Tonight I went to my first MaRS event.

It was very interesting - all about collaboration between engineers and medical sciences. The main speaker cautioned researchers (engineers especially) to find an application for their technology before they even begin their research.

Research is to be cherished, for sure, but we must be sure that it serves a purpose.

Many scientists presented their emerging technologies with a slide that indicated what the implications of this technology could possibly be. But no one had asked those in the suggested disciplines if they could actually USE (or they even wanted) the new technology.

A sad story for research. I guess it bodes well for a collaboration centre like the one I work for. It is truly needed.

Going home is always a time of reflection.

Our family is certainly one for talking. We love to discuss and consider and reminisce and share.

I love it. I love hearing about what life was like when my parents were my age (or younger and just at my stage in life, since by my age, they had 3-4 kids).

The house is in the middle of nowhere, so it's a good place to get perspective on life. It's so far removed from the city and the career I focus on every day. It makes those things seem very unimportant in the grand scheme of life.

There, everything is about relationships - with oneself and others. Our talks always lead me to question life and my goals and even what I value. It's good for me to take a macro-view of things from time to time. It helps me stay on track.

I just wish that we could all talk without bitterness and misunderstanding. Is this unrealistic?

I'm reading The Secret Book of Grazia dei Rossi, which I picked up at the second hand bookstore on my week off.

It's a really great book so far - a fantastic way for me to transport myself from the rigours of the subway in the morning.

However, I do have a complaint. The book is supposed to be a mother's memoirs for her son. And yet, the book is filled with her sex life. I understand that there needs to be drama, and don't get me wrong, I enjoy the descriptions (mom, you can go make tea now), but I find it really odd that she would be writing this to her son.

I mean, come on, what parent out there would be writing their sex life down for their kids? First of all, trust me, they don't want to know. Immaculate conceptions, all of us.

Secondly, isn't that sort of weird? You don't read anything in here about Alex and I, um, holding hands, do you? No, because my parents read this! They would be as uncomfortable to read it as I would be to tell them about it.

Is this just me? Are there people out there who are really so open with their families about such matters?

As a happy side-effect of my job, I read interesting science articles every morning. This is totally my favourite part of the job, which means that as I get more responsibility and projects underway, this will be the part that falls by the wayside. Boo!

However, this morning, I'm still reading the interesting articles. Today, a set of articles about cell regeneration caught my eye.

If you were ever unsure why it's important to ensure the biodiversity of the species here on earth, these articles bring it home. If no one had ever encountered a particular species of toad, they might never have come up with the novel way to regrow an organ:

Regrow Your Own
Cells That Go Back in Time
Regeneration Sans Stem Cells

Now, you may or may not agree with the experiments done on animals and you may have varying opinions on stem cell research. However, certain organisms are inspiring ideas about how humans can grow back some heart tissue after they have a heart attack.

In a recent Scientific American, there's a story about the huge problem of heart scar tissue following a heart attack. This problem means, even if you survive a heart attack, you're still gonna die pretty soon. Your heart never truly recovers.

But now, without disrupting any ethical issues, they're working on a way that we could fully repair ourselves.

Now, this is the new controversy in my mind: does that mean that the rich sloths of the world can continue to eat crap, smoke and drink their faces off, sloth around without lifting a finger and be carried around on a bier, and all our expensive research will actually allow this person to live LONGER?

I mean, how valuable is the technology when you look at it that way?
Heart attacks are a part of natural selection. Survival of the fittest. What kind of race would we be if continued to allow the worst examples of our race to propagate?

But think of it in terms of macular degeneration: maybe we wouldn't have to wear eyeglasses anymore. Or what about nerve damage from a car accident that would otherwise put you in a wheelchair? If you could regenerate some nerve cells, you could walk again!

The possibilities are endless. So maybe we save a couple of jerks in the process - the reality is that they're probably the ones who will fund the research in the first place so that they can continue their slothful ways.

Alex and I saw a bunch of condos tonight.

We also experienced our first blow: the first place that I saw that I really liked is SOLD! However, I console myself with the fact that it was not the ideal location. And really, isn't it ALL about location?

