The Voice Of Reason

PC guy wasn't feeling well so he is coming Monday night if he's feeling better. Everything is mostly set up now, but i do have a few things to ask him.

Went to brunch today with my cousins at the Athens restaurant, which has been in Halifax a long time. It's moved locations a couple of times but this is the first time I've been there. They were really busy for Saturday brunch. The food was good but the service was slow, probably because they were so busy. They do have a buffet on but we all ordered from the menu. The problem with buffets is you are tempted to eat too much and then feel so bloated. I've only just got back to sort of eating regularly after being sick and overloading like that wouldn't be good. I had my favourite, Eggs Benedict with spinach (so it was actually Eggs Florentine) and it was quite good. Oddly, it wasn't served with toast though i suppose because the eggs are on an english muffin, that's why. They only have home made bread, too, rather than serving bought loaves. Anyway, brunch was quite good and we enjoyed ourselves.

My cousin Cath and I then did some errands and I bought the bluetooth speaker i wanted for the wedding venue. It was even on sale a bit so that was good. Left it at the shop while we then went to the flower shop to talk about wedding flowers. Cath has really good ideas and was a great help. She knows a lot more about picking out flowers and what goes with what than I do. Between her suggestions and the florist's, I think what they came up with is going to be really nice. The flowers are not traditional types for wedding bouquets but they'll be a bit more casual. I knew the colours I wanted and what will go with the dresses and I know what I don't want so they worked with that. She seemed confident the budget I had in mind wouldn't be a problem, either. I don't know what these things cost so i pulled  a number out of the air that seemed reasonable for what I knew I would be getting (two bouquets, a table arrangement, varous minor buttonholes and corsages) and she thought that was do-able.

By the time we were done, so was i. My back was a bit sore and my boots were hurting my feet. I hate boots and have worn them more this winter than most years. It's just been too slippery and difficult to walk in just shoes, even though just getting on and off the bus. We're having another storm tomorrow so there's no end in sight.

There are only three sleeps until Graham arrives. And I'm freaked out because there's a volcano in Iceland that may or may not erupt and spew ash through the atmosphere. Sometimes the news articles are worrying, sometimes they are slightly more hopeful... Mainly because the scientlsts don't know, either, what's going to happen. Ain't Nature mad? All it needs to do is stay under that glacier for three more days. After that, I don't care. Everyone send positive vibes, please, for the cork to stay firmly in for the rest of the week, k? Thanks.

My niece's wedding is Saturday. They had the rehearsal yesterday and she's excited! They're having it at a marina out on the deck overlooking the bay so I may have to rethink my dress. Even if it's hot in the city, it could be chilly on the water so I might wear the dress I have that has short sleeves rather than a sleeveless dress.

New season of Doctor Who started this weekend. I will enjoy Peter Capaldi though the first episode was a bit disjointed mainly because post-regeneration, this time in particular, he's very confused. Maybe because the regeneration was so draining and powerful (unexpected, enough energy to blow up space ships etc. ) Some great lines from the Doctor about eyebrows, mirrors and being Scottish. Was a bit confused that Clara was surprised at the regeneration and wanted him to change back. I know seeing it is different than knowing it happens but she did see three doctors together and one storyline had her going back in time to save each of the previous regenerations so she had to know the implications. Bit of a "wtf" moment there but otherwise good.

I will be happier now that he's settled down and settled into a new personality. Loved that he told her bluntly he is not her boyfriend. Didn't expect the phone call. It was a nice touch and just what she needed to get her head around it all. Interesting concept that the choice of who the Doctor morphs into may be what the companion, or even what he himself will need to be for this regeneration. Can't always be about the companion because he doesn't always have one when he regenerates. I would love to see the return of River Song but the last time we saw her she was "dead" (living in the software of the library planet) so I guess that won't be an option any more. I also notice that they're releasing the first episode on DVD in just two weeks!! Geez!

