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Thursday, June 29, 2006

Puddle


Puddle - silvery movement
Originally uploaded by Kattaka.
Massive downpour today. Of course happened while I was out walking. But it was kind of fun to splash around. Once you are soaked and there is nothing you can do, you might as well enjoy it.

Tomorrow I go to Ottawa for the weekend. Looking forward to a little escape. Hopping on a bus (even for a short ride) always makes me excited! Any trip is a good trip in my books.

I like the way my puddle photos turned out. Like little pieces of abstract art.

Apparently Stars are playing in Ottawa for Canada day! Yea! One of my current favourites. I remember last Canada Day, I helped Amie & Michele move, then met Mariza at the Harbourfront with her crazy dog Mustard and we saw Feist for free. That was also fun. The wind was really really cold. And I wore this dress that kept blowing up. And I wore the wrong underwear so I had to buy some shorts to wear underneath it. Oh the memories.

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Serenity Now

Ok. I have been having such a hard time getting anything done this week. I am pretty stressed about moving all my stuff out of my room by Friday, having the entire place be a huge mess, have one roommate move out on Saturday, have a new one move in on Friday, having the new roommate be stressed because she will only be staying for 2 months because our landlady doesn't issue receipts and she works from home, me and my other roommate being stressed because we really like the new roommate and want her to stay but our landlady is crazy and wont' issue receipts for tax purposes, and I still don't have a FUCKING job. Sorry. That last one just slipped out.

But I am zen. Why worry? Right? Instead, I refocused my energy and wrote a list of a bunch of things I want to do before I die. I have done so much in my life that I am really really proud of. The things on this list would just be like icing on the cake. Or something!


1) fly first or business class (long haul)
2) visit Antarctica
3) own property
4) kiss a rock star

5) climb Kilimanjaro
6) run a 1/2 marathon
7) have a kid

8) write a book (or get something published)
9) go to Australia/nz
10) do post-grad

11) go to Newfoundland (and get screeched in)
12) go to the territories

13) go to Jordan (Petra)
14)
fall crazy in love
15) buy a car (hybrid)

16) become amazing at cooking Indian cuisine
17) scuba dive
18) d
onate blood at least once a year
19) see icebergs close up
20) be able to do a headstand in yoga (and maybe even a HANDstand)

21) feel comfortable & confident lead climbing (rock climbing)

22) help build a house (habitat for humanity or one of those things)

23) become really good at doing car repairs

24) learn to play (and be good at) ice hockey
25) fluency in French

26) go to India & Nepal
27) send my parents on a big trip

28) buy and learn to play the accordion

29) buy a round for everyone in a pub (a FULL pub)

30) go camping at least once a year
31) plant a tree (for your tomorrow...)
32) go to the Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands)
33) spend time in a place where the sun never sets
34) be a contestant on a game show

That puts things more in perspective. I'll check back in a year and see how far I've gotten. It is funny to read the list and think of me doing them in order. Run a 1/2 marathon and THEN have a kid! RIGHT! We'll see about that one. Actually, either of them sound pretty crazy at this point.

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Punny Punny


Chateau Nice's Pat & his friend Rhain are the Pungents who manufacture puns on a daily basis. Before I shipped off to Kenya I was somehow convinced to be a "Punshine Girl" on their website. Their website is filled with groan-inducing puns and play(s) on words. I take no responsibility for the content (or the terrible pun I am associated with). :)

Monday, June 26, 2006

Denmark

10 years ago I was a Rotary exchange student for a year to Copenhagen, Denmark. Probably a key factor in my travel addiction, I left my friends and family behind for a year of my life and lived with 4 different families and was enrolled in a Danish gymnasium (high school).

