New Stylenote for Chicabooti

www.chicabooti.com.au

The scene starts with a group of average looking people leaving work and walking across the street to a club. Upon entering the club’s doors the sound of a till is heard.

The people walk to the bar and buy a drink, Another till sound is heard and the camera zooms into the drink.

The camera then zooms back from the pint and the room is pixelated like an old game. This is designed to represent the feeling of being drunk, being in a world where there are no consequences and to also represent the childishness of drinking.

The club is then shown to be full of people fighting and groping each other. Coins are consistently falling from their pockets.

Scene cuts to the end of the night where all the characters gradually un-pixelate and are revealed to be bums, now drained of their money.

This project is about representing ‘what a night out means to you’ in the form of an animation.

My idea is based on my view of people’s nights out, as I’m not particularly a fan of night clubs.

My animation will display the cultural tradition of leaving work after a hectic week and going out to a club to enjoy yourself.

The aim is to point out the irony of spending a weeks wages as an effort to forget how bad the working week has been.

She may be fighting Dannii Minogue for the X Factor style crown but Cheryl Cole proved she can still be bang on trend as she stepped out in London last night.

With her hair swept back and looking her usual flawlessly stunning self in a tight knitted dress and nude peep-toed high heels, the Girls Aloud star beamed broadly as she left the May Fair Hotel.

Her make-up was minimal, giving her a fresh-faced glow, a far cry from the heavily made-up image she portrays on the X Factor.

She finished off the simple outfit with flower-shaped diamond earrings and a chunky watch. But her ring finger was missing the massive rock of a wedding ring – although it’s more than likely that she removed it out of fear of snagging her dress.

And while many of us would baulk at braving the chilly December temperatures without a coat and with bare legs, the weather was clearly not a problem for Cheryl as she stepped out in the clingy number and peeptoe heels.

Smiley Cheryl certainly seemed to have perked up after a disappointing and emotional weekend on show the X Factor.

Her act Lloyd Daniels, was booted off the ITV show after losing the public vote to Olly Murs.

After another week of scathing remarks from judge Louis Walsh – who has no acts left in the competition after Jedward met their fate last week, the 16-year-old Welsh boy was sent packing.

And his departure didn’t seem to come as a great surprise after he was booed the previous week for surviving the public vote and Walsh said he should have been sent home.

Cheryl, who has been Lloyd’s mentor from the beginning, looked bitterly disappointed as she left the studios after his elimination.

But she predicted a successful future for the teenager who she said would one day ‘blossom into a proper little star’.

Cheryl must now focus on her remaining act, 18-year-old Geordie boy Joe McElderry, as she returns to the show this weekend for the semi-finals.

He will take on Simon Cowell’s remaining acts – Olly Murs, 25, and Danyl Johnson, 27 – as well as Stacey Solomon, 20, Dannii Minogue’s last female act left in the competition.

McElderry is currently the favourite to win the competition amid accusations that Simon Cowell has been trying to drum up support in order for him to win the final on December 13.

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Hi I’m back with a proper post at last.  Things have been hectic.  I have been trying to read and comment on your blogs, I hate to miss your posts.

So here’s what’s been happening over the last couple of days.

I’ve been working like a dog (Hard Day’s Night, love that song) Yes Christmas means overtime at work and I’ve been taking advantage of this. Picture me sat here in my dull, grey office, I shall be putting up the Christmas decorations soon to liven things up.

I’ve been doing some partying, “oh Taylor I think you’re a bit tipsy”

It was my friend’s, work’s Christmas party on Friday and I went along for moral support

On to today’s eats.

Breakfast saw the appearance of oats with greek yogurt and strawberries (and coffee not pictured)

When I did my “meat free” week I decided to have more meat free days and today was one of them.

Work lunch was a mixed bean salad with kidney beans, green beans, sweet corn, carrot and garden peas, a pita with cream cheese and a bunch of grapes.  The Lara bar was my pre-workout snack of which I gobbled before heading off for a swim.

When I got home I made a delicious sandwich of avocado, red pepper, spinach, tomato and cheese and a plum on the side. This made a crunchy, creamy, cheesy sandwich.

So now I have some catching up to do.

