What Sarah Says

Ten Years of Tony!

2011-10-03T08:12:00.003-06:00

Yes, if you can believe it, Tony and I have been together for ten years! In fact, a little over a decade. We always celebrate our anniversary some time in September in lieu of a specific date, and this past Friday was our McBaker-versary! We began the day with a quiet breakfast at home with Dolly, which was very relaxing and pleasant. During the afternoon, we went to the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 3D IMAX Experience ... it was every bit as awesome as it sounds! There were only about six other people in the ginormous theatre, and we happily munched away on popcorn lunch - total delight!

For dinner, we went to L'Unita, which offers exquisite Italian fare in an aesthetically pleasing, yet cozy and homey, environment. Oh, the food!!! We shared a great bottle of wine, quite simply the greatest Caesar salad around, and panelle fritta with basil aioli (basically creamy whipped potato concoction fried in big squares ... mmmmmmm!). Tony had the pan-seared scallops, which were layered with generous pieces of house-cured bacon, and placed over balsamic roasted apples and dandelion greens ... it was to die for! I had the very enjoyable spaghetti alla carbonara, which featured fresh egg, house made pancetta, and pecorino. All in all, it was a fabulous meal fit to top off a truly enjoyable anniversary day!

We enjoyed reflecting on the past decade, and look forward to many years in the future!

An anniversary Photobooth pic ... with our beagle girl, of course!

Eye-tastrophe!

2011-08-20T10:07:00.005-06:00

We got back to Toronto on Tuesday afternoon around 4pm, at which point I had to rush about to go to a concert with my girlfriends. About three minutes after I put in my contact lenses, my left eye went blurry, as though there were vaseline on the contact ... weird, right? But it didn't hurt at all, so I just thought there was something in my eye or on the lens itself that would gradually dissolve and dissipate. After a couple of drinks at Chantel's and a cab ride to the venue, I realized that the blurriness was simply not going away, and assumed that the lens was damaged or still coated with something, so I decided to remove my contacts and wear glasses instead.

About 10-20 minutes after removing the left contact, irritation ensued, followed by weepiness. It seemed at first to just be a normal level of irritation, like that experienced from any small scratch, etc. But each minute it started to grow more and more painful, and the water was just pouring out. At that point, I decided that going home was the only option - after all, I couldn't really enjoy being out any longer, as the pain was increasing while my ability to see was decreasing. I still thought that I simply needed to get home and apply a cold cloth and some eye-drops.

But as I tried to make my way through the crowd, I was less able to open either the wounded eye or the good one, and had to solicit an on-site paramedic to help me get out of the amphitheater to a taxi. Once in the cab, I initially asked to be taken home, but as the pain grew worse every second, I eventually asked the driver to take me to the nearest hospital.

To make a long story short, I spend an agonizing period of time in the ER, during which I think they thought I had only a minor injury and was being a bit of a baby. But when Tony arrived to find me huddled over a chair with a blood-speckled paper towel pressed to my face (still not sure where the blood came from), he begged them to move me up the priority list and after a while we were admitted into the eye room. [Side note: another stroke of bad luck was the fact that eye injuries were abnormally frequent that night.] Once they froze the eye and injected the yellow dye - which highlights any scratches or cuts in bright green - my entire cornea glowed bright green. Though they were quite baffled and alarmed, the entire surface area of my cornea was basically stripped off. Hence the alarming, panic-inducing, mind-scrambling pain - apparently the cornea is the most sensitive area of the entire human body, and contains the highest concentration of nerve endings. The two doctors assured me that any response - tears, trembling, panic, fainting, vomiting - are entirely normal for cornea injuries. Thankfully, I only endured the first three!!!

Tony and I were given antibacterial drops and T3's and were sent home with orders to apply the drops every hour all night long, and told that the pain would increase towards morning. It was a lengthy and painful night, to be sure! We returned to the hospital in the morning to be seen by the ophthalmology resident, who confirmed that the cornea was effectively removed on the top layer of tissue, and cautioned that the pain would be, for a couple of days at least, "exquisitely painful" [his words]. Then we went down to the cornea specialist, who measured the wound and inserted a corneal bandage [basically a giant protective contact lens]. I knew the injury was severe and unique because all of the doctors were quite interested in the eye and wanted to have a look!

After another day of lying around in my codeine-haze, we returned for another follow-up. The cornea specialist was pleased with the healing that had already occurred. He confirmed that the wound was a chemical burn, and said that there shouldn't be much in the way of permanent damage, though I may experience some recurring pain in the eye.

On Monday, I am supposed to take out the corneal bandage ... I do not look forward at all to this, as the prospect of touching or putting anything in my eye is utterly horrifying right about now! But I will say that I am very grateful that nothing more serious occurred, and that the eye appears to be healing swiftly. I have posted a picture below, and you can see that it looks almost normal - no longer red and swollen shut!!! It still hurts on and off, though to a much lesser degree, and is extremely sensitive to light. I am actually astounded that I have been able to type this long, while staring at the glowing screen!

Needless to say, I will certainly be more careful if and when I resume using contacts. Though it now seems surreal and almost impossible that it ever hurt as much as it did for the first three days, I don't think I will ever forget the level of discomfort. It was truly the most pain I have ever had to endure [just to put it in perspective, the doctors in emergency said they have seen a 400-pound football player throw up from a small scratch, and that corneal injuries can be more painful than childbirth ... yikes!]. The one good thing about these mishaps is they do make you grateful for every minute of health and happiness, and make you ever more eager to take good care of yourself ... I know it sounds cheesy, but it's true! Plus, all of the kind words and concern remind you of those who care about you, which is totally amazing!

So here's to the health and safety of you and your loved ones!!! And now, back to the couch for me!

This was taken with Photobooth, so it is actually like a mirror image ... left eye looks like the right one!

On the road again!

2011-08-01T08:30:00.005-06:00

Well, after some very busy weeks, we're setting out for a two-week holiday. First stop: Edmonton, for about a week of busy but fun visiting with family and friends. Next up: a glorious week in Bermuda, where we can catch up with Will, Franny, and the boys and hit the beach in earnest!

It's been a long time since we went to Bermuda last ... 2005, if I remember correctly! Things have definitely changed for our family there, with the arrival of two sons over the last few years. We really look forward to seeing the little guys! Skype is great, but it doesn't really compare with getting to spend time together.

We're also very, very excited that Leslie and her lovely little girls will be in town at the same time!!! It's been a long time - too long, actually - and it will be so nice to catch up in person!

Well, off I go to take care of some last-minute details before shipping out. Have a great couple of weeks, and check back later in August for some photos!

Bermuda 2005: After an extremely pleasing Mexican feast at Rosa's ... hope that place is still there!

This post is post-dated.

2011-06-27T11:38:00.003-06:00

And by that I mean that a real post is owed some time in the near future. A lot has been going on this summer, between work and leisure, and it has been hard to keep track of time. When I said to Tony this morning that we are near the half-way mark of summer, he visibly blanched.

In the next few weeks, I am frantically trying to finish up some work before heading off for two weeks to Edmonton and then Bermuda. Before that happens, I promise to post something a little more substantial. For now, I offer this little outtake from a Dolly photo session last summer!

Springtime in Toronto

2011-05-07T19:16:00.006-06:00

As this morning was particularly beautiful and sunny, I decided to bring along the camera to capture some of the beauty blooming around the neighborhood right now. In particular, I was eager to catch some snaps of the gorgeous, but short-lived, Magnolia blossoms. Due to a cold spring, these lovely flowers showed up a little later than the norm, and since I will be away in Halifax for most of the upcoming week, I fear I will miss most of their annual glory. Thankfully, Toronto only gets more lush as spring turns into summer, so there is plenty to look forward to in the coming weeks!

I am very, very excited to go to Nova Scotia - it will be my first voyage to the Maritimes, but hopefully the first of many! The purpose of the trip is the CAC Annual Meeting, where I will be delivering a short paper. But aside from the academic side of things, I think I will have a great time with my schoolmates checking out the amazing harbor city.

Magnolias in bloom.

Sunny yellow Tulips.

Springtime Dolly.

Ahhh, Daffodils!

Brightest red Tulips.

Dolls n' Dad.

Pals from abroad!

2011-04-27T09:55:00.002-06:00

In the last couple of weeks I've really been appreciative of my friends who live in far off lands.

Leslie, the creative and amazing talent that she is, sent me a very lovely home-made dress - it was such a delightful surprise after a long work day to receive such a nice treat! I will add some photos some time soon. It's so amazing to have pals with so much skill and creativity! Here's hoping we get a chance to visit together in Edmonton this summer. I would so love to see both Leslie and her little girls!!!

Last week, our friends from Wisconsin came to TO for the long week-end, to get one last trip in before Baby #2 arrives in the summer. We had lots of time to visit and had a great time enjoying tasty meals and fun board gaming! They are a delightful pair and we were sad to see them go. Here's hoping we get a chance to visit again with them in Wisconsin some time! [Side note: they brought some chocolate covered cherries ... not the maraschino cherries, but like big giant cherry Glossettes ... soooooooooo yummy!]

So, here's to good friends abroad!!!

Sprouts to eat!!!

2011-04-09T10:12:00.005-06:00

Only a couple of days after purchasing the sprouting jar, we are ready to give the final verdict!

The seeds which we started soaking on Day 1 (Tuesday) grew like crazy - in the dark! - and were about 1.5 inches long by Thursday afternoon.

Here is a shot of the nicely grown sprouts, taken on Day 3 (Thursday) ... not bad at all!!!

By Friday, the little sprouts were ready to eat, and so without hesitation we made an Asian noodle stir-fry with black bean marinated tofu, mushrooms, green onion, chilis, and the fresh sprouts. The home-grown mung bean sprouts were super crunchy, fresh, and sweet (thanks to the advice to grown them in the dark!), and utterly delightful!

We find that buying sprouts from the grocery store almost inevitably results in some being tossed out - they spoil SO quickly once opened! With the jar, we can basically have fresh sprouts for 1-2 meals every couple of days. Economically, the seeds are very cheap (e.g. $2.99 for the mung bean seeds), and given that we won't be wasting any due to spoilage I think we will definitely be saving money!

Our final verdict? This little apparatus is a fantastic purchase:
- A great investment, with the return of delicious, fresh, healthy sprouts!
- Very, very easy to use!
- Super fun to watch grow ... like an edible Chia pet.
- Lots of varieties to try, with opportunities to try new recipes.

In fact, we are seriously thinking about buying a second jar, so that we can stagger the batches of sprouts to ensure that we always have some fresh stock on hand!

F-U-N! (and delicious!)

Sprouting Jar: Day 2

2011-04-06T09:46:00.003-06:00

Amazing! After one day of soaking, rinsing, and draining, the little seeds are already coming to life. The tough green shell is now soft, and little white tendrils are starting to poke through. Fun!

It was a bit tough getting a good shot of the newly budding sprouts, but hopefully you can see the progress!

These mung bean seeds are supposed to be sprouted in the dark to avoid bitterness, and yet they continue to grow tucked away in our pantry. I can't wait to see how much they grow in the next day or so! Check back for updates!

Sprouting Jar

2011-04-05T13:37:00.005-06:00

With spring in the air, Tony and I are feeling inspired to get back into healthy mode. After Christmas and throughout the late winter months, we tend to "junk it up" a bit more frequently, and exercise becomes, sadly, less regular.

Aside from hitting the gym a bit more often and monitoring the tasty, tasty snacks a bit more carefully, we are trying something new ... a sprouting jar! After reading up about these handy contraptions, I became interested in giving the whole sprout-growing thing a whirl. Not only are sprouts one of the healthiest foods around, but they are also tasty and versatile. It seems that you can grow a variety of shoots and sprouts, so there's no risk of getting bored anytime soon. Plus, having the jar is kind of like a mini-science fair project going on right in our own home!

Here's the update on the whole process so far:

We decided to go with the BioSnacky sprouting jar, which they carry at Whole Foods.

We chose the Mumm's Sprouting Seeds Mung Bean to start, which should be nice for Asian cooking.

So far, we're just soaking the seeds. After about 6 hours of that we drain the water, add fresh water and soak for another 6 hours.

Sweet Dolly is intrigued!

I promise to post updates as this process unfolds! I think this could be a really fun project to do as a family, and with summer on the way, crisp, fresh sprouts are sure to be a culinary favorite for all kinds of dishes. Fingers crossed!

Thinking about Rome ...

2011-03-26T09:18:00.002-06:00

... both scholastically and wistfully! My schedule as of late has been dominated by work on my dissertation, which has, thankfully, been somewhat of a pleasure to work on. Of course, I do have many days of frustration, writer's block, and insecurity, but when it is going well I am truly happy.

Though my work leads me to think back often to our trip to Rome, the return of snow here this week makes me yearn for a holiday all the more. To help me recall the warm, Roman sun and the loveliness of exploring, I am posting some pictures from those happy few days in Italy. Here's hoping we get back there again soon ...

A Belated Christmas Post

2011-01-27T11:07:00.004-07:00

This past holiday season, I had ambitions plans for Christmas crafting. During the year, I simply don't get enough time to do hands-on stuff! So the master plan was to make felt ornaments for various people as festive gifts, along the lines of the door-hanger I made in 2009 (pictured below).

