Meteorological "Events"

In catching the weather reports in the last little while, I've noticed that everything that is happening weather-wise, seems to be dubbed and 'event'.

The other day we had a "wind event". Not simply a windy day but a "wind event". I mean, don't get me wrong, it was indeed a blustery day but I went about my daily activities as normal and other than noting a few things the wind had blown over or knocked down, it was in my opinion, rather uneventful.

A few weeks ago, we had a snowstorm warning. Apparently, to everyone's surprise, the temperature rose and instead of snow we got...you guessed it, a "rain event". Again, it was quite rainy but I continued to see the term "rain event" being thrown around recklessly over repeated weather reports. I didn't understand why there was a dire need to report about rain so often in the evening. Unlike the forementioned "wind event", which got some post event coverage showing "felled" trees (yes, another term I've learned watching weather reports), the rain event was not even mentioned the next day. As ridiculous as the "rain event" was in the first place, it seemed even more ridiculous to highlight the insignificance of this event even more by not even mentioning it the next day.

In this outbreak of a need for meteorologists to justify their jobs, there seems to have been an onslaught of new terminology as well as some clarification of known weather terminology. Two days ago, a woman who was reporting the weather, actually took time out of the weather report to clarify that she wasn't using the term "blizzard" because that implied that there was a possible threat to lives with the temperatures and weather conditions. Hmmm...that's funny. I just looked up the term blizzard, and here's what I found:

bliz-zard 

/ˈblɪzərd/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [bliz-erd] Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1.Meteorology.
a.a storm with dry, driving snow, strong winds, and intense cold.
b.a heavy and prolonged snowstorm covering a wide area.
2.an inordinately large amount all at one time; avalanche: a blizzard of Christmas cards. –verb (used without object)
3.to snow as a blizzard: Looks as though it's going to blizzard tonight.

Note the above use of the term "blizzard" in a sentence. While a blizzard could possibly present some life threatening circumstances to some people, so could intense cold or even simply a body of water for that matter.

In keeping with this new weather lingo, I will end this by reporting on the weather as I see it, outside of my windows...

Well folks, it looks like another intense day filled with low temperatures hovering around the freezing mark. Notice that I mentioned the freezing mark. This means that there is only a minor possibility of people freezing mid-step if they walk down the streets. Note that there is still a threat of getting tongues stuck to poles so watch out and steer clear of this danger. There is a slight breeze right now but be warned, this could turn into a possible wind event. This could mean that the snow sitting on the ground right now could get blown around creating wet conditions on anything it touches.

Kelry

So This is Christmas

My apologies for the lack of entries lately. I've been a little wrapped up in the holiday season. Basking in all of the joy and happiness this holiday brings, I literally get swept away in everything Christmas. This year, it seems I have literally been on a steady high since the holiday season began. Aside from doing the extra special things like decorating the tree and baking cookies, it seems that this year has brought with it a little extra joy - and it's not just me who feels it.

I was in Abercrombie the other day, standing in a line that wrapped around the middle of the store and went through two rooms. I didn't mind though. I had fully accepted the fact that I was going to be in that stinky store for awhile so I stood in pleasant silence. Then, the two women in front of me, who were trying to figure out which bottle of perfume/cologne was for men and which was for women, asked my opinion. A conversation began and we were all laughing and joking about our confusion. This...with total strangers. This is something that would not normally happen. Not on a normal day in Toronto, and not typically with me playing such an active role.

What is it about this season that brings the patience, compassion and love out of people? I know it does it for me. It manifests itself as a physical feeling for me. I literally feel as if every happy emotion is building up inside me, from my stomach up to my shoulders. I feel as if I'm going to burst. I think for many of us, it is a reflective time of year. A time that allows us to face the past year of our own behaviour and make changes that reflect in minor decisions made to affect the life of someone else in a positive way. If there really is a "spirit of Christmas" that comes out in all of us, how do we get it to come out at other times of the year? If it did, would the magic that comes out at Christmas lose its lustre? While I will contemplate these things heading into the new year, I will simply continue to enjoy what is right now during this special season.


Merry Christmas!

My Favourite Things

It is the little things in life that often bring me joy. There are things that happen on a daily basis that make me smile, laugh or that simply warm my heart. Below is a list of my favourite things.

