It's a nice day for a white wedding

My cousin Ross got married a few weeks ago in Alabama. They had a second reception in Windsor for the folks that couldn't fly down.

It was also great because it was a chance for the family to get together for a reunion.- we haven't all been together like that for a few years. (Although not everyone was able to make it).

It was also awesome to be able to hang out for a few days- not just one afternoon or evening. We went shopping in Detroit to an outlet mall (LOVED IT!!), made omelets (that's a story on it's own), hung out in the sun, played some rumoli and went swimming in a few pools. It was a great, great weekend.
This is us making omelettes...that we boiled in plastic bags...

The whole Mitton clan!

The Mitton cousins.

This is us on the last day hanging out in Uncle Ross's backyard.

This is me and my Mom playing my favourite game - Rumikube.

Susan and Tobin and Vancouver and Starbucks Together at Last

I know I know I know!! I haven't written!!!! I'm remiss in my writing!!!! I've just been busy. Things are happening. Things are going on. There's things going on and happening. I can't talk about them right now... but soon.

In the meantime I will post a few pictures from the wedding I just attended. It was last weekend in Starbucks...er I mean Vancouver. I'm just waiting for them to officially change the name. Welcome to Starbucks. With a subhead that reads: the most boring city in all of Canada where we must ply you with caffeine on every corner so that you can actually stay awake. Seriously.

I actually bought a 750page book and READ THE WHOLE THING while I was there- in 4 days. And I hated the book. My boyfriends would be saying to me, "Sarah you haven't stopped complaining about that book- you hate it. Yet you're plowing through it... what gives?" To which I would respond "Well guys I hate this city more. It's a hierarchy of hate. And I'm reading the book to get through my time in this city. It enables me to forget where I am." (ps. the book was "Breaking Dawn" - tres horrible)

However I'm glad I went- because although Van doesn't have a lot to offer- I had a great great time with many dear friends (some of whom I haven't seen in a really long time)- and attended a freakin' beautiful wedding. And got to take an impromptu visit up to Pemberton to meet my friend's daughter (who was beautiful). And yes BC is quite stunning with the mountains and the lakes and the blue sky etc...

All in all a great way to spend the long weekend. Stay tuned for more news coming soon...

This is me and the boys the night of the rehearsal dinner. We were all quite proud of how good we looked and did a lot of posing. More posing in fact than the bride and groom.

This is at the reception with the bride (Susan) and groom (Tobin). As well- in the blue (a bridesmaid) is my good friend Laura. She flew out from Sydney for the wedding- amazing. (you can click on the pics to get a closer look).

Um...here we are posing again- this time at the reception with all of the other guests wearing pink.

Lucky single girls.

Ok- here is the FUNNIEST thing I've heard in a looooong time.

The back story on this is that a girl named Olga was out with her friends in Toronto, and she talked to this guy named Dmitri for all of two minutes. Then she gave him her card and said 'give me a call.'

I stole this story off of someone else's blog... but it's too funny not to share. This is what we, as single women, have waiting for us. Kill me now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXPvN_OMZXc

Models, Movies and Magic

This has been a great week:
I went to the movie "Dark Knight" last Thursday. We went to the midnight showing- which was packed. The movie got out at 3am and there were piles of people waiting for a 3am showing (followed by a 6 am showing). The movie was incredible- though I think I need to go see it again. It was really late when I saw it and I was in the second row. (Also Spy in July was just before the and I might have had a couple of beverages that further caused sleepiness). The movie broke all sorts of records- I think it made $153 million in one weekend- I know I've been waiting to see it since "Batman Begins" finished- 3 years ago.
Saturday was a long day as we were at a photo shoot for a pro-bono client of mine. It's a company called "Greensaver", which is a company that does energy efficiency audits on homes. We are doing an OOH campaign for them in the Fall (or Winter) and needed to shoot 6 people in various scenarios. One of those people was me. IF the campaign launches- I'll be on Toronto transit shelter posters throughout the GTA. And I have to say - modeling is actually kind of hard. "Smile. no, not like that, smile as though you are really excited... now smile as though you have won the lottery. No, not quite that happy." OK FINE I'M TIRED- I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SMILE - LEAVE ME ALONE!!!
And finally- the magic. My IPHONE. I LOVE IT. It's the coolest thing ever and easily the most awesome thing I've ever owned.

