After a good three years and a half of my life without a dining room table, we finally got one last week. Damn, you don't realize how much you miss it until you lose it and then get it back. It's now my new favorite piece of furniture at home. If I like it more I'd have to promote it to the "electronics" class and give it a name. But that's silly, no one names their furnitures, do they? (I'm thinking Ronaldo because it's round).
Getting a new place and a new piece of furniture has its danger though. Now I want to make it all pretty and Canadian-Living-ish.... Sigh, dreams of table runner, centerpieces and picture perfect tableware, maybe even starting to see the point of those expensive paper napkins with pictures they sell at chapters.
Nothing screams settledom more than a costco membership and a weekend spent at hardware store. And then, a couple of hundreds dollars later, I realize that I should have seen this coming, that I should not have been given a home and a credit card. My Sims experience could have told me that.... Except I don't have decorative flamencos in my washroom now.
Maybe it's all those daytime television I've been watching, too. I reeeaaaally need to find something serious to do soon. Who would have thunk, housewifing has a diminishing marginal utility.
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Saturday, December 3, 2011
when you don't want the weekend to ever end.
Ding Tai Fung, working out, golfing, Harry Potter 7 and great weather, great company - it seemed like 12000 things got done this weekend.
Weekends are awesome when you wake up early enough to enjoy more of it!
Weekends are awesome when you wake up early enough to enjoy more of it!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
i have a weird condition
Lately, I've been getting extremely sleepy and tired starting from 4:00pm until 7:30pm --- and then wide awake when it's time for me to sleep. Feels like I'm running on Asia time or something.
Point in case, it's almost 1AM and I know I will suffer for it tomorrow morning when my alarm rings.... but here I am blogging away.
Am cleaning up my condo today and tossing stuff out, I realize, I have a LOT of junk. And I'm also more a packrat than I think I am. In fact, I'm all talk about being able to pack a bag and go. I have an entire box of old letters and odd mementos I received from various eras of my life, some of them from people I don't even talk to anymore. And I still can't bring myself to throw them away...
I'm still kicking myself for having tossed out the first diary I've written (when I was 9, my aunt Jo gave it to me right before I left for Canada and so it chronicled my first couple of years in Canada). It was tossed away in a teenage angst moment when I tried to pretend I can live without frivolities such as diaries, especially ones that contain evidence of my childishness. Yeah, teenagers are dumb and I hate them too.
I've still kept letters from high school, memos and cards from back then, the more prolific contributors even have their own envelopes. I think I can find birthday cards from as far back as elementary school? Not sure though, ever since that one time I had thought seriously about tossing the cards away, I don't remember if in fact I did or not. It was right after I heard about how people usually throw away birthday and Christmas cards, and that completely baffled me. Prior to that it was inconceivable to me that these things would be thrown away - I always thought they are meant to be kept, to commemorate that particular event. In my mind, people all have a box of these things either with them or in their parents' basement or attic. I just assumed that my parents don't have that because they don't do letters and cards and besides, were forced to part with them when they emigrated.
Now I throw some Christmas cards away, but still, most of the cards I receive... I still keep around. I don't know, am I crazy?
Point in case, it's almost 1AM and I know I will suffer for it tomorrow morning when my alarm rings.... but here I am blogging away.
Am cleaning up my condo today and tossing stuff out, I realize, I have a LOT of junk. And I'm also more a packrat than I think I am. In fact, I'm all talk about being able to pack a bag and go. I have an entire box of old letters and odd mementos I received from various eras of my life, some of them from people I don't even talk to anymore. And I still can't bring myself to throw them away...
I'm still kicking myself for having tossed out the first diary I've written (when I was 9, my aunt Jo gave it to me right before I left for Canada and so it chronicled my first couple of years in Canada). It was tossed away in a teenage angst moment when I tried to pretend I can live without frivolities such as diaries, especially ones that contain evidence of my childishness. Yeah, teenagers are dumb and I hate them too.
