4th year

I'll admit it. This blog has been forgotten about for quite sometime (but after a summer of 70 hour weeks, and a jump right into the school year I really had no choice but to opt out of posting).

But you found me. I'm back. and of course, I've got stuff to talk about.

I finally took the time this year to sit down and watch some of my favorite musicals (or new favorites) as I have only ever heard about their greatness...My only recommendation is FUNNY GIRL. This musical changed my life, and my impression of Babs herself.

After watching some original movies on Jane Fonda, I noticed that celebs might have been more interesting in "their day" (long before they are offered roles in the most recent J-Lo flick). This led me to hunt down a copy of funny girl and take the time out of my life to enjoy an older musical.

and enjoy I did.

get it. watch it. love it.

for you non musical people, I'm sorry...you are missin' out

ridiculous? just a little bit.

I will start by admitting bias before continuing on my rant about Rosie O'donnell. I am a Rosie fan. I have been since I first saw her show back in public school, and remember dreaming of the day when I would get the opportunity to go sit in the audience and dodge shooting koosh balls.

Yes, the show has been cancelled, but I knew she would make it back into the television realm...and she has. Her being on the View is old news, however my recent discoveries online are what lead me to write a post addressing my thoughts on such a Liberal viewpoint on that show.

To reiterate briefly, I am biased... She supports gay rights, is against the Bush administration, and is very critical on government and media actions (and the messages being carried out into the public sphere). All of these things incorporate her views into my studies, as well as my personal view points. Regardless, I find it funny that so many people are quick to criticize her (even Canadians sharing similar viewpoints) when they should make sense of her arguments, before joining the 'Rosie's a loudmouth' bandwagon.

For starters, I encourage someone to read her blog posts. Although at times abstract, and written in a non-academic format, the opinions expressed are always filled with examples and relevant to current events. I also love it when people are openly critical with no fears of the negative impacts of their opinion (MIT 4 life), but this is why I support her being on the View (and that she challenges little Elizabeth's conservative, pro-Bush mentality).

I do encourage all to stop by her website just to view her REAL opinion... and shortly after, you must stop by this website and see the great thought process behind American critical opinion. Is this actually a website that has a petition where they 'believe she is a danger to the morale of this country and emboldens those who seek to destroy us'?...and am I the only person who finds the joke in a site opposing a more extreme viewpoint, on the VIEW!!

My anger towards such a website, as well as criticism of someones viewpoint, I find ridiculous. and that is what drove me to write about it today.

I attempted to sign the petition under an insulting alias, but after being removed I felt a blog post would have to suffice.

blink, and you miss it.

and that's how I choose to conclude a year that has been one of both epic and odd proportions.

Yes, kicking off the year with a flight to Africa was something a little different. Actually, it was the best idea I think I have ever taken advantage of. Luckily for me, I came back to the most theory, work driven semester of my life.

For most students that would cause you to buckle down and settle into school like you were planning on doing September first of last year, but for yours truly, the option of "living life to its fullest" was just too tempting.

Luckily, with some small portion of good luck, I was able to pull myself together in time for final exams. Finally bringing myself back to the student I once was. It's amazing how after three years of university, you come to the realization that while you are paying for this, you might as well enjoy it.

and that is what I intend to do.

So, with the help of others, I made a list of things I want to do before I graduate (in this list, I included courses I wanted to take) and I am posting them on here to hold myself to them. I am going to refrain from my classic 'no more procrastination' promises, and actually break down how my next year will go. I have until August 1st (a one month ahead of the game start time) to finish/touch up this list of promises in hopes of making them all happen.

