it's cool to love your family

i just called my fifteen year old brother to gossip about our cousin who is visiting from california. I haven't been home to dundas yet to see him since he flew in, so I wanted some dirt before I made the trip home.
All my brother had to say was this "oh my god michelle, he is a total trogg'

i have raised kevin so so well

fin.

dundas to scarborough... fuck compton

about a month ago i went through this huge mess where i got bangs, and then got drunk, and got my brother to cut my bangs too short ... blah blah

anyways they are getting pretty long again which is key... and i actually really love them. BUT every time i see a girl with bangs, I'm like man! i want HER bangs. I thought i was good at doing hair... apparently not so. I have a wicked bad time styling my bangs. They look alright half the time i do them....passable almost the other half.... and then about once a week they are horrible and unmanageable and i need a hat. If you know how to do my hair, please come show me.

I must really like these bangs because they are brutal inconvenient and take way longer to style than my old hair.... we will see how it works out.

So today Monica and i are driving to Scarborough to literally pick up a cd and turn around a drive back. Ryerson is a fucking disorganized nightmare. It has been the most horrible post secondary institution I have ever dealt with. I know that's only three schools, but it is just so fundamentally disorganized........ gah I am frustrated.
I guess the silver lining is that we will be enjoying the sweet sweet stylings of urban radio once again..... oh kanye and justin.... how i missed you boys.

fin.

the saddest part of a broken heart isn't the ending so much as the start

Do you ever have a day in mind? For months and months, it seems like this distant dream. For whatever reason you await this day... a trip? a show? an arrival? But it is so far off that this day just seems like a thought, a surreal image that comes in and out of your mind. And then, out of nowhere you wake up, and think... today. today. today is July 30th. And you had 'forgot' about it already, it was gone, but your inner workings knew, because when you wake up, its there - out of nowhere, and you were actively waiting all along and you never knew. But today. Today is the day. I wonder if its a feeling because I know, or a feeling because it is within me; it is me... and it is him and within him too. I wonder if he knows that today is the day, i wonder if he ever knew.
Today is the first day of the rest of my life.

fin.

so this is goodbye

I have a somewhat eclectic taste in music that spans over many styles, and times, and tastes. I would like to think that I can usually find something I would enjoy in most genres, and if not I think that I can appreciate what someone is trying to accomplish.

This being said, I have had the same favourite band for months now. They are truly amazing (and coincidentally from my home town!). Junior Boys have been gaining international recognition over the last few years, and believe me it is more than deserved. If you aren't into buying Cd's, "So This is Goodbye" is totally worth your 15 bucks. Download it even... go see them live if you can! This band is blowing up, and you should all help - because they are definitely doing something worth listening to.

On a totally personal note, I am also in love with one of the members, and think its dangerous that he lives in Hamilton when he isn't on tour...... hahahaha you can take the girl out of the boy band tshirt, but you can't take the boy band tshirt out of the girl? does that make sense? don't let my 14 year old love deter you from giving this amazing band a listen... you will fall in love ... i promise.

fin

stop the world in the middle of good-bye

On thursday night, Alana, Ashley and I went to the el mo in toronto for the kick off wakestock party/skate 4 cancer party. It was allllright, except that everyone seemed 19. It is lucky that I look 16, or I would just look weirdly out of place all the time.

So yesterday, heather, judy and I went to see The Wooden Sky, Cain and Able, and Hoosier Poet, at the beating heart festival in Mississuaga. It was actually pretty good, except that we missed The Wooden Sky whole set, which was our main purpose. All in all, I actually really enjoyed it. They have free shows there every friday night for the remainder of the summer.
After the bands played, we went over to the imax to watch "I Now Proncounce You Chuck and Larry". I really really enjoyed it. Adam Sandler has still got it.

