Pink

or _Another Air-head Moment_

Push finally came to shove, so I renewed my cell phone plan with Bell. No super savy negotiating skills were at play, I just got on the customer line during the week and made it so. I think it went reasonably well, and I got credit for a new phone! For those who have experienced talking to Lana on the old phone (cool looking as it might be, it didn't work properly), this might be the more important point.

With shiny credits on account, I went to a store this afternoon. Much hemming and hawing later, (though really there were only 2 choices that didn't require me to pay extra - the "maximization of cell phone charms" tie-breaker rule did not come into play), I made a decision. I then asked the friendly (if bored) sales staff for the "Sanyo XYZ something or other".

"You want the pink one?"

What?! Pink?! Is that because I'm a girl? You think I want the phone that's pink because of that?! Grr!

I calmly told him, "The black one." He rang everything in, we filled out all the information at the terminal, and that was it.

I was still minorly seething, though really happy that I had the new phone. I made my first call and wandered the mall while leaving my first message. Then something caught my eye: Pink. Pink hair streaks, a bright pink shirt... Dang, I was looking at a mirror. Not so far fetched to think a pink phone would fit the "ensemble".

Silly Lana. Well, at least I didn't actually yell at the guy...

P.S. Phone, so Lazy Lana can add you - if you still want to talk to her after reading this story.

U R so... Scooter

Beth: I like your thingy.
Erik: Well, you can come and see my thingy anytime.

Feast, with special guest Keith, was particularly amusing.

Beth picked me up from work and we headed over to Rem and Steph's together. We arrived just in time for a talk that involved unusual fish dishes. This later evolved into a talk about levels of vegetarianism (Would the proper term for someone who only eats fruit, fruitopian?).

Beth: Is there anyone you want to kill off?
Me: ... It's that easy? I can just do it? ...

Beth revealed she found Katy Perry's album on my desk at work. We were delayed trying to figure out if the song name "UR so Gay" actually translates to "You Are" or "You're"... or the grammatically incorrect "Your" (possible in another context?).

Keith: It offends so many people - you have to play it.

Michael's laptop was engaged. We didn't talk about grammar after that. Rather we concentrated on Katy's creepy smile, which Rem coined the "Agressive Passive-Aggressive" smile.

The laptops were on... so why not do the "Which Star Trek Character Are You?" quiz and "The Muppet Personality Test"? The rounds were made. Steph re-did the Muppet quiz putting each question to vote. Her Animal result of 2006 was overturned... to Scooter! Actually by the end of the night there were many Scooters revealed. One Kermit (Chris) and one (self-proclaimed well deserved) Miss Piggy (Keith) emerged as well.

The talk flowed somehow to celebrity crushes, to which Steph pulled out her copy of BBC's Pride and Prejudice, for one of the classics: Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. Someone was clearly in disagreement with that choice: "He looks like he needs a serious smack."

Ah, so many other hot people in the celebrity world and many who would qualify as a "guilty celebrity crush" - alas it was time for me to go.

-------------------------------------------------

I didn't retake the Muppet test last night. I'm nervous about it. Since March 2006, have I changed so much to be someone else? I will do it again. But first, I'm going to hone up my Miss Piggy skills via reading and following Kirsten's Miss Piggy's Guide to Life. Let's start with

The Miss Piggy Seven-Minute Amazing Face Daily Shape Up

1. Dip tissue in astringent, sniff, make face, then throw away tissue
2. Wash face
3. Dry with towel
4. Look in mirrors
5. Smile with approval
6. Eat candy

I can do that.

News to Me

David comes for a visit and we go for a walk. Unlike his somewhat-famous photos walks, we didn't have our cameras, the route was not planned, and we were confined to one hour. We wandered. At one point we're inside the MechE building, and then minutes later we're trying to find an exit out of BioSci. Since we haven't seen each other since the Swinging Soiree, there were many things to catch up on, at least on his end. He told me about some interesting tests he will be running, the music workshops of late, and the explosion in his fridge earlier that day... but what was most exciting (in my view), he was heading to Hawaii in a week. Ah, the sun, the warmth.

Aside from David's visit, nothing too exciting is happening at work. Outside of work though...


A LRT!

