I was going to try my hand at making two week's worth of Freezer Meals. So far I've marinated a bunch of chicken and thrown it into the freezer. Not exactly a good start, but better than nothing.
The point of Freezer Meals is to make ahead as many complete and cooked meals as you like and then just freeze them into individual portions. When you wake up in the morning, just pull a meal out of the freezer and put it in the fridge to thaw out. When you come from work, you pop the meal into the microwave or oven to reheat and away you go. Nutritious meal made fast!
It's an awesome way to have a healthy meal every day, but without the time constraints. You can freeze almost anything too: rice, mashed potatoes, pasta, vegetables... the only things that aren't recommended for freezing would be cream sauces that contain milk and similar dairy type things like that.
There are people who literally freeze a month's worth of meals at a time. It's a lot of work and takes a lot of preparation, but apparently it can be done! There are websites dedicated to this practice. I couldn't believe it when I read it.
I can see the benefits though. A normal family, 2 parents with careers and 2 or 3 kids each involved in extra-curricular activities, doesn't leave much time to make a good dinner. Life is rushed, things need to get done, so why waste 2 hours on preparing, cooking, and eating a meal?
All it takes is one weekend a month. Friday you decide what meals you want to freeze. Saturday you shop for the ingredients. Sunday you cook and freeze. There's obviously a lot more that goes into it than that, but you get the idea. I've been reading lots about it and I've picked up on many neat tricks and hints for getting the most out of your freezer meals. It's just a matter of actually making the meals!
My kitchen is fucking TINY! There's barely any counter space at all and it makes it really hard to do anything in there, even when it's completely clean and everything's put away. It's frustrating.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Barbies
I played with barbies when I was in 7th grade primarily because I had a little sister, 3 years younger than I, and she still liked barbies, but also because I still kind of liked barbies. I found this article on MSN today and it's about how Barbie is really struggling to keep her title as number one doll in the world.
Mattel pins hopes on Barbie's makeover
It got me thinking about toys for children and how tastes change through the generations. When it comes to tweens (ages 10-12), girls don't want to play with barbies like they did when I was a tween. They want iPods, cell phones, laptops, video games. The "Barbie phase" is shorter lived in comparison to when I was a tween.
When I was a tween, I played with barbies, I rode my bike everywhere, and I would rock out to Backstreet Boys in my room with my friends.
Yes I tried to dress inappropriately (ie too sexy) for my age. Yes I was obsessed with clothes and lipgloss and looking cool. Yes I practiced dance moves in front of my mirror. Some things never change. Girls will always be this way.
But somehow it feels different.
Music: Will my 10 year old have an iPod (or whatever it is that exists when my child is 10)
When I was 10 I had a walkman. When discman's came out, my mom bought me one of those for Christmas. The iPod is the next generation logically speaking. So, why do I feel like a 10 year old with an iPod is crazy? Is it because it's more expensive than a discman?
Laptop: Will my 10 year old have her own laptop? That's so hard to decide because who knows how the school system will change by the time I have a 10 year old? Maybe that's how all homework will be completed. The reason why I didn't have a laptop when I was 10 was because it didn't really exist. So, why do I feel like a 10 year old with her own laptop is excessive? What's wrong with sharing a PC between family members like I did growing up?
Communication: Will my 10 year old have a Blackberry or other similar device? The way things are going, everyone is going to have a smart phone eventually. The thought of even a 13 year old with a normal cell phone is disturbing to me. I didn't get my first cell phone until I was 16!
Video Games: They've been around forever it seems. Personally, I wasn't allowed to have them growing up, but I know my children will grow up with video games. They just will. They make video games for toddlers straight through to adults.
I keep seeing this commercial for a video game for toddlers. You hook up this plastic stationary bike to the TV and the kid can learn about letters and numbers through games all while peddling on this bike. It's so stupid. Why don't you buy your kid a fucking tricycle and let your child get some fresh air outside.
I can see how this stupid plastic bike video game is tempting to parents. Their child gets to learn while exercising indoors, keeping safe, not breaking anything in the house as well as keeping quiet and occupied. But where's the adventure? Where's the exploration? Where's the cuts and scrapes and mud puddles that go along with playing outside?
It makes me sad. That's the world my child will grow up in. There will be little to no make-believe games. No creativity or imagination required at play time. Everything my child plays with will be a video game of some sorts (encouraging learning of course) or a gadget or something with batteries or that needs to be charged or plugged in.
Barbie will eventually morph into some sort of walking and talking robot (that encourages learning of course.)
Mattel pins hopes on Barbie's makeover
It got me thinking about toys for children and how tastes change through the generations. When it comes to tweens (ages 10-12), girls don't want to play with barbies like they did when I was a tween. They want iPods, cell phones, laptops, video games. The "Barbie phase" is shorter lived in comparison to when I was a tween.
