Seducing the Demon

I've decided to spend the day reading Erica Jong's book, Seducing the Demon (interspersed with logging onto my favorite blogs and watching Apprentice UK). I love these lazy days. :)

Home again

I can't believe it's been a week since I last posted. I had so many good intentions of documenting my way through Winnipeg (pictured above, circa 1953) which is where I've been for the past week but unfortunately, I found myself in bed for most of the trip. (If you can believe, there were even days that I didn't log onto my computer! The horrors!) Fortunately, I was still able to squeeze in some quality time with family and a few good friends.

One of those visits was with a wonderful friend I had spent many (many) days with in my past. It was so great to see her again. I wanted to tell her how much I missed spending time with her and how I wished that we lived in the same city so we could hang around every so often like we used to but didn't want it to get all weird and uncomfortable. Of all the friends I've ever had, she's the one I connected the most with - a special connection that I've yet to recreate with another. We could spend hours laughing on the phone or sitting in the car chatting away or just sipping drinks in a smokey pool hall. It didn't seem to matter as long as we were there together. I'm just glad that we were able to catch up with one another on this trip and laugh like old times. I hope we'll have more opportunities like that in the future.

I also managed to visit a couple of amazing vintage shops (Ruby Slipper and Vintage Glory) that had been recommended to me and found some really lovely antique compacts - the kind that you might see on Mad Men. I plan to photograph and share them here (some day). As well, my sister took me to one of my all-time favorite restaurants (Mondragon) where H & I shared a delicious vegan burrito, some African peanut soup, a pupusa and a slice of scrumptious sweet potato cheesecake with date icing. On the side, I enjoyed a tasty yerba matte latte. Mmm.

Of course, it was nice to be back home enjoying my Mom's cooking and visiting with my lop-eared bunny, Yoyo. I also had fun digging out some old love letters and pictures that had me in stitches. H loved spending time with her grandparents who tried to spoil her silly and was able to play with some old friends in the neighborhood. On Saturday, we had a little party to celebrate my sister's and cousin's birthdays and nibbled on all sorts of goodies from sushi to Indian dishes to crab legs. Needless to say, my clothes are now a wee bit snug (as if they weren't already!).

Sadly, I wasn't able to see everyone I wished to but hopefully, we'll still have the chance to catch up some time soon...

Hope you've been having a nice week. Take care and talk soon. xo

Happy Earth Day!

Happy face

I'm done the preparation for the group presentation tomorrow, as well as the paper which is due on Wednesday. What a great feeling! Now, I just have to get through the presentation itself and an upcoming final paper which is due next Monday. My goal is to complete the paper before the end of this week (Wednesday, if I'm lucky).

Tuesday afternoon marks the beginning of a break from classes for almost two weeks (less a day). I can't wait!

Daydreaming

I have a group presentation tomorrow and a paper due on Wednesday so my plan was to devote this afternoon to nothing but these two items. Of course, all I want to do is daydream and read my favorite blogs and look at photographs.

My latest obsession at the moment is 'food styling' which I find fascinating and can't stop googling about. I love the idea of 'staging' food so that it looks appealing and scrumptious on film and video yet it may be completely inedible. The whole art of it personifies the food to me as these stylists share secrets about primping and dressing up their subjects - whether it be a gorgeous cupcake or a beautiful salad or even a handsome cut of meat.

I love finding out about different professions and I especially love how the internet allows me to take a peek into these differnt worlds. My favorite blogs are the ones in which the individual has found a way to transcend their vocation into a way of life that is most satisfying and inspiring but not all consuming. The passion that these individuals share often fuels me to think about what it is I love most and brainstorm about ways to incorporate this into my daily life. (It's also a great outlet to live vicariously through others.) On a more superficial level, I like to think that I'm adding to my career and work counselling arsenal as I expose myself to these different occupations and the diversity of individuals invested in them.

I want to go here

There's a house about an hour outside of L.A. off Route 5 North that's known as the Polaroid House. It's basically an abandoned and dilapidated house filled with Polaroids that people have left behind.

You can find more amazing shots, as well as get the contact name for directions through the following flickr pool.

{Photo credits: G.E.T. and Brewsband}

Transitions can be fun

I started another new class in my program called Transitions. The instructor is really wonderful - he's so approachable and keeps the class engaged at all times. The class is so much fun and as always, there's a lot of self-reflection and experiential learning that occurs which will help us be more empathetic as counsellors.

