British Invasion

Kelly, Claire, Heather, me and Lesley rocking out to live bands at the Horseshoe Tavern. Beer was consumed, friends were made, blow-up Santa dolls were molested. All in all just another regular night with our darling friends from the UK. Good thing we promised to go visit them in 2008. Woot!

Rancid Concert Review

Amy and I were lucky enough to get free tickets (a factor which increased my enjoyment of the show) to see the all ages Rancid at the Cool House on Monday. We missed the opening band, but I think it was the Planet Smashers. Or someone covering the Planet Smashers. Regardless it was some upbeat ska to start the night. Fun!

We had just enough time to grab a beer between bands and catch up. Then it was time! The filler music stopped and the crowd started buzzing. Black and white footage starting playing on the back drop interspersed with mug shots of the Rancid band members. A little self-righteous, but they're old so I let it slide.

They were energetic from the start and the pit was rocking. I danced my way close enough to get a clip of Lars before my camera took a little beating and stopped working. You probably can't tell what Lars is wearing, but it cracked me up. It looked like an orange/green stripped body suit with a muscle shirt over top. Sorry for the piss poor camera work, I'm new at this!


They played a good set, lots of old stuff, some decent stadium chanting. I really enjoyed the encore which they opened with an acoustic version of "Fall Back Down" off their 2003 album. I think the youngins in the house just wanted more moshing, but being old, I appreciated Rancid slowing it down for a bit. I think Tim Armstrong might have had another motive: to prove he can actually play guitar since it was pretty much an accessory for the rest of the show. To give him credit its probably hard to play when you're busy giving the finger to the crowd. Then the drummer came back and they threw it back 17 years to the Operation Ivy days and graced us with "Knowledge". Makes you a little nostalgic for the old teenage years.

Maid's Dress - Option 1

So here's the first suggestion for my October debut as a bridesmaid. I think they're pretty! I wonder if the bubbles are included? :)

Another version with the sashes in the front. I can't wait until the real deal!

3 days; 3 Amies (epic)

I am hugely addicted to order and patterns. The mathematical side of my brain, I guess. Obivously, I was stoked when I realized that I had plans to hang out with three ladies named Amy/Aimee in three consecutive days last week and that each represents a very different stage of my life. Here's how it went down:

Thursday with Amy M (aka Anarchist Amy). Amy is easily my longest friend, we first met in Grade 8. She represents my Sudbury upbringing, my puck rock roots. She knows me to my core and is always an inspiration in how honestly and openly she lives her life. We met up and went for drinks at the Green Room. We discussed everything from relationships to Trotsky (Amy discussed, I listened). Back at her place we stayed up chatting until 1:30 in the AM. My favourite part of the night was when we were discussing being single and Amy said that after her last relationship her slogan is "Ha màs", Spanish for "Never again". We had both fallen into a pattern of depreciation in our last relationships, small allowences became unfulfilled needs, until we were fed up. After our conversation I promised myself that I will "never again" spend time pinning for any man who doesn't deserve my love and attention. (NOTE: This conversation was compounded on a comment my best friend Kelly made earlier in the evening: "Jess, I have higher standards for you than you do for yourself." What have I been doing with my life?)

Friday with Aimee. Due to my copius amounts of travel I avoid making commitments I probably can't keep, which includes sports teams. Luckily my friend Aimee is rediculously active (usually on at least 3 teams at any given time) and invites me out to co-ed events whenever they "need a girl." So Friday night was volleyball, which I haven't played in ages (evident by my missing most of my serves). As soon as the rotation was explained to me we got into a wicked groove. We were 4 and 2 by the end of the night and I was sweaty and smiling. Afterwards, Aimee, her boyfriend Jack (best story teller ever - ask about the "dildo story"), and I went for beers and munchies. All in all the most active and rewarding Friday night I've ever had.

Saturday with Amy C. Although we met each other at work less than two years, Amy and I have made up for it in hours of conversation logged. We kept missing each other due to work and illnesses so we decided to hook up on Saturday to go Christmas shopping. Her awesome fiancé Daryl joined us, and the trio headed down to the Eaton's Centre for some sensory overload. Amy filled the Subway ride with anecdotes from her office Chirstmas party the previous night (co-workers and free booze are never a good mix). Normally I ban malls at Christmas time, but it was a logical place to start. To complete the picture we got some Starbucks coffee and hit the stores. A question that arose as Amy was picking out boxer shorts for her brother: Why is it that men wear baggy cotton shorts under their jeans and women get stuck with low-rise thongs? I mean really, the differential in fabric usage is astounding.
That's Amy and me in our "Kill All Humans" t-shirts.


There you have it! 3 days, 3 Amies (those of you who remember your core French will recognize that the plural of "Amy" is also the plural, feminin form of "friend". I couldn't resist :)

The only constant thing...

...is change. I found out last week that my career guru, my office idol is resigning! I have so much respect for this man; he's smart but humble and treats his clients as his number one priority. In the past ten months that we've been working and traveling together I've learned so much and advanced my career exponentially. So obviously, I'm upset. Now, the grown-up in me says that I shouldn't take it personally, that this is a great opportunity for him and that he doesn't have any obligation to stay and mentor me.

However.

The single-child in me who hates not getting what I want is having a tantrum! A juvenile, fists-pounding-the-floor, two-year-old in the mall, TANTRUM! I want to scream that its just not fair! I liked what I was doing, where I was going... What is going to happen to ME? How does this affect MY life?

Of course I don't actually say any of this. Mostly I just pout to myself. But really I know that deep, deep, DEEP down I'm happy for my co-worker, my friend. And I know I'll bounce back. Right now, though, with all the other crap going on in my life, I just wish I didn't have to deal with it.