Someone Seeking Up

Wrap It Up . . . or not.

2009-12-19T17:08:45Z

I'm beginning to be against gift wrapping. I used to love it, and I'm not too modest to admit that I'm pretty good at it. The neat edges, the bows, the delightful wee gift tags. And for kids, unwrapping the gift is half the fun. But for adults, I'm all about the gift bags. Stuff something in, tape it shut, off you go. Next year, you see the bag you gave being used to give someone else's gift. It's fantastic.

This year, a gift for my dad came in a box. I had planned on unpackaging it and rewrapping it. Although . . . really? I have since changed my mind. I'm actually trying to convince Daddy not to wrap those pieces of luggage, actually . . . he doesn't seem too impressed with my argument. We go out to buy paper (tissue paper and wrapping paper) that will be thrown away not even a week later. Not only are we creating an incredible amount of waste, but we're literally throwing money away. I will reuse paper and boxes, however, if they're in good condition. I mean, it just makes sense.

When I was a kid, Santa never used to wrap my gifts . . . he used to just lay them out under the tree. If it's good enough for Santa Claus, it's good enough for me!

Sinking To a New Low

2009-12-12T02:51:48Z

So I'm sitting here knitting, watching Say Yes To the Dress, having a snack, enjoying my usual Friday night ("boozin, having a few laughs"). Then a preview comes on for a new TLC show: Four Weddings. The premise of the show is simple: four brides critique each other's weddings. On camera. And then, the "winner" -- the one whose wedding is deemed the best by the other brides -- receives a free honeymoon.

Granted, everyone has likes and dislikes from other people's weddings, and make note of practices/details that they would like to incorporate or logistical issues that they want to stay away from. But this? This is weird! This is making a wedding a competition, with a prize at the end! And they're unapologetic about it! The concept just runs me the wrong way . . . I hope I'm not the only one.

Feelin' Hot Hot Hot

2009-12-08T16:16:27Z

Last Friday evening I decided to shake it up a bit and accept a friend's invitation to join her at a hot yoga class. I've done yoga, but I'm not the biggest fan; I'd much rather go to a pilates class. For me, pilates seems more for the body, and yoga seems more for the mind/spirit. But I'm up for trying new things, so off we went to Moksha Yoga, up the stairs and into the very very very warm room. And that was just it . . . it was just yoga in a hot room. At the midpoint and the end of the class, I felt that I was even able to regulate my body temperature somewhat, so I cooled down a bit. And other than my wet clothes, my friend told me that I didn't even look as if we had been in the same room.

But, hey, Namaste and all that.

eclpse @ 2009-12-01T00:00:00

2009-12-01T05:00:21Z

It occurred to me after my last post that I should come back and provide further explanation for a few things. When I was searching for venues - and even photographers - and even caterers, even though I've barely begun to scratch the surface on that one - that I found many listings and information on commercial sites, but not nearly as much information from other people who had been through the process. So, for all those who come after us, here is my take on the venues that we visited - in the order that we saw them.

1. Chase Court -- Built in 1879 as a parish house, Chase Court is now privately owned and available for various events. We enjoyed the feel of the great room, which was large enough for our reception (of about 100) but still quite intimate. For ceremonies, the back garden and portico are used, which in warm weather would be quite lovely. Cocktail hour can be outside as well, or inside the library in case of inclement weather. The library is another smaller room off the main hallway, which would be the kind of base for the nibbles during cocktail hour, as well as the bar . . . and in case of rain, the band (if we have one) would have to be in there as well. The pros: the feeling of the great room. The cons: things would be too tight in case of bad weather to move everything indoors. We also weren't too keen on having the bar in the library and the dinner in the great room. Not a big deal, but not ideal. Rates and capacity information on their website.

