August Declutter Challenge: Week 4

Item 1: Knife sharpener. My brother gave me a new, better one for my birthday, so this old thing has gone to Goodwill.

Item 2: Dying plant. A lovely hostess gift from dinner guests. Actually, we invited them for drinks before taking them OUT for dinner, after our basement flooded and the whole house smelled ... damp. Plant matter into compost. Basket to Goodwill. Because you CAN have too many baskets.

Item 3: Flowers that were never alive. Like last week, this lovely floral arrangement was purchased when we were staging our last house to sell. It looks okay from a distance. Up close, it's very....plastic. Direct to Goodwill.

Item 4: (Cheaply) framed poster of guitar chords. We just repainted Alex's room and it doesn't go with his new look. So he says.

Item 5: Lamp from Ikea with burned out bulb. These lamps seem to have been breeding in our house. We don't need it, and don't want to replace the bulb. Gone to Goodwill.

Items 6 and 7: More books came off of their 60-day amazon.ca listing unsold. I listed a bunch on the homeschooling board I still lurk on. Two lots went: a Canadian history bundle, and an art curriculum for Grades 4-6. These were two separate sales, and two separate mailings, so I'm counting them as two items. Plus I made some money!

My quick and easy pina colada.

I haven't posted a drink recipe lately, and this one is my own invention. Well, perhaps others have come up with the same thing, but this was a pure product of happenstance.

We brought back a bottle of coconut rum from Jamaica a few years ago, and never really used it. I pulled it out a few days ago and was looking around for something to mix it with.

My eyes fell on a can of Mountain Dew in the fridge that we got with a "10-drinks-for $1" deal with Pizza Pizza last week. Well, if you mix the Dew with coconut rum, you get a sort of low-fat pina colada, that is really quite refreshing. Even Z liked it, and he doesn't usually slum when it comes to beverages.

We'll have no trouble finishing up the coconut rum now.

My quick and easy pina colada.

I haven't posted a drink recipe lately, and this one is my own invention. Well, perhaps others have come up with the same thing, but this was a pure product of happenstance.

We brought back a bottle of coconut rum from Jamaica a few years ago, and never really used it. I pulled it out a few days ago and was looking around for something to mix it with.

My eyes fell on a can of Mountain Dew in the fridge that we got with a "10-drinks-for $1" deal with Pizza Pizza last week. Well, if you mix the Dew with coconut rum, you get a sort of low-fat pina colada, that is really quite refreshing. Even Z liked it, and he doesn't usually slum when it comes to beverages.

We'll have no trouble finishing up the coconut rum now.

Another major milestone.

Z and I celebrate 25 years of wedded bliss today!

We took a mini-break three weeks ago, spending a few days in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Tonight, the boys were at the CNE, so we walked up Avenue Road to the mysterious Lobster Trap (in business 43 years) for an anniversary dinner. The bibs were cloth, which was nice. The place was a little grotty, but the service was good and the food was fine, if basic (for lobster).

I know it's hackneyed, but it feels like yesterday that we were young, slim, and in love. We still have the "in love" part, and the rest doesn't matter!

It's official!

My brother and his family are moving to Toronto next fall.

John will be joining the faculty at Regis College and his lovely wife Jennifer will be doing whatever she needs to do to practice medicine in Canada. And their two boys will start their immersion in the hockey culture that John has missed so much in the SF Bay area. Go Sens!

Another major milestone.

Z and I celebrate 25 years of wedded bliss today!

We took a mini-break three weeks ago, spending a few days in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Tonight, the boys were at the CNE, so we walked up Avenue Road to the mysterious Lobster Trap (in business 43 years) for an anniversary dinner. The bibs were cloth, which was nice. The place was a little grotty, but the service was good and the food was fine, if basic (for lobster).

I know it's hackneyed, but it feels like yesterday that we were young, slim, and in love. We still have the "in love" part, and the rest doesn't matter!

It's official!

My brother and his family are moving to Toronto next fall.

John will be joining the faculty at Regis College and his lovely wife Jennifer will be doing whatever she needs to do to practice medicine in Canada. And their two boys will start their immersion in the hockey culture that John has missed so much in the SF Bay area. Go Sens!