Yesterday, we learned another tool to use with our clients - the timeline exercise - which I really enjoyed doing because it allowed me to see where I've been, my accomplishments (both good and bad) and where I'd like to work towards. It was interesting to hear how other students reacted to this exercise. Some people found it to be a very emotional experience as they reflected back on their lives while others were met it with some resistance as they didn't feel the need to rehash things that they'd already laid to rest. We could write as little or as much as we wanted and use as much creativity as we pleased to create them so it was a nice change of pace to be able to put pen to paper.

The instructor gave us insight as to when the exercise might be appropriate for clients (for e.g. once an ACEC assessment has been performed but not during Common Assessment), in what settings (group vs. individual) and how we could use this tool to generate more information with our clients (such as discovering patterns and reviewing why certain items were milestones).

Today, we worked in groups and did presentations in the afternoon on a theory we're learning. There's a larger presentation due on Monday plus two individual papers to complete. I'm looking forward to doing the papers. This is one of my favorite parts of the program and has always been - even during my University days.

Tomorrow evening, I'm attending an event featuring alumni from the program I'm in who'll be sharing information about the career counselling field and where they fit into it. Should be interesting!

Hope you're having a nice week. It's a short one. I like that. I like that a lot. :)

I miss you

This is how I feel...

I woke up this morning with a bugger of a head cold and an annoying headache. It was inevitable, really, since J & H have had their turn with it. Luckily, I had the whole day to rest and drink o.j.

Maybe it was all that wonderful fresh air yesterday coupled with the scent of wax that did me in. I took S to an encaustic workshop in Kensington Market in the afternoon. We both agreed that it was much harder than it looked but was still a nice introduction to the art. (To be honest, I felt a bit deflated after taking the workshop as I looked at the goopy mess known as my collage.)

Afterwards, there was another introduction, this time to Fresh which went really well but who can resist the seduction of delicious food, potent fruit smoothies and luscious cake and cookies? (Certainly not I.)

Oh gosh...I can't believe I almost forgot the introduction to yet, another favorite restaurant, El Trompo, for their amazing guacamole and tacos. (I told you our weekend would involve a lot of eating.)

As for Easter morning, despite feeling like my head was stuffed with cotton, I was able to partake in the fun of watching H search for goodies the Easter Bunny left behind. I love watching her eyes light up as she discovers the goofy hiding spots.

Happy Easter

The meatballs arrive today

We're on our way to the airport to pick up my sister who'll be spending the weekend with us. Apparently, my Mom has packed us a box filled with goodies including the infamous vegan meatballs she brought from her last visit. (Mmm.)

To kick things off, I thought we would take S for lunch at one of our new favorite restaurants, Everest Indian Cuisine. Tomorrow, I'm taking her to an encaustic painting workshop in Kensington Market. I'm not sure what else we'll do this weekend but it'll probably involve eating, exploring the city and enjoying the nice, sunny weather.

Wishing you a wonderful day. xo

Last minute cramming

I have a test this morning and then it's party time. Okay, not exactly...more like analyzing a classmate's Strong Interest Inventory but still, stats will be over today and THEN, it'll be time to celebrate. (Woo woo.)

Wishing you luck with whatever you're doing today. Talk soon. xo

Happy National Empanada Day!

(Who knew?)

I found some information about today's holiday on Months of Edible Celebrations. The post is a year old but as relevant today as it was 12 months ago. Enjoy!

Onions make me happy

I made some onion bread this evening. The recipe called for two separate periods for the dough to rise but mine stayed a lumpy mass. I was sure it would be a disaster but I was pleasantly surprised. I think I'll slice a couple of pieces for J & I to enjoy while we watch the latest episode of Breaking Bad.

[I also made more banana coconut muffins since the batch from Sunday didn't even make it to the next day.] :)

Fur coats and bikini bottoms

It's funny how quickly I've forgotten about living in Winnipeg and enduring those minus thirty-something (even forty-something) degree temperatures with the windchill. Then again, I'm one of those people who starts wearing layers under their clothing as soon as the mercury dips a few degrees. (I need to be warm at all times, really.) Imagine the irony when I asked a friend in Winnipeg if he thought the weather would be warmer and if the snow would be gone by the end of the month since I was planning a trip home. (As if his answers would really stop me from going to see my family and friends.) Still, despite all of the exposure and experience to the less-than-kind prairie temperatures, I can safely say that it is freezing here today in Toronto.