Actually, a bunch of places that I'd wanted to see tonight were already sold. Boo!

However, we did see another really great place. It's a little more expensive than I'd wanted to spend, but it seems to be pretty much exactly right: great location, the right amenities, quite new with a good layout and size.

Condo-buying is scary business!

Dear God, what was I thinking when I took a job near Winners?

Day 2 of new job.

Good thing: they have food left over from all of their events for us to eat.
Bad thing: they have food. (I'm going to eat it and get fat.)

Good thing: I went curling this afternoon for the first time in my life. Fun!
Bad thing: I suck at curling. Plus, this was a bit of an anomolous event there.

Good thing: I'm coming and going at regular hours.
Bad thing: I hear that a lot of people work a lot of ridiculous hours.

Good thing: I'm meeting lots of really nice people.
Bad thing: I'm still a little shy and can't remember people's names.

Good thing: I'm learning a lot.
Bad thing: My head might explode.

Just a reminder to vote tonight.

PLEASE don't vote Conservative. A vote for conservatives is a vote for my unemployment: they have no room for research in their budgets.

My first day on the job and wouldn't it just figure that the election would bring my demise?

Today I went to a baby shower for my friend Theresa (and of course her husband Josh) at her sister's place in Forest Hill (drool).

It was the first time that I'd seen them in months! Theresa is really pregnant. It's crazy to look at her belly and understand there's a person rolling around inside there.

Of course, they got lots of really cute baby things - all sorts of soft pretty things. I bought off of their baby registry, which meant really boring things like outlet covers, soothers and a thermometer. All sensible stuff for first-time mommies.

And I threw in a couple of things for the mom-to-be: bubble bath and chocolate bonbons. I can imagine that these last weeks (month?) are important for getting in all the relaxing she can before the big day.

It was a really nice time, as I got to catch up with all of the DINE girls (our social chow-down group). They marvelled at how long my hair is and wished me luck at my new job starting tomorrow. I found out about their new jobs, horses, houses, courses and travel plans and wished my life were a little more exciting.

I forgot to tell them about the Thai cooking course that I attended yesterday. It was a really nice location (Davenport and Dupont - that would be a nice spot to live!) and the teacher was pretty cool. The food was fanstastic and we at a LOT. However, in order to involve everyone and still get done in the 3 hours that it was supposed to take, they had done all the prep work and only some people were able to help with any dish prepared.

My big contribution was zesting the lemon for the red curry chicken. I also drank 2 glasses of wine and chatted with some of the other nice ladies in the class. So I pulled my weight ;)

We all made our own cold spring rolls, which was fun. We went home with the recipes, along with hand-written variations and tips, as well as bellies filled with yummy Thai food.

I got some suggestions for great Thai restaurants around the city and found out that my favourites are strong choices:

Salad King - Gould St - recommend the Islamic noodles

Bangkok Garden - Elm St - recommend the satay and red curry

Now I'll have more courage to create my own Thai sensations at home, and finally have some friends over for a dinner party chez moi.

I just saw Brokeback Mountain and I now understand what all the Golden Globe fuss was about.

It was one of the best love stories I've ever seen (or felt). And I didn't expect to be able to say that, even as open-minded as I am.

I would like to announce that I made my first stock purchase this morning. I'm feeling pretty cool about it. I am a financial genius! (OK, Alex is, but he's a good teacher.)

Thank you Ameritrade Canada!
(And Alex.)

Thinking about buying some coffee? Get over to Starbucks - it's Latte for Literacy day!

Buy any size latte and Starbucks will donate 100% of the purchase price to support literacy programs across Canada.

If there are two things I believe in, it's coffee and literacy. (OK, and protecting the environment, but that's not on the table today. That was yesterday's rant.)

So, even though I've made a concerted effort to curb my coffee spending, I'm taking my Starbucks card over there today and buying a medium decaf latte... I wonder if they'll donate the cost if I put a vanilla shot in it?

Anyway, as if you needed a better reason to buy a latte!

I don't usually talk about politics. Mostly because I hate them and feel overwhelmed with sadness at the bleak situation. By that, I mean that there is so much a government can and should do and so very little of it done due to politics.

