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.
Reading these Always Standing posts, from the page linked above, is a bit like watching a scary movie you have seen before, I know how it turns out but I am still upset to read about it again. I know what is coming. The early months of 2007 were terrible! It was the worst time in my life. I was dating S, and it was very unhealthy. But the bigger concern and danger, was that I was slowly spiraling into a massive depressive episode that would last months, and you can just start to see the hints of it coming.
Noted Post: I talk about vaccines so much, this is the month that I got my first of three Gardasal shots, the HPV vaccine.
Thursday, 30 April 2015
Wednesday, 29 April 2015
Toronto Grammer
I pass a flower shop every morning on the bus and a sign on the window always makes me smile. There is some questionable grammar, but the line breaks amuse me more. On the front of Yen's Flower Shop:
The shop also makes me smile because it reminds me of Yen, even though he spells it Yan and that is actually his last name and his real name is Zhe. Still, makes me miss him, now that he lives in Montreal we don't see each other very often.
DAILY FRESH CUT
FLOWERS POTTED
PLANTS GIFTS
WE DELIVERY
Normally I would be saddened that a sign company allowed incorrect verb tenses to go uncorrected, but it looks like the list is made by sticking letters on the window, not a sign created as a whole.The shop also makes me smile because it reminds me of Yen, even though he spells it Yan and that is actually his last name and his real name is Zhe. Still, makes me miss him, now that he lives in Montreal we don't see each other very often.
Tuesday, 28 April 2015
Monday, 27 April 2015
Cute Kid Quote
Had fun with Jason's nephews this weekend!
L explaining why P's sunscreen is a different type than his, "Yeah, he's clergic."
L explaining why P's sunscreen is a different type than his, "Yeah, he's clergic."
Sunday, 26 April 2015
Dad On A Balcony
Sunday Mornin' Coming Down - A post about my Dad each Sunday, named after a song that he loved.
Beach Balcony - Circa 1980
Photo from Cyndy
Saturday, 25 April 2015
Trip To The Zoo
We are spending the weekend with two of Jason's nephews as part of their Christmas present again this year. The main point of their visit was to go to the Toronto Zoo, but we also have plans to play board games, watch movies, read books, ride transit, and go to a park.
There are no photos from our time at the zoo today, but luckily this evening L drew the following picture which will help me outline my favourite parts of the zoo visit. L and I share the same opinion on what were the best parts:
TIGER (Top Left) - At the Toronto Zoo, the outdoor part for the tigers (Sumatran) are two huge cages that have tall boardwalks dividing them. This means you can look down into the forest to easily view them - sleeping. Both of the tigers were outside and sleeping. L drew a picture of the smaller tiger that was lying on hay in an open-front cave. When we first passed by on the boardwalks the tiger was stretched out on its back with all paws in the air - like a cat!
GOLDEN LION TAMARIN (Top) - I really like all the little monkey species, they are so cute. The Golden Lion Tamarins are such a bright orange and are usually very active. Today's visit was no exception - the larger male one kept yelling at us too. This was super cute because it is tiny, and sounds a bit like a bird. Then we noticed that clinging up by thy skylight was a female with two little babies clinging to her.
RED PANDA (Bottom) - L's drawing features the fenced section of the red panda enclosure to the left of the drawing of the animal itself. The two pandas kept wandering between their open section and more cage-like part. These were the most amazing animals, so insanely cute, they are pretty famous since videos of this species frequently go viral on social media. I am really glad that L encouraged us to go and see them, they were one of today's highlights for sure.
There are no photos from our time at the zoo today, but luckily this evening L drew the following picture which will help me outline my favourite parts of the zoo visit. L and I share the same opinion on what were the best parts:
L and P's Toronto Zoo Trip
2015, Art by L, Age 5
TIGER (Top Left) - At the Toronto Zoo, the outdoor part for the tigers (Sumatran) are two huge cages that have tall boardwalks dividing them. This means you can look down into the forest to easily view them - sleeping. Both of the tigers were outside and sleeping. L drew a picture of the smaller tiger that was lying on hay in an open-front cave. When we first passed by on the boardwalks the tiger was stretched out on its back with all paws in the air - like a cat!
GOLDEN LION TAMARIN (Top) - I really like all the little monkey species, they are so cute. The Golden Lion Tamarins are such a bright orange and are usually very active. Today's visit was no exception - the larger male one kept yelling at us too. This was super cute because it is tiny, and sounds a bit like a bird. Then we noticed that clinging up by thy skylight was a female with two little babies clinging to her.
