#19 on the life list (a.k.a. Cookie Challenge)

A while back I wrote about starting a life list. Back then I had only six items on my list, or perhaps only six that I was willing to share at the time. I'm up to nineteen items on my list now.

Number nineteen started brewing this past Sunday. I was having a wonky day. I dropped a thirty dollar cake in its box onto our living room floor and had a bit of a freak out over it. (The cake tasted fine that evening. It just didn't look as beautiful as it had in the store.) Anyway, after Hubby did his best at comforting me, making me laugh, and talking about how my freak out had very little to do with the cake face plant and more to do with other things, we decided to go to The Annex for a stroll.

I just love that stretch of Bloor St W! Music stores, book stores, clothing stores, furniture, food, and coffee all in one lovely five block strip. We went into BMV Books to poke around the shelves for kitchen design ideas. There's nothing like a little book store browsing to perk up my mood. Before diving in to the architecture and design books Hubby and I browsed the cookbooks. Hubby found this:



I love to bake! This book is like a gold mine for me! Since it was only nine dollars, it felt like an extra sweet deal. We bought it (along with two kitchen books).

I took a closer look at the book once I got it home. The first sixty-five pages is dedicated to discussion on ingredients, tools, technique, storage, and presentation.




The remaining 160 or so pages is recipes. Everything from fancy to savoury.




I was reading up on ingredients when our friend arrived for dinner on Sunday night. We started talking about the book, my love of all things related to baking, and it dawned on me that I could actually make every cookie in the book. Our friend pointed out that I'd better start an exercise program if I didn't want to gain 100 lbs in the process. That is an unfortunate side effect of having a sweet tooth and loving to bake.

After sleeping on the idea for a few nights, I've decided to take on my Cookie Challenge. I'm going to make every single cookie recipe in The Cookie Book - that's over 200 different cookies, according to the book. The Cookie Challenge is now number nineteen on the life list.

I do not think I will make the cookies in the order they are in the book. There's an entire kids' cookie section, so I'll have to work my way through those as occasions arise.

Train cookies:




Name cookies that could be used as place cards:




As a means to gather opinions on the cookies and avoid out growing my clothes, I shall share generously with co-workers, friends, and neighbours. One of my co-workers is already quite excited about this. Perhaps a little rating card will be developed to track my results.

The big question is: what cookie will be first?

Home ownership = less blogging

Well, it is official. Since we bought our house in January, I've blogged a lot less. I don't even know if I've shared pictures of my recent crochet projects! What has come over me?!

Sad news for me, but happy news for my blog readers: Hubby is leaving the province for five or six months to work on his television show (his very own television show!). I think his absence will translate into more blogging on my part.

Blog entries I have in mind:

update on the life list
update on crochet projects
my planned cookie challenge
pottery update with pictures
likely many pathetic entries on how lonely I am

Stay tuned!

RMR

I'm Canadian. I'm a typical Canadian. When I see a celebrity I tend to poke the person next to me and say, "Hey, look. It's what's her name from that movie." I consider it rude to approach someone in a restaurant for an autograph. I may take a second look if I see a celeb in Yorkville, but I'd never try to chat them up. Firstly, I wouldn't know what to say and secondly, it's just got to be so weird for them. I'd make a fool of myself and they'd have to suffer through yet another awkward fan moment.

Having stated the above, I behaved a tiny bit like a star struck fan on Friday night. Hubby took me to see the Rick Mercer Report. I just love Rick Mercer! He's funny and intelligent. He seems humble. He looks fantastic in a suit. He can laugh at himself. He's adventurous and seems to have a good heart. Even though he plays for the other team, I do have a little kissy face fantasy about him.

Here's me and Hubby in line and me with my ticket:





I was pretty excited!


Here's Rick at his desk during the taping!




After the taping of the show, Hubby and I waited around to chat with the director (a business acquaintance of Hubby's) and we were the last guests to leave the studio. We stood in a line that we thought was for the elevator. Along came an assistant who asked us if we wanted an autograph. Hubby immediately answered, "No." The assistant told us to follow her to the elevator. (We'd been standing in the autograph line.) Before I knew it, I was about to step on an elevator and miss my chance to meet Rick! I took a peak over my right shoulder and saw Rick signing autographs and having his picture taken with fans. I wanted a picture! I wanted a autograph! I turned to Hubby and sheepishly told him that I wanted to get back in line. Even though I had to put up with Hubby teasing me, it was completely worth it!