Heather and I both bought new cameras within a week of each other. So this means way more pictures for your viewing pleasure... her camera is a billgillion times better than mine, but but but this just means you are all gonna get sweet pictures when I punk them off her flicker account muhahahhaa.

fin!

ps - i have the cutest animals of all time... its true... they colour coordinate and everything

change clothes

I always think I own no clothes or underware. BUT today i realized that the last time i did laundry was before fathers day. So this morning I did 8 loads of laundry. And in fact I have a lot of clothes, and A LOT of underware. I feel like I just went shopping. Well lets me honest, I just did go shopping, but that i have to stop. I find that i subconciously go shopping for new clothes because all my other ones are dirty. Laundry once a week!! thats my new plan....

fin!

i've been on yuh since prince was on apollonia

I have a feeling that most of you blog readers have an ugly cry. When you are really upset and start to cry you all probably look like monsters... but I, Michelle L. Norton, have a beautiful real cry. Really, it is a talent. I can be wearing makeup and fake eyelashes and not smudge a thing. My real cry is beautiful and flawless. BUT! we live in a world of balance, so I am also the proud owner of a creepy, ugly, real smile. Because of this I have perfected a fake smile, but once in a while something happens.... and my real smile comes out. In these cases I am usually genuinely happy, or have some other plans, or something....

In any case, now that you see the evidence, do not hold it against me ... just know if you see that smile.... I am probably actually pretty happy.

fin!

this ain't a scene

Yesterday, I traveled to beautiful downtown St. Catherines with Heather, Alana, and about 1000 of our closest 17 year old girl jean, silverstein t-shirt wearing friends. The obvious highlights being Moneen, and Attack In Black.

I love scene fest.... if you have never been, I really suggest it. You always run into a million people you know, the music is great, the atomosphere is fun... St. Catherines is beautiful... what more could you ask for??

Disappointment. Lie down. Lick the sorrow from your skin, scratch the terror and begin to believe you’re strong

When I was in elementary school, I had the 'luck' of being in a school that was more like a war ground. I swear to you, I grew up with the most malicious, conniving, and genuinely mean people there ever was. You would think with this perspective I must have been the kid that they all picked on. BUT it was much worse than that. I was one of the 'popular' kids that followed around the one lead drone who made our class mates life hell, and us - her friends - her followers life even more hellish. We were in constant fear that this girl would exile us to the others. She would turn us on each other, and it was obvious she was the root of the groups inner fights, but we would never call her on her shit ... she was the queen bee ... we were her dolls. I actually had a girl get mad at me once because we never got into fights, and real friends get into fights. That is how I lived from the age of four, until the last half of grade 6... so i was what? 12! I just spent my whole life worrying I would piss off this main girl, and that it would be all over. And then half way through my grade 6 year, I just got up and walked away. In the middle of lunch or something, I just couldn't do it anymore ... and I spent the last half of grade 6 being a loner. Which was probably the most worth while time I spent in that school.

I think we are all wondering what the point of this story is .... my point is this: I at the age of 12 got up and walked away because I realized how ridiculous that lifestyle was.... and now at 22 I am watching another group of acquaintances live that EXACT life. They are all high and mighty about who to bring down this month, and they all look to a couple leaders to think for them. Luckily for me, they aren't my friends, and I don't have to deal with their antics, and their obvious need for attention. My problem stems from being made a target of their grade 2 drama. I don't care what any of them think because it is unfounded, ridiculous, and the workings of one or two people... and the rest of their drones just jump in the pool to be accepted. It is funny how people will attack you for what they are most insecure about in themselves.
Finally, I think the funniest part of this whole situation is how this whole group of people RIP into each other. IF they only knew what their precious gang was saying behind their backs. Honestly dudes, and dudettes, I doubt you read my blog - but if you find yourself here and still reading... a word of advice I learned at the age of 12: grow up, get your own mind, and get over yourself....

fin.

I would rather be with your friends mate cause they are much fitter

today i will discuss three things that have nothing to do with each other... sorry for the lack of flow.

1) Veet. I have been shaving my legs for ohh about 8 years. Razor. Shaving..... and THEN a 12 year old tells me about veet. You just put this foam on your legs, wait three minutes and then you have no hair anywhere.... no missed spots, no cuts....seriously I will never look at a razor again... veet everyone! it will change your life! or at least make it easier.

