Journal (Rambly Musings)

Wednesday, December 17, 2003

New Blogger?

I'm testing out a new journal / blogger thing. If all goes well I'm switching over. You can see it here.
posted by Jill 8:02 p.m.

CoffeeHouse

I now have a site on CoffeeHouse. My poetry page will slowly but surely move over to that and become obsolete as you know it. As will my mailing list.

Jill Binder on Toronto CoffeeHouse

posted by Jill 1:28 a.m.

Monday, December 15, 2003

Wisdom

I just came back from the last Wisdom weekend.

Wow.

I have some great directions to go in life, and a new-found high level of confidence, boldness, and integrity. All of this is possible with all the growing and developing I have done this year, especially in the last couple of months. People really notice the difference, and so do I.

I'm really looking forward to what lies ahead...

posted by Jill 7:26 p.m.

Things!

1. "Have you signed up for Karin's Light Bulb Challenge yet? Go to http://mclearn.ca/karin/lightbulb.htm to find out more!"

2.

HELP SAVE
the (sugar refinery)

posted by Jill 2:16 p.m.

Tuesday, December 09, 2003

Could be overheard today...

"He doesn't check his email very often. This relationship will never work out!"

posted by Jill 2:45 p.m.

What kind of postmodernist are you!?


You are a Tortured Conceptual Artist. Your fellow
postmodernists call you an anachronism, but
you've never cared much about the opinions of
others. After all, most of them are far too
simple-minded to appreciate the nuances of your
work. They talk, while you are part of a lived
tradition.


What kind of postmodernist are you!?
brought to you by Quizilla

posted by Jill 1:48 a.m.

Saturday, December 06, 2003

Great Quote from a Poem I Heard Tonight

"We would have cured AIDS already if we could do it through violence."
- Kevin Fortnum

posted by Jill 1:16 a.m.

Friday, December 05, 2003

"Good Times, Good Times"

Me
My adorable date
A sea of goths
A friend's Industrial metal band on stage
And we're the only ones dancing
Dancing our asses off

Life is good

posted by Jill 2:40 a.m.

Thursday, December 04, 2003

Good To Know!

"According to a letter from 'a scientist knowledgeable in the field of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)' in the October 2003 issue of Gourmet magazine: "A useful tip to the consumer [would be] a primer on how to read the little stickers on loose fruits and vegetables. Besides providing the store's cash registers and computers with product identification and price information, these stickers can tell you a lot about the food you are buying. A label with four digits indicates conventionally grown food. Labels with five digits starting with an 8 indicate that the food is genetically modified. Labels with 5 digits starting with a 9 indicate that the food is organically grown."


Handy-dandy reference chart (for myself and anyone else who hates to wade through paragraph info):

XXXX   = conventionally grown
8XXXX = genetically modified
9XXXX = organically grown

Huzzah!


posted by Jill 12:51 p.m.

Tuesday, December 02, 2003

There's A Party In My Body...

I have had a theory for a while that I'm an "old soul" and that's why I'm wise beyond my years and am able to see things many people don't and at a different level.

This came up when I was getting coaching from my Branding Coach, who is helping me figure out what is unique and special about me for coaching that I can package to the world. We were talking about something related when I mentioned this to her and she said,

"Yes, but it's like you've been double-dipped. Actually, it's like you have 3 souls in you--3 entirely disparate parts that work together. Maybe the 3 souls liked each other so much they decided to go into one body! And they're saying, 'We're breaking all the rules and we don't care!'"


Wow. There's a party in my body, and I wasn't even invited.

;D

posted by Jill 6:13 p.m.

Sunday, November 30, 2003

Lookit lookit lookit!

I (finally) fixed the archive thing! Behold, all my previous posts, in all their splendid glory.

(How much time you got?? ;)

posted by Jill 2:58 a.m.

Saturday, November 29, 2003

Notes From JillWorld

1. Richard is now my neighbour! WOO!!

2. Jared will be soon. Wow.. 2 friends in my (new) neighbourhood.

3. At the gym this morning, this guy who really looked like he knows what he's doing in the gym, if you know what I mean, saw me doing my hanging abs and went, "Wow, I could never do that." Hehehhehe.... I ROCK! *flexing for effect*

posted by Jill 11:18 a.m.

This is Me

My "Signature Themes," according to StrengthsFinder from Gallup:


I D E A T I O N
People strong in the Ideation theme are fascinated by ideas. They are able to find connections between seemingly disparate phenomena.


C O N N E C T E D N E S S
People strong in the Connectedness theme have faith in the links between all things. They believe there are few coincidences and that almost every event has a reason.


B E L I E F
People strong in the Belief theme have certain core values that are unchanging. Out of these values emerges a defined purpose for their life.


A D A P T A B I L I T Y
People strong in the Adaptability theme prefer to "go with the flow." They tend to be "now" people who take things as they come and discover the future one day at a time.


E M P A T H Y
People strong in the Empathy theme can sense the feelings of other people by imagining themselves in others' lives or others' situations.


posted by Jill 12:42 a.m.

Friday, November 28, 2003

Show! She Speaks: A Celebration Of Life

The show! The big show. It has happened! It's over! It was great!! I wasn't feeling so great about the last show I put on in September at the Veggie Food Fair, or my party in October, but this show is one I'm very proud of and will remember for a long time to come. There was veritable magic in the air. What a great feeling for the last show I'm putting on in a long time.

We didn't do too badly $$-wise either. I know it's not as much as Lisa wanted, but we did raise a few hundred for our charity. We had a pretty good turnout (my aunt and cousins came! that was pretty cool.). Not bad for some last minute show-promoting!

I only did one piece myself (though I did do a fair chunk of the hosting) and got a few new fans. (With stars in their eyes. It was so cute!!) Woo! I was also told I make a good host.

And now I go to sleep.

posted by Jill 2:12 a.m.

Thursday, November 27, 2003

The Cows Are Proud of Me!

A farmgirl friend of mine sent me this message regarding the big show I've been organizing for tonight and will also be performing at:

I am sorry to have to miss it, but I am milking cows for the week again! We are proud of you, even if we are not there in body, we are there in spirit!

posted by Jill 11:58 a.m.

Wednesday, November 26, 2003

Just Because I'm Not Supposed To

*Negative stuff about Jeff from the Kindly Ones* Hahahha! ;)

posted by Jill 3:10 p.m.

Halloween Story

Here's the story I meant to post on Halloween that I wrote for a Halloween poetry (er, and prose) night.

--------------------------------------------

She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but he was just always, sort of, there. A man she had bumped into in a bookstore a few weeks before. An older gentleman, well dressed, a little bit cavalier. (more)

posted by Jill 2:03 p.m.

JAmes

> [ Fri Jul 11, 01:15:23 PM | Jill Binder ]
> More Changes
>
> JAmes has been removed too.
> Again, if that (your blog status) changes, please tell me.

Pursuant to my post of July 11, 2003, JAmes has been reinstated. (Despite the fact that he didn't tell me. :P )

posted by Jill 1:23 p.m.

Tuesday, November 25, 2003

The Svelte Singer

I realized tonight how far I've come.

1.
Someone said he didn't recognize me because I've lost weight! (I haven't weighed myself or anything but I do know my great exercise program has enabled me to fit into clothing I had been having difficulties getting into.) (Umm, it was probably also the longer hair, different glasses, and new self-confidence, but, you know. :)

2.
In the past, I would apologize before singing when I was on stage. I'd occasionally try it at a poetry reading but wouldn't be caught dead singing in a room full of singers.

Lately I've been singing at poetry readings without apologizing, and have been even sometimes complimented for my singing.

Tonight I had to fight myself to not apologize in front of the room of musicians/singer-songwriters. I knew it would be a cop-out if I did, so I decided to just go for it. Now this is the kicker: I was complimented for my singing! Not just a "ya that was nice," but a real, genuine, blown-away-dazed-look-on-face gushing about the poetry and my singing.

I guess confidence can fool anyone. ;)

posted by Jill 1:37 a.m.

Sunday, November 23, 2003

Many Things

There are so many things I could blog about. The coaching course I was just in (and the insanity of the hours, getting there, and the pursuant lack of sleep!), my always interesting always crazy dating life (right now I'm in a bad mood about it), how my business is going and the interesting (and hard to get to) networking events I've gone to recently, the big event I've been pouring a lot of time and energy into which is coming up next week (!!), the play I went to last week (a certain ex would be so proud!), and the new and great friendship that has recently begun. So unoften do I really connect with someone. I'm very happy to see my presence keeps popping up in his blog. :) Makes me smile every time I see that.

posted by Jill 10:38 a.m.

Thursday, November 20, 2003

I Love Coaching

That's all I want to say.

I really really do. I'm very, very good at it!

posted by Jill 11:25 a.m.

Wednesday, November 19, 2003

Contract

ob·fus·cate
tr.v. ob·fus·cat·ed, ob·fus·cat·ing, ob·fus·cates

1. To make so confused or opaque as to be difficult to perceive or understand: “A great effort was made... to obscure or obfuscate the truth” (Robert Conquest).
2. To render indistinct or dim; darken: The fog obfuscated the shore.


Sentence: I have been obfuscated!

(Toldja I'd post it. :)

posted by Jill 12:54 a.m.

Saturday, November 15, 2003

Like me at a Vegan Poets conference!

My roommate was telling me this morning about this acting gig she had yesterday and has again today.... Getting up in front of about 3000 at a men's Christian "how to be better people & husbands" conference," and how she was like, "hello! i could find my future husband here!" I said, "Are you kidding me?? It would be like me at a Vegan male poets conference!!"

