Why is New Year"s Eve one of those nights that has significance- I mean it's just a night- why is it built up into a big deal?
I guess on these so called "significant" days, like our birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years eve, Saturdays (kidding on this one), we are supposed to step back and ponder the significance of our lives-what we have been doing and what we hope to accomplish in the coming year. Or, I'm not sure we are supposed to, but I do. I also tend to reminisce about previous birthdays, Thanksgivings, Christmases or New Years eves- I think because it is a natural thing to do (right?) and also I guess also to see if things have improved.
So this morning when I was doing my power walk/run (running- not so much on account of bum knee, iron poor blood, snow flurries and ridiculously icy wind) I was reminded of a New Year's eve I had when I was about 17.
I remember it was icy cold,(it were the icy cold that jogged my memory this morning), and my brother, Howard, who is 18 months my junior and his two best friends at the time, Lorne and Jeff and I were in Sainte- Agathe -des- Monts, a small town in the Laurentians in northern Quebec. I'm not sure how we got into town. Lorne and Jeff, or rather their parents, had winterized cottages about 20 minutes away by car, so I don't know if we drove in or were dropped off or what. But the real question is not how, but WHY? Why indeed! Like I said, it was freezing cold- (the wind she blow blow blow) and it was dark, on account of it being eve in the winter. I was 17 so the boys must have been 16 and none of us could legally get a drink in a bar, even in Quebec. We had a mickey of something- southern comfort or some such rot, which we were passing between us. We also were too poor and cheap to go and eat in a restaurant, so we were just walking around aimlessly. I don't know why I was with them- I guess I had nothing to do so they said come along. I knew Lorne and Jeff sort of like brothers- we had grown up and spent the last 10 summers at the lake together. At one point or another during the last few years we, (and by that I mean the individuals in our small group of friends- about 4 or 5 girls and 4 or 5 guys) were sort of "romantically" and I use that word loosely, involved with each other in various couples, (and at that time all heterosexually, though today I'm sure we would have experimented with "bi" because that is what the cool kids do),because we are all coming of age, geographically isolated in the summer, and learning about sexuality, alcohol and marijuana, so it was a natural thing, right? So I had fooled around with both of them in a pretty innocent, "making out", sort of way (but not together- that would be kinky).
But really it was the guys who were good friends and they were undeniably and incorrigibly juvenile and immature (ya both dammit). They were laughing, playing with each other- skidding around on the icy streets, making farting noises, and getting drunk. But not drunk enough to take an interest in me. In fact I remember feeling blue, not just cause of the lack of circulation, but because I felt like such a loser. It was so cold and black and miserable and there was nowhere to go and nothing to do. I wanted to have a fun and interesting New Years Eve- cause NYE was a big deal and if your NYE went ok it meant things were ok and you were ok and normal and all, so-I wanted somebody -not my brother- do you mind! but one of the guys- Lorne or Jeff to hold hands with me, or walk with his arm around me and act like my boyfriend. I wanted a kiss on NYE as a minimum.
But it didn't happen. And I remember thinking- I could spin it as fun and cool to the outside world but I would know the truth. That I had nothing to do on NYE- and I had to hang out with my younger brother and his buddies, neither of whom was my boyfriend or even date, in the cold and dark and I didn't even get a kiss. I was a New Year's Eve Lonely Heart.
And even though tonight, Mr. Lovely and I will soon be going out for a New Years eve dinner with a group of very close friends and we will be inside (and hence warm) drink champagne, laugh and joke and ring in the New Year together and I believe I will get a kiss (I think Mr. Lovely will oblige), I look back on that NYE with a sadness and a longing- for my youth, for my innocence and naivete, for the edge, for the heartache and my resilience, and know that even though things are better in many ways that there was something bittersweet and important about that experience. It was sort of a big deal.
Tuesday 31 December 2013
Tuesday 24 December 2013
A Chicago Christmas Tale
A couple of years ago Meg and Phil couldn't come home for Christmas. They were just starting their clinical rotations in Chicago and had to work on Christmas day but had a few days off before that so we, ( Mr. L, Al , Ed & I) decided make the 7&1/2 hour trek to the windy city so we could all be together. If Mohammed won't go to the mountain, the mountain must come to Mohammed and all that. They lived in a dodgy part of town in an apartment complex that looked like it would make the perfect set for a murder thriller. I'm not even kidding. The elevator mostly didn't work and so you had to take the stairs which were dimly lit, (when lit) and had some wire fencing around the walls- don't ask me why. I ran the whole time I was in the stairwell, thinking this could be my last run ever. We met the owner of the apartment outside the building and he asked who we were and what we were doing there. Do you mind? Who wants to know? But he actually wanted to help us cause he told us that we were ok ( meaning we would probably live) if we went out of the building and turned right. "Left is Afghanistan, man". No, we did not want to go left- that's for darn sure. One day we decided to go for an outside run by the lake- right once out of the building. Here we are pre- run:
Tempted as I was, I have held back on making this photo our family Christmas card. (Plus Phil was taking the shot and he would need to be in it.) Since we were all staying in the apartment and were saving a bunch on accommodation (and rest on account of the creepiness of the place), for a treat, I used Hotwire and got us 3 rooms in a downtown Chicago hotel for the night of Dec 23. We also went out for a vegan meal at Karyn's on Green which served crazy "fude" like fake "crab" cake sliders and "chicken" legs made out of seitan or almond butter. It was really freaky but delicious. Phil and his buddy, Eugene, who joined us for dinner had enzymes- shots of digestive dietary supplements (ya vegan med students- kooky).
On Christmas eve morning, Al was still on the hunt for his secret Santa present. We do a secret Santa as our Christmas present giving one each, our then 9 year old friend E, (she is now 11 and still doing this for us, thanks E)- picked names out of a hat and emailed them to each of us -$25.00 max. The idea was to "get" the other person in approximately that amount of money. All of us almost always had to spend a bit more but the aim was to keep it small.
So off we went- out on the streets of Chicago first thing on Dec 24. It was a sunny, crisp morning and I was feeling euphoric, having had a good night's sleep cause I wasn't ascared of getting murdered and as as we cut across Millennium Park to get to the shopping area, the air had a truly magical quality. We were passing the Bean - awesome and it wasn't tourist town. Wow- what a place to have Christmas. I had wanted to get the family some famous Garrett's gourmet popcorn, (they now ship to Canada, btw- so happy days!) but wasn't quite sure where the store was- so Al and I were sort of rambling. It was pretty cool to be out somewhere new, urban, seeing different people, getting a new perspective on life at a time when we are normally so quiet, traditional and comfortable. There were Santas on many corners, ringing bells, lots of people out an about, big department stores with fanastical displays. A couple of neat things happened- by chance we found Garrett's- it was empty when we went in-not a soul in the place and by the time I had ordered and was paying for the multiple bags of popcorn- it was full- jammed up with people in line behind me and out the door. Where did these people come from?And so fast and quiet. Al said it was like being on the Trueman show with the extras coming late. Also Al and I went to Macy's- a beautiful 6 storey building with awnings and all the trimmings- it was so pretty and full of Christmas hoopla- music, lights, decorations, that I was delighted and wanted to experience it more fully. A full crowd was waiting for the elevator and Al was the last to get in and everybody except him had turned around to face the door and he said " Now that I have your attention" as though he had summoned them there. Everybody cracked up and there was this easy goodwill between strangers sharing a joke on the morning before Christmas. Great stuff.
That Christmas eve we had a vegetarian meal round a bridge table and my secret Santa present was Mabel (of the Mabeldoyoumind). My secret Santa got me for sure. Knew just what I wanted and needed.
So you you see where I'm going. Tradition is excellent and comforting but so is spicing it up and trying something different. You only live once and who knows- a change in perspective could be refreshing even on Christmas.
