I was off at the Winnipeg Folk Festival this last week. Though it's usually my rejuvenation period, I found this year exhausting. It was cool and often cloudy, and terribly cold at night. The campground nights were a little sedated thanks to the frigidity (you could see your breath), but I had a fantastic time around the fire with Camp Good Times. I loved the events on the campground. The Castle Boys outdid themselves as usual, the dragon was amazing! Nothing cheered up my day more than the marching band making its way round, every day it got bigger and more amazing. The elephant! The stilt walkers! The music! I saw a little girl, no more than three, wearing faery wings and a little crown marching along at the end of the parade in a state of perfect bliss. Everything in her entire world was absolutely perfect; she was a faery princess in a Seussian parade. What we wouldn't give to bottle that kind of joy. The cold northern sky was gorgeous, no Aurora Borealis this year, but lots of stars and a bright bright moon. The torrential downpour was made tolerable by a good tent, army surplus raincoat and the judicious forethought of Camp Good Times' car port. Nothing separates hardcore Folkies from party-obsessed kids like a good soaking.
I didn't make it over to the Elvis Costello show, but it sounded good from the campground. Overall there wasn't too much in the way of music that caught my attention, but three bands stand out overall. Xavier Rudd was full of energy but there wasn't enough didge to satisfy me (his didgeridoo playing is extraordinary). The Deep Dark Woods were just as their name implies: deep, dark and, well, woody. Melancholy but full of life, it was perfect to lay in the grass under the (small amount of) warm sun and cool breeze and drift away. The Secondhand Pants were as usual, hilarious, brilliant, thoughtful and amusing. I could listen to Francis Leonard twang away on that little ukulele all afternoon.
There were also some great little stores in the Handmade Village, have a look at the links if you've never been, you might find something new.

Dahlia Drive - totally unique wearable art. Some of the patterns on the clothes she achieves by burying them with wrought iron. Amazing stuff. She describes her techniques with some helpful links, click "progress".

emk clothing - emk has only gotten better over the years. Her baby carriers are the newest and cutest items, and she has a great eye for fabrics.

Heartsease - Natural handmade soaps and skin care. I bought a stick of her "Madagascar" incense. It smells incredible. I wish she made a perfume out of it.

Faeries From the Prairies - So cute! So, so cute! Just walking past this booth makes me feel five again. I still have a ribbon stick I bought from them years ago.

Gypsy Circus - utterly gorgeous clothing. Rich, deep and warm.

Inkspoon Clothing - Some of the coolest prints I've seen in a long time. Original and charming urban design.

The Velvet Plume - More stunningly gorgeous clothing. A wardrobe made of this? Yes please!

I have no photos as I STILL can't find the cord for my camera (nor do I have a memory card for it, which I desperately need), which is also slowing the progress of my store updates. Hard to take pictures of some things with the laptop cam. Arg. Also, I have lost two labret studs in the last two weeks, which is why I am now wearing a slightly uncomfortable ring in it now to keep the hole open until I can afford a new one. What do you think?
( pic )

The apartment is slowly coming together, I might actually be able to get some work done soon.

I'm posting these links here mostly for my own remembrance, but they may interest you as well.

I think I want to make some of these:
cassette tape wallet

I don't crochet, but I do have a lot of cassette and VHS tapes I'm getting rid of, anyone want them so they can make these bags?

I'd love to make one of these, but I don't have the clear plastic sheeting for the back:
Ipod cassette case. I'm Trying to think of a way to make this work; maybe fabric? I don't have an Ipod, so I'd need one to play around with it. Hmm.

I could never do something this awesome.

I need to get my sewing room organized. Any volunteers to help me out?

First, I have a new favourite radio station - WKFU.

Boy Eats Girl - A hilarious, witty and very original Irish zombie film. Great characters, good gore and one hell of a zombie death fest. Brilliant, I highly recommend it. Using a snake as a weapon? Awesome. The women in this film kick ass, and in a realistic and entertaining way. The actor who plays the priest is pretty hilariously bad too.

Transformers 2 - Behind the cut as there are spoilers. Be warned if you haven't seen it.
( Disappointing. )

