Despite the rain that seems to be plaguing Vancouver, there is an undeniable feeling of winter in my bones that makes me feel equally excited and calm. The excited part may have something to do with the fact that there’s exactly a month left until Christmas Eve.
Personally, I can’t wait for the snow. Granted, I should clarify that I am only a fan of it when I am either inside watching it fall down gracefully, or I am outside the next day and everything is covered in white and the sun is out.
What I am not a fan of is watching Vancouverites assuming they can resume with their regular 80 km/hour speed on roads and be utterly surprised when one minute they are driving down a street and the next, their car is teetering on the edge of a ditch. ROAD SENSE PEOPLE, ROAD SENSE!
But seriously, all those non-winter fans! What's not to enjoy about this season! Hot chocolate (or vanilla lattes, white chocolate mochas, spiked egg nog [really the list goes on and on here]), snowboarding (or whatever other snow activity that you prefer), fireplaces, the Christmas buzz (even if you're not a fan of the shopping-for-gifts aspect, there is a sense of community comradery that exists this time of year - and if you don't feel it then you are hanging out with the wrong crowd), and not to mention bundling up in all those layers of clothes (yes, you can be fashion-forward and still look good when you're wrapped up in layers upon layers to the point you can't see your toes anymore).
And don't get me started on the view...
That's a view up on cypress. Looks amazing, doesn't it? Or what about...
Up in the Okanagan. Views like this are gorgeous and are worth waking up early in the morning to see or to take a moment for yourself in the evening.
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
Now this song isn't winter/Christmas related to the average listener, but the piano in it gives me this majestic feeling where I imagine myself walking in the woods as the snow falls around all around me just as the sun is setting... maybe right during twilight (yes, those that know me well can laugh at me for that).
The song is called "Let Me Fall in Love" and is written and performed by Marketa Irglova. For anyone who is having one of those "she sounds so familiar" moments, she is one half of the Swell Season and starred in the indie film Once alongside Glenn Hansard. They won an Oscar for their song, "Falling Slowly" in the film.
I got to see her perform this past September when she opened up for Iron & Wine. She was a perfect fit for him as the opening act since she has that soft, lullaby voice as well. Best way to describe her performance was that she had the whole audience captivated.
♫ I’m gonna go go go! There’s no stopping me! I’m burning through the skies Yeah! Two hundred degrees! That’s why they call me Mister Fahrenheit! I’m trav’ling at the speed of light! I want to make a supersonic man out of you! Don’t stop me noooooooooooooooooooow! ♫
I’m slowly starting to compile my files together... all 28 of them. Who knows what the word count will be at that point!
I’ve only combined 3 files and that’s my word count so far. Granted there will be TONS of chopping and slicing when I manage to get to the self-editing process but I’m light-years away from that stage still.
Finding time to write is still my biggest problem. On top of being sick and everything else, I’m starting a part-time job and then a practicum position so there will be a lot of task-juggling and late-night writing/reading/studying binges but, I figure now that I’ve managed to pick up some momentum it’d be a shame to ignore it and stop.
I find that I feel the most motivated to write during my forensic psychology class where we discuss about psychopath profiling, mass homicide cases, gang crimes, etc. ... I don’t know what that says about me... Like I said, I'm just going to go with the momentum and just keep spewing these words out... like word vomit tee hee hee
Oh summer… where the hell were you these past couple months?
The summer weather may have failed us this year (although we did have that redeeming first week of September) but that doesn’t mean that there weren’t things to enjoy… particularly the music.
Now anyone who knows me knows that I’m a tad on the obsessive side with music. Never without music on, I’m a bit of an avid concert-goer and am constantly looking to expand my library list with anything. Granted, I admit I wasn’t always so open-minded with my interests in music genres and enclosed myself in mostly what was mainstream pop or hip-hop and RNB back in my high school years; however, I’d like to say my musical tastes have matured quite significantly and am not likely to turn down anything anymore – even country.
So enough with the narrative babble and now on with the music! Here is a compiled list of my favorite songs for the summer of 2011 – a mix of new and old. It was quite hard to narrow down this list but here are my favourite of what’s been playing off my player on repeat to help make up for the lack of summer heat! Enjoy!
Summer Pool Party/BBQ Song: Dudes –“Dropkick Queen of the Weekend”
What better way to start off the list than with a Canadian band! This band’s been around since the mid 90s but this track in particular is a couple years old as well. It has an upbeat tempo that gets stuck in my head for hours. Also the fact that fist pumping is mentioned earns the song major cool points.