Everything New

Ever have one of those days when everything around you seems fresh and new and lovely? It's one of those days when just about anything seems possible. I had one of those days today. I had an appointment with my new family doctor - he rocks! People I passed on the streets of Toronto just seemed more open and friendly. The bus driver even seemed to be in a good mood! People on my street waved and said hello as I passed by.

I love days like this. I feel like everything I have to get done will get done easily and happily. I can even see the gifts and possibilities in things that don't go according to plan. Time seems to go by at just the right pace.

I like today. Today is a good day.

Nice morning

I love getting up on a weekend morning when the rest of my street is still asleep. I get to putter around quietly. I think. I do a few dishes. I make coffee and frothy milk. I crack open the newspaper.

Nice morning.

Old recipe is good comfort food

I felt a little blue off and on today. If I don't feed myself properly, my blues always get the best of me for a few hours. So, before leaving work today I put my food-thinking cap on and focused myself on nourishing myself tonight.

Great Hubby usually does the cooking around here. He had lots of practice making delicious food from almost nothing in fridge in his previous incarnation as a starving artist and short order cook. Since his television show has taken off, Hubby has had less and less time for nourishing the Good Wife. I am not complaining, just admitting that I am out of practice and a wee bit lazy in the food department.

I thought I would make a simple shrimp salad that I found on Epicurious.com. On my way to the fish monger it occurred to me that I used to have quite a few delicious and easy recipes that I prepared for myself all those years ago. A specific recipe jumped into my mind - White Bean Pasta Sauce. Incredibly, the ingredients came to mind right away and I was able to pick up a few required items at the No Frills.

I am now a happy gal with a tummy full of yummy pasta with white bean sauce. I'm not blue and I'm not hungry.

Life list

I read an article in the Sunday New York Times a couple of weeks ago. It was about life lists. You know, the things-I-have-to-do-before-I-die list. I've been thinking about my own life list ever since.

It's not an easy list to write. I'm being very careful about what I put on the list. I'm asking myself if the idea is really, truly something that I want to make happen. If I get a hint that I have some romantic, unrealistic idea, I don't put it on the list right away. I think about it some more and really figure out what it is exactly that I want to do.

Here's some of what I have so far:

1) Travel to Prague
2) Make a tea pot on the wheel
3) Learn more about Excel than I know now (I only now the very basics)
4) Publish a crochet pattern
5) Help build a Habitat home
6) Travel to Italy (I think I want to take a culinary course there)

I've inspired someone at work to do his own list. He's really shooting high! I feel my list is a quite conservative compared to his, but I'm comfortable with how I'm approaching it.

Watch for more updates to the list!

August fun

I am serenading Summer goodbye. It has been a lovely season.

Here's a re-cap of my August.

Peach preserves with my lovely co-worker and friend. Chutney and relish.





Hubby and I had dinner and drinks with Joe, in town on his way to St. Lucia. Here's my delicious Pear Martini from The Drake:



And here is Hubby and Joe on the rooftop patio at The Drake. Hubby likes to pretend he's having a horrible time because he doesn't like getting his photo taken.



I was lucky to catch the reception for AWOL Gallery's Square Foot exhibit with my friend Mary who had three pieces in the show. What a great show! The reception was fabulous! Funky music, cold beer, and tons of hip art lovers. Hubby and I bought a piece and I can't wait to get it home!

Here's Mary, in town for a holiday and this show. Check out the square foot pieces behind her and then imagine a huge room with each wall covered in columns and rows of these paintings!




Here's me and Mary enjoying our hanging out time:



What else did I do in August?

A ferry ride back to the main land after a lovely wedding on Algonquin Island. Here's the beautiful view:



Alley Jaunt the day after the wedding. It doesn't look like much in this photo, but there is really interesting art to see and people to meet. My favourite was the poet Simla Civelek in the VW Van. Check it out next August!



An added bonus on the Jaunt - a bath tub of basil! I could smell it before I could see it. It was incredibly fragrant!



