Chickpea Central

This weekend I had the bright idea that I would make hummus from scratch. Including cooking dried chickpeas (a.k.a. garbanzo beans). So of course it's Sunday evening and I'm only cooking the beans now and the whole idea seems far less of a good idea than it did on Saturday morning. But I will persevere ...

But the weird thing? The chickpeas (which are being boiled without any spices, onions, garlic, whatever) smell like I'm cooking a ham. Is this just me? Or is there anyone else out there among my friends and Internet vagabonds who has boiled chickpeas who can speak authoritatively on the smell of boiling garbanzo beans?

Trust me, it's interesting

Tonight when I was at the gym, I found a printout of this article that someone had left behind on my favourite elliptical machine. It covers how the American investment bank Bear Stearns collapsed last March under speculation that it was short of funds ... and suggests that the rumours were deliberately spread in order to bring down the bank.

On Monday, March 10, the rumor started: Bear Stearns was having liquidity problems. In fact, the maverick investment bank had around $18 billion in cash reserves. But soon the speculation created its own reality, and the race was on to keep Bear’s crisis from ravaging Wall Street. With the blow-by-blow from insiders, Bryan Burrough follows the players—Bear’s stunned executives, trigger-happy reporters at CNBC, a nervous Fed, a shadowy group of short-sellers—in what some believe was the greatest financial scandal in history.

A fascinating, engaging read that makes you wonder ...

FINALLY!

Today, I finally gave up on the possibility of the keys for my bike lock ever showing up. I called a locksmith and we went down into the creepy basement where my bike has been held hostage. The locksmith dude (and yes, he was a "dude" - there is no better way to describe the man) had a HUGE set of wirecutters (or the steroid-affected version thereof) and, after some exertion and grunting and straining, the bike was freed! It is now sipping margaritas at a bike shop while they address the last 1.5 years of neglect. Then it will go on a tour of France, just like Ingrid Betancourt. Okay, I just made that last part up.

After dropping my bike off at the spa, I found I could no longer ignore all the dirt in my car. Most of it was gravel and such tracked in by myself or friends after hiking. I'd been procrastinating cleaning but today I paid someone to vacuum my car for me. And it was worth. every. penny.

Addictive soup

I would consider this a winter soup, but I love it so much that I’ve been eating it in July. It has no fat/oil, so it’s safe for a certain friend of mine who is struggling with gallstones. It is also gluten-free and dairy-free! And vegan! And low-calorie! And cheap! And makes an enormous amount of food. It freezes well. BUT it’s also a very hearty, flavourful soup, so I’m thrilled to share the recipe ...

In a large pot of water, add:

• 2 cups red lentils
• 1 medium turnip or rutabaga (cut into quarter-sized chunks or slices)
• 2 – 4 carrots, either grated, sliced, or chopped into 1-inch chunks (whatever your preference)
• 1 – 2 stalks of celery, sliced
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 large green pepper, chopped into large chunks
• 2 – 3 leeks, sliced
• Dried parsley to taste
• Paprika to taste
• Approx. 1 tablespoon of salt

Bring to a boil and simmer 3 – 4 hours.

If you're on a low-sodium diet, you'll want to rachet down the salt, but otherwise, this is a great soup to serve almost anyone.

As you can see, the recipe is extremely easy and quick to set up. The only thing is the long cooking time - plan accordingly!!!

Enjoy!!!

Some people should just stick with what they're good at

Case in point: Scarlett Johanssen. I love her as an actor. But now's she's released a CD, which you can purchase and download from iTunes.

But why would you? Based on the snippets I can hear for free, she doesn't even sound like a woman. More like a man. Who is trying to sing like a hound. If hounds could sing.

But that is just my opinion. Please take a listen yourself and let me know if I am out in left field.

Be afraid. Be VERY afraid.

Torture is wrong. Period.

I don't know how the feck it's come to pass in just a few short years that one has to make an statement against torture ON BEHALF OF A LAW-BASED DEMOCRACY, but there it is.

In particular, torture of a 16-year-old kid is wrong, diabolically wrong. I don't care who his parents are or what they said or did, nor does it matter that this kid may have thrown a grenade at a U.S. soldier. There's nothing to be gained by tormenting a KID. Please note that there is a HUGE difference between punishment and @#!%$*&!ing torture.

The Red Cross believes that war crimes are being commited at Guantanamo Bay - in your name, in my name:



It's got to stop. Especially for this kid. To quote another commenter: "I am Canadian and I demand that his rights be vigorously enforced. YO! HARPER! Snap to it!"

You can go here to sign the Avaaz petition for the U.S. to close the Guantanamo Bay prison.

Today's song is ...

... "Put Your Records On" by Corinne Bailey Rae. I can't count how many times I've listened to it today. It's a great summertime song for sitting around, chilling with good people (which incidentally is also something I did today - I feel so very lucky! :) )

Maybe sometimes, we've got it wrong, but it's alright
The more things seem to change, the more they stay the same
Oh, don't you hesitate.

Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.

You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.

Quote of the day

As Kevin and I were driving out of the city to have dinner at a co-worker's place:

"Oh my God, how far north ARE we??? There's firewood out here, for pity's sake!!!"

For Kevin, true civilization ends at Bloor Street ... :)

My current fantasy

A little cottage at the edge of a sandy beach. By myself, for a couple of weeks a month, with no social obligations.

Lots of books from my own collection. A hammock in the shade.

A comfy cot inside the cottage where I could nap every day. Perhaps even twice.

Delicious, healthy, vegetarian food is either served or easily prepared.

The weather is warm but still comfortable, and there is lots of shade so I don’t wither in the sun or worry about my skin getting scorched.

My two cats have miraculously been able to come on this vacation with me, without flipping out about the new environment or running out the door and getting lost outside. Elves come in twice a day to clean out the cat litter and generally tidy the cottage.

And, for good measure: while I am away from home, someone (more elves?) is cleaning my apartment and washing the windows.

YOUR current vacation fantasy?

museo-navale

museo-navale
Originally uploaded by carlobatti.

Hi everyone,

Still alive, still preoccupied. Stay tuned ... :)

Note from the laundry room

I love side-loading washing machines. They're bigger and you can put more clothes in them and they're apparently easier on your clothes too. But they're a pain to load/unload. So, basically, I'm wondering: why don't they make a top-loading side-loading washing machine? You know???

