Hey now, hey now... don't dream it's over...
 
It's been a long week for me, but it's a good week, so I can't complain. The girls hopefully had a good stay... they spent most of their time shopping as TO doesn't really host the most interesting tourist sites. I'm surprised how much they bought despite it being one of their first shops on their RTW ticket. Let me tell you, although it is exciting having visitors, it's exhausting thinking of all the things you can do with them or take them to.

Toronto is having The Beaches Jazz Festival though, where the main street near a very yuppy but funky area (The Beaches) is closed off and all these musicians set up along the street performing some great music. The atmosphere is meant to be really good, but unfortunately the night we went was raining, and some of the guys were more keen on clubbing than enjoying the festivities (god knows why).

On the weekend, I went back to The Beaches where they have heaps and heaps of courts for people to rock up and play volleyball as long as they have a net. I was a bit skeptical at first, even mocking the fact that they call this strip of dirt a beach... I guess it's the arrogant Sydney girl talking here. But surprisingly, in good weather, "the beach" actually looked like a beach to the untrained eye. Ofcourse, it's unparallel to the Aussie surf, but decent enough for a city that has no access to ocean. The guys were teaching me how to play for a little while, and the next day, I was barely able to get out of bed! Even nodding my head was painful!

Last night we went to another concert, good old Finn Brothers (think Neil Finn in Crowded House). It was a good concert, but I was a bit upset they didn't play my favourite song "Don't Dream it's Over". We also had some difficulties understanding their NZ accent.. what can I say, it's been a while. Oh, the opening act was an english woman in way bright clothing topped off with huge flowers on either side of her head (ie. bad dress sense)... anyways, one moment she's singing, and the next thing you know, she's tripped over a speaker, landed with a huge leg sprawl front on, with her heels flung in different directions! Classy!

Speaking of accent, I called Zurich the other day to check my insurance coverage, and the guy that I spoke to just blew me away with his accent. He sounded so Occa! I guess it's more noticeable when it's coming from someone you've never spoken to before. My arrival back to Australia will be very interesting.

And lastly, I've been doing a lot of thinking about this coming home business. I guess it's speaking to people back at home, answering questions of when, what, where etc etc... and having my friends here trying to convince me to stay. With visas, work etc to worry about, it's not as easy as they think. Some of my friends have even offered to put my resume forward, but having taken a year off from proper work, I'm not willing to take just any job in order to stay... although some of the options are very good if I wanted to change fields. Anyways, just got thinking because there has been a few reminders of home lately... good and bad.

One thing is for sure though, I am definately hitting Sydney in October... dear old friends are getting married (much to my confusion), but I'm only thinking as far as that. And yes... embrace yourselves for a big drinks night!

The Landing of the Pink Elephants
 
My highschool friends Christina and Bianca arrived this week... and for those who don't know, Cheltenham Girls was known as the "Pink Elephants" for the pink uniform we had. Anyways, was so excited to them... even though they had to wait in my lobby coz I wasn't home!
 
Being their only weekend in town, we took them on a night out to a new club called Lucid... this club was pretty impressive. It had 3 floors, and many different rooms with all types of music. Navigating through the rooms were like navigating through a high tech space ship in a hollywood sci-fi... plasma screens, balconies and glass walls everywhere.. they even had an escalator in the club! The only thing they didn't have was ventilation.
 
The girls were quite impressed with the Entertainment district, all the streets were buzzing with people, huge line-ups to clubs were spilling onto the street... it was all a bit like when Sydney hosted the Olympic Games.
 
They were also impressed with the shops...we spent all of Sunday just shopping... my calf muscles were not thanking me for it, thats for sure. Anyways, there is lotsa fun to be had till the end of the week when they fly off to NYC. But when Chrtistina returns to TO, the two of us are hiring a car and doing a 3 week road trip through 5 provinces (states) on Eastern Canada... I'm so looking forward to getting behind a steering wheel again!
 

Cars and Concert
 
You know you're tired when you can sleep through car race noises whilst sitting on aluminium seats in the sweltering heat. Basically, that was my experience at the Indy... I went clubbing the night before and had 4 hours sleep before Bill dragged me out in his excitement to see the races. It would have been good had I stayed awake, I am sure.. but I basically missed the qualifying which I went for. I did however see most the Trans-Am races, which was admittedly interesting. Anyways, it was an experience.
 
