my apartment

My brother requested some pictures and since everything is pretty clean and tidy at the moment, here they are! I really love this space but would obviously decorate differently if I was staying here. For one year, it's perfect. I'm just thinking of it like living at the cabin.

Bedroom with lovely east light. Helps me get up in the morning!

View from the kitchen to the bedroom.

View from the bedroom to the kitchen.

Cute galley kitchen with built-in head bonk.

The bathroom.

My awkward entrance.

february song of the month

Was going to post a different Herman Dune song but then I heard this one and it's so sweet and cute and fits my mood these days. Plus I can't resist tight pant wearing, sleepy eyed, hairy guys. :]

Okay... after that nice little interlude, back to my essay...

day 31

Some random thoughts at the end of my first month...

London

• So far, not a big fan of this city. I'm willing to revise my opinion once spring arrives but omg.... the grey.... having a hard time living with so little sunshine.
• The bus system here sucks worse than Winnipeg. Which is unfortunate, because I have a 40 minutes ride to campus. Would be a 12 minute drive if I had a car. It often takes me more than an hour to get home because my evening connections are so poor. Looking forward to biking season in a big way. 20 minutes and on my own schedule.
• There are a LOT of head shops in this town.
• People here say "ash-osh-i-AY-shon". What's wrong with good ol' ass?
• Gas prices are actually competitive. As seen from the bus yesterday, 77.3, 83.9 and 87.4. This would never happen in Winnipeg.

My apartment

• Despite my ambiguous feelings on London, I do love my apartment.
• It's much easier to be tidy in a small space with no stuff.

School

• School is intense! Not hard but we are overwhelmed with projects, papers and group work. Have 34 things due in 14 weeks. Will really need that break in April.
• Groupwork. Ugh.

Life in general

• Even though I'm stupidly busy, I'm still finding time to feel homesick. Thank goodness for technology. Don't know what I'd do if it wasn't so easy to stay in touch.
• I looooooove my mother! And my sister! For taking such good care of Rufus and Lexi. And I love Marilee for sending me cookies!
• I also love being able to see O more often. 3 weekends in a row? Just feels decadent.
• On the job front, I'm officially unemployed. My part of the marketing project at Children's Hospital has wrapped up. Will be substitute teaching a distance ed course through Red River College starting in April but in the meantime I'm a student. Period. Feels good but scary!
• Cleo is doing so well. I wouldn't say I've mastered giving her subcutaneous fluids but I'm having more success. She's eating, drinking, going to the bathroom, playing... She doesn't even seem her age, let alone sick. She has pretty much adjusted to living here and being an only cat. I know that she's nearly 17 and anything could happen at this point, but it's such a relief not to have to worry about her for the moment.

ten books

Last January, one of my New Year's resolutions was to read more and I came up with ten books that I wanted to enjoy.

Ahem.

I was sadly unsuccessful. I did read 33 books in 2014 (according to Goodreads) but from my list I only managed two: Tombstone Blues and Pipi Longstocking. STILL working on Anna Karenina.

I have a feeling that most of my reading this year will be for school, but here are ten that I'd like to read if time allows:

1. Anna Karenina. Determined to finish by October, which will be the two year mark.
2. Saga. Graphic novel that is available in our resource centre. Surely I can manage this one.
3. Muslin Resistance to the Tsar. I never bothered with this title in Winnipeg because I couldn't find a copy but Western libraries has it so going to make it my "time off between semesters" book. I'm sure it will be light and uplifting.
4. Too Far Gone. Due Fall 2015!
5. The Curious Case of the Copper Corpse and...
6. As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust. Getting behind on the Flavia de Luce series.
7. Stone Mattress. I'm a bit hot and cold when it comes to Atwood but have heard lots of good things about this one.
8. Death and the Penguin. Recommended by Karen.
9. A Scanner Darkly. For the same reason as last time.
10. Southern Cross the Dog. Just intrigued by the controversy.

day 16

What's a homesick prairie girl to do? Why, buy homemade perogies and latkes from the Ukrainian church across the street and watch back-to-back episodes of Corner Gas, of course!

