Time is starting to move a lot faster now that I’ve received an interview date from the US Consulate in Montreal.

I’ve got so much to do and so little time. This would all be more enjoyable if the weather was better.  (maybe i should have some cheese with my whine?)

So here’s a list (sorry if this may be boring)

• Figure out what I’m taking to the USA with me and what needs to be donated or put in storage
• Finish recording the song I’m working on with Brian.
• Find a job down in Mass… luckily I still have my job up in MTL so the situation isn’t completely dire yet
• Enjoy the sights, smells, tastes and sounds of the Montreal area since I won’t be able to come visit for at least a year.
• Prepare for my visa interview (make copies of everything, get my physical, get passport photos, find an interview outfit).
• Play some video games since they help me relax (Legend of Mana, Rune Factory, etc).
• Go to Otakuthon in Montreal with my bro at the end of July (anime manga mania).

I also got to attend Fiesta in Gloucester, MA and it was pretty awesome, irregardless of the crappy weather. Ate fried dough, fresh lemonade, fresh cut fries, lotsa pizza and italian cookies. An event like this is not to be missed if you’re in the area (or within a 6 hour drive radius).

I feel like the past few weeks have sped by in a blur. A blur of events, new roads, new unions and a battle between rain and sun. I still can’t believe I managed to attend 2 weddings, within 2 weeks in 2 different countries. Both wonderful and special in their own way and I’m so glad I was invited to share with them their special day.

I finally was able to see No Doubt perform live at the Bell Center and they certainly did not dissapoint. Non-stop dancing, all killer no filler. This was one of the bands that inspired me as a lost 15 year old to want to join a band. My brother came with me and you should’ve seen the look of excitement on his face, expecially when Paramore was onstage. It happily reminded me of myself 10 years ago, when I was beyond enthrallment each time I attended a show. As the years went on shows became less special and more a routine of life. But seeing my brother’s reaction and the band I’d been waiting almost 13 years to see perform live, rekindled something long lost inside me (as cheeseball as that sounds). Perhaps it was only a temporary reaction to something nostalgic, irregardless it felt nice to be lost in it at least for a little while.

Here are some items that are currently piled up on my bookshelf,  just yelling at me to start reading them:

1. Chicken With Plums by Marjane Satrapi:  A story about the last 8 days of Satrapi’s great-uncle Nasser Ali Khan, one of Iran’s most revered musicians, who takes to bed after realizing that he’ll never be able to find an instrument to replace his beloved, broken tar (lute).
2. Anattitude Magazine Issue 3 The Old School Issue (this is probably the only magazine out there that exclusively deals with women in hip hop). The only place that sells this in Montreal is the Canadian Center for Architecture Bookstore (the staff at the bookstore are INCREDIBLY helpful).
3. Barefoot Gen Vol. 6 Writing the Truth. An autobiographical manga series about a boy surviving the atomic bomb in Hiroshima.
4. The Last Days of Dogtown by Anita Diamant. This is a historical novel set in early 1800s Cape Ann Massachusetts (this is the area I’ll soon be moving to).

And by almost there I mean almost done all the required paperwork that I need to send to the US Consulate in Montreal. It turned out to be quite the scavenger hunt. Find a translator who can notarize, get a police certificate from a police station that is in the middle of nowhere St-Hubert. In some ways I kinda like the challenge they’ve presented me but if I had a full-time job(and WAY more responsibilities) this would’ve been the hugest pain in the butt.

So now for my “recent favorite things list”:

• I’ve been loving these Swedish ginger-snap “vegan” cookies by Nyakers. You can find them at the Atwater market (not in the tin) for about $2.49 or even ikea perhaps? They have delicious flavors like Orange Ginger, vanilla ginger, lemon ginger, and just plain ol’ ginger cookies. They are very thin and are full of  amazing flavor. This website’s review says it all.
• Loose-leaf earl grey lavender tea from the Atwater market which sells for about 3.99/lb (pretty decently priced mind you).
• Carambar. These are candies (taffy-like bot not as sticky) from France that have amazingly delicious and creative flavors. The mango exotic one is too good for words. They even have incredibly cheesy jokes in the wrapper (similar to the ones from Bazooka Joe gum wrappers). I was able to find some Carambars at Atwater Market and at this little shop in the Metro Longueuil mall (so random).
• Paul à Québec by Michel Rabagliati, which is his sixth graphic novel. I love his autobiographical style and that many of his stories take place in Montreal or the Quebec countryside. When I lived in California I would read his books and it would really make me homesick but would also be comforting at the same time. His books are originally released in French but Drawn & Quarterly usually releases English versions of them later on.
• Warm montreal bagels! Even Tim who never really liked Montreal bagels agreed with me that when they come straight out of the oven they are truly and simply amazing. When I went to St-Viateur they were unfortunately all out of the poppy seed ones.
• Adele live in concert! Saw Adele perform live at Metropolis last week and her voice was so incredibly spot on! She sang for over an hour and it sounded better than on her recordings. As snobby as this may sound, few vocalists these days make the hair on the back of my neck stand but the moment Adele came onto the stage the feeling came back to me. That long absent sensation really surprised me, kinda felt like a phantom limb returning (as odd and impossible as that may sound).

