The Sun returns!

Blessed Solstice! Happy Yule!

May your hearth fire burn brightly in rather soggy heart of Midwinter.

Welcome, winter. Your late dawns and chilled breath make me lazy, but I love you nonetheless. ~Terri Guillemets

Dear Internetland,

today got worse and worse - so much shovelling! so little to show for it; The more we shovelled the harder it fell.

Why does it not feel as cold when it snows? Two days with the same temperature and the one without snow feels bitterly cold.

Winter came down to our home one night

Quietly pirouetting in on silvery-toed slippers of snow,

And we, we were children once again.

~Bill Morgan, Jr.

I'm kinda hoping it's a cold'un - I want to take my camera out to the lake and to the falls. They're gorgeous in ice.  And lets face it - all those Christmas lights people have out do look magical all buried in snow!

The grand plans for going to a concert got the kibosh due to the weather, so tea and a good book are my Plan B.  Completely acceptable!  Especially if it includes a blankie and kitty snuggles.

snowflakes and hot cocoa,
Gingerspark

forget your holiday stress

Be humble for you are made of Earth.
Be noble for you are made of stars.
~Serbian Proverb

just cuz...

Goodness gracious!

Society evolves not by shouting each other down, but by the unique capacity of unique, individual human beings to comprehend each other.

Lewis Thomas, The Medusa and the Snail

Apparently I have been verrrry busy and haven't been here since September.

I think I kinda got sucked in by Ancestry.ca. Completely addictive. I managed to explain some "odd" things my mother 'overheard' growing up.

and real life - I got sucked in by real life. Occasionally I throw caution to the wind and decide to live out there... away from the lappy screen. (IKR?? How weird is that?)

mrs browns boys bikini wax

I couldn't even breathe I was laughing so hard,

Sept 19, 2013

I don’t necessarily agree with everything that I say.

~Marshall McLuhan

oh, and

Fifteen men of a dead man's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum

Happy Talk Like A Pirate Day.

This made me laugh

My Dad sent me this.

Woman Stops Gator Attack With A Small Caliber Beretta Pistol

This is a story of self-control and marksmanship by a brave, cool-headed woman with a small pistol against a fierce predator.

What is the smallest caliber that you would trust to protect yourself? A Beretta Jetfire .25 caliber is what she credited for saving her life. Obviously, a testimonial to this fine weapon.

Here is the rest of the story:

“While out walking along the edge of a bayou just below Houma, Louisiana with my soon to be ex-husband discussing property settlement and other divorce issues, we were surprised by a huge 12-ft. alligator suddenly emerging from the murky water and charging us with its large jaws wide open. The gator must have been protecting her nest because she was extremely aggressive."

"If I had not had my little Beretta Jetfire .25 caliber pistol with me, I would not be here today!"

"Just one shot to my estranged husband's knee cap was all it took.The gator got him easily and I was able to escape by just walking away at a brisk pace. It's one of the best pistols in my collection. Plus, the amount I saved in lawyer's fees was more than worth the purchase price of the gun!"

Party in aisle 15?

photo credit: unknown
my invitation to said party: lost in the mail... apparently

okay... I am not sure.

I am getting weird spammy emails.

But I'm not sure if they're spam or a "mistake".

In one series of emails I'm on a list of people who are included in fund-raising meetings and decisions.

Less Suspicious Me: Remembers that I was involved in Advancement Office work and I may be on various association lists and my email has been mistakenly added to someone's list.
Suspicious Me: Thinks I'm being targeted for some kind of send us money scam.
Coping Strategy: Identify emails as spam when they show up.

In another series of emails I'm being sent appears to be from some NYC Jewish daycare parents group that think I'm going to volunteer to bring food to meetings, picnics, and participate in group activities

Less Suspicious Me:


Suspicious Me:


Coping Strategy:

Awesome!

Today is officially the most perfect example of Canadian summer weather!
23C, sunny, low humidity and a lovely breeze.

Work'll be fun - I think I'm the only one in my hallway who is not on vacation. Boss bought us a Keurig machine - awesome freshly brewed coffee with no waste (at least in brewed but undrunk coffee) I did have serious pangs of guilt with regards to the little plastic cups. I found little reusable cartridges for the machine - bye bye guilt!

