Assumptions

Hey Capitan, if you were in GATE, Mr. Holland would be telling you to question your fundamental assumptions right now. I'll give you a list of the ones you've made that have no basis is fact.

1. Just because I have emotions I automatically cry all the time..this is just wrong, if you actually knew me at all you would know that I'm pretty much the most rational person you will ever meet, and that even when things don't go my way I can almost always see the other point of view...I hardly ever get really angry or upset..and I dont cry easily.

2. I think you're a coward..well I really dont know whether you are or not, if you read carefully you'll know that the words I used were "in case"

3. I wouldnt be able to handle talking about these things face to face or if I knew who you were..again, just wrong, I always look for constuctive criticism and ways to improve myself, and my self esteem is just about as solid as you will find everywhere, which comes from a base of rationally justifying the way I am and the ways I act. So no, I wouldnt have a breakdown.

4. That you're a mysogynist...again, there is nothing in my entry about you, its only about the way I think. I said that certain lifestyles wouldnt do anything for me, but I never implied that you thought one way or another about any of them. The only direct thing I said to you was "If not..have fun with what you call your life, and when you realize that you have lived a life without significance, don't come crying to me" I only inferred that your life would turn out to be insignificant because the fact that you're trying to convince me of certain things so passionatley that I guessed you are having some identity issues with your own life. If I guessed wrong, I sincerely apologize, but I make assumptions too.

5. That everyone thinks the way you do..Han Solo and Ahhnold may not be admirable in you books, but there is a reason they are so famous.

6. That having garlic sausage for breakfast is a bad thing.

7. The heyday of romance was in the 1800's..again just wrong..check your history..what is the highest-grossing movie of all time? An idealistic romance that came out in 1997. The greatest romances of all time? 1600ish, 1939, 1942....and a bunch from ancient mythology which has enjoyed a massive resurgence in the last 15 yrs or so. As life becomes more mechanized and regular, I think that people will, and are, looking at romance again as a way to give meaning to their lives. Free Love deal was all 1960s and 1970s.

Ok..well thats a good start on the assumptions...I think Holland would be telling you to write some post-modern self-reflections by now. Having said that..the things you suggest girls like are about the most accurate things you have said yet.

Humour? (PS you spelt it wrong unless youre an american) I figure I have perhaps a more subtle sense of humour than others, but its certainly there.

Mystery? Theres's no mystery with someone who a girl knows is gonna screw her over. It only comes with involved relationships.

Being kept on their toes? Ask any of the girls I have dated, and even some of those with whom it hasnt worked out. If I like someone, they've gotta be on their toes. If they're not sharp they are way less attractive.

Excitement? Romance is way more exciting than pretty much anything else I can think of.

Originality? By your own admission I am not the typical management guy. I consider myself quite unique (see oneandonlyblair.blogspot)

Independence? I think I think I can handle that. "In love the paradox occurs that two become one and yet remain two"..one of my fav quotes..you cant give up your independance..

CONFIDENCE? I can't believe you'd even question that one...I will say one thing about you that I have no way of verifying but I am nonetheless sure is true. My self confidence is better than yours.

Finally, thanks for your advice. As you know if you know me, I love a good debate. You also might want to know the last time I got out-debated was talking to a man named Mark Hopman in April..and again I'm guessing, but i'll wager that he's smarter than you. So by all means, take your best shot. I'll obliterate you. How's that for near arrogance?

Hey Capitan Majed

Whoever you are, if you want to have an intelligent debate about the way I run my life, by all means tell me who you are and I would be more than willing to explain it to you. In case you're too afraid to do that, ill give you a short run-down.

Some people may consider things like romance to be old fashioned, but in my books it is a hundred times better than running around drinking every weekend and screwing hapless management sluts just for kicks. For me that would be so hollow and unfulfilling as to be completely useless. I would have more fun spending one day with a girl I loved than I would in a month with six or seven girls who meant absolutley nothing.