RED PANDA (Bottom) - L's drawing features the fenced section of the red panda enclosure to the left of the drawing of the animal itself. The two pandas kept wandering between their open section and more cage-like part. These were the most amazing animals, so insanely cute, they are pretty famous since videos of this species frequently go viral on social media. I am really glad that L encouraged us to go and see them, they were one of today's highlights for sure.
Thursday, 23 April 2015
TB - December 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.
This is fun and quick read - just an onslaught of small little posts, mainly about exams and studying. I remember at some point I used to have a mental rule for Always Standing that there always needed to be a picture of me showing on the home page - which means having one every 10 to 15 posts. There was a random post of pictures in this month, so many I had already started that rule. There is also an amusing comment on one of the posts where Teri is trying to get a hold of me again.
Noted Post: I liked the Carleton Karma post, I had forgotten about "viewing rooms" for watching lectures - I can't even really picture what they look like. I do remember always being behind when I took a class that taped the lectures because I always thought I could just catch up by watching them later - then procrastinated until right before the exam, leaving no time to get through them all.
This is fun and quick read - just an onslaught of small little posts, mainly about exams and studying. I remember at some point I used to have a mental rule for Always Standing that there always needed to be a picture of me showing on the home page - which means having one every 10 to 15 posts. There was a random post of pictures in this month, so many I had already started that rule. There is also an amusing comment on one of the posts where Teri is trying to get a hold of me again.
Noted Post: I liked the Carleton Karma post, I had forgotten about "viewing rooms" for watching lectures - I can't even really picture what they look like. I do remember always being behind when I took a class that taped the lectures because I always thought I could just catch up by watching them later - then procrastinated until right before the exam, leaving no time to get through them all.
Wednesday, 22 April 2015
36 Hours Of Stress
Sorry that I haven't posted in a while. Jason and my lives were thrown into chaos midday Sunday for about 36 hours of pure stress and craziness. Admittedly, this was self inflicted.
We stumbled across a beautiful loft condo for sale near my work and started to think very seriously about buying it. So seriously in fact that we decided to put an offer on it. Just as we stumbled upon the place itself, we also fell fast, head first, into the intense real estate world of the Toronto housing/condo market.
There was an offer deadline of Monday night, in preparation for multiple offers on the place. By Monday night, 13 had been submitted. The loft was listed for $449,999 and sold for $581,000 (our offer was much lower than that.)
Overall, it was an overwhelming and terrifying experience. Jason and I were very lucky to have the support of friends and family, many of whom shared their skills/knowledge with us. The encouragement was appreciated.
We are going to spend time now just researching and learning more about the market. I am keeping half and eye on lofts but we are pretty sure that we would like to have a detached or semi-detached home. A house is an even scarier endeavor and we intend to wait until we feel more financially secure and knowledgeable.
We stumbled across a beautiful loft condo for sale near my work and started to think very seriously about buying it. So seriously in fact that we decided to put an offer on it. Just as we stumbled upon the place itself, we also fell fast, head first, into the intense real estate world of the Toronto housing/condo market.
There was an offer deadline of Monday night, in preparation for multiple offers on the place. By Monday night, 13 had been submitted. The loft was listed for $449,999 and sold for $581,000 (our offer was much lower than that.)
Overall, it was an overwhelming and terrifying experience. Jason and I were very lucky to have the support of friends and family, many of whom shared their skills/knowledge with us. The encouragement was appreciated.
We are going to spend time now just researching and learning more about the market. I am keeping half and eye on lofts but we are pretty sure that we would like to have a detached or semi-detached home. A house is an even scarier endeavor and we intend to wait until we feel more financially secure and knowledgeable.
Sunday, 19 April 2015
Where I Get It From - Hair Edition
Sunday Mornin' Coming Down - A post about my Dad each Sunday, named after a song that he loved.
I am sure that the actual genetics/DNA of this are all off, but the following is what I consider to be my hair's inheritance from my parents:
Colour: My Dad
(Mum's hair is also brown but more of a chocolate colour. Mine has streaks of copper highlights in it, more so in the summer, that come from my dad. His brown hair was paler and when he was younger his beard had a lot of red in it.)
