Hi Linda! How’re you? How’s school so far?

It’s nice that your office was so nice with your going away. It sees weird that it’s already over, doesn’t it? Well, that may be just me… I feel like the winter semester still hasn’t started or something… even though it’s all over! I kind of miss school. It was pretty relaxed the last few weeks, since I don’t seem to stress too much over exams.

Oh, I did just get my marks today. I was a little disappointed because I was hoping for an A but only got a B+ in one particular course. (Argh, I got As for almost every damn assignment, including my 50% portfolio!, but as he gave me less than 8/10% for “participation” I didn’t get the mark!) The other day my friend Mike and I were discussing how marks mean something to us, but why should it matter so much when through some questionable choices on the prof’s/TA’s account changes everything… But you know, Linda, I should just be satisfied. I didn’t fail, and I know all my B+’s were like 78s. BUT THAT’S ALMOST WORSE! Doesn’t that just drive you nuts?! Hopefully Mike and I will be commiserating over that with drinks tomorrow. Plenty of drinks. (I kid. I like to get home in one piece, especially when it’s from lunch!)

Moving back home was a little hard. I started packing super late because I didn’t really want to see the year end and my little niche dismantled back into a nondescript, cinder block-walled room. My dad had to help me pack a lot, I was super-stressed about damaging my fragile and gigantic prints and papers (which you cannot roll up or apply pressure to) and I needed two cars. (At least they were sedans?) Unfortunately, Linda, I’m still not done unpacking, even though I’m home often enough. I’ve just got too much stuff. How was moving for you? And you had to do it twice – from Gatineau to Toronto, then to Guelph. How is your new place, too?

A line from a book that’s stuck with me for years is, “you can’t un-say something”. Sometimes keeping quiet is the best thing to do in the face of opposition (and criticism), and the next best thing to physical distance when you can’t have time away from each other. But keeping it in builds such intense resentment, a sense of oppression and even estrangement. It seems the people closest to us are the last to see on their own that it’s time to change and grow. Sometimes it’s necessary to really open about it, even though it may backfire – or at least seem to, at first. So, I hope you’re feeling better that that you’re back in Guelph and getting a little distance, enough to look at your relationship with your family with some objectivity and think about whether to make a change and how. I have a lot to say on the topic, so let me know if you want to talk about this some more.

On friends… you know how friends are referred to as “family you choose”? Choice is the most significant factor there. Some things have a lifespan, because things (and people) change. We don’t all have to keep in touch with every single one of our old neighbours or high school friends. (And in university, when you no longer see the people you used to see every day, or anybody every day, or every semester, that really becomes clear.) That’s what I have to say about the line! You don’t have to be friends with someone! It’s your choice, and if you’re not happy being friends, then end the relationship or put some distance between yourselves! But if it’s truly important to you, then it’s time to be a good pal and tell that friend their awful halitosis is what’s driving all the guys away!  (Unless the bad breath’s caused by a disease or something and not my friend’s fault.)

Linda, I hope you’re enjoying being back in Guelph and your courses so far. Six courses for one semester is a lot, so try not to let yourself get too stressed, or consider dropping one, if you can and want to. Best of luck with anal chem and (boring?) stats. And the serial killer book you’re referring to is:

• Lane, Brian and Gregg, Wilfred. The New Encyclopedia Of Serial Killers. Headline Book Publishing, (1996).

I read it in gr. 8, it was riveting (go ahead, if you want a unique way to stay up during finals, read a few tales and you’ll be wide awake – with horror!), and I can still remember lots of details, all the time (like when I’m gardening, about how one old woman was suspected of using her victims as fertilizer, but actually she’d buried them under their driveway and unknowingly preserved their bodies with lime!) , but really Linda, what was I thinking?! I’ve also read killers’ biographies, lots of thrillers and murder mysteries, and I love crime shows like Law & Order and CSI, but I’m not sure I could take a course on the subject! At least not at this point of my life. It’s still fascinating though, so I hope you’re liking the class!

