Happy Holidays!

It's been a diabolical year and I can't say that I'm sad to see it coming to an end. Live and burn, I mean, learn. Do all the good works you think about doing. Peace xo.

Nicaragua bound until January 15, 2010 with 23 students, 4 teachers, 2 administrators, spouses and over $60,000 in medical supplies and computer equipment this year.

All the very best for 2010!
Love Paul and Merrianne and Clyve, making his debut appearance on the blog as an astronaut.
Really, who could ask for more?

Street Wise

A message I received this week which asked the quintessential question:

MERRIANNE, can you type?

Also:


MERRIANNE, your credit score is updated.

Take care of the animals now and always. xm

Photo: Bird Series (artist as yet unknown, though I have a few ideas)
Montreal Fall 2009.

The Path to Enlightenment

From a recent essay:
"Usually, when there is meaning, there is always opportunity for understanding."
Photo: Isla Ometepe, Nicaragua January 2009.

Beautiful Baby Babble

My great-nephew Gabriel a few years ago. He knows the alphabet fully now, and so does his twin brother. All of this life needs to be celebrated. x

Bird Brain

Another Alley Message. Montreal 2009. I'd like to know more about this urban sensibility.

Toronto Dining

An insult to felines all over the world.
Toronto Fall 2009.

TV Confessional

">

This is a Facebook message I sent to my closest friends:

This program is hilarious -- I met one of the contestants this week because he is the Parish priest in Richmond, Ontario where Paul's family lives. He was wonderfully supportive of Paul's family and his sister Betty, who as most of you know, died last week. You can't imagine what a nice surprise meeting Father Giles was and the necessary light touch that resulted. What a charming person, and you have to believe me when I say that this was the last thing I'd expected. :-) And such (comic) relief.

**I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Cancer is such a bitch.

For Betty.

Montreal Ruelle Mile End: November 2009

Gratitude

Last week, my friend David sent me an article on one of our favourite poets, Kenneth Patchen, and asked me if I'd read anything interesting lately. I responded with this bit of vitriol:

I can't read anymore. I don't know what's wrong. I have weeks of New Yorkers piling up and when I go to bed, so comfortable, so tired, so wanting to read, so sleeping. It's actually starting to stress me out. So I read a few paragraphs of stuff a day. Mainly I'm reading school stuff and trying to figure out ways to make this interesting for people who clearly haven't read it...right now I'm prepping A Complicated Kindness...which isn't a very good novel, but it's topical for teenagers, in a sense...or maybe I'm stretching it. I don't effing care anymore; I'm so swamped with work right now and so stressed out about bad things that I do my best to stay positive...with generally good results, except when I have to combine all of this with a trip to the dentist. I had to do that today. Motherfucker. And I lost my glasses. And I lost my gloves. So, while generally good, I'm having a shit week.

* The shit week actually got worse, but the graffiti rocked.

** The generosity of others inspires me, and I must remember to be nice.

(Photo: Park Avenue Montreal, November 2009)

Alley Logic

Follow the Bird: Mile End Montreal 2009.

Urban Logic

The path to sustainability means reducing consumption. Less is more.

Montreal Ruelle II Fall 2009

Family Ties

Post Toronto Goodlife Half Marathon -- October 18, 2009.

Joe is my brother. Betty is my husband's sister. They helped me kick ass at the race.

Cancer is such a goddam bitch.

x

Hometown Hell

Two for one ticket special available to visitors in Timmins, Ontario. Solid Gold Photo Fall 2009.
I'm sorry I can't post a photo of the intersection of Shania Twain Blvd. and Brunette St.
I'm even sorrier that I don't have a photo of The Middle Finger Response storefront.

Street Sense

Montreal Fall 2009 Mile End.

A Few Things

I have two clear regrets: one dumb and superficial, one deep and complicated and unbearable. The first is that at a comedy show in Las Vegas, I lied about where I was from, saying Montreal instead of Timmins, Ontario. Stating the truth would have been funnier than what turned out to be fairly standard run of the mill show biz cynicism. The second regret is that I didn't say goodbye to my eldest brother properly. This is an excerpt of a letter I sent to him. Joe died suddenly, though not unexpectedly, from cancer before he could read this.

