- Every second dog in Australia seems to be a Jack Russell terrier. I like Jacks, but this is overkill!
- It’s COLD in Montreal this week. That hasn’t happened since we got back from vacation.
- Despite the cold, the magnolias are blooming. I love magnolias
- The i-Phone has made it to Canada. People are lining up. It’s a PHONE people, get over it. It won’t do your laundry.
- There's also a new phone service called Koodo. Their selling point? “Just phone and text”. No frills service that does what a phone should do – call people. No camera, no internet, no bells and whistles. That’s what I’d get if I finally joined the 21st century. Can’t help but wonder if it’ll catch on though, seeing as people love their gadgets so damn much.
- A guy in Dallas was released from prison after 27 years behind bars for a murder he didn’t commit. Damn! Here's to DNA testing.
- I noticed in Melbourne that lots of people wander around barefoot. In the middle of the city. How extremely bizarre…
- I’m bored. The dry shrivelled husk of my brain is rattling around in my skull and the noise is very annoying.
- I am perfectly sane.
- Despite a recently overheard comment that "bloggers are nutjobs, 'cause who has the time to maintain one of those things".
- I'm obviously at a point where I shouldn't be blogging if I can't find anything even remotely interesting to say. The muse, she has fled. Le sigh.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Dribs and Drabs Again
Monday, April 28, 2008
Correspondence
Dear City of Montreal,
You spent a year tearing up St. Laurent street (aka the Main, the street that separates Montreal into east and west). You were "upgrading" it, widening the sidewalks, spiffing it up, creating traffic havoc and a subatantial drop in revenues for the street merchants.
Now, it's done. Finally. Honestly, I don't see that much of a difference, but there you go.
So, this week what do you do? Tear up the sidewalks on St. Laurent to upgrade the gas mains. They must have already needed upgrading last year. Why not do it then?
You are idiots. Expensive idiots, since you're using my tax dollars to do the same work twice.
You've lost my vote.
Jazz
Dear Wannabe Goth Girl,
If you want to be goth, you gotta be goth. A handbag shaped like a coffin and skull earrings do not a goth make.
You need the clothes, you need the makeup, you need the hair, you need the footware.
Otherwise you just look ridiculous. I'm sure even your parents don't take you seriously. Who are you kidding you're not a goth, you're totally preppy. Deal with it.
Just sayin'
Jazz
Dear lady at the cash register.
Once the cashier is ringing up your purchases is NOT the moment to start runnning around the store looking for items you forgot. If you've only got half a brain, please make a list of what you need. The rest of us don't have time for your stupidity.
Irritatedly and with a list,
Jazz
Dear Cashier,
You can, you know, cancel her purchases at the touch of a button and tell her to move to the back of the line when she returns. It's not that hard. Remember, it's the electronic age. Beep, and it's gone. I gotta get my ass back to work - as do most other people in line.
Impatiently,
Jazz
You spent a year tearing up St. Laurent street (aka the Main, the street that separates Montreal into east and west). You were "upgrading" it, widening the sidewalks, spiffing it up, creating traffic havoc and a subatantial drop in revenues for the street merchants.
Now, it's done. Finally. Honestly, I don't see that much of a difference, but there you go.
So, this week what do you do? Tear up the sidewalks on St. Laurent to upgrade the gas mains. They must have already needed upgrading last year. Why not do it then?
You are idiots. Expensive idiots, since you're using my tax dollars to do the same work twice.
You've lost my vote.
Jazz
Dear Wannabe Goth Girl,
If you want to be goth, you gotta be goth. A handbag shaped like a coffin and skull earrings do not a goth make.
You need the clothes, you need the makeup, you need the hair, you need the footware.
Otherwise you just look ridiculous. I'm sure even your parents don't take you seriously. Who are you kidding you're not a goth, you're totally preppy. Deal with it.
Just sayin'
Jazz
Dear lady at the cash register.
Once the cashier is ringing up your purchases is NOT the moment to start runnning around the store looking for items you forgot. If you've only got half a brain, please make a list of what you need. The rest of us don't have time for your stupidity.
Irritatedly and with a list,
Jazz
Dear Cashier,
You can, you know, cancel her purchases at the touch of a button and tell her to move to the back of the line when she returns. It's not that hard. Remember, it's the electronic age. Beep, and it's gone. I gotta get my ass back to work - as do most other people in line.
Impatiently,
Jazz
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
And now, the visuals
Here's a start to the pics, I'll try and post more when I get a minute...
Funky Melbourne buildings in Federation Square:
Whereas this one commemorates the local dairy:
Sandstone formations at St-Paul's beach (one of the back beaches)
Waves at the Blowhole - another of the back beaches
Me... and my shaaaaaadow!!!
Funky Melbourne buildings in Federation Square:
And something much more staid, but ever so cool...
There are lots of these old houses in Melbourne with the lacy ironwork (I'll have to post a close up of that stuff...)
Melbourne Street art:
Shopping at one of the galleries - you'd swear you're in Paris or Brussels. Melbourne is oh-so- European. wich is oh-so-nice.
The mosaic at the gallery entrance (of couse the pic doesn't do it justice):
Meanwhile, in (on??) the Mornington Peninsula:
Mr. Jazz and I at the beach
At the Ashcombe Maze, I had difficulty making it through the rose maze, maybe because I had just discovered the macro function on my camera...