2. The American Visionary Art Museum -- A home to the works of self-taught artists, AVAM is a great venue that's definitely not the norm. The space we went to see was the Barn and Sculpture Garden, right next to the main entrance. And it was cool. The barn is basically four brick walls with three massive doors, two of which would remain open for the event. In our case, this would definitely be a good thing, since the space isn't air conditioned. The doors open to the Sculpture Garden . . . which is exactly what it sounds like. The space isn't big, but there's a path between the barn entrance and the Sculpture Garden where guests can mill about. There are gates on either end of the Sculpture Garden as well, enclosing the festivities so the event wouldn't turn into "Wedding Crashers 2." The venue is right next to/at the bottom of Federal Hill, which is a great view from the barn and a good place for photographs. The pros: The location is fantastic, right next to the Inner Harbor and Federal Hill. The money is also going to a cultural institution as opposed to a for-profit venue. The cons: None, really; the price is a bit steep for peak days/months, but pretty affordable for an off-peak day/month.

3. Glecn Echo Park -- We were most excited about this venue, located near Bethesda in Glen Echo, Maryland. Glen Echo Park isn't an actual park, as I originally thought (and why it wasn't on our radar sooner). It is an amusement park-turned-arts-center, which is why we thought it'd be close to perfect for the two of us (for those of you who don't know, we first met working at a theme park). Glen Echo Park rents two facilities, the covered outdoor Bumper Car Pavillion and the Spanish Ballroom. The Spanish Ballroom is a fantastic space for a massive party, but it was too large and too expensive for what we needed. The Bumper Car Pavillion is also a great space, airy and open with great original hardwoods. The entire park has a very Art Deco feel, and the carousel is still operational and would be available for guests to ride. (Wheeeeeee!) The pros: It was really different as a reception venue. The cons: By everything being so open, we were worried we might lose people with the cocktail hour/wandering/heading off to the carousel/sneaking into the trees for a bit of action. The park is also open to the public, and while it wasn't at all an issue when we visited, we were worried that in the summer, it might be a different story. Again, very affordable for off-peak days/months. Rates and capacity information on their website.

4. Rockledge Mansion -- Ahhhh, the historic mansion up on the hill. Looks lovely, doesn't it? The original house was built in 1758, with an addition added in . . . well, I forget that part. We thought it would be lovely, as it was one of the few historic homes/estates in the area that had a room big enough for our reception, as opposed to the rooms being smaller and the party having to span a few rooms. They say that the seated capacity is 125. It is not. Wait - I take that back. It might be. But we could barely sit 100 people with the dance floor. On the plus side, if we had 20-30 less people, it'd be a neat space with lots of charm. The cocktail hour can be inside the old kitchen and/or outside, and guests can also see the rest of the first floor, which consists of two sitting rooms and a . . . another room. The pros: Did I not mention it's a historic house upon a hill? In historic Occoquan? Overlooking the water? There's also a small village at the bottom of the hill which is very quaint, featuring such village staples as 'Ye Olde Wine Shoppe' or something similar. This was also the only venue that we visitied with an in-house caterer, which would've been one less thing to deal with. The cons: The space just wasn't right for us and what we were looking for. Rates and information here.

5. Westminster Hall -- This building is also an oldie but goodie. It was actually a Presbyterian church, but before the church was even built in 1852, the grounds were used as a graveyard for 66 years. Now the building is owned by the Westminster Preservation Trust, Inc. and the University of Maryland School of Law. (I'm a bit fuzzy on who actually owns it and all of those details, but that's not really the most important thing for these purposes, now is it?) We were worried that the space would feel too big for the amount of people that we're planning on hosting, but we walked in and immediately changed our minds. There's the main floor as well as two balconies, which can be used if necessary (or not);. The tall stained glass windows are lovely, but the focal point of the room is the massive restored 1882 Johnson pipe organ up on the stage. Delicous hardwoods, too. The pros: The room is spacious without feeling cavernous, and offers lots of options for both a seated dinner and cocktail hour. They also do tours of the catacombs, which I think would be a great activity for those guests who are interested. Plus, Edgar Allen Poe is buried there. (Perhaps there should be some recommended reading as well as watching 'The Wire' . . . ) When we walked out, I turned to him and said, "I really like it." He said, "Yeah, I do too." Them we grinned. Then we scampered off to meet a photographer. The cons: The balcony has gray carpet. *shrug* Who cares?? The rates are based on the number of guests, number of hours, and day of the week; email for a detailed quote.