Oh, and while we're on the subject of laundry, here's a great song I discovered via Linda (I looked for the actual blog post but can't find it, sorry):

Fighting a lifelong case of the "shoulds"

Helloooooo there … anybody still around here these days?

It’s been rather quiet around here lately (although admittedly very visual). You know when you start up an application or do something equally load-intensive, it just seems to stall? You still see the hard drive light flashing, and maybe there’s a little hourglass that blinks on the screen, but otherwise … nada? Yeah, well, that’s been my blog lately. I’ve been processing. I’ve been going to the gym, trying to get back in shape, but I’ve also had a number of things to sort through lately. Nothing bad, just stuff for me to sort out in my own mind. It’s not done yet (by far), but I thought I’d just let you know what was going on. I don’t want to write or talk about it, so kindly just accept it for what it is. A mystery. :)

On another topic, how predominant is the word “should” in your vocabulary? About ten years ago, someone pointed out to me that it was all-too-common in my words and thoughts. And it was totally, 100% true; much of my motivation for the things that I did was from a sense of duty or obligation rather than a genuine willingness or interest. How sad and joyless is that? Worse, “shoulds” never let up; there’s always some way in which we fail to live up to all the things that we ought to do and think and accomplish and practice. Because we’re human, and human beings have limitations and failings.

So, over the years, I’ve tried to ease up on my “shoulds”. I don’t think it’s possible to entirely free oneself of the “shoulds” without becoming totally irresponsible, but I try to use my “shoulds” judiciously, when warranted. It’s a perpetual struggle for someone with my personality, I have to say, and I probably let the “shoulds” have more of my time and energy than is healthy. But I’m working on it.

So when someone else comes along and tries to add more “shoulds” that are really not reasonable or not even mine (or does this to someone else I know is feeling guilty for not being able to get to all his/her “shoulds”), there WILL. BE. CRANKINESS.

Enough said.

early morning

early morning
Originally uploaded by famkefonz.

I love, love, LOVE LOVE LOVE this photo.

aviary roman stripe quilt top finished!

aviary roman stripe quilt top finished!
Originally uploaded by theknittingphilistine.

This photo makes me want to take up quilting.

If only I didn't already spend too much time daily hunched over my computer ... :)

Castles and rivers

Castles and rivers
Originally uploaded by Mario 2R's.

...

...
Originally uploaded by kate053 ( de retour).

Good ideas that are bad politics

Very interesting article. Worth a read.

Distant Civilization

Distant Civilization
Originally uploaded by marctonysmith.

E-mail from Avaaz: Save Zimbabwe from Mugabe

Dear friends,

African leaders can still save Zimbabwe by holding an emergency summit to broker a legitimate government. Click below to join the call:

On Thursday, 27th June, Zimbabwe will hold a cruel sham of a vote for President. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change has just withdrawn from the run-off -- not in a concession of victory, but rather in recognition that Mugabe's campaign of violence and terror has erased any hope for a democratic election.

But against the odds, hope survives. Amidst growing international pressure, Mugabe's ZANU-PF party and the opposition have entered private talks. A unity government may be possible yet.

The United Nations Security Council unanimously held on Monday that free and fair elections are now impossible in Zimbabwe. The UN Secretary-General spoke out. But it is African leaders, most of all Thabo Mbeki, who hold the key. Even Mugabe cannot cling to power without their cooperation. Today, we're launching an emergency campaign, petitioning these leaders to call an immediate summit, isolate Mugabe, and broker a legitimate government for Zimbabwe. Our call will be published in big newspaper advertisements in South Africa, Tanzania, Angola, and Mozambique this week -- click here to see the ads and endorse their message:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_zimbabwe/5.php?cl=100605962

Zimbabwe's neighbours supply its electricity and goods, and control the borders. Many Southern African leaders are already calling for the postponement of the election -- but there's a real danger that they will end up accepting this charade. This would be a grave miscalculation: if Mugabe succeeds in his de facto coup, Zimbabwe's implosion will accelerate, and chaos could spread throughout the region.

So our campaign will publicly name those African leaders who hold Mugabe's last remaining lifeline. If these leaders step up strongly now, they can convince enough of Mugabe's officials that change is coming one way or another -- and set the stage for Morgan Tsvangirai to lead a unity government to pull Zimbabwe back together.

Robert Mugabe saved Zimbabwe from colonialism. Now it's time for African leaders to save Zimbabwe from him.

Help us raise 250,000 voices this week, including a great roar from every country in Africa, to be delivered in an immediate multi-country ad campaign. Click to see the ads, sign, and then forward this to friends:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_zimbabwe/5.php?cl=100605962

With hope and determination,

Ben, Alice, Paul, Graziela, Mark, Ricken, Iain, Veronique, Pascal, and Milena -- the Avaaz.org team

PS: For more information and sources for the facts above, see:

Thabo Mbeki and the emergency talks for a settlement:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article4200177.ece

United Nations Security Council declares free and fair elections "impossible":
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL2026827820080624

Elections going ahead despite MDC pull-out:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7468849.stm

Mugabe: "Only God will remove me!"
http://www.thetimes.co.za/SpecialReports/Zimbabwe/Article.aspx?id=788598

Regional leaders criticizing Mugabe:
Tanzania's Kikwete - http://allafrica.com/stories/200806200336.html
Rwanda's Kagame - http://allafrica.com/stories/200806190003.html
Kenya's Odinga - http://allafrica.com/stories/200806190949.html
Uganada's Museveni - http://allafrica.com/stories/200806120016.html

Much like my brain, lately ...

Hunting the Storm

Hunting the Storm
Originally uploaded by lichtmaedel.

Farol Island - Arraial do Cabo . RJ / Brazil

Farol Island - Arraial do Cabo . RJ / Brazil
Originally uploaded by Brivilati.

This one makes a magic three.

Good night.

Road To The Sky

Road To The Sky
Originally uploaded by duncmc.

Another cool photo. Click on it to see the photographer's story on this one. :)

Scotia Plaza

Scotia Plaza
Originally uploaded by Barbera.

This is a building I see often here in Toronto, but I've never looked at it quite like this. I'm sorry that I didn't think of photographing it like this myself.

