Archive | August, 2010

Truly Dr. Seuss

31 Aug

Today is the first day that it has felt like winter is just around the corner. There have been other signs, like picking up my textbooks yesterday, but today I turned on the heat in my office, pulled out a sweater and felt like beating my broken umbrella into the sidewalk as its handle repeatedly fell off.

Something happens in the summer months where I get swept up in the business of having fun. Winter is more of a reflective time where there are goals to be made and work to be done. As a result, the thought of TRUEsday was lost a bit over the past few months, but has been sneaking back into my mind. The other day I came across this Dr. Seuss quote and was reminded to be TRUE. So here it is for you.

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive, that is Youer than You.” — Dr. Seuss

The Skunk

25 Aug

This week seems to have an unlikely, and unwelcome, mascot.

The Skunk.

It started on Sunday while making dinner at a friend’s house. All of a sudden there was a strong skunk smell and we scrambled to close the windows. We successfully kept the stench out.

Following dinner we played our first game of crib together. Not only did I lose, but I got skunked.

Last night I was at home trying to fight off a horrible headache that I’d had for a week. All I wanted was for my apartment to be cool and dark. I had my bedroom window wide open while I relaxed on the couch at the opposite end of my apartment. I heard a bunch of dogs barking outside. It’s not uncommon to hear dogs in my building as most other tenants have them. This was a little louder than usual for 10:30 p.m. but I ignored them none the less. Five minutes later I was hit with the acrid smell of skunk spray. It took several breathes before I realized where the smell was coming from.

The bedroom window.

I jumped up running to shut out the smell. I was too late. I opened the bedroom door and the room was filled with skunk smell.

For the rest of the evening Mittens kept venturing into the bedroom to see what was going on. She would come running out like, “Whoa!!! Something’s going on in there and I don’t want any part of it!!” Yet, curiosity kept drawing her back in, only to get the same reaction and have her skidding around the corner as she made her exit.

I managed to get a decent night’s sleep despite the smell, and after an evening of having the doors and windows open, I think we’re back to normal. Hopefully that’s the last appearance of this week’s mascot.

The Staycation: Day 7, 8, 9.

17 Aug

I was brutally brought back to reality with my 6:00 a.m. alarm Monday morning. I was hoping to have had enough of a break from work that I’d be kind of bored and looking forward to getting back to it. You know that feeling as a kid when mid-August would hit, the flyers for school supplies would come out and you’d actually be looking forward to going back to school? Yeah, I was hoping for that, but it didn’t happen.

I think I was just having too much fun being on staycation. Once I got to the office Monday morning I immediately looked up how much vacation time I have left for the year. Theoretically I have another two weeks I could take. Hmmmm…

Despite not being overly thrilled to be back at work, I am looking forward to September and a change in schedule, not to mention the cooler weather.

Here’s a recap of the last few days of staycation. It just kept getting better and better.

  • afternoon tea with mini sandwiches and scones
  • my first ever Cirque du Soleil experience (without a doubt the highlight of my week)
  • lazy sleep-ins
  • homemade peach pie
  • gelato
  • popcorn
  • hot dogs 
  • watching Back To The Future on a big screen in the park

The Staycation: Day 5 & 6

13 Aug

Day 5 of my staycation took me to one of my favourite places on Earth. I hiked with two friends up to Garibaldi Lake. 7.5 hours, 2 litres of water and 18 kilometers later I had that great feeling of just wanting to starfish on my bed and bask in the exhaustion of knowing how hard I had worked. Not only is Garibaldi Lake one of those places that makes me want to scream out loud to let the world know how much I love it, but it also brings me a great sense of satisfaction. I love that feeling of being physically tired and knowing I’ve seen such beauty.

Much of today was spent recovering from yesterday’s excursion. Booking an hour long massage the day after an 18 kilometer hike has to be one of the better ideas I’ve had.