I've still kept letters from high school, memos and cards from back then, the more prolific contributors even have their own envelopes. I think I can find birthday cards from as far back as elementary school? Not sure though, ever since that one time I had thought seriously about tossing the cards away, I don't remember if in fact I did or not. It was right after I heard about how people usually throw away birthday and Christmas cards, and that completely baffled me. Prior to that it was inconceivable to me that these things would be thrown away - I always thought they are meant to be kept, to commemorate that particular event. In my mind, people all have a box of these things either with them or in their parents' basement or attic. I just assumed that my parents don't have that because they don't do letters and cards and besides, were forced to part with them when they emigrated.
Now I throw some Christmas cards away, but still, most of the cards I receive... I still keep around. I don't know, am I crazy?
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
i promise better content in the next post, today i'm whining again
I don't know why but ever since my migration to blogspot, most of my posts have been either sentimental or about some kind of resolution or whatever is happening to the sucky life of mine. They've lost the old glory of the xanga posts, for some reason. I have no idea why the content is dwindling - probably because I suck and I used to be better-more-awesomer before. I can't believe you peeps are still reading this thing... ain't nothing profound going on here, either. It's not like I have life inspired epiphanies or anything. Just plain old bitching and not very creative ones at that.
It's just a lukewarm soup of meh.
Anyhow, that aside, I've got the p90x package today and step one was to take "before" pictures and it was quite the shocker.
Self-confidence is sexy and these days, well, let me share a wikileak secret here - yours truly is definitely not after looking at those pictures. I should have taken those pictures before I ate my dinner-that-could-have-fed-a-country (a large chicken breast and carbonara pasta, and a sweet belgian waffle as dessert, I won't even bother with the calorie-counting at this point, since I also ate throughout the entire day). It would have scared me into non-eat. Just like how every time I - try to - buy swimwear I turn effing emo, this picture-taking is quite the hit on the ego.
The thing is, there's a constant struggle for me between being lazy versus being vain.... seriously, I don't know if I have it in me to work out hard enough to get toned and lean, ever, even if it's on the bucket list (and considering how much I eat, I have to work out very, very hard).
The saddest part is that I recognize my laziness and can't do anything about it (too lazy to do anything about it? it's getting very circular here). Next thing I know, Lazy Doremish is listening to the inner voice saying "embrace your beautiful curves, you're gorgeous!" à la Dove commercials. I laugh at the implication of "gorgeous" every time I see those ads. The cynical in me can't help but think about how a "gorgeous" woman wouldn't be part of a campaign to stand together naked in defiance and be called gorgeous. Yes no doubt they're "beautiful" in some ways, but the undertone is that they're not beautiful in conventional ways and they need a kind of validation.
Bah. Anyhow, so basically, I go through a bit of weight loss and then feel justified to eat more and exercise less again. It wasn't bad before, but my Asian genes can only save me for so long. I think the metabolism is becoming whiteified as I age and my friend Tummy Le Flubber looks like he's gotten comfortable and settled on me. I guess I just need to suck it up and work out more - i.e. consistently - and be patient (uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugh). Folks, and I say this with a sigh, this thing is turning into the hardest effing resolution ever.
Meeeeh.
It's just a lukewarm soup of meh.
Anyhow, that aside, I've got the p90x package today and step one was to take "before" pictures and it was quite the shocker.
Self-confidence is sexy and these days, well, let me share a wikileak secret here - yours truly is definitely not after looking at those pictures. I should have taken those pictures before I ate my dinner-that-could-have-fed-a-country (a large chicken breast and carbonara pasta, and a sweet belgian waffle as dessert, I won't even bother with the calorie-counting at this point, since I also ate throughout the entire day). It would have scared me into non-eat. Just like how every time I - try to - buy swimwear I turn effing emo, this picture-taking is quite the hit on the ego.
The thing is, there's a constant struggle for me between being lazy versus being vain.... seriously, I don't know if I have it in me to work out hard enough to get toned and lean, ever, even if it's on the bucket list (and considering how much I eat, I have to work out very, very hard).
