Isn't it Ironic?

I was in Houston last week and had to laugh out loud when I opened the newspaper and this was the headline.

The article is not talking about policemen either. After my post on guns in Texas I found this a bit ironic. The article goes on to explain that the legislation is trying to allow people to have guns in their personal vehicles as long as the vehicle is locked. Yikes!


I don't know if spring can be ironic but if "poignantly contrary" describes irony then the spring in Texas is just that to the spring in Toronto.
Exhibit A and B

Spring in Toronto, March 29, 2009

hey, there are buds on that tree!

Spring in Houston, March 27, 2009

Aside from the stark contrast between spring up here and spring down there, my visit was a great one. I just loved visiting friends and relatives. At one point while I was driving about 75mph on the freeway I had a thought that I could easily slip right back into my life in Houston. Yup, except for the weather ( and mildew, frizzy hair and profuse sweating it produces) it isn't such a bad place. I think the fact that I have friends and relatives there may have something to do with it.

OH, fashion alert. Boy do I miss summer clothes! Boy do I miss wearing fun colors and sandals! Is this because it is the end of winter and I'm just plain tired of dark clothes or is it a north/south thing? Everyone down there is dressed in bright colors it seems and the clothes are so much more fun. I did do my share of economic stimulating. Now I am going to vow to bring color to Canada. I am going to push the season and wear all that yellow, turquoise and pink that I got "down south".

That's all the news that is fit to print today. Waiting for inspiration....

To Quote U2...."It's A Beautiful Day"!

Georgian Bay

(taken out the open sunroof!)
Ski jumping event at Blue Mountain

The village at Blue Mountain

Yesterday TJ and I decided to take a drive. It really was a beautiful day and since neither of us had been to Collingwood we decided, what the heck. There are a few ski resorts up there and one in particular I wanted to see so we took off in the morning. We brought our ski stuff, just in case. It was funny when we pulled up to the resort we parked and walked around and the only things there were a ski rental place and a lift ticket sales booth. I was somewhat disappointed because this was not what I had expected, where was the "cute village" with shops and restaurants? After chatting with one of the employees we found out we needed to drive to the next base area for the village, whew. I would have hated it if we had driven 2 hours for this!

We were not disappointed and the village was very cute. I also expected it to be very crowded because it was a Saturday, the weather was incredible, and it was the beginning of March break. Must say it was not that crowded either. After looking around and figuring out that it was going to cost us about $200 to ski for the three hours we had before we had to head home, we decided to have lunch in the pub and ski another day, darn. There was a special ski jumping event so we sat outside and watched crazy people fly off the jump and some of them stick the landing and others wipe out at the bottom. Basically, we did the apres ski without skiing but boy did I want to get to the top of that mountain, if for no other reason than to see the view of the water! Another time.

On the drive home we passed Georgian Bay and it was very scenic, blue water with some ice at the edges, and the sky was perfectly clear. We opened the sun roof for most of the drive and it was heavenly! I am thinking that spring really is right around the corner. It was a beautiful day!

Doesn't everyone in Texas have a gun?

If you want to know what the rest of the world thinks of the US then move away. Before you think that my allegiance has changed, it hasn't. I was raised in the US and you can take the girl out of the States but you can't take the States out of the girl. That being said, I have spent a lot of my life in Canada and it has influenced who I am too. Balance and perspective are both good things.

Today I had an experience that is not a unique one, it has happened many times since we moved here. At the risk of alienating a reader or two, I will go on. I was getting a pedicure (ahhhh) this afternoon and chatting with the girl there. She found out I was from the States and her comments were, "oh, life is so fast and busy there, we are so much more relaxed and calm here." "Were you ever afraid living there? Guns are everywhere, can't anyone have a gun?" I can't tell you how many times I have heard about the prevelance of guns in the States. I can honestly say that I have never seen a handgun in my life, and hope to never see one, except in a policeman's holster. But inevitably when people find out I'm from Texas specifically they always want to know if everyone has a gun in Texas.

The perspective part depends on what is "normal" to you. I was raised in a country where people were allowed to have guns. People up here are not used to guns, they still have that respect and a certain amount of fear when it comes to guns. We have been desensitised to them to a certain extent, we are used to hearing about shootings. This does not mean it is less criminal. It is big news up here if someone gets shot. That does not mean there is no crime, I have heard about more stabbings than ever up here. I guess if you don't have a gun, then use a knife.