"You are my brother, and I love you. That is the first thing, and really the main thing. The second thing is that I don’t think I’ve ever told you how proud I am of you. Really. I have a picture of you on my fridge and I often look at it because it reminds me of a story mom told me about you having saved a guy’s life at work. I was so very proud. I still am.
[...]
The other thing I wanted to say to you is that I admire that you really give it to the man. You have always been a strong mofo, and I love that. You don’t take shit from anyone and this is amazing. It has set a really good example for the rest of us. Keep goddam fighting in whatever way you can. I know I fucking will and I learned part of this from you. At least, I think I did anyway.
[...]
I’m also sorry we don’t know each other better. Perhaps it’s the age difference and all that. I don’t know. You were out of the house and married by the time I was ten. I moved away from Timmins over 25 years ago, and so did you. I don’t think we’re so very different, though. I’d like to think I’m like you in those strong ways. I can’t imagine what you are going through, though I’m sorry you have to go through it. It’s hard to explain and I won’t try. Please understand that I mean this in a good way.
[...]

Love,

Merrianne."

Neighborhood Nihilism: DIY

Montreal Ruelle Mile End: September 2009. I don't know what would be left to dance about after all of the fighting, fucking and destroying. Maybe it's supposed to be ironic. Or something.

So You Think You Can ...

A Facebook Wall exchange between me and my friend Krista, one of the most well-read, spoken and travelled individuals I know.

KS Not sure how i feel about sytycd-c...

ME

I know. The ballroom judge is out of control and the outfits are total trash and this leaves me with a meh about the dancing.

KS

That "house" dance was nothing more, to me, than "a night at the roxbury", yet everyone raved about it. Wha?
And the ballroom guy? he forgot a word in english, but instead of admitting it, he pretended that he was overcome with emotion and attempted to cry.
Not sure I can watch another episode.

ME

Don't get me started on the fake crying.

KS

Such shite.
I might just watch because I have a crush on Dan.

ME

I still like 'lil C too...when he's there. I tried to get tix to a show, but they were sold out. I would have looked like someone's gramma.

Who are you?

Best Foot Forward

Spadina Flip Flop -- could be a metaphor. Help me.
Toronto: September 2009.

The Ambivalent Side of the Tracks

Montreal Summer 2009.

Window Dressing

This sign in NYC (5th Avenue) made me cry.

The Diva Factor

(Staten Island Ferry Vista August 15, 2009)

This is an email from me to my old friend Bryan. He and his wife happened to be in New York City at the same time as my boyfriend Paul and I were. While we were successful in completing the NYC half-marathon (the reason for our visit), we had no success reaching them by telephone. I was still in a post-race rant haze apologizing for this oversight a day later:

"I'm so sorry we didn't get a chance to call. For one thing, it's crazy trying to find a functional pay phone in NYC -- we had very marginal luck with this, and couldn't really find free wifi. And, if the call isn't local, it's even more mayhem as we discovered. The race was super fun, though the logistics were a bit of a nightmare: not enough water (don't get me started on that), very few potty places, no pace bunnies (and they apparently ran out of medals at the end -- everyone is supposed to get one). The swag wasn't very good either: a t-shirt a some yucky lip balm. BUT, it was still great: the route was awesome, though at various points there was the competing urban stink of excrement and garbage and geez urine too. Oh well. That's not the fault of the organizers, though, and the volunteers were very nice. We ran slowly and for a very long time. I finished in 2 hours 42 minutes and P's time was 2:40. Paula Radcliffe, the person who won, finished in under 1 hour 9 minutes...(!) Now I'm dealing with a bit of chafe around the waist -- WTF? who knew???? Anyway. On Saturday night we went to the free Martha Wainwright dance thing at Central Park -- it was totally wonderful. We experienced the M-60 Bus through Astoria to LaGuardia airport -- all of the passengers were like t.v. characters -- kind of unreal. And then, we were detained by customs in Montreal. Apparently, suspicion is raised if you don't actually buy anything. Again, the learning curve of the weekend was pretty high. We spent a lot of time on public transport and we even did the Staten Island Ferry! So that was our weekend.

