Chalk Around the Common

I'll admit it. There are time when I am extremely busy and then there are times when I'm busy doing nothing. Today...before I decided to finally update the blog...was an example of the latter. It's amazing how I can *twitter* away my time and with my work schedule, I have a lot of daylight hours to do things! I should volunteer somewhere. (and my place should be spotless...but it's not)

I haven't done anything with them yet but I have signed up to volunteer with Oxfam. I received an email today to let me know about Chalk Around The Common. I wanted to share the email but thought the easiest way would be to copy and paste it here....

> PLEASE COME Take a Chalk around the Common
> Who: YOU and other Friends of Halifax Common
>
> What: EVENT promoting 350.org, International Day of Climate Action
>
> When: Friday October 23, 12 noon- 2 p.m.
>
> Less than 1/3 of the Halifax Common's original 235 acres is public
> open space.
>
> The disappearance of our Halifax Common is a metaphor for the
> degradation of our global Common- MOST URGENTLY our atmosphere &
> climate.
>
> We need you to help us draw a chalk line around the sidewalk
> perimeter of the entire original Halifax Common to illustrate its
> original size.
>
> You can be imaginative and draw sheep & cows or cabbage & corn or
> words to encourage governments to act on climate change!
>
> Meeting points for getting chalk and directions are:
> 1. Robie & Cunard
> 2. Robie & Jubilee
> 3. Robie & University
> 4. South Park & South
> 5. South Park & Spring Garden
> 6. Bell Road by Bengal Lancers
> 7. North Park & Cogswell
>
> For information on the Friends of the Halifax Common and a map see:
> http://halifaxcommon.ca/
> For information & events on October 24th International Day of Climate

> Action see: www.350.org
> Sign the Kyotoplus petition: http://kyotoplus.ca to push the
> government on climate policy in Canada
> Join www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=148640510791
>
>

Inspired Poetry

I have been inspired...to write a poem, no less!! I read a wonderful poem written by Mark Campbell AKA @MrWordsWorth last night and today I sat down and started writing (not intentionally...I also felt bad about neglecting the blog and this is what I ended up with). The poem started in one direction but veered off as I remembered a conversation between @natniles and @R0gueWarri0r about a possible coffee shop encounter. I'm sure we've all been there. The world is getting smaller as 6 degrees of separation becomes 2 degrees of separation. (Especially in a city like Halifax)

So...here it is...I make no claims to be a poet...I tend to do well with puns (grew up watching the Canadian game show 'Definition'-the fun with the pun on television!) but that's about it.

Face To A Name

We may have met

In another life,

On the street..

You do look familiar

Are you a doppelganger

Confusing me with your likeness to someone I know?

But who?

The questions stream through my thoughts

As I think of another friend who never forgets a face.

I can’t put your face to a name;

If it were not too embarrassing I’d ask.

Maybe I should.

What would be the worst thing that could happen?

You look at me strangely…for we are strangers.

Or, you look at me in disbelief,

Questioning how I could forget how we met at my cousin’s husband’s mother’s funeral five years ago.

The chance eludes me.

You are out the door and heading down the street

Unaware that I have been wrestling with your ‘identity crisis’

And that it will haunt me for the remainder of the day.

If only I could Google a mental picture.

Perhaps that will be a application available in the future.

For now, I will try not to think about it.

I too have things to get done today.

At home I open my laptop to check in with

My virtual friends…some of whom I have met IRL

…and it hits me…it’s staring me right in the face…

Your face, or your avatar, that is!

I send you a tweet…

LOL..I saw you at the coffee shop 3 hours ago!!

Hope you enjoyed your coffee! ;-.)

*Carless* Day 8

It was a ride my bike to work morning. I packed extra clothes in my backpack last night and went to bed at 7pm. I was asleep before 8...but that also meant waking up around 12:30. Ugh!! You know you're accustomed to 5 hours of sleep when.... I did get back to sleep but was awake before my alarm went off. I was out the door at 3:15 am and arrived at work at 3:45. Not wearing a windbreaker (because the weather was great today) helped A LOT. The backpack and helmet made it a sweaty ride nonetheless.