And there it is! I hope someone finds this at least somewhat helpful . . . I know I could've used more of this over the past few weeks.

Finally

2009-12-01T01:09:44Z

So now that the cat is officially out of the bag to everyone we know, I feel able to open my mouth again. We spent Thanksgiving weekend visiting family and friends, meeting with photographers, and looking at venues for the ceremony and reception. We put 900 miles on our rental car, I came back with a sore throat, and we both are completely and utterly exhausted. It was, however, an incredibly productive weekend. Before Christmas, my goal is to:

a) have the venue booked
2) have the photographer booked
c) have the church booked
d) have a tasting with the caterer scheduled
e) have the Save-the-Date cards printed and mailed/ready to take to Ireland

How many do you think we'll have done?

Side note: If you haven't seen The Wire, consider this your notice that you must watch at least the first season before coming to the wedding. (I'm not kidding. There will be a quiz.)

I Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself, Merriam-Webster

2009-11-12T15:32:49Z

Main Entry: be·troth·al
Pronunciation: \-ˈtrō-thəl, -ˈtrȯ-, -thəl\
Function: noun
Date: 1831

1 : the act of betrothing or fact of being betrothed
2 : a mutual promise or contract for a future marriage

Main Entry: en·gaged
Pronunciation: \in-ˈgājd, en-\
Function: adjective
Date: 1629

1 : involved in activity : occupied, busy
2 : pledged to be married : betrothed
3 : greatly interested : committed
4 : involved especially in a hostile encounter
5 : partly embedded in a wall
6 : being in gear : meshed

So what are you guys doing August 20, 2010?

'tis the Season

2009-11-10T01:59:27Z

Tonight was the first sighting . . . Christmas lights on a house.

And they were on.

As the MNF fellas would say: C'mon man.

. . . and Also With You

2009-11-09T01:42:30Z

I miss church.

I know, I know. No one my age goes to church anymore (do they?). But after going to such a wonderful place and belonging to such a welcoming community for seven years or so, it's been hard to let go of it. I miss the feeling that I used to get when I'd arrive for services. I miss the sounds, the hymns, the goosebumps I got. The fantastic (and fantastically sassy) handbell choir. The rousing sermons, the feeling I got when I got to speak in front of the congregation, where I would look upon people my age, people with children, people who were well off, and people who had just wandered in. The many opportunities to get involved (which, admittedly, I didn't take enough advantage of). The list goes on.

Last fall, I thought I'd found a new home. At first, I had a good feeling when I walked in the building . . . I was quick to find a way to get involved. But the luster wore quickly, and after a few months, when I found my mind wandering during the sermons and wondering how quickly I could get out of there, I started searching for somewhere new. I've been to a few different churches since then, and nothing has fit quite right. I understand that church and the idea of a house of worship means a lot of things to a lot of people. To me, it means a place that awes and inspires me; a place that helps me seek up and surrender to something outside of myself. A place where people encourage each other and aren't scary welcoming, but come-as-you-are-at-your-own-pace welcoming. A place where I actually want to be.

The search continues.

eclpse @ 2009-11-02T08:22:00

2009-11-02T12:22:37Z

Canadians - well, Torontonians at least - tend to carry travel mugs. Ordinarily I wouldn't think much of it, but here I see as many travel mugs as I see take out paper cups. In such a metropolis as Toronto, where there are twice as many Tim Horton's as there are Starbucks (and that's a lot), it's clearly quite convenient to pop in and grab a coffee; it's not as if it's a rural area and no one passes a place to grab coffee on their morning commute. Is it financial? Maybe, although I bet most people would choose convenience over spending $1.29 for a coffee at Timmy Ho's. Is it environmental? Maybe, although I'm too realistic to think that so many people care that much about the environment to use a travel mug every day. Maybe it's juts the "in" thing to do. Taking the GO train from Scarborough? Make sure you've got your travel mug. Spending time from up north on the VIVA bus before tranferring to the TTC? Make sure you've got your travel mug. With handle, of course.