Speaking of books, I have some gifts I’ve been meaning to give you. Including stuff I’ve lost and found, and one I’ve lost again… let me know when you’ll be back in town, or if you’re free for visits.

Next time, with more photos, I’ll explain what this batophobic is doing washing the John Hancock Center’s windows and what I’ve been up to lately. Pop Quiz “Tuesday” will understandably have to wait ’til then!

Love,

Mary

“Humidity is rising – Barometer’s getting low…”

- “It’s Raining Men” by the Weather Girls

Hey Mary!!

Not promising my entry will be as exciting as men falling from the sky, but it was the first song I could think of to do with hotter weather!! Three cheers for summer!!

Don’t worry too much about Easter weekend, as I understand that you were stressed…^^;; But who wants to think about a time before the end of exams??

I’m home now and I have been since Saturday, but definitely the last weeks of silence were due to bad scheduling. I had to race against time to get my project done, because it took a lot longer than I expected. Definitely my first ever week of drinking four cups of coffee!! O.o…not to mention packing. How were things during the aftermath of the exam attack?? The halls must’ve been littered with people hugging and ripping things down left and right. I hope the move out went smoothly for you!

I was really touched when I left Ottawa, because it honestly didn’t feel like I wasn’t going to be in the office again the next week. My division sent me off with a nice lunch at Darcy McGee’s and a nice gift bag filled with HMIRC goodies (HMIRC= Hazardous Materials Information Review Comission…..such a long and important-SOUNDING name….)!!! Mother and HighSis came to get me that night and I was to leave the next day….crazy!!

And now I’ve moved from T.O to Guelph already…sorry for the not replying!! There was a lot of stuff going on with my family and I think you’re very right on the point that you really appreciate your family more at a distance. I spent most of my last days being really upset with them. Do you ever feel like all your family does sometimes is criticize you? Sometimes I wonder whether it’s normal for them to be so judgemental of me, because I honestly don’t feel like I’m like that towards them. It’s true that only true friends will tell you if your breath smells bad or if that toupee on your head is askew, but I’m not sure what the limit should be with family.

Bring back in T.O has let me observe some things too. HighSis and Karen have been best friends since grade 8, but it seems like they’re always arguing with each other about things that I don’t know whether it’s a play fight or act that they keep up. And good friends can insult each other good-naturedly, but what if you don’t realize and think that they really mean it?? WHERE IS THE LINE???

It’s because I’ve come back to Guelph that it has me thinking all about friends again, because I’m seeing people again that I haven’t seen in so long!! Didn’t it feel like that for you too last fall?? But I don’t think I have much time to relax because I should really start looking for jobs for the fall and studying soon and it’s only the second school day!! I’ve got six courses (that’s one more than I would usually take) and they are:

- Analytical Chemistry

-Organic Chemistry

-Cell Biology

-Principles of Disease

-Statistics II

-Serial Murder

I’m really looking forward to the Serial Murder course; I’ve already read the required readings for the first week!! It really made me think of those encyclopedias you used to bring to class about murderers and now I can’t read it at night because my bed is right next to a big window that opens out to the street. It IS Guelph, but I’ve got T.O-grown paranoia. XD
So what plans have you started on for the summer?? Do you have to start planning your VBS yet?? I think I’ll be more regular about the blog now(1/2-4 days??) , since I’m fairly settled and I’ll need a break every so often from cells, graphs and murderers. I need to get going now, so I’ll talk to you soon!!

Linda

P .S.

It’s been a while and it’s FRIDAY, but what the heck!!

Question of the Week:

What is the ULTIMATE summer getaway??

Fairly light-hearted for a good start to four months of good weather, no??

Hi Linda,

How are you?

Do you remember what I used to do like all the time when we were in gr. 10, sitting out on the hobo spot?

