3 for 365

Bonus: Magic

2008-01-01T00:33:00.003-05:00

365 Days. 454 Posts. I blogged right into the New Year. Looking back, a surprisingly good year. Coincidence?

Things I learned in 2007:

1. Ask and Ye shall receive.
2. Whosoever giveth taketh in return.
3. Folding bikes are a magic force of positive institutional, social and physical change!

Thank you for sharing my year of Good Things.

December 31: Miiine

2008-01-01T00:21:00.000-05:00

1. Free potatoes, rice and peas to go with our falafels.
2. Text messages from all over sending happy wishes.
3. Little Lukas at the kitchen table, offering me his candy cane ice cream, over and over. ‘Julia [insert developing language here] try miiine?’ End that with a huge grin! I cross to the other side of the table to be fed a Thomas-the-Tank spoonful. I return to my side. Repeat. Each time with a grin bigger than the last.

December 30: Aujourd'hui

2008-01-01T00:14:00.000-05:00

... more Tudors (Season One DVD).

1. More help hauling bags to Goodwill (thanks, Mama).
2. More uncovering long-missing items whilst cleaning.
3. More demolition opportunities for yours tired, truly.

December 30: Hier

2008-01-01T00:03:00.000-05:00

An honourable mention from yesterday:

A. Isabelle helped me take several bags to Goodwill
B. after our delicious meal of Italian veal sandwiches
C. followed by fruit (raisins, that is, in a butter tart).

December 29: Demolition

2007-12-31T23:57:00.000-05:00

1. 10am: My dad helped me demolish the kitchen.
2. 5pm: My neighbour helped me remove the rubbish.
3. 8pm: My missing burgundy Syrian scarf reappeared.

Then some Tudors...

December 28: Butterfly

2007-12-31T23:22:00.001-05:00

The Best of Ordinary Days, Errands Edition.

1. Fixed soles on my Marc Jacobs shoes (for cheap).
2. Soon-to-be-fixed Argentine rabbit coat (for free).
3. No day of repairs, mending, etc. would be complete without an extraordinary film at an art house cinema to end the day.

The Diving Bell and The Butterfly is the true story of Jean-Dominique Bauby. After suffering a massive stroke that left him paralyzed from head to toe, his mind intact (‘locked-in syndrome’), blinking his left eyelid was his only means of communication. The film is based on his best-selling memoir, Le Scaphandre et le Papillon, published just days before he died.

Bonus: Time (II)

2007-12-31T23:06:00.000-05:00

‘Life is all about timing... the unreachable becomes reachable, the unavailable becomes available, the unattainable... attainable. Have the patience, wait it out. It's all about timing.’ - Stacey Charter

‘Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.’ - Steve Jobs

‘If you get up one more time than you fall you will make it through.’ - Chinese Proverb

December 27: Joke

2007-12-31T22:58:00.000-05:00

1. Winning another battle in the paper war at home!

2. ‘Stalin's ghost appears to Putin in a dream, and Putin asks for help running the country. Stalin says, ‘Round up and shoot all the democrats, and then paint the inside of the Kremlin blue.’ ‘Why blue?’ Putin asks. ‘Ha!’ says Stalin. ‘I knew you wouldn't ask me about the first part.’’

3. A real estate professional took the time - over an hour - to patiently listen, and to answer my questions. [I'm so glad he's not a lawyer.]

December 26: Chalet

2007-12-31T22:36:00.000-05:00

1. Petras is in town from Tokyo. He and I got together for dinner to satisfy his massive craving for Swiss Chalet.

2. Then he picked up the tab. He swears Swiss Chalet would be a roaring success overseas - anyone in head office listening?

3. A good friend was online, up late at night. We had a proper chat to catch up on affairs of the mind and matters of the heart.

It seems everyone returns to Swiss Chalet for that special sauce. I return for the coleslaw.

Bonus: Time (I)

2007-12-31T22:24:00.000-05:00

‘We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they're called memories. Some take us forward, they're called dreams.’ - Jeremy Irons

‘Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michaelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.’ - H. Jackson Brown

‘There is a time for departure even when there's no certain place to go.’ - Tennessee Williams

December 25: Dinner

2007-12-28T12:11:00.001-05:00

1. Holiday downtime, at last, to start reflecting on the year.
2. Christmas dinner with friends whose families are far away.
3. Beautiful gift of letterpress typography, patterns and haiku.

‘The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once.’ - Albert Einstein

December 24: Pancakes

2007-12-25T14:47:00.000-05:00

1. No big rush hour: morning commute into downtown.
2. Bill the time anyway: work cancelled for the afternoon.
3. Kids' Christmas Eve: being served imaginary pancakes.

