While recovering from a fall a few months ago, my mother read one of my favourite books 'Tamarind Mem' by Anita Rao Badami. I recommended it to her along with some Bengali books she had not read. I figured it will stop her from thinking about pretending to be alright and moving around to catch up on her household chores instead of resting like she should. My mother isn't happy unless she is doing something 'productive'.

Cue: Flashback to 20 summers spent following mother's list of
Productive Things to do over Summer instead of having fun that included things like
- getting instructed on Grade 8 English when one is studying in the 2nd grade,
- learning to stitch an entire outfit, sitting for O-Levels for no apparent reason,
- figureing out how to cut and cook a whole chicken without instructions
Fun times!

Anyway, she did read the book and even liked it. You see, as much as she likes to complain about- my excessive (!) reading, purchasing another bookshelf instead of a dresser, buying books instead of expensive makeup; my mothers used to be an avid reader when she was young. She says she hasn't had the time or inclination to read for decades. The idea scares me. Maybe that's why I don't want to be married with kids.

Either way, I was pleased that she liked something that I love.
Then she smiled and actually said out loud, "Why don't you write a book about me like that?"
Imagine my surprise at her insight (into how much Tamarind Mem resembles her) and the sudden flattery.
Oh my god!! Was that an approval?
Then I got what she actually meant-
"Be productive with all the reading you do and and write something."
I'm nothing if not a dutiful daughter.




Labour Day at the Kitsilano beach (Pictures not my own)

Packed :
1 Bathing suit
Pair of skorts
2 Towels
2 Books - one fluff and one that I've been meaning to finish for a while
Music
Pair of sunglasses
Lip gloss
Cute summer top

12:00 pm
Get the head phones on and start walking. Man, people love to garden around here. This one red flower looks like 'Shimul' tree in Dhaka.

12:15 pm
Hello ! Stalker kitten that hisses and follows around to make sure I'm out of its territory! Wonder what's Tusch doing.

12: 17 pm
Wonder just how pricy it would be to rent one of the rooms at the townhouses with balconies overlooking the ocean. Wonder if the owner is male and single. Wonder if he is at the beach waiting for me to walk by- the girl of his dreams whom he must take home for some tea.

12:18pm
I'm a shallow person. True love. Repeat to yourself, damnit. True love.

12:45pm
Great. Did all the G-string wearing babes of the neighbourhood decide to sunbathe today? Wheres that darn hat to cover puffy face? Should have worn the long skirt to cover flabby thighs.

1:00pm
I have better boobs.

1:05pm
This is the life. Fresh salty smell of air. Wonderful breeze that takes the heat of the sun. Sound of the waves. Sand in my toes. Gorgeous boys playing volleyball. 'Staying at Daisy's' is turning out pretty good too.



1:45pm
Its quite nice sitting on the blanket leaning against the logs. What a great idea!

2:15pm
Why would anyone choose to wear dockers to the beach? Shit, he's walking this way. Great, now I have to be friendly.

2:30pm
Yey. Drove off creepy french guy with gold bracelets. No I don't know when the sunset is. Yes its a nice beach. No I don't know that aprartment at Yonge and Steels. You have been here how long? Ofcourse I have a boyfriend who took me sightseeing around other beaches- now go away.

2:55pm
Hmm who knew sitting on sand for long can hurt your bum? Wonder if the restuarant by the beach sells anything interesting. Feel like an iced cuppacino. Shit. Forgot. No Timmy's.

3:00pm
Score! Special of the day- $1 Nacho and cheese :D Love labour day!

3:05pm
Sitting and munching on nachos while reading , under the umbrells on a proper chair at the patio by the beach beats sitting under the sun on the sand by the beach 6 to 4. Sometimes distance from nature is not bad.

3:20pm
Ocean's not too cold for wading in, but definitely not inviting enough to swim in with all the seaweed floating around. hmm. I love watching wet sand getting washed back by the waves. Only if I had a head for poetry.

3:25pm
Going for a swim in the warm salt water pool by the beach is about the same as swimming in the ocean no? I still have the same air and the same view of the mountains flaoting on my back. I must be a water child- I kind of forget the mountains are there half the time.



4:15pm
Aparently 'Do not swim after a meal' is not just a old-wife's tale. Oh well I guess I just sunbathe to a crispy grey tan- just thinking about mother's face is cracking me up.

4:20pm
I miss everyone.

4:30pm
Hungry again. Its kinda nice walking around in wet bathing suit and skorts. Everyone is doing it! How fit are these people? Maybe I should pick up roller blading.

4:45pm
Did I just inhale the all of the oily Fish and Chips?!
Well. Atleast I didn't have pop with it. I'm on vacation damnit.

6:00pm
Book was nice- I love happy endings at the moment. Its good to sit on the patio for an hour without getting kicked out for not buying anything else. Wonder if I should stay for the sunset.

6:05pm
Shite, CD player's out of batteries. Oh well guess sunsets have to wait.

Must repeat Next weekend...only that time make friends.




It'll be 6 days that I've been in sunny Vancouver. Yes its still sunny and just gorgeous.
Not being smug or anything but I feel like I've been here longer. Maybe its taking the bus everywhere- its a sure thing to make you at home. The west coast has been friendly; at times too friendly. Walk around with a pop-out map and people are eager to give you directions, even bad ones that require too much walking. We all know I hate the actual walking around for hours part of exploring a new city. I need frequent breaks.

Its been 5 nights spent at my new home with a bunch of strangers. First night I got to spend at a beautiful penthouse in the middle of downtown. Don't ask. I know people who know people :)
Anyway, my new roomies have been very sweet and laid back. I love the house- not too pretty on the outside but spacious inside. Its very weird cooking in a kitchen where you own none of the utensils while pretending they are yours....to the point that you almost burn the house down while making tea. Everyone has been too kind. Its an interesting house. I esp like the laundry in a basement room- very 'Silence of the Lambs'.

My room is on the second floor and quiet bare now- just a calender on the wall so far. I havn't unpacked anything- not ready for it yet. Got an air mattress thats slowly losing air- thankfully its a breeze to blow up. he he he. breeze. he he he.
Sorry its late and I'm forcing myself to stay up past midnight to adjust to the time.

Everyone has been saying how brave it is to move so far out west like this. But I feel its almost been inevitable for me. I wasn't ready two years ago, but I'm ready now.
I have a bus pass. Bring it on.

I miss Tusch though.