Valentine's Day: Intro for Men

I've decided I'm going to post a blog every day up until Valentine's Day about relationships, love, or being single. Don't worry, 80% of the time (all the time) it's going to be video's that will help us understand the opposite sex and/or love. It will also help us understand humor.

When I used to explore the vastness that is myspace.com, I came across a guy who I believe (for the most part)  does hilarious videos. Thank goodness for us that most of them are about relationships.

Here is the first video of a nice introductin course on how the guy is different from the woman, and if he wants a lady how he needs to proceed in order to woo/impress/keep her.  

Men Anonymous: Step One

Pre-Valentine's Day

And this is why I have told Matt never to propose to me in public or on Valentine's Day.

Valentines Day Proposal Fail at NBA Game

Going to be honest, that really sucks. Also going to be honest, that girl has courage.

Lend me an idea.

I'm planning on submitting a proposal for an exhibition at an art gallery, and the deadline for submitting is March 6. Seems far away in retreospect, but that's not just the deadline for the title of the proposal, it's also the deadline for the works that I am proposing to be finished. I am aiming for 10 or so paintings... that's a lot in a month. The art peeps usually like a theme, and I need one fast that can work with my ideas, and preferably with some works that I have already started. It's a rush because what I create depends on the theme I choose, and I don't want to choose a theme where I need to stretch all my creative endeavors into making excuses why a certain piece fits with the theme "The house resembles the building struggle of man and nature which reflects the struggle between the tide and the ocean...cough...". 

So here are some groupings of paintings/mixed media ideas I came up with (They aren't detailed so  when reading they seem kind of lame...just go with it):

saving yourself  

saving money

saving people    (obviously these three would be part of a collection)

flying low heron over cars

atop the dump  with a kite

ferris wheel with yellow balloon

saving virginity

white rhino (made with paper bags)

thread men putting in light bulb  (thread and paint)

mailbox

squirrel crossing telephone wire

bicycling (crayons and paint)

I have a couple finished paintings and it would be great to try and fit one it; that would mean one less painting to do!:

button tree

crow with blossoms

reflection in water

These are some theme idea to work with some of the ideas/finished works:

saving

dreams

flight

toys

environment

childish dreams

mere child's play

I'm leaning towards mere child's play, cause I figure I can probably fit more in there. I can fit some works in there that would consist of media that children would use ie. crayons, buttons, paper bags, along with deeper/lighter meaning ones.

 Suggestions or thoughts?

Songs for my Appetite

So these pretty much make up my favorite songs. There are about two that don't follow the  "have known for two years" rule, but I think they will qualify soon enough. I'm sure I have forgotten some, so I'll probably be posting an updated blog or a new one some other time. For all the songs I found a live verison, recorded version, or music video so that you may listen to it and maybe have it become your favorite too. Oh, and it's all alphabetical too for those of you that like order.

City and Colour - Like Knives

Coldplay - We Never Change

Counting Crows - Mr. Jones

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHMTolJWKBs (embedding disabled)

Damien Rice - The Blower's Daughter

Daniel Bedingfield - Girlfriend (hahaha this video is so cheese, but i guess the song is too)

Death Cab for Cutie - Soul Meets Body

Delirious? - August 30th

Delirious? - It's Ok

Delirious? - King or Cripple

Emery - By All Accounts (Today was a disaster)

HelloGoodbye - All of your love (Jimmy pop remix)  I think the main singer is trying to be geek chic

Jason Morant - Inside of Me

Jimmy Eat World - Polaris

Jonezetta - Backstabber (You can watch some random girls dance to an awesome song)

Mat Kearney - All I need

Mute Math - Chaos

Neverending White Lights - The Grace

New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle (remix) 

Playradioplay! - Elephants as big as whales (bonus track)

The Police - Roxanne

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3kG-7I_Y6k (the embedding was disabled)

Sting - I'm so happy I can't stop crying

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VsenuJqZP4 (the embedding was disabled...but you should really watch this video...it's really classy)

Tegan and Sara - You wouldn't like me

U2 - October

U2 - Miracle Drug

Albums of My Liking

After reading a blog my friend Dan wrote about his favorite music albums, I thought I wanted to write my own list of cds I could listen to in any situation and still not get tired of hearing them. Sadly to say, I could only think of three albums:

 a) that don't sometimes annoy me

 b) that don't make me wonder why I like it in the first place

 c) I have owned for a period of 2 years or more (Dan's rule) 

d) where I enjoy every song on the cd

e)  that remind me of something significant in my past

Sometimes by City and Colour is an album I always seem to play when I paint. I think I cried the first time I heard it.


