Mystery Package

Hmmm.. Came home a bit late today and found a doorknocker from DHL. I really don't remember ordering anything recenty. The Mac Pro had already arrived via a different courrier. What could it be?

Minor correction: I did not bruise my ass-cheek. It was more like my upper thigh that was slightly bruised by my fall. :-p

Clutz Redux

Ok, it seems that I might have bruised my left bum cheek from that fall Monday. :-p How embarassing. I only noticed the other night when I turned to lie on that side. Maybe not so much bruised as it is a sore muscled.

The past couple of days seem to go by pretty quickly at work. I don't know if it's a good thing or not. I don't feel like I accomplished as much as I hoped. Conference call in the morning...

Possibly an outing to Brutopia either tomorrow or Friday after work! Woo hoo!!! I can use a pint of good brew. I make a general rule to never drink alone. It's more fun to drink and be merry with friends! :)

I ended up getting the Apple AV kit for the iPod. I was feeling a bit bummed today so I decided to spend some money. I hope I don't get bummed too often. That would not be very healthy for my bank account. And no, the Mac Pro purchase was not due to be bummed. ;-)

SPD Clutz

I took my MTB for a spin around the neighborhood with the new pedals which are one side SPD clips and one side regular platform. I nearly took a spill at a stop sign. But I was a total clod at the end of the short spin in the driveway. I totally fell on the left side. I scraped my hand a little. It feels slightly bruised.

I think I will use the platform side when commuting until I get better at unclipping. :-p

In other areas... Why do some men post pictures of themselves in shades. Do they have something to hide? Then there are the "mugshots" with the "deer caught in the headlights" look. And when a profile does say that they are "mysterious", just what the h*ll is that suppose to mean? Sometimes I wonder why I even bother. :-p I guess it's just too darn addictive to just login to see who's there, to see if there's any "fresh meat". Yeah, it can be sad at times. What the heck. I've got nothing to lose. Okay, *maybe* my dignity if I totally flub it. %-p

Happy Labor Day!

Well, I managed to survive this weekend with the parents. I saw them off early this morning. Now I just want to crawl back into bed and sleep some more. However, I don't think I can now because I just did 20 minutes of hard pedalling on the bike. Now I'm wide awake.. At least for the time being.

I think that sometimes I am just one big f*ing goof of a person. I don't understand why I do the things I do. Sometimes I wonder about the situations I get into. Sometimes I feel like I am getting cold feet for now particular reason. Sometimes I feel like I have a bit of a self-esteem issue. Sometimes I feel unsure about myself. Sometimes I feel like I am out to go out of my mind!

In any case, I need to shake some of this off. I need to be myself. If someone does happen to find that somewhat attractive, then more power to them. They're going to need it in dealing with me!

Gaaah!

I think I will go back to sleep now. %-)

Long Weekend!

Well, it's the start of the long weekend. it's been a long while since the last holiday (July 1st). However, it won't be all relaxation I'm afraid. The parental units are coming up for a visit with my bro. This means I need to clean up the joint and make sure it passes Mother inspection! :-p

This might turn out to be a long weekend. But we shall see...

Decommissioned!!

The PC, she's been taken out of service. No longer will I hear her noisy fans. I hope to find her a new home. Somewhere where she can still be of service.

More power than I know what to do with!

It has finally arrived....
The Box... It was HUGE and HEAVY!
Frontal view.
Side view. Nice little Apple logo.

Sorry.. Didn't take any interior shots. Maybe later.

The PC will soon be history. The Mac Mini will soon be obsolete....

[Fill in the blank]-sexual

Which came first? Metrosexual or Retrosexual? And with which would you identify with?

Guys? Which are you?

Gals? Which do you prefer?

Am I Sad or What?

Okay, so since the event, I have watched the following movies more than once:

- High Fidelity
- Under the Tuscan Sun
- Must Love Dogs

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know they all have something to do with breakups and stuff, but hey, I can dream, can't I? I know they're just movies, but it's nice to see happy endings.

I just borrowed a colleague's collection of Fellini movies. I might try to watch La Dolce Vita this weekend.

*sniffle*

It's been a rather miserable week, healthwise. All this week, I have been battling this cold that I must have caught last Friday (scratchy throat). From there, the congestion started on Monday/Tuesday. I feel better now but the congestion and some of the coughing will take some time to get rid of.

On Tuesday, after I picked up my car from the garage (brake work), I stopped by the supermarket to pick up a few things. I had wanted to buy some fish (usually frozen filets) but didn't see anything I liked. There were, however, some "fresh" tilapia filets. Against my better judgement, I picked up a package of the fish. At home, I dusted the filets with some blackening spice to pan fry them. It was tasty, but within half an hour of consuming the fish, I started to feel a bit ill. My tummy felt like it was on fire and I was just not feeling very good.

I continued to make some banana bread while trying to fight this ill feeling. I tried to quell the fire by having some yogurt and then afterwards some milk. I had also drank some water to perhaps help dilute things. In the end, I tried to manually purge the bad fish. I crawled into bed in a cold sweat. Then I was out for maybe 2 hrs. When I woke up, I felt much better, but my tummy still felt a bit heavy from the meal.

I must remember never to buy "fresh" fish that has been packaged in those styrofoam trays. Evil, evil things...

In other news, my Mac Pro finally showed up on the tracking radar! It looks like it should be delivered on Monday! Woohoo!!!

Crescent Moon and Venus

Woke up early and took a peek outside. I wish I had a tripod. But these are the 2 best shots I got.

Weekend Wrap-Up/Monday Bleargh

This weekend was not bad. Saturday, I went out to see Snakes On a Plane with some friends. Afterwards, we grabbed a bite to eat at Les Trois Brasseurs.

The movie was okay, but I don't know if I would want to see it again. I guess I am just not a huge fan of most "horror" movies, if this was suppose to be one. However, Samuel L. Jackson really made the movie. I think he really saved the movie.

At the resto, I only had a pint of amber with dinner. However, I think I might have knocked it back a bit too fast for my system. I was a bit tipsy %-) Once I got home, I really wasn't feeling too good. I thought it might have been the beer. So I nearly zonked out immediately on the bed.

On Sunday, I woke up really not feeling too well. I thought it was allergies since it's ragweed season. So around 6AM I took a Benedryl Allergy tablet. That sucker knocked me out until around 10:30! :-p When I woke up, I figure it was about time I got up. I was feeling slightly better but not by much. I later called up "Organ Grinder" to let him know that I was going to go to the Hash. It was fun and I got to meet some nice people. :-) The weather was less than ideal, but we all had a grand ol time. I'll prob do another hash.

Today, I woke up with a hint of congestion. My throat was not much better. It seems to have hit that dry hacking cough phase. Most annoying. I had day 1 of a 2-day First Aid course at work. Throughout the class, I was sucking on Halls and drinking water to stave off the dry hacking cough. By the afternoon, the congestion was starting to rear its ugly head. I think I have a cold.

By the time I got home, the congestion was really going. After having some supper, I popped a Sudafed. I can't sleep when I'm congested. :-p

Well, it looks like i have to sink more money into my car. On Saturday, on the way back from Hudson that morning, my brakes gave me a scare. On the exit off the highway on the way home, I tried to brake but the brake pedal went all the way to the floor! I was like WTF? The car did manage to stop at the stop light. Whew! My heart was pounding a millions beats per second! From that point on, I just wanted to get home in one piece! :-o Which I did. This morning I called the garage about it. They found the part and I dropped my car off after work (I cautiously made the drive in this morning). Not sure just how bad the $$$ damage will be, but heck, ya needs brakes on a car!!

Well, there you have it: a somewhat exciting weekend. Now back to nursing my cold with some lemon-honey drink to chase down that Sudafed. ;-)

%-)

What the F* am I doing up at 4:30AM? I dunno. Do you? For some reason I have been having a hard time sleeping this week. Maybe it's due to allergies? I think it's ragweed season. From what my brother said, it's suppose to be pretty bad this year. Right now, my mouth and throat feel pretty dry. I rode my bike home yesterday and it was pretty warm.

In other news.. They've shipped my Mac Pro! Woohoo!!! Hopefully, I can actually track it on Monday. It's being shipped by Sameday Right o Way. I have no idea what kind of shipper they are. Hopefully they don't bang stuff around.. :-o

How Fast Are YOU?

Wednesday is HUMP Day

I have NO idea who came up with that...

In any case, I'm feeling crappy because I haven't been able to sleep very well the past couple of nights. I think it may be allergies since it's about ragweed season. On top of that I did bike to work Monday and today. :-p

In the meantime, I took a couple of shots with the digi-cam recently.

View from my room towards UdeM a few nights ago. Not bad shooting through a double-glazed window.

Same evening but of the moon peeking in and out of the clouds. You can see the effect the window has here.

Sunrise this morning. The sun was just below the Bombardier building.

This might have been slightly over-exposed but this is a shot of UdeM a sunset. It should have had a more golden tone to it. Oh well.

So that's it for now. I think I will ride to work again tomorrow. I might drive on Friday. We'll see how much energy I've got left. ;-)

I DID IT!

So, I went ahead and did it. I ordered a Mac Pro. Screw a new LCD HDTV! I'll take the Mac Pro instead!

