2012 in Review - The Best Books, Movies and Music

My last post hinted that I was going to do a whole chunk of entries about Peru but this semester kind of got away on me. Once I entered my pracitcum I was often doing 16 hour work days, which, if you're good at math, doesn't leave a whole lot of time for my own writing. Thankfully I've got some time on my hands now so I'm going to spend some time reflecting on 2012. I love December because it often means summing up your year into short, concise lists. Obviously we have so much more going for us than a few bullet points to summarize a year, but it's a cool reminder to look back on. Just a few of the great moments in my life this year were:

- Becoming an uncle

- Watching my middle sister get married

- 5 Days for the Homeless

- Going to Peru and climbing the Inca Trail

- Getting to share my spoken word

- Having an amazing PS1 experience

This is less about bragging and more about reminding myself how blessed I am. There was a lot that went wrong this year as well, but a lot of things also went really right.

Books

Alright, enough with the personal stuff, let's get on with my media lists. 

In 2011 I started making a note of every book that I read in the year. I so wish that I had started doing this sooner. It's cool how looking back over a list of books can give you a reflection of the year. Each book brings with it a memory of where I was when I was reading it. Why I chose to read it, who I was reading it with, why I took so long to finish it--these all point to the parts in my year that aren't necessarily special enough to make it onto a grand list, but are still a huge portion of my life. When I first started making the list my goal was to read more books each year. I failed completely. Meh, it was worth a shot. Here are some great books that I read this year:

• Tuesdays with Morrie - Mitch Albom. When I finished this book I literally just sat on the couch and cried for a solid amount of time. It's short, simple, and powerful. Maybe it was the connection I've had in my life with people who had Lou Gehrig's disease, maybe it was because the failing health of my grandpa, maybe it was because it just reflected on humanity so well, but either way it was definitely a book that I will be going back to. I recommend it completely (K, I'm not going to say that at the end of each one seeing as I probably will recommend them all).
• In the Skin of a Lion - Michael Ondaatje. This book really turned me on to Ondaatje's writings and I recommend his stuff to any customer who comes in. Refreshing and Canadian. It's books like this that make me really lament the fact that my English class days are pretty much over. I would never have read this book if I hadn't been forced to, and I would never have appreciated it as much as I did if I had not had someone showing me how awesome it truly is.
• Irresistible Revolution - Shane Claiborne. This is my go-to book when people are wandering in the religious section at Chapters with a wide-eyed, lost look. "Seriously, it changed my life," I tell every customer. It's hard to explain why I found it so impacting. "What's it about?" they always ask. "Welp, it's about love." Ooo, I really sell it with that line. Most of the people just stare blankly at me at that point and I don't usually end up selling it, but to the few who picked it up, I can pretty much guarantee that they loved it. If you haven't already read this book (and most have) go out and buy it right now. If I could pick one book off this list to recommend, it would be this one. (And then, if you have already read this one already, check out "7" by Jennifer Hatmaker. It's in a similar vein and, while not quite as inspiring, still one that I intend to read again and again. And if you've read that one, check out "The Man Who Quit Money" by Mark Sundeen. How I made it out of this year with out becoming a full blown hippie I will never know.)
• The Days Run Away Like Wild Horses Over the Hills - Chuck Bukowski. With a title like that, it's gotta be poetry. Despite my love of poetry I really don't actively seek it out because I often find myself drowning in its pretentiousness. I really liked Bukowski because his poems aren't overly cryptic or full of flamboyant narratives of rolling hills and deep oceans. His work is simple and shocking and entertaining. Kinda like Shel Silverstein for grown ups. But really not really at all.
• To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee. Yes, I am an English major who managed to get through his whole life without reading To Kill a Mockingbird. People who don't read a lot have read To Kill a Mockingbird. People who hate reading have read To Kill a Mockingbird. So I'm sorry, I remedied it, and I quite enjoyed it. Would I teach it in my classroom? Probably not. Would I give it to my kids to read one day? Definitely. It's got some great lessons and a good story.
• Stitches - David Small. I took a seminar in university about graphic novels and their increasing prominence in schools nowadays. I had honestly never given them much thought--I have always wanted to read Maus by Art Spiegelman but have never really gotten around to it. Stitches was one of the first 'literary graphic novels' that I have read and I loved it. It's an autobiography of a boy who had brutal parents and cancer growing up. It's certainly not the 'BANG' 'KAPOW' that you typically think of when you think comic books, but it certainly packs a punch in its own way. I bought it immediately after I was finished it and it has encouraged me to check out a slew of other literary graphic novels. Any other ones anyone would recommend? (Also, if you like Stitches, check out Blankets by Craig Thompson).