Some of the beach shacks in Dromana. People store their beach gear in these, and they're always all dolled up. Apparently they sell for anywhere between $60,000 and $100,000 bucks. For a 10x15 shack. Ouch. But they look good!
This is the type of sunset we had on the bay every evening (damn, I love my idiot proof camera):
In Rosebud (a town not far from Dromana) this statue commemorates what used to be the local cinema - now a shop of some sort.
Whereas this one commemorates the local dairy:
Sandstone formations at St-Paul's beach (one of the back beaches)
Waves at the Blowhole - another of the back beaches
Me... and my shaaaaaadow!!!
A tidal pool. The middle there is completely under water. The pic doesn't do it justice. They were absolutey spectacular.
The Melbourne skyline from across the bay
And a poor sunken rowboat - still tethered to the dock. It had probably been swamped during a windstorm that happened while we were there. I love that the sea can be so wonderfully clear 12 feet down...
And now I must proceed to work my little (or so the expression goes) tush off..
More Oz
I love the Mornington Peninsula south-east of Melbourne. We spent about a week in Dromana in a cottage loaned by our friends Furry and the Purple Goddess (no those aren’t the names their parents gave them, but these names suit them ever so much better).
It’s a great place. On one side of the peninsula you have a string of towns on the bay (the front beaches), and on the other side – about 15-20 minutes away by car – you have the back beaches, the real beaches with rolling surf and crashing waves (that’s sort of repetitive isn’t it?). God, the smell of the ocean! There’s nothing like it. It’s depressing to think that it’ll probably be a year at least before I manage to get anywhere near the ocean again.
In the middle of the peninsula you have vineyards, galleries, even an English style tree maze. And of course, as it's quite agricultural numerous animals producing quality manure for sale… There were tons of signs announcing manure for sale – except they call it poo.
“Poo for sale. $1 a bag”
Or better yet: “Free Poo”
It’s bizarre it is.
So we spent a week pretty much zig zagging all over the peninsula in our zippy little Hyundai Excel (le sigh), tagged with Queensland plates (Queenslanders are the Newfies of Australia, their Belgians, their Danes).
As an aside, why do people think Sarah Jessica Parker is so hot? I’m watching Sex in the City as I type (I finally had a moment of enlightenment and realized that just because I’m not online at home doesn’t mean I can’t type up a post, copy it to a stick and post it the next morning thus freeing up my lunch hours – who says severe jet lag addles the brain? – but I digress). I find her highly overrated lookswise, but then who cares what I think – plus she has nothing to do with Australia.
Once we got back to Melbourne we spent the rest of our time (except for an excursion back to the sea on the other side of he bay) wandering around the city for hours at a time. East Melbourne and its beautiful houses. Saint Kilda beach and its really really weird Japanese tourists, and this place and that place and no place in particular. As far as I’m concerned it’s the best way to discover a city.
Our travel style has changed in the past years. Whereas before Mr. Jazz and I would leave for a month with a backpack and pretty much wander across a country, now we both prefer to basically crash somewhere and get to know the area well. So cool to discover the places tourists usually don’t go. That little restaurant hidden around the corner, the park just off that office building… and it’s nice to get back from vacation actually rested rather than more exhausted than when I left. Of course, we don't know Australia other than the state of Victoria and parts of Queensland but that's all good, I'd rather know one area well than a whole continent hardly at all. Damn, I’m getting old.
(Oh, and for the record, I'm getting the pics ready, they'll follow soon)
It’s a great place. On one side of the peninsula you have a string of towns on the bay (the front beaches), and on the other side – about 15-20 minutes away by car – you have the back beaches, the real beaches with rolling surf and crashing waves (that’s sort of repetitive isn’t it?). God, the smell of the ocean! There’s nothing like it. It’s depressing to think that it’ll probably be a year at least before I manage to get anywhere near the ocean again.
In the middle of the peninsula you have vineyards, galleries, even an English style tree maze. And of course, as it's quite agricultural numerous animals producing quality manure for sale… There were tons of signs announcing manure for sale – except they call it poo.
“Poo for sale. $1 a bag”
Or better yet: “Free Poo”
It’s bizarre it is.
So we spent a week pretty much zig zagging all over the peninsula in our zippy little Hyundai Excel (le sigh), tagged with Queensland plates (Queenslanders are the Newfies of Australia, their Belgians, their Danes).
As an aside, why do people think Sarah Jessica Parker is so hot? I’m watching Sex in the City as I type (I finally had a moment of enlightenment and realized that just because I’m not online at home doesn’t mean I can’t type up a post, copy it to a stick and post it the next morning thus freeing up my lunch hours – who says severe jet lag addles the brain? – but I digress). I find her highly overrated lookswise, but then who cares what I think – plus she has nothing to do with Australia.
Once we got back to Melbourne we spent the rest of our time (except for an excursion back to the sea on the other side of he bay) wandering around the city for hours at a time. East Melbourne and its beautiful houses. Saint Kilda beach and its really really weird Japanese tourists, and this place and that place and no place in particular. As far as I’m concerned it’s the best way to discover a city.
