Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in bran_the_ass' LiveJournal:

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Sunday, June 25th, 2006
7:14 pm	Nine Inch Nails was wicked! Although, oddly enough, I ran into one of my ex-girlfriends, not cool at all, not cool at all. The first time I saw her, she didn't see me, and I'm not the type to approach someone about my past and reflect. I only saw her for ten seconds but was pretty sure it was her. Then, later on, I walked right past her, by accident, and didn't think she saw me. A few moments later, she walked past me, and definitely saw me. She said hey, how are you, I said fine, you? and she said fine and kept walking. I wasn't having any of it. Not happy to see her at all. Didn't spoil my party though. The beer's were a flowin (10.25 each but they were huge!). Can't wait till my next show, maybe People In Planes and/or Danny Michel. Hopefully both. (Comment on this)
Saturday, June 17th, 2006
12:45 pm	Why do I put myself through the ringer, over and over? (Comment on this)
Monday, June 12th, 2006
6:48 pm	If ever you dream that you've got a large centipede stuck in your mouth, and you're having trouble getting it out because it's too wide, and you wake up with clenched fists and nail marks in your palm, don't get out of bed, trust me, don't get out of bed. (Comment on this)
Saturday, May 27th, 2006
5:22 pm	I got the weirdest phone call today. Woke me out of a sound sleep, and the woman said, "Hi Brendan, I got paid today, we won't have to eat Kraft dinner for a while now..." and I said, "Who is this? and she said, "It's Suzanne, your wife, is this Brendan." So used to people mispronouncing my name, I said, yes this is Brendan, but I don't know anyone names Suzanne and she hung up on me. The nerve. Hang up on her husband. I kept waiting for something in my head to click, like, 'Oh, yeah, my wife Suzanne." Nothing clicked though. Maybe it was some weird sci-fi call from the future. (Comment on this)
Monday, May 22nd, 2006
8:12 pm	Thoughts As I was driving from Pickering yesterday, back to Kitchener, I was thinking about how I'm one day going to die. I started thinking about how I wanted everyone to come to my funeral as if it were a costume party, dressed as zebras and clowns and all sorts of things. I don't want my death to be mourned, I want my life to be celebrated. I also want people to be in good spirits, so I figure having Steven Wright's comedy played in the background would keep everyone cheery. I also want my tombstone to say a few things. Obviously it should say the regular things, like father, husband, friend, brother, but above all of that, I want it to say two words. I lived. Odd, I know. I'm keeping my fingers crossed on something. Cara Mae knows what I'm talking about as we spoke earlier about it, and she can tell Kris if she wants. Also, my earlier posts are definitely a little odd (or so I've been told) but I'll keep em, as they're what I've been thinking lately. BW (1 Comment |Comment on this)
1:58 pm	Pact Let's make a pact, you and I, to stand together, until we die. Let's make a pact, you and I, to fight together, until we die. Let's make a pact, you and I, to face the pain and beauty of the world, until we die. Let's make a pact, you and I, to laugh, explore, and cherish the world in front of us, until we die. Let's make a pact, you and I, to be honest, open, and humble, until we die. Let's make a pact, you and I, to live life to its fullest, until we die. Until we die, and perhaps beyond. (Comment on this)
Sunday, May 21st, 2006
10:13 pm	Truce It’s time to call a truce. I can’t handle it anymore. Since I was born, you’ve been in my face, putting your little jingles in my head and trying to get me to buy your products that I don’t need. You’re everywhere: billboards, magazine advertisements, radio commercials, television commercials, product placement and even clothing logos. Everywhere. When I'm out in public, I walk through a department store and someone tries to sell me cologne, on the street, someone tries to sell me chocolate bars for charity. And I'm not even safe at home, someone tries to sell me newspaper subscriptions over the phone, there's spam in my email, commercials on my television, junk mail in my mailbox, advertisements inside of advertisements. Where does it end? Let’s call a truce. I’ll promise not to spend any money on any new products any longer if you promise not to pester me any more. If I need something, I’ll let you know. But it doesn’t work that way, does it? It’s not that easy, is it? If I walk past you and ignore you while you pitch at me, little boy selling chocolate in the parking lot, know that your cute cheeks and friendly demeanor aren’t the reason; the reason is I’ve called a truce. If I walk past you and don’t look your way or pretend not to speak English, woman selling cologne in the department store, it’s only because I’ve called a truce. If I need something, I’ll let you know. (Comment on this)
Wednesday, May 17th, 2006
10:30 pm	New New Job I gots a new new job, and it's super sweet. Long days though. But complete freedom. Next agenda, world domination. (Comment on this)
