September 27 to 29 (Toronto to Manchester to London)

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

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

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

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

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

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 ...

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

Highway of Heroes

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!

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

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

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

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

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

Canada Day in the U.S.A.

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?

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

Sometimes, words are not needed: Paris Apartment

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

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

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

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

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 ...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vacation Photos

How Morbid!

Calculate your date of death!
Death Clock

Perception is Key

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

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

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

Celebrity Status

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 ...

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

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

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!

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!

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!

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!

Apparently, I have too much time on my hands.

Click Here

I'm Dreaming ...

... 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!

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

What He Said

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!

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!!!

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

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

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

Technology Rocks!

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.

I'm Dreaming ...

News From Afghanistan

My friend "Joe" called me from Afghanistan again yesterday. It took him three tries to get through on the satellite phone before we were actually able to have a conversation. I haven't heard from him since he was in India in October. When I asked him how his leave went, he said that he ate and slept a lot, and spent time with his family and a girlfriend who came from Canada to see him. He is still out in the field, in the desert somewhere, with the Taliban close by. They are getting hot, fresh food once a week now (steaks and hamburgers) and they've rigged up a shower after boiling the water in kettles. A far cry from his usual three showers a day at home but better than nothing. The weather has changed and it is winter there now. At night, the temps drop radically and it rains constantly. He said they are all sick with colds. And he's smoking again so that doesn't help. He says they all smoke. There is nothing else to do but smoke and wait ...

He said they are getting pretty complacent when the bombs go off. His sargeant will ask, "Was that one of ours or one of theirs?" As we were talking, there was a huge ROAR and I could hear his belly laugh through the phone. He said a Tornado had just flown by, about 500 metres over his head and dropped some flares about a kilometre away. It was "just f***ing beautiful Jewels!" He told me that an A10 Thunderbolt flew over so low the other day, they could see the pilot giving them the peace sign and the Taliban "The Finger". LOL All in all, he sounds good - healthy and happy but anxious to get home. He says they all feel that this "war" cannot be won. But, for the most part, morale is good and the conditions are better in some respects (fresh food and showers) and bad in others (rain and cold). Although he assures me that the colder temps will work to our advantage because we're Canadian and we're "used" to it.

I should blog something ...

I should blog something. So many thoughts run through my mind on a daily basis. If I tried to put them all down, I would surely scare the crap out of my readers. I guess I could start with something innocuous tonight, like the weather. Normally I hate November. It's usually grey and cold and miserable. But this November was unseasonably warm in Southwestern Ontario and after two months of what seemed like no sun, November was a welcome relief! However, effective December 1, everything changed. A cold front moved in and my feet haven't been warm since. I am seriously looking for a boyfriend now. *grin*

I went to The Eaton Centre today to look around and they have this huge Xmas tree in the middle of the mall that is actually quite spectacular! It is a huge cone, stuffed with boughs of real spruce and Swarovski crystals in the form of snowflakes and other glittering decorations. I will have to go back with my camera because I can't seem to find a photo of it online. I actually had to stop and stare at it today, it was that amazing. If you get a chance, go take a look. It even managed to infuse a bit of Xmas spirit in me, for a moment, and then it was gone. Those of you who know me well, know I don't "do" Xmas. It is way too commercial for my taste.
If you want to give me anything, give me the gift of your time.

Online Dating Sucks!

This is part of a message I received from someone responding to my profile:

I am tall, well educated and, according to some, still ruggedly handsome. I live and play in downtown Toronto. I take my coffee strong. I prefer my wine red and very dry. I enjoy films 'noir', sometimes violent but that always make you think. I can spend time alone developing intellectually or socializing on a sunny café patio; preferably, accompanied by you in a sun dress. I should warn you that I am a bit wilder then you think. (So have I scared you off yet?)

I seek some one who is intelligent, imaginative, and intuitive. She loves to laugh, tease and be teased. She can be sensual, impulsive, spontaneous, and creative. She should be a lady in public but open to experience a greater range of erotic pleasures behind closed doors. She is not afraid of passion.

Here is my reply to "Mr. Wonderful":

I do not generally take well to people telling me how to dress or what to wear, ever. Why bother warning me that you are "much wilder" than I think? I could not possibly have formed any opinions in that regard within the 30 seconds it took me to read your message.

And no, I am not scared off, just highly offended. Comments of an overly suggestive and/or sexual nature are not, in my opinion, appropriate in this forum. That shared knowledge would come naturally in the process of a mutual acquaintance between two intelligent, open-minded adults.

Unfortunately, that will never happen now, given your crude approach.