My first weeks in the strange but sweet Scandinavian country were spent at a language camp with about 40 other new exchange students. It was a nice middle ground before we were all shipped off to our respective host families across the country and we all bonded over the potential terrors we were about to experience and the odd way the Danish language sounded. I became friends with a great and fun group of people, including Karen (also from Canada, a friend I have stayed very close with and travelled with - she even came to visit me in Kenya) and Chad (a Bush/SUV-hating Oregonian soil scientist). This past weekend Chad was in Rochester for a wedding and made the trip over to Toronto to catch up with Karen and I. Despite our infrequent email communication, we haven't seen Chad in the 10 years since we left Denmark. Gosh it was strange to see him again. But so great! It is nice to see that people who you remember being really great and fun are still really great and fun 10 years down the road.

10 years! Where the hell does the time go? The funniest part was when we were kind of doing the "so you went home from Denmark and then what happened..." to fill each other in on what we have been up to for the last 10 years. Funny to realize first of all, what you include in that little blurb, and secondly, how quick it is to pretty much get people up to speed on your life. I mean obviously you skip a hell of a lot of stuff, the nitty-gritty details (mostly the embarassing parts), but really aren't our lives perhaps a little like soap operas, where if you miss a couple of years of Young and the Restless, and you are home from work one day and watch one episode you are pretty much caught up and can follow the story of the show within an hour?

I don't even remember what I was like in Denmark. I wore a lot of bad outfits but I think that had as much to do with being there in 1995/96 than anything else. I also ate a lot of Whopper Juniors. And made too many trips to the Carlsberg brewery and Christiania (perhaps a bit of Chad's influence). I was in my highschool's production of Hair (in Danish). I was one of the only brunettes so they turned us into black women. That was my introduction to H&M on every corner and developed my love for a good falafel. I saw Neil Young, Radiohead, Bad Religion and Rancid. I would bring my visitors to the Museum Erotica - where my 18 year old host-sister worked. One of my host-families had an open marriage and would date other people. I ate pickled herring and stinky cheese. I learned Danish and travelled to something like 10 countries around Europe. I was in an audience with the Pope. These were the days of my life. Where the hell does the time go?

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Over Dumplings

At The Dumpling House with Loretta, Mariza & Jon. (discussing our quasi-pretend band) :
J - we need stage names.
K - yes. stage names!

J - we should all have the same last name. like the Ramones.

M - what was their last name?

J, L & K - RAMONE!
M - Oh!!!
(laughter) What? I grew up with 2 greek immigrant parents listening to Nana Mouskouri all the time.
I mock her but our band would be useless without her superior cowbell skills.

Later, in discussing the situation with Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie adopting a 3rd child I came up with the perfect most politically correct AND press-friendly to their "which type of baby should we adopt next?" dilemma. They should adopt a baby seal!!! Take over where Sir Paul and his ex left off! I can see it all now...

Monday, June 19, 2006

Nice Night for a Walk


Trinity Bellwoods Park
Originally uploaded by Kattaka.
I am watching the hockey game. Edmonton is losing. I hope by the time you read this they will have turned it around and won the Cup.

Tonight was my last microeconomics class. I did my final exam. I think I pretty much aced the class. It was way more fun than I thought it would be. And even some cute boys in my class. Too bad they were all like 20. It still doesn't hurt to look, no?

The photo I took on my way home. Trinity Bellwoods is a big park near my house. It is a major dog park and also has a lot of places for people to play sports so it is fun to walk through and see what is happening. Tonight there was a group yoga session where the dogs usually play. I hope they checked the ground for surprises before they did their downward dogs and cobras!

Sunday, June 18, 2006

Goldilocks

Today Corinna and I interviewed 3 people for our house. It was ok but not great. I don't think we will be going with any of the girls who came to visit the place.

The first one came and seemed about in her mid-30s. Actually, she seemed a bit older. And talked about it being quiet and how much work she will do on her Masters of Physics thesis. Too old.

The second one came and was 20 and kept talking and giggling and squirming around and talking about playing music and having parties and dating and talking and talking and talking. Too young and too chatty. Very, very chatty.

The third one was about our age and seemed mature but was from Japan and didn't really speak much at all. The majority of the time was spent with us sitting in the living room waiting for someone to say something. I kept bursting in with not very funny quips and questions, trying to keep the conversation flowing but it was very very stalled. Too quiet.

