Friday, June 28, 2002
My invisible hair
I finally got sick of my long hair and had it cut last night. It is at least 2 or 3 inches shorter and I now have bangs. So far, only one person at work has noticed, and he was more, "there's something different...." than "hey, you got a haircut, looks nice". I probably could have told him that I shaved my beard. The funny part is, when a guy gets his hair cut (what? a whole centimeter?) everyone seems to notice. I am starting to suspect that my hair has some sort of ignore-the-mop-field around it.
I finally got sick of my long hair and had it cut last night. It is at least 2 or 3 inches shorter and I now have bangs. So far, only one person at work has noticed, and he was more, "there's something different...." than "hey, you got a haircut, looks nice". I probably could have told him that I shaved my beard. The funny part is, when a guy gets his hair cut (what? a whole centimeter?) everyone seems to notice. I am starting to suspect that my hair has some sort of ignore-the-mop-field around it.
Woo hoo long weekend two!
Has everyone seen the beautiful weather forecast? Break out the sunblock and go play outside! We have a full weekend of wandering and relaxation planned, should be a blast!
What's everyone else doing for the beautiful Canada Day weekend? I know that Elizabeth is on her way to Ontario even as we speak to spend some time with her family.
Has everyone seen the beautiful weather forecast? Break out the sunblock and go play outside! We have a full weekend of wandering and relaxation planned, should be a blast!
What's everyone else doing for the beautiful Canada Day weekend? I know that Elizabeth is on her way to Ontario even as we speak to spend some time with her family.
Thursday, June 27, 2002
Let the jazz begin!
It's the first day of the Jazz fest and I plan to make it down to some of the free shows for a change. When you live in a city with a lot of great festivals, you never seem to take advantage of them as much as you should. I recommend them to people new to the city or visitors, but usually ignore them in favour of staying home on the balcony. One of the things I'm most grateful for is the fireworks competition. I love fireworks, and we have one of the most wonderful shows every summer. Belgium is this Saturday, perhaps we will go to the Old Port and have a look....
It's the first day of the Jazz fest and I plan to make it down to some of the free shows for a change. When you live in a city with a lot of great festivals, you never seem to take advantage of them as much as you should. I recommend them to people new to the city or visitors, but usually ignore them in favour of staying home on the balcony. One of the things I'm most grateful for is the fireworks competition. I love fireworks, and we have one of the most wonderful shows every summer. Belgium is this Saturday, perhaps we will go to the Old Port and have a look....
Wednesday, June 26, 2002
Watching the lettuce grow
I had a very uneventful evening. I had planned on reading, but instead ended up spending a whole bunch of time in front of the computer. I planted some lettuce in between rain showers. I bought these seeds that are placed between two pieces of biodegradable paper. You don't have to worry about spacing them out. I liked them because for once I could see where the seeds were in the soil. We should see something in about two weeks. Lettuce is easy and fast, I like that in a vegetable. After a one week hiatus, I am returning to the gym tonight after work. I am calling upon my powers of guilt to get me back there increased by the fact that I ate out Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, great big meals full of yummy calories and covered with creamy sauces and butter. Time to pay the elliptical trainer a nice, long visit.
I had a very uneventful evening. I had planned on reading, but instead ended up spending a whole bunch of time in front of the computer. I planted some lettuce in between rain showers. I bought these seeds that are placed between two pieces of biodegradable paper. You don't have to worry about spacing them out. I liked them because for once I could see where the seeds were in the soil. We should see something in about two weeks. Lettuce is easy and fast, I like that in a vegetable. After a one week hiatus, I am returning to the gym tonight after work. I am calling upon my powers of guilt to get me back there increased by the fact that I ate out Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, great big meals full of yummy calories and covered with creamy sauces and butter. Time to pay the elliptical trainer a nice, long visit.
Tuesday, June 25, 2002
You gotta love long weekends
Long weekends are just too darn short! Friday night was the STC summer banquet. Steve passed the crown of supreme ruler on to Howard and everyone had a great time with amazing food and free drinks! It was hot and humid. We took a quick tour of Bill's house which was also really hot, but really nice. I look forward to seeing it again when I'm not sweating buckets.
