The countdown

Well it is almost the end of the year- will soon be time for another yearly countdown! I'll have to start crunching numbers and working on my stats.

After spending a somewhat mellow weekend, it really is crunch time. I have about 5 lists that need to be accomplished in 3 days. Can I do it? Well I did WRITE the lists- seems shameful not to use them...

Big news, I'm laid off from my job come the new year. This could be good, ok it IS a good thing since I was stagnating there, but also bad in that eeep rent payments... bill payments... food (ha ha who am I kidding like I ever factor in food to my budget)... any type of social life. But what can you do IN THIS ECONOMY?  (shout out to Michael K for that one).

Anyway- things are on the go I guess. In a few days time I'll be back in BC for the SECOND time this year- which surely should illicit some sort of pat on the head from those people out there.

Right- short post since I really ought to get dressed and get into work and finish things off. How I'd like to be the type of person who just walks away.

To the batmobile!

My Ego is writing cheques

Probably because it hadn't snowed until TODAY! Finally finally there is snow and it's like we really live in Canada (well the GOOD parts anyway).

Someone just said I was like a "real Torontonian" not knowing where anything was geographically north of the 401. Could be the proudest moment of my year. Seriously.

Yep, I'm one of those douchebags- Toronto is centre of world, (NYC obviously centre of universe) why leave it? Really-give me a reason, that isn't a bigger and better city and you got yourself an argument. Nature? Pfft. I have High Park. Water? Pfft. I have Lake Ontario. What have you got? I mean really?

Speaking of introspection(oh I WILL BE) I am going out for Jennie's birthday in a week and we're going to Karaoke and I'm so nervous and scared. I can't sing and for as much as I am giant ham, it's all a big act- getting up and being a terrible fat singer in front of everyone makes me really nervous. It takes me back to being 12 and being laughed at by everyone on my softball team at a "team" party. That's right- it's only a team if you can marginalize one person. Bonding- gotta love it. I don't know what to do, I'll deal. I will get up there and submit to the experience, because I love Jennie. But fack! Stress!

So now it is winter (I know this because there is snow on the ground) and it's time for introspection. I've been thinking a lot about this lately, about my path in life and that sort of thing. I know for most of my peers it's been the old, get married, get knocked up (or vice versa) and the answers sort of take care of themselves- so what made me different?

The other day I though wow, at this age my parents had been together for almost 10 years and married for a good schwack of those. And I was 5, no longer the cute and adorable baby that I was (you all know i was!) but a terrifying toddler with some major issues because my parents DARED to have another child. Gods.

Actually today at work one woman mentioned that she had left her daughter in care of a 16 year old for a few hours, my boss was slightly aghast she would do this. But really- I was so much more responsible at 16 than I am now. If 16 year old me had had a baby, it would have a great life. Right now... I'm not sure i can part with the sleep or be that unselfish.

It is almost my 3 year anniversary of moving to Toronto.  I could have not come, I could have just rode it out with the bad boyfriend but comfortable lifestyle who would have given me babies (although i wonder if I could have returned them when they became *gasp* people), but I would have always been yearning for something different.

Nope, I made the choice- I ripped myself out of the velvelt handcuffs and made a run for it. Most of the time it sucks, it's hard, I feel like a loser- and I have nothing but debt to show for my move here. But I'm free.

I. Am. Free.

and that makes it all worth it.

King Tut @ the AGO

Tomorrow morning I have a ticket to get in bright and early and see the King Tut exhibit at the AGO! I've decided to start up an art blog so my first post will be impressions and discussions of the exhibit. Things that are running through my mind already: the ethics of a "funerary exhibit" how do we get around essentially pillaging someone's burial tomb for our enjoyment. This, coupled with the fact that these people whom we are viewing are now esssentially enjoying "immortality".

So- things to think about, plus there will be a bit of background about Tutankahmen (who really wasn't the most interesting of Pharoh's) and what I thought of the layout of the exhibit and my experience as a shmoe walking through it.