Side note: A friend of mine did a little psychic reading for me while we were waiting between shifts at this odd job I was doing yesterday handing out flyers for Future Shop (sounds dumb.. but it was fun and was a bit of extra cash). I wanted to know about finding my future mate, and it came out very strongly that that is not where my focus is, that I should be focusing on my business. However........ If you are a Vegan male atheist poet and are reading this and happen to fall in my lap, I won't be complaining!!

posted by Jill 9:11 a.m.

Thursday, November 13, 2003

Cruel, cruel joke

Perhaps it's someone's idea of a cruel, cruel, cruel joke.

I was up til 3:30am yesterday, doing work and winding down for bed. (I'd had a pretty amazing night at the Ryze networking mixer.) It was late enough that I was going to forego my sworn "rise and get workin'" time (which I've been pretty diligent at doing, even when I'm up late).

Exhibit A: There have been signs all over my building the last few days that there would be fire drills all day today.

Exhibit B: At around 8am this morning, the fire alarm went off.

My natural assumption/conclusion? Pull the covers over my head tighter until it goes away.

Did it go away? No. It kept going for 20 minutes. It was ~~~evil~~~. (I'm not a morning person anyway, and everything seems pretty evil in the morning. Something like this was the most evilest.) So around the 20 minute mark, I'm like, hey, maybe this is a real fire. Wouldn't that be awful! "Apartment burns down - tenants think it's fire drill"

I get my lazy a** out of bed, the fire officers take second glances at me because while everyone else looks perky, I basically look like the walking undead, and then find out, ya, real fire alarm, no, not real fire. It was someone's kitchen smoke.

Now getting back to sleep is difficult. I'm still the walking undead. This must be someone's idea of a cruel, cruel, cruel joke.

(Good night everyone!! (I hope))
posted by Jill 8:40 a.m.

Tuesday, November 11, 2003

Remembrance Day

Today is Remembrance Day, and I was thinking about all the soldiers who paid their lives to give us and the world better lives. And what are we doing with these better lives? We're complaining bitterly that what we have isn't good enough.

Then I was thinking that that's how it should be. We don't have to worry about our survival or our lives, so we can be thinking at a level higher, where we look beyond living day to day and look at how things can be better. Like when I was working for big blue, it was surviving but it wasn't good enough for me. Now I'm off looking at how I can make the world a better place.

Once we're there, it probably still won't be good enough, because there is always improvements to be made. As it should be!

posted by Jill 11:58 p.m.

Monday, November 10, 2003

I inspired a poem!

Unrequited and Company, by Myna Wallin

Ruth is still in love with Frankie, her ex.
She had to break it off
because he couldn't get Danielle out of
his head, who in turn loved Sven, her ex,
who unexpectedly loved Nathaniel, who was his --

And all the exes trailed off like
an Escher drawing, down and up
a winding staircase, that ended and began
on a four-tiered wedding cake.

But as soon as the breakup is complete
each new ex shifts in position,
becoming the one that is most pined for.
Proving: hindsight is love’s craftiest illusion

And you’ve got to appreciate a little irony
now and then.


posted by Jill 7:51 p.m.

Sunday, November 09, 2003

JAmes!

JAmes was here this weekend! Hoorray! Monkey! Hazah! Potato! Monkey-water-box! Not so much.

posted by Jill 7:23 p.m.

Friday, November 07, 2003

Welcome to the Real World

The MeATRIX

posted by Jill 4:57 p.m.

Thursday, November 06, 2003

Oh what I wouldn't give for the power of invisibility

I was stood up by my learner at the literacy centre tonight. Just as well, I didn't want to talk to anyone today. Today was, let's just say, a very, very bad day. The kind of day that makes me question..... oh..... *everything.*

Things are not working out with the man I want to be with. I had the profound realization last night that for the last couple of years I have been living in fantasy about something that will never really truly happen. My whole initiative over the last while of getting in touch with my emotions seems to have worked. The good news is I am able to feel and to cry! The bad news is I'm able to feel and to cry! Big huge teardrops running down my cheeks at any time of day or night, no matter where I am, not caring in front of who. I don't ever remember having such big substantial uninhibited teardrops ever before. It feels quite neat.

Things haven't been looking so great with the business lately, either. I'm not getting the bigger alliances I wanted, I'm not getting a loan, I'm not getting a contract job that was looking really good, and basically my life has become filled with rejection. Up until today I was able to say, "At least I have a publicist! With her I'll get some great alliances and some great publicity!" I got a note from her today. She doesn't think the trading will work out and she wants to cancel the deal. (Editor's note: she may be rethinking after my response to her.)

This morning I had to be up at 6am (I got about 5 hours sleep :( ) for my cousin's bar mitzvah. That was alright, other than my extreme exhaustion. I decided to take a little nap afterwards, which turned into 2 1/2 hours and I missed a lunch with a journalist and a smoking cessation counsellor. (It's ok, I told them before-hand I might not make it since I didn't know what was happening with my family after the bar mitzvah.)

I still think often about Jeff, the man I rejected in a not good way earlier this year who won't talk to me now, not until I'm "ready for a committment" with him. I think about him even more on not good days like today. I've been dying to know, more and more, how he's doing. I did a search on him today in my state of utter lowness and found that he actually has a site up and running, like he said he'd like to do someday. It was so great to see that he's doing really well. I'm so happy for him. I wonder if he ever still thinks about me or even reads my blog...

I, however, am still not happy. Today sucks. Tomorrow is another day.

(The good news is with my new state of allowing myself to "feel" like this (or feel anything for that matter), the amount I can feel low is the same amount I can feel up! So I know I'll feel very, very up!)
posted by Jill 8:45 p.m.

Wednesday, November 05, 2003

Here's to Great New Friends

Lately I've been connecting, I mean really connecting, with some new people. On that intellectual mind-expanding plane that I love so much and have yearned for for too long.

Figures. Whenever I start seriously thinking about leaving a city, that's when I make those deeper connections.

(On the bright side, some of my very closest friends are the people I connected with just before leaving a city.)

One of them in particular is this extremely quickly comfortable friendship where anything (anything!) can be said. I can't remember having this much fun, having these kinds of discussions, and having time melt away just from good discussions in far, far too long. There are very few people with whom I will spend time often (more than once every month or more). In the 2 weeks since we met, we have communicated almost every day and have hung out quite a bit (by my standards) (even if the hanging needs to be quick because I'm still super-busy-woman!).

I feel very blessed!

posted by Jill 1:47 a.m.

A Quote I Want to Remember

"The only true mistakes are fatal ones. All the rest are lessons."

posted by Jill 1:32 a.m.

Sunday, November 02, 2003

Wise Things

1. My weekend at the Wisdom course was fantabulous. I'm going to have a rocking good business now!! Clean up my relationships too. They're very messy. Spend my time, energy, money on the things I'm really committed to. The list goes on and on. The things I learned go much deeper, but that's just a taste. My head is swimming with the things I learned!

2. Interesting Link - Got milk and... got osteoporosis?
posted by Jill 9:38 p.m.

Friday, October 31, 2003

Birthday/Halloween/Arts Freaky Night Party !

The Birthday/Halloween/Arts Freaky Night Party has come and gone. Whew! That was a lot of planning, work... and money!

It went pretty well I think. Had 30 people! Lots of fantastic music & poetry. The non-music-poetry people listened and seemed to enjoy.

The deluge of candles was a great touch. Definitely a way to make a sterile room soft, warm, and more inviting than it would be otherwise!

There was a different air about the party this year. This was my 4th birthday in a row of "bring something to read, yours or someone else's." It was less intimate than usual. Maybe because it wasn't in an apartment but in a meeting room.

This was the first year (since I was young) that included costumes, and I think they went over very well! Especially those who made an effort to dress as their "inner freak." Too bad no one did any voting for the contest though!

All in all, I'd say it was a success.

Special thanks go out to:
-Lisa for doing all my last minute loot bag stuffing (30 in record time!) and ballot cutting. Sooo wonderful, appreciated, and a lot of work for you to take on.
-Jeff & his girlfriend Jessica for following all instructions: They dressed up, they brought food and drinks, and they were the only ones who voted in the costume contest!
-James for bringing the music
-James and Jann for bringing the stereo down (and doing lots of other things to help set up!)
-P and Taavi for bringing the stereo up
-P, Taavi, and Jen for helping me clean!! P and Taavi went beyond the call of duty. They are to be highly commended.
-P for bringing, by far, the best, most thought out, scariest/freakiest costume!! I swear to god I didn't recognize you. I will never see you the same way again.


P.S. I'm on an online business networking site, ryze.com, (my listing is here), which tells everyone when my birthday is, and NO ONE from it wished me a happy birthday!! Not even the people who already knew me before I joined. That includes YOU. You know who you are. :P That's ok, we're new friends, maybe it's not in your PDA yet. :)

posted by Jill 12:44 a.m.

Thursday, October 30, 2003

Birthday Time

I'm 28!!! Been 28 for half an hour now.

posted by Jill 12:41 a.m.

First Newspaper Article About My Business!

page 24:
Metro - Oct. 29, 2003

Tonight

I can't even begin to describe my night tonight. Was looking at how some things in the past affect me now, and I got down to the roots of many things, including my fear of relationship commitment, my fear of anger (in myself and in others), why I can't for the life of me get over my last "relationship" (and why it's been dragging on (and off, and on, and off) for so long), where my insecurities come from, where my failings/unhealthinesses come from, why I can't handle "boring" and stable relationships, where my physical ailments, especially tension, come from, why I eat too much, why I hate TV so much, why I keep myself so very busy all the time, why I'm so easily dominated, especially as a child, and perhaps even I'm going down the wrong career path again, to compensate for some of these things..... all these things being related!

