Goodwill
Queen & Roncesvalles
7:25 PM

So you know those sleazy guys in the movies that have trench coats and when they open them they are selling watches or whatever. Observe visual.

Well something of that sort I thought was only in the movies but it happened today before my church meeting! I was walking by Goodwill and this man comes out of nowhere and guess what he is trying to sell me?

Olay Regenerist skin care?

He was like do you want to buy some? I was a bit in shock because of how humorous this whole situation actually was, like who sells skincare products like that? But I didn't even laugh. And how did he seem my pimply face in the dark hm! ;) We then both proceeded into Goodwill.

Work
10-4 PM

I was talking to a customer about how I had just paid for my trip to Spain, Portugal & France and then out of nowhere this lady comes and starts talking to me in Spanish. Fortunately the customer understood and she was asking if you can pay with American bills.

Then a few hours later I get a customer, he was so cute buying a purple dress shirt and all excited and then couldn't accept his car because it wasn't signed. And so I tried to explain that I couldn't accept the card unless it was signed. But he said he didn't understand me that he speaks Portuguese. So I called for anyone who spoke Portuguese and H came over and translated.

It turns out that he was visiting from Portugal and was using his dad's credit card to be able to buy things here. And his bank card from Portugal didn't work and he didn't have enough cash. It was the saddest thing of my life because he had the friendliest smile and just wanted a purple shirt. :(

This also made me realize that I have to get started on my Spanish, Portuguese & French, this always happens at work, no Polish people come in so I can't help anyone. :p AND I never really heard anyone speak fluently in Portuguese and wow what a language, it was amazing! I have never heard anything like it! Why is this the first time I heard it spoken fluently?

Boxing Class
10 PM

Today we went to boxing with little J and we had some "new members" and we started off exercising together to warm up. So we played this game where your in teams of 3 and have to be quick and throw the ball to your teammates without getting the other team to get it. Ok I guess this sounds like football or any other sport but it's different, it's funner when we do it.

Anyways, so we are playing and our team is really calm and not getting tired haha, we are so slow but we won but the other "new member" got really excited and tackled me like a crazy man in his Rocky style shorts. Uuuuh sweat. This is not how you play the game, some people get way to into sports. Maybe this is one of those events you had to be there to see it, I'm still learning.

Why have I not ever thought to be my hero Rocky (or Rambo) for Halloween? They even have wigs! I just want the robe to roam around in the house..or casually sweep outdoors with. I love how you don't need real abs, they are included.

November 9
St George Station to Islington Station

After saying goodbye to Maria I got on the next train and this man was talking to himself about the war and how his brother died in the war in Iran and then he went on to make shooting sounds parapapapa and how he almost died in the war. It was rather sad actually. :(

Somewhere between St. Clair West & Downsview Station
12:30 PM

So you know when the subway's are at the platform and both waiting and you can see the other people in the other subway and you have this weird staring glances and your eyes get all shifty and sketchy because you don't know where to look?

Well, today the subways were facing each other and I glance over to the other side and this man is touching his face, but oh wait, then he tries to pick his nose but notices me on the other subway looking at him and gets embarrassed and I was really mean guys and didn't look away I just kept staring. I am a horrible person.

February 3
Subway

There was this lady..who was on the subway and I understand it was winter and the wind and snow is in your eyes. But it's not like you're going out to ski. This lady was wearing spa goggles. I don't know how to explain them because they aren't goggles for swimming they look spa-ish if that makes any sense.

The weird thing is..I saw her not once that month but twice. And obviously the only way I remembered was because of her goggles.

Summer 2010
Spadina Streetcar

Monica and I had just came back from a store party and were taking pictures of our wristbands and whatever our hands. There were like 10 people on the streetcar, this man gets up from the middle and comes to us in the back and says that we are not allowed to take photos. It's not allowed. He doesn't want to be in our photos.

For some reason I got really angry and snapped back and told him I wasn't and didn't want to take photos of him. Monica explained that we were just taking photos of our wristbands. He then went and sat at the back of the bus. You don't know how tempted I was to just turn around and take a photo of him and run.

When we got out of the streetcar I turned around and waved my fist like an old lady right when he got out of the streetcar and then I ran away. This story sucks.

Tuesday January 19
OCAD lobby

Saw David Miller at school in our lobby..you know when you get used to seeing people on tv and they just become TV people? Like they aren't real life, they live in the TV. But then you see them in real life and it's so surreal. Like you can touch them and they don' have TV voices. I didn't touch David Miller by the way.

And for those of you who don't watch the news or are just dumb, because when I told people this story back in January that I saw David Miller in the lobby they were like who's that? Ok fine your not dumb, just unaware.