1. Sleep - I love everything about it. I love the moment just before I turn out the light. I actually get a little excited knowing I'm about to indulge in many hours of sleep filled with vivid dreams.

2. All things soft and fluffy - I'm the person that can't resist touching anything that looks soft or fluffy. I base many of my clothing purchases on the feel of the material. Fleece comes in handy for this. I have fleece tops and fleece pants and even own a set of fleece sheets and pillow cases.

3. Discovering new music - I never really used to be into searching and looking up new bands and music but a friend who set up a CD exchanged a few years back inspired me to do my own search. Since then, when I discover a great band, or some great music, it just fills me up and makes me want to share it with everyone.

4. Gift opening - When I've found someone the perfect gift, I love the moments leading up to the unwrapping. The anticipation leading up to their discovery and the look on their face afterward.

5. Milk and Spaghetti - I'm not sure why but I feel that a tall glass of milk is the perfect side to a plate of spaghetti. The funny thing is, I don't even really like milk but end up chugging down large quantities of it when I eat spaghetti.

6. Water - I like the sound of it. I like the smell of it. I like the feel of it. There is something calming about being near any body of water. Something hypnotic about the constantly changing and moving state of it.

7. Music from the 50's and 60's - Perhaps it is because I feel I was born at the wrong time but I just love music from the 50's and 60's. Though I love everything about these decades, I think it is the music that beatifully reflects the simplicity, idealism and optimism of the time.

8. Getting a haircut - Going to the hairdressers is like escaping to an oasis of scalp massaging.

9. Sunshine - I don't even feel like this one needs an explanation.

10. The Human Spirit - Being in the profession that I am, I have to believe in the good of all humans. Lucky for me, I get to see it in action. There is nothing more satisfying than when I see someone who's clearly made a poor decision, realizes it, and does something to correct it. It constantly restores my faith in humanity.

Happy Pants

On occasion, I like to wear happy pants. I like them because they are comfortable and most of all, because they bring a smile to my face at unexpected times throughout my day.

What are happy pants? Well, they are fun pairs of underwear that always have bright colours on them and often include fun phrases and pictures on them. They make me happy because I often forget after getting dressed in the morning that I have them on and then throughout the day, when going to the washroom, I am quickly reminded of the happiness that is hiding beneath my pants.

My favourite pair were bright green with even brighter pink trim on them. On the front was an old fashioned pink gun (like from the Wild West!) and on the back, the words "Shoot 'em up!"

I really wish I had a picture of these but unfortunately, awhile back, I decided I needed to be more mature and I got rid of all of my happy pants. After having written this though, I think I just may go out to Walmart and buy some new ones. Stay tuned for Happy Pants - Part Deux.

Kelry

My First Assignment

Learning to Love Yourself is a website that includes 68 assignments that anyone can complete. They range from making movies and songs to re-creating phone conversations you wish you had and giving advice to yourself from the past.

This is assignment #63. Make an encouraging banner.

I decided to start with this one because of the way I was feeling at the time. I was feeling loved so I decided to make something that I thought others should read and be reminded of.

The cool thing about these assignments is, that it just goes to prove that if you give anyone a venue or medium, they will dig to the inner depths of their soul to express themselves.

Kelry

Only Me!

Every once in awhile, we are reminded of just how small the world is. This happens usually when we run into people or meet people with whom we discover an odd coincidence. My story is similar to that but in the fashion that typically accompanies my life, it has an odd and creepy twist.

I seem to have a familiar face. I hear it all the time. People tell me I look familiar and ask me if I've taught other places, done certain activities or been to other places. I wasn't surprised when, upon meeting my next door neighbour's girlfriend, she stated that she thought she knew me from somewhere. I shrugged it off at the time thinking that I wouldn't really see her again (people have a strange way of hiding from eachother in my building) and secretly hoped it wasn't true since I have heard them...uh...frolicking a few times in the past.

I ran into her again last night and she said with confidence "I finally know where I know you from". Hesitantly, I replied "yes?" I know that I physically cringed when I said this because she pointed it out to me later. Flashes of the sounds I heard that kept me awake at night filled my head as I braced myself for her answer.

"You taught me at (school name here)."

Are you kidding me? You mean, not only do I feel old because my ex-student is living next door to me but I am actually listening to moans of ecstasy coming from an old student??

