(An occasional meme, alternating from time to time with "Right Now.")
Current Book(s) -- On the last 100 pages of "Dark Money" by Jane Mayer (review to come), and trying to decide what to read next. I have a lot of similar political-related books in my To Be Read pile -- but I think maybe something lighter and less depressing would be a good idea, lol. ;)
Current Playlist -- While I was visiting my parents, my sister gave me a memory stick/thumb drive/whatever you want to call it, containing part of her vast mp3 collection, acquired during the days of Napster. The files included songs from all the big Canadian rock bands of our day, as well as other bands that were in our childhood/teenaged vinyl collection. I've owned music on vinyl, cassette and, most recently, CDs, but this was my first foray into digital music (yes, I'm a dinosaur...!). Her techno-wizard boyfriend showed me how to load the files from my laptop to my cellphone for my portable listening pleasure. I have a lot of apps and (especially) photos on my phone, so there's not a lot of room for music -- I can only load a certain number of files at a time, and will have to rotate files in & out. I've never really been in the habit of carrying my music with me anyway -- Walkmans didn't come into being until I was in university. (I;m really dating myself here, aren't I??) But it's nice to have some of these songs back again. :) I gave my vinyl collection to Oldest Nephew before we moved, and I don't own all of the same titles on CD, so this will help to fill some of those gaps.
Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure -- Cheap T-shirts at Old Navy. I already have a closet full of T-shirts, but I can't seem to leave the store without a bag. (I wear holes into them almost as fast as I buy them... :p )
Current Color -- Aqua/turquoise, and coral red/pink -- it's summer! (And I usually do well with jewel tones.) ;)
Current Drink -- Surprisingly fewer iced beverages than usual this summer -- but then, it's been cooler & rain-ier outside, too. So, I continue to order my favourite tea lattes (tall non-fat Royal English Breakfast) at Starbucks. :)
Current Food -- We're back at home, so we're back eating lots of dh's favourite beans & lentils. Missing the new potatos and yellow wax beans, fresh from my dad's garden! (There is a farmer's market nearby, but it's on Saturday mornings, and we usually don't get out of the house that early on weekends.)
Current Favorite Show -- I don't really have one at the moment. Waiting for the new fall shows to start, or old favourites to return! (Obviously, I need to get back to Netflix, lol.)
Current Wishlist -- Still haven't put up the rest of our artwork/framed photos -- erk! (Although I did find a couple of collage frames on sale at Michaels a few weeks ago.) I am thinking of asking Santa to bring me a new Kobo e-reader for Christmas -- the one is have is not one of the originals, but close to it...! (probably about 7 years old). Still works fine, but it would be nice to have something with a few more bells & whistles. Plus -- tickets to "Springsteen on Broadway" would be nice. ;) Would love to see Bruce again, and it would be a great excuse to see NYC again, this time with dh, who has never been there...
Current Needs -- Still need to get new window coverings for the living room/main living area windows. And I need a new cutting board for the kitchen. In the grand scheme of things, that's pretty good "needs." huh? (First world problems, etc...)
Current Triumphs -- Getting rid of a ton of stuff that had been sitting in a closet at my parents' house for 30+ years... no small victory for a self-confessed packrat!
Current Bane of my Existence -- The endless construction on the highway/main road that runs directly in front of our condo building. :p They are widening the road to accommodate a new dedicated rapid bus transit lane, which (when built) will hook up with the new subway line that's due to open at the end of this year. I'm sure it will be great when it's all done, but for now...! Traffic here is already a nightmare, and this doesn't help. :p
Current Celebrity Crush -- Mourning the loss of one of my favourites, Sam Shepard. :( Adored him in movies like "The Right Stuff" and "Baby Boom" (although the plot of that movie WAS ridiculous...).
Current Indulgence -- Besides Old Navy T-shirts? ;) Sleeping in. Because I can! lol ;)
Current #1 Blessing -- Air conditioning!! (It's generally been a cooler & rain-ier summer -- but when it's hot, it's hot, lol!).
Current Slang or Saying -- Hmmm, not sure I have one.
Current Outfit -- Around the house: denim shorts from Reitmans and Old Navy T-shirt or tank top. When we go out: denim capris (also from Reitmans) and a dressier T-shirt -- probably from the Gap or Lucky Brand.
Current Excitement -- Busy weekend ahead! -- barbecue on Saturday; get-together with dh's girl cousins (the ones I went to New York with a few years ago) for Sunday brunch. And I'm planning a little road trip for dh & me, BIL & SIL for the early fall. :)
Current Mood -- Disbelief that it is already mid-August. Some of my friends & relatives in the States are ALREADY posting back-to-school photos of their kids!! Where has the summer gone??
Showing posts with label The Current. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Current. Show all posts
Thursday, August 10, 2017
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
The Current
(An occasional meme, alternating from time to time with "Right Now.")
Current Book(s) -- Having just finished "Shoulder the Sky" by D.E. Stevenson, I am bookless at the moment. (Well, not really, with a whole wall full of bookshelves in the next room, lol, but you know what I mean...!) I still haven't finished "Mr. Churchill's Secretary" by Susan Elia MacNeil, but it's not calling my name at the moment. I won't lack for choices of unread books in my collection, though...! I also have a backlog of magazines to tackle.
Current Playlist -- I don't have any digital music on my phone, and (despite a shelf full of CDs) mostly listen to our local classic rock station on the radio. I have recently started listening to "The Axe Files" podcast with David Axelrod, former adviser to President Obama. Some really interesting guests and thoughtful, full-hour conversations.
Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure -- Finishing off the Coke & big bag of potato chips that I bought for Oscar night. We try not to keep either item around the house, unless we're expecting company, but, Oscars. ;)
Current Color -- I've been wearing lots of blue in various shades lately.
Current Drink -- My favourite Starbucks tea lattes (tall non-fat Royal English Breakfast). :)
Current Food -- Dinner tonight: pasta with chickpeas.
Current Favorite Show -- "Victoria" on PBS Masterpiece -- season finale this Sunday night (sniffle!). A new season of "Who Do You Think You Are?" starts Sunday night too (hopefully not at the same time...!). And "Designated Survivor" is back next week -- although I still have a few episodes PVRd from before Christmas that I need to catch up on first...
Current Wishlist -- Get the rest of our artwork/framed photos/etc. up on the walls. I think after 10 months here, it's about time, don't you??
Current Needs -- There's nothing that I need desperately at the moment, but we really do need to get some window coverings for the living room/main living area. I want something that doesn't interfere with the great view and the light, but that we can close up in the evenings for privacy -- particularly once the townhouses behind us are finished being built. I'm thinking vertical blinds, which we had at the house in the dining room.
Current Triumphs -- I recently solved a genealogical mystery that had been bugging me for a long time: I was looking at a "Find a Grave" entry for one distant past relative, checked the cemetery index to see if his wife was buried there too, and not only found her grave but that of her father, another distant relative I had long wondered about. He's not absolutely critical to my family tree, but I am glad to have found him at last!
Current Bane of my Existence -- Remember the leak from the sprinkler system in the ceiling of the walk-in closet in our entryway? The leak was fixed FOUR WEEKS AGO, and yet the hole in the ceiling remains, despite repeated emails and visits to the property manager's office. Supposedly someone is (finally!) coming to do the work tomorrow... fingers crossed!! It's not just about the hole, of course -- when we first discovered the leak, we emptied the closet of almost all of its contents, and they've been sitting on the floor of my spare bedroom/office ever since then. It will be nice to finally get everything back where it belongs.
