I just had my first trick-or-treaters: two little girls in princess costumes!
I still get excited about giving out candy -- it is, afterall, only my second year at it. This year, since I'm in the middle of renovations, I don't have a porch light. So I just hope that people see the light on in the front room and me at my computer and realize there is way too much candy in here.
To be honest, since I was a little late buying candy, I had to buy the good stuff -- the stuff I don't like was no longer on the shelves. That was my trick last year: buy stuff that kids like, but that I don't. Worked like a charm!
And this year? I've already eaten all of the Reece peanut butter cups. Boo Cathy!
On the other hand, I did manage to help carve a really cool pumpkin at work today. Ours was a pumpkin hamburger, similar to the one in this picture, although our "patty" was made up of pumpkin innards.
We reduced, reused, recycled: took inedible cheese, lettuce and tomatoes from our fridges. And ours of course had the company branding on it. Genius!
Um, except for the fact that someone else had the same sort of idea. Oops.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
The World's Shortest Fairytale
Maybe you've read this before, but a friend just sent it to me:
"Once upon a time, a guy asked a girl "Will you marry me?" The girl said:"NO!" And the girl lived happily ever-after and went shopping, dancing, camping, drank martinis, always had a clean house, never had to cook, did whatever the hell she wanted, never argued, didn't get fat, traveled more, had many lovers, didn't save money, and had all the hot water to herself. She went to the theater, never watched sports, never wore friggin' lacy lingerie that went up her ass, had high self esteem, never cried or yelled, felt and looked fabulous in sweat pants and was pleasant all the time. The End"
I do love men. I do. But it was still funny.
(Except for the part about NOT saving money. In my fairytale, she DID save money all the time. And drank London Fogs at Starbucks while reading the paper every day. The End.)
"Once upon a time, a guy asked a girl "Will you marry me?" The girl said:"NO!" And the girl lived happily ever-after and went shopping, dancing, camping, drank martinis, always had a clean house, never had to cook, did whatever the hell she wanted, never argued, didn't get fat, traveled more, had many lovers, didn't save money, and had all the hot water to herself. She went to the theater, never watched sports, never wore friggin' lacy lingerie that went up her ass, had high self esteem, never cried or yelled, felt and looked fabulous in sweat pants and was pleasant all the time. The End"
I do love men. I do. But it was still funny.
(Except for the part about NOT saving money. In my fairytale, she DID save money all the time. And drank London Fogs at Starbucks while reading the paper every day. The End.)
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
wouldn't you know
As soon as I want something to take my mind off of life, work becomes a little less difficult, all-encompassing and stressful.
Luckily, there are plenty of house-related messes to clean up.
And a nice weekend trip to look forward to.
Have I mentioned how much I'm yearning for some get-away time? Seriously. Today during my walking club, we went to BCE Place (now called Brookfield Place, but who really calls it that?!) to see the World Press Photo exhibit. It was amazing. And that's not to say that they were uplifting. Apparently we love sad photos -- I saw many of horrific ones today to be sure.
But it did remind me how fascinated I am with other cultures, other places, exploring, seeing for myself.
I need to start doing that again in my own city, even. I need to start stepping outside of my known universe more often. Doing more scary things. It's the way you find the things that are worthwhile. The things that will get me excited about the future.
Luckily, there are plenty of house-related messes to clean up.
And a nice weekend trip to look forward to.
Have I mentioned how much I'm yearning for some get-away time? Seriously. Today during my walking club, we went to BCE Place (now called Brookfield Place, but who really calls it that?!) to see the World Press Photo exhibit. It was amazing. And that's not to say that they were uplifting. Apparently we love sad photos -- I saw many of horrific ones today to be sure.
But it did remind me how fascinated I am with other cultures, other places, exploring, seeing for myself.
I need to start doing that again in my own city, even. I need to start stepping outside of my known universe more often. Doing more scary things. It's the way you find the things that are worthwhile. The things that will get me excited about the future.
Monday, October 22, 2007
impatient
I'm impatient.
I always want something to happen NOW. I want to do that thing NOW. I want to go there NOW.
I hate waiting.
Time means that I get to thinking... and then it's all over. What happens then? Girly Over-Thinking, that's what happens.
Brains won't stop going over the situations and stomachs won't stop churning.
How does one conquer the Girly Over-Thinking when one is in fact a female?