UGH

I'M SO SICK OF PAINTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday

This is me. At work. After a particularly long week.
Yes that is wine. What you can't see is the decadent piece of chocolate cake I'd just eaten.

Awesome

Hey... remember all that God D#@n painting I've been SLAVING OVER?!

Well today there was a leak in a pipe in my bathroom... which flooded the carpet in my closet. My lovely new roommate had to rescue all my stuff... (thanks Wendy). And my room, which was already tres disastrous (due to moving and painting), just got WORSE.

Here is a bathroom wall I JUST PAINTED! (isn't the colour calming and lovely?)


Here is my closet with a GIANT fan that we need to leave in there for the next THREE days as the plumber can't come until MONDAY!!!!

Rougher life

I'm STILL painting. I'm NEVER going to be done. It doesn't help that the previous colour was a dark dark gray and I want it to be light dreamy cream. Which requires a primer. Which is THICK and HORRIBLE.

I HATE YOU PAUL FUNG FOR CHOOSING TO LIVE IN A CAVE THAT I NOW HAVE TO PAINT OVER!!!!!

I think that I'll just leave it as primer... that's a colour right?


(and it's not that I'm ridiculously slow... though I am... it's just because I didn't get home til 9 tonight... and had to leave early last night for Jen L's b-day... and didn't want to paint Monday night... hmm... I sense a pattern here).

Rough Life

My friends and I have a new Sunday tradition where we hang out by my pool. We need to make sure we get there early enough to get lounge chairs but once we get them we're solid. Today proved a bit tricky as I tried to steal... I mean borrow one ...from the other side of the pool and while doing so accidentally dropped half of it on an innocent fellow lounger. ouch.

It was 30C out (finally summer!) and we spent 6 hours lounging, jumping into the pool, eating pizza, drinking cold beverages, lounging, pool... repeat. I LOVE my apartment!


This is the view from the pool looking up... the sky was blue and cloud free the ENTIRE day!


This is my friend Kerri- she is my collaborator for our fun Sundays.

Why am I doing this again and not just hiring some college student?

I'm painting my apartment. Yesterday my roommate and I did two bathrooms, the kitchen and half the living room. Today I have to paint the cave that is my room. For some reason every square inch of this room is covered in dark gray. And I don't like it. And while the picture shows me using a traditional paintbrush... I was using the roll-y thing for most of the wall. HOWEVER we only had ONE roll-y thing- as a 'friend' had given me crap advice to only get one. It really held us up...I don't want to get into it.

Here is my roommate Wendy yesterday, covering up the uber green colour.


Anyhow, my hand hurts, my shoulders hurt, it's 30C outside and I SHOULD be sitting by my pool drinking cold drinks... but instead - I will paint (at least until 11 when my friends come over and we go sit by said pool and drink cold drinks).

Best brunch

My favourite brunch in the city used to be at this place on College called Xacutti. It had delicious dinner's as well (not the trout!) but the brunch was OUT OF THIS WORLD!!!
Of course brunch would set you back about $50 so I only went there a couple of times. They had this one dish... a giant waffle covered in fresh fruit- and not just strawberry and cantelope, but mango and passion fruit and wild berries, covered in... wait for it... melted toblerone chocolate. AMAZING.
My friend asked me the other day where she should go for brunch for her birthday and I immediately said "Xacutti"... forgetting that it has shut down. I guess no one else wanted to pay $50 for brunch either.

Does anyone else have any good brunch suggestions for Toronto? (and not Bonjour - I know Bonjour and I love Bonjour... but I'm over it a little bit... just a bit- I can see Rob gasping now).

