slacker saturdays

Saturdays are for slacking.

We used to go out for brunch. petit dej and hibiscus cafe are our favorites. Now we do brunch at home. I made pancakes. Topped with S’s tomatoes.

We give each other massages. S’s spots are lower back and hands. We hop into Europe Bound. Peruse Lonely Planet cycling guides. We meander around St Lawrence Market. Prosciutto-wrapped goat cheese. Smoked bison. Arctic char because I’m tired of salmon.

After lunch, I read magazines in bed. This week, I’m reading more intelligent life, the quarterly lifestyle and culture magazine from the economist. I found the pieces on China and Cuba less than inspiring. I do like the one on Kathryn Gustafson. When I visited London, the Dianna memorial fountain was closed off. Now I know why. Back in Chicago, I loved lurie garden. The next time I visit DC, I want to lunch in the kogod courtyard.

Some people slack harder than others. S kicked me out of bed so that he can chase dust bunnies.

After dinner, we wanted to grab coffee at sense appeal and attend open screening under the stars. However, sense appeal closed earlier than expected and open screening was canceled. So we toured 401 Richmond West. I love touring buildings after hours. The building keeper walked around us in circles, accompanied by his staticky ratio. We studied the art. Peered into a store that sold lego fallingwater. Jumped up and down to make the floorboards sing.

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we’re still together & i’m still terrible

During university, because of the coop program, I moved every four months. When I graduated from university, I planned to live in a different city every two years. A step towards stability.

June 30, 2007
I moved to Chicago exactly two years ago. A bit surprised to find myself still here. But even if I stay put, people come and go. Greg is going to London, even though he loves Toronto. Denise is not going to London, even though she says she will, even though her love is in Toronto. Who knows where my journey may or may not take me.

Whereas 2007 flew by (a new relationship; a project in Tokyo; a marathon), 2008 inched forward. I went to a conference in Hong Kong and talked to people about working in Asia. In a way, being in a relationship and wanting to move to another continent is asking for a bad breakup. Nevertheless, the breakup shocked me. Into realizing that I’m terrible at relationships. I compared and contrasted people I know in Toronto vs Hong Kong vs New York. People in Toronto are less terrible at relationships. we become the people we hang out with. I moved back to Toronto.

July 5, 2010
I’m looking for the following.
1. Less than $450,000
2. More than 900 sq ft
3. Big windows

Whereas 2010 flew by (a new relationship; a short staffed department; a condo), 2011 inched forward. Hin, one of the people I talked to in Hong Kong in 2008, visited Toronto and talked to me about working in Asia. In a way, being in a relationship and wanting to move to another continent is asking for a bad breakup.

Vendy: You studied in France. Why can’t you work in Asia?
S: Asia is not France.
Vendy: There is cheese in Asia.

Nevertheless, we are still together. I’m still terrible at relationships. S is getting better at gardening. Maybe we’ll be fine.

dream deferred

Vendy ironed her shirts, whitened the kitchen sinks and made pancakes this morning. She ran out of regular flour, so she used S’s baking flour. Which S is not using. Even though he’s been fantasizing about baking for a year.

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore–
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over–
like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

free standing structures are meant for jumping

• Rolled out of bed at 7. Roll is somewhat less energetic than bounce, but still keen. Munching on utane bread with scrambled egg white (saving egg yolk for facial mask) while squinting at CN tower.

S: I think that’s edge walk.

Vendy: Boring! Free standing structures are meant for jumping.

• Cooked turkey sausage, pork tenderloin, basa fillet, green tea udon and tomato.
• dad bought me super high tech iron

S’s father: Why is your shirt wrinkly?

S: I didn’t iron it.

S’s father: Ask Vendy to teach you to iron.

Vendy: Dad, do you have a spare iron?

Vendy’s dad: Yes, but there is a super high tech one on sale at Canadian Tire.