I don't know why but I feel the need to blog again. Not that anything exciting is happening in my life at the moment other than tornado warnings. Fortunately, the storm has passed and the sun is setting beautifully judging from the view from my window in JAMland. Something is taking photos with a flash from the tall apartment building on J Avenue (two blocks north of us) and I keep seeing it out of the corner of my eye, thinking that the lightning has returned. We were worried somewhat about the large maple tree in our neighbours' front yard. It's big, old and gnarly, with large branches reaching out over top of our house. But it has survived another storm and we are extremely thankful for that.
I'm hot and I'm full of spaghetti with homemade meat sauce so I'm going to hit the shower to rinse off. Keep watching this space for more updates, coming soon. I don't know what I'll write about but I'm sure I'll find something. Life in Toronto has a way of pissing you off or delighting you -- it all depends on the day!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Monday, December 01, 2008
Tis The Season To Kill Trees
We saw several stores advertising “live” trees for sale over this past weekend and when I saw them cut, bound and ready to be transported to someone’s Christmas tree stand for a short stint of celebrity covered in energy-sucking lights and tinsel that would clog landfills for years to come, I felt a little sick. Once the blade hits the trunk of any tree, it is d.e.a.d. :(
How do we get the balls to keep doing this, year after year? I have a great respect for trees and the positive contribution they make to this pollution-filled world we live in. What part of “An Inconvenient Truth” didn’t y’all understand? *sigh*
Anyway, at the very least, couldn’t they call them “real” trees? (Although even that would be stretching the truth in my opinion.). LEAVE THE TREES IN THE GROUND PLEASE! That is where they do the best work of their long, productive lives.
How do we get the balls to keep doing this, year after year? I have a great respect for trees and the positive contribution they make to this pollution-filled world we live in. What part of “An Inconvenient Truth” didn’t y’all understand? *sigh*
Anyway, at the very least, couldn’t they call them “real” trees? (Although even that would be stretching the truth in my opinion.). LEAVE THE TREES IN THE GROUND PLEASE! That is where they do the best work of their long, productive lives.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Is Beige the New Black?
I saw three people wearing beige today and I can tell you, I was not impressed.
What is with these overweight businessmen who hang on to their ratty, beige trench coats for years? And they tie the belt around their waists instead of securing it property. Rob ties his belt but then, he's got a 32" waist so it looks OK. Fat men who do this look like a sausage, cut in half.
Then I saw one of our neighbours, enjoying his morning coffee at a local cafe. He was wearing a beige "mock" turtleneck sweater under a chocolate brown sports jacket. I will admit that this man is also rather large but he is tall and carries his weight well. He has white hair and is rather distinguished looking. However the beige sweater simply negated all those good attributes. And why is it called a "mock" turtleneck? Is it a turtleneck wannbe???
Finally, I saw a young, blonde woman on her way to work wearing a beige down-filled, knee-length winter coat with running shoes. *sigh* There was so much wrong with her outfit, I don't know where to start. Frankly, blondes should never wear beige. It wipes them out colour-wise. The bare legs and the running shoes are also a big no-no. And while we're on the topic, wearing running shoes anywhere except the gym is just stupid.
I have yet to meet anyone who looks good in beige. I don't even like the sound of the word: b.e.i.g.e. It sounds icky and it looks icky. I think it should be outlawed in the fashion world and kept strictly for use in hospital morgues.
What is with these overweight businessmen who hang on to their ratty, beige trench coats for years? And they tie the belt around their waists instead of securing it property. Rob ties his belt but then, he's got a 32" waist so it looks OK. Fat men who do this look like a sausage, cut in half.
Then I saw one of our neighbours, enjoying his morning coffee at a local cafe. He was wearing a beige "mock" turtleneck sweater under a chocolate brown sports jacket. I will admit that this man is also rather large but he is tall and carries his weight well. He has white hair and is rather distinguished looking. However the beige sweater simply negated all those good attributes. And why is it called a "mock" turtleneck? Is it a turtleneck wannbe???
Finally, I saw a young, blonde woman on her way to work wearing a beige down-filled, knee-length winter coat with running shoes. *sigh* There was so much wrong with her outfit, I don't know where to start. Frankly, blondes should never wear beige. It wipes them out colour-wise. The bare legs and the running shoes are also a big no-no. And while we're on the topic, wearing running shoes anywhere except the gym is just stupid.