Moving (but just down the hall)

I moved into this condo just over a year ago, with my friend Paul (who I had worked with at the GAP in Calgary years earlier). Though I have always objected to condo living based on the charmless and presonality-free nature of the mass produced buildings... on principal (I LOVED living on Aberdeen with my yard and neighbours and little juliette balconey) - I have loved living here. Yes there is nothing in the neighbourhood... but we are close to the water, close to the island, close to running/biking paths and there is a roof top patio with a swimming pool. Now I've down a 180 and am talking about buying this place...
But for now I am just moving down the hall. My roomie Paul is moving out and I've got a new roommate- Wendy. Coincidentally we ALSO worked at the GAP in Calgary all those years ago. She's been patiently living in our living room the last 6 weeks, while we've been patiently living around her for those same 6 weeks. It's been a bit trying- but we're now on day zero: with Paul officially moving out today.
We are going to paint the place in neutral/girl colours, and I will have an official closet, and we can finally put up a clock in the kitchen!
It's a big change, and I will MISS Paul (xo) but ... I have had 26 roommates in my life... I've done this before... and I look forward to the new adventures to come (and to getting RID of the green colours currently covering the walls!)

the legend of Sarah

I'm still not inspired to write... and I don't know why. I love to write. I write all the time. I have been writing in my journal. And I've had lots going on... and fun times and good times. There's no reason for me to not write. It's not like I'm worried about spreading the toxic poison that was occupying me for awhile there. I mean...
It's sunny out again. Lovely.
Me and my roommate are going to paint our apartment. fun.
Soon I get the room with the walk-in closet. can't wait.
It's pride this weekend. good times.
It's a long four day weekend coming up. more fun.
I made out with a hot guy the other day. yet more fun.
Work is going well (I'm pretending anything in the first year of my job didn't actually happen). so that's good.
I got a fantastic dress from 'free people' on sale the other day- 70% off. big score.
I just don't know what it is.

2 weddings & a reunion

I haven't posted for awhile. And the reason I haven't posted is because I've been in a persistent horrible mood and haven't wanted to spread my poison to the masses (and by masses I mean the three people that read my blog). But the 'fog' (there wasn't really a fog) has lifted and I'm now wanting to share the good stuff that's been going on.

Two weeks ago (pictures to come) I went to a good friend's wedding. Tania got married in a beautiful, simple ceremony on Toronto island. I loved the pastor/minister because he didn't preach to us- he talked to us. He engaged us as part of the ceremony and really highlighted our role as friend and family to the newly married couple. He touched on religion (obv) but didn't belabour it, finding a balance in the divine with the practical advice with which this couple will hopefully live their lives. The ceremony was held at the Distillery District- a very cool place in Toronto, at the Balzac coffee house. Honestly I would never have thought of that as a location for a wedding - and it was perfect. The whole day was such a celebration.

Last weekend I went to New York to see an new(er) friends wedding and catch up with some old(er) friends. It happened to be a bazillion degrees (give or take) and in the city- that's freakin' hot. This wedding was ALSO beautiful- held at the Riverview church. This was an old, old, stone church- with the arches, stained glass windows, carvings... it just had this hushed charm. It was a friend that I had made while on my India trip- Sherry was my roommate- and when she mentioned the wedding back in the day I wasn't sure if I was going to attend, but ultimately really glad I made the effort.
The rest of the trip was shopping and eating and hanging out- what one does in NYC. We went to this one diner called "Florent" - long considered a NY institution in the meat packing district , for brunch. It's shutting down at the end of this month because the owner can't afford the increase in the lease. What's the increase? It's going from $6000/month up to $35,000/month. How completely ridiculous is that?!
Then this week at work kicked my ass. Moving on to the weekend...
...Which was also a bit of a reunion as I came up to Waterloo to visit the rellies. My cousin from Ottawa is down, who I haven't seen for months and months. And last night we caught up with some girlfriends I hadn't seen in over a year. We drank way too much red wine, but sometimes you just gotta make the sacrifice right? I can't be all running and drinking water and eating vegetables all the time!

Ok - granted this isn't the most funny or informative or entertaining post... but at least I'm in a much better headspace now than I was two weeks ago. It's the summer, parties are planned, patios are begging to be sit on, trips are happening... I'm looking forward to it.

June 4

I hate today. today is a horribly sucky day.
Just thought you should know.

And I ran.

I got some kind of disappointing news today- of which I won't bore my readers with the details. Suffice to say that it's not about my health, or finances, or job... but a matter of a boy.
I came home from an uncomfortable, awkward confrontation... ate half a pint of ice cream and felt terribly sorry for myself. (ok - to be honest I dont' even know what a "pint" is- but it's the size the women in all of those chick lit books seem to devour after a bad experience... and so I ate ice cream and if it wasn't a full pint- that was the sentiment).
I then laid in bed staring at my ceiling for an hour trying to figure out how I was so stupid as to read a situation so wrong? I tried to meditate and find calm in nothingness.


