we all pop like popcorns!

winter is here!

from the usual night walk with chemist :)

the other day, i had funny feeling that i need to get in touch with chemist, an old friend of mine. weairdly enough, i cant never really tell how long i have known someone without serious computing- so many of my lovely friends  feel as if ive known them forever. how great is that! well, ive known him for almost three years and though i dont get to see him very often, i cant help but to be in contact when that lightening urge strikes.

well well, he tells me that he just had his phd thesis defense and now moving to boston to start the new year as a postdoc! i am very proud of him and it's a shame i didnt get to see him one more time before i left yyz. but you see, it's because that one free evening, i was scheduled to meet up with one of my dear friends from undergrad years, who is also wrapping up her thesis, totally buried and had to make inhumane effort to come above the water- but she did, yay! was a great meeting up in one of city's most colourful places, pomegranate restaurant.

nevermind spelling it, 

i can barely say what it was,

but this quince-lamb stew was...!

while we tucked into our rich persian food and post-pint, i get a short text from  s. cochlan who left nebraska with me (in fact, her dad is still terrified of my driving. i drive, according to him, totally mad) (and he used to work as a fireman, so may be when he feels 'threatened,' there may be a hint of truth...) that she's in just next pub, sneeeeeeky dee's. you see, if she lived in yyz, it wouldve been just nice. but she lives in buffalo, ny. so i really didnt have a choice but to jump ship and see her as well. what a fantastic night.

bookbomber is already in china, doing his tour thing.  a month in the east, he was so pumped about being a pianist and not having to be a carpenter (though i bet he really enjoy the carpentry bits).  dearest friend mr. oore is getting through the month through trudging through confusing medical journeys and belated works- but at least his holiday is also near, where he will get some face time with little nephew :D

we, the accompanists, bought ourselves:

lunch and lunch hours! hooray.

flomak have squeezed me and peter a fare-thee-well-busy-ass-year dinner in midst of juries and juries and juries. happy holiday to one of my fav kiddies, she's popping to west to vancouver to be... a solo piano student, no accompanying for a bit, hooray! *so she thinks, ha ha.  i was lucky to also put in a quick dinner with ms. melody- we go back a long way, back in the times in orford, it's nice to see her around school but it is even nicer to have a civilized lunch when neither of us have sold our soul per hour rate.

and the day before leaving yyz, i luckily managed to have a short meet up with one of the dearest piano kiddies from undergrad prog who is now working hard, teaching hard and practicing hard in indiana.  though it may be a short tea meeting, i was grateful that she made the time for me. how awesome.
and now, i am leaving to cross the pond. i hope mom/dad/granny will be alright and well till i am back, that my bro gets through the mad holiday season alright in one of city's busiest restos and that hills will greet me with some proper winter break. i am thinking beer. is this too simple? i hope not. after all, we arent too far from popping corn kernels, popping in random direction when there's just enough heat and moisture- to be light, free and... tasty!