Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Bloggers are lonely pathetic wretches who are also plain
Did you hear the hubbub about some book that (according to the report in the paper) claims that blogs are written by loners who live in a virtual world. Oh yeah? well what about people who write books? Fun-loving, popular and gorgeous? Phhsssshhh. Geez!
I'll have you know that I am swamped by social invitations every night of the week from actual people in the "real" world, my phone is ringing off the hook as I write this, and I'm so damned good-looking I'm sometimes afraid to leave the house for fear of causing traffic accidents.
So why do I write a blog? I really just wanted an excuse to write on a regular basis about whatever comes to mind. Not because I don't have anyone to talk to (or write to; I still write letters), but because I've never kept a journal but always wanted to and I thought maybe if I thought someone cared enough to read it occasionally I'd feel some obligation to write. I'd love to write a book. Not some namby-pamby book based on so-called "scientific research" about how other people are so lonely, but a real book about people made up in my head who are remarkably similar to myself. Will I do it? Probably not. Too many social engagements. But if I did? You'd buy it just to stare at the author photo on the dust cover. I'm that gorgeous.
Did you hear the hubbub about some book that (according to the report in the paper) claims that blogs are written by loners who live in a virtual world. Oh yeah? well what about people who write books? Fun-loving, popular and gorgeous? Phhsssshhh. Geez!
I'll have you know that I am swamped by social invitations every night of the week from actual people in the "real" world, my phone is ringing off the hook as I write this, and I'm so damned good-looking I'm sometimes afraid to leave the house for fear of causing traffic accidents.
So why do I write a blog? I really just wanted an excuse to write on a regular basis about whatever comes to mind. Not because I don't have anyone to talk to (or write to; I still write letters), but because I've never kept a journal but always wanted to and I thought maybe if I thought someone cared enough to read it occasionally I'd feel some obligation to write. I'd love to write a book. Not some namby-pamby book based on so-called "scientific research" about how other people are so lonely, but a real book about people made up in my head who are remarkably similar to myself. Will I do it? Probably not. Too many social engagements. But if I did? You'd buy it just to stare at the author photo on the dust cover. I'm that gorgeous.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Misc.
I've started working outside the home again, just 2 days a week, with the equivalent of about a day's work done at home during the other days. It feels...okay. I don't do change well, even when the change is to something as familiar as the same job I did last year, in the same office, even the same desk. It's a great job, actually: interesting, challenging, varied, well-paid and extremely flexible and with a lot of autonomy. The downside to it is that it carries a huge responsibility and so it's stressful in that sense. I'm hoping that I'll handle that aspect of it a little better this time around as I'm not doing it for the first time.
My friend is babysitting for me, and I couldn't be happier about that arrangement. She's probably the one person who might be a better "mother" to my children than I am!
I saw a fantastic TV version of Jane Eyre last night on Masterpiece Theatre. Everything about it was superb; the acting, the cinematography, the adaptation. I was thrilled and heartbroken and confused and frightened in all the right places. Jane Eyre is my favourite book, and my first-born child's middle name is Jane because of that. I'm so happy I got to see this magnificent interpretation of a beautiful work of literature.
I've started working outside the home again, just 2 days a week, with the equivalent of about a day's work done at home during the other days. It feels...okay. I don't do change well, even when the change is to something as familiar as the same job I did last year, in the same office, even the same desk. It's a great job, actually: interesting, challenging, varied, well-paid and extremely flexible and with a lot of autonomy. The downside to it is that it carries a huge responsibility and so it's stressful in that sense. I'm hoping that I'll handle that aspect of it a little better this time around as I'm not doing it for the first time.
My friend is babysitting for me, and I couldn't be happier about that arrangement. She's probably the one person who might be a better "mother" to my children than I am!
I saw a fantastic TV version of Jane Eyre last night on Masterpiece Theatre. Everything about it was superb; the acting, the cinematography, the adaptation. I was thrilled and heartbroken and confused and frightened in all the right places. Jane Eyre is my favourite book, and my first-born child's middle name is Jane because of that. I'm so happy I got to see this magnificent interpretation of a beautiful work of literature.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Oh Snow
Snow makes everything so much prettier, doesn't it? I'm enjoying this, even if it does limit my movements a bit. I have some trouble getting the little one around when the snow is thick on the ground. Our crappy little umbrella stroller doesn't cut it in these conditions. Luckily we also have a little sled, a wagon and, for short walks, little-girl foot power, so we can usually make it where we need to go, as long as it isn't too far.
Went up north on Sunday for my sister's birthday and skated on the lake, walked in the snowy forest, and tobogganed down a kick-ass hill. Total Winter perfection, and definitely one of the best days I've had in recent memory. To come back home and have a snow storm the next day was the icing on the cake.