Half way through the Jaunt we stopped for nourishment at the funky, yummy Get Real on Ossington. Check out the grape in my water - delicious! (There's my guide and Alley Jaunt passport. I have my passport at work with all its cool stamps and marks. A nice reminder of a lovely month.)



Another lovely August event was a wee bridal shower at La Tea Da on Queen East. Here's the High Tea tray that we enjoyed. (Can you tell I like food?)

Weird homeowner stuff

I have lots of really fun things to blog about, but first I have to get a rant out of the way.

When I thought of being a homeowner again, I never expected I'd have to deal with a sick (or possibly just lazy) pigeon hanging out in the entry way to our tenant's basement apartment. I found the pigeon there last night around seven o'clock. I heard something scuffling about and, knowing our tenant is out of town, went to check it out. At first I thought it was a skunk. At closer inspection I realized it was a fat pigeon. It seemed injured or a little sick. It didn't even flinch with Hubby tossed a pebble close to it to see if it would move along on its own. It just sat in the corner and added to its dung pile.

I called the Humane Society and they directed me to the City. I called the City and was told they'd only send someone after-hours if it was a real emergency. I wasn't willing to get close enough to the bird to assess for a 'real emergency'. I was told that even if it was a real emergency I'd have to put the bird in a box before anyone would be dispatched to get it. That's right, Folks. I would have to corner the pigeon, pick it up, and put it in a box myself. No thanks. (At this point I'm thank the Universe that it's not a skunk)! She couldn't tell me if the shelter would expect me to handle the bird in the morning. I was told to call back at 8:30am.

I call at 8:30am. I was told the shelter doesn't open until 10:30 on Sundays.

I call back at 11am. I get dispatch again and begin protesting a bit about being told the shelter would be open to help me with a sick pigeon on my property. I'm told I don't need the shelter, that I need dispatch and please go ahead and describe the issue. I describe. I am asked if the bird is in a box and ready for pick-up. I protest again and tell a white lie (that I am pregnant and can't handle the bird for risk of disease). (Hubby and I are trying to conceive, but no bun in the oven yet). I am told that I don't have to handle the bird, I just have to cover it with a box, for example a Blue Box and that once I do that I should call back and they'll send someone. I tell them to send someone now because I am going to go outside immediately and put a Blue Box over the bird. I am told to call back when the bird is under the box.

I place a Blue Box over the bird on the second try. I call the City and am told someone will be there within an hour.

That was at 11:05am. It is now 1:40pm.

I just called the City again. My pigeon is the 'next' call.

I'm not holding my breath.

Sick laptop

I have lots to blog about, but I'm having laptop issues!

I have photos and stories and opinions to share, but not enough time on Hubby's computer to do it the way I want.

Thanks for your patience while I wait for my laptop to come home from the hospital.

toooooooo hot

It is just toooooooo bloody hot to come up with anything interesting to write!

I have settled on a list to you all informed.

* Making peach preserves with lovely co-worker/friend this Saturday. This idea was inspired by my small success with pears last weekend.

* Getting the Volkswagon Bug from Mom & Dad on Sunday while they go off to England and Scotland.

* Wonderful Hubby is planning wonderful brunch as a nice send off for Mom & Dad.

* Hair trim took place last night. My hair dresser told me that if someone had bet him that he'd ever see my hair this long, he would have lost the bet. I would have lost the bet too. For years I forced Joe to keep my hair in a funky, butchy short cut. Hubby inspired me to let it grow. THANKS, HUB!

* I'm all about thick yogurt these days. Yogurt cheese that I eat with fruit and honey or my pear preserves. I just keeping buying containers of yogurt and letting it sit in the fridge in cheese cloth and a sieve.

* It is Friday of a long weekend and I am thankful.

* Going to hang out with a friend on Sunday who has access to a fancy house in Guelph this weekend. A/C and swimming pool, here we come!

Oh! I almost forgot this:

* I ate ice cream from Madeleines for lunch yesterday (the hottest day of the summer so far)! Watermelon sherbert with chocolate covered toasted oats that looked like watermelon seeds. It was heaven!

Last weekend of July in Toronto

Look what we were gifted this weekend! My mom and dad brought us their old bbq, all reconditioned and freshened up! We've already given it a couple of test drives. Above is a picture of lovely bok choy that hit the grill first. Shortly followed by:



Burgers! Yummy! We tried a simple recipe from Foodtv.ca. Delicious!

