Apparently One Monday This Week Wasn't Enough

This morning started off with cat yak. Specifically, cat yak on the bed. Have you ever woken up that way? I don't recommend it.

Only partly awake, I struggled to pull the duvet off the bed so I could throw the cover in to wash. I hung the soggy duvet off the back of my favourite Yowler's sleeping chair so that I could survey the damage, then realized my eyes were refusing to focus and it would have to wait until I was actually functional. I found a couple of blankets, threw one over Lunchtruck (who hadn't yet progressed past the ...snore...Wha?... part of consciousness) checked on Her Highness (who was looking very ashamed because of course, she'd done the yakking, poor thing), and went back to bed with only one coherent thought:

Oh, it's gonna be a doozy of a day.

After walking to work in the slush I was pretty sure of it. I love the city I live in, but I have a poor opinion of the state of some of it's streets, especially in the Yaletown/Downtown area. Perhaps it's because of all the construction, but there are some areas that are difficult to negotiate dry or wet, and when it's slushing they are downright treacherous. I'm talking potholes with potholes, crevices big enough to catch a size 5 foot in, pavement so uneven that vehicles bounce when they go over it, thus requiring any female drivers to invest in steel-girdered bras... Basically it was slippy and slidey with a side of scary.

Eventually I got to work (late) and had to start my work day sans tea - not great, but I could manage that for one day. Midmorning I decided to prep the oatmeal I'd brought with me; I managed to get the water and oatmeal into the container without mishap, got it into the microwave without spilling, putting in only HALF the amount of time suggested and...

You know what's coming, right?

The damn container exploded.

The microwaveable one I've been using on and off for the past 6 months. The one I've NEVER had a problem with before. That one.

I opened the door, looked in and started giggling. I couldn't help it.

Still giggling I asked the lady who runs the cafeteria for a cloth so I could clean up the mess. She took one look at the the tray I was holding, and she started giggling.

Apparently she thought it looked like yak.

I lost it. I was laughing so hard I could barely breath, and she was right there with me. My morning had been a fiasco, and there was nothing I could do about it.

The good news? The Monday Godz took pity on me, because the rest of the day went smoothly. Well, except for the fact that I got mistaken for someone's ex-girlfriend during my lunch break, but that's another story...

The Cocooning Continues

I spent most of the freezing cold Vancouver weekend in my jammies. My mauve fleece jammies with skiing penguins on them, to be exact.

You'd think a grown woman wouldn't do that sort of thing anymore, but in my world this is a much-needed regular occurrence. In fact, it's safe to say that I've become quite fierce about my jammy days, and once decided on I rarely give them up.

The reason is simple - a day in jammies comes accompanied with endless pots of tea, hours under the duvet with a book or an old movie, and feline accompaniment of the most approving sort (because really, the only time they don't approve of lazing about is when tummy alarms are ringing). In short, it's a day when I don't have to answer to anyone (literally) and a chance to get my equilibrium back after a week or three of dealing with silly twits misguided individuals.

I think that's worth defending.

This time round was particularly satisfying - I had some paperback mysteries, a movie, and, a pot of Jasmine tea. I rarely drink Jasmine, but since National Hot Tea month has been declared by my neighbours to the South, I figured why not show a little solidarity? So I tried something new, and plan to try a few other new teas this month, although another jammy day isn't on the horizon any time soon.

Oh, and if you want to learn more about NHTM, why not visit Christine, the lovely proprietress of Morning Coffee and Afternoon Tea?

Ruminating

I'm making changes on this site again, trying to find a more comfortable fit. I've toyed with the idea of turning this into a photoblog since photography is my first love, but won't make a decision on that until I sort out some photo-hosting issue. I've been using flickr, but am at a crossroads - do I pay for a pro account or do I search for something different? Input is appreciated.

I know all bloggers come to this point eventually - they need a change of scenery, a change in direction, a change in topic. Eventually I'll come to some sort of decision, so for those who do visit, thanks for stopping in, and bear with me will ya?

So Long 2006

So Long 2006, originally uploaded by Ms Cin.

I've closed the books, filed (most) of the papers, considered a wrap party, but in the end, I think we did well to part so quietly.

Here's looking at you kid.

Thursday Thirteen #24, Phrasing

* Header Graphic by Mandy

13 Phrases I Wish I'd Used More In 2006

1. Yes.
2. Thank you.
3. Please.
4. That was kind/thoughtful/sweet.
5. I missed you.
   
6. I like you.
7. I respect you.
8. I love you.
9. No.
   
10. No, that doesn't fit into my plans right now.
11. No, I don't see me changing my mind about that.
12. I need to consider that for a while before giving you an answer.
    
