Graduation Day

I thought I would have a lot to write about my graduation day. But now I find myself lost for words. Perhaps the celebration drinking killed all the brain cells that had insightful things to say about completing an MBA. Maybe the bobby-pins holding on my awkward mortarboard caused some mild nerve damage in my head so that I cannot comment on my convocation. Maybe it just felt SO huge for SO long that to finally have it over is almost not enough. I am not sure what the reason but I know that I do feel relieved. I feel proud. I feel ready to move forward.

Special thanks to Ash who took the video and Jodi who took the time to be there.

Bio-Blog #22 - Christine

The story is always the same. We met in grade 8 but were in different classes and different friend groups. I always thought something was a bit weird about the fact that she wore two different earrings at once. But it was the late 80s so all is forgiven now. For the May long weekend I was graced with the kickass presence of one of my oldest friends: Christine.

In truth, our friendship did not solidify until grade 10 on a school ski trip and it has been sustained throughout the years in spite of life and distance between us. Chris and I always seem to eventually end up back in each other's company usually having a few too many drinks, getting into an argument and learning more about ourselves and each other in the process. I have been her pain mentor as she braved both her tattoos and he is also one of my only friends that likes to play crib with me. She has had her fair share of touch knocks in life and I continue to be amazed by her resiliance, her strength and her capacity to make her life her own. So in honour of her recent visit I share my friend Christine.

I am ... Christine Longpre
I can ... organize the shit out of anything! I'm also told I'm a very good list maker.
I love ... hanging out with my friends and family, reading books, & - I hate to admit it...watching tv.
I will ... always try my best and aim to please. Not always a good thing...

What is your sign? Sagittarius
Where were you born? Timmins, Ontario
Where do you live now? Ottawa, Ontario

What has been the best place you've visited in between and why?
France. My first trip to Europe, my first trip on my own. It was a BIG deal at that time in my life. I spent some time alone in Paris and then took a train to the south of France to visit Nat (yes, THE Nat) and Blair. What a fantastic trip. Sightseeing with friends who have their Masters in English rocks, and no, I'm not being facetious!!

What is your favourite:
Movie - My fave new movie is Juno but my all time favourite is Pride & Prejudice. Mmmm...Mark Darcy.
Book - I've read alot of good books but still love Pride & Prejudice
TV Show - The Office
Drink - Beer

Who is your celebrity hottie of choice?
Jason Statham...yum, yum.

If you could have lunch with anyone in the world ... who would it be and why?
Ayaan Hirsi Ali - she's been through hell and back and still has the courage to keep moving. Read her book Infidel, you'll understand.

How do you know Raye?
I met her in grade 8, probably my first day at McLeod Public School. I don't remember much about it...due to my very poor memory...but I'm sure Raye could tell you all about it...part of why I love her so much. She's got the memory of an elephant!

What 3 words would you use to describe Raye?
Independent, stubborn, adventurous (oh yeah, and crazy!)

Do you have your own website? No, where can I get me one of those? :)

Freckle Fear

Sometimes on this blog I like to comment on little things in the world that catch my attention. These things are usually pointless observations that tickle my brain for what they may represent in a larger context. Recently I have noticed an annoying trend in the photographs of actress Blake Lively. (Blake caught my eye first in The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants and is now headlining the addictive "Gossip Girl" on TV.) The thing that bothers me about these pictures is that they prove to be purposefully airbrushed to remove one of the quirky features of the girl. If you check the image to the left you will notice that Blake has a cute, dark freckle next to her nose. I think the blemish offers her face a wonderful sense of whimsy and enhances her features by drawing the eye further into her face. However in most of her staged photos this dot of individuality has been clearly erased. It is gone.

Of course we all know about the fake quality of magazine images, especially those of women, but for some reason this current example really bothers me. It might be because Blake is stunningly beautiful and should not need any alteration. It might be because she is a young actress to whom young women will definately perceive as a role model. It might be because I find it fascinating that such a minor detail can be erased and create such an impact on her overall look. And it makes me sad that such a lovely new talent is being photoshopped into banality with obvious consistency (here, again, and again, and again, and again!).

I guess the only thing that saves this story is that Blake (and whatever makeup artist she may be using) have chosen NOT to cover her beauty mark for in-person appearances. When that occurs then I will know that the dark side has truly won. OK, useless topic done for today.

WTF? SJP!

I don't normally blog about fashion. I usually leave that task to the marvelously catty mistresses at Go Fug Yourself for such insight (who didn't miss a beat on this one), but I was unable to leave this particular infraction alone. Look at that HAT!! This image is one of the many floating around from the Sex and the City movie premiere this past weekend in London (London? Ummm, why a definitive NYC flick is opening in the UK is another story!). But the HAT! What is with the HAT! Was this really SJP's selection? Did she lose a bet with Patricia Field? What exactly is going on here! When did the red carpet become a derby day at the racetrack? It boggles the mind. Truly.

If Anyone Could Make Me Like Golf...

it would be Adam Scott. OK ... so anyone who follows golf is probably highly aware of this guy but my introduction happened today while flipping through my Canadian Business magazine and seeing this Rolex ad. I have never really thought of golf as being young and hot but here it is. Here is a sexy, 28-year-old Australian guy on the greens that makes me smile. I mean, seriously, has golf ever looked like this? Supposedly he is ranked 6 in the professional tour and one of three golfers born in the 80s (oh my!) to be in the top 10. So I guess that makes him kinda good on top of being kinda hot.

