To commit an act of horrific violence? Or not?

Now Playing: Black-Eyed Peas - Don't Phunk With My Heart

[Warning - Spoilers for Harry Potter & The Order of The Phoenix]

So, my brother sits not five feet away, reading Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince. He is reading at an excruciatingly slow pace. I don't know - maybe we're stuck in a localized time dilation - the point remains, my patience is wearing ever thinner as the clock ticks on. So - do I knock him over the head with a conveniently placed plant pot, grab the book and run? I mean, I'm a fast reader, I could definitely finish the book before the cops came for me. It'd be totally worth it, right?

On a more serious, less murderous note - I am studiously avoiding any hint of spoilers for this book even to the point of avoiding msn conversations with fellow Pottermaniacs. Why? When Order of the Phoenix came out, everyone knew that Rowling was going to kill off a character. So, I'm talking to Rishi - who declares, point blank, that Sirius Black will be the one to die. Is he talking out his rear end? yup. Unfortunately, the idea stuck in my head to the point that I wasn't even surprised when Sirius eventually bought the farm. DAMN YOU, RISHI!!! :D So this time, there will be no speculation for me.

If you're here and you do not share in the Pottermania, you may want to look Mary & Derek up. Way back when (Biome1, i think?) , there was much debate over whether Pottermania was bigger than Beatlemania (I said HELL yes!) , and whether the HP books were indeed worthy of all the hype (again, I said yes). For dissenting opinions, you'll want to talk to them.

It has finally rained in Toronto. This past week, we have been baking (fine, not literally!) with temperatures reaching 35 degrees. It has been pointed out to me that I should be less affected by this sort of weather, given that I come from what is, after all, a tropical country, and that I've spent most of my life to date in a desert country. Logically, I suppose that makes sense - but since when have I been logical? Acclimatized or not, all I know is that I cannot function in this sort of weather. I stumble, I slouch, I wilt - and the situation is made especially funny when I see people like Stephen who walk about in long sleeved, button-down BLACK shirt ensembles - and still remain unaffected by the heat. They're cyborgs, I tells ya!

The Emmy nominations were announced this past week - and Veronica Mars was ignored! C'mon, not even a writing nod? Or music? Atleast Hugh Laurie was nominated for House, and "3 Stories" got a nod for writing. It would have been awesome if Robert Sean Leonard got a nomination for Best Supporting Actor though.

Personal Rant - Okay, people. I do NOT have a British accent. It's Indian by way of Dubai, with a hint of Canadian thrown in!!! not, not, not, NOT British! GAH! (okay. done now.)

Okay, done now.

PS - Update on Brother's HP6 progress - still not done. [Homer Simpson] Urge to kill rising... [/Homer Simpson]

... till next time.

Seriously Scatterbrained Syndrome

Now Playing: Massive Attack - Teardrop

Ah, alliteration. You never fail to amuse me. Even when I'm not entirely certain just how you should be spelt. Anywho, getting back on track - these days I find that my thoughts are just so scattered. I vaguely recall what it's like to concentrate - but trying to sit down and do something? out of the question at the moment.

The last time we spoke, I recommended Veronica Mars. Since then, I've finished watching all the episodes to date - and while my praise still stands - I'd advise you to catch the show in reruns, rather than having a VM marathon. You only watch a show like this for the first time, once - and if you rush through it in a week or so, as I did, you don't really get the opportunity to savour it. While I do deplore the Network's practice of having long periods with no new episodes during the TV season, it does build a sense of anticipation between episodes that I completely missed out on. "What's with Duncan's pills? Ah, no need to wait, I can just watch the next episode!" However, it's still a great show, with awesome writing and wonderful acting. Get thee to thy tivos now, lest my wrath befall thee!

In other TV-related news (honestly, do I do anything besides watching TV?) TWoP has dropped both ER and CSI from its list of recapped shows! Where am I going to get my Shane West snark now? They have brought House on board though, which is awesome.

Canada Day was last friday! Went to watch the fireworks at the harbourfront centre with Linda & Stephanie - Mimmie joined us earlier, but had to leave soon too. It was nice & fun - though the lakeshore was a bit chilly - and we ran into Sabina! Which was cool! :D Oh, and LaMarche is no more. The restaurant is still the same - ie, still a good place to eat - but now it's called Richtree. just so you know.

