little bitty girl

I love people-watching. Human beings and the way they interact with their environment never cease to fascinate me. Today was an especially good day of people-watching so I thought I would share. This will also be one of those long, hodpodged - NOW there's a good word - convulated entries about nothing in particular, so don't feel obligated to read this.

So true to my Saturday routine, I was at the gym this morning for the live DJ spin class. There is a girl who always manages to look flawless even when she is profusely sweating. I always think to myself that it's a particular skill that I would like to obtain. Then at the very same class, there is a girl who really tries too hard. She's one of those girls who puts on makeup before going to class. Why? I simply don't know.

After the gym, I had to go to the library because Stef thinks it's ridiculous how much I've been "supporting" the public library system lately with my late fees and was told very sternly NOT to borrow any more books as I already have a huge pile of books that I either bought or borrowed that I haven't read.

On the streetcar on the way to the library, there was an Asian woman who had a perm! The scary thing is she looked to be my age! I can understand if she had been of the older generation but someone my age should simply know better! I just wanted to pull her aside and say kindly - Honey, the Asian poodle look has never been and never will be in style.

Then a little old lady came on and she just proved that someone with personal style will always remain in style. She was this sweet thing dressed in a 1950's tweed swing coat, with a leather belt cinched around the waist, and a pink tweed knitted beret carrying a basket full of groceries. It really irritated me when these gaggle of teenage girls, who were sitting in the front, in the priority seats for the invalid and the elderly, just looked at the lady and kept on chattering. Finally, after the sweet old lady had to walk down FIVE seats, a middle aged man gave her his seat. I get to my stop and there was a man standing at the door but he wasn't getting off and when I asked him to "excuse me" as I was getting off, he gave me this look like I just killed his favourite pet or something.

I get to the library and decide just to check the fiction/bestselling turning racks just in case there were any "hidden gems." Having worked in a bookstore during my teenage years, I inevitably start reshelving the books as they were out of order. (I know, it sounds insane but I hear its something people who used to work in bookstores quite often do) and something unusual caught my eye. There was a guy who could have been Stef's little brother (but wasn't, thank God or I would never be able to look him in the eye again) browsing through the ROMANCE section. At some point, I was openly gaping, all agog at him, and he just looked up, smiled like nothing was wrong and KEPT BROWSING.

Perturbed by the whole experience, I left hurriedly with three books that I don't actually know what the story is about but the covers looked nice. Yes, I am one of those people who does judge a book by its cover. At this point, I have to interject and say - MARIE! THERE WAS A MURAKAMI book in the "Best Bets, 7 Day Loan" section! You weren't LYING! He DOES exist. I didn't borrow it as I still have Middlesex to read.

I then decided to treat myself to some Vietnamese noodles at my favourite Vietnamese restaurant, Pho 88 at Dundas and Spadina. I love their young, coconut juice as they don't put syrup in it like other places. Anyways, there was the cutest Asian girl with her family eating a LARGE noodle soup. Do you have any idea how large the large bowl is? You could bathe a newborn in one of those bowls! And this teeny little thing was happily munching away. I was so jealous as I can only manage a small bowl, which is still quite large.

Deciding that my legs were way too tired to make the walk home, I hop back onto the streetcar where I encoutered the Asian version of Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie! One girl was wearing an embellised vest over a printed button down shirt, with strands of pearls around her neck and her Juicy Couture sweatpants tucked in her pink mukluks swinging around her giant lululemon gym bag. The other girl was wearing a bunch of fake, huge, rhinstone rings on multiple fingers, an embroidered blazer over a mini over leggings tucked in her blue mukluks. Both were wearing bigger than Jackie O sunglasses and saying "that's hot" A LOT. Can you say, OVERKILL?

Then I got home. But all in all, a very amusing people-watching day.

Oh, and if you're wondering why all the Asian references, the streetcar from the gym to the library goes through Chinatown.