Loving the Outlander series so far. Heard some complaints from some people saying it's too slow. It is a bit but because I love the books so much, i love seeing how it's all coming to life. It's so much better than having to jam it all into a 2 or 3 hour movie and losing huge chunks of it. They change some things but they're not jarring changes and so far, the storyline is keeping well to the book. Diana Gabaldon is very happy with it so that's the important thing. It's already been announced there will be a second season. That will be interesting to see how they do it because Book 2, Dragonfly in Amber, jumps back and forth through at least half of the book, while Claire researches to find out where Jamie went after Cullodden once she discovers he didn't die there. In the book we see flashbacks to her marriage in the ensuing years as her and Jamie's daughter grows up and flashbacks to how Jamie survives as well until they finally meet again, 20 years after Cullodden.

I've got my wedding outfit, even though it's the backup plan. The dress i had planned to order ended up being discontinued. There's always a chance they'll bring it back again and if they do, I'll order it but i found something else just in case and i have it now. It's going to be a long skirt and top, fancy, deep sapphire blue. That's all i'm saying, no links. :) It's a bit darker than I expected but it'll be nice anyway and the flowers will brighten it up, too. It's probably a better match to the blue in the Union Jack anyway which is what Graham plans to wear as a vest/waistcoat. I might see if i can find red shoes. Buying shoes is always difficult for me because my feet just don't fit them well, not nice shoes anyway.

First full week since Christmas. Five day weeks always seem so long! ;) We've had our Earned Day Off plan at work reinstated since mid-last year so now I can look forward to every third Friday off or thereabouts, depending on when I need to take the day. For instance, If i have appointments or something else i need a day off for, i can always schedule it around the EDO. I'm heading to England next Tuesday night, so instead of taking 5 days vacation, i can take 4 and an EDO because i'll be able to put in enough time before then to make up the hours.

I undecorated my Christmas tree yesterday. I miss the pretty lights in the corner! It was so much easier to do now that the lights are all part of the tree!! I've still got to get the pieces back into garbage bags and put all the stuff back into the storage room along with my new suitcase. I"m taking my rolling carryon with me as i won't need the big case. Basically i'll just need to pack socks and underwear enough for the days and a few tops and an extra pair of pants or jeans.

I did order some things from Evans, which is a plus size store in the UK that does send to Canada. I didn't have it delivered to Graham's though i suppose i should have but they did estimate it should get to me before I leave. I'm dubious but hopeful. If it does get here, there's a couple of things i'll take with me from that lot, if they all fit and look ok. Two of the items are long tops/short dresses that i plan to wear with leggings but if they don't fit, they can't be returned to the store because they were special collection online only things. I reckon they will be ok, though. They're a little different than I usually wear so i might be a bit out of my comfort zone but i'll just have to take a deep breath and go for it. It's nothing radical, just wearing them with leggings is a bit iffy for me as my legs aren't the best. :\ but if the hem is down to the knee, it might be ok. You can't really tell from the look of the photo and even the measurement of the garment could still end up laying at a different length. 

Meanwhile, one of my goals at the gym is to work up to at least 15 minutes on the eliptical trainer. I used to be able to some years ago but can't now. I did manage 4 minutes with another minute slowed down on Friday so we're on the way there. It's a great machine for cardio, not as boring as the treadmill and a much better workout than the bike. I can only do it with music though. That's the motivator that moves my feet!

Really looking forward to this mini-vacation next week even though it involves a lot of travel for a few days. Looking ahead to the long term weather forecast, Tuesday is supposed to be clear so if that holds, i'll get away ok. good thing, too because Wednesday looks to be a real mess of rain and freezing rain! Monday the 21st for the return journey should be ok too. It's hard to really count on the forecast that far out but we'll see. A few prayers to the weather Gods might help. 9 sleeps until i arrive!

I think I owe my soul to the Grocery store! Yeesh! I really was out of everything. I asked Mom to take me yesterday and it cost me $188!!! Today I've got a pork with peanut sauce stewing in the slow cooker. That's the difference between finding the last can of soup in the cupboard or having toast for supper!