I won't be going whole hog and getting the audio tour, I'm too impatient for all that stuff, plus I've studied this so much that a lot will come back with just reading the descriptions.

This will be my 3rd major Egyptian Exhibit in the past few years. The first was the British Museum's Exhibit at the Royal BC Museum. That was a great exhibit because I had just finished a course in Egyptian Art where our main text was the British Museum's Collection, many of the things I had studied all semester/summer were on display for me.

When Dad was here, he and I went and saw the Book of the Dead at the ROM along with the accompanying exhibit. That was great!

And tomorrow King Tut! This is the first time the exhibit has been back in Canada in over 30 years and it's only Canadian Stop so I'm really excited that I'll be able to participate.

Once I have my blog post up I'll link to the new site.

TFIF!!!

Insomnia

It is almost 3.30am, and I am awake. This week I've actually been waking up at 3.30am most nights, tonight I changed it up a little and woke up at 2.30. There isn't any rhyme or reason to it, Monday night I went to bed at 9pm, so that could have been part of it, but the other nights it's been a somewhat "normal" bedtime for me.

Which got me thinking about bed and sleeping, I love sleeping. Getting under the covers is probably the highlight of my day these days. I feel like I'm just killing time until I can get back into bed. This might not be a positive? But it feels pretty good to me. These days I go to bed on the early side, I'm usually in bed and asleep before 11pm. And except on gym days I rarely get out of bed before 8/8.30. I'm trying to put a finger on when this shift occurred and I all of a sudden needed over 9 hours of sleep to feel ok with life.

It could have been after quitting the second job, as I was so deprived of sleeping for over a year that maybe 1.5 years on I'm still playing catch up?

What I'd like is to be able to bounce out of bed in the morning and have time to do things before I have to begin daily drudgery at "job". Although I guess b/c "job" is pretty heinous right now I'm avoiding getting out of bed? The only thing that really EVER makes me bounce out of bed is travel. Which is why I need to be constantly planning a trip somewhere and have that tantalizing brass ring getting me out of bed.

In fact I haven't actually spent a day IN bed lately. Could it be this Sunday is a "duvet day"? I'm pretty sure I don't have anything planned and I know I'll be east end for dinner on Sat. night. This almost always means I have to take the "vomit comet" home to my side of the city. (the subways stop at about 1am on Saturday and those unlucky enough to not make it are subjected to riding the allnight bus that runs across town (in my case) on Bloor St West.) It takes a LONG time, but it's always an entertaining ride.

So, perhaps I will take Sunday and stay in bed and read. The problem with my nook is that there is no window-so I usually take to the couch and read. But this leads to me tidying up.

Anyway- I'm still awake and we are approaching the 4 hour. FUN. Such a weird time to wake up, not late enough in the morning to just get up and go to the gym or something, and not early enough to be up for a bit without feeling like crap the next day.

Sigh.

Falling

Lately things have been happening out here in the greatest city in the worllllld!

It's fall, the leaves changed about a billion different colours and now they are all falling to the ground. I heard tell that it might snow this weekend.

I'm pretty excited about that. I love snow. I think it is just the cat's pyjamas that here! where I live! there are four discernible seasons. FOUR- count em! With all the traits of a traditional season! Not just- warmish and rainy (spring/fall or summer) and coolish and rainy(spring/fall/winter). I'm pulling out my winter gear, haven't pulled out the heavy winter jacket yet, but it's coming soon! I can feel it.

This season hot boots are in style. I'm getting pretty envious of all the awesome bootedness that I see before me. But last week I went out and bought the Ipod Touch in a fit of emotional spending. And let me tell you- nothing feels better than emotional spending. NOTHING.

The touch is pretty amazing, I was deliberating earlier on in the fall as to whether I should get an iphone, since all the kids are getting them and I'm a complete lemming. But I also needed internet in my house so getting that plus the data plan for the iphone (or any fancy pants phone) was too much for me.

