High- rise

From a person with a short torso...
I cannot wait until this ulra - high rise jean/pant thing will end.
May as well be just a head on legs.... clothes- pin like

 High Waist GIF 

Kobe

Shock and Saddness.
When anyone passes it is tragic.
I must admit, I only knew of Kobe Bryant only because his name was out there already and also because my family and friends are into basketball...
Unfortunately I am only learning more about him now.

With all the amazing things I am hearing about him, not just as a basketball star, but as a person, this clip stood out to me:

- the 37:00 minute mark.

What does love feel like to you?

"I don't think I would describe love as Happiness. I think I would describe it as a beautiful journey. Love has it's ups and downs... things are never perfect. But with love, you will continue to persevere, you move through, you move through. And through that storm, a beautiful sun emerges. Inevitably, another storm comes, and guess what, you ride that one out too. I think love is a certain determination, a persistence, you go through the good times and the bad times, with someone or something that you truly love."




As it is with all people who we miss from this world, it is a huge loss, especially to those we are close to. It is huge loss to the friends and families of his young daughter as well and those with them in the helicopter crash. And what a loss we have with Kobe himself as well, someone so seemingly positive and inspirational.
But at the same time - wow - how blessed was this world to have such a positive, inspirational person influence and touch so many people and I do not doubt that his legacy (if that is the right term to use) will continue to do so.
RIP.


"To be affected by the death of someone you don't know. is to realize that our reach, our impact, our energy extends beyond the circle we perceive to be our own. A reminder to be careful with words, to love and accept. Share, inspire and live an authentic life. After all, life is fleeting & you are powerful." Keri Schreiter.

End of an Era..... Haagen Dazs ....

So quite a few months ago, as I have always done, I purchased my favorite, the best since the dawn of time, ice cream:

Haagen Dazs, coffee ice cream.

I have been buying this for years.
This ice cream Brand, to be exact.
Sure, I could have probably bought a new car by now instead of lugging around my 18 yr old rusty clunker. But no.... I was ok with paying the chunk of change for this quality brand ice cream.

It has been there for me since professional school when I was counting every penny that went into my shopping cart at the grocery store, being ever so careful how I spent my OSAP because folks, I knew I had to pay it back (that's how it worked back then people, but I will not go into that topic right now). But even with my limited funds, I could find a way to fund this necessity. (By the way, stocking up on 3 tubs when they are on sale doesn't save you money when you just end up eating all those tubs in that week - there is NO WAY you can "stock up" on this to save it for later, it's just that good).

I was first introduced to this by my roommate Cecille. All I knew was that it was expensive, so I never tried it. We shared a kitchenette and she asked if I wanted some. WOW! Her mistake was saying to help myself if ever I wanted some. It was Vanilla Chocolate Almond flavour.

Since then I was hooked. Its been there through lifes ups and downs. Throughout the years, I've struggled with my relationship with Haagen Dazs especially when it uncannily related to me not fitting into my jeans or that slinky dress I wanted to wear when I was younger. I also felt it related to the Cystic acne I would ever so rarely get but when I got it, it was volcanic. I also felt it related to me huffing and puffing climbing up the stairs just to get to my office on the second floor of the centre.

But it still made happy! It was something I could count on when shopping my woes away after a break up or an argument or a stressful work day. It was one of those things as well when I would think hey life is awesome, but oh yea! Haagen Dazs makes it awesomer to celebrate! I would let everyone know and have everyone try it - just to see what I was talking about. Because if you went through life thinking ice cream was just ice cream, you wouldn't think that after trying this!
I've even tried to get myself off of this expensive treat - I would try many, many other "coffee ice creams" - from other brands to local shops .... it got to the point that I was so disappointed in the other "coffee ice cream" brands that I would just avoid that flavour in any other Brand. Nevermind - nothing comes even close to my Haagen Dazs coffee ice cream! I can't quit you!

Well, a few months ago when I bought my usual amazing ice cream, it seemed off!
Hmmmm...
I can easily spoon a scoop out. Soft? was it left out?
It wasn't it's usual dense, bend my spoon, consistency.
In fact it was airy and fluffy soft.
Then the taste.... too sweet, that sugar tasting kind of cheap sweet, not the punch of coffee flavor that usually hits me.
It tasted like every other mediocre brand I tried before.
Whats going on?
Maybe a bad batch...
Well then, I have to get another tub of course, from another store, a week later right?
... Still the same.....
I did not want to give up. I tried another tub and then another of my fav flavours, vanilla chocolate almond.... same soft, fluffy and sugary.
I wasn't the only one who noticed this. My bf, who I got hooked on Caramel cone Explosion, noticed it too.

