Again, my girlfriend K. is still on her family vacation, so it'd be better if she were here, but all in all - not too shabby (and it's only 3:40 pm).
I woke up around 8:00 after about 90 minutes of alarms that I snoozed through. Why did I set my alarm for 6:30 on a Saturday morning? Well, I had an ambitious intention to go really early to the farmer's market, but having gone to bed around 1:00 am, I felt totally fine forgetting that plan and "sleeping in" instead.
Upon waking, I made a pot of coffee and then puttered around tidying my apartment for a while. My mom was coming for a visit and I wanted to make sure everything looked nice for her! Then I made my smoothie and sat down to read, drink my smoothie, and start on coffee #1. Then I moved to the couch to enjoy coffee #2 and some "Dawson's Creek". I don't know why I chose DC but it hit the spot. Showered, tidied some more, some more DC, some more coffee... then around 11:15 my mom arrived!
My mom and I really enjoy each other's company, but I think she likes visiting best when there's some way she can be useful. In today's case, I needed her help hanging some art that needed to be exact and level. She did a great job with it! After that, we headed out for some lunch at an amazing Waterloo place called Famoso - a Neapolitan pizza place. Delicious!
Then we walked across the street to Heel Boy, a shoe store, to buy some shoes for my bestie Mon's wedding next Saturday. We found a perfect pair! The only shoes I tried on. Gotta love that!
Then we walked a few stores down to Honey Bake Shop for an afternoon treat. Before we got back to the car, we stopped at a great independent bookstore in Waterloo called Words Worth Books where my mom bought a couple books by Mary Lawson.
Then back home for a cup of tea and our sweets from Honey, followed by a great conversation, and then off my mom went, home to Toronto.
What a charming Saturday visit in Waterloo! I'm sure the rest of the night will be just as great!
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Some things I want to share
I'm fully moved out of my Toronto apartment.
The apartment my girlfriend K and I (plus Spoon the cat) called home from September 2012 is now empty... at least of our stuff. I haven't been living in the apartment since late January, but this past Friday we took out the last of it. It feels bittersweet, as it has when I've moved out of every place I've lived in, but perhaps this one especially. It was K's and my home; our first space together, and it really was special to get a cat together, too. The kitchen was almost unbearably small, and now that I'm living in a relatively huge place, it's sort of a wonder how we lived in that small apartment. But it was home, and it was ours, and I loved it.
The sweet part is twofold: a new, big apartment to call home, but also, there was something mentally difficult about straddling two places for a month. It was unsettling. Clearing it out of the last of the stuff felt really therapeutic.
K has not yet joined me in our new place in Waterloo. She will, but she has to wrap up some things of her own in Toronto for the next few months, so she'll likely join me in the summer. It's hard, of course, but our relationship is so strong, so we're getting by just fine. Plus, when she joins me, she'll be ready for a fresh start, too, and that's a better time to move anyway... when you don't have too much left behind.
The 158-Pound Marriage
I read my second book of 2014: John Irving's The 158-Pound Marriage. I believe this is one of Irving's first novels. I've owned it for quite a while and have taken at least two stabs at it before, never finishing it. This time I did. After I read my first novel of 2014, The Devil Wears Prada, Irving felt appropriate because he's always so substantial and TDWP was anything but. And it was substantial, but I was left unsatisfied... probably to a larger degree than usual because I expect so much of Irving's books... but maybe it being one of his earlier ones was the reason why. Maybe I just didn't "get" it like I usually do. Maybe I couldn't relate to it. I'm not sure. It wasn't bad, but it just didn't meet my expectations.
"Homeland"
Then there's something that exceeded my expectations. "Homeland", the television show starring Claire Danes, among others. Oh. My. God. SO GOOD!!! I started it last Monday when I took a day off and was in search of something new and wonderful to watch, and I finished first season yesterday when I was home sick. The season was incredible. I spent part of it wondering how there could be a second season, but the season finale made it clear that there is a lot more material to tap into. The other crazy thing (pun intended?) was how Claire Danes really started showing her stuff in the last two episodes of the season. She's such an amazing actress, and was throughout all of the episodes, but the stuff people really raved about was most apparent in the last episodes. It was the kind of high-quality acting that I saw so much of in her movie "Temple Grandin". She has a well of emotion, from one extreme to another, that makes her perfect for the character of Carrie Mathieson. I wish season 2 was on Netflix. I'll have to watch it by other means...
The Time Traveller's Wife
I've said it before: finding a new book to read is always a struggle. I woke up extra early this morning as I was off sick yesterday and went to bed really early, and also wanted to have lots of time this morning to ease my way back into good health and readiness for work. Before having coffee and breakfast, I scanned my bookshelf and settled on The Time Traveller's Wife. I saw this movie ages ago when it was in theatres, and my friend who I saw it with had read and loved the book. I really enjoyed the movie, but was a bit uncertain about how good the book could be. I sped through 20 pages this morning. It's fantastic! Much better written than I anticipated (I'm a snob) and the story is so interesting. I can't wait for more!
I spent part of my sick day organizing my office/guest room.
My first visitor - W! - is coming for the weekend and I'm so excited. I finally live in a place that has a dedicated guest room. A guest room is great for so many reasons, one of which is the fact that you have a place to hide stuff you don't feel like dealing with. It was the only place in my apartment with boxes that I hadn't emptied, partly because they weren't urgent, and partly because I knew they were full of miscellany that I didn't want to deal with. However, yesterday was pretty much my only chance to tackle the craziness, and I did with vigour! I dumped the boxes on the bed and slowly but surely - and with lots of breaks - put stuff where it belonged. It's not fully dealt with, but the bed and floor is clear, the desk isn't too cluttered with stuff, and it generally looks welcoming. I have to deal with the closet and figure out a long-term organizing strategy, but that can happen later. For now, it's clean and ready for W, and that's all I can ask for.
The apartment my girlfriend K and I (plus Spoon the cat) called home from September 2012 is now empty... at least of our stuff. I haven't been living in the apartment since late January, but this past Friday we took out the last of it. It feels bittersweet, as it has when I've moved out of every place I've lived in, but perhaps this one especially. It was K's and my home; our first space together, and it really was special to get a cat together, too. The kitchen was almost unbearably small, and now that I'm living in a relatively huge place, it's sort of a wonder how we lived in that small apartment. But it was home, and it was ours, and I loved it.
The sweet part is twofold: a new, big apartment to call home, but also, there was something mentally difficult about straddling two places for a month. It was unsettling. Clearing it out of the last of the stuff felt really therapeutic.
K has not yet joined me in our new place in Waterloo. She will, but she has to wrap up some things of her own in Toronto for the next few months, so she'll likely join me in the summer. It's hard, of course, but our relationship is so strong, so we're getting by just fine. Plus, when she joins me, she'll be ready for a fresh start, too, and that's a better time to move anyway... when you don't have too much left behind.
The 158-Pound Marriage
I read my second book of 2014: John Irving's The 158-Pound Marriage. I believe this is one of Irving's first novels. I've owned it for quite a while and have taken at least two stabs at it before, never finishing it. This time I did. After I read my first novel of 2014, The Devil Wears Prada, Irving felt appropriate because he's always so substantial and TDWP was anything but. And it was substantial, but I was left unsatisfied... probably to a larger degree than usual because I expect so much of Irving's books... but maybe it being one of his earlier ones was the reason why. Maybe I just didn't "get" it like I usually do. Maybe I couldn't relate to it. I'm not sure. It wasn't bad, but it just didn't meet my expectations.
"Homeland"
Then there's something that exceeded my expectations. "Homeland", the television show starring Claire Danes, among others. Oh. My. God. SO GOOD!!! I started it last Monday when I took a day off and was in search of something new and wonderful to watch, and I finished first season yesterday when I was home sick. The season was incredible. I spent part of it wondering how there could be a second season, but the season finale made it clear that there is a lot more material to tap into. The other crazy thing (pun intended?) was how Claire Danes really started showing her stuff in the last two episodes of the season. She's such an amazing actress, and was throughout all of the episodes, but the stuff people really raved about was most apparent in the last episodes. It was the kind of high-quality acting that I saw so much of in her movie "Temple Grandin". She has a well of emotion, from one extreme to another, that makes her perfect for the character of Carrie Mathieson. I wish season 2 was on Netflix. I'll have to watch it by other means...
The Time Traveller's Wife
I've said it before: finding a new book to read is always a struggle. I woke up extra early this morning as I was off sick yesterday and went to bed really early, and also wanted to have lots of time this morning to ease my way back into good health and readiness for work. Before having coffee and breakfast, I scanned my bookshelf and settled on The Time Traveller's Wife. I saw this movie ages ago when it was in theatres, and my friend who I saw it with had read and loved the book. I really enjoyed the movie, but was a bit uncertain about how good the book could be. I sped through 20 pages this morning. It's fantastic! Much better written than I anticipated (I'm a snob) and the story is so interesting. I can't wait for more!
I spent part of my sick day organizing my office/guest room.
My first visitor - W! - is coming for the weekend and I'm so excited. I finally live in a place that has a dedicated guest room. A guest room is great for so many reasons, one of which is the fact that you have a place to hide stuff you don't feel like dealing with. It was the only place in my apartment with boxes that I hadn't emptied, partly because they weren't urgent, and partly because I knew they were full of miscellany that I didn't want to deal with. However, yesterday was pretty much my only chance to tackle the craziness, and I did with vigour! I dumped the boxes on the bed and slowly but surely - and with lots of breaks - put stuff where it belonged. It's not fully dealt with, but the bed and floor is clear, the desk isn't too cluttered with stuff, and it generally looks welcoming. I have to deal with the closet and figure out a long-term organizing strategy, but that can happen later. For now, it's clean and ready for W, and that's all I can ask for.
Monday, February 10, 2014
W. and etc.
It's my friend W's birthday today. He is one of my best friends in the whole entire world, and so I can't stop thinking about him today and wishing him all the best on his special day.
One of the things I love about W is his tendency towards the new, exciting, elaborate, and original! I like to stick with things I'm comfortable with/used to a lot of the time, but W often takes me out of my comfort zone and introduces me to something new. Case in point: his choice for birthday celebrations this weekend. On Saturday night, my GF K. and I headed to Mississauga for some... ROLLERSKATING!!!
Yes, W had us all join him at Scooter's Roller Palace in Mississauga, ON for a night of roller skating hilarity. When imagining what decade I might've thrived in that I wasn't alive for, I've always imagined myself in the 70's. Tall with a blonde 'fro, roller skating with grace and style on a Saturday night. The reality was much different, but who cares about grace & style?! I was there for pure fun, and it was! We laughed, fell, wobbled along... It was hilarious and a great time! I highly recommend it.
Currently reading... The 158-Pound Marriage by - my tied-for-favourite author - John Irving
One of the things I love about W is his tendency towards the new, exciting, elaborate, and original! I like to stick with things I'm comfortable with/used to a lot of the time, but W often takes me out of my comfort zone and introduces me to something new. Case in point: his choice for birthday celebrations this weekend. On Saturday night, my GF K. and I headed to Mississauga for some... ROLLERSKATING!!!
Yes, W had us all join him at Scooter's Roller Palace in Mississauga, ON for a night of roller skating hilarity. When imagining what decade I might've thrived in that I wasn't alive for, I've always imagined myself in the 70's. Tall with a blonde 'fro, roller skating with grace and style on a Saturday night. The reality was much different, but who cares about grace & style?! I was there for pure fun, and it was! We laughed, fell, wobbled along... It was hilarious and a great time! I highly recommend it.
Currently reading... The 158-Pound Marriage by - my tied-for-favourite author - John Irving
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Toronto, Books & Opera
Blogging on the go again... that's just the kinda girl I am... a mover and shaker!
I'm on the subway returning to the TO apartment after a morning and early afternoon on the town. First, a dentist appointment! Then, I visited my grandparents with my sister and her baby. It was really nice. I was in the Yonge & Bloor area the whole time and since it's freezing out, I walked underground, and damn!!! There are so many Starbucks in that area, it's insane!
In other news, I finished my first book of 2014 today. It's a very sophisticated and important read: The Devil Wears Prada. I know the book well but have never done a full read of it. One of my strategies when in the middle of a reading drought is to read something totally fluffy to at least get me reading and then when I'm done, I know I won't be satisfied with that being the last thing I've read for very long, so I usually dive into something new right away. That's my hope for when I'm done this post. A new book is required!
I saw Cosi fan tutte again last night at the COC. This time it wasn't the main stage production but instead the opera was performed by the company's Ensemble Studio, a.k.a. the young artists program. So I've now seen the working rehearsal, main stage, and young artists' productions of this opera at the COC, plus Metro Youth Opera's production back in 2011, as well as Opera By Request's production a while back. I guess you could say I know the opera pretty well by now. It feels good.
Two of my favourite things about opera are: (1) the campiness - sometimes it's like an over-the-top drag show. I just love it! (2) how similar it is to novels and plays I studied during my English degree. The similarities between Shakespeare and Mozart are aplenty!
All for now!
I'm on the subway returning to the TO apartment after a morning and early afternoon on the town. First, a dentist appointment! Then, I visited my grandparents with my sister and her baby. It was really nice. I was in the Yonge & Bloor area the whole time and since it's freezing out, I walked underground, and damn!!! There are so many Starbucks in that area, it's insane!
In other news, I finished my first book of 2014 today. It's a very sophisticated and important read: The Devil Wears Prada. I know the book well but have never done a full read of it. One of my strategies when in the middle of a reading drought is to read something totally fluffy to at least get me reading and then when I'm done, I know I won't be satisfied with that being the last thing I've read for very long, so I usually dive into something new right away. That's my hope for when I'm done this post. A new book is required!
I saw Cosi fan tutte again last night at the COC. This time it wasn't the main stage production but instead the opera was performed by the company's Ensemble Studio, a.k.a. the young artists program. So I've now seen the working rehearsal, main stage, and young artists' productions of this opera at the COC, plus Metro Youth Opera's production back in 2011, as well as Opera By Request's production a while back. I guess you could say I know the opera pretty well by now. It feels good.
Two of my favourite things about opera are: (1) the campiness - sometimes it's like an over-the-top drag show. I just love it! (2) how similar it is to novels and plays I studied during my English degree. The similarities between Shakespeare and Mozart are aplenty!
All for now!
Monday, February 3, 2014
Week 3
I don't even know what to write about today, but I feel like writing...
I'm on Week 3 at the new job and I'm loving every minute of it. It's very independent work, so I really have to plan and execute my own agenda on a daily basis. I love that, but it can be a challenge when you're first starting out in a new position. However, my strategy is to take that to mean a great deal of trust and respect for how I work and the work I do, and I would never abuse that. If nobody's looking over your shoulder, you have to make an effort to put your work in front of them now and again just to show you're doing it. That's my approach, for what it's worth.
I'm also on Week 3 of living in Waterloo, though in a new capacity: I have my own apartment now!!! Yes, my girlfriend K. and I got possession of the new place on Saturday and it's better than we remembered! As I think I've mentioned, it will remain mostly empty until February 22nd when the full move from Toronto takes place, but it's off to a good start with Internet, a bed, and a coffee maker. What else do you need?! It was really nice to be able to wake up and go through my pre-work morning routine today without any obstacles. I may be missing a few material items here and there... and a couch... and a TV... and a 1/4 cup measuring cup... but I'm managing just fine!
All for now!
Currently reading... The Devil Wears Prada
I'm on Week 3 at the new job and I'm loving every minute of it. It's very independent work, so I really have to plan and execute my own agenda on a daily basis. I love that, but it can be a challenge when you're first starting out in a new position. However, my strategy is to take that to mean a great deal of trust and respect for how I work and the work I do, and I would never abuse that. If nobody's looking over your shoulder, you have to make an effort to put your work in front of them now and again just to show you're doing it. That's my approach, for what it's worth.
I'm also on Week 3 of living in Waterloo, though in a new capacity: I have my own apartment now!!! Yes, my girlfriend K. and I got possession of the new place on Saturday and it's better than we remembered! As I think I've mentioned, it will remain mostly empty until February 22nd when the full move from Toronto takes place, but it's off to a good start with Internet, a bed, and a coffee maker. What else do you need?! It was really nice to be able to wake up and go through my pre-work morning routine today without any obstacles. I may be missing a few material items here and there... and a couch... and a TV... and a 1/4 cup measuring cup... but I'm managing just fine!
All for now!
Currently reading... The Devil Wears Prada
Sunday, September 22, 2013
I'd like to thank the Academy...
I can't believe I haven't updated this blog in over a month. I hate looking at my favourite blogs and not seeing an update, and I try not to let that happen with S&G, but oh well...
Life is good... but busy!!!, which explains the lack of blogging. Although I am not a teacher, I do work at a school and so the energy inevitably comes back to campus and my workload the moment the academic year starts again. I love it though! During the summer I am so bored, and although it's nice to have a break and have things quiet down a bit, I much prefer overwhelmingly busy to overwhelmingly bored. Always.
Right now my plate is full of work associated with an event that takes place this Tuesday, so the end is in sight! Things are in good shape so it's just a matter of working my butt off until Tuesday at around 10:00 pm, spending the rest of the week doing the follow-up on the event, and then... well, starting work on the next event, which takes place on November 6th. And then when that's over, I'll work on the next event, which takes place on January 18th... and then I have a bit of a break. Event-planning is hard... and I'm not even an event planner. Oh well!
In other news, I have not been reading. I really need to make time to read, but I always want to do something mindless when I'm not working. I will try to get reading back into my life.
And the award for the most boring blog update goes to...
Currently reading: Nothing.
Posts to come: My thoughts on "Orange is the New Black"... eventually...
Life is good... but busy!!!, which explains the lack of blogging. Although I am not a teacher, I do work at a school and so the energy inevitably comes back to campus and my workload the moment the academic year starts again. I love it though! During the summer I am so bored, and although it's nice to have a break and have things quiet down a bit, I much prefer overwhelmingly busy to overwhelmingly bored. Always.
Right now my plate is full of work associated with an event that takes place this Tuesday, so the end is in sight! Things are in good shape so it's just a matter of working my butt off until Tuesday at around 10:00 pm, spending the rest of the week doing the follow-up on the event, and then... well, starting work on the next event, which takes place on November 6th. And then when that's over, I'll work on the next event, which takes place on January 18th... and then I have a bit of a break. Event-planning is hard... and I'm not even an event planner. Oh well!
In other news, I have not been reading. I really need to make time to read, but I always want to do something mindless when I'm not working. I will try to get reading back into my life.
And the award for the most boring blog update goes to...
Currently reading: Nothing.
Posts to come: My thoughts on "Orange is the New Black"... eventually...
Thursday, July 11, 2013
"rc-5": The Unofficial Reading Challenge
Remember how I decided I wasn't going to do a reading challenge this year and then I realized that the reading challenges mattered? Well, unofficially I still have a goal of reading 20 books this year, and I can't help but want to blog about it, so whether we call it rc-5 (Reading Challenge 5) or not, here goes...
"rc-5" (read 20 books in 2013)
Please Sir, I Mean Ma'am: This book was totally different. My Dad gave me this book to read. It's a modestly-published (and unfortunately poorly edited) book written by a woman who taught for 30 years at the school where I work (and which my Dad attended back in the 60's). It was an all boys' school back then and the woman who wrote the book (Marion Walker Garland) was the first female teacher. It's fiction though, but I use that term loosely. Names are barely changed, and circumstances are likely very close to the truth. It's about her experience as a female teacher, the stories of the boys, and the general goings-on of the school. It was enlightening as a staff member, and really just charming. Not a great novel by any stretch, but a really enjoyable read. I wouldn't recommend it though, because I doubt the charm translates if you have no connection to the school.
And so there you go! My eight books so far in the year. At this rate I could hit 16, but maybe I should take the rate up to the next level. 20 books in 2013 is in my sights yet!!!
Currently reading... The Book of Ruth by Jane Hamilton (and the most recent issue of Toronto Life)
Upcoming posts... How I intend to make life not consist of work and then laziness
"rc-5" (read 20 books in 2013)
- Grace by Grace Coddington
- The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb
- Onward by Howard Schultz
- Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris
- Quiet by Susan Cain
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
- The perks of being a wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
- Please Sir, I Mean Ma'am by Marion Walker Garland
3 non-fiction, 5 fiction. Here are some brief thoughts on all of them.
Grace: The memoir by Grace Coddington, Fashion Director of American Vogue. I fell in love with Grace when I first watched "The September Issue", and then fell in love over and over again as I re-watched the doc. Her memoir was great - written interestingly, and she's lived about a million lives for my very meager one.
The Hour I First Believed: Oh Wally Lamb, how you totally nourish me. His books just do things to me that no other books - except maybe John Irving's - can. I was so delighted recently to hear that he's about to release another. Anyway, THIFB was another brilliant one from him; a fascinating look at how the lives of those involved with the Columbine shootings were dramatically changed. I highly recommend!
Onward: As a "fan" of Starbucks, it was very interesting to read Onward, the story of Starbucks, but more specifically the story of Starbucks during its trying times from about 2007-2010. So yes, it was interesting, and interesting to learn about the development of certain products (Via, Clover...), but it was just so self-congratulatory! I maybe learned a few good habits of a CEO, but... ugh! Stop patting yourself on the back, Howard. It's not becoming.
Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: Totally different than Onward, and refreshing! I love David Sedaris, and SSC is his collection of the antithesis to Aesop's Fables. They're stories of animals in bizarre and hilarious human-like situations. A fun, quick read!
Quiet: This took me a while to get through; not because it wasn't interesting, but more because it was very heavy. That said, it was fantastic! It's about the power of introverts in a world that favours extroverts. It's about how this came to be, and how introverts can best manage in the (North American) culture as it is today. There's also this wonderful and moving section near the end on how parents and teachers can best work with introverted children. There were some things that really hit close to home, and it was a wonderful and worthwhile book.
The Great Gatsby: I was assigned this during my undergrad but never finished it. After a few false starts over the years, I finally read it, and I really enjoyed it. I've heard it referred to as the Great American Novel, so I was really surprised at how dark and pessimistic it was. Perhaps pessimistic is too harsh a word, but I thought it would be a lot more "rah rah America!" than it was. That said, it was an excellent look at an interest time period in American history, and I really enjoyed the book and its many symbols.
I also went and saw Baz Luhrmann's movie adaptation of the book last week, with Leonardo DiCaprio as Gatsby and Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway. I thought it was a great interpretation. Very true to the book, a confident and consistent visual style, and it really brought the most memorable scenes from the book to life. It also made some things make more sense, which is always a good thing. I'm glad I finally got to reading it.
The perks of being a wallflower: I moved onto this next, which was a total change of pace. TPOBAW was a re-read for me, and it was more intense and dark than I remembered... maybe I didn't get all of it the first time around. Anyway, it really is a great read; I like an epistolary novel... mostly because it allows me to call back on my (worthwhile) English degree and use the word "epistolary", but also because it breaks things up easily, gives you a sense of the protagonist in a different respect, and definitely changes things up after The Great Gatsby. Anyway, it's a charming and equally sad story, but I enjoyed it the second time around.
Please Sir, I Mean Ma'am: This book was totally different. My Dad gave me this book to read. It's a modestly-published (and unfortunately poorly edited) book written by a woman who taught for 30 years at the school where I work (and which my Dad attended back in the 60's). It was an all boys' school back then and the woman who wrote the book (Marion Walker Garland) was the first female teacher. It's fiction though, but I use that term loosely. Names are barely changed, and circumstances are likely very close to the truth. It's about her experience as a female teacher, the stories of the boys, and the general goings-on of the school. It was enlightening as a staff member, and really just charming. Not a great novel by any stretch, but a really enjoyable read. I wouldn't recommend it though, because I doubt the charm translates if you have no connection to the school.
And so there you go! My eight books so far in the year. At this rate I could hit 16, but maybe I should take the rate up to the next level. 20 books in 2013 is in my sights yet!!!
Currently reading... The Book of Ruth by Jane Hamilton (and the most recent issue of Toronto Life)
Upcoming posts... How I intend to make life not consist of work and then laziness
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Books & Driving
Classic... what is it about blogging about stuff that leads to action for me? I blogged about my shameful secret (not being able to drive) and within that year I had my license and a car.
Now, I blog about the fact that the reading challenges mattered, and within one month (to the day), I've more than doubled the number of books I've read this year.
A month ago when I wrote that post, I'd read two books:
Grace by Grace Coddington
The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb
Since then, I've read:
Onward by Howard Schultz
Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris
Quiet by Susan Cain
Granted, I was already halfway through Onward and Quiet, but no matter! It's progress!
So I'm going to keep on reading, and maybe I'll even hit my "secret goal" of reading 20 books this year. We shall see!
Speaking of all this, I have my driving test to get my full "G" license tomorrow. Wish me luck! Apparently all I need to do to achieve my goals is blog about them.
Now, I blog about the fact that the reading challenges mattered, and within one month (to the day), I've more than doubled the number of books I've read this year.
A month ago when I wrote that post, I'd read two books:
Grace by Grace Coddington
The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb
Since then, I've read:
Onward by Howard Schultz
Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris
Quiet by Susan Cain
Granted, I was already halfway through Onward and Quiet, but no matter! It's progress!
So I'm going to keep on reading, and maybe I'll even hit my "secret goal" of reading 20 books this year. We shall see!
Speaking of all this, I have my driving test to get my full "G" license tomorrow. Wish me luck! Apparently all I need to do to achieve my goals is blog about them.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Happy New Year | rc-4: Concluded
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Bring it on, 2013!
I am back to work today, in ways both professional and personal, so it felt timely to update good ol' Sugar & Gravy.
How was your holiday? Mine was great! It was the perfect balance of seeing family and friends, eating food, sleeping, resting, socializing, and more. I had a great New Year's Eve, too; very low-key with some loved ones. The holiday felt long, too, which is a surprise... not to say that it was easy getting back to work today, but still, it feels nice to be back to routine.
I owe everyone a salute to John Lennon, but it just doesn't feel right anymore, being nearly a month since the anniversary of his death. Moreover, there's not necessarily a significance to the 32nd anniversary of his death, so perhaps I'll save it for 2015... here's hoping I keep S&G up until then.
I also owe y'all an overview of all contestants (seasons 1-4) on "RuPaul's Drag Race". This post I will absolutely do, as it's partially written and I think will be a lot of fun to write and get feedback on. I hope to get this written in January, but I won't make any promises yet.
rc-4 Year-End Update
What I will do right now is give my rc-4 update. Another year has ended, and so therefore has another one of my reading challenges. Reading Challenge #4, more commonly referred to as rc-4, was to read 20 books in 2012. Once again (17/20 in 2011), I have not completed my challenge. In fact, I only completed 60% of it, but.....
WHO CARES?! The challenge is arbitrary to some degree. It's a great regular segment to blog about, a chance to discuss the books I'm reading and what I plan on reading next. And, the whole point was always to keep me reading after I was done my English degree, and I have been. 12 books in 2012 is fine. A book a month is likely above average, and plus - I'm not competing with anyone. rc-4 was for me, but hopefully any regular readers got some enjoyment out of it, too. I know I did!!!
All that said, here's what I did read:
Currently reading... Grace: A Memoir by Grace Coddington, Quiet by Susan Cain
Posts to come... An overview of all contestants to date on "RuPaul's Drag Race"
Bring it on, 2013!
I am back to work today, in ways both professional and personal, so it felt timely to update good ol' Sugar & Gravy.
How was your holiday? Mine was great! It was the perfect balance of seeing family and friends, eating food, sleeping, resting, socializing, and more. I had a great New Year's Eve, too; very low-key with some loved ones. The holiday felt long, too, which is a surprise... not to say that it was easy getting back to work today, but still, it feels nice to be back to routine.
I owe everyone a salute to John Lennon, but it just doesn't feel right anymore, being nearly a month since the anniversary of his death. Moreover, there's not necessarily a significance to the 32nd anniversary of his death, so perhaps I'll save it for 2015... here's hoping I keep S&G up until then.
I also owe y'all an overview of all contestants (seasons 1-4) on "RuPaul's Drag Race". This post I will absolutely do, as it's partially written and I think will be a lot of fun to write and get feedback on. I hope to get this written in January, but I won't make any promises yet.
rc-4 Year-End Update
What I will do right now is give my rc-4 update. Another year has ended, and so therefore has another one of my reading challenges. Reading Challenge #4, more commonly referred to as rc-4, was to read 20 books in 2012. Once again (17/20 in 2011), I have not completed my challenge. In fact, I only completed 60% of it, but.....
WHO CARES?! The challenge is arbitrary to some degree. It's a great regular segment to blog about, a chance to discuss the books I'm reading and what I plan on reading next. And, the whole point was always to keep me reading after I was done my English degree, and I have been. 12 books in 2012 is fine. A book a month is likely above average, and plus - I'm not competing with anyone. rc-4 was for me, but hopefully any regular readers got some enjoyment out of it, too. I know I did!!!
All that said, here's what I did read:
- What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell
- When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
- Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
- Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
- Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
- If You Have to Cry, Go Outside by Kelly Cutrone
- Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
- Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom **re-read
- She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb *favourite author **re-read
- In One Person by John Irving *favourite author
- Lennon Revealed by Larry Kane **re-read
In Sum: 12 books read, 9 new books and 3 books re-read, 10 different authors, 1 series, 6 non-fiction, 6 fiction
As for what I'm going to do in 2013 or rc-5... I'm not sure yet. I think I'm just going to re-commit myself to reading lots, blog about it here, but not make it a challenge. I may change my mind, but I'm a bit over the challenge: not the intent of it, but the whole being a challenge part. I'll read, I'll write about it, but that'll be all.
All my best for a great 2013, all! Until next time.....
Currently reading... Grace: A Memoir by Grace Coddington, Quiet by Susan Cain
Posts to come... An overview of all contestants to date on "RuPaul's Drag Race"
Monday, November 12, 2012
rc-4 update
Reading Challenge #4 continues...
Just this morning I finished re-reading Lennon Revealed by Larry Kane. It's a biography of John Lennon, written by long-time friend Larry Kane, a journalist who was assigned to travel with The Beatles on their two North American tours in 1964 and 1965. It's a great, honest biography of John Lennon, which all the good ones seem to be. That's how John would've wanted it.
Stay tuned for a dedication piece to John in December, on the 32nd anniversary of his death.
I'm struggling with what to read next. I think I'm going to try to dive into Susan Cain's book, Quiet, but we shall see!
What I've read so far...
Just this morning I finished re-reading Lennon Revealed by Larry Kane. It's a biography of John Lennon, written by long-time friend Larry Kane, a journalist who was assigned to travel with The Beatles on their two North American tours in 1964 and 1965. It's a great, honest biography of John Lennon, which all the good ones seem to be. That's how John would've wanted it.
Stay tuned for a dedication piece to John in December, on the 32nd anniversary of his death.
I'm struggling with what to read next. I think I'm going to try to dive into Susan Cain's book, Quiet, but we shall see!
What I've read so far...
- What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell
- When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
- Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
- Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
- Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
- If You Have to Cry, Go Outside by Kelly Cutrone
- Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
- Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom **re-read
- She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb **re-read
- In One Person by John Irving
- Lennon Revealed by Larry Kane **re-read
Friday, November 9, 2012
Fully there in that place
Wow... never underestimate the power of music.
I'm working alongside my GF today so I have my earphones in while listening to music. I unsuccessfully downloaded Feist's album, "Metals", and so when that failed I started listening to Fever Ray (working my way through my music library alphabetically, apparently). For the record I'm listening to Fever Ray's self-titled album... I don't know if that's their only one.
The moment I pressed play (the first song that played was "Dry and Dusty"), I was taken back to where I most obsessively listened to that album; where I first listened to it and where I enjoyed it most. I swear I could smell the cold air. It was winter of 09/10. I used to smoke back then, I'm afraid (I quit though!), and I can smell the mix of the cold air and my cigarettes. I remember the coat I would wear. I remember where I was at in my life. I remember the apartment I would return to after a smoking session. I remember what it felt like in that apartment... what my life was like. I remember the books I would read, the layout of my apartment, the movies I was obsessed with... where I spent most of my time...
I know it wasn't that long ago, but what I'm trying to say is that the moment the first few notes of this song started to play: I WAS THERE. Fully there, in those moments, in that life, in that place.
I also remember the other album I listened to, basically in tandem with "Fever Ray": "XX" by The XX. I just started listening to that right now, too, and it's the same feeling. They're similar albums, really, and that's where I was at: calm, introspective, quiet, cold, relaxed, focused... It was a good time. And it's good music.
Currently reading... Lennon Revealed by Larry Kane
On deck... High Fidelity by Nicholas Hornby, Quiet by Susan Cain
I'm working alongside my GF today so I have my earphones in while listening to music. I unsuccessfully downloaded Feist's album, "Metals", and so when that failed I started listening to Fever Ray (working my way through my music library alphabetically, apparently). For the record I'm listening to Fever Ray's self-titled album... I don't know if that's their only one.
The moment I pressed play (the first song that played was "Dry and Dusty"), I was taken back to where I most obsessively listened to that album; where I first listened to it and where I enjoyed it most. I swear I could smell the cold air. It was winter of 09/10. I used to smoke back then, I'm afraid (I quit though!), and I can smell the mix of the cold air and my cigarettes. I remember the coat I would wear. I remember where I was at in my life. I remember the apartment I would return to after a smoking session. I remember what it felt like in that apartment... what my life was like. I remember the books I would read, the layout of my apartment, the movies I was obsessed with... where I spent most of my time...
I know it wasn't that long ago, but what I'm trying to say is that the moment the first few notes of this song started to play: I WAS THERE. Fully there, in those moments, in that life, in that place.
I also remember the other album I listened to, basically in tandem with "Fever Ray": "XX" by The XX. I just started listening to that right now, too, and it's the same feeling. They're similar albums, really, and that's where I was at: calm, introspective, quiet, cold, relaxed, focused... It was a good time. And it's good music.
Currently reading... Lennon Revealed by Larry Kane
On deck... High Fidelity by Nicholas Hornby, Quiet by Susan Cain
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Bookshelves: a peephole into your mind
When I go to someone's place of residence for the first time - or really any time - I am drawn to their bookshelves. Whether they hold books or DVDs or - in rare cases - CDs, I love to scan them. I love seeing what people read, watch, and/or listen to. I love commenting on shared favourite authors or TV shows. It's a conversation-starter, a peephole into their mind, and even better - an opportunity to borrow some good books and movies.
You won't be surprised to know that I take a lot of pride in my own bookshelves. I have been know to organize DVDs alphabetically, group authors together, and sort books according to subject matter. After reading Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, I read a review on the back that said the book could easily fit between 1984 and A Brave New World on your bookshelf... so that's exactly where I put it. I love when people inspect my bookshelves; whether they're passing judgment or looking for shared interests, I bare it all for them.
It's because of this that when I think about the printed word or the tangible media source (DVD, CD, etc.) becoming obsolete, it's scary to me. It's not that I'm a dinosaur and don't get it, or want to slow things down; it's that I think about the joy I get from seeing and touching someone's books and movies and I hate the thought of not having that. I feel like I know people better when I see their shelves. I feel like it brings colour and culture into a room, never mind being aethestically pleasing a lot of the time.
Then there's also that feeling of a book in your hand. Will they one day call a story with so much excitement you can't wait for the next part a... page-swiper?! I love the smell of books, seeing what I might've underlined the last time I read a favourite, and the drama in closing a book when you've finished it and just clutching it for a few moments. It's meaningful.
All I'll get a chance to see is the evolution of books and DVDs, etc. in my own lifetime. I wonder what I'll see.....
You won't be surprised to know that I take a lot of pride in my own bookshelves. I have been know to organize DVDs alphabetically, group authors together, and sort books according to subject matter. After reading Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, I read a review on the back that said the book could easily fit between 1984 and A Brave New World on your bookshelf... so that's exactly where I put it. I love when people inspect my bookshelves; whether they're passing judgment or looking for shared interests, I bare it all for them.
It's because of this that when I think about the printed word or the tangible media source (DVD, CD, etc.) becoming obsolete, it's scary to me. It's not that I'm a dinosaur and don't get it, or want to slow things down; it's that I think about the joy I get from seeing and touching someone's books and movies and I hate the thought of not having that. I feel like I know people better when I see their shelves. I feel like it brings colour and culture into a room, never mind being aethestically pleasing a lot of the time.
Then there's also that feeling of a book in your hand. Will they one day call a story with so much excitement you can't wait for the next part a... page-swiper?! I love the smell of books, seeing what I might've underlined the last time I read a favourite, and the drama in closing a book when you've finished it and just clutching it for a few moments. It's meaningful.
All I'll get a chance to see is the evolution of books and DVDs, etc. in my own lifetime. I wonder what I'll see.....
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Coffee Ritual
For some reason that I can't explain, my blog is only working in HTML mode this morning, not rich text. Oh well! I'll edit in my wild italics later.
I had a lazy, drawn-out wake-up this morning, which I love having the opportunity to enjoy. Waking up, falling back asleep, checking my phone, rolling around, falling asleep again, and then finally around 9:30 I dragged myself out of bed and put on some coffee.
That's when something horrifying happened! I looked into the fridge and saw NO MILK!!!
Thankfully I live within short walking distance of a number of convenience stores, so I put on a jacket and went outside.
What was horrifying then became lovely! Buying milk was an excuse to enjoy the crisp, sunny, coolness that is the perfect fall Saturday morning; that's what today is like. It felt incredibly fresh and rejuvenating to head outside and feel that sort of weather. Needless to say, not having milk was a blessing in disguise!
I got my milk and then left the convenience store. That's when I noticed some newspaper boxes for those subway magazines Metro and 24-Hour or whatever they're called. I grabbed one of each and then had this funny, happy memory pop into my mind.
I think I started drinking coffee around grade 12, when I was 17/18. In grade 12 I went to an alternative high school in Toronto; I won't go into great detail explaining what made it alternative, but let's just say it was different than your average high school. On my way to school every day that year I would grab a coffee at Tim Horton's, snag a Metro magazine, and head to school. Before I got to work on my schoolwork, I would lazily drink my coffee and do the Metro crossword (the teachers didn't care... that was part of the fun of being at an alternative school).
This struck me as funny this morning, because I guess I didn't realize that my coffee & reading/crossword-doing ritual has now been going on for 7+ years... what a trip! It hasn't lost its pleasure either. That quiet part of the morning when it's just me awake in the apartment, and I have 20 or so minutes to eat breakfast, gently sip coffee, and engage in something that brings me great pleasure... It's a wonderful thing!
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Giving Thanks
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
The first thing that I am thankful for today is my girlfriend. She brings light to my day - every day - from the moment I get up, and that is something to be thankful for.
The second thing that I am thankful for is John Irving, his book In One Person, and good books everywhere. After dropping my GF off this morning where she needed to be, I came back home and spent a quiet thirty minutes or so with my coffee and the last 25 pages of In One Person. There was a lot of warmth in those thirty minutes, and like I always do with a good book, when it came to the end I got shivers, gently closed it, and spent 60 seconds or so digesting it. I never expected my favourite author to write such an LGBTQ community-focused novel, but he did, and with an angle I've never seen, and I loved it.
I'm also thankful that once I'm done this quiet morning time and get myself showered and ready, that I'll be walking over to my parents' place - a twenty minute walk away - to enjoy a day of more warmth, loved ones around, delicious food, and a lot of blessings.
I feel lucky and I feel blessed and I feel thankful.
I hope you feel these things today, too!
~~~
rc-4 update:
The first thing that I am thankful for today is my girlfriend. She brings light to my day - every day - from the moment I get up, and that is something to be thankful for.
The second thing that I am thankful for is John Irving, his book In One Person, and good books everywhere. After dropping my GF off this morning where she needed to be, I came back home and spent a quiet thirty minutes or so with my coffee and the last 25 pages of In One Person. There was a lot of warmth in those thirty minutes, and like I always do with a good book, when it came to the end I got shivers, gently closed it, and spent 60 seconds or so digesting it. I never expected my favourite author to write such an LGBTQ community-focused novel, but he did, and with an angle I've never seen, and I loved it.
I'm also thankful that once I'm done this quiet morning time and get myself showered and ready, that I'll be walking over to my parents' place - a twenty minute walk away - to enjoy a day of more warmth, loved ones around, delicious food, and a lot of blessings.
I feel lucky and I feel blessed and I feel thankful.
I hope you feel these things today, too!
~~~
rc-4 update:
- What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell
- When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
- Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
- Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
- Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
- If You Have to Cry, Go Outside by Kelly Cutrone
- Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
- Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
- She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb
- In One Person by John Irving
5 non-fiction, 6 fiction, 9 authors represented, a variety of subject matter. Perhaps hitting the goal of 20 books read in 2012 is unlikely to happen, but who cares?! I'm reading!
Thursday, September 20, 2012
She's Come Undone
My friend and I had a great conversation recently about books. Together we turned our noses up at Fifty Shades of Grey and went on to discuss what we were reading and what our favourite books are. I mentioned I was reading John Irving's latest novel, In One Person. She said, "I love John Irving!!!" I said, "Me too!", and told her which ones I've read (A Widow for One Year, The Cider House Rules, and The World According to Garp). She shared her Irving reads, and then said, "But as much as I love John Irving, he's competing against one other favourite author ...[dramatic pause]... Wally Lamb."
The friend that I was chatting with is one of my best friends, but I still reeled at her other favourite author. Could she be serious?! How was it that we shared the same two favourite authors?!?! I love Wally Lamb, but even more than that, I LOVE his book She's Come Undone. This conversation excited me so much that I soon put aside In One Person and began to re-read (my fourth time) She's Come Undone. I'm reading it right now and it's as good if not better than the other three times I've read it.
Unlike other books I've read recently - the Hunger Games trilogy, or even Tuesdays with Morrie which I love, but still... - She's Come Undone is like nourishment. The writing is so strong and powerful it's like actual food... like oatmeal, the kind of food that sticks to your ribs, prepares you for the day, warms you up, and stays with you for more than just a few minutes of satisfaction. The story is deeply upsetting, sometimes depressing, but it's always done in a way that fills you up rather than leaving you simply empty and depressed. I love this book, and it hasn't lost its effect on me.
This is good timing for a rc-4 update:
The friend that I was chatting with is one of my best friends, but I still reeled at her other favourite author. Could she be serious?! How was it that we shared the same two favourite authors?!?! I love Wally Lamb, but even more than that, I LOVE his book She's Come Undone. This conversation excited me so much that I soon put aside In One Person and began to re-read (my fourth time) She's Come Undone. I'm reading it right now and it's as good if not better than the other three times I've read it.
Unlike other books I've read recently - the Hunger Games trilogy, or even Tuesdays with Morrie which I love, but still... - She's Come Undone is like nourishment. The writing is so strong and powerful it's like actual food... like oatmeal, the kind of food that sticks to your ribs, prepares you for the day, warms you up, and stays with you for more than just a few minutes of satisfaction. The story is deeply upsetting, sometimes depressing, but it's always done in a way that fills you up rather than leaving you simply empty and depressed. I love this book, and it hasn't lost its effect on me.
This is good timing for a rc-4 update:
- What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell
- When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
- Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
- Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
- Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
- If You Have to Cry, Go Outside by Kelly Cutrone
- Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
- Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
Currently reading... She's Come Undone (duh!), In One Person
On deck... A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
On deck... A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
Thursday, August 16, 2012
RC-4: Updated
I have been promising a full update on rc-4 a.k.a. Reading Challenge #4 in which I challenge myself to read 20 books in 2012. Like it or not, the year is almost 2/3 over. That makes me want to scream! I mean, I'm fine with time passing just as quickly as it wants to, but it still comes as a surprise to know that... my France trip was nearly eight months ago... I've been in Toronto again for nearly two months... and that the time aspect of the reading challenge is 2/3 done while the reading aspect is not even 1/2 done.
BUT, that said, the reading challenge series was never meant to make me feel bad or guilty; it was always intended to encourage me to read more, and so even if I only make it to 10 books this year (50% of my goal), it's fine... as long as I'm reading.
So here's what I've read so far this year...
So here's what I've read so far this year...
- What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell
- When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
- Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
- Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
- Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
- If You Have to Cry, Go Outside by Kelly Cutrone
- Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Currently reading: In One Person by John Irving (FANTASTIC so far!!!)
Posts to come: nothing on deck for y'all at this point, but surely I'll be posting soon!
Love,
Sugar & Gravy
Thursday, August 2, 2012
The Hunger Lames
The Hunger Games by
Suzanne Collins… everyone was talking about it, my girlfriend devoured the
trilogy, and – despite my biggest deterrent: hype – I was intrigued enough to
dive into the series.
I liked reading
the first installment (The Hunger Games)
because it was easy and quick to read, the chapters were short (which can be a
really nice thing), and because it was a literary idea like I’d never read
before. It was imaginative, original,
creative, and fascinating; these are great elements in a novel.
I started reading Catching
Fire (the second book of the three) because I had to know what happened
next. I read this novel even more
quickly than the first. I loved this one
in particular because it went in a direction that I had never predicted. It was surprising and even more engaging than
its predecessor. I was hooked!
Then I moved on to Mockingjay
and I faltered. I pushed through the
first bit and then couldn’t get hooked again.
It lay gathering dust on my kitchen table for weeks… I think it took me
nearly 2.5 months, if not more, to get through it in the end. It just didn’t deliver like the others
did. Sure, it was a new story, but it
wasn’t that same action-packed, page-turning excitement that had me racing
through the first two.
Then – worst of all – the ending fell flat. I liked what I gathered some of the
overarching themes were, bleak as some of them may be, but it was just so…
unsatisfying. It wrapped up too quickly
without enough loose end-tying. It just
kind of went splat – there you go, it’s over.
The definition of anticlimactic.
Was it worth the read?
Absolutely. But as my friend
Waleed said, “It’s not a good sign when you’re really happy you’re done.”
[This whole unsatisfying experience was heightened by
the sigh of relief and overwhelming sense of sustenance I felt when I dove into
my current read: In One Person by
John Irving.]
Posts to come... a full update on Reading Challenge #4 + anniversary dinner at Yours Truly & a beer beforehand
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Muskokes
Summer in Ontario doesn't quite feel like summer until I get to spend some time at a cottage. I got my 24 hours in Sarnia, but it's not quite the same. I just got back from 48 hours on Lake Rosseau in Muskoka and now I really feel like I've had that summer experience. (Lucky for me I'll also get 48 hours in Southampton on Lake Huron next weekend!)
My 3 days in Muskoka were incredible!!! My GF and I arrived there on Sunday around 1:00pm after the oh-so-necessary stop at Weber's on Highway 11. My dad met us at the marina and off we drove to the cottage which is on an island I can't remember the name of. My parents rented this cottage for about two weeks and I'm so glad I was able to spend some time there. It's newly built and is that perfect combination of creature comforts and real cottage living. Everything's very clean and new but also comfy and cozy. There are tonnes of different spots to cuddle up and read, sit down and play cards, or lounge and get some sun.
During my 48 hours there I had 4 swims, 2 periods of lounging in the sun, 2 sleeps averaging 9 hours each, I finished 1 book (Mockingjay... which I've been reading for what feels like 2 years... more on that another time), played Gin Rummy twice, Boggle once, Dominion (new favourite game!) 3 times, ate 2 delicious dinners... the list goes on.
Needless to say, I enjoyed every moment, and was glad to have my first real cottage moment of the Summer of 2012. More to come!!!
Currently reading... In One Person by John Irving
Posts to come... my thoughts on The Hunger Games trilogy / an update on rc-4 + my 3-year anniversary dinner at Yours Truly (Dundas & Ossington)
My 3 days in Muskoka were incredible!!! My GF and I arrived there on Sunday around 1:00pm after the oh-so-necessary stop at Weber's on Highway 11. My dad met us at the marina and off we drove to the cottage which is on an island I can't remember the name of. My parents rented this cottage for about two weeks and I'm so glad I was able to spend some time there. It's newly built and is that perfect combination of creature comforts and real cottage living. Everything's very clean and new but also comfy and cozy. There are tonnes of different spots to cuddle up and read, sit down and play cards, or lounge and get some sun.
During my 48 hours there I had 4 swims, 2 periods of lounging in the sun, 2 sleeps averaging 9 hours each, I finished 1 book (Mockingjay... which I've been reading for what feels like 2 years... more on that another time), played Gin Rummy twice, Boggle once, Dominion (new favourite game!) 3 times, ate 2 delicious dinners... the list goes on.
Needless to say, I enjoyed every moment, and was glad to have my first real cottage moment of the Summer of 2012. More to come!!!
Currently reading... In One Person by John Irving
Posts to come... my thoughts on The Hunger Games trilogy / an update on rc-4 + my 3-year anniversary dinner at Yours Truly (Dundas & Ossington)
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
rc-4: Kelly Cutrone enlightens
Guess what?!? 10 more days until I move to Toronto.
In other news, it's been a while since I updated you on Reading Challenge #4 a.k.a. rc-4. Almost 6 months in and 7 books down. Not bad, but I'm going to have to kick it up a notch to reach my goal of 20 books in 2012.
My latest read (which I finished this morning) was If You Have to Cry, Go Outside by Kelly Cutrone -- Fashion PR Queen of New York: known for dressing in black, speaking her mind, and appearing on a variety of reality television shows, from "The Hills" to her own, "Kell On Earth".
The book wasn't what I expected. I had been unsuccessfully reading Mockingjay, the final book in The Hunger Games trilogy. I had really hoped to read the trilogy without stopping, but I regret to say that Mockingjay simply did not hook me. The first book, The Hunger Games was fascinating throughout, hard to put down. Catching Fire was so far from what I expected that it kept me engaged the whole time. Mockingjay, on the other hand, was such a change of pace (read: slow) and just a whole other kind of story that I couldn't push through the first third. It's now gathering dust on my kitchen table. I'll try to get back to it next, but I won't force it. I will finish it soon enough (everyone says it's worth pushing through for the sake of the ending), but if I'm not engaged, I'm not engaged.
Anyway, back to KC's "memoir". First of all, I'd been reading The Hunger Games, so moving from that to a PR powerhouse's memoir, if you want to call it that, was a tough transition. Secondly, feeling somewhat well-versed in spiritual language and ideals, it felt a bit rich to have spiritual advice coming from someone who I've seen straight-up call someone on their eating disorder in the middle of a bar on "The City". However, when I got past my skepticism, I started to realize that Ms. Cutrone genuinely had a lot to offer. She tells her own story - which is tumultuous and comes with all sorts of twists and turns - interspersed with both business-related advice as well as spiritual suggestions. It's got a good flow, a fresh tone, and I actually got a lot out of it. Definitely worth a read if you're looking for something different and light. We'll see what I get to reading next.
rc-4 so far...
- What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell
- When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
- Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
- Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
- Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
- If You Have to Cry, Go Outside by Kelly Cutrone
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Say no to procrastination
It happened to me again. I had a task on my to do list that I kept putting off and putting off and putting it off made me anxious but I still wasn't getting it done which made me more anxious and then finally... I got it done. Today. And, as always, it was much easier - and as it turned out, cheaper - than I thought it would be. Once again the lesson is that procrastinating does nobody any good.
What was the task, you ask? Well, as you might remember, my laptop died last summer. It fully kicked the bucket, though thankfully the hard drive was saved. My friend W told me that I could go and get the hard drive cased and it could act as an external hard drive. I kept meaning to go and get it cased but, as I said, kept putting it off. FINALLY today I dragged myself to Canada Computers in an ungodly area (north of Finch) and told the employee who greeted me at the door what I needed done. I thought I'd have to hand over my hard drive and leave it with them for a few weeks and then pay $100 to get it back. As it turned out, it cost $14 and involved nothing more than opening the box, casing it, screwing in some screws, and handing it back to me. AMAZING. Short, sweet, and now I have the luxury of enjoying all the music, movies, and TV shows I thought I lost forever last summer.
Currently reading: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Next post: Discovering T.O. #5 - 416 Snack Bar, Lola's Kitchen, and Ha Long Bay
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