I've been so busy lately, and not terribly interested in the Internet. I'm sure I'll get back into updating and whatnot regularly, but my apartment is still a mess. It's tough fitting all of my stuff in with all of K's stuff in one space. It also doesn't help that I have a metric tonne of fabric and he has equally as much miniatures and gaming stuff. I've been tempted to set it on fire a few times. Things are finally getting sorted, however, and I won't be ashamed to invite people over. K will be leaving for almost a month soon (*pout*), so I want to get my sewing room set up s I can crank out a bunch of projects. I am so, so behind. Also I need to get rid of a lot of that fabric. What better way than by making a bunch of stuff out of it?
I went out to Brainfest over the weekend. It's a gorgeous site, the weather was lovely and I had a great time. The music was fantastic, the people were fun and though the mosquitoes were terrible around dusk, they petered out after the sun went down. Somehow, though, I managed to mess up my neck or something, and had such a terrible migraine I drove home at two in the morning (I didn't bring a tent and couldn't get comfortable anywhere) to take a couple of muscle relaxants and pass out. I woke up sometime Sunday afternoon with the migraine barely abated, and was only momentarily relieved by a sushi dinner. I went to the doctor yesterday morning because I figured a three day migraine was probably a problem. The doctor didn't really know what to say, but suggested a painkiller that wouldn't upset my stomach as much as the muscle relaxants (and also made me much less dopey) and wrote me a prescription for massage therapy. I managed to get in to a therapist that afternoon and felt a bit better after an hour-long massage and a nap. The pain is still there, faintly, I've been stretching and trying to work the knots out, but it's an uphill battle. My whole upper body is stiff, sore and aching and I have no idea why.
I made it to work today, it'll be my last day on Thursday with a trip out to Fun Mountain and then I'll be on the summer (broke) schedule and trying to figure out how I'm going to move to Toronto.
I know some of this muscle strain is stress-related, but if anyone can tell me how to be less stressed about things, that would be great. Also my labret piercing fell out today. Trying to decide if I should buy a new piece of jewelry or if I should get one of those Marilyn piercings. Hmm.

So, LJ users, we are currently voting for a representative, a sort of go-between for LJ users and the administration. On the advice of harveyjames, who is a fantastic artist (and you should always listen to artists), I put in my vote for daphaknee, and you should too!


Click to vote!

Pass this along, post it in your LJ and vote because it's fun.

image url: http://www.maudevintage.com/jamesharvey/files/votedaph.jpg

link: http://community.livejournal.com/lj_election_en/29808.html

Happy Birthday djspunkylobster!!

For my last summer in Winnipeg, I was hoping for better than this.

I had a great time at onestrugglemore's birthday on Friday, it was nice to see so many people there. I went to groovylynda's wedding on Saturday, it was beautiful.There was so much love between their two families, I think they're very happy for both of them. They're off to Jamaica (so jealous) soon for a honeymoon, I'm sure they'll have an amazing time. Ran into a couple of people from out of town, it was good to see them too. We left the wedding early as I wasn't feeling well and came home to lay down for a bit. Next thing I know it's 2 am and I've missed mc_orangepubes's birthday shindig at the goth bar. Both K and I slept almost 12 hours (me with 15 hairpins and barrettes in my hair). I don't know why, but I feel a bit better. Today's been quiet, having a lovely day of do-nothing. I wanted to make it down to the WAG to see that Marilyn Monroe exhibit, but it looks like I'm going to miss it. Ah well.
Read Jack Keroac's The Dharma Bums under the recommendation of my stepdad and have a new favourite book. I recommend it to anyone who needs a smile, and a reminder of why we have friends.
Off to a birthday dinner with K's dad at the Round Table, which I hope has something I can eat, and then probably some video games before bed.

Happy Birthday adarad!!

Things are slowly coming together. So....slowly.

This made me smile: President Obama declares June LGBT month.

No matter how much you think you've done, there's always more to do. And you always have more stuff than you think. Moving from a 3-bedroom apartment that was largely furnished by me to a small 2-bedroom already furnished means there are stacks and stacks of boxes and bags full of stuff. I must have taken 16 bags out to the garbage, took an entire truck and trailer load to the Goodwill and threw out nearly as much. I know I've accumulated a lot of stuff, but it feels wonderful to be ridding myself of it. It's very cleansing. I didn't have much help moving Saturday, which was a lot of work, but I did get some help cleaning Sunday, which I never would have been able to do on my own. Thanks so much to those who helped :) When I can get to the kitchen table and the stove, I'll have you over for dinner.
The new place is nice, and though it takes me 40 minutes to ride to work in the morning, I feel great after a bike ride that long. Just have to dress properly. Warm while riding, but freezing at work. Curse my cold blooded-ness.
Xerxes has taken very nicely to the apartment, what with its direct sunlight and queen-sized bed. My plants like it a lot too, hopefully I won't lose any this time. Still, all my evenings are going to be taken up with cleaning and sorting, and I'll still be getting rid of stuff.
Anyone need a chair?

Anyone available to help me move Saturday and/or pack Friday night (tonight) would be greatly appreciated and fed and beered.

Thanks to my new favourite website SkepChick, here's a smattering of some of the crazy out there. All of these are authentic websites by people who really believe this.

Mark and David Geier - Chemical castration cures autism.

Jaqueline Stallone (mother of Sylvester) - revives the "ancient" art of "rumpology". Yes, it's what you think it is, and it's just as funny as it sounds. I'm tempted, just for hilarity's sake.

