Just bring a pencil.

by sandyb on February 9, 2010

So, I’m starting something new tomorrow night. And it doesn’t involve my laptop; although it does include writing (by the way, don’t you hate it when people start sentences with and? Shit, I do).

I’ve signed up for a course through the University of Toronto called, “Generating Stories” – sort of an ode to brainstorming, I guess, although the title needs work, don’t you think?

Despite the lame name, the course attracted me because, since starting this blog, I’m all ideas, ideas, ideas, but sort of the same ones over and over, you know what I mean? That ever happen to you? You sort reinvent the wheel, trying to perfect the thought about the thing you were thinking. Anyway, blah blah blah, I’m looking to bust out of my mold a bit. I’ll be sure to blog about the class again.

In this course we’ll be writing poetry (poetry!) and memoirs and fiction. I’m nervous and excited. I’m sure there will be some terrific writers there looking to hatch some new ideas, too. I think I’m going to tell everyone I wax people’s hair for a living. If I tell them I’m an editor, they’ll look at me funny, like I’m supposed to remember what the fuck a pentameter is, even though I do, but I don’t care… but I should… because I’m an editor. See?! Awful. I hope the professor asks me to describe diction instead. I figure waxers or editors could come up with a pretty good definition for diction.

Oh, about tomorrow night: I received this email from my professor today and, get this, the whole class is to be… brace yourself… written in longhand. No computers. He even suggested, “bring a pencil”… love it already. The smell of a pencil case is one of my top 10 favorite smells of all time (and don’t you even judge me… I know you have a favorite smells list… you’re thinking about it right now, aren’t you?)

Which reminds me, I need a wax.

On another note, I realized that when I accompany a post with a photo, it’s typically a photo that’s been shot on my travels or via my BlackBerry, which is totally cheating, I think. So I want to change that. I’d like to make the photos on my blog a bit of an homage to The Year that Is 29; a scrap book of sorts. Current images of what I look like, dress like and do in this beautiful city. I’m changing everyday and someday I’d like to look back and just, you know, observe it. If I’m to really treat this blog as a documentary of my life and my List, I’d like the “show” portion of this story to accompany the “tell” more often.

All I know is, 30 better be awesome – I’ve been talking it up in my head for months.

*This is a picture taken last week with my BlackBerry. Yes, again. When I saw this Toronto indie band, Meligrove Band, in concert last year, I had them sign the back of my T-shirt. Such a groupie. So what?

-meligroveband.com

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Simply, #20 on the List… and a love note.

by sandyb on February 7, 2010

Dear Body,

I love you, but that doesn’t mean I want to get attached. This is a temporary thing between you and me, after all.

I thought I should “cc” you on the following philosophies that will impact our relationship this year. And before you get all sentimental on me, Body, I should tell you that, although you’re good to me now, you wouldn’t think twice about fucking me over, so consider this a mild intervention. I’m on to you.

You’ve already started leaving me little surprises like that small pooch under my belly button and the shift in boob-distribution – don’t think I’m oblivious to that little deal you’re making with gravity, Body. I know all about it.

So, to keep our relationship fair, I wanted to give myself a little reminder of the constant state of flux you’re in. I’m willing, after much vodka and mediation, to accept your evil ways. In fact, I’m willing to accept all the changes you throw at me so much so, that I’d like to give myself a little reminder – a Post-It note of sorts – so that I don’t forget about your constant, although not always approved, evolution. …We’re getting a tattoo.

You heard me.

I’m so decided on this that I’m making it #20 on the List. I’m changing, so are you; by 30, I feel accepting this is only fair to both of us. So, let’s make it official with ink. No erasers.

Remember that time we watched our mother survive cancer? We watched her body go from awesome one day to a deteriorating state the next from invasive chemotherapy. And you thought you had it bad with the occasional piece of unorganic fruit or the cigarettes we smoked in high school. Not even close, Body. Not even close.

I love you, but I have to remember that this is just a temporary thing between us. You could decide to let harmful things in, despite how hard we work together to keep them out. That’s just part of accepting change. But I’m not mad at you and I’m still going to treat you right, dear Body – Vitamin C; Swedish massages; essential oils and bath salts as always – this little tattoo will be our little covenant to keep it real; to not forget about the stuff on the inside, in my heart and in my head, that will keep us both strong when you decide you’ve had enough of pleasing me. You’re entitled, after all.

Think of this tattoo as my little love note, written in ink. No erasers.

With love (and a little less belly pooch, please),

sandyb

love notes.

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A date, no Rob & another one crossed off the List! (but I cheated… sort of).

February 5, 2010

I did something tonight that’s been on my mind for some time – years, I think.
I always thought that if the opportunity would arise, I’d take it, but likely not seek it out myself.
It’s not something that a lot of people in my circle of friends have done, or do, although I know they’ve thought [...]

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I feel as though I’ve been in labor for months!

January 31, 2010

The last little while, I’ve been having some good ideas. What’s makes them good? They get me motivated to make some important changes and I’m able to fill pages and pages in my notebook with more ideas that build around that one central idea. I get that feeling, deep down, that if I don’t write [...]

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How I have been spending my weekends… for months now.

January 30, 2010

I love knowing behind-the-scenes bits about any movie, even an amateur one, like this is. So here are some bits for you:
-I made this video about two months ago… there’s swearing in it, and it’s unedited because I have no idea how to do that (yet), so I’ve been shy to post it.
-You’ll notice (vaguely) [...]

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SandyB’s not here. (she’s having a Starbucks with Cheryl!)

January 27, 2010

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LOVE/GUEST POST FOR “DATING WEDNESDAYS” at STARBUCKS BREAK!

CLICK HERE! CLICK HERE! CLICK HERE!

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Guest post by Not That Kind of Girl! Quite possibly the BEST stuff I’ll have on my blog all week. Seriously. My shit’s been lacking lately, I get it. Now stop judging me and just read this stupendous post already.

January 25, 2010

I am utterly in a tizzy to have this bloggess extraordinaire all the way here from Not That Kind of Girl today!

I don’t have many morning rituals, except for making Lists, drinking copious amounts of coffee and reading blogs, all within the first 10 minutes of arriving at work. That said…
My mornings are as follows:
1. [...]

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Not sure what to make of this…

January 20, 2010

Today I was told, “You look young… for your age. I mean, you don’t look like you’re turning 30…”
Compliment?
What does 30 look like exactly?
I’m going to go on record saying this: Turning 30 is a big deal. How big a deal varies from one person to the next, sure, but whether you celebrate the hell [...]

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I wish: Rob did this everyday.

January 17, 2010

Rob is my favorite song writer. Cliche or trite as that might sound, it’s true. I have never lived with another musician, so I’m sure a little bias lurks somewhere in my statement, but I know passion when I see it, and passion is what I see- and often feel- when he sits down to [...]

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How do you describe a man of mystery?

January 14, 2010

How does one introduce a man like mysterg?

Do you talk about his candor? The way it seeps and slips into his posts, slowly revealing the writer behind the mystery, although we may never, in fact, learn his real name.
Do you introduce him as a new(ish) blogger? Opening him up to wonderful and fresh readers, although [...]

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