Step Into My Office, Baby

Okay, I am so obviously on a Belle and Sebastian kick these days. You all need to check out the video for Step Into My Office, Baby. It's super sexy and fan-flippin-tastic!

A Saturday in the Life of a Spoiled Brat

I left work early on Friday because I thought that there was a good chance that I would go crazy if I stayed one minute longer. I ended up going to my parents (I wanted to make up for my poor performance over Easter. I was terribly miserable and Mommy called days later to check up on my mental health). I am in Vermilion, and boy what I day I had.
I woke up at 8:00 to get Justin Timberlake tickets. In the old days there were rumours of being able to call a ticketmaster from a different time zone and be able to get tickets a couple hours early. I tried it, but I think they smartened up. The line was automated and shut down my plan. I was up and decided to be helpful and I put a grout sealer on the tiles in the room I was staying in. Then my dad came back from washing my car. (My dad washed my car). Then he vaccuumed the interior and informed me that I had a rotting apple in it. Then he took the floor mats back to the car wash to, you know, get them really clean.
It was 9:55 when I plopped myself back on the computer. I logged into my ticketmaster account and by 10:02 I had purchased 4 tickets to see JT. Oh wow. I am going to feel so old and so happy that night. Then I was reading the paper and I found out that Chad VanGaalen is opening up for Feist. I love CVG but the last time I saw him was at a CD release party at the Sidetrack and he didn't appear to really want to be there and he went on a tirade that was kind of offensive. I hope he wants to be at the Winspear on the 18th. I hope. I hope.
Then I went with my mom to get groceries and I bought some spray paint to paint my table legs that I've been meaning to paint for a year but I've been just too lazy to do. When I got home my dad was all ready to paint them for me, and I let him. I was hanging out so I wouldn't feel like I was taking advantage of him too much and I realized that my hoodie looked a little sparkly from the paint that wafted my way. And then I realized that I also had paint on my glasses. Luckily it came off with soap. When I was in high school, I spray painted a big cardboard roll that once held linoleum. I painted it gold and then put mini lights on it and it felt festive all year round. While I was painting it, I totally got my glasses. I couldn't get it off, so I tried...steel wool. I tried to clean my GLASSES with STEEL WOOL. Fortunately, I still had warranty on my glasses. I sat in the car while my mom brought them in. I was a little on the embarrased side.
Overall, this was a very good Saturday. I am going to see Justin Timberlake and I don't have paint on my glasses. What more could a girl ask for?

Quote of the Day pt. 2

"You look as messed up as I feel"
- annoymous in the drop-in

Super Sleuth

There's a chance that I may be teetering on the edge of stalker-dom. Last night I had a dream about someone I was friends with for about five months. But that was close to ten years ago! I haven't thought of him for ages. He was a TON of fun when I was seventeen. And in the dream we became buddies again, so I decided that I need to find this missing friend. Is he okay? Does he still wear shorts all the time? Why on earth would I dream about this random boy from a decade ago? I'm new to this "finding missing person" thing, and have had little success so far. I did some internet searching, and I'm hoping I have his name right. I managed to re-friend Byron Gravel with my limited sleuthing skills. But what happens if I DO find him? Then what will I do? Hi...uh....you probably don't remember me.....uh..... Stupid dream. Stupid internet. Stupid lunch break.

Woah. After a whole day of wondering how to find old friend, I just remembered that Becky M might know him. Becky M, be expecting an inquiry.

I just came back from our first official Candeo fundraiser (first unofficial fundraiser was a rock show last weekend). Man oh man. I love Candeo and I love people that are interested in Candeo and I love that people are giving their money to Candeo. So, thanks to all that came!
I turned the tv on because I'm not tired enough to go to bed right now and my mind feels a little too foggy to read. And the show that's on is pretty bad and I just saw someone's face being cut with a knife. A surgical knife. A scalpel even. Wow, tv is so awesome.
It's Earth Day tomorrow! Thanks God for giving us the responsibility of taking care of Creation. Help us do a better job. Help us care. Help us take responsibility. Help us hear your voice clearer and louder. Help us take responsibility for what you're telling us to do. Go team go! Aaaaaaaamen!

Did it Hurt...When I Kicked You in the Crotch?

