Roberta's Blog

Not So Random Reflections

2012-02-01T23:11:00.003+01:00

Another picture taken on my birthday in Vancouver: soothing Passion Fruit tea at the corner of Denman and Davie, sitting in a sunbeam...

What a difference a few hours make, or a few days, or just a different lens on the world, or having given my head a few good shakes.... or feeling the effects of taking care of myself...

Today mom is off doing her own thing, leaving me at home, alone, for, what, I think the first time in almost a year - aside of when I've been on a week long respite break. Today, I got four hours, maybe it will extend to five, but it feels like an eternity to one who gets my energy from being alone with no agenda. She should be home anytime now, but I feel so wonderfully restored.

After 30 years or so of living alone, I never would have thought that just four hours to myself could possibly be enough to restore - I would have thought I'd needed at least a day, if not two. But things are different, and I am learning to cherish little breaks. Like sunbeams.

It could be that I had a good base coming into today -- after my decent respite break and mini-vacation in Vancouver last week, or mom's less-than-usual-degree-of-emotional-turmoil return from Piercy Respite Hotel on Monday, or the body work I had done last week, or a change in a medication - who knows... but that base probably helped.

It probably also helped that I was able to see the preciousness of my time today. As much as I wanted to sleep, I resisted the temptation. I put on a pot of coffee and went out to my art studio -- that I've barely set a foot into since mom's fall in the summer - and had my breakfast there, reading an art book, then doing a little collage/doodle art myself. A lovely sunny day here, so it actually got hot being there too long. Then took a relaxing shower, put on some soothing music (Hennie Bekker - haven't listened to that for a long time!), and doodled - and, yes, dozed, a little.

Pleasantly surprised to feel refreshed and restored. I forgot what this feels like. And it feels good.

I'm almost hesistant to say that, I don't want to count my chickens before they are hatched, but, hell, it's worth celebrating! I honestly don't think I have felt this good since last summer. That could be selective memory, but who cares. It feels new, and a relief.

I have work to do today, but intentionally postponed it until after mom is home - so I'd have my me time for me - after all, it's supposed to be respite! I'll dig into that shortly, but wanted to capture this moment, this feeling. To cherish it. To celebrate it. And, yes, to remember it, because there will, I'm sure, be many more moments of feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope or think straight. I think they come with the territory these days. But something about today WORKED. Hallaleujah!

Mom is at a day program at Mount Newton. They pick her up here in the morning, she gets a bus ride with other attendees - then spends 4 hours on site at their facility. They start off with tea/coffee and muffins in a big sunroom, then move to an activity room that feels more like a living room for chair exercises and, if they are lucky, some live music. Lunch is a hot meal cooked from scratch on-site; those that are still capable are invited to take part in the meal preparation. After lunch is a changing program: perhaps a speaker, or games, or something like that. Then back on the bus at around 2:00 and another ride and hopefully some interesting places to see as they drive her group back home. It's a good program: they have a careworker on the bus, as well as a driver who has a care training. I am relaxed knowing that she is in good hands.

Oh, somewhere in there, probably the morning, mom gets her turn in the bath. It's quite a wonderful contraption they have - I can't wait to hear how much she liked the jets - and how happy she will be having had a real bath for the first time in ages. Since her summer fall, she's had just bird baths in bed, and showers during her stays at Piercy, that's it. The little old bathroom here is too small and dangerous for her to use....

[Pause]

Well, my precious cargo has arrived home. Mom is squeaky clean, smiling and chattering on about having had a really good day. And she is looking forward to going back again next week. So, success all around.

Now it's time for me to move onto my work for today, but glad I captured this moment and feeling. With grace, it shall return over and over again.

Fifty Three

2012-01-29T02:48:00.003+01:00

A little message found in the sand at English Bay Beach yesterday. Seemed made for me.

A quiet birthday, but just what I needed. Here in Vancouver on a respite/vacation break, staying at a friend's apartment in the West End while she is away travelling. Same building as my sister Carol lived in 30+ years ago, same suite layout, oddly comforting. Yesterday I went out for breakfast, walked by the ocean, had a nice tea, did some healthy things for me - then came home for a nice evening at 'home'. My best friend Kelly came over to visit. We ordered in Greek Food and enjoyed a bunch of wine and gabbed away the night.... Not as exciting as 51 up the Eiffel Tower, or 50 in the Big Apple, but perfect for me right now.

Looking forward to a new year. The last one was a wee bit rough, or perhaps I should say had a few rough patches, but it's all a process.

Last night these words fell out of my mouth, and I've been doodling around them, and want to capture them here:
Some people need roots... I need wings.

Library Respite

2012-01-13T03:41:00.004+01:00

Tonight is another respite break, and I am at the local library with my sister. She is looking at books, and I am settled into a study nook with my laptop. I originally thought I might work - that's what I did the last time we were here on a similar break - but I feel like I have done enough on that front today, so an opportunity to blog.

After an hour or two, we will go and grab something to eat. This is amusing, as Patti gets a full meal, and I get, well, mush. Might be pasta tonight. One night it was mashed potatoes. Always with some soup. What's a girl to do?

I had dental surgery 8 days ago. I was playing up the 'dental surgery' bit to play a sympathy card, but I really thought it was no big deal. Wrong! I had 2 teeth extracted, and it hurt like hell afterwards. Then, despite being totally "good" (no booze, no red bull, liquids only then soft foods, and all the rinsing stuff...), it got infected. Sigh. So now I have antibiotics on top of the Tylenol 3s. As you might guess, I have been a bit of a zombie, lots of sleep, dozing off at inopportune times, and such. Yesterday I went for the gusto and spent pretty well the entire day sleeping. Made quite a difference. But long from being over the hump.

Interesting, I wrote for a whole 5 or 10 minutes without it being about mom. I'd say that's healthy. So, rather than rock that healthy boat, perhaps I'll not focus there....

I am looking forward to a great respite break later this month when I go to Vancouver and stay at a friend's apartment in the West End while she is away. Heaven.!! I don't care if all I do is sleep.... but I do hope I get out for some nice long walks. Hopefully I can drink by then (!) and can chill and have some good eats. May do nothing, may do something, will make zero plans. This IS my vacation. And boy, do I need it! [A note to my Vancouver friends: I don't expect to use this visit for socializing, so don't be offended.]

So, if I don't talk about mom, and I don't talk about respite, what do I talk about? Aside of dental pain and mushy foods, that is?

Honestly, I can't remember.

Maybe work?

I am doing two things. Can't recall if I have blogged on them before.

One is a short term contract for 4 months. I am a junior member of a 12 person team putting together 70+ elearning modules for a provincial government initiative. Interesting to have a side role, rather than being in the thick of things, but it fits me perfectly at this time. I have committed to the equivalent of 2 days a week as a minimum, and I do more when I can. I can only do this because my sister has come to help with my mom. And I enjoying it more than I thought! I'm am not really a government girl, but with the role I have carved out for myself, its working out fine. And the team is great! Only occasionally get together for face-to-face meetings; we do a daily scrum by phone and Live Meeting and the rest of my work is remote. Although I am not using it directly, I have been exposed to Articulate (I like it), have fallen in love with Dropbox, and am learning the ins and outs of Sharepoint. It's been good for me to dust off some of my skills, and spend time working with current tools. Yada yada yada....

That one is good for my brain, and my pocket book, and making local connections - but I love that it is for a finite period.

My other gig is the one that I am most excited about: since September I have been a travel researcher for IHateTaxis.com. First thing everyone asks is the story of the name, so you can read about it here. I work for the two brothers described in the story. And I LOVE IT! I started out at 10 hours a week, now up to 15 hours a week. And I am loving a steady ongoing gig that I can do anytime of night or day. It fits me like a glove! I also Tweet for them, which I enjoy tremendously. BTW, you can follow us there @ihatetaxis. Lots of cool stuff is in the hopper and it is great to be working on such a small team, as my voice, and my work, makes a difference.

It's funny, it's a way in which I am still traveling, or traveling again, without getting out of my pjs. I have learned so much about so many places by not only updating airport ground transport information, but by researching and writing about layover options. And by tweeting about travel related stuff. I'm a bit of a planespotter, so being hooked into airports is also kind of cool. If I think of places I've "touched" just this week, my 'journeys' have touched on Sicily (Mt. Etna was spewing this week!), Berlin (new airport coming!), Iceland, Dublin.... Other recent places have included Dominican Republic, Rome, Hamburg, Geneva, Hawaii, South Africa, Washington DC, Dallas Fort Worth, Winnipeg (new airport!)... and so much more.

OK, enough for now. bye bye

New Year Reflections

2012-01-01T07:29:00.002+01:00

Reflecting tonight on a few of the more memorable New Year's Eves in my life, not all good - in fact it was the memory of one particularly bad NYE that got me reflecting back - but it's all in the fabric of my life...

OK, out with it... let's start with the grim one. I was young. From my vantage point now I'd say veerrry young. That would be about 20 or 21. I had a boyfriend of a couple years that I was in the process of breaking up with. Correction: he was in the process of breaking up with me. We were living together, and the decision had been made a week or so before NYE, but I hadn't moved out yet. And we were "friends". Or so we thought. He was always a very kind soul but I guess so wrapped up in his own stuff about the breakup (or 'her' - the girl he had fallen in love with, that was at the root of me being asked to move out), that his thoughtlessness that night took me by surprise. He had made the arrangements for the night, so I put no attention to the evening, until we were ready to leave the house - and he grabbed a bottle of rum and said "this is what I am taking to drink tonight. What are you taking?" Of course, I didn't know that I should need to be thinking ahead on that count. And that was back in the days when you couldn't just go pick something up without planning ahead (liquor stores closed early on such nights, and were so busy you actully had to line up outside for hours [!]), so essentially I was left with nothing, aside of whatever I might be able to find in the cupboard. It was just so thoughtless, and it was a bad omen for the evening ahead. I had already said that I didn't want to go out for New Year's, considering the situation, but he said he still wanted to take me out (I guess he felt guilty about breaking up with me? and his new gf had plans?), so I acquiesed (sp?). My memories are actually very vague about it now, but I remember it being a night from hell. Being at some party and him kind of leaving me all alone for long stretches, ignorning me (or so it felt), and me just feeling totally awkward and uncomfortable. I just wanted it to be over. But it was something to just endure. And, there was no easy way to leave and get home. So it did need to be endured. And I was Miserable. I was broken hearted, felt unloved, definitely felt jilted, and the whole situation was just laid out in front of me: everything had come to this. And it sucked. I never was much of a drama queen, but that night probably did bring out the bits I did have: I was probably pouting and putting off some pretty 'woe is me' vibes. I am slightly amused now to think of it, but feel a bit sad for the younger me. And am also curious as to what he remembers from that night.

The "good" thing from that night was that I declared I hated New Year's parties, avoided them, and started creating new rituals for myself. Not that declaring all NYE parties bad was a good thing, but the movement to new rituals was a positive evolution for me. I must say I am still not all that fond of NYE parties, but they don't fill me with dread anymore.

Now, what other memories do I have?

I remember the year my sister Carol came and stayed with me in Victoria one New Year's. I was living in a lovely little attic apartment in a renovated heritage house, with a wood stove, skylights and a wee balcony with an ocean view. It had all these multilayered floors, and I had candles scattered about. We stayed in. I don't think she'd ever done that before! lol. It was quiet, but we had little rituals at midnight, wrote lists and resolutions, burned them, saved the ashes - and ate little treats. All stuff I had done alone for years since the NYE from Hell, and was sharing for the first time. Seemed very grand to be sharing it with someone else - and shockingly quiet for her (she kept talking like it was a novelty, I don't think she'd ever not partied).

Also in the low points category was the New Year's Day -- so not the night, but the day after -- where I had memories of some very painful stuff from my childhood come back to me for the first time. I was so shocked and confused. I remember the day because I went out walking in the morning, and there wasn't a soul around. So began a whole new chapter of my life that I have done a lot of work around, but have not written publicly about. But I do associate it with NYE.

In the bittersweet arena, there was the year Carol was in palliative care at St Paul's Hospital, and my sister Patti and I smuggled in champagne and snacks. We took over a wee room used for families and the chaplain - the irony wasn't lost on us - and chatted away the night like girlfriends. No, like sisters, sharing a 'normal' New Year's Evening. It was special. It makes my heart catch, as it must have been her last one....

Had a few memorable New Year's with a close close friend, her sister and brother-in-law. We'd gather at her place, and eat and drink and laugh and argue. I am not an arguer, but there were plenty of amusing moments with one of the trio of people I was drinking with wouldn't stop talking long enough to hear another persective so the only way to get a word in edgewise was to argue one's point. Probably doesn't sound amusing to read, but it is amusing to reflect back on. We also had a lot of fun. It was a ritual that got set aside when one of us diverted to a relationship, but still have surprisingly fond memories.

A definite highlight was 2 years ago in Athens, Greece which I wrote about here. Fantabulous!!!!

If you read that, you'll know why I was out trying to find a pomegrante (sp?) today....

Well, it's about time to clang pots and pans here...mom is up, watching Dick Clark (still alive!)... so will wrap this up. I am sure I have a few more memories that will come to me, and may add to this later.

But for now, let me say:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Airport Respite

2011-12-21T05:47:00.004+01:00

Wow, it was almost too good to be true… and so it was… At Victoria airport enjoying the bliss of the upper observation lounge. When I got here it was sooooooooooooooooooooooooo quiet. Almost the only person here, and total silence. No music. Occasional announcements, but that’s ok. It must be sound proofed, because even the planes seem muted. For about 30 minutes it was like that, and I relaxed. Truly relaxed. It’s something I need. I need more of.

Then 2 women with 2 toddlers arrived. And the silence was shattered. I don’t resent them at all, they have as much of a right to be here as I do – and perhaps even more if they have airport business! I don’t even resent the kids screeching, cuz what else is a kid supposed to do?

But, oh, how I missed the quiet. And I felt a sudden stab of yearning for that silence.

Then a dozen more people. Maybe half that, but if feels ‘full’ in here. Again, no feelings of wishing they would go away (or not much) but just brings to mind how much I crave silence.

Just as I crave time alone.

I don’t know what to do without it.

30 years of living alone.

I misssss it.

______________

What I am doing is taking a mini-respite break. Mom has an evening worker with her tonight: they make her dinner, entertain her (great when they are readers, as tonight’s one is), give her a wash and settle her in for the evening. I am delighted she enjoys them so much. For the most part, these are different workers than the day girls – I’d like to say a different kind of worker – perhaps because they are booked through a private service (subcontracted by the health authority), so I think they are doing it for different reasons. Last night mom had a girl read her poetry. What bliss for her.

I say girls but, of course, they are women. And when there’s enough time to get to know them, really interesting women.

And mom blossoms.

She is a lot more social than she perhaps thought she was.

And they all adore her.

How lucky I am, to be caretaking for such a sweet mom as mine (ours).

___________

Getting noisier by the minute… but I am now in a zone. Liking it as much as if I’d wandered in here and found it like this: busy, alive, noisy – ah, there’s my little cocoon spot in the corner, all mine.

Perhaps best I experienced both extremes tonight, on my first night here, so I will happily accept it when it’s a busy spot – and will really appreciate it when it is quiet.

I think I may be able to find this place empty at times.

I look forward to that.

One of the most interesting challenges of this process for me is going out to relax. As in, there is a care worker in for mom, and I get a break. So… what do I do?

I have always been someone who really does relax at home. What regenerates me is unstructured time alone at home. Or wherever I am hanging my hat at the moment. I have always been like this. Figured it out a long, long time ago.

And while I can stay home when care workers come in – morning or evening – it’s probably more important to get out. I know that. But it can seem artificial sometimes.

Because there really isn’t a perfect place to go.

Mornings I have gone out for breakfast, often taking my laptop and writing to kill time.

To do chores is to, well, do chores. And going to stores doesn’t restore me.

I’ve made it a point to not use the time for household chores or doing things for mom during these times… but as much as I am totally used to being on my own and not even notice it, to get up and get dressed and go out just to be out has an odd awkwardness to it.

Especially at those times when I just want to curl up and sleep.

Sometimes I do. At home.

But I know out is good.

Early on, I had a couple of the careworkers tell me that I really needed to get out. I think they could read it on my face, sense my need to get away. I appreciate their encouragement. It really helped me in the early days.

Now with winter, and now that I am working, it really is easiest to just tuck into my room in the mornings, and either sleep in, or enjoy the radio, or reading, or dig into work.

And when my sister is here, staying home is more the norm than going out in the mornings.

Though I still do get out. I feel like I have a morning rhythm now – even though it’s a little of this and a little of that.

Evenings, well, less so, still getting that worked out. For a few nights when my sister was here, we’d go out for dinner, which was fun… but it gets expensive, and more than once I just found myself wanting to curl up and go to sleep after dinner – just not that easy to do sitting on a bar stool.

Last night, I stayed home. Took some snacks into my room, turned on my radio, chilled. It was very restful, and I was able to separate. But tonight I thought it made sense to go out.

So…. After planespotting for awhile, decided to come hang out here in the airport’s observation lounge. It was the best choice so far. Very comfortable (big leather armchairs), aboriginal art, view of the tarmac and departure lounges – and the taste of travel in the air.

It’s about as close as I get to travelling these days, so it feels good.

And I think I could relax here.

When I think of all the other options, it really is the best. The library is good, but not all the time. Restaurants are ok, but they cost money and you can’t really put your feet up (only metaphorically). A pub is good, but can’t have more than one drink and can get tired of them. Going out for coffee is fine, but you can only do so much of that, and it doesn’t work in Sidney in the evenings!!! (they roll up the sidewalks here by 8…) Have done my share of sleeping in the car. Or driving around crying at others. What a mixed bag. I’d like to be at the point where I am going for a swim, still looking forward to creating that.

But what do you do when you want to relax for an hour. And you can’t be at home? Not complaining, just observing and trying to work it out. Because it is important to be restored when all is said and done.

This is good. And they have a sweet $1 2-hour parking thing going on.

Stepping back, this is one of the things that surprised me most about being a caregiver: what one does to relax when one gets some time off.

I have tried without success to find a crash pad. My dream has been for someone with a spare bedroom, or a studio, or some separate space in their home (or a furnished place empty a few days a week) where I could hang out: crash, read, relax, sleep, watch tv – just like being at home. Well, sort of. But after a year, and a few expressions of interest, still nothing. Of course, I am looking for an angel who will lend that to me, versus paying for it. I won’t give up, but man on man, what a haul.

If you read this, and you have a spot like that, wherever you live, know that there is a caregiver (or 12) in your community who would kill to be able to make use of it. To donate space to a careworker has to be one of the greatest gifts someone can give.

Ok, enough yattering. This place has died down to about ½ the people and ½ the noise, and it’s ok.

________________

Just re-read all that. Interesting jumble of thoughts. But there you go.