For my fourth year as an undergraduate student, I would like to:
1) Go away for spring break. London, I love you, but god help me if I am going to suffer through another seven days here knowing how many students are away in some sort of drunken fabulousness.
2) Get involved in two of three of the following organizations:
a) a band of some sort (the tenor sax in my closet is not gaining value there)
b) help out with a charitable group on campus (and/or help out with an event that aids it (charity ball aside...)
c) actually take charge in stepping up to the media plate (get involved in alternative media, magazines, etc. the information that I have fallen in love with but have been to afraid to write/work with)
3) see at least four plays, and audition for 2 (this ex-community theatre guru needs to get back on the theatre bandwagon)
4) 4 concerts, two of which cannot be bands that I know of (or paid more than $25/ticket)
5) Not max out any form of student debt offered to myself in my last year (although tempting, I think I should just rack up the hours at the old part time job)
6) Take Killer Culture
7) Take Genocide
8) Pay off credit card (not overwhelmingly large, but definately something on the 'to do' list)
9) Buy a suit (this one is a long time coming, but necessary)
10) Five weekends of the year are to be (mandatorily) spent in Toronto
11) (overly ambitious) New Years with the roomate at her house in Dublin

That is my list, and yes, subject to change or add (likewise to add criticism from those who suggest other courses, or the 'must have' profs before graduating). The new leaf has been turned, now I am just working on keeping it turned over.

and with a new season, comes new ideas

I might be a little late on the 'spring has sprung' bandwagon, but I do need to write about how I cannot believe another year has almost passed. Every year the 'March Blues' hit you, and for a split second you forget that around the corner is a month with three large tests, three essays, one project,and only 9 full days of class (not to mention a visit from a large rabbit, and a day devoted to mary jane mid-month)...

I have been keeping on top of my readings and school work, yet found myself content analyzing in a lab until 4 am last night. perhaps my 'not procrastinating' scale needs to be revisited, but that is a point on its own, and a subject discussed in many posts before...

At the end of the month I will be taking up new surroundings closer to the downtown core, as well as switching up my summer job, and possibly taking a summer course (I know, who is this man writing here). But this year has been full of drastic changes, I mean...four months in Africa is something that ought to change a person....no, I haven't been watching video's of a certain secret, thank you alex, but all in all spring brings about an end to the dull,wet, grayness that is winter... and I have never been happier to see the sun.

And think, in just three weeks I will be priveledged to stand back on Barney's patio (London local, yes)... and now I can enjoy all the new facebook groups that involve 'London Summer Crew', isn't that what life is all about?

But, until the end, I shall continue to youtube my life away, and even do my occasional 'makemyplaylist' just to make sure not all 100% of my time is school geared.

a fresh new look

In an attempt to not procrastinate today, I decided to totally update. Hopefully this will draw me to writing, posting, and describing all of my adventures to the general public.

I have to post some YouTube clips that cannot be missed (I apologize in advance for the randomness of these videos, all tagged as my favorites!).

1) RV Salesman - took me by surprise, but I love it
2) Hairspray - one of my favorites
3) Listen - that's right...it's Beyonce
4) Will and Grace - got to love the blooper real

Sadly, Youtube was my life over reading week...

reel of pics one

Boats in Zanzibar...a view from the Freddy Mercury Restaurant.

The scariest boat ride ever to the wildlife reserve.

I had a tour of the hospital and this is where they hang dry their laundry. (the hospital is also the place that we got the best views for pictures as it is on top of the city)

Sam's going away party at Tunza (Danny and Jodie on the right)

Paulo, Michael, and I at Fonelisco orphanage hanging out.

Mount Kilimanjaro

it's been a long time.

Even though that was sadly stolen from Timbaland's voice, it directly applies to this lovely blog o' mine.

For the last two months I have continuously said that I would return here and start writing, posting, and rambling on this blog...as per most of my procrastination tactics, I found a way to put this off.

After two months, I don't even know where to begin. I HAVE to start with the internship (which has disappeared from active conversation and has become two word files and a folder of pictures on my computer that I flip through almost nightly), then onto everything else in my life that has seemed to unravel post-Christmas-returning-to-north-america.

But pictures will come next, perhaps today (as I ignore a professor attempting to teach great research methods), I will begin my catch up on life, love, and popular culture (the key third aspect to my life).

badaye.