Saturday, January 01, 2005 -- 1:57 PM

"Here's to the start of a new year. To late nights and early mornings in this place that holds so much of my family and heritage that it feels like I am breathing it with the cold into my lungs; pure and clear and slightly menacing. And not"

I wrote that a few days ago at my brother's house, and then I was interrupted with I forget what. As you may have already guessed, I'm back home now. It was a fun two weeks and several days, and I'm glad to be back now. While I was there, I engaged in the following activities, which may or may not prove noteworthy:

A: Applied at the University of Manitoba. It was so cold that day that my still shower dampened hair solidified from the ten to fifteen minute walk from the car to the warmth, and I want to spend at least one full winter there? Damn!

B: Spent Christmas. Santa gave me a sweet-ass dartboard, an Asterix book, U2's new CD, and Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke. Evidently I was a good boy this year.

C: Drank. John, in his house, has a special cabinet devoted entirely to liquor. A "liquor cabinet" if you will.

D: Survived the Worst Snowstorm in Winnipeg's Recent History. It was fucking insane. And it got so fucking cold there, like minus fucking 40.

E: Got my little car back! Actually it wouldn't start on the day before we left and we had to boost it, but it made it all the way home, despite mom's naysayings.

F: Saw 25th Hour. With Edward Norton. I wasn't sure I liked it at first, but now I want to see it again, because I'm almost positive its hardcore. Like me, I'm hardcore. Hard core.

G: I am Hardcore. And now I'm homecore.