tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65474652009-12-23T18:48:46.081-07:00Weirdgrrl's weblog: Featuring the random musings of a quirky grrl on books, poetry, music, film, philosophy, politics, games, writing, theoretical physics, the meaning of life and nothing in particular.Weirdgrrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053372750216682334noreply@blogger.comBlogger704125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547465.post-71741777302890173792009-06-15T18:48:00.000-06:002009-06-15T18:56:54.899-06:00

This Week in ReviewBreaking News: Three deadlines coming up this Friday, so this will be my last post until next week.Adventures in Film: Was at a Final Cut Pro workshop at the CSIF all weekend. It was definitely helpful, but I want to learn more. I hope they'll consider holding an intermediate level Final Cut workshop at some point.The Culture Corner: So You Think You Can Dance has started its

Weirdgrrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053372750216682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547465.post-69805480669202369232009-06-10T20:23:00.003-06:002009-06-11T16:20:39.706-06:00

This Week in ReviewBreaking News: That neighbourhood Primal Grounds that I was so excited about has turned out to be a bust. It's in the local tennis club and is as depressing as every fleabitten motel I've ever stayed in while driving across country through hick towns in the northern states.Adventures in Film: Pre-screened my latest film at a Media Crit Night for feedback from other artists with

Weirdgrrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053372750216682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547465.post-14832123890898005252009-06-05T14:35:00.001-06:002009-06-09T18:02:08.613-06:00

This Week in ReviewBreaking News: I just found out that there's a Primal Grounds in my neighbourhood now. Hopefully it will have a similar vibe to the old Good Earth and I'll have a local coffeeshop to write in again!Adventures in Film: Somehow, in the past week, I finished my Screenwriting is Rewriting course, applied for an Aboriginal Emerging Writers Residency at Banff this fall and sent the

Weirdgrrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053372750216682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547465.post-68002997054692279312009-05-29T19:33:00.000-06:002009-06-05T15:45:34.969-06:00

I'm experimenting with pulling three nouns from the blog post to become the post title. While taking the words out of context may make for a title that doesn't seem to fit the content of the post, I am intending that it will be a title that has meaning on its own. (We'll see how long this continues...)This Week in ReviewAdventures in Film: Aspect ratios? We don't need no stinking aspect ratios! (

Weirdgrrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053372750216682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547465.post-85081172382137132402009-05-22T01:24:00.004-06:002009-05-22T01:41:14.270-06:00

The dozen or so regular followers of this blog (as opposed to the hundreds who land here because they searched for something) will have noticed that I haven't posted in a while. Part of that has to do with limited time and energy, part of that has to do with the fact that my random musings end up in my daily writing practice, so it's mostly the rants that are ending up on the blog... which isn't

Weirdgrrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053372750216682334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547465.post-220957796663126112009-04-04T20:09:00.003-06:002009-04-04T20:24:23.639-06:00

A poem I wrote in 1996: DreamsMy heart aches for what I dream in dreamsbut leave behind on waking.I hear such music,feel such lovebut wake to such despair.I dreamt I heard a thousand voicessinging harmonies from Godand woke to fading echoes in the dawn.I dreamt I found a kindred soulloved deep within my heartand woke to empty longing in the dawn.Is there yet to be a day which dawnswithout despair

Weirdgrrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053372750216682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547465.post-81981744541102334032009-03-22T16:01:00.009-06:002009-03-22T17:15:44.869-06:00

"Silence is a message, just as doing nothing is an act." ~ Leonard PeltierI was watching the documentary "Trudell" by Heather Rae about John Trudell, American author, poet and political activist. When the film got to the incident at Oglala, I started thinking about how unthinkable it is that Leonard Peltier is still in jail. And then I realized that he has served more jail time than Nelson

Weirdgrrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053372750216682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547465.post-89949794523591722452009-03-21T19:43:00.002-06:002009-03-21T19:44:00.612-06:00

Spring has sprungor so they sayso why are they forecastingsnow for today?

Weirdgrrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053372750216682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547465.post-39174618986541150262009-03-13T17:48:00.006-06:002009-03-14T20:10:31.866-06:00

I realized that I have another quick, completely unrelated subject I wanted to mention today. But since it's completely unrelated I didn't want to add it as a P.S. to my previous post (and I'm kind of amused by how the title of this post could easily be misread as Political B.S.)... The Budget. The Budget that tosses pay equity out the window. The Budget that Ignatieff the Gutless Wonder passed

Weirdgrrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053372750216682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547465.post-10815833163902597272009-03-13T16:59:00.003-06:002009-03-13T17:44:27.383-06:00

I keep thinking that the end is in sight (not to be confused with the "end is nigh"... although sometimes it feels like that, too) but I realized that, as long as I'm taking my animation course, it still feels like I'm in the midst of production. So, as much as I'm enjoying the course, I will be relieved when it's finished next week and my schedule lightens up a bit. Then maybe I can get caught

Weirdgrrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053372750216682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547465.post-83227958739972314152009-03-07T13:21:00.004-07:002009-03-07T13:33:32.245-07:00

Well, I emerged into the world last night to go to the second evening of the $100 Film Festival. I forgot, when I posted that I would be crazy busy until February 15th, that I also had a deadline on March 1st. (I also forgot to update that I got an extension from the 6th to the 27th, extending my time to write but also extending my misery.) Anyway, the extra deadlines combined with my annoying

Weirdgrrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053372750216682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547465.post-79494644925371684162009-01-29T13:14:00.002-07:002009-01-29T13:24:39.709-07:00

I thought of this post title as I read about the death of the Coalition, this country's last hope for political salvation that I could see. And the title reminded me of the quote from Strictly Ballroom: "Vivir con miedo es como vivir en medias" ... "A life lived in fear, is a life half-lived."I don't care if being a New Democrat in Calgary is completely ineffective, my political heart beats on

Weirdgrrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053372750216682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547465.post-15564098321749060572009-01-20T00:34:00.004-07:002009-01-20T00:42:34.098-07:00

For my erudite, guitar playing friend even though I haven't seen (or heard) him play guitar in a while... Okay, so this particular card doesn't REALLY work as an e-card (or blog post), but I still couldn't resist:Happy Birthday, Brian!

Weirdgrrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053372750216682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547465.post-38124675977896005372009-01-16T17:26:00.001-07:002009-01-16T17:29:16.728-07:00

It's been a crazy week. I started both my Introduction to Judaism course and my Animation course. Intro to Judaism is only one hour a week but it lasts all year long. The Experimental Animation course is three hours a week but only lasts for 10 weeks. But that 10 weeks of overlap is going to be kind of killer for me. Plus I have a grant deadline on February 15th and I need to send my completed

Weirdgrrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053372750216682334noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547465.post-64219558155587743312009-01-07T16:11:00.007-07:002009-01-07T16:50:00.144-07:00

I've decided to put together a list of things I want to accomplish in 2009. I suppose most folks would call these resolutions, given the time of year, but I'm a list maker by nature so to me this is just another list:1. Breakthrough my "neurotic procrastination" and make a "guerrilla" film from start to finish by the end of February. (You can thank Scientific American Mind for providing me with

Weirdgrrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053372750216682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547465.post-50854639362466758102009-01-03T14:23:00.001-07:002009-01-03T14:28:06.575-07:00

After yesterday's rant, I thought I'd like to address the flip side: the people who didn't make my holidays miserable. Thank you to those of you who gave me space to grieve and didn't expect me to be in the holiday spirit. Thank you to the people who did pick up prescriptions for me or take me grocery shopping and didn't make me feel like I was a bothersome inconvenience. Thank you to the people

Weirdgrrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053372750216682334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547465.post-73093247326692339032009-01-02T17:35:00.003-07:002009-01-02T18:00:58.761-07:00

