Category Archives: Vancouver
Apparently One Monday This Week Wasn’t Enough
This morning started off with cat yak. Specifically, cat yak on the bed. Have you ever woken up that way? I don’t recommend it.
Only partly awake, I struggled to pull the duvet off the bed so I could throw the cover in to wash. I hung the soggy duvet off the back of my favourite Yowler’s sleeping chair so that I could survey the damage, then realized my eyes were refusing to focus and it would have to wait until I was actually functional. I found a couple of blankets, threw one over Lunchtruck (who hadn’t yet progressed past the …snore…Wha?… part of consciousness) checked on Her Highness (who was looking very ashamed because of course, she’d done the yakking, poor thing), and went back to bed with only one coherent thought:
Oh, it’s gonna be a doozy of a day.
After walking to work in the slush I was pretty sure of it. I love the city I live in, but I have a poor opinion of the state of some of it’s streets, especially in the Yaletown/Downtown area. Perhaps it’s because of all the construction, but there are some areas that are difficult to negotiate dry or wet, and when it’s slushing they are downright treacherous. I’m talking potholes with potholes, crevices big enough to catch a size 5 foot in, pavement so uneven that vehicles bounce when they go over it, thus requiring any female drivers to invest in steel-girdered bras… Basically it was slippy and slidey with a side of scary.
Eventually I got to work (late) and had to start my work day sans tea – not great, but I could manage that for one day. Midmorning I decided to prep the oatmeal I’d brought with me; I managed to get the water and oatmeal into the container without mishap, got it into the microwave without spilling, putting in only HALF the amount of time suggested and…
You know what’s coming, right?
The damn container exploded.
The microwaveable one I’ve been using on and off for the past 6 months. The one I’ve NEVER had a problem with before. That one.
I opened the door, looked in and started giggling. I couldn’t help it.
Still giggling I asked the lady who runs the cafeteria for a cloth so I could clean up the mess. She took one look at the the tray I was holding, and she started giggling.
Apparently she thought it looked like yak.
I lost it. I was laughing so hard I could barely breath, and she was right there with me. My morning had been a fiasco, and there was nothing I could do about it.
The good news? The Monday Godz took pity on me, because the rest of the day went smoothly. Well, except for the fact that I got mistaken for someone’s ex-girlfriend during my lunch break, but that’s another story…
The Cocooning Continues
I spent most of the freezing cold Vancouver weekend in my jammies. My mauve fleece jammies with skiing penguins on them, to be exact.
You’d think a grown woman wouldn’t do that sort of thing anymore, but in my world this is a much-needed regular occurrence. In fact, it’s safe to say that I’ve become quite fierce about my jammy days, and once decided on I rarely give them up.
The reason is simple – a day in jammies comes accompanied with endless pots of tea, hours under the duvet with a book or an old movie, and feline accompaniment of the most approving sort (because really, the only time they don’t approve of lazing about is when tummy alarms are ringing). In short, it’s a day when I don’t have to answer to anyone (literally) and a chance to get my equilibrium back after a week or three of dealing with silly twits misguided individuals.
I think that’s worth defending.
This time round was particularly satisfying – I had some paperback mysteries, a movie, and, a pot of Jasmine tea. I rarely drink Jasmine, but since National Hot Tea month has been declared by my neighbours to the South, I figured why not show a little solidarity? So I tried something new, and plan to try a few other new teas this month, although another jammy day isn’t on the horizon any time soon.
Oh, and if you want to learn more about NHTM, why not visit Christine, the lovely proprietress of Morning Coffee and Afternoon Tea?
Ruminating
I’m making changes on this site again, trying to find a more comfortable fit. I’ve toyed with the idea of turning this into a photoblog since photography is my first love, but won’t make a decision on that until I sort out some photo-hosting issue. I’ve been using flickr, but am at a crossroads – do I pay for a pro account or do I search for something different? Input is appreciated.
I know all bloggers come to this point eventually – they need a change of scenery, a change in direction, a change in topic. Eventually I’ll come to some sort of decision, so for those who do visit, thanks for stopping in, and bear with me will ya?
So Long 2006
.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; }
I’ve closed the books, filed (most) of the papers, considered a wrap party, but in the end, I think we did well to part so quietly.
Here’s looking at you kid.
Thursday Thirteen #24, Phrasing
* Header Graphic by Mandy- Yes.
- Thank you.
- Please.
- That was kind/thoughtful/sweet.
- I missed you.
- I like you.
- I respect you.
- I love you.
- No.
- No, that doesn’t fit into my plans right now.
- No, I don’t see me changing my mind about that.
- I need to consider that for a while before giving you an answer.
- That’s not something I discuss with strangers.
Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)
Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
The Birthday
Today was my grandmother’s 85th birthday. For those of you who were in town, you know it was surprisingly pleasant, weather-wise; the sun shone, the air was mild, there was even a hint of warmth.
