I collect the things people use as bookmarks in library books. It doesn't happen often, but I keep what I find. Usually people use whatever is lying around, business cards and such, but sometimes they leave "to do" lists with things crossed of like "Get bible" and "resume for corn detassling" (from when I got out Generation X). These are my treasures.

I just wish that everyone wrote their name on a sign-out card, like they used to, so I could know the name of the person who needed to "Call Mom" so desperately that they underlined it four times.

Because of this, I never make sure I've removed my bookmarks from library books.

(I'm also the type to look at dropped pieces of paper to see if they're secret love(d) notes or "to do" lists that say nothing but "Drink Martinis...all day". They never are.)

I've been thinking recently about why I don't post much anymore. Being the Libran I am, perpetually torn between hopeless romantic and cynical realist, I have two theories, both of which are horribly boring so you should stop reading now. The first is that I am far too busy to keep up this silly exercise in self-importance. I'm an activist, damn it, and I care about the struggles of others. Of course, that can't be the real excuse because everyone's favourite post-coital discussion topic rarely, if ever, blogs about his life. I'm sure that if I really wanted to blog, or was genuine busy, and, therefore, had shocking tales which were recorded in all major media outlets both foreign and domestic, I could find something other than myself to write about. I have two wonderfully eccentric housemate who (probably) wouldn't mind if I fabricated tales of our adventures, which leads me to the other entirely self-conscious reason which I haven't been blogging: I don't want to point the finger anymore. In my youth - a stupid phrase at the best of times, but when you're twenty-three it is just ridiculous - I used this place to leave messages and let everyone know with a big ugly sausage finger how horribly angry I was at individuals, how hurt people made me. Though I enjoy the vast range of human feelings which can be expressed through emoticons - I really would have used that "broken-heart" emoticon in every other sentence - I am far less emotastic now. I really am not angry anymore, except at the patriarchy and the military industrial complex. (The MIC was always my father's favourite phrase when he'd had a couple. Everything got blamed on the military industrial complex. Mine is patriarchy. I am my father's daughter.) I was watching SNL tonight because, as you all know, my guys at The Lonely Island now write for the show, and James Blunt was the musical guest. He sang what I assume is his second single. The song really isn't that great, but it made me remember, which is a dangerous thing. Yet, this time, I remembered the good and I have one last pointed message to leave to the only man who knows the correct response to "Boo, Team Alysia": I still miss you sometimes, but really only sometimes. Take care of yourself, or just don't die, okay?

P.S. I knit my art teacher a muffin! It's friggin' sweet and Laura said she'd take pictures of it and I don't care if I have to open one those freaking flick'r accounts, I WILL have it on my blog. A muffin for pete's sake! The story of why I would knit my art teacher a muffin will accompany the picture. I'm just building up hype.

I am sorry, my beautiful friends, if you visit here and wonder where I am. The problem is that I always posted most when I was saddest. I really am content and satisfied right now. I don't know where to start. I really like teaching, though I don't like London, but I'm getting out soon. I am stressed about job searching, but I have a degree, and will soon have another one. I am alone, but not lonely (most of the time). School has become fun and I'm in a musical with people I really enjoy. The only way this could be better was if we got an NDP majority government. Heck, I'd settle for a minority government with Jacky at the helm. Sadly, I feel as though the next exciting news I'll be posting will be about my musical. I'll keep you posted.

(Hey, while you're waiting, check out Anatomy of a Skirt and Katie McLellan's work. I love both their stuff, even though one seems to have still not made me a pickle purse, and her name rhymes with Anatomy of a Pert.)

Eight Relatively Unrelated Positive Things

1. I am in a kick ass musical with kick ass people. TC has been a little isolating, despite the fact that I live with kick ass people (see Positive Thing 4), so the 9 hours of rehearsal a week have been wonderfully uniting. Now, I may be bugging the hell out of my cast members with my constant wise-cracking and tomfollery, but I'm enjoying myself. Delightfully saucy.


2. I am really enjoying teaching. I can't tell you much more than that, or I'll have to kill you. Union says so, and we do what the union says. ;)


3. I've started knitting in more of my classes here. Before I was afraid I would be scowled at by the teachers, but most seem okay with it, especially after I explain that it helps me pay attention. Also, people have showed interest in learning, whether it's new techniques or the basic. I'm thinking soon I shall start a rival Crafter's Mafia. We shall be like the Russian mafia vs. the Italian mafia, except that we kill with our crafts. *squinty eyed stare*


4. My housemates are a lot of fun. Whether it's chosing Tudor's future or screaming "Stare-y" everytime that guy from Prison Break comes on the TV, they make me laugh a lot. I'm happy to live with all three of those crazy weirdos.


