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9.28.2005  "According to Consumer Reports, I Am Mature"
Today, I am 34 years old.  Wow.  Yes, just a number.  But I'm almost halfway through my 30s.  Who knew that time would actually accelerate as we got older? 

Trevor bought me an amazing foaming cleanser for my birthday (how on earth did he know that I totally wanted it??!!  ;-)  It's wonderful - so creamy and gentle and rich.  He told me that there were many different lines to choose from.  While he was pondering the different products, the woman behind the counter asked him: how old is she?  When Trevor told her my age, she instantly grabbed this particular bottle and told him, "This one is for her." 

Well, I read the label insert yesterday.  It's for "mature" skin.  Mature?  What the hell is the label going to say when I buy a foaming cleanser when I'm in my 60s?  Crazy.

09.26.2005  "Robin Is Right - I Am Spoiled"
Robin always teases me that he spoils me with attention and kisses, and I always deny it.  But I think he's right in a way.  I am spoiled - I have such wonderful, giving, fantastic friends (*and yes - Robin does spoil me too in the affection department*).

Saturday we decided to have a small gathering with my closest friends to acknowledge my 34th year.  It turned out to be one of the best birthday celebrations I've ever had.  It was a "Children's Birthday Party Meets Adult House Party" theme.  We started early (around 4pm) and there were plenty of grown-up drinks and food (pineapple salsa, lentil loaf, pita chips, pasta salad, cheese and crackers, French cookies, bruschetta, and Chris' tuna sashimi served on a bed of lettuce, seaweed and wasabi rice deserves special mention).

The early-arrivers participated in a backyard croquette match (or 'cro-gay' as we decided to call it.  And Mark was the winner - how fitting ;-).  Then we moved it inside when DJ Abasi showed up with his turntables and early-mid 90s club music as per my request (Sandy B, Sunscreem, Nightcrawlers, Pet Shop Boys, etc).  My birthday cake was an event.  It was homemade by Farshad with fresh raspberries and kiwi fruit.  The finishing touches included a musical candle ("Happy Birthday To You!") and flashing LED lights displaying my age.

When I opened my gifts, I was flattered with the generosity.  I received gift certificates galore (Absolute Spa, Bedo, MEC, Blue Ruby) and other goodies (soap, wine, facial cleanser, Karaoke Revolution 3, and of course the panty-rose flower that Jessica brought - and I've only met her once!).

From every corner in every room, you could hear laughter.  I would be in the kitchen having a fabulous conversation over the Tex-Mex dip and I would hear loud laughs from the living room.  I wanted to be everywhere at once, participating in every interesting and hilarious conversation!

Then later in the evening we decided to play some kids' games with an adult twist.  "Pin the Tail On the Donkey" became "Pin the Tail On the Dong" and "Pass the Present" revealed a dirty surprise (I hope Sheldon ends up re-gifting and giving to his mother for Christmas like he said).  And for the late-night troopers, we had a Karaoke Revolution tournament.

When it was time to go, clean-up was a snap.  Trevor and Chris scoured the kitchen and Farshad and crew packed up their gear.  By the time everyone left, it was about 1:30am.  We were exhausted, but happy and full of food.  When I called the next day to say my 'thank-you's', everyone said the same thing: it was so nice to finally put names to faces, they had a wonderful time, and thanks for having them.  Imagine that.  They were thanking me for having them.

No, no.  Thanks to my friends.  They are a wonderful, outstanding, special people.  And I love them all dearly.   And you can see photos here.

09.22.2005  "Novelty License Plates, Minnie Mouse Ears, and Monogrammed Toques"
I know it's not just me, but whenever I see a rack of those miniature, novelty license plates with people's names (e.g. Darlene, Jack, etc) I always stop and take a quick look to check if my name is there.  Of course I've yet to see my name there (since 'Rena' is not a popular name in North America - now go to Greece or Turkey and it's a different story I've been told).  Even though I know the common names dominate, I'm always a little disappointed not to see my name nestled between 'Rachel' and 'Renee'.  I guess you can say I've always been a little obsessed with seeing my name in writing (and correcting people when they call me "Reena" - oh, makes me cringe!).

Apparently when I was born, my Uncle Howie got me a gold locket with my name engraved in it.  My mother quickly pointed out that it had been spelled incorrectly and had my uncle take it back to the jeweler.  I still have that necklace (somewhere), with "RENA" in bold all-caps.  I wonder how it had been misspelled?

When Bobby from Motorola went to Disneyland, he asked if I wanted anything.  I told him to get me a pair of Minnie Mouse ears with my name stitched on the back.  Two weeks later I walked into my cube and saw a pink and black hat sitting on my chair, with "Rena" displayed in flowing, yellow thread on the back.  I wonder how many times they had written that name down in California?

For my 30th birthday, I bought a little rhinestone "R" to wear around my neck.  I also bought Trevor a matching "T".  Since then I've purchased 1 more (and Robin has given me one as a gift) plus I purchased an "R" ring and pin.  Sometimes strangers will ask what the "R" stands for (as they make friendly chatter).  I challenge them that they'll "never guess it."  Sure enough, no one has guessed it since.  Also, since I've started dating Robin, numerous people ask, "So, is the 'R' for 'Rena' or 'Robin'?".  Rena was first.  It stands for Rena.

A couple of Christmases ago Robin bought me a pair of red and white boy-pants underwear from Bang-On and got an 'R' decal on the front.  But no one really sees them.  He also bought me a baby-blue toque with an italic 'R' stitched on the front!  So cool!  He got it from Roots.  But it still made me feel special since I'm pretty sure the other people wearing the same toque as me didn't have a special attachment to the initial on their head.

Anyway, so there you have it.  I'm contemplating for my third tattoo getting something related to my name engraved on my body.  Whether it's an initial or in another language hasn't been decided yet (and as I said I'm still contemplating the whole thing).  What is it with me and my name?  I guess I'm  a little 'proud' that my name isn't one of those common names (I have yet to meet another "Rena" - same spelling) and I feel unique.  But if I go through with the tattoo, I'll have to ensure that the artist spells it correctly, or else that'll be a disaster.....

09.21.2005  "Such a Gross Feeling"
This morning I took some garbage out to the containers.  As I lifted the lid, I noticed a large, brown slug resting near one of the handles.  Oh, gross.  Then as I was leaving for work, I noticed the trucks had already come so I went to grab the empty containers and carry them back to our yard.  But I remembered the slug and made sure that I inspected the lids and handles.  Nothing.

