#50: Give Ten "Just Because" Gifts

Hello, hello loyal readers! (All 2 of you...and of course, beloved lurkers everywhere).

As promised, I'm using this blogging opportunity to chronicle my latest task accomplishement, which was to make and mail out surprises for friends...just because. No rhyme, no reason, just because.

Of all things to kick-start my journey back into the project, I don't know what compelled me to choose this first. Although not as time consuming a project as #22, not as painful as #90, not as costly as #19, and not as "WTF WAS I THINKING WHEN I WROTE THIS" as #101, it still demands effort and patience. It was, however, easy to figure out what that "just because" gift would be. In fact, you only have to scroll down a few posts to check it out.

Go on, I'll give you a second.

....

You're too lazy to, huh?

...

Well, fine.

NUMBER #50

All hail the almighty mix CD! Pop culture envoys of emoting and dance routines in your bedroom! Who doesn't love

a good a mix CD? Robots, probably, since they don't emote or dance.

As previously mentioned, I think there's a certain art to making a quality mix CD that I like to think I've finely honed over the years. Therefore, I decided to put my "craft" to the test and make ten individualized mix CD's for the ten friends who were brave enough to privately message me with their mailing address. They had/have no idea why I was requesting mailing addresses, but they must have been re-assured by my promises of nothing illegal. Or maybe they were slightly disappointed...

The great challenge was to create 10 very different soundtracks for ten very different people. But I think I got it covered:

Ian B. was the first to volunteer for my mysterious project, which thrilled me. Ian B. is all sorts of cool, so I knew that the bar had to be set prety high. I met Ian early this year while I worked at the Young Centre and we clicked easily...possibly because he's full of awesome. He also appreciates my undying love of Hip-Hop Abs. His disbelief has turned into that of appreciation of it. Or so I like to think.

I've known Chris S. since kindergarten, where we'd spend recesses playing Darkwing Duck. We've stayed friends for over many years,

attending the same high school and University together. Chris S. is smart. Like, ridiculously so. One day, he's probably going to

start invading small countries....and then bigger ones. One day, Chris S. will be dictator of the universe. I hope he's a benevolent one at least.

Carrie M and I went to high school together and she's continued her journey of awesomeness and general kick-assery ever since. I've always admired Carrie's confidence, coolness, and extreme lack of BS. Carrie, if you're reading this, the more I think about it, you are like a classy J-WOW. There, I said it. You're my J-WOW. My C-WOW, if you will.

Okay, pardon the formatting on this puppy. Just tilt your head and and enjoy the magic.

Qasim was to be my future husband. My mother had arranged our wedding, promising a huge dowry. There were sheep involved. Long story short, it didn't work out, but we're still really great friends. In our first year of University, Qasim loved "sass". He loved saying it, demonstrating, making sacrifices in the name of it. We have one of those crazy great dialogues where pretty much everything we say is wordplay. Some may call that stupid; we call it a 6 year friendship.

I met Will through Qasim and was immediately impressed by him. My mother would have tried to arrange a marriage if she had met him. Wait, now that I remember, she did meet him. And tried to arrange a marriage! Personally, I can't stand another would-be husband ditching me. Anyways, a tangent. I hope you enjoy your CD and walking out on our non-existing hypothetical marriage, Will.

I met Sean my first year in University and in fact, dated him for a little bit. Yes folks, let's get present to the fact that sometimes, I date.

We're friends now, because he's a pretty cool guy. Although, I'm sure one of us is going to end up in a ditch somewhere because of the other...and yet, I'm not quite sure who. Sean's aiming to be a teacher. He could be a minstrel, also. Hence his CD's theme.

Similar to Chris, Ian C. will also put in a good effort to take over the world. But to do so, he must battle an army of robots. His only weapon? The love in his heart.

Sam and I became friends through University, but it wasn't until a trip to Israel that we really bonded. Sam is just one of those girls who is filled with joy, warmth, and humour. It's always great to have positive people in your life and my days are just a little darker now

that I don't see her everyday. Hanging out with her is a natural pick-me-up because she always makes me smile and laugh. So Sam: Date soon?

A Mix CD for my wifey. A.k.a, my bff Chantal. I don't want to say much about it because, if this truly is a blog about gratitude, there will be whole posts dedicated to her in the future. How much do I love this lady? Well, we had a fake wedding ceremony last year, vows and everything. We're pretty awesome/frightening like that. Anyways. She's brilliant and possibly the greatest human being alive.

Now, I'm ashamed to admit my math is terrible, because I thought I had taken photos of all ten CD's. If you've been counting, you'll have noticed where only at 9, despite the first picture including all ten CD's. So, my apologies to the lovely (and forgiving) Janelle, whose CD - Songs To Dance It Out To- is most certainly on its way to your mailbox. I promise that it's full of dance-worthy goodness and soulful tunes and both kick-start and end the day!

It was a pleasure to complete this task and I hope the recipients enjoy them. Simply put, it's just nice to make something you know will be enjoyed, particularly when the people are so great and deserving of a positive surprise. See? You're totally rewarded by giving out your home addresses for an unknown reason. No bombs here, kiddos.

Anyways, as the song says, onto the next one, onto the next one...

That is how it goes, right?

More updates to come! Thanks for reading/lurking.

<3,

m