My morning half-awake daze on Tuesday, was interupted by my first encounter with one of the new LRT trains. It's shiny. Inside it is mostly grey and silver, with royal blue upholstered seats. The tinted windows do not give much light, but the inside is lit with bright white lights that makes it look a little clinical, but definitely adds to the "Wake up!" factor, plus orange-amber lights on screens spell out the upcoming stations (along with a new male voice announcing locations).

I know it'll all seem normal and regular soon enough, but on this first trip I thought of New York. They don't look the same at all - but both gave me the feeling, excitement that out of the ordinary (yet positive) would happen... like maybe an alien would step through the sliding doors.


It's in you to give, too!

Federal budget was released early in the week, which meant lots of potential discussion in class. However, Nancy was distracted. She kept looking to her phone saying she might have to step out for something urgent. When the call came, she left class and came back in less than 5 minutes. In tow: two medium-sized dogs. So cute! She continued class after confirming it was o.k. to have the dogs there. They were so well behaved, quietly sitting in the corner as we talked about the political aspects of the budget.

When we were done I asked Nancy about them. Turns out these dogs were doing something very important before class. They were donating blood. Wow, blood donor dogs. I guess the need would be there (dogs have operations and accidents too... and does this mean there's a blood bank nearby?). I thought it was wonderful, but now, I'm also wondering: Can dogs give consent? Do they have a real choice?

New Spring? Late Christmas.

Happy Chinese New Year! The sun was shining today and the sky is clear, and it could very well be spring, if it wasn't so cold.

Parents remind me that if we were in China, I'd have the day off. I'm not complaining. Sure I'm at work, but our team caught up with Christmas celebrations by going out for lunch today (Chianti's - chocolate mousse on special). We aren't the only ones to wait - Catherine's work had their Christmas party yesterday.

I met up with Catherine after her shift, after I got off class (amazingly happy to have received my exam back - I passed!). Together we go to Smilie's. The restaurant is only a couple parking lots away, but it was so cold that driving seemed like must. Once inside we're directed to a private room, and then chaos ensued.

The "cool" table (also "kids" table or maybe simply the "over-sugared" table?) beckoned. And it continued to beckon, so as to accommodate all the people a table was added to extend the original... and another... until before you know it, one side was trapped against the wall. But undeterred, we all ordered the buffet and climbed out as necessary.

I possibly embarassed Catherine by eating as much seafood as I did (it's a buffet!), and piling all the batter from the deep fried items on the edge of my plate to form a little mountain. But then again, she was more likely too distracted to notice: a food fight that seemed on the brink of eruption, the pop culture references that were volleyed across the room, the cellphones that were whipped out to show/take pictures and play songs, the sugar-packet-people army that was being created and amassed...

It didn't take long for me to recognise Alex, who from work anecdotes, draws and commentates on issues of People magazine. He'd be the same guy who insists on recasts for all of Twilight to make it entertaining and then jumping to three other topics before I (or anyone) chance to comment. More difficult to place was the guy who supposedly has a tattoo of a buddha wrapped around his calf.

In line at the buffet, a Chinese lady (one of less-hyper co-workers) catches my eye. We look at each other, comment, and laugh. Chinese New Year's Eve and here we were at a "faux" Chinese food restaurant.

All in all, it was a pretty amusing night. Makes one have dangerous thoughts, such as "maybe I should take a part-time job at bookstore"... unfortunately, I think I'd be too slow.

O.k. time to head home for dinner. Xin Nian Kuai Le!

Preparing for New Spring

"First you punch him and then if he speaks English you say, “What the F*ck was that?!”"

~ Morgan, re: The Appropriate Response

It's bagel time!
I had a little trouble believing how excited Kevin was that I was going to go get bagels. He cheered. I guess he just really, really likes bagels (I had not starved them). So I take the order: One toasted regular with cream cheese... a toasted honey wheat (or multigrain) with cream cheese... and another toasted regular, but with butter, a hamburger... and coffee... and leave the kids with Michael and Jay to watch the kung fu demonstration.