Lately, I've been reflecting on how events in life become normalized. This realization really hit me on Wednesday when I was waiting for a client at an innercity clinic. I was sitting in the waiting room - sitting next to one man and across from a guy with sunglasses. The sunglasses guy asked the man his name and the man responded angrily and aggressively. ("Why are you asking me.... what do you want to know... grrr....."). Sunglasses asked the man what he did. The man told Sunglasses that he was a pastor. Sunglasses asked Pastor if he practiced the Book. Pastor responded: yes. 33 years. The banter continued until Sunglasses turned his attention to me and began flirting. Pastor got all weird and informed Sunglasses that I was an intellectual and that I was not interested. Then Pastor asked me to pick up his plastic bag. I told him it was heavy. Pastor then asked me to go drinking with him. I politely refused. Pastor promptly stormed out of the building. Sunglasses then began telling me that he is waiting to see the doctor because of his sore throat. He apparently got sick because a beautiful woman kept on kissing him. Sunglasses then passed out. I found the whole situation amusing. And very normal. It was a bit strange for me because it was happening outside of my regular work place, but this kind of stuff happens to me on a daily basis. This is my life. THIS IS MY LIFE?!
How is it that this has become my life? While many of my peers spend much time picking up/getting picked up by people they wouldn't get fired for dating, I spend my time telling homeless men/intoxicated men/drug dealers that I am not interested. How is it that the previously mentioned group believe that I am totally their type? Just to clarify. If you are a vegetarian man between the age of 22 and 42 and are not addicted to any chemicals, or solvents, are able to hold down a job, and like Jesus and Creation and rock shows then I may be your type. I know, hearts across the globe are now crushed due to this revealed piece of information. Sorry to disappoint. So very sorry. But seriously. This is my life.

My Body is a Cage

I took my car in for it's one year check up. It's seems like only yesterday it was rolling off the assembly line in Japan! Speaking of rolling off the assembly line, this weekend I ran into a boy from high school and we talked about how next year will be our 10 year reunion. So that means that I have been out of high school for 9 years. That means I only have one year to do something with my life before my lack of doing is made public. I mean more public than this public admission of not doing.
I don't feel like I haven't done things that I wanted to do. But looking at my life, what I have done? I went to school for a long time and accumulated a crazy amount of student loans. I spent some time on a train. I threw some good parties. I learned to drive. I....
I am happy with the way my life is. I have good relationships. I have Jesus. I have a stereo and a library card. I have hope. But my vanity kicks in from time to time and I remember what I look like. I am single. I rent. I work for little money at a job with little prestige. My hair's okay, but could use a little something. I don't even have a pet.
So there's the 10 years in one year thing, and then there's the 27 years in 2 1/2 months thing. I will be 27 soon and I don't have a pet. I have decided that in response to the disappointment my life has become, I will set goals that I will dedicate the next year of my life to accomplish.

Short term goals (to be reached by June 29, 2007)

* I will get my dad to talk about the "massive pythons" coming out of his shirt
* I will finish with the business plan for a certain housing project
* I will cause someone to shoot milk out of their nose
* I will clean up spilled milk because I made someone shoot it out of their nose
* I will relearn the Electric Slide
* I will listen to LeadBelly
* I will convince a particular friend to go a particular clinic to get a particular scab examined

Longer term goals (to be reached before 10 year reunion in 2008)

* I will "unlock my body and move myself to dance" at good friend's wedding
* I will find a husband for Heidi, and convince his hot and nerdy cousin to accompany me to stupid reunion
* I will use some of the denim that I've accumulated to make a "wicked hot" something or other
* I will teach people the Electric Slide at E squared's wedding
* I will overuse the term E squared
* I will go somewhere I've never been
* I will get nice hair
* I will be happy with not doing
* I will be

Lame goals. Lame life. Whatever. Your life is lame too. Look at what you're spending your time on. Let's all feel bad about ourselves. Good idea, Ang. Good idea.

Billy Billy M, Where Are You?