The second album is Promises for the Imperfect by Number One Gun. To me this album is all about my time at CBC, and even more significantly my time at CBC with Matt. It goes as far back as the first week we met.



The third album is Parachutes by Coldplay. I know they make a lot of rockin' music, but I believe by far this is their best.


Because there is so little that fits my criteria for awesomest ablum eva, I've decided to write about my favorite songs; songs that I always skip to on my ipod, songs that I always have on repeat. I'll be using the same defining criteria that I used to choose my favorite albums except "d)" for obvious reasons. That shall be my next blog, for it will be significantly more than three, I asure you.

EDIT: I lied. I actually have four albums, I forgot an imporant one:

Plans by Death Cab for Cutie is also stellar. That is all.

"No Peter I wasn't hidding, I only told you that so you would leave me alone" - Jesus

So my friends and I discovered these videos a couple years ago, and it's still getting quoted to this day. I originally thought this was making fun of Christianity, but then I discovered it was created by a church team. Here's a quote from the site vintage21.com: "In the Spring of 2003, Vintage21 had a four week series on Jesus Christ, taking a deep look at what He said and did. It was difficult at times to get past our preconceived notions that had been developed by staunch, starched Sunday School classes of old. This is a satirical look at what some people think Jesus is like. Thank goodness He's not."

There are more, and it was hard for me to decide which one was my favorite, but I think I chose well.

Pride and Prejudice.

I love this story. I love the two most recent movies. I'm not sure which one I like more, though the 1995 one with Colin Firth might perhaps be my favorite; it adds more detail to the story and it has Colin Firth in it.

Either way, the two actor's that play Mr. Darcy play him very well...so well in fact, I've decided that I'm going to marry Mr. Darcy. 

Toliet Hands.

Last week I had the pleasure to experience a coworker shoving her hand into a dirty (I was going to flush it before she cleaned it; she apparently didn't find that necessary) toliet. She proceeded to do this while she was talking about how she avoids the urinal because of how gross it is, all while not wearing any rubber gloves. Ya, her hands was nakes. She also didn't wash her hands after.

That's when I started to feel sick.

Electric feel.

The past couple weeks at work, my pointer finger on my left hand has been reacting strangely to objects. I think I'm conducting electricity. Only about half of the the objects are metal, and sometimes it happens when I haven't touched anything. 

Maybe I'm turning into a superhero.

That would be cool, I don't think there is an electric super hero, though what would I do? Spit electricity from my left pointer finger when I make a guy motion? Would I fly? Or maybe I would just skate around on electric currents. Ya, that would suit my powers much better. Also, I think my theme song would be "Electric Feel" by MGMT redone by Justice...though if they were making a movie, maybe the original song in the beginning of the movie (just to make it more classy), and then when I'm about to electrocute some butts, that's when the hardcore version starts! DOOOO DOO DO BA DOOD DOOD doo doo DOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Oh yes, I can see it now...slow motion and everything.

Most of the popular superheros have simple but yet effect names that relate to what they do: Batman, Superman, Spiderman, Catwoman. I think I'm pretty set on a name as well. It's simple yet to the point. Electric Girl. Hot eh?

Recap of November

Because I didn't blog a whole lot in November (*cough*), I'm just going to recap what happened/what I learned/have come to realize in the month of mystery and no shaving.

1. I learned when looking to buy a house, ask if the water supply is well water. If so, decline. You don't want to be smelling sewage when doing your laundry.

2. I've learned I'm still mourning.

3. I've decided that I'm going back to school for a couple of classes in January. I can't stay away, I miss education so.

4. Chelsea and I decided to start our own cleaning company so we can reap all of the profits and not work as much. Lazy? I call it clever.

