Fun with Google language tools:

English to French: "my dear" --> "mon cher"
French to English: "mon cher" --> "my expensive"

For once Google provides deep insight upon multiple translations. And it's particularly true as the Christmas season fast approaches.
posted by Pi at 8:11 PM |

 
I finally bought U2's new DVD, "U2 Go Home: Live From Slane Castle, Ireland". I was suckered into buying the "Limited Edition" which cost me $10 more than the standard edition. The difference? You would think an extra DVD or something. You would be wrong. It's all in the packaging. It comes in a nice "digipack" format and a booklet with pretty pictures. The DVD is exactly the same. The price I pay for U2!

While at HMV, I was also got suckered into buying New Order's "316".
posted by Pi at 11:52 PM |

 
If there's one thing I've picked up from the great Oscar Wilde it's my ability to make shocking and controversial comments and deliver calmly them as if I was complimenting someone's attire.
posted by Pi at 9:42 PM |

 
The photos from the aforementioned chase. Looks like the photos turned out after all. Sorry for calling you a "bastard", Sam.





Isn't Bono just amazing?

===

And now some photos from the heart



Nikki is officially Pezzed by SpiderZhan
posted by Pi at 12:51 AM |

 
I was standing outside of the Air Canada Centre in sub-zero weather. Huddled with six other people, steaming hot chocolate in our hands, breathing life back into our numbed hands. It's been almost an hour and a half and still no sign of him. With every car that pulled out of the back of the ACC, we would eagerly identify the make of the car, the number of people contained within, and the licence plate number. Everytime we would be disappointed. The MAN was not in any of these cars. We did however spot former prime minister the Right Honourable John Turner and shook hands with him. Another half hour passes, the cups of hot chocolate drained of their life rejuvenating warmth. Our spirits are a little down thinking that we might have missed his departure in that slight window between the end of his speech and our journey to the outgoing ramp of the arena. My mind drifts like my breath in the cold November air. I recall the chain of events that brought me here.

As usual, I had logged onto MSN messenger in the morning. Thanks to the infinite number of U2 crazy connections I now have, I find out that Bono really is in town! I scour the web for confirmation and can't find what I'm looking for. One thing I've learned is to not beLIEve the hype. But as the day drags on, more data trickles down and I'm 99% sure that Mr. Paul Hewson really is in town. Just after 5pm, I head out to meet Sam and Kim who had been at the Four Seasons, hoping to meet the charismatic U2 singer. By the time I get there, they had gone. Luckily for me, the miracle of cell phones saved me and I was able to meet them on Avenue Road on their way down to the Westin Harbour Castle. When Sam told me that I would have to sit in the back, he wasn't kidding. I literally had to ride in the trunk of the station wagon. It wasn't the most comfortable ride, but it got me where I wanted to go.

Within five minutes of lingering in the lobby of the hotel, we were asked by security if we had a room. Fortunately, one of us did so we weren't kicked out. We wandered outside for a bit and noticed a group of police officers by a restricted access door that led to a private elevator. We wandered down in that direction until one cop came to us to give us a little speech.

"There's a lot of important people here today. If you're here to see a particular person, or if you want pictures, you'll have to go across the street."

That was the confirmation we needed. We knew he wasn't talking about future prime minister the Honourable Paul Martin nor even current prime minister, the Right Honourable Jean Chretien. We knew that our man, BONO was in town and was going to step out of that door in a matter of minutes. We crossed to the other side of the street as per the officer's request, but one of us was "hungry", so he crossed back to the danger zone to buy a hot dog. Along with ketchup and mustard, he also got a dirty look from the police officer.

So there we were, on the north side of Queen's Quay, the hotel and cops on the opposite side. It's then that we hear screams of "Bono, blah, blah", "blah, blah, Bono" and like a deranged game of frogger crossed with lemmings, the crazy U2 fans darted across the road as rock and roll stopped the traffic!

I remember the first time I saw Bono two years ago before one of their shows in Toronto. When his car pulled up and he rolled down the window to smile at the fans, I had lost it. I couldn't get my camera ready to take a picture because I was so shellshocked. This time I wanted to keep my cool and enjoy the experience rationally. I was among the last of the lemmings to cross the road and thus I was one of the farthest away from Bono. I calmly walked up, looked at him to admire his sunglasses, suit, and unmistakable aura. I took out my camera, zoomed in, and framed a beautiful shot, and just as I pressed the shutter, Sam walked right in front (Bastard!). I alternated between admiring at the man, taking photos, and noticing how much of a bitch the security woman was as she pushed people away screaming, "get away from him." This is really odd because Bono was calmly taking memorabelia from fans and signing. I don't know if it lasted thirty seconds or five minutes, but he eventually climbed into his car and the chase was on. In a mad frenzy we dashed after the car all the way from the hotel to the Air Canada Centre, but was unsuccessful in getting him to roll down the window and giving him a gift from U2 GTA.

