Quebec City or Bust!

D. and I are almost ready to leave for our Quebec City getaway - just one post and one pit stop away.

The forecast calls for rain or showers all weekend, but have raincoat, umbrella and Scrabble will travel. We're already looking forward to checking out our favourite pub and maybe a new coffee shop suggested to us by a local last year. We're staying here, just outside the walls of Old Quebec close to the port. It should be good.

See you in a few days!

ps - BTW, does anyone know where the term "or Bust!" comes from (see title)? D. thinks it's from the gold rush. It'll be a googler when we get back.

Random Accomplishments and Observations

I applied for my passport today; it's been on my to-do list since March 2007. As the teller gave me my receipt, I grinned, leaned in and said "It's my first one, I'm excited."

A young girl on the bus wore a t-shirt that said "Model Citizen" on the front. I thought it was pretty cool. When she got off the bus she threw a piece of paper on the sidewalk and walked away. My illusions were shattered.

I caught my reflection in the door window of an ATM vestibule and noticed I was wearing a deep, sinister frown. There's nothing bad enough going on in my life to warrant that. After that I consciously walked with my eyebrows raised. I preferred looking like an idiot than a grump.

After much - and I mean much - deliberation, I put a digital camera on hold at Future Shop for pickup tonight. I realized that I enjoy doing research for electronics about as much as I enjoy going to the mall. But I am looking forward to my new toy. :)

When I stop trying to control people and situations around me I'm a lot more at peace, and a lot more fun to be around.

When I get my black Jacob cardigan and my black consignment shop sleeveless top dry-cleaned as separate items it costs me $16. When I present them as a sweater set it costs me $10. It really is a nice sweater set.

When I start writing about the price of dry-cleaning, it's time to go. 'Til the next time ...

Freezing Local Berries: A Summary

Berries frozen: strawberries, raspberries, blueberries

Inspired by: Experiments in Efficiency, 100-Mile Diet, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life

Lessons learned to date:

• Berries should be stored in the fridge as soon as possible. We lost our first batch by leaving them on the counter. Thankfully it consisted only of a few small containers.


• Raspberries go mushy reeeaaally fast even when in the fridge. I had to throw out a good portion of the second batch.


• Fruit flies multiply very, very quickly. Get rid of stems and berries that didn't make the cut right away. Get them outside. Pronto.


• To remove raspberry juice from khaki Calvin Klein shorts, blot the area with a soaked cloth to dilute the stain, do not rub. Mix one part vinegar with three parts water; blot the stain again with the vinegar-water solution and wash right away in cold water. Wear an apron the next time you deal with raspberries - or any berry for that matter.


• Buy the berries only when you know you'll have time to process them. It doesn't take long for them to go bad, and then you just feel bad for having to throw so many away (not to mention the money spent on them!).

Berry-related visions, dreams and hopes: use to flavour plain yogurt throughout the winter; savour with ice cream, sautéed apples and pancakes come January; avoid freezer-burn

A Post On The Bright Side

I started writing a post about how I went to the mall today and hated it. About how I wanted to go back in time and recapture those two hours that left me cranky and drained.

But I won’t.

Instead I will write about how I found a duffel bag on wheels that’s eggplant with pink trim - girly yet functional, about how it will replace my embarrassingly worn out and creaky Moosehead Lager gym bag on those weekend getaways to boutique hotels.

Or maybe I’ll write about how I got my passport photos taken today, how I’ve started plotting my route to Squam Lake New Hampshire for SAW come September, and how much I’m looking forward to it.

Maybe I’ll write about how I’ve been crossing small to-do’s off my list - some there since April 2007, or how I’ve been hanging out and doing nothing, spending quality time with D. and Cassie.

Or maybe I’ll write about how I’ve been freezing local strawberries for a mid-winter’s treat, savouring fresh veggies and Laura Secord Maple Walnut Fudge ice cream - single scoop in a cone please.

And if per chance this look-on-the-bright-side post should not succeed in perking me up before the day’s end, tomorrow is a brand new sunny day. And THAT my friends, is a whole lot of two hours to redeem myself.

Scenes from a Sunday Bike Ride

D. and I took the bikes out for Sunday Bikeday along the Ottawa River Parkway today. We played with my camera ...

rest stop view of the Ottawa River

lace

action shot

savetheparkway

back home

Replenish and Rejuvenate

After an amazing weekend kicked off by Fun at the Shanghai last Friday, I had what seemed like a very long and heavy week that left me tired and drained. Thankfully the timing couldn't be better - D. and I are on holidays for the next 11 days. It's time to replenish and rejuvenate. Replenish with sleep, movement and healthy food; rejuvenate with fun and spontaneity.