Our travel style has changed in the past years. Whereas before Mr. Jazz and I would leave for a month with a backpack and pretty much wander across a country, now we both prefer to basically crash somewhere and get to know the area well. So cool to discover the places tourists usually don’t go. That little restaurant hidden around the corner, the park just off that office building… and it’s nice to get back from vacation actually rested rather than more exhausted than when I left. Of course, we don't know Australia other than the state of Victoria and parts of Queensland but that's all good, I'd rather know one area well than a whole continent hardly at all. Damn, I’m getting old.
(Oh, and for the record, I'm getting the pics ready, they'll follow soon)
Monday, April 14, 2008
Correspondence
Dear Bloggers,
I have really limited access right now, so I'll do the whole "rest of my trip" thing when I'm back next week - if work permits, which, with the CFH I doubt. I'll probably need a week just to patch up the damage. (Damn, I'm a bitch).
Anyway, more to come soon. A week in Dromana, wine tasting, the purchase of multiple bottles of Australian olive oil which is great, a cypress maze, more Vic market, aimless wandering around Melbourne (damn, I love this city). And hopefully pics if I can actually download the damn things...
Luvya all, and looking forward to catching up when I get back.
Smooches,
Jazz
I have really limited access right now, so I'll do the whole "rest of my trip" thing when I'm back next week - if work permits, which, with the CFH I doubt. I'll probably need a week just to patch up the damage. (Damn, I'm a bitch).
Anyway, more to come soon. A week in Dromana, wine tasting, the purchase of multiple bottles of Australian olive oil which is great, a cypress maze, more Vic market, aimless wandering around Melbourne (damn, I love this city). And hopefully pics if I can actually download the damn things...
Luvya all, and looking forward to catching up when I get back.
Smooches,
Jazz
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Things to love about Melbourne
- Free exhibitions at the State Library of Victoria. You like books? This one's for you. It's an exhibition of illuminated medieval books from the 8th to the 15th centuries. Have you any idea how impressive it is to see these books and the amazing art that went into copying them? Take my word for it. They are spectacular, and in some cases over 500 years old. The mind boggles. Truly. I still have no words for it. You haven't been impressed until you see one of these books- Rosellas. Those brilliantly coloured parrots that sit in the trees and screech. Noisy little buggers, but damn, they're cool. Melbourne (or at least the suburb where we are is so full of these birds, it's almost disconcerting.
- The Victoria Market . It's a huge market, with meat, fish, deli, fruit and veggie sections as well as everything from kitshy souvenirs to clothes to parakeets. Pretty much everything can be found there.
- The Melbourne bay.
- The Victoria Market . It's a huge market, with meat, fish, deli, fruit and veggie sections as well as everything from kitshy souvenirs to clothes to parakeets. Pretty much everything can be found there.
- The Melbourne bay.
- Melbournites. I mean, c'mon, where else do people hear you speaking a foreign language in front of a bus stop and ask if you need help before giving you all the information you need. Before you even ask them. Not in Montreal at any rate.
Tomorrow we're off to another friend's cottage by the sea in Dromana, and thus will probably be out of commisison blogwise for a week or so. But that's all good. At least I sure as hell think so.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Travel Haiku
Thirty sleepless hours
Some baggage lost in transit
I'm too old for this
Three hundred humans
In a flimsy metal tube
I'm glad it's so safe.....
Things you think about after travelling almost 30 hours:
How cool is it that C has internet at home? I'll be talking to y'all!
PS: they found our luggage, we'll have it tonight, YAY!
*Of course I care. If you made Executive, do you really want to have to look into the eyes of the rabble?
Some baggage lost in transit
I'm too old for this
Three hundred humans
In a flimsy metal tube
I'm glad it's so safe.....
Things you think about after travelling almost 30 hours:
- How bizarre that we think it totally normal to be hurtling through the air along with 300 others at 35,000 feet and 800 km/h in a metal tube...
- "In the unlikely event of a landing over water", taking the brace position and knowing that your life vest is under your seat is really no help since falling into water from 30,000 feet will pretty much be like slamming into a brick wall at 800km/hr. Why not actually be honest about it?
- Economy passengers should NOT have to walk past the executive class passengers in their little pods with seats that lie down flat. Unless of course I got a standby seat in executive. Then I just don't care*. I'll even toast those in the cattle car with my glass of champagne. Because otherwise, having to see how the other half lives when you're embarking on a 15 hour flight is just cruel and unusual punishment.
- Whoever said "familiarity breeds contempt" probably spent hours cooped up with other people on a long long flight.
- Turning right into the far lane freaks me right the hell out, seeing that logically it should get me killed by oncoming traffic. There is something inherently wrong about right side driving. So very very wrong.
- Lucky we didn't have to rent a car on arrival
- Seeing parrots fly around an roost in the tree right in front of you is really strange.
- Plastic bills are really cool.
- Vegemite is not. I still haven't found a reason for its existence, despite Mr. Jazz's love of the stuff.
How cool is it that C has internet at home? I'll be talking to y'all!
PS: they found our luggage, we'll have it tonight, YAY!
*Of course I care. If you made Executive, do you really want to have to look into the eyes of the rabble?
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Just a quckie...
Kanasas City is offering Bombardier $40M a year in tax credits for 22 years in order to build their new plane there.
Most of that money will be used to pay salaries (up to 80% of salaries for the first three years).
I surmise the money being offered is taxpayers money eh?