My tomato plants have become victims of their own success - they're collapsing under the weight of their own growth and bounty.

time to go outside and sit in the perfect weather

Can't understand why this didn't catch on...

in 1937 this was a real solution to not being able to take your baby outside for fresh air - just hang them out the window!
Old, Weird Tech: Baby Cage: http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2010/10/old-weird-tech-baby-cage-edition/63819/

I live!

I survived the Warrior Dash

tingly ouchy post

I went to the physiotherapist on Monday cuz the back pain was worse and starting to radiate down my legs.

I ended up at the clinic for 2 hours - got the tingly electro-massage thing, lots of "does this hurt? does this hurt? how about this?", some self-inflicted foam roller massage (assigned for homework), exercises (also assigned for homework), some twisting and pulling, and then some acupuncture.

Apparently due to my dance background I am "too flexible" in my lower spine and I've compressed/pinched something in and around my L5. Also my iliotibial bands are totally messed up.

I went home and promptly hurt myself doing my "homework". I sproinged* my knee doing wall squats. I will have to get some modifications, as I doubt I was supposed to hurt more.



*legit medical term

i believe

Faeries, come take me out of this dull world,

For I would ride with you upon the wind,

Run on the top of the dishevelled tide,

And dance upon the mountains like a flame.

― W.B. Yeats, The Land of Heart's Desire

The conditions are sultry... code for "it's crap out"

Dear Summer, is this heat and humidity really necessary? No love, Me.

This weekend:
- I tackled some much over-due gardening...I hate gardening. I've really tried to like it. I got to kill/rip out – so, as hateful jobs go it wasn't as bad as it could be. However, I twisted my knee by stepping into a rabbit-hole and I got a sun burn (but only on spots I missed with the sunscreen).
- went to a meatfest kinda southern BBQ resto and managed to eat vegetarian much to the amusement of our server.
- I may have bought several bolts of linen. There is a strong strong possibility that these bolts are in my basement… at this very moment. Hello, My name is Lady Susanna Gunn and I have a fabric problem…
- My hip is sciatica-ing or something.
- We washed the dog. She is not impressed. Boiling hot day and nice cool clean water (and a lovely organic fur-friendly shampoo) and she is miserable, BUT had it been a freezing spring morning and had the kiddie pool been a ditch full of muddy sludge or had we been near the swamp and had there been green slime /algae it would have been great fun.

Is that you Friday?

We all get scared. I plan on doing things that move me outta my comfort zone this weekend.


Have a great weekend! Scare yourself silly!
Wassail!

I will repeat this daily!

Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind; it is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees; it is a matter of the will, quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions; it is the freshness of the deep springs of life.

~Samuel Ullman

Important to remember this as we're constantly surrounded by the media and people who tell you otherwise.

We missed the flooding that hit Toronto earlier this week, but now they're being all serious and scary about a storm that's headed our way. Better safe than sorry - we've had a lot of rain this summer - the ground is wet, so I supposed a sudden heavy downpour could overload and saturate easily. 

Warrior Dash is in 10 days!  Whoohoo (despite the long-range weather forecast of hot and humid)

I'm signed up for another colour-dye flinging 5K race.  Actually someone signed me up so I'm not really even sure when, which event, etc - but it's not until September so I've got plenty of time to figure all that out.. 

Back to work

Happy Canada Day!

 



Happy Canada Day! Bon Anniversaire Canada!

I am going to celebrate by getting organized*

The cat is celebrating by stalking the hummingbirds feeding on the honeysuckles outside the living room window and making the chipmunk freak out (again through the living room window)

The dogs (mine and my parents') are sulking because I won't let them investigate the nest of baby bunnies that are under the Forsythia bush in the back yard.



*I know! I laughed too!

The SCA

This is where I play...
I'm often a Viking, or 14th Century, or 13th Century... working on Tudor :)

Demonology

Don’t fight your demons. Your demons are here to teach you lessons. Sit down with your demons and have a drink and a chat and learn their names and talk about the burns on their fingers and scratches on their ankles. Some of them are very nice.

~ Unknown

Happy Beginning of the week

I love this movie
Happy Week

ringing my own bell

Colour Me Rad Buffalo



29C and humid - not my kinda weather

Winter is Coming!*

Blessed Solstice!

May you dance in joy and health with the MidSummer Sun!

To everyone else - Happy Summer!





*so sorry! I *HAD* to ;)

Christine? Is that you?

I have a rental car this week. I think it’s haunted.

They gave me the whole “no smoking in the car” speech at the pick-up place. Fair enough, and no problem – I don’t smoke.