Then when I grabbed the container, my fingers under the lip of the edge, what do I feel - something cold and squishy.  OMG, it was the slug nestled up in the ledge. <shudder>

09.19.2005  "Those Dating Days"
This weekend reminded me of those days when Robin and I were 'just' dating (i.e. not common-law spouses).  Friday night I went out with Aly for our joint-birthday dinner.  We went to Feenie's and had drinks and ate up a storm (well, I did).  As an aside, their sauteed wild mushrooms and tuna tartar are out of this world!  And beware of the poutine - the serving is enormous!  Meanwhile, Robin had some friends over for beers and video games.

Saturday Robin and I hung out with my mother (she took us for brunch at her local pub).  Then that evening we decided to stay in.  I whipped up a salad with the leftover Feenie's duck confit, and made some pasta.  Then Sunday we went for a long bike ride (to Coal Harbour to visit my mother, aunt and cousin at the baby fair) and made BBQ for dinner.

So, yeah - just like the dating days.  I went out Friday evening (and all the days of the week prior) then stayed in with my boyfriend the rest of the weekend.  And not like the honeymoon is over, but I pretty much pestered Robin for maximum 'snuggle' time this weekend (morning, noon, evening).  Yep, just like the dating days.

09.16.2005  "Poetry in Motion 3: Finding Me"
On a rainy Friday afternoon, I offer some more poetry-on-the-fly:

I'm walking the streets
Of my neighbourhood.
"I need some fresh air"
Reads the note that I left.

The moon is out,
The air is cool.
Walking and thinking,
Thinking and walking.

I walk in circles,
Through cul-de-sacs.
But each step I take
Brings me closer to me.

I find a bench
In a friendly park.
I sit and enjoy
The goldfish pond.

I look up at the sky,
The twinkling lights.
Compared to the vastness
I feel very small.

But it's me sitting here,
The ground under my feet.
I wiggle my toes
And run a hand through my hair.

I feel alone in this world,
No one to catch me.
But that's okay,
I have found strength in myself.

-Rena Yung, 2005

09.15.2005  "Bad Behaviour On the Picket Lines"
The downtown core seems like a sea of sandwich boards at certain blocks.  Okay, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration.  But with both Telus and CBC on strike (or locked-out might be the more appropriate term, as I read on their chests), there seems to be a healthy dose of picketers.  When I walk past, I smile and nod in acknowledgement.  To be honest, I'm not completely 100% up-to-speed on their situation. But obviously it's one full of conflict and failed negotiations and general unrest.  Not very pleasant for both sides, but I offer my sympathies to whoever is standing before me.

So yesterday, Brent told us about an unsettling scene he witnessed outside the Wall Center.  He noticed police officers standing around an open man-hole.  As an Asian gentleman (in hardhat and reflective vest) emerged from the man-hole, some Telus picketers ran over and started yelling and screaming:  "Scab!  Get out of here!" etc.  The man was visibly shaken (understandably so - who wants to be yelled at and verbally harassed while you're trying to work?).  But at least the police were there to protect him, threatening the aggressive mob to take them away.   How horrible that the picketers were being aggressive and intimidating.  That's bad behaviour, people.

Then, as we left Kingston last night, we walked past another group of Telus strikers (sorry, locked-out employees).  The majority were pleasant, offering us a "Good evening" nod.  However, there was one "sandwich-board artist" who was yelling over our heads, saying something like "Yeah, buddy, how'd you like it if we were picketing where you worked.  Huh?!!"  I was confused.  What the hell was going on?  Brent and Mark pointed out that the person exhibiting very bad behaviour was harassing a passing security guard.  Oh, geez!  C'mon people!  You're not going to drum up sympathy by acting like total asses!  Give me a break!  I realize I haven't walked a mile in their shoes, but please direct your aggressions to the appropriate channels and targets.

On that note, speaking of good behaviour: our favourite Kingston server Lien (that's pronounced "Lynn") got us a round of sour apple liqueur shots last night (on the house, of course).  We love Lien! She's the best!

09.14.2005  "Double-Take"
I was sitting on the skytrain this morning, looking out the window.  When I turned my head to look straight-ahead, I caught a glimpse of the plexiglass divider in front of me and expected to see my reflection there.  I saw an Asian woman with shoulder-length hair and wearing a pink shirt and glasses.  However after about 2-3 seconds I realized that it wasn't me.  It was the woman seated in front of me (who was also Asian, wearing glasses and pink).

It's very bizarre when we see what we think is our reflection, and it turns out to be someone else.  But really, how much time do we spend looking and seeing ourselves?  Not too much.  I guess it's not that strange that we sometimes don't recognize our own images.

09.13.2005  "Farmer B"
On Saturday, we drove out to Langley to visit Brent who was house-sitting his parents' ostrich farm.  We hung out in the sprawling backyard, played badminton, and chased the younglings (adolescent ostriches) around their pen.  Then we cooked up a kick-ass barbecue of Ennis Farm kebobs and garden-fresh potatoes and corn (so sweet!).  We finished the evening off with a campfire and roasted marshmallows. 

There was something about the fresh air, the view of the mountains, and the quietness that had a great calming effect.  I think I need to get out into the countryside more often.

09.09.2005  "Music Consultant"
Farshad brought a large list of vinyl EPs and albums to dinner last night.  He was going to see a woman who was selling her large and mainly 1980s record collection, and he asked for my help in identifying any 'cool' music that he should be grabbing e.g. old-skool hip-hop, fun funk, songs that have gained notoriety from being sampled, etc.  We perused the list while eating negi toro rolls and tuna nuggets.  I was very honoured to be his music consultant!

09.08.2005  "My Props"
Our sales manager recently visited one of our (large, high-profile) customers.  I had worked with 2 of their teams earlier this year.  He dropped by my desk to tell me that their divisional manager was very pleased with our consultant work, and mentioned my name in particular.  Then today at our internal, monthly meeting, he brought this to everyone's attention and thanked me personally.

I was flattered and pleased to be recognized.  It's amazing how a little recognition goes a long way.

09.07.2005  "An Inappropriately-Named Yet Delicious Burger"
Today Marie and I went to the Elbow Room for lunch (and some expected verbal abuse).  We both ordered the Princess burger (beef patty, camembert and feta cheese, bacon, avocado - so good!).  After that, our waitress referred to us as "Princess #1" and "Princess #2."  Now Marie is no princess (house renovation do-it-yourself fan, hardcore camper and kayaker) and I'm certainly no princess (you'll have to take my word for it).  So, I thought it was funny that we were labeled as such.  But damn, that was a delicious steamed ham!