Am I crazy?

Don't answer that.

So what configuration did I opt for? I downgraded the CPU to 2Ghz. I upped the RAM to 2Gb. And I went for the Apple Protection plan. That's what I gone ahead and done...

The expected ship date is August 21st. *wait*

I will need to unload the Mac Mini after I transfer some data. I was talking to someone at work who knows someone who might be interested in it. Cool!

Afterwards, upgrade the 14" G4 iBook to a MacBook (prob just the 13"). Again, same person knows someone who might be interested in it. Yay! Makes my life easier!

Just Another Monday

It's the start of another work week. Yay.

Weekend wrap up:
Bought an inexpensive set of SPD pedals for the Bianchi on Saturday. Also bought 2 pairs of shoes. One pair of Clarks from Globo and a pair of Merrell's at Sports Expert. Did I really need more shoes? Don't answer that.


Then in the afternoon, went to catch Bon Cop, Bad Cop. It was quite funny! Then had supper at Baton Rouge and an ice cream at the Orange Julep.

Sunday was as mentioned fairly routine. I did go out and rent two movies: In Good Company and Saving Face. Both were pretty good.

In other news, I think my PC is about to go sometime in the near future. I need to back up all the data to DVD from the external drive that's connected to it (it was formatted for the PC and not Mac). After that I think I will seriously assess the feasibility of purchasing the Mac Pro. At least I know someone who's interested in the Mac Mini.

Cake and Chicken

Ok, this is one reason to make a grocery list: I forgot to buy more poppy seeds. I made do with what I had left which was probably a very scant 1/4 cup. :-p I haven't had a slice yet, but I'll probably bring some with me to work.

The supermarket did not have any acceptable rib material so I bought a package of chicken breasts instead. They turned out pretty good with the blackening spice! Had that with some salad.

Menu for the rest of the week? Well, I decided to pick up a package of spinach with paneer. That would go well with some rice. Some italian sausage for the ol' pasta standby. Got some chicken thighs to make chicken madras with.

Here's a quick recipe for my standard pasta sauce. Perfect for bachelors (and bachelorettes) and people short on time!

1 pkg italian sausage, about 6 links (I prefer the spicy over sweet)
1 teaspoon of minced garlic (I use the small jars of the stuff for convenience)
1 red pepper, diced
1 8oz pgk of white button mushrooms, sliced
1 19oz can of diced tomatoes
1 small can of tomato sauce
Italian seasoning
Balsamic vinegar (optional)

Start by heating some olive oil (about a tablespoon) in a non-stick saucepan. Take the sausage meat out of its casing and break them up into the heated pan. As the sausage browns you can add the garlic and seasoning (about a tablespoon). When most of the sausage is cooked, add the mushrooms and saute for a few minutes. Add the can of diced tomatos and tomato sauce. Mix well. Add a splash of balsamic vinegar for extra flavor. Add the red peppers. Stir well. Lower heat and let simmer for about 20 minutes.

While the sauce is simmering, you can prepare your pasta. This type of chunky sauce is better with pasta like rotini or penne, but it's still good with regular spaghetti. :-)

Enjoy!

Sundays

Sundays are usually fairly routine. Get up, maybe exercise, if not, watch a little TV. Shower, have some breakfast, go buy groceries. Laundry, veg or watch a movie. Maybe some cleaning depending on how bad it is.

Yup, pretty routine and at times boring. But it's days like this that helps you refocus and stay grounded, I think.

Today, it probably won't be much different. However, I think I might make that lemon poppyseed cake. I better make sure I have the poppyseeds! :-)

I still have some dry rub left. Maybe I'll see if I can find a small rack of ribs at the supermarket. That could be supper for tonight! :-)

I'll try to post pics of the results of these culinary delights. :)

Friday Night

It's Friday night. I'm home. I'm watching a DVD. What are you doing?

It's interesting to note the number of men, both attractive and not so, who are logged into sites like LavaLife at this hour. If they're so hot, why are they not out? Another interesting observation I've made is the number of men logged in on Monday and Tuesday nights. There seems to be over 250 of them logged on on those evenings.

Just an observation...

I guess I'm a bit of a flake at times. One moment, I think I know what I want. The next, I haven't a clue what to do. I guess that goes with the territory. In any case, as I have already mentioned before in previous posts, I really need to focus on things and understand what's important.

Etc. Etc. Etc.

Plum Upside Down Cake

I had bought some plums on Sunday. I wanted to make some sort of crumble or fruit thing with them. So I dug around and found this recipe on the Cooking Light web site. It's quite yummy. :-)

Small Projects

Well, after stuff got moved out, I was left without a place to store the linens and things. I wonder to myself, "How did I manage before?" I guess the answer is that I didn't not have as much stuff as I did before.

So, I was on a quest for a replacement box/trunk/storage thing.

I had been to Finnegan's a few times but hadn't consciously looked for something until recently. On the last trip I found it. Luckily it had a cedar boards lining the bottom of the main compartment of the trunk. The bottom drawer was a bit sticky but I used a tip from a friend to apply candle wax to the sides of the drawer that come in contact with the trunk. It should make things slide more easily. This drawer does not have runners.

Next step is to clean up the outside a bit. Maybe with some Pledge or Endust. I don't think I really want to apply a coat of furniture wax to it.

Dis 'n Dat

I've sort of taken my profile off of LL for now. I've essentially hidden it. I've also been pretty good about not login in to the sites from work. At times I find that it's almost addictive to login to these sites to see who's seen me or if there are any messages. Unfortunately, I think I might end up blowing off this one guy I had been exchanging some mails with. In any case, I think I still need to get my head on straight.

Well, that's pretty much it. I've come to the realization (again) that I really need to focus on other things.

Anyway....

I've been trying to ride to work most of this week. Unfortunately, if it does shower tomorrow I won't be riding to work. I guess I'll have to use the trainer instead. Friday's forecast doesn't look too bad, so I will probably try to ride then as well.

It's not a terribly long commute, but it's better than getting no exercise at all. :-)

Belated Birthday Outing

Yesterday a couple of guys at work decided to take me out for my birthday. I know it was a week late, but last week was impossible to coordinate.

We ended up going to Les 3 Brasseurs on the corner of Ste-Catherine and Cresent. It's the newest of that chain to open. They brew their own beers.

I had a pint of amber to start with then ordered a Neopolitan flamm. In total, I had only 2 pints of amber. At least I know my limits! ;-)

I think by the time I started on the 2nd pint, I was quite happy. :-)

All in all it was a good evening. Thanks guys!

Come to Mama!!

Oh yeah!

Okay, the geek inside is a little excited over this one. However, not to the point where I'm ready to plunk down that kind of coin for one! I do have some sanity left in me! Nevertheless, I am going to keep an eye out on user reviews of this new beast.

If it comes to fruition, I might decide to get it just to replace the 2 machines I currently have as desktop machines. I will keep the iBook for now. I think ultimately, I will want to replace the desktops with the one machine and maybe upgrade the iBook to either a MacBook or MacBook Pro. That's a lot of coin there, so I will have to really think about this.

In other things... Is classy casual akin to business casual? Since I am not exactly one for fashion (I have not bought or perused any fashion mag in YEARS). As a result, I haven't a clue. In any case, I think I will need to do some shopping in the near future. Apparently, fall fashions are hitting the stores.. Eeeek! Goes to show you how often I go shopping!

Things to work on...

Well, I think that starting this week I will need to work on a few things:

1) Brush up on Perl and other stuff.
2) Clean out my closet of stuff I don't wear any more.
3) Work on filling any gaps left by the closet cleaning.
4) Cycle more, whether it be indoors or out.

It sounds easy enough. However, I find that I am easily distracted by things such as this thing as well as the temptation to login to the dating sites. Incidentally, I still need to respond to one individual for a time and place to meet for a coffee/drink/dinner. I've GOT to STOP initiating some of these things... At times, it almost seems like an addiction.

Anyway, it's getting late and I need my sleep. I don't think I will be able to cycle in to work tomorrow.. bleah!

Social Gatherings

To keep my sanity and to avoid going into complete isolation I planned a bbq today. The guests are mainly friends from both work and non-work. I did a lot of cleaning and preparation yesterday and today. I think everything is set. Even if there is too much food, it's better than not having enough. :-)

What am I preparing? Chicken satay, a variety of sausages, chicken and beef brochettes from the butcher, and some burgers, in case someone would prefer burgers. :-)

I picked up a babka yesterday as well as some organic veggies for grilling. Today, I got some grapes, cheese and crackers as well. I guess it's a lot since some folks will be bringing some stuff as well. But I'd rather see people go home with their tummies filled and happy.

Gaaah!

Okay, so I am so messed up in the head right now, psychologically. I am starting to think that maybe I am not really ready to start dating again. I think I still need to define what it is I want. I think I really need to re-discover myself to some degree.

I suppose I should focus on other things such as the trip to Japan. I should brush up on some Perl. There's probably other things I could/should be doing as well.

I think it will take some will power to maintain this kind of focus. I should stop login in to some of these dating sites.

I should continue riding on the trainer (see pic) if I don't ride to work. The weather looks promising this coming week. It doesn't look like it will be as hot and steamy.