WANT

"The first essentials, of course, is to know what you want." - Robert Collier

"I don't want to earn my living; I want to live." - Oscar Wilde

"If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things." - Albert Einstein

A few posts ago I mentioned a horoscope that directed me to identify my conscious wants lest my subconscious run amok with my life. And for the last couple of weeks I have been all ove the map. I have flirted with industry. I have made drunken missteps. I have reorganized my priorities. I have slept on it all. And slowly, while walking to work and taking photos of flowers, I came to this:

I want to be involved in shaping the way business education is done. I want to build a curriculum that teaches new business leaders how to be critical thinkers, problem solvers and ethical decision makers AS WELL as savvy financers, inventive policy makers and efficient managers. To do this, I must be involved in business academics. For me, the path to business academics is through a PhD.

Next step ... PhD.

Team Canada Moment

Canada vs. Norway - that was game. I hadn't planned on going. The tickets were quite expensive. But when World Hockey fever actually descended upon the city it was hard to avoid. It all began on Tuesday while watching the Canada vs. USA game at Boston Pizza. Admittedly, it must have been the thundermug of beer talking because I agreed to buy a ticket for Canada's next game following their 40-second-to-the-end-triumph over the States.

Which brought me to the Halifax Metro Center at 4:30pm to watch the red & white take on the red & blue. And I am SO happy that I went. I have never been SO close to a game before. Our seats positioned us near the net and only 5 rows away from the glass. Luckily, most of the action occurred at our end and the Norwegian fanclub was closeby. The game was MUCH closer than anticipated and almost got to nail-biter status. What a rush to be in the stands and feel with swells of audience energy. I sometimes forget how great it can be to go to world class events. This time I took the chance and scored.

Bio-Blog #21 - Heather

Okay, bio-blogs are not just about friends. They are also about some of the family members who make life great. This week I want to introduce my cousin Heather to the world. Heather is my book-end. I am the eldest grandchild and she is the youngest.

The reality of this relationship means that, until recently, our lives were very different. With almost a 10-year age gap between us (and 5 other cousins) our lives have only recently converged. And for me, that reconnection is very cool. Because this cousin of mine is a kickass young lady.

She is bright and fashionable and interesting. She is working through her first university degee and dating a "great guy" and she smiles alot - which she didn't do so much for a while there. She has also grown to be an amazingly supportive sister and I have seen her deal with her life's challenges with a tremendous amount of grace and care. So check her out!

I am ... a HUGE procrastinator
I can ... eat more then most men! (Probably shouldn’t be too proud of that!)
I love ...Fridays, when the school week is over!
I will ... travel the world! Starting with Italy next year.

What is your sign? Pisces
Where were you born? Dryden, Ontario
Where do you live now? Sudbury, Ontario

What has been the best place you've visited in between and why?
NYC baby! New York is really the only place I have been (not well travelled in my twenty-four years) that is worth mentioning. It was exciting and I hope I can visit it again.

What is your favourite:
Movie – The Goonies
Book – We Are Hungry By Dave Eggers
TV Show – Veronica Mars
Drink – gin and tonic

Who is your celebrity hottie of choice?
Kristen Bell (I have a bit of a VM obsession).

If you could have lunch with anyone in the world ... who would it be and why?
I read this and thought ok, what celebrity, politician or super elite do I want to choose?! And I’m going to be lame here, but the honest answer is- all the girlies in the family. This Christmas was the first time that I was not considered the bratty little cousin, since we were kids. We all sat around talking over wine-it was great! (So now the pressures on Raye)

How do you know Raye?
She is my much smarter cooler older cousin!
What 3 words would you use to describe Raye?
Intelligent, charismatic, insightful

Do you have your own website? Nope.

Classic Grey

I am hesitant to proclaim that "Grey's Anatomy" is back lest I do so too early and I end up looking like a fool next week. But I am going to say it anyway - "Grey's is Back!". Tonight's episode left me satisfied in a way that I had not felt since the dying days of last season. So while the writer's strike may have hurt paycheques over the winter it offered instead a resurgence in storytelling. Or, maybe, it was just the return of Addison! Either way the show finally matched the mix of meat and sizzle that made it such a hearty favourite in the first place.

All the characters were in fine form and have even grown a little bit. Addison's revelation that Meredith and Derek have not endured was a great grounding touchstone for the show. Her presence also offered the necessary mirror to see the development of the tragic couple beyond a romantic fantasy. The frazzle-ment of Christina continued but finally received the necessary recognition that her potential greatness remains. George found his place and has recommenced the path of the young doctor that once operating on a heart in an elevator. Alex opened himself up to being a better man (sadly he's about to get trounced!) and Izzie found some strength (which I can only hope moves her character out of my Hate-on category for being such an medical moron!!) Lastly, Callie and McSteamy go to get it on - to remind us that even "gods" are weak and need refirmation, validation and hot sex sometimes. Grey's it at its best when the characters' flaws resonate with the audience and pivot the plot into new directions. The first half of this season was spinning its wheels. It is a joy to see them moving again.