Head coverings

A very thoughtful (and thought-provoking) piece at Amazing Grace today on her expeience donning the hijab while in the Middle East.

 

A little snippet:

...the experience was an enlightening one in many ways.  I did not find it 'oppressive', but liberating, and, in some ways, quite seductive.  Dressed in this manner I became, in the eyes of my hosts, something I am, namely a respectable woman who is not interested in sex with strangers.  Dressed in my ordinary clothes, which are, I can assure you, in no way outrageous by the standards of twenty-first century London, I would've been a whore on the make.

I have read a lot about women's dress, modesty, head covering, and deportment of women in my foray through homeschooling, as well as in reading some Catholic authors, including bloggers.   I am, frankly, annoyed and upset by the private school girls down the street with their skirts rolled up and long white legs exposed, feet tucked into Uggs, in the middle of winter.  I want to shake them and ask "Why?".  I also want to shake their parents, the media, and ask why we let girls think that the attention they garner in this manner is attention they need.  And why they want it.  

A nearby neighborhood is home to a large population of orthodox Jews.  Really orthodox.  Odd shaped hats, fringes dangling below jackets, payot, hair coverings on women, and long black skirts.  For a while, I was a member of a women-only fitness club and there were a number of woment there who wore leggings under a skirt to work out, and kept their hair covered.  There is something oddly attractive about this visible display of modesty and holiness.  Alex mentioned once how much he admired them for displaying their faith so openly.  

I'm not sure what it all means for me, but it is certainly food for thought.

Head coverings

A very thoughtful (and thought-provoking) piece at Amazing Grace today on her expeience donning the hijab while in the Middle East.

 

A little snippet:

...the experience was an enlightening one in many ways.  I did not find it 'oppressive', but liberating, and, in some ways, quite seductive.  Dressed in this manner I became, in the eyes of my hosts, something I am, namely a respectable woman who is not interested in sex with strangers.  Dressed in my ordinary clothes, which are, I can assure you, in no way outrageous by the standards of twenty-first century London, I would've been a whore on the make.

I have read a lot about women's dress, modesty, head covering, and deportment of women in my foray through homeschooling, as well as in reading some Catholic authors, including bloggers.   I am, frankly, annoyed and upset by the private school girls down the street with their skirts rolled up and long white legs exposed, feet tucked into Uggs, in the middle of winter.  I want to shake them and ask "Why?".  I also want to shake their parents, the media, and ask why we let girls think that the attention they garner in this manner is attention they need.  And why they want it.  

A nearby neighborhood is home to a large population of orthodox Jews.  Really orthodox.  Odd shaped hats, fringes dangling below jackets, payot, hair coverings on women, and long black skirts.  For a while, I was a member of a women-only fitness club and there were a number of woment there who wore leggings under a skirt to work out, and kept their hair covered.  There is something oddly attractive about this visible display of modesty and holiness.  Alex mentioned once how much he admired them for displaying their faith so openly.  

I'm not sure what it all means for me, but it is certainly food for thought.

Lenten Practice

June Cleaver After a Six-Pack has a great post today about Lent and her childrens' ponderings about potential Lenten sacrifices.  A snippet:

Aaron is not as strong willed as Hope. He gives things up like, looking at his baseball cards (that he can't find) or not wearing his favorite pair of black socks (that he left down at the creek when he took them off). He is also very good at "forgetting" or "changing his mind" midstream into Lent. If he gives up video games this week (because he is grounded from them due to his tackle/pushing of one or all of his sisters) he will change his mind next week when the ban on the Wii is lifted and he just can't take the temptation. He is a week-to-week kind of guy.

We've had a number of discussions of late around the dinner table about Lent.  Alex (17) will be giving up ice cream and arguing with his brother (14).  The first is the sacrifice.  The second the spiritual practice.  I told him not to tell his brother what he's doing, to just do it.  He is sure that he will mess up frequently, but I told him that it's okay... and that it's a great thing to try.  He made it 25 minutes this morning after they were both awake.  He complained that Michael left his toothbrush on the powder room sink.  Michael replied that at least HE brushes his teeth before school in the morning...yakety-yakety-yak....and they were off.  Gah!

Michael, the self-proclaimed non-Catholic in the house is not giving up anything, but he will make casseroles for the Good Shepherd Centre each weekend with his father because it counts toward his community service required at school.  So that's almsgiving.  See? We tricked him into a Catholic practice.

Z is going whole hog.  No sweets, no TV (this is HUGE), and no alcohol.  I reminded him that we will be in Mexico for a week in the middle of Lent but he insisted.  He's so holy.  Just giving up his blessed TV5 (France) in the morning while he shaves is huge.

I am going, well, modest.  No fast food (sacrifice).  Daily meditation from Show Me the Way: Daily Lenten Readings by Henri Nouwen (spiritual practice).   On the former, I confess to planning my errands midday so that I am **forced** to stop for lunch and eat a burger, or poutine, or sushi lest my blood sugar plummet, I crash the car, and my children are left motherless.  I am such a fraud.  It's over.  It's over for the next six weeks, at least.  

Easter Dinner at New York Fries, anyone?