I always have a tough time coming up with a gift for my gran. Over the past few years she’s got rid of many things as a way of decluttering her home, and I don’t like to add to that, so ‘stuff’ isn’t something I consider seriously.
This year I opted for the gift of time together – we (my mom, gran and I) met at the Vancouver Art Gallery and checked out the Emily Carr exhibit, then had lunch at the Gallery Cafe. I had already been quite a few times, and though that as neither my mom or gran had been yet, I might be able to give them something special.
For my grandmother it was like visiting old friends – some of the paintings were part of the gallery’s permanent collection, and she commented on them as we stopped to enjoy them. Others were generously on loan from other galleries across Canada and the world, and became new acquaintances. Those that she liked she spent a little longer with, and those that didn’t please her she gave a respectful bit of time, but didn’t stop to visit long.
I can remember being a young child when my grandmother first talked to me of Emily’s writings and of the subtleties of the native art we were privileged enough to see up close. I think time and experience has deepened her understanding of what she read, for she talked to me not only of the way in which Emily’s brush strokes changed, but also how her attitude towards her subjects changed. Listening to my grandmother, I was reminded that Emily was many things to many people, but that in the end the only person she really ever wanted to answer to was herself.
I’m glad I stepped out of the usual and opted to spend the time together. It may have been meant as a gift for my grandmother, but I think I got one just as big back…
Knitting & Jazz
My knitting group had a different kind of night on Wednesday – we all met at Cito Espresso for an evening of knitting and jazz. It was the first time I’d been there, and I was pleasantly surprised – the design is fabulous (it feels like a loft set up by a serenely gifted minimalist), the coffee and desserts wonderful, and the music was inspired. If you haven’t been to Cito Espresso, I say don’t wait, pop in and check them out for yourself.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Sock ‘n’ Sole
I was reminded of all this earlier today as I valiantly dug around in my dresser drawer, searching for one of the 3 pairs of black socks I own. There was cursing, and questioning: Why don’t I own enough dark socks to get me through the week? Who hated women enough to invent the ultra-binding phenomena that is the knee-high? Why do my favourites always lose their mates?
I did eventually locate my favourite pair of socks (old-school, below the knee, bought at a kids department so they fit perfectly and are oh-so-comfy), but it got me thinking. I’ve been needing socks for ages. Ages! So why hadn’t they made it to the Need to Buy list? Why hadn’t I made the effort to procur a nice collection of socks, preferably the ones with the particularly cushiony soles?
I thought and I thunk, I thunk and I thought.
I was side-tracked by the possibility that I had too much time on my hands if I was thinking this much about socks.
Then I carried on with the thinking, and in the end, I decided that the noble sock should be stigmatized no more, that not only would I add socks to my “Need to Buy” list, not only would I buy at least one pair of socks today, not only would I make a point of telling my family of my sock quest, but that I, I would learn to knit socks in 2007.
I can’t believe it’s taken this long. Especially when you consider the stats. According to Monthly Socks the average person in North America buys 2000 pairs of socks by the time they reach 65. They’ve also got a neat little sock calculator, so if you’ve ever wondered how many pairs of socks you’ve probably worn in your lifetime, you can now figure it out and sleep better at night.
Dear December Cold…
I wrote this on monday night, but was feeling so icky that I didn’t even have the energy to edit it. It’s a day late but bear with me, I’m posting it anyways…
… Go away. I’ve not time for you.
This would be the cup of tea that’s helping me stave off a cold. And I literally do mean cold – I’m freezing, so I’m wearing a sweater and a fleece jacket, and I’ve stolen the cats favourite blankie, all so I can huddle in our wee computer closet, and work on my project and get back on track.
Monday Morning Love List, #46
Love – That I found the perfect ginger snap cookie recipe.
Not So Much – That I won’t be able to enjoy making the ginger snaps until this weekend, after I’ve sent my latest project to the printers. I know it’s not even a blip in the grand scheme of things, but I really was hoping to do some baking early on in the week.
Love – That Her Highness (aka Cleo) has a new ‘toy’ which directly translates into some much needed exercise for her tubby butt play time.The toy? A vanilla-coloured ribbon stolen from one of my padded hangers. When she’s not actively playing with it she likes stroking it with her paws – what a princess!
Love – That Lunchtruck’s parents are back from England. I missed them. Have I mentioned I’m one of the lucky few who absolutely adores her in-laws? Yeah. Be jealous 🙂
Not So Much – The brioche stitch sweater saga continues. I added on a good 4 – 5 inches to it this weekend, but I still feel like I’m not getting anywhere. I may need to set it aside for a while and work on something else just to get my knitting confidence back.
Love – The possibilities a fresh week provides.
So… what’s on your list today?
Nota Bene 
