day three - concerts

Day 03 - Five concerts you wish you attended

1) any clash show

2) dreadnoughts and rebel spell show

3) weakerthans

4) any beatles show

5) propagandhi show

i've been to a rebel spell show but the dreadnoughts weren't there. i love all the bands above. also wish i could back in time!

ray charles

Concerts!

Day 03 - Five concerts you wish you attended

1) Coachella this year! An amazing three-day festival back in Arpil with some of my favourite bands like Bright Eyes, City & Colour, The Black Keys, Marina & the Diamonds, Arcade Fire...

2) Death Cab for Cutie concert on Toronto Island in 2009

3) Die Mannequin had two intimate concerts back in March, and I didn't get to go to either, boo! One of the shows also had Rah Rah performing after Die Mannequin, another band I loved and missed.

4) Bright Eyes when they came here this year

5) Any Foo Fighters concert in the past...I'm going to see them next time they're here!


Osheaga Festival is a similar festival to Coachella, but it's in Montreal this summer. Bright Eyes, City & Colour, Eminem, The Tragically Hip and Death Cab are playing! I want to camp out there for the weekend and see some amazing bands!

Edgefest 2005 was probably the best concert I've ever attended. It went all day and night, and I met Dallas Green and got his autograph!

+ Lorelie

Why'd you have to wait to find me

Day 02 - How you feel about God and religion

Yesterday’s answer was a good set up for today’s. I’ve written about this topic a few times in the past on our blog, so I’ve re-read what I wrote before and I’m going to be using many of the same lines.

I was raised Catholic and went to Catholic elementary and high school. My mom was raised Catholic as well, Italian-Catholic lol. My dad is Lutheran as most Finns are, but he’s not exactly religious. I’ve actually never heard him talk about it, he just comes to church with us when we actually go. I’m not sure what he really believes.

So of course I believe in God then, right? But it’s not that simple. Yes, my mom is Catholic, but she stopped making me go to church a long time ago, I didn’t even go this past Easter. And as for school, I took religion class with the same mind set I took every class with, just trying to get A's. In grade nine I asked my teacher why women aren’t allowed to be priests, and she said a priest has to be close to Jesus, and Jesus was a man...then I said but didn't God create man and woman equal? My teacher couldn't answer that one lol. I don’t agree with many things n Catholicism. I think the Pope is a silly institution once used as a form of political authority over the state...learned a lot from Machiavelli in political theory lol.

To me, going to church or being preachy does not mean you have faith. I believe faith is a private thing, it's something between you and God, and it's nothing to show off about. I know I don’t really talk about it with anyone, but I think that's because no one would really understand. Faith is something each person finds themselves, on their own....not because of school, or family, or whatever. And that's how I found it.

I've never told anyone exactly what happened regarding why I believe in God, I don’t know if I ever will. It all started in the beginning of grade ten, when I probably went through one of the toughest times in my life. I won't get into it too much, but I was scared and alone and it was an awful time. But then I found my faith. I had never really talked to God like I did at this time, but it was different. I was out of options, and for once in my life, I believed for a real reason. I know for a fact that He saved me. Ya, I know how silly that sounds, I would never say it aloud to anyone, but I know it’s true. For me, it’s something I just know and feel after everything that happened.

I still pray, especially when I need strength and faith or help. I prayed to have the strength and will to finish my degree, especially during the last few weeks of school. I pray for my friends, even those who don't believe. I pray for my family, especially my Grandma. I pray for the world. I do it because I know He saved me and He's listening. I don't know if I would be here, where I am today, without Him. God is the only one who has ever seen me at my worst and my best and everything in between. And my worst is pretty bad. I’ve made promises to never do certain things again, and I’ve broken those promises. But he still helps me.

I also like parts of other religions. I sort of believe in the Buddhist belief of reincarnation, since I think I’ve had past lives...not sure how it works lol. I also love the Japanese religion called Shintoism, I even wrote a paper on it for my Ecological World Views class. Basically, many natural objects have spirits in them called “kami,” especially things like trees, mountains and rivers. It’s a really cool belief system that connects the natural and spiritual world, and most of Hayao Miyazaki’s films have to do with aspects of Shintoism.

