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06.30.2004
"Dining Alone"
I passed by the Yaletown
Brew Pub on the way home. As usual, the sunny patio was loud
and packed with young, urban hipsters enjoying the company of their
friends/co-workers and sipping on beer and eating finger food. Then I noticed a table right in the middle of all the action - there
was an elderly gentleman (maybe in his 70s?) wearing a baby blue
golf shirt and tan, polyester pants. He was carefully
squeezing a lemon wedge on to his fish and chips, and there was a
glass of white wine on the table. There were no other chairs
at the table.
I don't know why, but my first
reaction was to feel sorry for him. I assumed he was a lonely,
old man, and this was perhaps the highlight of his day/week (maybe it
was something he used to enjoy with his spouse who had since passed
on?). But then I realized that I've dined alone (whether while
on business, or out of convenience, or whenever the fancy strikes
me). And I'm not bothered by it. So, why should that
gentleman I saw yesterday be affected by it too?
06.29.2004
"All Settled"
Sunday, I was a mad-woman
- unpacking, organizing, putting things away, dusting, wiping,
vacuuming, etc. But now I'm all settled, and Robin's place is
more organized than ever. It looks great - my artwork and
furniture complement his furnishings. Then yesterday I went
back to my apartment to do some last-minute things (check mail, take
some things to the SPCA charity center, etc). It was strange
to be there. Even though it was empty, I thought I'd feel some
kind of emotional attachment to it, or at least some
familiarity. But I felt neither. It felt like a strange
place, and I could not believe that I'd lived there for the past 7
years. I did what I had to do, then left. It felt good
to close the door behind me.
Later that evening when Robin and I
were preparing dinner, I found myself in the garden selecting
home-grown lettuce leaves for our salad. There was a nice breeze
blowing the daisies, and we set up the table and chairs outside and
ate in the backyard. I felt right at home....
06.27.2004
"Moving Day Has
Come and Gone"
Yesterday was the move,
and I'm happy to report that it was the best move I've ever
experienced. Everything was ready to go when the boys got to
my place, and it just went so smoothly. I'm still impressed
how my storage locker was a perfect fit for all my stuff. And
we were done by 2:30pm. And it's now Sunday night, and
everything has been put away and I've organized all of Robin's
closets. Robin, Ivan, Brent and Mark were amazing. Their
help and positive attitude (e.g. "Love Move") will make my
adjustment that much easier.
06.25.2004
"The Truman
Syndrome?"
During my morning bike
rides, I've started to recognize people as I pass them by. For
example, there's the granola woman with wild, dark, curly hair (and
she also has the same cycling jersey as me). Then there's the
blonde woman with glasses and long ponytail who's often bouncing a
basketball as she crosses the bridge. Then there's the
business-suit guy on the bike.
Yesterday, I had a fleeting
thought: maybe my life is like
The
Truman Show? Or maybe it's just because I have similar
routines as these people. I assume it's the latter. I
hope.
06.24.2004
"Lunch of the Day"
What a perfect lunch
break. I caught the aquabus at Yaletown, and got off at
Stamp's Landing across the water, under the Cambie Bridge. Farshad met me there, with take-out from the Clubhouse (I got the
delicious chicken donburi). We sat on a blanket, ate our food,
enjoyed some great conversation (as usual), and enjoyed the
scenery. After my large meal, I decided to walk back across
the bridge (only took me 12 minutes). It doesn't get any
better than this.
06.24.2004
"Laugh of the Day"
My early morning laugh of
the day came from Glyn. His comment on someone's e-mail
signature:
=BobB=?
is that like a weird cross between kand-E rav0r togglecaps and the Van
Halen logo?
That made my day. Props to the
Glynster.
06.23.2004
"Who Designs These
Web Sites?"
I had received a cheque
from Smith-Barney (large American financial company) and I had a
question. I had since misplaced the 1-800 number that I
originally called, so I went on-line to try and find them.
Yeah, right. Their web site
was huge, and had tons of trading information. But for 10
minutes I was unable to find a quick way to contact them (i.e. not
e-mail). It was pretty painful. I ended up asking a
co-worker my question, and she answered it no problem. I know my
personal web site may not be professionally designed, but it's pretty
simple to find what you need.
06.22.2004
"I'm Not Lazy -
It's the Heat"
Last night was pretty
excruciating. I was packing up for 3+ hours in the raging heat
(my fan didn't help), and I noticed how slowly I was moving. Normally I'm a whirlwind of activity. But last night I took
many breaks, and sort of collapsed every now in then in a ball of
confusion (What was I just doing? Why was I heading into the
bedroom? What did I want to get?). If anyone was
watching me, they'd think I was lazy. But it was just the
heat. I think tomorrow I'll close my blinds and do the rest of
my packing naked.
Actually, on second thought, maybe
not.....
06.21.2004
"Out with the Old,
In with the Older"
I sold my dresser to my
co-worker Marie. I've had it since I was a child and it's kind
of thrashed, and I'm not that fond if it anymore. Marie is
going to restore it and give it a good home. To replace it,
I've now got a dresser that my father built (way before I was
born). I pulled it out of storage, put on some varnish, waxed
the runners, and now it's simply gorgeous! I'm so excited to
be using such a beautiful, hand-made piece of furniture that has
such sentimental value attached. And just in time for Father's
day, too.....
06.20.2004
"Fahrenheit
Something Crazy"
Yeah, so the weekend I'm
packing up it's record-breaking temperatures everywhere. I was
roasting in my place, setting up boxes and moving big TV units
around. But instead of getting flustered and bitchy (like I
often do in the heat), I just accepted the glistening and the
discomfort and dealt with it. It wasn't that bad. But I
really hope it's cooler for my move next weekend.