When I was a tween, I played with barbies, I rode my bike everywhere, and I would rock out to Backstreet Boys in my room with my friends.
Yes I tried to dress inappropriately (ie too sexy) for my age. Yes I was obsessed with clothes and lipgloss and looking cool. Yes I practiced dance moves in front of my mirror. Some things never change. Girls will always be this way.
But somehow it feels different.
Music: Will my 10 year old have an iPod (or whatever it is that exists when my child is 10)
When I was 10 I had a walkman. When discman's came out, my mom bought me one of those for Christmas. The iPod is the next generation logically speaking. So, why do I feel like a 10 year old with an iPod is crazy? Is it because it's more expensive than a discman?
Laptop: Will my 10 year old have her own laptop? That's so hard to decide because who knows how the school system will change by the time I have a 10 year old? Maybe that's how all homework will be completed. The reason why I didn't have a laptop when I was 10 was because it didn't really exist. So, why do I feel like a 10 year old with her own laptop is excessive? What's wrong with sharing a PC between family members like I did growing up?
Communication: Will my 10 year old have a Blackberry or other similar device? The way things are going, everyone is going to have a smart phone eventually. The thought of even a 13 year old with a normal cell phone is disturbing to me. I didn't get my first cell phone until I was 16!
Video Games: They've been around forever it seems. Personally, I wasn't allowed to have them growing up, but I know my children will grow up with video games. They just will. They make video games for toddlers straight through to adults.
I keep seeing this commercial for a video game for toddlers. You hook up this plastic stationary bike to the TV and the kid can learn about letters and numbers through games all while peddling on this bike. It's so stupid. Why don't you buy your kid a fucking tricycle and let your child get some fresh air outside.
I can see how this stupid plastic bike video game is tempting to parents. Their child gets to learn while exercising indoors, keeping safe, not breaking anything in the house as well as keeping quiet and occupied. But where's the adventure? Where's the exploration? Where's the cuts and scrapes and mud puddles that go along with playing outside?
It makes me sad. That's the world my child will grow up in. There will be little to no make-believe games. No creativity or imagination required at play time. Everything my child plays with will be a video game of some sorts (encouraging learning of course) or a gadget or something with batteries or that needs to be charged or plugged in.
Barbie will eventually morph into some sort of walking and talking robot (that encourages learning of course.)
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Addiction
Hi, my name's Chelsea and I'm addicted to shopping.
(chorus: Hi Chelsea.)
I seriously think I might have a problem. I spend money I don't have. I buy things that are not essential to living. I'm constantly in debt because I live off my credit card and max it out every month. When I try to pay it off, I can only pay off some of it, but then I have no more money, so I have to live off my credit card until my next payday. It's terrible!
Even though I'm living beyond my means, it's not like I'm buying frivolous crap or squandering my money and having nothing to show for it. I'm usually buying things for the apartment and kitchen, upgrades of sorts.
The reasons why I'm buying this stuff is because:
Buying things makes me feel good, especially when I'm buying something that is on sale and a great deal. My heart pumps a little bit faster. I feel really happy as the transaction is going through and I know that in mere seconds, the product will be considered mine and I can take it home and do as I wish with it.
Probably 3 minutes after I've claimed ownership over something the guilt and shame sets in. I think, omg what have I done? What did I just buy? Why did I buy this? Did I really need this?
There's still time to turn around and return it, but I throw my bag in the trunk of my car and drive home.
What I should really do is lower my credit limit and lock my Visa up in the safe where it's harder to get at. I use my Visa for everything and that is not a healthy habit right now since I'm unable to pay off that outstanding balance.
Maybe if I worked regular hours like normal people it wouldn't be so bad. I admit, I'm often bored at home so I go to the mall "just to look" and end up spotting some great deals and buying everything I can. I just have to tell myself to fuck off and put down the Visa before I bankrupt myself and can't pay my rent.
It's sad because I know that a lot of people out there live the way I do. Maybe they don't think it's an issue, but for me it's a problem that's only going to get worse as Christmas approaches.
(chorus: Hi Chelsea.)
I seriously think I might have a problem. I spend money I don't have. I buy things that are not essential to living. I'm constantly in debt because I live off my credit card and max it out every month. When I try to pay it off, I can only pay off some of it, but then I have no more money, so I have to live off my credit card until my next payday. It's terrible!
Even though I'm living beyond my means, it's not like I'm buying frivolous crap or squandering my money and having nothing to show for it. I'm usually buying things for the apartment and kitchen, upgrades of sorts.