But I got in the car next morning and it smelled like stale cigarettes – you remember that smell in Grandpa’s car way back when.

Then, I was on the highway and all of a sudden the car filled with a really strong gardenia-type perfume smell* which dissipated when I opened the window.

This morning it smell faintly like B.O.** and then a few minutes later the car filled with a an aftershave smell***.

So, definitely haunted.
Or did I miss the memo about the new Smell-o-Rama feature being available?




* [cue gagging noises] We hates it precious.
**No! not me! The nerve!
***Quite pleasant actually

Stubborn.

Important information for men

Just some information for all you men folk out there.

We women have noticed that you sometimes like to smell your clothes before you put them - this is fine.  We women like to imagine* that it's because you, along with us, enjoy the fresh smell of clean laundry.

HOWEVER, if at ANY POINT during the dressing process you feel the need to get a second opinion and turn to some unsuspecting soul and "does this smell okay?"

Gentlemen! Gentlemen! If you have to ask... NO, it probably doesn't smell okay


*I say imagine because deep in our souls we really know the real reason...

Hey People! We made it!

Huzzahs! It is Friday again! it has been a long week - not bad, just long. Very long.

This song made me happy this morning.

 

As did this wee gif! It makes me smile. The longer I watch it the more I smile.

Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.

~Thích Nhất Hạnh

I have once again over-scheduled my weekend.  I'm thinking it might be a relief to get back to my desk on Monday... except that on Monday (and Tuesday) I'm at a conference. Ack!

gif credit: unknown - but THANK YOU!

Something to think about this week

When the whole world is running towards a cliff, he who is running in the opposite direction appears to have lost his mind.

~C. S. Lewis

a 12-step programme

Credit: not sure, I found this on FB.

sometimes I even talk to people

Conversations I have:
Them: I have an appointment to call her at 1pm.
Me: Okay
Them: But then they told me I didn’t need to call.
Me: Okay
Them: Should I call her anyways, just in case she wasn’t informed that I didn’t need to call her?
Me: So, like call her to tell her that you don’t need to call her anymore, in case she wasn’t informed that you weren’t calling because you no longer needed to talk to her?
Them: I think so

Them: *contemplating the catering menu* What do I need to order for you because you’re vegetarian?
Me: Don’t worry about it – there is always cheese on the cold cut platter and egg salad sandwiches on the assorted sandwich plate.
Them: But I thought you didn’t eat that stuff
Me: I’m vegetarian, not vegan. I just don't eat meat.
*pause*
Them: So then I'll order the chicken for you, or would you prefer ham?

Me: *sigh* *head desk* *need more educational material*

on playing hookey

I played hookey today.

I went to The Hammer and wandered around downtown. had lunch in a lovely little Mexican restaurant. It was lovely to find a restaurant that was vegetarian and vegan friendly - as I've said before there are only so many veggie burgers one can eat.

I drove home the back-roads way - it takes way longer but it was such a lovely day!*

I spent the rest of the day getting the seedlings planted. Not that I'm a huge gardener but I am trying.

I am also addicted to a new web site called Duolingo; pick a language and get learning.

I just noticed that ever sentence in this entry starts with "I" - See? It really is all about me. ;)



* sunny, cool breeze, and abso-freaking-lutely NO humidity. The weather has now been discussed.

warning! drunk post!!

Don't go to the gareden center tipsey cuz you'll end up with all sorts of weird tomato seedlings. \yay weird kinda Spanish wine!

Got soaked loading mulch into the cAR !  tHat RAIN CLOUD HAD IT IN FOR ME!!

Gotta go...

Merry Weekend!

On tap for this weekend:

Niagara Vegfest - I am hoping to pick up some heirloom non-GMO seedlings

Birthday parties

Gardening - some hard-core gardeners might think it too late, but I think it's finally safe enough to venture near a garden center/green house without peril to life and limb.

Laundry, grocery shopping, dusting, and BBQing with a wee touch of panicky computer repair thrown in for good measure.

also alcohol ... obviously.

So ... Be Gone! Have at it! Wassail!

Can't wait!

Warrior Dash

Barrie ON - July 20 & 21

My goal? Faster and less dead than last year.

Hedy Lamarr - Best of both worlds

The world isn’t getting any easier. With all these new inventions I believe that people are hurried more and pushed more… The hurried way is not the right way; you need time for everything - time to work, time to play, time to rest.

~Hedy Lamarr

Not only was she wise, she was brilliant

You need more junk mail!

