Lis ... - I don't have a sweat gland problem - it's lip gloss.

After I helped Paul move on Saturday, I was exhausted. I had been out late the night before and gone to help with the move at an obscenely early hour on Saturday. Then, progressively become more exhausted as Paul worked us to the bone. Slave-driver.

I got home and desperately needed a nap. Call Lis and made plans for the night and fell into a beautiful slumber. Yeah, I then slept through all of her calls and was forced to get dressed and primped in 20 minutes! It is still a miracle that I was even able to come close to pulling it off.

So we went to the Matt Mays concert at Starlite last night. It was ok. I always pay attention to how captivated I am by a show and, well, he did nothing for me. I was quite happy to ignore the show and chat with Lis and Chunk. This is why I don't think I could be a music journalist. If the show doesn't get me really into it, I am bored and not paying attention. I have no idea what stuff he played or anything. I am a bad concert-goer.

I also ran into my friend Kristin. Kristin is one of two people I met in my program last year that I regularly keep in contact with and she is one of the funniest people I have ever met in my ENTIRE life. She was supposed to come to my party last week, but got the dates wrong and ended up there on Saturday rather than Friday. I think she is probably just avoiding any non-accidental contact with me. I can be embarrassing in public.

After the show, a very drunk Lis and Iris drag a very sober Chunk to Denny's. I haven't been to Denny's in a few years, and I remember why now. The meal itself was hilarious, because anytime in public with a drunk Lis is funny. I will probably never remember what made it so funny, but let me tell ya, it was like comedy show funny. Not like a bad Yuk Yuk's open-mike-night, but a OMG-we-have-to-get-tickets comedy show. Get it?

Oye-Vay.

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And where do you think you are going?

So I have this friend. For the sake of this post, we will call him Paul.

Now Paul and I have been friends since high school. In fact, said friend was my grad date. We have been best dudes for a while now, a fact I take great pride in, a) because he is a difficult person to like; b) I have said it before, but I feel truly blessed to have people who knew me back-in-tha-day; and c) our friendship is living proof of a truly platonic friendship between members of the opposite sex.

So since HS, Paul and I have remained best dudes. Of my memories of the past ten years, very few of them don't include Paul. We have lived within a 15 block radius of each other for a while, and I have gotten very used to having one of my best friends within a 15-minute walk. One of the comforts of Edmonton I love.

Anyways. Paul is growing up and it is bugging the shit out of me. I helped Paul move on Saturday. Unfortunately for me, Paul is moving out of the downtown core. Very far out of the downtown core. To a part of town I don't even know how to get to on bus. For the first time since HS, Paul and I aren't going to be just a hop, skip and a jump away from each other.

It is the end of an era. A very fun era.

Paul is also getting married this year. Kai is getting married this year too. Do you know that most of my group of friends from HS are married or getting married? A good chunk of them already have kids. WTF?! I am still waiting on a boy I like enough to introduce to my parents and these people are being adults?

I just can't think about this anymore. Paul and I are NEVER going to hang out again. He is NEVER going to want to go for a walk again. We are NEVER going to see each other again.

MY LIFE IS OVER!

Ok, a little dramatic I know, but these are the INSANE thoughts that have been running through my head. I get that I should be happy for my best dude, and I am, but I am also really sad for me too. Call me selfish. I don't care. I JUST DON'T CARE!

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Friday Night Lights

I have been trying to have random fun in Edmonton. I mean, I was able to do it in NYC, so why not here? Wednesday, I called a friend to see if she wanted to go to a discussing at the Power Plant, we didn't make it, but the attempt was there. So, Friday night, she called to see if I wanted to go to an art exhibit / dance party. Yeah, I do!

I met them all there. The art exhibit was marginal at best. Pretentious artist types with odd pieces I will never fully 'get'. We then decided to go downstairs for the dance party. Holy Moly was this a good party. The scene was a little too scenester-cool for me (I HATE being stressed about what I chose to wear. I know, shallow, but it is ALWAYS a concern of mine) but the music was great and after a few beers and the company of some friends, I was dancing my butt off.