However, even given my sense of futility, I must urge any Canadian who reads me to vote on Monday.

However, I beg you not to contribute to the incredible conservative fad that's been raging lately.

I don't understand it - I feel like I'm going through the US election all over again when GWB was re-elected. I didn't think that it could happen. I was sure that Americans had to be smarter than that. That they would be able to see through his absolutely transparent bull$*!t.

But they weren't. I felt like I was in the twilight zone.
And that's how I feel now.

Every time I hear Harper speak, I shake my head thinking, "I can't believe that guy got this far." And yet he continues to bring more popularity to his party!?

Who are we? Am I in Canada?

Do you know that they don't want to support the Kyoto accord? I mean, sure, the agreement could have been better. It could have been stronger. But it's all we've got at a global level, driving us toward some standards.

Yes, I know the States didn't agree with it. They were wrong and short-sighted. They're greedy - they don't want to place limits on the comforts and luxuries they've come to expect.

Yes, I know that we're far from meeting the targets. Does that mean that they're not worthy? Instead of mocking them, they should be coming up with or supporting innovative solutions. I personally have read many ideas in the pages of Alternatives magazine; there are no shortage of them.

That's what I want in a government: one that leads the population to help them do things that they cannot do by themselves. They have a responsibility to do so.

Please don't allow the Conservatives to get into power. I know we're smarter than that. Don't let us be the Americans. Vote to make sure we're not.

Today was a good day.

Any day can be a good day when you've got someone washing, massaging and fussing over your feet. And hands - let's not forget the hands!

I'm very thankful for the sweet spa gift certificate from my awesome brothers. What a spa! I got to hang out in a fluffy white robe, drink tea, nibble biscotti and read fashion magazines while my nails dried.

Nearby, a stream trickled by. It was truly a relaxing experience.

And look at the beautiful job they did of my nails. All neat and trim and elegant. And you should see my sexy toes! I am beautiful!

It was a bad night. One of those times when I just could not wrestle my mind into positivity. One of those times when I was having trouble figuring out the whole point of life.

Ya, one of those.

But I got through it and this morning I'm feeling better already. Good thing today is my spa day. Good thing I'm already planning all the things I'm going to do today.

A busy Cathy is a happy Cathy.

Now off to shower.

It's official: I'm bored.

And I'm never more unhappy than when I'm bored.

Don't get me wrong, I have no end of things I could do. Just nothing I WANT to do or am EXCITED about doing.

Today I went to see a couple of condos and one was very nice.

I also talked to a mortgage broker and am getting that very important financial aspect going. Yay, good for me.

I also went through all of the housing postings that were sent to me and evaluated them and sent back a bunch of the ones that interested me. That was a lot of work.

And I ate a lot of chocolate.

And last night I watched the Golden Globes (and did anyone else notice how much better the speeches are when they serve alchol?)

But I've got a list of things to do here, right in front of me and they're just staring me in the face. Taunting me, almost.

sign up for the gym's free 21-day membership

do yoga

go running

laundry

clean apartment

put away Christmas decorations

go bra shopping

buy

spend my gift certificates

get a haircut

fix the button on my coat

get my leather jacket dry cleaned

go see the Oscar movies

buy food and make a really good dinner

get registered for the election

buy a present for a friend

None of these seem overly taxing. In fact, some of them are downright FUN. Especially the shopping ones!

And I can't seem to make them happen today.
I guess it's time to just MAKE myself do something and maybe, just maybe, I'll start to feel better. Just by getting up and moving around.

I am never happier than when I'm productive. Even on vacation.

Today, I have already:

Expanded my horizons and read a very worthwhile bio of Karl Pilkington thanks to Sarah

Worked with the real estate agent on setting up some viewings

Put a gazillion dollars into my RRSP investment account

Had a nice lunch and long chat with Jane, whom I never get to see enough

Sent a "get well soon" card to my grandmother

Set up lunch with my old colleages

Updated Anita's website

Sorted through a lot of garbage that I brought home from my desk

Made myself delicious decaf coffee with my Christmas grinds from Kendra

Delivered my rent cheques and submitted a long-overdue maintenance request

Shortly, I'll be going for my run upstairs

Seriously, if I don't stop being so efficient, I'll be bored by the end of the week.

