It is Monday after the long Easter weekend and I am very slowly adjusting back to a life where I must wake up, do things, wear clothing without elastic waistlines, and be generally presentable. Normally I'm okay with this, but today I'm not. It was a delightful weekend! Highlights include time spent with great friends including karaoke, a beautiful trip to Mel's Diner, time spent on the couch, time spent with more friends, GREEK EASTER!!!, and some epic movie viewing. I could go on about all elements, but I think I'll focus on one - epic movie viewing.
Having read that Michael Alig is going to be released from prison on May 5, I was reminded that I've always wanted to watch Party Monster. My friend W. was visiting for a few nights and I asked him if he'd seen it (assuming he had) - he hadn't! W. was the perfect viewing partner for this movie. Even better, it was on Netflix. Bam. W. whipped up some hummus and we hunkered down for a viewing. It was a very interesting movie. I thought Macaulay Culkin and Seth Green both did great jobs in their respective parts, without knowing too too much about Michael Alig and James St. James. The movie was creepy, funny, enlightening, fascinating, dark, and sad. I'm now fascinated by club kid culture and keen to read more. One particularly intense moment was when James St. James was down and out and Michael Alig puts on a cassette to cheer him up. What's the song? Stacey Q's "Two of Hearts". What was one of the two songs my friends and I sang at karaoke the evening before? Two of Hearts. Serendipitous, no?
Anyway, Saturday afternoon I was chilling by myself and decided to watch one of the recommended films for people interested in "Party Monster". One of them was a documentary called "Limelight" about Peter Gatien, legendary club owner who owned the Limelight in New York City where Michael Alig was a promoter. I learned more about the club kid culture, the introduction of ecstasy to NYC, Peter Gatien (from Cornwall, Ontario), and the massive lawsuit that targetted Gatien as responsible for the rampant drug use and selling in his clubs. This film was equally fascinating.
Finally, I watched something quite different but not totally unrelated: "Philadelphia". I've watched this movie a handful of times before, but it never loses its impact. Tom Hanks is incredible, as is Denzel Washington, and the story is so moving and sad. I still teared up during the epic opera soliloquy. Incredible!
So there you have it, darlings! A weekend of movies & more! Until next time!
Monday, April 21, 2014
Monday, April 14, 2014
John.
You know who's amazing?! My best friend John. It's his birthday today & so I wanted to use this platform to celebrate him.
John and I met at an in-person discussion group on campus during our undergrad. I knew I wanted to be friends with him when he made a reference to the show "7th Heaven" and we laughed about the fact that the family dog's real name was Happy (and Happy as Happy).
Our transition from strangers to friendship was seamless, to the point that I don't remember when/where/how it happened. The why is obvious. Everyone who meets John wants to be friends with him. I was one of the lucky ones who connected with him and vice versa and the rest is history...
John and I joined forces with our bestie Waleed as well and became a powerful trifecta. Having those boys to roll with when I was in undergrad was the best! I practically lived with them at one point. We did everything together, and it was such a fun time!
John is one of the funniest people anybody who knows him knows. He's also one of the smartest people. That combination results in wit that you wouldn't believe. His pop cultural references, quick comebacks, hysterical observations, brilliant slang..... you can barely keep up with it! He's also incredibly tuned in to current events, speaks numerous languages, and has a generally great understanding of the world we live in. He is a total marvel, and I am lucky to call him one of my best friends.
It was obvious from early on in our friendship that John loved Finland, where he'd spent a year as an exchange student after high school. He'd made great friends there, spoke the language fluently, and felt a strong connection to the country. As a result, it was no surprise to me when he moved there a few years ago to study his Master's and likely live there forever. It's hard to see your friend go, but it was a foregone conclusion, and I'm happy he's so happy and building a life for himself there.
We may not get to see each other on a regular basis, but we keep in touch as best as we can, and he's still one of my favourite people in the whole world.
Plus, I get to see him in a few months when I travel to Finland!!! (More on that later).
Now, before the clock strikes midnight in Helsinki, I want to say...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHNNI!!!
I love you so much. xoxoxo
John and I met at an in-person discussion group on campus during our undergrad. I knew I wanted to be friends with him when he made a reference to the show "7th Heaven" and we laughed about the fact that the family dog's real name was Happy (and Happy as Happy).
Our transition from strangers to friendship was seamless, to the point that I don't remember when/where/how it happened. The why is obvious. Everyone who meets John wants to be friends with him. I was one of the lucky ones who connected with him and vice versa and the rest is history...
