Paperback Love and Then Some

I have decided that the summer does indeed go by fast. But also, I'm just about ready to start the new life with my crimson-red stethoscope.

Books are lovely things, and I happily spent nearly four hours in Chapters (Barnes & Noble's, Canadian Edition, for all my American peeps) yesterday, when I was in Ottawa, reading the backs of a bjillion novels on the fiction floor and trying to resist the urge to buy out the whole store, which is actually really hard. In order to achieve this last, I found that by jotting down the titles and authors of books I wanted to read in my handy notebook, I was more easily able to release the slew of them from between my fingers and slip them back onto their shelves, so that they might beckon to another, less cheap book-lover. I must admit that the 30% price differential between buying books in the U.S. and Canada, when the Canadian dollar is practically par, just makes me absolutely livid. Anyhow, at the end of it, I was still suckered in by immediacy, purchasing 3 books after reading the first chapter of each to ensure that I would not regret spending a small fortune. I bought Orhan Pamuk's The White Castle, which is fabulous (so far anyway), as well as some light summer reading for Mexico (I leave in 2 days!) -namely, Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella and Me and Mr. Darcy by Alexandra Potter. Don't worry, there is also some Sylvia Plath (The Bell Jar) and Ethan Canin (America America) on my reading list... it's unfortunate that proper literature must cost a proper dime. But well, proper literature all the time just wouldn't be proper either (I really want to read The Virgin's Lover by the beezys' beloved Philippa Gregory).

I must confess though, I did not travel all the way to Ottawa just to peruse through paperbacks (this took place during a long bout of rain) -and earlier, I had gone with my sister and her British friend to visit the Parliament buildings, go up the Peace Tower, walk some ways along the Rideau Canal and Sparks Street, and at long last, eat noodles from a box (just like in the movies!). A pleasant day trip, really. Conked out easy when I came home that night too.

It's been nice catching up with old friends after a long time -did a bit more of that today and have been doing it a bit more each week this summer (or at least this past week) -it's comforting and lovely to be able to pick up right where you left off and forget about all the months and years that passed in between, talking about adventure, great love, and personal discovery instead. Ah, well.

Mexico is just two days away -and I've heard the Mayan Riviera is supposed to be really amazing. Psyched.

Grand Indeed

… was the Grandest of all Canyons! Stunning really –just hugely gorgeous, an awesome natural wonder that is so magnificent, it knocks the wind straight out of you. Barely glimpsed the Colorado River from the South Rim whirlwind tour we took, but still, rubbing our eyes in the blinding sunlight, pinching ourselves in the scorching heat, making sure it wasn’t just a mirage. When I go back, I really want to go white water rafting on the Colorado –you know, get right inside of it – ’must be absolutely spectacular! My aunt and grandmother from Vancouver ended up joining my mother and I in Sedona, Arizona (which was the home base for our 5 day trip, where seeing the Grand Canyon was just a one-day thing). It was a lovely surprise. We lived it up in our opulent four-star West Sedona hotel (yeah Expedia hotel deals!!!), taking advantage of the spa and pool facilities (even enjoying massages, steam rooms, Jacuzzis, cucumber and lemon water, lobby fountains… I tell ya, this is the life we were all meant to lead –one of relaxed contentment). Of course, we only did this when we weren’t exploring Sedona (which is breathtaking in itself, with its Red Rock “vortexes”, canyons, creeks, and little town) or visiting Grand Canyon.

After a rather long and turbulent journey (beginning at 2 AM when I drove us from Montreal to Burlington, VT (which by the way really has the cutest little airport) from where we took a plane to Chicago, followed by another flight to L.A. and then another to Flagstaff, AZ, this last being so choppy you literally felt like you were on a roller-coaster), we all kinda just chilled out at the hotel, going for a refreshing swim in their pool, lazing in the hot tub and having dinner at Red’s (the hotel restaurant) –a nice rib-eye steak and crème brulée for dessert –and then getting an early night.

The next morning, after a hearty breakfast, we set off on our audio-guided, otherwise self-navigated tour (you play the tour CD as you drive around) of the sights of Sedona. We (well, mostly just me –the altitude of over 4000 ft. above sea-level was a bit much for my grandmother, and the heat was somewhat overwhelming for my aunt and mother) then made stops and did little hikes, amidst Prickly Pear cactus and Juniper trees, up Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock, Airport Rock, the Chapel of the Holy Cross (which is a serene Catholic monument built right into the natural red rock of the area –a Frank Lloyd Wright piece, incidentally –I swear, it moves you to tears the moment you enter –quite a special place!). We also drove by a bunch of other places, including the windy road along Oak Creek Canyon, and to the sacred Native American Boynton Canyon, keeping an eye out for ‘shapes’ in the rocks –like a ‘sleeping elephant’, ‘sky-gazer’, ‘Snoopy’, ‘tea pot’, ‘chimney’, etc. By the end of that day, we were shedding what looked like eraser shavings, namely dust mixed with sunscreen and dry skin, exhausted, but satisfied, and happy to enjoy a delicious dinner (I had Cajun Shrimp and Scallops with rice) at Judi’s, a local favourite.

