The thesis-less update

My zest for coconut has been renewed. I'm just finishing a delicious slice of coconut cream pie. I think it's passed key lime pie on my pie list, which I try to update on a semi-annual basis.

You know it's almost summer in Saskatoon when it takes you an hour to get home from Scott's Parables. The timing of traffic lights in the city is mind-boggling. There are so many large sections of pylons saying roadwork is being conducted, but I see very little roadwork being done. Saskatoon makes Toronto look like Daytona Speedway at this time of year.

Discovered a great restaurant the other day called Schnitzels, a breaded pork joint. Gotta love places that give you a discount with a church bulletin on Sunday.

I went crazy on Ebay the other day, and pretty much blew a whole paycheck. I picked up the complete boxset of 24 for almost half-price...the box has Asian writing on it, but the contents are English...no biggie. Also picked up a Chicago Bears jersey and a stunning New Orleans Saints jersey. Yes, stunning and football can be used in the same sentence.

So I turn 24 on Friday. Almost halfway to 50, and what have I done? All around me, I see people finding their significant others, settling down, getting married, buying houses, having kids. People settling into careers. People experiencing adventures in different countries, different provinces. People taking risks. People taking life by the horns and not caring what other people think. I'm not doing any of this, and I can't help but feel jealous watching everyone around me experience these things. It feels like I'm lagging way behind everyone. When everyone asks me "what's new?", it's always nothing. I'm not disappointed with what I've accomplished this far...I have a B.A. and am closing in on a Masters degree. I should be able to find a career and settle into a place of my own in the next year, God willing. It just feels like I should have accomplished more by now.

I don't think I need to "change" in order to attain these things in life. I have great family and friends who believe in me, and for that I am very thankful. I'm more confidant in my abilities than I have ever been before...Lord knows I've struggled with that for years. I've always been a patient man...they say good things come to those who wait. I guess I'm waiting to see if that statement rings true as far as I'm concerned.

Bah, birthdays make me think too much...but I've needed to get that off my chest for some time now, and I'm glad I did.

If y'all stop by Extra Foods between 10am-2pm or at Louis at the People in Planes and Pilate concert (tickets $15, 8pm) this Friday June 2, you can buy me a coke. I promise I'll smile extra-wide, just for you ;)

Not your average bear...I mean...list

I thought this was a cooler-than-usual forward. Plug and play!

Directions:Put your music player on shuffle.
Press forward for each question.
Use the song title as the answer to the question.
No cheating!

How am I feeling today?
Sweet Euphoria (Chris Cornell)...sure, why not?

Will I get far in life?
Tension Head (Queens of the Stone Age)...I need a stress ball first.

How do my friends see me?
Army Reserve (Pearl Jam)...OUCH! YOU GUYS!

When will I get Married?
Let Me Go (Three Days Grace)...I'm guessing it might be awhile with that attitude!

What's my best friend's theme song?
My Name is Jonas (Weezer)...actually, I think a few of you are Weezer fans.

What is the story of my life?
Forfeit (Chevelle)...yeah, I am pretty lazy.

What is/was highschool like?
Eyes Wired Shut (Edgewater)...HAHAHA!

How can I get ahead in life?
Still (Foo Fighters)...do nothing, eh? I'm willing to give that a shot!

What is the best thing about me?
Too Pretty (Big Dismal)...oh gosh...tee hee...

How is today going to be?
Torture Me (Red Hot Chili Peppers)...I'll save this one for tomorrow!

What is in store for this weekend?
Wide Eyed (Wide Mouth Mason)...wait a minute, weren't my eyes wired shut a few answers ago?

What song describes my parents?
Complicated Questions (Finger Eleven)...ain't that the truth!

What song descirbes my grandparents?
Intro (Sum 41)...well, they can't ALL be winners, folks.

How is my life going?
Simple Man (Shinedown)...ok, this is getting both freaky and precise!

What song will they play at my funeral?
Yearning (The Trews)...hey, that wouldn't be too shabby!

How does the world see me?
Exhausted (Foo Fighters)...nah, that's how I see myself!

Will I have a happy life?
Army Reserve (Pearl Jam)...wow, twice in one survey. Consider the message sent! lol

What song describes my relationships with my friends?
Running Out of Days (Three Doors Down)...how disturbingly ominous. Moving on...

What song describes my romantic status?
Whatsername (Green Day) Couldn't have been more funny and on the mark!

Be still my beating heart!

I've been conflicted about oil recently. For one, the price of oil has risen to ridiculous levels in recent months. However, Ducks from Anaheim are covered with it and trail Edmonton 3-0! That third period tonight was craaaazy. It was just like watching a Riders game...you get cocky and arrogant once they build up a lead, then you fear for your life once that lead quickly disappears, then you ask God to help them hang on/come back. God seems to like the Oilers better than the Riders though ;)

Still reading thesis stuff...probably start some typing relatively soon. I think I said that last update too ;) It helps that there won't be any new episodes of 24 to distract me until Janaury!

Saw Sam Roberts with friends from school last week. I like his older stuff waaaay better. Fun show though. Also went to the driving range with said friends on Sunday, and actually didn't suck. I might drop some of you loyal readers a line in the next few weeks to see if anyone's interested in going to the range and honing some skills...