I like how the social gospel movement during the 1930s shaped the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (now the NDP) and how many of the founding members were clergy men, like Tommy Douglas. It was a different religious influence than the one that the crazy right-wing parties had. The CCF/NDP wanted the abundant life for everyone, followed the story of the Good Samaritan, and believed in helping your neighbour. This is where religion can be good.

Anyway, I don’t know how to explain how it all works, I’m not even sure myself. All I know is God pretty much saved my life, literally. Religion is something humans constructed. Faith is something you find on your own. It doesn’t work for everyone, but it works for me. I know God is there, somewhere, and I know he’s listening. I guess I'm lucky being able to realize all this at a young age, but my philophies change all the time. The one thing that stays the same is my belief in God.

Ps. I’m the Confirmation sponsor for my friend’s sister on the 26th. My friend passed away in November 2007. It feels weird, but it’s really nice that she asked me. I hope I can help her and want her to really understand what it all means. It’s truly an honour she asked me, since she couldn’t ask her sister.

Pps. Canucks won game six against the Nashville Predators! Moving on to round three against either the San Jose Sharks or Detroit Red Wings! Wooooo!

+ Lorelie

day two - the big g-o-d

day 02| how you feel about God and religion

if you have been reading our blog or know me well enough, you already know the answer to this question.

how do i feel about god? well i don't believe in god and i never have actually believed there is a god. i grew up questioning god and religion as religious people in my life and all my teachers could never give me the answers. i was and am a curious person and will ask why. but there was never an answer. all they could say was "because" or "you just know." well... that was and never has been enough for me.

studying history, religion is a common theme throughout much of human history and religion divides people and also provides justification for particular actions. historically, this includes wars, missionary work (this includes in africa and north america) and the crusades. even today, people act in the name of "god." to me, its just a justification of some higher power to do things that would otherwise be weird and completely destructive... everyone is also so concerned about being "right." this leads to seeing each other as wrong and justifies particular actions. meanwhile, everyone is worshiping the same god and upholding similar ideals just their practices and sacred images and tokens are different. religion in politics is also really annoying...issues that are political become moral and decisions are made with religion in mind...which can be extremely illogical..

i also think that religion is important for society and for many individuals. religion helps answer particular questions and gives individuals hope about their lives. it also gives them something to look forward to and a reason to keep living in their world. it creates social cohesion and a form of social control... see durkheim, marx and weber if you are really interested... haha. i actually just combined all three thinkers...three different ways of thinking...im a good sociologist eh.

i think that is all i have to say on the subject. moral of the story is i don't believe in god and i think organized religion and religion in general sucks but i know the importance it has for society and for individuals. i think its cool that people have faith, good for them. but i dont and really think its all made up...

believe what you want!
ray charles

I remember how beautiful it was, when I believed in things like love

Hello Blog!

So Ray Charles and I are embarking on a 45 day challenge post-undergrad! We are getting our B.A.'s, we so excited hahahaha! So each day we'll be anwering a question.

Day 01 - Belief specific to your childhood

Like Ray Charles, I believed in Santa and the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy way back when. I stopped believing in Santa when I was seven. I was snooping for Christmas gifts in my parents closet, and saw a Sailor Moon board game. Then on Christmas that same board game said it was from Santa on the gift tag lol.

I also loved shows like Friends, and for some reason thought I would go to Harvard, be married at 25, and have my first kid at 27...oh boy!

For me, the big thing I believed in was, for lack of a better word, magic. I grew up on shows like Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Sailor Moon and Cardcaptors. I always thought that when I was older I would get super powers or something. I always thought I had powers, but that they were not fully developed because I was still young. I always wished one day something would happen similar to what happened to Sailor Moon - you discover you're a super hero with a serious past, and the world needs saving! Alas, it never happened for me, boo. I also used to think I was sort of psychic and I actually would try to cast spells and stuff hahaha. I still think it's fun, and who knows right!

