CHNL

Simply lovely

Chanel — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:22:03 +0000

For the past week or so, I have woken up to bright sunny days, clear blue skies, warm weather and a perfect summer breeze. It’s hard to come up with the right words to explain just how lovely it is to be outside under the shade, a gentle breeze tussling my hair and tickling my skin while I sip tea and relax to sounds of my favorite old records and the dull hum of distant traffic. Nothing can accurately describe the experience, suffice to say I would glad live this moment a million times through.

It’s remarkably easy to live a busy life.

It’s remarkably less easy to slow down, unwind and just be.

No distractions. No phones. No work. No people. No problems. No drama. No worries. Nothing to do. Nothing to say. Nothing to be. I enjoy a good day filled with productivity as much as the next workaholic, but sometimes the soul just craves a solitude that only comes from leaving the world and creating a whole new one for just you and yourself.

Just you and yourself.

Try it sometime.

Chanel eats everything, loses weight

Chanel — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:02:02 +0000

Some of you may remember that just over a month ago, I set out a challenge for myself: to get in shape and lose weight. To keep myself to that, I promised that by the end of June, I would update with the results of my one month challenge. (And maybe include pictures.)

This is the update.

Before I go any further, I need to make a confession: I am a brat. When I want something, I get it. When it comes to material things, I have rarely ever wanted something I couldn’t rationally justify, so my brattish ways were never really a problem—but unfortunately, the same cannot be said for eatable things. Keep that in mind.

Knowing that I was embarking on a journey that was destined to fail if I tried the typical diet approach to achieve my goal, I decided to try something completely radical: the un-diet approach. No starvation. No carrot sticks for dinner. No denying myself anything. I was going to eat whatever I wanted, because dammit, I deserve to eat whatever I want.

Many, many people told me it simply couldn’t be done—that eating whatever you want and expecting to lose significant amounts of weight in a short period of time was “unreasonable”. I told them I used to be able to do this. They told me that’s what happens when you get old. Someone should have told them what happens when someone tells me I can’t do something.

So I ate.

I ate feta and black olive ravioli. I ate salad packed with beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, vege pate, sauerkraut, beets, quinoa, and more. I ate potatoes with prime stakes, broccoli, carrots and cauliflower.

I also ate fried tofu, chicken style with sauteed red peppers and other vegetables. And I ate zoo sticks with ranch dip. You mustn’t also forget the cream of broccoli soup, cheese and crackers, and those two slices of raisin toast with peanut butter and jam I had every single morning.

I also ate candy. And Rolo Max ice cream. And a seven layer chocolate cake.

I have always eaten the exact same things—in fact, if anything, as I have gotten older I have become more health conscious and more active. And yet, amazingly enough…

Three summers ago I was 115 lbs.
Two summers ago I was 125 lbs.
Last summer I was 135 lbs.

Last month, just before I began this un-diet, I was 142.5 lbs.

I now weigh 134 lbs.

Obviously there is a little more to eating whatever you want and losing weight—and I will be writing about some general tips I followed (and still continue to follow) during my one month challenge very soon… but I just had to go on record to say that I did this. And honestly, if I can, anyone can.

If you are (or were) getting in shape for summer - how’s that going?

The little brown house

Chanel — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:33:30 +0000

In my neighborhood, a couple blocks from where I live, there is a little brown house that sits on the corner of two streets.

Long before I ever moved to this neighborhood, I used to know a girl who lived in that house. Her name was Lauren. She was in my first grade class. She wasn’t very popular. I remember that occasionally, some of the meaner girls in our class would tease her. I can’t remember why. We were friends.

I still know where some of those mean girls are at, today.

First grade was, according to most of my former classmates’ account, a great year. (I say “according to”, because unlike my classmates, I was still recovering from The Worst Year Of My Life.) We wrote and illustrated a school newspaper, had a class store, studied way too many insects (Madame Yvonne was exceptionally fond of them) and sang a whole lot of French songs, songs like C’est L’Halloween.

Before the school year was over, Lauren’s mother died from a brain tumor.

Her father wasn’t in the picture. She would end up living with her grandparents.

She never came back for grade two.

I haven’t heard from or of Lauren for well over a decade.

Her little brown house sits at the corner of two streets. I walk past her little brown house almost every day when I walk my dog. I have had my dog for five years. I have been living in this neighborhood for eight years.

It only hit me last week that the little brown house I pass almost daily is Lauren’s house.

I still remember almost exactly what she looked like.

One day I plan on returning to that little French school I spent the first four years of my academic life at. I keep in touch with roughly 25% of my former classmates, but there are always a couple like Lauren who came for a year and left.

Like Angelina and her Lisa frank backpacks.

Or Chelsea and her beaded geckos.

I often wonder what happened to my teachers, too.

Is Madame Trudeau still in love with Pavel Bure?

Was Monsieur Teraposky really a vampire?

I wonder. I really do.

It is somewhat remarkable how I can remember the names and faces of people I haven’t seen or heard from in over twelve years, yet I can’t always recall what I did the day before today. Do I think any of these people remember me? No. In fact, I’d be very surprised if they did—but I would make the effort to look them up anyway.