This party was very reminiscent of the party Jarod, Steve and I went to in NYC. The crowd there was a little more welcoming, but the same sort of deal. Good times had by all.

I love random phone calls to do random things. And this was a great one. I got to hang out with people I totally enjoy hanging out with, but don't really get a chance to hang with. And they are cool so I am hoping I will be, because of association, thought of as cool. What do you think? Possible? Meh.


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Thanks, but no thanks.

I can't find a job. I went for an interview in Vancouver, did a couple of days work for them and I didn't even hear back either way. Not good PR.

I had an interview here for a not-for-profit. Worst interview in the history of interviews. I didn't like them and I could tell, they didn't like me.

I had an interview with a publishing firm last week. It was like my last date, he didn't ask me any questions. I didn't get that job either.

Why is it that a firm in New York is willing to offer me a job, but no one in Western Canada is? What's the deal with that?

I love my life today. I want to shoot myself. Not really, I just want a beer.


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What is the matter with people?

I often wonder this. Seriously, what is the matter with people?

One of the many things I love about New York is all the men. I went on more dates in my one month there than I have in the last two years here. All is good right?

Wrong. The last date I went on was with this guy I met at the reggae concert. He was totally cute, British accent and totally cute. We chatted for a bit and then I gave him my digits. He called me a couple days later and we decided to go out on Thursday, Jan. 11.

The date was ok. He was a little weird. He works for the United Nations (yes, THOSE United Nations), originally from the UK, but recently moved to Anguilla. All sounds really great, right? It was, until he said grace before dinner. Hello, you are out with the spawn of satan, don't say grace in front of me.

I tried to move past the grace thing. But then he doesn't drink. WHAT!? I know, I am a drunk, and here I am out with a sober individual. But it was over dinner that he really got a little weird. He offered to pay my rent for me in NYC so I could stay. I don't care if you are The Donald, don't offer something like that on a first date. You might just scare the girl off.

We went out to a lounge and then called it an evening. He wanted to hang out that weekend, but I couldn't (nor did I want to) so he wanted to arrange to hang out on Monday and Tuesday. I told him to give me a call and we would see.

Call he did. Three times that night (to make sure I got home OK), once Friday AM, three times Monday and twice on Tuesday.

Guys, let me tell you , there is no need to call a girl this much!

The only reason I am even blogging about this right now is because he just called again. AGAIN! Can you imagine? It has been almost two weeks since our initial date and you have heard nothing from me. Don't call. Take the hint.

This experience is total karma. Karma for all those times I have been the crazy girl. (although in my defence, I was like 16 at that time, and would rather die than have someone thinking these things about me now. DIE!)

So there we have it. My dating lesson for the day. Don't make your unreturned call number higher than 3. If it gets into double-digits, it is just creepy.


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Do you ever wonder?

1) Why people do feel the need to lie over stupid things? If you are going to lie, make it big, make it good. Don't waste karma points on silly little things that people are going to find out anyways.

2) Why people watch shows like Dancing With The Stars when really good, smart shows, like Arrested Development can't stay on the air? I will never understand the sinking of society into this stupid, uncultured, mass. I am soo looking forward to my golden years, when the ignorance is at it's height, and I am forced to watch Jennifer Love Hewitt criticizing some hairstylist about the bob they just did. Ugh, kill me now.

3) Why people can't separate reality from make believe? I am totally guilty of this one. I dreamt I was dating Justin Timberlake the other day and I am now CONVINCED that we would make a truly lovely couple. This is comforting, because after all of my horrible dates, I am now OK with it, because at the very least, Justin and I would work out. It is nice to know this.

4) Why Edmonton doesn't have a better public transportation system? This drives me crazy! I no longer have a car, which I am totally OK with and I have no problem taking the bus (I am over this hit to my ego), however, when it is just as quick for me to walk to work as it is for me to take the bus (around 45 min either way) THIS pisses me off! Make public transportation a more appealing option for people and maybe you will have less pollution, less car accidents, less traffic cops and more ACTUAL cops. (This also ties into my beef about jaywalking tickets)

OK, that is all for now. It was just bugging me, and what better cathartic outlet do I have than this thing?