The Biophoton Analyzer - a device that generates radio frequencies so you can diagnose and repair radios re-balances your biofield, that ever-so-essential, uh, field of....bio that surrounds you. And is affected by microwaves and traffic jams. HOW CAN YOU LIVE WITHOUT IT?

The Rods of Ra - holding a metal tube in your hands will save you. Just look at what it did for the ancient Egyptians, who were so long-lived and healthy. It'll cure all your ills and you'll never be sick again. There's so much PROOF! Just look at those pictures of the statues with the rods in their hands. Obvious.

Alex Chiu has the Immortality device you've been waiting for! Do you fear the Grim Spectre of Death? Have you ever thought how nice it would be to live forever? Act now! Buy two plastic rings with magnets in them! While you're there, you can get the GORGEOUSPIL (which will make you oh so pretty), and don't forget to flush your chi! He also predicts the future.
As an immortal you have a duty to protect our planet. Let the spreading of words be your first mission.

Your nose = orgasm. Srsly.



What's your favourite or most hated conspiracy theory/pseudoscience/quack healing? Mine's "detoxification". Unless your liver or kidneys aren't working properly, you are detoxifying. You don't need to flush out your system for any reason other than maybe it's nice to do sometimes. So is fasting, and that's free.

Congratulations ,

You have been accepted to Max the Mutt for the September 2009 academic year.

You will be receiving your offer of acceptance, enrollment package, and contracts in May, 2009. You will have 3 weeks to return the required documents and start the enrollment process.

Please feel free to contact me at any time to answer any questions, or help in any way with all aspects of your enrollment.

We look forward to your participation in our Diploma program.

Sincerely,
Maxine Schacker
Director

RESOLUTION ON DRUG POLICY FOR FEDERAL NDP CONVENTION 2009

WHEREAS the criminal prohibition of psychoactive substances has produced enormous social and economic costs, and has created and
enriched organized criminal organizations by transferring to them
complete control of drug markets, but has failed to control the use or
availability of psychoactive substances in our society,

WHEREAS regulation has been shown to be more effective than
prohibition at controlling the availability and potential harm caused
by the use of psychoactive substances,

WHEREAS the criminal prohibition of marijuana and other psychoactive
substances is inconsistent with the creation of a legal system which
"must not be based, as is the present one, upon vengeance and fear,
but upon an understanding of human behaviour," as enshrined in the
1933 Regina Manifesto,

WHEREAS in 1999 the federal NDP resolved to support the
decriminalization of marijuana, and in 2001 the federal NDP resolved
to promote the "harm reduction model" for psychoactive substances, and
redirect resources for this issue away from the Attorney General's
Office and into the Ministry of Health,

WHEREAS since the last federal NDP convention, the provincial NDP in
BC, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario have all passed resolutions
calling for non-criminal alternatives to the current prohibition of
psychoactive substances,

WHEREAS simply decriminalizing marijuana would still leave possession
as an offence punishable by a fine, and would leave all the other
harms associated with prohibition intact,

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the federal NDP advocate for the
elimination of all fines and criminal penalties for personal
cultivation and possession of cannabis, and the establishment of a
taxed and regulated framework for production and distribution of
cannabis to adults;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the NDP support a broad federal review of the impacts and harms caused by current drug prohibition policies, to
select the best model for the government to implement a non-criminal,
regulatory approach to psychoactive substance use that is based on
reducing risk and harm, by emphasizing prevention, public education,
health promotion and safety.

From End Prohibition.ca

The Secondhandpants need your support to get on the Mainstage at the Folk Festival! If you've ever heard them play, you'll understand why this needs to happen. You can download their album here, and also watch some videos.

Dear Festival Organizers,

I would love to see the brilliant Secondhandpants group perform on mainstage. Their unique and entertaining performances deserve more exposure and I'm sure they won't fail to be a success. Extragalactic performers have yet to be represented at the Festival.
Thanks for all your hard work at making the Folk Fest my favourite time of year.

Email info@winnipegfolkfestival.ca

What's the best way to get mold out of the grout around your bathtub?

I've decided heavy-duty cleaning should happen now, so when I move, I spend the day moving and then give it a quick once-over before I go. Tired of spending the night cleaning. I scrubbed my bathtub as clean as I could get it, but the stuff I have just isn't cutting it. I got a good stretch out of it, I enjoy doing housework the old-fashioned way.

I've got a pile of stuff to give/sell/donate. Need/want anything? I have:

• a large and incredibly comfortable couch


• a wood dining chair with a green velour seat


• a folding wicker chair (prettydark I offered this to you, yours if you want it)


• Anne Rice & vampire-themed book collection


• more books, looking for anything?


• VHS tapes (I have a couple of crafty ideas, but if someone will use them, they're yours.)


