A "Guy's Bed"

I just realized that I have been sleeping in a "guy's bed" for the past few years of my life. Ok. Get your mind out of the gutter. Let me explain what I mean by "guy's bed."

cat's definitions (with ideas taken from a post by my bloggy buddy, SO@24)

guy's bed: a bed that is functional. Most likely has a maximum of one pillow -- despite it being larger than a twin or single size bed. The thread count is most likely at a minimum -- whatever was on sale at Zellers or Wal-Mart during the big back to school sale.

girl's bed: a bed that is not only functional, but also comfortable and pretty. There are at least 2 pillows and probably a couple more "throw pillows", at least one (cute and furry) teddy bear, sheets are soft and silky -- at least 800 - 1000 thread count. The comforter probably comes in a matching set to the pillows and sheets. Not only is it a place to catch some zzz's, but its also a little slice of heaven.

So, now that I am a young, working professional. I am ready to buy my first piece of furniture -- which, for your information, is going to be a bed. I love my sleep, so this is going to take some research and investigation. I am determined to sleep in a "girl's bed", by the time I move into my new apartment in October. With my many soft and comfy pillows and matching sheet sets.

Ikea. Here I come. We're going to be seeing a lot of each other this summer. :)

ZZyzx Road

Ok. So it's the only song in my playlist. And maybe when you log onto my blog, the first thing you do is turn off the music. Maybe you like reading my random thoughts, but think I have terrible taste in music. Just trust me. This song is worth listening to.

I love the way it builds up. I love the piano. And I love the way it just rocks out at the end. Oh, and I love his voice. I just love this song. The lyrics are good, too.

Did I mention I have had this song on repeat for the last week? I've been streaming it. I'm not used to downloading stuff without DC++.

I Get Free Stuff!!!

That's right. I get free stuff. Apparently my blog qualifies me for free stuff. Awesome!

There was a comment left from a reader who does marketing for matchsticks.com, and I get to sample stuff and then write about it (if I choose to). Good or bad. Whatever.

My first package is being couriered to me in a couple weeks, and I'm excited.

Ok, so its some tampons and other stuff for that time of the month. But that stuff is important. Never under estimate the power of a strong and comfortable tampon. You know what I'm talking about, ladies. Gentlemen, if only you knew half the crap we have to put up with every month. I'm just saying.

Anyway. Stay tuned. Or if you want some of this free stuff -- cuz I'm sure there is more than enough to go around -- message me. I love giving away free stuff.

Wedding Mathematics

So, the girls and I decided to go for some sushi this past weekend. Yummy. I have yet to find a better deal than Hosu down on Queen St.

Anyway, as we were chowing down on our respective sashimi and bento boxes, we got to discussing weddings and all the money that goes into them. Maybe it's because it seems like everyone is getting married right now, and here we are, taking our sweet time, enjoying the single life.

We talked about things like engagement rings, bridal gown, rental halls, catering, cakes, decorations, bands, photographers, etc etc. Then, there is the honey moon. That's a lot of money.

Now, I've always thought of myself as a hopeless romantic, but I would much rather use the money on the honey moon and as a down payment on a house. We're not talking about a little bit of money here, usually weddings are really expensive. I'm talking upwards of $10, 000 - $30 000. I guess I have a problem when I don't "see" the result of my money, whether it be in an object (like a house) or an experience (honey moon).

In fact, I think of all the stress that comes with organizing a wedding. I guess it's supposed to be the "perfect" day. All I can think about is stress when I think of "big, perfect" weddings.

That's not to say that I don't like weddings. My bff from high school is getting married this September. Trust me, I am super duper excited for her. She's of an Indian background, so I guess it's almost a given that she has a big wedding. I know that it will be gorgeous, and perfect for her. I just can't imagine myself going through something like that. I would definitely be too stressed out.

