Yes! Yes! Yes!

cunningplan @ 2009-12-31T11:38:00

2009-12-31T16:34:14Z

Thank you very much to everyone who commented on my last post - I'm going to think about it and reply to comments after work. You guys are the best! &hearts!

I had meant to do a "Christmas was awesome" post before I got distracted by all that stuff. So... Christmas was awesome! If any of you remember my Christmas last year (my mom spent most of the holidays in the hospital), they pretty much sucked, so this was a nice change.
Everyone got along really well, our family spent a lot of time together playing cards (poker) and Trivial Pursuit - we actually went through ALL of the question cards in the game over the past week or two :D Then I got a Wii from my dad, totally unexpectedly as we weren't supposed to be doing "big" gifts, just stocking stuffers. My sister and I spent last weekend playing the sports games that come with it, mostly bowling, which was a lot of fun. It was really nice spending time together :) Despite the wii from Dad, it was also absolutely awesome not doing big gifts. I only had to go into the mall once this year! So much less stress.

I hope that your holidays have been lovely so far, and you have a safe and happy new year! &hearts&hearts&hearts

Etsy artses - help!

2009-12-23T05:56:14Z

Ok, so I mentioned I wanted to put some prints up on Etsy. I would appreciate it if you guys could give me some advice on what I should print. I'm thinking maybe 4 or 5? Even if you've never commented or anything on my journal before, or we don't know each other, I don't care, I'd love your opinion! And who doesn't love ticky boxes?

bird -

horse -

aurora city -

communication/red towers -

blue city -

veins -

saturated -

nebulous -

green & grey -

lone tree -

View Poll: Etsy artses

Thank you, everyone!

cunningplan @ 2009-12-19T02:29:00

2009-12-19T07:29:43Z

I'm done school for the semester, which is an intense relief. Unfortunately I'm pretty sure that I failed one of my classes, because I didn't hand in one assignment which was worth 20%, and I don't have enough marks to make a 65% pass without it. Meh - I'm going to try not to stew over it, I'll just have to re-take it in summer semester. I've been swamped with school for the past month or so... luckily there was lots of awesome fic posted during drawn_to to procrastinate with :D

I have yet to do any Christmas shopping - my family is only doing stockings, but still, I should probably get on that. It's been sooo nice avoiding the mall, though. I'm also working on setting up my Etsy shop, I might ask you all for your thoughts on what art and photo prints I end up selling. I don't think I'll sell much (anything?), but I want to have my art up somewhere so that it's easier to point people there when they ask me about it, and I figure if I can sell a couple of prints, so much the better :D

Less than a month until new episodes of Chuck! I think I'm in the mood to re-watch all of it so far...

cunningplan @ 2009-12-14T23:55:00

2009-12-15T04:55:35Z

This is beautiful! Labuat (via rivers_bend)

cunningplan @ 2009-12-10T19:03:00

2009-12-11T00:03:28Z

We don't need no education,
We don't need no mel control.

Which song was this lyric from?

...and a hufflepuff! in an art history.

2009-12-07T05:09:04Z

On the twelfth day of Christmas, cunningplan sent to me...

Twelve thestrals sketching

Eleven thoroughbreds vaulting

Ten horses a-dancing

Nine books backpacking

Eight warmbloods a-painting

Seven concerts a-travelling

Six pre-raphaelites eventing

Five ba-a-a-adger bitches

Four ya books

Three gay rights

Two shiny things

...and a hufflepuff! in an art history.

Thanks for the hugs and the cookies, you guys are the best! I'm feeling a bit better now, I just get a bit low around the holidays sometimes.

cunningplan @ 2009-12-06T17:45:00

2009-12-06T22:45:14Z

christmas time is so fucking depressing

It's December? Really?

2009-12-02T17:34:27Z

It feels like late September/early October. Not that I'm complaining, it's just weird. The weather here is absolutely beautiful right now, sunny, no wind, and 9C (that's about 48F?). I wish I wasn't at work right now. I literally walked in the door and got my head torn off by my boss for no reason. Wish I didn't need the money :(

The Muppets do Bohemian Rhapsody

2009-11-25T02:14:30Z

I know most of you will have seen this, but it's one of the most epic things ever, so for posterity, and in case you haven't seen it yet...

Advice on printer/scanners?

2009-11-24T02:38:40Z

Does anyone have a recommendation for a good printer/scanner? I'm looking for something with high res scan, good quality photo printing, preferably around or under $200...
I was looking at an Epson Artisan, does anyone have experience with them?

