The weekend in review...while sweating at the computer

Friday Afternoon, 1:30 pm: Nothing says springime than a pedicure and leg primping! I love it. Joanna's Esthetics in Loki (416) 961-3600 in the heart of Yorkville - you too can feel primped and luxurious without breaking the bank. Joanna is affordable and so so awesome.

I planted my patio Herb garden and appreciated my "Call me on my Cell-ery" Nailpolish. Delightful afternoon.

5:00pm - 8:00pm: The Yoga Sanctuaary for work.

8:30 pm - 11:00 pm - then to Joyce's house for knitting and sewing. I am in love with this walrus of a kitty!

8:37pm: Jill gave me this summer tank from last year (correct me if I'm wrong) - she hated it, I loved it - a match of opinion made in heaven. Since I was thinking earlier that day that I wanted to knit something exactly like it, she saved me the trouble! Told me I had to finish it but that it was mine.

Saturday 10:30 am: I love this shirt and it worked great on adventures for Open Doors Toronto on Sunday!

Saturday 11:00 am: I'd like to present to all y'all: Green Gable! I attempted an Erin like stylized picture which just turned out washy.

Sunday was Doors Open Toronto with Stasha, Jean Marc and Jason as featured here on the Empire- Toronto's own faux tall ship! Argh Matey!

The 51 Division Location was the biggest bummer considering that their idea of open door is the lobby - which had a lot of antique toys oddly enough. Jason thought that all the toys that were displayed had been used to transport smack and crack but I think he was overthinking the issue.

Then to Shangri-La. AKA Steamwhistle Brewery.

Which naturally led to the always delightful, Distillery District.

To Mill St.!!!

My Dogs are Barking.

I love the walk to work through Cabbagetown and Riverdale Farm. The gardens are beautiful and the walk is meditative. The walk is the exact length of a Cast On or CBC Radio 3 Podcast which suits my OCD just fine.

I'm trying to find out why the union walked off the job and SHUT TOWN THE TTC today. It's a pretty huge gauntlet the union tossed down - risking complete alienation from Toronto transit users and management. Kinnear is an idiot.

Edited: The walk out/lock out debate seems moot since the Amalgamated Transit Union's own website calls it a walk out.

The only time I've seen the union pull rank like this was when there were life and death health risks in mines....I'm talking Westray Mine type issues. If this was a mining town there would be brawling in the bars.

My manboy biked from our house in south Riverdale to Sheppard and Leslie in the same amount of time as it took to TTC there. Interesting eh?

It's the Friday Random Ten and end of the week

I've got nothing. I'm exhausted and whiny. Having said that our office shuts down at 1:00pm on Fridays now and I'm going to get my hooves pumiced.

Have lots of knitting for you (Krista) so I'll slam some pictures and a more uplifting post up here tonight.

1. Aside - The Weakerthans
2. Violets - Candy Bars
3. Michelangelo - Emmylou Harris
4. Thief - Belly
5. When The Day is Short - Martha Wainwright
6. Another Sunny Day - Belle and Sebastian
7. Pi Is Exactly Three - Coltrane Motion
8. I Wish I Was The Moon - Neko Case
9. Hard To Find - American Analog Set
10. Folk Death 95 - Mogwai

PS: Neko Case - Blacklisted is the perfect rainy day music

FOS

I couldn't have said it better myself. I got slapped with a pile of it on the weekend.

Spring is...

the tickly and oddly refreshing way the hair on your legs gets blown around by the warm spring breeze.

Note to self: Book appointment with esthetician stat!

Friday Random Ten - the Inuk Edition!

Last night was spent eating too much and drinking too much wine with our friends Scott and Aviva and their cousin Jessica who was visiting from Nunavut.

She taught us some Inuk and took us on a virtual tour of Iqaluit with a basic history lesson from an Inuit perspective. She is a complete DOLLFACE.

Did you know that there is a story that the Northern Lights are actually Inuits playing soccer with a Walrus skull and if you whistle at them the walrus skull will come and cut off your head unless you click your finger nails in time? This was shocking news to me because in Manitouwadge they say if you whistle at the lights they'll dance more for you.

Things that make you go hmm.

Most importantly, Jessica also promised to bring the Lamb's Pride wool to her grandmother in Iqaluit to knit for the Dulaan project - thus getting Nunavut to represent!

