Well, slept in, painted, read, read to youngest, bought books, an iPod for Eldest and embroidery floss for youngest, no food, nor shoes, but then we got together with BUDDIES!!!!
YAHOOO!!!!!!
That was cool, we wandered around High Park, the kids swam, we didn't watch cause we had to have a shower just to sit on the pool deck, so instead we sat in the change room and yacked.
Now, now now now now, we're off to visit Oreneta!
Hope she's doing fine, I'm bringing the camera.
Hope you're all having a great weekend,
Ours is shaping up well,
Cheers,
O
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
LONG WEEKEND!
OK, so here's my plan:
Sleep in.
Read.
Walk Chuck
Make and eat pancakes.
Buy an iPod for eldest, groceries, embroidery floss for youngest and maybe some shoes for me. Bring Chuck
Buy ice cream.
Nap.
Visit a friend if I can get in touch with her.
Paint.
Read.
Drive up to visit ORENETA!!!!!!
Sleep over there on my beloved boat.
Ahhhhhh.
Then there'll still be two more days.
Sleep in.
Read.
Walk Chuck
Make and eat pancakes.
Buy an iPod for eldest, groceries, embroidery floss for youngest and maybe some shoes for me. Bring Chuck
Buy ice cream.
Nap.
Visit a friend if I can get in touch with her.
Paint.
Read.
Drive up to visit ORENETA!!!!!!
Sleep over there on my beloved boat.
Ahhhhhh.
Then there'll still be two more days.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Podcasts
Weirdness follow-up, House Hunters International has contacted us AGAIN to see if they could do a show. Think not. Though maybe the architect and builder would like it if we did, make their careers, no? If we like the job.
While listening this morning to a brilliant podcast, it struck me that it might be nice to share; so here are some of my favs:
WNYC Radio lab, cool thought provoking, slick, witty and funny, all you'd hope for from something out of NYC. I particularly loved their show that I listened to this morning on memory.
A Way with Words, that Beth recommended, a big fat thanks for that one.
I adore the Next Chapter with Shelagh Rogers, all about books! Then there is Quirks and Quarks, also from CBC.
The Guardian Book Podcast is also pretty darned good, out of the UK.
Then there is a new strategy I have, when I wake up in the night and can't sleep cause I'm fussing about something, or just can't get my brain to settle down, I turn on the iPod really really quiet and listen to interesting, but not toooooo interesting podcasts. My favourites are Excess Baggage, Coast and Country and Scotland Outdoors, all from the BBC. I enjoy these podcasts when I am awake too, but something about those British vowels discussing lovely walks through the damp and green countryside sends me right back to sleep. Lovely.
Finally, if you want to hear free books on podcast, CBC has Between the Covers, which has novels serialised into 20 minute segments, some abridged, some not. Mostly Canadian literature, which I humbly submit is some of the very best in English in the world right now, but some others as well too.
Anyone else out there listening to podcasts? Which do you like?
While listening this morning to a brilliant podcast, it struck me that it might be nice to share; so here are some of my favs:
WNYC Radio lab, cool thought provoking, slick, witty and funny, all you'd hope for from something out of NYC. I particularly loved their show that I listened to this morning on memory.
A Way with Words, that Beth recommended, a big fat thanks for that one.
I adore the Next Chapter with Shelagh Rogers, all about books! Then there is Quirks and Quarks, also from CBC.
The Guardian Book Podcast is also pretty darned good, out of the UK.
Then there is a new strategy I have, when I wake up in the night and can't sleep cause I'm fussing about something, or just can't get my brain to settle down, I turn on the iPod really really quiet and listen to interesting, but not toooooo interesting podcasts. My favourites are Excess Baggage, Coast and Country and Scotland Outdoors, all from the BBC. I enjoy these podcasts when I am awake too, but something about those British vowels discussing lovely walks through the damp and green countryside sends me right back to sleep. Lovely.
Finally, if you want to hear free books on podcast, CBC has Between the Covers, which has novels serialised into 20 minute segments, some abridged, some not. Mostly Canadian literature, which I humbly submit is some of the very best in English in the world right now, but some others as well too.
Anyone else out there listening to podcasts? Which do you like?
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Take me out to the ball game...
Yep, I went to the ball game this evening, Jays vs the Oriols, not exactly going for the title, but it was a good game nonetheless, especially since the good guys won, and we got a home run in the 9th with a guy on first and second. Nice way to end the evening.
The odd thing though was parking.
I drove down, which seems a might mad, but I had some reasons other than a passion for sitting in traffic. When it came to park I came to a favourable looking lot, and turned to go in, but couldn't. The two guys, you know, parking lot guys on game night, you know the kind. Lord only knows where they go for the rest of the time, maybe they're the same guys who squeegy your windscreen at red lights. Anyway, the guys wave me around the corner.
The parking places they are heading us for are the private, heavily sign posted NO PARKING private spots of a small office building. Ummmmm.
They directed me into a spot, wanted ten bucks and gave me a little yellow slip of paper to put in the car.
Really, these guys looked totally seedy.