The following day was our Grand Canyon Tour –everything felt a bit rushed, but for our situation, it really was the best option. Some great views, and a stop right at the beginning to watch the eighties IMAX film on Grand Canyon, as well as a historically, geologically, herbologically and in-other-ways informed (what sticks out most in my memory was the explanation of ways to get right into Grand Canyon –unfortunately, our own experience was not quite so interactive with this ancient, majestic place –particularly, the treacherous and stamina-requiring mule-rides –did you know that mules were a cross of a jackass and a mare, and that they are sterile?) and funny, old tour guide, a gourmet lunch at the famous El Tovar hotel’s restaurant, some light shopping on the Navajo Indian reservation and such (I had some ‘opinions’ about the state of affairs of all this –really you’d think the government could do just a bit better for a people that have contributed to the cultivation of such a rich cultural history!) –arriving back in time for dinner at the only Chinese restaurant in Sedona (which had some pretty awesome Chow Mein).

The next day we kinda just chilled out –it was our Spa day (already described somewhat) –three of us had a sugar-shea-butter body treatment, which was amazing, especially as I’ve never had anything like it before! Also, I had never been in a steam room before –you don’t really feel like you’re going to suffocate and die as much as I thought you would –actually, once you get used to it, it’s even quite pleasant, and when you come out, your soft skin glows beautifully! Before that, we explored Tlaquepaque, which is the artist gallery village part of town and picked up some fabulous bargain Arizona turquoise, took some fun statuesque photos (we posed with the statues and the fountains –good, silly fun!) and had some refreshing pink lemonade at El Rincor, a Mexican place right in the heart of it. That night we ate at the famous Cowboy Club Silver Saddle restaurant in Uptown (i.e. just ‘town’) Sedona, trying out tender barbequed buffalo brochettes, and cactus fries dipped in a zesty Prickly Pear tequila sauce –really yummy local flavours here (I did not get up the nerve to taste Rattlesnake -as my aunt says, "I can't eat things that could potentially eat me" -that's where we drew the line, much to my mother's adventurous chagrin)!

On our last day, we were up at the crack of dawn to drive grandma and aunt to the airport, and then Mum and I re-visited some of the Red Rock sites, and hiked all the way up Airport Rock just as it began to drizzle, making it back down before any heavy rain. By afternoon, we were on our 24-hour-long journey back home via LAX (lovely Hibiscus and palm trees at the airport by the way, which is officially all that I’ve ever seen of L.A. –the same goes for D.C. sadly), D.C. and Burlington, with delays nearly everywhere.

Nonetheless, a truly, spectacularly, enjoyable trip –arriving happily home to the much-missed father and younger sister, and her two house-guests, including le boyfriend, and la British friend –both sweet and lovely people. Goodness, can’t believe over two thirds of my last real summer are over. What a good way to have it though. And still more to go with the Mexican Mayan Riviera coming up in just over a week! ’Hope you enjoyed this first adventurous taste of my post-grad summer.

Flowers outside the Chapel of the Holy Cross: "Please don't pick us, we're smiling at God..."

Settling In, Anticipating Adventure

At long last, the cleaning and organizing of my bedroom has been completed. 4 donation bags, 5 garbage bags, and countless hours later, it is now very warm, and cozy and orderly, just the way I like it to be. This is why I have not posted in over a week -I apologize for my irregularity. It was worth it though, I won't lie. Nothing like straightening out all that outward chaos for the calming of inner mess. In a way it's like summer is only really starting now, even though we are half-way through.

I woke up early today and had slept quite badly last night due to bizarre lifeguarding dreams with loonies playing with children's lives -unsettling indeed. But then I had a lovely breakfast of homemade cheese straws and banana bread with Earl Grey tea. Oh, Beezys, did you know that in Swahili 'nbizi' means 'banana'? I learned that from my sister's boyfriend, who, incidentally, arrived yesterday to visit her for about a week or so, and has just spent the last few weeks between Tanzania, Kenya, England and Portugal (lucky dude right ;). Anyway, here I am typing away on my bed, with classical music playing in the background (like real classical music -Tchaikovsky, Bizet, Bach, Dvorak -none of that New Age stuff, although I do enjoy that as well oftentimes). I actually took my sweet time meticulously painting my toenails (yeah. really. but this is what it means to 'relax' right?), put on some of my brand new clothes and went for a walk before lunch, picking up my newly-hemmed, new pants from the dry cleaners (story of my shortness in life) on the way back home.