• possibly a grey plastic/metal dining room set


• a half-done hooked rug set (it's a goldfish bathmat, so cute! Easy but a little time-consuming)


• Gallery Glass window decal paints (I love making these, but I can always get more, haven't used them in forever)


• possibly some vintage suitcases


• possibly a large trunk or two


• plastic flower pots (hanging and shelf)


• possibly some curtains


• a spider plant in a hanging plastic pot


• baby spider plants


• a very large monstera deliciosa in a big green ceramic pot (I love it but it's just too big for the new place)


• a nice wood & metal wine rack


• a very large (~200) collection of early 90's DJ records (make me an offer! trades accepted)


• possibly some comics


• a kind-of-junky bookcase, small, perfect for covering, crafting, cabin etc


• a whack of plastic beads


• an owl and mushroom-shaped candles


• two full-length mirrors, one slightly wonky, one needing repair


• a bamboo birdcage


• possibly an Intellivision which needs a controller repaired, and games and a sound card

EDIT: also
- nice light brown dinner and dessert plates
- pots and pans
- some baking pans
- an electric wok
- a betta aquarium & supplies
- random glasses and mugs
- random kitchen wares
- a clear glass vintage vase
- possibly a nice (but largish) lamp, wrought-iron with a cream shade

There may be more, let me know. Donations or trades gratefully accepted. I'll be donating anything I can't get rid of, but if you want it, come and get it! Leave a message here or email me - madfishmonger42 (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Things I need (mostly for my own reference, but if you know where I can get them cheap, let me know):

• a very large external hard drive (I don't want my desktop computer any more, I'll dump everything on this. Want the computer once I do this?), probably 1TB.


• a good mp3 player


• a really good hoodie (I can't seem to find one long enough or the right shape)


• black jeans


• possibly a rack for hanging bikes indoors


• a very long curtain rod


• a big-ass jug of magic soap, peppermint


• a website


• old Nintendo controllers


• a Wii Fit

Eventful weekend this last, I went to bed ridiculously early Friday night after watching K consume an entire pizza and got up early to head out to Ridgeville for mu uncle's funeral. It was wonderful to see how many people came, the hall was completely packed. My uncle was very well loved and appreciated. The community all pitched in and paid for his funeral. He's got a plot out in the cemetery there with many of my ancestors. It's a beautiful place, peaceful and quiet, surrounded by wildflowers and saskatoon bushes. The birds were singing despite the terrible cold and snow. It was too bad it was so cold, we couldn't spend a lot of time out there like I wanted to. The amount of support and love shown for my uncle and the family was very touching. We still don't have all the details of his death, but it was accidental and sudden. He didn't appear to have suffered. He will be deeply missed.
Saturday night I went out and enjoyed myself at the bar for apophasis's birthday. I had a great time getting dressed up and dancing, but was shocked when I was taken aside by someone I'd known for a long time who was concerned having heard rumors I was doing hard drugs. I had to smile when I told some friends about this rumor, their reaction was a hearty laugh. Nice to know my reputation is safe; no one seems ready to believe I'm a cokehead. I have never done cocaine or any hard drug, and have no intention of ever starting. What they hope to achieve by telling people I do (and do it in public no less!) I fail to grasp, but I guess some elephants are just jerks. I didn't let it ruin my night, and had a great time with "big brother" E, who got rather "truthy" and sentimental by the end of the night.
Sunday was a lovely sunny day, and I spent the afternoon in my mum's backyard. I got a gorgeous and unusual flower at a local shop and enjoyed a BBQ, strawberry shortcake, playing with my nieces and meeting the Colombian exchange student who just arrived and is staying with my mum and stepdad.
Though I am still a little sick, am feeling much better than last week's attack of the avian swine mad sars death cold. I've been washing my hands a lot, eating fruit and drinking tons of water, but still it lingers. Hopefully it'll clear up soon, I'm moving at the end of the month and have a lot to get rid of and clean.

Having for too long outsourced our own savings and investing to Wall Street, we are clueless about how to invest in the real world of people and things. We identify with the plight of abstract corporations more than that of flesh-and-blood human beings. We engage with corporations as role models and saviours, while we engage with our fellow humans as competitors to be beaten or resources to be exploited.

I'm going to go pick up this book.

Wisdom from Milton Glaser.

Some of the examples are specific to his line of work, but all the lessons are valuable ones. Some I've learned myself, some I need to work on.

Some years ago I read a most remarkable thing about love, that also applies to the nature of co-existing with others. It was a quotation from Iris Murdoch in her obituary. It read ‘ Love is the extremely difficult realisation that something other than oneself is real.’ Isn’t that fantastic! The best insight on the subject of love that one can imagine.

In other news, I have a terrible cold and am now on my second sick day. I've sort of gotten my voice back, but I am now responsible for deforestation through my consumption of tissue. Any deliveries of vitamin C-related goods will be appreciated.