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03.31.2005 "Safe"
I read a news article on
the way to work that made me fear for my personal safety. In
addition to the increasing number of violent car chases and gang
swarmings, there is a new development in my neighborhood.
Young kids (we're talking 10 years old) are preying on women for
money. They use knives and have assaulted some of the victims
(kicked, punched, etc). Reading about it and thinking about
how those women must have felt (being overpowered by children!) made
me sick to my stomach.
I started thinking about personal
safety in general. On the whole I've felt confident and
comfortable in my surroundings. But I know my limits, and I
know to avoid those areas that I don't feel safe in (e.g. Lower East
Side). But a couple of years ago I went to Curtis' party when
he lived beside the Ovaltine Cafe. You can't find a sketchier
neighborhood than that! We were approached, pan-handled,
offered promises of 'sweet love' in exchange for money, etc.
But looking back it seemed pretty harmless. And Curtis'
response was: just treat them with respect and they won't harm you.
Then I recall being in South
America and hitch-hiking in the Andes mountains (a friend who had
been previously said it was the thing to do). So here we were
in the middle of nowhere, and strangers would be eager to pick us up
and chat with us (because we were travelers, not locals). And
I felt totally safe. Then, flash forward 8 years when I relay
the story to Ashley and Brendon. They were horrified because
they knew of a couple who had been in Ecuador as well and were
driven to a remote area and sexually assaulted and left for dead.
Adding another spin on this - when
I lived on Cambie for all those years (feeling safe and cozy in my
one-bedroom apartment), I remember seeing the news trucks across the
street. It turns out they had to evacuate the building
directly across from me because a tenant had a mercury obsession and
was playing with it in his apartment. As you can guess, he
died from poisoning and everyone in the building (including 2
pregnant women) had to be tested. There was also the time
Robin and I were woken up at 5am to the sound of crunching, twisted
metal. When we stumbled out of bed and peeked out the front
blinds we were greeted by the sight of a semi-truck parked on the
front lawn across the street (thankfully no one was hurt). But
so much for feeling safe.
So yes - I can go with my
instincts and avoid places that I think might be harmful. Or I
can read the news and be hyper-aware about all the potentially
dangerous offenders out there. Or I can just be reasonable and
sensible and continue to walk with confidence and be alert about my
surroundings. But I guess I also have to accept the fact that
if something bad is going to happen, it's going to happen. And
I won't live in fear.
03.30.2005 "Bathing Suit
Season"
I tried on my bathing
suits last night for my upcoming vacation. As I stood in front
of the mirror, I had some mixed feelings. First of all, I was
thrilled and delighted that I could fit into my bikini from South
America (that was 10 years ago - so I'm the same size as I was in
university!). But looking at my reflection, I didn't feel so
great. Bathing suits have to be the most unflattering thing I
can wear - they're tight and body-revealing and there's nowhere to
hide.
But then I realized that they
always fit and look different when they're dry, as opposed to wet.
After getting out of the pool, the suits are more relaxed and
they're more forgiving. So, I felt better as I folded them
back up in the drawer. But I resolved to increase my work-outs
for the next 2 weeks anyway.
03.29.2005 "Learning to Relax"
Robin was teasing me that
I never seem to relax at home. This is true, overall.
I'm always folding laundry, tidying up, organizing cupboards, etc.
I think I've always been like that since living on my own. But
now we're heading off to relax for an entire week in the sun.
Can I do it? Am I going to get antsy and feel the need to fold
the pool towels into piles? Doubt it. I've been on
vacations before and successfully chilled out for days in a row.
I can't wait.....
03.28.2005 "Working For the
Weekend"
Over the long weekend my
team at work did some overtime in order to make a deadline. I
didn't have to physically come into the office, but instead only
checked my e-mail from home to see if there were any issues.
But that doesn't mean I didn't work on the weekend.
Friday was spent painting the
interior of the house. We worked from 9:30am to 6pm, only
stopping once for a Tim Horton's lunch. After that it was off
to Earls' for dinner then home to bed. Saturday was spent
cleaning everything. We scrubbed, mopped, vacuumed and
arranged furniture until late afternoon. But then we rested
Sunday. Oh, what a glorious feeling! We slept in, went
for a bike ride, went to family Easter dinners, etc. And the
house looks so new and clean. And then we're off on vacation
in 2 weeks. Life is good again.
03.23.2005 "A Terrible
Feeling"
I would not say that I
suffer from insomnia. But every once in awhile (and this
probably started back in high school and got worse in university) I
have troubles falling asleep. Or I fall asleep no problem but
then wake up really early in the morning (3am, 4am) and my mind is
going a mile a minute. I remember when I was in school,
sometimes I would wake up in the middle of the night and I would be
reciting calculus formulas in my mind. My head hurts just
thinking about it.
Last night I got to sleep okay,
but then I woke up at 2am then at 4am thinking about work and what I
had to do in the next couple of weeks. And no matter what I
did (e.g. think about something relaxing or trying to remember
things from the past - anything to get my mind on another topic) my
thoughts would wander back to work. Now my eyes feel strained
and I feel headachy. I hope I sleep better tonight....
03.22.2005 "He Has What In His
Pocket?"