In the Still of the Night

2009-11-02T10:19:29Z

At what point does it become cleart that you're just not going to fall asleep again? I have been up since three o'clock and am still wide awake. I feel that if I'm not sleeping, I might as well be doing something productive, y'know? Working on my scarves, sending a few emails, reading . . . And what happened to writing? Didn't I want to be a writer once upon a time? I have done none of those things. Instead, I have tossed and turned, been downstairs, tossed and turned some more, and continued to lie here with my eyes closed in hopes that the sandman will grant me some mercy. Apparently he only makes one round a night -- maybe two. But I'm pretty sure that at 5 a.m., his shift is over. I'm actually thinking of getting up and starting my day. What time do grocery stores open? Maybe I could do some shopping before work. Or laundry. Then I could go to the office and actually get some work done before I crash. I'm anticipating the crash to happen around 11. This doesn't seem the best way to start a week, does it?

eclpse @ 2009-10-31T19:12:00

2009-10-31T23:36:43Z

It's a good Halloween night, really . . . very windy . . . cloudy night . . . just enough of a nip in the air. I even bought candy to give out to trick-or-treaters. And none of that Dubble Bubble rock hard gum, either. I'm talking Mike 'n' Ikes, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and O Henrys. And not one kid in a cute costume!

. . .

I kid you not, as soon as a typed that, I had a stream of about 10 kids to the door. Dorothy (and Toto) and the Tin Man, Davy Crockett, some scary monster-type thing, a cowboy/farmer looking kid, I think there was a fairy in there somewhere . . .

Now I don't feel bad, even if I have to eat the rest of the candy myself. (Which I won't, my dentist will be happy to tell you.)

You know what's missing from tonight? Disney's Halloween Treat and It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Instead, I'm making do with the original Halloween and The Skeleton Key. My, how things have changed.

Don't forget to have your parents check your candy when you get home tonight . . .

Are You Up?

2009-10-21T06:27:15Z

My flirtation with sleepmuchless nights has continued over the months. The one night that I can remember where I've gotten a good night's sleep was at Miranda's place, on the Keetsa. I've considered sleeping pills, although I feel I'd regret that in the long run. Sunday night it got to the point where I was actually counting sheep. I wouldn't recommend it though; I always seemed to get distracted around 13 or so.

Tonight's reason for being up at 2 a.m. is a good old-fashioned nightmare. We were in the house, but a stereotypical bad guy came in and went upstairs looking for me. We then ran like the wind, out of the house and down the street. Somewhere along the way, my co-fleeer turned into a coworker of mine, and we were trying to sneak into houses because it was cold. We snuck back into my Grandma's house without knowing it was hers, and it turns out that scenario had changed -- she was the reason why we were running! She snatched my arm, and awake I was.

Look, it may not seem scary, but there was a bad man in the beginning. And if anyone remembers my Grandma pre-2000 (pre 1995, even), you'd remember that she could be pretty scary!

Now. Why isn't he home yet from work . . .

The Little Gerbera That Could

2009-10-14T17:49:27Z

Early summer, I bought a little plant to brighten my desk. A small cluster of gerbera daisies, it was, with pert, green leaves and four bright red blooms. It was a happy time. And then, a few weeks later, the blooms all but withered and wilted away. I wasn't sure if new blooms would appear, so rather than leave the plant on my desk, I brought it home. It did okay in the house, and I decided to try planting it outside. It appeared, however, to be a bad decision; within days, the leaves wilted and turned brown. I wrote it off as being dead, but left it in the planter out of sheer laziness. And then, my friends, sheer laziness paid off -- in a week or two, the plant sprouted fresh leaves, full and green and sturdy. I was surprised, but obviously quite pleased. And then - and then! I looked out on the back deck one morning to see one red bloom finding its way toward the sky.

In other gardening news, I got my crocuses and other-species-which-name-I-can't-remember-right-now bulbs into the ground yesterday evening. Actually I did my crocuses over the weekend was going to finish this weekend, but was scared into doing to last night by a frost warning. The area still looks a wreck, but I'm still trying. My new Ethel gardening gloves are fantastic though, a massive improvement over the old clumsy ones that I had been using all summer.

It seems that that's it for my gardening season! Hopefully I'll have some compost to use by the time next spring rolls around.