Texture: Both Parents
(My dad's hair was also curly, so there isn't really straight hair on either side. However the amount of curl comes more from my mom.)
Volume: My Mom
(My mom for sure. We have tons of hair.)
Thickness: My Dad
(You would think that my hair is thick, but that isn't actually true. I just have a lot of it. A lot of thin hair. Each strand is very thin.)
Aging: My Dad
(My mom always said she started to go grey in her 20s. I had escaped that and thus far have only spotted the very very occasional grey/white hair. My dad started to go grey very late, in fact when he died at the age of 59 he still had a fair amount of colour in his hair.)
Attitude: My Mom
(Both my mom and I are pretty lazy when it comes to hair. Neither of us like to put effort or product in. My dad would briefly style his in the mornings before work, while not a lot of attention it was still more than Mum and I did. The hairdryer in our house growing up was my dads - in fact I have it now, it is a nice reminder.)
I am sure that the actual genetics/DNA of this are all off, but the following is what I consider to be my hair's inheritance from my parents:
Colour: My Dad
(Mum's hair is also brown but more of a chocolate colour. Mine has streaks of copper highlights in it, more so in the summer, that come from my dad. His brown hair was paler and when he was younger his beard had a lot of red in it.)
Texture: Both Parents
(My dad's hair was also curly, so there isn't really straight hair on either side. However the amount of curl comes more from my mom.)
Volume: My Mom
(My mom for sure. We have tons of hair.)
Thickness: My Dad
(You would think that my hair is thick, but that isn't actually true. I just have a lot of it. A lot of thin hair. Each strand is very thin.)
Aging: My Dad
(My mom always said she started to go grey in her 20s. I had escaped that and thus far have only spotted the very very occasional grey/white hair. My dad started to go grey very late, in fact when he died at the age of 59 he still had a fair amount of colour in his hair.)
Attitude: My Mom
(Both my mom and I are pretty lazy when it comes to hair. Neither of us like to put effort or product in. My dad would briefly style his in the mornings before work, while not a lot of attention it was still more than Mum and I did. The hairdryer in our house growing up was my dads - in fact I have it now, it is a nice reminder.)
Saturday, 18 April 2015
A Caturday Quiz
I took a random quiz I found online: What kind of cat are you? and got the following:
I guess that description fits for me. I don't know about being imposing or answering the call of the great outdoors but I do have a strong personality. In general, I really like Maine Coon cats, they are massive! And so fluffy. Owning one would make me very allergic. Being one would be cool.
You are a
Maine Coon
One can rest assured that no one will break in when you're sitting in the front yard, as not even a guard dog could be more imposing. Your self-confidence and strong personality belie the fact that you are actually very sensitive and need lots of love and attention. Yet even you would like to forget this fact one day, when you answer to the call of the great outdoor freedom.I guess that description fits for me. I don't know about being imposing or answering the call of the great outdoors but I do have a strong personality. In general, I really like Maine Coon cats, they are massive! And so fluffy. Owning one would make me very allergic. Being one would be cool.
Thursday, 16 April 2015
TB - November 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.
It was a different time - almost 10 years ago. There are hints at the changes a decade has given us. (Not in my life, those changes are very obvious when reading these posts - I was newly single,, writing a lot of poems, working on university essays, and living the student life with roommates at Le Manoir). I mean changes in technology over the last 10 years: There was a comment from Teri in one of the posts that said, "I tried calling u earlier this week but nobody was home." A land line! There was also something about missing the start of a TV show because I didn't make it home in time, no such thing as PVR yet.
There are quite a few mentions of my dad too! A post about him saying I had a "million dollar smile" and another about him editing movies when I was a kid. Also, a comment from Mom about me renting a scooter in Portugal and Dad riding it.
Noted Post: I really like my post of questions about Leisure Time. I work now for a company that designs 'leisure environments' so spend all day connected to the industry of entertainment. Separate from my work life and on more of a personal level, I think that the thoughts I wrote back in 2006 are still relevant.
It was a different time - almost 10 years ago. There are hints at the changes a decade has given us. (Not in my life, those changes are very obvious when reading these posts - I was newly single,, writing a lot of poems, working on university essays, and living the student life with roommates at Le Manoir). I mean changes in technology over the last 10 years: There was a comment from Teri in one of the posts that said, "I tried calling u earlier this week but nobody was home." A land line! There was also something about missing the start of a TV show because I didn't make it home in time, no such thing as PVR yet.
