Make no mistake, I don't follow American politics religiously, however, I do like to know what's going on over there at least superficially.... they may not be the only super power in the world but they do still hold some pull unfortunately. Now I make no secret of the fact that if I were American I would be a democrat - I've met enough Republicans to have been put off for life - however this video (the first one thoug feel free to watch both) of the Republican's candidate for vice president (Sarah Palin for those of you not in the know) terrifies me, and makes me thankful one more time that I do not live in that country. I mean my God - Alaska is surrounded by foreign countries (Russia and Canada) - and you lived in that state Sarah? You're right that does make you a prime candidate for VP of the US - holy shit people.
You have to sit through 2 advertisements before it starts... please be patient - and I apologise for the couple of minutes you will never get back of your life.... but well..... watch it.
And now watch the Tina Fey take off on Saturday Night Live
Monday, September 29, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Musings September 08
Our Anniversary Continued
Our anniversary dinner at the Marco Polo restaurant at the Treasury Casino was fantastic. It was like a real date - a sophisticated type date that Dave and I hadn't made time for in years. We got a taxi into town and went straight to the restaurant. We were encouraged to have a predinner drink in their lounge area (a nice touch) and ordered a mojito (lime, mint, bacardi concoction) for Dave and a strawberry daquiri for me as I wasn't feeling too adventurous plus the casino does one of the best daquiris around. We chatted and talked about work and life and then moved into the restaurant for one of the best meals I'd had for a while. It was standard silver service - you know, pay $30 for an entree that you had to squint to see on the plate BUT the taste sensations were divine. And there is something to be said for small portion sizes - allows you to actually get through a three course meal without feeling like you are going to burst. We had scallops (Dave) and Prawns (me) for entree, beef fillet (Dave) and Ocean trout (Me) for mains and a banana crepe thing and a macadamia baklava (shared) for dessert - and THEN because Dave must have mentioned it was our anniversary we also got a plate of petit fours with Congratulations piped in chocolate on the plate. I would have photo-ed it for the blog but it really didn't seem like that kind of restaurant where I wanted to whip out my mobile phone and take photos ;) Even I have some class.... sometimes.
Readings
I must say that since completing my PhD I've really enjoyed reading again - and not just pop-psycho-thriller trash that doesn't make me think too hard, but stuff where the authors actually hang together sentences with subject and predicate. I've been through all of the girly trash that's funny but after 5 books leaves you wanting more - and leaves you able to complete the book in your head because they're all the same after awhile. So in Borders the other day I picked up 2 books that I thought were a bit more ..... sophisticated? Oh I don't know if that's the word... I'm not going to start reading War and Peace or anything (tried it once, lasted 6 pages..), but I feel like I want to have to stop and think about what the author is saying. So I started with The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (her first novel by the way) and it is absolutely magnificent. It is time travel science fiction meets love story. I've always been a fan of time travel books to be honest. I love the brain strain it takes to figure out what's going on. Interestingly enough I've always believed in the much believed notion that you cannot set up a time paradox by appearing in the past in a place where you currently are - i.e. you can't meet yourself in the past. This novel rejects that assumption and has no problems with Henry (the main character) of 43 sitting and having ice creams with his 8 year old self. I loved it. It was inspiring - it told of a love that was there before they even met and a love that existed long after they were gone. It's a must read.
I'm off to begin now a book that was first recommended to me in January of this year but I didn't think that I had the oomph to stay with it..... The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. Review to follow.
Our anniversary dinner at the Marco Polo restaurant at the Treasury Casino was fantastic. It was like a real date - a sophisticated type date that Dave and I hadn't made time for in years. We got a taxi into town and went straight to the restaurant. We were encouraged to have a predinner drink in their lounge area (a nice touch) and ordered a mojito (lime, mint, bacardi concoction) for Dave and a strawberry daquiri for me as I wasn't feeling too adventurous plus the casino does one of the best daquiris around. We chatted and talked about work and life and then moved into the restaurant for one of the best meals I'd had for a while. It was standard silver service - you know, pay $30 for an entree that you had to squint to see on the plate BUT the taste sensations were divine. And there is something to be said for small portion sizes - allows you to actually get through a three course meal without feeling like you are going to burst. We had scallops (Dave) and Prawns (me) for entree, beef fillet (Dave) and Ocean trout (Me) for mains and a banana crepe thing and a macadamia baklava (shared) for dessert - and THEN because Dave must have mentioned it was our anniversary we also got a plate of petit fours with Congratulations piped in chocolate on the plate. I would have photo-ed it for the blog but it really didn't seem like that kind of restaurant where I wanted to whip out my mobile phone and take photos ;) Even I have some class.... sometimes.