Movies 

Along with books, I always make a list of movies that impacted me throughout the year. Obviously not all these movies were released in 2012, so you're not going to be seeing a lot of them at the Oscars, but I watched them this year so they deserve to be mentioned. My top eleven are:

11. Freedom Writers - I had to make the list 11 to include this because it's so cheesy and predictable but given my desired occupation I couldn't resist.

10. American History X - After watching this I decided that Edward Norton is genuinely messed up in the head, but still it's a profound movie that anyone (with a bit of a tough stomach) should watch.

9. Sherlock Holmes 2 - My 'superhero' pick. Avengers was fantastic, Dark Knight was strong, but for some reason Sherlock stuck with me. (This might be swayed by the fact that I just watched every episode of BBC's Sherlock and am currently riding that high.)

8. Like Crazy - I didn't really like this movie, but I came away from it shaken and not okay. If a movie can cause that strong of a reaction, it must mean there's something there.

7. Blue Like Jazz - For what it was, it was amazing. It was probably the best Christian movie I've seen, which isn't saying a WHOLE lot, but it is saying something. Again, it affected me strongly, not necessarily in a this-is-the-best-movie-ever kinda way, but in the I-actually-want-to-spend-time-contemplating-my-life kinda way.

6. The Departed - Got me started on a whole mafia/gangsters kick. I love movies that make me pause halfway through and go, "Okay so he's... but then that guy... but they think... but who was... OHHHH!"

5. There Will Be Blood - I still think about this movie on a weekly basis. I love love love it and it made me want to watch every Paul Thomas Anderson film. (Punch Drunk Love should also get an honourable mention on this list too).

4. Safety Not Guaranteed - Really fun, simple, and slightly quirky. More than just your average rom com. 

3. Silver Linings Playbook - I think Bradley Cooper deserves an Oscar nom for Best Actor. He probably shouldn't win it, but he still deserves to be recognized.

2. Never Let Me Go - So unique! I have never seen a movie that I've been more thrown-off by its complete disregard for its premise. It's technically sci-fi, but it's so character driven that you kind of forget about the sci-fi -part. And it made me hate Keira Knightley less, so that's always a bonus. I wrote out a whole review immediately after watching this movie for no other reason then I wanted to sort out why I loved it so much. (Watch the movie, don't read the book). Also, it features my love Carey Mulligan, of whom I will one day convince to amicably split up from her now-husband Marcus Mumford so he can play at mine and Carey's wedding. 

1. Life of Pi - This is what a movie should be. It didn't need sex, violence, or any other cheap trick to keep it flowing. It was brilliant to witness, entertaining to watch, and inspiring to analyze. I didn't even like the book all that much but the movie made me a believer. I definitely want to see it nominated for Best Picture. As I described it on Facebook: "So Life of Pi is like Castaway meets the Discovery Channel meets Avatar. Except Tom Hanks is an Indian boy, Wilson is a tiger, and the director is on acid. I recommend it 100%"

I feel like The Master and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel should also probably find their way on to this list but I just don't know where.

This year I learnt to stop following actors and start following directors. Some actors consistently pick good roles (e.g. Philip Seymour Hoffman), but I found out that most the time, if you want consistency, you follow the director. Some that I actively sought out this year were: Paul Thomas Anderson, Darren Aronofsky, Christopher Nolan, the Coen Brothers, Roman Polanski. They've all got some really, really great stuff. I'm still learning to delve past the Golden Globes and Oscars. Does anyone have any recommendations of less popular titles/ones I didn't mention? (And don't say Les Mis, Argo, or Lincoln--I'm working on it!)

Music

And finally music! My New Years Resolution for the year 2012 was to not download a single song and, with some serious dedication, I can proudly say I reached it. Life list entry checked off! I went from getting multiple albums in a week to multiple albums in a year. And honestly, I like the change. It was a lot of pressure to keep up with all of the music I was downloading and this past year I've been able to just appreciate the music that I already have. But still I can't go completely without new music, so thank God for gifts from friends, Noisetrade, 8tracks, and good ol' youtube. From the few that I purchased, ones that I would recommend:

• Dave Siverns - Songs for Singing (If you live in Lethbridge you should already own this one)
• Alt J - An Awesome Wave (K maybe just buy 'Breezeblocks')
• Fun. - Some Nights (Don't actually buy this album. Listen to the good ones--'All Alright', 'Some Nights', 'Carry On'--on youtube over and over and that'll be enough.)
• Shane Koyczan - Shut Up and Say Something (Have I mentioned Shane Koyczan before? Well if not, get this album. Spoken word gets hazed for using music to manipulate emotions--this album does it even without the music)
• Matthew Mayfield - A Banquet for Ghosts (Free on Noisetrade. Worth checking out.)
• The Fray - Scars and Stories (If you're not a huge fan, at least check out 'Be Still', the final track)
• Keane - Strangeland (Worth buying. I had this album on repeat for a month)
• Mumford and Sons - Babel (Still not as revolutionary as ''Sigh No More'', but that's not to say it's not ridiculously awesome. I love it more and more with each listen.)
• Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal (Icelandic and fantastic. Sold.)
• John Mayer - Born and Raised (I feel compelled to buy every John Mayer album because I know that with enough hits on shuffle over the years I will probably discover that I love it.)
• David Crowder Band - Give Us Rest (Their final album. A few amazing tracks, but mostly just goodness.)
• Snow Patrol - Fallen Empires (Not quite ''Eyes Open'' but it still has a couple synth-ballads that I love oh so much)
• James Vincent McMorrow - Early in the Morning (100% recommend.)
• The Lumineers - The Lumineers (102% recommend. It's a short album but I listened to it over and over and over.)

TL;DR: Buy James Vincent McMorrow, Lumineers, Mumford and Sons, and Of Monsters and Men. Love everything else. Get mad at Sigur Ros for putting out ''Valtari'' (I love you guys, I really do, but this album was really just sounds.)

Now it's your turn! During my music "fast" I made a list of albums I want to buy/download when I have the money. Most I was interested in, but nothing quite pushed me over the edge to buy them. Would you recommend any of these guys' latest albums? Any other ones that aren't listed that you would recommend?

- Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Soundtrack

- Starfield

- Gotye

- O Brother Where Art Thou Soundtrack

- Train

- Hunger Games soundtrack

- Polyphonic Spree

- Ingrid Michaelson

- Like Crazy Soundtrack

- Sons & Daughters

- Hugo Soundtrack

- Rend Collective Experiment

- A Creation Liturgy - Gungor

- Regina Spektor

- Temper Trap

So there you have it. My year in a very media-focused nutshell. 2013 has been off to a great start with four (4!) things already crossed of my life list. Here's to a year of more consistent, shorter blog posts. (Ha!)

All the Poor and Powerless

My best friend gave me a mix with this song on it and I've really been digging it as of late. Check it out.

Ólafur Arnalds

So I know I said that I would be doing my last post from 5 Days today, BUUUT unfortunately I'm still waiting on the legal rights from Ólafur Arnalds; I'm going to give him one or two more days. Why Ólafur Arnalds you ask? Well, I'm just going to go ahead and leave your curiousity peaked.
In the meantime, I'm going to shamelessly promote Ólafur in the hopes that by some freak chance he sees this and decides to give me the license. That, and he's one of my favourite artists, so I don't even have to lie. I heard that Sigur Ros, Ólafur Arnalds (who is also Icelandic), and Damien Rice all performed in an outdoor festival in Iceland once. It's probably for the best that I only heard about this after the fact because I'm fairly sure my heart would not have been able to handle it. So you should just go ahead and have yourself a listen.

This is the song that I have woken up to every morning for almost a year now:

And this is the song that, if and when I ever choreograph a dance, it will probably be to this:

Also, the guy's only 25, and these songs both came out a few years ago. AND he composed, performed, and produced them. Frick.

Anyway, I'm going to cross my fingers and keep checking my email every couple of hours.

Great Song. Great Cover.

Moving! New School Year! Excitement!

I move tomorrow! Well technically today, but that's beside the point. I'm genuinely excited to get back to university and to return to a routine. I have big plans for this year and I have--for the first semester at least-- a class schedule that will accompany these plans perfectly. Sadly, if I stick with the schedule that I have, it will mean the demise of my music minor. Sad, but hey, such is life. This next week is add/drop week so it may be very chaotic. Time will tell.

As I go pack (because, let's be serious, what else is there to do at 2 in the morning. Oh! Did I mention that I plan on getting to bed at a not-ungodly hour this year? True story.), here's a song to get you pumped about the new school year as well. Unless you're not in school, in which case, yay September.

The Wilderness Downtown

Arcade Fire is a pretty hip band. I specifically use the word hip because they are a band that people love to hate. Don't believe me? Check out the tumblr: http://whoisarcadefire.tumblr.com. (On second thought, that site is pretty jam-packed with foul mouthed individuals, so this video gives the gist of it:)

People weren't too fond of a seemingly "unknown" Canadian band swooping in and snagging the American Grammy for Album of the Year. I absolutely supported this, being both a Canadian and a closeted revolutionary. I enjoy upsets. Of course the band went on to dominate at the Junos, but who really cares about that. (Ugh, I'm treading on some very thin hipster lines here, but I just don't want to jump into that post right now.)

