Metro Goddess

Unbelievable ...

2010-04-30T09:24:00.003-04:00

This is a letter I wrote to my house-sitter which I did not send. It was simply an exercise designed to help lower my blood pressure, which is already down a couple points this morning! I decided not to send it to her but still want it out there, in cyber space, so Karma can get a whiff of it and make her own decision on how she wants to handle it. I leave it up to her ...

*NOTICE* ~ This is not a nice letter but I needed to say it and I feel better now. :)

I still can’t believe what you did. Every time I turn around here, I find something else missing, broken or soiled. We entrusted you with our HOME and yet you found it necessary to treat us like this? I guess I will never understand people like you. I thought we were friends and relied on you to be an honest, caring and competent person. I still can’t believe that (1) I misjudged you so completely (2) you think you did nothing wrong.

Your attitude throughout this entire ordeal (and believe me, it was an ordeal for us being thousands of miles away, wondering what the hell was going on here) has been condescending and evasive. Frankly, when you cancelled the housekeeper the first time, I had the fleeting instant of fear that you were hiding something. It seems I was right. We paid over $2,000 for the piece of furniture that you broke.

If you had been honest with us when it happened, we would have told you to call the manufacturer (their showroom is a mere two blocks away) and arrange for them to come in to look at it at our expense. If it needs to be taken away for repair, wouldn’t it have made more sense to do it while we were still away? As it is now, I will probably have to live with clothing all over my beautiful bedroom due to your artifice.

Thank you so much for your note. It was such a wonderful surprise to read it upon our return close to midnight after a long arduous day of travel. I was up until 3AM, trying to put my house back together. Frankly, it was smart of you to leave before we got here. I would not have hesitated to put you out on the street for what you did to our home.

Oh and thank you for totally RAPING the fridge before your departure. Unfortunately, I wasn’t quite sure how to make a breakfast the next morning using only mustard and capers. Was it really necessary to take almost everything and not even have the common decency to leave us a crust of bread? Please don’t try to tell me that you went through an entire 1 kg jar of garlic in 12 weeks. Open your fridge. See it there? Jesus Christ.

Given the way you run your life, it really should not be such a surprise to me that you did all this but I still can’t believe it. And since you obviously go to great lengths to avoid confrontations of any kind -- refusing my phone calls, not answering my emails and removing me as a friend on Facebook (what are we, in high school for fuck’s sake?) -- I advise you VERY strongly to avoid me at all costs for the foreseeable future.

Need to Blog

2009-08-20T20:19:00.002-04:00

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!

The Wisdom of Pooh

2009-04-30T08:08:00.001-04:00

Recession? Bah Humbug!

2008-12-16T16:03:00.004-05:00

I am so sick of hearing about "the recession". Frankly, my life hasn't changed one iota in the last three months. It is actually cheaper to buy gas and the stuff in stores is marked down before the end of the year instead of after. Another good thing that has happened is all the obnoxious Xmas ads have been somewhat diminished so I am not as annoyed as I usually am at this time of year. So YAY for that!

The media is blowing this all out of proportion and it's becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. People are going into full panic mode and I just don't understand it. Sure the automotive industry for American-made cars is in trouble but they needed self-correction after innundating the roads with below-standard products for years. Don't punish the employees. They were just following orders and doing their job. MAKE A BETTER PRODUCT!!!

I suppose the people who are carrying a heavy debt load must be suffering but really, if you live beyond your means, you have to expect the bottom to fall out sometime. Today is the day. If you bought a big expensive house that you couldn't really afford, you deserve to go down with everyone else who runs their life like a business always in the red.

There are a lot of people out there who have no debt, live within their means, save 20% or more of their income every year. We are all doing just fine, thank you very much. We are not living a champagne lifestyle on a beer budget. We don't drive our cars to work every day and we don't eat out in fancy restaurants every night. And we use the crockpot every once in a while ...

Tis The Season To Kill Trees

2008-12-01T16:51:00.000-05:00

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.

Is Beige the New Black?

2008-11-19T07:14:00.000-05:00

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.

Honeymoon Hijinks

2008-10-15T20:29:00.002-04:00

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

Wedding Pics

2008-09-22T08:13:00.001-04:00

There are few photos here:

Casa MoMo Wedding Photos

Speech! Speech!

2008-09-22T08:10:00.001-04:00

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!!!

Sadness

2008-09-11T15:32:00.004-04:00

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.

Love This!

2008-09-03T17:44:00.000-04:00

I was sent this today as part of a mass email about National Girlfriends' Week. Frankly, as far as I'm concerned, every DAY is Girlfriends' Day!

I Want A Dog!

2008-07-31T16:11:00.002-04:00

Isn't this guy the cutest ever???

The Mysterious Bonds of Friendship

2008-06-05T18:00:00.002-04:00

You may not see them all the time but when you do, the time and distance between you disappears and it is as if you were never parted. I have many friends like this (and you know who you are). Friends from grade school, friends from high school, friends met on vacations, friends from old jobs, old relationships and other decades. Friends who knew me as I was then but are excited to see me as I am now. These are my “accepting” friends – my “deep down, buried in my heart” friends.

I have a friend who I haven’t seen for 4 or 5 years now. She pops into my mind at the oddest times. I think of her often this time of year (spring and early summer) because when we met 22 years ago, it was early April. We slept in the same room for 10 weeks. After that we moved and slept down the hall from one another for many months until we finally parted over a year later. I always think about her in June because her birthday is the last day of the month. For the last week, I’ve been thinking about her constantly and frantically searching the internet for any sign of her.

Today I decided to google her email address and discovered her mother using it for a geneology search. I had met her mother a few times and really liked her. When I googled her mother’s name, I found an Ebituary. My stomach dropped. I scanned the listing quickly, searching for my friend’s name. She was listed as one of the bereaved. So was her mother. It was then that I realized her older sister had just died, six days ago. The funeral was held just two days ago. The skin on my arms started prickling the way it does when something unusual happens. I read the online condolences and added my own.

Today at lunch, I will be buying her a sympathy card, along with a birthday card and I will no longer put off writing her that long ago promised letter.

Putting Myself Out There

2008-04-26T09:24:00.006-04:00

I've never been afraid to give my opinion, in writing or when asked personally. With the invention of the internet (yes, I'm that old that I can say the internet was "invented" during my lifetime), I have joined a number of forums or online bulletin boards, most which deal with Puerto Vallarta. I met my good friend Colleen on a PV forum way back in 2002 -- I was going on my first solo trip and was looking to hang out with some other single women. She responded to my post and we've been great friends ever since. In fact, I've met a lot of really wonderful people through the internets.

Unfortunately, when you go "public" with your point of view, anyone with a keyboard can take a metaphorical swing at you. That's the risk you take but, as I often say, life without risk isn't really living. I always use my real name and post my email address. I figure if anyone has a beef with something I've written, they can contact me directly. Unfortunately, postings on the internet can easily be misinterpreted (smiley faces can't always save the day!) and feelings get hurt. I've learned that people's interpretations can be grossly different, even with respect to the most simple and inane topics. And writing a blog puts you at risk of anyone taking offence to something you've written.

Oh well!

I received quite a few mean-spirited comments on this blog and the other one I wrote when I lived in Vallarta. Usually by some asshole named "Anonymous" who is big on providing their negative, defamatory opinion but not big enough to sign their name and take responsibility for it. Cowards. Thankfully, the positive feedback usually outnumbers the bad by 100 to 1 which just goes to show you -- if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. LOL

Me

2008-04-26T09:20:00.004-04:00

Here is a recent photo of me taken with a huge glass of red wine. Someone remarked that it looked like I was holding a huge knife in my hand (apparently the sleeve of the waiter behind me looks like a butcher's blade).

Whatever ... people see what they want to see.

The TTC

2008-04-26T09:07:00.002-04:00

Last weekend, the TTC gave the City of Toronto notice that they were going out on strike on Monday April 21st. Bastards. I think that we should all boycott them for a few days and see how they like when WE go on strike!

Actually, in preparation for the strike last Monday, Rob and I decided to try walking to work. I had no idea how long it would take us but I figured less than an hour. We had a whole week of beautiful weather in which to try our test.

Monday was gorgeous -- mild and sunny. We got up at 6:30AM (instead of the usual 6AM when we used to go the gym) and left the house at 7:30AM, wearing our running shoes with our business attire (not a nice look).

I wore a cotton top because I knew I would be glowing by the time I reached my destination. My Beloved spent most of his formative years in Yorkshire so he LOVES to walk. I had a difficult time keeping up with him!

We walked straight down Yonge Street. There wasn't a lot of traffic and not too many people on the sidewalks. We stayed on the east side of the street, out of the sun. There was a slight breeze. It was quite pleasant! The walk took 45 minutes.

Thankfully, the walk downtown is mostly downhill so it was a relatively easy walk. By the end of the week, I was quite used to it and my legs weren't shaking so much any more. I invested the $10+ I saved in TTC fare to buy a lottery ticket.

If I win, I will never have to take the TTC again!

Why I Don't Post ...

2008-04-13T18:15:00.003-04:00

I know I don't post much any more and that bothers me sometimes. My new job is so incredibly busy, I barely have time to check my personal email, let alone blog. My new relationship also keeps me incredibly busy. Rob and I share an online calendar together so that we can keep all of our social and business engagements organized. We are now booking weekend in JUNE which, when I think about it, is absolutely ridiculous.

But we're very happy together and we love keeping busy. We still find the odd evening to sit at home and do "nothing" -- after dinner is made, eaten, the kitchen is cleaned up, the laundry and ironing are done, the personal phone calls and emails are returned, we occasionally find time to catch one of our favourite shows on TV -- like Dancing With The Stars (we can thank my Mom, the former ballroom dancer, for getting us hooked on that one!) and CSI.

Life is good! :) More to come ...

Happy Easter!

2008-03-20T17:07:00.000-04:00

It's Winter!!!

2008-03-09T13:39:00.002-04:00

Enough already! I'm not saying enough of winter but enough of people complaining about it. We live in Canada. It is winter. I don't think it is unreasonable to expect snow and cold in February and even into March. Hell, sometimes it even snows in April. GET OVER IT!

I think Canadians aren't happy unless they are bitching about the weather. I know I've done it myself but since living in a country with NO seasons, I don't harp about it any more. In fact, I'm not finding this winter too bad. Since I moved, I only have to walk two blocks to the subway so I'm not standing around waiting for a bus any more. Plus, I no longer have to take buses or trains to get out of the City. And I don't have to shovel snow (although I always liked doing it).

NEWSFLASH on Saturday March 8th --> It's still snowing and it's still winter! LOL

Photos from NYC

2008-02-09T12:41:00.003-05:00

This was taken at Rockafeller Centre while the Zamboni was cleaning the ice of the skating rink:

This was taken inside Grand Central Station on Sunday afternoon. I just love the inside of old train stations:

Rob took this photo on our first night, while walking back on 42nd Street. It has a Gotham City-like quality to it which I like:

We were enthralled by some of building facades in Manhattan and the camera caught their sharp, detailed edges very well:

Snow Day!

2008-02-06T15:56:00.000-05:00

It snowed over night and the park out the back of our place was a winter wonderland this morning. I don't mind winter so much any more. I enjoy all the seasons here in Canada -- each one has its own special charm.

I Ate New York!

2008-02-03T16:09:00.001-05:00

If you want to eat in a good restaurant in New York, you have to make reservations. Rob made numerous suggestions but after doing some research on Trip Advisor and www.chow.com, I found a few I liked. Unfortunately, the Gramercy Tavern was booked at normal eating times (we could have had dinner there at 4PM or midnight). So our second choice for Friday night was Alcalá. It was sort of in the neighbourhood where we were staying but, because of the weather, we decided to take a cab. Unfortunately, there were none to be found so our doorman ran up the street to find an unmarked taxi who charged us $20 to go about 10 blocks. At this stage of the game (15 minutes prior to our reservation at 8PM), we weren't in any position to argue with the man. I was uncertain at first whether he was going to hold us hostage or take us to our destination but he proved to be a most admirable fellow (as were all the taxi drivers we encountered) and dropped us on the corner.

The restaurant itself was warm and intimate. We counted 36 seats and we got the last two at our reserved time. The couple sitting next to us were finishing a dinner of seafood paella so we decided then and there, that's what we were having. Our appetizers were a fabulous start -- mushrooms in garlic (lots and lots of garlic!) and a green mesclun salad. The bread was warm and freshly baked, served with creamy butter. We ordered a bottle Martinez Lacuesta Tempranillo Rioja 1999 for $48 but they soon informed us that they were out of that particular wine. Instead, they offered us the 1998 for same price! It was a wonderful companion to our meal. Most of the waiters were Spanish-speaking and Mexican so it was nice to be able to talk to them in their native language. No dessert for us after this fabulous meal but we decided to walk home since the rain had stopped.

On our second night, we had reservations at Basso56. I had again found this on the internet and was intrigued by their Italian menu and their self-depricating description of being "chic but unpretentious". We took a taxi and were there a few minutes before our 8PM reservation time. Although the restaurant was packed, we were shown to a table for four in the corner. My thoughtful companion had called ahead to request a "special table for a special evening". As is our habit, we ordered two appetizers to share -- grilled eggplant stuffed with goat cheese and pan-seared scallops with sauteed wild mushrooms. The bread was fantastic and they gave us fresh olives as well. We don't know a lot about Italian wine, preferring Spanish or South American wine, so we ordered something reasonably priced, at the waiter's recommendation and were not disappointed. My pasta selection was a little bit underwhelming with there being more pasta than shrimp and asparagus but Rob really enjoyed his meal and the coffee served afterwards. Again, we walked home from the restaurant to aid in our digestion of this wonderful meal.

On Sunday, we had brunch reservations at The View in the Marriott Marquis Times Square hotel. This place is huge and the elevator ride to the top of the hotel was terrifying for me! I'm not great with heights and have horrible motion-sickness on an empty stomach. Once there, I was still a little bit wobbly and then realized that the restaurant was revolving! So it wasn't just me ... LOL Sunday was actually a beautiful, sunny day so the view from The View was incredible. The food wasn't bad either although we spun by the dessert table far too early and when I saw the chocolate fountain for the first time, I was very excited. I didn't eat any "breakfast" foods other than a croissant. I had a small chicken breast, potatoes au gratin, basmati rice, ravioli with broccoli and fresh tomatoes. We had cheese and fruit and shrimp and salads and half a bagel each with cream cheese and delicious smoked salmon. I also sucked back a couple of mimosas (champagne and orange juice) before tackling the dessert table. Unfortunately, there was a problem with the chocolate fountain and every woman around me voiced her disappointment when we saw the various pieces of it being dismantled. Thankfully, it was fixed right before we left so we tasted a small sample with strawberries.

Brunch was great and VERY expensive at $70 per person!!! We had reservations that evening for a swanky French restaurant but opted out of that and settled for something smaller and simpler after our rather large, opulent brunch. And I almost forgot to mention this authentic French brasserie we found in Lower Manhattan on Sunday afternoon. It was one of the few places open in this construction-laden area of the city. It was called Brasserie Les Halles and it was a delight! I felt like we were in Paris again except with better food! LOL I had a thirst for some beer so we started with un pression (draught beer) and then ordered lunch. Rob had salad and a soup of black bean puree and pico de gallo. I had a chicken sandwich with frites and a small salad. The food was really, really tasty and perfect for a cold, windy day downtown.

Born Again Virgin

2008-01-21T17:15:00.000-05:00

Against all better judgement, I went out today and got a cell phone for use in Canada and (apparently) the U.S. As many of you know, I've been resisting this step for a long time now and have only ever owned a cell phone out of necessity when I was living in Mexico and didn't have a land line coming into my apartment. So for $20 a month (plus tax), I have 200 minutes for incoming and outgoing calls. The only part of cell phone usage that I really liked was text messaging so I'm paying another $3 a month (plus tax) for the privilege of sending text messages to people in Canada and the U.S.

The catalyst was actually my 70-year-old mother who called me one night to tell me that she and her friend, Helen, were "Virgins". They'd been talked into buying cell phones by some guy at the mall. They both drive so a cell phone is probably a good idea (especially in this cold, cold weather). Since I don't drive, what's my excuse? Well, it's pretty difficult to find a working pay phone in this City. Plus I think it costs more than 25 cents now (I remember when it cost a dime!). There are a number of times when I'm out and about when I need to confab with my significant other (he has a Blackberry through his work) so I thought this was the lessor of two evils.