Taylor

Been on a mini-break trying to avoid outside food due to an on-going health crisis. But I couldn’t resist this one. Got a call late at night from a very hungry soul. It didn’t take me long (never really does when someone mentions food!) to agree to his plan of eating out so without hesitating we headed out in search of food at 2 AM in the night. Since we didn’t want to go anywhere far we began asking around and were directed to Andheri station.

Not too sure what the stall’s name is but it seems to have been operating for quite sometime now. At 2.00 AM you find all kinds of people waiting here for the bhurji pav, pulav and the chicken masala. Not sure of the prices as we had all three and paid INR 105 in total. Two of us sharing three dishes for just a little over a 100 bucks is a steal IMHO! There was also Pav Bhaji but the waiting time was too much.I’d recommend the Bhurji Pav and Chicken Masala though the veggies can try the Pav Bhaji.

Here is a tip if one wants their food to be served quickly. Wait at the counter and be nice to the guys cooking and the guys serving the food and they will serve u sooner than the others. As my friend put it ‘begging here really does help if you want to satiate yourself quickly’. Mind you, this place is not for those looking to satiate their taste buds but for those intending to fill up their hungry tummies!

(Couldn’t take a picture here due to some very ‘understandable reasons’ so this is the best I have. The stall with the bright light is the one which serves the delicious and oily food!)

PS: The food at Cooper is better and far more in quantity but the price is also higher. Also, if one is conscious of the crowd then cooper is a safer bet though Andheri too had its fair share of ‘hip and happening’ crowd!

Here I am wearing my latest design with my friend Natalie

Had drinks in The Coffee Connoisseur aka TCC again. This time, in Clarke Quay. I just love TCC, don’t I? Love the coffee and chocolate drinks. Selective dessert, of course. The atmosphere. And of course, 15% discount with Citibank Credit Card.

However, I think they should really improve on their non-coffee/chocolate drinks. Those don’t taste good at all.

Address:
Blk 3E River Valley Road
#01-01 Singapore 179024
Tel: +65 63361121

To get there:
Get to Clarke Quay MRT. Walk towards The Central. The cafe is opposite The Central, across the river.

Price:
SGD 10 per person

The drinks – Mine. Chocolate of Wealth. One of my favorite. Cold Chocolate blend with chips, perfect. Maybe a little too sweet for some. Just nice for me. =)
SGD 7.90

Oreo Milkshake + Ice Cream
SGD 7.70 + SGD 1.80

Berry Oreo
SGD 7.50

Luscious Bonding
SGD 7.40

Dessert – Devil Misu
SGD 11.00

Had drinks session with friends in Suki Sushi, Cineleisure. A place supposed for quick sushi but it did not seem quick as service was bad and waited for almost 30 minutes for my sushi to come.

Something different i find here. They have flavored hot green tea. Original, peach and jasmine to name a few. Tried the jasmine green tea. Smell nice but did not taste as good.

Address:
8 Grange Road @ Cineleisure Orchard
#04-02

To get there:
Get to Somerset MRT and walk follow the signs to Cineleisure Orchard. Once you come out to Orchard Road, walk against the traffic until you come to a junction. Cross the road and Cineleisure is located on the left.

Price:
SGD 0.80

Another amazing place, finally here in London too, is the Buddah Bar. It opened not so long ago in Embankment, near the river and it’s always packed… now i will tell you why.

Basically the secret is great food, cool ambient, amazing cocktails and fantastic music all night long. We went there just to stay few hours all girls and instead between some wine, some cocktails and the music we couldn’t go away anymore.

They serve food in all little portions and we ate a particular kind of spring rolls served with sweet and sour sauce that was very good, but especially we drunk a CHILLI MOJITO and an ELEMENTAL cocktail (peach based)  beautiful to see but absolutely fantastic to drink. The music is a mix of arab, indian and latin music at the beginnig of the night, to get then more disco around twelve. It’s of course a bit expensive but it’s a very nice place for a full night out.

W the big Buddah!

PS. Mamy con Anna e le ragazze ci siamo dedicate una serata fuori un po’ sopra le righe e siamo andate in questo locale molto conosciuto che sta’ proprio vicino al fiume. Si chiama Buddah Bar perche’ ha un grosso Buddah all’interno e l’ambiente e’ un po’ una fusione di culture asiatiche e arabe. E’ un posto molto curato e famoso ovunque per la musica che mettono: insomma una volta entrata e’ difficile andarsene. Hai visto che bei cocktails?

