Miryam’s Blog

Hello!

I feel like it’s been a really long time since I’ve posted, but it hasn’t been that long. Long enough, I suppose. Hopefully I’ll remember everything (I can hear you all thinking “Oh please! Don’t let her remember everything!”). That’s what you get for having a writer as a friend/family member.

On Friday the second Andrew and I went to Swing City. This time we took the bus and actually found the Edelweiss Club. It turned out to be a German community centre, so it’s really cute and very German, which was odd for swing dancing, but whatever. The Edelweiss club was just a little hall, very cozy and friendly. There were quite a few people there, but not so many that there wasn’t lots of room to dance. We stayed for about two hours and danced most of the time (I don’t give Andrew much of a break, poor boy!). It was really fun!

On Saturday Andrew went home and I went out with a fellow named Warren. We had lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant. I had never eaten Vietnamese food, and it was really good! Then we wandered around downtown and James Bay for a while before going to see Children of Men. It was really good. For those of you who have seen V for Vendetta, it’s a similar concept, but more real and dirty. I very much enjoyed it, but it was rather violent and depressing (it is political commentary, after all).

On Sunday, I didn’t go to dance because I was feeling sick and hoped to nip it in the bud by having a relaxing day at home. I did homework and wrote and read.

Monday night Andrew and I were going to go to Swing, but there was a Pride party that night as well. It started an hour before dancing, so we thought we’d stop in for a bit, then head out to Swing. We got there right on time, so of course they weren’t ready yet, and there was hardly anyone there. Gwen had come with us, and there were a few other people there we knew, so we chatted and started dancing. More and more people showed up, including the person with the dance music. Andrew and I were both having a lot of fun by then, dancing and talking, so we decided stick around a little longer. In the end, we never got to swing. The music wasn’t great, but the company was, and it was fun just to let loose and dance. Apparently dancing salsa and the tango has destroyed all shame I have when it comes to dancing, because I was much more relaxed than I normally am dancing at parties.

The party ended around eleven, and we helped clean up. Then we went to hang out with Chris, Rene, and Felipe (who we met at the party) because they had to wait for their buses. Somehow, we started singing show tunes. It’s so rare that I get to sing with people who know and like the same music as I do, it was a real treat. Then Felipe had to go, and Rene came back from chatting with some other girl and started telling the most awful jokes. For the next half an hour or so, he entertained us with a constant stream of jokes and stories. He’s a lot of fun. Then the bus arrived and he and Chris left. Andrew and I went back to my room and ate some chocolate I had there, because we were both starving by then. We cuddled for a bit. He began to fall asleep, so he tried to leave (very half-heartedly) and I tried to stop him (also rather half-heartedly) and eventually he did leave.

Tuesday I was going to be a good girl and go to bed early, because I was still feeling sick, but I ended up going for a walk with Andrew instead. The next morning I was exhausted out of my mind. I made it through my Spanish classes alright, and then I went down to the Legislative Buildings with Andrew, Joyce, and Joelle for the rally. It was a National Day of Action for students, and we were protesting the high tuition fees. It was a good rally. They had signs that they handed out, and a bunch of speakers. It was kind of fun, but then I started getting hungry, so then I was hungry, tired and sick, which is never a good combination. We went to the Noodle Box for lunch, which was good, but by then exhaustion was really setting in and I was out of sorts. I went back up to campus and studied for my Latin test. I made it through the test, then went home and slept. I have a really hard time sleeping during the day, so I knew I needed it when I fell asleep within fifteen minutes.

That night I went to The One-Man Star Wars Trilogy with Steve. It was very funny. Charles Ross is an excellent mimic, and even though I hadn’t seen the movies in years, I could imagine most of it from his actions. Afterwards, he gave a talk about how he ended up doing the show, which was rather interesting. Then I went down to say hello to him, because he’s an ex-student of my Dad’s, and baby-sat me when I was little. When I told him who I was, he gave me a hug (I felt very cool) and we chatted for a while.

Thursday was quiet, I think. Friday afternoon I hung out with Chris for a while, and he fell asleep on my bed. Again. Sigh. I had dinner with Andrew, and then we decided to go for a walk. I wanted to get off campus, so we decided to try and find Pam and Alan’s house (friend’s of my Dad’s who we stayed with last spring). I knew which street it was on, but I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to recognize their house, so I tried to call Dad. Unfortunately, he was in Vancouver, so I talked with Robin for a bit, and then we continued down the street. A few minutes later, I looked over and saw a house that looked like theirs. Then I noticed the van in the yard, that looked like their van. And then I realized that the man getting out of the van looked like Alan. Sure enough, it was him, so stopped to chat for a bit. After that, we continued all the way down to the end of the street, then came back up to campus. We hung out with Devin and Esme for a while, then we went up to the common room and watched the fourth (original) Star Wars (I had a hankering to see them again since watching the show on Wednesday).

Saturday I spent all morning studying, and a bit of the afternoon. Then I ran out of steam and wrote until dinner. After dinner, I hung out with Sara, Joyce, and Jen, and then we went to the concert that Andrew, Devin, Gwen, and Rene were in. It had a bunch of different university vocal groups in it, and it was really good. We enjoyed ourselves a great deal, especially watching Andrew and Devin sing, and admiring Rene’s costume. Andrew’s parents, grandparents, and youngest brother were also there, and we talked to them a bit, and Diane (his mom) took a couple of pictures of all of us together. Then we went home (the performers remained for the after-party) and I went to bed around eleven.

Much to my surprise, I didn’t wake up until almost ten this morning.  I spent an hour working on my writing assignment, then had brunch and went to dance. Andrew was supposed to come with me, but he was still asleep. Dance was a lot of fun (duh!) and I bought tickets to the formal this week! This afternoon I did some homework, and now I’m procrastinating.

Oh, and as for the title of this post, one of the choirs last night (the UVic Exchange - groan!) sang that song (from the musical Oliver) and did a really good job. It also reminded me of Valentines. Like I could forget! For a festival that doesn’t even merit a day off, there sure is a lot of hype around it! Every store downtown has filled its front window with red and pink, and all the bookstores are advertising self-help relationship and sex books. Not to mention that every group on campus is either using it as a fundraiser or excuse for a party, or both. I think it’s rather cruel to all those of us who have no Valentines. Especially people who have just broken up with their significant other. I’m not complaining on my own behalf, you understand, I just think it’s cruel and unusual punishment.

Oh, and speaking of musicals (I mentioned one about a paragraph ago, remember?), I wore my Music Man t-shirt today to dance, and every other guy I danced with asked me who the music man is. It’s a play! Naturally, I ended up getting Gary Indianna stuck in my head. Sigh.

Take care all, and don’t let Valentines depress you!

Mounds of not-red-or-pink love,

Mim