It's The Most Overrated Day Of The Year

It's New Years Eve and that means some combination of  work, food, drinking, drugs,  music, dropping balls, making out, free ttc rides, and sleep.

I really can't stand the pressure people put on new years. It's going to be so amazing blah de blah blah blah bla. 

Come to think of it new years has never really been that amazing for me. One year I had plans to go to one of those classy dinner dance events and the promoter cancelled it at the last minute.

Another year I went to time square and stood in the cold for 5 hours to watch the ball, which was probably a kilometer away from me drop. 

Last year I went clubbing and was standing in line at coat check at midnight...wooooooo fun. 

So this year I'm not doing anything. I'm hanging out with my room mates, having a few drinks and seeing where the night takes us. Maybe we'll wander down to city hall, maybe we'll watch movies, maybe we'll dance around in our underwear or maybe we'll fall asleep by 10.  All of these options are fine by me because they will all be fun without the expectation of being great. 

2010: Epic Epicness

You know that saying that implies that how you spend new years will be how you spend the rest of your year... Yeah, I always thought that was bullshit but in 2010 in tuned out to be true. Indulge me as I pay tribute to 2010…the best year of my life (or just stop reading, your choice).

Highlights in chronological order according to my memory:

New Years: Circa night club with Steph and Ray – I’m pretty sure that place doesn’t exists anymore.

new years

End of January: The Diva’s (my group of amazing girl friends from high school) all get together for the first time in 5 years. I truly miss them and it’s sad that we aren’t super close anymore but I’m thankful for cellphones and facebook which let me keep in touch with them as much as possible.

Beginning of March: Muse concert with “obstructed seats” which turned out to be amazing seats and cheap. Matt Bellamy and co knocked my socks off and I bought all their albums that I did not already have (which was most of them).

Middle of March: One of my best friends and I had a big falling out. We didn’t speak for 8 months but on her birthday I sent her a message. A few days later were hitting a dance floor on St. Patrick’s day and now we’re like two peas in a pod again.

End of March: Steph and I went to see David Guetta at the Guvernment. This event marked a big shift in my life. It was the first time I was truly exposed to house music/dj/rave culture and I fell in love. The Guv plays a role in many happy memories in 2010.

April: hey look there’re leaves on the trees and Kaskade is at This is London. Tickets are $35 bucks so Steph and I are there. Took some great photos of us that night.

May: My favourite late night talk show host was prohibited from appearing on television but that didn't stop me from seeing him at Massy Hall. 

I'm With Coco

June: Finally finished classes at Humber. I decide to take an internship at a music school. This is probably one of the best decisions I have ever made. I love that school, the staff, the kids, and what it stands for. Music means the world to me and I truly believe everyone should have access to high quality music education.

July: July was going to the be the most epic month ever. It didn’t go exactly as planned but it was still amazing!

July 1^st: Steph and I see Deadmau5 for the first time ever at the Guv. The cube was there and in full force. Unfortunately we got separated so while we didn’t get to experience it together but we still had an amazing time.

Deadmau5 on June 30th

One week later Steph and I are back together at the Lady GaGa show. Girl puts on a wicked show and Elton John was there.

Lady Gaga

The week after that I was supposed to see u2 three times but Bono’s back injury pushed the entire north American leg of the tour back a year. Whatever, 2011 will be full of u2 goodness.  I was also supposed to see Simon and Garfunkel but that got cancelled all together. I’m truly disappointed about that, it would have been a great night with my father.

End of July: I must say I’m not a fan of Bon Jovi, but I have friends who are in a Bon Jovi tribute band. I went to every one of their shows for almost a year so when real Bon Jovi rolled into town I figured it should see the real thing. It sucked. Concerts should just not happen at the Roger’s Centre unless the roof is open.

Bon Jovi @ The Roger's Centre

Middle of August: Freya and Claire return from India after 8 months. We celebrate by going to see John Mayer at the Molson Amphitheatre. He’s such a douche bag and it really distracts from his talent. Maybe next time you're here you should spend more time playing music and less time on twitter and talking about how hot you are. That’s not what I paid for!

End of August: I win free tickets to a private Brandon Flowers show at the modclub. Thanks Virgin Mobile. Crossfire is one of my favourite songs from 2010.

Beginning of September: The girls and I move into our new apartment in Chinatown. I LOVE LIVING DOWNTOWN.

Middle of September: The kids at RPSM get asked to perform Another Brick in the Wall with Roger Waters for 3 sold out shows at the ACC. I was lucky enough to play a small role in making a dream come true for our kids and watching a legend at work.

Fear Builds Walls

End of September: I make a decision to get a personal trainer for a year instead of paying off my student loan. This is the best decision I have ever made. My trainer pushes me not only to be a better athlete, but a healthier and happier person. I’ve never been as consistently happy and I’m sure that  exercise  plays a big role in that.

October: Yo October, you were more amazing than July.