John and I joined forces with our bestie Waleed as well and became a powerful trifecta. Having those boys to roll with when I was in undergrad was the best! I practically lived with them at one point. We did everything together, and it was such a fun time!
John is one of the funniest people anybody who knows him knows. He's also one of the smartest people. That combination results in wit that you wouldn't believe. His pop cultural references, quick comebacks, hysterical observations, brilliant slang..... you can barely keep up with it! He's also incredibly tuned in to current events, speaks numerous languages, and has a generally great understanding of the world we live in. He is a total marvel, and I am lucky to call him one of my best friends.
It was obvious from early on in our friendship that John loved Finland, where he'd spent a year as an exchange student after high school. He'd made great friends there, spoke the language fluently, and felt a strong connection to the country. As a result, it was no surprise to me when he moved there a few years ago to study his Master's and likely live there forever. It's hard to see your friend go, but it was a foregone conclusion, and I'm happy he's so happy and building a life for himself there.
We may not get to see each other on a regular basis, but we keep in touch as best as we can, and he's still one of my favourite people in the whole world.
Plus, I get to see him in a few months when I travel to Finland!!! (More on that later).
Now, before the clock strikes midnight in Helsinki, I want to say...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHNNI!!!
I love you so much. xoxoxo
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Weekend Round-Up
Hey y'all. You all know how I love a Saturday at home with nothing to do but laze about, watch stuff, putter around, and drink coffee. Fortunately for me, I've had that opportunity today. I've been spending most weekends in Toronto since I moved to Waterloo and so there's something really relaxing and therapeutic about having the freedom to be in my own space on a weekend. I miss my GF, but this is a happy alternative. I mean, at this moment I'm blogging and listening to Beyonce in my underwear. Heaven.
I don't have anything specific to discuss, so here's another round-up of what's tantalizing my five senses.
Beyonce
Obviously. She really deserves her own post, and very likely will get one, but right now I just want to acknowledge how fully and completely I love her self-titled album. Yes, I was a little tardy to the party by my bestie W's standards, but I got there and I'm partying hard with our girl B. My singular favourite song changes by the day to some degree, but the top 5 (out of 14) audio tracks are: ***Flawless, Drunk In Love, Jealous, Partition, and XO. It's just so damn good. Beyonce consistently raises the bar. She's in a category all her own. I love her, she's so talented, she's so beautiful, she inspires me..... I... there are no more words.
Adore Delano
You may or may not know that the 6th season of "RuPaul's Drag Race" is currently on and I've really been enjoying it. I joined in on watching RPDR during 4th season and having now seen all seasons, 4th is probably my favourite. I liked some of the 5th season queens, but it wasn't as good a season overall. 6th on the other hand has really been delivering. Queens are one minute your favourite and the next minute not serving it. For example, I found Adore Delano really obnoxious and weird the first couple of episodes and then just as suddenly she's my favourite and I want her to win. Don't get me wrong, she's not as polished a queen as others, but she is so entertaining and charming and funny and has charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent. I can't wait to see what she does tomorrow night.
"Not A Bad Thing"
I always love what Justin Timberlake puts out and the two parts of "The 20/20 Experience" have been no exception. However, I haven't listened to them the way I listened to "Justified" or certainly not "Beyonce". That said, I love love LOVE the song "Not A Bad Thing" from Part 2. I posted the video in my last blog post and I have been listening to the song on loop for a couple of weeks now. I'm obsessed. So good.
What else...
Let's leave it at that.
I don't have anything specific to discuss, so here's another round-up of what's tantalizing my five senses.
Beyonce
Obviously. She really deserves her own post, and very likely will get one, but right now I just want to acknowledge how fully and completely I love her self-titled album. Yes, I was a little tardy to the party by my bestie W's standards, but I got there and I'm partying hard with our girl B. My singular favourite song changes by the day to some degree, but the top 5 (out of 14) audio tracks are: ***Flawless, Drunk In Love, Jealous, Partition, and XO. It's just so damn good. Beyonce consistently raises the bar. She's in a category all her own. I love her, she's so talented, she's so beautiful, she inspires me..... I... there are no more words.
Adore Delano
"Not A Bad Thing"
I always love what Justin Timberlake puts out and the two parts of "The 20/20 Experience" have been no exception. However, I haven't listened to them the way I listened to "Justified" or certainly not "Beyonce". That said, I love love LOVE the song "Not A Bad Thing" from Part 2. I posted the video in my last blog post and I have been listening to the song on loop for a couple of weeks now. I'm obsessed. So good.
What else...
Let's leave it at that.
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