December 23: Tuesdays

2007-12-23T22:50:00.001-05:00

1. Precious sleep: ‘There are twelve hours in the day, and above fifty in the night.’ - Marie de Rabutin-Chantal

2. Silver Tuesdays: All I wanted was a pair of low-rise, boot-cut jeans. Easy? Not so! After a painful hunt, it ended where it all started (thank you, Jean Machine).

3. Happy convert: $150 (plus tax) buys a 1hr facial in a fancy hotel; $50 buys that same facial - for 1.5hrs - in that same aesthetician's home.

‘If you can't sleep, then get up and do something instead of lying there worrying. It's the worry that gets you, not the lack of sleep.’ - Dale Carnegie

December 22: Dining

2007-12-23T22:49:00.000-05:00

This was a special three-part day.

1. Matthew: My nephew and I explored Kensington Market's art galleries, butcher shops and free cheese samples.

2. Keesh: Cabs to the 'burbs and back for dinner in a place known as Ajax (and what a fabulous dinner it was).

3. Julija: Post-Eastern European pub, dining at the 24hr McDonald's (for a McSober combo, thank you very much).

December 21: Baklava

2007-12-21T20:09:00.002-05:00

1. The bootie boots I got yesterday are pretty hottie-hot!
2. Famished, I discovered baklava in the kitchen at work.
3. Thanks to a tip from Neil, I had fun exploring Good Business Day (a ‘continuously updated source of information on holidays and observances affecting global financial markets—bank holidays, public holidays, currency non-clearing days and trading and settlement holidays affecting exchanges’).

Happy National Unity Day, Zimbabwe.

December 20: Maracatu

2007-12-21T20:09:00.001-05:00

1. Late Night: In a quiet corner of Dundas Street West, a midnight Brazilian drumming party. Toronto's own Maracatu Nunca Antes was performing at the one and only Lula Lounge.

2. Later That Night: Met two guys at the streetcar stop, so we shared a cab to the subway. Torontonians need to do this more often: it saves money and it's social.

3. Really Late Night: Didn't need to hop in another taxi, as I saw a bus going my way. Riding Toronto buses by night puts me in touch with the city.

December 19: Escalator

2007-12-20T19:36:00.000-05:00

1. Table, Restaurant: Looong lunch with Ms. Heather.
2. Escalator, Subway: Chris ascended as I descended.
3. Sofabed, Apartment: Late-night Ocean's Thirteen.

Bonus: Listened

2007-12-19T01:43:00.001-05:00

Three people listened to me today:

1. My brother
2. Ms. Sharon
3. My brother (again)

December 18: Meatballs

2007-12-19T01:27:00.000-05:00

1. Memory! Got a photo print from last week's party.
2. Hawaiian meatballs! Served warm, delicious food.
3. Blog! Lingered at my desk all night... blogging.

December 17: 3:00

2007-12-19T01:23:00.000-05:00

1. Finished cleaning the house (3am).
2. Picked up my abandoned phone (3pm).
3. Continued cleaning the house (3am).

December 16: Juice

2007-12-19T01:16:00.001-05:00

We were pounded by a snowstorm. That was fine. But my fridge was empty and nothing in the known universe was open. Except Blockbuster.

1. Tostitos bite-size Rounds (surprisingly natural)
2. Tostitos salsa, medium (quite healthy, actually)
3. Dole orange juice (the only juice they carried)

Foodgroups in themselves, really.

December 15: Chit

2007-12-16T12:52:00.000-05:00

1. A day wandering Kensington Market:
Market. Touch-ing exhibit. Helvetica film documentary DVD.

2. An evening at a houseparty:
Wine. Chopping vegetables. Turquoise ski pant advice.

3. A late night journey home:
Snow. Hailing taxi. Complimentary corporate cab chit.

December 14: Lightning

2007-12-16T12:43:00.000-05:00

First, this guy sold me his $15 ticket for $10 at the door.
Then, local band Flash Lightning rocked an incredible gig.
Then, White Cowbell Oklahoma on stage at Lee's Palace.

Bonus: VerveEarth

2007-12-14T22:33:00.000-05:00

VerveEarth is a new way to surf the web. It's just starting up, so check it out and let them know what you think!

December 13: Duprees

2007-12-14T20:14:00.000-05:00

The Corporate Party:

My dinner companion shared her beef with me. (I always order salmon because it's ostensibly healthier, but as soon as beef is set on the table, I am like the family puppy.) That is my 1, 2, 3-in-one.

The Creative Party:

1. On telling the organizer I was a ‘guest of a guest’ – this was true – she replied that she appreciated my honesty, let me stay and even gave me a drink ticket.