And the iTouch fills the gaps, it allows me to connect to any wireless network it can steal so I can now tweet and let the world know on my new and up to the minute goings on. It has a larger capacity for toonage! And there are other nifty applications that are increasing the value in my life immensely. Let's discuss shall we?

Sex Facts: because you just can't ever know enough...
White Noise: becoming increasingly addicted to listening to the ocean while falling asleep
Alarm Clock: (note I actually paid for this app- the rest I download for free) allows me to wake up to a specific song on my ipod. ME LIKEY
Urban Spoon: triangulates your position in the world and then you shake it and it tells you food nearby. Ummm awesome?! Hungover brunches just got easier!
Maps: I could quite possibly never be lost again.
Keyboard: I can practise the piano, well at least one hand of the piano...

So that's that. I mean there is SO MUCH MORE- but that's it for right now. Evenings have been spent playing on the Pod. And I'm really enjoying iTunes "Genius Mixes" I suggest you check it out if you can wait for the download (I have 13 GB of music and it took about 15 minutes) but it's really letting me listen to my music by mood/genre and hearing a great range of what I have.

Since we're entering the wintery time, there will be more time spent indoors and I need some new hobbies- so I put this out there to you people! What should my hobbies be? The only restrictions are that they should be relatively cheap. What do you like to do in your spare time?

Ideally I'd like a variety of hobbies that are both social and not-social. I also don't have cable, which is good- in that I have a lot of time that I don't spend watching TV, but also things like knitting are effing boring if you aren't watching TV.

OH- and I've just recently gotten married- FYI, it was pretty easy and uncomplicated!! I'm not quite sure WHO I'm married to, I suspect my friend Jennie, since her hubby already has a wife. And everyone needs a wife! Or maybe I just married Stu's band (Vedette- check em out on myspace- vedettecanada- they RAWK). But I'm officially a "band-wife" yay me! Pretty sure we celebrated with shots of Jagermeister (seriously, my dream wedding...)

That is all- for now. I'm sure once we have the first snow fall I'll be updating with EXCITMENT and awesomeness.

A Mourrail

As some of you might know, I adore traveling. And living in Toronto affords you so many exciting travel opportunities within a reasonable time and expense. So it's a bit shocking that I haven't yet gone to Montreal.

Well, this past weekend that all changed. My friend Jennie and I decided in the summer to plan a weekend out there- and so we did! I rented a car for the weekend and we booked a VERY cheap hotel. At the last minute my friend Isabel decided to come along so expenses were cut even cheaper!

I rented a car, and I was pretty excited about driving again. It's been since I toodled around Victoria in April. I've never driven in Toronto, but really driving is just driving and one great thing, they drive fast enough here!

Early(ish) Friday I picked up Isabel and headed up to the "nosebleeds" to pick up Jennie. Then we got ourselves caffinated and put our on Thelma and Louise style headscarves and booked it out of the city! BON VOYAGE!

The drive to Montreal is pretty easy- you get on the 401 and head right- that's about it, it's not as exciting as driving through the rockies but not as dull as driving across the prairies. And the leaves were just starting to turn so the colours were great!

We arrived in the city from the South? I think- I am directionally challenged, all I really remember is taking some VERY rickety looking overpasses, nothing like exposed re-bar to make you feel secure as you are driving over and under a river. It took a little bit as our faithful navigator TomTom seemed to have some issue with the language change (could he be from BC?) but we made it to our hotel and got checked in. The hotel was indeed seedy! But you get what you pay for, and when you are paying less than $30/night for a hotel expectations must be kept to a minimum.

From there we drove up Mont Royal to get some scenic Vista shots of the city. I had had thoughts of getting there via transit or foot- but we had a car! Let's not waste this opportunity to be lazy. And I'm sure glad we did! It is kind of high up! After that we had a bit of a mission finding the parking I had sussed out for us. All of the research I had done on Montreal cried, "This city SUCKS for parking!" And yes, it kind of does. However we found our parking garage under Le Bibliotheque Nationale- camera secure, reasonable ($10/24 hours), and about 7 minutes from the hotel.

