dallas and the blustery day

The wind and rain were so so strong on my window this morning that they gave me a nightmare that included Blythe Danner, a ghost's shadow and an electrecuting door. Sheesh, you'd think my subconscious would take it easy on me, but it just had to give Gwyneth's mom a cameo. Anyways...

Still lots of leaves around here to fall in, throw, admire. Brian and I kicked a lot of them last night on the way home from Molly's. They're even starting to fall on the eternally foliage'd magnolia tree outside my house. I don't mind though. It's gotta happen and fall at Western is incomparable.

I find it ironic that I haven't posted cause anything I think about writing seems too self-indulgent and more suitable for a journal...and then I go and be a blogger with this pic.

I'm off to Montreal tomorrow. We're going for an adventure, and also for the future. That's right, I am meeting with some faculty members at Mcgill and Concordia universities to begin the process of researching, applying to grad school. And yet, it's only November of 4th year.

Auditioned for a show tonight after setting up a photo show for mit...it looks very pretty. This program is stocked with talented people, and this year especially I have noticed how surrounded I am by brilliant, savvy people. It makes a girl feel pretty lucky.

I miss Tanzania a lot. It's funny but all the gorgeous African music I was surrounded by this summer still hums in my mind. Swahili swims through my dreams and I don't forget a single face or name of a the people I was lucky enough to meet there. The first and third world are different places, as we learn in class and see on the news. I have been dipped in two extremes and I'm not sure which one I'm more comfortable with. If any of you have any chance to do any travelling, get out there.



This pic is from Halloween. I think it's best that I only include one, ambiguous photo and let that speak for the festivities. What an incredible time: from superheroes to pirates to hurricanes to hot cops, this Halloween will not be forgetten.

Have a nice, windy weekend everyone.

ignoring the grey skies

These leaves can tell you about the crazy paradox of fall better than I can.

Fall in Canada is wonderful and heartbreaking. Our surroundings are more vibrant than ever and yet the chilled air starts to creep up your sleeves.

It's every university student's time of year: midterms. The leaves are bright, the air is infused with the season's last barbeque smells and stuck in the library or staring at computer screens.


"Brutalasaurus wrecksyourface" at the OC cup ball hockey tournement

Halloween is just around the corner...









swans in stratford

It's time to think about fall cleaning, I think. Yeah, everyone tidies up in the springtime, but fall is the perfect time to clean your mind, your heart and your bedroom. Where does this mess come from?

oh man...

Owen sound is a lot of things, but it's not always the most posh place in Southern Ontario. My brothers are hilarious. Take a look at their photo documentary here.

two shining lights

'twas a full moon night...

I've spoken of The Danforth Music hall before and I still love that place. Catching music there makes me feel like I've slipped back many decades in time to an era more simple, more glamourous, more...

Ah, it's east Toronto in 2005, I know. But you would like it too. I spotted the words "holistic", "organic" and "rejuventated" on lots of coffeeshop cork board posters around the neighbourhood, and I get the feeling that the Danforth has a lot to offer on top of Greek delicacies.



Anyways, I didn't go to analyse the city culture. I went to see one of the most incredible, "organic" and talented vocalists in the world right now. In the WORLD.

I want to be Leslie Feist. Who wouldn't? She can cause an entire auditorium of fans to sit quietly in their seats and lean in to listen to her. The whisperless atmosphere was broken only when Feist insisted that the crowd do back-up vocals for several numbers. She mixed up her setlist, adding rougher edges to her soft songs and sweetening up her louder ones. She even charmingly requested that the lights be dimmed to hide her embarassment while singing "one evening", all about a one-night stand.

I've been waiting to see Feist ever since she re-emerged from that tiny, Parisian apartment where Let it Die was conceived. This show was enthralling and inspiring.



Oh yeah, back to the two light thing: So alongside the full moon, Feist brought out a few sentinels of her own. She crept out and illuminated her first acapella, vocal-loops number with the light of a single lantern. It was just as mystical and mysterious as one could ask. She was later joined by her band who brandished sparklers. I love those things. Much later she was joined by other guests including Jason Collett, Andrew Whiteman of Apostle of Hustle and Kevin "Ryan Gosling" Drew.