2. A storyteller named Roger met Julia and Neil, whereupon they – all three possibly Duprees – voted on naked business cards and told each other stories.

3. At the end of the night, this to me from the remaining guests: ‘Hi, we're a bunch of straight guys and we just wanted to tell you that we totally looove your shoes.’

December 12: Timeslot

2007-12-12T22:56:00.000-05:00

1. Colourist agrees to refine her highlights in an open slot.
2. Dude at Laura Mercier examines her shades of plum lips.
3. Babe scores some fancy corporate toilet paper for herself.

Corporate TP is the most enduring and endearing. Snag a roll from work and test it at home. It lasts twice as long. I'd like to know where to buy this stuff. Toilet paper should not be soft and squeezable, of puffy air and no longevity – it ought to be a solid roll of consumer product!

PS - Just went here for a fantabulous surprise.

December 11: The FB

2007-12-12T22:53:00.000-05:00

1. Facebook: Izzy is a real woman with a real job. Who takes my calls in the middle of the day to listen to – of all things – my aliases. All the cool names get rejected. I beg her to listen to a few more (‘is this too porny?’) – and she actually does, even though she has real work to do.

2. Non-Facebook: My first swim in a saltwater pool.

3. Facebook: Is it possible to spend two hours on the FB at work? Oh, it is possible to spend a lot more than two hours! Just a theoretical supposition.

December 10: Super

2007-12-12T22:52:00.001-05:00

1. Superstuffed: two slices of orange carrot cake.
2. Superbad: two high school kids in a riotous flick.
3. Superbeer: two reds resting in the fridge, waiting.

December 9: Workshop

2007-12-12T22:51:00.003-05:00

1. Free full-size milk with Starbucks ‘traveller.’
2. Free exchange of ideas in a creative workshop.
3. Free spirits, free, with the free gift of learning.

Bonus: Story

2007-12-12T22:51:00.001-05:00

1. Character
2. Plot
3. Theme

December 8: Calories

2007-12-12T22:50:00.001-05:00

1. Feeling the love: film directors and learning the art of.
2. Feeling the love: grandmothers and beaming smiles from.
3. Feeling the calories: Izzy and sharing free birthday cake with.

December 7: Fridge

2007-12-12T22:48:00.001-05:00

1. Goodbye, Miss Elena (brunch titled ‘Indian’)
2. Goodbye, Miss Vivian (linner titled ‘Japanese’)
3. Hello, Miss Jennifer (email titled ‘chocolate treats for you in the fridge’)

I love Indian food, but do not recommend it for breakfast.

December 6: Sneaking

2007-12-06T23:37:00.001-05:00

1. Two little nephews sneaking into bed early in the morning. ‘Oh! I thought you were mummy – but you're Auntie Julia!’

2. With my 4-year-old companion, sneaking pink and blue cream cheese icing and pink and blue Smarties from the carrot cake sitting atop the kitchen island.

3. In hysterics, rolling back and forth with Lukas on speckled white floor tiles after Gymboree: sneaking snow pants onto a giggly, fidgety two-year-old in a Canadian winter in a simultaneously hilarious and exhausting moment.

December 5: Frames and Pictures

2007-12-06T22:44:00.000-05:00

1. Guest Surprise – Meeting up once again with the talented women of Frames and Pictures.
2. ‘Guest Straw’ – Sipping on Kat’s strawberry banana milkshake.
3. Guest Beds – A, Sneaking a little afternoon nap. B, Sneaking into a little sister’s crib.

December 4: Brandy

2007-12-04T21:32:00.001-05:00

3. In a freezing cold office over a kitchen counter, leaning up against a running dishwasher for hot, steamy comfort. It almost felt as good as taking a shower.
2. In an idle morning over cream of wheat, chatting with Vivian.
1. In an unexpected moment over a pile of papers and laundry, receiving some very good news from a woman named Brandy.

Bonus: Rules

2007-12-04T21:29:00.000-05:00

All I Ever Needed To Know I Learned In Kindergarten:

1. Listen
2. Participate
3. Have fun!

December 3: Doughnut

2007-12-04T21:26:00.000-05:00

1. Honouring: attending one very inspiring awards luncheon.
2. Spacing: attending a release party for Toronto's coolest mag.
3. Attending: to the maple-glazed doughnut Kevin bought me.

‘Today is the tomorrow I was terrified of yesterday.’

December 2: Mustard

2007-12-04T21:23:00.000-05:00

1. Trekking through freshly fallen snow with the boys early on Sunday morning in a city hugged by the white blanket of winter.

2. Journeying through carol-filled hotel foyers and salons packed with young children wired on chocolate milk and sugary sweets.