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| We're just trying to fit in, man, just trying to blend |
On Christmas eve morning, Al was still on the hunt for his secret Santa present. We do a secret Santa as our Christmas present giving one each, our then 9 year old friend E, (she is now 11 and still doing this for us, thanks E)- picked names out of a hat and emailed them to each of us -$25.00 max. The idea was to "get" the other person in approximately that amount of money. All of us almost always had to spend a bit more but the aim was to keep it small.
So off we went- out on the streets of Chicago first thing on Dec 24. It was a sunny, crisp morning and I was feeling euphoric, having had a good night's sleep cause I wasn't ascared of getting murdered and as as we cut across Millennium Park to get to the shopping area, the air had a truly magical quality. We were passing the Bean - awesome and it wasn't tourist town. Wow- what a place to have Christmas. I had wanted to get the family some famous Garrett's gourmet popcorn, (they now ship to Canada, btw- so happy days!) but wasn't quite sure where the store was- so Al and I were sort of rambling. It was pretty cool to be out somewhere new, urban, seeing different people, getting a new perspective on life at a time when we are normally so quiet, traditional and comfortable. There were Santas on many corners, ringing bells, lots of people out an about, big department stores with fanastical displays. A couple of neat things happened- by chance we found Garrett's- it was empty when we went in-not a soul in the place and by the time I had ordered and was paying for the multiple bags of popcorn- it was full- jammed up with people in line behind me and out the door. Where did these people come from?And so fast and quiet. Al said it was like being on the Trueman show with the extras coming late. Also Al and I went to Macy's- a beautiful 6 storey building with awnings and all the trimmings- it was so pretty and full of Christmas hoopla- music, lights, decorations, that I was delighted and wanted to experience it more fully. A full crowd was waiting for the elevator and Al was the last to get in and everybody except him had turned around to face the door and he said " Now that I have your attention" as though he had summoned them there. Everybody cracked up and there was this easy goodwill between strangers sharing a joke on the morning before Christmas. Great stuff.
That Christmas eve we had a vegetarian meal round a bridge table and my secret Santa present was Mabel (of the Mabeldoyoumind). My secret Santa got me for sure. Knew just what I wanted and needed.
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| Sally and Mabel |
Monday 9 December 2013
The McQueen/Fassbender Combination of Despair.
I love Michael Fassbender:
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| Michael in leather. |
and I love Steve McQueeen, the writer/director- that is- this guy:
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| Steve in a bow-tie |
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| Cool & handsome, yeah, but also quite dead |
ok- back on track- do you mind!
and I love Steve and Michael together:
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| Steve and Michael laughing- I'm thinking not during one of their films |
Why you ask?
McQueen has written or co written and directed 3 films, Hunger (2008) Shame (2011) and 12 Years a Slave (2013) which are all are excellent, brutal to watch and all star Michael Fassbender. Coincidence? I think not. Not that Fassbender is brutal to watch- quite the contrary, but the subject matters are hard core -definitely not for the faint of heart. And Fassbender can deliver.
Hunger is a dramatisation of the true story of Bobby Sands, an IRA volunteer and elected MP, who participated in the no wash protest (it didn't go well) and led the IRA hunger strike (which eventually led to his death so also didn't go so well for him) in the Maze Prison in 1981. The Republican prisoners were trying to regain their political status when it was revoked by the British government. Lots of guard sadism and ruthlessness -so that's tough and watching a man die of starvation (Fassbender lost 40 pounds on a diet of nuts, berries and sardines (yuck) to do the film because he said otherwise it wouldn't be realistic - and oh it was, trust you me) was downright heart wrenching.
Shame is the fictional story of a sex addict, Brandon who is a handsome ad executive living an alienated and unconnected life in New York city and whose life is gets even more twisted and bizarre when his younger sister, Sissy, a messed up needy woman, played by Carrey Mulligan comes to visit. They are both struggling and in pain and because of the stellar acting, so are we. The cinematography is fantastic- and the story gruelling- we watch the unravelling of Brandon and it aint pretty. On the up side - there is the full frontal nudity of Fassbender (I say why not-it's just a human body- a lovely one at that- so no, I don't mind at all) but then the most lugubrious and mournful rendition of "New York New York" there ever has been, sung by Sissy in a New York nightclub- it is a version that makes you want to gnaw your arm off.
12 Years a Slave is also based on a true story about Solomon Northup who was a free man living in New York when he gets lured to Washington and then kidnapped and sold into slavery. Again superb acting, brilliant nature shots which juxtapose the gorgeous scenery with the human cruelty and injustice, and what seems like accurate data, unflinching retold, make you want to weep.
Why am I telling you about these 3 film when they are obviously so emotionally fraught? It is because of that very thing. My life is too antiseptic, comfortable and banal and I like being jolted off my couch and complacency by seeing the true grit of existence. It makes me sad, yes. But it also makes me think and maybe I need to get sad and I definitely need to think about the human condition- so for me this type of viewing is essential. You might want to give it a go.
Monday 25 November 2013
Tallahasse Chow Down!
My sister and her husband Harry, live in Tallahassee which is the capital of Florida and is inland. I still find it hard to get my head around living inland in Florida but that's where the capital is and my sister (let's call her Joanne cause her name is Joanne) is Staff Director for the Florida House of Representatives Appropriations Committee. Sounds high falutin and it is- she is very talented and very hard working. She worked for Jeb Bush when he was the governor but that is a whole other story. Her hours are insane when the House is in session which is from January to May, every year. So it is often difficult to get together with her since our busy work times are reversed. Or to put it another way "she" is off-kilter. She misses us (can you blame her?) and has been encouraging me & Mr. L to visit her relatively-new house (though it may be 2 years old) by telling me I will have my own deluxe room (ok, I thought that was a given) and an ensuite bathroom (YES that is the ticket- I love an ensuite not having one at home). As my Mom (who also lives in Florida, in North Palm Beach which is 7 driving hours away) was going to visit my sister for Thanksgiving, Mr. L and I decided to fly down so we could see everybody in one fell swoop. My sister is, (as are Harry and my Mom) a ton of fun so good times (and food as you will see below) are ahead! Joanne is heavy into food preparation mode. She has been texting to our cell phone - and since it does belong to Mr. L, they had an exchange come ca:
DAY 1
John, I am going to make you fantastic waffles from scratch one morning! Was going to call this weekend but was really sick. Better now. What else should I cook for you guys ? Brisket? Apple pie, quiche, bread pudding, pan seared salmon?
Mr. L:
My emotions are all over the place. Sorry to hear you were sick, but so happy about the waffles. Brisket would be yummy, and I can easily join in Harry’s joy about bread pudding. Easily.
Joanne :
Joanne :
Done deal! I will also get some quality sausage to go with those waffles. And the brisket will be served in a bed of mashed potatoes, whipped with heavy cream of course.
Mr. L:
You know how to live!
Joanne:
And some candied carrots ( to make it all healthy).
DAY2
Joanne:
Splurged on some good wine for us!
Me:
B here (so she would know it was me) Yay! What did you get?
Joanne :
Wine.
Me:
What wine?
I knew it was wine- you said that!
Joanne:
I know, just being silly. Chalk hill 2010 estate red, 92 point rating.
Me:
Yum! I just bought a flask for drinking while walking!
Joanne :
Time for some self examination?
Me:
Nah. You?
Joanne:
No, I don't drink and walk.
Me:
I don't either..... Yet.
It's cold up here- a shot of booze helps keep ya going.
McCabe and Mrs Miller!
Joanne:
??? Who??
Me:
Robert Altman movie- Warren Beatty dies in the snow. I don't want that to happen to me!
Joanne:
No, for sure not. I am also making fab meat sauce for lasagna for when you are here. Lots of red pepper, mushroom. Lasagna will feature smoked provolone and whole milk ricotta.
It's bubbling now-- The meat sauce that is.
Me:
Whoa sounds hot hot hot! Do you use hot pepper?
Joanne :
No the red pepper is sweet, not hot. But there is hot Italian sausage in there (and ground beef a course).