There I go.

Great lounge, I was able to see the pilots – I can see pilots right now! – on a plane that pulled up to get 9 here. Kind of cool.

And this lounge just totally emptied out.

I am here totally alone.

Bliss has returned.

I create my own bliss.

But here is a gem.

Reflections of a Frustrated Blogger

2011-12-16T18:13:00.010+01:00

I described myself in a tweet this morning, as a "frustrated blogger" (@citytravelbug). Hadn't thought of it that way before. But I am currently in limbo waiting for a phone call, so why not dig into that?

I am frustrated because I don't seem to have time to blog these days... but is that really it? I am frustrated because I am not blogging. I don't have a lot of time these days, true, but it's not that hard to do, as long as I have more of a free flowing blog, than a "composed" one. Which I'd planned (ha ha) to do anyways. So, what's stopping me?

Out of the habit is the biggie.

If I am in the habit, then it's no big deal to pop open my laptop and just write. Somewhat journal like. Not so crazy, considering that blog comes from weblog, which is an online log, or journal. Blah blah blah... enough intellectualizing!

Right now I am waiting for a call back about whether I can get a couple more days of respite care at Piercy Respite Hotel for my mom. Breaking all protocol here, but hopefully it will work out. Sometimes you just gotta trust your gut.

Was due to pick up mom this morning, but she had a fall yesterday. Not too serious, but was at the hospital with her for awhile yesterday while they stitched her up and checked her out. While we were doing that, she offered to stay another night or two, to give me a bit more respite time (also had a burst hot water tank this week, hardly real 'turn off the real world' kind of respite!)... I knew they had had a whole whack of time open the other day, as someone cancelled last minute (mom had already stayed one extra day as it was)... so I called the nurse last night. It appears that mom's room is available for 2 more nights, but that can't be confirmed until the booking person looks. Just called, and there's a relief person on, so won't know for a bit. The only thing is, I should have already left and be picking her up right now if they can't keep her longer. So a bit of a pickle of a delay if I hear I need to go get her, but I am crossing my fingers and toes. Anyways, that's the "I gotta trust" part of it.

Oh, on the falls, I was also tweeting this morning about: how do I get used to the falls, how do I keep my heart from getting stuck in my throat each time she has one. She's fine. Me, well, sheesh!!!
This is mom all loaded up to be taken back to Piercy - and the guys put the Christmas lights in the back on for her. Not a clear pic, but it was a nice moment, all 4 of us were laughing: her, me and the 2 paramedics (both cute). On that note, I told mom she didn't have to fall to get attention from some nice young men! She had 4 yesterday, 2 each way. And I told her not to be disappointed when she got women sometimes ;-)

There I go, composing again... the decision to add a couple of pics did it to me...

So........ to the frustrations part of it....

How did I get out of the habit?

It IS partially time, but I realize exactly where it started.

At the end of July my mom had a fall. And I kept it from my sister because: a) mom was "ok", b) mom asked me to, and c) my sister was off to the UK for 6 weeks in September and we both knew she would worry worry worry worry worry to the point of not enjoying her trip if she knew. It killed me a little not to tell her, but agreed to after talking with my brother and sleeping on it. And I agreed to do that as long as I didn't have to stay silent about "everything else".

The world here changed a lot here after that fall. After the first week or so of carrying on alone, totally scared that mom would fall again, and me straining my back as I assisted her, we got help. And the daily morning workers started. And some other adjustments were made around the house. Now we were supposed to get a home care assessment done sometime soon anyways, so I was able to tell my sister about those changes under those auspices (is that the right word? It's one I say but never write... oh well, for once I don't care...). (She never suspected a thing: had a great trip, and was surprised to learn about it afterwards... and totally understood, and appreciated the decision). Glad that bit is over though. Siblings have so much to do in partnership when caretaking a parent, holding something back generally doesn't help. And just felt odd to not speak of it.)

That was all going on about the time I wrote this blog entry: Grace. I had to write about it. I couldn't say nothing. My blog would have felt totally unauthentic to me if I just glossed over what was happening. So I chose my words veeeery carefully. Almost too carefully, I thought, as it felt a bit contrived, but it's also one of the most special posts I've done about my mom, because it captures the spirit of her, her heart, the fun we have (had?). Such a shame, the fall occurred the day after the pictures of this outing were taken. Mom was SO HAPPY that day!!!! She talks of it often. She talks of wanting to go back. But it won't be the same. and it's not that easy. Thinking of how happy it made her makes me all happysad. I start to cry as I write this. Her joy fills me with joy. And I feel so sad sometimes, thinking of her losses.

Okey dokey.....

Anyways... although I got my wish, of being able to share enough with my sister that I didn't feel I was lying to her... and to be able to have enough out in the open that I could blog about how my world was changing... in the end, being careful with my words was really really hard. And as I look back now, I never wrote another blog post after that all fall (well, not the heart stuff anyways).

that brings up a whole other realm of stuff for me, which I'll reflect on later.

For now, I am going to relax a bit, as I got my call back (she can stay), and I got a blog post out, so I am starting the ball rolling. Though who knows what will come! One thing I want to do is share what caregiving is like, to share our journey, and just put stuff out there as I adapt and work stuff out.....

ok, all 4 now...

La Tête au Carré: Nice's FAB "Square Head"

2011-11-08T01:35:00.006+01:00

OK, I have fallen in love with a building:

Image source: @olivier_m

This FANTASTIC building is located in Nice, France and it houses a library.

Rather, I thought it housed the public library, but I think it might just be the library administration buildings. That's ok, though it dents my fantasies a bit (just think about it, reading a book in the nose, wandering into the frontal lobe section, eavesdropping in the ear....).

I had really wanted to visit this area of France in 2009 (there are Picasso museums in the area!) but it just didn't work out. But now, it's biting at my fancy again, and I'm dreaming of future travel again. For me, that's two things: one is just a future trip to France, the other is a possible mission to visit fabulous library buildings around the world.... interesting premise...

Anyways the "Square Head" in Nice is the vision of local sculptor Sacha Sonso. It is actually called La Tête au Carré, which means "Thinking inside the box". How delightful! I just adore it.

If you are as fascinated as me, you might be interested in:

"Square Head" Building by Sosno (Nice) - a bit on the history
Wikipedia entry on Sacha Sonso - the sculptor who envisioned the head
Sacha Sonso's website - he was new to me, but I love his truly fantastic works!!!!
The architect was Yves Carrard
Tête au Carré (the “blockhead building”) in Nice - musings and photos by a former physicist who was taken by the the building when in Nice for a conference
Carol Ann Photos - fab pics of the building by a professional photographer

On the thought of fabulous library buildings in the world, here's one link I found so far: 8 Amazing Libraries (and One That’s Horrible).

This will be a fun "journey", even if it is just virtual travel for the forseable future...

Grace

2011-08-10T17:34:00.006+02:00

This is my favourite picture of my mom. It was taken just a couple of weeks ago, but I can picture her as a teenager. If they'd had phone cameras back then, this could be her goofing around with her girl friends. Yet she is 89, and somehow this shot takes decades off her face. I love her pure joy, and it feels very special to have captured this moment together.

Her name is Jeannie, not Grace, but it is her aging with grace (among other things) that inspired the name for this post.

I don't write a lot about her aging, or what it is like living here and supporting her at this stage of her life, but I think I shall begin. It is, after all, the biggest thing in my life. Haven't said a lot prior to this - aside of posting a few pics and adventures - as it is of the utmost importance to me to respect her privacy, and to respect the privacy of my siblings. But I feel pulled these days to record some of what I feel and notice, as I know it might help others. And I do need to process it. So, I shall, to a degree, share some of that here. Being careful, being respectful, while still being honest. Sharing with grace, I suppose.

A week ago we began a new phase of things: mom has a morning worker come in to give her a sponge bath in bed, dress her for the day, and make her breakfast. The bathroom here, while sized appropriately for her cute little house, is just too awkward to continue using for bathing for an elderly person, even with assistance. Hence the sponge bath in bed.

And my how she has taken to it! Rather that resist or be annoyed at a string of strangers coming in to perform the most personal of tasks, she is accepting it all with grace. And then some. She considers it all a luxury and she truly is luxuriating in it. We call it her morning spa treatment.

What a joy it is to witness her responding like this. I'm not at all surprised, but still I am delighted.

It's also a break for me. Not that there is all that much to do for mom, but as time goes on, and she becomes a little more unsteady on her feet, the attention and care she needs becomes more steady (hmmmm.... unsteady = steady care, interesting). No task in itself is too much, and there is nothing I wouldn't do for her, but the cumulative effect does chip away at one's (mine) energy. And if I get depleted, then I'm not going to be as good with her, and we'd both 'suffer'. I don't mean heavy suffering, but if/when we become strained in the process, it has the potential to change things from aging with grace to enduring. No one wants that.

I knew these things when I moved here 15 months ago, or at least I had a sense. But I suppose no one really knows until you're there.

When the spa days began, I was aware that she needed the extra care, but I wasn't really aware that I needed those breaks yet. But I did. I do. What an incredible difference it has made already. Something as simple as I am blogging now first thing in the morning. Just having some quiet mental space to start my day. Having lived alone for 30+ years it's something I am more than used to. I had adapted, somewhat, but now that I have this time with ease back I can already feel myself responding. I am more present with mom, and I am more present in general.

So I guess I was ready for things to shift. And I guess she was too.

The health care workers love her! I'm not surprised. My mom is such a sweet and interesting person. And she is totally rolling with the punches with each new person comes in. So far, no repeats. And so far, no men (!). We were told to expect a real variety for the first few weeks as we fit into the provider's schedule, and were warned that we might get a few men. She has accepted that possibility just fine, but of course we've put in a request for women ongoing. And I gather the men are in big demand, so I doubt we'll actually see them. But you never know.

We are having fun trying to remember all the ladies names, and a bit about them. Each time we get a new person, we remark that we like them and want them again. So they have been scoring big points with her. And, by extension, me. I admit it has been nice to see how so many different personalities can all perform the same tasks and still make mom feel happy: gentle, bubbly, no-nonsense, take charge, serene, joker, nurturer.... she connects with them all. Will be interesting to see who we get as ongoing caregivers, but at least I know she's going to be fine, no matter what.

Grace.

Mom is accepting aging with grace. She is accepting care with grace. She accepts me in her home with grace. She is accepting help from a wonderful neighbor with grace. She more than accepts the arrival of any of her flock with grace. She accepts her fleeting memory with grace. She has learned to. What else can she do?

And she has kept her playful spirit! If anything, it has really come out to play!

Evident when we go hunting for Grace.

One day when we were out for a drive, rather than go afar, we started exploring all the little streets that go down to the ocean here. Re-exploring for her, of course, she has lived here so long. But new to me. We were having a grand time when we came to a little road that goes out to a spit of land with about a dozen homes on it. I believe it is a public road, but as the only purpose of it is to go to these homes (there is no parking aside of a couple of visitor spots in the complex), I know that you're really not supposed to drive there. People walk out there all the time, and I used to go there with mom when she was mobile, but only on foot. But I knew she'd like to see it again. So I just drove out there, saying all the while that if we were asked what we were doing there we'd say we were looking for a friend's place. This led to further concocting a story and, out of thin air, I plucked "Grace" as the friend's name. No one asked us what we were doing, of course (I didn't really think they would), but it just added some fun. We, of course, carried looking for Grace as we poked around other streets.... it was a great lot of fun.

And now it's a bit of a theme. When we haven't been out for a drive for awhile, mom will say, "Let's go look for Grace!" Or if I just end up somewhere new, I say, "I wonder if Grace lives around here?"

Then, more recently, when we were talking about the recent changes in her life, and I complimented her on how she is aging with grace, we both stopped, looked at each other, and simultaneously yelled, "Grace!!" And laughed. With recognition that maybe that was the grace we were looking for.

So, we've had lots of fun with the grace theme, and it's actually provided a nice opening to all sorts of dialogue. And I know that grace has also been a theme for my life over the past 15 months.

Grace: we've found her, yet we will continue seeking. It's a journey we are on together.

My 7 Links: 7x7 Europe

2011-07-20T07:19:00.013+02:00

I came across the #My7Links hashtag on Twitter tonight and was immediately inspired. What is it? The My 7 Links challenge was created by the Tripbase blog - here are the rules. You are supposed to be nominated to participate, but I'm not much for rules, and I was ready to go. So here are my 7 links, chosen from my 7 month trip to Europe in 2009/2010 (hence the 7x7 reference).

My Most Beautiful Post
A Birthday and a Jet Plane
My soup and champagne celebration on my 51st birthday in Paris. I chose this as my "most beautiful post" for a few reasons. Yes, the soup is beautiful (I challenge you not to salivate at the description!), and so was the view - but this post was all about wrapping up my 7 month trip: sadness, joy, learnings, being ready to come home... So it's beauty is TO ME, though I hope my savory soup and other pics from that post are beautiful to others. I almost hesitated to include this post for beauty, as the pic I really wanted to use was the one below, which captured my joy of a very special day and point in my life... but I'm also not so cocky as to say that my most beautiful blog post was about me! lol. But there you go. Re-reading this post is a beautiful touchstone for me. And, perhaps, it can serve as a beacon and beautiful inspiration for others considering a grand adventure.

My Most Popular Post

Wandering the charming Passages of Paris

I had so much fun in Paris learning about the old covered passages! I found a lovely little book about them, read it, studied, then set out to explore some of them for myself. Some were awesome, some less so, but enjoyed it partly because it was a part of Paris that is a bit off the beaten track, but the passages captured my heart. And others' hearts too, it seems. I got lots of feedback on this one, and it turns up on Twitter every so often. And I'm delighted, as I am glad for others to discover this less famous but no less historic part of Paris.

My Most Controversial Post

Happy New Year from Athens!

This was hardly controversial, but I didn't have much in my 7 months of blogging in Europe that was controversial. I was not only careful not to criticize the places I travelled to ("When in Rome...."), but I felt this at the core. I was a guest and anytime I did not agree with a culture I felt it was a learning opportunity. So I kept my mouth shut. Now I am hardly a person who is unwilling to speak her mind, but as I chose to confine this challenge to my big Europe trip, it just wasn't a theme. Why this post? Well, cuz I managed to generalize that "everyone gives New Years trinkets in Greece" when, in fact, it was a tourist things. Oops. Well, it felt pretty cool and authentic to me anyways. (Interestingly, my biggest culture shock on my trip came from Athens as well, but I havent' really written about that (aside of a mention here....)... yet ...

My Most Helpful Post

Would the real Checkpoint Charlie please stand up?

Contrary to common belief, the historic Checkpoint Charlie isn't what you see when you visit the spot where it once stood in Berlin: that's a replica. The real Checkpoint Charlie is at the Allied Museum. In this post I wrote about my trip to the museum, what I saw there, and why I think it's one of the best historic sites in a city overflowing with them. I thought it was my most helpful post as I really do point people to a site which they might not be aware of, snuff out a few misconceptions, and give practical information on how to find it. And helpful, too, as it's history that can reach those who may never go to Berlin but are fascinated by it's history. One of my trip highlights.

My Post Whose Success Surprised Me

A trip to the Opera... and the Phantom's home

The success of this post surprised me because it was a bit of a sleeper. I didn't even plan to see this site, I just stumbled on it - and it was FABULOUS! Got so many great pics that I had to split my blog post into two parts (the pic above is in part 2 - and, yes, that's a mind-blowingly big, glorious Chagall!). I see it tweeted about from time to time when someone discovers it, and it makes me smile. And, really, you've gotta see it if you go to Paris...

My Post that Didn't Get the Attention it Deserved

Calvalcade of the Magi

I was lucky enough to be back in Barcelona on January 5th which is when the Catalan children celebrate their version of Christmas. The Calvalcade of the Magi, or Three Kings Parade, was a great experience and I got some truly fabulous pictures! It was held at night, and the performers and floats were so different from a North American parade, that it was truly magical. I feel it has been lost in the pure volume of blog posts from my trip, and a little overlooked. I'd be happy if more people saw the pictures and enjoyed the magic too....

My Post I am Most Proud Of

My Trip to Pompeii

Pompeii was unreal.... perhaps because it is real! Its the blog post I am most proud of for a few reasons.... Probably the biggest reason is because it was my first experience of "being" a travel blogger, as I arranged to take the tour for a reduced rate in exchange for writing a review. Wasn't sure about doing that at first, but when they agreed that my review would be impartial (if it was bad, I was going to say so!), I was ok with it. And it was pretty damn awesome! Not just Pompeii, but the tour itself. Though I did still comment on some things that could have been improved. It was a great little challenge for me while on my trip and I learned a lot while doing it. And talking about it now makes me realize that it's important to share.... I was also proud of it because I think it's a good post on Pompeii: great pics, little vignettes of information, and tips. Of course, I only got to see about 5% of the city, but that's all anyone gets. And if you get a good tour -- like mine, with an archaeologist who had actually worked on the site - you are going to learn tons.

So, that's my 7.

Now, to nominate 5 others to do the same (who have not already been nominated!):

Artist at Large: Exploring Cultures with Eyes Open

Peter's Paris

RomePhotoBlog

Sights of the World (Travelwriticus)

Women on the Road

Looking forward to their 7's !

The Picture of Courage

2011-07-11T04:37:00.003+02:00

This man is the picture of courage. I am both saddened and inspired.

If you don't follow the Tour de France, then let me introduce you to Johnny Hoogerland. After being hit by a media car - along with cyclist Juan Antonio Fletcha - landing in a barbed wire fence, getting back on his bike (after being cut out of the fence, then tended to a doctor riding a motorcycle), persevered to finish the race while bleeding and in excruciating pain. He is on the podium because in addition to being in a breakaway of five riders that actually was going to beat the peloton to the finish, he was positioned to win the "King of the Mountains" polka-dot jersey - all he had to do was finish. It didn't matter that he came in 16 minutes after Luis Leon Sanchez (who took the win for stage 9); all he had to do was cross.

What courage. He was in tears as he was awarded his jersey and in such obvious agony. They say it took them 33 stitches to sew him up afterwards (well, I also heard 44 stitches, whichever it was, it was a lot).

Some other reflections:

I know the riders take risks, and they accept those risks -- but it's one thing to go crashing over the edge of a mountain or into a ditch as a result of cycling (and there have been plenty of those in this year's TDF -- but to be hit by a car? It's crazy - and I feel for all those riders shaken by the incident, as well as those injured

It was a French television media car that hit them and -- get this -- they were ignoring instructions from the TDF Race Director on race radio (it's in one of the articles below) - it's beyond irresponsible

I was shocked to see the images of Johnny wrapped in the barbed wire, being cut out, the huge gashes in his legs and on his bared ass (yes, his uniform was in tatters), and his blood covered legs as he crossed the finish line - but I looked

I was bothered that I looked, as it seems disrespectful, somehow, to be looking at the worst of it all - and thought of how he would feel, knowing his rear end was displayed to the world in tweets, then re-tweeted, and re-tweeted..... I wish people would resist the temptation to re-tweet the pictures that he'd really not want anyone to see

But mostly, I am moved by the deep-to-the-core courage it took for him to get up on his bike and carry on.