I went with Virgin because it was cheap (around $25 per month, in total); they have no extra charges for the service or 911 (everyone else charges $6.95+ per month for these items) and all the extras (calling waiting, call answer, call forwarding, etc.) are included in the price. Plus, I can manage the account online which means no trying to call real people to get answers to questions about my account. And there's no contract so I can change or cancel it at any time. So wish me luck and if you want to call me, send me an email for my number (which I can't remember right now -- must look in the box when I get home). LOL

This is NOT a Knitting Blog (not that there's anything wrong with that)

2008-01-20T20:27:00.000-05:00

I used to knit quite a bit. In fact, I've made four adult-size Fair Isle sweaters "in the round". However, it's been a while since I've picked up any needles. After reading CAP's blog for a couple of months now, I've kind of had a hankering to start knitting again. I know, I know ... the power of persuasion. But I always liked knitting so I thought I would give it a shot, especially after she posted this really easy pattern for a "Mistake" Rib Stitch scarf on January 17th. I thought it was a great way to get back into knitting and I've been sort of obsessed with scarves lately.

So I bought some wool at Walmart. Remember when all department stores used to carry wool and fabrics and other "crafty" wares? Not anymore ... but I did find some great "wool" at Walmart for under $5 and the needles were even less. So for a small investment, I've got myself the makings for a beautiful homemade scarf. Unfortunately, I cannot wear wool or mohair or anything remotely related to a sheep next to my skin. So I bought 100% Acrylic "wool" and it is soft, luxurious and washable.

Here is the ball of acrylic product I bought:

And here are the sexy lavendar metal needles I bought. I wasn't sure of the size to buy because I wanted the scarf to be big, but not too big, so I settled on size 11(US) or 8 mm (Canada). Here's what they look like:

So then I started knitting. Actually, the pattern is K2, P2 so it's fairly easy and mindless. We watched the Godfather last night for about 4 hours and then I put in a few more hours this afternoon and the scarf is already over three feet long!

Anyway, I am having a lot of fun and Rob can't believe how fast the scarf is growing! LOL

Monster Children

2008-01-10T17:16:00.000-05:00

I recently read this on an internet bulletin board:

I will be travelling to PV in a couple weeks with my family. My daughter (6) is a VERY picky eater -- no point in fighting her, she's stubborn, too -- so we're thinking of bringing along her favourite brand of peanut butter, ketchup and cheese slices. I know, she sounds awful, but she's a lovely girl, eating habits notwithstanding... I know that ketchup is readily available at the resort we're staying at, but not her brand (I know, I know...) My question is, is it 'legal' to import a small amount of these items for our personal use? It would be just enough for a week's stay. Thanks!

Being non-breeders, my girlfriends and I had a field day with this one! One of us thought the family should "stay home". Another one of us proclaimed that monster children grow into monster adults! I thought she would probably grow up to become a serial killer. LOL

We've all met children like this and the parents who coddle them in order to "keep the peace". We experienced a few of them when we were in Mexico, using the hallways of the condo as their "playground" or acting up around the pool. The one at the pool was especially evil since she insisted on emitting ear-splitting screeches every time her parents did not watch her performances in the pool. I'm actually surprised everyone's sunglasses didn't shatter from the level of this girl's screams. Her parents just smiled and capitulated to her every whim. I wanted to drown her.

My brother used to be a "problem" child. He was very hyper-active and loud. Well, to be fair, we were all loud on my Dad's side of the family because of that Italian blood. My Mom used to cringe whenever the whole "tribe" got together. My Dad has five sisters and even one or two of them in a small room can make a lot of noise! So whenever we were invited anywhere as a family, a familiar question was "Are you going to bring Greg?" I actually enjoyed having my brother be the centre of attention -- it left me free to do my own thing without any supervision. Haha ...

We finally decided that these monster children and their parents need an attitude adjustment. You only need to watch one episode of Super Nanny with Jo Frost to understand this. Once you let the kids run the show, it's becomes "all about them". If the parents of this finicky six-year-old don't fix this now, Miss Thing will be ordering peanut butter, ketchup and cheese sandwiches well into her 30s!

It's Snow Laughing Matter ...

2007-12-18T16:35:00.000-05:00

The winter storm this past weekend has got people talking about the Blizzard of 1999. I'm sick to DEATH of people making fun of Toronto for calling in the military! The people who are doing this obviously didn't live here at the time. We received approximately 120 cms of snow in a little over two weeks. That is four fucking feet of snow, plus mind numbing temperatures and high winds for weeks on end. It was a disaster! Driving was impossible. Getting to work was ridiculous. Finding places to put the snow was hopeless. Just when we got the roads, driveways and sidewalks cleared, we would get another foot or more of snow.

Why doesn't anyone make fun of the people in Quebec during the ice storm of 1998? They called in the military to help them too! So why then are we idiots for doing the same thing? Is it because snow is white and fluffy and therefore less demonized than cold, hard, despicable ice? I don't think so. I think people just like to make fun of Toronto. It pisses me off because those weeks in January 1999 were absolutely horrible; it was extremely scary and I would not want to repeat them for anything.

So just stop it with the Toronto-bashing. Sheesh.

Daddy's Girl

2007-12-16T09:00:00.000-05:00

I'm a Daddy's Girl and proud to admit it! My Dad and I have always been very close. He is celebrating his 75th birthday today and while I am accepting of the fact that I'm going to be 50 next year, I find it difficult to believe that my Dad is 3/4 of a century old. He has always seemed so young and full of life to me. I guess that's the way it is with the ones we love -- we see them as they are now but our hearts remember them the way they were when we first learned to love them.

Happy Birthday Dad! I love you.

More Fun With Words

2007-12-13T07:17:00.000-05:00

I found this little gem on our Employee Assistance website yesterday:

Peter and Ellen, on the other hand, find family gatherings a source of holiday woes. First, they drive two hours to Peter's parents' home in the country for brunch. Then, they get in the car and drive another two hours to Ellen's mother's home in the city for the holiday dinner. Peter and Ellen are not only tense from the driving and rushing around, but also because neither one of them really feels comfortable with each other's in-laws.

Wouldn't "each other's in-laws" actually refer to their OWN parents???

It’s The Most Stressful Time of the Year!

2007-12-10T07:34:00.000-05:00

I watch Breakfast Television every weekday morning and today, Tracy was out in front of Union Station asking people how they are “coping” with the stress of the upcoming holiday season. This topic always comes up in December and makes me laugh. I thought it was supposed to be “the most wonderful time of year”?

I can hear it in people’s voices in the office when they’re talking about the gifts they have to (1) find (2) buy and (3) eventually pay for. Rob commented that once Xmas is over, their stress continues in anticipation of the delivery of their credit card bills. I don’t understand why people allow themselves to be forced into meaningless consumer relationships that thrive on personal debt.

I gave up Xmas a long time ago. I don't buy gifts and I don't accept gifts. I donate money to charity (this year's charity is "Give A Day's Pay to AIDS"). And in response to people’s queries about whether I’m ready for Xmas, I simply say: “I don’t do Xmas.”

I am boycotting the firm's Xmas party and all luncheons. I am staying away from the malls until 2008. I'm hopping on a plane to Mexico on December 25. I'm through with all the marketing BULLSHIT that tells us we have “do” certain things on certain days of the year.

Cherish your friends and family year round. Give gifts when you feel like it. Send cards when someone needs a lift. Pick your own heroes. Don't get sucked in by the idiot box and the media's false worship of wafer-thin socialites who serve no useful purpose in life other than to make headlines.

Enjoy a stress-free holiday by spreading the good cheer over all 365 days, not just one.

Making Your Bed and Lying In It

2007-12-03T11:58:00.000-05:00

Rob and I went to DC this past weekend and stayed at the Holiday Inn in Georgetown. It's an old hotel, with sleepy service (the front desk people would much rather talk to each other than to any of the customers on the paying side of the counter) and outdated furnishings ("Hello? The '80s called and they want their curtains back!"). The place was convenient to where we needed to be and we've stayed there before so it's not like we were surprised by the conditions.

When it came time to get into bed on Saturday night, I turned down the bedspread to find the weirdest combination of bedding I've ever seen on a hotel bed anywhere:

1. The bottom "fitted" sheet was not pulled fully onto the mattress so by the simple act of sitting on the side of the bed, the sheet came completely off.

2. The top sheet came up to the top of the bed and was folded over almost 24".

3. The blanket on top of this came up approximately 2/3 of the bed. When I was lying down, the blanket came to my waist.

4. There was another sheet ON TOP of the blanket. WTF?!!! It came up to my shoulder level.

At some point during the night, we both woke up freezing. I didn't have enough covers on me and couldn't pull the blanket up any further than my waist. Plus the bottom sheet has pulled free of the mattress at my feet. So I got up at 3AM, tore the bed apart and remade it to my satisfaction.

I started remaking the bed at Rob's place, even before I moved in. He used to jokingly tell everyone that "the military has been in to make the bed" and he wasn't too far off the truth!

I had the whole bedmaking thing down pat during Basic Training. Since we were always lined up alphabetically, two of my best buddies were Joanne McPhee (in line ahead of me) and Denise Noseworthy (in line behind me). Noseworthy was 1/4" short of 6 feet tall so we would get her to lie under the bed (pulling the bottom sheet tight through the spring platform) while Jo and I worked our magic on the top of the bed. The bottom sheet had 45 degree angled corners, the black stripe in the gray wool DND blanket ran down the centre of the bed and the top sheet was folded exactly 18" over the top edge of the blanket. The pillow also had to be pummelled into a certain dimension.

By the end of our 10 weeks together, the three of us could make three beds in 20 minutes. And we only ever slept in our beds the night before we were being issued clean linens (once a week). I slept on top in my sleeping bag the rest of the time.

Compare and Contrast

2007-11-26T20:35:00.000-05:00

I'm addicted to those design shows where they re-do someone's bedroom or bathroom or livingroom or diningroom or whatever room. I never thought I had a creative bone in my body but apparently I've learned a few things watching those shows! Here are some examples of what we've been able to accomplish at home recently (click for larger pics).

Bedroom Before:

Bedroom After:

Livingroom Before:

Livingroom After:

Diningroom Before:

Diningroom After:

Fireplace Before (it's the grey slate in the far right of the photo):

Fireplace After (note the use of Mexican tiles in the new mantle):

Apparently, I am a Design Goddess after all! :)

Fun With Words

2007-11-26T18:02:00.000-05:00

There has been some debate on another blog about the proper spelling of the word "y'all". It is a southern idiom and a contraction of "you all" (in Spanish, we say "ustedes" which cannot be contracted). The rules say that when using an apostrophe to create a contraction, it replaces missing letters. Therefore "you all" would contract to "y'all" with the apostophe replacing the letters "ou" from the word "you".

However, apparently in the South, they don't say "you" -- they say "ya" and therefore argue that the proper contraction is "ya'll", with the apostrophe replacing the "a" in "all". I somehow doubt people in the South who eschew the use of contractions are walking around saying "ya all" but this is what they are trying to make us believe. Whatever ...

On the subway this morning, I noticed a poster advertising the Downtown Yonge Kidzfest with a Window Wonderland (you can see the poster here). Note the second sentence in this beauty: "RYERSON STUDENTS MUST CREATE HOLIDAY WINDOW DISPLAYS ON A BUDGET OF $100. COME DOWN AND SEE HOW THEY FAIR." (emphasis added)

You would think that the person who designed this poster should have a better command of the English language. I'm only writing a blog so my slip-ups (I call them "typos" ... tee hee) are not plastered all over the subway. By the way, this obsession started long before I started reading Lynne Truss' grammar books (note the correct use of the possessive apostrophe here!). :)

My Commute This Morning

2007-11-26T08:03:00.000-05:00

You all know how much I love taking the subway to work in the mornings (it is the only thing I don't like about my new living arrangement). Lately, the subway has been PACKED in the mornings, with people jammed right up against the doors and not moving when the doors open to allow other people to get on the train (even though the middle of the car is empty).

This morning, it was the same scenario but I stepped on anyway and this guy stepped on right behind me. By the time we got to the next stop, I was hot, cranky and not at all sure this guy behind me was going to behave himself, so I pushed my way back off the train, vowing to wait as long as possible for a comfortable ride into work.

Less than two minutes later, an empty train pulled into the station and I got on totally empty car. I had the entire car to myself! It was amazing. I laughed out loud at the joy of it! :)

The Good Old Days

2007-11-25T19:23:00.001-05:00

This weekend, Rob and I had our first overnight guest since the renovations were completed. My friend since Grade 4, Mary Ann ("MAK") arrived on Saturday afternoon. MAK is a real estate agent so we were really interested in her "professional" opinion of the condo. I am happy to report that her initial market "eval" was extremely positive and our attempts to create a warm and inviting home were confirmed by her experienced eye and friendly nature.

While she was here, I dug out a photo album with old photos in it so that I could show Rob how she looked in a red polkadot bikini! Once we started taking that walk down the road of remembrances, I came across a bunch of black and white photos from my formative years. Some of these are just too cute not to share ...

Obviously, my love for shoes and fashion started after this photo was taken!

My inordinate fondness for stuffed animals was also deeply ingrained during the first 12 months of my life -- this bear looks bigger than I do!

My life changed dramatically when my brother was born but there are still days when I let him worship his big sister (on the Dodge).

I learned the price of beauty early in the 1960s ...

I believe my disdain for organized religion commenced after I was forced to wear this little number ...

I used to be skinny (too bad I also looked like a boy). No wonder my Dad insisted I get a "girl's" bike ...

And finally, the famous bikini shot. Mary Ann looks pretty much the same (after two kids, no less!) but I've filled out somewhat since this photo was taken in the 70s.

Bah, Humbug!

2007-11-20T16:50:00.000-05:00

Ho-ho-hold the display business
HELEN GODFREY (Globe & Mail - November 9, 2007)

Toronto -- Here is an idea whose time may have come: Stores with elaborate Christmas window displays before Nov. 25 should be fined a $1,000 a day. They can make the cheques out to the United Way or Food Bank.

I know they've probably had their holiday merchandise on hand since the boxcar arrived from China in August, but I resent having the season thrust at me. Christmas used to be such an enjoyable time of year.

This woman is overstating the obvious (and I could kiss her for it). Every year, it seems that this Xmas crap starts earlier and earlier. This year, the Santas were competing with the Satans on All Hallows Eve. BTW, I refuse to type "Christ"mas because if God was still around (you know he's not or none of this would be happening), he would regret the hell out of lending his name to this unholy-holiday.

My family knows how much I hate Xmas but I still had to remind my Mom after she asked me, "Tell me again why you hate Xmas so much?" *sigh* It was difficult to explain to Rob. It will be our first Xmas together and implored him NOT to put up a tree. And forget my friend Mary Ann. She LOVES Xmas ... and snow ... and skiing. I'm really starting to worry about her. Anyway, here are the reasons:

1. It happens in December. When it's cold. And snowy. Nothing good can come from this type of weather.

2. The commercials start in OCTOBER. WTF?

3. The music sucks. Actually, it is enough to drive you to drink (but not drink and drive because that would be illegal). When is the last time anyone wrote a NEW Xmas song? It's all the same old crap, regurgitated by geezer rockstars with non-existent careers and too many grandchildren.

4. It turns normal people into weirdos and weirdos into lunatics who can talk about nothing other than buying gifts for people who don't need anything and weird food like eggnog and pudding. *barf*

5. It makes it impossible for anti-Xmas people like me and my friend Heidi to go into the underground at lunchtime to buy food or tampons. LOL

So when it comes to Xmas, I JUST SAY NO!!!

My Gynie Has A Website

2007-11-14T17:09:00.000-05:00

Nothing generates fear in a woman more than anticipating a trip to the gynaecologist. Actually, I’ve never had a gynaecologist before so when my doctor informed me that he was referring me to one, I was quite nervous. My last two PAP tests came back inconclusive. Apparently my cervix is (1) just too small or (2) just too evasive for my family doctor to find and capture its cells. Actually, I know it is a little bit off centre but I’ve never been sent elsewhere because of it! Bad, bad cervix.

Initially, I was scheduled to meet with Dr. Gifford-Jones (not his real name but his nom de plume) last Wednesday but jury duty interfered. What's worse than a trip to the stirrups? JURY DUTY! Unfortunately, jury duty turned out to be a big "non event" because, while we were initially told we were required at the Court House for three days (thereby giving me ample time to plow through three unread novels desperately needing my attention), we were dismissed after the first day. What a letdown! After all these years of working in legal, I've never experienced a jury trial. Oh well, I'll get my chance in another three years.

So anyway, back to my new best friend, Dr. G-F. I had to meet him at the clinic where my family doctor also has his practice. Since Dr. G-F is only at the clinic one day a week, he doesn't have a receptionist and sees patients through the walk-in clinic. I arrived a few minutes early and sat waiting, trying to calm my butterflies. Shortly thereafter, the doctor came into the waiting room and called my name, introducing himself to me. What service! We sat in his office to discuss the "procedure" and he told me a little bit about himself. At age 83, he has done more than 150,000 pelvic exams. I felt I was in good hands, both literally and figuratively. He assured me he was a "gentle fellow".