3. Laughing through lunch as Lukas repeatedly offers me a green-coloured shortbread cookie wreath, dipped in bright yellow mustard.

December 1: Ethiopian

2007-12-04T20:56:00.000-05:00

1. Queen Street West: Doing the gallery walk, warm lights glowing from storefront galleries at twilight.

2. Queen Street West West: Gingerly picking up salad with folded bread between fingers; eating an entire meal without utensils at Addis Ababa Ethiopian restaurant. Ridiculously delicious!

3. Hollywood Boulevard: A night of raspberry sorbet and the boys of Entourage. Ouch! Hot! Jeremy Piven. Sigh...

Bonus: Lessons

2007-12-04T15:27:00.000-05:00

As holiday party season kicks off:

1. Keep an extra plastic bag at coat check in case you are the lucky winner of the oversized centrepiece in the middle of the dinner table.

2. If you're wearing stay-up nylons, for heaven's sakes, wear stay-up panties!

3. If your company is dim enough not to provide you with a taxi home, by all means feel free to act up in any way you see fit for free cab money.

November 30: Hours

2007-12-04T15:26:00.002-05:00

1. Nine hours of beauty sleep.
2. Two hours of office work.
3. Six hours of party time.

November 29: Yellow

2007-12-04T15:26:00.001-05:00

1. Good: Got a lot of good work done.
2. Better: Then got even more work done.
3. Best: After the work was done, the pleasure of being sandwiched between four teenaged boys on the subway. Yes, I do mean that. It was remarkably entertaining. Every sentence started with ‘Yo’ - as in ‘Yo, check out the Yellow DJs!’

What is a Yellow DJ? Yo, that would be the construction workers in the subway tunnels.

November 28: Poppins

2007-11-27T21:45:00.001-05:00

1. Generosity: the guy on the subway shared his newspaper.
2. Patience: the girl at the salon let me have my Mary Poppins of Pockets moment as I took forever to empty out my coat.
3. Highlight: the girl doing my hair gave me a positively brilliant idea. She is a creative, gorgeous super-babe of the universe.

‘He is a statue wrapped in a painting in a frame made of muscles.’

Bonus: TP

2007-11-27T17:51:00.000-05:00

1. toilet paper
2. toothpaste
3. teepee

November 27: Privileged

2007-11-27T17:50:00.000-05:00

1. to be imparted valuable perspectives from Canada's aboriginal community,
2. to hear a speech by Stephen Lewis, former UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa,
3. to spend an afternoon in a sauna and spa, followed by a 90-minute nap.

December 1 is World AIDS Day.

November 26: Blubber

2007-11-27T17:49:00.001-05:00

1. Gift: Box of luxury Ukrainian chocolates.
2. T-shirt: ‘50 Ways to Leave Your Blubber’
3. Fruit: Large, ripe, green, sweet, juicy pear.

November 25: Turtles

2007-11-25T21:29:00.000-05:00

1. Playing Animal Yoga with my nephews after lunch. ‘Be a tree!’ [Stand tall.] What else? ‘I know! Let's be turtles!’ [Get down, curl up, tuck head into shell.] ‘Let's be bacon!’ [Lie down flat on back. Sizzle as frying pan heats up.]

2. Walking with my brother in the late afternoon. Walked right into the nail salon, where my hands and feet got some much-needed tender loving maintenance.

3. Biking with my Toque eastward at sundown, facing a full moon and a warm wind. Biked right into Izzy on Bloor Street, where we got some much-needed Linner.

Weekend Bonus: Random

2007-11-25T21:08:00.000-05:00

This week, in no particular order, three good things:

1. Booyakasha! I finally remembered the numbers on my old combination lock. They were in my memory bank all along.

2. Hip. I was told by the young'uns in the mailroom that Nike Airs circa 1995 are coming back. My cross-trainers (in white leather) have been part of my wardrobe all along.

3. Eh? I finally got my first Toque. This Canadian classic features hand-knit wool, chin strings and long ear flaps. I never did wear one, though I was Canadian all along.

November 24: Linner

2007-11-25T21:04:00.000-05:00

1. Incredible feedback from my U of T professor and classmates.
2. Linner (lunch + dinner) with my brother and his friend David.
3. Terrific Humber performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

‘Things growing are not ripe until their season.’

November 23: Red

2007-11-25T21:03:00.001-05:00

1. At Yoga, I had to be a Fish - and I was feeling it.
2. At work, I had to meet a deadline fast - and I did it.
3. At home, I had to unwind already - and I succeeded.

Thanks to:
1. relaxation,
2. motivation, and
3. half a bottle of red wine.

