goal no.15 | watch the IMDb.com top 100 movies

At first count I've seen 55 of the 100 movies I need to complete this goal. After looking at the list though, I'm shocked at how many classics I've missed out on! I haven't seen Casablanca (soon to be remedied with Yo), Rear Window, Appocalypse Now, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, or Singin' in the Rain to name a few.

There are, however a few movies that I don't feel belong on the list. Though I understand the reasons for which Finding Nemo, Raging Bull, and Chinatown are among the best, I don't really agree. I would have like to have seen Moulin Rouge, Dead Poets Society, and The Truman Show up there but they didn't even make the top 250.

Regardless, if I watch one of these movies a week (doubtful), I'll be finished in just under a year. I've got my work cut out for me, but it'll be fun!


To see my goals or cheer me on go to 43things.com.

goal no.3 | read the whole bible

I know this one will be next to impossible to complete without a plan. I’ve found a website that maps out the bible in a one year reading plan. I like the way it's laid out because it's not chronological, which can be intimidating. This plan may take me two or even three years to complete but I will finish it.

To see my goals or cheer me on go to 43things.com.

goal no.7 | run a half marathon

This one is going to be tricky. I've found some tips for beginners in running that seem fairly helpful. It's going to be very easy for me to blame school for not running, but if I really want this then there is no reason to make excuses. I'll only be letting myself down. So far I can walk 5 minutes, run 20, and walk 5. It's a good start, but I need to do it more often. The marathon I have decided to train for is Esther Pauls' Race for Haiti which will happen next October. This way I can do the bulk of race-specific training in the warmer, dryer months. In the mean time I will continue to do my palates 5 days a week and substitute this with a 30 minute walk or run every so often.

To see my goals or cheer me on go to 43things.com.

fast food nation | eric schlosser

This book is a must read for anyone who has ever even thought about entering a fast food establishment. Schlosser presents "...a stomach-churning critique of the health and labor practices of the burger business" and "...argues that Americans should change their dietary habits. Good luck" (salon.com contains spoilers). For more information, articles, and reviews on this non-fiction work, check out the links below.

Mac, Jack, Carl and the Colonel Get Fried With the Facts. A journalist examines the real cost of fast food by Andrew Roe

'Fast Food Nation': Catching America With Its Hand in the Fries Regina Schrambling

No Accounting for Mouthfeel New York Times' Rob Walker

Happy reading!

the chronicles of narnia

I don't know about anyone else, but I am quite excited about the new adaptation of C.S. Lewis' The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. Director Andrew Adamson (Shrek, Shrek 2) has a lot on his plate portraying this vast imaginative world but the production shots bode well. The casting seems to be pretty spot on too. Edmund, Lucy and Peter, are pretty much exactly as I imagined them with only Susan being a bit off. Jim Broadbent as Digory and Tilda Swinton as Jadis, however are beyond perfect. Aslan - the voice of Brian Cox and Liam Neeson are both credited for this role on imdb - will be the hardest to incarnate, as he is, of course, a Lion. An unknown actor in this case would be an excellent choice. I just hope this movie does well enought that they'll make The Magician's Nephew and The Silver Chair (books one and six respectively).

jannet

...hates being called Jeanette.
...is russian.
...is tiny.
...is very wise.
...has a cool sense of humour.
...loves Central Park.

cj

...is my wonderful husband.
...is a film maker.
...likes chili and doritos.
...is a great judge of charachter.
...plays guitar.

emily

...loves to sing.
...went to South Africa.
...plays the piano beautifully.
...makes excellent deserts.
...will live in New York one day.

munmun

...is tiny.
...likes reggae.
...looks great in pink.
...has moved away

devi

...likes fries (chips!) and puts salt on everything.
...doesn't know how pretty she is.
...says battries instead of batteries.
...has a very cute bunny rabbit.
...is going to have a fabulous Indian wedding.

krista

...has a big family.
...loves country music.
...is a free spirit.
...has a fish.
...has been to Africa.

kathryn

...has a dog named Woody.
...is great at card games.
...likes American Eagle.
...looks fabulous in yellow.
...loves Jewel.

eva

...enjoys long walks on the beach.
...finds a well-designed room satisfying.
...is in love with jewel.
...is a TA!
...is going to be a curator.

yolanda

...is 21 years old.
...is a bank teller.
...is going back to school soon.
...loves John Mayer.
...is dutch.
...has 3 siblings, 2 nieces, and 1 nephew.

jess

...is my sister.
...is 18 years old.
...is going to be an interior designer.
...is a spontaneous, loving person.
...is beautiful.

go flo

Today's magic time waster is diner dash. It's quite a fast-paced game but like so many others it fails the endurance test. The game is exciting and difficult, but as it is an "endless shift" you never win! There is also a goal set for the amount of money you need to make, but every time you get close to this goal, it's raised. In the end it gets a bit redundant. Either way, I would recommend it as a new game. Once you get good at it though, move on. Today's score: 525, 975, level 35. And I quit by acccident!

nose to the grindstone

This week has been particularly slow on the phones. I guess rain and relatively cold weather make for content workers. I've found a great way to spend my time improving myself, learning, growing, and...playing.
Yahoo games are my new favourite passtime. I'm getting alright at them too, but I think I might be causing permanent eye and brain damage. The alchemist's game pieces were floating around in my dreams last night. Serially. Soon the jewel quest skulls will be haunting me. Ahh, I love work.
I'm going camping at Selkirk this weekend so I'm off to the woods! See you on Monday!

dollies!