It's a randomly-found photo on Flickr.

The real bosses around here

Earlier this year, I had a couple of parties here at my apartment, and I was surprised by how many people were really anxious to meet my cats (who were in my bedroom, hiding from all the REALLY LOUD strangers in my living room). So I earnestly promised to provide photos, despite really not wanting to sound like a cat lady. But, finally ...

This one is Sabrina. I got her in a South Korean market in 1996. She was about the size of a well-fed hamster at the time. She reeked of fish when I brought her home. But I forgave her when she crawled under the covers with me that night to curl up in a delicate little ball against my shoulder. I brought her home to Canada with me a year and a half later because I couldn't imagine leaving her behind.

Those dark marks on her nose? Freckles.

She has a very long body, long legs, and a face that's slightly pointy. Somewhat like Siamese cats.

Fast-forward a few years ... The first time I moved into my very own place in Canada after returning from Korea, it was so empty and lonely (Sabrina was still with my parents), so I went straight to the local Humane Society and found this kitten who seemed to have a lot of love to share. The instant I took her out of the cage, she flipped onto her back - in my hands - so I could rub her belly.

It was only after I took her home and was doggedly pursued by her endless pleas for attention and relentless piercing stares that I realized that Cleo had a lot of love to take. But she was cute and I adjusted, and thankfully she's a little more independent these days.


Okay, now that I've run the risk of sounding like a cat lady, please tell me about YOUR pets!

Shells

DSC_0139
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

A bracelet that I think would be tacky to wear, but I like this shot. Taken last weekend in Kensington Market, Toronto.

Why Barack Obama makes me cry

Beautiful.

Totally awesome video

... and, surprisingly, NOT a political one!

He said it first

I wouldn't have posted this, except the end is really funny.

However, this is not for you, Mom.

It speaks for itself

You go, girl!

I love this - she is soft-spoken, and yet packs a punch!

Love, love, LOVE strong, thinking women!!!

Creepy and disturbing

For a man who's apparently wanted to be POTUS since God was a boy, I don't think he exercised the best judgement by appearing in this skit:



Isn't he always harping on Obama for an alleged lack of judgment? Physician, heal thyself.

My pick for Obama's VP

He's a successful military man who has helped bring peace to a war zone, he's a Rhodes scholar, he's articulate, and he takes no guff:



But best of all? The chiseled cheekbones.

Tuesday Trivia Twenty - Roommate Edition

1. Other than living with my family, I have had 13 roommates/housemates.
2. I’m still in touch with only 4 of them.
3. I’ve reconnected with two of them via Facebook. Yay Facebook!
4. I might reconnect with more if I could just remember their last names … grrrrr …
5. I saw Schindler’s List with my housemate Alan, back in our university days. We could barely talk for an hour or two afterwards because we were in such shock.
6. Alan thought it would be funny if, with our other housemate Jen, we brushed each other’s teeth. Sometimes Alan was still stuck at summer camp. ;->
7. A roommate once told our mutual friends that I was trying to profit off the situation by asking that her boyfriend pay for his share of the utilities that he was using by living with us. I’m such a bitch … :)
8. Said boyfriend became abusive and paranoid. Not fun.
9. It was about 7 years before I decided it would be okay to have another roommate after THAT experience.
10. One of my roommates thought the new toaster oven was about to explode, but it was just a fan that was rattling.
11. Two of my dearest university friendships were forged as housemates.
12. The best party we ever had in university was a dessert party. No booze, just sugar. LOTS of it. OMG we were flying that night, and absolutely leaden the next day!
13. My first roommate in Korea was a great guy from Newfoundland named Jim. He worked out every day and had an amazing body (hey, he walked around the apartment in a tiny pair of shorts – I’m not blind!!!!). He ate five meals a day just to replenish the calories he burned at the gym and on his mountain bike.
14. He was really kind to me and helped me settle into life in Korea.
15. Over the school Xmas holidays, we turned off the heat in our apartment to save money, and the pipes burst. We were young and stupid. What a mess!
16. Of all my roommates, only one relationship really ended badly.
17. My first-year university roommate, Michelle, spent most of her time with her boyfriend, so I often had our room to myself. (Awesome!)
18. One of my university housemates was obsessed with having blonde, blue-eyed children, so she was dating this guy who was kinda sorta blond but truly definitely an asshole. They were a good pair.
19. A housemate once complained that I was very “anecdotally” because TV shows would make me think of stories to share when she really just wanted to watch TV. (I do love anecdotes … sigh.)
20. In general, I like living with someone (always good in case you’re hurt or sick, or as a prophylactic against being “eaten by Alsatians”, as Bridget Jones always worried), but I’m quite content to live alone as well.

What I did yesterday

DSC_0463
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

I'm behind the camera.

Congratulations and best wishes Aidan and Alan!

Good enough to eat!!!!

DSC_0189
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

Gaaaahh, very busy day here folks. You might hear about it later, but you might not. In the meantime, do these apples not look absolutely inviting?

Photo of the day

DSC_0225
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

I took this photo today, near Kensington Market.

Best blog entry of the day

The back story is that Mia is almost 3 years old, and she has a baby brother named Owen. Enjoy.

Dear Weight Scale

Dear Weight Scale,

I know it was me who ate all those appetizers (the deep-fried spring rolls, the pizza, the quesadillas, the nachos) at the company social tonight, even when I know there really is no such thing as a "free" lunch. And I know this came after a three-day course in a hotel conference room where I sat on my behind all day and ate croissants and blueberry scones and most of the other crap they fed us, just so I could stay awake.

But, still, you suck.

Best,

Eclecta

Medieval help desk

I think this one has been around for a while, but today was the first time I've ever seen it ...

Always a nice sunset

Always a nice sunset
Originally uploaded by jywheeler.

Folks, I can't believe it's only Tuesday. What a week! Not bad, just tiring ...

I hope you like this photo I found on Flickr tonight. It's not a real blog post, but it's the only thing on the menu at THIS kitchen tonight! :)

Bill Moyers on the challenges facing the American media and voting public

Excellent, interesting, thought-provoking speech. Much of it also applies to the Canadian situation, I think ...

Excellent rebuttal to an ignorant assertion

Tom Delay, Indicted Republican: Unless he proves me wrong, [Obama] is a Marxist.