When will we get our JUST RIGHT?!? Hmmm. Possibly 2 more will come see it on Tuesday. I might have to re-post the ad. Darnit. I was hoping this could be resolved by now.

I don't think we are being too picky. If Corinna had liked any one of these 3 I would have gone with them but when we were talking after we both seemed to have the same opinions about each of them and saw the potential problems with each. If anything it is encouraging that Corinna and I seem to have the same perspective and seem to be getting along really well. I think she is a great roommate. I hope she thinks the same of me. Not bad for 2 people who didn't know each other before they moved into the same place...

Saturday, June 17, 2006

Mind-Numbingly Irritating Mornings



My GOD! This is so annoying yet so funny. And now I can't get that song out of my HEAD!!!

Friday, June 16, 2006

Too much running. Too much beer. Not enough sleep.


I am too tired to write. Bad idea to go to the gym on the same day I have an ultimate frisbee game. Bad idea. To make things more interesting I went out with the team after and drank a lot of beer. There will be no real post on the old blog tonight.

The photos - first one is us in the midst of a game. We lost horribly but we did get 5 points (which is actually good for us). The second photo is from the stairs at Jane Subway station. Someone obviously needed some lovin'. Poor saps.

Tomorrow, I will take more photos. I promise. I have been a major slacker and there is SO MUCH to take photos of right now.

Now, I sleep.

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

OperRAH - RAH - RAH

Toronto is a busy city these days.

Today was the inaugural opening of the Four Season's Centre for the Performing Arts. We finally have an opera house! So THAT'S what was missing!! Although I am lucky enough to have already been inside for a performance (it was a technical sound check but a full concert), tonight was the gala opening and there was a live telecast to Nathan Phillips Square across the street for all the commoners to watch what was going on as well. It was great. There were hundreds of people sitting out in the square in front of the big screen and clapping at the end of each song. The sky spit on us for a while but then ceased and just left us with a big rainbow to marvel at. I left before the end to wander home but apparently the performers came to do an encore for the crowd outside. BRAVA!!!!

Why is it that anytime I post something on craigslist I am suddenly bombarded with strange replys from strange people? Is it craigslist that attracts them? Someone should do a study.

So we are looking for a roommate to replace Robin at the end of the month so I posted and have already gotten some 'interesting' responses. Highly entertaining. One Czech couple who want to rent the room (despite the ad saying we are looking for a girl) even sent photos of themselves. The best was Rico! who said he looks kind of like a girl so is that close enough? And then he sent a link to his myspace profile. Sorry Rico. You are not woman enough. The best responses are the ones from people who only write "Sounds good. Call me." And then leave their phone number. Hmmm. No. Sorry, don't think so. Needless to say, I am sure Corinna and I will have an interesting time finding someone.

Below is part of a letter from Rever who REALLY wanted to live with us (in AMERICA). Bless us, Amen.

...as matter of urgence,i'm looking for a comfortable space and I will be very
glad to have all this questions answered with out leaving a stone
unturned...I will like to make an advance payment ahead my arrival so that
you can be rest assured that this is real since I am not in the state
presently.i will be greatful to rent your place before i could get a
roommate/flat share to stay as roomie with me because i'm presently in
nedtherland and i will coming to america for a contract. kindly email me
directly.Thanks and have a good time.
Rever Willians,
Bless you Amen.

Monday, June 12, 2006

Squish Your Safari Van


Squish Your Safari Van
Originally uploaded by Kattaka.
Flickr has been a good distraction for me. I have been categorizing all my photos and submitting them to different public flickr groups and getting a lot of attention to my photos. And I have found a lot of really fun photos for me to see too. I was always one of the few who actually enjoyed looking at other people's endless slideshows and photoalbums. Flickr is the perfect little window into other people's lives. I always wonder too what the people looking into my photos think of me! This photo here of me squishing the safari van has been viewed over 630 times!

My camera seems to be working again. Time to start taking more photos!

Blinded by Science

This was a weekend that I was hoping to go away but because of the unemployment I stayed in town. It actually ended up being a fun weekend.

