Wednesday, December 31, 2008

New Year's Eve

Here's wishing you a warm, safe New Year's Eve, and the beginning to a fabulous 2009!

We enjoyed a quiet evening of Pepsi, pizza, Monty Python sketches and the "Final Flight" of Royal Canadian Air Farce on CBC. In the mid-1990s, I rarely missed a Friday night in front of the tube with Luba Goy, Don Ferguson, Roger Abbott, and John Morgan ("I'm Mike, from Canmore"). Ah, those were the days, my friends, those were the days.

Cheers!

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

bonus points

To point or not to point, that was the question.

Back in November, Shoppers Drug Mart sent a coupon informing me that (a) an acquisition of 1,965 more points by Dec 31 would promote me to Plus member status, and (b) if I were to purchase $150 worth of stuff before year's end, I would receive 15,000 Optimum points--which works out to $25. How warped is this idea "the more you spend, the more you save"? Math has never been my strong suit, but even I can figure out that when all is said and done, these calculations still mean that I'm down $125!

I used to think the Shoppers Optimum program was a devious marketing scheme, a huge, annoying conspiracy designed to hold up the cash lines as gullible members fished through their wallets for those blasted cards. I resisted until the fateful day that found me alone in line; in my weakened, solitary state, I was no match for the persuasive cashier. Only three or four years later, after I'd all but forgotten I was even collecting points, a cashier asked if I wanted to redeem points. Turned out I'd built up $55 worth of savings. Still consumeristic smoke-and-mirrors, but way less annoying.

The aforementioned coupon came close to finding itself recycled at least a dozen times. However, for some inexplicable reason, I couldn't part with it. Yesterday, when I began to tally up the items I needed, I realized they'd add up to approximately $100. Still cautious, I perused the online flyer. What to my wondering eyes should appear, but sale prices on Cetaphil, Coke & Pepsi, t.p., Swiffer refills! (insert cheer) The long and short of it: I caved.

Consequently, I'm part of the Optimum Plus crowd for a year. I doubt this will have much of an impact on life as I know it. Besides cluttering my inbox, I mean. I do think I've frequented Shoppers more here than in Winnipeg, because (a) it's a two-minute hike, (b) it's closer than Loblaws or Wal-Mart, and (c) the prices are comparable to those of the other stores. (I strongly suspected our Shoppers near Pembina & Markham of upping prices to offset the construction costs of its new digs.) Hmm, just to put checks in place on unnecessary spending, I'd better revisit The Story of Stuff and crack open Green for Life.

May your life be optimum regardless of the points you've accumulated.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

and the gifts just keep on coming

I know, I know, it's not about the gifts. Still, I really can't resist talking about the presents.

People tend to give the kind of gifts they'd like to receive. I remember my mom reading an article on that years ago, and I've found an interview online that corroborates that position, in which the interviewee remarks (about halfway through):
One of the big, big errors that I see most people make is that they give a gift that they themselves would like to receive, rather than selecting a gift from the perspective of the recipient.
Maybe that explains (some) grandparents' proclivity to present their grandkids with underwear and socks at Christmas. I can remember when it used to disappoint me to receive socks; now I think they rock! Does that alone qualify me as over the hill? Geezerville, here I come. And for those still wanting to idle away holiday time...here's a message board with a spectrum of opinions on the "underwear as gifts" theme.

Yes, socks, undies, and sleepwear were on my wish list this year. And whaddya know, they were at the top of youlookfab's gift suggestions. Let me state for the record that I would never dream of giving such personal items to anyone other than my spouse. Fortunately for me, my hubba-hubba husband finally realizes that my family is on to something with the "select your own gift(s)" idea. Between Reitman's and Sears, I'm now covered. So is James: I bought a fleecy black robe to replace the green terrycloth one he's had ever since his first year in res at university. Since his mother bought it for him, I'm sure it was top-of-the-line. After all, it's held up for 18+ years and it sports a fancy crest that rests above the heart of the wearer (a touch of preppie). Yet I've always thought it screamed "playboy." Off with the old, on with the new. I was tempted to donate it to Goodwill before Christmas so that a hard-up church could use it for a shepherd costume, but I've decided to hang on to it just in case the new one doesn't measure up.

So, as I was starting to say, for the most part, we choose our own gifts. My parents generally give us money (it's easier to transport), and then something smaller (in size and price) for under the tree--so we can have something to unwrap. Perry usually gives us money as well. It's uncanny, though, how the presents James selects generally cost above and beyond any money he receives. For example, if he has $30 to spend, he buys an item that costs $50. So we decided that I must have been feeling pretty generous this year, because my parents and I chipped in to get him a DAC (digital to analog converter - it improves audio on CDs). For Perry's gift to him (I chipped in a bit once again), James bought Upgrading and Repairing Microsoft Windows.

I've had a lot of fun picking out my gifts so far, and I'm not quite done yet! With the money from my parents, I purchased the two pillows for the couch (pictured in a previous post) at Linen Chest for $9.95 each--a great deal, and the best part is they are washable. Got the two blankets (pictured in previous post) on sale at Loblaws. Also have bought: t-shirt, sweater, set of 4 tumblers at Pier 1, 3 pairs of socks (I had already received another 3 pairs), 3 books, shelves (for basement storage), and body wash (Giovanni's "Raspberry Winter" - certified organic, so I hope I like it). Perry's gift consisted of two books and placecard holders from Michael's, which I'm using as photo card holders (they were all sold out of the latter, which were very similar in design).

It's been an extremely relaxing Christmas, since I haven't rushed about buying things for anyone but me. (Wow, that sounds selfish.) I haven't had to worry about the whole office party and gift exchange thing for a few years, and we narrowly escaped a small group function. I wish people would stop insisting on the "bring a $10 gift for the swap game"--especially since nobody I know really needs another snowman candy dish, vanilla tealight candle set, or pooping reindeer. My preference, and you can quote me on this, is that groups of "haves" forego the gift exchange and each contribute $10 towards a project from the Samaritan's Purse Gift Catalog, World Vision Gift Catalogue, or a local soup kitchen, toy drive, or other charity (e.g., Siloam Mission, Christmas Cheer Board). That will be my pre-Christmas challenge for next year.

Until then, I leave you with Pam Leo's article, "The Gift Every Child Really Wants." I especially appreciated her observation that
The people who really love us will still love us no matter what gifts we do or do not give them and whether or not we send greeting cards.
Amen to that!

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Having a Dickens of a Christmas*

* To kick off our Christmas season, we watched Sunday's broadcast of Church of the Rock on Global. Pastor Mark's message was entitled "Have a Dickens of a Christmas!" and wove together references to Dickens's A Christmas Carol, the poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (aka "'Twas the Night Before Christmas"), A Charlie Brown Christmas, throwing in the usual assortment of jokes, to discuss the true spirit of Christmas. So glad for that infant in the manger-turned-Savior!