Hunter, Blogger: Unless he proves me wrong, Tom Delay lures children into his van with candy, gasses them to death with bug spray, and uses their powdered bones as an aphrodisiac when making love to all the animals at the San Antonio Sea World.

Prove me wrong, pal, prove me wrong.

Poor Tom Delay; it's so hard to prove a negative! LOL

Hillary, sexism, and the Daily Show

Brilliant and very funny.

My faves: "freedom drops" and "garbage bags full of ..." LOL

I hope you can live with yourself for eating bacon after this ... :)

Detour

Today did not end up being remotely as expected. A friend was sick, and she had an art show that required some supervision. So I ended up sitting in a corner of a store for most of the day. No biggie, but now am stupidly tired. You must find entertainment elsewhere tonight, I'm afraid ... :)

I'm a Counselor

Rings pretty true to me, even though I hated hated HATED the yes/no questionnaire.

What are you?

Playing catch-up

Just a quick update - it's been busy here, what with getting back into my gym routine (I will continue to go to the gym until I start to LIKE it again!), work, trying to meditate a bit more often, and so many political blogs to read, what with Obama finally winning the Democratic nomination this week!!!!! Fortunately for me, I think I'm reaching capacity with the political blogs and perhaps I can now catch up on some sleep.

Zen, I'll have an answer to you soon re. astrological signs ... This weekend, hopefully!

Would it be so cute without the accent?

Likely not ...

No hay problema

Just sit back and let these wonderful, rich sounds wash over you ...

Wrong, wrong, just plain wrong

From E.J. Dionne of The Washington Post:

Word spread like wildfire in Catholic circles: Douglas Kmiec, a staunch Republican, firm foe of abortion and veteran of the Reagan Justice Department, had been denied Communion.

His sin? Kmiec, a Catholic who can cite papal pronouncements with the facility of a theological scholar, shocked old friends and adversaries alike earlier this year by endorsing Barack Obama for president. For at least one priest, Kmiec's support for a pro-choice politician made him a willing participant in a grave moral evil.

Kmiec was denied Communion in April at a Mass for a group of Catholic business people he later addressed at dinner. The episode has not received wide attention outside the Catholic world, but it is the opening shot in an argument that could have a large impact on this year's presidential campaign: Is it legitimate for bishops and priests to deny Communion to those supporting candidates who favor abortion rights?

This kind of thing infuriates me, simply because many anti-abortionists behave as no other life form has one bit of value compared to that of a fetus. The priest in question here has turned a blind eye to the thousands of innocents killed - and continuing to be killed - in Iraq as a result of that war, and instead attempts to punish someone who supports an anti-war political candidate who also happens to be pro-choice. I do not understand this kind of two-dimensional Selecto-Vision.

Awesome story

Great story from The Washington Post about a wedding reception that was held last weekend at the same hotel where there was all that craziness about Florida and Michigan and the Democratic Party:

[The bride and groom] found themselves at rancorous Ground Zero in the battle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama when the Democratic Party held its Rules and Bylaws Committee meeting at the same time and place -- Saturday, the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel -- as their 200-guest wedding reception.

The happy couple was toasted amid angry hallway clashes and a barrage of hollering and sign-waving. DeBuchananne encountered ladies' room partisans wanting to know whom she supported; and Rogers's Philly relatives couldn't resist sneaking away to check out the (sort of) historic action in the nearby committee room.

Did it ruin their big day? Hardly. "Matt and I were like, this is D.C., this is what you get when you live here," the new Mrs. Rogers, 26, a sales manager for a marketing company, told us yesterday. "That's why I wanted to have the wedding in the city -- this is why we have such a great country."

"We could let it ruin the wedding, or we could embrace it," said Rogers, 29, who works in finance with Accenture. "We embraced it." So when the protesters shouted, "Count the vote, count the vote!" and "Fifty states, not 48!" the bridesmaids came back with "Danielle and Matt in Oh-Eight!"

(The answer to the ladies' room question: The newlyweds like Obama. "Neither of us are big Hillary people," DeBuchananne said. "It's funny that she was a big part of our wedding.")

Back at their room, they were surprised by a huge platter of food, a nice bottle of champagne and a note: "Thank you so much for sharing your day with us." Signed: Howard Dean and the Democratic National Committee.

yellow star

yellow star
Originally uploaded by o g u h.

Another photo I found on Flickr. I love it.

Now that's sexy

Brad Pitt isn't exactly my type (although as he ages he's looking better to me ... he isn't that "pretty boy" anymore), but Angelina is sexy enough for both of them:

Angelina Jolie on being pregnant:
"I love it. It makes me feel like a woman. It makes me feel that all the things about my body are suddenly there for a reason. It makes you feel round and supple, and to have a little life inside you is amazing. Also, I'm fortunate. I think some women have a different experience depending on their partner. I think that affects it. I happen to be with somebody who finds pregnancy very sexy. So that makes me feel very sexy."

I have a special request: Could I please come back as Angelina Jolie in my next life???

You may prefer some other candidate

... but you've got to admit this is one inspiring and beautiful photo.

Not according to script

_DSC1065_final_sm
Originally uploaded by Donnay.

This is Kevin. He is one of my dearest, kindest, most supportive friends. He is smart, responsible, successful, considerate, funny, and quite simply the most polite person I have EVER met. He is also gay. (And, unbelievably, single.)

I am an unattached, childless woman approaching 40. If we were living out the cliché, I’d be investing in a turkey baster, if you know what I’m sayin’ …

But the reality is that I don’t want his sperm; I just want his camera. LOL

(Honestly, LOOK at the *crispness* of this photo!)

Ask Eclecta anything

Okay, folks, here's your chance, if you want it: Ask me anything.

Write it in the comments (e-mail will NOT do). As long as it's not obscene, I will answer it in the next week or so.

Crime and punishment

Freud overlooked the "hat" stage of development

Freud overlooked the "Hat" Stage of development
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

One thing I've noticed about my niece and nephew at this age is their fascination with things they can put on their heads. They both seem to be big fans of hats, but in the absence of a hat anything that could possibly resemble a hat is just fine, whether it's actually a plastic basket, a washcloth, or, as in this photo, a piece of camera equipment.

