Soul: It's What's For Dinner

Tonight Michelle, her mom, her mother and aunt-in-law, and I went to the Windsor Casino to watch Soulville. I think Michelle and I deserve some R-E-S-P-E-C-T for being the only under-thirties in the room! But Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch, let me tell you that I Love Music! I don't know What's Goin' On, but I sure wish the music didn't STOP! Even though it was the Same Ol' Song that we had heard time and again, we were definitely "singing and groovin' in our seats!" I pity the Chain of Fools that didn't get to see the show, and if I ever have the chance again, you know I'll Be There, so you better Get Ready, Here I Come.

All kidding aside, I actually had a great time. The show wasn't at all cheezy like I thought it would be. And if you can't tell from the above paragraph, they played a lot of Motown classics. I was rather impressed that I pretty much knew, or recognized, all but one or two songs. When did I ever learn so much about Motown, I wonder. Must have been my dad. Although one thing I did learn today is that I Heard it Through the Grapevine was NOT originally done by The California Raisins! I could have sworn...*shakes head* Although bonus points to me for correctly naming the band that Michael MacDonald used to be in. Any guesses (no Googling allowed)?

On our way out, we stopped at the Dice Game to play for a bit. After watching for a few minutes, I decided to risk $10 and give it a go. And I won $30!!! Go me! At one point I was actually ahead by $40, but then I lost $10. Oh well. At least I walked out ahead.

So all in all it was a good night. Small towns can be fun sometimes.

All Figured Out

As I was brushing my teeth, I overheard my brother and sister arguing. This is a pretty rare occurrence, so I poked my head out of the bathroom to see what was going on. Apparently my sister was trying to clean up, and told my brother to pick up his clothes or something, which he did, but she was still yelling at him for some reason. I decided to let them sort it out themselves and get back to my oral hygiene. As I was walking back to the bathroom I heard my brother say to my sister "You told me to get my clothes and I did. Jeez. I did what you said I still get in trouble."

So young, yet so wise. He's already got the female species figured out at the ripe old age of 12. Now if only he can remember that as he gets older.....

YIPPPPEEEEEEE!!!!!

I just found out from the school in Italy that due to some staffing changes, I won't be teaching first grade after all. I will be teaching SECOND GRADE. Thank goodness! That is quite possibly the BEST NEWS EVER!!!!! *happy dance*

Cannot contain excitement.

Gah!

Well, I bought my (non-refunadable) ticket to Italy today! Oh my gosh! I know I said I was going to do it on Friday, but I kinda chickened out thinking about what would happen if I didn't get my visa. The guy at the visa office said that it was 99% likely that I would get the visa, but since he didn't know my background, he couldn't say for sure. Given that I am not affiliated with any terrorist groups that I know of (although they might think otherwise after seeing my non-smiling passport-sized photos. What is with this new no-smiling policy anyways? Really, it just makes everyone look like ax murderers), I *hope* that I will get my visa with no problems. I really just think they are concerned about whether or not I have enough money to prevent me from setting up shop over there on government funds. Every question I had about the required documentation (some of which I don't have due to being in the DR for the last two years) was answered by "Do you have a bank statement?" So I think (hope, pray) that I will be fine. But anyone who knows me knows I worry mercilessly. And after the Mexico experience with my boss, I now know that even when it's a sure thing, it's not a sure thing.

Anyways, I went on-line today to check the flight prices like I obsessively do at least 10 times a day....and what do you think I found???? That's right! The price went up! *minor heart attack* But by less than $100, so it could have been worse. So after a few frantic calls to the airline, checking other days for prices, and almost booking the wrong trip, I just bit the bullet and bought the damn thing!

Just at that moment, New Homeowner called to say she was on her way over. So I ran around trying to finish getting ready before she got there when it hit me: I bought my ticket to Italy. PANIC!!!! Thank goodness my mother was there to pick up the pieces so New Homeowner was greeted by an only partially fallen apart Travel Bug (meh--she's known me long enough not to be alarmed by this). But after some lunch and a Tim Horton's Iced Cappucino, all was good.

Now I am pretty excited! I am definitely going to Italy. WOW!! I figure the worst that can happen is that I DON'T get my visa, but even then I will still have a job over there, and I will still be allowed to enter the country. If that did end up being the case, then I am sure the school would be able to sort something out for me once I got there. So no worries! Geez! I wish I had thought of that a few days ago before the prices went up! LOL

Nowhere To Go

WARNING: This is a self-pity post. Read at own risk.