It was hot going home. 25C plus the humidity made it feel like 31C. Heat, sun and cars...what a difference from the dark lonely ride in the morning. I walked just one of the hills in the middle of the ride home (the only hill I walk in the morning is the one going up to the parking lot at work), I didn't have any chain mishaps and my legs didn't feel like *jell-o*....as much! Oh...and the best part is...I made it home in under 25 minutes!!

I sat outside in the shade for a bit when I got home. I put the bike away and walked down to the corner store to get a root beer popsicle (internal air-conditioning on a stick). I hit the couch when I returned and passed out for about an hour...I think I'll still be OK to get to sleep at a decent time tonight. Glad I have a drive tomorrow!!

*Carless* Days 5,6,7

When I last wrote on Friday, I was up in the air about going to a friend's mother's birthday BBQ. I didn't go. I did go out on Friday night but that was because another friend called and offered to pick me up and treat me to dinner. That I did! (She picked me up and I drove.) We went to Phil's Seafood on Quinpool where I saw a HUGE number of bicycles turn off Quinpool onto Preston St. I have yet to discover what the ride was all about.

Saturday and Sunday were spent at home. I didn't have to go anywhere so I relaxed on Saturday (I was feeling a little under the weather) and Sunday did some work inside that I have been putting off for quite a while. I am pleased to say that the wall-unit in my room is working well and soon I will have everything in it's place. (next project...closets!!)

I got a drive to and from work today but tomorrow I will have to take the bike again. I'm hoping that the *jell-o legs* I experienced on the way home on Thursday don't make an appearance tomorrow. We'll all know in 24 hours or so. ;-.)

*Carless* - Day 4

Not much to report on this Friday. Got a drive to work and a drive back home. I did walk down to the local corner store for the first time...it's located past my place so I usually stopped at the Irving Station on my way home. Not that I hadn't stepped foot in the Needs store down the street before...I just usually drove to it (not from home but before going home)...actually I probably was driving to the chinese restaurant where they have a lunch special until 3pm. Ummm...I also picked up lunch today....ginger beef, fried rice and an egg roll for $5.50 +tax. ;-.)

Walking back from the restaurant and store (with a root beer popsicle melting as I ate it), I realized that I never really payed attention to my neighborhood. Home was where I relaxed and slept but I didn't stick around much otherwise. Will not having a car make me become more invested in my surroundings?? We'll see. Ahh..who am I kidding...probably not.

So, tonight I am invited to a BBQ. I probably won't be going because I have yet to check the bus routes/schedules and I'm not sure how late I want to be out. Staying home with a DVD and a beer sound pretty good and I do have leftover chinese food!!

*Carless* Day 3

Ok...I am officially exhausted. It is 2:36 pm and I have been up for 12 hours. I got up and left for work around 3:10 am. There was a bit of a false start because I realized at the top of the first incline after I left my parking lot that my bluetooth earpiece had fallen off! I backtracked and found it in the parking lot. It was a dark, foggy/misty ride but I had a headlight and a tail light, so I was pretty visible to the few cars that I did encounter.

As I predicted, it took half an hour to get to work. I used the extra 20 minutes before my 4 am start to change and cool down (my face was pretty red!). By lunch (9 am) I was feeling quite energetic....yay for exercise!!

Quitting time came at 1 pm. I got my stuff together and changed back into the workout pants I wore on the ride to work...in the process I misplaced my keys...panic ensued!! I searched my backpack, the washroom and one other room I stepped foot in...no keys. Ughh!! Panic sweats are setting in! After seaching everywhere three times...I found them...in my backpack where I looked but didn't see...PHEW!! Now...to ride home....

Riding home is a different experience. Yes, there is light...but there are CARS!! Love the bike lanes but not liking the road shoulders that are chewed up and storm drains are a different problem. Thank goodness I have a bike that can go off-road too...riding on the gravel wasn't much of a problem when it was necessary (and it was necessary at times). I had two chain malfunctions (my bike needs a tune-up) and there were a couple of hills that I opted to walk with my *jello legs* so it took longer than 30 minutes to get home....but I did get home before getting caught a a rainfall (I can hear it pouring outside right now) and headed straight for the shower.

I'm glad that I have a ride to work tomorrow. It means I get to sleep in another 45 minutes...and I have a feeling I will sleep well until I have to get up tomorrow! Zzzzzzzzzzzz.......