Saturday I slept in and then went out and got some flowers for the deck. I also picked up a hanging cherry tomato plant. Atwater Market was beautiful, tons of flowers and the renovated canal. I promise that I will go back and take pictures when my hands aren't full of perennials. That evening we met Kathy and Ralph for supper on Prince Arthur. Everyone was out and it was a wonderful evening. We had a nice meal and good conversation. Afterwards, Steve and I stopped at a used bookstore and I picked up a couple of old German phrase books and a small book of all kinds of reference knowledge published in England in the 60s.
Sunday, the folks came in and visited and brought the outdoor cabinet and tomato plants. We had some lunch and visited and after they left we had the storm. It was really wild. Hurricane-force winds and driving rain for about 15 minutes and then it was gone. The park across the street is a wreck, huge branches were felled. One fell on a car across the street from our house (the car was illegally parked). After the storm, we went out and had Indian food with Maggie and Andrew (for Maggie's birthday).
Monday we didn't sleep in that much and I planted the flowers and Steve did laundry and fiddled around with his cards. Maggie and Andrew came by for a short visit with the boys and then Steve had a long nap while I read in the livingroom. It was the perfact lazy day. Later, we went out for a walk and had some ice cream and just hung out. I doesn't get any better, just wish I didn't have to get up so darn early this morning.
Long weekends are just too darn short! Friday night was the STC summer banquet. Steve passed the crown of supreme ruler on to Howard and everyone had a great time with amazing food and free drinks! It was hot and humid. We took a quick tour of Bill's house which was also really hot, but really nice. I look forward to seeing it again when I'm not sweating buckets.
Saturday I slept in and then went out and got some flowers for the deck. I also picked up a hanging cherry tomato plant. Atwater Market was beautiful, tons of flowers and the renovated canal. I promise that I will go back and take pictures when my hands aren't full of perennials. That evening we met Kathy and Ralph for supper on Prince Arthur. Everyone was out and it was a wonderful evening. We had a nice meal and good conversation. Afterwards, Steve and I stopped at a used bookstore and I picked up a couple of old German phrase books and a small book of all kinds of reference knowledge published in England in the 60s.
Sunday, the folks came in and visited and brought the outdoor cabinet and tomato plants. We had some lunch and visited and after they left we had the storm. It was really wild. Hurricane-force winds and driving rain for about 15 minutes and then it was gone. The park across the street is a wreck, huge branches were felled. One fell on a car across the street from our house (the car was illegally parked). After the storm, we went out and had Indian food with Maggie and Andrew (for Maggie's birthday).
Monday we didn't sleep in that much and I planted the flowers and Steve did laundry and fiddled around with his cards. Maggie and Andrew came by for a short visit with the boys and then Steve had a long nap while I read in the livingroom. It was the perfact lazy day. Later, we went out for a walk and had some ice cream and just hung out. I doesn't get any better, just wish I didn't have to get up so darn early this morning.
Is it any coincidence? Ice storm redux
What a glorious long weekend it was! You couldn't have asked for a better day yesterday right? You could if you had no electricity from roughly Sunday evening 6:00 p.m until 4:00 a.m today. The up side was you didn't need to worry about getting cold, but you did need to think about keeping the contents of your fridge and freezer cold. By noon yesterday any outlet close to our house that had it, had run out of ice. I managed to snag the last 3 bags at two different outlets. Since ice was inadequate for the freezer, I wound up by taking the contents of the freezer to my mother-in-law's place.
I found it odd that nearly everybody who was out was restored fairly quickly. However, in the Anglo enclave where I live, (note it was St. Jean Baptiste Day) there were 43 alleged work crews working on the problem. We called Hydro about 4 times yesterday and each time we called we got a different answer. Not once did I see a Hydro truck anywhere. However, I did see Videotron trucks buzzing around.
What was particularly haunting were the sounds of generators going at houses that had them. Neighbours did share their power with others. I found the whole thing very reminiscent of January 1998 and I can't say I felt warm and fuzzy. I felt warm all right but not in the least fuzzy.