Went to the Centre @ Salisbury on Saturday night for the 830p showing of the sequel to Twighlight — New Moon.

So New Moon, as expected, was devastatingly, blatantly targeted to teenage girls.

Wolf boys without teeshirts. Nuff said.

When Jasper flipped over Bellas blood leaking from her hand, that was the best suspenseful part for me. Oh. and most of the Voltaire part of the movie. And especially Dakota Fanning.

Good previews, spent too much on snacks. I need to stop going to movies until I only have one girlfriend. Pffft.

NIKERA REVIEW: 3 STAR

“STRESS FREE FRIDAYS AT KATRA LOUNGE”

      We landed in NYC on Friday 20 November to a city full of eager socialites ready to paint the town red! Thankfully, once we arrived at the hotel our schedules were free for the night so we really wanted to unwind. After calling around to our extremely helpful twitterbabes we decided on Katra Lounge http://www.katranyc.com/ Friday is the night for busy business women and men to relax and talk about all of the great things they have accomplished during the hectic week. Upon arrival we were met with a great bouncer who was very courteous (yes. really). The place was smaller than we anticipated but lined with beautiful sofas and the ambience was very cozy and chic. It had 2 levels and the DJ was rockin to R&B, POP, and some HIPHOP. The only thing was the size of the venue. I get that it is a lounge and meant for “loungin” but it was super packed and hard to move from one place to another. You could buy a table, but it may take you an hour to get to the restroom if needed. The drinks were ok and the prices were reasonable. Would I go again? Probably. I would visit on a week night instead of on the busy weekend for sure!

IN THIS PHOTO: @platinumphotos @nikeraclothing

 THIS PHOTO: @b1zne55

MORE PICS FROM FRIDAY NIGHT AT KATRA! http://mypartyaid.com/gallery

the girl who blacks out from drinking too much

dead giveaways:

-mysterious hickeys in curious places

-it is always alcohol’s fault

-waddles like a penguin

- that’s a girl to avoid

Lexington
Grab your hat and boots and head out to Austin City Saloon in Woodhill, Lexington’s original country bar and home of John Michael Montgomery. Long time southern rocker and country crooner Larry Redmon has his own place (Redmon’s) downstairs at the corner of Main and Cheapside. New on the scene: the Silver Spur Saloon for a foot-stompin’ good time. If you are looking for a line dancing, bull-riding kind of place, check out Cadillac Ranch on Palumbo Drive. Kenny Whalen and the Travelers play regularly at Music Land in Paris….smoke and alcohol free. For more information, visit the Lexington Destination Guide.

So it started off me going to WORK, boy was it a busy busy day for us at M.A.C., our new holiday collection launched recently and it’s been flying off our shelves like crazzay! I did a couple makeovers but Miss Ali Day’s caught my attention the most because she was a super awesome customer, who came in with some fantabulous ideas , plus she didn’t bore me like the rest of the “HAY HAY’s” it was all about play play play during this makeup session. Later I insisted to try on some drag queen lashes because I’m such a fan of drags, even though I honestly didn’t do nothing out the norm last night, but eat some red velvet cake from “California Kitchen” which supposedly carries some of the best red velvet cake out there…and after savoring it I must say ehh it’s not what it’s hyped up to be, I much rather stick to my good ol’ regular vanilla cake for now, but I guess I’d have to admit it is rather DELISH…

My Oh soo satisfied custy Miss Ali Day , isn’t she so gorgeous !!

and the day continues…

(Stephanie-Gets down to bussiness, I LOVE HER she is such a sexy betch.)
And I’m just about a little tipsy by now…(*BURRPSSS* S0rry)Can someone please tell this man that “BURGER KING”  isn’t going anywhere, and seriously it’s not better than California Kitchen, my brother really has no idea!!(Red Velvet Cake.)

oh Hi! During the week I have been getting so busy and fail to post. Must. Try. Harder.

I still have been taking pictures of my food, however it has pretty much been then following.

Chipoodle. 4 times this week.

Amy’s Dairy Free Burrito.

Bagel with Tofutti Cream Cheese. The fake cream cheese wasn’t bad, but probably not something I would eat on a regular basis. Served with Vitamin B-12 that I have just recently started taking.