09.04.2005  "A Cambie Street Nap and Outing"
For Sunday, Robin and I had bought tickets for the Lotus Long Weekend party being thrown by Farshad and crew.  At 4:00pm, we lay down for a nap in preparation for the late evening.  We woke up at 7:30pm.  It was absolutely glorious.  And it reminded me of the long, intense, deep naps that I used to take when I lived on Cambie Street (the kind I needed to prepare my body for the late night parties).  We ate dinner then headed out the door by 10:30pm and danced and partied until 2am.  Just like the old days.

09.02.2005  "The Scenery is Changing, But It's Still the Same (in a good way)"
Last night Robin and I met some of his friends for dinner and drinks.  That's not so unusual.  What made it different for me was it was down the street from us, in a pub in Burnaby.  I realize that I usually hang out downtown when meeting up with a large group (unless we have them over at our house).  It was totally refreshing to have a change of scenery.  And at the end of the evening we hopped in our car and were home in 5 minutes.  Just like old times when I lived on Cambie.  I think we need to do this more often.

09.01.2005  "Girl Power Seems Like an Understatement"
I read an article recently how a woman has invented a device to help combat the horrendously high number of rapes in Africa.  It's called the 'rapex.'  A woman wears it like a tampon.  It's latex-based and has many spiked hooks on it that will attach themselves to the skin of a penis and can only be removed via surgery.

When I read this, I felt a sense of empowerment.  It seems twisted that one would feel the need to invent such a device, but that's the world that we live in today.  You can bet that if I could not safely walk down the streets of my city without the constant fear of being sexually assaulted, then I would happily wear one of these devices.  I'm sure when men read about this device they will collectively grimace and protectively grab their crotches.  It reminds me of the urban legend (I think that's what it is?) of Vietnamese women hiding razor blades in their vaginas so they could 'surprise' the American soldiers.

But why should women (or anyone for that matter) do nothing if they live in constant fear of being victimized?  This rapex device may seem like a desperate measure.  But hey, we live in desperate times. 

08.31.2005  "Lyrics + Melodies + Memories = Why I Like Songs"
I happened to catch the Smashing Pumpkins' video for "1979" this morning while eating breakfast.  I love that song.  I'm not a huge Pumpkins' fan, but that song ranks high on my favourites list.  Since the closed caption was on the TV, I was able to read the lyrics.  I found them to be a little, well, not what I expected, I guess.  For example:

"And I don't even care to shake these zipper blues
And we don't know
Just where our bones will rest
To dust I guess...."

"We feel the pull in the land of a thousand guilts
And poured cement, lamented and assured
To the lights and towns below...."

I do like the lyrics.  It's poetry.  But I realized that I've loved this song all along but never really knew what Billy Corgan was saying.  The song seemed to instill a feeling of nostalgia and lost youth that tugged at my heartstrings, and I also love the melody and beat.  So, I felt a bit 'shallow' this morning, realizing that I can love a song but not really be familiar with the words, the lyrics.  And they are often the meat and potatoes of a song (and I even write short stories and poetry - c'mon, words should be what I'm looking for in songs!)

But that's not entirely true.  I find songs trigger extremely strong emotions and memories (often associated with a certain time in our lives, a certain person, etc).  So sometimes it doesn't really matter what the artist is 'saying.'  It's how the song makes you feel.

08.30.2005  "Kudos to Marnie!"
I would love to post Marnie's latest advice e-mail to me (I had requested her input on a situation).  However, it's just a little too personal to share with the world.  I will say this: it gave me such relief to be validated and reassured.  And I will share one excerpt that made me laugh:

>You do not need therapy. You are one of the most stable and well put
together people I know. If you go to therapy, there's no hope for the
rest of us! That means 30.9 of the 31 million people in Canada would
also then have to go into therapy if you're setting the standard for
therapy material.
 

*Note that she's not putting down therapy per se.  She's making a point.

Anyway.  God bless friends.  They are wonderful and supportive and can say just the right things to boost your confidence and help you through just about anything.  Thanks, Marnie.

08.29.2005  "Speaking of Bad Behaviour...."
l'm looking back at my 08.26.2005 entry and I'm wincing a little.  What kind of ideal world do I think I live in where we can all just ignore it when people are behaving badly?  I've always prided myself on 'rising above it' and brushing aside people's shitty comments or behaviour ("Those poor sods, let them wallow in their own ignorance" I think to myself).  And lately I've been following Brent's mantra: "It's not my problem."

That can work some of the time.  But, when the bad behaviour is directed at you, I realize sometimes it's better to be a 'fighting bitch' and claw back.  Be aware that I'm not condoning adolescent name-calling and ineffective bitch-slapping.  What I'm saying is sometimes being the cool-headed individual (as appealing as that may be) is not the appropriate response.  Some things are worth fighting for.  And sometimes you need to get the point across that "Hey, your behaviour will not be tolerated."

Who likes conflict?  I certainly don't.  But as Kyira so wisely pointed out to me recently: if there is a situation full of conflict, then trying to make everyone happy and smooth everything over is not a very appropriate response.  As admirable as it sounds  ("Why can't we all get along?  C'mon guys!"), it probably won't work.  Sometimes the conflict needs to be handled full-on. 

That said, I think it's time I brought out my boxing gloves.  And if you think I'm the one behaving badly, then maybe we should go step outside for a minute.... 

08.27.2005  "Take Me Out to the (4.5 Hour) Ballgame"
Saturday was fun.  We got tickets to a Canadians baseball game at Nat Bailey Stadium.  We knew it would be all beer and ballpark food, and that's pretty much what it was.  What we weren't quite prepared for was the 14 innings (5 more than usual) as the teams kept tying up the scores.  We certainly got our money's worth.  Highlights were my chili dog, nachos and mini-donuts, Robin purchasing one of those plastic horns and wreaking happy, drunken havoc on the people sitting near us, and the fantastic fireworks show at the end (accompanied by the Victoria symphony orchestra).

I think next year we should make a trek to Seattle's Safeco stadium and watch the Mariners play.  I think we're ready for the big leagues.

08.26.2005  "I Am Guilty of My Own Bad Behaviour"
I, like most people, find certain behaviour in other people to be deplorable.  Okay, maybe I'm being over-dramatic.  That is to say, I'll identify certain behaviour in other people that makes my skin crawl or gets my claws out.  You know  what I'm talking about.

One thing that bothers me is when people can't possibly see things from another angle, another point of view.  We are all different.  We all have different opinions, different preferences, different reasons for making the choices we make, different genetic make-up, etc.  Therefore, we will all think and act differently.  After attending Al-Anon meetings (for Friends and Family), one thing I've learned is that you have to accept that we are all unique and we can not change people.  They are who they are going to be, and this realization is a major key to inner happiness.  I constantly remind others of this whenever differing opinions or behaviour judgments are revealed.

