Sharing is Caring: HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I have problems with sharing. Maybe it's just the only child syndrome, but I believe it's much more than that.
I find this hard on a day to day basis, trying to hold back my snarl when one might ask to use a pen... but I do find it the hardest around this time. This time of thanksGIVING.

Last night my friends and I made a feast, truly, a massive feast, feeding 12 vertically growing people. In order to make the space, we had to completely rearrange the apartment, turn a work desk into a dining room table, and turn my home into a Holiday Inn. Effort that I had always seen families commit to, but never realizing how much work it really is.

Waking up before 1pm on a WEEK DAY is hard enough for me, let alone waking up at 9am on a SUNDAY to be a slave to my kitchen and a defrosting foreign corpse. But somehow, with mass amounts of help (slash me standing in awe, getting exhausted just watching everyone cook) we were able to not burn down the building, and make vegetables and turkey into dishes Hell's Kitchen could never even prefect.

What does this have to do with sharing? MANY, MANY, MANY THINGS:

1) SPACE: I'm kinda the worst for this. Instead of cooking (which is completely useless, except for my masterful potato peeling skills) I just like to hover over the chefs... To pretend I'm cooking with them. With so many people doing different things in the kitchen I feel bad if I'm not right there in the action. Maybe they'll need a spatchula!?! I CAN GET THAT!

2) FOOD: One person may want to make a root vegetable dish with that yam, what if someone else wants to make yam FRIES, OR EVEN.... marshmallow yams?!?!? WHAT DO YOU DO!?! you share... and yes, sharing those yams can be quite hectic, but somehow, we were all able to not show our teeth and bare some bountiful yams.

3) TIME: In order for everyone's special dish to be cooked to perfection, and for the big bird to get roasted all the way to the neck, there's some sharing of appliances to be done.

OVERALL, Thanksgiving is not appreciated fully without going thru the occassionally painful suffering of SHARING. Giving of YOURSELF to SHARE with everyone. Now THAT is Thanksgiving.

And it's worth it.

HAPPY (PRE) THANKSGIVING AMERICANS!!! HAPPY (POST) THANKSGIVING CANADIANS!!!

October Has COME!!??

Well folks,

In three days it'll be October. OCTOBER!?!?!??????? WTF????
Well I never thought this would come, but it basically has. Where has the time gone? I'd love someone to tell me cause I really have no idea... I don't even know what I did this morning. werd.

I just looked at my "STATS" progress on my blog. This month of September was one of my most prosperous viewing months. There has been more readers than ever before.

WHY? One might ask... well because of procrastination... Like I'm doing right now.

Somehow, this month of September has flown by so fast because of it. Getting back into routine, end of summer depression, getting that last drop of Stolis down your throat, wondering if your roommate will ever turn the dishwasher on, and yes, indeed, my most common time spender, day dreaming about what you SHOULD be doing and what you'd RATHER be doing.

Today, I just read in a course book (not my own... because that would mean I'd actually be doing something productive), but my roommates, since it wasn't a necessity - about the different types of procrastinators.



Basically, in my way of saying it, there's 4 different types:

Type 1: You don't do shit all ever and you're guna fail life and live off of heroine shot up in dirty rat pissed needles... on East Hastings - obvs

Type 2: You know you need to do something but you don't (aka ME) and instead day dream about what you should be doing and/or rather be doing (like I said above)... Even though you may be given 4 months to do something you'll wait until 5 hours before it's due to actually lift a finger (aka like my project that's due tomorrow that I've got 1/10th done... and I am now here blogging at 2:30am)

Type 3: You know what you have to do, but you agree to way too many things and can't finish them all. (That's something I do too, but only if it's fun... like agreeing to see who can chug the most red headed sluts (THAT'S THE NAME OF A SHOT FYI..... I asked someone if they wanted to do a red headed slut with me... and the answer was not what I was expecting) ANYWAY, so then the person can't complete all tasks at hand

Type 4: I didn't read that far... I started playing Bejewelled on my phone.



