I Paid Ten Cents For A Cruller Tonight

Tonight was the first real movie night I've had in a while. The last film I caught in theaters was 8 Mile, and well, it wasn't the greatest thing in the world.

But this, this is an entirely different story. Catch Me If You Can is definitely one to put on your To See List. Leo DiCaprio has finally made a return, and how! He still looks like a baby, except in the scenes where he still has the long, shaggy Gangs of New York cut. And who doesn't love Tom Hanks? The movie is based on (actually, the credits stated that it was "inspired by") Frank William Abagnale, a con artist who successfully managed to steal about $2 million with fraudulent cheques while pretending to be a pilot, then a doctor and finally, a lawyer. All before he was 18 years old. Wow, to think of all the things I could have accomplished by now...if only I were a con artist. The movie manages to balance a heartstring tugging divorce, with Frank's somewhat humourous situation, and it really is quite a fascinating story. Even after almost two and a half hours, the movie's plot line does not deflate, rather, the ending is one that makes you sigh with relief while chuckling a little. It filled me like a good meal. $7.50 very well spent.

I am currently discovering new music, listening to The Used, a CD Greg got for Christmas. They hail from Orem, Utah, broke the Mormon rules that surrounded them and now make rock music that is filled with soul. Their lyrics are good, and most of their songs I enjoy. Some of them involve some screaming, and while I don't mind that, I get picky about how they do it. Overall, it's worth giving a try.

Oh, and a little secret to share: let the last track keep playing, even after the song is over. After a few minutes of silence, you'll get to hear a nice drunken version of "Happy Birthday" and "Jolly Good Fellow", and then more screamy rock music. It scared me because I totally wasn't expecting it.

And now I embark on the last bit of sleep I will get in a long time to come. Tomorrow starts my rigorous *cough cough* exam study schedule. I'm sorry, did I say schedule? Whoops. I lied, I don't actually have one. But I plan to study nonetheless. Must...secure...future....


11:08 pm

Thursday, January 09, 2003

A True Canadian Winter

My pants have never been this dirty, my socks never this wet, my shoes never this salty.

I'm fairly short, so it's not uncommon to see me wearing three or four inch heeled shoes...even in the winter. No boots for me, I'll just slip and slide on the ice and twist my ankle as I try to trudge through the calf-deep snow thank you very much. It must be the funniest thing to watch me from behind as I walk to and from the bus stop everyday. Equally as humourous would be the times when I hitch up my pant legs when I come to the small ponds that have formed along my daily route. There's this small section of sidewalk on 14th Avenue that dips ever so discreetly and collects more gross, slushy water than you'd believe.

No more personal shout outs! Too many people are starting to find me on their own, and I can't say hello to everyone! It makes me feel bad because I know there are so many others I've not yet said hi to. So I've decided and it's final. Down goes my foot. *stomp*

I'm currently listening to Eminem's Marshall Mathers LP, *deep breath* and I think it's time that I publicly announce something. Something important. This may come as a surprise to you, but I like Eminem. Yes, yes! It's all true! He's been my guilty pleasure for too long, I don't have to feel guilty anymore! Why must there be any shame in being entertained by this man?! I admit it, I am an Eminem fan. I even saw 8 Mile, and I liked that too! Well, the plot line was kind of flat, there was no character development and the 10 minute sex scene was most unecessary. Not to mention that fact that the movie experience was marred by the gang that came in during the beginning and caused much ruckus.

Gang Guys: *being very loud*
Seated Guy: Shut up!
GG: Yo, who told me to shut up? You come and say that to my face man! Who the f*** told me to shut up? You f***in' shut up!

Then there was more yelling, much more profanity and a lot more ruckus causing. Eventually they got kicked out and all was good. I'm curently considering having Eminem's children.

First the tattoo, now this. What's the world come to?

