october song of the month

Spending the weekend binge watching Freaks and Geeks while nursing a horrible head cold. It's such a great show and I totally missed it the first time around. Making me realize just how happy I am that high school is faaaaaaar behind. And as always, looking forward to the day grad school is behind me as well!

Here's the theme....

july song of the month

This song is by The Figs, an all-female bluegrass band from Lafayette. The ukelele player, Jillian Johnson, was shot and killed by a man who hated women because she was a woman. Twenty six years after Marc Lepine shot fourteen women for the same reason, it is still utterly shocking each time it happens.

When I declined to go see Trainwreck with the MLIS gals last weekend, my only thought was that I had too much work to do. I did not consider that being killed was a possibility. I know that the chance of being shot by a stranger while out for an evening with my friends is infinitesimally small. I don't live in fear. But I also don't understand how someone can hate women, or any group of people, that much.

in the yard

Or as I've been calling it, the domain. Cleo spends 15 minutes or so a day taking a tour of her domain and making sure everything is in order. I water plants, drink coffee and take pictures. Here are a few...

The toad who lives under the stairs.

Cleo on the prowl.

Garden consists of 1 mint, 1 tomato and 2 beans.
All growing like crazy!

Eddie the rain barrel goldfish, stalking a bug.

half way!

Today is officially the half way point in my program. I had planned to buy a bottle of wine and have a little celebration at home but was so exhausted at the end of class that walking to the LCBO seemed like too much work. Besides, I have homework to do. Celebrating by going to bed early so I can get up early and write. Maybe will have a good cathartic cry while I'm at it. ;]

This is also the beginning of reading week. And I will be reading. Have a presentation on Thursday and I'm going to try to plow through a blog post, a forum post, an essay and a job application (fake job application for class). Also heading to Toronto on Tuesday for a tour of the Toronto Reference Library in the morning and either a haircut or a tour of the AGO library in the afternoon. No one at the hair salon is getting back to me so I may just say screw them and try someone in London. Even though I really like the stylist, I hate being ignored!

So that's the update. The last couple of weeks have been insanely stressful. Still can't wait to be done!

june song of the month

O has introduced rock n' roll Mondays to the kindergarten room at the daycare, which has prompted several discussions about which songs he should play. Since I  keep bugging him about the lack of women on his list, I thought this month's song better be by a kick ass chick. Had to make it something that was appropriate for five year olds, which was harder than I thought it would be!

Here's a two-for-one-special. And any suggestions for other songs can go in the comments!

And just for good measure, a link to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Women Who Rock exhibit.

instant summer

Two weeks ago, when Alison was visiting, it snowed. Today it is +30 with a humidex warning. Crazy. But apparently this "isn't normal." That's what everyone said about the winter as well. At least a May heat wave can't be blamed on me. More than one person told me I'd brought Manitoba winter with me. As if I'd do that!

Cleo and I have been enjoying lots of time in the back yard. Things will be stupidly busy as of Monday so trying to relax a little on my last couple of days off. Her routine is: eat grass, throw up, lounge and occasionally show too much interest in a bumble bee. My routine is: find a shady spot and read books for pleasure, while keeping one eye on Cleo.

chowin' down!

may song of the month

This month's song is dedicated to Don Phillips, who passed away on April 14 and is buried today. I had the great pleasure of working for Don for a couple of years in the early 90s. One of the awesome things about working at Candlewood was Don's extensive and varied music collection. I heard all kinds of things there that I might never have otherwise. I had a hard time choosing just one song but this particular ture sticks out in my mind because when I mentioned to Don that I liked it, he replied (in his deep, gravelly voice) something like, "Me too, but I feel silly singing along." I thought that was hilarious. Don was a kind and generous man who will be greatly missed by many, including me.

april song of the month

Five more days until the end of the first semester. Am I ready to be done? Hell, ya. Am I ready to be done the whole program? Yes! Yes! Yes! Am I ready to get out of London? You bet.

happy 11th birthday to my fabulous niece!

Who made me this mug for Christmas! I enjoy tea every afternoon with Lexi.

my view

The view from the back of the house is very industrial, but that doesn't mean it's not pretty sometimes. Like last night...

smoke stack, crescent moon and north star

march song of the month

March is my least favourite month. In Manitoba, it's just gross, grey and slushy... In London, it is even worse since I've already had two months of grey and slushy. Definitely in the doldrums. Also struggling with this weird feeling of disorientation and unreality, like, what am I doing here? Why am I on this bus? Who the hell are all these strangers? I've been kind of walking through the last week in a bit of a daze. Hoping that spring will fix this, but in the meantime...

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...