New Year's Resolutions... 2010 - A New Life.

This is the fourth time I have blogged about resolutions I am making as I go into the new year. Two thousand nine was a year of change for me. Big changes. And big stresses.

So I am glad for the year to be ending. The "year of change" is almost over. A new cycle begins for me. And a new phase. Here's to the new phase...

So now, here are my resolutions for this year (and most are repeats, as I got nothing done from last year's list):

• Bikram 101 Challenge - Start it. Make it through. Finish it.
• Red Meat, Pork and Shellfish - I am over this stuff. It's bad for you. Period. I am still all over poultry though. But I will never eat turkey bacon. That stuff can never replace the real stuff.
• Write More - I was in too much fluctuation this past year to properly sit down and write. (Code: I was depressed most of this year. And since I don't believe in pills, I wallowed in my melancholy.) I intend to work towards getting published.
• Go to South Africa - Since the psychic said I would do this, why not just roll with it?
• Straighten Leg In Standing Bow Pulling Pose - So help me Sweet Baby Jesus, this one will happen this year.

Spa Treatments & Psychic Commentary.

I love spa treatments. You name it, I've probably had it done at a spa. But since moving to Toronto, I've been less active on the spa scene... I just haven't had the time. And I've also become quite bored with spa treatments. (I've only had two pedicures in my seven months living here. And no facials.) So while at Miraval, I decided to indulge a little. I had the following:

Ultimate Pedicure Journey

I loved this. They put a seaweed mask on your feet, and then wrap them in plastic heated booties!

Hot Stone Massage

I had begun to dislike massages. They just didn't do anything for me anymore. But the hot stones really made a difference in this massage. They rub your body with the stones. That surprised me. I thought they just placed them on the body. This was awesome.

Brennan Healing Experience

Hmm... This ended up being Reiki. That's all I have to say about that.

Private Session with Maggie Garbarini

Best thing I had done while at Miraval. And I didn't even plan to have it done. My first evening at Miraval, I went to a session about using Metaphysical tools. There were about 35 of us in the room. And Maggie Garbarini, a psychic, was leading the session. She did a little numerology on a few of people in the crowd. And I couldn't get over how easily she would remember everyone's names. I decided that I wanted to had a private session with her. So I booked one for the next day. And here is a quick summary of what she told me:

• Work - I am in the right job. I am not doing everything I am capable of though. She told me I would receive a promotion sooner than I expected. She sees some kind of international component being added to my responsibilities though.
• Home - Apparently, The Husband and I will NOT be living in our beautiful townhouse for the rest of our lives. She seems us buying another house in a few years. She couldn't see why though.
• Kids - "Whether you want it or not, there is a child coming into your life." That's what she said to me. And she said it would be in the next two years. Fuck.
• Travel - I will be taking a trip to South Africa this year. I really hope this one comes true.
• Soul - Apparently some grand change is supposed to happen to me in the next two months. Something that shifts my perspective. Something positive.

There was other stuff that she discussed with me. And yes, I do find her to be an accurate psychic... She was able to give me names of people I know, as well as list accurate information about them. Do I think everything she "saw" will come true? I don't know. But I move into the new year feeling more clear about my life path for the next year. I don't feel as confused.

Hiking, Leaping & Meditating.

Finally back home in Toronto... We have yet to have a proper snowfall here this Winter. There was more of a snow on the ground in Arizona than there has been here. But it was slightly warmer there. And I was able to spend quite a bit of time outside while at Miraval.

This picture was taken on the early morning hike that is offered each day. You can see the snow on top of the Catalina mountains, as well as the hint of a rainbow coming down from the clouds. We hiked for two hours at the base. And while out, we saw some of the cows wandering free-range in the area...

Besides various hikes offered by the staff at Miraval, there is an assortment of "challenge activities" as well. The only one I found time to take part in was the Quantum Leap.

For this challenge, you climb to the top of this 25-foot pole and step off the top. You are harnessed in and float down to the ground. The stepping off the top of the pole is the easiest part. The hardest part is getting to the top of the pole.

You have to climb the ladder, then you switch to climbing staples running up the pole. Then, once you find yourself at the top two staples, you have to figure out how to get one foot on the disk that sits on top of the pole. And that ain't an easy maneuver! You have to step one foot on the disk while holding onto the disk - because guess what? - the disk isn't evenly nailed down! It wobbles as soon as you put your hands on it to balance yourself before you step your first foot on it.