Me:
Sounds fab. Cook on McDuff!
Joanne:
Bought apples for Apple pie too and other good stuff.
Me:
Yeesh, I'm going to have to start dieting now.
DAY 3:
Joanne :
Gianormous 40 lbs 5 cheese lasagna prepped and in freezer for next weekend.... Check.
Me:
Yikes- 40 pounds!!! DO YOU MIND!! Are you insane? I"ll answer that - yes. There are only 5 of us.
Joanne :
Ok, well I didn't weigh it...but it's big, meaty and cheesy!
Me:
Ya like I said I'm commencing to diet immediately.
Joanne:
Good idea. And no whining while you are down here. And I will feed my brother-in- law as I see fit....meaning a lot. You starve the poor boy.
And so it goes. The last part is so not true. Mr. L eats what he wants but, man, is he going to be over the moon to have my sister feed him.
P.S. Mom just called me to see if I wanted her to buy me coffee at Costco.(I drink Starbucks French Roast which they sell at Costco for $25 for 2/12 lbs- such a deal)! Me: Mom we have a Costco here. Mom: Really? Do you want anything? They have beautiful cashmere. Me: They have cashmere at Costco?? Mom: No at Steinmart.
I love my family!
P.S. Mom just called me to see if I wanted her to buy me coffee at Costco.(I drink Starbucks French Roast which they sell at Costco for $25 for 2/12 lbs- such a deal)! Me: Mom we have a Costco here. Mom: Really? Do you want anything? They have beautiful cashmere. Me: They have cashmere at Costco?? Mom: No at Steinmart.
I love my family!
Tuesday 19 November 2013
Sons of Anarchy
Being a serial series consumer, I have now moved on to Sons of Anarchy, which is a series about motorcycle gang club (they absolutely insist on being referred to as a club) in the fictional town of Charming, (ya I know) in southern California. If you are watching the show you will hear reference to "Samcrow" over and over and you know they are referring to the club by the context, but if you are like me you won't know why- so here's the dope (no not me- I mean the lowdown). It is an acronym for Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original or SAMCRO. Best to know this right out of the gate.
These outlaws have protective feelings for Charming and although they do run guns, have a porno operation, noise pollute by pack riding their Harleys up and down the street- (a very cool yet scary sight), severely beat up and even kill people- they also clamp down on drug dealing and prostitution, have Sunday dinners and run community events like annual fundraisers at the local school - kinda like the Haddasa bazaar. The president is Clay Morrow and the vp is his step son Jax Teller whose father was previously married to Clay's wife, Gemma before he died. Yes, intriguing. In fact there is some suggestion of a Hamlet theme in case you are trying to justify watching this violent soap opera. I don't bother.
Of course there is the whole host of MC guys (as distinguished from the McGuys (no space) those who work at McDonalds) with adorable nicknames like Piney (pronounced PINE-ee - one of the original founders), Tig (black curly hair and blue eyes, soul patch, little beard and not bothered by doing it with corpses- do you mind!), Chibs (he's an Irish lad with a serious scar), Juice ( he's got a Mowhawk and lovely smile -well they all do really), Opie, (always brooding, long beard and watch cap), and Half Sack- (so named because he only has one testicle.)
I'm now at the penultimate episode of Season 2, and am good and truly hooked and have deep affection for all of the club members.
They certainly have enough affection for each other- there must be 4 or 5 hugging moments in every episode. Do you mind! What is with all the hugging? While there is traditional type hugging between a chick and a guy, the most hugging going on is guy on guy- it is bro hugging and they are wearing their kuttes (their leather jackets with the sleeves cut off- a really good look and sound because they do the hug and pat, pat, on the leather - sounds manly).
There are also many times in each show where one character will ask another "You Ok?" which person will respond either "Yeah" (even though they typically have criminal angst) or "No man, I'm not Ok." (which shows they are opening up a bit about their criminal angst).
Of course in the mix is the bad cop, good cop gig, the Feds- The ATFs, the rival gangs- the Mayans (Mexican), the One-Niners, (an African American street gang) a meth dealing white supremacist named Darby, the IRA and the Chinese mafia Lin Triad- and that is just so far!
Part of the running theme is Jax's reading of his dead father's manifesto which poses whether the club has to go down this way or maybe there could be another way which causes Jax to question the club and even himself. Also Jax's old lady is a "docta"- a surgeon actually (lucky too cause she and her trusty first aid kit are often on call)- pretty establishment- when it starts but.. I'll say no more.
We are constantly reminded that the club is a family and sometimes a member is requested to "take one for the club"-and it ends up being mostly weird sexual favours. I guess that is part of being in a family.
Also the background songs (and there are many per show) are outstanding and Episode Titles as in BB are worth noting. Highly recommended if only for gawking at the pretty boy.
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here is their cute logo |
Of course there is the whole host of MC guys (as distinguished from the McGuys (no space) those who work at McDonalds) with adorable nicknames like Piney (pronounced PINE-ee - one of the original founders), Tig (black curly hair and blue eyes, soul patch, little beard and not bothered by doing it with corpses- do you mind!), Chibs (he's an Irish lad with a serious scar), Juice ( he's got a Mowhawk and lovely smile -well they all do really), Opie, (always brooding, long beard and watch cap), and Half Sack- (so named because he only has one testicle.)
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| Tig, Bobby, Piney, Jax, ,Juice, Otto (he's inside), Opie and Chibs- quite the crew |
The bestest and most handsomest is Jax, the lead, played by British actor Charlie Hunnam and watching him is worth the price of admission.
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| Jackson Teller- heir apparent |
In fact I have to admit after 3 episodes I called my sister, who lives in the US of A and complained about her S of A recommendation saying that I couldn't connect with any of the characters-- didn't like them even-- and she was aghast "No- what about Jax- you gotta love Jax- even if he is a viscous criminal- when I see him beating up on someone I say- why can't he be beating up on me!" I sort of get that.
I'm now at the penultimate episode of Season 2, and am good and truly hooked and have deep affection for all of the club members.
They certainly have enough affection for each other- there must be 4 or 5 hugging moments in every episode. Do you mind! What is with all the hugging? While there is traditional type hugging between a chick and a guy, the most hugging going on is guy on guy- it is bro hugging and they are wearing their kuttes (their leather jackets with the sleeves cut off- a really good look and sound because they do the hug and pat, pat, on the leather - sounds manly).
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| why can't Jax be bro-hugging me? |
Of course in the mix is the bad cop, good cop gig, the Feds- The ATFs, the rival gangs- the Mayans (Mexican), the One-Niners, (an African American street gang) a meth dealing white supremacist named Darby, the IRA and the Chinese mafia Lin Triad- and that is just so far!
Part of the running theme is Jax's reading of his dead father's manifesto which poses whether the club has to go down this way or maybe there could be another way which causes Jax to question the club and even himself. Also Jax's old lady is a "docta"- a surgeon actually (lucky too cause she and her trusty first aid kit are often on call)- pretty establishment- when it starts but.. I'll say no more.
We are constantly reminded that the club is a family and sometimes a member is requested to "take one for the club"-and it ends up being mostly weird sexual favours. I guess that is part of being in a family.
Also the background songs (and there are many per show) are outstanding and Episode Titles as in BB are worth noting. Highly recommended if only for gawking at the pretty boy.
Sunday 17 November 2013
Dessert Wine Disaster
So I had volunteered to buy the dessert wines for our next wine club meeting even though I was vaguely aware that the dessert wines cost 9 million dollars for a piddling amount of wine. True story. Kate said she already had a Sauterne so all I needed to get was an ice wine, a Vin Santo and a Hungarian Tokaji. Good thing too cause this bottle of ice wine was $24.99 for 200 mls.,
this santo was on sale for the $29.99
and this tokaji had to be hunted down by our wonderful wine consultant Lidia, and imported into our town's LCBO, (pronounced "lick bow" according to E), and set me back a whopping $45.99.