My ice cream world was imploding! What is happening here?!?!?

I quickly DMed them on Insta about this serious matter.

A few weeks later they responded. (well actually I had to put pressure on them by commenting in public on their latest post about the recipe and over all ice cream change).
They DMed me back:
"We are always looking to deliver the highest quality ice cream based on evolving consumer tastes, however ensuring that these changes will only further enhance your experience with our product is of utmost importance. After a recent change in our Coffee Ice Cream, many of you reached out to us to express your love for the old recipe. We are happy to let you know that we have decided to reintroduce the original recipe to honour your preference, Thank you. "

This was over a year ago....

It still has not changed.

I went into research mode trying to figure out when exactly and why this all changed for the worse.
I called General Mills. Then Nestle USA, then Nestle Canada.
All in denial of any ice cream recipe change. All in denial of the many online reviews of long time followers that have noticed this change. All in denial of the terrible and worsening reviews online for Haagen Dazs. It is a shame that yet again, another company has sacrificed high quality for a cheap quick bottom line - maybe for a while they will have the same earnings for cheaper costs. I do not see it lasting long. Why buy regular icecream for an expensive price. Then to be dishonest about it?? That's the worst of it. If you changed it for good. Let us know so we can move on.
It is a shame what they have managed to do to this quality creation by Reuben and Rose Mattus of Brooklyn heights, NY in 1961. Did you know Coffee was one of its few original flavours?

Nestle Canada has yet to contact me back by email or respond to my latest questions on their social media.

Its sad how integrity and quality is sacrificed for greed yet again. With all the large, important world events happening at the moment, although small in comparison, this removal of small shots of happiness,  is definitely not needed in this world at all. . .
A lesson in the art of letting things go....
(but I'm calling them out on this scam!)

Biking!

Here is an article send by one of the managers at work.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-50583274.

Seems pretty simple but I think it is great!
I remember the fear I had of riding my bike on the streets of T.O.
After one white knuckling ride on main streets to get to a bike path from where I live, that was it!
Just getting over that first hurdle of fear and I just felt so free, yes, like I was flying!

Awesome these ladies are getting to experience that, and more so because of their background.

I think that a lot of able-bodied people should get this opportunity, no matter what gender, or situation. Such a great feeling!

2020

Whoa
2020.
Cray-zee.....

Christmas is always a busy time and its easy to forget the reason for the season.
I'm always thankful for family and friends and I feel that I just seem to take it for granted.
I'd like to find a way to get closer to those that fuel my soul and to connect to those with whom I meet.

The other day Google photos sent me a pic collage of 9 years ago (well just about 10 yrs).
End of December 2010 to beginning of January 2011.
I sent the pic to my gf......awwwwwwe.
It was our first trip we took together out of the country and it was in Costa Rica!
What a great friend, she still is today, except unfortunately we haven't been hanging out as much as we used to.

This made me reflect a bit on what was happening around that time with me, how I felt about myself, what I hoped for, things I have learned about myself, the places I have been to, the experiences I have had, and lessons I have learned along the way.
That year was just around the time of a huge transition in my life... where I realized how important it is to surround yourself by those that fuel your soul, who inspire you.
I realized that it was important than just filling your time and space with people who fill the gap. The lonely gap. It's not about what people think about you but more importantly it is how you think about yourself. I realized a person that had been in my life for years had become more of a weight than uplifting in my life. Despite the deep belly laughs and inside jokes that we used to share, our time had become filled with many issue transference and blame and simply, dissatisfaction about life in general and they needed an outlet for. I learned that I cannot take on that responsibility of fixing others or helping them if they cannot take responsibility for their life. I learned that is is ok to let go and not dwell on a time where we once connected and accept that we no longer did.

The moto I learned so deeply was:

"Ruin is a gift, it is a road to transformation."

I have to be willing to go through that ruin, or pain or place that I so would like to avoid, to find truer happiness, to find something real. 
Its been a transformation decade, and I'm sure it will continue to be.

Not sure why 2020 seems to be just a bigger deal than 2010. All I know is I cannot wait to surround myself more with those that I love!


sunset Costa Rica, Espadilla beach January 3, 2011