Fave lyrics: And when she falls right off the deep end/Don’t bother throwing a line; you’d be wasting your time/She’s learned how to survive breathing rock and roll/Pumping her fist and she’s shaking her butt/When she comes to the show she don’t take shit from no man
The Underdog’s Song: Brett Dennen – “Comeback Kid (That’s My Dog)”
Granted it helps to title this when the Brett talks about underdogs in the song, but I just imagine this playing in a movie when the “loser”/underdog triumphs over the egotistical jock: he wins the girl, takes home the trophy, people rush up to him and hoist him up on their shoulders as they parade down the streets as the song plays in the background. Surely I just described some movie-in-the-making, haven’t I?
Fave lyrics: Well, here comes a comeback/The kid is back, is back on track/And there goes my hero/He’s an underdog, he’s coming out on top/And come on, come on back, that’s my dog
Heartbreak Song of the Summer: Adele – “Someone Like You”
I’m pretty sure this song has been well played by now on the radio and some are probably already sick of it, but I honestly can’t get enough of it. The lyrics themselves are gut-wrenching, but beautiful and every time I hear Adele choke up in the chorus, I get all teary too. Sure women can joke about spinsterhood and embracing becoming the cat-lady of her neighbourhood, but the scenario that Adele describes for us in this ballad would scar and scare any woman. So single, scorned women: turn up the volume for this track, screw the glass and just grab that bottle of wine and let yourself get lost in Adele’s voice!
Fave lyrics: Don’t forget me, I begged/I remember, you said/Sometimes it last in love/But sometimes it hurts instead
‘Parade Down the Street’ Song: Foster the People – “Helena Beat”
Listening to this song, (and I realize this has nothing to do with the lyrics and this is totally just based on the instrumentals) I always have the urge to start this procession down a really busy street and imagine all these random people first watching me with these bewildered expressions but then one by one, they’d join me and we’d just dance on and on until there’s no more road as we jumped, fist pumped and twirled like there was no tomorrow. *sigh* If only…
Fave lyrics: Sometimes life it takes you by the hair/Pulls you down before you know it, it’s gone/And you’re dead again/I’ve been places and I won’t pretend/Yeah I’d make it out just to fall on my head
The Gettaway Song: Two Door Cinema Club – “What You Know”
Alright I am just as confused as the next person in terms of what this music video is really about. It’s like a mix of all these different things that don’t really go together but the video has over 4 million hits on youtube so what the hell do I know. Ok but imagine this: you’re in like a Western movie setting… you just robbed a bank or a cargo train and you hop on your horse and go riding off with the cash tied to the saddle with your other bandits with you and the sheriff and other law enforcements are gunning after you… *queue this song in the background*
Fave lyrics: I am leaving, this is starting/To feel like it's right before my eyes/And I can taste it/It's my sweet beginning
‘Wake Up Next To’ Song: William Fitzsimmons – “Tied to Me”
The song gives me the vibe of that whole morning after – of waking up next to someone you love with this playing in the background. The sun peaking through curtained windows and the way you admire all the little details about that person as (s)he sleeps: the tousled bed hair; the slow rhythm of their breathing, the sheets tangled between limbs… ahhh… but that’s probably just me.
Fave lyrics: I’d like to linger with you till the morning/And pretend the winter has given to spring/Conjure up guilty reminders together/And fade into this like we both used to be
My Cruisin’ Song: Amos Lee – “Windows Are Rolled Down”
Ahh Amos Lee… I could listen to you all day while I drive my oh so cool, man-purple Corolla. Just give me your album, clear bright skies, endless open highway through flat wheat fields and I think I got a road trip to Saskatchewan in the works.
Fave lyrics: Is it what you dreamed it’d be/Are you locked up in this fantasy/Oh this miles that have torn us apart/My new found faith/And my broken heart
Summer Beach Song: Keith Urban – “Long, Hot Summer”
Ok, yes I do realize Keith Urban is country and I proudly admit that I tune into the country radio station constantly with the hopes of hearing this song play. Seriously! Just think of summer love flings, beaches, moonlit walks hand-in-hand with that special someone! And if you can’t imagine it then just watch the damn music video! (The guy in it is hella cute and I’m also facebook friends with him and yes I do feel the need to share that detail!) This song alone is enough of a temptation for me to buy Keith’s concert tickets! And yes… the rest of his CD is just as amazingly cheesy!
Fave lyrics: It’s gonna be a long hot summer, we should be together/With your feet up on the dashboard now/Singing along with the radio, it’s such a beautiful sound/And when you say my name in the middle of the day/I swear I see the stars come out/When you hold my hand in the back of my mind/Just waiting on the sun to go down, the sun to go down
The Next U2?: The Coronas – “Someone Else’s Hands”
Supposedly this band has been rumored to be the next big U2… honestly, I like U2 and obviously they are one hell of a successful band but I have to admit that I love Danny’s vocals way better than Bono’s. Props have to be given to my sister for introducing the band to me – unlike her I give credit where it’s due *cough, cough BLACK KEYS cough* Obviously, this isn’t a very happy ballad but I think the lyrics are truly beautiful and the piano really adds a great element to the song.