We all had a bit of freshen up time (and beer!) and then headed out for a wander on the streets- turns out we're all a bit directionally challenged, but Isabel must contain more estrogen as she made us check the map and figure out where we were and where we should head to. I will just go with my being lostness, generally because I don't want to look like "a tourist", although hopelessly lost seems to be just fine.

We finally made our way to Rue St. Denis (I think- really I have no idea where I was all weekend, I kind of said- I am driving us here and back and that's all I can do- lead on!) and we found a nice Indian restaurant to have dinner at. OR SO WE THOUGHT.

By all accounts it SHOULD have been a nice place, it smelled good, it was bustling inside, everyone seemed happy. And it was alright, until the food came. I had ordered a Rogan Josh (lamb) because it's one of the spicier options- I like me some spicy. But I thought, you don't know this place so don't go whole hog and get the Vindaloo- don't want to spend my trip to Montreal strapped to the toilet. However, the food was, in a word- bland. We all found this to be the case. Not spicy and not spiced. As much as I love burning my mouth off with some spiciness, I definitely appreciate a delicately spiced meal. Major fail on both counts. It just tasted like tomatoes, with a side of staples. YES- staples. I found a staple in my food.

The best part of this dinner was calling over the waiter and letting him know there was a staple in my food- he didn't apologize or fall all over himself trying to placate me- but just heaved a giant sigh and shook his head and wandered away in what looked like a- NOT AGAIN- type of mode. It was really hilarious. I have learned that often lamb is stapled together in its preparation, so it wasn't like a random person was coallating over my food. Their naan was quite tasty though- I will say that. And if I could remember the name I'd go and give this place a poor review- good thing I can't remember the name.

After dinner we headed out to a hookah bar. I've never been to one of these before, nor have I ever smoked a hookah. But if the catepillar from Alice in Wonderland can do it- so can I. And all in all it was my favourite part of the evening. Smoking hookah is very interesting, it's relaxing but not intoxicating, and easy on the lungs as it's processed through water. And oh yeah, one other thing- DELICIOUS, there are a variety of "flavours" you can choose- Jennie has done this before so she choose and it was a delicious mix of roses and apples and some other things.

We headed back to the hotel after that because- honestly, I was zonked. I didn't sleep well on Thursday night and all that driving is actually tiring.

Saturday we were up and out by 9.30 or 10am and headed to Beauty's for breakfast. This was up on/near St. Laurent and we arrived just as it really started raining. We managed to sit out most of the rain during breakfast and then walked down St. Laurent, wandering in and out of the neat-o stores they have along the strip. We saw the famous smoked meat place- that I now can't remember the name of. (too much hookah the night before?) There was a massive line up outside of it, and I guess it's like that ALL the time.

After a brief respite of refreshements we headed out to Vieux Montreal (Old Montreal) we arrived and walked up to Notre Dame which is a giant church- (Quebecers are into churches) to find a wedding just finishing up, we stood for a bit and watched the photos being taken. Jennie of course being a newlywed was all giddy and excited, Isabel and I being bitter singletons were a bit more meh about it.

Old Montreal is very european, the streets are cobblestone and narrow and well, just really lovely looking. While we were there it began to POUR with rain and my alert went off that we needed to plug the meter. So we headed back towards "new" montreal, not knowing how we'd get back in there but stumbled upon a very pretty fountain. And being giant nerds we took pictures of each other at the fountain in the rain. And a few of the bride and groom who were also out there for their wedding photos.

That evening we met up with Jennie's friends from Quebec City for dinner at a BYOW restaurant. It was quite nice, but ridiculously busy. And I was very tired and sore. Because of course, I decided to dress up nicely and wear my cream trousers! Which had to be paired with my patent black and cream heels for two reasons: 1) they look hot and 2) they keep the hem of the trousers from dragging on the ground.