ANYWAY, my point is... there's many different types of us that enjoy spending our time differently. Apparently this month, the cool way to procrastinate from handing in an essay, taking photos for class, making a presentation for your boss, or researching which horse has the most steroids on the track.... was reading online blogs.

So now, October has come. As much as I'm not a fan of New Years resolutions I feel as if we all should make one every month. I'm not quite sure if that would lead into complete depression of adding another goal onto your long list of which hangs over your head like dream catcher... OR if it will actually encourage you to take a step into completing a short term goal which could motivate you into a more prosperous month.

Every year the most common resolutions are "Quit Smoking", "Go to the Gym", "Be a Better Person", "Be Wiser With Spending", "Stop Starving the Dog".... which clearly are all completely unrealistic and just make you hate yourself that much more for not adding another goal, but adding another burden which makes yourself because that you're incapable of completing anything other than opening a bag of Miss Vickey's chips.

BUT for every month maybe try something like "Wash Your Face Before Going to Bed", "Wake Up Before 2pm Four Days a Week", "Cook Food Instead of Microwaving It", "Get a Designated Someone To Punch You Every Time You Say Something Negative" (I've actually done that, not on my own will tho)....

You know, things that you might actually be able to achieve that might make you feel better about yourself that might make you start using your time a little bit better: equalling less procrastination and more accomplishment.

HOWEVER, don't stop reading my blog. That is all for now.

ATTENTION ALL ART GOERS AND BEER DRINKERS!

THIS SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 18TH Vancouver will never be the same…



Heineken Canada is coming to Vancouver like never before. Heineken Canada is creating the ULTIMATE ARTS & CULTURE experience just for *YOU!

*You: Defines: the art student, art interest, blog writer, blog reader, film maker, film viewer, photographers, friends of, critic, fan, reader, seller, buyer, internet junkie, Biltmore goer, Grey’s Anatomy watcher, psychology major, Spanish minor, motorcycle rider, bicycle wheeler, treadmill runner, Converse wearer, Vintage sale scrounger, OR even Biggie Smalls best karaoke impersonator.

YES YOU! ALL OF YOU! WE WANT YOU!

So come join us on Saturday September 18th at 3PM at Beau-XI Art Gallery aka 3045 Granville St (south of W14th Avenue).
This is an amazing opportunity to branch out into Vancouver’s field of artistic treasures, and get that first step to motivating your ever longing passion in the arts.

Heineken Canada CARES and wants to bring YOU to Beau-XI Art Gallery along with three other South Granville art galleries, AND get the opportunity to hear from either the owner(s) of the gallery and/or artist.

This is like no other field trip your high school made you pack shitty lunches for…. THIS includes FREE HEINEKEN for ALL of YOU at the end of the tour at THE ACADEMIC for a relaxing time to ponder with friends over this life changing event.

BUT WAIT! Spaces are LIMITED!!!!

EMAIL: maddie_ross21@hotmail.com TO ENSURE YOUR SPOT! ONLY HAVE ROOM FOR THE FIRST FIVE RESPONDERS!

Popular questions asked:

Q: Do we need to pay? A: NO IT’S FREE BECAUSE WE LOVE YOU!
Q: When do we get the beer? A: NOT UNTIL THE END WE WANT TO REWARD YOU WITH YOUR ENLIGHTENED SOBER THOUGHTS!
Q: When does it start? A: 3PM SHARPE!



COME OUT!!!!

Here's To You TIFF!

Entertainment Guide for the TIFF Tourists: Essentials: Food, Drinks, Clubs.

FOOD:

Breakfast/ Brunch/ Hangover:

Over Easy (Bloor & St. George - across from the ROM)

Fran's Diner (BEST MILKSHAKE - on College st..... by spadina i think?)