I made a couple more miniature origami cranes in a bout of insomnia last night.

Making them brought back the strongest sense of nostalgia.  I remember my friend Vivian teaching me how to make them while sitting in business class, and I remember eating lots of Starburst candies and cutting the wrappers into squares.

I haven’t made many cranes since maybe the beginning of first year.  I think I only have around 700 by now.  You know the story about a thousand paper cranes.  When I’m done, I think I’d like to give my wine bottle of cranes to a hospital if possible, as a symbol of hope.

Linda, I’m sorry I sounded so pissed off last time.  I was pissed off, because I was so frustrated and stressed, but I am sorry. I hope you’ve been enjoying the last of Ottawa.

I’m enjoying the beginning of spring.

Look what little critter I found in the pool yesterday:

Best,

Mary

Hello Linda,

How are you?

I spent the week avoiding the blog to study for my finals. For one of my exams, I realized this:

This graph may also give you a clue that my other exam was a science one. Hurray graphs… but most of all, hurray for the end of studying… and the school year, of course.

I’d be more happy except I really like school and enjoy Deadline Weeks… and after my last exam I watched Grave of the Fireflies, thinking it was Nausicaä of the Valley of Wind… what was I thinking; I ended up so depressed. Then I talked to my mum for a while and discovered that she knows more about anime than I do and that The Boy must come over to watch more Miyazaki with me. My mother never ceases to amaze me.

Linda, I’ve been finding that as I get older, it’s gotten easier to get along with my mum. She and I are very different people, but distance has helped us a lot. I really enjoy talking to her, and I feel like I can confide in her. And really, she does surprise me a lot and it’s been great getting to know her better these past three or four years.

Reminds me of one time when we were in gr. 5 in Ms. Stubbings’ class, and she took a poll, asking us whether we’d rather stay young or grow up. All of us on the carpet said, “Never grow up!” and only Jennifer and Katherine wanted maturity. Not that I really want to grow up, but I think it’s got some perks.

Here’s what else I’ve been up to lately…

• Discovered taro and durian chips, yum.
• Learned another way to knit socks, so I knit more socks. Here they are, almost complete, human foot size and a little weird:
  • Socks are surprisingly fun to knit, and as smallish projects, they’re portable and interesting. And trying them on and having them tailored to your feet is really cool. These camo-jailbird socks made me buy sock yarn for The Boy,
  • Who earned it by buying me a knit ‘zine I really wanted when feeling guilty about a rain check
  • And not for lying to me about getting me a chinchilla.
• Learned that buffing is God’s gift to women’s nails totally worth it
  • While nail polish for a hands-on kinda girl is decidedly not!
• Got a reminder that when you’re part of a minority, the minority will help you out.
• Finish two seasons of Top Gear………………….
  • And watched My Neighbor Totoro; loved it and now miss the Totoro kneed overalls I used to wear.
• Start packing.
• Rejoice over my final projects and results!

I know my list should be longer but I guess my mind is already asleep.

I’m a little sorry the school year is already over for me. I’m already missing my friends who graduated or I won’t have classes with again. Just when I was thinking about our friendship, one sent me the sweetest note sharing my sentiments, and another told me I was his #4 favourite person! Very sweet.

I’ve very tired otherwise I’d have more to say in response… and I need to re-energize to celebrate Year’s End tomorrow!!

But before that… a couple shots of…

Would I rather…

1. Go on a road trip or a flight? Road trip – enjoy the scenery without being sardined! Unless Pussy Galore’s my pilot and I’m sitting next to Mr. Scotland himself.
2. Eat ice cream or cookies? What I really want is pie. But I also want these cookies.
3. Live in a condo or a cottage? I really dig chalets, so since it’s summer (in my dreams) it’ll be a lakeside one! Or better yet… a shack by the beach…
4. Take a picture or pose for the camera? What about self-portraits? *Is not a cam whore. SLRs are not “cams”.*
   
5. Prepare a meal or enjoy a fabulous one and then have to clean up? But how fabulous?! Right now I’m in the mood for something expensive and time consuming – Piña Colada “soup” and smoked salmon with lots of green peppercorns for starters and of course lots of martinis to go with dessert. Not sure how the chef would feel about a Bondesque dishwasher, but the guy’s got no say here.