So, along with the oral, anal, and whatever other stages Freud dreamed up/observed, I would suggest we add the hat stage.

You know what I really like about this photo, though? Is the sense of fun and play in Reece's expression. It's quite simply wonderful.

Rampant, sick materialism

We all know that materialism is wrong and that things just don't make us truly happy and all that blah blah blah ...

But today I got to use a Nikon D300 (my friend Kevin wanted me to take some shots of him and brought in his camera for it) and OH GREAT ZEUS I WANT ONE.

And if you click here you can see that its on sale right now! $20.00 off, Ma!!!! (That's $1799.00 minus $20.00 [plus taxes], mind you, but whatever ...) Will you get me one, please please PLEEEEEEEAAAASE????????? please?

MY president

If the United States is ungrateful enough to not elect this man, we'll take him here in Canada in a nanosecond:

Acupuncture ROCKS

By the way, I've been meaning to tell you about something that happened this week. Here's the setup:

I had this lousy sore throat and on Wednesday the cold moved into my sinuses, which felt achy andvery irritated for about 24 hours. On Thursday evening, I had a standing appointment for some acupuncture, and when I got there we discussed my cold as well. They suggested just adding a couple of needles to the plan, saying that there were some powerful acupuncture points either side of the nose, and using them often cleared up sinus congestion. Right, I thought, not having very high expectations, but every little bit helps. When you're not feeling well, you get a little desperate for even an improvement.

They ended up "threading" the needles so that each one went under the skin between two points. I won't pretend that it was comfortable, but it wasn't painful. I did feel a small electrical current at both needles (like a little shock you would get from touching someone after walking across some carpeting), but within 45 minutes of the treatment, the painful irritation I felt in my sinuses was GONE. As in, no runny nose, no sinus headache.

Amazing stuff - I would highly, highly recommend it.

Home

Yesterday I drove a six-hour round trip to my parents’ just to bring my cats back with me to Toronto. (They’d stayed there for two weeks while I prepared for my trip, flew to Seattle, and recovered after my trip.) When I arrived at my parents’, my mother warned me that neither cat had seemed really engaged in much play or social activity and she thought they’d both felt abandoned by me. Sure enough, they both gave me some attitude initially. Oh, and the road trip back to Toronto? Totally not happy. Thank goodness for headphones.

Now we’re home and Sabrina has been clingy and Cleo is still missing her joyful spark. So I have some work to do and some trust to earn back and to restore their sense of security.

However, if I could do backflips, I would be doing them over the fact that I have no trips further than a one-hour drive from Toronto for the foreseeable future. It is sooooo good to be home and to be free of the self-imposed pressure of road trips or running late for flights with transfers or missing luggage. To be at home for a whole day with my books and my cats and to sleep in and to finally attack the clutter in my living room and to maybe have a bubblebath later … well, it’s priceless and delicious. I miss my “Seattle family” (among whom I naturally include Tracy and Monika) sorely, but until I find a way to somehow bring everyone and everything I love into one central geographical location, I will simply enjoy the current moment for all it’s worth.

Barack Obama's speech on race

I know that Obama gave this speech on race back in March, but today was the first time I actually watched it, rather than just read about it. Amazing stuff, because he actually tells the truth about how things are. So courageous.

And I know that this speech was prompted by the whole Rev. Wright thing, but most of it still applies now that Wright seems to have fallen off the map, particularly the following section (whole transcript is available here):

For we have a choice in this country. We can accept a politics that breeds division and conflict and cynicism. We can tackle race only as spectacle — as we did in the O.J. trial — or in the wake of tragedy — as we did in the aftermath of Katrina — or as fodder for the nightly news. We can play Reverend Wright's sermons on every channel, every day and talk about them from now until the election, and make the only question in this campaign whether or not the American people think that I somehow believe or sympathize with his most offensive words. We can pounce on some gaffe by a Hillary supporter as evidence that she's playing the race card, or we can speculate on whether white men will all flock to John McCain in the general election regardless of his policies.

We can do that.

But if we do, I can tell you that in the next election, we'll be talking about some other distraction. And then another one. And then another one. And nothing will change.

That is one option. Or, at this moment, in this election, we can come together and say, "Not this time." This time, we want to talk about the crumbling schools that are stealing the future of black children and white children and Asian children and Hispanic children and Native American children. This time, we want to reject the cynicism that tells us that these kids can't learn; that those kids who don't look like us are somebody else's problem. The children of America are not those kids, they are our kids, and we will not let them fall behind in a 21st century economy. Not this time.

This time we want to talk about how the lines in the emergency room are filled with whites and blacks and Hispanics who do not have health care, who don't have the power on their own to overcome the special interests in Washington, but who can take them on if we do it together.

This time, we want to talk about the shuttered mills that once provided a decent life for men and women of every race, and the homes for sale that once belonged to Americans from every religion, every region, every walk of life. This time, we want to talk about the fact that the real problem is not that someone who doesn't look like you might take your job; it's that the corporation you work for will ship it overseas for nothing more than a profit.

This time, we want to talk about the men and women of every color and creed who serve together and fight together and bleed together under the same proud flag. We want to talk about how to bring them home from a war that should have never been authorized and should have never been waged. And we want to talk about how we'll show our patriotism by caring for them and their families, and giving them the benefits that they have earned.

I would not be running for President if I didn't believe with all my heart that this is what the vast majority of Americans want for this country.

(emphasis mine)

If you haven't watched the whole speech yourself either, book 40 minutes and watch it. You will be watching the stuff of future history textbooks, I think.

The Fallen

The Fallen
Originally uploaded by Varina Patel.

A gorgeous photo I found on Flickr.

I am pooped ... time for bed!!!

Exactly, and MORE

Certain rules

I was thinking about ethics in an airport washroom this past weekend.

The reason I was doing so was because I chose to use the extra-wide wheelchair-accessible stalls so I could easily wheel my luggage in with me and not feel like I was a calf being fattened for veal. And yet each time I use a wheelchair-accessible stall, I remember this chick in my biology class in university who refused to use the wheelchair-accessible stall, even when it was the only free stall in the washroom. To her, such stalls should be reserved for people who actually needed them. I think she felt that people with mobility issues had enough challenges without having to wait in line to go to the washroom. I have never met anyone else who felt so strongly about this, or who'd even thought along those lines.