Not for the faint of heart or wallet.
So a few weekends a go while visiting Meg and Phil in Buffalo, we made a trip to the premium wine store there. It was high on our agenda of must dos. And for good reason. It is a warehouse - a veritable warehouse full of delicious wine
- imagine choir of angels. I was like a kid in a candy store and then I spied them- boxed Hungarian Tokaja for $30.00- OMG! what a deal! what a discount! what a glorious day! -yes choir of angels again! At .5 litres I could buy 3 and import them back to Canada- maybe give them as Christmas gifts or drink one on our 35th anniversary or something big. Just to make sure, I had Phil double check the import regs for booze on his cell so we knew we wouldn't run a foul of the law. Which is very bad to do don'tcha know. Mr. Lovely was excited about a bottle of Amaroni that he bought at a substantial discount too. I also bought some Hendricks gin which I planned to leave with the kids for them to bring over at a later date and one for Phil so he could drink it for his BDAY. What could be wrong? I love this place.
So at the border crossing, there was a bit of wait and it was getting a bit trying. But not as much as having to answer all the questions by the customs official - like exactly how much wine did we have ( which we painstaking explained - I had three .5 litre bottles , Mr. Lovely also had 1.5 litres, so we were within our personal limit) and when we have left the country etc. But it was about to get a lot more trying, cause guess what? We had not been out of the country long enough- we had to be out 48 hours and we were short of that. That meant we had to stop at the cashier hut and ante up for duty and taxes a grand total of $85.00. We didn't know that amount before we went in or we might have tried another strategy. &^%$#&* Do you mind! That wiped out our discount entirely and cost us more than it would have in Canada. What a Bummer with a capital B. I was trying hard to b lovely but really I was b sad.
When I told Meg this saga she said "Mom this story broke my heart. You should have come back and left them at our house." Shoulda for sure. Live and learn- check all the regs! Yeesh.
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| unusual because it is a cabernet franc and red grapes |
and this tokaji had to be hunted down by our wonderful wine consultant Lidia, and imported into our town's LCBO, (pronounced "lick bow" according to E), and set me back a whopping $45.99.
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| this one comes in its own little box but still |
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| aint they pretty |
Not for the faint of heart or wallet.
So a few weekends a go while visiting Meg and Phil in Buffalo, we made a trip to the premium wine store there. It was high on our agenda of must dos. And for good reason. It is a warehouse - a veritable warehouse full of delicious wine
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| hallelujah! |
So at the border crossing, there was a bit of wait and it was getting a bit trying. But not as much as having to answer all the questions by the customs official - like exactly how much wine did we have ( which we painstaking explained - I had three .5 litre bottles , Mr. Lovely also had 1.5 litres, so we were within our personal limit) and when we have left the country etc. But it was about to get a lot more trying, cause guess what? We had not been out of the country long enough- we had to be out 48 hours and we were short of that. That meant we had to stop at the cashier hut and ante up for duty and taxes a grand total of $85.00. We didn't know that amount before we went in or we might have tried another strategy. &^%$#&* Do you mind! That wiped out our discount entirely and cost us more than it would have in Canada. What a Bummer with a capital B. I was trying hard to b lovely but really I was b sad.
When I told Meg this saga she said "Mom this story broke my heart. You should have come back and left them at our house." Shoulda for sure. Live and learn- check all the regs! Yeesh.
Saturday 9 November 2013
Wine Appreciation
So I'm a member of a wine club which meets on the first Tuesday of every month. And no, this is not a club where we just get together and booze it up, (though I am not agin that either), but a serious, sophisticated, genteel club hosted by my good friend Kate, (who is sometimes serious but always sophisticated and genteel), and who sets out an elegant table come ca (meaning "lika dis" in French cept I can't find the little accent thingy to go on the bottom of the c. I'm using French because the French wines are so prevalent and because French is classy):
In this lovely environment we can watch and follow along one of the 24 lectures in this course by the Teaching Company- The Great Courses, (you betcha), The Everyday Guide to Wine, presented by Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan who is a master of wine (of whom there are only 26 in America so it's pretty darn impressive). Because it is interactive we get to smell and taste the wines she is lecturing about as we go. I, for one, would not be in a wine club that didn't have this essential feature. A different person volunteers to bring the wines for each meeting.
The promo to the course includes this build up:
"Many wine drinkers say they are overwhelmed by the varieties of wine available (no kidding) or they know the wines they like to drink (for me cheap is key) but yearn ( "yearn"- really that's a bit much, but flowery language is part of it) for the opportunity to learn more about them."
In the first lecture we discovered the 5 S's of fully tasting wine: seeing, swirling, sniffing, sipping and savouring. Who knew? I was used to just seeing and downing. I have now learned that this is bad and doesn't allow me to fully appreciate the wine.
In the lecture on Chardonnays, we experienced the "buttery, creamy" taste of oaked chardonnays vs the citrus flavours of the "naked" ones, learned about the oaking process (oak barrels -yup that's the ticket) and also that Chablis, from the Burgundy region of France is also a chardonnay (which is a grape variety by the way).
Kate had splurged on the Tawes which was rated a 93 and here's why:
If you can't read all that, suffice it to say it is very laudatory- (and a bit racy if the truth be told) and teaches us some excellent phrases to use when drinking a fantastic wine or even a mediocre wine that you want to pump up by the use of language. I'm sure you can use the words " on the palate, oh my! " this tour de force is a shining beacon for", "an opulent, vivacious wine", "it's lavish and weighty", "...flavours that are persistent yet beautifully elegant and build in intensity in the mouth"(do you mind!) over and over but be careful with the descriptions of flavours cause they are grape specific.
The women in the club are great-intelligent, fun and lively. The evening is educational, (I am the only one who doesn't take notes cause I think I can remember the relevant stuff but not so much- I can't even remember simple things like what "crisp" means and what a "long finish" is) and always a good time. Of course it is- do you see the three wine glasses set out per person? How can it not be?
I recommend the video version and like a good wine - it is best enjoyed this way- with friends.
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| Bread (one gluten free) and cheese are always on offer too |
The promo to the course includes this build up:
"Many wine drinkers say they are overwhelmed by the varieties of wine available (no kidding) or they know the wines they like to drink (for me cheap is key) but yearn ( "yearn"- really that's a bit much, but flowery language is part of it) for the opportunity to learn more about them."
In the first lecture we discovered the 5 S's of fully tasting wine: seeing, swirling, sniffing, sipping and savouring. Who knew? I was used to just seeing and downing. I have now learned that this is bad and doesn't allow me to fully appreciate the wine.
In the lecture on Chardonnays, we experienced the "buttery, creamy" taste of oaked chardonnays vs the citrus flavours of the "naked" ones, learned about the oaking process (oak barrels -yup that's the ticket) and also that Chablis, from the Burgundy region of France is also a chardonnay (which is a grape variety by the way).
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| A Chablis, a Jacobs Creek and our favourite, a Tawse 2010 |
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| Tawse 2010 Robyn's Block Chardonnay |
The women in the club are great-intelligent, fun and lively. The evening is educational, (I am the only one who doesn't take notes cause I think I can remember the relevant stuff but not so much- I can't even remember simple things like what "crisp" means and what a "long finish" is) and always a good time. Of course it is- do you see the three wine glasses set out per person? How can it not be?
I recommend the video version and like a good wine - it is best enjoyed this way- with friends.
Monday 4 November 2013
She's a Homewrecker or Another Dark Corner of the Internet
I read with real dismay about the online "burn" site exposing women (with pictures and everything) who get involved with married men. On this website slighted women are encouraged to tell their stories, upload photos and provide the full names and the state in which the "homewrecker" lives. Take a look if you dare, but I warn you it aint pretty.
www.shesahomewrecker.com
Here is their cute little tag:
Shouldn't it be more like this:
I know that "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" (by playwright William Congreve who lived between 1670-1729 and who also wrote ironically enough, "you must not kiss and tell") but Do you mind? Has it come to this? This is very uncool and not helpful to anybody!
