I made an important phone call the other day.

I woman'd up and used the phone. Which is an accomplishment because I'm not a phone person. I ramble, have poor hearing. Even though texting is often rife with misunderstandings, I find it really difficult to talk to someone without reading facial cues and analyzing their body language.

I'm very odd like that. It's a problem.

I have been listening a lot to The Nerdist podcast lately. It's one of those things where listening to it makes me feel good. It was like when I first moved to Toronto for school a few years ago. I was at a school I was beginning to hate, missing my boyfriend and homesick beyond belief. So, I watched youtube clips of comedians which made me feel better, because laughing really does uplift your mood. I remember one summer, when I was 8 or 9, holing up in our basement watching British "Whose Line is it Anyway" during a thunderstorm, because storms scared the crap out of me.

I guess I ramble in all forms.

The point is that one of the Nerdist philosophies is don't dick around, just do it. If you want to be a stand-up comedian than you should write jokes everyday, go to open mics and stop making excuses for yourself. It's the old adage of you don't know how it will go until you try. So, if you do it for a bit and realize it's not right for you, that's cool and if it works out, that's awesome too.

It's a logical way of going about activities and goals, which is funny coming from a podcast I listen to for entertainment/comfort. I mean they coined the term "Vader pussy", this isn't exactly uber-intellectual. That would be lame anyway.

So, yes, important phone call. I'm moving my way up in life. Very, very slowly.

-Cathryn

Movie Character Outfit Re-Creations: Em

Kristen Stewart as Em from Adventureland

Melange Jersey Short Sleeve Gym T from American Apparel

[you can stencil the "GAMES" on yourself or find a screen-printing place]

Levi's 501 Boyfriend Short

-Cathryn

No one cares about your stupid diet!

Credit: Unknown

Here are some choice things I've heard from girls around me.

"I have to go to the gym, I've been eating obese food all week"

"I'm not eating carbs anymore/I've had my carb for the day"

"He wants to drink full calorie pop!"

Not to mention their full run-down of every thing they ate during the day or description [down to the minute] of what they were going to do at the gym, whining about needing to exercise before promptly flip-flopping about whether or not to go work-out [then declaring it was awful, because their iPod died halfway]. As well as the ever annoying struggle of whether or not to have an indulgence.

I'm tired of this self-loathing bullshit, but I truly hate it when it's the only topic of conversation. It's one thing to adopt a healthier lifestyle, but nobody else cares.

I do not care about the healthy new recipe you're going to try. I do not give a shit about the latest exercise craze. I don't give a fuck about your cleanse. I. DON'T. CARE.

And frankly, people seem stupid for talking about it. If a conversation turned to how great certain foods are for your health, my eyes are going to glaze over eventually, because it's boring.

Non-stop chatter between women about their diets promotes unhealthy body image and eating habits. "Oh no, Molly stopped eating chocolate, maybe I should too." "Heather stopped eating meat, I could never do something like that". Those are all personal choices for each person and if that's not your specific bag, then you don't have to buy it. People just can't believe it.

You tell someone they look awesome, and they say they can't fit in their jeans. You buy a slice of pizza, and a friend says they wished they had your high metabolism. If they lose ten pounds, they're a better person. To be fair this is the culture we live in that equates weight with health. If you're not eating a salad for lunch you're a bad person. That's what it feels like. But I don't really care. You can't judge me because I like grilled cheese and I can't afford organic peanut butter and almond milk. That's my business.

So "Riots, not diets", because that's far more interesting the rabbit food you indulge in.

-Cathryn

Happy Valentine's Day no one!

I feel like I was bombarded with more Valentine's Day sentiment than usual this year. But perhaps that's merely perception. Last year, I had the Olympics. Tonight I'm getting together with some friends and watching zombie movies. We're not bitter. This is a great example of how friends are all you really need some times.

In the meantime, I made another 8 tracks playlist.

It's all about love... because I used songs with "love" in the title, which doesn't necessarily mean they all have a happy ending.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Let's get the St. Patrick's Day bandwagon started!

Valentine's Day already?!

I understand that Valentine's Day paraphernalia starts coming out at the beginning of January. It's just accepted, like how Christmas starts November 1. But the only day specifically celebrated for love is still two weeks after February 1, people don't need to be discussing their plans until at least then.

I'm ambivalent about this day. I'm sure the majority of people are, in fact, not expecting the kinds of gifts marketing has us believe we want to give and receive. Chocolates! Flowers! Diamonds! Diamonds!! DIAMONDS!!! It is the busiest day for restaurants for a reason.

Personally, I would be happy with a hug, a kiss and a sincere wish of a happy day. The most I'd plan is making dinner together and staying in. A big Valentine's Day gesture would just skeeze me out, but most corny, over-the-top gestures skeeze me out. So maybe I'm just a weirdo.

Nonetheless, I recognize the positives of having a holiday celebrating love in the middle of winter. I would legitimately rather have this than waiting a couple more months for warmer weather. It breaks up the mind numbing monotony, for which you cannot argue.

For now, I have no plans, and I don't care. I don't have anything even remotely resembling a boyfriend so it kind of takes the pressure off. Last year, Valentine's Day, for me, started in a strip club and ended up with a guy friend of mine sleeping in my bed, more out of laziness than romance. Hopefully this year lives up to that hilarity.

Run for your life

Athleticism is not something that comes naturally to me. I definitely remember playing basketball and hating it because of all the running up and down the court. I did track and field for a couple of weeks before I lost interest. I even tried out for the volleyball team with one freaking kneepad on. Needless to say, I was not much of a joiner after that.

That doesn't mean that I reject exercise in all its forms. I just wish I could be better at it.

Have you ever seen the climax in 28 Days Later, set to John Murphy's "In the House - In a Heartbeat"? That scene is so fucking intense. It's this visceral experience where the music builds and builds as everyone is running around the mansion in a panic.

I was watching Inception the other night, and this isn't a new idea for me, but I got inspiration in a new form. Imagine how sick it would be to create a jogging playlist to the epic music you hear in movies. Not necessarily action movies but those are a good start. I feel like the best motivation to get me running is to imagine myself as some badass running after or away from some bad guys including, but not limited to murderers, monsters or zombies.

I'm sure it would beat any Pussycat Dolls or Kesha or whatever you have on your iPod.

It's also the closest you'll probably get to having a soundtrack to your life.

I made an 8 tracks mix for it.

It's a starting off point, I wanted to use songs from movies and then I realized I didn't have that many that were fit for running. Some techno, dubstep music would be just as effective. I'll probably make another one for more inspiration.

Okay, now get off your ass.

January is not for the weak

I feel like this winter is bumming me out more than usual. As in, I want to stuff my face with as much junk food as possible before sleeping for an eternity and a half, but generally just wanting to be left alone whenever possible. It's probably the fact that I'm broke and anxiously waiting for my OSAP to go through.

I can see why people shack up with someone over the colder months. Nothing helps the winter blues like someone on the 2011 equivalent of speed-dial. There's no expectation to go anywhere because that involves going outside and no one wants that. Just lots of dates with takeout and television which is down right pleasant.

Not that I'm the kind of person that seeks people to fulfill an emotional desire. That makes a sad person even sadder.

Nope, I'm going to keep on trucking until the snow's gone. What else can I do really?

-Cathryn