mum

What I did on my vacation…

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I’ve been on vacation this week. The week has of course flown by. At the same time though, I feel like it’s been a long time since I was at work. Therefore, time passed as it normally should, and not in warp speed. I’m happy about that.

I didn’t stray too far from home this week, but my best friend came and visited me for a few days. Stacey did her first solo drive into Toronto, and did not get lost or have anyone honk at her for not driving like a Toronto asshole. I was very proud of her for that. However, an hour-long traffic jam in Cobourg delayed her enough that I was beginning to wonder when she was going to actually get to my place. Once she got here, we did a lot of talking, shopping and giggling, and not necessarily in that order. I won’t discuss the wine-induced talk here – what is discussed at my kitchen table, stays at the kitchen table. I was so happy that she came up – we had such a good time together. One thing we didn’t do was take any pictures together. I realized that about five minutes after she left – d’oh!

Sean and I also went to see the Slayer/Marilyn Manson show that came to the Molson Amphitheatre yesterday. I’m not a huge Slayer fan – I like the big hits in small doses and that’s about it. Sean said they did a good set so I’ll assume it was a good show. The rest of the crowd seemed to like it.

Manson was a more entertaining show, with several set changes and a couple of costume changes (the change into a boxing robe and setting up a mini-ring during “Fight Song” made me giggle). Most of the Marilyn Manson fans seemed so young. It was kinda like that line Matthew McConaughey (as David Wooderson) says in Dazed and Confused: “That’s what I love about these high school girls, man. I get older, they stay the same age.” Sean was feeling old because he first saw Marilyn Manson back in 1994 when they opened for Soundgarden and Nine Inch Nails at Molson Park. At that time, he couldn’t tell if they were women or men. And they played in daylight with very little makeup. I guess this is an example of “the more things change, the more they stay the same.”

I spent most of the Slayer set people-watching. How could I not with all the hilarious fashion choices being made by both fanbases. Black PVC clothing in August is just not a good idea people. A fashion choice I didn’t expect was that I wasn’t the only person who was carrying a pink purse – Sean pointed out a girl who was carrying one too.

I was also surprised at how many young kids (like, under twelve years old) were there. This one kid was there with his dad and dad’s friend and it was pretty neat to watch him rock out as hard as the older fans – wearing a kid-sized Black Sabbath shirt to boot. I also saw a goth family with the mum and dad in full regalia and the kid following along in less goth-y outfit.

I think it’s great for these parents to take the kids to the shows if they want to go – as long as these kids were wearing earplugs. (That habit needs to start early.) The kid sees what happens at concerts so he’ll know how to behave when he/she goes unattended (seeing a big drunken guy acting like a goon and missing the show due to being thrown out for his drunken antics *might* prevent the kid from drinking in the parking lot with his friends before the show). The kids and parents develop a bond over a shared love of a favourite band, and the kid isn’t embarrassed to be seen with his folks. I hope any kids Sean and I have like at least some of the music we do so we can bond with them over it.

QotD: If I Never Hear That Again…

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What is the one saying that your parents said to you that you absolutely hate?
Submitted by victoriassecret.

I can’t think of an actual advice-type saying, but when I was about 13, my sister (who would have been about 10) was growing out her hair and it was always getting in her face. Every time my mother would look at her she would say “Get those bangs out of your eyes – I just can’t stand it!” She always said it in the same exasperated tone of voice, and it got to the point where Kyla and I could recite it word-for-word and in perfect harmony in unison along with her. It soon turned into a bit of a joke, but not until Kyla got lots of headbands and clips.

This post doesn’t really translate well without sound, but I don’t have a microphone. Besides, it’s just not the same without my mum getting really annoyed as she is saying it. Now that the bangs aren’t an issue, I don’t think I could get her to say it with the same passion that she did when our hair fell under her jurisdiction.

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The end of another year is upon us. Sean and I just had fondue, which I’m trying to instill as a New Year’s tradition. It’s the second year we’ve done it so does that count as tradition or not? Fondue just seems like such a New Year’s thing. My mum and dad did it with my sister and I at least once at New Year’s when we were kids, so I’m trying to restart the tradition that never really started in the first place.

I was trying to remember what I’ve done for New Year’s in the last ten years (in 1995, I would have been 17 years old). I know that for two or three years, I went to my best friend Stacey’s house, which was super-fun, but other than that I think I’ve always been at home (or at Sean’s mother’s house before we got our own home). I don’t think I’ve ever been to a major New Year’s party or even out to a restaurant; I’ve always just chilled at home or went to Stacey’s.

Oh wait, in 1999, Sean and I went to see Metallica in Detroit which was an adventure (the 401 was so quiet that night!), but was kinda freaky cuz I worried a bit that the Y2K freakout would seriously screw things up, but it didn’t. We still got Timbits on the way home, and we still had electricity in the morning (which is good, cuz the apartment we had at the time was on electric heat if I remember properly.)

Other than fondue, it’s been quiet. Sean has been watching the hockey game, and I’ve been wandering around online. I’m in my pajamas now (a saucy pink “lounging set” from my mum – pretty sad when the saucy pj’s come from your *mum* and not your husband, but whatever, they are comfy.) I’ve been trying to pace my New Year’s libations so I actually manage to stay up till midnight. Last year I got kinda silly and while I managed to stay up till the ball dropped, I think I went to bed before Auld Lang Syne was even finished. That is one of the advantages of staying home. I can get drunk in my pajamas (or whatever I want – even my rattiest underpants and t-shirt) and I haven’t completely embarrassed myself to anyone beyond Sean, the cat and the dog.

I’ve been thinking about resolutions a little bit, but nothing has been committed to yet. Sean tried to tell me that his resolution was to do *less* housework, but resolutions are made to be broken so I don’t expect much outta that. I am not resolving to lose weight though – that is just too disappointing when you eat the first bad-for-you thing of the year. You feel like you’ve already failed the year at that point, and I’m not doing that again.

Well, my wineglass is empty, and it’s only 9:30, so I better go and toast 2005 some more.

Happy new year.

love, melissa

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The wedding is becoming more and more real. Not only am I getting my wedding dress fitted today, but my mom told me to bring my chequebook down so I can pay for a few things. Fairy tale and reality, all at once!

The timing is good for these appointments as now I get to spend a little time with my mum on Mother’s Day. Unfortunately, she works most of the afternoon on Sunday, so it won’t be much time. Better some time than none, especially in such an important year when she has done so much for me. (not that she doesn’t do anything when I am not getting married, but she’s done most of the work on this wedding – that qualifies as a special year!)

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 Canada
This work by Melissa Price-Mitchell is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 Canada.
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