Guilty Pleasures

Feral Geographer challenged me in December to divulge all those shocking guilty pleasures of mine to the Blogoverse at large and I am (finally) posting them for all present.

(If you're curious to compare notes, I would recommend checking out her original post right over --> HERE)

It took me some effort to brainstorm a list worthy enough for the topic. I figure if I like something, then why feel guilty over it? That, and I'm also a relative prude, so I don't have quite the same gossip that the other kids have got.

Regardless, I managed to create a list for you to peruse:

• Sprawling afternoons filled with strong tea, chocolate, and hours of animated television (either anime or shows from my childhood). Now, I will openly admit to this behaviour, so I don't quite know that it's a guilty pleasure. Though, it combines sloth and gluttony which are two of the Deadly Sins, if I do recall correctly.
• Music-wise: Beyonce and Lady Gaga. I know, it's the Diva component here. I come from a family of music snobs, so it is difficult for me to voice this adoration. I can't resist them, though. Beyonce was the voice of second-year binge drinking nights and Lady Gaga seems to stalk me when I'm driving late at night. And yes, I will crank the stereo if either of them come on. Ack, the shame...
• Speaking of driving -- I don't just sing at full volume in the car. No. I harmonize at full volume. And not very well, either. I do this despite the fact that I know full well other drivers can see me.
• I do photo shoots of myself after I get my hair cut. EVERY TIME. See, my hair is naturally wavy/curly and I tend to get it flat ironed when I get it cut. I feel I'm lookin' my sharpest then, so I take some modelesque photos. I'm quite good with a camera, too -- you can't even tell I'm holding the camera most of the time. Mmm, vanity much?
• I love waking up to a cold room.
• PUNS. Oh my God, I love them so much. I know a number of people who can't suffer puns, but I cannot adequately express the happiness puns induce for me.

Now, I'm sure most readers will find this list to be rather tame. Not much to feel shame over, am I right?

I left the absolute worst for last:

I READ HARELQUINS. Ugh, I know -- I read bodice rippers that reinforce gender stereotypes. I read cheap paperbacks that promulgate the idea that strong-willed women will always yield to a brawny, brooding man. I flip through books that reduce a woman's role to the baby maker of an often rich or over-privileged dude.

HOW?!

In my defense, I only read them maybe twice a year. I don't make them regular fare. It's mostly to boost my ego as a writer (e.g. "Pfft, I could write something better than THAT"). I think the whole genre appeals to that same part in me that draws other people to watch reality television shows or read celebrity gossip blogs or watch those mindless action flicks.

Still, it's a tough thing for a gal to admit.

So there, dear readers -- what's your fancy? What guilty pleasure do you hide from the light of day?

Tunes for Tuesdays: Inara George

Inara George is the absolute embodiment of all that is adorable in this world. I've developed a theory to explain these findings. I believe the Universe must have taken all the sweetness, all the quiet sparks of cute and wrapped it up in dense layers of dreaminess to create Ms. George.

I will not be persuaded otherwise.

She's got a hushed, often melancholic voice that floats so effortlessly through the scenic music she creates. At once she's coy and shy, the next she's tongue-and-cheek and kickin' it with an upbeat tune. Regardless of the attitude, her tracks are atmospheric, almost like little condensed worlds to roll across the tongue. Ha, look at me getting all silly and trying to wax poetic. I can't help it -- she renders me to complete, romanticized mush.

And I love her for it.

Inara George made her break into the mainstream music scene after her cover of Joe Jackson's "Fools in Love" was featured on the Grey's Anatomy soundtrack. I know, it's a tall order to be featured on such a Juggernaut of a television series and still maintain your claim on the indie scene. It's a delicate line that indie singer-songwriters cross. But, Inara George has maintained her distinct, dream-like sound and she revels in albums that blend a refreshing, free-spirited energy with electro-based accents.

Since it's been quite some time between posts for the Tunes for Tuesdays set, I thought I should share two tracks to even the playing field (and to nudge you a little closer to the sugary goodness of Inara George).

Song the First: "Fools Work," All Rise (2006). It's classic Inara George here. It's quiet and reflective with a gorgeous drop of sadness all mixed into a lush soundscape.