13. That's not something I discuss with strangers.
    

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

The Birthday

Today was my grandmother's 85th birthday. For those of you who were in town, you know it was surprisingly pleasant, weather-wise; the sun shone, the air was mild, there was even a hint of warmth.

I always have a tough time coming up with a gift for my gran. Over the past few years she's got rid of many things as a way of decluttering her home, and I don't like to add to that, so 'stuff' isn't something I consider seriously.

This year I opted for the gift of time together - we (my mom, gran and I) met at the Vancouver Art Gallery and checked out the Emily Carr exhibit, then had lunch at the Gallery Cafe. I had already been quite a few times, and though that as neither my mom or gran had been yet, I might be able to give them something special.

For my grandmother it was like visiting old friends - some of the paintings were part of the gallery's permanent collection, and she commented on them as we stopped to enjoy them. Others were generously on loan from other galleries across Canada and the world, and became new acquaintances. Those that she liked she spent a little longer with, and those that didn't please her she gave a respectful bit of time, but didn't stop to visit long.

I can remember being a young child when my grandmother first talked to me of Emily's writings and of the subtleties of the native art we were privileged enough to see up close. I think time and experience has deepened her understanding of what she read, for she talked to me not only of the way in which Emily's brush strokes changed, but also how her attitude towards her subjects changed. Listening to my grandmother, I was reminded that Emily was many things to many people, but that in the end the only person she really ever wanted to answer to was herself.

I'm glad I stepped out of the usual and opted to spend the time together. It may have been meant as a gift for my grandmother, but I think I got one just as big back...

Knitting & Jazz

Mocha & Yarn, originally uploaded by Ms Cin.

My knitting group had a different kind of night on Wednesday - we all met at Cito Espresso for an evening of knitting and jazz. It was the first time I'd been there, and I was pleasantly surprised - the design is fabulous (it feels like a loft set up by a serenely gifted minimalist), the coffee and desserts wonderful, and the music was inspired. If you haven't been to Cito Espresso, I say don't wait, pop in and check them out for yourself.

Rock 'n' Roll Sock 'n' Sole

In Christmases past, there was a peculiar stream of advertisements on Canadian TV that suggested that the truly unimaginative gave socks for Christmas. Socks became the Christmas equivalent of giving a household appliance to a woman on her anniversary when what she really wanted was jewelry. I guess the message struck home, because over time, socks became the Rodney Dangerfield of gifts, and folks who gave socks may as well have worn T-shirts proclaiming their social unacceptability to the world.

I was reminded of all this earlier today as I valiantly dug around in my dresser drawer, searching for one of the 3 pairs of black socks I own. There was cursing, and questioning: Why don't I own enough dark socks to get me through the week? Who hated women enough to invent the ultra-binding phenomena that is the knee-high? Why do my favourites always lose their mates?

I did eventually locate my favourite pair of socks (old-school, below the knee, bought at a kids department so they fit perfectly and are oh-so-comfy), but it got me thinking. I've been needing socks for ages. Ages! So why hadn't they made it to the Need to Buy list? Why hadn't I made the effort to procur a nice collection of socks, preferably the ones with the particularly cushiony soles?

I thought and I thunk, I thunk and I thought.

I was side-tracked by the possibility that I had too much time on my hands if I was thinking this much about socks.

Then I carried on with the thinking, and in the end, I decided that the noble sock should be stigmatized no more, that not only would I add socks to my "Need to Buy" list, not only would I buy at least one pair of socks today, not only would I make a point of telling my family of my sock quest, but that I, I would learn to knit socks in 2007.

I can't believe it's taken this long. Especially when you consider the stats. According to Monthly Socks the average person in North America buys 2000 pairs of socks by the time they reach 65. They've also got a neat little sock calculator, so if you've ever wondered how many pairs of socks you've probably worn in your lifetime, you can now figure it out and sleep better at night.

As for me, I'm going to go find out more on the basics of sock knitting, starting with Knitty's Sock Basics 101, and figuer out how I can make at least 1 of those 2000 pairs of socks...

Dear December Cold...

I wrote this on monday night, but was feeling so icky that I didn't even have the energy to edit it. It's a day late but bear with me, I'm posting it anyways...

... Go away. I've not time for you.