I aslo grew up believing in God, similar to Ray Charles. I never really understood it back then. I remember I hated going to church all the time before I was confirmed in grade eight. I never really truly understood what it all meant. I learned and memorized the Bible stories and Jesus' life, because that's what I was taught in school. It never really made sense, I just went along with it. I feel like at thriteen/fourteen, it's too young to really know if you want to believe and continue following your faith. I realized a while ago that confirmation is baptism, except now you speak for yourself instead of your god parents, and now you get to make the choice. Kids should really understand this when making the decision, but usually it's their parents making that decision for them. That's the problem.

It was when I was fifteen in grade ten that I truly made that decision for myself. I don't care for instiutions of faith, it's something private and personal. It's something you need to come by yourself. I went through a bunch of shit back then and ya I guess I "found God." But I don't agree with everything in the Catholic faith, I don't even go to Church really (I didn't go this past Easter). I like parts of other religions too, like reincarnation in Budhism and aspects of Shintoism. Plus believing in magic doesn't exactly coincide with Catholicism haha. I've been know to curse the gods or ask them for certain things, even though I believe in one God...not sure how that works lol. And my whole concept of fate makes it even more confusing. All I know is God pretty much saved my life, literally. Plus I do enjoy praying, I know he's listening.

I guess I still carry many of my childhood beliefs with me. Except for Santa, he died when I was seven.


Oh, I must be psychic. I wrote this Friday for some reason...and it basically describes my Saturday night. When I wrote it, it had nothing to do with what has happened now. Strange.

I am surely at my worst this time
This isn't me pushing away emotions
Or pretending not to care as much as I really do
Or even subtly ignoring you because you're getting too close
No, this is worse, so much worse
This time I'm running wild like
A forest fire rampaging through the amazon
Braking branches and burning bark

I would blame this all on my past
I know that's what I'll end up telling you anyway
But I can't continue using that as an excuse
Because I said I was over it, no longer plagued
By memories and broken bones and missing pieces
By wishful thinking, hopeless prayers and missing feelings
But oh how I still am
It's holding me like never before because it's not holding me at all

I've always been such a gracious host to my bad habits
Well I've been clean for a while
But now I'm indulging in the kind that hurts more than just myself
With every look, every touch, every thought
I'm ravaging the forest and engulfing it
In the same God damn flames I've been burned by
If this is some twisted sort of Karma than we're all doomed
Because fate's making sinners out of those who were once sinned against


So now I'll just stand idly by and watch it all burn down


+ Lorelie

day one - childhood

hello blog readers!

as planned, lorelie and i will be doing a post-undergrad blog thing with daily questions for 45 days. both of us found it really fun and reflective. plus, its nice to have something to do each day on here.

both of us are currently on summer-mode as we have both finished our degrees, receiving our BA's. so i guess this will be a way to start off our summer!

i am hopping to include photos of what i have been doing each day as well but that may not happen entirely because i will get busy as the 45 days go on. we shall see... want to keep it interesting for our readers and fun for me to blog about

day 01| belief specific to your childhood

well the obvious answer to this would be a belief in santa, the easter bunny and the tooth fairy. oh and monsters in my closet and aliens who chilled in my backyard at night time (this came from shadows that passed my window. they were in the shape of the classic green alien head and i legit believed it was aliens. in fact, it was a tree shadow caused by the car lights who drove on the street on the street sort of behind my house).

beyond that i believed in love and that by the time i was 20 i was going to be married and having kids soon haha. i had no perception of age at that time. i also believed high school was the scariest place on earth and that i was willing to stay in elementary school forever.

i also "believed" in god and the church and religion in general. although i cant pin point when i stopped believing exactly because it was a process (i actually learned the process in my sociology of religion class which was really interesting) and happened overtime. but it was something i believed because i was told to and i didnt know i didnt have to believe. so i guess this answer fits in with this question

well thats all i guess. i am currently watching the foodnetwork and my tv is being so stupid so im going to change the channel.