This post is for all of my well-meaning friends and family who made my holidays miserable. I have health problems. Most of my friends and family should know that fact by now. Not minor health problems, either, but stuff that affects me every single day in a significant way.Driving, even in the best of weather, is tiring for me. I hate that fact because I love to drive, but I have had to accept

Weirdgrrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053372750216682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547465.post-87068203524088393792008-12-17T20:31:00.003-07:002008-12-17T20:40:47.613-07:00

Well, I guess I'm finally ready to talk about it...My cat Tobi was a foundling. She had been born on a farm neighbouring the barn where I kept my horse, but she'd wandered off the farm at far too early an age and eventually ended up living in our hay barn. Some misguided soul tried to catch this feral kitten with his bare hands and she ended up biting him right through his thumbnail. Only then

Weirdgrrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053372750216682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547465.post-30709097362551774902008-12-11T00:27:00.003-07:002008-12-11T01:02:11.396-07:00

Has Stephen Harper been feeding us bald faced lies or simply breaking promises left, right and centre? Proposed senate reforms from Harper included electing senators and fixing terms to eight years. On the day after the federal election, Harper revealed he might appoint senators if the Liberal-dominated chamber tried to block any bills passed in the House. Now he's decided to stuff the senate

Weirdgrrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053372750216682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547465.post-2739228374233937172008-12-08T13:37:00.004-07:002008-12-08T13:45:42.812-07:00

I think I've realized why I'm so obsessed with politics right now. Not to say that it isn't a legitimately interesting time in Canadian politics, but I think I'm mostly just trying to distract myself from my grief. I'm trying to put some effort into making something work out right. Something. Anything. I guess I'm just looking for some kind of happy ending. Please... give me something to sing

Weirdgrrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053372750216682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547465.post-43747709804353032642008-12-06T20:44:00.000-07:002008-12-06T20:45:24.791-07:00

My apartment is so quiet now. Emma and I rattle around as if it's an endless cavern, echoing with emptiness. I miss Tobi.

Weirdgrrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053372750216682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547465.post-1120481336015357862008-12-05T14:44:00.008-07:002008-12-05T15:09:46.604-07:00

Although I'm not exactly in the holiday spirit, having just had to euthanize my cat Tobi (and I'm not ready to talk about that yet), people have been asking for my Christmas list. The only thing I really want is Tobi, but I realize that's not particularly helpful. I am, however, starting a fund for a memorial tattoo that I'm planning on getting to commemorate Tobi. Other than that--and since the

Weirdgrrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053372750216682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547465.post-79321724042334411602008-12-02T19:11:00.005-07:002008-12-02T19:24:22.199-07:00

I just finished emailing Governor General Michaelle Jean to show my support of a coalition government between the Liberals and NDP, with the support of the Bloc Quebecois and Green Party. If you believe this would be a better government than Harper's comedy of errors, I highly recommend that you do the same. This is the text of the email that I sent:Madam Right Honourable Michaelle Jean,I want to

Weirdgrrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053372750216682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547465.post-21933851515899876052008-11-30T21:54:00.007-07:002008-11-30T22:55:48.399-07:00

I'm too preoccupied with personal concerns at the moment to whip myself up into a frenzy about Harper's latest bullshit plan, but I'm worried enough about it to at least comment...Harper was afraid of losing by-elections so he called an early election, conveniently ignoring the law that he passed fixing election dates to four year terms. He still couldn't get the other parties out of his hair by

Weirdgrrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053372750216682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547465.post-22875199274869000002008-11-23T20:08:00.004-07:002008-11-23T20:37:08.186-07:00

Leaving behind politics for now, I'm heading back to the pop culture arena for this post...I'm just watching the "encore presentation" of So You Think You Can Dance Canada (whatever happened to the term "re-run"?), and I'm annoyed all over again at the fact that Izaak is still on the show. I was upset that Arassay was voted off the show but, quite frankly, the top four women were all amazing.

Weirdgrrlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03053372750216682334noreply@blogger.com0