wicked weather

The wind is blowing so strongly, and the poor trees outside my balcony keep doing a dance that lacks a certain rhythm. Halloween always seems to be the coldest of days, and leads to all these cutely dressed kids (and adults) piling on off-costume-brand coats, scarves & mitts over their creative outfits.

Last year, I dressed as Sarah Palin. But since it was the most popular costume of the year, I had to do things a little bit differently. My suit carried price tags from Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus; I carried a shotgun & an injured stuffed-bear hand puppet. I also wore a sash to give a shout-out to her former beauty queen days, which said "Miss Guided." I passed out business cards, too, that were designed by my neighbour using a perfect red, white & blue colour scheme. My title was "Sarah Palin: hockey mom, maverick and VP hopeful." They had varying pickup lines like "Is that a rifle or are you happy to see me?" and "You can see Russia from my bedroom." They were a hit.

To top things off, my neighbour - who I can see from my balcony - dressed as Russia. Yes, the country. It was pretty awesome.

This year's costume also involves props, but it's probably going to be a little less obvious than last year's look. I'll post the details soon.

xo
lori

1, 2, 3, 4...

Tell me that you love me more.

This week involved four run-ins with current, former, near & never-to-be loves. It was a strange week and maybe the reason why I buried myself in blankets, pored over pseudo-chick-lit, and drowned my liver with just enough wine.

Two of my favourite stories go a little bit like this:

1. After three dates, boy calls to ask us "where this is going." My inability to meet up with him the weekend prior sent him online to seek ladies. He didn't know what to do about the fact that he was interested in meeting girls online, but also interested in hanging out with me. The fact that he made a date on the SAME NIGHT that he scheduled date number four with me made it easy to decide that this dude and I were done. 0 : )

2. Met a boy at a friend's event. Didn't really pay attention, but a friend of mine said "he's so nice, he's so sweet, and he was so interested." And the friend who hosted the event said, "he was asking about you." He then follows me on Twitter (oh, Twitter). Anyways, after lame dude was done (see story #1), I thought I'd throw this one a bone (why not, right?). He sent me long emails about his day, asked me lots of questions, wanted to meet for lunch and for wine tastings. Told me all about his cute dog (even sends a photo). Well, I couldn't make it to lunch, and it was for the best. Because after briefly speaking with another friend, she informs me that he's -- wait for this -- not dating girls online... but he's married. So he tells me about his dog, but not his wife? Gah, jeez.

Life is funny, right?

xo

lori

chicklets

Remember those? They were one of my favourite things to collect in my trick-or-treat bag.

These days, I'm more focused on reading books by female authors (NOT THE SAME AS CHICK LIT). OK, woah, got that?

Except I don't want to tell you the titles of said books because they sound exactly like what I said they're not. I've read two in the past four days, but think that it's doing them an injustice to lump them into that category. I learned a little bit from them, I felt good reading them, and I think that they show that the world is not so picture-perfect, neat & tidy, oh-so sweet all the time.

Today I couldn't wait until lunch so that I could read another chapter. And I couldn't wait to get home so I could read some more. My dad once told me he used to read all the time. And then he realized that he became so consumed by the stories that he couldn't do anything else. And so he just had to quit.

I think I got my father's self-restraint.

two thoughts on tuesday

Well, I had more than two thoughts today, but I’m only going to record two on the Internet:

1) When you stop and think about it, there’s something, sometimes, a bit sad about returning home to an empty apartment. Usually I turn my music on before I even notice the absolute silence, but today I thought I’d unpack my groceries and work on dinner first. And did you know there’s nothing sadder than unpacking groceries for one in silence? No one to listen to the random and cute and sometimes awkward stories from the day? This is when I miss my old roommates and floormates and family most.

2) But when the music’s on, everything seems to be OK. I think that I’ve come home and turned on The National every night since Sunday because I want to hear a man’s voice. Really, there’s something comforting about his deep vocals and haunting lyrics and really all that’s left to do is light a musky candle and I’ll be in heaven.

Oh, maybe a real-life man would also do the trick. But sometimes imagining one is easier on the heart.

xo

lori

we'll stay inside 'til somebody finds us. <3

Tonight was just for me. And it was perfect.

cute art for cold days

Hugs are best when they're warm, and you hold on tight and you feel safer than you thought possible.

Also of interest:

I made you a cookie but I eated it.

Aww... the sky is crying.

When I put my lips like this...