I somehow managed not to vomit as I shrunk back into my condo. A smile came to my face when I realized that this story is just so typical of things that happen to me.

Kelry

Happy Birthday to Me!

It seems to be that as people age, the reaction to their own birthday seems to change. Moving with the stages of life, there seem to be age appropriate responses to birthdays.

1 - 4 years old

The child seems either to be oblivious of their own birthday or at best, marginally aware that there is an event taking place that seems to honour their very existence.

5 - 13 years old

Children realize and then become very familiar with this birthday thing. It is something to be excited about, to look forward to and to plan. At this stage, children may even make special birthday requests (i.e., certain kind of cake, special gift, dinner at a specified location etc.) Children this age will even announce their birthday in advance to people and may even wear a special pin or hat to demonstrate to everyone else just how special they are.

14 - 18 years old

While children at this age pretend that birthdays are no big deal, they still secretly get excited about them. Being much too cool to show that they are excited to have a special day dedicated just to them, they may claim to want no special treatment at all. I assure you, this is not a reflection of how they really feel. While they may not want to wear a birthday crown or pin, they relish in receiving special gifts and doing special things with friends and family.

19 - 30 (approx.)

At this age, people are more into the celebrations than the gifts themselves. Sometimes planning elaborate events for either themselves or eachother, they go to great lengths to ensure celebration is in order and a good time is had by all. 30 seems to mark the end of these extravagent engagements as a final hoorah, bidding farewell to youth once and for all.

31 - 79 (approx.)

I find this the most depressing phase. The assumed behaviour seems not only to lack in general excitement regarding birthdays, but an actual dread at aging another year. How tragic! Generally people seem only to go through the motions of any special birthday surprises. They politely thank people for cards, dinners and gifts and focus only on adding another year to the total.

80 - 100 (approx.)

This phase marks another exciting time. This seems to combine phases one and two together. Some people are blissfully unaware that there is a day dedicated solely to them and yet still seem to be excited about it. People at this age truly start to love gifts, special meals, cake and especially wearing something special that marks their birthday. They don't care about adding another year, only about having fun and celebrating themselves!

I get so excited about my birthday, I can hardly sleep a few nights leading up to it. I usually start a mental countdown. I insist on celebrating in both little and big ways. I buy myself a birthday present every year, I take myself out for coffee and I treat myself to some special things. I spread my birthday celebrations out over many days and ride on the wave of the happiness and joy that it brings for as long as possible. I announce very loudly (and to many people) that my birthday is coming up and can often be found wearing a tiara in front of strangers....and most of all...I don't care how old I am. I get better and better with age, both at figuring out life and find I only appreciate the little things more and more.

The missing ingredient

While I have tried to keep my dating life out of this forum, I simply cannot ignore what is fast becoming and all-consuming topic on my mind lately.

Chemistry. What is it exactly?

As I've now gone on four dates with...let's call him Fred - I am continually confused about the path that this is taking. Here's the scoop so far.

Date #1: - Dinner at a local restaurant.

Initial impressions - tall...good. decent looking...also good.

Conversation was good, not much humour but it was the first date. He didn't try any

funny business either which automatically granted him a second date.

Date #2: - Dinner at a different restaurant.

Impressions - He seemed more relaxed. A few light jokes were exchanged (mostly

on my part).

Conversation was good again. No kiss, no hug, no nothing but at this point, I was still

ok with that.

Date #3: - A drink at a local pub.

Impressions - Conversation was good. We talked politics - what could be better?

Nothing special happened on this one either.

Date #4: - A walk down by the lake followed by dinner at my place.

Impressions - Conversation was fine, dinner was fine, everything was fine...

Nothing special happened on this date either!

Ok, so my questions now are: When do I decide whether or not to stick with it? Does chemistry happen right away or does it develop over time? What is chemistry?

Here are my impressions of the basic ingredients to chemistry:

Humour

Physical appearances

Common interests

But it is not just the appearance of these simple ingredients that create a successful connection. I believe there has to be some sort of unique combination of all three with a smattering of some other surprises (i.e., personality quirks, romanticism etc.)

Humour is big on my list. I think I need to find someone who shares my quirky, ridiculous sense of humour. One of my most famous lines to an ex was: "I know you don't think I'm funny but I think I'm funny." It's true. I do think I'm funny and I'm often attracted to people I think are funny.

