It's Monday again and I am trying to get back into the swing of things. Karaoke was loads of fun (nobody's ears were bleeding by the time we finished) and, afterwards, we ended up going out to a club. For those of you who have never visited here, clubs in this city are really sad. However, despite that fact, we managed to have an awesome time which is probably the reason that I am wondering why the weekend couldn't have been longer.

Today, I am returning to better eating patterns for a while. No processed foods, no wheat products, no sugar, no caffeine and no read meat. I think that is why I feel a bit sluggish especially after this weekend.

I suppose that this is why my friend forwarded me a link over the weekend. You may have already seen it but it was the first time for me to view it. So, don your sunglasses and enter The Meatrix.

I dislike cigarettes and cigarette smoke. That odour has just wafted by me in this cybercafe called Stain.

I think it's time to leave here...

I will be thinking of you when I am on stage tonight at the Karaoke party. Has anyone out there got any requests? If the songs are available, I will sing whatever you like and hopefully no one's ears are bleeding by the time I am done.

I hope that you have as much fun as I will tonight torturing people with that annoying Barbie song that Aqua sings...

Hey Everyone! It's Friday!

I've made some decisions about life over the last couple of days that aren't really earth-shattering but has reminded me that life is too short to piss it away. Watch for my "debut", will you?

On the music front, it appears that Jamiroquai is set to release a new album and embark on a world tour. That's so cool! I have this dream that one day Jay Kay would produce an album of me singing. Something funky. Others I would consider as producers are Towa Tei, or maybe even David Sylvian (although that wouldn't be a dance album...)

Speaking of singing, I will be co-hosting a Karaoke party tomorrow night. I should do that every month. I have always wanted to be a party hostess! I was thinking of developing a persona like those of the photo shoot for episode 11 of ANTM. I even spotted a pink wig that I wanted in a wig shop in Vancouver.

I like wigs. One can change their hairstyle and colour without all of the chemical damage.

So, whatever you do, live life to the fullest this weekend. Like you should do every day!

(And note to David... that was the point of the calendar. Get yourselves over here soon!)

It appears that Jenna Jameson's ringtones would outdo the tone that I would like that yells "F#@& you!"

Which would you rather have? Jenna's or mine?

I'm really amused with what the guy in New York said...

Men are so amusing in their obviousness sometimes...

The other day, I was on a bus going into town and the most amusing scene played out in front of me. Four young people got on the bus together - two being girls that were dressed way too warm for the weather. One of them had a short pink skirt and a white top and the other had these tight jeans and a tank top. Both were decked out in make-up and their hair was in top form too. I thought them to be around 16 but they might have been as young as 13. Who knows nowadays...

That's not what kept me so amused though.

At a later stop, a guy in his twenties or maybe thirties got onto the bus. He was talking on his mobile phone but he just couldn't stop turning his head and checking them out. He smiled when he looked at them. All the while, he was talking on his phone and looking over at them. He did this about thirty times in the five minutes that he was on the bus.

I was sitting at the back of the bus and watching this. I was really amused that he probably thought that no one noticed him. Those girls certainly didn't because he was trying to be really sneaky about it and they were too caught up in interaction with the two boys that they boarded the bus with. He was being so obvious, despite his stealthy attempts at looking at them.

I was tempted to stand up and say something loudly enough that everyone could hear. I resisted though because I just thought that he was kind of pathetic.

People are funny sometimes, don't you think?

Hey Everyone! I haven't much to say today but just wanted to check out who was dropping by my blog.

Would you be so kind as to leave a comment with your name, where you are located and what is new with you? The information won't be sold to anyone, I am just interested in knowing.

Actually, it was this post by Gunnella at Xanth.is that got me thinking about this subject...

Does anyone out there remember Siobhan Fahey of Banarama? I just came upon her website and found it very interesting. It would be possible to spend hours on it and the links attached to it.

I always thought that she was the most interesting of the original members. And it is inspiring that at 43, she is still out there and collaborating with amazing artists.

There is hope for me yet!

Is it true that January 24 is the most depressing day of the year?

What an interesting weekend. I started it all off with a yoga class that was higher level than usual. It really was good for me but I certainly felt it the next day. I cannot wait for my next class on Wednesday.

I actually had a chance to talk to the guy at the cafe and must say that I don't know why I was so nervous about talking to him. Nice with a possible penchant for older women. Or, maybe he just likes to talk to all women.

I have a male friend from the Mediterranean who loves all women as well. It is refreshing for men to have that quality however, I also feel that it would be difficult to be in a relationship with a man like this. You know, always attentive to all women...

In other news, I have sworn off food for a couple of days. I, kind of, overindulged on the weekend...

Some people are just plain rude...