My blog entries are personal, and I'll admit, often a little melodramatic, but thats just the way I choose to write them. If you don't like it, you don't have to read it.

As for being an insult to men everywhere, I think you should consider how many of the great men of history are great because of how much they drank or how many women they scored with. The great men of history are great because they followed their dreams, and did not renounce their values and ideals in the face of external pressure. If that doesnt convince you, i think you should look at two of the great representations of our culture..music and film. Thousands of men in the last century idolized people like Rick Blaine in Casablanca and Han Solo in Star Wars. Both were romantics at heart. Even the very face of masculinity, our good friend Arnold Schwarzenegger, usually goes on a destructive rampage for the sake of a girl.

As for my music, which you claim is terrible...if you can give me someone who can play a piano better than Burton Cummings, put you to sleep or calm your nerves better than James Taylor, crank out a 10 minute rock opera better than Meatloaf, write better love songs than Lonestar, Elton John or Savage Garden and stand up to Mark Knopfler or Jimmy Page with an electric, then i might agree with you. Until you find bands that can do that, you can shut up about my music. So if you actually have anything else to say that might be relevant..by all means go for it. If not..have fun with what you call your life, and when you realize that you have lived a life without significance, don't come crying to me.

Where is Carolina?

I'm feeling pretty weird right now. I wasnt sure what it was at first, because its not something that has happend to me recently...but I think I have it pinned down now. After not feeling it my entire first year away from home...i get back home..to calgary..an awesomely awesome place as always..and I'm a little bit lonely. Of all my close friends..only Trent have i seen a satisfactory amount. The people I was looking forward to seeing here...amit, mitch, ray...my high school friends..i have seen little or not at all. The things I get out of talking to those friends...fun times, good memories, intellectual debate..have been strangley absent since i got home. I miss people from McGill...when you live with people for eight months they become somewhat of a regularity..and not having even talked to them much...there is a bit of an empty spot there....Mark, Kristen, Derek, Cowboy, Larissa, those names headline the list..but it goes on. Anyway..all that contributed..and it was accentuated today by the fact that lyndz and I will continue our long running tradition of living in the same city for one year..followed by a bunch of years apart. All that is annoying..and is made more annoying by the fact i cant seem to adress the problem effectivley. People are busy..even when I talk to mcgill friends i run out of things to say..and I myself have little time for the endeavour..it seems like i do nothing but work, track and physio. So..as I often do when im feeling weird..i threw on JT's Carolina in my Mind (#2 song of all time) and flew away to my own little perfect world..my Carolina. the only thing is..im not quite sure where carolina is right now..it's often at the lake..but right now it sometimes is in windsor, and sometimes in Montreal and sometimes back to normal in northern sask. We'll have to see where it ends up..but it will be somewhere good..and im glad to say this..something not too far from real life (within reach anyway). Now its my job to carpe diem and make it happen. Cheers to all.