Alas, my lengthy bout of flu thwarted my plans, and I was only able to finish one set of ornaments before falling ill. The sole complete set were a family of felt snowmen for my brother, sis-in-law, and two nephews (one snowman each!). I wanted to wait to post the picture until they arrived safe and sound in Bermuda, but I forgot about how agonizingly slow the Bermuda postal service can be - the ornaments arrived about a week ago, far too late to be hung on the tree! Though it is long past the holidays, I thought I would put up the picture as a record of my lone, completed project. Here's hoping next year I am far more productive! The plan? Start earlier, and don't catch the flu!

Here they are - Pops, Mom, big brother and baby brother!

Happy Birthday, to the Doll!

2011-01-13T10:21:00.003-07:00

It's hard to believe, but little Dolly is 3 years old. That is, of course, an approximated age, as Dolly was rescued as a pup wandering about on her own. Her papers suggest that her birthday is January 13th, and it seems just as good a time as any to give her an extra squeeze and belly scratch! She really does make our lives much happier and cozier overall, and we simply love her to pieces!

Here are some photos of the past year - here's hoping we have many more fun times together!

Christmas pics!

2011-01-07T14:57:00.003-07:00

With 2011 well on its way, I thought it was high time to post a few pictures of our Christmas holidays. We had a pleasant and enjoyable time, despite a brutal flu that lasted well past the 25th ... thankfully, sugar cookies taste just as good, if not better, when you're under the weather!

Beagle Claus!!!

2010-11-30T15:53:00.005-07:00

Hope you were all good boys and girls this year, so that Beagle Claus comes to your house with her bag of holiday goodies! Be sure to leave out a bowl of milk and some dog cookies!

The Monday of Mondays

2010-09-14T17:52:00.005-06:00

Yesterday was a "Monday of Mondays," a crazy mix of numerous hitches, problems, and situations. Here is a rundown of the items from the negative column:
- Tony had next to no sleep
- No hot water for most of the day
- Phone line went dead mid-afternoon followed shortly thereafter by our internet connection
- Dolly had a dentist appointment including cleaning and one extraction
- Phone repair guy scurrying around our apartment while I tried to engage in some pre-first-time-teaching personal grooming.

I think a "Yikes!" is probably in order here.

That being said, there is always a silver lining in those billowing Monday clouds. Here is a rundown of the items from the positive column:
- We both slept like babies after such a hectic day
- Hot water was restored just in time for my pre-first-time-teaching personal grooming
- The phone and internet were fixed, even improved in the process
- Dolly made out o.k. with pearly whites and a healthy, pain-free mouth
- I taught my first class ever, and it was a very positive experience (for me, at least ... and hopefully for the students, too!)

So, the first day of school, as it so often does, began with misery, but ended on a nice high, silvery-lining sort of note. Phew!

Tony Baker - The Man of Many Wisdom Teeth ...

2010-08-18T09:47:00.003-06:00

... and soon to the The Man of Five Fewer Wisdom Teeth. Yikes! Yes, poor Tony was "blessed" with not four, but rather six, wisdom teeth, two of which are somehow mysteriously lodged above the usual upper two. After a visit to our dentist extraordinaire, it was determined that 5 of these toothy wonders have to come out, sooner rather than later. Today, I am sad to report, is the day! We have had a nice, quiet, relaxing morning, and will walk over to the clinic in a couple of hours. I must admit, I am a bit worried and nervous, mainly because my own wisdom teeth were removed with considerable pain, dare I say. But with a snuggly dog, lots of fun distractions (Civ IV, IPad, etc.), healthy non-solid food items, and a caring spouse, I think Tony is going to be A-ok! Fingers crossed!

Whoa, what happened to the last couple of months?

2010-06-30T14:55:00.005-06:00

For all of you who read this blog, allow me to apologize once again for the utter lack of new posts recently. This summer I am working on completing my Major Field of specialization, which has been very demanding on my time. Last week I submitted a draft of my Major Field paper to my committee for review, and am now preparing for my exams which are only three weeks away. Here's hoping I can get prepared in time!

Tony has been busy as well, not only taking care of all household duties while I frantically research/write/study, but also steadily painting in preparation for a Fall show at the Front gallery in Edmonton.

Dolly has been feeling much better over the last couple of days, despite a trip to the pet ER last week. Nothing like rounds and rounds of antibiotics to cure all of her ails! It was such a relief to see her acting more like herself after the one really bad day, and our fingers are crossed that she is going to be fine for a while now.

This summer she has been venturing out onto the balcony, and seems to like the little potted plant we put out there earlier in the season (as pictured below).

But even though she continues to become an ever more intrepid beagle, she still likes to have her bed under the coffee table - it seems to be a 'security blanket' of sorts.

Well, back to the studying I go - there is a large stack of books waiting for me across the room! I will really, really make more of an effort to post at least once in a while, even if just to say "Hello!".

Dolly and Hobbes

2010-03-25T11:31:00.005-06:00

A very handsome tiger now dwells in our little apartment (kindly crafted and sent by Jess, a veritable crochet master, and her lovely daughter Miss Turtle Artist). Hobbes and Dolly have become fast friends, as these pictures attest. We humans love him, too, and will treasure him for all time.

Apparently they enjoy the friendly rivalry of board games, here engaged in a match of Blokus Trigon.

Beagle and Tiger snuggles.

Time: No Friend of Mine

2010-03-13T08:11:00.005-07:00

Last time I posted seems, and in fact was, a long, long time ago. There was still snow and cold, lots of lingering Holiday decorations, and a semester just begun. Now, spring is essentially here, blooming bulbs are pushing up all over the place! My semester is steadily, though not insanely busy, and really already nearing it's end.

While I sally forth with various school related tasks (preparing a paper for my first annual conference this May, handling certain aspects of prospective student visits, completing my final seminar, and my Major Field), Tony is frantically preparing for what looks to be a very fun art show in Windsor next week. Check out Tony's blog for some pics, etc.! Sadly, I will not be able to go, but my despair is mitigated by the fact that a friend who is coming to see the show will be returning to Toronto after for a visit, which I look very much forward to.

I'll try to post a bit more 'once in a while' than every four months. I guess sometimes the life of a student is so routine that I sometimes feel a bit at a loss for words!

A little Dolly, just because!

2010 ... almost one-twelfth over already.

2010-01-29T12:22:00.003-07:00

Where, oh where, has January gone? I have been meaning in the back of my mind to post since just after the holidays, yet here is my blog, neglected again. So, without further ado, here is a brief update, along with some belated X-mas pics. We had a great time with my mom at Christmas, and spent most of the time eating, playing board/video games, and just hanging out. It felt so good to just have two full weeks to relax, something that had not happened since I started grad school.

For the last few weeks I've mainly been trying to get back on track after so much time off. I have a very busy semester - my last of actual course work - so I've been struggling to get things accomplished while still having a life beyond studying. Tony and I finally made it back to the gym this week, to begin the post-Christmas fitness regime. It was hard to get going, but we both feel better when we manage to get some exercise in during the week (but, oh, the pain!). My mom arrives for a brief stay on her way home from a visit to Bermuda to see the family there, so that is sure to be a nice break. Her timing couldn't be better, as she arrives right at the start of reading week, and only a few days after my birthday.

Well, off to school for me - hope you are all having a great 2010 so far, and best wishes for the year ahead!

Family portrait in front of the tree.

Our little tree, which only recently came down.

We ordered an organic turkey this year, and it was delish!

It's Beginning to Feel a Lot Like X-mas!

2009-12-13T18:01:00.004-07:00

With my pressing work drawing to a close, I'm really starting to feel the holiday buzz. I look forward to finishing off my final exam grading, and then working at a more gentle pace for the rest of this week. What's even more exciting is that one week from today my Mom arrives in Toronto, and once she's here, the holidays are truly on!

Now I think I'll regale you with some adorable and seasonally appropriate pics of Dolly in her protective winter attire!

What was on the roster? What is on the roster?

2009-11-26T06:24:00.002-07:00

Since Halloween things have been "no holds barred" busy. Here's the lowdown on what's been happening:
1. I participated in a week-end symposium on a poet named Statius, where I had to act as a graduate respondent to the presentations of two established scholars. Pretty intimidating, but an amazing experience!
2. Christmas shopping! With so many people far away in Edmonton, Vancouver, and Bermuda, Tony and I wanted to get things out super early to avoid line-ups and huge costs at the post office. I'm proud to say that other than shopping for one another, we're totally finished, with a bunch of bundles making their way to family as we speak.
3. Grading exams, which is definitely not as stressful as it used to be. It's nice to feel like I'm getting used to things that caused me to worry a lot in the past.
4. Christmas crafting, because Tony's Mom generously donated to us a huge bundle of felt (black, red, white, green). We got out the glue gun, hit the craft store for some extra supplies, pumped some X-mas tunes, and had a craft night. It ruled! I can't say that the products were beautiful, but they're filled with love and we had a blast making them. It's those kind of nights that really make Christmas fun! (It might be corny, but I don't care, because it's also true!).
5. Writing a paper, frantically, which I was printing off 40 minutes before I had to hand it in. Close call ... whew!
6. Writing a lecture on Cleopatra, which proved to be a bit of a challenge, but it's all ready to go!
7. Planning my Mom's Christmas visit, which is really getting us excited about the Holidays! We're going to Fiddler on the Roof! We're going to make tons of cookies and other goodies! We're going to relax, shop, wrap presents, buy stuff for the food bank, order an organic turkey, make pies, watch movies, walk Dolly, go to Kensington Market and dim sum, and so much more!!! As you can probably tell, I can't wait.
8. General fun and shenanigans, whenever possible, with Tony and Dolly!

Now I have to jump through a few more hoops at school for the semester (my lecture tonight, one presentation, one paper, and final exam marking still left to go). Then I have to get cracking on my shopping for Tony before the malls are insane - I love shopping for Tony the most! We need to do a few things around the house before my Mom comes (this place is a shambles!). Despite the general craziness, all is well, and I hope everyone out there is having a great week, and is starting to get that old Christmas feeling!

Happy Halloween!

2009-11-01T08:09:00.003-07:00

Halloween was great! We helped hand out candy to over 320 kids at our building's annual extravaganza, I as a witch and Tony as various monsters (thanks to the costumes provided to all volunteers!). There were some amazing costumes, and both kids and parents alike were having a blast. Dolly also go into the swing of things - she's a BEEgle! If only we could still trick-or-treat ... I'd love to have woken up to a pillow-case full of loot this morning!

Post-sicky Autumn Stroll

2009-10-28T16:02:00.013-06:00

Fall colors galore.

Golden autumn canopy.

For the last week or so I have been essentially laid up with a flu/cold. Now somewhat better, I decided to join the family after a long hiatus for an autumn stroll to enjoy their company and the autumn colors. Weather-wise, Toronto is still nice and mild, despite Halloween being just around the corner. Fall here is a prolonged affair, with ample time to savor the season, and that is one of the many delights of living here.

A man and his proverbial canine best friend.

The Doll and I.

Over in a flash ... sigh.

2009-10-09T10:15:00.003-06:00

Why do super-awesome times have to go by so lightning fast? We had a fabulous time with my bro, sis-in-law, and nephew Sam, and I can't believe it's all over. We really took it easy, and spent time just lounging around, doing a little shopping, and eating lots and lots (and lots) of goodies! Needless to say, it's back to the gym for T-man and I first thing tomorrow.

Sam is really a delightful little chap. He has a smile that could light up deep space, and a sense of humor like nobody's business - we are going to miss him something fierce! Dolly was very fascinated by him, and he treated her so nicely and was far more gentle than I knew a 2-year old could ever be. It also totally ruled to spend time with Will and Franny, who are so easy to get along with, and are the most gracious guests. Here's hoping they come back very, very soon!!!

Get ready, here they come!!!

2009-10-05T11:47:00.002-06:00

We are soooooooo exited in our house today, because later on this afternoon my brother Will, sis-in-law Franny, and adorable nephew Sam are arriving in Toronto! They'll be staying at our place for four days of gushing over the baby, playing with Dolly, shopping, vidz, movie watching, etc. I am taking the entire time they are here off (with the exception of my seminar tonight, in which I am giving a presentation, and a brief meeting on Wednesday), and I am frankly beside myself with anticipation. Anyways, check back later this week for various pictures and updates of the goings-on!
Hope you all had a great week-end!

Crazy week!

2009-09-17T11:45:00.003-06:00

So far this week has been crazy with a capital "C". First of all, school is back in with a vengeance! I am starting my Major Field in Vergil and have been running around like crazy trying to get all of my texts, lists, etc. sorted out, which involves many trips to my advisor's office/the library/the 3 cent copy place/etc. That's not even counting the time spent on Amazon price-comparing between the .ca and .com sites. You honestly wouldn't believe how crazily expensive some of these Classics books can get, thanks, I'm guessing, to very limited printing runs. Thank goodness for Tony, who is always such a huge help with taking up the slack around the house!