Last night I went and saw Nellie Furtado in concert... we bought tix for only $10, bargain! But talk about teeny-boppers, there were so many young girls there... which worked out to be a feast for the boys I went with *rolls eyes* Besides the four songs that had hit the charts, everything else was a bit too boppy and energetic. I really liked the top she was wearing though! =P
 
 
 
 

An unlikely occurence...

Yep, finally took the plunge and uploaded my photos.
It was a bit of a rush job, so I'm sorry if the photos aren't in order, flipped wrong way up and given cheesey captions.

At least I got it up, right?

http://community.webshots.com/user/andreahitscanada2

... and my roomate Bill says, if any one of my good-looking chick friends is interested, he'll be home for 3 weeks in October and his appointment calender needs filling. (I've already barred him from all my chick friends here)

Summerlicious

If you ever visit TO, make it summer. In winter, everyone is sluggish, and the only pastime is lounging and drinking. In summer, it's like the whole city is alive with festivals of all sorts... every weekend.

We have something called "Summerlicious" happening at the moment (god, you didn't think I came up with such a cheesey title myself, did you?) where all these fancy resturants offer cheap 3-course menus, a bit like Sydney's Good Food Month, which I will miss this year may I add! =( Needless to say, we have been doing a bit of dining of late.

This weekend is the Toronto Street Festival, where they close off major intersections of the world's longest street (Yonge St), and they have all sorts of food, music and parties happening. So I will be going to that since it's is one street away from where I live. Yonge St also hosted the Gay and Lesbian Pride Festival a few weekends back... watching big burly men in g-strings and bondage gear is always interesting, so I went with the boys to get some fashion tips... not.

The Molsen Indy is also in TO this weekend, and I'm going to check out the qualifying races on Saturday which will be very cool... I'm not one for cars, but I loved watching Fast & Furious (for more reasons than just Paul Walker), and I think being there noise, burnt rubber and all would be quite exciting.

But other than that, I have been extremely chilled. Probably because being ultra busy at work just drains it out of me. I've only got about 2 months left in TO, so I am organising to travel around the East Coast with a high school friend. The two of us are going to hire a car for three weeks and do a Thelma & Louise roadtrip.. can't wait!

Anyways, that's my dismal update for now. Whats happening back at home?

Rubbing shoulders on Broadway

Besides the absence of the World Trade Centre from the skyline, New York City has not changed much since my last visit 4 years ago. The gawdy yet exciting flashes of neon light on 42nd Street, the 101 different tacky tourist attractions, the dirty gum stained sidewalks, the stuffy subway system which is the sole source of the city's confusion, and the millions and millions of people you have to rub shoulders with. But having said that, it is an exciting city... there are plenty of opportunities to observe the quirky characters, and to give yourself an ego boost... there are other people out there who are much larger... bodysize-wise than you. And there are plenty of places to explore provided your feet will hold you up.

Meeting up with Adrian was good too... haven't seen that boy for so long... didn't realise I missed paying him out so much! He's my sugardaddy for the week, he was reluctant at first, but then I told him this was the only chance he had in being anyones sugardaddy, and he relented.. ha! so easy! The only thing was, the hotel he was staying in for work is miles and miles away from Manhatten... methinks it's the equivalent of Penrith to Sydney. And the commute to NYC and back takes me at least an hour one way (more than my commute from West Penno to the city!), and US$36 a day! So there was one day I just stayed in the 5-star hotel and did absolutely nothing but bum... which was much needed, I must say. Whilst Adrian was working, I spent my time exploring different areas if town. The Gugenhiem Museum was the only touristy thing I did really, and I watched a Broadway musical - Fame which was absolutely fantastic! Other than that, just a lot of milling on my own. I finished off my trip with a visit to the Ground Zero site... I was expecting a nice memorial, photos and flowers, but it was only a large construction zone where the World Trade Center used to be, and a few scaffolded buildings... I guess it means that they are on their way to development.

Methinks this will be my last visit to the U.S.... it just doesn't do it for me. But then again, whats the bet that I'll be back again?