Major Milestone

We are about to have another driver in the family.

Alex just finished his driver's ed course and has booked his road test for late September. He passed the driver's ed "road test" yesterday which is supposed to replicate a real road test, so his hopes are high.

For his father and I to feel confident, we'll be practicing a lot with him over the next few weeks so that he has more miles under his belt and is a little smoother. But it will be nice to have another driver in the household, particularly one who, during the driving honeymoon period, will be quite willing to schlepp his brother to karate!

I guess I need to look into insurance now...

August Declutter Challenge: Week 3

Here we go again!

Item 1: This is some track lighting that we purchased for a house that we lived in 3 houses ago (our first house). This means that we have paid someone to move it (and the rest of our household contents) three times. We have nowhere in our current house to use it, so it's gone to Goodwill.
Item 2: Anti-allergy pillow cover. All of our pillows are either covered, or are new and don't require this. Gone to Goodwill.
Item 3: In preparation for school start in a week and a half, I did some house-wide decluttering and gathered pens, pencils, sharpies, and school tools together and put them in this box in the kichen, where the boys typically do their homework. It's even labelled. I am such a geek.
Item 4: These books were listed at amazon.ca and didn't sell after their first listing period (60 days?). So they're going to Goodwill.
Item 5: Fake flowers in fake tea-pot. Need I say more? They were purchased when we were staging our last house to sell. Gone to Goodwill.
Item 6: Hand cream that I have never used. Got it as a free gift with purchase when I bought a Christmas present a couple of years ago. Gone.
Item 7: No photos here, but I had both my boys clear out the space under their beds. It was mostly old school books (Alex) and toys (Michael). School stuff went into the trash/recycling. Old toys to Goodwill.

Major Milestone

We are about to have another driver in the family.

Alex just finished his driver's ed course and has booked his road test for late September. He passed the driver's ed "road test" yesterday which is supposed to replicate a real road test, so his hopes are high.

For his father and I to feel confident, we'll be practicing a lot with him over the next few weeks so that he has more miles under his belt and is a little smoother. But it will be nice to have another driver in the household, particularly one who, during the driving honeymoon period, will be quite willing to schlepp his brother to karate!

I guess I need to look into insurance now...

August Declutter Challenge: Week 3

Here we go again!

Item 1: This is some track lighting that we purchased for a house that we lived in 3 houses ago (our first house). This means that we have paid someone to move it (and the rest of our household contents) three times. We have nowhere in our current house to use it, so it's gone to Goodwill.

Item 2: Anti-allergy pillow cover. All of our pillows are either covered, or are new and don't require this. Gone to Goodwill.

Item 3: In preparation for school start in a week and a half, I did some house-wide decluttering and gathered pens, pencils, sharpies, and school tools together and put them in this box in the kichen, where the boys typically do their homework. It's even labelled. I am such a geek.

Item 4: These books were listed at amazon.ca and didn't sell after their first listing period (60 days?). So they're going to Goodwill.

Item 5: Fake flowers in fake tea-pot. Need I say more? They were purchased when we were staging our last house to sell. Gone to Goodwill.

Item 6: Hand cream that I have never used. Got it as a free gift with purchase when I bought a Christmas present a couple of years ago. Gone.

Item 7: No photos here, but I had both my boys clear out the space under their beds. It was mostly old school books (Alex) and toys (Michael). School stuff went into the trash/recycling. Old toys to Goodwill.

August Declutter Challenge: Week 2

Here are the results for Week 2:

Item 1: two bottles of Barbeque sauce. We don't use bottled barbeque sauce. Plus, they had expired. Not sure how we got them in the first place. Dumped sauce and recycled bottles.
Item 2: Candle from master bath. Haven't used it in the past year and it's gathering dust. Outta here! (Goodwill)
Item 3: Cleaning products from master bath. First two require you to remember to use them EVERY DAY. We are not that on-the-ball. Third was empty bottle. Fourth is moisturizer that I never use and is just taking up space on vanity. Into recycling bin.
Item 4: Sort of spooky foot-high candle holder (space for tealight at bottom). Bought it years ago at a craft fair and kinda liked it. Not so much anymore. On to Goodwill.
Items 5 & 6: The big linen clear-out. I'm counting two items for these: a twin duvet that has lost some stuffing but is still serviceable, and some twin sheets and pillowcases (cotton) that are in primary/child colours and are no longer interesting to our sons. Plus a couple of lacy Euro shams that have yellowed. Into Goodwill bag.