I like this time of year because it's not super cold and it stays light out for longer. I walked home and it was still light out at 8:30!! As I was waiting for the walk light, a big truck drove by. It was, probably like a half ton, and it made my hand vibrate as it sped past. And I thought: Wow. That big half ton (half tonne?) truck sure made my hand vibrate. I also thought: What does the phrase "full of piss and vinegar" mean? So I went home and did a little search and found out that it means: rowdy, boisterous, full of youthful energy. And then I thought: I don't think a truck can be full of youthful energy. And then I thought: I wonder if I'll ever use that phrase? And, you know what? I just did.

I like short work weeks because that means that I'm not at work as much as I usually am. No. I'm not lazy; I just would rather do other things like march around an abandoned hotel three times. Oh yah, I marched around an abandoned hotel three times yesterday with an unnamed friend who lives on my street. It was really fun. I think people that saw us probably thought: Wow. Those girls sure are full of piss and vinegar. One of the tasks we have to do before our next "community meeting" is to get out and walk and pray about an area of the city. This is something that I believe God has been asking me to do for the past two years and I have done very little of. It's surprisingly surprising how fulfilling it is to just do what God asks you to do. Marching around an abandoned building might seem like a better use of time if I was trying to score some crack, but I think just being with the Creator and following Her lead was actually the best use of my time. Why is it these simple lessons that I have learned over and over the lessons that I still need to learn? Maybe it's putting the lessons into practice more than learning the lesson. Right-oh.
It look me about five tries to spell the, I usually type h-t-e. I then I remembered how Douglas Coupland wrote about surveillance technology that could identify people by the way they type. Man, that guy's a genius. Hi Brian. Thanks for reading my blog. xxoxo angie

**Note: this posting is much breezier than the one I just deleted. If you are an avid reader, you may remember a very sad clown and a mention of the ever-miserable Mr. Murray. From now on, it's only rainbows and giggles. Rainbows and giggles.**

Lay An Easter Egg For Me

I am in Vermilion because it's Good Friday, and all the truly good Fridays are spent in Vermilion. Last night on my drive, I saw the moon. And let me tell ya, Jesus laid a big egg in the sky... just for me. It was awesome. The moon was low and giant and orange and oval-esque. And I thanked my Saviour for coming to this earth, showing me how to live, redeming this world - redeeming my life, and laying moon eggs as a reminder of His faithfulness.
My parents are currently arguing about the temperature of the house. It's cold. It's hot. Blah, blah, blah. The boys were asked to "do something" with a window outside. I don't understand the details exactly but I think an explosion may be part of the plan. I'm not totally sure about the inner workings of other families, but I'm pretty sure mine is more exciting than most.

Quote of the Day

"Aaugh...my middle finger hurts. I use it all the time when I drive!"
(Lauryn Thiessen)




This one isn't a quote, but when I was on hold with Alberta Health & Wellness, the song playing was "Only the Good Die Young". Get it?

Spring is Here. Buh Bye Snow. Buh Bye Sadness.

I know that spring is here because my shoes are muddy and Belle and Sebastian sound better than ever. I also feel happy. That is not a new emotion for my life, but over the past few months, it definitely has not been a salient theme. Blah, and grrrrr, and "oh angry crap" are what I am accustomed to. The sun shining and a new position at work are two welcome additions to my life. I've decided that I have clung onto sadness for long enough and I will now identify with health and a love of life. I've thought about making happiness a priority, but as B&S have reminded me, "Happiness is not for keeping/Happiness is not my goal". I'm trying to celebrate the good of life. As I really dig lists these days, here are a few reasons to celebrate this season of life:

1. love. Two people that I love love each other and have just decided to love each other for forever!!!
2. ankle season. I can finally pull out my short pants and skirts and let the ankles enjoy the sun.
3. breakfast. Yesterday after a near panic attack I managed to make my way to R&A's for eggs with friends. Thank you Jesus for friends and food!
4. coffee. It not only tastes good - it's also something to look forward to. And...Jesus really likes hanging out with me on the way to find coffee, during the drinking part, and the reading and writing that often accompany it.
5. watermelon. I love watermelon so much. I usually end up eating too much and then I get a stomach ache. But it's not like the stomach aches that I usually get. It's a stomach ache that goes away. Yessss!!!!
6. the library. Think books. Think music. Think low yearly fee.
7. swimming pools. Actually I think pools are the dirtiest, sickest, "make me touch that water and I'll instantly die or vomit - pick you poison" kinda places. I hate swimming pools - but I love not being around them.
8. walking. Healthy low cost activity. With each footstep I reconnect with creation and the Creator.
9. community. I love and need the community that I have, and I wanna live in intentional community hopefully sooner rather than later (see Confession and Dream for the Good Life). I'm hosting a talk, dream, pray time about community, Thursday March 29th 7:00 pm. Come.
10. dancing. I know I talk about dancing too much, but that's only because I think about it too much. On Friday, I organized a dance party with my colleagues to enjoy our upstairs that will soon be turned into cubicles. I had four lovely ladies join me. It was probably the weirdest thing I've ever done.
11. sleep. When you're sleeping, you're not awake.