Fave lyrics: And I’m sorry but now I have to go/You know we got too close, I hope you understand/That I can’t give you all the things you want/You know my heart belongs in someone else’s hands
‘Adrenaline Pumping’ Song: 30 Seconds to Mars – “Closer to the Edge”
Jared Leto and his pink mohawk. Enough said. But really, this song just makes the blood start pumping faster in my veins! I would love to see this performed live in one of these huge open stadium venues.
Fave lyrics: It was a thousand to one and a million to two/Time to go down in flames and I’m taking you/Closer to the edge
Summer Love Song: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – “Home”
Such a sweet little song that I can’t help but smile with every listen.
Fave lyrics: We laugh until we think we’ll die/Barefoot on a summer night/Nothin’ new is sweeter than with you/And in the sticks we’re running free like’s it only you and me/Geez, you’re something to see
Current Club Jam: Timbaland & Pitbull & David Guetta – “Pass At Me”
I feel no real need to put up “fave lyrics” for this track since, who are we kidding, it’s Pitbull so you know there’s going to be some lame Spanish words mixed in with stuff about liking this girl and that girl but really he’s going to get it on with the third girl… yadda yadda… one thing leads to another… and what do you have? A track to bounce your booty to in the club ladies! Work it!
THE Taylor Swift song of the summer: Taylor Swift – “Better than Revenge”
There’s just something about me singing this song that gets my sister crackin’ up. Oh T-Swizzle, I wish you would write a song about me and how I either:
A)Broke up with you
B)Was the reason for your boyfriend breaking up with you
Fave lyrics: She’s not a saint/ And she’s not what you think/She’s an actress, whoa!/She’s better known/For the things that she does/On the mattress, whoa!
My Log Driver’s Song: Mumford & Sons – “Roll Away Your Stone”
You know that old school cartoon “Log Driver’s Waltz” cartoon? (If not then click on this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upsZZ2s3xv8 and maybe you’ll remember) Total Canadian thing, eh but doesn’t it bring back memories?! Ok, well were I to have to make my own version of that video and dance in real life, this song would be playing in the background despite it has nothing to do with log driving but totally has that outdoor-sy, woodsmen feel. Like how the parts where the instrumental accelerates would be when I would be going down crashing ravines and treacherous rivers and at the end of the day everyone would convene in the barn for a big cookout and dance - foot stomping, banjo, and all. (Side note: I totally want these first two lines for a tattoo and oh yes, props to my sis for introducing this band to me).
Fave lyrics: Stars hide your fires/For these here are my desires/And I won’t give them up to you this time around
Summer Lullaby: Iron & Wine - "Godless Brother in Love"
Sam just has one of those voices where he can just lull you right to sleep with his poetic lyrics. Five dollars to anyone that can decipher the meaning to any of his songs after only ONE listen. This song just has that sweet instrumental that leaves you on the cusp of waking and falling asleep.
Fave lyrics: And you can hear them on the hilltop laughing/Cursing every bird in the air/Telling her what fun they're having/Driving eyes closed
Fave Summer Music Video: Snow Patrol - "Called Out in the Dark"
Jack Davenport! Enough said! (Side note: I would totally be the guy in the green shirt).
Fave lyrics: I was called out in the dark/By a choir of beautiful cheats/And as the kids took back the parks/You and I were left with the streets
Current Track Obsession: The Head and the Heart - "Lost In My Mind"
A song of love, woe, loss, and bittersweet memories. Well you know I'm a sucker for all of those. An upcoming band from Seattle that has my full attention right now what with their album being amazing and their song playing non-stop on the radio as well. It's a song that fits any mood I'm in and I constantly find something new about it that I fall in love with each time. My dream-scene of seeing this band perform live is almost like the scene in their music video (from the 1:20 mark): outside at night, band performing and singing while facing the audience on the otherside of a campfire. People would have drinks in hand, snuggled up close to one another, maybe some twinkling lights...
Fave lyrics: Won't you tell me my brother/'Cause there are stars up above/We can start moving forward
As for the list I am going to leave it there, but not without mentioning a few more note-worthy songs and artists that I am really into as well:
Mat Kearney - "Hey Mama" <--- just a total feel good song
Aiden Knight - "Jasper"
Dan Mangan - "Oh Fortune"
Sydney York - "Dick and Jane"
Florence and the Machine - "What the Water Gave Me"
Rise Against - "Make It Stop"
LMFAO - "Hot Dog" <-- laugh my ass off listening to it everytime
So I hope you enjoyed this long, OVERDUE post and maybe got introduced to a couple new artists that you might potentially fall in love with. <3
When we were in our youth We had dreams that we could fly We had friends that weren't visible And love that never died
And as we grow old and felt the pain That we always knew the truth That love would heal if we stayed true To the dreams of our youth
Today would have marked the 30th birthday for our friend. Every day it is always with great sorrow that we are reminded that he is no longer with us, but he would know that his friends and family continue to honour his memory by trying to live our lives to the fullest: supporting one another, loving each other, and chasing those aspirations – that even though we think are unattainable and “out there” – he supported fully.