Snow makes everything so much prettier, doesn't it? I'm enjoying this, even if it does limit my movements a bit. I have some trouble getting the little one around when the snow is thick on the ground. Our crappy little umbrella stroller doesn't cut it in these conditions. Luckily we also have a little sled, a wagon and, for short walks, little-girl foot power, so we can usually make it where we need to go, as long as it isn't too far.
Went up north on Sunday for my sister's birthday and skated on the lake, walked in the snowy forest, and tobogganed down a kick-ass hill. Total Winter perfection, and definitely one of the best days I've had in recent memory. To come back home and have a snow storm the next day was the icing on the cake.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Adios, big-ass Telefunken stereo
Due to the receipt of a new gift-set of speakers and a newly-purchased TV stand (with storage), we've been moving things around in our living area and getting rid of a couple of things. The big speakers from the 70s are gone, as is the humungous Telefunken stereo console that was here when we moved in. We used to use this console for its turntable, and we loved the coolness of it, the reel-to-reel (just for aesthetics, we had no tapes to play on it) and the fact that the previous owners, both of whom died before we came to the house, so obviously loved and cherished this piece of technology/furniture. We had the owner's manual, every little accessory and even the bill for it from 1969. They paid over $600 for it then, so it was a valuable item at the time. We like old things, particularly 60s and 70s stuff, so we enjoyed having this beautiful oak behemoth in our midst. But once we stopped using it it really became a not-very-practical TV stand-cum-paper-piling-place and attracted so much clutter that I finally decided that it had to go.
I tried to find out whether anyone would buy it or take it off our hands for free. I did research on the net and ebay and even called up a guy in the newspaper who buys old stereo equipment. That dude told me that pretty much nobody wants these things. Too many of them out there, too big to collect, too heavy to move, etc. He seemed very knowledgable about it, and I took his word for it and gave up. But when we finally put it out for the big garbage pickup, I was hopeful that someone might drive by and want it badly enough to load it on to a truck and take it home. Then, tragically, it sleeted during the night and the weather, I thought, ruined any chances that that beautiful piece would be any good to anyone ever again. My heart hurt when I looked at it, covered in water and ice, and so forlorn. So much enjoyment and anticipation must have accompanied its purchase! One of the few things I know about the former owners of my house is that they liked to put on records and dance together in the living room. I know that the stereo is only a thing, and that it served its purpose for a long time, and that things have a life of usefulness and that that life ends eventually, but I felt guilty for deciding that this piece's useful life was over.
But then the next morning the stereo was gone, first thing, long before the big garbage pickup. So now I can imagine that, at the very least, someone was able to cannibalize it for parts and carry on some of its usefulness into another piece of equipment. Reincarnation, reuse, recycling.
Due to the receipt of a new gift-set of speakers and a newly-purchased TV stand (with storage), we've been moving things around in our living area and getting rid of a couple of things. The big speakers from the 70s are gone, as is the humungous Telefunken stereo console that was here when we moved in. We used to use this console for its turntable, and we loved the coolness of it, the reel-to-reel (just for aesthetics, we had no tapes to play on it) and the fact that the previous owners, both of whom died before we came to the house, so obviously loved and cherished this piece of technology/furniture. We had the owner's manual, every little accessory and even the bill for it from 1969. They paid over $600 for it then, so it was a valuable item at the time. We like old things, particularly 60s and 70s stuff, so we enjoyed having this beautiful oak behemoth in our midst. But once we stopped using it it really became a not-very-practical TV stand-cum-paper-piling-place and attracted so much clutter that I finally decided that it had to go.
I tried to find out whether anyone would buy it or take it off our hands for free. I did research on the net and ebay and even called up a guy in the newspaper who buys old stereo equipment. That dude told me that pretty much nobody wants these things. Too many of them out there, too big to collect, too heavy to move, etc. He seemed very knowledgable about it, and I took his word for it and gave up. But when we finally put it out for the big garbage pickup, I was hopeful that someone might drive by and want it badly enough to load it on to a truck and take it home. Then, tragically, it sleeted during the night and the weather, I thought, ruined any chances that that beautiful piece would be any good to anyone ever again. My heart hurt when I looked at it, covered in water and ice, and so forlorn. So much enjoyment and anticipation must have accompanied its purchase! One of the few things I know about the former owners of my house is that they liked to put on records and dance together in the living room. I know that the stereo is only a thing, and that it served its purpose for a long time, and that things have a life of usefulness and that that life ends eventually, but I felt guilty for deciding that this piece's useful life was over.
But then the next morning the stereo was gone, first thing, long before the big garbage pickup. So now I can imagine that, at the very least, someone was able to cannibalize it for parts and carry on some of its usefulness into another piece of equipment. Reincarnation, reuse, recycling.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Wellwhaddyaknowaboutthat
We've been approved for life insurance! After being treated with such suspicion by the company, I'm shocked that they're now happy to insure us. Not that they had any good reason to treat us that way; maybe they take that position with everyone. Anyway it's nice to know that our blood didn't show any life-threatening illnesses. Most of all I just feel like a real adult; I can die now!