We were at the Telus Centre in the first place because of the Chinese New Year Celebration and Open House for the Mactaggart Art Collection. I got Theresa to drop us off early (we were probably of the first ten to arrive) with the plan to look at the collection and do some activities. What actually happened: they played on the terminal with the interactive online exhibit. Not that I could blame them exactly. The page flipping was really cool, and the online exhibit was more extensive than what the showing area could fit (access it here), but I was ulitmately glad I had a chance to stare at the originals the last time I was there.

We then headed out to the lobby to do activities. Agreeing on where to start was an issue, but I plunked them down and ordered them to paint. Michael arrives then, and he gives the brush painting a try too.

Next, a close examine of the (sleeping) lions. "Are those (pom poms) boogers?" No, they are not.

Jay joins us. Kevin works on a lantern (left: Ahh! Lightning!), and then we watch the lions dance. And then... I go for bagels.

I regretted, almost immediately out the door, that I had to walk 3 blocks. Ack! Windchill! There were still small gaps between sunglasses and hat, and sunglasses and scarf that the wind took advantage of. The return trip was a little better as I hugged the toasted items and coffee for warmth. I was glad really glad I didn't follow the original plan which involved taking the kids to the bagels.

The crowd that had accumulated during the lion dance was no where to be seen. We ate at a now empty table. At almost rendezvous time, we go to the Max nearby (the rendezvous point). From the reaction I got from the kids as they waited (half exploring) in the Max, I thought, maybe this was the highlight for them.

Anyway, without the kids. Some more fun: The Reuse Centre! What was there that delighted? Steph (!), and carpet samples (with names that attempt to invoke movie greats, and rival a mid-priced cosmetic hue). Had made a vow not to bring any more things home until after the (Chinese) new year... so I took pictures... and had Michael take things home with him.

With the rest of my afternoon, I continue what I've been doing for the past few days: Clean. I've dusted, done some sorting... made a little headway, but there's still a lot more to go. It's kind of nice to know that my horoscope thinks this a good course of action:

This goes against everything you believe in: try living with less. Your life is so cluttered that anything new, including a relationship, can't find a place to rest. Clean out your closets, tidy up your paperwork and remove the emotional baggage. Out with the old in with the new.

Questions / Answers

At long last, someone invents "the dream VCR." This machine allows you to tape an entire evening's worth of your own dreams, which you can then watch at your leisure. However, the inventor of the dream VCR will only allow you to use this device if you agree to a strange caveat: When you watch your dreams, you must do so with your family and your closest friends in the same room. They get to watch your dreams with you. And if you don't agree to this, you can't use the dream VCR. Would you still do this?

~ Question 6 of "The twenty-three questions I ask everybody I meet in order to decide if I can really love them" from Chuck Klosterman's Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs

I was taking pictures of shoes when Adonis appeared. This time he was wearing yoga pants and a hoodie, which I thought was ridiculous in the cold. But then again there I was stopped, with my gloves off, to take pictures of shoes...

We were back at the Second Cup, with cups of chai latte again in hand. I got the feeling that he was a little unsettled inspite taking me to visit his chess friends on the second floor before.

He tells he seems himself on a billboard. It will happen one day, he just needs to figure out what it is that will make him millions. He asks me if I know what my best friend was doing right then (I nodded, having some idea) and says "She's probably caught up in her own drama," and that each and everyone one of us is caught up in something. Drama that we create for ourselves. He's already moved on to Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs, that was in my bag (I'm re-reading it again), but my brain was agreeing with what he said. How many times have I freaked out over something that was small... becoming so consumed and self-centred that it was a wonder that I could still function. All of it, just inside my head...

He's all curious about Klosterman's questions, reading them aloud and pausng at points to ask about certain words... thinking about the answers... His hands gesture expressively as he talks, and these gushes are punctuated by moments where he took hold of the paper cup and stared out of the window in silence. I still didn't understand what he's doing there. And aside from a certain amount of wondering if I could solve this puzzle, I didn't know why I was there either.

By the time I got home, I was thinking about drama again... I was caught up in a bit of it and I didn't want Adonis to be part of it anymore.

Birthday Retribution - Lite

After what Lorena and Wendy put me through, I vowed to get them back. However, they're pretty smart, and have vacation days to spare... So, Wendy got off lightly in November by not coming in to work (we only took her for lunch after). Lorena, though, wasn't going to escape.