9:54 pm

Wednesday, January 08, 2003

Ode To Christopher

So I see Chris has finally joined the Blogger bandwagon! Well, kind of...considering...y'know...stuff. *ahem* A few notes for you, Christopher:
- Blog isn't spelled with 2 'g's!
- And people can post comments, you just have to find that special program that lets you do that. You know what it's called. Comment-something.
- And the third point I had has left the station, alongside the train of thought that was with it. I'm listening to Brain Stew by Green Day right now, and it's so good that I can't even think straight.

I learned how to link today! Let's see if this works.
Click here to visit Chris' Blog.

Anyway, that situation last night at the pharmacy was actually pretty awful. Sure, comedic in some sense, but considering the amount of time that has gone into me convincing my parents to let me move away from home...it wasn't all that funny. They continually ask me if applying to U of T or York is still a possibility, and remind me of the benefits of having your parents near by. I don't doubt anything they say, I'm just really itching to get out of here. I've been thinking about moving away to university since I was about 10 years old...I want my freedom.

I was walking home from the bus stop just a while ago, and I got such a taste for living on my own. I can just see myself walking to class, or from class, or to anywhere I want not having to worry about curfew or about my parents worrying about me. I want to go out late at night or really early in the morning, or even just play in the snow without them thinking I'm weird. It's just a thing with me. No biggie.

5:26 pm

Tuesday, January 07, 2003

It's Waaaaaay Past My Bedtime

4:00 pm, the local pharmacy, my mother by my side

Me: Hi, I'd like to fill out a perscription please.
Man: Okay. *type type type* So...you in college?
Me: No, still in high school...my last year though.
Man: Ah...double cohort, eh?
Me: Right, thanks for reminding me.
Man: You applied yet?
Me: Can I have my medication please?
Man: *blank stare*
Me: *sigh* Yes, over the holidays. Queen's, Western and Laurier if you were wondering.
Annoying Man: Heh heh, moving away huh?
Annoyed Me: Can we not bring this up?
Annoying Man: Ah, you shouldn't move away! Stay home! Believe me, I have 3 sons and they all lived at home!
Annoyed Me: Hmm, that's great sir. Please leave me alone. Wait. Give me my meds, then leave me alone.
Annoying Man: Is that your mother? Bring her here, I'll talk to her for you...
Incredulous Me: WHAT?! Are you kidding me?
Bastard: Hey Ma!
I-Can't-Believe-This-Is-Happening-To-Me-Manh: Shut up shut up shut up!


I've been working away at some scholarship stuff for the last little while and it's still not done yet. How can I answer questions like "What are your long term goals?" at 11 o'clock at night? How can I answer them at all, no matter what the time of day? I don't have goals, I have dreams. Like Matt Good said, "Goals are dreams with deadlines". I believe that. To me, if you don't meet a goal, it's seen as a bad thing, but if you can't live your dream...it's forgivable. People still smile at you and admire your efforts, while with the former situation, they're likely to tell you to buy a calendar. But that's just me.

This all started out as me simply visiting to say "Good night" to those who are still hanging around, and "Happy birthday" to dear Stacy on Thursday. But things never turn out the way you plan them, and that's why I stopped making plans. I'm a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kinda gal nowadays. I got rid of my watch two summers ago and haven't looked back since. Cool people never have the time.

11:16 pm

Dear Stacy

Once in a while I find out that I have a new reader here, and it gets me rather giddy. And I think it's escpecially cool when they find me all by them-little-selves without anyone else telling them that I'm here.
(Don't get me wrong, feel free to spread the fact that this is my blog. Hey baby, I blog and I'm proud!)

Anyhoo, last time it was Meghan, and now it's time to give a hearty welcome to...superfantastic Stacy! When I see Stacy, I see a young, fresh, vibrant girl who's out to get life with a smile like you've never seen before. And sometimes, (entering deep, pensive stage...) I see bits and pieces of who I used to be. Not that I'm not out to get life, because believe you me, I am.

I just can't believe that I'm this young and yet I feel so old; I'm not so dumpy and yet I don't feel so fresh. Maybe it's just one of those days. Funny thing though, it's not one of those days, today has actually been quite fantabulous. 1 quiz, 3 tests and an ISP got returned to me today all (with the exception of Calculus) with wonderful marks. So maybe I do have a future after all!