Current Celebrity Crush -- OK, this is going to sound totally geeky (and it's not a "crush" in the George Clooney sense, lol)(and maybe this should go in the "Current Favourite Show" category) but I am loving watching "Reliable Sources" on Sunday mornings on CNN with Brian Stelter, and am now a daily newsletter subscriber. As a former journalist/communicator (who is old enough to remember Watergate and its aftermath, and was inspired in part by Woodward & Bernstein and "All the President's Men"), issues related to journalism & freedom of the press are very important to me, and they are more important than ever right now. Brian always has great guests to discuss these issues that are near & dear to my heart. Plus, he & his wife are expecting a baby this spring, after two miscarriages and IVF. :)
Current Indulgence -- Bought new undies at both the Gap & Victoria's Secret last week, even though I don't really need them (I can barely close the drawer where I keep them, it's so full...!). ;)
Current #1 Blessing -- Living close to dh's brother and his family. :) It is so nice to see our nephews more often, and to be able to help SIL as she recovers from her surgery.
Current Slang or Saying -- Hmmm, not sure I have one.
Current Outfit -- Black yoga pants from Reitman's and comfy periwinkle blue sweatshirt from the Gap. I loved it so much I went back & bought another one in a different colour.
Current Excitement -- Planning my next Unique Lives & Experiences outing, featuring one of my all-time favourite singers, Linda Ronstadt!! She'll be talking about living with Parkinson's disease, which has sadly robbed her of the ability to sing. The friend I bought season's tickets with is away right now, but another friend has agreed to come with me and meet me for supper beforehand. I'm looking forward to it!
Current Mood -- Going a bit stir crazy and chomping at the bit for spring to arrive...!
Current Book(s) -- Having just finished "Shoulder the Sky" by D.E. Stevenson, I am bookless at the moment. (Well, not really, with a whole wall full of bookshelves in the next room, lol, but you know what I mean...!) I still haven't finished "Mr. Churchill's Secretary" by Susan Elia MacNeil, but it's not calling my name at the moment. I won't lack for choices of unread books in my collection, though...! I also have a backlog of magazines to tackle.
Current Playlist -- I don't have any digital music on my phone, and (despite a shelf full of CDs) mostly listen to our local classic rock station on the radio. I have recently started listening to "The Axe Files" podcast with David Axelrod, former adviser to President Obama. Some really interesting guests and thoughtful, full-hour conversations.
Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure -- Finishing off the Coke & big bag of potato chips that I bought for Oscar night. We try not to keep either item around the house, unless we're expecting company, but, Oscars. ;)
Current Color -- I've been wearing lots of blue in various shades lately.
Current Drink -- My favourite Starbucks tea lattes (tall non-fat Royal English Breakfast). :)
Current Food -- Dinner tonight: pasta with chickpeas.
Current Favorite Show -- "Victoria" on PBS Masterpiece -- season finale this Sunday night (sniffle!). A new season of "Who Do You Think You Are?" starts Sunday night too (hopefully not at the same time...!). And "Designated Survivor" is back next week -- although I still have a few episodes PVRd from before Christmas that I need to catch up on first...
Current Wishlist -- Get the rest of our artwork/framed photos/etc. up on the walls. I think after 10 months here, it's about time, don't you??
Current Needs -- There's nothing that I need desperately at the moment, but we really do need to get some window coverings for the living room/main living area. I want something that doesn't interfere with the great view and the light, but that we can close up in the evenings for privacy -- particularly once the townhouses behind us are finished being built. I'm thinking vertical blinds, which we had at the house in the dining room.
Current Triumphs -- I recently solved a genealogical mystery that had been bugging me for a long time: I was looking at a "Find a Grave" entry for one distant past relative, checked the cemetery index to see if his wife was buried there too, and not only found her grave but that of her father, another distant relative I had long wondered about. He's not absolutely critical to my family tree, but I am glad to have found him at last!
Current Bane of my Existence -- Remember the leak from the sprinkler system in the ceiling of the walk-in closet in our entryway? The leak was fixed FOUR WEEKS AGO, and yet the hole in the ceiling remains, despite repeated emails and visits to the property manager's office. Supposedly someone is (finally!) coming to do the work tomorrow... fingers crossed!! It's not just about the hole, of course -- when we first discovered the leak, we emptied the closet of almost all of its contents, and they've been sitting on the floor of my spare bedroom/office ever since then. It will be nice to finally get everything back where it belongs.
Current Celebrity Crush -- OK, this is going to sound totally geeky (and it's not a "crush" in the George Clooney sense, lol)(and maybe this should go in the "Current Favourite Show" category) but I am loving watching "Reliable Sources" on Sunday mornings on CNN with Brian Stelter, and am now a daily newsletter subscriber. As a former journalist/communicator (who is old enough to remember Watergate and its aftermath, and was inspired in part by Woodward & Bernstein and "All the President's Men"), issues related to journalism & freedom of the press are very important to me, and they are more important than ever right now. Brian always has great guests to discuss these issues that are near & dear to my heart. Plus, he & his wife are expecting a baby this spring, after two miscarriages and IVF. :)
Current Indulgence -- Bought new undies at both the Gap & Victoria's Secret last week, even though I don't really need them (I can barely close the drawer where I keep them, it's so full...!). ;)
Current #1 Blessing -- Living close to dh's brother and his family. :) It is so nice to see our nephews more often, and to be able to help SIL as she recovers from her surgery.
Current Slang or Saying -- Hmmm, not sure I have one.
Current Outfit -- Black yoga pants from Reitman's and comfy periwinkle blue sweatshirt from the Gap. I loved it so much I went back & bought another one in a different colour.
Current Excitement -- Planning my next Unique Lives & Experiences outing, featuring one of my all-time favourite singers, Linda Ronstadt!! She'll be talking about living with Parkinson's disease, which has sadly robbed her of the ability to sing. The friend I bought season's tickets with is away right now, but another friend has agreed to come with me and meet me for supper beforehand. I'm looking forward to it!
Current Mood -- Going a bit stir crazy and chomping at the bit for spring to arrive...!
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
The Current
(An occasional meme, alternating from time to time with "Right Now.")
Current Book(s) -- I have three books currently half-finished -- and I just realized that two of them were (still) half-finished when I wrote my "Right Now" post of Nov. 20th (erk). I did do some reading over the Christmas holidays, but clearly, it was other stuff. ;) The two holdovers from November are "Canada" by Mike Myers; and "Mr. Churchill's Secretary" by Susan Elia MacNeil, a mystery set during WWII. Also "The Four Swans," by Winston Graham (book 6 in the Poldark series). And of course, a cast of thousands waiting in the wings...!
Current Playlist -- I don't have any digital music on my phone, and mostly listen to our local classic rock station on the radio. The most recent music I was playing on the stereo were some Christmas CDs, pre-vacation. I have a fairly sizeable collection of Christmas CDs (plus a few cassettes...!) that I've collected over the years. Two recent picks: I love to put on "A Charlie Brown Christmas" by Vince Guaraldi when I'm putting up the Christmas tree, and we also enjoy Blue Rodeo's Christmas album, which came out a year or two ago.
Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure -- "Helping" dh finish off the container of Lindor milk chocolate balls that Mrs. Santa put in his stocking. ;) Also finishing off the chocolate chip panettone that BIL & SIL gave us. Dh doesn't like panettone, so I've been eating most of it. (It's a tough job but someone has to do it, right??) ;)
Current Color -- Lots of burgundys & greys.
Current Drink -- Starbucks tea lattes (tall non-fat Royal English Breakfast). Would you believe I didn't indulge in one of their holiday drinks this year??
Current Food -- Dh has a sore throat, so lots of his favourite bean, chickpea & lentil soups this week.
Current Favorite Show -- The new season of "Sherlock" began last Sunday night on PBS Masterpiece -- yay!! Only three episodes :( but in this case, quality vs quantity. ;) "Victoria" also starts this month on PBS Masterpiece -- looks interesting.