Now, I must start off by saying I am quite a bit of a band wagon jumper on this one. I have had Neon Bible, their second album, on my Ipod for forever but never really cared to listen to it mostly because I thought it had to do with something sacrilegious. I have no idea where I originally got the album from... probably the OC soundtrack or something like that. That also being said, I'm still not a massive fan. Not because I don't enjoy them, I just haven't given them enough time to really settle a place in my heart. So, I'm not really promo-ing the band, just this one song.

But man, what a song. Ok, it's really not about the song at all, it's the whole experience that I love. I love it because this particular video got brought up in my postmodern class and my teacher praised it for its creativity and uniqueness. I'm so glad that it won a Webby (Internet awards for those of you who aren't geeky enough) and received at least some recognition. I give this music video double props because it went so far above other music videos. Not that that's saying much:

Typical Music Video:

• Start off with lead singer standing in some obscure place such as in the middle of a field or ocean (the more obscure the band name, the more obscure the standing place)
• Rapidly switch to group shot of the whole band during chorus
• Alternate between group shot of band playing in front of a crowd and band playing in obscure place. (Special added points if the instruments are somehow getting destroyed in the process)
• Flash back and forth between three or four different sets with the rhythm of the beat
• (Genre note: If this is a rap or hip hop video, don't forget to include scantily clad ladies during the first chorus. If this is a rock song, those instruments better be darn well near destroyed by the final chord. If this is a folk acoustic song, ensure that there are plenty of shots of big beards and sepia birds. Continue.)
• Cue bridge, which usually consists of a single moody shot of the lead singer, potentially with a zoom up on his face to ensure the solemnity of the moment.
• Flash into chorus, let those guitar chords ring out, and put particular emphasis on how happy everyone in the crowd looks as they celebrate this rad and hip band.
• End with camera panning away from band as they recklessly leave their instruments in a haphazard state.
• Scene

Original and Creative Music Video

• Anything other than that.

Now, back to the subject on hand. Granted, the actual scenes of this video aren't THAT far off from anything we've seen before, but it's all about the technique. It's about incorporating the viewer into the video, bringing it to life and recreating a different story built from past memories. Nostalgia fuels the song and encourages each viewer to take in the song with a different sensation. I relate with this because when I was younger, before anybody was allowed to read something that I had written, I had to ensure that the mood was set by playing the appropriate song beforehand. (Many of my emails began with "STOP. Read no further. Open up Itunes and Play [enter an inspirational or powerful song such as "You Raise Me Up" to set mood. Nothing adds power to angsty teenage poems like "You Raise Me Up"]." Perhaps this is why I feel the need to end every blog post with a music video; music just makes everything 1000x more awesome.

But I digress. Really you should just watch the video and enjoy it. (It does take a lot to run so I would definitely suggest shutting down most other tabs/programs to properly enjoy it). Tell me what you think.

Arcade Fire's "We Used to Wait":
http://www.thewildernessdowntown.com/

The Flying Troutmans: CBMM Review #1

I have stated in previous posts that I am not very fond of writing reviews. For some reason I am pompous enough to create an entire site dedicated to me and my thoughts, but I get uncomfortable when asked to offer up my opinion on media and literature. Go figure.


Regardless, I have a responsibility. But first, I must tell you a story. About a year ago I posed a question on Facebook as to what classes I should take in the upcoming Spring semester. I'm not going to write out the whole drama because I'm pretty sure that almost everyone who reads this blog was either present in it or a silent observer (yes, I'm looking at you). Anyway, you can read it all here or enjoy this tasteful synopsis:

Me: What classes should I take? I am indecisive and need impartial people to justify my actions.

BW: Canadian literature is evil.

MW: For shizzle, home slice.

KP: No it most certainly is not. 

MW: Ya-huh!

KP: Nu-uh! Here’s a rational explanation as to why it’s not.

MW: *in head* Careful Michael, we’ve seen this before. Here’s a diplomatic response that will lighten the mood, though, I must confess, I am still not a fan of Canadian literature.

KP:

After the dust had settled, the question of quality Canadian literature still hung in the balance. (All right, that’s not entirely how it went down, but if you really cared you would have checked out the longer link already).

To clarify things, I am not saying that there is no such thing as good Canadian literature. I know well enough that an invisible borderline between the US and Canada is not enough to distinguish between good and bad literature. Nor am I not a proud Canadian. Cause I am. Honest. I even go so far as to spell “favorite” “favourite” and “color” “colour”, that’s how legit I am.