Cafe/ Lunch/ Sandwiches/ Sushi:
Aromas (Bloor & Bath - Near Honest Eds)

Black Camel (best sandwiches - Yonge & Crescent - across from Rosedale subway station)

Last Temptations (Kensington & Dundas - Great for getting day drunk too)

New Generation Sushi (BEST SUSHI IN TORONTO - Bloor & Bath)

Dinner/ Burger:
W Burger (I personally haven't been there, but I hear it's the best - Yonge & College)

La Palette (I duno if you like french food- I usually don't, but this place is BOMB - and has great wine and is cheap..... Augusta Ave & Oxford (near College)

Tony Bulloni's (Amazing Italian - Cumberland & Ave)

Pure Spirit's (My fave resturant in toronto ... before I became allergic to oysters... but they still have amazing dishes besides oysters--- Distillery District)

Dessert:
Moroco (BEST CHOCOLATE ANYTHING: also great breakfast/lunch/dinner- Yorkville & Bay)

DRINKS:

Nirvana (My fave place to go to get drunk before going out - cheap, awesome people, service, and amazing selection - College & Bath across from Sneaky Dees)

Last Temp (Used to be my hangout way back when I was underaged, it's still a dope place with a dope patio, but it's usually pretty packed when it's warm)

Ronnie's Local 069 (Another one of my old fave local hangouts with an outdoor patio - Nassau Street & Augusta)

Fomo (It's cool I guess, a lot of "cool" people go there- i've seen Fritz Helder & The Phantoms chill there, but I think it's pretty frigin lame if you aren't there with at least 5 other people and you don't have a "booth"- It's a "Champaign" bar - 270 Adelaide St. W.)

Sultra Tiki bar (I like this place- you GOTTA get the Volcano It's massive, one will get you drunk forsure - with a decent hangover - College & Clinton)

Gorilla Monsoon (is an OLDSCHOOL place I used to go to when I first started going out aka 15. Haven't been there in a while but they gota dope patio, it's great for people watching, and they usually got awesome live bands that are about to make their big break - Queen & Spadina..... NEVERMIND just read that it's been closed for a year.... the place beside it isn't bad either)

Ultra Supper Club (Go right to the roof top, it's a great place to get drunk before going out for a rager, it reminds me of a weak miami trying to be ritzy hotel roof top club - but it's pretty great - Queen & Peter)

Drake Hotel (Obviously)

CLUBS:

Nyood Supper Club (-Upstairs-My favourite 2010 Summer Find! Awesome club to get bottle service, fantastic music, small and intimate, better than the Social - Queen & Dovercourt)

The Thompson Hotel (Amazing basement and roof top, classy place to go anytime - Guarantee there's guna b something special going on there for TIFF - Bathurst & Wellington)

Wrongbar (As much as I hate this place, it's probably the place i go to the most when I'm back - brings in the best Djs to toronto - Queen & Brock)

MOD Club (DUH. I actually love this place, and they bring in the best shows - next to Wrongbar- but everything about this place is just better - College & Crawford)

The Social (It's the Social. It's good, everyone's been there at least 3 times, and somehow everyone still goes there. They still got special events going on and good music. - Queen & Dovercourt)

The Pilot (I've only been there once, but I did enjoy myself. Right in Yorkville, usually +21, fun roof top - Cumberland & Yonge)

Shallow Groove (Pretty cool club, they can be a little bit off the music sometimes, but it's generally fun - kinda reminds me of Strange Love - College & Manning)



That's all I can think of for now! ENJOY ALL YOU TIFF TRAVELLERS! I WISH I WAS YOU!

( I took this photo during the Vancouver Film Fest - outside of an art gallery for the VIFF SPOKED! party)

You're SO VAIN, You Probably Think This BLOG is About You

Well today was my first day back to school.... as it was for most everyone who goes to school.
Everyone's usually pretty pumped because they actually get to socialize for once in there work place for the first time in 4 months. Back to school, back to school, to prove to Dad I'm not a fool...... Pretty much.

Anyway, I see most people getting eager to class, sometimes 15 minutes early just to bite their nails. They wear there most prized outfit which they will probably wear for the first 5 consecutive days just because.... well just because. They got there hairs n nails did like a pro, but on some extra bronzer to prove they actually had a summer, and are raising their hands and asking questions to get a head.

Well my first day of school went along the lines of "FML" the attitude in which I ended the previous semester. I rightfully so, did think that this new start would be a fresh and exhilarating one, but only to find myself suck in the situation in which I had drunkenly left it. With a bad attitude and re-duing all those classes which I unfortunately was too licked and hungover to attend.