Vegan pancakes with maple syrup and grapes (had them yesterday morning and today).

Friday night we went to a hockey game and I had a giant beer.

Patrick had a giant bun in the oven.

I wonder who knocked him up?

Now it is time for me to do homework and laundry and all those fun Sunday things.

I leave you with my cat in a box. Step 1. Cut a hole in the box…

Had drinks with friends in Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe in Cathay Cineleisure. Ordered some light food to go along. =) A good place for late hang out as it closes at 3.00am on weekends. But might a little too noisy.

To get there:
Get to Somerset MRT and walk to the main road, Somerset Road. Then, continue walking against the traffic until you come to a junction. You should be able to see Cathay Cineleisure. It is located on Level 2.

Price:
SGD 5 – 10+ per person

Friend had dinner, ordered the BBQ Eel Congee. Looks good and recommended by many.

Tau Hui. Not fantastic but worth a second time. Good for the throat as i was coughing. =)

Fried Custard Bread.

So, last time we spoke it was the middle of the night after a night on the town. Tonight it is the night of the morning after a night in a house with many friends and one enemy.

Anyway, I drove there, which was apparently a wise move, as several of my friends took a bus then a train then a bus and took a very long time to get there, carrying bags of who knows what. So, I arrived and, judging from the smell, they had been smoking for a while, hehe, so I joined them. There was a large table outside, an x-box inside, couches, good company (mostly), etc.

To be more specific about the one bad company, she’s one of the friends of friends who really isn’t up to the standard of the rest of them. I can’t really be fucked going into too much detail, but several times when she opened her mouth about three of us just left the table, which hopefully sent her and whoever invited her a message, but whatever, haha. Otherwise, it was a great time.

I hung out in my car towards the end with a select few of the good company with music and etc. then slept there until the sun woke me up, which wasn’t as pleasant as a sunrise deserves to be. This morning I drove to my friends’ house, one of the friends had just arrived back from Canadia the day before, so that was cool.

And now I’m home, I rented a boxing game, haha, so that’s what I’ve been doing.

After writing this, it seems like the first or second time in my blogging experience where I doubt whether anyone will really give a shit. Which might be a sign not to post it, mm.

I guess I’ll have to make up for it with something interesting, I guess…

I ate jelly today, that’s interesting, I’m sure. I haven’t had jelly in ages and it was as awesome as I remember it being. I also had peanut butter and jam m&ms brought back from Canadia, which I enjoyed.

Anyway, I’m as bored by this blog as you are, so I’ll find a quote for the day and be off,

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.’”

Your boring jelly-eater,

TDE

More than just another nightclub, Stan’s represents the spirit and fun of Downtown Lafayette. Owner, Stan Lerille, had a vision to create a place where friends could go to escape and let their inhibitions free. Stan’s offers a patio and two levels of food, fun and dancing. Two full-service bars are always stocked with the finest drinks, not to mention the best bartenders and staff in town. Last, but definitely not least, the music: Stan’s is home to some of the area’s best DJ’s mixing everything from Hip Hop to Techno. One thing is for sure, there is always a party going on at Stan’s! For more information, visit the Lafayette Destination Guide.

Went on a ride with my brother. Male’ is so small and am really bored of going round and round Male’ in the cyke. We ended up at my brother’s favorite spot in Male’ – the “thin ruh parku”. When translated to English it means The Three Palm Park. Surely the area lives up to its name since its got 3 separate palm trees and no other plant in sight.

This shoot had been in the making for quite some time. Organised by Brent (landscape and light painting expert) with my help on the strobist side, we were to create something of a blend between the two, with the concept of “a girl finding herself lost and alone after a night out”. The site was an abandoned warehouse in Sydney. We had all up about 8 people on location. The idea was to shoot the model with off camera flash then wait until dark to light paint the scenes.

We had 6 cameras lined up on tripods with Pocketwizard Multimax to fire the 580EXII through a softbox. This was pretty simple and straight forward. Each of us had a turn. In the mean time, ambient shots were also taken to act as a background plate.

We had to wait a bit for night time to fall. Brent was preparing his light painting gear with various tubes, colours, sizes, etc.

Each wall was light painted individually for maximum exposure.

After a few hours in Photoshop, below is the final result. The image was a blend of about 8-13 photos, each individually masked and adjusted to fit.

