European Soccer Fans really are nuts

Last week I went to my first ever soccer game. My friend was going so I made him take me with him. Viareggio was playing against…..I forget who. The first difference I noticed was all the police. There were many and not only that but they were in full riot gear; helmets, batons, and shields. What was I getting myself into? Apparently at the game the previous Sunday, the Viareggio fans caused a wee bit of trouble…destroying property, robbing the bar, and assaulting police. This wasn’t your regular NHL game. We sat with the fanatical fans and during the first half they were on strike. Even fans strike here, go figure. After the first half some guy started strapping a megaphone to a nearby pole facing the fans. At the beginning of the second half he started screaming cheers into the megaphone along with “fuck the police” type slogans. The fans would repeat and clap and sing and hold up flags (see above). And have I mentioned that a battalion of police was sitting just to the left of these fanatical fans?

In the end, neither team scored so maybe it was better that way. Who knows what would have happened if Viareggio lost?

I plan on going to the next one in a couple of weeks. :D

Italian TV

There is one thing I miss...television. As crappy as North American television can be Italian television is FAR, FAR, FAR worse. At least in North America, we can always find some rerun to watch or even just have on in the background while cooking dinner...but here? Forget it. It's nothing but variety shows with scantily clad women, really depressing news, old westerns and, god knows why, Walker Texas Ranger. If I want I can have the pleasure of watching Chuck Norris every night at dinner. EVERY NIGHT. I'd rather watch the cheesy variety shows. And I don't watch soaps in Canada (okay, okay, when I'm home if Y&R is on, I'm watching it, but it's rare) but here every day I find myself watching the bold & the beautiful. Just to get that little shot of quality tv...and compared to Italian tv, trust me, the bold and the beautiful is quality.

Thank god I brought some dvds with me.

Well, I've arrived in Italy and things couldn't be better. At first I started to freak out about the huge change I've made but as I was strolling around town nothing has felt more right.

Today I spent the morning buying things for the apartment....the apartment is furnished but I still need little things like wine glasses, wine, food, and of course cleaning supplies. I spent the afternoon cleaning and organizing and now I need to go get myself a cell phone. I feel so out of touch! Luckily I get an open wireless signal here in my apartment so I can use the internet but it's weak and only works in my bedroom....still it's better than nothing...actually it was the discovery I was most excited about. What I was least excited about was banging my head on the ceiling about 20 times since I've been here! I'm living in a loft/attic....just under the roof so the sides of the apartment slope downwards with wooden 2x4s running across. I'm either going to come back to Canada more stupid or with a brain tumor....neither of which appeal to me.

Almost a Year!

I've had this blog for almost a year now...it doesn't feel like it's been that long....

I guess, looking back, a lot has changed in a year....people have come and left...movies were seen...decisions were made...the title of this blog has changed...and I'm still listening to and loving the broken social scene cd. either there hasn't been any albums worth listening to or I've become montonous.

A while back, I was having a talk with a friend and he told me he thought I was conservative. this description surprised me because I have never felt that I was/am conservative...shy maybe....but conservative? So I'd like to ask you, d'ya think I'm conservative?

November 14, 2006

I booked my flight.

I have 2 more weeks here in this big country and then I'm off to the land of bureaucratic chaos! yay me!

You Belong in Milan

Stylish and sophisticated, you want to enjoy a truly European life - away from tourists! Milan fits you perfectly. Great shopping, high quality food, lots of culture... with very little hype.

What European City Do You Belong In?

pleasant surprises in book city

I was down in the annex yesterday where I was to meet my old friend Selena for an early dinner at new generation sushi. I arrived quite early having taken the afternoon off to go to the Italian Consulate. I decided to spend some time browsing in book city knowing that I would probably run into her there (she's a bookworm just like me). As expected, she was there and standing by the new releases display. We were chatting away about books when suddenly, the above jacket cover caught my eye. At first I thought is might be a book about Chuck Klosterman but upon closer inspection it was actually a new publication by him! I couldn't contain my excitement! I was not expecting to find a new release by Chuck (he had released a new book just last year) and I hadn't planned on spending any money. Plus, I had just spent an hour reading computer books for my new Mac and had decided not to buy one because I didn't want to spend any money. I didn't have that same thought when it came to Chuck.

YAY!

getting the fuck out

it looks like it's finally happening.

I just spent 3 weeks in italy looking for work and whereas most italians spend years looking for a job and an inexpensive apartment I managed to find both within the space of a week.

I can't even describe how thrilled I am at the prospect of finally living out this dream. no more minus 30 degree windchill, no more snow, no more long distances, no more over-priced crappy wine.

"If the apocalypse comes, beep me."

I spent 10 months last year catching up on all the seasons of buffy (dec 2004-oct 2005). naturally once I finished I needed a break, however this past weekend I decided to watch a few episodes here and there.

ahhh.....it's like coming home. this show is truly like crack.

six feet under is a good show!!

so I was at the video store today renting yet another volume of six feet under when the kid serving me felt the need to tell me that "six feet under is a good show". well....really? I've only been renting episodes from them for the last two months and even though he may not have served me every time I went in, he can certainly see from my history that this was not the first time I had seen six feet under.

and this isn't the first time he's graced me with his opinion on the show.

people. grrr

Viva l'Italia

what a fantastic world cup...

may the best looking team win...oh wait....they did!!