So that brings me to my point of the day.  For a grey-minded, fence-sitter Libra, I do actually have some strong opinions about certain things.  And often these opinions are formed when I try to imagine myself in that person's shoes e.g. a co-worker tells me how her boyfriend cheated on her with over a dozen other women during the course of their 5-year relationship and ended up giving her an STD, so I think, "Hmmm, how would I feel/react if I were her?"

Now, if my co-worker adopts a 'doormat-like' posture and says she harbours no ill-feelings towards her boyfriend (hopefully 'ex' at this point), then I get angry.  I get annoyed.  At her.  The reason?  Why isn't she fighting mad?  Why isn't she giving him what-for?  Why isn't she exacting some kind of delicious (yet non-traceable) revenge and then moving up and on in life?  Because, that's what I would do, you better believe it!

And that is where I contradict myself.  My co-worker's reactions and feelings are her own.  Even though I want her to retaliate and spit and fight, she will not do what I want her to do.   Sigh.  I am guilty of my own bad behaviour.  I am not letting her be who she is, and worse yet I am letting it get to me and I'm getting myself worked up.  I need to let that go.  And once I do, I will definitely feel lighter.

Hmmm, I think it's time I attended another of those Al-Anon meetings.....

08.25.2005  "Cry Me a River"
I rarely cry at movies or TV shows.  I'm tempted to say 'never' but that's not exactly true.  I bawled like a baby when I watched "Snoopy Come Home."  But then I was like 8 years old - "Snoopy, go home to Charlie Brown!  He loves and misses you!"  Then I remember crying right at the end of "Driving Miss Daisy."  As I watched Morgan Freeman's character feed a now-hospitalized Miss Daisy, I was startled at the realization that hot tears were seeping from my eyes.  And I think I might have gotten a little moist-eyed after watching "The Color Purple."

But seriously, that's it.  I've seen some heavy-hitters, and I was still dry-eyed at the end e.g. "Fried Green Tomatoes", "Beaches", "Titanic", etc.  So, rewind to last night.  I was reading in bed and Robin was watching "Brat Camp."  He was quietly crying away (I'm sure he won't mind me printing that) while I was getting annoyed at the show ("Oh, stop whining you stupid, little criminals!").  Then the phone rings.  It's Mark asking for Robin, and I can hear him sniffling into the receiver because he's watching the same program (again, I don't think he'll mind that I printed that).  It was really sweet.  But I just couldn't relate?

I can really get into movies and books and TV shows.  I can be deeply moved and disturbed by what I see and read.  But I'm still dry-eyed at the end.   I would think that my reactions might be a bit more than what they are during a sad film?  I'm not going to lose sleep about this one.  In fact, I think it's kind of funny.  Maybe I should watch "Snoopy Come Home" again, and see if there's a dry eye in the house afterwards.

08.24.2005  "Veggie Dictators?"
Another random thought today: I wonder how many dictators (past and present) are vegetarians, or even vegans?  I'm thinking of the stereotypical, manic, power-wielding type of dictator.  These are traits that I don't often associate with vegetarians.  Of course I'm making broad, general assumptions here.  But I'd still be curious.

08.23.2005  "Bike Power!"
Today I biked from home (in Burnaby) to work (in Yaletown).  It took about an hour.  The temperature was perfect (not hot at all) and it was a bit of an adventure because I chose to travel on some new routes.  I was glad to see so many cyclists on the paths (mostly in Vancouver).

The plan is for Robin to meet me after work.  We'll get dinner then bike home (uphill) together.  I'm looking forward to it!  What a great way to stay in shape.  I hope the weather holds up for a bit longer so I can continue to do this into the fall......

08.22.2005  "In the Harshest Place on Earth, Love Finds a Way...."
This is the tagline for the movie "March of the Penguins" which I saw recently.  It is a documentary about the remarkable journey that emperor penguins make each year in order to propagate their species.  I won't give away too many details, but I found the movie mesmerizing and heart-breaking.  Some of the images were haunting and stayed with me for days.

I think we (the human race) can learn a great deal from the other animal species.  They are in-tune with their environment and instincts; they just seem to 'know' certain things.  I think we've buried our senses in technology and over-analysis to the point where we don't listen to our hearts.  Needless to say, when I got home I made sure I gave my 'penguin' a hug.  I'm glad I found him.

08.19.2005  "I Heart My Thoughtful, Handy-Man"
I came home last night and the stereo was blaring and there was plastic wrap strewn about the entrance.  I found Robin in the kitchen, enjoying a slurpee.  He was seated by the backdoor holding some tools.  He had decided to put bug screen on the back porch door to let in more fresh air to increase the airflow in our house.  What a sweetheart!

Then I suggested that we take some of the leftover screen mesh and use it to patch the front porch door (because there are some holes in it and I'm always paranoid that mosquitoes will sneak in).  I was answered with a grin: "Already done!  I did that door first!"

What a doll!

08.18.2005  "I Can't Believe It's Chicken"
Oh, Farshad.  He cracks me up so much.  Tonight we decided to have a small, impromptu picnic in Yaletown.  We went to Urban Fare and picked up a roast chicken (yes, the whole thing), a garlic-ciabatta loaf, some borganzola cheese, some marinated mushrooms, mini-grapes, and Italian sodas.  We sat down on a grassy area and feasted away (while shooing away aggressive wasps and curious dogs).

At the end of the meal (nothing was left except for some grapes), Farshad picked up the picked-over chicken carcass and held it up.  "Oh my God, this used to be a chicken!" he waved it about dramatically.  "Holy fuck!" he remarked as he threw it back in the plastic container.  Oh, I laughed so hard.....

08.17.2005  "That's 'Ghost', Not 'Horse'"
Another bizarre, random thing that happened to me this morning.  I was on the skytrain, thinking about who I would haunt/visit if I was to die (this is such a typical thought for me).  At that exact moment, the train passed a giant billboard for Jennifer Love Hewitt's new TV series.  The title:  Ghost Whisperer.  Crazy timing!

08.16.2005  "The Gift of Bread"
Robin's aunt and uncle from Australia came over for breakfast Saturday morning.  They brought with them a bouquet of flowers and a beautiful loaf of green olive bread (from Terra Breads).  We decided to save the loaf since we had already purchased some harvest sunflower bread for the morning.

Since then, I think I've single-handedly devoured that entire olive loaf by myself (well, I think I gave Robin 1 piece over the weekend).  I love it.  I can't keep my hands off it.  Why, it might even more dangerous to me than my other carbohydrate nemesis: potato chips.  Yes, I'm a bread junkie.  I score my hits from Cobb's and Uprising Breads.  I think I may have a problem.