*Carless* - Day 2

In my haste to get outside before my friend, Tina, arrived to pick me up, I left my lunch bag on the floor beside the door. No big deal...I bought my lunch (although my packed lunch was much healthier than the sausage and fries which I ended up having). I should have taken a short lunch because I was rushed to get things done by 1 pm quitting time. If I had a car I would have stayed and gone over things a little more closely...BUT...I had to be ready for my ride home!! Alas, there were 2 glitches in my second day of being *carless*. I plan to go a month like this??

On the drive home I made of point of saying, "I must not fall asleep in the afternoon." After yesterday, I am tired but upon arrival I went straight to the storage room...dug out my 21 speed Jeep Comanche...pumped up the tires and went for a little test drive down the road.

It was HOT out and it took a while to stop dripping when I came back in. I almost fell asleep...so I ate the lunch that I had forgotten earlier (it was over 6 hours since lunch time at work!), popped in a DVD and hooked up the computer to

write this blog...and beer...I can't forget about the beer!

I had a conversation with my building's super outside earlier...she doesn't think I'll last a month without a car. Truth be told, I was rarely home...I always on the go. I've probably spent more time at home in the past month than the previous 6 months combined...this will be a challenge but I think I'm up for it. Hmmm....I must not forget to reset my alarm...I think I should leave by 3:15 am at the latest. (being early will be a plus so I can change clothes before I start work tomorrow...and catch my breath...that will be a necessity I'm sure!)

Goodbye Saturn...it's a new world for me!

Yesterday was a sad day for me...I returned my car after having it for a 4 year lease. It was my first *new* car...a 2005 Saturn Ion3. It had everything I wanted, 5speed manual, power windows/door locks and AIR CONDITIONING! Alas...GM no longer leases and that is why I find myself without a vehicle right now. If GM did still lease, I would have rolled into a new car lease but I will instead try to go without a car for a month. A friend and co-worker works the same shift I do and has offered to pick me up on the days we are both working (she works every second weekend so there are days that I work and she is off). On the other days...I will ride my bike. It's only about 7 kms but it is weird riding my bike that early in the morning (for those of you who don't know, I work 4 am to 1 pm). I have yet to pull my bike from storage...I'll do that tomorrow because I will need it for Thursday morning.

Dropping the car off yesterday took very little time. My friend, Tina, picked me up from the Saturn dealership and took me out for *cheer-up* sushi lunch before driving me home. It must have been a little more emotionally draining than I thought because I fell asleeep on the couch for almost 3 hours after getting home. That resulted in poor sleep last night but I managed to make coffee and toast a bagel for me and Tina who was waiting outside for me this morning at 3:45 am. Luckily I packed my gym bag and got my lunch prepared before bed last night!

After work today, Tina and I went to the gym. She left after 40 minutes of cardio. I stayed...did 20 minutes more, worked on my arms and legs a little (and I do mean a little), sat in the sauna for a bit before showering, etc. I left the gym and am enjoying a booster juice while I write this and anticipate #twushi at 7pm (a little over 2 hours from now). I have yet to check the bus schedule for return trip home but the bus will leave from the plaza that the sushi restaurant is at so that is a plus...may be a late night but #twushi (sushi with twitter friends) is worth it.

Day 1 without a car? So far so good...and my drive will be there tomorrow morning...we may even go to the gym again. I'm healthier for not having a car already!! LOL

The Carleton? Where's that?

That is the question that I was asked when I said that I was heading down to to meet the #halifaxchicks at the Carleton on Thursday. OK...I also had to explain what #halifaxchicks is. Truth is I knew WHERE the Carleton (as I explained to my friends, it is on the corner of Prince and Argyle...just up from the Press Gang) was but I had never actually BEEN in the Carleton. I'm glad that has been remedied.

5:00 pm Thursday, July 2, 2009. I arrive at the Carleton after securing a sweet parking spot on Argyle Street (those of you from Halifax can attest to this being quite a coo) to meet up with a bunch of awesome ladies. The first thing that strikes me is the decor...it is actually nice in there! I had this preconception that The Carleton was another bar that catered to the university crowd and that it would be dank and smell of beer. O Contraire mes amis!! The Carleton is pleasingly cozy and I like the stone wall effect in select areas. There were 3 tables reserved for the #halifaxchicks of which 2 are occupied and though the 3rd table is used briefly, the two that we pulled together (much to the visible dismay of the waitress) turns out to be sufficient as some #halifaxchicks arrive late and others had to leave early.

