Merry Christmas

Puppies' Christmas

Video confirmation as to why I shouldn't have a puppy:


I'd be laughing and "awwing" so much there wouldn't be any discipline.  And the stuff they're chewing isn't actually safe for them. 

But this is so cute!

Festival of Trees

The Festival of Trees Champagne Reception, Luncheon & Fashion Show was sold out!  Only more pressure for us to perform well after the very disorganised dress rehearsal from the night before. 

(Right: The Boogie Woogie opening number line-up: Judy, Allan, Connie, Wilson, Lana, Markian)













Between organisers dropping out and or not relaying reliable information, and dancers wanting music edits and changes - I've had a few very frustrated days and restless nights.

(Preparation highlights and lowlights included: Manoj stepping out less than 48 hours before the show.  Markian stepping in to replace him at T-19 hours. And Paul stepping up to help edit music.)

It turned out to be a pretty interesting time (probably more fun if I'd actually had more sleep).  At the very least, we got a free lunch and people seemed to like the show. 




Things I Learned (/ Confirmed):

1. Organising dancers = Herding cats

2. Models eat.

3. Wearing really big lashes is like wearing a brimmed hat. (Yes, those are made of tinsel and feathers.)

4. Test the music on the sound system!  (And always have backup.)

Don and Elena's Phantom tango - Photo by Allan.

5. There is a lot of ballroom danceable Christmas / holiday music out there. (But it's almost impossible to find it when you need it)

6. It's easier to be a dictator.



7. A showstopping dress and dramatic music = Win

8. As nice as Josh Classen is, he's not Santa.

Super M Bros.

"Boys." ~ Lorena

Sometimes it's not all about the accounting.

Guppy Gulp

"There are two baby guppies in the tank now!"

Dad says he doesn't care*, and turns his attention to the television: see, there are interesting animals on this travel show.  The one he's most interested in? The one that looks like he could eat: the coconut crab.  My thought: Eww!  Too creepy. 

* I catch him looking for them later.  Jeffy was good to get the adults for him -- oh, and some snails. 

Diamonds on the Soles of His Shoes

or "Bou in Boots" 

Paul needed new boots.  Off to Marks Work Warehouse!

Yes, they have boots.  (Paul tries several pairs, and ends up picking one for comfort -- that also claims to have diamonds in the soles for extra grip -- Ooooo.)

But they also have: Duck-billed platypuses!

And pants on clearance... 

(Above: Me modelling some big boots)

... and some seriously fancy-looking running shoes.  The Mountain "Masochist" matches my outfit today, but it's a rather troubling name.  . 

Back at Paul's: House Hippo and Coconut go zoom!

Got Plasma?

I know I shouldn’t be scared, but there's still something that makes me squeamish knowing that there are bits being pumped back into my body… Yep, that's what happens when you donate plasma -- you get your red blood cells back!  

And that's how some horrible people in China ended giving a whole bunch of people HIV/AIDS when they paid to take people's plasma (see Wikipedia's "Plasma Economy" and Elizabeth Pisani's The Wisdom of Whores).   

So the rational side of me knows Canadian Blood Services is much more careful about blood contamination and this wouldn't happen to donors here, but the irrational side is stuck on "ew".  

But it turns out I'm not considered an ideal candidate anyway (AB+s, they want you!).  My whole blood donation is more useful to them... and works for me... except when I don't qualify.  

I'll just have to wait for when we get back from the UK (plus another month) and I'll be eligible (at least to be screened).  Dang that iron!

Lessons in Humour

What I'm learning from Paul (because sometimes I can be too literal):

1. Punny stuff

Me: (Something involving a pun that I don't remember any more... but I'm sure it was good.)

Paul: You're supposed to say, "No pun intended".

Me: But I did intend it.

"No pun intended," is actually to be used when you do intend the pun. But then what do you do when  you really don't? 


2. "Did you see what I did there?"

Me: Yes. 

Apparently, the phrase is rhetorical.  To be used when a joke is so obviously unclever or bad, that the speaker might get a couple of laughs from this statement, because obviously you got it, but you're not laughing... so maybe you didn't get it.  Um... at least that's what I think it means. 

3. Spoonerisms

Examples from wikipedia:

•  "Three cheers for our queer old dean!" (dear old queen, referring to Queen Victoria)
• "A well-boiled icicle" (well-oiled bicycle)

And here I thought these were just a type of Freudian Slip. 

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On a related note, a funny I didn't have to overthink:

...But it might be because I'm getting a little cynical. 

