High Lights / Lowlights of Summer07

This has been a summer of sensory awakenings. I feel different, I'm seeing things differently, I've tasted things I want more of... and in some cases, less... so much has happened in four short months. I've compiled a list of some of the Highlights and Lowlights in my life, from this summer. I am hoping that by visualizing this list, I will be able to put some things into perspective.

Highlight: Going to Cuba in May, with a few of the best girls I had the opportunity to meet in University. It was such a wonderful and freeing experience to be in a new country for the first time in over 12 years. I was so thankful that I had the chance to experience Cuba, and in particular, Havana, while Fidel Castro was still in power. I am a self proclaimed "cultural junkie" and I couldn't get enough of the history and vibrancy that this country had to offer. I enjoyed the beach a lot, but after having pretty much grown up on a beach, it didn't seem any different than what I already have engraved in my memory. It did however, bring with it a calm and serenity that I had not felt in a very long time, and for that I will always be thankful.

Lowlight: Anxiety attack #1 (May 2007). This came soon after I finished my last exam. I don't think I will ever forget the feeling that took over me as I walked out of my final exam in university (MUS211). Though the sun was shining, I felt impending doom. I know this sounds harsh, but I did not feel the exhaltation that people told me would come after handing in my last piece of work for school. Though I already knew I was going back to school in the Fall, I did not feel any comfort in it. I felt nervous, scared, anxious, terrified and simply -- screwed up! This eventually passed, once I realized that I was closing a chapter in my life... in the hopes of embarking on a new and more exciting one in the Fall.

Highlight: Reading books that I wanted to read during the school year, but couldn't because of the ones I had to finish for my English major. These books include "Like Water For Chocolate" by Laura Esquirel, "Love in the Time of Cholera" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, "He's Just Not That Into You" by Greg Behrendt & Liz Tuccillo, "A Hammock Beneath the Mangoes" - short stories from Latin America, "It's a Good Life if you Don't Weaken" by Seth and I am currently trying to get through Dante's "Inferno".... yup! Sometimes I wish I had a Hammock... and two Palm trees.. on my balcony. I get the breeze, all that is missing is the ambience.

Lowlight: Mom's tests at the hospital. These always worry the bajeepers out of me. She's my Mom and I don't like seeing her hurt. That's all on that topic.

Highlight: Discovering Blvd Room. I have never had a bad time at this place. I like the music, and the crowd isn't too bad either. I like that they have a patio, though the smoking isn't so much fun. I just wish the bouncers were nicer here.

Lowlight: Learning the hard way that people are constantly changing -- self included. We wait in constant hope that we may reconnect with those we were once close to... or simply lost touch with for one reason or another. But just as time moves forward, so do we. Sometimes situations happen and those of us who are strong personalities will continue to be consistent throughout. The rest of us are reshaped by these situations and are forced to move forward... sometimes without those whom we started out with in the first place. This isn't such a bad thing. It just hurts sometimes especially if there is a lot of history involved. We don't like to admit it, we don't like to acknowledge it... but sometimes we just have to face reality and move on. There is no point fighting something that really will never change.

Highlight: Going to Niagara Falls for the first time. Yes, it took me over 11 years to visit the Falls, though my family has been numerous times. I don't know why but somehow, I was always left behind (Go on, shed a tear for me). Going to the falls made me realize how small I am. It was a good feeling. I mean, this is one of the 7 wonders of the world!! (I'm still going based on the old list). To know that this is nature's masterpiece, completely floored me. Man can only do so much, before Mother Nature steps in and does what she does best... and sometimes, worst.

Lowlight: Not going to India. I was really looking forward to visiting my family. I haven't seen them in ages, and I have heard of the numerous additions. It bothers me so much that my Father gets to go as often as he likes, but the rest of us have to wait till we can cough up enough money to simply pay for the damn ticket. Ugh. Someday soon.

Highlight: Adopting Ginger from the Humane Society. She has been in this house for two weeks and has adjusted so well. She is a very friendly cat, with an odd sense of humour. I realize though that she is spoiled, and this is coming back to bite us in the butt. We are finally starting to put her on a regular food schedule and aren't as libral with her treats. I think she's getting a little heavy than before. Nonetheless, she's a gem and has truly changed the dynamic of this house.

..... I think I should end it there. For now anyway. They say it's always nice to end on a high note, so there you go.
I've met a lot of new people this summer, and I am so thankful for that. To the people who have been around over the years, I want you to know how much I appreciate you, and don't take you for granted -- though I have a bad way of showing it.
We're one week away from school, new careers, vacations, and so much more. Good Luck to everyone, and I hope you enjoy whatever it is you're doing.

xoXO
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This has been a long week. A year older, a greater debt on my credit card than I could ever imagine, a shift in pace (I didn't know life could get this fast...) and then some!
Maybe if I get everything done in the next week or so I can rest up before school starts. I don't want to start school with the way I feel right now.
I will elaborate later.
Hope everyone is well!
xo
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Waiting Game

We spend so much of our time waiting! Whether it's waiting for the mail man to deliver a very important package that you have been anticipating (read, waiting) for a very long time... or whether you're in a waiting room, waiting for your turn to be served. If we just walk down the street past stores and services, there are people lined up waiting to be cashed out, or to simply catch a glimpse of something. It is kind of unreal!
I never understood why people would go to stores and stand in line from midnight, just to get a copy of the latest version of Playstation, or even the latest Harry Potter book. But I now realize that this notion of waiting is part of the appeal. Producers realize that we as consumers are part of a huge mob when it comes to these products. "Because Tom, Jon and Jim are waiting... I shall wait too"... and that's the key! If people are waiting for products, then the prices can be hiked and "limited supplies" can be sold, just because producers know that their loyal customers will continue to wait until they get what they're standing in line for... at any cost.