The reasons why I'm buying this stuff is because:
- it's on sale and the price is too good to pass up
- it's something I think will make my life better or easier
- I really like it and I want it
- my Halloween costume from Value Village $30
- a mini trampoline from Walmart for exercising in the apartment $40
- groceries (for 2 ppl) $150
- cat food and litter (for 3 cats) $80
- 1 pair of Lucky Brand Jeans $100
- but I had to buy the jeans to save 30% on this awesome sweater that I've been in love with for months and absolutely just had to have before they ran out of stock (which they did once but thankfully they ordered more!) $100
- some glass tupperware type containers from Sears that you can freeze and also put in the oven (up to 400 degress F) plus they're dishwasher and microwave safe and they were on for 10% off $98
Buying things makes me feel good, especially when I'm buying something that is on sale and a great deal. My heart pumps a little bit faster. I feel really happy as the transaction is going through and I know that in mere seconds, the product will be considered mine and I can take it home and do as I wish with it.
Probably 3 minutes after I've claimed ownership over something the guilt and shame sets in. I think, omg what have I done? What did I just buy? Why did I buy this? Did I really need this?
There's still time to turn around and return it, but I throw my bag in the trunk of my car and drive home.
What I should really do is lower my credit limit and lock my Visa up in the safe where it's harder to get at. I use my Visa for everything and that is not a healthy habit right now since I'm unable to pay off that outstanding balance.
Maybe if I worked regular hours like normal people it wouldn't be so bad. I admit, I'm often bored at home so I go to the mall "just to look" and end up spotting some great deals and buying everything I can. I just have to tell myself to fuck off and put down the Visa before I bankrupt myself and can't pay my rent.
It's sad because I know that a lot of people out there live the way I do. Maybe they don't think it's an issue, but for me it's a problem that's only going to get worse as Christmas approaches.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
A Baby Story
Dave and I got two free months of cable from Shaw. They're constantly calling us to ask if we want to bundle shit together and we keep telling 'em NO!!!
But when they asked if we wanted to try two months of basic digital cable for free PLUS get $10 off our internet bill for two months, we said we would as long as we could cancel our cable after the two free months was up.
Since getting cable, all I watch is TLC and Slice. Those are the two best channels in the world.
There is one show in particular that I've been watching, even though I hate it, and it's called A Baby Story. Perhaps you've heard of it? CLICK HERE to watch an episode if you like. Scroll ahead to about a 1:40 in if you want to cut to the good stuff.
Every episode I watch I am in tears! This mom didn't scream as much as some others do. If you go to TLC's website you can watch all sorts of birth videos!
I just can't handle watching it sometimes and I think about if I ever gave birth how I'd probably want to die. I'd be on so much drugs I wouldn't want to feel any pain. Ugh I feel sick thinking about giving birth.
And then afterward the nurses just hand the mom this bloody mess of a baby covered in all this gook and fluids and it's so disgusting and the mother's crying and I'm crying on the couch, and it's over and we're all so glad that it's over.
The getting pregnant part doesn't seem so bad of course, and then being pregnant seems to be okay... it's the giving birth part that leaves a lot to be desired.
A lot of it is ignorance on my behalf. I don't really know how child birth works. I've never had a conversation with a pregnant woman about how her pregnancy is going. Each woman is different and each pregnancy is different. There are so many complications that can occur and it's like the more I learn about it, the less I want to go through with it.
Then comes the part of the show where you see the new baby adapting to life at home. The baby is clean and cute and sleeping. The mom looks fabulous and is holding her precious jewel wrapped up in soft cuddly blankets. That's when I change my mind and am like, well maybe I want to get pregnant still. It seems like it would be worthwhile in the end.
But when they asked if we wanted to try two months of basic digital cable for free PLUS get $10 off our internet bill for two months, we said we would as long as we could cancel our cable after the two free months was up.
Since getting cable, all I watch is TLC and Slice. Those are the two best channels in the world.
There is one show in particular that I've been watching, even though I hate it, and it's called A Baby Story. Perhaps you've heard of it? CLICK HERE to watch an episode if you like. Scroll ahead to about a 1:40 in if you want to cut to the good stuff.
Every episode I watch I am in tears! This mom didn't scream as much as some others do. If you go to TLC's website you can watch all sorts of birth videos!
I just can't handle watching it sometimes and I think about if I ever gave birth how I'd probably want to die. I'd be on so much drugs I wouldn't want to feel any pain. Ugh I feel sick thinking about giving birth.
And then afterward the nurses just hand the mom this bloody mess of a baby covered in all this gook and fluids and it's so disgusting and the mother's crying and I'm crying on the couch, and it's over and we're all so glad that it's over.
The getting pregnant part doesn't seem so bad of course, and then being pregnant seems to be okay... it's the giving birth part that leaves a lot to be desired.
A lot of it is ignorance on my behalf. I don't really know how child birth works. I've never had a conversation with a pregnant woman about how her pregnancy is going. Each woman is different and each pregnancy is different. There are so many complications that can occur and it's like the more I learn about it, the less I want to go through with it.
