Untitled

"Look!" he said.
"I can't see it. I just don't see it." she said
"Look closer. Look at what's there, not what you expect, not what you want to see."
"Do I really want to see it then?"
"It's not about wanting. You have to see it. You'd be missing out on so much if you don't. Trust me, have a look and see."

She looked over the cliff and stood there puzzled.

"You see, you can't tell how far you've come until you've looked below. Now do you want to continue?" he asked
"I...I must. I've come so far, I can't go back down there. Thank you for making me do this. Thank you for pushing me to come up here. I must keep going. Soon where we are right now will seem as far below as down there." she replied
"I'm proud of you and I know you're proud of yourself. You and I have come a long way but now it's up to you to carry on without me. My home is here. You still haven't gotten to yours. When you have, you'll know. It'll feel right and you won't have any doubts. So carry on, and look back ever so often to see how far you've come. Carry on, my little one."

With that, he gathered his bags and started walking towards a pathway. She watched him disappear until she could no longer see him as he turned the corner. She looked at her bags, all of a sudden they seemed heavier. She picked them up and squinted in pain. She let them drop. Picked them up again and went on her way. Shortly after, her palms began to sweat. She could no longer feel her knees. She decided the only way to carry on was without her bags. It was hard for her, she had been caring for them all this way. She gently placed them on the ground and walked away in silence.

Essential Quirk Fact

Ok I'll come out and say this: I don't like socks. I never liked anything grabbing onto my feet, suffocating them, sticking onto me...my feet aren't hideous so they should be left to breathe without interference. This may explain why I'm not your typical chick who loves shoe-shopping...if we could walk barefoot, I'd be a happy girl.

Story:
I was feeling really cold just now. Despite having bought 3 packs of socks, within arm's reach...I decided to turn on the shower, sit on the edge and let me feet be warmed by the pipe water. Yes, that's how far I'd go to avoid wearing socks, especially indoors.

I hopped out, dried my feet, then went on the hunt for thicker clothes. After 2 layers and a robe on top, I'm quite cozy now and ready to move on :)

P.S. I do own slippers but since I haven't been able to wash them, I rather do it up barefoot.

That's right, I ooze sex appeal!

From the Ottawa Citizen:

John Morrissy, The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Given a choice, many Canadians would rather be rock stars or ... government bureaucrats.

That's right, strap on the Stratocaster, kick in the wah-wah pedal and open up those spreadsheets.

We are a starry-eyed bunch, an RBC survey suggests, and 27 per cent of us would rather find a rock 'n' roll band that needs a helping hand -- or at least a job in the entertainment business -- than any other profession.

The only thing more compelling is the lure of the cubicle.

Thirty-four per cent of respondents to the poll, the highest percentage of all, said a job in the well-pensioned confines of the government sector would be their cup of tea.

Why Canadians would just as soon work for the PMO as R.E.M. is as much a mystery to Christianne Paris, vice-president of recruitment and learning for RBC, as it is to anyone.

"I can only speculate," Ms. Paris said, adding it may be that the likes of the Prime Minister's Office attract young Canadians interested in larger areas of policy-setting.

***** NOTE FROM VIM: In the MPA, we refer to the PMO and PCO as the "sexy government" even in front of our profs, one of whom got called to the Order of Canada! I totally saved my A essay from his class and his personal thank you with his autograph! lol***

Ms. Paris said if the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry is easy enough to understand, less so was the poor response financial services yielded, with only 11 per cent expressing interest in the industry.

Almost one in four people (23 per cent) expressed an interest in consulting, while most people said they would never choose a career in accounting.

And while the average Canadian has worked for their current employer for 8.4 years, don't think they wouldn't pull out for a better pay offer, the survey suggests.

"While 52 per cent of working Canadians say they have a strong sense of loyalty to their employers, only 28 per cent would stay with their current employer if offered a comparable job with higher pay elsewhere," RBC says in its survey, titled The Competition for Canadian Talent.

Higher pay is the top benefit an employer can offer, according to 69 per cent of those polled.

But such areas as health benefits, profit sharing, opportunities for advancement and a better work/life balance are also important to employees.

"This survey tells us that there's a lot of fluidity in the marketplace today and many varied interests on the part of Canadian employees," Ms. Paris said.

