It's All Hallows Eve, the scariest of scray holidays, right behind Labour Day (ooooo, Labour Day). I watched Halloween at Andrea's place while she carved a wicked pumpkin and tortured her cat, all while wearing her sexy Halloween costume.

Kat's party was fun. I kept my mask on for the first half and freaked out a couple of people who didn't know who I was. I had the weird feeling of sitting in a friend's apartment a year and a half after hanging out with her on a regular basis. Kat's made a lot of new friends. And good for her, of course. But it was strange sitting there, looking around, not knowing so many faces.

Tonight: another party celebrating the holiday and Andrea's 21st birthday. That's right, by tomorrow morning she'll be legal everywhere.

It was gorgeous outside today. I went for a walk to the Beer store and the weather was incredibly fair. Halloween deserves a great autumn day. The sun hitting dead leaves.

Orson Welles will always be the man. Just finished listening to Mercury Theatre's War of the Worlds broadcast, and Welles' performance of Professor Pierce is dynamite. That man could read a pile of road signs and make it sound as though the human condition were being placed under a microscope.

It's been a lazy day. I find myself continually coming up with excuses for putting off things I would like/need to get done. I did get in an hour of reading. I think by this time next week I'll have a much better idea of how I should go about scheduling my days.

I picked up a pumpkin at Hartman's today, one of the few they had left. I'll probably leave for Kat's place in about an hour.

My record with job interviews has been pretty damn good since I entered the world of employment. There have been occasions in which I've gone into an interview and not secured the job, but I'm usually quick with the responses and good with the attitude and never say the wrong thing. Today was no exception. Great test scores, great interview, great feeling, great results.

"I'd be crazy not to hire you."

They're going to let me know officially early next week, once interviews are through, but I'm very confident it's a lock. I'd be working at least 30 hours a week at a fantastic pay rate. I'll be making more money than I ever have at any job. Which means I'll start paying back my loan while worrying less about money. I'll be in a great spot.

Not a bad day at all. I received three new hardcover Oz books in the mail (Rinkitink, Scarecrow and Tin Woodman), so I only need three to complete my Baum collection. I watched the director's cut of Amadeus, a movie I'd never seen all they way through, and hadn't seen pieces of probably since junior high. Tomorrow is Kat's birthday/punkin carving party, and I'm wearing a mask that Andrea brought back from London. It's pretty freaky looking.

Things to do over the next couple of days: listen to Orson Welles' performance of The War of the Worlds broadcast (70th anniversary!), and watch Halloween. And party.

Supposedly Ottawa will be covered in ankle-deep snow when all is said and done tonight. It's certainly wet and crappy outside now. My apartment, however, is nice and cozy.

I went out and used the gift certificate my brother got me for my birthday at HMV today, picking up Amadeus and Blazing Saddles on DVD. While I was browsing I saw a sign advertising the release of Chinese Democracy in late November. I joked with the cashier that I didn't think I'd live to see the day of that album's release. I won't believe it until I actually see the thing in stores. The reviews should be something to behold.

I got back into my reading schedule today. Tomorrow morning is the job interview and I've been going over information about the House of Commons to familiarize myself with what I may be responsible for.

RANDOM TRIVIA: The total population of the Northwest Territories, the Yukon and Nunavut is less than the total population of Guelph.

I got out of bed at 7:40 AM in time to attend my French oral test, which I, of course, failed with flying colours. As I sat in the waiting room the receptionist handed me a basic information questionnaire to fill out in French, and I couldn't complete the thing. The lady who administered the test was friendly and encouraging, and let me attempt to speak for six minutes in conversation before stopping the test. My final French test results: AAX. Requirements for the job that forced me into taking French tests: AAB. By the time I got home I had received both the results and a "better luck next time" note from the Senate in my email inbox.

As I started to ponder what, exactly, I would have to do to keep from starving to death come February, I received a phone call from the woman who tested me at the House of Commons for the transediting job two weeks ago. She invited me back for an interview on Wednesday, so apparently I performed well enough in the first round.