Lenten Practice

June Cleaver After a Six-Pack has a great post today about Lent and her childrens' ponderings about potential Lenten sacrifices.  A snippet:

Aaron is not as strong willed as Hope. He gives things up like, looking at his baseball cards (that he can't find) or not wearing his favorite pair of black socks (that he left down at the creek when he took them off). He is also very good at "forgetting" or "changing his mind" midstream into Lent. If he gives up video games this week (because he is grounded from them due to his tackle/pushing of one or all of his sisters) he will change his mind next week when the ban on the Wii is lifted and he just can't take the temptation. He is a week-to-week kind of guy.

We've had a number of discussions of late around the dinner table about Lent.  Alex (17) will be giving up ice cream and arguing with his brother (14).  The first is the sacrifice.  The second the spiritual practice.  I told him not to tell his brother what he's doing, to just do it.  He is sure that he will mess up frequently, but I told him that it's okay... and that it's a great thing to try.  He made it 25 minutes this morning after they were both awake.  He complained that Michael left his toothbrush on the powder room sink.  Michael replied that at least HE brushes his teeth before school in the morning...yakety-yakety-yak....and they were off.  Gah!

Michael, the self-proclaimed non-Catholic in the house is not giving up anything, but he will make casseroles for the Good Shepherd Centre each weekend with his father because it counts toward his community service required at school.  So that's almsgiving.  See? We tricked him into a Catholic practice.

Z is going whole hog.  No sweets, no TV (this is HUGE), and no alcohol.  I reminded him that we will be in Mexico for a week in the middle of Lent but he insisted.  He's so holy.  Just giving up his blessed TV5 (France) in the morning while he shaves is huge.

I am going, well, modest.  No fast food (sacrifice).  Daily meditation from Show Me the Way: Daily Lenten Readings

 by Henri Nouwen (spiritual practice).   On the former, I confess to planning my errands midday so that I am **forced** to stop for lunch and eat a burger, or poutine, or sushi lest my blood sugar plummet, I crash the car, and my children are left motherless.  I am such a fraud.  It's over.  It's over for the next six weeks, at least.  

Easter Dinner at New York Fries, anyone?

It's Tax Time!

We have had the priviledge of filing both US and Canadian tax returns for the past 7 years, five of which were during our time in the US, and the past two in Canada.  We still hold Green Cards so are required to file returns with the US based on our worldwide income.  

As part of our relocation package when we moved to Canada, Z's employer engaged a major accounting firm to do our taxes for the past two years.  We (and by that I mean "I") had to fill out long spreadsheets with information about our financial situation, collect all the slips, etc. and submit them to **major accounting firm**.  They did the forms, e-filed the Canadian ones and shipped to US ones to us to sign and mail.  All at no charge to us.  They billed Z's employer directly and we never saw the charges.

This year, we are responsible for our own tax prep, so we contacted **major accounting firm** for a quote.  Get ready....they quoted us $2500-$3000. Plus I get to spend hours filling out their spreadsheets for them.  To file one Canadian return and one US return. US return includes a couple of minor financial transactions in the US.  Canadian return is for an employee with pretty standard deductions.  

After we picked ourselves up off the floor, I decided to contact **as-seen-on-TV chain tax prep service** at one of their local offices close to us.  I was referred to another office slightly farther away where they do US returns.  Total quote:  $400.  All I have to do is bring all my slips and last year's return to the office, chat with Laxmi for a few minutes, and we're done.  They're even on the subway so I don't need to drive downtown and pay for parking.   I mentioned to Laxmi that I had last years info from **major accounting firm**  and that her price was WAY lower than theirs.  She told me outright that they have MANY clients fleeing this price gouging.  

I feel like I just earned $2000. 

It's Tax Time!

We have had the priviledge of filing both US and Canadian tax returns for the past 7 years, five of which were during our time in the US, and the past two in Canada.  We still hold Green Cards so are required to file returns with the US based on our worldwide income.  

As part of our relocation package when we moved to Canada, Z's employer engaged a major accounting firm to do our taxes for the past two years.  We (and by that I mean "I") had to fill out long spreadsheets with information about our financial situation, collect all the slips, etc. and submit them to **major accounting firm**.  They did the forms, e-filed the Canadian ones and shipped to US ones to us to sign and mail.  All at no charge to us.  They billed Z's employer directly and we never saw the charges.

This year, we are responsible for our own tax prep, so we contacted **major accounting firm** for a quote.  Get ready....they quoted us $2500-$3000. Plus I get to spend hours filling out their spreadsheets for them.  To file one Canadian return and one US return. US return includes a couple of minor financial transactions in the US.  Canadian return is for an employee with pretty standard deductions.  

After we picked ourselves up off the floor, I decided to contact **as-seen-on-TV chain tax prep service** at one of their local offices close to us.  I was referred to another office slightly farther away where they do US returns.  Total quote:  $400.  All I have to do is bring all my slips and last year's return to the office, chat with Laxmi for a few minutes, and we're done.  They're even on the subway so I don't need to drive downtown and pay for parking.   I mentioned to Laxmi that I had last years info from **major accounting firm**  and that her price was WAY lower than theirs.  She told me outright that they have MANY clients fleeing this price gouging.  

I feel like I just earned $2000. 

Menu Plan Monday

Monday:  Marinated Flank Steak

(Shrove) Tuesday:  Pancakes!  Bacon! 

