Adventures of a Tofu Slut

This morning I woke up with one hunk of hair sticking out if a very ridiculous manner. Sadly, I didn't notice this until after I'd showered (without washing my hair) and gotten dressed and was standing in front of the mirror. Oy. I'm currently involved in negotiations with said hair as to what sort of effort might make it go back where it belongs.

It's not nice out there today! I was completely out of breakfast items, so I had to go to the store this morning, and already at 9am it was hot and sticky and no fun for breathing. I had basically decided to camp out in my apartment (where at least if I was hot and sticky I wouldn't have to be hot and sticky in public) but I might be chased out by the loud thumping bass from downstairs. They've started playing music in the early mornings during the week, too, and while it's not super loud, it feels completely wrong to hear the *thump, thump, thump* as I'm eating breakfast at 6:30 in the morning. In any case, I am going to brave the stores (only air conditioned stores, though) to attempt to find some capri pants that don't gape in the back, don't sit too high (making me look like a grandmother) and don't give me that inverted triangle look.

In conclusion, clown operas are awesome. And garbage trucks at 7 in the morning are not.

I am going through a phase wherein I want to get rid of things. I wonder if these phases are related to anything else, like maybe I get the urge to delist everything I own whenever I'm feeling lonely. I'd know this if I were the sort of person who kept a journal of, like, *emotions* and *feelings*. Or even if weren't the type of person who likes to pretend there's no such thing as emotions and feelings.

In any case, I am fighting a losing battle with myself in regards to my CDs. Not that I want to throw them ALL out -- I love many of them very much -- but I have a lot, and lots of them I never listen to. So why am I keeping them? If I got rid of them, I'd have a lean, clean collection of my favourites. But maybe one day I'd miss the ones I got rid of.

Clearly I have weeding in the blood and on the brain. There's a very good reason I'm not an archivist!

I have no segue: Work is eating my brain, and I need a vacation. That long weekend better hurry up. I'd also like to just be not-at-work every once in a while during the day. And maybe to get to sleep in and have a leisurely breakfast. 8-5 is haaaaard.

(Oops, sorry, that wasn't meant to fall into whining! But I've become rather obsessed with people around me who aren't going into work every day, and I spend a lot of time each day picturing what they might be doing, particularly if it doesn't involve leaving the house.)

What I really meant to say is, I want the weekend to hurry up because it's just so sunny out there, and I have no windows at work, plus it's freezing. Sun! I think I got a little vitamin D deprived over the winter. I wonder if I could rent a balcony, the way people rent apartment parking. Hmmmm.

Today is truly the beginning of spring, because I can hear people hanging out in the alley again. Mever mind that the snow hasn't melted.

Actually, I can hear people everywhere -- next door, above me, below me, out the window. I don't know if people have gotten louder or if I'm just descending ever more rapidly into cranky old lady territory. Oh well, it's mostly at a low murmur. I guess this is what I get for living in an old apartment building.

Still, spring! Today I actually wished that I weren't wearing my winter coat, at least while I was in the sunshine. And we're supposed to get a couple more days of this before it returns to winter tempuratures. There will definitely have to be some taking advantage.

We got sent home early today because of the massive snowstorm. Except that because I started far before everyone else who was there today, "early" meant "5 minutes before I get off", and in fact I ended up not leaving for half an hour because the people I like ended up in a really silly conversation. So I was totally denied early leaving!

Not like I needed it anyway; the subways were actually less crowded than usual and totally running fine. I guess everyone left super early?

Yesterday I had a bit of an epiphany that I was living my life in a way that made me feel out of control (letting things (physical and mental) pile up, not getting enough sleep, eating terribly, obsessing), so I got up today (on time! another thing that has been slipping completely) with a renewed sense of being a responsible person (in at least some areas of my life). Every time I thought about chocolate, I recited cheesy motivational slogans to myself ("Today is the first day of the rest of your life!"). So far so good, although I am sitting here on the computer instead of making dinner. But I'm just entertaining myself while drinking motivational tea (Granville Island Cream Earl Grey, yum). And I did put the dishes in to soak first.

And now I have VERY IMPORTANT footwear-related questions. The tendonitis is fine these days -- at least, it doesn't hurt at all as long as I don't wear shoes or boots that press on that specific part of my tendon (up the back of my foot right where it dips in before going on to be the leg*). The problem, of course, is that most of my shoes hit right at that spot, which is why the problem exists in the first place. And the tendonitis is never actually going away -- that will always be a weak spot for me, and if I wear something that rubs there it flares up again. The biggest offenders are my Doc boots, which has thrown me into somewhat of a tizzy.**

Because here's the thing: I've been wearing this same style of Doc boot as my everyday footwear since I was 15.*** They're just so convenient. I can wear them in all sorts of weather, with pants or skirts or dresses, they're good for walking long distances, I can wear them to work, they last longer than any other kind of shoe I've owned****, I like they way they look, and I feel somehow strong and powerful when I wear them.***** They are, for me, all purpose. It's only in the past couple of years that I've really owned shoes other than Docs and sandals. But now it looks like my Doc days are over, and I have no idea what to replace them with. What do people wear? They have to be comfortable, and I have to be able to walk in them, but they need to be versatile style-wise, and I really don't want to become one of those people who change their shoes at work every day. Also, I'd like to avoid having a gazillion pairs of shoes, because I have a small closet (and a not-massive income).