06.18.2004
"Home Is..."
I was thinking to myself
today about how I'm changing homes and I've been stressing a
little about it. I've grown so used to coming home to my own
place, that any change is a little bit scary. But then I
realized, home is so much more to me than 'my own space'. Home
is hanging out on Brent's couch with my boys (it's the most comfortable piece of
furniture I've ever sat on!). Home is walking down Yonge
Street with Aly (whether I'm visiting him, or we are traveling to
Toronto together). Home is my mother's new condo in North Van
(so Zen and quiet). Home is Robin's bed, whether it's in
Burnaby or maybe one day back in Vancouver. Home is with my
loved ones, not necessarily on Cambie Street.
06.17.2004
"Service With a
Smile"
I drove to work today, and
parked above the Business Objects building. I recognize the
parking attendant - a very serious, older, Middle Eastern gentleman
who always wears a suit. He's also very business-like. When I hand him my $5 and he gives me my parking pass, he's always
courteous yet professional - usually just a nod. Today as I
handed him my money, I jokingly asked him if he had air-conditioning
in his booth. He paused, but then cracked a smile and made
some chit-chat. As I drove off, he said, "Have a great
day, now!" Smile.
06.16.2004
"First Impressions,
or Wait?"
Yesterday Ivan, Brent and
myself discussed the topic of dating. They were inclined to
'clear' someone if they didn't feel an immediate chemistry or
attraction. I thought back to my dating history, and I
realized I did the opposite: generally, it takes me at least a
couple of dates to just formulate an opinion about somebody. I
think back to my current relationship, and I remember being very
iffy about our first date. But I'm sure glad I waited around
and stuck with it. It may have taken a long time to decide
that I want to be with Robin long-term, but I know it was the right
decision.
06.15.2004
"Do What With the
Jelly Now?"
Nina Diva's kicks. Seeing Mario and Jo-Jo in their underwear. Jamie reading
lyrics from her hands. Rosa's unique singing style and ability
to formulate her own lyrics ("Gotta move the jelly"? What's that now?). Yes, I'm talking about WB's recent
reality-show "Superstar
USA". I vowed I wouldn't watch it, but I just *had*
to partake in this televised train-wreck. I actually had to
hide in my kitchen during the finale because I felt so embarrassed
for the contestants. But mark my words, no more reality TV
this season for me.....
06.14.2004
"Life As a
Box"
Boxes. Bubble
wrap. Duct tape. Scissors. My once sparse yet
tastefully decorated abode (I'd like to think so) is now a graveyard
of moving supplies. When I walk into my living room, I have to
navigate where I step or risk hearing the 'pop-pop-pop' of burst
plastic bubbles. I haven't moved in 7 years, and there's a lot
of sorting to do. Nothing compares to last year when my family
moved my mother out of her house that she/we had been occupying for
35 years (that was a whole lot of work!). But I'm sure looking
forward to when my personal space is once again organized and
aesthetically pleasing.
06.13.2004
"It's Eclectic vol.
1"
Saturday night was just an
amazing night! It started off with a great dinner at
Milestone's in Yaletown. It was Brent, Mark, Robin and
myself. The vibe was good, everyone had energy, and we were
looking forward to Farshad's party. When we got to Gastown,
the venue was something different - very intimate. We drank
all night and enjoyed the retro tunes that brought us back in time
(e.g. De La Soul, Prince, Neneh Cherry, Tone Loc, Run DMC). The best part was watching the DJs and how much fun they
were having. Farshad throws these amazing events, and I still
can't get over the fact that this one was free! We're all
looking forward to the next event!
06.11.2004
"Thanks, Daddy Mot"
When I had dinner with Jim
the other night, he asked me what I had done about the options that
Motorola had given some of us (for a performance bonus). Since
we were laid off, I assumed they were irrelevant. But he told
me to call Smith-Barney and exercise my options. I called, did
a buy/sell in one transaction, and made $808 USD. Not too
shabby. Motorola (a.k.a Daddy Mot) was always generous. And evidently, it just keeps on giving.
06.09.2004
"Fit Tuesday (or is
that Phit?)"
Last night, the boys and I
tried something new. Instead of Phat Tuesday (junk food,
hi-fat/hi-carb intake), we did Fit Tuesday. We got wraps and
sushi and went to David Lam Park for some
Frisbee action. It was a perfect evening for it, and it felt
great to run around in the fresh air. I'm looking forward to a
summer of activity!
06.08.2004
"Just Breathe"
I started my morning yoga
routine today. I haven't done it for a couple of months
now. After the 20-minute session, I felt noticeably more
relaxed and limber. I also could 'feel' the oxygen flowing
through my blood. I attributed it to the yoga breathing style.
Later when I was walking to work
from the bus stop, I realized how shallow my breaths were. I
took a couple of deep breaths and instantly felt better. Now I
have to keep reminding myself to breathe. That's quite crazy
actually, the fact that I have to remind myself to breathe.....
06.07.2004
"Money Well Spent"
I had won $190 on the
Survivor pool. I decided to spend it on my friends who were in
the pool, so I took them to Poncho's for Mexican cuisine and
margaritas. One of the biggest challenges these days is
coordinating our schedules, and it's so rare that we're all together
these days. It was money well spent.
06.05.2004
"Animal Face-Off"
There's a show on the
Discovery Channel called "Animal Face-off". A team
of scientist construct 2 robotic animals after studying their
strengths and weaknesses. Then the finale is a virtual battle
between the two animals to see who would win.
