Things Thursday: move-out edition.

That time of year again,
packing up & heading off.
But there's more drama to packing than one might think...

1. I just spent 2 hours, in the wind and rain, being told that every store in Guelph was out of boxes.
My favourite was my arrival to Shoppers Drug Mart where I watched a father and daughter walking out with at least 10 huge boxes, folded down. 

I smiled and asked jokingly 'Oh wow, are there any left?'

To which the girl replied 'Actually we cleaned them out, maybe go to No Frills' as she climbed into her car, conveniently parked right in front of the entrance. 

No Frills would be great. But No Frills is across town.
How about I take those boxes off your hands and you take your little car, with it's fancy little gas pedal, over to No Frills.

I may have been extremely bitter. Not explicitly. But my laugh disguised my absolutely drenched, cold and shivering contempt.

Let's just say I'm not a fan of car-less rainy days.

2. Enough with the melodrama. aha my anger was about a 15-second glitch on the radar.  Rather, the majority of the day was spent in desperation. I went to the mall as a last resort and after a few more rejections, decided to find out if Dollarama sold cardboard boxes.
Upon entering the store my heart jumped and my eyes darted from one bin to the next of old cardboard boxes, being sent out to the trash.

I'm telling you: I grabbed as many as I could, as fast as I could.

If you had seen me it probably would have looked like I was fighting off a hoard of people the way I was tearing through that bin.

3.From now on I will take move-out (and cardboard) very seriously.

No more last minute box-hunting!

4. Packing is much more enjoyable when your routine involves a bottle of red wine. 

My unsuccessful trip to the LCBO for boxes was not an entire waste.

making things bearable since 4000 BC.

5. I'm currently listening to The Hunger Games audiobook while my packing chores are completed. I was very reluctant. The plot reminded me far too much of Battle Royale (any movie-nerds reading?). But I've heard good things, and it's enjoyable enough to listen to, so I won't be pretentious, and I'll give it a fair shot.

6. Yesterday I baked cookies. I'm bringing them in to work tomorrow to share. It is taking a lot of effort not to tackle my tupperware container the way I tackled the cardboard-box bin. Chocolate, Cranberry, Oatmeal Cookies.

Omnomnommm.

Am I alone in the dislike for packing-up and moving-out?
Anyways, now that I'm in from the cold, I plan to be productive. I've got my audiobook, I've got my wine & I've got chicken in the oven.
On a final happy note, I really am excited to get home and see friends and find a job and figure life out again. Even if it means moving back in with my parents.
grumble grumble.

Do you have any packing tips??
If not, baking recipes will suffice!
Also - Hunger Games readers, does the series continue well enough? Should I bother downloading the rest of the audiofiles?

School's out!!!

Though I'm still pretty apprehensive about writing this, I've been given a push this morning and so, with fingers crossed, I can say that I've completed my degree in French Studies... !!!
As some of you may know,  I've been holding back on my celebrations, since writing my final exam on Monday, because I've been terrified that my grades will come back to haunt me and that I'll be required to take another semester - thereby turning my celebrations into some sad, drunken mess of 'Whyyyy meeee????'s .

I'm still slightly concerned about one of my marks, but after a call into the school, I've decided to let my hair down a little and accept that I'm a university graduate. I am tentatively saying 'IT'S OVERRRR!!!!!.... I hope' (seriously... waiting for the cruel joke here...).

I'm not usually a pessimist.
I'm more of a realist, with an optimistic habit.
Taking 6 courses this semester, however, means that the realist in me is shouting 'NO WAY did you pass all those! Get your head out of the clouds.'
This is probably because in first year, I took a semester of only 4 courses, and managed to fail one. Leaving me to make up for 2 missed marks - explaining the 6 courses of the semester in question - and telling me that I'm really not  the student who can tackle a buttload of courses at once.
So yes, there's a reason I'm so hung up on my grades.
And I'm throwing it to the wind!
Let me believe, at least until I see that transcript, that I'm successful in my efforts, because my god did I ever kill myself this semester in text books (and study snacks).
I'm telling myself that it was all worth it.

SOOO worth the crazy. 