God I love time off.

After hours of looking through postings, I have found a place that I really like - no, I'm not linking to it, or you might go there and put in an offer before I even see it!

Of course, this means that I will likely not get this place. However, it's the first one that I've seen in the postings that really spoke to me. I'll talk to my real estate agent about it tomorrow.

This, after cancelling out of the hold that I put on a townhouse condo at the King Towns today. I am feeling very grown up.

So there's good news and there's good news.

The good news is that the itinerary for my family ski trip to Calgary is all set. It's rigorous, but hopefully I will continue with my physical training plan so that I won't die out there. The best part is that I didn't have to do anything for it - my mom and my sister figured everything out. (You think I'M organized? You should meet my sister.)

The GOOD news is that I leave on the same day as I have just purchased tickets for the Belle & Sebastian/New Pornographers concert! Why is this good news, you ask? Well, clearly this means that this is an opportunity for YOU to go to an awesome concert! I have a ticket for sale and several very cool ladies to go with. Basically, I've taken all the work out of it. Now you just have to show up!

Email me quickly to let me know if you'd like to be the lucky one who ends up with the ticket - this hot item won't last long!

(How was that for marketing? Do you feel manipulated yet?)

My last day at work passed on Friday. It was a little strange. It really didn't feel like the last day.

I worked until 5pm - still not done all of the things that I would have liked to have done - and crammed a bunch of things from my desk into my bag. I jumped on the TTC to drop it all off at home before heading off to the "good-bye Cathy" party.

We met at The Butler's Pantry on Markham St. and I gotta tell ya, that is a great restaurant. It's good, simple food at good prices. Really casual, but really cute.

Markham St. might be my new favourite street.

We ate and hung out for a while, chatting and drinking. Finally, we headed out for a more loungey feel and ended up Ciao Edie, just down the street on College. Also a great place.

More martinis and a couple of shots. Drunken conversations, dancing.
It was really nice to hang out - although we did probably talk about work too much. But what else can you expect from people who work together?

And then I took Alex home as he'd had a long, hard day and had already fallen asleep on the couch, poor guy.

So now all I have left is to go in for a Congee Star lunch next week and finish cleaning out my desk. And that will be that.

I will definitely keep in touch with some of those people because they are great. I can only hope that I'll meet as talented people at my new job.

And now for my action-packed week off...
Let the games begin!

Christmas phaser

Christmas phaser
Originally uploaded by webgoddesscathy.

Is there anything more Christmasy than a phaser?

I've finally put up my Christmas photos! And you can check them out on my flikr account. Just click!

My mom was happy that we took my camera to the shop and made hard copy photos before I went back to the city. She's a die hard about the photos.

That's not the only thing she's die-hard about (I ever-so-cleverly bring us back to the topic at hand).

Our family is clearly the nerdiest group of people known to man. Good thing we have each other to appreciate us.

The phaser was a gift from Matt - it's actually a TV remote control that plays "red alert" sounds as well as the standard "phaser" buzz.

Too cool.

Last weekend I made very good use of my time: downloaded a load of Erasure POP! 40 Hits.

Oh, Erasure can make me so happy to bop around my living room!

I don't know what's wrong with me. I am STILL in love with my apartment!

Seriously - and it's not even that great.
But I'm always finding things that I love about it:

the treadmill in the exercise room upstairs

looking out over the city as the sun sets while I sweat my way through 8kms (I'm getting faster!)

my walk-in closet - it's like the closet in Narnia, seems an entire world lies behind that door

my computer hooked up to my stereo - now I can listen to anything at any time. Who needs the radio? As previously noted, it's crap. Now I just listen to whatever I like and if I don't have it, I download it. And if I'm lacking creativity? Internet radio - did you know that there's a radio station just for Star Wars/Star Trek music? Ya. Love the internet.

my orange couch. YA, I know, I could stop there...

space to do yoga (on my awesome yoga mat) or dance

my blue exercise ball - I sit on it all the time

so close to the movie theatre and Indigo that I could probably go in my PJs.

proximity to 3 Starbucks, 3 Second Cups, 2 Timothy's. Still would welcome Lettieri in my neighbourhood

the quiet residential streets that surround me, giving me a quiet walk to the bus

5 minute walk to the subway

5 minute walk to 24-hr Dominion

gorgeous green paint - I think it's the best part

lots of light through my big windows

total storage space is actually more than I can use!

