2012-01-05

A Superficial Synopsis

Hello world. How are you?  Here is a summary of my recent life, wherein I distract myself with work and some holiday friendliness.

I've been avoiding the Internet recently.  And computers.  I've done away with a lot of Google Reader and other Internet habits.  I've been a bit irresponsible and attended to my life.  Sorry.  I'm up late preparing something for school tomorrow, and I'm a little nervous about it.  Ah well.
Today I was in Toronto to celebrate a friend's birthday.  I left early as I have my work to finish for tomorrow, tinged with desperation, and I was feeling a bit asocial.  I didn't want to temper that by monopolising my two friends at the event, either. 

I'm compensating for the short visit in part by planning a Very Long Road Trip for February to visit one way up north, where I'm sure there'll be snow.
The Eaton Centre now has an Urban Herbivore vegan eatery, which is delightful.  It's great/awful being able to impulse-buy a muffin again.  I wish it was less expensive, but at least the staff are nice.

While there, I saw a couple ladies with a Free Hugs sign.  I sort of needed one which prevented me from actually pursuing one, but I did give them a thumbs up to encourage the practise.  I also saw a couple with Bert and Ernie hats: I hope things work out for them.
The TTC has a few new subway trains, and they're sleek metal with shiny white interior.  My favourite difference is that the cars openly join to one another, so you can walk from one end to another.  At the back, I could see the front cars dip and curve as we went, making subway surfing a lot easier.

I like navigating transit systems.  Yesterday evening I was at another birthday in Burlington and had to help navigate some friends to it, though it was mostly the combination of my Google Nexus One, WIND Mobile, Google Maps, and Go Transit.  In the past, I've sometimes had friends rely on my navigation ability, which made me feel proud and special and useful.  It makes me almost want to be a leader, but I'm not assertive enough for that.  When I've tried to assert myself more, I find myself just alienating friends, so I don't bother.  I'm content letting someone else make unwanted enemies while I simply steer from the shadows, hehe. 

To avoid making a double-trip between Guelph and the GTA, I ended up staying overnight, meeting new people, playing with puppies, playing Dutch Blitz and drinking tea: a late night tradition I'm spreading the world over.  I used to think that sleep overs were a lost art.

I've encountered two broken down Greyhounds in two weeks.  One died on the 401, and we had to wait to be picked up by another.  The second died outside of the temporary terminal in Guelph, and I had to wait 40 minutes for the next scheduled one before heading to the first birthday.  I still love Greyhound though.  I love its ghetto nature.  I love travelling long distances with them, which is best with the right company.  I had to take a long ride from Sudbury to Toronto recently which became quite pleasant once I realised the lady next to me was playing Robot Unicorn Attack.  I've also made a few other friends on bus rides in the last few months.  I use the term friends liberally, but I think it applies a little when you maintain contact. :)

A great thing about the bus for long trips are the pit-stops.  In the car-ride up to Sudbury and the bus ride back, we stopped at my favourite highway stop which includes a Lick's Burgers.  I've loved their nature burgers since I ate at one by Eglinton and Yonge back in 2006, and have enjoyed this particular one out by Parry Sound on my drives north and south.  I like that they advertise that their nature burgers are also vegan-friendly. :)

I went to Sudbury for New Years to visit a couple I know who I've visited around Christmas for the past 5 years at least.  This time was quite a bit different from usual but still good.  A lot of video games were played, and there was some good conversation with new discoveries and confirmed assumptions: it's nice to learn new things about old friends.  There was also a lot of snow and sparklers, which are amazing things.  Also, sleeping on a couch with cats that thing you're their pillow makes moving in the morning challenging.

While there, I also saw Tintin.  I enjoyed it quite a bit, though I have one reservation about it which I won't share unless you've already seen it.  I saw Hugo the other month, and the two are both in my idea of classy films, for some reason.  I am still fond of Hugo, but I don't think it breaks my Top 5, not like Scott Pilgrim did.  Top 10, perhaps. :)  Finding people to watch films has been easier than I expected.  However, I'm not that keen on watching films as a way to socialise with people, as they're kind of a passive way to interact.  I mostly watch films as a social activity (my poor, unloved Netflix account).  I've been glad for the more active hijinx and delectable conversation I've been managing instead, though.  There is a downside to it.  My sleep schedule is ... unfortunate.  To be honest, I've been dreading sleeping for the past few weeks as my dreams aren't welcome.  I'm grateful for all the late night conversation people have afforded.  Even if it sometimes involves making food and cleaning a microwave together at 5AM.

Back to movies, I am told that Galaxy Theatres' base popcorn is actually dairy-free, that it's just oil and salt.  I am suspicious.  However, I did acquire a free Coca-cola collector's cup: theatres, bastions of delicious, free left overs.  :D  They even have a Rainbow Cinemas in Sudbury, which delights me, though we didn't end up going there.  It holds a fond place in my heart.

I just noticed I've been discussing my recent events mostly in the context of friends.  I don't really want to write about myself here right now, but if you were curious, you can just contact me personally. :)

I enjoyed being home.  My father was well, which is always a large relief, and a few friends were in town.  A couple of friends I only saw very briefly, requiring another later night and delicious tea.  One of my favourite accomplices was also in town, and wandered about with me despite having her feet almost freeze.  I suppose I feel that they're people who will always be around, even if we don't meet up at home.  They're kind of reliable, loyal, and interested friends, which is almost as much as I can ask for.  I'm kind of lucky in general, I suppose, though I've felt a distance recently that separates me a bit from them, and it's the consequence of something internal to me that I hope to address.  It helps that I got to visit another friend that I can confide in who was back in Ontario temporarily, while I went tailcoat shopping at Cabaret on Queen St.  Incidentally, Fressen has great food.
I also acquired a couple of tickets for Anime North this year.  Stuff like that is a little hard on me right now, but I suppose it won't get any easier if I don't make an effort. :D

You're still reading this?  I am amazed at your stamina.  I will let you go now, though.

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