BRRRRR....Cold....

Last Friday it snowed up at SFU. SFU is about 600 feet above sea level and it was raining down in Vancouver but snowing great big wet clumps of wet snow. It seems that Christmas is upon us and in 5 short weeks it will be here.

Christmas has and will always be my favourite time of year. It is not about the presents and gifts but because my family spends the day together. When I mean family, it is all my aunts, uncles, and cousins and it is a big dinner and fun and games.

Sayonara to the Ghetto hello to cute boys...

As some of you are aware, over the last 5 months I have been half-heartedly looking for the perfect place to live, sans parents away from what I call the ghetto. It is not really a ghetto, quite a nice neighborhood but not for me. Initially, I was adamant about living on my own, my Japan experience told me that I liked it but after looking at several places and the rent that accompanied it I decided that I could not afford to live on my own and thus found a roommate. He was initially a friend of a friend, and at that time a brother in law of another friend, and has now become my friend and I am delighted to say, my new roommate.

I am ecstatic to report that I found a place to live and we will be moving in there Dec. 1st. It is located in Kitsilano, the young hip, trendy part of town, cause we all know that epitimizes who I am. It is located at 6th and Stephens in an old heritage house with stained glass windows a deck and a big backyard. I am very excited about all of this and looking forward to having my own space again. Of course according to the blog below the place for me to meet cute boys and such.

As always hotel Charlene is once again open for business and y'all are always invited to come over and visit

Where you lives dictates your potential to meet boys....

Read the article below, even more reason for me to move away from my affectionate ghetto into the elusive Kits area......

There are research companies who claim they can predict with great accuracy what kind of peanut butter you eat, the type of car you drive, how often you mow your lawn and even your underwear preference just by looking at your address. How? According to Simon Simek, a Columbia University Lecturer and President of Simek/Gomes a strategic marketing consulting firm, "people with similar interests tend to cluster together geographically." In other words, people who are like you do things like you do, buy the things that you buy and live in places that are similar to where you live. It makes sense, doesn't it? Think about your city. Don't certain neighborhoods denote their residents' personalities or lifestyles? Young and hip, broke but cool, just broke, family-oriented, or retiree haven? Simek says, "The kinds of choices people make on how they live their lives, how they spend weekends, what they like to eat, and what they like to do will dictate where they live." He claims that where we live is a choice we make based in our psychographics - sort of a personality soup combining our lifestyle, aspirations, social background, personality, education and experiences. It stands to reason then, that if you want to meet someone who has similar interests and values, who enjoys doing the things you enjoy doing, the first place you should look is where you live. Simek adds, "people with similar psychographics by nature are attracted to the same types of areas or neighborhoods." What's more, is that once a neighborhood starts getting a certain reputation (artsy, highbrow, trendy) even more people of that particular group will be attracted. According to Simek, "there's a comfort level established with that - you want to be around people who are similar to yourself." So, although you may be searching high and low for the guy or girl of your dreams, you might want to at least start your search in your own back yard. I'm a strong believer in looking for love close to home - I met my own sweetie at a restaurant right next door to my apartment. There are other advantages to dating people from your own neighborhood. In big cities like LA and New York, it makes sense to stick to your own turf, otherwise you'll end up spending half the night stuck in a cab or worse, in bumper-to-bumper on the freeway. Not having any luck in your neighborhood? Take a look at where you live. If you're not happy with your current digs, Simek suggests that you start searching for dates in areas where you wish you could live. That way, you'll be meeting people with similar aspirations. In fact, the next time you're searching for cuties on Lavalife, try searching by geography (postal code) rather than your usual criteria, whatever that may be (height, weight, income, love of small animals.) You might just find that what you're looking for is a lot closer than you think. Hey, it's worth a try, right? If nothing else, at least you can start your new romance knowing the two of you probably have the same taste in peanut butter.

Lisa Daily is the author of Stop Getting Dumped!

New Running Shoes

I know it seems silly to write about shoes, but alas I love shoes. As evidence by the number and diversity of shoes I own. Shoes, more shoes some sandals thrown in there for good measure.
I bought new Asics Gel 1090 running shoes over the weekend, my new balance were just not cutting it anymore. My visits to the gym have been sporadic at best this fall but I am hoping that cause I bought new shoes then that would be incentive for me to go more. Let me say that I tried out my shoes yesterday on the treadmill and they were lovely. My running was not so lovely but the shoes were great. I have a bit of knee pain and tight shins but I can safely say that it would have been much worst had I not had the new shoes. Let's face it, my body is falling apart and I welcome the day where I could have bionic knees and other various bionic parts. Super hearing, Super eyesight....being able to fly....