Bonus: Gobble, gobble!

2007-11-22T19:07:00.000-05:00

Happy American Thanksgiving!

November 22: Fertile

2007-11-21T01:28:00.003-05:00

One free poster. ‘Canada, the Most Fertile Country in the World’

Two new pairs of All Stars. It was high time, indeed – before I baked something!

Three (or four) business cards from willing retail sponsors (for an upcoming fundraiser).

November 21: Tips

2007-11-21T01:28:00.001-05:00

1. Perfect parallel parking, courtesy of yours truly.
2. Lots of Las Vegas tips, courtesy of the boss man.
3. Help brainstorming sexy Canadian personalities, males, 40-60 years old, courtesy of my colleagues. This was a real challenge. Not because we don't have sexy Canadians, but because our celebrity culture isn't that strong. We universally agreed that Pierre Trudeau was the perfect Canadian sex symbol, alas, he is no longer with us.

Three Things: Pigeon?

2007-11-20T22:28:00.001-05:00

I like Yoga, but no matter how hard I try, I cannot be:

1. a downward dog,
2. an upward cat, or
3. a sleeping pigeon.

I guess I don't have an inner dog whisperer.

November 20: Passcard

2007-11-20T22:26:00.000-05:00

Random 1. It was quite warm outside, so I biked (again).
Random 2. A girl at work swiped me in with her passcard.
Random 3. Leftover mini-cheesecake, coffee bean on top.

AND my brother called me tonight. Myliu, broliuk!

Bonus: Keywords

2007-11-19T20:47:00.000-05:00

Inspired by Greta's post, some keyword searches people have recently used to land on my blog:

1. ‘legal advice on opening smoothie bars in Spain’
2. ‘365 reasons to be thankful for a lover’ (sounds like a whole other blog)
3. ‘hot chat with sex starving nuns’

Umm, yeah... thanks for visiting!

November 19: Respite

2007-11-19T20:46:00.000-05:00

1. Respite: running late, but meeting cancelled.
2. Vehicle: dad finally agreed to let me use his.
3. Insta-outfit: got my forgotten blazer back.

Bonus: Want

2007-11-19T01:23:00.000-05:00

‘When you choose what you want most in life, you must not begrudge the price.’ The Good Wine, Doris McCarthy, MacFarlane, Walter & Ross, 1991

November 18: Extraas

2007-11-18T21:28:00.000-05:00

It's an official Me Day!

1. I sleep in because I can.
2. I call NYC because I can.
3. I eat the whole tub of Haagen-Dazs Extraas Caramel Cone Explosion ice cream because I can.

November 17: Baking

2007-11-18T21:17:00.000-05:00

1. My professor doesn't mind that my paper is late.
2. My friend doesn't mind dinner with my nephews.
3. My nephews don't mind the pungent smell of my Converse All Stars. They take turns smelling them. ‘My turn!’ ‘No, my turn!’ Matthew says, ‘Auntie, they smell like something for baking.’

November 16: Senses

2007-11-18T19:07:00.000-05:00

Coming to mine.

1. Inside the taxi, smell of salami (nose) followed by being truly heard (ears) over a delicious cup of tea (mouth). Followed by smiles (sight) and a hug goodbye (touch).

2. On a street corner, sipping my tea (taste) and taking phone calls (hearing), someone I know steps out of his office for a smoke (smell) whereupon we catch up on outstanding business. Followed by a handshake (touch) and direct eye contact (sight).

3. Lay eyes on a head-to-toe down coat (sight) and snuggle up in it (touch). In the presence of that brand-new smell (nose), get some great outdoor gear advice (ears) before unwrapping a fresh package of spearmint gum (mouth).

BONUS:

On discovering my two new coats are significantly cheaper in the States (anger), call an online retailer to ship to Canada (hope). Discover that many brands cannot be shipped outside the USA (outrage). An American friend agrees to accept the coats and forward them to me (delight). Savings: $450 (glee). Canadians, revolt!

Ačiū, Ingrida.

Bonus: Twins

2007-11-15T20:48:00.001-05:00

‘Oh, you must have your hands full!’
‘You sure must have your hands full!’
‘Wow, you must have your hands full!’

November 15: Totally!

2007-11-15T20:41:00.000-05:00

1. Overheard.

‘I love your cane!’
‘Thanks! $23 at Shoppers Drug Mart.’
‘It is so pretty!’
‘I know. It was my lucky day!’

2. Said.

‘I'm joining a gym tomorrow!’
‘Me too!’
‘When?’
‘I don't know – but I will!’
‘How exciting!’
‘I know!’
‘Totally!’