We've also been relatively busy on the fun, social side of things. Some pals were married last Saturday and we attended the celebratory evening get-together at the pub where the happy couple met. Needless to say, it was a lovely, long, late summer night drinking pints and chatting up the other guests. On Monday, in a strange twist of fate, we unexpectedly got our hands on some tickets to see the Cult at Massey Hall, and had a wicked time at the show. They still totally rock, and Ian Astbury fired off many a clever quip amidst the tunes. Honestly, during a couple of songs I thought Tony and I would just burst with glee - it was super awesome!!! "Wildflower" live?!?!? ... forget about it!

To commemorate my many Amazon shopping trips for school stuff lately, I've added below some pics of Dolly caught in the act of shopping for herself. Don't let her mild demeanor fool you ... she's a real rascal!

Hmmm, what have we here?

Dolly, caught in the act - no wonder our credit card bill has been so massive lately!

It's been ages ...

2009-09-11T16:38:00.006-06:00

... since I posted last. So what's happened since "Exam Crammin'", you ask? Please refer to my summary list below:
1. I wrote and, much to my delight, passed the dreaded Minor Field exam.
2. Two of the plants on my balcony died, suddenly. This is testament to my lifelong "black thumb" ... all of my plants are doomed.
3. I had a wonderful week off - yes, a WHOLE week.
4. I saw the new Hayao Miyazake animated feature Ponyo, which was a lovely little tale about a boy and a goldfish princess. Oh, also in relation to this, my popcorn ruled.
5. I spent time with some out of town pals, here in TO in their way to fabulous destinations - here's to late summer beers!
6. I played many, many board games with Tony, which was loads of good quality adventuring ... you know, killing monsters and gathering treasure and whatnot.
7. Spent lots of time with the Dolly, because she is the darlingest, sweetest little pup!
8. I made a Madmen picture of myself on the program website [see picture below].
9. We bought a new DVD player, since ours has been skipping every few minutes, even with pristine discs, for the last couple of years ... FINALLY.
10. We bought loads of cheap DVD's and watched a lot of movies from the comfort of the couch - Dead Man, Castle in the Sky, Blood Simple, Miller's Crossing, Unforgiven, Ratatouille, and more.

Anyways, school is back in effect, and I have had a busy week helping out with the orientation for the new Classics grad students. My first class of the English course I am taking (on MIlton's Paradise Lost) starts on Tuesday, and on the same day I will be finalizing my Major Field reading lists (this is the next big step in my degree). This week-end is shaping up to be a goodie - tonight it's Thai delivery and "The Outlaw Josey Wales", tomorrow night it's a wedding get together for some pals. Have a good Friday/Saturday/Sunday combo, and check back soon, because I promise to be better with posts!

Exam Crammin'

2009-08-24T06:27:00.003-06:00

Posting has been pretty much non-existent for the last while due to constant cramming for Minor Field exams. "Exams in the summer?!?!" you say ... yes, I'm afraid so. In a perhaps less-than-sensible move, I decided to try and get through yet another step of my degree in the summer, when other work slows down. I have read thousands of lines of Homer (almost all of the Iliad and the first 12 books of the Odyssey!) and Apollonius in Greek, as well as loads of scholarship relating to the texts, and now I await my doom ... sigh.

Basically I have two exams, one on Thursday and one on Friday. Thursday I go in for a 3 hour test of my Greek reading - I get 6 passages of Greek from the texts I've been asked to read over the summer, I choose four, and translate into good English prose without any aids. I was less worried about this one before I started studying and realized that there is simply no way possible to re-read everything. That means I could have some serious trouble, depending on what passages show up on the exam. Fingers crossed, I guess. Homer is a lot easier to read than Apollonius, which makes me extra nervous about the Apollonius passages.

Friday I have another 3 hour exam, this time in-class essays. In-class essays!?!?! I haven't done one of these since undergrad! Yikes. Well, basically I have two topics already, which I have been doing intensive research for. My advisor, who writes the exam, will create two specific questions for each topic, I choose one question for each topic, and write two essays. Thinking about this part is what makes my palms sweat - I have no idea how to do this. Ah well, I guess I just have to hope all of my prep wasn't in vain.

The good news is that after the exam, regardless of the outcome, I have a whole week to relax before school gets back in September. What do I dream of doing? Seeing some movies (Ponyo, The Hurt Locker), sleeping in, hitting the gym, walks with Dolly, maybe a night out doing some karaoke, vids, reading something FOR FUN ... did I say sleeping in?

Summer Daze

2009-07-15T07:26:00.006-06:00

Many of you are probably enjoying your summer holidays and vacations right now - hope you're all having lots of fun in the sun! We've had a couple of visitors over the last few weeks - including my sis-in-law Franny from Bermuda, and our pal Arwen from Montreal - which mean lots of good times. Since summer is my chance to cut loose a bit more than in the school year, we've had some late, great, summer night with various pals (we found the best karaoke box, EVER, so I suspect more late nights are in our future).

Tony and I are currently balancing a few different balls in the air. With our superintendents enjoying a train trip across Canada, we are the acting supers. So far, not much has happened (knock on wood), but yesterday was pretty hectic. Tony is still working on art, while moonlighting as a PA from time to time (he worked on a Corn Pops commercial yesterday, starring a Jack Russell named Jumper!). I'm still plugging away at the old Minor Field, and always wish I was getting more work done, and faster. I have exams looming at the end of August, so the pressure is starting to creep up. With my Mom coming for a couple of days next week, I'm working overtime to try and get ahead so I can spend some time with her. I'm really, really excited to see her!!! But in general, the weather here has been cool and pleasant for a Toronto summer, the days have been a nice balance of work and leisure (lots of walks with Dolly and nice evenings with Tony). You just cant say it enough - summer=awesomeness!

Meeting Jupiter the Great Dane (biggest ... dog ... ever) on one of our walks with Dolly and Auntie Frances

Dolly getting cooled off by the hose on a hot summer afternoon.

Out for some Indian feasting with Franny, Nicole, and Tony - so delicious!

Monday, Monday

2009-06-22T05:48:00.002-06:00

Well, I'm feeling the Monday blues today for sure. I had an awesome week-end with my sis-in-law Frannie and her pal Nicole, and was very sad to see them leave this morning for their respective homes. We filled a couple of days with Dolly walks, shopping, snacking, and even had a night on the town complete with sushi and karaoke.

And now ... [sigh] ... it's time to get back to work. [tears!] I have to get the tutorial participation grades and essays marked by tomorrow night, but then my TA duties for the summer are over. This will definitely give me some much-needed time to focus on my Minor Field.

Adding to the blues is the fact that as of midnight last night Toronto is now in the grips of a garbage strike (really a strike for the union in charge of garbage, city-run day cares, ambulances, rec centers, etc.). With hot, hot weather on the way, I really hope this doesn't last long. I feel sooooo bad for so many people affected by the strike. Next week-end is Pride week-end, and this is going to throw a major wrench in the works, not to mention hindering the dozens of other summer events around the corner throughout the city. Even permits for taking wedding photos in city parks have been cancelled, which I'm sure will be devastating for those who have planned June/July weddings. We'll just have to keep our cool and see what happens!

I suppose I'd best get to work, so that I can take a much-needed afternoon siesta! Have a great start to the week!

Play time

2009-06-12T05:40:00.008-06:00

Once again, things have been très busy, mostly due to an avalanche of marking (essay outlines and midterms!) that buried me last week. Yesterday, I decided to take the whole day off [gasp!], and Tony and I made our way to IKEA. My sis-in-law Franny is coming next week for a visit, so we wanted to get a couple of essentials to spruce things up a bit around here. As far as our shopping list went, there were only a couple of failures - we picked up blinds in the wrong size (silver lining: we have a reason to go back for dollar breakfast again next week), didn't find a shower curtain to our liking (Canadian Tire, here we come), and couldn't justify $139 for a new couch cover (fingers are crossed for As-Is next week). We did have some success, however, in finding a new rug in a color to conceal Dolly's fur (she doesn't shed too much, but on chocolate brown it looks brutal), a nice hand towel for the bathroom (our others have long been consigned to the rag-bag), a new masher (mashed yams tonight, woohoo!), and a lovely new stainless steel pot with the pasta straining insert (seriously, the best thing ever!).

Since we left Dolly all alone while making this epic trek, we decided to pick her up some goodies too. They had an excellent little doggy bed, just big enough for her to curl up in a little donut for snuggly naps. We also picked up this hilarious snaggle-toothed horse hand puppet, intended for kids, but great for Tony and Dolly wrasslin'. Now his name is Henry (Hank, for those who know him well), and man, has he been getting the beats from old Dolly. This is quite a development, because so far most of her toys don't get much attention, if any at all, so seeing her that excited about old Hank was quite a treat.

Well, Tony's working another CFC volunteer gig as a PA on a short film, and I have tons of Greek to read, plus a little dog to walk about, so I'd best be on my way. Hope you all have a fabulous week-end!

Here's the Tone explaining to Dolly that, yes, this new little bed is hers. She seemed to like it right away.

Here's Dolly's new pal, Henry the Horse. He's quite a looker!

Tony's trying to teach Dolly to play boardgames ... it might just be working!

HIde and seek with Henry.

Dolly gets down to some wrasslin'.

Splish-splash, Dolly's first bath!

2009-05-24T16:30:00.007-06:00

O.k., it might not have been truly her first bath ever, but it was our initial venture into the world of canine personal hygiene. First and foremost, let me say that giving Dolly a bath was pure fun! Basically the cutest thing ever (see photo evidence of cuteness below). Our building managers were kind enough to let us use the big washing sink in the laundry room, which totally ruled. Not only were we able to stand up while bathing her (better leverage), but is has a nice sprayer on one of the faucets for easy rinsing. Dolly was a little disconcerted at times during the bath, but when it was all over she was as pleased as punch (see video evidence of post-bath euphoria below). Since it was such a gorgeous day, we opted to take her out on the lawn for some drying in the sun, and some wrassling with her towel ensued - lots and lots of good times! I hope she gets dirty again really soon, so we can do it all over again!

Dolly feeling none too sure about the whole being-in-the-sink-thing.

Post-bath Dolly drying in the summer sun.

Little brown face, close-up.

This video shows Dolly's excited enthusiasm for her post-bath treat (watch for her little face-plant, and please don't think too harshly of us for laughing ... she was totally o.k. and it was hilarious).

Planting the Fleurs

2009-05-19T11:09:00.006-06:00

It's been unseasonably cold here, as in much of Canada, and so the bedding plants I purchased a few days ago have been snuggling down in the apartment during the evening and much of the day. With a nice break in the weather today - sunshine and warmth - I figured it a good time to do some long overdue planting. We have a fairly small balcony, so one large pot, one small, and a window box fills it up pretty well. My thumb is far from green, and last year's crop of flowers did not all make it to the end of summer, but I'm hoping these hearty, full-sun options tough it out. I must say, it feels very, very good to have some living color out on the balcony again!

P.S. For any interested parties, Heart was AWESOME!!! They may be getting up there in years, but they are more than amazing on all counts.

Supplies in waiting.

The big pot with Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Purple, Limon Talinum, and another plant that will have big pink blossoms.

Balcony box with assorted Callies.

Small, table-top pot with purple mosaic verbena.

Our regal Beagle!

Headlines

2009-05-13T13:48:00.003-06:00

So here's what's been going on in our little corner of the world ...
... After a few days of too-frequent ear-scratching and more ear-flapping head-shaking than you can possibly imagine, we took Dolly to the vet for the first time. She handled it very, very well (sometimes it's hard to believe she's the same scared little doggy she once was), and was diagnosed with a lovely set of two ear infections. It's always weird how vets have some sort of magic doggy handling skills - he just flipped open her ear and put in the medicine ... no fuss, no muss. So when he told us to do the cleaning once a day, and drops twice, we thought, "No problem!" That is, until we had to do it ourselves. Basically every medicine session is like a wrestling match with a 20 lb. alligator in a death roll ... it's really, really, REALLY hard to get the stuff into those cute fuzzy ears.

I delivered a one-hour lecture on Homer today for a class of around 60, which went pretty well (I think). It was a bit nerve-wracking, because I had to give the talk in front of the Department's Undergraduate Coordinator, so I hope I gave a good impression. Every time I have to do this I get less and less nervous, which is definitely reassuring, considering that I will be doing this every day when I'm out in the university workplace.

Tomorrow night I'm off to see Heart, yes Heart, in concert with a couple of my girlfriends, and I'm super pumped. You know those crazy, ill-conceived and rarely fulfilled plans that can be made over a few drinks? Well, a couple of weeks after a rousing session of karaoke box, which included many renditions of various Heart faves, we were hanging out at one of our pal's homes. After a few (read: waayyyy too many) beers, we got into how much we once loved Heart, which led to us looking up their website, which led to the discovery that they were going to be in Toronto, which led to us saying "Let's do this!!!" And here we are. I think it's going to be awesome, and I look forward to some good times with the ladies.

Ah, the 80's hit "Alone" ... how I love thee.

The news 'round here & Dolly Speaks! (kinda)

2009-05-07T09:57:00.004-06:00

It has been a busy, busy week - Capital "B" busy! I'm working on my Minor Fieldfor the summer which basically entails reading lots and lots of Homer and secondary literature about Homer. So far, it's coming along nicely, and I'm definitely enjoying making my way through the Iliad in the original Greek (one of the best stories, bar none!). In addition to reading this fine tale of battle, glory, heroics, and tragic demise, my Research Assistant work has been a bit more steady this week. Today I have to write a lecture for the class I am TA-ing for in May and June. The instructor will be away next week, and I foolheartedly agreed to fill in [gulp!]. With two meetings tomorrow on top of all of this, and needless to say, there is lots to keep me occupied!