08.15.2005  "Serious Cyclists"
On Sunday, Robin and I biked to Mountain Equipment Co-op to be with the beautiful, fit people of the Lower Mainland (note I didn't say the 'other' beautiful, fit people  ;-).  After spending about  $200 between the two of us, we were fully outfitted for our 2-wheel rides.  Robin had new shorts, a new jersey, a new air pump and new bike lights.  I got a new micro-fibre top, a cycling skirt, and new bike lights.  Blink-blink.  We are officially serious cyclists now.  Watch out!

08.14.2005  "A Family that Flamencos Together, Stays Together"
Saturday evening was one of the best family outings I've had in ages.  Usually our family will just meet for dinner or go to my aunt's house for a visit, which is always nice.  However, last Saturday we met for Thai food at Salathai on Cambie then went next door to Kino where we braved the sweltering heat to watch flamenco dancing.  There I was, with Robin on my left, Uncle Howie and Auntie Jan and cousin Tammy across from me, and cousin David and my mother to my right.  And we were right by the stage, where we watched the performers dance and clap and sing with such passion.  It was great.  I wish we could manage to do this more often.

08.12.2005  "Boo to BMO!"
Okay, I lied yesterday when I said my rant was unimportant.  I will be venting a little in today's entry.  My topic today: how BMO (Bank of Montreal) has recently given me the *worst* customer service experience that I have had to endure in recent years.

Where to begin?  Robin and I want to make an appointment with a customer service rep at his branch to discuss his mortgage which is soon to become 'our mortgage.'  We want to open a joint account, discuss various options, etc.  On Tuesday, I found the branch number on the web and called.  After going through a menu (only 2 click-throughs, not too painful) I got a voice message saying all customer service reps were busy, please leave a detailed message, someone will contact you, blah.  You get the idea.  I left a message.  No response.

So, on Wednesday I called again, and pretty much left an identical message.  I'm always one to give the benefit of the doubt.  Who knows?  Maybe their voice messaging system was down?  Whatever.  Anyway, once again - no response.

Time to pull out the big guns.  Robin called Thursday and left a pretty aggressive message e.g. I have a mortgage through you guys, my girlfriend has left 2 messages which have gone unanswered, etc.  Needless to say, it worked.  Someone called our house and left a message.  I didn't hear it, but apparently they *did* get my 2 messages but didn't call back because they didn't think it was a residential line.  Say what?  I still need to get to the bottom of that.

Anyway, Robin called back and left a message requesting that they call us back the next day.  And right now it's afternoon the next day (Friday).  Still no message or response.  So guess what - I called AGAIN and left a message.  I was pretty straightforward this time e.g. demanding that someone call us back today, telling them that we've been trying 4 days now to set-up an appointment, etc.  We're going in tomorrow appointment or no appointment.  And I'll be asking for a manager.

This is hands-down the worst customer service experience I've had since the Telus/Shaw summer of 2003 (remember those phone waits were over an hour?).  Seriously, I'm more frustrated this time because I have yet to actually speak to someone!  Brent already gave me the skinny on Scotia Bank and I got some mortgage literature today from Canada Trust (which are both ranked far better in customer service than BMO, I've been told).  Robin and I will be discussing taking our mortgage somewhere else.  Maybe we can get some new patio furniture or a new BBQ for switching over?  Whatever we get, I'm sure it will be better service than what we've just experienced.

08.11.2005  "Nothing Comforting About It At All"
I was all ready to dedicate today's journal entry to a general rant (i.e. my latest pet peeves that are getting on my nerves).  But I got side-tracked (well, more like broad-sided) by the front-page article of the Metro.  It talked about the "Comfort Women" of WWII in Japan, seeking an apology at the very least for the pain and humiliations they had to endure.  I got half-way through the article which began to describe some of the horrific details of their ordeals when my heart started to race and I actually felt nauseated.

I was familiar with these poor women's experiences during the war, but to read about the details made me sick to my stomach.  I realize that countless other people have been victims of atrocities throughout history but this one struck me as being particularly powerful this morning.  The importance of my rant suddenly faded away.  My 'problems' now seemed so trivial and banal.  Unfortunately, I think this story is going to stick with me all day today.  But I'm thinking that's ok.  I'm glad I can still be affected by other people's pain, and I don't just watch/read the news with a heart of stone.  Even if I feel terrible all day today, at least I feel.

08.09.2005  "Peppermint Good Guys"
This morning I was in Yaletown Market and a pack of mints at the counter caught my eye.  They were called "Peppermint Good Guys" (or something like that) and printed on the tin container was a picture of Charlie Brown hugging Snoopy.  I tried searching for the exact image, but the closest I came to it is here.

There was something about the expressions on the characters' faces.  Charlie Brown looked so happy and sweet, not at all like the bald-headed weirdo that he's portrayed as in the Peanuts books that I read over and over as a child.  Then there was Snoopy with his eyes closed, so content to be held by his human and best friend (next to Woodstock I suppose) and not the usual bad-ass, greedy dog who would dance gigs of glee when he got things 'his way' (like a stolen kiss from Lucy, or dinner whenever he presented his empty dish held between his teeth).  Anyway, something about that image just stuck with me this morning, in a good way.  It made me feel warm and comforted for some reason.  Maybe it was a trip down memory lane with some familiar characters that I used to spend many hours with?

08.08.2005  "Whistler 2005!"
This year was our third consecutive year for our annual Whistler long weekend.  As usual, it came and went far too quickly.  Highlights were drunken Karaoke Revolution duets (although Mark and Brent must have been grinding their teeth after our third laughable attempt at "Under Pressure" - could I scream Freddy Mercury's high notes any louder?), swimming in that gorgeous pool, mountain biking around the beautiful trails, playing euchre (and I'm glad Mark and Brent are still speaking to each other), and of course the eating!

Well, today it's back to work. Back to the grind.  Back to the routine.  Oh, why are vacations so far and few between?

08.04.2005  "Conversations At Radha"
I know I've written before about my love for brilliant and interesting conversations.  Well, I had another one at Radha (a wonderful yoga and vegan eatery located near Chinatown) last week.  We talked about our families (dysfunctions, our 'in-laws', childhood neuroses), the grounding effect of attending Al-Anon meetings (to help us understand our loved ones), enjoying our lives in our 30s, the complications that can arise in polyamorous relationships, bondage workshops (and hearing about a certain double-jointed woman who could not be tied down), coping with the challenges of relationships (but knowing that love will prevail), and deciding we'd rather kill our partners than divorce them (that's an inside joke).  Ahhh, I left Main Street that afternoon feeling high on life and more in love with the power of words than ever before.  Thank you Kyira for a great afternoon.