Perhaps keep oneself Over-Busy so that brain power must be shared with the task at hand.
House cleaning. Website updating. Email writing. Cooking apple crisps? Yes, it sounds like an excellent way to use up the time.
So what have we learned here?
Eating homemade desserts makes one less impatient.
Sounds right.
I always want something to happen NOW. I want to do that thing NOW. I want to go there NOW.
I hate waiting.
Time means that I get to thinking... and then it's all over. What happens then? Girly Over-Thinking, that's what happens.
Brains won't stop going over the situations and stomachs won't stop churning.
How does one conquer the Girly Over-Thinking when one is in fact a female?
Perhaps keep oneself Over-Busy so that brain power must be shared with the task at hand.
House cleaning. Website updating. Email writing. Cooking apple crisps? Yes, it sounds like an excellent way to use up the time.
So what have we learned here?
Eating homemade desserts makes one less impatient.
Sounds right.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Jane's wedding
Well, the big day has come and gone for Jane.This weekend, I was in Mississauga, playing third fiddle in Jane's wedding party. It was weird, not really knowing anyone there except Jane and of course I've met the groom, Chris, before as well. I'd met a couple of people once before, but mostly it was all new faces.
There were lots of really cute Korean kids there. I got to play blocks for a little while with one of them. And of course, the attractive Korean adults too...
I got to have a manicure and pedicure and my hair and makeup done -- I felt like a total princess. Like it was my wedding!
It was funny, I wasn't at all emotional during the wedding or speeches, even though most people got at least misty. Not me. In typical fashion, I waited until this morning when I saw Jane to get all teary. It just hit me. Possibly I'm an emotional freak, i don't know. Anyway, I would like to note that I did call it.
I'm really happy that she's happy. And that they're on the their way to Jamaica tomorrow. Yay. The girl never relaxes otherwise. She was planning and directing the entire wedding. She was great. I didn't have to know a thing... just followed the leader and wore pretty things.
And now I'm off to the New Pornographers concert with about two hours of sleep.
Not that I'm complaining. If there's a good reason for not getting sleep, then it's all good. And for the first time in a while, I have a happy smile on my face.
I have two regrets: not being MORE friendly sooner and not dancing more.
But that could be said about most days.
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Today
What a fantastic day!
Biking to Distillery District, stop for coffee, mmm.
Biked to Toronto Island just as the rain poured down. Then, gorgeous sun. I've never really explored the Island before, and it was fantastic.
Then back on the ferry and bike to Ontario Place for the Chinese Lantern Festival. Which was so amazing -- I had no idea it was going to be so cool.
Then bike home with a stop for Dairy Queen.
Perfect day.
And tomorrow, turkey at my brother's house in Guelph. YAY!
Thursday, October 04, 2007
More Web of Change photos
More and more people have been putting up their Web of Change photos. Thank god, because I think I took almost zero photos -- clearly I was too busy working and networking. (The ones I did take, you can see in my Facebook account.)
There are over a thousand Web of Change photos on Flickr, so I shan't send you to look at all of them. On the other hand, I did look at all of them and weeded out the ones that have me in them because I figured that if read my blog, you might want to see me instead of other random people that you don't know.
So here are a few Me@WOC:
There are over a thousand Web of Change photos on Flickr, so I shan't send you to look at all of them. On the other hand, I did look at all of them and weeded out the ones that have me in them because I figured that if read my blog, you might want to see me instead of other random people that you don't know.
So here are a few Me@WOC:
- Listening intently at one of the sessions
- Working away on our day off, sitting with the Zanby/The Uptake guys
- In the kitchen during a party
- "Bed-ins for Darfur" - Speedgeek @ Web of Change
- Lunch with Chris from BusinessObjects, deep in conversation
- Out on the deck with Michael Nolan
- The Last Supper, sitting beside my roommate, Juanita, having finished by second coconut cream puff
- Last day, after pretty much zero sleep, they were taking photos of all participants in the dining room.
- Last day, outside in teh sunshine for our wrap-up
Lettieri = garbage
I've actually had a soft spot in my heart for Lettieri in the past.
And then, today, in a rare non-Starbucks moment, I bowed to peer pressure and ventured in for a decaf Americano. I took my reusable travel mug.
And what happened?
They made my coffee in a paper cup.
Ya. They were about to transfer it to my mug when I told them not to bother if they were just going to throw the cup away anyway.
