Release therapy - literally.

Apparently this man strikes so much fear into people's hearts that they get turned on.

On my way to work this morning, I read a little blurb in the Metro about increased condom sales and bookings at "love motels" in South Korea recently. I'm not kidding - the article wrote that "despite the South Korean's apparently blasé reaction" to North Korea and nuclear situation, South Koreans are actually "seeking solace in sex".

I don't really know what to say... usually I would say that people have their own way of dealing and that I don't understand, but finally, this is a grieving process that I can appreciate.

Something tells me that in about 9 months, the Metro might report an unexplained "increase in babies born" in South Korea…

Mon the mom? Highly unlikely.

Being a parent scares the crap out of me.

Not that I am thinking about it becoming a reality anytime soon - I'm still proud to say that I am in a selfish phase in my life, and that raising a child is nowhere near the realm of my possibility.

I have seen my share of bad parenting, and especially horrible parenting, through disasters in our (formal) social circle, through children at my mom's school and just through personal experience at my own schools. When it comes down to it, a lot of parents should have either waited, or declined the role in the first place. It's common sense that the environment that you grow up in creates the kind of person you are, with a few exceptions that break the mold.


I love the Cosby family - if I could choose a fantasy family of my own, I think they'd be a lot like them. I'll never forget the episode when Theo talks to his dad about not being smart enough to do well in school, and that he should be able to choose his own path in life, which doesn't necessarily have to be so hard. He talks at length about loving him no matter what he studies, and that his dad should accept that. A Full House episode would have called for a pat on the back, and a "don't worry, honey, you can settle for mediocrity if that's what you want" moment.
Cosby, on the other hand, replied with the unforgettable "that is the stupidest thing I've ever heard!". Classic... it sounds exactly like my dad, and it was refreshing to know that there were other kids out there trying to take the easy way out and the parents to nip that kind of mentality right in the bud.

Anyway, I digress once more... my blog is inspired by an article I read this morning. It seems there is a study saying that autism could be caused by too much TV at a young age: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1548682,00.html?cnn=yes. These kinds of studies freak me out, since it puts one more thing on the ownice of the parent. I am by no means a control freak, but remembering all the "dos and don'ts" of parenting make me realize I am far from ready or willing to become a mom. Or I could try to adopt a child from Malawi, but it seems that's fraught with even more problems than having my own.

I think that being selfish, single and lovin it is the way to go for me - no mini-Monika's for now.

What are you smoking?

With my office (partial) view into the building courtyard, I was surprised to see a large number of people frequenting (props to Adam) the outside walkway. It was pouring rain, and cold, and I couldn't figure out why people would subject themselves to an unpleasant environment.

...Then, I saw the magic sticks. People were obviously in need of the hit of tobacco and the trade-off between smoking and getting wet was an easy decision to make. I was and am surprised by how many addicted smokers there actually are - living in the suburbs, and hearing all the anti-smoking laws has deluded me into thinking that nobody smokes anymore, but one visit to downtown toronto during morning coffee or lunchtime definitely clears up the confusion.

Don't get me wrong, I'm really not one to loudly judge the smokers - even I have casually 'experimented' with cigarettes/cigars, and don't feel guilty about it. I don't think I can really understand people with a full-blown habit, that required a morning smoke to get through the day - then again, I'm not the type to have an addictive personality, so apparently I "will never understand".

Smoking provides some kind of high that people need, hence the addiction - find a new high! Listen to Brooke Shields (whose 80's advertisement against smoking I find highly amusing), whose "looks are spoiled" by the cancer stick. It can't possibly be the white jumpsuit and cheeks the colour of a fire truck that are ruining her vibe... Brooke Shields circa 1985 has a lot to teach you all, take notice and dump those cigarettes (especially the ones that you stick in your ears, those can hardly be good).

I'm inlove...

It has happened, and much, much sooner than I thought it would:

I have met someone, and I'm completely infatuated after only a few days.

Bold statement? Yes. But this male is exactly what I was looking for. First of all, he's incredibly low maintenance - he is completely happy (from what I can tell) with just hanging out with me, and doesn't need anything fancy to be content. He holds himself with a quiet dignity that few possess, says a lot using very few words. Of course, he's extremely good-looking, but a little too territorial sometimes (he would rip the competition to shreds, literally). Although it's only been a few days, he has been there to tuck me into bed and wakes up to greet me in the morning.

Want to see this gorgeous specimen? He's really one-of-a-kind:

Meet Moe.

Homecoming definitely felt like coming home...

Sigh... I didn't realize how much I missed London until this weekend - although I didn't have time to think about missing it, given that I had 24 hours to celebrate my return.

This picture (my most favourite) is the perfect image of what the weekend was - passed out but still showing school spirit (on the left) and lookin fly (our actor friend on the right). Sadly, this is the scene at the beginning of the trip, but it was definitely worse on the way home (I almost joined them, and I was driving).

The weekend started off with the football game, which I am proud to say we won, but I didn't make it through - it rained almost the whole time and I got my sick ass frozen to the core up until half-time. After driving some soaking boys and myself back to the apartment, we di dsome shopping and chilled up until we realized we were late getting to the bar at 8pm! The Frog had a 45 minute line-up, which we quickly manoeuvered around by paying the bouncer the equivalent of cover at a Toronto bar, and got in immediately.

The Frog is by far the best bar I have been to, and that includes Toronto bars/clubs as well - it never disappoints. The crowd was great, cheap drinks and more cute guys than I've seen in one night. We kept it a girls night, which was the best - Amal and I partied hard til closing, and got few hours of sleep that night. The next morning, we dragged our hungover bodies to Starbucks, and on the way home hit Barakat's, which completed the customary London weekend - keeping it traditional is comforting.

To sum it up - I saw almost everyone from our graduating class (one friend even flew up from LA just to be there) and London is an amazing place to party it up. Amal and I decided that we are definitely visiting sometime soon again, and embracing the early arrival time, cheap drinks, familiar faces and the one crowded street on the way home from the bar. Thank God we chose Western... who knows what might have happened if we were U of T'ers (no offense lil Deboz)...