I've seen two such episodes. The first was a tiger versus a male lion (the lion was victorious),
but my favourite was a saltwater crocodile against a great white shark
(the latter kicked ass). It's totally cheesy, but I love it!
06.04.2004
"Getting Active"
I've been feeling like a
bit of a sloth lately. Even though I've been cycling to work
2-3 times a week and I walk quite a bit, I still dislike the fact
that I'm behind a desk for the majority of the work day. I've
decided to start an increased activity regime once I move out to
Burnaby. It will involve early morning bike rides and
Yoga. Robin can wake me up on his way out to work. I'm
quite excited!
06.03.2004
"Super Size This"
I was inadvertently doing my own "Super Size Me" experiment (for
those of you that are not familiar with this documentary, check it out:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390521/)
For the last 2 nights, I ate burgers
and fries for dinner (even had a chocolate milkshake the second
night). When I got home last night, I felt completely disgusting
- hot, clammy, bloated, oily. Yuck. I don't know how this
guy did it for a month! Tonight I'm eating salad and fruit for
dinner. And I'm totally looking forward to it.
06.01.2004
"Full Metal Jacket"
I happened to catch
"Full Metal Jacket" on Saturday (it was unedited with only
1 commercial break - kudos to Bravo!). It's one of those
movies that I've heard so much about, it's often referred to (I
recognized the gunnery sergeant's voice from "The Simpsons"),
and it's classic Kubrick. I enjoyed it, but I didn't think it
was fantastic. I often find that with movie classics (e.g.
"Apocalypse Now", "Midnight Cowboy", "The
Graduate", etc). I enjoy these movie gems, but they don't
blow me away. Maybe it's just the hype
getting to me?
I remember I used to go to the Ridge quite often for
the double-bills. Often I would go for the feature movie, and
then stay for the other one as well. Many times, that second,
unknown movie was the one that I enjoyed more (e.g. "Trees
Lounge", "Bottle Rocket", "Young Poisoner's
Handbook"). I love discovering those small, quiet movies
that stay with you after you've left the theatre.
05.31.2004
"Home is Where Your
Clothes Are?"
Every weekend I've been
slowly moving my clothes over to Robin's (one bag at a time). I've filled the bedroom closet up nicely, and once I move all my
jackets over I'll dominate the front entrance closet. I've
been a little torn, because I want to enjoy my last days of
'freedom' on Cambie, but at the same time I want to get really
comfortable living out in Burnaby.
But I definitely find it easier to
adjust living out in Burnaby with a large portion of my wardrobe out
there. Slowly, the house is feeling more like home and my
apartment is feeling more empty and bare.
05.28.2004
"Can't Sit Still"
I don't know when it
started, but I've been the same way for several years now. I
can rarely just sit at home and relax. Well, I can do it for
maybe an hour or two. Then I get restless and feel the need to
clean or organize, or just do something around my place. And
it's been especially bad lately with the packing. But at least
I have a very tidy, organized place.
05.27.2004
"All that Work...."
I was up late last night,
working from home. I was preparing for an important client
meeting this morning. At 11:30pm, I was still on the phone
with my co-worker when I said, "Sorry, I'm going to bed
now. See you at 7:30am."
Everything that had gone wrong
yesterday still wasn't addressed. The demo laptop had exploded
at 6pm, and now my back-up plan wasn't flying either (server
down). We worked frantically this morning (battling
unsynchronized systems, unknown Webex instructions, miscommunicated
usernames and passwords, etc) but finally got everything on-line and
up and running and *only* 15 minutes behind schedule.
Then, about 20 minutes into the
meeting, our internet went down. No more demo. And after
all that work. It's actually comical in a way.
05.26.2004
"Props to Families"
For whatever reason, I'm
exhausted this week. I'm getting about 8 hours of sleep a
night, and I'm loving my down time after work. I was biking to
work this morning (still half asleep), and I thought to myself,
"How do people with families do it?" Seriously. The thought has crossed my mind, but this morning I
*really* thought about it.
I live by myself, and only have to
worry about myself. If I'm tired, I can just cancel my social
plans and enjoy an uninterrupted evening on my own to rejuvenate and
do whatever I have to do. If I were to work 9-10 hours then come
home to a small child, and cook and clean and comfort and nurture, I
would be completely worn out. Yeah, I know it would be a joy and
all that, but really - I don't know how working people with families
make it though the days.
05.25.2004
"Sunday BBQs"
On Sunday, Mark had us
(myself, Brent, Robin) over for a BBQ. When I woke up that
morning, I was already looking forward to it. I made a summer
salad (Thai noodles with lettuce, yellow peppers, strawberries,
avocados, bean sprouts, red onion and feta cheese), and there was
more than enough food. We barbecued up a ton of things on the patio,
and I think I ate almost all the potato chips (and B polished off the
chocolate macaroons).
The boys played some cards and I
opted to chill on the couch and read magazines. Then we played
some Karaoke Revolution, and then headed home around midnight. I
totally love those intimate gatherings with a small group of close
friends. It's my preferred social setting these days, and I
totally look forward to these types of evenings.
05.22.2004
"New Things"
Last night Aly and I were
supposed to go to Lickerish (my request). But then I called
him back and asked about that new North Vancouver restaurant that he
had mentioned earlier (Fiction 5). I decided I wanted to try
something new, and I didn't mind driving across the Lions Gate
Bridge.