Dorks.
Plus, it wasn't good.
Sad story.
And then, today, in a rare non-Starbucks moment, I bowed to peer pressure and ventured in for a decaf Americano. I took my reusable travel mug.
And what happened?
They made my coffee in a paper cup.
Ya. They were about to transfer it to my mug when I told them not to bother if they were just going to throw the cup away anyway.
Dorks.
Plus, it wasn't good.
Sad story.
Monday, October 01, 2007
cake
So how many of you out there at cake for breakfast, lunch AND dinner?
Hmm? Anyone?
No?
Apparently, I'm the winner of the cake eating contest. Chumps. I'm the champion of cake!
It's been a long day and was a long long night of working working working and should have been a longer day yesterday of still more work. Because I'm still working. And will be working long into the night, I suspect. (Yes, this is an English exercise in verb tenses.)
Does cake and tea make you feel creative or just jittery/giddy? I'm hoping energized and inspired. I have much to write and much technology to work my brain through.
Thankfully, I had SOME time this weekend to enjoy the better things in life. I won tickets to the Ferocious Beauty: Genome multimedia dance show on Thursday. It was interesting, although I feel there was some unifying narrative missing there. And on Saturday night, I went to Sharon's birthday get-together where we played the Wii (Sarah kicked my ass in bowling but I shone in tennis), ate yummy gorgonzola-pear tarts and chicken satay, and then went out for Nuit Blanche.
Sunday, I rode my bike downtown to grab up the last of the New Pornographers concert tickets
and then hung out on the Little Italy Starbucks patio, having discovered an old friend sitting there, soaking up the Indian Summer sun. I got back on my bike and got as far as Church and Wellesley before I stopped at another Starbucks that still had some sun on its tables. I had my writing out (work writing not the super-fun stuff). But everyone there is so friendly and wants to talk to you. So I met a bunch of people, including Daisy the lazy cute dog and a street kid who grabbed my neighbour's drink right off the table. YOINK! Crazy.
Then I headed home with my book open, my pen poised, I fell asleep on my front porch. And woke up just in time to head to Allen's on the Danforth for Sarah's birthday dinner. Mm! And good company, fine conversation. And Guiness cake?!
Certainly that started my cake trend: it was the last thing I ate last night, first thing this morning, and possibly the last thing I eat tonight again. And maybe I will save some for breakfast for tomorrow.
I am such a model of healthy eating.
All hail cake!
Hmm? Anyone?
No?
Apparently, I'm the winner of the cake eating contest. Chumps. I'm the champion of cake!
It's been a long day and was a long long night of working working working and should have been a longer day yesterday of still more work. Because I'm still working. And will be working long into the night, I suspect. (Yes, this is an English exercise in verb tenses.)
Does cake and tea make you feel creative or just jittery/giddy? I'm hoping energized and inspired. I have much to write and much technology to work my brain through.
Thankfully, I had SOME time this weekend to enjoy the better things in life. I won tickets to the Ferocious Beauty: Genome multimedia dance show on Thursday. It was interesting, although I feel there was some unifying narrative missing there. And on Saturday night, I went to Sharon's birthday get-together where we played the Wii (Sarah kicked my ass in bowling but I shone in tennis), ate yummy gorgonzola-pear tarts and chicken satay, and then went out for Nuit Blanche.
Sunday, I rode my bike downtown to grab up the last of the New Pornographers concert tickets
and then hung out on the Little Italy Starbucks patio, having discovered an old friend sitting there, soaking up the Indian Summer sun. I got back on my bike and got as far as Church and Wellesley before I stopped at another Starbucks that still had some sun on its tables. I had my writing out (work writing not the super-fun stuff). But everyone there is so friendly and wants to talk to you. So I met a bunch of people, including Daisy the lazy cute dog and a street kid who grabbed my neighbour's drink right off the table. YOINK! Crazy.
Then I headed home with my book open, my pen poised, I fell asleep on my front porch. And woke up just in time to head to Allen's on the Danforth for Sarah's birthday dinner. Mm! And good company, fine conversation. And Guiness cake?!
Certainly that started my cake trend: it was the last thing I ate last night, first thing this morning, and possibly the last thing I eat tonight again. And maybe I will save some for breakfast for tomorrow.
I am such a model of healthy eating.
All hail cake!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)