when two friends go a-walking…

on the nineteenth day of december...

…they sure do a lot of talking!

yesterday, just after it got dark (so we’re talking 5:30 p.m.) bff debbie (and bailey!) and i met up for our annual walk to see christmas lights. i was trying to remember how long we have had this tradition…after discussion with debbie, we believe it’s a good 10 years, if not more!

ever since i moved to waterloo, we have chosen to walk through the westmount neighbourhood. we’ve had every type of weather conditions, over the years. yesterday, we really lucked out – it was about 0 degrees celsius, and there was a light dusting of snow – just enough to add seasonal festivity to our walk!

i wanted to snap photos of our tour…but ever since thursday eve’s walk through the park, my camera has been taking fuzzy photos. luckily, bff debbie had her blackberry with her, and played photographer for me. that’s what friends are for! [wouldn’t you know it, when i got back home, i played with my camera, just randomly clicking buttons, and i got it to reset to “clear photo taking.” at least it’s back to normal, i think!].

one of our very favourite houses on our annual route

it’s tradition that our walk must include a pass-by of a mansion up by the golf course – every year, the home owners display the hugest tree you can imagine in the all-glass foyer of their home. debbie and i always pause and gaze in wonderment.

objects in window are MUCH larger than they appear!

the time goes so fast on a walk ‘n’ talk! ah – bump up my christmas spirit-meter another notch…holiday lights + time with my dear friend – it all does the heart good!

this photo took skill! a self-portrait with the blackberry camera!

bailey in the condo lobby...

...and back at his home!

our walk was not the last of my day’s festivities! but, we’ll talk about that tomorrow!

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my favourite christmas story this year:

on friday, listening to the radio at theOTHERstore, the radio host shared a very touching, true story. immediately after hearing it, i thought that i had to re-tell it on the blog – it just epitomizes the meaning of the holiday season. then, saturday morning when i was catching up on some blog reading, i found a link to the exact story on gina, the fitnessista‘s blog! it’s much better reading it yourself than having me paraphrase for you. just to get you started, here’s the part of the story that i heard on the radio:

“the young father stood in line at the kmart layaway counter, wearing dirty clothes and worn-out boots. with him were three small children. he asked to pay something on his bill because he knew he wouldn’t be able to afford it all before christmas. then a mysterious woman stepped up to the counter. she told him, ‘no, i’m paying for it.’ … he just stood there and looked at her…and asked if it was a joke. it wasn’t…and he just burst out in tears.”

i encourage you to click this link, and read on. do you not just get the biggest lump in your throat when you hear stories like this? wow.

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my presents are wrapped! friday evening, i had a present wrapping party. this is one of my favourite christmas traditions! i spread out all my papers, tags, presents…

watch where you step!

…and went to town. the christmas cd’s were blaring, and i spent over two joy-filled hours wrapping gifts. you know how most people put christmas gifts under the christmas tree?

can you even see my trees?!

well, my tiny tree display is dwarfed by, and practically under the gift pile! and with the present-wrapping accomplished, i am ready for christmas!

~*~*~*~*~

i finished the time traveler’s wife over the weekend! it was good but not great. i gave it **1/2 stars in my reading log book. the positives: it wasn’t too science-fiction-y – > imaginative, yes, but completely other-worldly, no. i loved the way the author constructed this novel: each chapter title indicates the date and how old claire and henry are in the chapter. i needed those pointers – otherwise, the book would have been very confusing. the story is wrapped up in a satisfying manner. i liked both claire and henry, and the supporting characters were interesting, too. i would be keen to see the movie, now – i’ve heard good things about it – just to see how the film version deals with the time travel leaps, and the dramatic events in the book.

i think it’s the busy time of year, but my reading brain is tired and wants some fluff. so, i borrowed a book from our recycling room lending library:

good ol' danielle steel

i haven’t read a danielle steel in ages! like, twenty years ago, i used to read each of her new releases. then, she started churning them out too fast for me to keep up (plus, i diversified my reading interests) and i can’t remember the last time i read one of these ez-read love stories. typically, the first chapter introduced the flawless, gorgeous heroine…we’ll see what befalls her in the coming pages.

what percentage are you at today, in terms of christmas readiness? me = 100%!

ever read danielle steel? i classify her stuff as “beach reads” – and not that great ones, at that!