I guess this blog is inspired by me waiting for Canada Post. I'm on standby for the next 4 days or so, because I have to be home to pick up a delivery. I was given a tracking number that doesn't seem to work, so I can't even check to see if this package has reached Timbuktu... let alone my front door. So... without knowing anything, I am waiting.

I also came to this realization last month when I was in a hospital waiting room. People make appointments, then wait to go to them. People get tests done, then wait for the results. Those visiting with loved ones, are made to wait in a room until the appropriate time... and we all know time waits for no one. But humans wait for time.
It is just interesting. It seems that the more technology moves forward, the more we continue to wait. At least back in the old days, people knew they had to wait... for snail mail, for roasts to cook, for walking distances to get from one place to the next...
In this day and age we are programmed to function in a fast paced world, where we expect things quickly and are forced to beat the odds and move three steps ahead of life.
Life waits for no one.

Yet somehow, it seems that the more advanced technology gets, the more we continue to wait for things.

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Waiting Tables, Waiting for Mr. Right, Waiting on the World to Change, Waiting till Sunset, Waiting for the News, Waiting for Clothes to Dry, Waiting for Our Turn...

So We Keep Waiting...

The Games People Play

I love it when Chich and I exchange banter and epiphanies! During our idle random chitchats and experiences, something usually comes up that begs for further investigation. Sometimes, certain situations don't even need to be further looked into, because divine intervention kicks in, and brings the answer to us. This my friends, is one of those situations!

Let me rant a bit about what I'm getting at. You see, there are two types of self help books out there that cater to the relationship/dating world. The first kind targets Women. This book is thought to be a must in every woman's library. It will claim to contain all the solutions to problems that haven't even taken place yet, providing hope for the weary, and justification for the bitter. Books like "He's just not that into you", (which I will admit, put a lot of things into perspective) act as bibles... a code of conduct for women to live by. Women all over the world see books like this as eye openers, as they contain truths and "in your face" opinions, that we always wanted to hear but were afraid to admit. These books have undoubtedly made women more aware of the other sex, and what may go through their heads. This is usually because the author of the book is a man, who claims that his goal is to essentially make things easier for the scorned or love sick woman, who doesn't know any better. These are all good things. However, I am just making this note for comparison's sake.

The second kind of book out there, targets Men. This books serves a different purpose than the ones that cater to women. These books don't focus on ridding men of complexes and anxieties that are caused by women. In fact, these books serve quite the opposite purpose. They act as guidelines for single (and not so single) men, who view the dating/relationship world as a big playground, for them to play on. Now, this doesn't necessarly mean ALL men... but specifically the ones who go out to bars or social situations and attempt to pick up women. Women usually unaware of the game, fall for these guys, get hurt in the process of the Game and come home to books like "He's just not that into you" to justify what happened a couple of hours ago.

Chich referred me to a book titled, "The Game" by Neil Strauss. This book focuses on the strange world of the "pickup artist" who prowls the single social scene, in an effort to master this game. The reason this is so important to mention is because Chich and I were targets of a page from this book, a couple of weeks ago. Mind you, at the moment the guy who copied this page into real time, actually succeeded. He had Chich and myself feeding right out of the palm of his hand. We were plesantly surprised at his pick up line and add on, as it was fresh, exciting and quite entertaining. This was refreshing from the usual drool that we were used to at these bars. Sure it seemed odd at first, but we had to give the guy credit. He was being pretty unique.

Not Really. Flash forward 3 weeks to today.

Page 154 was it?

Word for word....
Right from the scenario that caused him to come and talk to us in the first place, down to the "best friend test". It was all there, in print.... poor Chich had to read it on the subway on the way to work.... with no room for genuine reaction. And read it she did.... 5 times over. As I heard her read the page to me over the phone, I was dumbstruck! Really, we got bamboozled. While us women go out there hoping to get WHATEVER out of the night, there are men who knowingly come up to women and consciously do this. They know women are reading these self help books, and are putty in their hands. Their self help books are created to contradict everything we learn about in our own self help books! Amazing!
Here is a link outlining The Game. It truly is an insightful book and a good read. It's getting great reviews.
http://www.canongate.net/The-Game/Hardback

To Matt from Gracies:
If you're going to take advice from a book, please at least make a small attempt at changing the Best Friend test from "do you share the same shampoo" to "do you share the same conditioner"... It's one word.... not that hard! If you had used half the time you spent memorizing the page, into actually presenting yourself honestly, you may have had a different outcome. It's one thing to take advice from a book in helping your Game.... but at least put your own spin on it rather than plagiarize! Because chances are, the person you're playing with will have read the book too.... and then it's GAME OVER ... for you.

That is all... for now.

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Agustus is here again

I am convinced August is the busiest month of my life. There's a gajillion birthdays, only in competition with May... there's the prep that goes underway before school starts... my credit card always seems to suffer the wrath of my expenses... and it goes on! But it's not too bad. All of these are positive things. August is the anticipation month for me. I'm anticipating turning a year older, which causes me to reflect, which makes me want to spend more money on things that can change my life. See? Vicious circle!

On a side note, Happy Birthday for July 31st, to Merr, Flora and Elliott!

To the rest of you, Happy August!