And with younger, highly talented workers very aware of their own value, "it is not enough to just offer someone a job," she said.

That is evident in the area of financial services, a substantial employer in the Canadian economy, where the survey "seems to indicate that there is still work to be done to get the word out."

More broadly, "employers need to look at and annually review their total employment package -- which should include salary, benefits, learning and development options, as well as an engaging work environment," said Ms. Paris.

Consumer Confusion

You know you're a kid when...
You pick up a pack of all-breast chicken nuggets, then you notice the same kind in burgers...you stop and pause, both hands full, when all of a sudden a kiddie comes running towards your section and grabs a pack of "dinosaur-shaped nuggets". After seeing this fun new kind of nuggets, you drop both "regular nuggets" and "burgers" and pick up a pack of "dinosaur-shaped nuggets". As the cashier swipes your groceries, he smiles at the dinosaur-shaped nuggets are remarks "wow, these are a hit this week!" to which you reply "I must say, I'm quite excited to go home now!".

*sigh* lol

UGH!

The kid is SO cute and she weasels her way into my heart in a fuzzy cutesie way! Gosh darn it, they're so adorable when they're young. I rather listen to her dinky stories and build the trust now so that she can come to me whenever with "huger" problems. OHHH YAAA, STRATEGY baby!

Lil_Lady says: Hey Vimy, my big sister
V says: sup baby
Lil_Lady says: nm
V says: u've been missing in action
Lil_Lady says: I miss you, wanna play a game?
V says: awww sorry dude, i can't...i've got some major deadlines tomorrow
Lil_Lady says: Dudette, you mean
V says: mais oui dudetto!
Lil_Lady says: LOL HAHAHA I'm in the spelling bee. I won in our mini bee but it wasn't the real thing
V says: wooohooo when's the real thing?
Lil_Lady says:it is a Saturday, I'll miss my turn to watch T.V on the big screen, ok good night!!!
V says: bedtime already?
Lil_Lady says: not really just felt like using that picture, tomorrow is a P.A. Day

I found it!

After years of looking for this song I found it when I was randomly browsing youtube. It's one of those classics that any good WI has heard at some point in their childhood. Recently, about a couple of years ago I was adamant about finding it but it was hard since I could only hum the chorus to pretty much everyone I've asked about it. The usual response I got, even with family members was, "ohhhh I know which one you're talking about but I don't know the name." Ugh! It's being added to the list of "to learn" songs and so far, after 2 days of playing it pretty non-stop I've got a few stanzas memorized.
The incredible Mukesh and Lata:
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=pSVNlzQnfDo&feature=related
I'm not sure what's with the whole love affair between the teacher and student but that's beside the point. It's a great, soothing song and it gives me butterflies everytime I hear it.

Other songs that I've semi-memorized for future motherly purposes (singing to the lil vimlettes is something I'm copying from my sis-in-law):
Tumse o haseena: it's so happy-sounding! http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=fWUEhwmhPWA&feature=related
and...
Janam janam kaa saath hai: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLxz3WUnQR8

A pledge

On this 7th day of February in the year of 2008, I hereby pledge:

"To return to Guyana once or perhaps many more times. My 2-week stay back in July was not enough to quench my thirst. I saw a great deal, maybe it was too much all at once. I want to go back and savour the true Guyana life (I know I won't last long so that's why I might need to go back a few times). I've been to quite a few places but I have a calling to return to Guyana...this is something I've never felt before. It was one of the most exciting and truly unique experiences I've ever had, some good and some rather unpleasant ones but I want to go back. I need to go back. I need to go back and experience it all over again.

I want to try to put the pieces together. I feel like I got the short end of the stick because I've lived part of my childhood through stories of how life in Guyana was before we left. I get asked, "don't you remember that?" The harder I try to remember, the less I'm able to picture myself there as a baby. I was disappointed to go back recently and find that important pieces of the puzzle have been destroyed, delapidated or simply gone. It's like an injustice has been done. The house I grew up in has lost its authenticity, transformed into a mansion and rented out to care-free tenants. The only thing left standing is a benab and although it was rock solid when we left, it's becoming tatters and no one cares. It's left to crumble in the back, unoticed, while the front-yard of this unfamiliar mansion is kept almost like a tourist attraction. This was my home, people, why have you taken it away from me?

