January 2007 Archives

Today is Wednesday. That means tomorrow night is Diplomacy night once again. At this point in the week I can hardly contain my excitement. I would have mentioned it last Thursday but I was considering mentioning at the same time how Grey's Anatomy was amazing, and take that you whiney faggots. That would have been a little rude, even for me, so I decided against it. Then I went and caused a whole boatload of drama and as a result I've been avoiding parts of the internet since.

Last week's round was a whole lot of fun. I was there early because I couldn't wait to start (which really shouldn't be a surprise). The one thing I learned last week is that human players tend to change their plans based on what's going on. This differs from the computer players I was used to playing against because computer players, after a certain point, get to be pretty predictable. It makes perfect sense, but it's something you forget about.

As a result I didn’t charge into Italy like I had planned. I had originally planned on moving an army into Rome on top of the Army in Naples (which is hard to explain, but was totally do-able at the time). Now as a result I'm down a supply center (Rome) and a whole year behind in advancing my plan.

This is what the map looks like in our "Winter" period before Spring and Fall 1902 which will be tomorrow. Expect an exciting update tomorrow.

I want to know what you would do in this situation. Say you have a best friend and a guy you like. A guy you like a lot more than you should like, buy guy you really like none the less. Now, your best friend and the guy you really like have a history. And unfortunate history where two years ago your best friend "smashed [the guy you really like's] heart into a million pieces".

Ok. Fuck it. I can't even begin to go through with this story. But the short version is that my best friend (who has a boyfriend), just went home with the guy I really like. The guy who told me we couldn't go home because he had to work tomorrow. Oh but don't worry, I got a phone call from the guy I like letting me know "so I don't worry". Fuck that shit. Because I (and everyone else for that matter) knows what's happening tonight. That will teach me to 1)have feelings and 2) trust people.

I'm still bogged down with a boatload of work but I wanted to tell a quick story. The other day I read an article on Steve Munro's Web Site (here) about the signs on the escalators in the subway stations. Anyone who knows me well knows that one of my biggest pet peeves is people who stand on the left side of the escalator blocking it up. Don't believe me? Ask the ex-boyfriend that I dumped citing this as one of the reasons.

So when I read this it bothered me. It bothered me all day today too. I take the subway to and from campus a number of times in a regular day. I enjoy shaving seconds off my trips by walking up and down the escalators. On bad days I have a habit of swinging my bag into people who are in the middle as I walk by because I'm a big jerk like that.

Take today for instance. I took the subway to and from my class at 1:00. Each time I used the escalator I thought about how ridiculous it was to site safety concerns as the reason for removing the signs. Discourage walking? That won't discourage walking. It was a horrible shame that people were injured (on a non-TTC escalator no less) but removing the signs wasn't going to stop me from walking on them.

I took the subway to and from my afternoon classes too. I would have taken it in the morning twice, but I woke up feeling like death and went back to bed. By the end of the day I was tired and cranky, verging on full blown anger. Queen's Park was packed because it was rush hour. I don't like being around people. As I approached the escalator I was once again reminded of how they were removing the signs. I saw the sign at the top of the escalator reminding people to hold on to the railings for safety. I sneered. I am Mike, conqueror of escalators around the world. This was just another one to add to the list. So I boldly went where I, and many others, had gone many times before. I took that conqueror's step onto the escalator. Then I slipped on slush that had been tracked into the station from outside and fell down onto my ass, just barely grabbing onto the railing in time to stop myself from a full on tumble down. Next time I might just stand.

Last night my floor started the first round of the game Diplomacy. For those of you who are like me and had never heard of it before, Diplomacy is like a more advanced version of risk. Instead of relying on army numbers and dice rolls Diplomacy is based strictly on strategy. It's also played with 7 countries (France, England, Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary, Russia and Turkey) and the map is only Europe. So you can imagine that things get interested really quickly.

Since hearing about the game early last year, I found myself a copy of the computer version to try and figure out how to play. So any of you that know me know I went into the game with hopes for what would come of the first turn. I'd like to just say that playing against human opponents as opposed to a computer is MUCH more exhilarating. Well, it was either the human opponents or the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack that I requested playing in the background (holy crap that shit gets your blood pumping).

