*Ya know...*
You know you're in trouble when...
- Your suitcase weighs 10 times your body weight
- You've accumulated that much on just a 5 day trip
- The weight is ALL due to food
- Half the suitcase is filled with EZ-Mac (Macaroni and Cheese)
Sarah's convinced I have enough food to feed an entire village in Africa for a year. Hey... at least I got it all to fit in my suitcase! But... I can't lift the darn thing.
It's sad... I'm leaving tomorrow. I don't want to go, but yet... I do. I miss New York though. I guess when it comes down to it all... I love New York. Eh... I'm torn... I love both Toronto and New York... but I miss my after dinner walks and activities in the Big Apple... Can't wait to go back!~

*Schnow*
Ooooh... It's snowing! It's so beautiful! It's like Christmas card land... Lotsa accidents on the road. Driving from Etobicoke back to North York, we must've encountered at least 8 cars that were run off the road, or had piled up in the middle of the road. It's still pretty though...
I miss snow... I LOVE snow! I can't wait to get back to New York and see the city all covered in SNOW! Oooh... how pretty!
I wonder if it's snowing down there too??~

*Back Home*
It's good to back in good ol' Canada. The weather's crappy now, but I got to see the stars last night. I miss the cleanliness and the familiarity of this place. I miss the FOOD! I got to have my one of my favourite Chinese dishes last night... yum!
It's going to be leisure shopping day today... I get to go to my 2 favourite Canadian stores today! Jacob and... CostCo! I have to pick up "canadiana" for my students... I guess CostCo's the place to go for Maple products???? Dunno...
Right... Time to get going. I love Canada! But I also do miss New York. There's NOTHING to do here after dinner! I miss my after dinner walks... *pout*~

*Phew*
I'm done! I'm DONE!
That project took WAY too long to do. But then... I could never work unless I was under immense pressure anyways...
I have 3 hours now to shower, clean my room AND pack for Toronto... I wasn't sure I could make it HOME this weekend, seeing my project was far from being complete...
Urgh... I'm looking at my project now, and it seems really thin. I don't even know how many "points" I had to highlight. Grrr... anyways... I'm done... I don't want to fret anymore.
Crap... I've got a stack of laundry to do too before I take off... I need hired help... *scream*
Right... I'm off to get myself cleaned up now... Toronto, here I come!~

*Bloody Transcriptions*
I have 5 pages full of bloody "gloss" transcript now... I now have to transcribe the whole thing into the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet)... I've done half a page so far, and it looks like I have a pageful of scribbles and pig-latin. Why did I ever decide to study Linguistics??!?!?? For the life of me... I can't remember what possessed me to apply for this program... grrrr....
I'm SO not ready for my trip to Toronto. I haven't packed my bags and I haven't arranged for a car service for the airport... I guess since it's just Toronto, I can just hop onto a plane with my passport and the clothes on my back and just wear what I find in my sister's closet (that's what sisters are for, right Sarah??). I heard that it's snowing there in Toronto... I wish it would start snowing here in Manhattan... It just doesn't seem very "New York" without the snow falling on the city while you're standing at Rockefeller...
Anyways... back to my nightmare of a project. I'd better be done by my next post...~

*Toast*
Uh... I know some of you are expecting me in the city (Toronto!) early this (Tuesday) morning... Unfortunately, it's not happening. I haven't finished my bloody project yet, and the minutes are ticking away... I've got to get my ass in gear.
I'm DEFINITELY coming up though, and depending on how long it takes for me to finish this thing, I won't know which flight I'll be on yet... For SURE though, I'll be in Toronto by 4:30pm on Wednesday afternoon.
Uck... I hate this... I HATE HOMEWORK!~

*Addicted*
I'm addicted to a good many things. Current addictions include: eating out, chatting with friends, chilling with friends, bar-hopping, drinking and shopping. The worst part of the addiction isn't the money part (I don't really spend that much, which is surprising), the worst part is... these addictions are completely incompatible with my studies. Fortunately though, my studies hasn't suffered and I've been able to schedule my activities around school (and school work), but I know I have to curb my habits... but I've found a really nice group of friends here and it's so nice to hang out with them. It's so strange how people can be SO different here than people in HK. I love NYC!
I must go to bed. Gotta get some work done in the morning before going out and catching up with a friend in the afternoon. I seriously encourage y'all to come and visit me in the city! It's so nice here!~

