Snow's Way

Beautiful and sweet: Paul's discovered the shape of snowflakes!

Yep, they are actually little lacy hexagons (my description). 

He said he thought all the depictions / illustrations he'd seen were flights of fancy: people had just made the little white blobs pretty because they could. 

Well, the big flakes (over 0.5 cm wide) falling from the sky today, happened to land on his black coat intact.  And a closer look set him straight. 

What magic!  There are still things to discover.

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Snowflakes, the coolest shapes on the planet are even more beautiful close up

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1236779/Snowflakes-coolest-shapes-planet-beautiful-close-up.html#ixzz4pOJOhGJb

Happy Christmas!

One Golden Bird

Really, has Michael been going to the Golden Bird for 20 years?* 

Well, for our team's Christmas lunch, he takes us there to experience what it is that keeps his family coming back.

* Though he also admits, it could just be because we often get so used to doing something and closed in our spheres that something even a block away we might never visit...

Initial thought: This looks like an independent coffee house (with plenty of oil painted birds).

When the food arrived, people thought it was really authentic. I'm not sure on that point, but my pho was very tasty.

There were no speeches.  Instead media dominated the conversation:
- Amy Quon Dynasty on OMNI -- those who brought us Chicken for Lunch and Lingnan, also brings us a reality television show.  Our home grown Kardashians. 
- Some of the crazy dance videos that Slavica and Michael's daughters watch on youtube.

I cleaned my bowl (with the help of a wooden leg / take home container).  I think the waitstaff tried to hand me a cover... then realised I was using my own.

Afterwards, Olivia tells me she's trying to limit her child's exposure to television.  Movie as a form of communication, has its own rules -- what means to see something from a different perspective, how we know something is from the eyes of a character, or that we're now in a different space... all are learned.  She didn't want her child to be imprinted that way, to directed to think in a certain way. 

I definitely never thought of that as being an issue.  Instead, my thought was about how there wasn't a common thing for children (or us) to talk about since we don't all watch the same television programs like in the past.  But then, maybe that doesn't matter as much.  Olivia and I still have lots to talk about.

Doughnuts Daily

A co-worker's healthy solution...

Chinese President's Enaugural Speech in Cloud Form

Paul sees "People Must Party." 
My response: "O.k.!"

The actual article on BBC news: 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-20233101

Back on the Hunt

House interested in went into pending. It was listed on Friday, we saw it Saturday, we decided we wanted to make an offer Sunday, and some time on Monday night it went pending. 

Though not as disappointed as Paul, still feel sad.  It always takes me a bit of time to get around to a new idea and big change.  This one was starting to warm up on me - the problems I first saw were being smoothed out in my mind, and the benefits were starting to glow... to have it halted at such a stage is horrible.  Maybe if it was even a day ago, it wouldn't feel like such a loss, but to actually find out only when we met up with Paulette to make offer (taking time off work for the appointment)... ouch.  I know it's even harder for Paul since he really fell in love with it. 

Just have to get back on the hunt. 

Thanks: Sunsets, Beets, and Babe

Happy Thanksgiving Feast! 

The sun was strange... columnar.  But it did set, so we got on with Feasting. 

Rem made spanakopita and roasted beets (in their skins!)*.  It was a little hard trying to think of other tasty foods when we were enjoying such fare, but it had to be done: we must find things to feed Steph (during a regular day, and when Rem is away :P). 


* Jitterbug Perfume had made me believing beet skins were too intense for the weak of heart/nose.

And, then somehow the talk turned to what needs to be done to get Paul as the permanent ESO tuba player.  Maybe "take out" the current one...?  Oh, but he is friend.  (Don't worry, Scott.) 

(Below left: Daniel is interested in the beets?  Steph maybe not so much). 


















(Below right: It's apple crumble for dessert! and Below, below, below, right: A little scotch to go with it.) 

Love is...

... warming up my side of the bed before I get in because it's so cold.

Cheep-Cheep-Cheep... Cheep-Cheep-Cheep...

"When you were away from your desk, there were birds singing in your office... something like a chicken or cute penguin." ~ Olivia

Guess who has a new cell phone?!  And a text plan?  Crazy!

I'm finally being dragged into... only being 10 years behind in technology :P   Already it's been fun: Catherine got a text first, and then Celina.  Both were surprised.

Um, but now this means I'll have to record a new voicemail message.  Ugh.

My Kind of Couture

"Cash-strapped women are painting their shoe soles red to get the Louboutin look for less

Sales of red gloss paint have 'rocketed' 40 per cent at Homebase as women find the cheapest way to get the Louboutin look is to do it yourself."

They say "cash-strapped" -- I say "sensible".  If I liked the look (and if I wore high heels aside from dance shoes), I would totally do this. 

Photos from Rhianne and Brendan

Lovely photos from Rhianne and Brendan.  Thank you both for sharing these! 

 Margaret, Atticus, and Morgan.

The lovely Rhianne and Brendan.

Table Bessie.

Anne. 

Jackie responding to Paul's moving speech. 

The Circle K gang hanging out again. 

Cake!

Official Photos!

Our photo album won't be complete without photos of our guests and their perspective of the day, so much appreciated if you would share your photos and videos. Thank you!

The officials photos are here!  After teasing us with previews on facebook, Wilson dropped off a disc of all the photos he took and edited of Paul and my wedding. 

Totally unexpected, he also put highlights into a video. 

Wilson did a great job, but it's always tough looking at photos of myself.  On the plus side, repeated viewings have made it a little easier. 

Below are photos that didn't make it into the highlights video, but I think help tell a better story of the photoshoot and the day in general.

There were some skeptical moments. 

And plenty of silly ones too. 

Catherine made my eye makeup gorgeous - good thing since I was oh so sleepy (and wasn't allowed to wear my sunglasses most of the time).

Pockets are comfortable and theoretically practical, but hard to pull off unless you have long arms and don't want to carry anything thicker or heavier than a pack of cards. Oh, and it makes it look like I'm missing a hand.

A bunny!  My sister, Angela, deftly made sure everything ran smoothly. 

There were tears... 

... along with laughs. 

Our officiant had some suprises for us, but ultimately glowed. 

Amidst the cat herding, Rem had some fun. 

Steph kept me on a short leash.  

And, once the ceremony was over, my ladies showed their true colours.