Dearest Marie,
No special box for you today as I am notoriously bad at sending your birthday boxes off on time. I like to think that you enjoy the lingering of the "joy" or at least that's the idea I've always managed to sell you on. But as ever, you've accepted my delays with absolute grace. This is supposedly a "big" birthday for you so I thought you would have to make do with a letter until your box arrives.
I am still so profoundly amazed that we've known each other for so very long and yet have only really, really connected in the past three years. I cannot imagine a life without you in it. Other than Stefan, you are the only other person who truly, truly knows me - without my skin, without any reservations, or walls of social decorum. And I find it amazing that you find me to be a good enough human being to be the godmother to your child. I am still completely overwhelmed by such a wonderful gift.
Because, here's the thing. I am not without thought that I have many failings in my life. I am too passionate about silly things, hot headed and stubborn but somehow you find it all ok. Not just ok, but you actually like that about me. I like to think that you are this sister/partner/friend that I have never truly had. Until now. I also like to think that we are two sides of the same coin. But the truth is, I hope/think/pray that I can even reflect a very small part of you.
I have to tell you that I think that you are one of the most amazing people I have ever met in my life. You are so completely giving and kind, to all your family members and friends. Even when you think you're being a bitch, you are so ultimately kind. I spend most of my time in the industry being told by so many people on so many different levels how much they admire you. You being my friend, makes my cache as a human being so much more valuable. And the same goes for me. Anyone with the "Mree" stamp of approval is "good peoples" to me.
You always make me feel when things seem bleak that there is always a rainbow after the rain. You're an incredible human being. I always hope that your goodness will rub off on me one day. And one day, you know... it will. Until then, this is a note to you, my dearest friend.
Happy, happy birthday. I love you.
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Posted in Joy-Friends
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
K: Hey mum, I am gonna get you some workout gear so that you can use your fancy dandy new gym.
M: Really? Are you going to get pants also?
K: Yes, of course!
M: Are they nice?
K: No, mum. They're ugly.
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Posted in Family Shenanigans
K: Can I do a chore buster thingy for you?
S: What are you talking about?
K: It's kinda like that thing that you do. What's that thing that you do?
S: What thing do I do?
K: That alpine thing... that you use for work?
S: Basecamp?
K: Yeah, that's the one... (giggling ensues)
S: Alpine thing...(shaking head) You're lucky that we have a link or else I would never know what the hell you are talking about.
And that people, is usually how our conversations usually are.
More giggling as I am typing this.
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Posted in Conversations, Much To Do About Nothing, Stefan
that make me happy!!
Yes, I know it sounds ghetto but we don't have a dishwasher so we still do all our dishes the old fashion way. Up until recently we had a really (in my mind) unsanitary dish rack that did not have proper drainage. I would spend every other day washing the darn thing while muttering under my breathe "Salmonella" or "E-coli." They're the only two deadly food bacterias that I know of.
Finally, I convinced Stefan to splurge on this fancy dandy simplehuman one and I've been happy as a clam since. There's something really soothing and calming to me about hand washing dishes. I think it's because it used to be one of the very first chores I learnt as a child; and I used to make up imaginary games that I was in some dishwashing liquid commercial.
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Posted in Much To Do About Nothing, Reviewing
Did I mention that my parents sold our family home and are now living near us? Not, just living near, so near that if I didn't make a stop to buy crappy gas station French Vanilla coffee, I could be at their door in seven minutes in a snowstorm, walking.
It's a bit of a bittersweet moment. I didn't feel as traumatized as my cousins whose parents also just sold their family home. I think the move from one country was traumatizing enough when I was young. I am sad, though, because there were so many memories in the other house. But I am sure we'll make many new ones in the new place.
There are so many reasons why I am glad they made the move. First of all, my parents no longer drive so it's so much more convenient for them to be downtown. Secondly, they walk everywhere now. My parents (not that they were by any means fat) now boast slimmer waistlines and a renewed joie de vivre. Most importantly, I get to see them whenever I want.