Boston

I think I'm losing my touch... I used to be able to be able to sit on public transport 2.5 days straight... but these days, even 10 hours in a car is painful. But that was how long it took us to drive to Boston, I was nearly crazy by the time I got there at midnight, Friday night... so what happens, we step inside the door of the friend whom we were staying with, threw down our luggage, and was told to get dressed and get out. In no time at all, we were in a club in suburban Boston where we had 1/2 hour of fun before the club closed at 1am (what the?). Yep, all clubs here close early... even the downtown ones which close at a whopping time of 2am *gasp*. Actually, I shouldn't complain since I was buggered as.

The next day, we tried our best to see the sites of the city... I have to say, I was a little dissapointed. There was more construction than there was in Sydney, the paths were dirty and gum-stained, and I don't think I saw an even road at all when I was there... crossing the road was as hazardous as lying in front of a moving car. Some of the buildings were quite nice though, and the whole city had a old vs. new contrast about it, with historic buildings set against a backdrop of glitzy skyscrapers.

Our fave on Boston? The Boston-famous lobsters... you knew it had to do with food!

Out of Office Notice...

Peoples,
Will be out of TO this week. Will return on the Sunday 27th June.
Please don't call unless it is an emergency, roaming calls are expensive!
Thanks!

Match Made in Heaven...

... fast cars and beautiful people... making Montreal the most scenic city in Canada! Oh, and the city itself is nice too... felt like we were transported to Europe for the weekend. The classic architecture, the french tongue, and the abundance of quaint eateries and nightlife was all part of the appeal. And the bustle of the city was a very relaxed holiday feel without losing the fast pace, a noticeable difference to the usual stressful pace of a working city like Toronto.

The weather was perfect, full sun and warm weather both days... we spent every meal on a patio, making full use of the weather and the scenery... if you know what I mean *wink*

I haven't seen so many beautiful people in one place... everyone looks like they've walked straight off the cover of a fashion magazine. The guys fitted right in with their striped shirts (yep, it's still the go), but us girls found the pleated mini skirts a little too much (or too little for the matter), and were probably the only ones in Montreal who shunned the fad.

Being Grand Prix weekend, the city was even more party town than usual. Streets were closed off, bars and resturants were spilling with people, and there were streets of fine cars on display. Imagine walking down a street with no less than 40 Porsches parked on the side. Every direction you looked, there would be cars worth 100 times more than everything I owned, and ofcourse, beautiful people driving them. Even old people were fashionable and good looking in Montreal!

Other joys of the trip was having to shower in the mens bathroom... we stayed at a college which happened to be a single sex male college... but it was all good, us gals stuck together and made sure our voices were heard so that there was no accidental stumble ins. The roadtrip there and back was interesting... it reminded me a lot of the roadtrips back at home... and I've realised that issues revolving choices of music is a universal one, although I am pleased to say I didn't have to sit through hours of hip hop like I would in Sydney! And whats holiday in a new city without trying out the local dish (it's all about food!)? Poutine as they call it is really a fancy word for fries and cheese curd, swimming in gravy. Although a little tastier than it sounds, one bowl of Poutine was enough to make me feel 10 pounds heavier!!

Anyways, great weekend... I even managed a tan! I promise photos sometime in the next 10 years!

Thank You

A good song is one that gives something to you. It picks you up, calms you down, unburies a memory or gives you meaning.

Isn't it funny that you always associate a song with a particular event? And whenever that song comes on, the imprinted of where you were, what you were doing, and who you were with at a particular moment in time comes flooding back.

So when Dido's Thank You came on, I was immediately brought back to my bed (no this is not a raunchy entry) at Tampa Bay during my grad training... where I used to wake up every morning to this song... every morning without fail. The environment was slightly different to watching the pretty lady herself perform the live last night. Dido is absolutley fantastic. She had such a good voice... wish I had a good voice, but I've been told I have a "bar voice"... I don't know if it has anything to do with how well my voice travels... anyways...

Anyways, love these trips down memory lane, even if the memory was of me in bed by myself! =P

Btw, major achievement of the week... I made it all the way to Chinatown and back, on rollerblades without stacking it once! And I did it all by myself! *nail buff* Nevermind all the pedestrians asking whether I was ok, and the cars who were generous enough to let me slowly trek over those streetcar tracks on the road...

