Alot of Swearing and Birds

Since Saturday, I have been having some

rather disturbing computer issues.

Trojans, Rogues, Malware... Bastards!

I think it's all settled now, but I honestly

get anxious when I hit enter!

I did alot of Yosemite Sam mumbled swearing

and straightout cussing like a sailor.

Now, onto nicer things.

Birds.

Seagulls to be exact.

Today was a humid hazy day with a bit of a breeze.

There are a few corners in my neighbourhood that

seem to be wind tunnels.

The subway stop corner is one.

I was waiting for the bus home and I looked up

and noticed, higher than normal, a large

flock of seagulls flying and coasting on the wind.

(Too funny, I was trying to think what the correct

term was for alot of seagulls and, if you were a teenager

in the 80's, you understand why I got it!)

I was mesmerized.  They were slowly floating south and

I was hoping they'd be above my place when I got home.

I was lucky and they were.

I took a few shots and it looks like I have dirty specks on my

screen, but if you click on them to enlarge, you can see their wing spans.

The closer up ones were taken with the zoom lens but I

had a really difficult time finding them in the viewer once I'd

extended the lens.

Beginner!

It was really awesome to just stand there on the sidewalk

and look up and see them floating on the breeze so high up.

 Click on the above photo to enlarge - I count 22 Seagulls.

On the photo below, 19 Seagulls!

Harry Potter

This morning at 10:30am, I was at the movie theater watching

Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone.

I've already purchased my ticket for next Saturdays showing of

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

and the Saturday after that for

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

The theater is playing each film every Saturday at 10:30am

and Monday at 7:00pm in sequence weekly until the release of

the final Harry Potter film.

$5 a ticket. Not bad at all!

I'm excited to see the final film but also sad in the knowledge

that that'll be it.

At least I still have The Hobbit to look forward to.

Pardon Me? Um, no!

During summer hours, I need to take a different

bus home as the one that passes in front of my office

only runs during rush hours.

The other bus stop is only a few blocks away.

Well, today, I got mistaken for, yes, a hooker!!!!

There I was, standing waiting for the bus, next to a pole that
clearly has a bus stop sign on it.
I was just standing there next to it.
I wasn't twirling around it, leaning on it, or kissing it.

An Indian man in a green Honda Civic slows up, stares as me,
stops in front of the bus stop, rolls down his window and asks me,
" Do you want to party?"
Shocked, I say, "Pardon me? Um, no!"

I had my camera out as I was taking photos of pine cones on the
trees near the bus stop & captured this great "wtf" reaction shot as he drove away!

 Reviewing my surroundings, I went across the street to take a photo of
where I was standing waiting for the bus.
Was there a hooker-on-duty sign?
What gave this man the idea I was a party girl?
It certainly wasn't my wardrobe.
Coral sweat shirt, navy blue t-shirt, jeans & sneakers
and no make up!

If I was a lady of the evening and this was my corner, it would be very
sad and I don't think I would be successful or at the top of the profession.
It's not a very happening corner, although, there must be
a bakery nearby because the air smelled like fresh baked
chocolate chip cookies!

The sad thing is, the factory behind the bus stop in this photo is 
Pasta Quistini where the the fiance of the owners daughter
was killed in April when he got pulled into a pasta machine.

 Here I waited for my chauffeur (bus).

 Looking to the left.

 Looking to the right.

See??  Not really a high traffic hooker friendly corner.
The funny thing was when I told Adam the story, he asked me if I was flattered.
Twice in one day, I had the same reaction, " Pardon me? Um, no!"

Here is a photo of the pine cone buds I was taking of the trees by the bus stop.
The tree was giving off a really strong pine scent.
With the pine scent & chocolate chip cookie smell in the air,
it reminded me of Christmas!

I finally got on my bus & met Adam to see another
Friday afternoon matinee.
We saw The Hangover Part II.
It was funny. Bradley Cooper didn't disappoint but they
really did give every funny thing away in the trailers.
I'd still advise folks, for 90 minutes of pure laughter & escapism,
it is a good film.

Check out my Project 365 shot for today.
The theater had a huge Thor display & I got
a great shot of Adam with Thor's Hammer!

Je suis très fatigué.

I really am today, I don't know what it is.

Almost everyone I speak with feels the same.

I have no umph, not get up and go.

I even feel as though I'm thinking slower.

Is it wrong that I'm looking forward to the weekend so

I can be sedentary?

I know what would probably make me feel 100 times

better is if I moved. Increased my heart rate, perhaps sweat a little.

Short weeks are also killer.

The long weekends are lovely, but there is a trade off.

Today felt like Friday.

I got 4 days of work done in 3 days.

Short day tomorrow.

If I were another species today, I feel I would be this:

Source

Aren't Sloths just the cutest?

I love them.

Fill In The Blanks Wednesday

Prompts from: The Little Things We Do.



50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind

I do not know who the original source is

for these questions or whom to credit.

This list of questions is one task of 101 tasks on a list that I have created for

another "project".   This new project is something I

am going to start on June 1, 2011 and it is called 101 in 1001.