Then, once you finally get up the courage to stand up and let your hands go (so that you can bring your other foot into the disk), you then have to somehow twist your body around so that you are facing the opposite direction from how you climbed up it. So, see, the stepping off the pole is the easy part. Getting to the top is the tough part.

I spent a good amount of time at the resort meditating in the Kiva (Zen Garden)...

And I also walked the labyrinth a few times... Allowing my mind to zone out in the pattern...

While out there, I spotted some wild javelinas. But they moved to quickly for me to grab a picture of them.

With the exception of any one-on-one activities, alcohol and the spa treatments, everything at Miraval is included in the price. Meals, snacks, activities, yoga classes, educational sessions, WiFi that actually works... It ended up being a very good deal for The Husband and me.

I intend to go back next year at the same time.

Miraval Resort Near Tucson.

I am currently waiting to board my flight from Tucson to Denver, which will allow me to connect to a flight that will take me back to Toronto. I have a long rest-of-the-day traveling back home. And the journey started at about 10am today, when I left the resort/spa we had been staying at for the past few days, Miraval.

I will go back to this spa. It was incredible. Expensive, yes... But there are deals to be found. Two and a half days was not enough time there. When I go back next time, it will be for at least four days. There is just too much to do there...

Horse-back riding... Mountain biking... Hiking... Swimming... Rock climbing... Leaping from 35-foot poles into the air... Swinging from a 35-foot platform... And it is all included in the price of your stay. Also, there is a spa. Oh! And FREE mind-body-therapy sessions.

I can't go into everything in this post before I board my plane... But here is a picture of me in the Kiva (Zen Garden) my first day there.

I am very relaxed. I will write more later.

Sex & The City 2 Trailer.

Have you seen it? If not, here it is...

I completely agree with Carrie... Even if you are married, "sometimes you just have to get away with the girls."

Bikram 101 Supplies.

I have exactly 10 days to prepare for the Bikram 101 Challenge. And I am not talking about mental preparation and time-management preparation, which Bikram Yoga Chick wrote about today. No, I am talking about supplies I need to stock up on before the challenge begins...

• White Vingear: Best thing to use when washing your Bikram clothes and towels. It is like magic when it comes to deodorizing your gear.
• Tea Tree Oil: Twenty drops in a spray bottle of water... Awesome for cleaning your mat after class. As soon as I get home (my practice studio doesn't have the space for mat storage), I unroll my mat and spray it down. I let it dry on a rack.
• Hair Elastics: I just keep these stored in my yoga bag at all times. You can never have too many. And when you have hair as thick as mine, they have been known to break while wearing.
• Terax Hair Conditioner: My hair gets rinsed and conditioned after every class. I only shampoo it every other day. Once a week, I throw on a deep conditioner. And also during the challenge, I don't bother straightening my hair. It is too much effort. I just let my natural wave do its thing.
• Emergen-C: These also get stored in my yoga bag. I drink one during class. Though I will probably switch to drinking them before class during this challenge. I am trying to be less reliant on my water bottle during class.
• Lemon Ginger Yogi Tea: For after class. It's a digesting tea. Very good for you. And very yummy.

I have a little bit of shopping to do when I get back next Thursday.

The House Must Be Clean.

Ugh... Spent most of this evening frantically cleaning my house. Even though I am going on vacation tomorrow.

No, I am certainly not one of those psycho-clean people. I do not care if my house is dirty while I am away. Well, not usually. See... We're having guests stay at our house while we are away. So of course, I feel the need to make sure sheets are all clean... That there are plenty of fresh clean towels... That every room be vacuumed... That all garage be taken out... And that every single bathroom be freshly cleaned.

So it has been a very busy evening. As I have five bathrooms. I am still doing laundry to ensure that there are clean towels. And I will likely mop the floors before I go to bed.

Ugh. That is all I am going to say.

Canadian Mittens.

My in-laws stopped by this weekend to visit with Human and I before we leave for Arizona for Christmas.

I am very lucky that the in-laws have never made a fuss over The Husband and I spending Christmas with my family most years. When it comes to holidays, I like to either spend it with my family (because they know to let me have my space while I visit) or with just The Husband and I.

(Yes, I've always been a fiercely independent person. Even during the holiday season.)

