Now here's a tune about this honey named Renee...

1995/6 - Grade 11 - I have vivid memories of driving to the mall during lunch listening to Renee at full blast, I think all of us could sing every word starting with "Yeah! What! Come-on! Mmmggddy!" (if you know what I'm talking about, I applaud you).

I just finished reading an article in this month's VIBE entitled "51 albums that you gotta have" . As I'm pouring through the magazine, I start getting excited when I get to an album I have and start thinking about what I would have added or taken out.

I often get asked where my taste in music comes from, I have this stuck in mid to late 90s hip-hop/R&B hat on right now and think that nothing that is made nowadays stands up to the music that was made then (example, if you watch 8mile again, listen to the music playing in the background - its set in 95, solid s**t). I know, I know, I'm saying that the best music is from the 90s, but in my lifetime, thats definitely been it.

So I put together a list of the albums of the past 15 or so years that have most influenced my taste in music today (including the first CD I ever bought, Forever My Lady...wow does that make me feel old). This list starts with NKOTB, of course, because in reality they were the first group I ever really liked on my own...after which I branched out into more "authentic" music (although I will always stand by my devotion to my first band).

If there is something on here that you haven't heard yet, I recommend you check it out, if they remind you of an album you used to listen to, dust off that CD (or tape), and if you hate everything on my list...too bad for you, I like my music.

1. New Kids on the Block, Hangin' Tough (1988), Step by Step (1990)
2. Boys to Men, Cooleyhighharmony (1991), II (1994)
3. Jodeci, Forever My Lady (1991), Diary of a Mad Band (1993), The Show, The Afterparty, The Hotel (1995)
4. Pearl Jam, Ten (1991)
5. Metallica, Metallica (1991)
6. Guns and Roses, Use your Illusion 1 & 2 (1991)
7. Dr Dre, The Cronic (1992)
8. Run DMC, Down with the King (1993)
9. Tupac, Strictly for my N.I.G.G.A.Z (1993)
10. Snoop Dogg, Doggystyle (1993)
11. R. Kelly, 12 Play (1993)
12. Notorious B.I.G., Ready to Die (1994)
13. Nirvana, MTV Unplugged in New York (1994)
14. Jason's Lyric Soundtrack (1994)
15. Aaliyah, Age Ain't Nothing but a Number (1994), One in a Million (1996)
16. Da Brat, Funkdafied (1994)
17. D'Angelo, Brown Sugar (1995)
18. Lost Boyz, Legal Drug Money (1995)
19. Nutty Professor Soundtrack (1996)
20. Total, Total (1996)
21. Playa, Cheers to You (1997)
22. Usher, My Way (1997)
23. Timbaland and Magoo, Welcome to Our World (1997)
24. Our Lady Peace, Clumsy (1997)
25. Asian Dub Foundation, Rafi's Revenge (1999)
26. Faith Hill, Breathe (2000)
27. Alicia Keys, Songs in A Minor (2001)
28. Maxwell, Now (2001)

We gained one and we lost one...

This weekend was the Vancouver celebration of Jason and Sej's marriage. It didn't feel like it had been two weeks since the wedding in New Jersey, especially once I went over to the guys house and saw all the same faces again. But the most exciting part was that finally, after weeks of practice we were able to show off our dancing and acting skills to everyone (and in my, and my mom's, opinion we rocked!!)

Highlights of the night:

1. Doing the electric slide, not once but TWICE (Boogie-woogie-woogie)
2. No technical difficulties!! (thanks to Hemanshu's testing brilliance)
3. The jalepeno poppers...(mmm, greasy fried food!)
4. STEP BY STEP!! (don't pretend you didn't enjoy it)
5. "The bush needs love too!!"

On Saturday we took the Americans out for tour of our city and for one of our infamous All-You-Can-Eat sushi meals. On our way around the city it became clear that I know alot of random, relatively useless facts about the city (I know, surprise, surprise). Here are some of the the best parts of a tour of Vancouver by Asha:

- The largest IKEA in North America (we just happened to pass it)
- The store in Gastown where Bill Clinton bought the infamous cigar ;)
- One of our many sushi establishments (did you know that there are three times the number of sushi restaurants than McDonalds in Vancouver?)
- The real reason why there are two Starbucks outlets at Robson and Thurlow

After eating more than I ever thought possible (these Jersey men just didn't cut it), we spent the night celebrating Amy's upcoming trip to Sydney. Of course I'm going to miss her, but most of all I'm really excited and proud of what she's doing!!

A different view of outsourcing...

Washington — High-technology jobs are as likely to be contracted out to Brandon or Barrie, Ont., as they are to Bangalore, a new United Nations report has found. Read the article from today's Globe and Mail.

He's just not that into you :)

Today while I was at Chapters looking for a new book to expand my mind and fill up some of these rainy days we've been having, I came across the book, He's Just Not That Into You -- based on an episode of Sex and the City:

I think we all remember that episode where Miranda starts freaking out because she's gets told that the reason he isn't calling is because "he's just not that into her" and that its not because of any of the multitude of excuses she's made for him. Given mine and Amy's recent obsession with all things SATC - including our recent date with the city, and since the best part about Chapters is actually reading books in store (right Adrian?) I picked it up, found a couch and started reading (see below for a link to some excerpts).

Oh my god!! News flash to all women out there in the world!! Read this book. If you're single, take this advice, if you're married, give this advice. As I was sitting there, I wanted to buy every copy in the store and send it to all my girlfriends...but then I realized that that wouldn't really be possible so this post is the next best thing.

