tuesday

Another nice fall day. Normally I hate the Fall, the colours and leaves are just to distract us from the fact that winter is coming. I even wrote a poem in high school - Autumn as Death Shroud - However, after the steaming hot summer we had, I am more open to Autumn, at least while it's here and I can still get away with layering sweaters and not having to put on my winter coat.

Spent the day at the Archives and I have started a new system to drown out the crazies. OK, I'm sure they're not all crazy but a lot of them really like to speak loudly about finding great uncle Charlie twice removed from Thessalon. Not good for my concentration. I used to wear ear plugs but that is kind of sad and since I often have to wear them for sleep I would have them on 16 hours a day. Enter the CD player, today I got a lot of work done, people didn't annoy me nearly as much as they usually do and I listened to some good music - Johnny Cash, Dean Martin, Frank, Ella ...

Judging by my musical taste you might think me in my 60s or 70s... I just don't buy CDs of current bands, never really have, I listen to lots of new music on the radio, just don't buy it and don't download. The only downside is the hassle of carrying around my diskman and cds. Perhaps it is becoming time to move onto present day technology and get an MP3 player.

Must say that I am getting more and more excited for Walk the Line every day.

stuff

Stuff I've been thinking about over the last little while...

I need a haircut.
I'm very excited for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Rent to hit the movie theatres.
I highly recommend worn fashion journal. (site's still under construction but the publication is awesome!)
The weather is far too warm for November. I haven't worn a jacket for three days. Don't try and tell me Global Warming is a myth.
I am getting addicted to Poker on TV.
No carbonation month went really well, thinking about doing it again. I was definitely less bloated.
I need to get out and take pictures around the city or at least carry my camera, I'm always seeing this or that and wishing I had my camera.
Finished reading The Historian, by Elizabeth Kostova, it was awesome. Also have recently finished and recommend:
Lamb, or the Gospel According to Biff, Christopher Lamb
Northern Lights, Nora Roberts
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, JK Rowling (ok, technically that's a re-read in anticipation for the movie but so good and awesome foreshadowing if you've read HP and the Half-Blood Prince)
How cute is this shoe? And, it comes in red.

It's a nice day and I don't have any fall pictures.
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judging professionals

And I'm not talking about Jurists.

Tuesday I had to go to the Dentist. I hate going to the dentist. I'm sure he's a very nice man and his hygenists are very nice people. But there is something about the dentist that just doesn't sit well with me. It's not the fact that they spend their lives poking around in people's mouths, which is pretty icky, but more the fact that they are constantly judging your oral hygeine and criticizing it when it is their job (and they are being pretty well paid) to clean your teeth and detect any problems.

I had financial issues, no insurance and had not been to the dentist in 10 years. I decided that it was more important to pay my rent, pay my taxes, eat and generally pay my cost of living than it was to go into even bigger debt just so someone could tell me I needed to spend more money on my teeth. After the BC and I had been living together for a year, I qualified for benefits under his insurance plan as the common-law spouse. Great. I go to the dentist and get THREE referrals, to the oral surgeon (for my wisdom teeth, which was needed and I do not begrudge), to the periodontist (who is suspiciously now married to said dentist) because I have receeding gums and to an orthodontis (who was invited to said dental/periodontal nuptials). I am not getting braces, they did enough to ruin my teenage years, and I am not having gum surgery. However, everytime I am at the dentist the topic comes up, and my emphatic "NO" with the implied *frickin' way ever, shut up and do your job* doesn't seem to be getting through.

Also, they have no idea what they're talking about; for kicks this time I decided to say that I had upped my flossing regimen from never to a couple of times a week. They praised me and said they could see a difference. Jackasses.

My other favourite judging professional (also not a jurist) is my pharmacist. Any time I pick up a prescription he looks it over, shakes his heads, gives me a pitying glance and hands it over. There is no need for that. He doesn't need to smile, I'd be happy with a neutral expression or even a "have a nice day." But no, he has to shake his head and look disapproving. I would change pharmacies but there isn't another one as convenient. (damn lazy self!)

the fabulous fall cold

I have been inactive this week, literally. I developed a sore throat on Monday night that by Wednesday had developed into a serious head cold, with a side order of laryngitis. As with many things that you abhored as a child, this policy of my mother has stuck with me for some reason: "Too sick to go to school/work; Too sick for TV." Fortunately, I'm very rarely too sick to read. As luck or fate would have it, I had just made a book run on the weekend and was well stocked. I have been alternating between The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova, which is pretty hefty and a little scary and Under the Duvet by Marian Keyes, which is not scary but funny and poignant.