Okaes, so it's nothing much, but it is... this is my co-ordination skills in question here!

My New Wheels...

Sleek design, cool grey, aluminium and titaniam alloys... and very smooth running. Yep, I've been thinking about it for a while now, and I've finally taken the splurge. I'm now a proud owner of a new set of rollerblades! This is all part of my workout routine.. the one that hasn't started yet, but will soon... I am sure. Now the blades are sitting in my living room next to my Hula Hoop.. looking very pretty.

Anyways, my weekely update. Hmm.. nothing much. Had a stressful day at work when I found out last minute I was covering for someone on my own. So I had car dealers and all walks of salvage people call me up about moving cars, abandoning cars, what to sell cars for... hrrmm.. beats me, the only set of wheels I own are my blades, and they don't require much effort in terms of towing, and payouts etc. But I did good... getting a day off work this week for it! *beam*

Had a few "quiet drinks" during the week and on the weekend... the way it should be, otherwise I have just been chilling out in preparation for the next two big weekends coming up... I'm going to Montreal, Boston and NYC... so very excited!

Any updates from home these days? I'm nearly up-to-date with the backlog of emails, need some new material to work with, as well as info for amusement!

My apartment has cleared out now that Jee has left for NYC and Venna has left on a tour of Canada. It was so good having the girls around, they met all my local friends and got along really well with my roomate as well. We continued the eating and drinking (naturally), and we even managed to convince Jee to delay her flight to NYC so that she could go to a Dragonboating fundraiser / dance party with us. Well, it wasn't really that difficult, all we had to do was mention dragonboating guys... but the poor girl, there really wasn't much talent there, as Millicent would say *wink* I know, I swore never to go to another asian dance party here, but it was really for the girls!

Anyways, we did so much in the last month or two that I am quite happy to chill out until Venna gets back from her tour. Then we're heading off to Montreal to watch the Grand Prix and soak in the partee scene!

Will be posting up photos soon!

An Up-Lifting Experience

It all started with Venna wanting to go to the toilet (sorry, "washrooms" in Canadian linguo)... and making the big mistake of announcing it to a bunch of drunken idiots, thus stemming the urge for them to see the pain and suffering of someone desperately trying to hold her bladder in...

Lesson #1 - Friends are never friends when your bladder needs them to be
Lesson #2 - Elevators can think too, when there is six people in the lift and 18 floors is pressed, it will know it is being screwed over, and will refuse to budge.

... and that is how we found ourselves trapped not quite on Level 11... the boys were trying to prove to Venna that the elevator was not at all slow, and that she will still make it to my bathroom even if we go all-stops. I think we were only stuck there for 5-10 minutes (? bit of a blur).. but it definately felt a lot longer... for Venna anyways.

Venna was cursing us and holding her stomach (as if that would keep it in!)... Jee who is cool, calm and collected as usual (she wasn't sick until the next morning... talk about delayed reaction!)... Matt and Gord on the floor, the bouncing movement of the indecisive lift did not go well with the alcohol in their bodies... Bill was on the emergency phone with the lift operators who subsequently hung up on us because they didn't understand Bill when he told them we were stuck in a lift... "What's a lift?"... stupid Canadians... as if you wouldn't know that a lift was an elevator! And there was me, sitting on the floor fretting over the important things in life... "Shit, how am I ever going to show my face in the building again... security is going to hate me when he sees we pressed all the floors!"...

But it's all good... the lift operator finally made the connection (*ding* lift = elevator) and released the lift (ooops... elevator). Venna made it to the bathroom. Gord also made it to the bathroom. Matt was not so lucky, he only made it as far as my kitchen sink... anything that went up and out of him did not go down my sink as smoothly.. we made a new purchase for the household the next day... a plunger!

But all in all, it was a very good night... Matt's last weekend in town, and Venna and Jee's first weekend in rainy Canada! The rest of the weekend was a bit of a write-off, we just slept, ate, watched videos and drove around town so that the girls can check out all the ethnic areas and what Canadians call "beaches" here. I'll repeat, nothing beats an Aussie beach! Sadly, we also saw Matt off... the end of another Canadian adventure! =(

We did go to a beach called The Bluffers (?), it was rather exciting as when I got there, I recognised it as a place that I visited 4 years ago when I travelled with the boys. Only this time, I get to see it all green, as opposed to being snow covered. It brought back a lot of memories of the snow fights and the pranks, which I have video and photographic footage of. The last time I was there, it was right before going to the airport, and just our luck.. the car broke down and we had to hitch a ride to the main road so that we could pick up our luggage and make our plane. Thank god this time round, my next flight is not until a good few months away!!

