I'm Just Gonna Shake

I returned from Niagara Falls with the following:

- A bib-like sunburn
- Cramps in my leg
- A video of my rapping up on Facebook
- Great Christmas presents from 2 Wineries
- Alcohol soaked bra
- Unexplained bruises
- Taylor Swift stuck it my head
- Great pictures!

On The Hornblower - No Longer The Maid Of The Mist

Tiff, Tessa, Me, and Kristen

Where I Get It From - Niagara Edition

Sunday Mornin' Coming Down - A post about my Dad each Sunday, named after a song that he loved.

I spent the weekend at Niagara with friends and it reminded me a lot of times spent there as a kid. So, I thought I might add in a subcategory to my Sunday Mornin' Coming Down posts - Where I Get It From. I am going to try to outline which parts of my self I get from which parent. Here are the things that I was thinking about during my little weekend away:

Love of Buffets: My Dad
Not Wanting To Spend Money: My Dad
Reading Every Plaque Possible: My Mom
Dancing All Night: Both Parents
Confidence to Get Up and Sing Karaoke: Probably My Dad
Tone Deaf Singing: My Mom
Absolutely No Desire To Gamble: Both Parents
Dislike of Wine: My Dad
Eagerness to See and Try Anything/Everything: Both Parents
Love of Driving Along/Around Tourist Areas: My Dad

Side note, I have no idea where I get my love of maps, but I really am obsessed with them. I can work from a phone with GPS but I would really prefer to have a nice paper map.

Almost 4am On A Friday Night

Seriously, is Niagara Falls like a little Canadian Las Vegas? Good times and too many drinks all around. Everything here has changed SO MUCH from when I was younger and came here to bike along The Parkway with my family. Having a lot of fun and we only checked in 6 hours ago. Looking forward to continuing to have an amazing weekend with Tessa, Tiff, and Kristen!

Gullible Too

"I know I'm gullible because a lot of people tell me that and I have no reason not to believe them."

---- from "Dice." New Girl . Matt Fusfeld and Alex Cuthbertson. 2014. TV Show.

Book List Challenge

-------- from Facebook, tagged by Anna and Heather C

List 10 books that have stayed with you in some way. Don't take more than a few minutes and do not think hard. They do not have to be the 'right' books or great works of literature, just ones that have stuck with you.

- If on a Winter's Night A Traveler (Italo Calvino)
- The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (Barbara Robinson)
- The Princess Bride (William Goldman)
- Moranthology (Caitlin Moran)
- Good Omens (Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett)
- The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
- Franklin In The Dark (Paulette Bourgeois)
- The Portrait Of A Lady (Henry James)
- Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think (D. Greenberger and C. A. Padesky)
- The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (William Shakespeare) Plays: Comedy and Tragedy

Extras
- Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
- Lolita (Vladimir Nabokov)

Note: I wrote down all the titles first, and then looked them up to add links, fix spelling, and include the authors.

Trophy Sneak Peek

Sunday Mornin' Coming Down - A post about my Dad each Sunday, named after a song that he loved.

Last week I mentioned that a sailing award has been created at our local yacht club in memory of my dad - The George Sweeton Memorial Award - For Outstanding Crew Member

My mom commissioned the top of the trophy for this award to be made by a friend of my father's who does soapstone carving. He finished it last week:

Not Really Vintage Rasta

So last week I posted a photo of Two that was 2 years old, and the week before a picture of my dad and I that was almost 30 years old. This Caturday, I offer you some  photos of Rasta that are only about 9 months old - but he has grown so much! That is the sad thing about kittens, they don't stay kittens for long.

Stretched Across Granny's Knee

Photo by Mum

Curled Up On Pa's Lap

Photo by Mum

He was soooo tiny, and so cute. Though his paws are still super creepy.

Both Failing

Jason and I are opposites when it comes to the appearance of our apartment: he is tidy but dirty and I am clean but messy. This basically means that for the first year we were dating, and he was living in his old apartment, his bathroom was never cleaned and just got grosser and grosser (Shelves not dusted, floors not mopped, etc.) However, it would always look so much better than mine because everything would be neatly put away and in place. I, on the other hand, gladly leave a pile of half-dirty-will-wear-one-more-time clothes at the end of the bed. Since we eat at the dining room table or couch, the kitchen table becomes a nice collection of mail, beauty products, occasionally dry goods that I didn't bother to put in the cupboard etc. In fact, I recently emptied the contents of my purse and all the things that I wanted to keep (I threw the garbage out) is sitting in the living room on the ottoman, Two keeps lying on them.