Real rollercoaster of a morning. I'd like to get this job. I'm in the nice, comfortable spot just before the inevitable interview where I know they must think I have promise, and I'm going to coast on the feeling before Wednesday, making sure I go in armed with a CV, recommendations and a smile. Wish me luck.

I ended up organizing Janet Leigh's Bad Luck with Motels for the day after my birthday. Andrea arrives back in Ottawa tonight and I'm leaving in ten minutes to meet her at the train station.

I’ve been planning a themed movie night in my head for the past couple of weeks or so, a screening of Touch of Evil and Psycho. Touch of Evil, of course, is the Orson Welles film I spent months analyzing in Toronto last year, and it gets better with every viewing. It’s also a film that had a pretty direct influence on Psycho, which was released two years later to much higher acclaim. I bought special editions of both and I’m aching to watch them back-to-back with some folks who appreciate good films. I would call the night “Janet Leigh’s Bad Luck with Motels,” or something to that effect.

Ideally, I’d really like to have a movie night weekly, where I’d screen a movie in my living room and my friends could show up if they wanted to and we could go out and grab a beer afterward, just to have a night where I know I’d get to see people and hang out for a bit. I should do some field research and find out what night would typically be best.

Since I’m turning 29 soon, I’ve been tossing around ideas in my head of things I’d like to accomplish before I’m 30. Right now it’s small. I still get a kick out of trying new things, and I’m sure that desire will continue. I like the idea of having a year to cross things off a list. Like a bucket list, but without the death part.

Lua and I have been chilling out the past few nights in Andrea’s absence. She’s a glutton for attention.

I've been haunted by the opening of Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in the West since I first watched it about a month ago. I had a dream about it yesterday while napping. I found it online and I thought I'd present it here as part of some random trivia. It runs a bit long, but it's genius. You can definitely see how Leone influenced modern directors like Tarantino in the dramatic intensity department.

RANDOM TRIVIA: After making his stunning American civil war epic "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," Leone had intended to retire from making Westerns, believing he had said all he wanted to say. When Paramount offered Leone a generous budget along with access to Henry Fonda, his favorite actor with whom he had wanted to work for virtually all of his career, Leone accepted this offer. Leone commissioned Bernardo Bertolucci and Dario Argento – film critics, who later became directors – to help him develop the film in late 1966. The men spent much of the following year watching and discussing numerous classic Westerns such as High Noon, The Iron Horse, The Comancheros, and The Searchers at Leone's house, and constructed a story made up almost entirely of "references" to American Westerns. The opening sequence is an homage to that seen in High Noon. Actor Al Murlock, the shaggy-haired bandit, committed suicide during the film's production by throwing himself out of a hotel window.


Watch Once Upon a Time in the West Opening Scene in Entertainment Videos  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

I have quite apparently opted to be as lazy as possible today. I just woke up from a nap I took after working a box office shift for the Writers Festival this morning, my last shift of the week. All in all I'd call it a pretty fun experience, though one has to take serving poets in stride when they run out of hot water for tea. Austin Clarke was one of the best readers I've ever seen in terms of delivery.

ARC celebrated their 30th anniversary. I think this week had a "turning thirty" theme to it. I had dinner out with Jim and others (including Chris and Kathryn's new baby Eric) for his 30th birthday, so I've been thinking about it a bit more than usual lately. I've reached the point where I'm okay with turning 30, thankfully, and I haven't even turned 29 yet. All I care about when it comes to aging these days is knowing that I'm still capable of growth, that growing doesn't just stop. I think I spent a lot of my 20's subconsciously worried that that would be the case. Thankfully, I've grown out of it.

I talked with Glenn Nuotio quite a bit last night, who graciously let me know about a job opportunity. On my way home I wondered why when anyone asks me what I'm doing, I tell them I'm looking for a job while never mentioning that I'm also writing stories and music and trying to improve at those things. When I tell people that I'm after a government job, I sometimes get a reaction along the lines of "Really? Why?" I don't know why, really. Because the money is good, and because I live by myself paying rent and bills, and because I have a debt. Mostly, though, I suppose it's because I don't know what I want to do, nor how to go about doing it effectively.