On the bright side, even though I feel like a pile of melty jello goo right now, I'll be able to shift many of these things and be super-healthy-upgraded-Jillorama! (cue superhero music)

On another bright side, speaking of eating too much and not taking care of myself, people are really noticing that I've lost weight since being on my new fitness program. People tonight were commenting that it shows in my face. Yay me! Coolness.

posted by Jill 12:08 a.m.

Tuesday, October 28, 2003

To anyone who cares, Alternative Coaching Testimonial #2 (Fri, Oct. 24) has been edited by its writer to be even funnier. Go see! Go see!

posted by Jill 2:08 p.m.

Monday, October 27, 2003

Mom Will Be So Proud *sniff* (or: I died tonight!)

I died tonight! Yay me!

P and I did the most incredible death scene for a contest. We got the idea at last year's Strange Tongues (poetry night) and I can't believe we actually had the guts to carry it out at this year's Strange Tongues.

It involved much blood. And cleavage.

Imagine the "guy" is very nerdy and socially awkward, and the "gal" speaks with utter distance and disdain.

Guy: Anyways, so I had a really good time. So thanks for coming out with me. You might not believe it, but I don’t go on too many dates.

Gal: Really… I find that hard to believe…

Guy: Well, like, I find that women are busy a lot on Saturday nights and, you know, whatever. So, like, I’m sorry my mum’s car broke down, and, about the hassle with the taxi and stuff. I’ll pay you back those 20 dollars, or, you know, I’ll borrow them from my mom or something.

Gal: Ya, sure…

Guy: So, can I call you again sometime?

Gal: Listen, I’m really tired, I’ve got to get to sleep. Good night.

Guy: Oh, sure, no problem. I understand. (staring at her cleavage) A girl as pretty as you needs her beauty sleep.

Gal: (waving his eyes away from her cleavage) Ok, ya, good night!

Guy: So do I get a goodbye kiss?

Gal: (taken aback) Ya right. NO. I really don’t think so. I’ve got to go.

Guy: Whoa, like I’m not going to, you know, try to slip the tongue in or anything. (Gal looks other way, shakes head in disbelief) It’s just, you know, (voice starts to change into assertiveness and strength, and posture takes on domineering) one kiss… one…. Kiss… Just one…

(Guy steps towards her, girl looking at him quizzically but can't look away. He goes to kiss her, but then moves down to her neck. Starts to bite.)

Gal: Oww! What the f***? What are you doing you f***ing weirdo?!
(She pushes his shoulders. His arms clasp around her like a vise)

Gal: Oh my god! (she starts beating his back) Stop it! Stop it! (struggles, moans, goes limp. He continues to suck her neck as he lays her on floor, then get up for the audience to see a fake river of blood dripping down his chin. He crouches above her like a wild animal, looking around him, with the blood dripping.)


Ya, you could say we pretty much shocked and impressed everyone in the room. We had it rehearsed perfectly. P was incredible, and scary as hell. We won hands down! All worth it for P's free beer. :P

posted by Jill 12:38 a.m.

Friday, October 24, 2003

Alternative Coaching Testimonial #3

Testimonial for Jill's Stop smoking (the cheap stuff) coaching program

The classic low budget 1970 gym "health class" movie Narcotics, Pit of Despair (which actually exists - I have a copy at home on VHS if you don't believe me) failed to have meaning for me until Jill's stop smoking (the cheap stuff) coaching program changed my life.

Since starting her program, I was able to progress in a few short hours from my rut of smoking only cheap assed, easy to find cigs, to weed and hash, and in a mere seven days, made the prodigious leap to crack which I of course, will only smoke rolled up in American tender of denominations not smaller than $100

Thank-you Jill, for getting me out of my rut, enabling me to finally stop smoking the cheap stuff, and evolve my addictions and lifestyle to a more respectably debaucherous level (I have of course had to turn to stripping and prostitution to support my new, far more expensive smoking habits), and as a pleasant icing on the cake perk, helped me see the beautiful poetry in the aformentioned film above.

- saucykitty AKA the girl who now has the crack in her mouth, not poking out from the ass of her jeans
posted by Jill 7:29 p.m.

Alternative Coaching Testimonial #2

I can't begin to express how grateful I am to Jill and her stop-smoking coaching program.

As I slowly and inevitably approached the age of 40, I thought there was no hope for me. Life was bleak. I would look back with discouragement and despair at the litany of my adult and adolescent years spent, not merely as a non-smoker, but at times even an outright anti-smoker.

But Jill's stop-smoking coaching turned my life around. With Jill's help, I learned to deal with my stop-smoking problem. Her uncanny insight and frank counselling helped me to realize what was holding me back from fully enjoying that cigarette with my morning coffee, or a fine Guatemalan cigar with my Sunday pancakes.

Thanks to Jill's coaching program, I was able to pick up a habit I had heretofore looked upon with disdain. I now smoke at home, out of doors, at bars, in elevators, airplane washrooms, drug stores, service stations, the cancer ward at the hospital, daycare centres, at bathtime, heck, even after I've crawled into bed at night with my box of crackers and my jar of peanut butter.

Thank you, oh thank you thank you thank you, Jill. You've made such a difference!

Anyone else want to join in on the "fun"? ;)

posted by Jill 5:52 p.m.

Alternative Coaching Testimonial #1

Jill,

Terrific! I think you've just inspired another heart-felt tribute:

Jill's skill is possibly greater than it appears. Since her coaching program begun, I have received regular emails from Jill. During that period I have been able to abstain completely from smoking, and so have my pets. I have no pets, which I am sure would have made the coaching more demanding, or at least more distracting.

Through the power she exerts in a smooth and effortless way -- to the extent that at times I was quite unaware of it -- I found that I had not smoked even before I had given up, and that made my period of total abstinence easier. I think it was easier on my pets, too, and I am sure they are thankful, or would be.

(ex usability professional and international design critic, England)

See some real testimonials here, from which this, ummm, " " testimonial " " was inspired.

posted by Jill 11:20 a.m.

Thursday, October 23, 2003

I'm a healthy Vegetarian! & The story of an ex

Woo woo! I'm a healthy Vegetarian and I have the test to prove it! At a health expo (which I went to for networking), I got a test of my hemoglobin (to test for anemia) done. The lady before me was also Vegetarian and her figures were dangerously low. I had a Vegetarian t-shirt on and the tester suggested that the lady talk to me as I probably have all the information on what foods to eat. As I sat down I said, "After you said that, what if my numbers are low??" Good news! My figures were smack dab in the middle of normal. I didn't even think I've been eating all that well lately! Yay me!

In other news, I bumped into an ex at a networking event (a different event) today.

Ok, he wasn't an ex, but he sure reminded me of one! It was very difficult to talk to him without thinking of the ex-boyfriend and where I was a few lifetimes ago, although I still enjoyed his company. I had to keep reminding myself that he was a completely different person, and I shouldn't make assumptions and treat him like former-boyfriend. One thing that was very different--he came with me to poetry after the event, which my ex never ever would have done!! I think he enjoyed it too.

posted by Jill 12:29 a.m.

Monday, October 20, 2003

Testimonials

Look! I have some!

http://www.stopsmokingcoach.ca/testimonials.html
posted by Jill 1:21 p.m.

Saturday, October 18, 2003

Oops

It was like something out of a bad movie.

My "big alliance" this morning... It didn't take long for me to realize the true nature of the company. Before we even got to the "opportunity meeting" this morning, on the car ride over... I suddenly remembered someone I know was in an MLM, and it was sounding more and more like this was the same company.... Especially when he mentioned how great I would be at what he does--they could train me to their way of thinking, and then in not too long I could go hire a whole team under me! Golly!

I gently asked the questions, prodded more and more.... Until we got to the point of bluntness at the meeting, like this little exchange:

John: "Hey Mike, come over here! This girl has an interesting question that maybe you can help with. Is this company a pyramid scheme?"
Mike: "Oh no, pyramid schemes are illegal. Here we can surpass each other. No no no. <pause> It's more of an upside down pyramid, actually..."

I thought I was going to faint. How would I get out?

John spent the rest of the time, including the car ride home, explaining to me all about how this was not MLM, not a pyramid, not this, not that...

I've been to MLM meetings, as a favour to a friend to whom it meant a lot. I'm not the kind of person to dash someone else's dreams. It also means I know the lingo. "...and that's when I report to my..... What's he called again...? Up...... up....." Me: (thinking) "Don't say upline! Don't say upline!" "Upline!" *groan*

Perhaps the icing on the cake was when a very kind and well-meaning older gentleman leaned over to give the conversation a hand: "You know, the best thing I like about having this business (editor's note: these things are never "being in a company," you're always "an independent business owner") is that everyone is so nice and helps each other. You won't find the Vice President helping his employees at a corporation, no sirree. But here, everyone helps each other." Ya, I'll tell you why old man. THAT'S BECAUSE EVERYONE HERE PROFITS OFF OF EVERYONE ELSE! IT'S A PYRAMID SCHEME, DAMMIT!!!

You know the best part of these things? How they always end off the talk asking the "2 key questions:" 1. Is this legal? 2. Is this company credible?

If I had any, any doubt left in my mind before that, well that was the answer for me. It was like a parallel universe to my friend's MLM company. Everything was the same, just they were selling mutual funds instead of soap.

