A new era. So they say.

Today, Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States of America. Tomorrow will be the judge.

In other news, Stephen Harper's approval rate is down to 35%. Michael Ignatieff's is 44%.

I would love to shake people out of their apathy. To move them to take up causes; to dislodge them from being 'just content'. I find this most frustrating on the university campus. Students who should rightly have a say in their education do not bother to exercise their basic freedoms. "Why bother? I'm only here for 4 years. Protest is for left wing nut bags." Universities, for that matter ALL public educational institutions, should be for the benefit of student and faculty. I'm mostly upset at the out of touch governance structures. UBC will become a UniversCity. It will be the death of the place.

End of random thoughts.

What a weird and crazy night last night.

So, Ian and I were in our room relaxing. He was on his computer and I was reading on the bed. *CRUNCH* Ian hears a sounds in the parking lot. Ian looks out and says "What the fuck!" and I get up and look. At first, I thought he was angry because it might be snowing again but it turns out someone hit Ian's car. They seemed to be stuck. While Ian went down to check things I watched from the window: The white car tried to back out and go forward. I was very clear they had no idea what they were doing.

Ian goes down and I watch as he approaches the car. I run down after him and dial 911 at exactly 11:45pm. I hand the phone to Ian but there is a cop car already pulling in. Turns out the guy in the white car was being followed by a couple of people that called the police just shortly before. They approached the guy in the white car but he was completely out of it. Whatever he was speaking was not a known language. When he was asked to get out of the car, he could barely stand or hold himself up.

An hour standing the light rain and we gave out witness statements. His car was towed and luckily there was no real damage to Ian's car.

Finally got to bed at 2am.

Today, Sunday.

   Friday we had a shindig at our friend's house in the Westend and what was supposed to be a board game night + drinking became just drinking. But I had some glorious fun.

   Saturday was Billy's baby shower and it was fun. In a non-alcoholic way. I was the unofficial official photographer. I shot about 2gigs worth of photos. It was just nice to hang out with Jake whom I haven't seen in a long time. There was a copious amount of 'awing'. Cuteness can be disgusting. She's going to make a great mom.

   Later that night Johnny held his Rock Band Party. Which, with out group of friends, usual ends up being more party than Rock Band. Maybe it's because we just don't give a damn about Rock Band or that drinking and gossiping is just more fun. Who knows. Good times were had by all.

   Sunday, today. Ian and myself hung out with Kyle and Jen. They're back from Minneapolis. PhD and Law Degree, what? We had sushi then played Settlers of Catan for a while. Newbie Jen won with a monopoly on Sheep.

   No homework was completed. Peer pressure gets me every time.

  

Alright, today was slow.

My boots can be fixed! $15 give or take.

If tomorrow isn't productive, I'll shoot someone. Maybe even a puppy. No, I could never shoot a puppy. I'd adopt it. I WANT A PUPPY.

So I forgot to post yesterday. It's not my fault, I swear. I got up early for class at 9:30am and stayed at UBC until 9:30pm. That IS TOOOO LONG. Damnit.

Anyways. What did you miss yesterday? Well, I woke up at an hour I didn't know still existed until recently. My classes were back to back in Swing Space. Sure, I should have checked where on campus they were before I left, but I didn't. So, I was 15min. late and soaking wet before I found the stupid, if not overly ugly, building. Classes were good. Teachers seemed like rational beings. Hurray. Improv meeting at 6pm then practice at 7pm. So good to be goofy for a few hours. I hate Black Christian Jews by the way. I'm with the band. (Inside joke!)

Came home and was exhausted.

Today wasn't really eventful. Class at 11am. I got my paper back: A-! Woo. I wrote on King and Roosevelt's very gay relationship. Makes me and Ian look Hetero.

My new boots have a tear by the sole and I couldn't get them replaced by the store said they'd pay for the repair! Huzzah.

Also, I phoned Fido to say I was disappointed that I pay more with them than I did with Rogers and they guys switched my plans, knocked $23 off my last bill and now I have unlimited texting. My bills will also be only $40+tax for EVER!

I'm quite proud of those last two items.

Also, today some guy, who I suspect was homeless or thereabouts, tried to start a fight with me at Broadway station. Well, he didn't say anything but he did bump my arm aggressively and push me to the side then glare back. Them's fighting actions! So, I glared back defiantly and got on the train. That was my story. Why do I hate Vancouver commuters?

On Saturday I'm photographing Billy's baby shower! Yay!

    I tried to go to school today but Translink had other plans. I usually take the Skytrain to Broadway then to VCC-Clark and catch the 84 but skytrain was running slow today so I decided to play it safe and catch the 49 from Metrotown which goes directly to UBC (actually takes a bit longer than plan A!). I got there for the bus...didn't come...okay, I thought "Well, maybe it was early, i'll just catch the next one that comes in 10 minutes." Nope, that bus didn't come. I was there for 30min and only one bus came. It was a 49 but it stopped at Langara. I wish, I wish that Translink had an able warning system or an up-to-date delay/cancellation notice. I checked the web before I left. Moral of the story, Translink CEO's get paid waaaay too much. Oh, and never plan ahead or play it safe. (Sounds like a recipe for unplanned pregnancies).