Music from the 80's

Yes, there were SOME decent tunes from the 80's. It wasn't all Culture Club or Duran Duran. Although I must admit that, like many other teenage girls, I did go through a Duran Duran phased of sorts. However, I did not go so far as to emulate them (i.e., wearing a fedora).

Some 80's groups/musicians with some redeeming qualities:

• Psychedlic Furs


• The Smiths


• Echo & the Bunnymen


• Siouxsie and the Banshees


• The Police


• U2 (I am somewhat biased in that I prefer their older stuff)


• Midnight Oil


• INXS


• Joe Jackson

I'm sure there are others. Any suggestions to add to the list?

Just Passing Through

I guess these days I have been doing a lot of reflecting upon my life to date. Today, I feel as if I am just passing through this city. It seems that I am way overdue to pick up and move on to some place new. My wanderings started when I was 23. It's been about 15 years since I left home. I've been through a couple of cities along the way. This seems to have been my longest stop.

I guess I wonder at times if I am really the sort to settle down and do the "normal" thing. By normal, I'm talking about settling down with a significant other and starting a family. I guess when I was much younger this might have a been a goal of sorts at the time. However, as I got older and experienced different things, I don't think I am meant to settle down and have a family. I still feel that there is much more out there for me see and do. I guess I am starting to get restless again.

My restlessness may have also been influenced by my current work situation. Don't get me wrong. I think my position is fairly secure. However, on the whole, I don't see too many new mandates coming to this location in the near future. If there is no new growth at this location, then I wonder what will happen down the road. Would there be more layoffs? I don't think I want to be part of that. Anyway, we shall see what happens in the coming months.

Almost the weekend

Well, I didn't get a chance to post anything yesterday. I don't think I had much to say. I was terribly busy at work. I didn't get out until about 6PM and I had been in the office since 7AM. Today will probably not be any different.

Other than that, nothing new has really happened. There was a pretty major t-storm that blew throught he area Tuesday night. It caused some damages in some places. Some areas are still without power.

On the dating front, there hasn't been a whole lot of new news. I'm still chatting with the one fellow who's over an hour away. Haven't heard much from the Friday night date. And most recently, started a mail exchange with another guy. I really don't know whether any of these will amount to anything. Okay, so I might sound a little discouraged, but at the same time I am also trying to be realistic.

In other areas, I think a few of us are going to go out Friday after work for a few drinks to celebrate my old age (slightly belated). The rest of the weekend will be fairly busy with me cleaning up and getting ready for Sunday's BBQ. I think there might be 10 of us (including myself). I'm planning to make some chicken satay. I will probably pick up some sweets at Finnegan's Saturday. I might pick up some brochettes from the butcher's on Saturday as well. It should be fun even if there is a chance of showers. :-)

Another Year, Another Birthday

Yes, it's that time of year again. Another year under my belt and perhaps many more to come.

Not too many people knew it was my birthday at work. Some remembered and sent me an email. My officemate got me a small bag of one-bite brownies. Yum!

G suggested going out after work sometime this week for a couple of beers. Sounds like a grand idea!!

Tonight, I just want to spend a quiet evening. Probably listen to some music. Perhaps watch a movie. In any case, I think I will need to turn in earlier tonight. I keep saying that, but I somehow almost always end up going to sleep later than planned. Tonight, however, I will go to sleep by 10!

The "Too Much Information" Department

Okay, so I've decided to delete the "Men" entries. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but after thinking about it and getting a few comments, I've decided to remove these entries. Sorry, if these entries actually entertained anybody.

In any case, the entries fell into the "Too Much Information" department. And as such, these entries have been deleted. Some things are better left unsaid.

Too Much Joy

For a sampling of their stuff --> ClIcK

Enjoy!

Music That Define a Moment

Over the weekend I was re-discovering some music I have. In this case, it's the band Too Much Joy.

The first and only time I saw them perform was in the summer of 1991. I had just split from L and I was feeling a bit rebellious and carefree. That day I was out with some friends and had just bought a leather biker-style jacket. It was something that I had wanted for some time. I had also picked up some CDs which I managed to keep in the inside pocket of the jacket. It's funny how one remembers such details.

Later that evening, we went over to T.T. the Bear's Place to catch a show. I think it was Galaxy 500 that opened. Then on came Too Much Joy. The one thing I remember was the singer coming out in a wrestler/bondage mask. In any case, it was a really cool show. I really had a good time. Oh to be young and carefree again! :-)

Vacation

Well, earlier this past week I went ahead and did it. I booked and paid for tickets to Japan. I will be leaving September 29th and returning October 14th. Hmmm, W did say I could crash at his place, didn't he? I better doublecheck. ;-)

Next: Should I get a JRailPass or not? Hmmm...

Rebound Relationships

While Googling, I came across this. It's something that I would like to try to avoid, but it's not something easily controlled.

What is a rebound relationship?

So what happens when two people who are relatively "fresh" out of a relationship hook up? Could that be called a double rebound?

What am I aiming for?

Today is one of those days when, under the influence of monthly hormonal imbalances, that the mind starts to wander.

Today, I wonder what it is I want. What do I want at this point in time. What would I like in a few months time? How would I like to see my personal life? Where would I like to see my professional life go? So many questions and so few answers at the moment.

I guess to some degree I feel somewhat undecided about some things. Hrmmm.. I hate when my mind gets muddled with such things...

Funny Coincidences

A couple things of note from last night's "date":

1) The last movie we had gone out to see was "Superman Returns".
2) He drives a Golf, albeit and older one.
3) He was parked right behind me.

Just coincidence? Or is it suppose to mean something? Things that make you go "Hmmm".

More Bike Stuff

So I went to MEC again today to get a few more things: inexpensive bike stand, chain cleaner, cleaning fluid, chain brush thingy, tenacious oil, and a t-shirt. I think the dude in the bike department will start to recognize me if I keep this up.

I managed to put the bike stand together. It was missing some washers which I had some extras of. The bike seems to be fairly stable for what I want to do. While I was setting things up, I figure I'd start cleaning the bike. I managed to take the rear wheel off. I started to clean the cogs. Holy crap is it ever filthy!! :-p

I tried to use the chain cleaner with the wheel off. It didn't work so well. I managed to put the rear wheel back on. Chain cleaner works much better. I tried to lock the brakes back into place. What a b*tch and a half!! It took me a while before I managed to clip the brakes back into place.

In the end, the bike is still filthy. There's thing of degreaser lying around. I will probably use that. Bro suggested getting those disposable latex gloves. Saves time on the clean up afterwards. I guess this cleaning project will have to continue tomorrow.

In the meantime, I ordered a copy of Zinn & the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance from amazon.ca. I should get it in a few days. This should complement the Road Bike Maintenance book I got a little while ago.

Post Date

Well, the date did not last as long as I thought. The reason being that he had some relatives coming in the next day and had not done any cleaning. However, he said he had fun. Will we see each other again? Sure why not. Second date to be planned.

Hmmmm. I sort of have mixed feelings about the whole thing. On the whole, it was an okay date. There wasn't anything that was horrendously negative. It wasn't unpleasant. The conversation was indeed rather interesting at times, to say the least.

Let's see what happens next.

It's 5:00PM...

.. do you know where your brain/sanity/sensibility is?

So I just got home. I think I was starting to run out of steam on my ride home. I just did not think I was pedalling as hard as I could. My legs were starting to feel tired. Nevertheless, I perservered. I think I still made good time. Now I'm just plain hot and sweaty. :-p

I should grab a bite to eat before I head out this evening. But what the f* should I have? I don't want anything too heavy. I don't want anything too complicated either. Looks like I will be exploring the cupboards and the fridge a few times before I'm happy with some selection. :-p

I had hoped I could grab a quick nap before going out. However, in between taking a shower and grabbing a bite to eat, that might not be possible. At least I had a shot of espresso around 1:30. I don't know when the caffeine will kick in. Maybe I will just fall asleep in the middle of a round of pool. :-o

Anyhoo..

Mid-day Musings

To date, I've lost nearly 10 pounds. This is all within the past 5 weeks. It might be a bit much for such a short period of time, but under the circumstances, the initial weight loss is explainable.

How to maintain and continue the weight loss? I am determined now to continue on the right track to getting into shape. Recently, I had bought the trainer for the road bike. As well, I have been trying to ride into work as much as possible. If, for some reason, I do not or cannot, then I will put time on the trainer. I think this extra effort is starting to show. My legs are starting to become more toned. I am maintaining the weight lost as well as trying to lose more. I feel I have more strength and endurance. The only thing left to correct is my lack of sleep. :-p

On top of all this, I am also trying maintain smaller portions for meals. I am still trying to eat healthy. I avoid buying junk food at home (at work I might get the occasional candy bar). I've also been drinking a lot of water.

Every so often I consult my brother if I have any questions about activities or diet. Being the athlete that he is, he's quite knowledgable in this stuff.

Seven hours before date...

Running on adrenaline

It's been more than 4 weeks since I had a good solid night's sleep. I think I have been averaging about 5 hours of sleep each night. This is not good. I'm sure at some point I will just come to a screeching halt. Crash and burn. I think in an attempt to avoid this I will take it easy this weekend. Probably sleep in as much as possible. Take the occasional nap when it's needed. Then, hopefully by Monday, I will feel a bit more energized.