I write stories and music. Today I started a new short story to procure another rejection letter. Yesterday I finished a cover of "Sleep Apnoea" by Buck 65, which you can listen to here: It's what I do.

I took a French reading/writing comprehension test yesterday morning and ended up guessing at quite a few. I don't imagine I'll make it too far into the oral test on Monday before the administrator gives up on me. At least I'll have a more official understanding of where my French skills are at. Dave said that French training is probably available through the Senate, with classes starting in January, so I might look into that.

I worked the bar for the Writers Festival last night during the open mic, talks on Afghanistan and talks from journalists correspondents working in China and Africa, including Patrick Brown, who was a very engaging speaker. I worked the box office for another talk of his this afternoon, so my duties with the Writers Festival are half over.

I'm feeling tired and a little directionless today. I need an afternoon to veg out, but I have too much to do.

Here's an interesting article from the Citizen about how desperately Canada is going to need profs over the next decade: Universities face double threat to top talent.

I've schedule two appointments to test my French capabilities for a position I applied for with the Senate after Andrea suggested that I might as well do it and find out exactly how proficient I am. Tomorrow morning is the reading/writing test, and next Monday is the oral test. I envision the oral test going horribly. I can't SPEAK FRENCH, and I told the woman on the phone, but she said that part of the test wasn't mandatory for the position. Whatever.

It's going to be a busy week. I'm volunteering for the Writers Festival for a few days starting tomorrow night. This morning I sent off a short story to The Antigonish Review, the first story I've ever sent away for publication outside Ottawa. Now I get to play the waiting game that all writers play, fully expecting a rejection, and maybe some comments if I'm lucky.

I met up with Ash and Jen at Mod Club last night for a pint and a little dancing. I feel like an emeritus in that environment these days. It was fun to just hang out.

I've started reading Headhunter by Timothy Findley. Pretty incredible so far.

I feel like I've gone off track somehow, and that it's time to recharge somewhat with regard to ideas and daily life in general. It might be hard to do this week with the time I'll be putting in at the Writers Festival, but I'm going to try and take a positive energy away from it.

Peterborough was a good time. I love checking out Phantom Farm and seeing the family and all that. They had a birthday dinner for Dad, Andrea and myself, and were very generous. That said, I'm glad to be back where Andrea and I can sleep in the same bed.

I took Andrea to the first house I remember growing up in. I haven't been back to the neighborhood on foot in years. The house has been altered slightly but the neighborhood is otherwise almost exactly as I remember it (except much, much smaller). For some reason I felt it was important for me to get back there and see it. I had to physically be in a space where I had felt and thought certain things as a kid.

I just had to update the Adobe Updater so that it could continue downloading Adobe updates. I must be at the nexus of the universe.

Going to Peterborough tomorrow, mainly for a little Phantom Farm action. I'm quite excited to be bringing Andrea along, as last year I was really wishing she could have been there.

Last night I made chili and watched the Presidential debate before going over to Andrea's. She and Christine were watching The Ring and I caught the last half of it. I've been feeling run down today, but I took a nap and I feel a bit better. Tonight we're going out for sushi at a place on Baseline. It'll be vegetarian.

I would like to start a sporadic feature of random trivia to my updates. It is done:

RANDOM TRIVIA: In ten-pin bowling, a 7-10 split occurs when all pins but 7 and 10, the pins on the extreme sides of the setup, have been knocked over. The "conversion" of this split for a spare is a rare occurrence, particularly in televised bowling. Contrary to myth, it is physically impossible to pick up a 7-10 split by striking one pin and causing it to collide directly with the other. Rather, a 7-10 may only be converted via near freak-accident: one pin is struck, and the impact of the pin as it strikes the "pit" dictates its impact on the remaining pin. Basically, the struck pin has to bounce back out of the pit in just the right way and hit the other.

Here's the first televised instance of a bowler getting a 7-10 split conversion:

I tested for a position as a transeditor with the House of Commons today, a two-hour, three-part process. Part one was a typing test, definitely the most grueling part as it was timed and I wasn't used to the keyboard. Part two was a written grammar and government knowledge test, mostly multiple choice and fill-in-the-blanks that I feel I did well on. For part three I had to transcribe a debate from audio tape. The recorder was hooked up to a foot pedal, so it felt like driving. Every confidence that I whooped that part's ass. They're going to let me know in about three weeks if I'm worthy of an interview.