But one of the lovely things my in-laws did this weekend (besides fixing things around the house that needed fixing) was bring us some holiday gifts. And one of my was very cool...

They're official Winter Olympic mittens!

I love the little maple leaf on the palm-side of the mittens. Makes it easy to wave and show your support during the games in February. And they will go nicely paired with my Lululemon Remix Canada hoodie...

Or should I feel the need to be split in my Winter Olympics support, I can pair them with the Lululemon Remix USA hoodie I picked up.

Winter fun!

Needed: Throw Pillows, Grey Walls & Dark Wood Floor.

Owning a house is expensive.

And I'm not just talking about the monthly carrying cost of the house... You know: mortgage, utilities, repairs, gardeners, taxes... I'm talking about the on-going decorating costs.

I have decided that after four months in this house, I no longer like the color of my office...

I should have been more daring with the color when I initially had it painted in August. I went with a misty lavender color. But what I had originally wanted was a steely grey.

Black, shades of purple and grey... That was what I wanted my home office to be. But I decided to shy away from the grey walls I lusted for in my dreams. And I played it safe with the light purple color.

But my redecorating wish list doesn't stop with simply bringing the painter back and having the walls re-done. No... I want a new floor too. I just can not stand the site of white wall-to-wall carpeting. As soft and warm as it is, it just isn't my style.

Wall-to-wall carpet belongs in a Bikram studio. Not in a chic home office.

In it's place, I want to put dark wood flooring. And a gypsy-like rug of some kind.

The one thing on my redecorating wish list that I think I can accomplish fairly quickly is the addition of throw pillows for my fainting sofa. Not sure what I want exactly... But the space needs some pillows. Fun ones.

When I Grow Up, I Want To Be Tavi Gevinson.

When I was 13, the year was 1990. Madonna was Vogue-ing. MC Hammer was rocking the harem pants. Vanilla Ice was about to have us "stop... collab-o-rate and listen..." And I was all about spending hours in my room listening to Wilson Phillips and Def Leppard. (Yes, I had random music taste.)

These were my style inspirations. Madonna's black and white "Vogue" video inspired me to redecorate my bedroom in black and white. I owned a pair (or two) of MC Hammer "harem" pants. I began to style my bangs high to compete with guys working the "Vanilla Ice" height hair, while competing with Def Leppard's band members for AquaNet usage. Most of the my day-to-day clothing creations (leggings, sweaters, vests and floral dresses) at that age were ripped from what I saw WP wearing.

This was how I expressed myself at 13. I did NOT have a blog. I did NOT ever think about picking up a pen and writing. I did NOT find fashion particularly interesting. I took the world in and responded without thinking. But had the Internet been around and accessible at that time, I'd like to think I would have had a little Tavi Gevinson in me.

Oh... Don't know who she is? Well, you should.

Tavi is the "Style Rookie." Though, I feel she is far from "rookie" and more advanced when it comes to personal style than most of us.

Tavi is 13 years old. (THIRTEEN!) And already, she has the public profile and fashion "cred" that most of us (more than twice her age) would love to have. Her blog is a peek at style and fashion from her young eyes. And many of us out here on the Intertubez love reading her take on things. So many of us, in fact, she has already been invited to Fashion Week AND reviewed the Rodarte for Target collection for Style.com.

LUCKIEST 13 YEAR OLD EVER!

Tavi is a style inspiration to me. You need to check out her blog.

Merry "Bitch-Mas" To You.

Oh... That sounds so bad. But really, it is the mood I find myself in lately.

This has been a busy couple of months. And I thought December would be the month where things quiet and settle down a little. I mean, it's the "holiday season." Things are supposed to get festive and people are supposed to relax and chill out. Right?

Well, I guess not. Because for the first time in my life, I am seeing the stressful side of the season. And I must say, I am not "down" with it.

Normally, when I don't like the shit-show I am being treated to, I run away. I quit and I run. I have no tolerance for BS. But it is time to be a grown-up, and demonstrate a little patience... Send good vibes out into the Universe... Let Karma do it's thing... Yada-yada-yada.

I am trying to be less "it's my way or the highway" with things. But it is a struggle. And I am not just referring to one area of my life. I am referring to anything and everything. (Though, for once, I am not referring to work.) There is just too much to do lately. And more stuff keeps getting piled onto the "must deal with" list.