On my way to work this
morning, I saw a man walking his little dog in Yaletown. He
bent down and picked something up with a bag, and when he passed me
on the sidewalk I saw him put something in his pocket. I
realized that he had picked up his dog's 'business' in a plastic bag
and put it discreetly into his pocket. So, he's got dog shit
in his jacket now. But it didn't really seem to phase him.
I was just happy that he had the etiquette to remove it from my
path.
03.21.2005 "Painting Legs"
I have "Painting Legs"
this morning. This is from being crouched down and kneeling on
hardwood floors and going around from room to room painting
baseboards. I feel like I've run a half-marathon (but then
what do I know, I've never actually run one of those things).
But renovations should be 95% complete on Friday. Then it's
back to socializing on the weekends! What a novel concept.
03.18.2005 "Spring Break!!!"
On my drive into work this
morning, the radio DJ was talking about how great it is to be a kid
today because it's the Friday before Spring Break. I remember
being in school and dreading the bleakness of January and February.
Then March or April would always bring a reprieve from the monotony
and cold weather because we'd have that week off for spring break.
Ah, to be a kid.
Then I thought about what I'm
doing for next week. Well, this weekend will be spent painting
floorboards and door trims and ceilings. And next weekend will
be preparations for wall painting. Then the long weekend will
be spent finishing up painting. Oh joy. The thrills of
being an adult during spring break.
03.17.2005 "Life Management
101"
As we go through life we
encounter many changes. We change our careers, our living
arrangements, our relationships, etc. And typically we just
accept these changes, pack up, and move on. But sometimes we
hit a crossroads in our lives where the changes may appear
overwhelming. And we're so accustomed to focusing our energies
on our careers and families and friends that we rarely invest the
effort into ourselves.
But we need to do that every once
in awhile. We need to 'take care' of ourselves, make sure
we're happy with our life situations, be content with who we are and
what we've accomplished. And if we're not satisfied, we need
to do things to help ourselves get on track. If we don't do
it, no one else will do it for us. It's wise to work from the
inside out; then, the positive energy radiates outwards. And
then life suddenly seems much more pleasant and less overwhelming.
And that's a good place to be.
03.16.2005 "Precious Sleep"
I've been waking up at
night between 3 and 5 am. I'm stuffed up from allergies and
can't breathe, so I have to get up and blow my nose. Falling
back asleep is a bit of a challenge sometimes (especially when
you're struggling to breathe), but often I'm able to drift off
somewhat until my alarm wakes me at 7am. So now it's starting
to take its toll. I have that dull headachy feeling all day,
my eyes are a little swollen, and I feel crappy in general.
Oh, to sleep through the night. How do those people with young
children do it?
03.15.2005 "It Has a Swim-up
Bar!!!"
It's booked. Robin
and I went to Flight Center and booked our all-inclusive trip to
Dominican Republic. Our Travel Agent got us a great deal at a
4-star luxury resort. We're happy that it's not an
obscenely-enormous compound. The price includes 3 buffet meals
a day (oh no) and 24-hour snacks. There's also mini-golf and
bicycles included. It also has a swim-up bar. I've
always wanted to experience one of those! Now I don't mind
working like a dog for the next few weeks, because then it's
relaxation in the sun! I guess I better step-up my work-out
routine as well to prepare myself for those buffets....
03.13.2005 "That's Not What a Tub
Is For"
This weekend I got to
experience a more rustic lifestyle than what I'm used to.
Robin and I did bathroom renovations and had to rip out our only
toilet while we tiled and painted the back wall to prepare for the
new toilet. During the non-toilet hours, we ran across the
street to use the public facilities at the park. After a
hard-day's work we headed out for Thai food, then returned home to
dried paint and grout to install the new toilet. It was then
we discovered it was too big.
By then it was 10pm. We
resigned ourselves to the fact that we had no toilet until the next
day when the park re-opened (and we could go to Home Depot and
exchange our purchase). So, we did what we had to do. We
peed in the tub. It wasn't that bad. I would run the
water and just pretend I was taking a shower. It was actually
quite clean. But that's probably too much information for
most.....
03.11.2005 "This One is for
Farshad"
"It's like they all kind
of want a piece of me. Does that make sense?" Oh Farshad.
When you said it over our meal of Texmex at Carlos & Bud's last
night, I had to burst out laughing. Not only did you know what
I was talking about, but you verbalized it in such a way that I
didn't think anyone else would understand. We certainly are of
the same feather....
03.09.2005 "We Look For Signs"
Brent and I were at Book
Warehouse last night, and he told me about his new niece Bianca.
Then he was deciding which book to get and he opened one to a random
page and the first word that caught his eye was "Bianca." He
laughed and said he had to get that book now, because it was a sign.
Later at dinner, Sheldon was
talking about relationships and dating and how he is not going the
internet dating route. Instead, he'll just see whatever
happens, and look for that 'burning bush' for an indication of when
the time is right. We all agreed that we can find signs if we
want and trust them. It's however you want to interpret the
seemingly random happenings of this crazy universe.