This would be the cup of tea that's helping me stave off a cold. And I literally do mean cold - I'm freezing, so I'm wearing a sweater and a fleece jacket, and I've stolen the cats favourite blankie, all so I can huddle in our wee computer closet, and work on my project and get back on track.

Monday Morning Love List, #46

Love - That I found the perfect ginger snap cookie recipe.

Not So Much - That I won't be able to enjoy making the ginger snaps until this weekend, after I've sent my latest project to the printers. I know it's not even a blip in the grand scheme of things, but I really was hoping to do some baking early on in the week.

Love - That Her Highness (aka Cleo) has a new 'toy' which directly translates into some much needed exercise for her tubby butt play time.The toy? A vanilla-coloured ribbon stolen from one of my padded hangers. When she's not actively playing with it she likes stroking it with her paws - what a princess!

Love - That Lunchtruck's parents are back from England. I missed them. Have I mentioned I'm one of the lucky few who absolutely adores her in-laws? Yeah. Be jealous :)

Not So Much - The brioche stitch sweater saga continues. I added on a good 4 - 5 inches to it this weekend, but I still feel like I'm not getting anywhere. I may need to set it aside for a while and work on something else just to get my knitting confidence back.

Love - The possibilities a fresh week provides.

So... what's on your list today?

Nothing To Do But Smile and Carry On

I feel like the frustrated heroine in a badly written novel. Why? Because I've lost approximately 5- 6 hours worth of work on a project. And I'm way past deadline, but that' a whole other story. I think Publisher hates me. Is it possible for a program to know when it's being abandoned? All I know is that I was going along quite happily, and then suddenly everything froze, and when I got the machine going again, I discovered my automated saves hadn't.

I'm so glad I'm moving to InDesign.

In other news, I'm happy to report that our little tree is no longer naked - in fact, she's quite nicely dressed in silver and crystal. I brought some white lights home earlier in the week and wrapped them round the tree, and this inspired Lunchtruck to decorate.

The photos a little blurry, but that's my own fault, I really ought to buy a remote for the camera, but haven't got around to it. She's a sensitive thing.

Like Scarlett says, "Tomorrow is another day".

And Now, The Obligatory Christmas Meme

A luverley cuppa + doing this meme has ramped up my Christmas spirit considerably...

Blame it on Domestic Bliss!

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? Hot chocolate, preferably made from scratch like the one we do for the family brunch christmas morning.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Santa can't wrap to save his life, so I help him out. There are already two under the tree, ready and willing to torture Lunchtruck with their gift-y possibilities.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? I like white.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? No. But I'm not averse to the idea.

5. When do you put your decorations up? The goal we set for ourselves is December 1st, but the past few Christmases that hasn't really worked out. Now that I actually have a strat-approved tree suitable for our tiny home, I think the December 1st goal is much more attainable.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?The devon custard on top of the pudding. Yum.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? I've got two: the year my very preggers momma dressed up as Santa for the kids, and the year I got my first Christmas present from Santa Paws.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I have no idea - I kinda always knew, but it never stopped me from enjoying it all.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yup - we spend Christmas eve with my family, and Christmas day with lunchtruck's family.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? This year it'll be white lights, silver ribbon, and crystal snowflakes. I'm sure the cats would prefer edibles, but then I'd spend the next few weeks picking up the detritus.

11. Snow! Love it or dread it? Love it. Preferably when I've nowhere I need to be except right there, there's something delicious cooking in the oven, and I can enjoy it with those I love.

12. Can you ice skate? Yes, but it's been ages.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? As a child, not really. I loved everything I got, even the socks. As an adult, I'd have to go with the Pamela Masik canvas my sweetie bought for me a few years ago.

14. What is the most important thing about the holidays for you? Being with those I love.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Peppermint stick ice cream. It's only available seasonally, which is a shame..

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? [Updated - I somehow managed to skip this one!] That would be waking up on Christmas morning with my bedmates and staying snuggled in there until the last possible minute, than making the dash to the kitchen to make us a spot of tea. I'm soooo predictable.

17. What tops your tree? At the moment nothing. But give it time - I'm sure we'll be rescuing Mulder from it any moment now.

18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? I get more excited about the giving, although I do like receiving.

19. What is your favorite Christmas song? I'm not sure if it qualifies as a Christmas tune, but I've always associated Ave Maria with Christmas - preferably as performed in the original Fantasia or by the incomparable Joan Baez.