I feel exhausted.

They say everything happens in threes, right? Good and bad.

GOOD: Started the day with cupcakes, Smarties and a double Americano.
NOT SO GOOD: Hit the great crash of '09 around 4 o'clock.

GOOD: Had a lovely dinner with two good friends (cooked by yours truly!).
NOT SO GOOD: This happened after we drove 30 minutes to a Pilates class... to realize the instructor was not there.

GOOD: Getting back into the dating game, trying to make sense of it all again.
NOT SO GOOD: Had an awkward conversation, and this dude is cancelled.

you're pretty

Woah! Check out that tomato tower. And you know what? It's nothing compared to the tomato fest happening in my freezer right now. I started making sauce at 10:30 p.m. tonight (hello, crazy girl). It's actually the first time I've mass-produced this stuff (I think I'm at eight tupperwares), so we'll see how it goes. My, how domestic I've become.

What else is up? Spinning is still awesome, but I read this Twitter article about how you shouldn't tweet about working out because it's lame and it's just your way of saying "look e'rbody! I'm so healthy and awesome!" So maybe I shouldn't blog about it? But really, I'm typing it because I can't believe this life transformation. That I LIKE working out. That if feels GOOD. This is all new and incredible information I'm trying to process. And you know what? When I spend two nights eating pizza and drinking beer, it feels GROSS (OK, so maybe this is a less great side effect, but still...).

But... I am skipping volleyball tonight in favour of free tickets to see Metric, so, I'm not all work-out and no play. And I'm looking forward to going to my favourite bar to celebrate a friend's birthday on Friday (wee!), and I might just have a date lined up for Saturday. SO, lots is going on and I should probably get some sleep.

xo
lori

wild thing, I think I <3 you

Last night, we were kids.

We had a pizza party, complete with costumes (3 animal-print accessories, 2 cuddly chapeaus... and 1 gold crown).

Then we watched Where the Wild Things Are in the I(Max!) Theatre. Some of us snuck in special treats, some of us picked up $6 popcorn, but all of us thought the movie was pretty darn cute. My right side found it more emotional than the left, because that's where a single tear fell (just the one, I swear!).

And I didn't read the book until last week. ; )

it's a new day, michael buble

Awesome: Googling rando photos on the Interwebs.

Oh, also this blog: http://www.1000awesomethings.com/

xo!

lori

she'll be all kinds of hungover

This picture is very pretty and sunshiny and cute and mysterious. Just like me, right? 0 : )

This music sounds much the same way. Maybe with a few sad undertones. Maybe with a very sad band name.

I think I'm going to have an emo hangover tomorrow. Gross, right?

call waiting

OK. Obviously my phone doesn't look like this. But it's kind of similar. See, it's not being used. It's not ringing and it's not receiving text messages either (OK, to be fair, this one can't). But. My. Phone. Is. Not. Ringing.

Well, that's not entirely true. My friends are calling. My family's calling, too. But I'm taking them for granted right now and focusing on the one person who is not picking up his/her phone. (OK, who are we kidding? It's a "he", obvy.)

So now I'm a little bit distracted (boys can compartmentalize; girls, not so much), a little bit frustrated (at myself for being distracted) and a little bit hopeful (in that cautiously-optimistic, bracing-myself-for-a-potential-letdown kind of way, right?).

past & present

I should be getting ready for bed. I'd already be IN bed if my bedroom was like this one. I don't think I'd ever want to leave. Well, so long as I had some good books and morning coffee and fine company.

I am thinking about taking piano lessons (again). Good idea? I wonder if I am entering some sort of strange late-twentysomething life review where I return to my roots and remember and revisit all the things I used to really enjoy. Like pretending to be an athlete. And reading millions of books. And playing piano.

xo
lori

p.s. waiting on more updates before posting last post's part 2. : )

"flirtexting"

Yes, that's a real term.

I actually own a book about it.

Wait, let's start from the beginning...

***

One day, I turned 27. I celebrated my birthday in a beautiful, breezy park, and my friends compiled a gift basket filled with funny, random treats... including a little pink book called "flirtexting: how to text your way to his heart."

I laughed. My friend read aloud from it, and we all laughed. Oh, what joy it brought to that perfect summer day.

And THEN. And then.

One day I found myself in a predicament. Was I beginning to like a boy? Was he sending me - gasp! - flirtexts? Did I know what to say? Did I consult the book?

...to be continued...