We've no firm plans except a four-day trip to Quebec City and right now that works for me. We've plenty of options to choose from to keep us busy - or not: museums, hiking, canoeing, biking, cleaning, de-cluttering, day trips, camping, travel Scrabble, writing, being, dreaming, loving, playing and just plain hanging out.

It feels good.

Fun at the Shanghai

"Oooh we have a karaoke virgin people, be gentle. Be GEN-tullllll..."

And before I knew it I was looking out at a full restaurant belting out Rodgers and Hammerstein's Do, Re, Mi with Lala and China Doll. Oy. I should've known something would happen when Lala and I ordered a bottle of Pinot Grigio instead of a glass of house white each.

To think that I had just been sharing with her that I've been feeling dull and boring lately, like I've lost my edge; that I've been wanting to recapture even a portion of that zest for life I had two years ago when I moved to Elgin Street and spent the summer expanding my comfort zone, trying out new things and letting loose for some fun.

Well last night took care of that.

Do, Re, Mi incident aside, my evening at the Shanghai restaurant was a hoot! The atmosphere was one of family, friends and merriment. The karaoke was just a fluke of good fortune on our part too - someone booked China Doll for a birthday party so Lala and I got a surprise karaoke treat with our dinner! Regular karaoke night is Saturday and you can be sure I'll be checking THAT out.

What an awesome way to kick off a weekend and what an awesome way to tap into that zest for life I know I have in me. I guess it's just a matter of finding opportunities like these to let it out.

Road Trip to NB - A Few Pics

It was fun, full, and way too short. Here are a few pics from the road trip itself and a stop at a local beach in Neguac, NB. I miss it already. I really do.

rest stop picnic on highway 20

Côte à Sullivan - can't you just smell the sea air?

Côte à Sullivan - feet firmly planted

Côte à Sullivan - streaming to the sea

ribbons of gold on the 132

Road Trip to NB!

D. and I are off to New Brunswick this weekend for the annual Arthur-à-Johnny Savoie family reunion and I can't wait!

I've been homesick for a few months now and I look forward to seeing my parents, my aunts & uncles, my cousins. I also look forward to seeing my beloved East Coast and taking in some intoxicating salty sea air.

The coffee's brewed, ready to pour into the travel mugs; lunch for the trip is ready to load into the cooler (Southwestern chicken, Boursin pepper cheese with rosemary and sea salt bread crisps, Vachon caramel cakes for dessert and much, much more); and the suitcase is being carried to the car as I type.

We were supposed to be halfway to Montreal by now, but I forgot to set the alarm. Oops! :) So we'll leave shortly and get there when we get there.

See you in a few days!

On Fear and Living a Full Life …

I am afraid of a lot of things: flying, thunderstorms, tornadoes, disapproval, new experiences, heights, centipedes, wasps, tight spaces, being hurt, being rejected, Internet banking, bears, junebugs, dark alleys, strange sounds in the woods at night and riding my bicycle, to name a few.

Lately I’ve been pondering my fears and how they affect my life experiences – in particular how they might be preventing me from living them to the fullest. Although some fears may be healthy (fear of tornadoes, fear of dark alleys), and I’ve come a long way in overcoming some past fears (fear of driving!), I am starting to feel that some of my current ones are holding me back.

A small but growing voice inside of me is expressing a desire – or at least a curiosity – to travel, explore and engage fully in all facets of life, whether that means flying to Paris, reaching out to strangers or riding my bike to the store.

Perhaps, one day at a time, fear of missing out on life will trump the rest of my fears and push me to overcome them. And perhaps, one day after that, the desire to experience life to the fullest will no longer stem from a fear of missing out on it, but from a desire to embrace all it has to offer. Hm. Maybe I'll ponder that for a while.

The Power of Expectations

I went to Bluesfest’s Tragically Hip concert on Thursday with many expectations and was disappointed, feeling tired and disconnected. I went to Bluesfest’s Primus concert yesterday with no expectations whatsoever and had an absolute blast, feeling happy, free-flowing and content.

There’s a lesson to be learned there I’m sure.

Chickadee Heartsong

Watching the Chickadees flit about my backyard canopy makes my heart sing. Simple. Happy. Peaceful.

On the Cusp

I feel like I’m on the cusp of something new, a major change in life’s path.

I’m giddy, restless and sometimes overwhelmed, teetering between opening myself to the possibilities of the new and inexplicably clinging to a past that no longer exists. It's not necessarily bad, just disorienting at times.

Despite my giddiness and impatience at knowing what lies ahead, I know that the only way through this is to live in the moment. One moment at a time, I will follow my intuition and trust; trust that one moment at a time, life’s path will unfold.

Happy Canada Day

Wave a flag, play hockey, plan a cross-country road trip ... it's Canada Day!

D. and I will most likely hop a bus downtown to join the thousands of people on and around Parliament Hill. It's a pretty big do - living in the nation's capital on Canada Day has its perks!

Have a good day eh?