20. Candy Canes? Can I have more devon custard instead?

21. Favorite Christmas movie? Tough call! It's a toss-up between White Christmas & the original Charlie Brown Christmas.

22. What do you leave for Santa? Tums.

Of Tummy Alarms, Christmas Crankies, and Getting Back to Festive

I hit a low point this morning.

A really low point.

Yelling-at-the-cat-for-doing-something-he-does-more-or-less-every-single-morning-of-his-life-come-rain-or-shine low.

I am a terrible, horrible excuse for a human being - or at least that's how I felt at 5:45am this morning. Honestly - who yells at someone because their tummy alarm has gone off? Sadly, I was just as grumpy with my beloved.

I cannot wait to get into this weekend's baking and shake these Christmas Crankies.

Mood Swings

The Christmas Blahs have struck again.

This happens to me most every year, but I really did think that this year would be different. I was doing pretty well, going out during my lunch hours, considering possible options, finding "just the thing" for someone on my list, and happily taking it home. I'm lucky - my list is nice and short because most of the people in my life prefer experiences over stuff, and would much rather have a good gab and a meal than receive a gift they'll never, ever use.

But then, round about Monday, I felt the old weariness overtake me and I couldn't bring myself to set foot in the mall by my office. I found myself making excuses. The thought of seeing another grim face determined to scratch off another name on ye olde shopping list did not excite me. The non-traditional christmas music in the stores really got to me, and I had the inexplicable desire to snarl at overly-chirpy sales people.

Obviously I was not fit company for humans, and barely fit for wee beasties.

But recognizing you have a problem is the toughest part, and since I've managed that I think I can help myself out. I have a plan; tomrrow night I'm going to get the ingredients to try out a new recipe, turn on some of my favourite Christmas music, and make some cookies. Cause really, who can feel blah when they're surrounded by cookies and icing?

In Case of Emergency - ICE Your Cell Phone

I had a post all set for today, but then I got an email from my sweetie and I thought "This needs sharing!"

So here it is, as received:

A recent article from the Toronto Star, "the ICE idea", is catching on and it is a very simple, yet important method of contact for you or a loved one in case of an emergency. As cell phones are carried by the majority of the population, all you need to do is program the number of a contact person or persons and store the name as "ICE". The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when they went to the scenes of accidents, there were always mobile phones with patients, but they didn't know which numbers to call. He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognized name to file "next of kin" under.

Following a disaster in London, the East Anglican Ambulance Service has launched a national "In case of Emergency (ICE)" campaign. The idea is that you store the word "ICE " in your mobile phone address book, and with it enter the number of the person you would want to be contacted "In Case of Emergency". In an emergency situation, Emergency Services personnel and hospital staff would then be able to quickly contact your next of kin, by simply dialing the number programmed under "ICE".

Please forward this. It won't take too many "forwards" before everybody will know about this. It really could save your life, or put a loved one's mind at rest. For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1,ICE2, ICE3 etc.

Being the sometimes skeptical girl that I am, I wondered - is this true? So off I went on a google search. I wasn't able to locate the Toronto Star article, but I did find this link in Snopes, this one at Wikipedia, and more importantly, this link at the BC Provincial Emergency Program (PEP) website.

Bottom line? I'm going to make sure my phone is ICE'd before I leave the house tomorrow morning. Just in case. Interested in the image at the top of this post? You can find it and the downloadable template here.

Snow Quoted

"It's champagne Thursday."
"But today is Friday."
Champagne Thursday came twice this week."
"Ah, for the third week in a row."
"Yeah, they're thinking of making it permanent."
"Like daylight savings time?"

- Zoe Deschanel to Sarah Jessica Parker
in the mess that was Failure To Launch

The past couple of weeks have been a little tougher than usual for us poor, temperate forest, coffee-quaffing Vancouverites. We've had bad rains & snow, we've had water advisories, we've had problems getting quality coffee. All of this has been A Very Big Deal.

How big? Try front-page of the paper big:

For anyone not from here, you probably think we've been making a ski mountain out of a (bunny) hill. Probably. But snow is a big deal around here, and to get it in November when we expect it in January is a shock to the system.

When I wasn't cursing the black ice beneath my feet, I tried to make the best of it, as only a devoted amateur photographer could.

By capturing some of my favourite locales:

Getting a kick out of the doggie fashions:

And recording how the animals were faring.

Yes, there's more on my flickr site.

Happy Friday everyone. I'm going home this afternoon and kicking off the weekend by celebrating Champagne Thursday!