(Ash) Wednesday: red beans and rice

Thursday:  Cheesy tuna casserole

Friday:  homemade pizza - hold the meat

Saturday:  I'm out with some old friends at The Sultan's Tent - men will fend for themselves!

Sunday Choral Report

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Processional:  I Come With Joy (CBW3 424)

Offertory:  Turn Thee Again, O Lord (pdf) - Thomas Attwood

Communion:  Tantum Ergo - Louis Vierne

Recessional:  All you who Seek a Comfort Sure (CBW3 425)

In the hopper:

• We will be using Latin Mass parts during Lent so we went over those.  
  
• Next week, barring absences, we'll sing How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place (Brahms)
• We've also been rehearsing Nathaniel Dett's setting of Ave Maria, Tallis' Adivi, Media Nocte, and Purcell's Thou Knowest, Lord, the Secrets of Our Hearts

And in big news, our parish is purchasing the Parish Book of Chant and will be slowly introducing this wonderful body of music (back) into our liturgies.

My Big Fat Middle Eastern Family...

...or a portion of it. 

We hosted family from across the Atlantic last week! 

Z's brother, his wife, and 13 yo son visited us from France.  They arrived on Saturday, BIL left on Tuesday for meetings in Salt Lake City, and returned late Thursday.  They all returned to France on Saturday.  

We had fun!  Z took them to Niagara Falls and Niagara on the Lake on Sunday, we all went to the Ontario Science Centre to see the Sultans of Science exhibit on Monday (Z took the day off), on Tuesday I took them out to some factory outlets west of the city before taking BIL to the airport.  On Wednesday, I shuttled SIL and nephew to the subway so that they could visit the ROM and Eaton Centre.  Thursday, they hung with me and we did some errands on foot, and cooked together.  On Friday, BIL was back in town and they headed down to the CN tower and some sightseeing downtown.

Saturday morning, Z headed out to the Patisserie Royale and picked up some Cheese Knefeh for breakfast and we watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding, a story so applicable to our family situation (substitute Middle Eastern for Greek) that we were all roaring, even though Z and I have seen it before.

It was six straight days of cooking for a crowd, at least, a bigger group than normal.  It meant more planning and real meals every night, not just pasta, jarred sauce, and steamed veggies, my low-energy-day option.  It went something like this:

Saturday:  marinated flank steak with fixing for tacos, fruit crumble

Sunday:  buffet dinner for 14 with PW's Chicken Spaghetti and lots of sides and finger foods.

Monday:  steelhead trout, mashed potatoes, asparagus, leftover ice cream cake

Tuesday:  rotini, tomato, and ground beef casserole, broccolli

Wednesday:  Chicken Enchiladas, salad

Thursday:  Pork tenderloin in a creamy/chutney/white wine sauce, mashed potatoes, green beans

Friday:  Dinner out!  Sushi and another ice cream cake at home.

The cooking was fine.  The most draining part of the week for me was that my SIL and nephew don't speak very much English so I spoke French for a good part of the week, particularly when Z was at work and BIL was away.  I really enjoyed their company, but my brain was just fried at the end of each day!  I'm fine with simple stuff, but to have an intimate conversation with family members that you don't see that often just stretched my abilities.  Plus they have something of an accent/speaking style (they are from Brittany) that I found a little difficult to follow at times, so I was constantly asking them to repeat themselves.

They saw Toronto on all it's winter states.  When they arrived, there was very little snow and it was quite mild.  Later in the week, we got snow, it got colder, and they experienced a different side of our climate.   As they were leaving Saturday afternoon, the snow started in earnest and their flight was delayed for de-icing.  

We miss them all.  

Oh, and my SIL and nephew were very taken with our dog, Wilson, playing with him endlessly.   He's been quite pooped since they left, but he had a great time!

Menu Plan Monday

Monday:  Marinated Flank Steak

(Shrove) Tuesday:  Pancakes!  Bacon! 

(Ash) Wednesday: red beans and rice

Thursday:  Cheesy tuna casserole

Friday:  homemade pizza - hold the meat

Saturday:  I'm out with some old friends at The Sultan's Tent - men will fend for themselves!

Sunday Choral Report

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Processional:  I Come With Joy (CBW3 424)

Offertory:  Turn Thee Again, O Lord (pdf) - Thomas Attwood

Communion:  Tantum Ergo - Louis Vierne

Recessional:  All you who Seek a Comfort Sure (CBW3 425)

In the hopper:

• We will be using Latin Mass parts during Lent so we went over those.  
  
• Next week, barring absences, we'll sing How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place (Brahms)
• We've also been rehearsing Nathaniel Dett's setting of Ave Maria, Tallis' Adivi, Media Nocte, and Purcell's Thou Knowest, Lord, the Secrets of Our Hearts

And in big news, our parish is purchasing the Parish Book of Chant and will be slowly introducing this wonderful body of music (back) into our liturgies.

My Big Fat Middle Eastern Family...

...or a portion of it. 

We hosted family from across the Atlantic last week! 

Z's brother, his wife, and 13 yo son visited us from France.  They arrived on Saturday, BIL left on Tuesday for meetings in Salt Lake City, and returned late Thursday.  They all returned to France on Saturday.  

