Wednesday, December 31, 2008
my favorite thing of 2008
In lieu of the usual New Year's Eve resolutions, I'm just going to share my favorite thing to do. I did this last night, and it was infinitley relaxing. So if the New Year is to be relaxing, I will have to continue participating in the ritual I discovered in 2008: Running a bubble bath, lighting a candle, putting on some music (like Beirut or Broken Social Scene- my version of mellow -or reggae) and sipping on a nice single malt while smoking a pinner and reading a riveting book. (Like Tom Robbins' 'Jitterbug Perfume'). Heaven.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
fleeting family togetherness
My family left me this morning. It was 5 am, and they were off to drop my sister off and the airport and continue on to drive to Saskatchewan. It happened so quickly, and i was so fuzzy from the early hour and too many beers the night before, that I still think I'll go home tonight and they'll be there. Drinking wine and having appies by the fire. Heartbreaking that I won't see my sister until April if I make it out to meet her in Montreal.
It was, however, a memorable and fun Christmas. Christmas Eve, after church and stopping by a few family gatherings, we made it back home to start our annual margarita party. We popped in a tourtière, a family tradition for Christmas eve, anticipating being hungry into the late hours after noshing on mostly appies and sweets all evening. The first pitcher was gone quite quickly after our introductory game of Things.... and turning it into a drinking game didn't make the bottle last longer. (I did however, discover that the answer 'hookers and blow' worked for every question). By time we ate the tourtière, I'm really not sure anyone really was sober enough to remember the taste or anything. Running out of tequlia, we decided to start making the margaritas with vodka. UGH.
Minus a small fight that night and the next morning (induced by the mass amounts of alcohol consumed), my sister had a hungover hankering for the leftover tourtière. There was only one problem. We couldn't find it anywhere. Someone was lucid enough to remember that we didn't eat it all, and even if we did, there was no sign of the foil pan. We looked under couches, in fridges, garbages and bathrooms. Finally, I spotted a a bon ton meat market bag out the back door in the snow. Sure enough, the remainder of the tourtière was in there face down. My sister ate it anyways, as the cold preserved the meat, and well, we were all just too hungover to care about the consequences of e coli.
The remainder of Christmas was a blur of family time, boxing day shopping (a sporting event for the women in my family) and drinking.
I am grateful for way more than three things this season, but i'll try to pare it down.
1. My immediate family is awesome. They like to have fun and party and are never chintzy in that area. Plus, we all love each other A LOT.
2. My extended family has intricate family drama that makes Y&R look tame. Always entertaining.
3. Realizing what's most important in my life as I get older and appreciating the fleeting family togetherness much more than I did before.
It was, however, a memorable and fun Christmas. Christmas Eve, after church and stopping by a few family gatherings, we made it back home to start our annual margarita party. We popped in a tourtière, a family tradition for Christmas eve, anticipating being hungry into the late hours after noshing on mostly appies and sweets all evening. The first pitcher was gone quite quickly after our introductory game of Things.... and turning it into a drinking game didn't make the bottle last longer. (I did however, discover that the answer 'hookers and blow' worked for every question). By time we ate the tourtière, I'm really not sure anyone really was sober enough to remember the taste or anything. Running out of tequlia, we decided to start making the margaritas with vodka. UGH.
Minus a small fight that night and the next morning (induced by the mass amounts of alcohol consumed), my sister had a hungover hankering for the leftover tourtière. There was only one problem. We couldn't find it anywhere. Someone was lucid enough to remember that we didn't eat it all, and even if we did, there was no sign of the foil pan. We looked under couches, in fridges, garbages and bathrooms. Finally, I spotted a a bon ton meat market bag out the back door in the snow. Sure enough, the remainder of the tourtière was in there face down. My sister ate it anyways, as the cold preserved the meat, and well, we were all just too hungover to care about the consequences of e coli.
The remainder of Christmas was a blur of family time, boxing day shopping (a sporting event for the women in my family) and drinking.
I am grateful for way more than three things this season, but i'll try to pare it down.
1. My immediate family is awesome. They like to have fun and party and are never chintzy in that area. Plus, we all love each other A LOT.
2. My extended family has intricate family drama that makes Y&R look tame. Always entertaining.
3. Realizing what's most important in my life as I get older and appreciating the fleeting family togetherness much more than I did before.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
the whore farm
Sooooooo...this weekend was as exciting and as awesome as I thought it would be. My sister and I took off for banff with some baileys and gin in tow and checked in to our cute little hotel. Immediately the prospect of room service was extremely appealing. "Ummm yeah, I'll have a jug of tonic water and some cut limes." At least the guy was cool about it, his only response to ask "Would you like ice with that?". After some scary visions in the hot tub, we set off to the Rose and Crown for dinner. My sis was just sloshed enough to dance with the 'lone wolf' on the dance floor. Quite entertaining. The rest is r-rated and a little bit fuzzy, needless to say, we woke up quite worse for wear.
