On nostalgia

It is weird. I am sitting here on my couch, all alone. It is very quiet as I don't have any music or the T.V on. The kitchen window is open and suddenly, in comes a lot of noise. People laughing, singing and whistling. For a second, I was transported back to my Montreal apartment. It was snowing outside and warm inside. My apartment was quiet as well, but I could hear the same sounds coming in from the outside. For a second, I felt a calm I haven't felt in years. For a second, I was back home, in my element, where I belong. For a second, I was there... but then again there, is always here with me.

It is weird.

On Concordia

I haven't had time to miss Montreal recently, but during the examination period, I REALLY missed it. I miss the old office I used to stay at 24/7 that no longer exists. I miss Montreal freezing winter. I miss Montreal streets. I miss the Montreal hustle and bustle. Mostly, I miss being easily able to find a place to study, and a place to just relax, and I miss those places being not more than a 10 minute walk away.

Here, university life, SUCKS.

So, in an attempt to transport myself to Montreal in 30 seconds, I popped in my Discordia DVD. I know this sounds stupid, but every time I recognized someone in that movie I just had a huge grin on my face.

Ahhh, Concordia. university life only belongs to you. You make it interesting and exciting.

I miss you. I miss Montreal more though ;)

Time: Frozen

I just came back from a wonderful almost 2-month holiday in Canada. I had a wonderful time visiting my sister and spending time with my niece and my nephew. They have grown up so much since I last saw them in December. The saddest thing about not living in the same country or city as them is that you miss out on a lot of their growing up, and they do grow up fast. It is like their tiny little bodies are supercharged or something.

I also got to spend some time in my favorite city of all-time: Montreal. I spent good times with great company and I will not even complain about the heat wave that passed. Montreal's beauty more than makes up for anything and everything. What can I say, this is true love for me.

Being back here in my own house and my own room is weird. It is just too quiet, too bland. You suddenly and quickly slip back into lazy-mode and life loses that touch of happiness it possessed just a few days ago. Over here, it is a whole new different ball-game that I will not go into right now as I am jet-lagged and just tired. Plus, I've whined about it too many times before already. Now who wants me to just repeat myself- yet again?

All in all, it was great catching up with family and old friends. The best thing was how easy it was to just slip back effortlessly into the life one once led. Meeting people went back to being effortless, almost natural. Meeting up with friends was the best. It was like time stood still for those few months or years, waiting for you to just pick up and continue right where you stopped. There were no awkward silences to be filled, no major catching up to do. Again, it was so effortless. I miss how easy laughter came, good times were had and good company was found.

Anyway, I will spare you the late night walk down memory lane, and instead I shall leave you with some random pictures taken while there.

downtown Montreal

This is what happens when you take pictures after chugging Sangrias all day.

Trapeze show/tryouts during Montreal's Cirque Festival

Old Port

An interesting addition to any bathroom ;)

Another interesting addition. Art found randomly in the streets is probably the best thing about Montreal

The alley where I tried my hand at riding a bike for the first time in 15+ years. It was Epic!

Even at 3:am on a Saturday night, people were still using bicycles to commute

Random guy posing in the picture

Quick, find Bambi!

Too hot to move, even for a lioness

Umm... Excuse me but, you have two baboons on your car... thought you should know.

dirigin dirigin

This was visiting the ladies room and then decided to shake its booty on the wall. VERY interesting sight to behold...

"No comment?!"

This zebra was dying for its 15 min of fame

their tiny tails were going right and left, right and left. So cute!

So these pics are from Montreal, and some from a Safari trip we took in Hamilton. The kids were psyched, and I must admit, so was I :)

Thank you family and friends for a wonderful time and great memories. Love you all mucho mucho.

Raccoons!

In Montreal, I saw raccoons for the first time in my life. It was on the view point of Mount Royal, and they look cute yet scary at night. They were going thru the day's garbage and were very close to us. It was as though they did not fear humans... maybe they really didn't.

Chocoholics Anonymous 2

Remember my Chocoholics Anonymous post? Well, this is an update. Below is the production process. I was responsible for the chocolate puddings, I even actually made the vanilla puddings myself!

My babies!!!

More of my babies!

My babies before maturation ;)

Everything has to be ready to make the choco-balls

Ready for some choco-shots?

A picture speaks loader than words

Hard at work

Chco-balls don't make themselves, you know!

My babies in Mid-process

PUDDING

Tomorrow's event will be successful for sure. I can just feel it. As for the rest, pics of the event will be up soon.

Chocoholics Anonymous

So, today I accompanied one of my friends to help him run some errands for an event he is organizing. The event is truly a chocoholics dream come true. It will put any person into a chocolate coma, that is a sure thing. It is basically going to be a night dedicated to chocolates. There will be chocolate fountains, chocolate shots, chocolate pudding, chocolate shakes, hot chocolate, frozen chocolate... and did I mention, CHOCOLATE?

