half the man i could have been

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 05:24:13 GMT

Eclectica: my youtube recently played videos include:

The Mountain Goats: Ezekiel 7 and The Permanent Efficacy of Grace

DJ Spaz: My Name is Autotune

T-Pain: Take Your (MF) Shirt Off

Which is why I hate the question, "So, what kind of music do you like?" Because this is the kind of music I like. None of this 'everything except rap and country' bullshit. If music was like porn, everyone else is watching Jenna Jameson, and I am watching 2 Girls One Cup.

On repeat.

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 06:13:34 GMT

Augh! Oh no!

I'm approaching the critical spiral of the evening, when I circle around the same few websites over and over:

- Reddit
- Facebook
- my various email accounts
- Livejournal friends page
- Metafilter
- Boing Boing
- any number of sly, sharply focused niche blogs

... and yes, those are all links to said niche blogs.

Of course, if I really wanted to waste time, I'd just open TV Tropes-- oh god! I've opened it! Save yourself! Tell Kevin I lov--END SIGNAL

"Walk, bitch! Faster!"

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:55:47 GMT

The campus is new and busy again for the first week of classes. A few years ago, I posted how to tell if someone is a first-year:

1. They got their Hair Done and their Nails Did for the first day of classes.
2. That cursed wide-eyed enthusiasm.
3. They spend longer than ten minutes at Clubs Days tables.
4. They smile and introduce themselves to the people they sit beside in class.
5. ...and to the people they sit beside on the bus. What the hell?
6. When they another of their kind other across the plaza, they collide in a world-ending hug.
7. They give away vital information in tutorials where the grading is curved. Suckers.
8. They already have their reading done for next week.
9. "Walk, bitch! Faster!"

As I am approaching my sixth (oh god...) year, I can add a few more things from my time in the office:

10. Their parents do most of the talking when they ask questions about the health plan.
11. They bring their parents into my office, full stop.
12. They ask if our free agendas are free.
13. They, like, totally want to, like, start a club on campus!
14. They ask where the 'Office' is.

Welcome to the big pond, little fish. Stay out of my way, and I won't yell at you.

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 22:45:33 GMT

Kev and I are leaving for our honeymoon today!

We're flying out on a redeye, stopping in Houston before finally landing in Orlando. We're doing Seaworld, Disneyworld, and Universal Studios, then going to Gainesville for two days to hang out with our friends at their house there. Then on Thursday we fly up to Washington, DC, where my lady's going to show us around the Town that Obama Built, and we'll meet up with a few more folks from the region. On Sunday, we'll fly out of DC, stopping in Toronto momentarily, then we'll be back home just in time to go to bed for work the next day!

It's not like anyone's going to notice a steep drop in activity on my Livejournal, anyway. :)

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:23:35 GMT

Due to the fact I never change anything, ever, and do not trust newfangled layouts and things, I STILL have the oldest LJ layout ever: the blue bar along the left side, and the orange/purple/blue mosaic header. It makes me nostalgic and giddy when I leave LJ comments.

This is why I don't get out much?

Sun, 10 May 2009 03:35:13 GMT

I seem to be significantly more married than I was last week! Gosh!

Sat, 02 May 2009 17:10:27 GMT

So, this morning I got up close and personal with a horizontal nystagmus test. For those of you who don't have friends in the police force, in layman's terms that's when the nice constable tells you to follow the pen, then books you for impaired driving. Luckily, instead of being in my car, I was actually still at the party. Sobriety tests? Great party trick.

To make a long story short, I crashed Kev's stag with the intention of bringing him home, but ended up staying and getting hella crunk instead. At some point in the morning, the Po' administered some sobriety tests and I failed pretty miserably, condemning myself to a fitful few hours on the floor of his house.

I gotta tell you, though, if you're going to fail a sobriety test, the only real great time to do it is BEFORE you get in the car, WHILE at the residence of an officer of the law. Because then it's funny as shit.

Still really hungover; it was likely the absinthe which done did me in, because that hit my stomach like a sack of potatoes. Gonna have a nap at some point to try to refresh for Debauchery II tonight at the burlesque.

I wonder if I need to get a doctor's note to explain to any kindly officers that I can't balance on one foot, ever. I can barely balance on my own two feet while stone-cold sober...