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BRILLIANT!

Ok, I am going to say this. I think my idea to have my party at Teddy's was freaking brilliant! It was done site-unseen. I just had a feeling that it would be hella cool.

And it was. We got the whole upstairs, to ourselves, drink specials all night long and basically carte blanche.

It was a solid turnout, so a huge shout out to everyone who came. Thanks for making the big trip across the river ... there is life downtown. For those of y'all who couldn't make it, you guys missed a good time.

So that is all. There was nothing particularly scandalous that happened, unfortunately. That is the only this that would have made it the best party ever! Hahahaha, I love gossip.

That is all. Hopefully Jarod will send me some of the pics so I can upload them, b/c I totally forgot to take ANY pics at all. No one ever accused me of being smart.

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It's My Party

Ok, I mentioned before that I love birthdays. While my actual birthday started off a little depressing, I am not letting this get me down. Tonight is my birthday party.

Birthday parties are one of my favorite things in the whole world. They are fun, an excuse (not that I need one) to get trashy drunk and generally ensures people you don't get to see all the time will come out.

Usually, we go out for dinner, or pre-game at my place and hit some club. This year, however, we are taking a different route. I had the BRILLIANT idea of having my party at this old man bar down the street from my house. It is usually pretty quiet on a Friday night and I figured this would be a great opportunity to check it out, and see what kind of deals they are willing to hook us up with.

Well, they have been SOOOO accommodating. We get the whole upstairs, drink specialsa and they are going to play the Ultimate Mix Tape (a product of several audiophiles suggestions). This mix tape has become something of an obsession of mine. For the past couple weeks, the only thing I have been listening to has been this thing. A) To ensure it flows B) to ensure it isn't too long and C) to ensure it freaking awesome.

While it isn't perfect (I think this may be an annual event), it is pretty freaking good. A really cool range of music and all really good music.

So yes, I am excited about something. My party! YAY!! Getting really inebriated is always a good time. I went out with a non-drinker the other day and he asked me "Why do you drink?"
My response: "So I have a good story the next morning"

Hopefully there will be some good stories from tonight.

Teddy's - be there or I will kill you! Ok, I won't, but if you are in Edmonton and not there, I will be a little less happy.


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I am 26 now. AWESOME! (Sarcasm included)

I wasn't particularly excited for my birthday this year. For those of you who know me, you know that this is odd. I am a HUGE fan of birthdays. They are the only day in the world that is devoted entirely to you. You will be sharing every other day, but your birthday is yours alone. Even if you share it with someone else you know, it is still your day.

This year was incredibly sad for me though. I didn't realize how much leaving NYC on my birthday was going to affect me. But let me tell ya, it really did. I was in tears off and on throughout the day. Talk about depressing, and very out of character, I am not a public crier. In fact, I would like to believe I have no human emotions or tear ducts.

So the flight was depressing, yada yada yada. I did get to watch the unedited version of the Departed, and I thought it kicked ass. I totally wanted to make out with Leo after it, and I am not a Leo fan.

Get back into Edm and Ally picks me up. Both literally and figuratively. It was great to see her again. She took me for lunch, and then Paul and Jarod came over.

I have come to realize something. It doesn't matter what city you live in. The city isn't your home. The people are. Just hanging out with everyone yesterday brightened up a crappy day, and made me see what I have in my life is something everyone should be jelly about. I have the most amazing friends in the whole fucking world. No seriously. We can fight about this all you want, but no one tops my crew. NO ONE!

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PS. Finally got to see The Devil Wears Prada. I totally want to work at a fashion mag! Although their shit would never fit me, I would just take it home to look at and drool. Ahhh .... clothes.

It's Not You, It's Me

Dear New York City,

This is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. To leave you like this. I really want you to know, it's not you, it really is me. I know others have said this, but believe me when I say it. I don't want to be with anyone else but you.

I loved you before I met you. I would see you from across the world and I knew, we were meant for each other. How could I not? You are everything I have ever wanted. Older, more sophisticated, beautiful, full of new and exciting experiences. You have been through hardship, only to come out of it stronger and more kind. And let's not lie, you are HUGE!