Thursday January 21
Subway

Lady smelled like salami. I don't know if this is amazing or not..should you be proud to smell like this? It's not like it's a bad smell..it was amazing though, I never knew people could smell like food.

August/September 2007
First Year

I got a phone finally first year, after my whole generation had gone through like 3 phones by then. Anyways, I activated it and kept getting phone calls I kept missing on my phone.

One day however it was around 12 AM I get one and I just pick it up. No one knew my number at that time so I was like ugh stop calling. This is how the conversation went:

Me: Hello?
Dude: Oh hey, is this Shelia (I don't remember the name by now)
Me: Nope, I think you have the wrong number.
Dude: Are you sure? This isn't Shelia?
Miriam: ....
Miriam: Yes. I am sure. I am not Shelia..
Dude: Oh..wait like you gave me your number. Downtown remember we met?
Miriam: Yeah pretty sure we didn't. I haven't been downtown in awhile..
Dude: Yeah we met at the club and you gave me your number. What is your complexion?
Miriam: What?
Dude: Like are you a dark complexion.
Miriam: I think I'm white.
Dude: You were with your friend?
Miriam: Nope, I'm sorry you have the wrong number. (Why am I even still on the phone? Because this is funny)
Dude: Yo ok.
Miriam: Well, hope you have a wonderful night.
Dude: Yeah, thanks, you too.
*BEEP*

October 2010
Mississauga Transit

This man gets on and sits at the front of the bus. And I'm not even joking, he looks like an ogre! Like take Shrek and make him white, he looked exactly like that.

To make things sound even more like I'm lying, he went on to pick his ears. Not like a little oh let me touch my ear but he just went in there and did his stuff, finding all those goodies and whatnot.

Friday January 29
Vince Food (North York)

Lady comes in wearing a plastic bag scarf.

Don't remember when this was maybe first year maybe even grade 12. I was walking down Queen Street with Michelle and it was a nice spring day so I wore my awesome yellow coat. I got it at Giant Tiger because Monica told me it would look nice with dark denim jeans. I always wore light jeans until I made this discovery that dark jeans are just better!

Anyways, so it's just a yellow trench coat and we walk by Osgoode Hall when suddenly this lady is walking behind us and mumbling something. We kind of ignore it but then she gets louder and starts asking why I am wearing that coat? Why is it so bright and yellow? I hate that coat! She may have drooled as well.

So we have no way to go so we turn into Osgoode and run away. I hesitate every time I look into my closet and wear that coat...

I took the GO train today with my mama and I kind of was excited to see strangers this morning. Only to realize that people on the GO are rather boring and all have puffy eyes at 7:13 in the morning. But they all smell nicer with their cologne and business suits. That's why I like walking through the Financial District. Bay Street can look like winter all year, everyone in black and grey suits but they are just so sharp. Especially now with Remembrance Day, when they wear their poppies against those boring colours they just pop. And compared to the subway which smells like farts and morning breath the GO train smells like the Bay perfume aisle but not so overwhelming.

Please scroll to 0:40 ..actually no Mr Bean is great watch the whole 2:44! :)

Monday November 10
Keele Station
9:15 PM

I decided to be a good girl and stay after class to work on my homework. After failing in Adobe After Effects I take the subway home. We stop at Keele and sit there for awhile, good thing I had my book or else I'd feel as if it was taking forever.

They tell us the train is out of service and we have to stay on the platform and wait for the other. So after more waiting they tell us there is a police investigation going on and that no trains are going Westbound. So we all go outside and there are like 1313 waiting for the bus.

I decided to be clever and go to the top of the hill to go to the stop before the big pile of people so I get a guarantee seat and ride back home. There is a stop but it is a night stop. This one guy comes from the east end and says the other bus stop is really far and is this one going to be ok? I say I don't know if anything we'll wave down the driver.

Then some other guy comes and asks the same thing and we end up being best friends. He goes to a private school and was supposed to stay with a friend that night but decided to go back to Mississauga hah. He is in musical theater, a triple threat. He needs to prepare a tap routine and hasn't done any of his choreography for tomorrow and was just trying to figure out a song on his iPod. He is in his 2nd final year and wants to go to New York and be on Broadway. He said he wants to go to Paris. The other dude said he studied in Paris for a semester. He can speak French. I said "Je suis ananas."

I said the next time I see his face will be on a big subway ad and I'll be like hey I met that guy on the subway! And he said that he'll see my famous poster. In the end I'll probably end up making a poster for him and we'll both be famous.