I've got nothing to say...

...but I haven't posted at all in May and May is my favourite month and now it's almost over.

I want to know why people keeping going away. Is this a sign that perhaps Toronto isn't the city for me? Maybe I should get the fuck out too. God knows this city makes me unhappy.

So a couple of weeks ago I made the mistake of driving down to the paramount theatre to watch a movie on a saturday night. At 10.30pm. Of course, as soon as I turned on Richmond, I got pulled over at the R.I.D.E. program for having a headlight out. And because it's a "no tolerance" zone he gave me a ticket anyway (how was I supposed to know?). Do the police in this city have nothing better to do? So now, I have to take time off work to make an appointment for a court date which is going to take 6 months to be scheduled. Then in 6 months I'll take more time off work just so I can go down there and show them a reciept for having had the headlight fixed within 15 days. Just so you know, I take a day off work and I don't get paid. Anyway, we were, at this point, 5 minutes late for the movie but decided to go anyway. Not having driven down to the paramount in years I decided to park at the paramount because I remember it not being too expensive. As I drive in I look at the price: $25 dollars. Are they on crack??? I turned around and got the hell out. No movie for us that night.

It's too bad...I don't often go to the movies...but when I do, it sure as hell won't be at the paramount.

There's hope...

Strangers with Candy is one step closer to release.



It hits theatres June 28.

Staggettes, sadness and early morning returns

So my friend Anna is getting married. She's shagged...*erm*...snagged herself an Australian which means she'll be moving back to the backwards country at the end of May. She's in town to ship the last of her things that represent her time in Toronto back to her parent's place in Calgary. I'm really happy she's here but it's also filled me with sadness because when she goes I won't see her again for a very long time.

Losing one best friend to more exotic places is hard enough...two in a week is madness!

Anyway, last night we had a get together for her with lots of champagne and cigarettes and I am never smoking again. I've said that before, I know, I know...but I think I've been turned off again. And it's a good thing because I'm on a slippery slope and I can feel the addiction trying to take hold again. Bad, bad, cigarettes.....how I love you.

Ladytron, Adam Green, and the big white elephant

I went to the Ladytron show the other night not because I'm a big fan but because my best friend is leaving for London on Tuesday and I won't see him for a long, long time. And I'm sentimental that way. It was actually a really good show and now I need to get their album. They weren't nearly as electronic as I expected which is good.

It's always a treat for me to see all the fashion victims at these hipster shows, partly because I used to be one of them and partly because I love to people watch. There was always a part of me that knew I looked a little over the top but I was so drunk that I just didn't care (or was oblivious). Having a good time was all that mattered and boy, did I ever have a good time. Just ask Adam Green. ;) I think that these people know they're over the top and everyone in the venue knows it too but nobody really talks about it because that would be catty.

oh well, whatever, nevermind...

This is the man that will now be in charge of 25% of the Nirvana publishing catalog.

It seems Courtney needed some help administering the estate...or replenishing her bank account, either way, get ready for a barge of commercials featuring the greatest hits of Nirvana. Mennen will finally be able to use the song which was named after it's deodorant. yay.

For the full story click here

The Junos

I didn't watch the Junos but I heard that, as usual, it sucked.

Imagine my surprise when this morning, I was watching the news and I heard that Arcade Fire and Broken Social Scene won for Best Songwriting and Best Alternative Album, respectively.

I guess the Junos didn't suck after all.

Deadly Snakes and Dirty Toes

Spring is coming. That doesn't mean that it's here but for some reason when the temperature goes above 10 degrees, women in Toronto feel the need to wear sandals.

Yesterday it rained for most of the afternoon and evening...yet I still saw too many women wearing sandals simply because it was 17 degrees. Now that's all fine and good....we have long winters here in Canada and we get excited when it starts to warm up but for god's sake it's still only the beginning of April! And if you must wear sandals, get a pedicure! There's nothing more unattractive then showing off toes that have been hidden away in socks for six months with the remains of last summer's nail polish chipped away.

Eww.

On another note, does anybody have the new Deadly Snakes album? It came out a few months ago and I hear it's pretty good. I really enjoyed their concert and the songs seem to be very danceable (which is unusual for Toronto music).

Nobody's going to be mad. Everything is going to be alright. Just come out of the closet.

Some of you may have heard about the South Park Scientology episode...the one that Issac Hayes (Chef) quit over...the one Tom Cruise tried to have pulled (and was successful). Well, here it is and it is pretty funny.

Lipstick & Fashion

So last night I went to the most excellent cd release party for Lipstick Machine's very first album, rm. 111 (part one): lipstick kisses and suicide smiles. As expected it was a great success.