Saturday was a bbq at my old roommates' place. The drinks were flowing and the food was GOOD (despite the fact that Amie dropped my sausage on the ground). They invited their neighbor's to join in which included these 2 little Russian boys Luke and Leo. Leo is some kind of genius who is 8 and was talking about how he either wants to be a mathematician or an insectologist when he grows up. Then he started talking about ancient Egyptian society with us. We, meanwhile were completely drunk and having a hard time keeping up. Poor kid must have thought we were nuts. Later on we went indoors to enjoy some karaoke (I did a KILLER version of "She Blinded Me With Science") and more drinks/food.


On Sunday I spent the day studying and then walked back to their place to eat all the leftovers for dinner and we sat and watched our 2 favourite movies, "The Exorcist" and "Napolean Dynamite". I swear, I lived with those 2 girls for 3 years and I think for the rest of our lives it will always be like we are roommates.

Despite my better judgment I went with Amie downtown late Sunday night to meet up with 2 friends who we used to work with at Rainforest Cafe who were back in town for the weekend. I really didn't feel like going out but tried to stick with my philosophy from Kenya (and Denmark before it) that I should accept EVERY invitation. Why go to bed on time when you can go out and have fun (despite the huge zit on my chin). And it was a great time. I have forgotten how much fun those people are.


It's like the gym. You never want to go - but once you have been there you are so glad you went. It's worth the effort. I think that is always the key to having a good social life - you have to say go out even when you just feel like going home and sleeping.


On a downer note, my camera is not working well at all. I have vowed to take at least 2 good photos a week to publish on flickr or here but I will take photos and then they will say MEMORY CARD ERROR and they will all be gone. I have tried switching memory cards and it hasn't made a difference. This worries me. A shame because the World Cup here is crazy and I want to capture it all on film. Living on the border of Little Italy/Little Portugal with representation from all the Central and South American countries in the area - it has been a madhouse since Friday. I love it.

Friday, June 09, 2006

Happy Birthday Christina


Happy Birthday Christina
Originally uploaded by Kattaka.
Like 10 years ago on Christina's birthday I decided to be daring and get her 2 books for her 16th or 17th birthday. One was "How to Seduce Any Man in the Zodiac" which I swear we read from cover to cover and yet I am sure it didn't manage to get us any action. The other was "The Illustrated Pocket Sex Guide" which I was so proud of myself for having gone to the bookstore to buy! It was meant as a joke gift but then Christina went and showed her parents what I got her! I was sure they were going to kill me but they didn't seem too bothered by it. What ever did become of that book Christina?

Her band, Chrissy & the Warbling Huckleberries are performing tonight in Sault Ste. Marie if anyone is in the area.

There's the rub...

I feel like nothing I write is very exciting anymore. No stories about giraffes or jumping out of airplanes or cultural shocks. Yesterday I was trying to visualize the mall (the Sarit Centre) in as much detail as possible in my head. Sometimes I think I almost forget like I was ever away. I have to convince myself it happened. The worst thing is that when I was there I knew this would happen. I was trying to hold onto every second for as long as I could knowing it would be long gone once I was back in Canada. The experience stays with you but just in a photo album kind of way. Eventually you only retain the memories that you have photos of.

Think back to your childhood. Your first bunch of memories. Are they real memories or are they remembered because they are attached to a photo you have seen since then? If you can remember something that has no photographic evidence to remind you of it - then THAT is a real memory. Maybe it's just me.

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

Space, the final frontier...

I have been having the strangest dreams lately. One of which involved me going onto a space shuttle with friends in San Francisco and we were trying to take off (instead of down a runway we were going up a busy street) but there were trolleys and old men in Denver Bronco's jerseys in our way so by the time we took off we didn't have enough speed so we were tumbling down to crash and I kept thinking, "Don't be negative and assume it will crash, it might not..." and then it crashed and we all died. Then we all realized that we were still alive and nothing was damaged but we all knew we must have died because we crashed so we were sitting inside the space shuttle wondering if we were in heaven, purgatory or some alternate reality and wondering what was outside the shuttle door. Then I woke up.