While I'm sure that having a cheating spouse is extremely painful, and I feel for people who are suffering, grieving their loss, and working their way through a marital betrayal cause it has got to be heart wrenching, placing the blame on the party who doesn't even live in the home and even (some) absolving the hapless spouse, or just going very public with this very private "affair" doesn't make things better or even make anybody feel better at the end of the day. Seriously, it takes two to tango and the person who has the most responsibility is the cheating spouse themselves not the other party, (hey that's just my opinion, man- ya the Big Lebowski again). As the author of the article Emma Woolley correctly says: "Men aren't helpless when faced with temptation, they're adults who decide how to conduct themselves." I also think that, sometimes, not always, but sometimes the "innocent" spouse needs to look harder at her role in all of it. I mean if a person is straying maybe, just maybe there is a reason. Or maybe the guy is just a scum bag but I'm thinking that sometimes there is some blame all round.
Also I get that venting to family and friends and throwing around cuss words and descriptions like skank, tramp and whore is fun, (and even cathartic) but posting this stuff, c'mon-this is not the way to go- it diminishes the postor (oh wait- they get to remain anonymous) more than the postee. No, it just aint right.
Apparently the guys are going to get their turn cause there is going to be a He's a Homewrecker website too but I'm guessing it's not gonna get the same hits. Just guessing.
www.shesahomewrecker.com
Here is their cute little tag:
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| These look like funky shoes that I might even buy if you could walk on the devil heels |
Shouldn't it be more like this:
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| Now this is a wrecked home |
While I'm sure that having a cheating spouse is extremely painful, and I feel for people who are suffering, grieving their loss, and working their way through a marital betrayal cause it has got to be heart wrenching, placing the blame on the party who doesn't even live in the home and even (some) absolving the hapless spouse, or just going very public with this very private "affair" doesn't make things better or even make anybody feel better at the end of the day. Seriously, it takes two to tango and the person who has the most responsibility is the cheating spouse themselves not the other party, (hey that's just my opinion, man- ya the Big Lebowski again). As the author of the article Emma Woolley correctly says: "Men aren't helpless when faced with temptation, they're adults who decide how to conduct themselves." I also think that, sometimes, not always, but sometimes the "innocent" spouse needs to look harder at her role in all of it. I mean if a person is straying maybe, just maybe there is a reason. Or maybe the guy is just a scum
Also I get that venting to family and friends and throwing around cuss words and descriptions like skank, tramp and whore is fun, (and even cathartic) but posting this stuff, c'mon-this is not the way to go- it diminishes the postor (oh wait- they get to remain anonymous) more than the postee. No, it just aint right.
Apparently the guys are going to get their turn cause there is going to be a He's a Homewrecker website too but I'm guessing it's not gonna get the same hits. Just guessing.
Friday 1 November 2013
Give it Up, Mr. Mayor.
I know Rob Ford is an easy target right now- oh wait- do you think maybe he always was. And I'm sure this comment will be made many times over (in private at least) if it hasn't already been made in the 7 pages on him and his alleged seedy dealings in the Globe and Mail today but do you mind! Does Rob Ford really need more candy? Doesn't he know it's bad for your health? Oh wait- do we think crack cocaine is healthy?
Here he is trick or treating last night.
Marcus Gee wrote an excellent article this morning calling for the mayor's resignation. In the article he confirms that the police are in possession of "the video"- like "Cher" (how did she get to own that name anyway) it doesn't even need an explanation- everybody knows about this video, the one Ford denied ever existed that allegedly shows him smoking crack cocaine. There is apparently more damning evidence. Marcus states "It's hard to see how Mr. Ford can explain his way out of this even if he tried." Which he is not doing. He is very closed lipped about this. For somebody who is obviously good at opening his mouth for some purposes, (just saying), he is pretty darn good at keeping his mouth shut about anything to do with "the video". Marcus goes on to query" How does he explain the suspicious packages Mr. Lisi (who is accused of drug offences and extortion) left for him in his car." Extra lunch perhaps?
I know that was a cheap shot, but Mr. Ford isn't really doing much to help his image or the city of Toronto right now. It's not even funny anymore- it is just embarrassing. Maybe it's time to give some stuff up, Mr. Mayor?
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| Mayor Ford's' bodyguard does not look happy |
Marcus Gee wrote an excellent article this morning calling for the mayor's resignation. In the article he confirms that the police are in possession of "the video"- like "Cher" (how did she get to own that name anyway) it doesn't even need an explanation- everybody knows about this video, the one Ford denied ever existed that allegedly shows him smoking crack cocaine. There is apparently more damning evidence. Marcus states "It's hard to see how Mr. Ford can explain his way out of this even if he tried." Which he is not doing. He is very closed lipped about this. For somebody who is obviously good at opening his mouth for some purposes, (just saying), he is pretty darn good at keeping his mouth shut about anything to do with "the video". Marcus goes on to query" How does he explain the suspicious packages Mr. Lisi (who is accused of drug offences and extortion) left for him in his car." Extra lunch perhaps?
I know that was a cheap shot, but Mr. Ford isn't really doing much to help his image or the city of Toronto right now. It's not even funny anymore- it is just embarrassing. Maybe it's time to give some stuff up, Mr. Mayor?
Wednesday 30 October 2013
Time to Answer the Call?
I feel pretty bad about Apple's' profits being down from 8.2 billion to 7.5 billion this quarter from the same period last year. Billion? Did you say profit of 7.5 billion? Do you mind!
I guess I haven't been doing my bit. I mean I was not one of the 9 million (and no this is not just me exaggerating- cause 9 million is like "my" number. If I happen to exaggerate to make a point (hardly ever) I say something like- this is going to cost me 9 million dollars, or I tried this 9 million times and it still doesn't work) people to have purchased one of the new iphone 5C or the deluxe 5S during the first weekend they were available. Well that may change. But darn it all, I missed this:
I actually don't have a cell phone- not at all, nothing. Sometimes clients will ask me to text them when their deal is closed and when I say sorry, I don't text on account of I don't have a cell phone they are, (as maybe you are) AGHAST! How can you, a super cool, modern woman and awesome lawyer, (I'm pretty sure that's how they see me), not have a cell phone?
I have thought about it from time to time but have thought- I'm at the office or at home 90% of the time and those other times, well Mr. Lovely has a mobile phone so if one of our kids needs us he can be reached- so why bother. Mr. L is a tekkie guy- he is always up on the latest release of whatever- that's how I got my iPad- Mr. L's reject when he upgraded to the iPAd5. (It's only a matter of time before he upgrades to the iPad Air and I get the 5- just saying). So he is encouraging me to definitely get the iPhone 5S and he forwarded me David Pogue's (when he was still with the Times, boo hoo we will miss you)review and assessment. One of the reasons Pogue liked the 5S is the outstanding camera in it. I'm now always borrowing Mr. L's iphone when I need a picture (say for my blog or something). He's good about it but I'm sure he wants me off that borrowing gig.
While I am enticed by the colourful 5C (did you see the lime, lemon, turquoise and the pink- so compelling cause they look so fun & hip), the bronze version of the 5S (in the flesh- I mean not on the screen but in real life) looks darn sexy. I didn't make a specific trip, but happened to be in a mall where they had an apple store so checked it out- just to see, you know. It also "felt" sexy.
So I'm thinking it may be time to ditch the land line and just go cellular. Really, we pay about $60/month and the only regular caller is my Mom - (we skype with the chillun) and the rest are mostly telemarketers. What do you think- time to get in the 21st century?