In under the Duvet Ms. Keyes describes how to know if you're an "Imelda," i.e. a person who values shoes above most things. I am cribbing her below and letting you know just how deep my own problem with footwear actually is ...

- I have bought shoes and never worn them because I didn't want to damage them. I have also bought shoes and never worn them because they were really painful, but so pretty on my feet as long as I didn't stand up.
- I am known to structure my day around the shoes I will be wearing. Especially if I am going out.
- I have spent more on shoes than I would on a holiday. I have bought shoes instead of groceries. I have spent more on shoes than my rent.
- I have been hurt by my shoes and I never blame the shoe.
- I do not loan my shoes to other people. They are my babies. Fortunately I am the proud owner of freakishly small feet, so this isn't really an issue.

Must run and meet the husband for dinner. He's been at a closing party for some deal, maybe he'll be in a really good mood and happy to discuss my new current obsession: Handbags.

the amazing disappearing contact lens

So my sister's wedding was this past weekend and it was beautiful and perfect and exactly as I had hoped it would be for her and her new husband.

And just so the evening wasn't without a little drama this is what happened:

Around 8:30 or 9:00 I blinked and noticed that there was an issue with my vision in my left eye. Not quite sure what was going on I decided to go to the washroom and see if I could see anything. Couldn't. Unsure as to whether my contact had fallen out or whether it had disappeared into the unreachable regions of my eye, I decided that it would be best to remove the one contact I was sure was in my eye and resume wearing my glasses.

(Small sidebar on my spectacles: I love wearing my glasses. Not only can I see properly and without blur, but they don't involve sticking my finger into my eye to put in and remove the contact lens. I am a random contact wearer, in fact the last time I wore them was for my own wedding)

Unfortunately my glasses were in the trunk of our rental car at the B&B where we were staying. Since I was effectively blind and it was dark, my gallant husband hoofed it there and back, returning with my beloved spectacles.
I tried to put the matter out of my mind and resumed having a lovely time (luckily I found that the bartender loves martinis as much as I do!). Got up the next morning, my eyes were pretty red (beyond hangover red, more like bleeding into the brain red), especially the left, but I just assumed that was from my trying to remove the contact that wasn't there. As I felt nothing, I assumed that it had fallen out and put it from my mind. We arrived home after our four hour drive, my portion of which was the 401 from Belleville to home. Came in, walked up the stairs, felt something in my eye, blinked hard a couple of times and looked in the mirror. There was my contact, all folded up on itself nicely in thirds just hanging out in my eye. BLECH, GROSS, YUCK. I removed it, and promptly made a pact with myself to A) be thankful it wasn't in my brain and B) NEVER wear those damned little lenses again.

BTW the shoes looked awesome with my dress and were very suited to the impromptu rock climbing we did to arrive at the picture location - many thanks to the groomsmen who helped the bridesmaids navigate the rocks after the husbands abandoned us for warmer surroundings!

life's too short ...

Yesterday as I was crossing the street. I waited for lights, started to cross, the SUV that should have been waiting decided to gun the engine and move forward. He stopped and when I gave him the "hello, I'm walking here" arm and shoulder shrug he leaned out his window and shouted "Life's too short, Hon."

Seriously. What does he mean by that? Life's too short for him to obey the traffic laws? Life's too short for me to be upset about a possible fatal introduction between his SUV and my body? Life's too short for him to have a passing thought about the nameless persons he almost injures every day?

I know exactly how short life can be. I spent my 19th birthday recovering from near-fatal internal injuries obtained after an encounter with a vehicle very similar to your big manly SUV. I am very aware of how short and precious life is, so go figure, I get upset when someone blatently disregards and disrespects my existence.

one of those days

1. it's getting cold
2. I ran down to pick up my Bridesmaid dress from the seamstress and it cost about the same as purchasing another one
3. I have a coldsore
4. smelly men stared at the coldsore on the subway (different ones, both ways)
5. Bridesmaid dress fell off hanger and almost blew into traffic
6. I'm still broke from not being able to work while my monitor was down and can't really afford the alterations but can't put them on Visa because she only takes cash. Who only takes cash? And then lets me walk out with the dress and not having paid? CRAZY! good thing I'm relatively honest.