Rural Alberta Advantage @ Call the Office - 21/11/2009

2009-11-22T19:42:38Z

Wow, that was amazing. Seriously, I have such good luck with bands, I don't even know. ♥

Ok, so I was debating over whether I should go to the Rural Alberta Advantage show in London last night - I had worked for my dad that day so I had a bit of extra cash, the ticket was only $10, and I absolutely love that band. I did security backstage during their set at Hillside, but couldn't see anything because of all the artists packed around to see them. On the downside, I would be going by myself, which I always find really awkward. I'm fine during a band's set, when I'm in the crowd, it's just between sets and before that I feel like a loser. Plus, it's an hour drive that I could spend sitting at home on my computer :D

Anyway, I ended up going, got there around 10. I went over to the merch table for a minute because I figured I could kill a bit of time saying hello to the band before going to be awkward in a corner somewhere. Nils and Paul were both at the table - I said hi to them, talked to them about Hillside for a minute, and I asked Nils when they were going to go on. He said probably not until midnight; I think I made a face and told him I was there on my own. Paul (their fantastic drummer) said "You should stay here and hang out with us!"

I ended up hanging out with Nils and then Paul and Amy for a couple of hours, just sat behind the merch table and chatted about their tour, art, books, Paul's plethora of Star Trek t-shirts, whatever. They were super, super nice and never made me feel like I was imposing. Before I left after the show Paul said I could hang out with them anytime :D

The show itself was AWESOME - they are definitely on par with Hey Rosetta! and Elliott Brood for the best live acts I've seen. They had apparently played a really intense show at Lee's in Toronto the night before, and poor Nils was pretty much losing his voice. The crowd helped him by singing our hearts out :D Paul is incredible - I read a review somewhere where the reviewer said he actually thought Paul was a drum machine at first, he's so fast. If you get a chance to see them (they're touring in the US in December and January) I highly recommend them. Also, pick up their album Hometowns, it's fantastic!

Cirque

2009-11-15T05:11:39Z

I just got home from seeing Alegria in London, it was so awesome and beautiful! It reminds me of why I actualfax thought about running away to join the circus when I was a teen ;)

Cirque du Soleil always amazes me... and makes me aware of just how out of shape I am. I used to be flexible, really! 5 years ago I could do the splits, put a foot behind my head, and stand on a moving horse - now I can't even touch my toes, and can probably barely sit on a horse, lol :D

stuff!

2009-11-14T00:57:29Z

I registered an Etsy store! It's empty right now, but I did it, go me :D Hopefully will have time over the weekend to make a banner, do my bio thingy and post a couple of items. I've been working on some miniature paintings and have some photos. I really loathe trying to take decent pictures of my art though, they always end up looking bad.
Of course, being on Etsy just makes me want to buy so many things, must restrain myself, am pretty broke. I've seen tonnes of stuff that I want to buy for family for Christmas, though.

Only three weeks until trip to Toronto for Hey Rosetta! <3<3<3 I never did contact Erin (their violinist) to get put on the list for the show, ended up just buying a ticket instead. I always feel lame or like I'm harassing musicians when I email them (even though she told me to). It's easier just to buy a ticket, and I want to support my favourite bands anyway, so :)

How are you all doing on this fine Friday evening?

lest we forget

2009-11-11T17:15:18Z

In Flanders Fields
John McCrae, May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

(I lost my poppy - I feel like a total tool walking around on Remembrance Day with no poppy on, will have to see if I can find a new one on my lunch break)

horsy problems :(

2009-11-04T22:48:19Z

My horse Cally has developed some respiratory problems and isn't keeping weight on at all. I was already having trouble affording her monthly board and have been trying to sell her for the past year, but because of the economy and the fact that she's not completely trained, I wasn't able to find anyone to take her. Then she got sick - I just got a bill for $500 (I've already paid $100 earlier) from the vet coming out to look at her and one medication we tried. He still doesn't 100% know what's wrong with her; he wants me to send her to a equine veterinary hospital in London for a scope (which with transportation costs, etc, would probably end up being another $1000). That's still just diagnosis, that's not including any treatment. It's looking like whatever we do this is going to be a chronic condition and require meds for the rest of her life, and she's only 6 years old. If I give her away chances are she would eventually end up at the meat packers, and I don't want that to ever happen to her. I'm starting to think I might have to put her down. I really don't know what to do. Even if I cut out everything extra from my budget (which is basically concerts and travelling, I don't really ever buy much "stuff") I'm still going to be getting deeper into debt than I already am. I'm trying to get a second job but it's really hard to find the extra time because of school. I feel so horrible that I'm even considering this, but I don't know what else to do :(