All of my initial concerns dissipated under his warm, wonderful demeanor. I was actually looking forward to this! (Well, not really but I was certainly a lot calmer than when I arrived.) The examination went smoothly and everything checked out normally. After I dressed, we talked in his office for a few minutes about writing, working, relationships, dating websites, marriage and birth control. I could have talked to him for hours, he is such an interesting man! Anyway, here is the link to his various health-related articles. They are informative, humourous and timely: Health Links

Remembering a Family Hero

2007-11-02T19:57:00.000-04:00

I remember spending a lot of time at the townshouse in Waterloo that was home to my Uncle Ken and his family after they made the move from Windsor. I was a young teenager in the early 1970s and my seven cousins formed a raucous crowd so different from my own small family. I loved spending time with them. My cousins Maggie and Teresa became the sisters I never had. I knew I qualified as family simply by surname but the love shown to me by my Uncle Ken and Aunt Theresa indicated that I had become an honourary member of their brood as well.

I remember the late nights at my parents' home with their playing cards with my Aunt and Uncle for hours. I remember the sounds of my Dad banging the cards on the kitchen table, the clink of highball glasses and the smell of my Uncle Ken's cigarettes. I also remember the commotion that resulted whenever my Mom and Aunt Theresa won a hand of euchre. The men loudly accused the women of cheating and this increased the noise level. I struggled to stay awake so I could listen to them laughing.

I remember the road trips I made with Maggie and Teresa to London after my Aunt and Uncle moved there in the early 1980s. Aunt Theresa often had some story to tell us about her latest attempt to scare the crap out of my Uncle by hiding behind the door at the top of the stairs, jumping out and yelling "BOO"! Uncle Ken always had some homemade craft to show me, like the infamous "footstool" with real running shoes on the four legs. I never found it too difficult to sweet talk him into making me one of his tart lemon meringue pies.

I remember a visit from my Uncle Ken after I got married and moved to Ottawa. Before he retired, he came there on Post Office business and took me to dinner at a revolving restaurant. We had a grand time talking about the family and the "olden" days. We laughed like hell when we discovered my purse had remained intact on the window ledge while we circled the restaurant for over an hour!

I remember my Dad and I meeting Ken, my Aunt and my cousins on King Street in Waterloo across from the Ali Baba Steakhouse to watch the Oktoberfest parade every Thanksgiving Monday. Uncle Ken and my Dad entertained the crowd with their smartass remarks to all parade participants, especially the two mayors and sports celebrities. I can still see the pride on my Uncle's face and the tears in his eyes as he saluted the dwindling number of verterans marching in the parade, from his wheelchair.

I remember going to see him in the London Veterans Hospital after his stroke and seeing the sparkle in his eye when he saw me. His mind remained sharp but not as sharp as his tongue as he barked his orders to the nursing staff. I pitied them from my exalted status of Favourite Niece. I tried to talk him into moving closer so we could see him more often but he was stubborn to the end and insisted on ending his days there.

I remember my cousin Mark running across the funeral home parking lot on that cold November day to pass a photo of his late father to my Dad through the open window of the car. And I remember my Dad's frosty breath as he told Mark, "Your Dad was my hero".

In fond remembrance of my Uncle Ken, who left us on November 2, 1998. You are gone but never forgotten.

Stupid People (or if I ran the world, it would be perfect!)

2007-11-01T14:25:00.001-04:00

When I leave work at 4:30PM, I usually go out the Bay Street exit and head south for half a block to the lights. Sometimes, I need to go north. Goddess forgive me! Unfortunately, half of the people who live outside the city are heading SOUTH, to Union station, so they can get on the commuter trains and head out of the city and back to their cozy bedroom communities. These cities generally have an area code of 905. Toronto’s is 416. We therefore called them “905ers” and, while some of them are friends of mine, the ones who refuse to give me 2” of spare sidewalk deserve a bitch slap to the head. HELLO! I live in Toronto! My property taxes PAY for the fucking sidewalk you’re walking on so don’t you DARE push me out of the way so you can catch your precious train! GRRR!!!

Why do I continue to get involved financially with my friends? Is it because I am a nice person? Is it because I inherently trust my friends to be responsible adults? Is it because I always have money and they don’t? I have one friend in particular who never pays me back when she says she’s going to pay me back. Ergo, I have to send her emails, constantly reminding her of the outstanding debt. Then, when she does have the money, she makes me come and get it from her or she gives me $12.50 in nickels and dimes in a Ziploc bag. ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME??? As far as I’m concerned, she should be hand delivering it to me with sugar on top, and thanking me profusely for giving her to loan in the first place. Never again. GRRR!!!

What is it with people who bring strollers on to public transport and then block the aisles? I am fairly dexterous. Even in my Anne Klein boots with the 3” heel I can run for the streetcar, carry home 20 pounds of groceries and jump over 2’ puddles. (In fact, I don’t buy any type of footwear unless I can run full tilt in them – except maybe slippers.) Some stupid man with a stupid kid in a stupid stroller was on the bus this morning. He sat in the first seat and parked the kid and the stroller in front of him. As a result, everyone who got on to the bus had to turn sideways and walk through a space less than a foot wide, including the crippled, almost blind man with the cane, the young father trying to hold on to his two rambunctious toddlers and the fat woman with her shopping cart. GET A CLUE PEOPLE! You are inconveniencing a whole bunch of people here and potentially causing an accident. I blame the bus driver who should have fixed this problem from the get go. GRRR!!!

Then there is this woman I work with -- she sits behind me and we share a work space with a low dividing wall between us. It is a nice office and most of the people here are really great and friendly. I was moved into this space while I as away on vacation and while I was disappointed with the switch, I really didn't have a lot of input into the process so I just accepted it and got on with the job. Unfortunately, this woman has not said "boo" to me since I started working here. One of the other women came over, shook my hand, introduced herself and welcomed me to the neighbourhood. This other one can't even say "good morning", "goodbye",
"shut up" or "drop dead". I even tried to make small talk with her in the coffee room one morning but she walked out on me in the middle of a sentence. Now most of you know that I am a fairly sociable person but how do you deal with this crap? It sure makes coming to work a pleasant experience ... NOT! I am not used to ignoring another human being, no matter how weird they are. GRRR!!!

What the fuck is wrong with people?

Good Deeds

2007-10-25T07:55:00.000-04:00

Why is it when you do something nice for someone else, you feel better than when someone does something nice for you? This morning, as I was crossing the intersection at Front and Yonge, I saw a young Asian woman walking around the corner and heard a distinct “ping”. She looked down quickly but kept walking. Having lost an earring on the street many, many years ago (I ignored the “ping” sound and have been searching ever since!), I decided to take a closer look.

There on the ground, behind the light pole, was a silver chain bracelet with a large fob clasp which had fallen off her delicate wrist. It looked expensive. Even if it wasn’t, I knew it was probably important to the owner. I scooped it up and went racing up Yonge Street in pursuit of the owner. I am always hesitant to stop strangers on the street by touching them but this time, I didn’t hesitate.

“Excuse me!” I cried.

She stopped and turned towards me, looking startled.

“Is this yours?” I asked, holding the bracelet out towards her.

Her eyes opened wide when she saw what I was holding and then exclaimed, “Oh yes it is!”

“I heard you drop it and saw you look but decided I would check the spot and there it was.”

Then she smiled a smile of gratitude, “Thank you SO much!”

The look of her face made my day.

Kindness To Canadians Abroad

2007-10-23T08:00:00.000-04:00

I ran across this wonderful story today while reading the Acts of Kindness section in the online version of the Toronto Star. I thought it was poignant and just loved the Vimy connection.

I had just finished a foreign study term in Switzerland and had [enough] time before my flight to Toronto from Paris to see Vimy Ridge, something I had always thought was important.

Unfortunately I missed a connection in Brussels on my way and therefore missed the shuttle to the 90th Anniversary Memorial Service when I arrived in Arras. I took a bus from Arras the next day to Vimy which was still a ways from the memorial, but I decided I would walk through the countryside regardless.

I had walked for five minutes when a little car pulled up beside me and an elderly man asked if I was Canadian. After telling him in my broken French that I was, he offered to drive me to the memorial.

He told me he picked up Canadians every time he saw them, because he was thankful for the efforts during the world wars. He even promised to pick me up afterwards.

When I returned to the visitors centre, the guides called him up and he was back within minutes. He drove me to other cemeteries and sites that I would not otherwise have been able to see and drove me to the station to catch the next train to Paris.

His kindness showed me that almost a century later the kinship forged between our countries was still strong. The gentle man, as I was told in the visitors centre, was known locally as the 'grandpere des guides' - the grandfather of the guides.

Morgan Ip, Ottawa

Internet Friends

2007-10-19T07:46:00.000-04:00

I make friends with people on the internet all the time. I’ve been doing it for almost 10 years now. Sometimes I actually meet these people in person (like my friend Jackie in London, England) and sometimes I don’t. Certain people I don’t want to meet but others I definitely do.

Laurie Perry is one of them. She writes a blog that is so wonderful, I can only hope to emulate her one day with my writing. She’s such a gifted writer, she’s actually published a book called: Crazy Aunt Purl's Drunk, Divorced And Covered In Cat Hair: The True-life Misadventures Of A 30-something Who Learned To Knit After He Split.

The cute title belies the content. Laurie went through some “stuff” during her separation and divorce. No matter where you are in your life at the moment, you will relate, in some way, to her personal struggle and the success she has obtained as a result. You can buy it online at Chapters/Indigo.

Or simply do what I did: go to Coles and ask them to order it for you. If we buy enough of these books in Canada, she just might come up here for the book signing trip. (Note to all my American readers -- this book is available at Barnes & Noble and through Amazon.)

If you can’t buy the book, at least check out her blog: Crazy Aunt Purl.

October 9 (Coming Home)

2007-10-17T18:01:00.000-04:00

Our final morning started with rain but it cleared by 11AM when Trevor arrived to collect us. We had a leisurely time in the morning, getting packed up and ready to leave. We were a little worried about our luggage weight (although we tried to keep our spending to a minimum) but figured we would just pay the penalty for the flight home. We knew we were over the limit on the flight from Paris so we were expecting the worse. Trevor drove us to the Station in Darlington, and we bought some sandwiches there to eat on 2.5 hour train ride. We met a couple of sisters from Wales on the platform by commenting on their two dogs, Honey and Jack. Honey was a Westie and Jack was a Yorkie. One of these days, we’re going to get a dog … :)

We arrived Manchester airport without incident and our flight left exactly on time (without any excess baggage charges for either of us) and, in fact, we arrived 45 minutes early at 6PM. The Thomas Cook flight home was a dream compared to the flight over -- roomy cabin, great food (on an airline!) and fun crew. The only negative thing was the fact that the movie was Shrek III. Is this movie playing on every single airline in the world right now? LOL When we arrived in Toronto, there were HUGE lines at customs. I don't know the reason for that because it was a Tuesday night. But after a 1/2 hour, we were through and our luggage was already there, waiting. The carousel had stopped before we got there. We grabbed a taxi, got caught in traffic on the 401 (what a welcome home!) and arrived home at 7:30PM. The only time I used my MasterCard was to pay the driver and when I checked my account online the next day, I found $60 in fraudulent charges from the taxi company, supposedly for the day before when I was still in the UK. I am fighting that out with Bank of Montreal as we speak.

Our trip was over but we have so many wonderful memories. This blog is a great way to help us remember what we did and where we went. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

JAM xo

October 8 (City of York)

2007-10-17T18:00:00.000-04:00

On Monday, we had to drop Rob’s parents in Northallerton for the day and then we stole the car for a trip to York, a historic walled city in North Yorkshire. I was particularly interested in seeing it because Toronto used to be called York. On the way there, we detoured to Linton-on-Ouse to visit the RAF base there. Unfortunately, since it is a training base, it was closed to the public but we managed to find the airstrip where the students were practicing their touch and go’s.

Rob went to boarding school in York and hadn’t been back since graduation. But he was sure he could find his way around. We parked at Bootham School and headed towards Bootham Bar, one of the four bars or gatehouses, leading into this walled City. Hungry again, we stopped for coffee, burgers and half a pint at the Hole in the Wall pub before walking along the City walls to Monk Bar. Descending from there, we ambled through the Shambles, winding our way down cobblestone pedestrian-only streets towards York Minster. I was stopping constantly, to take photos of funky shops, pub signs and flowers blooming in window boxes overhead.

The Minster itself was very impressive and while we went inside to have a quick look around, we did not pay the admission price. We also made a quick stop at Thornton’s in order to buy chocolates (Rob brought them back for me from his last trip and I love them!) and Marks & Spencer to take a look around. We used to have “Marks and Sparks” in Ontario but it was always quite conservative and, dare I say it, dowdy. WOW! Have they ever upgraded their image! We made the mistake of going into the women’s wear department and I wanted to buy everything I saw. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any room for extras in my luggage.

We finally left York (after stopping for a pee break at Rob’s old school – I thought they were going to kick us out for trespassing but no worries) and drove to the Yorkshire Air Museum at RAF Elvington. There were numerous WWII Artifacts including aircraft, bombs, gunner cages, uniforms, etc. There was also a large display devoted to Sir Barnes Wallis, creator of the R-100 airship and the bouncing dam buster bomb (May 1943). After a long day, we reached home in about an hour and had a casual dinner of bangers and mashed.

October 7 (Muker, Yorkshire)

2007-10-17T17:59:00.000-04:00

We finally had a lazy quiet morning on Sunday and we thinking of a late breakfast when Rob’s Mum told us to “get a move on!” LOL We ate, showered and dressed so that the four of us could take a day trip to Muker. Rob’s Dad had vacationed in the area when he was a young boy so when he retired and was looking to start a small business somewhere, he chose Muker. Before Swaledale Woolens opened, Muker was a small village with a pub. It is also a hiker’s destination, especially for those on the coast-to-coast walk across England. The Yorkshire Dales are challenging, even to the most experienced hiker but I can understand the allure, especially seeing the beauty of the Dale with my own eyes.

Anyway, Rob’s Dad sold the wool shop (all the wool is 'grown', spun and knit locally) but still likes to drop in occasionally to check on things. The village now boasts a gift shop/art gallery and tea shop/café, in addition to the pub and the shop. It was bustling with tourists, locals and hikers the Sunday we were there. After a lovely lunch at The Farmer’s Arms, we had a quick “walkabout” and went uphill to The Studio. This is a small room, with windows on two walls, which Rob’s Dad keeps in the hopes that it will eventually be used as an artist’s studio. There is a sink, a kettle, a couple of heaters, 3 chairs and bottle of wine. We rested for a bit and then Rob and I wandered off to take photos of the Dale and more sheep.

Finally, it was time to leave Muker and head home. His folks dozed in the back seat as we trundled along on twisty, windy roads. I took a two hour nap when we got home but then it was up at 6PM for drinks, followed by a scrumptious dinner of leg of lamb with roasted potatoes and brussel sprouts. It was our quietest day yet!

October 6 (Richmond, Yorkshire)

2007-10-17T17:58:00.000-04:00

Saturday is market day in Richmond. On their website, Richmond is described as: “An historic market town, with Norman castle, Georgian architecture, cobbled market place, monuments and abbeys, the fast flowing river Swale, and breathtaking scenery -- a town that inspires painters and poets, past and present.” We took a tour of the Richmond Castle, including a trip up the narrow staircases to the top of tower. The view was spectacular! (See my photo link below)

Or course, I got hungry around 11AM so we headed to the local chippie for lunch. Rob’s Dad told us later that we went to the better of the two in town. All I know is the fish and chips were great. I decided I wanted that bracelet after all so we went to the HSBC bank and I withdrew £100. The cost was $205CDN plus a $5 service charge. I bought my bracelet and Rob bought some flowers for his Mum. We returned home and drove the car to the Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle. This is an amazing place with way too many artifacts and antiques to absorb in one visit. The vision of a grand French chateau in the middle of North Yorkshire was very disconcerting. One exhibit we did enjoy was a tribute to Emile Gallé and the origins of Art Nouveau of the early 20th century. Only then did we realize that the iron sign we saw in Paris was done in this style.

We stopped in Middleton St. George, where Rob spent some of his childhood, as well as Middleton One Row, where his father grew up and finally, St. George’s Ancient Church Cemetery where his grandparents are buried. It was a lovely old place, with headstones tipping over from centuries ago. We saw a daughter cleaning her father’s grave and working on the flower bed there. Her mother, a wee, frail, white-ahired lady, was perched on a neighbouring headstone, supervising her progress.