I have yet to meet anyone who looks good in beige. I don't even like the sound of the word: b.e.i.g.e. It sounds icky and it looks icky. I think it should be outlawed in the fashion world and kept strictly for use in hospital morgues.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Honeymoon Hijinks
The cruise was F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S. We were on the Norwegian Gem which is their newest ship -- only one year old. We had a mini-suite with a balcony and I was surprised at how big the bathroom was (we even had a tub!) and how much storage room we had. There were 10 restaurants and 11 bars on board and we only ate in the main diningroom once for dinner. We didn't like it. It was too big and the staff were too harried to make the evening pleasant. They were just moving people in and out of there as fast as they could.
As a result, we opted for the specialty restaurants: Mexican, French, Italian, Asian and Steakhouse. We ate at the Mexican restaurant twice we liked it so much! We ate at the Steakhouse for my birthday and it was really, really nice. They even had a cake for me (which we never ate). We also had brunch at the French restaurant (as well as dinner one night) and it was excellent. We had to pay an extra cover charge for the specialty restaurants ($10 to $15 per person) but it was worth it for the intimacy and the very attentive service.
We went to an art auction our only day at sea (the first day) and bought two prints which are being shipped to us in the next month or so. We didn't buy any jewellery or anything else on board except for booze and internet. I bought a few things for myself -- a silver filagreed Maltese cross in Malta, a Murano glass heart necklace in Nice (cheaper than in Italy!), a Barcelona ball cap, Herbes de Provence and Olive soap in Nice, pasta spices in Sorrento (Rob bought himself a new belt). We didn't go too crazy buying stuff because we were pretty close to our luggage allowance coming over and didn't want to go exceed the amount and pay extra baggage charges going back.
Our trips off the ship were great! We booked private tours in Malta and in Naples. The tour guide in Malta, Flora, was wonderful. The tour guide in Naples, Massimo, was a bit of a joke because neither of us could understand him -- his accent was so strong! LOL He took us to Positano and Sorrento, which were lovely and we skipped Naples altogether as we hadn't heard anything good about it at all.
Rome on our own was amazing! We took the train from the station which was about a 10 minute walk from the port. The trip took 50 minutes and then we grabbed a taxi to the Coliseum. The price of the train was €37 and the taxi was €15. The entrance fee to the Coliseum and Forum was €9 Euros each so we did the whole day for around $100 CDN. The cruise ship wanted almost $300US each for the same type of trip on a bus which would have been slower. We did the same thing in Villefranche and caught the local bus into Nice for €1 each way.
The hotel in Barcelona for our first night (Hotel 1898) was incredible and we loved it there! It was right on Las Ramblas which we walked a lot. The apartment in Barcelona was a little shabby but in a great location. We walked everywhere and saw a lot of sights: Palau de la Musica, La Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, Barceloneta (the beach!) and Plaza Catalunya. We even went into a big department store called "El Cortes de Ingles". I would like to go back to Barcelona and stay closer to Las Ramblas. It is a beautiful city and the public transportation works very well.
By the time we got to Amsterdam, I was ready to come home. Living out of a suitcase is not my idea of fun and there were just too many flights for my liking but we had nice weather and the apartment was better than Barcelona so we walked around quite a bit and got a nice feeling from Amsterdam. I don't know if we will ever go back but maybe. We didn't go to any of the museums so that is something that I would like to do eventually. There are bicyclists EVERYWHERE there and I found that a bit of a pain in the ass, trying not to get run over by them all the time. On our last night, we had dinner in a really cheerful Tapas restaurant right around the corner from where we were staying so that was definitely a highlight.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW 350+ HONEYMOON PICS
As a result, we opted for the specialty restaurants: Mexican, French, Italian, Asian and Steakhouse. We ate at the Mexican restaurant twice we liked it so much! We ate at the Steakhouse for my birthday and it was really, really nice. They even had a cake for me (which we never ate). We also had brunch at the French restaurant (as well as dinner one night) and it was excellent. We had to pay an extra cover charge for the specialty restaurants ($10 to $15 per person) but it was worth it for the intimacy and the very attentive service.