This could have been a tactical error as we walked from our hotel to the restaurant which was a good 20 minute walk. These heels are what one calls "limo to lobby" shoes. Not meant for crazy activity, such as leisurely walking. They are there for one purpose- to make me look good. Anyway by the time we were seated and at the table and the wine was uncorked I had slipped off my shoes and was really enjoying myself!

After dinner je refuse to walk back to the hotel and Isabel, having imbibed the better part of a bottle of rose, was in no real state to walk and we cabbed it back. The cab driver had a couple of giggles at my tipsy attempts at french- but hey, when in QUEBEC do as the Quebecers do.

Jennie arrived back at the hotel shortly after we did and we staked out the party across the street, wondering if we should head on over there and rip er up for the rest of the night. After a few shots of vodka and some ridiculous giggling we decided to head out into the streets! We wandered around and watched the post-bar bru-ha-ha. Tried unsucessfully to get into a strip club, only because, as it turns out- it was really a brothel. And there is no way Jennie or I are going to pay $50 just to get into a place to oggle some ladies. I can go to the changeroom at the gym, or just stare into a mirror to oggle should I feel the need.

After some more of a wander, we headed back to the hotel, only to get stopped by the guy at the front desk who was in a word- weird. Jennie was a much better sport about it, I was just starting to fade into drunken oblivion. We were finally able to get back into our room and get to sleep at about 4am.

Sunday morning came FAR too quickly, but we managed to get up and get packed up. If you've ever wondered how much stuff 3 girls bring for 2 days away- I can tell you it's a LOT. And it's all TOTALLY necessary.

Once I fetched the car and loaded it up, we were off to Banquise for some poutine. This was on my must do list for Montreal- La Banquise is pretty much universally named one of the best poutine places in Montreal and the poutine in Quebec is delightful.

I've been a big fan of the poutine since my univsersity years, and to think how disgusting that poutine is compared to the real deal! This poutine, I got mine with bacon, was beyond delicious! Served piping hot and with a side of very strong Americano it hit the spot and cured any left over maliciousness from the night before.

From there we were off to the Jean Talon market- an amazing place, similar in concept to the St. Lawerence Market, but in more of an outdoor setting. I bought some very weird broccoli, cheese curds (for home made poutine), goat cheese of a couple varieties and a locally made wine. I love markets- they are so much nicer than a grocery store. We packed up our goodies and went off to see our final destination- Fairmont Bagels.

(I bought the weirdo brocs to the left of the purple cauliflower)

All out of Everything Bagels I had to make do with some Onion ones instead (ahh people LOVE it when I have those for breakfast) and a few sesame and poppyseed for those who think they are the only suitable bagels.

And thus began the trek home. It seemed long on the way back to Toronto, probably because I wasn't filled with the excitement of visiting a new city and hadn't quite slept much in the past 4 days.

We stopped briefly at a cheese farm where Jennie could buy some curds and we all picked up a little something. I myself bought a little mini bottle of maple syrup. TEENSY. And it will most likely last me years. As they say- a dab will do you...

I think we were near Cornwall, it was all picturesque: green fields, gravel driveways, two lane roads, mail boxes at the end of the drive. Isabel commented on how lovely it all was and how she could see herself out here in the future. My only thought was GADS WHERE IS THE CITY- if I don't see some concrete soon I will FREAK THE HELL OUT.

And thus- confirmed- I am a city girl.

Amen for that. And thanks to Montreal for being such a lovely city. I can't wait to go back and spend more time. Maybe late spring....

The City of Angels- or LA LA Land- or Walking in LA

The trip to LA was uneventful. I flew via Detriot and I was so tired by the time I got on the plane I passed out for the whole ride. For me, this is unusual. I don't sleep much when I'm traveling because it's so damn EXCITING! I'm on a plane/train/automobile and going somewhere and and (this is usually when I start bouncing in my seat a little).

