http://www.thestar.com/living/article/751364--hitting-the-mark-with-sarcasm

In chatting with Pebble, we have established that I am having difficulty being coherent tonight, and yet I am writing on LJ. I've been meaning to post since I got back from the US, and somehow it hasn't happened, and I figure I should do it now before I go back down there. So here is a list of some of my favourite things that have happened since I last posted, or just the most random.

Jamie and I did a photo shoot of him in a cage, pretending to be one of our study subjects.

I saw an ad that ended with "There's a cannon in front of our store, so we're not hard to miss!"

I read the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, which I recommend to all of you who haven't yet read it (except maybe Joyce... it is too romantic to suit the particular type of enigma that you are :P).

The weekend after Christmas, we were preparing to go to church, but my brother's wife was going to stay home with the kids, given that they had just sat through a very long mass that week and were attending a baptism the next day. My niece insisted she wanted to come to church. Her dad asked her repeatedly if she was sure she wanted to do that instead of staying home to play, but she said yes. My nephew then called from the other room "Bad choice, Julia!"

Today, my advisor came into the lab and asked me to solve the Problem of Evil. Because solving minor research problems is not enough of a challenge.

Current Mood: amused

Today, driving home, I got stopped by a train. Right after I started counting the cars on it, the song on the radio got to its chorus: "I'll be here awhile; ain't going nowhere". There were 106 cars from where I started counting. Then it stopped with the last 3 cars still blocking the road. MLIA.



Sparkle out.

Current Mood: anxious

I've been meaning to post these comments on my latest trip to Stratford. I'll do an actual life update very soon.

Unlike most of the critics, I thought the punk rock faeries totally worked. To me, the (relatively) modern setting was more distracting when they were in the city, talking about Athenian law and how a father could put his daughter to death if she refused to go along with the marriage he had arranged. The gunshots at the start, while they may have been meant to set context for Theseus' story, were actually just distracting and made us question the extent of a certain person's influence yet again. I'm also not sure why they had part of the stage collapse to form the set, because while it did provide the fairies nice perching opportunities, it did not look like something likely to be found in a forest and it was really awkward when the humans used it. Regardless, the play would have been worth seeing for Geraint Wyn-Davies' performance as Bottom, and then they decided to end it with a ridiculous dance number in which Tom Rooney was particularly awesome.

About the "colour-blind casting" they've been employing: it's great in principle and perhaps the only way to allow appropriate ethnic diversity in a company that mostly performs classical works. However, I've heard them say that they do it so that what kids see at the theatre "resembles the world they know"... not so much. Perhaps if most offspring in our world were adopted.

Rumours for next year indicate a very disappointing lack of Jonathan Goad. In fact, I currently think I might only see 3 plays, in contrast to this year's 7 and last year's 5 (well, 4, one of them twice).
 

Current Mood: cheerful

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we9_CdNPuJg

Last night, I was at a cousin's wedding, and I was feeling a little bit Bridget Jones. Aside from the whole "when are you getting married" thing (which in this case is pretty much solely because we want excuses for big family parties), I managed to do something rather spectacularly clumsy. Luckily a member of the wait staff put out the fire before any real damage was done.

Said cousin, who I would like to point out is now a doctor, has a bit of a sweet tooth. Those of you who think my diet is bad should really meet her. Consequently, not only was there a table full of cupcakes in addition to the dessert they served (crème brûlée), but she did something completely awesome: had a table full of jars of candy and little boxes for everyone to fill and take home. This included candy I haven't had in 10-15 years.

In other news, I took a quick trip to Michigan a couple of weeks ago to see if the treatment differences we expected exist in this group. Of course, they don't, and recent analysis of M's data shows they didn't always even in our last group. So, there has been a rapid shift of focus and re-thinking of what experiments I should do. And the associated "should someone with luck like mine really go into research as a career" pondering. Anyway, will be in the U.S. more than I had hoped to be this year but not for a few weeks yet. Now, I am once again trying to understand stats. Hurrah!

Hope to see any of you who can make it next Monday... I have no idea what we should do, and my mother has pointed out that restaurants will be very busy that day. Kitchener in general will be busy because Oktoberfest will still be on, but you are still welcome to come there.