That evening, we went out for dinner to The Traveller’s Rest in Dalton, near Richmond. A simple country inn, with a roaring fireplace in the front room, the menu was posted on a huge blackboard so we spent some time there, trying to decide what we wanted for dinner. Once seated, we order a bottle of Spanish Rioja to complement our meal. Dinner itself was such a surprise – it was one of the best meals I’ve ever enjoyed. I had goat cheese salad with an entrée of salmon/prawn fishcakes. Rob had chicken wrapped in bacon with gruyere cheese. Rob’s parents had the pork tenderloin. We split two apple tarts four ways and enjoyed a lively discussion about the difference between a tart and a pie. According to Rob’s Dad, a tart has no “roof”. LOL

The cost of dinner was £110 with the tip and well worth every penny. While Rob was up paying the bill, I went around the corner into the kitchen and adopted a Dragon Lady stance, with hands on hips, demanding “Who is the chef here?” Three people turned to look at me with the fear of God in their eyes and two of them pointed to the young woman in the middle. I proceeded to tell her that our dinner was fantastic and after four days in Paris, it was better than anything I had tasted there. After many smiles and thanks, we were on our way, back through the hilly country roads, past sleeping sheep and home to bed.

Enjoy My Yorkshire Photos Here

October 5 (Paris to Yorkshire)

2007-10-17T17:57:00.000-04:00

We were up at 6:30AM on Friday. I hate having to set an alarm while on vacation but what can you do? We were out the door by 7:30AM, after bidding a fond adieu to our little Parisian flat. I can’t say enough about this charming studio apartment. If you are interested, contact me for details. We wheeled our suitcases one block to Rue Sebastopol and we able to nab a taxi in short order. He was an excellent driver and not chatty so our drive to Charles de Gaulle airport was uneventful and blissfully quiet except for our own conversation. My bag was 2 or 3 kilos overweight so we had to pay a small fee before we could receive our boarding passes.

Our EasyJet flight was an hour late, due to fog in Paris. However, they had a “relaxation lounge” at our gate and I was able to snag to full-length loungers. Unfortunately, the lounge wasn’t exactly closed to the rest of the airport so we could see and hear the kids screaming in the play area. It was a long wait and there were no seat assignments so when we were finally loaded on the bus to be transported to the plane, I was expecting to sit at the very rear of the plane. However, we were able to sit in the first row, by the door. What luck! We had 3 seats between the two of us and Rob chatted up the flight attendant about her job during our one hour flight. We had to buy our coffee and snacks on flight but they were surprisingly good. Not bad for a 39€ trip!

We landed in Newcastle about an hour late but the skies had cleared, affording us a spectacular view of Swaledale from the plane. Deplaning and clearing customs was a bit of a cluster f***. There were two lines – one for citizens of the European Union (Britain, France, Italy, etc.) and one for non-European citizens (Canadians, terrorists, etc.). Rob has both passports but insisted on standing in line with me. The line crawled along and, in spite of the fact that we were the first off the plane; we were near the last to get through customs. I had to prove I was actually leaving the country.

I was starving again, so I insisted we buy sandwiches at Gregg’s, an English chain of fast food and drinks. The sandwiches were fresh and tasty at only £1.85 each! Rob’s parents frequently hire a driver to take them places so Trevor was on hand in Newcastle to collect us. We drove to Richmond along the M1 and finally arrived to a warm welcome from Rob’s folks and warm soup on the table. After lunch, Rob and I took a short stroll around town. We wanted to see the marketplace, Castle Walk, go to the HSBC and get some batteries for my camera. We bought them at Woolworth’s, and then strolled through town and along New Biggin Street where I found a lovely silver shop with some nice pieces. I saw a bracelet I liked but didn’t buy it.

Once back at home, I had a bit of a lie down for a couple of hours until 6PM, when it was time for an aperitif. Rob’s parents strictly adhere to this charming practice and I think I will adopt myself at home, but only on weekends. They offered to take us to a local Italian restaurant for dinner. In fact, I believe it is the ONLY Italian restaurant in town. They also have a Thai restaurant and two Chippies. There are many, many pubs as well. Dinner was lovely but the restaurant became very crowded towards the end so we had to carefully manoeuvre Rob’s Mum down the stairs with her cane. Again, we were early to bed in anticipation of the next day’s adventures.

October 4 (Paris)

2007-10-17T07:34:00.000-04:00

On Thursday, we again had pan du chocolat for breakfast. All I can say is, I’m glad I don’t live in France because it would be difficult for me to refuse these things every morning! We were having another touristy day in Paris so we started on the métro and headed towards the Arc de Triomphe. We then walked down the Champs Elysées but after our rather small petit déjeuner, I was ready for some serious food. We stopped for lunch at Bistro George V and both ordered a glass of rosé to go along with our steak frites. The Parisians eat a large meal in the middle of the day but I was still surprised to see the petite young woman beside me devouring a steak the size of Manhattan!

After lunch, we walked. We turned on the Rue Boiteie and walked along there to Avenue Hausmann. This brought us to the Galleries Lafayette. By this point, for some reason, my hip was bothering me mightily so we had to go inside. Rob took me into the store entitled “Femme” (women) and we walked right into the accessory and jewellery department. All of sudden, my hip felt better! LOL The choices were endless and expensive. I recognized a few of the designers we carried at Viva including Les Nereides and Les Joyaux de la Couronne. We didn’t spend long in this store because of the outrageous prices. We continued along the Rue de l’Opera, behind the L’Houvre and past the Palais Royal. We took some stunning photos, including a sign for the metro in arte nouveau style (more on that later in my Yorkshire blog).

We finally reached the Rue Rivoli, which carried us home for a rest and a chance to do some packing since we were leaving quite early in the morning. Eating in Paris had proved to be a bit of a challenge. Our expensive lunch at the Eiffel Tower was delicious, as well as our dinner at Le Train Bleu, but we were having difficulty finding a low cost, nutritious and tasty meal elsewhere. Most of the patisseries seemed to have the same menu, none of which was appealing to me. The constant cigarette smoke in my face was also a big deterrent. We finally discovered an Italian restaurant in our neighbourhood called Pasta Ricca. It was quite busy and the menu looked appetizing, with a good selection of wines and salads. I had a Greek salad (in spite of the fact that we were in an Italian restaurant, it was quite good!) and Rob had a shrimp/avocado salad. We both had pasta and a good Italian red wine. Up to that point, we had not been able to find anything except French wines, of which we are not particularly fond. After our wonderful mean, we scooted home and we were again worn out and ready for an early night.

Enjoy My Photos of Paris

October 3 (Vimy)

2007-10-15T17:28:00.000-04:00

On April 9, 2007, the Canadian War Memorial at Vimy, France, was rededicated after a complete overhaul. The original monument was falling to pieces so a huge retrofit was undertaken by the Canadian government. There was extensive news coverage of the rededication and at that time, I remember saying to Rob that I would like to go to Vimy one day. And so began our discussions about a possible trip to Europe. Wednesday October 3 was the day for us. We were booked on the 10:22AM train out of Paris to Arras. We actually set the alarm for 8AM, and after a cold breakfast of bread, paté, cheese, champagne, OJ and pain du chocolat, we set out via the Métro for the Gare de Nord.

Less than an hour later, we were eating again at Café du Pays in Arras (coffee, omelette and frites). We took a taxi to Vimy, which is a very small farming community about 20 minutes from Arras. The weather was awful – rain and fog – but somehow appropriate, given our quest. We met Brianne from Niagara Falls at the front gate. She explained the layout of the grounds and suggested we visit the memorial first before heading to the visitor’s centre. We walked down a short road, flanked on both sides by maple trees in full fall foliage. Once we cleared the trees, we looked to our left and saw the monument in the mist.

I had seen photos and news footage of the Vimy memorial but nothing prepared me for being in close physical proximity to it. It was breathtaking and heartbreaking. I will let my photos do most of the talking about this sight because words cannot describe it. There were a few people milling around the monument with us but after awhile, we were left alone with it.

The land surrounding the monument was granted by France to Canada “in perpetuity” after the war. The monument is built out of white stone from Croatia (the mine had closed but they re-opened it to refurbish the monument). The lawn immediately surrounding the monument is well-tended but beyond that, most of the area is roped off with warnings about live ordnance. The rolling hills were unnaturally built from craters of exploded mines and weaponry. The lip of the ridge could be seen through the trees and the drop off was steep. No wonder the area was coveted by both sides -- it would give the occupier a definite visual advantage and act as a natural barricade. The herd of sheep quietly grazing off to the side were our only companions, along with four large crows cawing loudly as they circled overhead. The mist dampened all sound and we found ourselves talking in low voices as we walked around the memorial.

Designed by Canadian sculptor and architect Walter Seymour Allward, the Vimy Memorial stands on Hill 145, overlooking the Canadian battlefield of 1917, at one of the points of the fiercest fighting. It took 11 years and $1.5 million to build and was unveiled on July 26, 1936 by King Edward VIII, in the presence of President Albert Lebrun of France and 50,000 or more Canadian and French veterans and their families. In his address, the King noted, "It is a memorial to no man, but a memorial for a nation."

At the base of the Memorial, in English and in French, are these words: "To the valour of their countrymen in the Great War and in memory of their sixty thousand dead this monument is raised by the people of Canada"

In fact, more than 66,000 Canadians died in action or of their wounds after the war; more than one in ten of those who had worn uniforms. Among the dead are many who have no known grave. Inscribed on the ramparts of the Memorial are the names of 11,285 Canadian soldiers who were "missing, presumed dead" in France.
(courtesy of Veterans Affairs Canada)

I was loathe to leave this special place . . .

Finally, we pulled ourselves away from the monument and made our way to the Visitor’s Centre. Inside, we were greeted like visiting royalty by the young Canadian staff. The Centre is totally manned by Canadian bilingual university students who apply in Canada for the opportunity to live and work in France for four months. We watched a video on how the monument was refurbished. We decided to go visit the onsite cemeteries before taking a scheduled tour of the underground trenches at 3PM. There was a large flagpole with a Canadian flag and the sun came out just as I was about to take the photo.

In the cemeteries, we met three guys from Sheffield who were on a one week tour of different battlegrounds in France. They gave us a ride back for the tour of the Grange “subway”. The five of us went down with Scott, our tour guide from Whitby Ontario, along with 25 English school kids. Being in the trenches and the underground human “subway” was a harrowing and humbling experience. As Reg, one of our fellow tourists commented, “Every Canadian needs to see Vimy.” For a history of Vimy Ridge and Canada’s amazing contribution to this battle in World War I, please refer to the Veterans Affairs Canada website.

Sarah, another one of the Canadian students, ordered a taxi to take us back to Arras where we stopped for a Croque Monsieur (toasted cheese sandwich with ham) and a beer while we waited for the train. We were home by 7:45PM, and after a light supper with some wine, we were in bed for another early night.

Click here to see my photos of Vimy

October 1 and 2 (London to Paris/My Birthday)

2007-10-12T17:39:00.000-04:00

On Monday, we had an early start to Waterloo Station. Rob’s Aunt was worried about our getting there on time and was in a near panic when the car we had ordered the night before hadn’t arrived. Rob decided to walk out the Mews and flag down a taxi. After a few minutes, one came trundling down the Mews and it turned out that the taxi driver, Jane, knew Priscilla from their Bridge club. We arrived at the train station in plenty of time, got through customs with the officials there giving our passports a cursory glance and enjoyed a wonderful train ride to Paris. I knew we were going through the “chunnel” but there was no announcement. We had gone through a few tunnels beforehand so it wasn’t until we were a few minutes in before Rob announced we were, indeed, in the chunnel. It was uneventful and I tried not to think of the millions of tons of water over our heads and all around us. The Gare de Lyon is old and beautiful (more on that later). Our taxi driver spoke limited English but we were able to give him direction to the apartment.

We arrived at 149 rue St-Martin in the 3eme arrondissement 15 minutes later to find a very ugly building. The entrance was flanked by a patisserie and a used clothing store. We had the code to enter the building and were even more disappointed once inside. The entrance hall was dark and dingy, lined on one side the metal mail slots. Pushing through the next door, we found ourselves at the bottom of a decrepid staircase leading up to the first floor. I pushed the call button for the elevator and Rob wrestled both our suitcases into the lift. There was barely enough room for them and him, so (not quite trusting the lift) I took the stairs to the third floor. Things did not get much better the higher we went. This building had definitely seen better days. Eventually, the owner, Daniella (“Dany”) arrived, apologizing profusely for keeping us waiting. She led us into the apartment and we discovered a hidden gen. The flat was trés jolie and extremely well appointed with fridge, two burner stovetop, dishwasher, small European washer/dryer combo (in the same machine!) and a television.

We had anticipated paying her a safety deposit equivalent to the rent (320€ for four nights) but were concerned about getting it back. Our flight was scheduled for early Friday morning and she would have to meet us by 7:30AM to refund our deposit. Apparently she liked the looks of us and told us to forget the deposit so Rob just paid her the balance owing and off she went! We unpacked and relaxed a bit before heading out to pick up a few groceries. We went for a stroll around the neighbourhood and ended up at the supermarket for groceries, wine, etc. We had a light supper of salad, cheese, pâté and red wine after taking a short siesta. It was raining but we decided to go for a short walk before calling it a night.

We slept in on Tuesday morning, waking up at 9:45AM. I guess being on vacation was wearing us out! My Beloved quickly dressed and ran downstairs to buy me a “pan du chocolat” (not called a croissant in Paris) for breakfast. Served with a small pink birthday candle (Rob brought two, just in case one broke in transit), along with champagne and orange juice, it was a great start to my birthday celebrations. Once outside, we made our way to the Chatelet des Halles métro station and opted to buy a 3 day pass for 18.60€ each. The line we needed was down 3 escalators and 2 sets of stairs. I found the entire system to be hot, dirty and confusing. (No doubt the heat was caused by our being so close to the Centre of the Earth!).

We arrived at the Eiffel Tower for lunch. Rob had made a reservation online at Altitude 95, the restaurant located on the first level of the Tower or 95 metres up. He didn’t receive any printed confirmation so, of course, they didn’t have our reservation but fortunately had plenty of room for us. We were seated one row back from the floor-to-ceiling windows and, while we could see everything, we were anxiously watching the couple next to us finish their coffees so that we could grab their table. Sure enough, we were able to move over before our first course arrived -- gazpacho soup and Caesar salad for me; goat cheese salad and salmon for Rob; and a glass of rosé wine for both of us. We settled on molten chocolate cake for dessert (guess who got to choose that!) and café au lait. It was a lovely, long, luxurious lunch – perfect for my birthday!

We walked back along Les Invalides and Blvd. St-Germain, not really shopping but stopping to take photos and admire the architecture which was everywhere. We passed the Palais de Justice and asked to be stand just inside the gate to take some pictures. Rob bought me a scarf I admired for 10€ and a velvet jacket on the street, also for 10€. We took the obligatory touristy photos on the bridge over the Seine and finally wound our way back home to rest.

For some reason, we decided to take the subway to dinner at Le Train Bleu. In retrospect, it was not a good decision because by the time we arrived, I was hot, sweaty and cranky. The restaurant had our reservation but seated us next to a wait station so I could watch all the waiters scrape food into the garbage. Not great so Rob asked if we could change tables, which we did – much better! The restaurant is located in the Gare de Lyon train station. The restaurant is quite popular with tourists and locals. It is extremely beautiful, with its high ceilings and huge windows. Its immense rooms are crammed with sculptures, gilt and vast paintings. The restaurant was very busy, with a business conference of sorts going on in the back room, as well as large tables of business suits discussing the days’ events. We shared a plate of smoked salmon and a bottle of St-Emilion cab sauv. I had beef tenderloin and Rob had the duck. We split another chocolate dessert and both had coffee, although I could not drink my espresso – too strong for me. We took the metro home and I slept like a baby!

September 30 (London Sightseeing)

2007-10-11T17:27:00.000-04:00

On Sunday, we again took the tube but this time we went to Green Park station. We were on our way to see the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. The weather turned glorious – it was warm and sunny for most of our sightseeing day. The walk through Green Park brought out my camera, for the first time. There were numerous canvas and wooden chairs scattered throughout the park, and a sign charging to use them. I think it was £4 for two hours (or maybe £2 for four hours). I’ll have to check my photos again. There was a group of 4 brightly dressed “monks” in front of us (Hari Krishna?) and they strolled off through the park to do whatever it is monks do on a Sunday afternoon.

The crowds thickened the closer we got the palace. And suddenly, there it was, in the middle of the city. I don’t know what I expected but I didn’t expect this. It seemed smaller than I imagined and, dare I say it, kind of boring with its plain, boxy exterior. The gates were quite embellished however (see photos) and the gardens were beautiful and obviously very well tended. The tourists surrounding us were speaking so many different languages, I couldn’t figure out what half of them were. The police, mounted on huge white horses and bikes, were doing a fine job of keeping everyone back of the line. We could hear the band playing the Dam Busters March. Most of the activity seemed to be taking place behind the gates and we couldn’t see very much. Once the band starting playing Frank Sinatra songs (yes, really!), we decided to leave. We did manage to see the band march off and they were quite impressive.

