0 Degress of Separation
It's kind of crazy how small the world is sometimes. I just met someone about a week ago who:

1. Went to the same high school as my 1st year roomate.
2. Knows one of my 2 hardcore madonna friends and vaguely remember his b/f.
3. Is two degrees from one of the managers of Mandarin.
4. Is friends with one of my best friend's korean friend, who went to visit him when he was in the U.S.

HOLY CRAP! How small is this place eh? so many contact points where i'm connected to this guy, and we only met this month. I guess it was a matter of time, eh? What's even better is that he seems to be quite a nice guy, who has issues like eveyone else, and also has an activist nature and travelling bug. What's also great is that he's got a macro perspective on the world, and some views that don't just revolve around the rainbow community. Cool eh! Well, i hope to meet up with him some more, and if we don't make any direct plans, i bet that we'll run into each other indirectly again too!

DINNER TIME!
A friend of mine invited me to a dinner party last weekend. To be honest, i've only met this person once before, but we've been friends for at least 7-8 months. I totally love this guy, he's fun to talk to, politically minded, and has lots of knowledge about vegetarian/vegan foods. I had plans already made on the Saturday, however those soon fell through when i got ditched b/c my friend suddenly had date. thanks! :) -- na, i was totally excited for him, and hopefully it went well! Plus, now I could go to this dinner party.

It was a good experience for me b/c I would be going alone, into a small group of ppl whom I have never met. I only knew the one person, but again, i've only met up with him briefly once before. His boyfriend was a bit older than us, and he had a friend over (similar age) with him. My friend also had another friend over plus me.. The dinner party was very relaxed. The cute couple had prepared most of the dishes the night before, making everything from scratch. That was quite impressive, since some of the dishes included cheese cake, french cut mini-chicken drum sticks, and hot/spicy curry peanut soup (i would say definietly indian inspired).

The dinner consisted of all small mini-dishes, so it was like a dim sum dinner! :) It was great since there was a wide variety of food, and not just regular north american potluck storebought food. Some of the dishes were also asian inpsired, usting hosin sauce to add sweetness to the chicken as well as using won ton wrapping as wrapping for a 3-mushroom dumpling dish.

The remainer of the night consisted of playing the Canadian edition of CRANIUM.
For those who haven't played, basically Cranium is a team-based game where you have to get to the endof the board by playing all the classic games we know: pictionary, charades, multiple choice, T/F, hangman, sculpting (you have to sculpt whatever is written on the card) as well as a bundle of other games. It was a good time, especially b/c it helped break the ice.

I also spent some time trying to figure out one of the guy's profession. It turns out (after much angish and stubborness to figure it out w/o being told) he is a visual merchandiser. He does everything from touch photography to redoing models and storefront layouts. It seems that this industry is a dying breed though, since they're a trade which know a lot about everything, but little about anything in particular... or the big dogs just go to the same established 20 year vetrans each time :). Sounds like marketing in general! heh. ah well. I hope he finds his way; he definitely got the style! He pulled off a soft pink w/spots tie under a sweater technique, w/o looking overly dressed or geeky. Basically, he had on a red sweater on top with a white oxford cloth shirt + tie underneath. The white shirt collar/arm cuffs flared out from under the sweater, and some cool bracelet/watch accessories to finish the outfit. Tres chic! I was really impressed.

So it was a fun night, and hopefully i'll be able to hang out with those guys in the future. Who knows when, since the couple left to VEGAS @ $225 CDN each which includes 5 nights AND airfare! I dono how they scored that one.. and the hotel is NOT some shady fly by night "better bring your own sheets" type affair either. wow! :)

Take care,

RE

"eat drink and be merry"