I'm going to go back, photos in hand, comparing and picturing what life was like back then. I'm going to go back and experience Guyana through that lens. I'm going to go back and relive one of the best experiences of my life, knowing that it'll never be the same."

Off to a Conference, will be back alive on Thursday : )

I'm responsible for welcoming back the audience of public servants on the 2nd day (Thurs morning). I decided to do my nails so I wouldn't bite them off by then :P

Taurus, Scorpio, Capricorn, Pisces. Got it.

DONE AND DONE. MPAers for life.
While I was upstairs in the washroom, some of them took over my camera to wish me a happy bday. Love you, gang :D

Uncultured Vim

Sitting here, writing my essay (or at least parts of the shit that I'm creating), in starvation.
I never understood a set dinner hour and it's not something I grew up with. My family never made a tradition of eating together because such a practice was not feasible given the different times we'd come and go at home. I've also grown up having piece-meal dinners. Whatever was in the fridge supplemented what was being cooked (if anything was cooking, at all).
Despite this "strange" practice to many, I was always well-fed, mostly nutritious when I decided to eat my veggies (or rather was forced to by my Dad who gave me the EAT IT OR ELSE look.
Also, we'd have ONE PLATE/BOWL, a glass/cup (not me of course because my parents, like most WI parents, trained me not to drink while eating because supposedly this would make you eat less). Since I was a skinny little mopstick at that young age, it was all about getting me to eat and eat more of whatever it is I grabbed.
Here I am, nervous at the table, surrounded.....
To be completed.
I'm getting gourmet tandoori chicken/pesto chicken pizza and smelts tonight! woohooo

A look inside 24 hours of the life of my roomate

- Wake at 1pm
- Exit room shortly after 2pm
- Immediately stumbles to the bathroom, rubbing her eyes as she sees me in the kitchen and mumbles "good morning".
- waits for a few seconds as Vim grabs all the essential things from the bathroom ie. vaseline & hairbrush
- goes into the bathroom, locks door
- shower for 25-40 mins
- comes out, brushes teeth, gargles LOUDLY
- unlocks door, walks to room, closes door
- cellphone rings, call answered...and continues for an hour
- quiet...Vim forgets if she's home or not
- after a long period of silence, roomate proceeds to speak loudly on the phone until 7pm
- roomate exits room to use the washroom while talking on the phone
- 4-7 mins later *flush* exits washroom, still on the phone and returns to her room
- Vim enters washroom 10 mins later with a bottle of javex, pours it down the toilet and let's it do its thing
- silence resumes until 10/11pm when roomate exits room, proceeds to the kitchen to conjure some seaweed dinner while on the phone
- either: opens up the fridge and yells "AYYY YAAAA, YAAAAA!!!", burns a pot, lets it overflow, or gets cut because she's trying to talk on the phone while chopping something
- after making some sort of soup or retrieving the rice from her rice cooker, returns to room
- 1 hour later, exits room, uses the washroom while talking on the phone
- 5-10 mins later *flush* exits washroom, still on the phone
- phone conversation continues loudly until 1:30am
- at this point, after much restless tossing and turning Vim falls asleep
- 2/3am Vim awakes to loud hyena-in-labour laughing, Vim gets up and figures it's better to pee now then have to wake up a few hours later to do so
- Vim enters bathroom to find that the full roll of toilet paper that she put that morning is done
- Vim exits bathroom, still groggy and returns to bed
- 10 mins later, loud hyena-in-labour laughing resumes
- Vim pulls the sheets over her head and puts the pillow over her ears
- Vim falls asleep until 5am when yet another loud hyena-in-labour laughing awakes her
- silence resumes until 1pm the next day
- Vim realizes that the mailbox key is yet again missing, reminds roomate to put it back at all times since there's a hefty $200 misplacement fee
- Roomie cannot find the key, proceeds to frantically look for it as Vim gives her cut-eye and the silent treatment

All this to say, on Tuesday afternoon...there will be no such happenings in apartment **** at Fenny. Goodbye, farewell, hope to never live with you again. Two more nights to survive. Two more days filled with opening up the air freshners to a max, two more days of holding in my pee while she's in the washroom, two more days of picking up after a kid who's older than me, two more days of...this situation.