It snowed on Friday and it made rush hour traffic hell. It took over a half hour just for my bus to come, during which time i stood there dodging snowflakes in my eyes, hair in my face, and i think somewhere along the way i must have got something in my eye or rubbed too hard because all weekend my eye has been sore. It doesn't feel scratched, though, it feels like someone poked a finger in my eye and it's bruised almost. Owie.

It didn't snow a huge amount but the snow clearing efforts this time around really seemed to be shoddy. I live on a bus route and it's usually in pretty good shape after the kind of snowfall we just had, which wasn't really all that much, about 5 cm or maybe 10 at the most depending on where you were in the city.

I caught up on the other two episodes of Sherlock (UK). Wow, really good! The guy that was playing Moriarty was stunningly good, unhinged and brilliant. Sherlock survived the fall somehow. Must have taken lessons from John Stape off Corrie!

Corrie in the UK is going to be good tomorrow night. Tracy Barlow is going to be bitten by Karma. Friday's 2 episodes were really good, too.

( 2012 books )

It started to snow lightly by mid morning. It never did come down hard but it kept up. From our new work location, we can look out on a hill and watch the cars and even busses skidding up the hill! Heard through the day about lots of accidents and very bad traffic. First snowfall of the year always brings out the stupid in so many drivers. By the time i left, about 4:10, it didn't seem like the traffic was all that bad but i waited almost 40 minutes for my bus. I think the one i wanted just never showed up and I caught the next scheduled one. As expected, it was packed!! Sardines in a can! But the driver was friendly, inviting everyone on the "Party Bus"! The traffic wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, in fact it was even slightly better than usual at that time of night. Didn't even stop once on the bridge coming across. I guess a lot of people will have left early and schools were canceled mid-day, too.

On the plus side, too, my new coat was great! The hood stayed up, the wet stayed out and it was nice and cosy. I'm glad i had gloves though because the pockets won't be very warm. They don't seem to be lined. Pretty much just good for holding my gloves! By the time i got home, it felt like the snow was turning to rain. Here in the city we really didn't get a lot of snow falling, but away from the harbour i think there was more, and even more in other parts of the province.

So yes, the new office space. Very nice. But cold. I did email someone to see if the temperature could be investigated. Why on earth it is so chilly in November I don't know. Some people don't like the orange and lime colour scheme on the walls but i quite like it. I always do like bright colours.

Good heavens it was cold yesterday! It was only 10 degrees when i left for work at 7 and it didn't get a whole lot warmer through the day, maybe 14 or so tops. When i left work, it was trying to rain, those big fat raindrops and it was windy and cold. I thought the heavens were going to open up before the bus came but the weather gods at least let me get home before that happened. I did chuckle though, as there was an outdoor Metal fest concert going on from mid afternoon to the night headlining Metallica. I sincerely hoped that metalheads wouldn't rust and that the headbanging and moshing would keep them all warm. I expect they mostly all had a good belly full of "anti freeze" to get them started anyway. Apparently the traffic at rush hour was horrendous but it didn't seem to affect my bus going away from the downtown core and across the bridge. I expect if you had to cross the peninsula, it would have been as the Garrison Grounds were smack in the middle by the Commons.

It's almost equally miserable today but the sun should come out for the weekend. Did i mention i'm having my mom's car over the weekend, too? I think i did.

( 3 more ebooks read )

Bloody freaking cold out there today. Halifax is usually fairly reasonable for temperatures. Only a few days here and there that it's super cold or hot as the ocean tends to limit the extremes. Today was one of them, at least for us it was pretty chilly. The average temps were around -16 to -18 C. and the windchill sent it down to about -30. It's only supposed to last a few days this time around.

I was supposed to go to a meeting at another office this morning and since it was in Dartmouth i told them at work i'd meet them there rather than go all the way to work just to turn around and come back again. I planned on taking the bus. or busses. It would have taken three but it wouldn't have been so bad had it not been so cold. Who wants to wait around for busses in temps like that! Not me, so i called for a taxi. I am going to see if i can get the money back as they would have given us taxi chits if we hadn't had drives from people. I got back to work with one of the other coworkers.