It was a great experience. The
place was small and cozy. We opted to sit at the bar. We
ordered drinks and shared pear and goat cheese salad, ahi tuna tataki,
avocado and brie quesadillas and curry dippers, all the while
listening to Groove Armada, Massive Attack, Moloko and other familiar
music. I'm all for going back to regular eateries, but I also
enjoy venturing to new places.
05.21.2004
"Culture
Deprived"
Last night, I decided I
was going to do something 'cultural' this weekend. I did a
search under Vancouver Events, but didn't find anything affordable
or interesting for that matter. But then I remembered a
posting on the intra at work: the Emily Carr graduation exhibit on
Granville Island. And it's free. What a perfect way to
spend my Saturday....
05.20.2004
"Consumer Therapy
for Two, Please"
Lately, I've really
enjoyed my alone-time. I haven't felt this way for a couple of
years, but lately I *really* look forward to hanging out by
myself. It's just something that I need at this point in my
life of over-stimuli and constant activity.
So, last night I decided to hang out by myself at
Oakridge and look for some spring fashion deals. I was having a
great time. My cell phone rang around 8:15pm, and it was
Trevor. He was in the 'hood. He ended up meeting me at the
Gap, and I quickly found out that he's in the same mind-set as me
these days. So, we shopped together but there was no pressure
for conversation. The only time we really talked was to ask for
each other's opinions on our clothing choices. It was lovely
consumer therapy for the both of us. It was exactly what we both
wanted.
05.19.2004
"Man, It Would Suck
to be That Chicken"
I watched a documentary on
some scientists trying to capture a giant, 18-foot crocodile in
Africa. They built a large cage and baited it with a cow's
head (ewwww, gross). When that didn't work, they made the bait
more interesting by tying a live chicken to the cow's head. It
looked perpetually bored and confused at the same time, giving the
odd flutter of the wings for the camera. I was watching this
thinking, "That must suck to be tied to a cow's head."
Then, when that didn't work, they
upgraded the bait to a live goat tethered to a pole in the
water. Yeah, that would totally suck too....
05.18.2004
"Down Size"
I ventured to Banana
Republic to look for a skirt tonight. Even after an
all-you-can-eat meal at Robson Sushi, I was surprisingly able to fit
into a size 8. Normally, I take about a 10 in those
stores. I didn't end up buying anything (didn't fall in love
with anything) but I left the store with a smile on my face.
05.17.2004
"I Heart My
Mechanic"
This morning I dropped my
car off at my mechanic's for a regular check-up. I always
enjoy seeing him - he cracks me up. He's also honest (always
shows me the parts he's replaced), doesn't talk down to me (he
probably over-explains what he's done, as opposed to shrugging off
my questions), and he's full of character.
When I pulled in, he was cleaning up
some garbage in front of his shop. He was laughing as he said
that it looked like someone had been evicted for a small grow-up, and
had dumped things on his stoop (e.g. dried marijuana leaves, some
special potting soil, lamps, etc). Then, he was all excited
because he had a Brazilian Volkswagen that he was working on (a sporty
Puma 1600 GT), so he gave me a tour. It was very cool!
People like Alfred make my normally
mundane errands into a fun experience. I appreciate that.
05.14.2004
"Dreaming on the
West Side"
I had a wonderful evening
with Farshad. We got sushi at the Eatery, then went for a
stroll around W. 6th and Alma, admiring all the old, character
houses with the pointed attics and large balconies and the shady
trees. Each house was unique and well-maintained, and the
yards were immaculately groomed. I would love to own a house
there, but I don't even want to speculate what a tiny, 60-year-old
house is priced at on the West Side. Something to dream
about.....
05.12.2004
"That's Why I Live
Here"
Last night (Phat Tuesday)
it was just me and B. We got Ebi Ten take-out, watched
"America's Next Top Model" reunion show, then went for a
walk (for about 1.5 hours). We walked along the downtown
seawall, near all the new Yaletown waterfront construction. It
was about 7pm, the sun was still out, there were roller-bladers and
dog-walkers galore. Everyone (including us) had a great
energy. All the new towers were stunning, and we couldn't
believe how beautiful the new urban parks were.
We got drumsticks and ate them on a
park bench by the water. We admired all the yachts moored at the
new marina (I posed the question: if you had a boat, what would you
call it?). It was the perfect way to end an evening. Last
night just re-affirmed why I live in Vancouver. It truly is a
breath-taking city.
05.11.2004
"Small
Accomplishments"
I found homes for my
furniture that I don't want to keep after my move. My mom is
taking my entertainment unit, and Marie at work is taking my
wardrobe and dresser. It's a huge load off my mind. It's
funny how small accomplishments can provide such huge relief.
05.10.2004
"My New Home"
Check out my new home in
Burnaby (front and back views). The last picture is a shot of
some concrete that Robin poured. He carved into one of the
stones: "RL + RY". Very sweet!
After a day like today (pretty busy
and stressful at work), I'm totally looking forward to coming home to
a wonderful man who will rub my feet, make me dinner, and then tuck me
into bed at night. I can hardly wait....
05.09.2004
"Go Amber and Step
Into Liquid"
Cheers to Amber, and
thanks for playing the "Survivor" game and scoring me
$180. I already know what I'm going to spend the money on.
Speaking of tropical islands and
water: we rented "Step Into Liquid" on the weekend. It's a documentary on surfing. When it was over, Robin and I
knew what Brent was talking about - now we want to go somewhere and
surf.
