Mia

Entry from Varkiza

Fri, 22 May 2009 07:41:24 GMT

I'm writing here instead of, say, facebook, because part of me doesn't want most people to read this. I'm not about to reveal any big, dark secrets. I just feel like having just a couple of readers will be enough, but most friends should remain in the dark for now.

I've been here for over a week now, but it feels more like a month. Frankfurt for a couple of days and then off to Greece where I'll remain until June 1st, then head to Switzerland.

I'm staying at the apartment of my mother's friend while she is in Montreal. It's in a nice spot called Varkiza, with the beach only 5 minutes away.

Downtown Athens is amazingly accessible, just hop on a nearby bus and ride for an hour.

So far I've spent 3 whole days walking around downtown Athens. I've seen most of the ancient monuments. It's all very beautiful, I can't complain. I've done some shopping in little shops, but I actually have to worry about the weight of my bags coming home because I was at the 23kg limit when I flew over here (wish my parents had told me, instead of pushing me to pack the bigger bag instead of the smaller one!)

I've also spent some days just hanging around Varkiza. I go to the beach, I walk around, I hang around the cafes, but damn their coffees are awful. Probably because I love my coffees weak, but everything here is so goddam strong.

There isn't much to do, really, besides walking, shopping, eating, reading. I'm pretty sure I've put on a couple pounds already. Not surprising considering the amount of feta and baked goods I've consumed.

I have 2 people I know here: Cristos, who is the son of my mother's friend's husband. He took me out a couple of times when I got here, but despite his 42 years of age, he's more interested in going to bars, clubs and lounges, while I am not. And then there's Angelo, who is the son of an engineer at the firm where my mom works.

Angelo and I will be going to the islands of Santorini for 3 days and then Mykonos for 2 days next week.

I have so much free time for thinking that sometimes it's hard to find something worth thinking about :) I'm trying to think of a visual theme for when I come back and work on my band's graphics. I try to think of what bad habits I should break when I come home, seeing as there's no better time than after been away from my routine (though honestly, I can only think of two: wake up a bit earlier, and maybe quit coffee, though that is a big maybe). I think about my friends, particularly those who are especially good to me. I can't afford to bring back souvenirs for everyone, but there are a handful to whom I really should.

Aside from that, it's hard to think of the future. I really have no idea where I will end up working, or how soon that will happen. I don't know if I'll be able to keep living at home or be forced to move out.

I need more things to ponder, honestly. If anyone has any suggestions...

I know I'll remember this trip for the rest of my life. It's just practically impossible to hang on to this moment. All I can do is try to help my brain retain the information it receives in the form of memories as clearly as possible so that it can recall them as accurately as possible in the future.

Jesus that was nerdy.

I hope you guys are doing well. I love you all.

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:04:58 GMT

Things to do once I am free. That are free.

-Paint a landscape with all those acrylics I have left
-Draw a kick-ass comic character to use as an avatar, ink and color it
-Learn the d&d 4th ed rules and set up a campaign, well documented
-Write music to go with Atrophies lyrics
-Play WoW, go back to Molten Core with Enox, Inwae and Erik

Spring Break

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 20:39:04 GMT

Tentative schedule for this week, before I forget...
Tonight, Maz Bar
Sunday, Iza -> Ikea + Movie
Monday, Berrt
Tuesday, Band
Wednesday, Snowboarding
Thursday, Ted
Friday, Band
Saturday, Andrew maybe?
Sunday, omfgIhaveanexamonMondayletscram

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 02:46:05 GMT

This makes me wish I could be vegetarian...

Kingsford Goes to the Beach - video powered by Metacafe

z0mbies

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:49:33 GMT

I woke up around 7am completely freaked out. Another zombie nightmare. It was so vivid, so real... and I was the last survivor with little hope of getting out alive. I had locked myself in an elevator by the time I woke up, and they were looking for me everywhere.

Why? Why do I dream of this shit? I hadn't even watched a movie or played a game with zombies in like a month!

It's funny what the mind is prone to believe when so shook up. Right now I'm sure as anything that there are no zombies... but around 7am, in my dark, quiet room, how not-so-impossible it seemed that they might be just outside...

I still don't know what's worse, though: when I dream of zombies, or when I dream of solving equations all night (happens every now and then when I've been cramming the day before)

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:16:39 GMT

I think I'm gonna think like a dude... ;)

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 02:09:44 GMT

bitch whine bitch blah blah

Math Help

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:25:23 GMT

Maybe Marc or Dri can help :-\

I've completely forgotten how to solve for an exponent.

My formula (to find Annuity Present Value) is:

$2000 = $50 x { 1 - [1/(1+0.02)^t /0.02

I don't know how to get t (for time). I feel retarded. Haha.

Halp?

P.S. Q is: Suppose you owe $2000 on a Visa and the interest rate is 2% per month. If you make the minimum monthly payments of $50, how long will it take you to pay it off?

Holy fuck days got filled fast

Sat, 27 Dec 2008 20:41:16 GMT

Today (27): Lee's birthday
Sunday (28): Wendy
Monday (29): Eric's
Tuesday (30): Up North
Wednesday (31): Phil's
Thursday (1): Kathy/Family
Friday (2): Iza + zombies

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 06:23:42 GMT

My mom's so funny. She came into my room at midnight and turned on my TV. She had to show me that I have the same face as the detective from without a trace.

I think I need some of whatever she's smoking!

Is anybody here?

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:11:09 GMT

A little recap of the recent past:

-Since I'm too broke to go out much, I've been hanging out with Ted, eating candy, watching 24 and Durham County. He took me to Baton Rouge this Friday and I realized I eat more than a 300 pound man. Scary.

-Saturday was Iza's birthday, and it was fun to get out to a 'real' social event. Unfortunately it's in the midst of the end of the semester so I had to be conservative about it. Plus, still broke. I hope to make up for it when I have a real career by this time next year.

-Sunday I found out my singer was in a major car crash. He's got broken ribs, punctured lung, etc. Gonna visit him tomorrow. I'm glad he's alive and going to be okay. If I may be selfish for a moment, this really sucks for me because I spent a good amount of time wondering if I was ready to invest this kind of money and time into the band. I told myself that despite rent and practice time being double, at least we'd be getting somewhere twice as fast. Now we're without a singer for the next few months and we have to cover his share of the rent. FUCK ME.

-Monday, submitted final game project. Surprisingly my team didn't let me down. Emilien did a fantastic job, really, I was blown away. Seeing as this accounts for the biggest part of the course's grade, I can only hope our project out-shone the others.

My general feeling these days is one of annoyance. I'm annoyed with the universe. I'm uncertain of where I'm really, truly headed. I'm trying to re-evaluate my stance, but I'm missing so much information to make a decision.

Ack... no more time to spend on this today. Back to studying.

I love you all. I'll see you, when I see you.

Looking for.......

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:20:41 GMT

-Someone to come play Squash with me. I've got 2 rackets.
-Someone to come play ice hockey with me at my local outdoor rink (nearby park). I've already enlisted my band mates. Need more people.
-Someone who's into going snowboarding/skiiing on weekdays. Fuck weekends, way too many people.
-Someone to come sledding with me at Centennial Park here in DDO. This means you, Marc, but others are invited as well ;)

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 05:42:02 GMT

I'd love to fast-forward in time 3 weeks and just skip all the final projects and exams, straight to my vacation.

Unfortunately... I'm not Hiro Nakamura.

If life is about the simple things, then my biggest joy tonight will be watching the season finale of True Blood.

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:37:08 GMT

I can't wait for Dollhouse:

http://io9.com/5081471/dollhouse-will-be-joss-whedons-greatest-work-ever

I'm jonesing baby, I'm jonesing bad.

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:12:45 GMT

If I give in now, the consequences will be disastrous.

The phrase, "You've been down that path before, you know where it leads" comes to mind.

I just need to hold on for one more month, down to the day. I'll be home free after that.

I had a dream last night that Michelle Forbes was my neighbour, and she was slightly psychotic. It's hard to explain, but she was hardcore Admiral-Cain-esque with a tinge of evil and sadistic to her. What a turn on, too bad I was scared of getting stabbed by her :P

for the Jazz fans

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:15:33 GMT

She does covers of Gary Jules and No Doubt in jazz, and she's from Toronto, and from the hits on her myspace I'd say she's pretty 'small', so let's show some support, check out:

http://www.myspace.com/shannonbutcher

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 06:01:28 GMT

Amazing trip.

