Casse Noisette

My Christmas presents from Jason turned out to be wonderful. I now have a new soft and plushy bathrobe to wear out of the shower or whenever I'm feeling a bit chilly (like right now for example). It's a bit big on me though...I figure if my old bathrobe and this new one were to have a child, the child bathrobe would be a perfect fit (I've had my old one since I was 10. It used to be ankle-length, but now it goes up past my knees. It used to be a full length sleeve, but now it's a 3/4 length sleeve. The regular waist is now an empire waistline).

Last night we went to see The Nutcracker performed by the National Ballet of Canada. If only you could be inside my memory banks and see the wonder that was this ballet. One word: Spectacular. Another word: Lovely! Let's try another: Stunning.

It was the most elaborate and lavish set I had ever seen. From beds that moved around the stage to a Christmas tree the size of the theater to the biggest golden dream of a Faberge egg in the world. Costumes were beautiful and the music...well, it was The Nutcracker for goodness sake! The dancing was both entertaining and elegant. From bears on ice skates and a prancing horse that looked SO real to graceful Snow Maidens and the enchanting Sugar Plum Fairy. In an ideal world, if I were to be in this ballet, I would be the Sugar Plum Fairy...but otherwise, I would like to be a Snow Maiden or an Icicle or a Flower. They had lovely dresses.

I really wish I had not forgotten my camera at home, as there were so many reasons to use it last night. Jason looked so very distinguished in his suit and I in my new dress (it was a bit too scandalous for the ballet though, I thought. And I'm sure the elderly woman who gave me the up and down thought so too). During intermission we saw the little girls who played the flock of sheep in the show and they were absolutely adorable in their fluffy pink and white dresses and the cute little black sheep too. Crowds gathered around them and flashes went off everywhere from every camera but ours (because they weren't there). Most disappointing was the fact that I missed my chance to get a photo of a pair of shorts that said "Sexy Rexy" on the bum, referring to Rex Harrington who apparently is a principal dancer, but was not in the show that we saw. Actually, I had never heard of him before last night, I just figured it would be funny if I started to wear Sexy Rexy shorts around residence and told everyone that I was in love with a ballet dancer from Peterborough (everyone would think I'm a bigger loser than they already do, ha ha).

The evening was wonderful, topped off by a yummy dinner at Rasoee, (I have been sorely missing Indian food), and then watching my favourite Christmas movie, The Nutcracker Prince.

11:41 am

Saturday, December 27, 2003

More Spending

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and a fun Boxing Day. My mother and I left our mall after an hour because we couldn't stand the crowds. I no longer have the patience to fight middle aged women for cheap clothes. I'd rather come back another day and pay more.

I continued my spending spree today and ventured to Ikea after visiting Fairview Mall. I am proud to say that I have finally eaten at the Ikea restaurant! As usual, I ordered the kiddie meal which consisted of delicious meatballs and very potato-y fries. Eating there reminded me so much of being in the dining hall at school. You have to line up, get a tray and your cutlery, choose a drink and order your food (unless it's a prepared sandwich or salad) and then head off to the cashier to pay. You even have to clear your own table which is more like school than ever. It was the most interesting dining experience and I appreciate their attempts at keeping costs to a minimum.

There's something so intimidating about the words FINAL SALE NO EXCHANGES OR REFUNDS stamped onto a receipt or said to you by even the nicest, most docile salesperson. The finality of it all scares me a bit and always makes me rethink my purchase.

6:51 pm

Wednesday, December 24, 2003

All I Want For Christmas

After a very long 8 hour shift today at the tea shop, I sat down in my kitchen, flipped through my local community newspaper and noticed the annual Letters to Santa Claus section. I did this last year and I figure I might try to make it an annual thing here as well. Here's a small sampling of what kids in Markham have to say to good old Saint Nick (with original grammar).

Dear Santa:
Hi Santa I would like a Video Now. I would like a Video Now so I can watch it when my sister is dancing. How do your elves get the stuff to make the toys? Do your elves sleep? Why is your name Santa Claus? How is Mrs. Claus? Does Mrs. Claus make cookies for the elves? How smart are you? Do you like cookies?
P.S. My sister Amy says "hi".
Your friend,
Christopher


Dear Santa:
I would like to have this year for Christmas a few things that are on list. I want a Hilary Duff Dolls. I would like to have Lizzie McGuire movie. I would like to have the Santa Claus 2 movie too. I sure love that movie...ha...ha!!!
Merry Christmas Santa
Love,
Maddison


Hey Santa I want make ups and school things. I want dolls.
Rachel


Dearest Santa:
I love Christmas eve. I really like it when you give presents out to people.
Do you know why I love Christmas? I love Christmas because I think you are real, but other kids do not think that you are real.
i want a special gift for Christmas. Do you know what I want for Christmas? i would like a glitter and that's it.
Lots of love from
Dimpal


Dear Santa,

I believe in you now more so than I did when I was 7 years old. I apologize for my young skepticism. I didn't believe in the Tooth Fairy or Easter Bunny either, but that doesn't make anything better. With my newfound faith, I would like to make a request for something this Christmas.