Or so the Canadian Postal Service would have you believe.
Seriously.
I'm not kidding.
Canada Post asks Canadians to accept junk mail — by sending them junk mail

There was a spokesperson on the radio last night who actually said that there were alot of people who had opted out of flyers junk mail and were now confused as to how to get back on the list. She said it without laughing or choking. I am impressed.

Here's the letter they sent (credit to: Metro Morning's Matt Galloway @metromorning)

(click for larger view)

and now, because I'm a Canadian and legally and morally obliged to discuss the weather...

It's fricking freezing! Last week our temperatures soared into the +30C range and we all flicked on our AC units. Last night I put the heat back on as it was 11C in the house.

Have a wonderful weekend my darlings!!

I confess to you, my brothers and sisters, that I ...

am just not that into Game of Thrones.

I don’t dislike it, I’m just more “meh” about it.

I haven’t read all of the available books yet, but what I’ve read is good – just “good”. I’m looking forward to the end, but more to see who dies lives. In an interview, George Martin was asked whether any characters were going to live through the 6th book. He replied something along the lines of ‘no, everyone dies in #5, and #6 is just going to be the descriptions of the wind blowing across their graves’. I believe this.

The TV series is well-done, with fabulous actors, gorgeous sets, lovely costumes… I don’t know what it is though… meh.

I find myself not really liking anyone – non-of the characters are really “nice” (except Ned Stark, and they off’ed him early on). I can’t really get behind anyone and cheer. As soon as I start to like a character they go and get killed, or do something really douchbaggy, and let’s face it, some of them started out as douchebags.

My favourite character is Tyrion (at least in the series as he get most of the great lines)

Everyone keeps gushing about how I must be loving the series as I’m into “all that Medieval stuff”. Ummm. No. People! People! This is “Fantasy”! It’s not remotely historical, and indeed it’s not trying to be.

All that expectation… Argh! I feel bad (seriously!) I should love it, and I tried to love it, but… *sigh* not.

Pretty much all this is for me is a well-acted reiteration of life sucks, it isn’t fair, and then you die - often painfully and horrifically.

Something I do find endlessly entertaining is DJFlula's recaps of Game of Thrones episodes.
He is hysterical, and his other rants are fun too, watch them.

Boo!

A witch ought never to be frightened in the darkest forest, Granny Weatherwax had once told her, because she should be sure in her soul that the most terrifying thing in the forest was her.

~Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett

There go my retirements plans.

Problem #1
According to all news reports the LCBO was going on strike (cue: gnashing of teeth, lamentations, and rending of clothing) - no booze for the long weekend and Canada's official kick off to summer (regardless of the frost warnings)

Problem #2
My lawn has ALL the dandelions.

Solution (and genius business plan)
Make dandelion wine and sell it for $100 bottle!

Result
Early retirement - especially if I also sell the dandelion greens as salad or pet bunny food.

Bonus
Farm tax credit.

Curses! Foiled again - no strike and *poof* there goes early retirement.

In other news - Earthquake! bestest most excitingest thing all day

Enjoy your May Two-Four (except not quite) weekend not drinking my fine dandelion wine
Stay safe; which on this weekend means staying clean of garden centers

Epic Meltdown

Okay kids, today's Marketing  and Media Relations 101 lesson is how not to handle critics and negative posts...

 This Is The Most Epic Brand Meltdown On Facebook Ever


See what they did? Don't do that.
who says the internet isn't entertaining?

Not Vampires? Not Zombies?

Thank the gods!! I'll take it!

 

It looks fun.


I can't tell you how sick I am of Vampires, Werewolves, and above all... Zombies!

Waking up this morning, I smiled

Just remember this as you go through your week...

Credit: ambigutron (on Reddit)

Happy Mother's Day

Sweater, n.: garment worn by child when its mother is feeling chilly.

~Ambrose Bierce

G'wan!!! ask me if I'm ready!

There is an event this weekend:  Lady Mary Memorial Tourney
Am I ready? No.
Did I do the sewing I wanted to? No.
Did I think I actually would be ready? Not really, but hope springs eternal! procrastination is strong with this one!

They claim it's 23C.

Spring appears to have finally sprung, or at least I have turned off the furnace. However I am not confident enough to have put away the shovels and the woolies.