A Short Break

I took a quick glimspe of my most recent entries, and realised it's more like a weekly log of what I have done rather than travel thoughts and interesting incidents. I guess that is the way it is since I have settled down quite nicely here. Maybe once I start on the road again, I'll be able to write more descriptive reflective accounts. Sorry guys!

Speaking of going on the road again, I saw Ben and Rachel leave on Saturday... and it was sad... we've become really good friends because of this common adventure called Canada. When we were all in Vancouver, our stay in Canada seemed like it would be endless. But watching them pack their backpacks, confirm flights and hop on the airport shuttle made me realise how fast the time has gone, and soon I will be the one hopping on the shuttle!

Walking back to the apartment was weird... my living room seemed so empty without a messy array of suitcases and travel clothes. For once, I sat down without any plans for my Saturday night, and without having to worry about what to entertain my guests with. It was good since I felt my body needed a detoxing, drinking every night of the week can't at all be good, not to mentioned all the big and heavy meals weighing on my hips and belly... but bad because I really enjoyed having friends over. Anyways, I only have a few days before the next bunch comes, so the plan is to bum around with local friends and my roomate, eat plenty of veges and to hit the gym big time!!!

I broke my drinking pledge though... after swearing not to drink another drop until my next guests arrived, I ended up drinking a beer at The Distillery... this funky area a bit like The Rocks... the weather has been so good lately, I'm finally able to sit in the sun... my friend even got sunburnt!! I don't think I've had summer for over a year now, and that called for a celebration with a drink!

The Relationship between Wine and Flyscreen Doors

Unit 1509 Updates: Matt (aka Teoh) left for Montreal, Ben and Rachel came from Vancouver just in time to catch Sandhya before she made her way to Montreal also. So we're giving our sofa lounge a bit of a workout these days! Talk about an Aussie invasion of TO!

So the last week has been museums and art galleries, bars and clubs... and lots and lots of eating! Thank god we all share the belief that you haven't visited a place unless you have eaten your way around it. And ofcourse, if you do something, you should do it 100%!

Besides eating out and doing touristy things, we've also managed to bum around and enjoy the more local joys of meeting friends at bars and dinner parties (Ben makes a kick ass roast dinner!).

One night, a friend I met only a few times invited me and my whole gang to her place where we made dumplings galore! It was so much fun since everyone got their hands dirty.. but I must say, not many of us would be able to stand the sight of another dumpling or pork mince for a while. This girl lived in the most amazing apartment in central downtown, with an awesome rooftop patio where we lounged around welcoming the first balmy nights of summer. I left a really good impression with the new friends I made that night... nothing like walking into a flyscreen door for breaking ice I tell you... hmm... not sure whether it had anything to do with all the wine I was drinking...

Finales

Despite having visitors over, I made them all stay home and watch Friends with me. I have not been a faithful follower of the tv show in the last decade, but I've watched enough to have become a fan. I am sure we have all related to the show one way or another... the haircuts, the clothes, the enormous coffee cup craze, the relationship problems, the jokes... it was all part of the important years of growing up. And so it was sad to see it all end, but shocking to realise it's been 10 years since that first episode, which really only seemed like yesterday. It's not one of the best finales I've seen for a sitcom, it could be seen as a happy or not so happy ending, but I won't ruin it for the guys back home if it has not aired there yet. The tribute is pretty funny though, it goes through each of the characters over the decade... sorta motivates me to do the same for the goofy characters I call friends. But we all know that will never happen!

Speaking of finales, the Toronto Maple Leafs lost to the Philadelphia this week, which means the end of the season for us. Just when I was starting to show a bit of interest in it too. The Torontonians were so hyped up about the game... I was really hoping we would win and go on to the next round, only because it means more excuses for pub outings and bonding sessions with wings and beer.