The saddest part is that I recognize my laziness and can't do anything about it (too lazy to do anything about it? it's getting very circular here). Next thing I know, Lazy Doremish is listening to the inner voice saying "embrace your beautiful curves, you're gorgeous!" à la Dove commercials. I laugh at the implication of "gorgeous" every time I see those ads. The cynical in me can't help but think about how a "gorgeous" woman wouldn't be part of a campaign to stand together naked in defiance and be called gorgeous. Yes no doubt they're "beautiful" in some ways, but the undertone is that they're not beautiful in conventional ways and they need a kind of validation.
Bah. Anyhow, so basically, I go through a bit of weight loss and then feel justified to eat more and exercise less again. It wasn't bad before, but my Asian genes can only save me for so long. I think the metabolism is becoming whiteified as I age and my friend Tummy Le Flubber looks like he's gotten comfortable and settled on me. I guess I just need to suck it up and work out more - i.e. consistently - and be patient (uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugh). Folks, and I say this with a sigh, this thing is turning into the hardest effing resolution ever.
Meeeeh.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
en français, j'appelle ça un agenda...
I finally bought a weekly planner. I love my stationery items and weekly planners are just one of those things I used to love getting the first day of school. I would eagerly fill it out with all the 30 birthdays that I could remember and the to-dos of that day. It kept me organized and it kept me from being bored at times in classes, since I'd spend time organizing stuff or doodling in it. Actually still kept me organized until 2 years ago when I stopped using it, and started becoming geriatric.
So I swung by Chapters in this week and bought a piece of my youth back. And I filled it in with all the 5 birthdays I remember. :)
So I swung by Chapters in this week and bought a piece of my youth back. And I filled it in with all the 5 birthdays I remember. :)
Monday, September 5, 2011
Ti-what?
Ahhh the much dreaded end of Labour Day weekend is drawing to a close and of course with the weather I'm experiencing the SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and PVS (post vacation syndrome) and whatnot. On the other hand V is thriving in the crisp autumn weather and getting giddy for the upcoming football season. Well at least one of us loves it.
So the condo hunt this weekend is another fail... while we did have more criteria to narrow the selections down, which means that nothing is going to be found anytime soon. On the other hand I'm still on my quest of happiness trying to find out what causes all my SAD and PVS...
The weekend is slow and relaxing, mostly reading and cooking and walking around. Meeting up with old friends and BBQ'ing with V's parents. One of our buds went to NYC this weekend with a long-time girlfriend and made a stop at the big T (Tiffany's) - and tried to keep their lower jaws secured while trying on rings and asking about prices. These things go for $30K+.... is this the price range we're looking now to express whatever eternal love? I gotta say this is the most successful marketing schtick ever.
Sure there's the very childish and shallow side of me, the same side that makes me want to get a nicer computer or something, that wants a respectfully sized ring, but this is a dangerous game we are playing. Working in an industry where millions are referred to as "dollars", there's simply a distorted vision of what respectful means. That stupid rule of thumb that says you need to get a ring worth the man's three months salary is ridiculous. But then you almost feel pressured to keep up lest be judged as cheap. When it becomes this kind of a game ("Well I'm gonna prove I'm not afraid to spend on her and she's worth it") it's pretty darn sad. I certainly hope I'm worth more than a rock...
My parents don't even have rings and they've been married for 36 years and counting - sure there has been up and downs and some near misses, and it's not all perfect (one can argue that it only made the 36 years seem even more like forever). It's symbolic, and a nice gesture, to have rings and to exchange them - but what is the point of the engagement ring - wouldn't the wedding band itself be enough?
Anyhow, when our buddy jokingly said yeah, what if you get a thousand dollar ring, I didn't know what to answer and just laughed. But that is a good question - wouldn't that be enough?
So the condo hunt this weekend is another fail... while we did have more criteria to narrow the selections down, which means that nothing is going to be found anytime soon. On the other hand I'm still on my quest of happiness trying to find out what causes all my SAD and PVS...