Stereotypes abound. I guess the thing about stereotypes is that they are just that, not everyone in Texas has a gun and not all of life is calm and peaceful in Canada as I watch the news about a shooting in town. I'm sure they bought that gun in the States.....another thing I hear around here.

A Unique Saturday

Lent began this week, and last year you might remember I learned about the tradition of Pancake Day, instead of Mardi Gras they have Pancake Day up here. Today I learned about another Lenten tradition, a Swiss tradition called Fastnacht. It is a little more like Mardi Gras and less like Pancake Day, but....they celebrate it after Lent begins. Does that make any sense? I have copied a few explanations about the origins for you so you can feel smarter after you read today's post. I know...you can thank me later.

The origins
Carnival marks the end of the protestant fasting season. It takes place six weeks before Easter, a week after carnival in most catholic regions. This is due to a reform of the papal calendar in the 16th century, which protestant Basel duly ignored. Other than that, all religious holidays in Basel are on the same date as everywhere else!

Alternatively, the name ‘Fastnacht’ literally means ‘Fasting Eve’ as it originally referred to the eve of the fasting season. The festival is celebrated on the day before Ash Wednesday, or the last Tuesday before Lent.

This Carnival is a big deal in Basel, Switzerland and some of the Swiss folks here decided to carry on the tradition. I'm glad they don't start at the traditional time of 4 a.m. like they do in Basel! They started at the still unreasonable time of 7 a.m. with Morgestraich (morning march) played by the Canadysli Guggemusig. This is a brass band dressed in wild robes, masks, wigs and beads, playing painted instruments with varying degrees of skill. My friend's son is in the band so that is how we got invited, and what else were we going to be doing at 7 in the morning on a freezing cold Saturday?

So our Saturday morning started in a German pub listening to a brass band wearing Mardi Gras garb and drinking beer (well, TJ drank beer) and eating onion pie, burnt flour soup (isn't that just a roux?)and various baked goods. Again, no pie or soup for me but the pastries were good.

The band played several sets and one time everyone went outside, into the
-10C or 15F, butt freezing cold C or F, street and followed the band around the block in a parade, full with police escort. It was probably all of 9 a.m. by now, why am I here again?

Back inside to warm up and let the serious beer drinking start. We did go to the HUGE bakery next door and shopped. What an awesome place, it was full of breads, bagels, homemade pretzels, pies, pastries....on and on! We loaded up on some good stuff and went back to the pub.

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Our friend took some pictures of the band and the parade which I will post when he gets them to me. They should be mildly entertaining!

I guess we should take a long nap now and enjoy the rest of our Saturday. Mardi Gras North, the same but different.

Lisa and Valerie's Excellent Adventure

My friend Valerie, of broken arm fame, was here for the week. She wanted to experience some winter and I always enjoy company so it worked out well for both of us. Now the last time she came to visit it was 3 weeks after we moved here and the visit was not ideal, one of us ended up in the emergency room. Our vow this time was to avoid any hospitals! We succeeded!

Victory!

Since Valerie really did not get to see much except an hour at the ski hill and the road between our house and the hospital last time I felt obliged to show her ALL the sights. We started on Monday, it was bright and sunny so we drove straight to downtown Toronto for lunch. I wanted her to see the city on a nice day and in winter they are few and far between so carpe diem! We had a lovely lunch at Dinni in Yorkville and walked around a bit before heading back to Mississauga. We ate at home that night and relaxed.

I was working Tues., Wed. and Thurs. at noon each day so our mornings were spent at the house being quiet, working on our computers and just getting ready for the day. On Tuesday after my meeting we had a late lunch and went to see the Shopaholic movie. Mixed reviews. Two thumbs down from Valerie, she could not wait for it to be over and I was mildly entertained but will admit it was poorly developed and shallow, still liked the clothes! That night we stayed home again. We are so fun!

Wednesday was a gross day as far as weather. It was gray and rainy. We visited with Linda for a bit and then went back downtown for an early dinner and then to the theater to see the Sound of Music. Great dinner and great play. The set design was absolutely first class, the star of the show!

Thursday was Niagara Falls day. Always a fun thing to do. When we left here it was sunny with clouds, the closer we got to Niagara the worse the weather got. It was a white out at some points, foggy, windy and freezing. Perfect weather to sight see....outside! When we drove up to the falls all we could see was fog.....I know the falls are there somewhere, they are right over there Valerie, really they are, you just can't see them. We drove all this way for this?! Then Moses parted the fog and we could see. It was amazing how it cleared up and the sun broke through and there they were, Niagara Falls in all their splendor. It was still cold and windy but at least we saw the falls. Niagara-on-the-lake was dead so we went to one winery and headed back home. We had a great dinner with my friend, Janet, and talked the evening away.

