back out of the system

my apologies to those regular readers who (gasp, shock) read this blog for the newslinks, because it's life recap time (also, my apologies for any more rambling incoherence than usual -- i'm stupidly hungover for the second morning in a row, and it's taken me three cups of coffee to feel even remotely human right now):

- last day at work. this was ridiculous and awesome -- seven years of working for that company, four years at that store alone, and i was finally getting out (gleefully informing pretty much every customer and coworker along the way). and last thursday was a departure on good terms, so not only did i get a nice letter of reference, but i also received a lovely goodbye card and a very large bottle of white merlot decorated with ring pops and pixi stix. although it was disappointing for all my coworkers who wanted to see me snap and tell off a customer or two (even my boss was telling me to start drinking -- "because i can't fire you!"), the wildest thing i did was use the motorized wheelchairs to race ryan to bakery department and back. all in all, a decent final work shift, although i saw many of my coworkers again the following night when we all convened to get hammered at a bar near my apartment. photos forthcoming, although i'm sure some of my friends will protest.

however, i received a certain phone call during this work shift, which led to friday's awesome madness:

- interviewing nikki sixx. yes, it finally happened, and in person no less. his publicist rang me up and asked if i was able to come into the bovine on friday afternoon to talk to nikki while he was in town for a book signing. of course i nearly fell over myself (although i was worried it'd mess with my dinner plans at kubo radio with allegra later that afternoon, but all turned out for the best, complete with wicked vegan madras curry) and went down to speak with nikki sixx.

when i got there, it was funny taking a look at all the other press journalists lining up for their interview slots - seemingly a parade of older, nebbish music-critic nerds with receding hairlines - and having it be no small wonder when a member of his publicity team looked me once over (taking in my outfit of kill hannah hoodie, spiked collar, knee-high combat boots and maroon plaid kilt, all chipped black nail polish and smeared eyeliner under a pageboy cap) before commenting, "you must be a rock chick." yeah, and the sky is also blue.

but, the interview was lovely. fantastic. couldn't take my eyes off the man, not just because he's the foxiest almost-50-year-old i've ever seen, but because he was just so damn engaging. talked plenty and gave lots of quality sound bytes, but never in the way that felt like he was phoning in the interview in any way. he was really into the questions and answers. and even if he actually wasn't, then i still bought it completely and made no effort to hide the adoring stars in my gaze. nikki's always been my favourite member of motley crue, after all, and i can't even count the number of times i've read the dirt. amazing.

however, i received a certain phone call during the hideously slow streetcar ride to the bovine, which is leading to tomorrow's awesome madness: i'm doing a phone interview with dave gahan, frontman of my beloved depeche mode. let the head-exploding commence.

- last day in toronto. despite waking up far too early in a hungover stupor from the previous night (as mentioned, my coworkers and i all went out for many pints, cigarettes and curry fries late friday night, in order to see me off properly), it was a long, reflective morning before my father came by to pick up his youngest daughter and any shit she had left. thankfully, we managed to fit my three bags, tupperware bin and his early birthday gift of a potted orchid into his car; not so thankfully, we ended up having to turn around at ajax and go back because i'd left my leather coat hanging behind my apartment's door. yeah, a not so pleasant ride, there.

but! i eventually made it out (stopping in belleville on the way home to visit my grandmother, and get a rather large shock when she bestowed upon me a cheque for a significant amount of money), and now i'm in kingston for the better part of the week, reflecting on the fact that life seems to have worked out the way it was supposed to: i'm homeless, unemployed, and back living at home with my parents.

- c'mon at ace's top card. holy fuck, this was wicked -- c'mon and likeminded noiseniks bionic playing a sketchy bar in my hometown? most excellent. i'd already volunteered my merch-girl services to c'mon, and though i initially wasn't expecting a hell of a lot - the top card is a reputed dump - there was actually a large crowd, a rad friend's-basement vibe to the place, a lot of cocktails downed (even if the bar didn't even have tonic or soda, and i think katie drank the last available dregs of jack daniels), and plenty of merch sold. man, i didn't know my hometown could be that much fun. it was like a little bit of toronto right here in kingston. (i even got another gig lined up: i'm selling merch for bionic at their pop montreal show on thursday night)

...which brings us to now: me sitting cross-legged in the den in my pajamas, hair a mess that robert smith would be proud of, the remnants of last night's dark makeup smeared under my eyes, and trying desperately to wake up (the band might be calling at some point this morning to go get breakfast downtown). so, in sum total, i may be home in kingston, but the next few days - filled with interview transcription and prepping, article writing, running all over town doing errands, going back and forth and back and forth again between parents' houses, and eventually doing a load of fucking laundry somewhere in there - aren't going to be anything resembling relaxing. i'll write again when i've got a spare moment to breathe while prepping for the big move -- now in less than a week. wow.

[ music | whatever's on the discovery channel in the den right now ]