Anyway, I finally heard the evidence of the work crews at about 1:30 a.m. when I heard chain saws going and some peculiar beeping noises. Finally at 3:50 a.m. the light in the bathroom next to our bedroom went on and all of a sudden we were bathed in light. Then I discovered that the fridge had leaked water all over the kitchen floor (bags of ice melting in the fridge and condensation from the ice bags). So I had a mess to clean up at that ungodly hour. (I also have hardly slept now for 2 nights...a total of about 6 hours...Sunday night I kept listening for the power to come back on as I did last night and am not a happy camper this morning.)
There is a thunder storm in the forcast today and I am keeping my fingers crossed that some tree doesn't fall down and start the whole thing all over again.
I hope that Canada Day is less stressful.
What a glorious long weekend it was! You couldn't have asked for a better day yesterday right? You could if you had no electricity from roughly Sunday evening 6:00 p.m until 4:00 a.m today. The up side was you didn't need to worry about getting cold, but you did need to think about keeping the contents of your fridge and freezer cold. By noon yesterday any outlet close to our house that had it, had run out of ice. I managed to snag the last 3 bags at two different outlets. Since ice was inadequate for the freezer, I wound up by taking the contents of the freezer to my mother-in-law's place.
I found it odd that nearly everybody who was out was restored fairly quickly. However, in the Anglo enclave where I live, (note it was St. Jean Baptiste Day) there were 43 alleged work crews working on the problem. We called Hydro about 4 times yesterday and each time we called we got a different answer. Not once did I see a Hydro truck anywhere. However, I did see Videotron trucks buzzing around.
What was particularly haunting were the sounds of generators going at houses that had them. Neighbours did share their power with others. I found the whole thing very reminiscent of January 1998 and I can't say I felt warm and fuzzy. I felt warm all right but not in the least fuzzy.
Anyway, I finally heard the evidence of the work crews at about 1:30 a.m. when I heard chain saws going and some peculiar beeping noises. Finally at 3:50 a.m. the light in the bathroom next to our bedroom went on and all of a sudden we were bathed in light. Then I discovered that the fridge had leaked water all over the kitchen floor (bags of ice melting in the fridge and condensation from the ice bags). So I had a mess to clean up at that ungodly hour. (I also have hardly slept now for 2 nights...a total of about 6 hours...Sunday night I kept listening for the power to come back on as I did last night and am not a happy camper this morning.)
There is a thunder storm in the forcast today and I am keeping my fingers crossed that some tree doesn't fall down and start the whole thing all over again.
I hope that Canada Day is less stressful.
Friday, June 21, 2002
STC dinner
It's the last night for Steve to wield supreme executive power over the Montreal chapter. After this he becomes just another past-president curmugeon ("...never did that when *I* was president"). I will be taking pictures of the banquet at Hurleys (program coordinator's that love pubs are the best) and putting them up some time soon.
It's the last night for Steve to wield supreme executive power over the Montreal chapter. After this he becomes just another past-president curmugeon ("...never did that when *I* was president"). I will be taking pictures of the banquet at Hurleys (program coordinator's that love pubs are the best) and putting them up some time soon.
Frodo rocks!
We saw Lord of the Rings again last night and it's just as fantastic the second time. I did find the final fighting scene harder to watch this time though. Also, let me tell you that the Eaton Centre theatre is no place to watch a long movie. My legs were all cramped up and my butt was asleep by the time it was over. Of course, the Paramount upped the price of a ticket, so frugal movie goers like myself will have to put up with limping out of theatres. Steve bought our tickets earlier that night, but we managed to walk into the theatre and watch the movie without giving anyone our tickets. Too bad you can't do that at the Paramount.
We saw Lord of the Rings again last night and it's just as fantastic the second time. I did find the final fighting scene harder to watch this time though. Also, let me tell you that the Eaton Centre theatre is no place to watch a long movie. My legs were all cramped up and my butt was asleep by the time it was over. Of course, the Paramount upped the price of a ticket, so frugal movie goers like myself will have to put up with limping out of theatres. Steve bought our tickets earlier that night, but we managed to walk into the theatre and watch the movie without giving anyone our tickets. Too bad you can't do that at the Paramount.
Thursday, June 20, 2002
Trips ahoy!
