She used to be the sweetest girl...

I was going through some of my old papers, and I found a poem that I composed for my writing class in OAC (2002)...

Midnight at the Champagne Room

Touches, soft as silk
Feeling like the sound of nails across a chalkboard
Slow, the music flows out of the box
A million thoughts run through your head
Down, down, like the sinking sensation of drowning and
Up again, quicker now
Fan those pretty little legs across his deep, dark face
Uh, uh, uh, that's a forbidden pleasure
Do not enter
Stay sweet, miss the eyes, with your misty eyes
Wrap it up soon, time flies when you're having fun
Feels like it's never done, but
It will be soon, how much more
Can you take
A drink or two, to incinerate the
Filth of the wealth, of the high life
Get high tonight
Burst a vein, it's time
Shit like this would make anyone insane
Feel the burn
Warm, slow pain
Exit downstage left
Cinderella, time to leave the ball
It's the stroke of

Midnight at The Champagne Room

Now's the time for you to make your move to the dancefloor...

I finally made it to Seven Lounge last night (a Friday night... live to air on Flow 93.5)... I've always wanted to go just because every time I've passed there on a Friday night the lineup is always down the street. I've listened to the broadcast many times... and it's always alright.... a lot of older music, but not too bad.

I went to see Simone off to the UK (even though we're hanging again next weekend before she leaves). We were literally the first people in the club.... now tell me why a club whose guest list closes at 11:30 doesn't actually open until after 10:30... does this seem fraudulent to anyone else? Never in my life have I stood outside of a club waiting... FOR IT TO OPEN! Thankfully the weather was pretty nice last night.

I had a pretty good time in spite of the fact that all night I heard a total of about 10 songs that were released in 2005 or later... and that's being generous. I did however, make note of a few crucial tidbits that helped to keep me entertained while I was there:

1. Coed washrooms - I didn't go in myself, but a credible source gave me this information. I think sharing hand-washing facilities is a great idea. Toilets... not so much. Even though most of us hover, the concept of a drunken boy/man shaking his shit all over the toilet seat is so very unappealing.

2. The white girl dip - is one of the world's great tragedies, and needs to be stopped. It's not sexy. But, if it has to keep happening, I hope it continues to happen in my line of vision so I can get a good laugh.

3. Panties - Silly girl and her boyfriend up against the wall right at the entrance to the dance floor area. My girl had on a dress that stopped about 3 inches (or 6.6 cm) below her coochie. This might not have been so bad but since her dancing consisted of her bouncing up and down against her gentleman friend, I had the misfortune of seeing her undergarments multiple times in the span of about 4 minutes.

4. Dance floor Jungle Fever - I have never understood why black men in clubs where black women are present choose to dance with white girls. This said... I have nothing against black men or white women (as a whole group). But it's just so awkward... mostly because it seems to happen most frequently to reggae music, which most white girls can't dance to. They try very hard to make some kind of gyrating movements with their lack of booty, while the men try equally as hard (if not harder) to keep them on the beat (an exercise in futility). Black men need to understand that this isn't the 1800s and dancing with a white chick doesn't give you status. White women - just chill out and know your roll... wait for the house music.

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 and get them sit-ups right and...

Tuck than tummy tight and do your crunches like this....
Yeah I like Kanye.... and I thought it would be an appropriate way to being this entry.

Spring is in the air folks... the snow seems to be gone for the year (I can only keep my fingers crossed on this until about July when we're in the clear for a while), I've seen a cardinal and two robins, and as the days go by I'm getting closer and closer to ridding myself of my winter coats for the season!

I'm also resolved to get back in shape, as of yesterday. All winter I've been in school and working and grabbing naps where I could (because often full sets of REM sleep were just not possible) and I've been a hot lethargic mess. Key word being hot ;)

Yesterday I decided to jump back into it with my Power Yoga with Eoin Finn (courtesy of one Ms. KL Ferris)... 76 minute routine... and all I have to say is that it felt damn good. My body is out of shape and this is just the beginning of getting it back to where it should be.

Today I woke up in massive pain... feeling muscles that I haven't felt in months thanks to Eoin Finn (i like writing the name Eoin) and his 76 minutes of affirming my goals through yoga. I've decided that I'm going to alternate days, and since yesterday was a yoga day, today was a socacise day.

Yup I said it... I put it out there (copyright Lindsay Holder 2007 in case there's any idea snatchers out there) Soca.... as a form of exercise. After many years of feting... I've come to realize that a night spent dancing to soca is just as good if not better than any workout routine Jane Fonda or Marnie Winsor could give me. Therefore, a couple of years ago (and Sara Fung can attest to this) I started combining moves that I would do at a fete to create routines to my favourite soca tunes (and there are many.... keeps it interesting). It's a great workout, and the best part is that it's fun. Maybe it's just me because I love soca so much, but I'd rather do that than a step class any day.