Looking around the room, you would think a rock band had inhabited it for several weeks. A little embarassed when room service guy #2 came in, as the room also smelled like a bar-or bottle -for that matter. Anyways the excitement for riding suddenly sunk in, but was quickly quashed when the snow report told us that both mountains were closed due to extreme cold weather. That was probably warning number one. Warning number two was when the car almost didn't start. But nooooo we trucked on, and now I have facial frostbite. It's quite attractive, the white blisters look like some exotic form of herpes.
We did have a fun day nonetheless, with some interesting characters riding the gondola with us. Our favorite was the guy convinced that strippers (and the like) came from a whore farm. "They pluck them when they're really little, then they send them to the farm where they learn to be good whores." Seriously.
Sunday we had a photo shoot with my sis, taken by my bestie. It was really cool, and we're giving out the photos for xmas. It has to be a little vain, I mean, "Merry Christmas, here's a photo of me looking ridiculously hot." Sounds like a great gift for my ex. But it was fun, and we continued on to participate in the 12 bars of Christmas. A pub crawl in Kensignton designed to visit almost every drinking establishment in the vicinity. Monday morning was accordingly fun.
Tomorrow is xmas eve, and I have one wish from Santa. All I want for Christmas is my technology back. I now have lost my cell phone as well, thus leaving me alone in the cold with no music (as my ipod is broken too). Sounds like someone needs an iphone. Seriously every year around this time, I lose my phone in a snowbank. Must be a Canadian thing.
This holiday season I am glad for lots of things. The last three that come to mind are:
1. Facebook, because then how else would you get all of your phone numbers back.
2. My family, as even though they are crazy, my mom is out right now buying margarita mix for christmas eve.
3. Yoga. Keeping me sane and limber.
Happy Holidays, I hope you look forward to the party as much as I do!
Looking around the room, you would think a rock band had inhabited it for several weeks. A little embarassed when room service guy #2 came in, as the room also smelled like a bar-or bottle -for that matter. Anyways the excitement for riding suddenly sunk in, but was quickly quashed when the snow report told us that both mountains were closed due to extreme cold weather. That was probably warning number one. Warning number two was when the car almost didn't start. But nooooo we trucked on, and now I have facial frostbite. It's quite attractive, the white blisters look like some exotic form of herpes.
We did have a fun day nonetheless, with some interesting characters riding the gondola with us. Our favorite was the guy convinced that strippers (and the like) came from a whore farm. "They pluck them when they're really little, then they send them to the farm where they learn to be good whores." Seriously.
Sunday we had a photo shoot with my sis, taken by my bestie. It was really cool, and we're giving out the photos for xmas. It has to be a little vain, I mean, "Merry Christmas, here's a photo of me looking ridiculously hot." Sounds like a great gift for my ex. But it was fun, and we continued on to participate in the 12 bars of Christmas. A pub crawl in Kensignton designed to visit almost every drinking establishment in the vicinity. Monday morning was accordingly fun.
Tomorrow is xmas eve, and I have one wish from Santa. All I want for Christmas is my technology back. I now have lost my cell phone as well, thus leaving me alone in the cold with no music (as my ipod is broken too). Sounds like someone needs an iphone. Seriously every year around this time, I lose my phone in a snowbank. Must be a Canadian thing.
This holiday season I am glad for lots of things. The last three that come to mind are:
1. Facebook, because then how else would you get all of your phone numbers back.
2. My family, as even though they are crazy, my mom is out right now buying margarita mix for christmas eve.
3. Yoga. Keeping me sane and limber.
Happy Holidays, I hope you look forward to the party as much as I do!
Friday, December 19, 2008
subdued morning
excitement can only last so long. Although I'm still really exicted for our trip, this morning has produced some waning to the feeling and I'm feeling more subdued. I'm sure once we get in the car and start driving out to Banff, it will resurface.
Last night, I had two dinner parties to go to and was feeling quite scattered. Usually I'm loud and animated, but I seemed to have less to contribute to conversation than usual.
Observing others yesterday, I wondered what people who were not intellectually stimulated during their days, thought. My answer came later that night, as lately I have not been intellectually stimulated. NOTHING. Really sad, it's like your brain in on pause, and you're living in a fog of static. Perhaps thats the reason I had less to contribute. Actually, it definitley is. So what's it like feeling like that all of the time. Maybe you would get used to it? Than just collapse into the comforting apathy that comes with it, and float through your days wondering when the next tea break is? I'm determined not to pursue this path, which is why, since September, I've been saving to go back to school. I want to be challlenged, and if that means blowing 50 grand on a degree that will not move me forward in life, I will.