Remarkable courage. Inspiring. Breathtaking. Moving. RAW COURAGE. Wow.
Here are a few articles about what happened, if you missed all the action:
Tour chief furious at vehicle accidents
More blood and broken bones leave the peloton shaken and looking for answers

Reflections: Looking Back on My Europe Trip - almost 2 years later

2011-06-19T18:18:00.005+02:00

This rock sits on my windowsill. I picked it up from the beach in Rhodes, Greece when I made my first trip there. It is just one reminder I have of the 7 months I spent travelling Europe in 2009/2010.

Two years ago today, I was counting down the days to my departure, and wrote this More Toes Than Days To Go blogpost 9 days before my departure. I was clearing out my apartment, making final preparations and trying, unsuccessfully, to contain my excitement.

These days that trip is still with me and the memories are as sharp as if I was still there. I can feel atmosphere of Berlin or Barcelona if I just close my eyes. Heck, I can even do that with my eyes open. Barcelona, Aix-en-Provence, Paris, Rome, Florence, Venice, Berlin, Rhodes, Athens, Madrid, La Alberca... so close I can almost touch them. Yet that world feels so far away from where I am today: living in sleeping little Sidney, BC, Canada with my sweet 89 year old mom and an adorable cat.

One of the things that keeps the memories alive is the little things I have around me from my trip. Perhaps the most prominent of those is this little orange leather purse that I got in Florence. I have used it every days since I bought it and still get compliments on it. In addition to its lovely colour, it's neat as it holds a whole bunch of stuff, while still being quite a tiny purse. In fact, I could have this view today, aside of the ground: I still wear that top, and still wear those adorable little sneakers that I bought one hot July day in Barcelona.

It's the little things that provide those memories. That rock on my windowsill, my purse, the loofa sponge I bought from a seaside vendor during my first trip to the old town of Rhodes. It makes me smile each time I shower (and I'm impressed that it's only just now starting to show a bit of wear - I'll probably still be using it for years to come). And my big, sloppy, comfy grey zip-up sweatshirt that I bought when I returned to Barcelona in January when it was cccccold (was staying in a place with no heat, common there, as it doesn't usually get that cold) - I wear it around the house practically every day, though the zipper is long broken. These are my everyday touchstones.

Those touchstones are pure magic, as they have the power to take me back, to connect now to then, and keep all I learned about myself on my trip front of mind.

It's important, as sometimes I feel very far from travel, the wide stretches of open time, the freedom, the learning, the beauty....

Don't get me wrong. I am very happy to be where I am right now, doing what I'm doing, 'tis meant to be. But I still feel that travel itch, and ponder where I'll go when I go mobile again.

And it's not that I haven't travelled at all since then. Since I have been back I've had a great trip to New York City for 3 weeks, an Alaskan cruise, a week in Mexico (Peurto Vallarta), a few days in Tofino and almost 3 weeks in Palm Springs (dog sitting!). Funny, these days, I even time spent in Vancouver is a "trip", lol.

About that pondering for future travel. I think it would be helpful for me to settle on at least one destination for my next big trip, so I can spend lots of time studying up, planning, dreaming.... So far I have a bunch of ideas, and some very probables, but that's all. Croatia and Turkey are of most interest to me at the moment, but not sure. I think there's a reason for all that, I'm not meant to get that clear yet, so I'm going with it. For now.

But I also know what it does to me when I know my next destination... Even if I don't know when, I look forward to that feeling when I start to settle on where....

Sure glad I picked up and took off those two years ago. It was a trip that shapes my life (I can't imagine me without it). Gratitude. I am overflowing with gratitude for all that came together in my life to make that trip possible.

Now I am curious again.....

Reflections on #canucks, #canucksriot and #thisismyvancouver

2011-06-17T07:47:00.011+02:00

Oh, what a run it was. The Vancouver Canucks made it all the way to the Stanley Cup finals. Go Canucks Go!
What an incredible spirit. Living on the island now, I must admit I was yearning for Vancouver at times, wishing I was downtown at one of the fan zones. All I heard and saw was an amazing energy that some said surpassed the Olympics. Well, the Olympics were truly special, so it must have been pretty darn good.

Going into Game 7, the tension was unbelievable, even at our house here in sleepy little Sidney. My 89 year old mom and I were gathered before the tv waiting for the puck to drop. Snacks at hand, pizza ordered and warming up our vocal cords for the anthems. Win or lose, it was going to be a fun night. But I was so sure we were going to win..... Go Canucks Go!!!

I was even sure I was going to get a chance to cheer on my favourite player, Ryan Kesler, for a goal. That would have been so sweet!

But, alas, it wasn't to be. The Boston Bruins won. And what a game! And what a goalie! I was amazed at Tim Thomas - he was like a brick wall, nothing gets past him. Both teams played well. Congratulations to the Bruins for their win. I really feel for the Canucks team - oh, what hope they had! - and for the diehard fans, who I know were crushed. But it was fun. And it was a game.

That's the kind of stuff I expected to be posting about. But not this:

Vancouver burning. The riots. The insanity. I felt sick to my stomach.

I was concerned at the first signs of trouble, the first car on fire, but I was optimistic that the police woud be able to get things under control. But, alas, that wasn't to be either.

I am not going to spend my energy posting pics or writing a lot about the actual riots. Lots have done that. I have little to add.

But I was saddened. Truly saddened. I was surprised that I didn't spend longer in anger, but it seemed pointless. I just felt sadness. "My" city was hurting.

OK, I will post ONE riot pic, and it's not about the riots, per se, but take a look at the steamy shot below. Wow and wow. Love the photographic values: the out of focus police, the sharp focus on the couple in their 'embrace', the light - what a public private moment of passion. Oh my!

Just before I went to bed in the wee hours that night, I caught up with some tweets about a planned volunteer cleanup campaign to begin at 7am the day after. Thousands said they'd be there.

And, true to their word, they came. They came and they cleaned. Vancouverites took back their town and through their actions demonstrated what they'd been tweeting: #thisismyvancouver. The next 4 pictures are from a wonderful album by photographer Andy Fang - check it out for more.

Love this pic of the Bruins fan pitching in. Sounds like there was an amazing energy as 100's (1000's?) picked up garbage, swept up glass, washed off grafitti, and scrubbed the riot zones clean. Tweets reported that the city smelled clean. I imagine it sparkled in the day's sun.

If that wasn't enough to warm your heart, how about the free hugs movement downtown? Sweet and heartwarming.

And the messages that Vancouverites felt compelled to write to express their love for the city, their pride, their apologies an condolences.... This scene was at the Bay downtown -people wrote all sorts of messages on the plywood covering the broken windows. Check out the flags that people created and strung up....

That last message is from Mayor Gregor Robertson. Sweet.

Talking about sweet, I was really moved by this expression of gratitude. It's a police cruiser covered with messages of thanks. What a lovely reframing of the images of police cars burning. I am sure this meant a lot to the police.

I wish I had more to say, but I'm tired and emotionally exhausted. Still sad, but also heartened. I love Vancouver, miss it at times like this, and hold it in my heart tonight.

ps - I did some Canucks doodles along the way - you can check them out here.

Spring is Here?

2011-06-01T16:56:00.009+02:00

Well spring may be very slow coming here, but that hasn't stopped us from getting out when the sun does shine. Here's mom enjoying coffee on the fab deck my brother and crew built last fall. My, how mom loves the sun!
Celebrating a nice visit from Kat - my niece and mom's granddaughter - and her beau Jono. Nice to see Kat enjoying the deck that she worked so hard on with her dad. Kat graduates in less than a month from her accounting program, and already has a job landed for fall. You are looking at a future CA!

Had great fun yesterday. It was mom's turn to decide where we'd go for a drive, and she remembered a sweet cafe/bookstore in James Bay she used to go to, and we managed to find our way back there solely based on her recollections and directions. Yeah! We had great sandwiches, coffees and treats - and picked up a few books. I love helping her figuring these little jaunts out then making her ideas come to fruition.

Victoria has one of the longest running Victoria Day parades in the country (where we celebrate Queen Victoria's birthday), and biggest. Despite the fact that it started at 9am (!), we bundled ourselves up and got there. There were a LOT of marching bands, which mom particularly enjoyed, as she used to be a trombone player in such a band as a young woman.

Smiles after the parade.....

A recent special treat: dinner out at Theo's in Sidney. Big smiles from both of us for yummy Greek food!

We stopped by Fisherman's Wharf in Victoria a few weeks back, and I was dispensed down to the dock to get fish and chips for our lunch. While I was waiting I hung out with the seals.

Oh, what a cutie~

Imagine my surprise last week when I came home to find this in our driveway!!!!! WTF? I'll leave you to guess for a minute, and will tell the story at the end of this blog post. Hmmm......

Seriously odd tree in the 'hood here...

We live about a block from the ocean here and were surprised to find out cat Maui hanging out there when we went for a walk recently. OK, he might have followed us. But he prowls this little street and hood like a pro. Anyways, here he is enjoying mom's favourite view at the end of "Memory Lane". It was adorable watching him shadow us on the way home afterwards.

Surveying the garden from atop his new-to-us scratching post out on the deck. He doesn't sit up on here all that often, but he sure loves to scratch and bat the toys around...

Seriously cuteness overload!!!!!!

Life has been surprisingly busy lately, mostly as it relates to marketing my art - see updates on my beepdoodles blog.

OK, the trampoline story: one of the neighbors here had bought it for his daughter for a birthday present. So they asked mom if they could assemble and leave it in our driveway - and kept her home and occupied sometime so she wouldn't bike up the street. Then, after she went to bed, they came over and got it to create a backyard surprise for the next morning. Amusing. And all the other neighborhood kids were crazy with excitement and intrigue.... lol

Reflections on 2 years

2011-05-02T05:37:00.018+02:00

First, a few photos taken on a recent trip to Vancouver:

Today, May 1st, is an anniversary of sorts. I have lived here in Sidney for a year. I arrived by ferry from Vancouver a year ago yesterday, April 30th. A full year before that, on April 30, 2009, I worked my last day at my corporate job. So much has happened in those two years, so much of it not what I would have imagined, but it's all good, life is a journey...

Some random reflections at this point:

I never would have dreamed that I would be blogging from my art studio. Art was just a random thing then, I doodled a lot, and wanted to explore where it would take me, but it's very much taken on a life beyond what I had been doing then....

I have my first art show this month. No. That's not quite right. I am showing my art TWICE this month.

I have a cat, now there is a surprise.

While I have done occassional contract work, I have not had a "job" for 2 whole years. Wow!

Gee, thought I was going to sit down and write some long and brilliant post, yet, my fingers have stilled on the keyboard. So, will post these random thoughts, and say more another time.

Oh, I do try to udpate my beepdoodles blog more frequently these days, and that's where you can see what kind of art I am doing, where I am selling and showing stuff, etc etc.

Spring

2011-04-07T18:44:00.002+02:00

Thank goodness it is spring! Though it was still only 1 degree celcius here yesterday, and it hailed for awhile.... Mostly things are looking sunny and bright, and it's no longer dark at 5pm, so I'm happy.

Lots going on, and not. I have seriously gotten away from my blog, and want to get back to that rhythm. So here's my intention, with more updates coming soon. Be sure to check out my latest beepdoodles blog entry - and guard your magazines!

It's a new year: random pics and reflections from Sidney

2011-01-22T21:35:00.004+01:00

So, it is a new year, and about time I posted something!
In addition to the year, what's new is that Maui the cat has finally moved in. He has adopted us, so to speak. His true owner is fine with this, as long as he is happy. I guess Maui is too free of a spirit to share a house with three other cats. And he does have it made here.... this is him when he crawls up on my chest for a chin scratch session.

Same position, differnent view. This is before his recent scuffle with some unknown creature that left a scratch on his nose (healing now). BTW, his real name is actually Meowee.... he was name that after his barely audible meow after she rescued him as a stray.

It's winter, so I am tucked in doing my light therapy (for SAD). I am cozied up here in the slippers I bought in Barcelona last January when I was staying in a flat with no heat (it doesn't usually get cold enough there for all homes to have heat, though it was cold at that time!).

Another current activity involves feeding the birds that congregate in our backyard. This was me preparing little thingees of suet to hang in the trees. They also get birdseed.... though the squirrels eat as much as the birds. No worries, as squirrels need food too :-)

This picture gives you a sense of how blustery it can get here in Sidney. This was taken down on Lockside drive (where they have finally finished the roadside parking/walking/beach access improvements, thank goodness!).... mom and I were sitting in the car watching the waves and birds and boats (she loves doing that), when these people pulled up and started hamming around taking pictures. The guy wasn't really going to blow over, but someone more slightly built might have. At our house, when the sea winds really get going, you can feel it in the yard, the wind, the ocean aromas, the misty, sometimes the fog. We are only a half a block from the ocean, a fact that the the ocean reminds us of during stormy weather.

Having said that, it doesn't get too cold or snowy here. Only two bouts of snow so far, and they disappeared in a day or two. But enough to have everyone hoping nothing like the storm of about 15 years ago, when there was a foot or two.

Now for some random reflections and thoughts on what I have been up to:

I can't believe I haven't posted since December
That may be a sign that there isn't really much going on in my life... or maybe a sign that there is a lot going on right now... heh heh
Right now I am in the sunroom and I hear what sound like squirrels on the roof (either that, or mice in the ceiling - I am hoping it is the former, though we do have a good resident mouser now)
Christmas was a quiet affair here, just me and my mom, which she appreciated, as it was calm and free of fuss; a neighbor puts up coloured lights on the tree outside mom's front door, so that was our decoration - we loved looking out at them
New Year's Eve was a little less quiet, so to speak, as we engaged in our family tradition of banging pots and pans outside at midnight, and yelling "Happy New Year!" at the top of one's lungs.... amusing here as there was only one other neighbor doing the same, and so different for me from when I used to do the same in downtown Vancouver - here your neighbors can recognize your voice!
Reminds me that the previous year I had celebrated New Year's in Athens - fond memories; also spent Christmas in Athens that season - there are some interesting pics if you care to follow the links
Let's see, what else.....
I almost cut my hair.... that brings memories of a Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young song... and the time when I was in Europe and cut my hair myself; this time I managed to stop at just getting rid of some annoying long locks at the back of my head (though, amusingly, just as in Rhodes, I did it before morning coffee and without a mirror, lol)
Exciting times her, as mom just got her new lift chair... it is a lovely light green - and she has a comfy new spot by the fire, with a view out the front window, books stacked at her side, and her toes by the fire
Oh, soon I will post something about art clocks, a wee project that emerged from a craigslist posting and a whim..... start guessing, or check out what I've said on twitter - I am @citytravelbug)

OK, that's all for now, or at least all the news that's fit to print!

Cool Moon

2010-12-21T20:20:00.004+01:00

This is the lunar eclipse as my camera saw it:

But with my naked eye, it was pretty cool. My mom and I bundled ourselves up in fleece and blankets (she wore her hat!) and sat out on the deck watching last night's lunar eclipse. We warmed ourselves with mugs of hot chocolate and were out there quite awhile, til the clouds closed in. I kept saying "cool" mom was kidding me that the moon was cool in more ways than one (brrrr!!!, lol).

Only happens every 400 years or so that there is a lunar eclipse on the solstice, so it was a good thing those clouds had taken a break when they did, there was no rain, and I had set an alarm so I didn't forget. I was awake doodling when the alarm went about 11pm here, oh! And up we got.

After we were back inside, warming ourselves with more hot chocolate, I went onto Twitter to look at some pics. Mom was really intrigued to see pics from other places in the world, such as the one from someone in Argentina, as their pic had the lower right corner lit up (rather than the upper right hand corner).

Here is the best pic I saw on Twitter last night, by Jay Rodriguez (click to enlarge it):

Herb & Dorothy: the coolest art collectors ever

2010-12-08T07:53:00.006+01:00

Just watched the coolest documentary...
The full title, with it's subtitle is: Herb & Dorothy: the incredible true story of a postal worker and librarian who built a world class art collection. Click here to visit the documetary's website. Here they are in earlier years with part of their collection:

Below is a more recent picture taken around the time the documentary was made in 2008 (the cat's name is Archie). In a nutshell, Herb and Dorothy Vogel, a NYC couple of modest means, made art collecting their hobby and passion, learning, visiting galleries and making their way to unknown artists' studios. They lived on one income and used the other to buy early works, storing them all in their 1 bedroom apartment ("I noticed their bed getting higher and higher" one family member said in the documentary, lol), being careful to rotate and cover the works to limit the light exposure. Herb has an incredible eye for picking out pieces, and understanding the artist's development.

Bursting at the seams, they eventually donated their entire collection to the USA's National Gallery of Art in Washington DC. Truckloads of thousands of works. They never sold a single work, they didn't want to. When the gallery decided to provide them with a modest stipend to help them to "get a new sofa when they got their apartent back" (the old one having been buried ages ago), help with upkeep and deal with any health issues.... the Vogels turned around and used the money to buy even more art, which they donated to the gallery.... lol. The National Gallery eventually deemed they could not hold the entire collection (well over 4000 works), so smaller collections of 50 works were donated to all 50 states. How cool.

This picture is from Perfect Vision, W magazine's article on the couple, it is worth reading to get a sense of how they did it, and some of the works they collected.

The documentary was shown tonight on Knowledge Network, and mom and I were glued to the set (thanks in large part to my sister's markings in the December issue of the K schedule). It was fabulous!!! I will be watching for it to be shown again, as there was so much to absorb.

I have only been to Washington DC once in the past, but this has me wanting to return again. I just have to see that collection! And I love the fact that, thanks to the 50 works for 50 States program whatever American state I visit, I can see a portion of the collection in some gallery there. That's cool 50 times over.

Future Travels: Art Institute of Chicago

2010-12-03T13:56:00.005+01:00

That's Chicago in the background of this Picasso sculpture. This is Picasso's immense Nude Under a Pine Tree. I didn't know about this work and really want to see it! And that was before I discovered that he painted it exactly 7 days before I was born: cool.

Both will require me to make it to Chicago.

It was completly by fluke that I came across this blog post on Midwest Rock Lobster on a guy's visit to the Art Institute of Chicago. I have had Chicago on my must-do cities list, but wowee, this convinced me. I am going to start seriously planning towards a trip one day. Anyways, the blog post is excellent, as he really gives you a tour of the works to wet your whistle.