We had fun!  Z took them to Niagara Falls and Niagara on the Lake on Sunday, we all went to the Ontario Science Centre to see the Sultans of Science exhibit on Monday (Z took the day off), on Tuesday I took them out to some factory outlets west of the city before taking BIL to the airport.  On Wednesday, I shuttled SIL and nephew to the subway so that they could visit the ROM and Eaton Centre.  Thursday, they hung with me and we did some errands on foot, and cooked together.  On Friday, BIL was back in town and they headed down to the CN tower and some sightseeing downtown.

Saturday morning, Z headed out to the Patisserie Royale and picked up some Cheese Knefeh for breakfast and we watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding, a story so applicable to our family situation (substitute Middle Eastern for Greek) that we were all roaring, even though Z and I have seen it before.

It was six straight days of cooking for a crowd, at least, a bigger group than normal.  It meant more planning and real meals every night, not just pasta, jarred sauce, and steamed veggies, my low-energy-day option.  It went something like this:

Saturday:  marinated flank steak with fixing for tacos, fruit crumble

Sunday:  buffet dinner for 14 with PW's Chicken Spaghetti and lots of sides and finger foods.

Monday:  steelhead trout, mashed potatoes, asparagus, leftover ice cream cake

Tuesday:  rotini, tomato, and ground beef casserole, broccolli

Wednesday:  Chicken Enchiladas, salad

Thursday:  Pork tenderloin in a creamy/chutney/white wine sauce, mashed potatoes, green beans

Friday:  Dinner out!  Sushi and another ice cream cake at home.

The cooking was fine.  The most draining part of the week for me was that my SIL and nephew don't speak very much English so I spoke French for a good part of the week, particularly when Z was at work and BIL was away.  I really enjoyed their company, but my brain was just fried at the end of each day!  I'm fine with simple stuff, but to have an intimate conversation with family members that you don't see that often just stretched my abilities.  Plus they have something of an accent/speaking style (they are from Brittany) that I found a little difficult to follow at times, so I was constantly asking them to repeat themselves.

They saw Toronto on all it's winter states.  When they arrived, there was very little snow and it was quite mild.  Later in the week, we got snow, it got colder, and they experienced a different side of our climate.   As they were leaving Saturday afternoon, the snow started in earnest and their flight was delayed for de-icing.  

We miss them all.  

Oh, and my SIL and nephew were very taken with our dog, Wilson, playing with him endlessly.   He's been quite pooped since they left, but he had a great time!

On the 'pod

One of the utter joys of having an iPod is all the terrific podcasts out there that have freed me from channel surfing in the car, and helped me to enjoy walking the dog.

These days, I've been listening to:

• New Yorker Fiction - Roger Angell, Updike's long-time editor, reads and discusses "Playing with Dynamite"; Thomas McGuane reads and discusses James Salter's "Last Night"
• Thinking Allowed - BBC's Laurie Taylor on The Hole in the Wall project
• Between the Covers - CBC's serialization of Paul Quarrington's "King Leary"
• Vinyl Cafe - classic CBC radio show starring Stuart Maclean and some rather maudlin' stories (but hey, I'm getting older)
• Great Lives - BBC interviews featuring an admirer and an expert on various celebrities.  Recently up:  Bette Davis, Margot Fonteyn, Robert Kennedy
• Start the Week  - BBC weekly with Andrew Marr - this week's show covered Tom Stoppard, Slumdog Millionaire author Vikas Swarup, psychoanalyst Adam Phillips and Wendell Steavenson's profile on the Iraqi General Sachet

I also enjoy the BBC World Book Club where the host interviews an author each month with questions from their worldwide audience.  While I was painting the basement, I listened to a terrific 3- (or 4-) part series from BBC Discovery on Darwin.

I still prefer reading.  I don't really like to listen to audiobooks...probably something to do with my learning style.  But for those times when I'm unable to read a book (while knitting, driving, walking the dog), these kinds of programs are terrific.  As is the Moth podcast, which is (as they say) "true stories told live without notes".  

And they're all free and available on iTunes (or directly from the source).

On the 'pod

One of the utter joys of having an iPod is all the terrific podcasts out there that have freed me from channel surfing in the car, and helped me to enjoy walking the dog.

These days, I've been listening to:

• New Yorker Fiction - Roger Angell, Updike's long-time editor, reads and discusses "Playing with Dynamite"; Thomas McGuane reads and discusses James Salter's "Last Night"
• Thinking Allowed - BBC's Laurie Taylor on The Hole in the Wall project
• Between the Covers - CBC's serialization of Paul Quarrington's "King Leary"
• Vinyl Cafe - classic CBC radio show starring Stuart Maclean and some rather maudlin' stories (but hey, I'm getting older)
• Great Lives - BBC interviews featuring an admirer and an expert on various celebrities.  Recently up:  Bette Davis, Margot Fonteyn, Robert Kennedy
• Start the Week  - BBC weekly with Andrew Marr - this week's show covered Tom Stoppard, Slumdog Millionaire author Vikas Swarup, psychoanalyst Adam Phillips and Wendell Steavenson's profile on the Iraqi General Sachet

I also enjoy the BBC World Book Club where the host interviews an author each month with questions from their worldwide audience.  While I was painting the basement, I listened to a terrific 3- (or 4-) part series from BBC Discovery on Darwin.

