Compromised

So a little while ago, I poised this question and posted this twitter poll:

I am sure it won’t come as any great surprise that there was a reason for my query and even less surprising that I harbour an opinion. You see, I have a friend that I believe is in an unhealthily controlling relationship (in the lover kind of sense). She has become a shadow of herself. Of course, she doesn’t see this and sees me as the one with a problem as I’m not in a relationship. She told me relationships are all about compromises.

So my opinion? I whole heartedly disagree. I think healthy relationships are accepting and celebrating in one another’s differences. It is our differences that make relationships interesting and help us grow as people. Of course, to accept one another’s differences, communication is key and you can’t always have things your way. You need to do things with your lover in mind.

Photo by Adam Foster

Why does compromise scare me so much? The majority of you, that are likely (unlike me) in a relationship, said compromise is key, yet I continue to dig my heels in the sand and disagree. Compromise scares me, because I see my friend losing herself. She is compromising all of herself and has become a shadow of herself. I see this, not only because I love her, but because I was losing myself to compromise in my last relationship and it terrifies me that if I was still there that I would have lost myself by now. Don’t get me wrong, despite being a Princess from time-to-time, I do understand the need for compromise and don’t always have to have things my way (that’s only the other 90% of the time). Where the danger lies is in when you start to compromise yourself. Too much compromise is a very dangerous thing.

Anyhow, those are my 2 cent.

A Taste of Poland

One of the things I’ve always loved about traveling is discovering new cultures and sampling the local food and booze.  This is why I am now getting seriously stoked for the Olympics!!!! I finally clued into this most delightful thing called the Cultural Olympiad, in which we all get to celebrate in the cultures of the various countries that will be visiting this fine city of ours.  And better yet, many of these cultural experiences are free or at least cheap.  Music to my ears in a city that has just gotten rather expensive due to the Olympics (has anyone else noticed our obscene gas prices?).

Now, I must admit there was a catalyst to my change in spirit that came in the form of a rather scrumptious beer that was introduced to me on Monday at the CW Asia Fund Fundraiser. The beer in question? Karpackie from Poland.  Fantastic stuff!  I tried three of their beer – the Premium Lager, Super Mocne Piwo Jasne, and a third beer whose chicken scratched name I can’t read off of my ‘yummy list’ (Okay – found it’s name online – Zlaty Hrad Strong).  All very good, but the true delight came in the cultural banter.  You see I discovered that in Poland, you pour the Super Mocne Piwo Jasne in a pot and heat it up until the fluid begins to move, and then you dissolve a teaspoon of honey into the beer and enjoy it hot.  All I can say ….bloody fantastic!  Where’s Poland House????

Gives me a whole new goal to the Olympics – sourcing out a whole list of yummy recipes.  If your lucky, I might decide to share them.

Oh – and you can find Karpackie and Zlaty in the BC Liquore Store, just don’t go sticking your grubby little paws on the ones in my neighbourhood liquore store.

I Love You

Okay, this totally just made me cry, but it’s too beautiful not to share.

Thank you Andrew!

Plans for Tonight?

With house guests, rallying against a proroguing parliament, my exercise regime, prepping for the Olympics, and training the new Ahimsa intern with the things that are really important (ie. ME, as opposed to whatever do gooder crap Erica is filling his head with), I have been rather remiss in mentioning that my friend Kelsey is hosting a benefit for Haiti tonight.  Aside from getting to spend time with the gorgeous likes of a girl like Kelsey, there is going to be live music and a live and silent auction.  Always find live auctions to be a gas. And this one is really bound to be given that Kelsey has got The WZRD playing.

Who wouldn’t love a concert with men dressed like wizards!!!!

Here are the details:

  • Tonight: Wednesday January 27th
  • Time: 8 pm
  • Location: Barcelona (1180 Granville)
  • Cost: $15 in advance or $20 at the door

For the Love of Kids (& Wine)

With the Haiti Earthquake and everything else going on in the world as of late, I have been thinking a lot of the children that live in third world countries, and in conditions and circumstances that I can not even fathom.  Children that do not have their basic needs of food, water and shelter met on a daily basis, and children that see more pain and suffering before the age of 5 then I likely will in a lifetime.  I don’t know if it’s my biological clock that is ticking or what, but I can’t get these kids off my mind at the moment. I just want to swoop them up in my arms, tell them they are loved and protect them.

For a long time now, my friends, Nina and John Cassils, have been working to protect and bring aid to the children of S.E. Asia — Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Myanmar (Burma) through the CW Asia Fund. They help by supplying medical, educational and nutritional basic necessities to poor communities, as well as connecting people.

You can help support these children and raise money for the CW Asia Fund tomorrow (Monday January 25th) by coming out and enjoying a few yummy glasses of wine at Taste of the World from 7 – 9:30 pm at the Hotel Vancouver.

Hope to see you there!

Emme xoxo