   I ended up going to UBC anyways to sign up for a presentation, to drop of library books and to buy my texts. $300 later.

   I have a plan. A plan to finish my essays by the end of the month. I want to finish essay 1 by end of next week. Essays 2 and three by the end of the month. Huzzah. This won't happen but it MUST. These are last semester papers by the way. I just couldn't do them last month with a the 'stuff' that was going on.

 

I'm continually disappointed that the 'rain' we were supposed to get has turned to snow. Vancouver is never satisfied.

School starts tomorrow. I dropped the Tibet class mostly because I can't afford it. Sorry Tibet.

I went out for Chinese dinner with my Uncle and my Auntie. So much fooood. Then I got a ride back to Langley with my Dad. You don't know fear until you've driven with a Chinese man in a Kia Rio on slippery, icy, slushy roads. I went to Dan's house and hung  out with him, Alex and Jason. T'was grand. We played Bond on N64 then a little Wii. Mostly interspersed with drinking. Stayed up to 4am. Sometimes I miss Langley.

3 classes. 5 days a week. It just ain't fair.

Lastly, I finished The Watchmen. Brilliant stuff. Now I can watch the movie and have a legitimate reason to complain that is sucks (I secretly hope it doesn't!). Not to mention Doc Manhattan will bear all. PG NOTHIN'!

    Tonight I will see Dan. I will drink. It will be epic.

    Note: I'm turning into a clean dishes fiend. I consistently need a clean kitchen.

    Tomorrow, our Christmas tree will be chipped and then used as food for future Christmas trees. Cue Elton John.

    Also, I've finally put my Macbook in my room. It's new permanent home. Yes, there is enough room for TWO sexy bitches in my room.

Alright everyone,

    So, I haven't made an resolutions. I did however get a Wii Fit for Christmas (thank you Ian!). Now, I know what you're all thinking: "But Brandon, you're so ripped already" "Your muscles scare small children and cats" "How will you afford all the new tight fitting clothing your muscles on muscles will need?" I hate to break it to you but I'm out of shape. Clearly, I have no shape at all. So, I am going to work out and attempt to gain weight (see: muscle) and be healthy.

    So far Wii Fit has motivated me everyday this week to work out. I'm even considering a light jaunt around the block and maybe to Central Park. Who knows. All I know is I can hula one hell of a hoop. Challenge me, I dare you.

  Today, I tried to buy a discounted calendar (best time of the year to buy one! DEALS!) but saw none that appealed to my strict notion of 'tastefulness'. While puppies may be cute, Golden Retrievers go out of style by March. Also, I went to Chapters to buy an agenda (best time of the year to buy one! DEALS!!!!) but Chapters thwarted my efforts. In the 50% off bin there was Moleskin Daily Planner. I snagged it and waited in line - got to a cashier and voila! It wasn't 50% off. Regular agendas were, Moleskins not so much. DAMN YOU PICASSO AND HEMINGWAY! I proceeded to melt the cashier's face off with my glare and then politely walk away.

   School starts on Monday. TOO SOON. I'm taking History 325: Canada from 1896 to 1945; History 326: Canada since 1945; History 412: American influence on Canada; and maybe ASTU 400G: History of Tibet from 1900. This last one (the 'odd' one out) is a last minute decision and I might not go through with it. It's a student run seminar and I think it will be very interesting. I was only hoping for a 3 course semester.

   Lastly, I'm reading the Watchmen. Such a good 'graphic novel' or dare I say COMIC BOOK? If I was a superhero or masked vigilante I'd fight crime by teaching people proper manners. Like not to spit or swear in public. To stop wearing Yoga pants as if its evening wear. I get that last one is taste. Fuck it, I'm a superhero.
  

Dear the World,


    This is the beginning of a new year. While I could be an ass and rant about how 'time' is a 'social construction' (and so is everything else, as I have learned in last years English Lit class) let us give thanks and remember.

   The last few month have been hard for me and especially my family. I lost two of my uncles and a close family friend. Oh, my brother was hit by a drunk driver. Don't worry he's fine now. And while all this came so fast and it was so hard to process all at once, it puts things in perspective. We are all finite. So, please for the love of fuck, be careful.

   In October I went to Europe for the first time. To this I must thank Ian and his wonderful, wonderful family. And not to mention Hannah and her family for being our adoptive Dutch family. Try some Dutch Potats.

   I shot my first wedding.

  Earlier still, I joined UBCimprov. I love it. No regrets there. Thanks to them for giving me the chance.

   I'm hoping to start a new semester in January but because of the last few months I have yet to finish my last semesters' final papers. I am going to try and complete before January is over. Wish me luck.

  Here's to 2009. And World Peace.