We went to an art auction our only day at sea (the first day) and bought two prints which are being shipped to us in the next month or so. We didn't buy any jewellery or anything else on board except for booze and internet. I bought a few things for myself -- a silver filagreed Maltese cross in Malta, a Murano glass heart necklace in Nice (cheaper than in Italy!), a Barcelona ball cap, Herbes de Provence and Olive soap in Nice, pasta spices in Sorrento (Rob bought himself a new belt). We didn't go too crazy buying stuff because we were pretty close to our luggage allowance coming over and didn't want to go exceed the amount and pay extra baggage charges going back.
Our trips off the ship were great! We booked private tours in Malta and in Naples. The tour guide in Malta, Flora, was wonderful. The tour guide in Naples, Massimo, was a bit of a joke because neither of us could understand him -- his accent was so strong! LOL He took us to Positano and Sorrento, which were lovely and we skipped Naples altogether as we hadn't heard anything good about it at all.
Rome on our own was amazing! We took the train from the station which was about a 10 minute walk from the port. The trip took 50 minutes and then we grabbed a taxi to the Coliseum. The price of the train was €37 and the taxi was €15. The entrance fee to the Coliseum and Forum was €9 Euros each so we did the whole day for around $100 CDN. The cruise ship wanted almost $300US each for the same type of trip on a bus which would have been slower. We did the same thing in Villefranche and caught the local bus into Nice for €1 each way.
The hotel in Barcelona for our first night (Hotel 1898) was incredible and we loved it there! It was right on Las Ramblas which we walked a lot. The apartment in Barcelona was a little shabby but in a great location. We walked everywhere and saw a lot of sights: Palau de la Musica, La Sagrada Familia, Parc Guell, Barceloneta (the beach!) and Plaza Catalunya. We even went into a big department store called "El Cortes de Ingles". I would like to go back to Barcelona and stay closer to Las Ramblas. It is a beautiful city and the public transportation works very well.
By the time we got to Amsterdam, I was ready to come home. Living out of a suitcase is not my idea of fun and there were just too many flights for my liking but we had nice weather and the apartment was better than Barcelona so we walked around quite a bit and got a nice feeling from Amsterdam. I don't know if we will ever go back but maybe. We didn't go to any of the museums so that is something that I would like to do eventually. There are bicyclists EVERYWHERE there and I found that a bit of a pain in the ass, trying not to get run over by them all the time. On our last night, we had dinner in a really cheerful Tapas restaurant right around the corner from where we were staying so that was definitely a highlight.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW 350+ HONEYMOON PICS
Monday, September 22, 2008
Speech! Speech!
You may have noticed that I am not a traditional bride. :)
When I was a little girl, I never dreamed of having a big wedding with a white dress and sugar coated cake. I dreamed of writing the great Canadian novel, of travelling to faraway lands and doing things that only boys were supposed to do. Although some of you might not believe this, I wasn’t always a “girly girl”; I was a bit of a tomboy growing up. I know, I know – it’s hard to believe with these heels, right?
It is so gratifying to have my family with me here today, to witness my and Rob’s happiness. They loved him and accepted him from the very start. Frankly, I think my Mom is thrilled that I found someone after all these years. When we called her to tell her about the engagement, I told her she had to go buy a new outfit, something she’s been threatening to do since our third date! And Dad, you can stop worrying about me now, if that is in any way possible for a father like you to do. My brother Greg, thanks so much for being here and sharing in this joy with me. Looks like 2007 was a great year for both of us in the love department! :)
My godparents, Marg and Peter, are here, as well as my favourite aunt, Carmen, and my uncle Steve, who was more like a big brother to me and Greg when we were growing up. Thank you all so much for coming. It means so much to me to have you here.
And I have gained a new sister today! As you may know, Rob’s sister Jane came all the way from South Africa to attend the wedding and I want to take this opportunity to thank her for making that long trip. Jane, your presence here as the Morris family representative means a great deal to both of us.
By now, you have all seen my gorgeous Maid of Honour, Mary Ann. I’ve known this woman since Grade 4 and I sometimes think she knows me better than I know myself. . We have passed through so many of life’s milestones together – I never had any doubt that she would be the one standing beside me today. Thank you, my dear friend, for being here for me – today and always.
I’ve often said that I measure the richness of my life by the quality of my friends so, as you can see, I am a VERY wealthy woman.