Playing in the Big Leagues

The year is winding to a close, and its been pretty awesome. I've met lots of great people, had alot of fun, and learned so much. I am really excited for the summer, and for the fall as well. There will be some hard decisions to make, some tough challenges to face, but I am relishing the opportunity. One thing that i hadn't really thought about though, was something that Larissa mentioned the other day. I remember thinking that the best thing about university would be that everyone was smart and competent and generally awesome and that it would be a challenge and a thrill to talk to them and compete with them and debate this that and the other thing. I never really thought about how much I was mistaken until now. Everyone at McGill is obviously intelligent, but if I was hoping to be thrown in a pool with eight Jonathans and six Tsz Hins and twenty Roberts..I was gravley dissapointed. It really helps me appreciate the caliber of the people I went to high school with and make me appreciate GATE even more. Now, though, at the end of the year, there are finally flashes of those people that i was hoping would be all over the place. I noticed it first with cowboy mike, he is the sort of person I expected to be the norm..someone who is incredibly intelligent and gifted at all manner of other things as well. I usually have to be on the top of my game to compete with him. Then there is Larissa. Part of the reason that I enjoy hanging with her so much is that it forces me to do everything I thought i would have to do at university. I have to be razor sharp every single time i talk to her, and I have to be running at 110% to even dance in the same arena. I relish the challenge though..and I certainly like to think I can hold my own. Those times when I'm a bit off my game and Ive been caught flat-footed (the Marx argument, trying to explain a few other things) have been a bit annoying, but I think I've done pretty well. Since yesterday however, and all the amazing people she was talking about, especially from this Global Young Leaders Conference (man I wish someone had told me about that), I know that i really am playing in the big leagues. To be among those people she considers her "peer group" it will certainly take everything I can muster and if I ever want to have a unique place among all those amazing people she knows I will certainly have to earn it. I never have been one to shy from a challenge though, and even when i'm competing with the 700 people that will be running the world in 30 years, I will go out there like it's a 400 against Trent and Dargie and Aaron and give them a run for their money. As they say in Chariots of Fire "Let me exhort you, examine yourselves, and let each of you discover where your true chance at greatness lies. For the sake of your college and your country, seize this chance, rejoice in it, and let no power or persuasion deter you in your task" Anyway, thats my rant for today. Hi to all.

Blair’s 25 Favorite Artists

My three favorite songs by each artist are in brackets
1. Burton Cummings (Timeless Love, My Own Way to Rock, You Saved My Soul)
2. James Taylor (Carolina in My Mind, Something in the Way She Moves, Country Road)
3. Meatloaf (Modern Girl, Bat Outta Hell, Hot Summer Night)
4. Don Henley (Heart of the Matter, The End of the Innocence, Boys of Summer)
5. Savage Garden (Truly, Madly, Deeply, I Want You, Universe)
6. U2 (Where the Streets Have No Name, Pride, With or Without You)
7. Elvis Presley (I’m All Shook Up, Suspicious Minds, With All My Heart)
8. Chicago (You’re My Inspiration, What Kind of Man Would I Be? Just You n’ Me)
9. The Eagles (Take It Easy, Desperado, Already Gone)
10. Bruce Springsteen (The Rising, Streets of Philadelphia, Dancing in the Dark)
11.The Who (Behind Blue Eyes, Magic Bus, Won’t Get Fooled Again)
12.Elton John (The One, Wicked Dreams, Candle in the Wind)
13.Phil Collins (Son of Man, Strangers Like Me, Against All Odds)
14.The Guess Who (These Eyes, Laughing, Undun)
15.Lonestar (I’m Already There, Amazed, Front Porch Looking In)
16.CCR (Up Around the Bend, Fortunate Son, Bad Moon Rising)
17.The Doobie Brothers (China Grove, Rockin Down the Highway, Long Train Running)
18.The Bee Gees (Staying Alive, How Deep is Your Love, Night Fever)
19.Blue Rodeo (Lost Together, Bulletproof, Until I am Myself Again)
20.Guns and Roses (Paradise City, November Rain, Sweet Child of Mine)
21.Dire Straits (Brothers in Arms, Sultans of Swing, Romeo and Juliet)
22.AC/DC (Shook Me All Night Long, Thunderstruck, For All Those About to Rock)
23.Moody Blues (Knights in White Satin, Tuesday Afternoon, Whiter Shade of Pale)
24.Linda Ronstadt (Don’t Know Much, I Need You, All My Life)
25.Frank Sinatra (I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Fly Me To The Moon, As Time Goes By)