After work was the gym and man oh man waiting for the bus after that was brutal! You know how time flies when you're having fun and it slows to a creep when you're watching a pot boil or something? It's even slower when you're waiting for a bus in the arctic winds!

Good soup weather. I made a turkey soup on the weekend with homemade turkey broth. IT's not bad but i think i should have had a bit more salt in the broth as it's a little flat. Probably better for me, though.

Halifax is in waiting for it's first proper storm of the season. Ah but the weather says there could be a bit of rain along the coast too. Does that mean we'll get snow and then rain and it'll amount to nothing? Inland will get the snow for sure and whatever it ends up being, it'll be a mess. Supposed to start this afternoon so it'll be a pain in the arse going home. My trainer has already emailed to say "we'll see" regarding the weather so i emailed back and suggested we just reschedule. I had planned to make an appointment to get my hair done on Saturday over here anyway so i can do both if he wants to reschedule and stay home today.

2011 tea tasting
Vanilla Oolong Apparently full of antioxidants so it was good for me! The vanilla made it smell all homey and nice. I drank it black because it seemed more of a "green" type tea than a black blend, at least when it was brewed. It might have done ok with a little milk, i don't know. Rating 7/10

2011 books:
3. Hello, Vodka? It's me, Chelsea - Chelsea Handler
Yes another ebook finished. I had a few on the go and was switching back and forth depending on what i wanted to read at the time. Chelsea Handler is a stand up comedian with Jewish and Mormon roots. This book is a series of anecdotes from her life apparently. Some of them are quite funny but others are really not to my taste at all. I'd say they were in poor taste but lots of comedians do schtick that's in poor taste or even offensive so i hesitate to say one or two topics offended me. It's a personal taste, though. Your mileage may vary but i think it was enough to possibly put me off trying any more of her books though, as i said, some of it was chuckle-worthy.

I tried a new recipe yesterday from Canadian Living magazine which usually has pretty good ones. They are all tested, they all work and they all taste great (if you like the ingredients, obviously). This one i tried wasn't really top notch. But to be fair, it was from the results of a competition from readers i think, using the processed cheese spread Cheez Whiz. Now i like that, once in a long while, on toast. But it's processed and a bit salty. This recipe was a "brunch" type thing with cooked sausage, peppers, onions, mushrooms and you have chunks of grainary bread and some shredded cheese with egg and milk and you bake it. It calls for turkey sausage but i couldn't find any so i used mild Italian. I find the end result a bit salty which is probably the Cheez Whiz mainly. I think i would make it again but leave that out and maybe add a bit more shredded cheddar or maybe add some shredded Swiss cheese. I'll finish the leftovers as i don't want to waste it but if i make it again, i know what i'll do with it. In the meantime i still have half a good sized jar of Cheez Whiz to use up on toast.

Yeah, that kind of pissed me off too. The small jar, 250 ml. would have done the recipe and given me a little extra for a taste. $4.99!!!!!!!!! The next size up, 500 ml? $5.79!!!!! WTF? Doesn't really make sense there would be so little difference in price. I think the small one must have been mispriced or something. I got the large one, yes it cost more but there's more leftover and it just narked me to pay 5 bucks for such a small jar.

So today and tomorrow there is rain and high winds. And the bus didn't show up this morning. Bastard. If it's not going to show up, it'll be when the weather is worst. Rainy or snowy or really cold. I expect it just broke down. We only had a 20 minute wait for the next one and there was a shelter to get out of the rain so, yeah, it wasn't all that bad but it's annoying because the next bus that comes along will be more crowded.

And three people remarked this morning that they'd seen me on the Corrie documentary :) Two bus regular passengers and one of the Starbucks barristas :) This week on UK Corrie should be a bit less of an emotional roller coaster in the aftermath of the disaster that hit the Street last week on screen. Good stuff all of it, lots of drama, great acting, leaving you with no doubt that things are going to change for a lot of the characters' lives. More actors will be leaving the show in the next few weeks as well, though these ones at least, won't be dying off. I think we've probably had all those now.