Time to snuggle up and turn on the fireplace. If my Mom lived here, I might even see if she still had the fur coat and hat she used to wear when I was a child (raccoon, no less...this could be where my fears originated from). Of course, I'm kidding about ever wearing the ensemble. I always thought it was such a ridiculous look (so Linda Evans in Dynasty) but remember the days when everyone wore fur? The horrors.

Noooooo!

Did yesterday really happen? I could have sworn that I was walking outside enjoying the sunshine and the mild temperatures. Why, I think I even broke a sweat. (Seriously.) It really felt like Spring but now it's snowing outside. Yes, snowing. (Sigh)

Easy like Sunday morning

This morning, we went for another delicious brunch at Sadie's Diner with my lovely s.i.l., followed by some browsing through vintage shops. It was nice to be able to share in the excitement of her upcoming trip which will involve welcoming a new little member to our family ♥, visiting two countries and seeing fountains. :)

There were so many people out enjoying the beautiful, sunny day and mild weather. It felt good to get some Vitamin D and walk off the Huevos Rancheros and chocolate cupcake I had. We even passed a store giving out free hot crossed buns. I love these kind of days.

Cozy inside

Baking banana coconut muffins with the little person, sipping double chai spice tea, letting J sleep in and catching up on my favorite blogs...this is what my Saturday morning has looked like, thus far. It's kind of a gloomy day out - overcast and windy - but I can still see the grass starting to green as I peek through the window, all cozy and warm inside.

I have two papers due and a test on Monday so it'll be a busy weekend, school-wise. I'm sure I'll be posting intermittently as I try to get these things done.

Hope you have a lovely Saturday. Talk soon. xo

Hansel & Gretel (Korean-style)

We got out of class early today so I thought I would treat myself to an afternoon of movies. I wasn't sure what to watch but was intrigued by the poster for Lim Pil-seong's interpretation of Hansel & Gretel. (Coincidentally, I have a small collection of H&G vintage books and also love the story.)

Wow, what an amazing film! The aesthetic was very much Amelie meets Pan's Labyrinth mixed in with the Exorcist (and maybe, Poltergeist). The color palette, sound design and cinematography were absolutely rich. I fell in love with the production design which was incredible and all I could think about was how exciting it must have been to be part of it all. Ryu Seong-hee (of Old Boy, Bittersweet Life, The Host and Memories of Murder fame) was in charge of set design.

In a nutshell, the story is about a young man who gets into a car accident, stumbles into the dense woods in his groggy haze and collapses. A young girl discovers him and leads him to her mysterious house deep in the forest where he's greeted by her family. From there, the story unfolds. As with the original fairy tale, the story is grim but the film takes it several steps further as it crosses boundaries which are often unexpected.

It was a pleasant surprise for me and the two other movie-goers in the theatre, who also really enjoyed it (we debriefed after the movie - lovely strangers). Sadly, I don't think it'll last very long in the theatre but if you get the chance, I do recommend it. Here's the trailer (in Korean):


[I also went to see I Love You, Man which happened to be starting the minute I stepped out of H&G. Okay, so maybe I snuck in but anyway, I won't lie - it made me lol, as they say. I could have stayed in the theatre all day and night watching movies. Tonight, J has a horror for us to see after we put the little one to bed.]

Playing in the sun

It was a beautiful day in Toronto - the sun was shining and it was quite warm. (Supposedly, the temperature got up to 15 degrees!) At lunch, a group of us decided to go for a walk and make the most of our little break.

Downtown Toronto has many lovely nooks and parks to enjoy, not to mention beautiful churches and buildings peppered throughout. It was nice to get some fresh air, chat with classmates and explore the city.

In the afternoon, we learned more about the Strong Interest Inventory and did group presentations on the Basic Interest Scales. My group did little skits to demonstrate the interest clusters. We felt goofy but I think it went okay.