Blair's 25 Favorite Songs of All Time

I made this list a couple years ago, and updated it recently, I was in a singing mood today, so i thought I'd put it up.
1. Timeless Love, Burton Cummings (1977)
2. Carolina in my Mind, James Taylor (1976)
3. My Own Way to Rock, Burton Cummings (1977)
4. Something in the Way She Moves, James Taylor (1968)
5. Walking in Memphis, Marc Cohn (1991)
6. Truly, Madly, Deeply, Savage Garden (1997)
7. The Rising, Bruce Springsteen (2002)
8. The Heart of the Matter, Don Henley (1989)
9. Where the Streets Have No Name, U2 (1987)
10. Modern Girl, Meatloaf (1988)
11. I’m Already There, Lonestar (2001)
12. You’re the Inspiration, Chicago (1984)
13. More Than a Feeling, Boston (1976)
14. Behind Blue Eyes, The Who (1971)
15. The End of the Innocence, Don Henley (1989)
16. Pride, U2 (1984)
17. Take it Easy, The Eagles (1972)
18. Bat Out of Hell, Meatloaf (1977)
19. Chariots of Fire, Vangelis (1981)
20. The Sound of Silence, Simon and Garfunkel (1966)
21. Country Road, James Taylor (1970)
22. I’m All Shook Up, Elvis Presley (1957)
23. Against All Odds, Phil Collins (1984)
24. Rock Hard, Ride Free, Judas Priest (1984)
25. Knights in White Satin, Moody Blues (1967)
I'll put up my 25 fav artists and 25 fav love songs in the days to come. Cheers to All.

Speechless

I really dont know what to say. Downfall was amazingly acted, realistic and had a strangely human element to it..but I feel like a horrible person for feeling anything for that particular group of individuals. Anyway, it was an awesome movie, I still need time to digest it all, but I'm definatley buying it when it comes out. My pulse was pounding and my hands were shaky for alot of the movie(probably not all due to the movie itself, but at least in part) Anyway, the clean room is great, and I felt the odd sense of pride I get when someone interesting looks around the room at all my quotes and posters. That was good, but tea, a comfy pillow, a fabulous view of the Montreal skyline and Timeless Love playing in the background, not to mention the company..was...perfect. As soon as the word was mentioned, it immediatley stuck...there arnt many of those perfect moments, but that was one of them. The at 1:11 I made my wish, at 1:16 I finished my sentence with the fridge magnets, immediatley thought that I should have wrote something mundane, then immeadiatley realized that would have been really boring. At 1:19 I left, and arrived back here shortly thereafter. Things are good..but not quite..perfect. I feel like Rick a bit..I wanted to leave, "Here's to looking at you, kid" on the fridge, but alas, the words wern't there. So was what I settled for better? "So who knows? Only time"

Work, Memories and OC references

The last week has been absolutley crazy, with highs and lows, excitement and boredom, stress and relaxation, work and leisure and just about anything else you could ask for. I handed in two Info Systems papers on Friday, finished a 12 page history paper that could have been twenty this morning, and have an ob paper to finish by Wednesday. Packed around all that work was St Patrick's day, we went to Claddaugh and listened to some great live music..and the formal at 737 on Friday. That was...well to use my quote of the day, "Nothing Can Compare.." Thats from a song by Finley Quaye, ironically the first time I heard it was during the OC, at their new years thingy in the penthouse of the Four Seasons in California. Let me tell you, California has nothing on Montreal. 737 was a beautiful place, good music, good food and good company. I wonder if its like that all the time or if it was different because the IRC rented it out for us? Anyway, I wore the pink tie, it came off well and I was glad that I wore it. Like Ryan in that episode of the OC..I wasnt sure that the person I desperatley wanted to dance with would be available..but lo and behold, just like that episode of the OC..things worked out for the best. There was another time..a long time ago..when I was mesmerized by a certain blue dress...back then it was a girl named Denise that wore it. Speaking of girls of the past..Jan was there on Friday as well. We had a nice chat, it brought back memories as much as Larissa's blue dress. Its odd how things like that flow together, and when we were dancing I couldn't help thinking that the first girl I fell pretty hard for wore a dress that very same color when she and I danced, and that the second girl I fell hard for was wandering around that very same party. All of it reminds me of the next line of the Finley Quaye song..."When you roll the dice and swear..."