I'm not really used to making connections on flights and I forgot how stressful it can be. I made the connection with a few minutes to spare, but not enough to get myself a good meal along the way. Or even a crappy meal- so I was forced to buy something on the plane. I got the fruit and cheese plate- couldn't bring myself to shell out for a sandwich. It was surprisingly good, a variety of cheeses that didn't include marble cheddar, but Brie and a Weslydale and Gouda and some quite nice crackers. But not that satisfying.

By the time I arrived at LAX I was starving, my "boss" for the week was about an hour behind me, and for some reason I thought oh I'd better get to her gate as soon as possible, surely there will be some food near there. So I walked by the variety of food places and on I went. Only to arrive at her gate and find a Starbucks. I am not a sweet person (right mum?!) so being shown the option between lemon cake, cookies and biscotti I'll choose- none of them. I was able to buy some really overpriced almonds and a bottle of water. Dinner-fail.

Once I picked up Boss Lady (BL) we went to the hotel at the airport and had some room service. I'm not sure what it is about California that makes me crave hamburgers. Everytime I've been there, and the last time was in my early teens, i don't think I ate anything BUT hamburgers (and pineapple DoleWhip) the whole time I was there- including breakfast. This time I managed to branch out a little and eat more than just hamburgers the whole time. Yay me!

The week was a bit of a whirlwind BL was just in the process of renting an apartment in Beverly Hills (90210) so we spent a fair bit of time going to various places, Ikea mainly, and other stores to get everything set up for her. There was a lot of putting together Ikea furniture on my part. It wasn't all that bad, but I will say this: If you are a coffee drinker, do not try to assemble Ikea furniture before you have your morning coffee. Nothing good will come of it. NOTHING.

There were some outings to meet with people in "the industry" that BL had to meet with. I was in on one of those meetings, interesting stuff.

I did get to have a tasty breakfast at a little breakfast place near BL's apartment. Although I was disconcerted to find that they chopped up my asparagus on my eggless Benny. I can't say I'm really that keen on chopped up asparagus, I like a full stalk to nibble.

On the Friday I was starting to get a bit tired, I had some of the afternoon off and went down to one of the MoCA buildings that was nearby. There was only one installation on at that time, but it was really interesting and I was glad to see a little bit of the arts when I was there.

Then I headed up to Hollywood Blvd, as I was on a mission to go to Hot Topic and pick up a couple of t-shirts for my friend's teen monster. It was VERY hot out and I wasn't super keen on being up around such a touristy part of town- but I did manage to find the t-shirts and pick up a few stupid fridge ornaments. From there I decided to walk back to Beverly Hills- I KNOW- walkig in LA! THE HUMANITY.

But I did and I spent the next two hours trudging back to the apartment. I found it to be rather nice and I did pass by some really interesting homes. Plus it was nice to get out and walk after a week of being mostly driven everywhere.

Some of the highlights:

Seeing Spider Man just casually walking down the street.
The big smoke cloud over Burbank as the hills were burning (in a train wreck sort of way)
After a week of intense Toronto humidity, the dry dry super hot heat.
Being on the same time zone as le famille.
HAMBURGERS!
Getting to know BL much better, and her impression of going to DisneyLand made me almost pee.



It was a really intersting experience and I think it was a great break in the summer to get out of the city a bit. I wish I had been able to get down to the Ocean to see it, I don't like to miss a chance at that.

And I do think it's true about what they say- you are either a New York person or a LA person. I am the former, there is no question about that at all. LA is fine to visit, but in no way could I live there. I once had a conversation about this with Janos when comparing Toronto and Vancouver. I think it's somewhat similar- Toronto is a very much east coast/seaboard type of city, where Vancouver is very west coast. I am a Toronto person, gosh my heart just about bursts everytime I see the CN Tower, I can't get enough of this city. It's second only to NYC I think. There are such beautiful places in the world to see, and I am sure that many of them will capture me as well. But for now, Toronto is where I hang my hat.

It reminds of that song- All my exes live in Texas. And that's why I hang my hat in Tennessee.