I will never forget the first time we met. I knew my instincts were right from the first second. I knew you were it. You filled me with an energy I had never known before. It was intoxicating. I was heartbroken then when I had to say goodbye, but I never knew I could feel this sad.

Everything about you is magical. You have a way of making a girl feel like the only girl in the world, like you want no one else and that this love affair is exclusive. Even though I always knew you had others, I liked that you made me feel secure in our relationship. You make me feel safe and at home, like no one else has.

You are so multifaceted and eclectic. One day its a museum, the next a concert at a dive bar. You are comfortable anywhere and everywhere. Everyday with you is something different and - for a random girl like myself - this suites me just fine.

You have shown me fine dining, great theater, sports I could have only dreamed of seeing, music I could have only heard on my iPod, people I never thought could exist, a kindness I thought was missing and a feeling I thought I was lacking - unbridled excitement.

There have been no bad memories. Even though you sometimes stink, you cost me a lot of money and I have suffered more heartache because of you, I will never stop wanting us to be together. For me there is no one else above you.

I know it is timing, because chemistry like this cannot be faked (even by my overactive imagination). We just work, you and I. Like two puzzle pieces. Even though this relationship was brief, you made me realize what I want in this world and what I deserve aren't mutually exclusive. I am my best when we are together. I hope you know this. While I was never cool enough for you, you make me be the person I want to be, the person that is often hiding or too scared to come out.

While this isn't our time, I know we will be together someday. I feel it in my bones. I will come back to you a little older and a little wiser, and our relationship will flourish. I promise.

This is a break, not a break-up. I would never break up with you. I do, in fact, love you. In a way I have never loved before.

So, thank you New York. Thank you for existing. Thank you for being a beacon of culture and light in America. Thank you for being kind and generous and exciting and beautiful. You fulfill every aspect of me and this will not be forgotten.

Love,

Iris

P.S. Is it ok if I call you for a booty call once and a while??

Happy Birthday Ms. Eve

Sunday was Harp and Craig's last day in NYC. It also happened to be Eve's birthday. So we all got up (this was a big slumber party weekend, with Eve and I on the pullout and Harp and Craig on the air mattress in the living room) got dressed, watched a couple episodes of Entourage (I get everyone addicted to that show) and then we all went on our merry ways.

Eve and I decided to walk all day and see what this city has to offer. We walked from the UES to SoHo. For those of you unaware of the distance, it is about 100 blocks. Along the way we shopped a bit, but mainly just walked and hung out.

For Eve's dinner she had the idea of going to Tao. It was a great meal, probably the best sushi I have ever had in my entire life. I just have to say, "Wow".

After we stuffed our bellies full, we sat by the Plaza Fountain. I love this fountain, and have to say it is probably my favorite little spot in the city. It is just so old school NYC. The Plaza, Central Park, Fifth Avenue. It's the New York from movies. It is the New York you see and think, "Wow, I might like to visit New York one day".

So that was our weekend. It was fun, random and no one was arrested (thank god we knew when to cut off Harp)

Thank you to Eve, Harp and Big Daddy for coming. I think I would have been too depressed if y'all had not been here.

Tomorrow, my last NYC post. So very very sad.


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Saturday Night Live

As I mentioned before, Eve and I are obsessed with SATC. We love this show and we always have. So, obviously, this weekend was going to have an SATC theme. (Much to Craig's dismay, I am sure)

Friday night we went wandering around the East Village drinking, trying to find a place to hang out. I am not going to lie, this is the first time Little Italy and the East Village disappointed me. The food in LI was not very good and the random fun that usually accompanies the EV wasn't there. Ok, fine, not a HUGE deal.


Saturday we awoke, went down the West Village and put our name on the wait list for Pastis and went walking around. Found some cool little shops etc, and saw Nigel Barker - from America's Next Top Model! While I don't watch this show regularly, I do watch it enough to have seen Nigel and noted how HOT he is on tv. Lemme tell ya, he is ACTUALLY that good-looking. He was walking around the neighborhood with his kid. SO cute.