05.07.2004
"Social Comas"
I first heard the term
'social coma' from a friend of Aly's, years ago. The concept
is you just disappear (socially) for a period of time (a month?) -
don't answer e-mails, phone calls, nothing. Just do your own
thing, and then come back refreshed and ready to go out on the
social scene again. Last night, I was thinking of doing that
for myself, maybe next week. I'm just so exhausted and
overwhelmed with work (and find myself with minimal energy these
days), that I think I'm due for a social coma. Ahhh, who am I
kidding? It's not going to happen.
05.06.2004
"Started Packing"
I know I don't have to
move until end of June, but I like to be organized. So, I started
going through my things. I already have about 3 garbage bags
full of things that I'm donating to the SPCA. And it's not
like I'm a pack-rat.
My co-worker recommended (based on
her experience) that I slowly start packing things away and moving
things over to Robin's. That way, it won't be such a shock when
I move over. At that point, my apartment will seem more empty,
and Robin's place will feel more like home. Good suggestion,
Marie.
05.05.2004
"Got Virus?"
On Sunday night, Robin
started up my laptop and there was a crazy "System
Configuration Error" message, and it kept restarting. My
first instinctual thought was, "What have you
done?". But then I thought the worst - I've got a
virus. I called Sheldon the next day, and we made plans to
drop my computer off with him later in the week. Later that
day I tried to check my Telus webmail, and got an error
message: "Wrong password - please try again." The conspiracy thickened - someone had hacked into my computer,
given me a virus, then hacked into my Telus webmail and changed my
password. I could physically feel my blood pressure rising.
When I got home, on a whim I decided
to try booting up my computer without an internet connection. It
worked. Then I tried again after connecting - it worked
too. I called Sheldon, and he said Telus had been acting crazy
lately (he'd talked to some other friends).
Whew. What a relief. I
depend on things like my computer and car and just assume they'll be
working when I need them. And when something goes wrong with
them, my life seems like it's spiraling out of control. I'm glad
to be back to normal.
05.04.2004
"I Love My What?"
This morning I was walking
past Beautymark in Yaletown. They always have funky clothes on
display, like Paul Frank merchandise. There was this girly tank-top with
some writing on the chest: "I Love My Dink". What? But upon closer inspection, I saw it read, "I Love
My Pink".
05.03.2004
"Spa Day"
Ahhhh, it was such a lovely Sunday. Robin
and I woke up, had breakfast, did laundry, etc. Then he told
me he was taking me for a picnic (some park in Burnaby). We
went to Save-On and got some take-out sushi and Vietnamese salad
rolls and potato salad. We grabbed some slurpees and headed to
the river. We sat on a bench and enjoyed the perfect day (not
too hot, nice and quiet).
Later in the afternoon we headed back to Vancouver,
and went to our spa appointment at the Absolute Spa at the Century
Plaza. We went into the ozonated swimming pool first, then went
to our shared room where he got a massage and I got a facial. The esthecian told me she loved my freckles, and that I had beautiful
skin with no lines/wrinkles (the skin of a 5-year-old!). We
finished off the day at Harlo's on Cambie (deluxe burgers - yum!) and
called it a day/night. If only every day could be like this....
04.30.2004
"Homeless in
Vancouver Part 2"
I biked to work today (got to enjoy it while I
can) and it was glorious as usual. I was cutting through this
little park/walkway in Yaletown and I saw a homeless person (well, I
assume he was). I was surprised to see him perched on a large,
concrete bench, counting out his crack rocks. In broad
daylight. Hmmmm - I didn't think I worked near Pigeon
Park.....
On another note, I'm on to my next phase in
life. I move out of my bachelorette pad on Cambie at the end of
June, and I'll be moving in with Robin in Burnaby. New
adventure, here I come.....
04.28.2004
"Homeless in
Vancouver"
I came home yesterday to an eviction
notice. I wasn't terribly surprised, I was expecting it (the
building went under new management last year, and they've been
re-doing all the suites and replacing all the plumbing). But
now that it's a reality that I have to move, I can't help but be
sad, and I feel a little helpless. It doesn't matter if
something is for the best (I've been wanting to move for about a
year now) - if the decision suddenly isn't really yours to make, you
feel a little lost and that you've lost some control.
I've complained about my apartment over the last
little while (noisy, hot in the summer, no parking spot, can't control
the heating mechanism, etc). But now that I have to move, I'm
going to miss this place. I'll miss the old hardwood floors, the
closet space, the character (fake fireplace, milk door, old-school
door knobs), the location, etc. All the memories that I have
here - it's mind-boggling.
It's a sad day for me today. I'm happy to move
out, but with every change there are pluses and minuses. First I
need to accept and come to terms with what I'll be losing. Then,
I can focus on what I'll be gaining and be happy.
But it's going to take a little time.....
04.26.2004
"Kraftwerk in
Seattle"
6:30am - Wake up at Robin's, drive home and get
ready.
8:28am - Get picked up by Randy, Farshad, Glyn, and
Jason. We're in Randy's black BMW 540i. I climb into the
backseat, and the bass is massaging my back. We play "Guess
the song" all the way down to Bellingham.
9:37am - Go through the border, right after I tell
the guys I've never had a really good border experience. The
guard asks us what concert we're going to, and we tell him Kraftwerk. His eyes light up as he repeats what we've told him. "Man,
I've been looking for 'Numbers' but can't seem to find it on iTunes. I'm jealous!," he tells us as he peruses our passports. We
laugh and joke about him hopping into our trunk. We drive away,
and he's all smiles. Best border experience ever!
9:45am - Get gas and goodies at the Chevron in
Blaine. Farshad tries these new ice cream bites that are dipped
in chocolate. Delicious. Why don't we have those in
Vancouver? Randy doesn't let us pay for gas.