I hope you're enjoying yourselves. See you in Montreal."

Synchronicity

Staten Island Ferry (NYC) 2009

Protecting the (not so) innocent.

A recent chat with Sarah, who frequently advises me on ethical matters:






me: I effing wish I could put this in the blog because you can NOT make this stuff up.

Sarah: I know.

me: I know.

Sarah: Don't you dare.

me: I won't.

Double Tin Nostalgia

Soundscape of my youth in Timmins, ON (1974).
Two Tin Men in Powell River, BC (2009).
Perhaps not such a long journey.

The Road(s) Not Taken

Recently received spam:

Become a Chef Merrianne!!
Become a Photographer Merrianne!!!
Merrianne, I found you a new job.
Nurses wanted Merrianne!!
Merrianne, View Photos of Singles Near You.
Insure your vehicle Merrianne!!!
Merrrianne, $4,000 Scholarship Giveaway for Parents: Register Today!
Become a CSI online Merrianne!!
Meet real Christian singles, Merrianne!!
Merrianne: Auction Listing Position - Easy Work - Great Pay.
Become a Teacher Merrianne!!
Merrianne Wanted: Individuals to work at home.
Merrianne Flush pounds of nasty black waste out of your intestines!
Merrianne What is the government's best kept secret? FREE money?
Merrianne Amazing Dental Product Delivers Fast!

Could this be the "yellow wood" of the 21st Century? Scary.

One Hundred Mile Diet

This ditty was recently heard on the radio program "Democracy Now" by my good friend and uber-gardener/chef/artist/filmmaker/activist Gian. The song punctuated an on-air discussion of what Gian described as "the crap food epidemic."

I worried that the song would be free advertising.

Sign of the Times

Powell River: Summer 2009.
Photo: www.rabideye.com

Coconut Intelligence

In a recent email, I asked my friend David about some things such as how to edit pics properly, how to tag properly and other technical stuff related to improving my writing and the presentation of this blog. I also asked him to "make me smart."Inexplicably, ahem, our conversation devolved into:

David: Can we do that when you're here? (Or is that what you were saying anyway?)
Me: Yes. That's what I was saying. lol. I am going to drink tonight. Malibu coconut rum. And pineapple juice. Yummmy.
TEN minutes later:
Me: Oh sooooo effing good. Yeah. Tropical-like. Oozing with flavour. And booze. I'm conversating with the alcohol.
ONE minute later:
Me: I'm drunk already.



TWO DAYS later:
David: WHOA. Last night: margaritas. WHOA.
Me: I HAVE to tell you. The way to go is Malibu Rum.
Way. To. Go. Such a pleasant droopy drunk, I was. And so happy. x

Digital Style Consult

Day 2 of the haircut.
A bit of a disaster, so I bought a flat iron and some product.
xoxoox

|

Sarah :

We like it better today than yesterday... we being my office mates.
They were in my office while I was perusing email.

Merrianne :

Are you sure? I just had another look at it, and it kind of has the
Ontario small town secretary, khaki cargo pant middle aged office
thing going. x

Superlatives

Digital Details

Read online:

Michael Jackson was in a comma.

Michael Jackson rest in peas.

More Cowbell

An observation made to my buddy David, upon hearing that 70s rock band Prism would be performing in his neighborhood (Powell River: June 2009).

Me: I remember when I was in highschool that my then boyfriend
Steve went to Florida ...and returned with the new high tech apparatus called a....
walkman. Which was awesome!

He had a Prism cassette in there. I effing loved it so much
and thought it was so cool.



Thought that 8 track was sooooo backasswards.

Prism.

Rock on.

Actually...less rocking than I remember it.

Terrible really.

Oh well. You HAVE to go to the show mang.