In Dolly news, we wanted to get her some basic training, and train ourselves on just what exactly we should be doing (what does the Dog Whisperer say? ... "there's no bad dogs, just bad owners" or some such). Despite her burgeoning confidence, we knew that she would probably not fare so well in a class, as all of the other people and dogs would still be a bit of a challenge for her. So after some internet research, we decided to try a place in Toronto called The Bark Zone which offers in-home training sessions, a perfect solution! On Tuesday a trainer extraordinaire named Jenny came by, and spent an incredibly informative hour helping us set up some training routines for Dolly, focusing on basic commands (come, sit, go crate, etc.), name recognition, and walking. She also taught us how to properly go about feeding, how to introduce Dolly to new people (very important for her socialization), and tons of other tidbits. I totally am on board with the whole philosophy of training that involves us learning about "pack mentality" and developing our understanding of how to interact with Dolly and how to communicate with her meaningfully. Everything we have been told to do has almost immediate impact, and sometimes I wonder if Jenny the trainer might just have some magical doggy powers. At any rate, we'll keep working with Dolly everyday, and have another session in a couple of weeks. I might be making it sound like a lot of work, but the reality is that it is so much fun that it is basically ridiculous.

And, perhaps most exciting of all, I finally heard Dolly's little voice! This entire time, our pooch has made nary a sound, other than her usual snores and occasional cough after drinking water. But no barks, not a peep! Last night while enjoying a little post-dinner Simpsons, we heard the most amazing and adorable thing - Doggy Dream Barks. Tony remembers his childhood pooch letting out tiny sleepy barks in the midst of some doggy dream, but I have never seen nor heard such a thing. It really was super funny, and so cute, and begs the question, "What does Dolly dream about?"

Dolly lounging around - notice the pillow, which for some reason she avoids at all costs. She likes to sit under the table, like "Crate 2".

Another one, just because.

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's ...

2009-05-01T17:29:00.003-06:00

... Dolly! O.k., o.k., I know I talk waaayyyy too much about the new little fuzzy member of the family these days, but I honestly can't help it. She's definitely coming out of her shell more and more each day, which warms the old heart right to the core. The morning walk is especially filled with newfound confidence. We play this little game where I meet Tony and Dolly out front of the building and when she recognizes me she boldly dashes towards me - pretty exciting stuff for a pup that wouldn't even look us in the eye a week ago. Check out the running and tail-wagging below!

We have arranged for an in-home trainer to come on Tuesday afternoon to give us some pointers and construct a training program for Dolly. Even though she is such a well-behaved little dog, she needs some schooling in the basic commands - "come," "heel," etc. - for her own safety and our peace of mind while taking her out on the town. Tony and I can't wait!

Springy Stuff

2009-04-28T07:27:00.004-06:00

Every day on our doggy walks, I see so many flowers and things I want to take pictures of. Alas, I always forget my camera ... that is, until now!!! Our neighborhood in Toronto really does have some lovely things growing in it, and some yards are truly magnificent. Dolly definitely has a lot to sniff on our strolls!

Nice crimson tulip.

Daffodil flower up close and personal.

Magnolias! We actually just found out what these were on our Monday walk.

Huge Magnolia bud - starts off like a giant pussy-willow and turns into a big blushing blossom!

Dolly walking with some almost-tail waggles!

Sewing on Saturday

2009-04-25T10:36:00.006-06:00

Long, long ago, in a second-hand store far, far away, I found this crazy material.

I had to have it for two reasons:
1. The pattern - 80's electronics melange in black and white, including walkmans, vidz, etc.
2. The name "Tony" appears as a non-copyright infringing substitute for "Sony" on some of the electronic devices.

So for many moons this little piece of material has been stored away waiting for the right moment. Seeing as Spring seems finally to have sprung, and some heat is on the way, we realized that Dolly's Hello Kitty fleece blanket would not long be suitable as a cover for the crate - waayyyyy too warm! When I was rummaging through the linen closet to see if I had anything I could use, I found this stuff and decided to make it into a new cover. I haven't touched the sewing machine since we first moved in, a testament to how busy I am kept by school, and so this was a pretty basic 4-sided hem, nothing fancy. But it seems to do the trick, and is a nice light cotton for a breezier den for Dolly.

Dolly, boldly lounging in the living room, watching me sewing her new crate cover.

Dolly checking out her new digs!

Dolly is doing very well, showing us lots of wags and venturing out into the apartment on her own a lot more often. The tummy troubles passed without incident, and we're hoping that she stays feeling better.

I'm off to invigilate a final exam tonight in Scarborough from 6-10pm. Can you imagine having to write a final on the first Saturday of summery weather ... boo. Now imagine having to stand around and watch 250 students writing said exam for 4 hours on the first Saturday of summer weather ... double boo. Ah well, it will make coming home to Tony and Dolly that much more sweet! (If that's even possible!)

Tummy aches all 'round

2009-04-24T08:07:00.002-06:00

Despite the fact that Dolly loves her new food, the change of diet seems to be wreaking some mild havoc on her tummy. There have been no accidents thus far, but based on the gurgling noises in her tummy, it seems like the possibility of mishaps might be increasing. I get feeling pretty nervous when she seems unwell, but I know I have to get over it, because doggies do get sick sometimes. Poor little monkey! But as I type this she is sitting in the living room with me, and seems to prefer my company right now to the solitude of her cozy kennel.

I have a busy day today and will be out for a couple of hours here and there. My pal Randi from school is going away for the week-end, and since we are next door neighbors, I will be feeding and checking in on her little fluffy kitty Romi. I also have a meeting to get the details on my summer TA job which runs from May-June. I'll be teaching tutorials this time around, which I think will be a lot of work, but a lot of fun, too.

It's finally supposed to get summery here this week-end, and I am looking forward to it! Plus 20 degrees, here we come!
Depending on how Dolly seems to be feeling, we might try and take her for a longer adventure tomorrow morning, when most people are still sleeping and things are nice and quiet. I think a nice peaceful Saturday morning walk would do us all a world of good - it's been a lovely first week with Dolly, but all three of us have been a little scared and stressed, so some family relaxation definitely seems in order.

We got a wag!!!

2009-04-23T08:00:00.004-06:00

On our morning walk today Dolly had her first tail wag with her new owners. As Tony took her out for the first stroll of the day, I moved the crate around and got her bowls ready. When I caught up with the rest of the family in the front yard of our building, Dolly recognized me as I approached, and - lo and behold! - the tail was a'wagging! It was the best feeling.

Then upon our return home, she stayed out of her crate of her own volition for over an hour, watching us have breaky and kind of hanging around with the folks. And I'm very thrilled that she seems to be following me around the apartment a bit, when she's feeling her most confident.

These developments have been a real surprise and a treat. On that first day, I never dreamed she would be doing any of these things. Of course, she still is very, very timid for the most part (after her social spell this morning, there was a mad rush to get under the bed in our room), but she's making some good steps in the right direction.

Dolly Times! (Day 3 Morning)

2009-04-21T06:35:00.006-06:00

Yesterday was quite an exciting time for these humble new owners of the world's most timid pup. On our morning walk Dolly she got really into it, snuffling around and checking out the 'hood. After a couple of minutes, we noticed that her little tail, usually tucked securely under her backside, was slowly making its way up into the air! No wagging, I'm afraid, but it's still more progress than we could have ever hoped for a couple of days ago.

Then as I was writing my essay, I heard the little clickety-click of feet, and when I turned around, Dolly had ventured out into our apartment a little on her own. She didn't go too far, and made her way back to her cozy den right away, but she does seem to be gaining a little trust and confidence. A friend suggested that we put some old shirts of ours in her den, so that she associates our smell with comfiness, so maybe that's having some effect.

Perhaps most exciting was when our friend Kevin came by to meet Dolly after my essay had been submitted and library books returned. Tony brought Dolly out from her den on the leash (she's way more confident on the leash for some reason) into the living room. The three of us were sitting on the floor, and when Tony took Dolly off the leash, she stayed ... for a long, long time!!! It was soooooo funny - she sat there on her haunches and darted the occasional glance in our direction very timidly taking part in our conversation. What a surprise!

This morning we took her for a nice neighborhood walk, on a route we're trying to familiarize her with. She ever so cutely walks along with us. She always glances up at her guide Tony, and as I walk ahead of her (she gets a little nervous with anyone right behind her) she monitors my speed and keeps right to my heels (see sneakily taken video below). On our final pass on the way home, she finally went to the bathroom (after days of not going) which was a huge relief ... to her AND us! Then when we got her home she had some breakfast near her den, and then came out again on her own! Tony was making some toast and I was on the computer and she came trotting out to check us out. After making some rounds, snuffling and peeking into the kitchen, she made her way back to her home turf. We were shocked and sooooooo excited!

Looks like Dolly might be settling in!

Dolly wasn't totally sure about the toweling-off process after our rainy walk last night ... poor little wiener!

Dolly: Day 1

2009-04-19T18:01:00.004-06:00

Tony and I have some pretty big news ... a little dog has joined our family! Her name is Dolly, a rescued pup whose extremely timid temperament was making it tough for her to get adopted. She's been living in a foster-home, and is going to take some time to get used to us. We are going to need to be super patient and loving, and I think we're up to the task!

So as we accustom her to us and 88 Bernard, I'll try to post about her every day ... here goes!

Day 1
Dolly is the most fearful pup we've ever seen. She comes to us house-trained and crate-trained, which definitely makes things a lot easier. Despite her training, it seems Dolly was not properly taken care of by her former owner, hence her timid nature. But even though she is scared, REALLY scared, she has the sweetest temperament with other people and animals. On our brief walks so far, she endures the attention of strange people and animals patiently, with her little tail tucked firmly between her legs. Her first night went fairly smoothly - we were happy that she did not cry at all, and were excited to hear her little doggy snores throughout the night. She loves her crate, which we have filled with cuddly things and cover with a nice Hello Kitty blanket at night - whenever she returns from being outside, she makes a bee-line for the crate right away! She will definitely need some time to get used to us, but she's already eating the occasional treat from Tony's hand, and is even venturing out from her crate here and there. We love her a lot, and hope that some day she'll feel safe and happy with us!

Well, I'm on page 12 of a 20 page essay due tomorrow at 4pm, so I'd best get cracking - stay tuned for more Dolly news!

This is a picture from Tony's trip out to get Dolly from the foster-home on Saturday.

This is what Dolly looks like when she's feeling scared and has retreated to her little den - for the first day she stayed waaayyyyy in the back like this, but she's already getting more comfortable and even venturing out on her own from time to time.

Spring Defied

2009-04-06T16:16:00.003-06:00

Just the other day the grey soil, grim and long-revealed by the melting of the snow, finally burst forth with the radiant purple, white, and gold of an army of crocuses. Tony and I even saw some yellow-green baby buds appearing on the neighborhood hedges this week-end, the sight filling us with hope of coming Spring.

But, it appears, we have been duped by these early glimpses of new growth in all its beauty ... Winter in Toronto is trying desperately to rear its ugly head for a while longer before being completely overtaken by the warmer months. With my cold still lingering on, I woke up feeling chilled, mostly due to the fact that my mild feverishness was clashing with the wintry chill in our bedroom. Peeking through the curtain, I saw snow ... yes, snow. Granted the snow was not really heaping up, per se, and there was a smattering of thunder and lightning, but it was most certainly snow. Apparently between today and tomorrow we're in for a few centimeters at least.

It's really not that bad, I suppose, but it's somehow just not right either. I want Spring, darn it anyways, and poor Tony does too (his comment on returning home from gym and errands was to say in the most downtrodden fashion: a. "I don't think it's ever going to warm up." and b. "I realized today that I've been cold for six months."). So come on sunshine, get cracking! Let's get some leaves on those trees already!

Snow in April ... boo.

Baking ?!??! Yes, baking!

2009-03-20T16:05:00.004-06:00

Do you ever find that when you stay home sick you start to get antsy? Well, after a doctor's appointment this morning, I made my way home to the sofa, where I spent a pleasing few hours watching daytime t.v. (so comforting!). A little while ago, I started thinking about how the yams in our fridge needed eating. Tony has been volunteering as a P.A. for the C.F.C., and as a result, dinner prep has suffered and the yams have been overlooked for easier, faster options. So with this on replay in my brain, I made my way over to the laptop and looked for a recipe to use them up. My final choice? ... Sweet potato muffins. My mom always used to make the best muffins, so I thought, "What could be more comforting for a cold? Warm, buttered muffins with a fresh cup of tea." So, no, I did not make a hearty family meal, but Tony can arrive home to the sweet smell of fresh baking!

Let's just hope they taste good! [They're smelling nice while they bake, at least!]

By the way, happy first day of spring - it's official!!!

A sigh of relief.