10:15am - Go to Denny's in Bellingham for
brunch. Randy and Jason are brave, and try the Country
Gravy. Glyn and Farshad both finish everything, including the
pancakes. Randy picks up the tab.
12:05pm - Park in Capitol Hill and go shopping at
the vintage shops. I buy 2 belts (a black one with silver studs,
the other one with red stars and the words "Rock Star" on
the back), and I also buy a shirt (pink with the black letters on the
front, "Everyone Loves an Asian Girl").
3:11pm - Crash at a Mexican restaurant for beers,
lemonades and nachos. It's warm out (27C) and we're a little
over-heated and tired. The food and drinks hit the spot. Then
more shopping.
5:02pm - Go to Pike Street market. Pick up
some Bobbleheads for Randy (I find out his collection is over
200). We watch the fish mongers, then grab a mango slushee from
Seattle's Best.
6:07pm - Find out the concert is earlier than
expected, so we grab a bite for dinner at the nearby market
grill. Randy picks up the tab - again.
7:45pm - Arrive at the Paramount, and buy some
concert t-shirts. Find our places on the floor, and wait.....
8:11pm - The curtain parts for the Kraftwerk
concert, and my first thought is, "Man, these guys are
old!" But it makes sense, given the fact that they were big
in the 1970s. But they're so cool. It's just them, each
with a synthesizer and laptop, and behind them is an enormous screen
with wicked visuals. They're cool, composed, never once breaking
a sweat. They're dressed in dark suits - very distinguished and
professional looking. They play all their hits: "Machine Man", "Authobahn", "Numbers",
etc. They do 2 costume changes - the first time they add black
ties with blinking, red LED lights to their business suits, then they
change to fitted, Tron-like suits with a neon green grid design. The
crowd ranges from ages 20 to 50, and we're all very energetic but
respectful at the same time (no moshing, no pushing). For the
second encore, we look behind and above us at the balcony, and
everyone has their cell phones lit up (the recent replacement for
lighters at a concert) - it looks amazing. Kraftwerk plays for
2.5 hours, and every moment is magical.
11:35pm - We're in the parking lot, ripping off tags
and layering on the clothes as we get ready to cross the border. Then we're off.
12:48am - The drive back home is dark and loud and
fast. Then we're back at the border. We claim some items, and
it's pretty painless.
1:46am - Randy drops me off at my door. I
thank him for everything, bid everyone a good night. I'm so
tired, I can't believe that I've made it through this day. I
open up my door, and I'm so happy to be home.
2:23am - Climb into bed, totally exhausted. But I feel so satisfied, knowing that I've made the most of my day,
and I've accomplished so much. I turn out the light, and I drift
into a well-deserved, peaceful sleep, and I dream of electronic music
being performed in heritage, ornate concert halls, and I don't wake up
again until 10:39am the next day. It's bliss.
04.23.2004
"For the Love of
Avocados"
As a child, I hated avocados. I thought
they were gross - a bland almost bitter taste, creepy texture. The whole experience reminded me of eating fermented butter. But as a teenager, I discovered guacamole - how sassy and
multi-cultural! And now, a salad isn't a salad without
avocados in it as far as I'm concerned. I definitely
have to credit Brent with introducing me to the daily uses of these
wonderful, green, nubbly veggie-fruits (and not just for Tex-Mex
cuisine).
There's one sitting on my desk right now. It's
perfectly ripe, just waiting for me to cut it in half and scoop out
the greeny-yellow, buttery flesh with a spoon and put it in my
afternoon salad snack. I can hardly wait.
04.22.2004
"Back to Work for
the Alumni"
I got 2 e-mails this week from ex-Motorolans. Liza just started at EA, and Jen will begin a new career with the
Delta Police. It's been interesting over the last year,
watching the ex-Mot crew begin their new careers/jobs, seeing where
they've ended up, etc. I still keep in touch with a couple of
them via e-mail or phone, but it's increasingly difficult to hook up
due to our conflicting schedules and different locations. We're
no longer just a few cubes down from each other anymore. But a
definite advantage is that my networking pool just increased
exponentially (I now have many more contacts at various companies in
the Lower Mainland). Excellent.
04.21.2004
"Freshly Scrubbed"
I biked to work today so I wore my contacts
instead of my glasses. My co-worker Dave made the comment as I
walked past him to the printer, "You look totally different
without your glasses!" Well, how so?
"You look about 10 years younger," [smiles
for Rena] "you look like one of those wide-eyed Frosh students,
all freshly-scrubbed. Like you just got out of the
bathtub."
What? Laughs. That's definitely a unique
and hilarious description. But I think a compliment is embedded
in there somewhere. Thanks, Dave.
04.20.2004
"4:20 on 4/20"
Yesterday it was April 20 (4/20). For those
who don't know, 420 is the call number that police use when someone is
suspected of smoking marijuana, and hence 420 is also the international
symbol for cannabis and its culture. Brent was walking near the art gallery around 4pm-ish,
and noticed the smell of Mary Jane. As he rounded the corner,
he saw about 500 people hanging out on the art gallery lawn,
listening to music, tossing frisbees, having a good time. There was also a noticeable cloud of smoke hanging over the crowd.
Where else but in Vancouver? (Well, and the
Netherlands).
04.20.2004
"Deep Sleep Therapy"
After my exceptionally early 4:30am wake-up time
yesterday, I was ready for bed at 10:30pm that night. I
climbed into bed and didn't hear a thing until my alarm rang at
7:15am. A solid 9 hours of sleep. I felt like a million
bucks.