I got a call on my mobile today and should have known better than to answer a number that I didn't recognize. It was a guy that I am no longer in contact with because of his untruths and he called, apparently thinking that I was his friend Christie. I am hoping that it was simply a mistake and that it wasn't a pathetic attempt to get into contact with me again.

I wouldn't have had a problem with it except that when he found out that he'd made a mistake, he didn't apologize. Instead he exclaimed "Oh shit" and upon hearing that, I hung up not having the patience to put up with such rudeness. This kind of behaviour is just unacceptable.

What is wrong with people anyway? Just apologize...even if you aren't even on friendly terms...

Two words. Cougar hunter.

I am not 100% sure but the mystery guy might be one...

Part Two:

It's later in the day and I will soon be off to my second yoga class of 2005. My first class was last Wednesday and, although I am still feeling a few of the after effects, it felt pretty good to get back into it. It had been almost two months since I took a class.

The instructor that we had earlier this week is the usual one and he certainly put the rookies through their paces. I felt a little bit of strain during the class so one can only imagine what everyone else is feeling like. The instructor picked one of the more brutal sets and I am sure he does this just to weed those out that are not ready for it. I am sure he is amused to himself when he does this.

Tonight, I will have another instructor who I have yet to find out anything about. I wonder if her classes are any more strenous? Whatever the level, I am sure that I can handle it. Caffeine and all.

From caffeine, let's move on to coffee shops.

Over the course of the last week, I have met the most interesting individual. Actually, I am not really sure he is interesting yet as I have barely spoken a full sentence to him. Regardless, I will share the experience with you.

About a week ago, I was sitting in a coffee shop, minding my own business and writing a letter (yes, I still write conventional letters) to my friend in Japan. One table over from me was this guy in his mid to late twenties, typing on his iBook. The first thing I noticed was the computer, and then I noticed that he was pretty well-dressed (in black) and that he looked pretty cool.

I went back to writing my letter.

A little later, he got up from his chair - which was quite a challenge as he appeared to have difficulty walking (an accident perhaps) after putting his computer away (I was still drooling over the thing) and he headed for the lavatory. I didn't think anything of it except for the fact that someone with a disability appeared to not let that difficulty get in his way. I thought that the coolest thing of all!

I was surprised by him later as he stopped to talk to me, in a rather slurred voice (could have been from an accident or some illness) on the way back to his table. He asked me if I was writing down my deep, dark secrets to which I replied that it was only a letter. He laughed and said something about it being only shallow secrets...

My friends came in shortly after that but I got this distinct feeling that he was hitting on me. Weird, I thought, as he was probably half my age and because it's been a while since something like this had happened (Does he have any idea how old I might be?). And I have kind of forgotten what it was like. I could still be wrong about it but not a big deal if I am.

Since then, every time I go there he is there and he always says hello. Last night, I was there with a young, gay friend who said that he thought that this guy was cute.

I have been intrigued ever since.

I suppose that the next time that I see him, I will have to actually talk with him. I will keep you posted on the situation.

If you are interested, that is...

Part One:

I am extremely caffeinated. I slept only about five hours and feel like I have a hangover - without having consumed any alcohol. I almost missed my bus this morning even though I woke up an hour early.

It's certainly going to be a challenging day!

The Rewrite

The weather we've been having here recently is quite erratic to say the least. In the past three weeks there has been snow, wind, very low temperatures (including a windchill factor) and torrential downpours of rain. It's a little strange how the temperature has been fluctuating so much...

People who live in Canada, and especially those on the westcoast, are sometimes amused but usually annoyed by those who assume that we live with snow all year round. In my corner of Canada, we have the most moderate weather, but for the most part this country has all of the four seasons.

In the mid-Eighties, while travelling in Europe, I met a young man and woman (siblings) from NYC that asked my friend and I if we lived in igloos. Shocked and amazed that someone who lived in proximity to Canada would ask such a question, we decided that instead of straightening them out, we would tell them that we did. Just for good measure, we also told them that we travelled everywhere by dog sled. These same people asked us why Canadians would not consider joining the United States of America (I bet they are kicking themselves now)

I digress...

The snowfall that we had in early January, led to cold temperatures with an accompanying windchill factor, to more snow and freezing rain. I was sure that we were stuck with the white stuff and then, to my pleasant surprise, it began to rain. It was not just an ordinary rainfall, as there was minor flooding and mudslides in some of the outlying areas.

We had the interesting experience, as well, of mist due to the rains pelting the remainder of the snow as it lay on the ground. All of the low-lying levels were covered in a fine mist for a couple of days. It was really quite magical!

I love rain and especially storms. It is these stormy times that I wish I were in a cabin near Long Beach or Tofino watching the whole thing happen. It reminds me of the power of nature and the smallness of people in the big picture of things. We have neither the strength or the true intelligence that it would take to conquer her. Nature is a truly awesome force.