The weekend is slow and relaxing, mostly reading and cooking and walking around. Meeting up with old friends and BBQ'ing with V's parents. One of our buds went to NYC this weekend with a long-time girlfriend and made a stop at the big T (Tiffany's) - and tried to keep their lower jaws secured while trying on rings and asking about prices. These things go for $30K+.... is this the price range we're looking now to express whatever eternal love? I gotta say this is the most successful marketing schtick ever.
Sure there's the very childish and shallow side of me, the same side that makes me want to get a nicer computer or something, that wants a respectfully sized ring, but this is a dangerous game we are playing. Working in an industry where millions are referred to as "dollars", there's simply a distorted vision of what respectful means. That stupid rule of thumb that says you need to get a ring worth the man's three months salary is ridiculous. But then you almost feel pressured to keep up lest be judged as cheap. When it becomes this kind of a game ("Well I'm gonna prove I'm not afraid to spend on her and she's worth it") it's pretty darn sad. I certainly hope I'm worth more than a rock...
My parents don't even have rings and they've been married for 36 years and counting - sure there has been up and downs and some near misses, and it's not all perfect (one can argue that it only made the 36 years seem even more like forever). It's symbolic, and a nice gesture, to have rings and to exchange them - but what is the point of the engagement ring - wouldn't the wedding band itself be enough?
Anyhow, when our buddy jokingly said yeah, what if you get a thousand dollar ring, I didn't know what to answer and just laughed. But that is a good question - wouldn't that be enough?
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Updates on life
After last wednesday's crazy thunderstorm, things weren't the same anymore. It's like summer officially left... Sure we get some hot weather in the 10-18:00 window but it's definitely gotten and getting narrower. Did I also mention that Fall makes me sentimental? It's like a giant PMS season for me (v i hope you are reading this, you've been warned). But i need all the energy and drive i can harness for this Fall, because, brace thyselves people of the blogsphere, this Fall is gonna be effing bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S.
First off i have finally done the proverbial gathering of shit, and is on full-fledged flight-mode with respect to getting to the next stage of my career. There is working hard and there is taking abuse, and somewhere between the last post and this one, the line got blurred. I will expect change to happen, well, that is if the market stops looking like a dried pond with couple of dead half-rotten fish. Which, according to an insider and close-friend of Market who asked to remain anonymous, is going to happen in Fall. Yay Fall.
Second big thing, the search for a place big enough for two small egos (albeit owners of tons of random crap), is also on. This should be significant as i will without any doubt, be sad to leave my current sty. But, on the other hand, there will be a new place waiting to be loved, a new sty to break into, and turn page, new chapter blah, blah, blah (shouldn't we update this cliché a little? Like, "click the Enter key onto a new website of life" or something? I digress).
So there you go, my awesome trailer of things to come in Fall 2011. Let's hope it's not another Indiana Jones Crystal Skull. What a disappointment that was, after a big trailer and so much anticipation. I want my life to be frigging Dark Knight! Live up to the hype!
First off i have finally done the proverbial gathering of shit, and is on full-fledged flight-mode with respect to getting to the next stage of my career. There is working hard and there is taking abuse, and somewhere between the last post and this one, the line got blurred. I will expect change to happen, well, that is if the market stops looking like a dried pond with couple of dead half-rotten fish. Which, according to an insider and close-friend of Market who asked to remain anonymous, is going to happen in Fall. Yay Fall.
Second big thing, the search for a place big enough for two small egos (albeit owners of tons of random crap), is also on. This should be significant as i will without any doubt, be sad to leave my current sty. But, on the other hand, there will be a new place waiting to be loved, a new sty to break into, and turn page, new chapter blah, blah, blah (shouldn't we update this cliché a little? Like, "click the Enter key onto a new website of life" or something? I digress).
So there you go, my awesome trailer of things to come in Fall 2011. Let's hope it's not another Indiana Jones Crystal Skull. What a disappointment that was, after a big trailer and so much anticipation. I want my life to be frigging Dark Knight! Live up to the hype!