Business trips that is. My company has been threatening to send me and a few colleagues to a)New York and b)North Carolina. They have been telling us that there are trips planned, but we have yet to see the physical evidence of trips such as plane tickets or hotel reservations. Initially, I was supposed to be in New York this week and next week, but that plan seems to have floated off without a trace. Now I've heard that we'll be going to NC the second week of July and then straight on to NY in order to meet some deadlines. What are the odds? Anyone care to wager? Why can't my company have urgent business in New Zealand?
Business trips that is. My company has been threatening to send me and a few colleagues to a)New York and b)North Carolina. They have been telling us that there are trips planned, but we have yet to see the physical evidence of trips such as plane tickets or hotel reservations. Initially, I was supposed to be in New York this week and next week, but that plan seems to have floated off without a trace. Now I've heard that we'll be going to NC the second week of July and then straight on to NY in order to meet some deadlines. What are the odds? Anyone care to wager? Why can't my company have urgent business in New Zealand?
Wednesday, June 19, 2002
Movie Tuesday
This is turning into a movie week! We went and saw The Importance of Being Earnest last night and it was a delightful bit of fluff. They adapted the play very well and added some fun visuals. Tomorrow I might go and see The Lord of the Rings again with Steve and Guislaine. I'd like to see the trailer for the next one that they now include.
The sun is finally back! Everyone is delighted and alive again after walking around being soggy for a week. It's incredible what a bit of sunshine does to lift your mood. I'm going out to lunch today with Bill, we're going to the little Indian place around the corner. Yay Indian food!!
****Lunch was very good, now I have to stay awake until 5.....
This is turning into a movie week! We went and saw The Importance of Being Earnest last night and it was a delightful bit of fluff. They adapted the play very well and added some fun visuals. Tomorrow I might go and see The Lord of the Rings again with Steve and Guislaine. I'd like to see the trailer for the next one that they now include.
The sun is finally back! Everyone is delighted and alive again after walking around being soggy for a week. It's incredible what a bit of sunshine does to lift your mood. I'm going out to lunch today with Bill, we're going to the little Indian place around the corner. Yay Indian food!!
****Lunch was very good, now I have to stay awake until 5.....
Do you recognize that big yellow ball in the sky?
After what was it, 5 days of rain with intermittent lighter grey (to cheer us all up), we actually have a day that resembles summer! Wow! Hurray!
So is everybody in a better mood today? I know I am! I want to go out to play!
Oh yes, in this brighter sunnier vein, yesterday our HR department announced that we would be getting raises effective next week. (These were the ones we were supposed to get in January, but didn't for all kinds of convoluted economic reasons. Instead we got those now notorious letters telling us whether or not we would have job next year.) They (the raises) aren't much, but it's better than nothing...something like this summer, which until today, hasn't been much, but if we get it now, it's better than nothing!
After what was it, 5 days of rain with intermittent lighter grey (to cheer us all up), we actually have a day that resembles summer! Wow! Hurray!
So is everybody in a better mood today? I know I am! I want to go out to play!
Oh yes, in this brighter sunnier vein, yesterday our HR department announced that we would be getting raises effective next week. (These were the ones we were supposed to get in January, but didn't for all kinds of convoluted economic reasons. Instead we got those now notorious letters telling us whether or not we would have job next year.) They (the raises) aren't much, but it's better than nothing...something like this summer, which until today, hasn't been much, but if we get it now, it's better than nothing!
Tuesday, June 18, 2002
Grey day
Let me just say that we've all had enough grey skies and rain, if someone could flip the switch to warm and sunny we'd all be very appreciative. The weekend was pretty good, did some shopping, had dinner with friends, and went out to the townies for Father's day/my birthday. I was completely spoiled, the nicest surprise being the cabinet my folks made me for the deck. We're standing up next to it in one of the pictures from yesterday. We originally thought that it was for inside, but apparently they made it to endure the weather and even designed a handy place for the bbq tongs. Last night, Steve made lasagna and we sat down and watched the last bit of Harry Potter. After we were looking at the extra bits on the second DVD. I was trying to find deleted scenes, but all I found was little games and clips from the movie, it was very frustrating. We saw About a Boy on Friday, very good movie with absolutely no overacting. I recommend it, but you can wait for the video. We're going to see The Importance of Being Earnest tonight, Colin Firth, hee hee hee!