Just need to breathe and get through the next three weeks. I go home later this week, so at least there is something to look forward to. But in the meantime, "Merry Bitch-Mas."

"Children Are The Orgasm Of Life?"

Don't get me wrong. I love Lululemon. I would go to work in a pair of Lulu's Groove Yoga Pants each day if I could. And normally, when I purchase things from the store, I love receiving my "Manifesto" reusable shopping bag. But a trip there to get a Remix Hoodie USA yesterday had me wanting to stick my finger down my throat and puke up all the good feelings I had about the store.

What had me so put-off? One of the sayings on the "Manifesto" bag...

"Children are the orgasm of life?" Excuse me?

Don't get me wrong... I LOVE children. They're wonderful and precious when they are new born. And once they hit the age of four, they're wonderful too. (It's just during the "asshole" stage of two to three that I want mostly nothing to do with them.) Kids are great. And fun. Even during the "asshole" stage... They say funny things and are actually quite genius with their discoveries. But to call them "the orgasm of life?" Um... No.

What if one decides to never have children? Or what if one can't have children? Or what if one wants to have children but never meets a mate good enough to have them with, because all they seem to keep encountering are people who never grew out of that "asshole" stage from early childhood?

Are we denied this feeling of "the orgasm of life?"

How utterly eff-ing cruel.

This is one of the reasons I struggle with committing to the idea of having a child. It's this idea that having a child is one's "purpose" in life. Or that it is the "most important thing" one can do in their life.

I've never thought about a child in either of these ways. And I never will. I always thought of having children as a "fun way to keep company." Like I noted, they are precious and funny... Even when they are assholes. And if I did have them, they would be "up there" in terms of significant things I do in my life. But I plan on doing many, many other things that are equally significant, to me.

I mean, if children are, indeed, the "orgasm of life," those of who don't want/can't have/can't find someone not-asshole-ish to have one with should just end things now. And that can't be what the Universe wants. Because there are far too many things for me left to do...

• drink more cups of Nespresso
• Bikram 101 Challenge
• buy more skinny jeans from Jean Therapy
• travel back to Rome and see Chilean wine country
• attend Bikram yoga teacher training
• help build a successful digital marketing business
• finally straighten my leg in Standing Bow Pulling pose

See? Far too many things to do.

Rodarte For Tar-Zjay.

I was very excited when I heard that Rodarte was doing a line for Target.

Yes, that's right... "WAS."

Now, after having seen some more pictures of the pieces online, I am not so sure...

Perhaps it's the model and the goth-way they styled these pieces in the photo shoot. I am hoping the individual pieces will look more polished online. And I am NOT loving the lace tights.

The line launches on the Target website on Sunday.

Hot Stones & Therapy.

Ahh...

In exactly a eight days I will be at a spa outside of Tucson. The Miraval Spa Resort. And I can not wait! The past few weeks have been kinda crazy for me. I thought it would be quiet... But it has been non-stop. So I am looking forward to getting away and relaxing.

(And I really need it before the craziness in the new year begins... Working and a 101-Day Bikram challenge!)

I am a huge fan of spa getaways, because I LOVE spa treatments. And I haven't had one since I went to Mexico two months ago. So I am splurging on myself and getting at least TWO treatments while I am there. After some research and discussion with consultants at the spa, here is what I have chosen so far:

Hot Stone Massage

Using basalt stones to loosen muscles and release tension, a deep tissue massage is given for 80 minutes. EIGHTY MINUTES!!!!

Brennan Healing Science

Meant to restore well-being, emotionally balance the mind-body-soul and help enhance life by learning to listen to your inner guidance, this treatment "combines innovative healing techniques with spiritual and psychological processes." My take: It's an hour of having someone ask me about my feelings. But it's the closest thing they had to a shamanic healing, as the original treatment I wanted wasn't available because that particular healer is on vacation.

I'm not big on facials anymore. I have never tried a body scrub treatment, and I am hesitant to let someone abrasively rub my naked body. So a "therapy session" and a massage sound ideal to me. But I may change my mind later. We're at the spa for three days.

My White Elephant Gift.

No one at work reads my blog... So I can safely write about what I am bringing to the holiday party this year as my "White Elephant" gift.

I was originally gonna bring a gag gift of one of the following:

• Edward Cullen poster
• Miley Cyrus's latest CD

But I decided to bring a legitimate gift instead. And not the fall-back Starbucks gift card or "bag of lottery scratch tickets." No, this year I have a decent gift: Two DVDs.