Which logically means that the Bombardier employees will be paying their own salaraies?
I'm all for incentives, but isn't this getting a little bit ridiculous?
Most of that money will be used to pay salaries (up to 80% of salaries for the first three years).
I surmise the money being offered is taxpayers money eh?
Which logically means that the Bombardier employees will be paying their own salaraies?
I'm all for incentives, but isn't this getting a little bit ridiculous?
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Counting Down
Tuesday. Only two more days to go and I'm off to Australia...
Until then, I'm so damn busy I don't know if I'm coming or going - although most obviously it's going.
Three weeks of no snow, of the ocean, of pure unadulterated bliss. Going to the end of the world for the ultimate luxury - doing what I want when and if I want.
If I don't make it back here before I go, have yourselves a good April.
Until then, I'm so damn busy I don't know if I'm coming or going - although most obviously it's going.
Three weeks of no snow, of the ocean, of pure unadulterated bliss. Going to the end of the world for the ultimate luxury - doing what I want when and if I want.
If I don't make it back here before I go, have yourselves a good April.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Who knew?
(Reproduced from the March 2008 issue of Chatelaine magazine)"It turns out that feminist can be a dirty word - in a good way.
Researchers at Rutgers University in New Jersey surveyed 500 men and women and fournd that women who identify themselves as feminists are more likely to be satisfied with their sex lives. They're also more likely to be dating or married, and to be happier in thier marriages. And what about men? The ones who date feminists reported being happier and more satisfied in the bedroom than those with non-feminst partners."
I love statistics that validate me!
Image by Turkish artist Hale Gungor
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Linkophilia
I was doing a way overdue cleanup of my bookmarks and figured I'd share some of my favourites - things that aren't necessarily in my blogroll (which is also in serious need of updating). No comments on the blogs/websites, they stand perfectly on their own.
Favourite art blogs and websites (in no particular order). Can you tell I love collage?
Maggie Taylor
Papiers collés
Thrifty Collage
El Collage
Charles Farrell Collage
Misty Mawn
Paris Daily Photo
Daily Collage Project
Ilka's Attic
Exploring Art
Mind's eye Collage
This is the place I'd sell my soul to go to if I had a soul to sell. I will not discuss whether this is because I've never had a soul or because it's already sold - moot point. Seriously though:
Sqwam ARt Worshops
Other websites:
Smart bitches
Lileks
What not to knit
What not to crochet
Postsecret
Show me yours!
Favourite art blogs and websites (in no particular order). Can you tell I love collage?
Maggie Taylor
Papiers collés
Thrifty Collage
El Collage
Charles Farrell Collage
Misty Mawn
Paris Daily Photo
Daily Collage Project
Ilka's Attic
Exploring Art
Mind's eye Collage
This is the place I'd sell my soul to go to if I had a soul to sell. I will not discuss whether this is because I've never had a soul or because it's already sold - moot point. Seriously though:
Sqwam ARt Worshops
Other websites:
Smart bitches
Lileks
What not to knit
What not to crochet
Postsecret
Show me yours!
Friday, March 14, 2008
Easy Friday Blogging
This I poached from Ian cause it seemed like a quick blog. Ha... Anyway...
1. What time did you get up this morning?
6:45 a.m.
2. Diamonds or pearls?
Pearls if I must choose one. I'm not much on stones, though technically pearls aren't stones at all, since they're organic but I won't bore you with the particulars of the oyster snot that goes into the making of pearls.
3. Last movie you saw in the theater?
"Dialogues avec mon jardiner" (Dialogues with my Gardener) - the story of two middle aged men, a painter and a gardener who knew each other as children and rekindle their friendship despite their totally different paths in life. French movie, so of course it doesn't end well. On the plus side, it stars two of my all time favourite actors: Daniel Auteuil and Jean-Pierre Dussolier .
4.What is/are your favorite TV shows?
Lost, Survivor, Amazing Race, Tout sur moi (a pseudo reality show where the actors play themselves but which is completley off the wall - Quebec's answer to Seinfeld as Mr. Jazz calls it). My televisual tastes definitely tend towards the lowbrow.
5. What do you usually have for breakfast?
OJ, Nature's Path Heritage Bite cereal (and no they're not paying me to plug their cereal, they should though, they have great organic cereal)
6. What is your middle name?
I guess the name I use. Being a good Quebecer of my generation, my first name is Mary (every little girl is Mary, every boy is Joseph) then Lilian.
7. What food do you dislike?
Liver. But I love foie gras. Go figure.
8. What is your favorite CD at the moment?
Porcupine Tree's Fear of a Blank Planet
9. What kind of car do you drive?
Toyota Matrix - but I prefer to be driven
10. Favorite sandwich?
Smoked meat (which I rarely have) or Tomato/Mayo/Cheddar on toasted bread
11. What characteristics do you despise?
Greed and avarice
12. Favorite item of clothing?
Meh... Jeans?
13. If you could go anywhere in the world for a vacation, where would you go?
Back to Vietnam I think.
14. What color is your bathroom?
At home: bright yellow, with white tile and a dark blue tile here and there. At the cottage: Yellow also, come to think of it. At first I put down green, ok, the tile is a pretty ugly green, the paint is a greeney yellow. It was like that when we bought it. I have to repaint eventually. But then I've had to repaint the appartment in town for the past several years and haven't done it yet.