And that it did. Their online catalog lists 344 Picasso works, yum! A quick browse and I know I'd like to see these: Cannes, Games and Reading, Man and Flute Player, Minotaur and Wounded Horse, Painter and Model, and a cool collection of 5 plates - all of which aren't currently on display. Thanks goodness for the internet, as I can still see them! Hmmmm... would be worth watching for an exhibit of Picasso works from the archives.... Also liked this curious sclupture entitled Figure. Truth be told, too many works to even look at online, lol.... was Picasso ever prolific!

Beside a decent collection of Picassos, there are Dalis, Miros, Kandinskys and more....

High Tea at Butchart Gardens

2010-11-25T00:31:00.009+01:00

On a recent November day, we headed off to Victoria's Butchart Gardens - now one of Canada's National Historic Sites - for High Tea.
This was a special occassion, as all four of us where there together. Here are mom and I after our repast, which is served in the Dining Room, in the original Butchart family residence.

My sister and brother and brother may look like they are sitting outside, but that's just a really clean window. Great views of the gardens from here.

For each type of tea we had at the table -- it was the only thing we had to choose -- comes with it's own teapot (we had 3 types between the 4 of us), and individual straining devices. The teas were truly lovely.

And the food, ooh la la!! High Tea is what is served here in the winter, and is more robust in it's hot foods than the Afternoon Tea served in the summer. And, how scrumptious! We began with to-die-for candied ginger scones, followed by hot delicacies (we each got a cornish pastie, quiche and vol-au-vent), then a selection of sandwiches and savouries (4 types, and 4 of each, tho there was some trading off for favourites!), and finally the sweets. Ooh la la indeed! All of this, including the tea, is served for $26.65/person.

My sister and I also ordered the Backyard Flight of 3 wines, modestly priced at $12.95. How decadent to sit there sitting champagne! If you go, keep in mind that you need to pay for admission to the gardens to get in. In our case, we were treated on this occassion by my brother, who was, in turn, invited to High Tea as guests of the owners, with whom he has recently done some work. Lucky us! But for the quality of the food, and service, and the environment, the High Tea was good value and I would definitely recommend it.

From our table, we could see this statue of Mercury in the gardens (above).... and the water of Tod Inlet beyond, near Brentwood Bay (below).

There were still lots of autumn colours in the gardens...

My sister took this awesome picture of this not-so-green greenery.

One of the chandaliers.... ... and some of the old stained glass windows in the building.We didn't spend a lot of time exploring the gardens further on this visit, but we all wanted to come back for more. My brother and sister hadn't been there before, and my mom and I were unable to remember how long ago it was that we had been there together (20 years?!?), so I am sure we will be back. People travel here from all over the world to visit the gardens, so living 20 minutes away in Sidney does make it a must see! Thanks bro :-)

Relaxing

2010-11-09T15:28:00.002+01:00

I am here. Lucky girl! Will post more on my little Mexican vacation when I have better connectivity. And when my poolside deck chair isn't calling my name. Btw, that is a swim up pool bar in the middle of the pool. It is heaven.

Home in Sidney

2010-10-06T04:23:00.004+02:00

This is the waterfront just a couple of blocks from where I am living in Sidney.

A funny thing happened tonight, as I was coming home from a short trip to Vancouver. As I got off the ferry on the island end, I felt like I was home. Walking across the parking lot to my car at Swartz Bay, I felt like I was home. I am home here more than I am at home in Vancouver. Intersting. I still miss Vancouver, and would love to live there again, but I no longer feel like I am visiting here. I live here. This is home. I am building a life for myself here. I am home.

Interesting that this is one of the"recent doodles" I recently posted over on my beepdoodles blog...

Sidney moments

2010-09-21T18:28:00.006+02:00

Just a few pics and reflections and random moments from life here in Sidney.
This is what happens to a Red Bull can if you put it back into the fridge half-full with clear plastic wrap over the top. Thought it was so cool. My sis took this and the next pic.

Me as Red Bull Misty Done Girl in the backyard in the days before the plumbing saga began. Ah, the quiet before the storm....

Backyard moon.

Two birds. One economic action plan project here. Your tax dollars at work. Mine too.

This is what they are up to: an upgrade to Lochside Drive. It's one of my fav spots, where one can just park the car and sit and watch the water. Or get out and walk. It is rough and unfinished dirt now for the parking, and a sidewalk. They are apparently paving the parking, and putting in a new retaining wall, upgrading the walkway. It is good, I suppose, but it's rather a bother that it's not so enjoyable while they work on it.

A recent outside breakfast at my fav breakfast spot, Beacon and Eggs.

One of the local residents.

The local movie house, Star Cinema. I haven't been to a movie there yet myself, but it's apparently a great little theatre. Looking forward to going there in the fall.

This gives you a sense of the pace around here. My sister calls it a sleepy little town. I think that describes it well.

LOVED this sign, found on a telephone pole on a walk into town. I think it says a lot about the community here.

A few other random reflections:

Fall here is beautiful... when the sun shines
It can cool off quickly here, our house is just steps from the ocean - there is a nice ocean breeze
When it rains here, it sure can RAIN!!! We are thinking it would be a good idea to get the roof on the sunroom fixed before winter....
Our mailman wears one red sock and one blue sock

I don't have much more brilliance today. It is time to doodle....

Pause: in the middle of nowhere

2010-09-15T23:02:00.006+02:00

I am pausing here:

I am in a cabin on the point at the front of this picture. Middle Point Lodge is just outside of Tofino in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. And I am sooooo lucky to be here. We have relatives visiting from the UK and they were to borrow the car to visit Tofino, Ucluelet and Long Beach on Vancouver Island - it is about a 5 hour drive from Sidney (near Victoria) - and at the last minute the night before they left, they invited me to join them. I didn't have to think before I said yes! Right now my aunt Dawne and her granddaughter (21) are out exploring Tofino and considering whale watching. And I am tucked into our cabin.

It is pouring sweet BC rainforest rain. Sweet mainly because it is soooo BC, it makes things so green and because I am tucked in inside with no intention of going outdoors anytime soon. I am enjoying this interlude of having the cabin to myself.

A few reflections:

This is great as while I could afford a room in the lodge here alone, I'd never be able to afford a cottage on my own --- splitting with them makes this moment possible
I have wanted more spontaneity in my life, so I am happy I seized the moment
I love the realization that this isn't such a long drive afterall... I think I got so tired of the Malahat when I lived in Victoria in the 80's and travelled the island 7 weeks out of 8 for a year and a half.... it had lost its charm.... now it has its charm back, and the roads are better than they were back then
I am pretty sure I have not been in this area since I was about 4, or who knows, maybe it was 10, but I was a kid, and we camped as a family right on the beach at Long Beach...
I shall be back, perhaps without the rain, lol
I am contemplating the jacuzzi on our deck.... Elsa is interested in going out there with me, but my aunt Dawne thinks we are nuts.... I suspect we will do it at some point
The lodge here is fantastic... we went up for breakfast (included and free from 8-10) and I stayed there until 2:00, curled up in a great big easy chair, looking out to the ocean, with a fireplace crackling behind me, and drawing... and, I admit, snoozing...
Having great fun comparing countries and words with my travelling companions
I am incredibly grateful for myt sister right now, as she happens to be at my mother's place, making it easy for me just to take off
I love BC
I need more nature in my life
I am amused that I forgot my camera, as it means I am more present here (though delighted that Elsa will share her pics with me... and will let me play with her digital SLR camera at some point)
I have been enjoying talking art with my aunt, as she only took it up 4 years ago (she is a very spry 79), and has been creating wonderful drawings and paintings... she has many tips for me for starting out at this point
Dawne has lent me her set of graphite pencils for the afternoon, so I want to stop this and get drawing... these are so amazing, I can't wait to find a set for myself

PS - interesting outcome, as we had to cut our stay short by a night when we realized we had messed up dates and if we'd stayed as long as planned my cousin-first-removed would have missed her flight back to the UK. lol. After dropping her at Nanaimo to ferry her way back to YVR, my aunt and I had a messy, rainy drive back down the island on Thursday... but sand between my toes from Long Beach was awesome.

Plumbing Saga: The Final Flush

2010-09-11T20:41:00.008+02:00

This is the conclusion to our recent plumbing saga story. To read the previous installment, click here. To go back to the beginning, click here.

Perhaps the best part of the whole saga was that mom didn't realize that we had put in the second toilet as part of the extended project, and she did not find it until 3 days later. My sister and I had gotten all the party favours ready to celebrate yet, still, she never went into the laundry room....
Finally, on about day 10, with company coming (and we wanted them to be able to use the new guest washroom!), we had to "trick" mom into going into the laundry room to make the discovery. We thought she might be mad at this addition to the job (though at this point it was really just thrown in), but she was gloriously delighted! Note the crown for the queen and her throne.

It looks pretty boring here, but this really is the most exciting outcome of the whole thing. Three women with two toilets are much more fun to live with than three women with one toilet. Absolutely!!

The overall clean up is continuing a week along and still not complete, although it's getting better. So far we have a new gate, our neighbors have their fence back, we have new pavement leading up to the back door and some early attempts have been made to get the rest of the backyard in order.

When it all began, we had no idea what would ensue, and I gather the whole thing was the talk of the plumbing and waterworks town, as it really was a drawn out mess, but it is all done now. And I am almost qualified to project manage a plumbing site. Well, almost. For now, I am happy to get to choose where I pee without a line up, and continue sweeping off the dried mud from the stairs....

To read the whole story from the beginning, click here.

Plumbing Saga Day 7: Let the clean up begin!

2010-09-11T19:43:00.011+02:00

This is a continuation of our seemingly never-ending plumbing saga. To read the previous installment, click here. To go back to the beginning, click here.

I call this pic Still Life with Muddy Shovel. It is interesting how something so ordinary can seem so beautiful in the morning sun.And I call this one Goodbye Planter! This is looking out the back door to backyard, and this is Corey the city guy carting away a big old planter that got demolished in the process.

This pic is typical of our front yard for many of the days, lots of men, trucks and muddy dirt. This is the pile of dirt that had been hauled out of the backyard by the plumbers for the city to take away. I did not know that when you dig a hole, then fill it in, you have less dirt left over. The absence of compacting apparently. Anyways, all this had to go. Here Corey the city guy and coworker whose name I forget (really, there were soooo many) working under the watchful of eye of Joe the bossman-plumber (who had operated the bobcat to haul all that dirt out to the front yard) and his son Liam the plumber-boy watching on.

Liam was definitely the dashing young plumber in his mini-gear, seen here powerwashing the bobcat. He would later turn his efforts to the back of the house and cleaned off our stone patio. That was one messy job, and despite the awesome job he did, there are still bits of mud around a week later. It's the kind of thing that's hard to fully get rid of...

I asked Liam to take this shot, it is of the city's big machine loading the excess dirt into a dump truck. We sure had a lot of equipment around this house! It caused lots of interest along our quiet street, and even neighbors checking in that everything was ok with my mom. How kind.Inside the house, Carl the plumber replaced the old catchment pipe (?) below the bathtub and, glory be, it not only drained, but there was actually one of those little whirlpools when the water drains out. I'm not sure that has been witnessed in this house before. It was a glorious thing.

Later that day I picked up my mom and sister from the local motel. They returned home to a house that was mostly clean, and a yard that still showed strange evidence of the week that was....

The saga doesn't really end there, but that's the major stuff and, heck, 7 days is long enough to detail. Lol. I have one more little installment on what has transpired since - click here to read it.

Plumbing Saga Day 6: Mud, mud and more mud!

2010-09-07T09:45:00.011+02:00

This is a continuation of our plumbing saga. To view the previous installment, click here. To go back to the beginning, click here.

I call this pic Still Life With Tools, and it's a fitting start to a summary of day 6 of our saga, as tools hiding from the rain piling up on the kitchen counter were typical of the day the rain fell. And fell. And fell.
I gather that on this particular day that more rain fell in that single day than it had on that date ever. Or for many years anyways. And it was a soggy one. Day 6 can be summed up in a single word: MUD.

I really felt for the guys working out in our yard. I believe this is Carl the plumber in the trench, with Joe the bossman-plumber alongside. What was already mucky clay turned to the stickiest mud I think I have ever seen. A short walk and you could gain 10 pounds simply in the weight of the mud on your shoes. Imagine all those waders and such! What you see in the pic above is our new cleanout for the sewer, also called an "I see" for reasons that I can no longer remember. But it was a glorious thing to have installed. Now, all they had to do was connect the sewer to the new line that had been run through the crawl space. Below is looking at the clean out from the other side (which required me to stand in the mud, hence my knowledge of the stickiness factor)... This was the part that required jackhammering into the house:

That's Joe the bossman-plumber above. Don the plumber must have been camera shy that day, but he was around. Heck, he practically lived at the house for a week..... The good news is that they eventually got it all hooked up, and all that remained to do was clean up. Now clean up is an understatement, if there ever was one... These are my muddy shoes:

There was so much mud that even with the plumbers being careful, there were little mud paths, wet and dry across most of the floors in the house, I'm sure of much of it from me. It was a night in which all the towels in the house were laid down to provide a clean way to walk from one room to the other. Oh, and the other great thing that happened on day 6 is that they (aka Carl the plumber) put in the line for a new toilet in our laundry room. As in second toilet. As in thank god, there will be another place to pee in this house!

So, progress was really being made at this point, and I actually believed there would be plumbing again soon. I wasn't sure if it would get hooked up that night or not, but in the end, it did get fixed and I was able to have a shower, a nice long one at home. Nice, that is, if you ignored the fact that they bathtub still would not drain, as was, in fact, worse than ever. Despite lots of new pipes everywhere under the house... Oh well... Would have to talk to the plumbers about that in the morning. And I settled in for the night....

To see what happened on day 7, click here.

Plumbing Saga Day 5: The Long Night

2010-09-07T03:03:00.014+02:00

This is a continuation of our plumbing saga story. To view the previous installment, click here. To go back to the beginning, click here.
The day begain with the rather unusual sight of a bobcat still in our backyard. So much for the 1 day rental.... Maybe, just maybe, things would go better today, they would find the line, fix it and be off. But I didn't get my hopes up too much, as I was starting to get it that wishful thinking was going to have me disappointed, if I wasn't careful.

First to arrive on the scene that morning was Brad, the city guy, sporting another copy of the plan of our property with some handwritten notations. It seems that the city has records that have not yet seen the light of data entry.... Every year the city runs a little camera robot through it's sewer lines, recording data on where there are holes in the line, aka residential hookups. Now that it's Monday morning, he's been into the office, accessed those archives, and found two measurements that give coordinates of sorts (they are distances from two manhole covers, with our connection in between). Not exact, but pretty darn close. I play measuring tape assistant and Brad roughs the ground twice. He then eyeballs the probably line towards our property and marks the spot with where he thinks they will find the line if they dig. I'd say X marks the spot, if only he'd drawn an X....

Talked to my brother the night before and he wondered about just running a brand new sewer line through the crawlspace from the left side of the house to the right side of the house, directly under the laundry room where we were dying to put a second toilet, then straight out to the main sewer line on the easement, making a new connection there. I said I'd ask the plumbers.

When the plumbers arrive, they are pretty pleased to see Brad's marking, saying, "He's usually pretty accurate. I'll bet we find it."

I interrupt there musings to ask about my brother's idea, but before I can get it out, Joe the bossman-plumber says he was thinking the same thing. So that's two smart men with the same idea, so the idea gets advanced. Joe cautions that the city may want to charge for that, so not to get too excited.

Meanwhile Don the plumber gets to work and drives the bobcat back out to the front yard, then around the house and now enters the backyard via the the right hand side of the house, moving well along the new blacktop walkway that had been put in for mom when her driveway was paved a few years back (this pavement is essential to her being able to get her walker around to the door she uses to access the house). as they knock down the fence post closest to the house, and the bucket emerges into view, I figure she isn't going to be using this entrance to the house anytime soon.

Our neighbor Kevin had poked his his head over the fence for an update that morning, laughing a little nervously, knowing that the easement is on his side of the fence, and our project hasn't gone all that smoothly up to this point... I laugh back and wish him happy kayaking, and turn my attention back to "the dig".

Goodbye planter, I say, as the bobcat wipes it out. They'd asked me if I wanted to save any of the plants in it, consulted with my sister, and the verdict was no. So it got creamed. She had a bit of a look of shock on her face when she came outside later though, as there wasn't much left. She had been was thinking that we could rescue the herbs and flowers ourselves after the planter was pushed aside, but that turned out to be the thoughts of the naive. Oh well, live and learn...

At some point Joe tells me that the idea of a brand new connection to the sewer main was dead, as the city would charge alot to do that. Oh. Oh well, it was a good idea. But we went back to plan A, which was finding the existing connection....

"Dig right here," says Joe the bossman-plumber to Don the bobcat-driving plumber...

Once the hole was dug, Don was in there like a dirty shirt (getting a dirty shirt) probing around with a thingy until they found the line. And found it they did. Only thing was, the line was collapsed, almost completely. It was old clay tile that had definitely seen better days. So the bad news was that the sewer line was collapsed. The good news was that the line was collapsed between our property and where the line hooked up with the main sewer line on the easement.

It took me awhile to understand why this we good news, but it meant that the city was going to have to pick up some of the costs. Oh, yeah baby!!!

So the plumbers moved in to dig up that part of the line. That meant that our neighbor's fence was coming down, and their yard was going to meet the wrath of the bobcat. To be clear, this was all on the easement, but one doesn't really think that way of land that's within one's fence once you are used to it. This is Kevin's look of surprise, as he said, "Whoa... we only went kayaking for 2 hours!!!" Good thing that he and his wife Connie are so good natured. We tried to hide the fact that we rather fancied the extra light pouring into our yard with the fence down, but we couldn't resist. Nice neighbourly fun, all made possible by the city promising Kevin to make things right on the easement when they were done.

In the end, the trench was 7 feet deep. This is Cory the city guy poking around. Cory would become as much of a fixture around the house as Joe, Don, Carl, Liam and Brad....

To keep us occupied, or maybe out of their hair, Don the plumber had suggested that we might like to bury a time capsule when the trench was closed. Cool!!! Sissy and I had great fun gathering things. This was a feature about 150 years of Victoria history. Other items we include were: a Red Bull container, Lipton's Chicken Noodle Soup, liquid tea, Olympic momentos, stamps, a few coins, Purex hand sanitizer, Magic Erasers and various other bits from the junk drawer.

The dig did keep on rather a long time, and at one point we were forbidden from any flushing. We eventually went out for a drive, then to the library to kill a few hours (and use their facilities), then to dinner, then came back around 8:30 pm to see how they were doing on their estimate of being connected by 9:00 pm... I left mom and sissy in the car and made my way to the back yard, only to find a large hole, a bevy of tired men, and no connection. Their next best guess was midnight. I said we'd be back then went out to the car. And made a corporate decision and drove to the local Travellodge where I checked in mom and sis for the night. Back to the house to throw some things in a bag for them, back to the hotel to drop the stuff off, took a quick shower using their facilities (yeah!!!) then back to the house.