With the lack of sleep, I really think it's the adrenaline kicking in when I ride to work. This week, my times were better than before. I think I shaved off nearly 2 minutes on my time. That's pretty good, I think.

Date tonight. What to wear? Hmm, nothing too frilly. I think I will just keep it simple. Neat and tidy. A hint of fragrance? Now that there is no smoking in pubs and bars, one might actually smell the fragrance of something other than cigarettes! In any case, I hope my date doesn't expect me to put out on the first date! ;-)

Right now, this particular period in my life is reminiscent of the time just before I left Boston and ran off to Chicago. There was a sense of being carefree with a hint of rebellion. I had no real job at the time, I was single and I didn't have a real plan. The difference this time is that I do have a job. If I run off anywhere this time, it will be as a more mature adult with some semblance of a plan. :-)

Let's see what the future holds...

Dis n' Dat

Ugh! I find that I still have a hard time getting a full night's sleep. Sometimes I think it's because I have been staying up late a lot lately. Normally, I would be in bed by about 10PM. Now, I'm usually going to sleep somewhere between 11 and midnight. Given that my wake-up time has not changed, I am losing a couple hours of sleep each night. On top of that, I have been waking up in the middle of the night a lot. :-p

I think tonight, I will limit and evening chats and call it a night by 10:00PM. I will make myself go to sleep. I need to get back on track and re-energize. Wanting to take a nap in the middle of the day is not good.

Hot date Friday? I don't know. In any case, I have a "date" with someone Friday evening. I won't divulge too much here for the moment. I really don't know what to expect from this. He was the one who suggested getting together. Originally it was supposed to have been 2 weeks ago, I think? However, something came up and it got postponed. I currently perceive him as a serial dater as he has mentioned having a date everyday some weeks. Will I just be another notch on his date list? Who knows. Eh, whatever. At least I have a reason to go out! :-D

Police say man calls 911 for 'hot chick' - Boston.com

Police say man calls 911 for 'hot chick' - Boston.com

First one woman does it, now a guy? What's going on out there?

Today's Babbling

Today I would like to wish Shawn a very happy birthday. So, without further ado, HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHAWN!

There are other people whose birthday is today. They know who they are.

This evening I watched The Tao of Steve. It's an interesting little film. I think it originally came out in 2000. It's worth a watch.

Today, I was rather busy at work. The morning was a bit slow because there was some troubleshooting to be done. Once that was out of the way, we were able to commence testing. By 4:30, we had had it. So, tomorrow we will continue. It will probably be another full day, but at least it will be a busy and hopefully productive day.

I thrive on a certain amount of stress. I find that I am not satisfied with the work that I am doing unless there is a certain level of stress or pressure. Of course, I can only handle so much stress and pressure. I know that I need a break when I start cursing like a drunken sailor. ;-)

Things I have to keep in mind: Do not lose focus on what is important at the time. I do not need too many distractions in my life at the moment. Of course, I do need to pay some attention to my social life. However, it should not dominate my life either. I need to ensure a balance in all aspects of my life.

Was listening to: New Order

Denial of Age

Well, someone just *had* to remind me that next Tuesday I will be 38. :-p I don't even feel that I am 37 nevermind 38!! How did this happen? When did this happen? I think that mentally I am still at least 5 years behind what I am age-wise. Physically? Well, that's up for debate. :-p

In any case, I hope to pass a quiet and uneventful birthday. Although, somewhere in the back of my mind, I wonder if anyone isn't thinking of planning something.

Last night I watched Poppoya. It's a rather sentimental Japanese movie about a railroad man and his losses and gains. I've watched this before a few times, but this time around, maybe it's hormonal or something, I got all choked up during some of the sad scenes and not so sad scenes. I like this movie nonetheless.

Currently listening to: Tri-State (album) by Above & Beyond

Chill-out Sunday

Just some usual stuff today: groceries, laundry. These are things that still need to be done whether I like it or not.

I made another trip to MEC today. What did I get this time? A rear fender to keep my *ss dry when the roads are wet. Another pair of cycling shorts. A spare tube for the road bike. A Filzer multi-tool thingy. A Polar F4. A couple pair of cycling socks. Another sports bra. And a cycling top that's got a cool image of a bike gear printed on it. I have to stop making these trips to MEC...

The rest of the afternoon, I just sorta chilled. Took a short nap. Read the paper. Rather boring, but it's quiet and calming. Currently, I'm listening to etn.fm's progressive station. Some nice mellow tunes right now.

So on a day like today, I try not to think too much about anything at all. Sometimes, you just need to clear your mind of some things and focus on the more mundane things. This way, there is some sense of stability and normalcy in life.

Before you know it, the weekend will be over and then it's back to work. :-p

I will have to try to get more riding in this week. I will prob use the trainer tomorrow morning. I will try to ride to work the rest of the week. I know I can keep up with this regimen!

Confooosed!

Sometimes, I feel a it confused over what I should or should not be doing. Should I be persuing new relationships? Should I take more time for myself? Should I buy smooth or chunky peanut butter?

It's obvious that decisions are not handed to you on a silver platter. Much thought is required here.

In other things..

I went out to Finnegan's to drop off some mail for the ex-in-laws. They've been great about the whole situation. I guess it does pain them that they do not hear from their boy very often. They seem to know about as much as I do as to what's going on with him. In any case, I hung around most of the morning before heading back.

At home, a friend of D's called to see how I was doing. He hadn't tried to contact him yet, but might give him a call this week at work to do lunch or something. It was very kind of J to call to see how I was doing. We both agreed that it's probably best not to press for more information than D is ready to give.

Afterwards, I decided to take a nap. I had just swept/cleaned the garage when J called. I think I will watch a video after supper. It's been a fairly quiet day.

People of Interest

It's a bit scary when you realize that there's someone who is interested in you. It's even more scary when there's two.

With the one, the motives seem genuine. There does not seem to be any hidden agenda. He seems "normal". With the other, the motives are questionable. There is something that makes one go "hmmm". There's a bit of kink to him.

I'm really not sure what to do next. I would like to meet the "normal" one and find out more about him. The other has an air of intrigue that piques my curiosity.

Gaaaah!!

Wanderlust

Wanderlust is German loanword, commonly used as meaning "love of travel". Others consider it to be a simple compound of wander + lust.

"Wanderlust" commonly means something close to having an itch to travel, to get out and see the world. It's not quite the same as the German, but the ideas of embracing an urge to travel in the outdoors is roughly equivalent. - courtesy of Wikipedia

Lately, and perhaps I might have mentioned it before, I feel that it's time for some change. A change of what? Perhaps of scenery, of job, of life. Whatever the case may be, I feel a need for change soon. Let's see what the cards hold...

Do I want to be caught?

After re-reading my friend's comment about me being a catch, this question comes to mind: Do I want to be caught? It's something that I am sort of mulling over.

I still haven't heard back yet from my friend W, but I haven't closed the door on the possibility of a move to Japan. At the same time, I've been getting to know somebody. We haven't met yet, but that's in the works. I remember in an earlier chat I did mention the possibility of the move. But does he remember this little bit of information? I don't want to end up in a situation where things get too deep and someone gets hurt. This is a bit of a conundrum.

Quotes and Self-Esteem

"What came first - the music or the misery? Did I listen to music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to music? Do all those records turn you into a melancholy person?" - High Fidelity

If the world of dating allowed the use of references, I'd probably have them lining up at the door! However, I don't think it works that way. So far, from both male and female friends, I am receiving wonderful, supportive comments. It certainly helps to keep the ol' self-esteem up and running!

"But you are a prize girl! Every thing I would like in a girl, I know you aren't the L word. As a guy I would have wanted someone exactly like you. Computer geek, smart, cute, funny and I am sure lovable! What else could any one want? ... Remember, you are one hell of a catch and you will get caught again if you are open to it." - B

What do you do with such glowing references? Too bad you can't use them as you would in a job application! :-D

Anyway, in other things, I hope I haven't scared off a particular person of interest. I know he's pretty busy, so I really don't expect his undivided attention. There's no sense in going in that direction until we actually meet. But I don't want to indirectly expect some sort of commitment. Hmm, must remind myself to go slow and take it easy. Little baby steps. :-)

Aural Sensations

What have I been listening to today?

• Elvis Costello


• Dire Straits


• Bettie Serveert

I seem to be in the mood to listening to some "older" stuff from the 80's and 90's. Otherwise, if I just want to listen to something for the sake of just listening to something in the background then I might open up either XTC Radio or Proton Radio which could both be picked up via iTunes Radio under electronica. I like this kind of music sometimes. It's the kind I like playing in the background if I am not in the mood for anything in particular.

Other recent aural sensations: The Pixies, Smashing Pumpkins, the Offspring.

I used to be so into my music when I was in high school. The local music scene in Boston was quite big at the time (the 80's). I really did not like the Top 40 crap that was playing on the radio. Thus, I built up a craving for indie or alternative music. I discovered during this time some "older" groups like The Pretenders, the Kinks and the Clash (ok, they did release some stuff in the 80's).