08.01.2005  "Small Accomplishments Are Big"
The long weekend has come and gone.  I remember when there was a time when I would be double or triple booking each day to ensure that I got the best use of my time.  But as I look back on the past couple of days, I realize that I took the time to enjoy the moments and wasn't preoccupied with running off from one engagement to the next.

One of my favourite highlights was going blackberry picking near our house with Robin and Brent.  Then later gorging on a feast of deli treats (pumpkin fritters, potstickers, chicken wings) and berries and ice cream, then all drifting off (almost sleeping) on our backyard blanket.  The bike ride to Vancouver was really enjoyable too.

Then on Sunday the parade was nice, but as expected the highlight was the company.  After a lunch at Kingston we headed back home for a well-deserved nap.  Then it was off to the Chinatown night market where we had watermelon slushies with coconut jelly and walked amid the chaos of blaring Canto-pop and knock-off designer purses and endless belts and sunglasses.  

And today we had lunch with my mother in North Vancouver.  After a pleasant visit we headed home where we lounged some more on the backyard blanket and I did some reading and caught up with some phone calls.  I realized that many of my friends were lazing about as well, or just enjoying some quiet time.  There was no frantic running off and 'being at certain places at a certain time."  It was a very relaxing weekend, and I look forward to having many more in the future.

07.29.2005  "Published Pride"
I was very pleased this morning when I saw the front covers/features of the local free newspapers e.g. Metro, Terminal City, 24 Hours, etc.  The upcoming Gay Pride celebrations (and especially the parade) were featured predominantly in the papers.  It reminded me of gay week in Toronto, where the entire Lifestyles section of the local newspaper was dedicated to Pride information.  To me, it makes it more acceptable, accessible and valid.  All good things.

Of course I'm going to the parade this year.  I always do.  I've gone for the past 10 years, rain or shine.  This year the crew has grown, and we're going early to camp out with our lawn chairs.  I'm excited to show my support and wear my rainbow rings and be with my dear friends.  From the Dykes on Bikes to M.O.B. (Menopausal Old Bitches), I'll be there.  For some reason, I always get a little choked up when PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lebians And Gays) marches by.  And I cheer a little extra louder when the VPD (Vancouver Police Department) goes by.  And who knows for the future?  Hopefully in a couple of years I'll be there with baby in stroller, with a rainbow flag tied to the handle.  I'd like to continue the tradition for years to come.

07.28.2005  "Hot Prawn Air"
Another gross-out story.  This one involves a particular smell (and a hot smell, at that).  Along Hamilton Street there is a certain place on the sidewalk where hot air is being blown out from a vent (maybe from a restaurant?). And every time I walk by and smell it, I gag.  It smells like prawns or seafood in general.  That wouldn't be so bad, but the air gust is really hot and therefore stifling when I walk through it.  And in the summer weather, of course it's even more disgusting.  Now, combine that with the many surrounding dumpsters and dogshit in Yaletown.

Yes, welcome to my upscale 'hood where I work (with millionaire CEOs of high-tech companies, expensive clothing boutiques and French cafes).  It's a strange combination, that's for sure.

07.27.2005  "Transit Rage?"
I caught the skytrain home with a co-worker yesterday, and he mentioned he's seen some 'transit rage' incidents e.g. one guy had another guy in a headlock, angrily explaining that he had said 'excuse me' or something like that.  Crazy.

So, what happens this morning?  I get on the skytrain and see an available seat right near the door.  I walk in and sit down.  A woman walks past me and her purse hits my bag, and I tell her, "Oh, I'm sorry."  Her response (picture a 40+ woman, long grey hair and glasses, peasant skirt): "Yeah, right.  It's obvious you wanted that seat really badly."  Combine that with a quiet but sharp tone and glaring eyes.

My initial response: confusion.  What just happened?  I guess I didn't realize we were heading for the same seat.  I saw an empty seat and headed for it.  It's not like I body-checked her to get her out of the way.  She wasn't elderly or in dire-need of the seat, so I didn't really make a big deal out of it.  It's public transit - sometimes you get a seat, sometimes you don't. 

But then she stands 10 feet away from me and continues heckling me, repeating her remarks.  Typically when I'm confronted with this kind of behaviour, I get really flustered and confused, second-guessing my behaviour and reactions.  But this morning it was like something else took over, and I heard myself say (in a really cheeky tone), "Hey!  I didn't realize these seats were reserved!  Did you want MY seat?" (picture me with arms open and outstretched, emphasizing my point).

Her reaction: shake her head and moves down the skytrain cars away from me.  I didn't feel bad.  I was just dishing out back what she was dishing out to me.  Honestly, if she had approached me and said in a nice tone something like,  "Gee, we were both heading for this seat and I was really hoping to sit down" then I totally would have stood up and given her the seat.  No problem whatsoever.  But because she was bitter and angry and confrontational, I wasn't about to give her anything.  I truly believe in that old saying, "You can attract more bees with honey than with vinegar."  Corny, but true.  I respond way better to positive words and behaviours than aggressive, accusing ones.  That woman could seriously benefit to learn some life etiquette.  Then she'd be happier and the people around her would be happier too.

07.26.2005  "Summer Popsicles and Slurpees"
I love to eat popsicles and slurpees when the weather is warm.  There's something about sugary water in semi-frozen or frozen state that appeals to me.  I'm not a big Freezee fan, though.  I find them to be a little messy and awkward, especially when you get near the end of the plastic tube.  I enjoy ice cream treats (e.g. Drumsticks) but they seem to be heavy on the calories.  So, I only have them on special occasions.  And I also like Sno-Cones, but they're typically only found at the PNE and other similar functions. 

But I remember my brother telling me once about his friend who used to work at Mac's convenience store.  Apparently, the slurpee machines aren't necessarily cleaned on a regular basis and those machine tubes can get pretty nasty.  I'd rather not think about it while I'm making my tri-coloured icy creation in a cup.  How sweet would that be to have your own frozen treat machine in your house?  It would be very convenient and I could clean it as much as I wanted to.  Hmmmh, how decadent.

07.25.2005  "Lunches, Concerts, Bike Rides, Lanterns and Shopping"
I took Friday off as a vacation day, just because I felt like it.  So, I had a glorious 3-day weekend that was well-deserved.  I kicked it off Friday morning by heading down to Commercial Drive and having lunch with Shane and Ivan at Havana.  Then I went back home and worked out with Robin and started cooking dinner.  Mark arrived and we headed down to Deer Lake for the Black Eyed Peas concert.  The venue was amazing and the band delivered!  I can't remember the last time I went to an open-air concert (probably Area:One at UBC?).