We walked along Birdcage Walk, named after the Royal Menagerie and Aviary which were located there during the reign of King James I. We strolled along to the Victoria Embankment and stopped for lunch at the Churchill Café, a little Italian joint that had a special of roasted chicken, fries and salad for £7.50. We had that and coffee. The meal was quite good and quickly served by harried Italian waiters. We were enjoying our meal until a French couple sat down behind us with their two children. Both parents proceeded to chain smoke during their entire time at the table. It was a forecast of things to come in France. :(

After lunch, we decided to go over to the Parliament Buildings, which were quite impressive, including the large statue of Richard the Lionheart on his horse. We took a lot of photos here, as well as shots of Westminster Abbey and another statue of George V. Unfortunately, the Abbey was closed for choir practice so we meandered around the west side of the building, photographing the 10 Christian martyrs who are depicted in statues above the Great West Door. I spotted a small walkway leading into the Dean’s Yard. The outside walls were covered with red maple ivy and the green dappled lawn was breathtaking (see photos). Then we discovered the door to The Cloisters which was one of the highlights of our trip. We walked slowly along the stone corridors, reading the ancient funeral effigies on the walls, enjoying the quiet and relative coolness of the well-trodden passageways. We also went inside the Museum to view various royal costumes preserved and displayed on life size wax figures of the original owners. We found a small garden at the end of one hallway and several small doorways, about 5 feet tall.

After we left the Abbey, we walked halfway across Westminster Bridge over the River Thames and took some photos of The London Eye on the far bank. We waited for double decker bus no. 11 to the Financial District and walked towards the Tower of London. We encountered a small parade along the way, with people in period costumes. I’m not sure what that was about. We headed towards the river and the first thing we saw was the Tower Bridge about to open to let a ship through. Again, refer to my photos. We spent two hours touring the Tower of London and saw so many wonderful things but the most impressive was the tour of the Crown Jewels, which were on display there. They were enclosed in glass cases, with slow moving sidewalks on either side of the case. We viewed both sides and the size and quantity of the jewels was mind boggling! We toured so many of the buildings and just as we were about to leave (they were closing in a few minutes, we spotted Moira Cameron, the first female Beefeater in history to go on duty at the Tower of London. Cameron, 42, beat five men to the £20,000 per-year job as a Yeomen Warder. She told me she has 22 years of military experience. I was honoured to have my photo taken with her.

Enjoy My Photos of London

September 27 to 29 (Toronto to Manchester to London)

2007-10-10T20:35:00.000-04:00

Our trip to Europe started out very badly, with a horrific Air Transat charter flight to Manchester. Thankfully, the overheated cabin, claustrophobic seating, one hour stop in Montreal, etc. is a distant nightmare and the only blot on an otherwise incredible vacation. The £20 premium that Rob paid for each of our pre-assigned sets was thrown away as a result of a flight change – instead of flying direct from Toronto, we had to leave 1.5 hours earlier and stop in Montreal to pick up people there. Rob was able to sleep on the plane. I was not. The air on the plane was so devoid of moisture, I was coughing for a day afterwards. My lungs were completely dried out, as well as my eyes, which felt like they were cracking in my skull. *shudder* Never again! You obviously get what you pay for ($92 return, plus tax).

We arrived at Manchester Airport an hour earlier than planned so we were thrilled to discover the train into London ran every hour on the hour. So we opted to catch the noon train. However, our prepaid tickets (£27 each vs. £100 each at the station) represented reserved seats on the 1PM train. We decided to play “dumb” tourist and hopped on to the earlier train to Crew. Once there, it was a 20 minute wait for the connection to London. Aboard the train to London, we discovered two empty seats reserved from Liverpool to London with no occupants, so we plopped ourselves down and donned our dumb tourist expressions. The ticket collector barely looked at our tickets so we relaxed and enjoyed the ride.

Arriving at Easton Station an hour earlier than planned, we called Rob’s Aunt Priscilla to announce our imminent arrival. Finding the taxi queue proved a bit challenging despite the unilingual signs, in English no less! Although the line seemed a mile long and the taxis miniscule, I was assured by Rob and the man in front of us that you could fit a small car in the taxi. They were right! The cab was like a Mini on steroids, if you can imagine such a thing. There was room for us, our suitcases and much more. I wish I had taken a photo inside, with its LCD screen, TV remote, electronic door lock sensors (“if the red light is on, the door is secure”). Rob and the driver had a serious discussion about our destination and the best way to get there during Friday’s rush hour traffic. The driver was ensconced on the other side of a thick Plexiglas panel and spoke to us over a microphone – very futuristic.

We arrived at the Gloucester Mews in Paddington in due course, £10 lighter. Priscilla expressed dismay at the size of our suitcases but Rob managed to wrestle them upstairs. After saying “hello”, I promptly fell into bed for 2 hours of much needed sleep, while Rob trundled over to the Bank to pick up the Euros he had ordered for our trip to France. I woke up, somewhat refreshed and made myself ready for cocktails. We were being joined by Priscilla’s companion, Rupert. He came bearing an ice cold bottle of Proseco and a large can of Pringles! Priscilla called for reservations at Concordia Notte, one of their favourite local Italian restaurants. As P put it to them on the phone, “You’ll know us when we arrive except we’re 4 instead of the usual 2”.

Dinner was our treat but due to a sore tooth, P did not enjoy her meal. The restaurant was quaint and caught in a bit of time warp with photos of famous people up on the walls from decades past, including the owners in various states of girth. We had a nightcap before finally heading to bed. The pasta and the wine were passable but the company made up for any culinary deficiencies.

In the morning, Rob and I set out to go shopping. The weather was overcast and drizzling. We left around 10:30AM to walk to the nearest tube station, Lancaster Gate. Priscilla suggested we buy a day pass for £5.10 each. There was a huge line for tickets because the automatic ticket dispenser was out of order. It eventually came back online and we paid in cash – very efficient when it works! It was 78 steps down to the platform or you could board a huge elevator like the kind they use in hospitals. The tube was just that – very narrow and very hot – definitely not as comfortable as the subway in Toronto. One car in London holds less than half the number of people you would see on a subway car in Toronto.

We got out on Bond Street and walked to Oxford Street, the discount shopping Mecca of London. I bought a colourful scarf in a store called Next for £12.50. We turned down Regent Street because Rob wanted to take me to Liberty’s. What a remarkable store! It is very beautiful architecturally-speaking and contains very high end merchandise with a huge stationery department. After a quick trip to the “loo” (sinks inside the stalls!), we decided to stop for a spot of lunch at the champagne and oyster bar located on the lower level. We ordered two coffees, two bowls of soup and a plate of smoked salmon to share. Our server informed us that the salmon was flown in fresh every second day from Scotland. I don’t believe I’ve ever tasted anything so exquisite before. Lunch cost £32 with 12% gratuity included.

We exited out the back of Liberty’s onto Carnaby Street, which was full of Saturday shoppers. Bright and colourful, I could very well imagine the vibrant scene of the 1960’s when this street became the centre of fashion trends in London. We found a tacky tourist shop to buy a thimble for my friend Scott.* We continued South and east to Piccadilly Circus which was a madhouse (obviously, aptly named) with hundreds of tourists. We carried down along Regent Street to Pall Mall and Trafalgar Square. There were more tourists here as well. We took a lot of photos and then walked up Charing Cross Road to the Leicester Square tube station. We hopped on the tube to Knightsbridge, where Harrods is located. Unfortunately, our arrival was marred by anti-fur demonstrators with placards of skinned animals and one pathetic, threadbare 6’ “fox” handing out leaflets. Rob noticed that the female protester was wearing leather shoes – there you, you see. :)

Harrods was PACKED with people of every nationality and language. In general, I found London to be extremely multi-cultural and I could imagine myself living there. We spent well over an hour at Harrods, enjoying the massive food court, the luxury bathrooms and expensive merchandise. We spent an exorbitant amount of time in the jewellery department, looking at watches, jewels of every hue and some designer pieces I recognized from my days at Viva (Heidi Daus and Alexis Bittar). The £10 million Egyptian Escalator is worth a ride, although we successfully managed to avoid the statue of Dodi and Diana that was erected somewhere in the store.

Finally, it was time to make our way toward Mayfair, to The Audley, a pub where we were meeting my friends at 5PM. Jackie and I had no problem finding each other in the busy bar, in spite of the fact that we had never met before in person. Scott and Noel were on the same bus so they all arrived together. What a fantastic reunion! We didn’t leave the pub until after 10PM after 5 or 6 rounds of drinks and dinner (Rob, the voice of reason, made us all eat something). It was a long and tiring day but one I will never, ever forget.

* When Scott and I worked together at Viva, he got a strange long distance phone call one day from a man named Jim in England, who insisted that someone had given him a thimble from our store. We never sold thimbles – we were a designer jewellery and accessory store – but someone must have bought this guy a thimble in Mexico and gifted it to him in one of our bags. The story is hilarious because the guy just went on and on and on about his thimble from Mexico and desperately wanting one from “Jalisco” (pronouncing the word with a hard “J” sound instead of the soft Spanish “H” sound) in his thick English accent. When he found out Scott’s family name, he insisted Scott was English (he’s actually American, from Seattle) and beseeched him to go out and find him a thimble with “Jalisco” on it. It took forever to get the guy off the phone but only after Scott promised to look for a thimble. Funny thing is, Scott actually caught himself looking for thimbles and when Jim called back two weeks later, Scott gave him the bad news (no thimbles in Vallarta), along with the number of the British High Commission in Mexico City. Hopefully, Jim got the help he needed there … tee hee.

New Fangled Gadgetry

2007-09-27T07:53:00.000-04:00

I don’t like dishwashers. I don’t trust them to get my dishes clean. I’ve owned my condo for almost 8 years and I think I’ve used the dishwasher once. Maybe. I can’t really remember. We never had a dishwasher growing up so my brother and I were assigned dishwashing duty every night after dinner. We would play, fight, and then report transgressions to my parents, who were seriously trying to ignore our petty squabbles while drinking tea and reading the newspaper in the living room.

Rob owns a dishwasher and uses it for everything. I swear, if he could wash his clothes in there, he would! Not really but he is as obsessed with his dishwasher as I am inclined to avoid it. He doesn’t run it every night, especially when he’s there alone during the week. Sometimes, we will run it once or twice on the weekend when I am visiting but I refuse to load it. The thought of opening a contraption, half filled with dirty dishes, to put in more dirty dishes, does not appeal to me.

I love it when I go to set the table and I find schmeek (unidentified food stuff) on his “clean” dishes. It gives me great pleasure to show these dirty dishes to him and then wash them by hand. It is only then that I feel they are really clean. I know I’m weird. Don’t even get me started on dirty sinks. My mother thinks that obsession started at a very young age when she used to ask me to clean the bathroom. I would do the sink but not the toilet or the bathtub. They were just too ‘icky’ for me. Dishwasher = icky.

I also don’t like cell phones. They are the bane of 21st century civilization. I know I’ve ranted about this before but lack of cell phone etiquette bears repeating. Don’t you just hate it when you’re in a conversation with someone, face-to-face, and they interrupt you so that they can check their Blackberry or answer their cell phone? Most of my friends who are handicapped with cell phones know that I do not tolerate this behaviour and think twice about answering anything, except maybe the doorbell, when they’re sharing my personal space. I sometimes catch Rob taking surreptitious glances at his Blackberry when he thinks I’m still sleeping. I feel sorry for him, standing there, bathed in the synthetic blue glow of his little addictive, electronic friend. *sigh*

Going Off The Grid

2007-09-26T20:05:00.000-04:00

As many of you know, we are leaving Thursday evening for our European Tour. Not exactly a tour in the true sense of the word since we are only visiting two countries (England and France) but I am excited nevertheless. Packing has been a bit challenging because of the unpredictable weather so I settled on taking a fleece jacket, a jean jacket, a leather jacket and a short trench coat. Rob says if we’re overweight at check in, we will simply pay the extra charges.

I know I will personally be overweight when we get home because of all the food and drink I plan to consume. I’m a little worried about the food in England and am thinking that I will probably eat fish & chips every day. And Paris will be the opposite, with too many wonderful treats to savour. I want to have chocolate croissants for breakfast every morning. Good thing our apartment is situated right above a boulangerie so My Beloved won’t have far to go to search out this delicacy for me.

And because my friends think I know everyone in the world (which I don’t – yet), I am of course meeting familiar people in Europe while I’m there. My best girlfriend from Vallarta, Scott, will be arriving with his new partner, Noel, and we’re meeting for drinks on Saturday night at The Audley. I’m also meeting an internet friend, Jackie, there for the first time. I can’t remember how we met online so we’ll have to figure that out over many drinks.

Other friends, who winter in Puerto Vallarta, will be arriving in Paris on October 4th and we are meeting them for drinks as well. That way, Mike and I can celebrate our birthdays together (his is the day after mine). Before they arrive, we are planning a trip to Vimy on October 3rd to see the Canadian National War Memorial. Some people think that visiting such things is depressing but I see it as an important part of our history, especially given current affairs.

We decided not to take a laptop with us because of the aforementioned weight restrictions but also because we won’t have a lot of time to be sitting around the keyboard. I look forward to hearing from all of you when we get back. I’m sure we’ll have tons of stories and even more photos. My digital camera holds over 700 pictures and Rob’s holds 1000. So be prepared to be inundated with all kinds of good stuff, including English toffee, when we return.

Love, Me xo

My Birthday In Paris

2007-09-18T07:53:00.000-04:00

I'm going to Paris for my birthday (I never get tired of saying that). Here's where My Beloved is taking me for dinner (after lunch at the Eiffel Tower and a day of shopping along Blvd. St-Germain) ... can you say YUM???

Le Train Bleu

To Whom It May Concern

2007-09-12T10:20:00.000-04:00

I am an original owner at Parliament Square. I was a first-time homeowner when I bought my condominium. I was very impressed with the building and the possibilities for the development of the neighbourhood as well as our community. While the view from my unit isn’t one of the Lake, I quickly learned the advantages of living on the north-facing side of the building. It is much cooler in the summertime and the sunsets are amazing! I also enjoy the City view at night, with all the lights of downtown lighting up the sky. I bought some patio furniture and a lounge chair to make the balcony a comfortable living space during the warmer months.

Since the construction started last year, I have not used my balcony. I did not use it last summer and I have not used it this summer. It is impossible to keep clean. The dirt is incredible. In fact, I rarely open my windows other than a few inches for a few hours at a time because of the dirt that accumulates on the curtains and the carpet. In addition, the noise during the day makes it impossible to open the windows while watching TV, listening to music, talking on the phone or reading quietly.

I like a lot of light in my living space so my curtains do not reach the top of the window frame. There is space above all my curtain rods in both the living room and the bedroom to allow the light to enter my suite at all times of the day. The windows in the bedroom are floor to ceiling and wrap around to the side of the balcony. I chose to put sheer curtains here to get maximum light exposure.

During the initial phase of the tower construction, there was a very large, brilliant spotlight affixed to the crane and it shone into my bedroom every night, for weeks at a time, lighting up my room like an airport runway. I made repeated complaints to Comsec and eventually, had to involve the help of Pat McConnell’s office to get this light turned off at night. Lewis Builds would turn it off for a night or two, and then it would come back on again. The entire process had to be repeated again and again and again. Finally, the tower advanced upward to the point where the light no longer impacted on my unit but rather, the people who lived above me. No explanation about the purpose for this light was ever given, even though I repeatedly asked for one.

During the construction process of the lower portion of the building, my privacy has been an issue, especially now that the workers are working directly opposite my unit. They are less than 100 yards away from me and my living space. Eventually, I will have to deal with my neighbours having the same perspective. I literally have to sneak out of bed in the morning, on the “wrong” side of the bed, so they won’t see me. The crane operator on this part of the building had a bird’s eye view of my bed for weeks, through the upper part of my windows not covered by curtains. I have to make sure I am appropriately attired at all times when I am near a window and covered up while I am in bed.

Since buying my property in 1999, the value has increased steadily each year due to the completion of the third condo building at 80 Mill Street and the continued development of The Distillery District. I now believe the proximity of the new building on the north side of Parliament Square will have a detrimental effect on the value of the units in my building, especially those on the north side between the second and seventh floors, whose views are partially or completely blocked by this monstrosity. Considering how the building was first “pitched” to us (i.e. the western most edge of the tower will start at the eastern most edge of our building, the lower portion will only be six stories, etc.), I am adamant that any further development on the site be scrutinized with the utmost concern for the overall affect on current and future residents. The current project was a total “white-wash” and we were given false information so that the developers could get approval to push ahead with their plan.

It makes me sad to think of how the original dream for The Distillery District has become so distorted by the greed and manipulation of Cityscape, not to mention the gross and continued lack of consideration shown by Lewis Builds to the occupants of Parliament Square. This 32 storey tower hardly embodies the spirit intended by the original developers of The District and it does absolutely nothing to maintain the integrity of this extremely important historical site.

Eagle Eyes

2007-09-06T07:15:00.000-04:00

I’ve never thought that my eyesight was particularly good or outstanding. I actually have to wear glasses to see into the distance and my night vision sucks. One thing I’m good at, however, is finding things. The smaller, and the more inconvenient the spot, the better I am at locating it.

