Redeeming Halloween.

I generally really dislike Halloween because of it's tacky, negative, gross, greedy and consumeristic nature. And perhaps, as children we were taught to dislike it, or only partially participate in it.

I found a couple of redemptive qualities in this holiday last night, as I attended the Second Annual Vancouver Pumpkin Massacre Party, put on by a new friend. Creativity is one great aspect of the holiday. There are some fabulous costumes out there! (Some sick, some slutty, but some spectacular!) I decided to be one of Picasso's woman, and painted my face brightly adding random facial features. It didn't turn out as well as I would have hoped. I had contemplated going all out, having random body parts and colors everywhere, but did not have the resources to prepare.

Here are my music therapy friends, wonderfully dressed up as Cher and Nightmare Before Christmas (?) characters.

Where I lacked in my costume I made up for in pumpkin carving skills. Continuing with my theme, I carved a Picasso Pumpkin. It took home the grand prize for the event: $11 much needed dollars!

I find it unfortunate that there is only one time of year culturally appropriate for pumpkin carving. I also find it unfortunate that pumpkin carving probably couldn't be made into a career...

There ye have it: pumpkin carving and creative costumes = two redemptive aspects of Halloween.

school's (almost) out

No more classes! As of yesterday afternoon, I am finished! I just need to work a couple more days at practicum, be supervised one more time, write the thesis, and I am done!

I'm working on my resume at the moment. Anyone know of any art therapy jobs out there? I'll need all the help finding one that I can get.

on this tofurkey day...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I hope you all have much to fill you gratitude.

My big sister spent the weekend here. I brought her away at 5:00am this morning, venturing out in car since it was too early for public transit. We made it! I had visions of being stranded in the cold and darkness, waiting until the car towing companies opened and the taxi drivers began business for the day. Perhaps when it comes to my car I have begun to expect the worst.

Yesterday, as we were hanging out with our relatives, Leanne picked up a Time magazine with an article on how new studies are showing that siblings are so influential on how we turn out. I believe it. I think all those years of her sitting on me and drawing on my dolls have definitely made me part of who I am. And it was pretty neat how close we were when neither of us are anywhere near excelling at keeping in touch.

We spent lots of time discovering and rediscovering the city. Friday night we went out to White Rock to visit her friends, Danielle and Paul. Here are a few photos from that. (My camera was doing funny things this weekend, so this is about the only well-documented part of the weekend.)

Craigslist, the friend finder.

2:00 pm and I'm strung out on caffeine. I accidentally OD'ed this morning since I my roommate made a pot of coffee and then I was in a coffee shop with free refills.

The next chapter in the saga of Bobbi, my car, began on Saturday evening when I posted this picture on Craigslist:

Along with it, I said that Bobbi is the car who could haul anything, and that he/she (its the unisex vehicle) was beat up on the outside, but beautiful on the inside...and its the inside that counts, right? I asked $1000 for Bobbi.

Within minutes the phone started ringing and ringing. I'd be on the phone with someone telling them about Bobbi and hear a beep for an incoming call. I've never been so popular. Most people didn't like that Bobbi was an Alberta vehicle and needed to get inspected. One couple didn't mind, however, and, in broken English, asked me to drive Bobbi over to their house since they lived fairly close.

So, I drove my car over and met Andy and Mindy, the cutest Chinese couple you have ever seen. They just immigrated here two weeks ago and needed a car because transit here is not as convenient as it is in China. Andy wanted to take it for a drive, so I let him have the wheel while I sat in the passenger seat. He struggled to turn on the vehicle and find the lights while I buckled up tightly and prayed that he would not crash my car before I could sell it. He took off sharply with my high beams on.

We made it around the block a few times, (although at one point Andy thought we were lost) and they decided to think about the decision to buy my car. Mindy, having been a tour guide in China, told me what attractions I should see when I go to China. They both heartily invited me to keep in touch regardless of what happens with the car.

I returned home and checked my email and found about five emails from people interested in Bobbi. One of them was an artist requesting that I trade him my car for his paintings. He sent a link for his paintings and I replied that I thought they were beautiful, but am, unfortunately, unable to trade since I am also a poor starving artist. He promptly emailed back and said that as artists we should keep in touch, and invited me to visit his gallery.

After a few hours of the ad being on Craigslist, I decided to take it off because:
1. I was overwhelmed by the response
2. I could not stand the thought of Andy and Mindy buying it, getting the vehicle inspected, and finding out that it needed thousands of dollars worth of repairs.

So today I took Bobbi to the inspector. He said that she is going to need a lot of work done for him/her to become a BC resident, especially since BC does not take in cars with rust. I was advised to sell Bobbi for parts. It is sad to know that my car is going to be torn apart.

Craigslist, here I come...
Perhaps I will meet a few more friends.