Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Kiddie Land

So, the little one is a fiend when it comes to throwing stuff. He's very accurate with the ball and unfortunately carries that over to throwing other things. He hit another kid with a book at the drop-in center today. Hello time-outs. I was hoping to not have to introduce him to those until later.

In other news, my friend Charlotte is already feeling the effects of her chemo. She's starting to lose her hair and feels weak and nauseated. She has sores in her mouth. Boy, this chemo is nasty stuff. I hope it really helps her to fight her cancer. She also says that she's gaining weight, which makes her feel depressed as well. What a stupid disease cancer is and boy I wish we had better treatments, ones that would actually make the patient feel better, not horrible.

It all makes me kinda blue.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

You Are: 60% Dog, 40% Cat

You are a nice blend of cat and dog.
You're playful but not too needy. And you're friendly but careful.
And while you have your moody moments, you're too happy to stay upset for long.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

This that and the other



Most of all, it's cold! Real January weather is upon us. This morning, with the windchill it was -21 C. Brrr! Time to take out winter boots and such. I know, I know the weather has been extremely warm up to now and it has lulled me into a false sense of security.


Must say that I am totally addicted to CSI Miami. Now, I know that Horatio Caine has the most cliche lines, but it's just the way David Caruso says them. He is so full of gravitas. I see he does not speak like that in real life. The blue eyes and red hair don't hurt either.

















Also, there is something about all the gorgeous people on beaches and whatnot and Emily Procter, whipping her hair around all over every crime scene. And the cleavage and heels that must be oh, so practical in every murder investigation. Me likey.

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Ghetto Princess

I am sooo enjoying getting songs onto my mp3 player. I love it. Also it turns out I really like Fergie, Missy Elliott and Mary J. Blige. I've been dubbed a ghetto princess at work. They just make me wanna dance honey, honey, dance, dance!

My new LL Bean jacket came today. Love it. It's light blue and has a shawl collar.
I also got a new jacket for Mr. He really wanted a jean jacket with lamb fleece lining. Well, I got him one, with sherpa fleece (not the real animal kind) and he was over the moon. He immediately put it on and vowed not to take it off for the rest of the day, but was luckily persuaded to take it off long enough to eat our tuna and sundried tomato sandwiches for lunch. The jacket is a light beige colour and red stains would show.

Monday, January 01, 2007

Happy 2007!

We did not stay up until midnight. I was fine with it, unlike other years. We are all tired enough as it is.

New year's resolution? To eat healthier snacks. I am not attempting to diet because that is doomed from the start. Really, I could maybe keep that up for a week. I will try to exercise more, but that is not a resolution, that is what I want to do all the time. Mind you, I bought new pants on Saturday and they are a size smaller (and are loose in the waist). Ha!

It was quite an ending to 2006 - James Brown passed away and Saddam Hussein was executed. There are some figures that you just do not imagine ever leaving this world. I suppose it will be Castro and Bin Laden next. Pretty soon the US will run out of despots to overthrow or terrorists to hunt. The sad thing is that new ones will emerge. I wish all this could be making the world safer. I expect some day Alex will study all this in history class and will ask me what it was like when... When telephones were rotary and people used typewriters and lp records or even CDs for that matter. I bet when he's a teen everything will be digital. When I was a kid we had a black and white TV set. And two channels. We did not have a telephone at home. Now I have a phone in my purse. And an mp3 player! Aha, aha!

Sunday, December 24, 2006


Merry Ho Ho Ho!

Merry Christmas to all you Christians out there. For you non Christians, happy Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and any and all other things you wish to celebrate.

And get your pencils ready to write down your wishlists for next year and your new year's resolutions. Mine is to snack healthily. That said, I better finish all the chocolate before the 31st.

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

May you live in interesting times!

The times certainly do seem to be interesting, that is around me. Friends seem to be getting sick, collapsing unexpectedly. Others seem to have dropped off the planet. Others still are pregnant. I am grateful that so far, there seems to be no big changes in our lives, apart from Alex learning new stuff.

Charlotte is scheduled for surgery tomorrow. I am nervous. I know there are thousands of mastectomies done all the time, but still, I'm nervous.

Christmas is fast approaching, in fact, it's less than a week away. The weather is truly balmy, sunny and plus temperatures. I have all my shopping done, but as usual, keep thinking I missed someone. Did lots of laundry today, but still need to do more before the New Year. Now just the cleaning, the cooking, the wrapping, the decorating and I'll be done. Wondering how to keep little hands off Christmas ornaments. It will be interesting to say the least.