We head back to Pastis and get our table. At this point Harp was actively searching for celebs, for those of you who know our little Harpy, you know this is not something you would expect her to do. Hahaha, the celeb-obsession begins!

While we are sitting and eating, Elisha Cuthbert walks in. At this point, I am pretty sure she is stalking us. Ok, while Nigel was totally good-looking and didn't disappoint in person, she kinda did. She is cute, sure, but nothing to write home about. A little disappointing.

We finished brunch and made our way down to the WTC site. Big Daddy hadn't seen it and Eve wanted to hit Century 21. I wasn't in the mood for shopping, so I found a pub and waited for the football games to start.

The rest of the group came and met up with me when they were done supporting the NYC economy and we walked to Canal Street and SoHo.

After shopping some more, we made our way home. Dinner for the evening was going to be Tortilla Flats, a Mexican restaurant that was featured on SATC. This place was awesome! The food was great and not expensive at all. The whole meal for all four of us came to $50! Can you imagine?!

Saturday night is also MisShapes night at Don Hill's. The MisShapes are these DJs who are basically the three coolest people in NYC. They have had Madonna guest DJ for them and often feature secret shows by the likes of the YYYs and The Strokes. So we go.

Boy, this was not our scene. I am talking about hipsters and little mod kids the likes of these eyes have never seen before. I was wanting to leave, as this was not what I was expecting, but then this band gets on stage. No it wasn't any major bands, but it was a really great group from Brooklyn. They were called The Pretty Boys and they totally rocked.

I then lost my wallet and this put a very abrupt and unnecessary end to the evening. Ugh. I am not losing stuff girl and this is the second time in two months that I lost my wallet after not losing anything for like five years! WTF!

Ok, I will post about the rest of our weekend later. I got up kinda early to see Eve off and now I want to sleep.

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Holy Martha!

Ok, so I have had some FABULOUS days in this city and today was NO different! Today was celeb-fabulous!

Everyone arrived at an OBSCENE hour this morning. I am talking like 4:30 and 6:45 AM. Can you imagine? When we all congregated, we took a little nappie nap and got ready for our day. Big Daddy hasn't been to New York before, so we took the subway and made our way to Times Square, with a pit stop at Grand Central Station.

We go to Times Square and hang out for a bit in the area. Now, one thing I had yet to see in the city was the Letterman studio. Can you believe it?! Me, who has Dave as one of her top three celebrities to get it on with. We went to the Letterman studios and saw the Hello Deli (you know, Rupert Gee's Hello Deli). Big Daddy even ordered a Letterman sandwich and he got it from Rupert! Uber-cool!

We then walked through Midtown and made our way to the Plaza where Eve and I were meeting the Sex and the City tour. Both of us are very into SATC. VERY into it. We went on the tour and saw a ton of the sites where the girls hang out etc. We got to sit on Carrie's stoop and as we are waiting to get our pic taken, we see Nina Katz (she was the one that made the face to Carrie when they met) walking her dog. How random and cool. Sure she isn't a major celeb or anything, but still a little weird, right? On the SATC tour and a person that was on SATC walks by. Again, uber-cool.

We finish the tour and meet up with Big Daddy and Harp. They went to the Financial District and on the Staten Island ferry. We then begin the walk to my apt.

On the walk we see a film crew and big lights, so we decide to check it out. It is the new Elisha Cuthbert / Jesse Bradford movie that is filming in the city. While we didn't get to see them making the movie (it was all the stand-ins doing rehearsals) we did see them as they were walking to the set. Let me tell ya, Jesse Bradford (he was the really cute guy from Bring It On - one of the best teen movies EVER) is very cute in person as well.

So that was our day ... so far. Great minor celeb-filled day. I freaking love this city!


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Too Much Excitement for One Weekend

Holy shit is this weekend going to be awesome. I really don't know how to describe the fun that will be had in NYC this weekend.

First Eve is coming to co-celebrate our birthdays, hers is on the 14th and mine is on the 17th. She is older than I am by three days, which when we are old and grey will make all the difference in the world to me. We have not celebrated our birthdays together in five years. That was a blowout party in Vegas for our 21st. I also haven't seen her in over a year. Can you imagine? UNACCEPTABLE!!!