For Christmas this year I would like a mind-makeover. I want to stop worrying about trivial things like how I look in dresses or shirts or pants or any article of clothing. I want to trust the relatonships that I'm in, have faith in their longevity and not question the other's loyalty or my own. I want the strength to accept the things I cannot change and change the things I cannot accept. I want to feel comfortable with my place at home, at school, in the grand scheme of things. I want to have the courage to face the world, understand it and not feel powerless. I want to do and believe the things I say. I want to have faith in myself and not doubt my abilities. I want to accept the dare to dream and realize my full potential. I want to have the enthusiasm and inspiration to chase after things that are seemingly out of my reach, but also the patience to wait on life. I would like to go back to school smiling, with my cynicism abolished, my optimism revamped and my ideals intact. I want to remember that I am still young and that at 19, anything is possible.

Thank you.
~Shirley

12:23 am

Monday, December 22, 2003

Just Don't Know What To Do With It

My new camera is making me nervous. It doesn't have optical zoom. It only has 'Smart Zoom'. Said Smart Zoom can only be used at a setting of 2.0 MP or lower and the range is terrible. There is also no macro setting. Some reviewers on Amazon said they loved the camera even with these seemingly crappy qualities, others denounced Sony for making such a shoddy product. Can I survive without zoom and macro? I'm thinking about returning it and getting a new one with better features, but it'll cost me more and there will be no batteries and recharger and free bag.

This camera also has some interesting attributes. You can set it to Twilight mode when shooting at night, or Snow mode to prevent the image from losing colour or even Beach mode to bring out the blue of the water. And there are special effects to bring out the contrast in the images like Black & White, Sepia and Negative Art so my photos will look all fancy. But the zoom....and macro, I can't take really close up shots without losing detail! I can't decide how important these features are to me becuase I've never owned a digital camera or used one to take cool photos.

All you camera users out there, what do you think?

1:38 pm

Sunday, December 21, 2003

Tonight, Tonight

The lack of posting around here was due to exams, but now that I'm home I no longer have that excuse. Although now the lack of posting can be blamed on my work schedule. I'm back at home for the holidays also means that I'm back at the Tea Shop as well. The past few days at work has reminded me of why I work there and put up with wearing the uniform too. The other day, two mildly attractive young men walked into the store; one was wearing a peacoat, both had accents (one British, the other Scottish) and ordered tea. They sat outside the store and chatted for a bit. After agreeing upon their cuteness, myself, Sheri and Chelsea acted like tweens and giggled at them for a few minutes. Today, we were supposed to hand out free chocolate to customers who made purchases of $25 or greater; Sheri and I opened two boxes of them and along with Zahra and Anna, stood behind the counter and pigged out.

One of my Christmas presents came early this year, a new digital camera just for moi! The Sony DSCP32 CyberShot 3.2 Digital Camera was purchased at the low price of $269.99 with batteries, a recharger AND a free camera case. It only came with a 16 MB card though, so I'll have to purchase another one. Hopefully, there will be good Boxing Day sales, like last year at Best Buy. The only thing that has me a bit nervous is the fact that it doesn't have very good zoom, optical or otherwise. I read some reviews (after my mum and I made the purchase) and apparently I can't use the zoom at the 3.2 MP setting, only at 2.8 MP or something silly like that. I suppose I need to read the manual a bit more thoroughly in order to understand how to use it properly. Regardless, I am very excited, especially after wanting one for a year now!

This gives me even more incentive to redesign this place a la photoblog style. But first I need to learn how to take some good photos and then find some webspace in which to house all my photos. Unfortunately, Blogger offers no such support so I'll have to look elsewhere. Anyone have some space they're willing to share? For free preferably. Next I'll be needing some PhotoShop software.

10:55 pm

Tuesday, December 16, 2003

Another Turning Point

Micro-economics and calculus should hold hands, get married and take their wedding photos on a set of train tracks. While one of those Japanese bullet-trains barrels towards them. Good riddance!

At approximately one and a half hours before my last exam of the semester, I believe I spent more time watching my gerberas bloom than actually studying. Gerberas bloom really fast, did you know that? I was tired, cranky, full of doughy naan and fed up. My brain was fried to the point where if I didn't already know something, there was no hope of me learning it at all. So I threw down my books and notes and went online.

Even though I only studied for maybe a total of 3 hours the entire weekend, I think I did surprisingly well on my exam. I didn't just squeak by, I ran screaming "Wheeeeee!" the entire way. There's something about a giant 3-in-1 gymnasium filled with 700 to 800 people that doesn't scare me, and rather, excites me. If the frigid temperatures don't keep you awake, then the useless proctors walking by every minute will. Don't expect them to pay any attention to you if you have your hand up though. Holding a pen to extend the length of you arm won't help, neither will waving it around. I tried clearing my throat, coughing daintily, scraping my chair against the floor...nothing.