*Scheiss*
I'm trying to relieve stress... unfortunately, it's in the form of going out... and for the 3rd night in a row... I'm going out...
Oh well, we live but once... and we're going to another super-hip Manhattan night spot tonight, so what the heck? My phonology project is on hold for now... and so is the assignment due on Monday. At least I don't have to teach next week! Woohoo!
Yay for NYC! Yay for night-life!~

*Surprise!*
So?? Whaddya think?
I'm still working on the page. The archives link isn't up and running yet... and I still need to fiddle around with a couple of things, but I think this page really reflects my personality now! Woohoo!
I've had a really lovely 2 days so far. The weather has been SUPER! It's so warm! It feels like summer...
I woke up with a bruise on my inner-thigh yesterday, and I had no idea how I got it... until my friend told me I was apparently Pole-Dancing on the subway the previous night... Only in NYC!
Oh! Another friend is getting married! Yay! I can actually make it to this wedding... and I'm super excited! I'm the designated "loaner"... I'm in charge of loaning her the "something borrowed"... I'm still deciding on what to loan her though... hmmm... This marriage fills up my quota for December, so... NO ONE get engaged or married until January, ok??
Right... I'm going to try and catch some shut-eye before going out to a Football game this afternoon. Ta!~

*Oops...*
NOT a good idea to reply to emails in your inbox when you're drunk... I just got 2 emails back asking me "What the *#$& are you talking about??". Sorry people... but at least I replied to your email!
Proud of myself today... Despite my late night last night, I made it to the gym! I'm starting my 4th week of training now, and the running's getting easier. I'm actually running more and better than I did when I was younger! How awesome is that?
Right... must go... I've gotta head down to SoHo. Hope all's well out there!~

*You know you're drunk when...*
Hee hee.... Hee hee...
I had such a cool night! Woohoo! This is probably going to end up being incoherent... but... eh... what the heck??!?!?!?
I have so much fun tonight... Unfortunately... I think I gave someone a black eye... We're not going to know until tomorrow. Oops... I'm SO SORRY! I'm going to buy you candy to make up for it... is that alright??
Anyhoo... We went out for drinks tonight. The bars we went to were SO NICE! It was SO NEW YORK! We went to Anju, The Coral Room (Real Mermaid and all!) and we ended up at the Underbar at the W Hotel at Union Square... SO COOL THERE!
I think it was the combination of great bars and good friends (oh... and the booze) that lifted my spirits. School is getting to me, and my break next week is MUCH anticipated. I'm seriously worn out by all the assignments and teaching I've had to do this semester. I don't mind the assignments, but the teaching... is really getting to me. I don't think I want to teach again for a very long time...
Right... I had loads of fun, and THANK YOU to my friends (that I dragged out tonight 'til the wee hours of the morning). Aishiteru! We have to hang out again sometime!
*SMOOOOOOOCH*~

*Who's the cry-baby??*
Who? Me? No.... way...
Yeah. I'm the one who cried while watching "Monster's INC" - TWICE! I'm also the one who cried within 10 minutes of watching "Finding Nemo"... and I still haven't been able to watch the whole movie because the beginning makes me so sad. And tonight... I cried while watching my new favourite TV show - "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy". I was watching a back-episode, one that I missed and have always wanted to watch (episode 107)... and the guy proposes to his gal. It was such a beautiful moment... and to see the guy get all flustered and become a total wreck... It was really sweet.
Yeah... I'm "sentimental"... Maybe a little too much for my own good.~

*On another note...*
My mummy wrote me a really nice e-mail today. She and my Dad are starting to ease up on me, and it feels nice. I actually feel like they're more supportive this way, rather than placing a lot of expectations on me and telling me so (like they did before).
It's at times like these that I wish I didn't have such a rocky childhood relationship with my mum. I guess she's not so bad afterall.~