2) I have this strange ability to enter situations that I know are going to end terribly. I just jump into them with no hesitation. Which got me thinking I am a very RIGHT NOW person. I don't think that its such a bad quality. I just think that maybe it leads me down paths a normal, rational person might not take. I think I am going to make a mid year resolution...come september I am going to think things through.... but until then... watch out

3) Has anyone else noticed anthony from redhot chilli peppers got hot again?
I thought it in grade 4 and I think it again
damn boy
damn

fin

42 steps from the street

I think by this point we can agree I had a somewhat unusual upbringing. As a result of this - I truly believed that my life was being affected by the direction of my bed, and what way I slept on my bed. I got this idea of feng shui from my parents, and always thought my life was a direct result of my furniture arrangement. For this reason, around the age of 5 I started rearranging my furniture. Everytime I would have a fight with a friend, or a bad game in one of my sports, I was convinced it was because of how my bed was facing.
I would like to say I grew out of this obsession, but no. It has been a pretty steady routine of furniture moving for me since I was about 5. Since I moved back from London to Hamilton, I moved into the smallest bedroom in the house - which allows me very little option for my bed arrangement. Lately I have been getting better at not needing to move all my furniture around - but it might be time to improve my feng shui again.... in conclusion (again), I was the weirdest child alive.

fin.

i think the dust has settled on me, but I don't care - it was so calm - i knew i wouldn't stay forever, I knew I would get some things together

Does anyone believe in coincidence? I had someone ask me if I did about a month ago - and I without hesitation answered : no. I really don't. I think all those weird twists of fate, or weird occurrences that only could happen one in a million times are meant to be.
I seem to be having a lot of these moments of 'twist of fate' lately. And it doesn't seem coincidental that i just got asked if I believe in them or not.... does this make sense? I think the trouble for me is that I try to read into them - and take something away from them.
It is just too uncanny to be totally random.
I know oakville isn't huge, and everyone owns a pink razor
but come on.
seeeriously.

So the other day while killing time before Harry Potter, Sabrina and I played 14 times of Dance Dance Revolution. Basically internet readers - I am the master.

fin

you think you're so smart, but i've seen you naked .... and i'll probably see you naked again

I spent four years living in london with one goal: moving back to hamilton. I hated every single second I lived there, but it was okay because I was moving back to hamilton in - 3 years, 2 years, 8 months, and so on.... I had this mental count down to 'freedom'.
I feel like the world has funny ways of 'working out' or I guess if you are on the other side of it "fucking you over harrrd". All the time I hated london I think I was really avoiding all the good things it had to offer me. Now I am back in Hamilton, and it has literally taken less than 1 year to want to start my countdown of leaving again. Except this time I have no haven to escape to.
So I guess what I am trying to say is this: Maybe I should take a note from my London experience and open myself up to Hamilton. I mean whats the point of plotting my escape in 2.5 years .... why not enjoy the moment? carpe diem (right? :S)
Easier said than done.
The trouble of escaping skeletons is that you usually just find new ones wherever you go.

fin

the show must go on

oh man..... Ed Mirvish died today. Wasn't he an insitution ? a light that never went out? He was just two weeks shy of his 93rd birthday.
Anyways, the man was a philanthropist, and a huge supporter of the theater district in Toronto, and just generally a huge support to the 'underdogs' of the city.
I am not sure if I can go downtown anymore, that with Sam the Record Man closing its doors, and now - no more honest ed.
What a depressing, depressing month.

On an aside, I know he was 93, but don't things like this make you feel way more mortal? He was in St. Michael's Hospital.... I walk past that place at least twice a week...... eeee ....... I better get on accomplishing all these goals i have.

in any case... honest ed this ones for you

wouldn't it be nice?

'you always the lose the girl in a brian wilson world'... oh bon jovi ... how you capture my dear dear brian wilson.
i think its weird that listening to the beach boys gets me down. isn't it meant to be uppity? at least thats how i felt about it in '89. Now i just think he was such a sad, sad, amazing, but sad man. It's worse then listening to elliott smith all night. his shit was depressing. i am putting the pet sounds down and backing away quietly.
The weekend in the city was lovely. On thursday, Heather, Alana, and I went to see Calvin Johnson at the greenhouse. He ran out of buttons right as I went to buy one... that was the low point of the evening.