Readings
I must say that since completing my PhD I've really enjoyed reading again - and not just pop-psycho-thriller trash that doesn't make me think too hard, but stuff where the authors actually hang together sentences with subject and predicate. I've been through all of the girly trash that's funny but after 5 books leaves you wanting more - and leaves you able to complete the book in your head because they're all the same after awhile. So in Borders the other day I picked up 2 books that I thought were a bit more ..... sophisticated? Oh I don't know if that's the word... I'm not going to start reading War and Peace or anything (tried it once, lasted 6 pages..), but I feel like I want to have to stop and think about what the author is saying. So I started with The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (her first novel by the way) and it is absolutely magnificent. It is time travel science fiction meets love story. I've always been a fan of time travel books to be honest. I love the brain strain it takes to figure out what's going on. Interestingly enough I've always believed in the much believed notion that you cannot set up a time paradox by appearing in the past in a place where you currently are - i.e. you can't meet yourself in the past. This novel rejects that assumption and has no problems with Henry (the main character) of 43 sitting and having ice creams with his 8 year old self. I loved it. It was inspiring - it told of a love that was there before they even met and a love that existed long after they were gone. It's a must read.
I'm off to begin now a book that was first recommended to me in January of this year but I didn't think that I had the oomph to stay with it..... The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. Review to follow.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Happy Anniversary - oh and now I don't feel guilty about the hair......
So today is our sixth wedding anniversary and this morning we discussed...albeit briefly.... how we feel like we are very very different people to those that met each other for the first time 17 years ago - I have now known Dave for 50% of my life.... whoa. Happy Anniversary honey. Anyway, I just wanted to say that I no longer feel guilty about my hair dresser bill of last week.... today we went to see a gold class movie as part of our annual child-free anniversary day... and afterwards we went to buy Dave some more work/business/going out shirts - because apparently having 10 work shirts for a 5 day week is not enough ;) (and they say women are bad with clothes)..... as part of my new 'life is short' philosophy I was picking out a) shirts that Dave would like as opposed to shirts that I would like him to wear (aka gay shirts appparently) and b) shirts for which I have not looked at the price tag..... and for this new little lease on life rule I got to be part of a $450 dollar bill for 3 (yes that's right THREE) new shirts..... OMG. anyway - I think we're even now :)
Love you sweetheart.
xoxo
Love you sweetheart.
xoxo
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Even my days relaxing are a bit Type A
So yesterday I head for Chermbleside (as my 3 year old calls it) and treat myself to a haircut and colour at a fancy schmancy hairdresser that I've never been to before. I already knew that they cut was going to cost me in the vicinity of $80 but I sucked it up and decided not to worry about it - after all, it has been 6 weeks since my 'incident' (that is how we refer to it now) and I've done nothing but watched movies and cleaned the house - hardly a cent has been spent on recuperating in style. So I get my hair cut by the 'stylist' and then I am introduced to the 'colorist' (Oh lord, this is starting to sound expensive. We gab for awhile (not surprisingly he's gay) and then we discuss my colour options and he goes away and gets me a quote and comes back with the magic number of 275...... dollars people!! not yen!!! Now a sensible person not wishing to give themselves another cardiac arrest would have left uncoloured at that point but I still have a lot of work to do on my assertiveness skills and quite frankly I was struck dumb by the figure. I nodded and work began on the hair masterpiece. I settled in for the ride and started on my new Maeve Binchy book. After 2 hours of them fussing over foils and toners etc etc I was starting to get antsy - I had places to be!! But then I realised "where did I have to be really?".... my type-A personality was just going nuts at the thought of taking an entire day out to do nothing ........nothing..... don't you see. That's just wasting time. I could have been cleaning, or cooking, or buying new clothes for the kids, or paying bills or filing all the crap on my desk!! but here I was taking time for myself..... deep breaths.... I talked myself down into a more Type-B/Zen state and sat back and enjoyed the neck massage they were currently giving me. All in all the colour was ok, the cut was ok. It wasn't bad - I haven't had better but I've certainly had comparable hair experiences and most of them a quarter of the price....... by the time I got to the counter to pay, I took the hair care products they were offering me because hell, how much more expensive could this outing get........ let me tell you..... the final price for a fucking hairdresser appointment was $400!!!!!! Of course, that included the lovely shampoo and conditioner that cost $80 - I mean who freaking pays $80 bucks for shampoo? I zen-ned myself out to lunch (complete with a wine to calm my nerves) and sat thinking how glad I was that my husband never pays any attention to our credit card bills, never reads my blog (hi honey :) ) and trusting that his best friend who does read this blog will take pity on me and not breath a word of this to hubby. (thanks geoff)....
Just goes to show - even when I'm meant to be relaxing I can get myself into situations that would invoke a cardiac arrest in even the most mild-mannered person. What hope is there for me when I return to work???
Just goes to show - even when I'm meant to be relaxing I can get myself into situations that would invoke a cardiac arrest in even the most mild-mannered person. What hope is there for me when I return to work???
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)