2009-03-19T12:53:00.003-06:00

It's been a crazy couple of weeks ... I mean seriously C-R-A-Z-Y. Over the last two weeks I have had two class presentations, and marked 110 essays which I just submitted this afternoon (fingers crossed that I did a good job). Add on to this massive workload an ill-timed cold and it's just out of control! That being said, I'm [finally] getting some rest, on the couch watching ANTM with a huge bowl of fresh grapes (they seem to help the old sore throat and my massively swollen tonsils ... why, oh why, didn't I get them removed when I was a kid?). I'm not sure if I've ever been so happy to be relaxing!

More Rome, just 'cuz.

Heading into the fire, as it were

2009-03-06T14:54:00.003-07:00

The next couple of weeks are going to be pure madness - 150 essays to mark, 2 class presentations, and all of my regular pile of course work. Egads! Even though I know I can totally handle it, and that the pain will be relatively short term, I don't look forward much to it. In order to prepare for the craziness, I'm chilling with Tony tonight, to get in some serious relax-o time. What's on the agenda? Zelda, pizza, Dollhouse, and maybe a little catch-up on the Lost. Ahhh, I do love me some couch time!

When I have a couple of hard weeks ahead of me, I wish I was this Roman kitty, basking in the Italian sun - sooooooo chilled out!

Never-ending Winter

2009-02-27T15:18:00.004-07:00

The weather roller-coaster in Toronto lately is really getting me down. Today is a classic example of the crazy fluctuation - this morning I left for school at noon, wearing a spring jacket and light gloves perfectly suitable for +9 degrees celsius (no hat required, I'd say). By the time I just arrived home, the temperature has plummeted, complemented nicely by a blustering wind, and needless to say, I froze on the way home. My poor little ears are stinging as they are re-introduced to the warm air in my apartment. Sigh. After growing up in Alberta, I really shouldn't complain too much about Toronto winters, I admit. Yet the teeter-totter between what feels like coming Spring and lingering Winter teases and toys with my sanity a bit. Ah, to have a warm and sunny spring day! Soon, soon, soon (I hope!).

This admittedly has little to do with my discussion above, but the Roman sun would be the perfect remedy for my Winter blues.

Now this is just getting ridiculous/ At 33

2009-02-09T08:18:00.007-07:00

I must officially be the worst blogger ... ever. With posting that is sporadic (at best) I definitely deserve some beats for my idleness, but I still hope (perhaps naively) that someone might check back here once in a while.

Aside from my ridiculous failure at posting regularly things are pretty much business as usual. Time is racing past, school is busy, and somehow it is already February! Today is the big 3-3, so I'm looking forward to a little b-day cake tonight and some prezzies from the Tonester and my folks. Tony is working as a P.A. on a toy commercial set today and tomorrow, so we're going to go for a nice dinner on Wednesday to Prego for the Winterlicious festival- this is basically a chance to eat fantastically delicious goodies at reasonable prices ($35 for a gourmet Italian feast) ... I ... can't ... WAIT!

Based on my predilection for having photos in my posts, I thought I would post some pics of the pillow-cases I embroidered for Tony and I. My Grandma K. always used to make us sets of white pillow-cases with hand-stitched designs - there wasn't a member of the family who didn't own at least a few. My very favorite was one with a picture of a kitten sitting in a fancy lady's slipper, which of course was very much to my fancy at age 8 (and I still have it to this day). As a kid I used to learn how to do this kind of embroidery, as well as cross-stitch needlepoint, under the tutelage of my Mom, who had learned it in turn from my Grandma. When I decided a few years ago that I wanted to revisit my needlework past, I looked through the embroidery transfers that were remaining from my Mom's collection of sewing supplies, and, to my delight, I found a set of 1970's era 5 x 9.5" kid's patterns that were a pleasing blend of cute and hilariously old-fashioned motifs (little boy=baseball glove, puppy, etc.; little girl=dollies and frills). Though I finished the first of the pair in 2004, the second one sat idle until this past Christmas holiday. A few days before Christmas, I was procrastinating, not wanting to study, and I remembered that I still had one to finish. While Tony was at work, I stitched my heart out, so that the set could be a surprise under the tree. The photos of them are not the best, and for that I must apologize. Trying to smooth them out and keep them in place would take a lot more skill than I have as a photographer, not to mention my inability to get decent lighting (Tony's is not crooked in real life, I swear!). Nevertheless, I hope they give the general impression.

Sweet dreams, Tony!

Sweet dreams, Sarah!

Inspired by Leslie's goal to write frequently in February, I will try to do the same. So stay tuned (if you're still with me)!

Let the New Year begin ...

2009-01-14T12:56:00.002-07:00

... oh wait, it's already almost half-way through January, so I'm markedly late for this New year's post. For my tardiness I blame two circumstances in particular: a. the post-Christmas cold that has now been lingering for over a week, and b. the second of two seminar papers due from last semester. I finished up the latter in the nick of time on Monday evening, had my first class on Tuesday, and have spent all my time since then trying to eradicate the last traces of my cold.

Today I tried a very mild amount of exercise, had a nice lunch with Tony, and now we're playing Zelda on the Wii we received for Christmas from the Bermuda clan (Will, Fran, and Sam). It totally rules. And considering it's minus 30 outside, I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing than snuggling up under a blanket with a hot beverage and navigating through new dungeons with my old pal Link. Yes!

Happy Holidays, indeed!

2008-12-28T06:34:00.006-07:00

Tony and I have had a great time this Christmas - everything from all of the Christmas preparation to the times of relaxation has been wonderful! Our first ever turkey dinner proper turned out fabulously well, and we've had many fine leftovers since. I must admit, I am not quite sure how I live without roast turkey during the rest of the year! All I know is that when we sat down to eat on Christmas Eve, I felt pretty darned lucky to be sharing such a nice meal with someone I love in our cozy little apartment - it doesn't get much better than that!

Best wishes to you all for the upcoming New Year and a continued "Happy Holidays!"!

Cooking up the Christmas dinner!

Tony sporting his paper hat from the traditional Christmas cracker (he also got a giant purple paper clip as his prize).

I, too, donned the Christmas cracker paper hat, and for my prize received a miniature bowling set - yes!

Our little Christmas table, festooned with various decorations!

Holiday Baking: Part II - Pecan Pie!

2008-12-24T08:11:00.003-07:00

Merry Christmas Eve, everyone!

Now it's time for the second installment of Holiday Baking! Pecan Pie is undoubtedly one of my family's most long-standing Christmas traditions. My mom's recipe makes a pie that is so, so sweet, with the most heavenly texture - perfect with home-made whipped cream! Since Tony and I have such a tiny kitchen, we opted not to make the pastry for our first ever pecan pies. But as we learned, the filling is ridiculously easy, so I think next year we'll give the pastry a whirl! The pre-made crusts worked very well, but are a bit shallow - the pecan filling recipe, which normally fills a single home-made pie crust, turned out to be enough for both pre-made crusts! So now, much to Tony's delight, we have not one, but two pecan pies! Holiday eating is the best!

Well, I'm off to get relax before cooking up the holiday feast. What's on our menu? Turkey (of course), with gravy and stuffing, ginger-mashed yams, peas & carrots, and German Rye bread warmed in the oven. And then we dig in to all of the holiday treats!

Hope you all have a wonderful Holiday and a Merry Christmas! May you all be healthy and happy throughout the entire holiday season! Best wishes!

Our Pecan Pies - can't wait to have a piece later tonight!

Holiday Baking: Part I - Sugar Cookies!

2008-12-23T07:23:00.013-07:00

Our holiday baking is officially under way!!! Yesterday, after a wintry walk for holiday provisions, we rolled up our sleeves and whipped up a batch of sugar cookies. These particular holiday treats are one of my favorites - light and crispy, a little tangy from the cream of tartar, covered by a thick colorful coating of butter icing. Yum! While we had originally planned on making a half batch, we decided to go for the gold and make a fleet of cookies, so that we would have a few extras to pass around. With all of the cookies now iced and packed away for snacking, we move today to Holiday Baking: Part II - our very first attempt at making my mom's famous pecan pie! Stay tuned!

Here is some thrilling footage of the whole baking process ... making cookies to the holiday stylings of Perry Como - perfection!

We never, ever get to use this much butter, and as you can plainly see, I'm pretty excited about it!

The fleet of cookies patiently waiting for a coating of butter icing.

Now we're getting somewhere - these little trees were some of my faves during the icing process.

Almost finished!

Our little Christmas tree!

2008-12-04T08:19:00.002-07:00

Tony and I went on an expedition of epic proportions yesterday to get ready for the holidays. Our mission was to pick up the necessary items to get our goodies ready to send to relatives and to get a tree - mission accomplished! We got an excellent little tree, some decorations, and wrapping stuff, and in the course of it all probably walked somewhere between 10 and 15 kilometres!!!

Needless to say, last night was loads of fun getting the tree all decked out, and we're getting exponentially more excited about Christmas holidays! Now I'm off to do a little wrapping, since we have to hit the post office tomorrow stat!

All set up, but no decorations ... yet!

Here is the little tree with loads of stuff on it (it's amazing how little is needed for a 4.5 foot tree!).

Night-time shot, all aglow!

Tony's Book!

2008-11-30T14:30:00.003-07:00

Well, after a day of Greek translation, I'm settling down to a cozy night at home. There seems to be some bad weather stirring outside, with heavy wind and some sort of hybrid between rain and snow - a good night to be indoors! Tony is in Montreal this week-end for the annual Expozine to promote his new book 'Getting Out of New New Towne' (see an image of the publisher's proof below). I hope it goes well, both for Tony and for Corey, the founder of the brand-spanking new Buffalo Runs Press!!!

Classes for the semester end for me this Tuesday - where has the time gone?!?!? I am definitely looking forward to a day off on Wednesday, which is going to be put to use doing some power-Christmas shopping and decorations purchasing. Since we'll be here this year, we are going to need at least a little tree and the necessary trimmings. Expect some pictures later this week!

Hope you all had a great week-end!

It's Official ...

2008-11-15T05:15:00.010-07:00

... I now have my M.A.!

Oh, happy day!

On Thursday I attended my convocation along with some of my other schoolmates, with Tony cheering us all on from the audience. The ceremony was held in Convocation Hall at the U of T, an amazing dome-shaped building with a gargantuan pipe organ.

Our special speaker and recipient of an honorary doctorate was none other than Jane Goodall ... I couldn't believe it!!! I totally remember watching specials on TV about Jane Goodall and her work, so my parents were definitely excited to hear about her being at the convocation. She is such an amazing person, and her speech was incredibly inspiring (she even included a chimpanzee call used when they feel joyous, and I totally welled up with excited tears!).

I have attached below some photos for your perusal, as well as a rather fuzzy video of me going up to shake hands with the chancellor and officially receive my new designation (just to remind myself that it happened ... for real!). Plus, the photos will give you a glimpse of our hot pink convocation hoods (was that really the most dignified color they could choose for M.A. and M.Sc.?).

Sarah McCallum, M.A. and the Tonester.

Some of my classmates and fellow graduates (L-R: Randi, Kim, Rob, Me, Jessica)

Watch this video to: a. hear Tony give the shout-out; b. see me shake Jane Goodall's hand ... quickly; and c. see me run off the stage as quickly as possible, a testament to my fear and mild panic at the time.

As promised ... Halloween Photos!

2008-11-04T08:53:00.003-07:00

Luke and Leia on the ice-planet Hoth ... ah, Star Wars!

A baby toucan (actually, my nephew Sam in Halloween disguise)! I was very impressed to discover that my brother made those adorable little feet himself.

Here is little Sam the toucan with his troop of Halloween babies.

For years my big brother donned ladies clothes for his Halloween costume. In addition to his toucan outfit, Sam also dressed up as a princess (so pretty!). Well, you know what they say, "Like Father, Like Son."

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T11:12:00.002-06:00

Hope you are all enjoying the first week-end Halloween night in a long while! For those of you with youngsters, have fun hitting the trick-or-treat circuit, and for those heading out on the town, enjoy.
I am just working away until it's time for us to get dressed up and head out. We're going over to a pal's house with a few friends to do a little Halloween karaoke. This is the first time in two years that we will actually be going out for Halloween, and I can't wait! We're going to wear the old Hoth Luke and Leia costumes again (which some of you have already seen). I'll post some pictures later this week-end.
Well, best to you all! Have lots of spooky fun!

Thanksgiving Food-a-rama!

2008-10-14T16:47:00.005-06:00

In preparation for our first ever Christmas on our very own, Tony and I decided to roll up our sleeves and prepare a proper Thanksgiving feast. We roasted a lovely chicken (complete with savory stuffing, of course!), whipped up a batch of ginger mashed yams, steamed some fresh asparagus, warmed up some artisan pumpkin bread in the oven, and ate until we could eat no more. Everything actually surpassed our expectations, and heightened our excitement to do it all again in December. With the dress rehearsal a success, we feel totally ready to tackle Christmas dinner - we might even attempt to make our own pie pastry!
Other than the cooking (which was great fun!), we basically relaxed. We went for a nice little stroll to pick up a couple of necessary food prep items which had been forgotten. We played a rousing game of War of the Ring, which is exceptional for those of you who like board games. I also indulged in a little Zelda Ocarina of Time, an oldy-but-goody which I can still play on the N64 which made the move out to Toronto from my Mom's house this summer.
Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving week-end!

Here I am, smiling like a kid in a candy store as we wrap up the final stages of feast preparation.

