A new past-time.

The people at Betsey Johnson must hate me because I love to try on their $400+ dresses without any intention of buying them. However, I do feel a little less guilty because I've managed to construct a very believable story about why I am trying on the dresses....I think it works out best for both parties. For me, I don't feel awkward about trying them on. For them, less job frustration.

The black satin dress with pencil hemline is a dream dress! One day....when the pay is good.

(Yes, my face is blurred because the dress really is the highlight of each photo).

Randomness because I'm too busy studying for the PBD exam

Can I can get hypothermia of the hands from studying?

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Funny sightings at the library:

1) I could have sworn that this guy sitting in the Gerstein cafeteria was having a nervous breakdown. He was either going to cry, or was really really sick.

2) I saw this guy being chastised by his mother (in Cantonese, "chee-seen") in the cafeteria. What was his MOM doing there?....haha....feeding him. Momma's boy.
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you self-proclaim to "enjoy lying to people convincingly" and "be demanding", then if someone else calls you manipulative and pushy, are they not dead wrong on their analysis of you?

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I, for the first time, met someone who didn't know how old he was, or when his birthday was?!?! That is so absolutely messed up. It wasn't like he was old and was trying to conceal his age; he sincerely did not know when his birthday was.

HAIR!

Ben: 'Rogaine is relief.'
Me: Isn't that Rolaids?

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Wouldn't it be awesome if men balded along the sides rather than on top -- for instance, if male patterned baldness was the negative image of a full blown receded hairline. It would just look like a mohawk! Somehow mohawks are aesthetically pleasing and very trendy these days. Brilliant!

Dundas Square transformed - Beyonce Concert

Beyonce on the jumbo screen.

Tons of people in the crowd.

Ian, Alex, Hanna and me post-concert.

Triathalon

Concierge #5: Are you going to school today? (looks me up and down) Very nice.

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I think my body has finally recovered from all of the physical activity. This weekend was a triathalon. It started off with volleyball for 3.5 hours on Friday evening, then frisbee for 4 hours on Saturday afternoon, topped off with softball for 4 hours on Sunday. What a lovely weekend in terms of weather as well. It has been a while since I've been outdoors for such an extended period of time while the weather was this great. The only significant result of the weekend was that we made it to the semis in softball (we joined up with the Music Faculty) and beat Dentistry in the process. Man did that ever feel good....those dentists were mighty arrogant! Then after they lost, this gangsta guy on the other team handed out these flyers for their ProFac event at Afterlife (again!). Some of the Music folk were annoyed because the flyer specifically says which faculty are invited. "We're not even invited! What a jerk!" exclaimed someone on the Music team hahaha.

I also really wanted to fight this guy on the opposing frisbee team who ploughed me down like he was a zamboni and I was crushed ice. He was a big guy, probably 200 lbs, and we called him Mr. Clean because he had a bald head, beady and eyes, and was muscular. He didn't even say sorry, but instead, called a pick on me! I remember what you look like buddy, I'll see you in the OR.

I had this discussion with Warren about whether or not I am a tomboy because I am a sporty girl. This was his initial impression of me when we first met. But we both came to agreement that I'm not a tomboy, nor am I a girly girl, but somewhere in between.

We coined a new term to describe myself: Lesley-boy.

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Here are impressions that other friends have of me:
I had a conversation with Ashton at volleyball on Friday. I had asked him if he thought I was taller than another girl who was playing. He said, "I'm not sure about that but I think you could take her in a fight. In fact, I think you could take me in a fight (Ashton is 6'5" 200+ lbs). That doesn't detract from your femininity at all though."

Adina at the Jays game yesterday: "I'm going to be totally honest, and I hope Lesley doesn't take offense to this in anyway, but she could eat more than any of us (3 co-workers) at lunch. She can eat any one of us under the table."

Touche.

Celebs coming out of my...

This last week has been amazing. I love the start of school. I wish that it could be the start of school every 2 or 3 months. It feels so fresh. No real stresses or worries for the first couple of weeks and in the mean time I've been able to do a lot of things outside of classes, seminars and clinical courses. It almost feels like undergrad again...almost.

Most notably, I went to a few films for the Toronto International Film Festival this year. Even though it took a lot of planning, in the end it was well worth it! The experience this year was much better than last year - I saw Black Sun, a doc about a French painter who lost his sight when he was mugged in NY. If you can imagine, the movie was told from his perspective so most of the movie was filmed as blurred images. I tried so hard to resist sleeping, but it was inevitable!I saw three movies this year, and even though they are due to be released in theatres soon, it was an adventure that I would for sure want to repeat next year. Plus I got to see some celebs. I think it is celebs week for me. I am fortunate to be living near the Sutton Place where they have hordes of press conferences. I happened to be walking by when a whole bunch of people were gathering on the side-walk. Then I saw people running from the side-door to the front-door and back again. Something was definitely stirring, so I hung around for about 5 minutes and then some truck/SUVs with tinted windows pulled up to the hotel. Then the door opened and people were swarming someone - it was apparently Sean Penn, whom I did not get a chance to see. Then out came Kate Winslet. I tried in desperation to get out my camera phone, but alas...not enough memory to take a photo ?!? (Thanks sis for taking those random photos on my phone). Anyhow I was so close to her...like 6 feet away. Even though I felt like one of those paparazzi's, it was kind of fun. I think I can see the appeal in it hehehe. Oh I also saw James Gandolfini. AND, at the screening of Stranger Than Fiction, Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson and Will Ferrell were there. So cool!

