Category Archives: Miscellaneous Pondering

The internet > real life?

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Perhaps, that title is a slight exaggeration. Scenario: I’m studying with one of my friends at UBC. We’re sitting on the floor with our laptops and taking turns back and forth picking a song to listen to. We have very similar taste in music and our usual 11:30pm playlist consists of mostly Coldplay, Jack Johnson and The Fray. We’re listening to a track when my friend decides to add a little twist to the mix and play Rainy Mood.

Yeah, . HELLO? This is Vancouver. Why in the world do we need to listen to a webiste that makes artificial rain sounds when it’s 68 degrees and there’s a….30% chance it’s already raining. Not actually. More like 87.9% chance.

I just found it funny and confusing. Is it our need and demand for things to be instantaneous or our infinite dependence on the internet (we go to it for everything) that makes us not able to wait for it to just rain anymore? Is the rain better on the internet?

Isn’t it a tad depressing? I just want to crawl up in a ball and cuddle, maybe with some sort of stuffed animal pet lamb and cry. The worst? Crying to Adele. But this SNL skit is quite funny.

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If I could apparate my life would be simpler.

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Probably not, but don’t we all wish that. Well, don’t all Harry Potter fans wish that. I feel like J.K. Rowling has successfully become the new Shakespeare in the sense that every day folk like myself (I swear my Hogwarts letter got lost in the mail! Therefore, I will forever more be in de Nile that I am a Muggle), use Harry Potter language as if they’re real words. Shakespeare invented 1,700 words that we commonly use and love today. If Shakespeare actually had a nickel for every word he invented he’d have $85!

Shucks. I wish I had $85 to spend… on next term’s textbooks.

Not only am I currently wearing a 8.5 x 11 collage of Lord Voldemort around my neck as if Flavor Flav never existed for a Sock Wars safety item, it’s pretty evident that Harry Potter has definitely made my childhood. Fact: photo collages beats clocks. And Battlestar Gallatica. Dwight Schrute beets all.

The point of this post was to talk about how this year I decided that travelling should really take no time at all. The maximum time I pretty much budget to get from Point A (these locations are always on campus, i.e. Gage Tower) to Point B (Point B is most definitely always class or Totem Park) is 10 minutes. 10 minutes max is not a lot of time, my friend.

While I agree, hey Nicole, we all need to relax and take some leisurely strolls every once in a while, running everywhere way more effective than walking everywhere.

Running: boosts your health. Check. Gets you there in less time. Check. Makes you a hot mess. Hot equals attractive? Ugh maybe. Check-ish.

If you see some girl running down Main Mall, next time, you might possible stop and think “Is that Ned?”. If you see me frantically on the phone, then absolutely it is me. Because I am the only person who not only runs but will actually answer my phone while huffing and puffing with a knapsack on and probably shout gibberish.

However, the other day I did have enough time to stop and smell some flowers and it’s so enjoyable. When we’re not thinking of where we have to be or what we have to do you can just appreciate the beauty of campus, stop and chat with a friend and let them be the one on their way to whatever.

I noticed this one guy who was walking and reading at the same time. Now, the moment I saw him I was reminded of myself from last year. You only have a week to read those geedee Arts One books, okay!? I know, guy walking down the street, I know. And trust me, no judgement coming from over here. But you got to look up once in a while. Do we all assume that people are just going to avoid us because we’re busy? Do we trust cars, pedestrians and plant operations vehicles not to run us over because we’re not paying attention?

All I’m saying is, if we’re all so busy doing other things are we watching where we’re going? Who’s looking out for us not to fall into a hole? What do we miss along the way?

It’s a beautiful day out. I hope for just a moment you look up at the sky and notice how lovely it is outside.

Shout out to Bret, (WITH ONLY ONE ‘T’), one of my awesome residents, and Juan, one of the awesome mentees from Arts Tri-Mentoring. I love my readers and hope that my blog entertains them as much as playing Peggle HD on an iPad entertains me. Which is – a lot.

O mid-summer, where art thou?

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Today might be a day worthy of Mr. Roger’s singing but let us be honest that for the most part it’s been kind of a cool summer. Hey, I’m not complaining, you have to take what you get. But as we reach the pivotal point of summer – that being the grand Civic holiday long weekend, let us take a moment and reflect on what the heck we’ve done for the past couple of months.

Summer’s a pretty substantial amount of time and no matter what you’re doing all I can say is that I hope you’re making the most of it. If you aren’t too pleased with what your list of summer activities looks like don’t fret. There’s a whole entire month left to carpe diem it up. Besides, it’s all about attitude.

For any of you recent high school grads, you’re now about half way into your summer. Unless, you finished those IB exams in May (boy, weren’t those fun times?). And the rest of us university kids have probably reached that “I’m ready to go back to school” phase. Everyone has done course selection now, if you’re on any student clubs or committees they’re probably starting to hunt you down so you can get ready for the big IMAGINE Day premiere, and Old Navy is the first to break out the BTS (back-to-school) ads on TV. I’m loving how they admit that it’s ridiculously early already.

So what has yours Ned truly been up to the past couple of months?

Trying to keep fit and maintain a steady level of endurance. Being some cross between a band-geek, a cheerleader, lyrical interpretive dancer and groupie to 41st and Home of 100.5 FM The Peak Performance Project. Check them out! Pretending to be an archaeologist in her Uncle’s backyard (aka. doing some gardening). Went back home to rekindle my long distance relationships with my best friends in Ontario, the land of hot hot heat. Was terribly scared they were all going to break up with me. Was totally relieved when they didn’t. Thought it would be a good idea not telling them I was there so I could make a big Hollywood movie surprise. Turned out it’s way harder to make get-together plans with your friends when they don’t know you’re attending. Making sketches of my future dorm room. Bawled my eyes out at Harry Potter 7.2. Finding perfectly pleasant place to retire in Steveston. Making friends with bus drivers. Being the only person in Canada watching the glee Project.

Did I mention I got all four of my wisdom teeth out a week ago? Mhm. Quite dandy.

I’m looking forward to IKEA trips, camping in Seattle and the fireworks tonight! You should look forward to a mini countdown to school blog series I will be posting up soon titled, “Ned’s declassified university survival guide!”. As I always say – get excited people!

And as an added bonus, just because it’s a lovely bright sunny Saturday morning, I will leave you with one of my favourite Saturday songs by The Airliners. Enjoy! S.A.T.U.R.D.A.Y.