And yesterday at work I was
reminiscing with a co-worker about Jolt cola ("All the sugar and
twice the caffeine!") We talked about the red and yellow graphics on
the can, and the lightning bolt. And we also mentioned how we
never see it anymore. Then this morning on my walk to work,
what did I see on the sidewalk - an empty can of Jolt cola (but now
in a small, Red Bull-like bottle, and green). Hmmmm. I
wonder if this is a sign that I should be including more sugar and
caffeine in my diet. Uhm, I think I'm going to ignore this
particular sign....
03.08.2005 "I've Been Up For
What Feels Like Ages"
This morning I had to miss
my morning yoga work-out. I was out of the house by 7:50am (so
early!) and drove down to pick up my contact lenses from W. 7th and
Willow in Vancouver. Then I drove downtown and parked my car,
then walked to Urban Fare to pick up some flowers for my co-worker
(it's her birthday today). As I was walking back to the
office, I checked my watch. It was 9:05am. I had been up
for 2 hours, but with all the running around in the morning it felt
like ages already.
03.06.2005 "You Should Do This
More Often"
I was working out with the
free weights in our backyard with Robin yesterday. I was doing
some arm presses, lying on my back on the weight-bench, and I was
staring up into the sky. It was grey yet bright, and there was
just a hint of rain in the air. As I looked skywards and did
my sets, my eyes stared intently into the blankness, the neverending,
colourless scenery above me. It went on forever. It was
so peaceful.
It reminded me of my childhood,
lying on my back staring at the fluffy clouds in the blue sky, or
the large, chunky snowflakes falling to the earth. And I would
contemplate how incredibly large and sprawling the universe is.
This realization sure made my workout more cerebral and wondrous.
03.05.2005 "Feeling Groovy on
Commercial Drive"
Saturday was one of those
small, every day kind of days, but it was one of the most enjoyable
that I've had in ages. Robin and I started out with a hearty
breakfast at home then it was straight out the door to do errands
(buy paint, supplies, etc). We started patching up walls
(preparing for painting) and ripping up the bathroom. Around
2pm we realized there wasn't much more to do while we waited for
spackle to dry. So we showered and headed on the skytrain down
to Commercial Drive, because we had never really hung out there
together.
Our first stop was a used record
store. Robin looked for classic albums, and I checked out the
1980s synth-stuff on vinyl (Human League, New Order, etc). We
were there for about 30 minutes but left empty handed. We
walked up and down the Drive, checking out stores and storefronts.
Before we knew it, we were starving. We decided on Wazubee
(Robin had never been there before) and we were so pleased with the
prompt yet laid-back service and the food quality (outstanding!).
Then we made our way back to the skytrain station. We passed
the same second-hand record store and Robin spotted Simon and
Garfunkel's Greatest Hits in the window front (we had missed it the
first time). This is an album that I've been talking about
lately because it reminds me of my childhood. I was very
excited. Robin picked it up for $3.99 and we played it when we
got home. I knew all the lyrics to all the songs. Then
we watched "Hero" on DVD and went to sleep, feeling groovy and happy
from our day together ("Hello lamppost, whatcha knowing?/I've come
to watch your flowers growing....")
03.04.2005 "Spring Has Sprung"
I know that spring is
here. How do I know? It's not just from the increasingly
warm temperatures, or pastel clothing in the shop windows, or the
sporadic buds popping up in the garden. No, I have allergies
and they started last week. So, what's the hay fever season
this year? February to September? Yikes. Oh well.
Maybe I'll go shopping for some sassy spring outfits to take my mind
off the swollen eyes and itchy throat....
03.02.2005 "Coo & the Gang"
Oh, that Ivan. Dear,
sweet, pacifist, bird-fearing and strict-vegetarian Ivan. We
all knew of his 'problem' for a month now - the dead pigeon that lay
stiff on his patio. Maybe it had flown into the glass?
Regardless, Ivan's solution was to close the blinds for now and just
pretend that he didn't have a balcony. Earlier this week I
told him: you MUST deal with it. Think about the horrors when
the maggots come? Or worse yet, when other birds arrive and
become cannibals (it could happen). I told him to get some
really dark sunglasses, a large garbage bag and a stick. He
could squint and pretend the pigeon was an old shoe that he had to
dispose of. I think I finally got through to him.
The next morning he called me at
work and said his 'problem' was resolved. He had finally built
up the nerve to take a peek and make a plan for disposal when he
noticed that the 'body' was now facing the other direction.
And in the planter box on the patio there were some little chicks.
She wasn't dead, she was a mommy. All that time sitting still
she must have been warming the eggs or conserving her energy.
Ivan was just happy that he didn't have to dispose of a dead animal.
And we were all happy to hear that Ivan had become a 'daddy' (an
adoptive one, I guess).
03.01.2005 "Return to
Celebrities"
Brent decided he wanted to
go to Celebrities for his birthday celebration. None of us
except Ivan and Sheldon had been there since it was renovated and
re-opened after its long, dormant period of about 5 years. All
of us (except Robin) used to be regulars there. We remembered
the lay-out, the crazy patrons, the theme nights and of course the
music (who could forget Size 9, Faithless, Blackbox, etc). I
had heard rave reviews on the tasteful decor and the beautiful
people. So, I was looking forward to returning there and
enjoying it with my friends.