5. I've learned that Benylin and other cough medicines have little effectiveness (money wasters!) and that inhalers prove to be more effective for coughs.

6. Christmas is going to be different this year. It is also going to be potentially expensive.

7. I still want to buy a pretty dress...okay maybe a smokin' dress. One that doesn't smoke, but makes other people want to start when they see it.

8. I have a lot of things I still want to do before this year is over.

9. Some people have proved to be not what I had previously expected. 

10. If you suck at time managing, I think you should stay away from set designing. Set's are suppose to be done before the show opens.

11. Screamo concerts can rock hard, and even the non-hardcore can find a way to enjoy them. If it takes a pair of earplugs to be able to have fun, then so be it.

12. Family Guy has lost it's flare.

13. I orderd the first three seasons of Degrassi. Ya...maybe not proud of it, but I know plenty of people who will watch it with me. I'm not saying names. (By the way Shane, I just got the first two seasons in the mail today, so this weekend we should watch it! Tell Janelle.)

14. Even famous people live in messy homes.

15. I miss people who are far away from me.

16. My hair is green. I need a hair cut.

17. There is a woodpecker who finds my house quite tasty.

 

Fortune Cookies

I had Chinese food late last week, and it was good. It usually is. I think it's the msg...actually, I was reading the take out menu, and apparently you can specifically ask not to have extra msg: aka they already slathered it on before it's cooked, and then before they pack it to go, they put some more on UNLESS you ask otherwise. Gotta love the MSG. 

I very rarely get lucky with the fortune cookies. Everybody's crackin' open their cookie and reading the fortune's aloud, "You will be very successful this coming week", "Riches and beauty smile upon you", while I'm opening mine and it says "You will fail this week". Sigh. At least I got the only honest cookie.

Also, Pearls Before Swine is ensued hilarity. I love these chubby stick animals. 

James Bond can turn any woman into a hypocrite.

I just watching 007 Casino Royale for the first time tonight, and what can I say...besides I'm a hypocrite of my own advice. I'm so in love with the fact of spontaneous adventure love. AGH! Sigh...sometimes I wish I was single just so that I could experience it...then again, I'm sure I wouldn't even if I was, because like I said before, "Movie love isn't real". Sad, I know. 

It also didn't end well for James and Vesper. Poor James, I feel sorry for him really. Will he ever truly love again? I hope so.

Relationships Aren't Movies: What Not to Expect from Real Life Part II

Last time I checked, I was on #7 of my advice list to the hopelessly hopeless movie romantic. Let's continue forth, shall we? I had a request to share my feelings regarding the subject of flowers, so let's start the ball rolling with just that.

7. If you expect a man to go all over creation just to buy you a bouquet of flowers, you may not like the result. Tarzan goes out of his way to find a lovely bouquet of flowers for Jane - swinging in trees, picking flowers with his toes - and before he is able to give them to her, they are trampled and only the stems remain. But yet love prevails, and he gives her the remaining stems with somehow (how now?) one flower still intact; it's such a lovely moment...in cartoon life. 

Now image your guy showing up at your house with a bunch of stems (likely if he only has stems there isn't going to be even one flower still remaining), and presenting them to you with a smirk on his face; definitely isn't as good. In the movies, you get to see the before and after. In real life, you only get to hear about the before and then see the after. It's not much good if he explains why he is standing there holding a bunch of weeds; it only makes a difference if you saw what he went through to get them (which would ruin the purpose entirely seeing as though flowers can only be bought as a surprise...pfft boys...).

8. Don't expect him to use lines that refer back to your past together, ie. "ASSSSSSS YOUUUU WISSSSSSH!!!!" Not going to happen.

9.  If you're waiting for him to write you a song as clever and as sweet as Adam Sandler's for Drew Barrymore in The Wedding Singer, you might have to wait awhile. While some have musically gifted boy's with voices like angels, most of us do not. All we can hope for is to catch them singing quietly along to  Passenger Seat while they are sitting in the passenger's seat. 