*Je suis Vampire...*
Uh... I think I'm in a little trouble. I completely missed daylight today. I went to bed at 6am... and I got up at 4pm... and the sun was already pretty much gone.
My sleep schedule has been SO off lately. And 'cause I can't get my friggin' sleep schedule straightened out... I haven't been as productive as I could be.
My room feels like HELL. I really mean it. The bloody radiator valve is off, but my room still heats up like an oven. The radiator gives me so many problems. Just the other day, it went beserk and initially started spitting BOILING hot water out of the steam valve... It then proceeded to drip like a leaky tap... before running full on... causing my room to FLOOD with boiling AND steaming hot water. Knowing me... y'all know what I would do in a situation like this.... I just screamed my head off at the bloody radiator, "oh-my-god"-ed and cursed for a good 10 minutes from the opposite corner of my room, while hurling all my towels and sheets at it to soak up the steaming pool in my room (my SHOES!).
I finally managed to pave a way to my phone, and called the emergency maintenance dude... He came up and he joked about how I have my own sauna and steam room now... I was NOT impressed... Uh, yeah... I think he caught on to that too...
Right... time to get down to work. I'm a little worried about my Phonology project... My friend appears to be finished... I have yet to audiotape my subject... yikes...~

*Omigosh*...
I just learned that a childhood friend of mine just got married... MARRIED! Why is everyone around me getting married? Am I missing something?????? If I count up the engagements and weddings of my friends in the past 6 months... that's 5 weddings and engagements... FIVE! That's like... averaging 1 a month! Sheesh... It's actually freaky... at this rate... my number may be coming up sooner than I thought... maybe??~

*Awesome*
Despite "crunch time"... I'm still keeping up with my training for the marathon.
I made it PAST the time Mark told me to run for... and I didn't even have trouble breathing! If I didn't have to jump off the treadmill for the next person, I think I could've kept going! I even biked another 25 minutes after my run! It was so awesome... I think I may actually be able to run the qualifying time in the half-marathon by March! So cool! Who knew Liv could run??~

*Snap*
Crunch time is just 'round the corner. The next 10 days is going to test my willpower and determination. At the end of this 10-day span, we're going to find out whether or not I can stick with this program. I'm either going to be completely burned-out, or I'm going to be pulling out of my program. I have 2 major projects due, one mid-term, lesson plans to write and a stack of reading and homework... all due within a week.
I think all graduate programs should come with an advisor AND a therapist... Or at least come with a coupon book for discounted therapy sessions.~

*...*
In no mood to blog. Too much going on. Disappointment all around... I need a break. I feel like I'm about to snap.~

*Yay*
Wow. Great day today. Went out for a really great Vietnamese dinner with friends from school. Afterwards, we went 'cross town for dessert... we went to Serendipity III! Though the wait was TWO hours, it was totally worth the wait. It was awesome! Thank goodness Dylan's (THE candy store!) was 'round the corner. I almost went broke buying candy! I bought so many candy necklaces, and proceeded to knaw away on the necklace all night. I got one each for everyone tonight, and it never occurred to me that they may not have ever seen one before! It was such a part of my childhood, that I just assumed that everyone experienced the same kinda stuff as me. Regina was so funny... it took her all of 2 seconds to finish her candy.
I was on such a sugar high tonight... I think that, coupled with the Endorphins in my system's what's keeping me up at this hour... oh... and... my sis is coming down to visit! WOOHOO! She's bringing a piece of Canada down with her! YAY! I miss Toronto so much! As much as I love New York... It's not Canada. *sob*
So... yeah... I get to hang out with my sister for the weekend! YAY! And a bunch of us are going to go watch the lunar eclipse in Central Park... Gotta love life... It's so perfect at the moment...~

*Day TWO*
My legs are so sore. It's sick, but it actually feels really good to bike and run when your muscles are this sore.
I was on the bike for half an hour today, did some weights... and Alexandra made me run 2 laps on the track with her after as a "cool down". Who runs to cool down?? Oh well... I'm proud to say I did it though... and all the while, gabbing away with Alex. I never realised Greek people and Chinese people had so much in common! We both gabber away like crazy! Everytime we're on the phone, we end up chatting for hours. Between Lyssi and Alexandra, I think I'm turning Greek!
Rights... Gotta get some work done before heading out. It's Friday night, and a bunch of us are going out on the town. I need to get out more...~