4:02 pm

Sunday, January 05, 2003

Mama's Got A Brand New Bag - er, Guitar

That's right, you heard it here first; I managed to get rid of that old piece of junk and now I've got a brand spanking new Yamaha. Ahh, I never knew guitars could sound this good. But there's a problem. Not a big deal, just that the strings are making my fingers smell like metal again. Ugh, it's like holding a handful of invisible coins all the time. Gross.

You know what's good? When love solves all your problems. *Insert Awwwwww! here* (I feel like a country singer all of the sudden.)
Yesterday, and I think a bit of the day before that, I was cranky. I mean, really cranky. Hence the whole I'm-in-a-bad-situation-therefore-I'm-in-a-bad-mood ordeal. But last night I was flipping through a Martha Stewart magazine and there were a bunch of little sayings on life and love that I thought would look nice on a collage Greg gave me. So out came my scissors and my glue and I stayed up until 1:30 am collaging. Looking at all the little hearts and all the I love you's just filled me with this sense of wholeness that I don't remember feeling before. And so all those melancholy cranky feelings just washed away.

It's wonderful.
I love him.
And everything's okay.

3:37 pm

Saturday, January 04, 2003

Bad Girl Blog Break

I'm sick of researching biochemicals and various diseases and conditions.
I'm not nearly doing as much work as I shoud be.

After getting the mail recently, I found there was a letter adressed to me, and this made me happy as I adore getting snail mail. Then I saw that it was from the Town of Markham Public Libraries. Inside, it said the following:

As of the date of this mailing, Library records show the following outstanding charges. Please return this notice with your payment to the above Library branch.

There were thirteen items on the list and the grand total came to $11.25. As if that wasn't bad enough, at the bottom of the letter it said:

You may need to add "Total This Bill" plus "Previous Balance" for the total.

I never, never, never used to have overdue library books. Up until last year, that is; then it all changed. The first half of 2002 sure was sucky for me.

2003 isn't looking so fantastic either...although I sincerely hope that will change. It's unfortunate that I've been melancholy for the last day or two. Don't you hate it when you're faced with a particularly adverse, unfriendly situation and are powerless to fix it? Isn't it even worse when those who do have to ability to remedy the situation do nothing in that regard?
A few things I despise: adults who act like they have the maturity level of a seven year old, people who are unwilling to compromise, those who go on power trips and commence to rule with an iron fist. Throw me into a situation with all these characteristics? Well, let's just say you don't want to do that.

My solution:
I went outside with my camera and snapped pictures of the winter wonderland that was before me. For the first time in too long, I built a snowman. And then I proceeded to take a picture of him too. I only headed indoors when I was nicely covered in snow, thought my fingers were getting frostbitten and after I had nestled my little snowman in some bushes. Everything needs a home.

5:18 pm

Crackdown

One and a half more days before I go back to school and face the stress levels. Not that the stress isn't already building up.

One thing that does get me rather excited though, is another event that I might be planning. A Locks of Love fundraiser! If I measure starting at the nape of my neck, my hair is 1.5 feet long. From the top of my head, easily more than 2 feet. I've been growing it since December 11th, 2000 and I can't wait to donate it. Emma, Kelly and Amy will be donating with me as well, and I'm so excited. I hope to get more donators, and perhaps some shavers. Interested? Know anyone that is? Contact me at shirleymanh@yahoo.ca, it'd be great to find some more people.

The event probably won't take place until early June, after our Prom. I kind of want to cut it before prom because everyone's been telling me to wait until afterwards. I don't like doing what everyone else does. But I don't think there's any way to convince the other girls to do the same. Speaking of girls, how about some boys? Come on boys, show your sensitive, caring and selfless side by shaving your head! What better way to say "I'm a good guy"? You can even use it to pick up girls. Not that I support that kind of thing. *ahem*

In all seriousness, I am looking for people, and the earlier I let them know this will be happening for sure, the better I'll feel, knowing that they're not going to cut it beforehand. This event WILL happen. What else am I going to do with this hair?