3. Read.

‘Both optimists and pessimists contribute to our society. The optimist invents the airplane and the pessimist the parachute.’ British novelist G.B. Stearn

Bonus: John F. Kennedy

2007-11-14T00:59:00.000-05:00

‘We must never forget that art is not a form of propaganda; it is a form of truth.’

‘The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word crisis. One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger - but recognize the opportunity.’

‘Once you say you're going to settle for second, that's what happens to you in life.’

November 14: Wedding

2007-11-14T00:56:00.001-05:00

1. Compassion. My former boss returned my call quickly. [I am grateful.]

2. Compliment? I thought I recognized someone on the subway. I looked at him funny, then shook my head and explained that he looked familiar. He said, ‘I wish I was.’ [I am flattered.]

3a. Conversation. Email chat with a friend in Brazil, who invited me to her wedding next summer. [I am delighted.]

3b. Conversation. Email chat with an old school mate. Shoutout to Oliver: Good luck with your thesis work! [I am proud.]

And not to be unappreciated on this most mid-November of days:

4. Currency. Unlike some at work, my pay was deposited into my bank account. [I am relieved.]

Bonus: Mottos (2)

2007-11-13T19:53:00.000-05:00

Canada's motto is A Mari usque ad Mare (From Sea to Sea). The Toronto Star asked readers for suggestions. Among them:

‘Polite neighbour of world power’
‘Politics divides us, hockey unites us’
‘Canada – Atlantic, Arctic, Pacific – Terrific!’

Bonus: Mottos (1)

2007-11-13T18:43:00.000-05:00

Britain is seeking a new national motto. Three from a list in today’s Toronto Star:

‘Chicken tikka masala, chips and rice’
‘No, please, after you, honestly’
‘Five quid a beer? Blimey!’

November 13: Breezy

2007-11-13T18:42:00.000-05:00

1. Surf diddly surf: window of webmail access at the office.
2. Motion and commotion: breezy biking through the mild city, with memories of last night's squeaky-clean chlorine streetscape.
3. Pickled pearl onions: surprise complimentary salad.

Three Things: Order

2007-11-13T15:17:00.000-05:00

I have a lot of clothes, but never imagined I had six weeks’ worth of unmentionables. The order in which they disappear after the good ones are gone:

1. the ugly, stretched, oversized and rejected, then
2. the lingerie (lovely, but not always comfy), then
3. the bathing suit bottoms (really, how desperate).

November 12: Aprons

2007-11-13T15:16:00.001-05:00

1. Aprons: with which to dry myself after getting soaked.
2. Sweaters: with which to dress myself after forgetting mine.
3. Undies: with which to postpone doing my laundry.

Bonus: Remembrance Day

2007-11-13T15:15:00.001-05:00

‘What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty and democracy?’ Gandhi

‘Only the dead have seen the end of war.’ Plato

‘One is left with the horrible feeling now that war settles nothing; that to win a war is as disastrous as to lose one.’ Agatha Christie

November 11: Tocar

2007-11-13T15:14:00.002-05:00

‘Tocar’ is my favourite Spanish word. It means both ‘to touch’ and ‘to play’ (as in, an instrument). It's beautiful.

1. Small moments: Connecting with a colleague - and a free lift.
2. Happy moments: Connecting with my bro - and free movies.
3. Misty moments: An invisible connection with my friend Owl, who designed a very special xylophone bench. It sits on the Northeast corner of Liberty St. and Fraser Ave. in Liberty Village in Toronto. At 1am, it said, ‘tocarme’... so I did.

November 10: Passion

2007-11-13T15:14:00.001-05:00

1. Smiled at an exhibit. I really liked the photograph of children playing hockey under the ‘passion’ section.

2. Cried in Parkdale. I was invited to watch some site-specific theatre. Very moving. lullaby is being staged by Dark Horse Theatre until November 18.

3. Laughed at home. I watched I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. Sophomoric? Yes. Laugh out Loud? Yes!

November 9: 1983

2007-11-13T15:10:00.002-05:00

55 mins: Super-duper fun Latin fitness dance class.

2 hrs: Unwinding with my dear friend Rita, who also hooked me up with a ride home (this is a 2-for-1).

1983 AD: I didn't ask, but was granted a new birth year by someone in power, for a youth rate on a pricey package.

November 8: Calls

2007-11-13T15:10:00.001-05:00

1. Re-Call: After falling asleep to a meditation CD (one track was titled ‘developing a loving kindness’), vivid dreams and self-awareness.