Current Mood: bored

I'm sticking with the astro-bunny (Rabbinaut?) today because it is in keeping with the theme of last night's concert (or themes: space, and awesomeness). After the last two tours which were, relatively speaking, scaled down and simple, U2 is returning to ridiculousness, with a giant stage (affectionately nicknamed "the Claw") that's supposed to be a spaceship and is decorated in orange and teal. Initially I thought, "How cool that the roof is open, so we can enjoy a concert under the stars", until I realized we were in Toronto and would perhaps enjoy the concert under a star, if U2's lights were dimmed. It was still beautiful, and the CN Tower light show seemed to be coordinated with the band's.

Musically, the concert was pretty great. Larry played a bongo drum quite intently. Snow Patrol opened and happily played mostly songs I knew; much as they tried, I don't think a stadium is their natural venue, and their set was short, but enjoyable as expected. I am only a little disappointed that Bono did not sing anything specifically for me this time, suggesting that perhaps he did not sense my presence in the crowd as he has in the past. There's always next time.

Current Mood: lethargic

Overheard at the Windsor Arms, Toronto, re: the hermaphrodite runner
Guy: She has both parts.
Woman: Oh, she's a... what's the word? Amphibian?

Tonight at party with work people (still counts if I'm part of the conversation, right?)
Advisor's husband: Yeah, the video equipment's going to be the least of your worries when she's eating your BRAINS.

Current Mood: amused

... and other, less alliterative cities.

I have returned from my wanderings. The trip was good fun, if somewhat exhausting. My travelling companions were lovely, easygoing people who think saying "Ooh bird!" and stopping to take pictures is completely normal, even if the bird is just a gull. We did confirm that academic people are not necessarily capable of doing anything practical, and Megs has been compiling a list of "How many PhD students does it take" questions based on our experience; I think my personal favourite is "How many PhD students does it take to navigate using the sun?" (Answer: 4 on a good day.)

Amsterdam is just as vibrant but more beautiful than expected. The red light district is funny, if a bit sad when taken seriously, but really contained nothing shocking - that is, until the two males in my group decided to sell themselves (picture to follow). We took a "Holland in a day" tour with an almost certainly high tour guide, who cackled at her own "jokes" even the second time around when she was translating into another language, and yelled for a small child to be silenced. Brussels has an amazing square in the centre of the city but most of the rest of it is quite modern and boring architecture. Mannekin pis is so small it's kind of amazing that they make such a big deal of it. However, there was free chocolate, which is the most important aspect of Belgium. Mont St. Michel and Saint Malo, the two towns I visited in France outside of Rennes, were both beautiful. Wading around on beaches has reminded me that it's been way too long since I've gone swimming at a beach.

Academically speaking, the conference did not feel very productive. Doing a poster is less stressful than giving a talk but more depressing, as it involves watching lots of people glance at your poster and keep right on walking. I fail at networking while Jamie is rather impressive at it, although I can't say there were many new people there I specifically wanted to talk to. I did discover that one man whose work I have read and cited is not the serious grey-haired type I pictured but rather funny, charismatic, and slightly scruffy-looking; I would almost be interested in working with him in the future if he didn't currently reside in Texas.

There's also a situation in my academic family that's a bit distressing, but nonetheless, I had fun: My former labmate who's been in the UK for over a year was there. We met a 73 year old retired U of T prof who could drink all of us under the table. There was back-cracking in the lecture hall between plenaries, and fencing and circle dancing outside the banquet hall at the gala, followed by a tipsy walk home that involved scaling a fence to escape from the Institute for the Re-education of Functional Children.

Finally, I had a couple of days in Paris to do some of the things we didn't get to do last time. I did some big tourist attractions and then had a leisurely last day of gardens, cafes, and Victor Hugo's house. Thus, I revisited Cafe Hugo, of the cute singing waiter, and guess what? He's still there! At least, I believe it was actually the same guy. Joyce, I think you need to fly back over there. Sadly, unlike in Michigan, I don't think I was ever mistaken for a true French person: most Parisians switched to English as soon as they heard me speak.

So, that was the trip. And now, I just have to reset my circadian clock and get back to doing useful things with my time.

Current Mood: tired

For those of you who don't follow Sarah Rees Brennan's journal, this is a link to a short companion story she has written for her fans, because she is so awesome. It's the back story for a character named Gerald; I've only read Part 1 so far, which was definitely very interesting but, I warn you, not exactly cheery.

Of course, this is the character she pictures as James McAvoy, so you can entertain yourselves picturing him as a child.

Part 1: http://sarahtales.livejournal.com/148663.html
Part 2: http://sarahtales.livejournal.com/150715.html

Real update to follow soon... ish.