I tried my best to remember everyone who attended:

@Aine_Caitriona

@aliasgrace

@bessyn
@cr8tiveCandy
@laurenoostveen
@mariamcgowan
@michellemccann
@myogis
@nicolacourtney

@nataliejoan
@randommind
Mrs. @RyanDeschamps (aka Wanda)
@sburgwin
@spennell
@withbite

@wryandginger

But even with the nametags supplied by @spennell, I fear I have missed someone.

Though I didn't order an entree, the food was pretty good. I had the Shrimp Torpedoes and a Caesar salad accompanied by a Crown Float which is a drink made with cider and Guinness (I must say that while tasty...I'd never had a Crown Float before...they do LOOK better at The Foggy Goggle). Dessert was another matter. I RARELY order dessert but after seeing the cheescake wrapped/baked in phyllo pastry that @sburgwin and @laurenoostveen had ordered, I convinced @michellemccann to split one with me...it was heavenly! I will return to the Carleton.

Good food, good drink and AWESOME company as always with a #halifaxchicks meetup. I look forward to them every time and can't wait to mark the next one on my calendar! CHEERS!

Happy Canada Day #142

Yay! It's Canada Day!

I'm trying to be more excited about it but at the moment I'm sitting home alone watching Regis and Kelly (Bryant Gumble is there for Regis), sipping on coffee, checking on twitter now and then and, of course, writing this. I did make some homemade pancakes (can't/won't do the ones out of a box) and I will go to visit family and friends later so I guess I will feel the rah rahs when I am around other people! My day got off to a late start because I fell asleep on the couch and woke up to a Mel Brooks film that ended close to 3am.

OK...this worked...I just clicked a link on a twitter account @connect2canada that had a link to Canada Events going on in the US which played O Canada....the patriotism is starting to swell. They also had a link to a cute youtube video, Canadian, Please.

Wow...142 years...still pretty much one of the new kids on the planet...and yet...one of the best places to live in the world! (it would be THE BEST were it not for our winter, Harper and choice of cellular service providers).

So...I'm trying to think about what I love about Canada...here's a list off the top of my head:

• Freedom - of choice, of speech...
• Space - There is more wilderness in Canada than populated areas.
• Water - need I say more
• Medical Care - I may have to wait sometimes but it won't cost me to see the doctor.(my wait has never been that bad)
• Democracy - At least we know the politcal party we want to get rid of was voted in legitimately.
• Multi-culturalism - I just went to multi-fest last week-end...Celebrate and embrace different cultures.
• Education - It's true...though some take more advantage of it than others.
• Humour - We can tell a joke and take a joke...well, other than Harper and a few others.
• Security - Sure there are some areas of the city to avoid but for the most part I feel safe walking around at night.
• Charity - They say it begins at home but there are lots of Canadians looking out for others around the world as well!
• Peace - OK..so our troops are at war in Afghanistan...it started out as a peacekeeping mission...they are trying to rebuild and train not destroy. And here at home, other than people who hunt and police/military, I don't know anyone who owns a gun.
• Arts - So much talent here in all aspects (music, dance, visual art, acting, etc.)

I've probably left out some important points but that's OK...I just wanted to say that I'm proud to be Canadian! I love my country, my province, my city and, above all, my family and friends!

(If you really want to know more about Canadian History click here.)

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

I think I'll go enjoy it now (despite the weather...

hope I can find my Canda Flag t-shirt and temporary tattoos!)