What is the most influential career one can undertake these days??

Hm… a very broad question to which an answer would no doubt be a huge generalization.

President of the United States. You can do whatever you however you want, except hanky panky with an intern.

(That means I haven’t forgotten about my Birthday Yarn either!)

All for now, have a good Wednesday Linda!

Mary

“Gotta be green, gotta be mean…”

“Grace Kelly” by Mika

Hi Mary,

The whole “Grace Kelly” song just makes me think of personal insecurity, which I definitely feel; the deadlines are coming up for my job and I still don’t have a good idea of what to do on my work term project. In two weeks, I can’t believe I’ll be DONE here!! And gone back to Toronto. Right now, my direction towards the future is disoriented and I think that I will have to adopt the “gotta be green, gotta be mean” for the summer to come. Being environmentally friendly and “mean” (aka. ambitious and selfish) for school, yep, that’s the plan!! I hope your exams are done soon and all assignments finished!!

This is going to be short, seeing as my past weekend alone involved too much self-reflection and rumination; does that ever happen to you?? You always seem like you’re occupied and socially active; it’s a great thing to be so. I really hate it when bored moments in life occur; there’s so much you are missing out on and you don’t realize it!!

Anyhoo, here is my main reason to post today:

Linda’s Question of the Week:

What is the most influential career one can undertake these days??

^^;;…Talk about random!! I was pondering this today, so maybe you have some time to ponder it too. Hope everything is great on your end!!

Linda

“Hey now, hey now, hear what I say now: happiness is just around the corner!!”

- “We Like to Party” by the Venga Boys <–OLDSKOOL!!!!

Hi Mary,

I’m very sorry about what happened last Friday!! But you don’t have much time to think about that right now, since you’re in the dreaded EXAM PERIOD. Hopefully this entry to you will be light fluff to take a break from school with. ^^;; Hence the lyrics above: THERE IS HOPE!!! But it sounds like you’re doing fine in your courses, so instead of encouragement to pass, I bestow upon you encouragement to ACE!!! XD

I hope your Easter weekend ended up being as productive as you needed it to be; mine was fairly busy. I did see Steven Yuen again and he hasn’t changed much, but his little brother William has!! How fast kids grow…..but one thing that hasn’t changed is that William is super-shy!!! There were several times that I tried to talk to him, but he really didn’t reply or acknowledge that I spoke to him. ^^;; It doesn’t bother me much because I know there were (and still are) times where I’m just like that; unwilling to speak to the point of looking snooty. But I do understand the frustration that others might feel from that. And we didn’t visit Miss Watson, seeing as she wasn’t in at the time.

Oooo…..but we went to this amazing buffet restaurant!! I know you don’t do buffets anymore, but if you ever find someone needing a recommendation, I’d say DEFINITELY try out Wasabi at West Beavercreek Road in Richmond Hill. There’s an all-you-can-eat-sushi buffet AND a buffet with lots of oriental food, especially SEAFOOD…mmm…..and they had a chocolate fountain!!! XD Pictures, pictures, pictures….BAUGH!!! I HAVE MY CAMERA…but no link to the STUPID COMPUTER!!! ARGH!!! Caution: an avanlache of pictures will hit you when I go home.

Well, and then after that, I went out to do some karaoke-ing with HighSis and her assorted friends. It sucks since we can only sing English songs and the karaoke joint we were at had mainly Chinese songs, but it was pretty fun!! I really do miss being able to sing. This also sparked the retro song recall.