Buh bye winter. See you later. Maybe next time we meet I'll have a SAD light. Maybe I'll share it with my friends.

The Wrong Way On a One Way

I almost died tonight. I don't seem to be able to navigate very well in the dark. I was driving home from Taylor and I'm never down in that area and I turned onto 111 street and then I realized that there were cars coming towards me and then I put my trucker mouth on (pretending that I occasionally take said mouth off). Man, oh man. I have one of the worst potty mouths I know. I use fouler than foul language 17 times out of 2o. My goodness.
Well, I didn't die tonight. But I sure felt silly. I think that when I start screening for a husband on the questionnaire portion I will focus on the vehicular aspects of life. Willingness to wash the car, change tires, general maintenance, and basic chauffeur duties. I think my favorite part about the screening process will be the dance off. I'm willing to give points for enthusiasm to those lacking rhythm. I haven't got very far on developing the screening tool. There will be a questionnaire that will cover an overview of daily life: political leanings, engagement in social issues, skills (such as carpentry and car knowledge), and long term goals. There will also be a portion where he will pick a restaurant (keeping in mind my food issues). We will also go shopping (to flesh out dedication to labour standards, etc.). And of course there will be a dance off. That for sure will be my favorite part.

I also want you all to know that I almost got kissed at work yesterday. Two almosts in two days. My goodness.

Rah! Rah! Rah! for The City I Love

So I just found out that people don't like Edmonton. I thought it was just punk-ass kids and the elderly who didn't like it because "it's boring/cold". I decided to compile (an entirely incomplete) list of reasons I love Edmonton.

1. Good places to eat (R & A's Grill, the Sugarbowl, my kitchen)
2. That boy that used to work for Starbucks, that TA, the guy on the bus, the guy getting off the bus. I could go on and on and on...
3. Hawksley Workman comes often and last time he sang "Claire Fontaine" at McDougall United and it was awesome
4. It's the birthplace of Candeo
5. Good people
6. Good dance parties
7. Good dancers
8. Airband parties
9. People that attend airband parties
10. Church picnics. Okay, this one isn't so much about Edmonton or liking picnics. I just remembered something and decided to vent. If you're going to a church picnic and you're going to play frisbee, then leave your shirt on. Okay? Stripping down at the beach is one thing. Stripping down at a picnic put on by the church is, like, a totally different thing.
Let's try #10 again.
10. Great waste management system. Can you say compost??

Edmonton, I love you. Please don't ever leave me. I may leave you one day, but I think it would be better if I rejected you. You know, for the kids.

Whoah....!!!

Sunday, 18 March, 2007

Cancer (21 Jun - 22 Jul)

It may seem hopeless today as you attempt to take care of chores that you have recently ignored. There could be so much to do that you don't even know where to begin. If you are overwhelmed, don't try to do it all; that will only discourage you further. You'll feel better about yourself if you narrow your focus and complete just a few things well.

Know What I Hate?