I cannot believe some of you have not read Pride and Prejudice!!! It is, in my opinion, one of the best novels ever! It's the book I'd take if I had to be stranded on an island with one book! (Although "How to get off a remote desert island without mucking about like those people on Lost" finished a close second.) In any case, there's (yet) another movie version coming up! Personally, I was not wowed by Bride and Prejudice - the songs were awful, really - Gurinder Chadha should stick to writing dialogue, not music. Aishwarya Rai looked beautiful - although, when doesn't she, really? - and so did Martin Henderson - which is to be expected, given that it is a truth universally acknowleged that Fitzwilliam Darcy has a "fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien." (And, no, I didn't get that from memory!) In any case, the tradition appears to be nicely continued in the upcoming feature film, which I will most definitely be watching, whenever it's coming out. Feel free to join me! :D

The arghness-that-is-course-selection continues. If anyone has heard anything about MGY428, or 485, or ENG213, please leave a comment.

Finally, there appears to be a winner in the 2005 mp3 player sweepstakes! Dark horse Creative Zen sweeps past favourites Apple iPod and Dell DJ, as well as newcomer iRiver H10, to win the Sharon's-mp3-player Cup! Given that I always second guess big decisions like this one, expect the actual purchase to be made somewhere round 2010. :D

That's it for me for now. Ta!

*Cough*

Currently Playing: Interpol - Slow Hands

... Yeah. I know. Totally my bad. I should have done this sooner. But here I am now, right? :D

I have a new TV obsession! Yes, I know, another one. But this one's good too: Veronica Mars! Good writing, good acting, great music - what's not to love?

Um, so what's happened since the last time I was here? Here's the Coles Notes version -

• Julia had a birthday! We (Katie, Linda, Mimmie, Steph, Julia & I) went out, had an awesome time, even if it was at Spring Rolls (a place I cannot seem to escape lately!)
• MGY378 exam from HELL. Less said the better.
  
• Went to Niagara Falls with Steph and Julia! Much fun was had by all - except for the bit at Motel Hell, which we shall remember when we're old & grey - or any time we play cards. :D
• Watched Star Wars Episode III. And was roundly disappointed. Honestly, George. "Hold me like you did by the lake on Naboo?" WHAT where you thinking?
• Stephen got some very good news. To celebrate, we went out to Spring Rolls (you see a trend here?) & then bowling afterwards - and it's official, I have NO aim. :'(
  
• Steph's birthday! Went to see Mr & Mrs Smith (awesome movie!) & went out to Tonic afterwards.
  

Apologies for the month-in-the-life-of style post. More introspective posts to come. Cheerio.

PS - Mary and Stephen read Twop - & so should you. :D

The OMG WTF post...

... seriously. that's my reaction to everything these days.

"India lost the ODI series to Pakistan? OMG WTF!"

"The NDP and the Liberals are in an alliance? OMG WTF!"

"You don't like fruit-on-the-bottom yogurt? OMG WTF!"

it is to be hoped that this is a temporary glitch caused by exams.

Coolest Playlists EVER: So, I'm the Queen of low attention spans. People who have sat with me through two hour lectures can attest to the fact that by the middle of the second hour, I'm pretty much a gone case - I doodle, I stare off into space - the works. I'm even worse with music. I am physically incapable (most of the time) of just leaving Winamp on shuffle and doing my thing. What usually happens is this - Song X plays for 30 seconds. I get bored. I get up and change to Song Y. That plays for 30 seconds as well - and then I change to Song Z. (Rinse, Repeat and Alphabetize as you see fit) But now, I have playlists that are so - mellow may not be the right word - listen-able I can just leave them on and relax.

• Music from the O.C. - mixes 1, 2 & 4 - has some of the coolest indie music ever, plus it's actually fun to listen to! 3 hours of boredom-free listening. NB - mix 3 is absent because it is *shudder* holiday music.
• Buddha Bar - All seven volumes, plus Segesta - wonderful, stirring world music & remixes - a seriously eclectic mix of tracks means that you have 12 hours of awesome, diverse listening that ensures you never want to get up and switch the track - and for me, that's really good.

so I was watching House yesterday - and yeah, I had an exam today - I am an inept, inept person who does not deserve to live - anyway, House holds up an X-Ray and starts talking about epiphyseal growth plates, and I jump up and down screaming, "AAAAAH! That's on my exam tomorrow! I know what that is! Clearly television is educational!!!" - to which my family gave me the patented go-to-your-room-and-take-your-meds look. I get that a lot these days - can't, for the life of me, think why.