It is 9:30pm on a Saturday night. I have called most everyone that I know in the city, and they are either not home, out already, or too tired to go out. *sigh* So that leaves me stuck at home. Alone. What I would really like to do tonight is hit a Latin Club as I am having serious Latin culture withdrawl here! But alas, there is no one around to assist me with getting my fix, or even to assist me with getting out of the house. This sucks. But I guess that's what happens when you move away and then come back for a visit. Last year I guess I didn't notice so much because I was working, and also because George was here with me, so I always had someone to do something with. But that is not the case now. *sniff sniff*

Maybe I will go for a walk somewhere by myself. Might make me feel better.

One Step Closer

YAY!!! My letter from the bank finally came! I have been waiting for what seems like EVER for an account balance letter from my bank. It is the last thing out of a list of like, a million other things that I need to apply for my Italian Visa. The list is actually quite extensive. I am surprised they don't require blood samples and an affidavit securing them possession of my first born child (which I would happily give up, by the way. I mean, it IS Italy after all!!!).

I am happy to say that I now have everything that I need, except for two passport-sized photos which I will get today. Then I can go to the Consulate tomorrow morning and apply for my Visa! If they approve my choice of a one-way flight over there, then I will purchase my plane ticket tomorrow before I get screwed out of it again! How exciting! I hope everything goes ok. I am now one step closer to my next Travel Bug Adventure! Go me!

What's Wrong With Me?!?!?

Ok, no one actually has to answer that question. :P Seriously though, it is almost 1:30 in the morning and I cannot fall asleep. I went to bed an hour ago, but gave up trying to drift off to dreamland. It just wasn't / isn't happening. Boo.

I had a pretty uneventful, but interesting day today. Not that I did anything spectacular, mind you. But for some reason, everything seemed unusually funny to me today. Like at the gym for instance: I actually had to LEAVE the class I was in because I couldn't contain myslef. Between the rather large lady in front of me whose thong showed everytime she bent over, the flaming instructor who reminded me of this hilarious instructor from the DR, the equally flaming and very unchoreographed gentleman to my right, and they guy on my left whose shoe kept squeaking on the floor everytime he tried to move, I just couldn't pull myself together. I was about to burst. I thought it better to high-tail out of there than risk exploding into a fit of giggles, which would not have been overly polite of me.

After that, things got a bit better. I tried to keep my amuse-o-meter in check for the rest of the day. I think I succeeded too. It's just that people are actually quite funny. They do silly things sometimes. Myself included. I am sure I have unknowingly given quite a few people a good laugh here and there over the years. Ah well. What can you do?

Well, I guess I should go back to attempting to catch those elusive ZZZZ's. Night all.

OK, I Lied

Maybe I do care what happens to Harry Potter, given that I have just spent the entire day since my last post reading. Yes, I have done nothing today but read. I just finished the book, and now have to wait two more years for the last installment. She really shouldn't go so long between publishings, in my opinion. Not that it seems to have made a difference interest-wise to her readers. But it is such a huge pain in the butt to wait so long. I think for the time being I am going to read the 5th book again, or at least skim through it, because I still cannot remember what The Prophecy said. It might help with a few things in the 6th book.

Random Thoughts

1) Booking this flight to Italy is quite a pain in the a**! The one-way flight I wanted to take is now $1100 more expensive than it was. I could go round-trip on a charter for $880 and not use the return portion of it, but then I would only be able to take 44 lbs of luggage with me! The luggage! Won't someone please think of the luggage??? I did find a one-way that is $200 more than the other one I wanted to take, but it lets me take two 70 lbs bags, which is much more acceptable.

2) I don't actually care what happens to Harry Potter! *Gasp* Yes, I did just write that 'out loud.' I am halfway through the 6th book, and I do not feel compelled to read, read, read like I did with the first four books. That is too bad really. But I will still finish the book/series. Now that I have come this far, I still have to know what happens in the end.

3) I am tired of planning. I don't know what I want to do today. And I don't know what I want to do tomorrow either. Is it so bad if I just rest and do nothing?

4) Why do I have so much stuff?

5) Why is my mom so anal about me using hairspray (I just asked her this myself, so it's ok if she reads it here. She already knows I feel this way)?

That is all for now.

Ozone, What's That?

Today I went to Ontario Place with my brother, sister, the neighbour, and her two kids. Overall, it was a pretty good time. I haven't been to Ontario Place in at least 10 years. We did most everything that we could do in 8 hours with our "Play All Day" passes, including Soak City and the IMAX theatre. I must say that I had forgotten how much fun waterparks are! I had a great time zooming down on the inner tubes, twisting and turning through the water slide tunnels. It was awesome!!!