On Sundays when we have access to a car, we get ourselves to the Beaches (I know the area is officially known as the Beach, but it doesn't roll off my tongue or fingertips as easily as Beaches does) to enjoy Konditor. Our favourite pastry place in Toronto. There is a lot more to Konditor than their pastries; they have quiches, salads and sandwiches that are all amazing. The house coffee is to die for! We partake in little bit of everything, plus the Sunday New York Times.

Here is a picture of Hubby and our friend who also worships the Viennese pastries:



The last few times we've gone to Konditor, we've headed to the Liberty Village Farmers' Market before going home. We discovered some kick ass pickled garlic here. We've had the regular and the spicy pickled garlic, as well as the garlic relish. Incredible! I served the pickled garlic at my sister's party earlier this month and it was big hit.

Today we kept to our ritual and headed to Liberty Village. Lucky thing, too, since the garlic people won't be back in Toronto until the Cabbagetown festival. I loaded up with two kinds of relish and pickled garlic ends (they are not called ends, but I don't want to go downstairs to look at the jar right now).

A kind merchant pointed me in the right direction for pears. I've been waiting for the Ontario pears to be ready so that I could make some pear reserves. One of the farmers had lovely little sugar pears. I bought about five pounds.

Here's me after working for three hours on Gingered Pear Preserves:



A labour of love. My feet are aching and my back hurts, but I yielded eleven 250ml jars and a few taste tests to share with Hubby and friend. Not bad for being without most of my fancy canning equipment. I improvised and did quite well - no burns or scalds, only delicious preserves.

Crochet weekend

It's finished! The spiderweb cardigan (a.k.a. The Muppet Cardigan) is done! I finished it at the Alterknit counter over a bottle of organic lemon lime fizzy drink and a butter tart. (I'm in love with the butter tarts!) Check out the sweater:





Detail shot:




Once the sweater really starting taking shape, I wasn't sure I was liking it. I started to think it was looking a bit matronly. Mezzodiva helped me see how it would work on my petite self if I keep it open at the front and keep the sleeves at 3/4 length. All I need now is a couple of really nice tanks or camis to wear under it. I can't wait to show it off at work!

Here's something I whipped up last night:



This is my version of a jean skirt project idea in Interweave Crochet's Spring 2007 issue (page 9). Nancy Marchant's project was 2/3 crochet and 1/3 jean. I wasn't so sure about those proportions, but I like the idea of combining jean with crochet.

While shopping with my lovely cousin last month at Value Village, I found a jean skirt for $5.99. I used two balls of Cantata cotton crepe DK (colour 9480) to make this fringe. I followed the basic instructions from Interweave for the length, but then veered off from there. I picked the pattern from one of my crochet stitch guides. It's called SC Magic. Tight single crochets are used to make the medallion shapes.

Here's a detail shot:



This is really my first pattern creation! I think it's a good start.

Here's the vision, after some sewing has taken place:




The original pattern was worked as a ring. I decided to keep the slit in my skirt, so I worked it up straight across without joining it. I like how it will ruffle when it is gathered during the sewing.

Hubby's not so sure about this project, but I think I can pull it off with the right shoes and accessories. It's good bbq or day trip wear.

top secret project revealed!

I am drinking beer and eating chili. I'm alone in the house. It's a perfect time to update the blog. This may be short and sweet because I want to get to the spiderweb cardigan tonight. (I've started the sleeves!)

So, first off, here are a couple of cute photos of me crocheting the top secret project (scroll down a bit in that older post)! I can finally show you since the big reveal happened on Saturday.



This is me at Alterknit working on the crocheted wrap. Tiny little clusters. The retro Vogue pattern calls them petals.





Here's Lucy (you can see my hair just beside her) showing off the wrap at a Blue Jays' game in late May. I've been working on the wrap since March and have taken almost everywhere.



When I started the project every row took about 25 minutes to complete. My friend Glenice can vouch for that, since I started it while bunking with her at Nottawasaga Inn for the annual work retreat. (I think I actually started it in the car on the way up there. I wasn't driving.) By the time I finished I had my time down to 17 minutes. I forgot to count how many rows I did, so I can't give you a grand total of hours. Next time I see my sis I'll take a peak at the wrap, do the calculations and report back.