I guess I haven't been doing my bit. I mean I was not one of the 9 million (and no this is not just me exaggerating- cause 9 million is like "my" number. If I happen to exaggerate to make a point (hardly ever) I say something like- this is going to cost me 9 million dollars, or I tried this 9 million times and it still doesn't work) people to have purchased one of the new iphone 5C or the deluxe 5S during the first weekend they were available. Well that may change. But darn it all, I missed this:
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| From the New York Times- Apple employees greeting customers in California. Look they are getting high-fived! |
I have thought about it from time to time but have thought- I'm at the office or at home 90% of the time and those other times, well Mr. Lovely has a mobile phone so if one of our kids needs us he can be reached- so why bother. Mr. L is a tekkie guy- he is always up on the latest release of whatever- that's how I got my iPad- Mr. L's reject when he upgraded to the iPAd5. (It's only a matter of time before he upgrades to the iPad Air and I get the 5- just saying). So he is encouraging me to definitely get the iPhone 5S and he forwarded me David Pogue's (when he was still with the Times, boo hoo we will miss you)review and assessment. One of the reasons Pogue liked the 5S is the outstanding camera in it. I'm now always borrowing Mr. L's iphone when I need a picture (say for my blog or something). He's good about it but I'm sure he wants me off that borrowing gig.
While I am enticed by the colourful 5C (did you see the lime, lemon, turquoise and the pink- so compelling cause they look so fun & hip), the bronze version of the 5S (in the flesh- I mean not on the screen but in real life) looks darn sexy. I didn't make a specific trip, but happened to be in a mall where they had an apple store so checked it out- just to see, you know. It also "felt" sexy.
So I'm thinking it may be time to ditch the land line and just go cellular. Really, we pay about $60/month and the only regular caller is my Mom - (we skype with the chillun) and the rest are mostly telemarketers. What do you think- time to get in the 21st century?
Thursday 24 October 2013
Aim Higher
One of the glam news bites that I read this week was:
"Klum Can't Top 73 Year Old".
The clip is about Heidi Klum wearing a animal print dress and how she can't hold a candle to the 73 year old Raquel Welch, who is wearing the same dress. The people in the glam world love to make these comparisons -here it is:
Do you mind! Numero uno, Heidi looks amazing, (o wait she is a super model), and numero duo, sure, Raquel may be 73 years old chronologically but doesn't the fact (ok, I'm just guessing) that she has had "work" (on, I'm also guessing, every part of her body and face that can possibly be intervened with), count for anything? Yes, she looks fabuloso and about 50. It's insane. How is an ordinary healthy 73 year old woman supposed to feel? Or an ordinary 55 year old? Or an ordinary 45 year old.. you get my drift.
There was another article in the Huffington Post last week entitled " Gorgeous Celebrities Prove That Looks Don't Necessarily Peak at age 20. First off, what is with saying "looks" peak at age 20? Do 21 year olds now need to worry that they are over the hill? And when you scroll through the list of celebrities, I'm guessing that 99% per cent of them have had work and /or are photoshopped. Of course they look great but guess what? They are MOs (modified organisms). As the nihilist in the Big Lebowski lamented "It's not Fair!" (I love that bit). That's like comparing a regular tomato to a GMO one- which one will look better do you think?
But just as for the tomato, my (tom)motto for this is - often repeated in our home- "It is not what is on the outside - it is what is on the inside that counts". The Dove people have it right. How bout we strive to be healthy, active, engaged, curious and compassionate.
Let's stop this outrageous focus on outer beauty and youth and AIM HIGHER!
"Klum Can't Top 73 Year Old".
The clip is about Heidi Klum wearing a animal print dress and how she can't hold a candle to the 73 year old Raquel Welch, who is wearing the same dress. The people in the glam world love to make these comparisons -here it is:
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There was another article in the Huffington Post last week entitled " Gorgeous Celebrities Prove That Looks Don't Necessarily Peak at age 20. First off, what is with saying "looks" peak at age 20? Do 21 year olds now need to worry that they are over the hill? And when you scroll through the list of celebrities, I'm guessing that 99% per cent of them have had work and /or are photoshopped. Of course they look great but guess what? They are MOs (modified organisms). As the nihilist in the Big Lebowski lamented "It's not Fair!" (I love that bit). That's like comparing a regular tomato to a GMO one- which one will look better do you think?
But just as for the tomato, my (tom)motto for this is - often repeated in our home- "It is not what is on the outside - it is what is on the inside that counts". The Dove people have it right. How bout we strive to be healthy, active, engaged, curious and compassionate.
Let's stop this outrageous focus on outer beauty and youth and AIM HIGHER!
Wednesday 23 October 2013
911
When I check my email remotely, courtesy of Rogers Yahoo, I also get a dose of what is happening in the world today- most often in the world of glam or sports and but also in the world of real estate, nutrition, health or general human interest. It is indicative of the times that these news "bites" are the way many people (NOT ME, of course) get their news - one paragraph articles always with catchy pictures and often gossipy type news. About once a week there is an article with the heading "5 Foods that will make you ( insert new word(s) each week from list below):
Fat, Skinny, Smarter, Sexier, Rich, Famous, Into an Alien, etc. I always read those cause you never know, right?
Here is a sampling of the "news" in the last few days: "Kate Middleton plays volleyball wearing wedges for charity" (first off, isn't that a dangling something or other but playing volleyball in heels- that's an unfair advantage-makes her taller); "Mexican gun lord gunned down by clowns" (not even funny); "Home Inspired by Fortress of Solitude", (if only superman came with it); "Celeb Baby Name Trends" (apparently Blue and Apple are now out- who knew?); and two of my favourites - "Arnold Loves Pasta":
This article is about a clearly carbbed out Arnold Schwarzenegger and how much he much with he loves pasta and opens with the cutesy line " I'll be back...... for more pasta!" Hilarious!
and
"Man calls 911 to investigate stolen jello". "An employee at the Wakefern Food Corp warehouse called police to investigate the theft of his Jello from the break room according to CBS news." Yes this is a news item. Apparently the 39 year old was mad because his food had been stolen once before. Oh well then, that makes sense.
On the related theme it was reported that there was a flood of 911 calls in Connecticut in August when a cable outage interrupted the drama Breaking Bad (ya and??? I can so get behind this one)! Apparently police had to post on its Facebook page for residents to stop calling its emergency lines with cable complaints. Do you mind- this was emergency!
And finally there are these newsy tidbits- Which of these two women is more insane? 1. Police in New Hampshire arrested woman this summer after she called 911 to ask for a pen"...(apparently she had been calling many times before - to ask for a pencil, perchance?) or 2. "Police arrested a New Hampshire woman after she reported a medical emergency- then asked for help ordering Chinese food when firefighters arrived". How tough I can it be to order Chinese food, even in New Hampshire?
Fat, Skinny, Smarter, Sexier, Rich, Famous, Into an Alien, etc. I always read those cause you never know, right?
Here is a sampling of the "news" in the last few days: "Kate Middleton plays volleyball wearing wedges for charity" (first off, isn't that a dangling something or other but playing volleyball in heels- that's an unfair advantage-makes her taller); "Mexican gun lord gunned down by clowns" (not even funny); "Home Inspired by Fortress of Solitude", (if only superman came with it); "Celeb Baby Name Trends" (apparently Blue and Apple are now out- who knew?); and two of my favourites - "Arnold Loves Pasta":
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| looks like eating "the pasta" is turning Arnie into an alien |
and
"Man calls 911 to investigate stolen jello". "An employee at the Wakefern Food Corp warehouse called police to investigate the theft of his Jello from the break room according to CBS news." Yes this is a news item. Apparently the 39 year old was mad because his food had been stolen once before. Oh well then, that makes sense.
On the related theme it was reported that there was a flood of 911 calls in Connecticut in August when a cable outage interrupted the drama Breaking Bad (ya and??? I can so get behind this one)! Apparently police had to post on its Facebook page for residents to stop calling its emergency lines with cable complaints. Do you mind- this was emergency!
