Good Old Fashioned Shinanagins

Ah the interweb, a collection of beautiful websites linked with backbone servers and enough websites to choke a badger. So here I am sitting in my bathrobe, which I have been wearing all day, and by all day I mean I woke up, had a shower and placed the robe upon my shoulders. It has been one of the most comfortable days I have ever had. I even got to wear no pants for the entire day. It was most glorious, and also quite freeing/warm. I spent most of the day reading a book called "Historiography" by noted historian Ernst Brisach. It has been most informative, but at the same time I am sick of reading about history, and how people write it, and how people interpret it, and so on and so forth. I debated the other day whether or not to leave my school and become a construction worker, but then common sense prevailed and I decided that it would be no good to give up when I am so close to finishing. Anyways the main purpose of this message is to inform the reader about the fun that university students have while studying and slowly going crazy with all the reading to do. For some time now I have been eating great amounts of dairy and not having too many problems, yes there have been lots of gastro intestional gas, and yes there has been a minor amount of nausea, but I have not had too many problems. Tonight I took my greatest step of experimental eating so far. My friend and roommate Jordan Didier came into the kitchen where I was either reading or daydreaming, and he asked if I would like some cream of the Ice variety. I said yes since I at times enjoy a good bowl of Ice Cream with Carmel Sauce. I then suggested that we partake of said cream without taking the usual pills which gives our stomachs the nessary enzymes to break down the lactose. Thats correct I said WITHOUT. Now for most normal humans this is not a big deal, but for people like Jordan and I such an act could cause us both great pain and discomfort. Yes once again the desire to do something stupid and experimental has won out over common sense. I am once again amazed at what we will do to amuse ourselves in these times of bordem and days of oddness. Well I am off to continue reading and making myself smarter/more ticked off at history. Anyways thats it.

Melodious Morose

A man named Ryan Adams, not to be confused with Bryan Adams is quietly playing as I write this entry, and his album, Love is Hell, is quite melodious and morose. This past weekend I spent 4 days with friends as we toured northern Alberta leading worship and generally having a blast. We visited the towns of Morinville, Fort Saskatchewn, Edmonton (to view the mall which I now hate) and then Westlock. I hate West Ed due to the fact that it is quite boring when you have no money to spend, though I did manage to find a new pair of slacks and a new shirt for 30 dollars at the Old Navy. I also got to see my old friend Ben McNabb, which made the day so much better. After the West Ed, we went to Westlock and enjoyed some small town hospitality. The other two shows, Morinville, and Fort Sask, were quite enjoyable as well. The Morose mentioned before is a statement of how I feel at this point in time, at this juncture in my life. I am tired, which adds to the situation, but I also am spending a great deal of time contemplating what I am supposed to do with my life, as well as how I am supposed to do it. I guess you could say I am going through a mild version of the Senior Panic. I have not gone out and found myself a Girlfriend yet so that aspect of the panic is still safe. I find myself wondering if I could work at almost every place I pass. This week I want to work at Eddie Bauer. Last week it was Ten Thousand Villages. Next week it might be Telus. Anyways I still am struggling to find what some goals are for the next little bit of my life while I attempt to redefine my life and how I am to live. This contemplation has lead to many melencolic nights and some morose days, but I think that I am slowly finding a deeper self and a deeper meaning to what I believe. Anyways I must hit the hay in an effort to be refreshed for a long day tomorrow.