A few years ago, I remember sitting at an outdoor bar in Puerto Vallarta, about six feet from the beach, when the guy I was sitting beside yelped because he had lost one of his contacts. Apparently it popped right out of his eye. (I don’t wear contacts so I’m not sure how these things can happen …). We were sitting with a large group of drunken tourists and the floor was comprised of large, uneven tiles, cemented together.

Within seconds, everyone was scrambling around on their hands and knees under the table. After they all gave up, I found his contact lens and handed it to him. He was very thankful as he had just started his vacation and was imagining trying to buy contact lenses in Mexico.

Last month, I attended a girls’ weekend up at a friend’s cottage. We were all sitting outside, when our hostess gasped and grabbed her ear lob. She had been fiddling with one of her gold earrings and it fell off, through the slats in the wooden deck and onto the ground below us. We all headed down to see if we could find it. At this point, I was somewhat sure of my skills so I told everyone not to worry, that I would find it.

The underside of the deck was some 15 feet above the spot where her earring landed and the space was covered with dirt, dried pine needles and small rocks. We all started looking but eventually they all gave up, except for me. I sent her back up to the deck with some small stones and asked her to drop them through the slats in the deck so that I could see their trajectory. Sure enough, I found her earring, which was about ½ inch in diameter.

My latest “find” involves one of the articling students with whom I work and another earring. This time, it was a 1 mm. pearl stud. Fortunately, she hadn’t travelled far since she arrived that morning -- she had been to my desk, went into the copy room and was sitting in her office. I assured her I would find it and relayed the contact lens story.

We checked around my desk space, through the copy room and I finally followed her into her office where I advised her to check the inside of her clothes. It was at this point that I came around her desk and looked underneath. The earring was lying in one of her loafers, under her desk. As you can see, my recovery record is pretty impressive and my confidence is growing.

It’s a gift. LOL

I Got My Hair Cut ...

2007-08-26T12:19:00.001-04:00

... and it is wash and wear. So tell me, do you love it or hate it? LOL

Highway of Heroes

2007-08-26T11:53:00.000-04:00

The following link is for an on-line petition, to name the portion of Highway 401 from Trenton to Toronto to the "Highway of Heroes" ... this is the portion of highway that all fallen soldiers travel, when they are returned home.

Click here to sign the petition.

For The Love Of Shoes!

2007-08-17T14:16:00.000-04:00

What is it with women and shoes? I used to think my love of shoes was a result of the Italian blood coursing through my veins. (For some reason, when I was younger, I always attributed great fashion and style to the Italians. Go figure?) Now I believe it has more to do with hormones than blood-ties. Almost every woman I know is obsessed with (1) their hair (2) their weight and (3) shoes!!!

When I was still in high school (mid-70s), platforms and wedgies were all the rage. I was barely working part-time while going to school and didn’t have any money to buy my own shoes. My mother was adamant that I wasn’t getting them but I wore her down and she gave me the money for a pair of metallic blue vinyl Mary Janes with a wedgie sole. I wore those shoes until the vinyl cracked!

On my first long distance trip away from home to Florida during March Break in Grade 10 or 11, I bought a pair of platform sandals, again in blue, with a four inch woven platform and blue leather straps on the sandal. I could barely wobble around in those shoes on my (then) skinny legs but I thought I was the BOMB!

My obsession with shoes began in earnest when I started working full-time and earning a paycheque. For a while, I went through the “antique” shoe phase, especially when I found two pairs, circa 1950, in a second-hand clothing store in my home town. It was in the late 70s and the shoes were pointy-toes stilettos. I wore those shoes dancing every weekend at the disco! I wore them down to the point of no recovery and threw them out. (What was I thinking???) However, I still have the antique handbag I bought with them.

After I moved to Ottawa in the 80s, I was still very much into high heels, along with short skirts. (I had the legs and the ass to pull it off back then, since I was doing aerobics almost every day!) My favourite pair were white leather, with a four inch heel and a piece of gold-toned metal wrapped around the point of the toe. I remember taking my shoes off one night in Hull, at about 4AM and asking my dance partner for a foot massage. He recoiled in horror, accusing me of having “stinky” feet. I shoved my shoe in his face and made him take a whiff – there was no smell. I learned early on that real leather shoes do not cause foot odor! I also had a pair of black suede pumps with a gold metal spike heel. These shoes were fierce! I used to take one off and hammer it on the table or bar menacingly to scare off creepy guys. That shoe could do serious damage in the right hands!

Then the line dancing craze started and everyone had to own a pair of cowboy boots. I, of course, bought a red pair and wore them so much, they had holes in them. The thing with boots is, you can wear almost all year round except for a couple of months in the summer when it’s too hot. After I moved to Toronto and started making “serious” money, I worked for a small law firm downtown, ½ block off Yonge Street. Right around the corner were two stores with rows and rows of colourful cowboy boots. I splurged on a pair of red and black Sanchos (Made in Spain) for approximately $500. I still have those boots and only wear them on cool, dry days. They are lined in leather and fit like soft velvet gloves. I love those boots!!!

After living in Mexico for almost three years, I was so happy to come home to the four different seasons in the year. Autumn really is my favourite because I can start wearing my leather coats and boot collection (see my Favourite Things blog for pics). My latest addition is a pair of Nine West dark brown leather ankle boots, for which I paid $35US (regular $105US, no tax in PA!). Sandy, email me if you want a pic of them. LOL

Now that I've grown up (!) and my world has expanded to incorporate other styles and designers, I've discovered Christian Louboutin. This man is an artist -- so much so that his shoes are on display at The Bata Shoe Museum. Sumptuous leather, 75mm to a staggering 140 mm stiletto heels, with a red laquered sole. YUM!!! Each pair of shoes is handmade and takes four craftsmen over a week to complete. The shoes are surprisingly comfortable ... I should know! I just tried on a pair of $625 black leather pumps. I'm a size 36.5 in case anyone is feeling particularly generous. I'll be checking out the boutique when I'm Paris in October. To see what I'm talking about, go to Christian Louboutin's website here. Vive la France!!!

Horoscope for July 11, 2007

2007-07-12T09:32:00.001-04:00

LIBRA (Sept. 24 - Oct. 23): The sun at the career angle of your chart, allied to Uranus, planet of surprises, means that new opportunities are heading your way, so be ready for them. If you expect the unexpected over the next few days you won't go far wrong, and come the new moon on Saturday you'll be on the up escalator to success!

P.S. I got the job! WOO HOO!!! :)

Stupid Stupid Stupid

2007-07-11T10:30:00.000-04:00

I stopped in the grocery store last night after work and headed towards the produce section so I could buy some Granny Smith apples. I suddenly realized there was this woman there, feeling up the empire apples with one hand, while holding her cellphone to her ear with the other. Her cart was blocking my access to the apples, so I said "Excuse me".

Nothing.

"Excuse Me!"

Again, nothing.

"EXCUSE ME!!!"

Finally she turns around and tells me that she is trying to stop all the apples from rolling on the floor (but she's only using one hand).

So I said, "Maybe if you put your cellphone down, you could use both hands."

"Oh no! I just HAVE to talk to my friend Joanne!!!"

She eventually moved her cart and I was able to choose some apples. As I left the store some time later, she was still wandering around, with an empty cart, but finally off the phone. I guess whatever earth shattering crisis she and Joanne simply HAD to solve was over and the world was again as it should be.

The Procession

2007-07-09T12:17:00.000-04:00

On our way back from out of town last night, Rob happened to turn on the radio to the news/weather/traffic station and we were informed that the Don Valley Parkway was closed for "The Procession". My stomach contracted as the reality of what those two words meant. The latest six fallen Canadian soldiers were on their way from a repatriation ceremony at CFB Trenton, after being received by their loved ones, to the Coroner's Office here in downtown Toronto. This has been the protocol for all of our dead, once they have been returned from the field.

We were almost home when I turned to Rob and said that I would like to see it, if possible. We headed up to Bloor Street, with the hopes of making our way to the bridge spanning the Parkway. As we made the turn towards the intersection, I could see the flashing lights of police cruisers and an officer with his flourescent green traffic vest stopping all traffic on Church Street, while directing the dwindling traffic on Bloor Street onto nearby side streets. The guys in the car beside me asked what was going on and after I explained it to them, the passenger in the car said, "So you mean we're just going to have to sit here until its over?" I gave him a rather terse "Yes".

Finally, there was no traffic and at Rob's suggestion, I got out of the car and walked to the corner. People were out strolling, enjoying the hot summer evening, their faces showing confusion as to why one of the largest streets in downtown Toronto had suddenly grown eerily quiet, police and flashing lights all around them. I think they sensed something important was happening but I doubt any of them really knew the significance of the moment. I distinctly heard the crackle of a walkie talkie on the belt of the officer nearest to me and a voice say, "They are at Castlefrank." This is the exit from the DVP to Bloor Street.

Suddenly the quiet of the night was broken by the sound of sirens and the officers all around us snapped to attention, saluting the empty street. The lights from three police motorcycles approached us from the east and as Rob joined me on the corner, I grabbed his hand with my left hand and put my right hand over my heart as the first of the six hearses came into view. I was expecting them but it was still a shock to see them so close. Tears rolled down my face when I realized how many dark limos were following them for I knew they were filled with the families and friends of the fallen. They seemed to stretch on forever.

As suddenly as it began, it was over. Rob and I made out way back to the car and I noticed that the passengers in the cars all around us were quiet. Within minutes, the cops were gone, the traffic was moving and it was if the moment never happened. To my mind, the ultimate sacrifice paid by these young men, along with their families, and the thousands of men who came before them, should be honoured daily as a reminder to all of us to treasure this country and the riches found in our everyday lives.

Shoe Survey

2007-07-03T13:05:00.000-04:00

What do you call this kind of shoe where you grew up?

Canada Day in the U.S.A.

2007-07-03T11:08:00.000-04:00

We went to Columbus, Ohio this past weekend to see an old friend of Rob's. It was fun because we flew on Saturday afternoon as opposed to sitting in traffic for hours on Friday after work, trying to get to the border at Buffalo, so we could wait in line at Customs with a bazillion other Canadians trying to get into the States, while a bazillion Americans tried to get into Canada. Flying is much more civilized, even when you have to be bussed from Terminal 1 to a much smaller terminal and get on a Dash 8 (can you say prop plane?) with 15 other people. And although I am a pilot's daughter, I still get nervous flying and I still suffer from motion sickness. Like a 4-year-old, I have to take Gravol or I will barf everywhere. *sigh*

So what is there to do in Columbus, Ohio you ask? Not much except eat and drink with my new American friends. Our hostess invited over her niece and nephew-in-law who, as it turns out, were also born in 1958. So I kept referring to them as "my peeps". As much as I usually hate using current vernacular, this seemed somewhat fitting since we were all a mere two months apart in age. But I learned that the world of a teenager growing up in Columbus, Ohio is much, much different than growing up in southwestern Ontario, Canada. Columbus is ruled by football; Ohio State football to be exact, and the biggest and brightest achievement for a young woman in the late 1970s was to be accepted to the male-dominated Ohio State Marching Band. I think my biggest achievement was not being arrested for drinking under age. Vive la difference, eh!

And then we went shopping. Rob had never been to Target (we call it "Tar-ZZZEAY") and was not sure what to expect. He got into the groove with a pair of $15 jeans and a 5' x 8' Jute carpet for $80. I bought two tops, four pieces of work out wear (ostensibly to provide me with the impetus to work out -- HAHA!), and a Chihuahua fridge magnet (don't ask). Then we hit Kohl’s. I bought a beach cover up and a skirt and a white cowboy hat (don’t ask AGAIN). Rob bought dryer balls for the condo in PV and spent the rest of the afternoon talking about his “blue balls” (insert rolling eyes icon here).

We saved the best for last: Filene’s Basement. I’m afraid to admit that I made a bit of a fool of myself in the shoe department. I started “ooo-ing” and “ah-ing” so loud at the Italian shoes, Rob had to leave me and go to the men’s wear department. After drooling all over the $400 (ON SALE!) European imports, I settled for a pair of Franco Sarto’s for only $60 and a linen suit for $70. Rob got a gorgeous blue silk Bill Blass jacket and a yummy Nautica terry robe for only $20. I almost forgot that we made a quick trip to Macy's on Monday after brunch. It was my first time EVER in a Macy's. I think it is comparable to The Bay in Canada. I bought a gorgeous red silk sweater (spotted on the sales rack by My Beloved) for only $15. The sales clerk seemed fascinated when we told her we were visiting from Canada. :)

When it came time to pack, I knew we were in trouble when I looked at the bags and bags and BAGS of stuff we bought, compared to our two rather smallish suitcases. Rob packed his stuff and after looking at the suitcase, I took it all out to start over. After moving back and forth to Mexico a couple of times, I feel that I am an expert on packing lots of stuff into smallish spaces! I showed him the concept of rolling clothes and managed to fit everything (except the carpet) in our two suitcases.

We carried on our pillows and my ridiculous cowboy hat (which is now residing in the back of the Merc, waiting for our next “topless driving experience”). Rob thoughtfully suggested I buy the hat (and to be fair, he wanted to pay for it) so that when we’re in the convertible this summer, I won’t complain so much about the heat and the sun beating down on my unprotected head. He thinks I look adorable in it so I guess I will wear it just to see his sweet, goofy grin when I do.

Is Blogging Nerdy?

2007-06-29T15:08:00.000-04:00

I've been reading other people's blogs lately and there's some really good stuff out there! One I've been following for some time is M-A's blog in Europe. It's very technically tight as she is a computer whiz. I might also have sent a few of you the link to Laurie's blog, which I think is absolutely hilarious. Today, I've just discovered another great blog written by an American "attorney" (I guess they're not called "lawyers" south of the border) who refers to herself as "R". Here is the link to R's blog. It seems that some of us are a little bit ashamed of our blogging so I've decided to come out of hiding again. Hopefully, it won't come back to bite me in the ass.

BTW, all these other bloggers have HUGE followings and people actually post comments on their blogs. So far, my most consistent commenter is my friend, "S" in the 'Peg. She and I have similar senses of humour as well as the same hair and skin and taste in television shows. I think the comments are cool on these other blogs. What do I have to do to get you all to comment? I guess I'll just have to blog more often, about stupid and/or funny things, and hope it fires you up enough to write a comment. Oh, and my brother has commented on my blog. Thanks BRO! Anyway, I'm now embracing my blog-nerdiness and am commenting frequently on other blogs. Maybe I can get them to read my blog too and we can all become one, big, happy blog family. It hasn't escaped my attention that all of these bloggers are intelligent, funny, articulate women.

Let me know what you think.

Accomodations in Paris

2007-06-25T11:29:00.000-04:00

Sometimes, words are not needed: Paris Apartment

I'm Going To London To See The Queen!!!

2007-06-18T10:04:00.000-04:00

Rob just got back from the UK this weekend. He spent the week visiting his parents in Yorkshire and then tottered over to Wales for a few days. He wanted me to go with him but I don't get any vacation in my new job until I've been here for three months. Rob's schedule is very tight with deadlines for the long-term project on which he's working, so we settled for a week in Mexico this August. :)

A review of his schedule showed 12 days available in late September and early October so we're going to the UK then. Since my birthday is incorporated in those dates, we're also going to France. Paris, France to be more exact. On my birthday. Can you imagine? I AM SO EXCITED!!! We're also going to Vimy, France, to see the Canadian war memorial there. And to London. And to Yorkshire.

By now you must be thinking: How much is all this going to cost? Well you'd be surprised at how inexpensive it is to go to Europe this year. Check out these prices:

1. Return airfare from Toronto to Manchester: $715CDN
2. One way train from London to Paris: $243CDN
3. One way airfare from Paris to Manchester: $100CDN

BTW, those prices are for BOTH OF US, TAXES INCLUDED. I kid you not. Only $1058 for both of us. By comparison, one ticket to Mexico in August was almost $800. *sigh* At least we have free accomodations in PV. So now, we just need to find suitable accomodations in Paris for four nights. That will probably cost us the same as all the flights and train trips combined.

So if you know of anything or anyone who might be able to help, please send me an email. We are looking for a small rental apartment, not a hotel room. Preferably a studio or one bedroom. Maybe you have a timeshare you haven't used or know someone who does? We prefer to be in the first seven arondissments, close to the centre of the City of Lights.

Here is a link to photos from Rob's recent UK trip.