Our unusual snowfall and cold weather has some, including myself, thinking that the effects of global warming are upon us. I think that, instead of being an anomaly, this increased presence of cold weather is going to be the norm. We can be a truly selfish, waste-producing race.

I don't want to be the queen of doom and gloom because I have actually enjoyed the effects of the rain. Most people don't like it but in me it awakens a sense of awe.

What about you?

I was in the process of writing about the weather but when it was being published, there was a blogger site failure. Subsequently, I lost the post.

Haven't much time right now so will have to attempt it later.

Okay, now I think I've heard everything. It appears that the Pentagon had the idea to create an aphrodisiac that would spur homosexual activity amongst the enemy. They later gave up on the plan.

Tell me, what's with that? What did they hope to accomplish besides looking stupid? Did they think that the enemy would partake in same-sex sexual acts and then commit suicide because of it? Or, did they think that if they all became homosexual that there would be no more children thus killing of the enemy's ancestral lines?

And most importantly, how do you "create" homosexuals? Don't these people know that it's genetic and not chosen?

These people are just so pathetically stupid...

In November, my friend's mother from Japan brought some omiyage for me that was a relatively new product from Shiseido which was called Kiryo Hand Treatment. I am generally very careful with these types of products as I have really sensitive skin however, I found this to be an amazing gentle product.

I tried to do some checking on the net about it but as this machine has no function to read the characters but managed to find out the this was part of Shiseido's more natural ingredient line. Last month, I went to visit my friend and while working at her restaurant and she asked it had bothered to slog through the Japanese information brochure to check out the ingredients. I knew that it had vitamin E in it so I thought that is why it was working.

I told her that I hadn't had time to get the old dictionary out to check it out which was followed by her telling me that there was essence of urine in it. My first reaction was to cringe but then I remembered that while studying makeup a while back that essence meant a very low content. Amused with this, I then asked her if this is perhaps not a suitable product to be using while working in the restaurant.

I remember watching an episode of CSI entitled Crow's Feet in which women were trying to stop aging. In this episode, there was mention of Urine Therapy in which women drank urine to stay young. Personally, I think that I would have a hard time doing that. It's funny what some people will do to look young.

Funny, the hand cream doesn't really affect me at all. It's a great product and I will use it until it is finished up.

Rasmus at Acutecut has a brilliant idea. He has challenged himself to take three photos a day.

What a great idea to be inspired even though you feel that you don't have enough time in a day to be creative. I plan to start tomorrow.

Anyone else out there interested?

The weatherman (or meteorologist, in my case) is threatening us with snow yet again! I don't know about you, but I am not really fond of the white stuff especially here, in Victoria. We are never prepared for this kind of weather.

For example, when the roads are slippery, those foolish enough to drive figure the speed limits are to be adhered to at all times. Instead of slowing down and being cautious, they just barrel down the streets with no consideration for the bad conditions. They shouldn't even be in their cars!

Do you have snow in your part of the world? Tell us about it!

While stuck in the house on the weekend, due to snow, I finally got a chance to see The Secret Policeman, a documentary shown on the BBC last year.

I must say that I was horrified of the attitudes of those who were guilty of demonstrating their racist attitudes, especially the guy who was policing in Wales (sorry, I cannot remember his name). Using a person's skin colour to decide what kind of penalty he should be given is unforgiveable. Everyone should be fined according to their offense regardless of what they look like!

The thing that sickened me the most was the comment that said something like "even though they were born here, they will always be a Paki". Paki? I bet the idiot doesn't know what the difference between Pakistan and India is.

I believe that those people who believe that all people of colour are criminals fail to notice that just as many whites are committing crimes involving drugs and violence. Even in the UK. It is a nation of people who are taxed to death and that still has a very prevalent class system and has a cost of living higher than Canada which makes it difficult for the average family to survive. The presence these things would make it possible for white people as well as those of colour to turn to a life of crime.

I know that things that one does not understand makes them fearful. So does change. However, let's realize that without change, we would still be living in caves having to forage for food.

I think there are many out there who know the system is not really working. I don't know what the answer is except that people should be treated equally no matter what their heritage. Ignorance is not the answer.

I am lucky enough to live in a place with a diverse population. I have been exposed to many cultures due to my travels and my geography and I am proud of it. I have met a few unscrupulous people everywhere but I have met more that are totally brilliant and inspiring as well. There are jerks in every culture and I choose not to have them in my life but I also have been lucky enough to expand my boundaries meeting those who I am happy to call friends.

Let's face it, we are all the same colour on the inside...

I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy New Year. I hope that you have a healthy and prosperous 2005.

I haven't much time to post today but wanted to say thanks to everyone for reading my little corner of cyberspace for the past while. I would also welcome anyone who would like to link to this sight, including nix who was kind enough to ask.

Ciao everyone and hope to talk with you again soon!