Thank the Goddess for the "delete" key. LOL

Gym Etiquette

I don't know where I learned about "gym etiquette" but there are certain things you do and don't do in a gym. For starters, I don't go looking like I'm on a date. I wash off my makeup, add extra deoderant and dress appropriately. All the important bits and pieces are covered. If I want to wear a sleeveless top (important when training my arms), I place a towel over any equipment that touches my bare skin. This is for my protection as well as the longevity of the equipment. Sweat wreaks havoc on the vinyl covers of most benches and it only makes sense that there might be germs lurking around a gym, so better to try to be as sterile as possible.

I also return teh weights to the rack or stack, I try not to block anyone's access to another piece of equipment, I don't tie up more than one piece of equipment at a time, unless I am supersetting, and I don't socialize, much. I'm there to work. I'm not there to get picked up. I'm friendly, polite, ask if I can work in when necessary and generally just do my thing and leave. Tonight, I ran into a real jackass at the gym.

You know the type -- a young, brash, slightly overweight male with something to prove (although benching 105 pounds didn't impress me much!). In order to lift this miniscule amount (I can bench 65 pounds without training for a couple of weeks), he occupied a flat bench and had covered it with a towel. Fine. Then he wandered over to the receptionist desk to chat with her for five minutes. When I asked if he was done with the bench, the answer was a resounding "no". Next I saw him using the lat pulldown machine. Another five minute chat with the receptionist had me wondering what kind of program he was using. Then he proceeded to do arm curls with a lot of loud grunting and groaning, slamming the bar down when he was done.

I'm not exactly quiet when I train. I can grunt and groan with the best of them but mostly, I just exhale slightly louder than I normally would. But this guy was making his presence known in the gym. As in: "I'm here and I'm making a lot of noise so you'll notice I'm here." *sigh* Anyway, after waiting through a set of bench presses (loud huffing and puffing) and a set of lat pulldowns (loud moaning and groaning), intermixed with long, intense conversation jags with the front desk, I removed the weights from the curl bar and started working my biceps.

By the time he even noticed, I was finished my first set and was loading on small plates for my second set.

"Why did you remove my weights?" he asked, belligerently.

I replied, "I saw you on the pulldown machine so I figured you were finished."

"Well, I wasn't. Sorry if that inconveniences you." he intoned sarcastically.

I sweetly rejoindered, "I didn't realize you were using three pieces of equipment at one time."

Anyway, I finished my set and he spent another five minutes bemoaning his plight to the receptionist. In fact, as I write this, one hour later, he's probably still at the gym. I bet he brags to everyone how much time he spends there "training". LMAO

Do you believe in KARMA?

I've had some interesting discussions lately with people about superstition, the Evil Eye and other such "beliefs". My former boss is Iranian and one of her clients (also Iranian) brought in an Evil Eye tree. It is an ornamental metallic tree, about 8" high, "growing" Evil Eyes like so much freaky fruit all over it. We are using it to help us win his case. These types of superstitions are not reserved solely for Iran. They occur throughout the world, in many different cultures.

You often hear people say things like "what goes around, comes around" and "he will get HIS some day ...". I'm not sure I believe in KARMA but I do think one good deed begets another. It's an age old doctrine that was revived in modern terms in the movie "Pay It Forward". But in the movie, I think you had to do two good deeds for every one that was bestowed upon you. I was reminded of this as I walked to work this morning and saw how drivers treat one another in rush hour traffic.

A girlfriend sent me an email yesterday. Apparently she asked a mutual friend about her old boyfriend (the one who treated her very badly). The rest of her email says it all: "It seems he's depressed, has an injured back, doesn't have the vacation time he used to, etc. etc. Poor thing. Can you spell....k..a..r..m..a?" She obviously feels that this man is getting repaid by the goddesses for all the hurt he caused her.

Who knows? A strong belief in anything can cause "shit" to happen. (Isn't that how religions work?) I haven't really had any bad luck lately so I must still be on the positive side of the Karma Department. So what's happening in your life lately? Do you ever feel like the world is against you for no particular reason? Time to start doing some good deeds for someone else. Maybe your luck will change ... *smile*

I Hate Mondays!

I still hate Mondays. I thought I would get over it but I haven't. It is a truly miserable way to spend 1/7 of your life. I made a point of sleeping in every Monday while not working in Mexico. It was divine! But I'm having a difficult time remembering that feeling. This morning I had to get up extra early to take my friend Winne to the train station. We hailed a taxi which was a bit of a treat for me on the way to work. I usually walk or take the bus.