No more school? For how long? Will my BA be enough? Will I want to pursue grad school? Teacher's college?
I can see myself on the cover of a pamphlet in a guidance counsellor's office, 'Graduating? What now?' it says, with my head tilted and pensive - as if the clouds had the answers.
I'm just such an indecisive person, and at such a turning point in my life, I'm driving myself a little crazy.

But then I take a step back.
I'm 21. Who says these choices have to be made right now?
The only choices that matter to me today are how to make money to see the world. So by following my own question, I know exactly what I'll be doing for the next year or two.
I'm gonna find a job, whether it pays well or not, I just need an income.
I'm gonna work until I've got a happy looking bank account again.
I'm subsequently going to rip that account open, and pour it into plane tickets, accommodations and maybe a fancy camera.

I could take this on a point-n-shoot, right?

Because who cares about grad school right now? Who cares about what I'll be doing for the next 40 years of my life? That can wait until I'm ready.
Right now,  I get some me-time.
And it's telling me that spanish isn't learned in a classroom, it's learned in Spain or South America or Mexico. And teaching english abroad doesn't happen with your Master's, it happens with an online course I can take over the summer.

One thing at a time folks, I'll figure myself out.
But until then...
I'M DONE WITH SCHOOL!!!!

**apologies for the existential-crisis-y post.
***you should watch this now.

Movie Monday

I'm not going to give reviews, I don't consider myself qualified to critique movies.
I just want to talk about what I've seen, and maybe remind you about some of your favourites you've neglected... or classics you've been meaning to watch but never got around to (for me, that was Benny & Joon)

But let's cover these quick..

This week in film:

 



The King's Speech: 
English royalty, speech impediments and wonderful set design.
Colin Firth was fantastic, but Geoffrey Rush stole the show for me.
Benny and Joon:
Mental illness, quirky personalities, and love.
Not perfect, but adorable nonetheless. Depp is so young!
The Lion King: 
Lion, meerkat, warthog and the death of a king.
Obviously never.gets.old
Country Strong:
Alcoholism, country music and fame.
I'm not a fan of Country. But Gwyneth made this so very lovely.

Overall: I think that all of these were worth the watch. The classics/nostalgia of Disney & Depp as well as the recent, (and more moving) dramas made all four of these very enjoyable. Let me know if you think I'm wrong!

Favourite quote:
"I will one day. I'm gonna have a daughter and I'm gonna treat her just like fine china."
(Country Strong). 
Something about the drawl in her voice made this the sweetest thing in the world. 

I want suggestions for next week!
If I get enough I'll post them before the weekend so you can join in on the fun.

Things Thursday

So I've decided that this'll be a weekly thing.

I made a similar post 2 weeks ago and called it a friday run-down. This is just things - however many I want - and will be recurring every thursday.  Much less pressure.

1. I changed my blog name. It seems I've veered very far of my original movie/tv/social media topic choice. This one says more about me. personal? perhaps. But I'm happy with it.

2.  King's Speech is finally out and I still haven't seen it. My parents aren't happy with me. They're both speech pathologists, aha their whole office saw it like the day it came out. Anyways I've only heard good reviews and obviously the Oscar's made their opinion clear...
I'm a litte ashamed that I haven't gotten to it yet, but I have it now and plan to watch it tonight!

3. On that note, I've had a sick obsession with popcorn lately and will definitely need to make a stop at the grocery store prior to enjoying Colin Firth's stammering. Running low in the kernel department!

4.Aha so speaking of food (oh this post has awesome segues!!!), I will admit to my love for kitchen appliances. Small ones. Stovetops are nice and all, but what about food processors or  toaster ovens. Oh I love just talking about them. Aha anyways, I have a blender but it really hasn't been doing the trick lately. Just not enough kick in the kitchen!
The current items on my wish list?
There are three....

George Foreman Grill

Juicer

Food Processor

G'uhhh those are good looking machines.
Is that weird?
aha, I need opinions people! I might end up caving by the end of the month... yes, yes, terrible self-control. Which ones are the most useful? favourite meals to make?? Help?