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 06:57:46 GMT

The book of love is long and boring
No one can lift the damn thing
It's full of charts and facts and figures
And instructions for dancing

But I... I love it when you read to me
And you... You can read me anything

The book of love has music in it
In fact that's where music comes from
Some of it is just transcendental
Some of it is just really dumb

But I... I love it when you sing to me
And you... You can sing me anything

The book of love is long and boring
And written very long ago
It's full of flowers and heart-shaped boxes
And things we're all too young to know

But I... I love it when you give me things
And you... You ought to give me wedding rings
And I... I love it when you give me things
And you... You ought to give me wedding rings
And I... I love it when you give me things
And you... You ought to give me wedding rings
You ought to give me wedding rings

(Peter Gabriel, The Book of Love)

Engagement photos are up!

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:33:37 GMT

I must be the only person in the world who routinely forgets their own age.

Having passed all the legal milestones for societal permissions, I just don't keep track anymore. I find it so much more informative to define myself by my achievements in life, like my honours, or work experience, or the upcoming marriage.

I guess I never thought about it before, but I think I finally transcended that point when age is so important. I barely remember Kevin's age -- in fact, I needed to use a widget to count forwards from his birthday (you know you're a nerd when...). When faced with the fact he's here with me for life, however many years he is senior to me just pales in comparison to the rest of our lives.

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 09:33:06 GMT

How did we do research before the internet?

How did we do research* before WIKIPEDIA?!

* for certain values of 'research'

Are we sure it's not going to snow tomorrow and close campus? Because I'd sure like to go to bed now, thanks.

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 06:36:46 GMT

You know the bar is set absurdly high in your course when you're reading and reading and reading and you come across, in the footnotes:

"Of course, the work of [YOUR PROFESSOR, DATE, DATE, DATE, DATE] is foundation for any study of this sort.'

Gosh. As if I needed to be reminded this course is being taught by a Big Name.

Sun, 08 Mar 2009 17:15:03 GMT

When you're looking at a new school, you're always presented with an array of beautiful models enjoying the best parts of campus. They lurk from promotional folders, websites, posters. Everywhere. Their confident, yet welcoming smiles seem to say: Come to our school! Meet beautiful people, just like us!

I usually safely ignore these people, having spent the last five years of my life surrounded by real students. However, BCIT threw a curve ball at me.

White dude? Check. Black chick and black dude? Check. Ethnically vague chick? Check. Cheesy patina of smiles? Check. Lack of individual personal bubbles? Check.

Wait, is that an excruciatingly attractive ginger, with awesome glasses and a great smile?

Is she a student? Do I get to meet her? Where do I sign up?!!

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 22:19:31 GMT

Thanks for all the support on the last post, guys. I feel better having wrote it; the day after was a write-off but it's been better since then. I'm still kind of bleak, but, this too shall pass.

(By the way, if anyone ever finds a ring with that engraved on it, I want it. Thanks Suze for the idea.)

So, for the past few days I've basically been staring at the Graduate Outcomes Information for the GIS program at BCIT.

Full time, it's nine intense months. Like, really intense. Like, unable to hold down a job intense. But, at the end, you're looking at:

93% employment rate
85% find employment within two months
$23/hour entry wage

I'm thinking of not doing my honours, and rather pursuing a technical course much like this one in order to ensure employment. I've got a household now; I need to be able to pull my weight in order to live in a better house, go on vacations, etc. And, if recent years have taught me anything, it's that I should make myself as useful as possible.

And I would get to make maps? How cool is that?

The downside is, unless I delay this program until 2010, I won't be able to finish my honours like I'd planned. And I'd really like to say I did my honours. Having that little distinguishment would make me proud.

Option I:

Summer 2009: work at GO, take last class at SFU, graduate from SFU with BA + Certificate in Liberal Arts
Fall 2009: take out student loans, enter GIS program at BCIT
Spring 2010: continue program, graduate from BCIT with GIS diploma
Summer 2010: employment in field

Option II:

Summer 2009: Write thesis, work at GO
Fall 2009: Three classes, work at GO, graduate from SFU with honours + Certificate in Liberal Arts
Spring 2010: One or two classes at BCIT, work at GO until they make me quit
Summer 2010: find a real job, take one or two classes at BCIT
Fall 2010: take out student loans, enter GIS program at BCIT, enjoy fact I've already done some classes
Spring 2011: finish program, graduate with diploma
Summer 2011: employment in field

Anyway, I'm going to sit on it. It's hard to tell which would make me happier; immediate employability and less school, or a little more school to get that little extra oomph from my Geography degree. Honours would make it easier to get into the GIS program, I think -- it only accepts 45 people.

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:01:07 GMT

Of course, I need to go to bed in order to wake up and drag my ass to school tomorrow, but I can't sleep because I've been going to bed in the wee hours to stave off my anxiety.

This year, I resolve to accept the fact that I will never be mellow again, and wholeheartedly embrace my anxious nature. Maybe now I can get stuff done instead of denying it and building the facade higher.