Friday, May 5th, 2006
5:04 pm	Jobs That's a good attitude. If it's not bitching about one thing it's bitching about another. Pretty typical actually, I'm not really surprised. The writing continues. Almost finished story number three for the News Advertiser. One more quick call, Monday morning, and I should be done. Found meself a job, although mes not sure how long me'll keep it. And I've got an interview for something else later on, which looks promising. Should be an interesting summer, either way. I've had two job interviews in the last week and got both jobs. Although one shouldn't count, as it was my old job, and I couldn't do it because it would've conflicted with the Record. The new job seems flexible enough. B ps: Phoenix, you best win game 7 tomorrow night! Wish I could watch it. Ontario Newspaper Awards, here I come! (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, May 3rd, 2006
11:21 am	Sleep Addict I woke up this morning, happy and well rested. I think part of the reason for that is because I had my window open. It's nice having a constant source of fresh air in here. My room is kind of small, so opening the window helps. Here is a list of other things I enjoy: Waking up to birds chirping. Waking up and realizing I have 10 minutes before my alarm goes off. Falling back asleep. Waking up and hitting snooze. Falling back asleep into the same dream I was in before. Hitting snooze again. I love that my clockradio plays cds, so I wake up to Dave Mathews band every morning. The snooze button must've been God's gift to people like me: sleep addicts. (Comment on this)
Saturday, April 29th, 2006
2:54 am	Capers Capers. Capers. A very appropriate name for a bar. Capers. At least last night it was. Order of most important to least important. Guy gets glass or bottle thrown at his head. Guy sits in his chair in shock while his left eye and his head begin to drip blood all over the floor. Whats nearly as bad? The girl he'd been talking to all night gets traumatized, and comes over and starts talking to me. I try to keep her attention away from what happened, and we start chatting. Don't I feel like a heel. She seemed nice enough, so I gave her my email. God I'm a jerk. She should be chatting up the guy who got the cheap shot in the face. Then, she leaves, and things are just downhill from there. Yes, downhill from a guy getting hit in the face w/ a glass, yes, downhill from there. So, I get introduced to some girl, whos hammered, and begins to feel me up (at least up my shirt, didn't grab my boobs at least...:) right in front of her parents. They weren't too happy. Then she keeps trying to make out with me. And my friends are encouraging her. Talk about stuck in the middle. Scariest part? I found out afterward, her parents said to my friend that she was 16. She said she was 19 at one point, then she said she was 18. Her brother was there too, and he told my friends the parents were just saying that. Scary stuff. Capers? Fitting name I'd say. Very fitting. And Kris, you seem to be able to critize, but when I offer some back, you snap. My throat was as bad as you were exhausted, we all have our bad days. My version of light my fire was horrid, I know. But, and this is a big but! the rest of the songs I did were better. I saw her standing there I was especially happy with. Didn't get booed off the stage like when I went up with Paul and Brent (for the record, if I'd had a microphone we wouldn't have been booed off the stage, just kidding, it's a baaaaad song!). Anyways, Capers could be the word to describe my friendship with Kris. Always up to no good, him and I. Guess it's bed. And I'm done for the year! (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, April 28th, 2006
7:46 am	Published Here's my first story: http://www.durhamregion.com/dr/regions/durham/story/3466472p-4005521c.html Not sure how long that'll last so here: (they ran the pic I took too) Stafford introduced thousands to the wonders of nature Conservation teacher enjoyed students the most Apr 27, 2006 By Brandon WalkerSpecial to the News Advertiser More from this author CLAREMONT -- For 26 years Barb Stafford's smiling face has welcomed students from across Durham Region and beyond to the Claremont Conservation Field Centre. For students living in big cities, the centre is often the first chance to experience a forest, a stream and wild animals, offering a hands-on opportunity to learn about the wonders of the environment. Ms. Stafford, who taught more than 100,000 children over her career, retired at the end of March and says she's going to miss the students the most. Friends and family wished her well during a party on April 21 at the centre. "I'm going to miss getting the kids to do things they never thought they'd do and the look of surprise on their faces once they've done it," Ms. Stafford admitted. She recalled one girl at an art-and-nature camp who was afraid to touch everything. "We were doing a contest to see which group could catch more crayfish and when this little girl got out there she kept whispering to herself, 'I'm not touching anything, I'm not touching anything'," she recalled. "We spent an hour and a half catching fish and I can still see her face when we were done; she didn't want to come out. 