I still prefer reading.  I don't really like to listen to audiobooks...probably something to do with my learning style.  But for those times when I'm unable to read a book (while knitting, driving, walking the dog), these kinds of programs are terrific.  As is the Moth podcast, which is (as they say) "true stories told live without notes".  

And they're all free and available on iTunes (or directly from the source).

New Template - New List

I finally got around to getting a new (free!) template.  It's kinda happy, and spring-like, and sunny, which is what I need during these dark, rainy, days of whatever season we're in right now.  

My decluttering list is quickly shrinking.  A trip to Goodwill today and I'll be in great shape.  Not on the list were my five home theatre speakers that are being sold tonight (thank you, craigslist).  The A/V receiver isn't going, likely because it's not HD-compatible.  Not sure what to do with it at this point. 

Yesterday, I hung a bunch of art, photos, and a heavy mirror on the walls in the basement hallway and it looks great.

Today is errands and cleaning day.

Errands:

• Goodwill
• Library 
• Costco

Cleaning:

• Four One bathrooms
• Boys bathtub
• Vac main floor
• Vac second floor
• Dust master bedroom
• Ironing
• Kitchen floor
• Microwave
• Outside of kitchen cupboards

This list should be much shorter, except I haven't done any cleaning yet this week.  I use the Motivated Moms chore list so that everything gets done in some semblance of rotation.  This week has been one distraction after another, particularly with the push to declutter before our guests arrive on Saturday.

Tonight, Z and I have tickets for the Toronto Sympony Orchestra with pianist Radu Lupu.  We usually have dinner out before, but work commitments (Z) may preclude that.   Anyway, it will be a little treat for all our hard work this week.

New Template - New List

I finally got around to getting a new (free!) template.  It's kinda happy, and spring-like, and sunny, which is what I need during these dark, rainy, days of whatever season we're in right now.  

My decluttering list is quickly shrinking.  A trip to Goodwill today and I'll be in great shape.  Not on the list were my five home theatre speakers that are being sold tonight (thank you, craigslist).  The A/V receiver isn't going, likely because it's not HD-compatible.  Not sure what to do with it at this point. 

Yesterday, I hung a bunch of art, photos, and a heavy mirror on the walls in the basement hallway and it looks great.

Today is errands and cleaning day.

Errands:

• Goodwill

Library 

Costco

Cleaning:

• Four One bathrooms
• Boys bathtub
• Vac main floor
• Vac second floor
• Dust master bedroom
• Ironing
• Kitchen floor
• Microwave
• Outside of kitchen cupboards

This list should be much shorter, except I haven't done any cleaning yet this week.  I use the Motivated Moms chore list so that everything gets done in some semblance of rotation.  This week has been one distraction after another, particularly with the push to declutter before our guests arrive on Saturday.

Tonight, Z and I have tickets for the Toronto Sympony Orchestra with pianist Radu Lupu.  We usually have dinner out before, but work commitments (Z) may preclude that.   Anyway, it will be a little treat for all our hard work this week.

Last gasp of decluttering (for now)

There are still remnants of our basement remodel remaining on our main floor. Preparing for the arrival of a houseful of guests for a week is certainly motivating.

The list:

• heavy metal shelving hardware - Freecycled (to be picked up this afternoon)
• subwoofer - sold on Craigslist and picked up last night
• fireplace tools - don't like 'em anymore - in the car for Goodwill
• old vacuum - needs a minor repair but we already have two others, a product of our staggered move to Atlanta - I will either Freecycle this or take it to Goodwill
• A/V Receiver for home theatre - to be listed on Craigslist today
• Ikea shelving removed from guest room - to be stored in basement until spring where it will be installed in shed
• JVC mini stereo system - to be offered to a family member - hopefully gone this week
• large box of Z's books - stored in guest room closet until he can sort through them
• golf clubs (3 sets) - to store in attic
• cast iron griddle for barbeque - to be stored in basement
• two dead laptops - to be Freecycled to a guy to rebuilds computers from parts
• box of books - Goodwill
• two 5' long melamine shelves that are stained and chipped - out with trash tomorrow

I need to get some errands done today.  It's Michael's 14th birthday tomorrow and I need to get him a card.  We'll celebrate on Friday with Korean Barbeque at Seoul House.  It's our new favorite family asian place...not a walk like Nara Sushi, but the best tempura I've ever had, great barbeque, and yummy Korean sides.  Our neice Magali will be here from Montreal for the weekend so she'll join us Friday night.

Last gasp of decluttering (for now)

There are still remnants of our basement remodel remaining on our main floor. Preparing for the arrival of a houseful of guests for a week is certainly motivating.