My friend Dan attributes his happy disposition and
relaxed attitude to his ability to sleep well through the night. I think he's on to something there.
04.19.2004
"Mario Kart Racing
in the Lobby"
It's 9:00am in the morning. I've been up
since 4:30am. I'm now in Redmond, WA at the Nintendo's
headquarters waiting for our meeting to start. In the lobby,
there's a GameCube, so Gary challenges me to a game of Mario Kart
racing. Everyone comments on my unbelievably bad virtual
driving skills (e.g. after 3 minutes, Rena asks, "Why is there
a flying dinosaur-thing holding up a U-Turn sign? Oh, I've
been going the wrong way?"). Gary and I are
laughing so hard. I literally have to catch my breath.
I think, I'm getting paid for this? Another defining
moment in my career, that's for sure.
04.18.2004
"Preparing for the
Unknown"
It's Sunday night, and I'm preparing for a
business trip tomorrow. I was told on Friday that I would be
driving down to Redmond, WA on Monday with some co-workers to visit
one of our clients (Nintendo). I have no idea what to expect,
since the agenda seems kind of unclear to all of us. I'm just
about to pick out something to wear (something business-like but not
too uptight, maybe some funky accessories?). All I know is
that I have to wake up at 4:30am because I'm being picked up at
5:30am. Ouch.
It should be an interesting way to start off the
week.
04.16.2004
"How Many Syllables
is That?"
I realize that I have a (strange) habit of
counting things. For example, as I'm walking down a flight of
stairs, I count the number of steps I take. Or, when I'm
remembering a movie title or phrase or something, I count the number
of syllables. I wonder if other people do this?
04.15.2004
"Death is a
Footstep Away"
I frequently have these kinds of thoughts: I'm
standing on the corner of the sidewalk at Nelson and Mainland this
morning, waiting for the crosswalk light to change. Cars are
zooming past me - 50, maybe 60kph. I'm standing so close to
these large, speeding objects (2-3 feet?) - I can feel the wind whip my hair
around my face as they pass me by.
All it would take is one footstep forward, and that
would be it. Game over. It's too easy that it's scary.
04.14.2004
"Stranger in the
Mirror"
Every once in awhile I'll be doing something in
front of a mirror (doing my make-up, getting dressed, etc) and I'll
pause for a second and really look at my face. A little voice
inside my head says, "Who are you? Who are you
really?" And I can really trip myself out, because
suddenly I become this total stranger to myself. I can't
really explain it, but it's really crazy. It's like I step
outside of myself for a second, my thoughts become detached from my
body, and I don't really know who I am.
To snap out of it, I just think of something mundane
like what am I going to wear. Then my mind is focused
again. But I remember as a teen (when I first discovered this) I
used to stand in front of a mirror for up to 15 minutes at a time,
playing this mind game with myself.
04.13.2004
"Hair Decisions"
I briefly mentioned to Tracey at work that I have
a haircut appointment coming up on Friday. She said she liked
my hair ("So shiny!"), and I told her I hadn't decided yet
what I was going to do with it.
In the past, I know I've obsessed about my hair from
time to time. I used to talk about hair decisions with Jim,
Jennifer and Paige on a regular basis at Motorola. But now, no
one really shares my pre-occupation with my 'do. I rather miss
those conversations. But maybe it's for the best. I'm sure
there are other areas of my life that could use the attention.
04.12.2004
"A Perfect
Beginning"
I awoke this Monday morning at 6:15am - there was
a beautiful, cool breeze blowing through the bedroom, and I realized
Robin was spooning me. What a wonderful way to wake up from a
deep sleep. He didn't have to work today, and I had plenty of
time to get back to Vancouver and start off my work week. So,
we decided to "cuddle" for a bit (about an hour - way to
go, Robin!), then I headed off home. I showered and headed off
to work on my bike.
It was about 12C, and a little overcast. Cycling over the Cambie bridge and looking out over the water was
spectacular as usual. I arrived in Yaletown feeling refreshed
and ready to start my Monday. If only all weeks started off this
way.
04.10.2004
"A Perfect Ending"
Last night, I had the boys over for some high-fat
snacks (7-Layer Mexican dip, Crunch 'n' Munch, chocolate fondue,
Lay's chips and Garlic and Nacho cheese dip, etc) and some board
game action (Pyramid and Uno). It was very casual, and we were
perfectly content to just chill out and be ourselves (the best way
to be!). They left around 11pm, and I did some clean-up. I climbed into bed around midnight, feeling very content (and
full). The sheets were nice and cool because the window had
been open. I had a new crossword on my bedside table, and I
had a productive day lined up, starting at 8:30am the next morning.
I knew I had a smile on my face while I rubbed
lemon-cocoa butter cream on my cuticles and pulled the sheets up to my
chest and spread out over the entire bed. It was the perfect
ending to a fabulous day.
04.09.2004
"Good Friday"
So far, it's been a great Good Friday. I
was actually spontaneous today - called Sheldon and Dave and met up
for coffee on Cambie, had a great chat, then went to Future
Shop. I ended up buying my first DVDs ever! Even though
I've had a player for 2 years now, I've only acquired DVDs as
gifts. Well, today I bought 2 for $20 - "Clueless"
and "Tomb Raider." I spoke with Andy (it's been
awhile) and it was nice to catch up. After getting some
groceries, I'll be getting ready soon to have the boys over for
chocolate fondue. I can hardly wait.
