Doings, etc.

I picked up a copy of I Mother Earth - Scenery and Fish last night from The Beat Goes On in Guelph. I also got an older Pearl Jam for $2.99. I Mother Earth was $1.99. I was out visiting with a friend, and trying to help with some Economics homework. I haven't flexed that muscle in a really long time. I thought it would be a lot easier for me to jump right back into it, but often there were things I just didn't know. I guess I can't beat myself up, since it has been almost 5 years since my last instructed class, and almost 9 years since I struggled through MicroEconomics myself. I say struggled but I did end up loving it in the end. We went out for an all you can eat sushi dinner. I definitely ate my money's worth, but felt not so good after. Vaguely reminiscent of an attempt to eat $15 worth of sandwiches and snacks at a conference in Ottawa.

I barely slept a wink last night. I think I finally got to sleep at about 5am. My mistake in the morning was turning off my buzzer alarm and thinking that holding my phone so I could snooze for 5 minutes was actually going to work out. I finally awoke at 10am and rushed to log on. Last night when I pulled in I thought, "Fuck it, I'm leaving my laptop in the car so I don't have to take it back and forth." So of course this morning would be one of the only mornings I actually needed it up here.

I took a power nap for lunch. I felt better at the time, but I'm going back to feeling completely wiped. I'm working from home today to avoid the commute and the feeling of being at work completely exhausted. I wouldn't have been able to power nap at work, that's for certain.

I'm heading to the Thousand Islands this weekend with the same friend. We don't have anything really set in stone yet, but it should be fun. My mom recommended visiting this lake on the top of a small mountain. I believe it's called - Lake on the Mountain. Real original guys, real original.

Also - Into the Wild - really good movie.

The Reports of My Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

I almost died today, and yes that is an exaggeration, but not a complete one. Coming south on the 400 some expletive decided that from a stand still in the lanes going 401 West it would be a good idea to come into my 401 East lane. I was probably going about 70 at the time and had to slam down on the brakes. He also cut someone else off that was changing into my lane so instead of doing a bad merge and accelerating he did a bad merge and was stopped in my lane. I'm lucky that I could stop on time, and that no one was close behind me. Guys, I don't have collision on my car. If you hit me I am financially ruined, so please do not hit me. Pretty please. Unless I want to start eating Top Ramen every night to support payments for a new car, I'd like to not be hit.

My day with my aunt was really nice. She's just so adorable. She paid for some books for me at Chapters (which she did not have to do). And then she also paid for me to have dinner at her place. So I owe her something really nice.

She participates in this book club at her retirement home. I'm wondering if I'm ready for something like that in my life. Maybe not yet. I think I'll just keep up with reading on my own. I'm almost done Whale Music by Paul Quarrington (which I just found out through googling is also a movie). It has been an interesting read, but I've been stuck on it for a while so I'll be happy to move on. Up next is Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery.

Also, I think a retirement home is the funniest place to have a meal. I heard a funny story about dentures, and overheard a disgusting comment about diarrhea. No shame. "Usually there's some substance but this time it just came right out." It took everything in me to not burst out laughing. Such a dinner table appropriate conversation.

The Informant

I saw The Informant! last night with Adam and Dawn. There was a not-too-great reaction, and a mediocrely-good. I on the other hand found the humour spot on. My knee actually got a few good slaps out of the whole thing.

I love Adam's cat, though I would like her more if she had trimmed claws. I don't think she knows the power of her own nails. We set up a little trap where I would lure her over to the couch with a series of nimble finger taps, and then Adam would lurch forward in attempts to grab her. It took her about one go around to figure us out, and instead of jumping up to play with my hand she would jump up as if to feign interest and then immediately bolt away before Adam could move in. She was like a swimmer twisting underwater to prepare for the next push-off. Except not underwater, and she's a cat.

I have some long neglected house chores to get to tonight. And tomorrow I'm going to see my great auntie in Newmarket. We're going to go for lunch and then cruise Chapters for hot reads. She's 89 and she's awesome. She kind of reminds me of my mom's mom, in the way that she's so delicate and classy.

C'est tout.

Mount Robson

I put up my new wall art today, "Mount Robson" by Lawren Harris. I picked it up from the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg, ON last Sunday. It was the perfect outing for a beautiful Sunday. I was googling Alex Janvier when I happened across the McMichael site, and it was the second last weekend to see the Woodsland exhibit (a collection of Native art including Alex Janvier and a new favourite Norval Morriseau). We were lucky enough to get a fantastic lecture from one of the gallery staff about the significance of a totem that was on display. It was quite interesting.

I let someone in front of me on the hwy today and he blew me a kiss. And although it was a strange and creepy gesture, it was nice to be acknowledged. It almost makes up for all the jerks that cut me off without even signaling. Almost.

The Beginning

I've never been one for words, but here it goes. Perhaps it will be an exercise in futility, or just maybe it will be the world's best blog, ever.

I'm working right now for a company that deals with investor communications. But as I have yet to successfully explain to another person what it is exactly that I do I'm going to leave it at that.

I really just want a place to write about the books I'm reading, or the places I'm visiting, or the dumb stuff my friends do. So we'll see what happens.