10. Jealously. Some men have it, some men don't have enough of it. For those ladies who are thinking "Would it hurt you to be jealous once and awhile?", I believe you're really thinking "Give me my deserved attention FOO!", but do you really want to be like Marilyn Monroe in Bus Stop? Some of my friends have dated overly jealous people, and have said they wouldn't do it again. Yes, it's nice to have the feeling that someone is jealous over you, but don't beg for it...you'll just look foolish, and who knows...he may punch out one of your best buddies because of it.

11. It's been ten years since you've seen your old love...don't expect him to have gone all Bruce Wayne on you. 

12. Believe you'll find the one through a series of freak accidents that lead up to a romantic ending. Freak. Accidents. Seriously, there are other ways.

13. Don't expect him to be standing on the sidewalk outside of your favorite coffee hut while you're inside ordering a latte-whatever, when he was suppose to have left for London a couple of hours ago...AND he's holding a single rose. I applaud any guy who actually sacrifices a trip to Europe to stay at home because he love's his lady so. At the same time, I think I would slap him. (I can't recall a specific example for this one at the moment, but we all know they are out there.) 

Be expecting more dating themed blogs. It's the only thing I know; I'm basically a guru.

Relationships Aren't Movies: What Not to Expect from Real Life Part I

Yes, I guess I could go through a movie or twenty and find myself stuck in similar situations as a fictional character, but I'm not going to. Why? Because movies aren't real life, and romantic relationships aren't movies. 

I'm a romantic at heart, and though I try desperately to hide it, I am aware it is evident to some. Here is my advice to those in the dating world who sometimes forget if they are watching a movie or living one:

1. Don't assume he is going to open the car door for you all the time just because "that guy" on "the grossly over girly movie" does. 

2. Don't expect him to be spontaneous. He isn't Captian Jack Sparrow after all...and perhaps that was a bad example.

3. If he hates the rain and you're hoping for a kiss in it, try a squirt bottle. It's the only way to get closer to your Notebook dream.

4. Don't expect a Spidey kiss unless he loves to wear tight spandex and hang on the monkey bars. If he happens to do those things, the kiss has a better chance of being embaressing than "aww" worthy.

5. I'm not sure if chivalry is dead, but I suggest not expecting your man to put his jacket over a puddle you're about to step on. If you don't expect and he ends up following through, then good for you. 

6. When he takes you home for the first time and said goodnight - maybe gave him a smooch - as soon as you close the door don't expect him to start dancing and singing/yelling all the way home as the sprinklers turn on. I've expected "Singing in the Rain" before and was sadly disappointed when I found out he hadn't even seen the movie.

I'm planning on a couple more parts to compile together with this one, because you never can have enough movie metaphors. 

Todays' Doings

1. Been looking at my bank accounts and have started getting worried over the financial state of them.

2. At the second house I was cleaning today, I rammed my back into the faucet of the bathtub when I got up, banged my head bending over to clean the stove top, and hit my fingers on pointy cabinet handles.

Crummy house.

3. A guy almost started peeing in the washroom I was cleaning today while I was still in there. ...ya...

4. Road home listening to The Police and pretended that I was in a karaoke bar singing into my granola bar.

5. I found out that I have secret money waiting for me in November. Coincedence? Hmm?

6. I think I may have more fun with my other blog: my-illustrated-life.blogspot.com. Shameless self-promoting, I know.

7. Looking forward to the weekend. 

8. Looking forward to Whistler.

9. Not looking forward to spending 24hours with other youth leaders.

10. Just kidding about #8.         Or AM I?

Use my Imagination

I remember when I had ideas flowing through my head consistently about what I should do next in my art. I would be driving to work and then see a heron in the fog standing on the side of the highway with cars driving by it, and I would say to myself, "That's what I should paint", but lately it has been harder and harder to come up with things to manipulate or recreate without them being suggested or over thought of. 

I miss when the ideas would invite themselves into my thoughts.  It's hard work searching out creations when I haven't even thought of them as creations before.

I need to start getting into the habit of writing down things when they come to mind, because before long I am going to forget them. Now that I think about it, I remember thinking I had so many sweet ideas I still needed to take advantage of, and that I wasn't worried about forgetting them because they were just that good. Well, I have forgotten most of them; apparently they weren't that good.