Item 7: Stuffed monkey with magnetic feet. Promo item from Zs work but is in danger of becoming a dog toy leading to large vet bills when dog rips toy apart and swallows magnets. Goodwill.

August Declutter Challenge: Week 2

Here are the results for Week 2:

Item 1: two bottles of Barbeque sauce. We don't use bottled barbeque sauce. Plus, they had expired. Not sure how we got them in the first place. Dumped sauce and recycled bottles.

Item 2: Candle from master bath. Haven't used it in the past year and it's gathering dust. Outta here! (Goodwill)

Item 3: Cleaning products from master bath. First two require you to remember to use them EVERY DAY. We are not that on-the-ball. Third was empty bottle. Fourth is moisturizer that I never use and is just taking up space on vanity. Into recycling bin.

Item 4: Sort of spooky foot-high candle holder (space for tealight at bottom). Bought it years ago at a craft fair and kinda liked it. Not so much anymore. On to Goodwill.

Items 5 & 6: The big linen clear-out. I'm counting two items for these: a twin duvet that has lost some stuffing but is still serviceable, and some twin sheets and pillowcases (cotton) that are in primary/child colours and are no longer interesting to our sons. Plus a couple of lacy Euro shams that have yellowed. Into Goodwill bag.

Item 7: Stuffed monkey with magnetic feet. Promo item from Zs work but is in danger of becoming a dog toy leading to large vet bills when dog rips toy apart and swallows magnets. Goodwill.

Massive explosion

Very close to home.

Before we heard about it, Z and I were commenting about how poor our sleep had been last night. There were thunderstorms last evening, and Z said that at one point, it felt like the war in Beirut before he left, except that he didn't get a blast of warm air typical after a bombing.

Shortly after this conversation, Z's cousin, who also lives in Toronto, called to give us the news of the explosion at the propane distributor just north-west of us.

We haven't had any physical manifestation of the explosion at our place, and the air quality is fine at this point.

And amazingly, there haven't been reports of any deaths or serious injuries to date.

Massive explosion

Very close to home.

Before we heard about it, Z and I were commenting about how poor our sleep had been last night. There were thunderstorms last evening, and Z said that at one point, it felt like the war in Beirut before he left, except that he didn't get a blast of warm air typical after a bombing.

Shortly after this conversation, Z's cousin, who also lives in Toronto, called to give us the news of the explosion at the propane distributor just north-west of us.

We haven't had any physical manifestation of the explosion at our place, and the air quality is fine at this point.

And amazingly, there haven't been reports of any deaths or serious injuries to date.

August Declutter Challenge: Week 1

The folks over at Organizing Queen are hosting a month-long declutter challange and awarding some interesting prizes. Every Friday, we need to post our weekly progress on decluttering one item per day.

Here's mine!

Friday: Some too-small clothing from boys' closets to take to Goodwill

Saturday: Bags for Goodwill that had been in my car for a number of weeks were dropped off.
Sunday: We were on holidays, but I managed to declutter (i.e. throw out) two old windshield wipers from the back of the car.
Monday: A pile of webbed stuff that you put under carpets. In a trash bag on the porch, waiting for garbage day.
Tuesday: A game that our kids have outgrown. Off to Goodwill.
Wednesday: Baby food that my brother forgot to take home with him when he and his family were visiting this summer. Left at a food bank box at my local grocery store.
Thursday: Cans of cream of mushroom soup that I bought at Costco for some casserole I was making in large quantity. I only used three of them, and will likely never use the rest. Also left at food bank box.

August Declutter Challenge: Week 1

The folks over at Organizing Queen are hosting a month-long declutter challange and awarding some interesting prizes. Every Friday, we need to post our weekly progress on decluttering one item per day.

Here's mine!