Just then, I'm brought back to the present. A lone dark blue Cadillac pulled up the ramp, it's headlights blinding me momentarily, but we could spot passengers in the back seat. And then I made out the licence plate. APBB 122. IT'S HIM! The second part of the chase was to commence. Two hours of waiting with numbed fingers and toes was about to come to fruition. We gather all of our paraphernalia and hold it for the special passenger to see. The car drives on up and right past us. We dash after the car, up York Street in hopes of discovering which direction it was going. We lose track of it and it's up to our knowledge of Bono's habits to find him in this city. Unfortunately, none of us knew Bono well enough. After a few hours of pursuit in the ritzy hotels and drinks at the Intercontinental, we decide to head over to Greektown for some souvlaki and gyros. At 3AM, we do one last drive-by only to come out emptyhanded. By 3:30AM, the lights are out, me, Sam, MishkAA, and Kim are in bed at the hotel having given up our pursuit. While we sleep, we know that our hero is out there somewhere, partying it up, perhaps his room is even beside our own.
posted by Pi at 4:14 PM |

 
I had a dream last night. I was taking puffs of a cigarette and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I wanted to take a puff with every step I took - I was addicted. Now this is a entirely strange because I have never taken a puff of a cigarette in my life - ever. Yet strangely, in my dream I could feel the calming effect of the cigarette and the helplessness of being addicted. I think that I am addicted to something, just not cigarettes.
posted by Pi at 10:22 AM |

 
Sometimes I get elevated so high, going back to "normal" life can seem like a downer. And the more I think about, the more down I feel.

The weekend was so incredible with so many U2 fans from around Canada and the United States. And I got to see my friends from Los Angeles again! But now they are gone. I miss all of EXIT and Christine!

The weekend is over. It's now midweek. I'm sick of my thesis. It feels like I'm going nowhere. I go into the lab and when I come home, I feel no sense of accomplishment. At this rate, I'm never going to graduate. Thank goodness there was a consensus in our lab today to stop talking about the negatives and promote a more positive work environment. I think it'll make doing work more fun again.

Since the weekend, I haven't had time to do proper grocery shopping. I've been hungry since then, never fully satisfied. But I fixed that by buying a whole whackload of BBQ meat and vegetables from Chinatown. I'm full now.

This is a depressing time of year in Canada. It gets dark at 5pm and the days are only going to get shorter. We're halfway to the winter solstice. Once we get past that, the days will only get longer. Thank goodness for that. BTW, the winter solstice, December 22, 2003, will mark another special day. Can anyone guess what it is? At least today despite the darkness, we had an awesome lightening and thunderstorm. It felt like bomb dropped as my apartment shook from the shock.

It also sucks that I don't have volleyball today. I need my physical activity to keep me in shape and my spirits up. It also helps to drive a spike into the ground, or pound a serve to the opponent.

I've been cheering myself up by listening to "Substance" by New Order. Most of you probably listen to Disc One only, but Disc Two also has some stellar tracks, like "Lonesome Tonight" and "1963". I'm feeling much better now thanks to the music.
posted by Pi at 9:05 PM |

 
I was dropping things all day.

I had pasta for lunch.

I ran out of peppercorns in my peppermill.

I refilled, but some peppercorns scattered on the kitchen floor.

I could not find them with a broom.

I opened my cupboard to get a container for my extra pasta.

I had spaghettini slide out of the cupboard all over the counter, sink, and floor.

I was pissed off.

I had a bad day.
posted by Pi at 12:40 AM |

 
I finally left the heart at 7AM on Saturday night, err, I mean Sunday morning. I guess it doesn't help arriving at the after-party at 3:30AM and then opening up a bottle of tequila at 4:30AM (which was empty within ten minutes).

What can be said? The sexy ladies of EXIT put on the best show I've seen them do. Elevation stepped it up a few notches higher. And October was a pleasant surprise, even though I missed the best part of their show (all early U2 songs!). A very big congratulations to the organizers of the event for running a true fan fest that was a smashing success.
posted by Pi at 8:09 PM |

 
I just got my cell phone bill for last month. I used up 995 weeknight/weekend minutes, well within the 1000 minutes in my plan. And someone sent me an email that I was charged 10 cents for. I don't even remember reading an email on my phone.
posted by Pi at 11:05 PM |

 
I haven't posted here in five days and I can't think of anything witty, ironic, stupid, interesting, exciting, or boring to tell.
posted by Pi at 10:42 PM |