Me, I have a thing about making other people pick up after me. I don't (knowingly) leave trash behind in theatres or airplanes. I know they have clean-up crews, but it still seems wrong to me.

And so now I'm curious, friends and Internet vagabonds: do you have any rules by which you choose to live that might seem novel or odd to other people? If so, please share! :)

How Hillary could still make it right

(if she wanted to ...)



Via the Mahablog, which is one of the best blogs on American politics (or even just for critical thinking) out there, IMHO.

Harrison Ford gets his chest waxed - to make a point

From plane, last night, discombobulated

Oh sweet Lord this plane is warm. Those who know me will understand how hot it must truly be if *I’m* complaining about the heat. I don’t know how to wrap up the last few days, so bear with me. I do have stuff to say.

Just nothing to say out loud right now. Speaking is so painful. I’ve been fighting a sore throat the past few days, but my mistake was roaring. I was sitting in Joe’s office, which is closed off from the rest of the house by some glass doors, and then Reece pushed his way through into the forbidden office to hang out with me, and soon Lorelai was on the other side of the doors. At first I just put my face up to the glass between her and me, which prompted delighted giggles, but you need more, right? You need sound effects. So I roared like a lion (or some blonde lady who thinks she's imitating a lion, anyway). Oh, the laughter that ensued. I was so glad that she already trusted me, that she wasn’t scared. Reece got some in-your-face roars too, which produced his wide grin and chortles too. Anyway, about twenty minutes later, Lorelai was sitting on my lap on the couch and we were roaring in each other’s faces and having a great time. Except for my scratchy throat. This morning my voice sounded like that of a drag queen. A three-pack-a-day drag queen. And basically since hitting the Seattle airport, I’ve pretty much stopped talking, making do with gestures and pointing. Except customs. You suck it up to get through customs properly, lest they decide a body cavity search is necessary. LOL

In Vancouver I found out that my checked bag didn’t make the trip. This is the second time in a row that my luggage has shown marked reluctance in returning from Seattle. I think there might be a message in this somehow.

I have just finished watching 27 Dresses. It was about the only thing my restless mind could settle on. I quite enjoyed it, but that’s hardly a recommendation from someone in such a state that even reading a Jennifer Weiner book was considered too much work. The movie was relatively entertaining, although James Marsden looked more haggard than I feel, which is saying something.

But don’t let my complaints fool you – this trip was totally worth it. I could tell you how great those kids are, or how cute, but instead let me tell you a couple of my favourite anecdotes:

• It turns out that my camera was a great way to break the ice with them this time – they were both fascinated to see the slideshow of digital photos on the LCD screen. Lorelai* in particular was quite happy to sit in my lap while repeatedly pushing buttons on the back of the camera, but at least on one occasion both of them plopped themselves in my lap to get a front-row seat. (*I think Lorelai has inherited her Nanna's gadget obsession.)
  

• Once Lisa and I took the kids for a walk outside, and eventually Lorelai wanted to hold her mother’s hand instead of mine. I was content to walk behind them, but a few seconds later, Reece reached out with his free hand to me so that the four of us were walking hand-in-hand. What a sweet and sensitive kid.

Of course, no trip to Seattle is remotely complete without getting together with Tracy and Monika. Lisa and I met up with them last Friday evening and had a great time over appetizers talking about everything from Barack Obama to Robert Downey Jr.’s guns to Barack Obama again. (It was a fan club meeting, what can I say?) So awesome to see them again.

The woman beside me on the plane is watching The Bucket List and she’s using one of those scratchy napkins to wipe away her tears. Wordlessly but with a smile, I nudge a packet of tissues across her tray. Movies make me cry too. “I just need one,” she says with a laugh, then, with exaggerated diction: “Thank you!” like I might be deaf or non-English speaker.

So tired. Signing off for now.

Pic of the day

DSC_0033
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

Things younger than John McCain

A totally awesome blog. Things younger than John McCain? Alaska (as an American state), Velcro, the Golden Gate Bridge, CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES, Ronald Reagan, Hawaii, the slinky ...

Favourite chewtoys = shoes

Favourite chewtoys = shoes
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

De plane! De plane!!!

DSC_0118
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

Why planning is important

Task: Install steel pillars in concrete to stop vehicles from parking on the payment outside a sports bar.

Execution: Task complete, crew cleaning up


Forwarded to me by a co-worker. Sorry, I don't know who to credit for this brilliant photo.

An idiot talking head gets his

Via DailyKos, awesome handling of someone who is all bluster.

Hello from sunny Seattle!

DSC_0156
Originally uploaded by Noisypond.

A Tale of Pleasure, A Tale of Pain

I’m in suburban Seattle again. Didn’t I tell you? Sorry about that. Anyway, I got in last night after the kids were in bed, and they’re still sleeping this morning (shhhhh ….), so let me tell you about the trip here. I’ll do it in point form, just to keep things brief:

• I hate packing.Stress.
• I was running late because I hate packing. STRESS!!!
• But I got to the airport with a few minutes to spare after all. Relief.
• I started to read Barack Obama’s book, “The Audacity of Hope”. Pleasure and inspiration (the man is a wonderful writer and thinker; I am politically in love.)
• The book kicked off a conversation with the person sitting next to me on the plane that lasted quite a while as we discussed American politics, food security, vegetarianism, work, Windows vs. Macs, family, etc. I felt like I had found another kindred spirit. Lovely.
• Re-reading a favourite book by Guy Gavriel Kay, “The Summer Tree”, of the amazing “Fionavar Tapestry” trilogy. Pleasure. (If only all his novels were this good!)
• Before leaving home, I made an assessment that I didn’t need a belt with the jeans I was wearing. This may have been a miscalculation, as I feel certain that I have been flashing plumber’s crack to unsuspecting travelers all day, as the jeans that just a few days prior had been snug everywhere seemed to be increasingly loose around the waist as the day went on (maybe all the stress was seriously burning calories?). But plumber’s crack is the new hot, right? Right??? Discomfiting.
• Neck and shoulder muscles starting to tense up from stress of the morning and prolonged turning of head to chat with stranger. Pain.
• Failure of self-massage of shoulders, head, and neck to significantly reduce tension. Frustrating. I obviously need a personal attendant.
• Carrying/dragging luggage from plane to next terminal. OH MY GOD MAKE THIS F@%$ING PAIN STOP BEFORE I WEEP.
• There was a pharmacy in the Vancouver terminal! I DON’T CARE WHAT THOSE DRUGS DO TO MY BODY JUST MAKE THIS PAIN STOP.
• Whatever else those drugs might do, the pain was almost gone 20 minutes later. Great Zeus, what a relief!
• Baggage claim process at Vancouver for transferring flights to the U.S. Weird. But not so bad.
• Flight from Vancouver to Seattle. Longest taxi ride in an airplane ever, as we were waiting clearance from the congested Seattle airport. It made me feel sorry for the two women from Nova Scotia who had been traveling since 5:00 AM Atlantic time, and then had waited in Vancouver almost 8 hours for a connecting flight. It would have been much faster for them to have taken a bus.
• Seeing Lisa and Joe, briefly, before we all went to bed. My heart was happy.
• Falling asleep … Utterly effortless.

