Saturday, December 31, 2005


We're getting ready to go out, Raye, her friend Tanya, and I.

It's New Year's Eve. We're having drinks, talking about girly things, putting on makeup, doing our hair.

And of course, we needed to take a picture to just say hi to everyone, and Happy New Year's!

They're off to the Docks and I'm off to a Carribbean Christmas NYE house party with Alex. Although I am feeling the pull of the dance floor as we listen to Lust for Life here in my apartment.

That's what the chocolate martinis do to you.

May the dawn of 2006 put joy in your shoes.

Friday, December 30, 2005

I'm always decidedly UNeager for the holidays to end.

Tomorrow I'll return to the city to prepare for the NYE festivities. It makes me a little sad, even though I'm feeling extremely unhealthy about laying around the woodstove, reading my book and my magazine, eating far too much chocolate, breathing in too much cigarette smoke, watching a movie or two and really just not moving around very much.

This morning I ate a grapefruit just to feel better about myself. I will endeavour to get back on the treadmill when I return to the city to work off the holiday extravegances.

Christmas highlights:

1 Thai cooking class
2 pairs of mitts
3 gift cards
4 pairs of socks

...and a day at the spa.

Actually, the highlights were giving out my presents to others. They all worked out pretty well. Especially the chicken slippers I gave to my dad. My mom, however, seems to have adopted them while my dad favours the second, more boring pair I gave him.

There's no accounting for taste.

And there's no accounting for one's lack of motivation to return to the real world. You'd think I'd be tired of family and too much chocolate and too little movement. But I'm strangely dreading the trip back to the intricate balance of relationships, careers and financial decisions.

However, I am somewhat heartened by the strong belief that there are many changes in store for me in 2006.

Saturday, December 24, 2005

Christmas has begun!

Last night I had Christmas with Alex. He was so thoughtful with his gifts - they all had a theme of "keeping Cathy warm."

Fuzzy pyjamas, warm softest socks, gorgeous leather gloves. And Lindors - they might not keep me warm, but I love them more than anything.

I was so excited for him to open my presents: jeans, a shirt, a year's subscription to Canadian Musician, 2 Pilates DVDs, and Glenfiddich Solera Reserve 15-year old scotch (from St. Maarten, naturally).

And now I'm just waiting for Matt to come pick me up and take me home to the farm.

YAY Christmas!

Thursday, December 22, 2005

Well, the holidays are here and it's just another excuse for me to procrastinate.

Apparently, I need an entire night to wrap a couple of presents and get my baking organized to give out.

Suddenly I realized that I had not made ANYTHING appropriate for my Logan Movers co-conspriator, CityRat as he is allergic to anything with any type of milk solid in it whatsoever. I assume that means butter as well.

I could have been more organized and thoughtful and created a masterpiece for him. On second thought, my baking isn't really all that, so he should probably be thankful he doesn't have to pretend to enjoy it.

Next year I will leave myself more time and create more variety. I will also think about presents that must be sent via Canada Post earlier and do those first. Instead of thinking about sending them the night before they're meant to be there.

Next year I will put up my garland myself instead of waiting for the braun to help me.

On the other hand, I can think about all the things I DID do:
  • baking, even though some people don't even want it, it's the thought that counts
  • christmas presents - good ones - even though some won't get there in time
  • christmas tree - pretty!
  • donated to the Salvation Army - you should too!

    Merry Christmas - be sure to enjoy it!
  • Tuesday, December 20, 2005

    Seriously, have you been to AllRecipes.com yet?

    I was looking for some non-sweet options for my Christmas "baking" and clicked on their special Christmas section and found all sorts of gifts: soup in a jar, cookie batter in a jar, mixed spiced nuts, holiday caramel corn.

    I read all the reviews on each recipe I was interested in, which saves me a lot of pre-testing work.

    I saved all the good ones to my recipe box so that, tomorrow, when I go to work, I can log in, decide which to make, create a grocery list automatically, print it and buy the ingredients. (I just happen to work across the street from the Great Canadian Superstore - my favourite store if I don't go to the Bulk Barn.) Then, I can print out the nutritional information for each item, so that everyone will know exactly what they're getting. Mom would be proud!

    And THEN, Betty Crocker has this cool christmas cookie-decorating e-card ad. So I had to play with that too.

    I mean, why use any other site?
    I don't work for these guys, I promise you. But when I like something, I really like it.

    Sunday, December 18, 2005

    Christmas tree 2005


    Christmas tree 2005
    Originally uploaded by webgoddesscathy.
    Merry Christmas!

    It was a Christmasy weekeend.

    Friday night, Alex and I decorated my tree. Click on the link to see Alex helping. We didn't manage to get my gorgeous dollar-store garland with lights up as we had to get to a little Free Press Fan Christmas party.