Friday: Some too-small clothing from boys' closets to take to Goodwill

Saturday: Bags for Goodwill that had been in my car for a number of weeks were dropped off.

Sunday: We were on holidays, but I managed to declutter (i.e. throw out) two old windshield wipers from the back of the car.

Monday: A pile of webbed stuff that you put under carpets. In a trash bag on the porch, waiting for garbage day.

Tuesday: A game that our kids have outgrown. Off to Goodwill.

Wednesday: Baby food that my brother forgot to take home with him when he and his family were visiting this summer. Left at a food bank box at my local grocery store.

Thursday: Cans of cream of mushroom soup that I bought at Costco for some casserole I was making in large quantity. I only used three of them, and will likely never use the rest. Also left at food bank box.

Our weekend-a-deux.

Z and I spent much of the August long weekend in Niagara-on-the-Lake. It's our 25th wedding anniversary at the end of the month, but this was the weekend that worked best for a getaway.

We stayed at the Harbour House Hotel, a lovely 31-room place with gracious service, delicious breakfast, and extremely comfortable accommodations. It's right on the waterfront, three blocks from the Shaw Festival's main theatre and walking distance to the shops and sights of this quaint town.

We arrived around noon on Saturday and grabbed a bite on the terrace of the Queen's Landing Inn which was across from our hotel. Then we picked up our tickets at the hotel and headed over to the Shaw's Royal George Theatre to see a matinee of Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes. It was a terrific performance of this dark melodrama and it had us talking for some time after.

We retired to our hotel after the show for their daily wine and cheese reception in the lobby, and then our hosts drove us off to the Charles Inn for the first of two very memorable dinners in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Z had pan fried foie gras, followed by beef tenderloin and a chocolate passion fruit gateau for dessert. I had a spinach and arugula salad, the lamb dish, and a white chocolate creme brulee for dessert. In between the mains and dessert we shared a cheese plate and some port. (Detailed descriptions of the food are here.) We tried wine from the Megalomaniac label as recommended by our server: Z had the Cabernet Merlot and I had the Merlot. Both were excellent and we'll be picking some up at our local LCBO Vintages outlet.

Sunday brought our first hotel breakfast, a lovely buffet in the conservatory with hot and cold items, most notably an excellent house-made granola and a delicious egg and ham casserole. We headed out to mass at St. Vincent de Paul parish which was just three blocks from our hotel.

After a nondescript lunch at a pub around the corner from the church, we headed back to the hotel where we were picked up for our winery tour. Conducted by Niagara Wine Tours International, our driver took five couples to four wineries over the course of about three hours. We spent an hour and a half at Jackson-Triggs. The tour was very informative, and they have a lovely showcase of a building and some vineyards, but it was clear that most of their grapes are purchased from commercial growers and it was slightly like being at Disney. I didn't like any of the four wines we tasted and there wasn't anything that we wanted to puchase (it's all at the LCBO, anyway.)

We visited three smaller wineries. The first was Caroline Cellars, a family business with some innovative product. Our guide had suggested some things that we might like to try....they are one of the few Ontario wineries with a decent Baco Noir and Marechal Foch. We tasted both and agreed that they each needed the benefit of decanting. We got a bottle of the Baco Noir as well as something called French Revolution, a blend the specifics of which escape me. We also tasted (and purchased) their excellent 2007 Gewurztraminer and a most delicious 2006 Cranberry Winter Harvest, a blend of cranberry wine and late harvest vidal. A stunning dessert wine that would be excellent with cheese. Picked up two bottles.

We then visited the Reif Estate Winery. I had been there before and have always enjoyed what I've had of theirs. We tasted a few wines, but didn't make any purchases here. Again, a lot of their wines are available at the LCBO so there wasn't much point of carting it home.

Our last visit was to a very small winery: Lailey Vineyard. We had a tour led by Ed Haddon, the vineyard's sommelier. He took us into the vineyard and explained their approach to weed and pest management (all-natural), and the labour-intensive approach to growing and harvesting grapes. Then we went into the winery and tasted some work in progress, as well as some finished product, most notably a wonderful Ice Wine. We picked up some of that, as well as a bottle of their oaked Chardonnay (2006).