Last night Dave & Ci & Nicole invited us to spend Christmas Eve with them. Good thing we didn't have supper proper beforehand, because there were finger foods galore, hors d'oeuvres vegetarian and non, a tourtière (meat pie), an Italian cauliflower dish, and a chocolate fondue to cap things off. Lara's pecan squares were delightful. (I should have tucked one away in my purse for a midnight snack.) I had meant to take the camera along, but forgot it. Their tree was decorated Martha Stewart-perfect, and all the gifts underneath matched! It's just as well I didn't take a picture, because it would have put our simple little construct to shame.

The fibre optic tree we purchased for $30 in July
from neighbors who moved to California

Today we slept in. James's parents phoned from Texas around 11am. Since we'd eaten breakfast late, we ate Christmas dinner (farmer sausage, potatoes, carrots, and three-bean salad - no dessert, unless you count the macaroons I ate straight from the freezer) around 2:30pm. James played Walle Larson's Christmas CD. We unwrapped our gifts and went for a walk around the block, to see what was open (Shoppers Drug Mart and Starbucks). Other than a few cars, all was quiet. We figure that the residents of Clearbrook Dr. must be the socialites; each driveway has 2 or 3 vehicles parked in it, while our street verges on complete and utter desertion. The roads and sidewalks are tricky at places, since the weather warmed up yesterday and Ottawa received rain in the late afternoon/evening. I've phoned my family and James phoned his (10 are gathered at his brother & sister-in-law's place). For the rest of the evening, we're planning to stay put, watching Christmas specials or Monty Python as we munch on leftovers or junk food. (I am resisting the temptation to bake cookies and buy chocolates, because we've both told ourselves and each other that we don't need the high caloric intake.)

Here are some photos of this afternoon, so that my Mom & Dad know what kind of great gifts they gave me.

t-shirt, sweater, two cushions on couch, two blankets

fleece hoodie inside - I mean, surprise!

Mr. Darth wanted in on the action; too bad it's my gift!

Curli expressing her unhappiness at the lack of presents
(sorry...Boxing Day...PetSmart...spongy balls)

"Hapy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

p.s. Have uploaded photos for vacation post below.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

my big fat Manitoba vacation*

* apologies to Nia Vardalos

Tue, Dec 9
  • I left Ottawa as the first centimetres of the eventual 30 were falling - thick, fluffy flakes. My flight was supposed to leave at 4:30pm; however, the airport appeared short-staffed and the plane had to undergo de-icing, so the flight only left at 5:30pm. The woman in the seat next to me was comfortably talkative, meaning we made small talk during takeoff and landing, but in-between she watched a movie and knitted while I took a nap and read a book.
  • My parents were kind enough to drive in, pick me up, treat me to supper, and take me home. They stopped short of tucking me in.
Wed, Dec 10
  • In the morning, I tagged along with my parents to Morris's Home Hardware and MCC Thrift Store. They were both more or less as I'd remembered them. MCC, Sally Ann, and Valu Village stores always have a distinctive smell to them, the sad, stuffy smell of rejection.
  • In the afternoon, my parents humored me by taking me to Winnipeg to go Christmas shopping. (In contrast to the Morris MCC store, the mall smelled of blatant commercialism.)
  • Serendipitously, my uncle & aunt and their daughter were at the mall, too, so we met them over dinner/supper (for my urban/rural readers, that's 5:30pm) in the food court. It's a good thing I got to see Nicole, because she's a nurse who works a lot of night shifts, especially during the holidays.
  • After we got home, my mother decided it was time to deal with the cookie dough she'd made in the forenoon. Six dozen cookies later--she baked, I iced--we called it a night.


Thu, Dec 11
  • Fortunately for us, Dad took holidays. Wonder if he knew he'd end up being our chauffeur? We raced off to Steinbach to meet Perry for a 9:30am breakfast at Smitty's.
  • Back to Winnipeg in the afternoon, for cake & cookies with Gayle and Pauline at the Mauro Centre.
Pauline and Gayle
(When the bosses are away, it's time to par-tay)

  • Then it was dinner at Applebee's with the Ladies of Lake Village minus one: Gina, Jacquie, and Jenn. (We missed you, Val!)

