Winloopeg

I really don't have anything to say- but I need to push down my last post about sir David. Yes I'm still a fan... but not a rabid fan (yet- we'll see what tricks he pulls out of his hat tomorrow night) and as such, an updating of the blog is in order.

The last couple of weekends have been spent with family in Windsor and Waterloo, both great visits. I was a touch sick for Windsor- and by that I mean I was coughing up a lung on a nightly and spreading the plague to my 83 year old Grandma. Did you know that if you have a cough and put Vicks Vaporub all over your feet (put on socks after!) that it stops the cough? Two people told me that in the span of two days. Two unrelated & unconnected people- it was the oddest thing.
I made my cousins and aunt watch an episode of "Planet Earth". And while my aunt was appreciative, my cousins (12 and nearly 14), not so much. Even with their sick cousin yelling at them, "LICE A METRE LONG!!! THAT DOESN'T FREAK YOU OUT AT ALL?! LOOK AT IT!!! JUST LOOK AT IT!!!!" they were busy texting and doing whatever it is "those kids do today".

Waterloo was fun/relaxing. I made my other aunt and uncle watch "Planet Earth" (what can I say? I enjoy the series and am looking to share the joy) but I think they liked it. A second hour was maybe a bit much... there's only so many aerial shots of landscape you can take in one hour, no matter how panoramic or 'spanning' it is. My cousin and aunt and I had a good night on Saturday observing Earth Hour by lighting candles and drinking wine.

In a couple of weeks I'm heading to Winnipeg to visit the brothers and brother's girlfriend and parents. I'm sure there will be stories coming out of that.
Pictures to come as well: my camera is broken right now- but hopefully it's an easy fix. I'll then post pics of Waterloo- and baking with Isabel. As well I'll have a limited showing of the works of Emily, a budding young photographer (Jo's daughters). She's handy with the lens.

I can't quit you David Cook.

I broke down and watched American Idol again. (see previous "Dirty Confessions" post)
He sang "Billie Jean" and he was amazing.
again.
He's now favourited to win. I kind of hope he gets kicked out at #4 or something so he can maintain a least a little cred...

Words to the not so wise

A few weeks ago I was watching a movie with some girlfriends called "The Break-Up". There's a scene in the movie where the female character goes on a first date with a guy- and he is predictably creepy and horrible. I said to my girlfriends "there's a little insight into my life." And they all (5 girls- ALL of whom are either married or have been in relationships for 4+ years and thus have not been on a first date in forever) said "oh no Sarah... it's not that bad... silly girl." It's not?
well.
Let me present you with a hypothetical situation:
The other night I met a guy... let's call him "Fred". Fred and I talked volleyball which he plays, and I like to play. He was trying to convince me to come out to play beach volleyball with him. I said no as I don't like the uneven surface and he said "But Sarah you are so slim and have this amazing body..." (trails off drunkenly as his eyes travel up and down).
um. no.
But despite the fact that Fred was pretty drunk and didn't make the best impression on me, he was a friend of a friend who spoke highly of him- so I thought I'd see past the drunkenness and sloppy conversation and give him my number when he asked for it.

Friday I get a text message- and it says:

"i'm sure u will be stunning in a bikini."

WTF??!!

So my advice? IF you like a girl and you're lucky enough that she gives you her number- CALL HER. Don't text her. Call her and say "I enjoyed meeting you- let's get together sometime."
And if you do text her- because I get that it's 2008- DON'T say something so skin-crawling-ly creepy as to render yourself a wannabe contestant on an episode of "Blind Date". It's not attractive. And it won't get you a response.

Just hypothetically speaking of course.

In a New York Nano-second.

The Toronto Porter airline- which departs from Toronto Island, across the street from my house, now has flights to NYC (starting at the end of March). $309 round trip- in addition to me saving $100 on cab fare to and from the airport. Amazing!!!

Ruby Saturday

A few weeks ago my friend JM and I went shopping at Holts... and started trying on dresses that were FAR out of our price range. We were in the change room that had a pedestal and spotlights and couches. JM's dress was Oscar de a Renta for $14,000 approx. Mine was a steal at $2500 (some Canadian designer).
This was pre HC so I felt quite glamorous...
Of course we didn't look as though we belonged there... but nowadays you can't really tell who has money or not. The salesman was incredibly helpful regardless... but for a 10% commish on a $14,000 dress I wouldn't take the risk either.

They're happy because they eat lard.

I wanted the headline to be "my how we've changed" in reference to the advertising that is done now compared to the 30s, 40s and 50s... but in essence- has it? I think we're just less direct and obvious now than 70 years ago. Observe:

How is this ad any different really from the ones we see today where friends/family are having a great time over Lay's potato chips, or an equally fatty snack?


Compare the fat losing benefits of a tapeworm with today's equivalent - Hyrdoxycut.


And finally- think of how many beauty product, hair product, make-up, clothing, perfume ads tell us we need to be more attractive to get a man and be happy. Back then it just took a little 'cleaning' with Lysol!! (I encourage you to click on the image and read the copy -it's hilarious!)