The list:

• heavy metal shelving hardware - Freecycled (to be picked up this afternoon)
• subwoofer - sold on Craigslist and picked up last night
• fireplace tools - don't like 'em anymore - in the car for Goodwill
• old vacuum - needs a minor repair but we already have two others, a product of our staggered move to Atlanta - I will either Freecycle this or take it to Goodwill
• A/V Receiver for home theatre - to be listed on Craigslist today
• Ikea shelving removed from guest room - to be stored in basement until spring where it will be installed in shed
• JVC mini stereo system - to be offered to a family member - hopefully gone this week
• large box of Z's books - stored in guest room closet until he can sort through them
• golf clubs (3 sets) - to store in attic
• cast iron griddle for barbeque - to be stored in basement
• two dead laptops - to be Freecycled to a guy to rebuilds computers from parts
• box of books - Goodwill
• two 5' long melamine shelves that are stained and chipped - out with trash tomorrow

I need to get some errands done today.  It's Michael's 14th birthday tomorrow and I need to get him a card.  We'll celebrate on Friday with Korean Barbeque at Seoul House.  It's our new favorite family asian place...not a walk like Nara Sushi, but the best tempura I've ever had, great barbeque, and yummy Korean sides.  Our neice Magali will be here from Montreal for the weekend so she'll join us Friday night.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday:  Asian Peanut Butter Pork Tenderloin - never tried this before, but it's gotten rave reviews.  We'll have it with rice and green beans.

Tuesday:  Grilled fillet of steelhead, asparagus, mashed potatoes - steelhead is new to me...apparently it's kind of a sea-going rainbow trout.

Wednesday:  red beans and (brown) rice, topped with homemade pico de gallo and guacamole (and lots of cheese, sour cream, and lime juice, to counteract all that fibre)

Thurday:  sweetie and I eat out before seeing Radu Lupu and the TSO.  Boys fend for themselves.

Friday:  homemade pizza and salad.

Saturday:  Grilled, marinated flank steak for burritos.  Refried beans, pico de gallo, guacamole, peppers and onions.  My brother-in-law, his wife and younger son arrive from France for a week and this will be their first meal here.

Sunday:  Buffet dinner for 14 will feature Chicken Spaghetti plus lots of sides/appetizers/fruit and a cake.

Head over to orgjunkie.com to check out all the other meal plans for this week!

Menu Plan Monday

Monday:  Asian Peanut Butter Pork Tenderloin - never tried this before, but it's gotten rave reviews.  We'll have it with rice and green beans.

Tuesday:  Grilled fillet of steelhead, asparagus, mashed potatoes - steelhead is new to me...apparently it's kind of a sea-going rainbow trout.

Wednesday:  red beans and (brown) rice, topped with homemade pico de gallo and guacamole (and lots of cheese, sour cream, and lime juice, to counteract all that fibre)

Thurday:  sweetie and I eat out before seeing Radu Lupu and the TSO.  Boys fend for themselves.

Friday:  homemade pizza and salad.

Saturday:  Grilled, marinated flank steak for burritos.  Refried beans, pico de gallo, guacamole, peppers and onions.  My brother-in-law, his wife and younger son arrive from France for a week and this will be their first meal here.

Sunday:  Buffet dinner for 14 will feature Chicken Spaghetti plus lots of sides/appetizers/fruit and a cake.

Head over to orgjunkie.com to check out all the other meal plans for this week!

Sunday Choral Report

Processional:  O Praise the Lord (CBW3 - 593)

Offertory:  A Wondrous Love (American Traditional - from Sacred Harp 159)

Communion:  Gustate et Videte (Heinrich Isaac) 

Recessional:  Tell Out My Soul (CBW3 - 575)

Singing A Wondrous Love took me back to a Shape Note Singing workshop I did many years ago when Village Harmony visited our church in Ottawa.  Here's a version of the song done by a group of American shape note singers.

I would love to attend a singing somewhere in Toronto, if I can find one!

Sunday Choral Report

Processional:  O Praise the Lord (CBW3 - 593)

Offertory:  A Wondrous Love (American Traditional - from Sacred Harp 159)

Communion:  Gustate et Videte (Heinrich Isaac) 

Recessional:  Tell Out My Soul (CBW3 - 575)

Singing A Wondrous Love took me back to a Shape Note Singing workshop I did many years ago when Village Harmony visited our church in Ottawa.  Here's a version of the song done by a group of American shape note singers.

I would love to attend a singing somewhere in Toronto, if I can find one!

Book Find!

I have been looking for Green Dolphin Country by Elizabeth Goudge for a long time.  I have forgotten who recommended it to me.  It was first published in the 40s and it's been on my wish list for at least a couple of years.  

I recently requested it from our public library, but went I went to pick it up yesterday, it was an ancient copy, the front cover completely split from the flyleaf, the pages yellow and crumbly.  For the first time ever, I rejected a "hold".  And it was the only copy they had in the entire system.

I decided to browse around the internets and, via abebooks, found a copy for sale from a used book dealer just north of Toronto.  I emailed him to see if I could pick it up rather than have it shipped and it turned out that he was going to be running errands in my neighborhood this afternoon.  We exchaned cellphone numbers and met outside his (actually, our) bank and exchanged book for cash.  As it turns out, he's the owner of the used book shop just up the street and told me to email him with anything that I'm having trouble finding and he'll keep an eye open.

Here's how the book starts:

Sophie Le Patourel was reading aloud to her two daughters from the Book of Ryth, as they lay prostrate upon their backboards, digesting their dinners and improving their deportment.  This spending of the after-dinner hour upon their backboards instead of in the parlour was as a matter of fact a punishment for insubordination during the morning, but their Papa being from home Sophie was softening the punishment by reading aloud.  She was an indulgent mother, adoring her dhilren, anxious to keep them with her as long as possible, aftraid of what might be done to them  by the great world outside the schoolroom window, the great world that in this mid-ninettenth-century horrified her with its bustle and vulgarity and noise....