Pollution

2007-06-18T09:43:00.000-04:00

I've had a sore throat for a couple of days and, at first thought I was coming down with a cold. But now I think it is a result of air conditioning and/or pollution. We've had some lovely, warm, sunny days here in Toronto for the past week but the air quality has been deteriorating as the humidity climbs. I haven't really noticed it myself, other than the aforesaid scratchy throat. The A/C at work is set ridiculously high and, while I try to dress for the weather outside, I need a blanket at my desk after 11AM when the coldness really starts to set in. It's like a meat locker in there some days! Come to think of it, I wouldn't mind handing a few of the lawyers upside down by their shoelaces ... LOL

Another form of pollution that really bugs me is noise pollution. You're probably rolling your eyes right about now, thinking to yourselves "Well, she does live downtown Toronto .. DUH!" I'm not talking about the sounds of the City, which I love. I'm talking about the people who get on public transit or an elevator with their music plugged into their ears. Normally, I can't hear anything, which is fine with me. If they want to totally "tune out" to their surroundings, that is their choice. But every once in a while, someone gets on the elevator with the music just BLASTING. It's so loud everyone on the elevator can hear it. I can only imagine what that is doing to their hearing. EGADS! I'm turning into my mother ... :)

Why I Hate My Job

2007-06-01T14:51:00.000-04:00

My boss asked me to find a document called "Written Representations" in a file today. This is the procedure I have to go through in order to find stuff around here:

1. First I have to open the pleadings index in Word and search for the words "Written Representations". In this case, there were 107 references to "Written Representations" in a 34-page list of 500 documents.

2. Once I find the specific Written Representations I'm looking for, I take note of their pleading number: in this case, it was 453.

3. Then I close this pleading index and open the sub-file index, which is 22 pages long and contains 144 different boxes of documents.

4. I search for pleading #453 and discover it is located in Box 48L, in slot 110. Thankfully, this box is still onsite. Most of them are located offsite and have to be ordered from Records Management.

5. Then I have to go to the file room, find the box, lift the heavy box off the shelf and search through it for pleading #453.

6. It's a motion record so once I find it, I have to open it to look for the Written Representations, which are located at Tab 17.

7. Then I have to go the photocopy room, unbind the motion record and copy the 20 pages of Written Representations.

8. I also decide to scan the document so that if he ever decides he wants it again, I can access it easily on my computer as opposed to having to physically find it.

9. I send the document to myself from the scanner, re-bind the motion record, return it to the box, put the box back on the shelf, put the photocopy in his tray, go back to my desk and save the documents on the system for future reference.

10. All of this takes approximately 15-30 minutes and I have to do this over and over, every day.

Now you know why I hate my job!

Ottawa Food

2007-05-29T12:00:00.000-04:00

We had some amazing meals in Ottawa which was actually quite surprising since all of my memories of Ottawa (I lived there for 6+ years) do not include food. As mentioned previously, the breakfast at the Mayflower is a tradition since this restaurant has been around since the 70's. Here's a short review, in case you're interested: Mayflower

We had done some research on restaurants before heading to Ottawa and I knew all about the touristy-type places in the Byward Market. I also remember a number of "Mexican" (I put that in quotes because you and I both know my definition of Mexican food has changed somewhat in the last few years) and Tex-Mex places where I might have tasted my first margarita but I wondered whether there was any real Mexican food to be found. I read about the Azteca online and learned it was owned by a Mexican family so I thought that bode well for authentic Mexican food. We were amazed and charmed by this little restaurant.

We arrived for a typical Mexican lunch, at around 2:30PM. The place was not busy but the only table in the window overlooking the busy marketplace was already taken so, when invited to look around by the non-Mexican waitress, we headed upstairs and found a delightful room with a fresh breeze blowing in the second storey through an open window. We grabbed a table in the corner and looked at the menu. Rob was still feeling a little overheated so we ordered tap water and micheladas con Corona. It was nice to see this refreshing libation offered (a Michelada is actually beer, served over ice with lime and hot sauce or salsa) and I thought it was a great start to our lunch!

Despite it being a hot, sunny day, we both decided we wanted soup so I ordered us some Azteca soup. I love tortilla soup when in Mexico and have tried many different varieties there but this soup was sensational! It came steaming to the table in two large bowls containing tortilla chips, chicken, cheese, avocado, and sour cream in a tomato broth and the cost was only $5! We decided to stick with small dishes to share so we could sample more of this delicious food and finally settled on ensalada de nopales (cactus salad), shrimp sopes and mushrooms stuffed with guacamole and coated in melted cheese. Everything was beautifully presented and extremely tasty. This was the real deal! I took some photos of the food and the restaurant (see previous blog). For more information on this great little restaurant, check out their website at Calendario Azteca.

After lunch, we took a much needed walk around the market to help digest lunch and then headed back to the hotel for a much needed siesta. :) Our choices for dinner were numerous but I knew I wanted to stay away from the overly-trendy Byward Market because the Ottawa Senators had just won the Eastern Division final late that afternoon and hockey fans were everywhere (and quite obnoxious too!). I had read about the Metropolitan Brasserie and realized it was kitty corner to our hotel. I figured it was just high-scale enough to thwart most hockey fans and I was right. The patio was coolish and dark so we opted to eat inside. The restaurant is styled after a Parisian brasserie and we were quite impressed with (1) the drinks menu, (2) the wine list and (3) the food menu!

Rob ordered draft beer and I tried a tequila champagne cocktail: ice cold tequila (Sauza Gold, I think) served in a champagne flute with some bubbly and a salted rim. It was an interesting drink but not one I would order again. I settled on a glass of merlot with my steak and frites and Rob ordered the pork tenderloin. The food and service were great. Our waiter was attentive without being intrusive. The restaurant was boisterous and there is a separate bar from the eating area which seemed pretty lively when we left around 11PM after our late dinner. I would recommend it but only if you're not on a budget: Metropolitain Brasserie

And here are Rob's photos from our trip.

On The Road Again ...

2007-05-22T09:11:00.001-04:00

Rob and I spent a lot of time on the highway this last long weekend, between Toronto and Ottawa. We noticed a lot of bad drivers on the road and, therefore, a lot of (in my opinion) unnecessary traffic snarls.

We've decided that mini-vans are the scourge of the earth. Nine times out of ten, the people driving these view-blocking mammoths don't have a clue about how to drive on the highway. We figure it is because they spend more time driving between home and Wal-Mart and hockey arenas than actually doing any consistent highway driving. The rule in Ontario and, in fact, most roads in North America and the UK (according to Rob) is that you drive in the right lane unless you are passing someone in the right lane. You are supposed to signal your intentions, move over to the left lane, pass the car moving slower than you and return to the right lane.

But some drivers get into the left lane, see it is clear and remain there, forgetting to check their rearview mirrors for traffic coming up fast behind them. We passed more cars from the right hand lane than was necessary. And we weren't the only ones doing it. Invariably, a mini-van was tottering along in the passing lane, doing just over the speed limit, which a hugh line of cars formed behind them, hoping they'd get the hint and move over. I can totally understand how road rage develops. I wasn't even driving but I was getting frustrated with these idiots. Anyways, enough of that rant. Watch your driving next time you're on the highway!

Ottawa itself was such a treat. I haven't been there in almost two years and it is as gorgeous as I remember it. We stayed at the Westin, right downtown and attached to the Rideau Centre. We were close to Elgin Street, the Sparks Street Mall, Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal and the Byward Market. The hotel was under construction so we were given a free room upgrade which afforded us a spectacular view of the many of the above-mentioned sites. We arrived late on Friday night and crashed after the long drive. Saturday morning saw us up early, raring to go on a walking tour that I had planned for Rob. We started with a hearty breakfast at the Mayflower on Elgin Street. Good food, lousy service (why can't waiters multi-task?) and a high price of almost $30 for our meals and a marginal tip.

We walked south on Elgin Street, West on Waverley Street (I used to live in an apartment building on Waverley) and then north on Bank Street. We veered slightly off course because of the construction on Bank Street but ended up on the Sparks Street Mall and walked east the length of it, back to Elgin Street and then across the street to the War Memorial. As you can imagine, this Memorial has special meaning to me so we stopped and took a lot of great photos. I will post the links to pics at the end of this blog. Then we headed across the street and up to the Hill.

Canada's Parliament buildings and grounds are readily accessible to tourists and, because of the fabulous weather, the place was really crowded with people from many different cultures. We toured all around them, front and back and took tons of photos. We walked along the Canal and viewed a boat going through the locks on the Rideau Canal. We finally had to return to the hotel because we were overheated and short on water. Anyway, here's a few pics to keep you going until I continue this mini trip report:

Ottawa Photos

Cussing at Work

2007-05-17T09:23:00.000-04:00

Anyone who knows me, knows that I can curse like a trucker in three languages. *grin*

There are some subjects which cause me to swear MORE (slow public transit, inconsiderate cell phone users, inconsiderate smokers, etc.) but there are many instances when I feel that "cussing" is not appropriate: church (I don't go often but when I do, I keep it clean), when I'm with my Mom, with I'm with my friends' Moms (unless they like to swear too), when I'm meeting people for the first time (usually) and at work (again, usually).

Occasionally, everyone lets fly with an expletive at work when they're frustrated, confused or when they discover a stupid mistake they've made. Paper cuts will also elicit a *$%# from me before I plop my finger into my mouth to stop myself from bleeding all over the files. And I've even heard lawyers swear (*gasp* -- yes, I know you're stunned!), but I've never heard language like I'm hearing in my new job. OMG!

So I started doing some research on the internet about this subject. FYI, it is not addressed in the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Ontario Employment Standards Act or the Health and Safety Act of Ontario. Some firms have "respect in the workplace" policies but most don't. While sexual harassment is a subject that is taken very seriously in every office I've ever worked in, respect for your fellow workers is not.

However, since profanity at work seems to be increasing, employers are starting to see the detrimental affects of such behaviour. The Cuss Control Academy covers it all. And while we're at it, let's discuss full-volume speaker-phone conversations with your door open, yelling for your assistant from your desk and not being able to get your own gosh-darn coffee!

In Hiding

2007-05-11T09:29:00.000-04:00

I've hidden my blogs for the time being as I've been having some privacy issues with the internet. After all these years, it's finally dawning on me that there are people out there who will use to the internet to say whatever they want about anyone they want. I've always tried to be somewhat circumspect in my postings and never post too much information about my personal life but now that the blog is private (by invitation only), I guess I can be a bit more free wheeling with what I write. And if any of this new information gets out there, I'll know who to blame! LOL

The recent weather in Toronto has me thinking a lot about the upcoming summer. It looks like it is going to be a busy one! Rob and I are off to a wedding in Niagara Falls this weekend and will be returning to Toronto on Sunday in order to hook up with my Mom, my brother and his friend, Alma, visiting from Ohio. They're going to be in T.O. for my brother's ex-wife's daughter's Bat Mitzvah brunch on Sunday. He's not sure why he's going except that the young lady personally asked him to attend.

Next weekend is the first long weekend of the summer (Victoria Day is Monday, May 21), so Rob and I are heading to Ottawa (the nation's capital, for all my American readers). It's about a 4-5 hour drive from Toronto in holiday traffic on a Friday night. I'm not looking forward to the drive at night (I have terrible night vision) but the three days there should be fun. I used to live in Ottawa so it will be interesting to see what changes the years have wrought.

It's always been a very clean city and the Canadian Tulip Festival will be winding up that weekend. We are staying right downtown, along the Rideau Canal and close to the Byward Market and Parliament Hill. I am looking forward to being a tourist again. I still have a few friends living there, and they might all be out-of-town for the long weekend, but I should still send off a few emails anyway.

Good Movie

2007-05-03T12:25:00.000-04:00

I don't usually use my blog to plug any type of entertainment-related events but every once in a while, I see a great movie and I feel the need to share it with others.

Let me preface this recommendation by giving you a bit of background. Last weekend, Rob and I watched 1957's "Witness for the Prosecution" starring Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich and Charles Laughton. It was nominated for and received six Academy Awards. The plot was thick and full of twists and, when it was finally over, we both agreed: "They don't make movies like that any more!"

But we were wrong! "Fracture" starring Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling is such a movie. There are no car chases. There are no tired and trite cliches. There is good writing, tight dialogue and a plot that will keep you guessing right up until the last scene. If you get a chance, go see this mind bender and try to figure it out yourself!

Repatriation II

2007-04-13T07:53:00.000-04:00

As I approach the one year anniversary of my repatriation date (April 14, 2006), I am making a few changes in my life. I am starting a new job on Monday, April 23. I am going to a bigger firm with better benefits and more vacation. The position is working one-on-one with a senior partner and, according to one of my bosses here, it is "one of the sexiest firms in town". Not sure what that means but I am looking forward to the change and the challenge of a new position.

I'm also making overdue upgrades to my condo. Lately, I've been hanging out in hardware stores looking at new drawer handles, new lighting fixtures and mirrored doors for my front hallway closet. Fun? WOW!

On a more serious note, did anyone watch the coverage earlier this week about Vimy, France? It was so moving to see so many Canadians remembered abroad. That brilliant monument is a testment to the young soldiers who gave their lives so many years ago. I plan to go there later this year.

I have taken to wearing my poppy again, especially on those days when coffins draped in the Maple Leaf are repatriated at CFB Trenton. This week has been especially difficult for the Canadians serving in Afghanistan and the families waiting to receive their dead here at home.

Please honour them by wearing a poppy, your "Support the Troops" pin or bumper sticker.

Passport Woes

2007-04-05T07:49:00.000-04:00

Lately, I've been hearing a lot of pissing and moaning by people about passports. Airports in the U.S. are requiring everyone to have a passport.

So all of those "cheap" (stereotype about Canadians), "lazy" (stereotype about Mexicans) Americans must have a passport if they want to get in and out of their wonderful country.

I just have one question for you people:

WHAT PART OF 9/11 DIDN'T YOU UNDERSTAND???

Things That Tick Me Off

2007-03-27T21:26:00.000-04:00

My day started without any hot water so I was kind of cranky all day. And Tuesdays are my long days, with three hours of school right after work. A lot of things bugged me today. Here's hoping tomorrow will be better.

1. No hot water on a cold March morning.

2. People who don't use proper grammar, spelling and/or punctuation.

3. People who get on to an elevator and then stand so close to the panel, no one else can press a button for their floor.

4. People who stop at the top (and bottom) of escalators and don't move out of the way.

5. People who ask inane questions, like "what's a co-ed" and "who is Gloria Steinem." *sigh*

6. People who use cell phones, "Crack"berries and other electronic devices while in my presence.

7. Telemarketers who call from my own Bank to offer me a credit card with a higher rate of interest than the one I already have.

8. People who decide the best place to train their two-year-old on a tricycle is in the hallway, outside my door, at 8AM on a workday.

9. People who use buttons and panels intended to help disabled people. Overuse of these facilities by able-bodied people will result in them NOT working one day for someone who really needs it. Don't be so fucking lazy and open the door yourself!

10. Wait staff who insist on referring to me and my girlfriends (or me and my boyfriend) as "you guys". I am not a guy. Never have been. And I am not a "folk" either.

GRRR!!! (Please feel free to add your own.)

Mary Sue Morris - 5 Oct 38 to 17 Mar 07

2007-03-17T05:30:00.000-04:00

Dear Mary Sue:

I was certainly shocked when I received Ana Margarita's email from Vallarta, telling me about your illness. It made me sad to learn that you are so sick you had to cut your summer buying trip short and return to the U.S. My thoughts immediately flew to your baby, VIVA, wondering what will happen now that you're not there to lead the charge into the new season. A million memories of Mexico flooded my mind. You and VIVA were such an intrinsic and important part of my life there.

I enjoyed having the opportunity to work in the store. I learned so many invaluable lessons and made lifelong friends working there. I remember the day you interviewed me and your conviction that I was obviously "very intelligent" since I had worked for lawyers. You promised somehow to make use of my talents in that regard and you eventually did. But first you taught me how to sell and discovered that I had a knack for it. The work was hard and fun, all at the same time. The product, of course, was fabulous, making VIVA well known in PV and beyond. I was always very proud to tell people where I worked. I never forgot your admonishment for us to "behave" in public because you didn't want to hear about any kind of outlandish behaviour. I knew that you had "eyes" everywhere. *smile*

You were an inspiration to some and a mentor to others. Miguel was so excited at being allowed to go to the gem show with you in Tucson. I also remember the email he sent, complaining that you were wearing him out, going non-stop from dawn to dusk at the show with your power shopping. Did you know many on your staff were totally terrified of you? I think you liked that idea because it kept everyone on their toes. The mood in the store changed dramatically every time we learned your plane had landed. When the word filtered down from the office that "Mary Sue is back!", panic reigned. Everything shifted into overdrive as we all scrambled to ensure the store would pass your inspection when you breezed through the doors. Nothing escaped your sharp eye for detail and it showed in the accolades you received from other retailers and designers from around the world.

I'll never forget my first VIVA "party" and the crush of people coming through the doors for hours. Many of them were there to sample your "liquid generosity" but the electric current generated by the crowds jolted the sales into the stratosphere, year after year. It was exhilarating and utterly exhausting to work those nights. And you were always the main attraction, flitting around the store like a sleek, bejewelled butterfly in your incredible stilleto heels, fabulous designer clothes and sparkling baubles.

