I change my hair a lot…
‘Personal’ archive
Dear Grandma Joy,
You, Me and Mom
Remember how you always said that my tastes would change? You used to love your tomato sandwiches and I never understood how you could like them on their own! I declared that I would never like tomatoes, but guess what–I do! I now know what you meant when you said there was nothing better than a fresh tomato sandwich with cheese and lettuce.
I know, I know – you disapprove of my “Joy” tattoo. I am just decorating my temple! If I were telling you this in person, you’d say “Oh Amy” in a disapproving tone. But you couldn’t stay mad at me for long. Then I would make dumb jokes about pop culture to wind you up. I’d probably tease you about Harry Potter and you’d say it’s evil stuff. Then I’d try to convince you to read one!
I have inherited something from you. Singing Tourette’s! If somebody mentions something that reminds me of a song I know, I’ll burst out into song. Sometimes I don’t even know that I’m doing it – just like you. 
You always said to be good to my mother and that she’d be my best friend someday. I used to be pretty horrible to her sometimes and I always thought it was annoying when you said it, but it’s becoming more and more true. I find myself emulating her all the time. You learn a lot from your mother and mine had a good teacher!
We didn't know it had a steep drop, but our reactions were great!
The other day I was putting mascara on and I remembered the first time I ever used it. It was before church, at your apartment. I must have been about 12. You taught me how to use the wand and I put an undetectable amount of mascara on but I felt like a princess nonetheless!
Those were the best, the lazy Sunday afternoons at your apartment. I’d go with you to Swiss Chalet after church and then we’d relax at your apartment. I’d help myself to your gumball machine and the vintage toys you had and you’d do a crossword puzzle. Then we’d go for a swim and watch Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman or Touched by an Angel. Afterwards you’d blow-dry my hair and tell me about how your mom used to do your hair in ringlets. Then you’d make me a simple dinner of poached eggs on toast with tea and honey.
I think of you every time I fold a fitted sheet, eat pickles and cheese, hear a Scottish accent or see a mountain landscape painting.
I miss you lots.
Love,
Amy
Still frustrated by this story
In February, Chris and I were at our local pub, The Raven, following a delicious Valentine’s Day meal. Most of our friends were meeting up there and everyone was in a good mood.
It may have been February but inside it was 27 degrees (Celsius, of course) and humid. The place was packed beyond fire reg capacity, I’m sure! We were all enclosed in this tiny room with foggy windows, juggling our winter clothes and drinks and trying to make small talk over the background noise of others.
This is embarrassing to admit but in these situations, I sweat. I’m talking wet, sticky hair with drips rolling down my temples. Gross, I know! I feel like everyone is breathing my air and it makes me nervous about getting sick. Once, in school choir, I fainted and fell off the risers. Clausterphobia? I’m not sure.
I had to get out of there and cool off, so I grabbed Chris and we stepped outside. One of the locals was already outside, having a cigarette.
From what I can remember, he was tall and lanky with long frizzy ginger hair and a full beard. He was wearing a very distinguishable outfit: a vintage plaid shirt with pea green trousers rolled up so that they were about 3 inches above his ankles. He had on suspenders as well, and his trousers were hiked up to his belly-button, at least.
But I didn’t really pick up on these details until a few seconds later.
I said to myself, “Whoops, I brought my drink out with me… oh well!” and just then, my phone rang. My ringtone was (and still is) ‘Paper Planes’ by M.I.A.
Lanky ginger guy actually replied (and I’m not making this up), “Maybe you could get away with it if your ringtone didn’t suck so much.”
Excuse me, seriously…! Of all people to prejudge me, that guy?!?!
Canada Rocks: My Favourite Music
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The Tragically Hip
Sounds like
I like to think of the Hip as Canada’s ‘Rolling Stones’… Hopefully I don’t get hate for that statement.
Rocks because
Gordon Downie, the lead singer and lyricist has such an original, quirky voice and a crazy stage personality to match! I love the video for The Darkest One featuring the Trailer Park Boys! The Hip’s lyrics are among the best I’ve heard (alright, I’m biased). I can put on a Hip CD anytime and never feel the need to skip through the songs.
Fully Completely, 1992
My favourite album
Arghhh, what a tough decision! I love them all, but I think I have to go with Fully Completely (1992). It’s got kickass upbeat tunes like Courage, then some thinker songs like Pigeon Camera, rounded out by some slower belt-it-out songs like Wheat Kings. This is a good album for a long car ride on the highway by yourself.
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Neil Young
Sounds like
Bob Dylan is the closest thing I can think of. Not the voice, but the music style. Van Morrison maybe?
Rocks because
To state the obvious, he’s a classic! Another distinctive voice and amazing lyricist (notice a trend?). I first fell in love with the guitar fingerpicking in The Needle and the Damage Done and then realized how fun it is to sing along with Harvest and Southern Man.
Harvest, 1972
My favourite album
Call me predictable, but Neil’s solo album Harvest (1972) is definitely my favourite. I love singing along to Harvest and the harmonica in Heart of Gold. I even love the heavier stuff like Old Man and The Needle and the Damage Done because the lyrics and guitar are amazing. Check out his Greatest Hits album for many more awesome classics.
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Blue Rodeo
Sounds like
To me they kind of sound like a softer, more country-ish R.E.M. But that’s just me – check it out for yourself!