P.S. I forgot to extol the virtues of my new boots too, they are "very Char" as my friend put it.

Fall News...

Fall is definately upon us here in Vancouver, it has been raining for the last 2 weeks off and on. When I groggily wake up and crawl out of bed it is still dark out. Then when I do make it up to work after fighting for a seat on the bus with all these fresh faced doe eyed first years, who are looking a bit haggard this week (mid-terms), I look out of my window to see fog and rain. Welcome to Simon Fraser University, home of concrete and rain. Luckily, today is a sunny day and it has almost made me forget about the previous weeks rain, just as the right moment before I go mental from the greyness of it all.

Lately I have taken up knitting again. My friend wanted to learn how to knit so I taught her what little I know and now we have created a Wed. get together called "stitch and bitch". I am in the process of making socks and will probably start on some toques (hats) for my nephew soon. He has outgrown the one I made for him last winter. Let me know if you need a scarf or a new toque, it will keep my busy on the cold winter nights in Vancouver.

I know I appear to be an old lady with my knitting and gossiping but alas, it is a hobby and keeps me out of trouble.

Visit to the Bay...

Today my friend Muryn and I wanted to get some yarn and we decided that we would pick some up at Zellars (Walmart, Target, like discount department store). While I was there I decided that I would stop at the Bay, where I used to work. Things have changed since I have worked there about a year ago. They now have to wear uniforms and the display cases are now all new. I stopped by to say hi to Isabel and bumped into my old manager. Strange...but glad that I am no longer working there. As much as I complain about SFU, I am so glad that I am no longer selling my soul to the devil.

The way I remember it....

Rain and more Rain...several weeks ago, the view from my window at my desk was of blue sky and trees with red and yellow leaves, now all I see is grey and fog. Welcome to fall, winter, and spring at SFU. Because we are up on a mountain, it gets foggy up here and you can barely see beyond the fog. It all brings back memories of my undergrad.

Between the greyness and the yellow glow from the flourescent lights above me, I am feeling like the happiness and cheeriness that I was bathed in only a few weeks ago has all but vanished. Oh how I long for the beaches of Australia. Which makes me think about taking my Christmas vacation there again....which goes against my rule of thumb only allowing me to visit one country once, until I have seen all the ones that I want to.

Anyways, hoping where ever you are at is warmer and brighter than here.

We have had an Indian Summer...

For the last two weeks, I have worn my trusted Birks and flip flops out and about. It is so nice to have the sun on your feeties, after they have been stuck in shoes and socks for almost a month straight. The weather has been really nice here lately and it makes me feel like singing when I skip down the street. The weather has been fantastic in Vancouver, crisp sunny fall days and I can see the red leaves outside of my window at work. It is nice to be able to look outside and see sunshine and not the cold dreary fog and greyness of SFU.

Yet, still I am counting down the minutes until the end of the day and I get to go home.

Waiting for the Minutes to Pass.....

It is a beautiful crisp fall Friday afternoon, here on the hill. I am literally counting down the minutes before my day ends and I get to go home to unplug from the rigors of my job. The beautiful day outside of my window combined with the red leaves of the trees, is beckoning me to be outside and away from my computer. I just cannot concentrate on the work I am suppose to be doing and thus, thought that I would chip away at some time by writing in my blog, something I have not done in a few weeks now.

It has been an interesting few weeks here, the job satisfaction seems to have plateaued, or perhaps more accurately has flatlined. I am working on trying to do more things that challenge me and keep me stimulated. Some days it is easier than other days.

Nothing too new or exciting in my life. I have not found a place yet. I am after an "ideal" place for me to call my own and so far I have not come across anything that I could call home. Perhaps I am being too picky, but I also feel like I have a right to be picky about where I live. Keep your fingers crossed for me...

I am also plotting my next adventure. Europe and Cuba are calling. New Years in London or in Havana? The only problem is that with the previous month's hurricane in Cuba, I am not all that sure that Cuba will be that great to go to. London may be a better place, but is London wet in the winter time? I am open to suggestions of countries/cities to go visit for Christmas.

I need to start planning now afterall there are only about 3 months before winter break.

Back to School...

The one thing about working in an educational institute is that when school starts up in Sept. the entire campus is filled with wide eyed young and optimistic 17 and 18 year olds, not yet jaded by the realities of papers, unending reading, and exams, not to mention how useless their 4 year degree is the real world. Perhaps that is my jaded bias....