There are quite a few mentions of my dad too! A post about him saying I had a "million dollar smile" and another about him editing movies when I was a kid. Also, a comment from Mom about me renting a scooter in Portugal and Dad riding it.
Noted Post: I really like my post of questions about Leisure Time. I work now for a company that designs 'leisure environments' so spend all day connected to the industry of entertainment. Separate from my work life and on more of a personal level, I think that the thoughts I wrote back in 2006 are still relevant.
Wednesday, 15 April 2015
Naming My Novel
Found a fun chart for naming "your big important novel" online. Check it out HERE. It does mention that this is for a Great American Novel, so I guess it isn't really applicable to me. However, according to the diagram I should write a book called, True History of the Wife and Punishment. It sounds pretty good, I might read that. What should your book be titled?
Tuesday, 14 April 2015
Time, Energy, And Organization
A constant concern of mine:
How can I consider having a baby/raising a child if I can't even get my shit together enough to floss regularly?
How can I consider having a baby/raising a child if I can't even get my shit together enough to floss regularly?
Monday, 13 April 2015
Picking It Up
I noticed from the Archives section in the right side bar of Always Standing that I have only done 8 posts for April, and it is already the 14th! I don't want to fail at my goal of posting everyday for the third year in a row.
It looks like I did more than enough in February but not enough in January or March. I know this because I use my knuckles to determine how many days in each of the months. The song does not work!
Thirty days has September, April, June, and November, when short February's done, all the rest have thirty-one.
The thing is, the song trick relies on the rhyming between September and November, but any of the last four months of the year would fit that rhyming scheme, so I never know which ones to put in. Also, the April, June part works with any one-syllable month, which March and May are as well. The song sucks - knuckles are the way to go!
It looks like I did more than enough in February but not enough in January or March. I know this because I use my knuckles to determine how many days in each of the months. The song does not work!
Thirty days has September, April, June, and November, when short February's done, all the rest have thirty-one.
The thing is, the song trick relies on the rhyming between September and November, but any of the last four months of the year would fit that rhyming scheme, so I never know which ones to put in. Also, the April, June part works with any one-syllable month, which March and May are as well. The song sucks - knuckles are the way to go!
Sunday, 12 April 2015
The Last Baptism
Evelyn's Baptism
(The fourth of Jason's four niblings)
St. Joseph Patron Of Canada Roman Catholic Church
Sunday April 12, 2015
Photo by ME
Photo by ME
Snowfence Weekend
Sunday Mornin' Coming Down - A post about my Dad each Sunday, named after a song that he loved.
I missed out getting some awesome photos this weekend. Jason and I went down to The Cottage to dig snow fence out from under the sand. I had planned to take a bunch of pictures, with my cell phone, of old pictures of Dad to post here on Sundays. I also wanted to bring back my baby album to Toronto. However, it was a quick trip and I didn't get a chance to do either.
Digging out snow fence doesn't remind me of my dad, since it was something that he and mom did without me around - or something he occasionally asked Dave and Justain to help with when they visited. So working on it over the last couple of season changes isn't connected to him.
To a certain extent the garage still is connected to Dad - the garage at The Cottage really reminds me of him. (He helped my uncle build it, and it is filled with stuff that I would consider 'his' like piles of boxes and small pieces of furniture from the Sweeton side of the family.)
I missed out getting some awesome photos this weekend. Jason and I went down to The Cottage to dig snow fence out from under the sand. I had planned to take a bunch of pictures, with my cell phone, of old pictures of Dad to post here on Sundays. I also wanted to bring back my baby album to Toronto. However, it was a quick trip and I didn't get a chance to do either.
Digging out snow fence doesn't remind me of my dad, since it was something that he and mom did without me around - or something he occasionally asked Dave and Justain to help with when they visited. So working on it over the last couple of season changes isn't connected to him.
To a certain extent the garage still is connected to Dad - the garage at The Cottage really reminds me of him. (He helped my uncle build it, and it is filled with stuff that I would consider 'his' like piles of boxes and small pieces of furniture from the Sweeton side of the family.)
Wednesday, 8 April 2015
Mom Is Home
My mom is back from her trip to Europe (France and Spain). I really missed her, it always feels like a long time. (This might be because it usually is a minimum of two months.) What was really nice this time was that we got into a bit of a routine talking in the mornings, which were her early afternoons. I would text that I was on the bus down to work and Mom would call me back.