Here is Tony, complete with long week-end beard, waiting to tuck in to the sweet Thanksgiving spread.

While the chicken roasted, Tony and I indulged in a game of War of the Ring, a fantastically massive board game based on Lord of the Rings. I lost ... again ... for the third time ... sigh.

Can it really be Thanksgiving already!!?!?!

2008-10-08T05:42:00.005-06:00

I am in shock. Thanksgiving is already almost here, a solid indication of just how fast this Fall is racing past. It's hard to even make a list of what we've been up to since the last post. One pleasant surprise was a school-organized trip to Toronto Island. Tony and I have pondered going to the Island pretty much since we moved here over two years ago, but somehow never made it over. The trip took place on a very mild and pleasant early fall Saturday - perfect weather for a little trip! After a ferry ride (which totally reminded me of being on the West Coast), we arrived at the Island, which is much bigger than I thought. There are picnic areas, a small amusement park, beaches - tons of trees and grassy areas make it so lush and lovely.

I have been run ragged these days with school. Grant applications, two seminars, a research methods class, a German reading group, and a research assistantship are all compiling to make a crazy, crazy schedule. That being said, the grant applications are due in mid-October, so that will be one thing down, at least!

Tony and I are going to give making a Thanksgiving dinner a whirl. For those of you have seen our place, you know how teeny-tiny our kitchen is - cooking anything big is going to be a challenge! But since it looks as though we'll be spending Christmas here this year, we need to at least carry out a 'dress rehearsal' so that we can be sure that we can cook up a feast for the Holidays! I think we'll do a roast chicken (since there are only two of us), and maybe ginger mashed yams, rolls, veggies, and gravy. I'm also hoping that Tony will reprise his pumpkin pie from last year (it was delicious!). Anyways, we'll cross our fingers, and roll up our sleeves for some serious cooking!

Here I am feeling pretty excited as the ferry ride was getting under way.

From the ferry, the view of Toronto was amazing!

Tony and I on the Toronto Island south beach - honestly, I was astounded at how nice this beach was! I wish we had gone there to lounge in the summer heat.

Summer's End

2008-09-08T12:03:00.010-06:00

Well, I'm back at school as of today, after a whirlwind trip home last night. I arrived at our apartment around 9:30pm, went and grabbed some food items for the next couple of days, and unpacked until the wee hours. Even though I should probably have hit the sack right away, I always feel this driving need to put everything in its rightful place as soon as I get home ... weird, I know.

The trip back to Edmonton was very, very busy and a bit bittersweet because the old family home is listed for sale. Tony and I had stashed a vast array of items there which needed to be sorted and relocated, plus there were lots of other things to help out with to get the house ready. It's always sort of strange and slightly melancholy to go through so many things from the past, but it also felt very cleansing to get rid of a lot of stuff we really didn't need.

Do any of you remember this little gem? It's the old Sesame Street Clubhouse playset, one of the treasures found in the basement at the Chateau McCallum.

It was so wonderful to spend time with the Bermuda clan, and I miss that little Sammy so much some times it hurts! The only thing that I regret from the trip is not getting enough opportunity to spend time with the panoply of awesome Edmonton pals. We tried our best to track down everyone, but time flew away so quickly that I was heading home before I got a chance to see all of the people I would have liked to (apologies all around!).

Tony's art show at the Untitled Art Society in Calgary was a super success. We had tons of fun setting up on the last Tuesday, and then went down with Tony's mom for the opening this past Friday. The people from the Society were all totally great, and there were loads of other chums - a troop of Edmonton pals and old friends from Calgary were there, many of whom we hadn't seen in years.

A glimpse of Tony's show at the Untitled Art Society.

Anyways, I'm extremely tired after my first class, and am off to spend some time with the old orange couch!
Hope all of you are well, and enjoying the onset of Fall!

Edmonton Visit/ Babies, Babies Everywhere!

2008-08-27T07:59:00.004-06:00

Sammy in his daddy's 70's bathing suit, hanging out with his pal Chloe.

My mom (a.k.a. Grandma Paulette) and Franny with little D.J. jr. (Jenn and Darren's lovely little guy) and Sam, my nephew and new best pal!

So after being in Edmonton for about a week and a half, it seems that it wouldn't be inappropriate to say that 'Baby Mania' is in full effect here. Aside from the three cutesters pictured above, new babies are everywhere the eye can see, both already arrived and on the way. Almost everyone we know is either pregnant or are new parents - we've seen D.J. Jr., Sam, Lola, Stella, and Chloe so far, which only touches the tip of the baby iceberg! I think I saw about five pairs of twins when I was shopping with Will and Fran yesterday - NO exaggeration!!!

The visit has been good, but very, very busy so far. With my Mom contemplating selling the old Chateau McCallum in St. Albert we've been busy trying to sort through our stash of stuff here. After about 3.5 solid days of cleaning, organizing, and, most importantly, downsizing, I was feeling run down so the week-end was all about trying to just get some rest (we have taken about 8 van/car loads of stuff out of here, including 2 to stow at my dad's, 5 loads to Goodwill, and 1 recycling!). We're hoping now that we are one load away from being finished dealing with our stuff that we can get some quality time in with some pals and family for the rest of the trip.

This morning I'm off to get my first haircut since last X-mas, and I will also check out this excellent clothing store in St. Albert called Meese (for those of you from E-town, it's basically like Nokomis). Tony's off to work at the gallery, so I imagine the rest of us will chill for most of the afternoon, and when T-bone returns we'll take one final load of stuff to my Dad's! With that sorted out all there is left to do is make the most of the final weeks of summer!

I couldn't resist ... just one more of these two little buddies!

Almost at the finish line!

2008-08-11T10:41:00.005-06:00

After a few weeks of pretty serious toil, I have finally submitted the first complete draft of my MA Paper (35 pages w/ bibliography, 9500 words w/o bibliography!). Even though I will still have to do some revisions, additions, and other odds and ends to get it finished, it actually feels like I'm getting there.

To add to my elation, we'll be leaving Toronto for a couple of weeks, and heading home. I will finally, finally get to meet my little nephew Sam in person - Tony and I see him on the video phone, but it just isn't the same. Basically, I look forward to some serious relaxing, as the summer has been far too busy and fleeting thus far!

To commemorate the completion of the first entire draft of my MA Paper, I thought I'd showcase the most superb treat my pal Heather sent me a couple of weeks ago (see the 'after shot' to experience the cuteness!). I was definitely feeling a bit pressed by the work, and a bit downtrodden, and this little number cheered me up immensely. Thanks again, Heather, both from me and from Kitty!

So, this is the before picture. Kitty, as you see, is dressed very much as I often am when working at home - 24 hour PJ's.

Now for the after shot, check out her snappy Graduation ensemble, courtesy of Heather - it makes the hard work all worthwhile!

Wedding Week-end

2008-07-21T10:35:00.003-06:00

A pal of mine from school got married this past week-end, and we attended along with a few of the other U of T Classics kids. The weather was uncooperative - hot, sticky, with periods of driving rain - but despite the mugginess it was fun to get dressed up and head out of Toronto on the train to the wedding. We took the train there and back, and due to the schedule we had to leave fairly early (last train was 11:25pm). Tony, Ariel and I decided to go out for a drink once we got back to Union station in Toronto proper, and made our way over to the lake front for an icy cold pint. (Leslie, it was the place we went long ago on your visit, where you can sit outside near the water.) By that time it was a lovely evening, slightly cooler but still summery warm. All in all it was a very fun day and evening!

Just waiting for the ceremony to begin.

At the reception!

In the Ravine.

2008-07-12T06:32:00.004-06:00

Yesterday we went back to the ravine and just went wherever it took us. Amazingly, it eventually ended up at a Loblaw's (basically a Superstore). So now we have the greatest grocery route ever! It's so beautiful in there, and they have some little wetland preserve areas along the pathway. It just feels so good to be down in a forested solitude, so close to home!

Tony checking out a little marshy zone - so green!

Sweet, sweet summer

2008-07-10T17:06:00.004-06:00

While I work on my MA paper, I'm preserving my sanity by continuing to do other activities to balance out long days at the desk. The summer weather here has been amazing - lots of sun, not too scorching, but still pleasantly hot. Today we decided to go on a pre-dinner walk (a new trend which has been so nice) up to Casa Loma. We went through a very posh old neighborhood with giant old mansions nestled into wooded hills, then made our way up to the castle, and took the ravine to make our way back home. It's amazing that you can be in a city as big and bustling as Toronto and still find places that make you feel like you're in the woods! Now we'll settle down to a nice dinner, and hit the sack early so that I can get to the gym and back home in time to do a solid day's work tomorrow!

Tony hamming it up in front of Casa Loma.

Just hanging out in the lush castle grounds.

Gotta think ... must ... finish ... paper ... [in Spidey voice]

2008-07-02T07:54:00.003-06:00

I think this paper might just unravel the fraying ends of my sanity. So far I've managed to scratch out around 4 pages ... out of 30 ... yes, that's right 30. Let's just hope I can pick up the pace and get to 8000 words by Friday morning ... sigh.

I'm Still Here ... Honest!

2008-06-23T07:36:00.004-06:00

I know that I have been severely neglecting this poor little blog for weeks and weeks, and this is an attempt to get back on the blogging horse, so to speak. I guess after another intense school year the thought of sitting at the computer (even for leisure) is not the most appealing option! Plus I'm now working on the final task of my MA, which is a 30-page paper on Virgil's Aeneid which has now pinned me once again to my desk.
So what have Tony and I been up to? We've definitely been trying to enjoy the loveliness of this summer - it's been a little cooler this year so far, and the weather is pleasantly warm during the day without the crazy mugginess that sometimes lays in a thick blanket over Toronto.
My Mom came for a visit and the three of us had an awesome time, really taking it easy and just enjoying the company. We played cards, went out for virtually every meal, hit the movies, and went for nice neighborhood walks showing my Mom our 'hood. We were very, very sad to see her heading back to Edmonton, but at least we'll be back in Alberta in late summer.
Now that school is relatively tame I've been back to the gym with Tony five days a week, which has been a nice departure from the overworked student lifestyle of zero physical activity. Plus our pal Kevin, who has been training for years now, is coming with us to coach us and it is really making a marked difference (learning better exercises and better form!).
Other than that, not much new is on the go right now, but I promise to keep up more regular posting (that is, if there is any one who hasn't already given up on me entirely!). Now, off to the gym I go!

Beautiful little cakes from Toronto's Red Box - almost more like art than edibles! We had these with Mom on her visit.

A little video from a massive thunderstorm during Mom's visit.

Lost Finale Party!

2008-05-29T16:26:00.012-06:00

Season 4 of Lost has been spectacular to say the least! Thankfully, some of my MA pals think so too, so Tony and I decided to invite a few folks over to drink beer, eat chips, and soak up the last two hours of Lost until the next season begins 100000 years from now (at least it feels like it will be that long).
Tony and I decided to cook up some Lost-themed decorations, and made some station logos and Dharma Initiative snack packaging, which I have posted here for your viewing enjoyment. For those of you who love the show, enjoy tonight. For those of you who don't, I heartily recommend a trip to your local video store (just think, you could be all caught up for the final season by this fall!).

Tony making the final adjustments on the Dharma packaging.

Dharma snacks!!!

Tony and Sarah's apartment, or Dharma Station?

Let the Summer Begin!

2008-05-27T06:14:00.002-06:00

After four grueling days of final exams last week (and the many days of studying leading up to them), I am all through the worst. Every second since I handed in my final test paper on Friday I've been in a state of total euphoria ... "I can't believe it's over ... and that it's summer ... and that I don't have to study at all today ... yippee!!!" We had some of my classmates over on Friday after an afternoon at the pub to celebrate the end of the term (and the end of our MA course work). On Saturday Carter, on of Tony's old pals, and his wife Chantal had us and some other friends for a BBQ of epic proportions, which totally ruled! The last couple of days have been total relaxation, coupled with pleasant errands (ie. a leisurely grocery trip, with a nice stop for a treat on the way). Today we're off to make the trek to Ikea, which will be super fun (we have set a very small budget for some shelves, and some other odds and ends, so we don't get carried away). As my good pal Lester says, it feels good to be here looking back at all of that school madness, and the next few days are going to feel really, really good!

Ah, the last day of classes!

2008-04-17T06:35:00.002-06:00

Well, my lecture (almost one week already!) went really well! I was soooo relieved and pleased to have it done. I have to say, though, that the whole morning leading up to it was extremely nerve-wracking. For whatever reason, the whole "public speaking thing" is pretty much the all-time scariest thing for me, but it definitely gets easier every single time. I'm glad the professor strongly encouraged us to do it, because without some pretty serious goading, I wouldn't be likely to step up to the plate.

In other news, it's my last class today for the term, and for my MA! Of course, I still have one month of grueling preparation, four days of final exams, and then a 30-page research paper to complete, but the actual course-work is almost officially over. Then I have to get into self-motivation mode, and get ready to hit the books in the final stretch. The weather is gorgeous here - sunny, plus 20 C - and totally bolsters my mood that much more! I think this week-end I'll take a little time to recuperate, and have a little fun ... I think I've earned it!

So, so nervous ...

