Halloween and other frightening experiences.

You know what’s a great idea if you want a wedgie and a heart attack?

Agreeing to hop onto the back of your friend’s bike and just hold on for dear life because everybody else is riding on bikes and you don’t have one.

So yesterday we went to see an advanced screening of Due Date at the Norm. I’m so glad I joined the UBC Film Society. They’re playing Inception this weekend and I get in for $2.50!

Anyways, I don’t really understand the purpose of an “advance screening”. Sure, they want to see the audience’s reaction, but only 5 days before it comes out – what’s the use? My friend suggested it’s just so people like me can feel special and tell others (like right now) that I went to an “advance screening”. So that when other people ask me “Hey Nicole, do you want to go see that movie?” I can be all “Oh, I already saw it at an advanced screening”. Word.

But my friends and I were of course running fashionably late so while they all decided to hop on their bikes I had to run. Yeah. Run, [through the] forest, run. (That’s because we decided to take the short cut.) This was fine. I don’t mind running. I like running. I was on the x-country team in high school. So a little jog was no big D.
Until I got to the SUB and my glasses broke. Yup. So I got to watch the movie with glasses that only had one arm. I’m pretty sure I got some weird looks from the security guards with metal detectors at the door…

Then on the way back, as I already mentioned instead of running, because that didn’t work out so well (broken glasses) I got on the back of my friend’s bike. Note to self: a bicycle is not a motorcycle. But if you can picture the cliché girl wrapping her arms around some guy on a motorcyle or moped that’s pretty much what I looked like clutching my friend as we speed down the hill back to rez.

The ride was fun, a little uncomfortable and scary because I thought I was going to hit a brick wall but gave me a good laugh. I’m just filing this one under the stupid stuff that only happens at university and you need to get over with in life. Next on my list is skydiving.

Verdict on the movie? Funny. Not freaking hilarious like The Hangover. You can go see it if you want. So/so. Basically Zach What-the-heck-is-his-last-name-it-starts-with-a-G-and-ends-in-barf is his typical self and Robert Downey Jr. has to put up with him on a cross country trek if he wants to make it in time to see the birth of his first child. You can guess the ending. Still, it was entertaining.

Wasn’t so bad for a Monday night. And for the first time my plans didn’t fall through unlike the rest of the weekend.

Halloween basically consisted of a series of unfortunate events but because I was with my friends I guess I’ll take the fromage-tastic line and say it was still fun and none of it mattered. For instance, trying to go to a party: succeeded at getting tickets AND then sold them. Attempted to go see The Rocky Horror Picture Show at a theatre: made it all the way downtown AND then tickets were sold out. Went trick or treating as Carl from the Disney & Pixar’s UP (the old man in the house attached to balloons) wth Halloween 4 Hunger. This random bus driver even stopped to ask me what I was, plus a cute guy told me I looked cute. He had no idea how old I am. I’m guessing it didn’t help that I was dressed up as an old man too.

But you know what I hate about Halloween? That the next day is November. This month just creeps up on you.

Alright, back to midterm studying and figuring out the best way to get sundried tomato specs out of my laptop. Gossip girl and vampire diaries you stay away from me!

And I [don’t] know it well.

This random thought popped into my head today while I was walking down Main. (Obviously blog material). I was just thinking about Christmas and going home.

The other night I booked my plane ticket home (actually that’s a lie I’m not as independent as I make myself seem to be – my Mama booked my plane ticket home) and I started singing All I Want For Christmas by Mariah Carey. Yeah, I’m excited about flying back to Toronhaaaa but I’m curious how it’s going to feel. Is my home going to look the same? Will my room look completely childish or will I get hit with nostalgia? I had all these plans to visit my friends but will any of it seem relevant anymore? Have I even spoken to them recently? I don’t know what it’s going to feel like going back but it’s going to be different, just because I’ve established such a different life out here.

Coming to UBC I had only know literally a couple – as in two- other people. But nobody else knew who I was. I realized that I really could be anyone. For all they knew I could’ve been Hit Girl from Kick Ass, part of the Chinese mafia, who enters Scrabble tournaments on Wednesday nights and goes to church fellowship on Sundays afternoons, who’s been tap dancing since she was 10 years old and has a collection of converse sneakers. (One of those things are true. So let’s play 5 Lies and a Truth?)

Point is, I haven’t “reinvented” myself per se by being here. I’ve become who I am by being here and everyday little by little I keep reaffirming who I am. If you act like the type of person you want to be, eventually you’ll wake up one morning and realize that you are that person.

I read a quote once and to paraphrase it said “People don’t change, they just become more of who they really are”. I guess the difference is that I don’t have any witnesses here. I don’t have any one from grade seven pestering me about that time I danced with the geekiest kid in our class or other embarrassing moments that don’t really need to be mentioned…

If we want to get all motivational with the quotes I also really like “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” I try keeping that one in mind.

Aside: I think I’ve been listening to way too much Bon Iver. I love Justin Verrnon’s music but maybe I should stray from the quiet acoustic folk type while walking in the rain. It makes me feel like my iPod is constantly stuck on the New Moon Twilight Saga soundtrack. Just music that you listen to when it’s gloomy and overcast. For the ‘Twihards’ if anyone pretends they’re in Forks and or that kind of setting. Is that depressing? Perhaps. But I feel like it’s balanced by the Bob Marley my yoga instructor has recently started playing during sessions.

http://www.boniver.org/

But enough serious talk, randoms thoughts du jour:

Today I dressed up as my prof in blue plaid, a sphinx (because I’m nerdy and dress up like creatures from Greek mythology and plays/works of literature I’m reading in class like that) and signed up for the Quidditch team. All in one day!

Plus, I went to have sex with your advisor. Nicole, you did wHaT?! Ugh, I went to Sex with Your Advisor. Haha because putting in capital letters makes all the difference. Basically, a sex question/answer/advice pannel at Totem Park with your Rez Advisor’s. Pretty awkward, some funny parts, some TMI moments. Bonus! If you came out you got glow-in-the-dark condoms. Be safe, kids! As if there aren’t enough friendly free events for handing out condoms.

Bon nuit tout le monde. Now go listen to bon iver.

[Author’s note: Title comes from Bon Iver’s song Blood Bank more rainy season music. As happy and bubbly as I like to be we all have our quiet moments of contemplation.]

And live in harmony, harmony, oh love.

Always, I want to be with you
and make believe with you
and live in harmony, harmony, oh love.

These are the lyrics to the most ridiculous and amazing song of the week. So outrageous it’s just absurd and hilarious. And if you’re not laughing at this, then… we may not be able to be friends anymore.

Always by Erasure

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How did I come across this song? Well besides the fact that it came out in 1994,you may have heard it playing in the background of Robot Unicorn Attack. This all started when my friend from Ontario sent me the link to this game:

I’m actually fascinated at seeing how stuff like this can literally spread across the country.

Now, if you haven’t heard of this game be warned that you cannot take it seriously. But in case you need a study break you should definitely check it out. The premise? You are a unicorn chasing your dreams and shooting stars while ghost dolphins swim and fly through the air with you. Sounds amazing, right? I KNOW.

Honestly, does anybody wonder about the people who make up these games? Should we be worried if they are on something…?

More importantly, who comes up with the idea for music videos like this. I sincerely wish this could go on Video On Trial. My neighbour just found the ukelele tabs on the internet and is now learning how to play this as we speak. We may perform it at Haida’s Got Talent. (As a joke, of course). Holy smokes, in the time it’s taken me to write this entry, she’s learnt the entire thing.

Sing-a-long, anyone?