They were still at it, using big lights, but in the end, Joe the bossman-plumber told the team to call it quits at 10:00, as the next step was to jackhammer into the foundation of the house, and we didn't want any noise complaints. Just as well, I was tired, and I figured I was in for a night of "camping" regardless. So off they went.......

To view what happened on day 6, click here.

Plumbing Saga Day 4: Adventures with Bobcat

2010-09-07T02:48:00.010+02:00

This is a continuation of our wee plumbing saga. To read the last installment, click here. To go back to the beginning, click here.

I call this pic Still Life with Buckets. It only hints at the excitement going on behind the house, though there was enough noise and commotion on Sunday to draw the attention of neighbors. We were creating quite the little scene.
Just before that, our bobcat rental had been dropped off. As our plumbers hadn't yet arrived for the day, Keith the equipment delivery guy was obligated to show someone the key functions and safety features to someone. That someone would be me.

It was amazingly easy to handle, though I only swiveled in the driveway, and did not need to be trusted to avoid damaging the house or running into the propane tank. I happily climbed off when Don the plumber arrived, but gotta share the coolest picture: the fast/slow indicator on the bobcat. Isn't that super clear, no matter what your language?

To make room for the bobcat down the side of the house, they ripped out our old gate. Goodbye gate. The intention was to put it aside to put it up back up again, but it was so old that it practically disintegrated in their hands. Note the aforementioned propane tank that heats our house. We'll call this the left hand side of the house, as we look out towards the street (this distinction will be important later). And note the girl in the distance... that's me taking pictures from the front yard; this pic would have been taken by my sister looking out the bathroom window. Patient guys, all our picture taking, I must say....

And so the dig began... this is when they got a bit closer to the old septic field.

A moment of contemplation... where to dig next?

"Oh no, no can find sewer", thinks Don the plumber after half a dozen hours of digging with the bobcat, both beside the house and behind the house. Our yard is half dug up, and we are no closer to finding what we are looking for.

Brad the waterworks guy from the City of Sidney had dropped by that morning to give us a copy of what they had on file for our property (by the way, I keep saying "our", but really, to be clear, this is my mom's house! ;-).... From this diagram you can see that there are two sewer lines (indicated by red), one running along the street in front of the house, and another running beside the right hand side of the house (the "other" side), along an easement on our neighbor's house. What is most interesting, I suppose, is the words that say, "Sewer unknown" (you can click to enlarge to read it for yourself... yup, it says unknown for the location of our sewer, never a good sign...).

Brad had been on site a couple of times that day, consulting with Don, to figure out which sewer we were most likely connected to. Apparently it was pretty easy to rule out the sewer main in front of the house. We were, apparently, connected to the sewer main on the other side of the house, meaning that the sewer line ran somewhere across the back of the house.... But just where, became increasingly elusive as the day progressed.

Towards dinnertime, Don admitted defeat (which he did not do easily, saying this was the worst situation he'd ever encountered trying to find a line), and said that if we couldn't get better information in the morning from the city, maybe we should just put in a whole new sewer line out to the street. Well, I guess that's an option. But what's a girl who barely manages toilet plunges to know? The good news was that there are little sewer robot cameras and other devices that can be used underground to find sewer connections, but Don wasn't sure what the city had, or what they could get their hands on. All he knew was that he had gone as far as he could with the blind backyard digging without ripping up our cement slab patio.

This was Liam the plumber-boy having his turn sitting in the bobcat, once it was turned off for the day. He was dying to drive it, and I gather it won't be long until he gets his chance. He is actually planning to become a plumber's apprentice. You are looking at the future owner of Sidney Plumbing. Oh, Liam is also good at finding backyard treasures, having located two balls, one truck and one toy soldier during the dig.

And after a photoshoot on the bobcat after the guys had left (my sister of me, goofing around on the bobcat), we settled into another night of "Leave the flushing to us!" and praying that the morning would bring more answers and, hopefully, a conclusion to our saga... how naive we were...

To learn what happened on day 5, click here.

Plumbing Saga Day 3: Gurgling and Witching

2010-09-06T18:29:00.007+02:00

This is a continuation of our little plumbing saga. To read the previous installment, click here. To go back to the beginning, click here.

I call this pic Still Life with Wheelbarrow, and it speaks to the calm before the storm that would soon erupt around it. The wheelbarrow sits just to the left, below the bathroom window. If you've been reading the story so far, then you know what has been happening inside said bathroom. And in our crawl space...
... and I did a silly thing this particular morning: I tempted fate. We had been up only an hour or two when I uttered these words: "My only goal for the day today is to not see any cute plumbers!". Not that I minded cute plumbers, but I didn't want any of them underfoot, and we wanted to enjoy the day and it's functioning plumbing in style.

Dumb move. Less than an hour after that, after my mom went out for the day, all hell broke loose. Or, rather, the sweet silence of the house was broken by gurgling. Yes, gurgling.

Into the bathroom I go, and I looked at a our brand spanking new toilet with surprise: it was "boiling" with great big bubbles every few seconds and making rather grand gurgling sounds....

When I pulled back the shower curtain I noticed that the bathtub had filled with a couple of inches of water and there was black sediment in the bottom. It did not look pretty. And I recalled something Joe the bossman-plumber had said on day 1, "as long as you don't have sewage coming up in your bathtub, then we've solved the problem." Shit. All puns intended.

Looking around, we realized that the problem wasn't isolated to the bathroom. My sister was doing some laundry, and the gurgles were erupting throughout the house. In an old darkroom, when we moved some boxes that were sitting across an unused sink, we found the water rising and gurgling there too. After the great panic of rescuing said boxes - as they contained some of my sister's art!!! - I headed to the phone.

It was a Saturday morning, and it was apparently Don the plumber's turn to respond to emergency calls. It turns out ours qualified as such.
What ensued that overtime day was a rather endless search for the source of the problem, which extended from time on the roof (did you know that residential plumbing systems include a stack that goes up to the roof with a vent? I didn't) running snakes to any number of interesting interventions, all in attempts to find the source of the problem.

The good news is we were able to determine that the source of the problem was not inside the house, but outside. There was a problem in the sewer line outside the house. Now all we had to do was locate that, then we could correct it.

I am speaking of the proverbial "we", of course, as it was Don the plumber and his handy assistant, Liam the plumber-boy (Joe's 13 year old son, plumber in training, who was also on site on day 1 with Carl the plumber), who made this determination.
The bad news was that "we" could not locate that source of the problem outside the house. The pic above is of Don the plumber trying a little old fashioned witching for water (also called dowsing) to see what he could find. It actually worked (and he showed my sister how to do it), and he located the drain pipe from the crawlspace pump where it ran across the backyard. But, alas, he could not find the sewer line leading from our house out to the city sewer.

They did find the old, old septic field though. Better add another 'old' to that... it was old, old, old... and made of clay bricks. "How old are clay bricks?" I asked. "Well, they aren't wooden." said Don. Oh, ok, one step up from wooden bricks meant that the original system was old. I was concerned at first that the tank was still there, but Don assured me that this was common practice, to just seal up the old septic tank and to connect the house to the city sewer when it was installed.

What was also common practice at the time, and apparently permitted due to "grandfathering" was not putting in a clean out. A sewer "clean out", I learned, is an easy spot where plumbers can get into the sewer between a house and the main sewer line to, well, clean it out, from time to time, if needed. And we didn't have one. Or one couldn't be found. Heck, we couldn't even figure out for sure which way the sewer line ran from the house, though Don had his suspicions.

Brad the city waterworks guy was apparently consulted by phone as well, but, alas, no clear picture emerged.

The only thing to do, it seemed, was to get a little backhoe and dig for it. Oh lord, this was going to be expensive, we thought, my sissy and I.... and the next day was Sunday which meant, of course, more overtime. But after much consideration of the options, we figured we didn't really have any, so said, "Let's do it!".

Aside of the black water in the bathtub, not much looked different in the house when my mom arrived home not long after Don and Liam left, and she could barely believe that they had been there all day.

We all settled in for a night of semi-camping "Leave the flushing to us!" was the cheer my sis and I developed to remind our elderly mom that flushing needed to be kept at a minimum (though things were flowing relatively smoothly, so to speak, we didn't want to tempt fate). And wondered what the morning would bring....

To read what happened on Day 4, click here.

Plumbing Saga Day 2: The Bathroom Sink

2010-09-06T17:03:00.006+02:00

This is a continuation of my record of our recent plumbing saga. To start at the beginning, click here.

So... we spent the night with a brand spanking new toilet, but no door. Here is a doodle I did that day to illustrate the point (you can click to enlarge for details, if you wish).
You may notice that the doodle says 3 cute plumbers in two days, but if you will recall the story so far, you have only met 2 plumbers (both cute, of course): Carl the plumber, and Joe the bossman-plumber. Will get to plumber 3 shortly, but, for now, the day started innocently enough, waiting for a plumber to turn up and put our bathroom door back on, and to install another pump in our crawl space. Which went well. Carl did the work, and Joe came back to check that all was well. And it was.

A couple of hours later, however, my sister noticed water on the bathroom floor. I couldn't believe it. Upon closer inspection, the water was closer to the sink than the toilet. And when I opened the cabinet door, I found a slop of water down below. As I fished out the contents of the cupboard and dumped everything in the bathtub, I could see that the pipe that drains the sink wasn't exactly attached to the drain pipe below. Hmmm... Fiddled for five minutes to see if it was something easy to reconnect, but nope. So I put in another call to Sidney Plumbing.

"You're not going to believe it Joe, but there is water on our bathroom floor", I said. Enter plumber 3. This time Don the plumber was dispatched to come to our rescue. After catching up on all that had transpired the previous day and that morning, Don fixed up the bathroom sink and wrote us up a bill smaller than the others collected so far (with a joke that it was almost perfect, reading: $123.48), and went on his way.

Yeah, our plumbing problems were done!!! Or so we thought....

To read what happened on Day 3, click here.

Plumbing Saga Day 1: The Geysers

2010-09-05T15:38:00.009+02:00

It was an ordinary day when it began. No real sign that anything would be different, but, then again, life is like that. Even to a cat.
This is Maui, our sometimes cat, looking out my bedroom window. I put this picture in to start this story because it speaks to how calm our lives were "before" the plumbing saga began. Little could we know how long it would be until we felt that calm again...

Our house, which is really an old cottage, has only one bathroom. And that bathroom contains, or contained, one rather troublesome toilet. It was not so strange to have to call the plumbers, when our plunging powers were defeated. But it had not been so long since they'd been by to rescue us. Yet....

... when I noticed water on the bathroom floor, I was puzzled, especially when I saw that it appeared to be like little splashes. I crouched down to take a closer look, then flushed.

Imagine my surprise to see litte geysers. Yes, geysers. Rising from the spots on the base of the toilet where the bolts hold it to the floor. Oh dear.

It was time to call Sidney Plumbing to the rescue! Not just for the usual repair, but for the bigger job they had recommended, which was replacing the toilet (a topic which had come up on previous visit, when I talked to them about the possibility of a second toilet).

Well, once we had spec'd the toilet type we wanted, and the colour, and asked it to be the higher model (better for my mom's knees), a small search ensued and it was discovered there was only one on the island. "Let's do it!" I declared, and someone was dispatched to go pick it up before anyone else could snatch it.

The installation went well enough, but the efforts to clear anything else beyond the toilet so that we'd have truly smooth sailing, however, were slow. Lots of snakes and pumping and such. They even took a look in the crawl space.
"Did you know you have about a foot of water in your crawl space?" said Carl the plumber. Oh my. Nope. Didn't know that. Joe the bossman-plumber said that was a lot, especially at this time of year. Silly me, I didn't know that any water was normal, but there you go.

Turns out our pump was broken. If you have a crawl space under your house, you have a pump that sucks the water that collects there (from leaks in the house or from rain), and pumps it out to an area away from the house. This was just the first of many plumbing lessons I would learn over the week that ensused.

Anyways, it was late in the day, and they didn't have one in stock, but they promised to pick one up the next day and be back with it. OK, I said, as there really isn't anything else one can do when you have water in your crawl space... can't just leave it there...

It was about dinner time when we thanked our plumbers and sent them on their way. They as we clammoured to see who would get to use the loo first (actually, we let mom Christen it), we noticed that the door was... in the living room.

We considered phoning them to come back, but knowing they would be back the next day with the pump, we figured we three girls could manage things by calling out, "Going in here" and "All clear" and just pretending we didn't see anything else. By these "three girls" I mean me (51), my sister (57) and my mom (88).

And so concludes day 1 of the saga which, at this point, was not considered a saga at all. If only we'd known.....

To read what happened on Day 2, click here.

Trip Reflections: Paris, Picasso and Heartstrings (a year ago)

2010-08-23T07:18:00.005+02:00

A year ago today I was in Paris and in Picasso heaven.

That's where this picture was taken, in the sculpture garden at the Picasso Museum. I can still remember how excited and inspired I was that very day. To read my blog post from Paris on August 21, 2009 on my day with Picasso there, click here.

I feel so lucky to have seen the Picasso museum in Paris, as it is now closed until sometime in 2011. That's bad news for those in Paris, but it's good news for people around the world who will see some of it's 500 Picasso works in a travelling exhibition. I understand it has been in Helsinki and Moscow so far, and is still overseas. The exhibition is coming to the Seattle Art Museum in October and I think it just might be reason for a road trip (with some nudges from my sissy).

So... back to Paris. All told (or is that "all tolled"?), I was there about a month, and it was heaven. HEAVEN.

What great fun it was to have my niece Branwen visit me for my time there. And what a year it has been for her since then. She hadn't yet graduated from her jewellry program and we spent many an hour having cafe au lait and pain au chocolat - in our fav cafe - and talking about what she would do when that day came. How awesome is it that today she has her own studio, a website (branwenkemp.com) and her Chicadora line is a smash hit at art shows and at Favorites in North Vancouver. I remember going to a flea market in Paris with her where she was hunting out old silver spoons; she'd begun making them into jewelry... and today her spoon rings are constantly selling out. I love mine. And I still can't believe all that has transpired for her in that time.

Some fav moments and memories:

Our sweet little apartment in the Marais, and how we would greet each other with "Bonjour Madame", calling out the window when the other came home and entered the courtyard below
Paris Plages, and my meal on banks of the Seine - and the elderly man I met who told me all about his life in Paris - and the couple I gave my doodle of the scene before me to (more here)
Throwing out my backpack and getting a suitcase on wheels!!! (what had I been thinking?!?!)
The Kandinsky exhibit I went to at the Pompidou Centre
Discovering the Opera Garnier, quite by accident, and how amazing it was (including the underground waters that gave birth to the Phantom of the Opera story) (more here)
All my adventures exploring the old Paris Metro stations and the underground subway art... wow, wow, wow
Wandering the covered passages (more here)
The violin concert we stumbled on in a little church one day
The day we got caught in the most tremendous rainstorm and ducked into a big 'ol bookstore... it rained so much that we had to walk around buckets... I left with a wee Picasso book - in French!! I figured it would help me with my language skills(I just came across it the other day)
Getting lost and separated from Branwen and Maryanne at Pere Lachaise cemetery
Hanging out with Marjorie
Connecting with Shawn and Jessica from the states whom I'd met in Barcelona
The day Branwen saw one car drive up and over another car at the Arc de Triomphe
My first "stand and pee" toilet!
The day I - for some confounded reason I still cannot explain - bought a fondue pot
Discovering the teensy skinny Pilot G-TEC-C4 pens that I still draw with today, and my first doodle with such fine lines!
And, oh, the fresh baguettes, the cheese, the pastries.... ooh la la!!

Oh, Paris, how you grabbed hold of my heart and didn't let go. I still feel it.

I actually went back to Paris again on my 51st birthday in January - story and pics here.

I'm sure I will return one day. Paris is one livable city.... would love to go back for a few months or even longer one day.... but, heck, I'd be happy with a few days, just to be there... (sigh)

What's the Point?

2010-08-23T05:28:00.002+02:00

Talk about inspiring.

Dalton Ghetti is a patient man. Now there's an understatement. This artist carves his works into the tips of pencils. Really. They take ages, some take years, but it's his hobby. He doesn't sell his works. And never throws them out.

He now has an exhibit in the British Museum for American Art. If you are in London, the exhibit is open until August 29th.

I learned about Dalton from an email today so wanted to share it more broadly. I found another post containing the images from that email string, click here to be amazed.

All Aboard BC Ferries

2010-08-22T03:05:00.004+02:00

As I write this, somewhere there is a drama playing out. Either here, on the 5:00pm sailing from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay (or Vancouver to Victoria for the non-locals), or at the Tsawwassen terminal. Or perhaps a little in both.

As I was boarding the ferry as one of the last foot passengers, a man was heading in the opposite direction, obviously in a hurry. A BC Ferries staff person had accompanied him, and stood explaining the situation to the guy taking the boarding passes, “He may or may not be back by the time we sail,” she said, nodding towards the man. Then looking directly at him said, “You have exactly 10 minutes to be back on board. No more.” She said it with a whole lot of emphasis, trying to make sure he really understood. He took off in a mad dash. As I handed in my boarding pass, I heard the two staff people talking. “He must have been the first car on and ran up the stairs, to get up here that fast” remarked the ticket taker. All kind of interesting, as I was sure it was only about 5 minutes to sailing time, but I guess she knew her stuff.

As I walked down the gangway, I noticed the same staffer talking to another female employee at the foot of the gangway, “Yeah, his wife and child went to the washroom, and he drove on….” They were shaking their heads, seemingly more amused than really concerned. Well, I hope the cat really has nine lives, because curiosity really did kill the cat on this one… “What, he drove his car on without his family?” I asked. “Yes. His wife and child went into the terminal to use the washroom and weren’t back by the time the ferry started loading, and he just drove on.” “Seriously?” I asked, at somewhat of a loss for words. With a nod the first lady staffer went back up the gangway, presumably to watch for him. But I could sense the other lady staffer was willing to talk, and I waited.

“Happens all the time,” she said. I laughed and said, “You’re kidding.” “Nope,” she said, “if it’s time for their car to board, they just drive on and assume the rest of their party will walk on. In this case, I think it might have been a baby, so that’s not good. But you’d be amazed at what people will do sometimes.” “But his car is on the ferry, and he isn’t, “say I. “Yup, you got it,” she says, and grins.

Apologizing for being so snoopy, I thanked her for telling me about it, and wandered away wondering what would happen.