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no one wants to think on a friday

happy friday, friends!

any fun weekend plans in the works? can we score the same fab weather as last weekend? (that’s likely wishful thinking).

bff debbie shared this “summary of life” with me earlier this week. i chuckled. i nodded. i am thinking you will, too.

Summary of Life

GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:
1) No matter how hard you try, you can’t baptize cats.
2) When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don’t let her brush your hair.
3) If your sister hits you, don’t hit her back. They always catch the second person.
4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
5) You can’t trust dogs to watch your food.
6) Don’t sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.
7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
8. You can’t hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
9) Don’t wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
10) The best place to be when you’re sad is Grandma’s lap.

GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:
1) Raising teenagers is like nailing jelly to a tree.
2) Wrinkles don’t hurt.
3) Families are like fudge…mostly sweet, with a few nuts.
4) Today’s mighty oak is just yesterday’s nut that held its ground.
5) Laughing is good exercise. It’s like jogging on the inside.
6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy.

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD:
1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.
3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you’re down there.
4) You’re getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.
5) It’s frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions…
6) Time may be a great healer, but it’s a lousy beautician
7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.

THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE:
1) You believe in Santa Claus.
2) You don’t believe in Santa Claus.
3) You are Santa Claus.
4) You look like Santa Claus.

SUCCESS:
At age 4 success is . . . . Not piddling in your pants.
At age 12 success is . . . Having friends.
At age 17 success is . . Having a driver’s license.
At age 35 success is . . . ..having money.
At age 50 success is . . . Having money.
At age 70 success is . . . Having a drivers license.
At age 75 success is . … . Having friends.
At age 80 success is . . .. Not piddling in your pants.

~Always remember to forget the troubles that pass your way. BUT NEVER forget the blessings that come each day.~

philosophy for non-philosophers

happy saturday, everyone!

bff debbie passed this list along to me a couple of days ago. even in my flu-induced stupor, i had to smile at the humourous questions posed.

enjoy a chuckle over your morning coffee…ugh, club soda (the very thought of coffee is still très unpleasant)!

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FOR THOSE WHO LOVE THE PHILOSOPHY OF AMBIGUITY, AS WELL AS THE  IDIOSYNCRASIES OF ENGLISH:

1. DON’T SWEAT THE PETTY THINGS AND DON’T PET THE SWEATY THINGS.

2. ONE TEQUILA, TWO TEQUILA, THREE TEQUILA, FLOOR.

3. ATHEISM IS A NON-PROPHET ORGANIZATION.

4. IF MAN EVOLVED FROM MONKEYS AND APES, WHY DO WE STILL HAVE MONKEYS AND APES?

5. I WENT TO A BOOKSTORE AND ASKED THE SALESWOMAN, “WHERE’S THE SELF- HELP SECTION?” SHE SAID IF SHE TOLD ME, IT WOULD DEFEAT THE PURPOSE.

6. WHAT IF THERE WERE NO HYPOTHETICAL QUESTIONS?

7. IF A DEAF CHILD SIGNS SWEAR WORDS, DOES HIS MOTHER WASH HIS HANDS WITH SOAP?

8. IF SOMEONE WITH MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES THREATENS TO KILL HIMSELF, IS IT CONSIDERED A HOSTAGE SITUATION?

9. IS THERE ANOTHER WORD FOR SYNONYM?

10. WHERE DO FOREST RANGERS GO TO “GET AWAY FROM IT ALL?”

11. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU SEE AN ENDANGERED ANIMAL EATING AN ENDANGERED PLANT?

12. IF A PARSLEY FARMER IS SUED, CAN THEY GARNISH HIS WAGES?

13. WOULD A FLY WITHOUT WINGS BE CALLED A WALK?

14. WHY DO THEY LOCK GAS STATION BATHROOMS? ARE THEY AFRAID SOMEONE WILL CLEAN THEM?

15. IF A TURTLE DOESN’T HAVE A SHELL, IS HE HOMELESS OR NAKED?

16. CAN VEGETARIANS EAT ANIMAL CRACKERS?

17. IF THE POLICE ARREST A MIME, DO THEY TELL HIM HE HAS THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT?

18. WHY DO THEY PUT BRAILLE ON THE DRIVE-THROUGH BANK MACHINES?

19. HOW DO THEY GET DEER TO CROSS THE ROAD ONLY AT THOSE YELLOW ROAD SIGNS?

20. WHAT WAS THE BEST THING BEFORE SLICED BREAD?

21. ONE NICE THING ABOUT EGOTISTS: THEY DON’T TALK ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE.

22. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE A CIVIL WAR?