So Remembrance Day was a big success, nation-wide. Did anyone watch the CBC's coverage on Saturday morning? They started their broadcast with excerpts from the eulogies of the soldiers recently lost in Afghanistan. Now that was gut wrenching to watch ... fathers, wives, sisters, brothers, friends ... all talking about these extraordinary people who had given their lives in the line of duty. I had to turn it off because I was getting too emotional.

My weekend was JAMpacked with fun. I saw family and friends. I shopped at Canadian Tire and finally got my beautiful, red tantric dishes. That's what they're called! I'm not lying -- Red Tantric Dinnerware. I am expecting big things from these dishes. LOL BTW, I did have a lunch date last week courtesy of Lavalife. He was very nice and we had a pleasant hour together over a lovely meal. Not sure if we're "made" for each other but it was a good experience none-the-less. *grin*

My grammar class is drawing to a close. I think only have four weeks left before my final exam. So far, I'm averaging over 80% on my two other tests and I expect to receive 10/10 for participation. Those who know me well know that I would never be able to sit anywhere and keep my mouth shut for very long. Ha! I got my eyes tested last week as well. Unfortunately, they did not score very high so I need to get glasses. The good news is: NO bifocals (yet).

That's all that's happening with me. What's new with you?

A Pittance Of Time

The Globe and Mail (November 2, 2006)
"A mere two minutes for our war veterans. It's so little for so much" - by ROY MacGREGOR

He just got out of bed on the wrong side of the world. He is jetlagged and tired, but still he wants to talk about his great dream.

Terry Kelly sees the entire country - all of Canada - coming to a complete stop. Cars pulling over on the highways, elevators coming to a halt, coffee shops going quiet, classes shutting down, even passenger jets falling silent as they float through Canadian airspace.

For two minutes, that's all.

As Terry Kelly says and sings, A Pittance of Time.

The Canadian entertainer is in Wellington, New Zealand, invited there by that country's equivalent of the Canadian Legion, and this week he will sing his song in a 34,000-seat rugby stadium before what is certain to be the largest audience of his career.

It is a song that was intended as a rant, a little "venting" by the blind singer-songwriter concerning an incident he overheard seven years ago this coming week in a Shoppers Drug Mart in Dartmouth, just across the harbour from his home in Halifax.

He was in the store the morning of Nov. 11, 1999, when an announcement came over the public address system that the store would be following the legion's "two minutes of silence" initiative and fall quiet at 11 a.m. to honour those who had fought, and often died, for their country.

At the 11th hour, the store went quiet. Clerks stopped stocking shelves. Cashiers stepped back from their registers. Shoppers paused and lowered their heads.

Except for one man.

He was there with his young daughter, and he was in a hurry.

He demanded a clerk's attention. He insisted on going through the cash. He was loud and obnoxious and destroyed all hope of reflection for everyone within his sound range.

When the man completed his purchase, he hustled his little girl out the doors, but not before Terry Kelly - whose superb hearing compensates for his lack of sight - picked up her plaintive "Daddy - that was embarrassing!" as the doors swung back closed and, finally, allowed the store to fall quiet.

Outraged, Kelly went home, sat down with his guitar, and slowly worked out a tune and words:

"They fought and some died for their homeland
They fought and some died now it's our land
Look at his little child, there's no fear in her eyes
Could he not show respect for other dads who have died?
"Take two minutes, would you mind?
It's a pittance of time
For the boys and the girls who went over
In peace may they rest, may we never forget why they died.
It's a pittance of time . . ."

In the song, Kelly unleashed his anger ("God forgive me for wanting to strike him") and celebrated the Canadian soldier, from those who sent letters back from the Great War to those who today send e-mails home from Afghanistan. He sang about the swift passage of time ("May we never forget our young become vets") and about the significance of that small moment we mark at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

A Pittance of Time.

Warren Sonoda, a Toronto filmmaker, took the song and produced a remarkable video of Kelly performing in a Shoppers Drug Mart while the ignorant young man interrupts the silence. As the man rails at a bewildered clerk, others in the store stare in shock, including his upset daughter. And then - in a scene reminiscent of the parting of the cornstalks in Field of Dreams - a parade of veterans slowly emerges into sharp focus. Backs stiff, heads held high, shoulders squared, steps sometimes hobbled - the veterans, accompanied by soldiers from various eras, keep moving through the store until, finally, the obnoxious young man realizes what he has been disrupting.

It is a most powerful video ( WATCH THE VIDEO HERE ) and has moved everyone from elementary-school children to hardened Canadian senior officers to tears. It will play on the scoreboard of the Wellington rugby arena as Terry Kelly sings this week.