Current Wishlist -- More space in our storage locker -- because I'm not sure how the Christmas tree is going to fit in there, once we take it down (we got rid of the old one when we moved and bought a new one this Christmas, so we will need to make room for it). :p I think it WILL fit, but not without some reorganizing (or some grumbling from dh...!). :p
Current Needs -- I can't think of too much that I desperately need at the moment. We're probably going to go back to the furniture outlet where we got our other furniture earlier last year and get two new end tables & possibly a coffee table to match the other stuff (we're still using the tables we bought when we were first married -- = 31 years old, & kind of scratched up). I want a coffee table again, but dh is pulling for an ottoman instead.
Current Triumphs -- SIL & I had discussed going out for dinner on New Year's Eve (with our husbands, obviously, lol)... but we didn't get around to doing anything much about it until the day before. I decided to take things in hand, and made a reservation for the four of us at a local chain restaurant that was offering a special prix-fixe NYE menu. (By then, the only available time slots were before 6 or after 8, but that was OK with us; we normally have a fairly early supper anyway.) Everyone enjoyed the meal, albeit we all got overly stuffed -- the meal included a choice of appetizers (which we don't usually order when we eat out), choice of entrée, and choice of dessert (something we also don't normally order), which came with a celebratory glass of prosecco. BIL, who isn't a great fan of eating out, said several times that he was glad we were doing this. So I consider that a triumph in my books! ;)
Also, we went to see a movie after dinner ("Passengers"). Dh & I usually go to the movies on Sunday afternoons (sometimes cheaper & often less crowded), so dinner AND a movie are a rare occurrence!
Current Bane of my Existence -- You would think that since Christmas is over, the stores, parking lots, etc., would be a lot quieter? Well, Monday was a bank/government holiday hereabouts -- and local schools didn't get out until Dec. 22nd -- which means they're not heading back to class until next Monday, Jan. 9th. Which means a lot of people are still off work this week... which is why the stores are still pretty packed, with long lineups at the cash registers. Ugh!!
Current Celebrity Crush -- My previous picks (Aidan Turner (aka Ross Poldark),George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi and Sam Elliott) still stand. :)
Current Indulgence -- See "Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure," above. ;)
Current #1 Blessing -- No snow to shovel or clear off the car (underground parking!)!! Dh is ecstatic every time it snows & he doesn't have to clear it, lol.
Current Slang or Saying -- Hmmm, not sure I have one.
Current Outfit -- Black yoga pants from Reitman's and green waffle-weave long-sleeved holiday-themed PJ top from Old Navy ($8!).
Current Excitement -- Hmmm, not much that I'm excited about at the moment. My birthday is coming up soon, which means a day to do what I want & dinner out -- although it also means I'm yet another year older (yay?).
Current Mood -- Still feeling some of that post-holiday glow -- but bracing myself for the inevitable post-holiday/post-birthday/endless-winter blues...
Current Book(s) -- I have three books currently half-finished -- and I just realized that two of them were (still) half-finished when I wrote my "Right Now" post of Nov. 20th (erk). I did do some reading over the Christmas holidays, but clearly, it was other stuff. ;) The two holdovers from November are "Canada" by Mike Myers; and "Mr. Churchill's Secretary" by Susan Elia MacNeil, a mystery set during WWII. Also "The Four Swans," by Winston Graham (book 6 in the Poldark series). And of course, a cast of thousands waiting in the wings...!
Current Playlist -- I don't have any digital music on my phone, and mostly listen to our local classic rock station on the radio. The most recent music I was playing on the stereo were some Christmas CDs, pre-vacation. I have a fairly sizeable collection of Christmas CDs (plus a few cassettes...!) that I've collected over the years. Two recent picks: I love to put on "A Charlie Brown Christmas" by Vince Guaraldi when I'm putting up the Christmas tree, and we also enjoy Blue Rodeo's Christmas album, which came out a year or two ago.
Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure -- "Helping" dh finish off the container of Lindor milk chocolate balls that Mrs. Santa put in his stocking. ;) Also finishing off the chocolate chip panettone that BIL & SIL gave us. Dh doesn't like panettone, so I've been eating most of it. (It's a tough job but someone has to do it, right??) ;)
Current Color -- Lots of burgundys & greys.
Current Drink -- Starbucks tea lattes (tall non-fat Royal English Breakfast). Would you believe I didn't indulge in one of their holiday drinks this year??
Current Food -- Dh has a sore throat, so lots of his favourite bean, chickpea & lentil soups this week.
Current Favorite Show -- The new season of "Sherlock" began last Sunday night on PBS Masterpiece -- yay!! Only three episodes :( but in this case, quality vs quantity. ;) "Victoria" also starts this month on PBS Masterpiece -- looks interesting.
Current Wishlist -- More space in our storage locker -- because I'm not sure how the Christmas tree is going to fit in there, once we take it down (we got rid of the old one when we moved and bought a new one this Christmas, so we will need to make room for it). :p I think it WILL fit, but not without some reorganizing (or some grumbling from dh...!). :p
Current Needs -- I can't think of too much that I desperately need at the moment. We're probably going to go back to the furniture outlet where we got our other furniture earlier last year and get two new end tables & possibly a coffee table to match the other stuff (we're still using the tables we bought when we were first married -- = 31 years old, & kind of scratched up). I want a coffee table again, but dh is pulling for an ottoman instead.
Current Triumphs -- SIL & I had discussed going out for dinner on New Year's Eve (with our husbands, obviously, lol)... but we didn't get around to doing anything much about it until the day before. I decided to take things in hand, and made a reservation for the four of us at a local chain restaurant that was offering a special prix-fixe NYE menu. (By then, the only available time slots were before 6 or after 8, but that was OK with us; we normally have a fairly early supper anyway.) Everyone enjoyed the meal, albeit we all got overly stuffed -- the meal included a choice of appetizers (which we don't usually order when we eat out), choice of entrée, and choice of dessert (something we also don't normally order), which came with a celebratory glass of prosecco. BIL, who isn't a great fan of eating out, said several times that he was glad we were doing this. So I consider that a triumph in my books! ;)
Also, we went to see a movie after dinner ("Passengers"). Dh & I usually go to the movies on Sunday afternoons (sometimes cheaper & often less crowded), so dinner AND a movie are a rare occurrence!
Current Bane of my Existence -- You would think that since Christmas is over, the stores, parking lots, etc., would be a lot quieter? Well, Monday was a bank/government holiday hereabouts -- and local schools didn't get out until Dec. 22nd -- which means they're not heading back to class until next Monday, Jan. 9th. Which means a lot of people are still off work this week... which is why the stores are still pretty packed, with long lineups at the cash registers. Ugh!!
Current Celebrity Crush -- My previous picks (Aidan Turner (aka Ross Poldark),George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi and Sam Elliott) still stand. :)
Current Indulgence -- See "Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure," above. ;)
Current #1 Blessing -- No snow to shovel or clear off the car (underground parking!)!! Dh is ecstatic every time it snows & he doesn't have to clear it, lol.
Current Slang or Saying -- Hmmm, not sure I have one.
Current Outfit -- Black yoga pants from Reitman's and green waffle-weave long-sleeved holiday-themed PJ top from Old Navy ($8!).
Current Excitement -- Hmmm, not much that I'm excited about at the moment. My birthday is coming up soon, which means a day to do what I want & dinner out -- although it also means I'm yet another year older (yay?).
Current Mood -- Still feeling some of that post-holiday glow -- but bracing myself for the inevitable post-holiday/post-birthday/endless-winter blues...
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
The Current
Going through some old posts from this time last year, and found this meme, originally done in July 2012, and inspired by a similar 2012 post at By the Brooke. Time for a refresh! ;)
(I love doing memes like this, if you haven't already noticed...!)
Current Book(s) -- "The Bridge Ladies" by Betsy Lerner. "Avalanche: A Love Story" by Julia Leigh is also in my to-read pile (Pamela at Silent Sorority is hosting a virtual book tour for the week of Sept. 18, if you're interested). I also want to re-read the next couple of books in the Poldark series by Winston Grahan ("Jeremy Poldark" and "Warleggan"), in preparation for the upcoming season of "Poldark" on PBS (yay!!). And there are a bunch of new books coming this fall that I want, including Bruce Springsteen's memoir, "Born to Run," and a new Flavia de Luce mystery by Alan Bradley. So many books, so little time...!