I asked them if this was legal, the convincing part was when one of them said there were much better ways to steal than stand around in the rain for ten bucks a car.
Solid point.
I left the car.
What was interesting to me was that I had considerable misgivings about parking the car there. Even when they asked me to wait while another woman parked, I had ample time to leave. The first spot the directed me to I didn't fit in, again, I nearly left. What I again find odd is that I didn't.
Eventually I left the car, parked in a very marginal place legally and next to a totally seeding park. Not a super safe place to return to - granted that as the game came out, I knew there would be TONS of people around for that short period of time anyway.
Why then did I leave the car? I certainly had no reason to trust these guys, all my instincts were singing out that it was a bad idea, I figured it was a 50 − 50 chance the car would be towed, and still I parked it there.
It was oddly conflicting. They guys were good at it. They were brusque and efficient, while still being humourous and just convincing enough; but I owed them NOTHING, and had a fair amount to loose if they were scamming me, not just the money for parking, but the cost of the tow and the hassle.
It wasn't politeness so much, though that was an element, it was partially that they were working so hard at it, and were fairly efficient, they gave (barely) credible responses to my questions - stating that they worked for the building who were making a little money on the side on game night - and commented to each other that they had to keep certain spaces open for people working there, and called a spade a spade when I asked about legality - stating straight out there were better ways to steal.
Still, I remain amazed that I parked the car there against all my warning signals. I am not overly polite (though I am Canadian) , I owed them nothing, they would not have suffered in any way if I left, there was a line of cars coming in for the space, there were plenty of other spaces....so why?
Something to ponder over for the next little bit.
Oh, and the car didn't get towed.
The odd thing though was parking.
I drove down, which seems a might mad, but I had some reasons other than a passion for sitting in traffic. When it came to park I came to a favourable looking lot, and turned to go in, but couldn't. The two guys, you know, parking lot guys on game night, you know the kind. Lord only knows where they go for the rest of the time, maybe they're the same guys who squeegy your windscreen at red lights. Anyway, the guys wave me around the corner.
The parking places they are heading us for are the private, heavily sign posted NO PARKING private spots of a small office building. Ummmmm.
They directed me into a spot, wanted ten bucks and gave me a little yellow slip of paper to put in the car.
Really, these guys looked totally seedy.
I asked them if this was legal, the convincing part was when one of them said there were much better ways to steal than stand around in the rain for ten bucks a car.
Solid point.
I left the car.
What was interesting to me was that I had considerable misgivings about parking the car there. Even when they asked me to wait while another woman parked, I had ample time to leave. The first spot the directed me to I didn't fit in, again, I nearly left. What I again find odd is that I didn't.
Eventually I left the car, parked in a very marginal place legally and next to a totally seeding park. Not a super safe place to return to - granted that as the game came out, I knew there would be TONS of people around for that short period of time anyway.
Why then did I leave the car? I certainly had no reason to trust these guys, all my instincts were singing out that it was a bad idea, I figured it was a 50 − 50 chance the car would be towed, and still I parked it there.
It was oddly conflicting. They guys were good at it. They were brusque and efficient, while still being humourous and just convincing enough; but I owed them NOTHING, and had a fair amount to loose if they were scamming me, not just the money for parking, but the cost of the tow and the hassle.
It wasn't politeness so much, though that was an element, it was partially that they were working so hard at it, and were fairly efficient, they gave (barely) credible responses to my questions - stating that they worked for the building who were making a little money on the side on game night - and commented to each other that they had to keep certain spaces open for people working there, and called a spade a spade when I asked about legality - stating straight out there were better ways to steal.
Still, I remain amazed that I parked the car there against all my warning signals. I am not overly polite (though I am Canadian) , I owed them nothing, they would not have suffered in any way if I left, there was a line of cars coming in for the space, there were plenty of other spaces....so why?
Something to ponder over for the next little bit.
Oh, and the car didn't get towed.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Multi-tasking
Whoever said that men cannot multi-task should watch a soccer/football players feet. So said Eldest.
I got another example today.
I was sitting in traffic, AC on thanks to the new rental waiting. This HONKING big dump truck pulls up beside me, the driver leans out and waves madly.
I rolled down the window thinking he needed advice/I had a madman in the backseat/there was something hanging out of the trunk...... he says, "You look pretty good, can I have your number?"
Like the style, no? Direct, to the point. Why waste an opportunity? Lots of women in traffic jams too...why sit around in your car/truck/monster machine idly missing the chance to meet Ms Right?
Ah little boy, did your mama know you were out?
I got another example today.
I was sitting in traffic, AC on thanks to the new rental waiting. This HONKING big dump truck pulls up beside me, the driver leans out and waves madly.
I rolled down the window thinking he needed advice/I had a madman in the backseat/there was something hanging out of the trunk...... he says, "You look pretty good, can I have your number?"
Like the style, no? Direct, to the point. Why waste an opportunity? Lots of women in traffic jams too...why sit around in your car/truck/monster machine idly missing the chance to meet Ms Right?
Ah little boy, did your mama know you were out?
Monday, July 26, 2010
blog blogblog blog
Don't really like the work blog...it is kind of ugly, no?