But most all, I just sincerely hope Lauren’s life has turned out well. And no matter how many times I’ve passed by her old house in the past without realizing that it was her old house, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to pass by it again the same way.

This country is not for sale

Chanel — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:10:23 +0000

“When I’m in Canada, I feel like this is what the world should be like.”

- Jane Fonda

“Canada is one of the planet’s most comfortable, and caring, societies. The United Nations Human Development Index cited the country as the most desirable place in the world to live. This year a World Bank study named Canada the globe’s second wealthiest society after Australia.”

- Time Magazine

It is wonderful to feel the grandness of Canada in the raw, not because she is Canada but because she’s something sublime that you were born into, some great rugged power that you are a part of.

- Emily Carr

In only a century and a quarter since Confederation, Canadians have shaped out of the North American wilderness one of the most privileged societies on the face of the earth. Ranking among the seven most prosperous nations in the world, Canada is rich not only in the abundance of our resources and the magnificence of our land, but also in the diversity and the character of our people. We have long been known as one of the most tolerant, progressive, innovative, caring and peaceful societies in existence.

- The Will of a Nation: Awakening the Canadian Spirit by George Radwanski & Julia Luttrell

Happy birthday, Canada.

Of hot weather, outdoor weddings and inappropriately placed mosquito bites (now with survival tips!)

Chanel — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:12:53 +0000

I don’t know what it’s like in the rest of the world, but the last two days in Vancouver have been absolutely brutal, temperature-wise. Most locals around here have spent the majority of June whining about the lack of summer and then all of a sudden, SHAZAAM!, 100 degree weather two days in a row.

Well. Let me be the first person to tell you that I hope it rains as soon as possible, because this face-melting heat is HELL. As far as I know, Canadian homes this side of the country aren’t even equipped with air conditioner—which means a whole lot of fans, cold showers, running through sprinklers and sprawling out in dark, cold places are employed as heat-diffusing techniques.

C’MON NOW. If I wanted to live in an oven, I’d move to the south. I’m a 60 degrees sunny day kind of girl. This is why I live in Vancouver. I love the rain, I love the sun, but I hate extreme cold and extreme heat. How about some moderation, weatherman?

According to our local newspaper, summer is the most dangerous time of year. After experiencing two full days of this said “summer”, I’m afraid I will have to agree—and since I feel especially fortunate to have survived the past few days, I feel that it is my duty as an upstanding citizen to share my newfound summer-surviving knowledge with the rest of the world. Behold:

Survival tip #1:
If you’re looking for a place “in nature” to sit down and watch the sunset on a warm summer evening, I highly recommend you do not do this anywhere near mosquito-breeding river. You may get bitten. You may get bitten on your ass. You may get bitten on your ass (and ONLY your ass) an excess of EIGHT TIMES, even though you are wearing shorts (i.e., bare legs) and a halter top (i.e., bare arms).

Survival tip #2:
If you happen to live in an area notorious for rain, it is not unusual to receive invitations to outdoor weddings that say “bring comfortable shoes and an umbrella” on the invitation. If the day of the wedding happens to be brilliantly sunny and ridiculously hot, you may be tempted to leave the umbrella at home. DO NOT DO THIS. The wedding may or may not be under the FULL SUN on a 100 DEGREE DAY and you WILL die of heat stroke around the two hour mark.

Survival tip #3:
These contraptions are quite possibly the most amazing things ever invented for hot weather. Take it with you everywhere when the temperature exceeds 90 degrees. Take it with you on walks (you know, if you’re insane enough to try outdoor activities in that kind of heat). Take it with you on car rides. Carry it around the house with you. Take it with you to any outdoor weddings you may plan to attend—you may never know when you’ll need to spray down the bride and groom.

How do you beat the heat?

21 things to remember

Chanel — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 01:06:36 +0000

As seen posted in a financial planner’s office a couple weeks ago:

No one can ruin your day without YOUR permission.

Most people will be able as happy as they decide to be.

Others can stop you temporarily, but only you can do it permanently.

Whatever you are willing to put up with is exactly what you will have.

Success stops when you do.

When your ship comes in… make sure you are willing to unload.

You will never “have it all together”.

Life is a journey, not a destination. Enjoy the trip.

The biggest lie on the planet: “When I get what I want, I will be happy.”

The best way to escape your problem is to solve it.

“Takers” lose, “givers” win.

Life’s precious moments don’t have value unless they are shared.

If you don’t start, it is certain you won’t arrive.

We often fear the thing we want most.

He or she who laughs, lasts.

Yesterday was the deadline for all complaints.

Look for opportunities, not guarantees.

Life is what’s coming, not what was.

Success is getting up one more time.

Now is the most interesting time of all.

When things go wrong, don’t go with them.

I think number seven applies most to me; I have a frequent tendency to feel as if sometime in the future I will hit a point in my life where I will “have it all together”, even though I know this is as likely as me moving to a mud hut in Fiji so I can swim with sea monsters every day.

… Although, come to think of it, number ten really applies to me as well. Every since the invention of RSS feeds, The Superficial, cheap airfare via Kayak and Rolo max ice cream (kidding about the last one, maybe), I’ve become remarkably good at (temporarily) escaping problems.