I watched JFK last night, and it's a phenomenal film. Stone's editing makes it, as he assaults the viewer with multiple types of motion and still photography to produce different storytelling effects, mirroring the frenzy of the conspiracy theories he address. For not having known much about the assassination, it was incredibly revelatory for me as a film about the importance of questioning government. Cutaway scenes during the trial of JFK's autopsy were real and gritty and took my breath away.

Speaking of dead politicians, how about that Stephane Dion? The worst Liberal showing in Canadian election history. Slow clap. The election played itself out pretty much how I thought it would, though it's certainly a shame the Liberals didn't perform better. The Conservatives are even stronger than they were before. The NDP are inching back up to where they were in the 80's. See you again in two years.

My phone woke me up a little before ten thirty. I had opened it and was able to consciously grasp that someone had called me and was waiting for me to say "hello." It turned out to be a woman calling me about a transediting position at the House of Commons I had applied for a couple of weeks ago. I'm going in tomorrow to get "tested" for two hours.

I went to the grocery store and ran into Amanda Earl. Afterward I decided to head over to Future Shop where I picked up special editions of JFK, Psycho and Touch of Evil along with a gift certificate for my brother. I've been wanting to see JFK ever since I watched the Seinfeld episode that references it constantly awhile ago. Plus, W. is coming out on Friday and I haven't seen any of Stone's presidential biopics.

I voted at the Knox Presbyterian Church at Elgin and Lisgar just before I got home. I received an email about a Senate job I applied for asking me to take a French reading/writing comprehension test. I looked at some of the sample questions and I don't think I'll be able to get a good enough mark, but depending on how things go tomorrow I might try it out anyway. Couldn't hurt.

I'm worried that I might become addicted to Mythbusters.

I'm halfway through the MacKenzie review, which I've been nervous about writing since a lot of the military language and conflict detail went over my head. So many acronyms. But the review is progressing nicely. I'm happy to be through with the book since I can now go back to reading books I've chosen for myself.

Last night Andrea and I ate tacos and watched You, Me and Dupree, which was inoffensive enough. At least it wasn't just a series of Owen Wilson pulling stupid move after stupid move to annoy Kate Hudson and Matt Dillon. After he almost burns down their house during an act of fornication halfway through, the antics shift gear, which I appreciated.

I've started a new song. I'm going to send away the short story I finished for publication in a week regardless of whether or not I've heard back from Joe. Andrea gave me some helpful comments and I feel positive about it. The next couple of weeks are going to be a little crazy with the Writers Festival coming up and the dust settling on the election (and possibly my immediate future with the Senate).

Tomorrow is election day. Don't forget to vote.

I'm... bored. Bored is the right word.

Last night I watched The Blair Witch Project, which made me nervous to look into dark corners for a period afterward. I posted film stills of it on Livejournal (haven't done that in awhile) and then went over to Andrea's and watched SNL while reading MacKenzie, which is what I've been doing today in between setting up net presences for Wire and Light.

Andrea works until ten, and then we're going to make Thanksgiving dinner (tacos). Yum.

New Wire and Light track: 93

And the myspace page is here: myspace.com/wireandlight

Feedback has staved off since I posted the first song, but I'm going to keep at it.

Last night Andrea and I watched Lars and the Real Girl, which was definitely unique. It kind of ran out of steam about 3.4 of the way through, but it's worth a look. Ryan Gosling is good in the movie, though I kept thinking of David Arquette with that moustache of his.

I started reading Soldiers Made Me Look Good by Lewis MacKenzie, an autobiography about his military career. Like Mistress of the Sun, it isn't the kind of book I'd normally pick up, though the man can certainly write an anecdote.

Goals for today: Finish the Gulland review, start reading Lewis Mackenzie's book, upload the new Wire and Light track.