OK. thanks for letting me get this off my chest.

literary themes

Do you ever notice that you unintentionally end up reading books of the same genre in cycles?

For the longest time I was stuck in Tudor England. Mainly due to my Philippa Gregory obsession. I finished The Virgin's Lover and ended up comparing it unfavourably to I, Elizabeth by Rosalind Miles. I prefer a stronger Elizabeth who is not under the thumb of a wiley and foppish man. Wishful thinking on my part perhaps, I'm sure the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Having finished up all the Philippa Gregory books that I am currently interested in reading I have ended up on a new theme. Jewish women in the Renaissance. The first was The Witch of Cologne, Tobsha Learner which I very much enjoyed except for the fact that the author kept manifesting the supernatural in places where the circumstances of the story were quite strong enough.

Last night I finished The Secret Book of Grazia dei Rossi, Jacqueline Park. Awesome. The character's life is interwoven with artists, politics, war and religion. She is a strong women trying to keep her family together while being pulled in all sorts of different directions. I highly recommend this book.

While reading these I have also finished a couple of re-reads by Nora Roberts and Jo Beverley. I love my historical romance fiction.

I'm also very psyched as I just started The Time Traveler's Wife, Audrey Niffenegger. I can't put it down. I almost missed my subway stop on purpose because I wanted to keep reading. That is the mark of a good book. I'm only on page 104 but will already recommend it.

why do they lie?

I'm not getting esoteric or even metaphysical, I'm just asking why people are always compelled to lie about the distance of one point to another. You know how far it is, you've been there before, why do you lie?

I often wear very impractical shoes. The distance of a destination from the starting point is a very important and crucial piece of information. If it is within a reasonable distance I will walk; if it is a little farther but too close to justify a taxi, I will wear walking shoes and bring the pretty ones to put on at the destination; if it is within taxi distance, I will take the taxi.

Two blocks is not ten blocks. This is a significant difference in distance, one that will often result in blood and pus.

If you ask me how far something is I will tell you. I will even differentiate between a long block and a regular block. Or alternatively tell you the outside time it would take me to walk it in comfortable shoes.

It's a simple thing, be accurate. My feet will thank you.

to dog or not to dog ...

So I'm thinking about getting a puppy dog (or young adult dog). I have spent many hours on the internet narrowing down the breed and the size and the general temperment and abilities I would like in a dog, now it is a matter of
A) convincing myself that this is something I can do
B) convincing the husband that this is something I (we) can do
C) finding someone reputable who has my dog for sale
D) convincing our landlord not to kick us out

Before C and D can happen I have promised the husband that I will go to an allergist to ensure that if / once we get a dog I will not be overcome and incapacitated by my sinuses. I am very allergic to dog dander, my sister's beautiful dog Stanley induces fits of sneezing worthy of the Guinness book of world records. (how cute is he in his Christmas Sweater though?)

So although no dog is technically hypoallergenic I have decided to go with the most allergy friendly dog there is (that I still think is cute). A miniature poodle. People laugh but the poodle is one of the smartest and easiest to train dogs there are. Although I know people frown on dogs in an apartment, I work from home and will be here 3-5 days a week with the dog and if I had to be away and couldn't get home during the day I would get a dog walker. I have just purchased Dogs for Dummies as Weddings for Dummies was a lifesaver. I'll let you know what I find out and how the decision making process is going.

Sandwiches

Anyone who knows me well, is either groaning or wondering what took me so long to write about my favourite lunch food. I love a good Sandwich, however a GOOD sandwich is actually harder to find than you might think.

Three or four days a week, I go to the local Bagel place for turkey, tomato and cucumber on a bagel. They recently hired some new staff and I have given up trying to explain how to make my sandwich properly. They are intent on putting the mustard on the side of the bread next to the vegetables. This is wrong. Trust me. I come home and add my own mustard in the proper place. The basic order of sandwich preparation should follow these guidelines, with exceptions as noted below.

Bread
Mustard
Meat
Cheese
Vegetable
Salt and Pepper
Mayonnaise
Bread

Mustard does not complement vegetables. Mayonnaise does not complement meat. Why mix them up?
Cheese is complementary to both meat and vegetables, but not mustard or mayonnaise.
Butter is unnecessary unless you are grilling the sandwich, in which case it goes on the outside of the bread.
I enjoy a nice vegetarian sandwich on occasion, in which case there is no need for mustard.
If going for a lower fat content, nix the mayo but still only put mustard next to the meat. Spice up the veggies with salt and pepper.
Goat Cheese is a nice substitution for mayonnaise and is an exception to the cheese in the middle rule.
If making a Pita sandwich, substitute hummus, tzatziki, tahini, Italian salad dressing for mustard or mayonnaise.
Always use the best bread possible. It makes a huge difference.

quick question

How stupid do "they" really think we are? I just read the instructions on my mouthwash: Use in the morning, after eating and before social engagements.
Almost up there with the "The beverage in the cup is extremely hot, use caution when consuming" warning on every coffee cup ever handed out.