I have been stopped a number of times by some lost student looking for some building on campus. Lucky for them, my tenure as a tour guide for SFU has well prepared me to answer their queries and I can confidently tell them where the Maggie Benston Centre is and if they should ask the history of it. I have tried to be as helpful as I can, remembering what it was like to be overwhelmed in the first week of school trying out to figure out the maze of the AQ. The only real complaint with the start of the school year is that the bus is always jammed packed with people and I cannot get a seat, however it that is made up for with them once again openning up the cafeterias so I can buy outrageously expensive food on those days where I have woken up too late to make my lunch. Hooray for institutionalized fare...

Rain and the Bus

On Wed. I was on my way to work and had just stepped out of the skytrain station (skytrain is like the subway but above ground) and was on my way to the bus stop, when I see the bus at the corner. I pick up the pace so I can get on this one and do not have to wait in the rain for the next one, only to slip on the curve, land with a resounding thud on my ass, twist my ankle, and bruise my fragile ego. The worst part was that I was wearing a skirt too. I sat there stunned for a moment and gathered what little pride I had and proceeded to hobble up onto the bus. I was so embarrassed and the bus driver kept asking me if I was ok. With my swollen ankle and wet skirt, I manage to feebily reply that I was ok, only to feel completely humiliated on the inside.

That was the start of my day. The day at work was not much better...the dragon lady strikes again. Luckily the saving grace was that my nephew came over, when I got home from work. He is still as cute as ever, a little bit of a munchkin and roly poly. I absolutely adore him to pieces.

Happy Anniversary

I realized today that this weekend was my one year anniversary of arriving home from Japan. I came home a year ago on Aug. 20th amid optomistic and perhaps too idealistic hopes. This year has indeed gone by fast, suprisingly fast considering how at some points it was quite a struggle even to get up in the morning without pangs of feeling like "what the heck am I doing here?". It has been a retrospective year filled with struggles and a bit of self discovery.

My last year in Vancouver has been interesting, I thought that things would be the way I had left them when I went to Japan, but it definately was not. I have said this before, life in Japan is like living in a bubble and when the bubble bursts you think that things outside of it are as you remember it to be. Nope! Wrong.....wrong...wrong....I am far too idealistic for my own good. In fact, almost everything has changed around me, and about me. It has been an eye openner here. I think that at this point I am still learing about all these changes and learning how to deal with it.

I figure that once I learn to deal with everything I will have reached an enlightened state. Life is complex, if you have not figured it out. That much I know for sure, (as well as learning about selling my soul to the retail commercialism called the Bay and learning a bit about real estate). Somedays I am not ready to deal with the complexities of it and would just rather stay in bed. Then there are those days where I am optimistic and hopeful that I will figure it out and eventually become a grown up .....hopefully there are more of those days than the stay in bed days.....

Even with all the difficulties it is good to be home.....

Symphony in the Park

I had been looking forward to this. I heard from my sister that the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra was going to have a symphony in the park. I was quite excited, the last time I went was just before I left for Japan and I had my going away party there with all my friends. It was a nice time and fond memories. I felt loved surrounded by my friends. This time I contacted some of my friends to go as well. I had been looking forward to it all day and was very antsy sitting at work. I was even snuck out early cause I just could not stand to be in my office for any longer. However, just before I left I checked on the internet to see what time it was, thank goodness that I did, cause it was in Deer Lake Park instead of Stanley Park (miles away) which I had thought. We would have driven out all that way for nothing.

So with our subway sandwiches in hand, Carolyn, Jake, Mike, Adam and I, we pulled up some lush green grass to sit and listen to the symphony. It was quite beautiful and nice to be listening to such incredible music surrounded by nature. It gave you that warm fuzzy feeling. The only drawback was the bugs and the cold. We remedied that by leaving a little bit early to miss the crowds and of course had some Tim Hortons to warm us up before watching some senseless violence namely Kill Bill 2. I would say it was a quite enjoyable evening.

More on the Quarterlife Crisis

They call it the "Quarter-life Crisis." It is when you
stop going along with the crowd and start realizing
that there are many things about yourself that you
didn't know and may not like. You start feeling
insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or
two, but then get scared because you barely know where
you are now.

You start realizing that people are selfish and that,
maybe, those friends that you thought you were so
close to aren't exactly the greatest people you have
ever met, and the people you have lost touch with are
some of the most important ones. What you don't
recognize is that they are realizing that too, and
aren't really cold, catty, mean or insincere, but that
they are as confused as you.

You look at your job... and it is not even close to
what you thought you would be doing, or maybe you are
looking for a job and realizing that you are going to
have to start at the bottom and that scares you.

Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what
others are doing and find yourself judging more than
usual because suddenly you realize that you have
certain boundaries in your life and are constantly
adding things to your list of what is acceptable and
what isn't. One minute, you are insecure and then the
next, secure. You laugh and cry with the greatest
force of your life. You feel alone and scared and
confused. Suddenly, change is the enemy and you try
and cling on to the past with dear life, but soon
realize that the past is drifting further and further
away, and there is nothing to do but stay where you
are or move forward.

You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you
loved could do such damage to you. Or you lie in bed
and wonder why you can't meet anyone decent enough
that you want to get to know better. Or maybe you love
someone but love someone else too and cannot figure out
why you are doing this because you know that you aren't
a bad person. One night stands and random hook ups start
to look cheap. Getting wasted and acting like an idiot
starts to look pathetic.

You go through the same emotions and questions over
and over, and talk with your friends about the same
topics because you cannot seem to make a decision. You
worry about loans, money, the future and making a life
for yourself... and while winning the race would be
great, right now you'd just like to be a contender!

What you may not realize is that everyone reading this
relates to it. We are in our best of times and our worst
of times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole
thing out.

Wanted

Wanted small 1-bedroom suite for a single working female. Responsible and clean, not too much of a partier. However, not opposed to having groups of friends over for a few drinks and movies. Must be open to allowing friends come stay the night at "hotel Charlene"

I am clean not neccessarily a neat freak but not a pig either. Preferable not to share a bathroom with some random strangers who apparently has not cleaned it in a while.

Location is negotiable, as long as it is away from SFU Burnaby campus so I can get as far away from that place when I leave work as possible.

Not willing to pay an arm and leg for rent, something resonable would be nice. Trying to save money to go back to school next fall so the lower the rent the better, as long as it is not a festering dark dodgy apartment surrounded by shifty people so when I come home at night I do not fear for my life.

(I think this ad sums up some of the difficulties I have been having in trying to find a place)

Changes are everywhere

I decided to change the look of my blog, you know me and my short attention span. I think that this change is a good one. Although, I have a short attention span I am not all that fond of change in real life. Change is inevitable and there is nothing I can do about it, but at the same time I am resistant to it. I know that change equals growth and maturity and is usually viewed in a positive manner by most people, but in my juvenile way I am not always welcome to change. In some aspects of my life I think change is important but in other aspects, usually something as I view that will change to a negative manner than I want to run from it. Is this normal, do any of you feel that way?

Working girl....

I have been diligently getting up early in the morning and dragging my sorry sleepy ass onto the sky train and making it up the mountain to get myself into work before 9:00 am each morning. I have been consistently getting there early, not quite bright eyed and bushy tailed, but as eager as I can muster to be at 8:30 am, to be the bestest Executive Assistant I can be. I must admit though, that for the most part as keen as I appear to seem I am bored out of my mind. I am just not sure how I can spend 8 hours planning and scheduling someone else's life.

I am not going to complain at all about this job. There have been issues but true to my word I am thankful that there is some consistency to my life and I am doing something.

Last weekend was a long weekend in BC, coincidentally called "BC Day". I went to Seattle to visit my friend Tara who lived in Japan with me. It was nice to see her and to hang out with her before she headed back home to Minnesota. We had a chance to catch up and to reminisce about Japan. On Sunday morning we went kayaking on Lake Union. It was a spectacular day and the water was warm. We paddled around for about an hour or so and then had some lunch at this great Thai restaurant. After that we went to Discovery Park and did a short little hike down to the beach. The water was this beautiful inviting blue but in actuality freezing cold. The mighty Pacific as you would guess is not that warm. It was a nice relaxing weekend with her and then to cap it off I went shopping and bought some new shoes. Nothing like a little bit of retail therapy to feed the soul.

It was a wonderful weekend. I have been visiting all my JET friends and crashing on their couches..you never know, I just might call you up one day and say that I am coming out to your neck of the woods to sleep on your couch......be warned..

Other than work consuming the most of my day, everything else seems to be fine. I have not really made much of an effort in the apartment hunt. I am still trying to decide the exact area I want to live in and how much I can afford to pay in rent. There is a

A hunting we will go.........

I have been halfheartedly looking for a place to live. After a long day of staring at a computer all day the last thing I want to do when I get home is go on the internet and do more blank staring at the computer screen. I guess my hunt has been rather unsuccessful, seeing how I have not been really looking.

The few places I have come across have been out of my price range. However, in the Japanese way I will gambatte.

Back to Life...Back to reality

Well, I have been home for almost two weeks now...My brain however is still on vacation mode.  It wants to sleep in and not think about work, I have a hard time kick starting it in the morning.