And I'm looking to buy a condo?
That's why it's been so difficult - because I love my place so much. It's got a lot to live up to.

Another favourite thing? Ya, my Metropass. WHY have I waited til now to get one?

What an interesting day.

They chose my replacement today - I have 3 days to tell her everything. Holy crap.

I presented a portal update to management - good times.

I started my complicated project hand-off to another project manager. Good luck on that one. I still have much work left before I can hand that off in good conscience.

I had coffee with the president of the company and was able to share my reasons for leaving.

I spent over 9 hours at work. And I've already quit?! Who DOES that!?

I got preapproved for a mortgage. I talked about doing something interesting with my RRSPs. I looked at more condos online. MANY of them. My eyes are getting buggy.

I ate way too much homemade granola. I feel ill. If it weren't so damn good, I wouldn't have to eat so much of it.

I wanted to go exercise but my back hurts and I have way too much granola in my belly. Always a good excuse to be found...

I was so productive today.

I got an employment letter, started my mortgage preapproval process, started up my investment account, saw five resale condos, ate fantastic yummy Thai food at Salad King (by far the best Thai food in the city), shopped for a dress in the sales and did my dishes.

Oh ya, I also did some work in there too.

It's amazing how much life you can have when your life isn't your work.

And then I came home to the best present: my LouLou magazine delivered to my door! It is my guilty pleasure. I have half a mind to wake up early just to make myself a cup of coffee with my new brewer and sit reading my shopping magazine before I even think about getting dressed.

The holidays went out with a bang last night at Matt and Kendra's Christmas party.

It was so great - way too much yummy food and drinks, lots of people, lots of loot. I got some really great stuff and managed to Kendra a nice gift too, complete with a FREE Pilates DVD from a cereal box! (even better than a second-hand one)

I got a one-cup coffee brewer and decaf coffee - yay! Also stuff for my hair to make my curly hair beautiful (ya, it might take a little more than some laminating spray for that...) and a Pilates DVD and a pink purse and bracelet from my mom (she had forgotten some presents).

It was so fun, Alex even said he really liked it AND my family!
That probably made my day.

Well, that and mom's apple pie.

Making bread is not easy: ingredients, OK, but committing to being around for the whole time to time the rising and baking. And then there's the technique: unless your mom showed you, do you really know the right way to knead bread? And for how long?

So I got a bread maker (years ago). It even came with a recipe book. I dumped a bunch of ingredients into a bucket, screwed it in, selected the setting they told me to, went away for the afternoon and came home to some fresh bread. Majik!

But say you get tired of white, french, whole wheat or banana bread - just try to make a variation. It's hit and miss. Mostly miss, actually. Because each breadmaker is different, breadmaker recipes don't always work.

A raisin bread experiment flop comes to mind. Literally like a brick.

And then there's all that patience: waiting 3 hours for a loaf of bread? I'm hungry NOW! I have a half a mind to go out and buy myself some croissants... if only there were a good bakery nearby (other than the bagel place). My mouth waters thinking about those St. Maarten pastries.

I do love my breadmaker - there's absolutely nothing better than hot French bread slathered in butter. It makes it all worth it.

You know what went in it, can have it hot when you want (if you plan it right), and the price for bakery bread just doesn't compare.

Now all I need is an espresso maker - actually, I've decided that maybe a Moka Pot might be OK for me for now (with a milk frother of course).

Day 3 of flossing my teeth every single night. Wow, am I feeling good about that.

I have flossed my teeth only sporadically throughout my life. I did it the most, surprisingly, when I had braces - mostly because I had all that money invested in them and I was damned if something was going to go wrong.

And I figured, hey, it's not going to be this hard FOREVER...