The NSLSC called me this morning, but I didn't answer because I didn't recognize the number. They probably want to negotiate my repayment terms. Joke's on them. I don't have any money. I did complete a form for them that I have to mail that if nothing else tells them that I won't allow them to direct withdrawal funds from my account. I have to call them and set up Interest Relief for the next six months. Normally I'd download the forms, but I can't because my loan doesn't enter repayment until November 1st. Money!

Last night I went on the Ghosts and Gallows Haunted Walk tour with Andrea, Ash and Ian. It was pretty rad. We toured the jail that's connected to the Ottawa Hostel, looking at cells and the gallows near death row. The stories and history were pretty creepy. The staff at Haunted Walk have the option of staying overnight in the jail, which I would be all over if I had the option.

I finished the new song. I'll post it tomorrow. Andrea's going to take a pic of me first for the myspace page.

I also finished reading Mistress of the Sun. I suppose it was okay for what it was. I'm 100 words into the review, which will be vaguely positive, admitting that I don't know shit about 17th century France, so give it up for Sandra Gulland, who does.

I've been plugging away at French lessons, enjoying it. Last night Andrea came over and we ate pasta while watching Weird Science, an 80's teen flick that escaped my adolescence. I couldn't stop laughing at the scene where Bill Paxton voices the mound of talking gremlin shit or whatever Lisa turns him into. Seriously, I don't remember the last time I laughed that hard at something so stupid.

Going on a Haunted Walk tonight. It'll be a first.

I watched Lost in Translation before I went to bed last night. That movie makes my heart beat very fast. Every time I see it I'm struck by the contrast between what Coppola shoots from high above the city and what she shoots from the ground. It's an outstanding thematic technique.

I went to HMV today and picked up season 7 of The Simpsons since I've exhausted my Seinfeld collection. I also picked up Ben Folds' new album along with the special edition of Casablanca.

My goals today: read 100 pages of Gulland, study a chapter out of my French textbook. The second presidential debate is on tonight.

I'm turning 29 in one month.

I'm trying to make peace with the job situation as it stands right now. I've applied for a few positions but I'm nervous about landing myself a job that I don't want or that will be tough to get out of for a month while I travel next year. I think I'll be better off waiting until the Senate resumes after the election to make a serious effort at the hunt. I have a bunch of volunteer stuff to do soon, plus a trip out of town and a couple of reviews to write that work would get in the way of. For now I'm just trying to breathe and not panic. There's no need to yet.

I do have to set some goals. Today I'm going to get a working draft of the short story I just wrote off to Joe for his thoughts. I need to dig further into the Sandra Gulland book and read about another hundred pages. I've been working on a new Wire and Light track today that I want to finish off tomorrow.

Last night I watched the No Mercy pay-per-view online. The Jericho/Michaels feud has been stellar, the best I've seen in awhile.

I got up at 8 AM this morning after Andrea left and thought, this is great, I'm up at a reasonable time. I went out and bought some groceries. On my way to Hartman's this guy in a wheelchair was crossing the street and signaled to me. He asked me to help him to the bus stop at Bank and Somerset, so I gave him a push.

I did my laundry but I couldn't stay awake and ended up napping for close to two hours. I'm still tired. I did, however, finish the first draft of the short story I've been working on, which is pretty damned exciting - it's the first I've finished since September of last year. Once I get it polished I'm going to send it out to publishers outside of the city.

I went to The Works last night with Andrea and Erin and had the Hold the Phone burger, aka one of the burgers they serve with peanut butter as a topping. It was delicious.

I've decided that I want to travel around the world. I already knew I was going to, having scheduled a trip to Europe next year. But I've finally made the decision to, if that makes sense.

I finished The Robber Bride, which I found to be one of Atwood's weaker efforts. Parts of it are fantastic and offer valuable insight into how a person is defined through the different relationships they have with people, but almost all of her male characters are hurtful weaklings and almost all of her female characters are dull and spineless. I'm sure she did it on purpose, but these characteristics on a first read-through just irritated me. As hated as she makes the book's antagonist, at least she's interesting.