Attitude..... does change everything. Even though todays class was a re-due of last semester I still could have gone in there with the mind frame of "YAAAYYYY SECOND CHANCE! NEW PEOPLE! NEW STUDENTS! I'M GUNA GET AN A!!!"........ but instead I continued to slum the negative energy into "HOLY FUCK WHY ARE THERE SO MANY HIPSTERS AND WHY AM I RE-DUING THIS CLASS WHEN I'M ALREADY GETTING PAID!!!!!!"

Well, if you can relate, and really do think this post is about you..... then I believe you. So continue.

This semester my goal is to be positive and excited like i was exactly 12 months ago and put positive energy into the task at hand.. which includes my life style to be:

1) SOBER
2) Rested
3) Open minded
4) Determined
5) Positive

WHY?? Because those are all great things........ and because I'm on academic probation and this is the only way I can get a degree in ART SCHOOL. Holy hell. Have no idea what I'd be doing if I went to a normal university.

But really, attitude makes the difference between a fail and a pass, not to mention enjoying your life, AND even maybe making a friend or two.

Who knew.

That is all for now, my head is pounding from all this work.

What's In A Name?

Well hello there Vancity. I'm back in the blogger world, and bigger and better than before.
I was on a sailing trip last week to get my yachting license and I came across a topic that I'd never seriously talked about before.

Identity.

I've heard n know of people who've had to deal with the weirdest most messed up 21 century crime, identity theft... But I never thought of it being a problem that one can bring upon them self.

I'm not talking about some stupid fuck leaving their bank info in an illegal underground poker game, or cock fight. But about information that people give out willingly, almost forwardly, into anyone's face.

For example, in the above sentence where I just GAVE you information about my past week being on a boat.

Another example is google. I google my alias as one word, as two words, my birth name, and my nick name with surname, fairly often to see what comes up... Yeah, I may like myself a little too much, but it can actually be very interesting.

GOOGLE has even picked up on the fact that my birth name and my alias are THE SAME PERSON. How? My own giving of information, almost unconsciously.

Even though right now it may not be a huge issue that it's pretty obvious these two names are ME. the most obvious of them all is thru FACEBOOK.

Holy hell where do i begin. As I'm typing this I am on facebook changing my name to solely just my alias. Why?

Because I WANT MY OWN LIFE BACK!!!!

Think about all those slutty ass highschool girls who's NAMES have been ruined not only from the sack but also on facebook, what are they supposed to do when they go to an interview?

I'm not saying that I was the slutty ass highschool girl, but I'm saying that my life should be a private one. What if later on I want a job with the FBI and they're like "HAY you can't do that cause we know about that one time at band camp!"

FML.

I am Merry Somers the blogger, photographer, alcoholic, and socialite.

But I am me. And all this information is coming from me.

There's a lot to a name, and I don't want to get to two mixed up or conjoined.

Another reason why: The information of one name should not be carried on to the next.

Merry Somers maybe the party picture girl. But I am the aspiring press / war photojournalist adventure travel soloist.

Wrecking the identity of one name may lead into the next.

What my point is, is doing bring that upon yourself and keep your identity safe. The internet is MASSIVE children.

(I took this pic in NYC in Apirl 09.... I think it still speaks to a lot of people... Even if you haven't been laid off.)

(PS. This picture -along with 2 others- are being published in BURNER MAGAZINE september edition CHECK IT!)

Merry Somers Guide To: Finding The Trust Worthy

Over my years of existence, I've found that 98% of people I come across are not trust worthy.
Why? Because they're human.
The 2% of people who are always able to keep their mouth shut and can honestly respond to demand are aliens.
(The secret is out trust worthy ones)

These creatures come in all shapes and sizes, and are rarely green. Ever look at their neck?... right below the hair line? There's a flashing red light.

Other ways you can spot these rare beings are thru this check list:

1) They don't have dandruff (humans with bad dandruff - so bad there's a pool of it that collects in the back of their shirt collar- are the least trust worthy of them all)

2) Their feet are proportionate to their height. (AKA they are not short and have fat feet.... CLOWNS)

3) If the first letter of their name starts with A, B, C, K, L, R, S, and sometimes M.