Gonna be a little cooler today. It's only predicting a high of 32 :o\   Each night gets more difficult to get sleep even with the ceiling fan on full tilt. Hurricane Earl is blasting through tonight and tomorrow morning though it won't hit us here in Halifax full on. We will get a tropical storm with lots of wind and rain and that should cool things down. I may just sleep through it! 

I stopped in the grocery store after work to pick up some bread, juice and stuff for sandwiches in the off chance we lose power. I expected the store to be really busy but it wasn't at all. I suppose they will be tonight. Everyone goes into a last minute panic, especially remembering what we went through with Juan in 2003. Some people had no power for 2 weeks because of the damage. Mine was off for 2 days i think. This won't be as bad as we aren't getting the eye of the storm through here. That'll hit southern NS and go up the Bay of Fundy apparently.

And oh, this could be interesting. There's a "Hog Wild" motorcycle convention in Digby this weekend, which is smack in the line of the hurricane. There will be 80 to 100 thousand visitors, many of them camping in tents. Eek! They aren't cancelling their event and really, it's only going to be a real problem the one night and day. The rest of the weekend will be fine! The local area will be setting up emergency shelters anyway. I do hope they all stay safe.

Someone remarked that Canadians seem to complain about the weather a lot. Well, yes. Though it's more that it's a topic of conversation rather than a constant complaint though it often is that, too. Weather makes such an impact on your life, why wouldn't it be talked about? And we on the coast don't often get the real highs and arctic lows for more than a few days at a time so we aren't used to it. Naturally there are complaints :)  Really, though, this summer has been really nice. Not much rain at all and the heat waves like this week have only hit one other time that i can think of earlier in the summer.

I'm taking my paperwork to the passport office after work today. Renewal time and hoping they won't bitch at me too much for losing my old one. Yes, my old one seems to have gone walkabout and i can't find it anywhere. This virtually guarantees that as soon as i get the new one, i'll find the old one somewhere. I may possibly have thrown it out inside my broken-zip money belt but i do remember checking it before. It's the only thing i can think of that *might* have happened even though i don't think that's what i did. So I can't do the quick and dirty passport renewal that they brought out since the last time, i have to go through all the bother of getting a guarantor and also getting a document sworn and signed for the lost one. At least the guarantor doesn't have to be a doctor or lawyer or priest or something else "special". You just have to have someone that has a passport that has known you more than 2 years. The sworn document was easy, too. We have a legal department on this floor and having a lawyer sign it isn't contingent of them knowing you for any amount of time. They just have to be able to take your oath that what is in the document is the truth. Sorted. I'm hoping that at 4 o'clock on a friday before a long weekend with impending hurricane will make for short lines at the passport office. But i have a book just in case.

The Nova Scotia International Air show is next weekend and it's back in the city at the old Shearwater base. It was there for years but the military decided to scale that base back and wasn't maintaining the runways so the air show went first out near the airport, then they tried having it in the southern part of the province. Last year the weather wasn't good and the attendance sucked. I would say the 3 hour drive from Halifax and the Valley and other parts even farther away makes a bigger difference. The year before that it was cut short because of a tropical storm and the year before that it was cancelled because Shearwater was repaving a runway (though i thought it was at the airport ... never mind)  This year, they're offering a $5 discount off the entrance fee if you take the bus but even that, according to the paper, is still going to cost $15. Wow! It sure has gone up since i last went! They'll have extra busses put on for it and considering how much traffic increases along those roads, it's well worth it. I may even go. I haven't been for a number of years and it would be a good little photo project if the weather cooperates.

Something else i read in the paper to do with a dog that was rescued from a car in a grocery story parking lot. The dog, a daschund, nearly died. He was in the car for about 20 minutes when a passer by got him out. They didn't say if the guy broke into the car but i suppose he must have. The SPCA were called and apparently the owner was "quite surprised that it was such a serious concern and that the dog became so ill so quickly". My god there are some morons out there! In a heat wave like this, even with a window cracked open, the inside of that car would have been unbearable for an animal!  It didn't say whether the owner was fined but he should have been!