I am not a huge fan of fast food outlets, but have of necessity had to frequent them of late. I am pleasantly surprised that there seem to be more and more vegetarian and vegan options on the menus. Cuz seriouzzzly people!!! There are only so many veggie burgers one can eat. There is even a place that is offering vegan poutine! Huzzahs and bravos to the growing enlightenment in fast food chains. However, the jaded cynic in me realizes it is probably just a marketing grab at the 5-6% (based on US numbers) of the population that consider themselves vegetarian (2% vegan).

Rehab work outs are going well. Some of it is more overcoming mental barriers now. Having a goal of doing two 5K races this summer helps (Colour Me Rad and Warrior Dash) as does having re-done the music playlists.

My new Go To song for getting through that last 5 minute push is Feeling Fascist? (from the Violent Acts of Beauty CD by London After Midnight, because my inner weenie is calling the inner slave driver a fascist by the end of the work out. Love their music!

I think I’ve fangirled this artist before but I’m not above doing it again; Rob Gonsalves - check out his art Rob Gonsalves Facebook Page– I love these dreamy illusions.

Also,

because you know it's true.

Today was THAT day

Finagle's Law of Dynamic Negatives states that Anything that can go wrong, will.

and so,



and keep in mind that *I* am a positive and optimistic person

So far so good...

This was me when I got home from work.

It gets funnier the longer you watch! But then,





image credits: found on Tumblr and Facebook
credit to their original creators

On Spaceship Earth we are all crew

Horsetail

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar:
I love not man the less, but Nature more.
~George Gordon, Lord Byron, Childe Harold's Pilgrimage


Happy Earth Day Earthlings!

and gale force winds to boot!

 

 

 

photo shamelessly purloined from The Baron's Facebook.

just another manic ... Friday.

Yesterday it was 29C/84F and tonight we're expecting snow... Mother Nature, go home you are drunk!!

In other news: Happy Birthday to me!
I think I'm going to Home Depot to buy the supplies needed to build my raised-bed garden to celebrate as well as eat something chocolate! Ah, the hedonistic life I lead! LOL

Have a wonderful weekend!

Edit!!!
Had to add this, cuz DAY-um it's been a rough week.



*muah*

the way it is

Why do people make their lives so complicated? There are things that complicated our lives over which we have absolutely no control, but there are so many people who seem to go out of their way to complicate their lives needlessly. I spent a couple hours at the DMV overhearing people talking to each other about their crazy-ass lives and presenting to the wickets all sorts of WTF? Stories in order to either renew their permits or plates.

It hit 29C (84F) – too hot too fast. The wind has picked up and it smells like rain. We are apparently in for Thunderstorm^TM tonight.

I love my vet, but I don’t want to hear from her. Sadly we got one of those calls. My dog had her yearly blood test and this year she came back positive for Heartworm. We had noticed she’d been breathing heavier and doing abit of coughing (which I had attributed to her incessant chewing of sticks) - we give her her preventative meds religiously!

It’s an awful treatment – she has one month of antibiotics to “soften up the worms”, Then she spend a day in the vet clinic so they can give her a serious and painful chemo-like shot and then she’s on one month of “complete rest” no walkies, she can’t even go out in the back unless she’s on a leash. Then back to the vet for two more shots and another month of complete rest. Not a fun way to spend the summer.

The shitty part is she’ll die without treatment and the treatment is “not without risk”.

Winds are really gusty now… I'm off to batten down the hatches and have a good cry.

I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that

Today I received an invitation to be a recipe tester!

It's sweet to be included on that list, but I am completely incapable of following any recipe to the letter.
I have been cooking/baking since I was since age 2 when I started eating the cookie dough out of the bowl helping my mother bake cookies.

Since I have developed the ability to read a recipe and know what it will taste like, therefore I start making adjustments immediately; that's too much salt, we like things spicy I'll just double that, I am NOT putting olives in anything I cook, I don't have any of this so I'll used that instead...

I had to decline politely.

I also don't follow directions in general... you know like instructions on putting things together, repairs, etc.

The result is usually something like:




Why are there leftover pieces?
Why doesn't this fit?
Maybe I should read the instructions...

Tachyon pulses are always a good choice.

© 2013 Jason "Danger" Block | All Rights Reserved
https://www.facebook.com/GlueTheComic

let it begin with me

One Word

In the name of peace
They waged the wars
Ain't they got no shame
~Nikki Giovanni









*sigh* I'm a wee bit disheartened by the World. I probably won't renew my subscription.

A quotation for Monday

I do not spew profanities. I enunciate them clearly, like a fucking lady.