Dead Disco, Laundry, and Flare

This morning I awoke at 9:20 with the persistance of my brother wishing me to be presentable when his g/f got here. I had a shower that was mediocre at best due to the change in temperature from medium to hot back to medium again. After said shower I checked my mail and found that nothing had changed since the last time I checked it, aside from mailing lists and SPAM. Then I proceeded to watch "Futurama" with Josh and Simone, the aformentioned couple. The viewing was followed by my attempt to be crafty and crafting some "Flare" for my fellow band mates. Did I mention that I am in a band called "Crafted" and we are going on tour this weekend? In an attempt to connect with the "Teens" we are wearing "Flare" which consists of wrist bands made from old belts picked up for cheap at a thrift store. I enjoy this new side of me, which attempts to create something trendy from something less trendy. After hitting my thumb and getting generally T.O. from the problems with thick leather I decided that I would do my laundry. This excursion to the basement was going to be a simple and uneventful trip in my mind, and I did not expect such a revitalizing of my faith in humanity. I went down and was fumbling with my keys and the guy working on the machines ran over and helped me with the door. It was a nice gesture and I thanked him. I then proceeded to my favorite washing machine and started to put the soap in. At this point the repairman asked me what my favorite part of Christmas was. I thought of the good times I have had at that that time of the year. I thought of all the egg nog I have drank, and all the baking I have eaten. But one memory pervaded my thoughts, the thought of all the time spent in front of a fire chatting with a member of my family. Simply sitting and doing nothing, really just, to use a well worn phrase "Chillen". The man then said "Got ya thinking dident I". He was correct, I had not thought about Christmas since the last time Christmas was upon us a few months ago. The man then came over and looked at my machine and said that the answer he was looking for was "The best part of Christmas was the giving and recieving of gifts" He then proceeded to open up the little trap door where I usually put my money in. He told me that all I had to do was say it, so I responded "the giving and recieving of gifts", and with that utterance he gave me a free load of laundry. I was stoked, humanity was restored, and I thanked him. I then told him my favorite thing was sitting around doing nothing but enjoying the company of family and friends, and watching a fire. He aggreed and then I left with a smile on my face. I then proceeded up to my apartment where I listened to my song of the moment which happens to be "Dead Disco" by the Canadian band Metric. And now it is almost time for my free laundry to be done so I will now go and put in the dryer in an attempt to make it all soft and fluffy and nice smelling as well as non-static. I bid you adieu, until next time.

5 Strings of Glory

This afternoon I had the chance to play and then rent a beautiful 5 string bass. This was a momentous occasion since I usually play a pretty boring, yet also stunning and well used, 4 string bass. The aquiring of such a work of glory was due to a simple yet complicated bass line in a song called "All Day" by the band United Live. It is a great song, yet they use a 5 string whilest playing the song and 5 strings makes the lick so much easier. Anyways enough about artsy musical things. I did spend the last week doing some reading and basically sitting around enjoying a break from classes. This week currently is reading week and I have been sleeping in and attempting to catch up on sleep. I also have been spending good amounts of time with friends. My good friend Mike Schalin is also up for the week to take a class and we have had a few meals together and shared some laughs. I am currently, right now listening to a band recommended by music guru Ian Parker-Bowles. The band is named Stars and they are a good Canadian indie type band with a full orcestral sound and good guitar riffs. I fear that I am losing concentration and will soon be in bed sleeping like a log, if logs could sleep. I go on tour for a few days this weekend to the Edmonton area, which will be nice to get away from here. Out of downtown and into the country. Peace.

Taller Than Kamloops

I was informed this evening by my ever searching for knowledge brother that I live in an apartment that is higher than any building in my hometown of Kamloops. I did not think that 21 floors would be higher then other buildings in Kamloops, but apparently it is, and I feel very proud to be in such a glorious place. This past week has been busy with reading and reading and work and reading. I am leaving this Saturday for a trip to Golden where I will be playing songs with a band at Golden Alliance. Next week is also reading week so there will be sleeping in and then going to Marronville, and other such north of Calgary places. Today I got a free lunch at the school for this thing called "Networking". Basically shaking hands with important people in an attempt to glean knowledge about work and such things. It was mildly awkward, but lunch was free so that rocked. I also wrote a midterm in Intro to Computers today, which I think I did well on, but I did miss some answers do to the fact that I did not study very much. I was at a study party last night, but then I spent most of the night watching a live U2 DVD and making comments regarding their equiptment and the on stage styling of one of the biggest bands of all time. I am quite numb from all the thinking that I did today so I intend to sit around and do some contemplative reading before heading over to the Jon Morrisons house for some hangout time. A few days ago I ordered free trade coffee from this place called Level Ground Trading. The coffee is apparently roasted the day the coffee is mailed to you. It was some of the most amazing coffee I have ever tasted. So rich in flavor and so dark in color. I have been really digging the coffee lately, enjoying not only the aroma, but also the subtle tastes which comes with good coffee. I have also come to dislike most big brands such as Nabob, cause thats what my roommate Jordan drinks, and it is full of non-flavor. Anyways I suggest that if you are a coffee drinker you should check out some of these fair trade brands and enjoy the taste. I think I will take a short nap.