Link here is a flash file showing the layers that were in photoshop.

“Great Expectations”

November 18th, 2009

In terms of the great comedy battle of 2009, which continues to rage amongst shows both new and old, Modern Family is at a distinct disadvantage: with Parks and Recreation delivering some legitimately great comedy and Community doing a really compelling and confident meta-storyline, the simplicity of this show is a disadvantage in terms of being flashy. There comes a point where the hype surrounding the show creates greater expectations than the storylines themselves can live up to in terms of their premise, requiring viewers to appreciate the strong execution where originality isn’t overtly present.

“Great Expectations” is a solid episode of the show, featuring a number of fun loving gags and a couple of big guest stars, but nothing stands out as particularly stunning as compared to some of the other comedies. In this instance, I think there was enough nuance to each individual story to continue to prove how strong the writers understand these characters, but it nonetheless follows similar patterns to what we’ve seen in the past. I think it’s one of their stronger episodes due to a nice role reversal, but it’s not reaching as high as some of the other comedies are right now.

For me, this episode is about the little things more than it is about the guest stars. While Elizabeth Banks (playing Cameron and Mitchell’s barhopping friend Sal) and Edward Norton (playing the bass player/backup vocalist from Spandau Ballet) are both very funny and integrated well into the episode, the storylines they’re involved in really have very little to do with them. I thought the Cameron/Mitchell story was perhaps the episode’s least interesting, if only because it was so predictable: we’re shown that they’re having trouble getting out with Lily around, they make a night out of it with a friend, and discover that their friend is jealous of Lily and devolves into a petulant child. There’s nothing wrong with the storyline, and Banks sells the child-like reaction perfectly, but the storyline had absolutely no twists or turns or nuances to it – just a couple of fun moments (Mitchell refusing to allow her to hold her, Mitchell’s “I’m going in!” Re: new boobs), and strong performances all around.

I thought the other two storylines were simply more interesting conceptually. Jay’s Night, featuring Sloppy Jays and western movies, was the sort of storyline that was charming because of how great Ed O’Neill is and more importantly how you get small little running gags like Gloria’s tone deaf singing or Luke taking everything that Jay says as a sign that he’s going to die soon. Combine with the running battle between Jay and Haley, which nicely ties into what we know of Claire’s own childhood, and the conclusion with Dylan wanting to stick around for Jay’s Night, and the storyline just had a nice flow to it. It was never overly dramatic or overly broad (Jay squirting Manny like a dog was perhaps a BIT broad), staying within a simple comic mode and delivering on its promise.

And I thought the Claire/Phil storyline was the episode’s strongest, if not comically, then certainly in terms of the characters. Phil is still a bit too much like Michael Scott (the scene listing off the things he wants could have very easily been put into Steve Carell’s mouth without much in terms of change), but as with Michael it’s always good when he gets to be the smart one. He, unlike his wife, is capable of being romantic, so the anniversary becomes about Claire’s struggles rather than Phil’s. It’s a nice change of pace, as Julie Bowen is likeable even when she’s incapable of being romantic and Ty Burrell was great in interacting with (his good friend) Edward Norton as they struggle over whether the charade (which was a pretty ingenious comic device) could be continued. Like I say, the big laughs weren’t there, but the emotional payoff was solid and it kept Phil out of his usual tomfoolery role.

Nothing complex, but a funny and enjoyable episode – no need to place it relative to anything else to enjoy that.

Cultural Observations

• Alex gets all of the best one-liners amongst the grandchildren, and here she both played into Haley’s vanity and created Luke’s trauma over her grandfather’s death. Hoping for another episode for her soon.
• I was thinking of how Edward Norton was going to do “funny” in this show’s style, and it’s clear now that I should have thought of “accent” right away. Always funny!
• Spandau Ballet, of course, is an actual band, although I didn’t entirely realize this until I heard him humming the melody of “True” and I realized I recognized it (but would never have known the band name). I did enjoy the joke the show got out of this, as the reason Izzy Lafontaine refused to continue the performance was that the song was called “True” and the story was false.
• Wait, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark was also a real band? Oh, The 80s.