I went to a shop to buy The Hangover. And they had a special running where I could buy Mad Max for only $3 more. So I couldn't resist. Both are classics. One new classic. One old classic.

I mean, how can you not love Bradley Cooper in The Hangover? And who doesn't love watching a young, pre-racist, Mel Gibson with a dubbed-over voice?

I hope whoever ends up with my gift enjoys it very much. (Unlike that year when I ended up with a magazine of fat-chick porn at a White Elephant gift exchange with friends. I didn't enjoy that at all.)

Lululemon "Cheer Gear!"

"Can you do me a favor?"

A friend in Texas was in need. A need only I, a Canadian permanent resident, could help her with at the moment.

See, my friend had discovered a limited edition of apparel available from Lululemon (a Canadian company). Lululemon calls it "Cheer Gear" as it is meant to be worn to show support for your country during (what I am assuming) the Olympics.

It's not official Olympic gear. It's supporting gear.

My friend was in love with the hoodies that were created, and only available in stores in Canada. Specifically, she loved the Remix Lulu Hoodie CANADA. And so did I...

Yep! I went into the store to pick up a hoodie to ship to my friend and left with one for myself as well.

I know... I know... I'm not Canadian. I probably should have went with the USA one. But the Canadian one was just too cute!

Check out the detail of little maple leaves...

And did you notice the bright gold zipper? The USA ones, allegedly, have a silver zipper.

I guess that is a sign of how the hosting country expects the medal distribution to go at the Winter games.

Business Travel Ain't Sexy Or Glamourous.

I spent the afternoon watching a movie about business travel. It had George Clooney in it. (Purrrr!) And it gave great shout-outs to American Airlines and the Hilton Hotel chain. And as sexy as it made business traveling seem, I am far enough in my career to be secure in the following opinion I have developed:

I do not like business travel.

Well... That's not entirely true. I don't mind traveling for business. But I 100-million-times prefer traveling for personal reasons over business reasons. And tomorrow I board a plane to the middle part of the U.S. for a day. Then I come home the next day.

Exciting times.

So, given that it is a quick trip, I waited till this evening to pack my bag. And here it is...

Yep. This is all I am taking. Everything I need for 24 hours is in this one bag. My Lululemon carry-on.

I figured there really wasn't any need for my beloved Alexander McQueen ribcage bag. That's the bag I take for week-long excursions to Europe. But for a one-day trip to another office in the States? Just one bag is needed.

First rule of (business or personal) travel: Pack light and take only what will make you feel great.

(And for those of you who are in the know... I will be packing a box of Cheez-Its in the bag on my return trip.)

Canada Goose Jackets: Kensington Parka.

Let me just say first... Toronto isn't that much colder than Boston. But the Winter does come a little earlier up here. At least this year it has. It has been about 19 degrees (Fahrenheit) the past two days.

So I have decided that I am not going to freeze my ass off for the sake of fashion, as I did in Boston for a few years. No... I am pulling out all the fashion stops and picking up one of these...

A Kensington Parka by Canada Goose.

"It's like wearing a duvet outside!" one of my co-workers told me. And I believe them. My co-workers all have serious Winter coats. And the Kensington isn't ugly, by any means. It is a nice coat.

A nice, ridiculously warm coat.

"I'll Take A Pumpkin Spice Latte & An H1N1 Shot."

Coming from the U.S., I am always amazed by the easy and free access to health care up here in Canada. It was never so easy to get seen and checked out in the states, at least in my experience.

There were always referrals that needed to be gotten, which usually required calling doctor's and leaving messages in the hopes that they would get it and mail it to you. E.R. visits for a simple UTI would take HOURS. Then, after having booked appointments WEEKS in advance, I always loved having to sit around and wait an hour to see a doctor. Oh, and prescriptions... Who doesn't love paying $120 of your own money for an acne cream?

Good times. Good times.

That's why whenever "flu shot season" came around wherever I worked, I would always get the shot. It was free. Work would pay for it. And even though I always get sick from flu shots, I would still get it.

Something medical-related that was free? I was all over that! And I still haven't broken free of that mentality...

At about 1:45pm yesterday, I decided to pop out to Starbucks for my 50th Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season. (Side note: My rule is that when I hit #50, I am not allowed anymore for the season.) I got my sweet concoction and walked back to my office building.