~ not a clue who said this, I found it on Tumblr

Why is this today's quote? because it is Monday and that is all you really need to know.

In other news, people claim it's nice out.  I can't vouch for this as I have a windowless office.
However I did manage to get to walk to work.  Conditions still aren't "ideal", but they are no longer treacherous.  They are however good practice for the muddy parts of The Warrior Dash.

I got one!

I got one question to my post last week...

Q: I can't tell what are you in style? are you witch? hippy? goth? what do you dress?


A: Style? oh Honey! I don't think I have a style. I just try to stay out of People of Walmart (seriously!) You don't want to see yourself on that site.

Am I a witch? Erm... Well I do identify as a witch (sometimes spelled with a "b"). For the record: No, I am NOT Wiccan. I respect Wiccans but I'm not one. Style-wise am I a witch? do you mean do I wear alot of black? I do have alot of black (Hey! It's slimming!) but i have been told "You don't look like a witch" - I honestly don't know what that means... Maybe I don't wear enough black

A hippy? Yes I am hippy - but I'm on a diet and exercise program. Hopefully those hips will be less "hippy" soon. Although I do enjoy playing up the "Pin Up Girl" style sometimes.
If you mean am I a hippie and all the being someone who has a bright outlook on life and cares about the world, the environment, human and animal rights, love and peace, and harbours a healthy mistrust of government and corporations- then yes. But not so much the drugs and communal living stuff; I never was into that.

A goth? Nope... it's too much work. I don't enjoy shopping enough to be bothered, and it doesn't really fit with the cheerful, hyper, bright outlook on life.

What do I dress? I aim for something clean and something that fits. Boring really.

They lied about Spring.

 

and now go have a great weekend.

Be a shit disturber, and a green revolutionary.

Speak up for those who can't speak.  Make a conservative uncomfortable.

Make the world a better place.

Go on...

Ask me anything.



Never let it be said I didn't accept a dare
You! Yes, you know Ima lookin'atchoo

The Mom Apple

If you’re a Mom you know what the 'Mom Apple' is; it’s that last apple in the basket. It is the apple that sat there while all the other ‘better’ bigger, shinier, less wrinkly apples got eaten. It’s the one that no one will eat and it will go to waste until Mom eats it or turns into apple sauce.

It’s not just apples though is it Mom? It’s the overly ripe banana, it’s that battered first slice of bread at the front of the bag that everyone reaches past, it’s the first pancakes out of the pan that are mangled no matter how careful you are, it’s those leftovers that have been in the fridge too long but that would be a sin to waste.

It’s the damp sleeping bag on camping trips, the lumpy pillow, and the non-window seat.

It’s all for a good cause but, every once and awhile, don’t forget to spoil yourself, eh?

brain fart

I've started this post three times ... and then thought ... er? wut? What on earth was I saying

Got our first T-boomer of the season! The whole house rattled.

I got nothing else.

As you were.

It's Friday! The golden child of the working week.

About time!

 

Not only is another world possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.
~Arundhati Roy



 

There simply are not enough days or hours in a weekend.
My plans:

• Work on the corset I'm hoping to finish by Lady Mary Tournament (stay tuned for pictures! maybe.) I have no idea why working with boning is freaking me out so much.
• Get organized, but I always say that... wishful thinking.
• Tune my harp cuz ... LOL ... it's so bad even I can tell it's out of tune. 
• If the weather is any good I hope to get out with my camera and the pooch and get some pictures.  I love hiking in the spring!  The dog loves the mud.  But one station swears it'll be lovely and the other is calling for rain.   

How about you lot out there in Internetlandia? 

Have a wonderful weekend, but haste ye' back!

also, This!

...

thanks for listening  *sigh*

This is not a joke.

Candle Light

You can't have a light without a dark to stick it in.  ~Arlo Guthrie

Happy... Pet ownership

Once upon a time, very early in the morning, before Mommy had had her coffee her cat brought a live field mouse into the room. There ensued much body slamming cats out of the way, dragging furniture out from walls, shrieking, and frantic diving ... merriment. I am happy to report that ye old 'cup and cardboard' method of capture and release works as well for cute itty-bitty field mice as it does for evil mutant 8-legged freaks.

In other news: The cat is still not speaking to me.

Dear Doggie,
See this?

This applies to you.
Also, don't eat it - that's disgusting.

Allergies, Enter stage Left.