The next day, I was supposed to get into Guelph a lot earlier, but I didn’t drag my lazy ass downtown early enough (I took pleasure in blaming the singing the night before). It was so good to see my friends again!! I made them granola (bars <— turned out really crumbly and was basically CEREAL) and mochi (not as pretty as the ones in the picture…they looked pretty ugly) for exam treats. They said both were good, so maybe I’ll make some more for you to try later.

I also checked out my new house for the summer….the room is big, but the house itself is not so big. I got it at a great rate, and there’s going to be one girl living with me and another girl joining us in July. Definitely convenient, though; it’s practically behind a supermarket!! I’d definitely have to bus to school, though….but I’m hoping my mother will relent and let me take a beat-up bike so I can either bike or rollerblade to school!! XD The girl that I’m renting from was really sweet and had to move back to Dallas, Texas to be with her family for the summer. Do you think you’ll ever live off campus?? Or go back home and commute to school??

Ooo….and I have to tell you about the party that I had that night: total JUNK FOOD party, the sole reason for it being that my friend in Simcoe works a co-op there for the company that makes Breyers’ ice cream, Ben & Jerry’s, Haagen-Daaz, popsicles….mmm….and she brought back a LOT for a whole bunch of us to eat. I contributed some cookies (NOT homemade because I didn’t have time to make them) , there were chips, marshmallows, licorice, Timbits, and a girl who works at Kernels brought FIVE different bags of popcorn over. O.o….my friend brought at least 8 litres of ice cream, ice cream sandwiches, popsicles, and they had sprinkles and stuff to put on top of everything!! Not to mention a CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN at the hostess’ house!!! O.O!!! Of course, everything got dipped into the fountain and we DID NOT finish everything (THANK GOODNESS!!)…but I’m pretty sure that could’ve happened if we stayed all night. Surprisingly, we managed to sleep that night after we left her house. One thing learned from the night:

BUY THE STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE B& J’s WHEN IT COMES OUT!! SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD.

That and, self-control is GOLD. ^^;;

Oh, Mary…the ice cream…oh, summer….we should make popsicles!! XD

I came back on Sunday to watch An Incovenient Truth and Children of Men with my family. The documentary with Al Gore was very well done and deserved its Oscar; I highly recommend it!! And the other movie has an interesting premise if you’ve never heard of it: it is the future and for some odd reason, females have become infertile. So there are no children being born and everybody is panicking over the fact that there will no children for the future until it is discovered that one young black woman is pregnant, the first one in 18 years. I didn’t stick around to watch it really; I keep wandering around the house everytime my family watches a movie….wait!! I was making something else AGAIN. (I had to use up the red bean paste from the mochi)

This is called dorayaki and if you remember much about Doraemon (“Ding Dong”), this was his favourite snack!! I made some for Steven and his family, seeing as we had dinner with them on Sunday night too. It’s a shame that you didn’t get a chance to see him; he said he saw a lot of people during his time here, though. He left for England on the 9th though.

And thus the exciting part of my week ended. Monday was spent packing and catching the ride back to Ottawa, and until today I’ve been frantic with work! So I hope you had a great weekend, are having a good a week as you can and everything runs a lot more smoothly than Friday did.

BEST OF LUCK, MARY!!! I have to sleep or I’ll fall asleep in tomorrow’s meeting at work!!

Linda

P.S.

Would I rather…

1. Go on a road trip or a flight?
2. Eat ice cream or cookies?
3. Live in a condo or a cottage?
4. Take a picture or pose for the camera?
5. Prepare a meal or enjoy a fabulous one and then have to clean up?

1. Fly AWAY!!! I’d like to see most of the continents of the world and boats are SO passe. XD

2 . Such a HARD decision…..I think after last weekend’s binge, I shouldn’t be touching ice cream for a while….cookies it is!! XD Great any time of the year!

3. Mmmm…condo is so convenient and a cottage is so quaint…..I’d have to say condo, but I’ll always rent a cottage in the summer if I can!