I'm going to save it for my vacation next month.

Book Find!

I have been looking for Green Dolphin Country by Elizabeth Goudge for a long time.  I have forgotten who recommended it to me.  It was first published in the 40s and it's been on my wish list for at least a couple of years.  

I recently requested it from our public library, but went I went to pick it up yesterday, it was an ancient copy, the front cover completely split from the flyleaf, the pages yellow and crumbly.  For the first time ever, I rejected a "hold".  And it was the only copy they had in the entire system.

I decided to browse around the internets and, via abebooks, found a copy for sale from a used book dealer just north of Toronto.  I emailed him to see if I could pick it up rather than have it shipped and it turned out that he was going to be running errands in my neighborhood this afternoon.  We exchaned cellphone numbers and met outside his (actually, our) bank and exchanged book for cash.  As it turns out, he's the owner of the used book shop just up the street and told me to email him with anything that I'm having trouble finding and he'll keep an eye open.

Here's how the book starts:

Sophie Le Patourel was reading aloud to her two daughters from the Book of Ryth, as they lay prostrate upon their backboards, digesting their dinners and improving their deportment.  This spending of the after-dinner hour upon their backboards instead of in the parlour was as a matter of fact a punishment for insubordination during the morning, but their Papa being from home Sophie was softening the punishment by reading aloud.  She was an indulgent mother, adoring her dhilren, anxious to keep them with her as long as possible, aftraid of what might be done to them  by the great world outside the schoolroom window, the great world that in this mid-ninettenth-century horrified her with its bustle and vulgarity and noise....

I'm going to save it for my vacation next month.

Updated links

I finally got around to updating the links in my sidebar.  Many, if not most, were out of date, out of print, or offline.  The new lists reflect the favourite reads in my feeder, split into blogs and hometending sites (most often ALSO blogs, but of a different sort).

I really need to do something about my template.  None of the standard Google templates are turning my crank though. We'll see.

Updated links

I finally got around to updating the links in my sidebar.  Many, if not most, were out of date, out of print, or offline.  The new lists reflect the favourite reads in my feeder, split into blogs and hometending sites (most often ALSO blogs, but of a different sort).

I really need to do something about my template.  None of the standard Google templates are turning my crank though. We'll see.

Michael Dubruiel's Last Column

As a daily reader of Amy Wellborn's blog and someone who has read many of her books, I was saddened to hear of the sudden death of her husband, Michael Dubruiel, also a Catholic writer, at the age of 50.

Today, she posted the text of what turned out to be his last column for their diocesan newspaper.

Go.  Read.

Michael Dubruiel's Last Column

As a daily reader of Amy Wellborn's blog and someone who has read many of her books, I was saddened to hear of the sudden death of her husband, Michael Dubruiel, also a Catholic writer, at the age of 50.

Today, she posted the text of what turned out to be his last column for their diocesan newspaper.

Go.  Read.

Catchin' Up

I contemplated ditching the blog for a couple of weeks.  I continually felt "behind", whatever that means.  Then I thought about a redesign, which I may still do, but I'm booked up with reality-based chores at the moment so it will have to wait.

We've just completed replacing the flooring in our basement.  We went from smelly, stained carpet installed directly on the concrete slab to warmth and dryness.  We used DriCore subflooring and then a low VOC laminate flooring.  We lost a bit of headroom in our already low-ceilinged basement, but the space is SO much nicer.  After the flooring went in, I painted one room and the storage room, and installed new shelving.  Then began the sorting and purging of all the stuff that had emerged from the basement before the flooring could go in.

Yesterday I went through three quarters of my books, getting rid of duplicates (that's what happens when you have a lot of books in boxes), books I've read and am unlikely to read again, and books I'll never read.  Also books on lost causes (like houseplants).  I have three boxes to take to Goodwill today. 

I alphabetized all my fiction and interleaved hard and soft-cover books.  I have a lot of great reading material, and should really start reading some of it rather than relying on the next new thing that I get from the library.  On the positive side, I have pretty much stopped buying books, although I still mooch them from time to time.  (Okay, yesterday I mooched two Joy Fielding books but I have all this credit....)

I have gone through all my craft/sewing/needlework stuff and purged UFOs, ugly fabric, tiny amounts of wool, and patterns that I will never make.  Also gone is old craft paint, mostly-used sketch books, and miscellaneous stuff that I have no idea why I had it (googly eyes, pipe cleaners, gold leaf....).  

We need to make some decisions about old stero equipment that has become obsolete with the advent of ipods.  We have a home theatre audio system that we haven't installed since we left our last house in Ottawa in 2002 and is now likely very out of date (not to mention HUGE).  

**

On the personal front, I have decided to (try to) grow out my hair a bit.  I've worn it quite short for, well, a couple of decades probably.  I'm working toward a bob style, but the growing out phase is going to be a b*tch.  I have thick hair, a LOT of hair, and it's on the coarse side of the spectrum.  With it short, I could go a day without washing it and it was fine.  Now, I get up in the morning and it's simply wacky looking.  Flat on one side, puffy on the other.  Me and my hair dryer are getting to know each other again.  