As an engineer, I am supposed to figure out if project is worth undertaking. And, no matter how I think about it, I can't seem to understand how one day can gobble up so much money -- and be worth it. I know it's supposed to be the most important day of your life. But isn't a marriage about two people who love each other working together? I'm not sure where the expensive wedding comes in and how it is justified. Unless, of course, someone else is paying for it. lol.

And the engagement ring. I think they are absolutely gorgeous. Don't get me wrong, I love jewelery. I remember feeling super special when I got this diamond necklace from my ex one Christmas. (He even got his friends to go with him to pick out the perfect cut. He said it was really embarrassing, but I thought it was adorable!) But back to the point. Engagement rings cost a lot of money. Is it really fair to expect the guy to fork over the money for it? Or maybe it is better used as part of the down payment for a house?

This is really my point of view. And it's not because I am single (and fabulous ;] ), I had the same views even when I was in long term relationship. The math just doesn't make any sense.

My Sexy Love

Blogging because ...

I'm not sure if I really love blogging. I just thought that was a cute picture.

It's funny, I was reading my friend's blog on why she likes to blog. She explained herself really well in this post. Might I add, she is an awesome writer, and I love reading her stuff.

I like to blog because I find it therapeutic. A lot of times, it is a lot easier for me to put on paper (or on screen) my thoughts than it is through conversations. There's a bit more of a filter that it goes through, and it's almost as though, thoughts make more sense when written. It's also nice to have feedback sometimes, so I don't feel like I'm talking to a wall. You know, the odd comment I get once in a blue moon:)

I like to read. Recently (read: exam procrastination time) I have gotten to reading other people's blogs. Some have just captivated me, and I just keep coming back for more. I will share a couple of my favourites shortly. I guess, as I blog reader, sometimes we feel like we know the person we're reading about. Which is sort of true and sort of not.

For instance, on anonymous blogs, people spill their guts out. Their thoughts, their dreams, their hopes, their rants, their sex lives (or lack of). You name it, and I'm sure you can find a blog on it. In those cases, you may know actually know a lot more of your writer than perhaps, even some of their friends.

However, if the blog is not anonymous -- like mine, you might get to see a different side of the person. Maybe not the side you would usually see if you just met me, or had a conversation with me. But what you read, is what I choose to share. You know my favourite tunes. You know my rants and strong opinions on books and other such things. There's more to me that this -- a lot more -- of course, but I ain't writing it all here. That's all.

So anyway, onto blogs that I love. I might ramble on, but trust me, these blogs are worth checking out!

Meet the honest, hilarious and caring Mr. Starting Over at 24 aka SO@24. SO@24 dated a girl for 6 years (wow!) throughout high school and university. Then they broke up not long after he graduated and here he was. 24 years old, and starting over. He had no idea how to tackle the dating scene which most people had experienced by that time. He shares with us his thoughts, his adventures, his confusion, and his triumphs.

His writing is honest and funny; I always look forward to what new adventures he is up to. It's also interesting reading things from a guy's perspective, too. I was able to relate to a lot of his posts, and it's a great feeling knowing (not just believing) that other people have gone through similar stuff.

It was interesting reading his older posts and comparing them to his recent ones. This single guy has come a long way. From not being able to get his ex out of his mind, to his emo posts, to trying to be friends, to being "grown ups", and talking about some not-so-comfortable-topics. I'm happy for him :) Some of my favourite post include his first kiss, his thoughts on the "good stuff" and "keeping the faith." These are some of his more serious ones, but trust me, he's hilarious. Oh, and his roommate, Leo. He. Is. Hot.

Another blogger I love to read is Single+Cats with the pen name A Martini Always Helps. I agree, martinis work wonders. No, I am not an alcoholic. Reading her blog is like sitting down with a girl friend, sipping on drinks, and having her update you on her fabulous life. She has a great way of narrating that's really fun. She has many adventures with dashing young men -- sweet Italy, hot Hollywood, or is-he-gay- Cute Poet.

Sometimes her posts are more serious, where she discusses topics, like dealing with depression or how to let go of someone and stand up for yourself. She kind of reminds me of Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City. So just pour yourself a glass of Martini (or beer, whatever you prefer) and read about her life. Trust me, she is no cat lady.