Indeed.

Summer Part 2

August is where the fun and the sun begins. Summer in July was a bit damp, but the weather in August really turned things around. The wedding being the kick off point to a very fun rest of the summer. After that it was parties and bbqs galore. Mid-month I had a host of visitors in town.

Janos was in Montreal to photograph a wedding and decided to step out to Toronto to check out the city and catch up. It was so great to have him around again! He and I are former flatmates and were always having fun in the kitchen cooking up a variety of items. When he was here he introduced me to a delicious cucumber salad (cukes, garlic and sesame oil-done) and we had some great lettuce wraps with a thai peanut sauce.

Two days after he arrived my youngest cousin, Cam, arrived from Kelowna for a couple of days before he moved to The Netherlands for a year of University. We hadn't seen each other in at least 3 years so it was great to catch up with him again. He and Janos and I went for a delicious and authentic mexican dinner at Christie and Bloor and then headed to the Skydome for a baseball game- Janos being a baseball fan with no teams in Vancouver. Cam and I are less enthusiastic fans (read not fans at all) but had a great time up in the nosebleeds drinking beer and laughing with and at the rowdy fans. Janos managed to score a free expensive seat and really enjoyed it.

That evening as well my best friend Briana arrived in town, it was like friend overload in the best possible sense. I picked her up from the airport and it was just beyond wonderful to be able to hug her again. And she brought me some Okanagen Cherries!

Next day was brunch out with all of us and some wandering around Kensington market. A summer storm was brewing so it was ridiculously hot and muggy- it made it very hard to wander around and check things out. I was hosting a bbq that evening to have my Toronto friends meet my BC friends. The preparations were plentiful and the food was really good, but after the second guest had arrived a loud crack was heard and it started to POUR with rain. I mean torrential downpour pour. So we all ran inside to see if we could out wait the storm enough to start the BBQ.

My apartment is not large, it's really pretty teensy and having 8 of us in my living room on a beyond muggy evening was really interesting. Or in other words HOT. But the rain finished up and we were able to get the BBQ up and running and work on stuffing our little faces with a bunch of delicious food. I love hosting a party, I JUST love it. I'm also really good at it. Part of me wishes that I had a bigger place so I could have lovely dinner parties and friends over all the time. Not yet.

During this time I had been asked to go to Los Angeles to be a personal assistant for a week. It all seemed to line up, I was booked to leave on Saturday afternoon to fly out there. The bbq was Thursday as Janos and I had to hit a wedding in Terra Cotta on Friday.

We might have lazed about on breakfast on Friday morning a bit too long as we were a bit rushed heading up there, having to run an errand downtown. And since I don't drive in the city I had no idea about the horror and frustration that is downtown driving. I'm not sure why anyone does it. And apparently I have become a backseat driver, which is mortifying and Janos has since accepted my apologies about that.

The wedding itself was lovely and there wasn't a trace left of the previous days storm (which in fact caused quite a bit of damage slightly north of the city due to Hurricanes). The setting was picturesque along a river and everyone seemed happy and beaming. I admit to not being in best form because of stress/lack of sleep/I'm an asshole. But it was a fun time and we had a really intersting talk with the Father of the Groom- who used to work for the TTC. It was so interesting to hear about the behind the scenes of the subway.

Saturday morning we met up with Briana for a brunch at Easy- which is definitely my favourite brunch spot in the city. And then we headed back home, Janos packed up and left for the airport, I ran around doing work and errands for my trip. Cam and I got an hour or so to relax before we all headed to the airport and we were off to all corners. Briana back to Vancouver, Cam to Amsterdam and me to LA.

Summer Part 1

My friend Jennie has commanded me to start updating my blog, and since she's pretty bossy and the mum of a teenmonster it's just best to do what she says.

This summer has definitely been one of the top three on record. I have had so much fun, and my love of Toronto has only deepened, making it clear to me that I am not ready to leave this wonderful city any time soon. So I'm doing something new, I'm taking a stand and going to put down some roots. While running away and into new adventure could it be more daring to just stay put? I guess we shall see.