I should buy a note book and take notes of my mind. Sounds like a gallery show. "Notes of my Mind". Meh, maybe one day.

Amanda's Wake.

Minimal information. Snabba conscious of what the crap is around? I can't believe the heater noise is so loud, it's louder than this mute button. Yoso button of this magnacarta is exponentially bigger than my - what what say?

Drowning dogs voices out there, what is going on? They stopped barking about a minut- there it is again. Vicarious demon dogs of my backyard snapping at my mailman...the mail man...simi-man.

I was walking outside when.

Was just looking at this ting that was someelis out domb drum shaffer. You'lis crumb from the front tree branch. At least I know it's sunny outside.

While I am sitting here I might as well make good watch and time myself for my thought's and present the tuylous of the magoritous sand wish aloof to like; shutup.

Why was I watching this anyways? I don't remember this episode at all. Wait, is this the one? Oh, I hear a car. It was two car -- Is this the one where the dad gets angry for Rob skipping school? This is boring and mindle.

The last thing I remember from a minute ago is the hand gestures they were making on the black keys. Why are they black? My inside eyes are going fuzzle. When I close my eyes, it's like I see white things dancing like. Let's use a different w. Cancuddle of the watery trail called basilcava.

There goes that blasted heater again. Sounds like a low drum of a wheelbarrow. Tumble tumble tumble while things are bumbling around. It. What now. It's your friend; tell it to be quiet too you brutus apple. I'm hungry. Inside the paper bag from the store is where I found some old food for breakfeast. It is done. Gut hide rotery abounds the rea-reap jugga-jug jee. At least I get to practice my words.

I've Lost my Melodic Fingers

Last Sunday I was asked to play guitar for worship at Church, which I ended up saying yes to. On the Saturday, I picked up my guitar to get some practice in for the coming day; it had only been a couple of months since I last played, no big deal. Looking through one of my guitar music books, I stumbled upon music I had learned while still in high school. Good music. Music I used to be able to play well. Music that I tried to play again. Music I sorely massacred.

It was horribly. Before my very eyes I realized I had been dumbed down to chords only, and I forgot almost everything I knew about picking/patterns. I looked on youtube to find a video of someone playing a song I used to be able to play. I found one. I cried a little inside.



I used to be able to play that! AGHHHHH!

Anyways, by realizing my lost talent ("the murderious guitar picker of emeryville"), I have felt a little more motivated to play. Hopefully this will stay with me so in ten years I won't have to resort to the G, C and D chords all the time.

Sick.

Eagles in the Sky

The way those wings soared by the van passenger window
into the sky, just to come back down and sleep in my eyes.
You pointed and said,

“Look, look!”

And what explanation could I give but to give in?
Your starry eyes laid in the skies watching to see your childhood
come alive; mine started with your joyful voice.
The eagles were floaters which gave us time
to point out the wonders of nature as we sped by.
Every drive for twenty-one years we rode this way;
searching eyes for skies, eagles flying for you.

Have they all gone now that you’re not here?

The Weaker; The Stronger

The one thing a leader, a passerby, or a friend have/should have in common is always having the best interest of others in mind. Sometimes when we're placed in these roles, we wonder if it's possible God has the wrong person for the job; that in fact we could be hindering others instead of helping them. Everyone has their moments of doubt, and doubt is actually a healthy thing. It reminds us that we must lean on God to be able to muster strength and be able to pass it on to others who need it.

I may appear strong but in fact I am weak. For the last year or so, I've been placed in positions where I know what my duties are (as a youth leader, a student, a daughter, a stranger, a friend...) but in a daze of internal weakness have wondered if I am really improving the situation I am in, or just making it worse. Knowing there are so many obstacles which are hidden to the blind eye but apparent to me increases the pressure of doing good and crawling out of my comfort zone. I mean crawling, on hands and feet. I love doing good, but what if what I call good isn't really good at all?

Oh Lord, remind us we are here for a reason, that You have created
loving opportunities for us to take advantage of. Let us not be scared about
showing You who we are. Give us encouragement in our daily situations; that we
aren't damaging others, but instead encouraging love. Let us not
worry, and remind us that weakness gives us the chance to
fully lean on You for strength.