Which ones do you find most applicable to you?

The things you wait in line for

Chanel — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 09:11:25 +0000

A couple friends and I headed downtown this evening to attend The Cheaper Show (eighth installment), a one-night-stand art show featuring 150 artists and 300 pieces of original artwork. A bit about the show from the official website:

On June 21st, 2008, the eighth installment of The Cheaper Show series will take place in the Gastown district of Vancouver, BC.

The concept of The Cheaper Show is very simple: 150 multi-disciplined international artists presenting 300 pieces of art, each priced at $200 for one night only. Far from being an ‘art sale,’ each exhibiting artist consciously makes a sacrifice by selling their work for less than its potential value. This creates united support for the event, the arts community, and an opportunity for this show to take place in an environment that is accessible to everyone. In turn, many walk away with sales, exposure, commissions and gallery representation, as well as having an opportunity to connect with peers on an even playing field.

As it turned out, this was a popular place to be tonight; well over a thousand people attended. The show opened at 7pm and by the time we’d arrived (8pm) the lineup to get in was several blocks long. We waited in line 45 minutes only to get about 1/4 of the way to the entrance before we decided to go eat and try the line again at 10.

So we went to The Foundation, got drinks and tried the (delicious) vegan dark chocolate fondue. We also rested our sore feet and spent at least 10 minutes trying to figure out how to split the $20 bill three ways when all we had on us were twenties. THAT IS WAY HARDER THAN IT SOUNDS, BY THE WAY.

When we arrived back on the scene the lineup was considerably smaller (about 10 minutes) but the gallery was packed. And loud. And extremely hot. But the art was amazing and if 90% of it hadn’t sold out within the first hour I probably would dragged the entire show home with me.

This was my first time attending an indie-type of art show, and at the risk of sounding like someone in desperate need of an adjective-usage overhaul, it was rather hip. THERE. I SAID IT. I mean, I was all ready to spend my Saturday night crocheting some sweaters for my imaginary grandchildren, and then it’s all SURPRISE!, I’m at an art shows that has a 2 hour line to get into. HIP.

But it was fun and the art was incredibly inspiring, as was the entire philosophy behind the show. I’m not sure I can say the same about crocheting sweaters, though.

And this is why I take public transit everywhere

Chanel — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 05:18:34 +0000

On the way home from Surrey tonight (DON’T EVEN SAY A WORD), a girl sitting across from me on the Skytrain started a conversation with me. It began with a comment about a fighting couple that had just gotten off and ended with the story of how she had just broken up with her boyfriend of twelve years.

They have two kids together. She always paid for things like groceries and utilities. He always paid for things like the TV and the barbecue. Guess who got what.

Breakups are always so messy. The Dividing Of The Stuff makes it all that much harder.

But damn, 12 years? And two kids?

It kind of made me realize, shit, the things we go through for happiness.

Confessions, part one

Chanel — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 23:29:08 +0000

I’m one of those people who wear runners with (nearly) everything.

Running shoes are practical. Sure, flats are cute. But they kill your feet and leave you (me) limping after a day in the city. Sure, heels are sexy. But they’re impractical to wear for day-to-day use.

Can a girl not win?

As a general rule of thumb, if where I’m going involves walking from more than just the car to the destination, I forgo the four inch heels for running shoes. Because I mean, seriously. I’m a practical girl. I wouldn’t walk ten blocks in heels unless true love and a million dollars were waiting for me at the end.

You can imagine how thrilled my future husband will be when he finds out I pick practical over fashionable more often than I pick fashionable over practical. Like any other smart aging woman looking to snatch someone in hopes of not spending the rest of what remains of her life alone, I wont tell him right away—In fact, I think I’ll wear my favorite pair of cowboy boots on our first date just to throw him off. It’s just the kind of thing that screams, city girl in cowboy boots! CITY GIRL IN COWBOY BOOTS! … And if that doesn’t make a statement against impracticality, I don’t know what does.

And it’s not like being practical is always easy on the wallet, either. With exception to a couple evening dresses and maybe one suit, my runners are the most expensive apparel I own. (They were also, much to my dismay, the most expensive pair in the store.) So I wear them everywhere, because guess what? By early next year, I will need another pair. And you can be sure I’m getting my money’s worth.

So I wear my running shoes everywhere. I wear them to the grocery store, I wear them when I walk the dog. I wear them when I go to casual meetings, I wear them to lunch with acquaintances. I wear them the mall, I wear them when I go downtown. I wear them when I go out for dinner, and if I did the whole “lets go on dates” thing, I’d probably wear them there too.

It drives my best friend crazy. I don’t wear them when I see her.

That’s what we call true love.

The best video on the internet, period.

Chanel — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 01:15:34 +0000

I don’t usually post things like this on here because what I write here is totally supposed to be all SERIOUS! and THOUGHT-PROVOKING!, but this video is just so many levels of awesome hilarity and pure GANGSTA that I just couldn’t resist.

Other worthy runner-ups:
- The Indian version of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”
- A Bollywood video from the 80s featuring Superman, Spiderman and GOD AWFUL “special effects”