[19-year-old Char with Vancity highschool Best Friend Amie, at my going away dinner party]

Tomorrow officially marks 3 years of living in the city that has changed me forever. It still trips me out that that amount of time doesn’t seem like it’s been that short but it’s really felt kinda long. If you asked me where I was in life three years ago… Hahaha… Oh man. Well, I was 19 years old, I never let a curse word ever leave my lips, I was a Bible-abiding Christian, had blunt cut bangs, and wore Jordans. I just had my heart broken while I also broke someone else’s heart… and I felt like I was suffocating in Vancouver. I desperately needed something different, even if it meant risking the comfort of everything familiar and known. I wasn’t quite sure what I was looking for, but I knew I reached the point where I wouldn’t find it where I was. Knowing only 3 people in Toronto, and family friends in Mississauga, this is how my network grew. The first year was definitely the most difficult. You don’t know loneliness and a lack of direction until you force yourself into a situation where you’re either going to suck it up and stick it out, or go home and tell yourself you couldn’t do it. I told myself instead that the latter was not an option. I gave myself only ONE option: To succeed.

For most of us, we grew up with our mamas tellin’ us it was important to share. “You hab to share,” she’d say with a stern tone and thick filipino accent. The funny thing about my mom was, she never elaborated on the importance of WHY I should share. Knowing now the filipino show-face mentality, it could very well be for the reason that nobody wants their kid to be known as the ‘selfish-ill-mannered kid’ among the judging eyes and chiss-miss gossiping Titas. Either way, I learned to “share”. Share my dolls, share my stuffed animals, share my friggin‘ stickers. But there is always that thing… you know what I’m talkin’ bout. That thing (or for me… kind of a list of things, lol) that we’re just a taaad bit reluctant to share. For some of you it might be your most favorite Polly Pocket that you begged your parents to buy you for your birthday, or maybe a rare Optiumus Prime limited edition Transformers action figure… For me, it has always been, my favorite food…s. LOL. I’m sorry! *Looks sheepishly side-to-side* *Raises right hand in the air* Fine! I’ll admit… if we’re at saaayy, a Chinese restaurant together, and we order my beloved Beef with Black Bean Sauce, no peppers, only onions… I’ll use my peripherals and secretly make a mental tab of how much you take. Orr…. if I get a Cinnabon (or Cinnzeo, for those who feel me on the West), I’ll ignore that I see your greedy eyes and salivating mouth, hoping and praying to the Lord Jesus Christ/Buddah/Allah/Batman for me to offer you a bite. There are just some things we’re less willing to share, especially if we justify it with, “That’s my FAVORITE.” Does that make me a terrible Share-r? Does that make me that “selfish-ill-mannered-kid” who seems to be the hott topic among gossiping Titas? I like to share pretty much everything else… LOL. HOW BOUT YOU, Huh? What is it that you just are a bit more stingy about letting other people’s (grubby) fingers touch? What do you like to keep for you and only you?

No, actually, I’m quite awake, and working competently. Despite my slowed down activity in the virtual world, everything else seems to be moving at a constant speed of busy. I’m really taking in this new “6 course semester” sorta dealy, and have been taking it day by day to really organize myself. I have my heart set on doing well on the classes I’m paying for, and in return am letting my social life suffer a little bit. I haven’t been to any shows, any parties, any performances, or doing any shoots at all in the past couple of weeks. The constant downpour of snow and dry ice cold air punching my face is a real turn off from me leaving my house. It’s a good time to learn how to be “good” at school. Whatever that means.

Anyhow, some reading about the world of Advertising in Electronic Media needs to happen, as well as finally tackling the craziness that ensues on my desk. A clean work space is always necessary to productivity folks!

I’ve spoken my piece. Peace.

This past week has been a slow down of activity on here, as well as the regular scheduling of my life. After my last day of retail politics and bullsh*t, I celebrated the New Year, then set up my auto-mated email response of, “I’m M.I.A. finding my new focus for this coming year”. With 5 dollars to my name, I spent my week relishing in the pages of The Lost Diary of Don Juan (Great read!), and attending yoga classes at the Yoga Sanctuary in my hood. Solo and roomie tea parties happened on a regular basis, as well as nightly movies and philosophy discussions. I’ve been living in my flannel pajamas and new cushiony booties as my house slippers. A different portion of my room has been tackled by the vacuum and swiffer everyday, and I must say… organization has never felt this good!

School re-commences in two days and I couldn’t be more excited to get back on the school grind. Looking at my course load and what I hope to accomplish this coming semester, I decided that I’d bite the bullet and take on a 6th course. 2010 was really about Hustling Hard, and that I did… with the launch of this new site, and all that came along with it, I’m proud of everything that’s become of Lovehard. I do, however… have felt a lack of motivation, probably because I feel like my skill set has stagnated, and I haven’t had a desire to enhance it. My course load this semester includes some really sick classes which I think will teach me new things and push those boundaries, and perhaps even re-inspire me. The Hustle never stops, but this time around will be about honing in on my skills and growing. With that being said, I think I’m going to take it easy and have to cut back on the social (but still business) calendar, especially taking on so many outside projects, and really work on improving.

To the lair I go, training music as my cue, and when I re-surface, I’ll have a lot more to show for it….

[Piece of sh*t restaurant that can go lick monkey balls]

You know what’s irritating?! UGH! UGGGHHH!! Like grossness to the tenth power. I’m so annoyed by what’s probably the smallest thing but honestly, I’ve seen so much of the crookery in the past week that it makes my blood boil seeing how people run their businesses sometimes. First it was my roommate having to deal with the bullsh*t corporate money grubbing snakes better known as BELL and BLACKBERRY (honestly… I want to hurl my own puke at the both of them. I HATE my blackberry, I HATE Bell, I’m getting an iPhone. That simple.)