You will pay for this Michael Kors

I didn't have school today so I scheduled some appointments and set out bright and early in the morning. I thought it would be a perfect day to christen a new pair of shoes I had been saving for spring but in hindsight, I realize I was being horribly optimistic, especially considering all of the walking I had planned for myself (as if experience hadn't taught me a thing about breaking in new shoes slowly). After about an hour of running around, I found myself staggering into different shops, desperately looking for bandages to ease the pain.

On a happier note, I got a very lovely surprise this afternoon - FLOWERS! My neighbor stopped by to update me on her decision from yesterday and bestowed me with a beautiful bouquet of pink tulips. (How thoughtful!) She was so grateful for our exchange yesterday and I for the one we had today. :)

You feel...because...

When I got home from school yesterday, J told me that one of our neighbors had dropped by seeking some advice from me - career advice, no less! Of course, she was fully aware that I hadn't finished the program yet but was still anxious to get my feedback and any semblance of career counselling that I could give her. (My first face-to-face 'client'!)

At first, I was flattered and then I was nervous at the thought of whether or not I would be able to help her (or possibly, harm her in the process). So, I gathered some of my materials from school that I thought might be useful including a couple of brochures from the place I'll be doing my summer practicum and made my way next door.

Without going into any details (client confidentiality, you know), I'm happy to report that I was able to use many of the counselling skills that I've learned through the program (paraphrasing, empathy, attending and self-disclosure to name a few) but I was also able to share one of the self-management strategies we were taught in class - yes, your friend and mine - the trusty decision-making chart! I not only shared the strategy with her but we actually went through the whole process and discussed the results that emerged.

It felt great to be able to share this information with E and to receive such positive feedback on how the experience went for her. Of course, she was an ideal 'client' but her situation was real and one that I might possibly be confronted with at work, one day.

The original flat top

Last Thursday night, I went to see the legendary Big Daddy Kane at the Phoenix with J, Gro and Skip. What an awesome night - from the venue to seeing BDK live. The energy at the Phoenix was amazing from the 'circle' (you know, the one people jump into and take turns breakdancing in) to BDK's performance to Gro's dancing (wow, the girl can move!). It was so much fun!

Big Daddy Kane performed for about an hour and a half. He belted out his hits, paid tribute to the holy trinity of hip hop (Jam Master Jay, Biggie Smalls, Tupac), as well as Big L (but instead of a moment of silence, it was a moment of noise) and danced like he was on fire with his 'brother' Scoob Lover. What a show!

My only complaint is this - and it's really not a complaint per se but rather, an embarrassing observation - the realization that I desperately need to practice my 'bouncing' skills. You know the move...it's somewhere between dancing (but you don't really move around that much) and bobbing (but with rhythm). If I could just master that and throw some hips into it, I think I'll be laughing (or more accurately, someone will be laughing).

Debrief

Hello. Remember me? It's been a little quiet over here on this little blog but not for a lack of activity but rather, the opposite. I've been busy with school and life, really.

Last week, I finished up the component on group counselling. Oh, boy - talk about heavy and intense! There were some serious emotions and challenges presented throughout the class but in the end, I have to say, it was one of my favorite classes of this program, thus far!

And what a wonderful surprise! I honestly thought that facilitating groups would be something I would hate since speaking in front of groups (especially large ones!) is not my forte. If you don't know me personally (or even if you do), you may not be aware of my intense fear of public speaking or even being the focus of attention. I clam up. My voice quivers. I shake (though invisible to the untrained eye). My heart palpitates. It's really not a pleasant sight. I was so nervous and was sure I would make a complete fool of myself but...things turned out to be just fine.

Once I stopped beating myself up after facilitating my first group workshop (initiations are never fun - unless it's sushi, of course!), I began preparing myself for the second. I thought I would be clever and try to shake things up and create a whole new workshop based on an outline received in class. I revised the original and rehearsed it the night before I was to present. When I got to class, the instructor advised me to follow the original outline since my revised workshop might infringe on the workshop of a fellow classmate. I panicked for a moment, took a deep breath, laughed a bit (this is my coping mechanism for most things), looked over the original outline and then, just dove right in. The combination of added pressure and having to improvise turned out to be a good formula for me as I was able to follow the outline given in class but also think on my feet and be creative in my responses and questions (making it more genuine and sincere instead of robotic).

[Would you believe me if I told you I found it thrilling? Seriously!]