During my university years, my attention to music waned a bit for obvious reasons. However, I tried to stay on top of what was coming out. After graduation, it really took a bit of a turn because I had to start looking for a job to pay for college. :-p

These days, the occasional movie with a really great soundtrack is what gets my attention. Off the top of my head, the music used in "High Fidelity" grabbed my attention. There was an interesting quote they took directly from the book and used in the movie. Unfortunately, I have to look it up since I can't remember it verbatim. :->

Banana Bread

This is a tried and true recipe from the Fanny Farmer Cookbook (my copy is quite dogeared). The chocolate chips is my addition. For a more healthy twist, you could substitute 1/2 cup of the flour with ground flax seed. :-)

3 ripe bananas, well mashed
2 eggs, well beaten
2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 coarsely chopped walnuts (or chocolate chips)

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a loaf pan.

Mix the bananas and eggs together in a large bowl. Stir in the flour, sugar, salt and baking soda. Add the walnuts and blend. Put the batter in the pan and bake for 1 hour. Remove from the pan to a rack to cool. Serve still warm or cooled, as you like it.

Cooking For One - 101

Something I have to re-learn is how to cook fewer servings. I have gotten used to cooking enough for two with leftovers for lunch. However, as my brother has been insisting, leftovers are not nutritionally as good the next day. I don't know if there is any scientific proof of this, but anyway I suppose it's best not to have too much left over. From past experience, sometimes the left overs stick around longer than intended. ;-)

One sure bet recipe that I like to make is fried rice. This version of mine is so easy to make. Usually, fried rice is made with cold, leftover rice. This is because the rice would be more individual and not as sticky. I usually just cook up a fresh portion of rice for this. Other than rice, the standard additions are scrambled egg, green peas (usually frozen) and some sort of meat diced up (I usually use Chinese sausage or bbq pork). Some variations to this could be diced carrots, chopped onions, diced shrimp, chopped scallions (added towards the end). The combinations of ingredients for fried rice is endless. As for proportions, I'v never meaasured. I usually eye-ball it and toss it in.

Basic recipe:

1 cup uncooked white rice (NOT UNCLE BEN'S!!!)
2-3 eggs scrambled (not moist scrambled, but a more well-cooked scrambled)
~1/2 cup frozen peas
~1 cup diced meat (ham, shrimp, chicken, or any combination thereof)
oyster sauce
hot sauce
pepper

Cook rice in a rice cooker or according to instructions. When cooking process is done and rice is steaming, the eggs should be scrambled and set aside. Heat pan or wok with a little oil, add meat and stir-fry for about a minute. Toss in peas which have been defrosted under water and drained. After stir-frying this for another minute or so, add the cooked rice. Stir-fry to combine all together and evenly. Add seasonings: pepper to taste, a bloop of oyster sauce, a dash of hot sauce. Continue to stir-fry for a few more minutes. Add back in the scrambled eggs and combine.

The instructions above may be a little flaky, but this is a product of my improv style of cooking. :-) Most everyday cooking I do are not based on a recipe. Some more specialized dishes I would use a recipe just because it's handy (like Ponzu Shrimp and Soba in Spicy Peanut Sauce).


Currently listening to: Elvis Costello

Favorite Song by _____

Lately, I've been listening to a lot of music. I think that in recent years I have been neglecting my ears in this respect. I remember when I was in high school that I was so into the music of the times. Okay, so it was the 80's, but mind you I was not one to listen to Top 40 radio back then. I was into what was considered Alternative back then. This meant that a lot of Brit pop found its way into my ears.

To start things off...

The Police - Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
The Cure - Why Can't I Be You?
The Smiths - How Soon Is Now
The Fixx - Saved by Zero

More as the come to mind. :-)

To fling or not to fling

At some point, when I started to peruse the sites, I had it in my head that I should just maybe look for a summer fling. I don't think I'm ready for anything serious just yet.

So, what if there is someone that seems to catch my eye for whatever reason? Should I still apply the fling rule? Or should I just take it as it comes and see what happens? I guess the gist of the matter is that I don't want any serious commitments at the moment. Isn't that what dating is about? Actually, just what is the difference between dating and a relationship?

That's my question since Lavalife gives you the choice of advertising your wares in three different areas: Dating, Relationship, Intimate. So what exactly is the difference between Dating and Relationship? The Intimate encounters section is pretty obvious.

Here's what I think... You date if you're not ready for a serious commitment. However, if things click in a certain way, maybe it could become something more serious. Also, with dating, you are not committed to just one person. However, if you so choose, you could date monogamously or not, although I tend to think most people date more than one person at a time.

Relationships, on the other hand, require that monogamous commitment. You start seeing someone exclusively. However, how can you start a potential relationship without dating first? Hmmm...

What Do Men Want? And What Do I want?

After having perused the various online dating sites for about two and a half weeks, I am beginning to wonder what it is that men want? This is what I've seen so far:

• The younger men seem interested in older women thinking that they might be sexually frustrated and feel that they can be of "service".


• The older men seem interested in younger women because, I guess, they just want a much younger woman.


• The men closer to my age? Well, they just seem more fussy or are into something, uhm, unconventional.

So where are the normal guys out there? By normal, I mean, not having some bizarre quirk or fetish. I'm thinking more along the lines of boy meets girl, they fall in love, yada yada yada. I don't think I'm asking for too much here. I guess it's the romantic side speaking.

As for me, I know I'm not some hot looking babe. I consider myself rather average. I can't be that bad if I have had boyfriends in the past. I would like someone to like me for who I am and not what I am. That's not too much to ask is it?

And what exactly do I want? I would like to find a nice, honest fella. Someone you can have great conversations with. Someone you can confide in and vice versa. Someone to share both the good and bad times with. Someone who is supportive of you and you of him. Someone for whom the feelings are there every day (and vice versa). Okay, so the guy should at least be easy on the eyes too. ;-)

Anyway... I guess I could just dream for a while...

Keeping Busy

Well, somehow I managed to keep myself pretty busy yesterday without imposing on the company of friends. I guess some stuff that should normally be taken care of had to get done. Even after spending some time putting the trainer together I still had the usual mundane chores to do: laundry, vacuuming, mopping, etc. Well, okay, maybe not so much the vacuuming since I just let the Roomba loose in the place while I go out on errands. ;-)

Anyway, I think I am starting to feel some attraction to this one fellow I have been chatting with. ;-) Haven't met yet, but I'd like to. I don't know just how ready I am to meet new people, but what the heck, gotta start somewhere. I just have to remember to take things one step at a time and not rush things. Of course, my future down the road is not totally clear yet. I'm still waiting to hear back from W.

In the meantime, it's back to the grind on a Monday morning. :-p

Shopping Spree - Sort of

Somewhat inspired to get on with my life and to continue certain active pursuits, I went to MEC today. And what did I get?

CycleOps Megneto trainer
Filzer Wireless Cycle Computer
MEC Spirit Velo Daypack
MEC Cycling Tank

Whew! I better check my bank account after this one.

Anyway, I managed to put together the trainer after having some issues with the carriage bolt that would secure the mag to the frame. Eventually, I managed to figure it out. Now the trainer is assembled. The next trick is to change the rear skewer on the bike with the one that comes with the trainer, otherwise, I can't mount it. :-p

With some fuss (again) I managed to mount the new cycle computer onto the Bianchi. Placing the transmitter on the fork of the bike was a bit tricky due to the shape of the fork. In any case, I think it's on alright now.

I am a bit bummed I can't try out the trainer yet until I get the skewer changed. I hope I can get that done soon.

Peaks and Valleys

It seems that for a while, I will experience at times peaks and valleys in the mood department. Perhaps I have certain expectations of what I should be doing or what position I should be in by now. As there has not been a whole lot of progress, I am feeling a little discouraged. As a result, I feel a little bit bummed. I think I am in a valley of sorts for the moment. Of course, it could be low blood sugar too.

Elsewhere, I cannot help but to check out the dating sites still. Even though I am not ready, I still peruse them. Why do I keep doing this? Am I just torturing myself?

Anyway, went out today. Did a little shopping downtown. I haven't quite calculated the damage, but I did pick up a few things at Lush. I also picked up a book and 3 DVDs. Maybe I should go watch one of them now. I think I'll go make a salad beforehand...

DVDs: "Under the Tuscan Sun", "Danny Darko" (Director's Cut), "Shaun of the Dead"
Book: The Wonder Spot by Melissa Bank

Woman asks 911 to send 'cutie pie' deputy - Boston.com

Woman asks 911 to send 'cutie pie' deputy - Boston.com

I hope I never become that desperate!

Changes

In an effort to bring back some order into the recent chaos, I started to re-arrange the livingroom. My brother had a good idea to reposition the entertainment unit from the corner of the room to align it with the wall. As a result everything will line up with the walls versus being at an angle.

With the changes about 75% done, the livingroom already has a different feeling. Slowly removing signs of the past.

Litmus Test

I have determined that the litmus test for emotional recovery is listening to Joe Jackson's "Breaking Us In Two".

Filling in the spaces

Well, most of his stuff has been moved out and into my garage to be moved at a later date. Now I have regained some space. It's incredible how in a span of four years how much STUFF is accumulated.