I would recommend seeing all of the movies I went to. Watching The Last Kiss was a bit disturbing though. It got me pretty worked up. Arg! All you lame-o men, get your act together.

I liked Babel. I liked that Brad Pitt's role didn't take over the entire film. It was interesting to see how the separate stories were all interwoven.

Stranger Than Fiction was probably my least favourite movie. It was a bit boring at times and I didn't really like Dustin Hoffman's part, but the concept was hilarious.

On another celeb note, Beyonce and John Mayer are in town for free concerts at Dundas Square....I think I will try to go in order to round off Celebs week.

Thanks coach

I got my hair cut last week. Guess what? Nobody noticed hahahaha. What a bummer. When I went in, I just asked the stylist to do whatever he felt like doing and he suggested keeping it long, which I think was good, but he would just change the style. I think he did a pretty good job of it. Anyway, it was actually one of the first haircuts that I've gotten where I actually felt really good coming out of the salon. Usually it takes a couple of days before I start to like it. I think it's just that I can't style it properly. Either I don't have the right tools or it would just take too long to blow dry my hair like that every day.

I had an interesting conversation with the stylist (B) while I was getting my hair cut. I found out that he used to cut at a place in London called Entreznous, a salon that I have been to before. He said he hated it, felt like he was someone's slave child. Haha, I can believe it. Then I found out that he has this alter life in which he aspires to be a life coach. A life coach? To which he replied that it's someone who coaches someone else's life. No kidding. OK then he was telling me that a life coach is hired to help someone realize their goals, however small they may be, or to gain answers and to overcome personal barriers.

Ah...now this I can understand. I can see the validity in it. Many people struggle with their so-called demons and hit road blocks in life's trials. Probably the majority of people could use a sensible third party to help them to find answers within themselves. B said that we all have our "inner gremlins", the voices in our heads that tell us we aren't good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, and that we need to re-learn the way that we look at ourselves. This is also true...but "inner gremlins"....straight out of the course manual!! So funny. There is a life coaching school or college that teaches people how to become life coaches and learn socratic questioning, a line of questioning that makes one find the answers to his/her own problems.

I wonder how many people have life coaches. Famous and high profile people must have them. I think they do.

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If I had a penny for every time someone thought about me or talked about me, would I be rich or poor?

Professional what?

Oh my, Friday night was sooo fun. The first big event of the year. It was the Pro-Fac event where all the professional students get together for a big party. It was at Afterlife Nightclub - I think it was the same club that I pointed out to my friends, while driving past in a car, that it looked like a place that would have foam parties. I later found out that people had been both stabbed and shot at this club. Whoa, so much drama (is this evening going to be exciting or what?). This is not the ideal venue that I would like to go to, but at least we knew the majority of the people there *should* be professional people and would not be wanting a criminal record after this event.

Anyhow, I had a blast with Natasha and Adina. Trying to help Natasha hook up and keeping Adina company when her heels started killing. Annie, pointing out the leopard underwear worn by hoochie mommas dancing (having sex) on the platform - are these girls supposed to be professionals? Oversexed guys, not dancing, but standing on the dance floor just to oggle the gals. An all-around drunken debauchery. I know this probably doesn't sound fun, but it actually was!

That's all I've got to say about that!

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Natasha: Mmmm, Malcolm.
Tom: Mmmm, Hedgcock.
Natasha: Mmmm, Cock.

Love ya, miss ya.

I miss sports. OK I miss varsity/organized sports.

I miss the competition, the willingness to work hard as a team for a common goal (except for those deviants who don't have the team's best interest at heart ie. Marcus, Kirsten).
I miss the thrill and the rush of adrenaline when it's time to perform.
I miss trying extra hard because you know you have to impress someone.
I miss drills and sweating your ass off.
I miss warm-ups and preparations for a game.
I miss the feeling as if your legs are going to fall off.
I miss wall-sits.
I miss try-outs (can never do more push-ups than at try-outs), fitness testing and skill testing.
I miss sore muscles.
I miss looking forward to practice after school.
I miss missing class for tournaments.
I miss reading about your team in media coverage.
I miss uniforms.
I miss doing stupid things at practice when you should be practicing.
I miss hanging out at the gym.
I miss buying sports equipment.
I miss getting access to a gym.
I miss making fun of the frat basketball teams.
I miss wearing my winter jacket to play a ball game.
I miss road trips (the ones where I'm not driving..tendency to get speeding tickets).
I miss the nervous feeling in my stomach.
I miss the cheering.
I miss giving the other team the evil eye.
I miss joking about people on the other team.
I miss the reactions of people who underestimate me.
I miss Coach Pete's endless enthusiasm.
I miss stats.
I miss contraversy.
I miss seeing the progress over time.
I miss feeling fit.
I miss drunken team parties.
I miss sleepless night-befores.
I miss being so busy that I can't remember what sport I should be playing.
I miss that old me.
I miss much much more.