After some time and people taking warm taxis all around we go down the hill and realize the big group of people has dissapeared! The trains are back in service haha. At least it wasn't cold and we were all normal people to talk to. Yes for good stranger encounters!

Monday November 10
Mississauga Starbucks
10:30 PM

I'm on the bus and we pass by Starbucks. It's closed. It's been closed for awhile I'm assuming, half an hour at least. But there is a man sitting outside in the cold at a table and chair on his laptop using the Starbucks free WiFi...

The things we do to check our facebook..

October 2010

Sitting on bus.

Lady in front of me pours her coffee on the seat beside her. Like why...oh my gosh people are insane.

Customers waiting in line.

Miriam: Can I get your order?
Customer 1: Tall latte.
Miriam: (Mark cup)
Miriam: Can I get the next customer's order? Sir? Can I get your order.

...

Woman answers tall bold.

Fall onto the ground behind the counter. Never say sir or mam. And never assume a baby's gender either..

Dude messaged me on facebook to ask about OCAD.

After explaining through some messages the programs and how school is, this is the reply I get.

So do you have any weed you could sell me?

Block, delete. People have to stop asking me these things. I have glasses and read Tin Tin comics I'm the last person to sell weed. Life.

Customer at my past work in weird German accent. A regular customer who has been coming to our store for the past 10 years. She insists on getting a Venti latte but paying the original price she has been paying for the past few years for a grande. Her drink is mega complicated, but really it's not. So one day she comes in and is complaining about rabbits eating her carrots.

Now do the German accent in an old lady voice and go!

Old lady: Oooh Miriam these rabbits keep eating my vegA-tables, they keep eating I don't know what to do?

Miriam: Why don't you just shoot them and have them for dinner and put the carrots around the platter as some nice decoration.

Old lady: Never talked to me again.

Scene.

Third Year
Mississauga Transit

Miriam: (Sitting on bus with Polish lanyard around neck. Mistake! I usually don't wear it because I am scared that Polish ladies will talk to me and that is not what I want so I keep it in my pocket. But however that morning I left in a rush and forgot I was wearing it.)

Old man: (Sits on bus beside me, sees lanyard) Ah so you Polish ja?

Miriam: No.

Haha just kidding.

Miriam: Mmhmm..
Old man: Czesc! (Hello)

The conversation proceeds, he is a cute old man (I have a weakness for seniors, help me) and so we talk about how he's never learned English and has lived in Canada for 30 years but worked in a Polish company so there was no need. Lol. And then how his daughters graduated from here and are dentists or doctors...etc etc etc. Nice simple conversation.

We pass by Chinatown.

Old man: Oh I was here yesterday buying DVD's!
Miriam: Oh I've never been here but keep meaning to visit.

Old man: (Is wearing a button down dress shirt and starts to unbutton it and reveals from his..chest? The DVD.)

Miriam: (Oh dear me.)

Old Man: (Pulls out an Indian porn DVD with some naked man and woman on the front.) I bought this for $4 I love romantic movies, I like woman's breasts.

Miriam: (the only thing I could think of to say) So..uh what does your wife think when you watch this?

Old Man: I watch it when she's not around.

Miriam: Oh ok..some random conversation..this is my stop!

Old Man: Oh mine too!

Miriam gets away at ticket booth area of subway. My life is brilliant.