1. Waiting for the new Wilco album to come out
2. The feeling of guilt that comes from procrastinating and affecting lives other than my own
3. The feeling of "holy crap it's 9:00 and I just watched three episodes of Grey's Anatomy"
4. How lazy I am
5. How I like to do things like blog more than I like to actively engage in "more important" activities
6. How long my fingernails are
7. How my fingernails have been long for so long and how I've chosen to ignore them to this point in time when I now feel that I must cut them IMMEDIATELY or I may just die
8. IBS
9. My hate
10. That effin' eczema on my eyelid. I mean, I think we've all had enough of it

Finally in Love

I went to the mall yesterday because I cried when I was making coffee and I thought: hey, life sucks, maybe I should buy headphones that work and return a pair of crack-tastic jeans. So I went to the mall and I did what I needed to do and I stopped into the pet store. At the store I took a peek at the puppies and I fell in love with a pug. I have never really been interested in the pug. I believed pugs to be unattractive and because I am shallow I totally undervalued the little guys. Well was I ever wrong. I mean I connected with that puppy. We understood each other. He was a bit of a wiener and I feel like a wiener much of the time. He was irritating his oppressed cage-mate. Just like me. And he looked a little grumpy. Just like me. Years ago my friend Jeff was comparing people to animals. Lauryn was a swan. Graceful, beautiful, lovely. I was a pug. Short, wrinkly, blah. I did not like that label. But perhaps Jeff was just dabbling in the prophetic. Thus sayeth the Lord: the Angie will one day fall in love with a pug. Amen? Amen.

A Boring Blog About A Boring Blog or Self Love, Self Love, Funny Funny Self Love

I was walking with two dear friends yesterday afternoon and I mentioned, as I often do, how I find myself more amusing, witty, and overall interesting than anyone else ever could. I don't think I am alone in finding myself absolutely hilarious, but I do feel somewhat isolated in how I embrace my level of engagement. There were a few people that we narrowed down that fall into this category. I am somewhat perplexed that this group of people would be in the minority. I mean, how could I NOT find myself interesting. I read books that I like. I participate in cultural events that I find enjoyable. I listen to good music. I talk about topics that I find thrilling. I make jokes that I immediately understand. How could one not find oneself entirely interesting?? Yet, I still feel that I am in the minority. Perhaps it is the amount of time and energy that I expend on expressing how totally hilarious I find myself that is in the minority. My mom is a very funny woman - and she finds herself very funny but I don't think she realizes she finds herself entertaining. Maybe I'm at a higher level of self awareness than most other people. Maybe I need to find more hobbies than most other people. Maybe.
I decided to make a myspace page to convince more people to read what I write. Starved for attention? Maybe.

Pomegranate and Feta Salad

Okay kids, you asked for it. Here it is:

Pomegranate and Feta Salad

1 head romaine lettuce, washed & torn

1 bunch spinach, stems removed, washed & torn

Seeds of one pomegranate or

1/2 cup dried cranberries

¼ cup roasted pine nuts

½ cup crumbled feta cheese

Dressing:

1/3 cup olive oil

1tbsp.red wine vinegar

2tbsp. maple syrup

1tsp. Dijon mustard

½ tsp. oregano

Salt & freshly ground pepper

Toss lettuce and spinach together in a large salad bowl. Add pomegranate seeds, pine nuts and feta. Whisk dressing ingredients together; store in refrigerator. Toss with salad ingredients just before serving. Serves 6.

Enjoy!!

Google This, Byron Gravel

Last summer I was at the Folk Fest, and was posed the question, "if you could see someone from your past, and get updated on their life, who would it be?" My response was easy: Byron Gravel. I'm at a workshop today today and one of the presenters has mannerisms that remind me of one of my favorite friends who has denied me the right of knowing the current, 27 year old, effed up dude who I would be sure to love as much now as I did when I was 16. So, Mr. Gravel, if you are nearly as vain as I hope you are - I look forward to you finding this blog when you google your name. I love you and miss you and would like to be your friend again. Please let me back in. (Please note: this blog was first scripted in a coffee shop beside a soy latte and one table from a handsome man in a blue jacket).
Do people actually find sucess with those ads in the weeklies: "I saw you in the parking lot of PetSmart. You were wearing green, I was tongue-tied and carrying a 2o pound bag of kitty litter..."? I can't imagine them working well. I saw you at that coffee shop on Jasper with the fair trade/organic sign. You were making coffee. I was neglecting my latte and frantically scratching words onto a napkin...
Jessica once described me as having a frantic personality. She got the keys to her new place last night. She brought me and a couple of house plants there where we pictured the likelihood of seeing the tree next door while lying on the couch. It's nice to have someone so close.
Sad and lonely - nothing to do... Yesterday on my way home from work, I was feeling particularly sad as I often do at the end of the day, and I remembered that God really loves me, even when I'm sad. Especially when I'm sad.
The workshop I'm taking is on concurrent disorders - mental health and addictions. One of the questions we are asked to think about is where my hope is: my hope is in the hope of the world - the true hope for redemption: Santa Clause. I mean Jesus. I can't imagine being in the 'helping industry' and have to spend time on that question. I think I would be so overwhelmed without Him. I mean I still feel overwhelmed with Him. Thank God for community.
I'm having a sleepover this weekend, and I'm pretty sure the building of forts will be involved. And dancing, and cocktails. Dancing, and drinking cocktails in a fort with friends. Thanks God!
I'm hopeless, and Byron-less, with nothing to do - and God is good when I am not. Thank you for being the hope of the world. Thank you for making me part of the world. Amen.