Then comes the part of the show where you see the new baby adapting to life at home. The baby is clean and cute and sleeping. The mom looks fabulous and is holding her precious jewel wrapped up in soft cuddly blankets. That's when I change my mind and am like, well maybe I want to get pregnant still. It seems like it would be worthwhile in the end.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Surprise Toast
I was reading some articles about how to incorporate more fruit into your diet and which fruits and vegetables were in season for October. Most of it I already know, and practice doing.
Things like, buying a variety of fresh, frozen, dried, and canned fruits, so no matter what you'll always have some on hand. I keep canned pineapple, mandarins, and peaches in the house at all times. They're great for making cobblers and other baking. I keep bags and bags of frozen fruit in the freezer. I make smoothies out of them, and I also bake muffins and cobblers with them. I always have raisins in the house. They're great to put in my porridge. I keep other dried fruits in the house like cranberries, cherries, and blueberries to make homemade granola bars with.
Fresh fruit and vegetables I have such a hard time eating though. It's not that I don't like eating them, because I really do, it's just like I always forget I have fresh fruit and vegetables in the house. They go bad. I throw them out. I buy some more and repeat the cycle.
I like eating cold fruit, so my fruit is usually hidden away in the crisper where I can't see it when I open the fridge. Room temperature apples and oranges are the very worst to eat! It's not refreshing at all!
I love biting into the flesh of a cold orange, and having the juice run all over my hands and face. I like to imagine I'm a savage and the orange is my warthog that I have just slain. Using my teeth and sucking the fruit off the peel is like ripping the warthog's bloody meat off the bone. It makes the orange taste so much more delicious!
Anyway, while reading the articles I was very randomly reminded of 'Surprise Toast.'
I can't remember how old I was, probably between the ages of 7-9 and my sister would have been between the ages of 4-6. One day I woke up and my parents were still sleeping, so I decided to make breakfast by myself for my sister and I. I wanted it to be a special and interesting breakfast, so I invented Surprise Toast.
It's toast with a smiley face decorated on it with various food items that I could find in the house that didn't require a sharp knife to cut up.
I'd toast the bread and spread it with peanut butter, or jam, or both. I usually used cake sprinkles for the hair, raisins or chocolate chips for the mouth, a marshmallow nose, and bananas for the eyes (since I could use a butter knife to cut up the banana.)
My sister thought this was THE BEST fucking breakfast in the entire universe! When she saw it her face lit up and and she was the happiest little girl in town.
From then on, she'd always ask me to make it for her. I was a pretty creative little kid and I would often try to change things up. Whatever I could find in the house to use to create the face I would, whether it be nuts for the mouth, cereal hair, grapes or berries for eyes, smarties for the nose. I would just find stuff to make a face on her toast.
It was always awesome and my sister always ate it and thanked me for breakfast. The reason why it was called Surprise Toast was because my sister never knew what ingredients I'd use to make the face on the toast.
I've been laughing about it for like twenty minutes now and I can't stop thinking about it. The thought of me as a little kid in my pajamas, making this infamous Surprise Toast unsupervised in the kitchen is a riot because I'd spill stuff, and leave all my ingredients sitting out on the counter for mom to find and clean when she woke up.
My sister and I liked to play restaurant and we would wake up early in the morning and draw up menus and give them to mom while she was still in bed so she could order what she wanted to have for breakfast. Her options were usually cereal, Surprise Toast, and then something impossible for a child to make by herself like french toast or pancakes. Secretly we always hoped she'd order Surprise Toast and we'd often try to up-sell it at her bedside. Mom usually just got up and made bacon and eggs and hash-browns. Mmm so good!
Sigh, good times being a little kid. I hope when I have children, they're as awesome as I was when I was a child. And I'm going to make sure my kids eat Surprise Toast for breakfast too!
Things like, buying a variety of fresh, frozen, dried, and canned fruits, so no matter what you'll always have some on hand. I keep canned pineapple, mandarins, and peaches in the house at all times. They're great for making cobblers and other baking. I keep bags and bags of frozen fruit in the freezer. I make smoothies out of them, and I also bake muffins and cobblers with them. I always have raisins in the house. They're great to put in my porridge. I keep other dried fruits in the house like cranberries, cherries, and blueberries to make homemade granola bars with.
Fresh fruit and vegetables I have such a hard time eating though. It's not that I don't like eating them, because I really do, it's just like I always forget I have fresh fruit and vegetables in the house. They go bad. I throw them out. I buy some more and repeat the cycle.
I like eating cold fruit, so my fruit is usually hidden away in the crisper where I can't see it when I open the fridge. Room temperature apples and oranges are the very worst to eat! It's not refreshing at all!