Current Mood: exhausted

As is tradition, I'm stressing out a bit right now because I'm getting ready to leave for MI again... more building I don't know how to do, for an experiment that may not go anywhere, and was supposed to have computerized data recording but so far cannot get it to work, which is sadly unsurprising. Thus, the trip's been put off for a day.

But, let's move on to happier things. Had a quick visit from Justine and Pebble, yay for Justine in Canada! My parents' surprise party, which my brothers and I have been planning for a couple of months, went off without a hitch and they actually seem to have been surprised. The slide show was a hit (parents in 1970s and 80s fashions, captioning primarily by Matt and Dan, how could it fail?).

This weekend, got my Stratford fix for the month, with cheap tickets to Cyrano de Bergerac.

( The review for those interested; in sum: yay Colm! )

So, those are the things that have been keeping my mind occupied. Those of you who've been travelling and doing exciting things, post and tell us about them, please! May wins so far.

And now, your moment of Zen, c/o the lovely Paul Gross: "I've been encouraging them to let me do things on the periphery, like set people on fire for no particular good reason."

... He's playing the devil.

Current Mood: busy

~ Germaine Greer

Had a meeting today to discuss the next couple of experiments I have to run. (You may not see or hear from me for the next 3 months or so... I kid, you will clearly see or hear from me, but you probably shouldn't). Love having an advisor who pauses a meeting to watch groundhogs or sparrows in the vicinity and throw food to them. Less fond of her asking me difficult questions like "Have you decided what you want to be once you get the PhD?" but it's for my own good, I know. And now the headache is setting in...

As for more fun things happening in my life, there was a family party this weekend, which was lovely as always. That is, aside from the slight dismay I experienced at learning that my nephew may not reliably be able to recognize me, despite instantly recognizing any car that is the same type as mine. Last Tuesday night was my second Stratford trip of the year, for Bartholomew Fair. There were many ridiculous costumes (and stockings, heels and enormous short pants are really not a good look for men, in case you were wondering), music by Steven Page of BNL, some very unsubtle satire and humour in general, several mink-related insults, and it was basically a good time all around. I clearly chose the wrong seats: had we sat in the nearly empty corner section, we would have been sitting beside Jonathan Goad for a large portion of the first half of the play; we did, however, have a good angle for watching him nearly crack up on stage when his ridiculous long hair had all gotten in his face. The Star reviewer, much to my amusement, has dubbed him Stratford's Johnny Depp.

...Think it would reflect badly on me if G came back into the office and found me napping?

You two who actually watch Slings, go here and scroll down to where she talks about Anna. I love Susan Coyne so very much.

http://fastcheapmoviethoughts.blogspot.com/2008/10/actresswriter-susan-coyne-on-slings.html

Current Mood: amused

I had a lovely weekend in Ottawa visiting my brother (M, for the purposes of this entry) and family. There was hot chocolate made of actual melted chocolate with raspberries in it. I went skating with my nephew and was chased around the rink by a 5-year old Chinese warrior princess. I also saw Liz (who's currently living in Ottawa because she got a temporary job there) for the first time in forever. She seems to be doing well, despite the fact that much of the conversation was on the depressing side.

Then there was dinner with a bunch of my cousins, a play (Doubt), and finally drinks at a pub that's made to look like a church, sitting in the "confessional booth", drinking Devil's beer. One highlight was when one of the cousins mentioned that he was going on a trip to see UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championships, i.e. bloody and partially lethal martial arts thing); M commenced mocking. Cousin's sister: Oh well, to each their own. M: Well yeah, it's pretty much the destruction of all mankind but yeah, to each their own.

On the way home, one member of the party spent a considerable amount of time trying to locate the source of the music he was hearing. Finally, he decided it was coming from a government office across the street (an obvious locale for dance parties at 2 a.m.), and stumbled towards it, at which point his girlfriend told him the music was coming from his pocket. Indeed, it was his cell phone.

Last night, went to a play called Travesties in Toronto. Brilliant play, even when you know you're missing some of the jokes, and the acting was great. Afterwards was a Q&A thing with some of the actors, wherein we learned that the rabbit who is pulled out of a hat during the play had been temporarily fired last week. Speaking of plays where the cast has a non-human member, if anyone ever gets a chance to see Teahouse of the August Moon (which is sadly not often performed now), I think some of you would enjoy it. And it features a goat named Lady Astor.

( Travesties, for anyone who wants to know what it is )

Watch out for pirates, everyone.

That is all.

Current Mood: cheerful