My baby gift shopping expedition was successful. I bought Montreal Munchkin #1 a beaver hat and Montreal Munchkin #2 a kitty cat hat.
Cute, no? Both from Roots and probably a little overpriced, but I am the "aunt" with no children so I think I am allowed to splurge a little. My role is to buy them things their parents would not :-) I also bought them each a very cute book called the ABCs of Canada. Fun illustrations in nice bright colours and Canadian content. I will wrap them up after I finish blogging and put them in the mail on Monday. I love sending mail. Getting packages is always lots of fun.
I also picked up something for the London Munchkin (not sure about using real names so I am giving everyone new ones - teehee). I am working away at a knitted gift for him (no link in case his Dad finds my blog), but I fear it may be a long time coming. I only have one repeat left but knitting time has been scarce lately. So in the meantime I picked up a very cute sleeper. Not that his parents are demanding gifts, but shopping for babies is fun so I really don't mind!
But what I actually wanted to blog about was my iPod.
I have no car and have to take the bus everywhere, and so the iPod comes with me to help pass the time. But what I have discovered is that my iPod (and by extension iTunes on my computer) is like a mini-scrapbook about my life. While I have never been a big writer, I definitely catalogue events according to the music I was listening to at the time. So everytime I hit shuffle on the iPod, it brings to mind all kinds of things that have happened to me. Some examples:
1) Any music by the Stars. I love, love, love the Stars. I can't say that enough. They are a Montreal band and have lots of lovely songs that combine male and female voices which I really enjoy. And they are one of those bands where it feels like they are singing about my life (or at least a life I have imagined myself having).They have one song in particular, "Your Ex-Lover is Dead", which strangely enough, reminds me of my ex-boyfriend. TJ (the ex) is not dead, nor do I wish that upon him at all, but that song is about this guy and girl who used to date, and who meet up accidentally after several years. It's just a really great song (in my humble opinion), and it reminds me of my current relationship with TJ. He actually turned 30 on Thursday. That freaked me out just a little - that someone I dated is now 30, but I consoled myself by thinking that it must be freaking him out more :-)
2) Rebellion (Lies) by Arcade Fire. This is another one that makes me think about Montreal, Arcade Fire being another talented Montreal band, but I have a more specific memory associated with this one. I was staying with one of my best friends from high school "Will" (we will call him Will because if I was Grace, he would be my Will) a few years ago when I was visiting Montreal. It was his brithday and we ended up spending the day with this guy Greg. We had an awesome time, we went to the Labyrinthe, drank beer on an outdoor patio (Will's birthday is in August), and went out for dinner. Come to find out later that Greg was actually living with some of the guys from Arcade Fire at the time. This was before they really took off, but it would have been pretty cool to meet them.
3) Jon Stewart doing stand-up. This does not really bring any specific memory to mind, but it does remind me of teaching because I often use it as my pre-lecture warm-up. Hopefully this does not make me sound nuts. I just figure that doing stand-up comedy is a performance and so is teaching. So if you ever see me laughing to myself as I walk across the Springett parking lot, you'll know why. Plus the man just makes me happy, and how can that be a bad thing before one teaches :-) We all have our little crushes right? He just happens to be one of mine.
One of my other missions for my shopping expedition was actually to buy the newest Rolling Stone magazine, because the cover article is about Jon and Stephen Colbert.
Sadly I could not find it anywhere. The search continues...but here are the cover pics.
4) "Laid" by James. This song is associated with a very silly memory. I was out with the roomates at Molly Bloom's (cause that is where we always went, and still do when they are in town), and Mike O'Brien was playing (cause he always was). I was quite intoxicated at this point and kept insisting that he sing the "Eeeeeee eeeeeee" song. Of course no one had any idea what I was talking about at all. They all thought I meant "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". I kept eeeeeeing, much to everyone's dismay, but good ole Mike O'Brien must have finally heard me because he eventually sang "Laid" and I screamed really loudly. Sigh. I blame the roomates, especially the "Bad Influence" (teehee - it is fun coming up with names). She was the one who made me start drinking beer in the first place...and evenings out with her often end up like this:
I actually spoke to Bad Influence today and we are going to see each other before I head home for Christmas. I am very excited. It was really hard when she and "Other Bad Influence" moved away. I see each of them once or twice a year, but I wish it was more (that picture is from the last time the three of us were together). I'll see Bad Influence in London/Toronto, and then Other Bad Influence when I am home in Halifax. I spoke to her husband tonight on MSN. He was asking for references about problem-solving and decision making. He started his PhD at Queens this year in finance, and he is interested in looking at why people make bad investment decisions. I told him that all roads eventually lead to Psychology :-) But I am excited that he is interested in this stuff - maybe we could write an article together!
On that note, I think I will sign out. Julio is meowing for his kibbles, and my neighbours appear to be taking their balcony apart. Sigh. I hope I am not in for a long night...
me and julio
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