Lessons learned:

- Good gardening gloves make life so much easier.
- Pay attention to the what needs full sunlight and what does better in partial sunlight!
- Do not be afraid to tame runaway ornamental grass!
- When planning a garden, make sure to allot space for plants to grow into; when adopting a garden that you did not plan, patience is key.

eclpse @ 2009-09-28T16:31:00

2009-09-28T20:41:36Z

I am no longer a U2 virgin.

The band was in Toronto for two sold-out shows, and we went last night. It was great fun, a mix of new stuff and old favorites (including an acoustic version of "Stuck in a Moment"), an unbelievable stage and great atmosphere, with the roof of the Rogers Centre open and the lights coordinating with those of the CN Tower. And there's something about 60,000 people singing "Amazing Grace" that's a little humbling.

I also think I might've gotten a contact high, but that's another story . . .

Then, to an outside observer, it might seem as if I followed the band to New York. I did not -- although I did end up in the city for my first ever business trip. To some people, 16 hours in a car with your boss might seem like the worst idea anyone's ever had. But Dunkin' Donuts coffee will get you through some pretty scary things, including driving at 4:30 a.m. We actually went to Philly first, and while she was fawning over a friend's new baby, I was frolicking about in the Betsy Ross House and seeing the Liberty Bell. I also ran into a friend of mine (in a shoe store!) who I hadn't seen in years. I'm pretty sad that I missed the Rosenbach Museum & Library, which isn't open on Mondays, but that will be my first stop next time. And back to New York for longer than a night, for a change! I flitted about for a few days, heading to a meeting here, an event there, dining with Benjamin Bratt (that's right) and generally avoiding the NYU undergrads that were swarming around the East Village. (P.S. What am I doing in the East Village? Keetsa-ing, that's what!) Oh, and running into another friend who I hadn't seen in years.

Then it was home again, home again, jiggity-jig. Until next weekend, that is . . .

Payback's a Bitch

2009-09-15T23:15:19Z

When I was a kid, I ate a lot of sugar. I ate candy, I ate cake, I ate pie, I had sweet tea and (very sweet) lemonade . . . I loved sugar. As a teenager, I loved sugar. As an adult, I love sugar. And I never had a cavity. Until I turned 25. And the payback began.

Refined sugar is now the bane of my existence.

After having a few cavities filled, I started shaping up. As all of you know, I've always been big into my brushing twice a day (even after a night on the town, I'd come home and brush before passing out). But for months now, I've been brushing, flossing, using a fluoride rinse every day, wearing my retainers again -- the whole kit and kaboodle. I went to the dentist today for a check-up, ready for them to tell me how good I've been doing. And they did. But they also mentioned that I have three cavities.

Awesome.

Then he says something about them being "tiny" and occurring in natural fissures in my tooth, and how it's not my fault. As if that's supposed to make me feel better. Because it did not. No, I made my next appointment and then I went outside to my bike and I cried. That's right. I'm 27, I found out that I had more cavities, and I cried.

Oh, and did I mention that I don't have dental insurance?

I'm currently about halfway through sulking it off. As part of my feel-better plan, I was halfway thinking about making some cookies.

I mean, the cavities aren't my fault, right?

Let's Talk Little Things

2009-08-25T19:08:53Z

When the city worker's strike ended, Toronto was left with a lot of garbage. And, as it turned out, a lot of bugs. Fruit flies, to be exact. They have taken over the city and have been everywhere, from my kitchen to the bathroom at work. At first I thought that my home and my office were isolated fruit fly targets . . . but then I realized that everyone was fighting the good fight!

Two of my coworkers and I spent part of an afternoon devising a trap of a Starbucks cup, part of a banana peel, balsamic vinegar and honey. It wasn't pretty, but after setting that a couple of times, the kitchen was approachable again. I'm telling you, it's tough at the top.

While I hate gnats, let me tell you about another insect that I rather enjoy: the black ant. You laugh, but black ants are fantastic. They're not gross, they don't hover around you, they're not harmful, they're smart, industrious and hard working, and they just want to be left alone and carry their burdens. If only more people were like ants.

Whimsy

2009-08-12T14:54:04Z

Yesterday I took a step back in time.

