Aplace

Truth in advertising

There is (almost) no such thing. I just take it for granted that if a product promises to do something it will do it. I find this is *especially* true of beauty products. None of them do what they promise to do. Well, some but it's very rare. Which is why I come to you today to sing the praises of certain products that actually deliver on what they say they do. Here is my list. Feel free to add if you have any more in mind:

1. Biore pore strips : I know not everyone will agree with me on this count but these things do in fact get rid of blackheads. They come back, of course, but they do go away for a little bit.

2. Gilette Venus razor: This razor almost didn't make the list. The Mach 3 and the Venus are the *exact* same razor except with a different design. In fact, you can stick Venus cartridges on Mach 3 handles and vice-versa. So why, pray tell, is the Mach 3 one whole dollar cheaper? Corporate misogyny, that's why. Still, the Venus is amazing. Amazing. You go over a patch a skin once and bam ! No hair and no cuts.

3. Reynolds Press `N Seal wrap. This stuff is awesome. You press and it seals. It doesn't come undone. It doesn't stick on itself or do any of the nasty things plastic wrap usually does. It just works, exactly like it does in the commercial. You just press it against something and it sticks. I love that !

4. Diet Coke and Mentos: Okay, these two products are not sold together but they do offer consistent fun. Dunk some mentos into the diet coke and there will be an explosion, every time, consistently. I love it !

Rap session

Yesterday, Toby, Hasini and I went shopping after being subjected to possibly the most offensive instructor ever in our afternoon seminar. I'm still not sure why I didn't walk out. The man had such disdain for his clients, it was unbelievable...

Right, so after freeing ourselves from that ridiculousness, we went to the MAC counter at the Bay and I bought two eyeshadows (in Woodwinked and Humid) and some lipgloss (in Lovechild). I know it's all marketing but the names are what make me most excited about my purchase.

The meat of the evening consisted in downing lattes in the air conditioned elysium of the Second Cup on George St. We ended up having a conversation not unreminiscent of the one a pre-Psycho Tom Cruise barges in on in "Jerry Maguire." You know, the one where he's all "You complete me" and Renee's all "You had me at hello." And all the bitter women are staring at them and soften a bit at the knowledge that Tom Cruise even exists. Well, we were having that conversation except not about ex-husbands but the same volatile mix of excitement and bitterness in regards to our life's lot. You dig?

Better than a Granny Smith, that's for sure

I bought a MacIntosh. It's really beautiful actually. It's the iBook. It's gleaming white, shiny and beautiful. although, I suspect that after a couple of weeks in my custody, those attributes will not be as apparent. In any case... I thought my Mac was going to make me so happy and it fact, it hasn't. On the one hand, it wasn't a waste of money. My old laptop had gone through hell in the last two years and needed to have its DVD drive basically refitted. I put about five years of use on that thing in less than 24 months. Still, even though this computer works better, is faster, and is overall just a better machine, I'm not that excited. Usually, I'm pretty good about realising that buying stuff mostly leaves an empty feeling in your soul (and wallet!), yet honestly, I somehow thought it would be a lot of fun. It's just a tool, really. Just a really complicated and expensive pencil or protractor in the end.

Wow, I'm such a downer. I actually think it is a superior machine and I'm very glad to join the Macintoshian fraternity. I've already recorded two songs on GarageBand that I might put up oon this site when I'm done. Hopefully, this will make me seem less like a jerk who can't recognize her good fortune.

Dear Diary,

Laurk and I went to see a movie yesterday and it was really bad. Yes, it's true The Princess Diaries II did not live up to the original. It was to the original Princess Diaries as Graffiti Bridge is to Purple Rain: all the elements are there, and yet... I haven't seen such a cheese romantic comedy in years. This is saying quite a bit given that the genre trafficks in cheese. Oh well, you can't win them all. I did make out okay though, because after the movie I bought a cute blazer and a sweater vest from Old Navy. I was so happy. But then Laurk trumped all my purchases by buying a belt because all her pants are too big from the weight she has lost! Bah. No outfit, no matter how cute, can trump a weight-loss induced purchase. But then we had dinner at Casey's and I had a very tasty chicken brochette thing and there was a cute waiter so I was able to work through it and be happy for Laurk and her belt and for me and my sweater vest. And now I'm at work. Triple Bah !