I love biting into the flesh of a cold orange, and having the juice run all over my hands and face. I like to imagine I'm a savage and the orange is my warthog that I have just slain. Using my teeth and sucking the fruit off the peel is like ripping the warthog's bloody meat off the bone. It makes the orange taste so much more delicious!
Anyway, while reading the articles I was very randomly reminded of 'Surprise Toast.'
I can't remember how old I was, probably between the ages of 7-9 and my sister would have been between the ages of 4-6. One day I woke up and my parents were still sleeping, so I decided to make breakfast by myself for my sister and I. I wanted it to be a special and interesting breakfast, so I invented Surprise Toast.
It's toast with a smiley face decorated on it with various food items that I could find in the house that didn't require a sharp knife to cut up.
I'd toast the bread and spread it with peanut butter, or jam, or both. I usually used cake sprinkles for the hair, raisins or chocolate chips for the mouth, a marshmallow nose, and bananas for the eyes (since I could use a butter knife to cut up the banana.)
My sister thought this was THE BEST fucking breakfast in the entire universe! When she saw it her face lit up and and she was the happiest little girl in town.
From then on, she'd always ask me to make it for her. I was a pretty creative little kid and I would often try to change things up. Whatever I could find in the house to use to create the face I would, whether it be nuts for the mouth, cereal hair, grapes or berries for eyes, smarties for the nose. I would just find stuff to make a face on her toast.
It was always awesome and my sister always ate it and thanked me for breakfast. The reason why it was called Surprise Toast was because my sister never knew what ingredients I'd use to make the face on the toast.
I've been laughing about it for like twenty minutes now and I can't stop thinking about it. The thought of me as a little kid in my pajamas, making this infamous Surprise Toast unsupervised in the kitchen is a riot because I'd spill stuff, and leave all my ingredients sitting out on the counter for mom to find and clean when she woke up.
My sister and I liked to play restaurant and we would wake up early in the morning and draw up menus and give them to mom while she was still in bed so she could order what she wanted to have for breakfast. Her options were usually cereal, Surprise Toast, and then something impossible for a child to make by herself like french toast or pancakes. Secretly we always hoped she'd order Surprise Toast and we'd often try to up-sell it at her bedside. Mom usually just got up and made bacon and eggs and hash-browns. Mmm so good!
Sigh, good times being a little kid. I hope when I have children, they're as awesome as I was when I was a child. And I'm going to make sure my kids eat Surprise Toast for breakfast too!
Friday, October 16, 2009
Live Shows
I used to go to a LOT of shows... and I still do go to a fair bit of them, but there are so many things that annoy me when I go to concerts and they are as follows.
The Audience
I like to be on the floor and close to the stage, like many others do, but I don't understand people who insist on being front and centre. What does it matter? People push and shove their way right up the very front of the stage where they got squashed and stepped on and can barely breathe, let alone move!
Girls are especially bad for this. And then they're upset when strangers grope them, and ram them into the gates. I've even seen girls cry because they're stuck in such a horrible position and the OBO has to haul their sorry asses out before they suffocate. I always laugh at those losers.
I also hate people who insist on taking shitty cell phone videos and pictures of the concert. Honestly, your photos looks like shit. NOBODY on the internet cares to look at it because it doesn't look good. You're friends and family seriously don't care either. Plus you look like a fucking retard holding your phone up in the air and it often is in my way of seeing what's happening on stage. I must admit that when I see people doing that, I secretly wish they get shoved and drop their phone and it breaks. (Yes, I shove people who are taking cell phone vids and pics.)
The Performers
I don't care if I paid $5 or $75 to come see you play live, but I certainly did not pay to have you hold your microphone into the crowd and have your fans sing the chorus for you. I really hate that. It's a douchy move to make.
Also, don't tell me to fucking clap along. This isn't nursery school. Every time the lead singer says, "C'mon y'all, get your hands up!" I lose respect.
There is one exception where I will clap along: If the song has clapping in it as part of the percussion and the lead singer wants me to clap along during the part of the song that was recorded with clapping in it, then that is acceptable. So far the ONE and ONLY band that I have ever clapped along with is Tokyo Police Club. They rock.
This next pet peeve is aimed at bands who haven't been together long and haven't played many lives shows. I don't know why, but these fresh bands feel the need to fill the empty space between songs with chatter. It's actually very unnecessary and nobody in the audience gives a fuck what you're saying because it's usually not important, not funny, and not interesting to listen to.
In between songs, you don't have to say a word. Just tune your guitar if you have to, the lead singer should introduce the title of the next song, or mention what album it's off of. Perhaps thank the audience for being an awesome crowd.
A big no-no is when someone in the band says something like: "This next song we're about to play is about living your life to the fullest and not letting people get you down because life rocks and we shouldn't' be afraid to just live our lives the way we want to."