15. Favorite brand of clothing?
Whatever more or less fits
16. Where would you want to retire?
The desert. Or the beach. Somewhere where I'll no longer have to deal with these shit winters.
17. Most memorable birthday?
40th. I jumped out of a plane to celebrate. Was I subconciously hoping to end it all? Dunno, but it was a huge thrill.
18. Favorite sport to watch?
Soccer. Always. Forever. And this summer is the Euro! Yay!
19. Furthest place you are sending this to?
Um... Cyberspace?
20. Who do you expect to respond?
Respond? As in comment? The usual suspects I suppose. If they actually make it far enough. This is daaaaaaaaaaaamn long...
21. Person you expect to respond first?
First commenter? Who the hell knows. What, am I omniscient? Do I see the future?
22. Favorite saying?
Don't know as I have one. Carpe diem?
23. When is your birthday?
June
24. Are you a morning person or a night person?
Night, though with my schedule I don't really get to be. I have early mornings forced upon me and I hate them with a passion.
25. What is your shoe size?
8.5 - 9 What kind of stupid question is that. I should've finished Josie's Proust questionnaire and posted that instead. It will come. Eventually
26. Pets?
Not any more. Except the cats I babysit for what seems the whole world.
27. What did you want to be when you were little?
A doctor, a pharmacist (I seem to have had a thing for drugs), chemist, a pilot and... get this: A NUN!!!!!!!!!! Needless to say I got over that particular folly really quickly. Bride of god? Not so much. The sex would be sorely lacking.
28. What are you today?
An overworked, thankfully not underpaid secretary. Oops, Administrative Assistant. Oops again, apparently that is now Administrative Professional. However you call it, I am the one who knows all - or so they seem to think. And who does NOT order your lunch for you. Get used to it.
29. What is your favorite candy?
It changes considerably from one day to the next. This week, Dolfin pink peppercorn dark chocolate has my vote. As well as their Cinnamon milk chocolate.
30. Your favorite flower?
Two: Anthuriums (aka flamingo lilies I think) and Birds of Paradise. Sorry for the links instead of pics, but I just can't face the idea of the download to Photofuckit and the upload back to here... Bleh. Anyway, my flowers, I like 'em exotic.
31.What is a day on the calendar you are really looking forward to?
March 28 when I'm off to Australia. On vacation. Three weeks of no work and mostly NO OVERTIME!!!!!
32. What are you listening to right now?
The annoyingly loud ventilation system.
33. What was the last thing you ate?
A Granny Smith apple I "borrowed" from the fridge at work. I asked around, it belonged to nobody, it became mine. Of course there aren't that many people in yet, so... But it's been there a week.... I guess I'll leave a note on the kitchen fridge saying I'll replace it if it was someone's... Of course, I might have forgotten it in the fridge myself, in which case I poached my own apple, can that be considered stealing then? So, on top of question 33, you got a fascinating glimpse into how my brain works (or doesn't) at this time of day, i.e. early morning.
34. Do you wish on stars?
Whatever for? Like it would work? And if it does it's because whatever you got was somehow in the works anyway. I'm neither romantic nor superstitious, so wishing on stars seems like a monumental waste of time. They're pretty though.
35. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
Bright crimson if I could choose. Muddy brown is more probably though.
36. What is your pet peeve?
Deliberate stupidity. Some people, I swear, are stupid on purpose. I always have an almost irresistable urge to tear their heads off and thus put them our of their misery - and rid the world of another idiot for the rest of us. Luckily I don't give into the urge. I let them live. I'm nice like that.
37. Last person you spoke to on the phone?
Someone who called the office thinking it was the medical clinic. We get about 5 of these calls a day because one of our lines is just one number off from theirs. I swear, one day I'm going to tell them all that a place just opened up if they can rush to the clinic. Check your number people, it's not a tough concept to grasp! (see previous answer re deliberate stupidity)
38. Do you like the person/people you are sending this on to?
The only place it's being sent is Blogger. And Blogger hates me. So I hate it back. Except when it works
39. Favorite soft drink?
Does that mean soda or just no alcohol? Get back to me on that and I'll let you know
40. Favorite restaurant?
Don't really have one anymore. We hardly go to the restaurant since we bought the cottage 6 years ago. I guess Au Petit Resto would still have my vote. They make a kick ass salmon lasagna. Which I'm going to have next Thursday. Yum. Barring that, I'd say any decent Vietnamese restaurant has my vote.
41. Hair Color?
Salt and pepper (stupid expression, but I guess better than "getting pretty grey with stills some of the original dark colour mixed in"), rather more salty in front than in back. I keep wondering whether I should start dyeing it again but the thought of the upkeep just makes we want to sleep. Besides, I'm sure all those chemicals were leaching into my brain for years and years, which accounts for my becoming the cynical nasty person I am today. Ok, maybe not, I was born cynical, but it's the explanation I use when people ask me why I stopped dyeing my hair. They never know whether they should believe me or not. And I let them wonder. `Cause I'm cynical and nasty dontcha know.
42. Favorite day of the year?
Any day I'm not working does it for me
43. What was your favorite toy as a child?
I have no idea. I do remember a yellow plastic boat with blue wheels that BB used to torture me with. Other than that, I remember I loved to draw. Until I realized just how abysmally bad I am at it. I don't draw anymore. A stick man is about the extent of my talent, and even that is pushing it. I'm much better with words.