I'm getting tired of watching politicians playing games. All of them do it. They twist the truth, the person they're accusing responds and twists the truth right back at them. It doesn't matter what party it is, what leader it is. They all play games. Why? To advance a set of socio-economic beliefs and principles that people either agree with or don't. That's why I never understood why people who supported Hilary Clinton said they'd vote for McCain once Obama secured the nomination. Ignorant spite. I don't know how many actually made the shift, but it would have required a shift of principles, a far bigger one than would have been required to support another Democratic candidate. It wouldn't make sense.

A person has their beliefs. Education changes beliefs. I watched the Canadian leaders debate last night with an open mind, open to education, hoping to chip away through the game playing to get at the set of principles I most agreed with. I'm willing to give even Harper a chance, even though I lean left - pro-gay marriage, pro-choice, pro-arts and social funding. I was most impressed with Elizabeth May, whom I agreed with on nearly all counts. She had her shit together. She'd done her homework, because she realized how important the opportunity was for the Green Party, and she didn't let them down. She shined.

But I can't vote for the Green Party, because at a local level I'm not as sure about Jen Hunter. Neither can I vote Liberal, because Dion didn't win me over on his views - calling the arts in Canada "fun," quibbling with Harper over which party was to blame for which failure over the last ten years. Layton always strikes me as a little too much like a used car salesman, but as vague as he was last night, I agreed with his principles - arts are the soul of Canada, the leash of big oil needs to be cut and the funding put into job creation and environmental technology advancements. The NDP are socially progressive with regard to discrimination that denies funding to groups vying for recognition. Centretown has a solid history of NDP leadership. So Dewar's getting my vote.

I'd love to see a Liberal-NDP minority, but I don't think it will happen. Harper will get re-elected. I think the NDP will end up with more seats. It interests me to see the advances the Green party will make after the campaign they're putting on.

As far as US politics are concerned, I think Sarah Palin is a joke. Golly gosh gee darn she ain't prepared to be on any stage.

Last night I watched the movie Juno before going to bed. It was the second time I've seen it and the first since I saw it in Toronto back in December, and it milked feeling I've had for the past couple of weeks or so: I'm nostalgic for the semesters I spent in Toronto. I spent everyday of the time I spent there defining the city as not-Ottawa, coming and going virtually alone from Keele Street to campus and back, and over time the city grew on me. I don't know what I miss about that time, exactly. Maybe it was the time I spent by myself in movie theatres (though I saw Juno with friends), maybe it was the hours spent in the stacks researching, the walks up Keele, the thought that the only thing I really had to care about was studying and completing assignments until I could move back and see my girlfriend again, all of these things. I've always been a nostalgic person by nature. Lately I've been thinking about the amazing things I've done in the past year and wondering how many more amazing things are in front of me, and what I have to do to see them through.

All this time in the basement gets me thinking. I need to get outside more. I took a walk today, down O'Connor to Gladstone and then back around up Kent. I don't get much sun in the apartment so it comes as a shock to realize that it's out there.

I wrote 1,100 words yesterday. I haven't had an idea take me over like this in ages. The further I chop into it the clearer the pathways to the other side become. Creativity is hitting me in waves. I've had a lot of energy to volunteer lately, but it's a matter of scheduling everything - I have a trip to Peterborough coming up, plus shifts for the Writers Festival, as well as keeping an eye out for a job. I want to spend my time wisely.

So many political debates to choose from tonight. Well, two, actually - the English Canadian leaders debate and the American VP debate. Do I want to watch Harper get gangbanged, or watch Biden and Palin try to out-gaffe each other? I'll see them both, ultimately.

Andrea left me a banana in my shoe. I was walking home this morning and ran into Laura, who apologized for not having a fruit to wave at me.

I started into the new short story, got about 400 words down. Not sure where it's going but I'm having a good time with it, describing a house in bad need of repair and a man on oxygen suffering from lung cancer, as good a time as one can have writing subject matter like that.

I really want to see Religulous. It's playing alongside Hamlet 2 at the Bytowne next weekend. Double bill?

I bought a clock for three bucks at Hartman's. The tick-tock is kind of comforting. At the store I ran into Ben, who I hadn't seen in awhile. He's sub teaching a high school class.