These days, I've become semi-lame and unsocial. Not in general, but more-so when it comes to my night life. The non-summer-like weather has caused me to reflect on where I spend my time and what I spend it doing. Normally hangouts at the pub down the road are my idea of a successful night out, but with the bar taking away my favorite drink specials during the imfamous "power hour", and firing all but one of my favorite staff, the act of consuming alcohol has lost it's essance also. Tuesday is usually known as date night, where my best friend and I venture across town to a movie theatre that allows us to bee below-average movie theatres for ridiculously low prices. It's become a tradition among us, getting us out of the house and giving us the feeling that we are somehow tied in to the rest of society because we had shared the expeience of 2 wasted hours at a medeocre movie. But the friend and I have stopped hanging out due to a dumb dispute and stubbornness, and with NE ctrain construction, I opt out of going more often than not. This week migh also be the last week during which I have a job. Hopefully that's not the case, but it is a possibility as the work was summer-based. The finding of a new gig may complicate my life a bit also. But the next few days are filled with 7am start time and rush-hour commutes which I am thankful for, along with the employment. As I left my house at 6:10 this morning, I walked down to the train in a daze. When I heard a noise super close behind me in the shadows, I freaked the fuk out. Turns out I had cut a guy off or nearly walked into him on the path. It's dark but that was kind of ridiculous. He decided to strike up a conversation about his roommates and being awake, wich I quickly ended, cuz fuk buddy, no one wants to speak to randoms first thing in the morning. And now I am at work, trying to make the world a less litter-filled place, hoping that more people care to fix the environment rather than continuing to destroy it.

This Year is Gonna Have to Work Hard to Top This One!

I've done a lot of stupid stuff in my life: practised many unsafe driving habits @ 160km/hr to various concerts around North America. Vacationed alone in Europe numerous time (some more dangerous than others). I've looked for a thrill via bungie jumping, and ziplining... that one time I tried buggy boarding for like a second, and hurt myself. I've scaled a mountain, and reached a peak, by myself, only to fall off on the way down... whoops, that's gonna hurt for a while.

Most recently, after being down on my life and how it's recently shaped up, I was in desperate need for a thrill, and what better way to get it, than running with bulls.
The deal: Bull running is very popular in Spain, once a year, I believe. People travel from all over the world and run the streets with these mean creatures. I found out however, that Canada has a bull running event too. The bulls have their horns clipped and it's done on a stampede ground, but that sounds dangerous enough for me.
How it went down: A crew of amazing thrill-seekers, and myself get put into a rink (kinda like a track) alone with other persons equaling a total of 80 humans. 3 rounds of bulls are released, ranging from 1200 lbs, to 1600 lbs, and do 3 laps each, before releasing the next size bull. 9 rounds to survive.
When I chickened out: It was lap 7 and I was minding my own business, jogging beside a 1600 lb bull. Then some guy went and smacked the bull, to which it stopped and stared at me and taking 2 steps in my direction. I walked backward toward the gate, still exposed to bull, heart pounding. He seemed to forget it and turned the other direction, at which point i relaxed a bit, until some other asshole smacked his ass, and ran. The bull (big mother-fuker) took 3 quick steps towards me, me 1/2 way up the gate, sticking my ass out at him, not knowing what to do. He came super close, staring me down the whole time, and ultimately when his friend started running, he went with him.

I just jumped across the other side of that gate saying "Fuk it, that bull has it out for me, next time he does a lap, he'll sideswipe me for sure - I'm out"

Now what is the goal of bullrunning? To scare the living shit out of yourself. Mission accomplished. I could say I did it, not sure if I'll be super keen on doing it again anytime soon... unless you know, I end up in Spain, in which case, passing up the opportunity would just be silly.

Explanation

Hello there... I feel like I owe the internet world (and distant friends) an explanation... I have had a few adventures over the past 2 months... but have written about none of them, and this is my explanation:

There are few times in my life when I just don't feel like writing. Those times are ones of sadness. I could write about stuff when it's interesting and rather comical, because I find my words flow together nicely.
I could write when I'm venting or pissed off about something, because then it becomes an exaggerated tamper tantrum of cussing over the internet... also to be taken in a rather amusing fashion.
But when I'm upset, I just like to be upset by my lonesome, or with my friends at the pub around the corner.

Earlier this year, I went through a break-up (which I'm almost over... yay me) which took away my writing ability. And most recently, I found myself to be living in a hostile home environment, which in turn directed me to avoiding my house altogether, therefore keeping me away from computers and venting.