Why I should always carry my camera...

Because sometimes it hails in June... while the sun is fully shining... and there's a rainbow (albeit, not a double rainbow).

Lo, How a Rose...

Thinking about pretty flowers and colour schemes.  And stepped into a rabbit hole.  Here I thought yellow roses meant "Friendship".  But actually something else entirely. 

From "Language of Roses and Rose Symbolism (The Meaning associated with Rose colors and other Rose symbols)" by Catherine Marien © LillysRoseGarden.com. Reproduction Prohibited.

"Yellow roses express jealousy and infidelity. They may also evoke a finishing love. According to the legend, the Prophet Mohammed, while away fighting a war, was tormented by the idea that his wife, Aisha, was being unfaithful. He asked the archangel Gabriel for help. Gabriel suggested that when he returned home Mohammed should ask his wife to drop whatever she was carrying into the water as a test. If she was faithful, it would stay the same colour and prove her unconditional love. Mohammed finally returned from his battle and Aisha rushed to greet him, carrying a huge bouquet of red roses. She was surprised when he commanded her to drop them into the river, but obeyed and the roses turned saffron yellow. Eventually, Mohammed forgave his favorite wife but, for some, the yellow rose remains a symbol of infidelity."

I'm going to have do some thinking.

Chinese Garden and Muttart Conservatory

We started on the edge of downtown (what I call downtown) at the Chinese Garden and end up on the other side of the river at the Muttart Conservatory.

Paul tried to explain to me the visual effect of the light circular splotches / dark circles when there wasn't such a pattern -- just light through a tiny grid / mesh... but I didn't get it.  Oh, well.

HD and Mimicry

Walked to Movie Night.  I enjoyed the exercise and the nice weather (with just enough sun).  I couldn't believe I've forgotten the two-storey baby blue house on the other side of the parking lot (totally out of place, but practically invisible).  It came into view though when I saw it with a super cute puppy on the porch. 

Not sure why something so tiny would draw in my attention.  But the same thing happened at another house -- a small and garden gnome caught my eye.  Perhaps it's the reverse of "stress induced tunnel vision" I've heard about. 

Not that I needed it for Movie Night.  I was going to see it all!  I was going to experience for the first time how Erik's hardware upgrade will be further enhanced with a HD Blue Ray disc. 

The Ghost Writer is a political thriller with Ewan McGregor as the title character.  The movie itself was interesting at points, suspenseful at points, and comical (re: sex scene).  But almost all of that was overpowered by just how freaky HD is!  That scrunchy wrinkle line between Ewan McGregor's eyebrows constantly distracting, as well as being able to see skin pores and little hairs...  My brain somehow translated all these details into "I must be in real close proximity to X" -- which meant in closeup headshots everyone seemed monsterously giant.  And yet it felt a little "too real". 

Never mind -- it was still a really fun night.  We snacked on figs and other cute food.  And life (chocolate bunnies) was made to imitate art (i.e. a Las Vegas souvenir magnet): Delicious and funny.

Mum Sunday

Sunday turned into a day of rest... of sorts.  Since we celebrated Mother's Day early, we stayed at home.  Mom seemed happy with that.  We weren't exactly engaging, but I was in the same room.  She watched television, I did a bunch of shredding followed by vacuuming -- can it really be that simple?   

I visited Auntie Ada for the occasion too.  As usual, she seemed really happy to just have a listening ear.  She told me how she and Uncle Johnny have been living in the house now for 45 years and they've seen the neighbourhood change.  Also, how her church was changing too - their new priest is East Indian!  This seems incredible to me. 

Jane's Walk on 104th Street

Jodie collected us from just around the Sobeys and told us about Jane.  Jane Jacobs was an urban thinker.  She wrote a book called "The Death and Life of Great American Cities", and (unlike Arthur Dent) stopped a freeway from being built through Greenwich Village.  She inspired Jane's Walk a movement to promote exploration of city neighbourhoods led by knowledgeable locals (and for neighbours to get to know each other). 

The walk / tour, Jodie had planned for us was of 104th Street.  Though Paul and I aren't a part of the neighbourhood, we were certainly attracted to it with it's interesting boutiques and bakeries and new condo buildings.

Others on the tour, however, were connected.  Someone's family had worked for Cecil Hotel.  Someone else lived with 12 other kids above a restaurant.  There used to be a playground there where people met.  

Jodie introduced current business owners to us.  Credo's owner (right) plied us with chocolates and reminded us that his cafe was the place for "the sexy people." 