At this point I already know that talking about the game wouldn't be of much interest to anyone who hasn't played it. So what I will tell you is that we've only played one round and there's already been a serious amount of attacks against other players. What will get more exciting is when the betrayal really starts.

Chestnut Diplomacy Blog

My brain is mush. I'm not going to force an entry, because nothing is funny when you force it. Add that to the fact that I'm only funny in certain situations, and only kind of funny at that, and you're asking for trouble.

My first two weeks back have been hell. I should have seen it coming. Actually, I take that back. I DID see it coming. I spent the last few days of my break bitching because there were so many things that could go wrong that I needed to deal with. Only, when you look at anything I had on the list (no it's not posted), things either stayed unresolved or got worse – much, much worse.

I have (had) two term tests this week: Calculus yesterday and Economics tomorrow. Calculus kicked my ass even with my studying. Economics will hopefully go better than that. I'm still a chapter behind in Economics. It's not as bad as it sounds. I already know the material. Besides, I'm 10 chapters behind in French and 3 years behind in my Accounting class. I told you it wasn't that bad.

I'm considering restarting the 'Allergic to Nuts' pseudo-fiction series. The problem I have with it is that the good stuff is either really graphic or really rude. People are going to get either disgusted or offended or both. Sure, I could cut out the exaggeration, but it wouldn't be even close to worth reading at that point. So if you see some cuts showing up on the main page, think twice before clicking it.

I am sick. I am sick and in a very bad mood. Today I realised that next week I have TWO term tests. Excuse me? What the hell? I JUST got back to school. My room is a mess, I'm still attempting to put everything away and organise shit in the way I like it. AND I HAVE TWO TERM TESTS? I'm going to lose my mind.

I see a plus in all this: This time yesterday I was afraid that the fact that anything and everything was enough to bother me was a bad sign. Now I just see it as a sense of foreboding doom that is these tests.

Another plus: I have one crazy blog to read and possibly tear apart, AND a crazy letter to read and tear apart.

Life could be much, much worse.

I still haven't completed my list of goals for (2)007. Most of the things on it are incredibly basic. I did stumble across a post on my friend's livejournal about how his aunt named this year 007: License to Thrill. They rang in the new year by placing three things they've always wanted to do but were too afraid to do in envelopes, and at the end of the year for each one they didn't do they have to donate a chunk of money to a charity. It's clever.

I don't know if I can think of anything that I've wanted to do but have been afraid to. That's probably why my list is so pathetic at this point. Right now it consists of things like "See 'We Will Rock You'" (because Erica Peck was cast as the female lead), and other shows like Phantom of the Opera and movies like Hairspray.

I included things that could possibly happen if I can arrange them in time: Reading Week in Montreal, Summer Term at UBC; and something extremely suburban: finish driving on the 400 series highways (I only have 416 and 417 in Ottawa left). Travelling isn't frightening, just expensive.

I do know that this year has a lot of potential. I just can't figure out what that potential is for. Hopefully it's potential to get my life together.

When I transferred to U of T, I didn't transfer into Commerce. I transferred into some general nonsense and picked to focuses (or something like that, I didn't really care/pay attention). I had picked Computer Science and Economics as what might have been my majors. I've completely dropped the Math and Computer Science aspect for my second term. I've come to realise that a business focus was a much better choice for me.

I've finally decided where I'm going to do most of my studying from now on. I hate libraries. They scare me, very much. So does the study room in my building. It makes studying an absolute pain. My room doesn’t work well for long because there's not nearly enough space on my desk because of the way it's designed, and the student area doesn't work because there are always people who think it is completely necessary for everyone in the area (which is the size of a large pub) to be able to hear their shitty k-pop or their bollywood film.

I may finally be able to improve my health. Food is still going to be a problem (especially in res) and I really need to find a way to improve my sleep pattern (lets hope less caffeine and vitamins work), but this might finally be the year where I get my immune system back.