So, I offer up the following possible endings. You know, kind of like those tween mystery novels where you read the beginning, and pick the ending you most want. Let’s see:

A. Man runs down stairs to the car level, bolts towards the concession building, finds wife and baby standing outside the washroom looking baffled, man grabs baby, yells for his wife to run, and they fly like no one’s business back across the tarmac to the stairs, then up the stairs, then up the gangway, and get on in exactly 10 minutes, with the staffer saying, “Jeez, you really cut that close.” Likelihood: not a chance.
B. Same as A, but they head to the loading ramp for cars, explain desperately to the car loading team what happened, and walk on at the lower vehicle deck, just in the nick of time. Likelihood: extremely low.
C. Same as A/B, but they don’t get back to the ship in time, they are running, but time runs out, they barely get ½ the way back when the gangway or loading ramp (take your pick) is lifted before their eyes. Likelihood: more likely than any scenario so far.
D. Same as A/B/C, except as man finds his wife, the ship’s whistle sounds over her cries of disbelief. Likelihood: pretty high
E. Same as D, but man cannot hear the ship’s whistle over the sound of his wife’s anger and shouts of “You idiot, you idiot!!” Likelihood: extremely high.
F. Man runs like a madman around the concession area, looking for his wife and baby, but they are nowhere in sight. Meanwhile, wife and baby sit in the back seat of a stranger’s car, still blathering her story, hoping like hell that her husband wasn’t stupid enough to run off the ferry after the car was loaded. On board, the kind strangers utter empty assurances, “I’m sure you’ll find him.” Man is still somewhere near the concession and can be overheard muttering, “Shit. Shit, shit shit shit shit!” Likelihood: equally high
G. Same as F, but wife and baby have walked onto the ferry via the lower car deck, after explaining to staff what happened. No change to the part of the story where the husband is swearing his head off by the concession. Likelihood: pretty high
H. Same as F, but wife has climbed the stairs up to the passenger loading gangway, struggling baby weighing her down. Wife emerges from stairway 1 just after husband descends down stairway 2, missing him by a fraction of a second. Likelihood: not likely, but you never know.

This is the kind of thing where the various possibilities keep splitting off into endless variations, kind of like that quantum physics thing….

What do you think happened?

This reminds me of another ferry boarding incident about 20 years ago that would make a good story… I should write that up sometime….

PS - a ship's officer just came on the PA and said< "Your attention please, we are nearing Tsawwassen terminal..." then dead silence. A few giggles around the ship. Then he comes back on, "Just kidding folks, we are nearing Swartz Bay terminal..." LOL.

Random Pics and Reflections from New York City

2010-08-21T02:45:00.010+02:00

I have time to kill while I sit at JFK waiting to board my flight home, so avoiding boredom by reviewing pics and uploading some random stuff. This pic is from my first visit to the Strand book store, which I wrote about here. These are the awesome $1 racks outside. There must have been 20 of them.
Inside the store... it's HUGE!

Maybe half of their Picasso selection (oh, heaven!):

Owl on the roof of the Strand... I sat down in one of 4 chairs in front of a window on the 2nd floor (ah, slight breeze on a hot day!) and noticed this guy. I thought he said, "Whoooo's that?" but it might have been my imagination.

Outside the Strand, a lady backed into this bike while the crowd of $1 book rack browsers watched on. She finished parking then got out of her car and walked away. No one said a thing. Arghhhh!!! I wasn't going to get involved while travelling, but jeez, people!

If you get really broke on vacation... and you set a daily budget then continually blow it... when you are low on cash... or just want to save your money for something else, you can get a lot of food for $20 if you find a real grocery store. OK, I liked, this was $22.90, but still, not bad. I am one of those lucky people who can enjoy cereal with water, so if my hotel room doesn't have a fridge, it's still no worries for me. I just pick up a plastic spoon, and for my first dose of cereal I buy one of those little single-serving cereals in a cup, and change the cup.

Birds on a wire. I love old peeling paint like this.

Section of the Berlin Wall in Manhattan. I wrote about finding it here.

They say there is a first time for everything! I was so surprised, these guys will usually do anything for a buck. I think, perhaps, he's an employee, not an entrepreneur. Or, if he's the latter, he won't last long...

Gee, that mannequin seems almost lifelike! The one on the left, the one with the head, of course. Oh, yeah, it's a DJ performing in the shop window. I think it was an Armani store or something.

Is it me, or does something look off kilter here? My meal wasn't amazing enough here to warrant a write up, but it was fun trying to keep everything on the table, just a week slant there...

Cute kid with blue-haired doll on the bus. I am a big fan of Manhattan busses, even though many (including The Pod's survival guide, boo!) say no one takes them. Well, that's ok, because it means that there are virtually no tourists on them, just locals, and rarely crowded. In 5 trips to NYC I think I've only stood on a bus twice. And they are air conditioned. And you get to see where you are going!!! It's easy for Manhattan to feel like little islands when you poke your head up like a mole from only using the subway. I use both. Busses are especially handy cross-town, as most subway lines run north/south only (due to the fact that they were all separate independent lines at one time), and can save time. But not always, if they go through a really conjested area. Study up and give them a try. Get a transit map that includes busses and subways, and you are all set.

While waiting for said bus, I noticed the metal disk attached to the hood of this taxi. It is a permit or something. I guess that prevents someone from painting their car yellow and sticking a toy store taxi sign on the roof....

OK, there was one really, really rainy day when I was in town. I had a good laugh when I came up behind these two ladies (locals, I believe) who had improvised some rain gear....

Cafe I was "stuck" in when the rainstorm hit. I just stayed and talked to the molecular biologist who was at the table next to me. I kid you not. That's the second one I've met this year. These boys are SMART!

The cafe was great, so I'll have to look up the name and mention it properly, but it also made me laugh. You'd think it was a movie scene where Apple had gone a little heavy on the product placement. When I arrived, I think there were 6 or 7 Apple laptops in use on about 12 tables. In fact, the starting point of my conversation with my smart scientist was when he opened a pc laptop... lol....

What eventually happens to a bike left locked to a post too long, I guess...

Inside of a bathroom door. Don't ask me why. I have no idea.

OK, weird thing to find in an art store, at least for me. You can buy the sneakers in your own size, or the size of your loved one, then paint. Heh.

I have no idea what this lady had going on, but it was definitely worth of an odd stuff picture snag....

This guy was pulling his concession down a lane of traffic, next to the parked cars, outside Grand Central Station.

Excuse me ma'am... there appears to be a tree growing out of your backpack.... ??? !!!

The Bag Man is my friend. This store is the craziest store to go into (I dare you!). I go in when I need cheap luggage to take extra shopping home (I often bring just a carry-on to NYC, then get a cheap bag to get me home, which I then give to charity). This time my bag - on wheels - cost me $10.99. 34th Street and 8th Avenue, right by the subway.Had an interesting chat with a local when I took a pic of this building. She was confounded as to why so many tourists took pics of it... I didn't really have an answer, other than "it's different".... to which she said, "It is definitely that"... I asked if she meant that in a bad way, and she said not necessarily. Anyways, it was cool.

Ever wonder how the really nice shops get the pretty leaves in their windows?

Closing up shop for the day...

I wonder what the puppy ordered for dinner....

Almost time to board my plane, so that's it for this round. More to come, I'm sure...

In the Big Apple: Leaving New York

2010-08-20T19:29:00.013+02:00

Me and my friend Lisa Ch, who I mentioned in my last post (sans pictures):
Lisa showing off her ring from La Alberca, where we did our program. I have the same ring.

Well, it is time to go home. It is hard to leave New York, but it's been a great visit. In the end, with so much time, it was very relaxing. Now for a few pics from my last few days. A little hard to see, but this is me, last night, on the rooftop deck at my hotel.

Black sheep?

Those phones were at Grand Central Station, which I almost forgot how much I love, until I was back inside, so I goofed off for an hour or two. Loved taking pics of the people sitting next to this sign...

I just love the hub bub of Grand Central, and love a pic that's clear with just one or two people blurred. It says action... love it!

More people on the stairs, it's a common thing to do...

Until a cop comes and shoos you away....While I was there, I wandered by this sign and remembered... "ah ha!!", that's something I've always wanted to do!

They had some outside seating set up for the summer, and while it looked lovely, IMHO this didn't qualify as the 'real' thing....

The Campbell Apartment is one of the most famous bars in the world, and is such an integral part of Grand Central that it actually has its own entrance:

Me pouting at the dress code requirement posted at the entrance. I was in a teensy tank top, shorts and sandals.

I asked to peek inside to take a pic, and, alas, they let me in!!! When I said I knew I wasn't dressed appropriately, and the girl at the door said "We're not too busy, and it's different for girls anyways." Cool. In I went. When I asked if I could take a few pics, sans flash, as long as I didn't include any guests, he offered to take one of me, with flash. Sweet. This is me and my rich little $7.50 Amstel. I do not have flowers in my hair, I think that's some lamp behind me.

Not much one can take a pic of, without flash, and without including people, in the dark... but just for the mood...

Bartender blur... I love this one!

Now, some pics when I went down to Greenwich Village and SoHo yesterday...

It may not look like much, but this intersection at Houston and La Guardia (also known on the opposite side as West Broadway and Houston on the other side of the street) hides something very special. Two things, actually. I got here taking the 6 train to Bleeker Street. I actually took this pic as I was walking away from the two things I am going to show you.

First, or should I say last in terms of when I saw it, was this explanation of what was planted in all that greenery on the corner, and what the "Time Landscape" is. Click the pic to enlarge it if you want to read (it's kind of cool). Otherwise, keep scrolling down for the most exciting thing....

I came across the destination of my trip approaching from behind, from Bleeker Street. Which ever way you approach, look for the towers of the NYU residences (called Silver Something) and you will find this Picasso beauty:

It is an enlargement of Picasso's 1934 sculpture, The Bust of Sylvette, and it was done by Carl Nesjar. If you want to read more, click here (also some interesting stuff about the complex, designed by I. M. Pei). I had a glorious time, just wandering around, soaking it in, and taking pics...

While technically in Greenwich Village, the blue of a building just into SoHo provides an interesting urban background for this fabulous work...

I was thinking how lucky those students were, then I noticed this cat tree in a window.... and I thought, how lucky that cat was, getting to stare out at a Picasso all day! Meeoooow!

Now,one more pic from my dip into SoHo... this one of just a cool blue stairway...

Now, a few more pics of my hotel, The Pod, which I wrote more about here... this is the lobby. It really is a cool space.

Another pics of the lobby. The art is the work of New York artist James Rizzi, and there were original paintings in this theme throughout the hotel, including the hallways and some of the doors. Interestingly, I was chatting to the concierge today, and he is also an artist and collaborates with Rizzi. See some of Bryan Raughton's stuff here.

Looking from the outside deck of the hotel into the lobby lounge. There is something really cool about how this pic turned out that I like. By the way, I am sitting in that very lounge now, at the laptop bar, as I write this.... killing time before my evening flight.

My feet on the back deck last night as I enjoyed a glass of wine.

Looking up from the back deck. Isn't that cool?

Now, up to the rooftop, just as dusk was settling in....

Hip places to sit on a hip deck in a hip little hotel. How hip is that?

My foot and the Manhattan skyline as the sun set. I was lying on my back on one of those wooden bench things. The clouds were pretty cool... though the evening was hot.

Oh, Big Apple, how I will miss you! But I'll be back again, that I know for sure... I still have more pics, and will, hopefully, post them when I get home. Hope you enjoyed joining me on my wee journey here....

In the Big Apple: Reflections on Hanging Out

2010-08-18T04:47:00.008+02:00

So.... Blogger is having a moment (more like a dozen) and I can't upload any pics, nor link to any web images, so this update is going to be rather bland visually. I'll try again tomorrow but, for now, a quick update...

I've been enjoying just hanging out in the city. For the most part, it has been a lot cooler than when I first got here, and it's been way more pleasant. Here's some stuff I've been doing:

Got together with my friend "Lisa Ch" whom I met in Spain and lives just north of NYC - we had fun, starting off with salads for lunch, splitting a monster cupcake in a park, then ending up in a cute little bar for a beer. We were both at Pueblo Ingles and had something else in common... we both took off to Europe for a long stretch, 6 months for her, 7 months for me. We had fun chatting about how we have found ourselves changed upon returning home. Great fun, and nice to reconnect.

I have made two trips to The Strand Bookstore. Wow. It is SO cool! Here are some highlights:

I almost fainted when I saw how many Picasso books they had, mostly used, but a few new. It's a fun store... there are dozens of racks of $1 books outside to scour through, then just mountains of books inside. The art section was amaaaaaazing! There's also a bathroom in the store, handy to know if you are ever visiting.
While there, I did find out that there is book called Picasso's 347 (the series I mentioned in my post the other day) and they had a copy... for $250! Gasp! It was in their rare books section, but I told the guy I wouldn't bother them to dig it out for me, as no way was I able to afford that. But he was really nice, and he encouraged me to go look at it, and just have fun doing so. I did, and it was pretty amazing. And I managed not to have any disasters that would require me to buy it, heh. Oh, and that's a good deal... I checked on Abe Books and there is a copy available for $500.
My headiest moment came when I was looking at another big Picasso book, Art Can Only Be Erotic, written by his granddaughter, Diane Widmaier... It was marked at $30 and was the hard cover edition. But it had a big gouge on the front cover. When they same guy noticed it, he immediately marked it down to $7.50 for me. I was giddy. And, of course, I bought it. It weighs about 50 pounds. Lol. Naw, more like 5, but it will need a sturdy coffee table to hold it.Just looked on Abe Books and they range from $30 - $80. Mine has no resale value with that gouge, but that's fine, as I want it for me, me me! Yippee!!
They also had thousands of old auction catalogs from Christies, Sothebeys, etc. for $2 each. I guess if someone is going to spend $20,000 or $200,000 for a painting, you want a pretty picture of it in the catalog. And if it's a big piece, a fold out. They are great fun to leaf through. I bought 3 and have a whole bunch of Picasso, Miro, Warhol, and Kandinsky pics to inspire me. And not too painful if you want to cut something out to put it where it can smile down on you. SPENT: $6.00
Also got a book from the Guggenheim containing pics of it's regular collection for a whole buck. SPENT: $1.00
Found a neat little book called Artwalks in New York. It's a bit dated, as it includes art in the World Trade Centre towers (which I actually found fascinating, to realize what was lost, including a Miro tapestry)... but most of it is timeless, as public art doesn't often change. Plus they list art on display in restaurants and office buildings. I have a mission to head out to find 3 Picassos. There are also works by Miro, Chagall, and more. Will give me something to plan to see next time I'm here...
Also picked up a new copy of a novel set in NYC for about $5.
That's a lot of books for under $20.
Though now getting a suitcase to go home with is not an option (I'd only come with a carry on). But I know where to get one for about $15.

Other stuff and reflections:

I stumbled across a section of The Berlin Wall on 53rd, between 5th and Madisson, only a few blocks from where I am staying. It was tucked into an area between two office buildings, by a cafe, and noticed it out of the corner of my eye as I was walking by, and it stopped me in my tracks. Once you've seen the sections in Berlin, you'd recognize it anywhere. Very cool. More info here.
Had a pleasant afternoon one day re-exploring Rockefeller Centre and taking lots of pics of the Art Deco art and architectural details.
I managed to score a room upgrade at my hotel, and am now in a room with my very own bathroom! Feels like luxury.

OK, I'm out of steam, so will wrap up this post now... more soon.

In the Big Apple: A Day at the Met

2010-08-14T17:33:00.017+02:00

Yesterday I spent a the afternoon and early evening at The Met. Lucky me, they were open 'til 9:00, so I had lots of options. I paid my $20 (it's suggested, but you can pay less) and headed straight for "my" exhibit.
It was the special Picasso in the Metropolotan Museum of Art exhibit that brought me to New York (well, I also came to celebrate my friend Kelly's birthday, but it's why I stayed after she left. It's a neat exhibit, as the Met brought all of their own Picassos out of storage and made a rather remarkable show, spanning his career. It was also unique for a special exhibit, as you could take photos (normally only allowed in permanent exhibits, if at all). BTW, the exhibit closes August 15.

At the start of the exhibit, they had these four photographs that Picasso took of himself in his Paris studio in 1915/16. In this one he is wearing a metal worker's jacket (in the others he wears boxer shorts, a suit and a porter's smock). They were enlarged to about 6' tall, so a fitting exhibit entrance statement.

The exhibit started off with some an early harlequin and some rather Renior-ish portraits, then moved to his blue period. As I have been lucky enough to have seen Picasso's major works at the Met previously, and several Picasso exhibits/museums overseas, what you'll see here are some things that just captured my interest, and were, for the most part, new to me.

While Picasso created a lot of erotic works in his later years, he didn't create many of them in his early years, which makes this unique. He apparently had a very active sexual life as a young man, though much with prostitutes, which is probably the scene here.There was lovely series of 87 pieces, all maybe 3" x 3", including one self portrait. The rest were of people who were his benefactors or others who had helped his career. This one is of Roman Casas, one of the four co-founders of the famouse cafe El Quatre Cats in Barcelona, where Pablo spent a lot of his time, and created it's famous menu. I ate there in January, so it holds a special spot in my heart.

Last year a tourish tripped and fell and landed on this painting, ripping the lower right hand corner. They told the story on the audio guide, including the fact that they were fortunately able to restore it.They also said that for works so old that it would be unusal for there not to have been a few repairs at this point). Still, I would NOT have wanted to be that tourist!

They had a good section on Picasso's early cubism works. This portrait caught my eye. The colours were great, though they don't show up that well here. It's a vairly small piece, which I think is why it works.

This piece, Standing Female Nude, was ridiculed when it was first exhibited. But it was key in his early cubism work.

In this piece, Picasso uses newspapers pasted to the surface, collage style, to create texture and in the case of the brown, the colour. My audio guide told me that at first it was believed that the newspaper clippings were random...

.... but it turns out that the clipping that makes up the main part of the violin is about a young woman who takes her own life over unrequited love:

This is another work in which Picasso uses materials applied to the surface... ... including sand, as you can see in this closeup:

Apparently this work (above) started out as largely white and yellow, which is surprising given it's final state. The reason they know this is that the Met did a full re-analysis of all their Picasso works prior to the exhibit, using modern methods. They had a whole rooms set up where they showed what they found on 7 or 8 works (remarkable, as they found 2-3 paintings below many of Picasso's final works).

Now for something completely different... here is a portrait of Gertrude Stein:

Picasso did a lot of portraits when he was broke. While some were realistic, others were more artsy. I liked this one:

Here's a closeup of a section of another:

One thing I learned from the audio guide (which I have learned to always get now... this one was $7 but included the rest of the msuuem for the day)... was that once Picasso moved into graphic arts, he didn't paint extensively for that period. They had great displays from this period. This is a good example, made from a lino cut...

.... and this one was made from the same lino cut...

... and this was the actual lino cut:

I like how they grouped them in the exhibit and described the process used to create them. The piece below of the watermelon under the light bulb was just fun:

This was a close up of part of one piece that I just loved...