First week of October: Steph and I drive out to London to see Deadmau5 at Western’s Homecoming. This tent party was sweet. Getting into a minor accident with my dads car and asshole western boys were not. $500.00 later the car is fixed and I can say deadmau5’s mom likes my shirt.

Deadmau5 @ Westerns Homecoming

Second week of October: Thanksgiving turkey and Calvin Harris at the Guvernment. Got love for you if you were born in the 80s.

Third week of October: Kaskade was at the government. I was there, but I don’t remember it and that’s why I won’t drink that much ever again.

Kaskade takes over the Guvernment

November was pretty laid back. The biggest highlight was graduation.

December: Happy 23^rd birthday to me. Jodi made me an amazing Deadmau5 cake. Then on boxing day I saw the mau5 himself at the guv and the last show of 2010 was definitely the best.  

I can’t wait for a relaxing new years. 2010 you were amazing. I hope 2011 is just as great or even better. 

A Year of Deadmau5 - Part One

Kendra's Talents:

1) extreme fandom                    

2) playlist making

3) internet procrastination

In 2010 my extreme fandom, playlist making and internet procrastination took a new direction as I fell in love with house music. This has resulted in Deadmau5 joining the ranks of U2 and Nine Inch Nails the musicians who define my existence. 

It's hard to believe that just a year ago I was among the masses that ask "What's a dead-maow-five?"

The brilliance of name like Deadmau5 is it allows the army of fans to immediately discover and initiate the new person who doesn't know it's pronounced dead-mouse. This is normally done by making fun of them to the point that they will a) never pronounce it wrong again and b) always make fun of others who do. 

Thankfully, I received my initiation from my good friend Stephanie Hannah. She's been listening to house for years, the influence of her british fiance. Unlike myself, she doesn't try to force her taste in music on others but when you've been friends with someone from almost 10 years the influence is inevitable. 

I had been taking the Ballet Bootcamp class at Flirty Girl Fitness for a couple months by January 2010. Just like most exercises classes the music was the same every week and  fell into the house/pop genre.  

I always looooved the first song of the class but I could never remember the lyrics to google when I got home. One day I asked the instructor for the name but the simple concept of writing it down eluded me.

A small miracle happened and I remembered a sole piece of identifying information. 

"Hey Steph, I'm trying to find this song...it's pretty and it's by someone and someone else who's name ends with five" 

"mmmm it's it 'Move For Me by Kaskade and Deadmau5?"

One simple youtube search later and an obsession was in its infancy.

Birthday Turkey

Today is Christmas Eve and in my family that means it's turkey day! 

Christmas Eve also happens to be my Father's birthday. So we do our big family Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve, then presents in the morning and everyone goes to the significant other's family for dinner on Christmas Day. In my case this often means watching movies in my basement and chowing down on all my stocking chocolate. Personally, I think this is a better option then in law visiting. Yey, spinsterhood. 

My Dad and I both have December birthdays. I was actually due on Christmas Day, but my mom was going to stroke out if they didn't rip me out of her. So on December 9th she had a C Section and I entered the world as a fussy, vomiting Christmas gift.  

I am so thankful that I almost killed my mother as a fetus. Two weeks before Christmas means that people acknowledge my birthday as its own event. As a selfish child that meant I got two sets of presents. As a selfish adult that means I get to choose what I want for my birthday dinner. On the other hand my poor father has no say. Every year it's the same: Turkey, Chocolate Cake and Apple Pie. Don't get me wrong, our Christmas dinner is probably the most delicious meal we have all year, but I somehow doubt it is the meal he would choose if his birthday was June 24th instead of December 24. 

Unfortunately your birth date is the one thing in your life you have zero control over. So happy birthday Daddy. May we have plenty of turkey dinners in our future!!

Much love, 

Kendra.

Am I A Bitch?

Asking am I a bitch is like asking a rhetorical question? The obvious answer is yes.

Don't get me wrong I am an incredibly kind and caring person, but I'm also opinionated, kind of awkward and oddly confident. That combination often gets mistranslated into "bitch."

This most often comes out when someone gives me complements.

some examples:

friend: "hey Kendra, you look really good today!" "
me: "Yeah, I know eh. Thanks..."

friend: "I really like spending time with you."
me: "Good. You should."
(side note: this one is particularly bad, because as the words come out of my mouth I already feel bad for not saying 'I really like you too' and then continue to feel bad for not saying it a while but do not express this because the moment has passed.)

friend: "did you change your hair?..It looks good"
me: "Obviously."

trainer: "That was a great set!"
me: "I think we can all agree, 'great' is a bit of an overstatement...let's just say 'better'."

Most people have problems accepting complements. Sometimes I feel like I'm almost too good at accepting them. I'm always thankful and appreciative of the complements I receive, but I wonder if other people recognize it. I think I need to work on having more grace and poise when responding.

What's My Age Again?

Today is my 23rd birthday. To celebrate I'll be editing my bio and listening to some blink182.