Fri, Dec 12
  • I made a spur-of-the-moment decision to visit my cousin and finish shopping for Dad's present (had finished Perry's and Mom's). Shauna & Derek had baby Joshua on the 4th, so he was a week and a day old when I got to hold him. It's probably way past due that I dig out the free hand weights from my basement, because all 8 lbs. 2 oz. of that little guy were heavy, and I only had him for about 10 min.
  • Made phone calls to Renée and Meryl to let them know about my Saturday plans.
Sat, Dec 13 - "morning at the mall"
  • I dropped off my new, unwrapped toy (a Polly Pocket) for the Christmas Cheer Board's Miracle Toy Drive, bought a tazo chai at Starbucks, a Free Press at Chapters, and a box of timbits, and settled in. I got to fill out a ballot at the Toy Drive table, so Mom, if you get a call saying you won a package from Robinson Lighting, Merry Christmas! (Speaking of Polly Pocket, those of you with young daughters might find a bit of Polly fun at this link. If only real-life hairstyles and outfits were that easy to choose.)
  • Meryl braved the Arctic temperatures, and was I ever glad to see her! I don't know if we've ever had a whole hour's conversation before, just the two of us. Saw pictures of her very photogenic kids; they are growing up fast. Her son and Sher's go to kindergarten together.
  • Duane & Celina invited me over for lasagna & Caesar salad--truthfully, I invited myself over. Originally I'd asked if I could stop by at 3pm, so they were awfully kind to let me crash at 1pm. Saw their new waterfront property: very impressive. The majority of the furnishings from the last place looked at home in the new. They tried to persuade me to take a couch/sofa/chesterfield with me, but I suspected it might exceed my checked luggage limit. (Anybody need a gently used couch? I can put you in touch with them.)
  • Meant to attend the evening service at Church of the Rock, for old times' sake and to say hi to a bunch of people, but CFAM 950 (the station my parents' vehicles are set to) was forecasting a blizzard for southern Manitoba, so I headed home. The blizzard never materialized; needless to say, I felt gypped. Mom & Dad went to a Christmas banquet, so Perry, who had driven home by then, watched TV, and I read the paper.
Sun, Dec 14 ~ Christmas Day
  • What, you thought Christmas was Dec 25? No way, it's whenever you decide it will be. Besides, isn't it supposed to be Christmas in our hearts all year long? Went to church with Mom & Dad, saw a number of relatives and friends, including Martha. Lori S. must've still been battling bugs--"terrorist germs" she called them (WMD on imported Christmas oranges)--because I didn't see her.
  • After a meal of tender turkey (I had a tiny piece), stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn, and cookies for desssert, most of us took naps so that we were rested up for our gift exchange.
Mon, Dec 15
  • It was so blinkin' cold that the furthest we ventured was the Co-op, and that was by car.
  • Gwen dashed over from school at lunchtime. Too bad I couldn't stick around for the upcoming Friesen gathering.
  • Since the weather outside was frightful, Carol D. and I caught up by telephone, instead of in-person as we'd originally planned. It seemed a bit fairer that way, too, since Susan had other commitments; the three of us worked together years ago, and still get together for dinner/supper whenever we can. Carol informed me that McNally Robinson moved from Portage Place to Polo Park, and that the Polo Park food court was renovated. It now includes Cultures. So Cultures is back. In the late '80s, early '90s, Portage Place and St. Vital both boasted a Cultures. When we moved to Ottawa the first time, in 2000, there was a Cultures at Bayshore, but somewhere along the way it disappeared, 'cause it wasn't there last time I checked. Wasn't Brian Orser behind the chain?
  • Dad & Mom and I stayed up until midnight watching game show reruns: Deal or No Deal and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. I chewed out the Millionaire contestant who didn't know what the F stood for in FAQ. I was only slightly less miffed at the one who guessed that cerulean was a shade of yellow. (That would be saffron, bozo!) (Oh the useless facts I know.)
Tue, Dec 16
  • Renée called and we resumed the conversation(s) we'd started on Friday evening. One topic had to do with bawling over botched haircuts. I confessed that when my previous hair stylist left the shop without warning (to me, anyway), I stalked her on Facebook (without success), because she had known how to do my hair perfectly. Renée shared that recently, when she made the comment that something was perfect, her oldest child had corrected her (and I paraphrase): "No, Mom, nobody/nothing is perfect; only God is perfect. Things don't always have to be perfect." That's such wise advice coming from a young'un that I'm making it my mantra: "It doesn't have to be perfect."
  • Mom convinced Dad that we needed to go to Winnipeg to get a replacement pipe for his workshop. We stopped at Wal-Mart on Kenaston, but the express lane extended all the way to the jewelry department, so we basically turned tail and ran.
  • I spent a delightful hour at Ellen's. I felt quite honored that she could schedule me in between two parties and a newsletter; must be part of her "enjoying the moment" holiday philosophy. Neve was so cute: she yanked the door open before I could ring the bell! We covered many topics, but I forgot to ask her how she went about changing the background on her blog (darn!). I hadn't visited since before the infamous house renos, so I poked my head upstairs. Those kids have it good--their rooms have all been painted and decorated to suit their individual styles. Very cool. Knowing that I'd really wanted to bring chocolates for the kids, but was prevented from so doing by the intimidatingly long Wal-Mart line (which included Hutterites or Old Order Mennonites or schneppeldüch-wearing women of some sort), my parents came to the rescue when they picked me up.
  • We then headed to Polo Park, where the sole thing I bought was a strawberry smoothie at the freshly-returned-to-Winnipeg Cultures. So much for my grand shopping expectations.
Wed, Dec 17
  • Got up at quarter after 4am, packed up a duffel bag of farmer sausage, noodles (both of Winkler origins), and a 1.42 L refill of Ivory liquid hand soap (which the store shelves out here are boycotting).
  • Stopped for breakfast at McDonald's.
  • I panicked when we got to the airport, because the check-in line-up was the longest I've ever seen it. My heart was racing as fast as it used to in those nightmares about missing the school bus. The airport employee whose job it was to walk around asking everyone if they already had their boarding passes told me there was lots of time; it turned out he was right, much to my relief. It was a pleasant surprise to find out my seat was in row 19, the row of the emergency exit--more leg room!--and nobody had the seat next to mine. Conversely, it was not so pleasant to discover that the whiny little child I first heard in line for security was on the same flight. Fortunately for me, he and his entire family (I counted 5 kids) were several rows behind me. I take the whole emergency exit responsibility quite seriously: I familiarized myself with the evacuation procedures. I vigilantly peered through the window on the lookout for other aircraft spiralling out of control. I was attuned to every small air pocket and hint of turbulence. This went on for about 5 minutes, until I glanced over at the two young men on the other side of the aisle: one was sacked out against the window, using his parka as a pillow; the other was pillowing his cheek in his hand. If you can't beat'em, join'em, they say, so I napped. I think airlines should really run a simulation, though, for the people seated at the exits. How do I know if I'd remain calm and collected enough in the event of an emergency to follow through step-by-step? How do I know that those guys wouldn't have slept through a disaster? Maybe the airlines are thinking, "It doesn't have to be perfect."
  • However, nothing out of the ordinary occurred (I'd like to point out here that the captain was a woman), and we arrived more or less on time: there was a 10-minute delay while the snow removal crew blazed a trail through the fresh white stuff. James observed that it snows whenever he has to take me to or pick me up from the airport. So it goes.
  • It's great to go on vacation, but it's always great to get back from it, too!

Saturday, December 13, 2008

morning at the mall

My laptop's still on Central Time, so tomorrow is already today.

If the weather cooperates, I'll be hanging out at the Tim Horton's at the St. Vital Centre food court from 9:30am to noon. It's always such a rush-around, and I never have time to see everyone I'd like to see when I'm out for holidays; therefore, I came up with a plan. My plan was to create a Facebook "event," and invite people to meet me at the mall before or after they do their Christmas shopping. It may turn out to be a very bad idea, but you'll have to credit me for giving people the opportunity to say hi. It will be a test of sorts, a social experiment, to see how many people actually mean it when they say, "We should get together next time you're in town." I think I shall compile statistics and share the results of my study. Then again, maybe I won't.

Friday, December 12, 2008

play-by-play: Nov 30 to Dec 6

Dec 1-3 - my last three days of work for the Fall 2008 term.

Dec 4 - spent the entire morning of my first day of vacation glued in front of the TV watching a bodyguard pull shut the doors to the Governor General's residence because they kept blowing open in the fierce wind as the press waited for Prime Minister Harper to appear and inform them whether or not he had indeed persuaded the GG to prorogue Parliament. (Celina and I discussed the notion that "perogy-ing" Parliamentarians might knock more sense into them.)

Dec 5 - Shauna called to say she and Derek had had their fourth child the day before--a new baby brother for the other kids! James worked from home in the afternoon so that I could drive around, unloading a bagful of stuff at the Thrift Store, and hitting up IKEA for a round rug for underneath our Christmas tree. It's a 6-foot fibre optic tree we bought for $30 at a neighbor's moving sale in July. We're totally thrilled, because we could never afford/fit a Christmas tree in our apartment. A friend of ours asked me last year what spiritual significance the Christmas tree had, and I said it was a good question, I couldn't think of any and I'd have to look it up (actually, I vaguely remember reading somewhere that Christians borrowed the trees from what was originally a pagan tradition). I still haven't decided if I attach so much importance to it because I'm influenced by rampant consumerism or the pursuit of aesthetic excellence. (I'd like to think the latter. You might beg to differ when I get around to posting pictures of the tree in question.)

Dec 6 - In preparation for my trip to Manitoba, I booked a manicure with my favorite aesthetician, Joanne. She's another one of these amazing women: she juggles motherhood (four kids, the youngest one having been born this past spring) and a part-time business. I got a French manicure, which lasted for all of 3 days before the polish began chipping off. It was probably the frequent hand-washing--I was determined not to catch a cold before I left.