Song the Second: "Accidental," Accidental Experiment (2009). I only discovered this evening that Ms. George released a new album in October 2009, so I'm still getting acquainted with the new tracks. She's just as sweet -- I swear, I want to just carry her around in my pocket.

Oh, Inara George. *Floats away on the breeze* If you find yourself smitten, Ms. George's music catalogue doesn't end there. No, no. She's a driven gal and she's the member of numerous music projects at the moment. She's one half of the self-proclaimed "retro-electro" duo The Bird and The Bee; in 2008, she collaborated with Van Dyke Parks and a 24-piece orchestra on An Invitation; she's a member of the band Merrick and the trio The Living Sisters -- AND, you can even find her on YouTube singing "How Deep is Your Love" with perennial queer favourite, Sia.

*Sigh* Well, I know what I'm doing tonight -- Inara George and a world of cartoon hearts, here I come.

Mottled Thoughts

I've been pensive this evening. Another Saturday spent at home --> Thoughts wandering across all those subjects that aren't quite visible in the light of day. Once I shut off the constant stream of anime and once I laid A.E. Moorat's Queen Victoria, Demon Hunter to rest, all those thoughts swelled to the surface.

Since lists do justice to thought, I shall craft one now:

• Online dating: Someone smack me. I am considering it again. Now, I managed to avoid the urge to profile myself back in the fall. Remember all those discussions about the Major and Minor Archetypes of the Online Dating Realm? I thought I'd managed to scare my own self out of that trip. But.... well..... I kinda, sorta, maybe took just a quick glance at the women listed in my area. I was curious, it's been a while since I was last on PoF. I admit, there's quite a few women I'm interested in on the site. But that nagging voice keeps resurfacing and reminds me about those first two attempts and how negative they were. Maybe the third time's a charm? (P.S. -- I've noticed the urge to online date coincides with my unemployment. It's a little difficult to hit on a woman when there's no money there to even buy her a drink, though).
• Job Hunting: I'm putting the shine back on my resume and refining my cover letter skills for another round of self-promotion. Here's hoping my strange command of the English language can catch an eye or two out there in the Big World of Business. I'm also exploring the volunteer world. At the moment, I've seen listings for a feminist theatre and the year-round activities for a queer film festival. I've always used the Suburbs as an excuse for not getting active in Toronto (since it's a pain of a commute), but perhaps I just need to slide right in. I'm too young to bemoan distance and travel -- it's time to summon my energies and channel them to exciting new experiences.
• Anime and Manga: I'm delving in there and just about guzzling down every new series I have even a passing interest in. I'm starting to worry that I'm spending more time with drawn people than, you know.... REAL people. SO addictive, though.
• Reading: I need to do more of this. And it has to be literature. As much as I love, LOVE manga, it is sugar for the mind. I have two full shelves of books I need to read/re-read and I need to just tackle 'em when they're least suspecting it. (This will also help me to clean out my room of undesired objects since I have the sense that most of those two shelves will not be mine for much longer).

***

Before Chantal headed back for Scotland, she updated me on a gent we went to high school with. Over the past year, he found himself growing tired of Canada and the scene here. Now, he's got a British passport and he's got family living in the U.K., so escape was more than possible. But, rather than leaving life back here in tact, he up and sold ALL of his possession aside from the clothes that would fit in a backpack. And that's how he left Canada.

It's such a tempting, romantic idea. I thought I'd managed to clean out a bunch of stuff over the summer, but, even now, it still seems like so much.

Hmm, more and more thoughts keep crushing in here tonight. I don't know that this post can house them all. I've got quite the series of questions to pose myself in the next few weeks.

We'll just have to see where all that takes me.

Annabel Lyon's Still "Golden" To Me

I realise I left loose ends when it came to the talented Annabel Lyon and the rabid praise that pursued her first novel, The Golden Mean.

I admit, I'd put faith in the newspapers to alert me on the results of the numerous Can lit. awards Lyon was nominated for, and..... well, there was no word. Well, no conclusive word. I caught a glimpse of the 2009 Scotiabank Giller Prize winner back in December. He received, oh, a paragraph of font and a small photo? Odd.

