March 24 odds 'n' ends

It's actually hard to believe April is almost here. I've been a poor blogger lately--I've just had very little to say that is fully-formed enough to throw out there on the blog. However, life is never dull and so I give you a traditional helping of my odds 'n' ends:


I went to see my friend Matthew read from his debut novel, Deloume Road, this past Wednesday at one of GVPL's branches and it was really fantastic. He was very funny and engaging--the audience really seemed to enjoy it and totally peppered him when he opened up the floor for questions. The Branch Manager said that she'd never seen a better turn out for a reading and the demand was so high that she had to book a bigger room in the rec centre! Well done, Mr. Hooton!

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Caitlin and I have become increasingly close friends with another couple in our church who are from New Zealand--they are hysterically funny, kind, loving, and a pleasure to be around. And we totally love their accents. We realized that one of the other reasons we likely have such strong kinship with them is because Canada and New Zealand appear to have a lot on common with one another due to our relationships with the U.S. and Australia, respectively. This has come out a fair amount in conversation between us and the Flanagans and I've found it very interesting. There's very much a superiority/inferiority-type complex as both countries are in the shadow of their larger neighbours, yet both Canadians and Kiwis are very good at making fun of said neighbours; we are all also very quick to point out the many sociocultural distinctions between us and our more popular counterparts! I look forward to many more good times with Hamish and Liana because they're totally money!

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I was talking to Caitlin the other day about my high school graduation photo--you know, the individual picture where one is in a robe (and perhaps a cap) holding a very fake-looking diploma in front of an imitation bookshelf? I remember when I first got the pictures back, I thought to myself "Matty, looking good, very stylish!" Well folks, time has not been kind and 13 years has given me time to reassess said picture. The verdict? I look like a total minger. The hairstyle is terrible and my head looks tiny on what appear to be very broad shoulders (and you know how I'm built, it hasn't changed all that much in the last decade). My ears also appear to be gigantic--and I don't have particularly large ears! I made my parents take the 8 x 10 picture off the wall at their house and replace it with a wedding photo of Caitlin and I. This has been an exercise in humility for me and I've learned something very important from it: no matter what I thought at the time, the mushroom cut was never good. I look like I have curtains coming off of my scalp. Just...bad.

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I've been thinking that my reaction to injustice, especially injustice committed against people close to me, is probably not that healthy. I find that I am consumed with an anger that often borders on rage and I want to react with violence, be it in word or deed, which is the antithesis of how I'm called to be. This is something that needs to change with me, though I think that a righteous anger about injustice is a good thing. My concern is more for the whole "I'm going to find the (insert some unkind word about a person) who did/said this and (insert violent act/words)" reaction that is all too common with me.

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It was recently suggested to me that I should begin writing my memoirs before I forget everything. If I did so, it'd be a great cure for insomniacs.

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I was sent this film by a colleague at work. I think everyone will love the main character.