'No, we're going to win. I gotta get five more crayfish.' And she was picking them up by hand." She enjoyed watching kids make new friends and not wanting to leave the centre. Although Ms. Stafford started off as a teacher in York Region, she left on maternity leave and never found her way back to an indoor classroom. Instead, she started working at the Claremont centre part-time on weekends with her husband and eventually it became permanent. "This is probably where I was meant to be," she said. "Although the one thing I regret is not having the same core group of kids all year long. I would've liked to have watched their progress." The Claremont centre is a cedar log cabin that was built in 1969 on a 160-hectare lot near Duffins Creek. Students from seven to 19 years of age stay from two-and-a-half to five days and learn about forestry, aquatic and terrestrial biology, physical geography, ecology and basic survival training. In the winter, students also have the opportunity to participate in cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Groups generally leave the centre with a better understanding of community and as a stronger team. Phil Joiner, the education co-ordinator at the centre for the last 15 years, said Ms. Stafford has an amazing ability to connect with kids. "She's very knowledgeable on all sorts of things. It's always nice to have someone pull you down to Earth once and a while," he said. Carey Gurden, groundskeeper at the centre for the last four years, said Ms. Stafford was the first person to approach him. "She keeps everyone in line and when you're around Barb you always learn something," he said. Mr. Gurden said Ms. Stafford has endless patience with children. "She really gets the environmental conservation message across. The kids leave with a different attitude about nature and they have fun. Even at 60 years old, most kids couldn't keep up with her," he said. To settle into retirement, Ms. Stafford and husband Keith plan on taking a trip to England this summer. She still plans on doing some weekend work at the centre, but she'll also take more quilting courses in her spare time and maybe teach adult literacy. One thing is for certain; wherever she goes she'll be smiling. "She allows me to let loose. We've all become very good friends and we'll miss her every day," Mr. Gurden said (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Thursday, April 27th, 2006
6:29 pm	2nd Go Round After writing an article for the Ajax/Pickering News Advertiser last weekend, they've asked me to write another one. How cool is that? (Comment on this)
2:12 am	Does anyone know if LJ allows podcasting? I'd love to be able to just record my entries with my mic and export them to livejournal instead of typing them. I think that would be way cooler and much more fun. Lemme know. Gots to sleep. B ps: Picked up some cool shiznit today from Out of the Past. Got a 70's windbreaker that says Funk's G Hybrid and it's got racing stripes. I love'er. Nite. (Comment on this)
Monday, April 24th, 2006
10:48 pm	Interview Answers to Vital essence interview 1. What do you *hate* the most about journalism? I can't even think of anything I hate. I'll skip this question and come back to it. There really is nothing that I hate about journalism. Maybe the only thing is that I'm really anti-business, and in the end, even journalism is a business. So, unfortunately, sometimes the newspaper matches it's ideals around the readers instead of trying to lead, in order to ensure they don't lose many readers by offending people. 2. If you could spend a day as someone of a different race, gender or sexual orientation from yourself... which would you choose and why? I think I'd choose a gay black woman, just to try to see what's it's like to be such a minority. I'd love to see life through every person's eyes. 3. If you were in an animated cartoon strip or comic book or TV show that was most reflective of the way that you view the world, which would it be and why? I'd have to say either Smurfs (because of the sense of community they had and how they all seemed to pull together like a team) or Thundercats (for probably the same reason). I've always been a team guy. 4. What song lyrics most describe your inner self? I'd say a song by Hawksley Workman. Goes a little something like this *clears throat*. "You bought a gun, cause you thought I wouldn't listen, to your mouth full of nails, shining like the afternoon, with a face that'd, topple tidal waves...." Can't remember the rest. It's just whacky. 5. If you could be the Prime Minister of Canada, what is the first thing you would attempt to change and why? I'd make weed legal for the folks who smoke't and make sure they don't make gay marriage illegal. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, April 21st, 2006