Spring has sprung and she's a bitch,
How do I know?
My eyeballs itch
~Me

Bon weekend

Last glow of daylight

Long weekend starts NOW...
Happy Easter, Passover, Magha Puja Day, Holi, ...
Whatever you celebrate I wish you peace and joy.

On top of old ...Giza?

http://gawker.com/5992398/the-unbelievable-photos-taken-by-the-crazy-russians-who-illegally-climbed-egypts-great-pyramid?utm_campaign=socialflow_gawker_facebook&utm_source=gawker_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

http://www.petapixel.com/2013/03/26/russian-photographers-sneak-to-top-of-great-pyramid-and-capture-the-view/

A group of Russian photographers climbed the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Pretty awesome pictures!!
Although I don’t understand why they didn’t wear more neutral pyramid-coloured clothing to make it harder to spot them as they climbed.

srsly! we shouldn't even be having this discussion anymore.

gif credit: some talented soul on LiveJournal
(have had in my profile for years!)

Last week in March!

Winter Postcard from Niagara 3

Yikes! Time she be flyin’! 
Next weekend is:

A) Ice Dragon How the heck did that happen already? It was months away last time I checked. If I was “smrt” I’d fix up / prep / adjust the garb now… but seriously, it’s NOT REENACTMENT if you’re not up the night before in panic sewing mode.
B) Western Easter – or “Find the Chocolate Eggs before the Dog Does” as it is known in our house.
C) April!!!!
D) Tax time! Crap! I need to borrow my work-calculators and organize my papers.

Music progresses glacially slowly. Honestly, I haven’t had much time to put any effort into it; yet again RealLife^TM and being a ‘grown up’ interferes with my fun time.

My teacher found a very basic ¹ version of a song I actually know (and that doesn’t classify as a children’s song² or something stupid written merely to illustrate the lesson concept³) – this greatly increases the chances I will actually ::ahem:: practice.

My poor teacher is used to teaching kids, so she is finding it challenging (as she is pretty much a kid herself) to come up with grown-up ways to impart certain musical concepts. For example, happy and sad aren’t cutting it as a way to differentiate Major and Minor chords. For me there are only two categories of sound⁴ – good and bad.
Good: Music, cats purring, waves on a beach, laughter, and the sound of your car finally turning over when it’s -27C (-17F
Bad: dentist drills, jackhammers, and listening to someone puke.


Attention any SCA –types and costumers out there who have any advice on working with boning…I’m all ears! This corset might be a more involved project than I was hoping for. Typical. I am lazy.


¹Basic = introduces use of two hands and two staves.
²Children’s – Mary had a little lamb isn’t as inspiring as one might think.
³Marcel darling, I’m looking at you.
⁴There is also a third category “Irritating sounds” but as this category is highly subjective to my mood it doesn’t really count

Wow. Really?

O.o Thanks to all you mostly lurkers out there!

That day in March

Currently, we're between "that day in March" and Spring. Bundled up and back to mittens and hats.

On the plus side - No mud!

















picture found on  Oh She Glows

Spring has sprung...

Spring has sprung, the grass is riz, I wonder where the birdies iz and we got snow.

It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!

~Mark Twain

Happy Spring Equinox to all!


photo found on Facebook credit to the original photographer

I knew there was a reason

and this is why I'm a Trekkie!
Spock's "It Gets Better" Letter

yeah, I got a few hobbies...

This is one of them...

So let's get this week rolling

The future has many names. For the weak it is unattainable. For the fearful it is the unknown. For the bold it is opportunity.

~Victor Hugo

I need a personal assistant or a social secretary! (hmmmm... Downton Abbey much?)

I've got so many extracurriculars scheduled that I need to sit down and really take a gander at the calendar and channel my inner Boy Scout and be prepared! I currently feel like I'm careening from activity to event to commitments without much time to catch my breath or adequately prepare. Ah well, #MeProblems*

And on this Meatless Monday I note with much amusement that I managed to get "The Others" to eat a whole week of meatless with nary a complaint.  In fact, I don't even think they noticed. Progress!


*see what I did there? a hashtag! I'm such a hipster! LOL

Irish for a day...

May you have all the happiness

and luck that life can hold—

And at the end of all your rainbows

may you find a pot of gold.

May your pockets be heavy—

Your heart be light,

And may good luck pursue you

Each morning and night.

Sláinte!

Please remember: If your beer is light enough to turn green, it's NOT real beer. :-)