Jess called me at 8:45 this morning to arrange the "Yarn Drop" at the Greyhound bus station where she was hopping a bus to Ottawa for a couple of weeks. Her grandmother will mail the tuques from Iqaluit COD to me and I'll send them to FIRE. It's a finely tuned orchestra of geographic knitting. Jessica is a Yarn Angel.

The best part is that it's Friday Yo!

1. Gonna Never Have To Die - Guided By Voices
2. Boy is Crying - Saint Etienne
3. Believe - Franka Potente
4. Parade Of Punk Rock T-Shirts - Maritime
5. Like Swimming - Morphine
6. Like Eating Glass - Bloc Party
7. Wrecking Ball - Emmylou Harris
8. The Big Guns - Jenny Lewis With The Watson Twins
9. Closing Time - Tom Waits
10. Blue Lines - Massive Attack

Bonus Track:
Somewhere I Know There is Nothing - Chad VanGaalen

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind

I want to steal the fancy tupperware that someone has left in the office kitchen all week. There is nothing I don't love about tupperware and it's the only thing that I am tempted to "lift" from the office...

I don't know how much longer I can be strong! IT'S COMPARMENTALIZED!

Bell, Beavers and Playoffs

A pubescent conversation I had at work with a friend of mine reminded me of the Bell Canada commercial featuring Frank and Gordon discussing beard shaving during the playoffs.

As Canadians, we know the drill, there are a number of superstitions involving not shaving beards, not shaving legs, or not changing gitchies.

That's all well and good but after seeing this commercial Jason and I looked at each other in awe and wonder that the censors missed a commercial all about A SHAVED BEAVER. I swear to god that we're not just dirty minded...it's so obvious!

Has anyone else seen this rare and magical moment?

I know you are but what am I?

A public knitting junkie.

I could no longer avoid the truth when on Friday night I found myself risking tardiness for The Stills concert which I thought started at 8:00pm and bad karma by leaving my yoga job 20 minutes early to say hi to these wenches. I got to the concert in time for the encore (at 8:30 pm!!). I wasn't the only one that missed it though.

Here's the honest to god truth. I've given up smoking in exchange for groups of 15 or more knitters who enjoy congregating, organizing and drinking. How can you blame me when this people drink beer, eats spicy burrito's and have an capacity to organize that could teach the democrats a thing or two.

On Saturday I was one of three team captains for the 2nd Bi Annual TTC Knit a Long - Hooo boy these Ladies can travel.

I triple dog dare you to judge me - THERE IS SILK BLENDED WITH EVERY LUXURY FIBRE KNOWN TO MAN IN THIS PICTURE

Thank god it's not all mine...but I did get to touch it all.

I just got dizzy looking at this picture.

My team started at Knit-o-matic where I picked up some beautiful Fleece Artist Kid Mohair/Silk blend and Lilly (a missing teammate) I managed to leave ye ol' monstrous camera behind so pictures lack until this point in Kensington market outside of Lettuce Knit - this is where all three teams congregated.

Eventually it was time to start the trek to the The Beach. It was really hard to get a full picture of 30 of us standing on Queen waiting for a streetcar. It was AWESOME to distress the normally nonplussed hipsters that cruise Queen West by the veritable herd of knitting knitters.

Then the real rabble rousing began. The Star sent a photographer and a reporter to the event and the story was in today's paper. I think we freaked them both out. Though the reporter was knitting up a storm by this point.

Elizabeth has managed to enthrall men on every major drinking/public knitting event we've been on. She is Aphrodite with yarn and needles. It's magical to watch.

We ended the day at the Naked Sheep enjoying prizes and our yarn comas. I could barely feel my legs by that point leaving myself susceptible to the yarn pushing powers of one Ms. Denny.

So. Good.

Madonna likes to watch

my Weavette kicking my ass.

My brain is just not processing this craft at all..I've had to reboot my brain 4 times already. I'm breathing through the pain and everything! GARG.

It's the Friday Random Ten...the yarn slut edition

I bought yarn on Wednesday thus ending a fairly pathetic attempt at a yarn diet. Last night it was 3 skeins of Blue Sky cotton in Sky that I'm going to knit up into Green Gable - I've been thinking about it for weeks and conveniently a gift certificate found itself in my possession!

I bought 2 Skeins of Gems Pearl in Fern Green from Erin under the guise of being a supportive friend but really it had been almost THREE MONTHS since I had bought yarn. I needed it. Of course, I had to help Jill de-stash so I bought almost 4 skeins of Peace Fleece from her (it's currently hiding in my desk at work) What can I say? I'm a giver....