I was reading a story about a horse that recently won the Kentucky Derby, but then broke his ankle in the next major race. They called it a "life-threatening injury", with odds of survival at 50-50. OK, I'm no animal person, but I'm pretty sure that a horse need not go to the glue factory because of a broken ankle. Shouldn't this be re-phrased to say "life-threatening injury" for its owners? ;)

Yikes, I turn 24 next week. I should probably start acting my age ;)

So true, so funny

How you doin'?

Killing time before bed, and I realized this would be as good a time as any to update the blog.

Despite being addicted to procrastination (the Oilers, 24, and the list goes on), I think I'll be able to start typing Chapter 1 of my thesis by week's end. I'm reading a thesis written by a student a few years ago who was supervised by my current supervisor for my paper, and I think our papers will be similar in style. I think I've read enough to type a relatively decent 8-10 page introduction. Basically, I'll be able to identify the problem, lay out my central arguments, describe the important contributions made to the field by various authors, and show how I'll be making a unique contribution to existing literature. I think I can do that...and it'll be nice to get away from books and feel as though I'm making some progress on the written front. Once I get writing, I think I'll be more driven to work on this more. Reading bores me to tears...that is, if I was capable of producing tears ;)

I'm loving the Oilers playoff run...it's just a shame that I have to miss Game 6 for work! Can I make it through the whole night not hearing the score, then watching the game on tape when I'm done? Probably not. So here's my plan: I believe the photolab supervisor works on Wednesday night, and she decides what the store televisions play for the customers. It's usually the flavour of the week, like Monsters Inc. I will suggest playing the Oilers games on the TVs, as it will generate more interest from the male demographic, who are more likely to buy whatever the heck brand of TV it is that we sell. There are cross-promotion opportunities abound here, and most importantly, I get what I want!

Speaking of hockey, I couldn't help but hear Sharks fans boo the Canadian anthem before Game 5. I'm not one to complain, seeing as though Canadian fans have been less than hospitable to the American anthem. It makes me wonder though: why do we even bother playing the anthem before the game anyway? Most of the players don't even represent the country in which their team is located in the first place. Save the anthem for the Olympics, and we cut down on controversies such as this one...and you know Oiler fans will boo the American anthem with tremendous energy in Game 6.

Am I petty for not wanting to see Mission Impossible 3 because it has Tom Cruise in it? I have not been able to stand the man over the last few months, and don't really want to reward him for his behaviour...

Stoked for the 2 hour 24 season finale next week. So many plot twists, so little time, especially with Bierko back in the mix and Logan flirting with impeachment. You know there's going to be another giant plot twist, but I'm racking my brain trying to think of what it might be. That's why I love this show. Don't even bother calling me or MSNing me between 7-9pm on Monday lol.

Going to see Sam Roberts tomorrow night at Louis' with Ashley and Rhiannon. I don't get to see them as much now that our attendance is no longer required on campus...should be a hoot, if previous experiences with the two are any indication!

It's time for me to make like a bee, and buzz off.

Raine Storm

So me and my buddy Shaun went to go see the OLP concert at TCU Place last night...

The opening bands actually didn't suck! And their knew their place...they didn't play longer then 20-25 minutes.

Neveredning White Lights was up next. I wasn't sure how their set was going to work, seeing as though their album is sung by a lot of guest artists. The "regular singer" sang most of the songs off the album and did a nice job, but he teased that there were some surprises in store for the crowd. As soon as he says that, Raine Maida from OLP comes out and does his song. Technically that can be billed as a bit of a surprise, but not really since he's already booked to be there. Then the band starts playing the hit song "The Grace", and we're all expecting Dallas Green to come out...he didn't. The normal guy sang it well, and then they were done. I guess since he said "surpriseS", I expected something else to happen. Oh well, they were cool.

OLP was awesome. I've heard stories of Maida singing brutally live, but he was on his game last night. The lights were so bright (almost Neverending), I had to bury my head a few times. They played a lot of their classics, with some new stuff here and there. A jolly good time.

The cool part happened halfway through the concert. Maida takes the mic midway through his song and asks how all of us are doing up on the 3rd balcony, presumably having pity for us being that high up. Actually, the seats were great, and they were cheap to boot! Then he disappears off stage...for a while. Then the door to the 3rd balcony opens, and it's Raine Maida. He motions for us to follow him down the staircase, and he tells us WE'RE GOING ON STAGE! I scramble out of my seat and crawl out of the row so that I ensure I'm one of the lucky few who gets to go. Shaun and I are laughing all the day down the stairs, running as fast we can after Maida, and because a cop was telling us to move faster. We all got to stand behind the drum set, and the band members came right up to all of us and partied. My throat and hands are sore from all the approval I gave the band. NOW I know the rush Colin gets while he's on stage. What a junkie ;)

And that's the story of my third time on stage at Centennial Auditorium LOL

Musicpalooza

I knew I shouldn't have gone into Future Shop today.

I ended up buying new albums by the Goo Goo Dolls, Tool, Sam Roberts and Pearl Jam. Not one of them was over 14 bucks, much to my surprise. Ate a nice hole in my wallet though, especially since it was money that should have been directed towards my car registration (didn't I just pay that??). Oh well, at least I have some new music I can crank the volume with to drown out my profanity when I leave SGI ;)

I'm listening to a copy of the new Red Hot Chili Peppers album that has been leaked onto the internet. 2 CDs, 28 songs, 1 very pleased customer who will purchase it next week. WE WANT CHILI WILLI!

I'm off to Our Lady Peace in 2 hours...I'm thinking of sneaking in a radio so I can get updates from the Flames game LOL