This is a word I do like the sound of, obovate. Nice huh? Oblong sounds pretty good too.
How about this one, resorcinol? Fun little work out there.
Isthmus can be amusing to say...
perpendicular
maniacal
superannuated...
what words do you like to say?
This is a word I do like the sound of, obovate. Nice huh? Oblong sounds pretty good too.
How about this one, resorcinol? Fun little work out there.
Isthmus can be amusing to say...
perpendicular
maniacal
superannuated...
what words do you like to say?
Sunday, July 25, 2010
What do you think of all this?
I am honestly reposting this, I have to get up in five hours, so I looked through some of those draft posts, and I found this. I think it is actually pretty cool and will be the most amazing mine of information for historians, social scientists and artists for years to come.
Reposted:
One of the factors that makes Twitter so addictive is the fleeting, transient nature of the tweet: shortly after appearing online, your 140-character post will be more or less forgotten, consigned to oblivion. That is about to change, however, with the announcement that Twitter is to become the “official social network of record” now that the U.S. Library of Congress, the world’s largest library, has acquired the entire Twitter archive. According to the LoC blog, the library will archive every tweet ever posted by Twitter’s 105 million users, a tally numbering in the billions. The acquisition will add to the LoC’s already extensive collection of “born digital” materials. From the LoC blog:
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Friday, July 23, 2010
Driving with Eldest
I've been logging some hours with Eldest in the car these days, and it turns out that Eldest is in fact a suburban middle aged white guy with a preference for beer and pick-ups!
No sh*t!
Her preferred radio station? You got it, Q107. For those of you not from TO, that is the 'classic' rock station. They played it all, Supertramp, ACDC, Dire Straits (which they NEVER would have played back in the day) ZZ Top, Bowie in the Ziggy Stardust era, the Stones. She was even marginally impressed by my ability to name the song and band within a few bars.
The weirdness is that I don't like it much myself, and would NEVER listen to it on my own, preferring some of the newer music, but talking books if I have my way.....
You know what else? Q still has the same announcers, which is kinda cool, must be a decent place to work, but Galleger, Maureen, and Kim Mitchel have been there since Moses was a baby, honestly, they've got to be pushing 60 by now.
Weird.
Another observation from the road, has anyone else laid eyes on that Flex thing Ford put out, Yeah, there's the car for me, (NOT)... I've always wanted to drive around in an undercover hearse.
That is one weird car, from the side, hearse; from behind, a mini on steroids.
Ugly ugly ugly.
No sh*t!
Her preferred radio station? You got it, Q107. For those of you not from TO, that is the 'classic' rock station. They played it all, Supertramp, ACDC, Dire Straits (which they NEVER would have played back in the day) ZZ Top, Bowie in the Ziggy Stardust era, the Stones. She was even marginally impressed by my ability to name the song and band within a few bars.
The weirdness is that I don't like it much myself, and would NEVER listen to it on my own, preferring some of the newer music, but talking books if I have my way.....
You know what else? Q still has the same announcers, which is kinda cool, must be a decent place to work, but Galleger, Maureen, and Kim Mitchel have been there since Moses was a baby, honestly, they've got to be pushing 60 by now.
Weird.
Another observation from the road, has anyone else laid eyes on that Flex thing Ford put out, Yeah, there's the car for me, (NOT)... I've always wanted to drive around in an undercover hearse.
That is one weird car, from the side, hearse; from behind, a mini on steroids.
Ugly ugly ugly.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
House update photos.
New dining room floor, not fully mortared
Know that photo into Youngest's room I keep showing? The man took one that is similar, here it is:
You won't be able to see that upper window once it's finished, there will be a floor over those beams. They are busy plastering now, wiring and plumbing is in. Wow. Moving fast they are.
Know that photo into Youngest's room I keep showing? The man took one that is similar, here it is:
You won't be able to see that upper window once it's finished, there will be a floor over those beams. They are busy plastering now, wiring and plumbing is in. Wow. Moving fast they are.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Canvas a day
As you may have noticed, I've been working on the canvas a day project for a while now, not sure I want to look how long, but more than a third of a year.
My only frustration with it is time, I keep on ending up cracking open the painting equipment at about 11:30 at night. You know what, it's hard to produce anything worth looking at at that time of night.
A while ago I bought a beautiful pin from a fabric artist. I get compliments on it regularly. On her site she credits her success with this:
Show up every day
Pay close attention and
Follow the prompts
Follow the prompts
Meg Hannan
The canvas a day project is an attempt to keep up with just the first part of that. Hoping that from time to time parts two and three will follow, cause at least I showed up.
Right now, here in TO, I'm at 7 canvases a weekend, if I'm lucky.
Not quite what I had in mind.
Ah well. It'll have to be three canvases a day in the fall to catch up, no?
The canvas a day project is an attempt to keep up with just the first part of that. Hoping that from time to time parts two and three will follow, cause at least I showed up.
Right now, here in TO, I'm at 7 canvases a weekend, if I'm lucky.
Not quite what I had in mind.
Ah well. It'll have to be three canvases a day in the fall to catch up, no?
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