I saw off to the airport on Tuesday. We had a nice lunch and a chat, and he gifted JVL and I with a bottle of wine and a really awesome framed photo of the two of us eating indelicately at Liv’s wedding which I will post here if he emails it to me. I hope his five-year plan works out, because it would be cool to have him back in the 416, hopefully with the lovely Jordan in tow. Although, then I’d have to find a new place to crash in whenever I visit Manhattan. Still, a small price to pay for good neighbors.

It’s been a really busy week at work, not that you’d know from the media. All sorts of fuss in my area to get everything prepared for the third reading and vote on our new legislation for persons with disabilities, and very little news pick-up due to the focus on Judy Sgro’s exoneration, the federal vote, and the Ontario budget. Timing is everything.

New roommate K. helped me make a wax mold of my face last night, so that I can get started on making a mask for myself. I will post a photo of it tomorrow if I remember. It’s damned creepy looking.

Hints for those of you looking to make your own wax face molds in the future:
1. Be sure to tie a plastic bag or old bandana around your hair.
Wax + hair = pain.
2. Keep straws in your mouth to ensure airflow to lungs. Cotton plugs in the nostrils are also not a bad plan, since wax is runny and gravity dictates that if you are lying down, your nose holes are a path of least resistance.
Wax + nostrils – mouth = asphyxiation.
3. When putting vaseline on your face, even if you were not really planning on casting wax near your eyes, be sure to coat your eyelashes in petroleum. Again, hot wax is RUNNY and will drip wherever gravity tells it to go. Including your eyes.
Hot wax + eyelashes – vaseline = (lashes – 5)

It’s also been the week of dressing inappropriately. I went out to see and ‘s fine new abode last night, and was shivering with cold as I padded through their posh neighborhood in my flip-flops and graphic tee. (ps – Dudes, I left my Dutch mystery novel and extra box of tea at your home! Alack!) Really, it was not warm enough to be outside in anything less than a fluffy jacket and shoes with socks. They eased my coldness with a tasty breaded-chicken stir-fry, hot tea, and warm conversation, but I chickened out and took a cab home, for the exorbitant price of $25. Next time, I’m borrowing the roommate’s car and paying her for gas.

Same thing this morning with the cold idiocy; I must be in some kind of denial. I went out in my cold-weather heavy-fabric suit, but again, no socks, no jacket. Bay Street is completely shrouded in shadow and forms a wind-tunnel from Front Street all the way up to Queen, and it was freaking cold walking to work. Cold enough to justify yet more money spent on a tasty, tasty vanilla latte at Starbucks. Oh debt, when will we part ways? I wish I never had to peer into your sucking maw ever again.

Tasks for Saturday:
– perform anti-rain ritual to ensure sunny weather
– go to Sante wine festival, then head over to condo
– transfer some clothing home from the condo and do laundry
– gather together mail from previous owner of condo and forward it to his new address
– take a look at Old English paper, try to come to grips with it, contact Professor T.
– find and read copy of Mnemovore #1 & 2
– attend J&E’s housewarming?
Tasks for Sunday:
– dig out stumps left over from large shrub that JVL & I cut down in front yard
– strip and repaint wooden struts above front door
– put up rest of chair rail in bathroom
– work on carving mask
– take K’s dog for a walk
– head down Keele to attend bookclub & discuss “The Stranger” by Albert Camus?