And finally there are these newsy tidbits- Which of these two women is more insane? 1. Police in New Hampshire arrested woman this summer after she called 911 to ask for a pen"...(apparently she had been calling many times before - to ask for a pencil, perchance?) or 2. "Police arrested a New Hampshire woman after she reported a medical emergency- then asked for help ordering Chinese food when firefighters arrived". How tough I can it be to order Chinese food, even in New Hampshire?
Thursday 17 October 2013
Octoberfests (Sans sausage and beer).
I love October. Not only because of Thanksgiving and Halloween (as though those aren't reason enough),but because it's autumn, the leaves and sky are gorgeous, the sunlight is poignant, the air is fresh and the apples are crisp and delicious. Also because it's my birthday month, as well as the birthday month of two of my children so there is always a lot to celebrate- hence Octoberfests. Although M's actual bday is 27 years, 363 days after mine and she is therefore almost exactly 28 years younger than me and we do celebrate together- it is with my son that I mark the decades. He is just about 30 years younger than me and so we have celebrated our 0/30 (ok, only I did this one- he was just a couple of weeks old), 10/40 and 20/50 birthdays together. We are also planning (in the "far away" future) for our 30/60 birthdays cause we are going to have a BIG BASH and invite all of our friends! It's gonna be CRAAA-ZEEE!
This year Al's birthday fell on Thanksgiving
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| the birthday boy waiting for his banana pancake (aint he a beaute!) |
For Al's birthday I got him, among other things, a pair of shoes. The gift was based on Al's dissertation that everybody needs just 5 pairs of shoes and that he was down by two- Shoes required are: 1. dress shoes for weddings and funerals,(got em -bought by yours truly), 2.winter boots, (got em- bought by Mr. L), 3. crappy casual shoes or as I like to call them shoes for walking in the mud (and also til now his every day shoes and date shoes- seriously, Al do you mind!)
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| couldn't you at least use the two purple shoelaces I gave you? |
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| ah- keens! |
Al is a practical guy and a frugal one. (He's in the 3rd year of his doctorate program in Economics at Queens studying stuff like this:
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| whatever! |
We also went for a family hike, (which activity was approved by the birthday boy) to a spectacular place on the Bruce Trail that the kids have been going to since birth, about 40 minutes from our house but so worth the drive.
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| see Al in protective colouration at the end of the bridge |
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| on a side trail escaping the hordes |
Friday 11 October 2013
"Right" Brain Up!
A good friend of mine is a wonderful painter and also a retired art teacher. She had been giving private group art lessons for a year or so now and asked if I would be interested in joining. I politely declined. "Ah, no way, man! I can't draw my way out of a paper bag and am pretty sure I could never progress much past the stick person". But because Pat gave me the shpiel about using your right brain and how doing art would be good for that, and because I was at the cottage and so in a more right brain frame of mind, and because I figured I was using my left brain too much and should try to be more creative, I thought- what the hay- no harm in trying, right (brain)?
So my first three hour session was coming up and I gotta tell you, I was not looking forward to it. For one thing, on the extracurricular front, Mr. Lovely, E and I were into "Breaking Bad Binging" and this right brain exercising would be interfering with that. (Isn't being able to appreciate Walt getting out of his shell by cooking meth and Jesse "yo"-ing and calling everybody "bitch", right braining enough)? But I had blown $34(big investment!) at my local art store for supplies so I was sort of committed. Pat had mentioned that there would be tea and coffee, so I knew I had to get my several GOWs in before I went. Since the art class was called for 6:30 and I had only come home from work at 5:55, I had time for only 2 quick shots of Kim Crawford, (for fortification) and half a slice of pizza before I had to leave. So how was I?
Pretty awful- I have to say. Pat is a really good teacher but I'm sure I was the worstest student everrrr. I twitched, grumbled, moaned and swore under my breath- and that was all within the first 10 minutes. She gave us a good drawing of Irises to draw- and told us all the useful techniques, (but no tracing- why not? do you mind?) to get us to "see" what was on the page- turn it upside down, quadrants, don't look at the page you are working on etc. but I would not, could not draw what was on the page. I think I could "see" it- but I could not reproduce it. It was making me sweaty, anxious and crabby to be quite honest. Pat could see my anxiety and tried to give me a simpler project, (involving lines instead of curves), which I managed to screw up as well. The best part was the colouring in or shading as we in the art world say. I had a bit of trouble but you really couldn't tell that much.
If you have to squint to see the picture it's ok because apparently sqinting is a part of doing art. That part is fun. Also wearing the beret- that part is good too.
Here's the thing- it was hard- there was math-like I had to make equidistant squares on a paper, I had to use a ruler to judge which part of the drawing was higher than the other- I had to be precise about where to start and stop, I had to be careful, -this is all left brain stuff - not right brain at all. Was art really a left brain activity masquerading as a right brain one? WHOA! This is big and requires further investigation.
But first- this was our last assignment- can you guess who this is?
So my first three hour session was coming up and I gotta tell you, I was not looking forward to it. For one thing, on the extracurricular front, Mr. Lovely, E and I were into "Breaking Bad Binging" and this right brain exercising would be interfering with that. (Isn't being able to appreciate Walt getting out of his shell by cooking meth and Jesse "yo"-ing and calling everybody "bitch", right braining enough)? But I had blown $34(big investment!) at my local art store for supplies so I was sort of committed. Pat had mentioned that there would be tea and coffee, so I knew I had to get my several GOWs in before I went. Since the art class was called for 6:30 and I had only come home from work at 5:55, I had time for only 2 quick shots of Kim Crawford, (for fortification) and half a slice of pizza before I had to leave. So how was I?
Pretty awful- I have to say. Pat is a really good teacher but I'm sure I was the worstest student everrrr. I twitched, grumbled, moaned and swore under my breath- and that was all within the first 10 minutes. She gave us a good drawing of Irises to draw- and told us all the useful techniques, (but no tracing- why not? do you mind?) to get us to "see" what was on the page- turn it upside down, quadrants, don't look at the page you are working on etc. but I would not, could not draw what was on the page. I think I could "see" it- but I could not reproduce it. It was making me sweaty, anxious and crabby to be quite honest. Pat could see my anxiety and tried to give me a simpler project, (involving lines instead of curves), which I managed to screw up as well. The best part was the colouring in or shading as we in the art world say. I had a bit of trouble but you really couldn't tell that much.
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| Value added Iris drawn and colored in by yours truly |
If you have to squint to see the picture it's ok because apparently sqinting is a part of doing art. That part is fun. Also wearing the beret- that part is good too.
Here's the thing- it was hard- there was math-like I had to make equidistant squares on a paper, I had to use a ruler to judge which part of the drawing was higher than the other- I had to be precise about where to start and stop, I had to be careful, -this is all left brain stuff - not right brain at all. Was art really a left brain activity masquerading as a right brain one? WHOA! This is big and requires further investigation.
Wednesday 2 October 2013
WHERE TO START?
Honestly there are so many "do you mind" moments in this story, I don't even know where to begin.
I am speaking about the Globe and Mail article entitled "Dying 'Angola Three' inmate freed after 41 years in solitary confinement."
Ok, let's take it slow. This guy, Herman Wallace is 71 and has liver cancer and has only weeks to live. Sad right out of the gate.
Angola Three- is the "name" given to Wallace and 2 other black panther inmates of the Angola prison, namely, Albert Woodfox and Robert King, in 1997, when it was discovered that they had spent over 20 years in solitary confinement (which means a 6 by 9 foot cell for 23 hours a day). As names go- it is not the most evocative- shouldn't it be 'Sad Solitary Three' or ' Very Unfortunate Three' or even "You Poor Poor Bastards Three' but no major matter, it's the solitary confinement I'm do you minding about here.
Isn't that outlawed yet? Isn't that torture? I thought the US didn't do stuff like water boarding or solitary confinement any more.
Angola is said to be the bloodiest prison in the south (Whoa- that's saying a lot - this is the States remember) - the US's largest maximum security prison" farm" - which ironically is on a former slave plantation and largely populated by black inmates. Hmmmm.