It was a great feeling to know that I could actually facilitate a group successfully and enjoy it. Of course, this was done under very favorable conditions with ideal clients and with excellent instruction and guidance from our instructor. The 'real world' is certainly not this forgiving but still, it gave me a sense of hope, as well as accomplishment that I hope to draw from in the future (especially when I feel like I'm on the verge of fainting).

And you? How was your week? Care to debrief?

Two drifters off to see the world...

Ana and Arthur

The official Hot Docs Festival guide just went up today. As always, the line-up looks fantastic and I only wish that I could trade my seat in class for one in a theatre (of course, it would be a magical seat that would appear in the theatre of my choice at any given time). The festival runs from April 30 - May 10 in Toronto with venues throughout downtown Toronto.

If you're only able to see one film during the festival, I urge you to see Ana and Arthur which is directed by Larry Young. It's an amazing film on so many levels - the story, the characters, the events, the atmosphere, the cinematography and the editing. J & I had the honour of seeing the film (even before its final version) during a couple of intimate settings with Larry, his wife Kathie, along with some privileged others.

[Congratulations to you, Larry!!!!!]

Synopsis:
'The end of the seven-year marriage of Ana, a dynamic 70-year-old cardiologist, and Arthur, her 35-year-old farmer husband, unfolds with devastating honesty on their stunningly beautiful spiritual retreat. The toxic farm they had transformed into an earthly paradise for healing chronic illnesses is now the scene of their anguish. Larry Young spent over three years shooting the break-up, his camera unfailingly compassionate and relentless in its portrayal of the raw emotions of loss and grief. Anyone who has tried to hold on to a dying relationship will empathize with what both Ana and Arthur experience, their attempts at civility, and their descent into guilt and anger. And while the age difference between them gives this break-up film a particular twist-Arthur's love for a younger woman is the immediate trigger-the emotions of loss and grief are ageless.'

Screenings:
Saturday May 2, 7:15 pm- ROM
Monday May 4, 1:30 pm - Cumberland 3

Like a sponge but not really

In Emily Dickinson's excerpt of The Brain (from Poems: Third Series), it reads:

The brain is deeper than the sea,
For, hold them, blue to blue,
The one the other will absorb.
As sponges, buckets do.

I only wish that were true right now. I just cannot seem to absorb a darn thing as I try to do some late night studying. And just in case you were hypothesizing (as if), the time of day really has nothing to do with it. I found I couldn't absorb anything when I tried to study earlier today or even bright and early yesterday. (Sigh.)

Rockhound

Did I ever mention that I collect rocks and crystals? I have a modest collection but possess some notable pieces such as aragonite, malachite, citrine, amethyst and quartz. I also have some lovely desert rose which is really gypsum that has crystallized in the shape of a rose. I can't remember all of the names of the rocks and crystals I have but it's a nice little collection. Aside from finding them beautiful, I actually believe in their energy and have been known to carry around certain stones for different reasons.

Once during a very long (and challenging) six hour road-trip in a mini-van (from L.A. to Vegas with my folks, a couple of relatives, my sister, H & I), I stopped along the highway to collect rocks. I thought this would be a great experience for the little one (and quite frankly, for myself) as I'd read several magazines that said this particular route had many rocks to discover. There were some lovely pieces of fool's gold (aka pyrite) and agates among others.

Truth be told, the stop coincided with the 'Welcome to Nevada' sign where we were all forced to get out of the vehicle to take some of those nasty tourist shots that I love to hate. This particular road trip was part of the larger celebratory trip that my parents promised to H on a specific birthday. For this birthday, they promised to take her to Disneyland including many other tourist traps such as SeaWorld, Legoland and Universal Studios (to name a few). We even went to Circus Circus in Vegas which is really not all that child-friendly (what with all the smoking and gambling going on). I was surprised at how dumpy and gross it had gotten (since I was a child). For the record, we drove to Nevada to visit my cousins who live in a golf community just outside of Vegas (and hey, it didn't hurt visiting Sin City in all of its glory).

[Coincidentally, this was to be the last family vacation I vowed to ever take until I was married and had another individual to 'share' these moments with. J has yet to experience this kind of family bonding. Shhh.]

Alchemists-in-training

I have another test tomorrow but all I want to do is go outside and 'play'. It's beautiful out - bright and sunny and fresh.