But twelve years of having Canadian history repeatedly thrown at you in Social class does become a bit tedious. In my first year of university I took a Survey of Canadian Literature class in order to break my jaded high school preconceptions and stereotypes of Canadian literature. Sadly, not only were they not broken, they were reinforced with a 5-inch thick, steel, bulletproof wall (hyperbole, ten points). Despite my desire to love Canadian literature, I still found myself hating anybody whoever called themselves a pioneer as I wrote a ten-page essay on the symbolism of barns and canoes in Confederation poetry. No joke, here is an excerpt from my essay: 

“The title of the Italian sonnet, In an Old Barn, implies that the narrator has a deep appreciation for the romantic antiquity of a cattle shelter.” 

It goes on like that for 1,500 more words. (Ok, I’ll be honest, my own prose isn’t exactly outstanding). Despite a semester of a studying, the best Canadian image I could conjure up was of a lumberjack man and his Little-House-on-the-Prairie wife standing by their log cabins and homemade canoes, enduring the brutal winters and taking advantage of Native Americans. Also, there are geese flying overhead. 

The final conclusion we came to at the end of my Canadian literature class was that there really is no such thing as the “Canadian identity” as it is the amalgamation of cultures and concepts which defines it. I came to peace with this definition as our mosaic society is one of the things that makes me proud to be Canadian. Canada isn’t really definable (terrible stereotypes aside) and I like that.

Yet, here we are. Personally, I don’t know any Canadian authors that I would proudly boast about to my non-Canadian friends. To be honest, I barely know any Canadian authors at all, let alone ones that are worth bragging about. I get that Canada isn’t all about geese and rivers and rocks and trees, though I really don’t have any concrete proof to dispute this claim. Sad. So, enter CBMM. I'm looking forward to this challenge because I honestly do want to think of nothing but the highest of my dear home and native land.

So now, skip back to real time. I have since received six of the twelve CBMM’s from Kerry but unfortunately have only had the time to read the first one. And my first official thoughts are: I really liked it!

The first book Kerry sent was "The Flying Troutmans" by Miriam Toews. Prior to reading it, my expectations weren’t too high. I honestly thought that it was going to be a nice story about happy Christians doing happy things. Turns out it was nothing like that. Miriam Toews is really famous for her Mennonite book “A Complicated Kindness” which I’ve since heard a lot about and look forward to reading. So I guess I shouldn’t really have expected a nice Christian book about nice things, but this is all about breaking my ignorance anyway, so this is good.

Once in, it took me a while to get used to the modern hipster names. The story is about Hattie, her depressed sister Min, her neice and nephew Thebes and Logan, and their dad Cherkis. Not a single Tom or Frank Penner to be found. The reason I did end up enjoying this book was because it was very quick; it’s kind of like reading an episode of the Gilmore Girls. The dialogue is fast, the message is deep but not deep enough to get lost in, and the characters are quirky but loveable.

That being said, I did have one major complaint: it has NOTHING to do with Canada. The unconventional family begins their roadtrip in the good ol’ Frozen North, but the vast majority of the book is spent driving through the States. It is ironic that a book that is supposed to prove the value of Canadian literature turns its back on Canada within the first couple of chapters.

So, I will end with this. It was definitely an enjoyable book (enough so that I bought "A Complicated Kindness" at Value Village yesterday). Yes, Miriam Toews is a good, Canadian author (and a Mennonite to boot), but "Flying Troutmans" is not really a Canadian book.

Here's a totally unrelated song for those of you who weren't particularly interested in any of this:

PS: If you're a keener and reading this right away I sincerely apologize for the wonky fonts; I'll fix it in the morning.

In the Land of Trucks and Oil

Alright, I promise these hiatuses won’t keep happening. My first month long hiatus was an actual executive decision to focus as best I could on school. Thoough, I’ll be honest with you, it was less of a decision and more of a “read Ulysses or else” kind of deal. Now school seems like a lifetime away and here I am, still not posting. Over the last couple months I’ve discovered that I am a very task-orientated person. I use this phrase because it is a lot more forgiving than “sucks at multi-tasking”. For the last couple months my mind has essentially looked like this:

• Must survive final essays
• Must get through exams
• Must figure out surgery
• Must have surgery
• Must celebrate/recover from surgery
• Must get to Grande Prairie
• Must figure out why I moved to Grande Prairie
• Must figure out class time schedule
• Must find job

Unfortunately for everyone else in my life, while one of those factors is occupying my brain, I struggle with addressing other issues/people as well. I beg you to bear with me.

My life is in a strange place right now. And by “strange place” I mean Grande Prairie. As I sit here writing I am staring out the window absolutely dumbfounded by the snow falling from the sky on June 3^rd. I know, I know, I really shouldn’t be too surprised, but here I am, surprised regardless. I moved to GP for a lot of reasons:

• To get to know my new step-family better
• To have time to work on my writing
• To make a lot of money at a well-paying Nothern job
• To attend classes for free at GPRC. 

