Monday, May 17, 2010

Eight

This is the number of boxes my dad has brought back into the house from the garage for me to sort. When we went away I cleaned out a bunch of my shelves and closet of books, so the people staying would have room for their things. Now that they're back in the house I have to wonder what I'm going to do with them all. And here I thought I was getting the hang of my room once again. There are just so many textbooks that I can't bring myself to part with. Will I ever really read them again?

So for the most part I've been going through them and pulling out books of interest... but that gets a little grey when I've been accumulating books specifically because they look like they'll be an interesting read.

Trying to save a little of my sanity I've been getting together the books I've been missing since I got back. These are the ones that I've actually reached for before I remembered were packed away. I pulled those out of the boxes first thing and they're already up on my shelves along with my note books and sketch pads. I re-arranged a bunch of shelves and now have a section for my favourite books that are of a specific height... sounds strange but it works. (short shelf that doesn't really hold anything but a specific height of book)

So now just to read 2 library books and 5 loaned books, then start cracking into the boxes and deciding which will stay or go.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Talking

I'm having an introspective day. Well, that's not to say that the day is just me thinking of me but taking things around and analyzing what I'm thinking about it. Also I've been hyper aware of the word "Your" these past few days. Such as: What does "your" mean when it doesn't actually apply to me, as in adds. "Your future home" ...no it's not.

I was just listening to CBC radio and heard people talking about their experiences with a new show at the Guggenheim. They were talking about discovering what a conversation is all about. I found myself feeling incredibly sorry for these people out there that need an exhibit to have a good conversation. How to have someone disagree with you is this radically new way to talk to people. That it can be called a conversation even if you're not having your opinions validated... Your friends fail...

Again that wording. Someone out there... maybe, will read this and think "My friends don't fail" so it doesn't apply to them so what does... I'm getting off topic.

Anyways thinking in regards to this Guggenheim show about interaction and progress, I like the concept. Or, I like the idea that I'm assuming inspired this. I see it, as giving people an open space to talk and someone there to actively start the interaction. Maybe I should start something that uses this idea. I'm thinking of little booths with a couple of chairs and having people be seated by a host. Maybe a little box with conversation starters and a place for people to write down their own ideas. People have to talk for a minimum of maybe 3- 7 minutes. And then they can decide when to break off from there. I'm not talking about speed dating or anything, just meeting someone new and having a conversation. Most people I've started talking with randomly in the street seem almost desperate to talk to someone but never know how to start a conversation or find an appropriate setting.

I think there could be a common room or some larger area where people could take their discussion if their time got to ..20? minutes and they wanted to keep talking. Like a coffee shop with emphasis on talk...

I should think about this.

Goals for today are to find my other slipper and return my library books.
Really ambitious goals for today I'm sure, but I'm not feeling very well so I'm going to take it easy.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Karaoke!!!

Yes! I got my fix of Karaoke. There is a Norebang set up in town now! (Karaoke in your own room) I had been thinking of getting one started when I got back and apparently someone else had seen the need first. (thank goodness!) It was such a blast from Korea. The almost exact same set up with all the crazy random music videos from Japan and Korea playing in the background as you sing your English classic rock and pop songs. I got a high five from the guy running the thing for knowing how to work the massively elaborate controller. Made me rather pleased to have made use of something I learned on my trip.

Now this post is rather hard because basically ever memory from last night sends me off on musings of Korea... so lets give this a try.

1) The servers all had gaps in their knowledge of English.
Ok so there is a language gap. There seemed to be a need for a phrase book at times but things got sorted easily enough eventually.

2) The server to my friends for their meal reminded me of Martin.
Martin is one of the Korean translators that my friend Mike uses while he's in Korea. Basically the guy last night just seem to have the same smile and reactions that I would expect Martin to have... Like I was seeing a younger brother of his because he wasn't as nice as Martin... No one on earth can be as nice as Martin.

3) The Karaoke place was advertised on the street with a sign above the door with a big arrow and a 2.
Signs like that have led me to some of my most interesting experiences.

4) We rocked out!
Nothing really that different... just we rocked out hard. 2 hours of singing and then everyone saying "ONE MORE HOUR!" I realized that I can sing ABBA, Aqua, Chumbawamba, and Mika all with great ease. Pleasing, very pleasing.

5) I felt like I could catch a cab back to Mike's at the end of the night.
A flood of memories hit me as I left. I should be going back to Mike's, where is my code for the door?
And even now the little voice of his elevator is singing in my head:

"Chi chin da"
"Levela di da"
And then Mike and I burst into singing Whigfield's Saturday night.

I'm so happy right now.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

White people

I finished "Stuff White People Like" turns out I like just about 50% of the right kind of white people things. Not a bad job but some of the descriptions (while very amusing) made it hard to say, "Yes! I totally like that!" For now I'll just continue with my self important blog and bask in the endless hours of joy that I get from looking around and spotting all the things that are so white in my life.

Goal for the day is to get Warioware for the wii. Winnipeg does not feel like having any copies new or used to buy so I've returned home with the search.

Childhood memories

I get great fulfillment from my childhood observations matching up with my current assessment.

Mostly this comes from my enjoyment of the movie Anastasia this weekend. I headed up/down/over (what ever your point of reference) to Winnipeg and spent time with Sarah and the many people she's living and working with. They had tried to find the movie a few weeks earlier but Winnipeg apparently does not feel like stocking that movie for rental or purchase. Sad news for them. Thankfully they had me coming to visit with a VHS. There was the fear that our fond memories were going to be disappointed but watching was even better than remembered. Bartok maintained his title as the best part of the show as we laughed at his every line.

A second instance of childhood memories being justified is a great deal different. I went to a friend's birthday and we ended up watching The Muppets perform various songs. I was struck with the need to share a song that has been almost haunting me in my memories. For some reason I liked it as a child but remembered it to be creepy. I didn't really know if what still creeped me out was really that strange or just my memories coming in to mess around. For the longest time I had thought it was all a dream. It was one of the first things I looked for on youtube when it first started up. Nothing for several years... eventually someone did upload it.

I got to share it with my friends and have them end with saying:

"WHat the hell was that?!"
"That was on a kids show?!"

30 minutes later....
"...it's still in my head!"

I'll check back with them in 20 years and see if they still remember it. I'm guessing they will.

Enjoy.

You're Always Welcome At Our House.