Ones that you should be MOST weary of are ones with:

1) Trimmed moustaches - and only a moustache... no other facial hair (especially if they're female)

2) Unnecessarily huge, bulky, extended chins

3) If they have or have once ever had a perm.

Look out for these opposite beings. Both are extreme and unique... and neither are covered by the Discovery Channel.
Only here on The Merry Somers Guide.

Be cautious my friends.

Life Lessons Pt 10: The Guide to THE Euro Trip

Since my last post in March I have: finished school, moved out of the apartment in Vancouver, moved back to Toronto, and visited Vienna, Prague, and now Berlin, and by the end of the week will be in Madrid.

Therefore, been in 6 cities in 5 countries in just over 3 weeks. This is what I want to do for the rest of my life, soon I shall ask travel for it's globally hand in marriage and will live happily ever after galloping into many different sunsets.

But how could you not compare each one of these beautiful places? All so different, different locations, currency, language, history, food..... mmmmmmmmmm the food.

ANYWAY what I'm getting at is this:

While planning a euro trip at home

DO NOT:

1) Pre-pay anything accept hotels n flights n trains.
WHY? : THEY DON'T WORK... and if by some chance it does, you're losing money. You may think you're being all cleaver by paying in Canadian dollars, a head of time, having a great plan, etc..... Well, to your unpleasant surprise, you can show those group passes you payed for online to the museum/ tour bus/ show ticket office, the people will look at you with one eye brow raised, smacking the dated gum on the left side of the jaw, blink once, slide the paper back to you, wave their right hand around a bit and say in broken English... "No good". .... End of story.

2) Do not assume that just because Europe is nicer than North America that the weather will match that.

3) Packing EVERYTHING you might POSSIBLY need into your oversize suit case such as:
a) 6 clubbing style dresses
b) 2 shoe horns
c) 4 oversized purses
... will NOT help you during your travels especially when you're
a) not using them
b) traveling by train
c) needing to either run to catch the train, or attempt to use a WC (European "Water Closet")

BONUS: DO NOT EVER, EVER EVER ...EVER TRY TO REPEAT CATCH PHRASES YOU'VE HEAR IN FORGIN MOVIES YOU MIGHT GET THROWN OUT OF THE COUNTRY (aka my father saying during our stay in Berlin "Das ist gut YA?" to the cab driver, receptionist, and waiter).

but DO THIS:

1) Bring your camera wherever you go.
WHY!? It's your only chance to embrace being a Chinese bucket hatted, map sprawling, fan pack wiggling, binocular groping tourist. And European cities are generally just unfairly photogenic.

2) Actually use a travel book (like a top 10 book), they KNOW what they're talking about.

3) Bring a plug converter... or else you will spend the first half of your trip with massive hair, and a dead cell phone, camera, and laptop... and that might just ruin your plans.

That concludes Merry Somers Guide to The Euro Trip and Merry Somers Life Lessons.

Take what you can from this !

(These are some of my favourite pics from the trip so far)

Life Lessons Pt 10: The Conclusion

Over the past four months I've been writing about my lessons learned. Now I've reached the last lesson learned of this series.
A lot changes over four months... a lot of mistakes and accomplishments.

Mistakes including:
1) Having 5 too many blackout drunk nights
2) Almost getting kicked out of every nightlife venue in Vancouver
3) Waking up drunk in Whistler and driving back to Van for my 12:30 class wearing my party dress.
4) Just spilling my vodka caesar all over my floor as I'm typing this
4.5) And running out of paper towels
5) Not recycling my 26s.

Accomplishments including:
1) All of the above.
2) Plus more.

But overall it's been a fantastic four months, but one of the main reason it's been so great is because of a positive attitude.
I've realized how important it is to stay positive, endure your passion, and try your hardest to have fun.

As said perfectly by Ferris Bueller "Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. "

It's true, I just watched that movie 1 and a half times the other day. That is life. What is it if you're not positive and having a blast doing what you do?

