTLE INTERNET FAME GODDAMN.

All during Ancient Civ class pheonixis and I were very, very hungry. OK, y'all know I did Ramadan last year, but I have NEVER KNOWN HUNGER LIKE THIS. It was pretty terrible, to say the least. I hope you're having fun at work, DEAR and got something to eat. I walked to Marty's because I felt like a muffin (I also felt like committing wallet kamikaze, just so you know), but then I was thinking, well, I'm reallyreally hungry... what if a muffin just isn't enough? And you know Marty's muffins, they're just not that good for you, what with the icing and cheesecake bits and all. So perhaps something substantial would be better. Like a sandwich. Yeah, a sandwich! So I ordered an orange juice and a sandwich, and I was going to leave it at that but I was informed that bean salad comes with, so I said OK, I like bean salad. Even healthier!

In short, I ate wayyyyy too much food. I actually feel not so good right now, and I still have to go to ballet and jump around like a crazy fool (of course, a crazy fool with the delicateness of a flower). Yuck. I need to stop doing this. I also spent 20 dollars. On FOOD. Marty, you're frickin' insane. MY HAPPINESS TODAY: 1) Talking about football with Mike at lunch when I impressed him with my vast knowledge of who plays for Chelsea and what country they're from. Although he shouldn't be all that surprised since they're all hott and that's how I memorize their faces. 2) Summarizing Ancient Civ notes with Jaden, and looking forward to studying for that exam simply for the sheer craziness. 3) A Complicated Kindness finally (after about 2 1/2 reads) turning out to be a halfway decent book.



I really wish I was going to work with Dark Bunny. There're some people who just make me so completely abjectedly happy and I probably used that word wrong, but I don't have to worry about that when I'm with her (although I do anyway). She's so completely amazing and I'm seriously half in love with her. PLEASE GOD SAM WORK ON FRIDAY. There're some people like that. I mean, I don't see her all that often, and I love my friends, but she makes me happy all the time and not many people are capable of doing that.

Dark Bunny asked if I was proud of her for wearing cream instead of white today. I told her I was. Her mater-unit came in with Dark Bunny's little sister. They got a balloon, but not a piece of birthday cake. She told me I was going to waste away by doing Ramadan. She was glad I had gotten a muffin with icing, and that I had thought it was better than without. When Jake told us that Jenny's birthday was yesterday (we didn't know), she said "You see, this is the sort of thing people like you ought to tell people like us."

It was good to see her again.

She was excited about the Leafs doing so well. She said they have another game tonight, and in a threatening voice, she said, "They'd better do well." Dark Bunny doesn't understand the new computer system. She likes simplicity.

Dark Bunny got new shoes. She thinks they make her feet look big in size 7, but they don't. She and Kristen made fun of my shoes, which are stapled. I was wearing my black-and-white polka-dotted shirt today, and I knew she would like it. That's why I wore it. About the second or third thing she said to me today was, "I like your shirt." I knew she would say that.