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
I need to force myself to do things
Some people go through life and they're full of energy. They can sleep for 5 hours and wake up, go work out, be chirpy and sharp, and do everything that's required of them at work. They go home at night and are still able to complete the chores, keeping their place clean. Have a 6-month-old baby that cried all night long because it was sick? You wouldn't even be able to tell.
Aaaand that's not me. I tend to follow Newton's first law, sometimes referred to as the law of inertia. For this reason, I need to force myself to do stuff constantly otherwise all I would do is passive activities, such as read, watch TV, sleep and even being fed (as opposed to feeding myself, I would probably have instant everything). Ladies and gentleman, the manifestation of my constant struggle to become "that energetic person that gets stuff done" is clear through my mundane and irregular blog updates. "Must... try... to... writeeeee" - I have to tell myself, even though I profess to enjoy it (it's true sometimes!).
Baaah, I just reread my first two paragraphs and got bored by my own post. Have fun reading this POS, I'm off reading Hunger Games (it tastes like freeeeee).
Aaaand that's not me. I tend to follow Newton's first law, sometimes referred to as the law of inertia. For this reason, I need to force myself to do stuff constantly otherwise all I would do is passive activities, such as read, watch TV, sleep and even being fed (as opposed to feeding myself, I would probably have instant everything). Ladies and gentleman, the manifestation of my constant struggle to become "that energetic person that gets stuff done" is clear through my mundane and irregular blog updates. "Must... try... to... writeeeee" - I have to tell myself, even though I profess to enjoy it (it's true sometimes!).
Baaah, I just reread my first two paragraphs and got bored by my own post. Have fun reading this POS, I'm off reading Hunger Games (it tastes like freeeeee).
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
my last post was really lazy
 |
| Mr. Burn's diseases |
Anyhow... The danger of a good weekend is that it makes the Monday next feel like shitting a pinecone. This morning as I was stuck behind a mob of people at an intersection on my way to work, I appreciated the analogy V made the other day about how it looks like a herd of cattle. I was part of that herd, mooing and obedient, on my way to the slaughterhouse. For those that know me in real life know that I have about as much patience as a potato chip has nutritional value. Being stuck behind suits made me want to go all Keanu Reeves on those Mr. Smiths. Start of a great week, if you must know, but I didn't start the post to whine about my Monday again (I totally just did. Hah).
So new development this weekend, V has met with a mortgage specialist which I suspect may kick start his moving out in a more concrete way (well, more concretely than it ever was). That, coupled with my recent visit to an ex-coworker's humble (read: not humble at all) abode in a rich Missisaugan neighbourhood made me wonder about homes: do you prefer a spanking new house or something with a bit of age and character? Heck it got me thinking, and I don't even know. An old house if well renovated, could look like something out of a magazine - the romantic side of me thinks that I can decorate it with junks I bring back from around the world (hello drum from aggressive vendor in Jamaica!)... it would have terracotta ceramic in the kitchen, a well stocked garden for me to kill, and trees tall enough for a treehouse and hammocks. On the other hand there's the thrill of designing and having a spanking new big house - a proper dining room, family room, and all that stuff. It's all about suburbia and landscaping... yes it's comfortable, but somehow, feels a little - generic?
I don't know if I will want to deal with the old gas pipes and all the hidden problems of an older home, but if there's one that just has character but proper innards... well, it'd be like finding the perfect guy that's also not gay. One can dream...
Thursday, July 7, 2011
on that forgotten resolution
I don't know if anyone remembers (I certainly have forgotten about it for a bit), I've decided to be healthier in general this year, sometime during new years as a resolution. Until now I haven't really done anything substantial or taken any steps towards that goal. Last week however, I have started taking the baby steps.
I am proud to announce that I'm going towards a low carb and no coffee diet - I hate to call it a diet, because that sounds so temporary. This is more of a permanent thing. Gone are the days where I pig out on Mckey Dees! Eventually I want to become one of those people that work out regularly, and look fit and happy.