2008-04-11T06:42:00.002-06:00

... stomach muscles cramping ... ears burning hot ... mind racing.

I have to deliver my first class lecture today. The class is large - about 120 students - and I am supposedly going to give them a lecture today for one hour about Vergil's Aeneid Book 4. Needless to say, I'm terrified.
It's hard to even know what you should work into the presentation: what should I be teaching them? Do I actually know anything worth teaching them? Aaaaaaaagh!!!
Anyways, in mere hours I will be all finished and this will all be over. I'll let you know whether I sink, swim, or just flounder around!

Back to Business

2008-03-01T06:47:00.002-07:00

Ah, Reading Week, a faint and pleasant memory of better times! I've only been back in school for a week, but it feels much, much longer than that. I guess this is the point in the semester where one's motivation just really starts to falter and dwindle away. I'll just have to bolster up the old chin and forge ahead until the year is done! The good news is that it looks like I'll be going to U of T for my PhD which makes me very happy and relieved - I originally was interested in going to a couple of US schools, but that adds a lot of unnecessary complication and the thought of reestablishing in another new place was far less than appealing. By staying in Toronto, we can remain in a place where we have some excellent pals, we know our way around and have some favorite haunts, we're closer to home and family, and we have a more solid foundation in general.

For those of you who missed Tony's Harcourt House "choose-your-own-adventure" style show, you can go check out the Expanse game - it's an interactive art show and you really can choose your own path through the Expanse, with all of its crazy creatures and places ... super fun!!!

A glimpse of the Harcourt Show that was on during January and February.

Home Happiness

2008-02-19T19:00:00.005-07:00

You just can't beat a nice, relaxing evening at home - cozy bathrobe, favorite afghan, and the glory of free time. Reading Week has been extremely pleasant so far, with lots of outings with Tony and other pals we haven't seen in months, thanks to the rigors of school. We've been to the movies, out for sushi, over at the Banks', out for beer & nachos with Heather and Matt, and there is still much more to look forward to before school gets back in on Monday. I've also had time to add some more photos from our trip to Italy in September - these are from our last day in Rome, and it was a wonderful day indeed! With the extra time at my disposal I'm hoping to add some more pics - some from the wedding in Tuscany, and X-mas holiday photos. Well, the couch is beckoning, and I'm afraid I can't resist its siren song! Hope you are all having a great week!

Last week-end I got to see Hudson Banks - he's growing up so fast!

Tony and Huddy sharing some laughs.

Let the Fun Begin!

2008-02-16T06:19:00.005-07:00

Sam wishing you all a Happy Valentines Day!

Ah, Reading Week, the Shangri-La of second semester! After the arduous first term, studying over the Christmas "break," and then diving into another challenging semester, I am SO ready for a break. Thankfully, the gods have heard my beseeching voice, and Reading Week has begun. I am really looking forward to:

- not getting out of bed everyday by 6 AM
- going for sushi with Don, Sarah, and Huddy
- walking everyday for a good stint, preferably to get a coffee or some sort of treat
- hitting the old cinema for a barrel of buttery popcorn, and some movie escapism
- catching up with Rene, Tim, Heather and some other Toronto pals I don't get a chance to see as often as I'd like
- having the fellow Classics MA2 people over for some vidz, beer, and general hilarity
- more ... time ... to ... relax!!!

Of course, I do have to study for a good chunk of time everyday, but with a bit more of an opportunity to take a break when it's needed. Plus, I'm taking the whole week-end off ... completely!

Also, a belated Happy Valentines to you all! We had major grocery shortage by Thursday, due to piles and piles of snow that make the on-foot trek to Loblaw's a bit tricky. Thankfully it melted a bit, and we took a Romantic, whirlwind journey to the store to stock up on goodies, before the giant storm that's supposed to show up some time this week-end rears its ugly head. The Loblaw's we frequent has an awesome baked goodies section, so we took a chance on a lovely little white/dark chocolate cake for a Valentine treat. The gamble paid off, and it was delicious!!! We were both pretty beat after the week (school, and Tony's been hitting the gym everyday and working hard on the art biz), so we decided that we would order some pizza pie from a previously untried place called Magic Oven. Our choice was pizza with spelt crust, organic bacon and beef salami, green peppers, mushrooms, tomato sauce, and last but not least, mozzarella. Once again the risk of trying something new paid off, and the pizza was filling, delicious, and smothered with good stuff. For today I intend to just take it easy all morning, and then we're off to sushi! Hope you are all having a great week-end so far!

Birthday Fun!

2008-02-10T07:11:00.000-07:00

My nepwhew Sam, sending B-day wishes from Bermuda!

Thanks for all the kind birthday wishes! Yesterday was a great b-day, with lots of fun and some excellent eats. Tony secretly planned a birthday treasure hunt first thing - little clues were hidden around the apartment (with loads of awesome Tony art, of course), and they led to a stash of candy treats and some new tunes. I studied for a bit after that, but I had lots of nice breaks chatting on video phone and regular phone with my mom, dad, Ian & Maelle, and the Bermuda kids. For dinner, Tony and I decided to hit Terroni, which is this ridiculously delicious Italian place - the food is top notch, but the atmosphere is still very cozy and casual, with excellent service. I had roasted butternut squash-filled tortellini, topped with Gorgonzola cream sauce, walnuts, and fresh parm (yes, please!). Tones had pasta with spicy sausage, dandelion greens - very tangy and scrumptious. We also shared an appetizer sampler from the specials, which had various kinds of baked cheese with various toppings (pear, walnuts, jam, etc.), and some crostini. For dessert we each had a perfect latte, and dark chocolate flourless cake with white chocolate ganache on top - basically it was this oven warmed meteor of cake with a soft, gooey dark-chocolate center - AMAZING!!! As you can probably tell, I like the good eats!

Reading Week is just around the corner, after one more week of classes. I'll try over the break to be a bit more regular in the blogging department, plus I have loads of photos to upload (more Rome and some Christmas pics). Hope all of you are well!

Some lovely flowers from my brother Ian, Louisa, and Maelle in Vancouver - they smell really, really good!

A recent pic from X-mas in St. Albert.

The Snow

2008-02-08T14:13:00.000-07:00

Hi ho, guest blogger, tonyb here.
I say the snow as if it was a John Carpenter movie title. Wow. We got a severe dumping apon. It looks real pretty, but the streets are a mess, the traffic is screwy, and the sidewalks are a constant test of balance with every step. Luckily I'm a ninja. February is screaming by though, and soon it will be leafy-times again! We have both been busy, me with proposals and blog-drawing, and Sarah with translation, translation, translation... she has gotten some real swell marks back from the excellently scheduled post-christmas-break exams. sort made for a non-christmas-break for tired Sarah which sort of pissed daddy off, but i could get into trouble here, so i'll back off. We finished watching lost season 3 and enjoyed the frak out of it, so we're going to watch season 4 "for real" now as they come out weekly, which is damn fun. the whole "guess what night it is???" thing with the dinner and the chips and the "ALL NEW EPISODE" is good good times. haven't had that since the glory days of Angel/Buffy/Firefly/Band of Brothers. My God those were heady times. Joss where are you?? It's Sarah's birthday tomorrow so i've planned to be picked up by a solid-gold helicopter and flown to mount Olympus, where we'll eat dr. oetker pizzas with the gods. I snapped some pics:

Happy, Happy Holidays!

2007-12-23T15:39:00.000-07:00

Our nephew Sam snuggled up with a Christmas pal.

It's only one day until Christmas Eve, and I don't know about everyone else, but I'm super excited! The tree at my mom's is up in all its glory, with the traditional 50 lbs. of ornaments which we have been collecting since I can remember. Tony, Mom, and I did a bit of last-minute shopping today, and got some nice treats for pre- and post-turkey snacking (a nice break from studying!). We're totally ready to go, and now it's just a matter of playing the old Christmas waiting game! I hope you all have a wonderful, relaxing, and joyous holiday - I'll be raising my glass to you all tomorrow night, and sending you Christmas cheer!

Santa's on His Way

2007-12-13T06:08:00.000-07:00

Very fine and lovely duck mosaic - Vatican Museum.

While the old man up North is packing up his prezzies, and readying the reindeer, I am preparing for my journey home to Edmonton. This morning I jumped out of bed and hit the laundry at 7am (to avoid the pre-week-end rush), and thought I would do a little post before I head out for a pre-X-mas breakfast with my school pals.

I also added one more set of photos - this is likely the last set I'll post in 2007, and when I need the fond memories of our Roman Holiday, I'll post the last few sets in 2008.

With Saturday's cross-Canada adventure coming fast, I am so squirrelly it's not even funny. I have really missed Tony and can't wait to see him! If anyone is going to be heading out St. Albert way between Saturday and the 27th, drop me a line, and come on by the Chateau McCallum for some Christmas cookies and tea!

Bank of scooters with the Ara Pacis Museum lurking in the background.

Update Central

2007-11-28T19:20:00.000-07:00

Tony has now been in E-town for a little over a week. So far, his visit has been productive and busy, and he's even managed to have a little fun! I'm two weeks away from the end of classes, and only a couple of weeks away from heading home for a Christmas visit.
It's been a very hectic week, and with missing Tony as much as I do, I didn't feel much like studying tonight. As a result, I thought I'd post some more photos from Rome - it's a nice way to escape from studying!
This set is a really fun bunch! This is from a particularly action-packed day - we hit the Colosseum first thing in the morning, then hit the Palatine (where the Emperors' houses once stood in all their glory), and the Baths of Caracalla. We were soooo tired and sore from about 12 hours of walking and excitement! Anyways, I hope you like them, and maybe for those of us dealing with first snows and the onset of winter, these photos will provide a bit of much needed Roman sunshine! There's also a fun little video of us, basically beside ourselves with excitement, when we first got into the Colosseum in the early-morning sun ... it RULED!!!

Tony, now far away in Edmonton, having a little rest near the Aqueduct of Domitian.

Super Long Hiatus

2007-11-18T10:43:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since my last post, so I hope someone out there is still reading this from time to time! School has been very hectic, but good. The work load is VERY increased from last year, so the vast majority of my time is reading and translation. Tack on the current flurry of graduate application activity, and you have a recipe for no time for things like the old Blog. Tony is on his way to Edmonton on Tuesday [sniffle]. He has a lot of great things on the go in December and January, including a show at the Front Gallery on the evening of Dec. 6, which is guaranteed to be super fun, so go and check it out if you're in E-town around then.

Once that show is underway, he's readying himself for the Holidays and a January showing at Harcourt House, which is going to be a Tony "choose your adventure" extravaganza - so fun!

I'm heading to Edmonton on Dec. 15, but until then I'll be getting through the mad rush of term's end, and studying my brains out for the exams in January (yes, my finals are AFTER Christmas, which seriously hampers the amount of free Holiday time, sadly). I still have some majorly awesome Italy pics, which I hope to post this week. I promise!

Trick or treat!

2007-10-31T05:28:00.000-06:00

Happy Halloween, everyone! I hope you all have a super fun Hallow's Eve, whether that means hitting the town, handing out candy, or getting the kids ready for the big night of trick-or-treating. Tony and I are going to be helping out at our building tonight. I am going to shell out treats, and Tony is going to be greeting the little monsters outside in a spooky costume. It should be a lot of fun! I'll try and post some pictures later!

My nephew Sam enjoying his very first Hallow's Eve!

Toronto Wednesday and Roman Sunday

2007-10-24T17:42:00.000-06:00

This week has been absolute school madness - between 38 of Horace's Odes, 3 Satires, and 1 of his Epistles, not to mention the Demosthenes speech for Greek ... whew! ... it's been tough. However, I am sitting on our comfy couch enjoying the Wednesday night break afforded by a Thursday without any classes to attend. I plan to eat some white cheddar popcorn, get cozy on the couch, watch a little ANTM, and generally kick back. I also put up the next set of photos, detailing our Sunday adventures in Rome, including the ever-amazing Pantheon!

The Pantheon, up close and personal.

Gelato (pl. Gelati)!!! ...

2007-10-17T20:44:00.000-06:00

Night Gelato Sarah - La Notte Bianca.

... and so much more! Check out the next set of Rome 2007 pictures
here - you'll see us refreshed after some good Italian chow and much-needed rest, ready to hit the Roman Forum. On the way we hit the Piazza Navona, and then spent some time at the Largo di Torre Argentina, site of excavated Roman Republican Era temples and the Roman Cat Sanctuary. Tony and I loved this place - poor little Roman kitties, mostly abandoned domestic pets who often need veterinary care. Volunteers give them shots, treat wounds, and give them some love, as we witnessed first-hand when an elder volunteer lovingly showed us the injured animals kept in a safe enclosure.
We also managed to be in Rome just in time for La Notte Bianca, an all-night arts festival, and a night when museums are open late ... and free! The streets overflowed with people, in numbers like I have never, EVER seen before! An amazing day, all told!

Night Gelato Tony - La Notte Bianca.

As promised ... Pictures Part 2

2007-10-10T18:27:00.001-06:00

More of Tony and Sarah Europe Extravaganza 2007 can now be seen
here . Now truth be told, this is a small album, and perhaps not as exciting as the pictures to come (it's hard to beat Rome and its ruins). Despite the seemingly static little album of photos, this was a pretty dynamic part of the trip - after a flight cancellation we took a 24-hour long marathon journey to Rome. Arriving into Rome utterly exhausted, we merely settled into our rented apartment on Via Dei Pettinari, and took a stroll to get our bearings and stock up on Italian groceries. Take a peek at these, and stay tuned, because after getting cozy in our surroundings, we hit the site-seeing full throttle!