44. Summer or winter?
Summer. I guess that's no surprise.
45. Hugs or kisses?
Copying Ian's response on this: Both and then some.
46. Chocolate or vanilla?
Chocolate - but are we talking ice cream? 'Cause if so, any company that can't make a great vanilla ice cream can't make a great anything else ice cream. End of story.
47. Do you want your blog friends to carry this on?
If they want. If they're willing to spend the time - this is taking much longer than I thought it would.
48. When was the last time you cried?
When I saw Moday's "of course it didn't end well" French movie
49. What is under your bed?
Not quite sure. There are a couple of boxes of junk stored under there, but other than that I don't want to know.
50. Who is the friend you've had the longest?
Mr. Jazz's friends. Until I met them (many of them lifelong friends of his) the longest I had knows someone was five years. I found it incredibly bizarre to know people for 20 years other than family. Such is the life of the Air Force brat. This being said, it made me independant. I don't need friends, though they're nice to have, and I'm sure Air Force Bratitude helped me develop my lifelong love of reading. Books don't move.
51. What did you do last night?
Not a whole helluva lot. Worked late, got home 8ish, whined and collaged in my journal.
53. What are you afraid of?
Going blind
54. How many keys on your key ring?
No clue. Lots. Though I don't know what at least 3 or 4 of them open. And I have not the slightest idea why I keep them there. I also have 2-3 keyrings attached to my keyring. Maybe I should see a shrink about my keyring issues. Among other things.
55. How many years at your current job?
Over 14. It freaks me right the fuck out that I can stay in a job so long. Is it pure inertia or is it that I actually like it? I don't know which option is more terrifying.
56. Favorite day of the week?
Friday. Well obviously, who's going to say Monday?
57. How many states have you lived in?
None, I'm Canajian eh? 3 provinces
58. Do you make friends easily?
Superficially, yes. In reality no, not at all. I have lots of acquaintances I like a lot but very few people I really consider friends.
59. How many folks will you send this to?
No folks, Blogger will be the sole recipient if Blogger accepts and doesn't eat this.
60. Have the good things outweighed the bad in your life?
Definitely.
Have a gerat weekend everyone!
1. What time did you get up this morning?
6:45 a.m.
2. Diamonds or pearls?
Pearls if I must choose one. I'm not much on stones, though technically pearls aren't stones at all, since they're organic but I won't bore you with the particulars of the oyster snot that goes into the making of pearls.
3. Last movie you saw in the theater?
"Dialogues avec mon jardiner" (Dialogues with my Gardener) - the story of two middle aged men, a painter and a gardener who knew each other as children and rekindle their friendship despite their totally different paths in life. French movie, so of course it doesn't end well. On the plus side, it stars two of my all time favourite actors: Daniel Auteuil and Jean-Pierre Dussolier .
4.What is/are your favorite TV shows?
Lost, Survivor, Amazing Race, Tout sur moi (a pseudo reality show where the actors play themselves but which is completley off the wall - Quebec's answer to Seinfeld as Mr. Jazz calls it). My televisual tastes definitely tend towards the lowbrow.
5. What do you usually have for breakfast?
OJ, Nature's Path Heritage Bite cereal (and no they're not paying me to plug their cereal, they should though, they have great organic cereal)
6. What is your middle name?
I guess the name I use. Being a good Quebecer of my generation, my first name is Mary (every little girl is Mary, every boy is Joseph) then Lilian.
7. What food do you dislike?
Liver. But I love foie gras. Go figure.
8. What is your favorite CD at the moment?
Porcupine Tree's Fear of a Blank Planet
9. What kind of car do you drive?
Toyota Matrix - but I prefer to be driven
10. Favorite sandwich?
Smoked meat (which I rarely have) or Tomato/Mayo/Cheddar on toasted bread
11. What characteristics do you despise?
Greed and avarice
12. Favorite item of clothing?
Meh... Jeans?
13. If you could go anywhere in the world for a vacation, where would you go?
Back to Vietnam I think.
14. What color is your bathroom?
At home: bright yellow, with white tile and a dark blue tile here and there. At the cottage: Yellow also, come to think of it. At first I put down green, ok, the tile is a pretty ugly green, the paint is a greeney yellow. It was like that when we bought it. I have to repaint eventually. But then I've had to repaint the appartment in town for the past several years and haven't done it yet.
15. Favorite brand of clothing?
Whatever more or less fits
16. Where would you want to retire?
The desert. Or the beach. Somewhere where I'll no longer have to deal with these shit winters.
17. Most memorable birthday?
40th. I jumped out of a plane to celebrate. Was I subconciously hoping to end it all? Dunno, but it was a huge thrill.
18. Favorite sport to watch?
Soccer. Always. Forever. And this summer is the Euro! Yay!
19. Furthest place you are sending this to?
Um... Cyberspace?
20. Who do you expect to respond?
Respond? As in comment? The usual suspects I suppose. If they actually make it far enough. This is daaaaaaaaaaaamn long...
21. Person you expect to respond first?
First commenter? Who the hell knows. What, am I omniscient? Do I see the future?
22. Favorite saying?
Don't know as I have one. Carpe diem?