I recently joined a recreational beach volleyball team via my friend J, and yesterday was my first game. Although i thoroughly enjoyed it, it was all in all a sometimes sedentary sport. I'm a stereotypical Taiwanese girl in that the only sport where I'm willing to run for hours for, would be badminton - unfortunately I'm not particularly good at it nor played it in ages, and there doesn't seem to be any affordable resources to play it in Toronto. But that is not all - Saturday mornings are now dedicated to hot yoga, and Tuesday afternoons are brisk-walking sessions. That's quite a bit of exercising compared to my prior life as an amateur channel-changer.
One of my biggest fear is experiencing a difficult child birth, and also subsequent to that become a pudgey mom... hopefully the baby steps are going to lead me to a healthier lifestyle from now on and throughout my life. Besides, I also want to be all dopey from those endorphins and become one of those eternally chirpy people that annoy the feck out of others in the office. Why be the annoyee? I'm tired of being the Annoyee. I'll talk your heads off during watercooler chats and elevator rides! Raaaaarg.
I am proud to announce that I'm going towards a low carb and no coffee diet - I hate to call it a diet, because that sounds so temporary. This is more of a permanent thing. Gone are the days where I pig out on Mckey Dees! Eventually I want to become one of those people that work out regularly, and look fit and happy.
I recently joined a recreational beach volleyball team via my friend J, and yesterday was my first game. Although i thoroughly enjoyed it, it was all in all a sometimes sedentary sport. I'm a stereotypical Taiwanese girl in that the only sport where I'm willing to run for hours for, would be badminton - unfortunately I'm not particularly good at it nor played it in ages, and there doesn't seem to be any affordable resources to play it in Toronto. But that is not all - Saturday mornings are now dedicated to hot yoga, and Tuesday afternoons are brisk-walking sessions. That's quite a bit of exercising compared to my prior life as an amateur channel-changer.
One of my biggest fear is experiencing a difficult child birth, and also subsequent to that become a pudgey mom... hopefully the baby steps are going to lead me to a healthier lifestyle from now on and throughout my life. Besides, I also want to be all dopey from those endorphins and become one of those eternally chirpy people that annoy the feck out of others in the office. Why be the annoyee? I'm tired of being the Annoyee. I'll talk your heads off during watercooler chats and elevator rides! Raaaaarg.
Friday, May 27, 2011
I'm completely addicted to my ipad...
Apart from the few minutes I spend on the newspaper's crossword puzzle everyday after work before giving up, i hardly ever do anything without paddy. I work out with it, i watch tv while playing mindnumbing games on it, i read on it and heck i even put it on the pillow next to me... It's the first thing i touch in the morning and it's the last thing i see before i go to sleep. Worst of all I've downloaded so many apps that i don't use.... And i've picked up twitter.
With all the connectivity i have you'd think that i'm an information junkie. Au contraire, all i've been doing is pretty much looking up celebrity gossips, play asinine games and reading extremely lengthy fantasy novels. I even have a backlog of such novels. I've vaguely heard of that missouri tornado but apart from that i don't really know what's happening out there nowadays. I even missed out on the entire Arnold saga because of crazy work hours last week, and had to read a summary timeline on the weekend to catch up - by that time i've obviously already missed out on all the late night show jokes :/
I can certainly catch up on all those late night show episodes, but what about those glee, modern family and big bang theory episodes that i missed, too? I've got several months of magazines i haven't read, and i've been ignoring raphael (my ps3) for months now. Piano and guitar are collecting dust and i'm ashamed when guests ask about them - if not because of lack of space i wouldn't even put them in display.
Looking around, i guess i have come a long way in terms of knowing how to deal with time by myself and entertain myself... Or maybe it's just one of my people-hating-phases.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
With all the connectivity i have you'd think that i'm an information junkie. Au contraire, all i've been doing is pretty much looking up celebrity gossips, play asinine games and reading extremely lengthy fantasy novels. I even have a backlog of such novels. I've vaguely heard of that missouri tornado but apart from that i don't really know what's happening out there nowadays. I even missed out on the entire Arnold saga because of crazy work hours last week, and had to read a summary timeline on the weekend to catch up - by that time i've obviously already missed out on all the late night show jokes :/
I can certainly catch up on all those late night show episodes, but what about those glee, modern family and big bang theory episodes that i missed, too? I've got several months of magazines i haven't read, and i've been ignoring raphael (my ps3) for months now. Piano and guitar are collecting dust and i'm ashamed when guests ask about them - if not because of lack of space i wouldn't even put them in display.