We went for lunch at Earls. Its newly renovated interior had black and dark wood furnishings with gold chains, glass, and plenty of mirrors for detailing. I felt underdressed and figured I would be overpaying for the meal. But, it wasn't that bad. The waiter accommodated my hot water and lemon requests and we all had chicken wings (which were on special). The washrooms are a bit of a challenge to get to, but you can always take the elevator.

We talked, and Wendy revealed some of her goals and resolutions from last year. She said most of them were achieved. She's adding "Find Lana a boyfriend" to this year's list.

We didn't order cake or tip off the staff to sing a song or anything like that... but Lorena didn't know. She thought she was finally in safe territory when we left and still no one appeared. But ah-ha! An hour later there was cake and flowers! (Right: Wendy gives the thumbs up - operations, a go!) Definitely it was a surprise.

And so, that is all... for this year. Things are definitely easier with Wendy on my side.

A Stamping Good Time

When did I lose my happy feelings about stamping? Hm... then again, did I ever enjoy stamping as much as John?

He kicked me out of my office after we exchanged photos (and finished playing with the stamps) to go downstairs for lunch. I had my trusty microwaved bowl; He tried something new - apples in a pressed cheese panini. We sat and talked: He and Beth went to a swing aerials workshop! It sounded like so much fun and he insists it's not that difficult. I'm totally envious. Though I have to admit, the thought of flying through the air is kind of terrifying. We'll see how I feel when I actually have time for a dance class.

After the Mid-Term

"What is "jeet hoc"?"


Turns out Mom didn't know either. The celebrity in the interview talked about how his parents thought it was great when he got into university, but never told them that he was in "jeet hoc". We got Dad involved. From his explanation (the study of why people are on Earth... what is the meaning of life...) it sounded like philosophy.


"Why would people think about that?"


Turns out Mom's never thought about those questions. Or at least doesn't remember ever asking those questions, and was not or have ever been curious about them. I was shocked. Though I didn't think about it much, I still thought everyone thought about it at some point, even if just a for a little while...

It's unusual that we'd be watching television* together in the first place, but I was in my post-exam afterglow and "editing" another pair of jeans in the living room. Sure I was tired and not making much sense, but I was also buzzing from all the energy and ideas that were supressed while I had focused on studying and exam writing. Getting through the entire list of "Things to do after the exam", before I had to start worrying about the next one, would be impossible. But it was a time to get a start on it.


So when Angela called to ask how I was doing, I told her about the jeans and how the pair I was using as guide (which I had "edited" years ago) had one longer leg and one shorter leg. I laughed when she said, without missing a beat, "Isn't that your style?"


Right, the midterm. It was fair. Anything unanswered was because I couldn't remember what I read, or I knew had not managed to read… so no tricks or anything. Le sigh. Well, as long as I pass this one, I still have a chance on the final. I hope I atleast get half a point for my chicken in every pot joke…

* The end of the television saga: One more delivery no-show on Wednesday, Angela was on the phone almost all of Thursday, and finally, television arrives Friday morning. Then came the part where we set it up.

Visit!

"Grow always. Grow all ways. Never stop."

~ Milk advert - somewhat inspiring, somewhat creepy (imagine yeast)

Coffee Club went fairly smoothly despite my rushed and impatient mood. It was interesting to know that the traditional clothes I brought to wear for the Chinese New Year theme were servant, "ya tao", clothes (as revealed by Sheng who cites Dream of the Red Chamber "Hung Lou Meng"). However, I didn't appreciate people leaving the event without helping to clean up.

It is however Friday, and things later did look up: Beth and Paul came for a visit. My first of the year! I showed off my wall and flowering (!) plant, and shared some treats.

Paul agreed to pose for a photo (right). Apparently, from all possible things on my desk, Christmas gift from Wendy, How to Pee Standing Up: Tips for Hip Chicks, was worth the most contemplation.

Mood was thus greatly improved.

Onward to the weekend!

Lana is Cranky

I used to think I had a lot of patience, but when Nancy made class interesting by having us role play and evaluate two different government proposals, and no one spoke, I just had it. Come on people, you're bright! Respond in class so I don't have to say something possibly embarassing or nonsensical to get things going. I mean, I wasn't even playing Treasury Board, and as Nancy said, "It's good to be Treasury Board, you can be cranky all the time. " I know I can't expect other people to participate if I am reluctant too... but if no one participates we're all just staring at a white board for 3 hours until we can go home.