Yes, I may have become an alcoholic. Yes, I may have said some stupid shit. And Yes, I had a blast, met some great people, and took some dope pictures while doing it. It only gets better when you learn from your mistakes and continue understanding what makes your life more enjoyable.

So in conclusion: there are many Lessons Learned. Although I'm not going to be writing about it in an official themed series, doesn't mean I won't continue learning. There will be plenty of that this summer.

Enjoy !

(This photo was taken when I finished one of my final projects for school SUCCESS)

PS Here's a youtube slidshow I had to do for a project: All the photography I took in the past four months- along with the audio CHECK IT http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrvC0-NRjZo

Life Lessons Pt 9: How To Switch Species

The reason for my absence from the blog world since Feb 27th is due to the following: Alcohol.
I am very sorry, I've been feeling so guilty about it. So here blog world. Let me fill you in:

The Olympic parties really seemed to get my going. I took a bit of a break because there weren't many high rolling DJs in town. I guess I focused on school during that time. That was until, my birthday started creeping up. I have now come to realize that the BirthDAY no longer exists, it has now been replaced with the BirthWEEK and occasionally, for the physcotic ones like myself... the BirthMONTH. Which is proven to also emphasize your DEATHmonth. Literally, a month of partying hard everyday will kill. I am proof- And the months not even over.

Sunday Feb 28th - Got crazy at Deadmau5 @ Gossip and took pictures. It was the closing ceremonies. I got drunk. (Pic ONE)

Thursday March 4-7th - I took it easy, and went to bars and clubs in gastown like Lotus, chilled with friends, didn't take many pics. (Pic TWO)

Tuesday March 9th - Celebrities: DUH. It was the night before my birthday. Tons of people came out and mass consumed shots of Red Headed Sluts mmmmmm my fave. (Pic THREE)

Wednesday March 10th: Officially my birthday and I had 8 hours of school and was more than hungover. Hated Life. Later went downtown with some friends and bar hopped.

Thursday March 11th: My girls and I went on a Donnelly Pub Crawl Tour- I only thought these things were meant for tourists, but apparently not, everyone there (that I talked to) was from Van! It was jokes. I went to more Vancouver bars that night than I had in my 7 months of living here. We hit up places like the Academic, Lamp Lighter, and ended up at Republic... Which included drink tickets and a British double decker bus for transit. Jokes. (Pic FOUR)

Friday March 12th: Jack Beats and AC Slater hit up Celebs! Great show! Actually thought a lot more people would be there- But I heard it was sold out... Weird? It was night to not be crammed in though. Everyone came out, it was a good time. (Pic FIVE)

Saturday March 13th: Chilled with friends, took it easy.

Sunday March 14th: Diplo at Venue!!! Holy WOW. I'm not a fan of Venue- If there are fans of Venue..... WTF?! Venue is more like a last resort venue. ANYHUE I was very pleasantly surprised that night. It wasn't a horribly E tarded/ Douche baggy crowd as I would have usually expected. A lot of cool people showed up and Diplo dropped some insane tunes! Seriously, one of THE BEST shows I've been to! Diplo was completely outa his trees too- which was impressive for such an unreal show. he was spinning house and then outa no where sneaked in dubstep which totally got the crowd soaring. (Pic SIX)

Monday March 15th: My friends and I think it would be a grand idea to go to Whistler for the night, and we were in luck cause only later did we find out Chris Lake was going to be spinning at Garfinkels. It was my first time in Whistler (I know, shame on me), but it was a great time! I enjoyed the village, enjoyed the company, loved the music (I've seen Chris Lake in Vancouver before - I think it was about a month ago) but I think this was an even better show. I got to hear Peak Season's Dre Morel spin for the first time, which I'm sure was great but I was focusing more on his good looks. And took some dope pics! (Pic SEVEN & EIGHT)

Tuesday March 16th: I leave Whistler before 10am to drive to Vancouver... for my 12 30 class. I wasn't having fun with it.

Now. I'm dead. Lesson Learned: If you want to no longer be human... and switch species. Go get wrecked every day for a week, I promise you, You'll never be the same.