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Leon, Leon

Yes, yule time is coming up soon. Am half done with the shopping. Must wait for pay day though. Really, all this hoopla for a few minutes of tearing paper. Santa did promise an mp3 player though.

As usual am going overboard with stuff at work - decorations, stockings, Advent calendars, cards. But it's just once a year... or in my case at every holiday, even some invented ones.

The little one is sick yet again. I think this will be the winter of snot. This time his nose was so runny that he had to wipe it literally every minute. He coughed so much he couldn't lie down and sleep. Poor little baby! I wished it was me and not him and of course, got my wish, am now getting sick too. Bleah!

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

First snowfall

Yes, pilgrims, it snowed last night and some of it is still left on the ground. There was lovely sunshine in the morning too, to complement the lovely scenery, but now it's gone. Boo.

Very excited because my mom gave me some neat yarn. It's olive green and has a sparkly thread in it. She gave me three balls. Now, I wanted to make a shrug, but now am contemplating going the usual scarf route. I could make a matching hat. Of course, this needs to wait until I finish my poor husband's sweater. Mr. has been waiting for two years now while his wife went slumming with scarves for herself, auctions and people in general, baby hats and the like. Enough, I say, get your needles back home, woman!

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

It's been a while

I've been here, just not in a writing mood. My good friend Charlotte has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She is such a great lady and so does not deserve this! Anyway, there is no fairness with this disease so I won't even attempt to ask why her because it could just as easily be any one of us.

Not much else new has been happening. I have clearly not learned my lesson about getting involved in charitable activities because I am organizing Christmas bingo at work to benefit Toy Mountain. Well, it's Christmas and it's for kids... Now people seem to be turning to me for advice in organizing activities. How has this happened?! I am the worst organizer in the world.

In other news, my little munchking is now a full blown two-year-old. Oh, the whining when he doesn't get his way! Oh, the testing of boundaries! I only hope that it will only last one year and not too much longer. My poor husband bears the brunt of it all, being the stay at home dad. Yep, would switch with him in a minute. Maybe that will be my Christmas wish.

Monday, October 30, 2006

Sunshine

Ahh, what a balmy sunny day. I love these golden days of fall, before the frosts of November.

Took the munchkin to the doctor today to check on his little ears and all is well. The infection is gone. He did not take kindly to being listened to with the stethoscope.

Things have been insane at work with the United Way campaign and work itself. We had a pot luck last Friday. I was organizing it because "you like pot lucks." I don't. I was not about to force people to bring stuff either, so we had food, but not insane amounts like last year. There was grumbling on the UW committee that there was not enough, and I should have told them so they could call for pizza. Interestingly, other people complimented me on the lunch, the selection and were generally stuffed with food. I really think I will not participate in the United Way committee next year.

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

I love fall

Now that said, it's been bloody cold in this city. This is not a usual October. They are even talking snow today.

The United Way campaign is on at work. This is usually a lot of fun because we play games and have activities. This year, the first prize for email bingo is an iPod! Yesss, come to mama! Unfortunately, it's almost been a week and I only have five numbers so far. I'm not losing hope.

Here's a view from my balcony, for your viewing pleasure.

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

About knitting

I finished the scarf I am donating to the United Way auction at work. It came out quite good. Now, imagine the softest thing you ever touched. Yes, it is that soft. When I was working on it, I would occasionally bring it to work and knit with Wendy and people would stop by my desk and just stroke it. Hm. Here 'tis.

Lost Friends

Sometimes you meet people who touch you deeply. Sometimes they touch your heart, but for whatever reason you lose contact with them. Maybe it's my innate Taurus-ness, but I just cannot walk away from certain people though I suspect they would rather I did. There I am, hovering in the background, sending friendly vibes. Hoping for I don't know what. Because though once I did love, I can't again. All the same, there is a soft spot in my heart for these friends who were once a little more than that. One of these lost friends has given a sign of life and I am happy and sad at the same time.

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Oh, brother!

Sickness has come upon us! Alex has an ear infection. Arthur and I have sinusitis. Fun. Between taking care of very fussy and unhappy baby and running to the doctor, pharmacy and bank, I managed to write the test in my copy writing course. Quite sure I flunked it though. I mean how good can you be with a 38 degree fever? Little bit of stress. AARRRRGGGGHHH!

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

September

The fall is sneaking up on me. Thanksgiving is just a month away and from there the next holiday is Christmas! I have already been thinking about what to get people and all of a sudden shopping now does not seem like such a crazy idea. Leaves are beginning to change colour. Geese are getting ready to do something (although I don't know what because they hardly fly away anymore). And to make it totally official, the heat came on in our building last night.