As things have evened out recently, I should be able to start writing again, though the lack of flowers discourages me. Ashley, if you're gonna ask for a blog, at least follow it (geez)! ;)

Gotta Write This Quick

I've been unemployed for over 6 weeks now, and what I've noticed, is that despite doing virtually nothing, I've been rushing through life. I walk around town as if I have something I'm late for, I run for the train, even though it would make no difference if I took the next one or the one after that. I'm always feeling rushed, and in tern stressed about it, and I can't seem to figure out why.

The more I think about it, the more I blame it on technology. I always have my blackberry in my hands, looking at what time it is, and how much time has passed. How long till the next train, or that show on tv starts?

Also, I think I might be going through Waterton withdrawl, when you could tell relatively what time it was by the sun. And you're only clue of what time it was, related directly to those who had to work in the morning.

And even now, I sit in am empty theatre eating my popcorn and having time to myself, like truly. And yet my thoughts are spinning about how long it's gonna take me to get home and change before I go out for the night. And how long I can stay out before I have to get up tomorrow morning. But right now, my only worry is eating this popcorn. And posting this blog later.

No thanks, I'll just stay sober.

Alright, alright, so with my past experiences of dancing on cars and seeing every live musical act that came to town, and now with my backyard fires and power hours, I know that you'd roll your eyes when you saw the title of this blog, but it's actually true.

Let's remeniss, shall we? I was the summer of my sweet 16 when I took daddy's car, and credit card and drove to Sarnia for an outdoor concert. I saw the band I was there to see and to this day, I have the video that I reorded "freaking out" cuz the band said they'd come back to my hotel room to "party" (this is also how my "groupie" title began). On the video the band asks what I drink, and my response is "I don't know" Beer? "I have no idea.

These "rockstars" came to my hotel room and I tried my hardest to stomach the beer they gave me. I got 1.5 bottles in, trying ever so hard to look cool. But soon after, got buzzed and gave up.

Years went by and I always found myself in situations when free beer was involved. High school bush/basement parties, music festivals, backstage at many a show... and eventually I stopped trying to stomach it. I remember volunteering for NXNE or CMW in Toronto and going to the after-party with a hand full of "beer" tickets - saying I would stay sober instead of drinking that shit.

And up to and including this past weekend, it still happens without fail. I ran CityChase, ran hard and tried hard on Saturday, and just wanted a shot afterward - but was offered free beer instead. Free beer. "No thanks, I'll pay the $7 for Jack instead" If I have to drink beer, I'd rather stay sober.

Another Flashback

My good friend Army Guy took me out kayaking yesterday afternoon. It was a gorgeous day for it and I had an amazing time. I got to see the back entrance to Heritage Park, and while coming up with ridiculous stories about how we would storm the windmill throwing pebbles at it and spitting along the way, another past story of mine came to mind.

FLASHBACK: Some friends and I went to the Exhibition Place in Toronto for an outdoor concert. Edgefest is my best guess as to which one it was. We found a way to break in and see the show, as we had done it before (and at that point, I even knew some of the security, cuz they worked for more than one venue). The whole "getting into the gig for free" seemed a bit too easy for us, and so, we decided we wanted to go backstage. Conveniently, backstage was surrounded by water, as that's how the park is laid out. Impossible - nah. We ended up renting paddleboats, paddling over, then trying to ditch them, run up a hill and hop a fence. Meanwhile, musicians are watching and encouraging us.

Moral of the story: we got a slap on the wrist and a "stern talking to"... oh yah, we also met some bands... but then again, we did get kicked out of the park... and 15 minutes later, we snuck back in. Oh to be young again. I think there's a cartoon someone drew about this night somewhere...

"Rebel - what?" then... and now.

So, the weekend just passed... and overall I had a very eventful and interesting time. So much so that I am sitting at home today, hurting - A LOT. My throat kills, my hands, arms, shoulders... fuk, everything hurts, I might as well have been in a boxing rink. But let's vaguely talk about the weekend, shall we?

Friday night I ended up downtown with a friends, having a couple drinks and hitting on a couple boys. This fun friend of mine however, LOVES talking to anyone... be it breakdancers on the streets, the fire truck driving by, and ALL police officers. Now, I tense up when cops come around... that warrant being out to get me and all. Punchline of this story: after making some policemen friends, I got a ride home in a cruiser... not because I was in trouble or anything, but mainly because I'm broke and didn't want to pay for a cab. And as I sit in the back of this police vehicle, voluntarilly, late Friday, I find myself talking shit about policemen and my past experiences with them, while biting my tongue as to not let on that there's a warrant out for me, and laughing my fuken head off on the inside, at this whole situation.