All very good reasons, in my opinion. Currently, some of those things are going better than others, but I’m still optimistic.

As my friend who lived up here for the past month and I reflected, we noticed that living in GP doesn’t really feel real. It’s kind of like the surreal experience I had living in Spain, minus the gorgeous landscape, unique culture, interesting language, and endless adventures. Actually, living in GP does often feel like living in a different culture except instead of Spanish villagers and rolling hillsides you have rednecks and their trucks. Ok, I’m being a little harsh, though to be honest I am scared of wearing anything outside that is even remotely hipster for fear of the consequences. To be fair though, Grande Prairie is actually a very pretty town and it is doing much better than the ground-level expectations I had of it at the beginning.

As I keep my eyes peeled for a job I have a lot of time to work on past projects, which is really really good. Hopefully you will be able to see the fruits of those labours sooner rather than later. For now I just needed to post to get the ball rolling again. Here is a great music video and my favourite song right now to make up for this seemingly meatless entry.

PS: After re-watching the music video, I couldn’t help but note the strong redneck tendencies it portrays. Please do not think that this means that I am slowly becoming a redneck. I’m not. I have no intention of purchasing a gun, wearing a dear-head backpack, or running headlong into people to make them explode. I promise. It’s just a really good song by a really good band.

An Ode to Mono

So, as many of you know, I have been dealt with the wonderful disease known as mono. MONO. It’s so threatening. Not because the word itself is that intimidating, in fact quite the opposite because it kind of reminds me of Bono, which is soothing. Rather because its name suggests that it will only affect you once, yet, while that may be true, that once may last for FOUR freakin’ months.

I am now coming close to my four month monoversary (man I am I ever clever) and I think that I may just maybe actually sorta kinda a little bit possibly be done with it *crosses fingers* (I'm hoping not to jinx it by typing it out loud). I've been told that I am going to have the lack of energy symptom for a while to come, but the rest seem to have left for the time being. In honour of this glorious occasion I have created for you a list, no an ode rather, of the 25 things I have learnt over the last four months.

  

Everything I’ve Learnt, I Learnt From Mono: 

An Ode to Infectious Mononucleosis

1. I’ve learnt where my spleen is located.
2. I’ve learnt that buying Costco amounts of toilet paper unintentionally back in September actually comes in handy once you run out of Kleenex boxes.
3.  I’ve learnt I suck at being sick. If there were an award for being sick, I would get the Razzie equivalent of it. I’m just not good at it. I believe that some people can be good at. I'm not. (It's as if I was driving everyone else here crazy. Crazy with worry, that is.)
4. I've learnt that people are all too aware that mono is known as the "kissing disease". I've also learnt that the phrase "kissing disease" apparently has to be said in the exact same high-pitched, sing-song tone every single time it is said.
5. I've leant that some people aren't aware that mono is not an STD.
6. I’ve learnt that “I have mono” is an effective way of getting out of things as well as gaining more personal space.
7. I’ve learnt that sometimes mono made me a terrible person. I felt like I was carrying around a secret weapon. Sometimes I would spend my whole class scheming about how I could exchange saliva with people I don't like.
8. I've learnt that Oil of Oregano, as miraculous as it may be, still tastes like garbage no matter how many different ways you take it.
9. I’ve learnt that watching “House” for 8-hour periods while being sick is entirely entertaining, but really unsettling and ultimately unhealthy as you feel like you are about to die every approximately 38 minutes. Don’t worry, he always figures it out in the end.
10. Studying about the migration and gestation periods of pigeons is boring normally. I’ve learnt that studying the migration and gestation periods of pigeons while having mono = worse than watching consecutive episodes of the Tyra Banks show.
11. I've learnt that girlfriends are understanding and patient (sorry about the Tyra Banks comment).
12. I’ve learnt that having zero appetite is a great way to save on your grocery budget.
13. I’ve learnt that attempting to play trumpet while having mono = a lot of phlegm and not a whole lot else. Enjoy that mental picture.
14. After 4 months of coughing, my abs are going to be freakin’ RIPPED. I haven’t learnt this yet, but I will.
15. I’ve learnt that girls never tire of laughing at you when your voice cracks. Never.
16. I’ve learnt that attempting to do mono-obstructed meditative breathing exercises in yoga class results in purely in frustration as well as people inching their mats away.
17. I’ve learnt that threatening to spit in the water fountains is a great way to get yourself approved to be excused from completing your practicum.
18. I've learnt that not being able to breathe out of your nose for 2 months sucks. I've also learnt that that first full breath after 2 months is a cathartic, euphoric, and a, for all intents and purposes, magical experience. Some would even equate it to the feeling you get the first time you hold your newborn.
19. I've learnt that when you announce said ability to breathe with both nostrils to your parents they will respond with comments such as: "Congratulations!", "Send out the pigeons!", and "Blow the flugelhorns!" Aren't parents swell?
20. I've learnt how often I break out into song. This proved difficult and entertaining many times throughout the four months (see #15).
21. I've learnt that not having the appetite to eat the huge Thanksgiving meals that are set out before you is murder, especially when you're a university student whose normal eating habits consist of KD and cereal.
22. I’ve learnt that middle school students will continue to nail you with hacky-sacks even if you warn them about your swollen spleen. Fourteen-year-olds are impervious to swollen spleens.
23. After the first two months, I learnt that it is a lot handier to keep the garbage can directly beside my bed instead of trying to aim used Kleenexes into the bin 6 feet away. On a related note, I’ve once again learnt why I did not make the basketball team in high school.
24. I’ve learnt that not having the energy to take advantage of a day where you didn’t go to school is like running a steaming hot bubble bath and not being able to step into it.
25.  I’ve learnt I have a new appreciation for the healing powers of a steaming hot bubble bath.

