Saturday, December 6th- My missed connection:

I think you got on at Wellesley station. I don’t remember- I was lost in thought. You were sitting across from me only seconds later. After a while you caught my eye and definately smiled. To my surprise, I smiled back. Normally I can’t muster up the courage to return a smile or meet another’s intent gaze- I’m shy. But I had just indulged in two glasses of white wine.

The thing is, I have seen you before. The first time I saw you, you were also on the subway sitting right across from me. I think that time you actually got off at Wellesley station. Coincidence? I had recognized your maroon cap, as I had wondered if your pretty head was shaven underneath. I admit I checked out your butt both times when you stood up to exit the subway doors. Your jeans were kind of tight. Between tight jeans and Wellesley station, it did cross my mind you might like boys.

But I could have sworn your smile was flirtatious. Maybe you like girls too? When we got off at Queen station, you walked up the stairs beside me, glancing over. We waited for the streetcar beside one another; you arranged yourself to stand next to me. It was snowing.

Some teenagers were shouting shrill-like a couple of blocks to our left. It caught my attention. You noticed this and made a joke about how some kids are still celebrating Halloween. You mentioned something about too much sugar. It was kind of cute. Your eyes were brown.

I got onto the Queen streetcar heading East, looking forward to another exchange of glances, words. All the while thinking you were going to get on too.

But alas, when the doors closed behind me, you weren’t there.

S.

Christmas Spirit on Ed’s Budget

I’m a self proclaimed Christmas junkie - I love the silly Christmas songs, the winter wonderland, the frosty snowmen, the dorky sweaters, the tacky lights. I can’t help it, this season makes me happy. So I was sitting at home on my day off last week when I decided it was time for me to decorate the living room. For cheap.

As mentioned before, one of us still labours for minimum wage. I’m not complaining - it's my own doing - I’m just on a tight budget. As well, I just don’t think it’s worth it to spend tons of money on stuff I’m only going to use once a year and probably lose before I can use again. So I wandered over to Bloor St. and entered the best place I could think of: the city’s largest dollar store Honest Ed's (gigantic flashing building on the corner of Bathurst and Bloor, as if you didn't know).

I don’t think I’ve ever been in there when I didn’t get lost. They have some sort of magnetic field that throws off my spatial intelligence. Plus their structural layout doesn’t make logical sense, but I guess that’s just part of the charm. When I finally located their holiday decoration section, (I couldn’t even tell you where. It’s in the room where they keep their toasters and hardware) I had already filled my basket with discount canned food and bags of candy that I had to then remove to make room for the Christmas swag. But oh the selection and the slashed down prices! They have trees, lights, wreaths, stockings, ornaments, and more, all in one handy place. I didn’t pick up anything that cost more than $2, and I still had trouble carrying it all home in my canvas bag.

The total: $7.71. My picks: large plastic red and white candy cane ($.99), small fake Christmas tree (.99), large gold ornament balls (.99), set of 35 coloured lights (1.77), long plastic twig with berries (.99), felt reindeer hair band (.99), and a string of gold beads (.99). Arrange them artfully around the room and you have instant Christmas cheer. Also available: delightful plastic artifacts to celebrate other major December holidays.

Only $7 and the living room feels all warm and snuggly. Santa will be so impressed.

e

Where I get my hair cut

Now that I’m a professional adult, I’ve vowed to get my haircut every 4 months. I’ve also noticed that I’m never 100% satisfied when I spend less than $50 on my hair. In the past year and a half I’ve tried a good number of places: from fast-paced, family-run hair salons in Korea town, to the over-rated and grungy House of Lords, with attempting Bayview Village’s fancy Capellis in between. Not even Queen West’s Coup Bizarre, which I had frequented in Montreal left me fully content. Coup Bizarre with its retro white plastic chairs and friendly hairstylists who cut your hair without washing it. Straighten it with a straightening iron however. and then cut it. but no washing involved.

Then came Grateful Head . Grateful Head, with its exposed brick interior and floor-to-ceiling windows. Discovered by our third roommate one Sunny day while we were biking along Dundas West near Trinity Bellwoods Park. One grateful head of hair later, I booked my appointment.

Where else can you have a glass of wine (on the house), browse local art work, drink freshly brewed coffee and get your haircut? They do wash your hair, give you a great head massage, and pay attention to how you would like your hair styled. While the stylists may sport wine-coloured locks, sharp undercuts and subdued Mohawks from time to time, they deliver neat bangs, hefty layers, wistful curls and classic cuts. I even purchased hair product there, which I use daily.

And if you’re like me in that your pet peeve is forced small talk with your hairdresser, well you don’t have to- at least I didn’t. Granted, there was plenty of chit-chat in there for the rest of you- stylists had regular clients and were following up with their lives. Finally, I guess if you’re a real dead-head, you’d be enamored by this place too.

Located at 1006 Dundas Street West, on the corner of Dundas and Montrose, prices start at $60 for women.

S.