Seen the Canadian movie "Go"?

This couple spends all evening seducing 2 young men, and in the end, it turns out:

Man: "Now, as law enforcement officers, Irene and I, we cannot recruit distributors from inside the force. It's against the rules. So what we do, is we look for people in other industries."
Woman: "Like the entertainment industry."
Young man: "Uhh, wait, wait. You want us to sell Amway?"
Man: "It's Confederated Products, it's, it's... it's a different company. It's a different quality of product."
Young man to other young man walking outside afterwards: "I need to do something terrifically unwholesome after that. I need to bathe in sin."

posted by Jill 7:38 p.m.

Friday, October 17, 2003

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

Excellent newses! (all business-related)

I'm going to be in the paper! I'll tell you which one once I'm actually in. Don't want to completely jinx it. My interview is on Monday. :) :)

I have a publicist! Between her and I, my business is going to be *booming* soon. She's starting out by helping me get alliances.

Knock on wood... I will tomorrow have my first *big* alliance (that I got on my own). I'm going to visit the offices tomorrow. The deal is *this close.* Wish me luck!


It's a worky weekend. Tomorrow alliance for Life Coaching, Sunday visiting a website client. Ah, the life of an entrepreneur.

In non-business news, I'm helping to organize a big poetry & music fundraising event for Leukemia in November. It's going to be fun!!

Me? Busy? No! I don't know *what* you're talking about!

(For those who have noticed that I haven't been on instant messengers lately... My computer is not working and won't support me doing that and have other applications open at the same time. Will be fixed soon.)

posted by Jill 5:16 p.m.

Tuesday, October 14, 2003

1 Year Ago Today


posted by Jill 4:46 p.m.

Friday, October 10, 2003

Which Fantasy/SciFi Character Are You?

Luke Skywalker

Boldly striving to overcome the darkness both in this world and within yourself, you are righteously devoted to forging your own destiny.

"It's your choice, but I warn you not to underestimate my powers."

posted by Jill 12:16 p.m.

Monday, October 06, 2003

Sharon

Samantha told me that Sharon has a thing set up where she always sees my latest entry.

HI SHARON!!

(Tell me how you do that, 'k?)

posted by Jill 9:17 a.m.

Sunday, October 05, 2003

Sore Throat

I have that sore throat feeling as if I were still sick, but I know it's not that. It comes from my crazy evening last night! For kicks, I volunteered at a huge matchmaking event put on by the company that my roommate works for. It involved much yelling to facilitate about 30 people doing icebreaker games, in a very noisy bar.

I was told that I had my group the most riled up and having the most fun. Yay me!!

posted by Jill 1:30 p.m.

Yep

That really was a life-altering weekend last weekend.

My business is exploding! I am on the verge of several very big deals. If even one of them comes through, I will be on the road to a full practise very quickly. This includes possibly getting some media attention........ Stay tuned.

I'm dating again! Just for fun, nothing serious. It's actually more akin to just making new friends.

I'm writing poetry again!!! This is huge, people. I haven't written in a long time. (One of them is a pretty eloquent piece about not writing. Heh heh heh. :)

posted by Jill 10:17 a.m.

Tuesday, September 30, 2003

Wisdom

"Knowing about other people and situations is the beginning of understanding. Understanding is the beginning of tolerance. Tolerance is the beginning of acceptance, and acceptance is the beginning of love."

- from the book, "Wisdom of the Ages" by Jim Stovall
posted by Jill 9:23 a.m.

Monday, September 29, 2003

Just Another Regular Ol' Life Altering Weekend

Friday: I'm doing these really intense workouts which are split into mat exercises days and weights days. On Friday I pushed myself to really do the weights exercises, knowing that I was doing a training class on Saturday on the mat exercises. Since I did them fully and was using muscles I haven't used in a while, I was rather sore and walking became a little interesting.

Saturday: No, the training class was *not* the mat exercises, it was the weights, which I had just done the day before. I learned long ago never to do the same workout 2 days in a row, and let me tell you, this was really, quite very confirmed. Not only did I really learn the proper ways to do weights and therefore really exercising those muscles, but I was also having *much* more difficulty walking.

On the bright side, from my exercising consistently for a few weeks and from these 2 workouts in a row, I could already feel muscles that weren't there before.

They were actually calling it a fitness "party," and in the afternoon I was off to a psychic "party." I'm not normally into psychic stuff, not since high school, but I was a little curious, and I really like the group of people who were putting it on, so I went.

Holy cow. I learned... wow.... stuff. Big stuff! It wasn't so much about the future as it was about how to get to where I want to go. With my business it was so simple it was funny. What came up was I should just do what I already know to do. Stop making excuses, just do it. (There was more that came up, like how I should move and I'll keep being stuck until I do, and maybe I'm in the wrong business...... But that guy apologized and said his reading was off and I should do it with someone else. The someone else told me about "just doing it." Since we get to choose what to believe and what not to believe, my instinct tells me to stay here and keep doing coaching. For now.)

With my relationships.. well.....! One psychic told me not to be in a Relationship (with a capital R) until I have worked on the thing inside me that's holding me back. Only when I've done that will Mr. Right appear. Another psychic told me that this thing that's holding me back has to do with things in my childhood and with me blaming myself for them. It was things I sort of knew but he took a much deeper cut at it, and it rather shook me. I feel great though, like right now I'm meant to be single, and things will come into place once I finally give myself that focus I should have been giving myself all along.

I have a lot of work ahead of me.

Sunday: I got home extremely late from the party, and I had... a workout (!) planned with some friends Sunday morning. Am I insane? Maybe. But..... I wanted to keep my Integrity since I said I'd be there, as well as try to maintain a routine of working out on certain days. I just did the mat exercises...... very,... very.... carefully. By the end... well, let's just say that walking wasn't really an option any more.

I thought I might have had a chance for a little nap or rest, but no. I was off to support someone leading an Introduction to the course I'm doing these days. It was in a town an hour away, so needless to say this became a rather long day. My afternoon at this was very intense--sitting through that Intro with a new person leading it, therefore seeing new big things for myself and my life, really shook my world a little more. My even bigger reason for going and not backing out was because it was being held in this woman's natural health food and supplement store with whom I have a Strategic Alliance for my business--I have already sent her clients, and she's been promising to display and distribute my business cards. I really wanted to have this deadline for making more cards and to deliver them in person. ("Just doing it," like Mr. Psychic suggested! I'm such a good girl. *halo*)

By the time that was over and we had chilled out after, it was about 7:45 (left the house for it that morning around 11am) and I was technically supposed to be at poetry at 8pm. Why on earth would I still want to go to poetry after my world was all shaken, I could barely walk, by this point I have a growing migraine, and all I want to do is curl up and sleep? Well I'm so glad you asked!!

a) I had been email corresponding with one of the features for the show I organized a few weeks ago who didn't make the final cut to be in my show even though she sounded fantastic (I needed to pick few from many, and choose a wide variety of acts), and I really wanted to see her perform.
b) I promised my friend/recent ex I would meet this good friend of his visiting from Spain, and this was our only chance to get together. He really wanted me to perform while she was there, but no way no how, not tonight, let me tell you.
c) I had asked (dared?) someone I met at another poetry reading 2 weeks ago to write a poem about this temporary tattoo I had had that said, "Eat me, go Veg!" and to deliver it to me at the reading. I was thoroughly impressed! (And embarrassed, when he read it on stage, and told everyone for whom he wrote it. :/ ) It was very unlike anything I would have imagined he'd come up with. Not that I could imagine what he'd come up with, but had I imagined something, this would not be it. I was blown away, it was really great. He should really do more writing and readings. (hint hint)

The poem, by that guy Andrew, based (very very loosely) on Veggie Tales:

What are you going to do now, Larry?
You fine, upstanding moral cucumber
Millions of children look to you for guidance, Larry
What are you going to do now?
Now that you've fallen for a fruit from the wrong side of the tracks

You thought no-one would see you slip into the Free Times Cafe, Larry
And watch that slutty watermelon recite her poem
You didn't even remember her name
When you pressed your long, firm cucumber body against her
And felt up the curves on that tomato in the "Eat Me" t-shirt
You thought no-one was watching, Larry
You though... none of these people know who I am anyway

And now you're on the front page of the papers, Larry
You and William Bennet
And Jimmy Swaggart has publicly vouched for your character
And asked the community to forgive you
But you're not sure you ~want~ Jimmy Swaggart to vouch for your character

What are you going to do now, Larry?
You fine, upstanding moral cucumber

No, I really shouldn't have gone, but I did.

Not only that! but:

I got more potential clients this weekend!

I got flirted with several times by several people! (Ya, that used to happen a lot, but hasn't happened for quite a while. Maybe have something to do with the vicious love circle soup I was in.) Felt pretty good. :)

Speaking of vicious love circle soup, someting about seeing my best friend/ex today was really weird. It's hard to put into words. Something has changed, though I'm not sure what. I also, much to my shock, got how very important I am to him and in his life. Kind of contrary to the place I was putting myself in his life. Just a little more world-shakin' here, to add to the already altering weekend.

and... The third person in a week told me that I should try to get some media attention about my business.. like some newspaper articles. I think The Universe is trying to tell me something again. I didn't think I was ready for this, but this third person who was talking to me about it just today was quite insistent. I think this is a message. I think I had quite a few messages this weekend, and maybe it's time I started listening "out there" and not just stay stuck inside my own head, where not as much gets accomplished.

Still migrainy but I had to get all this out!! Good night everyone!

posted by Jill 1:10 a.m.