Saturday Robin and I went on a long bike ride: from our place down to False Creek.  The weather was perfect and it was more relaxing than tiring.  We got home at dinnertime and got Thai take-out, then headed out to Trout Lake for Illuminaries with the crew.  While I was showering, Robin had made an adorable lantern out of a tin can.  He had carved a scene into it using a nail.  One gentleman even took a picture of our lantern because he thought it was pretty.  We walked around with the boys and ate mini-donuts and drank lemonade.  We watched the fireworks finale then headed back home.

Sunday was errand day, but we made it fun.  We went to Metrotown and took advantage of all the summer sales ($10 shorts at Old Navy!), then headed to a nursery and Rona.  I cleaned the house, washed my car, and made a delicious curried avocado potato salad and Robin barbecued steaks.  We ate while watching the last of my taped programs from Shark Week, then it was off to bed.

Now it's back to work.  But that's ok.  I feel rested and fulfilled.  And I have next week to look forward to - a whole week off.  Summer is a great time of the year.

07.21.2005  "Where Did the Pho Go?"
I was driving down Kingsway this morning.  When I neared the intersection at Victoria (I think), I looked to the south-west corner as I usually do.  For years there has been a Vietnamese restaurant with a humourous name for us non-Vietnamese individuals.  In a large, white sign you see the name, "Pho Btch Nga."  Many people in Vancouver can tell you about the sign, as they chuckle or laugh out loud at the totally non-P.C. pronunciation by us Westerners.

Anyway, this morning I was a little shocked (and somewhat disappointed) when I realized the sign was not there anymore.  It was replaced with another Vietnamese restaurant sign, but its name escapes me (it did not have the memorable qualities like the previous occupant).  Maybe someone complained, and the restaurant just changed its name?  Oh well.  It was kind of funny while it lasted.

07.20.2005  "The Perfect Gift"
For all those out there who know me well:  If you ever need a gift idea, you can get me some more time.  Life is just too full of unexplored opportunities and adventures, and we never have enough time to pursue everything that we want to explore.  There are always so many friends and family members that I would like to see more often.  Since when did hooking up once every 6 months, or chatting on the phone once a year or e-mailing each other once in a blue moon become the norm for many people that I used to keep in regular contact with?  It just seems to wrong, yet I'm thankful for the contacts that I keep.  And even though there are some people who seem to have fallen off my radar, they'll often be in my thoughts.  I'm not one who forgets things easily (in a good way).

Yes, of course I know I'm being unreasonable.  You can't gift-wrap time in a bottle with a big bow and give it to someone.  But it would be really cool if you could.

07.19.2005  "Video Helped the Radio Star"
Yesterday I was watching Much More Music while I ate my breakfast fruit and yogurt. The video for Gwen Stefani's "Cool" caught my eye.  I had never heard the song before, but I found the video very intriguing.  It had a nostalgic, lost-love feel to it that drew me in.  I realized as I was watching it that if I had heard the song on its own, I wouldn't really have thought much of it.  But the music went so well with the mini-tale of innocence and yearning that I quite liked the song.

And also yesterday I heard Koop's "Summer Sun" on my Yahoo radio station.  I was instantly drawn to the song with its retro, bouncy sounds and soothing lyrics.  I looked them up and stumbled across their video.  I was dazzled by the moving geometric designs and blending colours.  Now I love the song even more.  I don't think video killed the radio star at all.  Well, in these two cases at least, it's helped.

07.18.2005  "Stuffing Our Faces Chinese Banquet-Style"
My family got together on Saturday evening to celebrate my mom's and aunt's birthdays.  We went to the Flamingo on Cambie and 59th (a Chinese restaurant).  My cousin Tomi (who organized it) told us that she had to get her friend's dad to call the restaurant to make the reservation and select the dishes.  We joked that it was a good thing that we knew some 'real' Chinese people who could help us out.

One by one the dishes arrived.  There were 10 in total and they arrived pretty much one after the other, leaving just enough time in between for us to dish it out and savour it.  Finishing one, we then moved on to another.  Highlights were lobster, fried rice with duck, black bean halibut and this enormous baked tapioca dessert (and by then we were so stuffed).  We ate and laughed for 3 hours while little Ella amused us ("Are you talking about ME?" she'd enquire, laughing and smiling, and loving the attention).  We went home stuffed and content (pretty much how I feel after any family event).

07.15.2005  "I Don't Even Know What I'm Looking Forward To Anymore"
No, the above words were not uttered by me.  Farshad said them.  And we looked at each other and laughed and laughed all the way back to Yaletown.  I dedicate this journal entry to Farshad.  Now, to give it some context.

I've been feeling a bit overwhelmed for the past couple of days.  Nothing major, just the usual stuff.  After a couple of weeks of downtime in the office (as I wait for the projects to take shape and get underway), work is back to a full-frenzied pace.  I barely have time to eat (I'll work through my lunch hours) let alone go to the washroom.  Meetings back-to-back, getting back to my desk at 5:00pm and realizing I haven't accomplished anything I set out to do that day, etc.  Plus, there's a whole bunch of social things coming up (family dinners, company parties, friends visiting from out of town). You get the picture.

So yesterday Farshad and I made a lunch date.  He picked me up and we went for sushi on Davie.  He started to tell me how crazy-busy his life is.  I can't even begin to explain how much is on his plate right now.  We had a great lunch and conversation (as usual).  On the drive back, I realized how calm I now was.  I told him that talking to him put my seemingly busy schedule in perspective and now I felt really good about things.  He was happy that he had that effect on me.  Then he sighed and made the comment above.  We both realized how crazy life can be, and burst out laughing.  But of course, we realize that we shouldn't get so preoccupied that we forget about the daily joys of life.  Don't get lost in activities and things.  Make sure you enjoy the moments.

07.14.2005  "Well, That's Kind of Freaky"
As I was drifting off to sleep last night, a thought popped into my head (one of those spontaneous thoughts, that totally seems to come from left field).  I wondered about animal suicide.  It was one of those things I've heard about (urban legends, perhaps) and I decided to Google it the next day.

So here it is, the next day, and I had completely forgotten about my plan. But when I logged into my MSN Today, what article title catches my eye: "Shepherds stunned after flock of 1,500 sheep leaps off cliff."  Freaky.

07.12.2005  "Return of the King - Again and Again"
Robin wanted to rent the extended version of "Lord of the Rings III: Return of the King" since we only saw the theatrical release in the theatre.  As we watched it, we would comment, "Oh, I don't remember that scene.  I think it's new."  But I distinctly remembered hearing about a showdown scene with Saruman, and since it was absent we kept questioning if we indeed got the extended version.