Thursday Thirteen #21: This Week’s Storms

Header Graphic by Yellow Rose's Garden

They don't call it the wet coast for nothing, and this week Vancouver has lived up to that moniker. I swear, no one small-talked past the weather the past few days. These are just a few things I saw/heard/noticed...

1. Public garbage cans became nothing more than umbrella graveyards.


2. The evening news casts gave a huge portion of their time to rain-related news, and in one case used it as another opportunity to talk about climate change and Canada's role.


3. There was much less mockery at the sight of dogs with raincoats and booties. Also saw several dogs in those coats and booties being carefully tucked inside coats or carried in blankets so they wouldn’t get wet or cold. Aww.


4. Myriad of folks wore garbage bags as a layer of protection between them and the elements.


5. Puddle jumping became an extreme sport.


6. Walking home was a battle between human and nature, and felt like a grade school math problem (If Ms. Cin is walking home at X kilometers per hour but the wind is whipping past her at Y kilometers per hour, how much longer will it take her to get home?)


7. All but the most intrepid tourists went shopping or otherwise stayed indoors.


8. Had coworkers whose families had to be evacuated from their homes in West Van and Chilliwack.


9. Found myself calling family and friends in outlying areas to make sure they and their homes were ok.


10. Noticed that the major department stores are carrying more of the full-sized English-style umbrellas than ever before. Smart move – they stand up to wind and heavy rain much better. Bonus – they’re great for mock sword fights, which I saw a few of this week.


11. It rained so hard even the die-hard hot dog vendor outside of London Drugs at Robson and W. Georgia stayed home.


12. Several stores smelled like wet woolies. And wet dog.


13. Human kindness showed its face; several kind-hearted people helped their older or less-abled counterparts maneuver the flooded street corners and giant puddles. In one case, I even saw a gentleman give his umbrella to an older lady whose umbrella had just broken.
    
    UPDATE: Well, now it looks like our water quality has been affected. Check out the media release from the GVRD... Filtered water anyone?
    

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

1. Tug
2. Lindsey
3. Julie
4. Starrlight
5. Elisa
6. Tvaddictgurl
7. Sweet Kitty
8. Caylynn
9. Ruth
10. KuanYin
11. Chelle Y
12. K T Cat
13. Yellow Rose's Garden
14. ancsweetnsassygal
15. Leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Downpour

Past Tense

Ever have one of those days when you know you oughta write something because things are happening, but you just can't bring yourself to do it?

That's the kind of day I had yesterday. It started way too early. The challenge of dragging myself away from the warmth and snuggliness of the bed and it's human/feline denizens was heart breaking, and took so much effort I had just enough energy to feed kitties and attempt to make myself presentable. It didn't extend to making lunch, or a much-needed mug of coffee.

The day crept by.

Midafternoon I packed it in (it was a stat holiday after all) and headed off to run errands before meeting Lunchtruck for our date. Our let's-celebrate-eight-years-of-marriage date.

As always, I grumbled about the lack of credit for the 10 years we spent together BEFORE we got all legal. He laughed at me, but in a good way.

We went to a movie (Stranger Than Fiction) and enjoyed it immensely. Afterwards, we stopped in at Rangoli for takeaway, but not before I stood in the middle of the room and breathed in the fragrance from all those lovely, lovely spices.

It was one of those nice, comfortable afternoons that trail off into a nice comfortable evening and a sense that things will, after all, be alright.

Happy anniversary Lunchtruck. You mean the world to me.

Time Tells

Years ago, after hearing about it from a particularly enthused person, I picked up a copy of The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. I read it, I liked parts of it, and thought why not try what she suggests?

For a while I was very faithful to her idea of doing morning pages, and just as faithful to the idea of an artist's date. Then one day, I missed doing the MP's, and then I got rather spotty at doing them, and then something came up, and then... and then I stopped doing them altogether. I kept meaning to go back to it but the habit hadn't really set yet, and it was easy to say I'll start again tomorrow. Well, that was over a year ago. I was a bit better about the AD's, but eventually those flagged too and got put on the list of things to do when I'm done everything else.

You know that list - we all have one.

So why write about another failed experiment?

Well it turns out that it wasn't as much of a failure as I thought. No, I'm not doing morning pages regularly, but I am writing. And while I don't do regular artist dates, I've noticed that I give myself more opportunities for them to happen; for instance, my sweetie and I got a membership to the Vancouver art gallery, and I've been there more often in the past few months than during my whole time in Vancouver.

Some would call it indulgent, but I think Ms. Cameron's onto something. Who knows? Maybe I will get around to doing those morning pages again...