This is a close up of part of a piece featuring Venus and Cupid:

Now this was one of the most interesting things they showed. Apparently Picasso enjoyed taking famous older works and doing his own versions, making them fresh again. Here they are showing them all ined up: Picasso's final version at the top, his lino cut in the middle, and a picture of the original work below. This example is of a Manet that Picasso did this with.

This is the info on the Manet (you can click to enlarge and read it if you wish):

Loved this!! I thought roadrunner at first (!), but it's an ostrich which Picasso did as part of a commission of animals for a book.

A nice Dora, especially as you can see the detail nicely.

This faun piece caught my attention:

Cool pic, called Picasso and Fishbone. Here's another pic, though I really couldn't capture it clearly... but it is i apic of Picsso in his studio (look closely, he's in there!)

The last room - to my delight - was dedicated to Picasso's famous 347 Series. Also known as 347 Suite, the 347 works were created by Picasso a 3-week long torrent just before his 87th birthday. I'd learned about 347 series at an exhibit at the Picasso Museum in Barcelona, Secret Images: Picasso and Japanese Erotic Prints (including his private collection) and was dying to see more. (I couldn't find a good article to link to on this that wasn't associated with a private gallery selling pieces.... if any reader of this blog knows of one, please send it along! thanks).

It is impossible to do credit to any of these through photos, as the lines are so tiny, buthere are a few bits from which you can get a sense (click to enlarge any pic for a better view):

Aren't they wonderful? My dream is to own a book of them all.... Anyways, at the end of the exhibit, they used this sign from a 1964 Picasso exhibit in Berlin. Cool.

Whew! I'd spent hours, and was tuckered. After a quick trip to the cafeteria for a bite to eat, I headed up to the rooftop garden:

The bar was open, so I splurged on a $8 beer and sort-of mingled, but mostly sought out a spot to sit and rest my feet. And people watch.

The tourists were outnumbered by the local beautiful people, members I assume, who stop by here on Friday evenings for a drink. I did see some interesting things, and overheard some interesting stuff! Didn't make me want to be part of that crowd, but it sure was fun. Now... what are these people pointing at?

It's a special exhibit called Big Bambu that is being built over 8 months. There are even walkways up high (open to tours only), so there are people up there! It's rather cool.

It did feel a lot like arriving at a grand party, as in being invited to a private party in an exclusive spot.... If you are in NYC before it ends in October, it's really worth going up. Oh, there was smooching going on in amongst the bamboo.... Must have been the influence of the setting sun...

Afterwards I did also wander through the Hipsters, Hustlers and Hand Balls Exhibit which featured the black and white New York photography of Levi Levinstein. It was really good, though no pics allowed.

Now a couple more pics from my visit... This was my cafeteria lunch. I went there, in the basement, as I knew it had good food, and it would be cheaper than the many other options on site. But it still cost me $18, including a new bottle of water. Gotta resist the heavy salad bar goodies if you want a cheaper meal, but it was outstanding quality (and I ate it all!).

Grabbed this pic, found it fun, or funny, to see this kid reading in the midst of the Picasso exhibit. I figured a smart kid (as in knowing he'd get bored and bringing a book just in case) at a show with parents, but I guess he could have been an art student.

Loved watching this guy taking his pics, as he was zooming in on little bits, and taking things on angles:

It's neat to see a work in a camera, and the work behind it!

Art student, or artist, drawing at the exhibit.

Musicians outside The Met kept things lively...

Check out the title of the book in this guy's pocket:

... and while not at the Met itself, this caught my eye walking to the subway afterwards. It was between 5th and Madison, on either 80th or 81st... but there was no sign. I have to find out what it is, and why it's there!!

I think this post took me as long to write as it took me to go through the Picasso exhibit, but what the heck. It's good for reflecting on what I enjoyed, nice for sharing with others, and will be good when my memory gets worse and I want to reexperience it!!!

PS - On the etchings from series 347, I did find some clear pics online here.

In the Big Apple: A blusterly day... and Pooh!

2010-08-13T16:03:00.007+02:00

Yesterday I set out with two destinations in mind, and went to neither.... but I had a whole set of adventures I hadn't anticipated. First thing to know is that there have been changes to the the subways as well as the busses in NYC recently.... hence how I found myself on a M train, when I was supposed to be on an E train... and ended up at Bryant Park. This is me outside the adjacent librry, in front of one of the lions (this one is called Patience, the other is called Fortitude), taken by a kind New Yorker gentleman.
But let's start with the park.... Bryant Park is a huge park right in the middle of Manhattan on 42nd Street. If you visited NYC before 1992 it was apparently a pretty sad place... but for the past 8 years it has been revelling in it's new life. And it's awesome! I was sitting in a rocking andorak chair, with my feet up on a wicker stool, when I took this picture.

The park is full of interesting seating and there are no rules about needing to buy anything to use the best seating by the food spots. So, it's a great, cheap (free) place to bring a book, find a spot in the shade, and just chill.

The good news is that the heat wave has finally broken in the city... the bad news is that it has brought some rain... and I had to give up my doodle spot and head for cover. I ended up at the Southwest Porch, a very relaxed bar that is indeed sponsored by the airline. The area adjacent to the bar even has power outlets for those laptoppers running low.

Another view of the bar, only one of half a dozen spots where you can get fueled up in the park, if you so choose.

This is the lawn at the centre of the park and it's where they show free movies in the summer, as well as music and Broadway show snippets. All around the park there are other things going on, all of which are outlined online or in the readily-available booklets onsite. You can learn to knit, take part in tai-chi or yoga, play ping-pong or penanque (like bocce ball), watch the chess guys, listen to poets, discuss books -- plus a bunch of options for kids. All free. They've done a remarkably good job.

Once the rain had cleared, and long after I'd abandoned my earlier plans, I decided to visit the 42nd Street branch of the New York Public Library, which is on the same property. As fascinating as I knew the architecture would be, my real motivation was a chance to visit the REAL Winnie The Pooh!! Here he is with all of his friends:

The Winnie the Pooh Treasures are the actual stuffed animals that Christopher Robin Milne was given as a child and gaverise to the ideas that his father, A. A. Milne, would eventually make into the famed Winne the Pooh books which I, like many children, absolutely adored. Here is a closeup of the star attraction:

Getting up close with Eeyore:

... and Piglet!!

The characters have their own little room in the Childrens section, and wherever there wasn't glass, there were lovely murals. Here's just a small section:

After our little party, I moved onto take a cruise around the building before it chosed. And, of course, it was wonderful. Lots of neat big reading roojms.

And stunning architecture, frescos, paintings and furniture. Wowee. It's hard to believe you are in a public building, not a museum.

Cool staff area built between two big reading rooms below 3 huge ceiling frescos. They could serve people on both sides.

A fresco in one of the outer hallways....

There are also lots of little reading rooms dedicated to specialty collections. Kinda makes you want to curl up with a book....!

I'd love to take a tour of the building one day, as I understand that much of the collection is stored underground and, after you ask for a book, a system is engaged that goes and retrieves that book from storage. I'd love to see how that works!! If my memory serves me well, this storage is all under Bryant Park next door. I did see a new branch of the library on an adjacent corner, so I imagine that popular books may be accessible without the retrieval system. All very interesting!!

I've beeen by this area (several city blocks) on most of my past trips to NYC, but had never taken time to experience it. Now I can definitely recommend it, and expect I'll be back.

In the Big Apple: Little Places, Little Pics - Part 1

2010-08-12T17:47:00.006+02:00

Yesterday I checked into hotel #2 of my trip (as my friend Kelly went home yesterday ;-(. As I am trying to do NYC somewhat frugally, I decided to go out on a limb and do something different. Rather than get myself a 4 star hotel for cheap on Priceline (which I've done several times and scored big time for as low as $100/night), I decided to go for a place with shared bathroom (I know, the world stays in hostels and I haven't stayed in a place with a bathroom down the hall since my early 20's... heh). So I selected the The Pod:
This is me welcoming myself to my single room. It has a little nook with a teeensy sink (nice!), so of course I had to ham it up with the mirrors and my camera. It seems here like my room goes on foreeeeeever!

I got my pod for $89/night. I suppose I picked good dates and booked far enough in advance that I was able to get this rate. I think it's good value... hotels in NYC are expensive!

There are only two toilets per floor, but I'm not sure how many rooms on my floor use them. I've not yet had difficulty getting access. The bathrooms are spotless and very chic. The shower has one of those rain showerhead thingees, and even sideways sprayers - cool. As a handy aid, you can look over your door to see if there's a loo that's free.

On the back of your door, you get instructions on how to set up your bed:

And everything you want to know is in this handy little printed guide. Nice. So much better than some big clunky binder. Oh, almost everything you want to know.... there is apparently a rooftop deck, but I haven't figured out how to access that yet and the booklet is mum on that point.

I was very lucky to find they had my room available when I arrived at noon. I am on the 12th floor and have a corner room, so there are windows on both sides. It's very small, but actually bigger than the stateroom I just had on a cruise, and so well designed that it doesn't feel tiny. It comes complete with an iPod docking station (listening to George Harrison right now), free wifi, flat panel tv and a safe. And a hair dryer, if you're a person who needs that kind of thing. There are drawers under the bed.

View looking towards the door. The TV wall, and a view of the long sleek work surface/desk below the window.

Even with the shutters closed, the room is very bright!

And you can even open the windows! But with the heat wave, one is more inclined to keep them shut and enjoy the very good air conditioning. Though it is cooler this morning, and I had them open for a bit just to get some fresh air.

Looking out.

Looking down. Loved how this person claimed a little corner for a rooftop deck.

So far, so good, on the shared bathroom thing. It's a bit of a pain in the middle of the night, but it's really no big deal. Though when I heard some drunks in the hall late at night I wondered how I'd feel out there in my nightie with just my room card and a towel... and had a moment's inclination to switch to a room with a private bath... but feeling fine about it this morning.

The hotel is rather chic, and has very interesting art in the hallways and some nice shared spaces. I'll be sure to snap more pics as the days progress.

I had meant to continue this post... but Blogger was having a "moment" and I had to split this into two. Feel free to go onto Part 2 to read about the rest of my day yesterday, when I had food at another neat little place, saw a photography exhibit, learned about pinhold photography and met some new friends.

In the Big Apple: Little Places, Little Pics - Part 2

2010-08-12T17:09:00.011+02:00

Continuing on from Part 1 of this post.... When I went out from my Pod later in the day, I eventually ended up here, in the back garden at Trestle on Tenth (which their website describes as a Swiss style brasserie) in Chelsea.
Looking up from the deck. It really was lovely. The day had cooled enough that it was very pleasant in the shade, with the cicadas occassionally singing.

It turned out to be an excellent choice, although we had simply stumbled on it, searching for cold beer in the heat of late afternoon. I had been to an exhibition at the Robert Mann Gallery, with Matt and Ian, two guys also staying at The Pod. With your reservation you get advanced access to an online forum where you can connect with other guests looking to do stuff with. Matt had suggested the exhibit, and both Ian and I had responded. The exhibit was very interesting, and it's something I wouldn't have found otherwise. Here is our post-exhibition repast:On the back of the board is Ian's rabbit rillette (which I tasted but wasn't really all that fond of, very rich), then my quadrello di buffalo cheese (to die for), and finally Ian's amazing cheese choice: tete de moine (I think), which is so pretty you almost don't want to eat it (I swapped half of my cheese for half of his, sweet!). In front is my spinach and pine nuts. Followed by cassis, yummy:

Ian is from Toronto and is a true food and wine connoisseur. Get this: while saving money by staying at The Pod, Ian treated himself to the 11 course tasting menu, complete with the wine pairings. Throw in a drink and a generous tip, and we are talking a $425 meal. For one. Wow. I love someone who enjoys their passions.

It turns out that Ian is an Egyptologist, so he wrote my name for me - it's the last line below, and the little lady at the far right indicates that it's a woman's name. How cool is that?!?!?

Ian is also a photographer, so I bought his book of photos, which he autographed for me. This is something I like to do when I encounter someone who is selling art or perhaps a book of their creative endeavors.

Here is Matt toasting us while he puruses Ian's book. Matt is a teacher and lives in Saudi Arabia. He and his wife have taught overseas for most of their adult lives, so he had lots of stories to share. Now with two kids, they live inside a compound where the only beer they get is what Matt manages to brew himself. It is an understatement to say he enjoyed selecting his beer here.

Matt is also an avid photography fan and his passion is pinhole photography. I thought I knew what that meant, until I met Ian and he showed me his cameras:

The one that says 99 cents is an old camera which he bought and removed the lens. The others are his own contraptions, courtesy of tips that one can find on the web. Another fascinating dicsussion.

It was a great experience for me, as it's the first time I've intentionally met up with someone I don't know to do something together while travelling. They both said the same thing. And we all had a rather grand time.

I do still think it's funny that the two of them who are such avid photographers didn't take a picture all night, while I was snapping away with my little digital (and they were both ok with me taking pics knowing they'd go on my blog). Three very different photographic styles. Three new friends. Cool.

In the Big Apple: A Ferry Tale

2010-08-10T12:51:00.012+02:00

The other day, Kelly and I went on a little waterfront adventure in New York City. It was a fine day as we made our way down to Battery Gardens restaurant, so named as it is right on the edge of Battery Park. For our purposes, we took the subway to the Whitehall St./South Ferry station.
The location of this restaurant is it's primary draw, though the food is pretty good too. There is a big two-level patio with umbrellas (when they weren't blown away by the wind, which happened to a couple while we were there!), as well as inside seating.

I had risotto, which was tasty. Kelly's meal was a salad, which she said was good. And we had a few beers. The bill was one of those tricky ones that, if you are not paying attention, you could end up double-tipping on. While it said $77, this was actually $60 plus tax and service. I woulnd't mind so much if the service was good, but it was marginal (we had a good bus boy who took good care of us, including our beer, but our waiter was totally indifferent... probably worn down by tourists). Regardless, I'd return, as the location is awesome.

Below is me as a wedding crasher? Well, not quite, but they were setting up for a wedding. That's as close as you'll get me to that kind of fairy tale. Heh. They also have a beer garden, but it appears to be out back, with no view.

Nourished, we set out on the next part of our adventure, the:

The sign is so big, you really can't get it all in one shot. But the Staten Island Ferry is New York's greatest things to do, as it is interesting, fun and, best of all, FREE!! It's really a commuter route but attracts many tourists, all who love the nice outside deck seating, demonstrated here by Kelly.

This is where we are headed, out past the Statue of Liberty, then onward to Staten Island. As you can see, New York is a serious sea port.

Here we are, setting out, as another ferry comes in. They have several going back and forth at the same time.

It was a cloudy day, but I managed to get this shot when there was a wee sunbeam falling on Lady Liberty's flame.

Tall ship-like boat going by...

We met some folks who offered to take our pictures. Here we are with Manhattan as our backdrop.

Approaching Staten Island...

You can go back and forth as much as you want, but you have to leave the ferry and reboard at each end. I've done this voyage twice now, and haven't yet gotten off to explore Staten Island, so that's an adventure still to come for me. If you are lucky, like we were, you might even have some entertainment.... though the return sailing to Manhattan was so quick that we essentially ran by this guy. I'm sure he was good, and might have been worth missing a ferry for.

On the way back, I managed to get some cool pics standing behind the guy in dreadlocks on the right.

OK, Kelly kids me that I sure took a lot of pictures of this guy... but my defence is that you never know which one is going to be the winner! And it was probably only about 50. Sheesh. Heh. Anyways, these were among the best:
Salute or phallic symbol? Hee!

Another view of the lady, with the other ferry going by.

As we neared Manhatten, an eager crew headed to the bow of the ferry with their cameras.

Here's some people setting up for the ubiquitous shot of holding the city in their hands. These were actually a couple guys in town for a hairdressing course from Chicago, and were definitely having fun.

The Manhattan skyline is SO beautiful as it approaches!

OK, it doesn't approach, we approach it, I know, I know.... heh. Here's a nice shot of the Brooklyn Bridge as we near the dock.Much camera clicking...

This picture shows the restaurant where we had lunch. Battery Gardens is at the far left of the picture, nestled in the green of the park.

A better close up...

One last shot, a bit further out from shore... love the way we caught sight of a sailboat going by.

All in all, it was a great day. And wonderful to feel the breeze on our faces. There is hardly anyting more iconic than the Staten Island Ferry and while I haven't yet taken a tour boat to get close to the Statue of Liberty, I suspect I'd still enjoy this more. If your budget is tighter than ours, you could pick up something from a deli to eat in the park, instead of the fancy restaurant. This is definitely a good cheap thrill in New York. And that's now ferry tale.

In the Big Apple: The Meetles

2010-08-09T16:59:00.006+02:00

Earlier today I mentioned in my In the Big Apple: Sunday in NYC post about stumbling upon The Meetles, a Beatles and 60's tribute band, playing in Central Park. We had fun and stayed for hours. The music was so good it was better than any paid concert we could have gone to. So this post provides a bit more info and lotsa pictures....

First some pics of the band. Loved this dude, he was always smiling with a cute little grin.
Great harmonies...

One half of the band... a bit of a motley crew to look at, but they sounded amazing!

The drummer guy studies the play list (or ?) when he's not needed for a bit. In another tune, I saw him eating a sandwich when he only needed his feet engaged. The girl was his backup for the drums when he took a break.

One of the vocalists...

Jammin'... One of the cool things was that in addition to the favourites, they also played less well known Beatles songs, several I'd never heard before. Kept it interesting.

This side of the band was a lively crew. And fun, as they came and went over time...

Love the passion with which these guys sang. Later on we ended up sitting on the bench behind them, so heard their between songs chatter... lots of sharing of Beatles trivia and discussions on cords. It was fun to witness when they played something the band had never played before.

I truly thought this dude was some famous musician, the likes of Johnny or Edgar Winters (though I saw Edgar a few years a go and he looked much older). But probably just another dude. Unlike the others, his expressions never gave anything away... but he knew his stuff.Now, to some fan pics... Look at the guy in the hat; he was totally getting into it. And the girl in the front was truly mezmerized; she sat cross-legged in the same spot on the cement for about 3 hours and sang along to every song (couldn't hear her, but her lips never stopped moving). A modern day groupie, without the funny business, perhaps.... regardless, she was cute.

This pedicab driver game up trying to find business, and bopped and sang along. He had some good antics and made me smile more than once.

After we'd sat on the bench behind the band, we got a new view of the audience. People were clearly loving it.

These two very serious curious kids snuck in beside the uber-fan girl...

More happy fans...

Especially loved the lady in the walker, once she sat down she had the time of her life, and kept up the beat with her clapping. I think the lady behind her was a doctor, or something like that (she was carrying a bag that said 'surgery')... the little kids, of course, were all adorable.

This lady was SO happy. She arrived on the scene and called out "I'll be back!"... we thought she meant that she was leaving and would return, but of course it was a name of a Beatles song! Which they obliged and played for her. She was jumping up and down with glee afterwards.