23. When is your birthday?
June
24. Are you a morning person or a night person?
Night, though with my schedule I don't really get to be. I have early mornings forced upon me and I hate them with a passion.
25. What is your shoe size?
8.5 - 9 What kind of stupid question is that. I should've finished Josie's Proust questionnaire and posted that instead. It will come. Eventually
26. Pets?
Not any more. Except the cats I babysit for what seems the whole world.
27. What did you want to be when you were little?
A doctor, a pharmacist (I seem to have had a thing for drugs), chemist, a pilot and... get this: A NUN!!!!!!!!!! Needless to say I got over that particular folly really quickly. Bride of god? Not so much. The sex would be sorely lacking.
28. What are you today?
An overworked, thankfully not underpaid secretary. Oops, Administrative Assistant. Oops again, apparently that is now Administrative Professional. However you call it, I am the one who knows all - or so they seem to think. And who does NOT order your lunch for you. Get used to it.
29. What is your favorite candy?
It changes considerably from one day to the next. This week, Dolfin pink peppercorn dark chocolate has my vote. As well as their Cinnamon milk chocolate.
30. Your favorite flower?
Two: Anthuriums (aka flamingo lilies I think) and Birds of Paradise. Sorry for the links instead of pics, but I just can't face the idea of the download to Photofuckit and the upload back to here... Bleh. Anyway, my flowers, I like 'em exotic.
31.What is a day on the calendar you are really looking forward to?
March 28 when I'm off to Australia. On vacation. Three weeks of no work and mostly NO OVERTIME!!!!!
32. What are you listening to right now?
The annoyingly loud ventilation system.
33. What was the last thing you ate?
A Granny Smith apple I "borrowed" from the fridge at work. I asked around, it belonged to nobody, it became mine. Of course there aren't that many people in yet, so... But it's been there a week.... I guess I'll leave a note on the kitchen fridge saying I'll replace it if it was someone's... Of course, I might have forgotten it in the fridge myself, in which case I poached my own apple, can that be considered stealing then? So, on top of question 33, you got a fascinating glimpse into how my brain works (or doesn't) at this time of day, i.e. early morning.
34. Do you wish on stars?
Whatever for? Like it would work? And if it does it's because whatever you got was somehow in the works anyway. I'm neither romantic nor superstitious, so wishing on stars seems like a monumental waste of time. They're pretty though.
35. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
Bright crimson if I could choose. Muddy brown is more probably though.
36. What is your pet peeve?
Deliberate stupidity. Some people, I swear, are stupid on purpose. I always have an almost irresistable urge to tear their heads off and thus put them our of their misery - and rid the world of another idiot for the rest of us. Luckily I don't give into the urge. I let them live. I'm nice like that.
37. Last person you spoke to on the phone?
Someone who called the office thinking it was the medical clinic. We get about 5 of these calls a day because one of our lines is just one number off from theirs. I swear, one day I'm going to tell them all that a place just opened up if they can rush to the clinic. Check your number people, it's not a tough concept to grasp! (see previous answer re deliberate stupidity)
38. Do you like the person/people you are sending this on to?
The only place it's being sent is Blogger. And Blogger hates me. So I hate it back. Except when it works
39. Favorite soft drink?
Does that mean soda or just no alcohol? Get back to me on that and I'll let you know
40. Favorite restaurant?
Don't really have one anymore. We hardly go to the restaurant since we bought the cottage 6 years ago. I guess Au Petit Resto would still have my vote. They make a kick ass salmon lasagna. Which I'm going to have next Thursday. Yum. Barring that, I'd say any decent Vietnamese restaurant has my vote.
41. Hair Color?
Salt and pepper (stupid expression, but I guess better than "getting pretty grey with stills some of the original dark colour mixed in"), rather more salty in front than in back. I keep wondering whether I should start dyeing it again but the thought of the upkeep just makes we want to sleep. Besides, I'm sure all those chemicals were leaching into my brain for years and years, which accounts for my becoming the cynical nasty person I am today. Ok, maybe not, I was born cynical, but it's the explanation I use when people ask me why I stopped dyeing my hair. They never know whether they should believe me or not. And I let them wonder. `Cause I'm cynical and nasty dontcha know.
42. Favorite day of the year?
Any day I'm not working does it for me
43. What was your favorite toy as a child?
I have no idea. I do remember a yellow plastic boat with blue wheels that BB used to torture me with. Other than that, I remember I loved to draw. Until I realized just how abysmally bad I am at it. I don't draw anymore. A stick man is about the extent of my talent, and even that is pushing it. I'm much better with words.
44. Summer or winter?
Summer. I guess that's no surprise.
45. Hugs or kisses?
Copying Ian's response on this: Both and then some.
46. Chocolate or vanilla?
Chocolate - but are we talking ice cream? 'Cause if so, any company that can't make a great vanilla ice cream can't make a great anything else ice cream. End of story.
47. Do you want your blog friends to carry this on?
If they want. If they're willing to spend the time - this is taking much longer than I thought it would.
48. When was the last time you cried?
When I saw Moday's "of course it didn't end well" French movie
49. What is under your bed?
Not quite sure. There are a couple of boxes of junk stored under there, but other than that I don't want to know.