Then go out for a Starbucks grande decaf skinny latte.

x

Still Life with Shoes

Mobile Blog

We leave for a three week trip to Thailand and plan to post
intermittently. Signage here is Montrealaise, though what's in a name
really? #

Textual Promiscuity

me: What is happening ?

Sarah: Merri, I have a confession to make.

me: Okay.

Sarah: I am reading those stupid twilight books and I'm hooked.

me: I know -- I've been told. I LOVE THE MOVIE...EDWARD IS HOT.

4:02 PM Sarah: They are sooo dumb

but soooo good too.

me: I know. I might read one during the trip.

Sarah: You'll finish it in like a day or two.

me: I thought you were gonna confess something REALLY bad.

Still Life with Fruit

From a recently submitted exam:

"Not everyone volunteers to have an apple shot off their head, even if it's by a proffessional (sic)."

Things Astrological

This is an email exchange between me and one of my closest girlfriends in the whole wide world. She has a penchant for reading the stars; I am more of a vulgarian, unintentionally as it so often turns out. The initial conversation has to do with me looking for a cheap way to get to Ottawa to run a half marathon:

From: Merrianne
Date: Tue, May 19, 2009 at 5:55 PM
To: D.

Thanks so much. There has been a wrench in the plans. Calf trouble. Very serious. Physio tomorrow. Don't want to talk about it. Very distressed.
xoxoxo
----------
From: D.
Date: Tue, May 19, 2009 at 7:11 PM
To: Merrianne

So sorry to hear that. Let me know if you change your mind about talking.

I just checked your transits and you've been undergoing a lot of stress via transiting Saturn through Virgo (health/service/wellness), riding over your natal Uranus & Pluto, and opposing your Chiron ("the wound, the WOUND!"). Transiting Saturn is exactly opposed to your natal Chiron right now. No wonder. Through this Saturn transit most of us have been struggling with some kind of illness/injury, or re-ordering for mental/emotional/whole health. Who knows why we must face these situations, which are a series of decisions, but we must, and so we do.

Thus if it's any consolation, yes, it's not personal, and yes, all these things must pass. Saturn has just gone direct again (since Saturday I believe) and I believe it's not going to go retrograde (the ma/lingering) anymore till it shuffles directly off into Libra in October. Additionally, it will pass directly over your natal Pluto as the last big trigger point, and to me, that signals some kind of regeneration via discipline, possibly something quite revolutionary for you.

lots of love -- take care and give me news when you can.
xoxo
-----------------
From: Merrianne
Date: Tue, May 19, 2009 at 7:31 PM
To: D.

Thank you for the astrological point of view. Need to get my head out
of the asshold perspective that I'm stuck in. Question: The 2nd
paragraph: so when does this saturn shit end? October? Fuck.
xom
-----------------
From: Merrianne
Date: Tue, May 19, 2009 at 7:32 PM
To: D.

By the way -- I like my typo "asshold" -- I like it a lot!
xom
-----------------
From: Merrianne
Date: Tue, May 19, 2009 at 7:33 PM
To: D.

Do you think that the "asshold" will go away or that the typo actually is the regeneration?
xom
-----------------------
From: Merrianne
Date: Tue, May 19, 2009 at 7:35 PM
To: D.

The Asshold.
-----------------------

Gaga Fame

Update on urgent matters pertaining to popular culture and tea.

6:09 PM Sarah: Allo?

me: Hey there... anything new?

Sarah: Nope.... busy trying to finish a grant proposal. You? Did you get your results yet?

6:10 PM me: Not 2 much. Waiting for Paul to get home from the dentist. I haven't gone back to the clinic yet to get the results [MRI – shoulder impingement syndrome as it turns out – very awful.]...probably on Tuesday. What's up for the weekend? And, more importantly, what is the deal with Lady Gaga?

6:11 PM Sarah: Clothing swap on Sunday... gotta clean the house bad.

me: Yeesh. LG?

Sarah: I don't know... all I know is that she's got kookie hair and some good but some real bad fashion sense.

me: I just heard a song where she says something like "I want your disco pole inside me” or something...very soft porn. Something like riding on your disco stick. Lyrics. Whoa.