Monday, September 22, 2003

Never underestimate the power of a techno geek!

Years ago, when I was being wooed by a charming dutchboy, he sent me a lovenote email in Dutch. Then he apologized for being so mean sending me something in a foreign language.

My response: "Never underestimate the power of a computer geek!" I subsequently sent him his message back translated through a language conversion website.

Today I was supposed to be meeting with a potential business contact, and while I was in the restaurant waiting for him a fair distance from my home, he got stuck and couldn't meet me for another hour. In his message on my home line he apologized that there was no way to contact him. It's actually not that difficult to figure out the phone number of a voice mail, so I called him back, much to his awestruck shock. He said that was the strangest thing that ever happened, that I was able to "track him down all the way to this seedy little bar on the edge of town."

Never underestimate the power of a techno geek!!
<insert evil laughter here>

posted by Jill 7:54 p.m.

Sunday, September 21, 2003

Site Changes!

omg, I actually updated my personal website! It's been almost... gosh... a year?

Some of the changes:

Updated navigation
Links to my coaching business
and most importantly...
A new About Me page! It was about time, I have changed a lot since I did that page about a year ago.

My site doesn't seem to be coming down as I thought it would, so I guess we're ok for now!
posted by Jill 1:55 p.m.

Thursday, September 18, 2003

Changes

1. My site may be down for a bit. If it is, I'll point jillbinder.com to go right to my blog. Fear not! It will be back.

2. The Food Fair arts performance on the weekend went well. It was definitely a learning experience! Man, what will I do with all my time now that I'm not organizing it??

3. I'm single again, for a while. I haven't accepted it yet, but you know, life goes on. We're now best of friends (again). Gee, feels like I've been here before.

4. I've been sick for a couple of weeks. Now that I slowly come to and start to unpack my new place, I'm thinking to myself, "Hey... This is a pretty cool place."

5. Business is going well! I'm reminded time and again that this is really what I'm meant to be doing. http://www.stopsmokingcoach.ca)

Tis all I can think of for now. You are updated.

posted by Jill 9:10 p.m.

Tuesday, September 09, 2003

Opposite of Whine Whine Whine

Ok, I admit it. I was worried. I was worried about the performance show at the Food Fair this coming weekend that I've been organizing for months. After all this hard work, I hadn't heeded people's warnings about overbooking the show, I wasn't getting responses from all of the performers, I have no idea what I'm doing in terms of stage managing, lots of last minute troubles are coming up, etc. etc.

I learned something a while ago about worries and stress.... I learned the concept that I'm an adult therefore I can handle it. If there is something I can't handle, get help. Therefore, there is nothing to worry over anymore.

Well, I have accomplished the impossible! I have a stage manager, someone to sell the books during the show, and 2 people to wrangle the audience. Someone pulled some strings for me and got me extra time for the show to take care of my overambition. I am gracefully handling all of the last minute issues that are coming up.

Everything is coming into place! I can do this! I really can!

Speaking of everything coming into place, I doubled my number of stop smoking clients this week. I can't believe it! While I was (still am) sick, too! Things in that area are on a roll. It's incredible! It's amazing what happens when you put your mind to it and you're in action. I decided I was going to have 5 new complimentary session coaching calls this week. (After having only done 1 in several months because of being busy with so many other things, this is quite a feat.) I scheduled 3 already, have had 2 of them, and they turned into clients!

The website business is going well as well. We're focusing on our own website right now, and it is going to be absolutely kiss-arse. Ben is a genius, and our site will be stunning. I'm so glad we're working together. I just hope I can turn his vision into a beautiful, workable, simple site!

That's all for now... Signing off..

Go out there, be in action, and live your dreams, people!

posted by Jill 10:48 p.m.

Sunday, September 07, 2003

Whine Whine Whine

I've been sick since Wed. night. Haven't shaken it yet and I've got a poetry feature tonight (that was booked months and months ago).

I will survive. I will.

I'm very upset about the state of my apartment! I haven't done any unpacking since I got sick, and for a couple of days before that I was diving into work since I hadn't done much in a while due to the move (oh the joys of setting your own hours ;).

I had a weird realization today.... I was thinking about how to explain coaching to someone (which I've gotten very good at) and it occurred to me that this isn't the first time that I've been in a non-traditional field that's not fully accepted yet and that requires an explanation when you tell people what you do for a living. Hmm. What does this mean? Does it mean I don't like being traditional? Or maybe just that the jobs that are worth doing, in my opinion, aren't the "normal" jobs out there. Yep, no "drone" life for moi! Hahahaha!

posted by Jill 4:45 p.m.

Thursday, September 04, 2003

What Romance Movie Best Represents Your Love Life?


I'm sure it's no big surprise to you that your
romance is The Princess Bride. A heartwarming
tale of "Twue Wuve" that has giants,
Spainards and swashbuckling. You really do
think that love can overcome anything. You may
be a touch naive but your heart is certainly in
the right place. You've probably got one of
those relationships where proper nouns have
been replaced with "Snookums" and
"Pookie Pie". Eww. Beware a cuteness
overload.


What Romance Movie Best Represents Your Love Life?
brought to you by Quizilla

Thanks Margaret for this.
posted by Jill 8:17 p.m.

Tuesday, September 02, 2003

Moving, Phase III: The Unpacking
(The rest of my weekend too.)

We skipped through Phase II as my computer was being packed up while all the rest of my belongings were being sorted and packed. This weekend they were all moved (much thanks to my parents, my boyfriend, my roommie, James D., and Marcine). (Oh yes, for Phase I Josh also deserves mucho thanks.) (If I missed anyone, I blame it on the exhaustion. Email me and you will be included in my public display of thanks.)

Now I sit in my new apartment in a sea of boxes.

My computer isn't up yet. My new roommie is graciously letting me use hers.

She's also letting me use her phone. Bell isn't hooking up my line until Thursday. :'(

It was a very eventful weekend! Besides the packing and moving (which was very large and significant.. but besides that), there was:

- Party-hopping with my wunderful boyfriend--his friends and mine
- My parents who came out to see me read poetry for the first time ever!! That was so exciting!! The host squeezed me onto the bill last minute so that I could do that. It was really fun, and I think (hope) they enjoyed it.
- The oh-my-god-it-was-so-good first annual International Poetry Slam. Three of my Vancouver friends and one from Winnipeg who used to live in Vancouver when I did read at the Slam. It was so packed I couldn't get in (no one without pre-paid tickets was allowed). It was 45 minutes to get to the place so I stood by the door for 10 minutes just so I could at least hear what was going on. The Shane saw me and told them I was with the Van team so they let me in! Holy freaking fantastic show! I got there around 9pm and it went until 1:30am-ish.

posted by Jill 2:46 p.m.

Tuesday, August 19, 2003

Moving, Phase I

As I sit in the remains after Moving, Phase I, 2003 (furniture, clothes, books) in my (now) old apartment, I look around the rubble that was my life for a year.

So much has happened during my time in the Annex.

There is so much more to come in St. Lawrence Market.

Yesterday I was trepidatious... Will I like my new place? Will it be my style? Will we be able to make it beautiful? ...Will my stuff fit???

I'm happy to report that the new place is so far shaping up to look fantastic. I'm really excited about it.

Now only if they'll let me up onto the rooftop patio.... :/ (Turns out it's complicated to go use it. :( )

Wish me luck sorting through the rest of my stuff from the old place!


posted by Jill 12:22 p.m.

Sunday, August 17, 2003

Blackness

Darkness falls across the land.

First I thought my stupid computer was on the fritz (again). Then I thought the people I was "holding" for on the phone didn't want my business.

Then I noticed the clocks were out.

Then there was trouble contacting my business partner, who's cell phone could receive but not send calls.

I had no working radios, so my news came from the partner when we were able to reach each other. "Northeastern Sea-board blackout."

WTF?!

Yep, darkness had fallen across the land.

I live in the Annex, which is normally a little chaotic anyway, but nothing like this. There were people *everywhere.* Milling, yelling, etc. There was a steady stream of fire trucks going to save people from their candles gone awry. Stores were either closing down or taking advantage of people's desperation for candles, flashlights... even food and, yep, water bottles were running out quickly. The masses didn't know for how long we'd have running water.

It felt like... like.... The Apocalypse was coming.

I was stranded. No subway service, my friends didn't want to drive (who could blame them, the traffic lights were out). At first I thought I wouldn't be able to get out of my building because there was no elevator service and then I remembered, oh ya, heheh, stairs. Those.

The stairs were lit by quickly burning, ever almost out, tea lights.

Outside there were cops acting as traffic lights, and about, oh, a million people waiting at each bus stop since subways were out. I wanted to take a picture but by the time I came back with my camera the sunlight was fading and the whole thing just wasn't the same. I guess a lot of the stranded people had made their way home by then.

Some people were yelling on the corner that there was a free play, so I went.

Night of the Evil Dead, Parts 1 and 2, the Musical!

It was opening night, and as they say, "The show must go on!"

It was campy. Yes indeedy.

They did it outside, minus their elaborate sets, and we could see how the special effects were done, which they apologized for profusely and promised us it was a better show when they can use their stage.

I beg to differ. I can't really compare because I didn't see it indoors, but how can you compare to the creepiness of a total blackout, using flashlights as spotlights, and when the flashlights burned out, using car headlights? Not to mention the fact that everything was just plain weird feeling, even if the play hadn't been on.

It was fantastic fun.

I was picturing that on my last night on earth, I had watched Evil Dead the Musical.