The reality is that I am too old for it. My priorities have changed. I can't afford the physical time, nor the emotional or mental time in playing varsity. I love to play, but I think that era of my life has come to an end, for which I mourn, but can accept. I contemplated playing for about 10 minutes. It was exactly like the moment I had 2 years ago when at Western. I weighed the pros and the cons, my desire to play, and how I would handle the time commitment. The desire to play is still there, but the wilingness to commit has cooled. How different my decision is now compared to then. I never regretted playing, even when I couldn't keep track of the days.

For now, I'll do the best I can to stay in touch.

Oh so trendy.

As the season changes from summer to fall, there is a noticeable emphasis on fashion trends and changes. Thinking about the trends right now, I can't understand what is going on with some fashion trends. It is true that trends come into and out of vogue in cyclical fashion. Some trends that have been revisited recently are leggings and tapered jeans/pants.

I am all for fashion changing, and if need be, going away for a while into hibernation and updated and recreated at a later date. But there are just some bad ideas that no matter what you do to it, should never come back. Leggings are brought forth into the 21st century by wearing skirts or long shirts over top of them. Tapered jeans are now low-waisted. These are two examples of things that should only be worn by the fashion elite, ie. as a creation borne out of the crazy minds of fashion designers, only to be seen on runways, and never to be interpreted for mainstream retail consumption. These two trends must die!

Another fashion movement that I don't get. Emo. I can't figure out what type of image a guy dressed in low-rise tapered women's jeans with a tight tucked t-shirt and mohawk is trying to convey. And what woman finds this attractive? I'm so confused. My friend informed me that Emo is a hybrid of punk and women's fashion. Huh?!? *puke*

I went through a few different fashion phases - sweat pants and t-shirts, salvation army/thrift wardrobe, clubby-wear, casual/sporty and professional/sophisticated. I've tried to be creative and unique in the clothes that I chose. At this point, I think that my taste in fashion has pretty much stabilized to the point where I know the things that I like. I'm not ready to go through another image overhaul, and this pretty much reflects that I am happy with where I am.

Some other male trends of note in recent times:
Pink shirts - is it still trendy, or is it mainstream now?
Long hair - thank goodness guys don't look like gelled clones of each other anymore. But who thought that the mullet was cool all of the sudden?
Popped collar - only some guys can pull this off b/c one can look as though he is trying too hard with this style.
Blazer - love this trend. This one can stay.
Designer jeans - Can I be a guy for a day so I can wear men's jeans?

I once aspired to dabbling in fashion design, but I think at this point, I'd be a bit too close-minded to "stay trendy". I'd probably have to specialize in a type of garment (dresses, undergarments)! I suppose for now, I will just have to spent my hard-earned money on what other people decide is in fashion. I guess I'll be saving quite a bit of money by not latching on to the tapered trend!

Dum, dum, dum-dum...all dressed in white.

Amanda's wedding this weekend was fabulous. I should also add that it was the anniversary of my parents' wedding as well. 34 years baby! Mom, Dad, I'm so proud of you hehe. And to think, I almost wasn't born...

Anyhow, the completion of my outfit came together the week before the wedding. I got a great pair of shoes to match my dress, a beautiful necklace and bracelet set and then I got my nails done as well. The day of the wedding, I went with Amanda to get our hair and make-up done. The make-up was stellar, but my hair could have been better. That's what happens when you don't prepare by choosing a style prior to getting your hair done. It's hard being such a girlie girl. Hair, make-up, nails, hair, shoes, accessories, dress, shall! I can only afford to do it once in a while, literally. It all turned out well though. Will post pics soon. I might also add, that the colour scheme was super-duper. Pink, orange and peach. Whoa, it was so much better than I expected...and all based on my dress too!

For most of the week I was a bit too pre-occupied with writing a speech. I was really worried about it because my one friends told me a story of how he heard a wedding speech from a guy who thought he could wing it, but he totally bombed instead. This was the one thing he really remembered about that wedding. I didn't want to be that person. So I toiled and toiled...I thought about how I wanted to approach it. Someone told me to speak from the heart...I tried that for a bit, but it seemed to be too serious. Admittedly, I don't know too much about the groom, so someone else suggested that I just talk mostly about the bride. But then I found out at the rehearsal dinner that the best man didn't want to speak. Dilemma.

I ended up remembering anecdotal things and somehow it turned into a really light and funny speech when it was all said and done. I was still writing it 2 hours before the wedding. But it turned out well, and I got a great response. Phew. Don't want to do that again.

The wedding was short and sweet though - the way a wedding should be. It was an afternoon wedding with less than 50 guests. A short reception followed, during which we had speeches, cut the cake, played a couple of games and had the bouquet toss (I didn't catch it).

This whole wedding thing was fun and interesting, but I'm also glad that it's over. Just the planning alone is enough to give you grey hairs and the potential cost can be daunting.

I think I'm going to elope.