I'd have to say the best part
about the evening was being with my friends. Celebrities just
served as a backdrop for our interactions. The club was
definitely nicer inside than I remember, but the music was mediocre
and the crowd was, well - it was a crowd. Did I expect to go
back and experience all the excitement and fun I used to have when I
went there, years back? No, not really. I don't know
what I was expecting. But I definitely know that I won't be
going to Celebrities every weekend like I used to. It's just a
place that I used to go to, and I don't feel the compelling need to
return over and over again.
02.28.2005 "Coffee and Water,
Together Again"
A truck drove past me
today on my way to work in Yaletown. The logo painted on the
side caught my eye. It was the Canadian Springs logo, but
instead of the blue and green tones (to remind you of cool,
refreshing glacial waters) there were brown and beiges. And
the truck itself was brown, not the usual white.
On the side of the truck there was
some copyright, talking about the new Canadian Springs coffee
refreshment, "the new perc" or something like that. I don't
know. A water company now making coffee? It just has the
connotation of watered down coffee for me. Not too appealing
in my opinion.
02.25.2005 "Once You See It, You
Can't Un-See It"
I was reading the
Vancouver Sun on-line and they had this article about some pervert
pedophile leaving obscene letters and drawings all over the city
(like at bus shelters, in parks, etc). In the article there
were links to some of these samples - the police were hoping to get
the public's help in identifying the offender. There were
clear warnings about the content and that it might be offensive to
some readers. I was just about to click on the links when I
stopped and asked myself: do I really need to see this? Do I
really need to get into this person's mind?
Once you see things, you can't
necessarily un-see them or forget them. I decided that I
didn't need that potential trauma, and left the links untouched.
02.24.2005 "Life As a Bollywood
Film"
Okay, I haven't seen many
Bollywood films. But I did see a premiere of a Bollywood-crossover
film,
"Bride and
Prejudice" last night. And I loved it! Aly got free
passes so he took myself, Ivan and Robin. The women are so
incredibly beautiful in it, and I always dig the singing and dancing
in films (if done well). But the main thing that jumped off
the screen for me was the colour, culture and celebration. It
made me think that North American 'culture' seems to limp and bland
in comparison. There don't really seem to be those traditional
expressions that are passed down through the generations. And
as the movie points out, family is still the root of our identities.
Now I feel like buying some bangra
music, wearing some orange or yellow flowing garments, and letting
my spirit soar. Oh, who am I kidding? I'll go to
Celebrities and dance this weekend. That's my dose of culture
right there....
02.23.2005 "I Miss London
Drugs"
A new Shoppers Drug Mart
opened a couple of months ago in Yaletown. It's so clean and
new, and the Beauty Bar is amazing. I often go there on my way
home from work and pick up the household essentials. But last
night I needed to go to London Drugs to pick up the LD brand of
Claritin (for about half the price). While I was there, I
picked up a few other things (hair gel, paper towels, Triscuits,
etc). I found myself going up and down each aisle. It
was so familiar and I loved it. I appreciate how everything
has been laid out (so intuitive, no searching around) and I think
they still have the best prices for most things. I think I'll
make a point of going there more often.
02.22.2005 "But I CAN Relate,
Remember?"
I've heard the
conversation a couple times lately. My friends will talk about
dating life, and they'll share their latest and often somewhat
negative experiences. It's always said with an aura of humour,
but we know that lately the experiences haven't been too positive.
It's a topic that I'm familiar with and can easily empathize with.
However, I'm almost anxiously anticipating someone telling me,
"Yeah, but you can't relate. You have a boyfriend."
Yes, I do have Robin now.
And it's great. But also remember that I have about 15 years
of adult dating experience under my belt. I've been there, I
know how it is. I just hope my friends continue to share their
stories and feelings about the dating world. I can relate, and
will always be happy to listen and talk.
02.18.2005 "Interpretive
Window Dance"
Yesterday Farshad and I
walked past the Scotia Academy of Dance on Davie Street. They
were having some awareness campaign to raise money, so there were
two women in the front window doing some interpretive dance.
One woman was dressed all in black and contorted her body while
holding a hair dryer. The other woman was in white/grey and
wore one of those full-face sun visors, and was interacting (without
touching) with the other woman.
We couldn't stop staring. It
was mesmerizing. Their movements were so precise and
calculated. Even though it didn't look particularly strenuous,
you knew that the controlled muscle movements took strength. I
enjoyed the brief segment that I saw, and I was glad that we can
find small snippets of art anywhere on our streets.
02.17.2005 "Nocturnal Word
Unscramble"
I awoke early this morning
(4:30am?) with a bit of a sore stomach, so it took me awhile to get
back to sleep. My mind was wandering, thinking about work and
other trivial things. Then I thought of the word scramble
puzzle that I was grappling with before I went to bed. I
couldn't get the last one: CPEMOOS. But then suddenly
there it was: Compose. Shortly after that, I fell back
asleep. Pretty crazy.
02.15.2005 "Body Alignment"
At my massage last week,
the masseuse commented on my shoulder tension. Normally I
wouldn't be surprised (because that's where I hold my stress) but
lately I haven't felt stressed out. She commented on the
(modest) high-heel on my boot, and told me it could very well be my
footwear that was creating the upper back tension. Really?