Here's my sis opening the gift at her 40th birthday bbq (shared with her hubby, since they both turn 40 this summer).






Sis showing off the beautiful wrap! She loved it!

Something I learned from making this project: switch up your projects, especially if they are big like this one. I worked only on this wrap for months. My arm started aching from the repeated motion. I had to go to physio for a few weeks to recover!


Other photos from June:



Me in Prince Edward County for a wee vacation. Hubby and I had a lovely time tasting wines and eating good food.





Long Dog Vineyard & Winery. Beautiful place. Too bad it wasn't open. I'll just have to go back!




The library in Wellington. Hubby had to visit because he was jonesing for an email check. I love libraries and this one is so easy on the eyes!




Me and Janine! She visited from BC for a few days before going off to see the parentals and grandparentals in another city. We had a great time crocheting - see below! We spent almost an entire day at Knitomatic.



Janine is working on a practice swatch. She's already altering patterns! I can't wait to see what she comes up with on her own!

Lots of nice things

I've had a luxurious life recently. I've been able to do a lot of things I enjoy.

A dear, dear friend from BC stayed with us for two days. She's smart, funny, open, adventurous, and so easy to be around. I just love her! She wanted to learn crochet, so we parked ourselves at Knitomatic on Friday and I did a little teaching. She's off and running with Haley's grocery bag pattern and some Super 10 cotton!

We went to The Paper Place and I managed to spend only $5! That's a first! I bought a mini grab bag of paper ends. Can't wait to make some new collage cards!

Just down the street, we popped into Fresh Collective to pick up a T-shirt that Mandy was repairing for me. See Vacation Friday entry for more on Mandy and my love of her designs. I am now coveting one of her belts.

We had a lovely Mexican dinner on Baldwin Street at Margaritas with BC friend and two Toronto friends. The sangria and margaritas were flowing and the tacos were super messy! Not a good first date meal. Thank goodness I'm off the market. But, I digress. Baldwin Street is just such a lovely little piece of Toronto, especially on a warm summer night. It makes everything in life seem perfect. So, perfect that you don't want the evening to end. This led us to College Street for Big Chill ice cream - yum!

Hubby and I watched Pan's Labyrinth on Saturday night. Such a good movie! Last night we caught up on Entourage and watched this week's episode this morning. Thank you Roger's On Demand.

Sunday morning we brunched with our Sunday New York Times and tv writer friend at Cucina. It was pure Sunday morning luxury that lasted 4 hours.

I checked out Cafe Taste for the first time last night with some new friends. I like new friends and I like Cafe Taste.

I'm speeding right along on the Spiderweb Cardigan. Photo later this week - stay tuned!

It's nice outside that box

Aaaaaahhhhhhh. You know sometimes you just have to break the rules a little bit, use your good reputation to your own advantage, tell a little white (or not so white, yet harmless) lie, and then revel in the feeling of doing something really, really good for yourself.

I used to be a rule follower to the point of bending myself into very uncomfortable pretzel positions. I'm so glad that a few people in my life have gently taught me that it is ok to step outside that box once in awhile. Thanks, Friends! You know who you are.

Coniglio subbuglio

I couldn't resist posting this Italian rabbit story.

Vacation Friday

Here is the promised picture of my at Knitomatic starting on the Spiderweb Cardigan (aka the Muppet Cardigan).



I love the top I am wearing here. I get compliments on it whenever I wear it. I bought it at One of a Kind a couple of years ago. It is a Mandala Design top by Mandy Armstrong. I have 4 of Mandy's tops and I love ALL of them. In fact, I get compliments on all of them.

This morning I am off to the dreaded Dufferin Mall, but hopefully early enough to miss the crowds. Hubby and I are tardy getting our health cards and driver's licenses updated. (What an odd little word - tardy. It even feels different in the mouth from other words.) Anyway, the Duff Mall has a handy kiosk for updating our records with the government, plus it has a fantastic No Frills. I need more cherries and No Frills has them for dirt cheap, unlike my beloved Kensington Market.