**

Reading:  I'm currently reading Chesterton's The Man Who Was Thursday.  As it turns out, I have a bunch of Chesterton on my shelves, so I may start going through that.  I also have Updike's first Rabbit novel, so I'd like to start that in his honour.

Listening:  I've been enjoying Paul Quarrington's King Leary via the CBC's podcast Betweeen the Covers.  It won the 1988 Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour and the 2008 Canada Reads competition. I listen to it on my ipod when I walk the dog and work in the kitchen.

Watching:  Lost, for goodness sakes.  The Week the Women Went.  Wild Roses.  House.  The Closer.  Being Erica.  The Colbert Report.

Knitting:  Socks.  From some sock yarn I bought on ebay...hand-dyed near Ottawa.  I'm a little worried that they will be loose, but I was too lazy to go out and buy smaller needles.  They can always be bed socks if they're not good for day use.  

Cooking:  Made mashed sweet potatoes yesterday and they were delish.  The lads sucked them back.  Could it have been the leftover whipping cream from the previous nights swedish meatballs that I tossed in? Along with a stick of butter?  And the Lawry's Seasoned Salt that my dearheart brought back from the States 'cos I can't find it anywhere in this town?

**

Well, this has turned out to be a novel.  And I didn't even mention the trip to the SuperBowl (not me, but Z and Alex) or Alex's early offer of admission to Western.  Yay!  Or the Coach bag that came back from US (along with the Lawry's).  Too much love, is all I can say.

Catchin' Up

I contemplated ditching the blog for a couple of weeks.  I continually felt "behind", whatever that means.  Then I thought about a redesign, which I may still do, but I'm booked up with reality-based chores at the moment so it will have to wait.

We've just completed replacing the flooring in our basement.  We went from smelly, stained carpet installed directly on the concrete slab to warmth and dryness.  We used DriCore subflooring and then a low VOC laminate flooring.  We lost a bit of headroom in our already low-ceilinged basement, but the space is SO much nicer.  After the flooring went in, I painted one room and the storage room, and installed new shelving.  Then began the sorting and purging of all the stuff that had emerged from the basement before the flooring could go in.

Yesterday I went through three quarters of my books, getting rid of duplicates (that's what happens when you have a lot of books in boxes), books I've read and am unlikely to read again, and books I'll never read.  Also books on lost causes (like houseplants).  I have three boxes to take to Goodwill today. 

I alphabetized all my fiction and interleaved hard and soft-cover books.  I have a lot of great reading material, and should really start reading some of it rather than relying on the next new thing that I get from the library.  On the positive side, I have pretty much stopped buying books, although I still mooch them from time to time.  (Okay, yesterday I mooched two Joy Fielding books but I have all this credit....)

I have gone through all my craft/sewing/needlework stuff and purged UFOs, ugly fabric, tiny amounts of wool, and patterns that I will never make.  Also gone is old craft paint, mostly-used sketch books, and miscellaneous stuff that I have no idea why I had it (googly eyes, pipe cleaners, gold leaf....).  

We need to make some decisions about old stero equipment that has become obsolete with the advent of ipods.  We have a home theatre audio system that we haven't installed since we left our last house in Ottawa in 2002 and is now likely very out of date (not to mention HUGE).  

**

On the personal front, I have decided to (try to) grow out my hair a bit.  I've worn it quite short for, well, a couple of decades probably.  I'm working toward a bob style, but the growing out phase is going to be a b*tch.  I have thick hair, a LOT of hair, and it's on the coarse side of the spectrum.  With it short, I could go a day without washing it and it was fine.  Now, I get up in the morning and it's simply wacky looking.  Flat on one side, puffy on the other.  Me and my hair dryer are getting to know each other again.  

**

Reading:  I'm currently reading Chesterton's The Man Who Was Thursday.  As it turns out, I have a bunch of Chesterton on my shelves, so I may start going through that.  I also have Updike's first Rabbit novel, so I'd like to start that in his honour.

Listening:  I've been enjoying Paul Quarrington's King Leary via the CBC's podcast Betweeen the Covers.  It won the 1988 Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour and the 2008 Canada Reads competition. I listen to it on my ipod when I walk the dog and work in the kitchen.

Watching:  Lost, for goodness sakes.  The Week the Women Went.  Wild Roses.  House.  The Closer.  Being Erica.  The Colbert Report.

Knitting:  Socks.  From some sock yarn I bought on ebay...hand-dyed near Ottawa.  I'm a little worried that they will be loose, but I was too lazy to go out and buy smaller needles.  They can always be bed socks if they're not good for day use.  

Cooking:  Made mashed sweet potatoes yesterday and they were delish.  The lads sucked them back.  Could it have been the leftover whipping cream from the previous nights swedish meatballs that I tossed in? Along with a stick of butter?  And the Lawry's Seasoned Salt that my dearheart brought back from the States 'cos I can't find it anywhere in this town?

**

Well, this has turned out to be a novel.  And I didn't even mention the trip to the SuperBowl (not me, but Z and Alex) or Alex's early offer of admission to Western.  Yay!  Or the Coach bag that came back from US (along with the Lawry's).  Too much love, is all I can say.