J has gone to a basketball game while H is outside on the deck with a friend making little potions out of various lotions, oils and such. They're also blowing bubbles and as always, giggling and having fun.

I remember when I used to do the same as a child - my version of bathroom alchemy. I was always trying to mix up some new cream or elixir and then, forcing my parents to test it out on their hands or wrists. If I remember correctly, there were a few incidents that caused a slight rash on my own skin as a result of these fine potions. Yet despite this, I was convinced that some of those very mixtures were somehow a miracle cure (though, for what...I had no idea!).

I've got a little craft for the girls to do after they get bored of mixing - little lavender filled sachets which they can make out of some fabric I have. We could also do some baking since there are several frozen bananas waiting to be put to good use!

Whatever you're cooking up today, hope it's fun!

[Now, it's back to studying. Bleh.]

Hello Spring!

The vernal equinox occurred yesterday, March 20th at 7:44 a.m. ET (in the Northern Hemisphere) marking the beginning of Spring. While it doesn't really feel like it just yet, I'm hopeful that it'll only be a matter of time before it does!

In years past, I've celebrated the passage of the seasons by having little celebrations with H. One year we shared petit fours and placed a candle on one for each of us. We blew out our candles and made a wish for the coming season - for something thoughtful and not materialistic. I encouraged H to wish for nice things for family and friends such as good times ahead or a peaceful season. We would also place our rocks and crystals in the moonlight and bestow happy thoughts upon them. Sometimes we would make crafts or go for a walk.

Some observations around the world on the vernal equinox include:

- Shunbun no hi which is celebrated in Japan by honoring ancestors and eating delicious peony cakes
- Mother's Day which is celebrated on the first day of Spring in many Arab countries
- The first day of the Baha'i calendar
- Eide shoma mobarak which marks New Year's Day in Iran
- World Storytelling Day

Tonight, I lit candles for dinner and we made a toast. This week, I'd like to do some crafts with H or perhaps, do some sprouting.

Wishing you a happy Spring! xo

Onion rings and pie

The onion rings and pie I had earlier are sitting rather uncomfortably in my stomach right now. J had a craving for onion rings after watching Duplicity while I had a hankering for some root beer so we decided to head over to Fran's Restaurant on College.

If you're not familiar with Fran's, it's a retro diner and Toronto landmark that's been around for over 70 years. We sat in one of those little two-seater booths and had fun people-watching. It's interesting what comes out of the woodwork late at night.

[Sadly, they didn't have any root beer but they did have pie.]

I hope I don't faint

Today, I'll be facilitating my first group session in class. Each student had to choose a card randomly which revealed what type of session they would be running. Luckily, I chose something fun. I hope it goes well and that my low-talking doesn't overcome me.

Wishing you a happy day. xo

Erin Go Bragh!

Wishing you a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

[A special 'Pogue Mahone' to MGDC! Thinking of you. xo]

Initiation

This weekend marked the end of my Spring Break (aka Reading Week, though, there wasn't much of that going on!). Friday evening (after the interview), J & I went out for drinks and to listen to music at a lounge in our neighborhood. I was fascinated by the ridiculous vintage massage video that was being projected on a screen while the music played.

The following morning, we went for brunch at Sadie's Diner on Adelaide. If you get the chance, try the Huevos Rancheros (comes vegan, if you so desire) and chocolate cupcakes with vanilla frosting. Amazing! ♥

We spent the evening with one of our favorite couples - Gro & Red. It was a really special evening because it was G's initiation to the world of sushi. Of course, as sushi lovers, we were very excited to be part of the event! G had a special set of chopsticks (you know...the kind that are connected by a hinge of some sort) but what was most impressive were R's collapsible pair - stainless steel and in a case, no less. It was like watching a pool shark take his cue out. (Props to you, R.)

Aside from the sushi, there was also premature St. Patty's Day celebrating as our guests bestowed us with festive cups and over-sized shamrock glasses, along with gifts of elderflower water and chardonnay. I blame the shamrock-colored wine for all the madness that broke out during the Wii boxing matches but it may have also been the sugar high that we got from G's delicious, homemade, fruit and almond bark. Mmmm!