Looking around, i guess i have come a long way in terms of knowing how to deal with time by myself and entertain myself... Or maybe it's just one of my people-hating-phases.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Thursday, May 26, 2011
on why I'm dumber during spring and fall
Stupid allergies constantly making my nose itchy and runny - I'm sometimes so clogged up I feel like a retard. It's been annoying me for a while now and none of the OTC drugs are doing what they promised, whatever those dancing-into-a-field-of-dandelions-ads want me to believe. Hmmmm.... this was supposed to somehow segway into the next topic, but I can't remember how.
I've lived most of my life without having to attend any weddings - my parents socialized mostly with people their age whose children are mostly younger. Being a first-gen fob, I didn't grow up going to families' weddings and generally lacked exposure to all things wedding-related. Interestingly, Quebec doesn't seem to have a strong wedding culture either as most people I know choose to common-law it or are engaged for a million years. The rest of them are still in school "figuring out life".
Ergo, in the pre-Toronto era of my adult life, I've only been to my sister's wedding. Apart from dressing the part, I was obviously the most clueless maid of honour ever... I think the lamp post at the front of the hall may have been more useful.
Suddenly turning into my late twenties and meeting V, I've got a myriads of weddings to go to as part of my girlfriend duties. All of them I attended as the remote-yet-slightly-amused bystander, the plus-one. A couple of churches and a temple. Speeches long and short, in English, in Chinese, in Hindi. Ubiquitous powerpoint presentations, endless Michael Bublé songs and marriage jokes. Food, glorious food, and drinks that rained.
The great thing being a random person is the lack of self-conciousness - there's a lot of room for food and drinks if you're strategic about it. And you get to spend all your time thinking of ways to get more of that (I usually figure out the middle of where hors-d'oeuvres come out and the bar, and station myself there), and generally act like a vulture because nobody knows who you are. Also, I guess if you are single or in a non-committal, weddings are decent places to meet people (that you never call again? haha). The not-so-cool part is the awkward "I have to figure out how to spell the bride's name when I sign in the photobook" moment. Or when you're sitting at the randoms' table and have to act like you care about your neighbour that you'll probably never meet again - worse than a bus ride, if you hate people like I do.
I got another one coming up this week-end. It'll be 2 hours of preparation, feeling fat in that gown-I-used-to-fit in (note that this doesn't stop me from finding the best way to stuff the most food in me, later on - it's about the principle), feeling inept while trying to do my hair (I have the hairdressing skills of a 3-year-old boy), bracing the street in that only pair of formal silky-but-oh-so-effing-uncomfortable shoes I have. I'll be ready to sit through another set of rituals, maybe with slight variation, of celebrating two people's union (ooh... aaah.... i do, i do, kiss the bride, sign that paper, tadaa you're husband and wife! and V starts wiping tears). I've braved the other ones, I'll brave this one, knowing that, *sigh*, at the end of the day, a party is a party is a party and a chance to look hawt (thank you spanx and wonderbra) and eat my heart out.
I've lived most of my life without having to attend any weddings - my parents socialized mostly with people their age whose children are mostly younger. Being a first-gen fob, I didn't grow up going to families' weddings and generally lacked exposure to all things wedding-related. Interestingly, Quebec doesn't seem to have a strong wedding culture either as most people I know choose to common-law it or are engaged for a million years. The rest of them are still in school "figuring out life".
Ergo, in the pre-Toronto era of my adult life, I've only been to my sister's wedding. Apart from dressing the part, I was obviously the most clueless maid of honour ever... I think the lamp post at the front of the hall may have been more useful.