So, share! What kind of footwear do you wear? Do you have go-to footwear, fallback footwear, something that goes with everything? What do you wear with skirts (if you wear skirts as non-fancy wear)? Links or specific brands/styles would be great, too. HELP ME INTERBETS!

*According to my doctor, this is a very bizarre place to have this problem. It's because for years I've worn boots instead of shoes.
**The other problem, of course, is that it's WINTER, and all my boots are uncomfortable to a degree. The only shoes I own that are avoid the sore spot completely are little flats, which I totally can't wear outside. Also, they're not that great for wearing every day, and I think my knees are starting to get annoyed at the lack of support.
***I'm sure you're thinking that it's about time I moved on anyway. I know, I know.
****Although I've gone through a few pairs since I moved out east. I think the salt is not so good for them.
*****Every pair of shoes I own makes me feel like a slightly different person. I walk differently, I stand differently, I act differently. I think that's why it's so hard for me to find shoes I like - they're not just shoes, they're personalities.

My cable disappeared for good at some point last night. I only discovered it when I went to watch Entourage at 10, and discovered that CityTV was all static, unlike Global and CBC, which I had been watching earlier. And it took me a few minutes to remember that I'd actually asked for this, since that was in July.

So, with the cable line still in, I have perfectly clear TVO, Global, OMNI, CBC, and Sun. Everything else is a whiteout. Not what I was expecting. I kind of thought it'd be fuzzy CBC, Global, CTV and City. Maybe with the cable out?

The round-up of what is still watchable from all the TV I've gotten myself sucked into:

Doctor Who, CBC, yes
Prison Break, Global, yes
Heroes, Global, yes
Entourage, City, no (but not a big loss because it's on DVD already)

Rick Mercer, CBC, yes
Intelligence, CBC, yes (and let me just take a moment to say how much I'm loving this -- I read a review that said it was for people who love The Wire and MI-5, which, HI. It's set in Vancouver, about a guy who runs an enormous drug operation and the police department who is trying to stop him. But he becomes sort of an informant for them instead, because the director is highly ambitious and is using him to get herself into a position of power in CSIS. It's all very dark and low-key and about the power of knowledge.)

America's Next Top Model, City, no (SADNESS)
Lost, CTV, no (which would be EVIL, except that I've been watching it with sarcasma and sanity_clause every week anyway, so I'm good as long as they keep letting me in the house)

Ugly Betty, City, no (it's fun, but I'll live)
CSI, CTV, no (wow - I've been watching this since the beginning. No more Warrick and Greg!)

The Hour, CBC, yes

And the most evil of all: Studio 60, CTV, NO. My Sorkin! Gone forever!

I'll definitely have to see what happens when I unplug the cable.

( Other pieces of randomness from the last couple of weeks )

Those of you who live far away from your parents - do you find that you get information in an oddly out-of-proportion way? In the weekly phone calls with the parents, I get lots of detail about what plays and operas they've seen, who came into the store, who said hi, what's being made for dinner, but major things often get left out or brought up really casually. And I don't think it's deliberate - in fact, I think I do the same thing. I guess we all just forget that we haven't mentioned things before. It's odd.

The weather this morning

...wait, come back! If I promise to also have a controversial opinion in here somewhere, will you forgive the weather talk?

Okay.

The weather this morning was a little freaky, in a good way. When I left the house I could see this patch of dark, bright blue over downtown - seriously, it was shining and tremendously eye-catching, but it was not normal weather. And then when I got downtown, it was like there was a cap on the city. I couldn't even see the top half of the CN tower, and that was while standing practically right underneath. It was this bizarre combination of fog, rainclouds and sunshine. Gorgeous.

Last night I went to see Spamalot. I was a little bored, to be honest. It wasn't bad, but I checked my watch at least 4 times, and it wasn't even that long. Plus the female lead couldn't sing very well - it's always distracting to me when the song actually references belting or being loud, and the singer can't pull it off (see also: Uma Thurman in the Producers movie). Also, I'm so tired of pop culture (especially musicals, because I love them so), where women are completely sidelined to being sexpots and chorus girls in skimpy costumes. Although this was probably more noticeable to me since I just watched The Producers. The two shows are really cut in the same mode.