50. Who is the friend you've had the longest?
Mr. Jazz's friends. Until I met them (many of them lifelong friends of his) the longest I had knows someone was five years. I found it incredibly bizarre to know people for 20 years other than family. Such is the life of the Air Force brat. This being said, it made me independant. I don't need friends, though they're nice to have, and I'm sure Air Force Bratitude helped me develop my lifelong love of reading. Books don't move.
51. What did you do last night?
Not a whole helluva lot. Worked late, got home 8ish, whined and collaged in my journal.
53. What are you afraid of?
Going blind
54. How many keys on your key ring?
No clue. Lots. Though I don't know what at least 3 or 4 of them open. And I have not the slightest idea why I keep them there. I also have 2-3 keyrings attached to my keyring. Maybe I should see a shrink about my keyring issues. Among other things.
55. How many years at your current job?
Over 14. It freaks me right the fuck out that I can stay in a job so long. Is it pure inertia or is it that I actually like it? I don't know which option is more terrifying.
56. Favorite day of the week?
Friday. Well obviously, who's going to say Monday?
57. How many states have you lived in?
None, I'm Canajian eh? 3 provinces
58. Do you make friends easily?
Superficially, yes. In reality no, not at all. I have lots of acquaintances I like a lot but very few people I really consider friends.
59. How many folks will you send this to?
No folks, Blogger will be the sole recipient if Blogger accepts and doesn't eat this.
60. Have the good things outweighed the bad in your life?
Definitely.
Have a gerat weekend everyone!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
A weekend at the cottage....
Before the storm:
During the storm:
After the storm - That railing, bottom left is waist high:
And this feeder? I'm 5'6", during the summer I have to stretch to reach it, now it's stuck in the snow:
And now, non depressing things I see on Saturday mornings at the cottage...
May I introduce Red:
And one of the Pine Grosbeaks, a male:
Little birdie tracks on the balcony:
And a few of the oodles of voracious redpolls at the feeders (you know, when they talk about eating like a bird? Them cute little birdies, they NEVER. STOP. EATING. EVER!
My favourite tea mug from 1001 Pots last summer:
And, of course my cast iron teapot - cause what's a Saturday without it? I love me my teapot.
Tomatos for breakfast - with kick ass olive oil from a bottle also purchased at 1001 pots:
And oranges and yummy grapefruit:
The fireplace (which isn't crooked in real life):
The fire:
A girl's got to get her sunshine somewhere - even if it's fake....
And back in town on Sunday afternoon, my "book room" - I really need to get these books into some semblance of order...
During the storm:
After the storm - That railing, bottom left is waist high:
And this feeder? I'm 5'6", during the summer I have to stretch to reach it, now it's stuck in the snow:
And now, non depressing things I see on Saturday mornings at the cottage...
May I introduce Red:
And one of the Pine Grosbeaks, a male:
Little birdie tracks on the balcony:
And a few of the oodles of voracious redpolls at the feeders (you know, when they talk about eating like a bird? Them cute little birdies, they NEVER. STOP. EATING. EVER!
My favourite tea mug from 1001 Pots last summer:
And, of course my cast iron teapot - cause what's a Saturday without it? I love me my teapot.
Tomatos for breakfast - with kick ass olive oil from a bottle also purchased at 1001 pots:
And oranges and yummy grapefruit:
The fireplace (which isn't crooked in real life):
The fire:
A girl's got to get her sunshine somewhere - even if it's fake....
And back in town on Sunday afternoon, my "book room" - I really need to get these books into some semblance of order...
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Could I have let this go?
Spitzer of course.I will not say a thing on the morality of his seeing a prostitute. None of my business
I can't help but wonder though, however, how he could think he would actually get away with it?
We live in a world where a celebrity burps and it's in the news. Conrad Black takes a shower in prison? Front page news.
How could he actually believe that this would not eventually come out? What the fuck was he thinking? Every time something like this happens, I can't help but wonder, "How the hell could he/she/it expect to actually hide this forever?"
And his wife. What the hell was she doing on the podium when he made his speech? Girl, he was caught up in a prostitution scandal? There are limits to standing by your man even for a political wife.
The whole situtation is humiliating enough, but being there beside him on the podium? Gimme a break!
PS: Is it just me or does she look like an older Jennifer Anniston? Just me, huh? OK
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
21st Century Sin
If the Vatican hasn't been in the news much lately, it's because they've been brainstorming out there in Italy. They thunk and thunk and added new sins to the already interminable list of proscribed behaviours.'Cause this is the 21st century dude and we're just becoming eviler and eviler...
So, whereas before taking or trafficking drugs would land you in prison, now it lands you in hell too! Kill two birds with one stone so to speak. Drug traffickers will think twice now before selling drugs as it makes going to hell just that much easier when some other asshole shoots 'em in the head. Ya think?
Pollution is now as sin(be careful of your garbage people, it could land you in the brimstone fires of hell), as are social and economic injustice and genetic manipulation.
Because last week social and economic injustice was just fine and dandy??
Much as I despise catholicism (and organized religion in general), I have to love the Vatican for making me laugh this morning. And handing me a post on a silver platter. Because the "weekend at the cottage picture post"? I have the pictures, they're on one of those little thingys you plug into your computer but this computer says, "Nope, I've decided its boy bits are incompatible with my girl bits."
So no go. I'm such a techno-idjit. Le sigh.
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