With regards to physical appearances: I believe a person either gets better looking or worse looking as you get to know them. Fred is not really becoming more attractive to me.

So, the question I'm stuck on is: "How long does a person wait to see if chemistry is going to develop?"

The answers I get come in the contradictory advice offered up by family and friends.

"You'll know right away"

"It takes time to develop"

"The ones that develop the slowest last the longest"

"If you don't feel the connection right away, it won't ever be there"

I know I spend way too much time over analyzing this issue and I continue to welcome any advice, opinions or shared stories so let me know what you think!

Ode to a Grande Non-Fat Tazo Chai

Ok, I admit it. I love Starbucks. I used to avoid the company at all costs, wanting desperately to step out of the cloud of consumerism but living in a place where the comforts of home are limited, I turned to Starbucks and found my own little "Hernando's Hideaway". Since then, I have developed a love affair with their Grande Non-Fat Tazo Chai. When I swallow that first sip of chai, I literally feel myself melt away into my own little dream world.

As a tribute to my part-time lover, I have written an ode...(ahem - just clearing my throat)

Ode to the Grande Non-Fat Tazo Chai

Oh Chai Latte, so warm and milky,

Filling me up and making me glow.

Your cinnaminy bite, and frothy hat,

make you my perfect companion at any time of day.

You make me forget the paper and emails,

the lack of sleep and the "to do" lists.

Your grande size is oh so grand,

and your sippy lid makes me spill less often.

Don't worry my little chai friend,

I will keep you warm with a stylish, cardboard sleeve.

And we will walk among the falling leaves,

cup and hand...

Until the time will come when tragically,

I shall toss you out, with your sippy lid and sleeve still on.

But fear not, my vanilla, nutmeg wonder,

we will cherish the foamy 82 degree memories,

and look forward to our next rendezvous.

Thank you...thank you very much...

The Unspoken Message

*Note - I originally wrote this post on Friday, Oct. 24. A little coincidental knowing what has taken place over the weekend.

I get frustrated with the verbal diarrhea that often comes out of people's mouths. Now, I speak quite often but I would also argue that I spend an equal amount of time quietly observing the people and things around me. When I am a witness to some verbal diarrhea, I listen first to what the person is talking about and then listen to everything else that is being said. The unspoken message. The unspoken message usually reflects people's insecurities and willingness to so easily believe the information they are handed without questioning the source and more importantly, without taking any real action toward change.

Allow me to provide a recent example:

Person #1: Well, I feel sorry for anyone who is going to get sick these days, with all of the nursing shortages and all. It's a mess and they'll be ignored and lying in some hallway.

REAL MESSAGE: I just recently read the paper and would like to state my very basic opinion based on the headlines in healthcare over the past fifteen years. I am retired but still feel the need to assert my authority by showing just how wise and knowledgeable I am.

Person #2: Yeah, they're saying they are cutting 9000 nursing jobs.

REAL MESSAGE: (This is actually incorrect information, as I too, read the headline. They aren't cutting jobs. They simply are putting a hold on creating 9000 new jobs). I will support your basic opinion with the rather large and obvious headline I just read on the front page of the paper that is sitting on this table.

Person #1: Well my sister was at a hospital in *some place* and she said the hallways were lined with beds and there was only one nurse in each hallway.

REAL MESSAGE: I will dominate over this conversation while further backing my basic opinion with an observation that may or may not be accurate from a family member. Quoting a family member will then strengthen my argument. (Insert insecurities that rest just under the surface).

Again, I do not claim to be perfect and have caught myself in this same situation (where insecurities guide my actions or statements). In these harmless examples, I simply sit back in silence, smiling and nodding in agreement.

A Fine Line

It's a fine line between being able to take unwarranted and incorrect criticisms with quiet dignity and standing up for what you believe in, even if it is based on a rather minor incident.

I was at a rehearsal today. A group I volunteer my time with a group that maintains a high calibre of performance. The conductor, known for his brutish comments and relentless criticisms, took aim at me today. It wasn't the actual incident that bothered me so much but the degree to which it was carried out by the conductor. If I was to maintain my own professionalism, I simply had to back down and take it all.

I am now in a very interesting position. Feeling absolutely insulted (both professionally and personally) for something I didn't even do, I am contemplating leaving this group. This decision is not new. It has crept up before on previous occasions of mistreatment and general negativity.

