Haircutting and Kickboxing

Annie likes her haircut, I'm glad! We also went over to the Kickboxing gym and it was a pretty kick ass workout! It really got me in the end with the reps of sit-ups, leg lifts, bicycle kicks and squats. Tomorrow's going to be the day where I break in my trail running shoes! On the treadmill just to work them in a bit.

Just Us Girls and Dim Sum

Lunch was great! I got to hang with some awesome gals and we ate Dim Sum, with my favourite topper of Mango Pudding in Sweetened Milk (coconut milk? Not sure...) For some reason, having lunch seemed like the quiet eye of the storm. For some of us, the day started better than it ended but TGIF!

Tomorrow is another day! Although this day is not finished quite yet. My friend Annie is coming over for a hair cut by yours truly and then we're off to hit the kick-boxing gym. Got the deal off Wag Jag, deals are AWESOME!

The subway home is a bumpy ride, I just had a drink with the coworkers and some. They're great peoples (you know it if you're reading this!), pure awesome. My stomach is growly, I'm ready for some pizza and some cuddling. My soul needs some restoration, this week was definitely trying.

A Warm Winter Comfort

Tights. They're both friend and foe. I can't wear them all day, they start to cause a weird heat induced itch.

Long johns. They're aggressively warm once you've come inside from the cold. They're nice padding around outside in minus weather but getting to work and staying in them is absurd!

My happy medium. I found them in yoga pants, fit under a loose fitting pair of pants. They layer to create that barrier of warmth and cuts down the wind yet comfortable enough to sit in all day!

Lady Luck, Setting Goals and Plucking Them

Last week in a rush to head out to my ball hockey game, I'd lost the little treat I'd gifted to myself the day before. It was a small thing but an indulgence nonetheless, a lip pencil from Body Shop. I only noticed it missing when the game was over. Going from pocket over pocket in my purse I didn't find it, from bench to bench, steps to steps, I'd even retraced my steps in from the parking lot to no avail. Hoping that I had left it in my office, I searched but found nothing.

Half a year ago when the iPhone 4G came out, I was jealous. Everyone was getting one. I had wanted one since the 3G but chose my Blackberry instead, no 3G to my dismay and more recently a growing frustration with just operating the damned thing. The plan that I wound up with was also more costly and I set out to change my plan.

I sat on the plan change for a few months, despondent and feeling shafted. Calling my service provider just stirred up frustration and dissatisfaction. After 10 plus years of being with the same service provider, others I knew and my brother included got a better plan that I did.

Today seemed like it was time for a call for action. I felt ready and prepared, only after numerous bouts of coaching and pep talks from my coworker. I was going to do it, I had a spreadsheet and notes on approaches and other available plans before me.

Undertaking a long overdue goal is like climbing a mountain. Heart palpitations ensued and the anxiety with just the anticipation of talking to the service providers became overwhelming. My first call attempt of the day, resulted in me saying little and completely unsure of anything. I couldn't wrap my head around it. Three to four more pep talks later I tried again.

The results I got made me happy. I was able to lay out how I felt and what the situation was and it got me some progress! I feel like the anchor has lifted on my boat and I'm heading downstream towards the rising sun.

According to the some Lunar charts, my growth colours are red, orange, and pink. Those colours sit on my desk for inspiration and direction that I can set my mind to anything and get through. This feels like I'm cleaning house and getting rid of the old, material goods and mental junk. It didn't occur to me that I needed to clear out my mental space but it feels like that's exactly what I did today. Perhaps another dimension to the old adage for cleaning up before the New Year to make space for better luck. You also need to clear your mind.

Dodge ball and My Poor Thumb

My right thumb is sore from being jammed with a bad catch attempt at today's Monday night game of dodge ball. It's hard to type, the flexibility is not there. My legs are sore and I've pulled my left ab muscle in the same spot that I did last week. I also think I'm too old for this game but banish the thought, it's a lot of fun!

Exhausted and plain old fatigued, I'm dragging my butt home from the Dufferin and Bloor area. Three of my nails are also broken, they're still weak from the time I chipped my polish off a few weeks ago, a habit that hasn't died just yet and my nails don't grow in as quickly as I'd like them to.

The copy of 24 stuck in my purse is folded on the page with vacations. It's cold out, somewhere about minus twenty, but it has finally started to snow and I'm glad it has gotten warmer. My jaw is sore from grinding my teeth together, another habit that has only recently surfaced.

Looking forward to a nice bath with some epsom salts and lavender oils, it will be relaxing. Saw a rolling pin earlier at William Sonoma, an $80 massage device! If only...

Tet, Vietnamese Lunar New Year

The trip on the bus from St. Lawrence West subway station was lengthy and our winding trip through the TTC stops at Pearson Airport was oddly eerie. The emptiness was disquieting and I don't think I'd ever like to be there on my own. It conjured ideas of what a zombie attack would look like.

The day was bright, the sun was out but sitting inside the bus was warm and toasty, quite the opposite once we step out into the bitter cold. It was a clear day, let clear days be a warning to cold and frigid temperatures, it only snows when it's warm and it's warmer on snowy days.

The occasion for this trip today was to meet my mum at the International Convention Center. The Vietnamese Lunar New Year, Tet, was being celebrated with a cultural event.

Darren and I wound up getting off at the Hall 1 stop but headed inside to see if we could find our way around in the warmth. No way through, it didn't look connected. We looked for the closest signs of Hall 3 and found ourselves walking through the loading docks area. Upon getting to the an entrance we were told to go to entrance 18, to the left. We arrived but it was performers only and lucky for us the security guard was nice enough to escort us through rather than us having to walk a long ways around to the entrance. Thank goodness kind security guard man!

The shows reminded me of high school performances and after bearing one too many screams from little girls over a YouTube phenom rapper, I had to go. The other side of the building was the more popular Vietnamese singers, I should've spent a few hours there instead. One singer did impress me and he sang like he was rocking it with his sax.

Time to head home and it's blustery snowy outside. Quite the contrast from the morning. It's been a long day and I've vowed not to return next year. As I wait for my bus home, I type with my fingers starting to freeze over.

Canteen on King

Alex ate the chocolate brownie, it was moist, gooey and crisp all at once with real vanilla bean ice cream. I had the lemon posset, it was lemony, creamy, light, and just divine! Top both desserts with some Mill Street Wit, it was the most delicious dessert ever! Gonna try to replicate this in my home...

Tonight's Dinner - Thai, Japanese, Korean Mix

Made Thai Tom Yum style soup, with zucchini and king mushroom, spiced rice with star anise, turmeric, cumin, and cinnamon, two styles of cucumber, one in vinegar and the other with soy-sauce and ginger (Akira, I'm forever thankful for this recipe - LOVE IT!). That looks like one huge vegan meal and it was DELICIOUS! I'm stuffed. Now time to watch some Spartacus!