Current Playlist -- I don't have any digital music on my semi-new smartphone, but I do sometimes listen to CDs on the stereo while I'm cleaning house or when dh is out, and recently unpacked my collection & arranged it on a new tall/narrow bookshelf we bought specifically for that purpose. :) Our radio station of choice while we're driving is the local classic rock station, which gives us a steady diet of the great music from our youth. ;)
Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure -- Way too much ice cream, both Haagen Dasz bars in the freezer at home and gelato when we're out. (Some really excellent gelato shops hereabouts...!)
Current Color -- Wearing lots of purple right now. And enjoying my light blue-grey main living area in our new condo. After years of living with warm colours (various shades of beige), the cooler shades are a nice change.
Current Drink -- Starbucks tea lattes (tall non-fat Royal English Breakfast). Or their Black Iced Team Lemonade on really hot days.
Current Food -- I hadn't had a hamburger in years... not because I'm vegetarian or because I was afraid of e-coli or anything (OK, maybe a bit). There are just usually a lot of other things I'd rather order when I'm eating out at a restaurant, and I got out of the habit. Until our road trip this summer, when I had a couple of really good ones. Plus, it's generally a safe choice for me (with my tomato allergies), because I can usually ask the waiter to hold the ketchup & tomato (easy enough to do). Last week we had burgers two days in a row, first at Hero Burger and then at Five Guys. Both very good. But yeah, two days in a row is probably a bit excessive....!
Current Favorite Show -- I don't think I have one at the moment. I have not been watching a whole lot of TV lately, aside from dh's favourite old sitcoms in syndication (endless reruns of "The Simpsons" and "Everybody Loves Raymond"...!) and occasional documentaries on PBS & CBC. It seems like all my usual favourite shows are in reruns and I am impatiently waiting for the new fall season to start.
Current Wishlist -- Lots of books that I would like to read (& that are on my actual Chapters/Indigo and Amazon wishlists), but no big rush, since I have enough books to read to last me through the next millennium...! I am also keeping my eyes open for some nice photo collage frames -- we don't have quite as many surfaces to display framed photos in our condo, so I would like to put up a couple of collages instead (although blank wall space is also pretty limited...!). I've also been mulling over having a professional closet organizer come in to look at our closets, the front hall and laundry closets in particular. My laundry supplies are currently sitting on the floor in front of the washer, and the front hall closet is a walk-in that's crammed full of stuff (shoes, cleaning supplies, vacuum cleaner, mops, etc.). It's not so much of a problem right now, but it will be in the winter when we'll need to access our coats , hats, scarfs, etc. (hanging right at the back).
Current Needs -- There is nothing I can think of that I really, truly, urgently need at the moment. Except maybe the waterproof mascara that I blogged about earlier. ;) We've bought an awful lot of new stuff for our condo over the last few months and have covered most of the big "need" items and even a few "wants." We would still like to get new end tables & a coffee table &/or ottoman (I want the coffee table, dh is pulling for an ottoman instead) to replace the ones we've had for the past 31 years and match the rest of our new furniture, but it's not an urgent item on our to-do list.
OK, one more item: I do think I need a new shower caddy. The one I have is getting kind of rusted. However, I am very picky and haven't yet found one that I really like. I want to have one with a bar on the bottom where I can hang up my washcloth (something my current caddy has), and I am not seeing a lot with that particular feature right now.
Current Triumphs -- (Still) loving our condo (if not exactly loving the new community overall). The more condos we see, the more we realize we hit the jackpot. The location, layout (storage space!!), upgrades installed by the previous owner, etc., are so much better than just about any other unit we've seen, including other units in this same building. And the new paint, furniture & other décor items we've bought have all come together quite nicely!
Current Bane of my Existence -- Back to school and empty nest articles, photos & posts on social media -- all unwelcome reminders of my childlessness and the daughter who would be starting her first year of university soon. And since most schools here don't start until next Tuesday, this is only the beginning...!! :p ARRRGGGGHHHHH....
Current Celebrity Crush -- No one standout at the moment, but off the top of my head: Aidan Turner (Ross Poldark). George Clooney. Bruce Springsteen. Jon Bon Jovi. Sam Elliott. :)
Current Indulgence -- Haagen Dasz ice cream bars.
Current #1 Blessing -- Dh is so much happier since we made the move to the condo. That makes ME happy.
Current Slang or Saying -- Hmmm, not sure I have one.
Current Outfit -- Denim shorts from Reitmans, grey & white "NY" T-shirt from American Eagle.
Current Excitement -- Just a few more weeks until Oldest Nephew's wedding (eeeeekkkkkkk.....!!!)!!!
Current Mood -- Sad that summer went by so fast, apprehensive about all the back-to-school hoopla about to unfold, but generally excited about the fall!
(I love doing memes like this, if you haven't already noticed...!)
Current Book(s) -- "The Bridge Ladies" by Betsy Lerner. "Avalanche: A Love Story" by Julia Leigh is also in my to-read pile (Pamela at Silent Sorority is hosting a virtual book tour for the week of Sept. 18, if you're interested). I also want to re-read the next couple of books in the Poldark series by Winston Grahan ("Jeremy Poldark" and "Warleggan"), in preparation for the upcoming season of "Poldark" on PBS (yay!!). And there are a bunch of new books coming this fall that I want, including Bruce Springsteen's memoir, "Born to Run," and a new Flavia de Luce mystery by Alan Bradley. So many books, so little time...!
Current Playlist -- I don't have any digital music on my semi-new smartphone, but I do sometimes listen to CDs on the stereo while I'm cleaning house or when dh is out, and recently unpacked my collection & arranged it on a new tall/narrow bookshelf we bought specifically for that purpose. :) Our radio station of choice while we're driving is the local classic rock station, which gives us a steady diet of the great music from our youth. ;)
Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure -- Way too much ice cream, both Haagen Dasz bars in the freezer at home and gelato when we're out. (Some really excellent gelato shops hereabouts...!)
Current Color -- Wearing lots of purple right now. And enjoying my light blue-grey main living area in our new condo. After years of living with warm colours (various shades of beige), the cooler shades are a nice change.
Current Drink -- Starbucks tea lattes (tall non-fat Royal English Breakfast). Or their Black Iced Team Lemonade on really hot days.
Current Food -- I hadn't had a hamburger in years... not because I'm vegetarian or because I was afraid of e-coli or anything (OK, maybe a bit). There are just usually a lot of other things I'd rather order when I'm eating out at a restaurant, and I got out of the habit. Until our road trip this summer, when I had a couple of really good ones. Plus, it's generally a safe choice for me (with my tomato allergies), because I can usually ask the waiter to hold the ketchup & tomato (easy enough to do). Last week we had burgers two days in a row, first at Hero Burger and then at Five Guys. Both very good. But yeah, two days in a row is probably a bit excessive....!
Current Favorite Show -- I don't think I have one at the moment. I have not been watching a whole lot of TV lately, aside from dh's favourite old sitcoms in syndication (endless reruns of "The Simpsons" and "Everybody Loves Raymond"...!) and occasional documentaries on PBS & CBC. It seems like all my usual favourite shows are in reruns and I am impatiently waiting for the new fall season to start.
Current Wishlist -- Lots of books that I would like to read (& that are on my actual Chapters/Indigo and Amazon wishlists), but no big rush, since I have enough books to read to last me through the next millennium...! I am also keeping my eyes open for some nice photo collage frames -- we don't have quite as many surfaces to display framed photos in our condo, so I would like to put up a couple of collages instead (although blank wall space is also pretty limited...!). I've also been mulling over having a professional closet organizer come in to look at our closets, the front hall and laundry closets in particular. My laundry supplies are currently sitting on the floor in front of the washer, and the front hall closet is a walk-in that's crammed full of stuff (shoes, cleaning supplies, vacuum cleaner, mops, etc.). It's not so much of a problem right now, but it will be in the winter when we'll need to access our coats , hats, scarfs, etc. (hanging right at the back).