Here is the dilemma: If I leave, am I simply over-reacting to a crusty old man? If I stay, how long do I continue to feel played like a fool?

It is tough to figure out where my own personal boundaries are. I tend to surround myself with positive people and work very hard to keep the negative ninnies out. I refuse to volunteer my time only to treated with such ignorance and disrespect.

I will wait on the decision for now, as I must return to play a concert tomorrow with that same group (note that I'm doing this out of my own professionalism) but will need to make this decision soon.

Kelry

Ahhh...the memories

Carne Station. Quite possibly the best restaurant in South Korea.

There are many things that remind me of my time spent overseas. While I try not to spend too much time living in the past, it is still difficult to shake what I still consider to be a vibrant time in my life.

I was leafing through the Canadian Tire flyer today and came across this. It brought an instant smile to my face and I knew what I had to write about. This is the EZ Pull 6 - drink server. You simply put your glass under the bottle and push up and voila, out comes exactly one shot of alcohol. How do I know this? Read the following excerpt below!

"Carne Station was a restaurant where, for about twenty dollars, a person could indulge in all-you-can-eat meat and all-you-can-drink alcohol for as long as it was open. This place had taken traditional Korean barbequing and had combined it with the magic of a US style buffet. To visit this place was more than a meal. It was an experience. Because we were seated at large tables, it became very clear that we had to divide duties in order to get all of the necessary ingredients, utensils, plates and sauces for us to get started with the cooking. One person would grab a plate and immediately start piling on the raw meat. Another person would be responsible for the rice. Yet another person would get the various kinds of lettuce and some sauces and a fourth person would be required to gather all necessary utensils and individual plates. Although this seemed like a communal way to enjoy a variety of traditional foods in an American setting, combining alcohol with this only proved to be too much for us foreigners. The alcohol station consisted of upside down bottles of liquor in a carousel type contraption at the ready for our double and triple shot drinks. Simply raising a glass to this contraption (almost as if you were toasting it) provided you with a perfectly measured shot. This seemed like heaven! Needless to say after shoving our faces full of meat and our guts full of hard liquor, we inevitably got loud and always had to be asked to leave as we always shamelessly shut the place down! Since the restaurant closed at ten oclock, it was never a late night but was always a night where we were left with complete gut rot from the gluttony."

The Smoke Alarm Mishap *By request

By request, I will share another story involving my smoke alarm.

One night, I arrived home from work and began my usual routine of changing into comfy clothes and starting dinner. As I was upstairs changing, I heard a beep coming from downstairs. It was one of those things you don't admit at first that you've just heard so you ignore it. About a minute later. I heard it again. This time I went downstairs, hoping to find the source of the beep. I hung around down there until sure enough, it happened again. I immediately looked up at my smoke alarm. I had been having problems (see post below!) and figured the battery was low.

Knowing I didn't have the right kind of battery, I went downstairs to the convenience store and purchased an overpriced 9 volt battery. Once back upstairs, I heard the beep again and quickly got back up on the chair to change the battery. As I unscrewed the smoke alarm to find that it in fact, did not even take a battery and was hooked up to my building.

Lesson #1: Never purchase an overpriced battery based on an assumption.

This was most distressing. With every beep, I was continually perplexed. I did the next logical thing. I called my brother to ask him what it could be. Being the calming force that he is, he suggested that perhaps it was a hidden carbon monoxide detector and I may find myself poisoned before finding the source of the beep. I then called my parents.

I was literally standing on the chair peering up at the smoke alarm while speaking with them. Indeed, this was a mystery. It always seemed that when I got off the chair, I heard the beep. I got back on and fiddled some more with some wires.

Then it happened. I heard the beep again but this time it seemed further away. While up on the chair, the sound seemed to come from below. I looked down and suddenly realized the source of the beep.

It was my new cell phone beeping because I had a voicemail message.

Perhaps I need this device.

The Smoke Alarm Saga

The story of my smoke alarm is an interesting one. Interesting, not because of the predictable nature of what smoke alarms do but more because of how long, drawn out and ridiculous this saga has been.