This afternoon I will be enjoying glorious naked beach lounging at Hanlon's Point. I don't make it out to the island as much as I'd like, so I am really looking forward to the ferry ride and beach relaxation. And, yes, the nudity. It just feels right for me.

knit-along, new projects & vacation plans

I'm on two weeks vacation. I started it with the TTC Knit-along last weekend. I don't have too much to say about it, other than I met some cool people, bought some luxurious Misti Cotton, and I finished my not-so-secret project (thank goodness!). My pics below. (check out flickr for TONS of great photos of the knit-along) Someone took a great picture of me and my not-so-secret project, but I shall not publish it until the secret is revealed to the appropriate persons.

Here is my latte from Alterknit - got to love the i deal coffee latte



Here are Melinda's Alterknit waffles. The waffles were a big hit with many of the gals.



After Alterknit, the Central team was off to Knit-o-matic. I walked along with Carol and Anu, since the weather was so amazing! Here is a picture of the portable project (another market bag) that I worked on when I was walking or on the TTC. The not-so-secret project required dedicated sitting time without other distractions.



Here is a great picture of me with my newly purchased Misti Cotton in light blue twist. This yarn is pure luxury - a cotton and silk blend! Two or three of the gals consulted with me and all purred about their love of the Misti Cotton.



Thanks to some comments on this picture on Facebook, the yarn is now known as the Muppet Cardigan. I've never touched a Muppet, but I if they are super soft, silky, and just a dream to run your fingers over, then this yarn is a cousin or half-sibling.

My sister commented that she thought I was holding a baby. That Misti Cotton is my baby! Right after I paid for it I asked Carol to take my picture. Last night at Stitch 'n Bitch at Knit-o-matic, I asked Haley to take a couple of pictures of the beginnings of the cardigan (Spiderweb Cardigan from Interweave Crochet Spring 2007). I'll post those later, although I had to rip those first few rows out due to my mis-reading the pattern.

After ripping out and re-starting, following the pattern very slowly and carefully, I still had problems with how the beginnings and endings of the rows build on each other. I'm also not sure if the first chain 3 on the foundation row is counted as a stitch. I've sent a friendly email off to Interweave to inquire.

I've also started a dressy T-shirt in Salmon Berry Red cotton fleece from Brown Sheep (the colour is not listed on their site). This pattern is straight forward so far and I'll work on that while I wait to hear back from Interweave.

Other vacation plans:

Hubby and I will be staying for two nights at Ganders Bed & Breakfast in Prince Edward County. I can't wait! We'll visit some local vineyards and potters' studios, play a few cribbage games by the water, and enjoy the jacuzzi in our room.

Hubby is off to Winnipeg for business for a couple of days next week as well. While he's gone I'll do some errands for the 40th birthday party I am planning for my sis and her hubby (their birthdays are a month apart this summer) and hopefully do some relaxing with a girlfriend.

I think there are some patio afternoons in my future too.

Not enough time

There is just not enough time in my life to crochet. There are so many projects that I want to do and I fear not even half of them will get made. I think I just have to start a bunch of projects and rotate my attention. I've figured out that focusing on one thing only makes my forearm ache. I also get a little bored.

Maybe if Hubby makes it super big in the Canadian Television industry (ya, right)(that is to say that Canadian tv doesn't pay BIG like in the USofA... not to say that Hubby won't make it big), I'll be able to quit work and just crochet and sew. (I have a great sewing machine, but it still intimidates me even after taking a course).

I will be participating in the International KIP Day TTC Knit-A-Long (or in my case Crochetalong) this Saturday. In preparation, tonight I will peruse some patterns and figure out what yarns to scout for. I just bought a couple of vintage/retro cool pattern books. Now all I need is time.

Scary medicine

This scares me.

Loser says what?

I just arrived at work. I went directly to my bike bag to retrieve my keys. The keys are not in my bike bag. I reach for my knapsack and do another search in the side pockets. Sure enough, the bloody keys are exactly where they should be! I had the keys the whole time I was 'locked out' last night! They had tucked themselves down into the pocket, passed two girlie hair things and a butterfly paper clip.

not like when I was a kid

Several times when I was a kid (and by 'kid' I mean teenager), I'd forget my keys to the house. I had usually left them in the house without knowing it. I would arrive on the doorstep of my parents' house after school and start digging through my bag, sometimes emptying all the contents before resigning myself. I'd end up across the street at the neighbours'. A few times I was able to slide open the window to my parents' room and climb in. You should be impressed - my parents' room was on the second floor. One time I wasn't so successful and the entire window crashed in. Not such a happy evening for 2D Girl.