Current Needs -- There is nothing I can think of that I really, truly, urgently need at the moment. Except maybe the waterproof mascara that I blogged about earlier. ;) We've bought an awful lot of new stuff for our condo over the last few months and have covered most of the big "need" items and even a few "wants." We would still like to get new end tables & a coffee table &/or ottoman (I want the coffee table, dh is pulling for an ottoman instead) to replace the ones we've had for the past 31 years and match the rest of our new furniture, but it's not an urgent item on our to-do list.
OK, one more item: I do think I need a new shower caddy. The one I have is getting kind of rusted. However, I am very picky and haven't yet found one that I really like. I want to have one with a bar on the bottom where I can hang up my washcloth (something my current caddy has), and I am not seeing a lot with that particular feature right now.
Current Triumphs -- (Still) loving our condo (if not exactly loving the new community overall). The more condos we see, the more we realize we hit the jackpot. The location, layout (storage space!!), upgrades installed by the previous owner, etc., are so much better than just about any other unit we've seen, including other units in this same building. And the new paint, furniture & other décor items we've bought have all come together quite nicely!
Current Bane of my Existence -- Back to school and empty nest articles, photos & posts on social media -- all unwelcome reminders of my childlessness and the daughter who would be starting her first year of university soon. And since most schools here don't start until next Tuesday, this is only the beginning...!! :p ARRRGGGGHHHHH....
Current Celebrity Crush -- No one standout at the moment, but off the top of my head: Aidan Turner (Ross Poldark). George Clooney. Bruce Springsteen. Jon Bon Jovi. Sam Elliott. :)
Current Indulgence -- Haagen Dasz ice cream bars.
Current #1 Blessing -- Dh is so much happier since we made the move to the condo. That makes ME happy.
Current Slang or Saying -- Hmmm, not sure I have one.
Current Outfit -- Denim shorts from Reitmans, grey & white "NY" T-shirt from American Eagle.
Current Excitement -- Just a few more weeks until Oldest Nephew's wedding (eeeeekkkkkkk.....!!!)!!!
Current Mood -- Sad that summer went by so fast, apprehensive about all the back-to-school hoopla about to unfold, but generally excited about the fall!
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
The Current
Going through some old posts, found this meme, originally done in July 2012, and inspired by a similar post at By the Brooke. Time for a refresh! ;)
Current Book(s) -- I have several books in my pile right now that are partially read. I started reading "Selfish, Shallow and Self-Absorbed" a while back -- a collection of essays edited by Meagan Daum about childlessness -- before I got distracted with something else. As a collection of essays, it's easy to dip in & out of.
Then a couple of weeks ago, we saw "Ricki & the Flash," starring Meryl Streep as an aging rock star (!!)(as I said to dh, "Is there anything that woman can't do??") -- and someone I hadn't thought about in eons, playing her guitarist/love interest -- Rick Springfield (AKA Dr. Noah Drake of "General Hospital" and singer of "Jessie's Girl" and other '80s power pop gems). I remembered I had his memoir "Late Late at Night" in my "unread" collection & brought it up from the basement.
I got a few chapters into that (the verdict so far: self-indulgent, but rather amusing -- interesting childhood) -- and then we visited the bookstore the same day that Chrissie Hynde's memoir, "Reckless," went on sale (and at 40% off to boot). I loved the Pretenders, back in the day. So I put down Rick & picked up Chrissie. (So far, not much sex, but lots of drugs and lots of rock & roll.)
(And then I saw a feature about Duran Duran on CBS Sunday Morning -- which reminded me that I have John Taylor's memoir "In the Pleasure Groove" also waiting for me, unread... too many books, too little time, lol...)
If/when I finally finish any of these, I'll provide full reviews. ;)
Current Playlist -- I (still) don't have an iPod or the like for digital music, but I do sometimes listen to CDs on the stereo while I'm cleaning house or when dh is out. My most recent CD purchase was a greatest hits collection by the 1960s band Paul Revere & the Raiders (Kicks, Just Like Me). Their schtick was that they performed wearing Revolutionary War-era costumes -- tricorn hats, knee-length breeches & boots and waistcoats. (They actually recorded "Louie Louie" around the same time as the Kingsmen, but the other version was the one that most people remember.) Paul recently passed away, which renewed my interest in the group -- I had a greatest hits collection on cassette, but that was among the stuff I gave to Oldest Nephew earlier this summer.
We listen to the local rock station on the radio in the car, which mostly plays classic rock but also some new(er) stuff. I am kind of enjoying hearing some new(er) bands, so long as it's rock & roll. A lot of what passes for music these days simply does not interest me. :p (My teenaged self could never have imagined saying that... of course, my teenaged self probably could never have imagined rap or hiphop either, lol.)
Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure -- Didn't I just say I was reading Rick Springfield's memoir?? ;)
Current Color -- No particular one, but I have been wearing a bit of purple lately. : ) I find I tend to look best in "jewel" tones.
Current Drink -- Starbucks tea lattes (tall non-fat Royal English Breakfast).
Current Food -- I've been eating a lot of fish & chips lately, when we eat out. Generally a safe choice when you're trying to avoid tomatos. ;)
Current Favorite Show -- "Who Do You Think You Are?" (which just concluded another season here in North America). Formulaic in how it unfolds, but some really interesting stories uncovered. It's every genealogist's dream to walk into an archive & have an expert hand over a folder of documents (pre-translated!) and answer all your questions.
Current Wishlist -- A magic wand to wave that will magically complete all the little projects & repairs that need doing around the house...! I also have book wishlists with both Chapters/Indigo and Amazon.
Current Needs -- As I've blogged before, I am in desperate need of a new mattress set & bed linens, but trying to hold out until Aunt Flo finally bows out for good. At the rate she is hanging around, though, I may have to cave sooner vs later...!
Current Triumphs -- Some good genealogical finds lately. : )
Current Bane of my Existence -- The neighbours two doors down, whose yard is rarely mowed and and looks like a junkyard to boot. It looks like they may (finally??!) be doing some work inside the house, but outside? Among the items cluttering their front porch and resting along (both) sides of the garage: several garbage bags (many, many garbage days have come & gone since these made an appearance, but, nevermind...), several sheets of drywall, rolls of torn-up carpet, an old barbecue (complete with rusted propane tank), a television set (presumably not working, but who knows), assorted empty beer bottles... (Not just one but TWO seldom-used lawn mowers sat outside in the snow all through last winter. Also, the window in one car was broken and left open through several winter months as well, with snow drifting in (and God knows what else). ) There is obviously no room in the garage to park the car or store any of this stuff, & the door is hanging halfway off its hinges, does not close properly. No doubt animals have taken up residence inside. :p
People have complained to the city in the past (and we may yet do so) -- they will sometimes make a half-hearted attempt to clean things up but within a few months it's back to the same old same old. :p I will admit our house is no showplace, but at least we keep the lawn mowed and neat looking. They make the whole neighbourhood look run down.
On the bright side, the eavestrough that came loose in about March -- 2014, not 2015 (I kid you not), and spent more than a year precariously resting, diagonally, on top of the garage roof -- was finally restored to its proper place recently.
Current Celebrity Crush -- Aidan Turner, AKA Ross Poldark. Yum!! ;) I see (via social media) that filming on the second season of "Poldark" recently began.
Current Indulgence -- Haagen Dasz ice cream bars.
Current #1 Blessing -- Being able to sleep in every morning. :)
Current Slang or Saying -- Hmmm, not sure I have one.
Current Outfit -- A pair of Gap "boyfriend" shorts in a sort of golden brown colour, and a black ribbed American Eagle tank top.