"It's all about respect," he says.

If his dream were to come true, he would have this entire country come to a stop on Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. Two minutes where every Canadian pauses - even those anxious to get through the checkout counter - and thinks about those who have worn the country's uniform.

Kelly himself once dreamed of this life - he wanted to be in the air force and fly - but he and three siblings had an inherited condition that left him totally blind and his siblings with partial vision. He was sent from St. John's to Nova Scotia to attend a special school for the blind. There he lived with "house parents" who came from the military, and they taught him to be respectful, to be disciplined, and to believe in yourself.

"For me," he says, "it was a blessing."

He never did get to fly in the air force, of course. But he has served his country, all the same.

Wear a poppy on November 11th. Don't ever forget ...

Sunday Night

It's been a rough couple of weeks for me. There have been some changes at work and I am now working with TWO litigation partners so I feel like my workload has doubled. Good thing they are both really nice guys. I enjoy being busy but some days, it feels like there should be more than 24 hours in my day in order to enable me to do everything I want/need to do.

My friend Mike Lee finally succumbed to his cancer, after living with the knowledge of the disease for many years. Mike loved Puerto Vallarta and that's how we met. First online and then in person. We spent many evenings talking on the phone or MSN about PV, his illness and life in general. We enjoyed many laughs over drinks and dinner in PV. He had a joyful spirit. I knew he was dying but the news was still a shock when it came. Mike was six months older than me.

Vaya con dios, mi querido amigo.

The weather is changing. It's getting colder every day. I am noticing changes in my body as a result. I have dry skin and dry hair. Every time I touch a light switch in my condo, I get a static shock. I can't say that I am entirely happy about these changes but the weather in Canada is certainly consistent in its changeability. There is no doubt in my mind that this is where I want to be so I will have to find a way to cope. Any suggestions?

My circle of friends seems to have shrunk remarkably since I've been gone. Some have moved, some now have boyfriends and some have carried on without me. Oh well, that is the way life is -- nothing stays the same. I'm looking for ways to meet new people. Some of my fellow grammar students are pretty cool and I hope a few of us will be continuing on to the next course together.

I placed an ad on Kijiji (www.kijiji.ca) looking for some Spanish speakers and one of them directed me to this website: www.meetup.com. I think it is a pretty cool way to meet local people with the same interests. There's even a group of X-expats! So I'll be checking into a few of these things and letting you know what happens.

That's it for now. Sorry I haven't blogged much lately. I'm feeling a little gloomy and didn't want to burden you with my mood. But the writing helps so maybe I'll try it more often, for therapeutic purposes. Good night!

Why Wear A Poppy?

"Please buy a poppy" the lady said
And smiled at me, but I shook my head
Then I stopped and watched as she offered them there
Her face was old and lined with care.

But underneath those wrinkles the years had made
There remained a smile that refused to fade.
A lad came whistling down the street
Bouncing along on carefree feet.

His smile was full of joy and fun
"Hello Missis" he said "Can I have one?"
She pinned it on and he turned to say
"Why do we wear a poppy today?"

The lady smiled in her wistful way
And answered "This is Remembrance Day
And the poppy here is a symbol for
Those gallant young men who went to war.

And because they did, you and I are free
That is why we all wear a poppy you see.
I once had a boy about your size
With golden hair and big blue eyes

He loved to play and jump and shout
Free as a bird he would race about
As the years went by he learned and grew
And became a man - as you will too

He was fine and strong with a boyish smile
But he only stayed for a little while
When war broke out he went away
I still remember his face that day

He smiled at me and said "Goodbye,
I'll be back soon Mum so please don't cry"
But the war went on and he had to stay
And all we could do was wait and pray

His letters told of the awful fight
I read them still in my dreams at night
With the tanks and trenches and cruel barbed wire
And the mines and the bullets, the bombs and the fire

Until at last the war was won
And that's why we wear a poppy son"
The young lad turned as if to go
And said "Thanks Missis, I'm glad to know"

I shrank away in a sort of shame
And if you were me you'd have done the same
For our thanks in giving is often delayed
Though our freedom was bought - and thousands paid

And so when we see a poppy worn
Let us reflect on the burden borne
By those who gave their very all
When asked to answer their country's call
When we at home in peace might live
Then wear that poppy - remember and give

This Is Cool

This Birthday Calculator tells you how many hours and how many seconds you have been alive on this earth and when you were probably conceived. Scroll down to see what the moon looked like the night you were born.

Birthday Calculator