I also window-shopped online for a new laptop since mine is mid-death at present (constant, repeated crashing, but it still turns on -luckily sufficient warning that I have backed it up well). For a while I considered switching to a Mac, but then remembered how much I dislike the Apple interface. The new Dell Inspirons are beautiful though and you can get a 14' that weighs about 5 lbs -not light, but not too extremely heavy either. There's also the Dell XPS M1330 which is thinner and lighter, but with a 13-inch screen, which equals tiny keyboard, my fingers would get too squished. And the last thing a potential-future-surgeon needs is hand-tendinitis, right. Anyway, if you have any suggestions for me, please share!

Oh, so I forgot to mention a few things: firstly, I attended my first bachelorette party shortly after Independence Day (this is a shout-out to my US affiliations -what can I do, it's part of me now right, might as well embrace it for all the good I got out of it for 4 years!) and it was crazy fun! I will not go into details here, but will share what I thought was the ultimate highlight: making the bride-to-be wear a candy-bra gag-gift over her clothing, and then traipse around downtown Montreal, selling bites for $1 from the back, or for $2 from the front, raking in over $35, including donations from policemen and hot firemen (who, unfortunately, did not bite off any candy though, since they were in uniform) -not too shabby at all. And also, really not as shady as it sounds -the streets were packed with many other bachelorettes and bachelors to-be doing all kinds of crazy stuff, and there were like 10 of us girls to 'fend off' weirdos and get on our victims' case about 'the rules' (like hands behind your back when you bite, pay first, bite second, etc).

Also, August Rush is a fabulous movie -great music, Robin Williams, Felicity (Keri Russell) and and the "Coach" from Bend It Like Beckham (aka Henry VIII on "The Tudors", Jonathan Rhys Myers), some good acting on the part of the main kid, cheesy story, but the script is not half bad, and overall, highly, highly enjoyable! Also, The Jane Austen Book Club, is a sweet chick flick.

Oooh, Bach's Brandenburg Concerto -'love it (playing now, which means I have been updating you here for way too long!).

Tomorrow night (well, technically, very early Wednesday morning), Mum and I leave for Arizona (via Burlington, Chicago and LA... we will, inshallah, get there eventually though!) -so excited to visit the Grand Canyon, as well as Cathedral Rock in Sedona. The weather forecast has some rain with thunder, but hopefully that'll clear up by Thursday! My real, grand summer adventures are about to begin -what's not to look forward to, eh?

If I love you, keep reading...

If not, please stop -your behaviour is considered "sketchy". If this is making you uncomfortable because you're not quite sure which category you fit into, rest assured, I'll help you figure it out. If you received an e-mail inviting you to partake of my life through the Old City Fountain, or if you are a family member, or if you know in your heart of hearts that I meant to include you in my e-mail and only forgot out of brain clumsiness, then please stay, please read, always, of course -you are in the "loved" category! If you are a publisher, you are also in the "loved" category. However, if you're here through other stalker-like tendencies, go away. Go away now.

Okay, thanks.

To the "loved": Sorry about that. Just had to get that out in the open because I actually met one such person not too long ago and it totally freaked me out. Not rando-randos, but acquaintance- randos, whose intent is well, let's just say unclear for diplomacy's sake, which of course is kind of unnerving nonetheless.

It has been a long time since I last posted -and a lot has changed since the last post. Namely, I finished the last Harry Potter, I painted my bedroom a lovely light yellow, with a beautiful strip of wallpaper around the middle that is a "scenery" that looks much like Captain von Trapp's river banks landscape (sort of) with crimson, dare I say, Harvard-looking buildings (well, it's probably the fact that they're crimson that is particularly reminiscent of Cambridge, Mass.) in the distance, pink magnolia bushes, and trees on the banks. The Canada Day fireworks / light show yesterday were pretty good. Jazz Fest started on the 26th and I only went on the 28th -flaking out early indeed, I'd say, especially since it's the only time I've been yet. Lio! or as Thea Vula would say (from My Big Fat Greek Wedding), "Woe to me!" However, I am determined to catch some more of it before it ends on Sunday -this is a promise (to myself, obvi). Community projects also underway (cross fingers all goes well).

Sadly, the real writing has been on hiatus. How is there just no time now that the back is nearly all better? Ironic, eh. Grand Canyon trip just a couple weeks away though... maybe it will be inspiring.

Loving hugs and hugging loveds --