You and your friends decided to switch it up a little and not go to your regular hangout.  Instead, someone suggested going out to the local bar with a DJ and dance floor.  Sounds good everyone thinks; however, little did they know those were famous last words.  You arrive, get a lay of the place, and head over to the bar for the first round of drinks.  After the third round, the women in your group are swaying to the beat and singing along to the chorus of the music playing.  As anyone knows when you’re out with girls in a club, those are two of the universal signs that it’s time to move out to the dance floor before someone tries to get up and dance on the table or a chair.  Preemptively cutting off a scene with a bouncer or having someone crumpled up in a ball on the floor with a twisted ankle, everyone picks up their drinks and heads to a nice looking spot on the dance floor.  You’re feeling the song and have just enough liquid courage to be coordinated and look pretty good out there.  Things are going well and everyone is having a great time until you notice him dancing alone behind one of the girls in the group.  He didn’t come with you, no one seems to know him, and no one invited him over to dance with you guys.  So the question on everyone’s mind is who exactly is he?  In case you haven’t figured it out – spoiler alert – he’s the creepy old guy at the club.

We’ve all encountered him on a night out with friends.  Similar to the guy who pops into other people’s photographs, he’s the guy who creeps around in the shadows of the club only to emerge at opportune times when he can slither onto the floor and dance with unsuspecting ladies.  Materializing on 80s Night or other events that cater to women such as “Ladies Night” or half-priced martini drink specials, he always appears to be the one club goer who is out of place.  Wearing a Member’s Only windbreaker, “mom jeans”, and sensible sneakers, he hangs out on the sidelines until he locks on to an unsuspecting target.  Doing what can only be described as an awkward shuffle and head bob, he slowly moves towards circles of friends, and especially women, on the dance floor.  Careful not to draw attention to himself, he doesn’t directly ask anyone to dance.  He tries to remain inconspicuous while dancing behind and alongside women preoccupied with their friends and having a good time.  But if he is ever caught or levied nasty glances by the group, he sheepishly dance-shuffles back to the shadows to stalk his next target.

You almost feel sorry for him – the key word being almost.  Hey, he’s got a pretty good life.  He’s got his own efficiency apartment with a futon, a sweet black light, a terrarium with a pet snake, and his own mini-fridge well stocked with Hot Pockets.  He drives a 1987 Toyota Corolla in near average condition.  He’s got a good job as a telemarketer for a male-enhancement supplement company.  And he’s got the entire box set of Buffy the Vampire Slayer for his viewing pleasure.  This tiny dancer is certainly living the high life so please don’t pity him and his club behavior.

As many of you are no doubt already aware, i spent Hallowe’en weekend in seattle with jo-ann and trevor. The trip started off with a somewhat ill-fated trip to Tan Popo for all-you-can-eat sushi. The sushi and assorted Japanese foods were fantastic, my ill-fated remark refers rather to Trevor’s stomach and his need to share it’s relative fullness for the rest of the night via assorted grunts and groans which Jo-ann and I only put up with because we were both well-sauced by this point.

The next morning it was up and out (at least in theory) on our way to Seattle. Trevor and Jo-ann had rented a fantastic grey Prius for our little road trip south of the border and somewhat predictably I now want one – in all fairness so does Jo-ann. Anyway, the road trip was lovely and we soon arrived at the home of Cale and Sacha. Needless to say, drinking ensued. That night we were off to Showbox SoDo – which was a wicked venue, like a big old warehouse, making me feel very much like i was Kyra Sedgewick in the movie ‘Singles’ – to see The Airborne Toxic Event who were brilliant. We did shots of tequila and drank supercans of PBR all night and it was amazing. (BTW, my favourite song by The Airborne Toxic Event is Sometime Around Midnight – click to see the video)

The next day was largely a hangover day and we sort of hung around the house acclimatising to the surprising warmth of Seattle. Later Trevor and I ventured out to the supermarket unsupervised which proved somewhat disastrous as it was not unlike two Id’s who’d left their Ego at home. We came back with over $100 worth of beer, chips, and pop, and beer only costs (!) $10 a case in the states. Any man who can pass a bag of Lay’s Limon or a six-pack of Land Shark Lager is a stronger man than I.