Ugh, a class that seemed kind of wasted, plus OGRES events that seem to be taking more time than what they're worth... and Morgan. Morgan is going! She apologised for leaving a gap in various teams (and conversion especially), but I was thinking how I was going to miss our gab sessions, and how she made me laugh when I was sad or cranky like this at work. It is good that she's headed for greener pastures.... I'm just going to miss her.

Screen Time

Overheard on the bus: "For a while she was hooked on McDonald's. So her liver is not hot... I'm attracted to livers."



My brain must do a lot of filtering. The birth scene in Amelie, the sad parts of Love Actually... the part with the organs... Madame Tutli-Putli, I had watched at the NFB Animation Festival with Steph and remembered it was a mezmerising, stop action animation short, that had some really vivid characters. Madame Tutli-Putli also reminded me of one of our friends, and I wondered if other people saw the resemblance. I decided to add it to the line up for Movie Night with some other library finds. And I still think it's great. Only that I wish I could have warned some of our queasier members about one particular scene. Chris was interested in the puppet eyes, and indeed they are real! Um... maybe there's a better way to phrase that without being really creepy...

Anyway, after my quick meal standard of pan fried dumplings (augmented by an addictive, sweet and hot sauce) and Shanghai bok choy, Chris, Michael, Beth, Kirsten and I started talking about about life partners / back-up plans (it seems we will be a bunch of spinsters with cats [I, however, plan to be the cat lady without cats]), and bathrooms... It was a later start to the main feature: Lars and the Real Girl.

"What?! Is that it?!"

After an hour and a half of munching on cookies, trying to figure out exactly what's wrong with main character Lars, marvelling at how a small town came together to help one of its members, and wondering if the soundtrack was actually from a car commercial, the movie ended. Listing / describing the elements would make the movie seem kind of crazy. It's not the type of comedy you would expect (if I told you the elements). For one, it wasn't crass at all! And we laughed.

Before I kicked everyone out, Kirsten and I finally exchanged our Christmas presents. She had made sure I had some merry for the rest of the year (right).



I returned the next couple of days to do some cleaning and chose to watch a couple more movies from Erik's collection.



Josie and the Pussycats rocks! I had written it off as some fluff movie from looking at the box, but turns out, it has a message aside from being incredibly fun to dance to (keep in mind it is based on a comic book). The music was catchy, and the fashion, visuals, antics, very Zoolander-esque. (Warning: My rave review could be due to the power of subliminal suggestion.)

Harold Crick: I don't want to eat nothing but pancakes, I want to live! I mean, who in their right mind in a choice between pancakes and living chooses pancakes?
Dr. Jules Hilbert: Harold, if you pause to think, you'd realize that that answer is inextricably contingent upon the type of life being led... and, of course, the quality of the pancakes.

Even more wonderful, is Stranger than Fiction. I laughed. I cried. I loved Emma Thompson (eccentric, British, chain-smoking, writer with writer's block). And Will Farrell as a straight-laced IRS auditor, who falls for the "anarchist" baker he audits, isn't bad either. It was witty and heartwarming. And come on, don't we all want auditors (and others without lives) to finally live? Hm... another story about books... I want to read Karin Eiffel's novel eventhough I know what happens (just like The Orchid Thief, for Adaptation), but technically it doesn't exist...

Wow, I've spent a significant amount of time in the last 4 days watching movies. The nice part is, it doesn't seem like a waste.

TWTTDC 2

Chopper Dave came on Thursday. Between him and Dad they loaded up one of the televisions into the back seat of his car. This was a problem... because the new television did not come.

I spent most of Saturday morning and part of the afternoon on the phone being shuffled from complaint line, to sales manager, to warehouse... followed with calls to Angela to keep her updated on the situation. Definitely not my idea of fun.