Thursday November 4
Mississauga Transit
10:30 AM

Miriam: (Sitting on bus sees someone come on the bus in the corner of her eye and talking to the bus driver. Proceeds in trying to put her headphones into her ears)
Dude: Walks by and says hey? Sits down beside.
Miriam: Ignore. Maybe he was talking to someone else? Whatever why isn't this headphone in my ear..I must put it in before people start coming on the bus and tal...
Dude: Excuse me?
Miriam: Yeah?
Dude: Is it alright if we talk?
Miriam:....
Miriam: Uh yeah ok? (Thinking ok maybe he is thinking of committing suicide and needs someone to talk to and maybe I can change his life so he doesn't jump off the Cawthra/Dundas bridge. You know like those tv shows Touched by an Angel and stuff it happens!)
Dude: Yo so I had this crazy month and like I need change you know? I need money. I need things! I need need need things.
Miriam: (Miriam should have gotten off the bus at this point. Fail.)
Dude: I need a girlfriend. I need someone to listen to you know. I don't think I am gay, like when I see a guy I don't want to talk to them and stuff like I like girls. Nah I can't be gay.
Dude: I need money you know. I am poor I had to ask the bus driver if I could get a ride because I have no money.
Miriam: So you play guitar..
Dude: Oh yeah yeah I am going to a music interview. You know I want respect, I want power I want money.
Miriam: Yeah we'll you have to work for it.
Dude: Yeah but it's so hard I want it now I can't wait for it! So ok enough about me. What do you do?
Miriam: I go to school for graphic design, it's a good program. (Should I get off the bus now? No I will be late to meet with Mary)
Dude: I got a haircut. I used to have long hair but then I cut it see? I like straight hair, I like your hair.
Miriam: My hair is curly, it's just straightned.
Dude: So I came back home to find my whole house robbed. My brother is in jail for stealing, he'll be there for 6 months or something.
Miriam: How old are you?
Dude: 19. How old are you?
Miriam: 23 (haha what?)
Dude: Sometimes when I rob a house I don't want to do it you know. I get scared, like I'm in the backyard and I am holding this rock in my hand and am to scared to throw it. But then I do and I get stuff. I want things.
Miriam: Do you have a job?
Dude: No. Do you?
Miriam: Yeah..uuuh West 49?
Dude: What's that?
Miriam: Uuhh skateboard store.
Dude: Oh yeah yeah! I would get a skateboard but it get expensive you know? To buy the wax to buy the wheels and stuff.
Dude: I just want so many things. I want straight teeth. You have braces yeah?
Miriam: Yeah..
Dude: Yeah I had braces but I took them out.
Miriam: What do you mean you took them out? (Why am I still talking to you?!)
Dude: I ripped the wires out because they started to come apart. (LOL WHHHAT!)
Miriam: ...
Dude: I have this friend Cory, maybe you know him, he's like really agressive and everything but he's a good friend. I came to his house yesterday and I was drinking. (Checks guitar pocket) Oh cool I still have a bottle. But I keep smoking and drinking so I don't have to think. I talk to him though. I can't talk to my mom though.
Miriam: Are you in school?
Dude: No I can't do school. I've been to school..I lost my train of thought sorry.
Miriam: School.
Dude: Oh yeah school. I went to school in Jamacia, in New York, in the States and in Canada. I hate moving so much. I keep going from place to place. I don't want to do that. I need a girlfriend why is that so hard to find? Do you have a boyfriend?
Miriam: Yes (I'm getting pretty good at this lying thing)
Dude: See everyone has somebody. I need someone to live with that I can tlak to that can cook. She can cheat but then she won't listen to my feelings and leave me.
Miriam: You have to surrond yourself with postive things and people and stop thinking so much.
Dude: I hate when people around me text I hate it.
Miriam: Yeah sometimes I get on the bus and that annoys me when people around are talking on their phones.
Dude: Did you hear of schizophernia?
Miriam: Yeah? Just be postive. Some days you hate people and other days you appreciate them. You should listen to the song by Jaeson Ma and Bruno Mars called Love it is happy.
Dude: I broke my mp3 player last week. It was my favourite and I have to get a new one but I need money to save up for it. I need the perfect mp3.
Miriam: Ok well go listen to music at Chapters (by this point I got hooked into this surreal conversation and just kept it up)
Dude: Chapters has music? I like Katy Perry. Do you like her?
Miriam: Yeah she's really talented and hr husband is hilarous.
Dude: Yeah she's beautiful such a good person. How do you know her husband?
Miriam: He's a comedian he's funny. Yeah she should be your motivation then. So how long have you been playing guitar?
Dude: I have never played.
Miriam: ...(I don't know how to proceed in this conversation this is the most difficult talk I have ever had)
Dude: I wanted to be a cop or a lawyer. I like being in command and having respect.
Miriam: Well ok this is my stop!
Dude: Oh mine too.
Miriam: (Oh super)
SUBWAY STATION
Dude: I have to wait here because I have to ask the ticket booth guy if I can get in to go for my music interview because I have no money.
Miriam: Oh ok, sorry I just have a metropass but goodluck on your audition.

Weirdest morning of my life, this messed with my head for the rest of the day. Not in order but it was this random. I don't know in the end what happened or if I will ever see him again but I guess some people just need someone to talk to, anybody. But it was so surreal.

Thursday November 4
Dufferin & Bloor
11:45 AM




This man was wearing a silver sequined fedora party hat. It didn't match his outfit. The sun reflected on his hat and it sparkled.

Sunday October 31
Mississauga (by my house)
3 AM

We are driving home from a wild Polish party with my family when we get to my street and this lady is looking with her beady eyes and then approaches our car? I open the window and she asks if we have money because she is homeless & she's had no food for 2 days & needs money for a cab to go to her sister's house on so and so street. Do we have any money? Then she looks at my dad and says, sir could you help me out? I tell her he uh doesn't speak English. There was something off & unfortunately we drove away we had nothing.