5. I've written 5 exams in the last 9 days, one to go. German on Monday, cannot come soon enough!

6. TV is back after a few weeks off. Cougar Town, House, Gossip Girl and Glee have been watched. Still on the fence about all of them. I'll give them all a general rating of 'meh'.

I'm holding out for Criminal Minds. 

7. I bought a curling iron last week. I don't know if anybody does that anymore... aha I'm that annoying girl with the pin-straight hair... Anyways, I've been abusing it. Love it, though curly hair does tend to make me look like a 5 year old, and I've already got the babyface ... bartenders will not be pleased with me.

What, I need ID?

So happy it's the weekend, off to a dinner date with long-lost friends!
I think the majority of you are finished your exams now, so congratulations, and happy celebrations/move-outs/home-town-reunions!
Wish me luck for German!
and your two cents on appliances would be greatly appreciated!

Auf Wiedersehen!

Short & Sweet.

Let's define it, shall we?

mis·er·a·ble/ˈmiz(ə)rəbəl/Adjective

1. (of a person) Wretchedly unhappy or uncomfortable.

2. (of a situation or environment) Causing someone to feel wretchedly unhappy or uncomfortable: "horribly wet and miserable conditions".
3. (of this here blogger) Sitting in the library at 12:30am, while all others party. May also involve 6 days left of same routine. "She was miserable, having 3 exams left to write, while missing her friend's birthday and going slightly loco."

I'm so attractive.

Studying for a Spanish exam. See what I did there?
haaaa.

Political updates from Guelph

Lets just summarize a few of the main points, or at least the ones that seem most pertinent for the youth vote. 


It seems that Rick's words really hit home, for all of us students.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'm proud of my school and the actions that have been taken to turn his rant into a demand, from coast-to-coast.

Guelph first held the flash mob to raise awareness & encourage voting nation-wide.
We then held a vote mob, for Stephen Harper's arrival, to inform all parties of our intent to vote and our interest in what they had to say (so maybe they could direct some of it our way).
Both of these traveled to a huge number of other campuses and have made a pretty big splash in the news.
More on those here (Congrats, Rick Mercer)

Guelph then held a special ballot, for students to vote on campus prior to the official May 2nd polls. This has been done for several elections and is put together by Elections Canada for the purpose of encouraging voting in demographics that are known for less participation. Ie. It's legit.
All the while we've had our University President, Alastair Summerlee, backing us up and applauding us (via Twitter no less).
He agreed to vote, in face paint - as an avatar, if 1500 UoG students pledged to vote, whether it be at the special ballot, or May 2nd.



And so he voted, along with hundreds of others in our University Centre.
But with all the hype and pride that's been echoing throughout campus, there obviously had to be opposition. Who knew it would come in the form of a conservative lawyer,  former-student of UoG, telling us that our special ballot was a violation and that none of the votes were to be counted.
He tried to take away the ballot box.
Curious? Confused? So were we.

Special Ballots have since been cancelled.
And though I see this as a scar on our democratic rights, at least we now know that UoG votes, already made, will be included in the vote count.
I'm really just making this to spread the word, Gracen said it best I think, this won't stop us from voting, "So far, the movement has run on pure excitement and determination for my part, but after the special ballot fiasco I feel twinge of something else that I can only liken to defiance."Please read her post here.

I'm really just having a hard time finding the logic.
I hope everyone is staying informed & keeping their pledge.
Don't let them steal our thunder.

On a completely separate note, this has been written instead of studying for spanish...

Politics are just much more interesting these days...

Lets talk quality distractions.

As I've mentioned in past posts, I have a slight television habit. 

And because I don't have much life-news to talk about recently (seeing as my days and nights are spent confined to a library cubicle) I figured I could spread the word about a few favourites.
I get to live vicariously through your enjoyment!

Anyways, the thing is, I go through TV as if it were my job. I speed through seasons in days. Aha, I'm not proud of this, but if you'll hold back your judgements, I'll use this obsession to your benefit.
Today I give you 3 new shows, take your pick! Tell me which ones you're happy with! Spread the word!

We'll call this 'the British edition'.
CLICK ON PICTURES IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE TRAILERS. 