    Saturday, I shopped for Christmas presents until the stores had closed their doors. I got some great deals and fantastic finds!

    My feet sore, I dropped into bed.

    Sunday, I did some of my Christmas baking at Sarah's house. She is a baking goddess. I was able to give her the Christmas present that I've been excited about since the One of a Kind Show. (Check out the CD labels at Mehoi.com and jewelry at Propaganda.)

    After making myself sick, licking the chocolate out of the bowl, I got myself home to create yet another Christmas baking masterpiece.

    And all the while, listening to Christmas carols on traditional radio (97.3 Easy Rock) or Internet Radio (did you know you can choose Motown Christmas?).

    Giddyup jingle horse!

    Thursday, December 15, 2005

    Dateline: Holy crap, BIG NEWS -

    The Matt and Kendra Show is ready for their close-up! The guest columnists have their own site set up to keep you up to date as they plan their wedding. Don't miss a second of the action!

    And be sure to make smart-ass comments. They like it.
    There is a particular stillness to a snowfall.

    It's as if all the sound has been sucked out of the world, absorbed by the soft flakes falling to the ground.

    You try to listen for them, like you can hear rain. But there is no splatter or hiss. It's like trying to hear feathers as they land at your feet.

    And yet all other sound is dulled. Even in the city, everyone cocoons in their warm houses, watching everything turn white.

    It is a little bit of magic.

    Monday, December 12, 2005

    Well, there goes day one back in the grind.

    Highlights:
  • over 250 emails in the inbox
  • Of course, everyone commented on how dark I was
  • no less than 3 meetings
  • already at least two missed deadlines
  • -12 degrees Celsius
  • approx 3 new projects on my desk

    Still, it could have been worse. I was very happy at how competently everyone managed everything while I was away.
  • Sunday, December 11, 2005

    St. Maarten - Baie Rouge


    St. Maarten - Baie Rouge
    Originally uploaded by webgoddesscathy.
    Yesterday, I was here.

    Battling the waves of Baie Rouge.

    I only cared that I wore enough sunblock and that I didn't get sucked out in the undertow.

    Today I haven't left my apartment because I'm afraid of the snow.

    I've also struggled to get my St. Maarten photos up on the web and make CDs for Jen and Mom before real life begins again tomorrow and all my free time is sucked up into the vortex.

    To see the rest of my St. Maarten photos with comments and explanations, click here. To see them as a backwards slideshow, click here
    Sarah just sent me this fun Christmas site. Go if you want to get in the Christmas spirit!
    After dispersing the sand in my hair from Baie Rouge onto my comfy bed here in Toronto, I woke up still feeling the rise and fall of the waves.

    My equilibrium is still bracing itself against the next swell.

    And it will come... tomorrow is Monday afterall.

    Friday, December 09, 2005

    I love St. Maarten. I don't want to leave.

    Tomorrow is our last day and then we say goodbye to the paradise island. The beaches are beautiful, the people are so nice, the food is great, there's so much to do!

    We've been hanging out on the beach at 25-28 degrees celcius every day.

    And at home I know it is cold. And I'll be coming home Saturday night/Sunday morning.

    Sigh. Who really wants to live in Canada? Who wants to go back to work?

    Results of poll: only one day cloudy and we are all tanned.

    Saturday, December 03, 2005

    And off I go to St. Maarten!

    Quick poll:
    How dark will I be when I get back?
    a) black
    b) I'll finally realize that the sun is bad and wear sunblock
    c) it'll be cloudy the whole time, jerk

    Friday, December 02, 2005

    Ha ha. Funny thing.

    I got home tonight (home, meaning my parents' house) and my dad mentioned something about Matt and Kendra's wedding site. And Jaap emailed me about my "new site."

    And I was wondering what the hell they were talking about.

    So let's pretend for a second that my homepage was never overwritten by stupid blogger (never by genius me, of course). And that you've never seen the very first demo that was just for Kendra and Matt to look at for functionality...

    And if you never saw it - then forget I wrote this.

    Thursday, December 01, 2005

    Two more sleeps til St. Maarten.

    I just bought a book to take with me. I had Alex review my packing. And I just remembered that I need American money.

    I hope I have remembered everything else. I am a terrible packer. I was freaking out until Alex got here and now I am calm. Mostly.

    Yay for calm boys.
    Something weird is going on with Blogger and the new section that I'm trying to set up for Matt and Kendra's wedding site. Of course, this has nothing to do with my incompetence whatsoever. It is clearly Blogger's failure.

    I love being perfect.

    * * * *

    OK, I fixed it. Genius.

    But it's still a secret to everyone but the special couple - they obviously have to see it and make some decisions before anyone else will have the privilege. Stay tuned for more...