It was a fun evening (even after we attempted to play the trivia game from the 80's with the ridiculous instructions and no, not Trivial Pursuit). We look forward to the next event when G will sport her shiny red tights at Big Daddy Kane! Thanks for a great night, you two!

On Sunday, we had a really nice family day which started off with strawberry pancakes and 'fakon' (fake bacon) and included a trip to the movie theatre. In the evening, we snuggled up and revisited an old episode of LOST. There was even a game of Yahtzee somewhere in there and as always, lots of chatting and laughing. ♥

Shameless self-promo

Please tune in to Winnipeg's 101.5 FM to listen to Free Range Friday hosted by Michael Elves this Friday, March 13. I'll have 5 seconds of fame starting at 6:30 pm CST. The Perms and Vitaminsforyou will also be featured.

Michael asked if I would be willing to talk about the 'Create It Forward' meme that I posted on Facebook. The meme was actually taken from my friend, Akemi's FB profile and goes like this:

Create It Forward

The first five (5) people to respond to this post will get something made by me.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations so please read carefully:

- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make.

- What I create will be just for you.

- It'll be done this year (2009).

- You have no clue what it's going to be. It will be something made in the real world and not something cyber. It could be a mixed CD or a poem. I might write you a letter with some special goodies inside. I might bake you something or send you some photographs I've taken. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!

In return, all you need to do is post this text into a note of your own and make 5 things for 5 others.

[Please note: I reserve the right to do something extremely strange]

I thought it would be fun to join and a way to stay creative! Also, knowing how talented Akemi is, I thought it would be nice to get something made by her - no matter what it is!

I might post the things I've created as I complete them. I have a few ideas in mind such as little books with ephemera, letters or maybe even something strange like a meal of some sort.

[For my non-Winnipeg friends, you can listen to the show (and other great programs!) through a live stream.]

To Live in the 1920's

I found this great video featuring life during the Roaring Twenties. This is an era that completely fascinates me and I love to look at my old photographs and ephemera from those days. There were so many amazing things that blossomed from that era such as jazz music, flappers, Art Deco, Expressionism, the changing role of women and the evolution of all color feature movies. (And let's not forget about the rise of Al Capone.) I especially love the aesthetic and fashion of that time.

Cadillacs can be scary

The little person couldn't sleep last night and had to crawl into our bed for a few hours. She couldn't stop thinking about the mysterious and scary Cadillac that her & her friends saw parked in a garage earlier that day. Apparently, the girls found a dusty old car sitting abandoned in a garage behind the home of one of the girls. The license plate indicated that the car hadn't been driven since 1988 (nooo, not 1988!) and the combination of letters and numbers were deciphered as the day that Jesus rose from the dead (good God!). One of the girls claimed that she had seen the very same car drive past her house several times before. It was hilarious hearing her talk about it in such a serious tone. In fact, one of the girls initiated a three-way call so they could discuss it further. Yes, folks - what we have here is a modern day mystery.

Of course, J & I couldn't help but laugh at all of the madness that the caddy was provoking. This morning, it still hung heavy on H's mind and she was jumping at everything during her walk to school. If I could only see what was going on in her mind...I imagine it would've looked similar to the movie Christine but instead of a Fury, it would've been the dusty Cadillac with the 80's license plate! I love it, though, because it shows how wonderful and creative her mind is. I also love how just thinking about it brightens my day and makes me smile. Teehee. ♥

[Please note: We do try to ease her mind and reason with her. Of course, we don't enjoy the fact that she's full of anxiety about it all. We just think the story's cute and her reactions to it comical.]

Not worth watching

J & I saw Watchmen this afternoon. A few things I enjoyed about it were the sound design, the comic book aesthetic and Jackie Earle Haley's performance but to be honest, I found the movie really boring, too long and by the time it was done, I felt totally annoyed. Every time Doctor Manhattan spoke, I found myself clenching my fists and gritting my teeth. His flaky demeanor and cartoony representation were getting the best of me. I just couldn't connect with him and his CGI'd screen presence (blue balls and all). We've decided to rename the film 'Crotchmen'.

Like family

We had brunch with some friends that were in town from Winnipeg this morning. Since we had such a great time at Commensal the other night, we thought we would try it out again today. It was great seeing J & M and enjoyed the exchange of stories and laughs. It was like being with family (minus the bickering) and I realized how much I missed seeing my old friends.