Help me find the punchline

Okay, folks, need your help:

Today, despite my aversion to clothes shopping (see post below), I decided to go shopping during my lunch hour. (This almost never happens; in the four years I have worked in downtown Toronto, in buildings connected to the retail-rich underground PATH network, about the only other time I've gone shopping during my lunch break was when my friends Ryan and Isabelle were getting married, and on the Friday before their Saturday wedding I realized I had nothing appropriate to wear. This goes to show the utterly desperate state of my current wardrobe.)

I went to Jacob, where I found a few tops that, despite the slight pouffiness of their sleeves, weren't too trendy or girlish. The quality of the product seemed significantly better, so I didn't mind paying more for them.

Because I was too tired from shopping last night, I hadn't made a lunch for myself today, so after leaving Jacob I went to a food court where I bought some delicious vegetarian lasagna, with a savoury tomato sauce poured overtop.

Hurrying back to my desk, I noticed that the paper bag with the lasagna felt a bit wet and warm, but didn't stop to investigate until I was back at my cubicle, where I realized that a) the tomato sauce had leaked through the food container, the bag it was in, and was all over my spring jacket; and b) I was late for a meeting that I was chairing. (The lasagna was still good cold an hour later.)

So what do you know but tonight when I was about to hang up today's purchases when I finally discovered that the tomato sauce had somehow gotten into the shopping bag with my new tops and left a big red mark on the collar of the white with pinstripe blouse I'd purchased????

The blouse is currently soaking with some stain remover, but I'm not sure I'll be able to get it out. I guess the dry cleaners is the next step. Sigh.

So how can you help? There's a moral to this story, or a punchline, or both - you can help me find it. :) Leave your contributions in the comments, please! :)

I don't shop much

... but tonight I did. Out of desperation (I think it's been a year since I went clothes shopping ... if only clothes were books ...)

Clothing retail is bizarre. Some of the clothes are so cheaply made that they're already starting to fall apart in the store. Colours, patterns, and silhouettes come in trends such that if they don't suit you this season, fuggetaboutit. For instance, apparently empire waists are still the thing. Me, I look pregnant when I wear shirts with empire waists, and I have a pretty flat stomach, friends.

Tonight I noticed that the 80s are "in" again. Jewel tones, little lacy bits to tease around one's cleavage (assuming one has any), CAP SLEEVES. Poufy cap sleeves. I had a hard time with all this 80s stuff, as I continually wondered whether wearing such clothes might be an invitation to be mocked or even beaten up.

You know something about people who run clothing stores? They never order enough of the right sizes. Usually, when I see something attractive and reasonable on display, the only sizes available are extra small, large, and extra large. However, mediums can be found if the cut of the item is extra roomy and not very flattering that way. Why don't these people just order more of the average-sized items? I think they could sell a lot more product that way; maybe it's just me, but I can't think that they're all that smart.

Along a similar vein, these stores try to resell crap. Tonight, in a lingerie store, I heard a sales clerk tell a customer, "The nice bras get sold right away." That reinforced what I could already see for myself, which was despite several hundred feet of displayed product, there wasn't much worth buying.

And since we're on the subject of bras, why is it so hard to find one that does what it's supposed to do without inserts or other bizarre contraptions? Tonight half the bras in the store were called "Extreme Lift". Does that not sound painful?

Thank goodness for T-shirts and jeans, that's all I can say ... :)

Great video

A few months old, perhaps, but still a rocking song and great message.



The band is called Freedom People (click on link to go to website). I also like their song, "The Earth is My Church".

Stunning tornado video

For a limited audience

But funny if you share my political interests and leanings. :)

Tragic love story

Read about it here and here.

Let this be a cautionary tale to all of you who have dependents - get life insurance, mortgage insurance, wills, etc.

I can't imagine what might have happened to me if at age 19 or 21 I was suddenly debt-ridden without my parents to help me through school.

Donate to the family here, if you feel so moved.

99 Too Many Things About Me

Every blogger does this at least once, right? :)