To mark this special day here are thirty of my most treasured memories of him.
1.The critique of my bright pink lego-hoodie that supposedly “did nothing for my figure”. I don’t care what you say, that hoodie is freaking comfortable and a perfect addition to my slob-wardrobe.
2.Screwing up that annotated bibliography, which forced us to have to put in a couple extra days to re-do and fix it. (I can hear your sinister laugh over it still)
3.Aquarius vs. Gemini
Aquarius
Gemini
Symbol:
The Water Bearer
The Twins
Element:
Air
Air
Favourite Colour:
Turquoise
Green
Key Body Parts:
Ankles, Circulatory System
Arms, shoulders, lungs
Ruling Planet:
Uranus
Mercury
Strengths:
Progressive, original humanitarian, independent
Curiousity, ability to share ideas, adaptable, affectionate, kind
Weaknesses:
Runs from emotional expression, uncompromising, temperamental, aloof
Scattering energy in too many places at once, fickle in love, nervous, short attention span
I think the evidence I provided speaks for itself since circulatory system trumps everything but we probably should have done this research together.
4.The non-Asian style karaoke night in a very busy pub with a lot of strangers and you singing way too many Taylor Swift songs.
5.The perfect rainy days: writing, Adele, tea (with cream and sugar though – yuck!)
6.How weird it was that whenever you called I was always in the middle of eating something and then you constantly demanding I send some of it over to you. (I swear those courier pigeons must have eaten it all)
7.The day I learned that you were a hockey-freak. It was incredibly frightening. I still have nightmares about it.
8.The day you learned I like rap and hip-hop. Especially Kanye West. I think you were incredibly frightened and probably had nightmares over it.
9.Bets during the Olympics; our best one being for the men’s hockey gold medal game. I’m just really happy I won because I would not have been too pleased keeping my end of that bargain.
10.The endless ridicule I heard from you over my French-speaking abilities. You = douche.
11.Receiving parcels in the mail.
12.Going out for Korean food the first time together where you ate enough for three people and walked out with red-chilli peppers in your teeth. Oh, glorious day.
13.Two words: THUNDER THIGHS! (And you thought you were too old to learn anything new)
14.Pirate wenches and Fabio. That’s all I’m going to say.
15.The day I came into class with my disastrously, short haircut only to have you point out that our hair pretty much looked the exact same (chin-length and wavy). It only got worse when I came in the next day wearing a grey beanie-cap to cover my head and you wore a similar beanie the exact same colour on the same day. Dear God I never heard the end of it.
16.Our tagline: “... and all that other optimistic shit you love.”
17.All that time I put in over the phone, explaining how to set up skype step-by-step only to realize once we were done that your laptop did not have a built in webcam.
18.J: I don’t know about med school but I do know I want to contribute to society. I don’t know like stopping forest fires, taming wild horses, rescuing seals, or maybe learning sign.”
C: Stop talking.
J: Wha-?
C: That how you can contribute to society. Stop talking.
19.Drunk-dialing looking for the red underwear.
20.Clubbing in downtown Seattle. Actually just that whole night was one weird event after another.
21.Peanut butter and relish burritos. Fucking nasty.
22.Sitting through a Sex and the City episode and thinking once these 44-whatever-minutes are up I’m going to kill you.
23.All those hours (and huge phone bills) spent talking long distance on the phone. It was hard though because we were constantly out of synch though. Exactly one year ago we were talking for so long that I made you late for your own birthday dinner. My bad.
24.Walking around Stanley Park, trying to think of something to do. We did come up with some creative ideas; one which involved jumping off logs and me face-planting into the sand.
25.*queue in fight music* vs. *insert kiss here*
26.All those times I sang “Teenage Dream” to you and you said you were going to go crazy when secretly you actually kind of liked it.
27.When you told me something you were happy about and then followed it by saying “fist pump” for the first time.
28.Stealing your Members Only jacket out of your suitcase. Its absence was supposedly the first thing you noticed when you started unpacking and you called me right away knowing I was the culprit. Probably helped that I confessed right away but there wasn’t much you could do about it over on the other side of the world. You even bought a smaller jacket that would fit me better hoping I would mail back yours but in the end I just wound up with two jackets.
29.Swapping ipods and messing with and creating playlists. Yes, yes you get credit for 30% of the artists I like now.
30. à toi, pour toujours
Happy birthday Jesse. We all miss you terribly and wish for nothing but the opportunity to create new, lasting memories with you, but we know you’re watching over us.