It seems that each time I go to Toronto it gets harder and harder to leave.  With my two dozen Krispy Kreme donuts in hand, I begrudgingly walked into the airport in Toronto.  I am not sure if I got strange looks cause of the number of donuts or because I was all teary eyed and sniffly.   I felt so sad about leaving that when I went through the metal detector and it beeped, and they asked me to remove my birkenstocks, I nearly burst into tears.  It was a sorry sight to see me walking through the metal detector bare foot sniffling.   

Previously I was complaining about the fact that I was unemployed and was feeling like I was not doing anything.  Well, I am now a functioning member of society, contributing to the work force.  Albeit in a less than self-desired level.  I am not going to complain though.  I am determined to do the bestest job I can and be the bestest person I can be. 
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It is strange to be going back up to university everyday.  I spent the better part of 4 years at that place and once I graduated I never thought that I would be back there so soon.  It is some ways it is a little unsettling.  Probably attributed to the pavlovian training we endured as undergrads.  Just walking past the large lecture halls of first year Physics and Chemistry makes me cringe with fear.  I can remember the stress of sitting inside that cold fluorescent lit hall trying desperately to write as much information down as possible before my brain released all the information. 

Some days it still feels like I am a student again, when I walk into the student run coffee shop and buy my breakfast and think to myself," man this food is overpriced".   I am surrounded by these kids who are untainted by the realities of life and the lack of possibilities with just only having a silly bachelors degree.  ;)
Boy do I sound like a jaded crusty bitter old woman at the ripe old age of 26...aiya, really I am 26....

Seriously, I am happy to be employed and with that financial freedom and other travel opportunities.  I am itching to do another trip again.    There  is so much more of the world I have yet to see, I have only seen the smallest part of it.

Wedded Bliss

I finally made it to Toronto after traveling via bus, car, and train across upper New York state. I arrived in Toronto late Thurs night sitting on my butt for 5 long hours from Buffalo. I must say that I enjoyed spending time with my friend Marie and meeting her family and friends.

I arrived in Toronto to a house full of family and friends, which I would later discover to be the first of a weekend long of partying for the wedding. I was promptly introduced to everyone and welcomed into the family like their long lost sister. It was nice to be so quickly and readily accepted to be a part of the family.

We spent Friday prepping for a party for more family due to be arriving for the wedding. When I casually asked how many people were coming, I was expecting 50 at the most, but to my shock, I was told "only about 120" or so...Just a small family get together. This was only the brides family too...Uncles, aunts, cousins, second cousins, half brothers and half sisters.....I could not keep everyone straight, but was introduced to everyone among hugs and kisses.
It was a big party, with lots of food and good times. They hired African drummers to provide the music for the dancing. Little did I know that this would African dancing, let's say that it puts the lambda to shame, I have not seen so much hip gyrations and grinding in so many people at the same time. I was happy to clap along, until someone grabbed me and pulled me into the circle. I was desperately grabbing at anything to prevent humiliating myself. Alas it was futile and I had to accept my fate, so with a deep breath and a quick silent prayer, I attempted to shake my booty like there was no tomorrow. Lets say it was not pretty and not even that appealing but for the sake of the party I was willing to sacrifice my pride.

The wedding went beautifully and everyone had a lot of fun. I pulled out the good ol' dress and the healy things they call shoes, put on some make-up with my newly manicured hands, and headed out in a rolls Royce. The rolls was arriving too late for the bride to go to the ceremony so I was designated bride stand in and got to ride in the rolls to the ceremony, along with 3 cousins.

Stephi and Ken, looked so much in love and the ceremony was fun and light hearted. Everyone seemed to enjoy the wedding very much. There was a lot of personal touches, like hand made cards, wine, and personalized CD's. Their family loves to party and have a good time. Everyone was on the dance floor having a ball. Even after my previous nights humiliation, I figured that I would dance too. That of course, was helped along by some liquid courage. We danced so much that at one point we all took off our shoes and hiked up our dresses and put our sore feet in the fountain. It was an interesting sight to see a bride with her shoes off and her wedding dress hiked up with her feet in the fountain. It was so much fun to let loose and enjoy it. This has probably been one of the most enjoyable weddings I have been to.

The family has been absolutely welcoming and lovely. I was introduced as their adoptive sister/daughter and welcomed as one of their own. Of course the father having 11 siblings and the mother having 9 siblings, I have picked up a lot more uncles, aunts, and cousins, not to mention second cousins. The only problem with getting to know all of this family, they inevitably decide that they know of someone that they can set me up with to rightly marry into the family.

I am having a wonderful time in Toronto, it is nice to surrounded by such kind warm hearted people, who so quickly and unequivocally accept you as one of their own.