Wow. Thanks your input. I don't care.
Everyone perceives a song differently and in my opinion, music is about striking an emotion. Just like a book or a movie, people want to feel moved by what they see, hear, or read. They want to be scared, they want to cry, they want to laugh, they want to feel encouraged.
So, when you explicitly describe to the tee what the song is about for YOU, you're clouding the emotions that your audience might have in regards to the song and in essence, ruining it for them.
I can't remember the artist, but I recall whoever it was, they had a hit single or whatever and when they made the music video for it, it was like watching a Windows Media Player visualization. It was a bunch of colours swirling and changing shape and stuff.
The reason why the artist did that was because he said he didn't want to distort other people's perception of the song that they had. Because when you listen to a song, you create a picture for that song in your head. When you watch the music video, you've seen someone else's interpretation of the song and that can often alter your perception of the song once you see that.
To me that's pretty respectable.
There's probably many more things that are highly annoying when I go to a show, but these ones I've listed are the main ones!
The Audience
I like to be on the floor and close to the stage, like many others do, but I don't understand people who insist on being front and centre. What does it matter? People push and shove their way right up the very front of the stage where they got squashed and stepped on and can barely breathe, let alone move!
Girls are especially bad for this. And then they're upset when strangers grope them, and ram them into the gates. I've even seen girls cry because they're stuck in such a horrible position and the OBO has to haul their sorry asses out before they suffocate. I always laugh at those losers.
I also hate people who insist on taking shitty cell phone videos and pictures of the concert. Honestly, your photos looks like shit. NOBODY on the internet cares to look at it because it doesn't look good. You're friends and family seriously don't care either. Plus you look like a fucking retard holding your phone up in the air and it often is in my way of seeing what's happening on stage. I must admit that when I see people doing that, I secretly wish they get shoved and drop their phone and it breaks. (Yes, I shove people who are taking cell phone vids and pics.)
The Performers
I don't care if I paid $5 or $75 to come see you play live, but I certainly did not pay to have you hold your microphone into the crowd and have your fans sing the chorus for you. I really hate that. It's a douchy move to make.
Also, don't tell me to fucking clap along. This isn't nursery school. Every time the lead singer says, "C'mon y'all, get your hands up!" I lose respect.
There is one exception where I will clap along: If the song has clapping in it as part of the percussion and the lead singer wants me to clap along during the part of the song that was recorded with clapping in it, then that is acceptable. So far the ONE and ONLY band that I have ever clapped along with is Tokyo Police Club. They rock.
This next pet peeve is aimed at bands who haven't been together long and haven't played many lives shows. I don't know why, but these fresh bands feel the need to fill the empty space between songs with chatter. It's actually very unnecessary and nobody in the audience gives a fuck what you're saying because it's usually not important, not funny, and not interesting to listen to.
In between songs, you don't have to say a word. Just tune your guitar if you have to, the lead singer should introduce the title of the next song, or mention what album it's off of. Perhaps thank the audience for being an awesome crowd.
A big no-no is when someone in the band says something like: "This next song we're about to play is about living your life to the fullest and not letting people get you down because life rocks and we shouldn't' be afraid to just live our lives the way we want to."
Wow. Thanks your input. I don't care.
Everyone perceives a song differently and in my opinion, music is about striking an emotion. Just like a book or a movie, people want to feel moved by what they see, hear, or read. They want to be scared, they want to cry, they want to laugh, they want to feel encouraged.
So, when you explicitly describe to the tee what the song is about for YOU, you're clouding the emotions that your audience might have in regards to the song and in essence, ruining it for them.
I can't remember the artist, but I recall whoever it was, they had a hit single or whatever and when they made the music video for it, it was like watching a Windows Media Player visualization. It was a bunch of colours swirling and changing shape and stuff.
The reason why the artist did that was because he said he didn't want to distort other people's perception of the song that they had. Because when you listen to a song, you create a picture for that song in your head. When you watch the music video, you've seen someone else's interpretation of the song and that can often alter your perception of the song once you see that.
To me that's pretty respectable.
There's probably many more things that are highly annoying when I go to a show, but these ones I've listed are the main ones!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
A Politically Incorrect Shift
My first assignment when I got to work on Saturday was to go to the Odena Circle at The Forks for some sort of spiritual thanksgiving type thing. I don't even know. When I arrived, a white tent was set up, and there was barely 20 people there. Some musical acts were about to start playing.
While they were setting up, one of the guys from Eagle & Hawk, (that super famous Winnipeg aboriginal band that won a shit ton of awards and played with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra once at some awards night or something this year) anyway, one of the guys was giving away free CD's. Except to win a CD, you had to participate in his "Indian Bingo" as he called it. Wow.