And that should bring me almost up-to-date.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

more catch-up: week of Nov 23-29

Tuesday, Nov 25 - Happy things: Perry's birthday! Sad things: The company James works for is still making money, but due to pervasive talk about economic recessions, it laid off 8% of its employees (17). James's status remains unchanged.

Wednesday, Nov 26 - GayleR's birthday! (my former colleague) I worked a one-day learning event with another computer interpreter. The organization left a lot to be desired, but the money will be welcome.

Saturday, Nov 29 - James went in to work for a few hours, so I took the bus to a nearby church to drop off my Operation Christmas Child shoebox. It was the last day to do so. Usually I get mine in long before the deadline, but this year it was down the wire. We met Marcie and Craig for Chinese food; after supper the four of us caught the 7pm showing of "Quantum Solace." We'll have to rent it sometime, because the theatre was so full and we got seats so far up front that it was difficult to take in all the action sequences.

And so another week reached its conclusion.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

two weeks ago: Nov 16-22

Things have been on the busy side, what with the winding down of the Fall term and planning for Christmas. Here's a synopsis of recent highlights and events:

  • Sunday, Nov 16 - The Barrhaven Santa Claus Parade started at 5:30pm; we went last year, too, so it looks like this is becoming an annual event for us. The floats line up along Chapman Mills, which is basically next door to us. We stopped at Starbucks before walking down Strandherd. We walked quite a distance, since lots of young families with strollers lined up, understandably, near the front part of the parade route. It was less windy than last year, but colder. I was hoping parents had bundled up their kids well enough to withstand the chill. Last year's parade was captured on video (I've tried watching it before and it took too long to download the whole thing, so don't click that link unless you truly want to waste precious time). This year someone posted photos on Flickr. Whoever took these photos is a genius with the camera, 'cause the real thing didn't seem half so spectacular.
  • Tuesday, Nov 18 - a Winnipeg friend of ours underwent surgery for cancer. Many people were and still are praying for and thinking about her, as her CaringBridge Website journal (blog) and guestbook attest.
  • Thursday, Nov 20 - I convinced a reluctant James to accompany me downtown to the UM Alumni Association Event at the Chauteau Laurier from 6-8pm. He's a much better mingler than I am. While I was checking my coat, he was off mixing it up with Dean Doug Ruth and staff and former grads of Engineering. We met Rod Bruinooge, MP for Winnipeg South (our former riding). We caught glimpses of Gary Filmon, former premier of Manitoba, in the midst of a throng of people - reminiscing about Filmon Fridays of yore, perhaps. Marcie and Craig found us about halfway through the evening, and the photographer took a photo of the four of us.
  • Friday, Nov 21 - I debated about including this here, since it's a minor happenstance, but I stumbled upon The Body Shop's buy 2 get 1 free sale. Last winter I raved about the cranberry-scented liquid hand soap I bought - it's so festive, I gushed - and it's only available during the winter holidays. As with so many things, my memory grossly exaggerated the appeal of the soap. It's OK, I guess, but James keeps remarking that the bathroom smells like ammonia. Not the scent-sation I was aiming for. Nov 21 was also historic in that it marked the first time I've gone to bed at 9pm since I was...in junior high?
  • Saturday, Nov 22 - I woke up so well-rested, I vowed I should go to sleep at 9pm every night. (Sure.) We drove to Merivale for something completely different, but ended up at the Linens'N'Things going out of business sale. We picked up a few deals: a storage ottoman & an espresso-colored throw that fits into it for downstairs. It's too bad the store's going out of business, because it was part of the triple crown of home stores on Merivale, which included Home Sense and Home Outfitters. (There's also Pier 1, but it's usually out of my league.) We met Dave & Ci for supper at Mexicali Rosa's. Nicole joined us for dessert (fried ice-cream). It bills itself as serving "California-style Mexican food," meaning it only burns once. Anybody remember Chi-Chi's at Polo Park? (Sheesh, that's where I went for one of my first dates ever!) Mexicali Rosa's is sort of like that: good food, but not authentically spicy.
So that's a bit of catch-up; stand by for a bit more.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Remembrance Day

This evening I spoke to two Winnipeg friends via telephone. Both found it strange that James and I had to work today. One went so far to say that it seemed "disrespectful." I myself have been quite puzzled that, of all places, Ottawa, with all its pomp and circumstance, would be the city where working/studying on Remembrance Day is the norm. Perhaps it's because otherwise the ceremonies would be flooded with locals, and then how would they accommodate us all? I guess not all offices were open, because OC Transpo service was reduced to "holiday schedule."

Sometimes I feel like a lone pacifist, surrounded by a sea of DND buildings. My longstanding inside joke with James has been "all roads lead to DND." That's because in our first two weeks here in 2000, as I was getting acquainted with downtown, it seemed that on every corner was a Dept. of National Defence office. Across from every other corner on which stood a Tim Horton's. I was probably just running around in circles.

Nevertheless, I did donate to the Legion and wear a poppy. The man volunteering at the table in the entrance of Loeb pinned it to my jacket, and did he ever do a great job, 'cause it's still there! Also, I did watch part of a documentary yesterday evening on the Vampire Dugout from World War I.

Aside from that, my thoughts turned briefly to literature I've read that addresses war. Three books that stick out in my mind:
  • L.M. Montgomery, Rilla of Ingleside - depicts life during WWI primarily from the perspectives of females--mothers, sisters, and daughters--who are "keeping the faith" at home while their men go off to war (summary). One of my favorite characters died in this novel.
  • Charles Yale Harrison, Generals Die in Bed - stark, simple sentences, naturalistic symbolism (if I correctly remember my litcrit terms; summary).
  • Dalton Trumbo, Johnny Got His Gun - I read this novel for a first-year Psychology class (Prof. Marcuse believed in interdisciplinarity, I guess), and it haunts me still. The story of a soldier who is nothing but a shell, no arms, no legs, hardly a face, but his mind still works. He communicates in Morse code, but when hospital staff finally understand what he wants, they can't comply, and they resort to sedating him (plot summary).

Sunday, November 9, 2008

beachcomber

I was rather hoping that L and Celina would chime in for my Winnipeg sightseeing list--both of them have perfected the art of being tourists in their own town. Maybe next time. As it turned out, Nicole and her co-worker were limited in what they could do after work. For example, shops at The Forks are only open until 6pm, although from what I gather, the visitors did get to the Christmas Traditions store a few minutes before closing. They also went out to dinner there at The Beachcomber. Apparently someone's resurrected this restaurant/lounge and relocated it to the former Branigan's, because I remember it from waaaayyyy back. Not that I've ever actually dined there: it was just that the #62 bus drove right by it on Carlton, and the Beachcomber sign was distinctive (as was the dim lighting visible). I think a former colleague, Kathy P. from KPMG, told me she'd waitressed there after high school and met her husband in the process. I always secretly wondered if perhaps the name was a tribute to the Beachcombers TV show. Yay, Bruno Gerussi! Anyway, from the sounds of this Winnipeg Sun review, the restaurant's not worth the trip. Neither was Branigan's. Maybe putting in a Salisbury House on the Esplanade Riel wasn't such a bad idea after all. Yay, Burton Cummings! By the by, for anyone interested in comparing the performers' mustaches, click on these links to images of Bruno and Burton.