Suddenly turning into my late twenties and meeting V, I've got a myriads of weddings to go to as part of my girlfriend duties. All of them I attended as the remote-yet-slightly-amused bystander, the plus-one. A couple of churches and a temple. Speeches long and short, in English, in Chinese, in Hindi. Ubiquitous powerpoint presentations, endless Michael Bublé songs and marriage jokes. Food, glorious food, and drinks that rained.
The great thing being a random person is the lack of self-conciousness - there's a lot of room for food and drinks if you're strategic about it. And you get to spend all your time thinking of ways to get more of that (I usually figure out the middle of where hors-d'oeuvres come out and the bar, and station myself there), and generally act like a vulture because nobody knows who you are. Also, I guess if you are single or in a non-committal, weddings are decent places to meet people (that you never call again? haha). The not-so-cool part is the awkward "I have to figure out how to spell the bride's name when I sign in the photobook" moment. Or when you're sitting at the randoms' table and have to act like you care about your neighbour that you'll probably never meet again - worse than a bus ride, if you hate people like I do.
I got another one coming up this week-end. It'll be 2 hours of preparation, feeling fat in that gown-I-used-to-fit in (note that this doesn't stop me from finding the best way to stuff the most food in me, later on - it's about the principle), feeling inept while trying to do my hair (I have the hairdressing skills of a 3-year-old boy), bracing the street in that only pair of formal silky-but-oh-so-effing-uncomfortable shoes I have. I'll be ready to sit through another set of rituals, maybe with slight variation, of celebrating two people's union (ooh... aaah.... i do, i do, kiss the bride, sign that paper, tadaa you're husband and wife! and V starts wiping tears). I've braved the other ones, I'll brave this one, knowing that, *sigh*, at the end of the day, a party is a party is a party and a chance to look hawt (thank you spanx and wonderbra) and eat my heart out.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
on those wacky lists people come up with.
So as part of my job deals with people who are in their 60s – 70s and that have been married for a gazillion years. One of things we do is that we look up how many years they’ve been married and congratulate them or something, you know, year 25 is the silver anniversary, year 40 is the ruby anniversary and the like, and people are supposed to give each other rubies and stuff.
So I’m looking up this one who’s in their 44th year and what do I see as “modern gifts”? Groceries. REALLY?! Fourty-four goddamn years and all you get is a bag of rubatagas? How do you go from ruby to groceries... apparently a bunch of jewelers or librarians came up with the list. They must be pretty drunk at number 44.
////
Speaking of groceries, I dreamt I was in the world's most luxurious buffet ever last night. Live seafood everywhere you can choose from and fresh mushrooms you pick from the tree trunks. Clams from as small as a penny to as big as my head with pearls that come with it. I woke up before I got to eat anything though :/
So I’m looking up this one who’s in their 44th year and what do I see as “modern gifts”? Groceries. REALLY?! Fourty-four goddamn years and all you get is a bag of rubatagas? How do you go from ruby to groceries... apparently a bunch of jewelers or librarians came up with the list. They must be pretty drunk at number 44.
////
Speaking of groceries, I dreamt I was in the world's most luxurious buffet ever last night. Live seafood everywhere you can choose from and fresh mushrooms you pick from the tree trunks. Clams from as small as a penny to as big as my head with pearls that come with it. I woke up before I got to eat anything though :/
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Disadvantages of vacays
Those vacays you come back and feel like you need another vacay from your vacays... those that take a toll on you instead of making you feel rested (and sometimes even, eager to get back into work/school/whatever sh*t you were complaining about before you left).
So I came back from one of those one that seem to suck away your energy. And then work sucks away my energy... and i'm going through this phase of hermitage as means of giving myself treats. And the more I stay in my condo the more I like it. I'm turning into a cat lady.
So I came back from one of those one that seem to suck away your energy. And then work sucks away my energy... and i'm going through this phase of hermitage as means of giving myself treats. And the more I stay in my condo the more I like it. I'm turning into a cat lady.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)