But then I started thinking: there
are so many things that we do in our lives that can just ever so
slightly throw our bodies out of alignment e.g. how we sleep, our
mattress quality, our footwear, our posture, exercise, sex, etc.
And then over time, your body tries to compensate for these slight
misalignments and then before you know it, you're an old person and
your body feels terrible. Very interesting indeed. But
we just got a new mattress and the masseuse gave me a posture check
(and ok'd it). So, maybe it's time for some new footwear and
new positions.....
02.14.2005 "Happy Valentine's Day"
I've never been a huge fan
of Valentine's Day, even when I'm in a stable relationship. It
just seems so contrived and there's so much pressure, and people set
themselves up for disappointment. There's more value in being
loving and giving throughout the year, instead of building up some
huge expectations for grandiose romantic gestures on one day of the
year.
So what am I doing this
Valentine's, you ask? Well, it will be Monday as usual.
I'll go home and my lovely partner will have dinner ready-made when
I walk in the door. I'll change into my lounge-wear and we'll
eat while watching "Six Feet Under". I'll clean-up the dishes,
then we'll retire to the bedroom at an early, decent hour and
"snuggle" for the rest of the night. A perfect evening, no
matter what day of the year it is.
02.13.2005 "Celebrating, CBC-Style"
My family is CBC
(Chinese-Born-Canadian) so we had our own modified Chinese New Year
celebration on the weekend. The immediate family went to dim
sum on Saturday. The highlight for me there was the Lo Bak Go
(who knew turnips could be so delicious?). As the elder, my
mother gave all the kids red envelopes (with $20 - sweet!) and a
chocolate rooster from Purdy's. But I told Robin that I'm
telling everyone that she got us chocolate cocks....
Then Saturday night we went to my
aunt's. We consumed noodles, duck, soya chicken, steamed buns
(pao) chicken feet, fried rice and mango pudding. Little Ella
was so adorable in her pink Chinese outfit, running around giving
everyone kisses and playing the piano (well, more like randomly
hitting the keys and singing). I went home with an extremely
full belly and a sense of appreciation that my family keeps our
traditions alive.
02.10.2005 "Driving Tunes"
I drove into work today
because I'm meeting Farshad after work. I was listening to
some old-school music (e.g. Bobby Brown's "My Prerogative", Rob
Bass' "It Takes 2", etc) and for some reason it just sounded so
crisp, so clear from my speakers. Suddenly I was transported
back in time - driving around in my first car after high school.
There was such a sense of freedom about finally having my own wheels
and listening to my own music. A total sense of liberation.
Now I have a different car, and
that sense of independence is still there. But I don't
necessarily acknowledge it (because it's not novel anymore).
However, this morning was different - I totally appreciated it.
And it made the drive into work much more pleasant.
02.09.2005 "Feel The Love!"
I haven't been watching
the "Amazing Race" season that just ended, but last night we watched the
finale at Brent's. There was this one couple (Kris and Jon?)
who were so incredibly positive and loving that you could just feel
the good vibes through the TV screen! Well, maybe they weren't
this supportive and google-eyed for each other for the entire
duration of the race. But from what I saw last night, they
just seemed to respectful and into each other. They were just
glowing. I loved it.
02.08.2005 "Out With the Old,
In With the Not-So-Old"
My brother's girlfriend
had all her clothes stolen in Mexico (poor Liz!). So I've been
giving her clothes from my wardrobe that I would normally donate.
I gave her a rather large bag over Christmas, and she's been able to
use some of them. Since I'm seeing her on Saturday, I decided
to go through my closet again. Lo and behold, I have another
shopping bag for her!
Then this morning, I tried on this
blue FCUK cardigan that I got about 3 years ago and I haven't worn
it much. I tried it on, and decided it didn't do anything for me.
So into the bag it went (along with the identical sweater that I
have in black). I started looking through my dresser for
something else to wear and I found a maroon mohair sweater that I
don't think I've ever worn? I bought it a couple of years ago
from Liquid (majorly on sale) then quickly regretted my decision
because I thought it seemed itchy. So, it's been sitting there
for a couple of years. But I'm wearing it today, and it feels
brand new (and more importantly, not itchy).
02.07.2005 "Hanging With My Boys"
Last Saturday I had one of
those amazing, relaxing days that I haven't had in ages. Robin
dropped me off at the skytrain on his way to work. I got off
at Stadium and walked to Brent's (Mark was already there). We
headed to Milestones' in Yaletown and had brunch. We went to
some comic shops (looking for the "Enemy of the State" Wolverine
series) then Brent drove us to Richmond. We scoped out Ikea,
Linens & Things, lighting stores, etc.
Then it was back downtown, and we
crashed at Brent's. We watched random TV and ordered pizza.
Before I knew it, Robin arrived at 10pm-ish and took me home.
A beautiful, sunny day spent with wonderful friends - no stress, no
conflict, no worries. It was lovely.
02.04.2005 "She Shoots, She
Scores!"
Oh, Jason. He cracks
me up. We haven't seen each other in awhile, but we can talk
about anything. He also bought me lunch which was much
appreciated. He also pays me compliments which might sound
corny to others, but I know he's being genuine.