In prevention of falling in to a most pessimistic post. I'm going to list the three things I was grateful for yesterday:
1. Seeing my sister. Even though she was drunk and jet lagged, the hug was worth it.
2. My boss dealing with an issue that has been nagging me for the past 9 months and giving me angry rashes and an ulser. And doing it cheerfully and extremely effectively.
3. Seeing old friends and colleagues at the dinner party last night. This time of year is so great because it gives everyone the excuse to have get-togethers like these.
So, off to Banff we go. Let's hope for no arrests or girl fights.
Last night, I had two dinner parties to go to and was feeling quite scattered. Usually I'm loud and animated, but I seemed to have less to contribute to conversation than usual.
Observing others yesterday, I wondered what people who were not intellectually stimulated during their days, thought. My answer came later that night, as lately I have not been intellectually stimulated. NOTHING. Really sad, it's like your brain in on pause, and you're living in a fog of static. Perhaps thats the reason I had less to contribute. Actually, it definitley is. So what's it like feeling like that all of the time. Maybe you would get used to it? Than just collapse into the comforting apathy that comes with it, and float through your days wondering when the next tea break is? I'm determined not to pursue this path, which is why, since September, I've been saving to go back to school. I want to be challlenged, and if that means blowing 50 grand on a degree that will not move me forward in life, I will.
In prevention of falling in to a most pessimistic post. I'm going to list the three things I was grateful for yesterday:
1. Seeing my sister. Even though she was drunk and jet lagged, the hug was worth it.
2. My boss dealing with an issue that has been nagging me for the past 9 months and giving me angry rashes and an ulser. And doing it cheerfully and extremely effectively.
3. Seeing old friends and colleagues at the dinner party last night. This time of year is so great because it gives everyone the excuse to have get-togethers like these.
So, off to Banff we go. Let's hope for no arrests or girl fights.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
excitement abounds
my sister is coming home today. I was so excited this morning I was up at six. My racing thoughts- as per usual, included:
what was I going to wear that goes from day to night, that would include my coated nudies and new fur lined jacket (these items to make her green with jealousy- although I'm sure she'll have MANY items that make me green with jealousy). This point may seem vain, but I think that being pulled together and expressing my individuality through my clothes is very important, and most of my friends recognize this as an endearing (?) personality trait.
thinking about the weather (it's really wintery out there as I mentioned in my last post) and hoping that it doesn't delay her arrival.
getting really really excited about the trip we're taking to Banff tomorrow. - we're staying in a hotel room with the intent to party friday night and ride (both of our first times out this year!) saturday.
I decided last night would probably be the last time I would have time to do domestic duties before the holidays. So i did them. Grudgingly. Three loads of laundry, some cooking so I'd have leftovers and a slight closet clean up. Okay, that last one is a lie. I seriously have started to lose things in my closet, resulting in many panicked moments and wasted time trying to find 'lost' items. So any slight clean up just means re-evaluating what the piles contain.
So to wrap up, three things I was grateful for yesterday:
1. That my work is very flexible and because of the horrible weather and road conditions, I was able to work from home for a couple hours in the morning. It was DECADENT. My own home brewed coffee, no traffic gripes ( i tend to have slight road rage) and a great movie in the background.
2. That my sister is coming home today!
3. That I kinda thought my slip peeking out from my dress might be interpreted as trashy, but I got major compliments on the look.
This day is moving exceptionally slow, probably because I have to wait till 7:30 pm to see my sister. I need to press the fast forward button!
Monday, December 15, 2008
well i officially suck at making cookies but...
I had it in my mind all last week that I wanted to make gingerbread cookies. I've recently started a love affair with ginger, and I had a major craving for soft, gooey gingerbread cookies. It went down to like -50 on friday night, but i still braved the cold to get the ingredients for the fabled cookies. Of course, I forgot the molasses. Once I finally got my shit together late saturday, i put it all together, looked at the recepie and realized that i had made ginger bread and not gingerbread cookies. I baked them anyways, out of spite for the process, and I got little gingerbread bums instead. They look like muffin bums. And they're not that tasty. I was dedicated too- it took me TWO days! Maybe I'll leave them out back for the guys who take my bottles.
This weekend, I got drunk off of two pints. TWO. Wow, I guess one thing to be grateful for is that now, I'm officially a cheap cheap drunk.
I'm in the denial stage of grief right now. I think my ipod died, but I'm convinced it's just sleeping. I, like I'm sure many others are, am sorely dependant on my ipod. I have a dock at home, in the car and I can't run or work out without it. What would riding down some deep sweet poudre sauvage be like without Biggie and Gangstarr to back me up? Looks like my boxing day purchase might have to be a nano....