I was told that last week was fashion week in Toronto and it got me thinking about what Torontonians wear. Are we fashionable? I think we are, absolutely. But do we know our limits or what looks good? Not so much.

Last night I saw Britney Spears. Well, not literally...but a Britney Spears look-a-like circa 2001. I'm sorry, but hot pink belly tops and two-toned hair are not what I call up-to-date fashion, but if you insist on dressing like this at least make sure the your pink polka dot purse is the SAME pink as your belly top. Sheesh.....

And then there are the guys...enough with the shaggy hair with a deep part so that the hair covers most of your face and we can only see one eye. It's boring and looks too manufactured.

Last night, I was also witness to a revival of beige suits which I don't mind...I quite like the vintage look as long as it fits you properly. There's nothing less attractive than a guy in a suit that's too big for him. It makes him look as though he's playing dress up in daddy's closet. I don't want to take that home.

And speaking of vintage, one or two vintage pieces to complete an outfit are great...a whole outfit consisting of vintage pieces from different decades is not. The vintage look has been popular in Toronto for about 4-5 years and I feel it has run its course. It just ends up looking contrived.

It's sad but Toronto fashion is unremarkable. People are either trying too hard, or they only wear what they like, not what looks good on them. It's much better to wear something classic that suits your body type than trying to squeeze into those ultra low rise hip huggers (why do they still make those???).

Our Lady of Perpetual Success

I confess...

I came late...

It is fantastic...and she's done it again.

Carnevale

So The carnival is now over....and I'm exhausted.

I can't even begin to describe how incredible it was and the pictures don't even do it justice but I'll post some for ya anyway.

These pictures are of the actual parade they have every sunday. The first float is the one that won first prize. The second is the one my cousin and I were on. The festivals they have at night are even better but I don't have any pictures of those because there's too much confusion and my camera definitely would have gotten lost or destroyed.

Candy for Strangers

Finally!

It looks like "Strangers with Candy" is coming to theatres this summer. If you haven't seen this show yet, I suggest you head down to your local video store and rent it (provided your local video store isn't Blockbuster, in which case you should find a better video store...one that doesn't censor their movies....and Blockbuster probably wouldn't even carry SWC).

For more info, go to: http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1524005/02082006/story.jhtml

Apparently Australia Loves the Hoff too

It seems his career has moved from Germany to Australia.











Here's the blurb from http://www.thesuperficial.com

"Here's an image from what is apparently an ad campaign in Australia. It looks like the Hoff is about to get raped by a giant Pepsi bottle. And he's decided to sing about it. I don't know what in god's name he's doing with the microphone stand, but the bottle sure seems to enjoy it. If that doesn't make you thirsty, nothing will.
Thanks to Andrew for the tip."

Me Teaching

My friend told me about this website (well, through her blog...is that still "telling"?). I thought it was a pretty cool website...

http://spstudio.linda.hosting-friends.de/spstudio.html

You can be your very own South Park character!

Broken Social Scene and Nutella Sandwiches

So I saw broken social scene in concert last weekend and it was a fun night...Mostly because of the company.

They played a good show but we were standing up at the front and there was a lot of feedback and it was so loud that the music became incredibly distorted. At one point we couldn't tell one song from the next! Finally, after losing some of our hearing we decided to stand at the back (why didn't we think of it sooner? Oh yeah....Hi!). Anyway...I couldn't help feeling like the Friday night show was a dress rehearsal for the Saturday night show. Feist was great though. She's got an amazing stage presence....I could watch her perform all night.

As we left the concert it started to rain and instead of taking a cab we decided to walk to union station...It was only drizzling after all. Yeah...well...2 minutes in a drizzle isn't a big deal....15 minutes in a drizzle is total soakage. Needless to say, I've been battling a cold ever since.

Here's a cool waste of time website http://www.thesuperficial.com/
Check out David Hasselhoff's cover of "hooked on a feeling" (originally performed by Blue Swede and on the reservoir dogs soundtrack). Why does he still have a career? Is he really still that big in Germany?

Everymone must go to White Castle!

last night I watched harold and kumar go to white castle. I've wanted to see it for a long, long time and it was definitely worth the wait.

it's a top notch stoner comedy.

Sometimes trying something new isn't always a good thing

how craptastic can the new strokes album be?

more craptastic than live it out.

more craptastic than standing on the shoulder of giants.

more craptastic than showgirls.

my love affair with the strokes is over....sigh~

(I'm actually starting to like live it out...maybe the same will happen with first impressions of earth?)

Can't get enough BSS

I know some of you want to know what else I'm listening to but to tell you the truth, I'm still listening to broken social scene. It's under my skin, what can I say?

But if you really need some new music try final fantasy. it's a guy with a violin who sings over sounds that he looped through his instrument...I think there are drums in there too. I saw him when he opened for arcade fire and it was pretty impressive.

Last night I watched a few episodes of strangers with candy. If you've never heard of this politically incorrect (to put it mildly) show you must rent it. It's the heart warming story of an ex-crackhead whore highschool dropout who goes back to school. Good times.

~vanessa