The crowd grew and grew until by the end so many people had gathered around to see the commotion (which turned out to be a play) that it was like swatting through a storm of bees to leave.

I went to bed at a decent hour (midnight?) because I had a client call in the morning, but I could hear the street partying and screaming from my window well into the morning.

In the morning the streets were empty and quiet.

posted by Jill 1:41 p.m.

Tuesday, August 12, 2003

Look! I went to Chicago!

Look! I went to Chicago!


Top 10 things I learned on my trip:

1. Poets are crazy.
2. Poets like to party.
3. Poets like to party like crazy people.
4. Confuscious say, "Walk into tree, get big bump on noggen."
5. Speak with your heart and no one gets hurt.
6. Ask and ye shall receive. Be careful what you ask for.
7. There are at least hundreds of people out there in the world just like me. Only more so.
8. Racism is not dead in the U.S. Far from it. :(
9. Many people have many identities, apparently. For example, the same person can read at a GLBT Slam, Chinese Slam, Native American Slam, Women's Slam, and Erotica Slam.
10. It's easy to make friends when you give good... poetry.

posted by Jill 11:57 p.m.

Canadians are Cool

It's not just the weather that's cooler in Canada - Post-Gazette

posted by Jill 11:45 p.m.

Tuesday, August 05, 2003

Newsy Things

I went to Ottawa for the long weekend on my first ever "let's go to Ottawa for a road trip" as opposed to going for a reason.
Here I am hugging one of the locals!


In other news, http://www.stopsmokingcoach.ca. Link it! Love it!
It'll be better later, but it's a great first start!
Especially important since the chances of meeting potential clients on my trip to Chicago for a week is pretty good, and the site is on my business cards.



Chicago is just for fun. Poetry babee! Cuz I can. I'm working for myself now.

posted by Jill 4:05 a.m.

Friday, August 01, 2003

Double Double This This

I've been working, umm, a lot, lately, which is not in itself bad since I am loving the work, but nonetheless it was nice to have a forced reprieve.

I had my Karma Coop shift tonight, and a mother, one of the other working members, was having some troubles with her bored daughter. I very slyly shifted her daughter's attention from bugging mom or the other workers to helping me tie things, carry things, and figure out where alphabetically the spices go. She *loved* it! She was rather upset when there was no more work to do.

At the end of my shift her mother was still working (for another fifteen minutes) so I entertained the girl by playing all her word and hand games. The one I can't get out of my head now is "Double double this this double double that that..."

I haven't connected with a kid in years and years, so it felt really good when she insisted that they come again when I have my next shift, a month from now.

posted by Jill 10:31 p.m.

Our First Website for Our First Client Just Went Live!

http://www.longviewmontessori.ca

posted by Jill 12:07 a.m.

Wednesday, July 30, 2003

Lots Is Happening

Snapshot in Jill-world:

My Art Gallery at the Food Fair was cancelled. :( :(

My performance show at the Food Fair will be HUGE and AMAZING!!

Jen and I are moving to the St. Lawrence Market. We sign the lease tomorrow. We got a great deal! We are super-excited!!

The first website for our first website client is almost done. Yeeha!

posted by Jill 7:50 p.m.

Friday, July 25, 2003

Settled but Still Crazy

Things are a little more settled now, but that doesn't mean life isn't still upside down. :)

The stuff that was going on last week that was changing fast and making everything all crazy:

Mostly it was The House. The House that Jen (probably not the Jen you know or have heard me speak of before, a different Jen) and I fell in love with and wanted to buy. (Jen was already in love with it much before. I fell too.) House buying isn't an emotional thing, it turns out. It's Very Very complicated. I learned much more about house-buying in 24 hours than I ever needed/wanted to know before. Wow.

There was another offer on the house, so we acted fast. Turns out that offer fell through. We took our time after that and made ours a few days later. The bum took the house off the market! So we're back to having no place to live soon. :(

Early next week we might have a fantastic deal in a great neighbourhood. We won't know til Monday, which is cutting it awfully close for Jen who has to move end of the month. :(

Started up another business to supplement the Life Coaching. Websites! We got our first client last week, and as a result, last week and this week had much learning curve on how that works and how I work with my fellow business partners. It's been really exciting! The Coaching business has been on hold a bit because of it and because of The House and rental hunting (although I'm still doing stuff in that area.... busybusy.)

My new(old) relationship rocks. We totally grew together last week and it's fantastic. It was fantastic before too, but now even more so.

People are starting to notice the changes in me. New levels of confidence and maturity. The way I hold myself, the way I speak, the way I'm taking responsibility. This is all thanks to my new (ad)ventures as well as the Wisdom course that I'm taking.

posted by Jill 11:26 a.m.

Saturday, July 19, 2003

Ummm... Wow

Woman Changes Her Name To GoVeg.com
posted by Jill 8:04 a.m.

Wednesday, July 16, 2003

All I can say...

is everything is crazy right now. So many life changes. So much is happening.

As soon as things are settled and I know how things are ending up, you (gentle Blog readers) will know too.

posted by Jill 12:52 p.m.

Tuesday, July 15, 2003

"The brave may not live forever but the cautious don't live at all."

posted by Jill 8:27 a.m.

Monday, July 14, 2003

Giant Rubik's Cube

These are hillarious! Especially the Astor Place Cube!

posted by Jill 1:07 a.m.

I feel weird today

I long for the past, but I don't want it back in my present.

posted by Jill 12:15 a.m.

Friday, July 11, 2003

More Changes

JAmes has been removed too.
Again, if that (your blog status) changes, please tell me.

posted by Jill 1:15 p.m.

Thursday, July 10, 2003

List of Blogs Changes

I regret to inform you that Seyil's blog has been taken off of my Friends Who Post list. Seyil, you haven't updated it in nearly two years. If you post anything again, let me know and it'll go back up.

Ron's has also been removed, not cuz I don't love ya, but because it's all your organization so I don't get any info about you and I never bother reading it.

My list looked long enough to me to warrant sub-sections. Hence, I bring you friends by cities.

posted by Jill 6:08 p.m.

Me, only a Healthier Version

I knew that after I quit my job I'd be eating healthier. Partly because cooking (esp. from scratch) would be cheaper, and partly because I'd actually *gasp* have the time to cook! Ya, 2 years of a hellish commute can start to play a toll on you, on so many levels, right down to fast food eating habits. (Yes, you can get vegetarian fast food. It's not necessarily any healthier. :P )

Enter Front Door Organics into my life. It was my plan that after I quit "work" work, I'd start doing this thing of getting nummy organic food delivered straight to moi. (If you decide to use them because you heard of them from me, please use me as your reference. Thanks! :)

I got my first box yesterday. OMG it's so great! For a really reasonable amount I have enough fruits and veggies to last me for forever (or until they go bad, whichever comes first ;). Being all organic and from local farmers, I feel really good about it.

Little tidbit on me: I hate salad. Yes, a Vegetarian who hates salad. I know, I know. However.... I just made a salad with a bunch of my new organic, local, fresh, yum yum veggies, and it was the best! I got the recipe from The Garden of Vegan, the second book from the rockingest Vegans ever to grace this planet.

posted by Jill 3:08 p.m.

Fun Fun

If you haven't already, do this:

1. go to Google.com

2. enter WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION in the search field

3. click on the "I'm feeling lucky button" instead of and read the whole error message.

posted by Jill 12:08 p.m.

Monday, July 07, 2003

Script Reading

I went to a script reading tonight. In case you don't know, a script reading is where a bunch of actors sit on chairs in a row, and "act" through a script. The movements are minimal, but we do get the full effect of the voices. We also get filled in on all the actions and visuals via the narration.

How script reading differs from poetry reading:

The author has no control over how it is read. It's all in other people's hands, and all he/she can do is pray. As my friend who went through the process put it, "My thought is.... please please please... don't fuck up my script!"

How script reading is similar to poetry reading:

Your vulnerability. Your baby is out there in the public, awaiting the criticism of the audience.

The sense of relief when it's all over!!!! The author was behind me, and her sigh of de-stressing just after it ended was very loud.

posted by Jill 11:50 p.m.

Saturday, July 05, 2003

Thoughts

1. I saw posters up for the Fringe Festival yesterday, and I thought, "Really? It's the Festival?" and like I did last year, I figured I'll just catch it next year. This illustrates a big difference between Ottawa and Toronto. When I lived in Ottawa several years ago, something like that is *impossible* to miss. It's a very big deal, and the entire city is transformed to accommodate it. If you miss it, you are missing out on a lot because that sort of thing doesn't happen/come around very often. In Toronto, it's not a big deal, that stuff happens all the time, and if you miss it, so what?

2. Thanks to the personal development course I'm in right now (Landmark Wisdom), a little incident that happened yesterday would have reduced me to tears in the past, but this time I was able to just shrug it off and see the other person as immature, instead of me as being worthless. When I was doing Cash at my Karma Co-op work shift, a guy lost his temper when I asked him a few times about the price sticker on his product. I diffused the situation, and completely didn't take it to heart. In fact, it got me rather thinking about how kind all the shoppers at Karma are, and what a wonderful, warm place it is to be. This was confirmed by the next shopper telling me not to let him bully me and what I did/said was the right thing. :)

3. Music has a strange bonding property. I happen to love obscure music. I'm also very picky about my music, and unless something really grabs me and paralyzes me with its beauty, I don't buy it or pay it much attention. Yesterday I had that experience with the music that was playing at Karma, and I asked the manager about it. After that, he seeked me out to help me with where I could find it, and made sure it was played more in the rotation so that I could hear it. We saw each other in different lights. He smiled at me differently (no, not necessarily one of *those* smiles, so if a certain boyfriend-person is reading this, worry not ;). I'm sure he'll pay attention to me differently at my shift next month. Music is bonding!