Back to the hotel, and then off to the Stone Road Grille for our second fabulous dinner of the weekend. The chef makes his own bread and charcuterie, so we started with the charcuterie plate. We then had two of the nightly specials: I had pork-three-ways and Z had lamb-three-ways. Both were excellent. We had hoped to have a cheese plate, but we were both too full so moved directly to dessert (another creme brulee for me, and tapioca with coriander glaze for Z.)

Back to the hotel and then on to the Theatre for Wonderful Town. It was not my top pick, but we had time/scheduling constraints so that's what we ended up with. I was very full, somewhat sleepy, and the room was warm. I found the first half a bit of a bore. This Bernstein/Comden musical has no music that's made it into the popular repertoire (and none of which I'd heard before) and the storyline just didn't grab me. Great, memorable music makes up for lack of plot in a lot of musicals, but it didn't work here. Z persuaded me to stay through the second half and it improved. But it's not something I'd recommend out of all the options available at the Shaw this season.

Monday morning, we had another great breakfast and spent some time on the terrace. We checked out at 11 and were back in T.O. on the patio of our local pub where we met our boys for lunch. I'm still thinking about the weekend three days later. It was a break to remember, and one that we must try to repeat in the not-to-distant future.

Our weekend-a-deux.

Z and I spent much of the August long weekend in Niagara-on-the-Lake. It's our 25th wedding anniversary at the end of the month, but this was the weekend that worked best for a getaway.

We stayed at the Harbour House Hotel, a lovely 31-room place with gracious service, delicious breakfast, and extremely comfortable accommodations. It's right on the waterfront, three blocks from the Shaw Festival's main theatre and walking distance to the shops and sights of this quaint town.

We arrived around noon on Saturday and grabbed a bite on the terrace of the Queen's Landing Inn which was across from our hotel. Then we picked up our tickets at the hotel and headed over to the Shaw's Royal George Theatre to see a matinee of Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes. It was a terrific performance of this dark melodrama and it had us talking for some time after.

We retired to our hotel after the show for their daily wine and cheese reception in the lobby, and then our hosts drove us off to the Charles Inn for the first of two very memorable dinners in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Z had pan fried foie gras, followed by beef tenderloin and a chocolate passion fruit gateau for dessert. I had a spinach and arugula salad, the lamb dish, and a white chocolate creme brulee for dessert. In between the mains and dessert we shared a cheese plate and some port. (Detailed descriptions of the food are here.) We tried wine from the Megalomaniac label as recommended by our server: Z had the Cabernet Merlot and I had the Merlot. Both were excellent and we'll be picking some up at our local LCBO Vintages outlet.

Sunday brought our first hotel breakfast, a lovely buffet in the conservatory with hot and cold items, most notably an excellent house-made granola and a delicious egg and ham casserole. We headed out to mass at St. Vincent de Paul parish which was just three blocks from our hotel.

After a nondescript lunch at a pub around the corner from the church, we headed back to the hotel where we were picked up for our winery tour. Conducted by Niagara Wine Tours International, our driver took five couples to four wineries over the course of about three hours. We spent an hour and a half at Jackson-Triggs. The tour was very informative, and they have a lovely showcase of a building and some vineyards, but it was clear that most of their grapes are purchased from commercial growers and it was slightly like being at Disney. I didn't like any of the four wines we tasted and there wasn't anything that we wanted to puchase (it's all at the LCBO, anyway.)

We visited three smaller wineries. The first was Caroline Cellars, a family business with some innovative product. Our guide had suggested some things that we might like to try....they are one of the few Ontario wineries with a decent Baco Noir and Marechal Foch. We tasted both and agreed that they each needed the benefit of decanting. We got a bottle of the Baco Noir as well as something called French Revolution, a blend the specifics of which escape me. We also tasted (and purchased) their excellent 2007 Gewurztraminer and a most delicious 2006 Cranberry Winter Harvest, a blend of cranberry wine and late harvest vidal. A stunning dessert wine that would be excellent with cheese. Picked up two bottles.

We then visited the Reif Estate Winery. I had been there before and have always enjoyed what I've had of theirs. We tasted a few wines, but didn't make any purchases here. Again, a lot of their wines are available at the LCBO so there wasn't much point of carting it home.

