[0127]

Beauties in vain, their pretty eyes may roll.

Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul.

-- Alexander Pope

[0126] -- Harpers Bazaar, Palm Beach 1964

[0125]

"Some women choose to follow men and some women choose to follow their dreams. If you're wondering which way to go, remember that your career will never wake up and tell you that it doesn't love you anymore."

[0124]

There are so many things in the world that have the power to delight me. Waking up in the morning, sliding my blinds open and discovering that it's sunny outside. My mom picking me up from class, letting me drive home and telling me to look at the shopping bags in the backseat. Working on a genetic sequencing problem and finding out I got them all right. Waking up at 2pm on a Friday afternoon and watching Criminal Minds until sunset before I realize I'm still in my pyjamas. Walking out of an exam, not caring how it went and realizing I can go sleep for the next 12 hours. Hearing my dad guffaw at random, childish things I say. All these things are so simple in nature; at times I like to sit and think of the many things that give me joy, even fleeting joy. It's good to know that even during times of stress and mental duress, there are those tiny things that have so much power to make me happy and alleviate any hint of sorrow. I try to live for those moments, because as Charles Chaplin said "nothing is permanent in this wicked world, not even our troubles." Truer words were never spoken.

[0123]

"Men are more ready to repay an injury than a benefit, because gratitude is a burden and revenge a pleasure."

-- Tacitus

[0122]

"I have loved to the point of madness. That which is called madness, that which to me is the only sensible way to love."

-- Francoise Sagan

[0121]

Would kill to look like that at 49.

By far the best Bulgari advertisement I've ever come across. It's hard to pull off nude photo shoots because you have to make sure they remain classy and elegant and not trashy and reminiscent of pornography; I think it's done fabulously here. And plus, look at those amazingly precious lion cubs!

[0120]

Jack: Where to, Miss?

Rose: To the stars.

[0119]

"I think the truly natural things are dreams; which nature can't touch with decay"

-- Bob Dylan

[0118]

Spencer has my heart.

So I've been fanatically watching Criminal Minds lately and I'm almost done with season three, even though it continuously gives me hypertension and anxiety. I just can't stop watching it. Having periods of intense nervous stimulation is worth it. Spencer Reid is my absolute favorite character in the series. He's only 24 and has a PhD, an eidetic memory, and an IQ of 187. Not to mention he is beyond cute...too cute for words. Just very very cute. I love him.

"Look at me! Without a gun I look like a teachers assistant!"

[0117]

On Friday morning after having coffee with a few friends, I called my mom and asked her if she could pick me up from Kipling. She told me she was getting her hair done at Donato's and that I'd have to take the Go bus home. It was fine, and I thought to myself that it's been a while since I've rode a Go bus. I said goodbye to my friends and started walking down Bay street. I've always liked that walk through the bustling financial district, with people hurrying about in suits and yammering on their Blackberry's. It's always refreshing to observe people in what they feel is their most natural element; and for these corporate lawyers and investment bankers, the financial district is their stomping ground. After strolling across Bay, with Stereo Love playing in my earphones on repeat (guilty pleasure) I finally reached the bus station. I bought myself a bottle of water and a ticket to Square One and went straight to the platform. While standing in line I took out my little black leather bound pocketbook and started jotting down what I had to do that day. A homeless man came up to me as I was writing "ask dad for mac software money" and asked me if I could spare change. I took out my earphones and politely told him I didn't have anything but pennies. He told me pennies would be fine, with a smiling toothless grin. I sighed and said okay fine, took out my wallet and handed him about 10 cents in pennies. He said bless you and asked me what I do with my life. I was a little taken aback because usually homeless people don't stay around and chit chat. I told him I'm a student, hoping a clipped response would make him leave. As I started to put my earphones back in, he asked me what I'm studying. I got a little annoyed at this point and said "stuff about the brain." He said "you mean neurology?" and I said "well sort of, behaviour and neurobiology". He flashed his toothless grin again and told me I look like I could be a psychiatrist. I found that a bit amusing (meanwhile in my head I was asking myself why on earth am I having a conversation with a homeless man) and asked him how so. He replied "well you have an air of stuckup-ishness, but don't worry it's the good kind, the kind all those psychiatrists have in movies." At that point I just burst out in laughter. This homeless man had captured my full attention, mainly because I love to associate things with movies as well. We proceeded to talk about my life and how I don't know if I'll ever make it big time and be able to do all the things I want. After I gave him my long schpeel, he replied with the most fantastic quote I have ever had the pleasure of witnessing first hand. He said "don't follow your dreams, live them. Fail. Fail forward. Fail quickly. The faster you fail, the quicker your dreams will come true. The farther you get to your dreams. Don't be scared to fail. It's what life's about. So fail. It's okay. That's life." I was officially blown away by this man's sheer optimism. Here's a man who has no home, no income, no idea where he's going to end up that night, telling me it's okay to fail. Usually you hear "it's okay to fail" by people who have never failed in their lives. To hear it from this man was profoundly humbling. By the time I finished telling him how incredibly eloquent he is, my bus had arrived. I told him I had to go, and pulled out my wallet and gave him my last 10 dollar bill. He told me he doesn't charge extra for life altering advice, flashed his toothless grin once more, saluted me and walked away. I was destroyed. Destroyed in such a fantastic way. I strive to be as humble as this man some day. God bless him.

[0116] - Sugar!

Seriously craving a sugar high right now.