Update: Shoot. After I wrote all this, I realized her blog is gone. Drats. Sorry, if I got your hopes up. I'll miss her blog :(

One of favorite bloggers was Valley Girl. She is a twenty-something working in the beautiful Silicon Valley -- hence, the name Valley Girl. She writes about everything from her favourite clothes and her (deep breath) Marc Jacob's bag collection (!!!), to her love life, to her sex life, to her battle with depression, to issues with her family (daddy issues), her ex husband, her past abusive relationships, and she even wrote about her abortion. Her posts are full of wit, charm, and heart.

Unfortunately, her blog is now gone, and I miss it. My favourite entry was when she wrote about her past relationship which was abusive. That was the one where she became pregnant and made the decision to have the abortion -- a decision which she still struggles to come to terms with today.

It was beautifully written, and very, very touching. In the end, she says that after she got out of that relationship, she met another man. An older one, who was successful and treated her very well. And suddenly, it hit her, that this is how she deserved to be treated. And after she has been treated like gold, there was no way that she would ever put up with being treated the way her ex boyfriend treated her, again.

OK, last one. Meet Ms. Fabulously Broke in the City aka FB. FB's blog focuses on finances and she gives great tips on how to manage your money. She also writes a bit on fashion, conducts interviews with other bloggers, and the many other thoughts which crosses her mind. I just started reading FB's blog not too long ago, so I don't have too many links in mind. However, I just downloaded her spreadsheet and am thinking of upgrading to her new $15 one. Yep, it's that good.

So there you have it. Another fuel for procrastination.

It's funny when I think back. In elementary school, you were forced to do activities, such as reading, writing, sports, art classes, etc etc. Now, I do those things because I love doing them. Writing has now become a part of me, and I blog not only because I can, but because I love it.

There, I said it :)

A Nerd, I am ... Sort of

Have you heard of the show called "The Big Bang Theory"? Apparently, smart is the new sexy. When did this happen?

Cat's inner monologue: Gee, this would've come in handy during high school. I wonder if it is now cool to be on the yearbook committee and the stock market club. I'll pass the message onto my little cousins.

All I can say is that the show is awesome! Made esspecially for nerds like moi. I can understand most of the jokes and I think they're funny. Not to mention all the nerdy awkwardness. Wow. Halo nights? Puh- lease. Am I in Waterloo, again? Indeed, television is making progress. Either that, or I'm missing university just a little. Just a little.

Anyway, after watching way too many episodes of this awesome show the past long weekend. I thought it might be funny to post an email between a mathie and an engineer. Mathies always make fun of engineers because we guestimate. In turn, engineers make fun of mathies because they always have to prove every last detail. It's funny (at least to me). You know, going with the nerd theme and all.

Mathie: I think I need to work on making less food. I haven't cooked in awhile so I'm losing my perception of quantity. Estimating was never one of my strong suits. I'm not an engineer.

Eng: "You mathies need to prove everything to the most minute detail. [enter scoff] Ha! And you make fun of us engineers for estimating. Muahahahaha."

Mathie: "We're being thorough, hence, before the term is through I will have aformula named after me. [Mathie] Theorem: By inputting certain parameters the formula will output the exact amount of each ingredient needed to produce the perfect portion size."

Eng: "Right. You do that. I will continue to estimate. Mathies. Pfff."

The next day, I get an email titled "I figured out the equation" and I was actually excited. But, no, Mathie was just pulling my leg. He didn't figure it out. It was dissappointing.

On the topic of nerdiness, I am still not an authentic nerd, unfortunately. I cannot deal with computers. My laptop is running in safe mode, and that is the only way it will work. I think there's something wrong with my registry. Every time I boot up, I just get the wallpaper. No icons, no start menu, no nothing. Any suggustions would be much appreciated.

Note to self: Back up things more often. Computer / electrical / software engineers cannot be trusted to make a program that actually works.