It felt great then to finally escape the house and go off to meet Catherine. We ran errands and she made me laugh. At Superstore she "covered me" so that I could take pictures of some of the more interesting items that are now being sold. "Memories of Butter" (right) reminded me that I have no clue how they make margarine without hydrogenation* (that was THE organic chem example). Rixe de Musiciens** (left) simply had me laughing. Was that man trying to stuff a cookie down the other man's throat? Do you really think you can sell cookies with this kind of tin?

We then went to her place, made dinner and watched Stephen Colbert's Christmas special. What a strange man.

Sunday was our second class back from the Christmas break. My mind wandered a little, thinking about the sledding party that was going on... but a look out of the window made me think: It's good good I'm not out there. It was pitch white.

Still, after class, I decided to drop into Rem and Steph's to see how the sledders fared. My perfect timing meant I was there to join Rem, Steph, Kathy, and Neil for dinner.

After dinner I went with Steph to pick up some groceries. "They're out of 'nanner's!" My suggestions of grapefruit and plaintains are not accepted... how about some banana pudding? Turns out there's no canned banana either.

Steph takes me to find a camera bag. We came out of London Drugs with one that is the height of both function and fashion (it has a rain coat!) and possibly, *gulp* price? Thank you so much Rem and Steph. The camera (I should name it!) thanks you too.

I return home surprised to find it dark. But no one was sleeping; Mom and Dad had migrated downstairs, wrapped in blankets, to watch television.

* Instead of adding hydrogen and in the process create nasty transfats, modified palm and palm kernel oil (saturated fats, which are solid at room temperature) are added.

** Rixe de Musiciens, without the cookies, is an actual art piece by Georges de La Tour, a C17 French artist. Here's a commentary on the piece.

In which the ski gloves were thrown...

...and kindness taught.

Slept last night with unsual dreams: Steph was building things out of broccoli and they had come to life. Was this a reaction to something in the delicious mushroom and squid ball soup from Feast? Or the result of trying to go drug-free / pill-free (tea's still o.k.) for a month? Or just because the brain is weird sometimes?

It was a much quieter Feast than last week. Rem made noodles with soups filled with goodies from T&T. One such goodie, the squid ball, inflated while cooking, but then cooled and settled down to a more manageable size. Again, everything was very delicious.

For dessert, we had steamed taro buns. With most steamed buns, the Lana approved eating method is to peel off the skin and eat that first (I've seen other people peel, but then throw away the skin - this, while more "posh", is not the Lana way). And then one starts on the fluffy breadish insides (evenly distributing any fillings). Michael remarked that the newly peeled steamed bun looks like a tribble. All I know is: nom, nom, nom...

Filled with food, we cleared the table to play Settlers of Kataan. The twist: using a 12-sided die. Without the usual two 6-sided dice probabilities to guide me, the game seemed a lot more difficult in my mind. I almost put down a settlement, when Rem says, "That would be unkind." He was right. But wasn't that the part of the game? Thinking further: No. It's a strategy one could take, but it doesn't have to be the way one plays. I lift my piece off the board and try again.

I don't remember who won in the end. Maybe I did: Both Chris and Michael threw down their gloves in a (mock) fight to drive me home. Yes, incredibly silly, but it still makes a girl feel kind of special you know.

Best in Show

The television-per-capita in our house is still high, but that could change very soon since Shawnie Fever got me in contact with Chopper Dave. (Gotta love those names.)

Sherri Ann Cabot: We have so much in common, we both love soup and snow peas, we love the outdoors, and talking and not talking. We could not talk or talk forever and still find things to not talk about.

In an even higher television-per-capita home on the other side of the city, people watched Best in Show. The movie is another mockumentary by the team who did A Mighty Wind and Waiting for Guffman. This one centres around the Mayflower National Dog Show, the major contenders, and their owners. We laughed, partially in knowing that some parts were completely over the top and ridiculous, and another part in knowing there probably were people out there just like that. The annoying, hyper-competitive are right next to the unassuming and sweet. And of course some really cute dogs. I again appreciate how authentic and real these movies seem: the stories end with things left unsaid, lives go on and sometimes you find out what happens, but there's no clean break, no ending. Looking forward to their next.

Meg Swan: We met at Starbucks. Not at the same Starbucks but we saw each other at different Starbucks across the street from each other.