Our last visit was to a very small winery: Lailey Vineyard. We had a tour led by Ed Haddon, the vineyard's sommelier. He took us into the vineyard and explained their approach to weed and pest management (all-natural), and the labour-intensive approach to growing and harvesting grapes. Then we went into the winery and tasted some work in progress, as well as some finished product, most notably a wonderful Ice Wine. We picked up some of that, as well as a bottle of their oaked Chardonnay (2006).

Back to the hotel, and then off to the Stone Road Grille for our second fabulous dinner of the weekend. The chef makes his own bread and charcuterie, so we started with the charcuterie plate. We then had two of the nightly specials: I had pork-three-ways and Z had lamb-three-ways. Both were excellent. We had hoped to have a cheese plate, but we were both too full so moved directly to dessert (another creme brulee for me, and tapioca with coriander glaze for Z.)

Back to the hotel and then on to the Theatre for Wonderful Town. It was not my top pick, but we had time/scheduling constraints so that's what we ended up with. I was very full, somewhat sleepy, and the room was warm. I found the first half a bit of a bore. This Bernstein/Comden musical has no music that's made it into the popular repertoire (and none of which I'd heard before) and the storyline just didn't grab me. Great, memorable music makes up for lack of plot in a lot of musicals, but it didn't work here. Z persuaded me to stay through the second half and it improved. But it's not something I'd recommend out of all the options available at the Shaw this season.

Monday morning, we had another great breakfast and spent some time on the terrace. We checked out at 11 and were back in T.O. on the patio of our local pub where we met our boys for lunch. I'm still thinking about the weekend three days later. It was a break to remember, and one that we must try to repeat in the not-to-distant future.

For Catholics with an iPod Touch or iPhone....

Universalis has created two apps for these devices that give you a Catholic Calendar (free) that tells you the name and saint of the day (if any memorials etc). The second app is $32 (in Canada, at least) and gives you the full liturgy of the hours, including mass readings, office of readings, morning, evening, and night prayer, as well as the free content above.

You can set your local area and get the customised data for wherever you live (includes Australia, Canada, Europe (general), England, England (Westminster), Ireland, Scotland, Wales, New Zealand (also specific ones for certain cities/dioceses), Southern Africa, and of course the United States.

You can get these apps from iTunes (search "Universalis"), and you can see sample screenshots there.

I just downloaded it yesterday so haven't had a chance to take it for much of a testdrive, but it looks like a great way to be able to pray the Hours wherever you are!

For Catholics with an iPod Touch or iPhone....

Universalis has created two apps for these devices that give you a Catholic Calendar (free) that tells you the name and saint of the day (if any memorials etc). The second app is $32 (in Canada, at least) and gives you the full liturgy of the hours, including mass readings, office of readings, morning, evening, and night prayer, as well as the free content above.

You can set your local area and get the customised data for wherever you live (includes Australia, Canada, Europe (general), England, England (Westminster), Ireland, Scotland, Wales, New Zealand (also specific ones for certain cities/dioceses), Southern Africa, and of course the United States.

You can get these apps from iTunes (search "Universalis"), and you can see sample screenshots there.

I just downloaded it yesterday so haven't had a chance to take it for much of a testdrive, but it looks like a great way to be able to pray the Hours wherever you are!

Mrs. G's take on PC vs. Mac

If you haven't met Mrs. G over at Derfwad Manor, go there immediately. She is hilarious.

Today, she comments on the whole PC vs. Mac thing in her own inimitable style. Here's an earlier post by Mrs. G on the same subject. Too funny!

Mrs. G's take on PC vs. Mac

If you haven't met Mrs. G over at Derfwad Manor, go there immediately. She is hilarious.

Today, she comments on the whole PC vs. Mac thing in her own inimitable style. Here's an earlier post by Mrs. G on the same subject. Too funny!

The guy in the car

For the past couple of (few?) months, we've had a guy sit in his car across the street from our house every morning for about an hour. He was a middle-aged guy, who read the paper and sometimes drank coffee, usually with the window down. Always parked in the same spot on the street. Then I'd glance outside and he'd be gone. He was typically there sometime between 8 and 1o in the morning. Every morning. Seven days a week.