As it turns out, I'm talking about this song:



Sarah: Meh... I haven't heard anything.

6:12 PM me: She likes to drink tea from tea cups...which I like.

Sarah: I only listen to cbc radio 3 for music. I am too cool for Lady Gaga.

me: Apparently, she misplaced her tea cup...anyway...maybe she was going for a very literal tempest in a teapot thing. Maybe it wasn’t her. I don't actually listen to anything...I hear about something, then listen to it. That sounds weird.

The Quitting of the Smoking with Megan

ONE WEEK INTO THE QUIT:

June 7, 2008: Me to Megan:
Holy Fucking Shit. Still.

I'm so happy that you are out and about and opening up and all of that...this is all good. I'm having a bit of a bad day...[REDACTED]...My space feels crammed up with garbage...a whole other thing. And I'm not feeling very happy coupley with Paul at all today and don't feel like going out to dinner with another (very nice) couple we hardly know. And, because I'm so goddam stubborn, I probably won't go and he'll go on his own, signalling the downward spiral of our relationship and then yuck yuck yuck. But why should I go out and fake it. This is the one thing I refuse to do. Fuck. Yes...feeling bitter over gawdknowswhatall. [REDACTED].

50 DAYS LATER:
July 20, 2008: Me to Megan:
Maybe you thought that I'd given in to the devil weed... Not yet. But it has been 50 days ferchrissakes and I had to write to someone, especially youze. [REDACTED]. I did run into an asshole who told me "Ah you could slip...very likely." Me, I wanted to kick his ass; instead, I got all agitated in my head and wanted to go home. Oh well.

TWO MONTH POINT:
August 1, 2008: Me to Megan:
Here's whassup with me: you are on facebook. That is what's up with me.
I have been on FIRE...in a bad way. Terrible terrible bad moods, picking fights, unable to stop myself from ranting. What is the deal with that? I don't think I can blame it on the quitting of the smoking, though I'm off the stupid gum and lozenges...it's been almost 2 weeks. My inner teenager is all about the "it's not fair" shit. Jesus...

SWEETNESS AND LIGHT -- One month prior to the quit.

Mid May 2008: Megan to Me:
I'm committed to the June 1st.
Even thinking about the crackbook. That way, I can speak to you more
directly. [REDACTED]. My friend Mary is coming back from England on the 31st so I'll have my last blow out with her…beer 'n' smokes.

May 20, 2008: Megan to Me:
If we win a crap load of money...I might take myself to a fat farm spa
like dealeo to assist with the detox part. From what I remember from
the last time I quit in Mtl...I seem to remember having cramps in my
belly for several days. I think the nicotine detox takes about a week
or so to actually leave the body. The psychological stuff takes years
and therapy.
With appreciation,
Wadada Wadada (that means love)

May 21, 2008: Me to Megan:
Hey Megan, or should I say Wadada Wadada -- Actually, I searched Facebook today and there are quite a number of folks with this as part of their name...from Uganda mostly.
Thank you so much for reinvesting the winnings. I plan to buy some Nicorettes this week. In other ironic news, May 31st is (apparently) national no tobacco day -- they can shove that if it's our last chance for a smoke.
xoxoxoxm

May 30, 2008: Me to Megan:
[REDACTED]
We are gonna be nonsmokers!
love you xom

Spring Writes

One Flew Over the Dead Canary's Broken Cage
(Essay Title Winner 2009)

Urban Warrior

**

Hi, this is my draft
of which I wanted you to tell
if I was on the right lead.
I was suppose to bring in office hours yesterday. Sorry if 8h00 pm
is a little late
for you.

**

An email received from a desperate student the night before the term paper due date. Made me seriously doubt my teaching ability.

The student received an extension.
Park Avenue Montreal (Image)

Alphabet Stories

From my sister Suzanne:

"I just recalled I had a friend once (long ago) -- he had a Masters of English literature degree from McMasters -- he loved the letter "e" and would steal it from signs, books, written material,etc. He had quite a collection. He may be dead by now eeeeeeeeeeeeeee."