5. I have a mullet. You may not think this is positive. You may think this is a silly weird thing to have, but you must understand that the mullet is 6 months of growth which I can't part with. It's not a horrible mullet, just a "I've decided to embark on the horrid ordeal which is growing out my hair" mullet. I haven't had long hair since Grade 12 - though I doubt that any of you who knew me then even remember my hair being long - and I want to try it again. I'm sure come January I'll be sick of it again, but for the first time in a long time I can wear pigtails. Okay, they're more like mulletails, but I have elastics around bunches of my hairs, which I view as an achievement.


6. There were stars out last night. I need the stars to feel how insignificant I am, which may seem, much like the mullet, like a silly weird thing to want to feel. The problem is that I can get a pretty huge head sometimes. When things are going really well, I have to be reminded that I really am just a student living off her parents, not the hippest, hottest lady in the land who will save the children of the world from what would otherwise be a future of McJobs and bad music. Anyway, the stars were beuatiful and I felt insignificant and happy to be it. The world doesn't rest on my shoulders, and every good thing makes things a little bit better.


7. Dancing. I love to dance. A few weeks ago, my housemate and my new friend Tasha went dancing. Have you heard Kanye West's "Golddigger"? I can't get the damn song out of my head, and, like Jimmy cracking that corn, I don't care. I was at TC function, so I was surrounded by other teachers. "Golddigger" came on. I saw an empty stage and shoke my money maker to it. I don't remember having such a good time in a long time. My new city needs a Phil's.


8. Jumanji.

Do you want to know a secret?

Sometimes I like to pretend that strangers on the street are horribly, awfully in love with me and that whispered hello, that moment of eye contact, is the closest they'll ever get to telling me. Sometimes I pretend that in 20 years, I'll be reading a book or visiting a gallery, and I'll see that moment in a painting or poem and I'll know it's about me, but I won't do anything about it.

So little time...

As it turns out, being a teacher is a lot of work. I really should have figured this out, being that I saw the work my parents did every day of my entire life. Somehow it slipped my mind, or I thought they were exaggerating. As it is so much work, I have had little time for anything. I went out in London for the first time on Thursday to a bar called, wait for it, wait for it, it's worth the wait, The Alex P. Keaton. Seriously, such a hip joint. It has enough room for a dj, and the entire martini list is based on the movie Zoolander. Awesometown! (If you can tell me where I got that reference, I will give you candy, for you are sweet.) Sherry and my new friend Tasha went to discuss the X-treme Tired we are now feeling. This tired seems to have lingered into my days off, as today I feel the tired in my bones. I don't think I've been so acutely aware of my bones before. Dispite my bones and their old man ache, I made the half hour trek into downlown London to try and find 3 things: a birthday present for my little sister, some new stitch markers, and a comic book store. I was victorious in my search for the present and the stitch markers, but I didn't find a comic book store. I blame this on the fact that I was too tired to quest properly. I ended up coming home and knitting all day, which I needed. There is nothing like knitting to relax those aching bones. Well, that and lots of vodka. Lots and lots of vodka. Mmmmmm...

PS. The most awesome thing written about me EVER.

Getting my Extra-Curricular On

Today I found out whether I got a part in musical at my teacher's college. Even though the entire student body of a TC changes yearly, my TC puts on a musical every year using just members of the student body. I think it's a testiment to the varied types of people that go into teaching, well, except that we're all keeners. Anyway, this year they're putting on Chess by Tim Rice and those two guys from Abba. It's about a chess match between an American and a Russian during the cold war. Oooo, so dramatic. When I heard that Abba was involved I signed up. Anyway, I didn't expect to get a call back after my first audition because I was really sick, but I did and the second audition went well. I've been sitting on this for 2 weeks, as they took awhile to let us know. Last night I found out that I got the part of Molokov, the second to the Russian chess player and a member of the KGB. He's also the guy who screws over the female lead in the end. Basically, I'm playing the villian. I feel as though my role in the award-winning Journey to the Bum-City has prepared me well for my role as the villian. I just wanted to share one more reason why I may hit you when I see you. I am that happy. (Don't worry. I'll let you know when the play is so you can all come and support me in my villianry. Mwhahahaha. (I've been practicing. Around my house. I think it's starting to scare Laura.))