crows to burnaby

Okay, okay, try this.

Go to this page.

Say out loud, "So you don't like Vancouver's Olympic mascots?"

Then mouse over the little waving guy.

On campus today I saw a handmade sign that read "TUITION FREE'S".

Please, please tell me they didn't mean that to read "freeze".

If so, there are greater problems with our educational system than we may have feared.

There's a town in Ontario called Moose Factory.

I certainly hope they use sustainable materials...

Someday we'll sit around and reminisce about the old days in which Facebook forced you to use "is" in status updates, but right now it looks like the revolution is upon us.

Hooray! Now people will stop inviting me to join that petition group.

Last Sunday I attended an open mic at a pub in Kits. The place was packed, it was pretty toasty in there, and after giving up on actually playing that night as the PA kept cutting out, I ended up leaving my favourite sweater on a chair. I realized what I'd done on Tuesday after much fruitless and increasingly anxious searching.

I called up and the bartender immediately knew what I was talking about.

"Oh yeah, I remember that. We were kind of hoping you'd forgotten it - we were starting to fight over it!"

She took a look around and couldn't find it. "I think the day bartender might've taken it home."

Apparently their lost & found policy is a little bit lax.

I really wanted the sweater back. I got it at a clothing swap a few months ago, and I can't believe anyone would part with it. It's awesome - it's warm but not too hot, it's just dressy or casual enough to go with everything stylewise, and it's a shade of grey that also goes with everything. Plus, it's a hoodie, and I am very fond of hoodies. It is the perfect winter sweater.

So I called again the next day and it still wasn't on the premises - but everybody I talked to assured me that they knew exactly the sweater I was talking about, and that it wasn't lost and could definitely be tracked down. I stopped in on Thursday and talked to the manager, who was working on it and assured me she'd give it a call. I finally got the call on Saturday that I could pick it up on Sunday night.

I stopped by to get it, and it had this note attached to it:

As I was leaving two of the waitresses spotted me and said "Oh good, you got it back!" and we discussed how wonderful the sweater was for a few minutes before I finally took it safely home.

They must have been coveting and arguing over it all week. I'm never letting it out of my sight again.

This Friday night, Nov 16, I'll playing a solo show at the Wired Monk. I'm on at 8:30, and will be followed by Rob Fillo & Ross Fairbairn. Cover is $5.

Then on Saturday the 17th, Marcus is playing a solo ARCTIC show at the Monk. Adam Gibbs is opening at 8:30, cover is $5 again.

Wired Monk is at 2610 W 4th Ave, at Trafalgar. And it's licensed, so whether it's coffee you want or alcohol, you're all set...

I realized this week that I barely noticed Daylight Savings Time this fall. I mean, I knew when it happened, but usually I spend the next few days grumbling about how it's getting dark so early and how I really don't CARE if it's light out at 7 am. This time it didn't really cross my mind until nearly two weeks later.

I guess that means I'm not getting out enough? Certainly that I need some more Vitamin D.

Om nom nom nom!

I really really enjoyed Saturday night's performance. Yeah, I know I say that sort of thing a lot, but it was true. When you're on stage and you stop thinking about the music and it just sort of happens around you, you know it's a good night. That's why I do it.

Look, I'm clearly enjoying myself:

Thanks to Shaun for the pic. You can also find some photos from Genevieve here - this one of me is so trippy, it looks like my hair is painted on. I seem to be doing something odd with the bass, so it was probably during No Trace or Launching Pad when I pretty much make it do ambient whirring and squeaking noises instead of playing it properly.

Windows '78 put on a fine show, of course, and then the Pink Floyd Animals tribute came on. Well. I was expecting to enjoy it as a sort of good-faith effort to recreate the album, but I was very, very, very impressed by how accurate it was and, more importantly, how well they captured the feel. I already knew they were all really good musicians, but they truly did themselves proud in that show. And the crowd was very appreciative, which was good to see.

I want every night to be a show night.

On a technical note, today I swapped out the SWR "Son of Bertha" 1x15 cab I was renting for a Mesa Boogie 1x15, mostly because it's smaller and has wheels, so it'll be better for the two smaller coffeehouse solo gigs I have coming up in the next month. And boy does it sound good! I don't usually think much of Mesa Boogie, but it wipes the floor with the SWR cab, much clearer. I kind of wish I'd had it for Saturday's gig... it really shows off the Morris nicely. Oh well, next time (or maybe I'll be on to a different cab already).

Just a reminder that ARCTIC is playing at the Backstage Lounge (1585 Johnston Street, on Granville Island) tomorrow night, November 3. We're followed by Windows '78 - who are awesome - and then they're followed by two Pink Floyd tributes. The first is a group of musicians from various bands (including Marcus) playing the entirety of Animals, and the second is Japanese Cowboy (a Ween tribute band) playing Echoes. I'm very excited about this show.

Doors are at 9, we're on at 10, cover is $10. See you then.