A Star Wars Kinda Mood

Ever since I saw that trailer yesterday..all my bottled up Star Wars nerdiness has been gushing out in droves. It's been a long time since everything reminded me of a part of Star Wars. Even when I was talking to Larissa last night, I couldnt hold down the Star Wars references at the most serious parts of the conversation. ("If I were a Jedi Master like I am on facebook...) I'm a bit embarrassed about that in hindsight...it doesnt help that immediatley following that particular comment I said something else that was presumptive, arrogant and that i shouldn't have said. Anyway, for fun, ive decided to write the rest of this post, which will cover many areas of my life..as a sequence of star wars lines.
Obi-Wan: It surrounds us, it penetrates us, it binds the galaxy together
Vader: The circle is now complete, when i left you I was but the learner, now I am the master
Obi-Wan: Only a master of evil, Darth
Han: She's definatley got spirit. You think a princess, and a guy like me?
Luke: No
Leia: For luck
Leia: Yes, you're a great help to us, you're a natural leader
Han: No, thats not it
Leia: You stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf herder
Han: Must of hit her pretty close to the mark to get her all riled up like that
Leia: I guess you dont know everything about women yet
Palpatine: There is a great disturbance in the Force. We have a new enemy. Luke Skywalker
Han: I know
Luke: I'm not afraid
Yoda: Help them you could, but you would destroy all for which they have fought
Yoda: Mind what you have learned, save you it can
Yoda: Anger, fear, aggression, the dark side of the force are they
Vader: Together we can end this destructive conflict and bring order to the galaxy
Yoda: Do not underestimate the power of the emperor
Luke: I feel the conflict within you, let go of your hate
Vader: There is no conflict
Han: You love him, don't you
Leia: Yes
Han: I understand. When he comes back, I wont get in the way
Palpatine: So be it, Jedi
Leia: I know
Anakin: You were right.
Obi-Wan: You were the chosen one
Thats all for now..a worthy intelletual exercise and a way of sorting around my own feelings
More Later

Stole this from Vincci..who stole it from Lester

20 questions...i love these sorts of things..so interesting
I changed one question..the last one..because I didnt understand it in Vincci's version

1. Tell me something obvious about you.
2. Tell me something about you that many don't know.
3. What is your biggest fear?
4. Do you normally go the safe route or take the short cut?
5. Name one thing you want that you can't buy with money.
6. What is your most treasured possession?
7. What is the one thing you hate most about yourself that you do often?
8. Tell me something sexually about you that I don't know.
9. Tell me something sexually about you that everyone knows.
10. What is your favorite lie to tell?
11. Name something you've done once that you can't wait to do again.
12. Are you the jealous type?
13. What is the one person, place or thing you can't say no to?
14. What is the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?
15. If you could do something crazy right now, what would it be?
16. When was the last time you cried?
17. When was the last time you felt so good that nothing else mattered?
18. Do you feel comfortable in public with no shirt on?
19. Name something embarrassing/funny you did while being drunk.
20. What are you going to do right now?

1. I'm competitive
2. I can be a hopeless romantic at times
3. Being ordinary
4. Safe route
5. Love....lol see question 2
6. This is a tough one...can my brain count?
7. I dont hate anything about myself
8. I believe that sexuality has a moral as well as a physical aspect
9. I'm straight
10. Right now it's definitley "Yankees Suck!"
11. Go to Australia
12. Only in very strange circumstances
13. Watching "Chariots of Fire, Prefontaine or Star Wars"
14. I think it was probably my dad taking me to Game 6 of the 2004 stanley cup finals...where the Flames should have won the stanley cup. Thats all i can think of right now anyway.
15. Go ask all the hot girls I know out on dates and see how many nights in a row i could cover
16. October 14, 2004
17. July 25, 2004
18. Sure
19. I never do anything that dumb..lol
20. Have a shower and then go watch the game. Go Sox!