A truly fantastic show.



This next pic is just for fun and immaturity. What is he doing?

release valve for the overworked student

As you might have guessed from my last post, I've been feeling a little stressed. A million decisions to make, papers to hand in, future planning to consider and the unrelenting speed at which the days pass by: all of these factors have left me feeling frustrated and/or exhausted. It was time to remember that I am still a university student, and that I go to Western...

The answer should have come to me earlier, but I was so uncharacteristically caught up in stress that I overlooked one of the most wonderful, tested-and-true de-stress methods known to humankind:

Grab your friends and have a good, old-fashioned weekend of full out partying!
This week, I present to you:

Springasaurus Break -A hybrid theme created by Brian and Adam who had each chosen different themes when inviting friends (namely "dinosaurs" and "spring break!").

This party put any other party to shame. In a quiet, residential neighbourhood far outside the student ghetto, the epic festivities began. We all love eachother and decided last night was the perfect night to express our affection. Here's what happened...


my dino crown


and so it began











Now we will all be wearing turtlenecks to class. The forecast says it should be a crisp, autumn week so that shouldn't be a problem. Does anyone even have turtlenecks anymore?

And this was, literally, just a taste. If any wants more of the photos from last night, just ask. I've caught you all on film.

It is easy to get caught up in the rush and the pressure in the higher-learning environment. I am so grateful to my friends for helping me remember how to have a great, great time.

Now, back to work...

It's 3 a.m.

...but that might as well be 3p.m. when you're in university. Somehow, I have trained myself to completely ignore fatigue. It's a great skill we students aquire. I am preoccupied with trying to figure out what I would like (love) to do next year. Nothing feels right yet and I'm very, very frustrated. So far my dream options are:

-Grad school
-Career as a famous jazz singer
-Travel/culture journalism
-Philanthropist
-Culinary school/beauty school
-Ice cream flavour designer

I am not sure about any of this. I'm sleepy. I am also open to suggestions...anyone?

sometimes you need some air

Metric, last night at The Wave. A squirming sea of sweaty bodies all struggling to catch a glimpse of (or a high five from)the ever charismatic Emily Haines. Jason Collett opened after dropping by The Spoke for a beer or two. I'll save the review for later, as I'm going to see them both again tomorrow night in Toronto. Having them play here on campus was fabulous, though. A large group of great friends gathered and I loved every minute.









And my lovely girls: sometimes a nature walk is all a girl needs to clear her head a bit. With future decisions gathering in the air above me, I am feeling a little lost. Not to worry, day by day my search for clarity sharpens.

how's about a cultural contrast?

So a few weeks have passed...yep. I've been struggling to keep up with the pace of life in my beloved, lovely Canada. Even though the sun eternally sets at 7 in Tanzania, the days stretch out much farther. It's hard to write about the transition right now cause there is still so much that has to sink in. I guess I'll start with where I started...

After spending an all-too-brief car ride etc with my family, I was off to join in the festivities of O-week. I arrived just in time for the pre-party which involved many shirtless men with strange facial hair frantically flipping beer cups and yelling at eachother. Welcome back to Western! After we all signed our contracts, the week progressed in all it's festive, zen yet spirited sobriety (at least for the sophs).



O-week always involves a lot of this kinda stuff:





























And also, quite a bit of this:



Post-O-Week has been a flurry of running around socializing. Busy, crazy, indulgent and wonderful. The Bloc Party concert was exhiliratiing, even though it was a constant struggle to see. The auditory delights made up for the patchy visuals.

It was this guy's birthday and a very nice night it was.



Lots of walk-homes on the comparably safe streets of London



And a formal event. From mud-covered sandals and value village skirts to strech cotton dresses and hair ornamentation...Summer to fall is simplicity to decadence. It's all about the extremes right now, I guess.



I know this post is different that my summer ones. Give me some time to find a nice writing groove.

More to come when I get my photobucket account sorted out...