1. I do not bleach or dye my hair – the colour is 100% natural Dutch blonde. Sorry.
2. I truly envy people with olive or dark skin colour. Being fair-skinned is overrated.
3. The older I get, the more I see both sides of every argument.
4. This is annoying when I’m trying to win an argument.
5. Laughter and a sense of humour are things I’ve cultivated as an adult.
6. People who take themselves too seriously totally exasperate me. Probably because I see myself in them.
7. I frequently dream I am back on the farm where I grew up.
8. Interestingly, in those dreams I am always outside – never in the house.
9. Come to think of it, no one from my family is in those dreams either – it’s just me and the land.
10. Of my parents, my brother, and me, I was the one who spent the least time outside on the land.
11. I love irony.
12. I often dream of kittens too. Those are always happy dreams.
13. I was baptized twice.
14. These days, I only go to church for weddings, funerals, and musical recitals.
15. I believe in angels.
16. These days, I am no longer disdainful of other people’s need to go to church.
17. However, I still have very strong feelings about institutions that systemically covered up child abuse.
18. I experience God in nature and in solitude.
19. If my biology professor was right in our class about genetics, I am a carrier for colour-blindness.
20. I relax by reading other people’s blogs.
21. Given a choice of reading or buying more books, I will always buy more books. It is a sickness.
22. Given a choice of cooking or buying groceries, I will generally buy more groceries.
23. I’ve been a “just in case” kind of person as long as I can remember.
24. I have been my own best friend for at least 7 years.
25. It’s really great to be able to enjoy your own company.
26. I used to see myself like those withered merpeople who’d sold their souls in The Little Mermaid. I really used to abhor myself.
27. I’ve come a long way, baby.
28. I taught English in South Korea for almost two years.
29. I still kick myself that I never visited the DMZ while I lived in Korea.
30. Living in Korea was the hardest and the best thing I’ve ever done.
31. I love Korean food; I could eat it once a day if I could figure out how to cook like they do.
32. I’ve only seen the open ocean once, on a trip to Vancouver Island.
33. That afternoon by myself on a near-deserted beach was the happiest of my life.
34. That beach had signs warning of bears, cougars, and tsunamis.
35. I saw no bears, cougars, or tsunamis, thank goodness.
36. I believe that when you travel with a camera, you’re really not alone.
37. Since that trip about three years ago, I long to see the ocean again every spring.
38. I believe in magic.
39. My sense of wonder is one of the traits I cherish most about myself.
40. My right leg is almost one inch shorter than my left leg.
41. I didn’t learn this until I was in my thirties.
42. When in grade school, my classmates complained that I used too many big words that they couldn’t understand.
43. I dumbed down my vocabulary and regret it today.
44. I never fit in when I was growing up.
45. I have to wonder what kind of changeling my parents thought I was; I never met their expectations.
46. My parents are good, salt-of-the-earth people.
47. My brother is my hero.
48. The household chore I hate the most is dusting.
49. I had to dust a lot when I was growing up.
50. My mom had knickknacks and framed photographs our relatives all over the house.
51. I once tried to hide all the framed photographs because I thought they were too much work to dust.
52. My mother put most of them back.
53. I never anticipated I would love my niece and nephew as much as I do.
54. Other than their parents, I was the first relative to greet them, when they (or at least their tiny cell clusters) were still new in Lisa’s belly.
55. I will fondly remember Chicago for that reason.
56. They’d better remember I was there first.
57. I will never make them dust.
58. I like using song titles and lyrics for my Facebook updates.
59. If I know a song, I can usually identify it just by hearing the first few bars.
60. In almost every personality test, I score somewhere near the middle. I’m several people all rolled up in one.
61. My approach to situations often balances others; if someone is serious, I become light-hearted, if someone is reckless, I become cautious, etc.
62. Perhaps this means I am contrary?
63. I thank my lucky stars for my own build every time I see a large-breasted woman. Large breasts look like such a pain.
64. I find it easy to love certain people, as though we are reunited friends.
65. I find it difficult to resume normal relationships with those whom I feel have broken my trust.
66. I have never been to Europe.
67. I would love to travel around Europe. I think.
68. I am a homebody.
69. I love having my cats, my books, my kitchen, my bed. Everything where I need it. Just in case.
    
70. I love watching movies with strong female characters.
71. I was born a feminist.
72. My mother once told me that I would either have to marry a doormat or someone who beat me.
73. I think she was a bit frustrated with me when she said that. :)
74. I was a strong-willed child.
75. I’ve never gotten married. Heh.
76. In my teen years, I listened to Detroit radio.
77. As a result, I have a weakness for soul and R&B music.
78. My current boss is the best boss I’ve ever had.
79. I’ve had my driver’s license for 22 years.
80. I’m pretty content with things I can’t change.
81. I now love all the seasons.
82. I push myself because I believe in my own potential.
83. I wish I liked to read poetry, but generally I don’t. At least not for long periods of time.
84. I love organizing people.
85. I think my life word is “mother” because I like to take care of people.
86. I have never had so much to drink that I’ve become sick or lost control.
87. I’ve never tried illegal drugs.
88. I truly don’t think I’ve missed anything by either of the previous two points.
89. Yes, I am a total square.
90. I can’t remember the first time that I tasted beer because I was so young. My parents never made alcohol a mystery or a taboo. We were allowed to have a sip of their beers even when we were quite young. I think it was really smart of them.
91. Codeine and penicillin, when taken orally, make me violently ill.
92. I’ve watched Pride and Prejudice with Kiera Knightley countless times. (starring Kiera, not sitting down on the couch watching it with her, although I think that would be cool)
    
93. I love Alanis Morissette.
94. If I could start all over again, I’d choose a career in naturopathy.
95. I long to live an extraordinary life.
96. I refuse to use aluminum-based anti-perspirants and deodorants.
97. I generally don’t use perfumes or colognes because this planet has enough chemical pollution as it is.
98. I value consistency.
99. Precious few things are more important to me than my integrity.
100. I am somewhat repelled by how much I’ve had to focus on myself to write this. :)
     

What can I say about this one?

... except that it made me laugh loud and hard:

This is all I've got tonight, folks

Baby on the train

Tonight, on my way home on the subway, I sat near a man with a baby who was about 4 months old. She looked very much like Andy Griffith:


From her perch on her father's lap, she openly surveyed everything around her with open-mouthed wonder. And pretty much without exception, I saw everyone in our half of the subway car (the couple sprawled together with legs entwined, the thirty-something southeast Asian man, the elderly woman with support stockings) was either watching or furtively glancing at her. Smiles flitted across every face. She was utterly irresistable.

Even a homely baby has her charms. :)

Defended

It may not be well-documented here, but those who spend much time with me know that I hate confrontation and conflict (In the immortal words of Michael Jackson, "I'm a lover, not a fighter."). I can deal with conflict, but I hate every bloody minute of it, particularly if it means defending myself. I am NOT one of those people who, when someone is about to step on me, immediately responds, "And what the hell do YOU think you're doing???" although I often wish I were.

Anyway, I'm here to say that it felt really good to stand up for myself today. Details will, I'm sorry to say, have to remain a mystery. Although I will give credit to the use of Rescue Remedy and exercises like holding my neurovascular points for helping me do it well, or at least better than I would have otherwise.

Another amazing feeling is the one where you know someone has also stood up for you. Everyone should have that feeling at least once in his or her lifetime.

Lastly, when someone's suckitude is obvious to everyone involved? Huge sigh of relief.