4. I love this quote about poetry from Byron Sheardown:

To me poetry is the grandest form of communication, far above any art. It does not sit silent like a painting or weave emotion like music. It can join two minds, it can raise a crowd to roar or bring it to its knees in sadness. The face of the poet is unseen... the depth of contemplation can be immeasurable. We have only words, words that may strike the soul so deep as to move the earth and change the course of the world. We, the poets of our time strike new ground with each word and must write our voice and so alter the course of our world as well.

So go out and alter the world people!! I'm counting on you!
posted by Jill 8:33 a.m.

Thursday, July 03, 2003

Free?

I'm freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

I'm free! I'm free! I'm free! I'm free! I'm free! I'm free! I'm free!
I'm free! I'm free! I'm free! I'm free! I'm free! I'm free! I'm free!
I'm free! I'm free! I'm free! I'm free! I'm free! I'm free! I'm free!



Did I mention I'm free?


posted by Jill 9:16 a.m.

Wednesday, July 02, 2003

Smile

As I was saying my good-byes to some of my co-workers, one with whom I work really closely, said, "It's nice to see you smile for a change!"

posted by Jill 7:03 p.m.

Life Reboot

A couple of months ago, I was going to quit my job and break up with my boyfriend (Jeff) both on the same day, and then put up a post about how it's indeed possible to reboot your life without changing cities.

The breaking up happened, but the quitting did not. I needed more time to figure things out.

Today, on July 2, 2003, almost two months later, the time has come and the quitting has happened. I gave my 2 weeks notice today.

I'm very scared about the future, but also very excited. This is going to be very good.

You can reboot your life without changing cities. Who knew?!

posted by Jill 3:33 p.m.

Sunday, June 29, 2003

Gay Pride: I Have No Power Here

Church Street. The night before the big Pride Parade. All-night street party.

We're in this dance bar and I'm trying to manoeuvre my way across the crowd.

My friend turns to me and says, "Just shake it! Oh wait, your super-power-tits have no power here."

LOL!!!

posted by Jill 3:50 a.m.

Saturday, June 28, 2003

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood

After going to see a couple of friends do a dance show of same-sex Swing dancing, I wandered around Church street in the middle of Pride Week mayhem. The sun was shining, love was in the air, life was grand.

I'm going to be in the Pride Parade tomorrow!! Wearing Vegan fetish-wear for an Animal Rights float. Ooh la la.

Earlier today I went strawberry-picking and had life altering conversations. Life is good.


Just like the sunny, beautiful day today, everything is looking up. I'm seeing an incredible guy who is incredibly right for me for right now. My new business (stop smoking coach) is taking off. My Vegetarian Art projects for the Food Fair in September are going smoothly.

Life is beautiful!

posted by Jill 7:24 p.m.

Thursday, June 26, 2003

Telemarketers are Fun!

Me: I'd take it if it were free like the one I already have.
Telemarketer: I'd do that if I could, but I'm just.... a puppet.


Ha ha hahahahahhahaha!


posted by Jill 7:26 p.m.

Friday, June 20, 2003

KeyWallet, a password-rememberer

This is just the ubercoolest. http://www.keywallet.com/

posted by Jill 4:35 p.m.

Hello Universe. I'm Listening!

I think I understand why recent events have happened the way they have. The universe is trying to tell me something. (Career-wise, anyway.)

I think I'm doing the right thing.

posted by Jill 8:01 a.m.

Thursday, June 19, 2003

Delta

It is a time of great change.

At least I can face it all with integrity and my head held high.

Oh ya, and first Lessons Learned of my new coaching business: Always be upfront about absolutely everything, even if you think it's too early to tell the person and you think that saying it sounds stupid. (i.e. Even, "At such and such a point, I am going to ask you blahblahblah. I am not attached to the answer.")

posted by Jill 7:38 p.m.

Wednesday, June 18, 2003

Maybe Search Engines Will Find This

---------------------------------------------------

Do you create visual art (of any medium) with Vegetarian-related themes?

The Toronto Vegetarian Food Fair (http://www.veg.ca/foodfair/), September 12-14, 2003 would like to display your art at our fair. Your work and messages can potentially reach thousands of Vegetarians as well as non-Vegetarians who are curious about Vegetarianism.

For more information or to apply, contact Jill (jill_binder@NOSPAMrocketmail.com (remove NOSPAM)) by June 30, 2003.

Please pass on this information to other visual artists.

----------------------------------------------------

Are you a poet, musician, dancer, or other performer?
Are you Vegetarian or do you have some Vegetarian-related material that you can perform?

The Toronto Vegetarian Food Fair (http://www.veg.ca/foodfair/), September 12-14, 2003 is looking to bring something different to this year's fair. We are creating a 90 minute show full of Vegetarian performers and/or performers with Vegetarian-related material. It's a great way to get known to a completely new and large audience who wouldn't hear your work otherwise. For musicians, we are especially looking for non-mainstream types of music, especially World music, although all are welcome to apply.

For more information or to apply, contact Jill (jill_binder@NOSPAMrocketmail.com (remove NOSPAM)) by June 30, 2003.

Please pass on this information to other performers.

----------------------------------------------------
posted by Jill 12:32 a.m.

Whee!

I got an A on that project. :) :)

What a freaking amazing weekend. Everything has shifted. I'm in such a good place now. Especially about the stuff I was all complainy about.. my love life and my career.

Wheeeee!

posted by Jill 12:29 a.m.

Wednesday, June 11, 2003

Projet Complet

27 years
102 pages
No sleep
Crossed eyes

It's going to be a looooong day today.


posted by Jill 7:51 a.m.

4am Venting

So it's 4am, I'm in an Internet cafe trying to scan freakin' 12 pictures, the whole process should be taking 30 minutes tops but the computer is deciding that night-time is really fun, let's be lazy and stall several programs, cause me to reboot it several times, and just generally be wonky, so let's take an HOUR AND A HALF for a 24 minute job... Because it wasn't enough that I figured out 2 hours ago that some of my most special pictures, a trip to the Maritimes with an ex, plus a zillion other important pictures, were among those that were lost in the Great Roommate's Movers Moving My Box of Pictures With Her And I'll Never See Them Again incident.... (Did I mention my Israel scrapbook was lost in the incident? That one I already knew about. Don't make me mention it.)

This 4am Venting is brought to you all in the name of personal development (pictures needed for my personal development class project).

Ask me if I'm having a good time.


posted by Jill 4:00 a.m.

Monday, June 09, 2003

Revelation

running + chocolate = a well-balanced day


posted by Jill 3:25 p.m.

Sunday, June 08, 2003

Crazy Projects

Wow.. A few of my crazy projects on the go are actually getting somewhere or coming to fruition!

For example I'm the head of the Art Team for the Vegetarian Food Fair this coming year and things are really starting to come together. Woo! Lessons learned from my Art Team experience so far: Simple is good. We had elaborate and numerous events/workshops planned.... Now that it's become a matter of "what can we do the most simply and with least expenses?" things are starting to happen.

Heheh.. I should really take that lesson into my other projects. Hmmmm.

posted by Jill 11:40 p.m.

Friday, June 06, 2003

Happy

A dream I have had for a year came true today.

I am a very, very happy Jill!

posted by Jill 10:56 p.m.

Thursday, June 05, 2003

It's really not that complicated, I swear...

The goal: Simple.
The plan: Simple.
The way it executes when I think it through in my head: Simple.
The way it executes when it plays out in reality: _NOT_ so simple.


posted by Jill 5:39 p.m.

Wednesday, June 04, 2003

Knowledge and Wisdom

Never mistake knowledge for wisdom.
One helps you make a living
and the other helps you make a life.
-Sandra Carey

posted by Jill 1:20 p.m.

Tuesday, June 03, 2003

Oh ya, and...

Oh ya, and in case you're wondering what happened with the big Jill-world life changing decision day, it turned out it was not the day to change my life. Decisions didn't have a deadline after all, in fact I can spend years thinking if I want/need to.. Which is good. I have an awful lot of learning and growing to do first before choosing my path.

posted by Jill 10:11 a.m.

Rich

Oh my god, this guy's music is *amazing.* You have to go listen. Now!

btw, I've been listening to Laura Fernandez's new CD almost non-stop for several days. Go listen to her too!

Both strong, haunting, captivating, powerful.

posted by Jill 12:31 a.m.

Sunday, June 01, 2003

Truth. My past. My present. Like climbing a mountain.

Truth:
The truth is, there is no truth. There is only the truth that you fashion. What's important is, is your truth one that you like? And one that you can live with? And all the while, can you keep in mind that it is merely just *your* truth and not *THE* Truth?

My past:
I'm in Ottawa, going through old photos, yearbooks, and certificates, trying to remember my past to be able to synthesize it and have a page (or more) for each year of my life, for a personal development course I'm taking.
I'm noticing how very recent events (my love life and my career, both in shambles right now) have been played exactly the same way countless times before. If they turn out the same way yet again, it's not going to be good.

My present:
Tomorrow is a very, very important day in Jill-world. It will map the course of possibly the rest of my life, and involves a very big decision. One direction my life can take is easy but probably won't make me fulfilled-happy, and the other is hard and will make me very happy in the short-term but probably more miserable in the long-term.