So this Wallace dude has spent 41 years- yes count 'em four-decades and one year in solitary confinement for a murder he says he didn't commit and FINALLY gets his conviction overturned and let out because federal Judge Jackson ruled he didn't get a fair trial in 1974. Sheesh and DYM? That's right, both! It took you this long to figure that out? Wallace, behind bars for armed robbery, was sentenced to life after being convicted along with another guy of stabbing a white prison guard to death in 1972. Apparently none of the fingerprints taken from the scene matched his, and witnesses said he was working in another part of the prison at the time of the stabbing. Gotta wonder how he was convicted in the first place. Surprisingly it wasn't for lack of physical evidence- that he got sprung-no, the verdict was overturned and he was let out because women were excluded from the grandjury and that is agin the 14th Amendment. Go figure.
And it took from 2009 when the habeas corpus motion was filed, (4 years) and a personal letter from ole Herman himself, to get this ruling.
The wheels of justice right?
But get this! The state prosecutors appealed the ruling? Say what? And when the appeal was denied they filed a motion to stay the appeal and send Wallace back to prison. Mother of G-d why? Why on earth would you do this? DYM!!! In Canada, (and I'm thinking this has to be somewhat similar in Amurca but who knows cause this is some whacked out sh*t) the three main principles of sentencing are deterrence- I think he has been deterred don't you? quarantine- I would venture to say he's certainly had enough of that and rehabilitation- penal or medical, not happening because oh yes, he has only weeks to live. He was returned by ambulance to a hospice in New Orleans.
He's in a hospice. The guy is dying. He has been confined in a 6 by 9 foot cell for 41 years for a crime he may very well not have committed. What do you want? Give the guy a break. Give the guy the benefit of the doubt. Don't waste taxpayers money by filing motions. It is enough, no? Do you mind?
Here's the link if you can stomach it.
http://fw.to/Sjx7Sjc
I am speaking about the Globe and Mail article entitled "Dying 'Angola Three' inmate freed after 41 years in solitary confinement."
Ok, let's take it slow. This guy, Herman Wallace is 71 and has liver cancer and has only weeks to live. Sad right out of the gate.
Angola Three- is the "name" given to Wallace and 2 other black panther inmates of the Angola prison, namely, Albert Woodfox and Robert King, in 1997, when it was discovered that they had spent over 20 years in solitary confinement (which means a 6 by 9 foot cell for 23 hours a day). As names go- it is not the most evocative- shouldn't it be 'Sad Solitary Three' or ' Very Unfortunate Three' or even "You Poor Poor Bastards Three' but no major matter, it's the solitary confinement I'm do you minding about here.
Isn't that outlawed yet? Isn't that torture? I thought the US didn't do stuff like water boarding or solitary confinement any more.
Angola is said to be the bloodiest prison in the south (Whoa- that's saying a lot - this is the States remember) - the US's largest maximum security prison" farm" - which ironically is on a former slave plantation and largely populated by black inmates. Hmmmm.
 |
| Don't see no cows or chickens liking it here. |
And it took from 2009 when the habeas corpus motion was filed, (4 years) and a personal letter from ole Herman himself, to get this ruling.
The wheels of justice right?
He's in a hospice. The guy is dying. He has been confined in a 6 by 9 foot cell for 41 years for a crime he may very well not have committed. What do you want? Give the guy a break. Give the guy the benefit of the doubt. Don't waste taxpayers money by filing motions. It is enough, no? Do you mind?
Here's the link if you can stomach it.
http://fw.to/Sjx7Sjc
Thursday 26 September 2013
Rediscovery
Last week I went on a 4 day biking/hiking/yurt camping trip with M(27) and E(20). No, they're not robots like R2D2-- they are my daughters- initial of first name and age. Initials to keep it mysterious.
In the course of those 4 days I rediscovered a few things that I think are pretty important:
1. My daughters are AWESOME and I am madly in love with them. (Same is true for my son and I know we will solidly reaffirm this when we walk the France Camino Trail together, right A?) I say this rather sheepishly because I know we are all crazy for our children and think they are wonderful, no?
But really - they are phenomenal--hard working, adventurous, humorous & fun, spiritual, athletic, talented, capable, intelligent and beautiful women.
E, who loves to live on the edge, felt it necessary to get up at 6:00 a.m. (it's still dark do you mind?) to hike back to the grotto & cliffs overlooking Georgian Bay where we had been the day before, so she could sit, meditate and swim again, (it was 4 degrees outside and the water not much warmer) in the bay. I told her she could easily wait until 7:00 or 8:00, but she was determined. And trust me there is no stopping her! M took me hiking on an alternate trail and talked rocks, trees, philosophy and life with me. Her depth, calm and positive energy totally distracted me from E's dangerous adventure.
2. This province has some exquisite scenery. I had been here before and but had not remembered how truly magnificent the landscape and Georgian Bay in and around the Bruce Peninsula are. Biking and hiking (ya, ok and swimming in the SUMMER!) in that environment are just plain good for the soul.
(See that little head in the water- that's E the day before).
3. People love to build inukshuks--the more the merrier. What is with this craze? This was on a deserted beach on the lighthouse bike route. There were more than 7 inukshuks on this beach. Why?
4. Women can learn spatial reasoning in a short amount of time. We had three bikes with three curly handlebars and jeez was it a challenge to get them on the bike rack. Mr. Lovely had put them on initially and the first day it took us 40 minutes to get them back on. As we were packing the wee trunk to leave the yurt campground - I said I sure could use Dad now and M said- "Mom, you are a strong, capable woman--you don't need a man to help you with this." It was true. You shoulda seen how I packed that trunk. It was a thing of beauty. And it took us less than 5 minutes to get those bikes on the rack. (We only had 8 minutes to check out--a cash penalty is quite the motivator!)
5. Dogs will chase bikes. Do you mind? I'm just riding my bike along the road-living my life--don't take me down man. We got chased by 2 different dogs (and growled & barked at by a different pack of them by the side of a unpaved road). Super scary! My normal retort of "bite me" when something is annoying me doesn't really work in this situation.
In the course of those 4 days I rediscovered a few things that I think are pretty important:
1. My daughters are AWESOME and I am madly in love with them. (Same is true for my son and I know we will solidly reaffirm this when we walk the France Camino Trail together, right A?) I say this rather sheepishly because I know we are all crazy for our children and think they are wonderful, no?
 |
| Gary Larson |
 |
| E & M on Burnt Loop, Tobermory |
2. This province has some exquisite scenery. I had been here before and but had not remembered how truly magnificent the landscape and Georgian Bay in and around the Bruce Peninsula are. Biking and hiking (ya, ok and swimming in the SUMMER!) in that environment are just plain good for the soul.
(See that little head in the water- that's E the day before).
3. People love to build inukshuks--the more the merrier. What is with this craze? This was on a deserted beach on the lighthouse bike route. There were more than 7 inukshuks on this beach. Why?
 |
| Spot the inushuks |
4. Women can learn spatial reasoning in a short amount of time. We had three bikes with three curly handlebars and jeez was it a challenge to get them on the bike rack. Mr. Lovely had put them on initially and the first day it took us 40 minutes to get them back on. As we were packing the wee trunk to leave the yurt campground - I said I sure could use Dad now and M said- "Mom, you are a strong, capable woman--you don't need a man to help you with this." It was true. You shoulda seen how I packed that trunk. It was a thing of beauty. And it took us less than 5 minutes to get those bikes on the rack. (We only had 8 minutes to check out--a cash penalty is quite the motivator!)
5. Dogs will chase bikes. Do you mind? I'm just riding my bike along the road-living my life--don't take me down man. We got chased by 2 different dogs (and growled & barked at by a different pack of them by the side of a unpaved road). Super scary! My normal retort of "bite me" when something is annoying me doesn't really work in this situation.
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