More sidewalk fans...

Making people happy on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

Cutest kid of all. Possible future band member.

All good stuff. I'm pretty sure I'll be seeking out this band again when I'm back in town again, or even again this trip. The Meetles play weekends on the subways and sunny Sundays in the same spot. If you are ever in New York City, they are really worth seeking out. They apparently put their schedule on The Meetles Facebook page.

In the Big Apple: Sunday in NYC

2010-08-09T15:22:00.006+02:00

Kelly and I had a fun and very relaxed Sunday in New York City yesterday. I'll give you the lowdown, but by and far the highlight was The Meetles, the band you see here. They are a Beatles and 60's tribute band, so large that this is the only pic I got with them all in it. They were right at the 72nd Street entrance to Central Park, and we stayed and listened for hours. They were so good that I have done a separate post just about them here - it has lots more pics.
Now, for a few more highlights from our day, in a rambling scrambled order, because that's just fitting for a summary of a lazy Sunday! This is a closeup of the mosaic at Strawberry Fields, the John Lennon memorial area in Central Park.

This area is a designated quiet zone (and it mostly was) and, despite the crowds, you could easily get a pic of the entire mosaic, as everyone stood back - or went close in for just a minute. I found a real sense of togetherness of all the strangers gathered there... John would have been 70 this year. How sad and crazy that we lost this brilliant and compassionate man. It is wonderful that the music of The Beatles lives on.

I have no idea why someone left an onion on the mosaic, but I'm sure it will come to me with time. Apparently Yoko Ono had the memorial created, and had all these countries sign on to it's significance as a peace memorial (you can click to read the names).

Strawberry Fields was the last stop on our pedicab tour of the park. Here is our driver, Yevgeniy, welcoming us back from a stop. He was from Tajikistana and had been in NYC for 5 years. Boy, did he have to work hard, pedalling all those hills with us... but there were well placed stops and good history tidbits - and lots of info on what movie scenes were shot where. We paid $30 each, so $60 in total, and he definitely earned a tip.

I'd highly recommend seeing the park by pedicab, as we got a good overview, and had a chance to see a few of the highlights. This magical little spot is under the road by the big fountain (next pic) and is filled with wonderful mosaics. The acoustics were great.

Here we are on the stops overlooking the fountain. In the back, to the left, is where people rent rowboats.

A cute little guy with short legs got a ride yesterday too!

Right at 72nd and Central Park West is The Dakota, the famous old apartment building. When it was built, it was surrounded by farmland. It was "the" building to live in, with 65 apartments, and came complete with dumbwaiters. Rosemary's Baby was shot here and residents have included: Lauren Bacall, Judy Garland, Leonard Bernstein, It is also the site of where John Lennon was shot.... Yoko still keeps apartments here (right up in the nearest dormer, where you see the air conditioner).

So... earlier in the day, after we had brunch on the patio at a little place on Columbus, we checked out the Sunday market stalls across the street (between 77th and 81st). Amongst the veggie and baked goods, we found this great duo. The vocalist's name is Marion Cowings, and he is featured on the CD for my mom from him (it's called Hank and Frank II, Hank being Hank Jones and Frank being Frank Wess). Sorry, I don't know the other dude's name. I've since learned that Marion has played at Lincoln Centre, worked with Leonard Bernstein, as won a Clio and co-founded the Vocal Jazz Department at NYU. Wow.

Other highlights from the market... Choosing the best sunflower is clearly an art.

Don't be sad, it's just a marionette resting after her gig.

This stall had 5 different types of eggplants. They were so beautiful!!!

Kelly and I debated whether these girls were on their way home from ballet lessons, or whether they just insisted on wearing their tutus that morning, but either way, they definitely bounced along with glee.

I can't begin to tell you how many other pics I took the same day, from Batman cycling through Central Park and a pedicab turned upside down to repair a flat... to fresh lavender and carrots-with-character at the flea market, but it was delightful all around.

In the Big Apple: A few NYC moments...

2010-08-08T14:53:00.007+02:00

Just a few classic - or not so classic - moments in the Big Apple.
Loved this happy chalk evidence of children having a good time in the city. Most of the playgrounds attached to the schools around the city are all concrete, but this was taken in one of the city's lovely parks.

Below is one of the better subway musicians I've encountered, although they all get a wee bit from me if they are making a decent effort. This girl deserves extra points for her sure-footedness as she wandered the car with no hands through some decent bumps. I would like to tell you what symphonic piece this violinist was playing, but it escapes me right now. If you want to identify it for me, there is a link to a short video I took of her at the bottom of this post.

Police incident outside our hotel room window. Took a pic in case it turned out to be something, well, important... or, who knows why. But it turned out they were issuing of a parking ticket to a taxi. Heh.

Beware the streetcorner psychic. Be very aware. This guy got away with a palm reading. That was my intention, but had a tarot card reading instead. It was interesting, and at least partly probably genuine, but I fell for the burning-10-candles-gypsy-psychic-scam. This is where the psychic offers to burn a candle for 10 days (while you keep a token in your possession for the same 10 days) to help open your spiritual doors. Uh, yeah, right. To my credit, I'd had a few drinks before I encountered her. Mrs. Rose here got me for $100, including the reading. I really did laugh when I did a bit of research online and found this among the psychic scams. Some lose a hell of a lot more. But I am mildly amused that I still have the potential to be gullible at 51. A good lesson. Heh. (btw, love the irony of the phone booth ad behind her!)

Proof that there is such a thing as a free ride in NYC. We chatted with the girl driving this little guy. He's just a pup so she's getting him used to all the noise of the streets before he walks on a leash. Cute cute cute cute cute. But boy is he going to get a surprise when he has to hoof it!

Guard dog outside the deli. Wish I'd gotten a pic of his adorable face, but I did get schlurped on my way out of the store, as his owner was untying him from the post.

This one made me laugh. I saw a whole string of cars being towed away on flat beds by Central Park. Much waving of arms and cell phone talkers. Poor people, I was thinking. Then spotted this truck: the sign on the door says Movie Time Cars Inc. .

Neat old subway signs at the 87th Street / Museum of Natural History subway stop. I think just the B and C lines stop here. If you try and find this entrance, it's the one facing Central Park.

Just a strange character sitting in a sidewalk tree plot. I have no idea where he came from, or what his purpose in life is, but that's just New York for you.

Now, here's the subway violinist girl in action....

PS - I am still carrying the stone in my bra, next to my heart, just in case my psychic friend finds the love of my life or something in the next week. heh heh

Trip Reflections: My week in Aix-en-Provence with Picasso (a year ago)

2010-08-07T04:49:00.004+02:00

A year ago today, on August 5th, 2009, I was wrapping up my time in Aix-en-Provence in France, and preparing to move onto Paris the following day. I had spent a full week in Aix, and it really was lovely. A vacation from my vacation, I suppose.

I had splurged on a lovely apartment for a week, on a tiny street right in the heart of the old town. Splurge, because it had cost me more for that week than what my accomodations had cost me for a month most other places on my trip. And splurge because I had a huge 1 bedroom apartment, complete with a soaker tub (though I never used it, too hot).

The reason for the splurge was that, magically, this week that I had left open in the first 6 months of my trip, I discovered corresponded with a special Picasso exhibit in Aix. Once I learned that, the deal was sealed. Hence, the splurge.

The Picasso exhibits still bring me my fondest memories from my trip to Aix, they really were wonderful. The highlight were these really cool films I got to see of him painting... really, except for some short moments, you see the work Picasso is creating, and not him. Some kind of set up with an early movie camera and a backlit canvas or something. It was truly amazing, and totally captivating. And that was the first time I had seen his pottery, very cool stuff.

I managed to find one of those clips on YouTube, it`s an excerpt from `Le Mystere Picasso`. (enjoy!!!)

I learned so much more about Picasso and his work than I knew before (and giving some heart to my mission to "follow Picasso through Europe") and it confirmed to me just how satisfying it is to arrange a trip around something special like that. If it hadn't been for Picasso, I probably wouldn't have discovered the gem that is Aix.

Today I can laugh about the crisis and antics that heralded my arrival in Aix. From fruitless wanderingsin the heat with my already-too-heavy-backpack in Marseille to locate the bus to Aix, and the strap of that pack breaking for good when I got off the bus in Aix, just before the long walk to my place... to the comedy of errors that left me unable to phone my contact to advise them of my arrival (phone didn't work in France, public payphones only took European credit cards, no one would lend me a phone), and my relief when a shop owner took pity on me, helped me reach my contact and hallelujah! when I got my keys.

In case that needs any further emphasis, picture an exhausted to the bone travel-weary girl, sitting on the doorstep of my building, hot, hungry, thirsty, tired and really needing to pee, with a broken pack at her side, ready to crack.... trying to laugh, telling myself that it would all work out, and that this was all just part of the adventure... heh.

My other fondest memories are of two bands I saw playing in the streets of Aix. It`s like I can still hear them now... and I can definitely see them in my mind`s eye. And I remember the pizza guy, he was so cool.

Not sure that I`ll ever return to Aix, though I did love it there. It`s just that there are so many other places I have yet to see in the South of France, if I do make it back there, I imagine my attentions will be focused elsewhere. I do highly recommend Aix as a travel destination though. I had an awesome time there.

If you want to see my full post from that time, see My week in Aix wraps up.

In the Big Apple: It's Only Fitting

2010-08-06T16:44:00.004+02:00

Kelly and I had an awesome dinnder at Cilantro last night, a charming little restaurant at 83rd and Columbus in New York's Upper West Side. It was tiny and crowded and noisy...
... and delicious. Dinner was more food than we could eat and was $75US, including wine and tip. We could have had one less appy in the mix and still be satisfied. Just look at the order of guacamole below. And, yes, that's a dried banana chip... very tasty.

My doodle at Brother Jimmy's BBQ, a little bar on Amsterdam. It was killer-killer hot and I was heading for the shaded patio, but stuck my head inside and the AC was so icy cold I was drawn in like a magnet. It was Happy Hour and beer was $2 a pint. I was so hot I had two. Proof is in the bill, let's call it $5.50 with tip. Menu looked filling and cheap, but not sure that was the big attraction, as the bar was pretty packed with locals.

For those paying attention, or crafty minded, they might guess from the above why I titled this post the way I did. Otherwise, you can entertain yourself with these pretty toes, found on Broadway yesterday.... and the lady was dressed to match.

These three little girls with matching suckers, in their matching duds, were just begging me to take their picture, I'm sure.

Lovin' all the flowers...

The craziness outside a market on Broadway yesterday...

Puleeeezzzeee adopt me?

... how about me?

Found these kitties at the mobile cat adoption unit that was parked on Broadway near 75th. Inside, the serious adopters could get a little more intimate with the kitties. The ASPCA was also fundraising on the spot, so it seems like a good strategy.

OK, here's another example of a lunch under $10 in the Big Apple. I was hungry and ready for a break, so I stopped into Manhattan Diner. Nothing fancy, but good value, good food and good service. The grilled cheese was under $5, and with the fries and Diet Coke I just hit $10.

I managed to snag a table in that little window jutting out into the street at the front (left of the pic), and had a great view of the passing city scene.

This is a little different for me, writing this level of detail about so many of my meals. But it's not that much bother, to take note of the name and address, along with my pics. I don't see this information so much as pointing people to specific restaurants -- New York is just so big and there are so many great places to eat! -- but, perhaps, tips on finding ways to afford a stay in the big apple without breaking the bank. And, perhaps have some fun doing it.

Oh, and to fill in that "little" detail, I went shopping yesterday at Bra Smyths, a truly professional shop that fitted me like I've never been fitted before. I'm a new woman. Things are looking up. Heh.

In the Big Apple: Cheap Thrills

2010-08-05T16:45:00.006+02:00

OK, this taken before I landed in the New York...
... and it seems I have joined the Laviator's Club! You can too. Just take your camera into any airplane loo while it is in the air. Now... to NYC itself... and a good day two this time around.

Just a bit of classic NYC architecture, not far from where we are staying.

Neat quote, pic taken for my friend James.

Relaxing over dinner with new super-short do! Only $21 at Supercuts - who needs fancy styling with hair so short? Was able to walk in and get a cut 20 minutes later. And it so coooool!!! And it dries in about 3 minutes, if that. Sweet!

Evening ambiance along Columbus... a busy street but interesting and some great places to eat. Kelly and I had a great spot and a great meal (the fried artichoke hearts were amazing!)

I don't know what these guys were supposed to be doing, but the guy in the chair was having a doozy of a snooze.

Loved the signage at this store. Note the "your 24-hour pot dealer" line... and that's only the start. It's all very cool stuff for the home, lots at reasonable prices. Didn't buy anything, but it was fun to look. Jonathan Adler is worth a look if you are ever in the big apple. On Columbus, around 74th/75th.

I'd been looking forward to visting some thrift stores this trip, and I'd long had Housing Works on my list. So next went into the Columbus location. Great shop. Great cause. Oh, what I would have picked up if I lived here (which I sure would like to do one day!) Picked up a $2 big glass vase for our hotel room (the flowers are so lovely at the shops around here and we want some~

!), two $1 wine glasses to better enjoy our wine in the room, along with a couple of books and a groovy picture frame.

Stopped for a yummy frozen yogurt, at a place where you can choose your own toppings. It was great value at $5.95 - they had 2 smaller sizes and 1 larger one.

The frozen yogurt place is called Pinkberry. I'd go back again, but there are apparently lots of stores in this trend here. I saw one across the street called Lenny's that had delivery bikes out front. Imagine that, cooling off at home with an ice-cold frozen treat delivered to your door. I heart NYC!

So, now a little on how easy it is to eat cheap in NYC, if you really want to.

Saw this cute little Italian place with a nice patio I wanted to enjoy. Turns out my late lunch stop was a little too late, and they were already serving their dinner menu (ok, so it was 3pm), but decided to make it work in budget style. If I hadn't had coffee, my lunch would have cost under $10. I ordered the Caprese Salad, which was pretty large and fantastic (and made with real buffalo mozzerella!). I resisted the temptation to order wine and just had water. At a classy place like this you get a nice basket of bread, which I enjoyed with the traditional oil and vinegar. I was not meant to feel badly about buying so little, was nicely doted on, and had a glorious time.

This was the view from my table. You can see why I decided to stay for coffee. Just a regular coffee ($2?), but, surprise, it came with a nice little almond biscotti. Bonus.

The place was called Pappardella, and it was the corner of Columbus and 75th. On my receipt it told me that they have free appies at the bar from 4-7 Monday to Thursday, and again after 10:30pm. Went inside to check it out (and use the loo), and it was really nice. Icy cool AC, stone floors and old pics from Florence. Just might be back.

Also on the budget front, today's breakfast-to-the-door from the deli was only $7.50 for 2 coffees, 1 egg sandwich and a yogurt. We added bananas from our deli shop the night before. Yum.

An update on the HP battery issue from yesterday. I had a call from the front desk this morning, telling me that my package had arrived. That was 22 hours from when I hung up the phone that my new battery has arrived on my temporary doorstep. I continue to be impressed.

In the Big Apple

2010-08-04T18:11:00.004+02:00

Cold beer on a hot day, still got the happy hour deal. Great pic of Kelly. only a so-so picture of me, but what the heck....

The view looking out from our table on Amsterdam and 81st, in the Upper West Side, not far from our digs.

Kelly had heard about Zabar's "deli", so we swung by. Wow, what a store! The selection of foods, all so fresh and easy to grab for a single healthy tasty meal was amazing! And very COLD air conditioning too. We split a knish as we left, my first, yum... I think it was potato/spinach. If you want to read the story, click the pics above and below for the enlarged versions.

OK, this was cool. From my seat on my Cathay Pacific flight, I could turn watch the camera mounted underneath, just below the landing gear. COOL.

I am in New York City, one of my favourite places on the planet. Arrived yesterday morning on a red-eye from Vancuver. Fortunately my friend Kelly had arrived the night before so we had our hotel already. I'd been falling asleep on the A-train from JFK so it was so nice to know there was a bed that was all mine when I reached my destination.

So I know sleeping on the New York subway isn't the best strategy, but I hadn't slept on the flight (unusual for me) so it finally hit me, despite 2 of those mini Red Bulls that you can get through airport security. I was done done done.... But no worries, not my first trip here, I knew my route, had no luggage (just a little carryon backpack) so I looked like any other weary commuter from Brooklyn making my way to work. Well, almost. But I fancied that I fit in.

The no-luggage to NYC thing is something I figured out a few trips ago, and I love it -- despite having a 2 free bag allowance with Cathay Pacific this trip. Travelling this light lets me arrive at JFK and take the Airtrain, then subway, right into Manhattan without the hassle of a big, or even modest-sized bag. I've even come into Times Square or midtown at 1 or 2 am this way and felt perfectly safe. Or 98%. Just alert and it's no issue.

The beauty of NYC -- ok, it's just one thing -- is that there are cheap luggage places everywhere, especially midtown. What I do when I'm ready to go home, or switch hotels, I pick up a $15 big bag to load my shopping into. I then give it to charity when I get home.

This trip I'm spending 9 days here with my friend, then I switch hotels and stay another 9. Oooh la la, this makes me happy!

It's a bit of a miracle, I think, that I made it here in one piece, as last week I was on an Alaska Cruise with my mom and sister, and only had an overnight turnaround. That, in itself, seems easy to me as a now-somewhat-savvy-world-traveller, but the whole process of getting us home to Sidney (near Victoria, BC, Canada) was a little more complicated than when I travel solo (mom and her walker, sis and her cane, and all our luggage -- but relatlively breezy thanks to the wheels donated to our cause [heh] by family... not sure how we would have done it otherwise! Thx Hardy crew!). I'll write more on the cruise soon.....

... but I'm in New York baby!

I'm actually sitting on hold with HP support, arranging a new battery for my brand new HP Mini netbook, as it conked out. boo hoo. Thank goodness for diagonostics, warranties, and being in a central location for a number of days.

I was about to write that I would stop blogging as soon as my help call was complete, and that just happened. I'll have my new bat by Friday, no charge. Sweet. This is why I bought HP.

Now I am going to order breakfast to my door -- one of those other cool things about NYC that I love so much: the local delis that will bring you bacon and eggs, or a burger, or ice cream, or whatever, right to your door with a quick call. It arrives usually hot, tasty, relatively cheap, pretty fast and, in my experience, with a smile. Yesterday it was $19 for very big breakfasts for 2 people, plus a tip for the delivery guy. It's actually after noon now, so I might need to settle for a lunch-ish thing, but no worries.

More to come....

PS - just got off the phone, my breakfast after noon request was met with "of course, for you, we can do that"... a sweet bacon, egg and cheese sandwich roll with oj and coffee shall be at my door shortly ;-)

PPS - ok, that was ridiculously fast, and only $6.95