1) At the top of my list for british shows, would have to be Misfits. General concept is that, after a freak storm, a group of kids doing their community service for their respective misdemeanors get various 'supernatural' powers. I really wasn't interested after hearing the plot, but I decided to give it a shot (thanks for the push, Bri!) . Robert Sheehan's amazing one liners (delivered with an Irish accent no less) owned the show & the suspense got me totally hooked. I guess you could classify the whole series as 'dark humour'.
As a testimonial, I had my brother watch.
Sean usually tosses every suggestion I give him out the window. But he watched both seasons in 2 days.
And then spread the news to his friends.
I seriously hope you'll give this one an honest shot - watch the first two episodes before deciding it's not for you. 

2) Recently at work, much to my delight, we've had The Inbetweeners playing in the lunch room.
My friend Richard had spoken of its genius back around christmas time and after looking into it, I managed to watch all 3 seasons within a week.
The show is about 4 socially awkward school friends desperate to hookup with girls and get drunk. Simplest plot everr.

There's really not much to explain. Everyone who's seen the show loves it. Each one of the characters is hilarious in their own right. 

It just got signed for a movie.

3) I think most people have heard of Skins. I've been hooked on the show since first year. A lot of people only like the first 2 seasons (so these are the ones I'm recommending), but even with the completely new casts I love seasons 3-5.
Concept: a group of kids in 6th form trying to have a good time. Raves, drugs & sex are the main contributors to the shows entertainment to be honest, so I know it's not for everyone.
The problem I have right now talking about Skins, is that the states have decided to take the show on for themselves.
I've heard that it's gotten a little better, but the pilot for american version killed me and I couldn't finish it. Please, if you've seen the american version of Skins and didn't like what you saw, give the original version a chance!

cast from season 1 & 2

If you're having trouble getting your hands on any of the shows let me know!

And if you have any opinions/questions/reviews of your own send them this wayyyy =]
x
alright my head is reasonably clear, that's all the time I get - back to the books!

Friday run-down.

A few of the things going on/in my head.
I might keep this up once a week... I might just be avoiding getting out of bed.
The clock says it's 2:15...I say it's too much effort.

1. Exams start in 4days. Studying starts in 4hours. I won't be updating as often for the next 4 weeks.

2. I'm finally getting into Madmen. It took me a long while, but then Harry Crane (Rich Sommer) won my heart. I'm also hugely in love with the idea of being a housewife. It will never happen, I'm too stubborn for that. If only my job was to look glamourous though, I might actually put in some effort...

3. Job search, not going so well. It would be, if I were looking for anything longterm! I've had a few offers of year-long contracts. But I'm not ready to settle down yet. There are countries to tackle & cultures to infiltrate.

Machu Picchu, you're next.

4.  The idea of moving is making me sad. Boxes to pack, and goodbyes to say. But it's the first time that I'm not coming back in the fall, and that has not yet clicked. Visits must be planned!

5. I've had jewellery issues lately.  Issue being, it feels so very necessary. Lovely-looking earrings and rings. Sad-looking wallet. 

6.  I seriously need a car. This year I'm spending the summer home alone for the most part. Bike's are not good for work-wear or work-hair.  Car is currently number one. Begging will soon start for claim over my mother's minivan. You might hear more on this subject later in the month.

On a separate but similar note, Sean is off to Vail to snowboard tomorrow. I get his car for the week. This makes him bitter, and makes me happy as a  clam  lamb.

7. Yes, I enjoy being cheesy. Yes, you can judge me for it, if that's your prerogative. No more questions.

8. I'm handing in my letter of resignation this weekend. Is it weird that I really don't want to?

9.  My friend Mike is moving back from BC to Ontario this summer.  Mike is good with cameras. Mike is good with Starbucks. Mike is good for yelling at ranting to. Haven't seen the boy since France. I am psyched. (And you should be honoured, Mr. V).

10. Did I mention my bike? Because the whether has been beautiful and I'm thinking today's the day. It needs a tune-up, I biked through a storm or two back in October, and I left it out in the snow a few times. But walking to work yesterday with the sun & the breeze (ACKKK i can't wait till summer!) made me crave a bike ride.
I've also decided I need to buy myself a cute little basket. And move to the coast. 

Dream ride!

