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.

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:

• Student Exchanges (main page)
• NACR Program
• NACR Participants
  

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!"

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.

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.

the brotherhood of the travelling pants

Forget the sisterhood. (Well, not entirely, because someday I want to either read the books or watch the movies. But hold that thought.) We're talking more like "band of brothers, marching together" here. On July 19, James and his work buddies participated in a day of paintballing somewhere across the river in Gatineau Park. I don't remember hearing the name of the place, but after a quick and dirty Google search (gotta' love that Google), I think it must be Taktik Paintball.

This was the bottom line:


Actually, not too bad considering this was an all-day event, 8am to 6pm, and the guys were slithering through shrubbery and mud in conditions of heat and humidity. Reports have it there were two women present, but they preferred taking photos to taking shots in the head. Smart girls.

Anyway, when it came time to doing the laundry, I just pretended I was Kelly Ripa in the Tide commercial. (Except I don't use the 2x ultra; I use the "he - high efficiency" detergent for front-loading washers.) Yes, I did my spousely duty by the pants, but I absolutely refused to have anything to do with cleaning up the boots. I think they're still in a garbage bag in the basement. Don't think they'll walk away any time soon, more's the pity.