On Friday, (how did it get to be Friday so fast anyway?) we headed to Caledon Ski Club. We were determined to undo the bad luck from last year. We had nice weather, a beautiful drive and yes, a great day skiing. I have posted a video and a few pictures for you to enjoy. The good thing about Caledon is that you spend minimal time on the lifts and no time waiting for the lift, most of your time is spent skiing! We skied every run at least twice and many more than twice. It was a good day. We ended the day eating Greek food with TJ who was back home from his business travels.

Valerie brought me a real treat from Texas....6 cans of Rotel tomatoes. A key ingredient to any good southern dish and nowhere to be found in Canada. Ahhhh! We also spent many hours working on a treat for our book club. I hope they like it, we had fun making it. Can't reveal what "it" is until Tuesday. Don't want to ruin the surprise.

Valentine's Day 2009 vs. Valentine's Day 2008

In Times Square with Rick and Patti

Central Park

If how one day in a year is spent determines how the rest of the year will be then this year should be a better year than last year. TJ reminded me today, on our way home from New York City that this year's Valentine's Day. was much better than last year's. I agree wholeheartedly.

Last year on Feb. 14 I was in the hospital waiting for surgery, my husband in Newfoundland and my good friend, Valerie, at the foot of my bed. I had not eaten or had anything to drink for over a day and felt pretty miserable, except for the excellent pain meds I was on.


This year on Feb. 14 I was in New York City with TJ and our friends Rick and Patti. We started the day with a nice breakfast and a walk in Central Park. We strolled through the Plaza Hotel, beautiful chandeliers and flower arrangements. We met for lunch and then saw the matinee of Billy Elliot on Broadway! An excellent show, such talent! After the show we went down to Greenwich Village, had a pre dinner drink and then a lovely dinner at the Cornelia St. Cafe. Ohhhh, the dinner. YUM! Glad we managed to walk our 14,000 steps that day, according to Patti's pedometer. I'll take that day over last year any time! It is good to have perspective sometimes, isn't it?


New York- lots of people, so much to see, so much to do, always something going on. The city that never sleeps. We had sunny skies and enjoyed just being outside and soaking up the city. As TJ said, if this is any indication of how the rest of the year will go, then it is going to be a great year. Let's hope he is right.

Creative Sweating

So I've been thinking about this topic for much too long and trying to figure out how to write it down. I'll try to make it relevant and witty at the same time. It is one of those things that make you go, huh?

Sweating....up north.....in the winter. How do you do it? Anyone who knows me, knows that it does not take much for me to break into a good sweat. Hot flashes do not count either. I'm talking about the sweat that comes with running or with working out or walking in the heat. It seems like you have to be a little more creative to sweat when you live up here.

Since I really can't/shouldn't run anymore and don't belong to a gym anymore either, I have to be creative to work up a good sweat. Here are a few ways I've managed a good northern sweat this winter.

First would be the seemingly never ending chore of shoveling snow off the driveway. Since my husband, aka male snow shoveler, is never home when it dumps on us, it has been my pleasure to shovel the driveway this winter. I really don't mind this chore because I actually work up a good sweat by the end of the job. It is a good morning workout and aside from my aching shoulder I think it is good exercise.

Second would be hiking in the snow. TJ has decided that when we can, we should put our boots on and trudge through the woods after it snows. Another reasonably good workout, especially after a lot of snow. Think StairMaster. And I have found that regardless of the temperature, you can work up a sweat.

Third, and my favorite by far....hot yoga. The first time I went into the room I said to the girl, "no way I could work out in here, I'd pass out!". How wrong I was. I absolutely love hot yoga. You can't believe how good it feels to be able to exercise and sweat buckets! Yes, literally I soak at least one towel (I'm not the only one either) and it reminds me of how I would sweat during a run in Houston. I actually feel like I worked out. I guess it could be wrong to equate the amount I sweat to how good of a workout I just had, but I do.

Crow Pose

I'm sure I look just like this...well, I can do it!

I never thought I would have to try to sweat. I could sweat by walking out the door and going to the mailbox most times in Houston. Shoot, I could sweat just sitting still or going to my sister, Tamara's house (kept at a constant balmy temp. of HOT). Anyway, I find it rather amusing and amazing that I now have to try to work up a good sweat. What is happening?
Enjoy the day!