Once in the lobby, I noticed a sign that read:

H1N1 Vaccines

Suite 501

8am-5pm

I decided to go check it out.

I walked into the doctor's office and was in shock by how beautiful it was. Clean, white and modern. There was a flat screen TV on the wall playing Friends. The latest issue of fashion glossies in tidy piles. I went up to the desk...

"You're giving H1N1 shots here?" I inquired.

"Yep," said the receptionist. "If you give me your health card, I can take you back to the doctor to get one."

I took out the green card with my picture on it, filled out a form, and then was taken back to a beautiful room with lounge chairs. A handsome British-accented doctor smiled at me.

"Are you here for the 'white magic'?" he asked.

I laughed.

"Is that, like, um, Botox?" I asked. "Or did you mean the H1N1 shot?"

He held up a syringe, and I assumed it was an H1N1 vaccine. But it could have been Botox. So I let him tell me what to do.

"Are you left-handed or right-handed?" he asked.

I raised my right hand. So he came at me from the left.

A few seconds later I was pricked by the handsome British-accented doctor (with the needle). I was told to sit in the waiting room for 15 minutes to make sure I didn't have any kind of a reaction to the shot.

In total, I was out of the office for about 25 minutes. The length of an extended coffee break.

Now, let's see if I get sick...

They Just Aren't The Same.

My good friends, Frogger and Bail, tried to mail me some Cheez-Its today from Boston. They hit a roadblock in their kind efforts...

I am sorry to tell you, Missus, that UPS would not let me send you Cheez-Its without insuring them for at least $250. Apparently, US does this w/ food so that when the foreign customs department rips through the boxes and steals the food (which, apparently, happens often), the US is not liable for the loss. While I do love Cheez-Its, and I want to provide you with all the comforts of your American home, I can think of a lot of things I can do with $250.

However, I have two boxes of Cheez-Its and I will give Bail a box, and the two of us will eat the Cheez-Its together and toast to you... probably with a few bottles of wine that when added up will total close to $250.

I appreciate that they tried. But for the love of Sweet Baby Jesus on Christmas morning... Why the hell are they not available here???

In all my sadness, I walked to the Whole Foods to get some veggies for dinner. And I saw these on the "cracker aisle."

I brought them home, poured a glass of red wine, and tried a few.

"Eww!"

They just aren't the same as the real thing.

Oh Canada.

Dream: Spoiled Strawberries.

I woke up this morning, to an alarm, at 5:30am. I reset the alarm for 6:45am instead... Because my ass wanted to sleep longer.

When I fell back asleep, I had a dream that I was in a grocery store. I picked up a pint of strawberries. But when I went to pay for them, some of them fell out of the container. And underneath they were spoiled.

The grocery clerk took them from me and told me she would go get me some new ones.

Then I woke up.

Spoiled - Dreaming of spoiled food represents not taking care of you emotional needs.

Strawberries - Represent goals, ideas and making desires come true.

I guess I am letting my desires spoil? FML.

"Repeal Day" Means "Happy Christmas."

Today is Repeal Day. I had originally planned to go out to dinner and drinks with The Husband, to celebrate the day like I did last year in Boston. But we were asked to dinner outside the city with friends. So we did that instead. (It was yummy!)

Before we left the city, we spent the afternoon getting each other's holiday gifts. Last weekend I snuck his university diploma and CFA certificate out of the house to a custom framer. They made beautiful frames and matted the documents for me. The Husband loved it, and was truly surprised by it. He had no idea that's what I was up to. And for me, he got me this...

A Nespresso Citiz machine!!!!

One of my friends from Arizona had been on my case for about a year and a half to try one of these things. And when I was in Paris last Spring, I went to the Nespresso boutique on the Champs Elysees. So I knew the stuff was good... But I never really gave much thought to having one myself. At least, not until my 5-year-old coffee machine died a few weeks ago.

"I need to inspect new coffee machines," I made a note to myself.

But the truth is... I don't actually drink much coffee. I drink espresso drinks. So an espresso machine was really what I needed. And after much research, I asked people what they knew/thought about Nespresso machines.

Turns out... Everyone and their mother seem to have one!

"I love mine! Had it for six years!"

"I just replaced my old one with a new one!"

"It's a fantastic kitchen tool!"