This past month has been a long waiting game to finally get my fiance visa paperwork from the US Consulate, and then only for me to realize that I should’ve started assembling certain documents way ahead of time. Dealing with bureaucracies is not for the faint of heart. My mind is clouded with thoughts of expensive and intrusive physicals, translators, notaries, police certificates, passport photos and redundant paperwork. I can’t wait for all this to be done.

So! Instead of negatively focusing on this insurmountable paperwork I’m going to try to stress less and think of a few of my favorite things (inexplicable, premature warm weather edition)!
1) Arnold Palmer’s (lemonade ice tea for that don’t know)
2) Soft serve ice cream
3) Going to Le Bilboquet for ice cream with friends and family.
4) Drawing to relax
5) Start doing yoga again (mornings or evenings or both)
6) Learning to make frozen treats (with a friend hopefully)
7) Songwriting and lyric writing
8 ) Anis de Flavigny candies, which have a slight sweetness to them, unlike most contemporary candies, and come in extravagant flavours such as jasmine and violet (mint , orange and anis/fennel too).

• Pupusas with curtido from Dèlicieusus Pupusas: 256 rue Beaubien Est. Montreal
• Stash Double Bergamot Earl Grey Tea
• Cuisine Caraïbe Delite on Parc in Montreal . Their sour fruity hot sauce is sooo hot but so good.
• Chocolate truffles from See’s Candies … their truffle filling is so fresh tasting it’s unbelievable they’re cheaper than Godiva (but better).
• Lavender Rice Pudding (homemade by yours truly)
  

I spent my previous week in California and boy did the time fly. I wish I could’ve stayed longer. I am so greatful to have such great friends there (A+ on hospitality and good times)! The weather was incredible (isn’t it always though). The food was rockin’ (burritos, and Scoops)! The flowers were blooming and the hills were green rather than their usual golden brown (dried up). The only downside was that you can definitely tell that California was hit hard by the recession. Some of my favorite new and old establishments (Cook’s Library in LA) were either no longer there or fighting to stay alive. I definitely miss SD and all my buddies who live there, but I’m also excited about the new adventures that await me. Irregardless, I can’t wait to go and visit again – the burritos up here pale in comparison.

I’m fortunate enough to have a job that gives me a lot of flexibility concerning my schedule.

This weekend I’m heading off to Ottawa to visit some palz (I haven’t been there since 2005). Can’t wait to checkout Cat Parliament.

A week after my Ottawa trip I’ll be heading off to sunny San Diego for a WHOLE week to visit some of my old pals, including a reunion with my favorite food in the whole wide world : Burritos. I’ve been dreaming about SD burritos! I know I’m a total food fiend. I also can’t wait to visit LA while I’m there (Amoeba, Scoops, Getty Villa in Malibu, Giant Robot, bookstores: Book Soup).

I watched the documentary Dreams To Remember: The Legacy Of Otis Redding for the second time with a group of buddies and it still sent shivers down my spine. His smile, his dance moves, his passion for music and life – all these keep leaving me in awe and regret that I was never able to see him live. I look forward to seeing more documentaries/works about his life that delve more into his impact on the world of music.

Otis live at Monterey Pop

From drawing projects to gym memberships and baking goodies I’m really trying to make sure I take advantage of my extra free time. My new job as research assistant starts this week too.

I had a great weekend with T-man. We ended up going to a Guyanese restaurant Caraïbe Delite on Parc near Villeneuve (Thanks Ang and J). We were the only people there during that quiet, cold Friday afternoon and it truly was like eating a nice home cooked meal. The roti with chickpeas and pumpkin was so tasty especially with their hot sauce – a scrumtrelescent trifecta of sweet, spicy and hot. The homemade (fresh) fruit punch rocked too – so refreshing! I’m definitely going to get the Peanut Punch next time.

Some future plans that I look forward to (no particular order and really boring for anyone else to read):

1. Visit at least one tea house in Mtl
2. Go to Ottawa to hangout with my pals D. and I. ( I figure this might be my last change to visit O-town for a long time).
3. Visit T-man as soon as I can.
4. Go to the gym with my brother at least three times a week.
5. AM Yoga with Rodney Yee (if I’m not too lazy)
6. Finish my Ninjatown game for DS