Friday, October 31, 2008

Happy Halloween

C'est la fête de l'Halloween!

Seeing 1.) Logan in the adorable bumble bee costume that Tawny made for him, and 2.) Ellen's trio in their creative trick-or-treat garb put me in a much more receptive state this year, so I'm actually prepared to answer the doorbell and hand out candy--up until such a time as all my friendly neighborhood spiderkids have made their rounds. Or until the kids who need to start shaving come calling. I'm all for "cute Halloween"; I'm not a fan of "scary Halloween."

Here at our house, it's a bit of a last-minute, makeshift deal as far as decorating is concerned. Neighbors have had their pumpkins and fake spider webs up for weeks. I'm relying on the naturally occurring spider webs and spiders that congregate around our front door. Also, I just stuck a little stuffed cat in an orange flowerpot with a hand-lettered greeting taped to the back of an old picture frame on the doorstep.

In my defense, I did walk over to Loeb earlier to see if they had any pumpkins left, but they were all sold out. (I waited until today, because I thought I'd have the car to do errands--but that's another story.) I have a hard time believing that all the pumpkins we saw in the stores and even in the fields last weekend have found homes to take them in. Looking on the bright side, I don't have to worry about "doing something" with the pumpkin afterwards. It's difficult enough for me to keep up with reincarnating my elderly bananas as muffins.

The chocolate bars and twizzlers I bought this afternoon from Shoppers are the real deal, though. (I've learned once again that lack of willpower and buying Reese's peanut butter cups well in advance of Oct 31 do not make for a good combination.) I'm also handing out tiny boxes of Sun Maid raisins, because I know there are a few health-conscious parents on the street, and, more importantly, I find the miniature boxes irresistibly cute. (One of my own cherished childhood Halloween memories is of hating the raisins but loving the box.) Hey, if the kids don't want to eat raisins, they don't have to: they can add them to oatmeal cookies or mix them with other trail mix foodstuffs.

Just caught a glimpse of my eccentric neighbor-across-the-street's grandson in a Peter Pan costume--wait, maybe it's Robin Hood, 'cause there's a bow involved. His grandma looks like she's dressed as an A&W carhop. His dad's not dressed at all--I mean, not dressed up at all, but then again, he's the one who snowblows in shorts. Hmm, grandma just left with a backpack. Maybe she moonlights at A&W, since her day job involves administration at a school.

I do hope I haven't bought all these treats for naught. Fortunately, it's a bewitching 14 degrees right now, and a welcome change from the freaky snow (freakin' is more like it) we had Tuesday night/Wednesday morning.

Whether you're tricking or treating or hiding in the basement with all the lights turned out, keep safe and have fun!

Update
By my count, 61 gremlins turned up at our door this evening. There weren't as many little ones as I'd thought. The majority of the costumes were run-of-the-mill. The little kids stumbling to the door in their flashing runners are cute no matter what they wear. Noteworthy among the older kids was the doctor, making the rounds all by himself, and a young woman (no doubt old enough to shave her legs) who was wearing a sleeveless black shift with golden wings (a bee? a fairy? a dark angel?), in the middle of a ring of kids.

Peter Pan/Robin Hood was my first victim--I mean visitor. I had already put treats in his bucket when he stepped into my entrance and grabbed a second box of Sun Maid raisins, saying, "I really like these." I don't think he's old enough to have said that ironically. He told me he was the Green Arrow. Hmm, never heard of him before.

One little girl came to the door wearing a coat over most of her costume. I saw something tiara-like sitting on her head, so I asked her, "Are you a princess?" "No, a devil," says she, "you silly goose," she might as well have added. Come to think of it, princesses usually wear pink, not red.

I warned a group of 'tweens? teens? not to piss off the neighbors by cutting across the lawns. They seemed really surprised about that. No wonder, because the next trick-or-treater was accompanied by her dad, and it was the dad who led the way right*across*the*lawn (argggh!). Some of those baggies and pillowcases I saw were heavily weighed down by the time 8 o'clock rolled around and I switched off our light.

So that's that for at least another year.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

guess who's coming for dinner?

Nope, it's not me. Not yet, anyway.
And it's not really dinner per se. It may be a few dinners, I don't know at this point.

Since I'm sure you have better things to do with your time than guess, I'll give you the lowdown straight up: An Ottawa friend of mine and a colleague of hers will be flying to Winnipeg for work for a few days sometime at the beginning of November. I'm compiling a list of venues that she might want to check out during her short stay, and I'm asking for input from my readers, please (if I still have any after my sporadic posting the last while).

What Winnipeg restaurants, attractions, or activities would you recommend to an out-of-towner? (She's vegetarian, will be staying at the Fairmont, and will be working during the day. I have no idea if she and her colleague will rent a car or rely on taxis.)

Here are some ideas so far:

Restaurants
  • Mondragon
  • Underground Café - is it open at night?
  • Baked Expectations - mmm, I want cheesecake just thinking about it (I have yet to find an Ottawa equivalent)
  • King's Head Pub - members of the Choi Kwang Do club I once went to used to hang out there, and the 2nd floor is a Fringe Festival venue
  • The Royal Crown Revolving Restaurant - OK, I've only been once, and it was so long ago, I can't for the life of me remember whether or not the food was satisfying. I vaguely remember thinking that it was rather neat to gaze out over the city. I'm guessing it's overpriced.
Cultural
  • Manitoba Museum & Planetarium
  • The WAG (Winnipeg Art Gallery) - do they still waive admission fees on Wednesday evenings, or is that a thing of the past?
  • MTC (Manitoba Theatre Centre) - I see Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice is playing until Nov 8
  • The Forks - anybody know if the Christmas Traditions store is still there?
  • Corydon Avenue (little Italy) - 'cause she's Italian and may want gelati - either Nucci's or not-Nucci's (the way a friend of mine refers to GG Gelati).
    I suppose I could have placed this under restaurants, too, although I'm not all that familiar with the ones that are there. I've eaten at Colosseo's once or twice, enjoyed it, and used to like the Roasting House, but that was long ago, before it become Roca Jack's Coffee Co-Roasting House.
  • Manitoba Legislature and the Golden Boy - they may be limited to a quick drive-by, because unless things have changed, I would't expect the Leg (pronounced "ledge") after dark to be a safe place. Hey, when do the Christmas lights go up on Broadway?
  • Western Canada Aviation Museum - I've never been; have you?

Feel free to post your suggestions as "comments," or, if you'd rather, send them via e-mail.

Please keep in mind that this friend of mine will be visiting in November and has already referred to Winnipeg as "Winterpeg" (bah!), so river tours on the Paddlewheel Queen or by water taxi are probably inadvisable (even should they be operating).