It began shortly after I moved in. I can't remember what I was baking at the time...perhaps just a frozen pizza or maybe chocolate chip cookies, but upon opening the oven door and putting the food in, the smoke alarm went off. I didn't really understand it at first. I mean, there was no smoke and not even steam. The only conclusion I could come to was that it was the heat that was setting it off.

Knowing that I was not going to deal with this problem immediately, I got into a routine where I would swing the oven door open, practically throw whatever it was that I was baking in there and slam the oven door shut, all in about 1.5 seconds. Sometimes, if my timing was a bit off, I would follow the above routine with a quick sprint over to the smoke alarm, armed with a magazine and would frantically wave the magazine in hopes of warding off the gods inside the smoke alarm. Most times, it would work and during the times it didn't, I would simply wave that magazine with all of my might and hope the incessant beeping would stop.

I finally addressed this safety concern with my property manager who, although admitted that many people had these problems, it would be my responsibility to pay to have the smoke detector people come in to look at it. I don't think so! I told her I would simply wait until the next building inspection came along and wait to see what they found then.

When the next building inspection came around, I told them what the problem was and they confirmed what I had suspected and mentioned that many others in the building were experiencing the same thing. They then suggested that I "clean out" my smoke alarm because the dust could be triggering the alarm but aside from that nothing was wrong. None of that made any sense to me so I didn't bother doing anything.

I was then informed by letter that upon inspection of my smoke alarm, it was determined that there was a malfunction and that I would have to replace it by a specified date with my own money. With steam coming out of my ears, I marched downstairs to speak to the property manager. She informed me that not only was it happening to others in the building but also to her in her own unit!! She then told me I didn't have to pay anything and that the inspectors would come back to look at the smoke alarms of those who had problems.

I didn't hear much about it until one day, there was a knock at my door. I was on the phone but answered it to find a repair guy who simply said "smoke alarm" to me, walked in, set up his ladder and changed the alarm within 5 minutes.

Fantastic! My problems were solved! I still had difficulty of shaking my frantic habit of whipping the food in and out of the oven in record time. Finally, last night, I decided to take my time (like a normal person). I opened the oven door, and slowly removed my pizza. BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Ah well! Better super safe than sorry!

Kelry

My Oxford Comma

Ever since first listening to 'Oxford Comma' by Vampire Weekend, I can't help but ask the question: What are my Oxford Commas? You know...all of those things we do and all of those things we have that aid us in keeping up appearances.

We've all been caught in the game playing that goes on with keeping up certain appearances and I guess that a part of figuring out life is finding a way to live your most truthful and honest life among the many Oxford Commas that surround us. I admit that while I view certain Oxford Commas with disdain, I still find myself embracing others.

Massaging me into therapy

I was visiting a friend in my building last night. She is a fellow teacher but is also a registered massage therapist. Knowing that I have had some recent back pain (and having done some emergency work before I could get an appointment), she asked how my back was. I told her it was a little better. She then asked me about my last massage. I was trying out a new massage therapist.

My old massage therapist was great however, it was located near my old work and I wanted to find one that was closer. This brings me to how one shops for a new massage therapist. I immediately went on the internet and simply looked up some massage therapy places. I usually would take more time to shop but my back was so bad, it was keeping me up at night. What can I say? I was desperate!

On the day of my appointment, I entered into the massage therapist's office and was greeted by a ten-year old boy who sat behind the desk. Correction. I greeted a ten-year old boy who sat behind the desk and who responded with complete silence. It only took me about two minutes to realize that the only two people in the office were me and this boy. Awkward. After about 15 awkward minutes of waiting, the boy finally called the person I can only presume was his Mother to come back.

The 40 something hippy that walked in greeted me abruptly and kept walking. A few minutes later, I was asked to follow her to the back. In the massage room, I was asked to sit in the "throne", a large wicker chair straight out of "Three's Company" (or was it a wicker shelf in the show?...) I sat and we chatted about what the problem was and I told her my friend had suggested I have a full body relaxation massage. That massage wasn't so bad. Nothing stellar but the experience didn't weird me out enough to turn me away. I booked an appointment for the following week.