(please note that I did not use the words eh, beaver, mountie, aboot, igloo, canuck, or any other word that the rest of the world 'stereotypes' Canadians as saying/using/being/living in....etc)

RIP Michael Jackson

I heard the news of MJ's death on Twitter and yet I tried to get confirmation through traditional sources, like CNN.com, which was about 45 minutes behind the original source of TMZ. I trusted twitter for the news of MJ's death and retweeted the information before confirmation. It was true. The same however could not be said for a hoax that circulated about Jeff Goldblum. This was the day when Farrah Fawcett lost her battle with cancer and Michael Jackson succumbed to cardiac arrest...so why wouldn't we believe that Jeff Goldblum had died accidentally in NZ by falling off a cliff? Again...I tried to get confirmation from traditional sources but we already saw how behind the times the traditional media sources can be...and in the world of Social Media (especially Twitter) the conversations are fast and furious and old news is what happened 30 minutes ago. And the rumour spread...like wildfire. I think that it was 15 minutes later that we were spreading word of the hoax but some people were still catching up with the older tweets and the rumour wasn't quashed for an hour or so. Who would do something like that? This was a question that a couple of tweeps asked me. I know it was rhetorical but it made me think; if there are persons out there creating false information then should I ever believe what I read without getting confirmation from traditional sources? I certainly will question things a little more...for now. I did, however, come to the conclusion that, although morbid, the publicity that Jeff Goldblum got yesterday on twitter (he was a trending topic for a bit there) probably didn't do him or his career any harm.

Yes it was a morbid day in the news world/entertainment world (and for that matter this week with the passing of Ed McMahon also). I grew up watching Charlie's Angels (younger people may think that the movies starring Drew Barrymore, etc., were the original) and listening to Michael Jackson. I bought The Jacksons Destiny album when I was 9 or 10 years old at a record store on Sparks Street in Ottawa during a family vacation. I listened to it with my cousin's record player singing along to every song while another cousin ironed in the hallway...I was embarrassed when I found her out there because I was listening to it with headphones...so my voice was acapella!

I think most people agree that Michael Jackson was a great entertainer who revolutionized (or at least started a trend in) videos, dance and (not sure I can forgive him this one) fashion. Oh, he had rough times...was called Wacko Jacko, criticized for his many plastic surgeries and was accused of being a child molester. No wonder the man, who was in the spotlight from the age of 5, became a recluse. He had basicallybeen living under the radar since 2001 but was planning a comeback tour including 50 sold-out performances in London. I can't imagine what that would have done for the London economy. Having been postponed for health reasons the tour was supposed to go on but perhaps the stress of it all was too much for Michael. RIP Michael Jackson, I'll remember the good times but I won't Blame It On The Boogie.

For the Love of Twushi

My first experience with sushi was January 1993. I arrived in New York, NY (without my luggage) and was met by my cousin's husband (I was going to stay with them for 3 months or so). We arrived at the house in Hartsdale and were almost immediately on our way to friends of theirs for dinner….sushi I later found out. (I should mention that my cousin [who has since passed] and her husband with their three young children had recently moved from Japan for a four year posting and their friends were transplanted from Japan for a few years also.) I went with…a little anxious about my luggage arriving and being left on the doorstep while we were gone and about eating raw fish for the first time but I was happy to be welcomed to New York with an introduction to a different culture. And what a welcome it was! I have not seen such a large smorgasbord of sushi since…the entire table was covered with it and as I heeded the warnings to stay away from the sea urchin…I thoroughly enjoyed it…and so it began…my love of sushi! (oh…and my luggage was on the front doorstep when we got back that night!)

When I returned home I didn’t have an opportunity to have sushi. I think Suisha Gardens may have still been open in the Maritime Centre then but my menu choices there were always cooked (chicken or beef teriyaki anyone?). Soon after I moved to Ottawa. I learned not to order fish at all when I was there. (I’m sure that has changed in the last 9 years)

Fast forward to 2008. I’ve been back in Halifax for 8 years and sushi restaurants are popping up everywhere. My birthday is spent with friends for a luncheon of ‘make it yourself’ sushi and I discover my favourite sushi restaurant is Hamachi House on Morris Street. Yumm.

And then came Twitter. It started innocently enough…you sign up, make a few tweets, follow a few tweeps and the next thing you know you are attending meet-ups at sushi restaurants affectionately known as Twushi! (of course on twitter we use a hash tag in front of it.... #twushi) Our first #twushi meet-up was at Minato on Queen Street. Thirteen people (some of whom had never met prior to that night) enjoying each others company and conversation while eating sushi. Mmmm…it was a great night and was to be followed up with another #twushi night at the Hamachi Grill Dartmouth the following month. And again at Sushi Nami Royale on Dresden Row last month (unfortunately I could not attend that one).