In knitting news, am almost at the end of the throw for Jen's grandma! Hurrah! I have about 20 more rows to go. This is good because I have about ten projects waiting for me, including a funky pink scarf, a red lacy scarf from a mohair yarn(!), a possible wrap, and of course, Arthur's sweater, which I began before Alex was born, so about two years ago. I have given up on buying knitting magazines and books because I know I will find something I will love and want to make it, but just don't have the time.

Oh, yes, must comment on this. Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter is dead, killed by a stingray. I say, the animals have gotten their revenge!

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Not too much to report

August seems to be much kinder than July temperature-wise. The nights are cooler and I'm loving it up.

I am on a quest to buy a sewing machine. I saw one made by Kobe at a little sewing machine store two subway stops away. When I went back for it, all sweaty from walking, with baby and husband in tow, it was gone. Today I went to Wal-Mart to see what they had and there is one possible one. I still need to check out Sears. I know they have Kenmore and it's supposed to be second best. I don't need hundreds of stitches or anything, but I do need it to sew through denim and have some basic stitches, wind the bobbin automatically, etc. And I'd like it to last me a few years. I got all jealous of Glacia making her own dress.

My friend Emma came on Sunday, with her son Simon. Simon is almost four and very lively. We took the kids to a park. This was a major production as we had two kids, a kite, a stroller, snacks, a backpack and two purses. Alex rode in the stroller, though he was not happy about it. He fussed all the way there. Simon needed to be carried some of the way, especially up a hill. After a few years of wandering, we got to the park, where there was swinging, flying of kites, making bubbles and major fussing from Alex because I would not let him go into freezing cold wading pool water. We went back the same way we came, part pushing, part carrying, laughing ironically at what is called maternal bliss. It was good to see her though. Simon is big. He's going to school next month. It feels like yesterday he was a baby. It feels like yesterday Alex was a year old. And now look at them both... sniff. I'm so proud.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Lest you thought I was bluffing...

About the knitting, that is. Here is what I have been working on for the last few months. It's a throw for the grandma of a co-worker of mine. I pledged my knitting services for the United Way and this is what she chose. The pattern is my own invention. Feast your eyes.

















I am about 2/3 done. Now, Jen's grandma is coming the third week of this month and I would dearly like to be finished, but I don't have a lot of hope. Because it's a 100cm across, it takes time to do one row.

In other news, we saw a meteorite Sunday night. OK, I still call them falling stars, but only to myself, to avoid a roll of the eyes from my lord and master. I think they are falling stars though and I think it's a good sign, even if it did happen so fast that one did not have a chance to make a wish.

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Feeling hot, hot, hot!

Yes, my friends, it is a record breaker in Toronto. 36 degrees Celsius, with the Humidex in the high 40s. I thank God for a/c and hope there is not another blackout. It's bloody hot. I got no sleep last night because on top of the heat, I caught my baby's cold and was sniffling all night. Finally Arthur took pity on me, took the little one into the living room so I could get a few hours' sleep.

Today my brain is just melting. Alex had a 3 hour nap and is still fussy and crying. I understand. Weather like this should be against the law.

They were crying on the news this morning that they have cooling centers open all night and nobody is using them and that it costs $ 30 000 to do that. Well, one needs to GET to the cooling center, does one not? And how to do that with half the buses and all streetcars with no air conditioning? They would be better off handing water out to the homeless and ensuring all seniors are in a cool, airy place.

In other news, Castro has TEMPORARILY relinquished power to his brother Raul. People in Miami are celebrating. Hold on there, people, this is a temporary measure. This man is made of titanium and will even rule from the grave.

Monday, July 17, 2006

Dog Days



















Quite pissed at work now. Was supposed to get raise. Raise will not happen. I got an "let's see in three months, shall we?" No, let's not! Also have two people I have to work with who know absolutely everything about everything. I suppose it must be quite comforting to them to know so much and have nothing to learn. It drives me up the wall. One of them reminds me of my sister, which is annoying enough. If she has my sister's characteristics too, things will be quite difficult. I suppose it's looking like it's becoming time for pengirl to sharpen her resume and hit the boulevard. Motivation to do stuff at work - ZERO!

Things seem to happen in bunches in my life lately. I've been thinking about my friendships and how they've changed over time. I worry that one especially may have and it makes me sad.

But really, my brain is melting from all this heat. Toronto is sweltering. My poor husband and baby are at home in our hot appartment. Hopefully they have turned the a/c on.

GRRRR to it all!