I’ve also heard about a lot of different horror stories of people who have had to quit their jobs or schooling because they couldn’t keep up with it due to mono (including one of my profs). I mention this because I cannot be more thankful that God gave me the strength to keep up with my classes and finish off my semester well. Christmas break couldn't have come at a better time because right now I am able to indulge my ridiculous sleeping pattern and hopefully get back to normal come January 10th. So here’s to ripped abs.

A good, optimistic getting better song:

Mumford

"Love that will not betray you, dismay or enslave you, it will set you free. Be more like the man you were made to be."

I like music. I like it a lot. I’m also a bit of a music whore. I go through about six or seven bands a week, taking them in, embracing them, and then leaving them to out to dry with a sad play-count of a mere 1 or 2. Hence why I have a music collection of over 10,000 songs. Hence why it is on my life list to ensure that I listen to every single one of those songs and give them a fair chance. I have this strange, instinctual need to give every album, no matter how embarrassing, a fair trial. I can’t just get one song, I need to get the entire album because you never know when you’re going to find a hidden treasure that will make your next mixtape brilliant. It is a curse and a blessing.

I give you all that background to show you how impressive it is when a band stops me in my musical tracks and gets me to listen to it for more than a week on repeat. Or, in this case, almost four months now. Mumford and Sons has beat out falsetto-singing Icelandic men and Irish-pop rock ballads to secure a place as my favourite band of all time*. I know that’s a brave thing to say considering we’ve only known each for a total of 6 months, but when you know, you know, and I think this is a step we are ready to take.

Why you ask? Well, I present: Ten Reasons Why You Should Lend Your Heart to Mumford and Sons:

1. Phenomenal banjo skills. That’s really enough to end the list right here.

2. Their band has its own coat of arms, and that coat of arms has a lion on it.

3. Powerful builds. I will always be a sucker for a good build and they do not disappoint.

4. Their lead singers name is Marcus Mumford. How deliciously alliterative is that?

5. In their concerts, each member of the band alternates moving around to different instruments because they are that cool.

6. They’re associated with Laura Marling and Noah and the Whale

7. Their album “Sigh No More” has been on Canadian Itunes’ Top 10 Charting Albums for months now. I check that list on a daily basis and I have never seen an album on there as long as this one.

8. They quote Shakespeare and Steinback in their lyrics.

9. They have one of the cutest most addictive engagement songs ever written called “She Said Yes”. Note, do not listen to this song if you are about to go into a final: you will not be able to get it out of your head.

10. Their lyrics are so awesome that there are hundreds of forums on their website of people discussing them.
Mumford and Sons wins my heart for many reasons, but what sets them apart for me is their lyrics. It is rare for a secular band with no claims to religion to sing out lines that have impacted my faith a lot more than most Christian bands ever could. The Parental Advisory sticker may have you leaning away from them, but, blame my intrinsic need to rebel, that makes me love them all the more. Raw is the best word to describe it. Here are some of their lyrics from their song “Roll Away Your Stone”:

“Cause you told me that I would find a hole.
Within the fragile substance of my soul
And I have filled this void with things unreal,
And all the while my character it steals
Darkness is a harsh term don’t you think?
And yet it dominates the things I see
It seems that all my bridges have been burned,
But you say that’s exactly how this grace thing works
It’s not the long walk home that will change this heart,
But the welcome I receive with the restart”