Today I discovered a new form of internet time-wasting: doll makers. I can't believe how many websites there are dedicated to dollmaking. There are prep dolls, goth dolls, unique dolls, candy bar dolls (whatever that means) and the list goes on and on. So I've been enjoying myself making a e-version of myself.

The only thing is, they don't seem to have dolls with big thighs or pooched tummies. They certainly don't have bad-hair-day dolly or A-cup dolly. Finding clothing that doesn't scream "burlesque" is a little tricky too. I won't get into the whole "Barbie is bad for little girls" talk, but you know what I'm saying. Either way, it's a fun time waster.

quarter life crisis

Driving along the 403 watching the endless industrial establishements whiz by I began asking myself some questions. How is it that a company making only mini ball valves exists? Someone started this company at some point in their life. What were they thinking? Were they capital-minded, thinking "mini ball valves will be a great seller!" or were they passion driven, thinking "There is nothing I love better than producing mini ball valves!". Now, I can only speculate but I don't believe it was the latter.

There are millions of people doing jobs they hate, or worse, feeling indifferent about the task they spend most of their life completing. At 21, I have quickly become one of those people. In a culture so driven by the need to spend and consume, it's no wonder I've fallen into the trap. My only consolation is that I am still a part time student. I have the illusion of hope that I am still learning and growing and therefore the job I do now may not be considered a career. The problem with this, of course, is that I can't stay in school forever. One day, and soon, I will have to accept defeat, or God forbid, go out on a limb and try something new.

This is my (pre) quarter life crisis. I couldn't agree more with Stephen Silver of blogcritics.org that it is caused by my own fear and laziness. If I would allow myself to dig into my thoughts and realize how I truly feel about my current situation and its propbable consequences, the answer would be quite clear: stop being such a sissy and go try something new! I'm not sure if I'll ever find a specific passion in life but I should at least give it a try. After all, a wise old man once told me that "nothing worth having is free".

weekend in the t-dot

Oh it's finally saturday. I'm so excited! Ceej and I are going to Toronto for our one year anniversary. I can't believe how fast this year has gone by. We're going to the Science Centre and the CN Tower and maybe the ROM if we feel like being artsy fartsy... I'm not so sure about that last one though.

Cj's mom should be flying in from Wales on Sunday night. Hopefully. If British Airways ends their strike at least. Meanwhile, the saga of moving continues. My dad has been amazing though, he's really been sacrificing a lot of time for us. This past week he has finished rebuilding a wall, primed and painted it and this weekend he's going to install the floor. He's a crazy loving man. I have to think of the perfect way to thank my parents for all their help. I'll have to talk to Ceej about it.

Time to go call the Toronto Tourism office and make sure all the reservations are booked. I'll be back on monday... at work :(

wishful thinking *Harry Potter spoiler alert*

So book six is finished and I've gotten over the depression only to find myself excited all over again. J.K.'s amazing ending has left so much up for grabs! I would love to believe that Dumbledore is not dead, but somehow i think Rowling is above such magic tricks.

Snape, however, leaves room for questioning. Is he good or bad or both? J.K. Rowling is too talented for this to be a simple case of good or evil. This carachter is complex and organic allowing for both influences to enter into the picture. Also, why does/did :( Dumbledore trust him so implicitly? This alone is enough for me to remain undecided. I am very excited for his story to unfold and almost equally excited to see Alan Rickman's representation of this multifaceted legilimens.

We'll see...

what's in a name?

Who knew how hard it would be just to pick a name for this blog? I may be the only one who ever reads it, and still I am afflicted with perpetual indecision.

Initially I thought of a great quote that I love but decided quickly that it was far too pretentious and brushed it aside. Thinking I'd be all fancy I tried using foreign translations of insightful words like "afterthought", "delve", and "search". When I started debating using video vidi visum (the latin for observe) I realized my real problem: I am way too self-conscious. Why on earth would I spend so much time and energy trying to find an impressive name for my diary when I had something that inspired me right from the beginning?

As simplistic as it is, this experience has shown me I need to just go with my instincts. Only I know what I really think and feel, and if I keep ignoring myself I'll never figure this life out. In the end the words of Voltaire win out: "The great consolation in life is to say what one thinks". A little too ironic.