Anyway, we're sitting in Yaletown
at Bistro Sakana and Jason points out the table behind us - Trevor
Linden and some other hot hockey player. After our meal, we
went and sat outside on the patio so Jason could have a smoke (just
on the other side of the glass door from the hockey table). As
we stood up to leave, Jason tells me, "Guess what - Trevor Linden
just checked you out!" Yeah, highly doubtful. I don't
really believe that! "Why wouldn't he? You're a beautiful
woman." Cheesy, cornball - whatever, I accepted the compliment.
02.03.2005 "Bo Kong Has Great
Noodles"
Jim and I went to Bo Kong
last night for dinner. I've only had their veggie dim sum, so
going there in the evening was a new adventure. It was
delicious. We had deep fried taro rolls, three-mushroom
congee, pan fried sticky rice, gluten balls with veggies and spinach
noodles. Our conversation reminded me of a condensed version
of our daily talks we used to have in the Motorola cafeteria: TV
shows we're watching ("Six Feet Under"), The Simpsons (of course),
our co-workers, cats, Jim's mild disdain for society, and movies.
We also touched on our feelings about life in general (Happy?
Content? Eh, take it or leave it?) and surprisingly we didn't talk
about our hair.....
At the end, we got almond cookies
(instead of fortune cookies, because they probably have animal fat
in them or something) and Jim picked up the bill (always a nice
treat!). We said good-bye and agreed to do this again in 2
months. We'll have to find another veggie establishment, but
I'm sure there will be plenty to talk about then....
02.02.2005 "It's a Love-Hate Thing"
It all started last week
over dinner at Circolo. Farshad mentioned that he 'hated
Robbie Williams'. Well, thank goodness Mark and Brent weren't
there or there would be dinner buns and marinara sauce flung around
the table in protest. Instead, I just commented, "I quite like
Robbie. He's sassy" or something quietly cheeky like that.
But then it got me thinking....
For everything I love or hate in
life, there's always going to be people out there that think the
exact opposite. Yes, taste is subjective. It's not a
startlingly new revelation for me. But come on - it brings me
to a stark example of this contrast. I absolutely can NOT
stand Ashlee Simpson. I think she has minimal talent, yet she
has hit singles, a reality-TV show, and she performs at the Orange
Bowl (even though she got booed).
But then it got me thinking again:
maybe her whole career is a set-up. Her reps all knew she had
minimal star-appeal but the whole SNL incident was staged just so
people would pay attention to her career (e.g. watch her show and
download her songs). I don't know - am I too eager to
subscribe to a conspiracy theory? I mean, how else can you
explain the fact that people are paying attention to her?
02.01.2005 "Pink is the Colour"
I was getting ready for
work this morning while talking on the phone with Robin. I was
just grabbing things from my closet without much thought. When
I finally glanced at myself in the mirror, I realized I was fully
decked-out in pink: belt, sweater, jacket. I'm not sure
exactly when this became the colour-scheme of many of my outfits.
But I remember a time when my laundry piles were very minimal:
blacks and darks. I like having colour in my wardrobe.
It's a welcome change.
01.31.2005 "Hollywood Diets"
Last night I was intrigued
by this show on MuchMore Music. It was about all the
celebrities and the various diets they follow to stay trim. It
was a tad unrealistic for us normal people because they all had
access to trainers and gyms for 2-4 hours a day, plus they had
personal chefs who prepared healthy meals for them whenever they
wanted. I think I do pretty well considering I have a desk
job. I stay away from the junk food for the most part and love
well-balanced meals. But how wonderful would that be?
Every day wake up at a reasonable hour, do some yoga or work out,
then come home to a delicious salad with chicken, then do some
socializing then get served a dinner of barbecued salmon and greens?
Well, it appeals to me.
01.30.2005 "Friendly Neighbour"
Lately I've been seeing
more and more of Miss Trevor. We'll make coffee dates and go
to the new Starbucks at Highgate, or he'll come over and visit with
Robin and me. We'll drink tea and have interesting discussions
e.g. about issues we're currently dealing with, difficult people in
our lives, etc. It's been really great. And it makes
sense that I see Trevor on a regular basis because he only lives
about 5 blocks away from us. When I lived on Cambie, I was
pretty geographically close to the majority of my friends. So
that's why I really appreciate having Trevor an arm's throw away
now.
01.29.2005 "Two Dates In Two
Hours"
On Saturday I made 2
afternoon dates, back-to-back. First I met Aly in North
Vancouver. We went to a new restaurant (Brown's) and I had a
delicious chicken baguette sandwich and healthy wild rice salad.
We hadn't seen each other since before New Year's, so we got all
caught up. I'm always so comfortable with Aly. He's so
easy to be with. I guess that's why I've been friends with him
since I was 15.
Then it was off to Commercial
Drive to get my hair cut. Before that I met up with Ivan at
Turks' Coffee House. He's been working on a movie set so I
haven't seen much of him (and we haven't been having our daily phone
calls either). We laughed and talked and then we hugged when
we went our separate ways. As usual, I felt warm and loved
after seeing Ivan as I headed up the Drive.
I had mentioned to Robin earlier
that day how my favourite fish in our tank is "the gentle and pretty
one". His response: yeah, it figures. He's just like
your friends. Agreed.
01.28.2005 "Death in the
Living Room"
Our new fish (Arlo the
Arawana) prefers live meals as opposed to canned fish food.
