Home for Christmas

Tomorrow morning, very very early, I will be on a plane heading to Edmonton International, and I am so excited to see my family! I can't wait to see how much Mina-bean has grown, and what new words Abby has added to her lexicon. I can't wait to stay up really late every night talking to my sisters, and to run wild in the Payne house. I can't wait to hang out in Edmonton, a city that I actually know, where the streets are numbered. 

Although everyone at school is anxious to go home for Christmas break, as I was tearing my room apart packing tonight, I realized that I am actually a little bit sad to not see my Mississauga peeps for a couple of weeks. Rania, who insists on driving me everywhere, and thinks that walking even to the grocery store is a daunting task. I am her token white friend, and she finds it amazing that I know what falafel is. Claire, my 46 year old Taiwanese class mate, who I always trade snacks with and give her tips on how to deal with her 14 year old daughter. Sabba, my roomate, who always makes me dinner and who forbids any contact with the ex. I don't think I'll miss the guy who lives upstairs though; and his Friday-night-dance-with- your-cowboy-boots-on-put-red-lightbulbs-in-the-fixtures-really-bad-dance-music parties. This is a weekly event, with only one attendee. His middle-aged self. It's very strange. 

Anyways, I'm so excited to see you all!  Merry Christmas everyone!

Friday Night

There is nothing like being single to make you feel hot again. My roomate, Saba, who is the coolest chic, invited me to be her date for her work's Christmas party. It was an awesome dinner and a dance, and everyone got their own hotel rooms. It was so much fun! I bought the sexiest shoes that put me at a whopping 5'3. Definitely came in handy when I met Dan ( I know, there's too many Dan's in this family ). He is soooo unbelievably good looking, Italian, but not creepy Italian, because he was raised in Canada, and 6'5.  We just talked all night, I wasn't looking for anything more than that, obviously. But wow, I have forgotten that feeling. Ok, don't laugh, but he still lives with his parents at 24. I don't know how I attract these mama's boys, they just come to me, I swear. The whole night was so much fun, and exactly what I needed to remind me that I'm gonna be ok. Thanks, Saba!

School has been in session for about 5 weeks now. Our class is 34 females, with every staff  and administration member also female. Except for the parking ticket guy and Dr. R, we see no men. Now normally, one would not blink if Dr. R were to pass by in the street. Especially if he were to start talking to you, because then he gets dry mouth, and the crusty whiteys start to form on his goatee. But after last class, when Dr. R forgot to bring his bulky labcoat, I believe I speak for the whole class when I say that I will not be late tomorrow morning. Here's to 17 more months of Dr R forgetting his labcoat!

Breakups

This is my first post, and I will admit, it's typical. I have just ended a 3yr relationship, and instead of feeling sorry for myself, I'm trying to occupy my time with...well, anything really. I promise this will be the ONLY post on this subject, so bear with me as I digress.

One thing that can really help or set you back with moving on is music. Did you ever notice that every song ever written falls under either one of two categories? That would be 1- breaking up, or 2- falling in love. It's not so bad really, except that I find myself connecting with artists like Timbaland ( featuring One Republic )  and Gloria Gaynor. Embarrassing, yes. But it just feels so good to belt out in the shower, " It's too late to apologize, it's too laaaaate ". 

 Maybe this is where Eminem went wrong. He probably just went through a break-up, no different than the rest of us, and got sick of all the damn love songs on the radio. Can you really blame the guy?

Something else that can really help, surprisingly, are those inspirational tabs on the Yogi-tea bags. Last night, I pulled the tea-bag out of my mug and read " Self reliance conquers all difficulties." I am so lucky to have my sisters and friends encouragement  and support, but sometimes, it helps to hear it from the hard worker at the tea factory whose job it is to type out those words and then somehow staple that tiny little tab to the string. I'd like to think he/she knew that tab would reach me, and made sure it didn't say something like " Life's a bitch. " Thanks, tea-bag-tab guy.