Second, and this was a last minute trip, Harp and Big Daddy are coming for a visit too! YAY! These two world travelers have been gone for so long that I have only seen Harp for two days in the past year and Big Daddy, well I have only seen him once since June! This again, is UNACCEPTABLE!!!

We should have a good time. I mean, so long as Harp doesn't get arrested, Big Daddy doesn't pick up any hookers and Eve doesn't get lost in the shops on Canal Street (the first and last are probably the most likely to happen, as I have yet to see a hooker in the city)

So, who's excited for this weekend? ME!!!


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Wow, this totally isn't my scene.

I was sitting in the apt last night trying to figure out what to do. So I went on myspace to check and see if there were any shows going on last night. I then went on Village Voice to search. There were a couple options, all downtown.

I got ready, called Harp and told her to tell me to get my ass out of the house and stop being a loser. Harp is REALLY good at doing stuff like that. Tell it like it is.

I decided on a show at Canal Room. His name is Mark Shine. The Village Voice said to "check out this rising star before you can't get tickets". So I did.

I took the subway all the way downtown, got out of the station and realized that Chinatown is a very different scene at night than it is during the day. It is a little disconcerting to see this usually bustling street deserted. I put on my bitch-face, so no one messes with me, and walked the six blocks to the venue.

Now I was going into this blind. I had heard a couple of his songs on his myspace page and thought what the hell. I pay the $10 to get in, and realize that this is a total reggae scene. Wow, not my scene at all. I didn't realize that this was also a bit of a club too. I thought it was just going to be a show.

I grab a beer and chill out. After listening to some really good reggae and having a couple of beers, the show starts. He really was awesome. A really cool mix of reggae on the rock-tip. Had a classical violinist on stage with him for an amazing song. He really didn't disappoint.

The only thing that bugged me was the guys. Just because I am there by myself doesn't mean that I want to hang out with you. It doesn't mean you can disrupt my enjoyment of this really small show. It doesn't mean I want you to tell me what clubs are hot tonight. What it does mean is that I am here by myself, to enjoy some music and to get out. LEAVE ME ALONE! I get that a girl by herself is an easy target. Oh, she must not have any friends or a boyfriend, so she must be dying to talk to someone. NO! And when I say that I am good not hanging out with you and your friends and that I don't want you to buy me a drink, don't leave and come back. I haven't changed my mind in the past 10 minutes. In fact, now you are just annoying me and I am going to tell you that.

Sorry for the rant. All-in-all, the show was great. I accidentally stepped out of my box and ended up having a really good time. Other than the two annoying guys, the crowd was totally chill. I got a little nervous when I thought I saw Suge Knight (you know, the guy that killed Tupac) there, but there wasn't a shooting, so I doubt it was him.
Hahaha, could you imagine??

Looking for another show tonight, so maybe I will again, have something for you tomorrow.


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Auntie?

I am an only child. I will never have ACTUAL nieces and nephews, so I have claimed my second-cousins as my nieces and nephews. Jarod always reminds me how this is not a true claim of blood relation, but when did I EVER listen to his ass?

Mom and I went to Houston on Wednesday. I haven't seen Sydney and Hugh since August, and, well, kids just grow so quickly, that you miss so much.

I have never wanted kids, at least not yet, maybe ever. I don't think I have the patience to have kids, but I LOVE THEM!

Sydney is three and Hugh is 1. Holy shit are they cute. I mean COME ON! Why do they have to be so damn cute? We hung out all Wed, Thur and Fri. Let me tell ya, they totally melt this grinch's heart.

Thursday Sydney and I were hanging out, playing, dancing, singing, yelling. I got her to take a bath, which she totally didn't want to do. Then I did the impossible. I got her to sleep with me. She usually sleeps with her grandma or her parents, and doesn't usually sleep with others, but the promise of a slumber party suckered her in. We got ready for bed, and she asks "Aunty Iris, what's a slumber party??" This after she was sooooo excited for it. SO cute! Holy moly is this kid a bed hog. She had me shmooshed against the wall all night. How is someone 35 lbs able to ruin a perfectly good night's sleep like that? Although I will not complain.