I also resolve to:

Watch my spending like a hawk.
Never drink anything from a plastic bottle.
Only eat real sugar, not sucralose or aspartame.
Cook something new from scratch at least twice a month.

And, I'm failing the second one now because I'm drinking Happy Planet juice. It can get an exemption, right?

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 07:47:04 GMT

So, my car hasn't moved since December 20. We dug it out of its snowbank today, which took about two hours. My license plate got torn off with the iceberg we pushed off the front of my car, sigh. Last year, my windshield wipers were sacrificed -- this year, the license plate.

Of course, it's like washing your car to bring the rain; it's begun to snow again, and by snow, I mean SNOW. We've got about another three inches of fresh powder over a few inches of slush on our street. We tried to venture out at about 6:30, and we didn't even make it around the corner at the bottom of the cul-de-sac. Someone was perpendicular to the road on a blind corner, hazards on. We made the executive decision to go the hell home.

School starts again tomorrow -- maybe? I'd hate to miss the first day of class (and work!), but, well, I don't think people are going anywhere tomorrow. It's a white out on this side of the river. I mean, I'd be glad to get another day of rest, but... this is kind of silly.

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 09:53:34 GMT

2008 draws to a close. The last time I did a personal inventory, it was 2004, and I was finishing my first semester of university. I was fresh out of high school, ready to take on the world.

To be truely poetic, I should really wait one more year; 2009 will mark the end of my undergraduate studies after all, and wouldn't it be nice to close the book on the same page it was opened? But I have been feeling particularly morose over this holiday season, particularly introspective.

So I'm doing it now. Who knows where I will be on December 31, 2009?

My name is Lindsay Michelle.
I have a last name too, but it won't matter for much longer.
I'm female, except for when I'm male.
I'm in my fifth (!) year of university. My major is Geography.
I work on campus at the student society.
I like to go to bed and wake up late. I rarely get to achieve this, and feel like hell when I do.
I have had my driver's license for three years; I drive a red Sunfire with flames on the seats.
I don't have a boyfriend any more -- I have a fiance!
We're getting married May 7, 2009. It's terrifying.
We live together with our cat in a basement suite in what is not quite suburbia, but damn close enough.
We do not have plans for children.
I have Charcot Marie Tooth disease. I do not need a wheelchair -- yet.
I still get panic attacks. Sometimes I feel I am going to die immediately.
I'm still not quite over the Depression of 2004. I don't think I ever will be.
My biggest fear is related to the knowledge that one day, someone I love will die. I am not prepared for this fact.
I love to draw. I spend too much time on Warcraft.
I weigh about 130lbs. At LEAST 20 of that is piss and vinegar.
I am a size 11.
Sometimes I like to cry for fun.
I have seven piercings, only one of which you can't see in a bathing suit.
I have no tattoos.

This year:
I got engaged to a wonderful man who is the light of my life. I only hope he can put up with me.
I got two A+ on papers, both on the mediation of imagined geographies.
I learned that trust is more important than monogamy.
I played too much Warcraft, and did not go outside nearly enough.
On that note, I got a third character to 70 and, post expansion, one to 80.
I learned how to make a wallet out of tape.
I bought my first iPod -- unfortunately, I did not become a hip silohoutte.
I also bought my first computer with my own money.
I went to a wedding. It rained.
I found out that pot tastes worse than it smells.
I started drinking coffee.
I started drinking alcohol. Heavily.
I worked at EB Games and at the SPCA. I got written up at the first one for eating.
We didn't have family Christmas for the first time in my life. It was kind of devastating.
My folks went south for the winter. I'm fine, really A BLOO BLOO no really it's okay A BLOO BLOO BLOOOOO
I got no new piercings. Sigh.
I got an IUD instead. It was super painful.
I stressed out a lot and took on way too much, and I'm really burnt out from it.
Two people from thar intarwebs flew out to see me. I returned the favor by getting food poisoning.
I published an article in the Peak, but no one knows it was me.
I saw David Usher live, TWICE.
I nearly threw myself off a roof. I'm glad I didn't, but I still fantasize sometimes.

The world:
It snowed mercilessly for about a week in December.
America elected their first black president. I pray (yes, pray) for the lives of him and his family.
Queer marriage was legalized, then annulled, in California of all places.
Russia invaded Georgia, claiming the people there are Russian anyway.
They fired up a hadron collider, and the world did not disappear into a black hole.
The stock market fell repeatedly and a lot of banks needed to get bailed out on everyone defaulting their loans.
The PM suspended Parliament in response to the threat of a no-confidence vote.
Everyone I could ever possibly meet is on Facebook. Twitter remains a nonentity.
Israel is still bombing the shit out of their neighbours.
There is genocide in Darfur.
The first female PM candidate in Pakistan was assassinated.
The world basically sucks, in a nutshell.