Signs and Symbols

This is an excerpt from a recent email exchange between me and my friend of almost 25 years, David. Very smart guy. I love that he tolerates my (frequent) Archie Bunkerisms. He has been both a computational linguist and a dishwasher. And I, a barmaid and teacher. We often discuss punctuation when we aren't ranting about various movie boyfriends and the state of the world (and recipes for girl drinks that end up green).

en media res

David: I'm weaning myself off semi-colons. Oh, how I love them!

Me: You are such an excellent writer, Dave -- always have been. Hah...I love the semi-colons too...my favourite punctuation mark. Are you at home?
Me: I also like question marks, though...especially the upside down one in Spanish.

David: I'm becoming dangerously fond of the em-dash. Or should I say em—dash?
Me: I like that too, but I don't know how to format it properly and it often looks like a double hyphen like this --

David: I dunno... double hyphen is double hyphen. Em-dash is its own character. The big question is — and here I insert this interjective clause—does it get set off with flanking spaces or jam up against the words it comes between? Wars have started over less.

Me: Don't get me started!! Hah. Interesting question re the em dash thing.
I prefer it to the double hyphen, but don't know how to do it on my
keyboard. What a loser....xm
David: Macintosh-type computer? It's either Command-hyphen or Command-Shift-hyphen or something like that. On Windows it's wait-for-rain-stand-outside-arms-akimbo-moaning-gently-call-help-desk-send-money-to-Gates-Foundation-shift-control-esc-delete-F1-F3-left-hand-yellow-right-foot-blue-TWISTER! (Starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton-cum-Pullman.)

--
David
- Show quoted text –

(I love the quoted text the most, especially David's)

Bad Moods and Teeth

A sample chat:

3:34 PMme: Hola ??

3:49 PM Sarah: Hello

r u la?

3:50 PM me: Yes.

Wot up?

Sarah: Nottin'

busy

ish

me: What are you doing at work?

Sarah: I'm in a bad mood.

me: How come?

Sarah: Tedious stuff.

Work is pissing me off.

me: Why?

3:51 PM Sarah: I don't want to get into it.

me: Ok.

I am on meds for high blood pressure now.

Eff. Me.

It's not a big deal. BUT it makes me feel OLD.

Sarah: oh crap.

Yer not old.

me: If one more doctor says "As we get older..." yadda yadda.

3:52 PM Sarah: It's also hereditary.

me: I'm serious. It's bumming me out. Yes. BUT no one is saying anything about that.

Not one medical dude ...

"As we get older...

it takes longer for injuries to heal."

Sarah: Well... it's hereditary.

me: "We have to take care of things..."

3:53 PM blah d. blah.

Sarah: You have a great lifestyle. You take care of yourself.

me: Even the goddam dentist was like "As we get older..." At the time, I didn't realize she was speaking to me, and I actually turned my head to see who she was speaking with.

Sarah: lol

me: It's tru.

3:54 PM Sarah: I believe you.

me: Then she pulled out my wisdom teeth. And they weren't cooperating because I'm old and the roots go down to my ankles. I had to go to a dental surgeon because "As we get older..."

Eff.

I hate that.

3:55 PM Enuff of that.

Sarah: Yes I hear you.

Writing and Perception

Here is a recent gmail chat with Sarah. I am seeking support and typing too quickly: the digital equivalent of being a bad listener.

me: You could tell me if the blog is bad. I am so self-conscious about writing.

Sarah: No it's good.

me: Then tell your friends to read it.

4:06 PM Sarah: I now just have to be careful re: what I write.

me: Careful in what way? I would NEVER identify -- oic...just got it...Forget about telling your friends.

Mebbe you should be on my blog team.

4:07 PM Whatever that is.

Or guest blog.

I wouldn't choose topics that would make u or your friends look bad.

Sarah: I am a follower.

me: Mainly it's about me.