Tonight, when I was about 100 yards from my front doorstep, I realized that I'd left my keys in my bike bag at work. I turned around and walked to the park. I called Hubby to let him know. I sat on a bench until I was too chilly and then walked to the Bistro for an espresso.

I sat at the bar, read some neighbourhood news and tried to be patient with a Stella sipping crazy lady two stools away. (She looked perfectly harmless. I am disappointed that my usually fine tuned Crazy-o-metre was on the fritz. Damn you, Crazy-o-metre! Damn you!) If it hadn't been for Crazy Stella Lady, I would have had a fully corrective locked-out-of-the-house experience.

KR was right & other updates

My friend, KR, told me weeks ago that the only way to really get your boxes unpacked after a move is to set a date for a party. I've been beating myself up for the never-ending mess in the house: boxes, tools, clothing not put away, baseboards missing. The list goes on and on. I've struggled with feeling incredibly lazy and just trying to keep up with our regular life - eating, laundry, making a lunch for work.

My nephews are coming to stay with us on the first weekend in June. I want them to have a room to sleep in. Finally I have a deadline to get that second bedroom organized. I made a really good dent in it this weekend. I think I got rid of about 7 more boxes. I can probably do three more before we eat dinner.

KR was right; you need a deadline to force yourself to face the boxes.

I'm already feeling a lot better about the house than I did last week. It gets depressing living in clutter and disorganization. I just have to keep doing a little bit every chance I get.

Other updates:

I'm making good progress on a secret crochet project. I can't tell you anymore than that, hence the name 'secret crochet project'.

I'm almost done with the purse kit that Haley 'donated' to my crochet cause. Once all the crochet is done Haley will finish it up with a bit of sewing that I don't have the patience for. I think the finished project will be really nice.

I've picked out 5 skeins of Berry Red Cotton Fleece to make a camisole/T-shirt for myself. I'll start this once the secret project is done. It's going to look great!

I went to a very sexy wedding reception on the weekend at The Sultan's Tent on Front Street. The food and wine were fantastic! The decor is beautiful, red, golds, and dark wood (set up as Moroccan tents). The belly dancing was the sexiest wedding entertainment I've ever seen! It was really very nice.

Fate:

Hubby and I have been together for over four years now. In all those years. We have not had one summer vacation together. His work tends to pick up right around March or April and is going strong by June, July and August. I need to take a summer vacation every year to cope with burn out symptoms.

This year Hubby started a gig in April and told me that there would be a hiatus in June. My vacation was booked for the last two weeks of June; the hiatus, of course, was scheduled for the first two weeks. I was actually successful in getting one of my weeks rescheduled so that Hubby and I could take a week together. I made him promise to get out of town with me for a night or two. I even started researching some road trip ideas.

Happily, a week or so ago, Hubby found out that his television project is going to make it to camera! He gave notice at his job and started to have meetings about his own project. It only took me a couple of days to figure out that our vacation plans were mostly down the toilet. It seems like Hubby will actually be in Winnipeg the week that we planned to go on a little road trip.

Fate is against us. Shall I go to Winnipeg? Shall I crash the business trip, be the tag-along wife? I have mixed feelings. I can hang with Hubby's sister, whom I like very much. I'll get to go to my favourite breakfast joint The Falafel Place on Corydon Avenue and my favourite steak house Rae and Jerry's (50s flashback extraordinaire). The major problem would be the 'industry talk'. I am not exaggerating when I say that the industry talk will likely be 24-7. There's only so much a girl can take.

(If you are ever in Winnipeg, you MUST get to Rae and Jerry's. The waitresses still wear red polyester dresses and serve tomato juice in a glass on a saucer. The decor is new, but reminiscent of the original - wood paneling and red vinyl, with carpet throughout.)

No wax it

Since Spring seems to finally have sprung, I decided I'd better get the fur off my legs. It wasn't enough that three weeks ago Hubby rubbed his foot down my shin, as we cuddled in bed, and asked me if I was wearing socks. He almost peed himself right there in bed when I indignantly replied, "NO! That's my leg hair! Humph!"