For the most part we balance each other out - I keep everything clean and he keeps things tidy. However, with the new job I have had no time to get the house up to a standard that I feel is acceptable. This week it took me three days to clean the bathroom because I did it in little 10 minute stages in the morning (Mon: Sink, tub, toilet. Tues: Medicine cabinet, mirrors, and wash bathmat over night. Wed: Sweep and mop floors.) Jason on the other hand, is also busy with work and when he isn't has been playing a new video game with his friends for 2 - 5 hours nightly, and hasn't been as keen about hanging up towels, putting away clean dishes from the dish rack, making the bed, etc. So when both of us fail at what we are good at - basically Rrunuv Bayit is slowing starting to look like it is being lived in by squatters.

Always Writing At A Wedding

I tend to write my speeches a little last minute. This doesn't mean that I don't spend time working on them, it is quite the opposite; I spend months thinking about and practicing what I am going to say, I just do it in my head. However, I also have to write it down at some point in order to remember the order, segues, and nuances of the speech. It is at that point that things get a little rushed and stressful, since I never seem to get around to writing it down and when I do, I never seem to have left enough time. (I also don't tend to be motivated until the day-of either. This is a problem if I should be helping the bride because I am their Maid of Honour, which was the case at these weddings.)

Quietly Writing While The Bride Gets Ready

The Morning of Steph and Dave's Wedding

Photo by Fifteen:Fifty-One Photography

Copyright 2012

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Caught (By Steph) Frantically Writing At The Head Table

The Evening of Teri and Greg's Wedding

Photo by Stephanie Beach Photography

Copyright 2014

Work Week Goals

People at my office look good. (It is a design firm, filled with interior designers, graphic artists, etc. so of course they look good.) I am just not nearly as stylish or put together. I don't dress inappropriately by any means, it is just that I don't look as good. This isn't coming from a place of sadness or despair. I also don't feel defiant to stay the way I am. I just want to learn and improve and make some gradual changes. For one thing, I never wear make-up, even though doing so makes me look so much better. I also wear my hair up too much. So, I have new goals starting this week for my appearance going to work:

Everyday, I must do one of the following:
- Wear my hair down (curly or straight)
- Put in my contacts
- Wear make-up (minimum of two items)

Also, if I am wearing jeans, than I need to do something to make the outfit a bit special (so far that has meant adding a necklace.) Dress pants, skirts, or dresses are special enough as is for the moment.

Once I get used to these small upgrades than I hope to add in more until I find it easy to look amazing everyday!

George Sweeton Memorial Award

Sunday Mornin' Coming Down - A post about my Dad each Sunday, named after a song that he loved.

----- From a recent eBlast to members of the Port Dover Yacht Club - Sailboat Racing Group. My mom, along with my aunt and uncle, have decided to fund an award each year in honour of Dad.

In November of last year we lost a cherished member of our family and a dedicated member of our sailing community. In his sailing career he was both skipper and crew, and in honour of George Sweeton we have commissioned an award to dedicate to the, more than 125, people who trim the main, grind the jib, hang on the rail, ride the tiller, gybe the pole… and in the deep dark sewer…re-fold the spinn. We would like to present the first award for outstanding crew member this year at Sailor’s Night, Oct 25, 2014.

If you feel you have a crew member that you would like to nominate, please fill out a nomination form. Deadline for receipt of the nominations is September 28, 2014 (last Wed night race is on Sept 24)

 If you would like to nominate one of your crew to be recognized publicly for:
Education, Community, Civility, Corinthian Spirit 
 This season, have you noticed that a member of your crew has been:
- Contributing to the positive environment of the boat
- Mentoring new crew members
- Improving performance
- Finding innovative and effective boathandling ideas
- Taking initiative to improve safety
- Enthusiastic about recruiting

Vintage Two

Last week for Sunday Mornin' Coming Down, I posted a 'vintage' picture of my dad. I thought this week I would do one for Caturday. This is Two as a kitten (6 months old), hanging out at the LVBIA office:

Iz Answers Phones, Yes?