And now, tonight, I dealt with someone trying to SNAKE me over freaking SHISHA.

[The Granby Girls on the Santa Monica Pier]

Summer of 2010 is definitely one for the books:

– quitting my job then running off to Mexico with the Granby Girls
– I adopted Sinthuja, spent three weeks jobless and biking the city incesssantly
– NYC/Brooklyn to work with Lance Drummonds
– working for the Tri-Mentoring Program
– my birthday getaway to the country, non-stop tanning, bbqs and nature
– T.O. to BK trip with MANIFESTO for the Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival, Okay Africa feat. The Roots, and T.O. to BK showcase
– Crazy stupid amazing 22nd birthday party at The Main Ingredient with Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest
– the official Lovehard blog launch
– the upgrade from my babyboi T.I. to Tutti (Canon Rebel t1i to a t2i)
– LOS ANGELES/VANCITY weekend trip for Rock The Bells with Lauryn Hill, Slick Rick, KRS-One, Wu-Tang, Snoop, ATCQ
– endless amounts of iced coffees consumed
– too many amazing artists I got to film: Tanika Charles, Rich Kidd, Aloe Blacc, Nneka
– too many parties, art shows, celebrations and Toronto night timing to count
– bike rides, night rides, me and Sinthuja all day err day
– summer lovin’, had me a blast
– LUCY PEARL SIRIANNI GALLEY LORO aka… the kitty edition to the Granby Girls
– the Love Affair! and all the incredible artist profiles I got to do — Made Wade, Smash Brovas, Miss G, KG, Vibonics, DJ Soundbwoy, Ron Dias
– Ryerson Orientation/Frosh week craziness — BEST dance party/Guiness World Record Biggest Beat Box Ensemble in the Quad, goin down in hisssstoryyy
– BBQ’s, house jams, meeting and getting to know soooooo many new wicked peeps and friends

This summer was pretty freakin’ good. There’s just something about summer that brings out the craziness in everyone. I loved it for everything that it encompassed — the hustle, the relaxation, the celebrations, the different faces, the learnings, the trials, the growth,
and of course, the love.

Here’s to the Fall/Winter of 2010. Here’s to a new school year, layering and leather season, new projects/artists to work with, a new mindset, a new focus, and new inspirations. BRING IT.

It’s all the way live!! EEEEEEEEEEEEEE &*(@#&%@)P!!!!&*(#%&@ WHHAAAAAAAATTTT THEEEEEEEE. I have been planning this for a minute and a half now and what was supposed to be a month’s time to compose this took only a WEEK thanks to the incredible super hero of a web designer also known as Marco of Committee-Design. The man is SICK wid it.

To make a long story short, I approached Marco about the re-design of my blog and the branding of lovehard when crap hit the fan last weekend. Within hours I was already receiving sample templates in my inbox and before I knew it… he created something far better than what I could have dreamt up myself. I’m SOOOOOOO APPRECIATIVE of this human being and admire his work ethic, diligence and best of all… PASSION to do what he does best. Unreal. I told you, Marco… I’d sacrifice my first kitten on an alter for you!!! Lol.

There are some big tings a gwannin’ in the gigantor brain of mine. Please stay tuned, RSS feed this bihnazz and continue to love what you’ve loved here on this blog. We’re on the tipping point of something big folks, I feel it! Let it RAINNN!!!!

Feel free to post your feedback, lemme know what you think and if there are any glitches we need to fix or things we gotta improve! I’m totally open to hearing all your ideas.

I’ve spoken my piece.
Peace!

This is an official announcement to those who are wondering the whereabouts of lovehard.ca. As you know from a few previous posts… lovehard.ca was supposed to launch as of Saturday — thus the Official Blog Launch party along with my birthday celebration. Unfortunately due to technological difficulties (what the heck does that all mean, ANYhow, lol), in one way or another… it just didn’t happen. Quite disappointing, really, buuuut not enough for it to ruin my Saturday night. Please stay posted with what’s to come for the updated site. It will be even better than what I know I was hoping for…

Love and love.

[photo c/o The Torontoist]

The vibe of the city right now feels insane. It’s not even that I don’t feel safe. I feel fine and am glad that I have spent a good arms reach away from the chaos that is G20. When I had heard about this conference coming into Toronto, I didn’t think anything of it. The idea of 20 leaders of the world’s most powerful countries actually here in one city, did not really sink in until yesterday. This billion dollar security budget? Obama has taken over the entire Fairmont Royal York with a posse of 1500?  Fake lake Muskoka remake?

I’ve been watching the news, reading the tweets, following up on online articles and the stories aggravate me. It’s the SAME sh*t. Black Bloc, Black Bloc, freakin’ anarchists. Another police car on fire, another bank vandalized, another corporate commercial store or restaurant broken into, MORE riot police on the way, louder helicopters…. it juuusttt won’tttt stooopppppppp.

I guess it’s legit now folks. My job that encompasses all things facebook, twitter, blogging and video related… is friggin official. I got a bihnizzz card and it’s got my NAME on it, sssson! (Minus the fact that they totally screwed up my job title and gave me Sasha’s! Re-prints are currently in the process.)

Apparently they couldn’t fit in “Head of Video & Multi-media Online Relations”… Chris says to me, “You don’t want to be the ‘Head’ of anything or else everything falls on you.” “But I wanna be the big baows ricky raowss.” LOL. Needless to say, I had to settle for “Video & Online Relations”.

Hollerations.