After our day of fun, I came home, and discovered, much to my dismay, that parts of me were sunburnt. I put on sunblock!!! SPF 15. But, I still got burnt in spots; the most puzzling place being my calves. Only my claves. The rest of my legs are fine. I don't even have a tan line from my shorts for heaven's sake, but my claves are bright red. I just don't get it. Overall, I think I got more sun today than I did ALL YEAR in the Dominican Republic!!! Who needs ozone?

No Publicos???

Public transportation in the Dominican Republic is definitely an experience. You can forget about buses, subways, and streetcars with schedules, and fixed routes. If you want to go somewhere by public transportation, look no further than a gua gua, or the ever present, ever popular publico.

Publicos, or public cars, are on every main street in Santo Domingo. They only go one way: derecho (straight). They travel up streets, and down streets. They honk mercilessly at passers-by. They are usually crammed with people (think clown car here). And they are also the most beat up, shit-box cars you have ever seen! Usually they are missing parts, like windows, doors, or fenders. They have innumerable dents and dings in the doors, bumpers, and back and front ends. The windsheilds are often cracked, sometimes to the point of almost falling out. The interiors are also usually falling apart. Sometimes the doors don't open and you have to climb in and out of the window. The front seat might be held up by a piece of rope tied across the width of the car. To top it all off, most of them have been re-engineered to run on propane instead of gasoline since it is cheaper.

I didn't travel in publicos often. Being crammed in a small, non-airconditioned car with several people was not my preferred method of transport. Not to mention that publico drivers are crazy (which explains all the dents), and I didn't particulary enjoy the idea of getting into some kind of accident whlist sitting atop a propane tank. Barbeque anyone?

So I am sure you can imagine my delight to return to the organized, safe, and efficient public transportation system in Toronto. Since my arrival in Toronto, I have been TTC'ing it everywhere, as usual. Today was no exception. I got on the subway at around 4:45 on my way to a 5:30 class at the gym. No problem. Plenty of time to get there. Except that there was a "situation" at Shepard station. The trains were being turned back at Lawrence (two very far subway stops away), and a shuttle bus was running up Yonge, north of Lawrence. Great. Two stops away, and twenty minutes until the start of my class.

I headed up to street level with the throngs of displaced commuters, only to find that it was raining lightly. And not a shuttle bus in sight. Lovely.

Where's a publico when you need one???

If there were ever a time when I would have relished being packed into the equivalent of a sardine can on wheels, this was it. But alas, it was not to be. There are no publicos in Canada. Having no other northbound option but my feet, I decided to WALK. In the rain. I am not sure what I was thinking, since I knew I wasn't going to make it to the gym on time by walking. But still. 20 minutes later, I got to York Mills subway station only to find that the delay had been cleared and the northbound trains were up and running again. Figures.

If I were staying here, I would consider starting a publico company. I wonder if it would work. One way for $1. Could catch on, don't you think? Of course, I would need to be able to drive...... D'oh!!

Xtremely Happy

A few months ago, I decied that I wasn't going to get a summer job this year. SHOCK!!! Me, not working? Say it isn't so! But indeed it is. I figured after the rough year I had, I needed the summer off to recover and get back to my "self," if I had any hope of not having a nervous breakdown within the first three months of being in Italy. And we don't want that, now do we?

So, I made joining a gym priority number one, you know to help relieve stress, increase energy, and all that good stuff. After a bit of confusion regarding prices, account freezes, etc., I joined Xtreme Fitness at North York Centre. It is a pretty nice place with clean, spacious facilities, and lots of group classes, which I like.

Today was my fourth time to the gym (I did a pilates class today). And I am pleased to announce that today was the first time that I left the gym without feeling like I had been run over by a truck! YAY ME!!!! Progress is good.

Poor Blog

I have been receiving several comments about my lack of recent blogging (hi Mom, George, Andrew, Sara, et. all). I apologize. *Sorry* It is not that I have forgotten about my beloved travel blog, it's just that I've been at my dad's house this past week. His computer is older than dirt. Seriously (hi Dad). It doesn't even have USB ports. It slows down if I try to chat and check my e-mail at the same time. It also takes about 2 minutes to load a page even though we have a hi-speed cable connection. I just can't cope. Plus, I am secretly petrified that I am going to do some random thing, like google search, and the whole damn system is going to disintigrate before my very eyes. It's been known to happen. I have a special knack for destroying electrical appliances. There was that time with my dad's washing machine, the microwave (which miraculously recovered), the invertor in the DR, the washing machine in the DR, um......need I go on? Hee. What can I say, it's a gift.