2. Wake-up Call: J and J, two friends, meet as colleagues and call me together via speaker phone from their office.

3. Call of the Wild: Hot-diggity-dog! Partying with Americans and Japanese, including a photo shoot with all thems all.

Three Things: Fridge

2007-11-13T15:08:00.000-05:00

1. a tub of margarine
2. a jar of Dijon mustard
3. a bottle of Stella Artois

An absent bachelorette lives here.

November 7: Nipply

2007-11-13T14:58:00.000-05:00

1. Cleveland? Email from Daiva, wherever she is.
2. Los Angeles? Email from Michael, wherever he is.
3. Toronto? Email from David, wherever he is.

I can keep track, though, of the email I got about being nipply.

6 noviembre: Almuerzo

2007-11-13T14:53:00.000-05:00

1. Hora del almuerzo con mis amigos latinos.
2. Paseo en la ciudad universitaria en la tarde.
3. Tiempo en la noche para acabar mi tarea.

November 5: Eggplant

2007-11-06T00:57:00.000-05:00

1. Falafels (second for half-price) from Laila's.
2. Eggplant slice, grilled on request, while waiting.
3. Leftover Halloween candies, hunted down...

Mouth watering, 1:00 am EST, going to hunt down eggplant.

November 4: Ginger

2007-11-06T00:31:00.000-05:00

Here is my idea of a meal that has it all:

1. Club Grilled Flatbread Panini,
2. Righteous Red Smoothie, and
3. Carrot-Apple-Ginger Juice.

I have this strategy. I always ask for extra ginger in my (small) juice. I drink the whole thing while I'm waiting for my panini to be grilled. Then I take the panini and the smoothie away. This makes me feel groovy and fantastic! It's why I hang around smoothie bars. It sometimes outshines everything else in my day.

November 3: Oil

2007-11-06T00:29:00.000-05:00

1. Brains: My instructor stayed behind in class to answer our questions. I'm not a University of Toronto alumna (though I attended in utero), but it's got my respect for Brains. What a world-class, top-notch school.

2. Stomach: My strategy for eating pizza is to ask for the freshest slice. I don't care what variety, so long as it is fresh from the oven. When it's pepperoni, like it was this time, I am extra happy.

3. Fingers: Chili oil dripped off my pizza slice, conditioning my cuticles and moisturizing my hands, which remained exceptionally soft and smooth for the next 24 hours.

November 2: Eyeballs

2007-11-02T20:56:00.000-04:00

(Way beefore the film. Free brownie muffins and drinks at a local bank. Could these be the city's best-kept complimentary breakfast secrets?)

A. During the film. ‘I lost my cousin to Italian Vogue.’

BEE. After the film. Making shadow puppets on the stage. ‘Look! The little dots on the movie screen make up a big speaker!’

C. Way after the film. Shop clerk to my nephew: ‘If you look too much with your fingers, you will grow eyeballs on your fingertips.’

Bonus: Acceptance

2007-11-02T20:54:00.000-04:00

This evening, I read Stacy's post on Acceptance.

November 1: Offers

2007-11-02T20:49:00.000-04:00

1. Spanish teacher offered my friend and me good tutoring rates.
2. Russian colleague offered me pretty European cigarette boxes.
3. Young couple on the subway offered me Truck Mart magazine.

October 31: Hysteria

2007-11-01T13:49:00.000-04:00

1. Arthur: tried Arthur's new Acai rainforest berry smoothie.

2. Evalyn: watched a lineup of incredible performers at Hysteria, including Evalyn Parry.

3. Julija: met the beautiful, motherly Eastern European vendor at Church and Wellesley. Halloween in the streets: enjoyed sausages in boxes.

October 30: Minutes

2007-10-31T12:07:00.000-04:00

Minutes well-spent:

1. Josh Rachlis's Terry Cloth (11 minutes)
2. Anita Renfroe's William Tell Overture for moms (3 minutes of Momsense)
3. Josh Rachlis's Marriage Proposal (3 minutes)

Bonus: Kirchner

2007-10-30T02:37:00.000-04:00

Cristina Fernández de Kirchner has won Argentina's presidential election. I have a big politician crush on her spouse. He will make a sexy First Husband!

October 29: Farmers

2007-10-30T02:34:00.000-04:00

Oy vey, October!

I haven't fallen off the wagon. November will be a time of reflection. Didn't Ernest Hemingway say that in order to write about life, first you must live it? I've been going the way of Heming, but my blog will soon again go the way of me.

Without further ado, this mild Monday:

1. Artists: Friendly peeps, served with delicious crackers and baby carrots alongside spicy and non-spicy hummus at a kitchen roundtable.

2. Creatives: Dinner with a friendly stranger sharing his unique hyphenated name story, a free film pass and other nuggets of imagination.