The weekend the television didn't come

I waited. My parents waited. The television did not come. As a result there was a lot of crankiness, followed by many phone calls to find out why, followed by more phone calls to Angela to explain what happened... which all equals aggravation for everyone. It seemed all the worse since it was supposed to be a good gift for Mom and Dad.

On the plus side, with the new delivery date I have an extra week to think of what to do with the old televisions. Yes, you read that right, more than one.

One, my parents are using right now (in fact possibly watching it right now); the other, an old wooden cabinet style television with turn-dial channel changer and rolling wheels, on which I used to watch Seasame Street and Lassie (in black and white). The latter has been unplugged and sitting in the corner for years. I think of it as mine to turn into an aquarium or some other art project... one day... But as it works (and I can't imagine moving it), it should go to someone who can use it.

An unexpected (plus) side effect of waiting for delivery: I was at home and I did some housework. It was scary how fast time passed, but I still managed to focus for a little while and returned to the idea of goals for the new year. Here's my list (to be read with a fist thump on the desk at the beginning of each):

1. Finish that CGA already! (Or at very least, the class portion)
2. Finish Andrea's wedding present (which will now be the 3rd year anniversary / 3rd Christmas together present?)
3. Donate blood at least 4 times in the year (which entails being: more healthy, less reckless, and better at scheduling)
4. Catch up on the blog
5. X
6. Y
7. Z

You didn't think I was going to tell you everything :P Besides, I'm still a little superstitious.

Happy New Year!

"You're the most beautiful girl in the... room..." I take a quick scan, and indeed I was... the only girl in the room. Nick was saying another line, muffled by laughing... you're so beautiful, you could be a high class prostitute? Uh... thanks? Turns out this declaration was from, you guessed it, Flight of the Conchords. Silly Spud.

Through out the night I was surrounded by warmth. No matter if I was in the main room or the overflow room - there were smiling faces everywhere. So many people at Feast! Aside from the regulars, Anne, Meaghan, Stephen, Catherine, Nick, and Shawnie Fever, were all there too.

We did a lot of catching up: Anne was headed to Guelph. Stephen was to graduate. Shawnie Fever was working at the another business venture...

Meaghan and Rem had spent that afternoon cooking. Aside the lovely dishes we all devoured early on, there were dumplings for a later night snack. Dumpling Attempt #1 was a little wet (right). Attempt #2, steamed, proved to be the best way to go. All were tasty.

The champagne (and lychee liquour) got low as the night got late, however we continued to fill each others' heads with funny stories.

This was a great start to the year. Thank you Rem and Steph for Feast.

Swing in the New Year / Review

I avoided it at the mid-year point... so why not another night? So, instead of quiet reflection, I went dancing at Sugar Swing's New Year's Eve Soiree.

Erik and I arrived early for the beginner class. Beth, Madeline, arrived later (the three of us sparkled in our black dresses - but no photos to post, again on pain of broken limbs). We danced. We watched some good demos. We sat and listened to Swing Manouche, the live band, as sometimes their numbers would be too fast for us. In a tempo changing version of Caravan, the clarinet player wandered among the dancers. I got one Viennese Waltz (with Jim) among all the swing, and danced the blues with Beth. Before I knew it, we were toasting the new year with plastic glasses of bubbly and enthusiastically mumbling / lip-synching through Aud Lang Syne.

Now, more than a whole day later (and back at work), it really is time for reflection. A whole year's worth. I checked, I didn't talk about resolutions last year in the blog, but I did mention some goals to friends in emails. They were the amorphous: "Be more adventurous", "Try new things", and "Challenge personal boundaries." Which I had to admit looked pretty easy that point in time since I was looking forward to a trip to New York (adventure!) and feeling optimistic (romance in the air). However, after the trip, and feeling pretty antisocial and withdrawn for months later, I'm not sure I got back on track.

On the plus side: I was a driver on a bike tour; I helped take down and then put up a wall; I completed another CGA class...

However, with all this activity (plus more movies, art, and dates than any year before), I still feel as thought I'm spinning my wheels and not getting anywhere. This feels like another period of transition (maybe they all are?).

Great highs, great lows, and some really good friends along for the ride... that last point certainly makes me feel lucky. I think I will need more direction in the coming year. More later.