Reasons to Grin on a Monday

• The return of the Christmas season = the return of stunning clementines in all grocery stores. Ohh, little spheres of sunshine....
• I have three mornings free to sleep this week. Sweet goodness, the bliss.
• Two weekend shifts have renewed my hope in the younger generation and their reading habits. Met one woman with a Christmas list that included book pub dates, all of which was written out by her ten-year-old daughter. Also encountered a nine-year-old girl who picked up four books in, oh... two minutes? I think she could have bought the store if she had access to income.
• Started in on an H.P. Lovecraft anthology, and whoa mercy -- intense speculative horror stories, indeed.
• Finished Kathleen Winter's Annabel last week, and got to cross the book off THREE literary awards reading lists.
• Knowing that lists will always save me when it comes to steady content.

HUZZAH.

Oh, Sweet Distraction... (in List Format)

What I Am Yearning For When I Should Be Finishing Assignments:

• Sleepsleepsleepsleepsleep.... etc.
• Tucking into a massive anthology of H.P. Lovecraft stories (we are talking 800+ pages)
• Returning to the writing projects I started right before the crush of school work hit
• Also, doing the research I need for said writing projects....
• Plotting out an adventure for next year, even if I would be flying solo on that one.
• Did I mention sleeping? Another blitz of 5 AM shifts, whatwhat.

*Sigh, romantic drifting clouds*

Mid-Week Lessons

Lesson for March 31, 2010:

Do not assign paper folding to yourself. Anal-retentive individuals should not fold paper.

Even if the end result is a fun one.

Even if someone is threatening to torch the walls down around you.

***

In all seriousness, I am pouring these efforts into a present for this weekend. A certain Advocate is having a certain birthday on a certain day this week -- and a certain queer kid is planning a certain surprise involving folded paper. It certainly might drive this gay gal insane, but it is certain the end product will be a smashing one.

YES.

Other fun lessons from an average [Wednes]day:

• If the bass emanating from your van affects the radio signal reaching the cars around you, your music is TOO LOUD. Please turn it down.
• Vegetarians eat vegetables. Ice cream is not a vegetable. Remember that on the next trip to the fridge.
• Shugo Chara = Miz Moffatt from grades 6 to 7. Minus the magical powers and the hearts' eggs and the trendy clothes, of course.
• Vacuuming + silent house = Perfect time to practice songs for karaoke.
• It is advisable to open windows when dousing all bedroom surfaces with disinfectant. Take heed in the future.
• Cheese generates a high volume of smoke after landing on the heat coils found in toaster ovens. It is also advisable to open windows and/or doors under these circumstances.

That is all.

Friday Rambles

Friday Lessons:

• Waking up late is no good for the equilibrium, even when unemployed. Respect the German radio program summoning you from sleep.
• Thinking about the gym is not equivalent to attending the gym.
• I have no maximum threshold for anime. I have no saturation point. Conclusive amounts of writing will only be accomplished in the absence of anime.
• Battlestar Galactica: Brilliant source for parodies. I want to attempt a one-person summarized version of an episode. Call for an actor is pending.
• Get dressed before the parentals arrive home from work. Older generational anger still exists on Fridays.
• Chuck Palahniuk is the bee's knees. How is one man so violent, impish, and eloquent all at once? And productive. Productive is an important description.
• Toast is not an adequate dinner. Add hummus.
• YouTube was designed to suck me into an endless stream of British television (QI: Quite Interesting) and Japanese comedy (Downtown)
• Do not look up symptoms online. Ever. Chronic sore tummies will not be cured in this fashion.
• Scout out some chocolate-covered ju-jubes this weekend. It might be counter-productive for general health purposes, but it is conducive to heightened enjoyment of nerdtastic weekend television.

Indeed.

Sundries and Such

I am calling in the armed forces to tackle this post. I've got some post ideas on the back-burner at the moment, still in the "development" stage if you'll allow me to indulge that unearned writer's ego. Serious, I want to have those posted in the next few days.