23. IF ONE SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMER DROWNS, DO THE REST DROWN TOO?

24. IF YOU ATE BOTH PASTA AND ANTIPASTO, WOULD YOU STILL BE HUNGRY?

25. IF YOU TRY TO FAIL, AND SUCCEED, WHICH HAVE YOU DONE?

26. WHOSE CRUEL IDEA WAS IT FOR THE WORD ‘LISP’ TO HAVE ‘S’ IN IT?

27. WHY ARE HEMORRHOIDS CALLED “HEMORRHOIDS” INSTEAD OF “ASSTEROIDS”?

28. WHY IS IT CALLED TOURIST SEASON IF WE CAN’T SHOOT AT THEM?

29. WHY IS THERE AN EXPIRATION DATE ON SOUR CREAM?

30. CAN AN ATHEIST GET INSURANCE AGAINST ACTS OF GOD?

speaking of language, any pithy oxymorons that you can think of? quality reality tv jumps to my mind…speaking of, i’ve got this week’s jersey shore to watch this weekend!

Friday is For…

~fluffing off creating a quality blog post last eve (for today) in favour of drinks with friends (we shoulda gone to Firkin)

almost patio weather!

~fitting folks with running shoes (otherwise known as working a full day at the store)

i can assist you in finding the right shoe for you!

~friend-date! Coffee with BFF Debbie is on the agenda…at four-fifteen p.m., no less!

(file photo, january 2011)

~figuring the cost of decaf Via Ready Brew pouches into your May grocery budget because you simply can’t take the dishwater that is Nescafe Taster’s Choice one more day:

just how much f&*$-ing coffee is left in this cannister??

~flyer Friday!

this insane amount of inserts comes in thursday's newspaper, but the sales START on friday!

~fun factoids! (thanks, Lisa!)

This year, July has 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays. This happens
once every 823 years.

This year we’re going to experience four unusual dates.

1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11, 11/11/11 and that’s not all…

Take the last two digits of the year in which you were born – now add
the age you will be this year,

The results will be 111 for everyone in whole world.

~fantasizing that you and your Dad…

(file photo)

…could run the Mississauga Marathon this Sunday with Cousin Karl and daughter, Laura.

(father's day, 2010; karl (4th from the R) and laura (2nd from the L)

Fast, fast, fast to the finish, family!

Never say never about the future, right Dad?!

~flashback on fashion:

me and mom, march 1972 (no worthy FEBRUARY photos, unfortunately!)

~Friday the Thirteenth (Firteenth? haha!) – – > Fear it or Forget-about-it? Doesn’t freak me out at all!

Enjoy a Fabulous Friday!

Bonding With Bailey

Yesterday afternoon, I went to over to see BFF Debbie. We cosied up on her couch, and had this snugglepup to keep us company:

bailey enjoyed couch sitting, too!

Can you believe that I was once terrified of Bailey?!

It’s true! Nothing personal, Bailey. I have been scared of dogs as far back as I can remember (and cats, and guinea pigs, and horses, and birds…you get the picture!).

But dogs, especially, have made me jumpy and skittery.

I do remember a couple of bad experiences, as a child, with big dogs jumping up on me. And while running – Bechtel Park is esp bad for this – I’ve had off-leash dogs run right at me, something not much appreciated.

he's such a cuddly little guy!

Years ago, when BFF Debbie and I would visit at her place, she would have to put Bailey down in the basement before I came over, I was so scared! When we’d go walking, Bailey would be muzzled on his leash, and Debbie would keep herself steadfastly in the middle of Bailey and me. I’ve always appreciated Deb’s sensitivity and understanding.

wanna play??!

But over the years, little by little, Bailey’s settled down, I’ve mellowed, and now I genuinely look forward to don’t mind when Bailey greets me at the door, and wants a nose rub.

how could you not love this face!?!

aaaawwwhhh!

Debbie and I had been planning to take Bails for a walk today, but the rainy weather pushed us to indoor visiting, instead…

now THAT'S a photo for the record book!

…and the opportunity to Bond With BRIAN!!! 🙂

as seen on this past thursday's cityline

Debbie PVRs Cityline daily, so she picked an episode from the vault. Of course, Brian was Choice #1!!

we ♥ you, brian!!

Not quite as good as seeing him live, but it’ll do in a pinch.