3. Farmers: On the subway, conversation all the way to the west end with two sweetie-pies from St. Catherines. Who really were farmers. Who were adorable young men. Who thought I was in college. Which I'm not. Which was flattering.

Three Things: Movies

2007-10-30T02:33:00.000-04:00

1. In the Valley of Elah by Paul Haggis
2. Eastern Promises by David Cronenberg
3. The Unforeseen by Laura Dunn

October 28: Priorities

2007-10-30T02:26:00.000-04:00

1. Pastry. I'm at this thing. I meet this nice guy from Kent, Ohio. He'd like to share his Belgian beer; I'd like to share my gnocchi. We picnic on Greek Orthodox church-steps. He is half-Greek, half-Lithuanian. My nephews are half-Greek, half-Lithuanian. We toast from plastic cups labelled ‘Baltika’. We pour Forêt beer from its wine-shaped bottle. The foam is thick and creamy like a pastry.

I've always liked people from Ohio.

2. Film. I'm at this thing. I see this Robert Redford feature titled The Unforeseen. I learn about Barton Springs and the aquifer in Austin, Texas. Inspired by the perseverance and the conviction of its people, I decide I must make an appointment with Barton Springs for a swim. ‘If the people lead, the leaders will follow.’

I've always wanted to visit Austin.

3. Wine. I'm at this thing. I re-meet this nice guy from Toronto. We drink red wine and talk about ... well, we talk about all kinds of things. He is a writer and artist who keeps on keeping on ... and even though we should both call it a night, we don't. Priorities? These are coffee-spoon moments.

I've always liked kindred creative spirits.

October 27: Insiders

2007-10-30T02:25:00.001-04:00

1. People in media: Sharing time with journalists.
2. People in media: Sharing time with publicists.
3. People in media: Sharing time with totally charming, intelligent and engaging adult film industry insiders!

October 26: Skip

2007-10-30T02:22:00.000-04:00

1. Privileged: to observe a film pitch session.
2. Surprised: to meet a fellow Baltic Canadian.
3. Delighted: to skip off work and catch a film.

October 25: Parties

2007-10-30T02:21:00.002-04:00

1. Two free drinks, one graphic designer, one reception.
2. Two colleagues, one standing bar, one new confidant.
3. Two friends, one cab, one Queen West West gallery.

Three Things: Typos

2007-10-30T02:21:00.001-04:00

1. ‘companies listed on the Toronto Sock Exchange’
2. ‘terms and conditions as being in the pubic interest’
3. ‘acknowledgment regarding nun-exclusive relationship’

October 24: Tori!

2007-10-30T02:20:00.000-04:00

1. The voice of darkness: gory guest list beckons.
2. The voice of improvisation: performance art calls.
3. The voice of an angel: Tori Amos touches down.

October 23: Tori

2007-10-30T02:19:00.000-04:00

1. Online: Surprise! Tori, tomorrow night.
2. Offline: Korean green tea birthday cake.
3. In line: Encouraging coursework grades.

Bonus: Value

2007-10-23T01:25:00.004-04:00

‘THE POWER OF ONE, THE VALUE OF MANY’

More on this later . . . I will leave you with that while I attempt to find a moment in which to blog.

(I have been attending lots of parties this week - it is hard work!)

Speaking of, I'd like to encourage everyone out there, as we move into party season, to ditch the black wardrobe. I propose white instead, or anything vintage and shiny.

October 22: Meeting

2007-10-23T01:25:00.003-04:00

Yes, I've blogged backwards a couple of times. I go by email and my calendar. Today is November 27, but October 22 isn't lost. This particularly Monday, however, was a Totally Ordinary Monday.

But with Totally Special People:
1. Andy
2. Selena
3. Sandra

October 21: Recovery

2007-10-23T01:25:00.001-04:00

Beware the after-effects of galas...

1. Hooded à la Unabomber, tracked down some Coca-Cola to begin my recovery.
2. Recovered (miraculously) in time for the closing film at ImagineNative.
3. Enjoyed, unhooded, the vivacious company of a German film producer, whose energy and effervescent charm completed my full recovery.

October 20: Gala

2007-10-23T01:24:00.005-04:00

Joining a black-and-white fundraiser gala for free is more than enough fun. Especially when you forget your dress at home and your friend helps you coordinate an outfit (which you may or may not have successfully pulled off, seeing as jeans were a part of the ensemble). So, what to do with the spare cash? Why, throw it into charity fundraising, of course!

Our winnings included
1. Gift certificates,
2. Fancy dinners, and
3. Manicure packages.

The trip to Italy eluded us, despite everyone's best concerted efforts to concoct a win, but we got a great return on our $20 bills nonetheless... and the drinks just kept flowing.