9:04 am	Awards I attended an awards ceremony last night for my journalism program and I'd say I did pretty well for myself. Not only did I get honourable mention in four or five different categories I also won the Kool FM Award for best live radio (my friend Tim and I are splitting it) I also won journalist of the year! Apparently I'm the first second year student to ever win it! I was in shock that I won although I had a feeling I might. Lets see if I can do it all again next year, Brandon (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, April 18th, 2006
1:43 am	Drole Je suis tres tres drole. Actually, je suit slightly drunk. (only took me four times to write that). It's my roommmates b-day, so of course we had steak and went out and partied. Plus it was a full moon tonight, or nearly, so us men can be excused our manly instincts. Two weeks and I'm done for the year. Also, awards banquet Thursday, I'll keep you updated. Bran (Comment on this)
Tuesday, April 11th, 2006
9:51 am	Quote From Fledgling. "Treat your people well. Let them see that you trust them and let them solve their own problems, make their own decisions. Do that and they will willingly commit their lives to you. Bully them, control them out of fear or malice or just for your own convenience, and after a while, you'll have to spend all your time thinking for them, controlling them, and stifling their resentment." (Comment on this)
1:48 am	Creativity I've got to get this all out, before I forget. Tonight, I was all set to get to work. I've got a story due Wednesday, a story due Thursday and a television and radio piece due, whenever, sometime, not quite sure, Wednesday or Thurs... Anyway, so I was determined to work on one of my stories. I did two phone interviews (one at 8 and one at 9) tonight and felt the urge to write. So what did I do instead? I picked up this amazing book I've been reading, called Fledgling, and sat on my chair, and started reading it. A few minutes later,the room suddenly got darker and for a second, I wasn't sure why. But then, I figured it out, one of the three lights in my ceiling fan, the one that was aimed directly at my book, went out. When I realized the light that was aimed directly at me, was out, I took that as a sign I should get to work. It just felt right. So I started working. And the words just flew out. I was painting pictures and making connections, I was writing the way I've only written a handful of times and it felt incredible. I feel, right now even, the way I felt when I broke my first major, and I mean, really major, story with the school newspaper. It's like being high. I didnt sleep all that first night or most of the next. I had to get that story on the page or else it might've made me ill (or worse). (Just an update, I was re-reading this, if I remember right, it did make me ill. I was getting pretty close to being sick, my neck was pulsing, and I was pale. I couldn't even really eat, I was literally, possessed by the story. I kept writing and rewriting the story in my head. Now, I have to add this, before I forget. So, tonight, when I was done writing, I turned out my ceiling fan light to go to bed. As I was walking to bed, the light above my chair flickered, really quickly, but it flickered. I got into bed and said to myself, Oh, wow. Then, on instinct, I went and turned my ceiling fan light back on, and it worked. All of the lights worked (that should, one was out before already). Takes me back to when I went and saw Roz, the psychic consultant from Waterloo. She said I've got huge creative bents I should be exploring. She also said I should be reading about the Secrets of Shaminism (that's the name of the book she suggested, by Jose Stevens). I did buy it and started reading it but haven't seriously practiced any of it. Something tells me (besides even what Roz said) that I should be exploring my abilities and my creativity more. She said I should get into teaching, maybe what I'm taking, but also into writing books, which is something I always wanted to do. Alas, perhaps I should try sleeping again, Night all, Bran ps: Just as a side note, Fledgling is an amazing amazing book. I can't recommend it enough. It might be about vampires, but it's really about community. (Comment on this)
Sunday, April 9th, 2006
2:24 pm	Weekend The video journalism was a success. I spent Saturday afternoon/evening filming myself on the street in downtown Guelph and in a church, where the Gueph Reads event was held. I got about 2.5 hours of footage which I'll have to mix down to a minute, thirty. Should be interesting. I've also got to write an editorial for Wednesday about the Dutch cartoons, do a sports feature story for Thursday (1200-1500 words w/ three sources and I haven't started)do a radio piece (doin that interview tonight) and I'm working tonight, Tuesday, and Thursday. I got Wednesday off to get a tour of TSN, should be fun. Hit Abstract last night, although I shouldn't've. I've been pretty sick, plus I chipped a tooth Wednesday or Thursday, and now it's really sharp and is stabbing into my tongue. Not fun at all. Got a dentist appointment for tomorrow to take care of that. Better get to it, Bran (Comment on this)