So, Robin feeds him crickets, mealworms and small feeder fish.
Sometimes when I'm watching TV, I hear a splashing noise. I
turn to see Arlo curving around and making a sharp corner or
something and I know he's caught another meal. Right beside
me, there is death. In my living room. It's kind of
disturbing (but I don't give it too much thought).
01.27.2005 "Such Heavenly Smells"
Every morning on my walk
to work I always slow down at the corner of Mainland and Nelson.
This is because the Yaletown Market always has fresh baked goods and
coffee and you can smell it as you walk by. The other day I
was rounding the corner and I inhaled some even more aromatic
smells. I noticed that Subway had their door open, so I must
have been smelling their fresh-baked bread. It's a great way
to start off the day.
01.26.2005 "Dreaming of Carbs"
I don't subscribe to a
particular diet (e.g. Zone, Atkins, Fit for Life). However,
after many dietary investigations and experiments I have discovered
that lowering my carbs (but not eliminating them) makes me feel
better (less bloated, leaner). The only drawback is that I can
get quite 'wiggy' (spaced-out) and sometimes I don't feel really
full even though I've had a healthy serving of chicken and veggies.
Since the holiday season pig-out
fest, I thought it was time to start lowering the carb intake again.
I immediately felt better about myself, and I swear my clothes were
fitting a bit looser. However, I started to dream about eating
big bowls of pasta or fresh bread. It was pretty crazy.
And last night Brent and I did Dine Out Vancouver at Kingston and I
ordered the salmon and shrimp linguine and chocolate cake. It
was heaven. But then I swear all night I felt buzzed from all
the complex carbs and sugar. It was crazy, but worth it.
01.25.2005 "Queen For a Night"
Last Friday Marnie took
Brent and I out for dinner (a very classy thank-you gesture for
taking care of Holly while Marnie was in Toronto). We did Dine
Out Vancouver and went to Five Sails at Pan Pacific. As Brent
and I got out of the elevator at the 5th floor, we noticed the
"Truckers Loggers Association" was having a convention in the Cafe
Pacifica rotunda. It looked like a black tie affair. We
met Marnie for drinks at the bar and I noticed martinis were $13 -
not my average establishment.
After the hostess lead us at our
window-view table, we all commented how graceful she was. She
seated us and laid out our napkins all in one fluid gesture.
The service was impeccable, the food was delectable (lobster bisque,
roast lamb, creme brulee), the view was spectacular. When we
left, we noticed that the truckers were having an authentic-style
auction (with a fast-talking auctioneer) and it appeared that
somebody bought a jacket for $21,000. Did we hear that
correctly? Way out of my league. But it was so decadent
to be treated like a queen for the night.
01.24.2005 "How's Your Slang?"
I couldn't help but peek
at the young, Asian woman's paperwork beside me on the skytrain this
morning. She was studying something and the title was "How's
Your Slang?". I assume she was ESL and she was studying an
English exercise because the sheet had such translation phrases as,
"All that" and "Airhead" and "We need some more drinkage." For
example: "She thinks she's all that and more." I had to laugh
to myself. It just all seemed so ridiculous yet relevant if
you want to navigate through conversations around here.
01.21.2005 "Health is So
Important"
I had a cold last week and
I hated how it made me feel. Now that I'm germ-free this week
it really makes me appreciate my health. I'm fortunate in that
I only get ill once or twice a year (not including hay fever!).
I know some people who always seem to be battling a bug or cold
every month or so.
I had my annual check-up with my
doctor this week and everything seems in order. I'm used to
hearing that but this time I was really happy to get a clean bill of
health. I realized that there are so many diseases and
ailments and conditions that could possibly strike at any time.
We can do things to try and prevent them, but we're really quite
vulnerable if you think about it.
01.20.2005 "Invitation for Your
Eyes"
As I was sitting on the
skytrain this morning, a young woman was standing near me and her
shoulder-bag was close to my face. I noticed that she had half
a dozen pins on her bag. I glanced at them, but then looked
away. I didn't think I should stare. But then I thought:
hey, if she's taken the time to select these pins for their social
commentary then stick them on to her bag, then they are an
expression of how she feels/thinks and they're really an invitation
to be read.
So, I didn't feel so bad for
staring. I saw, "My cat is a dyke", "War is not the answer,"
Defeat Bush", "Lick Bush" (I actually thought the last one was kind
of clever). Then I quickly took a glance at the owner: she was
twenty-something with shaggy blue hair and 3 nose rings. I
wasn't terribly surprised.
01.19.2005 "North Vancouver
Unpleasantness"
This morning I went to my
doctor's appointment in Deep Cove. However, the parkway was
closed due to mud slides and broken water mains. Heading back
downtown to work took awhile. Traffic detours and volume added
a significant time to my commute. I walked into the office
around 12:30pm.
But I arrived just in time for my
scheduled massage. I thought it was well-deserved.
01.18.2005 "What Dreams May
Come True"
One of our tenants (a
lovely South American lady) stopped me in the laundry room the other
day. She told me that she had had a dream about me recently.
"I dreamt you were expecting!" she told me. Then she made a
motion with her hand in front of her belly. "You were so big
and lovely." Now I had the image in my head.