Anyhow, the winners for the major Canadian literary awards are as follows:

• The Governor General's Award for Fiction (English): Kate Pullinger, The Mistress of Nothing.
• The Scotiabank Giller Prize: Linden MacIntyre, The Bishop's Man.
• The Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Award: Annabel Lyon, The Golden Mean.

So there -- she cinched one of the three awards in 2009. I was getting rather nervous when I hadn't heard word of the outcome. I mean, the press was causing such a ruckus following her literary hat trick -- it seemed odd there was such a hushed follow-up. In any case, I am proud to see Lyon's been recognised for such a stellar first novel and I am excited to see the course her professional writing career takes from here.

I mean, to have nominations/awards like those tacked on to your resume this early, there's not a publisher out there who would reject your second novel.

So, three cheers for our Golden Girl and for her ability to get Canadians both writing AND reading.

Fine with "Nine"

First order of business: Check out Nine with Chantal before she heads back to Scotland. I am glad to declare the mission was accomplished with great vigour and much drool on both of our parts.

I knew we would stake out cinema seats for this film the moment I hit "Play" on the Internet trailer months ago.

To start, Chantal is dedicated to Mr. Daniel Day-Lewis. When it comes to Harem hierarchy, he holds a golden place in her ranks. See, he doesn't have an official title within the Harem Proper -- no. He cannot be contained by the standard Harem rules. Instead, Mr. Day-Lewis sails to our villa where he chops firewood and instructs the members of Chantal's Harem on important issues like wooing a lady (and yeah, I occasionally ask for lessons, too. Hey, gotta stay sharp for the women of my Harem.) He travels with the wind and the fog, similar to Johnny Depp and the Irish river folk of Chocolat.

Anyway, I am rambling now.

Of course, the second reason to catch this film: Um, well, you saw that poster, right? Who needs to visit the concession stand with that much eye candy sprinkled throughout the film?

I know, I know -- I'm offline for all of two weeks and the first two posts back showcase my inklings toward all things debauch. What? There are sparkle-infused women belting out musical numbers like Sirens and compelling me to Be Italian and seduce them all. I am only one woman, I can't resist this.

Now, all that gushing aside, I did have certain issues with the film. Or, rather, I guess the plot. I admire Daniel Day-Lewis and I love the women featured in this film -- but, well, I'm getting tired of the whole one man + five trillion women flicks. Yes, I get it -- straight men are given the spotlight AND the bevy of women who should be unattainable to them but the script tells these ladies to throw themselves at him.

Yawn.

Show me something I haven't seen before.

Now, Daniel Day-Lewis is suave and commands quite a bit of respect from me, so I had an easier time suspending my usual irritation for this film. But still, it's frustrating for a single gay girl to watch, especially when she tends to fail at A) Meeting other queer girls and B) Convincing other queer girls that she is attractive and dateable.

But, I digress.

I think the greater part of this film's target audience was more than likely looking forward to one particular scene. If I mention Penelope Cruz, I imagine the first image to slide its way into your mind is this one:

And OH, GIRL -- I don't remember breathing throughout her number. In fact, I don't even recall blinking, either. Once I regained consciousness, I wondered how on EARTH the crew managed to hold it together during filming. Serious, I even wonder how the movie screen and the DVD did not spontaneously combust as a direct result of this dance. It's so odd because I never quite took notice of Ms. Cruz prior to Nine. I was mistaken and I have corrected all former opinions.

Despite the utter hotness that was Penelope Cruz as the Mistress, I found myself drawn more toward the subdued and delicate presence of Marion Cotillard as Luisa Contini, Guido Contini's dejected wife. Even while her character was treated as a walking joke and was continually lied to by her husband, she carried herself with such elegance. Protective Moffatt kicked in quite a few times throughout the film and I was wanting to leap through the screen and whisk Ms. Cotillard away on a cute little Vespa. But alas -- I have yet to perfect the Film/Reality Transfer. *Pout*

I know I'm a touch biased here, but I would still recommend Nine to all the ladies out there. I might even have a new Harem addition here with Marion Cotillard -- if that's not proof enough for you to check the film out, then I don't know what is.