How can something so wrong feel so right? I justified the Pearl by making a gift for my sister in law who has a fourth beautiful child coming through the pipes...no pun intended. The Peace Fleece will be another gift of some sort...aren't I good :c)

Back to business:

1. Runnin' Out of Fools - Neko Case - Blacklisted
2. Traffic - Chad VanGaalen - Infiniheart
3. Michaelangelo - Emmylou Harris - Red Dirt Girl
4. Supermarket - Tykwer/Klimek/Heil - Run Lola Run Sdtk
5. Drink To Me Babe Then - A.C. Newman - The Slow Wonder
6. If Rap Gets Jealous - K'naan - The Dusty Foot Philosopher
7. Blue Eyes - Cary Brothers - Garden State Sdtk
8. New Slang - The Shins - Garden State Sdtk
9. Old School Joint - Missy Elliott - ...So Addictive
10. Season Of Mists - Penny Century

You say potato, I say spud

My friend is a crappy tipper. Never more than 10% thus forcing me to overcompensate for the sake of dignity. Every time this happens I tell him he's too cheap for words and he says that it's his Scottish background.

How can a cheap bastard justify driving 10 blocks to work when gas is over $1.00 a litre?

Oh, how I mock.

Do you know Erhlers Danlos? Read on....

Remember my friend Lynn?

As you know, I love her like I love my own sisters and brother. Lynn has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS). She sent me an email recently and I thought I'd share some information about this rare syndrome.

It's an f'ed up disorder. This sounds crazy but EDS is so rare that when CSI did an episode that involved EDS the fact that only Grisholm knew about it sort of reiterated that there needed to be more public awareness of it. I'm not sure how cool it is that I think Gill is the measure for how uncommon EDS is...but I'm pretty sure that this episode might be why I love him.

And so, on to the edumacation:

EDS is a "heterogeneous group of heritable connective tissue disorders, characterized by articular (joint) hypermobility, skin extensibility and tissue fragility. Individuals with EDS have a defect in their connective tissue, the tissue that provides support to many body parts such as the skin, muscles and ligaments. The fragile skin and unstable joints found in EDS are the result of faulty collagen. Collagen is a protein, which acts as a "glue" in the body, adding strength and elasticity to connective tissue." There are six major types of EDS with varying degrees of severity. EDS is a very rare, and often fatal disorder.

Big words eh? It's scary shit.

"May is National Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) Awareness Month. Research is still in the informatiom gathering stage and it severely under funded. There is only one facility in North American, located in Seattle Washington, where one can be diagnosed, as I [Lynn] was in 2002.

This was a two year process and I have learned a great deal about this condition since then from my own health setbacks and those of others in this small community."

Research is years away from finding a cure for EDS. In the meantime, much focus has been placed on experimental drug treatment programs and the importance of making major lifestyle adjustments. Funding for research comes from those afflicted and their families. As with anything else, awareness and education are half the battle. To learn more about EDS please click on www.ednf.org"

Feel free to put any questions or comments in the comments - that's what they be there for!

I refuse to say no...

to anything that sounds fun. As a result, every once in awhile I come up to a week that is jam packed with fun stuff to the point that I exhaust myself.

But I refuse to say no.

My dreams totally imitated my life last night. I'm a firm believer that if there is something lacking from your diet or your life your body will tell you by way of craving or dreaming. I love it when my faith is renewed.

Last night I dreamt that I overslept for the TTC Knit a Long because I had been up too late rocking out at The Stills concert on Friday night. Once that dream chapter ended I found myself in a private yoga lesson with two instructors from The Yoga Sanctuary. The whole workshop was about getting the tension in my lower back out through the downward dog. It involved one instructor pushing on my lower back (WHICH FELT AWESOME) by doing a partner downward dog with me. It was just that position for 2 hours. When I woke up my back felt great.

All of which are on my mind. Friday night I work at the Yoga Sanctuary but I haven't been practising for too long and I miss it. After work there's a Team Canada event at the Spotted Dick which I just don't think I can do this month even though it involves to of my favourite things - drinking and knitting...TOGETHER. I have tickets to the The Stills with a bunch of my oldest friends who I love to rock out to.

The key of course is maintain *some* level of sobriety so that I'm on top of my game for the yarn crawl on Saturday. I'll be needing some high quality yoga by Sunday that's for sure!

A finely tuned social machine.