There were two weddings this summer, one of my former roommate Jackie in Victoria, and the other of Jennie here in Toronto. I had only got to know Jennie in the late spring, but she's hella awesome so I keep hanging around her. We've had some pretty good adventures as well and she is a trusty gym buddy and a really kick ass cook!

Jennie's wedding was great, one absolutely fantastic party, that went off splendidly. The weeks leading up to it were full of the usual near disasters. It's funny how every year I swear off helpign at a wedding and every year it's another wedding. I just can't stay away. Must be my inherent masochism.

I didn't do a lot of traveling this summer, I went out to Belleville for a weekend with my Uncle which was fun. We went to Sandbanks National Park http://www.out-there.com/sandbank.htm
for a couple of days. The weather wasn't as warm as it SHOULD have been, so there was minimal swimming, but I got in the lake a couple of times and did end up with a bit of a sunburn.

As far as I can remember July was a fairly low-key month. Just working and hanging out with Jennie or Isabel on the weekends doing something or other. OH and wedding work up, and work outs.



I can pinpoint the exact moment summer started for me. I had had a fun night out (on a school night- shameful!) and was at work in a tired sort of giddy mood. One Dr. Stacy took me up to the Junction to get some food at the local organic grocery store. I spotted some organic Okanagen Cherries and was ready to plonk down a hefty chunk of change for them. I was expecting to pay about $12 for the bag, and oooh it would have been worth it. But when she rang through my items it came out to about $9 including tax. I did a bit of a double take and realized she had grossly undercharged me for the cherries. Did I say anything- no. Am I going to hell-yes. Was it worth it? Abso-effing-lutely. When it comes to Okanagen Cherries morals have zero meaning.

So sitting on the steps in the beautiful sunshine at lunch hour scarfing down deliciously sun warmed cherries was the moment that summer really began for me. And with a kick off like that, how could it be anything but amazing?

A girl's best friend

A while back I posted a spot about the ring I inherited from my grandmother. It was all whiny about unrequited love and I pretty much deleted it after a few hours. I've had time to think about this ring, and what it means to me- and it is so much more than a symbol of love that was not to be. It's about survival and endurance and making choices.

My grandomother, Jean, was a survivor, an adventuress who had such determination of spirit I've never been anything but proud of her accomplishments which by today's standards seem insignificant.

This ring I wear, was given to her as an engagement to a Canadian soldier in the second world war. But he died, somewhere in Italy. I've seen the telegram she received about his death, it is heartbreaking. To see your world shatter on a piece of paper, in a a few written words isn't an enjoyable experience whatever the medium, paper computer, cell phone. And the story could have ended there for Jean.

But it didn't (lucky for my mum and consequently, myself)- Jean married my Grandfather, who was her fiancee's brother. It wasn't as fast as all that, I am quiet sure she did some real soul searching and I do know she refused to marry him several times. Maybe because she didn't love him? Maybe because she was too heartbroken to think of a life outside of the one planned? Maybe she didn't want him to marry her out of familial obligation alone? I never got a straight answer about that one.

So we won't know what the main reason was, maybe it was as simple as this- she chose adventure. Rather than mope about in England for a love lost she continued on the path she had chosen in the only way readily available to her, and began her journey.

I know my Grandma had 'wanderlust' which I definitely inherited. When she would come to visit, we would spend hours looking at the globe and at atlases planning our big trip around the world. Ah the thought of travel fills my heart! I imagine her excitement as she said goodbye to her family in London- not knowing when she would ever see them again or what the circumstance might be.

I know the excitement and the terror of saying goodbye to family, only to talk to them hours later upon arrival and via Skype on a regular basis. It was years before my Grandmother was able to return to England, the only contact being via the post.

So I wear this ring, everyday to honour my Grandma Jean, and to remind myself that adventure lurks in every circumstance- good and bad alike. And it's sparkly.