Anyway, now presenting a scene from chez abacus:

Mum: You know, I don't think those earrings go well with that outfit.

Me: What are you saying? OMG the rejection! I shall cast myself from this window and kill myself!

Dad: (singularly unimpressed) That window's on ground level.

Me: Dude. Do you *want* me to kill myself? OMG WTF! You people are supposed to be my parents! Such lack of caring! I shall now cast myself from that window (points to another ground-level window) and kill myself!

Mum (to Dad, aside) : Definitely switched at the hospital.

Brother: (pops his head in and surveys the histrionics) Whoa. Che's gone insane. Can I have her share of the pizza?

Me: AAAIEEEE! I KEEL YOU NOW!

(wrestle/slapfight ensues)

Dad: So. These are our children.

Mum: Yup.

Dad: I'm sad now.

Mum: Yeah. How about we ditch these guys and go watch a movie?

Dad: Hmm. Let's.

(This snippet was processed in a facility that handles fiction. If you come into contact with this piece and are allergic to fiction, please proceed to the nearest documentary festival and wash off the fiction with copious amounts of fact.)

Pluck The Day!

now playing: garbage - boys wanna fight

New TV Obsession: House, M.D. Who knew Hugh Laurie could play an acidic, unpleasant, sarcastic guy and still make the character so damn likeable? I mean, he was Bertie Wooster, for crying out loud! Nevertheless, House is compelling & entertaining drama, fuelled by great writing & brilliant acting. If you don't believe me, ask Mary!

Those of you who watch Lost (hey, Mith!) know the awful, awful fate that befell Boone. Now, Boone is played by Ian Somerhalder who's so good looking, I always referred to his character as "pretty-boy." No, I'm not being mean, the guy is seriously pretty. *grin* So, when Boone met his untimely demise, I shouted, "No! They can't kill pretty-boy!" Imagine my surprise when an article in the Star referred to the character as pretty, pretty Boone. It's not just me! (And if you don't believe me - here's a picture. enjoy.)

(You've gotta admit I'm right about the pretty part, huh? :D)

Anyway. On to (slightly) more substantial things. Summer is nearly upon us, and therefore, for a few brief months, we get to indulge in frappacinos and other uber-refreshing drinks. (Not that I don't try them in winter, I just enjoy them more in the summer :-)) So - here are my two most essential beverages for the summer:

1. Tim Horton's Iced Cappuccino - relatively cheap, and yet more refreshing than its pricier counterparts at Starbucks & Second Cup. Whatever you do, don't try it with chocolate milk - instant addiction will result (& I speak from experience & what a wonderful experience it was, too... where was I? Oh, right. )
   
2. Iced lychee flavoured green tea with tapioca "bubbles" from TeaShop 168 - so refreshing, and the fruit flavour lets you believe it's good for you!
   

If you're one of those few people in Toronto who hasn't tried one of the above - you're missing a real treat. :-D

And now to end with a rant inspired, as is frequently the case, by the TTC . The other day, I'm on the bus & it's stopped in traffic 10 feet from a bus stop. This guy pulls the cord to signal that he wants to get off at the next stop & then shouts to the driver, "Can I get off here please!" (The lack of a question mark is intentional - he didn't ask, he shouted.) The driver doesn't reply. Now, as a rule, they don't let you off before or after an official bus stop, unless you're a woman and it's after seven at night. What does the guy do when he hears no reply? He twangs repeatedly at the signal cord, until the driver, who happens to be a woman, says, "Sir, you're going to have to wait for the next stop." This guy says, out loud, "Guess she must be PMSing or something!"

Okay, general rule of thumb for guys - when a woman is bitchy or doesn't agree with something you say/do - it's not always cause of her hormone levels - it could be just that you're being an ass. There is something so annoying and patronizing about having an action/statement of mine being attributed simply to PMS. Women are not driven solely by hormone levels - don't insult us by insinuating we are.

*ahem* rant over. have a nice day, catch some sun, have an ice-cap - carpe diem, people!