After verifying on-line that we had NOT rented the extended version, Robin took it back to Blockbuster and pointed out their error.  They apologized, and gave us the 2-disc extended version.  So, round two began.  I have now watched "Return of the King" twice in 2 weeks.  I enjoyed seeing it again because I could pay more attention to the battle scenes and appreciate their intricacies.  I think the translation was well done (i.e. I felt I was watching Middle-Earth) but I still stick by my original opinion that I feel the movie/trilogy didn't really have a heart.  For me, I didn't really care about the characters (except Sam - I truly cared about what happened to him).  But reading the books, I really felt deeply for the characters' struggles.

For me, an example where I felt character sympathy is from a small scene in "Sideways".  Paul Giamatti is seen sitting alone and lonely, eating Chinese food by himself after being ditched by his friend (who's off to pursue a date).  It's a brief scene, a small scene - but it sticks with me, and I feel so much for his character.  But that's me - got to love those small, real-life movies where not much happens.

07.11.2005  "A Bike Adventure"
Yesterday Robin and I went off on a biking adventure.  We left Burnaby at 11:30am and took the Sunset bike path without knowing exactly where it would spit us out.  Our destination was Little India (Main & 49th in Vancouver) since I was looking for some lightweight tunic blouses.  We ended up along the river and we hung a right and biked up Main.  I was able to find two brightly-coloured shirts (for $5.99 each!) and then we went to King Edward for lunch at Locust.

By then it was after 2:30pm.  We took the Ridgeway path home (which Robin is familiar with) and got home around 3:30pm.  A four-hour tour!  It was awesome.  Needless to say, we were both exhausted.  After dinner, we passed out around 8:30pm (couldn't keep our eyes open!).  But we deserved a long, deep sleep after our active day.

07.10.2005  "Mom's Day"
It was my mother's 64th birthday on the weekend.  When I picked her up Saturday morning, I gave her some "Brent & Sam's" gourmet cookies (raspberry chocolate - yum!) from Urban Fare and a lovely card with purple flowers on it. Then we went to Lonsdale and got pedicures.  We sat side-by-side in those massage recliners and joked with Mary-Ann (our pedicurist) while we got our feet pampered, rubbed and painted.  I was so intrigued by that cheese slicer tool they use to remove the dead skin (in other pedicures I've had they've used pumice stones).  It was like getting your hair cut and you look at the floor beneath you and there is tons of cut hair on the ground (except here it's skin - so gross but so cool!).

Then my brother and Robin met us for lunch and we went to Brown's where we ate beef dip and fries and kiwi-lime pie for dessert.  So good!  My mother had a great birthday.  She spent it with her children (and Robin, whom she loves).  And she deserves it - she's a great person.

07.08.2005  "Today I Will Be Pleasant (Like Most Other Days)"
I was very flattered today.  My co-worker Brian recently showed me his site and I showed him mine.  Now I like to read his Rant-o-Rama on a regular basis.  Yesterday I stumbled across his entry "Today I Will Be Pleasant".  He cites my website and blog, and he points out our different writing styles and our different approaches to the situations we encounter.  He describes me as 'pleasant' and that I 'look for positives'.  What a shining endorsement!  Thank-you!  And on that note, I don't think he's particularly 'pissy' or 'snarky'.  Well, he's Brian.  And I mean that in a flattering way.

07.07.2005  "It's a Junebug!"
Last night I tried the drink special at the Kingston.  It's called a Junebug, and for $3.85 I couldn't resist.  It had melon and banana liqueur, pineapple juice and sour mix.  It was served in a tall glass on the rocks topped with a marschino cherry and a slice of orange, and I enjoyed it immensely.  Hmmm, maybe the reign of the Amaretto Sour is about to be toppled?  Maybe, maybe not.

07.06.2005  "Comfortable Shoes"
Now that I walk about 30 minutes per day (to/from skytrain), I've come to appreciate comfortable shoes.  In fact, it's now a requirement.  I found that many of my current sandals that I used to wear every day are either too small or too loose or just generally uncomfortable.  It took me awhile to accept this - I would look at my classy Nine West black heels or my funky flower sandals from Mexico and love them, but then curse them when I got home because my feet were killing me.

So yesterday I was walking to Pacific Center after work, determined to buy new sandals.  I was still hesitating about getting rid of my black Aldo sandals that I was wearing.  However, something happened that helped make the decision easier.  Since the sandals don't fit properly, I was trudging rather awkwardly in the rain.  To my horror, my bare foot slipped all the way out of my sandal and landed flat on Granville Street.  Oh, so gross!

Now I'm sitting at work, enjoying my new black flats that I bought on sale for $9.99 from Sears.  I've even put a comfort strip pad in them, and they certainly are comfortable.  My feet are happy and thanking me.  The dogs are quiet.

07.05.2005  "Cuts and Scrapes and Bruises - Oh My!"
My body has been a battle zone lately.  A couple of weeks ago I got bit by some mite or flea.  Since I'm allergic to insect bites, I developed about a dozen, dime-sized, red welts on my body (yes, very uncomfortable).  Then last week I burned my forearm on the oven door (didn't open the door all the way and ended up brushing against it while I took some pizza out).  I developed a 2-inch burn mark on my inner arm that has since gone scabby and black.  Then I noticed my elbow was burning the other day and I discovered a cut - don't ask me how it got there.

It reminded me of my childhood, all scraped knees and bruises.  I seemed to get them so easily back then.  In my adult years these things are normally far and few between.  But right now, if I look at all my wounds in the mirror, I feel about 8 years old again.

07.04.2005  "Drunken Croquet and Other Fun"
Why can't every weekend be like the one we had?  Oh, that extra day sure makes the weekend feel robust.  Robin and I kicked it off on Thursday night with sushi tapas at Nikko and then shopping on Robson.  Friday I went on a bike ride and ran errands, then we worked on the house a bit and had a late-night visit with my mom (until 11pm) after a gorging feast of Thai food.

But Saturday was the highlight.  The weather was horrible in the morning, but then the sun came out and we got our patio chairs out from storage.  The boys (and Miss Marnie) came over and we ate tons of food (chilli, buns, pasta, dips, chips) and drank for the rest of the afternoon.  We decided to set up the croquet set in our backyard for a drunken match of the 'game for white folks'.  The course was small but still challenging (including curves and ramps and beer can obstacles), and we heckled and mocked and teased each other (all in good fun, of course).  And I miraculously pulled myself out of last place to be the first to tap the winning pole with my blue ball!  People stayed until almost 10pm, and it was fun and comforting and relaxing and fulfilling.  Loved it.

When Sunday came, I was so well rested and content.  We did our clean-up and then headed to the jazz festival with Brent, where we sat in the sun and ate sushi take-out then meandered off to the used book store.  Such a great time.  Mark's MSN personal message says it all:  Life is good!