On a different note, I am off to Ottawa in a few hours to help throw my sister's wedding shower and bachelorette party. I'm looking forward to it but feel guilty because I have been instructed by my mother, god-mother, and everyone else to bring my wedding pictures. It's not my day anymore, it's the sister's. I am simply a bridesmaid - my duty is to help where I can and bring an attractive element to the proceedings. Not distract loads of attention from her at the party held in her honour. Here's hoping I can keep this to a minimum. Wish me luck.

guilty pleasures

I was reading my friend KB's blog regarding her feelings on the television program RockStar INXS and it got me thinking about how much I've been enjoying the show. I really like the music and as an added bonus I've turned my husband into a fan. His first question on arrival home last night just before 11 was "Who'd they kick off?" I'm pretty sure he didn't mean to make the pun but I laughed just the same.

I've also been thinking about other little things that give me pleasure. For example, potato chips, trashy romance novels, silly ringtones for my mobile, but mostly bad TV. I'm home alone, a lot. I work from home and BC is usually not home until between 10 and 11. The TV is on all evening. Sometimes I'm watching it, sometimes it's just background noise. I've been trying to make an effort to read more in the living room with the radio for company. I went in there the other day and found that I didn't feel like it was my space. I felt like a visitor in my own home. So I am on a mission to spend more time there and fill it with my energy. Besides, we have the best Chaise Lounge EVER and it is so comfy and perfect for reading.

Picked up a couple of books today, The Virgin's Lover, Philippa Gregory. Contemplated picking up the book that follows Wideacre, but really had no desire to find out how the trilogy ends. The Virgin's Lover is all about Elizabeth I (my favourite feminist) and Robert Dudley. Can't wait to sink into it. Also picked up The Witch of Cologne, Tobsha Learner, about a Jewish midwife accused by the Inquisition.
Fortunately I have 8 hours on the train this weekend to really sink my teeth into these.

However, I will not be starting them tonight as it is the season premier of The OC. It's so bad but so good. Other shows that I should not watch, but can't help myself: America's Next Top Model, The Apprentice, Miami Ink, Monster Garage, ...

's o.k.

As I lay in bed last night not sleeping I realized that the initials of my blog are a pretty good motto. A way of living and letting things go.
's o.k. can mean

no worries
you're welcome
I'm fine
apology accepted

I'm a big fan of trying not to sweat the small stuff and remembering that in the long run, very little matters except how you conduct yourself and treat others. Note that I said I'm a big fan, this does not mean that I always succeed. But the little things add up and can really make you feel better.

Moving on to other less esoteric stuff. I am still uncarbonated. I switched my usual diet coke for diet iced tea, still has that lovely aspartame after-taste and comes in a can so I don't feel like I've given up everything. Kind of missed the fizzy though last night when I realized that beer is carbonated.

The world must have shifted a little because I just heard the door buzzer and was able to receive a package! hooray! I do enjoy getting packages. If only they weren't all work related.

What else is new ? We cooked a duck on Sunday night. It was really good and once BC decided to stop playing "watch the duck puppet dance" it was pretty easy. I have issues with raw meat. I don't touch it. I will back away from it or leave the room. Some irrational fear of salmonella or a traumatic incident from my childhood that I've repressed? Who knows, just keep it away from me.

It's the first day of school. Although I love not being a student, there's always been something hopeful about the first day of classes. Seeing what you'll be learning, meeting old and new friends, and blank notebooks full of possibilities. What's more exciting than that?

who knew how great it is to go outside?

I had the nicest day. I went to the Archives and worked all day, then took a meander up Bay Street from College to Bloor then along Bloor to Avenue Road for some window shopping. mmm... so convenient that the Louis Vuitton is right next door to Chanel. Maybe someday I'll go inside the stores.