I came home only to find that Oprah had found this book before me and that the authors were on her show today (talk about a coincidence). Which made me feel a bit better about LUVING the book. My favorite quotes from the show: "If you know what you want and you're not getting it, Move on!" and "Men don't forget how much they like you. So put down the phone."

To all the ladies reading this and rolling your eyes at me (you know who you are), I am usually one of you, but even superstars like us need reminders sometimes.

Links: Excerpts from the book, Oprah, Chapters

Creating Serendipity..

Last Friday we recreated some moments from Serendipity - The Cafe, Bloomingdales, the Waldorf Astoria and the rink at Central Park (pretty much everything we could do in a 4 block radius), it was all in good fun and got us some frozen hot chocolate and some raw chicken (hehehe..a definite highlight).

Inspired by the movie, I waited all day for something interesting to happen, and got nothing...I mean, Friday was a great day, probably the best of the whole trip, but nothing extraordinary happened, no fortunate accidents. After my disappointment wore off it got me to thinking...can we create serendipitous moments? are they really accidents or can I do something to improve my chances? Is it really about chance at all or is it more about being aware and taking advantage of the opportunities in front of you?

So being Asha, I looked it up...and found that serendipity isn't about accidents (the hollywood definition) its about discovery. Its not about waiting around for something to happen its about finding something...a subtle but real difference...so now I'm on the prowl..I'm going to get me some serendipity whether its ready for me or not :)

The one thing I was still missing about Vancouver...

Can you believe that today was the rainist day ever in Vancouver? EVER!! For those of you that know the city that is quite an accomplishment.

Curled up in my blanket, watching a movie, and then walking through a couple of puddles, days like this were my favorite part of growing up on the west coast.

Was it something you said?

You know how sometimes (actually always for me) a song comes on the radio at exactly the right time and it seems like the someone has read your mind and is singing your feelings and thoughts right back at you, except that they've put it in much better words than you'd even be able to express (except for one or two lines that don't fit, but you forgive the singer because the rest is dead on).

Well that happened to me today, I was stuck in traffic and "it" came on the radio. Now the song is everywhere I go...the radio, muchmusic, much more music, even as background music on a website I visited by accident. Grr.

You would have thought that would have made me feel better, but it didn't. I don't want there to be other people who understand how I feel or what I'm thinking. Right now I what I want most is to feel that these feelings I'm having belong to me and only me. Its not that I think I'm so special or important to have these unique feelings, its just that having someone else feel my feelings and think my thoughts takes away from my here and now.

And no one ever wants to feel like what they are going through is the status quo, do they?

Remember when it used to be the Canada Cup?

Why did they bother to change the name anyway ;)

"The Canadian team, they deserved to win. Great hockey team. What a hockey country and what a tradition..."

- Finnish Coach, Raimo Summanen

Finally NYC = NYC

Last March I wrote "The City of Kings, The Queen of Drama", a short entry in my blog about how I had never had a "regular" trip to New York, about how for me NYC = Drama. Hidden in those few lines was my anxiety about the trip, about everything I wanted to say, about my past and about my future.

Even though it felt like on the eve of this trip the worlds were conspiring against me and I seemed destined to the same fate as the trips of the past...I finally did it. I didn't cry, I didn't feel alone, I didn't need to buy an insane amount of shoes to keep me busy, I just got to enjoy the city and make new memories with the people I love.

To be honest, I surprised myself last week, I thought I would be a wreck for my own reasons and then got thrown a curveball on Tuesday. I'm proud of myself, its rare that I get a chance to really benchmark my growth and I wasn't sure I'd ever actually get to this point. But I made it and finally New York is just New York again.

Thanks for hosting us!!!

Hetal..you're the best!! See you again soon!

My two favorite people in the world :)

Day 1 and 2 - Always on Time!!

So after our first 48 hours in NYC we've already had our first celebrity sighting and it was embarrassing to say the least. I wish I could say I remembered it clearly but at least I have a pic as proof. At least he knows what our favorite song is….right Amy?

The highlight for me so far is that I finally saw the Producers…I totally recommend it for anyone travelling through the city (I think its also playing in TO). After missing it everytime I came by for 3 years I’m glad it turned out to be a crude, unpolitically correct, satire which fit exactly with my state of mind.

Wawa's, Hoagie Haven, Tastee Subs..and a Wedding ;)

Wow...that's all I have to say. 4 days and 4 nights of very little sleep, alot of partying and a little bit of emotion.

I must admit that I wasn't too sure about spending the weekend in Princeton, New Jersey...but even though me and Hetal were right in our prediction and that we used up all of our resources from the DFI on the first night..this has been one of the best weddings I've ever been to.

Oh yeah I almost forgot......Happy Birthday Neil!!

Tales from Chutney Manor..

So its officially started, Jason is really getting married. It feels weird actually seeing it live. We've been talking about this weekend forever...it feels like I've been preparing for this weekend for as long as I've known Jason (its all about the party, remember). If last night was any indication, my prediction was dead on :)

No more lessons please...

When did my instinct start failing me? Do you think it was a switch that just turned off one day and didn't tell the rest of my brain. I keep asking myself over and over, how could I be so wrong?

But was I really wrong this time? Maybe it really was just bad timing, a set of multiple mismatched variables that were never that aligned in the first place, maybe I'll see the reason and it'll all make sense sooner than I think. But I keep thinking that maybe I just was wrong and its my fault for getting my hopes up in the first place.

I've been through enough. I don't need anymore life experience in this area, not sure I need to learn anything new, I'm more than satisfied with what I know so far. So please, no more lessons...