Details:
- Hair length needs to be a minimum of 10" (tip to tip)
- You may pull curly hair straight to measure the minimum 10"
- There is no minimum length for those wishing to shave their heads
- Layered hair may be put into more than one ponytail for donation
- Hair is needed from men and women, young and old, all colors, and all races
- Hair may be colored or permed, but not chemically damaged (if you're not sure, ask your stylist)
- Hair cut years ago is usable as long as it has been stored in a ponytail

Visit these sites for more information:

Locks of Love: http://www.locksoflove.org/
Wigs for Kids: http://www.wigsforkids.org/
Canadian Cancer Society: http://www.cancer.ca/

1:14 pm

Friday, January 03, 2003

Biker Babe

9:30 am
Me: Mmm....toast...so crispy and buttery...so good....
Toast: Yeah? That's what you think!
Me: *chew chew chew* Mmm...the corner is the best part....
Toast: Hey! Look over here! I have green fuzzy spots!
Me: *whimper* MOMMY!

Little did I know, moldy toast doesn't actually affect you in any major way. I only lost my appetite for a few hours.

But that's not the most exciting part of my day (thank goodness), today was the day I went to the North American International Motorcycle Show! Thanks to Bruce and Karen, otherwise, I wouldn't have known that the thing existed! I've never seen so much leather and testosterone in one place before. I felt like a man just being in there. And I came out with so much knowledge! I know that "cc" stands for "cubic centimeters" and it refers to the amount of pressure from the piston inside the cylinder, and the higher the cc's, the higher your insurance rates! Yeah! Go Bruce!

Whoo! Did I stick out like a sore thumb or what! I didn't have any leather on (I don't think my purse counts), and well, look at me! I'm a five foot tall Chinese girl at a motorcycle show. I must admit though, I do have a thing for bikes now, or shall I say "hogs", because those are actually cooler. Some of those things are the size of small cars, and basically have everything a car does except the roof. A lot of the art on them was custom done to the owner's liking (ie: the Star Trek bike and the Winnie the Pooh bike) and was airbrushed, which looked extremely cool. I wish I had a camera. <= Note for parents. Hint hint, nudge nudge, kick kick.

Speaking of pictures, I actually rode some of them! Well, I mounted them, and just sat there looking pretty. *click click* Definitely a shot worth keeping. A day worth remembering.

8:37 pm

Thursday, January 02, 2003

Ringing In The New Year

New Year's Eve went almost exactly as planned. Everything I said would happen actually did happen...with the exception of most things after 7 pm. But the most important part of the plan went just as scheduled. (The kiss, of course!)

Half of January 1st was spent in bed as Greg and I didn't go to sleep until about 5 am the night before, or morning shall I say. So far, I've rung in 2003 with a new CD rack (yes, another one) for only 49 cents (!) from Ikea, a new pair of sandals (I know it's not summer, but they were on sale), and my "It's A New Year" purse (also purchased on sale).

If I had my digital camera, I could take pictures of them all and you would be able to see them in all their glory. But I can't because my parents totally turned on me and decided not to buy me one for Christmas. Yesterday I found out that Eileen's family just got one, but not just any digital camera, they got the Canon Power Shot S30.

I'm absolutely pea-green with envy.

I can see all the pictures I would have taken in my head right now...cool close ups at weird angles that show fine detail and lots of colour. Well, you'll just have to use your imaginations...for now.

Perhaps I can get the parents to pull out the plastic for a new guitar, I managed to find a Yamaha for only $200. Now to test my negotiation skills when I sell my old one. If I get a red one, it's an extra $30. *whine* I really want the red one.

My New Year's Resolutions:
- Spend less money.
- Be nice to the family.
- Do well in school.
- Eat healthy, exercise, relax. (This is actually the Special K Resolution, I admit I stole it.)

6:31 pm