His purpose was a matter of great speculation in the household. Was he trying to get away from a noisy household for a little peace and quiet to read the paper? Was he a private detective watching someone on our street? Was he waiting for someone who was working in the area? My visiting brother-in-law and my husband both volunteered to sidle up to him and just ask. I thought about surreptitiously jotting his license plate down while walking Wilson one morning. But, I mean, what's wrong with a guy just sitting in his car reading the paper?

But WHY was he doing it?

The issue is moot now. He's gone. It's day three that he hasn't shown up and I guess this will remain a mystery. I realize, though, that I have become one of those nosy neighbours who wonders about the comings and goings of people around me.

The guy in the car

For the past couple of (few?) months, we've had a guy sit in his car across the street from our house every morning for about an hour. He was a middle-aged guy, who read the paper and sometimes drank coffee, usually with the window down. Always parked in the same spot on the street. Then I'd glance outside and he'd be gone. He was typically there sometime between 8 and 1o in the morning. Every morning. Seven days a week.

His purpose was a matter of great speculation in the household. Was he trying to get away from a noisy household for a little peace and quiet to read the paper? Was he a private detective watching someone on our street? Was he waiting for someone who was working in the area? My visiting brother-in-law and my husband both volunteered to sidle up to him and just ask. I thought about surreptitiously jotting his license plate down while walking Wilson one morning. But, I mean, what's wrong with a guy just sitting in his car reading the paper?

But WHY was he doing it?

The issue is moot now. He's gone. It's day three that he hasn't shown up and I guess this will remain a mystery. I realize, though, that I have become one of those nosy neighbours who wonders about the comings and goings of people around me.

Wonder Bread

I bought some this morning. From a gas station. At least it was whole wheat.

For the third time in a couple of months, I have not seated the bread maker baking pan correctly in the machine and it hasn't mixed properly. I awoke to the smell of freshly baked bread this morning, only to find a wizened lump of hardened dough when I opened the lid. At least the coffee maker functioned and I was able to get a cup while pondering my options (read: checking store hours for our local grocery stores and pharmacies-that-sell-food online - none open before 8).

Previously when we've had a bread-maker malfunction (I'm talking about me here, not the machine), I have just asked Z to get himself some lunch at the office (translation: his assistant gets him some lunch because he can't peel himself off the phone), but Michael is attending science camp at U of T this week, so he needed a sandwich as well. We have an Esso station with Tim Hortons To Go a block away from our place so Z and I headed up there with Wilson (bonus walk) around 7 am, but they don't sell bread. We tried Subway (closed), Mr. Cheap (closed), and then headed to another gas station three blocks north where we were greeted with "Food Store" sign as we rounded to corner.

Bingo! Bread!

Wonder Bread

I bought some this morning. From a gas station. At least it was whole wheat.

For the third time in a couple of months, I have not seated the bread maker baking pan correctly in the machine and it hasn't mixed properly. I awoke to the smell of freshly baked bread this morning, only to find a wizened lump of hardened dough when I opened the lid. At least the coffee maker functioned and I was able to get a cup while pondering my options (read: checking store hours for our local grocery stores and pharmacies-that-sell-food online - none open before 8).

Previously when we've had a bread-maker malfunction (I'm talking about me here, not the machine), I have just asked Z to get himself some lunch at the office (translation: his assistant gets him some lunch because he can't peel himself off the phone), but Michael is attending science camp at U of T this week, so he needed a sandwich as well. We have an Esso station with Tim Hortons To Go a block away from our place so Z and I headed up there with Wilson (bonus walk) around 7 am, but they don't sell bread. We tried Subway (closed), Mr. Cheap (closed), and then headed to another gas station three blocks north where we were greeted with "Food Store" sign as we rounded to corner.

Bingo! Bread!

Get off my back....I'm reading!

This was in yesterday's Globe and Mail, a persuasive argument for the power of fiction.

Get off my back....I'm reading!

This was in yesterday's Globe and Mail, a persuasive argument for the power of fiction.