Away

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:12:46 GMT

Well, I'm leaving for Toronto in 40 minutes. FanExpo and all that jazz. I'm sure excitement will catch up to me once I properly wake up...

This is my first one, wish me luck.

I'd Give My Heart

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 22:36:59 GMT

FOCUS! INTENSITY!

NO DYING!

That was our battle cry, back in Fist of Aman'Thul. It's funny the things you learn and apply in life.

Do you ever feel like you feel things at a level beyond what everybody else is experiencing? Like you're walking down a busy street, feeling pure intensity, while the rest of the people around you seem contrastingly asleep?

It's hard to explain but I feel this way. All the time. And it has nothing to do with happiness or sadness.

I've spent this beautiful day indoors, studying for my OB final. The good grade feels like it's in my grasp, almost tangible, but at the same time I'm fed up with the memorization. As much as I 'understand' the material, I've still got more work to do on my regurgitation.

I've been procrastinating on my weights this week, so tonight I'm gonna go do my chest and triceps. Peter asked me to give him a shout, but I don't feel like seeing anybody. I mean, I don't have the extra time for conversation, and the thing about Peter is that he and I can talk for hours. I'll make it up to him in a few days when this is all over, seeing as he's been asking me to go with him for smokedmeat.

I'll go through rotations where I'll see someone often in a short period. Like I've hung out with Wendy for a weekend and two evenings in the last couple of weeks. Sometimes I'll see Ted three times in a week. Sometimes Peter. Sometimes Iza. Only my favorite people!

Can you feel it?

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:46:44 GMT

On friday I met my accounting department liaison somewhere far from campus so they could help save my sorry ass from flunking a course that I've actually put a considerable amount of work in but which is rigged to trick students (think I'm being melodramatic? Oh, if you only knew what I know about this prof!).

Then band practice in the evening was very good. I can't wait to find a new drummer, though. And I can't wait for exams to end so I can get some composing done. The way I've been feeling lately should be inspiring.

My friends are the fucking best.

Someday I'll get through to Mike that although we argue like a couple sometimes, I still do love him and he shouldn't worry so much about my 'thinking he's a bad guy'.

Hanging out with Bob and Wendy last night was great! I haven't been able to use my own pool due to the shit weather, but we hit Bob's swanky apartment pool and hot tub. And I think Wendy's on to something. There's a calming quality about seeing the world through your friends' eyes. I don't know about everyone else, but after a night spent with friends, I don't quite feel the pressures of my own life so heavily.

And today Iza made amazing crepes, I must've eaten over a dozen of them, with mushrooms and swiss cheese, with bananas and nutella, with blueberries and maple syrup, or with lemon and sugar. 2000 calories right there, but fucking worth it.

Tomorrow I'm going to make supper for my sister and I, the pesto pasta avocado salad. I think I'll add some tofu cooked in garlic for added protein. And then I'll hit the gym because I need to do my back so it can look as good as this.

Cosplay Nerds

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:46:36 GMT

DAMN YOU IZA! MY EYES WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU.

Now I must share the pain...

You can click the pic to go to see a lot more cosplayers who look won't melt your eyeballs.

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:42:05 GMT

Today's gonna swallow me up!

- Run 5 miles (haven't done so since thursday)
- Answer the 9 essay questions for tomorrow's meeting with prof
- Finalize group assignment
- Meet bassist at 8pm
- Read chapter 14 (at least start it, finish it tomorrow)
- Go to the mall and see Daphné before 5
- If there's time left, go to the gym and do chest+triceps

At least I didn't toss and turn ALL night last night. Annoying that I was too tired to fall asleep, though.

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 05:28:18 GMT

The very end of the day is the only time of the day where I am truly free. It's too late to do anything important, and I know that the next thing on the agenda is sleep...

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 04:23:28 GMT

Wendy and Bob kick some serious ass and I wanna see them way more often.

That is all.

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 05:37:51 GMT