Rocks because
They’re a perfect blend of country and rock and have proven themselves by standing the test of time (albeit with several member changes). The song that roped me in was Lost Together, but I stuck around because of Till I Am Myself Again. I absolutely love the harmonica, piano and wicked crazy guitar solo in 5 Days in May!
Five Days in July, 1993
My favourite album
Lost Together (1992) and Five Days in July (1993) tie for my favourite – there’s something about the early 90s that I find irresistible! The drummer changed in 1992, so maybe that has something to do with it. Five Days in July is their most popular album yet.
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Sloan
Sounds like
The Flashing Lights, (someone help me out here?)
Rocks because
Sloan has a bajillion feel good tunes under their belt. All four band members write songs and usually the person who writes the song sings lead vocals, which gives a bit of interest to their albums. And amazingly, the songs all manage to stay true to the band’s sound / feel.
One Chord To Another, 1996
My favourite album
My favourite is One Chord To Another (1996) because it was the first Sloan CD I ever got, and I got it the summer after I bought my first car. The songs are short so your attention doesn’t fade, and they’re experimental: Everything You’ve Done Wrong has trumpets while A Side Wins has piano. The focus is always on the vocals though, which makes it easy to sing along with in the car (when I’m by myself I belt it out!)
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Joel Plaskett
Sounds like
I’m drawing a massive blank.
Rocks because
He’s been popular musically for nearly 20 years, yet he’s only 34! I’ve seen him live and he’s amazing on guitar, passionate, and has a confident voice. Ladies, he’s pretty hot too!
Down at the Khyber, 2001
My favourite album
Down at the Khyber (2001) is my favourite because of its patriotism in True Patriot Love and chilled out sad songs like Clueless Wonder and Unconditional Love. I actually like all of the albums that Joel Plaskett did with The Emergency. Truthfully Truthfully is another good one!
Noteworthy Mentions
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I Mother Earth
This band rocks so hard. I should have mentioned it above but I was too lazy to do a full write-up. The album Scenery and Fish did not leave my stereo for two weeks straight!
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Age of Electric
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Treble Charger
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Hayden
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Matthew Good Band
Check out ‘A Slice of Home’
Chris and I have been busy renovating a Georgian house with a stunning view of Bradford-on-Avon, a quaint Wiltshire town just outside of Bath. The structural renovation is nearing completion and in the next couple of months we’ll be doing some intense interior design to get it finished!
We’re keeping a blog to track the development of the house. The blog includes a full house before & ‘almost after’ tour, videos, photos, tips, and hurdles we’ve had to overcome. For more details, check it out at www.asliceofhome.com:
A Slice of Home
How to achieve a perfect sleep
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Light control
You need some good black-out blinds, an eye mask or an extra pillow to throw over your head. The worst is when your sleep gets interrupted by sunlight pouring into the room! Unless, of course, you don’t have an alarm clock. Read the rest of this entry »
Confessions of a Neat Freak
On Christmas Eve nearly two decades ago, my father said to me, “Santa won’t come if you don’t have a tidy room!” After I was finished tidying, he would inspect my dresser to make sure I hadn’t just shoved all the clothes in there without folding them first (which I tried quite often). Read the rest of this entry »
25 things you probably don’t know about me
- I can twitch a muscle in my left eyelid that is also somehow connected to a muscle on the left side of my mouth. I’ve never met anyone else who can do this
- I wore a fake tooth on a retainer for about 6 months
- When I was little, I was scared of the toilet monster, so I’d flush the toilet really fast and then run to my bed, because if I was on my bed he couldn’t get me.
- I had been to Florida and back 16 times by car before my first time in an airplane.
- My favourite colour is different all the time, depending on my mood.
- In high school, I got sent to the office once for having a PMSing teacher and no gym clothes.
- I took an IQ test in grade 3 that labelled me ‘gifted’ and I had to go to special classes for enhanced learning.
- I have a tattoo on my left wrist of my grandmother’s signature “Joy”
- In school, kids used to call me Army Mahon (army man)
- I went to college for web design but by then I had already been teaching myself for 8 years
- I had formal training on what to do in a bank robbery.
- After first year of college I lost 35 lbs through diet and exercise. I blame residence food for the gain!
- I’m accident prone. Over the years I have:
- Split my head open after tipping my rocking chair onto a wood stove (3 stitches)
- Fractured my arm while ice skating
- Fell off my bike and the handlebars dug into my abdomen (9 stitches)
- Sprained my ankle while doing a cartwheel
- Broke my big toe knuckle (don’t know what it’s really called)
- Torn both my hamstrings
- Had a mosquito bite reaction – grew to a 10cm radius
- I find it easier to be friends with guys than girls. So if you’re a girlfriend of mine, you must be worth the effort!
- I have 14 first cousins, all of whom are on facebook.
- I’d rather have a planned elope than a stressful traditional wedding.
- My eyes are green on the top and brown on the bottom with little spirograph patterns in them (= hazel)
- I had my first kiss when I was 16, on a bridge overlooking a waterfall in the moonlight.
- I regret not running for student council in high school.
- I really enjoy figure drawing classes (a.k.a drawing the nudies)
- I’ve had pneumonia twice and at any given time there is fluid in my lungs.
- I used to have a very messy room but as soon as I moved out of my parents’ house I became obsessively clean.
- I love kids and definitely want my own someday. I won the award for having the highest mark in Parenting class in grade 11 and I used to be a camp counsellor.
- My mom built me a rocket for my Physics class, which helped me immensely. Thanks, mom!
- I take a steroid puffer daily for my asthma