And finally: people. With my New Year's Resolution in place I may finally have a chance to end up friends with a lot of people I would have otherwise been very rude too. So here's to (2)007: License to Thrill.

As I was attempting to write my (2)007 Goal List, my dad reminded me that I forgot to include the day I turned 20 as a notable event on my summary of Two Thousand and Bonsai 6th floor. Told you I was dumb. My birthday was such a gong show that at the point in time I didn't even write about it. I'm pretty sure I was in the middle of hating one class and studying for the others. I don't even think I went out on my actual birthday. If I did my dad will read this and correct me, instead of doing something productive like earning money to pay off the mountains of debt I've created.

My birthday ranks as one of the most enjoyed events of the year, right up along with "The Most Successful First Date I've Ever Been On", "Frosh Week" and "That Wedding in Michigan". My parents took me to Ki for sushi and beer, and we had a lot of beer and even more sushi. It started off as just a drink with my dad because everyone else was late, and that "drink" turned into "drinks and making fun of people". When we finally did get to the sushi, we ordered an amount much larger than we really needed to. I don't think I have ever seen so much sushi in my life.

Of course a birthday wouldn't be complete without a bizarre Chestnut Tree Surprise party. My regular (at the time) BG6 with Antoine was interrupted for a snack break. As I finished my wandering and chatting through the caf I noticed a large number of my friends being EXTREMLY creepy in the back room. The back room used to be our room until we realised the judging booth was a lot more fun. By the time I had got there I had pretty much figured out the surprise, but that didn't stop me from going beet red anyway. They also got me an ice cream cake. HOW they knew I love ice cream cake is beyond me. The point is they did, and it was good.

Becoming legal in the States is going to require some serious partying to top this birthday. Anyone up for the challenge?

Start: January. There was an election of epic (federal) proportions. Afterwards Jess and I went Belinda Hunting in Newmarket/Aurora.

No Belinda to be had. We did make jolly old asses of ourselves at Upper Canada Mall though. Moral of the story? Don't judge a mall by the ugly facade and Toys 'R' Us outside, because if you do chances are you'll walk in and realise the mall is much nicer than you had expected and everyone who heard you laughing at it will give you very angry glances. There was also a cute boy that Jess chased down.

He was shopping with his parents. Cute.

I started dating a Sheridan Music Theatre Student. Life gets turned on his head. Suddenly I am surrounded by lots of gay people that sing a lot (some better than others). Show count for 2006: something stupid, in the range of 8 to 10. Actually, I think it was more.

My brother punched through a door. These two things are not at all related. The picture amuses me though.

I chipped my front tooth on the window of my mom's car being an idiot. I got it fixed, and then got a Civic. With the Civic I learned to drive stick. I would eventually give up the Civic for a larger allowance from my parents. That allowance didn't help; I'm in thousands of dollars of debt.

In March I started taking piano lessons again. It worked well until school started. Hopefully in the New Year (grammar check says it needs capitals?) I'll have improved my time management skills so that I can return to lessons. Adam turned out be a real person after all: he farts.

We started turning 20. It wasn't good. Well, it was great except for we were turning 20.

In June, I officially withdrew from UWaterloo as a student. So long bitches. I visited Mel, and bought a pandapple. I'm not posting a picture, because I am frightening in it.

Nancy wound up being famous, whether or not she admits it.

In July I went to a random wedding in Michigan. Then I wasted away my summer until school started. I don't have many pictures, because my mother broke my camera.

September to December went by far too quickly. One moment I was arguing with my parents about dropping a class and the next I was writing the killer final for the course. I met a whole boat load (building load?) full of new people. Some of them I really like, some I kind of like, and some I really don't like. Ok that's a lie. I can't think of one that I really don't like. At most I only slightly dislike the person.

I'm really looking forward to (2)007. I have a niche I can return to in Toronto. Courses will be courses I really like, instead of courses I only kind of like. I can get back and learn how to use my MacBook, and then try and sell my laptop. And I can try and get a job. I'm sure there are a million and one things that I missed.

All in all, Two Thousand and Bonsai 6th Floor was a good year and (2)007 is going to be even better. I EXCITE!