At the moment, I've got some literal and metaphorical laundry to air:

• Moffatt child, please -- clean your room. I was toying with the idea of sharing photo evidence of the current state in which I live, but... I don't think I can bring myself to do it. I don't want to expose others to my comfortable squalor. It shall be erased.
• Eye exam: I had it done. Good news: I have a prescription for glasses that will restore complete vision while I am driving (aka. No more squinting at street signs!) Better news: There's nothing wrong with my eyes. Well, aside from the fact that my vision has decreased substantially over the past four years. What I mean is, the pain I am experiencing in my face is NOT a result of inner eye problems. Thank goodness. That's one more possible explanation scratched off the list, so, I'm gettin' somewhere. Even greater news: I can claim some of these new expenses for my taxes. WHOOO, I'm OLD AND CARE ABOUT TAX DEDUCTIONS, YEAH!
• I will start forcing myself to wake up before 8 AM. I know, I need out of the under-employment rut. I hate having an irregular schedule. I think it induces greater procrastination in me. I'm a morning person -- if I sleep past nine, I feel gross and unaccomplished. I know, I am insane. As the wise Arcade Fire put it: "Sleeping in is giving in/No matter what the time is" ("Rebellion (Lies)," Funeral)
• I will return to the regular gym schedule. I suspended myself from it because of various ailments, but, since they've all been reduced in scope, I figure it's safe to re-dedicated efforts toward the gym.

Umm.... alright, I think those are all the pressing issues at the moment. OH! No, I thought of another: I need a better diet. I've fallen off course again. I need to take a tough stance with myself once again. Perhaps, as a result, my face will stop hurting. Oh, I am excited at the prospect, trust me.

Hmm, I feel I need more queer content. Umm...... oh, well, the main reason for the gym is for Pride. I need to be awesome for my tank tops and for the ladies who just might catch a glimpse of me in said tank tops.

~ FIN ~

December Social Goals

Oooh, girl -- I am on the wire with this entry. I made a daring sprint back to the lair after another stunning evening with The Advocate and Ship Sharp.

But first, I have a list.

I have decided that I will squeeze every last ounce of fun, adventure, and magic out of December and keep it all for myself... and also for those nearest and dearest to me. I have compiled a list of the Social Goals I hope to achieve this holiday season and, should each one occur, I am set to have a stunning time.

So, in typical list format, here it is:

• Sushi night with The Advocate and Ship Sharp
• A David Tennant as Casanova Tea Party with The Advocate, Ship Sharp, and The Cuz
• Coffee house Can. lit. reading hosted by an old teacher of mine (Dec. 8/09)
• Toronto Small Publishers' Show @ The Gladstone Hotel (Dec. 12/09)
• Ladies in Writing meeting (Dec. 16/09)
• Attempt the Second for the Lord of the Rings Marathon with the Greatest People on Earth
• Sister's New Year's Eve Wedding/Epic Celebration

Hmm, not a bad sample at the moment. I'm sure other new possibilities will present themselves as the month marches on and I hope I'll be receptive to as many invitations as possible. I'm getting all ramped up for 2010, now -- I want to take hold of this new year and make it my own for once.

Had an incredibly inspiring conversation with The Advocate (after we all finished filming ourselves impersonating Captain Jack Harkness and Rhys from Torchwood. TOO much fun). We talked about London and travel throughout the U.K. and I can feel all that Brain Crack surging back into my mind from every angle. Oh, the lure of it all. The sweet longing for a new city to explore and a chance to find a life surrounded with energy, purpose, and excitement. And to tackle that with some of your closest friends? Um, why am I still discussing this and not DOING it?

2010: It's time to punch some holes through that money fort I've been crafting. I need to get myself out there and paving a new life with all that cash I've saved. No use looking at it through a glass case anymore. Though, the security therein is quite seductive. But no -- I want that money to start working for me.

It's time to jump in and see where the river takes me.

GAME PLAN: 2010

CHECK IT: I am about to plan/research/strategize the heck out of 2010.

The gloves are on, the crowd's electric, and I am seconds away from the bell sounding for the first round.

IT IS ON, 2010.

I know my tendency to make lists borders on the obsessive, but I feel a distinct difference with this one -- I can feel that fire of motivation. It's buzzing through me and singeing my nerves. I am going to make plans and I am going to make them happen.

I am all ego this evening.

So, the initial list:

Writing

• Launch into the first poetry collection; Flesh out those ideas, lady.
• Tuck into the first novel idea.
• SUBMIT pieces to literary journals, magazines, blogs.
• Explore those writing markets (start with Canada and branch out to the U.S. and U.K.)
• Get out there and volunteer for literary events across the city.
• Check out those writing contests, if low entry fees will permit.
• Nightwood submission? Might be cool, might want to get in on that and tag team the theatre scene with Ship Sharp.

Travel

• Research the ever-loving life out of the places you're keen on visiting (U.K., France, Germany, Russia, etc.)
• Figure out rough budgets and such... yeah, I suppose funding might be important.

School

• Research that Masters in Creative Writing (Canadian, American, and English schools)
• Try and contact old profs to make sure they remember you, crazy girl.
• Financial aids like scholarships would be good, too.
• Look into Ryerson's copy editing program (since you've now got another year and a half stretched out in front of you)
• Maybe look into language courses for kicks...? French or Japanese would be neat.