As a side note, I'll be directing her to the following links:

More Ideas:
Thanks to Tawny and Perry for their suggestions.

Restaurants
  • Papa George's - according to a Yahoo! Travel review, this restaurant is "open really, really late."
  • Applebee's - 3 Winnipeg locations: 0 in Ottawa. I'd recommend the Santa Fe chicken salad (bet one could order it without chicken) or meatless quesadillas. The milkshakes are fantastic.
Cultural
  • MTS Centre - The "Upcoming Events" shows Bob Dylan for Nov 2, and the Aboriginal People's Choice Music Awards for Nov 7, not to mention the Trans-Siberian Orchestra on Nov 3. (Has anyone heard of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra before? More importantly, does anyone really refer to the MTS Centre by its full name, i.e., MTS/True North Sports & Entertainment? Maybe the additional mouthful is a precaution, just in case it ever goes the way of the former Corel Centre, now Scotia Bank Place, i.e., switching sponsors.)

In a class all by itself:
  • McNally Robinson (bookstore) and its Prairie Ink Restaurant - why just shop books when you can also indulge in carrot cake with cream cheese icing? I prefer the Grant Park location (who can argue with more space for more books?), but the Portage Place location is fine, too. A visit "home" without a stop at McNally is unthinkable.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Election Day

Just a quick reminder to go out and vote, if you haven't already done so. My mom is a poll registration clerk, so if you're voting in the metropolis of Rosenort/Riverside, make sure you bring your ID or bring someone who can vouch that you are who you say you are--which, in that case, could pretty much be anybody else that you meet in passing through the doors.

I haven't quite made up my mind yet re: my ballot, but I'm definitely going to vote, and I'm definitely swayed by the information on Michael Geist's blog concerning candidates who have supported the copyright pledge. While I'm sure there are lots of other pressing issues of concern, I've chosen to focus on copyright and postsecondary education.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving

Ottawa had amazing weather yesterday, with a sunny high of 21°C: a perfect Lord's day/day of rest/Thanksgiving Sunday. We had invited friends over a few weeks ago, but their plans ended up changing in the meanwhile, so we took advantage of the time to ourselves. After attending the late service at The Met (because James was up way too late enjoying his sound system, etc.) we returned home, changed clothes, ate lunch quickly, and then headed off - like the other copycats - to see the Fall Rhapsody at Gatineau Park. (If you follow the link to the NCC site, you can watch an instructional video entitled "Why do leaves change colour?" - very informative if it's been a while since you studied photosynthesis, etc.).

great minds think alike...or maybe it's fools seldom differ


near the beginning of the trail, looking left and right

Walking through tree-lined paths is always delightful, and every now and then we experienced a confetti of leaves showering down on us. Very cool. We spent about an hour and a half on the trail. Lots of cyclists were out, as were people with progeny and pooches.


dryads





It's a shame that more of the red maples are not obvious in the photos, although there were plenty of red leaves all over the ground, and the color meter indicates it's peak season. There's nothing like an Ottawa autumn, and I doubt the bright reds will ever cease to thrill me. I'll note, though, that the EasyWorship image projected on the screens yesterday morning was of a farmhouse & field, very flat landscape, very prairie-ish, and it became difficult for me to sing, 'cause I got all choked up wishing I was back home. Won't be long now - I've already booked my December flight.

cityscape on our way back to the Info Centre/parking lot

Today has been more overcast, with occasional sunny breaks. James has cleaned out and reorganized the garage, while I've looked after the l's - laundry, litterbox, and lilac tree. Darth and Curli enjoyed a taste of the outdoors while I watered the lilac and heaped more dirt around it. I pulled a few weeds and discovered the tiniest black slug on a leaf. Contrary to my first impulse, I did not squish it, but rather returned it to the grass, where it can continue to do its little slug stuff. I also baked bran muffins and made apple crisp. With the exception of the one guy who decided to sand wood in his front yard, and the other guy who cut his lawn, the neighborhood has been relatively quiet all day, so I guess everybody's children must have been celebrating the holiday with their grandparents or at the family cottage. I'm just now hearing the sounds that usually signify Roman, Cedric, and sometimes Ferris are preparing to engage in swordplay (the plastic light-sabre variety). As far as I know, the only store open today was Shoppers Drug Mart, and it was extremely busy. (I know: I ran over for oil and raisins.)

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! Here's to a short week ahead!

Thursday, September 4, 2008

boobage

Remember when crack was hailed as the new cleavage? Seemed like yesterday, so I was surprised to find the notion had surfaced as early as 2002--although iterations on the same theme have persisted into 2004 and 2008. Shannon Rupp, author of the 2004 article, entitled "Plumbing the History of the New Cleavage: Low-slung trousers are hot but I see a bad moon rising," relates that one of her colleagues blames Madonna for the sorry state of society's fashion; an unfair charge, according to Rupp, although she does credit the Material Girl with popularizing underwear as outerwear.

If that's the case, should we hold Janet Jackson accountable for this summer's outbreak of boobage? I know it's been over 4 years since the infamous "wardrobe malfunction" (I only know that because I discovered it via Wikipedia), but like everything else pop culture, fashion cycles stretch out a few years, don't they?

Meredith Blake seems to think that fashion is pursuing a new demureness. I'm not convinced. Everywhere I look--and I don't mean to stare, but there they are, I'm surrounded--we're not talking mere cleavage anymore; no, this has progressed beyond cleavage to boobage. It's no longer a hint, it's a full frontal onslaught--full being the operative word here. If the current décolletage were a skirt, the slit would sit above the hip. Ha, if the current trend continues, Cretan corsetry will be next.

It's downright embarrassing, but I'm now more deft at noticing boobage than my husband. Mind you, it requires no keen observational skills these days. It makes me want to sew dickeys into the tops of all these meagrely clad women. Never before have I considered myself a prude; decorous, OK, but not prudish. After all, whom did Raechelle (of all people!) warn against leaning over the reception desk when wearing a certain deep blue blouse?

Maybe I'm just jealous, in my advanced 39-forever state, of all those pretty young women with their flawless creamy white or milk chocolatey bosoms.

Whew. Thanks for letting me get this off my chest.

Sunday, August 31, 2008

i am green today

Anyone else haunted by that commercial for Dell computers? It's got a catchy tune. After Googling "i am green today," I discovered that (a) I'm not the only one who appreciates it, and (b) the jingle's lifted from Kira Willey's "Colors." (The complete version is available via a link via the link I just posted. Or you can just go directly to YouTube and search for "i am green today" in quotation marks.) Actually, the lyrics of the song--make that of the first verse--are inventively fresh; for the second half, unfortunately, they degenerate into clichés.

Anyway...we were mostly green all weekend. I wish I could say that meant green as in environmentally friendly/conscious. What I really mean is we spent a lot of time scraping green latex from behind our fingernails.