I got this idea from www.dayzeroproject.com

Again, I don't know if they are the original source, but I've seen it on many a blog.

More explanation on that to come....

This list of 50 questions really made me think.

It's not the kind of questions either that I will post my answers here.

These are questions I think I need to ask myself & really think

about the answers for myself, for my own growth.

I will spend as long as I need to answer them honestly.

Here are the questions:

 1. How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?

 2. Which is worse, failing or never trying?

 3. If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don't like and like so many things we don't do?

 4. When it's all said and done, will you have said more than you've done?

 5. What is the one thing you'd most like to change about the world?

 6. If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?

 7. Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you're doing?

 8. If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?

 9. To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?

10. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?

11. You're having lunch with three people you respect and admire. They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing he/she is your friend. The criticism is distasteful and unjustified. What do you do?

12. If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?

13. Would you break the law to save a loved one?

14. Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?

15. What's something you know you do differently than most people?

16. How come the things that make you happy don't make everyone happy?

17. What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What's holding you back?

18. Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?

19. If you had to move to a province or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?

20. Do you push the elevator button more than once? Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?

21. Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton?

22. Why are you, you?

23. Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend?

24. Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?

25. What are you most grateful for?

26. Would you rather lose all your old memories, or never be able to make new ones?

27. Is it possible to know the truth without challenging it first?

28. Has your greatest fear ever come true?

29. Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset? Does it really matter now?

30. What is your happiest childhood memory? What makes it so special?

31. At what time in your most recent past have you felt most passionate and alive?

32. If not now, then when?

33. If you haven't achieved it yet, what do you have to lose?

34. Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever?

35. Why do religions that support love cause so many wars?

36. Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil?

37. If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job?

38. Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?

39. Do you feel like you've lived this day a hundred times before?

40. When was the last time you marched into he dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in?

41. If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today?

42. Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous?

43. What is the difference between being alive and truly living?

44. When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right?

45. If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always afraid to make a mistake?

46. What would you do differently if you knew no one would judge you?

47. When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing?

48. What do you love? Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love?

49. In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday? What about the day before that? Or the day before that?

50. Decisions are being made right now. The question is: Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you?



Get Off My Lawn You Hooligans!

My Mother called me this morning at 10:00am.

I wasn't asleep, I was just in bed with my eyes closed.

My plan was to get up bright and early but the

Hooligans last night at 1:00am with the fireworks

and firecrackers in the street and resulting lack of sleep

derailed my good intentions.

I really am an old fuddy-duddy.

Where I grew up, we would go down to the lake

where the City would put on a fireworks display.

That is how it is meant to be.

I don't understand kids shooting these things off in the street.

Especially at 1:00am.

I don't think they are at all celebrating Queen Victoria

or Queen Elizabeth's birthdays.

In fact, if asked, sadly, I would wager that they don't

even know what the Holiday today represents.

Here is how the fireworks and smoke bombs made

the street look last night.

I actually had to close our windows for a bit as it did smell

like something was burning.

My Mom told me to get outside before the rain, so

I took Crockett for a stroll.

It was perfect Pug Walking weather.

I am now inside trying to decide how to fill the rest of my day

so that I don't just end up sitting here in front of my laptop

reading blogs and wasting time.

The rain is about to begin.

The wind is swirling in all directions and there is

that pre-rain smell in the air.

Keep calm & carry on!

Happy Birthday Vicky & Lizzy!

Our Friday Evening Walk

Summer hours have begun for me at work, woohoo!

I get to leave at 1:00pm on Fridays until Labour Day.

Today, Adam came & met me and we went to see

a matinee - THOR.

We made it through the previews being the only 2 in the theater.

When the movie started, 2 more men came in.

I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, I give it an 8 out of 10.

 I loved how Thor spoke, "He's fine! We drank, fought - he did his ancestors proud!"

He also looked mighty fine in jeans & no shirt.

After the film we went to pick up a few groceries.

As I was walking to the subway, I held the door for a

lady who had her hands full.  She told me I was an angel without wings.

She then said to Adam, "Your Mother is so nice."

HIS MOTHER?

He has more grey hair than me!

To be honest, it stung a little.

He thought it was amusing.

When we got out of the subway to come home, the sky

was just amazing. Thick white clouds that peaked like

snow capped mountains.

I came in, grabbed Crockett & my camera and we

went for a nice long walk.

Here it is in pictures.

This was the sky as we started our walk.

I got this shot right before Crockett watered them.
They will grow big and bright.

Sunset Pug

This cat watched Crockett's every step intensely for a few minutes
and he was completely unaware. He was too busy sniffing the grass.

Pretty. I've come to discover I like taking macro
photos of flowers and plants.

It was getting a bit dark so I raised the flash.

 

This was the sky as we finished our walk.



Really enjoyable walk.

My feet are sore and Crockett is fast asleep.

Rain Rain Stay Away.

My New Celebrity Crush

Bradley Cooper.

Oh my goodness, that man is just too yummy for words.