*Day ONE*
Knackered... completely and utterly KNACKERED!
I officially started my training today. Team Olivia now consists of my trainer (Mark), my dietician (Dawn), my short run buddy (also Dawn), my weights-training buddy (Alexandra), my long run buddy (Yuzo) and my spirit squad (Shawn and Rita). This is so cool! I love the support I'm getting for this! I feel as though if I don't do this, I'm going to be letting them down!
I'm trying to get into the marathon without going through the lottery draw. To do this, I have to qualify by doing a half-marathon in the qualifying time... Grrr... I'm going to DO IT!
I'm ravenous. Absolutely starvin' marvin'. I'm proud of myself though... I RAN! Woohoo!~

*Insanity*
I'm nuts. It's 3:20am, and I'm still up. I'm trying to finish off some work for tomorrow... that I don't really need to be doing. Anyways...
Tina introduced me to a new site today. It's too funny for words. Even though I lived in Korea and saw this sorta thing on a daily basis, it still never ceases to amuse me.
I then decided to go and make some "Engrish" of my own... this is what I came up with:
"Barely, isn't that person girl he?"
(Original input - That guy's a bit of a lass, isn't he?)
Barely?? Think so I...~

*Freebie*
Big Dave has managed to stumble upon what must be the ONLY vending machine in the world that can sense the presence of people...
Usually, this machine dispenses TWO drinks for the price of one. Today, Big Dave decided to take Shawn and I to visit this "buy 1 get 1 free" machine. When we got there, Big Dave put in the usual dollar bill (for 1 drink)... and it actually dispensed THREE this time! It was as though it could sense a new friend visiting. Hahaha.... We were a little weirded out by it. Oh well... drinks on me next time!
Must sleep... LONG day tomorrow. Nite!~

*Ahem*
One thing I have noticed as I've gotten older, is that my taste in people have changed drastically over the years. I am so incredibly attracted to intelligence and articulate people, it's freaky. This doesn't apply solely to men, but also my gal pals. I cannot stand people who are "fence sitters" or dilly-dally about with their decisions. Eck...
Over the last 2 months in New York, I've met a LOT of people. I've met lots of very physically attractive people that everyone around me gush about how "hot" they are. But for some reason (there's one person in particular)... I feel that there's something "off" about these people. It's almost as though their physical attributes make up for their inability to produce articulate speech.
I officially being my marathon training on Thursday. I hope that through this difficult and soul-searching time in my life, that my friends around me can respect my decision and encourage me (i'm serious!). I know it's completely out of character to want to do this, but I really need support from ALL my friends! I've already got a marathon buddy to run with me on race day, and I've got a short-run buddy... and I've got a trainer! Yay! I'm pretty much set now. I've just got to stick to my goal. I'm aiming for a half-marathon by March or April.
Right... time for bed. Nite-nite and don't let those bed bugs bite (unless they're cutie-patooties!)~

*Well done...*
I volunteered in the NY Marathon today (NO RUNNING INVOLVED!), and it was such an exhausting experience. But... it was pretty cool to be able to stand there at the finish and congratulate 35,000 people as they came through. I was working as an Interpreter and signed on for translating Chinese and French... but I ended up only doing the French translating... well, probably because I guess Chinese people aren't really into running LOOOOONG distances??
It was really neat to see them all come through. The ones that came in earlier in the day were SO cute! I was right at the finish line, and when I didn't have to assist Medics with translations, I stood in the "restricted area" at the finish and congratulated them as they came in. I got hugs and kisses and "you're an angel" from around 5,000 very sweaty, very stinky men. But some of those fast finishers were SO good looking... As time went on, it was really interesting to see the shift in body size and the expanding girths of the people coming in. I'd never seen that before, but I was really amazed that everyone really pushed themselves to finish.
Yeah, I saw P.Diddy today. He looked a wreck though when he came through the finish line and did not look like the usually suave Diddy we see on TV and Magazines. He did finish though, and he did well to raise money for charity. I was disappointed I didn't get to say "Run Diddy, RUN" since I was at the finish...
Seeing the masses of people doing this marathon, I've decided that I want to do it next year. That's going to be my "balls-y" out-of-character thing that I'm going to do. I'm probably not going to be able to get in (there's a lottery for starting places), but I think I'm going to train for it. Yeah... for those of you who REALLY know me... I'm NOT a runner (anyone remember me running the 2400 in High School?). I only recall ONE time when I was completely fit and psyched to run the 2400 in 12:34... Many years on and many pounds later... I think that's going to be my goal for christmas, to at least do the 2400 in 12 minutes again. Ha... Good luck, eh?
Gotta get going, I have a huge mid-term tomorrow. Hope all's well out there!~