"The espresso is so clean and pure!"

I went to Williams-Sonoma and tried the espresso for myself again... And I was sold. The Husband paid for it, I brought it home... And now it is mine.

And it is awesome.

There will be a lot less Pumpkin Spice Lattes, and Starbucks in general, around here.

There Are No Cheez-Its In The Great White North.

Oh holy hell!

I thought I had done thorough research before moving to Canada. They had universal health care, easier access to Taco Bell and Arby's for me, a new Bikram studio for me to practice at... Pretty much all the things I care about most. But I overlooked one thing.

Cheez-Its.

Every six months (usually) I get a craving for the golden crispy cheese-flavored snack crackers. Since moving to Toronto, I hadn't craved them... Until yesterday, when I was dealing with my fraud issue.

I wanted a comfort food... And since university, these have always been a comfort food for me. Eaten only when I was really stressed out.

I went to a few different stores today to try to find them. And was really confused that I couldn't find them anywhere. I mean, as my brother J likes to joke, "Canada is USA-junior. You have everything we have... We just had it first." (Except for universal health care.)

So why the eff was I not finding my Cheez-Its????

Well, turns out they aren't distributed up here.

FUCK ME!

And before you dare even suggest it... No I can not substitute Goldfish Crackers (which they do carry up here) for the Cheez-Its. First of all, that is blasphemy... And you should go straight to the deepest pits of fiery hell for even thinking such a thing. Second, everyone knows Goldfish Crackers are for people with gentle taste buds... Like children. They are not meant for adults.

Oh woes me!

"Never Use Non-Bank ATMs."

Ah... The joys of trying to be a contentious consumer and still getting ripped off in some way!

This is an update to yesterday's post about getting robbed.

I went to the bank this morning, first thing. My bank was great. It took about 30 minutes to get paperwork filled out and get me a new card with a new pin. They said the money should be back in my account by the end of next week.

I did have to answer a lot of security questions while there. And they were able to tell me exactly where the cash withdrawals took place. So they know it wasn't me pulling the money out.

So, you're probably wondering how this even happened... Since my physical card wasn't stolen, and I have never shared my pin with anyone. Well...

It seems that there is a scam involving non-bank ATMs. You know, the type you see in convenience stores? Anyhoo... I use those from time to time, when I am too lazy to go to an actual bank ATM.

Problem is, those ATMs are independently owned. Which means they can be owned by crooks. Crooks who install internal scanners and cameras to capture your name, card number and pin as you are typing it into the machine. They then sell your information to various online buyers who them duplicate your card and go crazy around town withdrawing cash.

I have used these types of machines a few times since moving to Toronto. And that is probably how this happened. So lesson learned:

Only use bank-affiliated ATMs. Never use the random ones you see at convenience stores or other businesses.

A Missus-ism: "It Pays To Be A Slut."

Whoa... Now, don't jump the gun and think I am suggesting we all be loose women/men... Let's put this in relative terms.

I have a friend who is trying to get a consulting service off the ground. But, as everyone can imagine, it's easier said than done. It takes a lot of work to make connections and attract business. And this friend, who everyone should hire because they are phenomenal at what they do, became quite frustrated recently.

"I am so tired of writing these pitches!" they screamed over IM.

"Yeah," I sympathized for a second. "But it's all in effort so that you can focus on what you truly want to do in your career. So you have to do it."

Then I went on to really illustrate my point.

"It's like with dating," I explained. "You have to kiss A LOT of frogs to meet your prince or princess. It's the same with starting a business. It pays to be a slut, and always pitching."

The friend laughed. They agreed with the perspective. Being "slutty" is necessary.

(Bet that shit is advice your mum never gave you!)

I Think I Know What I Want For Christmas.

I think I want a Kindle.

I love books. I have a ton of them. But they take up valuable shelf space in my office. Shelf space that, to be honest, would be better used for my growing shoe collection.

SHOES!

Anyhoo... I have wanted a Kindle for about a year now. Everyone I know who has one loves it. But I held off on buying one because of the move to Canada. The Kindle and its service wasn't available up here yet. So why buy a piece of technology that wasn't necessarily usable up here?

Well, that's changed now. And there is a global version of the Kindle available now. The only thing that isn't available on it up here in Canada is the experimental web browsing and blog reading.

So given that... I need to know from you current Kindle users... "How much do you use those two features?"