Matt, Bill and I also went to watch a baseball game for.. get this $2! It was a Loonie Tuesday (Loonie meaning our $2 coin)... Matt really splurged on the night and bought a hotdog as well... woah, a whopping $4 for dinner and live game... which justified our leaving only halfway through the game... the guys didn't find it too exciting and I didn't find the players too goodlooking.

Latest addition to my rather cramped apartment is Sandhya, another IBMer who has packed up to venture overseas to try her luck at apartment, friend and job hunting. It's always good seeing friends from home whilst being overseas, and it gives me excuses for going out and partying... errr... showing guests around!!

Making Conversation

Don't you just hate it when you're on the streets and you see someone you know passing by, so you do the friendly thing and call out to them. Whether they are short on hearing, or they are pretending not to hear you (but we all know that could never be the case)... isn't it absolutely frustrating when they don't answer??? So you persist, because now you look stupid to the people around you and you wouldn't want that. So you call again, and then in final desperation, you run after them and hit them on the shoulder. That way, everyone around you doesn't think you're stupid (or so you hope).

And whats with those people who don't pull weight in a conversation? You know, the one word answers that kill the conversation... whether it is in the lack of communication skills or the fact they are hoping if they ignore you long enough, you'll go away. Anyways, Bill and I was bitching about it one sleepless night, and the next day, rather appropriately, we met the most helpful cab driver in the world...

Me: So I hear there are good resturants in Little Italy. Where would you recommend??
Cabbie: ...yeah...
Me: I mean, are there any good resturants there??
Cabbie: ... yeah...
Me: ... errr... so which ones?
Cabbie: ...oh... well... there is... (rarara... mumbles a few resturants.. didn't really understand a word he said)
Me: *rolls my eyes in silent frustration*

Five minutes later, determination hits again...
Me: So we're in Little Italy already. Where's the most happening part?
Cabbie: ... yeah...
Me: Is this the most happening part?
Cabbie: ... yeah...
Me: Is there more down there? *pointing ahead*
Cabbie: ... yeah...
Me: Is it good down there?
Cabbie: ... yeah...

*sigh* I rest my case

Sorta reminds me of this guy who was trying to pick me up at a bar one time. He kept asking me questions which I answered politely (...yeah... nah...), but I didn't make an effort to return questions. In the end the poor guy tapped me on the shoulder and said..
... "You don't really want to make conversation, do you?"
... *shrug* "I'm happy just sitting and chilling"
... *humph* "Well I'm going to find someone who does!"

I guess if you dish it, you gotta hack it!

My weekend was a bit of a blur really... we used Teoh as an excuse for a nice Chinese dinner.. lobsters.. hmm! Although a lot cheaper, I must say, they aren't as nice as Australian lobsters. Seafood here really doesn't compare! Afterwards we met up with some friends for quiet drinks at a bar whilst we watched hockey... hmm... quiet drinks led to club, club meant more drinks, and that meant me getting acquainted with my toilet bowl numerous times during the night. We tried to recall the number of rounds everyone bought... even now it's still a mystery. I was so wasted that I only started to sober up the next afternoon.

Despite our grogginess, we did manage to make our way to Niagra Falls... the falls just doesn't seem as big and as magnificent this time round... but I guess it is a must-see for any tourist. I wasn't so lucky at the casino this time, my $5 went in less than 5 minutes at the slot machines.

Unfortunately, the weather didn't hold up all weekend, and by Sunday, it was cold and pouring with rain. Teoh and I just walked around the lakefront and some funky dowtown hotspots, then lounged around in a coffee shop. We also went to have lunch in this place called Marche... it is a really cool European style Brasserie... now I think about it, it's designed like a market place where you have a card that gets stamped when you get food from the various outlets. Everything is made fresh... you see pasta being churned from the machines, pastries taken straight out of the ovens, and various dishes and cuisines cooked as you wait. It is unlike anything I have ever seen. The decor was really cool as well, very piazza like even though it is all indoors. The waiters are even dressed in little vests and straw hats and water is self-serve from a wall fountain. And course, there was a little European peasant girl in the toilets (sorry.. "washrooms" as the Canadians say) that squeezes soap and hands out paper towels. Unfortunately for her, I didn't have my wallet with me to tip, so all the girl got was a big smile and thanks from me. Teoh and I was roaming around for ages before we could decide what to eat... and somehow my legs always took me back to the dessert section... hmm!