Current Excitement -- Just a little over one year to Oldest Nephew's wedding (eeeeekkkkkkk.....!!!)!!!
Current Mood -- Slightly melancholy. Summer is almost gone & while I like fall, it means that winter is once again just around the corner...
Current Book(s) -- I have several books in my pile right now that are partially read. I started reading "Selfish, Shallow and Self-Absorbed" a while back -- a collection of essays edited by Meagan Daum about childlessness -- before I got distracted with something else. As a collection of essays, it's easy to dip in & out of.
Then a couple of weeks ago, we saw "Ricki & the Flash," starring Meryl Streep as an aging rock star (!!)(as I said to dh, "Is there anything that woman can't do??") -- and someone I hadn't thought about in eons, playing her guitarist/love interest -- Rick Springfield (AKA Dr. Noah Drake of "General Hospital" and singer of "Jessie's Girl" and other '80s power pop gems). I remembered I had his memoir "Late Late at Night" in my "unread" collection & brought it up from the basement.
I got a few chapters into that (the verdict so far: self-indulgent, but rather amusing -- interesting childhood) -- and then we visited the bookstore the same day that Chrissie Hynde's memoir, "Reckless," went on sale (and at 40% off to boot). I loved the Pretenders, back in the day. So I put down Rick & picked up Chrissie. (So far, not much sex, but lots of drugs and lots of rock & roll.)
(And then I saw a feature about Duran Duran on CBS Sunday Morning -- which reminded me that I have John Taylor's memoir "In the Pleasure Groove" also waiting for me, unread... too many books, too little time, lol...)
If/when I finally finish any of these, I'll provide full reviews. ;)
Current Playlist -- I (still) don't have an iPod or the like for digital music, but I do sometimes listen to CDs on the stereo while I'm cleaning house or when dh is out. My most recent CD purchase was a greatest hits collection by the 1960s band Paul Revere & the Raiders (Kicks, Just Like Me). Their schtick was that they performed wearing Revolutionary War-era costumes -- tricorn hats, knee-length breeches & boots and waistcoats. (They actually recorded "Louie Louie" around the same time as the Kingsmen, but the other version was the one that most people remember.) Paul recently passed away, which renewed my interest in the group -- I had a greatest hits collection on cassette, but that was among the stuff I gave to Oldest Nephew earlier this summer.
We listen to the local rock station on the radio in the car, which mostly plays classic rock but also some new(er) stuff. I am kind of enjoying hearing some new(er) bands, so long as it's rock & roll. A lot of what passes for music these days simply does not interest me. :p (My teenaged self could never have imagined saying that... of course, my teenaged self probably could never have imagined rap or hiphop either, lol.)
Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure -- Didn't I just say I was reading Rick Springfield's memoir?? ;)
Current Color -- No particular one, but I have been wearing a bit of purple lately. : ) I find I tend to look best in "jewel" tones.
Current Drink -- Starbucks tea lattes (tall non-fat Royal English Breakfast).
Current Food -- I've been eating a lot of fish & chips lately, when we eat out. Generally a safe choice when you're trying to avoid tomatos. ;)
Current Favorite Show -- "Who Do You Think You Are?" (which just concluded another season here in North America). Formulaic in how it unfolds, but some really interesting stories uncovered. It's every genealogist's dream to walk into an archive & have an expert hand over a folder of documents (pre-translated!) and answer all your questions.
Current Wishlist -- A magic wand to wave that will magically complete all the little projects & repairs that need doing around the house...! I also have book wishlists with both Chapters/Indigo and Amazon.
Current Needs -- As I've blogged before, I am in desperate need of a new mattress set & bed linens, but trying to hold out until Aunt Flo finally bows out for good. At the rate she is hanging around, though, I may have to cave sooner vs later...!
Current Triumphs -- Some good genealogical finds lately. : )
Current Bane of my Existence -- The neighbours two doors down, whose yard is rarely mowed and and looks like a junkyard to boot. It looks like they may (finally??!) be doing some work inside the house, but outside? Among the items cluttering their front porch and resting along (both) sides of the garage: several garbage bags (many, many garbage days have come & gone since these made an appearance, but, nevermind...), several sheets of drywall, rolls of torn-up carpet, an old barbecue (complete with rusted propane tank), a television set (presumably not working, but who knows), assorted empty beer bottles... (Not just one but TWO seldom-used lawn mowers sat outside in the snow all through last winter. Also, the window in one car was broken and left open through several winter months as well, with snow drifting in (and God knows what else). ) There is obviously no room in the garage to park the car or store any of this stuff, & the door is hanging halfway off its hinges, does not close properly. No doubt animals have taken up residence inside. :p
People have complained to the city in the past (and we may yet do so) -- they will sometimes make a half-hearted attempt to clean things up but within a few months it's back to the same old same old. :p I will admit our house is no showplace, but at least we keep the lawn mowed and neat looking. They make the whole neighbourhood look run down.
On the bright side, the eavestrough that came loose in about March -- 2014, not 2015 (I kid you not), and spent more than a year precariously resting, diagonally, on top of the garage roof -- was finally restored to its proper place recently.
Current Celebrity Crush -- Aidan Turner, AKA Ross Poldark. Yum!! ;) I see (via social media) that filming on the second season of "Poldark" recently began.
Current Indulgence -- Haagen Dasz ice cream bars.
Current #1 Blessing -- Being able to sleep in every morning. :)
Current Slang or Saying -- Hmmm, not sure I have one.
Current Outfit -- A pair of Gap "boyfriend" shorts in a sort of golden brown colour, and a black ribbed American Eagle tank top.
Current Excitement -- Just a little over one year to Oldest Nephew's wedding (eeeeekkkkkkk.....!!!)!!!
Current Mood -- Slightly melancholy. Summer is almost gone & while I like fall, it means that winter is once again just around the corner...
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Current
Since my blogging mojo/inspiration seems to be on vacation lately, I am turning to this fun set of questions, which I stole, er, copied, from By the Brooke. ; )
Current Book(s) -- I find it hard to believe, let alone write this, but I am currently on just my SECOND book so far this year. Ugh. :p I am hoping to boost that number once I head out on vacation.
My first, which I started between Christmas & New Year's & finished shortly after my birthday, was the ubiquitous Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson -- I vowed not to see the movie (either Swedish or American versions -- American version came out at Christmastime) until I had read the book. (I still haven't seen the movie, but that's another story.)
Dh read it before I did, and thought it was "sick" (in the old-fashioned, negative, non-hipster sense). I wasn't quite as disturbed by it as he was, although there was a tad more violence than I had bargained for. Also sex. While Lisbeth Salander is indeed a strong and unique female character, I found it kind of funny how she & just about every other female character of any note in the book hopped into bed with Blomqvist with little or no prompting. Of course, this is a MAN writing the book, right?? ; ) Being part Swedish, I also enjoyed the Scandinavian setting.
I began my current read shortly after our recent trip to Kingston, and mentioned it in my subsequent post: John A.: The Man Who Made Us by Richard Gwyn -- volume one of his two-volume biography of Canada's first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. The book won the Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction and, although I am only about a third of the way through the book, I would say deservedly so. I've long been a big fan of Gwyn's (30 years ago, I asked for, and got, his book about Pierre Trudeau, The Northern Magus, for Christmas) -- he is a well-known political observer and a wonderful storyteller who has a knack for bringing history to life.
Current Playlist -- I don't have an iPod, but I do sometimes listen to CDs on the stereo while I'm cleaning house (particularly if dh is outside mowing the lawn). After posting about the music of my youth awhile back, I ordered Raspberries Live on Sunset Strip & have enjoyed listening to that. My most recent purchases this week at HMV were a greatest hits package by Colin James, a well-known Canadian rock/blues singer & guitarist (and Stevie Ray Vaughn protege), who recently played a lunchtime concert in a neighbouring office tower, and an early CD by Great Big Sea, a Celtic-influenced band from Newfoundland, whose song "Ordinary Day" has been played several times on the radio lately. (More on Newfoundland in a moment...)
I listen to the radio in the morning while having my breakfast & in the car, & have not been able to get this earworm out of my head. I didn't even know the name of the band until I looked it up one day. Figures that it's a boy band. ; ) Guess my tastes haven't changed that much over the year.
Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure -- Brown Sugar Sea Salt Caramel Fudge (available at Chapters/Indigo stores in Canada). I blogged about this before here. And I'm still addicted. ; )
Current Color -- aqua/turquoise, paired with black or white. So summery. : )
Current Drink -- Starbucks black iced tea lemonade. : )
Current Food -- No particular favourite at the moment. Looking forward to my dad's yummy barbecued steak & fresh veggies from his garden soon. : )
Current Favorite Show -- Dallas. : ) Also -- Republic of Doyle, a CBC comedy/drama/detective show. Not sure if it's available in the States or elsewhere (unless you happen to live near the border & get CBC). It's about an ex-cop dad & his hothead rogue of a son (who drives a gorgeous blue classic Pontiac GTO), who run a detective agency together, conveniently located above a bar in St. John's, Newfoundland, of all places. (Who knew there was so much crime to solve in Newfoundland??) Allan Hawco, who plays the son, Jake (and writes and produces each episode too), is a scruffy charmer (if a bit of a smart-you-know-what), who rarely fails to (a) get punched & (b) take off his shirt in every episode. (Note: (b) is why dh thinks I watch the show, lol.)
But the real star of the show is Newfoundland -- every episode is like an hour-long tourism ad for the place, & I never fail to go to bed thinking, "I've got to get there one of these days..." I got watching an episode one night earlier this spring and now I'm hooked -- am catching up on the episodes I missed earlier this season in reruns, and hoping to get the first two seasons on DVD (this is season #3) to get the whole story from the beginning. The show has happily survived the most recent round of cuts at the CBC and recently started filming season #4. Unfortunately, I don't think the new season doesn't begin until January. :p
Current Wishlist -- More hours in the day. My Google Reader is choking with unread posts at the moment. Also, a beautiful, weedfree backyard & patio that somehow maintains itself until this time next year, when we're slated to host the annual get-together/reunion for dh's mom's side of the family. :p
Current Needs -- a vacation. :p And a Princess fix. ; ) Both to be remedied shortly. ; )
Current Triumphs -- Some good genealogical finds lately. : )
Current Bane of my Existence -- The Bridge. :p For the past 21 years, dh & I have had more or less the same morning routine, whcih included driving our car & parked at the local commuter train station, then taking the train into the city. Over the years, the lot has become more and more congested. Parking is free, but they began introducing a limited number of paid ($60 a month) spots that have gradually been expanded.
In April, around Eastertime, half the lot was CLOSED to make way for construction of a new multilevel parking garage, which won't be finished until late 2013 (or so they say...). Almost the entire remainder of the lot where we had been parking is now devoted to reserved (paid) & disabled parking spots, & the few free spots that are left get snapped up very quickly. The rest of us must now park in either (a) an overflow lot, a 5-10 minute walk down the track (OK now, but dark & cold in the winter), or (b) in a recently built parking garage that was built at the local mall -- directly across about 8 lanes of traffic on one of the busiest stretches of highway in Canada. The parking garage at the mall is connected -- well, sort of -- to the train station by an overhead (enclosed) pedestrian bridge that runs across the highway. Eventually, the walkway will be connected directly to the parking garage, so we'll just get out of our car in the morning & walk across.
However -- that section of the walkway hasn't been finished yet. (Hopefully, it will be before the snow hits.) So, every morning, once we leave the car, we have to go down two flights of stairs to the ground level. Walk across the parking lot for the adjacent office tower (we're not allowed to park there) -- and then up a steep flight of xx stairs to get to the bridge. (There is an elevator now, but it wasn't working the first month or two (!).) The bridge actually angles UP, so you are walking UPHILL after navigating the stairs. Even after four months, I still find I get winded (more or less, depending on the heat & humidity levels, whether Aunt Flo is tagging along, etc.). And then down the stairs to the train platform at the other end.
When we get off the train in the afternoon, we make the trip in reverse -- up the stairs (54 of them, in three stages of 18 each with a platform in between), across the bridge (downhill this time, thankfully -- although the bridge is NOT air-conditioned OR ventilated, so it can be like an oven in the heat & humidity...!), down the stairs and across the parking lot, up two steep flights of stairs to the parking garage & to the car (hopefully before all the other cars start leaving & block a quick exit). I keep muttering, "This has got to be worth a few pounds..." but so far, it is not showing up on the scale. :p To accommodate this change in our daily routine, we've had to set the clock and leave the house at least 10 minutes earlier than before (which was already way early). Ugh.
It's not just this change we're dealing with -- it seems like there is construction everywhere we turn these days. Union Station -- both the actual train station & the subway station in downtown Toronto -- is under renovation right now -- badly needed, & I'm sure it will be great once it's all done (assuming it's all done before we retire...!), but there are parts of the station that are closed off to traffic, and dirt & noise and workers & drywall & equipment everywhere. The crowds can be awful sometimes. Also, several of the office towers we walk through via the underground PATH concourse every morning en route to our own office are also undergoing renovations -- drywall up everywhere, new flooring being installed, usual paths blocked off without warning, stores moving. It may seem like a little thing, but the cumulative impact of a lot of little stresses can add up after awhile. One more reason to look forward to retirement...!
Current Celebrity Crush -- At the moment? The Olympic men's rowers. Their athleticism is truly incredible -- and their physiques are something to behold. I started watching the rowing events at the 1992 Olympics, and have been hooked since then. I had a major crush on Derek Porter, who won gold with the Canadian men's eights in 1992, and narrowly missed gold in the singles in 2006. I understand he is a chiropractor now. I am generally a bit leery of chiropractors, but this guy is welcome to crack my spine anytime. ; )
Current Indulgence -- Besides Brown Sugar fudge... 'tis the season for Starbucks black iced tea lemonades & Dairy Queen Skor Bar Blizzards. ; )
Current #1 Blessing -- air conditioning!! : ) Although it hasn't been quite as hot & humid in the last few days as it has been lately.
Current Slang or Saying -- Hmmm, not sure I have one.
Current Outfit -- Around the house: denim "boyfriend" shorts from the Gap with a tank top from Old Navy. At the office: capris & sandals with a sleeveless tunic in a bright summer colour or pattern under a coordinating cardigan (all items probably from Reitmans).
Current Excitement -- The Olympics. Lots of family birthdays right now to celebrate. Counting down the days until our extra-long weekend coming up (albeit one that includes -- by plan -- Katie's "anniversary" dates) and then our trip home to see my parents -- and The Princess. : ) (See "Current Needs," above.)
Current Mood -- Tired, happy it's the weekend, sad that it's almost over. :p
Current Book(s) -- I find it hard to believe, let alone write this, but I am currently on just my SECOND book so far this year. Ugh. :p I am hoping to boost that number once I head out on vacation.
My first, which I started between Christmas & New Year's & finished shortly after my birthday, was the ubiquitous Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson -- I vowed not to see the movie (either Swedish or American versions -- American version came out at Christmastime) until I had read the book. (I still haven't seen the movie, but that's another story.)
Dh read it before I did, and thought it was "sick" (in the old-fashioned, negative, non-hipster sense). I wasn't quite as disturbed by it as he was, although there was a tad more violence than I had bargained for. Also sex. While Lisbeth Salander is indeed a strong and unique female character, I found it kind of funny how she & just about every other female character of any note in the book hopped into bed with Blomqvist with little or no prompting. Of course, this is a MAN writing the book, right?? ; ) Being part Swedish, I also enjoyed the Scandinavian setting.
I began my current read shortly after our recent trip to Kingston, and mentioned it in my subsequent post: John A.: The Man Who Made Us by Richard Gwyn -- volume one of his two-volume biography of Canada's first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. The book won the Charles Taylor Prize for Literary Non-Fiction and, although I am only about a third of the way through the book, I would say deservedly so. I've long been a big fan of Gwyn's (30 years ago, I asked for, and got, his book about Pierre Trudeau, The Northern Magus, for Christmas) -- he is a well-known political observer and a wonderful storyteller who has a knack for bringing history to life.
Current Playlist -- I don't have an iPod, but I do sometimes listen to CDs on the stereo while I'm cleaning house (particularly if dh is outside mowing the lawn). After posting about the music of my youth awhile back, I ordered Raspberries Live on Sunset Strip & have enjoyed listening to that. My most recent purchases this week at HMV were a greatest hits package by Colin James, a well-known Canadian rock/blues singer & guitarist (and Stevie Ray Vaughn protege), who recently played a lunchtime concert in a neighbouring office tower, and an early CD by Great Big Sea, a Celtic-influenced band from Newfoundland, whose song "Ordinary Day" has been played several times on the radio lately. (More on Newfoundland in a moment...)
I listen to the radio in the morning while having my breakfast & in the car, & have not been able to get this earworm out of my head. I didn't even know the name of the band until I looked it up one day. Figures that it's a boy band. ; ) Guess my tastes haven't changed that much over the year.
Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure -- Brown Sugar Sea Salt Caramel Fudge (available at Chapters/Indigo stores in Canada). I blogged about this before here. And I'm still addicted. ; )
Current Color -- aqua/turquoise, paired with black or white. So summery. : )
Current Drink -- Starbucks black iced tea lemonade. : )
Current Food -- No particular favourite at the moment. Looking forward to my dad's yummy barbecued steak & fresh veggies from his garden soon. : )
Current Favorite Show -- Dallas. : ) Also -- Republic of Doyle, a CBC comedy/drama/detective show. Not sure if it's available in the States or elsewhere (unless you happen to live near the border & get CBC). It's about an ex-cop dad & his hothead rogue of a son (who drives a gorgeous blue classic Pontiac GTO), who run a detective agency together, conveniently located above a bar in St. John's, Newfoundland, of all places. (Who knew there was so much crime to solve in Newfoundland??) Allan Hawco, who plays the son, Jake (and writes and produces each episode too), is a scruffy charmer (if a bit of a smart-you-know-what), who rarely fails to (a) get punched & (b) take off his shirt in every episode. (Note: (b) is why dh thinks I watch the show, lol.)
But the real star of the show is Newfoundland -- every episode is like an hour-long tourism ad for the place, & I never fail to go to bed thinking, "I've got to get there one of these days..." I got watching an episode one night earlier this spring and now I'm hooked -- am catching up on the episodes I missed earlier this season in reruns, and hoping to get the first two seasons on DVD (this is season #3) to get the whole story from the beginning. The show has happily survived the most recent round of cuts at the CBC and recently started filming season #4. Unfortunately, I don't think the new season doesn't begin until January. :p
Current Wishlist -- More hours in the day. My Google Reader is choking with unread posts at the moment. Also, a beautiful, weedfree backyard & patio that somehow maintains itself until this time next year, when we're slated to host the annual get-together/reunion for dh's mom's side of the family. :p
Current Needs -- a vacation. :p And a Princess fix. ; ) Both to be remedied shortly. ; )
Current Triumphs -- Some good genealogical finds lately. : )
Current Bane of my Existence -- The Bridge. :p For the past 21 years, dh & I have had more or less the same morning routine, whcih included driving our car & parked at the local commuter train station, then taking the train into the city. Over the years, the lot has become more and more congested. Parking is free, but they began introducing a limited number of paid ($60 a month) spots that have gradually been expanded.
In April, around Eastertime, half the lot was CLOSED to make way for construction of a new multilevel parking garage, which won't be finished until late 2013 (or so they say...). Almost the entire remainder of the lot where we had been parking is now devoted to reserved (paid) & disabled parking spots, & the few free spots that are left get snapped up very quickly. The rest of us must now park in either (a) an overflow lot, a 5-10 minute walk down the track (OK now, but dark & cold in the winter), or (b) in a recently built parking garage that was built at the local mall -- directly across about 8 lanes of traffic on one of the busiest stretches of highway in Canada. The parking garage at the mall is connected -- well, sort of -- to the train station by an overhead (enclosed) pedestrian bridge that runs across the highway. Eventually, the walkway will be connected directly to the parking garage, so we'll just get out of our car in the morning & walk across.
However -- that section of the walkway hasn't been finished yet. (Hopefully, it will be before the snow hits.) So, every morning, once we leave the car, we have to go down two flights of stairs to the ground level. Walk across the parking lot for the adjacent office tower (we're not allowed to park there) -- and then up a steep flight of xx stairs to get to the bridge. (There is an elevator now, but it wasn't working the first month or two (!).) The bridge actually angles UP, so you are walking UPHILL after navigating the stairs. Even after four months, I still find I get winded (more or less, depending on the heat & humidity levels, whether Aunt Flo is tagging along, etc.). And then down the stairs to the train platform at the other end.
When we get off the train in the afternoon, we make the trip in reverse -- up the stairs (54 of them, in three stages of 18 each with a platform in between), across the bridge (downhill this time, thankfully -- although the bridge is NOT air-conditioned OR ventilated, so it can be like an oven in the heat & humidity...!), down the stairs and across the parking lot, up two steep flights of stairs to the parking garage & to the car (hopefully before all the other cars start leaving & block a quick exit). I keep muttering, "This has got to be worth a few pounds..." but so far, it is not showing up on the scale. :p To accommodate this change in our daily routine, we've had to set the clock and leave the house at least 10 minutes earlier than before (which was already way early). Ugh.
It's not just this change we're dealing with -- it seems like there is construction everywhere we turn these days. Union Station -- both the actual train station & the subway station in downtown Toronto -- is under renovation right now -- badly needed, & I'm sure it will be great once it's all done (assuming it's all done before we retire...!), but there are parts of the station that are closed off to traffic, and dirt & noise and workers & drywall & equipment everywhere. The crowds can be awful sometimes. Also, several of the office towers we walk through via the underground PATH concourse every morning en route to our own office are also undergoing renovations -- drywall up everywhere, new flooring being installed, usual paths blocked off without warning, stores moving. It may seem like a little thing, but the cumulative impact of a lot of little stresses can add up after awhile. One more reason to look forward to retirement...!
Current Celebrity Crush -- At the moment? The Olympic men's rowers. Their athleticism is truly incredible -- and their physiques are something to behold. I started watching the rowing events at the 1992 Olympics, and have been hooked since then. I had a major crush on Derek Porter, who won gold with the Canadian men's eights in 1992, and narrowly missed gold in the singles in 2006. I understand he is a chiropractor now. I am generally a bit leery of chiropractors, but this guy is welcome to crack my spine anytime. ; )
Current Indulgence -- Besides Brown Sugar fudge... 'tis the season for Starbucks black iced tea lemonades & Dairy Queen Skor Bar Blizzards. ; )
Current #1 Blessing -- air conditioning!! : ) Although it hasn't been quite as hot & humid in the last few days as it has been lately.
Current Slang or Saying -- Hmmm, not sure I have one.
Current Outfit -- Around the house: denim "boyfriend" shorts from the Gap with a tank top from Old Navy. At the office: capris & sandals with a sleeveless tunic in a bright summer colour or pattern under a coordinating cardigan (all items probably from Reitmans).
Current Excitement -- The Olympics. Lots of family birthdays right now to celebrate. Counting down the days until our extra-long weekend coming up (albeit one that includes -- by plan -- Katie's "anniversary" dates) and then our trip home to see my parents -- and The Princess. : ) (See "Current Needs," above.)
Current Mood -- Tired, happy it's the weekend, sad that it's almost over. :p
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