Oh Canada!

So. I've been back from Canada for a few days now, and I just didn't feel much like writing about my trip. I still don't feel like writing about it now, but I am going to anyway, because some pictures just, uh, popped up and I'm not so sure how I feel about them, and I need to take my mind off them for a bit. They bring back memories I've heretofore always thought I'd like to keep, but now, as they rush in, they seem a little bit painful. Anyways.

Montreal was very nice. I really liked it there. There are so many gorgeous people there, especially gorgeous women. One of my major but minor complaints about my trip is that I went with my sister and her daughter and people always seemed to assume--as they always do--that we are a family, that is, that I am daddy, Erica is mommy and little Sophie is our baby. It made me feel awkward smiling back at beautiful women and thinking, "oh, great, she thinks I'm a lecher."

The people of Montreal are not only beautiful, they are friendly, too! My sister and I were talking over a map rather frantically (because it was raining) and a guy figured we were lost so he volunteered help. We weren't lost, though, so we declined his generosity. Besides, if we had gotten lost, there was no way in hell I was asking for directions!

Montreal...ers are also gloriously bilingual. As I tell everybody, so shall I tell you, dear reader, that Montreal would be a great place to raise your kid--they'd grow up knowing perfect French and English!

The food is great in Montreal too. The most notable thing I had there was smoked meat. Yes, it does sound rather blah, but it is freaking delicious! When in Montreal, go to Bens (as an aside, Montrealers don't seem to be very fond of using apostrophes to indicate the possessive form of a proper noun--e.g. Bens and Tim Hortons) and order a smoked meat sandwich. It's basically two slices of bread between which is a 3-inch stack of soft, juicy delicious meat. That's it. While you're there, grab some Poutine too--French fries soaked in gravy topped with melted cheese. In fact, make that Poutine a la Bens--they add smoked meat to that. Funny story. My mom called me in my hotel room and told me, "don't eat so much meat." I told her "okay" as I looked right at my smoked meat sandwich and Poutine a la Bens.

The shopping was good in Montreal. Cheap, especially after coming from the East Coast. My sister got a lot of nice business clothes cheap, and I got some great records, most notably the first McGarrigle sisters record (Canadian pressing, naturally).

And the sights? Aside from the fine arts museum, I didn't do too much sightseeing on account of my foot hurting. Still kind of hurts now. It's funny, but Dex should remember when, on my last day in Sydney I sprained my foot. Well this time my other foot hurt, and it really started to bother me when I'd just arrived at the Montreal airport. However, Montreal does have a number of nice old looking churches, and Vieux (Old) Montreal is nice, or so says my sister. Oh and also, Montreal itself is named after Mount Royal (not sure how the French name goes, Mount Real or Mont Real or something) which is in the city itself. We had planned to go up there but there wasn't enough time. Me and Sophie got a good look at it from the executive lounge on the top floor of our hotel, that is, when we weren't busy stuffing ourselves with cookies (Sophie) and hors d'o....appetizers...cheese...whatever (me).

The metro is clean and it's a fixed fare from any one station to any other station (at least within downtown [centreville], not too sure bout out-of-town), which is refreshing, and, like in Sydney, one can avail of an unlimited-ride weekly pass, which is nonexistent here in Washington.

Pictures...pictures...well, sadly, me and my sister aren't big picture-takers. We have about ten photos, really, two of which I took in the plane. I suppose where we went it would be a pretty mundane album, just the usual character-less metropolis everyone is used to. But I will have the photos up as soon as I get my hands on the camera--my sister took it with her to San Francisco (that's right, she's traveling again, so's Sophie. I admire their strength).

So...Montreal was great. That's all of it, I suppose, in a nutshell. I may go back again this summer, or maybe to some other part of Canada. Pretty excited about that.

Yukon Ho!

I never put up a post announcing that school's over, despite its having been over for nearly a week now. I suppose I'm happy enough to just know that it's over. Also, my grades this semester suck.

I am going to Canada for a few days this weekend. I am very excited. Before I leave for abroad, I always imagine that I am going to have a whirlwind romance with an exotic beauty. It never happens, and I doubt this trip will be any different.

I am going to Montreal, which will be the most European city I've ever been to. It's in Quebec, so they speak French over there. Oh shit, I just remembered I still don't have a French dictionary.

I bought a travel guide for Montreal. I've always found people who buy travel books silly, but now that I think about it, this is the first place I will be going to where I wouldn't know anyone who could show me around.

I'm mainly excited about the shopping to be done. I have a record store written down, and I believe they have street markets like one always sees in the teevee that seem so glamorous. I will really feel like I'm in Paris or something. It sure would be nice if the whirlwind romance does happen. We will exchange letters when I leave and we will remain faithful to one another. And then we will marry, even though her father disapproves.

Unkind and Unwise

I always told myself I'd never put song lyrics on this blog.

With Grant's passing, everyone is quoting Cattle and Cane. As well they should; Cattle and Cane is one of the greatest songs ever. But its sister, Unkind and Unwise, is what does it for me. It was the first Gobees song that really hit me, and I wish I could go back to the time when I was getting to know Spring Hill Fair and the Go-Betweens for the first time.

I recall driving my car around feeling so shitty about a girl and then the Go-Betweens spoke to me for the first time. They will continue to speak to me years upon years later. I will never forget the first time I realized that the Go-Betweens are brilliant. They are the greatest band ever.

***

He was brought up in a house of women
In a city of heat that gave its children
Faith in the fable of coral and fish,
Told them the world was something to miss.

I turn to hold you, you're gone.
Fingers, let go, I'm gone.
That's just a little unkind
And just a little unwise.

The salt in the wind moves over the mudflats
Sticks to your skin and rusts up the lights,
Blows in the ferns that breathe in the dark,
I try to forget, but it's so hard.

I turn to hold you, you're gone.
Fingers, let go, I'm gone.
That's just a little unkind
And just a little unwise.

What was once is a falling star;
I'll hit you and hurt you and open your heart.
Burn in a river tangled with reeds
While a crane on the water silently feeds.

I turn to hold you, you're gone.
Fingers, let go, I'm gone.
That's just a little unkind
And just a little unwise.

That's just a little unkind
And just a little unwise.

***

You weren't supposed to go yet, Grant.

Grant McLennan RIP

I can't believe it. I wasn't expecting this at all. Grant is gone. One of my best friends has passed. I don't know what to do, I just feel so sad. Rest in peace, Grant. I dare not think what my life would be like without the Go-Betweens. I always say you changed my life, and I mean it. Thank you.