Saturday, September 23, 2006
A Normal Saturday
A huge bug outside, on my office window.
A huge bug outside, on my office window.
And, a car that's been parked directly in front of my house for several weeks.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Oh Yum, That Paté Kicked My Tongue's Ass
I had the good fortune of being someone's guest at Jamie Kennedy's new restaurant in the Gardiner Museum. The food is lovely and intense. Of the things we tried, the paté was by far the best thing (though sadly I think it's off the menu now).
Imagine homemade paté - it might be coarse or even chunky. It might be bizarrely molded or in a stingy little rectangle, served with stale bread heels. But not Jamie's paté.
This paté came like a huge scoop of pistachio ice cream, complete with curvy ribbons of glistening goose fat. Oh my god! We thought, "We'll NEVER finish this," but of course we did, and we were left wanting more. It was the best paté I've ever eaten in my life.
I had the good fortune of being someone's guest at Jamie Kennedy's new restaurant in the Gardiner Museum. The food is lovely and intense. Of the things we tried, the paté was by far the best thing (though sadly I think it's off the menu now).
Imagine homemade paté - it might be coarse or even chunky. It might be bizarrely molded or in a stingy little rectangle, served with stale bread heels. But not Jamie's paté.
This paté came like a huge scoop of pistachio ice cream, complete with curvy ribbons of glistening goose fat. Oh my god! We thought, "We'll NEVER finish this," but of course we did, and we were left wanting more. It was the best paté I've ever eaten in my life.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Today's Strange Encounter
I started by doing my hair differently. I got my October Instyle yesterday and saw this cool up-do that was like using a hairband close to your hairline and then a messy bun at the back. So I dried my hair curly and followed the directions and it was a disaster. So now my hair is like a bees' nest pulled back from my face using a Hello Kitty clip. As an aside , when I used that curly stuff in my hair I look less like a sultry blonde who lives near the beach than a frumpy blonde who slept on the beach...
Then in Tim Horton's I was challenged in the line-up by a toothless guy. He said I was trying to be militaristic about the lineup and I agreed with him. Then he told me about how he was once hit by a car but he managed not to spill his coffee. Then a woman asked me if I made my shoes. I said no, but agreed that it looked like they are wearing little sweaters. They are clogs with fuzzy sweater-like tops.
I started by doing my hair differently. I got my October Instyle yesterday and saw this cool up-do that was like using a hairband close to your hairline and then a messy bun at the back. So I dried my hair curly and followed the directions and it was a disaster. So now my hair is like a bees' nest pulled back from my face using a Hello Kitty clip. As an aside , when I used that curly stuff in my hair I look less like a sultry blonde who lives near the beach than a frumpy blonde who slept on the beach...
Then in Tim Horton's I was challenged in the line-up by a toothless guy. He said I was trying to be militaristic about the lineup and I agreed with him. Then he told me about how he was once hit by a car but he managed not to spill his coffee. Then a woman asked me if I made my shoes. I said no, but agreed that it looked like they are wearing little sweaters. They are clogs with fuzzy sweater-like tops.
Friday, September 15, 2006
Things I Want To Do Before Whatever
Burning Man
This is a tough one because I really want to spectate (although that's discouraged) - I have no clue how to participate. I would have to think of some interactive art craziness that I could draw out for a week. Or just be naked and pick up people's garbage as a way of contributing. A related thing I want to do is to tootle around the Nevada, California and New Mexico deserts. I think, at heart, I am a desert person.
Surf Camp
I so want to do this... It really appeals to my physical side and the ocean-loving sun baby within. You can even do it on a resort in Mexico with yoga lessons too.
El Camino De Santiago
This is a roughly 30 or 40 day trek across the top of Spain following in the footsteps of ancient pilgrims. You need to complete approx. 20 - 30km a day to reach the refugios. I would love to do it starting from Roncesvalles.
Canal trip in England
OK, most times I can take or leave England. This place makes you bleed money! I'm always staying in a damp shithole somewhere sweating it out. It's so expensive to eat we end up eating at train station sandwich shops. Wait, now that I'm writing this, I realize I had a blast on my last trip there. All of the above was true but I had such a good time tramping around all day and seeing the sights. For a treat we would get cold cans of lager and McDonald's or kebobs and bring it back to our tiny hotel room and watch the Stanley Cup playoffs in the middle of the night, and the "hockey" commenters had no clue what was going on. And there was a heat wave going on and we brought all the wrong clothes. But I still hate England! No, not really. But I think all would be well if I took a leisurely canal trip sometime. Once on Two Fat Ladies the image of the show was a soaring crane shot high above the ladies whilst they relaxed in a canal boat floating down a hugely tall Roman aqueduct, and I thought "I have to do that!"
Burning Man
This is a tough one because I really want to spectate (although that's discouraged) - I have no clue how to participate. I would have to think of some interactive art craziness that I could draw out for a week. Or just be naked and pick up people's garbage as a way of contributing. A related thing I want to do is to tootle around the Nevada, California and New Mexico deserts. I think, at heart, I am a desert person.
Surf Camp
I so want to do this... It really appeals to my physical side and the ocean-loving sun baby within. You can even do it on a resort in Mexico with yoga lessons too.
El Camino De Santiago
This is a roughly 30 or 40 day trek across the top of Spain following in the footsteps of ancient pilgrims. You need to complete approx. 20 - 30km a day to reach the refugios. I would love to do it starting from Roncesvalles.