Dirty confessions

A few weeks ago my dear roommate and I spent a night- a full 3 hours- being indoctrinated into season 7 (or 8 or ???) of American Idol. And from that first night I've been hooked- on the guys performances. {hang my head in shame}

Initially I was a fan of the aussie- because he was cute, talented and had the accent of course. But now... well now I'm wishing I lived in the US only so I could vote for David Cook. He's AMAZING. He's this rocker guy who is taking classic ballads and adding an edge. Maybe it's because he's singing all of my favourite songs: "Hello" by Lionel Richie and tonight "Eleanor Rigby" by the Beatles. Or maybe because he comes across as an "aw shucks" with attitude kind of guy. Whatever it is, he's my new favourite.

And I'm going to stop talking about it now. And stop watching American Idol. (go david!)

Springtime Snow Day

Robs, Mahshad and I went to High Park this afternoon. We were frolicking, having snowball fights, and just generally enjoying our spring time winter. I even made a snow angel for the first time in about 25 years.
I think we got 30cm between Friday and Sunday- and though most feel its pretty late in the season to still be getting so much snow- I'm of the mind to take advantage... It was a beautiful day out- brisk but not too cold- with a bright blue sky (peppered with clouds): perfect for hiking through the park.
This is Robyn mid walk.


Me building a mini snowman/unidentifiable abstract sculpture.


People don't expect Toronto to have wide open spaces.


Be scared. Be very scared.


Lying in the snow.


My friends are fighting. I think Robyn had the upper hand because shes just learned she's an inch taller than she thought she was.


I'm busy minding my own business... lying in the snow... and enjoying all that mother nature has to offer- when my "friends" start pummeling with snow. As you can see I was very upset.



Robs on the streetcar on the way home.

Nope, it's still horrible

I just deleted the last post where I said I was overreacting about my hair... because I actually wasn't. I'm a week in- and I still feel physically ill when I picture that useless, horrible, no talent hack cutting my hair. I am still kicking myself for not saying "stop" more forcefully. I still put my hair in a ponytail most of the time to avoid thinking about it.
Even though I know better.
I asked a girl at my work the other day "can you even tell I got my hair cut?" (Thinking again I had overreacted)
Her response?

"Yah I did... but it doesn't look very good so I didn't want to say anything. Sorry."

oh. ok.
Other comments include: "It's not that bad..." or "It looks really healthy." or "It'll grow back really fast."
All words a girl wants to hear. One person said "You need to go in and get a fix-it hair cut."
WHAT?! AND LOSE MORE HAIR?! ARE YOU CRAZY?! And who is to say that I'm not going to get another idiot cutting my hair and I come out with a Demi Moore in "Ghost" haircut?!
I'm leaving it for now. Wearing ponytails. I'll morph into sporty spice if I have to.

Some perspective

People who know me, know that I have been trying to grow my hair long for many years (ie. my whole life). Because of the curl it seems to grow excruciatingly slow... and it's taken about 5 years to get to the stage where I felt like it was a 'long' length... And I loved it. However one does still have to get trims-so this weekend I went to get nomorethananinch taken off the ends.

And, as many women will attest- once in that chair- I instantly became unsure & mute- acquiescing to the will of the girl holding the scissors. The girl who has probably only been cutting hair for a couple of months. The girl who may or may not have experience with curly hair. The girl who was clearly not listening to me or reading my face as she chopped away. I told her less, I told her just a trim. I told her I wanted longer hair. She said my hair was unhealthy and could do with a good cut. And I should get some layers to bring out the curl.
I post-rationalized with thoughts like "well she does this for a living... she does this all day everyday. She's the expert..." and I let her cut thinking "yes you're right a few inches will look much better. Yes the layers will look good..."
Well I've got news for you- layers DO NOT look good. They look horrible. They look like I got my hair cut by my 4 year old neighbour wearing a blind fold and cutting with kids scissors. My hair is now back to that awkward "growing out" phase that I have been trying to get out of for FOUR YEARS!!! She was not the expert.... I have lived with my hair for 32 years... WHY didn't I listen to ME?!

Well I felt truly devastated by this...as anyone who has been within earshot of me the last day can confirm. BUT... it's only hair. And hair grows. And yes it grows crazy slow and I will have to live with the consequences of my not speaking up when I know better, for the next two years, but it will eventually grow back.
And here's where the perspective part comes in... and why I'm able to adopt such a rational attitude when women traditionally are anything but rational about their hair:

My cousin CB is in Africa right now- teaching in Ghana. I saw pictures of him the other day - working in the school room, which lacks a back wall, standing beside the water reservoir... which is almost dry, and speaking to some village elders, who have no shoes and little in the way of clothing. I've heard that many are sick and have worms from the dirty water they have to drink, which they have to walk 2km to get. These are real problems. This is real life.

In the pictures I have seen, people are smiling. People look happy. They are not just surviving but are living. Children attend school to learn their prepositions. Students invite my cousin to their house for visits, open their homes to him and share their lives. And I'm pretty freakin' sure that none of them are losing sleep about their hair being too short or in a 'growing out' phase.

So I look at these pictures (I'm posting 2- hoping CB won't mind: he's published them himself on his facebook page) and take a deep breath and remember all that I have. And think about what's really important. Not my hair- or lack of it- but my family and friends and health. I have these in abundance... so I can shelve my 'devastation' for another day. And just wear hats.