We entered another building where Coup Garment Boutique had taken up space that might have once been a bank. 

Up rickety stairs and narrow hallways were offices and studio spaces for artists. 

Bridget of Fridget Apparel (below) allow us in to her workspace.     

And then we visited Capital City Burlesque (below).  Members of the group showed us some of their costumes. 

 

All the while, Jodie continued to refer to history and how Jane would have viewed these areas... how the people using the spaces effectively dictate how spaces are used ("spontaneous meeting spaces") - not bureaucracy or policy. 

 

She also introduced how gentrification was changing the area.  Truly, I haven't thought of gentrification in a long time - and could think of only the good points: Old run down areas are converted into new and desirable spaces - these studios and offices could be so much safer if they were renovated... What's not to like?  Unfortunately, this was done on the backs of low income artists who rely on cheap housing and studio space.  Essentially, they make an area interesting and desirable to live in, but at some point, because the area becomes too attractive, they're driven out by high rents and people who want to tear down the old and put in condo buildings.  (Yikes, this was Rent - have I really forgotten / changed that much?) 

(Above: Alleys get a make over too - a good site for a photo shoot and all lit up to be reclaimed from being "lost space".)

The walk was near its end when we were further given samples of scones from Queen of Tarts Bakery and wine from deVine Wines.  Even without all the samples, the Walk only confirmed what a neat neighbourhood this is.

(Below: Something completely unrelated.) 

A Paler Shade of White

Those who have done it before said "Start early!" So, I called Beth.

Beth knows dresses, and I was glad to find she was excited to go dress shopping with me.

We made a plan:

1. Go to WEM (which has its own bridal wing), and

2. Take a look.

Simple, right?

Woah! It didn't take long for a combination of white blindness and sticker shock to overwhelm me.

So many white dresses that are so expensive!  There were whimiscal ones, sexy ones, lacy ones, shiny ones... Ones that looked like it would be a workout just to wear them, others that looked like it would take magical or super powers to keep them on.  What I couldn't seem to find was simple.  (And flattering... and doesn't cost a fortune...)

I took the free magazines that were offered at Ethos (we'd been forewarned of bridal shops and decided to visit this highly recommended nice store first) and for much more needed research.  But yes – the search is on!

Above: WEM's new Rose Court features ceramic roses hanging from the ceiling – so while the dresses weren't to my liking, this part of WEM certainly was inspirational.

Right: Beth – a princess.

WednesDate: In and out of the Dragon's Den

"Modern conjurer: Magic at your table." Imagine having magic and "pan-Asian fusion cuisine"!  But, we didn't research and arrived at the latest incarnation of Silver Palace, Ruby Dragon Restaurant and Lounge, for a definitely quieter night.  Not that that's a bad thing.  The groupon deal had promised modern Asian decor (shiny!) and food and it was certainly delivered. 

The statutes of deities lit by LEDs were certainly interesting, though some were a little distracting in such cartoonish interpretations.  It was all tied together nicely with black and dark wood: Black napkins on the tables, waitresses in short black skirts....  I recognised Duffy's Mercy, but the music became more electronic and less palatable to my ear as the night went on.

(Right: My godmother.)

As we sat in the dark leather upolstered booth with lovely suede cushions (great to touch, but a little in the way), we scanned the menu.  One could order coconut juice (instead of milk) to drink, and many of the chicken dishes sounded fairly exotic. 

We chose the Set of Thailand which started with a tasty sour and spicy soup that had plenty of basil, cilantro and seafood.  The next course, salad, came drenched in dressing -- neither of us were convinced the cucumber and mango went well together, but it certainly felt fusion.  The delicious red prawn curry had lots of pinapple and a bay leaf and was adorably served in a little caldron (below).  The final dish of the set turned out to be deep fried fish with sweet and sour sauce.  Paul ate it. 

Overall, it was a satisfying meal.  Paul said he wouldn't mind eating here again even without the groupon.  I'm not so sure myself. 

We left as people arrived (for the "lounge" part?).  We walked around the residental part of the neighbourhood and saw that despite the relative warmth (too cold for me to not to bundled up) there were still unmelted patches of snow.  While in other yards, tiny flowers had started to bloom. 

(Right: Paul smiles, knowing this is a great spot for me to "have an accident" :P)

Paul liked the quiet.  I liked chasing the flocks of birds that flew from tree to tree to avoid me -- a game that ended when they flew into someone's backyard. 

The sun set not too long after and it started to get dark.  We walked back to Jasper Ave, a completely different world. 

(Right: A rather uncomfortable public bench.)