:(

2009-10-20T04:02:54Z

I'm feeling really stupid right now. I'm two weeks late on an assignment for one of my classes - it's just this marketing plan thing, but I can't seem to wrap my head around it. It's worth 30% of my final mark. And now I can't seem to figure out my LCC cataloguing assignment, either! Cataloguing classes have been the classes that I could get through with great grades no matter what, they always came naturally - I'm staring at my reading and my assignment like it's written in Swahili. I almost started crying a minute ago, I'm so upset and frustrated. I don't know why none of this is making any sense :( I can feel myself sliding down this slippery slope until I'm behind in every class and just give up -- oh wait, I am behind in every class as of midnight tonight. Awesome. I'm only 7 classes from finishing, and I totally want to pitch the whole thing right at this moment.

Should drop the class that I'm the worse off in? But I've already got a couple of withdrawals on my transcript, doesn't that look bad? Plus it's a pre-req for another class, so if I withdraw, that means I can't graduate until after summer semester...

Dan Mangan <3<3<3

2009-10-11T07:09:50Z

I can't even describe how happy I am right now. Just got home from seeing Dan Mangan play at Paddy's in Sarnia, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. I got to hang out with 'Manda and introduce her to one of my favourite bands! Before the show, I talked to Erin, the violin player from Hey Rosetta!, who is touring with Dan, and she is going to put me on the list for the HR! show in Toronto in December. Then we stood directly in front of the stage, and I danced my ass off, sang along to all of the words, got to play the jingle bells on a couple of songs - Dan asked my name and then said "I like you, Mel!" in the mic, lol. I rocked the fuck out for 'Robots' while Dan stood on the bar. I made an awesome new friend who was up front and singing too, and we stood and talked to Dan, his brother Neil, and bass player Michael for about two hours about art, life, tattoos, music, and happiness. Seriously, I feel like I'm just overflowing with joy in being alive right in this moment.

I feel so good about who I am as a person right now, just hanging around and having dialogue with these amazing people and connecting with them makes me feel like I can do anything. It makes me want to create and make other people happy. I want to feel like this always.

(ps - I love you guys, I hope you all know that <3)

cunningplan @ 2009-10-01T18:57:00

2009-10-01T22:54:24Z

GUYS MY BABY SISTER IS GETTING MARRIED IN TWO DAYS GUYS!!!!! (I'm maybe freaking out just a tiny bit)

cunningplan @ 2009-09-29T21:38:00

2009-09-30T01:41:09Z

Kate Harding writes an excellent article at Jezebel about how Roman Polanski is a criminal, not someone being censored or persecuted for his art. Contents may be triggery. [via sheafrotherdon]

cunningplan @ 2009-09-23T19:47:00

2009-09-24T00:01:10Z

Interesting article: Coming Out in Middle School

cunningplan @ 2009-09-17T19:56:00

2009-09-17T23:59:49Z

shenanigans + the FC podcast + band tweets make me excited for the possibility of new music soon... exciting! something to do with Midtown? y/n/maybe?

cunningplan @ 2009-09-15T01:41:00

2009-09-15T05:43:10Z

I think I may have posted this before, but it bears repeating. One of my favourite, most heart-wrenching music videos. I hope someone loves me like this someday.

Thanks guys!

2009-09-12T04:24:50Z

How useful is it to have a built-in online panel to judge your outfit before you go out? VERY. Now I won't be tempted to wander the mall after I get my hair cut tomorrow and buy a new dress :D

help, I can't dress myself!

2009-09-12T01:11:50Z

My sister's bachelorette is tomorrow night, and we're all supposed to wear our "little black dress". So, this?

Yes, no, maybe?

Classes start today! I'm taking 3 courses this semester, plus my first work placement, plus still working full time. I still haven't sold/given away my horse. My sister gets married in 3 weeks. *pulls out hair* Ok, I'm not actually stressed out yet. I think that I'm just stressed out at the thought of how stressed out I'm going to be in 2 or 3 weeks :D

Anyone want some art?

2009-09-02T03:37:15Z

Does anyone want a small piece of original art? I'm doing some small pieces while experimenting with different media, and I'd like to give them to people if anyone wants one. First three here and first three over on Twitter (@cacophonously)