And then do more homework...

january song of the month

25 years ago today. Jason Shipley's apartment. 4E. Chelsea Court. A party I didn't want to attend. A dimly lit, smokey room and a case of mistaken identity that changed my life.

Although this song is not from that night (or, it could have been... I can't really remember...) it is of that era. O had the album. I played it often. Definitely reminds me of those days. Plus, come on, it's Lou Reed with Bowie on backing vocals. What could be finer?

december song of the month

For O, who didn't like last month's choice. Four more days!!!

christmas cookies

Missed decorating last year due to a hectic work schedule, but we figured out a time that would accommodate this year's hectic work schedule. Very happy it worked out because I love this tradition! We squeezed a lot of decorating into two hours.

 

Can't wait to eat these!



Ayva went all out on her cookies for Santa. I'm absolutely positive it will result in bigger and better gifts. Seriously, how could Santa resist?

Ayva upping her game

Ayva and I made our annual Omar and Adam cookies. She asked me why Omar was wearing a belt and boots, but no pants. Several saucy answers came to mind but before I could say any thing, Marilee saved me by joking that his pants were invisible. Ya, invisible pants, that's what I was going to say...

 





The Omar and Adam cookies.

A HUGE thank you to Marilee for organizing, baking and making us a snack!

new mantra

For the last couple of months, my mantra has been "do one useful thing every day." I have been repeating this to myself often and it has actually been working. Useful could mean big things like painting the house, or small things such as renewing my driver's license. Have made a giant list and every day I get to check at least one thing off.

Yesterday, there was an interview on the radio with Pat from the Wrench about their annual Cycle of Giving marathon. Towards the end of the interview, he was asked how they were going to get all the bikes built in 24 hours. He replied, "Just give'r. Joyously." And that spoke to me. Not having any problems with the first part, but could really use some help with the second. And so... my new daily incantation...

november song of the month

At some point this month, in an unknown location, I heard this song. Was I grocery shopping? Was it someone's ring tone? Who knows. But it's been stuck in my brain for weeks. Which is okay, because I like it. I like Serena. And I say this as someone who is not generally a commercial pop music fan. But she's pretty darn awesome. The vid, however? Meh...

last ride of the year

Crossing the bridge at Bruce Park on my last bike ride of the year. Was a gorgeous morning. Very hard to make myself keep pedalling and go to work.

Looking right...

and left. *sigh*

weird conversations i've had lately

Psych Patient at St. B: Do you know who you look like?
Me: [in my head - Oh gawd] Who?
PP: That lady from 101 Dalmations.
Me: Which lady?
PP: The one who likes fur.
Me: Cruella DeVil?
PP: Ya, that one.

I did not ask whether she meant the cartoon or live-action Cruella. Which does make a difference!

Drunk Guy in Silver Lotus: You look so bright!
Me: [WTF??] I have no idea what that means.
DG: Are you just trying to impress?
Me: [WHAT the hell?] No comment.

It should be noted that although I was standing at least five feet away from him, I could smell the booze. He also asked one of the other staff if she'd accept candy from a stranger. She wisely said no.

october song of the month

I actually find the video a bit hard to watch but love the song. Had never heard of Samantha Crain until we were driving home from our blissful weekend at Crooked Mountain. Was the perfect song for heading home when I really didn't want to.

august theme song + a list for o.

Ten awesome old timey country songs (in no particular order):

1. Always on My Mind by Willie Nelson
2. Blue Moon of Kentucky by Bill Monroe
3. There Goes My Everything by Jack Green
4. The Battle of New Orleans by Johnny Horton
5. Walkin' the Floor Over You by Ernest Tubb
6. Jolene by Dolly Parton
7. King of the Road by Roger Miller
8. Jackson by Johnny Cash and June Carter
9. You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man) by Loretta Lynn
10. So Lonesome I Could Cry by Hank Williams

butterfly update

Sadly, the caterpillars have completely disappeared from my garden. Had to go to the zoo for my butterfly fix.

And my polar bear fix.

 And my seal fix.

And my monkey fix.