4. Take pictures!! I’m pretty sure you feel the same way, Mary….even though I don’t know about it as much as you do.

5. Prepare a meal!! XD It’s so much easier to be destructive rather than constructive.

And there you have it!! I’ll be back with a question tomorrow…but maybe we should stretch it out because I know you’re busy with school. GOOD LUCK and HAPPY STUDYING!!

P.P.S. We shall question Matthew as to why he doesn’t COMMENT when he gets back from Winnipeg. Bwhahahaha….he told me he found the Hobo Spot alright!

Hi Linda,

I should be heading home in the next couple of hours. Hope I hear from you soon.

Or rather, 5 unrelated ones:

Would you rather…

1. Go on a road trip or a flight?
2. Eat ice cream or cookies?
3. Live in a condo or a cottage?
4. Take a picture or pose for the camera?
5. Prepare a meal or enjoy a fabulous one and then have to clean up?

Hm, a little lame, but I guess we need some easy ones now and then.

Mary

Question of the Week: If you were on death row and had to order your last meal, what would you choose to have??

Mary’s Answer: Oh, you should know from experience how hard this question is for me! Remember all the times we’ve discussed dinner?

For my last meal, I’d break my “no more buffets” resolution and go back to my roots and have a (mainly) Chinese feast! I know this is what I’d choose because Chinese food’s what I always crave -  晴 (clear) and healthy, with lots of meat and even more veggies. I’d definitely include: steamed dumplings, dim sum, seafood, eggs galore (I love eggs), washed down with proper tea. I would also have the most spectacular desserts, including chestnut cake. And a tonne of wine and hard liquor… Champagne, martinis, rum, vodka, Bailey’s, you name it. I’d totally rather be intoxicated in death, lol. Hell, the state might as well intoxicate me to death instead of wasting other chemicals on me.

And we can’t forget wonton mein for a Hong Kong girl…

Good grief, Linda, looks like you need to stay away from the Internet, lol. Ignore the games and Facebook and YouTube… I’ve only managed to ignore Facebook myself, and I think I’m happier for it. And, er, I have to admit, I really like Bejeweled (it’s so shiny), and as for videos…

Warning: do not watch this at work, even if YouTube isn’t banned. You may blow your cover by bursting into laughter and falling to the floor with a thump.

Have you seen Alanis’ cover of My Humps?!? I love it! She even managed to make the song sound good… “humps” sounds refined; astounding.

Linda, the weather in Toronto really has been bizarre lately… today it hailed, flurried, rained, and the wind blew so that I was left with a headache. Right now, there’s a dusting of snow like confectioner’s sugar on the ground. Looks like one of my litho projects come back to haunt me…*

Oh yeah, so I may have changed my mind about coming home this weekend; that is, I might be coming home after all, just for a bit. If I do, I would certainly like to see you, though possibly not to walk Rocky. I’d love to walk Rocky, but please refer to my last paragraph: blast this freakish weather!! Plus, I have a feeling that your family will be resentful of me taking you away from them, haha.

I wish you could come visit me, maybe stay over for a weekend next semester that we’re both in school. Or the opposite. Not that I’m promising a lot of fun and games, and certainly not when a lively student body has been replaced by miserable weather here… but still.

Anyway, you will note that I said I “might” go home… but I will decide by tomorrow night, because if I’m going home, that’s when it’ll be. In which case, you better watch the blog ’cause here’s where I’ll keep you posted. And if I’m home, please call my house otherwise I will be mad at you, for I hate making phone calls. (The Boy will vouch for that. For both, actually.)

I’ve had a long hump day (going shopping, relinquishing money, getting lost, freezing my head off) and going Crazy. Going Crazy deserves the capital “C” with its accompaniment of mood swings, malaise, and all-consuming temper tantrums leading to threats to get a new boyfriend (seemingly bizarre and random, but that’s Crazy for you). Incidentally, these moments of Crazy happen on a monthly basis… how bad are your moments of Crazy?