4:08 PMU not really a follower.
This is like David [Sarah's younger brother] saying he was a crybaby.
Just doesn't match the truth of who you are.

Self perception is fucked up.

Here was poor old David thinking he was a crybaby when he got hisself broken up in so many ways when he was just a little baby, little like the twins.

4:09 PMSarah: Dude... I follow your blog... I'm right there under followers.
me: Sandra [my sister-in-law] and I tried very hard at Heather's wedding to disabuse him of this idea he had about himself.
Oh yeah...follower. lolololol

I am seriously laughing my ass off.

Right off.

Maybe we should send this chat to David.

Mad Ad World

Last night I was watching American Idol and I got so excited by the
final performance of the evening, a song done by this kid who sometimes looks a little goth and/or what is being called emo, I think (Adam Lambert). Anyway all of the other contestants predictably choose total CRUD and he miraculously chooses Tears for Fears "Mad World" and I'm thinking, "Holy shit; this guy's the real deal. Someone has finally chosen something worthy, something indicative of artistry, context and talent." They had to select a song from the year of their birth. I was so excited. And naive. Still.

Here is part of my (very necessary) cultural debriefing yahoo chat with Cinderelli (a.k.a Sarah my niece in Toronto):

merrianne(1:14 PM): Okay. So. I gotta talk about American Idol because
in the years of that stupid show NO ONE has ever picked an excellent
song that was NOT already a commercial hit...someone sang a Tears for
Fears song last night and it really was awesome. They all choose such
effing crap. And this was inspirational.
merrianne(1:16 PM): Really was. I couldn't believe it. I was waiting
for some shitty bon jovi or effing dreck from cold play or other junk
and was so surprised. Well, it wouldn't have been cold play, but some
80s version of anthem rock that is just nauseating.

Sarah(1:16 PM): sorry on the phone...

merrianne(1:17 PM): That's okay. I'm kind of on a rant about Idol and
terrible 80s music...when IN FACT there was a lot of great 80s music.
merrianne(1:18 PM): I always thought that maybe there was some
licensing thing that prevented the contestants from actually choosing
the good stuff. Wrong oh wrong.

Sarah(1:18 PM): They are too young.

merrianne(1:18 PM): Tru dat.

Sarah(1:18 PM): They were born in the 8os if not 90s.

merrianne(1:19 PM): BUT if you were really into music and wanted to
be a singer wouldn't it be your hobby to know a lot about it?
merrianne(1:19 PM): Especially if you were chosen to be on a huge TV
show and know that you're gonna have to choose songs. Why choose all
the shit?

She responds with this by facebook:
"The reason that kid knows the song is because it was re-done
recently... like a year or two ago... and it was in a commercial that
got alot of play for a video game."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccWrbGEFgI8

I was devastated and wanted to twitter it, but I blogged it here instead. I wanted to be wrong and maybe not so old and I didn't want the video game featured in the youtube video to get free advertising, but I guess it did anyway last night. Media mayhem indeed.

A Bilingual Chat with Sarah

I love Sarah very much. She is my niece. We chat every day, many times a day. She lives in Toronto with her husband and twins. I live in Montreal. Sarah is completely bilingual. Me, not so much. I butcher English too. And Spanish. This is mainly a test blog. Forgive moi.

me: u d'aire?

Sarah: oui allo?

4:28 PM me: j'suis ici...

tete tro occupee?

Sarah: quoi?

un peu... pas vraiment

me: me, I'm am writing in the french. y

4:29 PM or yo yo yo...

Sarah: on vas avoir du gateau dans une couple de minutes

4:30 PM on celebre les enfants nees en fevrier

dans notre bureau

me: u lucky dog.

que bueno!

Sarah: i never eat it though

me: have a good slice...xoxom

why the cake?

Sarah: only on my birthday month

4:31 PM i just have an extra coffee

me: is it someone's bday?

4:32 PM Sarah: every month we celebrate birthdays of the people born in that month

it's cake day

me: kewl.

Sarah: i gatta go sing now

me: okay buh buye.

xoxoxo