The whole shebang began last weekend, when, after months of deliberation (much of which was spent negotiating the color scheme with his wife), James decided to transform the basement into the home theatre of his dreams. You may remember it as it appeared on an evening in February. He managed to disassemble everything in two days; quite a remarkable feat, given all those cables. Next came the running the electrical under the carpet, the drilling and subsequent patching of specially designed outlets to hide aforesaid wiring, and lo and behold, by the time the long weekend rolled around, it was time to paint.

Options for paint have improved. I tried out some of Benjamin Moore's Aura (eco paint), loved the fact that it's low in VOCs, practically odor-free, and would recommend it to anyone who's not counting coin. Or who's more concerned about the macrocosmic payoff than the moolah. (At $25/litre Aura vs. $20/litre Premium, OK, not bad, but at $75/gallon Aura vs. $50/gallon Premium, and it adds up.) It's supposed to cover in one coat, which would seal it as the more economical route; however, perhaps owing to my inexperience, perhaps not, it didn't do the trick. So we settled for second best. You can't always get what you want...

What Not to Wear
A photo wherein I test the theory--and prove beyond the shadow of a doubt--that plaid does make me look fat, and by corollary, plaid and stripes should not be worn together unless for Clash Day during Spirit Week.


Round 2


Reassembly Required

check out recently purchased area rug

...But if you try sometimes you might find / You get what you need

Finished Product
We are amateurs--this is only the second basement we've done, and the first was a more forgiving "oat straw" yellow--so don't scrutinize the edging or ceiling. Do, however, check out the next-to-nothing (i.e., minimally visible) cabling and the track lighting.

The Métis flag, courtesy of Duane & Celina, is supposed to be a temporary fixture. We received an estimate on blinds, regular lite-rise as well as the remote-controlled versions; since the latter would be an additional $500, I strongly suspect we'll go with the first option. But I think we'd better wait until I start earning wages again.

So that was how we spent Saturday and Sunday afternoons. As one revered philosopher has observed, "It's not easy being green." For the main floor, including high entrance ceiling and challenging stairwell, we'll call the professionals.

Just for the record (and because I love color names):
We used Bejamin Moore's "mossy oak" (CC-600) for the four main walls, and "grasslands" (CC-590) for the alcove created by the stairwell, in which our IKEA cupboard nestles, as well as for the wall that hugs the stairwell about halfway up. It makes for an easier transition from the (as yet) builder's white primer and the dark theatre room.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

puppy love

James and Bailey at the cabin

Another vacation photo. Nobody has the heart to inform Bailey, 60 lbs. of sinewy muscle and sweet temperament, that she is not a lapdog.

gratification

Yes! One of my piecemeal summertime projects has progressed to the point where it has shape and substance.

One of my positions while I worked at the University of Manitoba (UM) involved coordinating the Mauro Centre's North American Conflict Resolution student exchange--NACR for short. (Its official title was much lengthier.) In that capacity, I guided students, outgoing and incoming, through the process of studying abroad under the terms of that particular HRSDC-funded international mobility agreement.

I've kept in touch with most of the exchange participants (primarily via Facebook; I travel vicariously through their photographs), and with the directors and staff at the Mauro Centre as well. Earlier this summer, the Associate Director contacted me to see if I'd like to write some text to develop the exchange pages on the MC Web site. It involved corresponding with the former participants--or "exchange alumni," if you prefer (and I believe the Assoc. Director does prefer the latter).

So I'm inviting anyone who's interested to check out the following pages before anyone else comes along and messes with them:
The pages follow a UM standard template for layout, and there's a Web developer who "publishes" the chunks of text and photographs I forward to him. The photos just went up today, hence my high level of excitement. There are supposed to be captions under them, too, so that, for instance, viewers will know that Steven is shaking hands with Hon. John Manley, Former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, that Nicole is at Queretaro, and that Jason & Erika are somewhere in Colima.

There's more that could be done, but all I can say for now is a resounding "Yay!"

Saturday, August 23, 2008

tales from the chyc: there and back

there and back: July 31-August 9
~ or the post that I've plugged away at for days ~

Herein lie the details of our vacation. You're welcome to read on, but don't feel obligated to absorb it all. It's a way of thanking those people we did see, and making excuses for our behavior to those we didn't.

We enjoyed our vacation in Manitoba! Our itinerary was not precisely set in stone, but because James had not seen his parents since March 2007 (and my family visited us in May), we'd decided we'd spend the majority of our time with his family.

some of the loot we brought back
(missing from photo: a 2nd can of Good Host Iced Tea, 4 pkgs of farmer sausage,
pickerel fillets, and 1 lb. of New Bothwell fresh "squeaky" cheese)

A week goes by so quickly! Here's how it played out:

Thursday, July 31 - raced home (not that the word "race" really applies to my public transit experience) after my final Intermediate 1A French exam (which I expect I did miserably on), and threw the last few items in my carry-on. We were graciously carted to the airport by Dave & Ci. Our flight left on time, but arrived a few minutes late at the Winnipeg airport. As it turned out, all incoming flights to Winnipeg that same day appeared to have been scheduled to arrive between 10 and 11pm, so just a few moments after Mom & Dad greeted us, we were able to turn around and greet Gwen and Wraith, back from a European tour. That was the first bonus encounter. We stayed in Rosenort for the night.

Friday, August 1
  • We slept in, had breakfast, and took off to UM, where we enjoyed lunch at Degrees with Randy H.
  • James then hung around ENGAP for a bit, while I ran over to the Mauro Centre for a quick gab session with Gayle and Pauline.
  • Then off to see Diana & Ken, where we enjoyed a Black Forest parfait before
  • dinner with Jacquie at Applebee's, Grant Park. (Sadly, there are no Applebee's restaurants in Ottawa at present.)
  • Of course we had to make time to browse in my favorite independent bookstore of all time, McNally Robinson. After all, a trip to Winnipeg without stopping at McNally Robinson is like a day without sunshine or a fish without a bicycle.