Which (the long day part) is why I better hit that Publish button and head to bed… Have a good Thursday, Linda, and a safe trip home!

Mary

*You might recall me lamenting a litho project for days on end… one that was plagued by Murphy’s Law. The assignment was to create a hybrid, and so through a “wintry beach scene”, titled Little Ice Age Summer, I explored climate change and the Canadian perspective… Wait, what was the point of this? Oh yes: I think my problematic little edition… CAME BACK TO HAUNT ME! And the rest of Toronto! Sorry Toronto!

“We are fighting dreamers….”

“GO!!!” by FLOW

Good eefening, Mary.

I am up late at an unreasonable hour. My eyes burn, my head aches but I’m stuck to the damn screen!! This song just happened to be playing, and I thought it appropriate, seeing as I’ve taken to fighting SLEEP off these days since I reconnected in a horrible way with my computer…we’re rarely far apart.

The cause?? See here. It’s something called “Mafia“, a very intoxicating game that can be played with a group of people and online; I recently discovered it on a Wiki-trip. It’s pure psychological subterfuge, and I keep poring over games to read about what happens and how everything unfolds. Augh!!! And I’m not even ACTIVELY involved…..which scares me into not joining in on the fun until probably my next work term, although the games seem to go on for a long time…..there was one with 30-ish people that took ~100 pages of forum discussion to complete!!!

Yeah, HighSis was occupied with Steve, but always managed to make up for it with beavertails, the most amazing cheesecake ever or some really good quiche. Hahaha….buying me over with food is so easy.

I’m so proud of you for your quiet week!! It seems like you have a lot of projects going on and with all that time…..are you done school already?? How many exams do you have?? I’m pretty sure you have some classes that only require an assignment in the end. Good luck with all the cute projects and I hope the good tone of the week continues for you!!

I actually went to the museum of Civilisations with the lot of them this past weekend to watch a Cirque de Soleil IMAX film (The Journey of Man), but didn’t explore much of the main museum. I have been there before, though. I don’t remember Robert Davidson’s artwork in there, but the National Gallery already had an area sectioned off dedicated to aboriginal art…..and good ol’ Robbie had some contributions there. I think the only piece that wasn’t there that you mentioned was Pregnant Woman; although they did show a documentary of Ron at work while he was making that sculpture. Another two to look up IMHO is Wild Man and Baby Girl <–this one basically a GIGANTIC depiction of a newborn, straight-from-the-womb Baby Girl. Absolutely amazing when you’re standing right next to it and feel so inferior to a baby, of all things.

Has The Boy done a number on you and got you interested in a CAR shoe?? I like Miami Ink on TLC about the tatoo parlour, so I can’t say anything against a car show, especially since it’s British. XD

Ugh…I’m really sorry, but I’m super tired and still have some work that I’ve put off to do. I’ll have to address Scarlett and crazy overacheivers at a later post, because those are two subjects I’d love to touch base on and I’ll get around to getting pictures. Other unpleasantness will probably be mentioned privately or in person.

I’ll be coming back before the snowstorm hits Ottawa again and makes it all cold, so T.O. better be warm!! I’ll let you know about more plans later and I hope you don’t get sick!! Unless it’s spring fever, of course.

Linda

P.S. Before I collapse….

Question of the Week:

If you were on death row and had to order your last meal, what would you choose to have??

Linda’s answer:

This question sprung from the realization of my intense interest in all things morbid….^^;; It being my last fanfare, I’d probably go will an all-out East-West fusion dessert platter!! Still a kid, still have a gigantic sweet-tooth that I think will never come out. That’s it from me this week…..hope you didn’t find it too disturbing!

Hi Linda,

How are you?

I’m glad to hear you had a weekend full of food and art. That’s what I call a good weekend. I’m also glad to hear that you got your computer fixed and a camera. I’ll be expecting photos soon.

