Verbalized – A running commentary.

Productivity

I am writing a paper right now. No, actually, that’s not entirely true. I am attempting to write a paper right now, but every time I type another sentence, something distracts me. I write a few words, then pause for a minute or two to watch a large spider climb slowly into someone’s backpack. Type another sentence or two, and suddenly become transfixed by the fountain outside. Three more words, and I’m flipping my phone open and shut repeatedly in the hope that someone will call to further distract me…
The dangerous thing about having an apartment is that suddenly, all those hours that I’ve spent browsing the web and meticulously bookmarking all sorts of amazing furniture, decorations, and artwork can actually materialize into something tangible. At the moment, my CB2.com shopping cart is about to explode, and that’s just the tip of the ice burg.

More champagne, please!

The hunt for the perfect apartment came to an abrupt and almost unexpected end on Saturday, after walking through the door of what can only be described as “the one”. Hardwood floors? Check. Non-claustrophobic kitchen? Check. Enough closet space that my shoe collection and I can coexist peacefully? Check. As an added bonus, the windows actually look out at a garden as opposed to the concrete wasteland of a parking lot.

Moments

At the coffeehouse, they are playing Jack Johnson. I am sitting in my favourite chair, the giant chocolate brown leather one with a perfect view of the place, sipping a latte and feeling utterly contented.

Sometimes, online shopping is so much more enjoyable than shopping in the real world. In the real world, you have to roam the entire store for styles that interest you, claw through tightly packed racks to find your size, and hunt down a sales girl to unlock the fitting room (featuring unflattering lighting and a mirror that makes you instantly look five sizes larger than usual). You are also subjected to loud and obnoxious music, loud and obnoxious teenagers, and ridiculous store policies.

Online shopping instantly eliminates everything that is annoying about real-world shopping, particularly the unflattering mirrors. Online shopping also makes it very easy to lose track of the number of shoes you’ve just added to the cart…

At the checkout counter in my favourite store, I realize that every single item I’ve selected is in some shade of black, white, or grey. As she scans the items, the sales girl casually asks me whether the clothes are for “some sort of uniform”. They are not — apparently, I just have a subconscious aversion to colour.

In the next store, I purposefully choose only the most colourful items and end up purchasing a top in a rich shade of purple.

Champagne, please!

I’ve been offered the job!

Not available

A summary of the apartment-hunting process so far:

Fashion statement

While walking through Beacon Hill Park, we end up behind two eclectically-dressed girls. We follow them along the path for a few minutes before I notice something strange: Pinned to the back of one of the girls’ skirts is a fairly long, reddish, plush-looking tail, which swings jauntily from side to side as she walks.

Eat this

If you live in (or near) Victoria, or if you’re planning to visit sometime soon, you need to check out Niche. Their website may be terrible, but their food is superb (I had seared tuna with white beans and quail’s egg, along with the sinfully delicious dessert sampler), the ambiance is excellent, and the attention to detail is impeccable.

As an added bonus, the cosmopolitan that I ordered was extremely strong.