But I made it to #twushi last night!! At my favourite restaurant (although I seem to frequent Sushi Nami Royale in Clayton Park more often because of proximity to work and home...went there this after-noon as a matter-of-fact) with people who are strangers no longer. Viva the Hurricane Roll!! Viva my twitter friends!! Life in social media is definitely more than sitting at your computer! There were 15 tweeple at #twushi last night. Two people I had never met on/off line and two I met in person for the first time. It was great! Amazing food, good drink and AWESOME company including @bitdepth, @giftedtypist, @spennell, @aliasgrace and hubby, @iTeedee, @natniles, @jessyo @davemmett @porcelainduck, @nicolacourtney, @BradFraser, @areaeleven and @smistephen (with the notable absence of our organiser @DarrinSearancke).

I'm already looking forward to the next #twushi where I will vie for the title of #twasabi Champion...I think I shall practice increasing my tolerance of wasabi now....the others won't stand a chance!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father’s Day….sorry the weather is so bad. Rainy, windy and not so warm for the first day of summer. I imagine many golf plans were cancelled but Dad’s everywhere are probably enjoying a nice meal prepared by their kids…(some are enjoying it more than others, I’m sure …hehe).

I called my dad at 9am to wish him a good day. I haven’t lived at ‘home’ for 21 years so I can’t even remember the last time I cooked him a Father’s Day meal. If it counts, I recently visited my parents for a weekend to celebrate his birthday and cooked breakfast (eggs Benedict) my first morning there (although I think my mother enjoyed it more!). Mmm…eggs benedict…think I’ll cook some today…seeing as how the weather is dictating an ‘indoor day’ today!

Thinking back, I can’t recall a Father’s Day (or a Mother’s Day for that matter) that sticks out more than another. Did my dad go golfing on that day?? Probably. I’m pretty sure we didn’t do much as a family which is a shame. My mother once said (when I asked why there wasn’t a ‘Kid’s Day’) that everyday is ‘Kid’s Day’ so we didn’t need one. Hmmpf…I wasn’t buying that. I thought then…and still think now…that Father’s Day and Mother’s Day are days to be spent with the children. Making memories that parents and children alike will remember fondly. Do you something special as a family on that day…create a tradition…or do something different each year so it is even more memorable? It’s a tough call but whatever you do, enjoy it with your children…they won’t be home forever.

Re: Free Parking for Motorcycles & Scooters

RE: FREE Parking for Motorcycles and Scooters in Halifax

(a recent article on CBCNS)

I don’t mind that Motorcycles and scooters are to have access to free parking spots for up to 90 minutes in Halifax but it’s hard to see these spots which can accommodate up to 3 motorcycles open when it seems that ½ the metered parking downtown has been taken away for outdoor patios! (and yes…these vehicles are more environmentally friendly considering the amount of fuel they use but could we also have the city/province legislate that these motorcycles have mufflers? I can get a ticket for having a hole in my car’s muffler but motorcycles contribute to noise pollution every day…but I digress…this is about parking after all)

Recently I parked in the MetroPark off Granville to attend the Grand Opening of the HubHalifax on Barrington. It was a Friday after-noon…a nice day outside. I spent 5-6 hours downtown….big mistake…it cost $16 to get out of the parkade. I could have parked on the waterfront all day for less than that! Maybe I would have parked outside the downtown core and taken the bus to downtown but I was running late and it’s hard to find a place on a convenient bus route that isn’t limited to 2 hour parking.(I can’t even visit family in the South End without having trouble finding a spot that isn’t limited to 1-2 hours.) Even FRED, the free bus shuttle downtown doesn’t start until July 4th and isn’t frequent enough to make it worthwhile. The city wants to encourage drivers to stay OUT of the downtown core…make it easier for us to do so. We CAN park outside the downtown core (for free), but offer day passes for unlimited travel on metro transit and put a bus route from these parking areas that is more direct to the downtown core. You can get passes for the day (or for so many trips) in New York and London…make it easier and thus more environmentally friendly to do so here in Halifax. We are the little city that wants to be big…we need to start somewhere!!