We've been approved for life insurance! After being treated with such suspicion by the company, I'm shocked that they're now happy to insure us. Not that they had any good reason to treat us that way; maybe they take that position with everyone. Anyway it's nice to know that our blood didn't show any life-threatening illnesses. Most of all I just feel like a real adult; I can die now!
Monday, January 08, 2007
Update
Christmas was lovely, as always. This was the first Christmas where F. had an inkling of who Santa Claus is and what he does. For my eldest child, this is probably the last Christmas with that belief; I think she only believes now through an act of will, and generosity toward her parents, who go to all that trouble, after all (Hey, the reindeer's carrots don't get all chewed and shredded by themselves, and Santa's whiskers don't get left on the cookie plate by magic...or do they?)
All was well and happy and there were some genuinely beautiful and touching moments. New Year's eve was lots of fun, a happy supper with 3 families (9 kids at the table!), ending at 9 p.m., thereby letting us have the quiet movie night we wanted. Perfect.
My daughter and I went to see Lord of the Dance on Saturday and had a blast. It's fun to go to Place des Arts and that's a surprisingly good show, and the audience was enthusiastic, which made it all the more fun. Good entertainment and the best company; U. is so much fun to hang around with.
Things are changing for us again. D. is back to the day shift (Yay!) except for Thursdays, which I think we can manage. As of next week I'll be working part-time away from home on a contract. This is the same contract that nearly drove me crazy with stress last year, but I'm being positive and hoping I'll have an easier time this year because I've done it before. D. is also taking an evening course one night a week. I think these changes are good, and that the next few months will go well. Like I said, I'm trying to be positive...
Christmas was lovely, as always. This was the first Christmas where F. had an inkling of who Santa Claus is and what he does. For my eldest child, this is probably the last Christmas with that belief; I think she only believes now through an act of will, and generosity toward her parents, who go to all that trouble, after all (Hey, the reindeer's carrots don't get all chewed and shredded by themselves, and Santa's whiskers don't get left on the cookie plate by magic...or do they?)
All was well and happy and there were some genuinely beautiful and touching moments. New Year's eve was lots of fun, a happy supper with 3 families (9 kids at the table!), ending at 9 p.m., thereby letting us have the quiet movie night we wanted. Perfect.
My daughter and I went to see Lord of the Dance on Saturday and had a blast. It's fun to go to Place des Arts and that's a surprisingly good show, and the audience was enthusiastic, which made it all the more fun. Good entertainment and the best company; U. is so much fun to hang around with.
Things are changing for us again. D. is back to the day shift (Yay!) except for Thursdays, which I think we can manage. As of next week I'll be working part-time away from home on a contract. This is the same contract that nearly drove me crazy with stress last year, but I'm being positive and hoping I'll have an easier time this year because I've done it before. D. is also taking an evening course one night a week. I think these changes are good, and that the next few months will go well. Like I said, I'm trying to be positive...
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Never shop the CBC shop
I'd like to start the new year with a happy post about what a wonderful holiday season we enjoyed. I will do that, but that's gonna have to come second, because I must tell all and sundry that the CBC Shop SUCKS. I ordered a Christmas present (a CD of Christmas stories ferbabyjesussake!) that not only didn't get there by Christmas, but never got there at all, and when I called to find out what the hell was going on with my order I was told they ran out of the item early on and there were so many people who weren't going to get it that they couldn't contact everyone. No e-mail; no "This item is back-ordered" when I ordered it, not a thing to let me know that my dear dear friend wouldn't get his present --- ever. Ever heard of automatically-generated e-mails, CBC dorks? How about a little message when you order, telling the unwitting online shopper when an item is not available? Not too much to ask, is it?
You know what's the most frustrating part of this? The only recourse I have is to write about it on my blog, and my blog is only read by 3 people in the entire world. I have no power. My new new year's resolution? Achieve world domination by December 31, 2007. Or at least place my Christmas order in August.
I'd like to start the new year with a happy post about what a wonderful holiday season we enjoyed. I will do that, but that's gonna have to come second, because I must tell all and sundry that the CBC Shop SUCKS. I ordered a Christmas present (a CD of Christmas stories ferbabyjesussake!) that not only didn't get there by Christmas, but never got there at all, and when I called to find out what the hell was going on with my order I was told they ran out of the item early on and there were so many people who weren't going to get it that they couldn't contact everyone. No e-mail; no "This item is back-ordered" when I ordered it, not a thing to let me know that my dear dear friend wouldn't get his present --- ever. Ever heard of automatically-generated e-mails, CBC dorks? How about a little message when you order, telling the unwitting online shopper when an item is not available? Not too much to ask, is it?
You know what's the most frustrating part of this? The only recourse I have is to write about it on my blog, and my blog is only read by 3 people in the entire world. I have no power. My new new year's resolution? Achieve world domination by December 31, 2007. Or at least place my Christmas order in August.