This episode aired the day before The Royal Wedding; Brian was in fine form!

yes, these are all photos of BFF Debbie's tv...gotta do what you gotta do for the blog...

What a great afternoon of TV time, catching up, and curling up. Thanks for the fun visit, Debbie and Bailey…and Brian!

What’s your doggie-disposition? I do have a dog, you know!…

meet tiki!!

Tiki has been in the family for years…(I named him after Tiki Barber, yes). I think he’s adorable, and he’s just the perfect dog for me!

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Gentle Reminder: today is Voting Monday!

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Get out there and vote!

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Old Friend, “Blend” Friend, TV “Friend,” Sense a Trend?

Last night I went over to BFF Debbie’s where we curled up on the couch for a cosy hour of chatting and watching TV (more on the TV part in a second). Debbie is one of the people with whom I am most comfortable – there aren’t many topics we haven’t discussed over the years, and our friendship is just easy: no game playing, drama, hidden agendas. We share similar lifestyles, values, interests…but with enough differences to make us unique. A great friend is a true gift.

I posted yesterday’s blog entry right before going over to Debbie’s. As such, I was a little rushed and didn’t quite finish the “40 Recipes” recap to my liking. So I revisited the post today, and updated that category with my own recipe review to go along with those of B and my Dad. Check it out if you’d like!

*~*~*

When Internet Dating sites first became popular, I would give a disdainful pfffffft to the idea that you could get to know someone by corresponding online with them. I believed it impossible that you could get a sense of a person’s personality by reading about them and by corresponding via text, not by seeing them in person. I’ve changed my tune – thanks to blogging! For over a year now, I’ve been blogging myself, and enjoy reading numerous blogs daily. Trust me, when you consistently visit someone’s blog, you do get a real sense of their vibe and personal style. Luckily, I am no longer part of the dating scene (!) – but I no longer raise an unconvinced eyebrow when I hear of a couple who met virtually before hooking up in real life.

Do you know what a “blend” is?! A BLEND is a BLOG FRIEND: someone with whom you correspond but have never met in real life. And I have a new BLEND! Lisa, of the blog Thrive-Style, and I have been exchanging comments on each other’s blogs. Lisa is articulate, informed, compassionate…and fun to “converse” with! In real life, I love meeting people and developing social connections; it’s been very fun to get to “know” Lisa via our blogs. Check out Lisa’s blog if you’d like to *meet* her!

[Sidenote: I’m fully aware that just as with internet dating, you can omit/include information on a personal blog; that being said, I believe it is very difficult to camouflage your natural personality and who you are].

*~*~*

The purpose of my get-together with BFF Debbie last eve was to watch the new Marilyn Denis show.

welcome back, marilyn! our view from debbie's couch!

bailey couldn't wait, either! (can't explain his extra-terrestrial eyes, there!)

Debbie and I were diehard devotees of Cityline when Marilyn was the host. When she left abruptly in May 2008, I tried to keep watching the show with its new host…but it just wasn’t the same. I quickly lost interest. Debbie has kept watching – though not as regularly – and agrees it’s just not the same without Mar (as we, her friends, call her!).

For more background on *the situation* (haha, can you tell I’ve been watching my Jersey Shore!?!), click here to see a well-written, informative article about Marilyn and her new show (from Sunday’s Toronto Star newspaper).

So what was our impression? We were soundly underwhelmed and quite disappointed. Now, we both agree that first-show jitters from cast and crew likely played a part in the disjointed nature of the hour-long show…but the energy, fun, and easy flow of Cityline was nowhere to be found. I also had an a-ha, realizing that I loved Cityline not only for Marilyn, but also for her rapport with the expert guests featured: Brian Gluckstein, Lynn Spence, Sandra Pittana, Dr Joe, just to name a few of my favourites. [Sob! I’ve missed these people more than I realized!]

Will we watch again?? Menh…Debbie says she’ll check back in a week or so to see how things are progressing. Me, I’m thinking I’ll go back to getting my updates from Debbie.

*~*~*

Guess what B and I are doing tonight??!! … Bring on another eve of what is quickly becoming our Winter 2011 Doubleheader Combo…

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It’s all we could talk about this morning! We’re obsessed!

But first up…I’m going to whip up a batch of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies….and NOT photograph the process nor share the recipe on the blog – I haven’t baked this simply in over a year!

What do you include in your definition of friendship??!

Have a great eve!