I have learned:
Don't take on too much, dumbass.
The people around you will only put up with your shit for so long, then you need to shovel it yourself.
That love is the ultimate revolutionary act.
If you want something done right, do it yourself.
Unless you can pay someone to do it better and faster.
The money comes from somewhere. It doesn't just appear out of thin air.
Someone is always watching.

Eternally yours,

Lindsay

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 01:36:57 GMT

I'm further and further in love with this administration. He's doing what he said he would.

I'm considering actually applyinng for American citizenship after the wedding to have the honour of calling this man my president. But then I remember, my rights as a woman and a queer person would still be under attack, and I remember. Oh right.

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:01:29 GMT

This. Fucking. Election.

One day in the near future, all of these words will be as empty and meaningless as any other meme. This is heartening. Everything just eventually dissolves into noise.

Looking south and praying for hope.

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 06:22:13 GMT

Is the endless grind of the world machine slowly mangling your eternal soul and corroding your will to live?

I have the antidote.

You're welcome.

NSFW.

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 06:05:04 GMT

Why academia is so stringent about proper sourcing:

1) come up with half-assed idea linking obscure postmodern theory with reality TV
2) find an article that almost would fit, if you squinted
3) notice it referencing the Grandaddy of said theory
4) notice another name looking kinda reliable alongside said Grandaddy
5) wonder who unrecognized scholar is
6) scroll to bottom, find last name and first initial
7) wikipedia for people with same last name
8) tab-click on anyone with same initial except for those with 'footballer' beside name
9) eliminate until you find an actual geographer
10) find out said geographer currently teaches at rival university
11) use his website to unearth a cavaclade of sources to back up your long-shot thesis

True story. I'll never doubt the need for proper citations again

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 05:57:29 GMT

A quick closed-mouth kiss. Offensive to the sensibilities? Discuss.

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 04:52:28 GMT

Hey, so, guess who's going to David Usher on November 7 at the Commodore?

Three guesses, first two don't count.

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 06:53:16 GMT

*big dorky grin*

Lindsay Ishihiro.

Heeeeeheeheehee wheeeeeeee~

Nothing to see here, move along. :D

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 07:02:29 GMT

*deep breathing*

I now know the difference between being in pain and being sore. I have since downgraded to an ache, and am anxiously awaiting a time when the terror level is back somewhere around 'nudie-groovin'.

So! That. Sucked. Real hard. And, see, I've voluntarily gotten myself into a great deal of painful situations -- those were nothing compared to this. I can count on half a hand the number of times that physical pain has reduced me to a sobbing mess. We're talking catastrophic amounts of pain, folks. The kind of pain where you consider fishing out the $350 investment yourself.

The worst part -- the ABSOLUTE worst part, aside from the hours of wrenching agony -- was when she needed to measure the uterus. Seven centimetres, by the way. Know how I know that? BECAUSE SHE JABBED A RULER INTO THE BACK OF IT. And lo, my wise body, it reacted with a violence. Apparently, Kevin heard me from outside in the waiting room. And then the insertion itself -- ugh. It was an altogether horrible experience. Not that I don't suggest it, really, but the experience? Take a sedative.

I got home and took two Advil (ibuprofen) and two Tylenol (acetaminophen), then laid on the heating pad for a while. Kev rubbed my back. Nothing helped. Eventually, when it was time to take more painkillers, I just took some of the Em-Tec I had left over from my bout with food poisoning. And then, I drifted happily off into a codeine-induced slumber.

I felt significantly better when I woke up this morning; just a bit of a dull ache. I did a lot (A LOT) of walking today, which I'm sure helped. I'm only getting intermittent twinges now and then, but I'm not exactly going to complain about that.

What I AM going to complain about, however, is the douchebag rent-a-cop who gave me a fucking parking ticket today. I NEVER park in the lot, and in my drug-fuelled daze today I walked right by the ticket vending machines like I do every day -- despite the past two days having parked in the lot, and despite making explicitly sure to put a twoonie in my pocket to pay the metre. I didn't even realize it until work was over, 8 hours later. So, I was a retard, and now I'm out another $40. Fucking lame, really.

So, in short, I really haven't been able to catch a break these past few weeks. Food poisoning, headcold, uterine agony, and now a parking ticket, just to make it even better. Great! Maybe tomorrow, I'll wake up with chest hair or something.

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 04:18:04 GMT

IUD is in.

I am in excruciating amounts of pain.