Claude Hooper Bukowski

I booked my flight to the UK for my sister Chloe's wedding. I booked through A Canadian Affair. I normally fly Air Canada but it was way more expensive. I will be flying on Air Transat, it was 200$ cheaper booking on A Canadian Affair than the Air Transat website. My direct/return flight to Manchester, taxes in, was 818$.



I get in on June 21st, a Thursday. Pear Jam will be playing, I've never seen them play but I did see them in person at the Tiff11 screening of their eponymous Cameron Crowe directed doc. It would be cool to go with Marc and Chloe and Wayne if they are interested.

I was very apprehensive about making the booking because without a job I can't really afford the trip, but I can't miss my sisters wedding and the aeroplan points on my credit card will bring me one step closer to another trip to Japan (which I also can't yet afford).

Granny Mo's B Day

My grandma turned 78 today and my mom held a very nice dinner party for her. Paul and I took the GO bus to Mississauga andI decided to stay over to watch the new episodes of Mad Men (Mom has cable).

Gmo blows out her cake

Mom tells an animated tale, while Auntie Chrissy listens

The very least I could do

I'm in the domestic Maple Leaf Lounge at YVR with four hours to kill till my flight home to Toronto. This lounge is a lot larger and much classier looking than the lounge in the international terminal.

I'm going to use this time to drink complementary Guinness and add pictures to the few posts I managed to start but never publish.

I feel somewhat revitalized, I will try and make relevant daily posts all this week.

Last Day in the Mission

The famed Sweet Chinito Breakfast Croissant 

I'm chilling in thr Bernal Heights area of the Mission district of San Francisco, eating my Sweet Chinito breakfast croissant for the third day in a row. I could never get tired of this thing. I will miss it. Mike is on a bus returning from Tahoe NV, we will be flying to his home in Seattle tonight.

I had a great time with Matt and ran into enough old friends to make it a really fun short trip. I love San Francisco and I'm lucky to have so many cool friends here.

I want to go to Amoeba Records and find some cool vinyl.

A spin around Delores Park

It's a big Sunday for us in San Francisco. I'm staying at Matt's place in the Mission. It feels like home I've been here so often. I'm not here for long so we have to make today count.

Sandwich from Sweet Chinito

We went to gamestop to trade in a bunch of Matt's used xbox games. Matt (on impulse) decided to buy  3ds on a whim, something I didn't have the stones for 2 days previous and now regret.

We went to the "pimp suit" store on Mission, between 20th & 19th (I'm such a "local", I knew where we were going with no need for Google). Matt wanted a Leap Day William suit, but after getting fitted they told us it couldn't be ready for Wednesday (Leap Day). It's an expensive joke that will now have to be shelved for another four years.

We picked up sandwiches at Sweet Chinito. It's been over a year since I've had one, and I missed it so much. I got my classic, Turkey, Bacon, and Provolone Cheese on Dutch Crunch Bread.


I love spending time in Delores Park on a Sunday. We ran into Jim and Ashlie, Burner friends from Shadyvil. We sat down and chatted with them for a bit. Matt took this time-lapse video using a GoPro affixed to a Ikea egg-timer on a tripod.




Matt's back was really sore. He scheduled us for Massage in Japantown. I've never been to San Francisco's Japantown before, but I've been to Japan and this is the next best thing. The mall was really cool, I wanted to eat at every restaurant in the place. The massage was my first, it was awesome. It was almost painful but well worth it. She got all the knots out of my shoulder blade.

We met Bobby at Trader Joes and then met up with Mike back in the Mission. We ate some sushi and played Mario Superstar Sluggers.

In flight blogging

I'm gonna write this with my thumbs on my cellphone. Usually I am lucky enough to grab the isle seat but on these 5 hours i will be sandwichced between two ladies (ideal). I can hit post when I land or when I get to Matt's wifi in the mission.

My last US roaming data adventure cost me an extra 30$ on my rogers bill.

I sure got my moneys worth in the lounge considering it was free.

Air Canada has one of the best PVRs in the entire airline industry. I'm going to watch Tin Tin, even though I should see it on Imax instead of the 7" screen before me.

I almost impulse bought a Nintendo 3ds yesterday. I know now that it would have been a good purchase.

When the food goes by I think im gonna buy an in flight beer and chicken wrap w/cashews. Somehow they comped my beer.

I dozed off and woke about 20 minutes before landing. I spent that time trying not to void my bowels.
I'm back in San Francisco, a quick BART ride and I'm home in the Mission.

Fly Sunny J Class

With only the slightest bit of shmoozing I find myself with complementary Maple Leaf lounge access.
I had my sob story ready but Elizabeth barley heard any of it before giving me the keys to shangrila.
This is my happy place. I love the lounge.
People bitch about Air Canada but i have no complaints.
The hot beef & barley soup warms my belly. A soothing familliar feeling befofe the sudden shock of chilly rye & cokes.
I would have gladly paid for the lounge(normally 35$) but my flight was in the morning. Now that my flight is at 630 it makes sense(booze-wise), but its too late to add the option to the flight.
Earlier I said no complaints, but it does apear they are out of cookies.