I must say I very much enjoyed the freedom of my day. As much as I have very strong Hermit tendencies, this forced confinement was not satisfying. I did learn that if the dog that lives behind us is outside and I spray my "can of air" near the window he goes nuts with the barking. I know that's not very nice but you have no idea how bored I was.

I have declared September no carbonation month. I am not drinking anything carbonated. This will be a bit of issue as 90% of my normal liquid intake is carbonated but I am going to be strong. I'll let you know how it goes. Fortunately though the Vodka Martini is shaken it is not fizzy.

In other news, Tripping the Velvet was an interesting novel, that it was a lesbian romance novel didn't occur to me until the first intimate scene. I'm usually pretty quick on the uptake. The story was quite enjoyable and the writing style was very pretty. If she ever writes something that doesn't make you feel like you're reading lesbian porn I will be the first to purchase it.

I'm looking for new books, so if anyone has suggestions please let me know (I've figured out my comments section so that you can actually comment without having to get a blogger account.)

I feel a little guilty having had such a good day with what happened in the Southern US and in Iraq. - Thoughts and Good Energy to all those who are in need.

accidental vacation ...

I have been absent, but not by choice. I came home last Wednesday and discovered that my computer monitor had decided that it did not work anymore. After trying everything I could think of, I called the company where we bought it to determine if
a. it was still under warranty
b. if not under warranty should we get it repaired or replaced.

To my great relief it was still under warranty and they would replace it, in two* business days. (*two business days on Pluto)

This meant that I waited at home Thursday, Friday and Monday, at 4 pm on Tuesday I called back to enquire as to the whereabouts of my monitor. I was told it was ready for pick-up at the UPS depot. I said "Wow, that's great, too bad no one told me and I'd asked for it to be delivered."
Fortunately it arrived today and my forced technology withdrawal is over. Waiting for couriers is not my favourite activity. I can't leave the apartment because Murphy's law states that I will miss them in the 5 minutes it takes for me to go and get coffee, have a shower, buy a newspaper ... I have been very very bored for the last 5 weekdays. Not to mention the fact that I couldn't work because I had no computer and couldn't go to the archives to work because I had to wait for the courier.
Daytime TV sucks and I re-read three books and napped a lot (right next to the door buzzer, just in case)

Had a nice weekend though, visited my husband's parents at their camp near Lake Simcoe. We don't see them as often as we'd like so it was really nice to see them and just hang out.

Sunday Shopping Rocks

You may remember my previous post where I lamented that I could not afford to spend a very large amount of money on shoes for my sister's wedding. Well look what I found today for a reasonable amount of money. So pretty and yet so elegant. Can't wait to find a pair of brown pants to wear with them! I think they'll look great with Jeans too! I was going to buy a home foot spa but got distracted by the shoes ... So a bathtub pedicure it is tonight instead of a relaxing foot soak with jets and massage. Maybe I can beg my husband into rubbing my feet.

On other, less foot related topics, I just started to read Wideacre by Philippa Gregory. I know this book was published originally in the 80s, but I hadn't realized that I'd read it before until I reached page 175. It's ok but nowhere near as good as The Other Boleyn Girl or Earthy Joys. I'm excited though because I think I have a real winner in the cue. Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters.

Also, had the best steak for dinner last night - seared quickly on both sides (no more than 30 seconds) then let it sit and cook on the second side, add a cup of balsamic to the pan to reduce for about 8 minutes then remove the steak and let the balsamic reduce a little more. AMAZING, gives the steak a sweetness and it just melts in you mouth. (the bottom will look black but it isn't burned it's just the balsamic). We served it on a bed of arugula with carmelized onions on top. I love www.foodtv.ca. I am going to use the leftover arugula to make pesto.

sweet smell of the city

I love the city, I can't imagine living anywhere else and being as happy as I am (obvious exceptions of course being other cities). I love the diversity, the fast pace and the constant change. There are one or two things that I could live without though.

Todays ride on the 511 Street Car down Dundas St. was one of them. Whilst trying to avoid standing next to the man who had already urinated in his pants I ended up standing between Insulting Self-Talker, who took every opportunity to make rude comments about those seated around him but did not offer him a seat and Man Carrying Purse, not a "Man Bag" but a PURSE. I know this because he opened the bag and there was a mirror on the inside of the flap.

On the return ride, I was surprisingly refreshed to end up seated next to a woman, who had bathed recently, didn't talk to herself, and to all outward appearances seemed to be quite pleasant. I wondered if perhaps I had gotten on the wrong car.

flowers

just because I felt like sharing some pretty.