Blindbox

So for my niece's birthday she got a lot of blindboxes.  I first heard about them referred to as blindbags and had to understand it conceptually which took quite a bit of time. 

Me:  So you don't know what the bag is. 
Sister:  No. 
Me:  Oh I see when you open it you are surprised about what bag you get. 
Sister:  No, the thing is in the bag. 
Me:  Oh, what thing? 
Sister:  Anything. 
Me: So it's not like a handbag. 
Sister:  No.
Me:  Ok [google]. 

Now here I was, experiencing it for the first time when my sister jammed a small plastic "bag" into my hand.  One two three! she yelled and I'm made to understand I have to open the bag at the count of three.  I did and inside was Purin holding on to cat balloon which in turn was attached to a keychain so when you hold the keychain Purin looks like he's flying away.  Cute. 

What did you get?  Everyone yelled immediately and wanted to see.  I showed mine and saw others.  We all compared bonding over plastic variations of the sameish thing.  My daughter got Purin too except hers had a mat finish while mine had a shiny finish. Both Purins were wearing scarves and the scarves were different colors.  My son got mat finish cinnamoroll and the cat ballon had a bow on it (mine had no bow).     

What fun.  

be kind rewind

So turns out one of the girls in my daughter's girlscout troop is the grand-daughter of Roger Kasparian so we did a badge on photography at his studio.  

We were asked to bring a camera and one of the moms bought an old camera that required film.  How much did that film cost you?  some of us wondered.  Twenty-five euros she lamented. 

After her daughter took a picture she wanted to see it.  We told her she couldn't until she had taken the entire roll of film. With the help of the other girls in the troop they managed to take all 27 photos. She asked to see them. 

Not yet said her mom has she manually rewound the film.  We have to take it to get developed first.

They looked at us, incredulous, as we explained that even after "taking it in" she would have to wait for the filmed to be developed and then go back another day and pick them up.  Only then could she see the photos. 

The mom then pulled out a small black cylindrical container and peeled off it's grey lid with a satisfying pop.  In the film went. 

My daughter asked me later how we could live like that.  

It is a wonder.  

me

So the other day a woman I just met said to me in a matter of fact kind of way, that we had been in contact before.  Over a house. 

We have? I said, surprised. 

Yes, via email she confirmed and she started reading her email exchange with me from her phone.  

Doesn't ring a bell, I said searching my brain for some long forgotten memory.  

Yes, she insisted and showed me a picture of myself on her phone. 

The picture was of an Asian woman taken a bit from afar, but it wasn't me.  A familiar awkward feeling came over me.  

That's not me, I told her. 

She showed me the name of the woman as it was saved on her phone. 

This woman had my exact name. 

Definitely weird. 

center for enhanced living

So on a cold December day I took my husband to a wellness spa.  

"Step into an oasis of wellbeing and tranquility."

Turns out the spa was a converted warehouse in an industrial zone.  Oasis indeed.

"Imagine a place where your wellness is not an afterthought, but a priority."

My husband wanted to use their gym so I had taken a book with me.  Unfortunately the gym turned out to be just some treadmills and weights so he passed on it.  Given the price I had paid for entry and the double strikes (industrial zone and not up to par gym) getting us wellness became a priority, for me.

"A place centered around all the best parts of being alive."

Fortunately there was more than the gym.  We waddled in the indoor hydrotherapy pools.  There were all kinds of sauna rooms to explore (Far Infrared | Gold | Himalayan Salt | Loess Clay | Charcoal | Steam Box | Chromotherapy | Cryotherapy). 

Unfortunately even the best marketing couldn't fool those with say, a PhD in physics.  As we sat in the Far Infrared room with lights shooting up and down the sides (when does the spaceship take off? wondered my husband), even I admitted it was a bit of a bust.  

"Disconnect from the busy outside world and reconnect to yourself."

Before we left I suggested we check out the rooftop pool.  By that time the sun had gone down and temperatures freezing so we didn't intend use the outdoor pool, just have a look.  

The stairs lead us to a bar/lounge overlooking an large infinity pool. It looked like the kind of place that would be overcrowded in the summer but now, at night and in the dead of winter, it was mostly empty. We stood in the lounge in our bathrobes and stared at the steam coming off the water, erie and in a strange way, inviting.    

Probably not a good idea to go in we said to ourselves before counting to three and disrobing at the same time.  We ran through the crisp cold air before finding refuge in the heated water. We allowed the hydrotherapy jets to do their work on our tired muscles as we gazed at the moon, bright against a black cloudless sky, relaxing at last.  

cobi and the queens

So last week I had lunch in the 7th.  The host was older and so were the guests, mostly American.  The name tag handed out the beginning reminded as much.  Someone bought tairas.  It was a queen's lunch after all, she said. 

We all sat down and chatted getting to know each other.  Then the host rang a bell to get our attention.  

This bell was a wedding present, she said offhandedly. I don't know what it's for but I use it to get people's attention, she smiled.  

It's probably a bell of truce, offered one of the guests.  You're suppose to ring it during arguments to bring the couple back to one another. 

We all considered this as we moved to the table.  Lunch was served.  Afterwards the host asked us all to share a secret.  Like a good host she started.  

It was a good one. 

Followed by an even better one by an even older woman beside her. 

And so and so it went, women sharing a part of themselves oftentimes reaching far into the past and giving it life again.  Reliving it as if it were yesterday, a glimmer of mischief in their eye.  

Arcade

So we're at an arcade and my friend and I decide together to not buy anymore points for our kids.  This doesn't stop them from trying:

Kid:  Can I have more money? 

Me:  No. 

Kid:  Why?  

Me:  Because. 

Kid:  Can I have more money?

Me:  No. 

Kid:  Why?  

Me:  Because. 

Repeat for ten minutes.  The kids finally leave and we are proud of ourselves for holding strong.  

Then we watch as my friend's husband makes his way to the machine to recharge the cards with happy kids, my son included, in tow. 

Turns out he forgot his wallet so he asked my friend, his wife, for money. 

So of course I offer to pay for my son's part. 

Kids, so tricky.  

happy holidays