After which I decided to stop feeling sorry for myself and go for a run.
The reason I'd tried the whole "meditation" thing is that I just read that stupid (sorry Gary) book "eat pray love" and have begun thinking about the merits of meditation. I've been thinking perhaps I should try it in order to find some sort of enlightenment. Achieve some type of balance. Maybe it's something I needed to explore, to give my life more meaning beyond a great pair of shoes (even though I bought a KILLER pair this weekend). If I did something like meditate maybe I could be better prepared to deal with life's crush(ing) rejections. After all, in the "cosmos" of life- surely one little crush doesn't mean anything does it?? Everyone who meditates seems so peaceful...
But instead of sitting down and zoning out, I ran.
I put on my seen better days running shoes, my old old shorts (I wasn't sure if they would still fit) and set my nano to the song "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis. And I ran.


As I pounded the pavement I could feel my muscles bunching, hear my laboured breathing and slowly feel the anxiety & tension leave my body. And I kept running.
It was dark, but that spurned me on to go faster, and the cooler temperatures made me feel more alive. I realized that my running was my meditation.
From what I've read, meditation is paying attention to your breathing and focusing your thoughts (usually on a mantra).
When I run I practice rhythm breathing (tip from CHS) so I don't stitch up. My mind doesn't wander, as I focus on positive visual thinking- and I usually have my own mantras, depending on what I'm focusing on.
I felt so powerful as I ran, strong and fast. It was a great feeling to experience on the heels of a let down. A feeling that I was in control of, and one that I was the genesis of.
I listened, unapologetically, to that song about unrequited love, and remembered that my situation really is one of a million in which there have been countless songs and stories. And I will likely go on to create more stories in a similar vein. And I will continue to run.
I must remember that the next time I want to meditate.


(this picture has nothing to do with running... but it's a fun memory from Peru- when we went on an "Indiana Jones hike" - to a waterfall that was cold, refreshing and wonderful. And the flowers are from a botanical garden we visited that same day)

Machu Piccu *yawn* Peru parte finalemente

I know I know- a 7th wonder of the world. Amazing lost civilization. Stunningly preserved remains of a lost city we know nothing about. Was it a city for just women? A lost Inca royal palace? A small village where they cultivated coca leaves and crops? I don't know!!! why are you asking me these things?!!


My dear friend EC said "What?! You didn't like Machu Picchu?! That's like not liking Jennifer Aniston!!! Oh wait. You don't like Jennifer Aniston either. ok" And that about sums it up. Machu Piccu was like Jennifer Aniston- it was nice. Good shape and form, pleasant enough to behold- but nothing that inspired me or lifted me up. It's no Cate Blanchett. : )

I will say that the Andes surrounding Machu Picchu are stunning as my pictures will hopefully show.

And to be fair, I was actually quite sick when I did this part of the trip, so my fever and delirium could have been contributing to my lack of excitement. (truth be told, after the obligatory 2 hour tour at the beginning and my two bites of lunch, I actually found a grassy knoll in the middle of a 'garden' or 'front yard' or 'we-don't-know-what-this-is-and-isn't-it-still-oh-so-amazing-patch-of-land" and ... fell asleep. Yes I did. People all about me were swarming taking pictures of this historic site, touching the rocks irrelevantly, and hiking their little hearts out... and I took a nap.)


By way of explanation, MP was a trip on the heels of an overnight bus ride where I first took sick and nearly threw up for 7 hours as we careened down this mountain at 220km/hour, then landed in Cusco where I stumbled about taking more photos and drinking fresh orange juice, and getting up at 5am to catch an ice cold temperatures below freezing train ride to get to Machu Picchu in the first place. I just wasn't in the mood.