I made an appointment at my local pedicure/manicure/kids haircutting combo shop for the end of the work week. It's a little dumpy, but they're friendly and the price is right. When I go there I try not to think too much about the industry standards for sterile equipment.

Anyway, I hop up on the table in my undies and t-shirt ready for the leg wax. There's a bruise on my left knee - all purple and green - and a raw quarter size scrape just above it. (A couple of nights ago I tripped on a cement pad near one of those lovely almost dead city sidewalk trees. Major body skid. Knocked the wind out of me.) The whole knee is looking quite ugly.

She's making her way down my left leg and I can't believe it when she swipes the wax over the scrape! I know what's coming next and before I can even protest she presses the cloth strip on it and RIIIIIIIIIPS! FUUUUUUUUUUCK! The scrape starts bleeding and oozing immediately. I don't know what to do; my wax is only a 1/4 finished and there's an obvious imbalance of power since I'm laying there in my undies and she's got the hot wax.

Before I know it she's going after it AGAIN! This time I react, but she says, 'Oh, no. I didn't get it. No wax it. That would hurt you bad. No wax on it. Just around it.' Does she think I can't see?! I mean, I do only have one eye, but the other one works fine! I mumble something like, 'Oh. From this angle it looks like there's wax on it.' Does she think the scrape just spontaneously bleeds and oozes?!

Current status of knee scrape: stinging and oozy, sticking to everything that touches it. Ouch! Hubby is getting some serious sadistic thrills from sneaking touches when I'm not looking. Bad boy!

For a laugh like you have never laughed before, check out this related story from The Best of Craigslist! Women may related more than men.

A break from unpacking

This is my little break from unpacking and doing house stuff. We've been up since 5am (I know, I know!) just because that is when we woke up. I lay in bed for awhile and got up just before 6. We've been working on Hubby's office since about 9:30. We're just taking a coffee break and then it is back to the work, work, work.

I make it sound like we are busting our butts unpacking and setting up the house. Honestly, I feel we are taking our sweet ass time. It is hard living regular life with work, cooking, cleaning, laundry, socializing and also setting up the house. We've sort of become used to getting by without all of our stuff accessible.

Truth by told, I would rather read the paper or crochet when I have free time. I've noticed that I'm thinking more and more about baking again, making granola and scones and cakes. If I'm going to bake I have to get the kitchen fully set up.

Now that we are living in the house and we've emptied our storage locker, I notice how much stuff we have that we A) don't have room for, B) have not used, C) will likely never use. One problem we have is that our basement is an apartment for a tenant, so things that other people keep in their basements (large Rubbermaid containers filled with gift wrap, winter clothes, extra dishes for parties, wigs and boas for occasional dress up fun) we just don't have room for.

Well, Hubby is making some lunch and then we are off to the big Duff Mall (on a Saturday - YIKES!) to update our health cards and licenses at the convenient kiosk. I might may a pit stop at Reitmans for some pants for work. Hopefully we'll order the blinds for the apartment on our way home.

Out and about crocheting

This is me at The Paddock crocheting on Monday night. Hubby and I arrived early for a little welcome home celebration for our tv writer friend
who's been away in Vancouver for what seems like forever. So, there I am with my Let's Take a Shower martini (made with real raspberry puree) in front of me while I happily crochet on a lovely summer shawl for my sis. Their XM Radio was tuned to a great rocker station. I'm feeling like I'm in my own heaven - a little Led Zeppelin, a good tart drink, my crochet and my Hubby. All was well until I got half way through the second Let's Take a Shower and I realized the crochet had to go away. More than one raspberry martini and delicate cotton crochet clusters do not mix.

Check out the action on my hands? I look like a super hero crocheter!

First day alone with the house

Today I was alone in the house for the first time. I had the luxury of puttering at my own pace, doing this and that, talking out loud to myself and then going out to do errands. It may not sound like much, but I LOVE being at home alone. Hubby often works from home or keeps house when he is between contracts, which means most of the time I spend at home is spent with him.

There is something about puttering on my own that motivates me. I even made a quick stop at Yorkdale to pick up one more curtain panel. I would never have done this on a holiday Monday if Hubby was with me... well, maybe not never, but it would have happened with a bit of stress - the jam packed parking lot, the crowds roaming the mall; he would have hated it.