First things first. I need to clean up a bit. Lots of dust bunnies have revealed themselves. I will need to acquire some additional pieces of furniture, namely a couple of small bookcases. I might need to find a small chest to use for storing linens and things. I have been perusing the IKEA catalogue and website for ideas. IKEA is good if you don't want to spend too much for something that will last at least a few years. Most of the stuff I have is IKEA. They've held up pretty well.

Purging... I think in the process I will need to do some purging of stuff. I tend to be a packrat. I have a hard time throwing things out. This is very much the case for clothing. Some articles of clothing are still in perfectly good shape, but I just haven't worn them in ages. There are bins where you can drop off clothing to be recycled. I will probably do that.

Currently listening to: The Offspring

Hopeless Romantic? Me?

Sometimes I wonder just how much of a hopeless romantic I am. With the recent events, I sometimes find myself thinking about different scenarios that will probably never happen. Perhaps I've watched too many "chick flicks" to think that life will reach some happy ending after a series of bad events. I guess I am just deluding myself into thinking that happy endings happen in real life as they do in movies.

I suppose I really should start focusing on myself now. What choice do I have? I either wallow in self-pity or I take a deep breath and march forward. Being that I am not much one for the former, I am following the latter. It's counter-productive to just mope.

Some people say that things happen for a reason. It may not be faith or serebdipity, but things happen. I had decided last fall to sign up for courses at the ContEd of one of the universities here. I figured that I should brush up on more marketable skills. You just never know what's going to happen, so I might as well prepare. I've taken 5 courses so far and have gotten pretty good grades. Now that I am in my current situation, a friend of mine pointed out the coincidence of my taking courses along with the prospects in Japan. Who knows. :-)

I think for now, I will take each day as it comes. I will try to get out more with friends on weekends, whether it be just for a movie or a bike ride. If I get to meet other people, all the better.

Maybe I'm not ready for the market...

My brother is probably right. I should start doing my own thing first. I gotta be my own person for a while first before I start thinking about finding Mr. Right to share my life with.

Me: know what? you're right.. I'm not ready for the whole dating thing again
Bro: yea.. havesom fun
Bro: indie lifestyle for awhile..
Me: yeah
Bro: only agenda is yours.. its ez

I don't know what guys want since I was last on these sites. And to be honest, I think most of the good ones have been taken by now. :-p It's a little depressing to be this age and to see what's still left out there. At least at the online dating sites. What's with some guys taking shots of themselves shirtless? Is that really suppose to impress the women? I'm sorry, but it just doesn't do anything for me. I think what does it for me is a more natural pose with a genuine smile. :-)

Anyways, even if I were ready to date again, the place is currently in flux. He still needs to sort and pack his stuff. Then get a truck to haul it all away...

In the meantime, I think I will be planning a vacation to Japan in the Fall. I've got a place to crash at (thanks, W!). Now, I just need to find cheap tickets!! ;-)

John Cusack

It seems that I have been on a John Cusack kick as of late. Since the breakup I have watched "High Fidelity" about 3 times. Over the weekend I picked up "Must Love Dogs" and watched it with a friend. I wanted to watch "Grosse Point Blank", but I couldn't find it. I don't know what happened to the DVD so I ordered another copy from Amazon. On top of that I had also placed an order for "Tapeheads". Tonight I think I will watch "Being John Malkovitch".

Why the attraction to John Cusack? I'm not entirely sure to tell you the truth. I suppose that his boyish good looks were definitely a factor in his earlier movies ("Say Anything", "Sure Thing", etc.). His later movies as an adult, let's say from "The Grifters" on, shows his versatility to play a variety of roles.

Now, admittedly, I have not seen ALL of John Cusack's movies. I like John Cusack, but there are certain genres of movies that just do not appeal to me. For example, I have not seen "Con Air". There might be some I have not seen yet that I will at some point. I think John Cusack would have something to worry about if he knew there was a huge fan who has seen every single movie he's made. ;-)

So, will I ever get a date with John Cusack? I highly doubt it. ;-) I certainly don't want to end up being a stalker! It's bad enough there was that one guy who wanted a date with Drew Barrymore! I don't think I would want this to be turned into a movie! ;-)

Back on the market...

It's interesting how being back on the dating scene is sometimes referred to as being back on the market. It seems to give the connotation that we're pieces of flesh put out to be shown and sold. The meat market, so to speak.

So it's been officially 2 weeks since the breakup. I have started to peruse the dating sites. Since I don't frequent bars and clubs, I don't have too many alternatives. And where exactly have I been looking for "fresh meat"? The usual suspects: Lavalife, Match.com, date.com.

They each have they're way to hook you, reel you, then take your credit card number. Each site has their own "system".

On Lavalife, you buy credits to use towards either IM'ing or mailing a person of interest. There is no monthly fee. The initiator pays for the IM or mail. The receiver does not have to spend any credits. IM sessions are timed. Mails can be replied to as many times as you want. I find this most convenient, because you're not committing yourself to a whole month if you don't need a month to find your true love (or flavor of the week).

On the other sites it's all pretty much the same. A monthly subscription is required if you want to communicate with any person of interest. You can send winks or smiles to as many people you like, but that's about as much communication you can do for free.

Sometimes, you see the same people on the different sites. I find it most interesting if I see someone I recognize!!! :-o

Anyway, let the hunt begin! ;-)

Still trying to make sense of it all

Well, I guess I just have to accept the fact that sometimes love does not last forever. Even though my feelings for him had not changed, his had. He says that there's nothing wrong with me. If that were true, then something inside him was not true to the whole relationship. At least, not for the long term.

Nevertheless, I still need to fully and emotionally accept this. I think the rational side of me has more or less accepted it, but the heart still needs to understand it. Broken hearts do eventually mend, I hear.

So what is a girl to do? HIT THE ONLINE DATING SCENE!!!!!

Resilience and Recovery

Well, I ended up calling the folks on Thursday and letting them know what happened. I talked to Mom on the phone and sent my sister an email I had drafted. Mom was relatively calm and asked if I was okay. Later that evening however, both she and my sister came charging out with all sorts of stuff. "Did you change the locks?" "Did you get rid of all his stuff?" And on and on and on....

Anyway, I find it hard to explain to them my feelings and reasons for my actions. There seems to be a lot of contradiction in what's happening, but everything is under control. Despite what he's done, he won't come into the house unless he contacted me first. At least he respects my space. The next challenge is when he is ready to take everything out. He mentioned that she would be there to help. I already expressed my opinion on that. That is that she will not step foot into my home. He tried to plead. I said that we will speak about it when the time comes. He may have stepped all over my heart, but I will not let her step into my home. That much I know.

Other than that, I guess Mom convinced my brother and Dad to come up here for the weekend. This is fine by me. I can deal with Dad and bro. But if it were Mom and sis? Get me outta here!!!

Anyway, pretty tired right now. I think all the stress is taking a toll. At least I am now sleeping through most of the night. Some appetite has come back.

Blubbering

At some point yesterday, I guess I just could not hold it in any more. The tears just started to flow non-stop. They say it's suppose to help you feel better. When the crying finally stopped, I didn't feel any better.

I think I've pretty much hit rock bottom right now. Might take some time to climb out of this. Don't know how long...

It still hurts

It really hurts when someone so special decides that his heart is not there any more. Then he leaves with a part of yours when he took his away. Is this what heartbreak like? Well, I don't like it.

Ditched

So, for the 2nd time in my life I've been ditched from a long term relationship. Both times it was due to another woman. What the hell is wrong with me?

Buffet Gluttony

DesMoinesRegister.com
Is this the current state of some people's attitudes? I hope not. At least some of the reader's comments side with the restaurant!It seems that more and more people have the attitude, "Well, I paid for this. I should be able to do whatever I want." :-(

Trip to London: Day 2

Day 2 (March 22)
We started off the day with the big English breakfast. Today we decided to make good use of the Big Bus Tour ticket.
The idea with the Big Bus Tour is that you can "hop on/hop off" any number of stops they make. This is quite convenient when you want to spend some time at any number of London's attractions.
We decided to get advanced tickets for the tower of London. We purchased them from the Big Bus Tour agent at the stop. We hopped on and went for a ride.
We decided to hop off at the National Gallery first. Having a need for coffee we took a quick spin around Trafalgar Square there thinking we can find a Starbucks (and there were quite a few in London). But amazingly we couldn't find any! Oh well.
One thing any tourist or local should appreciate is the fact that just about all the British museums and galleries charge no admission fee. They do kindly ask that you do give some sort of donation to help maintain the museums. If the museum had a special exhibit, it might charge an admission for that exhibit.
At the National Gallery, we perused some of the halls on the main level. After about an hour or 2 we were starting to get a bit pooped from walking around the museum. Time to go back out into the brisk cold weather (it was sunny but nippy!).
We went back to the bus stop and caught the next bus. Next stop: Tower of London.
It was recommended that we partake in the free tour given by one of the Wardens/Yeoman at the Tower of London. So we did. And I thought it was well worth it as the Warden was quite animated and funny to listen to. He related some interesting and at times bloody history of the Tower of London.
With the close proximity of the bird flu to the UK at the time, all of the ravens were put away in a more protected area. So, we didn't get to see them. :-(
After visiting the various buildings on the grounds, we were starting to get a bit hungry. Again, after that big breakfast we were good until about mid-afternoon.
There were some eateries not far from the Tower of London. We found one that served fish & chips! So fish & chips is what we had. It was pretty good actually.
We caught the next bus back, which turned out to be one of the last buses on that route (thank goodness!). We got off by Marble Arch and walked back to the hotel.
That evening, as we weren't too famished after having that late lunch, we went to a pub around the corner. The Charles Dickens I think. The food really wasn't that great, but at least the brew was okay.
Thus ended day 2.