This evening I also had the pleasure of throwing around the football with Kinja.... and while it wasn't a "real" workout per se, it was good to just be outside, taking in the fresh air, and most importantly working on my mess of a left hand... lol... not a pretty sight folks, but I'll be good to go by the end of the summer.

Yesterday - yoga. Today - socacise. Tomorrow - back to yoga. I might switch it up a bit... go with Cyndi Lee instead of Eoin Finn (did I mention I really like writing the name Eoin... cuz I really do!)... and I'm sure that from here on out I won't stick absolutely to this schedule, but it's a good starting point for me.

And for those of you reading this (which might not be anyone because most people don't know about my virgin blog) I want to encourage you all to go out and enjoy the spring and summer. There's so much to do from tossing a ball around with your friends, to biking, rollerblading, and taking classes.... but it's such a great time of year - don't waste it inside!

And for those of you who want to know more about socacise... if you don't know, you better ask somebody (me, specifically!)

And I'll take with me the memories

I'm done school. I don't want to say "forever" just because at this point in time, I still intend to do my masters in the next couple of years. For now though, I'm done school. No more exams (although I guess that really finished with UWO), no more assignments, no more speeches or presentations.... I'm done school.

It feels surreal... it's exciting and horrifying at the same time. Right now I don't think it's completely settled in yet... we don't have any final exams, so school just kind of ended abruptly. Now I get to (have to?) go out into the real world - get a job, move out of my house, and begin the rest of my life - and I'm really looking forward to it!

This was a great year though. It taught me a lot about myself, the way I handle pressure and stress, how I work with others, and how I work by myself. So to my fellow BB-ers... cheers to us for making it through this massively intense year and coming out on top!

I met so many great people this year, and I really hope that I can stay in touch with them. I know it's not realistic to believe that I'll be in touch with everyone from the class (and believe me, it's not to say that I even want to keep in touch with everyone...) but there are a few special someones who I met this year that I'd like to stick around, and I will actually make the effort to keep in touch with.

We went out the Bier Markt on Thursday night to celebrate. I'm not usually one to drink, but I was feeling particularly celebratory and oh boy did I have a great time. This was the only time aside from our Christmas party that everyone, with few exceptions, made it out, and it was just a great way to end the year. Everyone was in high spirits through all the tears and we did a whole lot of living, laughing and loving out on that dance floor.

So to those who came into my life and made such an impression on me in the eight short months that we've had together... here's to us... to you.... and to all the adventures that life has in store for us as we enter the next phase of our lives... show me six!

Take a look... it's in a book... a reading rainbow!

A couple of things...

First, do you remember the show Reading Rainbow that was hosted by LeVar Burton? I really used to love that show.... I was always quite interested to see what other kids were reading, and to see if anyone was reading the same books that I was. When those moments came up, it was like the times on Romper Room when the lady with the mirror say "I see Peter, and Janie, and Liz..." and called your name. I'm sorry to anyone who didn't have a super white name like lindsay... you probably didn't get called. I feel your pain, and I validate it (but only with $20 purchase or more.)

On the reading tip, I went into Indigo today for two items: a) Biz Bash T.O., and b) Tiki
When I left, I had two items - one of which was Tiki (by Tiki Barber) and the other was Holler if You Hear Me (by Michael Eric Dyson), about Tupac. They were out of Biz Bash, but getting a shipment in tomorrow, which really means nothing to me because I won't be there tomorrow to purchase it. Anyhow, I've been looking forward to reading Tiki because he seems like an interesting character, and in my mind, anyone who in fact is an interesting character must project that character into their written work. I can honestly say I don't think I've read a book for pleasure since high school, and approaching the end of my post-secondary career I'm once again excited to pick up a book - in this case, Tiki - and read it not because I have to, but because I want to! I realize this makes me a nerd, but I came to terms with my inner nerd many years ago, and we lead very peaceful and complimentary lives together.

And secondly, on an unrelated note, I thought I'd put it out there: it's so much fun to have a crush. I haven't really allowed myself to have a legit crush in a hot minute, and in the last week, I've gone against my better judgment and decided that I have a crush. And while I'm entirely sure that he: a) has no idea, and b) does not reciprocate the feelings, I'm still having tons of fun with it. And if I can encourage anyone to do the same (pursue an unrequited crush and enjoy every moment of it) then my job is done. Just do something that's good for your soul... and believe me, crushing is one of the best.