He would ask if anyone in the audience had BLANK and then whoever rushed up first to prove it won. He called out for nail clippers, someone who was wearing a sock with a hole in it... things like that.
For the very last CD he said, "this one's for the young people! Who here has a hickey?"
People were laughing but nobody was calling bingo. I said, "I have a hickey... but I'm supposed to working."
He asked me to prove it, and I showed him. He called me a liar, saying the mark was made from my camera on my shoulder. I said, "no way! This is a real hickey!"
I won the CD! It's autographed! I like Eagle & Hawk, so that's awesome. He started making fun of me saying he wonders what else I do with my CBC camera when I'm not at work, and blah blah blah. Everyone was laughing and I was blushing!
My next stop was the Nomads Football Field. I couldn't find a damn place to park because there was construction everywhere! I finally just said screw it and parked in the emergency vehicle area. Who's gonna stop me? I work for the news damn it!!!
I had to wait until intermission to speak to a coach and find out the numbers of the players I was told to ISO. I tell the coach I want to do interviews with the two players. Coach says I can't do interviews with the players because they got rides here with other people and they won't want to wait in the cold as well as the other players will be jealous if they don't get to be on camera too. (Wtf? The story isn't about those other players)
That doesn't make sense, but okay. I ask, "when can I do an interview with the head coach. My reporter has some questions for him."
I'm told to go across the field and do the interviews while the game is going on, that way I can the two players and the coach and all will be fine and dandy and nobody goes home upset and cold.
I went across, but then some bitch ref with a huge ass tells me straight I cannot be on this side of the field and kicks me off. I tell her that the coach told me to come over here.
"Well, he's WRONG!"
well OKAY THEN!
I hauled my gear back to where I was before. The game started up. I started trying to ISO the two players. One of them was wrapped up in a blanket on the sidelines for most of the time. Great footage.
That stupid ref comes back around telling me to back away from the sides lines 5 ft. I back up. She tells me to back up more and some other guy stuck up for me and told Bitchy McFat-Ass that I WAS backed up 5 ft from the line. She left me alone for the rest of the game.
At the end of the game, I didn't get any interviews with the two kids I was supposed to. They left and the coaches didn't bother to tell them that I wanted to talk to them.
The coach was going to leave with out giving me an interview too. I cut him off though in the field explaining my reporter really wanted this interview.
(Also, apparently it was the coach who called the sports reporter and BEGGED for a camera to be sent out today so it's really weird that he didn't want to be more accommodating.)
The interview with him went fine. I got some great clips from him... but he said something really odd and I had to stop and think about it again.
He used the phrase "fresh off the boat" to explain how he had two players who were directly from Africa on his team. I really don't think that's politically correct.
I've got 4.5 more hours left of my shift to go... we'll see what else happens tonight.
While they were setting up, one of the guys from Eagle & Hawk, (that super famous Winnipeg aboriginal band that won a shit ton of awards and played with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra once at some awards night or something this year) anyway, one of the guys was giving away free CD's. Except to win a CD, you had to participate in his "Indian Bingo" as he called it. Wow.
He would ask if anyone in the audience had BLANK and then whoever rushed up first to prove it won. He called out for nail clippers, someone who was wearing a sock with a hole in it... things like that.
For the very last CD he said, "this one's for the young people! Who here has a hickey?"
People were laughing but nobody was calling bingo. I said, "I have a hickey... but I'm supposed to working."
He asked me to prove it, and I showed him. He called me a liar, saying the mark was made from my camera on my shoulder. I said, "no way! This is a real hickey!"
I won the CD! It's autographed! I like Eagle & Hawk, so that's awesome. He started making fun of me saying he wonders what else I do with my CBC camera when I'm not at work, and blah blah blah. Everyone was laughing and I was blushing!
My next stop was the Nomads Football Field. I couldn't find a damn place to park because there was construction everywhere! I finally just said screw it and parked in the emergency vehicle area. Who's gonna stop me? I work for the news damn it!!!
I had to wait until intermission to speak to a coach and find out the numbers of the players I was told to ISO. I tell the coach I want to do interviews with the two players. Coach says I can't do interviews with the players because they got rides here with other people and they won't want to wait in the cold as well as the other players will be jealous if they don't get to be on camera too. (Wtf? The story isn't about those other players)
That doesn't make sense, but okay. I ask, "when can I do an interview with the head coach. My reporter has some questions for him."
I'm told to go across the field and do the interviews while the game is going on, that way I can the two players and the coach and all will be fine and dandy and nobody goes home upset and cold.
I went across, but then some bitch ref with a huge ass tells me straight I cannot be on this side of the field and kicks me off. I tell her that the coach told me to come over here.
"Well, he's WRONG!"
well OKAY THEN!