I know VIVA was your private jewellery box. I will admit to being jealous of you for that reason alone but the international travel you enjoyed was also very exciting. You had so many amazing adventures in your life but I think owning VIVA was your true passion. I'll never forget the look on your face when you returned from a buying trip and unwrapped all your "treasures" for us on the table in the back room. Your life was pretty incredible. I wish we had written a book about it. Just think of the movie rights! *smile*

I want to thank you for giving me the chance to test the waters with a few adventures of my own. As if living in Mexico wasn't exciting enough, I got to work with you and learn more about fashion and retailing. Being a VIVA Diva was so much fun! Those small chances given by you meant so much to me, and others. My life in Mexico taught me a lot about myself and the things I am capable of doing. So thanks for everything Mary Sue. I hope you are surrounded by the people who love you and who will care for you gently. I send my deepest wishes for your ongoing comfort and peace.

Juliana

Mary Sue Morris is the owner of Viva Jewelry at 274 Basilio Badillo, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico.

What I Did On My March Vacation

2007-03-16T20:22:00.000-04:00

Here are a few pics from our quick trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in March. Enjoy!

Vacation Photos

How Morbid!

2007-03-13T04:22:00.000-04:00

Calculate your date of death!
Death Clock

Perception is Key

2007-03-13T00:08:00.000-04:00

I spend too much time posting on message boards and not enough time blogging. A fellow blogger recently added me to her links list so now I feel like I should blog something profound so here goes.

In a recent bulletin board conversation about measuring happiness, I wrote this:

I know now that my happiness is not determined by where I reside. It is, however, directly related to my perception of where I am living. I am much more content living in Canada, after my sojourn in PV.

I am calmer, less stressed and more appreciative of the non-material things in life (friends, family, changes in weather, etc.). The fact that I had to live in Mexico to "learn" this lesson does not escape me.

Change is good. I know I get bored easily so it is important for me to give myself a good shake every once in a while and try something new. Currently, I am taking the second course in my Editing Certificate program. Next I might try tennis lessons.

What's new with you?

Toronto The Good

2007-02-16T08:11:00.000-05:00

I have had a number of people point out to me lately that Toronto is a mean-spirited City filled with non-smiling, stressed-out creeps who never make eye contact or talk to strangers. I don't happen to agree with this opinion. As recent as this morning, my bus driver told me that, on his previous run past my stop, he waited an extra four minutes for me, not wanting me to miss my bus to work on this very cold morning. What a sweetheart! Not all TTC drivers are this nice. There is good and bad here (just like everywhere else) but I happen to think that the good outweighs the bad. Apparently this glass half-full philosophy seems to be working.

I often read the Acts of Kindness section in the Toronto Star and this story touched me today because it is just SO Canadian:

In December, I went to the Cavalcade of Lights at Nathan Philips Square. As I was sitting at the side of the rink taking off my skates, a little boy about 6 or 7 walks up and asks "Are those your skates?"

I answered ‘Yes’ and wondered if he thought I had stolen his skates, since I wear boys hockey skates. He said: "Oh, I don't have skates." For some reason, I blurted, "Do you want mine?"

I told him to first ask his mom. He ran away excited and his mom asked if it was really okay [and I said yes.] He was jumping up and down in excitement. After he put on the skates, I watched him take off with a big smile.

Two weeks later I was in the recycling room in our condo. Residents leave items for others to salvage. I found two Bauer boxes with new skates, both in my size!

I gave one pair to a friend who was there the evening I gave the boy my used skates. She shook her head and said: “You give away one pair, and you get back two”!
J. Madden, Toronto

For more stories, click on Acts of Kindness here.

Happy Anti-Valentine's Day

2007-02-13T03:33:00.000-05:00

Courtesy of Heartless Bitch Dot Com (View More eCards here!)

Celebrity Status

2007-02-08T18:44:00.000-05:00

While in PV recently with my friend Linda, she mentioned that someone approached her, asking if she was my friend and when Linda replied yes, the woman seemed quite impressed. Linda then implied to me that I was some sort of a celebrity in PV. I was appalled by that comment and tried to make Linda understand why it upset me so much. It's one of the many reasons I left Vallarta -- too many people thought that they "knew" me because of my blog. (And yet here I am, blogging again! LOL) Frankly, I am enjoying my relative anonimity back here in Toronto.

The world's fascination with celebrity is something I've never understood. I've never been "star struck" by someone who is involved in the movies, theatre, sports or music. Actually, I find it all a great big, fucking BORE and my attitude, when someone just has to tell me what so-'n'-so is doing to so-'n'-so, is to say "Who cares?". I mean really, in the great puzzle of my insignificant life, I really have no desire to know who's dumping their lover in a public display of jealous rage or who's flashing their twat for the papparazzi.

Today, at the office, when we heard the news of Anna Nicole Smith's death, there were literally gasps of disbelief. Someone actually sent an email around, stating that "an icon" had died. An icon? I would hardly call someone known for her bad taste and poor choices an icon. Just another over-processed blonde willing to do just about anything to get her face or ass on the cover of a magazine. Some will argue that she was successful because she had money, yet she couldn't even save her 20 year-old-son. This woman did not have an easy life, even with all her celebrity and wealth.

I'm sure Nancy Grace and her cannabilistic crew at CNN.com will be running with this story for a couple of weeks as the "conspiracy" unfolds, and millions of Americans (no doubt Canadians too) will eat at the bowl of her bullshit like so many spineless lap dogs. Thank GOD something has happened to displace the crazy astronaut in the consciousness of Mr. and Mrs. John Q. Public! The morbid obsession people have with personalities like Dog the Bounty Hunter and Steve Irwin are pathetic. When's the last time you spent time with your neighbours or volunteering in your community?

As you can tell, I have a pretty negative attitude when it comes to this kind of stuff. I don't buy People Magazine. I already knew OJ was guilty. And I don't really care how Anna Nicole died but I predict chemical substances were involved. What a waste! Not the waste of an icon or future royalties, but the waste of a human life and the mother of a five month old baby. It just might be that Anna Nicole will gain back some of her humanity in death, even if she has to be on the 6 o'clock news to get it.

On The Road Again ...

2007-01-18T23:01:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm not exactly taking a road to Puerto Vallarta but I am taking a trip. I decided to get away from the cold weather that so rudely arrived last Sunday and grab some sun and sand for a week. Besides, I have two weeks of vacation to use up before the end of April, my next course starts at the college in early February and my gal pal Colleen is heading back to Colorado so ...

Anyway, if I can get online, I might revive the old blog with a couple of trip reports but only if something really funny happens while I'm there. Frankly, I'm kind of happy the way I left things with the old blog. It seems to end on a sweet note and I am loathe to screw around with that. And I'm still getting hits on it so check it out the next time you feel like doing some travelling from your desk:

PV BLOG

No Fun In Acapulco

2007-01-13T13:28:00.000-05:00

With the murder of Adam Deprisio, a 19-year-old Canadian on vacation in Acapulco a week ago, there have been a lot of things flying around on the internet and into my inbox. One was a copy of a letter from Adam's aunt, Lucy DeFlippis-Pannozzi, which she has written to her Member of Parliament, setting out the events that happened and stating "Mexico is unsafe for Canadians". She is also asking him to "make others aware of the dangers in traveling to Mexico" and "have the Mexican government take ownership and made accountable of the fact that their civil workers (mainly the police and hospital) failed".

The other was an open letter by Nancy Leoni, someone who vacationed in Acapulco last year and had a similar incident happen to one of her travelling companions. Fortunately for her friend, he survived the beating. In her letter, she says: "We are the ones that support that country, tourism. Without our financial support that country (those dastards {sic} of Mexicans') would not be able to eat" and "We all need to stick together as a nation and teach a lesson to these ungrateful animals."

I am ashamed to call this woman a fellow Canadian.

I have an equal chance of being shot downtown Toronto while shopping. But, to be fair, the results will be different. Hospitals here don't require you to prove your ability to pay before you receive treatment. And the police actually caught the assholes who shot 15-year-old Jane Creba on December 26, 2005. Hopefully, our justice system will deal with them in due course.

The fact is, the government in Mexico, at all levels, is corrupt.You only have to follow world events to know this. Remember the last Mexican federal election? Remember the demonstrations all over the country, especially in Oaxaca? Acapulco is well known by Mexicans as being a dangerous place. That's why I don't go there anymore. And foreigners do not have any rights in Mexico.

This reminds of the time I was at a grocery store in Puerto Vallarta, in line behind a couple of American tourist who were buying Budweiser beer and didn't want the cashier to give them their change in "that money" (pesos). When the ex-pat in line behind me commented, in Spanish, that "someone should have told them they were entering a different country when they got off the plane", we both smiled those knowing smiles of experienced travellers.

Mexico is not Canada. It's a different country with different rules. When you're in their country, you live by their rules. It's as simple as that. And condeming an entire country because of the murderous actions of a few "dastards" is racism in its purest form. I like to think that Canadians, as a whole, are a little bit more open-minded than that.

Circumvention

2007-01-13T13:22:00.000-05:00

I discovered something interesting today. You know how when you call the credit card company, the phone company or the cable company, you have to punch in all kinds of numbers in order to speak to a live person? Inevitably, they also ask you to enter your 16 digit account number and then, when you finally get to speak to somone, they ask you for you account information all over AGAIN!

I find this very frustrating and time consuming.

Today I tried something different. I needed to call to cancel my American Express card. No one wants to take it any more so I've decided to stop using it and I want it off my credit report. After dialing the 1-800 number, I didn't do anything. I didn't choose English or French. I didn't punch in my card number. I just waited. In less than a minute, I was speaking with a live person!

It was great! Try it the next time you have to make one of these calls and cut your wait time IN HALF.

They're Over!

2007-01-01T20:30:00.000-05:00

The holidays are finally over. We can all get back to normal life, however we live it, tomorrow. The break was good for having time off work and seeing friends, getting out to enjoy a new movie and sleeping in the mornings. I've had two Mondays off in a row so I'm certainly not complaining about that! However, of the 7 days in total (including weekends) that I was off, my gym was closed for 5 of them which means I'll have to really get serious about training in the next few weeks. I feel like I've gained 20 lbs. although I'm sure it is closer to 5 lbs. All I know is nothing fits anymore!!!

Still no snow here in the Big Smoke. It actually poured rain here last night for New Year's Eve. We participated in a fabulous evening at Imperia in Yorkville. I had a friend visiting from out-of-town and we did it up right! Xmas was a bit more casual but still fun. I have a few photos posted at Webshots if you want to take a look. I've heard from Afghanistan and all is well there. My buddy is due home at the beginning of March and he has a lot to look forward to as he told me yesterday that he is engaged! It's a fitting end to a fabulous year. I wonder what 2007 will bring our way?

More Internet Dating Fun!

2006-12-27T23:06:00.000-05:00

I got this message tonight from a guy I have never heard from before. It starts out good and then it gets really strange:

I must say ... that you are a prettiest 47 year old that I have seen in a long time ... and a smile to die for ... I want to give you a present ... for I just feel your energy .... Have you read the books... "Conversation with GOD, Book I, II, II, Friendship with God and Communion with God" Written by Niele Doland Walsch. If you have ... GREAT!!!! then, you are a DYNAMO beyond ... if not ... I think, you shuld give it a try ... I think you will love the gift ... Have a good evening, Best regards, Michael

This was my response to this weirdo:

I have a problem when anyone tells me I "should" do something ... especially when they can't even spell the word right.

*smirk*

Show Me The Money!

2006-12-27T13:00:00.000-05:00

Remember when I asked you a week or so ago to click on the grey Google AdSense window at the top of my blog? I also mentioned that I would be donating the money to charity. I couldn't decide which charity I wanted to support since my blog readers are a very international crowd.

Then someone sent me a link to http://www.kiva.org/ and a plan started forming in my head. Why donate the money only once when I could loan the money, over and over again, to help more than one project in different parts of the world? It's a great idea and the money will keep working to help others.

However, the total in my account has to get to $100US before Google will pay out so keep clicking!

Elf Off!

2006-12-25T23:09:00.000-05:00

Apparently, I have too much time on my hands.

Click Here

I'm Dreaming ...

2006-12-24T10:48:00.000-05:00

... of a green Christmas! And it looks like my dream came true. There's no snow or slush, no ice or freezing temps. Just gorgeous sunshine today and more expected tomorrow. For someone who hasn't experienced a Canadian winter in three years, I've been truly blessed so far with relatively mild temps and not much precipitation. Certainly no white stuff has accumulated under my boots. In fact, I haven't had to wear my ugly winter boots at all!

I've done all my Christmas shopping, for me. Everything seems to be on sale for 50% off or more. I think I went a little bit overboard and will have to add up the receipts before deciding what I need to take back to the store. I did buy some new leather gloves for under $20 so I'll be keeping them. And I found a red velvet top for 80% off yesterday which came out to $9.20 with the discount. There are some unbelievable bargains out there!

I'm off to CFB Borden tomorrow for Xmas. My Dad and I are heading up to spend the day with friends in Angus, Ontario. A turkey dinner with all the trimmings awaits us, as well as Jo-Anne, her husband, their three kids and her parents, who are visiting from Nova Scotia. I'm really looking forward to it! Even though the kids are getting older, they are still a lot of fun to be around, especially during the holidays. That's what it's all about.

So, what are you doing for the holidays? Whatever it is and wherever it takes you, I hope your day is filled with laughter and love. All the best to you and yours!

Juliana xo

Xmas Palm Tree!

2006-12-24T10:03:00.001-05:00

Check out this tree my friends David and Nancy put up for Xmas! Very cool ...

What He Said

2006-12-18T07:44:00.000-05:00

Why does Christmas remain so popular when it is such an asinine and antiquated celebration? I mean, can you imagine if they invented it for the first time this year? 'Let's have a big festival, where everybody spends more than they can afford on gifts that nobody wants. Then, they can all pretend to be grateful whilst stuffing themselves with platefuls of unhealthy food.' It would never catch on. There are other things, too, that we do out of habit and obligation. And we can at least recognise and avoid some of these. If you want this to be a great week, honour what you feel, not what you feel you ought to feel.

Jonathan Cainer ~ For Librans, the week of December 18, 2006 (www.cainer.com)

Use Your Mouse!

2006-12-17T10:07:00.000-05:00

See the "Ads By Google" grey space at the top of my blog? If you click it, you will be directed to another webpage. Doesn't cost you anything and a few cents gets deposited into my Google AdSense account. When the account reaches $100US, I'll be donating it to a charity (and not pocketing the money myself). So use your mouse to do some good for someone else. Thank you!

Ah HA!!!

2006-12-16T08:41:00.000-05:00

Suddenly, it's all starting to maks sense to me! Here is my astrological forecast for Saturday, December 16, 2006:

LIBRA ~ (Sep 24 - Oct 23) Your Weekend

Later today, you will see a bright light in the sky. Gradually you will realise that it is in fact a spaceship from the planet Zarg. The aliens will land and invite you to join them as they return to a far more sensible world than this. Sadly, you will feel unable to accept their offer. This will be partly because they do not actually exist, but mainly because, despite the stupidity that surrounds you and the almost imbecilic behaviour of certain people, you are now coping surprisingly well.

JAM The Scrooge

2006-12-14T11:36:00.000-05:00

It’s happening. I’m getting older. It started with the new glasses and how I feel every time I go to the gym. More particularly, it is how I feel several days AFTER I’ve been to the gym. The last time I did dead-lifts, I could hardly get up from a sitting position two days later. *sigh* My insurance company just informed me that my monthly premiums are going down because I am now considered a “Mature Policyholder”. I’m glad someone thinks I’m mature.

So this whole Xmas thing is really starting to get to me. The next person who asks me if I’m “ready for the holidays” is likely to get a punch in the nose. The answer is: “NO!” I’m not ready and I never will be ready. There is nothing to get ready for. I’m not doing it anymore. I refuse. I am officially boycotting Xmas. No cards. No gifts. No Santa. No nothing. Any twinge of Xmas-ness that I felt when I saw the Swarovski Crystal tree at the Eaton Centre is gone. If you need me, I’ll be hiding under my bed until December 26.

Be Kind To The Environment

2006-12-13T08:26:00.000-05:00

I have just read and signed the online petition here: "Packaging Regulations in Canada" hosted on the web by PetitionOnline.com.

I personally agree with what this petition says and I think you might agree too. If you can spare a moment, please take a look and consider signing the petition as well.

Julie Anne

More Maxine

2006-12-13T08:05:00.000-05:00

Technology Rocks!

2006-12-04T19:18:00.000-05:00

I remember when I got my first computer and started using email at home. That was in 1998 (I think). Now I've got a laptop, I'm using VOIP and blogging. There is so much I don't know but it's exciting to learn. Even my parents are online. We're all connected and the internet is shrinking the world. Last night, I was online with a friend in Germany, my buddy in Afghanistan and a potential date in north Toronto.

Speaking of "rock", check out this website full of live concerts from days gone by: Wolfgang's Vault.