One of my roommates is moving out because he doesn't get along with our landlady. I am realizing that there have been so many changes going on in the past 3 months that nothing really phases me anymore. Or maybe it just does subconsciously and that's why I am having crazy dreams of being in a shuttle crash.
I guess I am in a kind of purgatory-like state right now where I am just waiting for something to happen. I feel like everything has been put on hold until I have a job.

I have been trying to eat healthier and work out more so of course I am noticing all the food-related articles and blogs lately. Doesnt' this sound good?
Beer Battered Deep Fried Pepperoni Pizza. Mmmmmm.

Monday, June 05, 2006

Boys with Bangs

In honour of it being a Monday and me not having much to post, here is a video that will change your life. I love it. I have sent it already to many people but must spread the good news & hot dancing to more of the world. I got the link from The Morning News, where I get lots of great links to great things. I recommend it, highly.

Sunday, June 04, 2006

Makes Friends Fun


More Japan photo booth fun
Originally uploaded by Kattaka.
Happy Birthday shout out to Genny K! That photo is of me and Genny in Osaka. We went a little Japan photo booth crazy while we were there. We also became addicted to karaoke. And sushi. And spotting ferris wheels. But that is a whole other story. Hope you have a good day Genny!

The weekend was pretty dreary here. I had an interview which I think I kind of blew (somewhat intentionally). I am really not sure what is going through my head at this point. I am so stressed about a bunch of things (jobs, living situation, people issues) and it is causing me to second guess myself and my decisions. I hate that. My solution is to wait it out and in the mean time drink more water and do more yoga.

Looking for this photo I uploaded in my piles of old photos I am shocked to see all the crazy and fun things I have done so far in my life. I've been busy! Whew! Good thing I kept the journals & the photos to remind me of all I've done. My memory isn't what it used to be.

Friday, June 02, 2006

Update

Crazy woman next door has taken to kissing her reflection in the garage door. Oy.

I wish I knew Italian so I could understand what she was saying.

It sounds like she is saying "Mamma, Mamma, Mamma". Maybe she thinks her mother is behind the glass. Strange.

Bad Dreams

I had a horrible sleep last night, tossing and turning and having nightmares about spiders. 2 clear reasons for this, no doubt:

1) I saw a big spider in my bathroom before bed and I didn't kill it.


2) I am stressed because my landlady is crazy and is kicking out my roommate for no good reason and I am not sure a) who will replace him, b) if there will be confusion over the last month's rent that I gave him because he used to pay the rent and act as a "middle man" in having to deal with her, 3) she is crazy and who knows if she will suddenly want to kick me out and 4) I don't have a job yet and thus can't really go looking for a new place just yet.


This week has been crazy with stress-inducing occurrences.


I have 2 more interviews in the next few days.
So far, of all the interviews I have had, I only want one job. And I still haven't heard back from them. I live in hope.

Matt is still in Kenya for his last few days. He too has been having an interesting time. Here is a blurb from his last blog entry:


'The police showed up and took our info and acted all police-like. They were not willing to go into the tunnel to catch the thieves, it stank. The mob wasn't interested in their help anyway. The cops told us that the tunnel was very long and that they would go to the other end and see if they could see them. They instructed us to wait by the hole with the mob. They actually said 'if they come out let the mob take care of them, its easier that way'


Read about his experiences with a lynch mob here.

Lynching is a very common method of punishment in Kenya. People are usually beaten to death by a huge mob which will include women and children participating in beating someone to death or throwing rocks at them. It is a crazy phenomenon. I guess it stems from lack of support by the police - frustration at high crime rates and little lawfulness. It still scares the crap out of me. Particularly when you think about someone like me getting mugged. I would lose about $150 and be pretty pissed (like Matt was). But when you think about being a part of someone's death just because they took some of your money - someone who took that money from you because even if they have a job, they aren't getting paid hardly anything at all, they have little to nothing. And desperate circumstances may have lead them to taking your stuff. I don't condone letting people off for robbing you. I just wish that the police in places like Kenya were more effective and did what they are supposed to do.

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