I hauled my gear back to where I was before. The game started up. I started trying to ISO the two players. One of them was wrapped up in a blanket on the sidelines for most of the time. Great footage.
That stupid ref comes back around telling me to back away from the sides lines 5 ft. I back up. She tells me to back up more and some other guy stuck up for me and told Bitchy McFat-Ass that I WAS backed up 5 ft from the line. She left me alone for the rest of the game.
At the end of the game, I didn't get any interviews with the two kids I was supposed to. They left and the coaches didn't bother to tell them that I wanted to talk to them.
The coach was going to leave with out giving me an interview too. I cut him off though in the field explaining my reporter really wanted this interview.
(Also, apparently it was the coach who called the sports reporter and BEGGED for a camera to be sent out today so it's really weird that he didn't want to be more accommodating.)
The interview with him went fine. I got some great clips from him... but he said something really odd and I had to stop and think about it again.
He used the phrase "fresh off the boat" to explain how he had two players who were directly from Africa on his team. I really don't think that's politically correct.
I've got 4.5 more hours left of my shift to go... we'll see what else happens tonight.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Farmville Pt 2
I have officially deleted my Farmville account on Facebook. I was receiving too many error messages. I got to actually play the game only twice since signing up. I'm very pissed off about it but I had to do it to save my sanity. I was a level 4 farmer! Perhaps in a month I'll sign up again and start over. There's no point in keeping the account and waiting for Zynga or whatever it is that created Farmville to fix the bugs, because by then all my crops would be dead and I'd have nothing to harvest, therefore have no money, so I wouldn't be able to advance in the game and would have to start over anyway.
In other news, this morning I also heard the most horrible, obnoxious, and LOUD scraping/scratching noise coming from the kitchen. I thought it was one of my kitties being bad, so I went to go yell at him. It wasn't a kitty after all. It was actually the painters scraping the old paint off the back of my door.
Those painters have literally been painting our apartment complex ALL SUMMER! They started working on the apartment even before it was warm enough to pain, ie pressure washing the entire building and scraping.
Now autumn is upon us and they're still not done. I think they have just one more side of the building to finish painting. I really can't wait until they're done. You have no idea how many times I forget they're right outside my window and I'm prancing about naked.
In other news, this morning I also heard the most horrible, obnoxious, and LOUD scraping/scratching noise coming from the kitchen. I thought it was one of my kitties being bad, so I went to go yell at him. It wasn't a kitty after all. It was actually the painters scraping the old paint off the back of my door.
Those painters have literally been painting our apartment complex ALL SUMMER! They started working on the apartment even before it was warm enough to pain, ie pressure washing the entire building and scraping.
Now autumn is upon us and they're still not done. I think they have just one more side of the building to finish painting. I really can't wait until they're done. You have no idea how many times I forget they're right outside my window and I'm prancing about naked.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Farmville
I started playing Farmville today on Facebook. It's pretty fucking stupid, but I think it's going to grow on me and I will one day become obsessed with it.
How you play is you are a farmer. You plant, grow and harvest a variety of crops. The more you grow and harvest, the more money and experience points you get. The more money and experience points you get, the more crops and other farm items become "unlocked" and so on and so forth until you A) become addicted, B) become bored of it, or C) delete the application from your Facebook.
One of the main reasons why I decided to try it out was because I like to visit a site called Texts From Last Night and I kept reading various texts about Farmville and thought, okay, maybe I should just try it. If it's that retarded, I can always delete the application so third parties don't have access to my information.
I'm currently growing wheat, strawberries, eggplant, and soybeans in my farm. I have one Farmville Neighbour. When I went to visit his farm I noticed that all he was growing was cotton. He had fields of it. I also noticed his avatar was a black man. I tried not chuckle about it.
In conclusion, after reading this, go onto your Facebook and joing Farmville and invite me to be your friend/neighbour so I have something to keep me busy with at work today. Thank you.
How you play is you are a farmer. You plant, grow and harvest a variety of crops. The more you grow and harvest, the more money and experience points you get. The more money and experience points you get, the more crops and other farm items become "unlocked" and so on and so forth until you A) become addicted, B) become bored of it, or C) delete the application from your Facebook.
One of the main reasons why I decided to try it out was because I like to visit a site called Texts From Last Night and I kept reading various texts about Farmville and thought, okay, maybe I should just try it. If it's that retarded, I can always delete the application so third parties don't have access to my information.
I'm currently growing wheat, strawberries, eggplant, and soybeans in my farm. I have one Farmville Neighbour. When I went to visit his farm I noticed that all he was growing was cotton. He had fields of it. I also noticed his avatar was a black man. I tried not chuckle about it.
In conclusion, after reading this, go onto your Facebook and joing Farmville and invite me to be your friend/neighbour so I have something to keep me busy with at work today. Thank you.