I was wondering why the mentions of your sister were a bit low, but… maybe it’s ’cause she really came to Ottawa to see Steve? Ha.

I looked at the artists you sent me. I think I’ve seen Robert Davidson’s work at the Canadian Museum of Civilization – have you popped by there before? – but Ron Mueck’s body of work is entirely new to me. His work on the Body (I know, I just said “body of work” and then “his work on the Body”… I could not resist) is quite fascinating; the hyper-realistic detail must be fabulously interesting up-close. I would love to see the Pregnant Woman and the follow-up Mother and Baby. I also really like In Bed and Boy, the way they interact with the space and the viewer.

By the way, what is this “not so pleasant life-related situation in Ottawa” you mentioned?

I’ve been having a fairly quiet few days, but in a good way. See, I have managed to do all my work… not only on time… but some of it early. I even got an extension on something I botched up on. Besides redoing an assignment and basking in the joy of not having to do anything, I spent a lot of time doodling (something for my brother, a life drawing session) and other little experimental things (like making a mini sock and a sewing disaster).

I also watched a lot of Top Gear. Can you believe I’ve gotten addicted to a car show, Linda?

Also, I started reading Gone with the Wind. Have you ever read that, Linda? I had to put it down; the pre-Abolition, pre-feminism feel of it really bothered me. Plus, I can’t get past the part about Scarlett getting date-raped. I suppose I should really summon some courage to pick up “the American classic” again, but maybe not now. I so wouldn’t pretend to be American, lol. (That sounds so much worse than I mean, lol.)

Speaking of American, I was just reading an article from the New York Times, and good grief Linda, am I glad high school’s behind us! In particular, the freaking out over university… if I read this article two years ago, I’d have been in such a state. And this was shortly after researching a prep school out of curiosity… it’s so weird across the border, Linda… how does one decide on one of the gazillion colleges? And high school? We just chose the one closest to us, or had some special program. Here, “special program” just means “French studies” or “emphasis on art”… or at least that’s what I used to think. I don’t remember the gifted program being mentioned or recommended by our teachers, though maybe that’s just me being “average”, lol. Oh Linda, aren’t you relieved that you weren’t brought up think getting into the school with the best reputation was the be-all and end-all of the young adult stage? And then to worry over how cool you are (“cool jeans”? I only care that I have feel-good jeans that don’t have holes)… While we shared these concerns, I don’t think we got in this hyper-state. I didn’t at least – I think this comes from living in such a diverse place as Toronto and pragmatic as Canada. I’m also really glad that I read this article at a time when I’m feeling really proud and happy to be where I am – but maybe that doesn’t count as much when my faculty is one of the most competitive in the country…

That’s pretty much it for me lately. I just had my very last class of the school year, so now I guess I have little excuse not to crack down and study… but if it weren’t for the extreme chill and rain and my slight malaise, I’d be out shopping… maybe tomorrow though. Speaking of material goods, I also got a very lovely belated birthday present yesterday… luxury yarn! I’m very pleased. I’ll be blogging about its transformation to what I hope to be a sweater and its conception on My Other Blog. (I like how “My Other Blog” has a bit of a mischievous connotation. I’m very mature.)

Oh yes, about the weekend… well, I’m glad to hear that you’ll be in town and then hopefully having a great time back in Guelph. However, I’m not planning to go home myself. I’ll have to return in a few weeks anyway, and I’d like to enjoy one of my last weekends away from the parents. I also made tentative plans and wanted to stay on this side of town for the weekend. I suppose I didn’t mention that going home from York on the weekend is maybe a couple hours’ commute, and I don’t think my parents want me home either. However, if you have any plans outside of the east end, I could be up for it.

How’s the weather over in Ottawa/Gatineau? It’s kinda not-quite-winter-nor-yet-spring here… to be honest, I’d rather have winter back, instead of feeling constantly surprised by the cold…

Mary