Pictures!!! - Part I

2007-10-04T06:43:00.001-06:00

Go here to see the first batch of photos from our European Vacation we took in early September. I have decided, since there are over 750 pictures all told, to post them in serial groups. First up: memories of our first few days overseas, spent in London. We visited with Ian and Sarah in the evenings, then spent the days hitting the British Museum, Tate Modern, and the National Gallery. Some highlights (too numerous to name them all) are the Rothco room in the Tate (exsquisite, heartrending, and utterly beautiful), the Egyptian collection at the British Museum (mind-boggling, grotesquely imperialistic, astounding), and the National Gallery overall was a mind-blowing display of famous works (imagine seeing a vast portion of your Art History 101 textbook right in front of you!).
Enjoy the pictures!

Week-end Update

2007-09-29T18:16:00.000-06:00

It's Saturday night, and before I sit down to do a bit more work before bed, I thought I'd at least do a rudimentary post. Tony is heading out with Matt and Savi for the annual Nuit Blanche all-night, city-wide art festival, which should be very fun indeed. I contemplated going for a bit myself, but fatigue, looming assignments, and a driving urge to stay on top of things convinced me to stay at the homestead. That way I can get up at the crack o' dawn tomorrow, work for a couple of hours, and then have a spectacular Sunday breakfast with Tones once he's up. I do so look forward to the big, week-end breakfast!
In Vacation Photo News: I finally sorted the photos into manageable bundles, and I think we'll post them as a serial, starting with the London pics from our stay with Ian and Sarah before the journey to Italy. See below for a little taste of what should be on the online album very soon!

Checking out the goodies at the British Museum.

Wonderful News!!!

2007-09-25T11:26:00.000-06:00

Tony and I are Aunty and Uncle once again!!! Last Friday my brother Will and sis-in-law Fran had their first child, a lovely little fellow, as you can see in the picture below. We are thrilled to have another little one to keep company with our wonderful nieces, Kenzie and Maelle! Welcome to the world, Samuel Jacob McCallum!

A Bit of a Teaser

2007-09-18T02:33:00.000-06:00

I'm up at 4:00 AM,* with no chance in sight of falling back asleep - I keep thinking in my dreams that Tony and I are still travelling and must get up and make some sort of connection to a train/plane/etc. It's not a comforting sensation, and after several panicked wake-ups my heart-pounding anxiety (and a nice dose of jet lag) forced me out of my cosy bed. I figured that before I dive into some Greek homework (I'm VERY nervous about my return to school today) I would post at least a couple of the photos that will soon be making their way to our album!

Morning at the Colosseum

Sarah and Tones at the Forum

Sarah Invades the Colosseum

* I wrote this post a couple of days ago, but due to some technical issues I didn't actually post it until today. Sadly, I still have a nasty case of the old jet lag (it's 11:15pm here and I've been up since 2:00am ... ouch!) and I'm back into the grind of school. It's good to be home though, and we'll try and get the pics up and running sometime this week! Ciao for now!

Safe and Sound

2007-09-17T15:41:00.000-06:00

We're home from our wonderful trip! After the lengthy journey home, we're pretty beat, so I'm afraid this post will be miniscule at best. However, stay tuned for a huge catalogue of photos!!! Tomorrow I'm back at school, so I'll try and bribe Tones to start uploading them sometime this week. Be sure to check back (there's some great videos, too!).

Last Day In Rome

2007-09-13T02:41:00.001-06:00

After many amazing days in Rome, we're about to embark on our last day of museums, gelati, and hot Italian sun. Today we're off to the Capitoline museum, then out for our only dinner out (we've been cooking at our rented apartment, which has been super fun!). Tomorrow we catch the early train to Arezzo, then off to the Castillo de Gargonza for Ian and Sarah's wedding - it will be so excellent to see our pals, and enjoy the festivities (all in the comfort of a castle!). On Sunday we make a marathon trek back to Toronto - train to Rome, plane to London, plane to Toronto, then subway to good old Bernard Avenue. Then we rest for a few hours, and I'm off to start my second year of Masters. It's been quite an experience so far, and lots more is sure to come. Stay tuned for myriads of photos!!!

100th Post!/London Vacation

2007-09-05T11:25:00.000-06:00

According to my Blogger tally, this is my 100th post! Tony and I are SUPER exhausted from trying to pack in as much London-y goodness into three days as is humanly possible. What have we done so far, you ask?

1. British Museum - Mummies, monuments, art, jewelry, textiles, and so much more!!! So amazing, but dauntingly massive. We pretty much went through the whole thing, which took the better part of a day and all of our energy.
2. Tate Modern - I have never been so moved by art as I was by the Rothco room this morning. Displayed are a series of paintings which he originally created for a restaurant on commission, but he decided it wasn't a good fit, pulled out of the deal, and promptly gave them to the Tate. This gallery is so full of modern art treasures (both contemporary and of the past) and it was a real treat to behold.
3. National Gallery - This afternoon we went over to the National Gallery, an abolutely astounding collection of art masterpieces. I basically got so tired by the end that I couldn't even soak in one more painting. We saw work by Picasso, Monet, Manet, Raphael, Michaelangelo, Da Vinci, Vermeer, Van Gogh, Seurat, Turner, Bellini, Boticelli, Titian, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Van Eyck, pretty much a panoply of everything from the 13th-20th century (all ORIGINALS!!!).
4. Walking Everywhere - With a tube strike on the go, and a very complicated bus system, we decided that walking was: a. cheaper, and b. easier. It really is the best way to see a city and all of its sights and sounds.

Tomorrow we're off very, very early in the morning to Rome, at which time computer usage might be a bit sporadic. I'll do a little update as soon as I can!

Off we go!!!

2007-09-02T11:24:00.000-06:00

Well, we're packed and ready to head over the Atlantic for our European vacation! London is the first stop, where we will stay for the first few days with our pals Ian and Sarah - it's been a long time since we've seen them, and even longer since I've been to Jolly Old England. On Thursday we head to Rome - our first time in Italy - where we will spend eight days exploring the sites and sounds of my academic homeland. We have an extensive itinerary of stuff we want to see, and will be packing in as much as possible! After our time in Roma, we are making our way to Tuscany for Ian and Sarah's wedding, to be held at the Castello di Garganza near Arezzo. All in all, we are super excited and cannot wait to get there! We'll be back on the 17th and promise to post many, many photos for you to check out (and depending on computer availability, I'll try to post some updates along the way!).

New New Kitty!

2007-09-01T06:20:00.001-06:00

Congratulations to Christine, who had the grand opening for New New Kitty last night at midnight! Go and check out her lovely selection of goodies for little ones, all in bright, fun, and cosy-looking fabrics (bibs and burpcloths, blankets and onesies). What's my favorite, you ask? The DNA onesy - so awesome!!! There is also a New New Kitty Etsy Shop coming soon - more shopping, huzzah!
For those of you going to have a gander at the goodies, Happy Shopping! For Christine, hope the grand opening was a smashingg success, and Happy Selling!

Good-Bye Leslie ... [sniffle].

2007-08-30T07:43:00.000-06:00

I had a really great time seeing Leslie on her recent visit to Toronto. During her visit we had some relax-o nights at our place, and last night Leslie and I went for a bite of sushi, did a little bargain hunting, and went for a Harbour-side beer. It is so nice to be able to spend time with someone you simply just don't get to see as often as you like, and wish you could see a lot more. I also can't wait until the day when Tony and I can pack up and head down to Australia, so we can see where Leslie is putting down her own roots with Shane (and Baxy, too!). One day soon would be nice!
It's a total cliche, but absence does indeed make the heart grow fond ... that being said, it would be absolutely wonderful if we lived just a little closer to all of our closest pals.

Some Visuals from Last Week-end

2007-08-24T12:12:00.000-06:00

If you go to our photo album , you'll get a chance to check out the fun we had at the Ex and Roller Derby last week-end. It was a super fun time on both fronts! We were pleasantly surprised by the offerings at the Ex - highlights were "The Farm" (a display of various farm animals, all very cute) and the Iams "Super Dogs" show, which was astoundingly excellent (who doesn't like to see a nice array of cute dogs carousing around?!?). The only bummer about "The Farm" was that it is primarily to show animals produced as a food source, which made me feel the unpleasant tingle of sadness and guilt for liking the occasional meaty option. Anyways, check it our for yourselves - there's baby animals, Softie madness, rides, and girls on roller skates pummeling eachother (yikes!).

PS Sadie's wonderful mom, this is for you! You're so right about Fraggle Rock and its "levels" - in the making-of stuff, good old Jim Hensen (one of my heroes) talks about global understanding, teaching kids about relationships, and all kinds of other good junk. It really is great!

Me and a whole lotta rides.

Ready for the Week-end

2007-08-17T16:30:00.000-06:00

With Leslie coming in from Australia this week-end, I figured I had better straighten up the happy little mess Tony and I call home. After my meeting with my Masters Special Essay advisor this morning, I rolled up my sleeves and laundered, mopped, swept, and cleaned until I couldn't clean any more. Our place looks good, I have been making headway with my studying, and now it's time to enjoy some Friday night relaxation, and then the week-end!

Tonight we're both tired from some seriously busy times this week, so we're going to kick back, have a nice dinner, and watch more Fraggle Rock than we know what to do with (it's still REALLY fun, even though we're all old now and stuff).

Tomorrow we're going to the "Ex" which is basically like an insanely huge version of Klondike Days. Now I know, you're thinking "Why on earth would you do THAT?!?!?", but the truth is, we got some free tickets from our building managers, and we just can't say no to free fun! Then we're off to see some roller derby (yes, roller derby) with our friend Heather, to see her workmate roller skate agressively in a mini skirt. Should be a pretty interesting and atypical day, all told.

Then Sunday, Leslie is here (huzzah!) and we can't wait to snack it up (Smartfood popcorn in honour of Les), play vidz, have a beer, and get all caught up (we'll show Lester our neighborhood and pick up some snacks for her Toronto work week).
It's going to be fun times!

Only two more week-ends (including this one) until we head to Italy, so we had better make them count! Once we get back, I'll be back in the thick of my second year of Masters, so the fun must be had now!

Tony Blog-Times

2007-08-14T05:00:00.000-06:00

Tattered and Also Ruthless

Hear ye, hear ye, Tony now has his own online forum for art - basically a constantly updated art show, that requires no applications, art proposals, or juried panels. You can find it here at the new Tony blog, and I recommend that you do! Where else will you find updates from the Expanse (Tony's invented universe inhabited by a panoply of characters), brand new art, and so much more!
Check it out, and drop Tony a line to tell him what you think!

Tuesday Hodgepodge

2007-08-07T18:22:00.001-06:00

Injury of the Day: Tonight I did something I haven't done for a long time. Tony and I were making a southwestern breakfast dinner (scrambled eggs with tomato, green pepper, mushroom, veggie sausage + 1/2 a black bean and cheddar burrito each + salsa/rooster) and when I realized the burrito was a bit on the non-cooked side, I thought I had better chuck it back in the old oven for a minute. So I grabbed the hot pan, with my BARE HAND, and roasted my left thumb and a couple of fingers (of course, by Murphy's Law the hand I write with). Yeeooooowww!!! I must say, it was pretty electric pain for a few minutes, but I ran it under the cold and tried to minimize the damage. What kind of person forgets the oven mitt?!?!? ... I do, I guess [sigh].

Want Ad: Due to budgetary contraints, I finally have to stop buying my beloved Aveda shampoo (I know, it's only shampoo, but it's soooo nice). So, on that note, I need something cheap, but also effective. I have course and thick hair, prone to some frizz, and I blow-dry quite a bit. Any suggestions? Come on, bargain hunters, give me some of your valuable expertise!

Work It Out: Tomorrow Tony and I have to do our second week of squats and lunges (ie. subject ourselves to pure, unadulterated pain). I just hope they get easier, and that I don't have legs as stiff as concrete with unending ache for the next few days. Also, I traded up the bike for the rower for my cardio portion, and I must say, I think I was made to row! It's so fun, and I think it does a lot more ... muscled forearms, here I come!

Summer in the City

2007-08-04T07:06:00.001-06:00

It's been an absolutely boiling hot week here in Toronto - sunny, humid, and often in the mid-thirties celsius (which feels like the forties with the humidex). Tony and I actually like the heat for many reasons, but after a few solid days of "the outdoor oven" it starts to wear you down a bit. Going to the gym has been a challenge, and we've had to taper it down to keep from feeling destroyed after exercise. I actually found myself partaking in a much-needed afternoon siesta a couple of times this week and am paying the price this week-end by having to study a bit to make up for lost time. So we're up early, Tony is making his French Toast, we'll get our work done (my studying, Tony's errands), and then enjoy another lovely day.

Sure it's meltingly hot, but I say "Huzzah!" for summer and all its glory! The sun is lovely, the trees are all green and fluffy, and the sky is blue ... that is, when the smog keeps away!