for all ya'll who haven't seen this site, its rather funny dearblankpleaseblank

ray charles

Pulling Wool Over My Eyes

Hello Blog,

So a lot has happened the past week. I could go on a whole rant about the election, but it would be ridiculously long and I'm not even in the mood right now. I'll say this though - Stephen Harper somehow won 168 seats and a majority government. Canada is doomed. However, the NDP won a record high 102 seats (highest was just 43 previously) thanks mainly to Quebec. I was at Jack Layton's election party in Toronto Monday night, and it was incredible. I've never felt anything like it, being in a room full of fellow NDPers, watching the number of seats increase every few minutes. People were cheering as if we were at a hockey game. It was truly a historic night, and I wish Jack Layton and the newly elected NDP MPs the best of luck! I know they'll do their best to ensure the Harper majority doesn't get out of control. The NDP also did to the Liberal Party and the Bloc what the Bloc and Reform Party did to the Progressive Conservative Party in the 1993 election; obliterated them. The Liberals are down to only 34 seats and are no longer the main opposition party, and the Bloc has been decimated to just 4 seats. Quebec is in a new era where soft-nationalists and federalits are speaking for the majority instead of the old seperatists. I also really hope the new very young NDP MPs (19, 20, 21 year olds!) do well...if they'tr anything like me, I have a lot of faith in them.


I've been thinking about a few things sort of a lot since Sunday. I didn't want to write about it right away, thinking it would just be something written out of frustration and such. However, it's still kind of bothering me and so I need to get it out. Maybe this is my obsessive compulsive mind circling around the same thoughts as usual, but when something gets stuck on repeat, it's there for a while.

Anyway, I'm just trying to understand some situations I guess. It probably isn't any of my business, but it's hard for it not to be. Back in February I wrote a post and I've re-read it now. Maybe this isn't the best outlet for this, and I probably won't say everything I've actually thought about...I know I won't. I don't know. I wrote back then, "Sometimes people just don't change, and they're stuck in their beliefs and feelings for the rest of their lives. Sometimes people have revelations or epiphanies and realize they need to try to make a change, even if it seems impossible." Well I guess such revelations are going around now. I guess what is bugging me is how people say certain things to me, even appear to be mad or frustrated with me about it, and then act as if it never happened. Strange. Maybe it's a good thing. But feelings don't just disappear like that. I guess what I really want to say is no one should have any right to pick and choose certain things whenever it suits them best, well others don't.

Another thing - I absolutely HATE when someone treats me like I am ignortant or illinformed or whatever. Maybe people have a certain view of me, and they're sort of stuck on thinking this about me for whatever reason. But considering certain people barely talk to me or know anything that has happened in my life the past few years, no one as any right to judge me or make assumptions or criticize my own personal beliefs. And this was so much more than having a debate or even an argument between friends...because it was as if I was being treated like I have no idea what the real world is like or something. Like I'm ignorant or stuck in some belief system the other person thinks I blindly subscribe to or something. If they actually knew anything about me or took the time to ask me questions, maybe then they'd understand.

But it really frustrates me when someone thinks I think a certain way when it's completely false. I've "been around" and I'm well aware of the real world, I've been in plenty of situations that would be relevant to this conversation, and I have chosen my own actions because it's how I fucking feel. I obviously know there are other choices, I'm not stupid. It's how I feel and I'm actually proud of it...my beliefs and how I feel and act is something I've always been proud of, and my real friends shouldn't ever criticize me or try to antagonize me about it (my real friends never have). Discussion over.

I also cannot stand hypocrites.

On a more positive note, the Canucks won game 4 tonight and go back to Vancouver leading the series 3-1 against Nashville...Go Canucks!!

* "Pulling Wool" is an amazing song by Casey Baker and the Buffalo Sinners...lyrics are pretty relevant.

+ Lorelie