What Time is It?

Our clock went missing at work yesterday afternoon. Today there were reported sightings of the clock outside the York. Apparently someone tried to make a buck for a beer. (?!)

Pretty Bag for a Pretty Day

Yesterday I celebrated VD with an animated film about cars and a lively discussion about breast pumps. Today I celebrated all that is Thursday by buying a purse at the House of Bags, a wicked awesome purse shop on 97th street and 105 avenue. I talked to one of the owners and she is fantastic and from Malaysia and they need more costumers. So for the sake of future Thursdays, buy some purses so they can stay open!! Later today I plan on continuing the celebration of Thursday by going to Heidi's and watching The Office because I do not have a Jim Halpert in my life, but I sure do have a pretty new purse. In conclusion, I would like to wish everyone a very happy Thursday, and would like to encourage all of you to briefly embrace the cult of consumerism and a buy a pretty bag because a pretty bag makes for a prettier world.

Seriously Boring

So it turns out that I am indeed seriously boring. I think that since I've entered the blogosphere I've become increasing boring. You see, any seemingly interesting thing about my life, new thoughts, etc. are immediately sent to my blog. So anyone who reads this will also have the pleasure of hearing me speak about how I've become even more boring since I started to blog. Blah. I'm making myself bored. One of the first thoughts I had after being punched in the head was "good - something to write about". So these are my options: do more exciting things, fabricate stories of exciting things, stop writing. Or I could do more exciting things, and then cover them up by fabricating boring stories and then write about how I told boring lies about my exciting life.
Jess is moving into an apartment two buildings down from where I live. I am almost pooping my pants with excitement. (Note: Jess moving in beside me is not boring, so shut it).

Mr. Lonely

A few days ago I had a sudden craving to listen to Caedmon's Call - a band I haven't listened to in years. Man, oh man. I hope that guy got a girlfriend in the meantime. That song "Table for Two" is pretty sounding, but possibly one of the loneliest songs...ever.
I had a really good Sunday today. Last Sunday was totally crappy. I convinced myself that all my friends decided to reject me due to a poor performance at a a party the night before. But today I woke in time for church, and I actually enjoyed the service. I had a pleasant lunch with pleasant people. I caught the bus right after I got to the stop. I read a good book on the way home and didn't puke, or even want to puke. And the day isn't even over yet. I feel like a million bucks. A million. Poor Mr. Lonely. I hope he's having a good Sunday, too.
"Given a chance and a rock see which one breaks a window/And see which one keeps me up all night and into the day"

Grumpy Grumpy Grumpy Pants

You know it's time for a mental health day when you almost cry because there are just so many towels to wash. Thank goodness for long weekends and daquiris!
Yesterday a woman asked me if (fill in the name of the serial killer) was my father. Then she was on the phone and mentioned how she couldn't say much because she was being harrased by the family of (fill in the name of the serial killer). Wow. That was weird.

Shut Your Filthy Mouth

I feel like I spend too much of my time wishing that I did not have opinions and a need to verbalize them. So, from now on I will no longer form opinions. And I will no longer speak. That's a little harsh. I'll still speak, but I will from now on be sure to keep my speaking light and bright. I'll say things like: it is snowing right now; pass the salt, please; or, where is the washroom, I need to evacuate the mucus from my sinus cavities. I think that I will get re-invited to parties that way. Oh boy, I am going to be SO popular!