The next day I got her all jazzed to go ice skating. For those of you not in the know, I once skated daily. I was never very good, in fact I sucked, but I loved it. So we packed the family up, got Sydney ready and went to the rink.

I put on my skates, which have not been on my feet for 13 years. It was like the first time I had stepped on the ice. I was sooooo bad. But it was hilarious. I did a couple of laps and then got her out there. We made it about half way around the rink when she got tired, and so did I.

It was great fun. She asked me yesterday, (I am back in NYC now) if I was going skating today. She is sooo cute. I wanted to die.

Moral of the story ... I really like being an aunt - even a fake one.


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Three Small Town Albertan Do NY Right

As I alluded to in my last post, Jarod and Steve came for New Year's Eve. I was super excited. I love my parents, but I was in need of some interaction with people that laugh at my jokes. Jarod hates laughing, so thank god Steve was with him.

I picked them up from the airport and we returned to my apartment to get ready and grab a bite to eat. Since I am a creature of habit, I suggested we walk around the West Village and see what is available. We found this cool little restaurant and ate. Had some drinks and found out where a couple of gay bars were in the neighborhood.

We walked to the gay bar and realized it was a major club. None of us were really in the mood for a big club, so we reenacted mine and Jarod's last trip here. We bought a couple of bottle of beers and brown-bagged-it around the East Village. I love the East Village. Eclectic and youthful, with little-to-no pretense. We continued to drink and enjoy the neighborhood. We didn't hit any bars or anything, and then just made our way back to the apartment.

Saturday came. We got up and went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I have said this before, but the Met is truly awe-inspiring. The vastness of this museum is incredible. You have an inherent appreciation for the stuff here simply because most of it is so freaking old.

After a few hours at the Met, we were getting a little hungry. Grabbed some pizza and decided to hit Little Italy for dinner. We subwayed it to Union Square, my old stomping grounds, and walked to Little Italy. I am a firm believer that you can't really see a city unless you are walking it. Walked through SoHo and down Broadway. Found some great street finds and eventually made it down to Little Italy. Found a good little dive restaurant and had some cheap, but good Italian.

Saturday night is when the insanity started. One of our street finds told us about this party in the West Village. He was selling some really good house c.d.s so we trusted that this would be a decent party. We come home, put on our Albertans-in-New York best and hit the town.

We get to the party and it is in this warehouse or gym of sorts. The crowd is super cool and chill and some KILLER music. There was a dance-off that Jarod participated in. He busted out some Ukrainian dancing on a breakdance tip. It was awesome. I have never been more in awe of him in my entire life.

We stayed at the party till like 5 in the morning. Jarod got VERY drunk and fell out of the cab when it stopped by my apartment. HILARIOUS!

Sunday was painful. We only got out of the apartment around 1:30 pm. We are not 18 anymore, and sleeping after drinking that much is much appreciated.

We then get our hungover asses out of the house and hit MoMA. I really like a lot of the stuff at MoMA, but there is a huge chunk of it that I just don't get. Modern art is a little over my head. Like a red canvas, sorry, I don't get it. So, meh, we finished that and then went to Grand Central Station. Every time I have been in GCS before, I have been running to catch a train or heading somewhere. I have never had a chance to hang out in the terminal and appreciate how cool it is. Very nice.

Finished at GCS and went to meet my parents for dinner. This was a typical Dias dinner. I mean, dad was harassing the wait staff, I was getting annoyed, mom was trying to keep it together, and poor Jarod and Steve got to witness all of this. Good times.

We did nothing of interest for NYE. We were tired, had no desire to stand in a crowd of 1 million people (yes, 1 million people) to see the damn ball drop, so we came back to the apt and hung out here. Didn't even really realize it was midnight till it was after midnight. Haha, I hate New Year's. So much expectations for a night that is usually just mediocre.

All in all it was an ab fab trip. I love having people here to talk to and laugh with and do the shit I want to do.

Next up ... Eve in 11 days! YAY!!!! I am so fucking excited it hurts.


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