Movies that change your life:

To sum up my weekend, I will just say: watching Zorro, The Gay Blade is much better than actually "doing my reaserch." Yes, that's right, it's a movie about Zorro and his gay twin brother which I think that everyone needs to see.

Many thanks to Amy and Justin for introducing me to this work of cinematographic genius. I especially love two fun facts about this film:
1. Amy watched this film growing up, and thus has always thought that Zorro had a gay twin brother with a prediliction for a whip and snappy colorful outfits.
2. I swear that the theme music from this film is taken from "The Sea Hawk" with Errol Flynn ... so when gay Zorro is prancing around in his colorful outfits to the epic background music my brain gets all crosswired, and I have thoughts like "Errol would look fabulous in Gold Lammé".

I don't want to give anything away, but here's a little teaser...

(I love the flower, it really makes the hat)

Canada is cold...

So cold, in fact, that when I visited DC for the weekend, 50 degrees seemed warm to me.

In a last-ditch effort to avoid school, I went down to DC last weekend to introduce Bridget (staying in DC for two weeks to do some "political thingie" on the hill) to the Snapbro (who, coincidentally is letting Bridget stay with him and his room-mates in Casa Columbia Heights gratis).

All went well, and I got a change to show Bridget a bit of the Olde Alma Mater (including an actual authentic "college friend", thanks Drew!), as well as some of the touristy Washington attractions.

Davin, Liz and Bridget having a civilized brunch at the Tombs:

Here I drag Bridget all over the mall, in the hopes of catching some early Cherry Blossoms ...

About one tree was actually blooming:

Uh-oh:

No good can come of this .....

The hidden joys of the academic conference...

So, I've recently discovered for myself what Bridget has been telling me for weeks: the best part of a conference has nothing to do with the conference proper, and everything to do with what you do afterwards ... getting tipsy and embarrassing yourself in public with your colleagues is actually key in any networking that you might wish to do at these events.

Here, Bridget networks ON the bar in a Country Western place* after a hard day at the Organics Conference

And voila Amy, Marion and I after the Kingston Medievalists conference doing a back-up dance at Kereoke-night at the local Irish pub:

What's really great about these two pictures is that in BOTH of these pictures cropping was necessary to omit other individuals who forever wish to remain nameless after their embarrassing antics ... Oh yes, oh yes.

*Many thanks to Andy, without whom Bridget's picture would not be available for mass consumption. I have a great picture of him singing which I choose not to post in gratitude for the fabulous picture of my girlfriend breakin' it down.
*Also thanks to Lisa for taking the pictures of the amazing Kereoke event; without you, we wouldn't have evidence...