My brothers and I have gotten along a lot better now that we're older. Although it's not completely harmonious, it's a far cry from the constant squabbling that used to occur when we were little. At least I can say that we will do things for each other a lot more willingly, but it always prompts a comical "THANKS (insert sibling's name here)! You're the BEST!" kind of comment.
It's become something of a joke that we pit ourselves against one another in this way. The other night, Steve asked me to help him pick out some interview clothes for him. Edmond piped in and said that he could help him out in two seconds: shirt, pants, done. Steve retorted that he wanted me to help because I was his favourite. Since he always calls me his "favourite sister", I laughed and asked, "Your favourite what?" Edmond immediately responded, "You're his favourite default, just like I'm his favourite default." Which is entirely true and which is what makes it so funny. The only sticky point is that I have to hesitate when I say who my "favourite brother" is.
"The road is long, with many a winding turn"
Monday, August 28, 2006
Friday, August 25, 2006
The Loud Demographic
I attended an open house at the volunteer office for the film fest this evening. There were 70 people who signed up to listen to a couple of seminars. The demographic of this group was all over the map: slightly more females than males, ages ranging from young to not-so-young, people representing every nationality on the planet. But of these people, three of them stood out to me: Brown-clothed Woman, Blue-clothed Woman, and White Bandana Woman. They stood out because they were the ones who basically yelled out questions and comments throughout the session, regardless of whether it was question period or not. There was no order, no "raise your hand" as we had been taught time and again. Just random blurting, like "Were you at Cannes last year? I remember your voice!"
At first it struck me as being rude, since occasionally the speaker was still speaking at the time. And a few of the questions were posed just before the speaker was about to cover the topic. But looking a little more closely at these women, I realized a couple of things: a) they were women, and b) they were slightly not-so-young women belonging to different (or maybe similar) ethnic minorities. So their general loudness could be attributed to the fact that they weren't raised in the same culture and society in which I was raised. Or (and this is my scarier conclusion) it could be inherent in the gender. So when I reach the age of not-so-young, I could naturally end up being a loud, obnoxious blurter.
Or perhaps not. Looking around, all of the younger volunteers had no questions whatsoever. Maybe I'll be a member of a silent generation. Not likely, but still just as scary.
"When I grow up I'll be stable, when I grow up I'll turn the tables"
At first it struck me as being rude, since occasionally the speaker was still speaking at the time. And a few of the questions were posed just before the speaker was about to cover the topic. But looking a little more closely at these women, I realized a couple of things: a) they were women, and b) they were slightly not-so-young women belonging to different (or maybe similar) ethnic minorities. So their general loudness could be attributed to the fact that they weren't raised in the same culture and society in which I was raised. Or (and this is my scarier conclusion) it could be inherent in the gender. So when I reach the age of not-so-young, I could naturally end up being a loud, obnoxious blurter.
Or perhaps not. Looking around, all of the younger volunteers had no questions whatsoever. Maybe I'll be a member of a silent generation. Not likely, but still just as scary.
"When I grow up I'll be stable, when I grow up I'll turn the tables"
Sunday, August 20, 2006
No Time For Observation
It's been such a hectic time, I haven't had a chance to blog about the little things I've noticed or thought about from time to time. Such as:
When I drive down the Gardiner with my windows down, I often get a wonderfully huge whiff of freshly baked cookies when I pass the Mr. Christie plant. Now that there are so many condos being built in that area, I thought at first that these people were so lucky to get that great smell all the time. But then I realized a couple of drawbacks: 1) having to smell that every day could potentially turn people off from cookies, and 2) the water treatment plant is also nearby, and I'm sure on certain days the odours from that place could be extremely potent as well, or at the worst, be mixed together with the cookie smell. That could lead to the possibility of people associating cookies with sewage, or vice versa. And that's just messed up.
My brother and I were driving down a street populated with strip malls, and one of them contained an adult entertainment store with a sign in the window that said "Enter at the rear". And I honestly couldn't help laughing at how well suited that sign could be for a particular business. If you're into that kind of thing.
I was on the subway last night, sitting across from a woman with two young girls: one of them looked to be about six years old, the other was around the age of ten. I didn't pay any attention to what she was saying to them until I noticed that she was talking to the ten year old as though she were an adult. She was discussing life at university, using words like "allocation" and "non-resident". I instantly thought: "That is exactly what I'm going to end up doing to my child." How do I know this? Because I've already done it to other children.
I've finally figured out why I'm so interested and strangely eager to be a volunteer, first with dragonboat racing, and now with the upcoming film festival. I relish being behind the scenes. I want to know what's going on while other things are going on. I love having access to places that the general public can't go simply by wearing a special shirt and flashing a laminated badge. In other words, I am a nosy busybody. And here I thought I was just a nice person.
By the way, the film fest is fast approaching. As a patron for the past 5+ years, I can tell you it's always a good time. Partake if you can! I'll see you there! (You'll recognize me as the one with the laminated badge)
"The original fire has died and gone, but the riot inside moves on"
When I drive down the Gardiner with my windows down, I often get a wonderfully huge whiff of freshly baked cookies when I pass the Mr. Christie plant. Now that there are so many condos being built in that area, I thought at first that these people were so lucky to get that great smell all the time. But then I realized a couple of drawbacks: 1) having to smell that every day could potentially turn people off from cookies, and 2) the water treatment plant is also nearby, and I'm sure on certain days the odours from that place could be extremely potent as well, or at the worst, be mixed together with the cookie smell. That could lead to the possibility of people associating cookies with sewage, or vice versa. And that's just messed up.
My brother and I were driving down a street populated with strip malls, and one of them contained an adult entertainment store with a sign in the window that said "Enter at the rear". And I honestly couldn't help laughing at how well suited that sign could be for a particular business. If you're into that kind of thing.
I was on the subway last night, sitting across from a woman with two young girls: one of them looked to be about six years old, the other was around the age of ten. I didn't pay any attention to what she was saying to them until I noticed that she was talking to the ten year old as though she were an adult. She was discussing life at university, using words like "allocation" and "non-resident". I instantly thought: "That is exactly what I'm going to end up doing to my child." How do I know this? Because I've already done it to other children.
I've finally figured out why I'm so interested and strangely eager to be a volunteer, first with dragonboat racing, and now with the upcoming film festival. I relish being behind the scenes. I want to know what's going on while other things are going on. I love having access to places that the general public can't go simply by wearing a special shirt and flashing a laminated badge. In other words, I am a nosy busybody. And here I thought I was just a nice person.
By the way, the film fest is fast approaching. As a patron for the past 5+ years, I can tell you it's always a good time. Partake if you can! I'll see you there! (You'll recognize me as the one with the laminated badge)
"The original fire has died and gone, but the riot inside moves on"