Trip to London

Well, it's been a few weeks since we got back from London. All I can say is that it was expensive and that it was typical spring weather: cold, damp and windy. But that is not to say that it was a miserable trip! On the contrary, we made the most of the week we were there, rainy weather or not! :-)
Day 1:
We landed at Heathrow just a little after 7AM local time. We managed to get through immigration/customs with minimal fuss (except for some comments about my Brazilian visa). Got our tickets for the Heathrow Express and away we go!
We got into Paddington around 9AM and found our hotel with very little trouble. The hostess of the hotel asked if we were hungry and sent us down to the dining room for our first taste of a traditional English Breakfast! How sweet!
After filling our jet-lagged tummies we checked in and made our way to our room. We dropped our stuff on the floor and promptly laid our heads down for a quick nap.
Around 11:00 we made ourselves get up. Any longer of a nap and our jetlag would just be worse! So, after refreshing ourselves, we made our way to the Big Bus Tour bus stop that was just around the corner from the hotel. We bought our tickets (good for 48 hours!) and made our way to the upper (exposed) deck of the bus.
Okay, we really did not realize just how chilly the weather was until we got underway on the bus! This is the blue route of the bus tour. This took us to many of the major attractions. At some point after we went by Victoria station, we knew we just had to get off somewhere and warm up. By now it sometime in the middle of the afternoon. That breakfast had kept us satiated until now.
So, we decided to get off at the stop next to Harrod's. We made our way into the famed department store and headed straight into the food hall.
After wandering around for a bit, we settled on a sushi bar. We got ourselves some green tea, miso soup and a plate of nigiri sushi to split between ourselves. Needless to say that was a rather expensive late lunch, but heck, when you gotta eat, you gotta eat! ;-)
next we decided to just roam around the department store to see what all the hub-bub was about the place.
Well, the only thing I can say about Harrod's is that it does offer much in the way of high-end designer goods. At the same time it also provides a certain amount of kitsch to the whole experience. Also throw in some snobbery such as having to carry packs in your hand instead of over your shoulder. :-p
After we thoroughly warmed up and had enough of Harrod's we figure it was a good time to head back to the hotel. We decided to walk back since we were just on the other side of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens.
The walk through the park was okay. There was a cold stiff breeze blowing. :-p
We got back. Rested. Then we decided to head over to the Royal Exchange pub which was a 5 minute walk away. There we had a nice filling meal and some brew. Thus the end of day 1.

Spring on the way?

Well, after some days of really frigid weather, it seems that the more typical March weather has arrived. The days are getting warmer, but the nights are still on the nippy side. My other half has decided to start hitting the road with his bike now that the road conditions are less treachorous.

Work has been "eh". I'm just coutning down the days until I'm off on vacation for about a week. I'm looking forward to this small break.

Meanwhile, I have been trying to make an effort to "plan" for the week's dinners. Last week, it turned out pretty good. I took about an hour on Saturday to come up with dinner ideas for the week and created a grocery list based on it. For Sunday dinner, I tried a recipe for beef ribs. On Saturday, we had gone to the butchers. They didn't have beef ribs, but they did have pork baby-back ribs. So that's what we got. Using the blacking spice mix I found from foodtv.ca's "Crash My Kitchen", I followed their recipe for the ribs. They turned out pretty good!

One of the other dishes I had planned that week is for a mediterranean stew done in a slow cooker. There was some prep work beforehand, but in the end, the idea is that you come home to some delicious aromas.

What else did I make last week?
Peanut Ginger Soba Noodles with Ponzu Shrimp
Thai red curry fish (will try to find link to recipe)

This week, I also tried to do some planning as well. For Sunday, I made Classic Italian Lasagne. It turned out okay, but I still have a small problem with excess liquid from the spinach.

On Monday, I made chicken-katsu for dinner. I used panko breadcrumbs to bread the chicken and pan-fried them. After letting them drain briefly on some paper towels, I sliced them up and served them on top of some rice. For seasoning/sauce, just used some Kikkoman's Tonkatsu Sauce. Then serve with some japanese pickles on the side. :-)

Yesterday, I was just a bit too tired and lazy to cook, so we ended ordering souvlaki pitas and a pikilia to share. I think I can still taste the garlic from the tzatziki!

Tonight, I might make the Japanese chicken curry using the Glico curry mix ("hot"). I don't know what shape the potatoes are in, but I've got carrots I can use in the curry. This will be delicious on rice served with pickled ginger. :-)

This past weekend, we had also made a trip to this cute little bakery called Yuki's. We picked up some rugelach, rapsberry meringue kisses, and 4 indivudual cheesecakes. YUMMMMM! :-)

OK, nuff food talk for now. I'm starting to get hungry!!!

The Return of Winter

Well, it seems that the mild weather of January is no more. Winter has returned. The temps for the past week has been closer to what we usually have during January with overnight lows of about -19C and daytime highs of about -10C. Today, however, it has warmed up slightly. We started off the day with some snow which eventually melted when the temps climbed to about +4C. Tomorrow, more snow and then the temps dip again for the weekend. Bleah. :-p

In the meantime, with the sudden dip in temps last week, I somehow managed to catch a cold. It started in the back of my throat on Tuesday. I tried to fight it off, but by Friday, I knew it wanted to stay. I took Monday off from work to rest up a bit, but was back in the office yesterday. Today, I'm feeling much better, but still have a lingering cough and some congestion. Well, better to get the cold out of the way now and hope not to catch another one before vacation!

In other news, we recently received our municiple tax bills. Bloody buggers! My tax went up by about $200 this year! :-p However, it can't be as bad as the folks who live in the recently de-merged boroughs. They got TWO tax bills: one from the city and one from their borough. They are supposed to add up properly apparently. Still, I don't like the idea of receiving two tax bills for the same thing... :-p

Happy Chinese New Year!

Okay, so I'm a day late. :-)

Yesterday was Chinese New Year. It's the year of the dog. Since I was born and raised in North America, any traditions I've learned or picked up, I did so from my Mom. Thanks, Mom! :-)

On Saturday, for New Year's Eve dinner, I planned a hot pot dinner and invited a few friends over to enjoy a nice meal. The previous week I had picked up a shabu-shabu pot that I figure would do the trip for such hot pot meals! However, it wasn't realized until we put the pot to use that there were certain limitations...

We were using a burner normally used for fondue. As a result, the flame from this burner was aimed in one area. Unfortunately, this area happened to be the middle of the pot. This resulted in a sort of chimney/volcano effect. Needless to say, the broth in the pot did not get hot enough to cook the foods quickly.

Solution? We brought out a regular saucepan large enough to hold the broth and accomodate all diners. Soon enough, the broth was simmering away and we were eating like kings!

Ingredients used for this hot pot: thin slices of beef, tofu cut into cubes, napa cabbage, shrimp, pork shaped into balls, snow peas, and mushrooms. As a side, I prepared some gyoza (frozen pre-cooked) and some lo bock gow (made from scratch!). Wash it all down with your choice of beverage! :-)

Afterwards, we had green tea ice cream and some cake that one of our guests brought. All in all, it was quite filling and satisfying. :-)

Okay... Note to self.. Never write or talk about food just before dinner...

Hump Day

I started to go through the Rough Guide to London. Let's face it, there's just way too many different sites and stuff to check out in London. It might prove to be difficult to decide on the must-sees. Maybe this weekend we'll take some time to discuss what we really want to see.

The weather this winter has been rather erratic and very atypical. The winter season started off with a 41cm dumping of the nice white stuff, but soon after the usual winter weather took a bit of a nosedive.

During the holiday break, the weather became mild and the frigid cold at the start of the New Year. Since then, the weather has been bouncing back and forth between +10 and -10 (give or take). Tomorrow, for example, the temps are going to dip to about -16 overnight. Then, for the weekend, the temps will climb back up to about +3. Bleah!

Minority Government (again)

Well, as the polls predicted, the Conservative Party were elected into office. However, since they did not get the majority of seats, they are considered a minority government. The Liberals, I think, will be the official opposition. The Bloc came in 3rd and the NDP 4th.

Overall, I think the Bloc lost a couple of seats. The NDP, on the other hand, managed to gain quite a few more seats since the last Federal election.

OK, so enough politics.

I got my copy of The Rough Guide to London from Amazon.com. I've just started to go through it for ideas on an itinerary. I'm still waiting for the latest edition of Lonely Planet London to be shipped. It looks like they are preparing it for shipping. If I'm lucky I should receive it next week.

We still have not decided on accomodations. I think this needs to be resolved soon to avoid missing the boat on any preferred places.

Ideally, it would be a good idea to put together a list of must-sees and then work from there. Decide what can be done in the time we have. Perhaps save a few as a "Plan B" in the event something happens.