I've been riding my bike to work and yesterday was no exception. Unfortunately, while it was sunny yesterday morning, the skies opened up in the afternoon, soaking everything in the area. When I left work, however, I thought I might be safe. I thought wrong. Not only did I get caught in the rain, but I was wearing a white t-shirt. Instead of being cranky and pissed off, however, I had so much fun! As I splashed through the puddles, I remember when post-rainy afternoons were the best time to ride bikes; we'd ride through Tantallon splashing through as many puddles as we possibly could. The deeper the better! People probably thought I was crazy, laughing as I cycled down the street. Screw 'em.

Last night I also caught some of the annual Perseid Meteor Shower. As I was lying on the patio chairs on the deck, staring at the sky, listening to my new CD, I tried to think of the last time I'd sat for an hour, doing nothing. I couldn't remember.

After two viewings, I'd seen 14 shooting stars; two with notable tails. More tonight, hopefully . . .

Another Year Older, Another Year . . . Wiser?

2009-08-04T14:56:42Z

Another birthday has come and gone, and mine was a really great time. Apparently I'm now on a strict diet of U2, since that morning I opened U2 tickets and found out that we're going to their concert here next month (I've been told that I'm expected to sing along to every song). It was also the last day of the Beaches International Jazz Festival. We went over for a couple of hours, sat in the beer garden, and caught Real Divas and Junior Watson. We also caught a few rain showers, and got caught in a downpour on the way home. (Ah, summer!) We then got all gussied up and went out for a fantastic dinner (including two bottles of champagne) at Starfish, followed by dessert back at our Local. It was there that I discovered my real gift . . . a bike!!! I'd been going on about it for ages, and I'm now the proud owner of a cruiser, complete with hand bell and removable basket. I've started riding it to work and plan on taking advantage for the remainder of summer!!

Speaking of bike riding, he also bought himself a (custom made) bike, so this past weekend we rode out to the Leslie Street Spit, which was basically a dumping ground for the rubble from building sites for a couple of decades. It has since been essentially reclaimed by nature, and is now home to a variety of plant animal species, as well as a bird research station. While we didn't take advantage of the walking trails, we did ride out to the tip of the spit, and had a picnic lunch under the lighthouse, watching the sailboats glide across the lake. I'm sensing more bike trips in the future, if the weather holds up. I wanted to head out east to the Scarborough Bluffs, but in the end, we both thought it might be a bit too far and a bit too steep for us at the moment. Soon enough, soon enough . . . it's nice to have goals.

Next weekend: Taste of the Danforth. Stay tuned.

(And yes, I KNOW I haven't posted pictures from Montreal. Yes, we went a couple of months ago. But they're coming. I promise. Hopefully sooner rather than later.)

Just Another Friday Night

2009-07-17T23:47:57Z

As yesterday afternoon rolled on, I began to panic about developing muscle spasms and lockjaw. So I scheduled an appointment today for a tetanus booster. It just so happened that I got jabbed right before my dentist's appointment, where some drilling and filling took place. My arm hurts, the left side of my mouth is all tingly and wobbly, and I've a puncture wound in my right foot.

I'm thinking drugs and passing out on the couch for most of the night. You know, like most Friday nights, but this time for a legitimate reason.

Ouch!

2009-07-16T15:50:20Z

This morning I was strutting down my street, singing along with Laura Izibor, when I suddenly stepped on a screw. It went through my flip flop, into my foot, and it hurt. I then turned around, hobbled home, washed and disinfected, washed and disinfected, washed and disinfected. I then hobbled to work.

If it had been a nail, I'm fairly certain that I would now have a hole through my entire foot. If it had been rusty, I worry that my foot would've had to be amputated. (Not really, but there was a slight bit of panic when I got back home and yelled upstairs to my sleeping Irishman - who, incidentally, did not wake up.)

Got me to thinking, I wonder when I got my last tetanus booster?

Meanwhile, the strike continues, and public parks that have been made into dumping locations are now being taken over by bags of garbage . . . it's starting to raise a few health concerns. Thank goodness the temperatures have barely broken 80F yet, otherwise this place would reek to high heaven. However, it's clear that some residents are starting to get fed up, that's for sure . . .