That night we stayed in and watched some terrible hallowe’en fare. The best of the three movies we watched was called ‘Shrooms’ and it was about some supposed friends who flew from America to Ireland on holiday to take mushrooms. I say supposed friends because very early into the film we found ourselves wondering why people who hated eachother as much as this bunch did would waste a thousand-ish dollars flying across the atlantic to spend a holiday together. Furthermore, are there no drugs in America? Who flies to Ireland to take mushrooms? Is this some sort of trend I don’t know about? Is this what all the kids are doing these days? Needless to say all but one of the “friends” ended up dead and the killer, after getting away with all the murders, escaped, for some reason, into the forest. It actually wasn’t a terrible movie apart from these and maybe a few more plot holes. We also watched ‘Stan Helsing’ which was just plain fucked up.

The next day it was time for some sightseeing in downtown Seattle starting with Pike Place Market. We stopped in for a Starbucks, Jo-ann had a thing for the fishermen, and Trevor, for some reason, drank a Hangtown Mary which included a raw oyster dangling nausea-inducingly from a cocktail pick. Later, despite protest from Jo-ann, we ascended the Space Needle which was actually properly amazing. It’s not right in the downtown core so you have a view of that, Puget Sound, and the whole surrounding area. Also, you can walk outside right the way around which is really cool; we had a drink up there and all loved it.

Later, we all kitted up and proceeded to get our drink on. After some initial indecision Sacha decided on Dorothy over Lederhosen, Cale topped his outfit up with a mustache, and I affixed my Cher wig and slipped into my poncho. Upon leaving the house Trevor was already quite drunk, rather foreshadowing the events that later transpired, but at this point each of us were blissfully unaware of anyone’s drunkenness but our own.

After arriving at Showbox at the Market – again, amazing – we got stamps on our wrists and proceeded to enjoy the party-time sounds of Seattle’s very own Cool-Ade. It was a brilliant party and then all of a sudden Cale came up to the rest of us and said that Trevor had been kicked out for being too drunk. After some initial disappointment Cale hatched the rather masterful plan of re-dressing Trevor in some extra bits and pieces, including my poncho and wig (I was also wearing a fantastic psychedelic shirt). So Cale painstakingly removes the Fred Flintstone costume from the now balance-challenged Trevor and replaces it with the wig and poncho. Only after he is fully re-dressed does Trevor point out the big black X that is drawn over the entry stamp on his wrist, precluding him from returning at all.

After a fall in the parking lot and the poncho moving again from Trevor, back to me, and then to Sacha, we’re now on our way home and out of downtown Seattle having only arrived an hour previous. All is going swimmingly again until we’re speeding down the freeway and Trevor decides to open his door to vomit. Only we’re going 65 MPH. And he’s not wearing his seatbelt. So a bit of shitstorm unleashes in the car and Jo-ann and I are trying to hold onto Trevor as his relieves his turbulent stomach onto the busy road (and a little bit onto the car door).

Now, just as we’re trying to find our way back onto the freeway after diverging in order to let Trevor finish up what do we see but A LANDSHARK BILLBOARD! Realizing that this is indeed a stupendous moment Sacha pulls the car to a hault and Cale and I dance a jig beneath it as Jo-ann tries capture the moment on film rather unsuccessfully.

Upon arriving home Trevor headed straight for bed and despite thinking it was a good idea to drug him awake – we failed – the night died down after that. Needless to say Trevor woke up with the mater and pater of all hangovers and we hit the road home.

En route we stopped to get Jack In The Box which was BRILLIANT, Jo-ann decided she needed to try every flavour of vitamin water, and Trevor usurped a coat that I liked at the outlet mall for his own – coatstealer. Finally, the next day we had lunch at the Black Frog before Jo-ann and Trevor had to head back to their real lives in the Big Onion. It was a fabulous trip.

A few things I learned:
1. Trevor’s new nickname is Captain Obvious as he has an uncanny ability for vocalising the obvious.
2. Showbox is fantastic. Go there if you’re in Seattle.
3. Ditto, the Space Needle, it’s surprisingly good.
4. Avoid Trinity night club at all costs. It was aweful and an event transpired as confusing as it was angering.
5. I am quite good at the playing the drums in Rock Band.
6. Do not show Trevor a coat you like at an outlet mall.
7. Lay’s Limon are amazing. (Why do we not have them in Canada?)
8. Jo-ann and I are quite good at swaying a la Sonny and Cher, or at least we seemed to be after a few drinks.
9. Bluto may be the best name ever in the history of horror films.
10. Do not go to Ireland to take shrooms.