"So, you make my dream come true
one of these days, huh?" she smiled and patted my arm.
Wouldn't it be eerie if it were true....
01.17.2005 "Speaking Without Words"
On the skytrain this
morning, I noticed 2 men doing sign-language with each other.
Whenever I see this, I'm always intrigued and often stare a bit.
Since I'm so used to communicating with words, I find it so amazing
that people can communicate other ways (like sign-language, braille,
etc). And every language has its nuances and focuses (e.g.
like the Inuits have 30+ words to describe snow) - I wonder what the
particulars and 'limitations' of sign-language are?
I spoke to someone when he was a
trader on the New York stock exchange back in the 1990s. He
told me about their special brand of sign-language in the trading
pit. Talking with your hands combined with the frenetic pace
of the market activities - that would be quite a work-out, I
imagine.
01.14.2005 "Such Perfect Timing"
I finally drove to work
yesterday after a week of taking the bus. I had a bad
experience driving on icy roads last year, and it has made me
cautious about driving in the winter now. As I was heading on
to the Cambie Bridge (going to Clubhouse for dinner with Farshad), I
noticed that my headlights weren't working. It was 5:50pm and
my mechanic on Main and 6th would be closing in 10 minutes. I
quickly called him and asked if I could stop by. I got there
within 2 minutes.
It turned out that I had 2 burnt
out bulbs. Alfred replaced them and I was on my way by 5:58pm.
Then I was off to the restaurant. Such perfect timing.
01.12.2005 "Living In a Fish
Bowl"
I'm sure many people
scoffed at the news of the recent Brad Pitt-Jennifer Aniston
break-up. Just another celebrity couple calling it quits after
a few years of marriage. But for whatever reason, I felt sad.
I don't know the full details (and no one will ever know the truth
amongst all the tabloid garbage floating around), but I feel really
sorry for them. Maintaining a relationship is difficult enough
without the whole world watching your every move, every haircut,
every pound gained or lost, etc.
Many people feel that celebrities
'deserve what they get' (i.e. the attention) once they have fame.
But I can't think of anything more horrible (the fact that you can't
turn it off once you have it).
01.11.2005 "Thanks for the
Kind Words"
I've received such kind
words and condolences from my friends regarding my journal entry for
January 10. Losing anything important in life is difficult.
Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and support.
01.10.2005 "Always When You
Least Expect It"
Today's journal entry is a
bit special, and it's a bit longer than usual. So, I've
created its own page. To read more, please go
here.
01.07.2005 "The Healing
Industry"
Anyone I've ever met who
works in the 'healing' industry is always calm and relaxed.
I'm talking about yoga instructors, massage therapists, etc. as
opposed to medical doctors. In general, they just seem so
grounded and their calmness just radiates outwards. As soon as
I'm in their presence, I feel relaxed as well. But maybe they
just have to be that way, to deal with their over-stressed clients
and customers? Or maybe they go home and become rage-aholics
with their families? No, somehow I doubt that latter point.
01.06.2005 "Let it Snow!
Let it Snow! Let it Snow!"
Vancouver had its first
winter snowfall this morning. I decided to not drive to the
skytrain station and instead bus it to Metrotown. I was amazed
at how busy Kingsway was. People were grumbling how the bus
was delayed (I was fortunate, and caught one as I ran to the bus
stop), and everyone in their cars looked agitated and tense.
However, I was able to sit back and relax and enjoy all the pretty
white stuff that was falling from above.
Now that I don't have to drive to
work, I know what Brent and Ivan are talking about when they say:
"Let it snow! We love it! It's beautiful!" I'm
looking forward to staying in on Friday night while the rest of the
world turns white. Bring it on!
01.05.2005 "Eagle Watching"
I've always wanted to go
up to Brackendale and watch the influx of bald eagles during the
winter (see
here for more info). However, it always seems to fall off
my radar and then I miss it. Last year, Robin and I went up in
the early spring - we had missed it by a month. But this year
my goal is to make it up there. A recent article said
there were 2,000 eagles spotted (but that's still lower than the
average 3,400 that are spotted). I'm sure it's amazing.
01.04.2005 "Welcome Baby New
Year 2005!"
Oh, bizarre. I just
typed '2005' for the first time this year. Scary business!
Ok, so I just had a beautiful, magical 10 days off in a row!
What did I do? Well, I attended many family functions (I
basically have 2 families now) and ate so much food. I helped
renovate a kitchen (ours), and hung out with friends who were
visiting or leaving town (Peter, Henry, Dave, etc). I also had
some glorious relaxation time (naps in the middle of the day, waking
up when my body felt like it - no alarms necessary). And of
course, quality time with my sweetie (making soups, putting up shelf
paper, watching movies).
January and September always feel
like re-invention times for me. I know many people make their
resolutions at this time of year, but I try to avoid such cliches.
Oh, who am I kidding. I resolve to improve myself as well.
I've already started getting the eating habits back on track (less
carbs, less crap) but I also want to continue focusing my energies
on positive thoughts. I want to avoid becoming impatient and
irritated by other people's behaviours. I want to be more at
peace with things and let them roll off me more easily. Easier
said than done. But hey - I can at least spend January trying.
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