Never mind, they have been restocked (as has my beverage).

Looks like its time to fly.

Flight Cancelled, re-booked

I was staying up all night for an early transit ride to Pearson for a 9 am flight to San Francisco. I got a text message from Air Canada at 2:45 am about my flight being cancelled. I quickly hopped on the website to find out if I was screwed. Thankfully it has nothing to do with labour strife and everything to do with inclement  weather. I moved fast to re-book on a later flight. The first flight I selected jammed up but the second time I tried I was successful. I will be getting in at 9pm instead of noon. I was really looking forward to spending a Saturday afternoon in my city by the bay but better that my whole trip wasn't shot to shit.

Since my flight now doesn't leave till 4pm, I wish I had added Maple Leaf Lounge access. I guess I can try and get some rest now that I dont have to be on the first subway out, 

sleepy

I volunteered at the lightbox for "Family Day" today. It wasn't busy at all.

Afterwards I went to see The Secret World of Arrietty(Kari-gurashi no Arietti). I watched it when I was in Japan, but this was the english dub.

I was so tired I passed out at 4:30 and just woke up before midnight to watch some tv.

I don't think the antibiotics are working.

one was one too many at rex

Con Air at the Tiff Bell Lightbox was brilliantly stupid. Sure, I saw it back in the day, but back then I wore the rose-coloured glasses of a 15 year old desperate for 2 hours of escapism. To see it with a theatre full of shlock connoisseurs was truly an experience to be had. It's was absolutely ridiculous. At first it almost seems tongue-in-cheek, but in reality it's taking itself completely serious. I had such a good time. I hope the lightbox programs more of this type of fare in the future.

After the movie I went to the REX to meet Shawna and some pals for a pint.

The pharmacist at Shoppers Drug Mart had advised me not to consume alcohol while taking my prescribed antibiotics. Next time I will heed his advice. I threw up 5 minutes after getting home.

It was worth it to see Shawna and everyone and hear some good jazz.

baby steps though blogging

I should try and write a little bit every day. I have to write something everyday. I have been quite ill.

I spent the day volunteering at the Lightbox. It's the "Bell Free Weekend" and wasn't nearly as busy as it was last year, when thousands came for the free Tim Burton Exhibit and movies. They didn't screen any big name family titles that could draw crowds (although the older folks turned up for the Oscar-nominated Monsieur Lazhar) Hopefully next year they will have a little more going on for the kids.

It was great to see my friend Lars, who I haven't spoken to since before I went to Japan. He just got a job at the Lightbox, I'm very happy for him (and proud too). He's a film buff and a Jays fan, so we had much to discuss but only spoke a little (he's a responsible employee, after all). I'm headed back there now to meet up with him and watch the Nic Cage classic Con Air.

Kevin Smith announces Jay & Silent Bob's Super Groovy Cartoon Movie

Kevin Smith in Toronto

Kevin Smith announces new Jay & Silent Bob cartoon, hopes to premiere at tiff.

Last night Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes returned to the big screen for Kevin Smith: Live from Behind. A one night only live podcast and Q&A recorded at the Scotiabank Theatre in Toronto and simulcast in theatres across North America.

The podcast of Jay & Silent Bob Get Jobs will be available on Smodcast.com soon.

The big announcement of the night was the existence of Jay & Silent Bob's Super Groovy Cartoon Movie, An animated feature with live-action elements. The animation will be produced by Starktoons (of Smodimation fame). Kevin said he hoped to screen it in September at the Toronto International Film Festival during Midnight Madness.

On the subject of Hit Somebody!

Kevin Smith Live from behind.

I thought the show started at 7 but when I got to the Scotiabank Cineplex i discovered the actual start time was 9:30. Because its close to home I decided to go back instead of waiting. The line is prigressing quickly so it should start on time. It's being simulcast live so it has to be on time.

Autobus a Toronto

Im on the megabus back home. My traveling days are done for a while. If I was to lay out my plans for the year it would be San's Seatle Trip in May, my sister Chloe's English Wedding in July, and if I get a ticket then Burning Man in august.
The power suply on this so called "megabus" isn't enough to charge my phone, so as much as i would love to keep blogging i feel i must retire with the latest smodcast 199.

Cafe avec mon Perre

I'm wastching a band play a morning set in a cafe with my dad. The band is lead by John Speed a jazzy trio, my dads girlfriend Dorianne sings backup for the on weekends. This place is quaint (Le Depaneur Cafe) and the tunes are solid. These guys are great musicians. Dad just told me to imagine the sound with three ladies singing backup, which i was just thinking of.
I'm going back to Toronto on the bus tonight. Its so nice to spend this time with my dad. Coffee & music. Yesterday was coffee and a movie. Just good times.