Three things I'm grateful for yesterday:
1. Lunch with great friends, great wine and AMAZING gnocchi. Not to mention, now I can say I've eaten rabbit.
2. The luxury of vegging at home from 3 pm on, and a great phone conversation with my bestie as we both decided it was too cold to leve the coziness of our respective homes to see each other.
3. That my car started no problem, which is almost a miracle in this weather.
4. (wow) My Christmas letter (which I rewrote from my mom's original) is getting rave reviews from its recipients. My uncle thought it was hilarious.
I'm feeling a bit better since my last post. Perhaps now that the full moon has come and gone, It might be easier to muster some optimism/cheerfulness!
This weekend, I got drunk off of two pints. TWO. Wow, I guess one thing to be grateful for is that now, I'm officially a cheap cheap drunk.
I'm in the denial stage of grief right now. I think my ipod died, but I'm convinced it's just sleeping. I, like I'm sure many others are, am sorely dependant on my ipod. I have a dock at home, in the car and I can't run or work out without it. What would riding down some deep sweet poudre sauvage be like without Biggie and Gangstarr to back me up? Looks like my boxing day purchase might have to be a nano....
Three things I'm grateful for yesterday:
1. Lunch with great friends, great wine and AMAZING gnocchi. Not to mention, now I can say I've eaten rabbit.
2. The luxury of vegging at home from 3 pm on, and a great phone conversation with my bestie as we both decided it was too cold to leve the coziness of our respective homes to see each other.
3. That my car started no problem, which is almost a miracle in this weather.
4. (wow) My Christmas letter (which I rewrote from my mom's original) is getting rave reviews from its recipients. My uncle thought it was hilarious.
I'm feeling a bit better since my last post. Perhaps now that the full moon has come and gone, It might be easier to muster some optimism/cheerfulness!
Friday, December 12, 2008
today i vowed
today I vowed to be nice to people. all week (well, maybe more than a week) I've been the last person you'd want to hang out with. Last saturday, after finally admitting "I'm really grumpy today", my mom was kinda like "no shit sherlock" and fed me a glass of wine and encouraged me to take a nap. I actually feel sorry for people who have to be around me. I wouldn't want to be around me.
So you see, I'm starting my blog with an incredibly depressing posting, but with a little bit of hope. Because, I'm trying to be nice to people. My first task will be to smile, not scowl at the next person I see. I think even a mixed smile/scowl might be better than what I'm putting out right now. Because right now, I come across as one of those crochety old ladies. You know the ones who expect you'll let them ahead of you in line, but when you don't, they send you that look. You know the whithering look that says, "Young lady, your mother obviously didn't raise you right, as you know you should let me go first and you're not."
I've been working on picking three things every day that I'm grateful for. So let's start today with what I'm grateful for yesterday.
1. I'm grateful that, this time, the person at starbucks knew the difference between a cone and a flat for grinding options and that, even though the starbucks girl was deaf, she wrote down my order correctly and it came out correctly.
2. I'm grateful that, even though I came off slightly aloof at our staff christmas party, I didn't have to overly socialize with anyone.
3. I'm grateful that my editor gave huge kudos for the photo I took yesterday.
So, i'm gonna grab myself a coffee. Put on some relaxing music (that means wu-tang in my book). And take out my sharpie and plot out the tattoo I'm gonna get that says 'be nice' or 'be patient' or something along those lines, because obviously I need to be constantly reminded. Then maybe this won't just be that hour before the breakdown. Maybe I can just teeter on instability and fall off on the stable side.
So you see, I'm starting my blog with an incredibly depressing posting, but with a little bit of hope. Because, I'm trying to be nice to people. My first task will be to smile, not scowl at the next person I see. I think even a mixed smile/scowl might be better than what I'm putting out right now. Because right now, I come across as one of those crochety old ladies. You know the ones who expect you'll let them ahead of you in line, but when you don't, they send you that look. You know the whithering look that says, "Young lady, your mother obviously didn't raise you right, as you know you should let me go first and you're not."
I've been working on picking three things every day that I'm grateful for. So let's start today with what I'm grateful for yesterday.
1. I'm grateful that, this time, the person at starbucks knew the difference between a cone and a flat for grinding options and that, even though the starbucks girl was deaf, she wrote down my order correctly and it came out correctly.
2. I'm grateful that, even though I came off slightly aloof at our staff christmas party, I didn't have to overly socialize with anyone.
3. I'm grateful that my editor gave huge kudos for the photo I took yesterday.
So, i'm gonna grab myself a coffee. Put on some relaxing music (that means wu-tang in my book). And take out my sharpie and plot out the tattoo I'm gonna get that says 'be nice' or 'be patient' or something along those lines, because obviously I need to be constantly reminded. Then maybe this won't just be that hour before the breakdown. Maybe I can just teeter on instability and fall off on the stable side.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)