Two At Work - April 2012

Photo taken by ME with my phone

I Made Food

Last night, I made food. This is another example of me throwing things together in a weird way, but even though I am older and have access to more and better quality ingredients, the end result in this case is just food. I would like to clarify that making food is different than cooking, and that I have done it before:

The First Instance Of Food Making

When Noah and Kristen started dating, Noah was still living at home with his parents in Mississauga. For him, it was a treat to have free access to our kitchen to cook. For us, it was amazing to have food prepared by anyone else, especially someone as good at cooking as Noah. Literally everything Noah has ever made has been delicious.

During this time period, on a day that Noah wasn't around, I made dinner for Kristen and I. Since Noah heavily emphasizes soy sauce in his dishes, even non-Asian ones, I wanted to branch out and use something different. I think I used a bit of garlic, but mainly, since our fridge was pretty bare, I made a stir fry of chicken, onion, and mushrooms. (Normally my stir fries contain more vegetables which help with the flavor: carrots, peppers, etc.) I tried to flavour it with things we had around that were not soy sauce, and I was too lazy to make rice or noodles to go with it.

Kristen and my reaction? "Umm, yes, this is food." and "Well, I am eating this. It will nourish my body."

It was far from disgusting, but at the same time, far from good. Just bland, boring, and a bit weird. Sure enough, the next day, Noah took the left overs and added soy sauce and served it over rice, and it was super tasty!

Last Night's Making Of Food

Last night, it happened again, and this time Noah isn't around to help fix the leftovers. I also thought I might be making something pretty good! And, I wasn't being lazy, a number of pots and pans were used and I cooked multiple things at the same time!

Tessa's Healthy Cream Sauce
- Chicken broth
- Cooked Cauliflower
- Salt and Pepper
Blended Smooth

Boil Separately (and separately from each other)
- Broccoli
- Pasta twirls

Fry Together
- White onion
- Garlic and Oregano
- Finely chopped Chicken Bacon (which is basically lunch meat)
- Cut chicken breast

In Large Pan (Wok)
- Warm Tessa's Sauce (she had given me a container of it)
- Add Broccoli, Pasta, and ingredients from frying pan
- Half a can of sweet peas (pretty mushy)
- Some tomato sauce for colour
- Parmesan Cheese

So many ingredients! It should have had flavor, but it didn't! It too was just fairly bland and quite weird. It did not work out, not gross, just not good. Jason's reaction, "Well, you made food."

All Dressed Up

Curls, Pearls, and The Perfect Guy

Teri and Greg's Wedding, Hockley Valley Resort

Photo by Stephanie Beach Photography

Copyright 2014

J&J's Wedding Invitation

Jenn and Jon also wanted to 'be green'. So they sent out electronic wedding invitations. Emails were sent to friends and family that included the following image. (It was an Irish wedding.)

Good Advice

I saw this in one of my horoscopes recently, I think it is beautifully stated:

"Promises made in the heat of the night are easily broken in the cold light of day."

Vintage Dad

Sunday Mornin' Coming Down - A post about my Dad each Sunday, named after a song that he loved.

This is at Ipperwash Beach, where we used to go before we bought The Cottage. I can't tell my age, but I think I am older than 3 months, so this must be in 1985, shortly after I turned one. I am wearing my grandmother's crazy sunhat and have sand all over my mouth. (I wasn't a big sand eater - Mike was way worse.) I am also holding a book, which is pretty awesome. But, enough about me...

This is hilariously awesome vintage Dad; I can barely remember when he had his mustache. I like that he is just standing there looking bored - nothing to really do and no one to talk to at that particular moment. Also, he is just chilling out in an old-school life jacket, which we may still have - I definitely remember it. (We took the Laser up to Ipperwash every year.) What is interesting to point out is that he is around my age in this shot, would have just turned 31.

Sand Everywhere

Chris and George

Ipperwash, 1985

It SHOULD Be A Rule

I do not believe that it is okay in Monopoly to not pay rent when you land on a property, just because the owner didn't notice or ask! It is one of the things I hate about playing the game. This is probably because I do not pay close enough attention and I never remember to ask - so get screwed over all the time. Then I become angry and indignant because I feel like my friends have cheated and rudely stole from me!

But I am wrong, because according to the 2007 Official Monopoly Rules from the Hasbro website, it states that "the owner may not collect the rent if he/she fails to ask for it before the second player following rolls the dice." So. the owner of the property does have to ask for it. However, that sentence is faulty at best. What does 'second player following' mean? It actually doesn't seem to suggest the next player, so you have two turns to remember to ask? Huh?

I truly believe that it should be YOUR JOB TO TELL PEOPLE YOU LAND ON THEIR PROPERTY. You are either paying rent for a house or staying in a hotel. Would you just not pay rent because the landlord didn't show up to request it? Or would you just walk out of a hotel without paying? NO. So the onus is on you to inform and pay!!

You would think that connecting the principles of the real life when nothing has been built yet on the property wouldn't work. Wouldn't it just be an empty street, what would you be paying rent for? Well, I think the streets already have houses on them when you buy them, since the bottom of the card states: "If player owns ALL the Lots of any Color-Group, the rent is Doubled on Unimproved Lots in that group." I love that the implication is that owning an entire neighbourhood ups the rent. since you would be able to literally create a monopoly in the area. Anyway, the word 'unimproved' seems to mean that the houses and hotels built are just improvements that you, the owner, is making to the street to up its value and that there are properties to rent already there.

And, you should have to pay that rent to the owner each time you are staying on the street, regardless of being asked. Because if you don't, basically you have become a squatter and that is illegal in Canada.

TB - October 2006

Throwback Thursday - Scroll to the bottom of the month and read up. Or click on the earliest post in the month (to view the post and the comments) then keep clicking Newer Post until you finish the month.

OCTOBER 2006

Oh my, it was a packed month! It is a slow start, but Always Standing in October of 2006 features a really old picture of a long-haired Mike, my 100th blog post, friend introductions of Kristen and Kristin, a couple of posts about a visit from Amanda, my break-up with W, a cancelled party at Le Manoir, a trip home to party with Teri instead, and Halloween.

Noted Post: I really like the strange one that compares passion to horseback riding. It isn't written perfectly, but there are parts that I still really like.

My Ice Bucket Challenge

It has been buzzing around the internet all summer, so I knew that it was only a matter of time before The Ice Bucket Challenge made it to my group of friends.

Rob did it over the weekend and nominated Jason. Jason did it last night and nominated me. So, I did it tonight....

I wanted to 'spread the love' (where love means funding) a bit so have made 3 separate donations.
- In honour of the Ice Bucket Challenge tradition and because ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is a horrific disease, I have made a donation through ALS Canada.
- I think I would have nominated my dad. In donating to The Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada, I hope that one day easier/earlier ways to indicate heart disease will give a few more years to dads and their daughters.
- I donated to the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division because of my own struggles with depression and the annoying stigma it still carries.

I pass the challenge onto Teri, Kristen, as well as, Steph and Dave. I look forward to their photos/videos and seeing what charities they choose.

T&G's Video Invitation

Greg and Teri wanted to 'be green' and send out electronic wedding invitations. Emails sent to friends and family would direct them to a website to RSVP and get logistical details. In order to still have something fun and creative, the website featured a Wedding Trailer:

It was a blast to make! I helped write and got to be in a scene. However, what makes it so good, besides Greg's scene-stealing acting, was all the editing work that the best man put in to make it look so professional.

Not Quite The Idiom

Toronto is a multicultural city. I love all the different types of people who live here and the variety they bring. Often, Toronto residents are using English as a second (or third) language. Recently, I heard the following:

"I love chocolate so much. Totally addicted. Like butterflies to a bonfire."

I am pretty sure that they meant, "Like a moth to a flame," an idiom that means to be irresistibly and dangerously attracted to something. But I like the butterfly version, it has beautiful alliteration.

September's Goal

We spent SO MUCH money last month (August). It is hard to figure out how; the weddings we attended were in July, the only trip we took was camping which was paid in advance, there was no expensive item purchases either. It was also a very flush month; with the way the weeks worked out, Jason got three pay cheques instead of two and I got paid from my new (higher paying) job as well. Basically it breaks down to food. I don't think we went grocery shopping once in August - which meant a lot of eating out, ordering in, or grabbing fast food. We weren't packing lunches so it meant buying things to eat at work too. It is worse than my cab addiction.

So, for September we are going to stop buying food that way. The only time we will eat out will be with friends and we will only buy food at work if there is a social event that requires it. No ordering in, no grabbing take out, and no fast food on the road.