Friday we went to see The Cinematic Orchestra at the harbour front in Toronto. It was very mellow and beautiful. Almost as beautiful as my see through dress over hot pink underwear.... almost.

After that we headed to the lovely spin gallery to the Friendly Skateboard funraiser/art show. I really love the spin gallery. It is located right above the social. If you have an event taking place there that you are unsure about attending ... GO.

Everytime I go there, I have a good time. On the way out we randomly bumped into Dallas and Sarah who were celebrating Dallas' 23rd birthday (happy birthday dallas!) .... such a small hamilton world we lead.

Sunday was fairly low key... I missed the blow play tonight... it was the low point of the week hahah. BUT leslie carter came into metro and I only realized it was her after she was gone.... forshame... heather and I spent years... YEARS loving her brother... that was my 'in' so to speak, and i let her walk out of reasonably priced clothing heaven onto the mean streets of downtown hamilton :(!. Also ... working backwards through my sunday, (or so it seems), kickball was rained out... what is my week without kickball?? nothing is the answer.

Finally, I went to bed early tonight/last night because I have a fairly full day today (monday). But here I am at 2:50 am blogging hahaha. You can take the girl out of the party, but you can't take the party out of the girl? did i ever party?.... i guess this is a computer party?
oh man
someone stop me

fin!

ps- we love burger king... and ian

snoop d o double g

i was laying in bed watching tennis hilights from yeserdays men's semi finals and an announced actually said - "nadal just dropped it like it was hot"

i had to get up and pee

fin

it's all about the 'he said' 'she said' bullshit

do you know how they say goldfish have a 5 second memory... so they just don't get bored reallly - they swim around forgetting and discovering.... what a magical life that must be.
i guess this would explain why people would smile and say 'hello' after treating you so poorly. they forget their prior behaviour, and pretend that everything is fine.

swim on goldfishy you ain't welcome in these parts.

cast them off and watch them float away

You know how most of you have that story about being 4 and your sister or brother being 5 and he/she cuting off a chunk of your hair with the crayola safety scissors?

This saturday I got ridiculously wasted at a family birthday party, and decided to convince my little brother to 'trim' my bangs.... the problem with young teenage boys is that they don't give a shit about how well they trim bangs... and the thing about drunk 22 year old girls is that they don't care either.

after a long ordeal of trying to make it okay - i had an emergency meeting with my hair dresser ... who laughed and cut my bangs short short to fix them.

in conclusion... i look like my kindergarden picture... and never let siblings near your hair.


fin

i'm stuck here underneath, and you're making it hard to breathe

i think i spent too many years living in a pov student house. Now that I am living the 'life' (so to speak :S) of constant food and clean dishes, I find old habits hard to break. My parents keep beer cups in the house beside the glass cups because I have a few toddler cousins who need the plastic option. Everytime I open the doors to the glasses I automatically grab a beer glass. For some reason, red beer cup just feels like home.
I have this wicked sense of intuition. I think it comes with all the years of raising other peoples children. I can tell if someone is lieing before they even start to speak it. I got this talent along with the eyes in the back of my head after my 5th straight year of nannying. My point is that I think it is ridiculous to try to make yourself 'look better' two weeks after something happened. I am so easy going, and honestly forget half the things people say to me... it is just insulting to try to smooth things that didn't need to be smoothed over. The situation is just more awkward now. In conclusion, I don't pretend to think that you are going to forget everything you say when you are hammered, and you don't pretend that I am stupid enough to buy your stories.
I think that i am also loosing my coping mechanisms. I have been noticing a lot lately that people with ask me a question and I get all panicy because I don't know the answer. Last night, it happened like three times in a row with the same person, and I seriously got overwhelmed. I just have to say it, I don't know the right answer.... who does eh? If you know all the right ones come find me.
Finally, if you see me buying a new bathing suit - stop me. My body is in a bad bad tan line state. I have bathing suit ADD and change my suit every day I go out to the pool. This has resulted in me looking like a big tool naked. I am sure you are all bored by this point....so
gin

or fin even