10 of the things in my life.
Now you know.

I'm gonna go grab some greek yogurt w/ honey and think about cracking open some textbooks.

Study face. 

You can do whatever it is you wanna, but let's be honest, you should probably do the same. 

Much love,
(and luck,)
x
Diane.

Oh, the exciting life of a soon-to-be grad...

So what does submitting your last essay of your university career feel like?
For me, it followed a very quick sequence events....

1)like you can do anything and every thing!
2)you should pour a shot, throw on some heels and go dancing...?!
4)you should call all your friends and see who wants to see a movie..
3)YOU.SHOULD.SHOP.
4)....shop online?
5)maybe the laundry thats been piling up and the books and binders all over your bed
      can finally be put away...
6)you could veg out on tv and let your brain numb for weeks....
7)think about all of the above and 10 minutes later, pass out for 15hours straight...
(I had been running off of adrenaline and caffeine, 40hours sans-sleep)

I must say it was all very lacklustre... but it has a silver lining.
Today was awesome. I couldn't stop smiling. No more due dates! ok thats a lie but a quiz and an online contribution separate me from the end of my assignments and they seem so small compared to the midterms & essays I've been wearing myself down for.
I'm stress-free.
best. feeling.
sure, this will only last like 3 days, because my exams start in 6...
but the fact that I've lasted through the semester? taking six courses and actually surviving them? I feel like graduation is actually possible, which was being seriously debated a few months ago.
I'm basking in it now.
but that doesn't stop me from thinking about visiting my profs after grad....

When I graduate, I will sneak into all my teachers' bedrooms and do this:

UoG reminds Stephen Harper that we have a say.

I am not proud to admit that I missed this lovely display.
I was unfortunately at work while the 500+ students made their way from campus to the Delta hotel to tell Harper what's up.
I love my school.
I'm sure this will be the first of many 'surprise parties' to come, so watch on facebook and twitter for vote mobs near you!

For more information ...
The catalyst Rick Mercer's rant to students & youth voters
The flash mob to raise awareness 
Global news
Guelph Mercury
and on twitter #surpriseHarper, or visit @gracenjohnson

Insightful, invisible monsters...

I saw this picture earlier today, and got a few good flashbacks to some of my favourite scenes and short stories.

Quote from Palahniuk novel, Invisible Monsters.

Chuck Palahniuk ranks pretty high in my list of favourite authors.
I don't mind if that's stereotypical, he's got a cult following and I'm pretty ok with being considered a part of that.
If you haven't heard the name, or maybe you can't place it - he is the man behind Fight Club.
I want to live in his brain aha, so the plan is the second school is out I'm buying myself some more Chuck.

This quote in particular is from my favourite of his books (thus far),  Invisible Monsters.
I remember, way back in my psych major days, wanting to scroll this all over my walls and on my binders and on my friends' hands.
Another well known quote from the same book :  All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring.

Some words to live by. 

She called it 'senioritis'

Have you noticed the pattern yet?
Procrastination, distractions, summer day-dreams etc.
and if you know me personally, my whining isn't any less obnoxious face-to-face.
My friend Liia laid it out bluntly for me.
"It's senioritis. I've got it too. I am actively doing nothing" 

Last week I got my grad pictures taken.
(Those will be fun - headcold/sinus infection - I'll be lucky if I recognize myself after the photoshop...)
I think that, in wearing that gown and holding those flowers, my brain skipped through to June convocation.

I began my bachelor's degree 43 months ago and about 42.5 months in, my brain checked out. Aha, could explain the creation of this here blog...
Put me to work, put me to bed, put me in a cave if you want, but don't think about putting me back to the books.

So here's my game plan. I am going to finish these assignments to the best of my ability. I've got 2. They can be tackled before the weekend's up. But tonight, to reward myself for 42.5months of being a student (and 2 weeks of total lethargic screen-staring), I am celebrating à la Cougar Town. 

WANT: Big Joe, he can hold an entire bottle of wine.

I'm going to dose myself with high levels of Resveratrol to lower my blood sugar and increase my lifespan.
But more specifically, chug it down so that I can say:
 Tonight, not a single fuck was given.