I don't ever regret moving to Toronto from Winnipeg but there are days when I do miss certain things such as my family, friends, familiar streets and the ease of driving.

The transportation system in Winnipeg is nothing like Toronto's - there are no subways or streetcars and the bus system is really lacking. I had a car and drove everywhere when I lived in Winnipeg. You could get across town in about 45 minutes and downtown was only about 15 minutes from where I lived. It was effortless. Sometimes I miss being able to hop in my car and drive just 15 short minutes to get to most of my regular destinations. Other times, I just miss how easy it all was.

In addition to driving, I really do miss seeing certain people and spending time with them. I miss the comfort of my parents' home and playing with Yoyo (my and H's lop-eared dwarf bunny). I miss being near my parents and sister (in small doses) and spending time with my cousins. I miss my dear friends and hanging out and laughing with them. Some days, I wish I could just go for coffee or dinner with an old friend or just sit together and watch a movie. Don't get me wrong, I'm really enjoying the new friends I'm meeting but there's nothing like sharing a history with someone and having that level of comfort that is only attainable through years of friendship.

So, this is dedicated to all of the special people in Winnipeg that I'm thinking of tonight and all of the familiar streets I once frequented. See you soon. I miss you. ♥ xo

A feast for the senses

I dropped my assignment off this morning, bright and early, and then set off on my day - the beginning of Reading Week (aka Spring Break). I decided to get a few things from H & M before I met up with a dear friend for coffee. I had plans to watch a movie by myself in the afternoon but there wasn't much to choose from...plus, I forgot the free passes at home. (I think I'll go to Friday the 13th next week. I've never been to a horror movie by myself and am curious to see how frightening the experience might be.)

I thought I would do some window shopping to see what was new and exciting for spring, as well as visit Sephora to slather on some of my favorite Guava butter lotion by Korres. Afterwards, I spent quite a bit of time looking through books at Chapters. While I was roaming around downtown, I felt very bored and restless. Nothing seemed to satiate my ennui. Even as I wrote in my journal, I felt a malaise. When I got home, I was surprised to find J in the same state of mind. We commiserated about places we longed to be and lamented about others we had not yet been to. To stifle our pity-party, we decided to force ourselves to go out for dinner, (though we were sure it wouldn't remedy how we were feeling).

Isn't it nice to be caught off guard and proven wrong every so often? J, H & I had the most wonderful experience on our little sojourn. Dinner at Commensal was exactly what we needed - delicious food and the loveliest live music. If you're ever in Toronto, you really must check it out. It's a vegetarian restaurant with hot and cold buffets, including an array of desserts and beverages (it's also licensed so you can enjoy a glass of wine with dinner). If you're vegan, there's a great selection available such as Seitan Bourguignon (tender cubes of savoury seitan in a rich red wine sauce with sautéed pearl onions and whole mushrooms), Millet Pie (tofu, mushrooms, onions, leeks and millet grain wrapped in a light crust) and Thai Seitan (seitan with a tangy, maple syrup and cider vinegar sauce) - a sampling of some of the items on my plate this evening. The buffet is available for take-out and there are also a number of additional vegetarian and vegan goodies for purchase. We left feeling happy and full. We even talked about Commensal being our new 'Friday night'.

On the drive home, we decided to see what was happening downtown, including Queen Street. We drove by a concert at Nathan Phillips Square where there was also public skating. There were so many people out enjoying the beautiful weather everywhere we went. The city felt alive with activity. It seemed like Toronto was saying, "In your face!" and reminding us of what an exciting city it is to live in and we were grateful for that reminder.

I can't sleep

I think I consumed too much caffeine today because I'm still wide awake but really want to fall asleep. I've been watching movie trailers to pass the time and of course, looking at some of my favorite blogs. I would read a book but I don't want to turn the lights on and disturb J. Sure, I could move into another room but I'm all nice and snug in my bed. Maybe, I'll try counting sheep.

Stop stop

Oh, my goodness...I can't seem to stop procrastinating and wasting time today! (HELP!) I'm so close to finishing my assignment but am being very resistant to completing it! And tonight, I'll be going to my first industry event so I'd like to have it done in the next hour or so! Time to go!

[I'll miss you! Write soon! xo]