It's the Friday Random Ten

The Zen Edition. I'm working at my second job at the Yoga Sanctuary. Kind of chillin'

1. Truckin' 101: Leon Redbone
2. Do You Realize: The Flaming Lips
3. Lebanese Blonde: Thievery Corporation
4. Rough Gem: Islands
5. New Slang: The Shins
6. What Do I Know: Peter Walker
7. Golf: Victor Scott
8. The Pearl: Emmylou Harris
9. Happy: Jenny Lewis With The Watson Twins
10. Drink To Me Babe Then: AC Newman

Sign of Armageddon

I refuse to believe that RV is the #1 movie and yet all signs point to truthiness. How embarrassing for mankind. Every time I see a trailer I actually feel dumber.

Although this brings me much hope and delight. I know the blogosphere has been abuzz about it since Saturday but Colbert is a great way to spend a Friday.

It's time for another Day of TTC Judgement!

It's been awhile since I've had a TTC judgement day. BRING IT ON ASSHATS!

This morning I took the subway because I had too much stuff to roller blade with. True to form the subway car was CRAMMMED by the time it got to Broadview Station. I tucked myself in neatly between the wall of humanity and the door which was getting ready to close behind me or so I thought.

All of a sudden I feel a set of hands on my lower back pushing me into the wall of people in front of me - I turn around to see what mofo thinks that this is a good idea at 8:45 am and I am confronted with FOUR GIGGLING TINY ASIAN GRANNIES. Seriously, they were at least 6 inches shorter than me, which puts them at 4'6'' and BULLIED ME INTO THE CROWD.

They were obviously on their way for a day of saving young orphans because that's the only reason they could have been in such a rush that they had to cram my fat caucasian ass into 4 other peoples asses.

Thus reminding me that yes, it's still true, I hate rush hour and I'm helpless against pushy Asian grannies.

I have an older brother

Not many people have met him because Dan is 4 years older than me and we're often not near each other. As my older brother he's always been my measure for how far I can push myself to succeed or fail as a choice.

Dan turned 36 on Sunday so this birthday worship is late but it's part of my tard(t)y charm so I won't apologize for it. What did my brother do to celebrate the end of a craptastic year and the start of a new better and fresh year? He helped my Water Sister move out of her apartment.

That's the kind of man my brother is. He looks after everyone. Writing about Dan is hard because he's such an incredible influence on my life in ways that he doesn't know about.

- Dan is a spectacular father of 3 children soon to be 4. Oh the fun that he has with his children is constant and awe inspiring. When I see my brother with his family I want to COPY EVERYTHING HE DOES.

- Dan drove 6 hours to come to my graduation from McGill because everyone should have family at grad and ours lived in buttfuck nowhere 34 hours away.

- Dan is a consummate business man and diplomat. Everyone should have a conservative in their life that they care deeply for, it helps develop bi-partisan cooperation.

- Oh my god he's funny. He makes me laaaaaaaaaaugh my guts out.

- Dan experienced a lot of heart break this past year and wasn't afraid to talk about it. This is why he'll live to be a decrepit old man...unspoken sadness can kill you.

- He seeks out adventure and satisfaction in his life and led me by example. The adventure always fits into the boundaries set by the people and things important to him.

I started looking for pictures of my brother and finally found an old one that I stole from my mother. I'll be scanning and posting it tonight, while I was desperately searching for the picture and feeling terribly guilty I realized that I didn't get a camera until Dan moved out thus causing a drought of older brother pictures.

Heads up Dan - I'm going to be making up for lost time. Happy Birthday yo!

Sewing Sewing Sewing...keep them doggies Sewing...RAWHIDE!

From my Aunt Sally (THE MOST LUCKY AUNT EVER):

"So, I am idly waiting in line at Fabricland to pay for sequins and beads (total $1.24), and thinking that all the staff time and paperwork to run this sale up is ridiculous, when I absent-mindedly fill out a form that seems to want my name and address.

A week later I get a phone call that I have WON a sewing machine worth $629.39! I never win anything!

I am bonded to my old Kenmore, whose quirks I know like the back of my hand- we have been through much together. So, with all the creative friends you know, does anyone want a BRAND NEW, never been opened, Janome Sewist 521 for $400."

Am very jealous as would love a sewing maching...but want a spinning wheel more so I offer this up to the crafty folk in the world - if you know someone who may be interested please forward them the deets and contact info.

If'n you're digging a new machine here is Sally's email address - Psychos need not apply: sally.cumming(at)sympatico(dot)ca