Future visitors - must remind me to take you there!

A Good Week

I've had a really good week this week. I've had 6 different jobs since coming to Canada, and they have been the worse jobs in my life. This job now is definately the best since hitting this country. The hours are strictly 9-5, and the people are so relaxed and nice. The only bad thing is that I am in a small office and there is constantly chocolates, cookies, muffins laying around... and my body isn't thanking me for it. On the other hand, Bill and I have been going to the gym... we're trying to motivate each other, which worked 2 days in a row. We'll see how long we'll keep it up! I'm in search of a social dragon boating team to row with (err... for the exercise, not the guys!), but they all seem to be really hard-core here!

Yesterday I was walking down a major road after work, and I could not walk in a straight line coz the wind was so strong. So here I was struggling like an idiot by myself, and it occurred to me how stupid I would look from a car or across the road. So with this thought in mind, I was also laughing hysterically, whilst trying to keep my balance and my clothes. People must have thought I was a mad woman!

My friend Teoh just arrive last night... a friend from Sydney who also worked on the ski fields near me. He's finished up there season in The Rockies and is touring before hitting home. It was funny to see him still with the goggle tan, and carrying all his ski gear. The snow seemed so long ago to me, when in fact it was only 3 months ago. I left Sydney 6 months ago!!

I'm starting to orgainse my travel plans in Canada and for flights back home. It's sad, because I am really starting to enjoy myself over here. Although I miss everyone in Sydney, I don't think I am ready to come home yet. Maybe coz I've just starting leading a normal work and play life here, I'm starting to make some good friends, and there is so much to see and do still... or maybe I'm just scared that I have to come home and face reality, make plans, job hunt, etc etc. Then I really have to decide what to do with my life... first work out my priorities!

Anyways, it's the weekend.. yah! And I don't have to work.. yah! Prob hang out with Teoh and do some touristy stuff... I am going to take him for a decent chinese meal... the poor guy who has been stuck with Banff food for 6 months!

Meeting Nice Guys

Someone deep... someone thoughtful... someone caring... someone who is always happy... and someone who makes you laugh.

Yep, they are hard to come by, but I met the Dalai Lama yesterday, so there is hope out there... nice guys do exist... pity the only one I come across happens to be a monk! =(

Anyways, we lined up in the rain for quite some time so we can pile into the SkyDome to squint at the little man on the stage. I must admit, his english although really good, wasn't fluent enough to hold my attention for the whole time... but I was still amazed at how witty and approacheable he was, and he promoted equality... like he was just one of us.

Was just thinking... I saw The Pope this time last year, and now the Dalai Lama... how good is that???

Anyways, good news today, after walking out of my last attempt at a day job, I was bumming on Friday, only to receive a call from my Temping Agency... and early this morning I started a new job with an Insurance Company. Not exactly brain draining work, mostly balancing accounts and claims... but hey, anything is better than telemarketing! So yeah, I have a life back... I can have dinner with my roomate now... infact we're planning to go for a run tonight. I have my Saturdays back... and I can party without stressing too much about spending! Yah!

Did heaps on the weekend, met some new people at drinks on Friday, had this scrumptious steak dinner (mouth still watering at the thought) and watched Kill Bill 2. My arms is also very sore from hitting half a bucket of golf balls at the range in the rain!!

Oh yeah... Hockey finals are coming up and the play-offs happened last week... such a close round for Toronto against Ottawa.. anyways, the point is, we won on Tuesday night and the town went absolutely crazy!!! Cars were going up and down Yonge Street (Equivalent to Sydney's George Street) and people were hanging out of cars high fiving every stranger on the street. People were all dressed up.. or dressed down when referring to the chicks hanging out of convertibles in nothing but their bras... and that fat asian dude that was walking up the middle of the road... no-one bothered to tell him that wearing nothing but a blue g-string was not really that becoming. Anyhow, since I just walked out of work at 10:30pm at night, I missed out on the game and the good cheer... but just the short walk down the street back home made me feel all the passion Canadians hold for their hockey teams... I'm hoping the Maple Leafs stay in the comp, just so I can go crazy next time they win!!

And no, I'm not going to hang out of a car in a bra... unless someone buys me a convertable, I'll prob consider it then.