Christmas anti-materialism

Well apparantly I get bored of pretty much everything I try to do, such as this blog. However, since Christmas is looming (and this year, for some reason, I'm getting really into it) I thought I'd share some delightful holiday goodies....

First, check out this ballin' website: http://www.adventconspiracy.org/
The video on the main page made me cry, and I think they've got some sweet ideas.

Also, I was in Oregon for a girls' youth retreat last weekend and this kid Austin came out to speak about this organization he started when he was 9 called Hoops of Hope. I wont explain it since the site already does that, but it's a sweet organization to keep in mind! http://www.hoopsofhope.org/

Adulthood is poo

I don't have anything witty to say, I don't have anything to recommend, I haven't come up with any life-illuminating ideas to share, and I don't like to talk about very personal things online.

So much for posting, I guess.

What I really want to do though is up and move to Victoria. I want to pull an Emily Carr and I want to pull a Tyler Durden all in one. Pretty much what I mean is I want to move away for a month or two with no television, car, phone, internet, etc. I want to live in a studio apartment and make just enough money for food, rent, and art supplies. I want to work minimally somewhere interesting and spend the rest of my time writing and painting. I don't want to be distracted by others or by things; I want to sleep simply and eat simply and be simple.

I think this is a pretty good thing to do once I finish my B.A. You know, spend years working for a grade point average, and then reject everything. After that I want to work at camp because camp was pretty badass this weekend. Then I want to dilly dally, THEN I want to go back to PDP.

So much for being normal and getting on the whole carreer thing. But then, normal doesn't exist, so... whatevz.



ps. buy Death Cab's Narrow Stairs, just trust me on this one.

The Library

I never go to the library.

I know this sounds strange, and you're probably thinking, "but Amanda! You're mildly nerdy, sort of bookish and reclusive! You love to learn! How do you avoid the library?!" Well, let me tell you. I like buying books because I highlight the crap out of them and then lend them to friends. Plus, having a bookshelf full of things I've read (I've read my height in books in the past two years!) makes me look intellegent and well-balanced (foolery!).

But alas, I'm now a poor college kid and I can't afford to buy lovelies such as Moby Dick, Hard Times, Pride and Prejudice, Treasure Island, etc etc (I did though; it's the "I'm clearly an English major" kind of spending problem). So, after racking up a serious bill at the bookstore, I ventured into the library, hanging my head in shame.

I didn't make it to the books, though: I was incredibly distracted by the shelves of DVDs and CDs! There are occasionally good DVDs like SNL's Best of Christopher Walken and 2001: A Space Oddysey, but what's even greater is the indie music collection! I've found Tegan & Sara, Franz Ferdinand, Arcade Fire, Metric, Tokyo Police Club, etc. I got far too excited to be in a library so I got out my card and swipe swipe swiped - and it sure felt nice not to punch in a pin or sign a receipt.

So, for any poor people out there who love books, never fear! Take all of the money you would spend on music, movies, and rentals and spend it all on books and highlight away! Then just mosey on down to the library and get your media fix there.

This is great news for me. I'm listening to Franz Ferdinand for free while I make my book wishlist (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is next up!). I know you're probably thinking, "Amanda, after this very nerdy blog entry, didn't you ever think just to borrow books from the library as well?" Well, I could do that. But let's face it, when you have a literary spending problem, baby steps are key, and forfeiting my Chapters bill isn't something I'm ready to put on my plate just yet.

IKEA Antics

I went to IKEA this weekend with my friend Tanaya because she just moved and needed furniture, which we (with much trial and tribulation) managed to squeeze in my car after a delicious and cheap dinner and much deliberating over colors, patterns, etc.

What I love about IKEA is the names they give to their items. They don't give them cool names though - a chair isn't a chair-izzle and a dresser isn't a dressah; there is no ballin' around in this Swedish paradise. Instead, they name their items with apparantly NO connection from what the thing is or does to what the name is.

For example, I purchased some Billigs. Two were alive, and two were not. Does this help you to understand what additions have been made to my bedroom? Probably not (I bought two plants and two little pots). Now, how exactly does one water a Billig? Does a Billig need sunlight? What if my dog knocks the Billig over and the Billig inside spills dirt on the carpet? Is the dirt also called Billig or just the plant and pot?

I also bought one box of Tindra and one Oregano. There is no plural on the Tindra even though it is a box of strawberry-scented tealights. So, I have several smelly Tindra? Hmm. What if there is only ONE Tindra? If I say there is a Tindra on fire, is it a reason for concern? Is it only one harmless Tindra or an entire army of Tindra waiting to engulf my curtains in flames? Should I only be saying 'flame'? Regardless, my Tindra go in my Oregano (candle holder). My Oregano is off-white and has cute polka dot holes. I don't understand why an English word is used to label an IKEA item. Don't they realize how absurd this title is? The silly names are bad enough with their lack of plurals or distinction between greenery and pottery. But once we begin using English labels, everyone gets confused. Is Oregano less silly because it is the only English word I found or is it more riduculous because it is the only exception? What if all of the IKEA items were labelled after kitchen spices? Could I eat dinner at my Salt while I sat in my Paprika? Would my Chili cut while my Garlic dished food out? Would my Basil effectively dry my dishes or would it stick to them?

I have no answers to the questions I have posed.

I'm going to study now. I'll highlight with my Lemon Juice, write with my Cheese, and print notes with my Shoe. Then I plan on sitting on my comfy leather Wall as I watch Season Five of Friends on my big screen Pillow. Eventually, Nancy will call me on my Lawnmower and then I'll read some of my Paintbrush before I go to sleep in my Desk Lamp.