Saturday, August 2
  • My dad and his siblings and their spouses get together for breakfast in Winnipeg the first Saturday of every month. We joined them this time around. My cousin Shauna met us there, too. (Thanks, Shauna!--in case you're lurking.) I'm so glad I got to see everyone again.
  • Afterwards, we headed to St. Vital Shopping Centre, where I searched (in vain) for a new bathing suit. Really, it was just a new swim top I needed. (The elastic on my old one is giving way.) Wal-Mart had fantastic prices but pathetic selection, while the Swim Store had slightly more selection, but there was no way I was paying $72.99 for a suit of which I wasn't particularly fond.
  • However, our trip to the mall was not a total washout. I did remember reading about Team T-Lo's Saturday morning routine. I checked my watch, and lo and behold, it was 11:30am, so I hurried over to the Playpark, and what to my wondering eyes did appear but Tawny and those two guys she holds dear! That was another one of those unplanned bonus encounters.
  • Soon after that we sped off to Duane & Celina's, where we spent the better part of the afternoon nibbling on snacks, spinning around the block in a fast, flashy car at warp speed, and dining at The Country Burger. They also presented me with a package of goodies: the Barrel of Monkeys, the Burt's Bees pack, the Barbie stickers, the stories by Miranda July (yellow book), and the gel pens which made it into the photo, as well as the Love's Baby Soft spray which did not. All items had been carefully selected so that I could recapture my fleeting youth. (Thanks, you two kindred spirits! Seeing you again was way more fun than a Barrel of Monkeys!)
  • Our next stop was Church of the Rock. The newlywedded Hamm-sters were leading worship (and a very cute couple they make); Derek was on electric guitar, which he had taught himself to play just that week (add that to all the other instruments he already plays and, seriously, the guy is a one-man band); I recognized Brenda & Ray, but the other musicians were unfamiliar to me; and Chuck was on audio. Assoc. Pastor Duane M. all but confessed his addiction for everything Coca-Cola, drawing on the former slogan "It's the real thing" as inspiration for his message.
  • Following that, Derek, Tim & Marcia, Cindy, Chuck & Wendy & kids, and James & I headed over to (warning: annoying intro at following Web link) Tony Roma's lounge for a round of appetizers and iced tea, where we were served by my stunning cousin Andrea--a third serendipitous encounter. (As I told Cindy, I don't make a practice of hugging restaurant servers, but I hadn't seen Andrea for a couple of years at least.)
Sunday, August 3
  • We left for Dauphin late morning, arriving at Michelle & Brian's at about 3pm. Dad C., James, Joshua, Nathan, and I walked over to pick up Baba from the Care Home, where our fourth unplanned encounter occurred. Baba's sister's daughter, Liz, and her husband Terry and daughter Tasha were in town (from Toronto) to visit other relatives, and had stopped by to see Baba. The three of them walked back to Michelle & Brian's with us for a short visit. We had a great supper and headed to the farm for night.
Monday, August 4
  • We spent a leisurely day at James's parents' place. Mom C. hosted a BBQ on their enclosed deck for supper. The food was excellent, and the whole family was there. We hadn't seen Stephen or Sean for ages, so it was great to see them again, and we finally got to meet Stephen's girlfriend, Nicole. (It's easy to see why everybody's smitten with her.)
  • Supper was hardly over when "de boys"--James, Glenn, and Sean (who got the seat that wasn't really a seat)--took off in the truck to go fishing at the cabin. "De girls"--Kim, Bailey-pup, and I--followed in Glenn & Kim's vehicle. It's about a 45-minute ride. We had reason to be proud of our fishermen: the guys caught 4 pickerel. We ended off the evening playing dominoes and devouring tortilla chips accompanied by Kim's yummy homemade salsa.
Tuesday, August 5
  • The sun had barely risen before Glenn and James returned to the water. I was only too content to hang out with Kim on the deck, talking and reading. Michelle, Breanne, and Nathan drove out for the afternoon. (Joshua stayed behind with Grandma & Poppa and the dogs.) Diane, Kim's mom, made her appearance, too; I think we'd last seen her at Christmas 2006. It's always good to see her, and somehow she never shows up without a stash of her famously delicious butter tarts! We swam, snacked, and sunned--three of my favorite "s" words. The guys ended up catching more fish, so Kim treated us to a supper of pickerel, rice, and Caesar salad. Nobody fillets fish better than Glenn--literally, not a single bone to pick with that meal. Dessert was a banana split cake, something Nicole had whipped up on the weekend. With the exception of a quick rainstorm right around suppertime, the weather was perfect.
Wednesday, August 6
  • Another day of R&R in ideal conditions. The whole camp was quieter than usual, because we visited during the week, and things tend to pick up on weekends. No complaints from us!.James & I headed back to the farm for supper.
Thursday, August 7
  • Off to the Dauphin mall, where James's Mom took me shopping for a crisp new "birthday suit." No, I didn't get botox injections. It consisted of denim capris, a cami, and a white blouse. I wore the latter two with shorts (it was too hot for anything but) on our afternoon excursion to
  • Selo Ukraina and Clear Lake. Some of you will know that Selo Ukraina Memorial Park and Ukrainian Heritage Village is the home of Canada's National Ukrainian Festival. It also serves as the site of Countryfest, which began as the brainchild of my parents-in-law. They were intensely involved in organizing it for many years, and James likes to tell stories of how he worked as a stagehand, thereby meeting the likes of Michelle Wright and Carlene Carter, among others. We took a few minutes to tour around the site and note the number of new bleachers and buildings that have been added recently. The FCA National Archery Tournament (Aug 7-10) was just getting underway; we left before we could be mistaken for targets.
Chychotas & Chitas
  • Upon our arrival at Clear Lake/Wasagaming, we had snacks, browsed the stores, breaked on the benches at the beach, and enjoyed supper at T.R. McCoy's. This restaurant review sums it up quite nicely, although I myself always order pizza. Two things disappointed me since my last visit: 1) they only open at 5pm (they used to open earlier, so that James & I could have lunch when we took the scenic route to Dauphin); and 2) the prices have increased significantly. The food, however, was scrumptious.
  • We ended the evening watching the sun go down from Brian & Michelle's deck.

part of my birthday suit

Friday, August 8
  • We left the farm around 8:30am, washed the truck and grabbed a Tim Horton's coffee in town, then headed back to my parents' place. We got there around 1pm. Of course, I always feel obliged to accompany my mom on at least one trip to the Rosenort Co-op, to say hi to Steve the butcher, who grew up in Aylmer, QC (now part of Gatineau), across the Ottawa River, and anyone else we might meet. Perry drove out for supper (my pre-birthday bash) and stayed at Mom & Dad's overnight. Otherwise we wouldn't have seen him this trip.
Saturday, August 9
  • We left for the city around 11am, Dad acting as chauffeur. James had arranged to meet Stevie T. at Tim Horton's/Wendy's on Kenaston at noon. Gwen met us there, too. We had a nice visit; before we knew it, two hours had flown by, and it was time for us to be off to the airport. Kenaston traffic presented me with a few anxious moments (I thought the underpass was supposed to fix everything), but we boarded on time. Unfortunately, our plane's flight schedule had "disappeared," so we had to wait 15-20 minutes longer than anticipated before takeoff. Good thing I had the newspaper and my book to keep me occupied, because I dislike sitting in a stationary plane.
Thanks to everyone that hosted us, especially our families!
If we didn't get to see you, or if we did see you but not for long enough, my apologies. Let's see what we can do next time around.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

cat tales

~ a post for Perry ~

What to do if you're a cat and it's a clear & cloudy July 27, with a high of about 25˚C? Why, you whine and howl and scratch at the patio door to be let out. Once you are, you seek out the dubiously shady comfort offered by the west side of the deck and cower in the corner of the air conditioner.



When the neighbor kids inevitably show up--they have a remarkable sixth sense about when you're out & about--you cry to be let back inside, 'cause you can't handle all that attention.

Note of interest:
By the way, Environment Canada keeps historical statistics at their Canadian Climate Data site. Just in case anyone ever gets into an argument about what the temperature, wind chill, or relative humidity was for a particular day.