Their songs “The Cave”, “Sigh No More”, and “Awake My Soul” are just a few more examples of beautifully written lyrics that are powerful and strikingly relevant. I know it’s silly to review a band that I’m pretty sure anyone reading this has already heard of, but I just can’t help myself. Normally, the more popular a band becomes the less attractive they are due to my conformist need to be indie, but, in this case, I entirely embrace their well-knownedness. They are just that good that everyone should know about them. Their lyrics defined my summer in many ways and will continue to alter and affect me as I find more and more of their stuff. They are nominated for a Best New Artist Grammy this year and the saddest thing is that the probably won’t win seeing as they’re up against Justin Beiber (as well as Florence and the Machine, who is, at least, a worthy opponent). But still, I will hold on hope and take solace in the fact that they made Best New Artist in my heart (feel free to groan) and have managed to secure a permanent appearance on my Top 25 Most Played playlist.

Hold On To What You Believe - Mumford and Sons

*This rank may be subject to change.

Life List Commentary Numero One

Those of you who know me know that I love lists: this is not a secret fact. Honestly it doesn’t even matter what is on the list, just as long as it is there and I can read it, I will most likely love it. Bonus points if I actually get to cross something off on it. I have thrown out hundreds of papers filled with lists that I wrote down for the sole purpose of crossing each item off to feel that euphoric sense of accomplishment. For those of you who get this feeling, I don’t need to explain it, and for those of you who don’t, my words won’t change that. I have wasted countless hours reading every single Best of/Worst of list on the internet. Lists are the reason that my sisters could sucker me in to watching the Pre-Oscar Red Carpet commentaries and they are also the reason why I am desperate to see the nominations of any award show ever. December is one of my favourite months because the Internet is flooded with lists that simplifying the year into that orderly formation of 1 to 10.

Yet, I’ve still never really liked David Letterman. Strange.

Now enter the Life List. I started this list some time around Grade 9. It began with a small to do list that eventually evolved into what is now a living, breathing record of my life. Some people say that lists are binding and limiting, but for me this thing is freeing. I control it and it guides me, really just a win win win situation all around. It has changed quite a lot over the years and I have found different versions of it scattered throughout all my different journals and writings, and it will continue to grow and alter as the years change. I used to feel guilty about adding or removing things but I realized that that’s not really the point. The point is for me to remember things that I have been passionate about and to attempt to incorporate them into my life as best I can. I try to be working towards at least one item on the list at any given time and there are few things better in this world than getting that oh-so-satisfying feeling of placing a profound, thick line through each word.

My latest accomplishment on this list has been present since my original list in Gr. 9 and has been a dream of mine ever since: to conduct a band. As many of you know I am working towards my Bachelor of Education degree and I got to experience my first practicum this year. I was placed with a teacher who taught Zoology, Science, Sports Enrichment, and Japanese, all classes that I am very passionate about. Not! (Though I definitely did gain a new appreciation for Japanese. And I can say I now know how to dissect anything from a pregnant frog to a rabbit to a crayfish. But still, these are not my passions.) Hours of science classes drove me to seek out the music department at the school and ask if they needed any help. To my great surprise the band director not only let me play with his band but immediately agreed to allow me to conduct one of the pieces in the Christmas concert. Pretty trusting considering he did not even ask me whether I have any conducting experience at all (which, frankly, I don’t, unless you count the numerous hours I have spent waving my imaginary baton in the air to the blaring sounds of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture since the ripe old age of 4).

Skip forward three months. After lots of overtime practice hours, plenty of daily air conducting, and tons of stifled nerves, I found myself walking up to the platform to conduct a soothing rendition of Silver Bells. I had a plan.

Step 1: Don’t trip going up to the stage.

Step 2: Don’t start at the wrong tempo.

Step 3: Smile

Step 4: Don’t drop the baton.

Step 5: End at the same time.

Step 6: Don’t trip getting off the stage.

As long as I could master those six things, I was good to go. And, to my great relief, I did. It wasn’t the Philharmonic Orchestra and it wasn’t the Apollo Theater (really it was quite the opposite) but it was cool and something I’ve wanted to do ever since my father gave me my first air baton (yup, he was there right beside me conducting the final crescendo of the overture). And, with the way things are looking with my Music minor potentially down the drain (due to lame registration timings) it may be the first and last opportunity I ever get, which makes it that much more special.

So here’s to placing a solid, fulfilling line through #28: Conduct a Band.

To end, I leave you with an uncannily accurate portrayal of Little Michael (I blame it on the uniformity of mushroom cuts.) PS: If you don’t want to watch the whole thing you get the main gist after the first minute.

Also, while writing this post I’ve been listening to the 1812 Overture over and over again. If you have not actually heard this song (or at least the finale), then listen to it here, and I dare you not to raise your hands in triumphant conducting glory.

Special thanks to Sarah V and her mom for the pics.