And my nephew fix!

swallowtails

Look what I have in my garden! Swallowtail caterpillars munching like crazy on the dill. Which is awesome in so many ways. First, I have a ton of self seeded dill that I've been pulling out, so they're saving me all that time weeding. Second, they're beautiful! And going to get even more beautiful. Third, they're super cool. I hope they decide to turn into butterflies in my yard. Oh please, oh please...

Started out with four but have lost track of three of them. They are getting a lot greener and more difficult to find so need to do a thorough search. And then hopefully I will soon be posting pictures of the chrysalides.

baby

getting bigger

and yellower

and then greener and even bigger

june theme song

Not the greatest video but hard to find Roots Roundup on the web. Definitely brings back some memories but more currently, spending a lot on time on my trusty Trek and loving it. Except for going over my handlebars today. Wasn't hurt, other than some minor scrapes, but dignity seriously wounded.

June has been a busy and actually fairly eventful month, which is why this is the only post. Name change became official so have been spending a great deal of time getting all my ID updated. Got accepted to the MLIS program at Western, so generally getting my ducks in a row. Which includes fixing stuff in the house, meeting with our financial dude, applying for scholarships, etc.

Did take a break for the annual sister's weekend at Crooked Mountain. Every year we always say that we hope we see something. Something does not include: cows, crows, seagulls, Canada geese, squirrels or gophers. Last year we saw a fox kit who kindly posed for us until Ali got a dozen or so fantastic shots. This year we saw a ruby throated hummingbird and a great grey owl. Neither were particularly interested in having their picture taken but she still got 'em.

Also keeping on top of World Cup though not finding the time to watch many games. Really sorry I missed the Brazil-Chile game today. But knew who had won when people started driving through the Village, honking horns and waving green flags. And then the same again with Columbia.

And LASTLY, since it has been raining tons and keeping me indoors, I've become completely sucked into these books and spending all my last scraps of time on the sofa, totally absorbed.

Next month.... probably more of the same and then my nephews arrive! Yay!

may theme song

This was going to be my March theme song until it got bumped by Disney (sorry, lovely and talented Canadian indie artist....). So many of the lyrics really spoke to me, though overall I can't say that I understand what it's about.

It's a strange year and it appears that I am stuck
So much of the last couple of years has just been keeping things together and getting through each day. Lately I started to feel much less stuck. Decisions have been made about school, months of an insane work schedule came to an end, and my poor brain has healed to the point where I am more or less feeling like myself again.

Frantic city keep me warm this fall, it's been a heavy year
O's move, concussion in August that was such a setback, the Rufus incident, the freakin' weather.... Definitely a heavy year. Have been referring to the last six months as the winter of my discontent.

Bathurst, Spadina, St. George and Bay
This of course make me think of O. I imagine him riding the subway past those stops, transferring to the street car, going about his day 2000 kilometers away.

I predict a graceful expulsion
When I first heard this, I thought she was singing graceful explosion, but expulsion is so much better. Our very slow spring has definitely contributed to my feeling of letting out a long, deep sigh. But I also feel like I'm pushing things out of my life that I don't need to hang onto anymore. Hopefully I can be somewhat graceful about it. I love the way she sings this part because she seems so determined, but also like she wants to be hopeful.

day 48

Today is my first day off work in forty seven. Leading up to it, I had big plans to do nothing. Possibly not leave my jammies and definitely not leave the house. Unless it was nice enough to sit in the back yard in my jammies, of course. In reality, I felt restless and completely at loose ends. I did much puttering, three loads of laundry, walked the dog, cleaned the cat boxes, took out the garbage, recycling and composting, O and I went grocery shopping.... Now I'm drinking wine and not sure how to spend my evening. RIDICULOUS!!! So blogging until I come up with something to do. Or figure out how to do nothing again.

Since I don't really have anything to say (funny how boring you become when all you do is work), here are a couple of pictures of Rufus. His full and complete recovery has been a joy to see!

Poor dude trying to eat with his jaw wired open.

10 weeks later in full-on attack mode!

april theme song

I know.... it's the first day of the month. And the last post was my March theme song. But Lucinda exactly expresses my feelings today. Winter, I dedicate this song to you.

I don't want you anymore
You took my joy
I don't want you anymore
You took my joy
You took my joy and I want it back
You took my joy
You took my joy and I want it back