James Douglas Townsend: March 21, 1980 - July 8, 2008

Jamie passed away in his sleep after apparently successful orthopedic surgery last Monday. No cause of death has been determined. He was my youngest cousin, third and youngest son of my mother's youngest sister. A very special guy, gone much too soon, but with Jesus.

The funeral on Saturday was packed with friends, family, and church-members. His brothers, fiancee, and sister-in-law gave beautiful eulogies.

There are simply no words.

James Douglas Townsend: March 21, 1980 - July 8, 2008

Jamie passed away in his sleep after apparently successful orthopedic surgery last Monday. No cause of death has been determined. He was my youngest cousin, third and youngest son of my mother's youngest sister. A very special guy, gone much too soon, but with Jesus.

The funeral on Saturday was packed with friends, family, and church-members. His brothers, fiancee, and sister-in-law gave beautiful eulogies.

There are simply no words.

From The Anchoress...

Is Canada the Stepford Nation?

You decide...

From The Anchoress...

Is Canada the Stepford Nation?

You decide...

It's been a while...

Lots of milestones since I last blogged:

1. Became godmother to William Joseph. Spent 5 days in Berkeley CA where my brother and his family live and enjoyed very much the ceremony (which took place DURING mass, and was great) and the party aferwards.
2. The boys finished their first year of school here in Toronto. Alex has one more year before he heads off to university.
3. Alex got his first job, as a grocery clerk at our local No Frills. It's four blocks from home which is great, but he hasn't been scheduled for many hours yet. He's enjoying the paycheque though. He bought an iPod shuffle to run with and is suddenly hyper-aware of how much everything costs.
   
4. Alex is taking Driver's Ed this week. Yikes! How did that happen?
   
5. Michael got contact lenses yesterday.
6. We replaced five feet of our kitchen counter (a peninsula) that was damaged, and installed a new sink and faucet, and....wait for it....a new dishwasher. Our old one sounded like a jet plane and prevented conversation pretty much anywhere on the main floor of the house. The new baby is flush with features, and you pretty much have to put your hand on it to figure out if it is running. Yesterday, I ran the "Top Only" cycle after breakfast which saves water and frees up space to get the rest of the days dishes in by the evening.
   
7. I have started listening to a very inspiring audio book on decluttering (It's All Too Much by Peter Walsh). I gave away all my scrapbooking supplies to a (very grateful) cousin, and a pile of art stuff to Michael's art teacher. I listed a bunch of books to sell on Amazon.ca and give away on Book Mooch. I've got a long way to go, but it feels good so far.

Blogging may be light over the summer. Have a good one!

It's been a while...

Lots of milestones since I last blogged:

1. Became godmother to William Joseph. Spent 5 days in Berkeley CA where my brother and his family live and enjoyed very much the ceremony (which took place DURING mass, and was great) and the party aferwards.
2. The boys finished their first year of school here in Toronto. Alex has one more year before he heads off to university.
3. Alex got his first job, as a grocery clerk at our local No Frills. It's four blocks from home which is great, but he hasn't been scheduled for many hours yet. He's enjoying the paycheque though. He bought an iPod shuffle to run with and is suddenly hyper-aware of how much everything costs.
   
4. Alex is taking Driver's Ed this week. Yikes! How did that happen?
   
5. Michael got contact lenses yesterday.
6. We replaced five feet of our kitchen counter (a peninsula) that was damaged, and installed a new sink and faucet, and....wait for it....a new dishwasher. Our old one sounded like a jet plane and prevented conversation pretty much anywhere on the main floor of the house. The new baby is flush with features, and you pretty much have to put your hand on it to figure out if it is running. Yesterday, I ran the "Top Only" cycle after breakfast which saves water and frees up space to get the rest of the days dishes in by the evening.
   
7. I have started listening to a very inspiring audio book on decluttering (It's All Too Much by Peter Walsh). I gave away all my scrapbooking supplies to a (very grateful) cousin, and a pile of art stuff to Michael's art teacher. I listed a bunch of books to sell on Amazon.ca and give away on Book Mooch. I've got a long way to go, but it feels good so far.

Blogging may be light over the summer. Have a good one!