*"Dirty Little Secret"*
I love this song. The melody's haunting, and there's a part in the song that articulates a complex I have:

"I denied him my capacity to love
I am willing to give up this fight" - Dirty Little Secret, Sarah McLachlan

That's it for now...~

*Thoughts*...
Gosh. I got outta bed at 4:00pm this afternoon. Yikes... I'm definitely getting old.
Anyways. I was looking at my stats page for this site, and someone found my site by searching Google for (get this): "Aubergines procrastinate". What the??!?!??
I finally watched "Shallow Hal" this afternoon. The movie really isn't that great and some of it was pretty bad. Despite this though, the content of the movie actually hit a sore spot in me.
I've always been incredibly sensitive about weight and appearance issues. I grew up being "bigger" than other kids. People always commented on my "baby fat" and my belly. I know now that I'm "normal" sized and healthy, but whenever I'm back in HK, I'm reminded that I'm not a stick - which makes me abnormal.
I've come to realise that I'll never be fully comfortable with my body, especially when people whose opinions have mattered (at one point or another) have made comments about my weight. But I'll never change my appearance anyone but myself. And I stand by that conviction. I've noticed more and more though, that people judge me by my appearance too readily. I don't like it, and it really annoys me. Grrr...
Anyways... I'm listening to Sarah McLachlan's new CD "Afterglow". Yeah, it sounds just like all her other CDs, but that's what I love about her, and her new songs are just as soothing as her old stuff. I love it!
Right... Going to watch SNL and read a little more, before I crash and go to work at the NY Marathon tomorrow morning. I'm NOT running the marathon (DUH!)... I signed on to be an Interpreter for the day. Gives me a chance to practice my French and Chinese...
Ciao, my daaaah-lings. Ooooh... If you want to see a picture of me in drag... email me and I'll send you a shot! *smooch*~

*Hallowe'en*
It's about 5:25am. I've just got home from my first New York Hallowe'en "celebrations"... and I'm exhausted. I left my place and started partying well over 12 hours ago (4:00pm). I don't think I have EVER partied so hard or so long before. It was SO cool though...
I dressed up (of course). I was originally going to be a Belly-dancer, but it's a little cold for wearing a thong with a pair of sheer pajama pants slit up to the hip... so I went as a Drag Queen instead. It was so cool, because I didn't feel weird getting into my gear and jumping on the subway at 4:00 in the afternoon. It felt normal... weird.
Anyways... we all went down to my friend's place down in the Village. She lives in a really cool and really cute old building (holy crap, the stairs were torture though). We then walked over to Chelsea to watch the annual Hallowe'en Parade. It was pretty amazing. There were so many people there though! We watched for a while, then headed to a roof-top house party in the Village. Oh-my GOSH... it was so AWESOME! The weather was great, and Patricia (the host) made a great cauldron full on Sangria. It was so neat. We headed to a friend's bar afterwards and chatted 'til closing time...
Wow. My first Hallowe'en in New York City, and I got to spend it completely New York style. It was just so awesome. We're starting to plan for next year already... and we're already thinking of costumes. No more Drag for me though... The duct tape has caused some serious damage (Sarah: Remember the double-sided tape incident? Well... it's worse this time!). I think I'm going to be a bit sore for the next week or so.
Gosh... I just realised I haven't posted in a week. Golly. I don't know when my next post is going to be. I have a huge Mid-term on Monday... yuck...~