Heading back to Cusco, I got on the train thinking I had four hours to go until our arrival... when 2 hours in, the train stops and everyone gets off. I get off as well and wander into the darkness of the parking lots, dimly lit, while scrutinizing my ticket- look at the train ticket saying it would return me to Cusco. I put my poor Spanish to use with a security guard who doesn't know anymore than I why the train has chosen to stop halfway... when a guy comes up to our group (there was 4 of us) with a sign saying "Sara Kostek"

Well close enough- let's go. (I wasn't entirely stupid- there were six other people/tourists already waiting in his traveling bus type van). I made it home and the next day asked my tour operator about it and he said "oh yes that's what they do. They get off half way and take buses, it's faster." I asked why this is something that they wouldn't have communicated to me so I wasn't taken by surprise. He shrugged like 'what's the big deal? you made it home" And indeed I was almost there... home that is. Only one more night of sleeping on a moving vehicle (this time courtesy of Air Canada) before I made it home- and I swear to you- I was the FIRST person I know of- that was actually LOOKING FORWARD to going back to work.
(Although I did enjoy my last day in Cusco as my buddies Stephanie and Elaine from Huancayo met up with me and we had lunch- which was awesome). Here is a picture taken wandering around the town.

Overall it was an interesting trip. I enjoyed many parts of it, and met some really great people that I hope to stay in touch with.

I feel blessed to have had the experience of working with the kids in the orphanage and Ladirella, and know that they gave me so much more than I was able to give them.



I brushed up on my Spanish, so I can whisper sweet Spanish nothings to my boyfriend (such as "pass me the potatoes" and "is there hot water?"). It was not relaxing, but nor was it an experience I would trade. Who knows- I might darken the doors of Huancayo yet again.
: )

Adios Peru.

Peru parte penultimate

I'm home. I can't believe I was in Cusco yesterday morning and working this afternoon (solving all of the world's problems in advertising). I have uploaded my photos- and since my previous posts have been so wordy... I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Here is the whole gang on my second to last night.


This is Liz going up the slide with one of my favourite guys Pedro (not the Pedro of the earlier post- a different favourite Pedro).

Here is the original love of my life Pedrito (called so because he's younger and littler):


This is me and my new bff Stephanie- on the hike to the waterfall.


This is Miguel who had a special place in the heart of my friend Kerri who had volunteered last Christmas. She told me how amazing he was and so I was understandably excited when I finally met him. I went up to him and said "Oh so you're Miguel! It's so nice to meet you. My name is Sarah" (all in Spanish of course) and he said "Your name is caca" and he spit on me. Wow buddy, if only you'd known how you'd been talked up!!! But we ended up getting along.


There was a party to celebrate the adoption of Nelly, where all the kids gathered for cake.


However it was very sad the next day when Nelly was gone and Jimmy (who'd been, for all intent and purposes, her brother) was paying careful attention to a doll he'd never paid attention to before- telling us he was taking her to Lima and then asking us to wrap her up in a traditional sling for him. It was sweet but heart-breaking, especially as he was the tough guy of the group.

More to come tomorrow.

Listen. Peru parte leaving Huancayo

Shhhh... listen.. can you hear that noise? It´s very faint. Listen.

It´s the sound of my heart breaking. I don´t want to leave Huancayo, Cota Cota or the family I´ve joined here.

Machu Piccu better be freakin´amazing. (understatement I´m sure).

Laughter and tears: Peru parte quatro

I don´t think I´ve laughed so much in the last couple of months as I have in the last couple of days. Our houseMom- Aurora- is soooo funny. And there is another volunteer, Stephanie, who is hilarious. We all take turns telling stories at lunch or dinner time and are laughing until we´re crying. It´s awesome. I think there are lots of lost in translation moments... but as long as we´re all having a good time I have no complaints!
In other worlds, we had a mixed afternoon at el orfanato today. It was fun and games until my little niño Miguel became the victim of ARCHAIC treatments by the ¨nurse¨. Miguel fell and ripped a scab off, exposing skin and fresh blood. (this is a different Miguel than a previous post. There are about 4 Miguels here) It was a case of looks much worse than it is and required a wash with water and band-aid. However, as protocal required, I took him into the nurse, where she poured some sort of antiseptic (circa 1959) on it, basically cauterizing the ´wound´. Poor Miquel was crying so hard his whole body was shaking and I could only just rub his back and try to reassure him that it would soon be over. (Which it evntually was, after she scrubbed it raw and put on another bubbling ointment... SO BRUTAL!)
In good news - one of the orphans is being adopted. Nelly is just over 18 months with huge eyes and a beautiful smile. She goes to her new home on Friday. I didn´t think that happened here and it´s nice to see.