In any case, the research continues...

Civic Duty

And so, on January 23rd, I performed my civic duty as a Canadian citizen and cast my vote. The candidates were ery difficult to decide on as it seems that each at least the major ones) had some issues that bothered me. Nevertheless, I went to the polling station right after work. This may have been a mistake as I hit the the post-work and dinner-time rush of voters. In all, I think I stood in line for at least an hour just so I can cast my vote.

Whom did I vote for? That will remain private information. As the major candidates weren't too appealing, I decided to make my choice based on which of them were considered the "lesser of the evils". Perhaps not the best way to decide, but then again, better to vote than not to.

I have not yet checked the news to see what the outcome was. I suspect that it would end up being a minority government again with the Conservatives in charge. The opposition will most likely be led by the Liberals.

I've never really been big on politics. In recent elections, both in the US and Canada, I have yet to see any truly innovative, intelligent or exciting candidates. None seem to have that spark that would inspire citizens to rally to their side and give them full support on decisions made. For example, I found on one website the approvals ratings of the US Presidents. Clinton had the highest approval rating at something like 65%. George Dubyah was somewhere around 43%. What does that say to you?

UK Bound

I decided I needed a break from work. Since our planned, big vacation was not until sometime around October, I felt I needed a smaller break along the way just to maintain some sanity. Sooooo, we're bound for the UK in March.

Why the UK? Well, the Caribbean could have been a nice destination if it weren't so expensive. Plus, around the period I was thinking of taking vacation, I think a lot of the destinations would have been crawling with Spring Break-ers. Uhm, no. I don't think I want to deal with that.

Another reason is that I do have a friend who lives out there now. At least it's a good excuse to go visit the country as well as see friends. :-)

OK, so the weather might not be sh*t-hot there, but that's to be expected there anyway.

In any case, the tickets have been bought. We just need to tighten up some details in the itinerary. :-)

False Allegations

Pinched from Dragonflypurity:

If you read this, if your eyes are passing over this right now, (even if we don't speak often or don't really know each other) please post a comment with a COMPLETELY MADE UP AND FICTIONAL memory of you and me. It can be anything you want - good or bad - BUT IT HAS TO BE FAKE. When you're finished, post this little paragraph on your blog and be surprised (or mortified) about what people DON'T ACTUALLY remember about you!

Change of Scenery

Sometimes I get bored with something and require some change. In this case, I decided to change the look of the blog. Of course, silly me, I forgot to copy down some of the extra HTML from the old template to insert into the new one. No matter, I managed to at least re-insert the weather pixie and the counter. Let's see how long before I get tired of this one! ;-)

In other matters, it's Friday! Thank goodness. This past week has been somewhat slow since it seems that a good number of people are still on holiday. I think things will be back to normal on Monday.

I think I need a vacation. Not a terribly long one, but maybe a week off somewhere. I've looked into the cost of a Caribbean vacation, but it's so costly for 1 week of doing next to nothing. Maybe I should look into a different type of destination? Maybe a week in London or something? Something to think about nonetheless.

I've been working a a small project at home recently. I have these movie clips (mpeg) I took when we visited Japan last spring. Since the clips were done in 640x480 resolution, the sharpness really isn't that great. I managed to splice together all the video and audio (after spending some time to figure out how to demux the mpeg files!) using iMovie on the Mac. Then I used iDVD to create a DVD img file that could be burned to disc. I burned the current results of this endeavor into a re-writable disc. On the TV, it's not that bad, but you can see artifacts and a certain amount of pixelation. It's worse on a computer screen. I think, if I have time this weekend, I will see if it's possible to improve the picture quality. If not, then I might just see if I can add extra features and stuff to make the resulting movie more easy to watch! :-)

Happy New Year!

Well, another year has come and gone. And being the non-party type, we more or less slept through it.

New Restos:
Recently a couple of new places opened up in the neighborhood. I think they are owned and operated by the same people as they two restaurants are right next to each other. One is called Maxi Nouilles and the other Maxi Pho.

The noodle place was the first to open so we tried it their first weekend at the end of October. In general, the decor was modern, contemporary, not like some of the other more established asian food joints in the area. The menu was somewhat extensive, with the main focus on noodle dishes, of course.

Not sure what to order, we decided on one of their lunch specials which included soup, main entree, egg roll and rice. I ordered the singapore noodles and D ordered a rice noodle dish. Now something to take note of: why serve rice with noodles? Starch plus starch? It might be a good idea to subsititute the rice with something else. On top of that, D's rice noodles were not all cooked through. Service was very spotty as it seems that the wait staff were all over the place. I noticed that some people were not given menus once they were seated. Service needs to be more attentive and better organized.

A couple weeks ago we tried the Maxi Pho place which opened some time after Maxi Nouilles. Again, similar decor and menu with different soups and sides. We each ordered pho: D had the beef and I had a dac biet type pho. Again, the service was quite spotty. We saw a few people who wanted to pay and had trouble flagging down someone to pay. Again, people not getting menus soon after being seated. As for the food, the pho we had was pretty standard. I did not find anything special about it.

In summary, both places can stand a huge improvement in service. I'm not sure what sort of clientele they're trying to attract in the area, but if the service is not great, then don't expect too many returning diners of any kind!

Cool Weather

Today, the skies were mostly cloudy and it was rather windy. It made for a relatively cool day. The sun did peek out at some point early in the afternoon, but it did not last.

We went around the open-air market to check out what's new. I picked up some silver earrings as gifts. I also picked up another batik piece. It was one of a toucan and a parrot. I think it's a nice piece. :-)

Tomorrow, I think we will head over the Iguatemi Shopping mall. There are some nice shops and boutiques there.

One more week to go...

Yin/Yang

  Now isn't this just cute?
 

Views from the hotel

 Another shot from the hotel. Many of the apartments here have an additional shutter on the outside. This is to keep the heat of the sun from warming up the apartments. Believe me, it does get quite warm here during the day!
 

Girl from Ipanema

When people heard I was heading down to Brazil for 4 weeks for work they all thought I was going to have a great time and spend a lot of time at the beaches. Well, guess what? We're a few hours from any beaches. And it's been work, work, work and more work.

The past 2 weekends we spent trying to recover from work and late dinners. It's our only chance to really get a full night's sleep! It's not that we're partying (and we're not!). It's that by the time the shuttle drops us off at our stop it's about 6:00PM. There's really not a whole lot of time to unwind before thinking about dinner. Some nights, supper is fairly light washed down with a glass of beer (which seems to be cheap and plentiful here).

So this trip is half over. I am really looking forward to flying back home to zero-degree weather.

Trick or Treat!

Happy Hallowe'en! Or at least where it's celebrated. In the paper today, President Chavez in Venezuela was trying to convince citizens to not celebrate this gringa. To some degree I agree with him, but then again, if people have bought into it, what can you do?

As most people probably know Hallowe'en has its origins in Europe. For more information, check it out on Wikipedia.

In other news, nothing came up with my application to the other office. Oh well. We'll see if something comes up later on. It seems that (according to my contacts) that there might be something big coming down the pike where they will need more people. Patience.

This winter I would like to go somewhere warm and sunny to relax and de-compress. The problem is, I haven't a clue where to go. I know that I would like to avoid the usual destinations that the folks around these parts usually go to (Cuba, Dominican, Mexico). However, some of the other islands are rather pricey. :-p

Next week I am suppose to head off to Brazil. For four weeks. Of course, this is all for work. If it weren't, I wouldn't be complaining about want to go somewhere to decompress! ;-)

*sigh*

Another Monday to endure...

Amazing...

This obscure blog has been comment-spam'd! :-p

Well, it looks like the painting will have to be completed over the next night or two. We ended up repainting the doors of the laundry area. I think after the bathroom is done we will look into re-painting the other doors and trip around the place. Ultimately we'd like to re-paint the whole place, but that will take some time.

Labor Day Weekend

Well, it's nearly the end of a nice 3-day holiday weekend. Not so nice if you have to drive and pay such outrageous prices for gas! :-p In our case we didn't do too much driving. My brother and father came up for a visit. We went into town and had dimsum in Chinatown. Then we walked around a bit before coming back here. My brother and Dave went off to see a movie after dinner. Dad and I just chilled and watched TV a bit.

Yesterday, after we saw the boys head off back home, we did some groceries. Afterwards, we decided to get going with the painting of the downstairs main bath. So we went to the Rona to pick up a few things. Then we went to the Benjamin Moore paint store to get a few color swatches and primer. Once home, Dave removed all the hardware from the walls and started to patch up the holes. I'm going to have to think about what new hardware to use in the bathroom after it's been painted.

We primered the trim and the edges. We didn't get to primer the rest of the bathroom until today because the plastered holes were not dry yet. We repainted the door and trim instead. Hopefully we can get some color up later today.

Anyway, it's been a couple of weeks now since I submitted my CV to the other office. I really don't know how long it will be before I hear anything. That is, if I hear anything. Oh well. Must continue.

Tourist-Free Tsumago

Tourist-Free Tsumago
Originally uploaded by bunster10.

I think this was either late in the day after all the tourists have gone, or early in the morning before we left Tsumago.