The Staycation: Day 3 & 4

11 Aug
  • sleeping late
  • lounging
  • shopping
  • BBQ-ing
  • birthday cake (not mine)
  • coffee
  • lounging
  • napping
  • reading
  • laughing
  • more napping
  • cuddles with Mittens
  • laughing until I cried
  • baking
  • turning beet red with embarrassment 

Dreaming Of The Perfect Ringlet.

10 Aug

It seems like now that I’m not vacation I have time to remember my dreams. I woke up this morning remembering a crazy one I had last night.

In it, I was using an amazing curling iron. I have thick hair that has a life and opinion of its own. There are times when it refuses to be curly and will only lay straight and flat. Other times, depending on its mood, it will only be curly, and usually in all the wrong directions.

As a child, I dreamed of having a full set of ringlets. Last night while I was sleeping, my childhood dreams came true. I had a curling iron that created perfect ringlet after perfect ringlet. I was able to run my fingers through the perfect soft curls. And they stayed. They didn’t fall and become a mass of waves.

The only catch was how this amazing curly iron worked. It looked like a regular curling iron, but inside the barrel was a BBQ flame. I can’t remember how the flame was fed, whether there was a line to a propane tank or one of those small green bottles attached right to the iron. Either way, there was the same “wooshing” noise that a BBQ makes. And then there was the thrill of creating beautiful curls, but risking lighting my whole head on fire. I was living on the edge I tell you!

Now I’m obsessed with curling my hair. I have to promise myself not to enter London Drugs. If I do, I will certainly walk out with a curling iron, a set of hot rollers, a diffuser and an assortment of curling product.

The Staycation: Day 1 & 2

8 Aug

Today is day two of my nine day staycation. I haven’t had the means to plan a proper getaway for the summer, but I decided to take advantage of the beautiful city I call home and to plan a staycation. There are always so many things that I want to do in Vancouver, but never find time to do. Now is the time.

So far it has involved the following…

  • cheesies
  • beer
  • nap
  • movie
  • brunch
  • sewing
  • roller derby
  • bowling
  • more beer
  • more brunch
  • giggles and smiles
  • drinking chocolate
  • more naps
  • more smiles
  • flowers
  • popcorn

The Kalimotxo

5 Aug

My new favourite summer time drink: The Kalimotxo (or Calimocho). Make note not to confuse the name with the popular music song “Calle Ocho” by Pitbull.

They’re very different. One is half red wine, half coca cola. The other is…well, it is what it is. Somewhat catchy, but not much more.

I enjoy red wine, but I find it a little heavy and warm for the summer. Mixed with ice and coca cola?

Perfection.

Fill a tall glass with ice.

 Fill half way with red wine.

Top it off the second half with Coca Cola.
Kick back and enjoy.

The Blank Sketchbook

1 Aug

I signed up to take part in the Sketchbook Project put on by the Art House Co-op in Brooklyn. The idea of the project is that you choose a theme and fill up a sketchbook based on that theme. The sketchbook then becomes a part of an exhibition that travels across the United States and is later archived at the Brooklyn Art Library.

The theme I chose was “I’m sorry I forgot you.” Since picking it, my brain has been on the look out for different ideas surrounding the theme.

My sketchbook arrived last Friday. It has been sitting on my kitchen table since. It’s practically been staring at me. Taunting me. A book full of blank pages. Who knew it would be so intimidating? I bought some pens, dug out a set of pencils and pulled out some powdered graphite. Yet the pages are still blank.

What is stopping me? Most likely my own judgments. I’m intimidated by the fact these pages are permanent. People will see these pages. I can’t just rip it out and start over. There is a certain vulnerability in showing your process to the world in this way. You are exposing a side of yourself that wouldn’t otherwise be public. But I think that is the point of the project. I know I’m completely intrigued when I get a glimpse at people’s vulnerabilities. It’s like a peak inside their world. A fly on the wall of their mind. So now it’s my turn.

Tomorrow. I will start tomorrow. I promise.

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