I feel all fired up and dominant and like I am going to take no prisoners, even if they ask me politely not to. I wonder if this is the post-gym endorphins kicking in right about now.

Watch out, 2010 -- Miz Moffatt is claiming you as her own.

101 in 1001: Progress Report

I am a list-oriented person, I think it's plain to tell. When Ship Sharp announced she was going to tackle the infamous 101 in 1001 over at DayZero, I was inspired to do the same. 

And, lo -- it is time for a progress report.

In essence, this challenge is designed to help us avid procrastinators zero in on the plans and goals we'd like to achieve while giving us a concrete timeframe to complete them in. 1001 days = 2.75 years. I find it less stressful than the New Year's resolution since the allotted time is much longer. In addition, you can start a program of this nature at any time and still achieve the same results.

Here is the criteria as listed on the website: "Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on your part)."

Now, I found this idea left little room for flexibility. I mean, it's difficult to lock in to only a specific list of goals because, well... we change. We're always redefining ourselves and people can change quite significantly over 1001 days. I left that to my own discretion and I have in fact changed my original list more than once. Regardless, I have made some progress that I will now be sharing for the Blogiverse at large:

Start Date: January 4/2009

End Date: Sat. October 1/2011

• 1. Make a list of 101 things to do in 1001 days (Jan. 3/09): I know, it's a cheap start. Still, it's an accomplishment.
  
• 3. Quit from O.M. (March 12/09): I was actually laid off, but I left and that's what counts.
• 5. Have The Talk with immediate friends and family: Brother (July 30/09); Parents (Aug. 28/09); The Advocate (Oct. 4/09); Ship Sharp (Oct. 24/09)
• 14. Write 3 episodes of My Date With... (1/3): Wrote My Date With... Napoleon Bonaparte for The Advocate's return home (Aug. 17-18).
• 19. Finish posting all of my and Ship Sharp's scripts online (19/56): I've slacked off like mad and need to get moving on that one again.
• 31. Watch every episode from the new series of Doctor Who (59/59)
• 33. Watch every installment in the James Bond franchise (7/22): Live and Let Die, The Man with the Golden Gun, GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace.
• 34. Pick out a random movie from the library each month to watch (3/33): Again, I need to do some serious catch-up. But, watching movies are always enjoyable. Anyway, the list of those: Autumn Spring (Jan./09), Valentin (Feb./09), Grave of the Fireflies (April/09)
• 30. Go to a taping of The Rick Mercer Report and hang out with "Uncle Rick" (Jan. 16/09): I even have photo evidence!
• 42. Learn to sew buttons back on to clothes (Feb. 8/09)
• 43. Become proficient with chopsticks: Used chopsticks in Japan without embarrassing myself... I'd say that's a pass.
• 50. Go to Toronto's Word on the Street (Sept. 27/09)
• 56. Visit Toronto's Green Living Show (April 25/09)
• 62. Travel to Japan to visit with Ms. Chantal (March 18/09 - April 2/09)
• 70. Work out 3 times/week: I've done pretty well with this, except while travelling or while I was ill.
• 73. Get your first medical physical done (Sept. 17/09)
• 75. Get glammed up once a month, just because: This one morphed into me doing it every weekend, so I've more than surpassed the initial goal.
• 78. Put yourself out there more to connect with people, even if it's just a simple message on Facebook: This one is harder to measure, but I think I've been doing well with it. I mean, I've gone out and done more things in this past year than I have in, well.... ever, quite possibly.
• 80. Get my first credit card and MAINTAIN REGULAY PAYMENTS (Nov. 2/09): I was turned down twice because I had no previous credit history. I eventually had to apply under a student account, but I got one. It's taken me just shy of a year to reach this goal. Crazy.
• 81. Get one o' dem high interest , tax free bank accounts: Tax free account (Feb. 16/09), High Interest Account (Feb. 16/09). Too bad the tax free account has only garnered $50 ALL YEAR.
• 82. Keep track of your spending (Excel Spreadsheet style): I am SO on top of it. I might start a new chart that breaks down spending a bit more clearly each month, though.
• 83. Clean out the clutter in my closet, dresser, desk drawers (Oct./09)
• 85. Go through the old school binders and decide what's being kept and what's being tossed (Oct./09)

... Hmm, none too shabby. Still have some areas to work on and I need to give the list another update. There are a bunch of items that are no longer relevant and need to be removed in order to make way for new goals.

Cheers for progress!