The best birthday present I ever ruined.

So since some time last spring I have been coveting this fabulous oil painting at TEG. But that was when I had just lost my job, so I couldn't really afford to spend $125 on a painting. It dropped to $75 over the summer, but still on my limited budget I could not afford it.

Though it's fantastic and unique and kind of creepy, to my shock and awe no one bought it. Seriously, I don't quite know what's wrong with people, that no one snatched this picture up. For months it sat there, looking for a home. But no one took it. I take that as a sign that this guy was waiting for me. Maybe other people looked at it, but he made angry faces and chased them away, saving himself for me. That's how I like to think of it, at least.

So with my second paycheque (he was supposed to be bought with the first, but that got spent on other things) I went down to TEG and finally took him home with me. Turns out, though, that Kris had actually planned to buy it for my birthday (which is at the end of the month). He was going to buy it and then take me to the store and watch as I cried over the fact that someone had stolen my painting from me. But unfortunately I beat him to it!

That's a shame, because it would have been the best birthday present ever. Now the poor boy has to figure something else out. ;)

It kind of makes me think of two people standing together, watching the end of the world. It has a very apocalyptic feel to it. The world has taken on a putrid yellow tinge, and the peach sun is setting for the last time, and the trees have all withered and lost their leaves. The couple knows this is the end, and they watch on in fascination. At least the world is going out with style.

Enough melodrama! Let's move on to happier topics, like birds! Friday was a gorgeous day, and it being a holiday and all, the only thing I really wanted to do was take Kris out for lunch somewhere on a patio. The weather was amazing (it was more summer than spring) and after some shopping we settled down to eat at my favourite Japanese restaurant, Tokyo Sushi. After a fantastic meal (I had the yummiest teriyaki beef sushi roll in the world) we walked a few steps to TEG and as soon as I walked in the door what greeted me but these boys!

For $25 for the pair of them, how could I say no? Kris doesn't like them - finds them creepy. We argued amicably about them and the lady working the register laughed at us, especially when Kris said "Fine, you get them, but they're staying on your side!" and I replied "He doesn't yet realize that every side is my side!"Good times. :)


They need names, but I haven't decided on any yet. And I wish I could tae better pictures, but my camera was having a bad day. I totally need a new one. :(

Now earlier in the day that Friday I took advantage of an 11am meeting Kris had with Alfons, a friend/mentor of his who publishes Inside Soccer magazine, and I drove myself down the road from his meeting spot to Pacific Mall, one of the few shopping centres open on Good Friday. The place doesn't open until 11, so it was good to get there early before the mad crowds arrived.

I love Chinese fashion. They have the funkiest clothes there! I bought myself two new shirts ($25 each, a bit steep for my liking, but they're worth it), a cute cardigan, and some hair accessories (headbands and hair clips). Here are some pictures!


I love this shade of blue! And the girl and her pet are felt outlines, and look, it sparkles! It's a lovely piece, I think.


My new favourite tank top! It even has pockets! I love this shade of yellow, as I've mentioned before with a cardigan. It really suits my skin tone, I think. I definitely need more Col. Mustard yellow. :)


And at $10, who could say no to a cute little pink lace-trimmed zip-up sweater? It's adorable! I am trying to expand my colour palette and do have a few pink cardigans already, but the lace on this one just made me unable to pass it up.

And now for good measure, have a few shots of the bird!

A Little Info...

So, personally, I like to know basic things about people. I figure the majority of others agree. So I thought I'd make a little post that gives some of those basic facts about me.

My name is Kathleen (though most call me Kat), I'm currently 28 (will be 29 soon at the end of April) though I still feel like I'm 19 (and look like I'm 23, apparently, not that I'm complaining). I currently live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, though I grew up on a multitude of Canadian Army bases (including one in Lahr, Germany, from '85-'89, which bred an affinity for all things German in me, except for Sauerkraut). Before Toronto I lived in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, for about nine years. It took me a few years to realize that, in the grand scheme of things, I am, by definition, a Scotian. I love Toronto, and I feel at home here, but I am apparently not bitchy/stuck up enough to be "from" Toronto. Which is cool. Nova Scotians are an awesome bunch (except for certain areas in Cape Breton, but they don't call themselves Scotians anyway, so that's alright).

I am currently in a relationship with a wonderful guy who has enabled me to fully embrace aspects of myself and my personality that I hid before (nothing that will land me in jail, don't worry;). I'm not the type of person who believes in soul mates or destiny. If I were to go through life single, it really wouldn't be a problem, because I love myself more than I will ever love anyone else. I don't know if I'll ever get married, and it's not something I worry about. Luckily, my guy feels the same way. We've discussed marriage before, and we've discussed families, and neither of us feel any sort of pressure whatsoever (even though it seems like everyone else our age is getting married and having kids). I could definitely see myself marrying him, but there's no necessity for it. We both regard marriage as nothing more than paperwork, anyway. I was never the girl who dreamed about her wedding, after all. In fact the only wedding I ever want to have would take place in the middle of the German Black Forest in the winter time. I don't think I'll ever have the money to pull that off, hence no worries about it. But the guy and me, we're the type who would feel perfectly comfortable in just going down to the justice of the peace's office and signing paperwork, then getting our families and friends together for a barbeque on the beach to "celebrate" our official joining. Nothing fancy. I don't do fancy. Not unless someone rich is paying for it. ;)

(Me and my guy, who henceforth shall be referred to as Kris!)

There are many ways I could define myself - but none of them are consistent enough for my liking. I do a lot of writing, and even have a few novels planned - but I've yet to finish any of them. My attention span for muses flits and flickers like a candle, and just when I get right into the middle of something, another thought comes along and distracts me. One day I'll finish one of those novels and have it published. I just don't know when "that day" will be.

I love to dance. My only regret in life (honestly) is that I never realized earlier on how much I loved dancing. I truly do believe that had I realized that earlier on, I could have gone on to be a professional dancer. It's painful sometimes to think about it, because I love to dance, but it's something I've come to accept. But now I don't even get out to dance as much as I'd like. I've been saying for years that I need to rectify this. Hopefully this year I will actually achieve this.

I am a huge fan of soccer (or football, if you're anywhere other than North America). A few years ago I was just getting out of a five year relationship (which had resulted in an engagement, yikes; though he was a wonderful guy I must admit, just not right for me) and found myself in a new city, with no friends of my own. That was 2007, though, and that is when Toronto FC got their start in the MLS. I had already secured myself a season ticket back in September of '06, though, and I was looking forward to the start of the season.

(Columbus, Ohio, April 2008; 2000+ Toronto FC fans invaded that town; me, Freek, Austin, Lisa, and Coop)

No matter how poorly they perform, or how vastly they underachieve, I will always love and cherish Toronto FC for the sole reason that it gave me an instant "life". Over the course of a summer I quickly developed my own set of friends, through the U Sector (one of a few different supporters groups for the club). I even met Kris through the group! It was something that came along at the right time for me. It offered me an easy chance for acquaintances that I really didn't have to work for (being a good looking female). We saw each other almost every week, and even bonded on a few trips down south to support our team. It truly has been an integral part of my life, and even though my level of support has fluctuated over the past few years, I always find myself falling back in love with the team throughout the year.

That's really all I feel like saying at the moment. Maybe I'll indulge more later, or maybe I won't. That remains to be seen!