So after 4 months of more learning than ever before and 2 weeks worth of final examinations, my first semester at university is over. And I'm still alive! Huzzah! Though I have lost any remants of my 20/30 vision from last fall, feel rice deprived, have tripled the number of knots in my back and am severely lacking all my scruples. I feel the insane urge to get really drunk and have tons of fun and not remember anything afterwards. Let's play a game: drink as much as you can, twirl around a few times and whoever gets closest to home wins.

4:55 pm

Wednesday, December 10, 2003

I Think This Place Is In Need Of A Makeover

I'm getting bored of the way it looks around here. I think I'll do some fiddling over the holiday break. Which, by the by, I am really looking forward to. I don't think I've ever worked this hard for so long before. Jason and I have eaten 9 bags of popcorn in the last week. It's been tough I tell you.

I kicked serious ancient Grecian ass yesterday during my Classics exam. I beat up love pretty good too the day before. So far, I'm on a roll. I've written 3 of these bad boys in 4 days and I feel dang confident. 2 to go. Alright calculus, it's me and you.

I now embark on a quest to finish the 13 chapters of calculus homework that I am behind by. I sooooo wish this final wasn't worth 75% of my grade. Damn me going to Commencement. I have this sinking feeling that it's going to suck, bad. But maybe at the last minute I'll open a can of serious whoopass. Bring it on Leibniz!
...

Christmas Shopping Status: One exchange made.

3:17 pm

Monday, December 08, 2003

Yeah Yeah Ancient Greece

Two down, three to go. My alarm went off at 7:30am this morning. Damn those 9:00am exams. After going to sleep at 2:00am, writing 3 essays in 2 hours was definitely not cool. This time around, I'm rewarding myself with a nap.

Here are some things that have kept me smiling throughout all the studying.

1. It's The End of the World!
2. What I never want for Christmas.
*Make sure you have your speakers on for these two!
3. Need a good time waster? Manic mode is even better. I couldn't supress my cackling.
*I suppose you can have your speakers on for the last one too.

I can't wait to install Microsoft Word onto my computer. I've been using Works the entire time I've been at school, and there's only so much more I can take. What kind of word processing program has a special character for 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 but not 1/3? What's wrong with having a third of something?

The sound of construction, especially that of sawing, will always remind me of summer. I'm totally in summer mode right now, despite the white stuff on the ground. I need a break.

11:43 am

Saturday, December 06, 2003

My First University Exam

Guess where I've been? In my room. Being anti-social. Enjoying hermit life. Studying for my business final exam. It was all over 10 minutes ago! Wahoo.

3 hours. Thick booklets. A giant freezing gymnaisum. Rows upon rows upon rows of desks and chairs. I think I developed arthritis in my right hand. I'm very tired. I can't see straight and everything is blurry. My back hurts. My head only kind of does. I'm hungry. There's lots of cons, but it was worth it because I think I kicked some serious corporate ass on that exam. Corporate ass! Take that business! Hi-ya!

I had that new Outkast song ("Hey Ya"?) stuck in my head during the entire thing and had to refrain from dancing in my chair or giggling lest they think I was cheating.

I feel like the supreme ruler of the universe right now. I think I'm going to reward myself with a shower.

"Whoa. You look like you need a million hours of sleep."
"That bad?"
"Yeah."

-Michelle, upon seeing me after my exam

5:10 pm

Monday, December 01, 2003

The Adventure To The Costume Store

2:30pm - I pick up Tim from his residence and we head off to Seams Like Magic, the local costume shop, to find me a medieval dress for the Medieval Boar's Head Dinner which is tonight.

2:45pm - Tim and I are still walking along King Street, thanking goodness for the warm weather because otherwise we'd be freezing our bums off.

2:47pm - It's been almost 20 minutes and we still haven't found the store. "I'm positive the website said it was on King Street" I say. "What number is it?" he asks. "Two hundred something...I think." He looks around. "But since we started walking, the store numbers have been declining, this one is 118. That one down there is 115...Shirley, have we been walking in the wrong direction?"

2:50pm - We stop in a Mr. Sub and ask for directions. Yes. We have been walking in the wrong direction.

3:10pm - We've walked back to where we started, and head North on King towards the store. We still don't see it anywhere.

3:15pm - We stop in a Hasty Market to ask for more directions.

3:20pm - Huzzah! We've found the store, and the sign is there to prove it. The CLOSED sign.

3:21pm - "Who the *beep beep* closes on a *beep beep beep* Sunday?!"

3:22pm - I close my mouth, apologize for wasting an hour of Tim's life and then we walk home.

I had planned to get a costume from there today, but the surprise snow storm blinded me so I didn't go. Amelia is being awfully nice and letting me borrow another one of her dresses for tonight. Looks like I'm just going to have to settle for being a regular girl.
...

Christmas Shopping Status: Started.

4:39 pm