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Posted in Family Shenanigans
With Spring coming (even though we just had another snow storm a couple of days ago), I've been thinking more about how I can live a greener life. One of my biggest pet peeves is how many plastic shopping bags we have. I feel like we're simply drowning in them. The city is trying to combat some of it and some larger grocery chains are trying to introduce a recycling program for them. Unfortunately, they haven't started it yet near where I live. So I decided to buy a couple of these recycled plastic shopping bins. I have no idea why I never bothered getting them before. They were so convenient and not a single plastic shopping bag was used. I've decided to reuse all of my existing bags until they completely fall apart.
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Posted in
We got a text from some of our Aussie friends just before 12 pm this morning asking us to meet them at the pub. For one brief second, I thought it was for brunch but Stef mentioned it was to meet them for pints. The reason? St. Paddy's Day is today.
I am so staying away from that madness. If I didn't have a friend moving to Argentina and having a farewell party tonight, I would rather stay in and order take out.
Boys are mad, aren't they?
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Posted in Girls Are From Earth, Boys Are From La La Land
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
I just had to show everyone her royal cuteness wearing a tee I bought her when I was last in New York. I can't get over her! I cannot believe how fast she's growing. I bought her some seriously cute goodies yesterday and I can't wait until she can wear them.
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Posted in Joy-Friends
For some reason, Stefan and I managed to squeeze in two DVD rentals this weekend. I know that this may not sound like some reason to blog but I really don't watch a lot of movies. I never know how the heck I do well in those Oscar competitions. I think maybe because I watch all the award shows for the fashions?
With The Departed, I found it *yawn* super boring. I didn't find it interesting or original. Even the violence became a little mundane after awhile. Somehow, I feel like this movie was the pity Oscar for a talented director who has been missed too many times (according to the academy anyway). I don't know, maybe I am just not a mobster type of movie watcher to really appreciate it. I started falling asleep toward the end.
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Posted in Reviewing
I was channel surfing when I happened onto a social experiment taking place on MTV Canada. The topic was about menstruation and one of the VJ's was trying to prove that men had no idea what to do with tampons. So she went around the production office asking various co-workers from the director of marketing to the intern to demonstrate how to use a tampon. Needless to say, the results were quite hilarious. I wondered though, whether the whole thing was a bit of a set up (one never knows with television) because the men were really quite ridiculous and I didn't think it was such a hard contraption to conquer.
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Posted in Girls Are From Earth, Boys Are From La La Land, Stefan
Just a quick post to let you guys know that I am still alive. I've been getting a couple, "I hope you're not dead..." emails. You would think that if I were, Stefan would bother to let people know.
But, it's nice to know people care...
I've just been busy. Every night, I am so bone achingly tired that all I can seem to do is lay prostate on the couch on my big giant pillows and let my brain slowly turn to mush.
Anyway, today I went to see my accountant to give him my tax stuff. I just want to say that he's really such a lovely guy and I enjoy seeing him whenever I do. He works down the hall from where I live so we tend to bump into each other. He's this older, rugged British guy with the typical snaggle teeth (What is up with Brits and their teeth? Don't they have good orthodontists there?) and just the most wonderful personality. He was diagnosed with cancer about six years ago and they had told him that he only had six months to live. He's now in remission and has such a brilliant outlook on life.
I swear, most of the time, I just drop my papers off and we talk for an hour about life. I am pretty organized with my paperwork so he never ever needs to ask too many questions about it. He's always giving me some kernel of witty wisdom. I really hope that if I was ever faced with such adversity, that I would face it with as much positivity.
On a side note, I am a little annoyed that the CCRA's online filing system is down and no one seems to have any idea when it will be fixed. This is the first time I've been so early to file my taxes and what good did it do me?
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Posted in Much To Do About Nothing, What's Buggin' Me