I am looking forward to The Hangover Part II that opens May 26'11.

For me, laughter really is the best medicine.

Last weekend Adam & I saw Bridesmaids and it was great.

I laughed so hard that I cried....more than once.

This summer looks to be filled with many Movie Dates.

But seriously, how difficult will it be to watch this guy for 120 minutes?



He is sooooo good lookin'

I actually prefer him with long hair, unshaven

and a bit dirty.  Odd.

The Spiderwick Chronicles

Pure escapism.

I wish I could draw.

If I could, I'm sure I'd spend hours drawing Sprites,

Hobgoblin & Thimbletack - both happy & angry

I want to buy the book collection not only for the story, but the art.



Source

 This is a story made into a film that I can and have watched

over and over and over.

If I was in the movie business, these are the kinds of films

I would want to work on.

Films both kids and adults love for the same and

very different reasons.

Source

This is how I felt when I was a kid reading books
that had great characters.
They read it with you.

Source

With the rainy weekend upon us, it
is the perfect opportunity to watch the DVD.

Fill In The Blanks Wednesday

Prompts from: The Little Things We Do.



Rain, Rain, Sun, Rain, Rain, Rain

Really? Seriously?



Why Do I Blog?

The reasons why I started and the reasons why I love it

now have changed.

I started to blog:

To keep my mind active and to improve my writing

To document our lives and share it with family and friends

To keep a record of Crockett

To become more computer literate

To impress my husband

I continue to blog because:

I have been inspired by so many women

I've become exposed to people, places and ideas I never would have otherwise

I enjoy taking photos and posting them

To express myself openly and honestly

I like looking back at my life, it helps me look forward

It's given me a voice

It's kept me optimistic

It's enjoyable and I prefer it to watching TV or killing time on Facebook.

I currently follow about 10 blogs.

This "Why Do I Blog" came from Alycia at The Curious Pug.

Here are my favorites - check them out!

The Curious Pug

The Nie Nie Dialogues

C.Jane Enjoy It

The Mom

The Little Things We Do

Post Secret

The Christie Project

This Is What I Meant By That

Checkout Girl

and everyone should spend time browsing and shopping on

Etsy

Toronto Marathon 2011 Post Edit

Today was again a day that makes living

on Yonge Street exciting.

It was the Toronto Marathon.

It started with the half marathon and this year

they also had a walking half marathon.

I took Crockett outside at a time when I anticipated the participants

of the full marathon to pass by our building.

We are at the 5km mark, so the runners are still fresh.

The lead runner was bib # 1 Josephat Ongeri

His final placement was 2nd with a time of 2:29:19

The 2nd place runner was bib # 4 Brendan Kenny

His final placement was 1st - THE WINNER - with a time of 2:27:20



These are the first 2 ladies.
I cannot see their bib #'s unfortunately.
The 1st 2 for the women:
(as I write this post - the race continues & only 2
women have finished!)
THE WINNER - bib # 2 Melissa Begin with a time of 2:54:51
2nd place - bib # 9 Nathalie Goyer with a time of 2:58:20

 POST EDIT:

The female marathoner in the above photo wearing the pink top was the WINNER!!!

A zoom lens shot up Yonge Street.
Runners as far as the eye can see.

A group with the pace bunny.
These folks were on pace for a 4:00:00 race.

The view from our kitchen window.
More spaced out now, but still going strong!

Early Morning May Sky

It's a dreary grey rainy Saturday morning.

The weather forecast for the rest of May is rain.

I took some photos of the sky on my way to work

during the 1st week of May.  I posted them on my Tumblr page,

but feel now that they belong here as well.

It'll make me feel better to see the beautiful blue sky when I login.

These were taken at approx 6:45am.

The clouds looked as though they were painted on

and you could see the brush strokes.

It was windy so they were moving and changing fast.

Truly spectacular.

If I had the choice of missing my bus or taking these photos,

I would have been late for work.

Luckily, all was good, I got my shots & caught my bus.



Close Up Crockett

Crockett puts up with me with such an easy going nature.

Today I must've taken 50 photos of him.

These are my favorite.

Blogger Bump

Blogger angered quite a few people on Thursday.

Posts were lost.

It made me realize how I would be devestated

if I lost all my posts.



Blogger Status

Friday, May 13, 2011

Blogger is back now. We're still working on restoring some of the data. For more details, see this post: http://buzz.blogger.com/2011/05/blogger-is-back.html

Posted by Chang at 10:32 PDT

We’ve started restoring the posts that were temporarily removed and expect Blogger to be back to normal soon.

Posted by at 06:07 PDT

To get Blogger back to normal, all posts since 7:37am PDT on Weds, 5/11 have been temporarily removed. We expect everything to be back to normal soon. Sorry for the delay.

Posted by at 04:25 PDT

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Blogger will be in read-only mode while we resolve some maintenance issues. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Posted by at 12:34 PDT

Happy 40th Birthday Adam!

 

I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!

Fill In The Blanks Wednesday

Prompts from The Little Things We Do