The amount of time he is investing in this is incredible. He is willing to make all the chocolate treats from SCRATCH. Is that not amazing?

Anyway, so we went to the store to stock up on some "provisions". We ended up buying most of the store's supply of marshmallow, all of their baking white chocolate bars, their entire chocolate jelly packs, most of their cocoa powder and so much milk that I am still shocked.By so much milk, I mean we bought 25- 4 liter packs. The rest of the quantities, you really don't want to know.

Here are pictures of the shopping, I will post pictures of the event as soon as I take them.

updates...

I have been meaning to blog for a few days now, but I have been busy lately. Busy... sounds funny considering what I have been busy doing is nothing really. Just hanging out, doing nothing productive whatsoever.

Today is my sisters' b-day, so happy bday sis. Or, as here son would say "happy booboo". All the best, love you loads =)

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A few days ago I went into Paris Gallery, it is a gallery that sells perfumes, make-up and designer accessorize. What hit me was the power of smell to bring back so many memories. Just smelling different perfumes took me back to so many different times in life, different places and different people. It is funny how we associate moments with smell...

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I am going back to Montreal for graduation in June. I really am ecstatic about that. I can not wait. I think that June can not come too soon. Montreal, get ready, "I be coming soon!"

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Turns out, I am allergic to the sun, humidity and heat of this country. Can you believe it? I was born and raised here for 17 years, I leave for 4.5 years, come back and find out that my skin can not handle it anymore. I feel like such a freak! I am banned from direct sunlight for at least another 2 weeks, banned from staying in the sun too long, and have to apply 3 different kinds of lotions and ointments. Worse part? It is not even proper summer here yet. Fun times lie ahead. Fun.

Credit fraud update

Seriously, my bank is amazing. They have already debited my account for the stolen money, cancelled my old account AND I just received my new card via UPS and activated it.

AMAAAAAZING!

On credit fraud...

I am the victim of fraud! Someone stole my credit card number and info and used it to buy gas from Esso and to pay for parking in Cote Des Neiges! Imagine my surprise when I logged into my account to find that I paid for all these thing, given that:
a) I am not there
b) I don't even have a car
c) I do not know anyone in Cote Des Neiges, so what would I be doing there?

Anyways, I called RBC credit card people, and I must say, I was very impressed with them. They stopped my card directly, treated me like a victim, not someone under suspicion, and even offered to send me my new card ALL the way here.

Me like this service. If only everyone treats everyone else that way...

Oh, btw, point of my post is this: BE CAREFUL with your credit cards. DO NOT use them online, and be careful overall.

Love.

The end has come...

... and so, I left. I packed up my bags -4 in total- and am on my way back to what I once referred to as home. I have the worlds' greatest friends. They chilled with me every day and night for a whole week, trying to cram as much quality time as we can in such short notice, although they have school and everything. I am sure they must be exhausted by now... especially clau and L since they hung out with me mostly at nights, and I am insomniac....

I am disappointed that I did not get to spend much time with one of my Friends, Mar... like, OK, so he is moving, studying and working... I AM LEAVING!!!!! I did see him before i left, so tht is good, bas ya3ni...I need to vent to him about it to get it off my chest, so maybe I'll send him an email soon...

Back to my amazing friends, i am going to miss them like crazy. It just hit me that I will not see them tomorrow, or the day after.. or the day after that. However, they will always be a part of my heart and the memories i have of them will always be dear to me. Plus, technology makes it much easier to keep in touch nowadays, right? So it would take serious energy to lose touch with someone....

Love you all loads... you are the best. I will miss you all like crazy, but I will hold on to the hope that i will see you again one day.

misc. Montreal

The pictures below are from Old Montreal in and in front of Notre Dame.




The above pictures are from a Turkish teahouse called "Art & The", located on Bishop just above De maisonneueve.

The one on the left is Dragon Pearls tea, while the one on the right is Rose and Jasmine tea.

Girls, this is what awaits you in the washrooms!!!


This is amaaaaazing. It is painted on the wall in 3D.

Montreal's magic

On bad days turning good...

Today started out as usual. I had hardly gotten any sleep the night before and was therefore in a not so good mood. I was supposed to meet up with a friend of mine at 2:30, but instead met up with her after 3:15. I was feeling very low all day, but then, something miraculous happened. I was suddenly surrounded by people I like, am comfortable with... friends. We went coffee shop-hopping for a while. Afterwards, some had to leave while one had to go to class. I waited for a few hours, and when she came back, we went to old Montreal to take a walk and some pics. I must admit, it was the best time i have had in ages. We laughed very hard at nothing and everything. I was made fun of like no tomorrow, but that is ok... at the end of the day, i know the person was kidding.

Today made me realize something... the friends I have now, whether old or new, really are a treasure. They have kind hearts and love to have fun and relax. I am going to miss them all so much....

Btw, seeing as we are in January, and this is Montreal, I thought I should take a pic of todays' temperature just so that i have proof when I say that today was a hot day: