Tuesday, June 28, 2005
RIP, Piglet & Tigger
The actors who voiced Piglet and Tigger died, one after the other, last weekend. Although the characters had true fictional life on the page alone as A.A. Milne wrote them, those actors made them a part of the fictional menagerie within my mind and memory.
Apologies for having neglected my poor old blog for so long. I was doing so well, too! I've been trying to squeeze in some work time on the computer while the baby naps, and just haven't been able to manage blogging as well in that limited time-frame.
We went to a new place on the weekend, one to which we plan to return frequently over the summer: the beach on Ile Bizard. Never heard of it? You're not alone, and that's what makes it so great. It's a bit of a secret. It's quite wonderful, even if the beach itself is kind of grody. The water looks like strong coffee and I could have sworn I felt a burning sensation when I waded in. But hey, it's Montreal! Whaddya want, white sand and clear water? Come on! Actually, while the water is so-so, the surrounding area is lovely, with loads of trails leading to pretty views and rocky "cliffs" and lovely yachts and sailboats gliding across your line of sight. It was a great place to go, and completely free, except for parking. The bird sounds were amazing too; I bet you could do some great birding there in the early hours.
Life has been eventful, very social and busy and fun. My nephew came into town from Vancouver last week. He's 29, and it always surprises me to see him. He's a lovely man, wise and kind and gentle. But I can still see him the day he left for Vancouver when he was only two. In a tiny red velvet suit, his curly white hair like a halo around his little cheeky face, not knowing where he was going or how everything would change. How we cried to see him go! But he and my sister (his mom) made a go of it and stayed out west and it's their home after all these years.
I've been feeling nostalgic lately...memories seem to be crowding in a little more closely. Sometimes the veil between the past and the present feels thin.
The actors who voiced Piglet and Tigger died, one after the other, last weekend. Although the characters had true fictional life on the page alone as A.A. Milne wrote them, those actors made them a part of the fictional menagerie within my mind and memory.
Apologies for having neglected my poor old blog for so long. I was doing so well, too! I've been trying to squeeze in some work time on the computer while the baby naps, and just haven't been able to manage blogging as well in that limited time-frame.
We went to a new place on the weekend, one to which we plan to return frequently over the summer: the beach on Ile Bizard. Never heard of it? You're not alone, and that's what makes it so great. It's a bit of a secret. It's quite wonderful, even if the beach itself is kind of grody. The water looks like strong coffee and I could have sworn I felt a burning sensation when I waded in. But hey, it's Montreal! Whaddya want, white sand and clear water? Come on! Actually, while the water is so-so, the surrounding area is lovely, with loads of trails leading to pretty views and rocky "cliffs" and lovely yachts and sailboats gliding across your line of sight. It was a great place to go, and completely free, except for parking. The bird sounds were amazing too; I bet you could do some great birding there in the early hours.
Life has been eventful, very social and busy and fun. My nephew came into town from Vancouver last week. He's 29, and it always surprises me to see him. He's a lovely man, wise and kind and gentle. But I can still see him the day he left for Vancouver when he was only two. In a tiny red velvet suit, his curly white hair like a halo around his little cheeky face, not knowing where he was going or how everything would change. How we cried to see him go! But he and my sister (his mom) made a go of it and stayed out west and it's their home after all these years.
I've been feeling nostalgic lately...memories seem to be crowding in a little more closely. Sometimes the veil between the past and the present feels thin.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Hot heat n' bikinis
Haven't posted for a few days due to extreme heat and confusion and general fugginess.
This past weekend was quite good -- sort of a social whirl, whch suited me just fine. Friday evening was our book club meeting. After a 45 minute giggle-inducing drive around all of the surrounding neighbourhoods, my friend D. and I arrived at the home of another club member in high spirits. I enjoyed the meeting very much -- a couple of beers and some good conversation about the mystery genre and the various lives and opinions of our friends.
Then on Saturday our family was invited to the 40th birthday bash of my newest friend and neighbour. She's a very cool and interesting person, and her party did not disappoint. The theme was green and white, and she had decorated her house appropriately and had lots of delicious food and lovely drinky-poos on hand. She had rented little tables and chairs and turned her living room into a sort of bistro. I wore a rather sexy lime green dress that I thought I would never wear, and had a great time, meeting new people and enjoying good conversation and laughs. I met: a single mom from Jersey who's having a hard time on her own but making it work; a lawyer couple and an accountant couple, and a 68-year-old lesbian who is a cousin of the fellow who wrote "Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka-dot Bikini". You just never know who you're gonna meet. It was thoroughly enjoyable.
Sunday was the shrivelled cherry on top of the stifling-hot weekend, so we went to the pool. This was our first time this summer, and it made me glad once again that I bought a family membership. I love our neighbourhood pool. Happily, so does the baby, and she looked pretty squishy in her teeny weeny bikini, that she wore for the first time that day.
Haven't posted for a few days due to extreme heat and confusion and general fugginess.
This past weekend was quite good -- sort of a social whirl, whch suited me just fine. Friday evening was our book club meeting. After a 45 minute giggle-inducing drive around all of the surrounding neighbourhoods, my friend D. and I arrived at the home of another club member in high spirits. I enjoyed the meeting very much -- a couple of beers and some good conversation about the mystery genre and the various lives and opinions of our friends.
Then on Saturday our family was invited to the 40th birthday bash of my newest friend and neighbour. She's a very cool and interesting person, and her party did not disappoint. The theme was green and white, and she had decorated her house appropriately and had lots of delicious food and lovely drinky-poos on hand. She had rented little tables and chairs and turned her living room into a sort of bistro. I wore a rather sexy lime green dress that I thought I would never wear, and had a great time, meeting new people and enjoying good conversation and laughs. I met: a single mom from Jersey who's having a hard time on her own but making it work; a lawyer couple and an accountant couple, and a 68-year-old lesbian who is a cousin of the fellow who wrote "Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka-dot Bikini". You just never know who you're gonna meet. It was thoroughly enjoyable.
Sunday was the shrivelled cherry on top of the stifling-hot weekend, so we went to the pool. This was our first time this summer, and it made me glad once again that I bought a family membership. I love our neighbourhood pool. Happily, so does the baby, and she looked pretty squishy in her teeny weeny bikini, that she wore for the first time that day.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Wares
At work again. What's kind of galling about this experience is that, while it is nice to be here and see all my friends, I have to go around "showing my face" to the right people in order to get hired for freelance work in the future. The idea is "out of sight, out of mind" as far as freelancers go here, and my long absence means I'm pretty far out of mind.
This sticking my head in doors and saying "Hey, I'm here! Think of me when you need someone to research or whatever!" kind of goes against the grain for me. I wouldn't say that I'm a paragon of sincerity or whatever, but I don't like to have conversations with an ulterior motive. Aren't I so wonderful that they should just want me, without my having to make an effort?
Sigh. 'Tis the life of the freelancer, I guess, and I'd better get used to it. Selling myself may become second nature to me someday, but I hope not. I have trouble even convincing myself.
At work again. What's kind of galling about this experience is that, while it is nice to be here and see all my friends, I have to go around "showing my face" to the right people in order to get hired for freelance work in the future. The idea is "out of sight, out of mind" as far as freelancers go here, and my long absence means I'm pretty far out of mind.
This sticking my head in doors and saying "Hey, I'm here! Think of me when you need someone to research or whatever!" kind of goes against the grain for me. I wouldn't say that I'm a paragon of sincerity or whatever, but I don't like to have conversations with an ulterior motive. Aren't I so wonderful that they should just want me, without my having to make an effort?
Sigh. 'Tis the life of the freelancer, I guess, and I'd better get used to it. Selling myself may become second nature to me someday, but I hope not. I have trouble even convincing myself.
Monday, June 06, 2005
What a crazy weekend!
The last two weekends D. and I have consciously avoided planning anything to do, so that we could have some real down time and maybe even do our gardening and -- the gods willing -- our windows. Well, it seems like those two weekends turned out to be busier than busy! I don't know what it is... although much of what kept us busy was fun and social and that is all good. The kids (and I) made a lemonade stand yesterday, that just happened to coincide with my next-door neighbour's open house. So we got to check out potential new neighbours and let them know that there are kids living here all at the same time. Oh, and raise a few bucks for the ecomuseum as well.
Went over to my new friend's house as a family for the first time, for margaritas and nachos and D's delicious guacamole. That was fun and unplanned and it felt very summery and pleasant.
Gotta go. Baby's crying!
The last two weekends D. and I have consciously avoided planning anything to do, so that we could have some real down time and maybe even do our gardening and -- the gods willing -- our windows. Well, it seems like those two weekends turned out to be busier than busy! I don't know what it is... although much of what kept us busy was fun and social and that is all good. The kids (and I) made a lemonade stand yesterday, that just happened to coincide with my next-door neighbour's open house. So we got to check out potential new neighbours and let them know that there are kids living here all at the same time. Oh, and raise a few bucks for the ecomuseum as well.
Went over to my new friend's house as a family for the first time, for margaritas and nachos and D's delicious guacamole. That was fun and unplanned and it felt very summery and pleasant.
Gotta go. Baby's crying!
Thursday, June 02, 2005
At Home
I'm working on putting together a portfolio-type thing to show to prospective clients for freelance writing work. I may also get a web site for myself. Is it tacky to put a picture of oneself on one's web site? I'm thinking of a kind of a "mystery" photo, where you only see part of my face or something. I'm just wondering what kind of visuals would be appropriate for this kind of site. I certainly don't think my photo would be a selling point or anything -- far from it! But I know that I like to have some kind of visual connection to a person if I'm on a site specifically to learn about them.
I'm enjoying these fine days with my little chubby bubble. She seems to tire more easily in this warm weather, however, so unfortunately our outings have to be brief.
I went to my son's year-end show at school last evening. All the kindergartners put on a musical play together. Is there anything cuter than little 5-year-olds singing and dancing and smiling sheepishly and waving at their parents from the stage? If there is, I ain't seen it. They pulled off a pretty complicated show with great professionalism, for a bunch of little kids. My son is very proud, as he should be.
I'm working on putting together a portfolio-type thing to show to prospective clients for freelance writing work. I may also get a web site for myself. Is it tacky to put a picture of oneself on one's web site? I'm thinking of a kind of a "mystery" photo, where you only see part of my face or something. I'm just wondering what kind of visuals would be appropriate for this kind of site. I certainly don't think my photo would be a selling point or anything -- far from it! But I know that I like to have some kind of visual connection to a person if I'm on a site specifically to learn about them.
I'm enjoying these fine days with my little chubby bubble. She seems to tire more easily in this warm weather, however, so unfortunately our outings have to be brief.
I went to my son's year-end show at school last evening. All the kindergartners put on a musical play together. Is there anything cuter than little 5-year-olds singing and dancing and smiling sheepishly and waving at their parents from the stage? If there is, I ain't seen it. They pulled off a pretty complicated show with great professionalism, for a bunch of little kids. My son is very proud, as he should be.