Then I got my permanent retainer and it was, if possible, even harder to floss the front ones.

Any you're thinking, thank GOD she told me that. I have been dying to know about her flossing habits!

OK, fair.
But did you know that good oral health is also linked with a lower incidence of heart disease, stroke and diabetes?

Plus, it makes your breath smell so much better when you don't have rotting food stuck inbetween your teeth.

Tell your boyfriend to read this post.

Ohmygosh, if there is one thing that I will dearly miss about this job, it is Congee Star.

They have the best Chinese food!

We went for the second time this week and of course I broke down and had my standard BBQ pork noodle soup. It was so damn good. But then, no one else could finish their food! So I ate the BBQ rice noodle roll. And packaged up the rest of the food to take home with me.

Honestly, these people were going to just leave their food for the garbage! No chance! Not with Bachelorette Cathy around!

So here I sit eating Cantonese chow mein - probably the yummiest thing I've eaten all week. Yay for people who can't eat their whole meal (or even half of it).

I'm really sad about soon being parted from my Congee Star!

I have some sad news. The cool station of my teenage years, CFNY 102.1 (now known as The Edge) officially sucks.

I am sitting here listening to them break down the song "Photograph" by Nickelback to describe exactly why that song is the "best song in the history of music."

I'm not kidding.

I quickly turned the station and found Norah Jones - she soothed my burning ears.

I'm a little annoyed by you New-Year's-Resolution lemmings.

OK, yes, that's great that you have decided to eat better and exercise. This is truly fantastic news! I'm very happy for you, although I'm not sure why you needed to wait for the magic date of January 2006 to make it happen.

But why do you have to take all of the good salads from the SuperStore? Leaving me one with yucky bacon bits!

And you really need to suddenly pack yourselves into my otherwise empty rooftop exercise room at the same time I go? I know that in a month or so I'll no longer have to wait for the treadmill.

I'm not trying to get you to give up. I'm just silently cursing you.

I can't believe how much time I have if I just leave work on time.

I have already managed to do my laundry, go for a run, do yoga, read up on some election crap and find out about the Thai cooking class that I got for Christmas.

OK, I might want to eat at some point, but I feel good.

I'm even being productive at work without being stressed out. I mean, OK, I've been working on the same document for almost a full day already, but it is a very important one. And it shows that I have totally blown away every objective set out for me in my position. Damn, I rock! And I don't even get to reap the benefits of such a stellar performance!

I guess now that everyone knows I'm leaving, they've stopped asking me to do things for them, so I actually have time to create this measurement of our portal performance. It's amazing what you can do when you can focus.

But beyond just the work aspect, I feel much more clear-headed about everything. I am feeling that balance that I've been looking for.

Is this just runner's high that I'm feeling?
No, I just feel happy.

Today I gave notice at work. My last day with be Friday the 13th! Spooky! I have been offered a new position at MaRS as a Portal Manager.

I feel lighter.

I have, of course, no idea how different the position will be until I start working there. However, I'm excited about the change.

I feel more organized and clear-headed about everything. I pray this feeling stays with me while I attempt to map my new action plan in a couple of weeks.

I'm very glad that I've given myself a week off inbetween jobs as I would also like to get serious about looking for a house/condo. Some big changes in 2006 already!

After making rather merry last night at the fun Caribbean Christmas/NYE party, I am feeling exceptionally horrible. I suspect the last fruity concoction that I put down had a little more alcohol in it than I thought. It hit me like a tonne of bricks. And so I switched to drinking water.

I had a great time dancing away in the living room - sometimes with other people, sometimes by myself. And chatting to everyone.

This morning, despite the water, I was sick. I kept throwing up and only now am I starting to feel a little better. I've finally managed to keep down some water.

I'm starving but my stomach isn't interested in any food that I have in my house. And I am strongly averse to venturing outside to get something. I might end up ordering in if I can think of something that I can stomach.

I have spent the entire day in bed, some of it with Alex taking care of me. I got him in trouble with his mom because she was expecting him home and he didn't want to leave me. Finally, I stopped throwing up and just slept, so he felt he could go. He's a good boyfriend.

Baby drunken pants.
How embarrassing.