In early March, one of our phone calls caught her during a walk. She sat down and talked for me a while. At one point she mentioned that the view was amazing and she would take a picture of it for me. She posted this on her blog:
I decided that I would also take a picture of my 'view' during our conversation:
In early March, one of our phone calls caught her during a walk. She sat down and talked for me a while. At one point she mentioned that the view was amazing and she would take a picture of it for me. She posted this on her blog:
With the caption:
(Chris this is where I sat and talked to you on the phone for 20 minutes.)
I decided that I would also take a picture of my 'view' during our conversation:
It is really not the same at all:
Don't let the sunlight on the seat fool you
it was -15 Celsius!
Don't let the sunlight on the seat fool you
it was -15 Celsius!
Sunday, 5 April 2015
Quick Memories
Sunday Mornin' Coming Down - A post about my Dad each Sunday, named after a song that he loved.
Things that reminded me of my dad over the weekend:
- bacon on paper towel
- listening to mix-CD's in the car
- ice cream after dinner
- action movies
- pie
- doing my taxes
Make it last:
- fixing something in a patchwork-way instead of buying a new one
There is a bit of a difference between us here, my dad used a lot of duct tape and I am more of a fan of crazy glue. I also take care in how it looks afterwards and try to cover up the 'repair' in some way, this was less important to Dad.
Things that reminded me of my dad over the weekend:
- bacon on paper towel
- listening to mix-CD's in the car
- ice cream after dinner
- action movies
- pie
- doing my taxes
Make it last:
- fixing something in a patchwork-way instead of buying a new one
There is a bit of a difference between us here, my dad used a lot of duct tape and I am more of a fan of crazy glue. I also take care in how it looks afterwards and try to cover up the 'repair' in some way, this was less important to Dad.
Saturday, 4 April 2015
A Caturday Wedding Day
I love that Jason's mom took a picture holding her cat in her wedding dress!
Jason's Parent's Wedding Portraits
Bride with Cat!
Faye and David
October 18, 1975
Friday, 3 April 2015
Good Friday
The capacity of people to be good, during the worst times, always astounds me.
-------------- from Facebook, and Wikipedia
An Inspirational Woman - Gisella Perl
Gisella Perl was forced to work as a doctor in Auschwitz concentration camp during the holocaust. She was ordered to report ever pregnant women do the physician Dr. Josef Mengele, who would then use the women for cruel experiments (e.g. vivisection) before killing them.
"I decided that never again would there be a pregnant woman in Auschwitz." She saved hundreds of women by performing abortions on them before their pregnancy was discovered, without having access to basic medical supplies. She became known as the 'Angel of Auschwitz'.
After being rescued from Bergen-Belsen concentration camp she tried to commit suicide, but survived, recovered and kept working as a gynecologist, delivering more than 3000 babies.
-------------- from Facebook, and Wikipedia
An Inspirational Woman - Gisella Perl
Gisella Perl was forced to work as a doctor in Auschwitz concentration camp during the holocaust. She was ordered to report ever pregnant women do the physician Dr. Josef Mengele, who would then use the women for cruel experiments (e.g. vivisection) before killing them.
"I decided that never again would there be a pregnant woman in Auschwitz." She saved hundreds of women by performing abortions on them before their pregnancy was discovered, without having access to basic medical supplies. She became known as the 'Angel of Auschwitz'.
After being rescued from Bergen-Belsen concentration camp she tried to commit suicide, but survived, recovered and kept working as a gynecologist, delivering more than 3000 babies.
Wednesday, 1 April 2015
Eyes, Unblinking
So raw, I might as well peel off my skin
12" slice along the inside of my forearm
Pull back the flesh, expose the red
Cutters must cut because they forget
What does physical pain feel like?
Disbelieving that it can even be felt
Staring until my eyes dry out
Lids can't close over spheres of crumpled paper
Nothing to look at, nothing to hope for
Crash, in slow motion
12" slice along the inside of my forearm
Pull back the flesh, expose the red
Cutters must cut because they forget
What does physical pain feel like?
Disbelieving that it can even be felt
Staring until my eyes dry out
Lids can't close over spheres of crumpled paper
Nothing to look at, nothing to hope for
Crash, in slow motion
CS, 2015
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