FLASHBACK: this same weekend, my friend Ellez who used to cause a ruckus with me when we were younger, tags me in a photo with the cops SHE made friends with years back. The story: we had gone to Sarnia, ON for an outdoor live show, having driven in a buddy's jeep which crapped out as soon as we got to an LCBO. Trying to have a good time, we drank our faces off from noon till 2am, hitchhiking our way through town and breaking into the outdoor gig. At 3am we were finishing off booze while waiting for CAA to drive us the 3+hours home with all of our "pooled" CAA miles. Cops come for a noise complaint, give the boys "drinking in public" charges, and flirt with the girls. Soon, my friends end up in the back of the cruiser, wearing handcuffs and taking breathalyzers for fun. I failed.

Though I didn't have a warrant out for me back then, it was still a very eventful time.

Activities days

Hey everyone. Remember those times when I used to blog and it was awesome? Then remember the last few weeks when I became bitter and sheltered and uneventful, and wrote nothing? Well, I guess I just ran out of things to rant about, and am less opinionated than usual... Oh wait, that's not it. I have crawled into a bit of a bitter shell cuz of lack or a job and money ect ect, but I've found a distraction.

As I try to fall asleep, I think about how proud it makes me, that with the help of friends I managed to exceed my goal in gathering donations for the Underwear Affair - a walk/run that helps uncover a cure for cancers below the waist. It also got me thinking about what a great experience fundraising was.

With that, I have decided to continue getting out, trying new things, and meeting new people, especially with the promise of a great summer. So I propose this: on Wednesdays and Sundays, I shall be participating in activities days. Whether it be frizbee in the park, or a group trip somewhere random. I'm thinking 5-6ish would be fun, and after I announce an activity, I plan to do it with or without people (but with would clearly be more fun).

Now to think of a Sun/Wed activity: any ideas?

Dallas to Tampa

My vacation woes, are getting kinda silly
I curse below my breath, and sigh angrillilly
I've seen an airport an airport an airport a plane, an airport, a plane

My bad time miscalculation
and my lack of concentration
storm warning, a long day, delayed takeoff
my mood's hit a place, that's hard to shakeoff
my 7 hour trip, is really 22
my 4pm landing is in am, and at 2...

and I sit, and I read, and I try to sleep
and I drink and I blog and I refuse to weep
cuz life is an adventure, that's what traveling's for
if I made no mistakes, I'd peg my life as a bore
but there's still (like) 4 hours, till I find my hostel and drop
so I sit here, kill time, with my Jack and my pop (sorry, soda)

*words written about missing my flight and having tornado warnings delay my 2nd flight only to get to my destination a day later... once again*

Sometimes, you have unfortunate luck.

So everyone, I recently went on a vacation to Florida by myself. This vacation involved a lot of drinking, a lot of random and fantastic people, some partying, and some great adventures. But with all the good stuff, sometimes you stumble along some bad.

The last "job" I had, happened to be a promotion for a wicked awesome cell phone. It went on for 6 weeks or so and I had a great time doing it. But 2 shifts prior to wrapping everything up, I spilt a bottle of pop in my purse, ruined it, and cried a bit about it.
Similarly, while on vacation, I survived all these great places with my digital camera: the cruise ship I was on, the pool we took pics beside, the bars where beverages were getting spilled, and the boat I went para-sailing off of. And behold, the night before my flight back, while walking in downtown Tampa, I slipped and fell into the river, sending my camera into the water with me.

This is where the story gets good:
Although I may not always keep my composure while hanging out with friends, I completely lose my mind and just do whatever comes to me first when I'm by myself (especially when alcohol is involved... and let's be realistic - when is it not?). There are 2 stories I am willing to disclose, because, realistically, they're just too ridiculous to keep to myself...


1. I am the girl who "trespassed" onto a private yaught club to wander around, check out the boats, take a nap on their amazing hammocks, and take pictures by the water. I walked up to all of the staff, smiled and said hello, while wearing as little as possible... and when using their facilities, I totally stole like a hand full of tampons - cuz you know, they were free, and I'm a rebel. Pft, rich people and their free feminine products, take that!

2. I am the girl who slipped on some seaweed while trying to dip my feet in the river downtown. This was after I walked through a city garden, stepping on a rose bush branch which punctured through my sandal and into my foot. *ouch, tetanus shot* After sitting, soaked from the waist down laughing at myself, I went into the first 5-star hotel to get cleaned up. Rich people - you might pay $300 a night to stay in some fancy place, but I'm the girl in her bikini, ringing out her shorts in your prestigious bathroom... Those door men gave me a look straight out of "Pretty Woman" when I walked in.

And with that, I shrug, get on with my day, and find another convenience store that sells booze, because when you have unfortunate luck, you just gotta do something that makes you laugh, or at least smile at the memory of...
SIDENOTE **if anyone wants to purchase me a new cell phone or digital camera, it'd be greatly appreciated, cuz my vacation left me broke!**