Let me just say that we've all had enough grey skies and rain, if someone could flip the switch to warm and sunny we'd all be very appreciative. The weekend was pretty good, did some shopping, had dinner with friends, and went out to the townies for Father's day/my birthday. I was completely spoiled, the nicest surprise being the cabinet my folks made me for the deck. We're standing up next to it in one of the pictures from yesterday. We originally thought that it was for inside, but apparently they made it to endure the weather and even designed a handy place for the bbq tongs. Last night, Steve made lasagna and we sat down and watched the last bit of Harry Potter. After we were looking at the extra bits on the second DVD. I was trying to find deleted scenes, but all I found was little games and clips from the movie, it was very frustrating. We saw About a Boy on Friday, very good movie with absolutely no overacting. I recommend it, but you can wait for the video. We're going to see The Importance of Being Earnest tonight, Colin Firth, hee hee hee!
Monday, June 17, 2002
Santa Story
Okay, here goes. Maybe it will inspire you.
When I was 15, I was a punk, with all the clothes and weird (or no) hair that went along with that style-choice. I hung around with a small group of friends who were also punks. One of these was a younger guy, J. He was one of those stunningly beautiful guys that could be a model, actor or anything. All the rest of our gang were girls, and we used to talk about him and sigh and all that. He was never interested in us. He always liked the "pretty" girls with normal hair and nice clothes.
Well, we must have been the most innocent punks in the world, because one Christmas, J. and I decided that our gang's gift exchange would be at my house and our little secret for our friends was that he would dress up as Santa and give out our gifts. (we were so sweet! If my mom had only realized how non-threatening we really were -- but I digress.)
So J. came over early and I dressed him up in a Santa suit up in my parents' room while the girls waited downstairs. I had had almost no experience with guys, and only dreamed of J. in the most vaguely sexual way, knowing he would never want me. Well, we were kind of laughing about trying to get his mohawk under the Santa hat and having fun, and he sat back on my parents' bed with the Santa suit open and with his (beautiful) chest bare, and said "Before we go downstairs, we should get down." and he smiled this incredibly sexy smile. I laughed, embarrassed, and turned to walk away and he grabbed my hand and pulled me on top of him. We just kissed a little bit, and then went downstairs to give out gifts. I was bursting with this little secret all night, and then he stayed afterward and kissed me a little while we sat on the porch in the cold.
I have never had someone use the expression "get down" to describe making out since. And whenever I think about that night I feel again all the excitement and surprise of the young me who never imagined anyone would want to kiss me.
It was very fun, and did I mention he was gorgeous?
Okay, here goes. Maybe it will inspire you.
When I was 15, I was a punk, with all the clothes and weird (or no) hair that went along with that style-choice. I hung around with a small group of friends who were also punks. One of these was a younger guy, J. He was one of those stunningly beautiful guys that could be a model, actor or anything. All the rest of our gang were girls, and we used to talk about him and sigh and all that. He was never interested in us. He always liked the "pretty" girls with normal hair and nice clothes.
Well, we must have been the most innocent punks in the world, because one Christmas, J. and I decided that our gang's gift exchange would be at my house and our little secret for our friends was that he would dress up as Santa and give out our gifts. (we were so sweet! If my mom had only realized how non-threatening we really were -- but I digress.)
So J. came over early and I dressed him up in a Santa suit up in my parents' room while the girls waited downstairs. I had had almost no experience with guys, and only dreamed of J. in the most vaguely sexual way, knowing he would never want me. Well, we were kind of laughing about trying to get his mohawk under the Santa hat and having fun, and he sat back on my parents' bed with the Santa suit open and with his (beautiful) chest bare, and said "Before we go downstairs, we should get down." and he smiled this incredibly sexy smile. I laughed, embarrassed, and turned to walk away and he grabbed my hand and pulled me on top of him. We just kissed a little bit, and then went downstairs to give out gifts. I was bursting with this little secret all night, and then he stayed afterward and kissed me a little while we sat on the porch in the cold.
I have never had someone use the expression "get down" to describe making out since. And whenever I think about that night I feel again all the excitement and surprise of the young me who never imagined anyone would want to kiss me.
It was very fun, and did I mention he was gorgeous?
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