04.08.2004
"Long Weekend"
It's been a pretty hectic, stressful last couple
of weeks (mainly work-wise). But this morning the reality of
the upcoming long weekend hit me (in a good way). Who would
have thought that 1 extra day off would motivate me and put a smile
on my face at 7:05am (when my alarm rang)? I guess I really am
a working stiff, like in those beer commercials. But if
someone has simple pleasures in life, then life is good.
04.07.2004
"Moresomes More
Often!"
Last night, I was talking to Miss Trevor on the
phone and we had to ask Miss Ivan a question. So we did 3-way
calling. It was like a party! The conversation was like
a 3-ring circus: Trevor making gassy noises, thinking of new Karaoke
Revolution character names (Urethra Franklin, David Bowels), and
general hysterical laughter. Who knew the phone could be so
much fun?
04.07.2004
"Word Scramble (or
Just Call Me Peggy Hill, Boggle Champion!)"
In addition to a crossword puzzle, TV Guide now
has a word scramble. Double the fun! However, sometimes
the word scramble can be a tad frustrating. Some of them I get
right away, but some of them take me forever to figure out!
One in particular was driving me batty. I
looked at it on and off for 3 weeks - no luck (HRSCOU). I told
Miss Ivan (because we share a fondness for word puzzles) that soon
enough I was going to pick it up again and poof! - the word would come
to me. When I went to bed after our conversation, I took one
last look: CHORUS. Of course!
And last night, I checked out the word scramble in
my new TV Guide. One of the scrambled words: RENA. I
laughed. (And I immediately unscrambled it - NEAR). Whoo-yeah!
04.06.2004
"Business Ideas"
If I was going to open a fried chicken chain, I
would call it "Chicks Rule." If I was going to open
a late-night, Chinese snack bar/Internet Cafe, I would call it
"Chow Mein Frame." If I was going to open a
funky, retro-style diner with Robin, I would call it the
"R&R Diner." (I would call it "Double R Diner" but
then I might get sued by David Lynch)
Just some random thoughts.
04.05.2004
"Young Hands"
I caught the 8:30am bus this morning and it was
standing-room only. I was holding on to a pole, and I happened
to catch a glimpse of my hand. Suddenly, a thought entered my
head, "Someday, I'm going to have old-lady hands. Wrinkles, veins, bones showing through the flesh."
At first, it wasn't a very pleasant thought (I'm not
comforted by the inevitability that I'll be an old woman one
day). But then I thought of all the experiences and fantastic
memories I will have collected by then. I was also reminded of a
conversation that Robin and I had over the weekend, about how fun it
would be to grow old together. Imagine it: 40 years fast
forward, shuffling along, hand-in-hand with your life partner, not
caring about veins and wrinkles because there are so many things
to be thankful for - so comforting.
04.03.2004
"Phun with a P-H"
I love those nights that might start off kind of
iffy or tired, but then you end up having the best time. Tonight I started off at Brent's. When I got there, Mark was
already there - both of them seemed kind of quiet and tired. We walked to Oasis, ordered drinks and nachos, listened to the
lounge singer, and Ivan showed up. The gang started to get
more energy. We had a great talk - What
songs do you hate? Where are we taking our next vacation? What
would the dream Karaoke Revolution upgrade package be? (80's,
Show Tunes, Christmas) Miss
Trevor even showed up later.
Around 11pm everyone was getting ready to head out -
Ivan was catching an early morning ferry, Trevor was getting up early
to go shopping, Brent wasn't feeling too well. So, that left
Mark and I. I had gotten my co-worker Paul to VIP me at the
Royal since he DJs there. I was prepared to go there by myself,
but Mark came with. What a trooper! And we had so much fun!
It was kind of intimidating at first - big line-up,
I wasn't sure if I really was on the list (and I was - thanks,
Paul!). The crowd inside was something out of this world - so
many girls, so many tits, so much long hair. Not like the gay
establishments that we're used to! I felt like I was back in
university. Everyone was young, drunk, and out to start the
weekend with a bang. Mark and I stood by the dance floor,
observing everything.
Then Paul started playing some wicked sets: Prince,
Salt 'n' Peppa, Missy Elliott, Black Eyed Peas, Beyonce, Tone Loc (my
request!). We ended up dancing for most of the time.
I felt like I started the weekend right. Now I'm
ready for bed.
04.02.2004
"Recipe for
Disaster?"
Last night Robin and I had planned to get
together. He was going to go to Mike's first and hang out with
the boys. Then he'd come over for dinner and we'd watch
"Survivor." After a 10-hour work day and a visit to
Sheldon's to check up on his cat, I came home exhausted and
hungry. I started making dinner - veggie Thai noodle
salad. By 7:45pm, still no word from Robin. But then he
called, said he wouldn't be arriving until 8:30pm or so, and said to
go ahead and eat without him. I finished my preparation in
time for "Survivor." Just before Tribal Council, in
walks Robin - all drunk and silly and apologetic. I fed him,
we talked, and then went to bed.
Under different circumstances, I could have been
totally bitchy (e.g. depending on my mood, my day, my hunger level,
etc). But I was really happy to see him, and I wasn't really
pissed off that he didn't call earlier to tell me to start eating,
etc. Sometimes I surprise myself. And it's a good thing.
04.01.2004
"Sad Tree"
I was heading down Cambie this morning on the way
to work, and I was stopped at the light by Broadway. I
happened to look up to the patio of Beetnix, and I noticed a very
withered palm tree. It looked very sad. It's leaves were
all dry and yellow, and the trunk had a slight stoop to it. The leaves were folded down against the trunk, and it almost looked
like a crying doll hiding its face beneath long hair made of straw.
I was glad Sheldon wasn't there to see it. He
would have been traumatized.
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