Tool Rocks Over London

TOOL totally rocked my ass off. They opened with Hooker With A Penis. We had great seats right on the floor(a most excellent birthday gift from Jagger). It was the closeest either of us have been to the band (Jagz has seen them six times and I a mere five). The John Labbat Centre seemed pretty full, but it looked like even the cheap seats got a nice look at the action.

After the show we hung out at Jaggr's friends place for a few Crown Royals mixed with Schweps (the spumonte bambino of ginger ales).

We laid our heads to rest at the executive suites(jagger rented a room because of my rediculously early train).

Slow train to TOOL

Union Station was used as the dystopic Henry Rollins hobo-hospital in Johnny Nemonic.

I'm leaving my laptop at home and blogging through my phone. Its just to heavy to lug around. I'm getting a new mac soon, but even then do i want to carry a brand new baby all around? An android tablet rocking 4.0 would be perfection, this screen size just isn't enough for my near blindness.

I'm off  to London, Ontario, to  see TOOL, one of the best live rock acts to ever tour. They hit Toronto last night and i would have been at that show too in my younger days. But instead I rested. I'm more mature now and am less likely to folliw a band from city to city. I might eat my words if the Smashing Pumpkins decide to rock nearby. I'm taking the train. I bought my ticket on the internet when I was in Japan, I guess it was a boxing day sale cause it was about 50% off.

I jam back to Toronto in the morning and go straight from the train to the bus for my annual Igloofest trip to Montreal.

I have to say that Via Rail sucks once you have been on the Shinkansen. The service is fine and I got a great price on the ticket. Its a just a real shame we don't have bullet trains in North America. I would be there already. I bitch but I snooze on the train and we are there in figurative "no-time" instead of literally no time.

Downtown London is a depressant. Lots of nerdowells. I check out the Starbucks, they only have a Canada mug, nothing for London.
I explore the sad mall and decide to wait for Ashlie to finish work while drinking a beer at the Fox & Fiddle.
I will add the bar playlist when i get to my laptop for some cut & paste from Shazam.

I use different phone apps to give my photos a little spice. Blog posts without photos are lame. I hope to get some good shots of Maynard tonight.

falling behind

I'm using my laptop tethered through my phone while I wait for the rogers guy to show up and fix my internet. Pretty cool.

I have a lot of blog maintenance to get to.

My burning Man blog is going to get a kick in the pants.

My postcard blog is kind of a mess. I have to sort through all my cards and figure out whats been posted and what still needs to go up.

My Japan blog needs to be polished, posts completed with pictures added and such.

No time for any of that now, I have to go to the Lightbox since I took a volunteer shift this afternoon.

Big Week

My internet service provider, Teksavvy has let me down for the first time. I pay the big bucks for high speed but it went down on Sunday and it could take a Rogers guy 3 days to get out and fix it. So I'm back at the Ol' Second Cup across the street from my place. It's frustrating cause I have a lot of blogging to do and it's cheaper to do at home(I don't have to buy coffee).

I went to the medical clinic down the street since the dysentery I developed a few days ago has so far refused to abate. 

I'm excited for this week, even more than last week. Sure a 30th birthday and a trip to New York is a big deal, but this week I'm going to London Ontario to see TOOL (along with Jagger and Ashlie) and then Montreal for my annual Igloofest trip(w/Matt Ian and Brooke).

Before that I have a few volunteer shifts at tiff Bell Lightbox, which is one of the highlights of my life. I love the festival and the people I meet there. I'm stockpiling movie vouchers so I can see all the Studio Ghibli movies when tiff has a retrospective in March.

Nature calls, hope this imodium kicks in soon (says the guy drinking coffee). 

I have a subwoofer too, assholes

The assholes downstairs have never lived away from their mommies. Now that they are big grown-ups they can play their music as loud and as late as they want with no repercussions. Except for me.
They party like kids do (I'm so old, calling them kids), whooping when the music gets extra awesome.

I have asked them to turn it down in the past, the effect lasts only as long as their tiny minds can retain the thought.

I have no problem with them having a good time, but past 2 am it starts to wear on me. It kept going till 5:30 am, at which point they decided to watch a stand-up special at the same volume till about six.

I waited a little bit.

At 7:30 am I put on some tunes of my own.

I inherited this insane asshole gene from my father, it can be ugly, but it can also be incredibly useful.
Hip hop fans hate Death Cab for Cutie, and Radiohead, it baffles them. So  those tunes became the foundation for my "Fuck you douches" playlist. Oops! The subwoofer seems to have tipped over and is now facing the floor and the bass is up to 11.

It had the desired effect of pissing them off enough bang on the locked outer door and then to call my brother (who isn't even home).

I enjoy a cup of coffee sweetened with vengeance.