On the plus side, there were some funny bits, I enjoyed the complete over-the-topness of the production numbers and Broadway references, and the audience was clearly having such a good time - laughing at the tiniest reference to the movie, cheering when their favourite characters appeared. Also, and completely unrelated, teenage boys really all have the same floppy hair. Ha.

Update: in case anyone was losing sleep over my podcast confusion, I've settled on listening to them at work, and it's fine. I'm not totally concentrated, because I'm working, but then when have I ever been able to really concentrate on spoken audio without visuals? Never, that's when. So, yeah.

I got my first sunburn of the year yesterday.

BITE ME, SUN.

This is evil for any number of reasons, including:

1. It's April.
2. I was only outside for less than an hour.
3. I was wearing pants and long sleeves at the time (I was regretting it, but my parents' house is so cold that it's hard to remember that it's actually warm outside, but still: I was wearing pants and long sleeves).
4. I therefore received said sunburn in the only place that the sun could reach, which is a weird perfectly framed stripe across my left collarbone.
5. Did I mention that it's April?

Task #1 today: buy sunscreen! wear sunscreen! suck up the rashes and the allergies and never leave the house without sunscreen again!

Last night after work I went running*.

...you can pick yourself up off the floor now.

I have no idea how this happened. I mean, for the past few months I've been so lazy as to become welded to the couch. But yesterday, on the way home, I decided to go running, and then when I got home, I actually found all my running gear and WENT. It was shocking. Although not as shocking as the fact that I kind of enjoyed it, although that was partially because it was so weirdly foggy outside - I couldn't see more than half a block in front of me, and it felt like I was in my own little world.

I've decided to blame it on the weather changing. I get really antsy when there are signs of spring (and yes, I realize that it's 0 degrees out there right now, which isn't exactly spring-like, but it *was* warm all weekend), as canirl can attest, since the words uttered most often by me this weekend were "Oh my god it's so warm out!". I'm not an outdoor person -- meaning, I don't like outdoor sports, or hiking, or, god forbid, camping -- but in the spring and the autumn, during those few days when it's not too hot and not too cold, all I want to do is walk around outside for hours.

I'm sure the novelty will wear off soon, but it's fun while it lasts.

*And by "running", I mean starting all the way back at the beginning of the training program where there is more walking than running. But there is a little bit of actual running, and I did it in running shoes -- does that count?

I just went out...without a book.

People, it was a nightmare! I had to sit on the subway with nothing to read! Worse, I had to wait for the subway with nothing to read and irritating people having an irritating conversation right near me. *shiver*

Other things:

• My cards are flying across the world. Whee! I've gotten cards, too, from...erm, people. I can remember some, but I'm worried I'll leave someone out and they'll be sad, so let me just say thank you to everyone, and the lovely cards are happily decorating my bookcases.
  
  
• Regular, non-quick oats are a rare commodity, apparently.
  
  
• The Grammy Awards still have a category for polka.
  
  
• We are breaking out the BPAL this weekend. Excitement! (Confidential to you who are coming over: I have spreadsheets. Be very afraid.)
  
  
• I've been watching ER again occasionally (occasionally meaning whenever I don't turn the TV off after CSI, and it's right there, and I'm too lazy to get up). I'm actually kind of enjoying it. I used to love it, waaaaay back at the beginning. I liked the quick pace, the multiple storylines, the people running around frantically, the focus on the hospital rather than the person lives. And then it got dramatic and heavy with the Very Special Episodes, and I got bored. But it seems to have drifted back to the original idea, and there are some fantastic actors on it right now that I've loved in other things (Parminder Nagra and Linda Cardellini, for two. Also, John Leguizamo. There are no words). So, yeah, there you go.
  
  
• Torontonians, have you been outside lately? This is why I hate snow -- it's all slushy and wet, but still deep. Blech.

There are people out there (you know who you are) who are TOO AFRAID to complain about the hot, hot summer we're having, in case the weather gods take revenge by starting winter in September.

Babies.

I am not afraid! I will stand up for all of you in saying:

SHUT IT WITH THE BLOODY SWELTERING WEATHER!!!

circe_tigana very nicely informed us that it was hotter in Toronto than in Bombay yesterday. NICE. And, oh, look, it's only going to get hotter today and for the rest of the fucking week.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

I just want to stop being covered in sweat from the moment I step out of the shower. And I wouldn't mind being able to sit down without having my legs suction-cup together. And is it too much to ask that we actually get to do summery things in the summer, like go outside?

Ok, weather gods, strike me down. I'm ready for you.

Also, I would like all tourists who think of Canada as one big igloo to come visit me this week. That'll put marzipan in your pieplate, bingo.