Some of my friends have been a part of my life for more than 20 years. Some are newer friends but no less precious. The fact that you are here with me today fills my heart to bursting. Thank you all so much for your friendship and love over the years.
I also want to acknowledge and thank all of Lynn’s friends who have accepted me as Rob’s new wife and allowed me to share in your tender memories of her. Your love and support will go a long way in ensuring the success of our marriage.
Finally, there’s my Rob -- a “Man of Action” if ever there was one. I’ve been calling him that since our first date when he told me I should sell my condo, move in and marry him. He denies he ever said such a thing but I will never forget it. I didn’t know what to think of him. He was very persistent and seemed sure of everything, including me. We came into this relationship with very different lifestyles and I fought him every step of the way. But he wore me down with his tenderness, his zany sense of humour, his generous spirit and his unshakeable love for me. I didn’t stand a chance.
And look what happened today! OMG! I’m married!!! I can barely believe it myself sometimes. Rob, I love you and I’m looking forwarding to sharing the next 40 or 50 years with you. *wink*
Thank you everyone for sharing this wonderful day with us!
A TOAST TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!
When I was a little girl, I never dreamed of having a big wedding with a white dress and sugar coated cake. I dreamed of writing the great Canadian novel, of travelling to faraway lands and doing things that only boys were supposed to do. Although some of you might not believe this, I wasn’t always a “girly girl”; I was a bit of a tomboy growing up. I know, I know – it’s hard to believe with these heels, right?
It is so gratifying to have my family with me here today, to witness my and Rob’s happiness. They loved him and accepted him from the very start. Frankly, I think my Mom is thrilled that I found someone after all these years. When we called her to tell her about the engagement, I told her she had to go buy a new outfit, something she’s been threatening to do since our third date! And Dad, you can stop worrying about me now, if that is in any way possible for a father like you to do. My brother Greg, thanks so much for being here and sharing in this joy with me. Looks like 2007 was a great year for both of us in the love department! :)
My godparents, Marg and Peter, are here, as well as my favourite aunt, Carmen, and my uncle Steve, who was more like a big brother to me and Greg when we were growing up. Thank you all so much for coming. It means so much to me to have you here.
And I have gained a new sister today! As you may know, Rob’s sister Jane came all the way from South Africa to attend the wedding and I want to take this opportunity to thank her for making that long trip. Jane, your presence here as the Morris family representative means a great deal to both of us.
By now, you have all seen my gorgeous Maid of Honour, Mary Ann. I’ve known this woman since Grade 4 and I sometimes think she knows me better than I know myself. . We have passed through so many of life’s milestones together – I never had any doubt that she would be the one standing beside me today. Thank you, my dear friend, for being here for me – today and always.
I’ve often said that I measure the richness of my life by the quality of my friends so, as you can see, I am a VERY wealthy woman.
Some of my friends have been a part of my life for more than 20 years. Some are newer friends but no less precious. The fact that you are here with me today fills my heart to bursting. Thank you all so much for your friendship and love over the years.
I also want to acknowledge and thank all of Lynn’s friends who have accepted me as Rob’s new wife and allowed me to share in your tender memories of her. Your love and support will go a long way in ensuring the success of our marriage.
Finally, there’s my Rob -- a “Man of Action” if ever there was one. I’ve been calling him that since our first date when he told me I should sell my condo, move in and marry him. He denies he ever said such a thing but I will never forget it. I didn’t know what to think of him. He was very persistent and seemed sure of everything, including me. We came into this relationship with very different lifestyles and I fought him every step of the way. But he wore me down with his tenderness, his zany sense of humour, his generous spirit and his unshakeable love for me. I didn’t stand a chance.
And look what happened today! OMG! I’m married!!! I can barely believe it myself sometimes. Rob, I love you and I’m looking forwarding to sharing the next 40 or 50 years with you. *wink*
Thank you everyone for sharing this wonderful day with us!
A TOAST TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Sadness
This photo on the cover of The National Post brought tears to my eyes today, along with the article about the repatriation of the latest Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan.
There is something so pure about a child's grief. It has the power to cut through all the polictics and all the rhetoric and get to the heart of the matter: Canadian soldiers are selflessly giving their lives for a country many of us will never see. They are proud of the job they're doing and believe they are making a difference.
The way Canadians in Ontario, along the "Highway of Heroes", are marking the passing of these amazing young men and women, is being noticed around the world.
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