Canal trip in England
OK, most times I can take or leave England. This place makes you bleed money! I'm always staying in a damp shithole somewhere sweating it out. It's so expensive to eat we end up eating at train station sandwich shops. Wait, now that I'm writing this, I realize I had a blast on my last trip there. All of the above was true but I had such a good time tramping around all day and seeing the sights. For a treat we would get cold cans of lager and McDonald's or kebobs and bring it back to our tiny hotel room and watch the Stanley Cup playoffs in the middle of the night, and the "hockey" commenters had no clue what was going on. And there was a heat wave going on and we brought all the wrong clothes. But I still hate England! No, not really. But I think all would be well if I took a leisurely canal trip sometime. Once on Two Fat Ladies the image of the show was a soaring crane shot high above the ladies whilst they relaxed in a canal boat floating down a hugely tall Roman aqueduct, and I thought "I have to do that!"
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
The 2006 Weekend to End Breast Cancer
I did it! I walked every single step of the 60 km! I beat my goal! I raised almost $6000!
It was a fucking awesome time. I had fun and everything was much better than when I did it 2 years ago. This time I was much more prepared in every sense.
The walk was great. I made great time. I must be in such better shape than 2 years ago. This made a world of difference.
My left knee is VERY sore and my left foot has bad blisters but thankfully they're healing fast. None of the blisters popped or bled on the road so I was able to walk fine, just that the last 15km (3 hours) were slow going with some little rests.
Being in better shape and knowing what I was doing probably made it a better experience. I also trained a lot more this time around. I walked with a great team and we actually walked as a team, which was wonderful.
Even though it RAINED most of Saturday I had a great time! Camping out was FREEZING. Who in the hell camps out at DOWNSVIEW in the middle of SEPTEMBER in TORONTO? We do! Damp, cold, tired... Exhilarated, happy, peaceful.
I forgot my toiletries bag so I had no soap, no antiperspirant, no toothbrush and no toothpaste. I lost my towel and clean underpants somewhere on the massive campsite. All these things might have stressed me out and made it a shitty time for me, but somehow I found it hilarious and I STILL had a wonderful time.
Like I've said before - never again! But you never know!
I did it! I walked every single step of the 60 km! I beat my goal! I raised almost $6000!
It was a fucking awesome time. I had fun and everything was much better than when I did it 2 years ago. This time I was much more prepared in every sense.
The walk was great. I made great time. I must be in such better shape than 2 years ago. This made a world of difference.
My left knee is VERY sore and my left foot has bad blisters but thankfully they're healing fast. None of the blisters popped or bled on the road so I was able to walk fine, just that the last 15km (3 hours) were slow going with some little rests.
Being in better shape and knowing what I was doing probably made it a better experience. I also trained a lot more this time around. I walked with a great team and we actually walked as a team, which was wonderful.
Even though it RAINED most of Saturday I had a great time! Camping out was FREEZING. Who in the hell camps out at DOWNSVIEW in the middle of SEPTEMBER in TORONTO? We do! Damp, cold, tired... Exhilarated, happy, peaceful.
I forgot my toiletries bag so I had no soap, no antiperspirant, no toothbrush and no toothpaste. I lost my towel and clean underpants somewhere on the massive campsite. All these things might have stressed me out and made it a shitty time for me, but somehow I found it hilarious and I STILL had a wonderful time.
Like I've said before - never again! But you never know!
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Alexander Starts Middle School
My nephew turned 12 the other day and today started middle school, aka, junior high. I was thinking back to Degrassi Junior High episodes (as I often do) and was trying to remember all the shenanigans that the kids got up to. This is stuff from the "Junior High" series, NOT the "High" series... Ok, here goes:
My nephew turned 12 the other day and today started middle school, aka, junior high. I was thinking back to Degrassi Junior High episodes (as I often do) and was trying to remember all the shenanigans that the kids got up to. This is stuff from the "Junior High" series, NOT the "High" series... Ok, here goes:
- Lucy got molested by a teacher
- Melanie's mum was an alckie
- Wheels ran away to Port Hope and almost got molested when he hitchhiked
- Stephanie secretly dressed like a 'ho for school
- And then because she looked so skanky she won the school elections
- The guys pulled an all-nighter and then wrecked Snake's parents' car (or, more accurately, dented it mildly)
- One of Arthur's parents won the lotto (and thus that would make it also Stephanie's parent, right?)
- And Arthur brought a dog to school (YAWN!); he named it Phil
- Wheels' parents were killed in a car accident
- Interracial dating occurred
- Arthur had a wet dream
- The guys formed The Zit Remedy
- Lucy had her first of many parties without the parents at home; drunkenness ensued
- Kathleen got anorexic and detail-oriented in the same episode; Melanie acted like a bitch and was completely unsupportive
- Snake learned his bro was gayer than a garden party
- The school caught fire! Yaaa!
- And most famously Shane got Spike pregnant even though they only did it once
- Oh yeah, and Shane took LSD and jumped off a roof and became special ed / anger management
Friday, September 01, 2006
Reel To Really Gay
Richard Crouse was not a good celeb sighting today. Except that homeboy is super tall, well built, and highly devoted to his hairdo. I have seen him around my work (Bay & Bloor) - around Niketown, around Starbucks, around both Indigos. Soon the TIFF will start and lord knows which playas we'll see around the old grind.
The title of this entry doesn't imply that anyone, including Richard Crouse, is gay.
His site is hilariously old school. I have to think that some teenager somewhere built it for a teach-yourself-html course about 10 years ago.
And that is how we roll.