It's all about the truths I have mapped onto my life. It's about how my past has shaped my future, and how I can choose to allow it to continue to do that or to break the cycles. Easier said than done.
They said it would be simple, but not that it would be easy. Like climbing a mountain. One foot in front of other.

In the end, the hero WILL win.

posted by Jill 3:37 a.m.

Thursday, May 29, 2003

*shaking head* cont'd: All Babies Are Vegan For Approx. A Year

Good points from someone on same mailing list:

"All babies are supposed to be breastfed for 2 years or more, according to the latest recommendations. No solids are supposed to be given for the first 6 months. So in an ideal world, all babies would be vegan (exclusively breastfed) for the first six months or more. After that, solids are introduced gradually, starting with fruit, vegetables, or grains. For omni babies, meat is introduced much later, and cow's milk should not be given in the first year. Mother's milk remains the main source of nutrition for the first year, and plays an important role even beyond that."

posted by Jill 9:11 p.m.

*shaking head*

As quoted to me from the Toronto Star:

NEW YORK—Two parents convicted of nearly starving their infant daughter to death by putting her on their strict vegan diet were given prison sentences of five and six years yesterday, prosecutors said.

The baby, Ice Swinton, weighed just 10 pounds, had rickets, had no teeth and could not walk, sit or roll over when she was taken into custody in November, 2001.

...

The parents said their health improved after they restricted their diets and they hoped their child would benefit from eating similar foods.

...

Ok, I have two things to say about this:

(1) In defense of Vegan diets which are actually quite healthy, LEARN ABOUT IT BEFORE YOU DO IT. It's not a difficult concept. There are four food groups: Vegetables, fruit, legumes, and grains. Have a variety of foods from all of them every day and your nutrient needs are pretty much all covered. (Don't forget B12 and Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acides from additional sources.)

(2) If you're going to be a parent, learn something about parenting before you do. This includes children's diets! *Especially* if you're going to feed them a specialized diet! (For example, learn about children's Vegan diets from the book "Raising a Vegan child in a Non-Vegan World" by Erin Pavlina or "Becoming Vegan" by Vesanto Melina and Brenda Davis.)

Gaahh! When I hear stuff like that I get so angry!

</rant over> Thank you.

posted by Jill 8:05 a.m.

Sunday, May 25, 2003

Not A JAmes-Entry

Hey! So I was doing this interview for TVOntario this afternoon, talking about Wakefield Brewster's work, cuz they were doing a doc on him, and I noticed something rather interesting. I was supposed to look at the interviewer, not at the camera, and he was all shaking his head in agreement and looking interested at my ramblings off the top of my head to my answers about Wakefield, his work, spoken word, etc. (I think I was coherent. Woo!) I couldn't help but think, "You really don't care about one word that I'm saying, do you? This must be a technique to get people to loosen up, look more natural, etc." Needless to say, I continued to talk as though I was talking to a brick wall. I couldn't help it. It wasn't a natural conversation, and I really couldn't believe that he'd be that genuinely interested in what I was saying. Not after spending forever "setting up the shot," explaining to me what to do, worrying about the sound, etc. etc.

Anyway, I might be on TV! I'll keep you posted.

posted by Jill 6:08 p.m.

Saturday, May 24, 2003

Appropriate

http://www.thinkgeek.com/interests/oreilly/tshirts/5eb7/

:)


posted by Jill 11:51 a.m.

Friday, May 23, 2003

My Definition

jill

drives everyone crazy that is around here ... talks out of her ass every moment of everyday

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=jill

posted by Jill 12:12 p.m.

Response to Response

Dude! I haven't even seen the movie! Chill!

:)

posted by Jill 12:42 a.m.

Response About Matrix Revolutions

Name: STRANGER IN THE NIGHT

Response: OMG JILL! SOMEONE IS DISSING YOU SO BAD

http://runtuxrun.com/blog/article.php?story=20030522234550769


OMG!!

posted by Jill 12:40 a.m.

Thursday, May 22, 2003

Encryption

A blog for some new music that I'm really digging, introduced to me by someone, has a great line I'd like to quote:

"but have insofar received no response unless he is sending emails encrypted to look like spam."

Story of my life!

posted by Jill 11:58 p.m.

Wednesday, May 21, 2003

Bad Dream

Last night I dreamed that I was in a university hallway knowing he was going to be walking by.

I knew I shouldn't see him, but a small part of me wanted to and so lingered in the hallway a little longer than I should have. Just as I started to walk away, he walked passed me. He saw me, and did not look happy about it. Our steps slowed but we kept walking as we turned our heads to look at each other. He looked as though he was trying not to look at me, and I looked as though I wanted him to know I still cared, so my gaze was lingering.

Then he walked away, as though I never existed, and I felt my heart sink, which is now a very familiar feeling when it comes to him.

I wonder if he still reads my blog.

posted by Jill 10:55 p.m.

Tuesday, May 20, 2003

Rambly Musing: Matrix Revolutions

Contributor: still amazing margaret

Topic: Matrix Reloaded was slightly disappointing. What will Matrix Revolutions be like?

Rambly Musing: Was it not big enough for you? Perhaps you did not take advantage of a super screen. Might I suggest that next time you find your local theatre with the largest screen and best sound effects before spending your $20 (incl. snacks).

As for what it will actually be like, I believe they were filmed at the same time.

Jill's Official Prediction: Expect more of the same.



Send me your Rambly Musings suggestions.

Your name:
Subject:

 

posted by Jill 2:59 p.m.

Monday, May 19, 2003

Balcony Goodness

I love my new patio (balcony) furniture! (photo or link coming soon)

Crazy story... I was at a poetry reading on a patio tonight and they had the perfect tables and chairs for my balcony. You have to understand, I've been looking for balcony furniture ever since I moved here a year ago. I asked the manager where he got them and it turned out he had bought too many and so sold me one, still wrapped up in the box. Tonight! Thanks to David for helping me carry it home and helping me to inaugurate the balcony furniture with a midnight tea party. It was way cool.


Yes, I get much too excited about funky furniture. You know you have a problem when you get bouncy over such things.

posted by Jill 1:27 a.m.

Saturday, May 17, 2003

Heart

Today my heart broke into a million more pieces than it was already broken.

(Serves me right for breaking someone else's.)

posted by Jill 3:48 p.m.

Great Quotes from a Usability Seminar Earlier This Week

"When you believe in things you don't understand, then you suffer." - L. Steven Wonder

"Fonts, as boring as they may be, is where the action is." - Marc Green, the speaker

posted by Jill 8:39 a.m.

Seven Social Sins

1. Politics without principle.
2. Pleasure without conscience.
3. Wealth without work.
4. Knowledge without character.
5. Commerce without morality.
6. Science without humanity.
7. Worship without sacrifice.

Source: an email signature. Their source: Mahatma Gandhi: _New Internationalist_ Magazine, April 2001, page 7; http://www.newint.org

posted by Jill 8:36 a.m.

Thursday, May 15, 2003

Rambly Musing: Matrix Reloaded

Contributor: Amazing Margaret

Topic: Just how big will 'matrix reloaded' be??

Rambly Musing: About the size of a movie theatre screen. This can be as big as sixty feet high and eighty feet wide at a super screen.


Send me your Rambly Musings suggestions.

Your name:
Subject:

 

posted by Jill 5:58 p.m.

Wednesday, May 14, 2003

:'(

posted by Jill 12:03 a.m.

Tuesday, May 13, 2003

Listen to your heart

How can you listen to your heart if it's speaking in a foreign language?

posted by Jill 8:26 a.m.

Monday, May 12, 2003

Ted Joans Lives

Message from T.Paul Ste. Marie:

"Beat Generation jazz/surrealist poet and friend Ted Joans passed away of natural causes in his Vancouver apartment on Wednesday May 7th. I have spoken with his daughter, Darlene and his long time companion, artist Laura Corsiglia. Laura is overwhelmed and exhausted as well as heart broken right now, and has no energy to expend -- she did request something from us, though...

"When I asked what the poetry community may do to help out, Laura and I spoke of having a memorial reading in celebration of Ted's life in the near future (we will begin planning this at a later date), but on a more immediate note, Laura requested this, based on the action Ted took when his friend Charlie Parker died:

"GRAB SOME SIDEWALK CHALK OR CHARCOAL AND WRITE

'TED JOANS LIVES!'

"EVERYWHERE YOU CAN!

"Ted had written 'Bird Lives' all across the streets of New York, and this, Laura felt would be a wonderful way in which to celebrate Ted's life!"





TED JOANS LIVES!





posted by Jill 11:32 a.m.

Thursday, May 08, 2003

Which HTML tag are you?

You're the FONT tag- some people ignore you, some people adore you. When you like someone, you like them a lot, but when you don't like them- watch out.

http://jamie.almostbroken.net/tests/test.html

posted by Jill 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday, May 07, 2003

The Good Thing About Having a Young Sounding Voice Is...

...when telemarketers call asking for Mr. or Mrs. Binder, I can say, "I'm sorry, they're not home."

:D

posted by Jill 7:04 p.m.

Monday, May 05, 2003

A series of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations

dream n.

1. A series of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations occurring involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep.
2. A daydream; a reverie.
3. A state of abstraction; a trance.
4. A wild fancy or hope.
5. A condition or achievement that is longed for; an aspiration: a dream of owning their own business.
6. One that is exceptionally gratifying, excellent, or beautiful: Our new car runs like a dream.

Source: http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=8&q=dream

posted by Jill 2:09 p.m.

Angelo

Angelo. Did this. His blog added to friends list.

posted by Jill 1:03 a.m.