Your help in narrowing down a Christmas gift for The Husband to get me is greatly appreciated.

I Was Robbed.

It's not quite what you think, people. I was violently mugged (which has happened to a few people I know, sadly)... No... I am a victim of ATM fraud.

Yay!

(Sarcasm.)

I went to Whole Foods tonight to buy $15 worth of groceries. I took out my debit card to pay for them. The machine rejected my card.

"You must have reached your limit," the whore-bitch cashier said to me.

"Um, look," I told her. "That's not possible. I have plenty of money in my account. Enough to cover $15 of groceries. But I'll give you cash to be done with you."

After I collected my groceries, I walked to my bank's ATM in the grocery store. I put my card in, punch in my pin... And the ATM spits my card back out and tells me to call the bank.

"Okay..." I say to myself, worried.

I get home, call the bank and get asked a long series of security questions. I come to find out that in the past 24 hours, someone made a series of withdrawals from my account using my ATM card number and pin. And they managed to get out $1100 across all the withdrawals.

ELEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS!

The bank saw the withdrawals of large amounts, and deactivated my card. So I now have to go into the bank tomorrow, give them my old card, and sign off for them to start the investigation. They should have the money back into my account in a few days. But what a pain in the ass!!!!

Argh!!!

I have to give my bank props, though. They saw the odd transactions and tried contacting me right away. But they didn't leave messages on my cell phone. And I screen all my calls, which means I never pick up. So if a message isn't left, I just don't call back.

But the bank went ahead and deactivated my card in the event that this was fraud. So that's why it didn't work when I went to buy groceries.

Lesson: Even if you do all you can to protect your pin and ATM number, someone can still steal it. Make sure bank with a legitimate bank who will help protect you when shit like this happens.

Dreams: Dorm, 33 & Running Backwards.

I seem to always have bad Bikram classes after a night of weird dreams.

Tonight's class was really tough. Not the toughest I've ever had... But I could just not quiet my mind! And it was like that all day. In the back of my head, I kept trying to figure out the dream.

Here is what I can recall...

I am back at University, trying to find my room in the dormitory. It's room number 33, but I can't seem to find it. At first I try to find it myself. But eventually I just ask people... And it seems that it is tucked away in a corner of the building. I find it and go in.

My friend Bail is there. She is my roommate. She points out the two desks in the room that she has taken for herself. I start to ask why I don't get one of the desks. But that's when I realize that there are four in the room.

I decide to head outside to get more of my things for the room. But they're in another building up a slight hill. I start to run up the hill... But my legs can't move fast enough. So I turn around and run up it backwards, because it appears I can do it faster that way.

Ohmigosh!

Where to start?

Okay...

• Dorm - To dream that you are in a dormitory, represents the value you place on knowledge and education. You believe that you are always learning and not just in the classroom.
• Lost - To dream that you are lost, suggests that you have lost your direction in life or that you have lost sight of your goals. You may be feeling worried and insecure about the path you are taking in life. Alternatively, you may be trying to adjust and get accustomed to a new situation in which the rules and conditions are ever changing.
• Room - To dream that you find or discover new rooms, suggests that you are developing new strengths and taking on new roles. You may be growing emotionally. Consider what you find in the discovered room.
• 33 - Thirty-Three represents high potential and mastery in your own spiritual consciousness
• Desk - To see or sit at your desk in your dream, suggests that you are evaluating and weighing your problems. It is indicative of self-exploration and discovery.
• Running - To dream that you are trying to run but cannot make your feet move as fast as you want them to, signifies lack of self-esteem and self-confidence
• Backward - To dream that you are walking or moving backward, signifies that what you are doing may be counter-productive. What you are seeking in life appears to be moving away from you.

Yes. Yes. Yes. I am always on a journey of self-discovery. I am always seeking an answer from the Universe.

"Am I on the right path?"

"Should I be doing this over that?"

"Am I being a chicken shit by defaulting to what I know (and actually love) rather than feeding my hunger for new adventure?"

"Should I stop drinking Starbucks and switch to Tim Horton's?"

(The answer to the last one is, "Hell-to-the-no.")

As the Dancing J once told me, "You need to just make a decision. Stop asking the Universe. Things will fall into place."

Easy said. And those are words I preach to others myself. But actually having the courage to do it for myself?

I am a chicken-shit when it comes to this kind of thing.