So Be Italian and show those ladies what's what!

Super Hot AND Super Heroine

Is there anything Alicia Keys cannot accomplish?

I mean, she's the golden child of the R'n'B crowd and continues to garner respect from a diverse group of musicians and music lovers alike; she dedicates time and funds to invaluable social causes across North America and the globe at large; and, as regular readers will note, she has achieved one of the most elite statuses within the Harem of Miz Moffatt.

And then, she releases a queertastic video experience for her latest single, "Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart."

I'm convinced she found out I was a lil' under the weather which led her to create this video:

Some general comments and first impressions:

• Purple, satin sheets --> *Drool*
• Is it just me, or did wardrobe intentionally dress her like a gay gal for the first part of this video? I mean, tank top: Check. Dog tags: Check. Rockin', studded jacket: Check. Aviators: Oh, sweet goodness, double check. Tough femmes -- you understand the attraction now, right?
• "Have you ever tried sleeping with a broken heart? Well, you can try sleeping in my bed" -- No need to ask twice, ma'am.
• It is a little known fact that Ms. Keys possesses the power to bring creatures back from the dead. I know. Those fingers aren't just magical with the piano, you know.
• Oh, motorcycle. Again, anyone else seeing those queer connections? Yes? I mean, you just need to tell me she's co-writing a song with Tegan and Sara and my head will explode from it all.
• PURPLE UNITARD. BRAIN.... SHUTTING DOWN... CAN'T ...CONTINUE.... TO WRITE..... *Enters a lust-induced coma* The woman has kickin' curves, what can I say?
• Wow, tears that can crush glass? Awesome.

I know the video never adequately explains WHY Alicia Keys commands the Gift of Life. And it doesn't provide details about why she leaps on top of buildings (perhaps to amplify her voice?) but.... well, I don't care. It's implied she's a super heroine and she wears a skin-tight unitard. I don't need further explanation.

Though, I find the inspiration for her character to be intriguing. I mean, she's quite literally the love child of Rogue from X-Men and The Phantom. She got her inability to touch her lover (and thereby drain his life force) from Mama and she got her idea for the bright purple unitard from Papa. Makes perfect sense in a weird, "I don't want to think about this too deeply" kind of way.

Hmm. Whatev. I ask rhetorical questions to amuse myself. Really, I should just press "Repeat" on that embedded video up there.

I suggest you do the same.

New Light, New Year

Whoa.

It's 2010.

.... When all did THAT happen?

***

At last, I awake from the Christmas coma and return to the Blogoverse with full force. I'm still shaking off the last remnants of a sinus cold/possible flu, but I do believe I'm on the mend at long last. I might not be at the gym-frequenting level of health yet, but I can keep foods and liquids down, so.... A+ for Moffatt.

It's been quite the trip over these last few weeks. Christmas was an absolute blur. I missed New Year's Eve/The Sister's wedding reception on account of a flu or a wicked migraine (I had symptoms for both so I can't confirm either). The Family's consoling me with the whole, "Well, you were there for the wedding ceremony and the photos and that's what counts" -- but, I mean, I missed the reception. I missed all the FUN. I missed out on all the parts that people are going to remember.

Bah. At least I looked hot. I even looked hot while I was hugging the toilet and praying for sleep to whisk me away from myself.

(Alright, that last one might be a bit of an exaggeration.... I mean, the whole looking hot while being profusely ill).

So, 2010 thus far:

• Still sick
• Unemployed
• Gained weight
• Cried over the Tenth Doctor's regeneration (NOOOOOOO!!)
• Discovering new anime and manga to dedicate countless hours to

Oooh, I'm quite the catch in 2010, aren't I? I know, few can resist my charms. Though, now that I am unemployed (the contract ended prior to Christmas), I have no excuse for skipping blog posts now, do I? Mmm, accountability. How I missed thee.

And how I missed all of you -- I've got quite the bit of reading ahead of me when it comes to the Queer Canada Blogs set and for all the usual online haunts I frequent. Let's get started then, shall we?