Shrimp Stock

2009-07-10T19:45:03Z

A note for when you make shrimp stock: thoroughly wash the shells before you begin.

Otherwise you'll have a bunch of dirty shells that you put into a pot with water and veggies and be so happy with yourself that you've got this stock to use in the future and you'll put it in a little container and stick it in the freezer and you'll want to use it in a recipe a little while later so you'll take it out to thaw and then put it into a pan and add some wine and then start making frowny faces at the pan when things start to separate and you're not sure why and you stir the liquid, hoping the stuff will dissolve and then start peering closer to the pan and think oh crap, that looks like some sort of sediment and then try to strain it yourself and then get a while into doing that before you get frustrated and say eff this and toss out the whole lot and use chicken stock instead thereby wasting a lot of time in the middle of trying to make shrimp paella and not eating dinner until 10 p.m.

Just a little tip from me to you.

Independence Day

2009-07-05T02:48:34Z

The plan was to go to Walmart today. I mean, it doesn't get much more American than that. Unfortunately, my other half didn't get home from work until 4 a.m., and we didn't get up until 12:30 p.m., and he had to be to work again at 3:30. In other words, my July 4th has been very uneventful. I'm just hanging out, watching Rain Man, and listening to fireworks. That's right, I can hear fireworks. I don't think they're here though -- it wouldn't surprise me if I'm hearing fireworks from the other side of the border. Truth be told, it's making me a little homesick. I don't even know where home is, really, and I'm homesick. You know what'll solve this problem? The rest of the wine . . .

eclpse @ 2009-06-24T13:27:00

2009-06-24T18:09:32Z

Yesterday was a very busy day.

Let me start by saying that somewhere around 24,000 municipal civil service workers are on strike in the city. At the crux of the issue is a debate over workers' sick days; currently, they're allowed to cash out their unused days upon retirement, which the city apparently can't afford. In short, that means that the parents of about 2,800 kids are scrambling around trying to find day care and there's no garbage collection. Yes, it's June. Yes, it's 86 degrees. Oh, those civil servants, hitting the city where it hurts!

(On a somewhat related note, workers at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) were also preparing for a strike today, meaning that no one would've been able to buy alcohol. Fortunately, the strike deadline was delayed while talks continued. Thank EFF.)

After work, I went down to The Ceili Cottage, the new workplace of a certain Irishman, for the opening night. The patio was packed, the front room (which dates back to the 1850s) was packed, and the bar (brand new and set under a glorious 52" flat screen) was packed. It was a good sign.

Then I came home and started to compost! We finally got a bin and after deciding that the deck wouldn't work (I know, I know), we put it out back. I'll keep you posted. Aaaaaaahahahaha.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety Jig

2009-06-18T20:47:04Z

Let me tell you something else I like about Canada.

People actually pull over and stop for emergency vehicles. I feel fully confident that if anything ever happens to me (knock on wood), I will be able to be treated in an appropriate time frame.

Meanwhile, I returned from the good ol' U-S-of-A with several important purchases:

Between that stuff and attempting (and failing) to tame the "garden", I'm going to be a busy lady this summer . . .

Welcome to America, Land of the Donut-Lovers

2009-06-06T01:39:11Z

I left Toronto this morning at 8:15 a.m. and hit rush hour traffic. I made it though the rain and the fog, through the poor-ish directions and missed exits, through the highway closings and detours, only to hit D.C. area rush hour traffic. I walked in the door at 7:30 p.m.

During my journey, I made a few observations.

1. June 5th is National Donut Day. Purchase any beverage today at Dunkin' Donuts and it came with a free glazed donut. Oh America. God bless you. *fist pump*

2. I thought that you couldn't pass through Pennsylvania without seeing a horse and buggy. I was correct.

3. Why, WHY don't people turn their headlights on when it's raining?!? It's RAINING! Turn your ***damn lights on!!

4. Any city that has metal/plastic animals alongside the highways representing the name of the city is not a city in which I'd like to live. (Yes, Buffalo, I'm talking about you.)