Happy Birthday To Me!!!

Today, I am 26 years old. I feel pretty good about it. As a teenager, the number 26 has always been my favorite number. It's awfully embarrassing, but this is why...

The boy that I was in love with from grade 4 to grade 9 had the initials, CM. C is the number 2 on the telephone keypad, and M is the number 6. I was a pretty huge dork. I still am because that number has stuck with me into adulthood. It is still my favorite number.

Last night, I got three more birthday mixtapes from three amazing and wonderful friends. Actual cassette tapes! I am so pumped! When they handed me the tapes across the table, I was so touched and surprised - my heart bursted with love. Mark, James, and Steve... you guys are too sweet to me. Thank you so much!

I also attended the Sonic Boom Festival last night. I was there to see City and Colour - which I love. And of course, the one and only, WEEZER!!! A little back story for you... as a girl, I did not listen to western music. I was all about the Hong Kong pop stars that my parents listened to and I had no idea anything else existed besides that. As I got a little older, I think when I was about 10 or 11, I was slowly introduced to bands like Nirvana, Silverchair, and No Doubt. I did not own any of their records. My parents never really had the money for me to blow on stuff like that, so I would watch MuchMusic all the time, hoping that some of my favorite videos would come on. I usually had the VCR ready to press record. I wish I still had some of those tapes.

Anyways, I had a birthday party, I think I was turning 12 or something like that, and one of the gifts were a gift certificate to the local CD shop in Peace River, where I grew up. I don't think I even hesitated or stressed over what I was going to get with that gift certificate. I brought it to the shop, picked up Weezer's Blue Album, and I went home a happy girl. 

They blew my mind with every single song that they played last night, even the newer ones that I was on the fence about. Rivers' stage presence and energy was just so amazing... I think I have a small crush on him now that I've seen him perform live. They played a good balance of old and new, but it was when they did Say It Ain't So, that was when I was the most pumped and oh so happy. That was one of my favorite songs as a teenager, and it was definitely one that stuck with me all these years. There is a very special place in my heart for this band. I can't wait to see them again! 

I ♥ Lady Gaga

Tonight was a good night. I had the best Soy Latte ever - Thank You Transcend - while hanging out with my best pal, Max, went to Chapters and purchased two new graphic novels and a brand new daytimer, and I also picked up the September issue of Vanity Fair - Lady Gaga on the cover. I love Lady Gaga.

Now, I don't usually buy Vanity Fair, or any magazine for that matter, but this one I felt I had to have. After seeing her in concert last week, Lady Gaga has become so much more than just an entertainer to me. Yes, she is an incredible artist and puts on an amazing show, but what most people don't understand is that she is also a very inspiring, well spoken, and intelligent woman. She believes in self expression, freedom to do and say what you feel inside, and she encourages self love and self acceptance. Be free, be who you want to be, and don't let anyone tell you that you're not good enough or that you can't. "Don't leave here loving me more, leave here loving yourself more..." I went home that night feeling empowered, happy, and free. That is what Lady Gaga did to me, and she entertains so that all of her fans can feel that way too.

Birthday Mix CD - Volume One

I got my first Birthday Mix CD today!!! YEEHAAW!!! I am super excited and really really happy about it. Thank you to my good friend Tony Bao for this wonderful gift. The awesome cover and the little kitty on the back made my day. Here is the track list from his mix:

1. Ceremony - New Order

2. Airbag - Radiohead

3. Only Shallow - My Bloody Valentine

4. Rock n' Roll Star - Oasis

5. Pump it Up - Elvis Costello

6. This Charmless Man - The Smiths

7. Come Together - The Beatles

8. Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division

9. The Electric Co. - U2

10. Message in a Bottle - The Police

11. Serve the Servants - Nirvana

12. Rusty Cage - Soundgarden

13. Geek U.S.A. - Smashing Pumpkins

14. Debaser - The Pixies

15. New Sensation - INXS

16. Clocks - Coldplay

17. In the Sun - She & Him

18. Pictures of You - The Cure

19. Last Goodbye - Jeff Buckley

Chris Cornell - Black Hole Sun

I am in love with the acoustic version of this song.

Mixtape, My Love

My birthday is slowly approaching - September 5th, to be exact - and I have been pondering this idea and hoping that you will help make this wish a reality. I did this once before a couple years ago after my Dad passed away... I felt I needed inspiration and encouragement, and the only way I felt that was possible was through music. I can honestly say that I am in a much better state of mind than I was two years ago, however, I still have plenty of room to learn and to grow. I know my life has not reached its full potential and I am no where near where I want to be. This is where you come in, my lovelies.

I am a true believer in signs - the universe is telling you something, and you need to follow your heart until you find out what it is. I know, how cheesy. But seriously... these past couple weeks, it seems like everything I do, every book that I pick up or article that I read, any video that I watch... somewhere in there is the mixtape. My mind is all about mixtapes. I've got a fever, and the only prescription are more mixtapes. I felt I need to cure this hunger and make my birthday wish come true.

For my birthday, I wish that you, my friends, would make me a mixtape. They can be songs that make you laugh, songs that make you cry, songs that make you smile. Or they can be songs that you listened to as a teenager, songs that remind you of me, songs that remind you of you. There are no limits, no preferences, it's all just about love, music, and friendship. I will listen to these mixtapes and think about you, your life, and how you have touched mine.

My friends are a huge part of who I am. My closest friends are like my family and know me better than anyone else out there. Without my friends, I would not exist as I am today. Thank you to those of you who've sent me mixtapes - or mix cds - in the past. I still listen to them, with you in mind, and I appreciate every thought that went into the songs that were chosen.

Ben Harper

Ben Harper last night at the Folk Fest was absolutely amazing. Not only is he a phenomenal artist and musician, he is a really nice guy... so sincere and humble. He started with Fight Outta You, followed by Diamond on the Inside, which nearly brought me to tears. Every song that followed was equally as powerful... I didn't want the night to end.

Photograph by: Ed Kaiser, The Edmonton Journal