My second appointment was a slightly different experience. I opted for another full body relaxation massage. Again the massage was fine and nothing stellar until the end. I was on my back and the massage therapist was behind my head, massaging my shoulders and neck. I often keep my eyes closed during a massage so I suppose it was the sense that something was off that woke me out of my half slumber. The therapist was massaging me but every so often, she would slow down or stop massaging and, with her eyes closed, would appear as if she was falling asleep. You know when someone does that head bobbing thing when they are falling asleep while sitting up? She was doing that right over my head! I was afraid she would fall right on top of me. I wasn't sure at that point whether she was actually falling asleep. I mean, she's a bit of a hippy so perhaps she was doing some weird energy thing. Maybe she was sensing my aura (is there such a thing?!)

Anyway, the whole experience creeped me out a bit and I think it just may be worth the 35 minute drive to go back to my old place.

Crazy is as crazy does.

I was on my way home from work yesterday and stopped at a light. I looked in my rearview mirror and noticed the car behind me come up quite fast and have to stop at the last minute. It wasn't a dangerous situation by any means but this person was obviously distracted.

True, since getting T-boned by a woman two years ago who chose to drink her coffee, smoke her cigarette and look through pictures on her camera rather than stop at a stop sign and since getting rear-ended very badly on the highway by a 17-year old I have been a little more aware and perhaps sensitive to these things.

As the light turned green and we continued along, I looked again and saw that she was on her cell phone. This made me very nervous as traffic began it's stop and go pattern for the next 50 metres. Every time I stopped I looked back and I began to notice that each time, I stopped a little shorter. That would teach her a lesson! It's like I was hoping to catch her...hoping to make her run into me just so I could say "I knew it" or "I told you so".

We approached the on ramp for the highway and the OPP were checking cars. I always assume they are checking for seatbelts but this time, I hoped they would pull her over to bust her for her heinous crime!!

Suddenly, the clearest thought ocurred to me. It was like I had actually listened to my own thoughts. What was I doing? What was I trying to prove? True, people do annoy me on the road and I do like to utilize that lovely horn I have to remind them of their wrongdoings but there must be some line that can be drawn. I smiled to myself as I realized that I probably looked like the 'crazy lady', always stopping short of the traffic!

Ah well...crazy is as crazy does I guess!

My Slant

Upon learning about this blog and what it is supposed to be about last night, I was told I should have a slant. A theme, a general feel or a specific purpose for the blog. What if I don't know my slant? Well, apparently, it is ok not to know your slant. It will just appear over time.

I ignored my slant for the meantime but as I had yet another conversation tonight with another friend and began catching her up on my dating life, I felt a slant begin to emerge. Is my slant supposed to be my dating stories? If so, is my purpose to inform everyone out there that it is not for my lack of trying that I am single but due to various other factors? - my own baggage not being one of those factors!

I'm not quite sure I'm ready to divulge my dating life through this public domain. I mean, is it really fair to the guy with the weeping eye or the uninvited kisser to share their shortcomings over the internet? Should I really retell the story of the guy who tripped over his tapered jeans while he named every breed of dog we came across in the park?

Perhaps it will be more of a general slant, showcasing my cynicism of all that surrounds me.

I'll guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Kelry

Running With Scissors

Like most things I've done in life, I typically jump in with both feet and deal with the consequences of those actions afterward. I was speaking to a friend on the phone tonight and was telling him about my weekend. It went something like this:

"So, before I knew it, I was out until almost 3:00am and then after all that had to meet my family for dim sum for brunch. Can you believe that? I mean, all I wanted was a big, greasy breakfast. Here people were offering me sticky rice and dumplings and all I wanted was bacon and eggs."

Ok, so out of context, it clearly isn't that funny but as he pointed out to me on the phone, I have a unique way of viewing the world and the otherwise mundane things that happen during my experiences within it. He said I should start a blog. I told him I didn't really know how to do it but as you can see, I've gotten this far so I suppose that is not too shabby.

Now, this is where I may need an audience. I don't know the rules of a blog. Are there rules? I think there are. Here are some imagined (or real) rules:

1. Each post must have some witty, quirky title that may or may not have anything to do with the actual post.
2. Blog posts are better if they have pictures, links and sound bytes attached to them.
3. Blog posts must not be too long or people won't read them.
4. Although I may actually be writing about mundane events, there should be some deep, meaningful message about my philosophy of life hidden in the depths of my writing.
5. A blog is not an online diary.

The above rules reflect my perception of what I think most blogs are. The real truth is that we all know there are no rules. That being said, I will most definitely be breaking some (if not, all) of the above rules.

Kelry